Friday Talking Points [237] -- So Delightful
Well, the weather outside is not exactly frightful (it's a nice day where I live), but watching the politics of the week was certainly "so delightful." So many blowhards, so little time! "Let them blow, let them blow, let them blow!"
Ahem. Sorry, just trying to get in the holiday mood and all.
Where to begin? Let's see, Obama's job approval polling is not completely through the roof, but it certainly has scraped the ceiling. The Associated Press just released a new poll that has Obama at 57 percent approval, 41 percent disapproval -- a job approval level the president hasn't seen since Osama Bin Laden's death. Added to today's unemployment rate dropping to the lowest point since Obama has held office, and you've got to believe that the folks in the White House have plenty to celebrate this holiday season.
Adding to the delight is the spectacle of the Republican Party having what seems to be a collective ideological nervous breakdown, which has mostly been gloriously public. I wrote about this in a more serious vein earlier in the week, but it's hard to keep up with events, these days. John Boehner seems to be in a cage match with the Tea Partiers in the House, and Boehner's already won a few rounds by kicking out some committee members who wouldn't support him in the clinch of negotiations. The number of Republicans fleeing the Church of Norquist seems to be growing into a flood, but keep in mind blathering on a cable television show is one thing -- actually voting for compromise on taxes is quite another. So we'll see how that all plays out, in the coming weeks. Over in the Senate, a Tea Party leader decided to take the money and run, and Mitch McConnell actually filibustered himself in public. Aren't there laws against that sort of thing? Heh.
Actually, Harry Reid is showing an incredible amount of backbone on this very subject, vowing that the whole filibuster/cloture process is going to be reformed before the next Congress begins, but the details on which reforms he's going to back aren't fully out yet. In any case, Reid has woken up to the fact that the last time he threatened this -- and then backed down, after McConnell made nicey-nicey noises -- didn't turn out all that well.
Lest we not forget the comedic side of politics, it seems that the gang behind The Simpsons is getting more and more comfortable with short political satire, as they released a hilarious new video of Mr. Burns explaining the fiscal cliff to everyone. You may have to pause it, but the funniest bits in the background are the titles of the books scattered around Mr. Burns' feet (binders of women included), and the Statue of Liberty with a big sign saying: "Immigrants Welcome. Please Use New Jersey."
Also amusing are some of the counterproposals making fun of the secessionist ones at the White House's "ask us anything" page, including a plea that President Obama immediately begin building a Death Star in space, and one to support turning America into the "Megacity One" world of Judge Dredd.
In the "we're not sure if this is comedy or not" category, there's apparently a push for Obama to solve the debt ceiling crisis by minting two coins. No, seriously (we think?). The laws which specify what currency can be created are very strict on how many dollar bills can be printed, and how many coins can be minted from ordinary metals. But apparently there's a loophole for platinum coins, which was likely designed for those "collectible" coins sold on late-night television commercials. The thinking is: have Obama mint two coins out of platinum, both of the denomination of (are you sitting down?) one trillion dollars. Obama then deposits the coins in the Federal Reserve, and somehow (hey, presto!) the debt ceiling gets pushed down the road for the entire two trillion dollars.
Wait... wasn't there a Simpsons episode about a "trillion dollar bill" a while back? As we said, we're not entirely sure this isn't supposed to be a comedy routine, but more on the whole debt ceiling thing in a bit.
We're going to close this intro with two program notes. The first is that this column will have a break at the end of the year, for our two annual 2012 awards columns. The calendar is actually cooperating this time around, so the last two weeks in December will be pre-empted here, just to warn everyone. Lastly, we encourage everyone to show their support for this column over at my website's annual year-end pledge drive (with kittens!). We promise that this will be the only mention of this donation drive in these pages, because we get just as annoyed as everyone else at reading that sort of thing over and over again. Anyway, let's get on with the main parts of our show. Or, in keeping with our theme today: "Start the show, start the show, start the show!"
We had a few candidates for the Most Impressive Democrat Of The Week award this time around.
Harry Reid is looking pretty committed to (in some fashion or another) reform the use of the filibuster in the Senate, and Harry had fun with Mitch McConnell this week as well (which we'll get to, below).
President Obama is also looking pretty steely-spined this week as well, teaching the Republicans the lesson "elections have consequences," much to their dismay.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has seemingly gotten the Russians on board with drawing a bright red line in Syria on Assad's possible use of chemical weapons, which is an impressive diplomatic accomplishment.
