National

This I could write myself, as it applies to me almost entirely....

To whom it may concern regarding the United States federal elections of 2014, 2016 and beyond: Allow me to introduce myself to you, the existing (or aspiring!) strategist for the Republican Party. My name is Eric Arnold Garland and I am a White Man. Boy, am I ever – you need sunglasses just to look at my photo! If I read the news correctly, I fit a profile that is of extreme importance to the GOP, as I embody the archetype that fits your narrative of Real Americans. [...] [I am] the BREAD AND BUTTER OF THE GRAND OLD PARTY, a Mayflower-descended small business owner, burdened by taxation, looking out for his beautiful White family in the suburbs of a city (St Louis) surrounded by racial tension and urban blight! How can I put this gently? My wife and I are not sensitive to your messaging, nor did we vote for the candidates you proposed for us this past [election]. [...] May I explain why not.....

The Fiscal Cliff fight is won. And we won it. Either the Republicans will pass the new Obama Middle Class Tax Cuts before January 1 or after. If they do it before, they will not be politically destroyed. If they do it after, they will be politically destroyed once again, just before the Next Fight begins in earnest. So what happened yesterday? Well, the Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell, ended any doubt at all that there will be filibuster reform this January, at the start of the next Congress. What did he do now, you ask? He did something pretty remarkable. He filibustered himself. Yes. He filibustered his own bill. Here’s the background. As Jason has written about, the next big fight between the Dems and the Rethugs is the coming vote to raise the debt ceiling......

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the U.S. economy added 146,000 jobs in November, nearly double the projections. What's more, the overall unemployment rate dropped to 7.7%, its lowest point in four years.

>"Passing these tax cuts will worsen the long-term budget outlook, adding to the nation’s projected chronic deficits. This fiscal deterioration will reduce the capacity of the government to finance Social Security and Medicare benefits as well as investments in schools, health, infrastructure, and basic research. Moreover, the proposed tax cuts will generate further inequalities in after-tax income."

The teabag congress must be loving this:

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Thursday the Obama administration does not believe the 14th Amendment gives the President the ability to ignore the debt ceiling, Reuters reported.

Meanwhile President Obama...

...says he won’t negotiate under any circumstances. And his top advisors say he’s adamant on the point — not just because of the current impasse but to take hostage taking over the national debt off the table for good.

I'm basically using this space to get my thoughts together. Since I'm representing small business on the panel, my first priority is putting to the lie to Republican claims that increasing the taxes on the top two percent of Americans will "kill jobs" or "hurt small business." If you have anything to add, or catchy turns of phrases - I'm all ears.

...that is to say, the ones who brought in the least money relative to what they were paid to be in a movie. Nichalas Cage? Yep. Adam Sandler? Of course. Here's the full top ten according to Forbes:

Carney signs petition to force vote on extension of middle-class tax cuts WASHINGTON — Congressman John Carney (D-DE) today signed a discharge petition, which if signed by 218 members would…

If some future civilization studies us, and wonders how Republicans stayed relevant in spite of the fact that their policies continuously failed, and proposals were roundly hated - I hope some unearths this exchange. ...

Wednesday, December 5, 2012 154. John C. Carney Delaware At Large