PBD - Progressive Blog Digest

Friday, December 10, 2010

Bonus item: Signs of globalization

http://www.slate.com/id/2276982
Hooters opens in Japan

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

Thursday, December 09, 2010

BOMB THROWERS

Obama seems to think that making this deal takes the tax cut issue away from the Republicans. Hmmm . . . I doubt it

http://mydd.com/2010/12/8/the-deal
[Jason Williams] "The Deal" is putting all of your eggs in the 2012 basket, hoping you come out on top of the messaging in an election year, against a Republican Party that will still be willing to say anything, embrace any position to win. . . . [read on]

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/telling-it-like-it-is-gop-sets-bomb-and.html
[Digby] I suppose it's one thing for them to not be astute enough to defuse the bombs the Bush people set when they had the chance but when they show you that they are setting a new one you'd think they'd resist the temptation to hand them the fuse . . . [read on]

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/8/927116/-The-ticking-bomb-of-the-tax-cut-compromise
The ticking bomb of the tax cut "compromise"

http://www.slate.com/id/2277300/
How the Republicans fleeced President Obama in tax-cut poker

More: http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/12/yet-more-tax-deal-blogging

Tick, tick, tick . . .

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/08/tax-cut-deal-a-hidden-thr_n_793983.html
[Ryan Grim] The tax cut deal that President Obama struck with congressional Republicans contains a provision that could ultimately be the undoing of Social Security, say Senate Democrats and backers of the old-age and disability program.

Obama, as part of the Democratic package, secured a roughly 30 percent cut in the payroll tax, from 6.2 to 4.2 percent. Allowing it to expire in a year will mean that workers will see a nearly 50 percent jump in payroll taxes as the rate reverts back -- an event that will surely be described as a tax hike. The cut is estimated to cost $120 billion per year. . . .

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/8/927057/-The-payroll-tax-holiday-wont-be-temporary
The payroll tax holiday won't be temporary

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/12/08/republicans-casually-agree-theyll-never-allow-payroll-tax-cut-to-rise-again/
Republicans Casually Agree They’ll Never Allow Payroll Tax Cut to Rise Again

More: http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/12/examining-payroll-tax-cut

Rachel and Keith are not happy

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/maddow-and-olbermann-slam-obamas-tax-cut-compromise-video.php

David Broder, of course, is ecstatic

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/08/AR2010120804224.html

Are there still grounds for a fight over the plan?

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/8/927173/-Tax-cut-deal-state-of-play,-evening-edition

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/8/926966/-Tax-deal-still-in-doubt.-So-are-the-parties-to-the-deal

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/12/08/answering-the-charge-of-whats-plan-b-for-the-tax-cut-deal/

On the dishonest invention of tax “sunsets”

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/tax-cuts-riding-happily-into-sunsets.html

A not-so secret plan?

http://blogs.reuters.com/james-pethokoukis/2010/12/07/secret-gop-plan-push-states-to-declare-bankruptcy-and-smash-unions/
Congressional Republicans appear to be quietly but methodically executing a plan that would a) avoid a federal bailout of spendthrift states and b) cripple public employee unions by pushing cash-strapped states such as California and Illinois to declare bankruptcy. This may be the biggest political battle in Washington, my Capitol Hill sources tell me, of 2011. . . . [read on]

DREAM Act passes House

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/house-passes-dream-act-216-198

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/8/927209/-Updated:-House-passes-DREAM-Act

Is Harry Reid finally fed up with Lucy’s football?

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/12/harry_getting_tough.php
Everyone agrees that Harry Reid really upped the pressure on DADT repeal negotiations by calling for this vote tonight, but then people cleave into two camps: those who consider it an unnecessary provocation in the midst of delicate negotiations and those who say it was about time wavering senators were forced to make up their minds. . . .

Or not? http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/12/is_that_your_final_answer_1.php
Sen. Susan Collins lays out what she needs to allow DADT repeal to come to a vote. On its face, her demands can probably be met by Harry Reid without too much sweat. That's probably why Reid has now put off tonight's vote.

Now, you could argue that Reid just caved by putting off the vote, but I think that's the wrong read on this. . . .

“Moderates”?

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/12/08/maine_dream_dadt
Olympia Snowe comes out against sensible DREAM Act, Susan Collins delays a "don't ask, don't tell" vote [read on]

More: http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/12/bad-news-dadt

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/lieberman-to-reid-on-dadt-back-off-i-got-this.php

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/collins-hands-reid-a-final-offer-on-dont-ask-dont-tell.php
Here's what Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that she needs to support a full Senate debate on the defense authorization bill (the vehicle for Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal) . . . [read on]

The homophobes get organized

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/family-research-council-in-a-panic-over-looming-dadt-vote.php

Rush Limbaugh is always disgusting, but never so much as when he thinks he’s being funny

http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/limbaughs-potty-mouth-obfuscates-real

Bonus item: State flags, state birds, state flowers – how about a State GUN?

