++That's Chris Christie's tag for Marco Rubio and Josh Marshall thinks it will stick. Rubio got blasted today when people noticed his speech last night was a Rip-off of President Obama's speech in Iowa when he actually won in 2008. Even the Donald got around to trashing Marco for coming in third when all the polls for months said he would come in third. The Donald also said that Ted Cruz' religious victory speech would be his Howard Dean Scream moment.
++Back to Senator Short Pants. Jason Linkins back at his election post at Huffington Post asks "Now which primary is Marco suppose to win?" Marco's strategy is 3-2-1, meaning second in New Hampshire and winning South Carolina. But New Hampshire is the big stumbling block. He's not even near second and we have a week to go. Chris Christie is staking that territory, John Kasich is giving its his last hurrah and Jeb !--well I don't know what he is doing. The theory is that the "establishment" whomever they are will back Rubio as a potential nominee. But that won't happen until after New Hampshire where all the other also-rans have millions left in the bank.
++Could we give it up for Hillary! She is the first woman in American history to win the Iowa Caucus. She takes a licking but keeps on ticking.
++Iowa may be folkloric with coin grosses settling delegates and people gathering around behind the candidates' name. But it also looks like African political party conventions from years ago. Athenian democracy it is not. Iowa just doesn't carry the narrative anymore. And Polk County can you finally get it right? It's only counting for chrissakes.
++Jason Linkins reminds us that the democrats pretty much ran the same percentages across the state. Hillary preserved the Obama coalition, although a bout tattered and Sanders won the white working class and the young. Iowa and New Hampshire are the two almost all white states . It's like the primary calendar is front-loaded for Sanders.
++In looking at political movements, twitter didn't help the Donald who lacked a GOTV operation. That may come back to bite him. At the same time, the Bernie enthusiasm and social media presence only got him a tie. There is something to established structures that seem to defy the internet. But Bernie did raise $3 million on the internet for his performance.
++Ben Carson complained about the Cruz' campaign's dirty tactics for tweeting that he had left the state and was rolling up his campaign. I know it comes from Carson but Cruz' tactics should be looked upon as the primaries head down the pike. He just aired an ad in South Carolina about cuts to their military bases that he blames on Obama but he was instrumental in getting passed and was an advocate of the base closures.
++Something to remember. Senator John F. Kennedy was 1960, Senator Barack Obama was 2008. Those are the only two Senators in post-WWII history that made the White House. Don't get too excited about Marco Rubio.
++Marco wants to go after Trump in New Hampshire with personal stuff. I'm sure JEB! would oblige filling in the details for the Donald. Donors are trying to press JEB! not to attack Marco because his now the establishment wunderkind. But it's now personal and Jeb actually thinks he can make a comeback--really?
++The Beltway punditry are playing "Who's next to leave?" Santorum,Gillmore and Fiorina. But Christie,Kasich,Bush are gunning to place in New Hampshire and have enough cash left for then. Ben will go --maybe in a way we will not notice.
++Hillary has a problem with her donors. Almost half have tapped out at their maximum. Rumors have her pulling resources out of New Hampshire and putting them in South Carolina and Nevada.
++Her ad with Eric Holder in South Carolina is very effective and should sheer up her African-American vote. In Iowa,where there is a minuscule African-American community, she won 57% over Sanders.
++The Young Turks are the newest stars of election commentary. They said that Martin O'Malley has to endorse sooner rather than later if he is to have any impact on the race.
++Bernie Sanders will agree to the Thursday debate if Hillary agrees to more. It would be the first Mano y Mano debate of this cycle.
Showing posts with label Hillary Clinton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hillary Clinton. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Friday, July 31, 2015
Now What Is It About Hillary I Am Not Supposed To Like
++The 21st Century Hillary scandals are too esoteric for me to understand. Classified documents on her server--or is it the thumb drive held by her lawyer?
++#Benghazi! because Susan Rice and President Obama skated so they need a fall gal?
++She's a baby boomer. Definite negative in my book.
++She's a lawyer. Neutral in my book.
++She's waffling on Keystone XL Pipeline. Maybe should not tell her position because President Obama is going to make a definite decision before the next election.
++She's heavily financed by hedge funds and banksters. Possible negative.
++As the Donald says,"She was the worst Secretary of State" since…Warren Christopher? Doesn't wash.
++Bernie and Hillary are slugging it out. But Hillary in today's McClatchy polls leads every single GOP candidate. But the pollster says it is bad news because she has a higher named recognition than the others. She's polling at high 40s because she should be in the 50s since she should be considered an incumbent. Naw,it doesn't work that way.
++Her trustworthiness ratings have taken a dive over the e-mail kerfluffle. This will be the theme of the GOP attack on her in the general campaign. It is the only knock on her so far.
++Her foundation raked in millions which should have demonstrated conflicts of interest. However, all major media have backed off this angle because the book written about it panned out.
++Today she spoke about lifting the trade embargo and emphasizing that such an act is not rewarding Cube but enhancing the possibility of freedom coming there. Nice.
++The knock is that she isn't a great campaigner and is falling into her problems of 2008. Haven't seen it but it can be corrected.
++I've just heard fairly solid position papers that are not exciting but will give her a strong platform to run on.
++I still like her laugh--it has a quality about it that recognizes the ironic.
++So the last few months she has been running steady but not with a lot of flash. A nice thing is to look at the number of volunteers both Hillary and Bernie are generating. That bodes well.
++I'll wait for more anti-Hillary e-mails. So far they run back to the 1990s and the Clinton scandals but read as old news from another trivial time.
++#Benghazi! because Susan Rice and President Obama skated so they need a fall gal?
++She's a baby boomer. Definite negative in my book.
++She's a lawyer. Neutral in my book.
++She's waffling on Keystone XL Pipeline. Maybe should not tell her position because President Obama is going to make a definite decision before the next election.
++She's heavily financed by hedge funds and banksters. Possible negative.
++As the Donald says,"She was the worst Secretary of State" since…Warren Christopher? Doesn't wash.
++Bernie and Hillary are slugging it out. But Hillary in today's McClatchy polls leads every single GOP candidate. But the pollster says it is bad news because she has a higher named recognition than the others. She's polling at high 40s because she should be in the 50s since she should be considered an incumbent. Naw,it doesn't work that way.
++Her trustworthiness ratings have taken a dive over the e-mail kerfluffle. This will be the theme of the GOP attack on her in the general campaign. It is the only knock on her so far.
++Her foundation raked in millions which should have demonstrated conflicts of interest. However, all major media have backed off this angle because the book written about it panned out.
++Today she spoke about lifting the trade embargo and emphasizing that such an act is not rewarding Cube but enhancing the possibility of freedom coming there. Nice.
++The knock is that she isn't a great campaigner and is falling into her problems of 2008. Haven't seen it but it can be corrected.
++I've just heard fairly solid position papers that are not exciting but will give her a strong platform to run on.
++I still like her laugh--it has a quality about it that recognizes the ironic.
++So the last few months she has been running steady but not with a lot of flash. A nice thing is to look at the number of volunteers both Hillary and Bernie are generating. That bodes well.
++I'll wait for more anti-Hillary e-mails. So far they run back to the 1990s and the Clinton scandals but read as old news from another trivial time.
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Scatter-Shot Views
++Jeb changed his campaign team before his launch. While it was a shuffle,GOP insiders had complained that JEB had promised that he would be leading and then release his SuperPac Money Bomb and drown the competition and be the Inevitable One.
++Problem is that his money bomb isn't going to make the $100 million number when he launches.
++His digital communications quite because he claimed that Jeb in going to go heavy into television ads. The model for his campaign is his brother's 1999 campaign where George W. convinced his party there could be nothing but surrender to his candidacy.
++Rachel Maddow interviewed Lincoln Chaffee on his unorthodox career but stumbled on a weird fact. Lincoln lived in the same dorm with Jeb at Andover and knew him early in his career. Chaffee broke with the Republicans because he could not trust W. Chaffee actually visited the CIA and was briefed as Senator on WMDs in Iraq and came away saying there was nothing there. Consequently he voted against the Iraq War and ,as he told Rachel,someone has to stand against perpetual war.
++Mike Gerson said that it is true Rand Paul's campaign is in total disarray but that any GOP candidate is only one debate away becoming a contender. But Paul has also pissed off his colleagues on the NSA issue because they accuse him of lying about the surveillance program and trying to get credit about the bill that was passed even though he had nothing to do with it.
++Ted Cruz held a mock hearing inviting HHS officials to debate Obama subsidies. The Department declined because the subject was being litigated/
++The GOP is ramping up its anti Obamacare rhetoric. They claim they have a substitute if the government loses at SCOTUS but even here there was in complete shambles.
++Steve Benen at MaddowBlog writes about President Obama doing a victory lap over Obamacare. The President's point was not only that it registered millions and drastically reduced the uninsured,it effectively is now the American health insurance system five years later. He knows a Supreme court ruling would not only take health insurance away from 6 million and lead to 9,000 deaths per year but that the whole system would be jeopardized.
++Marco Rubio has been drawing criticism for his erratic personal finances. This time it is about his "unsinkable" boat he bought. Actually I think these stories don't hurt him because they make him human with chronic financial problems, something millions can relate to.
++The DONALD really is going to announce on the 16th and he told a Raleigh audience that they would be pleased. The Donald has a secret plan to defeat ISIS and he discussed this with the Pentagon who, of course, think it is brilliant. The Donald will be the job-creatorest of presidents because he knows who to do this. He is the only one who can save us now.
++The Hillary machine is getting into gear. Her kickoff in New York will be the official start-up of her 50 state organizing campaign. Yes, Iowa Democrats are crying for her to return. But I think they need the money.
++Former Senator Tom Coburn gave a frank interview with a conservative radio host and said he was horrified by the field of Republican candidates. He gave a person by person analysis . He favors Marco Rubio.
++Chris Christie wants to put a military option on the table against China. Think about that.
++Jeb gave his first strictly foreign policy speech and wants to get tough against Putin.
++Rubio gave a speech to say he would get tough against Russia and China.
++Scott Walker said he would re-invade Iraq.
++Chris Christie's Bridgegate problems won't go away as David Wildstein, his former aide, has given evidence against Christie. Christie is accused of leaking Grand Jury testimony. Bridget Riley is pissed at being thrown under the bus and is now suing for access to the Christie sponsored investigation that exonerated Christie.
++Ben Carson's campaign quit but his business manager Armstrong Williams says it's no problem. The various SuperPacs got into each other's way. He still polls well in Iowa.
++Nate the Great tells us we should not take the Wisconsin Straw Poll that showed Bernie Sanders at 41% too seriously. We didn't.
++Under the surface,various progressive websites do not recognize a reality about Hillary's campaign. She is locking up the permanent delegates like Democratic office holders, which play a key role at the convention. There are structural elements to her campaign like Obama's before hers that rarely get observed or mentioned. 50-state organization is key. Locking up delegates is another. Basically all Democratic-leaning think-tanks are in her corner. This doesn't leave alot of space for competitors.
