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Obama refines his midterm message: forward vs. backward… He also singles out the Bartons, the Boehners, the Blunts, and the Angles while in MO and NV… But the GOP midterm message might be more powerful: just look at the unemployment rate… Obama remains in Las Vegas, where he gives a speech on the economy at 12:05 pm ET… Biden tapes Leno appearance… Dems sound the alarm about the Chamber of Commerce’s $75 million and GOP interest groups possibly spending a combined $300 million on the midterms… Perception vs. reality on whether the administration’s policies have been good for business… The governors gather in Boston, while the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee meets in DC… Manchin on “Daily Rundown” said he is "highly likely" … And First Read’s Top 10 Senate takeovers.
*** Forward vs. backward: It was lost in all the attention on LeBron James’ decision (it’s the Miami Heat), the spy swap, and the appeals court decision rejecting the administration’s offshore-drilling moratorium. But President Obama -- in campaign stops yesterday in Missouri and Nevada -- made what appeared to be the Democrats’ clearest midterm argument: moving forward vs. moving backward. “You're going to face a choice in November,” Obama said in Missouri. “This is a choice between the policies that got us into this mess in the first place, and the policies that are getting us out of this mess. And what the other side is counting on is people not having a very good memory.” Republicans, he added, are not “coming back and saying, ‘You know what, we really screwed up, but we've learned our lesson and now we've got this new approach and this is how things are going to turn out really well.’ That's not their argument.”
*** Singling out the Bartons, the Boehners, the Blunts, and the Angles: Also in Missouri, Obama used his now-familiar “car keys” line. “These folks drove the economy into a ditch, and they want the keys back. And you got to say the same thing to them that you say to your teenager: You can't have the keys back because you don't know how to drive yet.” He took a shot at the “Bartons and the Boehners and the Blunts,” saying: “They've got that ‘no’ philosophy, that ‘you're on your own’ philosophy, the status quo philosophy.” And in Nevada last night, Obama singled out Sharron Angle. “She wants to phase out and privatize Social Security and Medicare… Said the answer to the BP oil spill is to deregulate the oil industry… She called the compensation we're providing a slush fund… Now, a few hours later, her campaign puts out a memo saying, well, she didn’t mean that. They said there was some ‘confusion.’ And I'm sure she meant ‘slush fund’ in the nicest possible way.”
*** The GOP’s argument -- just look at the unemployment rate: But the Republican midterm argument is equally simple and perhaps more powerful: The nation’s unemployment rate -- under Democratic control -- is near 10%. In fact, a new 60-second statewide TV ad by Angle makes this very point. “When Harry Reid became Majority Leader Nevada's unemployment was only 4.4%,” the ad displays to somber music. “Now Nevada unemployment hits 14%, leads nation.” More: “Since Harry Reid has become Majority Leader, 135,000 Nevadans have become unemployed.”
*** Obama and Biden today: President Obama is still in Las Vegas today, where he makes remarks on the economy at 12:05 pm ET. And Vice President remains on the West Coast, attending another event for California Sen. Barbara Boxer and also taping an appearance on Leno.
*** The Chamber’s $75 million: One of the few apparent disadvantages Republicans have this midterm season is party money. When you add up all the federal party organizations (DNC/RNC, DCCC/NRCC, DSCC/NRSC), Democrats have a $17 million cash-on-hand advantage over Republicans, $60 million to $43 million. (When you add the DGA and RGA figures, however, the parties are on equal footing due to the RGA’s huge fundraising numbers.) But one GOP-leaning interest group is planning to step up -- the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has been one of the Obama administration’s chief critics on health care and energy/climate change. Earlier this month, lobbying reporter Peter H. Stone revealed that the group planned to raise $75 million to spend on the midterms. A Chamber spokesman wouldn’t confirm or deny that figure. “We will raise and spend a significant amount of money,” the spokesman told First Read. But if the $75 million figure is correct, that would dwarf the amount any interest group spent on state or federal activities in 2008.
*** Dems signal the alarm: And it’s just not the U.S. Chamber. Democrats are passing around a memo showing that other GOP interest groups -- like Karl Rove’s/Ed Gillespie’s American Crossroads, the Club for Growth, and the NRA -- are planning to spend a combined $300 million this election cycle. "There's a real danger that we'll see an avalanche of special-interest money flowing into these campaigns," DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen told the Washington Post. "This kind of money can clearly affect the outcome of elections. That's why they're doing it. And that's why it's important [for Democrats] to try and confront the challenge." Of course, the memo and Van Hollen’s comments are intended to send a message to Democratic-leaning groups -- like organized labor, MoveOn, and others -- to also step it up and start raising and spending their OWN special interest money.
*** Perception vs. reality: Speaking of the U.S. Chamber (and its criticisms of Obama), Democrats and liberals are pushing back against the perception that the administration’s policies have been bad for business. In an interview with Politico, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said that the White House’s actions -- the stimulus, the stabilization of the financial industry, the decision NOT to nationalize the banks, the rescue of the auto industry -- have all benefited American corporations and businesses. And in his New York Times column today, Paul Krugman makes this point: "Job creation has been disappointing, but first-quarter corporate profits were up 44 percent from a year earlier. Consumers are nervous, but the Dow, which was below 8,000 on the day President Obama was inaugurated, is now over 10,000. In a rational universe, American business would be very happy with Mr. Obama."
*** Business’s argument: The private sector’s argument about the Obama White House is that it needs more certainty about what's coming, and that's why businesses and corporations are on the sidelines with some of their cash reserves that the White House would argue should be used for job creation. The Chamber's chief, Tom Donahue, will be on the “Daily Rundown” this morning to talk about this and their political goals for the fall.
*** The governors are coming! The governors are coming! The National Governors Association annual meeting kicks off in earnest in Boston. On the agenda of the three-day conference: an opening press conference (at 10:00 am ET today); a plenary session on health care (at 11:30 am); panels on energy, homeland security, and the economy (Saturday); and a closing plenary on the federal budget deficit (Sunday). Msnbc.com’s Carrie Dann previews the meeting. “Amid fierce angst about government spending, stubbornly high unemployment rates, and raging policy arguments over immigration and health care -- being a member of Congress running for re-election can seem like one of the roughest jobs out there. But try serving as governor. Being one of the 50 chief executives right now is ‘the worst job in American politics,’ says Jennifer Duffy, who tracks governors’ and senators’ races for the Cook Political Report.”
*** Setting the 2012 calendar: There’s another meeting to watch today -- this one in D.C. At 1:00 pm ET, DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee meets, and it’s expected that they’ll vote on dates for the pre-window states (IA, NH, SC, NV) and reducing the influence of superdelegates.
*** Time for another special election: And speaking of the calendar, it looks like we’ll have a special election in November for Robert Byrd’s Senate seat. “West Virginia’s attorney general has determined that Gov. Joe Manchin III can call a special election this year to fill the vacancy created by the death of Senator Robert C. Byrd, clearing the way for a contest in November to fill the remaining two years of Mr. Byrd’s term,” the New York Times writes. Manchin on MSNBC's “Daily Rundown” this morning said it is "highly likely I will" be on the ballot to replace Byrd this fall. He also, however, said he won't set a date until the legislature can "clarify." He said Byrd was a stickler for the rules and the Constitution and, "He'd want us to do it and do it right," Manchin said. "I don't want to put anyone in under a cloud of legal dispute."
Countdown to AL run-off: 4 days
Countdown to GA primary: 11 days
Countdown to OK primary: 18 days
Countdown to KS and MO primaries: 25 days
Countdown to CO and CT primaries: 32 days
Countdown to Election Day 2010: 116 days
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We’ve Only Just Begun:
Yesterday we progressives were having fun throwing mud at Michael Steele, Sarah Palin, Sharron Angle, and Rand Paul. But then a little voice said to me, don’t start doing high-fives and celebrating before the games begin. You have to win them before you can celebrate them.
Granted it is really early as I consider Labor Day the kick-off for the 2010 elections. What I do believe is that it is not about Michael Steele. The 2010 elections will be hard-fought. The GOP is planning on spending 200 million dollars. For 18 months they have felt the agony of defeat and they will push back—hard.
The Tea Party is both a blessing and a curse to the GOP. The blessing is the energy they possess; the curse is the crazy things they say. Senator Kyl has encouraged Tea Party Candidates to hide their membership as a Tea Party Candidate.
Instead they use code words like: repeal healthcare legislation, repeal social security, and repeal Medicare and Medicaid. Scream about government debt. Avoid talking about their support of BP and Wall Street bankers. Tell the public that smaller government is what is needed. Given they have voted NO on all bills to solve America’s problems, it is not a bad strategy.
The Democrats run the risk of being too shy. Their accomplishments are significant and benefit main street Americans. Passing healthcare reform, financial reform, health insurance for children, and avoiding a major depression by approving money to stimulate small business growth, need to be trumpeted over the streaming sounds of Fox noise.
There are two important things the Democrats need to do in order to minimize their loses in November. 1) They really need to match the energy of the Tea Party to get out the vote and 2) exploit the differences between the Tea Party and the moderate Republicans; because that schism is the Achilles heel of the Republican Party.
