Last night on “Larry King Live,” Michael Moore remarked that the Democratic Party must be holding strategy meetings to come up with ever more brilliant ideas on how to lose this election. It’s getting ridiculous.
First of all, from the progressive policy standpoint at least the Democratic Party has been a miserable failure in Congress and the White House beginning in 2007. We can skip the agonizing details, already covered in many One Utah posts. Just look at what they have done lately:
Item: Last month Democratic Party Chairman Tim Kaine promised a major announcement. It turned out to be… a new party logo, best described as a “D” in a hole. Some of us think the Dems deserve an “F” instead of a “D.” Cenk Uygur comments.
Item: Congress adjourned at the end of September without taking action on whether or not to cut income tax rates on incomes under $250,000, because Dems were afraid that the massive tax cut they wanted to enact would be portrayed as a tax hike by Republicans, and because Blue Dog Dems are actually in favor of more tax cuts for millionaires on top of the other tax cuts.
Item: On October 6, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano proudly announced that the Obama administration has deported a record 392,862 immigrants over the last year, an increase of more than 81,000 deportations over the final year of George W. Bush’s presidency.
Item: On October 10, Obama senior adviser David Axelrod indicated that the White House would do nothing to stop the epidemic of fraudulent home mortgage foreclosures. A record 816,000 families lost their homes to foreclosure in the first nine months of 2010. The crisis has already deteriorated to the point where title insurance companies won’t cover sales of foreclosed homes, and major banks are voluntarily halting foreclosures.
Item: On October 12, Secretary of the Interior Salazar immediately lifted the government moratorium on offshore oil drilling instead of waiting until November 30 (or extending it indefinitely, which would the right thing to do).
Item: California District Court Judge Virginia Phillips has found that the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) rule prohibiting homosexuals from serving in the U.S. military is unconstitutional, and on October 12 she issued an injunction blocking the military from enforcing DADT, effective immediately. The Judge Advocate General of the Air Force published guidance to commanders, telling them to comply with the order. What did the Obama DOJ do? They filed a notice of appeal and requested an emergency stay of the injunction!
How bad is 2010 going to be for Democrats? It’s hard to know in advance, because so much depends on voter turnout in mid-term elections. Probably the Dems will keep control of the Senate and lose the House of Representatives. I would recommend Nate Silver’s projections (currently a gain of 48 House seats for the GOP), although the main thing he is projecting is a very high degree of uncertainty:
[T]his U.S. House election is frankly one that calls for some hedging and humility. The 95 percent confidence interval on our model runs between a Republican gain of 17 seats and 78.
A net gain of 40 or more House seats gets the Republicans to the magic number 218. A GOP majority in the House would probably force a government shutdown in 2011. That’s not all. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) has proclaimed, “all we should do is issue subpoenas and have one hearing after another.” And then there’s impeachment of the President. “We should demand an Impeachment Inquiry as one of the first orders of business of the new Congress,” says a new direct mail campaign going out to conservatives.
UPDATE: Paul Krugman has a good column about the foreclosure fraud crisis.
True to form, the Obama administration’s response has been to oppose any action that might upset the banks, like a temporary moratorium on foreclosures while some of the issues are resolved. Instead, it is asking the banks, very nicely, to behave better and clean up their act. I mean, that’s worked so well in the past, right?
#1 by brewski on October 14, 2010 - 5:35 pm
Richard,
You missed the biggies:
1. The key “accomplishment” of the Democrats [the health care bill] maybe be ruled unconstitutional:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iPveCNnU4JMQcLZ9tNU8My_kPylwD9IRLRKO0?docId=D9IRLRKO0
Nevermind the fact that it doesn’t do anything which was promised. It isn’t universal, it doesn’t lower costs, if you like your plan that doesn’t mean you can keep it.
2. The Democrats completely failed in passing a climate change bill.
3. The Democrats have done the opposite of “draining the swamp” as was promised. They have filled the swamp with more sludge. [Rangel, et al.]
4. Then there is all the BS about changing Washington and not having lobbyists in the Administration. That turned into a big joke in the first week and had CNN mocking Obama.