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/utah_state_rep_we_need_an_official_state_gun.php

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

Wednesday, December 08, 2010

TAXING

WHAT a surprise. You might think that having reached across the aisle and given the GOP nearly everything they wanted on tax cuts, to the detriment of his ties to his Democratic base, would earn Obama a little teensy bit of credit with the Repubs. Of course, you would be wrong

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/two-major-conservative-obstacles-emerge-to-tax-cut-compromise.php
Two key obstacles emerged Tuesday night to the passage of President Obama's tax cut compromise with the GOP. Except this time they come from the right . . .

More: http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/tax-cut-deal-far-done

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/026957.php

Do you find Obama’s “pragmatism” persuasive?

Tuesday, December 07, 2010

LET’S MAKE A DEAL

OK, so now see what happens. The Villagers love to call for bipartisanship – but what they will SAY is that this is a sign of Obama’s weakness

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/06/AR2010120607123.html
Obama's tax cut extension part of strategy to show bipartisanship

That didn’t take long (same article)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/06/AR2010120607123.html
Faced with unified GOP opposition, Obama didn't get what he really wanted: the end of Bush tax cuts on household income of more than $250,000 and continuation of the rest.

Instead, he went along with emboldened Republicans to extend even the top-tier cuts for two years in exchange for unemployment insurance and other measures intended to boost the economy.

In doing so, Obama is trying to make the best of a bad situation. . . .

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/next-phase.html
Borger: This is a political deal.

King: I'm shocked that you would say that about Washington DC. [hearty laughter all around]. . . [read on]

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46042.html
The deal amounts to a major reversal for Obama . . .

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/12/06/5595744-first-thoughts-done-deal
So how did we get to the point where Obama is about to break one of his biggest campaign promises . . .

Don’t expect ANY credit for this

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/12/06/taxes_at_60_year_low.html
Taxes at 60 Year Low

More: http://crooksandliars.com/jon-perr/republicans-peddle-uncertainty-myth-about-taxes

Giving away too much?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/07/us/politics/07cong.html
Mr. Obama made substantial concessions to Republicans. In addition to dropping his opposition to any extension of the current income tax rates on income above $250,000 for couples and $200,000 for individuals, he agreed to a deal on the federal estate tax that infuriated many Democrats. The deal would ultimately set an exemption of $5 million per person and a maximum rate of 35 percent — a higher exemption and far lower rate than many Democrats wanted. . . .

Reactions

Digby: http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/lets-make-deal-whats-good-for-paris.html
So it's done. Would it be unseemly for me to say I told you so? . . . [read on]

Kevin Drum: http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/12/houston-tax-cuts-have-landed
This is....not too bad. I continue to think that it's stupid to extend the tax cuts for two years instead of three, and caving in to Republican demands for an estate tax cut for the absolute wealthiest sliver of the population is grating as hell. On the positive side, the payroll tax holiday (semi-holiday, anyway) is a good idea, the extension of various tax credits is a good idea, and the 13-month extension of unemployment insurance is much better than expected. This isn't anyone's idea of dream legislation, but it could be a lot worse. . . .

Matt Yglesias: http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2010/12/the-real-tax-cut-sellout/
I’m no happier with the political bungling of the tax cut debate than anyone else, but it is worth noting that from a policy point of view it’s not like the pre-sellout position of the Obama administration was some kind of progressive gold mine. . . .

Josh Marshall: http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/12/thats_not_smart.php
I'd figured that the "deal" over taxes was going to have permanent extensions on your first $250,000 of taxable income and temporary extensions for those of you lucky enough to have income over that. Having the upper income tax cuts get re-litigated in 2012 is good politics for the Democrats if you get 'decoupling' like that -- having the debate solely on taxable income over $250,000. But apparently they're temporary for everyone. Which means you're going to have this exact same debate in 2012. Which, for those of you following at home, is not a very good thing. . . .

Steve Benen: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/026956.php
MAKING THE BEST OF A BAD SITUATION . . .

