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First of all, really enjoy these segments as it allows for some interactions between us loyal readers and the First Read crew. A few questions that come to mind:
1. What are the POLITICAL risks involved for President Obama if he should decide to take a more active role in the current situation in Wisconsin? Could he stand to benefit politically from getting involved?
2. Are there any other states where this situation is equally likely to play out?
Thanks again FR crew.
Grimey, I don't have the answer to your question(which is a good 1), but I can say that those saying elections have consequences are correct. Democrats & likeminded voters who sat on the sidelines in these past midterms, are feeling the Pain now.
When you sit on the sidelines & Don't Vote, because of Any reason, I feel as tho you lose your Right to Complain.
This thing is gonna get very interesting All across America.
Amen Rick! Complacency can no longer be tolerated in mid term elections - they ALL have consequences these days!
@ Grimey - Regarding question #2 - I saw this morning where there are already protests in MI & PA with FL organzing!
Bottom line: This is FAR from over...
Rick, you are so right. Here in Fl. where registered Dems outnumber registered Repubs. we ended up with a crook for Governor who won by a slim margin. There will be problems here in Fl. Eucation funding is being cut among other things as he slashes billions from the budget.
Some of the things he is proposing to cut such as education, does not affect his family, being independently wealthy he can afford to send his children to private institutions, he refuses federal money for highspeed rail, he has his own private jet. He is closing some state parks, you can bet he doesn't use, but thousands of we Floridians do and so do the tourists, bringing extra revenue to strapped local communities.
Anyone who voted for this miserable excuse for a human being is no better than he is. Apathy put him there...Elections do have consequences much to our chagrin.
You're right about MI. People are a little mad at the self proclaimed "Nerd" this morning. Taxing the retirees pensions and give small business 1.8 billion in tax breaks. Thanks Rick. I glad I voted for Virg.
This is what happens when you buy into to the GOTP BS.
2. Are there any other states where this situation is equally likely to play out?
I don't think Maine workers will be as upset as Wisconsin's as I don't see evidence our Tea Party governor is attacking the right of unions to bargain, however, teachers and retirees are pretty upset, especially as the governor has proposed lowering the estate tax for millionaires with the money saved from cutting state worker's benefits. Per today's Kennebec Journal:
I can answer your question, Amy
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/17/dnc-expands-mobilization-protests-ohio-indiana_n_824743.html
So, Obama has dispatched OfA to Ohio and Indiana to foment the same kind of labor unrest in those states.
Which leads me to MY boiler room question:
How is it that you consistently decide that anything that might reflect poorly on Obama is not newsworthy?
Also, why are you guys smart enough to know that there is a very real prospect that this blows up in his face, but he does not?
here is a question in addition to the one above:
What happens to the DNC and OfA when the governors of the states beset by their agenda driven wildcat strikes sue for tortious interference?
Here is the definition
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tortious_interference
This appears to be an open and shut case. I just hope these governors have the guts to do it.
By the way, they try this in my state, and I. Can guarantee my governor has the guts.
Do you think it will come to a shut down of the government over the budget? How can each side spin it that it is the other's sides fault if that happens?
#1: If a government shut down comes to fruition, would Social Security and Medicare/Medicaide payments continue?
I did some googling on the subject last night, and couldn't find a definitive answer.
#2: Have you thought of changing the name from the 'boiler room' to something more modern like say, the 'man cave'?
Hi Feisty,
It is my understanding that all government agencies stop functioning and that the SS checks do stop until all is resolved. That then would include Medicare/Medicaid payments.
Now if they change the name to the 'man cave' would we be welcome?, then some caves we might not want to enter, right? lol
What services will be affected if the Federal government is shut down?
I am thinking about TSA, FAA Social security etc.
Rick...good points right there. I almost feel like politics has been like ping pong. Republicans were a bit demoralized in 2008 and were blown out by highly motivated Democratic voters. The shellacking that the GOP took in 2008 and the subsequent "one party rule" in DC motivated GOP voters who got out in droves in 2010. So now the pendulum has swung again and will this lead to a motivated Dem base in 2012? Possibly...bit too soon to tell.
Amy...you'd know this better than me, but what's the political makeup of the legislature in Maine? I'd imagine it wouldn't have large GOP minorities. If that's the case, I'd think this would be far less likely to happen in Maine. Thanks for the comments.
More questions:
3. Does the situation in Wisconsin as well as the events in the Middle East possibly provide some cover for some behind the scenes budget dealings between the House, Senate, and administration? And if so, is it likely that they will take advantage? Notice that for the past day or two, no one is really talking about the federal budget. Or at the very least, our attention is more focused elsewhere.
4. If the budget showdown results in a government shutdown, what lessons should each side have learned from the shutdown in the 1990's from a political perspective?