Oh, come on now. It's always going to be fun to throw mud at those people even if they win because, hell, they absolutely put the mud in your hand! lol
They Dem's are too shy. Yep. I'll give you that. They are not the politicians that the pub's are and "politicians" is not a complement.
I think you are right, Ron---it will be about turn out. Midterm elections never have great turnout and it will be hard to generate the kind of enthusiasm that lead Democrats & independents to turn out for the Presidential election in 2008, especially among younger voters.
I do like the President's "car key" analogy--especially because the Republicans don't ever say exactly where they would drive the car that is any different from what they did that got the economy into the mess that we are working so hard to climb out of. Not sure if that can overcome an energized Republican base.
Ron,
I think you are being far too kind to Democratic congressional politicians . . . I find them to be just plain mealy mouthed and frankly incompetent when it comes to correcting untruths and highlighting accomplishments.
It is a completely reactive instead of proactive stance, and the propensity to whine publicly about what the President is not doing FOR THEM is the worst part.
Its not a very stirring portrait. Kind of sickening actually.
Well written as always, Ron. I share your concern that Democrats aren't forward enough in talking up their accomplishments. They're also entirely too quick to debate issues on Republican terms using Republican language.
Nash: I wish we had some congressional Democrats that have the temperament of you and Feisty. Then good things would happen!
Good morning, Ron ~ Great post, especially your conclusions. But Nash is right about Congress. It's what I've always said. But it's not just that they're incompetent at highlighting their accomplishments -- they're incompetent in terms of making accomplishments. And this has been true since about the winter of 1994-1995.
In other words, their problem is that they have no energy. And their level of energy is in direct proportion to our level of hope.
Anna Molly: I missed your wisdom! You are right, they lack energy. Probably the one with the most energy is Pelosi. And she becomes the lightning rod/target for the GOP. I don't know why the Democrats in congress are so meek. Maybe we need more strong women Democrats in Congress. Then things would get done.
Ron,
Right on target. We Progressive/Liberals have lots of ammo. THe problem I keep seeing is that our party just does not use it effectively. Other the other hand, the Republicans that have less ammo, make up some (lies, misconceptions, failure to take responsibility that they caused this mess, etc.) and use it against the President. The DEMS have to start playing the same hard ball political game and stop being Mr. Nice Guy. If they keep up with this high ground philosophy, they well get clobbered come Nov. We must continue to ask what have the repugs done for us in the last 10 years? How did we get to the point of complete collapse prior to President Obama? What are you the Republican Pary / Tea Baggers going to do to help. He!!, what have you done in the last 18 months to help??? Just saying NO and not owning up to what you did is not helping. You want to be part of the governing process then start saying yes, lets get something done and help America and stop supporting Big Business, only the wealthy, and the people that line your pockets with obscene amounts of money. Same goes for the DEMS in our party that also are putting greed and power ahead of the American people that elected them.
Ron - right on as usual. Many of the dems in power are just too polite, too laid back, too timid to get up and address the issue of lies by the opposition. I wonder if they do have any guts to do what is needed to fix anything!
Is it that Democrats are just too self contained? Don't want to appeare silly wearing strange hats and signs that are just flat out wrong?
Ah Ron, you are too kind . . . you've got quite a bit of fire yourself my friend! ;o)
Good points.
It's okay to throw mud and have a little fun with what they're saying but don't celebrate until we have something to celebrate.
I do know that the democratic party has already opened an office in my town. A volunteer was at my door last night to talk and to see if I wanted to apply for an absentee ballot. I've also had calls so in Iowa, the democrats are taking this election seriously. Now getting people to the polls in mid terms is always a challenge for democrats and to be honest, I've never understood why they sit back sometimes thinking it doesn't matter.
Ron:
Not to make any excuses for weak-kneed Dems but just remember it is tough being a progressive in the Congress of the United Sattes of America. By their very nature most Americans are conservative, and few like change especially if quick or sudden. Therefore, progressives have a higher mountain to climb than conservatives to influence others to follow and accept their agenda.
Think of it. What party pushes for giving Gays equal rights? What party pushes for reversal of don't ask - don't tell? What party supports a woman's right to chose to have an abortion? What party prefers some form of universal health care coverage? What party is less likely to threaten the elimination of such social programs as social security. What party will tend to support diplomacy first over knee jerk military action? This is just a sample of those political philosophies that have required conservative Amercia to grow and to change and to accept ideas and concepts that have tended to be difficult for them to accept and suport in the country's past. The list can go on.
My point is regardless of one's personal feelings or beliefs about those issues above and many others the Democrats and their political philosophies tend to be in conflict with the basic conservative social / political beliefs held by a majority of the American people. This is not to say that progressive policies are not pursued and some eventually accepted and implemented. But it is a slow and difficult process. How long has this country been discussing, debating and arguing over reform of the health care system? How long has the struggle been for Gays to receive equal rights and treatment? And how long does it take to draw down and remove military personnel from conflicts across the world versus the time it took to enter into the conflict?
I'm not so sure Dems can take on the same anger, agression, attitudes and tactics of those on the right and the Republicans. If they did then it would go against their nature of being the more people sensitive party, and would reflect the opposite of their political philosophies and agenda. So maybe it was meant to be that Dems appear more weak, to be trampled on by the right, and to win elections now and then when a population that tends to be more conseravtive feels that the conservatives have gone too far with their agendas and tactics. Who knows?
One other thing I believe the democrats in Congress did wrong in 2009--they seemed to think it was President Obama's job to get out their message, to hit back at republican false information; they seemed to sit back and wait for Obama to speak first. Yes, the president must do that but democrats in Congress must also speak, debunk and get out their own message. They are many voice, he is but one and with two wars, a total economic collapse, Iran, North Korea, terrorists, he could not spend every minute speaking on behalf of Congressional democrats.
CA: Excellent points. I guess I struggle with an offense that is needed to neutralize the streaming noise from Fox News. When they say the same crazy comments enough times people begin to believe it, no matter how crazy. It does take courage to be a strong Democrat. My favorite is Senator Tom Harkin from Iowa. He is from a conservative state, but can hold to his Democratic values.
CA Tuscaloosa. More good points.
In addition, the progressive views are generally visionary, expansive with an eye toward the future; whereas GOPers talk tax cuts, small government and family values all of which are easier to sell to a public which is moderate, leaning slightly left or right.
I agree about FOX and Limbaugh. The right-wing media noise is loud, crazy and full of lies; not sure how to overcome it except keep pointing to the outrageous words and put them in context with what is real.
CA ~ We disagree about one thing. Following the 2008 election, the democrats could have rolled over the republicans ... if they had wanted to. They could have done this on health care, when they had real momentum. But in many respects, they've become just like republicans. They used to be the party of the big picture, but nowadays they gobble up special interest money and focus on their own parochial interests -- especially their interest in getting re-elected -- way too much to accomplish any real general reforms. Witness how Blanche Lincoln and Ben Nelson have held their entire side of the aisle hostage. I agree that it's a long and painful process to achieve reform. Democracy is hard. You have to want it. But I'm not sure that some democrats in Congress really do. And the root of all of that, sad to say, is money.
I used to think Russ Feingold would be Mr. Smith goes to Washington. But those days, when one conscience and one voice could actually make a difference, seem to be long gone, drowned out by the sound of rushing money as it floods the streets around the Capitol.
In my opinion the only way to debunk Fox and Limbaughs lies is for the real main stream media to quit falling in line with Fox and Limbaugh and start telling it's viewers the truth. As long as msn fallows every Fox and Limbaugh lie nothing is going to change.
Running On Empty:
I had predicted it was going to be a long hot summer…
The ‘spin’ from the right is virtually at a ‘fever pitch’! Then toss into the mix the chattering heads who remind us 24/7 that they are the ones with all the answers…
Reminds me of John McCain during the 2008 election telling America that HE knew where Osama bin Laden was… but would only reveal it… if he WON! Guess that’s their idea of ‘Country First’!
Listening to the repetitive yet predictable anti-Obama bashing and continual free flowing lies from the right, I have to ask WHY would anyone vote for a Republican in 2010?
The Republicant’s have not done ONE bit of governing the last 18 months! Obstructionism is not considered governing… What has the right done to improve YOUR life lately other than just saying NO?
The righties fight tooth & nail to be in POWER and once they get there prove just how clueless & inept they really are!
Haven’t we seen enough of the GEENOPEE objective to decimate the middle class?
So ask yourself… as Americans don’t we value the right of our vote enough to at least vote for the party that representatives every day hard working Americans?
The instant gratification crowd REALLY needs to take a ‘chill pill’! We didn’t get into this mess overnight and we are NOT going to get out of without some patience & perseverance!
And to who ever said yesterday that ‘voting for a Republican is equivalent to a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders’… True That!
Feisty: Great post! I like your song title. The GOP is running on empty.