Elizabeth Warren will likely win a future MIDOTW when she is officially (fingers crossed, everyone) named to the Senate banking committee, where she belongs. Oh, the irony, the banking lobbyists killed her chances at being the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (where she would have equally belonged, since she thought up the bureau in the first place), and now they are fighting hard to keep Warren off the committee which regulates their activities. If there is justice in the universe, Warren will soon be sitting on this committee, but for now we'll just give her (and everyone else named in this section) an Honorable Mention.
Our real Most Impressive Democrat Of The Week this week, however, is none other than Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner. Not only is Geithner Obama's point man on Capitol Hill for the fiscal cliff negotiations, and not only did Geithner apparently enrage Republicans when he first met and laid out the Obama plan, but Geithner did what is technically called "the full Ginsburg" last Sunday, by appearing on every Sunday morning political chatfest known to mankind, on the same day. Geithner was forceful, he was to the point, he laid down what Obama is going to accept and what he absolutely will not, and he also previewed the consequences of several courses of action for the Republicans.
Now, an argument could be made that Obama deserves this credit himself, and Obama is the one showing the real spinal fortitude in these talks. The case can indeed be made that Obama has finally learned his lesson on how to negotiate. But Geithner is the one out on the front lines of this fight. Geithner is doing something that Obama is famously loath to do -- meet with Congress, and hash things out. So far, Geithner seems to have retained the upper hand in this negotiating process. Which we feel makes him one whale of a lot more impressive than just being an errand boy trotting up to the Hill with instructions from his boss -- which Geithner has proven he is definitely not. Geithner's performance last Sunday only served to raise his profile in the talks even higher.
Which is why we are awarding this week's Most Impressive Democrat Of The Week to Secretary Tim Geithner. Keep fighting hard, Tim, we're all rooting for your success!
[Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner doesn't have a contact page at the Treasury site, so you'll have to send your congratulations to the White House contact page, to let them know you appreciate his efforts.]
We're not quite sure who in the Obama administration deserves this one, so we're just going to hand it to Obama for the time being. Today, the White House press secretary announced that Obama had taken the "Fourteenth Amendment option" off the table in the next upcoming fiscal cliff -- the raising of the debt ceiling. Maybe he's reviewing designs for trillion-dollar coins, who knows?
But, again, this is basic Negotiating Skills 101. You don't show your hand early. President Obama was masterfully freaking Republicans out last week, stating to a bunch of CEOs that he's not going to let Republicans hold the debt ceiling (and the American economy) hostage again, next year. As he put it, "I will not play that game." That's a forceful statement, especially when you consider that Republicans are going to be the ones with the deadline leverage, and not Obama. By stating he's not going to play, Obama left the Republicans wondering what he's got up his sleeve. The Fourteenth Amendment option was one possibility for causing Republicans to lose sleep at night for the next two months or so. By disavowing the option, however, Obama has reduced his arsenal by one potent weapon. If the Obama administration spokesmen had just played coy, Obama could have used the leverage in the upcoming fight. So for whomever decided to publicly throw in the towel on this tactic this week, we have a (Dis-)Honorable Mention. Now we're just left with multi-trillion-dollar pocket change to contemplate.
There are also troubling signs that Obama's Justice Department is considering a crackdown on Washington and Colorado's experiment with legalizing marijuana. The Obama administration has not said, since the election, how exactly they're going to respond. Pro-marijuana advocates have taken this as a positive sign, but this may not turn out to be correct. Since it's just rumors, really, we aren't even going to hand out a (Dis-)Honorable Mention, yet. But we'll be keeping a close eye on developments.
Instead... just because, for a few more weeks, we can... we're going to award the Most Disappointing Democrat Of The Week to the outgoing ("See ya!") Senator Joe Lieberman. We do realize that just last week we actually gave Joe the coveted MIDOTW, but that's not stopping us from giving him a MDDOTW this week. Joe, reminiscing about his time in the public eye, recently admitted that maybe he has a regret or two about slamming Barack Obama from the stage of the Republican National Convention in 2008. Gee, ya think, Joe?
He doesn't regret appearing at the convention, mind you, just that he personally ripped into Barack Obama on such a stage. For this non-apology, and with only weeks left before he becomes a private citizen once again -- much to the relief of Connecticut residents -- we award Joe Lieberman what will hopefully prove to be his last Most Disappointing Democrat Of The Week. This is Joe's twelfth MDDOTW, putting him in fourth place on the all-time awards list (right behind Ben Nelson's unlucky thirteen).
