Friday Open Thread 9.13.13
Happy Friday the 13th. Hopefully nothing unlucky has happened to you today.
Greg Sargent on the criticism of Obama’s actions on Syria by pundits and Republicans:
I continue to be puzzled by an enormous imbalance we’ve seen in much of the commentary — from neutral analysts and Republican lawmakers alike — about Obama’s handling of Syria. On the one hand, the basic take has been that Obama’s handling of the process has shown him to be weak and inconsistent. He changed his mind on whether to go to Congress….He changed his mind again on using military force, instead opting to pursue a diplomatic solution when the possibility presented itself…
[But] Regardless of motive, wasn’t going to Congress the right thing to do, and wasn’t that preferable to him bombing without Congress?…Many of these critics won’t say whether they think exploring the possibility of a diplomatic solution was the right thing to do given that this possibility arose. This is particularly jarring when it comes from those who also say they can’t support war.
…Ultimately what this whole dodge comes down to is that one can’t admit to thinking that going to Congress and pursuing a diplomatic solution are the right goals for Obama to pursue, without undermining one’s ability to criticize Obama for betraying abstract qualities like firmness and consistency we all know a president is “supposed” to possess…. After all, if Obama’s changes of mind have now pointed him towards goals you agree with, how was changing course a bad thing?
CNN: “With the clock ticking towards two crucial deadlines, a new national poll indicates congressional Republicans would shoulder more blame than President Barack Obama for a possible government shutdown. [..] Only a third would consider President Barack Obama responsible for a shutdown, with 51% pointing a finger at the GOP – up from 40% who felt that way earlier this year.”
Some more polling goodness:
NEW JERSEY–US SENATE–Rutgers-Eagleton: Newark Mayor Cory Booker (D) 64, Steve Lonegan (R) 29.
SOUTH DAKOTA–US SENATE–Harper Polling: Former Gov. Mike Rounds (R) 52, Rick Weiland (D) 38.
ARKANSAS–US SENATE–Global Strategy Group (D): Sen. Mark Pryor (D) 47, Rep. Tom Cotton (R) 41.
Our political discourse is stupid. The more it is dominated by DC’s professional pundit class the stupider it gets. That’s the bad news. The worse news is that DC’s professional pundits are on every Capital Hill office TV at all times.
If the Washington Redskins are forced to change their name, it will be poetic justice, and I will laugh.
Slow to learn as ever the American people grow weary of the debt ceiling game and disgusted with Operation Shutdown as proposed by assorted radicals, at long last it’s showing up in the polls. Fear not, the GOP will learn nothing from what happens, be it disaster or destruction of thier own party. Huzzah! Let the madness begin.
Looking for something different to do tonite? The Gibby Art Centre on Main Street in Middletown has an opening reception for an up and coming Syrian artist. Great work, great colors, lousy timing on booking him–c’mon out and support him and the arts! It’s free, open, and pandora the wine is out……….
Until 6:30pm tonite.
Uh oh…messed up. The reception was going until 8:30pm. But, gallery open today 12noon to 5. Thanks. Sorry pandora…..wine will no longer be out.
Regarding the “DISSENT IS THE GREATEST FORM OF PATRIOTISM,” sign that appears ad nauseam along side everything at the republican blog site, “Delaware Politics,” consider, dissent to the Iraq war, Vietnam war, a Syrian war, climate denial, welfare mothers, school lunch, freedom of speech, the 1%, less taxes, ending chemical warfare, etc. Kinda makes the phrase used so generally, not so smart and useless.
The sign is however, properly placed on a republican’s folding chair, and used by Delaware Politics to represent dissent in general, without rhyme or reason but one suspects there is cause for that.
As a side note as what appears above every Delaware Politics post, have you considered the ‘message’ of politicians shoveling dirt in the readers’ faces? Jolly fun, right? It’s appropriate, and I only mention it, because some who comment here deserve more consideration and the blog posts – speak for themselves.
But then again, republican remains the party of “no,” and these images are fitting, unless it’s something the 1% approves of, such as shutting down America’s government, more fossil fuel usage, freedom to pollute, less tax on the richest, imaginary WMD, gutting healthcare, education, etc.