Feisty,
As I have been saying, this is going to get worse before it get better. It is almost like some of our elected officials have lost the ability to fight. I do not know if they just think because they won last time they are entitled to get a free ride in the future. People like us need to really start holding these politic ans feet to a very HOT fire. Enough is enough. We elected them to represent us and if they have lost touch, rather support Big Business and the most wealthy, then we need to throw them out. This applies to both sides of the aisle. I have a lot of contempt for what the Republicans have done and continue to do, but I see a few in our party that are NO better. Unless both parties get their act together and start doing what we elected them to do, we are going to be in big trouble and this great Nation is going to suffer and suffer big.
Feisty -
Tried to post a comment for you, but for some reason it blew me out. Good comment Feisty. At least my vote registered.
Thanks Guys! ;0)
It isn't republicans or the tea party that the democrats have to worry about...
Dan Balz, says,
"Of all the problems Democrats face this fall, none may be more challenging than trying to win back the support of independent voters.
President Obama has been going backward with independents for more than a year, and the Democrats stand to suffer the effects in the November elections. The Gallup organization reported this week that just 38 percent of independents now approve of the job Obama is doing, the lowest point in his presidency and down from 56 percent a year ago."
Independents won the election for the president, but have become disillusioned since he took office.
Why? Balz again;
"What caused the defection of a group that stood solidly with the Democrats in 2008, as well as in 2006, when the party was returned to power in Congress? The factors include dissatisfaction with the economy, a rebellion against the president's agenda and disappointment that Obama hasn't delivered on his campaign promises to change the culture of Washington."
"Independent voters aren't partisans; they're pragmatists," said Democratic strategist Steve McMahon. "What they really want is bipartisanship, fiscal restraint and balanced approaches to problem solving. And they tend to punish the party in power -- whether Republican or Democrat -- when they believe any of those things are too far out of balance."
That's a pretty prescient analysis.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/08/AR2010070803769.html
Good morning dangerfield.
You know . . . I feel a deep sense of peace about the midterm elections and even 2012.
You know why?
It is not "Democrats" who will suffer if Republicans are returned to power.
It is not "Obama" who will be the loser.
It is the American people.
And if folks really think that the answer to their problems is to deregulate, drill, and cling to unrealistic demands, then I am all for it.
Based on what I have seen for the past 18 months, there is still a large segment of Americans on the right and left who just can't handle the truth.
And that is just fine with me.
I am glad to know that rhetoric trumps results, and perception beats reality.
Saves me a lot of time.
I say to independent voters . . . do what you've got to do.
But the person you are "punishing" is actually yourself.
I thought I detected just a tad of resignation in your remarks as well, Nashville.
I'm sure you'll correct me if I'm wrong about that.
Good morning, Lady Nash!
I, as you probably imagined, respectfully disagree. The center is the best place to govern from, and the center is deserting the administration. One can claim "sour grapes", but the reality is that the voters being alienated are the very group who had the most "hope" of a post-partisan president and administration.
Here here! As and Indie, I completely agree and I think the president has tried to a large degree to be these things even though he hasn't done everything right either. However, for the most part, the pub's have been complete obstructionists at every turn.
Their sole goal has been to not allow the president to get anything done so they can take back power. That alone makes them all about the pub's and not about the people or the country. It's wrong and it will strongly effect my vote when the time comes.
Oh no Mixed Bag . . . you hit the nail on the head.
I no longer really care about the "winners" and "losers" in a strictly political sense.
I care more about solutions, and it saddens me to see us constantly electing folks to do a "job", but they are never required to indicate what they will do in the "job interview".
Folks feel like the object of the game is to "punish" political parties or "send messages" with the election of this one or that one.
But what really changes once these "messages" have been sent?
I guess we truly are getting the government we deserve.
Danger field you have posted that you are an independent that leans left. Do you agree with the conclusions that are being drawn here? As the name suggests I have been a registered independent all of my life and I see this narrative being pushed a lot lately and to be honest I don't quite see where at this point anybody has lost anything. The one thing that I will agree with is that independents are more pragmatic and most that I know are going to do pretty much what they always do and that is wait till about Labor Day start looking at what's going on and then make a decision. So far based on record I have no reason to withdraw support because nobody or nothing going on the right side of the equation has given me any hope that they have any viable solution to the problems.
The lack of bipartisanship is 100% due to the Republican strategy to bring down Obama by opposing everything he's in favor of. Remember how they wanted to make health care refore Obama's "Waterloo" and "break him"? Remember how Republicans actually sponsored legislation such as the proposed committee on deficit reduction and then flip-flopped to oppose it, killing the bill? If Independents can blame Obama for what the Republicans have done, it only shows their ignorance.
dangerfield,
It is hard to get to the center when the other team refuses to leave their sideline.
It seems you are now saying that independents wish to "punish" the President for not meeting the Republicans in their own locker room.
Which of course, is your prerogative.
Just not sure how it moves America forward, but I will certainly be watching to see these new Republican majorities use the same policies that didn't work before to make it all better this time.
I won't hold my breath of course, but I will be cheering for their success.
Personally, I get very little satisfaction from the perpetual arguing over stuff that has already been discredited time and time again.
But much of America seems to still think that they can have their taxes cut, keep all government programs that personally benefit them, and balance the budget.
I will be the loudest and proudest Republican on Earth if they can pull that rabbit out of a hat.
Can't wait to get started.
Hey, Bag Boy ... no need for anyone to correct you. You're always wrong. Except when you're not.
IR-
Well, the president lost me when he continued (among other things) rendition, signing statements, approved the "surge" in Afghanistan and (in my opinion) wasted almost all of his political capital on a divisive HCR bill instead of spending it on the economy.
One thing that I know won't help is blaming the republicans, who can point to the fact that the other party controlled congress since 2007, which makes them at least somewhat complicit in the current situation. The president going into, "campaign mode" and attacking the opposition makes him look more like a partisan politician (just like Boner, McConnell, Cantor etc.) and less like the post-partisan leader he campaigned as. If the president claimed that he was the one to transcend the polarized political environment in Washington, he must accept the responsibility/blame for that failure, not accuse the opposition of intransigence. Then perhaps he could throw the ball back into the other court. That doesn't look like much of a possibility now that he has become the partisan, post-partisan president.
dangerfield,
I am sure that once Republicans are back in power they will quicky move to address all of your human rights concerns.
*winky wink*
And enough of the "President sounds like a partisan" stuff . . . the President is a partisan.
So if that is a factor in your decision, once again I say, do what you've got to do.
It seems to me that the relationship between the American people and the Republican party is at this point approaching a battered woman returning to her abuser because he said he was sorry.
And he will be sorry after every beating.
When will we think enough of our collective selves to expect more than an apology?
Okay Danger I'll buy all that as reasons to bring up right now as to why support is eroding but I'm still left with the question as what better course and what better candidate and program are we independents going to be looking at come Labor Day. If some body over on the other side doesn't start to show me a better mousetrap and sticks with trying to convince me the old one that the spring has fell off of still works just fine then I'm going to have a tendency to stick with the one I've been using even if it only works half the time. Something always trumps nothing.
We will all have to choose in November, and some will wish to stay the course, but it looks like many will choose to tell the party in power that they are not satisfied with their stewardship. Of, course, if unemployment suddenly dips a point and a half...
The employment picture, the economy, that is what the administration will be judged on. People tend to vote their pocketbook.
IR, VA - I would argue that there are two distinct types of Independents. Those who 'lead' and those who 'follow',...I would say that President Obama has lost most of those who 'follow'. Dems really suck at fighting back. Al Gore, John Kerry, etc. As a general rule, we don't throw down (well except Nash, Feisty and humbly myself when duty calls - ha). I don't understand why we haven't created our own Echo Chamber called "Swift Kick in the @ss for Truth" or something like it. Then we would have our own Lizard minions on the cable circuit 24/7 debunking the BS that flows from the Right. We have been historically unwilling to Lie and Cheat and gin up Fear to win elections and I personally don't understand that anymore. No wonder we continue to be 'abused as a nation' - we don't DEMAND better. But I guess I'll let my gripes with my party air on another station.
The President said it here yesterday better than I am - WHY would anyone give Republicans the keys to the car when they have RECENTLY proven they don't know how to drive, they don't own a map and they couldn't find their asses with both hands and a flashlight? It escapes me!
OK, dems have controlled Congress since 2007, but you forget that any legislation they passed or tried to pass was met with the Bush veto or threat of veto. The dems could not pass the Veteran's legislation passed last year BECAUSE Bush said he would veto it.
As for signing statements, I am unsure where you get that idea as I have not seen anything where President Obama has done that. I do know the first few months of 2009, the Obama administration undid many of Bush's E.O's which allowed a lot of unsavory activities.
The question I have of independents leaning toward the GOP this year, is why would they throw in the towel on Pres Obama so quickly? They voted against republicans because of wars, and the economy. It's been 18 months, and if they supported Obama's vision, then voting GOP kills the vision.
