Friday Talking Points [338] -- Obamacare Fails To Kill Jobs, Once Again
The February jobs report is out, and -- once again -- Obamacare has failed to kill all those jobs Republicans warned us about. But we'll get to all of that later, in the talking points, so you'll just have to wait for that.
Before we do get to how good the job market has become, let's take a quick spin around the rest of the week's political news. There were three major stories vying for media attention this week, so let's take a look at them first.
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu gave a campaign speech to Israel's citizens this week, an event which normally wouldn't have gotten much press coverage in America, except for the venue he was offered (which might be called "the world's biggest hustings"): the United States Congress. Most American media utterly failed to grasp what was really going on (Bibi giving a speech to win re-election as prime minister), which was kind of astonishing because it was really staring everyone in the face. All you had to do was look at the timing of the speech. If, as Republicans maintain, the speech was given for the benefit of the American people, then why was it scheduled so it could appear on prime-time television in Israel? Why wasn't it given in the evening in Washington, when American networks could choose to broadcast it live? The answer is obvious: because that's not really what the speech was about. It was given on Israeli time to an Israeli audience, because it simply wouldn't have had the same domestic impact if Bibi had spoken in the middle of the night, Tel Aviv time.
As for the content of the speech, Fareed Zakaria has been doing the best job of deconstructing Netanyahu's speech, pointing out the fact that he's been ringing the same exact alarm bell for a quarter-century now -- the last time Netanyahu spoke to Congress, he warned Iran was "extremely close" to getting the bomb, and warned: "Ladies and gentlemen, time is running out. This is not a slogan. This is not an overstatement." That was in 1996. Zakaria also helpfully pointed out this week that Bibi had pretty much no plan for what would happen next if the talks collapsed and no pact was reached, which is also well worth a read.
The second big story was essentially buried by the first. On the very same day Netanyahu spoke in the morning from the House podium (again: in the morning, for the benefit of the Israeli television schedule), John Boehner completely caved on the big fight over the Department of Homeland Security's budget. He got his caucus together and told them that anything other than passing a clean bill was nothing more than the sheerest delusional fantasy, which (predictably) annoyed all the Republican House members who are incapable of understanding what "not having a veto-proof majority" actually means. But Boehner was smart in his timing, you'll have to admit, because forcing the bill through right after the Netanyahu speech meant it received far less attention on that evening's news. This dampened the attention given to Democrats, who have known all along that passing a clean bill was the only possible option open to congressional Republicans in this particular fight. In the end -- just as everyone expected -- a bill passed with all Democrats and over 70 Republicans voting for it.
After the bill was signed by President Obama, even Ted Cruz (of all people) admitted the entire exercise had been folly all along:
Unfortunately, [the Republican] leadership's plan was never to win this fight. Since December, the outcome has been baked in the cake. It was abundantly clear to anyone watching that leadership in both houses intended to capitulate on the fight against amnesty. It was a strategy doomed to failure. It's an old adage in Washington: Never take a hostage you're not prepared to shoot. There was no chance, zero, that Republicans were going to fail to fund the Department of Homeland Security because Republicans care deeply about homeland security.
Which is, of course, what Democrats have been saying since Republicans demanded to have this fight in the first place. But lest you think Cruz has suddenly seen the light on the stupidity of holding hostages during such negotiations, he suggested instead choosing a different hostage next time: "[We] should have focused on the EPA, or the IRS or the Department of Labor. Now, those are departments which a majority would be prepared to allow funding to temporarily expire in order to use as leverage."
These next fights might come sooner than anyone thinks, Huffington Post reports, as the freshman hardliners in the GOP are eyeing "a transportation funding debate, a mid-year fight over the future of the Export-Import Bank, and a battle over raising the debt limit and approving a budget" to stage their next legislative tantrums. Not to suggest that the GOP is incapable of doing anything but lurching from self-induced crisis to self-induced crisis, mind you.