++Problem is that his money bomb isn't going to make the $100 million number when he launches.
++His digital communications quite because he claimed that Jeb in going to go heavy into television ads. The model for his campaign is his brother's 1999 campaign where George W. convinced his party there could be nothing but surrender to his candidacy.
++Rachel Maddow interviewed Lincoln Chaffee on his unorthodox career but stumbled on a weird fact. Lincoln lived in the same dorm with Jeb at Andover and knew him early in his career. Chaffee broke with the Republicans because he could not trust W. Chaffee actually visited the CIA and was briefed as Senator on WMDs in Iraq and came away saying there was nothing there. Consequently he voted against the Iraq War and ,as he told Rachel,someone has to stand against perpetual war.
++Mike Gerson said that it is true Rand Paul's campaign is in total disarray but that any GOP candidate is only one debate away becoming a contender. But Paul has also pissed off his colleagues on the NSA issue because they accuse him of lying about the surveillance program and trying to get credit about the bill that was passed even though he had nothing to do with it.
++Ted Cruz held a mock hearing inviting HHS officials to debate Obama subsidies. The Department declined because the subject was being litigated/
++The GOP is ramping up its anti Obamacare rhetoric. They claim they have a substitute if the government loses at SCOTUS but even here there was in complete shambles.
++Steve Benen at MaddowBlog writes about President Obama doing a victory lap over Obamacare. The President's point was not only that it registered millions and drastically reduced the uninsured,it effectively is now the American health insurance system five years later. He knows a Supreme court ruling would not only take health insurance away from 6 million and lead to 9,000 deaths per year but that the whole system would be jeopardized.
++Marco Rubio has been drawing criticism for his erratic personal finances. This time it is about his "unsinkable" boat he bought. Actually I think these stories don't hurt him because they make him human with chronic financial problems, something millions can relate to.
++The DONALD really is going to announce on the 16th and he told a Raleigh audience that they would be pleased. The Donald has a secret plan to defeat ISIS and he discussed this with the Pentagon who, of course, think it is brilliant. The Donald will be the job-creatorest of presidents because he knows who to do this. He is the only one who can save us now.
++The Hillary machine is getting into gear. Her kickoff in New York will be the official start-up of her 50 state organizing campaign. Yes, Iowa Democrats are crying for her to return. But I think they need the money.
++Former Senator Tom Coburn gave a frank interview with a conservative radio host and said he was horrified by the field of Republican candidates. He gave a person by person analysis . He favors Marco Rubio.
++Chris Christie wants to put a military option on the table against China. Think about that.
++Jeb gave his first strictly foreign policy speech and wants to get tough against Putin.
++Rubio gave a speech to say he would get tough against Russia and China.
++Scott Walker said he would re-invade Iraq.
++Chris Christie's Bridgegate problems won't go away as David Wildstein, his former aide, has given evidence against Christie. Christie is accused of leaking Grand Jury testimony. Bridget Riley is pissed at being thrown under the bus and is now suing for access to the Christie sponsored investigation that exonerated Christie.
++Ben Carson's campaign quit but his business manager Armstrong Williams says it's no problem. The various SuperPacs got into each other's way. He still polls well in Iowa.
++Nate the Great tells us we should not take the Wisconsin Straw Poll that showed Bernie Sanders at 41% too seriously. We didn't.
++Under the surface,various progressive websites do not recognize a reality about Hillary's campaign. She is locking up the permanent delegates like Democratic office holders, which play a key role at the convention. There are structural elements to her campaign like Obama's before hers that rarely get observed or mentioned. 50-state organization is key. Locking up delegates is another. Basically all Democratic-leaning think-tanks are in her corner. This doesn't leave alot of space for competitors.
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Riddle Me This, Batman
++Bernie Sanders has a higher percentage in polls than all the Republican candidates. Higher than the first four who get constant media coverage. So why doesn't he merit at least the same coverage?
++Bernie has appeared in the last few days in New Hampshire, Minnesota and Iowa. His appearance in Iowa got rave reviews with Democratic activists.Party leaders say he will be a force in the caucus.
++Meanwhile the networks are debating whom to invite to the Republican debates. Fox is toying with making sure Carly Fiorina and Ben Carson are on even though Fiorina doesn't register in the polls. The idea is to say the GOP is diverse.
++While I read complaints about Hillary Clinton on the democratic websites about her not talking to the press and the Clinton Foundation donations,few have mentioned her fifty state strategy and that she has 250,000 volunteers signed up in Texas.
++The Clinton operation ,according to the New Yorker,believes it has weathered the early storms well from the e-mails to the Clinton donations and just sees blue skies.
++Martin O'Malley is speaking now but prior to his announcement he called Hillary. The question is whether Sanders,O'Malley, and Chafee can raise enough money to run effective campaigns.
++The new hybrid situation of Super Pacs and grassroots contributions muddy the waters.
++This is particularly true of Rand Paul, who suddenly has reverted to his libertarian roots to try and block the Patriot Act, which is due to expire tomorrow. Ed Kilgore in the Washington Monthly examined the fact that Rand has a money problem and needed to revert to his father's network for moolah because he didn't win a billionaire.
++Bernie has appeared in the last few days in New Hampshire, Minnesota and Iowa. His appearance in Iowa got rave reviews with Democratic activists.Party leaders say he will be a force in the caucus.
++Meanwhile the networks are debating whom to invite to the Republican debates. Fox is toying with making sure Carly Fiorina and Ben Carson are on even though Fiorina doesn't register in the polls. The idea is to say the GOP is diverse.
++While I read complaints about Hillary Clinton on the democratic websites about her not talking to the press and the Clinton Foundation donations,few have mentioned her fifty state strategy and that she has 250,000 volunteers signed up in Texas.
++The Clinton operation ,according to the New Yorker,believes it has weathered the early storms well from the e-mails to the Clinton donations and just sees blue skies.
++Martin O'Malley is speaking now but prior to his announcement he called Hillary. The question is whether Sanders,O'Malley, and Chafee can raise enough money to run effective campaigns.
++The new hybrid situation of Super Pacs and grassroots contributions muddy the waters.
++This is particularly true of Rand Paul, who suddenly has reverted to his libertarian roots to try and block the Patriot Act, which is due to expire tomorrow. Ed Kilgore in the Washington Monthly examined the fact that Rand has a money problem and needed to revert to his father's network for moolah because he didn't win a billionaire.
Monday, March 30, 2015
Tomorrow Deadline
++The State Department said that Iran had reneged on sending the uranium to Russia. Then later in the day it claimed this was an option.
++Russian foreign minister Lavrov left the meeting mid-day and said he would return tomorrow is a deal is ready
++Haaretz spent the day showing how Israel was heckling from the sidelines while the negotiators tried to develop the winning formula.
++Bibi said today that the United States had joined the Iran-Laussanne-Yemen axis.
++Very Republican of him. A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows that one-third of the GOP believes Obama poses the most imminent threat to the United States. 27% believe Khameni,25% Believe Putin,23% Assad. Obama is the champ at 34%.
++Vladimir Putin showed up in Egypt and expressed support for an independent Palestine with a capital in Eastern Jerusalem.
++The Arab states decided to create a single armed force to attack threats in the region.
++Josh Marshall at TalkingPoints refers to Bibi's concern that his coalition will alienate the world.
++Hillary Clinton said she wanted Israeli relations on a constructive footing.
++Congressional Democrats have been trying to talk Obama down from his animus toward Bibi.
++Congressional Republicans are in Israel getting an earful about the deal.
++There are only three elements remaining to the deal.But you never know. It could collapse tomorrow.
++Russian foreign minister Lavrov left the meeting mid-day and said he would return tomorrow is a deal is ready
++Haaretz spent the day showing how Israel was heckling from the sidelines while the negotiators tried to develop the winning formula.
++Bibi said today that the United States had joined the Iran-Laussanne-Yemen axis.
++Very Republican of him. A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows that one-third of the GOP believes Obama poses the most imminent threat to the United States. 27% believe Khameni,25% Believe Putin,23% Assad. Obama is the champ at 34%.
++Vladimir Putin showed up in Egypt and expressed support for an independent Palestine with a capital in Eastern Jerusalem.
++The Arab states decided to create a single armed force to attack threats in the region.
++Josh Marshall at TalkingPoints refers to Bibi's concern that his coalition will alienate the world.
++Hillary Clinton said she wanted Israeli relations on a constructive footing.
++Congressional Democrats have been trying to talk Obama down from his animus toward Bibi.
++Congressional Republicans are in Israel getting an earful about the deal.
++There are only three elements remaining to the deal.But you never know. It could collapse tomorrow.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
TraitorTots
++Bobby Jindal said this afternoon that he signed the letter to the Iranian leaders. Interesting. Is Tehran Tom Cotton going to circulate the letter to all aspiring GOP nominee?
++Hillary Clinton didn't take the bait at her UN press conference over the e-mails--which, in my opinion, was a nothingburger. She says the letter either was meant to help the Iranians or harm President Obama.
++Cenk Uygur of the Young Turks went "Unchained" for a segment blasting the GOP as pen pals for the Ayatollah. He said it was unprecedented that Congress would go to a leader of another country for advice and use that to criticize a sitting president. He said the letter was literally "burning up a peace treaty". He accused the Republicans of not loving this country but bathing in their hatred for President Obama.
++Sam Seder of the Majority report went after the Republicans as coming as close as you can get to violating the Logan Act. He lambasted Lindsey Graham, John McCain and Kelly Ayotte for signing this. He noted that much of foreign policy were executive agreements and that what the authors of the letter did was raise in question any agreements reached with the United States and any other country. He pointed out that the most restrictive economic sanctions against Iran could be lifted by the President himself. He pointed out that Iran would be put under a strict regime of inspection and that at the worse they would have one year to break out--that is ,possess enough uranium for One nuclear bomb.
++While Glenn Greenwald appears to back the letter,just saying that everyone should be allowed to disagree with President Obama,Intercept, the webpage he is editor of, noted that shortly after Tehran Tom released the letter he met in a private meeting with Defense Contractors.
++The Letter actually confuses those trying to restrain President Obama. What it basically says is do not make any agreement and keep on processing uranium. It is the same as Bibi's bizarre speech to the Iranian people about what a bad deal it is. So don't sign it because you'll be better off.
++Hillary Clinton didn't take the bait at her UN press conference over the e-mails--which, in my opinion, was a nothingburger. She says the letter either was meant to help the Iranians or harm President Obama.
++Cenk Uygur of the Young Turks went "Unchained" for a segment blasting the GOP as pen pals for the Ayatollah. He said it was unprecedented that Congress would go to a leader of another country for advice and use that to criticize a sitting president. He said the letter was literally "burning up a peace treaty". He accused the Republicans of not loving this country but bathing in their hatred for President Obama.
