The President of the United States is the arguably the most powerful person in the world. Yet governing from the Oval Office is incredibly difficult; particularly when governing under the yolk of lame duck status. The job becomes almost impossible when you are trying to do it alone.
A lame duck president has one eye on the innumerable problems of the present and the other on the rapidly closing window of opportunity to cement his place in history. So much to do…so little time. Meanwhile the country, as well as the president’s own party, are interviewing for his successor. The president’s accomplishments are either derided or distorted…his failures highlighted on the stump. When these two forces collide the results can be highly embarrassing for the most powerful person in the world. Particularly when the president has no one but himself to blame for the result.
Such was the case with the defeat of the Pacific Trade Agreement.
It is no secret that reaching a trade agreement with the Pacific Rim countries was extremely important to this president. Its passage was to be one of the pillars of his legacy. But the deal fell through because the president’s own party turned its back on him. It turned its back because the party was more concerned with upsetting the union leaders than it was its own titular head of state. Democrats threw the president under the bus in part because in the last six plus years he had done nothing to build relationships strong enough to turn back the pressure from labor.
Look at the 48 hours proceeding the vote.
The president went to Capitol Hill to lobby his Democratic Caucus to back him on the bill. Save mandated visits for his State of the Union address he had not visited the Hill in over two years.
The president made his case in a closed door meeting.
He answered no questions.
He took no comments.
He then left the Hill and went off to play golf with his buddies. Not a congressman in the group.
Only 29 Democrats voted with him.
As one law maker put it: “You can’t just show up when you need something.”
It is no secret that this president abhors the back room politics that makes Washington run. “Schmooze” to this president is like “ooze” is to the rest of us…something to be cleaned off the bottom of your shoe. This disdain for building relationships…with friend and foe alike…has cost this president countless times in the past. It most certainly cost him on this trade deal.
Governing as a lame duck president is difficult.
Particularly when you go it alone.
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Thursday, June 11, 2015
So Much To Do...So Little Resolve To Get It Done
One of the big items remaining on the president’s Legacy Bucket List is securing a trade agreement deal with the Pacific Rim. The president believes that America’s future economic growth flows through the Far East and he is highly motivated to get a deal signed.
In order to avoid watching any eventual deal get lost in the quicksand of Washington politics, the president has asked congress to “fast track” any deal that the president brings to the floor. “Fast Track Authority” means that congress authorizes the president to enter into a trade agreement and agrees to pass or reject the deal with a simple “yes” or “no” vote; relinquishing any authority to amend or filibuster the proposal.
As you might expect the idea of “fast tracking” this bill or any other for that matter has met some resistance in congress. However, this time the battle lines are not following the usual partisan path that lawmakers have walked some many times before. This time it’s the Republicans standing on the president’s side of the battlefield.
Actually it makes sense. The Republicans favor a trade deal with the Far East because the big corporate donors that fill Republican coffers say it is good for business. Anything that is good for the business community is good for Republicans. And if relinquishing the right to amend or filibuster the agreement gets it done sooner rather than later…fast track here we come.
Democrats are opposed. They say that trade agreements have a way of lowering wages and costing American jobs. At least that is what the union leaders that pour huge campaign dollars into Democratic pockets told them to say. To Democrats fast tracking a trade agreement is just paving the way to lower wages and fewer good paying jobs.
Keep in mind what our elected leaders are quibbling about is whether or not to grant the president fast track authority. Once a deal is secured it still has to pass a yes or no floor vote. We haven’t even gotten to the details of the agreement.
Oh, by the way…members of congress can read the details of the tentative agreement before it comes to the floor. All they have to do is go to this vault in the bowels of the capitol building where the latest version is displayed under lock and key. There, your congressman can read the 1,000+ page agreement. Note taking and photos are not permitted. Apparently this is a common occurrence for some pieces of legislation that are deemed sensitive enough to be held close to the vest until they are brought to the floor for deliberation.
Seriously? Are we living in Putinville?
