Republican leaders in Congress, blindsided by grassroots fury over the tax cut deal they made with President Obama, are now scrambling to show their allegiance to the anti-federal, anti-debt movement. The GOP brass, led by Senate party leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), did so tonight by eagerly backing the successful efforts of Tea Party favorites to block debate on a $1.1 trillion “omnibus” spending bill that would fund the entire federal government until next October — but which contained billions of dollars in “earmarks” Republicans, including McConnell, once stoutly defended. – Howard Fineman
It doesn’t get much uglier in politics than what happened last night, which is saying something considering what the midterms delivered to Pres. Obama and the Democrats.
After much gnashing of teeth and Emmy winning cable performances, Democrats in the House followed the Senate’s example, caved and overwhelming passed Obama’s Bush tax cut scheme, which is now a done Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? deal. Texan4Hillary has an “In the News” diary up giving you the rundown on who had the courage in the House to vote no.
Most Democrats in both the Senate and the House showing they have absolutely no resemblance to the strength of purpose of the Tea Party activists who have wrangled power from the establishment Republicans on economics and exerted pressure on them that is only just beginning.
Pres. Obama revealing he’s part of the Right yet again.
Sen. Harry Reid getting smacked around by Republicans on the omnibus spending bill foreshadowing of the Tea Party power to come.
Senate Democrats abruptly abandoned an omnibus budget bill for the coming year, pushing major spending decisions into the next Congress and giving Republicans immense new leverage to confront President Barack Obama priorities.
Now it’s up to the mean crowd coming into Washington in January to set the priorities. Can’t wait to see Democrats fall all over themselves in 2011.
In unrelated news, Sen. Wyden has prostate cancer, with surgery scheduled on Monday, which means he will miss late votes. Good thoughts sent Wyden’s way.
In the positive movement category, Sen. Reid has filed cloture on both DADT, but also the Dream Act, with votes to come on both Saturday. Then it’s back to the Start Treaty after that, supposedly. Joe Lieberman believes DADT will be repealed because the votes are there, including Sen. Scott Brown. Via Wonk Room:
“I want to thank Senator Reid for his leadership in bringing the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010’ to the Senate floor for a vote. I am confident that we have more than 60 votes to end this law that discriminates against military service members based solely on their sexual orientation. Repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ will affirm the Senate’s commitment to the civil rights of all Americans and also make our military even stronger.”
Oh, and beyond the recent loss in Virginia on the health care mandate, there’s now the “broccoli mandate” argument. More via POLITICO:
In a federal courtroom Thursday, Judge Roger Vinson questioned how far Congress’s authority would go if it can legally require nearly all Americans to purchase health insurance.
Could they “mandate everybody has to buy a certain amount of broccoli?” Vinson questioned, comparing the positive impact both could have on health. The comments came during oral arguments in the case brought by 20 states against the health reform law—just days after a federal judge in Virginia struck down the same controversial piece of President Obama’s signature legislation.
So, we’ve come full circle from the weakness of Democrats on the Bush tax cut cave-in to the reminder of Pres. Obama’s disastrous leadership on health care that allowed the individual mandate without the public option, but also the messaging to be hijacked by Sarah Palin’s “death panels” squeal.
This entire play-by-play all revolving around Democrats collapsing in on the ideas they’re supposed to champion.
As for the bird shots, the top photo is of one of the Blue Jays that visit our house regularly; he’s got an unsalted peanut in his beak. The snow yesterday provided a lot of fun for me, because we feed them all year ’round, but when the snow comes they truly appreciate the humans. Blue Jays are quick, tenacious, aggressive and single minded, with the one pictured above the most aggressive of the dozen-plus that visit our place. I guess it’s why I’m so drawn to these birds, as well as the majestic bright red Cardinals, one also featured here. They’re fierce, as is the hawk that buzzes by looking for food. They’re also a reminder of what it takes to survive when times get rough.
You don’t change, instead you just bear down and ride it out. What you should never do is sell out. That’s a life lesson. Hold it fast and never forget it, because there is no shame in losing a fight well engaged. But there is great embarrassment when you sell your soul when you know what you’re doing is wrong and goes against everything you believe in. Some things simply can’t and shouldn’t be compromised.