[Contact Senator Joe Lieberman -- quickly, before he's gone! -- on his Senate contact page, to let him know what you think of his actions.]
Volume 237 (12/7/12)
While the weather is still not very frightful here, we going to attempt to be at least insightful, how's that? Or maybe I should just give up on this theme. What do you think -- let it go, let it go, let it go?
Heh. Welcome to the part of the program where we try to cram the week's delightfulness into seven discrete talking points for everyone to use with abandon. Yes, you can try this at home! Without further ado, here are my talking points for the upcoming week.
Not a third rail anymore
This is a hugely enormous deal, although few have been pointing it out. For at least the past two decades, the Democratic Party has been terrified of supporting tax increases. Democrats were painted -- quite broadly and quite successfully -- by Republicans as being "tax-and-spend Democrats" for at least the past twenty years. This led to Democrats being afraid of their own shadow on the subject. Although few are pointing it out, this has now changed.
"After decades of shying away from the subject, President Barack Obama made history in this election, by running on raising taxes on the wealthy. He didn't have to -- he could quite easily have dodged the issue, as Democrats have been dodging it for all these years. Instead, he negotiated the tax portion of the fiscal cliff to happen at the end of an election year. By doing so, he placed the issue front and center for the entire election. Then he did an astounding thing -- he went out and ran on the issue. This may mark the end of Democrats treating tax increases as some sort of 'third rail' -- touch it and you die -- in elections and in speaking to the public. When we look back at it years from now, Barack Obama's re-election may prove to be a transformative event on the subject of taxes for the Democrats. Obama led, in a way no Democrat has done since at least the early 1990s."
The Romney plan
This came as a comment to a column I wrote last week, so I can't take credit for it myself. But it was so good, I just had to use it here.
"President Obama has put his plan to avoid the fiscal cliff on the table. The Republicans were shamed into putting their own plan on the table as well, but on examination, this plan looks awfully familiar. Unspecified loophole-closing, slashing the safety net for average Americans -- haven't we heard this plan very recently, in fact? From now on, the Republicans' offer should be called what it truly is -- the 'Romney plan.' Accurately naming it points out an uncomfortable fact for Republicans -- they just ran an election on this plan, and they lost. America is not interested in the Romney plan -- they soundly rejected it at the polls. Once Republicans realize this, negotiations will move forward a lot more quickly."
Elizabeth Warren's triumphant return
This one is worth mentioning, just to see conservatives get all apoplectic. If you try hard, you can get their faces to go all Christmassy, red and green. Heh.
"I see that Senator-Elect Elizabeth Warren is being considered for a slot on the Senate banking committee. This is kind of ironic, since the Wall Street lobbyists bent over backward to keep her out of a job regulating their behavior -- and now she'll be sitting there with the power to make them squirm in public. Just hearing one banking executive address her as 'Senator Warren' will make up for the battle they waged for years over her appointment to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau she conceived. It'll be through gritted teeth, which will make seeing it all the more enjoyable. Warren is eminently suited to be on the Senate banking committee, and I look forward to watching their hearings in the future. Just think -- if they had accepted her in a less-powerful position, it's likely she never would have even run for Senate in the first place. She should start her first question with a statement that she'd like to thank Wall Street for inspiring her run for the Senate, just to truly twist the knife."
Honey, not vinegar
I don't know how Rahm Emanuel is running his fiefdom of Chicago, but I'm certainly glad he's not in Washington anymore.
"I saw that President Obama had a meeting with progressive voices in the media, including Rachel Maddow and others from MSNBC, and other prominent media stars such as Arianna Huffington. This is a welcome change from the way the White House used to be run, when the only thing the, quote, Professional Left, unquote, got from the Obama administration was vile insults and profane epithets. Offering such respect as 'honey' is a lot better than Rahm Emanuel dishing up bitter vinegar on a regular basis, that's for sure."
Can't you go blind doing that?
Mitch McConnell would have won some sort of award this week, if the "Top Ten Conservative Idiots" weekly column series still existed over at DemocraticUnderground.com. I mean, you just can't make this stuff up, folks. So play it for all the laughs you can.
