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

[The Fake Shemp]

He's like Pluto out there.

[ToxicAdam]

About the first decade of what was to be the Second American Century, the pessimists have been proven right.

According to the International Monetary Fund, the United States began the century producing 32 percent of the world's gross domestic product. We ended the decade producing 24 percent. No nation in modern history, save for the late Soviet Union, has seen so precipitous a decline in relative power in a single decade.

The United States began the century with a budget surplus. We ended with a deficit of 10 percent of gross domestic product, which will be repeated in 2010. Where the economy was at full employment in 2000, 10 percent of the labor force is out of work today and another 7 percent is underemployed or has given up looking for a job.


Between one-fourth and one-third of all U.S. manufacturing jobs have disappeared in 10 years, the fruits of a free-trade ideology that has proven anything but free for this country. Our future is being outsourced -- to China.

While the median income of American families was stagnant, the national debt doubled.

The dollar lost half its value against the euro. Once the most self-sufficient republic in history, which produced 96 percent of all it consumed, the U.S.A. is almost as dependent on foreign nations today for manufactured goods, and the loans to pay for them, as we were in the early years of the republic.

What the British were to us then, China is today.

Beijing holds the mortgage and grows impatient as we endlessly borrow on equity and refuse to begin paying it down. The possibility exists of an eventual run on the dollar or even a U.S. debt default.

Who did this to us? We did it to ourselves.

We sold ourselves a lot of snake oil about the Global Economy, interdependence, free trade and "it doesn't make any difference where goods are produced." The George W. Bush Republicans ran up the deficit with tax cuts, two wars and a splurge in social spending to rival the guns-and-butter of the Great Society.

Abandoning its role as the fellow who comes and takes away the punch bowl when the party's getting good, the Fed kept the money flowing fast and free, creating the tech bubble that burst in Y2K and the stock and housing bubble that burst at decade's end.

To pull us back from the cliff's edge, over which we were headed a year ago, the Fed doubled the money supply, while the administration ran up deficit spending to the highest level since World War II.

Unlike World War II, however, there is no end in sight to these deficits.

The stock market, which flat-lined over the decade, had to surge 50 percent in 2009 to retrieve the worst losses since the Depression.

Everyone, it seems, except for Washington bureaucrats and Wall Street, for whom the bonuses never seem to stop, has been hammered by the sinking home values and shrinking portfolios.

After Sept. 11, the nation was united behind a president as it had not been since Pearl Harbor. But instead of focusing on the enemies who did this to us, we took Osama bin Laden's bait and plunged into a war in Iraq that bled and divided us, alienated Europe and the Arab world, and destroyed the Republican Party's reputation as the reliable custodian of national security and foreign policy.

The party paid -- with the loss of both houses in 2006 and the presidency in 2008 -- but the nation has not stopped paying.

With nearly 200,000 troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and another 30,000 more on the way, al-Qaida is now in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and North Africa, while the huge U.S. military presence in Afghanistan and Iraq serves as its recruiting poster.

Again, it is not a malevolent fate that has done this to us. We did it to ourselves. We believed all that hubristic blather about our being the "greatest empire since Rome," the "indispensable nation" and "unipolar power" advancing to "benevolent global hegemony" in a series of "cakewalk" wars to "end tyranny in our world."

After a decade of self-delusion and self-indulgence, we must stop deceiving ourselves. As Hurricane Katrina demonstrated, the "can-do" nation that won World War II in Europe and the Pacific in less than four years, that put a man on the moon in the same decade JFK said we would, is history.

We have a government that cannot balance its books, defend its borders or win its wars. And what is it now doing? Drafting another entitlement program as we are informed that the Social Security and Medicare trust funds have unfunded liabilities in the trillions.

At the end of the first decade of the 21st century, the question is not whether we will preside over the creation of a New World Order, but whether America's decline is irreversible.

,,,

[Gruco]

Things could have been different.

If only we voted for Pat Buchanan.

[Human Snorenado]

Too bad that instead of talking about any of that seriously, the teabaggin' crowd will instead keep us focused on the following all important topics:  death panels, the socialist takeover of America, and our Muslim Terrorist President's birth certificate.  Good jon, America!

[Stoney Mason]

Am I the only one that gets creeped out when a person refers to the United States as "the Republic"...


Anyway we had a good run. Its time to kick back and enjoy the slow decline.

[Phoenix Dark]

America is the new Sony

[Human Snorenado]

At least China has delicious food.