The Tea Party came down hard on the Republican establishment, so they blinked, but as a bonus so did Pres. Obama and the Democrats, which is what happened even with a majority. The Right won’t be so stupid or weak.
I’ve given up on the Democratic Party. Actually, I don’t think the Democratic Party really exists anymore. The idea of it exists, or what I thought the idea of it once was exists, but the party? No. Not really. It’s no longer the Democratic Party of FDR and Truman and Kennedy and LBJ. It’s the ‘we’re not quite Republicans’ party. Or the ‘we pretend to care about the people but we really don’t because that’s not where our bread is buttered’ party.
Who ever would have thought that a mere two years after an election that saw Bush repudiated utterly and the Republicans in disarray, and a mere four years after the first part of that anti-Republican tidal wave swept Democrats into control of both houses of congress, that it would all fall apart so quickly and so utterly.
President Obama? I don’t know what to make of him. Either he’s weak and politically incompetent, or he’s sly and duplicitous. Doing the calculus on his term to date with the failure to take on the banks, the too-small stimulus, the lack of urgency on unemployment, his repeated and misplaced concentration on the deficit, his catfood commission and now, his “negotiation” which has left Democrats owning the Bush tax cuts, I can’t help but say the equation comes down on the side of duplicitous. No one could be this weak and incompetent without actively trying.
I fear that before Obama is done, he will have worked with Republicans to undermine the foundation of Social Security. The payroll tax holiday was, I believe, a calculated step undertaken to begin that process. And adding it all up, I despair, and wonder what might have been.
There was an historic opportunity presented to the Democrats in 2008, a chance to redirect the path the nation was on in a way not seen since the 1930′s. But seizing that opportunity required that we elect a leader, one who understood and believed in the ideals of the New Deal, the Democratic Party, the party of the people. But we were blinded by soaring oratory. Just words. Empty words well delivered. And instead of a leader, we got a Trojan horse. We got Obama.
It sounds crazy to say this, but I did not feel this bad under Bush. Under Bush, Democrats at least seemed to try to fight back, and from that I took hope. But under Obama? The policies of Bush have largely been embraced or even extended to further extremes. Obama has made it all bipartisan consensus. And I despair. The damage will be a long time in the undoing, if in fact it can be undone. I am not optimistic. I think things get worse from here. And I feel physically ill in thinking of it.
I am not religious, but if I were, I’d say Lord help us. I’ll say it anyway. Just in case.
Lord, help us.
Appreciate you sharing your thoughts on this, Romberry. Hearing what you all think is very important.
Well said, Romberry, especially these comments:
“I fear that before Obama is done, he will have worked with Republicans to undermine the foundation of Social Security. The payroll tax holiday was, I believe, a calculated step undertaken to begin that process. And adding it all up, I despair, and wonder what might have been.”
And this….
“It sounds crazy to say this, but I did not feel this bad under Bush.”
You are not alone. I am a 60-year-old-female who until last March was been employed since the age of 17. My and and I were mostly on our own from the time he was 3 and 1/2. He grew up and is currently a fine police officer with a lovely wife and 2 small children. He is doing OK financially, but he didn’t get there without some $$$ help along the way. When I was employed, I also took care of my elderly mother until the day she passed away from lung cancer (thank you very much Philip Morris…) and my surving 91-year-old dad thank goodness retired before his pension was looted, which barely covers his medical insurance and monthly rent at a decent assisted living facility where he is alive and thriving well, living with his peers and dating a new girlfriend.
Me on the other hand? I have no idea. I have been out of work since March, exhausted my personal savings. My money is running out, the value of my modest home has declined almost to the level of what I bought it for 10 years ago, which is about what I have left on the mortgage.
Now the government is starting to raid my only back-up, Social Security, a fund to which I have contributed ALL of my working life. This bill is the beginning of the end of SS, and I doubt I will ever see a nickel of that money. It is not an entitlement. It is my money that I earned for an honest day’s wages and thought I was saving for my retirement. NOW, just that I am approaching retirement, I know the government is going to take it away.