And so goes another day in the halls of the latest version of the Do Nothing Congress. Congress could be passing a job producing infrastructure bill to repair and modernize our crumbling transportation system. But that involves agreeing on how to pay for it. They could be working on the government funding bill that is due in the next few weeks. But why worry about shutting down the government today when you can deal with it at the eleventh hour. They could be voting to approve a host of judicial appointments that the president has presented. But Senate Majority Leader McConnell says that there won’t be any further judicial appointments for the remainder of the president’s term in office. Why? Because he can. They could be working on immigration reform or authorizing a now ten month old military campaign against ISIS. But “war votes” are congressional suicide and deporting illegals is messy. Lindsey Graham has yet another abortion bill he would like them to consider. They might find the time to look that one over. Or maybe they’ll just chill. Nice work if you can get it.
If you ask any elected official why congress can’t seem to get anything done I guarantee that most of them will tell you: “It’s complicated.”
Being a single parent raising two kids on a minimum wage job is complicated. Having a mortgage and two kids in college when Bain Capital closes down your plant is complicated.
Failing to get things done because you are more worried about keeping your $174,000 job than you are about doing the business of the people that elected you to congress is NOT complicated.
It's unconscionable.
In order to avoid watching any eventual deal get lost in the quicksand of Washington politics, the president has asked congress to “fast track” any deal that the president brings to the floor. “Fast Track Authority” means that congress authorizes the president to enter into a trade agreement and agrees to pass or reject the deal with a simple “yes” or “no” vote; relinquishing any authority to amend or filibuster the proposal.
As you might expect the idea of “fast tracking” this bill or any other for that matter has met some resistance in congress. However, this time the battle lines are not following the usual partisan path that lawmakers have walked some many times before. This time it’s the Republicans standing on the president’s side of the battlefield.
Actually it makes sense. The Republicans favor a trade deal with the Far East because the big corporate donors that fill Republican coffers say it is good for business. Anything that is good for the business community is good for Republicans. And if relinquishing the right to amend or filibuster the agreement gets it done sooner rather than later…fast track here we come.
Democrats are opposed. They say that trade agreements have a way of lowering wages and costing American jobs. At least that is what the union leaders that pour huge campaign dollars into Democratic pockets told them to say. To Democrats fast tracking a trade agreement is just paving the way to lower wages and fewer good paying jobs.
Keep in mind what our elected leaders are quibbling about is whether or not to grant the president fast track authority. Once a deal is secured it still has to pass a yes or no floor vote. We haven’t even gotten to the details of the agreement.
Oh, by the way…members of congress can read the details of the tentative agreement before it comes to the floor. All they have to do is go to this vault in the bowels of the capitol building where the latest version is displayed under lock and key. There, your congressman can read the 1,000+ page agreement. Note taking and photos are not permitted. Apparently this is a common occurrence for some pieces of legislation that are deemed sensitive enough to be held close to the vest until they are brought to the floor for deliberation.
Seriously? Are we living in Putinville?
And so goes another day in the halls of the latest version of the Do Nothing Congress. Congress could be passing a job producing infrastructure bill to repair and modernize our crumbling transportation system. But that involves agreeing on how to pay for it. They could be working on the government funding bill that is due in the next few weeks. But why worry about shutting down the government today when you can deal with it at the eleventh hour. They could be voting to approve a host of judicial appointments that the president has presented. But Senate Majority Leader McConnell says that there won’t be any further judicial appointments for the remainder of the president’s term in office. Why? Because he can. They could be working on immigration reform or authorizing a now ten month old military campaign against ISIS. But “war votes” are congressional suicide and deporting illegals is messy. Lindsey Graham has yet another abortion bill he would like them to consider. They might find the time to look that one over. Or maybe they’ll just chill. Nice work if you can get it.
If you ask any elected official why congress can’t seem to get anything done I guarantee that most of them will tell you: “It’s complicated.”
