Month: December 2009

Little Old Sarah

by digby

She’s laying it on a little bit thick these days, I’m afraid:

INGRAHAM:Would you agree to a debate with Al Gore on this issue? PALIN: Oh my goodness. You know, it depends on what the venue would be, what the forum. Because Laura, as you know, if it would be some kind of conventional, traditional debate with his friends setting it up or being the commentators I’ll get clobbered because, you know, they don’t want to listen to the facts. They don’t want to listen to some reasonable voices in this. And that was proven with the publication of this op-ed, where they kind of got all we-weed up about it and wanted to call me and others deniers of changing weather patterns and climate conditions. Trying to make the issue into something that it is not. INGRAHAM: But what if it’s an Oxford-style, proper debate format. I mean, he’s going to chicken out. I mean, if you challenge him to a debate, do you actually think he would accept it? PALIN: I don’t know, I don’t know. Oh, he wouldn’t want to lower himself, I think, to, you know, my level to debate little old Sarah Palin from Wasilla.

I would bet you a million dollars that she had no idea what an Oxford-style, proper debate format was.

I’m sure her whining victimization and nasty tone are big sellers to the wingnuts, but she’s going to have to get over that if she wants to run for office (which I’m increasingly sure she doesn’t.) People don’t feel comfortable with leaders who sound simultaneously weak and mean.

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Colloquy For Crisis

by digby

Milton Friedman:

Only a crisis produces real change. When that crisis occurs, the actions that are taken depend on the ideas that are lying around.

Naomi Klein:

Friedman understood that just as prisoners are softened up for interrogation by the shock of their capture, massive disasters could serve to soften us up for his radical free-market crusade. He advised politicians that immediately after a crisis, they should push through all the painful policies at once, before people could regain their footing. He called this method “economic shock treatment.” I call it “the shock doctrine.” Take a second look at the iconic events of our era, and behind many you will find its logic at work. This is the secret history of the free market. It wasn’t born in freedom and democracy; it was born in shock.”

Today, Senators Gregg and Conrad had a colloquy on the floor of the Senate arguing for the Pete Peterson Foundation’s pet project, the Bipartisan Committee To Destroy Social Security and Medicare So Wealthy People Don’t Ever Have To Pay Higher Taxes (aka “Our Favorite Idea That’s Been Lying Around”.) And quite an exchange of scary rhetoric it was.

The timing of this is being driven by events, to be sure. But the events that drive it aren’t the debt projections, which are highly reflective of a moribund economy and will thus change dramatically if the government enacts policies that expand growth and lead to full employment. No, what’s driving this initiative is the mass confusion around the bad economy and the financial system catastrophe, which provides the perfect moment to push a little “economic shock therapy” on the American people.

Kent Conrad, December 10, 2009:

This is the headline from “Newsweek” December 7. In fact, it was a cover story: “How Great Powers Fall.” Steep debt, slow growth, high spending kill empires — and America could be next… If you go to the story — and, by the way, interestingly enough, this is on December 7, Pearl Harbor day. If you go into the story that’s in the magazine, it says — and I quote — “This is how empires decline. It begins with a debt explosion. It ends with an inexorable reduction in the resources available for the Army, Navy, and Air Force … If the United States doesn’t come up soon with a credible plan to restore the federal budget to balance over the next five to 10 years, the danger is very real that a debt crisis could lead to a major weakening of American power.” …

I have been here 23 years. I am on the Finance Committee. I’m Chairman of the Budget Committee. I’ve been on those committees for many years. If there is one thing that is absolutely clear to me is that the regular order cannot and will not face up to a crisis of this dimension.

It is going to take a special process, a special commitment of the members here and representatives of the Administration to develop a plan that gets us back on track. And it is going to take a special process to bring that plan to this floor for a vote, up or down. That holds, I believe, the best prospects for success.”

Judd Gregg, December 10, 2009

Right now in this country, after the possibility of a terrorist getting a weapon of mass destruction and using it against us somewhere here in the United States, the single biggest threat that we face as a nation is the fact that we’re on a course toward fiscal insolvency. You can’t get around it. If we continue on the present course, this nation goes bankrupt.