"It certainly was amusing to watch Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's antics this week, wasn't it? First he stands up and loudly demands the Senate vote on a bill. Harry Reid turns to him, shrugs his shoulders, and says 'OK, why not -- let's have a vote!' Which forced McConnell to begin filibustering his own vote! Nothing could have spotlighted filibuster abuse more than the Republican leader demanding a vote, and then filibustering it, on the same day. I mean, doesn't that sort of thing make you go blind, or something? Filibustering yourself in public?"
You betcha!
This one is sort of a do-it-yourself talking point, because there is so much material to work with. If ever there was a time for sneering derision, this is it, folks.
"I notice Senator Jim DeMint has decided to quit his job. Too bad for those constituents in South Carolina, eh? I guess pulling in the big bucks at a conservative think tank is more important than doing the people's business after all. You know, this reminds me of another Tea Party leader, so maybe it's time to verb-ize her name. Did Jim DeMint just 'Palin out' of his job? Did he just 'pull a Sarah' perhaps? Or maybe it's more appropriate to ask Republicans: how's that Tea Party quit-your-job thingie workin' out for ya now?"
Smoke 'em if ya got 'em
This last one is also a giant vein of comedic material, which both the mainstream media and the blogosphere has been mining successfully. Rather than go with the Cheech and Chong material, or the more-updated Harold and Kumar repertoire, instead we're going to force it back to our opening theme, thus making English teachers who love the proper essay format happy.
"Have you seen the video of the crowd of people sparking up joints under Seattle's Space Needle this week? Finally, citizens of at least one state are free to, as the voice recording the video puts it, smoke 'em if ya got 'em. So far, the Obama administration has been conspicuously silent on the new legality of recreational marijuana in Washington and Colorado. But silence doesn't equal acceptance, as rumors abound that the feds are considering cracking down. Polls show, however, that Americans don't want Obama to interfere with this democratic experiment. Instead of lawsuits and arrests, we have some advice for the Justice Department: Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow!"
-- Chris Weigant
All-time award winners leaderboard, by rank
Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
Cross-posted at: Democratic Underground
Cross-posted at: Democrats For Progress
Cross-posted at: Huffington Post
You still have dollar bills?
Sorry, I couldn't resist. We have to be better at something, you know.
:-)
And, she keeps reading along ... and ... OH MY GOD!!!
Okay ... okay ... okay. Sigh. I have calmed down almost enough to type ... the following ...
Chris,
I think I may have to frame the prelude to the MIDOTW award this week. I may even try to congratulate him at the link you provided, even though it probably won't go anywhere since I don't have an appropriate zip code. Heh.
Oh well, I'll just hope that all of your friends and comrades here and over at the HP will do so for me.
I can hardly wait to read the comments over at HP - I am optimistic that they'll all be positive because this much maligned and under-appreciated secretary of the treasury deserves some love, FINALLY, from the people for whom he has worked so hard over the last many years.
I shall retire tonight with a big ole grin on my face. :)
LizM [1] -
OK, but why name it the "Looney" then?
Heh.
As for [2] and [3], yeah I thought you'd like today's awards. Tim did good on Capitol Hill, and he was excellent last Sunday. I almost forgot about him today when trying to put together the weekly candidates, but when I remembered the "full Ginsburg" then it was obvious who deserved the MIDOTW, hands down.
:-)
Merry (early) Christmas!
-CW
Why the loonie? Well, I think it's important that a country's currency says something about its people and make a real statement about what makes them tick, dontcha think? :)
Seriously, we have just changed to a new and improved set of bills that have to be the most colourful and beautiful works of art masquerading as money on the planet. Just anyone try to counterfeit them, too ... no way, no how!
I can fully understand what prompted this week's MIDOTW award. :)
Why can't he be contacted at treasury? The last time I checked I'm sure there was a contact the secretary page, or something ...
In any event, Merry (early) Christmas, indeed!
Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!
So, when do you suppose the Huffington Post will publish this wonderful piece, on Saturday?
LizM -
Nothing could top (snerk) the French bills with a topless woman, IMHO. Now THAT's a piece of artwork on money! Heh. Or their "Little Prince" bill, that one was pretty cool, too.
Got a link to new Canadian bill designs?
As for HuffPost, they had to scrub the sentence begging for money before they posted it. Oh, well, can't blame me for trying... I think it's against one of their policies, so no hard feelings on my part... (they just posted it).