The third big news story out of Washington was the Supreme Court hearing another Obamacare case. I'm not going to try to wrap up all the analysis, but it looked pretty good for Obamacare winning another court victory. As Richard Kirsch helpfully pointed out, we should start using feline terms to describe Obamacare, because it now truly has had nine lives.
Republicans continue to insist (as indeed they have been doing for 50 months, now, since January of 2011) that should the Supremes rule against Obamacare, they'll have a plan in place to replace it before anything bad could actually happen. Some Republicans came up with a brilliant plan -- they'll just continue to insist that they've got a plan, over and over again, until people believe that it exists. Other Republicans are more fond of extolling the unidentified "freedom" of their non-existent plans. Ted Cruz, to his credit, actually put forward a bill -- more than any other Republicans have managed to accomplish, although the Cruz bill essentially just says "we'll return to the pre-Obamacare days except insurance will be sold across state lines, which will magically solve everything." Can't wait for the budget office to score that one, personally. But, ridicule aside, at least Cruz has the courage of his convictions, while all other Republicans are content to just chant the endless mantra "we've got a plan," until they're blue in the face. Instead of, you know, actually proposing a plan or anything.
OK, that's it for the big news. We'll quickly run through a few things you may have missed in the past week, and then get to the awards and talking points. And because we're already running long, we're going to use a bit of shorthand from this point on.
After Netanyahu's speech, Lindsey Graham stayed classy by personally attacking Nancy Pelosi for her looks. He did eventually apologize, sort of.
President Obama's third veto was upheld, as the Senate failed to overturn it with only 62 votes for the Keystone XL pipeline. This, remember, was the bill Republicans moved first because they thought they might be able to beat the expected Obama veto. Which means all the other ones they've got lined up are weaker -- which bodes well for the power of Obama's veto pen.
There was another important Supreme Court case heard, on gerrymandering, which didn't get the attention it deserved. States such as Arizona and California have had popular revolts against the partisan drawing of House district lines, and have instituted a non-partisan panel to redistrict the state every ten years. But this experiment to get rid of gerrymandering is now in danger of being declared unconstitutional.
There seems to be a group of triangulating "new Democrats" out there (in the mold of the old Democratic Leadership Council or perhaps the Blue Dogs) itching to push back on the Elizabeth Warren wing of the Democratic Party, apparently. The big question is which way Hillary Clinton will jump, of course.
The Alabama state Supreme Court announced it was more powerful than the entire federal court system on gay marriage, continuing to stand in the courthouse door over the issue. Stay tuned for further developments.
But, surprisingly, the most anti-gay political news is not out of the Deep South this week, but instead out of California, where a lawyer has paid his fee to put his initiative on the ballot for voters to decide. It is quite possibly the most odious legislation we have ever seen, which really takes some doing. The text of the ballot measure repeatedly refers to "sodomites" (it's even called the "Sodomite Suppression Act") and would institute a new penalty into California law:
Seeing that it is better that offenders should die rather than that all of us should be killed by God's just wrath against us for the folly of tolerating wickedness in our midst, the People of California wisely command, in the fear of God, that any person who willingly touches another person of the same gender for purposes of sexual gratification be put to death by bullets to the head or by any other convenient method.
It goes on to say that, should the state government fail to properly act, the citizens of the state could take it upon themselves to go around shooting gay people in the head, without fear of any legal penalty for doing so. Read the whole thing, it's absolutely breathtaking in its medievalism. Thankfully, though, he's got to gather 350,000 signatures to qualify the measure, which is not likely to happen.
That seems a good lead-in to note the fact that this week saw not only the 50th anniversary of the Selma march, but also the 100th anniversary of one of the most influential movies ever made (and, quite possibly, the most racist movie of all time). Yes, it's been a century since Birth of a Nation was screened at the White House for Woodrow Wilson (who approved of the movie, it's worth noting). This film gave birth to a new resurgence in the Ku Klux Klan, and even introduced the ritual of burning crosses to the organization.
In drug news, the "Cocaine Congressman" is back! He's opened an office to help other politicians navigate crises. Talk about the "voice of experience," eh?
