Thursday Open Thread
Welcome to your Thursday open thread. What’s up today? I don’t know about you but I’m ready for winter to be over.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Baltimore Orioles distanced themselves Wednesday from Luke Scott’s interview with Yahoo! Sports, with a team spokesman saying the outfielder’s comments do not reflect the opinion of the organization.
Scott gave a wide-ranging interview to the website’s baseball blog on Tuesday during which he said President Barack Obama “does not represent America” and he believes Obama wasn’t born in the United States.
“That’s my belief,” Scott told the website. “I was born here. If someone accuses me of not being born here, I can go – within 10 minutes – to my filing cabinet and I can pick up my real birth certificate and I can go, “See? Look! Here it is. Here it is.” The man has dodged everything. He dodges questions, he doesn’t answer anything. And why? Because he’s hiding something.”
…
“Luke Scott’s comments do not reflect the opinion of the Baltimore Orioles organization,” team spokesman Greg Bader said Wednesday in an e-mail. “The fact is that Barack Obama is our President, duly elected by the people of the United States. End of story.”
It’s wrong to say teabaggers, because it hurts their delicate feelings.
So far the story on tax cuts has mostly been about the opposition from the left. Will stories like this one start to get more play?
Fresh off of a significant electoral victory aided in part by the Tea Party movement, what has been the first and most pressing priority of the Republican leadership? To make sure that the deficit-expanding tax cuts they failed to pay for in the Bush years continue to increase the deficit in the future, and to make sure that they don’t pay for them now. On the whole, the tax cuts were arguably the one Bush administration policy at home that satisfied most conservatives, and if this continues to be true we will have confirmation of just how little conservatives are concerned about adding to the debt even now.
It is certainly true that the Tea Party movement opposes tax increases, but it is also supposed to be interested in bringing public debt under control. The leadership has made clear that it is quite happy to add significantly to the debt through tax cut extensions, payroll tax cuts, and continued spending. Bush-era habits of spend-and-borrow have resumed within weeks of the midterms that supposedly represented the repudiation of these habits. Will the new members of the House and Senate rebel against this rapid return to the old ways? If Tea Partiers and conservatives are at all serious about reducing the debt, they need to make sure that they do.
If history is any guide the GOP is eager to get back to it’s old ways. The first, second and third priorities were making sure rich people (AKA the base) got their tax cuts. The earmark ban lasted 3 whole days and a Congressman with the nickname “the prince of pork” (Hal Rogers R-KY) was selected head of Appropriations.
Tags: Open Thread
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/08/31/remarks-president-address-nation-end-combat-operations-iraq
Did he fool you then about Iraq?
08 Dec 2010 12:57:58 GMT A sniper shot dead a U.S. soldier on the roof of a municipal council building in Numaniya, 120 km (72 miles) south of Baghdad,
Do you still believe him?
I’d love to place one of those video-camera-in-the-chest Barbies inside the Democratic Caucus Room to see and hear the discourse when Veep Biden tried to ‘sell’ the tax cut plan to the Dems.
And to watch and hear Representative Weiner (D-NY) ‘whine’ and do his best Shawshank Redemption prison-thuggery analogy.
Face it. Obama has broken up with you (Progressives). He has a new girlfriend; one who doesn’t ‘nag’ him all of the time. He doesn’t have to ‘only’ hang around her (Progressive) friends anymore. He can enjoy the new found freedom of other more ‘stable’ friends, like Independents and Moderates
UI, I agree with your point that Republicans are horrible. That’s why it is so frustrating when the President continues to deal with them as if they are honest brokers.
Btw, who cares about Luke Scott! He’s just another Ted Nugent wannabe who’s a spoiled, overpaid ball player on a last place MLB team. Only fringe people believe the ‘Birther’ crap.
I’m a BB fan and never even heard of Scott until the Yahoo News story broke yesterday. What about Anthony Weiner the whiner? What about Bernie (I’m a devout Socialist) Sanders who couldn’t get elected in any other US state.? Do ya’ll only read the Daily Kos and the HuffPost? Try reading a myriad of news sources once in a while to gain perspective.
