On a secret ballot, the bailout bill would have passed the House.
85% of House members read the bailout bill.
75% of House members comprehended the bill.
10% of House members never read any bills.
25% of House members gave no thought at all to the merits of the bill.
97% of House members–bill or no bill!-- believe their constituents are extremely fortunate to be represented by such as themselves.
The pusillanimity of Congressional Democrats during the Bush years has made it impossible for the public to take them seriously during a crisis.
On economic matters, responsible Republicans are almost extinct. "Free market" ideologues and the remnants of Delay’s K Street gang are fighting for control of the party.
A Democratic president who thinks he can pass good legislation by working closely with Republicans is misguided.
Members of Congress, for a period of one year, should refrain from making any public statements referencing the wholly imaginary legislative prowess of their colleagues. The following words and phrases are particularly grating in this context, and may not be used: stellar, outstanding, "reach across the aisle," tireless, thankless, bipartisan, nonpartisan, "through the wee hours," stalwart, extraordinary, "the American people," hard-working, "strong leadership of ____," stewards, "We’ll stay here as long as it takes," selfless, backbreaking, and yeoman.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is incompetent. She can’t count votes and she can’t give a good floor speech. Who’s next?
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Mississippi Debate: Not Quite a Draw
Barack Obama won.
For voters who watched only the first half-hour, it was a knockout. John McCain has yet to figure out how to fold his "reform" message into his economic message. It’s a mess. Last night, lacking the stomach to mount a vigorous defense of boneheaded Republican economic theory, he babbled on about earmarks so relentlessly that Obama finally had enough, pointing out that his opponent was obsessing about budgetary chump change. (It’s about time a Democrat took this tack. $18 billion? That’s it? Pork barrel spending is the price of representative democracy. I’d like to see more of it, if it would facilitate good legislation on the big stuff.)
When Lehrer turned to foreign policy, McCain evened things up by projecting strength and reminding voters of his experience. Obama looked presidential enough, but his mastery of the material almost worked against him. Fewer facts and more focus on the big picture would have been more effective. (But thankfully, we’re long past 2000, when the media spin-meisters decreed that Al Gore’s sighs and whispers trumped his intellectual qualifications. Eight years of watching Dubya govern by the seat of his running shorts has made intelligence acceptable again.)
I was glad to see Obama stand fairly strong when Lehrer pressed him on what he would sacrifice on the altar of the Big Bailout, but I would have rather he had said, essentially: Nothing, Jim. The Washington media is always looking for another Paul Tsongas. They won’t be satisfied until Social Security is privatized or gone. Let’s take a lesson from the Republicans. They never give an inch on their tax cut promises, no matter how many wars they start or budgets they bust. That’s why they’re the tax cut party. We need to stand on our solutions, not shrink from them.
I have a lot of problems with Barack Obama. I don’t like the way he obtained the Democratic nomination, and I have doubts about his commitment to fulfilling his promises. But he looked good last night.
I hope he thanks Hillary Clinton for the mortal combat she provided in the primaries. He wouldn’t have won the debate without her.
For voters who watched only the first half-hour, it was a knockout. John McCain has yet to figure out how to fold his "reform" message into his economic message. It’s a mess. Last night, lacking the stomach to mount a vigorous defense of boneheaded Republican economic theory, he babbled on about earmarks so relentlessly that Obama finally had enough, pointing out that his opponent was obsessing about budgetary chump change. (It’s about time a Democrat took this tack. $18 billion? That’s it? Pork barrel spending is the price of representative democracy. I’d like to see more of it, if it would facilitate good legislation on the big stuff.)
When Lehrer turned to foreign policy, McCain evened things up by projecting strength and reminding voters of his experience. Obama looked presidential enough, but his mastery of the material almost worked against him. Fewer facts and more focus on the big picture would have been more effective. (But thankfully, we’re long past 2000, when the media spin-meisters decreed that Al Gore’s sighs and whispers trumped his intellectual qualifications. Eight years of watching Dubya govern by the seat of his running shorts has made intelligence acceptable again.)
I was glad to see Obama stand fairly strong when Lehrer pressed him on what he would sacrifice on the altar of the Big Bailout, but I would have rather he had said, essentially: Nothing, Jim. The Washington media is always looking for another Paul Tsongas. They won’t be satisfied until Social Security is privatized or gone. Let’s take a lesson from the Republicans. They never give an inch on their tax cut promises, no matter how many wars they start or budgets they bust. That’s why they’re the tax cut party. We need to stand on our solutions, not shrink from them.
I have a lot of problems with Barack Obama. I don’t like the way he obtained the Democratic nomination, and I have doubts about his commitment to fulfilling his promises. But he looked good last night.