Being a single parent raising two kids on a minimum wage job is complicated. Having a mortgage and two kids in college when Bain Capital closes down your plant is complicated.
Failing to get things done because you are more worried about keeping your $174,000 job than you are about doing the business of the people that elected you to congress is NOT complicated.
It's unconscionable.
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
A Loser By Any Other Name
If you think about American foreign policy the first thing that generally comes to mind is the ongoing war in Iraq…specifically the fight against ISIS. So it came as quite a shock when the president announced in a matter of fact manner: “We don’t yet have a complete strategy against ISIS.”
The president went on to clarify his comment stating the reason that we don’t have a “complete strategy” is because the key components lie in the hands of our partners in the region and are dependent upon the degree to which they are willing to participate in the campaign. As such the president referred to the “strategy” as a “work in progress.”
As you might imagine a statement by the country’s Commander-in-Chief regarding the lack of a strategy in an ongoing military conflict left the war hawks apoplectic. Senator McCain almost had a stroke. Clarifying comments notwithstanding, the president’s detractors in congress view his comments as further evidence of both a failed Middle East policy and personal incompetence. Never mind that they have failed to perform their constitutional duties in authorizing a war that has been raging for 10 months.
The Defense Department stepped in and tried to clean up the mess saying the president made the honest mistake of confusing the country’s “strategy” with its “plan.” We have a “plan” to defeat ISIS” said a pentagon spokesperson.” “We are still working out the details of a strategy.”
“Strategy”…”Plan”…whatever! Call it what you will it is doomed to failure.
The reclaiming of the Iraqi city of Ramadi by ISIS forces has the White House and the DOD in a tither. The president is expected to announce today that the latest strategy/plan is to insert in an additional 500 US troops near Ramadi to act as “trainers” for Iraqi government forces. The problem with this “training” strategy/plan is that it is reliant on support from the Sunnis. However the Sunnis, distrustful of the sitting Shia led government…are sitting on their hands. A thousand years of violent conflict doesn’t go away just because we wish it so. One thing the White House and its detractors can agree on is that any successful “strategy/plan” in the region is critically dependent upon the support and participation of the Sunnis.
ISIS, like Al Qaeda, is just another cockroach to crawl out from under the woodwork. You can crush it but another will quickly take its place. The only “winning strategy” in the Middle East is indefinite occupation by an overwhelming force.
Or is that a “plan”?
“Strategy” or “Plan” it’s a loser by any other name.
The president went on to clarify his comment stating the reason that we don’t have a “complete strategy” is because the key components lie in the hands of our partners in the region and are dependent upon the degree to which they are willing to participate in the campaign. As such the president referred to the “strategy” as a “work in progress.”
As you might imagine a statement by the country’s Commander-in-Chief regarding the lack of a strategy in an ongoing military conflict left the war hawks apoplectic. Senator McCain almost had a stroke. Clarifying comments notwithstanding, the president’s detractors in congress view his comments as further evidence of both a failed Middle East policy and personal incompetence. Never mind that they have failed to perform their constitutional duties in authorizing a war that has been raging for 10 months.
The Defense Department stepped in and tried to clean up the mess saying the president made the honest mistake of confusing the country’s “strategy” with its “plan.” We have a “plan” to defeat ISIS” said a pentagon spokesperson.” “We are still working out the details of a strategy.”
“Strategy”…”Plan”…whatever! Call it what you will it is doomed to failure.
The reclaiming of the Iraqi city of Ramadi by ISIS forces has the White House and the DOD in a tither. The president is expected to announce today that the latest strategy/plan is to insert in an additional 500 US troops near Ramadi to act as “trainers” for Iraqi government forces. The problem with this “training” strategy/plan is that it is reliant on support from the Sunnis. However the Sunnis, distrustful of the sitting Shia led government…are sitting on their hands. A thousand years of violent conflict doesn’t go away just because we wish it so. One thing the White House and its detractors can agree on is that any successful “strategy/plan” in the region is critically dependent upon the support and participation of the Sunnis.
