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Taylor Marsh has been writing on line since 1996, with the archives provided here a representation of that work.

Archive | August, 2010

At Least Obama Won’t Declare ‘Mission Accomplished’

By on 31 August 2010

–bumped–

As U.S. combat operations officially end this week and Washington’s reconstruction effort winds up, Iraqis complain that America is leaving little behind to show for an investment that President Bush promised in 2003 would parallel the post- World War II Marshall Plan in its scope and accomplishments. “I am very sorry because America spent a lot of money without any tangible results,” said Ali Baban, Iraq’s minister of planning, who is responsible for overseeing the projects now being handed over to the Iraqi government. “The Iraqi people heard a lot about American assistance, but really they didn’t touch it or feel it.” – A U.S. ‘legacy of waste’ in Iraq

If the “ending of combat operations in Iraq” tells us one thing it’s that a commander in chief can set an arbitrary date for withdrawal of military forces in a country, regardless of the situation on the ground, and pull the troops out for the good of the United States. Because no one should be under the illusion that Iraq has resolved, because it doesn’t have a cohesive government, with the wider landscape and the Iraqi populace in peril of violence, which will not abate anytime soon.

Vice President Joe Biden is in Iraq to commemorate the moment. It’s being reported that Pres. Obama may call former Pres. George W. Bush before his speech tonight. Republicans are calling for Obama to credit Mr. Bush for the surge in Iraq. But there is a whiff of accomplishment in Obama’s scheduling a primetime address. Oh, how quickly the Presidents Club indoctrinated the anti Iraq war candidate into banging his own drum on a war he claimed to have been heartily against.

The U.S. military was asked to do an impossible task in a country we never should have invaded, with all of those serving and sacrificing, including their families, deserving of our grateful appreciation for being forced to serve Pres. George W. Bush’s neocon fantasy, someone who deserves to go down in history as the most inept and ill equipped commander in chiefs in modern times. Unfortunately, since Pres. Obama doesn’t have the fortitude of candidate Obama’s rhetoric, something that was proved long ago, stay in Iraq we will.

For his presidential malpractice Mr. Bush’s entire administration should have been dragged on to the national carpet by the Democratic Congress and Pres. Obama, which could have been done even without invoking impeachment, then held accountable through investigations, at the very least, for the war crimes, torture, lies told to Congress and the American people, not to mention the meddling of intelligence data, with the lesson drilled home about what happens when American hubris meets foreign interventionism with an unlimited credit line.

That the U.S. military, as well as civilian diplomats and aide workers, had to prop up Pres. Bush and V.P. Dick Cheney’s neoconservative nightmare is something too many people have already forgotten. After all, with PPP’s poll showing Bush’s Katrina response held more favorably than Obama’s BP blowout response, it proves yet again that if politicians and political parties don’t drill facts home to people propaganda will always win the day. Both review outcomes, to name just two, were allowed to manifest because Bush’s successor doesn’t have a clue about modern political warfare and the importance of laying blame where it belongs. The war in Iraq should have been put on trial, otherwise history might not record it as the gigantic disaster it was, all of which began in the Oval Office of Pres. George W. Bush, but which his successor will continue to fund, capitulating to the Bush-Cheney footprint plan to leave American hands inside a country where we do not belong.

The LA Times piece from Sunday lists how American taxpayer dollars have been flushed, all because George W. Bush had the attention span of a gnat, but also didn’t appoint anyone who actually knew what they were doing, leaving Iraq an unfinished mess at the end of his presidency. Also see Afghanistan (where 22 soldiers have died in the last 4 days), a country Obama is investing his presidency in even as the American economy continues to crater, making it even more ludicrous that he is choosing to leave the largest U.S. embassy on earth operating, something no one is mentioning, while keeping 50,000 troops in Iraq, a country that will continue to explode.

So you’ll pardon me if I demure from the inevitable hoopla that will accompany the combat operations have ceased in Iraq spin that will come from Bush’s successor tonight. For a man who won the Democratic nomination on being against the Iraq war it doesn’t fill me with relief that we’ve either accomplished Bush-Cheney’s grandiose neocon mission or that Pres. Obama understands or really believes what getting out of Iraq means and how badly we now need to cut our losses now.

“We had military successes, but the Iraqis will decide whether it is a long-term success or not,” said Maj. Joseph Da Silva – Iraq conflict leaves officers weary and humbled

“Six summers and $4.9 billion in U.S. taxpayer money later” our investment not only hasn’t been worth it, but considering the lives lost, those maimed and wounded as well, not to mention the growing power Iran has in Iraq, keeping the large footprint Bush began in Iraq, and Pres. Obama will continue, is proof that both national parties have forfeited their leadership role in American foreign policy.

Sorry to rain on everyone’s “I’ve Kept My Promise Parade,” but if Barack Obama was really anti Iraq war he’d pull all of our troops out, close down the embassy, and just scratch this one off as Bush’s debacle. However, candidate Obama was never committed to pulling out of Iraq completely. He still isn’t. Hillary Clinton never was.

The fairy tale that Obama would be lives on.

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Obama: ‘Our most urgent task is to restore our economy…’

By on 31 August 2010

The war in Iraq is not over. – Jon Soltz, VoteVets

(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

The underlying truth is that Pres. Obama needed to do much more when he came into office, with many urging a second stimulus, including Laura Tyson, something our conservative Democratic President will not do. So talking about the economy as an “urgent task” amounts to an ingredient in a word salad that leads us nowhere, because there’s nothing Pres. Obama can actually do that he’s willing to do to change the current depressing dynamic. Smart people won’t be fooled.

The Resolute Desk remains, but Pres. Obama has finally put his signature on the oval office.

Tonight Pres. Obama gets the stage, but words simply won’t be enough to turn around what Democrats are facing in November.

On the Republican Tea Party side, Sarah Palin has already weighed in, whether she’s acting an opponent or someone with a new book about to break is up for you to judge. Her Facebook page at the link reveals her new book jacket cover.

Excerpts of Obama’s address are below:

“But this milestone should serve as a reminder to all Americans that our future is ours to shape if we move forward with confidence and commitment. It should also serve as a message to the world that the United States of America intends to sustain and strengthen our leadership in this young century.”

***

“At every turn, America’s men and women in uniform have served with courage and resolve. As Commander-in-Chief, I am proud of their service. Like all Americans, I am awed by their sacrifice, and by the sacrifices of their families.”

***

“Tonight, I am announcing that the American combat mission in Iraq has ended. Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country. This was my pledge to the American people as a candidate for this office. Last February, I announced a plan that would bring our combat brigades out of Iraq, while redoubling our efforts to strengthen Iraq’s Security Forces and support its government and people. That is what we have done. We have removed nearly 100,000 U.S. troops from Iraq. We have closed or transferred hundreds of bases to the Iraqis. And we have moved millions of pieces of equipment out of Iraq.”

