63 posts tagged “democrats”
So, MN Governor Pawlenty finally signed off on the 2008 election result and Al Franken will be seated in the US Senate. It’s about time! Not only was this the longest Senate battle in our history but the most annoying. The late Paul Wellstone was a hero to most of my family and it was a supreme insult to him to have his seat filled by Norm Coleman. But Coleman was more than a conservative, he was really annoying. First he said if he trailed he would drop out but he fought on. In April he said that ‘whoever wins will have a cloud over them.’ Yeah, then why did you keep fighting? Why did it take until almost July to concede? I guess he thinks that the people in Minnesota will have forgotten this just in time for you to run for governor in 2010. Good luck with that.
It is worth noting that now that Democrats have 60 votes in their caucus that puts more pressure on them to get something done. This 60 is both theoretical and soft – there are at least a few Dems from traditionally red states who are going to feel a lot of pressure to vote against their party. Byron Dorgan I am looking at you. Then again, there are some moderate Republicans who may vote with the Democrats on some key issues.
Only time will tell how this affects the Senate and what it does but having 100 senators is a good thing. Having 60 caucus with the Democrats is even better.
Well, if this week has shown us anything it is that we live on a very dangerous planet.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, announced that not only was the election totally legitimate but that the protesters are responsible for any unrest or violence. He also vowed to prosecute them. The idea that Iran is a democracy ended the minute they stopped letting the situation be covered by the press. It comes as no surprise that the pro-Mahmoud Ahmadinejad rally crowd changed “Death to America! Death to Israel! Death to Britain!” Ahmadinejad has said these things before and Khamenei already blamed the west for stirring up trouble there. So while protests will continue and the Guardian Council will still look into the more than 600 complaints about the election, it looks like Ahmadinejad will keep the presidency and given how much he wants to get nuclear weapons, that’s a bad thing for everyone. I know, his rival, Mir Hossein Mousavi , also favors continuing their nuclear program but he is not bat shit crazy. He’s not perfect but he would be a step in the right direction. This situation remains dicey for the US, given our past with Iran but I applaud Congress for voting on a resolution supporting free elections there. The White House needs to be more careful. I suspect some people here will hammer me for this but it is in times like this that I am glad Barack Obama won the White House and even more that George W. Bush is gone. That’s not a partisan thing, if George H.W. Bush was there I would feel the same way. He knew his way around the Middle East.
As all of our attention has been on Iran, another crazy dictator has been feeling a little ignored. Kim Jung Il behaves
like a spoiled child. When another country’s bad deeds capture the world, he has a temper tantrum. Unfortunately for his neighbors and us, his version of a hissy fit is a threat to nuke somebody. This week he announced his plan to shoot a missile at Hawaii. If you missed it, South Korean president, Lee Myung-bak , met with President Obama this week. He said that South Korea would ‘not tolerate nuclear weapons in North Korea’ but I think the genie has left that bottle, too.
The rationale these countries use for obtaining nuclear weapons is simple: Other countries have them so they should, too. It’s a matter of ‘national pride’ they say. I have an idea for both countries – and this could go for any nation – how about you work on feeding, clothing and housing your people? Take that money you want to use on missiles and buy some food. The national disgrace for you is not your weak militaries, it’s your piss poor records on human rights and horrible economies.
Really? Yes, really.
This has become my favorite word. I think I must say ‘Really???’ about a hundred times a day.
· Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says his opponents use ‘Hitler tactics.’ Really? Mr. Abmadinejad, one of the world’s most famous and infamous Holocaust deniers, has accused his political rivals of behaving like Adolph Hitler when they insulted him: It is illegal to insult the president in Iran. He furthermore threatened to put them in jail for saying that he had lied about the economy. And they’re acting like Hitler? So the man who thinks Hitler really didn’t do anything all that bad is threatening to throw people who disagree with him in jail. Really? Yes, really. http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE5592OM20090610
· The GOP ‘disses’ Sarah Palin. Palin disses David Letterman. The press wonders what this means for the Party. Really? Sarah Palin was invited to speak a fundraiser in DC but the offer was rescinded when she didn’t give a firm answer and Newt Gingrich stepped in. Her response seems to have been to call David Letterman ‘pathetic’ and the media ‘buffoons.’ Before jumping on Palin, it should be noted that the press really hyped the infighting and given the current position of the GOP in America, this is what makes them think it is in disarray? And Mrs. Palin, this is the battle you want to have? With Letterman? Really? Yes, really.
