State of the Day

Don't steal my lamb

2009-11-20T17:16:00.004-05:00

I understand why liberals want Geithner to go (Robert Reich for Treasury, anyone), but for Republicans to be after him is ludicrous. If Wall Street was tanking then maybe I see a reason for their bluster. Absent that, they should just shut the fuck up about him. He's our sacrificial lamb.

This blog bites

2009-11-18T23:54:00.000-05:00

And so does work. Too busy to even think.

Truth in Comics

2009-11-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Friday Cat

2009-11-13T17:41:00.001-05:00

FAUX Business Network

2009-11-12T22:26:00.004-05:00

The FOX Business Network is covering the rising stock market like it is The Plague.

To address this crisis of rising portfolio value, Cavuto introduced his first guest, that financial oracle, that investment wizard, that translucent orb that burns by night: John Bolton, Sheriff of Nottingham.

It takes more than a market rally to pull the wool over Bolton's mustache. He perceived the rise as a function of a falling dollar, which is a thumbs down on America's declining status and crumbling balance sheet. Following Bolton on Cavuto's show was fellow C-lister Dick Morris, who never gets anything right, so who cares what the thinks about anything?

Looking for a way out of Afghanistan?

2009-11-12T09:05:00.001-05:00

If the AP report is true that President Obama has indeed rejected the options on the table for Afghanistan then this is very good news. My fear, however, is that Obama's looking for an off-ramp will involve a ramp-up first and he'll use the off-ramp language as a way to sell his surge to the American people. I hope I'm wrong. I want to do a we're-getting-the-heck-out-of-Afghanistan happy dance, but for now I'll settle for a cautious toe-tap.

Jobs bill

2009-11-11T11:28:00.002-05:00

It sounds like a great idea, but please let's not call it a "stimulus." I can't take the crazy that would ensue.

Primary them

2009-11-08T10:03:00.002-05:00

Sixty-four Democrats voted in favor of the vile, anti-choice Stupak amendment. Of those sixty-four, I especially loath the twenty-six who voted against the health-care reform bill overall. If these twenty-six Dems had no intention of voting for the bill, then they should have refrained from dictating what would be in it. I understand Republicans doing this (anything to piss off liberals, after all), however, for Democrats to act in the same way is unfathomable.

So, put me in the camp that wants to see all of these Dems primaried. Not only would it make me feel better watching them squirm, running to left also makes good politics. The Democratic Neanderthals who voted for the Stupak amendment are a dying bread, and, unlike the GOP who are tea-bagging themselves into oblivion, a move to the left will only bring about bigger, better majorities. Left is where the future lies, the sooner the Democratic party realizes this the better off as a country we will be.

Truth in Comics

2009-11-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

A bittersweet victory

2009-11-07T23:51:00.003-05:00

Health care reform passes the House, but at what cost?

Friday Cat

2009-11-06T19:45:00.002-05:00

Self-flagellation

2009-11-05T11:57:00.001-05:00

I have no problem with the media's resurgent Republican meme. If Republicans want to believe it, great. The reality coming out of Tuesday, on a national level, was that the Dems picked up a seat. While the 2010 mid-terms may not be great for the Dems, it won't be due to a resurgent Republican party. It will be due to a depressed Democratic base. To remedy this the Dems better step-up their game and pass stuff. Important stuff. If not, the resurgent Republican meme will become reality. And resurgent Republicans will have nothing to do with making it so.

The Democrats can only beat themselves at this point. Something I fear they are good at.

Election lesson

2009-11-04T09:15:00.000-05:00

If there's one lesson for the GOP from last night's election result it's to run moderate. Christie and McDonnell both ran away from the crazy and the crazy was rejected outright NY-23. Will they heed this lesson? Not while Rush and Sarah speak for the party.

Harry Reid forces me out of blogtirement

2009-11-02T18:54:00.003-05:00

Not that I am really retired, just busy.

Harry Reid to his Senate foes:

While the two health care reform plans that are serving as the main building blocks for the merged bill have been publicly available for quite some time, I would note that the Republican leadership’s health care plan remains a secret, unless perhaps it does not exist.

Needless to say, I fully understand if your plan is still under development, and would not presume to suggest that you publicly share draft legislative text for even an individual element of your plan, let alone an entire bill, before it is finalized.

However, as soon as a comprehensive Republican alternative is complete, I hope you will be willing to immediately make it public. I am sure you agree that the American people deserve the opportunity to fully review both parties’ health careform plans before we begin this important debate.

Looks like someone's been taking Grayson pills.

Truth in Comics

2009-11-01T08:00:00.001-05:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

So much for robust

2009-10-29T09:09:00.001-04:00

The watering down of the public option continues and good policy, once again, takes a back seat to politics. By the time this bill gets out of conference it will be soup. I hope the Blue Dogs are happy with their cushy, corporate-sponsored congressional seats. Our government is broken.

The public option gamble?

2009-10-27T08:49:00.001-04:00

The Beltway wants to frame Reid's inclusion of the public option as a risk. A gamble. But is it? If Reid hadn't included it, wouldn't that too be a gamble? This spin is just another way to put down progressives and elevate moderates. The true risk would have been putting out a bad bill just to keep those high minded moderates, and David Broder, happy.

Truth in Comics

2009-10-25T08:00:00.001-04:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

Friday Cat

2009-10-23T16:34:00.000-04:00

Kudos to Kerry

2009-10-22T12:08:00.002-04:00

While I don't think a run-off election in Afghanistan will change the equation very much, I do applaud Senator Kerry's efforts to get Karzai to agree to them. A legitimate government in Afghanistan is a step in the right direction, though, I fear, having such legitimacy will simply mean America's war-hawks will have an easier time cheerleading for never ending war.

What's in a name?

2009-10-21T09:16:00.001-04:00

I like the idea of re-branding the public option Medicare part E (for "E"veryone, clever). However, if the public option that's actually passed is of a watered-down variety, if it's not pegged to Medicare rates (plus 5), then I'd rather they didn't confuse the two. Real Medicare for all would have been nice.

Truth in Comics

2009-10-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

If it's Sunday, it's Truth in Comics.

There’s a Rep for That!

2009-10-17T11:03:00.003-04:00

An app to crash your phone.

[h/t Balloon Juice]

Friday Cat(s)

2009-10-16T20:23:00.000-04:00

Balloon boy

2009-10-16T09:31:00.001-04:00

If the family wanted publicity so badly, couldn't they have just gone to a town hall meeting and called the president Hitler? Some people try too hard.