We came to the conclusion that the only way you could do this is create a process which drives the policy, rather than put the policy on the table first and have everybody jump on it, shoot at it and kick it and destroy it so it never gets to the starting line for all intents and purposes. We decided, ‘let’s put together a process which leads to policy, which leads to an absolute vote.’”

Fortunately, one brave patriot stepped up to defend the democratic process:
Max Baucus, December 10, 2009

If Congress is going to outsource its core fiscal responsibilities, why stop with just those responsibilities? … Why not cede to this commission all the legislation in the next Congress? Why don’t we outsource the entire year’s work and then adjourn for the year? … It is clear from their press release that Senators Conrad and Gregg have painted a big red target on Social Security and Medicare. That’s what this commission is all about. It’s a big roll of the dice for Social Security and Medicare … I can see that a commission may be attractive to some. It is an easy way out.”

Ok, perhaps he was actually protecting his prerogatives as the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, but it doesn’t bode well for the commission’s prospects if they can’t get fiscal conservative Baucus on board. But I like his argument.

As for the substance of the argument for the commission, let’s hope this letter signed by 30 groups is being circulated (and comprehended) by members of congress:

Those supporting this circumvention of the normal process have stated openly the desire to avoid political accountability. Americans—seniors, women, working families, people with disabilities, young adults, children, people of color, veterans, communities of faith and others—expect their elected representatives to be responsible and accountable for shaping such significant, far-reaching legislation.

Any deficit reduction measures should be carried out in a responsible manner, providing a fairer tax system and strengthening—rather than slashing-Social Security and Medicare. Moreover, we should be strengthening, not slashing, vital programs like Medicaid, Unemployment Compensation, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps), Supplemental Security Income, the EITC, school meals and others crucial to struggling lower income and middle-income people in every corner of our country.

And as unemployment continues to grow, we need a real debate about how to balance the need for economic recovery and productive public investment with the goal of long-term budget responsibility. The American people are likely to view any kind of expedited procedure, where most members are sidelined to a single take-it-or-leave-it vote, as a hidden process aimed at eviscerating vital programs and productive investment.

As you know, the current effort to reform the health-care sector seeks to achieve reductions in Medicare spending, without cutting benefits. But the proposed budget commission—which will be viewed as a way to actually cut Medicare benefits, while insulating lawmakers from political fallout—could confuse people and undermine the reform effort. And an American public that only recently rejected privatization of Social Security will undoubtedly be suspicious of a process that shuts them out of all decisions regarding the future of a retirement system that’s served them well in the current financial crisis.

As Naomi Klein pointed out in this interview:

There’s one other thing I’ve learned from my study of states of shock: shock wears off. It is, by definition, a temporary state. And the best way to stay oriented, to resist shock, is to know what is happening to you and why.

The Fiscal Scolds are taking advantage of this moment to push something that they believe people will accept in their state of shock and insecurity. But they will wake up. And if this commission succeeds they will find that they have been cast adrift in a fast changing world — and they will look for people to blame. It is unwise on the politics as well as the policy.

It’s unfortunate that we have to rely on the egos of Senate princes protecting their fiefdoms to prevent this, but if that’s what it takes …

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Why Don’t They All Get Jobs?

by digby

You have to wonder if Beck is aware of the average age of his audience demographic?

BECK: And, wait wait wait. And I also said why don’t you just abolish Medicare, because it’s so wildly corrupt and out of control. It’s so inefficient, it is so bad and there’s $47 billion in suspected wrong payments, okay, in Medicare. So what are they saying — now remember, what we’re going to do — the compromise is we’re going to expand Medicare. That way there won’t be a public option, we’ll just — which doesn’t make any sense — we’re going to expand Medicare.

Update: Attatuk thinks it probably doesn’t matter — and he’s probably right:

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Human Rights For Humans Everywhere

by digby

It’s fitting that the day that Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize also happens to be Human Rights Day — another aspiration rather than fully realized accomplishment. The Human Rights Campaign is recognizing the day with a new initiative:

In general, the campaign calls for strengthened commitment to human rights at home and abroad, and seeks to build a political culture from coast to coast that supports and advocates for human rights at home and abroad. Specifically, the Campaign advocates for reforms called for in Human Rights at Home: A Domestic Policy Blueprint for the New Administration. [Full text of the blueprint here; Summary of the blueprint here].The Campaign blends public education, media outreach, and advocacy efforts to increase awareness among state and local officials of their respective responsibilities to protect and promote human rights. Through its listserv, the Campaign additionally seeks to share information and increase collaboration among domestic human rights, civil rights, civil liberties and social justice groups in support of Campaign goals.