Frank "Grimey" Grimes, Springfield, USA
Maine Democrats were also shellacked in 2010. We lose the governorship and majorities in the state legislature.
There are 77 House Republicans vs 72 Democrats in Maine, and 20 Republican state senators vs 14 Democrats.
Not all of the new Republicans are of the Tea Party flavor, but the governor and his cabinet certainly are, so we have been treated to controversy after controversy since LePage was sworn in. I will say this for LePage, though, he backed off on a witch hunt on the House minority leader when it became clear she hadn't done anything wrong in using a company funded by public money to do an energy audit on her home (she has the cancelled check to prove she paid for it.) There is a Karl Rove wannabee in the state party leadership, however, who is conducting a smear campaign on her. Very un-Maine like!
Here's my question:
Recently released census numbers show that ethnic minorities - especially Hispanics - made up a staggeringly high percentage of the total population growth in Texas over the last ten years. How do you see this affecting state/federal elections in Texas (and the southwest in general) for 2012 and beyond?
GM Joseph...As a Texan, I don't know how this will play out in the 2012 elections especially with the gain of seats, and redistricting looming. Interesting to say the least.
I betcha' the poster ITM Tx, will have an answer for you.
This no doubt will be a real fight!....
The state elected a republican Governor, house and senate even though the percentage of whites dropped to about 43 percent. What the census does not tell you is, how many are registered to vote, how many are likely to vote, how many can vote and where the new congressional districts will be drawn. Thanks to Tom Delay, the republicans benefited form the last redistricting. Beyond 2016 Texas may turn back to blue state. I would say that by 2021 Texas will be a blue state.
Salt:
They broke this down last night on Channel 11 News. redistricting will last at least 10 yrs until the next Census. That is 2020 well beyond 2016. I can't remember in my lifetime when Texas was blue so what are you saying turning BACK blue? Do you know that Texas is the pivot point of the richest people in the world. There is no way in hell these ultra rich whites are going to let Hispanics take over Texas. That is harsh but it is the truth.
Breakdown: 36% Hispanic with estimated 16% illegal, African American 12%, Anglo/Caucasion 48%, Asian/Other 4%.
My father told me; the same thing was said back in the early 70's. He said Mexicans were suppose to take over Texas by 1980 and his words are "They haven't ran this state since the Alamo".
This use to be a democratic state. The Houston Chronicle reported "The Anglo population has dropped to 45.3 percent, down from 52.4 percent in 2000" So I needed to check my numbers. If it drops another 7 percent in ten years, then Texas may turn back blue. I suspect that in ten years manyof us anglo's will have passed on to the big pasture in the sky. It is the old Anglos that is keeping Texas red, because even in Texas the Young generation has a different mind set. Of course I am in the Houston area, which is not quite as blue as Austin, but in the middle of Texas is a different story.
"I can't remember in my lifetime when Texas was blue so what are you saying turning BACK blue"
ITM, memory is a great liar....and you just proved it with your inane post.
You mistakenly took my post about you as some kind of a kudo....Not!
You should 'google' anything about Texas politics from any site and you will get basically the same info. Texas was BLUE for about 100 years leading up to the 1970's, when the gradual shift to RED started.
Your hero Delay and the other Republicans tried that redistricting (gerry mandering) in an off year around 2002-3 and got caught..forced by the courts to put things back the way they were.
You really need to get a grip on facts versus opinions! Stop the hate filled inaccurate posts!
I think you just have to go back to the 1990's, when we had a democratic house, senate and govenor. Ann Richardson era. The state was not mostly red until Bush was elected govenor.
Question: will the any of the Red State Democratic Senators up for reelection in 2012 break ranks in the looming budget battles?
This one's kind of a joint question from me and Ron, Indiana:
With all the attention being paid to CPAC and the multitude of potential 2012 GOP candidates lately - you guys even mentioned some Republican "rising stars" recently who seemed to be generating even more buzz than the presumed candidates themselves are - how about some equal time? Who do you think the rising stars are going to be among the Democrats in the future, and what will set them apart?
Seriously? Equal time?
Cause we don't hear enough about democrats? PSST - Obama is a democrat, remember?
Slow down and re-read the question, there, Spanky - Which part of "rising stars" and "in the future" should I have put in caps to make it more obvious? Or are you saying you think President Obama can/should run for a third term in 2016? Hey, works for me!
Seriously.
Good question, JoAnne and Ron----I would be interested in their take on the Democrats' "bench". Will the 2016 primaries be a generational shift thing---the folks who ran in 2008 v. younger folks coming up now?
I have been impressed with the Mayor of Newark (am blanking on him name--Booker?) when I have seen him interviewed.
