The way the Tea Party talks about the Constitution is less political than it is evangelical. Lexington of The Economist writes:
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Constitutional Idolatry
Sept. 28th, 2010
The way the Tea Party talks about the Constitution is less political than it is evangelical. Lexington of The Economist writes:
"When history is turned into scripture and men into deities, truth is the victim. The framers were giants, visionaries and polymaths. But they were also aristocrats, creatures of their time fearful of what they considered the excessive democracy taking hold in the states in the 1780s. They did not believe that poor men, or any women, let alone slaves, should have the vote. Many of their decisions, such as giving every state two senators regardless of population, were the product not of Olympian sagacity but of grubby power-struggles and compromises—exactly the sort of backroom dealmaking, in fact, in which today’s Congress excels and which is now so much out of favour with the tea-partiers."
The way the Tea Party talks about the Constitution is less political than it is evangelical. Lexington of The Economist writes:
Sharon Angle Taking Handouts
Sept. 28th, 2010
The unbelievable hubris of Nevada republican senatorial candidate Sharon Angle is revealed:
"Angle’s campaign acknowledged to Nevada journalist Jon Ralston Monday that both the candidate and her husband receive health care from the federal government. Spokeswoman Ciara Matthews said in a statement: “Mr. Ted Angle receives his pension through the (federal) Civil Service Retirement System. While it is not supplemented by the federal government, current civil servants pay into the program to pay the schedule of those already retired – much like how the Social Security Program works today. Mr. Angle does not qualify – nor does he receive Social Security benefits. His health insurance plan (the Federal Employee Health Program), which also covers Sharron, is a continuation of what he was receiving while he worked for the federal government.”
She has said that the poor and desperate are "spoiled" for thinking that government has a responsibility to assist them. She has suggested that social security should basically be phased out. She has alluded to "2nd Amendment" solutions to political disputes in this country. She thinks the government should never tell us what to do unless, of course, she approves. Her overarching view of the invasive threat posed by almost any government involvement in the finances of American citizens is the core of her Tea Party appeal. There is one exception to that. She and her husband get to take the money.
The unbelievable hubris of Nevada republican senatorial candidate Sharon Angle is revealed:
"Angle’s campaign acknowledged to Nevada journalist Jon Ralston Monday that both the candidate and her husband receive health care from the federal government. Spokeswoman Ciara Matthews said in a statement: “Mr. Ted Angle receives his pension through the (federal) Civil Service Retirement System. While it is not supplemented by the federal government, current civil servants pay into the program to pay the schedule of those already retired – much like how the Social Security Program works today. Mr. Angle does not qualify – nor does he receive Social Security benefits. His health insurance plan (the Federal Employee Health Program), which also covers Sharron, is a continuation of what he was receiving while he worked for the federal government.”
She has said that the poor and desperate are "spoiled" for thinking that government has a responsibility to assist them. She has suggested that social security should basically be phased out. She has alluded to "2nd Amendment" solutions to political disputes in this country. She thinks the government should never tell us what to do unless, of course, she approves. Her overarching view of the invasive threat posed by almost any government involvement in the finances of American citizens is the core of her Tea Party appeal. There is one exception to that. She and her husband get to take the money.
Dissecting Dinesh
Sept. 28th, 2010
Very conservative writer Heather Mac Donald demolishes the recent insanity of Dinesh D'Souza:
"D’Souza argues that Obama’s policies are motivated by a hatred towards American power absorbed from his Kenyan father. He offers exactly zero evidence for his hackneyed psychological theory. But the most laughable weakness in D’Souza’s thesis is the fact that the policies which D’Souza presents as the “dreams of a Luo tribesman” have a decades-long American pedigree and are embraced by wide swathes of the American electorate and political class. If support for progressive taxation, greater government regulation of health care, stimulus spending, and conservation make one the tool of the African anticolonial movement, then Paul Krugman, Robert Reich, Al Gore, Nancy Pelosi, John Kenneth Galbraith, FDR, and the Sierra Club are all Third World agents provocateurs."
