"A black sheriff?!": The Official Topic of Obama and New Era American Politics

[The Fake Shemp]

So the state where a bunch of politicians live has steady hospital costs? Outstanding!

[Human Snorenado]

But just making STEADY profits is not enough!  They must have the FREEDOM to make OUTRAGEOUS profits, or the socialists win!

[ToxicAdam]

Mandark is right, we should return more power back to the states. Look how efficient they can be.

[Phoenix Dark]

gotta love Drudge's front page

spoiler (click to show/hide)

OBAMA TO TRIGGER NUKE OPTION ON HEALTHCARE

[close]

[Mandark]

Well, MY state is efficient.  "The states" as a whole would be represented by that runaway orange line.  Plus it's not like you'd have to give them more power to make them do things that they could do now if they wanted.

But seriously, what's with the fetish for state authority?  Why not county or municipality or region?  Who died and made the state the one natural, pure unit of governmental authority?

[The Fake Shemp]

So, basically, what I think you're saying is... we should let Maryland be in charge of everything?

[Mandark]

I'd totally be on board with that, except I've lived here long enough to see the caliber of our politicians.  Glendenning, Townsend, Ehrlich, Steele.  Yeesh.

[Boogie]

But seriously, what's with the fetish for state authority?  Why not county or municipality or region?  Who died and made the state the one natural, pure unit of governmental authority?

one of the enduring mysteries for foreign observors of the USA.

[ToxicAdam]

It's not a difficult concept to grasp, states are great incubators for ideas and new programs. Small enough to be held accountable, yet big enough to wield enough power/money to effect the greatest change when needed. Any programs or services can also be tailored to the populace and if they fail, it minimizes the damage to the people as a whole. If my state is a cesspool like Louisiana, I can move my family to another state with a government that serves us better. Much easier to move intra-state than out of the country.

It's just a silly pipe dream, but I would love to have my taxes flipped. Most to the state, more to the city/twnshp and little to the federal government.

[Mandark]

states are great incubators for ideas and new programs.

The laboratories of democracy, if you will.

But the point of testing out new and innovative policies is to replicate them if they work, not just to experiment for the sake of experimentation.  For all the center-right commentators who say we should let programs be tested on a small scale before going national, it gets real quiet once those programs have proven effective and can be made into federal policy.

The current health care bill prominently features funding for local pilot programs, with an eye towards incorporating the successful ones on a larger scale later.

[CajoleJuice]

Amazon sales tax in NY. :'(

[Oblivion]

But seriously, what's with the fetish for state authority?  Why not county or municipality or region?  Who died and made the state the one natural, pure unit of governmental authority?

Reminded me of a conversation with the lesser tolerant of my two roommates.



*walks into his room*
*notices confederate flag hanging over the door*
Me: Uh...nice flag.
Him: Yeah, innit?
Me: And here I thought you were joking when you said you hated the negroes.
Him: What, you think this has anything to do with race?
Me: Well, I sorta thought that's what it's usually assoc..
Him: Well, it doesn't! The confederate flag symbolizes states' rights. THAT'S why I got one!
Me: I see. 

[Phoenix Dark]

states rights to treat negroes like shit

[Tristam]

Related video on The Onion:

http://www.theonion.com/content/video/gaffe_prone_biden_embarrasses

 

[brawndolicious]

"let's hang him!"

  still wish he became president.

[pilonv1]

[youtube=560,340][/youtube]

[Oblivion]

This is awesome:

[youtube=560,345][/youtube]

[The Fake Shemp]

Too bad Dan Akroyd is so fat, but still

[Human Snorenado]

@ Carrey-Reagan and his pendulous balls

[Brehvolution]

Fantastic

[ToxicAdam]

I can watch Dana Carvey do Bush Sr. all day.

[CajoleJuice]

I really didn't find it funny at all. Carrey was the best, but even then...

[Human Snorenado]

I can watch Dana Carvey do Bush Sr. all day.

Ditto.  Same with Ferrell and Dubya.  "Somebody open up a bag of Malaise potato chips."

[Oblivion]

I really didn't find it funny at all. Carrey was the best, but even then...

I liked when Bush Sr. called Obama "Babar".

*SHRUG*

[Ichirou]

I didn't think it was funny either.  And it took me a while to figure out who Dan Aykroyd was supposed to be since Carter's so skinny.