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

Am I the only one that gets creeped out when a person refers to the United States as "the Republic"...


Anyway we had a good run. Its time to kick back and enjoy the slow decline.

I'm at this point as well.  There was a good opportunity in this recession to revamp a lot of the infrastructure that was crumbling but instead we got a bunch of waffling around, sweetheart deals that buttfuck the public, and people's top priority wondering whether Osama bin Barack is a Muslin or not.

We're now on the set of Idiocracy and didn't even have to time travel for this one.  Maybe this version will be funnier or something, I dunno.

[Brehvolution]

How long before China decides they don't need us around anymore?

[Eric P]

probably when we have an economic downturn and can no longer buy their plastic junk


oh shi--

[archie4208]

So when are we getting gubnent medicine?  My mom is constantly sick and her insurance rates at her job more than doubled last year so she can't afford insurance anymore.  Capitalism. 

[Human Snorenado]

So when are we getting gubnent medicine?  My mom is constantly sick and her insurance rates at her job more than doubled last year so she can't afford insurance anymore.  Capitalism. 

2014.  Never underestimate the government's ability to move like a fleet of foot glacier.

[Phoenix Dark]

The provisions that go into effect immediately:

1. BEGINS TO CLOSE THE MEDICARE PART D DONUT HOLE - Reduces the donut hole by $500 and institutes a 50% discount on brand-name drugs

2. IMMEDIATE HELP FOR THE UNINSURED UNTIL EXCHANGE IS AVAILABLE (INTERIM HIGH-RISK POLL) - Creates a temporary insurance program until the Exchange is available for individuals who have been uninsured for several months or have been denied a policy because of pre-existing conditions.

3. BANS LIFETIME LIMITS ON COVERAGE - Prohibits health insurance companies from placing lifetime caps on coverage.

4. ENDS RESCISSIONS - Prohibits insurers from nullifying or rescinding a patient's policy when they file a claim for benefits, except in the case of fraud.

5. EXTENDS COVERAGE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE UP TO 27TH BIRTHDAY THROUGH PARENT'S INSURANCE - Requires health plans to allow young people through age 26 to remain n their parents' insurance policy, at the parents' choice.

6. ELIMINATES COST-SHARING FOR PREVENTATIVE SERVICES IN MEDICARE - Eliminates co-payments for preventative services and exempts preventative services from deductibles from the Medicare program.

7. IMPROVES HELP FOR LOW-INCOME MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES - Improves the low-income protection programs in Medicare to assure more individuals are able to access this vital help.

8. PROVIDES NEW CONSUMER PROTECTIONS IN MEDICARE ADVANTAGE - Prohibits Medicare Advantage plans from charging enrollees higher cost-sharing for services in their private plan than what is charged in traditional Medicare.

9. IMMEDIATE SUNSHINE ON PRICE GOUGING - Discourages excessive price increases by insurance companies through review and disclosure of insurance rate increases.

10. CONTINUITY FOR DISPLACED WORKERS - Allows Americans to keep their COBRA coverage until the Exchange is in place and they can access affordable coverage.

11. CREATES NEW, VOLUNTARY, PUBLIC LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE PROGRAM - Creates a long-term care insurance program to be financed by voluntary payroll deductions to provide benefits to adults who become functionally disabled.

12. HELP FOR EARLY RETIREES - Creates a $10 billion fund to finance a temporary reinsurance program to help offset the costs of expensive health claims for employers that provide health benefits for retirees age 55-64.

13. COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS - Increases funding for Community Health Centers to allow for a doubling of the number of patients seen by the centers over the next 5 years.

14. INCREASING NUMBER OF PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS - Provides new investment in training programs to increase the number of primary doctors, nurses, and public health professionals.

[Barry Egan]

Cheer up you nervous nellies, we've got IMMEDIATE SUNSHINE

[Brehvolution]

Where are the death camps, PD?

Where is the bureaucrat between me and my doctor?

Where do I take grandma to get slaughtered?

[The Fake Shemp]

Those are just the immediate provisions, the death camps and bureaucracy will be rolled out next year.

[Brehvolution]

SMH
A completely lost decade. 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2010/01/01/GR2010010101478.html

[Phoenix Dark]

I'd love to see these Bush revisionists confronted with that chart. Then they'd finally have a reason to remember 911 happened on Bush's watch

"well...911..."
"but you said a terrorist attack didn't happen on Bush's watch"
"...911 man, 911"

[Robo]

5. EXTENDS COVERAGE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE UP TO 27TH BIRTHDAY THROUGH PARENT'S INSURANCE - Requires health plans to allow young people through age 26 to remain n their parents' insurance policy, at the parents' choice.