++Sam Seder of the Majority report went after the Republicans as coming as close as you can get to violating the Logan Act. He lambasted Lindsey Graham, John McCain and Kelly Ayotte for signing this. He noted that much of foreign policy were executive agreements and that what the authors of the letter did was raise in question any agreements reached with the United States and any other country. He pointed out that the most restrictive economic sanctions against Iran could be lifted by the President himself. He pointed out that Iran would be put under a strict regime of inspection and that at the worse they would have one year to break out--that is ,possess enough uranium for One nuclear bomb.
++While Glenn Greenwald appears to back the letter,just saying that everyone should be allowed to disagree with President Obama,Intercept, the webpage he is editor of, noted that shortly after Tehran Tom released the letter he met in a private meeting with Defense Contractors.
++The Letter actually confuses those trying to restrain President Obama. What it basically says is do not make any agreement and keep on processing uranium. It is the same as Bibi's bizarre speech to the Iranian people about what a bad deal it is. So don't sign it because you'll be better off.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Things I Missed While Finishing My Taxes
++I missed Vishnu Jindal showing up for the Governors' Conference and protesting outside the White House, saying that President Obama wasn't qualified to be Commander-In-Chief. Gee, I wish he told us six years ago.
++CPAC just opened up today and the Donald has really hired bona fide political consultants for a 2016 run for the GOP presidential nomination. Lots of Koch Brothers connected figures.
++Rand Paul is being hit because the GOP has gone militaristic. I'm sorry Andrew Sullivan isn't around to comment on the dwindling fortunes of one candidate he thought would appeal to millenials.
++PEW Research has come out with a poll that shows the GOP has ended its temporary isolationism. 67% want American ground troops in both Syria and Iraq. 71% of all primary voters want the same. And a stunning 74% say that only military options should be used to fight terrorism.
++The great Bill O seems to keep making things up. Now he saw nuns executed in El Salvador. Previously he had been the intrepid reporter in the Malvinas Islands. What next? He killed Patton himself?
++Yossi Cohen, Bibi's National Security Adviser, is still not a happy lad with Bibi's planned speech.
++Senator Menendez told John Kerry that the rumored Iran nuclear agreement will not work in "this universe", meaning the US Senate. So what are they going to do? It's not a bilateral agreement so what say does the Senate actually have?
++The Republicans in Idaho want the state to be declared a Christian state. Besides violating the constitution, wouldn't this offend Mormons whose God is on Kolob.
++The Georgia school system wants to screen D'Nesh D'Souza's film against Barack Obama.
++Hillary better clean up her donor picture before she announces. Too many foreign governments have given to the Clinton Foundation, when she was Secretary of State.
++The Big O gave a town hall meeting today and rocked the audience. You will be sorry when he's gone.
++When the Senate stops napping, Mitch McConnell will re-introduce the Keystone Pipeline bill because President Obama, in John Boehner's words, is too beholding to the extreme environmentalists. The Nebraska farmers were called anarchists by the GOP. Watch for the "terrorism" designation next. Bill McGibben watch out.
++I can't see how Boehner can get out of the Homeland Security problem. Maybe he is a genius we never recognized. Could we change the name of the awful Department! Homeland, Fatherland, Seig Heil. Let's get rid of it as Nick Gillespie argued in the Daily Beast.
++Chicago is getting ready to announce the site of the Barack Obama Presidential Library.
++Is we learning yet? Scott Walker has gutted the funding for the University of Wisconsin,following the trend of Republicans everywhere. Brownback in Kansas,Kasich in Ohio, Scott in Florida,and the list goes on.
++President Obama pulled a cute one today as he told a Latino audience that Jeb Bush should mediate between Mitch McConnell and John Boehner to get an immigration bill passed. Nice way to throw a bomb.
++I forgot John Matlock, Reagan's former ambassador to the Soviet Union, gave a speech which was covered by the Nation where he warned that Russia can't be considered a regional power because it has thousands of nuclear armed missiles. And we should take that into consideration even if John McCain is ashamed because of our response in the Ukraine.
++Times of Israel changed the header to a story where John Kerry roasted Bibi for his enthusiastic support of the Iraq War. Josh Marshall at Talking Points Memo chronicled how Bibi, while out of government, campaigned across America for the war. Josh ruled it a clean hit while the Israeli papers tried to mute it later in the day.
++Scott Walker has moved into 25% according to various polls measuring the GOP field. Ben Carson is second. Iowa will look funky, especially now that the Donald has Santorum's Iowa field coordinator.
++Hillary leads every single GOP candidate by a significant margin.
++CPAC just opened up today and the Donald has really hired bona fide political consultants for a 2016 run for the GOP presidential nomination. Lots of Koch Brothers connected figures.
++Rand Paul is being hit because the GOP has gone militaristic. I'm sorry Andrew Sullivan isn't around to comment on the dwindling fortunes of one candidate he thought would appeal to millenials.
++PEW Research has come out with a poll that shows the GOP has ended its temporary isolationism. 67% want American ground troops in both Syria and Iraq. 71% of all primary voters want the same. And a stunning 74% say that only military options should be used to fight terrorism.
++The great Bill O seems to keep making things up. Now he saw nuns executed in El Salvador. Previously he had been the intrepid reporter in the Malvinas Islands. What next? He killed Patton himself?
++Yossi Cohen, Bibi's National Security Adviser, is still not a happy lad with Bibi's planned speech.
++Senator Menendez told John Kerry that the rumored Iran nuclear agreement will not work in "this universe", meaning the US Senate. So what are they going to do? It's not a bilateral agreement so what say does the Senate actually have?
++The Republicans in Idaho want the state to be declared a Christian state. Besides violating the constitution, wouldn't this offend Mormons whose God is on Kolob.
++The Georgia school system wants to screen D'Nesh D'Souza's film against Barack Obama.
++Hillary better clean up her donor picture before she announces. Too many foreign governments have given to the Clinton Foundation, when she was Secretary of State.
++The Big O gave a town hall meeting today and rocked the audience. You will be sorry when he's gone.
++When the Senate stops napping, Mitch McConnell will re-introduce the Keystone Pipeline bill because President Obama, in John Boehner's words, is too beholding to the extreme environmentalists. The Nebraska farmers were called anarchists by the GOP. Watch for the "terrorism" designation next. Bill McGibben watch out.
++I can't see how Boehner can get out of the Homeland Security problem. Maybe he is a genius we never recognized. Could we change the name of the awful Department! Homeland, Fatherland, Seig Heil. Let's get rid of it as Nick Gillespie argued in the Daily Beast.
++Chicago is getting ready to announce the site of the Barack Obama Presidential Library.
++Is we learning yet? Scott Walker has gutted the funding for the University of Wisconsin,following the trend of Republicans everywhere. Brownback in Kansas,Kasich in Ohio, Scott in Florida,and the list goes on.
++President Obama pulled a cute one today as he told a Latino audience that Jeb Bush should mediate between Mitch McConnell and John Boehner to get an immigration bill passed. Nice way to throw a bomb.
++I forgot John Matlock, Reagan's former ambassador to the Soviet Union, gave a speech which was covered by the Nation where he warned that Russia can't be considered a regional power because it has thousands of nuclear armed missiles. And we should take that into consideration even if John McCain is ashamed because of our response in the Ukraine.
++Times of Israel changed the header to a story where John Kerry roasted Bibi for his enthusiastic support of the Iraq War. Josh Marshall at Talking Points Memo chronicled how Bibi, while out of government, campaigned across America for the war. Josh ruled it a clean hit while the Israeli papers tried to mute it later in the day.
++Scott Walker has moved into 25% according to various polls measuring the GOP field. Ben Carson is second. Iowa will look funky, especially now that the Donald has Santorum's Iowa field coordinator.
++Hillary leads every single GOP candidate by a significant margin.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Si Se Pudo
++Crowds had gathered outside the White House with signs saying " Gracias President Obama,the Public is with you". An emotional gathering of immigrants and their supporters to watch the President's speech on IPADS.
++One woman, not among the crowd,was arrested having an unlicensed 9mm and who the Secret Service said was not cooperating with their inquiries. The night before, another white male from Illinois was also arrested with a rifle and a truckload of ammunition.
++While the immigrant community is euphoric,the bitterness at a fine, eloquent speech has already seeped into the Washington Post. Former Bush speechwriter Gerson,claiming to be for comprehensive immigration reform slammed the President for not playing the political game on this issue. Trudy Rubin wrote a lengthy op-ed how President Obama's executive orders aren't legal, a point Gerson alluded to when he thought they went too far. These are the calmer ones, who have lost their mind.
++Chris Cillezza of the Post said this was the 2008 Obama re-appearing and that he had to stay 50,000 ft in the air because he couldn't get bogged down in the weeds.
++Jonathan Capehart, an Obama supporter, liked what he heard.
++Bloggers on the Democratic Underground posted the tweets from around the country of reactions from immigrants and their supporters.
++I'm already getting e-mails of various right-wingers proclaiming that Obama just ignored the elections, which were a repudiation of his policies, and now is bringing the country to the brink of civil war. A great deal of this attitude is because the black man didn't ask permission. His climate change deal with the Chinese,his release of 3 more Gitmo prisoners to Georgia and Slovenia, and now immigration is just too much for them.
++Hillary Clinton posted a big thank you to President Obama for taking this action. Trudy Rubin's piece wondered what her position would be.
++It's amazing really, how a moderate, rational speech will drive some people nuts.
++House conservatives are again in the impeachment mode with some even suggesting jail time for the President.
++For my part, I think he deserves a victory lap.
++Wait to you see in a few days if a deal is reached with the Iranian government over the nuclear program.
++One woman, not among the crowd,was arrested having an unlicensed 9mm and who the Secret Service said was not cooperating with their inquiries. The night before, another white male from Illinois was also arrested with a rifle and a truckload of ammunition.
++While the immigrant community is euphoric,the bitterness at a fine, eloquent speech has already seeped into the Washington Post. Former Bush speechwriter Gerson,claiming to be for comprehensive immigration reform slammed the President for not playing the political game on this issue. Trudy Rubin wrote a lengthy op-ed how President Obama's executive orders aren't legal, a point Gerson alluded to when he thought they went too far. These are the calmer ones, who have lost their mind.
++Chris Cillezza of the Post said this was the 2008 Obama re-appearing and that he had to stay 50,000 ft in the air because he couldn't get bogged down in the weeds.
++Jonathan Capehart, an Obama supporter, liked what he heard.
++Bloggers on the Democratic Underground posted the tweets from around the country of reactions from immigrants and their supporters.
++I'm already getting e-mails of various right-wingers proclaiming that Obama just ignored the elections, which were a repudiation of his policies, and now is bringing the country to the brink of civil war. A great deal of this attitude is because the black man didn't ask permission. His climate change deal with the Chinese,his release of 3 more Gitmo prisoners to Georgia and Slovenia, and now immigration is just too much for them.
++Hillary Clinton posted a big thank you to President Obama for taking this action. Trudy Rubin's piece wondered what her position would be.
++It's amazing really, how a moderate, rational speech will drive some people nuts.
++House conservatives are again in the impeachment mode with some even suggesting jail time for the President.
++For my part, I think he deserves a victory lap.