Washington D.C. held a marijuana exposition, and the sky did not fall. Out in Utah, however, the Drug Enforcement Agency is apparently fighting hard to rid the land of the scourge of stoned bunnies (you cannot make this stuff up, folks!).
And we'll end with a much happier birthday -- this week marked the 226th anniversary of constitutional government in America. Yes, the first Congress under the United States Constitution gathered in New York City at Federal Hall. Unfortunately, they did absolutely nothing the first day. They couldn't, because only 22 of the 81 members showed up, and they didn't have a quorum. Another month would go by before Congress actually did anything. Starting a grand tradition of inaction (and long vacation breaks) in America. Happy 226th birthday, Congress!
We're going to go outside our regular zone this week, and award the Most Impressive Democrat Of The Week to a man who is not exactly a politician. Instead, he's a lawyer tasked with the responsibility of defending the executive branch's position in court.
Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli Jr. is this week's MIDOTW award-winner, for doing a much better job arguing the case for President Obama's interpretation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act before the Supreme Court than he did the last time around. In the previous case, in 2012, Verrilli was roundly criticized for his oral arguments, and for a while there it looked like he personally had doomed the case. This did not turn out to be the case, of course, but that didn't stop a whole lot of people from assuming it at the time (we even awarded him that week's MDDOTW, back in FTP [204], for his performance).
This time around, Verrilli did a much better job, from all accounts. He made persuasive arguments to both sides of the court, and earned a fair amount of praise for his efforts. Now, obviously, predicting the outcome of cases based solely upon oral arguments is a fool's game (just look at the last Obamacare case), because the high court takes much more into account than just what is said in the courtroom.
Even so, for admirably handling himself under an enormous amount of political pressure, Donald Verrilli turned in a very impressive performance indeed. By doing so, he went a long way towards redeeming himself for his earlier, less-impressive Obamacare arguments. Which is why he is this week's Most Impressive Democrat Of The Week.
[Congratulate Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli Jr. on his Justice Department contact page, to let him know you appreciate his efforts.]
This week saw an amusing milestone -- the first "Hillary is toast!" meme that went skittering around the cocktail party circuit inside the Beltway. Or perhaps, upon reflection, it doesn't qualify for "the first," since there was all that whispering back when she went on a book tour.
We can all look forward to dozens upon dozens of instances of this storyline cropping up over the next year or so, of course. They will all be presented as "scandals" and our guess is that none of them are going to affect Hillary's standing with the public much, if at all. So in our opinion, the whole email foofaroo doesn't even qualify Clinton for a (Dis-)Honorable Mention award. Colin Powell used a private email, and so did Hillary. So what's the problem? Sheesh.
However, we are going to have to go out on a limb somewhat when handing out this week's Most Disappointing Democrat Of The Week award. As is our custom, we fully reserve the right to retract this award later if legal vindication is achieved (it's always risky giving these awards for anything short of a full conviction in court or a full confession).
Even so, Senator Bob Menendez appears to be in quite a bit of hot water. The Department of Justice has leaked that it's about to bring criminal corruption charges against Menendez, for favors he performed for a friend of his, who also happened to be a big donor.
Once again, if the case falls apart and Menendez is vindicated, we will issue a formal apology and retraction. But for the time being, the magnitude of the situation was such that nobody else really was in the running for Most Disappointing Democrat Of The Week.
[Contact Senator Bob Menendez on his Senate contact page, to let him know what you think of his actions.]
Volume 338 (3/6/15)
Another month of good jobs numbers for Democrats to talk about. That's really all the intro this week's talking points need, come to think of it.
Almost 300,000 new jobs
Let's just start with the top-line numbers, shall we?
"Last month the American economy added 295,000 jobs, which beat the Wall Street expectations. When Barack Obama took office, our economy was losing 750,000 jobs per month, but now we just gained almost 300,000 jobs in a single month. Month after month brings good news on the economy, which makes it harder and harder for Republicans to spin things pessimistically. In spite of all their attempts to sabotage the recovery, the American economy keeps moving forward in the Obama years. I notice that the Republican candidates for president out on the campaign trail don't much want to talk about the economy anymore, because despite all their gloom-and-doom predictions, the recovery continues apace. Almost 300,000 American families are enjoying the benefits of a paycheck now who weren't a month ago, and it's impossible to say that's a bad thing."