· Congressman Eric Cantor (R-VA) thinks President Obama’s ‘paygo’ idea is hypocritical. Really? Eric Cantor sure is living up to his new nickname, ‘Dr. No.’ He has opposed pretty much everything President Obama does or says. First he accused the president of being a hypocrite when he asked Congress to make the ‘PayGo” (any spending needs to be paid for) rule law – mostly because of the new spending. Apparently, he was absent during his first eight years in office when the Dubya admin spent like drunken sailors and ran up our deficit and debt. Of course, it didn’t look as bad then because the costs for the Afghanistan and Iraq wars were included in the budget (nice accounting trick there). Then he said “the stimulus package is not a success story, people are still suffering.” Note to Rep. Cantor – the bill passed about six months ago, it took us longer than that to get into this mess, it will take longer to get out. So, the Minority Whip both thinks it is ok when his party spends money on unnecessary wars (Iraq) and tax breaks for the uber-wealthy but cannot stand to see it spent on Americans and wants policy changes he doesn’t like to work immediately. Really? Yes, really.
· When all else fails, we know Joe will find a way to remind us all what a (insert your favorite expletive that means jerk here) he is. Really? Senators Lindsay Graham (R-SC) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) have said they plan to do everything in their power to block CIA photos of ‘enhanced interrogation’ from being released. By anything, they mean stop the Senate from getting any work done until their amendment is added to a bill that would fund our troops. Hey, it’s not like the Senate has work to do, right? They only have to hold hearings on a Supreme Court nominee, work on overhauling health care, fix the economy, deal with escalating violence in Pakistan/Afghanistan/Iraq, prevent a pandemic, keep an eye on North Korea…. And did I mention the first bill they want to filibuster is for funds for our troops? Really? Yes, really.
As a final note on torture, mom you might not want to read this, this quote seemed really appropriate for the torture debate: “If you beat this motherfucker long enough, he will tell you he started the fuckin’ Chicago fire but that won’t make it true.” ‘Nice’ Eddie – Reservoir Dogs. Exactly, thanks Eddie for making my point so eloquently.
More thoughts on abortion…
FYI: Whenever I write about, or mention, abortion I get emails asking why I enjoy killing babies so much. No one enjoys killing babies. My sarcastic side, commonly referred to as ‘me,’ wants desperately to add the words more than me but there are a lot of people who cannot understand sarcasm and would probably think I was serious. Actually, there are probably people out there who a, really like abortion and b, really like killing babies but I would argue they are probably insane and hopefully there aren’t many of them.
My view is the same as the Clintons' view. Abortion should be safe, legal (available) and rare. The recent killing of Dr. George Tiller (http://remembertiller.com/) has brought the issue back front and center, though next month’s Senate confirmation hearings for Judge Sonia Sotamoyor would have done the same thing, only with less violence. What troubles me, other than the obvious pang one has when one reads about senseless violence, is that this tactic worked. Dr. Tiller’s family will not reopen their clinic.
While this may seem like a hollow victory for anti-abortion groups, they have said they are glad the clinic will close but worried about the legal ramifications this will have, really the end result may be more chilling. Abortion may be legal in the United States but legal does not equal available. As we debate Roe v. Wade, I have to wonder about its relevance today. I do not want to see it overturned but would like to see access expanded, funding restored and better sex education promoted.