++Wait to you see in a few days if a deal is reached with the Iranian government over the nuclear program.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Coming Up
++Dianne Feinstein promises the Torture Report will be released after the Thanksgiving Break. Holding it up is a tussle between the Senate Committee and the White House over one last redaction.
++Does anyone think we will see NSA reform anytime soon. The filibuster worked against Pat Leahy's Reform Bill, which may not have been great but would have been an improvement over the status quo.
++President Obama's immigration executive orders may be overshadowed by the release of the Grand Jury findings in Ferguson, Missouri. Governor Nixon has already declare a state of emergency because the authorities expect no charges but rioting.
++Ready for Hillary! Sometime during the Holidays. it is expected that Hillary Clinton will announce her candidacy for President in 2016. It would be a boost or a distraction for Democrats who must ponder an incoming Congress dominated by the GOP.
++The GOP leadership is now struggling with the incoming crowd over the promise by Mitch McConnell not to shutdown the government. Already Senator Cruz and other GOP congressmen want to shutdown the government over President Obama's immigration orders. As a stop-gap measure, Cruz wants to hold up all Obama nominations--which includes about 25% of all embassy openings.
++Mitch McConnell promises the Keystone XL Pipeline will be one of the first things he will raise in the new Congress. If he wanted a job-creator, he could have passed President Obama's Jobs Bill, which would have created 1 million jobs, compared to 50 permanent jobs.
++Does anyone think we will see NSA reform anytime soon. The filibuster worked against Pat Leahy's Reform Bill, which may not have been great but would have been an improvement over the status quo.
++President Obama's immigration executive orders may be overshadowed by the release of the Grand Jury findings in Ferguson, Missouri. Governor Nixon has already declare a state of emergency because the authorities expect no charges but rioting.
++Ready for Hillary! Sometime during the Holidays. it is expected that Hillary Clinton will announce her candidacy for President in 2016. It would be a boost or a distraction for Democrats who must ponder an incoming Congress dominated by the GOP.
++The GOP leadership is now struggling with the incoming crowd over the promise by Mitch McConnell not to shutdown the government. Already Senator Cruz and other GOP congressmen want to shutdown the government over President Obama's immigration orders. As a stop-gap measure, Cruz wants to hold up all Obama nominations--which includes about 25% of all embassy openings.
++Mitch McConnell promises the Keystone XL Pipeline will be one of the first things he will raise in the new Congress. If he wanted a job-creator, he could have passed President Obama's Jobs Bill, which would have created 1 million jobs, compared to 50 permanent jobs.
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Hobby Lobby,SCOTUS,Same Sex Marriage
++Today the Stock Market edged nearer to the mythical 17,000 mark. Later this week we will have the jobs report and other economic indicators.
++The Blogosphere teemed today with thoughts, ruminations and widespread disgust at the Hobby Lobby decision and the Harris vs. Quinn decision.
++The Supreme Court issued a clarification on the Hobby Lobby decision by saying they really meant all 20 types of birth control for women were eliminated. Hobby Lobby issued their own statement that women would continue to receive contraceptive coverage, except for IUDs and Plan B. Having five Roman Catholic male judges decided on the sincerity of the religious beliefs of any plaintiff is appalling but also on the subject of women's health is mind-boggling.
++Americans by a two to one margin support the contraceptive mandate. 60% of independents and 78% of Democrats. Among those 18-34 years old it is 81%.
++It should be pointed out that the Supreme Court did not rule on vasectomies ,which are covered by health insurance and by Hobby Lobby. It should be remembered that in the 1870s, the first woman to pass the bar in Illinois was deprived of a job because the court ruled her place was in the home.
++The decisive vote appeared to be Judge Kennedy, who was led by the Hobby Lobby lawyers to believe that IUDs and Plan B caused abortions. The fact that phony science should sway a decision is amazing.
++Tom Hartman has several segments on the Supreme Court today. He pointed out that with Harris versus Quinn, the Roberts Court had a 100% record for voting against workers and trade unions. It has a 73% record of voting against minorities.
++Hillary Clinton expressed dismay at the decision and rightfully linked it to the desire of males to control women's bodies and health. She was pressed by the moderator that the bill used to justify the decision was the Religious Freedom Act signed by her husband. The act actually meant that someone could not force their religious opinions on another. That is that the individual would be more powerful than the more powerful entity. Judge Alito in his majority opinion opined that the government was coercing the company as opposed to the company coercing the employee.
++The amazing decision that a corporation has "sincere religious belief" called up again the Roberts Court attributing to corporations rights and privileges previously reserved for flesh and blood people. A guest on the Thom Hartman show suggested there really was a solution to this. Change the Dictionary Law. The Law defines all words that legal cases use. Under person, it lists among other things corporations.
++Judge Ginzberg in her dissent used Judge Marshall original definition of corporation, which had served American law until the Roberts Court. It should go back to that.
++Since the case was on a federal law, there are constitutional grounds for challenging the decision. If a group if women organized against it, they could challenge it on sex discrimination.
++A Male commentator said that Hillary Clinton was going after the Beyonce girl vote. Rush Limbaugh actually was taken back by the voracious attack on the decision at Scotusblog and Democraticunderground, expressing genuine fear of the intensity of the reaction.
++One of the saddest elements of the case is that the religious value that receives the highest value and worth in court concerns contraception and abortion. That is what religion has boiled down to on the Right.
++Meanwhile the momentum in same sex marriage continues. A federal judge ruled that same-sex couples have the right to marry in Kentucky, although stayed the decision until an appeal. That would make 20 states and D.C. to recognize same sex marriage. The state of Indiana was ordered today to legalized a marriage between two lesbians.
++The Blogosphere teemed today with thoughts, ruminations and widespread disgust at the Hobby Lobby decision and the Harris vs. Quinn decision.
++The Supreme Court issued a clarification on the Hobby Lobby decision by saying they really meant all 20 types of birth control for women were eliminated. Hobby Lobby issued their own statement that women would continue to receive contraceptive coverage, except for IUDs and Plan B. Having five Roman Catholic male judges decided on the sincerity of the religious beliefs of any plaintiff is appalling but also on the subject of women's health is mind-boggling.
++Americans by a two to one margin support the contraceptive mandate. 60% of independents and 78% of Democrats. Among those 18-34 years old it is 81%.
++It should be pointed out that the Supreme Court did not rule on vasectomies ,which are covered by health insurance and by Hobby Lobby. It should be remembered that in the 1870s, the first woman to pass the bar in Illinois was deprived of a job because the court ruled her place was in the home.
++The decisive vote appeared to be Judge Kennedy, who was led by the Hobby Lobby lawyers to believe that IUDs and Plan B caused abortions. The fact that phony science should sway a decision is amazing.
++Tom Hartman has several segments on the Supreme Court today. He pointed out that with Harris versus Quinn, the Roberts Court had a 100% record for voting against workers and trade unions. It has a 73% record of voting against minorities.
++Hillary Clinton expressed dismay at the decision and rightfully linked it to the desire of males to control women's bodies and health. She was pressed by the moderator that the bill used to justify the decision was the Religious Freedom Act signed by her husband. The act actually meant that someone could not force their religious opinions on another. That is that the individual would be more powerful than the more powerful entity. Judge Alito in his majority opinion opined that the government was coercing the company as opposed to the company coercing the employee.
++The amazing decision that a corporation has "sincere religious belief" called up again the Roberts Court attributing to corporations rights and privileges previously reserved for flesh and blood people. A guest on the Thom Hartman show suggested there really was a solution to this. Change the Dictionary Law. The Law defines all words that legal cases use. Under person, it lists among other things corporations.
++Judge Ginzberg in her dissent used Judge Marshall original definition of corporation, which had served American law until the Roberts Court. It should go back to that.
++Since the case was on a federal law, there are constitutional grounds for challenging the decision. If a group if women organized against it, they could challenge it on sex discrimination.
++A Male commentator said that Hillary Clinton was going after the Beyonce girl vote. Rush Limbaugh actually was taken back by the voracious attack on the decision at Scotusblog and Democraticunderground, expressing genuine fear of the intensity of the reaction.
++One of the saddest elements of the case is that the religious value that receives the highest value and worth in court concerns contraception and abortion. That is what religion has boiled down to on the Right.
++Meanwhile the momentum in same sex marriage continues. A federal judge ruled that same-sex couples have the right to marry in Kentucky, although stayed the decision until an appeal. That would make 20 states and D.C. to recognize same sex marriage. The state of Indiana was ordered today to legalized a marriage between two lesbians.
Friday, June 6, 2014
It really is Bergdahlzi
++Paul Ryan told Virginia Republicans that the House was going to "investigate" the swap for Bergdahl.
++The Senate Armed Services Committee is supposed to hold classified hearings on the subject on Tuesday.
++Whipping up Citizens United in New Hampshire, Rand Paul tweeted "Hey, Mr.President, trade five Democrats for Bergdahl." In his actual speech, he said, "Trade Hillary for Bergdahl."
++President Obama in his interview with Brian Williams on NBC news said he would do it again and will if another American soldier is held captive. He also said it was an unanimous decision by his principals and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
++Hillary Clinton told an astonished Diane Sawyer that she agrees with President Obama decision because the first principle is to try and get everyone left home.
++If I were any Democrats on these committees, I would produce Rinse Penis" "Impeach Obama for not bringing Bergdahl home" placards to show how this was going to go anywhichway the Right decides.
++To capture the Right's patriotic spirit, a Davy Crockett imitator rallied the Texan Republicans to an armed insurrection against dictator Obama.
++The Senate Armed Services Committee is supposed to hold classified hearings on the subject on Tuesday.
++Whipping up Citizens United in New Hampshire, Rand Paul tweeted "Hey, Mr.President, trade five Democrats for Bergdahl." In his actual speech, he said, "Trade Hillary for Bergdahl."
++President Obama in his interview with Brian Williams on NBC news said he would do it again and will if another American soldier is held captive. He also said it was an unanimous decision by his principals and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
++Hillary Clinton told an astonished Diane Sawyer that she agrees with President Obama decision because the first principle is to try and get everyone left home.
++If I were any Democrats on these committees, I would produce Rinse Penis" "Impeach Obama for not bringing Bergdahl home" placards to show how this was going to go anywhichway the Right decides.
++To capture the Right's patriotic spirit, a Davy Crockett imitator rallied the Texan Republicans to an armed insurrection against dictator Obama.
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Chock Full of Nuts
++This afternoon's Impertial Post allowed the voices of wingnuttery sway. We have Allen West write that President Obama doesn't understand the meaning of his own signing statements since West is such a great constitutional lawyer. George Will weighed in on how the President has gone rogue. Judge Michael Mukasy defends the great fortress Gitmo and laments the grotesque display at the Rose Garden and how the leaders of a terrorist group have gone free. The Judge thinks that President Obama doesn't understand the significance of what he has done.
++Marco Rubio earlier in the day said that President Obama was acting as an Emperor.