Patience is a lost art in this country. It takes more than 18 months to clean up a giant cesspool and the willingness to return power so quickly to those who created it is beyond my comprehension. The economy WAS the first thing Obama and Congress tackled with NO help from the GOP except for 3 people. HCR was only one of many things Congress and the President did last year. Watching sausage making made the real accomplishment ugly. It is a start not a finish. Health care is a huge part of our economy and our economic future so fixing it is also part of the economic fixes required.
Clara:
I am so with you that we need some folks to refute ON THE SPOT all the LIES that get peddled as truth on cable news shows . . . including those on MSNBC that are supposedly "lefty" shows . . . I am so tired of seeing right wing guests spewing lies, and there Democratic opponent totally letting it stand. Its almost like they don't even know the truth themselves.
Enough is enough . . . we the people should DEMAND the truth plus a lot of PERSPECTIVE out of something that calls itself "news".
But of course, the object of the game is just to confuse enough voters so that they become apathetic, think "they are all the same", and tune out.
I fight the urge to do so daily myself.
Jody:
America truly is an instant gratification society . . . which is why so many countries are starting to look back on us in their rear view mirrors.
The Obama administration lost an attempt Thursday to keep a temporary moratorium on deepwater oil drilling in place while it appeals a court ruling against the six-month ban.
The administration had asked the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, based in New Orleans, to stay a lower-court ruling until a full hearing on the moratorium was heard. But the appeals court found that the Interior Department failed to show the federal government would suffer "irreparable injury."
Don’t they have any windows in that Courthouse down in New Orleans? Somebody needs to take the judges over to the window and point out to them that that brown nasty smelling stuff out there with those black sticky things floating in that rainbow sheen ain’t natural. If that isn’t “irreparable injury” then I better set my alarm clock to make sure the sun comes up tomorrow morning because it sounds like to me that the Judges would probably rule against the Apocalypse if somebody had enough money. “None so blind as he who will not see”
IR: I loved your closing statement, "None so blind as he who will not see." Ain't it the truth.
Morning IR... Didn't you happen to hear snippet of Bobby Jindal playing the blame game this morning?
I wanted to scream... quit playing politics and take care of your people...
Red I can't help it but I just have a real problem taking Jindal seriuosly. I mean how long before somebody down there stands up and asks the good Governor why he keeps pushing the agenda of the minority that is overshadowing the harm that has been done to the Majority of his citizens. Kind of make a fellow wonder who's Zoomin' who don't it.
IR . . .
You know what is the saddest thing I have seen in a long time?
President Obama being villifed for trying to protect the Gulf from further accidents.
The problem is not the oil leaking into the Gulf . . . no the problem is the moratorium on 30 wells that don't even represent the bulk of the oil rigs in the Gulf.
This says it all to me . . .
If folks can sit back and politicize the greatest man made disaster in the history of the planet and get nearly no push back from the American people . . .
Well we as a nation have pretty much sunk alot deeper than that relief well they are trying to dig. . . we are pretty much not even a nation anymore.
We are pretty much just a group of competing hysteriacs at this point . . . criticizing the President for being too calm.
Wish there was a relief well for the state of our national discourse and reasoning abilities.
Couldn't have said it any better Nash!
That ruling yesterday, left me feeling lonely in the sense that those of us who are taking this seriously are clearly a minority... :0(
I'm sad to say the Gulf is going to get a whole lot worse before it recovers or should I say IF it ever recovers!
And being able to say I told you so somewhere down the line gives me ZERO satisfaction!
Nash and Red what You'll are saying up there is very true. It is also the reason that I keep bringing this issue up over and over again. Right now there are a bunch of folks down there in positions of power that want this to quietly go away like so many of the things that have been done to We the People for the last 30 years and It's time that we all used everything we have to make sure that this one isn't covered up and swept under the rug. Not so we can say I told you so but so we can say that we saw the right thing done.
Nash, Fiesty,
Should we have stopped going into space because of the Challenger and Columbia disaster? Should we have stopped the Hoover Dam when hundreds of workers lost their lives?
Yes this Oil spill will be felt for decades, and I'm truly sorry for the fisherman who lost their businesses, and I hope that BP will pay them a comparable amount to make up for lost years of fishing restrictions. But without any alternative energy source, we must keep on drilling (or would you rather import it)? People are very afraid of nuclear power, but this would solve a lot of our oil dependence until things like solar, wind, and water energy can be cheaper and more economical.
Also, what about those people in the gulf that make their livings on rigs? We like to villainize those people, but idolize those fisherman who have now lost it all. Why must those that work on rigs suffer also? They didn't cause this mess. Like I said, I hope that those fisherman who lost their businesses due to the fishing bans will be compensated for the years and years of lost fishing, but I don't think that a knee-jerk reaction is needed here.
Cult of Personality,
I am not villainizing anyone . . . my comment deals with the fact that folks are treating a 6 month moratorium on a tiny fraction of wells like a total shut down of the oil industry - it is not.
And this is not something that the President simply pulled out of his arse to traumitze oil rig workers, this was a decision based on "conditions on the ground", a standard that is apparently only good enough for foreign countries.
So now it is the President's fault for trying to get a standardized and REALISTIC plan to safely drill, not the oil companies fault for abusing the tremendous amount of trust that was placed in them.
Is it logical to pretend like 6 months PAID hiatus from an oil rig is a bigger hardship that the STILL LEAKING well?
And I love the way folks have completely discounted the fact that the President secured the money to pay of the victims of the spill in MONTHS instead of YEARS, and also saved the expense of years of litigation.
But of course, the only thing the President ever gets credit for is other people's screw ups.
Cult of Personality,
Since your response started with the usual right wing talking points I wasn't going to bother to read any further.... until you mentioned alternative energy.
The FACT of the matter is continuing down the path of destruction we've been on with our addiction to oil (whether foreign or domestic) is not going to be sustainable indefinitely.
Sooner or later a generation will realize this and stand up and start make the hard but necessary changes and move us to cleaner safer sources. I realize this will not happen overnight but with the coal mine disaster in WV and the catastrophe in the Gulf in less than 6 months what better time to wean ourselves off the oil teat than NOW?
UMM, Cult:
You do realize that we DID stop the Space Shuttle until we figured out what went wrong, right? What a goofy comment. Until they can STOP the flow, don't you think a basic regroup is REASONABLE?
Here's a shovel,...Now DIG.
Ha! Oh, that last paragraph is good.
BTW, I found the Netvine click spot last night and got your message. Check yours for a reply.
Nashville. I know what you mean about sinking so low. It is beyond me how anyone can defense BP and blame Pres Obama for getting money from BP for the Gulf residents yet there are dozens of GOPers doing just that. It is beyond me how the discussion became focused on Obama's level of anger instead of the oil spewing from a mile down. It seems too many have become nothing but a bunch of petty, whining, selfish, spoiled people who think everything can be solved instantly with one click of a button. Fix the economy, create jobs now but don't spend any money doing it.
Excellent point about treating a pause in drilling for a few dozen rigs as if the entire industry is being permanently closed. This morning I heard Bobby Jindal claim that the temporary moratorium will cost "tens of thousands of jobs." How is that even possible when we're talking about a few months off for 33 rigs, while everything else in the Gulf continues as usual?
Yea, I know...It's long...
I’m beginning to lean towards the school of thought that says the reason we have not been contacted or found evidence of the existence of extraterrestrial beings is because sentient life eventually destroys itself. Either by super weapons of mass destruction like nukes or by destroying their habitat via rampant, violent exploitation of natural resources to feed a greedy, over population of the dominant life form of that planet.
Here we have today a majority of people who are exploiting the planet for resources, in this case oil, and literally destroying one ecosystem after another in the name of “supplying the people!” “We just work for the people!” “We care about you!” when, in the case of the oil companies, it’s all about greed. It’s undeniable!
As a matter of fact, the oil companies have invested billions in disinformation about climate change, holding off regulation that could make the industry safer and squelching anything that resembles renewable energy. It’s a fact! And those facts have popped up in the media over and over again in the last 20 years.
A minority apparently of the people of this planet want energy change. They want an alternative fuel source that is renewable, less polluting and attainable without risking the destruction of more ecosystems, more life and more of the planetary systems ability to create a hospitable environment for themselves and other current life forms to live in.
The earth will go on, oh must certainly! And, to those who say otherwise, drop it! Nobody is going to “destroy the planet!” But the planet wont be able to keep us alive very well if at all on the course we have chosen…
So why is it that whenever this minority steps up and says no more drilling, the status quo’ers start shouting completely over the top comments as though these absolutely spurious arguments hold any water (or oil) at all?
“Do you drive a car? Do you use plastic? Then stfu!” or “Okay, tree hugger, stop driving your car, stop using plastic, blah blah blah…stupid, ignorant, rambling….”
This is one of the most brainless arguments ever uttered in this thread. As if anybody is suggesting that we stop using our cars or plastic TOMORROW. The only reason these status quo keepers shout this garbage is because it’s the only argument they have and change scares the hell out of them and the oil companies are laughing all the way to the bank while they destroy another ecosystem.