-CW
Um, forgot the links...
http://www.banknotes.com/fr154.htm
and
http://www.banknotes.com/fr157a.htm
Anyone familiar with "The Little Prince", check out the 50's front -- not only is Le Petit Prince on his planet on the face of the bill, but one of the security items is a multicolored-ink copy of the Prince's drawing of a snake which has swallowed an elephant, in the upper left corner.
Fun!
Although, in the first series, they actually spelled the author's name wrong (oops, added one accent too many...).
-CW
As for HuffPost, they had to scrub the sentence begging for money before they posted it. Oh, well, can't blame me for trying...
I was afraid of that. It seems to me that they allowed posts alerting people to your fundraising link last year. But, in any event, I shall be more discreet when doing so this year ...
I'll try to find the links, and check yours out, too.
Here's the link for the new Canadian bank notes, Polymer Series, 2011:
http://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/bank-note-series/polymer/
Chris,
Okay, I checked out the French money. It's not bad, as far as artwork goes. But, it's not nearly as colourful and we have far more in the way of bells and whistles ... and ghost faces, even.
All things being equal (who has not only a looney but, a tooney, too?), and with a few notes from each country in your hand, we'd win, hands down. I kid you not!
Or maybe it's more appropriate to ask Republicans: how's that Tea Party quit-your-job thingie workin' out for ya now?
Hey Chris- Did you also see Dick Armey left as the president of FreedomWorks?
And he picked up $8 million for leaving.
-David
p.s. I believe donations to the holiday fundraiser have been proven to stimulate the economy as they will be immediately spent on a new computer :)
Breaking News From the Financial Times of London:
The US and UK will announce today a strategy and process to end 'Too Big To Fail', once and for all!
Anyone care to guess who is largely responsible for this wonderful news?
:-)
Oops ... I forgot the link!
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/fd66d172-3fd4-11e2-b0ce-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2Ebj7aiV8
"It certainly was amusing to watch Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's antics this week, wasn't it? First he stands up and loudly demands the Senate vote on a bill. Harry Reid turns to him, shrugs his shoulders, and says 'OK, why not -- let's have a vote!' Which forced McConnell to begin filibustering his own vote! Nothing could have spotlighted filibuster abuse more than the Republican leader demanding a vote, and then filibustering it, on the same day. I mean, doesn't that sort of thing make you go blind, or something? Filibustering yourself in public?"
Why is that any different than Harry Reid voting AGAINST the bill during the ObamaCare/Tax debacle??
It's nothing but procedural garbage.. Ya'all don't seem to mind it when the Democrats do it...
Once again, the power of the almighty '-D'....
:D
Michale
0298
Why is that any different than Harry Reid voting AGAINST the bill during the ObamaCare/Tax debacle??
Don't tell me, let me guess..
"That's different"
:D
Michale
0299
Very cool, Liz. Thanks! That is a great story. Since it wanted me to sign up for a subscription ... here's a free link ...
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/10/business/us-u-k-failing-banks/index.html
-David
p.s. Michale- How come that Mitch McConnell story didn't show up in the liberal media? All the liberals I know seem to love it. How does this fit into your "liberal" media theory?
Because as a liberal, I can tell you I rarely see "liberal" news in the corporate media.
Michale- How come that Mitch McConnell story didn't show up in the liberal media? All the liberals I know seem to love it. How does this fit into your "liberal" media theory?
Simple..
Because it didn't really go down the way the Left is spinning it..
In other words, for the Liberal MSM to portray it as ya'all see it, they would have to out and out lie..
Which, as we have seen, it's not above the MSM to actually DO that.. Benghazi, Sanford Shooting, Bush National Guard papers are but a few examples..
But in this case, I guess the lie was a bridge too far...
Now, why didn't ya'all get giddy like this when Reid voted against the ObamaCare/Tax legislation??
:D
Michale
0300
Intelligence community: U.S. out as sole superpower by 2030
http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/12/intelligence-community-us-out-as-sole-superpower-by-151519.html
Yer doing a heckuva job, Obama....
:^/
Michale
0301
In other words, for the Liberal MSM to portray it as ya'all see it, they would have to out and out lie.
What's there to lie about?
Did he or did he not filibuster his own proposal?
And there's no mention of this in the corporate media because the mainstream media is not "liberal"
No mention. They never mention that McConnell has filibustered the Senate 348 times either (the most in history).
Why don't these simple facts appear anywhere?
I mean, it's pretty much a matter of record that McConnell filibustered himself. Not anyone's opinion. It just happened.
