Our political Quote of the Day comes from Paul Tullis, writing on the Huffington Post, about what President Barack Obama seemingly forgot about change: This battle over the debt deal was not a matter of who believes in Keynes. It was a matter of Republicans caring more about power than about governing, and Democrats being unable to wrest that power from Republicans so … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: What Barack Obama Forgot About Change
The Incredible Shrinking Barack Obama
No matter what consequences stem from the controversial debt limit ceiling deal, one thing is clear: we are now watching The Incredible Shrinking Barack Obama. And here are four other facts. First, Barack Obama will go down in history along with Ronald Reagan as presiding over the New Deal’s and Great Society’s gradual dismantling. Second, Obama’s mystique is evaporating … [Read more...] about The Incredible Shrinking Barack Obama
The Ethereal Presidency of Barack Obama
Political types used to worry about an imperial presidency in which a chief executive used both formal and merely implied powers of his office to run roughshod over congress, the courts, and other institutions to impose his own will on government policy. No need to worry about that, however, with Barack Obama in the White House. The man clearly has other priorities. He's … [Read more...] about The Ethereal Presidency of Barack Obama
The Debt Limit Deal: Angst and Uncertainty for Defense Hawks.
Depending on which side of the military spending issue one is in, thrills or chills are running up and down the respective spines in light of the debt ceiling deal that now looks quite certain to become law. While to sighs of relief from those for a strong military, it looks like the cuts in next year’s defense budget will probably be small, for the years beyond there is … [Read more...] about The Debt Limit Deal: Angst and Uncertainty for Defense Hawks.
CNN’s Don Lemon Brings Back Independent Analyst Panel to React to Debt Ceiling Limit Crisis (VIDEO)
On Sunday CNN's Don Lemon brought back his independent analyst panel to get their reactions to the debt ceiling limit crisis. He has had this panel composed of TMV's Joe Gandelman, Dr. Omar Ali, and Nicole Kurokawa on approximately seven times since November 2009 -- often tracking members down when they were traveling. Here is the video: … [Read more...] about CNN’s Don Lemon Brings Back Independent Analyst Panel to React to Debt Ceiling Limit Crisis (VIDEO)
A Hold-Your-Nose Deal (Guest Voice)
A Hold Your Nose Deal by Eugene Robinson Washington Post Columnist WASHINGTON -- It's supremely galling. It's unbalanced, unfair and mostly unwise. For President Obama and the Democratic Party, it's a comprehensive defeat. But it's not the end of the world. The deal struck Sunday to free the U.S. economy from its Republican hostage-takers is impossible … [Read more...] about A Hold-Your-Nose Deal (Guest Voice)
Putting The Children In Charge
Joe Nocera's column in today's New York Times will be quoted often in years to come. He and a few others -- like Paul Krugman and Robert Reich -- have written that America's future is being sabotaged by the children who were elected last November. Nocera writes: These last few months, much of the country has watched in horror as the Tea Party Republicans have waged … [Read more...] about Putting The Children In Charge
Tea Head
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Justitia, Open Your Eyes (Guest Voice)
Justitia, Open Your Eyes by Peter Funt Should Justitia remove her blindfold? Named after the Roman goddess, we know her better as Lady Justice: guardian of our courts. The scales she holds remind us to weigh evidence with care; her sword indicates that punishment must fit the crime. And her blindfold connotes...well, what? It's generally accepted that the … [Read more...] about Justitia, Open Your Eyes (Guest Voice)
The Troubling Profile of a ‘Bushian Terrorist’ (Le Quotidien d’Oran, Algeria)
Can it credibly be said that George W. Bush and U.S. neoconservatives are partly responsible for the emergence of Norwegian terrorist and mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik? According to columnist K. Selim of Algeria's Le Quotidien d’Oran, Western media has been careful not to draw the right conclusions about where a man like Breivik really came from. For Algeria's Le … [Read more...] about The Troubling Profile of a ‘Bushian Terrorist’ (Le Quotidien d’Oran, Algeria)
Will Democratic Liberal Disgust Over Debt Ceiling Limit Deal Hurt Recalls in Wisconsin?