ISIS, like Al Qaeda, is just another cockroach to crawl out from under the woodwork. You can crush it but another will quickly take its place. The only “winning strategy” in the Middle East is indefinite occupation by an overwhelming force.
Or is that a “plan”?
“Strategy” or “Plan” it’s a loser by any other name.
Monday, June 8, 2015
Voting Rights Still A Partisan Topic
“The right to vote.”
These four words form the cornerstone of our democracy. The right of every citizen to have a say in the path that we follow as a nation.
One would think that this particular concept in this particular nation would rise above partisan political discord. Sadly that is not the case.
Over the course of the past few years the Republican Party has sought to use this most precious right as a means to gain political advantage. Conservative state legislatures from coast to coast have passed voter registration laws that are intended to make it more difficult to vote for those demographics that typically vote in opposition to their conservative views. They have reduced early voting hours, outlawed private voter registration campaigns, ended same day voter registration and imposed onerous voter identification parameters. All done under the false premise of eliminating voter fraud. Imagine the hue and cry if Democratic state legislatures imposed such restrictions on the right to bear arms.
Hillary Clinton returned the topic to center stage last week while attending an event in Texas. In a rare policy address Clinton railed against restrictive voting laws and suggested that all US citizens should be automatically registered to vote upon reaching their 18th birthday. She also tried to earn some political points by calling out governors Christie, Perry and Walker for passing restrictive voter registration laws.
Governor Walker, eager to score points of his own, responded: “Most Americans favor photo IDs…Secretary Clinton is out of touch with a majority of Americans.”
And so it goes.
I tend to agree with both Clinton and Walker.
I believe that the concept of automatically registering all 18 year olds to vote has validity. But that doesn’t address the millions of elderly, poor or infirmed citizens that are not properly registered.
I am also one of those Americans who believe that it is reasonable to require that a photo ID be presented in order to be able to vote. But I understand that there are millions of Americans that do not have the economic nor logistical means to acquire such and ID.
At the risk of offending the conspiracy theorists…how about a compromise. Register all the 18 year olds. Issue government paid ID cards to all the rest. There are ways to find common ground that serves all Americans.
Conservatives will complain about the cost. “Won’t such a plan be expensive?” Probably! But certainly no more expensive than what it cost for congress to take 48 separate meaningless votes on anti-abortion bills that had no chance of being signed into law.
Republicans desperately want to win the White House. Controlling the White House and both chambers of congress would enable the GOP to push through conservative legislation that has been decades in the making. Governors Christie, Perry, Walker and 16 of their colleagues believe they have the leadership skills necessary to lead their Party and the nation in this endeavor. Perhaps they could start by offering a substantive bi-partisan solution to this most worthy of issues. Find a way to enable ALL citizens to exercise their right to vote.
The demographics of this country are changing. Leading the country is about representing the rights of ALL the people. Not just the well-heeled white ones.
These four words form the cornerstone of our democracy. The right of every citizen to have a say in the path that we follow as a nation.
One would think that this particular concept in this particular nation would rise above partisan political discord. Sadly that is not the case.
Over the course of the past few years the Republican Party has sought to use this most precious right as a means to gain political advantage. Conservative state legislatures from coast to coast have passed voter registration laws that are intended to make it more difficult to vote for those demographics that typically vote in opposition to their conservative views. They have reduced early voting hours, outlawed private voter registration campaigns, ended same day voter registration and imposed onerous voter identification parameters. All done under the false premise of eliminating voter fraud. Imagine the hue and cry if Democratic state legislatures imposed such restrictions on the right to bear arms.
Hillary Clinton returned the topic to center stage last week while attending an event in Texas. In a rare policy address Clinton railed against restrictive voting laws and suggested that all US citizens should be automatically registered to vote upon reaching their 18th birthday. She also tried to earn some political points by calling out governors Christie, Perry and Walker for passing restrictive voter registration laws.