Lowest rate since 2008
The next three talking points all point out the historical significance of where we are now. Again, we'll start with the most-watched number.
"The unemployment rate is now at 5.5 percent, and has hit the lowest point since the summer of 2008, right before the Wall Street crash. When Barack Obama took office, the rate was at 7.8 percent and climbing fast. Later that year, after passage of the stimulus, it finally topped out at 10.0 percent. Since that time, the rate has steadily fallen and if we get a few more good months it could soon hit 5.0 percent -- down by half since the dark days of 2009. While there is still room for improvement, we're getting to the point where the job market is much more friendly to job-seekers than to employers. And that's a real milestone, folks, because that's traditionally when wages start rising again."
3.2 million
This is a number worth bragging about, too.
"The United States economy has added over 3.2 million jobs in the past 12 months. That is the best one-year record since 1998. Yes, you heard that right -- last year was the best America has seen in the job market since Bill Clinton was in office. Over 260,000 jobs per month were added during the past year, on average. And those 3 million families have more money in their pockets to spend, which boosts the economy even further -- and results in more jobs added. That's pretty impressive, don't you think?"
Best streak since 1994
You don't even really have to use Bush's name to point out the difference between Democratic and Republican presidential records on the economy.
"Over the past 12 months, the economy has added more than 200,000 jobs each and every month. That is a pretty strong streak of job gains -- in fact, you have to reach back to 1994 to find a better record for a one-year span of time. The past year was better, month to month, than any year since Bill Clinton's second year in office. For all of the Republican naysaying, it seems the record is crystal clear: the job market does much, much better when there's a Democrat in the Oval Office."
Teen unemployment down
OK, this is cherry-picking to a certain extent, but then again these are talking points.
"Last month alone, teen unemployment fell a whopping 1.7 percent. That's in one month. It took the overall unemployment rate over a year to fall an equal amount, by comparison. But in February, the youngest job seekers saw their unemployment rate go down in a big way. And that's after a whole bunch of states increased their minimum wage -- something that Republicans warned would be a job-killer for teens entering the workforce. I guess they were wrong about that, eh?"
Europe not doing so well
This one really should be driven home for all the austerity-lovers.
"You know, when the world economy crashed in 2008, there were two paths to take. One was to invest a little in the future since borrowing rates were so low, to provide the economy the stimulus it needed to get better. The other was to slash budgets in an orgy of austerity measures. The United States mostly chose the former, and Europe mostly chose the latter. So how did that work out? Well, our unemployment rate is now 5.5 percent, while in the Eurozone it is more than twice that, at 11.2 percent. The austerity hawks were just flat-out wrong, in other words. Look no further than Europe to see the results of harsh austerity in the middle of a downturn."
Obamacare fails to kill jobs, once again
And we end where we began, disproving perhaps the biggest lie about Obamacare of all.
"For years now, we've had to listen to Republican predictions that the sky would fall if Obamacare ever happened. Their favorite modifier for the Affordable Care Act was, in fact, 'job-killing.' That 'job-killing Obamacare' was going to kill all the jobs, which would become painfully obvious to all when it was fully implemented. Well, guess what? Obamacare started in October of 2013, when the unemployment rate was 7.2 percent. Since then, the unemployment rate has steadily fallen to 5.5 percent. So where are all the dead jobs? Where are all those jobs massacred by the evil Obamacare? We keep waiting, month after month, for the dreaded job-slaughter by the Obamacare ogre, and month after month the jobs market keeps getting stronger. I notice that all the Republican Chicken Littles seem to have dropped the 'job-killing' modifier when they talk, these days. I guess that's as close as we'll ever get to an apology for them being so very, very wrong for so long.