++The bottom-line since 2008 has been to impeach President Obama and to make sure he can not carry out any of his policies. There is no doubt about this.
++What you see are people seeing their worldview and the instruments they created to box in the President crumble around them. In a way,the disturbing trend of Post op-eds for the past two months on foreign affairs indicates this--an entrenched interest of the national security state trying to save the war machine and hype military interventionism at a drop of the hat.
++There is no alternative vision. They just think that if Obama disappears a return to the old foreign policy will materialize. What worries them is that the structures they depended upon to implement policies abroad are disappearing and can't be replaced. The Times They are A-changin' and they don't know why.
++Josh Rogin has written how Hillary Clinton had disagreed with President Obama over this deal two years ago--which is a different deal than in 2014. This really goes to the media elites still not accepting the legitimacy of President Obama. Hillary Clinton's view is the Democratic Party view. It reminds me of Lady Rothschild's lunatic ravings against President Obama. Hillary Clinton did say she approve this deal and ,yes, then sidestepped it more recently.
++This is a bizarre episode in American history. This is the first time there is a major fight--to the point of calls for impeachment--over a return of a POW. Ed Kilgore at Washington Monthly tries to run down the thinking on this as expressed by Lindsey Graham. So the bottom line is that the GOP must fight to preserve the last remnant of the George W. Bush years, the prison at Guantanamo, even if it means impeaching a sitting President of the United States. What an idea! The GOP admits Iraq is gone and soon Afghanistan. Lindsey said that Obama is "losing the wars". So the whole apparatus they have constructed over more than a decade is crumbling so the President must go.
++This is the normal retributions we saw after the Vietnam War, when the United States withdrew and the North Vietnamese won. The Nixon-Ford White House tried to blame the Democrats. In fact, there are Nixon papers outlining this strategy. Then blame the Left. Then blame Hollywood culture. A lot of the memes from today come from that period in our history. But for the GOP today,they see President Obama has the existential threat to everything they hold dear on the economy and national security. Expect more of this.
++Meanwhile,the gay roadrunners keep moving along. The Supreme Court rejected NOM's petition to hear their objections to Oregon's decision to allow same sex marriage. I couldn't understand what standing NOM had in the case since the Oregon Attorney-General made it clear the state did not want defend their ban on same sex marriage.
++This afternoon Chester Nez,the last of the original Navaho "Code Talkers" died at the age of 93.
++So we finish today in Washington with the desire to impeach President Obama on the following grounds:
1. Like his predecessors he rescued the last POW in Afghanistan.
2. He didn't save the Ambassador and colleagues at Benghazi when they were attacked by someone the Bush Administration released from Gitmo.
3. He had a terrible healthcare. gov website.
4. He ended two wars.
5. He adopted the biggest restrictions on carbon emissions in American history.
6. He didn't know that the IRS was evaluating Dark Money 501-C-4s. He should have if he were like Nixon.
So ending two wars,rescuing a POW and providing health insurance to millions of Americans. Like Fox Shrink Ablow said today, President Obama doesn't want to be part of America.
Sometimes I think they should impeach President Obama because it would give themselves something to do. But I can't imagine this crew even conveying the necessary fake gravitas.
++Marco Rubio earlier in the day said that President Obama was acting as an Emperor.
++The bottom-line since 2008 has been to impeach President Obama and to make sure he can not carry out any of his policies. There is no doubt about this.
++What you see are people seeing their worldview and the instruments they created to box in the President crumble around them. In a way,the disturbing trend of Post op-eds for the past two months on foreign affairs indicates this--an entrenched interest of the national security state trying to save the war machine and hype military interventionism at a drop of the hat.
++There is no alternative vision. They just think that if Obama disappears a return to the old foreign policy will materialize. What worries them is that the structures they depended upon to implement policies abroad are disappearing and can't be replaced. The Times They are A-changin' and they don't know why.
++Josh Rogin has written how Hillary Clinton had disagreed with President Obama over this deal two years ago--which is a different deal than in 2014. This really goes to the media elites still not accepting the legitimacy of President Obama. Hillary Clinton's view is the Democratic Party view. It reminds me of Lady Rothschild's lunatic ravings against President Obama. Hillary Clinton did say she approve this deal and ,yes, then sidestepped it more recently.
++This is a bizarre episode in American history. This is the first time there is a major fight--to the point of calls for impeachment--over a return of a POW. Ed Kilgore at Washington Monthly tries to run down the thinking on this as expressed by Lindsey Graham. So the bottom line is that the GOP must fight to preserve the last remnant of the George W. Bush years, the prison at Guantanamo, even if it means impeaching a sitting President of the United States. What an idea! The GOP admits Iraq is gone and soon Afghanistan. Lindsey said that Obama is "losing the wars". So the whole apparatus they have constructed over more than a decade is crumbling so the President must go.
++This is the normal retributions we saw after the Vietnam War, when the United States withdrew and the North Vietnamese won. The Nixon-Ford White House tried to blame the Democrats. In fact, there are Nixon papers outlining this strategy. Then blame the Left. Then blame Hollywood culture. A lot of the memes from today come from that period in our history. But for the GOP today,they see President Obama has the existential threat to everything they hold dear on the economy and national security. Expect more of this.
++Meanwhile,the gay roadrunners keep moving along. The Supreme Court rejected NOM's petition to hear their objections to Oregon's decision to allow same sex marriage. I couldn't understand what standing NOM had in the case since the Oregon Attorney-General made it clear the state did not want defend their ban on same sex marriage.
++This afternoon Chester Nez,the last of the original Navaho "Code Talkers" died at the age of 93.
++So we finish today in Washington with the desire to impeach President Obama on the following grounds:
1. Like his predecessors he rescued the last POW in Afghanistan.
2. He didn't save the Ambassador and colleagues at Benghazi when they were attacked by someone the Bush Administration released from Gitmo.
3. He had a terrible healthcare. gov website.
4. He ended two wars.
5. He adopted the biggest restrictions on carbon emissions in American history.
6. He didn't know that the IRS was evaluating Dark Money 501-C-4s. He should have if he were like Nixon.
So ending two wars,rescuing a POW and providing health insurance to millions of Americans. Like Fox Shrink Ablow said today, President Obama doesn't want to be part of America.
Sometimes I think they should impeach President Obama because it would give themselves something to do. But I can't imagine this crew even conveying the necessary fake gravitas.
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Forget March Madness--The Dodgers are undefeated
++The L.A. Dodgers opened the season in Australia with two wins over the Diamondbacks. If you want to read about how the Diamondbacks liked Australia,just check out the Washington Post. If you want to know about Clayton Kershaw's first win and the Dodgers,read the L.A. Times.
++It was a wild week. Yes, Fred Phelps is really dead.
++Fox News reports that 138% of Americans disapprove of the way President Obama is dealing with the Ukraine situation.
++Forget the secession of Crimea from the Ukraine,the most important story for art fans and those who like to drink coffee in Europe's first coffee houses is the vote in Venice. Venice voted 89% to separate from Italy.
++The second most important secession story is about the Vikings in Scotland or inhabitants of the Shetland Islands who sided with the Scots' independence campaign.
++Erick Rush said that President Obama killed everyone on board the Malaysian airliner as a jihad against China. Bill O'Reilly attacked cable news for focusing on the Malaysian Airliner because the tragedy deflected from the IRS scandal and Benghazi.
++CNN had a psychic on that said the passengers were still alive and she had been hired to communicate with those that had died.
++Do yourself a favor and read Michigan judge Bernard Friedman's opinion declaring the ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional. A Reagan appointee , he eviscerates the anti-gay defendants on the issue that marriage is for procreation. He unravels this argument by saying that the law makes no provisions for nullifying the marriage of those who do not have children and then he lists by class and race all those who might not be good parents. He argued that ,according to the defendants,only rich,well-educated,Asian-Americans should marry. Yesterday, he postponed the implementation of his running until Wednesday,putting hundreds of marriages in limbo.
++It was a great week for oil. It was revealed that the Koch Brothers hold 1.1 million acres of Tar Sands, making them the largest lease holder in Canada.
++It was also revealed that the FBI consulted with Transcanada on security threats to their proposed pipeline.
++ExxonMobil proclaimed that their billions of joint projects with Russia will go forward and that progress on the Crimean gas fields will be delayed until the situation settles down.
++Congress is urging that liquid gas ports be developed to export natural gas to Europe to undercut Russia. Th result would be gas prices would rise in the United States and the recovering manufacturing base in America would suffer.
++Russia is moving its focus on gas and oil to its Asian allies to alleviate the pain European and American sanctions will cause Moscow.
++The Ukrainian crisis has moved the United States to suggest there is an urgency to reaching a trade agreement with Western Europe. This would enable the United States to export natural gas and oil to Europe,
++House Republicans moved to prohibit President Obama from declaring any more national parts like he did in California. The reason--there could be oil on lands which he might be interested in.
++Hillary Clinton is said to have moved to the right of President Obama on foreign policy. More interesting is that yesterday, she urged that a grass-roots movement be created to fight climate change because that is an issue the next generation has to deal with. I thought 340.org was that movement.
++Vice Magazine showed a video on the melting of Greenland, which will result in a massive surge on ocean tides.
++Nate the Great Silver is back with his website on ESPN. Nate predicts that the GOP has a slight advantage in picking up the Senate this year. His previous prediction was that it was a toss-up.
++This is the week that Putin declared the annexation of Crimea to be official. So what does that mean to our relationship? The nuclear arms treaties remain in place, Syria has already gotten rid of half it chemical weapons, and ,despite promising to sabotage the P5+1 talks over the Iranian nuclear program, the Iranian foreign minister said all things were on track to conclude an agreement on time.
++President Obama's step-by-step approach to the crisis with Russia didn't win the hearts of war hero Bill Kristol but it had some interesting results. Belarus, of all people, announced it want to join the E.U. Standard and Poors downgraded Russian bonds. The OSCE agreed to send observers to the Ukraine and Putin agreed. The Ukraine signed the European Association deal. Unfortunately this will mean they will have to undergo austerity measures. And the plutocrats in Moscow lined up for hours to see Putin and complain about the sanctions and his actions in Crimea.
++Vice President Biden flew to Lithuania to reassure the Baltic States that NATO would defend them. Western observers felt that Putin would test Estonia and the Transdniestr region of Moldova in his new Lebenstraum. Poland has asked for more NATO forces in Central Europe and the United States has agreed to supply Ukraine with arms. Putin has mobilized troops on the Ukrainian border and seized Ukrainian military posts in the Crimea. The United States has expressed fears about an invasion of the Ukraine. The United States and the EU will hold a G-7 meeting in the Netherlands after Angela Merkel declared that G-8 was suspended for now, meaning Russia was exiled.
Nato's chief Anders Rasmussen said events in the last week have been a "wake-up" call.
++In Israel, Bibi has told the Israeli armed force to prepare for an attack on Iran this year. He has allocated $3billion to the program. His defense minister loudly complained that Obama's policy was weak and feckless. Israel bombed Syrian positions on the Golan Heights and raided the largest tunnel from Gaza.