Dr. Tiller’s clinic was one of three in the country that performed late term abortions on fetuses with horrific abnormalities. (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-tiller10-2009jun10,0,6032915.story) Clinics that provide reproductive services all over the country are beefing up their security in the wake of this tragedy. This can only limit people’s access to care, not just abortions but health care. (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j0m25jqgrTdVNnZHlJuXK3DbHG1AD98JE1A80)
It is already more difficult than most people realize for women to get abortions. For low income women it can be almost impossible. This map shows states that restrict access for poor women to abortion. There are 33 states plus the District of Columbia – seen here in red. The blue states (no, the political parallel is incidental) provide them with access, there are 17 of them.
Currently, 23 states have laws banning abortion at 12 weeks or after (red) but these laws are considered to be unconstitutional and unenforceable. Five states (blue) have enforceable laws against abortions at 12 weeks and after.
Five states require women to get written permission from their spouse before getting an abortion. (last map)
This study has data for both side; http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/4000608.pdf. One alarming number from it is that 86 percent of US counties do not have any abortion providers at all. One could argue that the decline in abortions, which began in 1991 following an all time high in 1990, accelerated under President George W. Bush. But I would point to the fact that the high point was under the first President Bush and that 2000 saw the introduction of mifeprisone (RU-486) and cases in which this was used may not be counted in the full abortion count.
All this just makes me more grateful that Barack Obama was elected president. Not only because he will pick judges who are less inclined, or not inclined, to overturn Roe but his Justice Department will take seriously the threats clinics face. That’s good for women and medical professionals in every state.
In the 1980s people talked about 'Reagan Democrats.' I think we can now talk about 'Obama Republicans.'
Saying, "I didn't leave the party, it left me," Senator Arlen Spector is switching parties today.
Wow.
Democrats are considering using expedited measures in the Senate to pass health care reform. I am all for that. (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/23/us/politics/23health.html?hp) I like the idea so much that if you think we have waited too long for a better health care system already, I think you should call your Senators (202-224-3121 or 202-225-3121) and tell them you support this.
And to those who don’t and who happen to think President Reagan was a good president, remember the GOP did the same thing to push through his agenda in 1981. More recently the Republican controlled Senate did it in twice under George W. Bush, in 2001 and 2003. Ironically, I don’t think Reagan or Dubya were good presidents. I think the latter was horrible for America (and the planet) but one thing that I said (look back at my post in which I defend his position on ANWR) was that when he took a stand he didn’t back down from it. I don’t think that is always the best plan but health care is one issue we cannot afford to ignore. By afford, I do not even mean the people who don’t have insurance, I mean our country.
Republicans say this will be the equivalent of a ‘declaration of war.’ I think they already brought that when the Obama Administration made concessions to please them and then they all voted against it. That’s how they do bipartisanship? Note to the right (I know again): You lost, get over it. You had the country to run as your own personal whatever for most of the past eight years, now it’s our turn.
Oh, no he di’n’t. Oh, yes, he did. Now former Governor Rod Blagojevich said that he is ‘just like tens of thousands of other Americans who have lost their jobs.’ Right. Those other people were all laid off for corruption. I read his ‘speech’ and honestly, I would have voted against him for just being incoherent. I had no idea what he was talking about half of the time. At one point he compared his situation (and this may not be his exact wording) to what happens on a schoolyard when ‘one kid kits another kid and the kid that hit the other kid didn’t do it but the teacher won’t listen to any of the other kids who were there who could prove that he didn’t hit the other kid.’ What? What the hell are you talking about?
As we struggle through this horrible economic situation and try to deal with two wars, this situation is really a distraction. Whether or not it is good (at least for comic relief, I mean is there any press he didn’t do in NYC?) or bad (don’t we have better things to do?) is not for me to decide. I think it proves that the appearance of impropriety is worse than the impropriety itself because nothing has been actually been proven yet. Though Blago’s effectiveness was zero and it is important for people to have some faith in their government.
Note: Despite claims that they would work with President Obama, not one Republican voted for his stimulus package. Not one. And it passed anyway. I guess you can’t blame them, if the Democrats can do what they need to do without the GOP, they should and will. Good for them. Good for us.