Freeloading

[Boogie]

5. EXTENDS COVERAGE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE UP TO 27TH BIRTHDAY THROUGH PARENT'S INSURANCE - Requires health plans to allow young people through age 26 to remain n their parents' insurance policy, at the parents' choice.

Freeloading

 

[Oblivion]

[Phoenix Dark]

shots fired!

Speaker Nancy Pelosi had little to say this afternoon at a press conference following a meeting between House leaders and health care principals. She and other members acknowledged that a number of differences must be resolved between House and Senate bills before a final reform package can be signed in to law--and all are aware that too much tinkering could upset a delicate balance in the Senate, where legislation often must meet a supermajority threshold.

But Pelosi did toss a jab President Obama's way.

Referring to one of Obama's campaign pledges, a reporter asked Pelosi whether C-SPAN cameras would be allowed to film the House-Senate negotiations.

"There are a number of things he swore on the campaign trail," said a bemused Pelosi.


Recently Obama infuriated progressives when he claimed he "didn't campaign on the public option." (He did.)

House Democrats now must pass a bill without a public option. Many rank and file Democrats place the blame for the demise of the public option at Obama's feet, and it's hard to imagine his statement, and actions on that front in the past several months, didn't inspire Pelosi's comment.

Either way: Zing!

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/oh-snap-pelosi-on-obama-there-were-a-number-of-things-he-was-for-on-the-campaign-trail.php?ref=dcblt

[Brehvolution]

Republicans suck. Vote against them in every way. Make fun of them too.

[recursivelyenumerable]

Quote
5. EXTENDS COVERAGE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE UP TO 27TH BIRTHDAY THROUGH PARENT'S INSURANCE - Requires health plans to allow young people through age 26 to remain n their parents' insurance policy, at the parents' choice.

Freeloading

I would've really benefitted from this LAST year.  Missed my market window yet again.

[Human Snorenado]

So Byron Dorgan and Chris Dodd aren't running for re-election.  Dodd I get but I'm pretty sure Dorgan could have won- that's a seat that will definitely switch to R now, but the CT seat should stay in Dem hands.

[The Fake Shemp]

Ed Shultz is going to run for Dorgan's seat?

[Phoenix Dark]

So Byron Dorgan and Chris Dodd aren't running for re-election.  Dodd I get but I'm pretty sure Dorgan could have won- that's a seat that will definitely switch to R now, but the CT seat should stay in Dem hands.

Dorgan could have won? That's news to me; might as well give the seat to John Hoeven right now

On the other hand while Dodd would have lost his seat, him retiring means it'll probably stay blue lol.

looking more and more like a dem bloodbath in november, but of course the economy+tea bag fucktards could save them

Dodd and Blumenthal were each tested against the three Republican candidates: Former Rep. Rob Simmons, former Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon, and financial analyst and Ron Paul activist Peter Schiff. Dodd trailed Simmons by 44%-40%, was tied 43%-43% with McMahon, and led Schiff by 44%-37%. By contrast, Blumenthal leads Simmons by 59%-28%, is ahead of McMahon by 60%-28%, and leads Schiff by 63%-23%.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/poll-blumenthal-already-way-ahead-of-connecticut-gop-senate-candidates.php?ref=fpblg
tied with McMahon lolol

[Brehvolution]

Peter Schiff would be the only republican I'd vote for. He's a smart republican who's feet are on the ground.

[Human Snorenado]

No, he's an idiot.  He got all of the general reasons for the recessionary fuck-spiral we're in correct, but somehow draws the conclusion that the answers are all less regulation of the same idiots that did all of this. 

[Brehvolution]

Oh yeah, forgot he was a republican for a sec.   

[Phoenix Dark]

Abdulmutallab Indicted By Federal Grand Jury
http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/abdulmutallab-indicted-by-federal-grand-jury.php?ref=fpa

But what if he escapes and blows up Comerica Park?

obama grr

[Gruco]

So Byron Dorgan and Chris Dodd aren't running for re-election.  Dodd I get but I'm pretty sure Dorgan could have won- that's a seat that will definitely switch to R now, but the CT seat should stay in Dem hands.