[CajoleJuice]

I didn't think it was funny either.  And it took me a while to figure out who Dan Aykroyd was supposed to be since Carter's so skinny.

I thought he was supposed to be Ford. But then I realized he's dead.

[Mandark]

It's kinda like a bunch of old rock stars doing a quick medley of their biggest hits for an awards show.  Not a great skit, but if you've got fond memories of the original bits then you'll get a kick out of it.

Obama's basically impossible to do well for these things, isn't he?  Maybe it's just Armisen, but I haven't heard anyone do a good Obama yet.

[Oblivion]

Armisen does a terrible Obama. I thought that one guy black guy from Mad T.V. did a pretty decent job. At the very least it wasn't as horrible as Armisen.

[Mandark]

From an RNC finance leadership presentation.

I know there's a gulf between what politicians think of their constituents and what they say in public, but you don't get to see stuff like this every day.  Use fear to get money out of your reactionary base, while rewarding the big donors with access.  Sheesh.

[recursivelyenumerable]

Is the implication supposed to be that the heart in the middle represents the "real" Republicans, while the two groups to the left and right are fellow-travelers/useful idiots, whatever?  I'm not sure I quite get it.

[Mandark]

Maybe it's like a Venn diagram, where the center are the (admirable) attributes both groups share?

Is there an authoritative Powerpoint style guide?  Cause I want to know about the usage of heart shapes in flow charts.  Or whatever this is (triangle graph?).

[Robo]

[youtube=560,345]YeSd-TwsvA0[/youtube]

Oh my, how surprising!

[Eric P]

i am shocked by this revelation

[Dickie Dee]

[youtube=560,345][/youtube]

Now I want my own War Wagon

[Mandark]

What got into David Broder?

This is literally the first good column I've ever read of his.

[Human Snorenado]

What got into David Broder?

This is literally the first good column I've ever read of his.

broken clock, right time, twice a day, etc etc

spoiler (click to show/hide)

I was shocked as well.  I had to scroll back up and make sure that I actually just read a David Broder column, myself.  I wonder- does this mean that the rest of his columns bemoaning the lack of bipartisanship can now be ignored under his own maxim?

[close]

[ToxicAdam]

Quite a turnaround considering his amazingly inept Palin article.



--- ---


Front page of Drudge:

[M3wThr33]

Turns out the senator wasn't at the gay club. The owner said it was Latin night and an old white dude would have stuck out like a sore thumb.

In BETTER news...

Remember Leno and Palin? That audience reaction was faked. Link is dead.

[Oblivion]

You know, I always wondered, how do REAL nazis feel about the teabaggers constantly referring to Obama as a nazi?

[Phoenix Dark]

does Obama get to sit in the front or back of the Nazi bus

[ToxicAdam]

@sportsguy33 Keith Olbermann, please know the feeling is mutual. You're my worst case scenario for my career in 12 yrs: a pious, unlikable blowhard who lives alone. about 4 hours ago


@sportsguy33 I feel bad about saying Olbermann lives alone. I forgot about his cats. about 3 hours ago

 

[Mandark]

Bill Simmons vs. Keith Olbermann?  That's quite the clash of the titans.  Sure we can't get Tim Rogers in there somehow?

What got into David Broder?

This is literally the first good column I've ever read of his.

broken clock, right time, twice a day, etc etc

spoiler (click to show/hide)

I was shocked as well.  I had to scroll back up and make sure that I actually just read a David Broder column, myself.  I wonder- does this mean that the rest of his columns bemoaning the lack of bipartisanship can now be ignored under his own maxim?

[close]

With Broder's background, this is exactly the kind of piece he should be writing.  He's got no real knowledge of public policy, but he's spent a lifetime in the Washington media watching politicians and reporters jockey for an advantage.

He ought to be explaining DC to the people, rather than aping TA's boy David Brooks and explaining the people to DC, which was the purpose of his Palin column.

[Phoenix Dark]

Olbermann vs Bill Simmons on a battle of douchebags? Hmmm...well Simmons is tolerable with the NFL season over and the Celtics struggling. Olbermann is never tolerable

[The Fake Shemp]

Olbermann is obnoxious, but I hate Bill Simmons with the fire of a thousands suns.

[Human Snorenado]

Yeah, Simmons is pretty much worthless, and Olbermann while obnoxious is at least technically right about some things.  Plus with his dad dying he's actually been kinda sympathetic the couple times I've caught him in the past month or so.