More: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/12/why_liberals_are_angry_at_obam.html

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/sen-sanders-war-is-being-waged-on-americas-middle-class.php

http://my.firedoglake.com/scarecrow/2010/12/06/president-bush-obama-gop-agree-bail-out-the-rich-destroy-democratic-party/

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/12/06/tax-cut-deal-includes-monstrous-estate-tax-dividend-concession/

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/what-so-hard-about-tax-cut-thing

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/6/926197/-POLL:-Deal-or-No-Deal

The next “deal” – Social Security?

http://www.americablog.com/2010/12/obama-caved-social-security-is-next.html

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/6/926133/-Durbin:-Social-Security-cuts-a-good-candidate-for-bipartisanship

Oh by the way: Obama’s “declining” approval rating is actually holding quite steady

http://mediamatters.org/blog/201012060004

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/06/AR2010120607123.html
Both Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton had lower approval ratings after their midterm defeats. . .

WikiLeaks: the bigger picture

http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/fareed-zakaria-what-wikileaks-reveal-
Fareed Zakaria: What the WikiLeaks Reveal Really Means

http://www.3quarksdaily.com/3quarksdaily/2010/12/what-is-julian-assange-up-to.html
[Julian Assange] “It is not our goal to achieve a more transparent society; it's our goal to achieve a more just society.” [read on]

More: http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/wikileaks-and-media

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/getting-story-straight-on-wikileaks.html

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/12/fighting-wikileaks

The New McCarthyism

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/026948.php

Bonus item: Bill Maher on Obama and the Dems – more likely to make you weep than laugh

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/gps-bill-maher-president-obamas-job-perfor

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

Monday, December 06, 2010

DOWN AND OUT

It’s ovah, it’s all ovah . . .

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/schumer-large-appetite-to-let-all-bush-tax-cuts-expire.php
Schumer: Large Appetite To Fight Even If All Bush Tax Cuts Expire

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/12/05/desire-to-fight-from-rank-and-file-but-ultimately-negotiated-surrender-on-bush-tax-cuts/
Desire to Fight from Rank and File, But Ultimately Negotiated Surrender on Bush Tax Cuts

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/mcconnell-says-dems-will-cave-on-tax-cuts.php
McConnell Says Dems Will Cave On Tax Cuts

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/45953.html
Now it's all or nothing on tax cuts

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/tax-cuts-setting-up-battle-on-their.html
Tax cuts: Setting Up The Battle On Their Turf

http://mydd.com/users/forgiven/posts/why-we-must-allow-the-bush-tax-cuts-to-expire
Why We Must Allow The Bush Tax Cuts to Expire

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/12/progress-report-democrats-still-idiots
Progress Report: Democrats Still Idiots

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/12/sunday_open_thread_12.html
[Greg Sargent] Now that Republicans have successfully filibustered Obama's plan to continue tax cuts for everyone but the wealthiest Americans, it looks like a temporary extension of all the cuts is all but certain. So the only way Dems can walk out of the lame duck session with a genuine victory is to repeal don't Ask Don't Tell. . . . [read on]

Newt: always the opportunist

http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/gingrich-lets-ask-rich-how-long-they-
Gingrich: Let's Ask The Rich How Long They Want The Tax Cuts

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/gingrich-assange-enemy-combatant
Gingrich faults Obama for leaks; calls Assange an 'enemy combatant'

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/026931.php
GINGRICH STILL HOPING FOR SHORT MEMORIES

Is he running? http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/12/05/gingrich_leans_towards_presidential_bid.html

The GOP way: blame Dems for the deficit, but don’t say how you would fix it yourselves

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/mcconnell-wont-name-single-specific-propos
McConnell Won't Name a Single Specific Proposal He Endorses from Deficit Commission

The Village helps: http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/crowley-political-leaders-should-listen-de
Crowley: Political Leaders Should Listen to Deficit Commission Even if Voters Hate Their Recommendations

In case you missed the Sunday talk shows

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/rangel-they-knew-i-didnt-deserve-censure.php

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/05/tv-soundoff-sunday-talkin_29_n_792166.html

Bonus item: Understanding Obama

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/opinion/05rich.html
[Frank Rich] THOSE desperate to decipher the baffling Obama presidency could do worse than consult an article titled “Understanding Stockholm Syndrome” . . .

This dynamic was acted out — yet again — in President Obama’s latest and perhaps most humiliating attempt to placate his Republican captors in Washington. . . . [read on]

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/5/925119/-President-Obama-is-neither-weak-nor-stupid...-nor-a-progressive
[Laurence Lewis] President Obama is neither weak nor stupid... nor a progressive

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

Sunday, December 05, 2010

DON’T BRING A KNIFE TO A GUN FIGHT

Version control

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/12/gop_filibusters_middle_class_tax_cut.php
GOP Filibusters Middle Class Tax Cut . . .

Check out how the AP plays this: "Bill blocked to let upper-income tax cuts expire."

