On the heels of my last post, I’m still thinking about FDR’s possible place in modern progressive rhetoric. Listen, for a moment (have some scotch and aspirin ready), to rhetoric from the GOP’s presidential field. After God (and His son), no one comes in for more frequent and positive mention than St. Reagan.** They love … Continue reading
Donald Trump is going to be hosting the upcoming Newsmax GOP presidential debate. Question: Imagine the photo negative. Who would be the embarrassing-but-taken-very-seriously host for the Democrats? If Daily Kos hosts a “pander to the base” primary debate in 2016, who could moderate that would be just as weird? The winning character should be a weird … Continue reading
If you read any political commentary this week, read this piece [h/t GMH]. A 30-year GOP Hill staffer throws in the towel: While Democrats temporized, or even dismissed the fears of the white working class as racist or nativist, Republicans went to work. To be sure, the business wing of the Republican Party consists of the … Continue reading
Adam Serwer compares CPAC’s and Netroots Nation 2011′s treatment of their radicals: At CPAC, groups like the John Birch Society and the white supremacist endorsed Youth for Western Civilization had booths…At Netroots, you’re going to see a lot of unions and environmental groups with booths, but it’s not like the Communist Party USA is going to be … Continue reading
Everyone knows Jon Huntsman’s “weaknesses” as a candidate in the GOP primaries. He wants to leave climate change science to climate change scientists…and he accepts the overwhelming consensus that humans are contributing to it. He’s reasonable on social questions—he supports civil unions for same-sex couples. He worked for Obama. What is he? Disloyal to his … Continue reading
I know that I’ve hit on similar tacks before, but the ludicrousness of debt ceiling fight has me wondering about a pretty straightforward question: Why, for God’s sake, are the Democrats the ones who have to fight to get the debt ceiling raised? I mean, sure, 90% (or so) of the GOP agrees that we … Continue reading
Apparently John Boehner’s speech last night at the Economic Club of New York fell stillborn from his lips. The “audience of Wall Street executives” was unimpressed by his threat to hold the debt ceiling vote hostage without trillions in dramatic spending cuts. The Hill reports: “Disconnected from reality,” one attendee said as he walked briskly … Continue reading
Like most Beltway insiders, my wife (Happy Birthday!) and I have been talking about the potential federal government shutdown. Since she grew up overseas, she wasn’t around for the 1995 version, and she’s had some questions. “Do they shut down the highways?” “Does the government stop doing EVERYTHING that it does?” Since she found out … Continue reading
I’m following Mike Konczal’s lead today with some extra-hip throwback-progressive (oxymoron?) rhetoric from the 1930s. Like Mike, I’m also hoping that “maybe this cool retro liberal style will give the Democrats some spine.” Hoping, but not expecting, obviously. If nothing else, this is a great way to show that our present crisis isn’t so unique … Continue reading
I was talking with one of my favorite U.S. politics interlocutors the other day, and he asked the following question: “Why don’t the Democrats force a vote on a bill to extend the Bush tax cuts for everyone making less than $1 billion?” He went on [I'm quoting loosely here]: “Think about it! They’re damned … Continue reading