***

“Ending this war is not only in Iraq’s interest – it is in our own. The United States has paid a huge price to put the future of Iraq in the hands of its people. We have sent our young men and women to make enormous sacrifices in Iraq, and spent vast resources abroad at a time of tight budgets at home. We have persevered because of a belief we share with the Iraqi people – a belief that out of the ashes of war, a new beginning could be born in this cradle of civilization. Through this remarkable chapter in the history of the United States and Iraq, we have met our responsibility. Now, it is time to turn the page.”

***

“Today, our most urgent task is to restore our economy, and put the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs back to work. To strengthen our middle class, we must give all our children the education they deserve, and all our workers the skills that they need to compete in a global economy. We must jumpstart industries that create jobs, and end our dependence on foreign oil. We must unleash the innovation that allows new products to roll off our assembly lines, and nurture the ideas that spring from our entrepreneurs. This will be difficult. But in the days to come, it must be our central mission as a people, and my central responsibility as President.”

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GOP Tea Party Takes 10-Point Lead in Generic Poll

By on 30 August 2010



Very bad news for Democrats in latest Gallup poll, which they’re headlining as “unprecedented.”

Republicans lead by 51% to 41% among registered voters in Gallup weekly tracking of 2010 congressional voting preferences. The 10-percentage-point lead is the GOP’s largest so far this year and is its largest in Gallup’s history of tracking the midterm generic ballot for Congress.

On “enthusiasm” the Republican Tea Party has a 25-point lead on Independents and Democrats who are at 28% and 25% respectively.

This is not a daily poll, it’s a weekly tracking poll, which should send a chill down the Democrats spine, wherever they’ve hidden it.

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Obama: ‘I can’t spend all of my time with my birth certificate plastered on my forehead.’

By on 30 August 2010

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Interesting interview with NBC’s Brian Williams, which I hope you watch. CNN has great shots of Pres. Obama in New Orleans.

As for the questions from Williams about Obama’s BP response, it’s ridiculous to quibble about whether the BP blowout was “Obama’s Katrina,” which was first uttered by the right-wing and the likes of Sean Hannity. But let there be no doubt that Pres. Obama and his administration, also Sect. Salazar, made a colossal error in letting BP not only take the lead for too long, but allowing the ultra deep drilling in the first place when there were warnings about BP long ago. Obama and his administration missed the signs and handled the response horribly. Just because Obama’s response can’t be measure to Bush’s Katrina doesn’t mean the administration doesn’t have a lot to answer for and didn’t blow it. Read what I wrote about the Obama administration’s complicity after the Rolling Stone article broke, though there were many articles before that proving the case. Anyone watching Dylan Ratigan during that time saw the testimony. Pres. Obama and his administration failed during the BP blowout in many ways. To say otherwise is to ignore the facts or simply rewrite history and morph it into marketing the doesn’t match the truth.

“It’s tempting to believe that the Gulf spill, like so many disasters inherited by Obama, was the fault of the Texas oilman who preceded him in office. But, though George W. Bush paved the way for the catastrophe, it was Obama who gave BP the green light to drill. [...] People are being really circumspect, not pointing the finger at Salazar and Obama,” says Rep. Raul Grijalva, who oversees the Interior Department as chair of the House subcommittee on public lands. “But the troublesome point is, the administration knew that it had this rot in the middle of the process on offshore drilling – yet it empowered an already discredited, disgraced agency to essentially be in charge.” – The Spill, the Scandal and the President – Rolling Stone magazine

Let’s also not forget that Obama’s oil policy is not very far from Sarah Palin’s, covering himself for the time being with “wait now, drill later.” But eventually Gov. Jindal will get his way.

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Glenn Beck on Best Behavior, Hate Speech Returns Monday

By on 29 August 2010

Front Page Feature on Huffington Post
–bumped–

King’s niece, anti-abortion activist Alveda King, was one of many minority speakers and awardees, a group that also included St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, a native of the Dominican Republic, who received an award for promoting hope. Like Beck, Alveda King linked the rally to her uncle’s speech. “If Uncle Martin were here today, he would surely commend us for giving honor where honor is due,” she said. [...] – Glenn Beck calls for national revival

That’s really the ultimate lesson here. You cannot say things like “I think the president is a racist,” and then say “I stand by that,” then present yourself as someone who will “restore America.”

This type of hate speech directed at the first African American president in United States history is nothing Martin Luther King, Jr. would “commend.” At least not before he received a retraction from the hater who uttered the words.

ABC’s Christiane Amanpour and Tahman Bradley spoke with Sarah Palin backstage:

Bradley: How do you think Dr. King would feel about this rally?

Palin: I hope that Dr. King would be so proud of us, as his niece Dr. Alveda King is very proud as a participant in this rally. This is sacred ground where we feel his spirit and can appreciate all of his efforts. He who so believed in equality and may we live up to his challenge.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would have told Sarah Palin to repent and retract her “Don’t retreat — reload.” Dr. King a man whose message relied on the power of words to lift people up out of despair, never trading in Palin’s type of militaristic machismo to prove strength. That Mrs. Palin ignores this biographical and historical fact of King is part of the weird alternate reality that was presented today.

Likewise, if you can forget Glenn Beck’s hate speech history, this shared reality Palin, Glenn Beck and the rally conjured up today was indeed inspiring. However, knowing the rhetoric he utilizes daily, along with Palin, I simply sensed the intense degree of desperation from the people attending, individuals so hungry to hear someone, anyone, say something that represents their feelings they’ll gladly take Glenn Beck, even if he’s someone who only walks the walk he talked today, this one day out of his life.

Every single person I talked to said the Congress and federal government is guilty of “runaway spending,” the mantra, with others also talking about a “government takeover.” The frustration with Congress not doing the will of the people was another constant theme. The message discipline and focus was impressive and heartfelt, with no race-baiting, hating signs in my vicinity or on the long path I walked, though it was far too crowded to possibly hit all spots. It was, however, very white.

If there’s one unifying disconnect so many feel, shared by people way beyond Washington, D.C. it’s this: Who will speak for me? Today it was Glenn Beck, helped by many others, including Sarah Palin, and even Dr. King’s niece, in front of a crowd of purposeful people hoping it all amounted to a statement that Pres. Obama and Congress will hear.

In front of multiple tens of thousands, estimates ranging from 100,000 and beyond, Glenn Beck began by saying today’s “Restoring America” rally had “nothing to do with politics, everything to do with God.” Giving the gentlest interpretation of what he meant, Beck could have stretched his message to a non-partisan rally, but I can’t even buy that, because politics was very much in play today, the only people God speaking on stage, though He/She did provide good cover.

One Vietnam veteran walking with the help of a rolling wheelchair and wearing a full upper body brace (he’d broken his back), walking with his wife, inspired me to ask what brought him out amidst such crowds and with such a tough time to maneuver. He said that things today are so bad he had to come, “This is not how our country was intended.” His wife chimed in to say they came “from the other Washington.” I asked his political affiliation, with his wife saying “Independent!” When I prodded the veteran on if their coming to the event was about being anti Obama I got something totally unexpected. He said, “No, I voted for Clinton. He was conservative and ended up with a budget surplus.” We talked about the genesis of the Tea Party, and they both agreed that it started under George W. Bush, “but we’re getting a late start,” said the veteran.