Very conservative writer Heather Mac Donald demolishes the recent insanity of Dinesh D'Souza:
No Cloture In Sight
Sept. 28th, 2010
Once again, majority governance has failed. Republicans have blocked a bill from coming to the floor that directly addressed outsourcing:
"The tax bill under consideration Tuesday included three parts: an end to tax deductions for expenses incurred when companies shutter a U.S. operation and shift the work abroad, a new tax on products once made in the United States but now manufactured by foreign workers and the payroll tax holiday."
We are going to continue to actually incentivize the exportation of jobs. I think the democrats would be wise to hammer this particular filibuster all the way to election day.
Once again, majority governance has failed. Republicans have blocked a bill from coming to the floor that directly addressed outsourcing:
"The tax bill under consideration Tuesday included three parts: an end to tax deductions for expenses incurred when companies shutter a U.S. operation and shift the work abroad, a new tax on products once made in the United States but now manufactured by foreign workers and the payroll tax holiday."
Fuzzy Résumé
Sept. 28th, 2010
Christine O'Donnell went to Oxford? Well, no. She seems to have said she did.
From nymag.com
"So she didn't actually take an Oxford University class, she took a Phoenix Institute class that was held in a building owned by Oxford University. That is basically just as impressive though. Oxford!"
Christine O'Donnell went to Oxford? Well, no. She seems to have said she did.
From nymag.com
"So she didn't actually take an Oxford University class, she took a Phoenix Institute class that was held in a building owned by Oxford University. That is basically just as impressive though. Oxford!"
Emanuel's Departure
Sept. 28th, 2010
This is going to be interesting. It's possible that Rahm Emanuel's exit from the administration could invigorate the progressive base. He has been seen as a major obstacle by the American left. I think he's demonstrated real incompetence in helping Obama maintain the right tone with the electorate.
This is going to be interesting. It's possible that Rahm Emanuel's exit from the administration could invigorate the progressive base. He has been seen as a major obstacle by the American left. I think he's demonstrated real incompetence in helping Obama maintain the right tone with the electorate.
Good Morning
Sept. 28th, 2010
A good morning to you indeed. We haven't had our cup of tea yet but we are hazily reviewing our yesterday.
First, I let some of my brightest acquaintances know just how ticked I was by Stephen Colbert's appearance before congress last week. I wound up getting a pretty entertaining series of smack-downs and, although the thread was from another forum, I posted my roasting here.
We noted Germany's potential contribution to E.U. belt tightening. We made a dig at Ben Stein. We laughed at the tragedy of it all. Boehner used Colbert to come back and haunt us. Someone else made a dig at Ben Stein (a really tough one, I might add). We promoted (not really) Mona Charen. The National review stayed crazy. Hate was examined here and here. The really intelligent Pat Buchanan was incredibly stupid... again. We barely touched this whole Israel thing. Greenspan was a lot less surprising to us than some. We posted a chart! The real feminist movement chimed in on O'Donnell. And, finally, we let the day go with one of the great tunes by someone no one thinks of as a musician.
A good morning to you indeed. We haven't had our cup of tea yet but we are hazily reviewing our yesterday.
 |
| We quit coffee. We're not pleased. |
We noted Germany's potential contribution to E.U. belt tightening. We made a dig at Ben Stein. We laughed at the tragedy of it all. Boehner used Colbert to come back and haunt us. Someone else made a dig at Ben Stein (a really tough one, I might add). We promoted (not really) Mona Charen. The National review stayed crazy. Hate was examined here and here. The really intelligent Pat Buchanan was incredibly stupid... again. We barely touched this whole Israel thing. Greenspan was a lot less surprising to us than some. We posted a chart! The real feminist movement chimed in on O'Donnell. And, finally, we let the day go with one of the great tunes by someone no one thinks of as a musician.
Imagine what today might bring!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Good Night. BTW, Jim Jarmusch Had A Band
Sept 27th, 2010
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| Jim Jarmusch |
Christine O'Donnell? Meet Jezebel.
Sept. 27th, 2010
After reading around and looking for more outside-the-mainstream takes on Christine O'Donnell, I found this Irin Carmon penned missive over at Jezebel. It is a great argument against too readily viewing the media pile-on of her through the prism of gender politics.