More: http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/12/04/senate-gop-blocks-consideration-of-tax-plan-extending-rates-on-first-250k/

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/026929.php

Yep

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/026925.php
WHY COMPROMISE WITH THESE GUYS IS IMPOSSIBLE

What the Deficit Commission DIDN’T want to talk about

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/12/controlling-healthcare-costs

“Fixing” Social Security: it ain’t hard, people

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/12/social-security-and-very-serious-people

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2010/12/class-math-and-social-security/

http://www.americablog.com/2010/12/krugman-why-people-like-incredible.html

Why talk about cutting entitlements always hurts the Dems more than the Repubs

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/4/925314/-The-third-rail-still-exists,-for-Dems

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2010/12/third-rail/

What’s wrong with the Dems’ messaging?

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/ted-strickland-dems-messaging-theyre-lame

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/026920.php
Democrats "don't play political hardball as well as Republicans do."

In Texas, conservatives want to replace their House Speaker because he’s Jewish, not Christian

http://www.samefacts.com/2010/12/uncategorized/why-pay-dues-to-a-club-that-wouldnt-have-you-as-a-member/

Sunday talk show line-ups

http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/sunday-morning-bobblehead-thread-99
ABC's "This Week" - Retired Gen. Wesley Clark, former NATO supreme commander; Bob Maginnis, national security analyst with the Family Research Council; R. Clarke Cooper, executive director of Log Cabin Republicans; Elaine Donnelly, president of the Center for Military Readiness; Tammy Schultz, director of National Security and Joint Warfare at the Marine Corps War College; former national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski; former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad; Sakena Yacoobi, executive director of the Afghan Institute of Learning.

CBS' "Face the Nation" - Sens. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., and Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

NBC's "Meet the Press" - Sens. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and John Kerry, D-Mass.

CNN's "State of the Union" - Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind.; Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.; Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y.

Bonus item: “The Dickishness of the GOP”

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/026923.php

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

Saturday, December 04, 2010

GOOD RIDDANCE

Deficit Commission, R.I.P.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/12/stand_up_and_be_counted.php
[David Kurtz] I really didn't think the deficit commission members could slink off the stage this shamelessly. But they just wrapped up their "work" without even holding an official vote on their recommendations. They needed 14 of the 18 members to approve the recommendations. By the statements of the members, we know only 11 were in support. But actually put their votes on the official record? Nah.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/12/what_a_long_strange_trip.php
[David Kurtz] You might say that Obama dodged a bullet -- that he fired, in an enclosed room, and that's been ricocheting around him for the last 10 months.

The creation of the commission had the effect, as many of us noted at the time, of conceding a large part of the economic policy debate. Obama announced it in February just as the economy was starting to look up, with the administration counting on steady improvement in economic conditions through the election. That turned out to be a fatal forecast.

The effect, not entirely direct but not just coincidental, was for political Washington to shift from focusing on economic recovery to how we were going to pay our long overdue bills. Although those overdue bills were mostly the result of Bush's disastrous fiscal policy, Republicans and their allies managed to successfully recast the deficit as further "proof" that TARP and the stimulus plan were reckless liberal spending programs rather than critical to saving the economy from collapse.

Along the way, deficits became the obsession of the chattering class and "centrists." . . . [read on]

More: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/3/925232/-Deficit-commission-adjourns-without-holding-official-vote

Gee, WHAT a surprise

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/12/senate_deal_falls_apart.php
Senate Deal Falls Apart

More: http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/12/03/bad_day_for_pragmatism.html

Betcha didn’t know this (thanks to Ben R. for the link – another example of how the GOP falsely frames an issue and the media swallows it up)

http://robertreich.org/post/2076893974
[Robert Reich] The President should propose that the Bush tax cuts be extended for EVERYONE — but only on their first $250,000 of income.

Hey, wait a minute. That’s exactly what he is proposing. EVERYONE gets a continuation of the Bush tax cuts on the first $250,000 of their incomes. If your income is $251,000, you’ll get the Bush tax cut on $250,000 of it. Only $1,000 would be taxed at the higher Clinton rate.

So why have Republicans been able to say Obama and the Democrats don’t want to extend the Bush tax cuts to everyone?

Call it another White House and Democratic communications failure.

More: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/poll-only-26-percent-want-all-bush-tax-cuts-extended.php
Poll: Only 26% Of Americans Want All Bush Tax Cuts Extended

[NB: And still the Dems have managed to lose the issue.]