#2 by cav on October 14, 2010 - 6:18 pm
Instead of five turgid paragraphs worth of assault and Wombattery, here’s something i found:
It’s a little-known fact, but true, that the night of the big storm, Dr Frankenstein looked at his parts list and his inventory, and was dismayed to find that he had everything except a brain. So he went to the brain store. The clerk comes out, and shows him all the brains lined up.
Frank pointed to one jar. ‘How much is that one?’
The clerk said, ‘That one is special. It belonged to a classical violinist. On sale today for $50.’
A violinist? Not what he had in mind for his creation. Pointing, he asked, ‘And that one?’
‘That one,’ the clerk said, beaming, ‘belonged to an investment banker. Well worth it, at only $75.’
‘My goodness,’ the good doctor replied. ‘Reanimating an investment banker, adding another to this poor world? Surely, my good man, humanity is not yet ready for such knowledge! I will never use my science to such destructive ends.’ He turned to an especially comely brain, and said, ‘How about that one?’
‘Now,’ the clerk beamed, ‘here’s something really special. This brain was once Republican. And we’ve marked it down, today only, a full moon sale, just for you, you’ll never regret it, only $500.’
The doc sputtered, ‘But, but..’
‘But you have to let me know today,’ the clerk said; ‘it’s near Election Day, and they’re going fast. They’re very rare, and Republicans need all the brains they can get! Just listen to what some of them are saying!’
‘But why is it so expensive?’ asked Frankenstein, puzzled.
The clerk said, ‘Do you have any idea how many Republicans we have to process in order to get a single whole brain?’
#3 by Larry Bergan on October 14, 2010 - 8:43 pm
That’s precious cav.
Richard, you’re making me depressed, but you’re right on target and so is Moore – as usual.
I still think we should vote as many Democrats into office as we can because the alternative is horror.
The chart on the right side of the new logo is perfect. It is groundhog day.
#4 by Larry Bergan on October 14, 2010 - 8:49 pm
The Democrats are cowards and the Republicans think their money is going to keep them safe.
I guess we’ll see about that.
Speaking of political cowards, you’ve got to see the update I posted to my “Killjoys” post.
#5 by Richard Warnick on October 14, 2010 - 9:34 pm
brewski–
I didn’t have the hours it would take to describe everything the Democrats have done wrong in the past four years. Anyway, it would take too long to read, and who would want to? As noted above, I decided to list the most recent political/policy blunders.
#6 by Larry Bergan on October 15, 2010 - 12:33 am
Not to mention the “voting” machines:
#7 by brewski on October 15, 2010 - 9:04 am
And this can’t help much:
#8 by Richard Warnick on October 15, 2010 - 9:35 am
Judicial Watch? Really?
Here’s the debunk. President George W. Bush ordered that the Speaker of the House of Representatives (the person third in line of succession for the Presidency) be afforded secure transportation on military aircraft while on official business.
FactCheck.org has more on these 18-month-old false allegations coming from Judicial Watch (emphasis added):
#9 by brewski on October 15, 2010 - 3:22 pm
We won’t have to worry about Pelosi being second in line for the Presidency much longer. Although I hope it is not Boehner either. It would be good for all involved for one of the young guns to take the leadership, although I don’t think it is likely.
#10 by Richard Warnick on October 15, 2010 - 3:45 pm
Ah, yes, the “young guns.” Like this guy…
Check out the recruiting video for the “young guns” (aka 5th SS Panzerdivision “Wiking” Re-enactment unit.). They’re really good! If only they had some panzers! But I wouldn’t want one of them to be Speaker of the House.
#11 by brewski on October 15, 2010 - 4:10 pm
#12 by brewski on October 15, 2010 - 4:11 pm
Hey, it’s not my cup of tea, but it seems pretty harmless.
#13 by Richard Warnick on October 15, 2010 - 4:36 pm
I agree. When I was at Fort Knox, they had a group of WW II re-enactors with authentic German and American armored fighting vehicles, weapons and uniforms. Put on quite a show.
But it’s a mistake to run for Congress if there are pictures of you wearing an SS uniform. Politics is tougher than WW II battle re-enactments.
