Holiday Spectacle

++This past week we saw the incredible conservative crackup in living color. Remember when President Obama told his donors that after the election the Republican fever would break? Or David Brooks writing in the New York Times that the Republicans after the election beating were in detox? I guess none of it was true.

++Andrew Sullivan captured the mayhem of the meltdown in the House over Plan B and the stony silence of conservatives on the gun deaths at Sandy Hook elementary school. In a rant that when viral and is worth reading "Enough,Republicans!" Andrew Sullivan,  former conservative and Republican, went on a tirade that wrapped the GOP in its present madness. I had thought Andrew's tantrum after Obama "lost" the first debate was a bit over the top. But in retrospect he had an acute instinct about what the country would face if Obama lost. This blast at Republicans and their total inability to warrant consideration in governing is a classic.

++David Frum reappeared after the election suggesting ways the Republican party could widen its base after President Obama swept the boards with Latinos,African Americans, the young and single women. After the House rejection of Boehner's Plan B, a gimmick to embarrass President Obama, and the horror story of a press conference by Wayne La Pierre, David Frum was reduced to twittering like crazy about the collapse of conservatism and the lunacy of the NRA.

++President Obama moved quickly on the issue of taking sensible steps toward controlling semi-automatic weapons and large clips. Appointing Joe Biden in charge, someone who engineered the first assault weapon ban in the 1990s,this was a practical policy step that mark normal governments. But the faux outrage by conservatives and then the NRA shows how polarized the society has become. 

++One of the most remarkable quotes that surfaced this week was Wayne La Pierre's remark after Obama won re-election:"I've lost more than all the losses in all our wars combined." Incredible because Wayne has never fought in a war. Another remarkable document surfaced--the resignation letter of President George H.W. Bush from the NRA in 1995 when Wayne as executive director criticized federal agents involved in tracking down gun freaks responsible for random killings.

++Back to Plan B. The kabuki theater played by John Boehner came to a halt on Friday when after assuring the country he had the votes his plan came screeching to a halt and had to be postponed when it was clear the Republican caucus won't vote for it. The Club of Growth,Americans for Prosperity opposed it and Grover Norquist reversed his position to eventually oppose it. The utter incompetence of the House Republicans was staggering. The whole purpose of stopping the vote was because Republicans don't want to be seen as raising taxes, even on those earning over $1 million. As a consequence,it is likely that the Fiscal Cliff will happen and everyone's taxes will go up. In their fantasy, they believe the public will blame Barack Obama, who will begin his second term with more political clout in some time.

++To give some perspective, Nancy Pelosi never lost a vote and never was off on a vote count. John Boehner was lost several votes and has not been able to manage his own caucus. His record is staggering.

++Republican pundits are now realizing that President Obama basically can pass any bill he wants after the Fiscal Cliff because Republicans will look like they are cutting taxes. All this with a severe contraction of the economy ,which may mean we lose 3.5% of the GDP-- compared to 8% GDP when the full recession hit in the last quarter of 2008. 

++I have received volumes of e-mails from conservatives who are simply repeating the talking points from the Romney campaign. Too bad, guys, you lost. But the difference is that the tone is getting shriller and angrier. 

++With President Obama's speech at Newtown and his remarks about controlling gun violence,I fear he has ignited again the smoldering anger and hate in white conservative America. I deeply fear a serious attempt on our President's life. Already threats against him have reached historic heights. But the rhetoric coming from armed white folks is getting incoherent and shrill.

++If Republicans have lost their tax mantle, the neocons are going ballistic because of the potential nomination of Chuck Hagel as SecDef. In his career in the Senate, he opposed like many sane Americans Israel's settlements and as an act of heresy he voted against sanctions against Iran. The neo-cons and the Right are now out for a scalp by claiming former Senator Hagel is anti-semitic, which provoked a defense of him from the local rabbi in his state. But after McCain and Lindsey Graham forced the issue on Susan Rice and made her step down from consideration for Secretary of State, the neo-cons feel there is blood in the water. Hagel is the President of the Atlantic Council, an organization that fosters transatlantic understanding and is devoted to NATO.

++Not to be outdone this week, the Koch Brothers and the Club of Growth and Americans for Prosperity came out against any federal aid for Hurricane Sandy victims. The Administration has submitted a request for $70 million while the House countered with $20 million. The amazing intervention by the Koch Brothers and front groups was triggered by their strange belief that Chris Christie by appearing with President Obama and commending his role gave Obama the election. So they want revenge. 

++David Koch made a startling statement that people who have second homes on the shore do not need federal help. Let's ignore everyone else in the New York, New Jersey area. This out-to-lunch evasion of reality permeated every issue the whole week.

++Unbelieveably the House Republicans now want to play games with the debt ceiling. I received one e-mail that this was the only way they could get Obama to stop his runaway spending,which is rather modest actually. Lost in translation is that the debt ceiling is about your commitment to pay already existing debt. The last time we played this game the bond agencies downgraded America's creditworthiness. I also received another e-mail saying that this would not affect the sales of bonds. Last time the stunt cost the US government $30 billion. President Obama has to simply invoke the 14th amendment and break the back of this obstructionism. Do yourself a service and read Andrew Sullivan on this nuttery coming from Republicans.

++Torture resurfaced this week with the reviews of the new film about killing Osama bin Laden. Senator McCain and the CIA head criticized the film for inaccuracy when it portrayed torture as a key element in discovering bin Laden. The European Court awarded millions to a German and a Canadian who has been tortured by Americans. The Senate concluded its study of the subject but did not release to the public its 6,000-page study. It should.

++Progressives had heart attacks because President Obama got into one of his negotiating fits with John Boehner and caved on some critical points--raising the $250,000 to $400,000,agreeing to a chain SSI, which would mean less benefits to seniors in outyears. Clearly he ended the week as someone appearing reasonable but Boehner simply could not agree to the compromise, which would have reduced the debt by 2-4 trillion dollars. I hope this is not the tone for the next four years. Dealing with people who refuse to compromise despite getting their head handed to them in the election. 

++Lost in the mayhem was John Kerry's day. John Kerry was nominated to follow Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. Kerry had served as a back channel communication with the Middle East for President Obama and earned his spurs by playing Mitt Romney for the debate prep during the campaign. By all accounts, Kerry is a superb choice.

++President Obama is off to Hawaii, a trip that has generated more criticism from the Right. The latest claim is that he is vacationing and consorting with an old friend who was once arrested for soliciting a prostitute. It will be a wonder when a conservative actually says anything nice about the President. A birthed suit was thrown out this past week in Florida but Republicans want to file a new one.

++So you want your message to reach a wider audience. This was not a week Republicans should show case to appeal to any normal human beings. If this is what we can look forward to, we are in very serious trouble as a country.

++Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a very Happy Year of the Dragon. In a year that saw President Obama's re-election and an incredible array of new elected officials, it was ended in tragedy, sorrow and just plain horrible things. I hope the past weeks got everything out of the system.