Fox News: where Republicans go to lie

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/right-wingers-have-no-compunction-ly
Right-wingers have no compunction lying nakedly about the DREAM Act

More: http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/cbo-dream-act-would-cut-14-billion-doll
CBO: Dream Act would cut 1.4 billion dollars off the federal deficit.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/026912.php

Obama admin begs progressives to stay with them – even though it’s getting harder and harder to see why

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/white-houses-melody-barnes-to-progressives-dont-jump-off-the-bridge.php
“Yeah, it's bad, Barnes acknowledged. But, she implored, think of how much worse it would have been if Democrats hadn't been in power at all. . . .” [read on]

More: http://www.americablog.com/2010/12/krugman-democrats-will-have-to-look.html
Krugman: Democrats 'will have to look elsewhere' for leadership

Fear of the coming GOP majority is already forcing government agencies to suppress projects they think will offend them

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/12/its_happening_already.php
“It's really a very tough call to make. Obviously the Portrait Gallery is a part of the Smithsonian. It's just one of many, many players in this new discussion or debate that's going on in Congress about federal spending, the proper federal role in culture and the arts, and so forth. We don't think it's in the interest, not only of the Smithsonian but of other federally supported cultural organizations, to pick fights.”

The Bush gang pays off Alberto Gonzales for not blowing the whistle on them

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/bush_team_reunites_to_cover_vindicated_alberto_gonzales_defense_bills.php
Bush Team Reunites To Cover 'Vindicated' Alberto Gonzales' Defense Bills

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/12/03/the-crooks-trying-to-bail-out-alberto-gonzales/
The Crooks Trying to Bail-Out Alberto Gonzales

Bonus item: One person who’s prepared to call out John McCain’s unbelievable dishonesty and hypocrisy

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/jon_stewart_rips_mccain_over_dont_ask_dont_tell.php

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

Friday, December 03, 2010

THE D.C. TWO-STEP

Step one

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/house-dems-pass-middle-income-only-tax-cut-bill.php
House Dems Pass Only Middle Class Tax Cut Bill

Listen to the Republicans whine: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/boehner-blasts-dems-chickencrap-majority-rules-tax-cut-gambit-1.php
"I'm trying to catch my breath so I don't refer to this maneuver going on today as chickencrap, alright?' Boehner said. "But this is nonsense." . . .

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/12/02/chicken_crap_boehner
Democrats used procedural trick to hold symbolic vote!

Step two?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/source-senate-dems-will-force-vote-on-middle-class-tax-cuts.php
Senate Democrats are planning to force a vote on the House's just-passed middle-income tax cut bill and a second package to let the Bush tax cuts expire above a new, $1 million tax bracket, according to a Democratic aide.

The move is a sign of the leadership's frustration -- though both packages will likely be filibustered by Republicans, Dems are loath to simply wait for negotiations with Republicans and the White House to end on terms they suspect will be much more favorable to the GOP than to their own party. . . .

Actually: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/senate-planning-four-tax-cut-votes-tomorrow.php
Jim Manley, spokesman for Majority Leader Harry Reid confirms that the Senate is planning four tax cut votes tomorrow. As reported here, these will include the two Dem-sponsored plans: middle-income only cuts, and a tax hikes for millionaires.

The Senate will also vote on two Republican-backed plans: one to extend all of the Bush tax cuts for five years, and another to extend them permanently.

This is all contingent upon unanimous consent of the Dem caucus. If any senators -- Jim DeMint or Tom Coburn come to mind -- decide to object, then plans change. Reid could file for cloture on the tax cut plans, or they could drop the whole thing.

Two top Senate aides confirm that the final deal will be reached later, and that these votes are for positioning -- particularly many months from now as the 2012 elections heat up. . . .

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/12/just_do_it_3.php
[Josh Marshall] Please, please, please why am I not hearing about simply holding two votes -- one on tax rates for income up to $250,000 and one for rates over that number. No one can have any legitimate complaint about that.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/3/925137/-Abbreviated-Pundit-Round-up
[NYT] But the sense within both parties was that Democrats were essentially negotiating the terms of their major retreat on an issue that they once considered a slam-dunk on both substantive and political levels. . . . [read on]

Plain speaking

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/30/michael-bennet-on-lame-du_n_789971.html
Colorado Senator Michael Bennet was caught by a C-SPAN microphone on Tuesday lamenting what he referred to as a "rigged" lame duck Senate process. . . .

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/12/02/the-game-is-rigged/
The Game IS Rigged

The Daily Show version: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/jon-stewart-ridicules-lame-duck-and-gops-audacity-of-nope.php

The real deal?

http://www.eschatonblog.com/2010/12/lets-fret-about-deficit-then-trade-your.html
Getting from Tapper and Ambinder through the twitter machine that the scoop is the White House is going to trade extending Bush tax cuts for extending some of the tax cuts that were in the stimulus bill and unemployment insurance fund extension. . . . [read on]

More: http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/its-beginning-to-look-lot-like-kabuki.html

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/12/02/unemployment-benefit-extension-could-come-in-tax-cut-deal/

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/12/in_defense_of_white_house_on_b.html
[Greg Sargent] With everybody beating up on Obama's handling of the Bush tax cuts fight, it's only fair to note one crucial thing in the White House's defense: It isn't Obama's fault that Congressional Democrats punted on holding a vote on just the middle class tax cuts before the election. Indeed, the White House appears to have wanted just the opposite.