++Pope Francis appointed his panel for investigating the "indiscretions of priests", meaning sex abuse.
++Uruguay announced there were accepting 5 prisoners from Gitmo.
++Bill Donohue of the Catholic League wants to march in New York's Gay Pride parade with a sign that says,"Straight is Great". The organizers agreed but Bill says they are putting too many conditions on his participation.
++Larry Sabato at Crystal Ball says Christie is dead and that the favored GOP presidential candidate is Jeb Bush.
++It was a wild week. Yes, Fred Phelps is really dead.
++Fox News reports that 138% of Americans disapprove of the way President Obama is dealing with the Ukraine situation.
++Forget the secession of Crimea from the Ukraine,the most important story for art fans and those who like to drink coffee in Europe's first coffee houses is the vote in Venice. Venice voted 89% to separate from Italy.
++The second most important secession story is about the Vikings in Scotland or inhabitants of the Shetland Islands who sided with the Scots' independence campaign.
++Erick Rush said that President Obama killed everyone on board the Malaysian airliner as a jihad against China. Bill O'Reilly attacked cable news for focusing on the Malaysian Airliner because the tragedy deflected from the IRS scandal and Benghazi.
++CNN had a psychic on that said the passengers were still alive and she had been hired to communicate with those that had died.
++Do yourself a favor and read Michigan judge Bernard Friedman's opinion declaring the ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional. A Reagan appointee , he eviscerates the anti-gay defendants on the issue that marriage is for procreation. He unravels this argument by saying that the law makes no provisions for nullifying the marriage of those who do not have children and then he lists by class and race all those who might not be good parents. He argued that ,according to the defendants,only rich,well-educated,Asian-Americans should marry. Yesterday, he postponed the implementation of his running until Wednesday,putting hundreds of marriages in limbo.
++It was a great week for oil. It was revealed that the Koch Brothers hold 1.1 million acres of Tar Sands, making them the largest lease holder in Canada.
++It was also revealed that the FBI consulted with Transcanada on security threats to their proposed pipeline.
++ExxonMobil proclaimed that their billions of joint projects with Russia will go forward and that progress on the Crimean gas fields will be delayed until the situation settles down.
++Congress is urging that liquid gas ports be developed to export natural gas to Europe to undercut Russia. Th result would be gas prices would rise in the United States and the recovering manufacturing base in America would suffer.
++Russia is moving its focus on gas and oil to its Asian allies to alleviate the pain European and American sanctions will cause Moscow.
++The Ukrainian crisis has moved the United States to suggest there is an urgency to reaching a trade agreement with Western Europe. This would enable the United States to export natural gas and oil to Europe,
++House Republicans moved to prohibit President Obama from declaring any more national parts like he did in California. The reason--there could be oil on lands which he might be interested in.
++Hillary Clinton is said to have moved to the right of President Obama on foreign policy. More interesting is that yesterday, she urged that a grass-roots movement be created to fight climate change because that is an issue the next generation has to deal with. I thought 340.org was that movement.
++Vice Magazine showed a video on the melting of Greenland, which will result in a massive surge on ocean tides.
++Nate the Great Silver is back with his website on ESPN. Nate predicts that the GOP has a slight advantage in picking up the Senate this year. His previous prediction was that it was a toss-up.
++This is the week that Putin declared the annexation of Crimea to be official. So what does that mean to our relationship? The nuclear arms treaties remain in place, Syria has already gotten rid of half it chemical weapons, and ,despite promising to sabotage the P5+1 talks over the Iranian nuclear program, the Iranian foreign minister said all things were on track to conclude an agreement on time.
++President Obama's step-by-step approach to the crisis with Russia didn't win the hearts of war hero Bill Kristol but it had some interesting results. Belarus, of all people, announced it want to join the E.U. Standard and Poors downgraded Russian bonds. The OSCE agreed to send observers to the Ukraine and Putin agreed. The Ukraine signed the European Association deal. Unfortunately this will mean they will have to undergo austerity measures. And the plutocrats in Moscow lined up for hours to see Putin and complain about the sanctions and his actions in Crimea.
++Vice President Biden flew to Lithuania to reassure the Baltic States that NATO would defend them. Western observers felt that Putin would test Estonia and the Transdniestr region of Moldova in his new Lebenstraum. Poland has asked for more NATO forces in Central Europe and the United States has agreed to supply Ukraine with arms. Putin has mobilized troops on the Ukrainian border and seized Ukrainian military posts in the Crimea. The United States has expressed fears about an invasion of the Ukraine. The United States and the EU will hold a G-7 meeting in the Netherlands after Angela Merkel declared that G-8 was suspended for now, meaning Russia was exiled.
Nato's chief Anders Rasmussen said events in the last week have been a "wake-up" call.
++In Israel, Bibi has told the Israeli armed force to prepare for an attack on Iran this year. He has allocated $3billion to the program. His defense minister loudly complained that Obama's policy was weak and feckless. Israel bombed Syrian positions on the Golan Heights and raided the largest tunnel from Gaza.
++Pope Francis appointed his panel for investigating the "indiscretions of priests", meaning sex abuse.
++Uruguay announced there were accepting 5 prisoners from Gitmo.
++Bill Donohue of the Catholic League wants to march in New York's Gay Pride parade with a sign that says,"Straight is Great". The organizers agreed but Bill says they are putting too many conditions on his participation.
++Larry Sabato at Crystal Ball says Christie is dead and that the favored GOP presidential candidate is Jeb Bush.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Morning Coffee
++Josh Marshall had a good piece yesterday urging "Caution" on the Ukraine. He argued that the Germans are looking at this more from the perspective of a WWI threat than Cold War. They have a point.
++The New Republic has a piece on why conservatives love authoritarian types. They quote George Orwell in his analysis on James Burnham,an early creator of National Review,about Burnham's almost fawning respect for Hitler and Stalin. Burnham also predicted that the West would lose WWII because of its hedonism, a theme that continues today about democracy's weakness.
++Henry Kissinger pontificates on his solution to the Ukrainian issue in today's Washington Post. Henry is more ponderous than Zbig's piece the day before but both aim at a Finland type deal with Ukraine maintaining its independence but with close links to Russia. As Henry points out,the Ukraine is where Russian civilization began.
++Andrew Sullivan Dish continues to provide the latest analyses on the Ukraine situation.
++It's only 10 days until the Crimea votes to become part of Russia--can't wait.
++E.J. Dionne blasts the Obama haters for the situation in the Ukraine but loudly proclaiming that what the US should do is what Obama is doing.
++Meanwhile, Cuba and the EU are going to hammer out a political accord which will also deal with human rights.
++You probably missed President Madura's televised answer to Panamanian artist Ruben Blades, who criticized the situation in Venezuela. Today Madura cut relations with Panama because they are "lackeys of the Yankees."
++Having survived the AIPAC conference,we now must survive CPAC conference. Today's big subject is how to deny climate change.
++In case you missed it. Hillary Clinton won the Presidency of the United States by saying Putin is like Hitler. Hillary knows how red-baiting always goes over well.
++Miss Lindsey again said--this time on the Senate floor--that Benghazi caused Putin to invade Crimea.
President Obama--Release the 6,000 Senate report on Detention and Torture by the Bush Administration.
++The New Republic has a piece on why conservatives love authoritarian types. They quote George Orwell in his analysis on James Burnham,an early creator of National Review,about Burnham's almost fawning respect for Hitler and Stalin. Burnham also predicted that the West would lose WWII because of its hedonism, a theme that continues today about democracy's weakness.
++Henry Kissinger pontificates on his solution to the Ukrainian issue in today's Washington Post. Henry is more ponderous than Zbig's piece the day before but both aim at a Finland type deal with Ukraine maintaining its independence but with close links to Russia. As Henry points out,the Ukraine is where Russian civilization began.
++Andrew Sullivan Dish continues to provide the latest analyses on the Ukraine situation.
++It's only 10 days until the Crimea votes to become part of Russia--can't wait.
++E.J. Dionne blasts the Obama haters for the situation in the Ukraine but loudly proclaiming that what the US should do is what Obama is doing.
++Meanwhile, Cuba and the EU are going to hammer out a political accord which will also deal with human rights.
++You probably missed President Madura's televised answer to Panamanian artist Ruben Blades, who criticized the situation in Venezuela. Today Madura cut relations with Panama because they are "lackeys of the Yankees."
++Having survived the AIPAC conference,we now must survive CPAC conference. Today's big subject is how to deny climate change.
++In case you missed it. Hillary Clinton won the Presidency of the United States by saying Putin is like Hitler. Hillary knows how red-baiting always goes over well.
++Miss Lindsey again said--this time on the Senate floor--that Benghazi caused Putin to invade Crimea.
President Obama--Release the 6,000 Senate report on Detention and Torture by the Bush Administration.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Quien Es Mas Macho?
++The Mayor of Sochi claims there are no gays in his city--only gay bars.
++The Marlboro Man died at the age of 72 because of respiratory problems.
++Bob Schaeffer laughed at Ted Cruz for saying Obama caused the government shutdown.
++Tom Perkins, a billionaire, said that the attacks on the Rich were the same as Kristallnacht. Really?
++Trey Radel ,Florida Republican, will resign from the House . He was caught buying cocaine from an undercover agent.
++Steve Stockman who has been absent from the House for the first 17 days blamed the media saying he was campaigning but no one saw him.
++Mike Huckbee says that women have to control their libidos and shouldn't expect Uncle Sugar to provide them with birth control pills.
++Texas candidate for governor, Wendy Davis is a "bad mother" according to the Republicans.
++Morning Joe Scarborough says that Hillary Clinton can't attack the GOP on the war against women because of Monica Lewinski.
++Newsmax says that "Hellcat" Clinton is in bad shape because of Benghazi.
++Rand Paul says that Bill Clinton exhibited predatory behavior against women and this will damage Hillary.
++Erick Bennett, the tea bagger challenger against Susan Collins, threatened to kill his wife and was charged with spousal abuse. These are positive things for his campaign.
++AIPAC has attacked Wendy Wasserman Schultz for not being pro-enough on Israel, although she has the highest pro-Israel voting record in Congress.
++Dinesh D'Sousa was indicted for violating campaign finance laws. He used both his wife and his mistress as fronts for his campaign contributions.
++Lamar Alexander's staff member who was busted for distributing child porn committed suicide.
++Kim Jong-un ordered the entire family of his uncle's executed.
++Chris Christie hired Patton, Boggs, the D.C. Law firm to defend him in his exploding scandals.
++Frank Rich in this issue of New York magazine proclaims Fox News dead and wishes liberals woud stop fixating on it.
++The Marlboro Man died at the age of 72 because of respiratory problems.
++Bob Schaeffer laughed at Ted Cruz for saying Obama caused the government shutdown.
++Tom Perkins, a billionaire, said that the attacks on the Rich were the same as Kristallnacht. Really?
++Trey Radel ,Florida Republican, will resign from the House . He was caught buying cocaine from an undercover agent.
