Here’s the way it works, as I understand it (and this is not my area of expertise, so correct me if I’m wrong). The Speaker has a strategic advantage, in that she can bring a bill up for a vote when she’s ready…that is to say, when she’s got commitments for the necessary votes. So the vote will be delayed until/unless the outcome is known and favorable.
Pressure is brought to bear upon wavering votes. As I’ve noted, the party machine has many ways to bring an erring member into line. You can lose committee status or you can simply lose perks.
On the positive side, you can be promised goodies in exchange for your vote. You’ll get your bridge, your library, whatever. Maybe you’ll even get your name on it. You can go home to your district and claim you brought home the bacon. This is very good for your re-election prospects. The individual Congressmen know how to work the system.
Giving away goodies can get very expensive, of course. It’s impossible to rein in the deficit when Washington is free with commitments. Being frugal makes one unpopular in Washington. Fiscal responsibility may be good for the nation, but it’s bad politics. That’s why fiscal irresponsibility has especially ruled the day when the Dems ran the whole show or when the Reps ran the whole show. A balance of power has the advantage of each faction blocking the other’s stupid boondoggles.
Obama is pulling out all the stops to push this through. This probably means big political debts. So, although there will be pledges of fiscal responsibility to accompany this bill, in fact the budget-busting health control plan will probably result in reduced fiscal restraint on other fronts. Additional political debts will inevitably translate into bigger public debt. We’re accelerating into the train wreck.
Yesterday was awful as we all know. I was especially frustrated as I had a commitment which kept me out of the loop as reports of the massacre of our troops unfolded. My prayers, as I know yours, have been with the families of everyone affected. This post is meant as an update, but I really must mention something.
I heard Obama’s response on the Fox News satellite radio while going from one meeting to another. He was, Cavuto told us, going to address the horror of so many of our soldiers being murdered on their own base. Obama comes up and proceeds to thank various people who had been at a conference. He chuckles when mentioning a person in the audience and continues to make remarks about what a great job all those people had done at their conference. All the while knowing, knowing, that at a dozen of our heroes had been cut down at Ft. Hood. All the while knowing that this sort of tactic is one al-Qaida has spoken of and hoped for. All the while knowing that bases around the country had to implement special security measures because we weren’t sure of this was the beginning of a nationwide attack against our military.
Knowing all along, yet chatting and chuckling before finding time to mention the massacre. I know I’m inclined to expect the worst from that bum, but even I was stunned by the insensitivity.
Hold on, as I’m writing this and preparing updates, yes someone else has noticed Obama’s rank insensitivity. And from NBC in Chicago of all places. Thank God someone in Obama’s backyard had the courage to speak the truth.
But instead of a somber chief executive offering reassuring words and expressions of sympathy and compassion, viewers saw a wildly disconnected and inappropriately light president making introductory remarks. At the event, a Tribal Nations Conference hosted by the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Indian affairs, the president thanked various staffers and offered a “shout-out” to “Dr. Joe Medicine Crow — that Congressional Medal of Honor winner.” Three minutes in, the president spoke about the shooting, in measured and appropriate terms. Who is advising him?
Anyone at home aware of the major news story of the previous hours had to have been stunned. An incident like this requires a scrapping of the early light banter. The president should apologize for the tone of his remarks, explain what has happened, express sympathy for those slain and appeal for calm and patience until all the facts are in. That’s the least that should occur.
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UPDATE:
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David Axelrod appeared on a legitimate, unbiased network today. It looked more like a counseling session than a newsy Q & A. Poor Andrea Mitchell, clearly despondent over the disappointments of election night, needed some cheering up. I can just see the poor woman flipping between the HBO special reminiscing the glorious triumph last year and watching the gloomy election returns this year. Even New York 23 couldn’t cheer her up much. If Axelrod was in the studio, I’m sure he would have offered her his handkerchief, maybe a hug. He did his best consoling her on each of her worries, but Andrea wasn’t buoyed much by the pep talk. The interview ended with sad Andrea saying, “We loved you in the HBO documentary and we’ll always have the New York 23rd“. You could almost hear the music.
Memory
All alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days
I was beautiful then
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again
So conservatives took Virginia and New Jersey (New Jersey?!) last night, while Hoffman lost in NY’s 23rd. For an excellent assessment of why Hoffman lost, check out Michael O. Leahy’s post-mortem over at TCOT Report.
The good news, of course, is the conservative turn in VA and NJ, interestingly enough the two states Obama visited and candidates he campaigned for lost.
Republicans quickly won all three statewide races in Virginia, scoring an off-year election sweep that restored GOP dominance in a state where years of Democratic advances culminated in Barack Obama’s 2008 victory in the state.
Then the GOP snatched the governorship of New Jersey, a state where Obama had put his prestige on the line in an effort to secure a second term for Governor Jon Corzine.
And what was Urkel doing the night a couple of men in his own party, who had relied on him to help them continue their political careers watched those careers end? Barry Obama was watching television, but not the election returns. Instead, he watched the HBO movie about…himself.
Obama should also take note because a dual-state takeover by Republicans in both NJ and VA has happened before in an off-year election. Andrew Malcolm at the LA Times reminds us:
Interesting historical anecdote that sounds strangely familiar for some reason: The last time voters in both those states did this same dual political overthrow simultaneously was 1993 after the first 10 months of a new Democratic president named Bill Clinton, who was pushing a massive healthcare reform plan.
Anyone remember what the outcome of that off-year harbinger was? The Republican revolution of the 1994 midterm elections, when the GOP seized both houses of Congress.