-- 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: The Huffington Post
This will be a good set of t.p's... I Smell chum in the water or a heart attack about to happen.
The Sodomite Suppression Act seems nothing more than an attempt to mass distribute an incitement to murder on the basis of loose Biblical interpretations rather than California law. It's defining perfectly legal behaviors as sodomy. It's clearly meant to intimidate gays. Any talk of prosecuting this guy using CA hate crime statutes? A few days in jail might give him the opportunity to acquaint himself with the legal standard of sodomy. Repeatedly.
Didn't the NSA keep copies of HilRod's emails?
So what's the problem? Sheesh.
Apparently, it was a problem under the Bush Administration...
But I'll be happy to tell you what the problem is..
"Rules are for thee and not for me.."
That's Hillary's attitude and it will piss Joe and Jane SixPack off...
The second "problem" is for Democrats...
"Another skeleton comes out of Hillary's closet. Do we really need this??"
I am also constrained to point out that apparently even HILLARY thinks it's a problem. She moved up her timetable because of it..
Time will tell, as it always does.. :D
But I noticed you didn't mention all the foreign donations to Clinton Foundation during Hillary's tenure as SecState... Another thing that will piss Joe and Jane SixPack off...
Even so, Senator Bob Menendez appears to be in quite a bit of hot water. The Department of Justice has leaked that it's about to bring criminal corruption charges against Menendez, for favors he performed for a friend of his, who also happened to be a big donor.
Timing of this corruption charge couldn't be more coincidental for the Obama Administration..
These charges have been languishing for years, but NOW they become an issue, right when Menendez has been holding Obama's feet to the fire over Iran sanctions..
Coincidence?? Yea, right. If you believe that, I have some swampland I wanna sell ya : D
Michale
The third big news story out of Washington was the Supreme Court hearing another Obamacare case. I'm not going to try to wrap up all the analysis, but it looked pretty good for Obamacare winning another court victory.
To put this another way, even after Wednesday's arguments, neither side should count too many chickens too early.
http://www.chrisweigant.com/2015/03/02/obamacare-on-the-docket-again/#comment-57818
I'm just sayin' :D
Michale
As to the talking points..
Ya have heard the spin.. Now let's look at the facts..
92,898,000 Americans Not Working...
Labor Force Participation Rate at 37-Year-Low...
Record 56,023,000 Women Not in Labor Force...
Black unemployment rate nearly twice national average...
Net Employment Gains Since Recession Went To Foreign-Born...
So much for the GOOD news about the economy, eh??
Obamacare fails to kill jobs, once again
Thanks To Obamacare, A 20,000 Doctor Shortage Is Set To Quintuple
http://www.forbes.com/sites/sallypipes/2013/06/10/thanks-to-obamacare-a-20000-doctor-shortage-is-set-to-quintuple/
"Just the facts, ma'am"
-Joe Friday
Michale
Colin Powell used a private email, and so did Hillary. So what's the problem? Sheesh.
Sorry, but you are comparing eskimos and alligators..
Powell used a private email address thru a well known public company.. Yahoo, I believe. And he used it infrequently... There was obviously no intent to circumvent FOI practices..
Hillary set up her on email domain, using her on private servers and NEVER used anything BUT her private email address... The proves intent to evade FOI...
If THAT doesn't proven intent, then Hillary's own words would convince the political agnostic..
"As much as I am investigated, why would I use email?"
-Hillary Clinton
I know none of this will convince ya'all... For ya'all, there is absolutely NO scandals when it comes to the Obama Administration..
A college style hazing at an Iraqi prison filled with scumbags and terrorists?? Now THAT is a scandal...
But the IRS targeting conservative groups..?? Letting Americans die and then lying about the cause in Benghazi?? A SecState's Foundation receiving MILLIONS in donations??
Naaaww, none of those are "real" scandals..
Amazing how it's only Republican scandals that are REAL scandals..
Michale
TheStig [2] -
Yeah, I encourage anyone who thinks TheStig is somehow overstating the case to read the text of the proposed ballot initiative.