· Bush admits he made mistakes. Ya think? It’s so good to admit that now. Now, eight days before a new president takes office, you are ready to say you made mistakes. Of course, not for anything that really matters. Was the response to Katrina slow? Not according to Dubya. How ‘bout the economy, “I inherited a recession and I am leaving a recession.” While he finally admitted the ‘Mission Accomplished’ banner was not a good idea, he still thinks the war in Iraq was a good idea and considers Abu Ghraib ‘unfortunate.’ Because it happened or because we found out about it? While the White House called today’s press conference the ‘ultimate exit interview’ if you are one of the few Americans out there who will miss George (the) W (rong son got elected) Bush, fear not. He still has plenty of ‘legacy saving’ interviews/speeches on his schedule.
· You voted for Obama, bought the hat, t-shirt, etc. but do you have the commemorative Metrorail pass/smartcard? No? Well, you had better buy one right now because they are going fast. I shouldn’t joke about such seriousness, they probably will go fast. I am still waiting for my Illinois quarter – in color no less – to arrive, what a steal! A quarter only cost me $20.
· Are political pundits like sharks? By that I mean, if they stop talking, do they die? Do they need polls to survive? Was the most important thing about the meeting Obama requested last week of all living presidents, the colors of their ties and/or what they ate? Does anyone really give a shit about that?
· He really likes to work. “I'm a Type A personality…I just can't envision myself, you know, the big straw hat and a Hawaiian shirt sitting on some beach, particularly since I quit drinking," Bush said. (from ABC News among other sources.) Yeah, that’s what I have heard about the President who I believe spent more time away from the White House than any other president and on vacay than anyone in 60 years.
· Say it ain’t so, Joe. Sorry, Joe-the-not-really-a-plumber, your 15 minutes ended about, well 15 minutes after they started. First you were an annoying campaign ploy, then a fraud, then a war correspondent and now are considering running for the US Senate? (http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2009/01/12/ohio-sen-voinovich-to-retire-could-joe-the-plumber-run-for-senate/) Talk about scraping the bottom of the barrel. Hey, GOP, good luck with that.
From the news the past few weeks, 2009 looks a lot like 2008. That will suck if it continues.
· Polls = “lies, damned lies and statistics.” One added benefit to Barack Obama’s election would be the cessation of the endless polling the news networks did during the campaign cycle. Wow, was I wrong about that. The polls have shifted from which candidate people support for the 2008 campaign to which GOP candidate is most favored (it’s Sarah Palin right now) to beat Obama and/or how much confidence the public – including the same Republicans who are already lining up to support Palin – has in Obama. WTF? Can’t the guy take office before the snarkiness starts? Apparently not.
· Petty, partisan politics are over. Uh, not in the US. Just as Minnesota says Al Franken won, Norm Coleman and his pals in the Senate vow to fight on. Granted, with an election so close, it’s hard to blame them. It’s how they got the White House in 2000. The other split seems to be in how the GOP machine will respond to President Obama. So far they have released obnoxious and racist videos. When called on the blatant racism of “Barak the magic negro” their response was “it was a joke.” Yeah, so were your response to Katrina, our participation in the ICC or adherence to the Geneva Conventions the economy and your general ability to govern. See, none of us are laughing at those either.
· No, really – everything I do it totally legal. One might think that if one governor is in the newspaper every day over a ‘pay for play’ scandal that if you maybe did the same thing, you might not want to subject yourself to anything that requires Senate confirmation. Poor, silly Bill Richardson. Of course, the adage that ‘those in glass houses should not throw stones’ never did mean much to politicians. Nice.
· Just because I am about to be impeached does mean I lose my rights to govern. Speaking of Governor Blogojevich, he hasn’t actually been indicted on anything. I understand that the ‘appearance of impropriety is worse than the impropriety itself.’ I do but legally he has the right to appoint anyone, who meets the requirements to be a Senator, to the Senate. He could make things easier on Harry Reid, but why should he? He should because anyone he appoints will be tainted and that may make it harder to them to keep the seat in 2010 when they have to run again. A veto proof Senate would be, well, I can’t say how strongly I feel about it because then I would have to list this post as ‘offensive’ but it would be awesome.