From early morning people started streaming into Washington, D.C., stopping traffic, a people parade over the Memorial Bridge, taxis letting people off, police immediately on them to move, with crowds emerging from the metro as well. I didn’t get to hear Sarah Palin, but did hear Glenn Beck, which was the goal. Mr. Beck has to be impressed and moved with what he saw today as he became the megaphone for the multitude.

It’s very sad to see Bob Herbert get so upset about Glenn Beck’s rally. It gives Mr. Beck a space that he hasn’t earned, bringing Dr. King down to Beck’s level for comparison, which is not only inappropriate, but truly silly to even expend the energy. Not giving Beck at least credit for the crowd is at least uncharitable, because credit is due, with it making Dr. King no worse for this truth. Perhaps it’s Mr. Herbert who needs to “chill, baby, chill,” because the only way Beck can share ground with Dr. King is if we allow it, which Herbert does today by going to such lengths to refudiate Beck’s rally. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a giant among American heroes who has no equal, certainly no one today came close, regardless of choosing a day that is enshrined in American history, which Mr. Herbert understandably cherishes, as do we all.

But as time marches on no patriot or person owns a calendar day. Real American heroes live beyond a moment, our memories and the manifestations of their dreams how they live on.

Besides, considering Mr. Beck had Dr. King’s niece, abortion rights opponent Alveda King at the rally, it’s not like Beck is ignoring Dr. King, praying for linkage on this one day when Beck is on his best behavior.

Never fear, because Beck’s hate speech will return on Monday.

This post was originally posted on Saturday, after the event.

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Sunday News Round-Up: Brunch Edition

By on 29 August 2010

Athabasca Glacier, Canadian Rockies

I hope everyone is having a good weekend. I just got back from the Canadian Rockies and have been without internet access and have been trying to catch up on all the news, so doing the round-up today was a good way to check out the most recent political and foreign policy news. Hopefully I will be able to direct you to some stuff that you may have missed.



If you will indulge me, the photo on the left is one I took the other day of the Athabasca Glacier by the Columbia Icefields in Canada. I have a thing for mountains and glaciers, which is why I went there.



On this day in history, August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the gulf coast, ravaging NOLA and areas in Mississippi and Tennessee. Also on this day in history in 1957, the Senate approved a Civil Rights Act after South Carolina Sen. Strom Thurmond ended a filibuster that had lasted 24 hours.

Some links to go with your coffee and tea or whatever gets you up and going in the morning/afternoon:

~Five years after Katrina, many struggles remain.

~One of the striking things about U.S. foreign policy is that it often seems that we undermine our own stated goals of keeping the U.S. safe and protecting U.S. economic interests at home and abroad. Case in point- U.S. Admiral Eric Olson has said that our current prolonged wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have substantially undermined our ability to keep weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of terrorists.

~Senator Diaper David Vitter won his primary yesterday, proving that when Republicans are involved, mind-numbing hypocrisy is no barrier to re-election.

~The State Dept. is respectfully requesting that U.S. citizens please refrain from traveling to North Korea because we are running out of former Presidents to go to the Paranoid Kingdom and haul them out of prison and bring them back to the states.

~I don’t know how to say this other than, Bank of America still sucks.

~Justice Sonia Sotomayor has said that the WikiLeaks case will likely end up on the Court’s docket and will require them to balance national security interests vs. free speech. But of course, if as the administration says, there was really not that much in the document dump that we didn’t already know, then national security really isn’t a compelling argument except with respect to the reckless naming of Afghan informants working with the U.S. Given the make up of the Court, this doesn’t bode well for WikiLeaks.

~The U.N. will soon release a report which alleges that the genocide in Rwanda never really stopped- instead, the balance of power shifted from Hutu to Tutsi and the reprisals and ongoing genocide crossed the borders into the Democratic Republic of Congo- this time with Hutus being the victims. This poses a serious problem for the U.S., which has been a staunch ally of the post-genocide Rwandan government despite clear signs along the way that President Paul Kagame was fast becoming dictatorial and brutal in his handling of Rwandan society after the genocide.

~The White House has reportedly given Jewish-American leaders a briefing on the upcoming Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Apparently, Muslim-American leaders will not be briefed. According to those present, the White House appears intent on shooting itself in the foot by creating a framework by which final status issues will be resolved within a one year time frame- but here’s the kicker- the Jewish American leaders were told the implementation stage can take up to a decade. Assuming this report is accurate, lets all put our thinking caps on and try to figure out why the White House would want to reassure only *some* people that nothing will be implemented any time in the near future…

~So, the White House once again gambled, dragged their feet, only to later throw their support behind Meek in Florida once the polls improved. So, what kind of support can Kendrick Meek expect from the White House (ie. Rahm) and the DNC in the next few weeks? Will they go all out to beat Crist or do they figure Meek is a lost cause and that Crist will fit in nicely with the White House’s attempts to appeal to independents and conservatives?

~Americans for Prosperity Foundation is having its tax exempt status questioned because, well, it’s clearly a politically partisan group with ties to the Tea Party and working in tandem with its overtly partisan sister group, Americans for Prosperity.

~Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren is writing in Newsweek and making sure everyone knows that ahead of the direct negotiations in September, the problem is the Palestinians, not the Israelis. On a more optimistic note, Martin Indyk gives us four reasons why the direct negotiations might succeed.

~Oh, by the way, speaking of Newsweek, everyone knows that Jane Harman’s billionaire husband, Sydney Harmon, purchased the magazine for one dollar earlier this month, right? While he only paid a dollar he will assume all their financial liabilities, estimated at over 70 million. Here is some background on Sydney and how he seems to have benefited from having wife who was also the Chair of the House Intelligence Committee.

~Health insurers are casting their lot with Republicans by a huge margin this election cycle. And probably the next one too.

~Question- I’ve been on vacation for the last week and a half so I am a bit behind on the news, but are we at war with Yemen and no one told me?

~Congratulations, you’ve made it this far. Have you ever seen a baby sloth?

~Steve Clemons has an interesting guest commentary over on his blog ‘The Washington Note’ about the strange Alan Gross saga- Alan Gross is the USAID worker who went to Cuba to bring democracy-promotion technology to the Jewish community there. From the very beginning the whole story struck me as not quite right. Anyway, he’s still in prison in Cuba and it has reignited the debate about how best to deal with Cuba.

~I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Glenn Beck anti-government, “restoring our honor” rally or whatever it was in DC yesterday. Apparently, if you don’t agree with Glenn Beck you have no honor. And no God. Webmistress Taylor Marsh was there to witness the event, God bless her, so be sure to catch up on all of her updates and commentary on it.

A sign at the Beck rally- nope, nothing political here, move along

~Obama may be having his very own ‘Mission Accomplished’ moment right about now in Iraq.

~A new poll shows a sizable majority of Americans believe gays and lesbians should be able to serve openly in the military. Hear that Obama?