As many commentators have noted already, the failure to do that vote left Dems with precious little leverage in the current lame-duck showdown over the tax cuts . . . [read on]

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/12/03/democratic_melt_down.html
[Mark Halperin] "Is it hyperbolic to say the Democratic Party is in the midst of a nervous breakdown? I have been covering national politics since 1988, and I don't remember a situation quite like this. The signs of a crack-up are everywhere..."

"Democrats are understandably -- and largely justified in being -- frustrated that they lost an election based on Republicans defending tax cuts for the wealthy that are only expiring because of a budget gimmick championed by George Bush -- and based on criticism of their apparent lack of concern over the deficit, by a party that has shown no past or current seriousness about deficit reduction and the hard choices involved. Losing those political fights was as inexplicable as it was hard for the Democrats. Maybe that's why Thursday seemed to have donkeys melting down all over the place."

Meanwhile Rome burns

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2010/12/tax-cut-mania/
[Economist Mom] The fiscal policymaking in this town seems totally schizophrenic right now. What a juxtaposition to have President Obama’s deficit-reduction commission release its final report while the Administration “negotiates” with Congress on whether all of the Bush tax cuts, or just most of them, should be permanently extended (and deficit financed). . . . [read on]

The cave

http://www.slate.com/id/2276593/
[John Dickerson] For liberals, the story of the Obama presidency is a Cave Allegory: When he talks about working with Republicans, it's a sign he's going to cave. . . . [read on]

More: http://www.americablog.com/2010/12/rumors-of-white-house-cave-on-tax-cuts.html

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/2/924988/-Obama-to-America:-Dont-get-your-hopes-up

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/2/924971/-Despite-tax-cut-vote,-White-House-defers-to-GOP

The Village never changes

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/cnn-panel-wonders-why-we-can-t-all-just-ge
CNN Panel Wonders Why We Can’t All Just Get Along – Or in Other Words, Do Everything Republicans Want

More Broderism: http://lacrossetribune.com/news/opinion/editorial/columnists/article_6241f57a-fd9e-11df-bb5f-001cc4c002e0.html

Profiles in cowardice

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/02/AR2010120204635.html
Pentagon worried Congress won't end 'don't ask, don't tell'

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/excuses_excuses_the_reasons_gop-ers_say_they_could.php
Excuses, Excuses: Why Top GOPers Say They Can't Vote For DADT Repeal

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/12/02/dadt_hearings_mccain
McCain embarrasses self

More: http://firedoglake.com/2010/12/03/arsenic-and-ol-yeller/

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/12/the_military_leaderships_chall.html

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/gop-standing-firm-on-dadt-freebie-for.html

Nothing to see here, move along . . .

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/house-tea-party-caucus-members-requested-over-1-billion-in-earmarks.php
House Tea Party Caucus Members Requested Over $1 Billion In Earmarks

More: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/2/924895/-Tea-Party-Caucus-members-take-$1-billion-in-earmarks

The “Stop Sarah” parade is starting!

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/12/02/republican_attacks_on_palin_pick_up_steam.html
The comments started a week after the elections with Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), who noted that Palin was unlikely to run for president because "It's a lot easier to charge people up than to actually govern." Since then, former First Lady Barbara Bush, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R), Joe Scarborough and Ed Rollins have leveled increasingly harsh critiques of Palin.

Now Ben Smith reports that Nicole Wallace, a former adviser for George W. Bush and the McCain campaign, slammed Palin for her "incredible cynicism, her bitterness, her aggressive attempts to claw anyone that points out an area for her to work on." . . . [read on]

Problem solved!

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/house-gop-abolish-committee-on-climate-change.php
House GOP Abolishes Committee On Climate Change

No church/state issues here?

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/ky_gov_beshear_unveils_plans_for_creationist_theme_park_complete_with_full-sized_ark.php
KY Gov. Beshear Unveils Plans For Creationist Theme Park Complete With Full-Sized Ark

The GOP is making racist rhetoric mainstream again

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/the_other_thing_rep_king_said_about_pigford_video.php

The sad descent of Juan Williams

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/juan-williams-extended-jobless-benefits-hurt-the-unemployed-video.php
Juan Williams: Extended Jobless Benefits Hurt The Unemployed

More: http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/juan-williams-says-that-people-are.html

Bonus item: Wow

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/12/200_years_in_4_minutes.php
Via the BBC, Hans Rosling examines the correlation between income growth and life expectancy in 200 countries over the last 200 hundred years in an amazing animation. . . . [watch!]