Sadly, torture, indefinite detention and due process for some but not for all are becoming normalized in America. In addition to the longstanding domestic shame of such things as ourmedieval prison system, human rights advocacy of the kind we used to think of as applying to totalitarian governments like China or Saudi Arabia are now things we need to deal with at home. And that’s pretty awful.

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The Further Adventures Of Lil Luke

by digby

Tbogg has the latest:

[R]eporters who work for a living [were] wondering who brought their idiot kid to Bring Your Idiot Kid To Work Day and then bugged out to bang an intern in the office supply closet leaving the kid to wander the halls:

Luke Russert made the rounds Tuesday evening in the cramped and stuffy attic of the Senate Radio & TV gallery, handing out candy canes to reporters as part of his effort to whip up support heading in to the RTCA annual elections, which take place next week.

“Hello, I’m Luke Russert and I’m running for the board,” he announced cheerily.

Most reporters had no qualms about accepting the sugary pay off. Little did Russert appear to know, but he was handing out his goodies to a bunch of print reporters, who are not eligible to vote in the Radio & Television Correspondent’s Association general election.

“Luke who?” quipped one reporter.

“Luke, the guy with the candy canes,” replied another scribe.

I know it’s mean to pick on the kid, but really — he’s running for the board of the Radio and Television Correspondents Association? And he’s doing it by handing out candy canes like I did in the 8th grade when I ran for class secretary?

He really needs to spend more time practicing his on camera delivery and developing his reporting skills before he thinks of running for anything. His mother or some Dutch uncle needs to step in here and put a stop to this. It’s an embarrassment for the organization and any network that features Chris Matthews has already pretty much reached its limit.

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Taibbi On Obama

by digby

Ouch.

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Tradition

by digby

I knew this was the real story with the party crashers the minute I saw everyone having a hissy fit over something that should have been a silly little one-day joke. We used to call it standard social climbing, but in the village they call it “tradition” and elevate it to a blood sport.

SO far, the journey of Michaele and Tareq Salahi from unknown arrivistes to notorious party crashers has focused on the apparent slipups of the Secret Service and the White House social secretary. But to fully grasp the ongoing conniption inspired by the episode, you need to understand that when Ms. Salahi strutted onto the South Lawn in that bright red lehenga, she and her husband breached far more than a secure perimeter.

They also trampled countless protocols that are the social, business and networking bedrock of official Washington. Essentially, the couple used the mixed martial arts approach to upward mobility in a town that still cherishes the Marquess of Queensberry rules. And it looks like the town will be spluttering about it for quite some time.

“Washington is a small ‘c’ conservative kind of society, in which people are aware of the traditions and boundaries of appropriate behavior,” said Wayne Berman, a Republican lobbyist. “It’s a city about rules, about conventions and if there’s no keg at the party, it doesn’t get crashed.”

Of course, if the Salahis had slipped past the bouncers at, say, P. Diddy’s birthday bash and then posted the evidence online, the feat would never have been noticed. But a magnetometer is not simply a velvet rope that beeps, and just because Washington has long been called Hollywood for ugly people doesn’t mean that what works in Hollywood — or New York, or anywhere else, for that matter — will work in Washington.

Any number of social strategies that succeed elsewhere will fail catastrophically here. Like feigned closeness. In Hollywood, it’s understood that when an agent says, “Tom is looking to take his career in a new direction,” the agent might never have met Tom Cruise, let alone know him well enough to call him by his first name. In Washington, there are legions of people who don’t even use the first or last name of the people who employ them.

“When I worked for Al Gore, I didn’t call him ‘Al’ or even ‘Mr. Gore,’ ” says Chris Lehane, a former spokesman for the ex-vice president. “He was Mr. Vice President. Even now I call him Mr. Vice President. There’s an element of decorum and formality in Washington, that I think stems from the fact that these are elected officials. And I think the Salahi incident rattled that sense of decorum.”

When Ms. Salahi sidled up to Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., she was faking a friendship she didn’t have. She was also cutting ahead of thousands of people who spend years trying to win entry into gatherings of Washington’s elite.

