Consider this a free for all. You pick the topic.
One bit of news from Salon’s Mike Madden is that Rep. Raúl Grijalva may vote “no” on health care. It’s just not a given that Obama can get this through at this point. Again, it’s a bad bill. Is it better than nothing? Not for Obama, but for Dems in 2010, they’ll pay no matter what happens at this point.
What’s gotten my attention lately is V.P. Joe Biden’s higher profile on Middle East issues, including a big speech at Tel Aviv University coming up next week. Sen. John Kerry just got back from the region.
Senator John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Monday in Jerusalem that Biden is seeking to ensure that Israel and the United States are in alignment on the issue of preventing the Iranian nuclear threat. Kerry, who is privy to the details of efforts to impose sanctions on Iran, hinted Monday at a press conference in Jerusalem after a meeting with the prime minister that Biden’s visit to Israel, and that of other senior administration officials, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Michael Mullen, aims at restraining Israel against the possibility of unilaterally attacking Iran.
This is how Haaretz framed the Administration in reporting Biden’s upcoming visit:
To date the U.S. administration has not made a serious effort to reach out to the Israeli public, unlike addresses by President Barack Obama aimed at the Arab and Muslim world. Obama will continue to convey his message, which began during speeches in Turkey and Egypt, with another during an official visit to Indonesia, the most populous Muslim country.
One interesting tidbit, via Laura Rosen at Politico:
Yesterday, Orthodox Union policy director Nathan Diament joined leaders of about a dozen American Jewish organizations to meet with Vice President Joe Biden and senior White House officials in advance of the Vice President’s trip to Israel next week. – IPA Blog
Rosen reports that Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren was also at the meeting.
The Jerusalem Post also reported the latest Biden moves.
Jewish leaders will meet with Vice President Joseph Biden before he tours the Middle East. The organizational leaders will meet Biden at the vice president’s residence Tuesday afternoon in a meeting that has not been flagged on Biden’s official schedule. Present at the meeting will be Dan Shapiro, who handles Israel and its neighbors for the National Security Council, and Dennis Ross, who handles Iran. Biden visits Israel next week.
Clearly, Pres. Obama and his foreign policy team are keeping a close eye on Iran and the swirling tensions in Israel over the subject of sanctions. All this diplomatic action towards Israel, however, gives rise that the notion that Iran can be kept from going nuclear is something that is unlikely. What happens next the concern.
What do you want to talk about? The floor is open.
Thought you all would be amused by this:
The Republican National Committee plans to raise money this election cycle through an aggressive campaign capitalizing on “fear” of President Barack Obama and a promise to “save the country from trending toward socialism.” The strategy is detailed in a confidential party fundraising presentation obtained by POLITICO.
Politics of fear, with the 2012 election season starting…. NOW.
Do you think it will work? I tend to think they can come up with somethign better than this crap but who knows? I don’t see this particular plan working BUT i’m sure it’s just being test marketed and they have a couple of years to come up with an effective one.
Frankly, I think it’s now about the horror of failing to pass a hcr bill after all this time, so much miscalculation, and the election season(s) approaching.
The Rep. are going to run against it using fear, “socialism,” you name it.
Good thing Obama is ethical and faithful, because they’d replay impeachment if given the chance.
Unlike Dems who had legal reasons to launch high profile investigations against their predecessors, but didn’t have the spine.
The sad thing about hcr is that real reform is needed and both parties know it. Romney would take it up in a DC minute if given the opening.
“Politics of fear, with the 2012 election season starting…. NOW.” -Tylor Marsh
Yep, the same usual stuff Republicans always pull. I remember the fear games they used against Bill and Hillary back in the 90s. Luckily, for Bill Clinton he was able to survive it all with a booming economy. Obama will not be as fortunate when 2012 rolls around for his reelection bid. If the economy has not improved around 2012 then he can kiss any reelection dreams good bye. Like I have mention before, if his poll numbers ever start to look Carteresque around 2012…then you can stick a fork in him, hes done. However, right now, if his poll numbers keep holding up at the mid 40 to upper 50 range then reelection is still “possible.”
Truthfully, I hope Obama decides not to seek reelection. The man has become such a lighting rod that the country is now much further apart; then it was under Bush. The Republicans as well as some Dems created this mess were stuck in and eight years of Obama will not clean it up. Hell, he can’t even get his agenda through the senate during one term…can you imagine if he is allowed to get a second term…shivering
“Good thing Obama is ethical and faithful, because they’d replay impeachment if given the chance.”
I can agree that there is reasonto assume he has been faithful to his wife – but ethical? not im my opinion – nor has he been faithful to what he sold on the campaign trail. And no i don’t mean public option.
You think Obama unethical, djjl. Would you elaborate?
Remember, the reporting I did on candidate Obama revealed it was the public putting their hopes on him. Going to events, interviewing Chicagoans, etc, especially his early interviews showed himself fully.