~New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s administration has lost out on upwards of $400 million in federal education funds and naturally they are blaming it on Obama despite the fact that is was clearly their own fault. That said, given the GOP’s 2010 election theme is that federal government entitlements are evil, I would think Christie would be PROUD to not receive that dirty blood money anyway, right? Right?

~The owner of the company JetAngel is donating two decommissioned missiles to be used as visual aids by anti-Cordoba House protesters around Ground Zero. Because nothing says “we hate violent extremism” like an actual missile with anti-Muslim slogans written on it, pointed at a proposed Mosque site.

~Rescued baby owlets here.

~Wanna know what the eight most secretive companies are? Check them out here.

~Alaska GOP Senate candidate Joe Miller stated today (on Face the Nation) that Medicare and Social Security are unconstitutional.

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Pujols & La Russa Think Beck-Palin Event Not Political

By on 27 August 2010

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, scheduled to introduce Pujols, insisted Thursday that he and Pujols are attending only after receiving assurances that the event is not a thinly disguised political rally. – STLToday

Three-time NL Most Valuable Player Albert Pujols, as well as Cardinal manager Tony La Russa, will be among the guests tomorrow at the Beck-Palin “Restoring America” rally on the Mall. Oh, but only because it’s not a “thinly disguised political rally.” Well, they’ve got that right. It’s not thinly disguised at all.

But seriously, are they kidding? I honestly don’t know how Tony La Russa can say that with a straight face.

These guys are either dumber than a bag of rocks or… hmmm… I got nothing else.

ps-I’m going to try to check the event out tomorrow, depending on the insanity level of it. I’ll report in via Twitter if I can.

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AFL-CIO’s Trumka, Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh

By on 27 August 2010

–correction below–

It’s incredibly humorous to see people on all political sides finally waking up to what I’ve been writing for over a year. Well, almost everyone, as you’ll see in a minute. That the most powerful person in politics today is Sarah Palin. It’s a reality that started building this time last year when Obama and the Democrats fell asleep on health care, allowing Sarah’s “death panel” charge to hijack their message. Giving Palin credit sticks in people’s throats, but it cannot be denied if you’re being honest, which is particularly hard on the Left where many look down their noses at her people power, which she’s used to maximum advantage in 2010.

Now Palin, in responding to an attack by AFL-CIO’s Richard Trumka, unleashes one of the best opening paragraphs any conservative has ever uttered on unionism:

Two years ago almost to the day, I was thrilled to meet with union members at the Alaska AFL-CIO Convention in Anchorage to sign important job-creation legislation related to the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act. As a former card-carrying IBEW sister married to a proud former IBEW and later USW member, it was a great moment for all of us. Our Alaska union brothers and sisters helped build our state! Many of them risked their lives to complete our infrastructure, including the Trans-Alaska Pipeline that stretches over treacherous mountain ranges from the North Slope oil fields to Valdez. By signing that job-creation bill surrounded by union members, I was paying tribute to them and acknowledging that they would be valued partners in the construction of Alaska’s long awaited natural gas pipeline. I was honored that day to receive a standing ovation from them for signing a bill that provided a Project Labor Agreement to bring good jobs to these good men and women. [...]

On a side note, Sarah Palin’s got a similar credible opening line on abortion, which she’s used to similar affect when engaging her “mama grizzlies.”

It’s a political foundation that is tantamount to testimony in religious speak. It’s the sticky stuff of emotional relating and connecting, even if it only reaches the conservative choir. Remember, that’s the only audience Palin needs at this point, with the harsh reality that she has no wider appeal something her fans simply refuse to face. Palin’s case being forwarded now by the likes of Rush Limbaugh, whose only candidate of choice has been Ronald Reagan. But he’s totally smitten with Sarah. From Rush’s show yesterday:

… I have lost my temper a couple of times with people in my own home, because I’m listening to people complain about Democrats, complain about Obama, complain about liberals — that they fully understand Obama is the worst thing that could happen to America in terms of our economy, traditions and so forth — and then Palin’s name comes up and they say, “Well! (snort) We can’t have her! She’s not smart enough, she’s not bright enough.”

I look at them and say, “Compared to WHO? Compared to Joe Biden? Compared to Harry Reid? Who’s she dumber than? Would you rather have Obama?”

“Well, no, but I want somebody that can win.”
“Well, tell me who it is. You tell me who packs arenas more than Palin does right now.” At the time we’re having these discussions it’s last summer and after the Convention and so forth and after the election. “Who’s creating more excitement among Republicans, in an electoral sense, than Palin is?”

“Well, she still embarrasses me.”

“Well, who the hell are you? What do you know about ‘the Indian subcontinent’?”

“Well, I just don’t think she’s…”

“How do you even know what she knows or doesn’t know? You’re falling full prey to what media critics and the Democrats are saying about her. Why do you want to be so easily swayed? Why…?” I asked these people, and on a couple of occasions, I was really shouting. “Why do you want to echo the very people that on every other day of the week you rip: People like the media, people like Democrats, people you know you can’t trust? You know they lie. [...]

This simply doesn’t happen every day and after getting beat election cycle after election cycle, Rush going all out for Sarah is something worth noting. When looking at the rest of the Republican field so far, it’s not like the choices abound. Huckabee’s got a Willie Horton problem; Mitt’s got a Romneycare problem; Newt’s got a Newt problem; Haley Barbour’s got a southern white guy problem; the rest of the Republican white guy’s having an excitement problem.

Meanwhile, AFL-CIO’s Trumka made an embarrassing mistake for such a veteran, which simply set Sarah up. It’s a continuing theme when it comes to Democrats swinging and missing at Palin:

To me, it just doesn’t seem OK to go where she’s going. … It sits wrong with me. … The Mama Grizzlies, Sarah Palin says, just sense when something’s not right. … I wonder if those Mama Grizzlies can sense something’s just not right with her.

Quite frankly, America works because lots of people contribute lots of ideas — that’s good — even when some of them are just plain wrong. But people need to come to the table in good faith. That’s not Sarah Palin. She’ll go down in history like McCarthy. Palinism will become an ugly word.

Who is this woman, anyway? What happened to her?

Marginalizing and going hard negative against Sarah Palin is a good plan, but only if you first give her the credit she deserves, which Democrats simply won’t do. It’s their Achilles’ heel. Laziness from the Left lets Palin escape every time.

David Corn proved that recently as well on MSNBC refusing to give Sarah her due on Tuesday’s wins she earned. It’s the wrong move in taking her on. Ignoring her power, like Trumka, doesn’t marginalize her or call her out on her extremism, it simply lets her off the hook. Instead, Democrats should laud her as being the head of the Tea Party movement, which she is, and attach her to the views of Sharon Angle, Rand Paul and Joe Miller, all of whom have extreme rhetoric that could be used seriously to attack the right on important grounds, which goes well beyond the “nutcase, crazy people case.” Instead, Trumka and Corn and others on the Left use cheap shots that glance off of Palin’s Teflon coating built up because of glancing Democratic blows that miss the mark.

