I just saw something I've never seen before in my quarter-decade of following politics. I was flipping around the dial, and came to CNN. Wolf said that they were going to cut live to the White House where Obama was about to speak at a "fiscal responsibility summit". Yawn, right? It's hard to describe what I saw. It looked like Obama … Read More
The Chicago Tea Party
For those who missed it, this is the video that went viral yesterday. It features CNBC's Rick Santelli: David Sirota said it best: Santelli was "literally on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange surrounded by multimillionaire traders railing on the Obama administration for trying to help struggling homeowners, and berating people who are getting foreclosed on as 'losers.'" But that … Read More
Repubican Report Card
CNN: It's the one-month anniversary of President Obama's swearing-in, and not surprisingly the Republican National Committee is out with its' verdict: It's been "disappointing." "Obama's first month has been marked by wasteful spending, failed bipartisanship, and questionable ethics," the RNC said in a document circulated to reporters. Uh, right. Because the last eight years have been the hallmark of fiscal … Read More
Not Saying He’s *Better*
Obama beats out Jesus in poll asking for biggest hero: Americans named President Obama as their No. 1 hero, followed by Jesus Christ and Martin Luther King, in a new Harris poll. Others in the top 10, in descending order, were Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, Abraham Lincoln, John McCain, John F. Kennedy, Chesley Sullenberger and Mother Teresa. Can't believe … Read More
Rebranding The GOP (“You Down With GOP? Yeah, You Know Me!”)
This should be amusing. Washington Times: Newly elected Republican National Committee Chairman Michael S. Steele plans an “off the hook” public relations offensive to attract younger voters, especially blacks and Hispanics, by applying the party's principles to “urban-suburban hip-hop settings.” The RNC's first black chairman will “surprise everyone” when updating the party's image using the Internet and advertisements on radio, … Read More
Eliminationist Rhetoric
From the blog of a white supremicist: After the pending Second American Revolution results in killing the people who have wrecked this country — yes, you KNOW who I'm talking about — what are we going to do as a nation to move forward? There are lots of very very serious things to consider. What to do with the people … Read More
Don’t You Have To Win In Order To Take A Victory Lap?
House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) has created a YouTube video set to the tune of Aerosmith’s “Back In The Saddle” boasting that zero Republicans voted for the recovery package. The video is called “The House GOP is Back.” Watch it: I'm not quite sure that having near-unanimous opposition to the stimulus bill is a political winner. After all, the … Read More
Two Americas (What Digby Said)
I was going to blog about this, but Digby beat me to it, so I'll just pilfer her post: If you get a chance to see the HBO Alexandra Pelosi documentary about the McCain campaign called Right America: Feeling Wronged, do it. If you ever doubted that this is actually two countries, and that there is a very real divide … Read More
Can We Drop The Charade Now?
Joe Klein on post-partisanship: Obama should now understand that the Republicans are not reliable partners–at least, not for the moment. Most are stuck in the contentious past, rutted in Reaganism, intent on taking a Hooverist course on the economy (although there remains cause for optimism on foreign policy). The President's default position, after the stimulus fight and the Gregg fiasco, should … Read More
Gregg Suddenly Realizes Obama Is A Democrat, Withdraws Nomination
Judd Gregg, February 3rd: "This is not a time when we should stand in our ideological corners and shout at each other. This is a time to govern and govern well. It was my obligation to say yes." Judd Gregg, today: "(I)t has become apparent during this process that this will not work for me as I have found that on … Read More
The Partisans Cometh
A PLAY IN THREE ACTS ACT I (Scene: A House) Obama: Hey guys, we could really use your input on this stimulus bill. Republicans: Go jump in a lake, Messiah! Pelosi: This isn’t about party, it’s about people. Republicans: Did you guys hear something? A cackling noise? ACT II (Scene: A Senate) Reid: We’ve got 3 votes! Can I get … Read More
Tempting Fate
Given the fact that Obama is our first black president, and that this country has its fair share of gun-toting wingnuts who hate him, it's one thing to pay a visit to Ford's Theater (site of the Lincoln assassination). But does he have to go and mention "MacBeth" while in the theater?
Idiot Elected Leaders
From Columbus Dispatch: U.S. Rep. Steve Austria said he supports a scaled-down federal economic-stimulus proposal, but the Beavercreek Republican told The Dispatch editorial board that the huge influx of money into the economy could have a negative effect. "When (President Franklin) Roosevelt did this, he put our country into a Great Depression," Austria said. "He tried to borrow and spend, … Read More
Why Is The GOP Smiling? (Or “The Audacity of Nope”)
To read today's Washington Post, you would get the impression that Republicans are happy with their opposition to the stimulus bill. By fighting the popular Obama, the article suggests that the GOP is beginning its road to a comeback: After giving the package zero votes in the House, and with their counterparts in the Senate likely to provide in a … Read More
Lessons
Lesson learned from the past 8 years: Republicans are very bad at governing. Lesson I think we all are about to learn (as shown by the fact that 41 Republicans in the Senate are succeeding in preventing passage of a stimulus bill): Republicans are very good at preventing governing. This isn't necessarily an insult. The mantra of the GOP was, … Read More