Well.. I remember some stuff from his past that paints him in a bad light… Guess it depends on ones definition of ethical. Although he played by the rules, he and his campaign engaged in petitioning to get the other candidates off the ballot so he could run uncontested (Illinois State Sentate.. 1996). To me… that’s not the “right” thing to do.
And as you well know Taylor, many of us who supported Hillary in the primaries found his campaign tactics to be a bit much… race bating at times.. Hoddwink, etc. I can’t recall everything but there were many…
My two cents. Hi everyone — I’ve been lurking – Just haven’t had much time to post..
“Hoodwink”… I think you even had a blog post on his hoodwinking comments..
He did and said anything to win (I think they all do… even Hillary).. But I still agree with djjl… not sure I find Obama to be “ethical”…
Interesting, whitepaw.
The hyper partisanship is the American way in politics. The problem was he got a pass, while saying everyone else was doing it.Hey, but the press let him get away w it.
As for Alice Palmer, Obama use election rules to disqualify her. Hardball, but the way it’s done.
As for my posts, I covered every single thing. I knew what we were getting, including Obama’s brilliance, which I always questioned whether it could be mined into leadership.
I do chuckle often when I hear Pres Obama bemoaning “politics,” a game in which he excels and uses whenever it benefits him.
But again, it’s not like people want to call him on it.
Several things – but the most obvious is the house/lot and his forgetting he had toured it with Rezko and asked his advice. Not believable. Just consider what the word ethical means – a synonym is moral.
Hi Whitepaw.
Does anyone know who owns the lot now and has it a use?
That’s old stuff, djjl. Obama already admitting it was “boneheaded.”
Hey Marie205, you’re another person talking about Obama not running in 2012.
Where is this coming from?
Whitepaw
Hoodwink, Bamboozle, and the old okey doke. Hey, I’m hav’in fun here.
Old news and declaring it boneheaded doesn’t work. I don’t believer boneheaded was attributed after it was noted that he toured the property with Rezko.
Because it is old news passed on by the MSM suffering tingles up and down their legs does not mean it was credibly investigated.
Obama admitted it was boneheaded to be involved witht he deal with Rezko – nothing else that I recall.
I don’t know where the Obama not running in 2012 is coming from either. That seems totally absurd. I also don’t know where the dump Biden is coming from. It would be crazy and it would be crazy to replace Obama with Clinton as I’ve heard some people say. Surely she isn’t that dumb!
And I see absolutely nothing wrong with Biden.
I think, whitepaw, it has been referred to as situtational ethics – but, of course that is when they were applying the standards to someone else
I dont knwo where the dump Biden hire Hillary is coming from but I’m willing to bet that it’s due to Obama hemorraghing support from working class voters and women. The problem is though that thinking that putting Hillary as VP is going to solve the problems with these voters. It’s not. The reason why he’s losing those voters is his policy poor policy decisions.
taylor, ahve you forgotten the 90′s when the GOP pilfered through Hillary’s underwear drawer? They spent how much money on a land deal in the 70′s that the Clinton’s lost money on? The Obama/Rezko thing is a gold mind for them. You have a mansion bought with the assistnace of a convicted fellon. What do you think they’ll do with that one? Heck, it might even be enough for them to start impeachment proceedings.
At this point I am so disgusted with the entire Dem party and their nonpreformance I just don’t know what to say. In a Democracy you get the government you deserve. I don’t want to rehash the primary but in Obama the Dems and the electorate got the Pres. they apparently desrved.
Good Lord…lol
Reading comments on the internet at news sites under political articles about Obama…you would swear the man was the anti-Christ. I remember reading hateful comments about Bill and Hillary before Obama showed up on the political scene. But, the level of hate directed at Obama is becoming disgusting to witness. Here is a guy with a young family that put them into a harsh media spotlight…that has become increasingly hostile to his family. I don’t know how long his family will put up this crap.
I don’t see things in the media getting any less crazier for this family. So, its not shocking to hear Obama say “I’d rather be a really good one-term president than a mediocre two-term president.” Its looking more and more like he will be happy as one term. If he does run in 2012 it will be do to his poll numbers still being around the 50 percent range. Like I said before, Polls hit Jimmy Carter level then he will bow out.
“What do you think they’ll do with that one? Heck, it might even be enough for them to start impeachment proceedings.” -Ga6thDem
Your right…the trails for Blago have not really even started yet…but when they do I have this feeling it’ll be a repeat of the Clinton Whitewater junk. Does anyone think it’s mere coincidence that Blago Fed trails start this summer right before the Dem midterm elections are heating up….
“At this point I am so disgusted with the entire Dem party and their nonpreformance I just don’t know what to say.” -secularhumanizinevoluter
You and me both…The people calling for Hillary to replace Biden are the same ones who were angry she was passed over in the first place for Biden. There is fractions in the Dem party that never recovered over the Primary infighting.
Ga6Dem, Biden is known as blue collar Joe. He’s also an Israeli hawk. The people trying to suggest he should be replaced, floating the notion, are nuts.