#14 by Federal Farmer on October 15, 2010 - 7:09 pm
Great post, Richard. It’s refreshing to read your material as you are a passionate liberal/progressive, not simply a partisan.
#15 by brewski on October 15, 2010 - 7:15 pm
Well, that kind of stuff sucks. I am an avid skier and I have been told that politicians can’t be seen skiing since it looks too elitist. Well, it didn’t feel too elitist when my folks piled us all in the avocado green Plymouth Satellite station wagon and drove us to the hill and we all stayed in one Motel 6 room.
#16 by Larry Bergan on October 15, 2010 - 8:31 pm
I used to ski – not very well – at the best skiing resort in the world – Alta. It used to cost 8 dollars a day. I’ve been told it’s around $50 a day now.
Boy, did we ever have fun!
We used to take the last lift ride of the day to the top and found a place to smoke a joint. We wanted to sit there for hours and enjoy the fantasy wonderland but the ski patrol always found us and told us to get down the mountain.
Darn ski patrol!
#17 by Richard Warnick on October 15, 2010 - 10:11 pm
brewski–
That’s an interesting observation about politicians on skis. Come to think of it, the last time I saw a picture of one it was Robert F. Kennedy. More than 40 years ago.
Somebody should have warned John Kerry about sailboarding. OTOH Senator Kerry doing anything at all would look elitist.
#18 by Larry Bergan on October 15, 2010 - 10:49 pm
If John Kerry had been shot in the spine in Viet Nam, it would been portrayed as a political move.
#19 by brewski on October 16, 2010 - 7:56 am
If John Kerry had been shot in the spine in Viet Nam he would have testified before Congress that he deserved it since he was committing war crimes and other atrocities.
#20 by brewski on October 16, 2010 - 8:03 am
Both Clinton and Gore vacationed, separately, in Park City during their administration. Bill didn’t ski at all but Hillary and Chelsea skied at Deer Valley. Bill went to Dolly’s Books and tried to buy some books but his credit card was expired. His body man whipped out some cash. The Gores had to go to PCMR since Al Jr. is snowboarder and they wouldn’t let him board at Deer Valley.
President Ford was a very avid skier and lived in Vail.
#21 by Richard Warnick on October 16, 2010 - 11:38 am
I remember hearing about Ford, and even seeing a picture of him on skis– probably taken before he was in the White House.
#22 by cav on October 16, 2010 - 1:46 pm
I love this sort of stuff.
Our political class has bought – hook, line and sinker – the notion that it is they who are creating this ‘new’ reality we must all then analyze. Pitty the fool.
Thanks for that brew’.
#23 by brewski on October 16, 2010 - 2:14 pm
If I remember correctly, I think he went skiing while he was Prez. Frankly I was surprised to hear some talking head say that presidents now don’t like to be seen skiing since it is perceived as being elitist. I think times have changed. There used to be a time when it was ok for the prez to be seen as aristocratic. Sailing like JFK or using a cigarette holder like FDR. But now with the gotcha news climate and paranoid pollsters that all this image stuff has gotten silly. Obama was recently caught in a silly dilemma whether to wear a bike helmet or not. If he didn’t then he was promoting unsafe behavior, if he did then he looked like a dork. Pretty lame that people spend their time worrying about this crap.
#24 by Tiller on October 16, 2010 - 10:28 pm
Actually Brewski, Ford’s residence was in Beaver Creek, not Vail. While Beaver Creek Mtn is now part of Vail, the residences are Vail nor owned by them. When I worked security there we were given the tour of the arrangements built in expectation of security when he was pres and thereafter. Place is a fortress.
Vail, Beaver Creek, Britain, England…suffice it to say the emperor skied them all.
#25 by Tiller on October 16, 2010 - 10:29 pm
are not Vail…
#26 by Richard Warnick on October 17, 2010 - 2:16 pm
brewski–
George W. Bush always wore a helmet for mountain biking. Probably President Obama wanted to have at least one policy difference from the previous administration that he could point to.
#27 by Tiller on October 17, 2010 - 4:51 pm
Obama needs a helmet, I mean really, how many times can the guy continue to fall on his political head without getting brain damage?