Today it’s in my back yard, the Gulf of Mexico. Next time it will be in your back yard where your children play. Maybe not by the oil company…Maybe a mining company or maybe a mega-agri-dairy-chicken farm or maybe a nukaleer plant. But hey! It’s all about jobs jobs jobs, right? So what if your kid has an arm growing out of it’s forehead and half of a brain. Stop using the products right now or stfu!
In regards to oil, the status quo crowd’s ugly reality which they refuse to see is that change will come eventually…because the oil will eventually run out. As the earth is finite so is the oil supply but you’ll never hear these fools talk about that. “Oh there’s plenty of oil! Look at all of the oil-shale in the Dakotas and the sand-oil stuff in Canadia. There is enough oil to keep us going past my life time.” And apparently that is all that matters to them. Just get them past their miserable little, greedy, ignorance-is-bliss lifetimes and they feel fine.
They are so very afraid of change…and it will be a big, long process to find a good renewable and to make that change. But, change has to begin at some point and it can either be now while there is still a little oil and also enough ecosystem left to sustain itself and us or it can happen very quickly when peak oil is obvious and getting a gallon of gas will cost you a weeks pay…which you won’t have because the oil based economy is in ruins with no hope of recovery in sight.
Today is the day to begin the big push for renewable energy. Today is the day for very safe drilling practices and we all know that the industry CAN NOT regulate itself so stop throwing that BS around that “we can’t over regulate the oil industry!” That’s garbage! Come on! It’s so “frightened little child” and it’s wearying.
Get over the fear. Reach down between your legs and make sure you still have a pair and make the tough choice! Man up! for god sake, and stop all of the complaining and denial and arguing for the sake of arguing when the facts are staring you in the face.
Awesome post . . . here's hoping more "real Americans" wake up and smell the oil in their coffee.
Terrific post.
All we have to do is look at our own history as we expanded westward to see the pattern. We may be civilized but we are destructive.
New polling from Democracy Corps, an outfit run by Democrats Stan Greenberg (husband of Rep Rosa DeLauro, D-CT) and James Carville.
President Obama's job approval: 46% approve-50% disapprove.
Hmmm...50% disapproval. That's creeping closer to Rasmussen-type numbers.
Democracy Corps also records a 6 pt Republican edge in the generic congressional vote...identical to the findings of Rasmussen.
Always nice to get numbers from folks you can trust, without that right-wing lean.
Sorry, this was supposed to be under M.Fischer not mixed bag.
So true. Many all of those aliens took one look at us and said "they are destroying themselves, why bother with them":)
Will the people wake up or are we going to just let those who want money to destroy the ecosystem? You know that old saying "You can't take it with you when you die" is so true. How is having all that money or that good job going to help you when the air is not breathable, or there is no water to drink or there are no fish in the seas? How will that be fixed by these great oil corporations or those small government republicans?
Amity Shales has some historical perspective, and advice...
With unemployment high and the Dow Jones industrial average bumping about, the big debate this summer is how to prevent a double-dip recession resembling that of the late 1930s. Some say Washington should spend more, arguing that government austerity triggered the collapse in 1937 that erased previous gains. Others say that cutting spending now will strengthen the economy generally and preclude dramatic downturns.
President Obama may be about to repeat Franklin D. Roosevelt's mistakes -- but not the ones captured in this narrow discussion."
By fixating on the debt and stimulus plans, Obama and Congress are overlooking challenges to the economy from taxes, employment and the entrepreneurial environment. President Roosevelt's great error was to ignore such factors -- and the result was that sickening double dip."
she continues;
But change that is too arbitrary and too frequent petrifies firms, especially before their rules have been tested in the courts. As Verizon Communications chief executive Ivan Seidenberg noted recently in a Business Roundtable speech: "By reaching into virtually every sector of economic life, government is injecting uncertainty into the marketplace and making it harder to raise capital and create new businesses."
This analysis echoes those of Depression-era entrepreneurs. In 1938 Lammot du Pont, head of the eponymous chemical concern, spoke of a "fog of uncertainty" slowing business and noted in the company's annual report that arbitrary government always slowed business down: "by land and sea the universal practice under conditions of fog is to slacken speed."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/08/AR2010070804272.html
That is historical revisionist clap trap. The economy was recovering nicely in the 30's thanks to the New Deal until Roosevelt gave in to the deficit hawks. And the recovery resumed only after the country was FORCED into the enormous jobs program known as World War II. Lots of uncertainty between 1941 and 1945, but it didn't seem to slow the recovery one bit. As Paul Krugman put it, if you believe that the drastic spending cuts now would somehow get business leaders to stop cowering in their uncertainty, then you believe in the "confidence fairiers."
Is the "fog of of uncertainty" coming from efforts to correct the things that led us to the biggest bubble economy since the 1920s, or efforts to keep us from changing those things?
To me it looks as if any "uncertainty" is coming from the fight between the two sides, not anything that one side is doing.
I gotta laugh at this one from Politico yesterday:
The White House has launched a coordinated campaign to push back against the perception taking hold in corporate America and on Wall Street that President Barack Obama is promoting an anti-business agenda.
Obama has been happy to be seen by voters as cracking down on Wall Street but those efforts have had an unintended result: feeding a sense that the president and his party are indifferent or even actively hostile toward big business, whether those businesses are Silicon Valley tech companies, Midwestern manufacturers or Main Street small businesses.
And it is more than just politics: Obama’s aides believe confidence in the general direction of White House policy has an effect on the willingness of corporations to hire, invest and push the economy toward a more solid recovery.
________________________________
Gee, the business community thinks Barry/Pelosi/Reid and company are "anti-business"??
Where would they ever get an idea like that??
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!
Umm... What are we laughing at??
I have simple observation:
The entirety of the Republican strategy is to blame President Obama for not cleaning up their assorted messes fast enough.
And if polls are to be believed, a large segment of the American public is buying it hook, line, and sinker.
I for one look forward to the return of Republican rule . . . I mean, folks are so much more comfortable being told what they want to hear.
I guess reality really is overrated.
I am just glad I was alive to see how the American people responded to a thoughtful President who offered solutions.
Very telling indeed.
"The entirety of the Republican strategy is to blame President Obama for not cleaning up their assorted messes fast enough."
Nash,
The democrats are doing the heavy lifting for the opposition, their (republicans)"strategy" has been to simply critique the actions the administration has taken...and failed to take.
Instead of blaming the American people for not "getting" this "thoughtful president", perhaps you should consider that he and his administration have failed to "get" the American people. There is still time to change the course, but when the president's core support begins, like you are now, to blame the electorate, the electorate generally give the party in power exactly what they expect.
NOOO doubt, NF!
You give the people brain food and they want their raman noodles back.
dangerfield,
I am not "blaming" the American people . . . more like "pitying" them! :o)
Like I said above . . . whatever happens, I'm gonna be just fine . . . its not a game to me.
If I survived the Bush Administration, I can survive whatever comes next.
Dangerfield
What, exactly is it that the president doesn't "get" about the American people? That they want the Republicans to take over so that federal regulators can start partying with lobbyists and snorting coke with them again just like in those golden years of G. W. Bush? Do they maybe want the Republicans back so they can start another exciting war? Do they want more tax cuts for the wealthy? Please tell us what it is they want so that we can all "get" it, too.
If the republicans take back congress, I am just going to sit back and enjoy not having to pay any taxes. I will be able to enjoy the nuclear power plant from my back deck without fear of a meltdown as I watch the dead animals pile up on the side of the road. Then I can try to find some food that is not tainted in some way as I watch the neighborhood burn down because the kids in the area could not go to school since it was cancelled (home education is so much better). Think of the enjoyment of the air as you are breathing through your air mask, you might even get to glimpse a peak at the yellow sky through all the smog. Just imagine, no regulations, no taxes, no police, no fire, no speed limits. Life will be good!!!
Houston!
Dangerfield,
How can one give a reasoned answer to an angry partisan rant that ends in an ad hominem? When you are blinded by hatred, the blood in your eyes makes it difficult to see anything clearly.
Perhaps a less strident and pugnacious tone would enable you to actually communicate with those you vilify and make you more accessible to them too.
It makes it seem like you don't really want a dialog, let alone answers. I would be happy to give my opinion(s) for what they're worth, but I would respectfully request that you don't include your answers in your question.
Dangerfield whines:
You obviously don't even know what the term "ad hominem" means. Calling someone an idiot is an ad hominem. Requesting that they back up a rambling attack on the president with some specifics as I requested from you is not.
And you STILL can't give any specifics because you don't have anything constructive to say. So you whine instead.
Well, what is there to say? I rest my case. This person intentionally alienates whoever they engage because they have no interest other than to rant and insult. While I understand civility is not a requirement to post on this blog, it is one of mine, and a prerequisite for any real exchange of ideas.