Governor Walker, eager to score points of his own, responded: “Most Americans favor photo IDs…Secretary Clinton is out of touch with a majority of Americans.”
And so it goes.
I tend to agree with both Clinton and Walker.
I believe that the concept of automatically registering all 18 year olds to vote has validity. But that doesn’t address the millions of elderly, poor or infirmed citizens that are not properly registered.
I am also one of those Americans who believe that it is reasonable to require that a photo ID be presented in order to be able to vote. But I understand that there are millions of Americans that do not have the economic nor logistical means to acquire such and ID.
At the risk of offending the conspiracy theorists…how about a compromise. Register all the 18 year olds. Issue government paid ID cards to all the rest. There are ways to find common ground that serves all Americans.
Conservatives will complain about the cost. “Won’t such a plan be expensive?” Probably! But certainly no more expensive than what it cost for congress to take 48 separate meaningless votes on anti-abortion bills that had no chance of being signed into law.
Republicans desperately want to win the White House. Controlling the White House and both chambers of congress would enable the GOP to push through conservative legislation that has been decades in the making. Governors Christie, Perry, Walker and 16 of their colleagues believe they have the leadership skills necessary to lead their Party and the nation in this endeavor. Perhaps they could start by offering a substantive bi-partisan solution to this most worthy of issues. Find a way to enable ALL citizens to exercise their right to vote.
The demographics of this country are changing. Leading the country is about representing the rights of ALL the people. Not just the well-heeled white ones.
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Playing To The Evangelical Base IS Killing The GOP
Scott Walker is a shooting star in the Republican Party. During his term as Wisconsin’s governor he took on the powerful state employee unions and emerged victorious in three gubernatorial races including a recall. There are many in the GOP ranks that would like to see him at the head of their 2016 ticket.
Yesterday, Governor Walker said that he would support a 20-week abortion ban without exceptions for rape and incest. In what may prove to be Walker’s Todd Aiken moment he said this about pregnancies caused by rape and/or incest: “I mean, because I think for most people who are concerned about that, it is in the initial months where they are most concerned about it.”
The North Carolina state legislature will vote on a bill today that would allow state employees such as a judge or magistrate to refuse to marry a couple if they felt administering those vows would infringe on their religious beliefs. Translation…if the bill passes a judge or magistrate could refuse to marry a same sex couple, mixed race couple, transgender couple or even a heterosexual couple if that employee felt that the marrying the couple would infringe on the state employee’s religious beliefs. The bill has already been voted into law and the governor has vetoed the bill. But the GOP led legislature believes that it has enough votes to overturn the veto.
In 2012 there were roughly 20 million Americans who identified themselves as “Evangelical Christians.” The evangelical vote was 27% of the electorate that year. 79% of the evangelical vote went to Mitt Romney. George W. Bush received 78% of the evangelical vote. John McCain received 73%. In the 2014 mid-terms 78% of evangelical/born again Christians voted Republican.
Republicans believe that they must win the evangelical vote in order to win elections. So they follow a strategy that speaks to the interests of that evangelical base. As you can see they have been rewarded for their efforts. Evangelicals by and large vote Republican.
The problem for the GOP is that the evangelical population in this country is declining and the evangelical influence on our society weakens each and every year. Yet Republicans continue to play to that base…a strategy that has put them on the losing side of the popular vote in five of the last six national elections.
There are a large number of independent and moderate progressive voters who would welcome a compelling substantive discussion on smaller government, reduced spending and a strong but limited foreign policy. But any meaningful opportunity for political compromise goes out the door when Republicans start telling people who they can love, who they can marry and what they can and cannot do with their bodies.
Republicans have a real opportunity to win both houses of congress and the White House in 2016. But if they continue to play to the declining evangelical voter the only way they will see the inside of the Oval Officer is as an invited guest.
Yesterday, Governor Walker said that he would support a 20-week abortion ban without exceptions for rape and incest. In what may prove to be Walker’s Todd Aiken moment he said this about pregnancies caused by rape and/or incest: “I mean, because I think for most people who are concerned about that, it is in the initial months where they are most concerned about it.”