If I do find a job, with the health care bill mandate and if the Dream Act passes, I will have to pay for health care TO YET ANOTHER CORPORATION to children whose parents came to the US ILLEGALLY can have health care?
Yes, I felt awful for a long time under Bush, but I feel hopeless now. I am running out of energy and fight and most important, the will to fight for survival. I don’t know what I am going to do if I don’t get work soon.
So far, it appears as if the only good thing that will come out of Obama’s less than stellar first 2 years is repeal of DADT. And for that, I am truly thankful. It is about time. It is just ridiculous that it has remained on the books so long.
My heart goes out to those in our armed forces who are currently serving in combat and to their families this Holiday Season. I wish they could all come home for Christmans and be replaced by all of the people in Congress who voted for this Tax Package and President Obama.
Don’t lose hope ladywalker~ Have you thought of starting a home business? A friend of mine has a thriving billing business for therapists.She started out as a receptionist for a therapy group and branched out doing the insuranace billing for a few and it developed in to a good income producer from home.Her husband does web sites for small businesses and organizations,also from home.
Publishers need editors who work from home on technical books. There are little nieches.
I’m with you in many ways, ladywalker. It is very frightening, in particular, the incredibly callous way unemployment is treated. For those of us in the 50, 60 (includes me) range, it feels rather impossible. It doesn’t help, I know, but you aren’t alone. Maybe we can encourage each other.
PolitiFact’s Lie of the Year: ‘A government takeover of health care’, By Bill Adair, Angie Drobnic Holan
Published on Thursday, December 16th, 2010 at 11:30 p.m. link: http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2010/dec/16/lie-year-government-takeover-health-care/
The Democratic Party – the new party of Reaganomics and the previous party of liberals, progressives, and moderate independents.
Say it loudly and proudly.
One of the best comments made during the recent House vote on repeal of DADT was from Rep. Al Green (D-Texas), an African American: “I don’t need a survey to tell me what’s right when it comes to human rights.” That’s how basic the question of DADT is, and listening to those who spoke in opposition to repeal, it was just as basically clear they don’t care about the human rights of anyone who isn’t “heterosexual normal.” That Reid has filed cloture was the next necessary step, if there’s a chance of a vote this year.
Republicans Brown, Murkowski and Collins say they will vote to repeal. Snowe says she supports repeal, but not whether she’ll vote that way. The only Democrat to vote “no,” Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) isn’t expected to change his mind. Pro-repeal activists have been very busy and visible in DC.
Politico adds: “Publicly, President Barack Obama has reaffirmed his support for repealing the policy this year. But the White House is quietly pushing far more aggressively for the new START treaty, signaling it may be open to punting the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ repeal until after the new year if it can get enough GOP votes on the treaty for ratification, according to several senators and Democratic aides.”
Lieberman is quoted as saying, “I’ve heard rumors of that, but it would be unconscionable. It really would be immoral because we have fought hard for this for a long time. It’s wrong, and we have to change it, and we’ve got the votes. And we can’t let people run the clock out on us when we’re talking about basic American rights.” (http://tinyurl.com/2dks3m3)
Regarding the omnibus bill, when the Senate voted a couple of days ago, Senator Cornyn (R-TX) made the hypocrisy visible, something he’s very good at doing. He was joined by Senator Thune (SD-R). Via Texas Kaos (http://tinyurl.com/24pjbq4):
“Today at a press conference journalists had asked Senator Cornyn to defend the millions of dollars of earmark spending that he had inserted into the omnibus bill to fund the military. Senator Thune (R-SD) appeared with Senator Cornyn at the press conference to condemn earmarks.
(Press) “‘Senator Thune, I was just looking at the list of earmark requests that you requested this year and it adds up to over a hundred million dollars,’ said another reporter, asking the South Dakota Republican – who has been talked about as a Presidential hopeful – if he would strike those earmarks.
‘I support those projects, but I don’t support this bill,’ Thune answered. …
(Press) “‘Going through this bill, there is earmark after earmark from the both of you, millions of dollars in earmarks,’ asked another scribe with a jab.