I tried...
dangerfield,
I've grown to respect you over the past couple of weeks; but if you would allow me some constructive criticism. You seem to take things personally and then when you are called on it, you walk it back like you're innocent of the charges. You let a fair amount of zingers fly and when you get called on it, you run to the high road. It reminds me a bit of Jill, Tulsa. You are certainly entitled to your opinions and style; but I wonder if you are aware that you do that. Again, I am trying to be constructive and genuinely not snarky. Although, admittedly - my style is a lot of snark, this isn't one of them. Re-read this exchange with Houston through that filter. You and I had one like it last week. Let me know what you think. thanks,
Hi, Clara –
Off topic (WAY off!) but hey, it’s Friday, it’s hot, I’m tired and cranky and think we could all use a laugh today, so…..you had asked me last week about the recipe for scrapple. I think this comes under the heading of “Don’t ask, Don’t tell” – as in don’t ask, because trust me, you really don’t want to know, and anyone who sells it tries hard not to tell you what’s in it or they’d never sell any. I buy mine already made (in a 1 lb. loaf) and carefully avoid reading the ingredients before slicing it and frying it up. And while you remember it with maple syrup, I grew up with ketchup instead. I couldn’t find anyone who sells it in Missouri – in fact, I have an aunt who lived in Independence for years and now is in Blue Springs who used to beg us to send her some at Christmas. The best brand – Habersett’s – does do mail orders on line, but only in the winter and they seem pretty expensive to me, considering what you’re getting. Anyway, here’s a “fun” recipe I found once when someone else asked me about it (though it’s really probably not that far off the mark!) Enjoy!
Scrapple
After the hams and bacon have been put down in cure and the sausage is all ground and the lard rendered and the feets pickled and the snouts soused, you take what's left, mostly the head, and make scrapple.
Ingredients:
1 Grandmother to make sure everything is done "just so"
1 Mother to do most of the preparation. Overseen by ingredient #1
2 Children, big enough to stir the pot but not smart enough to be elsewhere
Hogs’ heads (number depending upon how many hogs were killed)
Hearts and about ¼ of the livers
Various and sundry scraps not used to make other delicacies
Salt, pepper, sage and maybe a little celery salt to highlight the flavors (optional)
Cornmeal (not self-rising), preferably stone ground white but plain yellow works fine
The feature attraction is the cleaned head. Remove the eyeballs (the brains were removed on killing day and scrambled with eggs the next morning). Break the head(s) into manageable pieces with a cleaver, and cook them down in a kettle of boiling water until the meat is easily pulled and the gelatin is released from the skin and connective tissue. Skim most of the fat from the stock and save. Pull all of the meat from the heads and chop up the chunks. Cook the liver and heart and whatever else wasn't used in other delicacies and grind them separately. Get a tote-sack full of corn meal and keep it handy. Put the meat, heart, and other scraps (except liver) back into the simmering kettle of stock. Add liver until you can taste it but the liver flavor does not predominate. Add salt and celery salt - the cornmeal will take a lot of salt so you get this mixture fairly salty. Stir. Taste. Add sage and pepper to taste - not too much, now. Stir. Taste. Pass the spoon around so everybody can pass judgment. When it's right, you should taste salt first, then liver (but not too strong), rich pork meat flavor and a hint of sage. When everybody, especially Ingredient #1, agrees that it couldn't possibly be better, bring out the cornmeal and kids.
Now comes the hard part! Slowly stir in the cornmeal with a long wooden spoon - not too much at a time, now. Keep stirring. Add cornmeal. Add some fat. Keep stirring. Add cornmeal. Add some fat. Keep stirring as the mixture starts to get thick. Keep stirring. Not thick enough yet. Add a little more corn meal. Keep stirring. A little more fat until there is a slight sheen to the surface but no visible oil. Keep stirring.
"Just where do you think you're going? Get back here and stir that pot!!"
As the mixture thickens and you fine-tune the ratio of fat to cornmeal, it will start to separate from the sides of the kettle – a sure sign that it is done and will set properly. This is a good thing 'cause the kids are about tuckered. Ladle it into lightly greased, shallow, rectangular or square tin pans to a thickness of about 2 ½ inches. Be careful - it's still hot! Start slapping it down with the palm of your hand. Slap it like you mean it! SLAP IT! If you are doing it right, your hand should be beet red, sore and covered with a light coat of pig oil. Good. Now let the pans cool, cover with waxed paper and put them in the Frigidaire or cool pantry.
Next morning, remove scrapple from the pan and slice about 3/8" thick. Lightly flour both sides. Heat about ¼" of bacon grease or lard in an iron skillet until it just starts to smoke. Fry until the outside starts to crisp but the inside is still soft. Drain briefly on a paper towel. Serve with syrup and eggs.
There's nothing else like it in this world!
P.S. from JoAnne - No syrup, though - ketchup!
You are entitled to your opinion too...Thanks for the advice, and critique, but I will converse with those who are civil in their discourse and avoid those who are not. I have seen that there are "regulars" who are abrasive and obnoxious to the extreme, but who are defended and whose antics here are condoned by some. That is fine and they are also entitled to their opinions. I will post my opinions and have discussions with those I chose to, based on my own criteria, as others are free to choose theirs.
Dangerfield continues his whine:
Evidently, you consider it an insult when you are called out for your failure to back up your rants with any facts. And you don't know what an ad hominem is, but you sure know how to make ad hominem attacks.
Nash - I think everyone should see this 1973 movie called "Soylent Green" which is set in polluted, congested New York City in 2022. I was disgusted when I saw the movie back then but now I can really see this happening...........for the NRA freaks it stars Charlton Heston!
Still not going to tell us what the president doesn't "get" about the American people, Dangerfield? You respond to reasonable requests with tantrums and then you wonder why you don't get any respect, to paraphrase your distant cousin Rodney, who, unlike you, was intentionally funny.
Joanna, I am sorry I asked,...you are right!
I was pretty sure she made it with ground sausge browned and then the whole add the cornmeal thing. There has to be a better, less disgusting way! ha - I will check it out online this winter.
df, fine - it's your party; but for some of us regulars who've been here a long while - Houston! is one of the more relevant - better informed posters, in MY opinion. I hate to see you two beat up on each other.
Thanks for your concern, but that's quite the mis-characterization of my "exchange" with someone you deem, "one of the more relevant-better informed posters"; But yes, it's my prerogative to engage whom I choose to here and to ignore those who I see as wasting my time.
fair enough, I'll butt out.
Clara - Don't say I didn't warn you!
Dangerfield & Houston - Sorry to have crashed your conversation - have been having mass computer problems all week and wanted to jump in and catch Clara to reply while I could.
Have a good weekend all - I'm going to go do some old-fashioned paperwork the rest of the day - assuming my pen still works too.....
Dangerfield:
Dangerfield considers it a waste of time explaining what it is that the president of the United States doesn't "get" about what the American people want. What a cop-out. Just more empty accusations from an ignramus who doesn't know what an ad hominem attack is even though he makes them.
BTW: Dangerfield can't prevent me from responding to his posts. I'll continue to point out his/her/its dishonesty or absurdity whenever I so choose.
So...
Calling someone an ignramus (sic) would be both an ad hominem attack...as well as an example of misspelling?
Clara KCMO
fair enough, I'll butt out.
You were trying to be a mediator, and I appreciate that. I'm just learning the ropes etc. and thank you for your help...
Happy Friday to all and thanks so much to the Awesome First Read crew for posting so many great articles for us to comment upon and many thanks to all the Democratic Party supporters for so many great witty comments defending Truth, Justice and the True Blue American Way!
I would like to congratualte Cenk Uygur for doing a great job of subbing for Dylan Ratigan this week. I so enjoyed Cenk challenging the lies of arizona's corrupt Trent Franks for his tinkle down economics lies, reminded me so much of David Shuster. I sure wish MSNBC tv would ditch blonding bimbo Chris Jansing and replace her with the Young Turk Cenk. About time that MSNBC tv get someone with the courage to challenge the repugnant one liars when they get on MSNBC tv and think that can lie like they do at Fox and Freaks or CNN without any challenge. A real shame David Shuster isn't around doing his challenging gig against the repugnant ones.
I would also like to congratulate moderate Republican Michael Smerconish for doing such a great job subbing for Liberal Big Ed Schultz last Friday, can't think of another moderate Republican that could pull off subbing for a Liberal except maybe Log Cabin Republicans Andrew Sullivan or Ron Reagan. Oh and break out the smelling salts because any repugnant one would read me complimenting any conservative has made them faint dead away. A real shame there aren't more moderate Republicans of good conscience who would stand up to Drugster Lush Limburger and Braindead Beck or Sinister Sarah Palin and the extremely radical subversive evangelical christian lunatic fringe.
I think that msnbc.com has made a mistake making most of their news stories interactive as now I've seen how many Braindead Beckerheads come here to spew the filthy lies they learn at Fox and Freaks over here. All these corrupt fools of faith do is come here to defile MSNBC with their clueless conservative lies and racist hatred for President Obama.
Ah yes, I forgot, anyone who doesn't like President Obama's policies are racist. You know I'm surprised The KKK's numbers haven't increased considering about half of eligible voters don't approve of Obama's job.
The democrat's should have voted for Hilary Clinton instead of this wait and see Obama. When a decision comes his way, he can not seem to make up his mind. Clinton would have been more decisive, has more experience, and she comes with Bill, a president who was able to produce bi-partisan results.