That is a good question, JoAnne. Right now, Democrats -- on paper -- appear to have a weaker 2016 bench than Republicans do. Some Dem names to consider: Mark Warner, Brian Schweitzer. However, if Obama wins re-election, I would suspect that Hillary Clinton would be the Dems' strongest candidate in 2016. Of course, 2016 is a LONG time off.... And there will be rising stars coming out of the 2012 and 2014 elections.
One Democrat to keep an eye on for 2020 and beyond: CA AG Kamala Harris....
Good Morning Mark!
I didn't recognize you without the little 'peacock'! lol
Kamala Harris... interesting!
Thanks for your thoughts!
Thanks, Mark! I was sort of hoping the news would be better than that, but as you say, it's still a long way off. I'll definitely check out the names you mentioned.
Now get out there and enjoy the rest of your weekend!
My question is about where Rep. Kingston's four children under age 26 work that they enjoy health-care benefits?
Who do you think will be the GOP Presidential Candidate in 2012?
Mitt
Is the constitution like a collective bargaining agreement?
I guess no one wants to touch this one, Let me reword it.
Is a collective bargaining agreement like the constitution?
Why are the Repubs so bent out of shape over the deficit and deficit spending NOW when during the Bush Presidency they did not care a bit, in fact, had the highest ever deficit spending and highest budget deficits EVER and said, LOUDLY, that deficits did not matter, and Now they regard it as THE top issue, yet they will NOT allow taxes to be raised, nor even leveled in the case of Capital gains, nor will they address the HUGE amounts that are given away to Corporations as tax breaks and loopholes? Why are they working to cut entitlements, ones that we have paid into and work rather well, instead of going after the low hanging fruit of removing the tax breaks and loopholes? Are they TRYING to cause a major rebellion, like in Egypt, Tunisia and the rest of the Middle-East, here in the US? And if so, WHY?
It's all about railroading the POTUS and power, See Carter...
B Honest:
Bush is not the POTUS.
People are talking about "Right Now".
ITM, The conditions that we are seeing today were set up during the Bush Regime, the deficits that the Repubs are screaming about NOW were SPENT then, get your facts clear. We are still trying to get back the jobs that BUSH LOST, and trying to recover from the Bank Fraud that happened on BUSH'S Watch, just like the wars that we are in NOW are because of BUSH failing to stop the attacks on the Towers because he and his cronies WANTED an excuse to go to war with Iraq...and did not care how many Americans died in order to get them there!
History IS relevant, and the conditions that we face NOW WERE set up during the BUSH presidency, sorry to pop your bubble and all, spending, jobs and all of what BUSH did was NOT erased on Jan 29th 2009, President Obama (much as you dislike hearing that) INHERITED these problems, he did NOT cause them, and these problems would have been MUCH closer to resolved had the REPUBLICANS not blocked nearly ALL of his proposals in Congress.
Yes, I lay these problems at the feet of Bush, Cheney and the Repubs...right where they rightfully belong! THANK GOD that Bush is no longer POTUS, we would be in even worse shape now if he were!
The Democratic bench is emptier than the Cleveland Cavaliers.
First off the bench, up and coming young Democratic superstar, he is a big F'in deal!
Vice President Joe Biden !
next up, retread Hillary Clinton..
that's all ya got.
Good luck.
Up n coming Dem? I'd go w Chris Coons of DE. Sharp cookie. Booker is one too, but Christie really does suck the air out of the room in NJ. Too bad he's such an extremist--the message of we have to make sacrifices is one we need to hear but he's a job killer in a bad time to kill jobs. Sounds to me like he's running though w/ his half @$$ed denials and weak field. Romney is a joke between pandering, flip flopping and being the father of universal healthcare--talk about McCain as a base killer...
Entitlements?....What a joke.....Why does not anyone in our Gov't address the issues surrounding the massive entitlement we offer illegal invader...........Lets discontinue all entitlement......Except for those already here and for them we allow a reasonable time for them to EARN legal status.....If the time limit passes without earning legal status they no longer receive ANY entitlements......
And Napolitano continues to tell the gullible public our Southern border is as safe as its ever been and at the same time post huge signs warning us not to travel near our own border.......So now she will go to Mexico, talk with the Fed'l police about the recent killing of our Diplomat (near Monterey, Mx)......And when she leaves there the Fed'l police will look at each other and break out in a huge laugh.....What fools we are.......
We are fighting wars today, all over the world, against enemies of tomorrow who don't give one hoot about diplomicy, diplomatic baloney or rules of war..........If we do not get meaner and tougher we will go down.......................
wwmcclung,
Name any President or administration that has done more to protect our southern boarder that this one.
When / if you answer please provide a link to a source that will show facts to back up you claim.
wwmcclung,
BTW at 5 am this morning the Republican controlled House passed the FY2011 spending bill (235-189) that included $600 million in funding cuts from border security. 3 Republicans and all Democrats vote against the bill.