++Steve Stockman who has been absent from the House for the first 17 days blamed the media saying he was campaigning but no one saw him.
++Mike Huckbee says that women have to control their libidos and shouldn't expect Uncle Sugar to provide them with birth control pills.
++Texas candidate for governor, Wendy Davis is a "bad mother" according to the Republicans.
++Morning Joe Scarborough says that Hillary Clinton can't attack the GOP on the war against women because of Monica Lewinski.
++Newsmax says that "Hellcat" Clinton is in bad shape because of Benghazi.
++Rand Paul says that Bill Clinton exhibited predatory behavior against women and this will damage Hillary.
++Erick Bennett, the tea bagger challenger against Susan Collins, threatened to kill his wife and was charged with spousal abuse. These are positive things for his campaign.
++AIPAC has attacked Wendy Wasserman Schultz for not being pro-enough on Israel, although she has the highest pro-Israel voting record in Congress.
++Dinesh D'Sousa was indicted for violating campaign finance laws. He used both his wife and his mistress as fronts for his campaign contributions.
++Lamar Alexander's staff member who was busted for distributing child porn committed suicide.
++Kim Jong-un ordered the entire family of his uncle's executed.
++Chris Christie hired Patton, Boggs, the D.C. Law firm to defend him in his exploding scandals.
++Frank Rich in this issue of New York magazine proclaims Fox News dead and wishes liberals woud stop fixating on it.
Friday, July 12, 2013
Deeper into the Summer Doldrums
++Spent four glorious days in upstate New York where thanks to Nelson Rockefeller,Hugh Carey,Mario Cuomo, and Andrew there exists a modern infrastructure. Who knew there was an Irish Catskills? The Mike Quinn Irish Cultural Center? Remember Mike Quill, the old corrupt union leader. All I could think about was when can I move to the North again.
++So how is the Republican rebranding going? Rand Paul is up to his eyeballs in a controversy that his spokesman and co-author of his book is The Southern Avenger, a man who toasts John Wilkes Booth on his birthday, thinks Lincoln is a monster, and that writes that the South should have won the war. Mike Huckabee traipsed down to Texas to speak for the anti-abortion bill, calling abortion slavery. Rick "Frothy Mix" Santorum followed the day after but he admitted he was confused. Louie Gohmart moved to strike all the Democrats' complaints about the House Farm Bill lacking foodstamps from the record. Rick Lowry and Bill Kristol wrote in the National Review that the House must kill the immigration bill. Mitch McConnell was raising funds off his remark that if Harry Reid eliminated the filibuster he would have "He Killed the Senate on his tombstone". Marco Rubio will not say the term "Obamacare". The House will repeal Obamacare again next week--38 or 39th time if you are counting. The North Carolina legislature voted an anti-abortion law as part of its motorcycle safety law. The net effect it would close 15 out of 16 abortion clinics in the state. Ted Nugent wants to run for President in 2016. Rick Perry already is with his visit to Israel next month. The Alaskan chairman of the state GOP says he has never met Sarah Palin or heard anything from her about her desire to run for Senate. Reince Preibus says he is totally down on the Cooch campaign for government, despite stories that the governor and the Cooch are corrupt as hell.There is still no House budget after 100 days.
++Now if you are banking on winning with a greater percentage of the white vote, why would you go out of your way to insult 51% of the white vote--the women? And if you are banking on winning back lower-middle class white voters, why are you cutting off all food stamps for the first time in 50 years when the bulk of those using them are no longer minorities?And why would you schedule a vote in the House to privatize Medicare, especially when your core constituency is the elderly?
++Pundits point to demographics as the problem with the GOP. But why would you go out of your way to starve your base and kill them off? A new report released by the Department of Health shows "death by zip code". If you are a male living in Marin County, California, you leave to 85, 81 in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia and 67 in Franklin County , West Virginia. If you live in a blue state, you will live at least ten years longer than the male in a Red State. And if your base of support is in the Red States, your base dies off 10-15 years earlier and minorities overwhelm them earlier. Red States have lower levels of education, lower levels of health, lower levels of income and higher percentage of children out of wedlock. This goes for whites as well as minorities. So why then do you campaign against healthcare, women's reproductive rights,and economic progress?
++While the Simpson-Bowles Catfood Commission recommended curtailing Social Security and Medicare and gutting the social welfare net because of the deficit, the United States just posted its largest budget surplus in its history. Will someone apologize to Paul Krugman who saw this all along?
++Quinnipiac has a poll that dispels the myth that President Obama is just not a good politician and can't get anything done. 51% believe gridlock is caused by GOP obstructionism, and only 35% believe it is because Obama can't persuade Congress to come together.
++On Immigration, no matter how you cut it, the majority of Americans and a large plurality of Republicans believe there should be a road to citizenship or at least immigrants should have the right to stay here. Only 28% of the overall sample and Republicans believe immigrants should leave the country. Watch this space because immigration is eventually going to get done--probably late in the year.
++ENDA, the bill to end discrimination against gays in the workplace, passed out of committee 15 to 7, with two Republicans. It is close to a majority in the Senate.
++The rash of anti-Obamacare ads are not really aimed at the healthcare bill per se but the expansion of Medicaid in Republican states. The scare tactics in the ad with the young mother are just that--none of the claims are true but the deeper goal is aimed at depriving the very poor of healthcare.
++Democrats are giddy over the Looney-Tune quality of the Republican positions now. But dreams of taking the House are far-fetched because the gerrymandered districts show Republicans in districts with only about 15% total minorities. So there exists no incentive for the House Republicans to do anything--at all about anything.
++Louie Gohmart has introduced at the behest of Focus on Your Family, Not Mine, a bill sponsoring proselytizing by evangelical Christians in the military. He claims Obama is biased against Christians.
++The Republican Attorney-General of Pennsylvania will not defend the state's anti-gay marriage law.
++The fight over filibuster reform is getting dire because the GOP does not want to fill spaces on legally constituted bodies like the National Labor Relations Board. The net effect when 3 conservative judges ruled Obama's recess appointments unconstitutional is that no labor law in the country can be enforced. This is also true for the EPA,and the Consumer Protection Agency, two other bodies the GOP hate. So the issue becomes can one political party in the minority actually gut the government because they don't like the legally created bodies? In the case of the 2nd Circuit Court, Senator Grassley accuses Obama of wanting to "stack"the court when all he is doing is filling the vacancies. Unless Mitch McConnell gives on this issue, watch for a showdown soon. It is basic politics that the winning Presidential candidate gets to nominate the persons of his or her choice as long as they are qualified.
++In mulling over current GOP strategy, I don't see how the GOP deals with Hillary Clinton, except to dredge up old Clinton scandals that no one remembers and in fact if they do, consider her a victim. She is a woman, who was the First Lady of a Slave State--Arkansas. So how does that work if you are depending on the white South?
++So how is the Republican rebranding going? Rand Paul is up to his eyeballs in a controversy that his spokesman and co-author of his book is The Southern Avenger, a man who toasts John Wilkes Booth on his birthday, thinks Lincoln is a monster, and that writes that the South should have won the war. Mike Huckabee traipsed down to Texas to speak for the anti-abortion bill, calling abortion slavery. Rick "Frothy Mix" Santorum followed the day after but he admitted he was confused. Louie Gohmart moved to strike all the Democrats' complaints about the House Farm Bill lacking foodstamps from the record. Rick Lowry and Bill Kristol wrote in the National Review that the House must kill the immigration bill. Mitch McConnell was raising funds off his remark that if Harry Reid eliminated the filibuster he would have "He Killed the Senate on his tombstone". Marco Rubio will not say the term "Obamacare". The House will repeal Obamacare again next week--38 or 39th time if you are counting. The North Carolina legislature voted an anti-abortion law as part of its motorcycle safety law. The net effect it would close 15 out of 16 abortion clinics in the state. Ted Nugent wants to run for President in 2016. Rick Perry already is with his visit to Israel next month. The Alaskan chairman of the state GOP says he has never met Sarah Palin or heard anything from her about her desire to run for Senate. Reince Preibus says he is totally down on the Cooch campaign for government, despite stories that the governor and the Cooch are corrupt as hell.There is still no House budget after 100 days.
++Now if you are banking on winning with a greater percentage of the white vote, why would you go out of your way to insult 51% of the white vote--the women? And if you are banking on winning back lower-middle class white voters, why are you cutting off all food stamps for the first time in 50 years when the bulk of those using them are no longer minorities?And why would you schedule a vote in the House to privatize Medicare, especially when your core constituency is the elderly?
++Pundits point to demographics as the problem with the GOP. But why would you go out of your way to starve your base and kill them off? A new report released by the Department of Health shows "death by zip code". If you are a male living in Marin County, California, you leave to 85, 81 in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia and 67 in Franklin County , West Virginia. If you live in a blue state, you will live at least ten years longer than the male in a Red State. And if your base of support is in the Red States, your base dies off 10-15 years earlier and minorities overwhelm them earlier. Red States have lower levels of education, lower levels of health, lower levels of income and higher percentage of children out of wedlock. This goes for whites as well as minorities. So why then do you campaign against healthcare, women's reproductive rights,and economic progress?
++While the Simpson-Bowles Catfood Commission recommended curtailing Social Security and Medicare and gutting the social welfare net because of the deficit, the United States just posted its largest budget surplus in its history. Will someone apologize to Paul Krugman who saw this all along?
++Quinnipiac has a poll that dispels the myth that President Obama is just not a good politician and can't get anything done. 51% believe gridlock is caused by GOP obstructionism, and only 35% believe it is because Obama can't persuade Congress to come together.
++On Immigration, no matter how you cut it, the majority of Americans and a large plurality of Republicans believe there should be a road to citizenship or at least immigrants should have the right to stay here. Only 28% of the overall sample and Republicans believe immigrants should leave the country. Watch this space because immigration is eventually going to get done--probably late in the year.
++ENDA, the bill to end discrimination against gays in the workplace, passed out of committee 15 to 7, with two Republicans. It is close to a majority in the Senate.
++The rash of anti-Obamacare ads are not really aimed at the healthcare bill per se but the expansion of Medicaid in Republican states. The scare tactics in the ad with the young mother are just that--none of the claims are true but the deeper goal is aimed at depriving the very poor of healthcare.
++Democrats are giddy over the Looney-Tune quality of the Republican positions now. But dreams of taking the House are far-fetched because the gerrymandered districts show Republicans in districts with only about 15% total minorities. So there exists no incentive for the House Republicans to do anything--at all about anything.
++Louie Gohmart has introduced at the behest of Focus on Your Family, Not Mine, a bill sponsoring proselytizing by evangelical Christians in the military. He claims Obama is biased against Christians.
++The Republican Attorney-General of Pennsylvania will not defend the state's anti-gay marriage law.