‘Why do you have any credibility on this?’
‘Because we’re going to vote against the bill,’ answered Cornyn.
‘It appears like you’re saying one thing and doing another,’ another reporter pressed.
‘Not at all,’ said Cornyn, as Thune also stepped in to defend their stance on the Omnibus.
‘We’ve got to leave it there – we’ve got to get going,’ a GOP aide said, trying to end the press conference and quickly get the Senators out the door.”
DADT *now* is so important, I just can’t imagine it not passing this year.
Waiting would mean death, because it will never get out of the 2011 Tea Party House.
Yep, if it doesn’t happen this year, it’s very likely a lost cause for who knows how long.
I live outside Pittsburgh and that could be the view from the walk to our back porch.
Do you live in the Northeast?
I live in the Washington, DC area, aka the infamous Beltway.
Love your photos, Taylor.
I am too depressed to write on the topic and everyone else has said what I think. Thanks Romberry~
I will just take the sub subject,’the still wonderful wonders of nature’ and share an image with you. I can’t remember if I have shared it before but it is worth the retelling.
A few weeks ago I awoke to a complete fog enveloping the lake outside my window.As I sleepily gazed out, a small oval started to thin at the bottom of the huge cloud and I could see a silver slice of the lake sparkling through. Suddendly, into that oval dropped an American Eagle,who caught his fish and dissapeared into the cloud.A wonderful way to rise in the morning.
Today the lake is frozen solid and I await the eagle who has been known to ice fish for more than an hour at a time, Canadian Geese are keeping a corner of open water for all the migraters and it is full of a facinating variety of waterfowl.
Living on the Mississippi flyway has it advantages.
I am with you Lake Lady. Depressed. I am going to get outside and hang Christmas lights on my home. It will probably be the last year I will have anything to hang the lights onto.
Nice birds!
Love your birds. One of the most vital bits of info my mother left me was, when ever possible take your cues from nature. Harsh at times but never deceptive, she is the true source of wisdom. And thanks again for refusing to cave.
My daily meditation reminds me of that very fact.
Daily meditations?
I thought you were a religious skeptic?
Not to be nosey.
No, I’ve never been a “religious skeptic.” I have referred to myself as a “rebel Episcopalian,” but I’ve been into spiritual exploration my entire life. It’s integral to my journey.
I think the judge’s comment about broccoli is being given way more weight than it really means. It’s a legitimate question, and judge’s do it all the time. If the government doesn’t have an answer to how this is different than requiring everyone to buy health insurance, then a) the government needs new lawyers, and b) the plaintiffs deserve to win. It’s the fundamental question of the case.
I’ve watched a federal judge (my Evidence professor) question a (civil) defense attorney for an hour (“grill” was more like it), and everything seemed to be going the plaintiff’s way – until the judge looked at the plaintiff’s attorney and tell him basically that his brief sucked and he had a week to re-do it because the arguments he pushed were without merit. (Ok, he didn’t say it sucked, but everyone understood what he meant).
The point is, this judge may very well rule for the states, but I wouldn’t want to bet the farm based on one question.
The mandate has to go, however it’s done, though I’m not convinced it will be through the courts.
The tea party has power only in that is funded by millionaires and billionaires. Progressives have no power because the DNC is to the right of Attila the Hun.
Liberals aren’t the ruination of this nation, conservatives are and there are far too f*cking many of them IN the Democratic party!!!!!!!
The tea party has power only in that is funded by millionaires and billionaires.
The above is truly a tired argument. Funding is not what drove/drives people to show up at townhall meetings or in Searchlight, NV, it is passion. There are at least 63 ex-congressmen who held the same belief and look at how well that worked out.
Most economic situations hit real people first. And then it trickles down to DC. It usually has ended up in empathic speeches that lead nowhere.
This time, it was different. And people are serious.
We are not going to put up with one more minute of DC junk than is necessary.
If we lose OUR houses, OUR jobs, OUR retirement, we’re darn sure not going to look the other way on the usual BS in DC.
That 13% approval rating wasn’t a fluke. Nor were the Midterms.
We’re done.