Whoo boy. It basically declares open season on gay people. And that's not an exaggeration at all. Read it.
Here in California. I just hope that my fellow state citizens refuse to sign the ballot signature initiative, and it never even makes it to the ballot. For shame.
John From Censornati [3] -
OK, now THAT was funny! Heh heh...
Michale [4] -
Yeah, Hillary will take some hits between now and when she announces, that's for sure, one way or another. But she's still polling far above any GOP challenger. So she'll probably survive...
As for Menendez, read the links. The case might not be as strong as it seems now. And I'll note that the only MDDOTW award for Menendez had to be rescinded later, so you may prove to be right on this one as well. Just didn't have any other Dem to ding this week (got any suggestions?), that's all.
[5] -
Touché! Heh. No really, that's a hit below the waterline. I stand corrected. We'll all find out in June, won't we?
[6] -
Yeah, but I dont' think the GOP will be running on "Obama screwed the economy and jobs market up" next year. That's just a gut feeling, mind you.
:-)
[7] -
OK, now you're just descending to a newly-identified disease: Hillary Derangement Syndrome. You could be "Patient Zero"! Heh.
My main point (I almost included a few GOP examples, like Walker's disastrous London appearance) was that this far out, NOTHING is actually "disqualifying" in the presidential race. Barring, of course, the proverbial "dead girl or a live boy" type of scandal...
You are right, though, I should have balanced it with a GOP example or two. It's just too damn early...
-CW
Sorry, here are the links for the previous Menendez MDDOTW award:
given -
http://www.chrisweigant.com/2013/02/01/ftp243/
retracted -
http://www.chrisweigant.com/2013/03/08/ftp248/
Of course, that was a side issue of "underage prostitutes," but the potential remains that this week's award won't stand, either, I fully admit...
-CW
As for Menendez, read the links. The case might not be as strong as it seems now. And I'll note that the only MDDOTW award for Menendez had to be rescinded later, so you may prove to be right on this one as well. Just didn't have any other Dem to ding this week (got any suggestions?), that's all.
I just think the timing stinks to high heaven...
Touch&eactue;! Heh. No really, that's a hit below the waterline. I stand corrected. We'll all find out in June, won't we?
:D I get a good shot in now and again.. :D
My main point (I almost included a few GOP examples, like Walker's disastrous London appearance) was that this far out, NOTHING is actually "disqualifying" in the presidential race. Barring, of course, the proverbial "dead girl or a live boy" type of scandal...
I agree.. No *SINGLE* thing is disqualifying in the here and now..
But a death by a thousand cuts is still a death...
The fact that it is this far out is working against Hillary... There may come a time, sooner rather than later, where there WILL be a straw that breaks the camel's back and will cause Democrats to throw up their hands in disgust. Many are already doing it with the email/foreign donation scandals..
Like I have often said. Hillary has skeletons in her closet that has skeletons in THEIR closets...
How many micro-scandals can the American people take before they realize the dangers of putting a Clinton back in the White House??
Michale
OK, now you're just descending to a newly-identified disease: Hillary Derangement Syndrome. You could be "Patient Zero"! Heh.
Seriously though, CW...
You as much as anyone, knows what the hassle and process of setting up one's own private domain, servers, etc etc..
Why would ANYONE go to all that trouble??
Especially a politician....
Why would Hillary go to all that trouble and hassle to set up a private server in one of her many homes if not to have complete and utter control over what get's released...
And THEN she comes up with that bogus claim, "I want the public to see my emails"
I mean, come on!!! You have to admit it..
That ranks right up there with Obama's "I welcome the public debate on domestic surveillance" Lie Of The Year!!
If she really wanted to the public to read her emails, she wouldn't have set up the private server in the first place...
Hillary only wants the emails that SHE deems safe to be read by the public..
And, for the record, those aren't "HER" emails.
Those emails, every last one of them, belong to the American people... And, barring those with National Security implications, Hillary has absolutely NO RIGHT to keep a SINGLE email thru the clintonmail.com domain to herself.
NO..... RIGHT.... WHATSOEVER....