++The fight over filibuster reform is getting dire because the GOP does not want to fill spaces on legally constituted bodies like the National Labor Relations Board. The net effect when 3 conservative judges ruled Obama's recess appointments unconstitutional is that no labor law in the country can be enforced. This is also true for the EPA,and the Consumer Protection Agency, two other bodies the GOP hate. So the issue becomes can one political party in the minority actually gut the government because they don't like the legally created bodies? In the case of the 2nd Circuit Court, Senator Grassley accuses Obama of wanting to "stack"the court when all he is doing is filling the vacancies. Unless Mitch McConnell gives on this issue, watch for a showdown soon. It is basic politics that the winning Presidential candidate gets to nominate the persons of his or her choice as long as they are qualified.
++In mulling over current GOP strategy, I don't see how the GOP deals with Hillary Clinton, except to dredge up old Clinton scandals that no one remembers and in fact if they do, consider her a victim. She is a woman, who was the First Lady of a Slave State--Arkansas. So how does that work if you are depending on the white South?
Monday, March 18, 2013
What I've learned in the Last Week
++Gun registries will be hacked by China and then given to Mexico, according to Wayne La Pierre.
++Paul Ryan has to close over 6.5 trillion in tax loopholes to balance his budget in ten years.
++John Boehner agrees with Paul Krugman that we don't have a debt problem for ten years.
++Pope Francis really was for Argentina in the Malvinas war with Britain.
++A majority of Americans now think the Iraq War wasn't a good idea. Paul Wolfowitz claims it was badly managed. David Frum regrets it but not the phrase "Axis of Evil", his lonely contribution to the debate.
++The RNC released a report that a majority of Americans find Republicans scary.
++At CPAC the diversity panel debated the merits of slavery.
++Because they need some outreach, Republicans will support immigration reform. Both the Senate and House committees have completed their work.
++President Obama is going to end global warming by executive order according to the National Review.
++The Obama Administration is trying to feed alternative energy futures in pension funds for the military.
++David Pflouffe says that Hilary Clinton is the strongest candidate on either side for 2016.
++Hillary Clinton came out today and endorsed same sex marriage.
++ Over two-thirds of Southern Baptists believe same sex marriage is inevitable. What's nice is that over 3/4rds of those responding did not believe they should face discrimination in either accommodations for the celebration or hotel rooms.
++Evangelist Rick Bell came out and endorsed same sex marriage.
++Pope Francis does not. But he did choose the name after St. Francis of Assisi not the founder of the Jesuits. Interestingly he said he thought of all the wars when he chose the name, not the issue of poverty. Economically Pope Francis seems to be a Peronista. His first public speech called on the Church to serve the poor.
++Hugo Chavez will not be embalmed because the Russian technicians say he would have to stay 6-8 months in Russia for preparations.
++Vice President Madura wants President Obama to stop plotting against his opponents. The previous day he said that Otto Reich was planning to kill his opponent. Previous to that he said President Obama gave Hugo Chavez cancer.
++Pope Francis' parents fled to Argentina to escape Mussolini, the hero of Father Koch, the man who founded the Koch fortune.
++Cliff Kincaid told the CPAC audience that the Vatican had been infiltrated by Marxists and President Obama and George Soros had been manipulating the Papal Conclave.
++Iran has launched their first home-grown Destroyer into the Caspian City, a stunt which will please Vladimir Putin.
++Bibi Netanyahu is on his best behavior for President Obama,stopping settlement construction on the West Bank.
++Annie Leibowitz did her magic on Michelle Obama for this week's Vogue magazine.
++John Boehner, the second highest Catholic in the U.S. government, turned down the White House offer to send him and Joe Biden to the Vatican to greet the new Pope.
++Rob Portman decided to endorse same-sex marriage after his son came out. He assured his audience that the Romney camp said that he had not been turned down for Vice President because his son was gay. Wanna Bet. His announcement brought condemnation from conservatives who said that family matters should never change one's principles like in the case of, say, Dick Cheney who actively campaigned for same sex marriage in Maryland.
++Willard Romney told CPAC not to be pessimistic because the best is yet to come or some such pablum.
++Bill Kristol attached Rand Paul's criticism of John McCain and Lindsey Graham as ignoring 50 years of GOP foreign policy. The problem with Kristol's Weekly Standard piece was that it equated war with foreign policy.
++The Guardian and BBC magazine printed LBJ's tapes about Richard Nixon sabotaging the Vietnam peace talks in 1968. The tape was the subject of the quest of the Plumbers who brought about Watergate. Nixon feared that it would get out that he committed treason and had the Plumbers go to the Brookings Institute. Robert Parry did a good piece on this for the Alternative News Consortium.
++Rand Paul continued his family's tradition of winning the CPAC Straw Poll,edging out Marco Rubio and Rick Santorum.Conservatives will have to square the younger libertarians with the Tea Baggers. Not pretty.
++The big brouhaha on the Drone attacks may have come too late. It looks like this year's drone attacks are far less than last year and that the Administration is now trying to create a legal regime for future Presidents.
++The Right is upset that President Obama's endless campaigning will make him look like a Washington insider. Okay. Isn't that better than a Kenyan Muslim Socialist?
++But never fear Dinesh DeSouza is coming back to your screens with a second film about how Obama is destroying America. This should be as good as his last.
++The Easter Egg Hunt will take place at the White House despite sequestration. It is funded privately.
++George Will says that the issue of procreation is what will make the Supreme Court reject same sex marriage. Come again.
++Fans--like me--of Bayard Rustin are urged to sign onto the White House petition to award Bayard on his 101th birthday The Medal Of Freedom. DOJ had previously wanted to honor Bayard but after thousands and thousands of pages of wiretaps that seemed inappropriate unless accompanied by an apology.
++A young experimental percussionist who happens to have my last name surpassed his goal of raising funds for his debut album on kickstarter,com. Way to go!
++Jack DeJohnette, Jazz great, played at the Kennedy Center as part of his 70th Birthday Tour. Great and I hope the young percussionist has as accomplished a career.
++According to John Thanis in his Vatican Diaries, Pope Benedict secretly drilled into St.Paul's tomb to see whether any body was there. It was. Now who it was is open to debate.
++There must be a congressional recess because I haven't heard any nonsense all day.
++Paul Ryan has to close over 6.5 trillion in tax loopholes to balance his budget in ten years.
++John Boehner agrees with Paul Krugman that we don't have a debt problem for ten years.
++Pope Francis really was for Argentina in the Malvinas war with Britain.
++A majority of Americans now think the Iraq War wasn't a good idea. Paul Wolfowitz claims it was badly managed. David Frum regrets it but not the phrase "Axis of Evil", his lonely contribution to the debate.
++The RNC released a report that a majority of Americans find Republicans scary.
++At CPAC the diversity panel debated the merits of slavery.
++Because they need some outreach, Republicans will support immigration reform. Both the Senate and House committees have completed their work.
++President Obama is going to end global warming by executive order according to the National Review.
++The Obama Administration is trying to feed alternative energy futures in pension funds for the military.
++David Pflouffe says that Hilary Clinton is the strongest candidate on either side for 2016.
++Hillary Clinton came out today and endorsed same sex marriage.
++ Over two-thirds of Southern Baptists believe same sex marriage is inevitable. What's nice is that over 3/4rds of those responding did not believe they should face discrimination in either accommodations for the celebration or hotel rooms.
++Evangelist Rick Bell came out and endorsed same sex marriage.
++Pope Francis does not. But he did choose the name after St. Francis of Assisi not the founder of the Jesuits. Interestingly he said he thought of all the wars when he chose the name, not the issue of poverty. Economically Pope Francis seems to be a Peronista. His first public speech called on the Church to serve the poor.
++Hugo Chavez will not be embalmed because the Russian technicians say he would have to stay 6-8 months in Russia for preparations.
++Vice President Madura wants President Obama to stop plotting against his opponents. The previous day he said that Otto Reich was planning to kill his opponent. Previous to that he said President Obama gave Hugo Chavez cancer.
++Pope Francis' parents fled to Argentina to escape Mussolini, the hero of Father Koch, the man who founded the Koch fortune.
++Cliff Kincaid told the CPAC audience that the Vatican had been infiltrated by Marxists and President Obama and George Soros had been manipulating the Papal Conclave.
++Iran has launched their first home-grown Destroyer into the Caspian City, a stunt which will please Vladimir Putin.
++Bibi Netanyahu is on his best behavior for President Obama,stopping settlement construction on the West Bank.
++Annie Leibowitz did her magic on Michelle Obama for this week's Vogue magazine.
++John Boehner, the second highest Catholic in the U.S. government, turned down the White House offer to send him and Joe Biden to the Vatican to greet the new Pope.
++Rob Portman decided to endorse same-sex marriage after his son came out. He assured his audience that the Romney camp said that he had not been turned down for Vice President because his son was gay. Wanna Bet. His announcement brought condemnation from conservatives who said that family matters should never change one's principles like in the case of, say, Dick Cheney who actively campaigned for same sex marriage in Maryland.
++Willard Romney told CPAC not to be pessimistic because the best is yet to come or some such pablum.
++Bill Kristol attached Rand Paul's criticism of John McCain and Lindsey Graham as ignoring 50 years of GOP foreign policy. The problem with Kristol's Weekly Standard piece was that it equated war with foreign policy.
++The Guardian and BBC magazine printed LBJ's tapes about Richard Nixon sabotaging the Vietnam peace talks in 1968. The tape was the subject of the quest of the Plumbers who brought about Watergate. Nixon feared that it would get out that he committed treason and had the Plumbers go to the Brookings Institute. Robert Parry did a good piece on this for the Alternative News Consortium.
++Rand Paul continued his family's tradition of winning the CPAC Straw Poll,edging out Marco Rubio and Rick Santorum.Conservatives will have to square the younger libertarians with the Tea Baggers. Not pretty.
++The big brouhaha on the Drone attacks may have come too late. It looks like this year's drone attacks are far less than last year and that the Administration is now trying to create a legal regime for future Presidents.
++The Right is upset that President Obama's endless campaigning will make him look like a Washington insider. Okay. Isn't that better than a Kenyan Muslim Socialist?
++But never fear Dinesh DeSouza is coming back to your screens with a second film about how Obama is destroying America. This should be as good as his last.
++The Easter Egg Hunt will take place at the White House despite sequestration. It is funded privately.
++George Will says that the issue of procreation is what will make the Supreme Court reject same sex marriage. Come again.
++Fans--like me--of Bayard Rustin are urged to sign onto the White House petition to award Bayard on his 101th birthday The Medal Of Freedom. DOJ had previously wanted to honor Bayard but after thousands and thousands of pages of wiretaps that seemed inappropriate unless accompanied by an apology.
++A young experimental percussionist who happens to have my last name surpassed his goal of raising funds for his debut album on kickstarter,com. Way to go!
++Jack DeJohnette, Jazz great, played at the Kennedy Center as part of his 70th Birthday Tour. Great and I hope the young percussionist has as accomplished a career.
++According to John Thanis in his Vatican Diaries, Pope Benedict secretly drilled into St.Paul's tomb to see whether any body was there. It was. Now who it was is open to debate.
++There must be a congressional recess because I haven't heard any nonsense all day.
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