Dems have made a mess of things, secularh, which is why you now see some strong House members hinting @ bolting from hcr. There is no win for passing the current bill, which sucks. Dems are damned if they do or don’t.
Absolutely agree with Taylor about Biden. What in the world are they seeing wrong about Biden – he’s great – even when you may disagree with an opinion.
The one thing i disagree on is Dems have made a mess – there’s a damn mess – nut they did everything but get on bended knee and beg for Obama leadership. He apparently didn’t want to be soiled by work and wanted it handed to him. There’s a reason there are 100 Senators, 435 Representatives , and ONE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. Let’s not pretend they have equivalent responsibilities.
So they damn well better DO!
Congress could have acted on hcr on their own, djjl. It’s one of the purposes of divided gov, but they forgot to do their job while waiting for O.
Also, there is evidently an OFA statement now saying the PO is “detrimental to efforts now,” or something close.
Congress was stupid enough to believe that Obama hadn’t long ago sold out to for profit against PO or Medicare buy-in.
Again, Congress had the power all along. Dems caved to a president who may save his own professional life, but doesn’t care about Congress.
The Congress for decades has been too protective of the executive branch. It’s neutered them.
Well, I think you are likely right about that. What fools they were to believe the messiah they bought was real – he was only bought.
This President saw what Congress wasn’t doing and then he did less than the did. I just don’t give him a pass for that. I think when you run for President you are saying you are willing and capable of being a leader of this nation. Not the same with Congress. They are saying they’ll represent their constituencey which is less that the US as a whole.
Nobody around here is giving anyone a “pass.”
But Congress for way too long, decades, has slowly come to accept that their place is to *support* and even cover for the executive branch, That was *never* the intent.
i wasn’t referring to anyone around here. But if that is the case, more the reason that the POTUS she recognize the situation and – act PREIDENTIAL. After all – he did present himself as a LEADER.
Not “she” – “should”
See you tomorrow
Taylor:
Can we wait until reconciliation before pronouncing it a “bad bill”? We don’t have one bill out there yet. We have two.
Seriously, I am just as disgusted as the next guy, but it does not help to frame the issue using Republican memes.
There are two bills out there. The Senate bill sucks. The House bill is pretty decent.
djjl:
I agree that the president has behaved like he was so fucking cool that awesome bills were just going to fly to his desk begging for him to sign them. He was really stupid and totally dropped the ball on at least a half dozen important issues.
However, you are giving yourself a pass when you put the entire onus for changing the direction of this country on the White House. Sorry but we have three branches of government. All three branches are of, by, and for WE THE PEOPLE. When you have a lazy, childish, petulant, and fundamentally stupid and misinformed populace, how can you expect your elected leaders to be anything other than a mirror of the people who put them in office?
Obama’s biggest fumbles are making decisions with the delusion that he can have it several ways. He seems to think he can be a neocon, a populist, and a progressive all at once with absolutely no consequence. Funnily enough, most Americans think that we should be able to retain our status as a superpower with awesome military capabilities, have a top notch social safety net and infrastructure, and create and maintain an economic climate that is competitive with any of the emerging economic powerhouses in Asia – all without raising taxes or cutting any other programs.
Bottom line: If you the voter thinks that you can have everything you ever wanted for free (plus a pony), how can you get pissed off when everyone you elect turns out to have blown smoke up your stupid ass – telling your ignorant, lazy, ill-informed, and delusional ass everything you wanted to hear during the election?
Weezie2008 says:
04 March 2010 at 9:49 am
I’m simply telling it as I see it. You do not have to agree.
The fact is that Obama has said plainly that his proposal is the Senate bill.
Congress is being asked to pass legislation given the bait that it will be “fixed” in reconciliation. I don’t trust these people. That’s the bottom line.
How about that new book by Mosab Hassan Yousef “Son of Hamas?” He claims that he infiltrated the military wing of Hamas and reported on its activities to the Israelis for 10 years. That’s a very doubtful claim. The infiltration of the military wing of Hamas part not the squealing to the Israelis part. But hey, the guy now lives in the United States so he needs to make a living. There’s no better way to do that than to write a book filled with fiction and get booked endlessly on the FOX fiction network to discuss your lies. Hell, if Palin can do it than anyone can. Peace
No. I don’t trust the scumbags either. No one should.
However, the bills HAVE to be reconciled before they are sent to the president’s desk. There is no “one” bill yet. The president has indicated he prefers the senate bill (because he is a cowardly, corporatist “centrist” oh, how I loathe that term). Still, he is not going to spit on the bill and throw it in the trash if a public option and other consumer protections are added back into it.
Not that I am super confident that the cowardly Democrats to actually transform those bills into one truly acceptable bill. And I would fall over and die of shock if Obama actually pulled a Johnson/Clinton and started busting skulls, making threats, promises, etc. – in other words – WORKING to line up votes.