Jason,
What evidence do you have that Obama is stupid? I think he sees reality quite clearly. The reality is he has to work with Republicans to get things passed. That’s because the Senate rules are extremely anti-progressive and Republicans aren’t afraid to abuse them. This is the point I’ve been trying to hammer home. You can agree or disagree with certain decisions Obama has made but getting stuff through the Senate takes 60 votes right now (until *fingers crossed* the rules change).
I read many other things than dkos and I don’t read HuffPorn unless I’m forced to.
Daily Kos is an aggregator that points to a “myriad” of news sources. If you understand how it works and use it that way you get a good picture. HuffPo is the same but I find it unbearable. Also you have to include right-wing aggregators like Red State.
UI, what evidence do you have that I think Obama is stupid? Whatever he is, he is clearly not stupid. And that only adds to the mystery. He is clearly also not liberal or progressive. He is not confrontational or very demanding. I would say that events show that he is not very courageous. You could fill a boom with what he is not.
Book. Stupid iPhone.
Jason, you said it in one my threads the other day.
I’m not sure if “courageous” is the correct word but he’s had to deal with more vitriolic nonsense than any president I ever remember – a lot of it from people who claim they’re his base but are ready to think the worst of him at the slightest provocation.
I just lol’ed at “slightest provocation”.
The fillibuster has to stay. When the republicans take control of the senate in 2012 (they will) we will be very happy for the fillibuster. Do you want it to be easy for them to ram through every single peice of regressive legislation DeMint and Bags can dream up?
no way. We need to be able to stop their agenda. It sucked when we had the super majority, but the damage they can do is too great to hope we get all 3 again at some point.
Obama has never been the leftist conservatives would prefer him to be, the better to demonize him. There were plenty of signs before the election that he would stick close to the center. I was willing to take a chance because I know where the Clintons stand (in the center), and there was at least a chance Obama would tack a little further left than she would.
It’s possible he’s playing a longer game. But I see it as a president whose support doesn’t extend beyond himself. He’s looking out for No. 1.
I don’t even know what these labels mean anymore. I considered myself a progressive, but have been told repeatedly on this blog that I’m not – that I’m a centrist.
What I really don’t like is the smearing of the President. Perhaps there’s a way to discuss policy without embracing teabag-ology. That really bothers me.
Exactly Jason. I have been waiting 2 years for a clean win.
Stimulus – half of it was Republican tax cuts
Healthcare – Is Romney’s plan
FinReg – Watered down
Afghanistan – a surge
Bush Tax cuts – Now renamed to Obama Tax cuts
And for every one of these things, Obama has given in to BS Republican claims, framings and fear of being labeled as something. Yet, in the end, the Republicans still frame the bill as a socialist plot, the end of the republic or proof of a hidden agenda.
All of the pain, none of the benefits.
If I had a public option, a bunch of infrastructure projects, a smaller force in Afghanistan, Gitmo closed, or a reinstated Glass-Steagall act (no ponies there), I might be willing to overlook this forfeiture of a game.
this is really for liberalgeek, but to any other fans of the greatest american writer of all time…
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0376136/
I love that they are staying with Depp as HST. He does it well.
Old Polecat seems to have been spiking his tea today. Bernie Sanders is the most progressive voice in the Senate. And he comes from Vermont, which hadn’t had a Democratic Senator from 1818-1975 when Pat Leahy was elected. So WTF are you talking about? Bernie was very popular in the state after being mayor of Burlington and then getting elected to Congress. My guess is that there are a few states in New England and even the out West where Bernie could win.
Well that didn’t take long.
We knew it wouldn’t anon, didn’t we?
The Westboro Rat Bastards are at it again — planning to picket Elizabeth Edwards’ funeral.
I have seen some people wondering on Twitter if Westboro can get donations through PayPal, Visa, Mastercard and if they can use Amazon for website hosting.
I know that the Klan can do those things. I guess Wikileaks is different.
I wonder if tbaggers, Tom Kovach also supports Westboro Baptist? (I know that was forced, but I’m under my Kovach= teabagger quota)
Apparently there is a high-stakes battle going on over DADT repeal on the Senate floor right now. Reid, Lieberman & Collins are all conferring and counter-conferring.
DADT repeal is dead. Collins actually voted yes, Manchin voted no. Goes down 57-40 because our system sucks. And by the way, the GOP said no until tax vote, so thanks House Dems.