No ... liberal ... media ...
-David
Did he or did he not filibuster his own proposal?
He did, as much as Harry Reid voted AGAINST ObamaTax...
No ... liberal ... media ...
Seriously.. Even if your perception is accurate, do you HONESTLY believe that ONE instance of non-reporting does NOT a liberal MSM make???
I bet if you look, you can probably find a few more instances where the Leftist MSM did NOT report on a story that the Left loved..
However, for every one that you can point to, I can point to a DOZEN reportings that show the MSM is in the bag for Obama/Democrats/Left...
But, it's interesting to note..
You claimed in a previous commentary that your Left Wing friends LOVED the McConnell story..
Doesn't that negate your previous claim that the Left vs Right meme is a Right Wing construct?? :D
Can't have it both ways, David..
Either the Left vs Right meme is solely a Right Wing construct... Or the Left is equally guilty of pushing the Left vs Right meme...
:D
Michale
0302
BTW- Great article from some folks here in Ohio on how the media really works.
http://www.plunderbund.com/2012/12/10/john-kasich-paying-a-pr-firm-with-your-money-to-sell-you-his-turnpike-plan/
1. Conservative wants to privatize the Ohio turnpike
2. Conservative hires (with taxpayer money) a consulting confirm to conduct a study saying that privatization is recommended
3. Conservative hires marketing firm to put this story into the media
Media prints marketing story that goes like this:
1. There's a problem! Be very afraid!
2. A range of solutions exist and we need to all be very flexible
3. Our consultant (who we are paying massive amounts of money to) will tell us the best way to go
4. Guess what, our consultant confirms what we wanted - privatization is your best answer!
Just disgusting ... It should be interesting to track though how many news outlets print exactly what the marketing plan uncovered says.
-David
Even if your perception is accurate, do you HONESTLY believe that ONE instance of non-reporting does NOT a liberal MSM make?
If there were a liberal MSM, you can guarantee that story would have been in it.
And beyond that, it's rare that I ever see a "liberal" story in the corporate media. Take the one above about the Ohio turnpike.
What you will see in most Ohio media is the corporate story paid for by Governor John Kasich.
What I'm saying is that if you judge the media as corporate, rather than 'liberal', you can explain almost any story in the MSM.
However, for every one that you can point to, I can point to a DOZEN reportings that show the MSM is in the bag for Obama/Democrats/Left.
How do you explain then the things you choose to ignore?
Your flaw in logic here is that you're saying that for every piece of evidence I bring up, you have your own evidence which supports your conclusion.
I'm saying that both your evidence and my evidence support a theory of a corporate media.
-David
How do you explain then the things you choose to ignore?
My personal belief is that there are extra-terrestrials out amongst the stars and they are visiting us here on Earth..
Of all the UFO reports across the planet and across time, some 85% have been explained..
The fact that there is 15% that defy explanation lends credence to my belief..
You might be able to spin 85% of the MSM In The Bag For Obama/Democrats/Left stories..
The fact that you CAN'T explain the other 15% supports the claim that the MSM is in the bag for Obama..
In other words, your conclusion explains SOME of the facts...
Like I said, the ONLY conclusion that fits ALL the facts is that the vast majority of the MSM is in the bag for Obama/Democrats/The Left...
It's that simple..
Michale
0303
Just disgusting ... It should be interesting to track though how many news outlets print exactly what the marketing plan uncovered says.
{{{cough}}}Human Caused Global Warming Yet The Planet Is Cooling{{cough}} {{cough}}
:D
Michale
0304
Michale -
Um, yeah, Reid voting against healthcare reform was different, and you probably already know it.
Reid voted "nay" so that the bill could be brought up again under Senate rules. The bill was brought up again. It passed. Therefore, Reid got what he wanted, and passed legislation. His vote is unique (by Senate rules), because he's Majority Leader.
McConnell filibustered his own proposal because he was AFRAID IT WOULD PASS. That's the key difference, right there. McConnell was NOT trying to pass legislation, the entire thing was a dog-and-pony show from the get-go. In other words, nothing but pure politics. Now, McConnell is free to bring his bill back up again for a vote. How many quatloos you want to bet that he won't? Because he does NOT want his own proposal to pass -- the very definition of political hypocrisy.
But, like I said, I bet you already knew that.