There is no denying that it’s been a great 2010 for the “quitter” and all it will take for Sarah Palin to run in 2012 is someone drafting her. It’s not exactly Goldwater, because he truly didn’t want to run. You can bet in her dreams at night Sarah’s bunking at 1600, whether she admits it or not, which is why a Draft Sarah could be a winner.

Rush is already making her case with the right, who aren’t looking at viability questions or who can win over Independents. Hard core conservatives want an ideologue, which they think they’ve found in Sarah. Drafting Sarah is not as far fetched as it once seemed. Whether it succeeds or not is a completely separate issue, because Sarah and her fans don’t think long-term. Riding the current political mood is how she ended up in the right-wing driver’s seat today. By gambling on a hunch she had about 2010 that her moment was now, wherever it leads better than where she started.

What’s not being calculated in all this is that Sarah Palin is the only candidate that would rev up the Democratic base to get Obama’s back. Because it’s a cinch they won’t be there just for him.

Correction: Trumka is obviously AFL-CIO. Apologies, brain took a holiday on that one. It’s been corrected in essay above. See this tweet, which says it all.

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Charles Blow’s Chart

By on 27 August 2010



People tend to get very testy when you suggest Pres. Obama’s losing Jewish voters, which is then followed by knowing comments about how the Democrats will never lose Jews to Republicans. That may be the case, but it simply cannot be denied that support for him among this group of faithful Democrats has sunk.

From Blow:

I gave that list to the people at The Pew Research Center, and they graciously combed through their data and provided me with Obama’s average approval rating among each group in 2009 and thus far in 2010. (Thanks Scott.)

Here are the results:

* Obama’s approval rating among Jews in 2010 averaged 58 percent.
* This percentage was the lowest of all those representing his enthusiastic supporter groups except one, the religious unaffiliated.
* The percentage change in Obama’s approval rating from 2009 to 2010 among Jews was greater than any of the other enthusiastic supporter groups, greater than Democrats and liberals in general and greater than the nation overall (or the goyim, if you prefer.)

The information above was solicited in response to Eric Alterman, who protested to Blow’s first column on Obama’s Jewish support.

What people don’t understand is that it doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll lose them in 2012, but it does point to a general lack of enthusiasm, at the very least, and reveals the rougher road ahead for Obama before the re-election season begins, meaning he’ll have to make his case again. This time to a much more skeptical electorate who won’t be wooed by words alone.

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2010: Boehner Shouldn’t Measure for Drapes; Dems Should Go Hard Negative

By on 26 August 2010

While Politico warns that insider Democrats feel their prospects are “worsening,” which isn’t a bad bet at all considering the economy, Roll Call has a contrarian view, seeing anything but a foregone conclusion for Democrats losing the House. It’s interesting for one reason, which keeps tugging at my mind. There are likely as many Republicans disgusted with the wacky tack right of the GOP, especially represented by the Tea Party and Sarah Palin’s continued dominance of the narrative, as there are Democrats who are disgusted with what Obama and the party have done with their majority. From Roll Call:

Modeling: Hours after the polls closed in a special election in Pennsylvania’s 12th District earlier this year, Boehner was still predicting that businessman Tim Burns (R) would beat former congressional aide Mark Critz (D). Republicans’ polling showed Burns would win. Their polling was wrong, and Critz is now a congressman.

Democrats who kept a close eye on the Pennsylvania polls detected the same excitement gap that Republicans saw — Republican voters were much more enthusiastic than their Democratic counterparts. But Democratic polls also saw their voters come home in the race’s waning days, and adjusted their targets accordingly. Republicans did not, resulting in a blown call and a self-deprecating examination of the party’s polling techniques.

National Republicans maintain that the midterms won’t be like the Pennsylvania special election, held in a district where few voters characterize themselves as independents. Indeed, Democrats have lost independent voters’ confidence, and nationally, those voters are expected to break more toward the GOP. But models matter, and right now Democrats’ models are inspiring more confidence than Republicans’.

It’s too bad the DNC and the congressional and senatorial committees are focusing on running against Obama and Democratic policies, as well as trying to see who can be more independent and conservative, instead of simply going negative against the Republicans. I’d slam the GOP Tea Party hard, non-stop, every day using faces and soundbites to embarrass. I’d blanket ads across the country, except in districts where scorched earth isn’t needed, with the favorite sound bites of the Tea Party crew, including the worst of Sarah Palin, who’d I’d tie to Miller in Alaska and every anti women’s rights issue I could find, driving home that the Tea Party was against Lily Ledbetter and a woman’s right to equal pay for equal work. I’d raise the damn roof on that issue. I’d wed the Republicans to the wacky right, including Glenn Beck, Rush and the rest of the wackos, making the Republican Party an untouchable, as well as simply not viable to run the country.

Negative ads hurt the person running them, but they also tend to drive down turnout. That’s what Democrats should be focused on too, especially when it comes to marginalizing Republicans as a viable choice for Independents. It’s a cynical ploy, but this is midterm war at this point. It would also prepare the ground for a difficult re-election battle for Obama, cementing the Republican Tea Party early as too extreme for the times.

Negative ad blasting is simply the best and most viable option when you’re looking at a Democratic Party with no leadership, no soul and no spine.

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John Judis Answers Critics over Obama’s ‘Unnecessary Fall’

By on 26 August 2010

I feel your pain, John.

Judis pushes back on his post about Obama’s “unnecessary fall,” known around here as predicted, which includes a perfect analysis of the dean of the Washington elite, David Broder, who seems to have written a column while sleepwalking, but turned it in as finished product.

2. You exaggerate Obama’s political difficulties. Or you exaggerate the degree to which Obama—and not an inevitable economic downturn—is responsible for Obama’s difficulties.

In The Washington Post, Ezra Klein argues Obama isn’t really that unpopular and that the Democrats are not necessarily poised for a disaster in November any different from that faced by other administrations. (Klein’s colleague David Broder seems to be asserting a similar point in a blitheringly senseless column he wrote about “Judis, a man of the left.”)

[...] One reason the Republicans cut their losses was because Ronald Reagan and his White House advisors developed a populist narrative that they repeated from January to November urging voters to “stay the course.” While Reagan remained somewhat unpopular, his relentless campaign convinced a majority of voters that his policies would eventually work. Obama has not developed a narrative; and as a result, voters have far less confidence in his economic policies than they did in Reagan’s. That could make for a big Democratic defeat in November.

The continuing problem with comparisons to Reagan and where Obama stands as we begin to face midterms, besides what Judis writes, is the fact that Barack Obama is nothing like Ronald Reagan, with no one questioning his birth, his religion, his Americanism, or his authenticity, and that’s just for starters, with the economists talking about another dip. As I’ve written before, the times today are also far more intensely partisan, with this year’s voter electrified through raging anger, with the addition of potent renegade political forces at play beyond the big two parties. Oh, and there’s also the reality that Reagan wouldn’t have allowed a New York issue like Cordoba House/Park51 to turn into an international embarrassment while remaining mute.