Look at that vote.
57-40
Use to be enough to pass laws. The Senate is utterly broken.
This is why I never have Lucy as my holder.
I wrote here back in May that the moves to repeal DADT were “More sleight of hand from the Obomba administration,” and “Like HCR which isn’t really HCR, the White House is trying to repeal DADT without having to actually repeal DADT.”
I was then thoroughly disparaged for even suggesting such a thing, but I guess that Obomba will have to go back to fighting against DADT in court, now.
What say you now, MJ?
http://delawareliberal.net//2010/05/24/dadt-repeal-theres-movement/#comment-189404
I blame Tom Carper. But that’s just the kind of mood I’m in today.
I blame the Senate and its ridiculous rules.
Can we blame both? I really want to get my Carper hate on.
Yes, you may, LG.
I’m also expecting to hear praise for Harry Reid. He stood his ground, forced a vote even though everyone knew what the end result would be. This is what people want, isn’t it?
I guess it would be too much to expect a veto threat for passing the Defense Authorization bill without DADT. After all, the civil rights and civil liberties of Americans have never been high on this administration’s priorities.
And only republicans get to hold legislative priorities hostage, right?
I’m seeing now that Reid will offer DADT as a stand-alone bill.
Ralph Nader: “I am looking for someone to run against Obam in 2012”.
I don’t care so much what Nader says, but Nader aside, there is now enough serious opposition to Obama that the odds of a primary are rising fast. The best thing is that any challenger, in order to draw contrast, will have to clearly articulate and defend a Howard Dean-style platform. And Obama will have to refute it, which will strip him of even more Dem supporters. Remember, in a primary you are playing to the base, and the base is pissed. In a primary, Obama won’t have the Republicans to run to for support
What’s more, after this week’s debacle, a challenger to Obama will have no problem raising money, which dramatically lowers the barrier to launching a challenge.
ralph nader “vote for me and help elect george w bush in 2000!!!”
Obama’s ominous new talking point is “tax reform.”
Here is a heartbreaking litany of Candidate Obama’s quotes on tax reform:
http://www.ontheissues.org/economic/barack_obama_tax_reform.htm
Somehow I don’t think that is what New Obama means by “tax reform” this week. Especially taken together with the Cat Food Commission.
It seems like Obama is going to try to eliminate middle class tax breaks (like mortgage interest, health care, etc), lower the rates slightly, and call it a tax cut.
Obama is meeting with Bill Clinton today. I hope Bill is pushing back: “Listen, that ‘triangulation’ stuff? Don’t try it. It’s not gonna work for you.”
But I am not hopeful.
In the end stages of HCR, Clinton came into play to help overcome House opposition. Now he is playing the same role for tax cuts for the rich. Remember, the last tax bill Clinton signed was a capital gains cut.
Are you the anon telling people not to post here unless they have something smart of funny to say? If so, this post looks to me like you need a dose of your own advice.
And if you aren’t that anon, you should take that advice anyway.
I suppose it is too much to ask for you to wait until you have something relevant to say about the comment?
This Katz DeLuca thing is interesting. What’s the over/under betting line for Katz’ Dem votes? I’d set it at 3.5 dem votes. Any takers?
I suppose it is too much to ask for you to wait until you have something relevant to say about the comment?
Since I’m an editor here, yes, it would be too much for you to ask me to not comment on anything under any circumstances. And it is relevant to point out that your comment isn’t interesting and likely of a piece with GWB blew up the WTC. If you are having issues with commenters or even being interesting yourself, WordPress has lots of space for new blogs.
I am not really planning to take your bizarre and brittle animosities into account when commenting.
Any fool can see the difference between my comment and a conspiracy theory. My comments are reality-based and founded in current news articles. As an editor it is your own damn fault you only allow two links and therefore I have given up on posting them.
Ralph Nader supporters had nothing to do with losing in 2000…The Supremes put that freak in office and you know it.
Nader, Grayson, Firedog Lake and one other on The Last word last night. Larry asked them “who would support as a primary challenger to Obama”? Alan Grayson and Russ Feingold…sounds good to me. At least they are both stand up guys who stand with the people and wont cave on EVERY issue.