-CW
McConnell filibustered his own proposal because he was AFRAID IT WOULD PASS. That's the key difference, right there. McConnell was NOT trying to pass legislation, the entire thing was a dog-and-pony show from the get-go. In other words, nothing but pure politics. Now, McConnell is free to bring his bill back up again for a vote.
That's not the story as I heard it..
The way I heard it, McConnell attached the vote for Obama's Budget to Transportation Legislation and Reid refused to bring the entire legislation to the floor because he knew that NO Senate Democrat would vote for it.
McConnell then offered to put forth Obama's Budget as a stand-alone vote and Reid refused..
Like I said, it's all in the spin... :D
When all is said and done, it's all procedural maneuvering..
Like Filibustering..
Republicans do it.. Democrats do it..
It's like complaining that the sun rises in the west and sets in the east... :D
Michale
0305
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-10/google-revenues-sheltered-in-no-tax-bermuda-soar-to-10-billion.html
Well lookie here..
To hear ya'all tell it, only Republicans use off-shore tax dodges...
Rumor has it, Obama is considering a GOOGLE exec for a cabinet position..
Wanna tell me again exactly HOW Democrats are different than Republicans??
I seem to have forgotten again, in the face of all the evidence to the contrary... :D
Michale
0306
Republicans do it.. Democrats do it.
A false equivalence which seems to be your new favorite tactic to justify extreme Republican tactics.
Senate Republicans and Mitch McConnell use the filibuster about as often as they drink water. Senate Democrats never, and CW or anyone else for that matter please correct me if I'm wrong, abused the system in this way.
-David
To hear ya'all tell it, only Republicans use off-shore tax dodges.
Please kindly show me where anyone here has ever said "only Republicans use off-shore tax dodges".
You can't.
That established, if you're willing to fight for ending these types of loopholes, I'm all for it.
No matter the company involved. My ask to you would be, stop pointing fingers and let's both put pressure on folks to end this practice.
Or ... I'll write my Congressman, if you write yours. Deal?
-David
Senate Democrats never, and CW or anyone else for that matter please correct me if I'm wrong, abused the system in this way.
Yea yea.. Democrats are pure as the driven snow.. It's all the evil Republicans fault..
For someone who tries to make the point that it's the Right vs Left issue that's the problem, you sure point a LOT of fingers at Republicans and defend a LOT of Democrats...
Michale
0307
That established, if you're willing to fight for ending these types of loopholes, I'm all for it.
Fine.. Then hold your Democrats as responsible as much as you do Republicans...
When was the last time you... When was the last time ANYONE here took Democrats to task for the crap that ya'all blame Republicans for??
If you TRULY believe that money/corporate interests are the problem, doesn't it make MORE sense to clean your own house first???
Tell your Democrats to set an example and THEN people like me might be more inclined to believe that the Democrat way IS the right way.
But as long as Democrats and Republicans are the same corrupt politicians, two sides of the same corrupt coin, I will always be correct in my equivalences...
Crooked and corrupt Republicans are NOT the problem this country faces..
It's crooked and corrupt POLITICIANS...
Until ya'all realize this one simple fact, NOTHING will ever get fixed...
Michale
0308
No matter the company involved. My ask to you would be, stop pointing fingers and let's both put pressure on folks to end this practice.
I'll be more than happy to do so...
Once you stop pointing fingers at JUST Republicans...
Michale
0309
Once you stop pointing fingers at JUST Republicans...
Of course, that was a euphemistic ya'all, not a you specific.. :D
Michale
0310
Senate Democrats never, and CW or anyone else for that matter please correct me if I'm wrong, abused the system in this way.
Let me ask ya'all something..
Do ANY of ya'all honestly believe that Democrats have a moral or ethical compunction about not using the filibuster to further their agenda???
Because, if any of ya do, I would DEFINITELY love to sell ya some swampland in Florida.. :D
I mean, seriously.. Let's face reality..
The only, I repeat.. The *ONLY* reason that Democrats don't filibuster as much as Republicans is because they are incompetent...
It's not a moral or ethical stance..
It's simply a question of competent capability...
You can bet, when the Dems find themselves in the minority (gods willing soon!! :D) they will attempt to be just as obstructionist as Republicans are...
Michale
0311
Yea yea.. Democrats are pure as the driven snow.. It's all the evil Republicans fault.
The simple fact is that no one has filibustered more than Republicans.
Make of it what you like.
Tell your Democrats to set an example and THEN people like me might be more inclined to believe that the Democrat way IS the right way.