There’s a potent price to pay for analyzing Barack Obama correctly. But what’s happening today was predicted long before John Judis and The New Republic decided to weigh in.

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2010: Democrat Runs Ad as ‘Independent Conservative’

By on 25 August 2010

This is your Democratic Party under Pres. Obama. Speaker Pelosi calls them her “majority makers.” It explains so much.

Why we need schmucks like Rep. Bobby Bright in Congress, labeled as a Democrat, is beyond me. He votes like a Republican, he is not at all progressive or even remotely Democrat, so his interests are not close to compatible with what Harry Truman’s Democratic Party resembled.

Lose the seat and get a tighter, more focused coalition on the same wave length.

Jake Tapper has a lot more “independent” Dem ads similar to the one above, though at least the others don’t tout being an “independent conservative” while running as a Democrat.

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Alaska Tea Party Candidate Leads, Credits Palin as ‘Pivotal’

By on 25 August 2010



CNN’s headline says it all: TRENDING: Palin also a big winner Tuesday. She’s pictured with once beleaguered John McCain, who won in a slow walk against wingnut J.D. Hayworth. Proving that Palin is strategic with her endorsements, but also loyal and willing to put slights aside for something greater. Because after the McCain teams handling of Sarah Palin in ’08, she doesn’t owe the Senator squat.

The huge news is out of Alaska, where the Tea Party-backed candidate Joe Miller gave credit to Sarah Palin for where he stands today. Absentee ballots and other provisional and questionable entries will decide the contest.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski is battling for her political life this morning against Republican primary challenger Joe Miller, the Tea Party-backed candidate who had a slim lead as ballots continued to be counted overnight. Miller, a Fairbanks attorney, led from when the first returns came in Tuesday night, and was on the verge of pulling off one of the biggest election upsets ever in Alaska. With 84 percent of Alaska’s precincts reporting around 2 a.m., Miller had 45,188 votes to 42,633 for Murkowski.

Miller credited the support of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for his lead. “I’m absolutely certain that was pivotal,” he said.

Sarah understands the voters in Alaska, whether they like her or not. That Sen. Murkowski is in this close a battle, with Miller leading as of right now, is a stunner.

From Huffington Post:

With 98 percent of precincts counted, Murkowski trailed political newcomer Joe Miller by 1,960 votes out of more than 91,000 counted. As many as 16,000 absentee votes, as well as an undetermined number of provisional or questioned ballots, remain to be counted.

Miller had 45,909 votes, 51 percent, while Murkowski had 43,949 votes, 49 percent. Miller had maintained a lead throughout the night, but his lead fluctuated as ballots were counted.

Sarah Palin makes many people crazy, but she understands the mood if the country right now, especially on the right, and is fairly fearless about putting herself on the line, with the latest possibility of beating Lisa Murkowski no doubt particularly sweet. Taking on establishment Republicans is not always what Palin does, but it’s obviously what she loves best.

The other thing about Sarah Palin and what her Tea Party power and “mama grizzlies” are doing is riding a national wave of discontent by feeding into it however she can. It’s not about a long-term strategy at all. It’s all about winning in 2010, then taking it from there. It’s the smart play, because the moment is now and won’t last forever. But if Palin and the Tea Party make gains in Congress who knows what could happen down the line?

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Obama’s Debt Commish Co-Chair Disgraces Himself

By on 25 August 2010

–updated below–

If you want to know what Pres. Obama thinks of Social Security, see former Sen. Alan Simpson. Who after remarks he made in an email should be quietly asked to move along to the political retirement home where cranks go to rail at the wall.

An excerpt of an email sent by Simpson to OWL, posted by Ryan Grim at Huffington Post (more at link):



Simpson is what elite politicos on both sides still consider an elder statesman. But his profanity laced rants reveal a 20th century ignorance that could doom many of today’s baby boomers, especially if you’re a minority, to paying for Pres. Obama’s lack of empathy.

Austerity is in, making the case that some things government does, which began at the rise of the Democratic Party, are out, especially in the age of Obama.

As I told reader and movement progressive t4h last night in a wee hour email. Simpson is very old school. He might wither under the humiliation, but only if it’s hot enough, because he’s likely not prepared to be laughed at or become a 24/7 news story at his age. We’ll see. But that’s the only way it will happen, because it’s highly unlikely anyone at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. has the spine to show him the door. That only happens to people like Shirley Sherrod, not white Republican dinosaurs who continue to be propped up by the political elite, no matter how disgraceful their behavior or how harmful their policy prescriptions for the people.

UPDATE: Simpson has apologized.

I apologize for what I wrote. I can see that my remarks have caused you anguish, and that was not my intention. I certainly did not intend to diminish your hard work for the Older Women’s League. I know you care deeply about strengthening Social Security, and so do I, just as deeply. I remember your testimony at our public hearing in June about the importance of retirement security for women. Over the last 40 years, I have had my size 15 feet in my mouth a time or two. To quote my old friend and colleague, Senator Lloyd Bentsen, when I make a mistake, “It’s a doozy!”

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Clinton Impeachment Hack McCollum Loses to Fraudster Scott

By on 25 August 2010

Public Policy polling got it right, with Quinnipiac and especially Mason-Dixon, blowing their predictions. Scott’s win a final humiliation for Florida Attorney General McCollum, one of the self-righteous Republicans who wielded weight during impeachment and paid for it when he tried to run for Senate in 2000. Floridians took pity on him making him attorney general, but tonight he goes down hard to a man who’s scandalized health care past may just tip Florida to Alex Sink and the Democrats. Oh, how sweet that would be. Sink will look like Mr. Moderate (and, yes, I know Ms. Sink is a woman, but I also call Meryl Streep an actor) compared to Fraudster Scott’s wacky wingnuttery, complete with Arizona anti immigrant xenophobia.

From Politico:

Scott struggled to dispatch questions about his tenure at Columbia/HCA, where he presided over a $1.7 billion federal fraud settlement, as well as increased scrutiny of Solantic, a Florida-based chain of clinics he helped found. Asked recently if he could support Scott in a general election, McCollum answered: “I don’t know.”

It remains to be seen to what extent Florida Republicans will be able to close ranks after the brutal contest

As for the Senate race, Meek wins easily, with PPP analysis reporting Rubio ahead of Crist at the start of this three-way race:

PPP finds (Marco Rubio) would begin the general election in the lead at 40%, followed by Charlie Crist at 32%, and Meek at 17%. …

It all depends if more Democrats quietly back Crist, because Meek, who sent a “We did it!” email to supporters, has a very tough climb to come close to beating Rubio, because now that the primary is over the excitement on the far right will only build after Scott’s surprise win over McCollum.

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2010: Be Careful What You Watch and Where You Watch It Edition

By on 24 August 2010



Jon Stewart was on fire last night. You simply must watch the segment.