The choice quotes:
"Except... have the attacks on O'Donnell been "sexist and misogynistic"? Sure, they have been glib and mocking — par for the course when there's so much video evidence of her insouciant wingnuttery. And they have involved sex, but only because that was O'Donnell's topic of choice until she discovered a vague and sudden passion for tax cuts."
And:
"...criticism of a woman isn't necessarily sexist. And it's even more of an eye-rolling stretch when that distinction is sacrificed on behalf of a woman who actively supports policies that would hurt other women."
The choice quotes:
"Except... have the attacks on O'Donnell been "sexist and misogynistic"? Sure, they have been glib and mocking — par for the course when there's so much video evidence of her insouciant wingnuttery. And they have involved sex, but only because that was O'Donnell's topic of choice until she discovered a vague and sudden passion for tax cuts."
And:
"...criticism of a woman isn't necessarily sexist. And it's even more of an eye-rolling stretch when that distinction is sacrificed on behalf of a woman who actively supports policies that would hurt other women."
Memory Lane
Sept. 27th, 2010
With all the talk of "Obama's Deficit," it would be wise to take a stroll through the past 40 years or so of federal budgetary flux.
With all the talk of "Obama's Deficit," it would be wise to take a stroll through the past 40 years or so of federal budgetary flux.
Greenspan on the W Tax Cuts
Sept. 27th, 2010
Alan Greenspan argues that we should let them lapse.
"And I must say that the Republicans, I think, have been cutting taxes with borrowed money, and the Democrats have been spending with borrowed money. They agree only on the borrowed money."
A lot of folks are pretty stunned by this. It would be wise to remember that he had come to some very different views on budgets from his Reagan days as long as a decade ago. Along with David Stockman, the abandonment of supply-side theory is almost total.
The Moratorium Ends
Sept. 27th, 2010
The ten month West Bank settlement moratorium has come to an end. Some argue it wasn't much of a prohibition in the first place. The administration is scrambling to keep the talks on track.
"Administration officials did not conceal their disappointment, or fear about what Israel’s decision may mean for the peace process. “We knew we faced a gap,” said a senior official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the volatility of the situation."
“With the expiration of the moratorium, we now have a rupture. The question in coming days will be, what combination of action could bridge that rupture?”
The ten month West Bank settlement moratorium has come to an end. Some argue it wasn't much of a prohibition in the first place. The administration is scrambling to keep the talks on track.
“With the expiration of the moratorium, we now have a rupture. The question in coming days will be, what combination of action could bridge that rupture?”
Buchanan on Paycheck Fairness
Sept. 27th, 2010
I greatly respect Pat Buchanan on issues of history and foreign policy. Even when I think he is patently wrong, he contributes to a vibrant and changing discussion. Then, there is Pat Buchanan the "domestic issues" writer. Showing an almost obtuse disconnect from the 21st century, Buchanan wrote a few days ago about the Paycheck Fairness Act.
"Perhaps half of American women leave the job market during their lives, sometimes for decades, to raise children, which puts them behind men who never leave the workforce. Women gravitate to teaching, nursing, secretarial and service work, which pay less than jobs where men predominate: mining, manufacturing, construction and the military."
I am not sure where to begin.
I greatly respect Pat Buchanan on issues of history and foreign policy. Even when I think he is patently wrong, he contributes to a vibrant and changing discussion. Then, there is Pat Buchanan the "domestic issues" writer. Showing an almost obtuse disconnect from the 21st century, Buchanan wrote a few days ago about the Paycheck Fairness Act.
I am not sure where to begin.
What Islamophobia? Ctd...
Sept 27th, 2010
"NARRATOR: After the Muslims conquered Jerusalem, and Cordoba, and Constantinople, they built victory mosques. And, now, they want to build a mosque by ground zero. Where does Bob Etheridge stand? He won't say. Won't speak out. Won't take a stand.
ELLMERS: The terrorists haven't won. And we should tell them in plain English, 'No, there will never be a mosque at ground zero."
What Islamophobia?
Sept. 27th, 2010
Steve Chapman of Reason Magazine seems to think we're blowing all this talk of Islamophobia out of proportion. I find his metric curious.