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

Thursday, December 02, 2010

FIGHT CLUB

Another reminder of how the Republicans are ALWAYS on offense, even when they’re in the minority and enormously unpopular. The Democrats have pathetically misplayed the Bush tax cut issue, taking a sure-fire win and turning it into a humiliating loss no matter what they do now

http://mydd.com/2010/12/1/cynical-and-obvious
"[W]e write to inform you that we will not agree to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to any legislative item until the Senate has acted to fund the government and we have prevented the tax increase that is currently awaiting all American taxpayers," the [GOP] letter reads. . . .

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/dadt-no-more-republicans-plan-to-block-all-dem-initiatives.php
Republicans Threaten To Block All Dem Initiatives

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/12/consulting_my_notes.php
I think Barack Obama once told us something about not bringing a knife to a gun fight.

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/12/obama-20
[Kevin Drum] Obama has another two or three weeks to prove he's not an idiot. . . . [read on]

Well . . . http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/1/924522/-White-House-privately-acknowledges-close-to-deal-with-GOP-on-continuing-Bush-tax-policy
[WP] White House and congressional Republicans officials privately acknowledge the two sides could reach an agreement in which all of the tax cuts are extended, but only temporarily, perhaps for two or three years. . . . [read on]

The state of play

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/12/enough_to_make_you_crazy.php
[David Kurtz] Sometimes you have to step back and just marvel at the madness of it all.

Congressional Democrats, clinging to the last vestiges of their power, are tied in knots over how to pass middle class tax cuts in the face of Republicans howling that the wealthy deserve tax cuts, too.

The White House meanwhile announces that it is undertaking good faith negotiations on tax cuts with those same Republicans who have made clear that they will never support raising taxes on anyone. Ever.

At the same time, Republicans have privately reached agreement among themselves that they will not allow anything through the lame duck session of Congress -- not START, not DADT repeal, nothing -- until an agreement is reached on the tax cuts that they refuse to budge on which will dramatically inflate the very same deficit that they publicly declare to be the gravest threat to America's future.

Not to be outdone, the debt commission appointed by the President releases its prescription for deficit reduction comically titled "Moment of Truth" -- except that the commission can't seem to agree on its own recommendations and has had to delay its own vote on whether to actually, you know, recommend the recommendations it just released.

No amount of shrewd analysis can get you around the rampant dysfunction we're witnessing.

http://www.eschatonblog.com/2010/12/let-them-expire.html
[Atrios] Of course it won't happen, but Dems should just call their bluff and let all the damn tax cuts expire. Then instead of having this political malpractice having a conversation about "extending the Bush tax cuts" Obama can create his own shiny new tax cut plan. Like he should have done 6 months ago.

Does anybody know what they're doing?

The Dems blow another one

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/fail-dems-unconstitutional-mishap-could-kill-food-safety-bill.php
FAIL: Senate Dems' Unconstitutional Mishap Could Kill Food Safety Bill

More: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/1/924656/-Constitutional-glitch-could-derail-food-safety-bill

Whither the Deficit Commission?

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/1/924583/-What-happens-next-on-the-Deficit-Commission
[Chris Bowers] 1. The commission will not issue a final report . . .
2. There will never be a Congressional vote on the recommendation package . . . [read on]

More: http://my.firedoglake.com/jimwhite/2010/12/01/catfood-commission-report-unintentionally-shows-gridlock-as-best-option/

Kowtowing to the teabaggers

http://www.slate.com/id/2276455/
"About the RINOS," she says, referring to the members of the GOP whom conservatives consider Republicans In Name Only. "Can we not give them as much money to run again? I mean, can we have a base, a base of funding support, and if they vote the wrong way, the next time that gets cut in half?" [read on]

Sinking deeper . . .

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/12/01/mccain_says_obama_is_not_a_military_leader.html
In an interview with the Daily Beast, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) criticized both President Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates -- "neither of which I view as a military leader" -- for their support of allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military.