Oh come on now, Eric. Gotta have differing view points or it would it would be like a puppy pile around here. ;-)
You would love it in Cuba, Eric The 8th Grader. Why do you always seem to skedaddle outta here when more than 3 or 4 righties show up? You did that again yesterday. Or were you out playing on your Slip n Slide?
FU Farley - You're a girly man, and I just kicked dirt into your face. Let me guess, you still live with your mommy. I'll bet you have a Cheney poster in your shower - hmmm? Don't ask, Don't tell.
NicoNM
UpChuck always cries, lies and twists people's words to suit his own ideas when he gets whacked for his low, slow and mostly dead trollisms. Just keep Whacking him, he is a low points troll, but we get a lot of return business from him!! And sometimes even some laughs.
Eric:
Go somewhere and sukk a Big One.....
“Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”
- VOLTAIRE
This just in:
The Lexington, Kentucky Police Department reports finding a
man's body in the Kentucky River just west of the Clays Ferry Bridge.
The dead man's name will not be released until his family has been
notified.
The victim apparently drowned due to excessive beer consumption.
He was wearing black fishnet stockings, a red garter belt, a pink
g-string, a strap-on dildo, purple lipstick, and an Obama t-shirt. He
also had a cucumber in his rectum.
The police removed the Obama t-shirt to spare his family any
unnecessary embarrassment.
Just when I thought you couldn't go ANY lower FU...
You're one sick f***!
CU Farley,
May I recommend reading "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie?
Every once in awhile, there's a very civil back and forth on this board where folks can disagree without getting nasty ... then along comes someone who thinks the best approach to getting their point across is to insult the other bloggers. Does that ring any bells for you?
Good luck with that!
That was funny! hahaa!
Oh come on, everyone...that was a joke. :)
Swap out president Obama with someone else.
Looks like Old Chuckles got out of bed this morning and had a brain cramp and promptly forgot that it's better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open his mouth and leave absolutely positively no doubt in anybodies mind
I second that emotion IR . . . CU has truly "jumped the shark" on this one . . . mercy.
Sorry... but I don't particularly find sick & twisted... funny!
Yeh Red I just had a conversation with the commissioner of the Cheerio Go-Kart racing circuit and even he feels that we're going to have to suspend old Chuckles driving privileges for a race or two
What UpChuck was not mentioning is that the body is that of his twin!
Yup IR, he gets penalized 5 laps, for starters. Sick and twisted shock has no value, just disgust levels.
Say UpChuck, why don't you go out and get some fresh air, maybe some exercise and put down your crack pipe for a while, you MIGHT just get something worth posting here in your poor abused thing you use for a brain. At least we wont be bothered by your Slow Moving to Slightly Dead trollisms, Have a great weekend!
FU Farley !!
Farley,
LOL....You got their drawers in a wad now. Their turning cherry red........LOL
I was going to let this one slide, ITM; but you just extolled the virtues of your Big Time Education.
The word you are looking for is 'they're'.
Your welcome.
Just a little note on Tom Donahue. His previous gig was as head of the American Trucking Association. His focus at that organization was legalization of what are referred to as "Long Combination Vehicles" on the entire US Interstate system as well as all US highways. Under the LCV legislation that ATA wrote states would have had 90 days from signing of the legislation to inventory their highways and submit restrictions to the federal government or all Interstates and US highways would be automatically granted access. The vehicles allowed under this bill would have allowed 1 semi tractor to tow up to 2 53' trailers or 3 28' trailers at up to 142,000lbs total weight on any road in the national highway system, even those that snake through the center of our cities. Only a rushed lobbying push by a collection of groups including the association of states Departments of Transportation, state Highway patrols, insurance groups, and the AARP prevented this from becoming law. Nearly everyone at smaller companies in the trucking industry and the vast majority of drivers were relieved when this didn't pass. It would have been a safety disaster and would have allowed the largest trucking firms a competitive advantage which would have crushed the small to midsize companies that haul the majority of all freight.
Does Tom Donahue sound like the sort to consider what society needs as opposed to his own narrow self interest?
I remember reading about this a long time ago. It would have basically turned the highways and also the non-highways into railroads only without the rails...which keep all of the cars neatly in line. It would have turned all non-trucks using the same roadways into second class vehicles that had to cater to the whims of these behemoths.
Really pathetic that the US Chamber of Commerce would stoop to playing politics instead of minding the business store as they were originally intended to. Yet again the corrupt conservatives turn a business organization into another political tool meant to guarantee that the rich and greedy maintain all of their way too many economic advantages. The US Chamber of Commerce has become anti-consumer and it's going to rue the day they crapped all over their customer base of the poor and middle class.
We can see the perfidy of the corrupt radical subversive activist roberts supreme court jesters as now business organizations and large corporations bribe the American voters with their tax cut welfare lies for the rich and greedy. Our country is so screwed!
With the release/trade-off of the Russian spies, since they actually didn't do anything but only were plotting.....seems that Blago and his potty mouth may have an exit strategy.
Spies get a pass.......why not Blago?
c'mon guys no one to blame but ourselves. national healthcare or at the very least, public option should have been passed and then dare a republican to filibuster it. oh and guess what in the middle, that would have been optional just like your "privatization" thus the meaning of OPTION!
give the middle class(15,000-175,000,hell you make up the numbers) a stimullus check for 18,000 as a bailout with orders to spend... that gets the economy moving again. dare a republican to filibuster that
the real problem is harry(not without 60 votes) reid, the republicans have not had to filibuster anything, just threaten to.
repeal bush's 2005 anti middle class anti bankruptcy law that yes biden voted for... as it stands now only the poor or rich can declare ch. 7 every one else is "abusing" the system. so just don't pay the tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills.
the middle class are dying and we needed a life line. instead the big banks, the big insurance and hospitals and the big oil got the reprieves. Any one or all of these would have helped the middle class and in turn our nation.
my Gulf is dying and will never be clean, yet we worry about spoiled basketball players. we know where our priorities lie. no other nation burdens its citizens with big insurance and big hospitals for cash. oh yeah, I forgot this American where big profits come before the value of human life.
Once you live with serious illness, priorities have a way of placing themselves in order. an australian scientist(fenner I believe is his name)) theorizes that the human race has less than 100 years left before extinction, and I am beginning to hope he's right.
leon,
I share your sadness . . . but I don't hope that we are extinct in 100 years . . . I hope we are enlightened.
Hang in there my friend!
hey nash, fruedian slip! I meant to say think but then I thought you know... what the hell!
the burning question... will an investigative reporter ever call jindal Piyush??????
leon:
Why in the hell are YOU so worried about that dudes name? You have an obsession with ole' dude's name. You are the only person in America worried about Jindal's real name. Actors and Entrtainers change their names all of the time.
President Obama hit the nail on the head by dissing Scary Sharry Angle for her clueless comment about his proper shakedown of BP Oil for $20 billion being some kind of government slush fund meant to lessen the budget deficit when he protected the people whose livelihoods have been trashed by BP Oil's rush to profits mistake. So funny that her campaign came back and said she really didn't mean it, that they were confused. Yeah Scary Sharry and her campaign staff are real confused and this admission has been the first time she or they have told the truth. I so enjoyed Barack's dig that Scary Sharry meant it in the nicest possible way because we all know she didn't.
Scary Sharry is lying about Nevada's unemployment rate skyrocketing as President Obama's fault is yet another repugnant one's lie, our Bushwhacked economy was trashed by deregulation and tax cut welfare to the rich and greedy that redistributed too much wealth upwards with too few taxes beiong paid by those who have the ability to pay them.
I wonder how long before Scary Sharry has to say she didn't mean it when she said that teenage girls who get pregnant by being raped by their fathers should have those babies. I hope the Mainstream media digs into her lying assertion that she gave idiotic advice to pregnant teenage girls who were raped by their fathers and one was adopted along with her baby. The Mainstream media needs to verify this obvious self serving lie as I have no doubts that she's just pulling stuff out of the thin air to back up her lies.
It also makes me wonder what religion she is, perhaps LDS you know the pedophile pervert religion that allows fathers to rape their daughters as being part of their religious experience. Does Scary Sharry have something to hide like having sex with her her father? Sure would explain her thinking that incest is best.
Scary Sharry Angle Says Incest is Best!
Scary Sharry did too much LDS in the 60's and 70's, and appears to be having flashbacks to 150 years ago, in an alternate timeline!
People here have asked if those used teabags are smoking their 'tea', frankly, I can only wish they were, it would calm their @sses right down a few notches, and give them time to think through their stupid ideas and lies.
I vote for moving forward. I don't want to go back.
I'd like to take President Obama's car driving analogy one step further. He says the Republicans drove the car into the ditch and want the keys back and he replies, "No, you can't drive!"
Well how about the same thing we ask our teenagers, "Where do you want to go?"
AMEN! :o)
Strange no one in the media can ask that simple question . . .