· Winter is cold and there is still plenty of war to go around. After 10 days in Florida and too many hours of CNN/the Weather Channel, I can tell you that in the winter most of the US is cold and people still try to kill each other all over the world. Israel is pounding Gaza (and I do blame Hamas for this), conflicts continue in the DR Congo & Darfur and pirates are taking ships off the horn of Africa. Good times.
I know I sound glib here and promise that is not my goal. It’s hard for me not to not be cynical about the state of the world. The US made great progress by electing Barack Obama but we have a long way to go in terms of the rest of the planet, our role in it and what we do within our borders. Democracy does not equal stability and peace. The US is not the only country on earth and political corruption runs rampant. We get the government that we settle for.
Newt Gingrich to the rescue! Newt Gingrich to the rescue! Newt Gingrich to the rescue!
Go, Newt Gingrich! Go, Newt Gingrich! (Sung to the song Jim Dandy to the rescue)
Being a liberal Democrat, few things put a smile on my face like watching the GOP so stupid things that show people their true colors. Their recent attempts to link President-elect Obama to Governor Rod Blagojevich really smack of both of their normal smear tactics mixed in with a fair amount of whining. You can watch their new video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2M1zMaZPmI. The announcement on their page is here: http://www.gop.com/News/NewsRead.aspx?Guid=be000046-39ad-4992-8e7e-05bdcbb80189. I would have thought that Obama’s landslide victory last month coupled with the fact that even most Republicans polled want to see him succeed – not because they like him so much but because the country needs it so badly – would make them reconsider this path. It has been the path you are on and maybe they are just following the old adage that when things get tough, just keep doing what you’re doing. A policy that clearly helped them this past election.
The one GOP name that keeps popping up again and again is Newt Gingrich. He knows a thing or two about revenge. He might agree with the saying that holding a grudge is like taking poison and hoping you enemy gets sick. He is very familiar with that one because after he swore he would get Bill Clinton out of office, the first casualties of the impeachment fight were Newt Gingrich the then-Speaker of the House and his designated replacement Bob Livingston. Both resigned when their own infidelities were brought to light. Additionally, the House Judiciary Committee Chairman, at the time, Henry Hyde – also an R, had to admit he had also had affairs but they were ‘youthful indiscretions’ (he was 52 years old, which means I have loads of time to make the same claim should I do something stupid but I digress). The last force behind the ridiculousness was Tom Delay, who probably inhaled too many chemicals as an exterminator, also had to resign a while later for other ethical failings. In fact, the one person who remains pretty much intact after all of that is President Bill Clinton. He’s a total rock star. Love him.
Now that all this happened and Newt is back in favor – he did orchestrate the Contract on America. Oopsie, I meant with. That PR ploy – and 40 years of Democratic arrogance – got him the House of Representatives in 1994. Not only did they win but they managed to oust the then-Speaker of the House Tom Foley (D-WA), which was the first time a Speaker lost since 1860 (side note: in a poll of Foley’s Congressional district I think about 60 to 70 percent of the voters assumed anyone they elected would be Speaker, yeah, our education is system is the best in the world). So it’s natural to look to him, he is a very smart guy.
This week he proved himself to be even more valuable when he announced he was unhappy with the way the GOP is behaving, and you know that will always get news. According to the Post :
Gingrich boils it down to a single sentence: "Republicans should be eager to work with [Obama] when he is right, and, when he is wrong, offer a better solution, instead of just opposing him." http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/12/more_republicans_revolt_on_oba.html?nav=rss_blog
Gingrich has also called the video a ‘destructive distraction.’ He is absolutely correct but I hope the RNC sticks to its guns. What’s been good for them has not been good for the country.