I agree Dorgan could have won and his retirement is terrible news.  I am really impressed that Dodd is taking one for the team on this one though.  It's been just about the only bit off good news for recruiting/match ups the Dems have gotten since the last cycle ended.  Otherwise been a constant stream of Weak Republican retirements, strong Dem candidates being taken in to the cabinet, and weak Dems getting the governor's nods.

[Phoenix Dark]

oh god, the government spending large amounts of money to protect us. wtf obama

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

So Byron Dorgan and Chris Dodd aren't running for re-election.  Dodd I get but I'm pretty sure Dorgan could have won- that's a seat that will definitely switch to R now, but the CT seat should stay in Dem hands.

I agree Dorgan could have won and his retirement is terrible news.  I am really impressed that Dodd is taking one for the team on this one though.  It's been just about the only bit off good news for recruiting/match ups the Dems have gotten since the last cycle ended.  Otherwise been a constant stream of Weak Republican retirements, strong Dem candidates being taken in to the cabinet, and weak Dems getting the governor's nods.

Take one for the team?  He'll retire into a cushy lobbying job that probably pays more than double what he is making as a Senator now.

A shame about Dorgan.  Unlike that mental midget Peter Schiff, Dorgan accurately predicted how much of a raw deal CDS were since the start.

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

oh god, the government spending large amounts of money to protect us. wtf obama

200 million a year for trial security is fucking insane.  Do the trial elsewhere for fucks sake.

Didn't you guys want Guantanamo closed?  Be careful what you wish for.

[Phoenix Dark]

That would be expensive too.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Michigan

[close]

[Gruco]

Take one for the team?  He'll retire into a cushy lobbying job that probably pays more than double what he is making as a Senator now.

Of course, but these guys typically need someone else to make the decision for them.  I'm sure there were some words exchanged.

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

The security in general for this thing will be expensive.  Even if you have it in some field out in the middle of nowhere in Montana, there will be a lot of money spent on security because of the significance of the event.  Might as well spend the additional $20-30 million and have it in the city of where the event took place at.

Besides, it's totally consistent with the blank check mentality of post 9/11 counterterrorism measures.

[Phoenix Dark]

A new Rasmussen poll suggests Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) is in serious danger heading into 2010, with her trailing all four Republican challengers.

State Sen. Kim Hendren is ahead of Lincoln by 47%-39%; state Sen. Gilbert Baker is ahead 51%-39%. Businessman Curtis Coleman is ahead 48%-38%, and businessman Tom Cox is ahead by an identical 48%-38%. The margin of error is ±4.5%.

From the pollster's analysis: "If the race remains a referendum on Lincoln and the performance of the Democratic leadership in Washington, it could remain a difficult race for the incumbent. If that happens, Lincoln will have to hope for a stronger economy and an improved environment for Democrats nationally."

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/poll-blanche-lincoln-trails-all-gop-challengers.php?ref=fpb

She's done, and can't say that's a bad thing.

[Human Snorenado]

Ras polls are BS, that's well known.  Not saying she's gonna win, but it ain't at the margins they're claiming.  In fact, if I had to bet I'd say that the Senate shakes out this way:

R's win in ND, AK, and NV.  D's win in NH and OH.  Country becomes ungovernable.

[Phoenix Dark]

Ras polls were pretty damn accurate during the election, this is known. Nate Silver has called out news stations that cover Ras polls predominately over other polls (lol fox), instead of calling out Ras.

Althoug, Ras was caught lyin', and guess what beltway website was caught peddling said lie without doing the journalistic thing - fact  checking
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2010/01/putting-r-in-rasmussen.html

[Oblivion]

http://washingtonindependent.com/73036/n-word-sign-dogs-would-be-tea-party-leader

To show that the tea baggers aren't really racist scumbags, they should probably start busing in more black people to their protests.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

In separate buses, of course.

[close]

[Phoenix Dark]

But Oblivion, "niggar" is not a racist phrase as much as it is the name given to the oppressed by their masters. At one time these oppressors were misguided slave owners, many of whom treated their slaves with dignity and respect. Today the oppressor is the government, who enslaves us with taxes. The whips have been exchanged for red tape, but the sting is no different.

We are all niggars now.

[Eric P]

"niggar is the nigger of the world" -john lennon

[Human Snorenado]

Lieberman is polling about as popular as herpes in Connecticut after the health care debacle.

[Oblivion]

Republican strategist can't name one thing the republicans have done for the country in the past 20 years.

[Phoenix Dark]

"George Bush kept us safe"
"Except for that one time"
"*stuttering*"
"lol"

[Human Snorenado]

Republican strategist can't name one thing the republicans have done for the country in the past 20 years.