The North Carolina state legislature will vote on a bill today that would allow state employees such as a judge or magistrate to refuse to marry a couple if they felt administering those vows would infringe on their religious beliefs. Translation…if the bill passes a judge or magistrate could refuse to marry a same sex couple, mixed race couple, transgender couple or even a heterosexual couple if that employee felt that the marrying the couple would infringe on the state employee’s religious beliefs. The bill has already been voted into law and the governor has vetoed the bill. But the GOP led legislature believes that it has enough votes to overturn the veto.
In 2012 there were roughly 20 million Americans who identified themselves as “Evangelical Christians.” The evangelical vote was 27% of the electorate that year. 79% of the evangelical vote went to Mitt Romney. George W. Bush received 78% of the evangelical vote. John McCain received 73%. In the 2014 mid-terms 78% of evangelical/born again Christians voted Republican.
Republicans believe that they must win the evangelical vote in order to win elections. So they follow a strategy that speaks to the interests of that evangelical base. As you can see they have been rewarded for their efforts. Evangelicals by and large vote Republican.
The problem for the GOP is that the evangelical population in this country is declining and the evangelical influence on our society weakens each and every year. Yet Republicans continue to play to that base…a strategy that has put them on the losing side of the popular vote in five of the last six national elections.
There are a large number of independent and moderate progressive voters who would welcome a compelling substantive discussion on smaller government, reduced spending and a strong but limited foreign policy. But any meaningful opportunity for political compromise goes out the door when Republicans start telling people who they can love, who they can marry and what they can and cannot do with their bodies.
Republicans have a real opportunity to win both houses of congress and the White House in 2016. But if they continue to play to the declining evangelical voter the only way they will see the inside of the Oval Officer is as an invited guest.
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Livin' In A Dream World
The 2016 Republican Presidential Tour is now performing in the key state of Florida. They have chosen the ever popular Disneyworld to wheel out their latest hits. The theme for this musical extravaganza is the Economic Growth Summit hosted by Florida Governor Rick Scott.
You remember Governor Scott. He’s the guy who passed legislation requiring all unemployment and food stamp applicants to first pass a drug test before receiving benefits. I emailed Governor Scott awhile back and asked if he was requiring that Florida based corporate CEOs and farmers pass drug tests before receiving their tax abatements and subsidies. I haven’t heard back yet. I’m sure he’s busy.
But I digress…
Unfortunately if you listen to the playlist the headliners are offering today they sound an awful lot like the old classics. The key to economic growth they wail, is lower taxes. Cut the corporate tax, revamp the tax code and lower personal income taxes on the top earners and the bounty will fall like manna from heaven on the middle class and working poor. No doubt that is music to the ears of the well-heeled members of the audience.
The problem with this economic melody is that it’s been played before...to less than stellar reviews from the masses.
I’m sure you remember that old standby “The Bush Tax Cuts.” For ten years the Bush Tax Cuts stood at the top of the charts. It had a good run but all it produced was a tanking economy, massive job loss and canyon sized dose of income inequality. The rich were able to buy all the latest releases while the middle class could barely afford the electricity that powered their tinny sounding radios. Republicans are trying to remix the old sound with a new arraignment but it’s coming out flat. The sound is particularly off key when mixed with some of the old “small government, reduce spending” chords that we have come to expect from this group.
Take former Texas governor Rick Perry for example. He used to play with a group out of Austin but he’s going solo now. He ran afoul of the law a while back and has been indicted on a corruption beef. But he’s still belting out the hits as he awaits his trial. Rock on! His latest ballad sounds just like one of his old hits. He croons a sad song about the evils of big government. He just wants the feds to leave him alone. The funny thing is when Perry was playing in Austin his great state of Texas took in more in federal funds than any state save California.