Naderites are entitled to their opinion, but not entitled to their own facts. Bush v Gore never would have been in court if not for Ralph and his brain dead Florida voters.
I’m only commenting on it now because it is interesting to me that so many Democrats are faith-based, and impervious to logic, reason and empirical evidence.
Just claiming that you aren’t spinning out a conspiracy theory about more tax cuts that no one has any data on doesn’t mean that you aren’t. This is how you know you’re a fool and defending the perpetual political failure Nader doesn’t help your case any.
Just claiming that you aren’t spinning out a conspiracy theory about more tax cuts that no one has any data on doesn’t mean that you aren’t.
I think you have several editors who can help you find it, just ask:
I actually heard that this morning. And nowhere did he indicate :
It seems like Obama is going to try to eliminate middle class tax breaks (like mortgage interest, health care, etc), lower the rates slightly, and call it a tax cut.
This is your conspiracy theory. Especially since he is pretty clear here in talking about the kind of breaks and loopholes that “well-connected folks or people who have good accountants” might be up for grabs. But then again, whining about what you have no detail on is something of your (and a few others’) signature.
Especially since he is pretty clear here in talking about the kind of breaks and loopholes that “well-connected folks or people who have good accountants” might be up for grabs.
You are deliberately refusing to read Obama’s comments between the lines and in context. He is rolling out the new talking points this week and isn’t going to lay it all out just yet so true believers like you can understand it.
What do you think he meant by “broadening the base?”
It is a fact that Obama had two years to enact his campaign promise of eliminating the carried interest loophole. What do you think are the chances he can do that after January, or any other high-income tax breaks?
And if you don’t see it in Well, I have not specifically endorsed that plan, then your bullshit detector is broken.
I think the mortgage rate deduction change was part of the catfood commission recommendations.
And for the record, there are two anons on this thread. One is a Naderite, the other one is arguing about tax policy.
When he says, “Well, I think we’re going to have to have a conversation over the next year” what he means is that “Corporations and wealthy republicans are going to tell me what to do, and that is what I am going to do.”
No matter how many times he tells bold-face lies, some of his worshippers will never believe it.
Obama is trying to boil the frogs.
It is worth pointing out again and again that Obomba’s latest tax plan begins the defunding of Social Security.
Props to Steve Inskeep and NPR for drawing Obama out even that little bit.
In the absence of strong Democatic commitments to Social Security, it is nit surprising that many people think that the payroll tax holiday is a Trojan horse. I miss the days when Dems were regarded as fierce defenders of Social Security.
It was our one easy, black and white talking point. Now gone gone gone.
You gotta love this gem from the DNC Chair Kaine this morning: “By extending it two years, and I think this is going to happen, you’re putting the debate about tax cuts for the wealthiest right in the heart of the presidential election. I think the president feels very confident he can make the case.”
Isn’t that the “case” we already voted for overwhelmingly in 2008?
I’ll give Obama this: He has certainly ended Bush’s expansion of Presidential power.
And if you don’t see it in Well, I have not specifically endorsed that plan, then your bullshit detector is broken.
I don’t have any investment whatsoever in reading Obama’s mind in order to get today’s poutrage on. The fact that you do says something about the punyness of your ability to read any of the political tea leaves.
The tax code is a really big hairy monster with the majority of the tax breaks and so on pointed at businesses (the special interest provisions that you neglected to boldface) and industry.
But keep on with the poutrage. It isn’t an especially effective mask for how politically impotent your brand of progessiveism turned out to be — but definitely why you don’t make much difference to this President, either. And for those of you still operating from your poutrage of the day — Bill Clinton did EXACTLY the same thing and certainly survived it. Too bad you can’t see the lesson in it.
Anon, that’s what I call looming at the bright side. Now do us a favor and hive yourself a name.
“I’ll give Obama this: He has certainly ended Bush’s expansion of Presidential power.”
Ironically, not in the important theoretical ways. Just the practical ones.
“Bill Clinton did EXACTLY the same thing and certainly survived it.”
Is this the new standard for acceptable policy proposals or are you just setting up the stage for defending Obama’s affair with an intern, if that ever happens?
By the way, I don’t remember Clinton (or any other Democratic President) proposing to defund Social Security.