A Talking Points Memo post suggests something I have often noted: when some members of the Democratic Party's liberal base get mad they decide to punish their party or just don't vote and hand long sought victories to their foes. Then they complain afterwards when their foes are in power, or consolidate power. This has led to teeny-weeny things such as America's Supreme Court … [Read more...] about Will Democratic Liberal Disgust Over Debt Ceiling Limit Deal Hurt Recalls in Wisconsin?
The Tea Party Job-Killers
By the end of the day, Congress and the President will have enacted legislation to take much more money out of the economy than the Stimulus bill put into it in February 2009 with tax cuts and infrastructure investments to offset the effects of a looming Depression. The $787 billion back then is dwarved by the estimated $2.5 trillion in cuts to the budget over a decade by an … [Read more...] about The Tea Party Job-Killers
Part of Debt-Raising & Deficit-Reducing Legislation Is Unconstitutional
The long-awaited and controversial legislation raising the U.S. debt limit in two stages and providing for certain immediate and future spending reductions is also unconstitutional in part. This bill was passed on August 1st (Monday) by the U.S. House of Representatives. It will likely be approved by the U.S. Senate and signed by the President on Tuesday, August 2nd – just … [Read more...] about Part of Debt-Raising & Deficit-Reducing Legislation Is Unconstitutional
Mitt Romney and the Debt Ceiling Limit Crisis: Profile in Political Cowardice
Well, no one can accuse Mitt Romney of not being transparent. Romney has apparently stuck his finger up in the wind to see which way vital Tea Party sentiments were going on the debt ceiling limit issue. For weeks he has had his finger stuck in a much shadier area on this issue. But now the big battle is over and he needs Tea Party votes so suddenly he is speaking … [Read more...] about Mitt Romney and the Debt Ceiling Limit Crisis: Profile in Political Cowardice
Latest Newt Gingrich Sleaze Story
Here's the latest story that's coming out that won't enhance Newt Gingrich's image. Its out that many of his Twitter followers (that supposedly show his huge grassroots support) are fake. … [Read more...] about Latest Newt Gingrich Sleaze Story
Would You Like Some Freedom Fries With That Satan Sandwich?
"Satan Sandwich" was coined by Emanuel Cleaver, chair of Congressional Black Caucus, to describe the debt/ceiling compromise. I have wondered for a long time if part of the problem of public discourse is lack of what? lyric ideas that lead to in depth solutions. What can one do with a Satan Sandwich? Supersize it? Make the problems worse for all. Condemn it for the … [Read more...] about Would You Like Some Freedom Fries With That Satan Sandwich?
Gabrielle Giffords Votes Yes on Debt Ceiling Bill (UPDATED)
UPDATE: I happened to be watching the vote on the debt ceiling bill, when the delightful images appeared of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords on the floor of the House surrounded by applauding and smiling Representatives. Below, in my original post, are my impressions of this wonderful moment---albeit rather short. The Huffington Post, however, has more background and … [Read more...] about Gabrielle Giffords Votes Yes on Debt Ceiling Bill (UPDATED)
Debt Ceiling: They May Not Have Burned It Down,
But, Do They Now They Own the Economy? The only problem with being an absolutist AND trying to govern a country is that from time to time you get your way. I can see John Boehner patting Eric Cantor on the back and saying, “congratulations son, I hope it works. If it doesn’t, you, the Tea Party, and maybe the Republican Party are sunk.” If you believe the Tea Party got as … [Read more...] about Debt Ceiling: They May Not Have Burned It Down,
Will House Democrats Help Sink the Debt Ceiling Limit Deal Bill? (UPDATE)
Will House Democrats sink the debt ceiling limit bill? So far the bulk of attention has been on the Tea Party Republicans, but Greg Sargant has a report suggesting House Democrats may be simply leaving it up to Republicans. If this is the case, it'll hurt the Democrats: if it turns out that there is a perception that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi isn't going to push for … [Read more...] about Will House Democrats Help Sink the Debt Ceiling Limit Deal Bill? (UPDATE)
Tea Party Wisdom
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