Republicans still don’t really have anything approaching a national leader. So how’d they pull off those two major victories? Answer: By not being Democratic incumbents in tough economic times.
News from her Facebook page, and I am rather thrilled to see myself on her list of interviews
I am very, very excited about the upcoming road trip for my book. It will be an honor to meet as many of you as possible!
“Going Rogue” publisher HarperCollins is working hard to schedule book signings across the nation, and we’ll be announcing the locations in the next day or two. I’ve decided to travel to cities outside of the typical book tour venues, and I hope to cover as much of the country as I can.
We’re in the process of arranging interviews with local and national media. An interview with Oprah Winfrey is already scheduled, and I’m also hoping to have the opportunity to talk with Bill O’Reilly, Barbara Walters, Sean Hannity, Greta Van Susteren, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin, Laura Ingraham, Dennis Miller, Tammy Bruce, and others, including local Alaska personalities Bob & Mark and Eddie Burke. (Variety is the spice of life!)
Can’t wait to hit the road. Can’t wait to see you!
“Governments don’t control things. A government can’t control the economy without controlling people.” — Ronald Reagan
Today is the day when New York, New Jersey and Virginia can give a tip of the hat to President Ronald Reagan and the vital importance of fiscal conservatism and small, unobtrusive government. Now go out there you guys and win three for the Gipper, that’s all we ask
As news and related commentary warrant, links will be listed here and feel free to use this as today’s Open Thread on all issues.
To Big Media, conservatism comes in only one flavor, social conservatism, namely anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage and a smattering of other issues that would fall flat over canapés and seltzer (liberals don’t seem to drink anymore). That Dede was pro-choice and pro-gay marriage fits the narrative perfectly for the media. End of story.
But, the media, and political leaders would be wise to dig a bit deeper into the story. Yes, Dede was pro-choice and pro-gay marriage, but she was also pro-government spending, pro-taxes and pro-Big Labor, to name just a few other issues. When a Republican candidate regularly seeks out the endorsement of ACORN and wins the endorsement of DailyKos, it isn’t much of a stretch to imagine that large segments of the party might have some misgivings about supporting the candidate. (And they would be right, since she has now endorsed the Democrat in the race.)
Two weeks after Sarah Palin’s unique exit from public office, Newt Gingrich offered up some unsolicited counsel for the former governor in an interview with POLITICO. Apparently, Newt was certain that Palin’s reputation needed serious burnishing, and he was all too ready to provide it by offering substantial details on the range and style of speeches that would be most appropriate for Palin to deliver to various audiences in order to sustain a public revival. Exactly why he felt she needed his help remains a bit of a mystery, except that Gingrich, like Karl Rove, seems absolutely certain that the world is always on edge awaiting his next tactical stroke of genius.
Now that an intense internecine battle is raging over how Republicans should react to Doug Hoffman’s Conservative Party bid for New York’s 23rd , one thing is certain: it is Newt whose reputation is in shambles, and it is he who should seek political advice from Palin as to how he might regain his lost stature. And this will remain true whether Mr. Hoffman wins or loses…
Newt Gingrich has earned that dreaded label he once affixed to Nancy Pelosi. Newt has become a partisan and trivial politician. He has become a common hack.
In contrast, Sarah Palin just compiles conservative esteem. When she railed against the compromised Republican machine in its support of Scozzafava, it felt like a stiff, clean, purifying breeze. In her October 24th Facebook Note announcing her support for Hoffman, Palin argued with deep philosophical references to conservative ideals. Her support and conviction were not products of a focus group. The note moved many a radio talk show host who read it aloud, from Mark Levin to Tammy Bruce. It was the reasoned stance of a visionary.
Palin evoked Ronald Reagan, mentioned the importance of establishing sharp contrasts with opponents, and stressed the primacy of principle over party. Palin continues to be the antithesis of the trivial politician. She has that unique ability to convey the highest sense of personal honor without ever projecting any of the usual political pomposity. Perhaps the highest compliment we can pay Palin is that she is always interesting and always surprising.
It’s a living nightmare. This year like never before the ghoulish libs are coming to our doors with a bag of tricks masquerading as treats. Light the torches. The fateful hour is near.
“Here’s what our health insurance reform legislation will mean to American families, workers, and the economy. [To heckler:] Thank you, insurance companies of America. [Laughter and applause.]
“This is why this legislation is important: affordability for our middle-class that lowers costs for every patient, reins in premiums, co-pays, and deductibles, limits out of pocket costs, and lifts the cap on what insurance companies cover each year. Affordability for the middle-class and security for our seniors. By strengthening Medicare, it secures the financial stability and solvency of Medicare for years to come, provides seniors with better benefits and guaranteed access to their doctors. And in this legislation, we will immediately begin to close the donut hole. [click to continue…]
Yesterday was awful as we all know. I was especially frustrated as I had a commitment which kept me out of the loop as reports of the massacre of our troops unfolded. My prayers, as I know yours, have been with the families of everyone affected. This post is meant as an update, but I really must mention something.
News from her 
“Governments don’t control things. A government can’t control the economy without controlling people.” — Ronald Reagan
was certain that Palin’s reputation needed serious burnishing, and he was all too ready to provide it by offering substantial details on the range and style of speeches that would be most appropriate for Palin to deliver to various audiences in order to sustain a public revival. Exactly why he felt she needed his help remains a bit of a mystery, except that Gingrich, like Karl Rove, seems absolutely certain that the world is always on edge awaiting his next tactical stroke of genius.
A post by Maynard