[Phoenix Dark]

Simmons has his moments though. Some of his stuff is hilarious, and like I said he's kinda harmless during this time of the year. Olbermann is full blown aids every day

[Human Snorenado]

Simmons has his moments though. Some of his stuff is hilarious, and like I said he's kinda harmless during this time of the year. Olbermann is full blown aids every day

Incorrect.

[Oblivion]

Dunno who this Bill Simmons guy is, but Olbermann gets too much of a bad wrap. He may be a blowhard, but at least he has the decency to speak to his audience like they were adults. Plus, his jabs at Palin are pretty amusing.

[The Fake Shemp]

Bill Simmons has never had any moments. Bill Simmons sucks, and any attempt to say otherwise will be met with a swift kick in the balls.

[Phoenix Dark]

his rankings of nba players (like the worst to best list) are pretty hilarious

[Human Snorenado]

Well, I will say one thing in Simmons' defense- he was totally right about the Greg Oden/Kevin Durant argument.  Oden pretty much sucks it.

[Phoenix Dark]

Yea, what type of distinguished mentally-challenged fellow thought Oden would be a star and Durant a bust

spoiler (click to show/hide)

:'(

[close]

[Oblivion]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/tvblog/2010/03/palin-parody-writer-nbc-added.html

So Leno's audience actually DID love Palin?  :'(

[Green Shinobi]

his rankings of nba players (like the worst to best list) are pretty hilarious

QFT. As long as he's not talking about Boston, Lebron or the Lakers, he can be a pretty good NBA writer.

[Mandark]

Perfect Storm Nearly Killed Health Reform; Another Storm May Save It

Bad habits of political journalists:  assigning way to much importance to events, so they can weave a more dramatic narrative filled with victories and setbacks and shocking reversals.  It was especially bad during the campaign (game changer!  Joe the Plumber!), but it never goes away.

Ambinder's piece is an okay timeline of what's happened, but he gives a lot of weight to things that probably didn't shift a single vote in the House.

[Dickie Dee]

Perfect Storm Nearly Killed Health Reform; Another Storm May Save It

Bad habits of political journalists:  assigning way to much importance to events, so they can weave a more dramatic narrative filled with victories and setbacks and shocking reversals.  It was especially bad during the campaign (game changer!  Joe the Plumber!), but it never goes away.

Ambinder's piece is an okay timeline of what's happened, but he gives a lot of weight to things that probably didn't shift a single vote in the House.

[youtube=560,345][/youtube]

[Phoenix Dark]

The Joe the Plumber fiasco has gotta be one of the dumbest things to ever happen in a presidential election. We may roll our eyes at news broadcaster reading people's twitters on air, but Joe was the peak of user-based news content. Thank god it's been all downhill since then.

I doubt Obama was ever going to say "hey dudes, I spent a year on this but oh well, maybe next time." It wouldn't be hard to argue Scott Brown winning was one of the best thing to happen for health care, considering it put reconciliation at the front of the table, and should produce a better bill than a considerably watered down conference bill would have produced.

[Human Snorenado]

Perfect Storm Nearly Killed Health Reform; Another Storm May Save It

Bad habits of political journalists:  assigning way to much importance to events, so they can weave a more dramatic narrative filled with victories and setbacks and shocking reversals.  It was especially bad during the campaign (game changer!  Joe the Plumber!), but it never goes away.

Ambinder's piece is an okay timeline of what's happened, but he gives a lot of weight to things that probably didn't shift a single vote in the House.

I call it the "POLITICO-ization" of journalism.  Actually, I should probably call it the "Cheebsification" of political journalism.

[Stoney Mason]

[youtube=560,345][/youtube]

I was so disappointed they stopped those after the election. Even if it was only a once a month thing, I would haved loved to have seen those continued. And huffington post shouldn't have dropped the comedy portion of their site. It was hit or miss mostly but it was worth sustaining.


[youtube=560,345][/youtube]
[youtube=560,345][/youtube]

[M3wThr33]

I was so disappointed they stopped those after the election. Even if it was only a once a month thing, I would haved loved to have seen those continued. And huffington post shouldn't have dropped the comedy portion of their site. It was hit or miss mostly but it was worth sustaining.

Yeah, like two weeks after I added 23/6 to Google Reader, they killed it.