Meanwhile, in these lazy days of August, there is a lot stirring over what Glenn Beck is up to, because of the rally coming up this weekend. Considering the evidence that he’s simply the latest wingnut carnival barker to rise, it seems clear it’s all about Glenn. He’s simply not delivered anything substantively, while trying way too hard to be Professor Cable. Hey, but not delivering substance never stopped Rush either, who simply got rich off of making right wing claims about Republican promises to middle class working folk that never panned out, except to get people to vote against their own interests.

Politico’s story on Glenn Beck offers more evidence that his playbook is straight out Rush’s book:

[...] But some conservatives — and even some Beck fans — say they’re concerned with what they view as a series of unfulfilled promises by Beck to engage more directly in the populist conservative politics he espouses on his syndicated radio show and Fox News television program. They point to his decisions to step away from a political group he founded, The 9.12 Project, and also to abandon plans for voter registration efforts and a political manifesto that was to have been launched at Saturday’s rally.

Beck declined to comment for this story through a spokesman.

Influential conservative blogger Erick Erickson said Beck won’t be able to answer what Erickson has called lingering questions about “whether he’s doing it for himself or doing it for the movement,” even with a successful event this weekend.

“People are going to want to see what comes out of this weekend long term — is it a flash in the pan or is it something longer term?” said Erickson. “Part of the problem is that he didn’t hold onto the 9-12 stuff and it’s kind of descended into competing factions and chaos. He is going to have to be careful, I think, to make sure that he perpetuates this in some way or it’s going to start becoming a punch line.”

Meanwhile, at least one tea party group rejected Beck’s entreaties to assist with the march, concluding he was offering little in return for its organizational know-how and credibility, while giving preferential treatment to FreedomWorks, which is paying to sponsor Beck’s radio show. The group’s leader, who requested anonymity to avoid antagonizing Beck, said, “All he’s doing is trying to use us to promote himself.” [...]

It’s quite something when not even a Fox favorite like Beck can get the support of the Tea Party pack.

As for the primaries today, it looks like Sarah Palin has resurrected John McCain’s career for its final act. It’s a lesson in never burning bridges, no matter how badly you want to light the match.

Screen capture from Huffington Post.

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Foreign Policy Theater Amidst Economic Splat

By on 24 August 2010

After steering the economy away from another Great Depression, Mr. Bernanke confronts a painfully slow rebound. Unemployment is still high and inflation is uncomfortably low. Fed officials, who spent much of the early part of this year planning for an exit from easy-money policies, have been forced to think about doing more to jolt the economy to life. – Fed Split on Move to Bolster Sluggish Economy

On Monday Pres. Obama will be home from his vacation ready to trumpet Iraq withdrawal of troops below 50,000, as well as talks on the Middle East, neither of which is remotely on the collective American mind. Now, if Obama was going to also announce we were walking away from the largest U.S. embassy on earth that Bush built, I’d be excited; or if the pending Middle East talks held real hope for concrete action I’d be anticipatory, but at this point color me highly skeptical.

Segue to Michael Shear in the Washington Post:

… And a week-long focus on foreign policy — timing driven largely by events outside of the president’s control — could seem oddly out of step during an election season that has been dominated by concerns over the national economy.

[...] White House officials are also mindful of the political dangers that a resurgence of violence in Iraq could mean. With 50,000 troops to remain in an advisory capacity beyond the Aug. 31 deadline, a declaration of victory could end up sounding hollow to voters if more U.S. fatalities occur. Anthony H. Cordesman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies warned about future violence in a recent column, saying that “The Iraq War is not over and it is not ‘won.’ In fact, it is at as critical a stage as at any time since 2003.”

Maybe it’s because I’m of the Vietnam era, but “advisory capacity” is as dangerous as anything we could have in Iraq, with my initial response being simple. How many countries are we going to militarily count time given our economic challenges? The United States has troops in countries across the globe, while our bank account can’t pay for the foreign policy the Pentagon continues to purchase.

Pres. Obama was against the Iraq war, proclaimed in a speech. The truth being we should never have gone in. But now while we’re withdrawing to 50,000 troops give or take, the question remains why a man against this war all along isn’t doing what’s really required, which is to leave the country to the Iraqis. Sovereignty just doesn’t mean what it used to.

The U.S. shouldn’t spend another dime in Iraq, certainly not for the largest embassy on earth. I wrote that during the Bush era, and it applies double to the Democrat now living at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Oh, and before anyone starts squealing that I’m part of the anti war Left, people for whom I have much respect, remember I’ve supported Obama’s actions in Afghanistan beyond what anyone on the Left has done. That is, until Gen. McChrystal inadvertently revealed that our mission had failed by revealing his frustrations to Rolling Stone.

Now given what’s happened since the Cordoba House fury, Frank Rich’s words on Sunday ring out.

[...] Poor General Petraeus. Over the last week he has been ubiquitous in the major newspapers and on television as he pursues a publicity tour to pitch the war he’s inherited. But have you heard any buzz about what he had to say? Any debate? Any anything? No one was listening and no one cared. Everyone was too busy yelling about the mosque.

It’s poignant, really. Even as America’s most venerable soldier returned from the front to valiantly assume the role of Willy Loman, the product he was selling was being discredited and discontinued by his own self-proclaimed allies at home.

Whatever Gen. Petraeus hoped to accomplish in Afghanistan through hearts and minds went out the window when Pamela Geller, Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich began spewing anti Muslim hate, and the collective Democratic Party went spineless, with only Mayor Bloomberg, Joe Sestak (also endorsed by Chuck Hagel), and Ron Paul showing courage.

People can spin all they want, but right now all we’ve got is Obama’s political theater, which is looking more absurd as midterms loom. Because the people are focused on the economy and jobs, while the Obama administration tries to sell that what they’ve done economically prevented further calamity. That may be true, but the trouble is that nobody is feeling it, once again putting Pres. Obama at odds with American emotions.

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Ron Paul Humiliates Democrats

By on 23 August 2010

I’m sure Sen. Chuck Schumer will chime right in after this, as will other “leading” Democrats.

Can’t wait to hear Rand Paul’s response to his dad’s unequivocal statement.

If Mitt Romney had any courage at all he would have spoken up, too. He’s certainly been on the receiving end of a lot of Mormon bigotry. Reader MT emailed me a couple of links about the Mormon Church running ads in an attempt to “rebrand” their religion (tweeted it earlier). They’re running in the swing states of Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Arizona and Pennsylvania. They say it’s not political, but who are they kidding?

From Rep. Paul (via email):

The justification to ban the mosque is no more rational than banning a soccer field in the same place because all the suicide bombers loved to play soccer.

Conservatives are once again, unfortunately, failing to defend private property rights, a policy we claim to cherish. In addition conservatives missed a chance to challenge the hypocrisy of the left which now claims they defend property rights of Muslims, yet rarely if ever, the property rights of American private businesses.
Defending the controversial use of property should be no more difficult than defending the 1st Amendment principle of defending controversial speech. But many conservatives and liberals do not want to diminish the hatred for Islam–the driving emotion that keeps us in the wars in the Middle East and Central Asia.