Glenn Greenwald nails it (again)

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/11/30/wikileaks
The WikiLeaks disclosure has revealed not only numerous government secrets, but also the driving mentality of major factions in our political and media class. Simply put, there are few countries in the world with citizenries and especially media outlets more devoted to serving, protecting and venerating government authorities than the U.S. . . [read on]

More: http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/12/01/wikileaks

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/attacks-wilileaks-demonstrates-how-out-

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/quote-of-day-david-gergen.html

Imagine a GOP-controlled Justice Dept and a Democratic Senator

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/02/us/politics/02ensign.html
Justice Department prosecutors have cleared Senator John Ensign of criminal allegations arising from his affair with a former campaign aide and his efforts to secure lobbying work for the woman’s husband . . . The announcement came as something of a surprise to many ethics lawyers outside the Justice Department, who said there appeared to be significant evidence to indicate that Mr. Ensign may have conspired to violate a criminal ban on federal lobbying. . . [read on]

http://www.rollcall.com/news/-200792-1.html
The Federal Election Commission voted to dismiss a complaint alleging that Sen. Jon Ensign violated campaign finance rules over a $96,000 gift his parents provided to former chief of staff Doug Hampton and Hampton’s wife, with whom the Nevada Republican had an affair. . . .

And, of course: http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/ensign_says_doj_has_dropped_investigation.php
"Senator Ensign is certainly pleased that the Department of Justice no longer views him as a target in their investigation, and has long-stated that he acted in accordance with the law," his spokeswoman said in a statement. . . .

Bonus item: CNN makes you stupid

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/this-is-cnn-why-americans-are-so.html
“The government, like your household takes in money every months and spends in on necessities, luxuries, whatever. If the money runs out, the government and many households use credit to keep on spending. . . .” [read on]

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***

Wednesday, December 01, 2010

END IT

Time to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/11/the_big_squeeze.php
[SecDef] Bob Gates' abilities as a masterful bureaucrat and Washington shapeshifter have rarely been on more public display than in his just-completed press conference. He was expected to unveil a Pentagon review of Don't Ask Don't Tell that would clear the way for repeal, but Gates took it a step further with a clarion call to Congress to repeal DADT before the end of the year or else the federal courts might do it by what he called "judicial fiat." . . . [read on]

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/11/30/dont_ask_dont_tell_review
Pentagon review: Troops basically fine with gay people

The Pentagon report: http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2010/0610_gatesdadt/

More: http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/pentagon-report-70-troops-support-repea

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/11/pentagon-dadt-repeal-not-problem

The GOP scrambles for reasons to ignore the Pentagon’s own recommendation

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/11/mckeon-wilson-call-for-comprehensive-oversight-of-dadt-report.php

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/30/dont-ask-dont-tell-despit_n_789935.html

http://my.firedoglake.com/teddysanfran/2010/11/30/where-will-dadt-repeal-opponents-hang-their-hats-now/

Honest John McCain flipflops (again)

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/11/does_mccain_owe_gates_an_apology.php
John McCain is trying to find his way toward a rationale for continuing to oppose the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell even though he'd previously suggested he's open to repeal in principle and would vote for it if the Pentagon found that it could be done without damaging military readiness. McCain is now arguing that all he cares about are the views of the four service chiefs, especially those of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, rather the President, the Secretary of Defense or even the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Adm. Mullen . . . [read on]

The failure of the Deficit Commission

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/11/deficit-commission-stumbles-toward-finish-line.php
The 18 members of the commission were scheduled to meet in open session yesterday. But with members still deeply at odds, and without a final draft in hand, that meeting was closed to the public at the last minute, leaving staffers and commissioners scratching their heads. . .

More: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/11/30/924291/-Deeply-divided-deficit-panel-delaying-vote,-shutting-out-Dem-member

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/11/30/simpson-and-bowles-defy-executive-order-want-to-delay-catfood-commission-vote/

Advance leak of their report: http://firedoglake.com/2010/12/01/fiscal-commission-final-report/

One of the problems of teabagger rhetoric is that once people start battling for the most extreme position, there’s no end to trying to outdo one another

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/11/30/huckabee_says_document_leaker_should_be_executed.html
Mike Huckabee said the person who provided thousands of secret State Department cables deserves to be executed, Politico reports.

Said Huckabee: "Whoever in our government leaked that information is guilty of treason, and I think anything less than execution is too kind a penalty."

Hate groups

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/family-research-council-labeled-hate-group
Family Research Council Labeled as 'Hate Group' By SPLC for Anti-Gay Rhetoric

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/11/bryan_fischer_on_splc_hate_group_list_we_are_truth.php
[American Family Association head] Bryan Fischer On SPLC 'Hate Group' List: 'We Are Truth Groups, Not Hate Groups'

See? How hard is that?

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/11/anderson_cooper_shellacks_texas_birther_with_torre.php
Anderson Cooper Shellacks Texas Birther With Torrent Of Facts

Bonus item: Glenn Beck: who ya gonna believe? Me or the video proof?

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/glenn-beck-do-you-really-believe-i-c

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***