How about if I write my Democratic Senator?
I'm sure there's a Republican in Florida you could write, no?
-David
It's not a moral or ethical stance.
It sure looks like one.
Especially because Democrats believe in finding common ground and working with people with different points of view.
While Republicans stated belief is selfishness and greed.
It sure looks like a reflection of moral view.
-David
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/9723401/Eric-Schmidt-declines-Obama-cabinet-post.html
Amazing...
Someone actually said "NO" to The Exalted One...
Betcha Schmidt finds that US Federal Regulators will crawl up his arse now....
"NOBODY puts Baby in the corner!!"
-Dean Winchester, SUPERNATURAL
:D
Michale.....
Especially because Democrats believe in finding common ground and working with people with different points of view.
Oh right.. Yea...
DEMOCRATS believe in finding common ground!!!???
I think I just threw up in my mouth a little...
Where is the evidence that Democrats are willing to compromise???
Non-existent...
Michale....
0312
The simple fact is that no one has filibustered more than Republicans.
ANd it's NOT for lack of trying...
How many commentaries did we read on here about how Democrats couldn't herd cats??
TONS....
Between Democrats and Republicans, Republicans have been more SUCCESSFUL at filibustering than Democrats..
THIS is true and factual...
It's not a question of morality...
It's a question of competence...
Michale
0313
0313
How about if I write my Democratic Senator?
I'm sure there's a Republican in Florida you could write, no?
When I see Democrats actually walking the walk instead of just talking the talk, I'll be happy to pressure Republicans..
Not before...
"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on ME."
-Scotty, STAR TREK, Friday's Child
Michale
0314
How about if I write my Democratic Senator?
How about for every public flailing of a Republican (or Republicans in general) you publicly flail a deserving Democrat (or Democrats in general)??
I would be a LOT more inclined to help ya'all castigate Republicans if ya'all would be more inclined to help me castigate Democrats.. :D
Michale.....
0315
Tell your Democrats to set an example and THEN people like me might be more inclined to believe that the Democrat way IS the right way.
You know it's funny. I always thought of you as more of a leader than a follower. I thought if you believed in something, you'd fight for it.
I guess I was wrong. According to you, you're a follower.
Sorry to hear that. It's ok, I wrote anyways. I prefer to do what I believe.
And lately, that's the problem with Republicans. Lately, I don't think they know what they believe.
-David
You know it's funny. I always thought of you as more of a leader than a follower. I thought if you believed in something, you'd fight for it.
I DID fight for it..
Back in 2006 and 2008, I voted DEM across the board..
Dems made me believe that they actually cared about this country and would do right by it..
What happened??
They screwed me over.. BIG TIME...
Never again...
If they want my vote, they are going to have to PROVE to me first that they can lead..
Until then, I'll do everything in my power to make sure Democrats don't screw up this country any more than they already have..
Now, let me ask you something.
You go on and on about how bad trickle down is... And you might even be right..
Why don't you go on and on about how GOOD the Democrats way is??
Answer: Because you can't..
And you can't because the proof is all around us that the Democrats way screws things up even more...
So, while you might be right that the GOP way is bad, you simply CAN'T make the case that the DEM way is the correct way to go...
Michale
0316
They screwed me over.. BIG TIME...
Oh yeah ... how? Seems if I recall another party was largely in charge during this period.
Why don't you go on and on about how GOOD the Democrats way is?
It's actually quite easy. Though I don't know if I'd call it the "Democrats" way. But signs of things getting better are all around you. Corporate profits are up. The stock market is up. Growth is happening again. And the unemployment rate is going down.
The wars are being wound down. We're spending less. And some amount of manufacturing is returning to our country.
Could it be better? Sure. It could be better if traction could be gained to help reform the system farther. This will require more pressure, however, on those who stand most to benefit from the current system.
And you can't because the proof is all around us that the Democrats way screws things up even more.
It sure doesn't look this way. Unless you only focus on the deficit. (Which btw- is why Republicans only focus on the deficit).
However, if you listen to economists, the time to worry about the deficit is not during the middle of a recession.
And it sure looks like they're right.
-David
And btw, things like this are good steps, but don't forget there's still a long ways to go ...
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/12/10/hsbc-said-to-near-1-9-billion-settlement-over-money-laundering/
Just because things are getting better, doesn't mean "too big to fail" isn't still around.
-David