I hope he thanks Hillary Clinton for the mortal combat she provided in the primaries. He wouldn’t have won the debate without her.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Step One
As Barack Obama might say. . .Let's be clear.
The wingnut "free market" outrage over the Paulson/Bernanke bailout is 99% phony. Modern Republicans--having long ago abandoned Eisenhower's sensible capitulation to the New Deal--are oligarchs. It's not really their fault. That's just the price of admission to their party. Trickle-down now, trickle-down forever! Just service the people who do the trickling, and prosper!
Most Republicans are simply trying to bullshit their way through the current crisis so they can go back to business as usual--tax cuts, deregulation and corporate welfare. Democrats need to act accordingly.
The wingnut "free market" outrage over the Paulson/Bernanke bailout is 99% phony. Modern Republicans--having long ago abandoned Eisenhower's sensible capitulation to the New Deal--are oligarchs. It's not really their fault. That's just the price of admission to their party. Trickle-down now, trickle-down forever! Just service the people who do the trickling, and prosper!
Most Republicans are simply trying to bullshit their way through the current crisis so they can go back to business as usual--tax cuts, deregulation and corporate welfare. Democrats need to act accordingly.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Krisis Kids
Bush, McCain, Obama. Is this the best we’ve got?
You know you’re in trouble when Dubya looks like the competent one. At least he was smart enough to stay in the gym and let Henry Paulson try to save capitalism.
Newly-minted populist avenger John McCain blustered his way across the stage like an angry-mad Lear, contradicting himself hourly and scaring the horses. Barack Obama gave us more of his tinny campaign rhetoric before finally posing--in fine "Where’s Waldo?" fashion--in a reunion tableau of Bill Clinton’s old economic advisers, saying nothing. (Wasn’t Obama supposed to have turned the page on Clintonism? Oh, never mind.)
Neither of these guys is ready to win a debate on the economy.
You know you’re in trouble when Dubya looks like the competent one. At least he was smart enough to stay in the gym and let Henry Paulson try to save capitalism.
Newly-minted populist avenger John McCain blustered his way across the stage like an angry-mad Lear, contradicting himself hourly and scaring the horses. Barack Obama gave us more of his tinny campaign rhetoric before finally posing--in fine "Where’s Waldo?" fashion--in a reunion tableau of Bill Clinton’s old economic advisers, saying nothing. (Wasn’t Obama supposed to have turned the page on Clintonism? Oh, never mind.)
Neither of these guys is ready to win a debate on the economy.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
MSNBC: Emergency Executive Intervention!
I was on vacation when Keith and Chris totally jumped the shark on Obama.
I defy anyone to watch more than ninety seconds of this.
I defy anyone to watch more than ninety seconds of this.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Markos Moulitsas Gets Tough
He helped take down Hillary, but that was just a warm-up. Now he’s itching to sink his brass knuckles into some soft Republican face-flesh.
Very gallant, Markos. There’s just one problem: 2006. Back then, I was with you every step of the way, and what did it get us? Nancy "9%" Pelosi.
The voters have since taken a dim view of Democratic spinelessness. They’re not going to elect a Milquetoast. (That's why McCain is one debate away from living in the White House.)
Obama will have to fight his own battles.
I'm not about to revert to writing puff pieces about Obama thinking that his magic "new politics" bullshit will carry us to victory. He may or may not believe that crap, but I don't. We're going to win this thing the way campaigns are won -- by playing hardball. Politics is a blood sport. Republicans understand this and never flinch from flinging the shit. We won't win until we learn to fight back in kind. And I'm more than happy to get down in the mud with our friends on the Right so Obama doesn't have to.
Recent history vindicates the "tough and aggressive" path. We went toe to toe against Rove and his machine in 2006, and our math beat his. I have no doubt we're in for a two-peat this year, and it'll happen because we won't back off from exposing the GOP for the den of lies and corruption it has become.
Very gallant, Markos. There’s just one problem: 2006. Back then, I was with you every step of the way, and what did it get us? Nancy "9%" Pelosi.
The voters have since taken a dim view of Democratic spinelessness. They’re not going to elect a Milquetoast. (That's why McCain is one debate away from living in the White House.)
Obama will have to fight his own battles.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Live-Blogging Hardball: Same As It Ever Was
Lest anyone think that a chastened Chris Matthews has decided to attempt serious journalism, take note of his gratuitous slamming of the Clintons for not supporting Obama to his satisfaction.
Matthews' crazy agenda will always come first on Hardball. Can't MSNBC find anybody better? His act is so 1998.
Matthews' crazy agenda will always come first on Hardball. Can't MSNBC find anybody better? His act is so 1998.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