The simple fact that she went to so much trouble to hide her emails *proves* she has something to hide..
Is that the kind of POTUS ya'all want??
Michale
General comment -
OK, I've gone back over most of the past week and answered some comments (back to my Program Note with the radio interview link). Not entirely complete, but mostly.
Here's one for Michale:
They mostly come out at night. Mostly.
-Newt, from Aliens
Also, sorry about that character tag misspelling, fixed it in my original comment, so thanks for highlighting it for me. ("Touché")
As for death by 1000 cuts, well, we'll certainly see which party suffers that in 2016, won't we?
:-)
-CW
As for death by 1000 cuts, well, we'll certainly see which party suffers that in 2016, won't we?
Yes we will...
But the problem is ya'all rarely, if ever, acknowledge the cuts that the Left receives.. :D
But that's what makes this so much fun!! :D
Michale
Here's one for Michale:
They mostly come out at night. Mostly.
-Newt, from Aliens
Love it!! :D
Michale
In the end -- just as everyone expected -- a bill passed with all Democrats and over 70 Republicans voting for it.
And yet, there are STILL Weigantians who actually believe that Republicans NEVER compromise on Democrat Legislation...
THAT little piece 'o BS has now been laid to rest...
Michale...
And yet, there are STILL Weigantians who actually believe that Republicans NEVER compromise on Democrat Legislation...
That wasn't compromise, Michale. That was capitulation.
Heh.
LizM [16] -
OK, I think I have some aloe cream here somewhere... because Michale's going to need it for that bad burn!
Heh.
Couldn't resist.
Michale [15] -
What Democrats continually wonder: if we all know where we're going to end up, passing a bill with most Dems and some GOPers, then why do we have to go through all the pointless drama every single time?
Answer: it is a measure of Boehner's weak leadership. He can't control his own caucus. For years now you've been praising the GOP for standing firm and united, but that coin has now completely flipped. Dems are the ones who stand united almost every time, while the GOP fights among themselves. Admit that times have changed...
-CW
To Richard Cadena and Laurie Nichols over at HuffPost -
Thanks for the kind words!
I regret that due to not wanting to deal with Facebook, I cannot answer you directly at HuffPost, but just wanted to let you know I appreciated your comments.
-CW
Liz,
That wasn't compromise, Michale. That was capitulation.
EXACTLY..
Democrat's "compromise" = capitulation
By George, I think yuv got it!!!
Michale
For years now you've been praising the GOP for standing firm and united, but that coin has now completely flipped. Dems are the ones who stand united almost every time, while the GOP fights among themselves. Admit that times have changed...
Yes, they have..
And the country has suffered immensely because of it..
But, fear not.. Things will turn around.. :D
Michale
OK, I think I have some aloe cream here somewhere... because Michale's going to need it for that bad burn!
Ain't it kewl when Democrats really stick it to Republicans!!?? :D
Bipartisanship!?? Shit, who needs that!!!
Compromise!!??? Yea, in yer face!!!!
Gee, I wonder why Republicans won't play nice with us.....???
Ya'all seeing a pattern?? :D
Michale
What ya'all (and the entire Democrat Party for that matter) don't seem to get is that "compromise" is the art of GIVING and taking..
Not just taking...
But I am sure ya'all will understand that point when it's Republicans who will just take, take, take and give nothing back...
THEN ya'all will howl and scream and whine "WHY WON'T THE GOP COMPROMISE!!!!"
And so it goes and so it goes...
Michale
Another Clinton scandal has John Kass experiencing deja vu
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/kass/ct-kass-hillary-met-0308-20150308-column.html
Anyone wanna lay bets on the straw that breaks the Clinton's back???
Michale
CW-18
Amazing, the Facebook firewall imposed by HuffPo makes you have to reply to your loyal legions there via back channel - which you helpfully provide for yourself! Crazy!!!!
I refuse to access via Facebook myself. I don't like the direction HuffPo is taking post acquisition (I humbly submit the acronym POAQHuffPo).