"Most people don't perceive all Muslims as a lurking danger. Asked whether Islam is more likely than other religions "to encourage violence," 35 percent of Americans said yes—but 42 percent said no."
If 35 percent of the public openly endorsed the concept that Jewish bankers run the world, would he also argue that was no big deal as long as 42 percent didn't think so.
Steve Chapman of Reason Magazine seems to think we're blowing all this talk of Islamophobia out of proportion. I find his metric curious.
"Most people don't perceive all Muslims as a lurking danger. Asked whether Islam is more likely than other religions "to encourage violence," 35 percent of Americans said yes—but 42 percent said no."
If 35 percent of the public openly endorsed the concept that Jewish bankers run the world, would he also argue that was no big deal as long as 42 percent didn't think so.
Can O'Donnell Win?
Sept. 27th, 2010
Katrina Trinko of the National Review makes a case for Christine O'Donnell's victory in Delaware this November.
"O’Donnell is also working to reassure voters that she has no intention of implementing her non-political convictions. “I have my personal beliefs, but our Constitution defends our right for the voters to disagree with me. And that’s the right that I’m going to defend,” she told Hannity."
Well, okay. Then there's this from O'Donnell in response to a grand old truism:
"The reality of that statement is that if you don't legislate one morality then you are legislating somebody else's morality," she said. "So you can't get around legislating morality."
Katrina Trinko of the National Review makes a case for Christine O'Donnell's victory in Delaware this November.
"O’Donnell is also working to reassure voters that she has no intention of implementing her non-political convictions. “I have my personal beliefs, but our Constitution defends our right for the voters to disagree with me. And that’s the right that I’m going to defend,” she told Hannity."
Well, okay. Then there's this from O'Donnell in response to a grand old truism:
Mona Charen and The "V" Word
Sept. 27th, 2010
Mona Charen notes, with perhaps a little too much glee, a Vietnam reference in the new Woodward book.
"The specter of Vietnam haunted meetings of Obama's top advisers, Woodward writes. Vice President Biden, who pleaded for a reduced commitment to Afghanistan, warned the president that a larger deployment of troops would mean 'we're locked into Vietnam.' "
Mona Charen notes, with perhaps a little too much glee, a Vietnam reference in the new Woodward book.
A 2 Percenter Chimes In
Sept. 27th, 2010
Linda McGibney, a producer for Stargate Universe on the SyFy Channel and firmly a member of the economic top tier, takes Ben Stein to school over his consistently vitriolic opposition to allowing the "W" cuts to expire.
Money quote: "I am fine with the tax increase. I think it patriotic that I am taxed this way. I want to help my country."
Linda McGibney, a producer for Stargate Universe on the SyFy Channel and firmly a member of the economic top tier, takes Ben Stein to school over his consistently vitriolic opposition to allowing the "W" cuts to expire.
Money quote: "I am fine with the tax increase. I think it patriotic that I am taxed this way. I want to help my country."
Boehner Uses Colbert
Sept 27th, 2010
Although I have been thrown to the mattress over my criticism of Stephen Colbert's House Judiciary Committee appearance last week, I stand by my observation that it just didn't work and gave the opposition what I continue to describe as a sideshow.
From FOXNews yesterday:
Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) uses the Colbert moment to embarrass dems.
"Washington is spending more time with comedians than debating (our) economic future," Boehner said, referring to comedian Stephen Colbert's mocking testimony of the House on Friday. "They have time to bring a comedian to Washington, D.C., but they don't have time to end the uncertainty."
The fact that Colbert was morally and politically correct on issues of immigration (seperate from the W tax cuts altogether) is lost in the drone of the right's attack.
Although I have been thrown to the mattress over my criticism of Stephen Colbert's House Judiciary Committee appearance last week, I stand by my observation that it just didn't work and gave the opposition what I continue to describe as a sideshow.
From FOXNews yesterday:
"Washington is spending more time with comedians than debating (our) economic future," Boehner said, referring to comedian Stephen Colbert's mocking testimony of the House on Friday. "They have time to bring a comedian to Washington, D.C., but they don't have time to end the uncertainty."
The fact that Colbert was morally and politically correct on issues of immigration (seperate from the W tax cuts altogether) is lost in the drone of the right's attack.
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