Interestingly, if you happen to torture people, invade countries for no good reason, try prisoners in kangaroo courts,steal elections and engage in all manner of moral depravity,(update: including this) these same aghast socialites will bow at your feet. Once you’re in, you’re really in.

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Why Don’t You Talk About Our Death Panels Now?

by digby

I assume you’ve all heard that the Republicans met with 100 lobbyists this week and told them they’ve better get to work if they expected to derail this Financial Reform bill that’s coming through the House. You’d think they’d be a little bit skittish about doing such a thing since their teabag masters are all screaming about bailouts, but they know their voters and details don’t really penetrate the dogma, so they probably have little to worry about.

But last night they went a little bit cuckoo during the floor debate. And the Democrats shot back. Ryan Grim reports:

The GOP claims that the House bill will create a “bailout fund” for systemically important financial institutions. Gutierrez, a member of House leadership, pointed out that the bill does not, in fact, contain such a fund.

Gutierrez quipped that he was raised speaking Spanish at home, which made him unable to read the bill itself. But he made up for it, he added.

“I’ve had the bill thoroughly examined by those who do speak the English language and have only spoken the English language all their life, and they cannot find the bailout fund in the bill,” Gutierrez said.

What the bill does do, he explained, is create a fund that major firms must pay into. If banks get into trouble, the fund is used to take them over, break them up and sell off the parts. If such a fund was socialist, Gutierrez said, then so is Geico. But unlike Geico, he said, drivers who crash the economy don’t get their bank repaired and returned to them under the Democratic plan.

“What they won’t tell you is unlike everybody in this room who has to go and take out an insurance policy to drive a car, they want Wall Street and Goldman Sachs to be able to drive our economy into the ground without paying a cent of insurance in case they act recklessly.

And all we’re saying as Democrats is: ‘It’s simple. If you wanna do business in America and you threaten the economic stability of our country, then you gotta pay into an insurance fund.’ But lemme tell you. It’s not the kind of insurance fund where you get into an accident and they take your car and they fix it and they kind of give it back to you new. No no. In our insurance fund, you know what happens? We chop up your car into pieces and sell it and then we pay back the fund with the pieces. That’s our fund. Read the bill. It’s a funeral fund. You guys love to talk about the death and death and death when it came to health care. Why don’t you talk about our death panels now?”

This is one amazing congressional session.

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Oh Snap

by digby

That Sarah Palin is just a little bit too quick for that old plodder Al Gore. From her Facebook page:

The response to my op-ed by global warming alarmists has been interesting. Former Vice President Al Gore has called me a “denier” and informs us that climate change is “a principle in physics. It’s like gravity. It exists.”

Perhaps he’s right. Climate change is like gravity – a naturally occurring phenomenon that existed long before, and will exist long after, any governmental attempts to affect it.

However, he’s wrong in calling me a “denier.” As I noted in my op-ed above and in my original Facebook post on Climategate, I have never denied the existence of climate change. I just don’t think we can primarily blame man’s activities for the earth’s cyclical weather changes.

Former Vice President Gore also claimed today that the scientific community has worked on this issue for 20 years, and therefore it is settled science. Well, the Climategate scandal involves the leading experts in this field, and if Climategate is proof of the larger method used over the past 20 years, then Vice President Gore seriously needs to consider that their findings are flawed, falsified, or inconclusive.

Vice President Gore, the Climategate scandal exists. You might even say that it’s sort of like gravity: you simply can’t deny it.

Boy, she got him good. He is so, like, pwnd!

In truth, the “Climategate” scandal doesn’t really exist. TP has put together an essential primer on how the scandal was manufactured. It’s just as one might have expected.

As someone who hails from a state that is one of the places on earth where this rapid change is manifesting itself before our eyes, Palin taking a leading role is probably no accident. There’s big money to be made in climate change denialism.

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QOTD

by digby

Matthews asked Alan grayson today about whether it was appropriate for Obama to bow to the Japanese Emperor:

What about Bush Junior? I remember Bush Junior kissing Prince Abdullah on the cheek, and then holding his hand for an extended period of time. Maybe if he’d let him get to second base, gasoline would be a dollar a gallon.

He’s here all week …

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