Even though Rick has left to make to his own way his old band mates are still singing the same tunes. Texas has been deluged with torrential rains and flooding. The lead singer that replaced Rick is begging the feds for more resources to clean up the mess. How are you going to pay for the increased resources if you keep cutting tax revenues?
Then list of performers at this concert is incredible. But the songs sound so similar it's hard to tell one rocker from another.
Lindsey Graham was supposed to be in Orlando but he had another gig. He’s been playing the war drums for as long as anyone can remember. His latest is a new rendition of the same old song: “Let’s Blow Stuff Up.” Lindsey is upset that the show in Iraq was cut short. He wants to station at least 10,000 troops there…forever. “You can never leave” he warbles with that southern twang. The problem here is troops cost money. Lots of it. So how do you feed, clothe, arm and train these guys if you keep singing about cutting tax revenues.
You get the picture. These guys keep singing about the glory days when Reagan was knocking out one hit after another; captivating audiences with his folksy charm. But there are a lot more artists coming in from overseas now and it’s hard to reach the top of the charts playing the same old songs.
This Economic Growth Summit offers little more than a different rendition of the golden oldies. The fantasy of revisiting the glory days of the past.
Perhaps that is why they chose the Magic Kingdom for a venue.
You remember Governor Scott. He’s the guy who passed legislation requiring all unemployment and food stamp applicants to first pass a drug test before receiving benefits. I emailed Governor Scott awhile back and asked if he was requiring that Florida based corporate CEOs and farmers pass drug tests before receiving their tax abatements and subsidies. I haven’t heard back yet. I’m sure he’s busy.
But I digress…
Unfortunately if you listen to the playlist the headliners are offering today they sound an awful lot like the old classics. The key to economic growth they wail, is lower taxes. Cut the corporate tax, revamp the tax code and lower personal income taxes on the top earners and the bounty will fall like manna from heaven on the middle class and working poor. No doubt that is music to the ears of the well-heeled members of the audience.
The problem with this economic melody is that it’s been played before...to less than stellar reviews from the masses.
I’m sure you remember that old standby “The Bush Tax Cuts.” For ten years the Bush Tax Cuts stood at the top of the charts. It had a good run but all it produced was a tanking economy, massive job loss and canyon sized dose of income inequality. The rich were able to buy all the latest releases while the middle class could barely afford the electricity that powered their tinny sounding radios. Republicans are trying to remix the old sound with a new arraignment but it’s coming out flat. The sound is particularly off key when mixed with some of the old “small government, reduce spending” chords that we have come to expect from this group.
Take former Texas governor Rick Perry for example. He used to play with a group out of Austin but he’s going solo now. He ran afoul of the law a while back and has been indicted on a corruption beef. But he’s still belting out the hits as he awaits his trial. Rock on! His latest ballad sounds just like one of his old hits. He croons a sad song about the evils of big government. He just wants the feds to leave him alone. The funny thing is when Perry was playing in Austin his great state of Texas took in more in federal funds than any state save California.
Even though Rick has left to make to his own way his old band mates are still singing the same tunes. Texas has been deluged with torrential rains and flooding. The lead singer that replaced Rick is begging the feds for more resources to clean up the mess. How are you going to pay for the increased resources if you keep cutting tax revenues?
Then list of performers at this concert is incredible. But the songs sound so similar it's hard to tell one rocker from another.
Lindsey Graham was supposed to be in Orlando but he had another gig. He’s been playing the war drums for as long as anyone can remember. His latest is a new rendition of the same old song: “Let’s Blow Stuff Up.” Lindsey is upset that the show in Iraq was cut short. He wants to station at least 10,000 troops there…forever. “You can never leave” he warbles with that southern twang. The problem here is troops cost money. Lots of it. So how do you feed, clothe, arm and train these guys if you keep singing about cutting tax revenues.
You get the picture. These guys keep singing about the glory days when Reagan was knocking out one hit after another; captivating audiences with his folksy charm. But there are a lot more artists coming in from overseas now and it’s hard to reach the top of the charts playing the same old songs.