It is repeatedly said that 64% of the people, after listening to the political demagogues, don’t want the mosque to be built. What would we do if 75% of the people insist that no more Catholic churches be built in New York City? The point being is that majorities can become oppressors of minority rights as well as individual dictators. Statistics of support is irrelevant when it comes to the purpose of government in a free society—protecting liberty.

The outcry over the building of the mosque, near ground zero, implies that Islam alone was responsible for the 9/11 attacks. According to those who are condemning the building of the mosque, the nineteen suicide terrorists on 9/11 spoke for all Muslims. This is like blaming all Christians for the wars of aggression and occupation because some Christians supported the neo-conservative’s aggressive wars.

The House Speaker is now treading on a slippery slope by demanding a Congressional investigation to find out just who is funding the mosque—a bold rejection of property rights, 1st Amendment rights, and the Rule of Law—in order to look tough against Islam.

This is all about hate and Islamaphobia. [...]

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Anti Obamaism Seen through the Prism of the Mosque

By on 23 August 2010

“We are deeply concerned, because this is like a metastasized antisemitism,” said Daisy Khan, who is spearheading the project with her husband, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf. “It’s beyond Islamophobia. It’s hate of Muslims.” – Mosque Planner Says Opposition Goes ‘Beyond Islamophobia’

Even if Pres. Obama publicly takes a stand, speaking out for the people who are against where the Islamic cultural center is to be built, so much time has passed that it may simply be too little, too late. Leadership is about standing up before consensus pushes you into it, taking heat in the face of adversity and leading people who will follow by convincing them you know the way.

With Rabbi Joy Levitt, executive director of the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan, by her side, Daisy Khan, wife of Imam Faisal Abdul Rauf, had a candid conversation with Christiane Amanpour on “This Week” yesterday that was illuminating for anyone interested in what’s actually intended with Cordoba House. One thing is certain, moving the Cordoba House is not a first or second choice.

Amanpour played the controversial comments that have been seized upon with the right-wing, where Faisal Addub Rauf’s talks about U.S. policies being an “an accessory to the crime” committed on 9/11. His wife, Daisy Khan, stated the obvious, that the U.S. trained Osama bin Laden. But frankly, it’s absurd to me that because during the Reagan years the U.S. took the road of the enemy of my enemy is my friend, which isn’t exactly a stunning military road to take, this act makes the U.S. “an accessory to the crime” of 9/11. It’s an original political sin argument that I just don’t buy, which also reduces the issue beyond its complexity.

But none of this is Pres. Obama’s problem, one that will linger on in people’s minds.

A lot of people on the Sunday political shows pronounced that this issue wasn’t going to drive votes in November, because everyone is thinking about the economy. I have no doubt that jobs and financial instability is on everyone’s minds, but I think people are wrong about the short-term impact of the mosque issue that has potential for long-term residual blowback. I’ve written this before, with the New York Times “Opinionator” picking up what I wrote last week.

It’s an emotionally sticky subject that obviously resonates with people across this country, which feeds into the already built-in feeling that Pres. Obama and his administration just don’t get it. That they are out of touch with how Americans feel, but worse, that he’s not listening, just like many feel Pres. Obama and the Democrats didn’t listen on health care either. It leaves the impression of leadership through force instead of representation. Fair or not, that’s what has developed.

Howard Dean is wrong on the mosque issue, but he’s right that the Obama White House just doesn’t get it. Unfortunately, Pres. Obama thinks he’s above explaining it, going into detail on the Cordoba House, thinking that at this late date turning to jobs and the economy will save the Democrats in November, even as things show no sign of turning upward. A hail Mary pass if ever there was one.

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2012: Room Growing for An Independent

By on 22 August 2010

Dan Balz has a column up about Obama advisers holding on to hope for 2012, grabbing the Gipper’s political story as a lifeline. I hope it gives them comfort, but it misses the picture by a mile. First, the economy today is much worse than what the U.S. was suffering under Reagan, plus the politics today are far more toxic and complex for Pres. Obama for many reasons, with his troubles right now nothing to take lightly even this far out.

The Jewish discontent is a point of concern I’ve been harping on for quite some time; the graphic here from the latest Pew poll showing Jewish support for Democrats dropping significantly, while rising among Republicans. Remember that Obama won Florida by only 3 points in 2008.

The Israeli press has been brutal on Obama, which has caused him a lot of trouble. Obama’s tough settlement stance was important, but ultimately ineffective. People’s hopes were raised on Friday with the announcement of talks in Washington, but the truth is that Pres. Obama has a very weak hand, and the looming settlement agreement about to expire in late September. Nobody in the Middle East is moved through anything but strength. Expect theater.

Charles Blow also weighs in, offering a sober reminder of just how precarious Pres. Obama’s position is today, which hardly compares to anything Reagan was suffering in the 1980s.

In April, the Republican polling firm McLaughlin & Associates released a survey that they said showed that only 42 percent of American Jews would vote to re-elect President Obama. He captured 78 percent of the Jewish vote in 2008.

Recently, the democratic pollster Stanley Greenberg and the Israel Project, a nonprofit in Washington, conducted a poll that they said found American support of Israel was dropping like a rock.

Wherever the truth lies, it is fair to say that it doesn’t bode well for Obama. While Jews are only 2 percent of the United States population, their influence outweighs their proportion. Furthermore, in crucial battleground states like Florida, their vote is critical. Obama won Florida by 3 percentage points in 2008. Jews represented 4 percent of the overall vote in that state. …

Meanwhile, long before the Cordoba House fury, a survey done by Brookings and Shibley Telhami showed Arab support for Obama revealed their “confidence collapsing,” to use Marc Lynch’s assessment. In 2009, only 16% of Arabs were “discouraged,” with that number now 63%. The “hopeful” meter where the Obama administration and the Middle East is concerned has gone from 51% in 2009 to 16% in 2010. Lynch writes these results “do point to some significant and uncomfortable realities about the costs of failing to deliver meaningful change.”

In a moment of Republican panic, yesterday The Hill reported that Newt Gingrich has backed out of the “anti mosque 9/11 rally.” Joe Scarborough deserves a lot of credit on this one. He made Newt Gingrich a daily punching bag last week, with Patrick J. Buchanan joining in, as well as Mark McKinnon and others, including Ted Olson. No doubt Newt also got some polling revealing his Nazi railing was unpopular with thinking adults. I guess Newt figured 2010 short-term gain wouldn’t pay off with 2012 voters, with moderates and Independents wanting no part of Newt’s fire breathing Nazi wingnuttery.

Looking to 2012, with no real standout on the right, while Pres. Obama continues to struggle and the economy dipping again, there is a growing vacuum in the political dialogue for an Independent candidate to rise up. Of course, we’re talking about Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a potentially dangerous opponent for both big two parties, because not only will Bloomberg have many business and Wall Street allies on his side, but he’ll take his share of the Jewish vote as well. Howard Wolfson made an appearance on “Morning Joe” Friday, acquitting himself very well as deputy mayor and someone who would be an able asset to Bloomberg if he does jump in. After his leadership on the Cordoba House, New York’s mayor also likely made some Muslim friends in Michigan.

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