Besides the new gate keeper, there are endless ads, stealth ads, clips that won't load, clips that have expired and endless scripts that hang my browser. I can't think of another major site that is so frustrating to use...and I access it much less than I used to.
I know you won't want to bad mouth the group that sort of feeds (and certainly does give you lots of exposure), but (sigh) I really miss the old free wheeling HuffPo circa Katrina.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTCu6-_uW0s&feature=youtu.be
And the hits just keep on coming..
I mean, ignore the money and the conflict of interest...
Hillary is really really big on women's rights and such..
Yet her foundation accepts donations from countries who are THE biggest violators of women's rights..
And this is who the Left wants POTUS??
Hypocrisy much??
Michale
Obama said in an interview with CBS on Saturday that he did not know about Hillary Clinton’s use of private e-mail until reading news reports last week.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/clintons-time-at-state-department-once-an-asset-now-a-crutch/2015/03/08/3edabc84-c437-11e4-ad5c-3b8ce89f1b89_story.html
Once again, our esteemed "leader" is behind the curve...
Thank the gods for the media or our President wouldn't have a CLUE what is going on in his administration!!
What was it that a Weigantian said?? Something about a leader who finds out wrongdoing in his own administration from the media isn't much of a leader??
Either Hillary never received an email from ANYONE in the Obama Administration or Obama is full of shit when he said he didn't know about Hillary's private email...
Michale
The next 18 months or so will officially be the Clinton Scandal Season.
In keeping with this, I will ask my fellow Weigantians that, when judging whether or not all the upcoming scandals are "real" scandals, I would hope ya'all would ask yourselves ONE simple question..
"Would xxxx Scandal be a 'real' scandal if it were happening to a Republican?"
That will help us all determine whether or not we are looking at "REAL" scandals....
Michale
A word of caution to Republicans..
The onset of Clinton Fatigue is beginning to set in... The American people are going to roll their eyes at every Clinton scandal and think, "Do we really need this??"
Their ire will be directed at Clinton...
The danger to Republicans is that they will nit pick a throw every little tidbit up there...
"OH MY GODS!!! HILLARY CLINTON JAYWALKED LAST NIGHT!!!"
For Republicans, moderation is the key.
Undoubtedly Hillary will provide the GOP with PLENTY of material.. In the parlance of fighter pilots, it will be a "target rich environment"..
There won't be any need to throw every minor infarction out there...
The GOP doesn't want the American people rolling their eyes and direct the ire at the GOP..
Make everything about Clinton and you'll win...
Michale
For Republicans, moderation is the key.
Okay, now THAT was funny!
Your sense of irony, Michale, truly knows no bounds ... :)
Okay, now THAT was funny!
Your sense of irony, Michale, truly knows no bounds ... :)
I thought ya'all might like that.. :D
I'm not saying that the GOP is CAPABLE of moderation. :D
I'm simply saying that, if they can ACHIEVE moderation, then Hillary Clinton is toast.. By her own hand..
Michale
Obama caught in another lie...
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/obama-hillary-clinton-personal-email-115899.html
So, Obama DID know about Hillary's non-governmental email address...
EMAIL-GATE Day 1
"I didn't know Hillary Clinton used a non-governmental email address"
-President Obama
EMAIL-GATE Day 2
"Of course I emailed my SecState!! OK, so yea, I knew that she used a non-governmental email, but I didn't know she had her own server!"
-President Obama
EMAIL-GATE Day 3
"Well, you see, there was this YouTube video......"
-President Barack Obama
Ya'all have to admit. If it was a GOP POTUS that was leading this dog and pony show, ya'all would be having a FIELD DAY!!! :D
But, since it's a DEM POTUS and ya'all are loyal Democrats, I guess I am the only one here who gets to have a field day! :D
Michale
If Hillary REALLY wants to get ahead of this scandal, here is what she can do.
Turn over ALL the servers she used to Congress.. Let a computer forensic team go thru those servers with a fine tooth comb...
That is likely the only thing that will satisfy Joe and Jane SixPack
Michale