This Economic Growth Summit offers little more than a different rendition of the golden oldies. The fantasy of revisiting the glory days of the past.
Perhaps that is why they chose the Magic Kingdom for a venue.
Monday, June 1, 2015
While You Were Sleeping...
That sound you hear is the NSA shutting down its computers.
It seems to me that keeping the country safe should rank pretty high on the federal government’s “to do” list. And given the ever increasing number of people that we have managed to piss off it also seems appropriate that government use whatever legal means it may have at its disposal to accomplish that task.
At the same time I cherish my privacy and I have a deep seeded aversion to people sticking their nose into my private business.
So when it comes to the NSA randomly gobbling up metadata on citizens’ conversations I am as they say “conflicted.” Conflicted because while I fully realize the value the NSA program and the good intentions of its operatives I am well aware of the human frailties that lead to overreach.
The conflict between national security and civil liberties is an important and substantive debate that we need to have. The Patriot Act is an extremely controversial piece of legislation that lies at the very epicenter of that debate.
At 12:01 this morning certain provisions of the Patriot Act…including the data mining authorities…expired. They expired in part because our elected “leaders” in the senate waited once again until the eleventh hour to enter into the debate. What should have been a substantive debate about a very important matter was governed by a stop watch. If procrastination and political cowardice form the bedrock of good governance then we are in excellent hands.
As I say I am conflicted about the expiration of these provisions. But I am steadfast in my disgust with leadership’s lack of spine. McConnell and his cronies knew these provisions were going to sunset and he knew that the debate for their renewal would be heated. Yet time and time again he refused to bring the matter to the floor; opting rather to entertain politically motivated votes on bills that would never get passed the president’s desk. McConnell gambled that by waiting until the eleventh hour he would force the senate to pass a short term extension and in essence do what congress does best…kick the controversial can down the road. McConnell gambled and lost…bested by Rand Paul, the junior senator from McConnell’s own state.
If you believe that the NSA data mining program was an infringement on your civil liberties then you probably see yesterday’s outcome as good for the country. You may be right.
The outcome may be good for the country...but it wasn’t good governance.
It seems to me that keeping the country safe should rank pretty high on the federal government’s “to do” list. And given the ever increasing number of people that we have managed to piss off it also seems appropriate that government use whatever legal means it may have at its disposal to accomplish that task.
At the same time I cherish my privacy and I have a deep seeded aversion to people sticking their nose into my private business.
So when it comes to the NSA randomly gobbling up metadata on citizens’ conversations I am as they say “conflicted.” Conflicted because while I fully realize the value the NSA program and the good intentions of its operatives I am well aware of the human frailties that lead to overreach.
The conflict between national security and civil liberties is an important and substantive debate that we need to have. The Patriot Act is an extremely controversial piece of legislation that lies at the very epicenter of that debate.
At 12:01 this morning certain provisions of the Patriot Act…including the data mining authorities…expired. They expired in part because our elected “leaders” in the senate waited once again until the eleventh hour to enter into the debate. What should have been a substantive debate about a very important matter was governed by a stop watch. If procrastination and political cowardice form the bedrock of good governance then we are in excellent hands.
As I say I am conflicted about the expiration of these provisions. But I am steadfast in my disgust with leadership’s lack of spine. McConnell and his cronies knew these provisions were going to sunset and he knew that the debate for their renewal would be heated. Yet time and time again he refused to bring the matter to the floor; opting rather to entertain politically motivated votes on bills that would never get passed the president’s desk. McConnell gambled that by waiting until the eleventh hour he would force the senate to pass a short term extension and in essence do what congress does best…kick the controversial can down the road. McConnell gambled and lost…bested by Rand Paul, the junior senator from McConnell’s own state.
If you believe that the NSA data mining program was an infringement on your civil liberties then you probably see yesterday’s outcome as good for the country. You may be right.
The outcome may be good for the country...but it wasn’t good governance.
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