I always like to point out the "don't call list" for telemarketers when asked if the Republicans did anything right over the past however long, but honestly I'd be hard pressed to name anything other than that.

[Eric P]

expansion of americorps, but that was all gwb and a lot of republicans grumbled because it was a clinton program

[HyperZoneWasAwesome]

AIDS relief in Africa, but I understand a lot of that was predicated on spreading abstinence only education.

[Ichirou]

Lieberman is polling about as popular as herpes in Connecticut after the health care debacle.

I doubt he'll run again. He'll become a lobbyist, probably.

[Phoenix Dark]

That would hurt so bad, and I kinda expect it. Voters not getting a chance to kick him out of office would be a shame

[Ichirou]

The guy is sleaze, and Obama and Reid just keep licking his bootheels.  It's pathetic.

[Phoenix Dark]

They can't do anything about him though. In fantasy land they could vote him out the caucus, strip his chairmanship, etc...but then what do they do when they need his vote on a democratic issue he supports?

[Human Snorenado]

They can't do anything about him though. In fantasy land they could vote him out the caucus, strip his chairmanship, etc...but then what do they do when they need his vote on a democratic issue he supports?

I'm actually kind of looking forward to this fall's elections, to be honest.  If the dems lose the 60 seat supermajority in the Senate it'll just highlight the fact that the R's exist only to stymie absolutely ANYTHING from getting done, and will lessen the influence of people like Lieberman, etc.  If nothing is getting done, no need to kiss his ass anymore.

[Phoenix Dark]

But how will Obama get anything done when the republicans are willing to filibuster everything he does unless they let them craft the legislation? Nuclear option? I guess Obama might consider that if his legacy was in danger and he was no longer able to check off campaign promises with half assed, compromised bills 

[Human Snorenado]

But how will Obama get anything done when the republicans are willing to filibuster everything he does unless they let them craft the legislation? Nuclear option? I guess Obama might consider that if his legacy was in danger and he was no longer able to check off campaign promises with half assed, compromised bills 

No, I think that then the story becomes "hey, we want to do x, y and z which lots of people agree need to be done, and the non-partisan CBO says won't add to the deficit, and the Republicans won't even allow it to be debated.  If you don't like this, don't vote for these assholes in 2012, peace out."

The economy will be anywhere from marginally to much better by election time in 2012 pretty much by default and as a result of the stimulus, so he can take credit for that too.

[HyperZoneWasAwesome]

although its waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too early to call anything about 2010 or 2012 yet, I don't think things are shaping up to be as bad for the dems as so many people think.  I think at worst they'll end up with some marginal losses in both houses and I wouldn't be surprised to see them hold steady.

The repubs haven't done ANYTHING to earn any votes, they've done nothing but play to their base, an increasingly shrill, self-deluded base that makes their reactionary leaders look temperate by comparison.  Moderates might not be too keen on the donkeys, but they really don't have a better choice, and until the republicans actually get their shit together and start acting like adults, I don't see them retaking big leads on anything anytime soon.

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

The GOP will just block everything he does and then campaign in 2012 about how he doesn't do anything.

I think the economy will drive 2010.  People voted him and other Dems en masse and want to see some results by November.  People won't expect miraculous turnarounds but they want some tangible form of economic recovery.  People aren't going to be sitting around, thumbs up their asses waiting for the recovery as we hang around the 10% area.  Teabaggers will sabotage a few races with their conservative third party choices but the Democrats will lose out big if nothing changes.  I'm not too optimistic because Democrats are once again on the defensive and are limp dicks in general.  The GOP will be at the top of their game and the Dems are handwringing as per usual.

[Phoenix Dark]

Yea, the economy will be the determining factor in November. Say what you will about Chris Matthews but I loved how he grilled that gop strategist on the point, lampooning the idea that people are simply rejecting democrats because they're spending so much money. Tomorrow could be the start of good things, with the possibility of positive job growth for December's numbers. Republicans will greet that news with calls to suspend stimulus spending, but I think it will give the senate more momentum to get the jobs bill passed...without republican support.

Unfortunately, unemployment will still be high in November, and regular people will still be hurting. Dems have to convince them that things are getting better, and remind them that the GOP hasn't done shit for them in years. By that time, Obama will have

-passed health care (with many good provisions going into effect early)
-passed an energy bill
-passed immigration reform

Last two should get liberals excited to some extent, even with compromises. And the first one will at least show independents that the republicans are truly full of shit.