The GOP’s argument -- just look at the unemployment rate:
People need to look at the facts on unemployment, the root cause for high unemployment was put in place by the Republicans well before Obama took office, it took years and years of Republican tinkering with our economic system to get us where we are today, they knew corporate America could not be trusted to do the right thing which is fine because they are corporate America, they changed tax laws to make it very attractive to ship jobs overseas, changed labor laws in favor of their corporate buddies, filled the income tax laws with enough loopholes to allow the wealthy to avoid paying any taxes at all, initiated two nation building programs to break this nation while simultaneously enriching themselves and the defence contractors that bought them off, all part of their truly evil "starve the beast" plan to eliminate Social Security and Medicare, I could go on all day. But they are masters at getting the uninformed to vote against their own best interests using phony religious/moral rhetoric when they in fact they are driven by only one master, greed. This country can not afford to go back, the Dem's need a "real" majority in Congress with "real" Dem's, The Republicans can currently block anything they want because there are not enough "real" Dem's in Congress, if people wish to live in a country where everyone has an opportunity to succeed they best elect more "real" Dem's not fewer, and kick out the phony traitors. If the Repub's pick up a bunch of seats like the media wishes the continued decline in the quality of life for most will be accelerated and the point of no return reached for a once great nation.
I'd like to see President Obama spend lots of time working Sharron Angle over.
He raises her while lowering himself.
People begin to think that Sharron Angle must be important if the President of the United States feels to need to go toe-to-toe with her.
But...he's got no choice.
Gotta save Harry.
If the spilled oil reaches Miami will we see LeBoring James cleaning it up? Don't hold your breath waiting to see that. Really sad that the media has gone so overboard about LeBoring James, the King of Choke. The ignorant media crowned this self serving ballhog clown the king before he ever shot an NBA basket. It's going to be funny watching the Ballhog Trio trying to play with only one basketball, they'll implode over who gets the ball and who gets to shoot. Plus after paying these three overpaid ballhogs they won't be able to afford anyone else who's good.
I'm so laughing at the fools of Cleveland who thought that they had any chance of retaining the most overhyped loser in sports history. Cleveland's Rocked by his decision to head for the warmer climes of Miami. Don't worry Cleveland fans because now you can go back to the familiar scene of wearing bags over your heads while you root for the losing Cadavers.
Still come next June it will be King Kobe and the Repeat World Champion Lakers who will Threepeat! Kobe the Black Mamba is the greatest player in the NBA and LeBoring James is just the most overhyped media miscreation loser. The Heat have some unknown coach who led the team to a real creampuff performance this past playoffs and they will have to prove they can beat the Celtics or Magic before they get a chance to be beaten by the best, the Lakers.
Eric, Salinas, CA
Hey the LeBron Saga is Typical with whats wrong with atlletes today. him leaving was not the problem but it was how he did it. he showed no respect to the owners of cleveland that have paid him 16million for the last 3 or 4 seasons. Lebron ran all over the coach they fired, his in game antics shows how inmature he is. i hope Miami enjoys LeBron because in a year they will regret adding this child to there team. For the owner of the cavs to learn he is not coming back on national TV with out Notice will go down as the most selfish, unmature thing ever done in sports i'm glad he did not choose the chicago Bulls,. i enjoy watching a team play not a player who thinks he is above the team.
Micheal Jordan was class on the court and never did any thing like this. i remember when he came out of retirement and came back to the Bulls, he sent a fax saying
I'M BACK!!!!
Eric he keeps talking about winning titles, well it takes a 12 man roster to win a title, not 3 players.
Good morning all. I’ve been out of touch for a few days – a couple days of playing musical cubicles at work due to antique computer problems, plus I’m still trying to recover from 11 hours at Hershey Park on Tuesday in 100 degree heat. Other than that, though, my mini-vacation was great – I always enjoy showing off my home state to first-time visitors. The highlight for me was Gettysburg, even though I’ve been there a number of times before. There’s a new visitor center and museum since I was last there, and one exhibit that really stuck with me afterwards said that including civilians, about 620,000 people were killed during the course of the Civil War, and that adjusting that for “inflation”, a modern-day equivalent would be about 6 million – a staggering number – though no less staggering than the idea that we could have let things get to that point in the first place. It’s nothing short of a miracle that our nation survived, especially with losing Abraham Lincoln so soon after Appomattox.
Speaking of Lincoln, it was also interesting to see that the political pundits were already out in full force after his famous Gettysburg Address in 1863. While the Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican said “His little speech is a perfect gem; deep in feeling, compact in thought and expression, and tasteful and elegant in every word and comma.”, the Chicago Times claimed that “The cheeks of every American must tingle with shame as he reads the silly, flat, and dishwatery utterances.” You have to wonder if this “perfect gem” would ever have survived today’s 24/7 cable news cycle.
On a lighter note, the t-shirt collector in me couldn’t resist picking up one on sale at the book store with this somewhat lesser-known Lincoln quote – “I am a firm believer in the people; if given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts. And beer”.
I’m good for the beer, but where can I pick up a couple bags of truth and a case of real facts? And which ones do we want – the ones that are healthier for you in the long run, or the ones that just taste really great right this minute?
JoAnne: Great quote; There are a few Democrats on this site that enjoy a good beer. I'm a wine guy myself.
Ron - I'm normally a wine drinker myself - but I suspect after what I posted in a reply to Clara above here, I'm probably going to be drinking alone this weekend!
The biggest challenge for democrats this year is to keep reminding voters HOW we got here and WHO took us down this road, and remind voters that patience is needed because the hole the GOPers dug was deep and steep. It will require a disciplined and consistent message from every democrat running. It will require convincing those independent voters that chosing republicans this year will stop the vision they chose in 2006 and 2008. Forward not Backward is good.
Although I am not overly optimistic for 2010, I do think it will not be the carnage predicted by the media. Rand Paul is now statistically tied with the democrat in KY which tells me that most voters do not find his far right extremist views appealing. Angle continues down a radical road and as conservative as NV is, will voters find her REAL beliefs what they want. Democrats in both races must keep pounding the drum of what those candidates really believe and what that would mean to voters. Although I doubt it will happen, I would like nothing better than to see McCain lose to Hayworth--not because I like Hayworth's extreme views but because McCain sold his soul to win, he flip flopped on everything he ever believed, he does not deserve to win because he hasn't even been honest with himself let alone voters.
I'll blame some of the public perception on the media because they seem to spend more time talking about what hasn't taken place in the economy than what has actually been done. They assist the GOPers negative chatter by focusing on that chatter and focusing on silly nonsense such as is Obama angry enough. Some I blame on democrats in 2009, for failing to recognize that they must hit back at GOPers immediately taking every comment they make seriously and debunking it. Pres Obama also didn't hit back soon enough last year. This year, however, the democrats have found their voices and are immediately debunking the GOP lies and hitting them on every gaffe.
I'm also a bit optimistic, provided democrats seize the GOPers own words, because this is the first time I ever remember when republicans inadvertently spoke their real beliefs instead of hiding behind the tax cuts, small government, family values mantra they always spin. The Tea Party has brought to surface the real conservative ideology--business over people. Barton, Palin, Barbour, Jindal, Angle, Bachmann, King, and many others defended BP and accused Pres Obama of stealing money from that poor, helpless oil giant that made one little mistake; they call the Great Recession an ant. Democrats at every rally should ask: whose side are GOPers on? Forward or Backward? Clean, renewable energy or more oil disasters? Financial regulation or another economic collapse? And remind every voter that the republican party's wish list contains the elimination of social security, medicare and unemployment insurance. Hit the GOP where it is vulnerable.
It is a pretty day so think I'll head outside to enjoy it for awhile.
Jody,
Great post.
The fact that we have to "remind" folks of stuff that we are still trying to survive pretty much says it all.
The American public is in a pitiful state - we have so much junk flung at us - all presented as being equally valid by a media that is paid to create equivalencies where there are none.
We are the most informed and ignorant generation of Americans ever.
Jody: I ditto Nash--Great Post. I miss seeing you on newsvine.
Awesome Post Jody, the only problem, is how do you explain things at a level that even Homer Simpson can understand as that is the intelligence level of so many of our populace. Not that they have low IQs, but they Don't Use Them. So much easier to just have a beer with your donuts and watch the sports games than to do any real thinking: That might hurt the head some. Can you say bread, wine and circuses anyone, while the NeroPublicans and their Corporate Buddies fiddle away our livlihoods and our Nation.
The Republicans have nothing to run on in November so, they have dragged out the war in Afghanistan again. Morning Joe is fixated on this topic because his show is becoming irrelevant, boring, stale (fill in your own adjective) Let us not forget it was President Bush who took us into this war in the first place.He decided to abandon Afghanistan and invade Iraq, if we had finished the Afghan war, we would not be there today. President Obama listened to the Generals about the situation in Afghanistan and took their advice. If the President had told the Generals he was not going to listen to them and refused to back them up, imagine what the Republicans would be saying now. I don't even want to think about it. While the Republicans are wringing their hands, President Obama is going about the business of working for the little guy. God speed Mr. President.