The Commentariat -- April 17, 2014
Internal links, obsolete video & related text removed.
Julia Preston of the New York Times: "New deportation cases brought by the Obama administration in the nation's immigration courts have been declining steadily since 2009 and judges have increasingly ruled against deportations, leading to a 43 percent drop in the number of deportations through the courts in the last five years, according to Justice Department statistics released on Wednesday. The figures show that the administration opened 26 percent fewer deportation cases in the courts last year than in 2009. In 2013, immigration judges ordered deportations in 105,064 cases nationwide. The statistics present a different picture of President Obama's enforcement policies than the one painted by many immigrant advocates, who have assailed the president as the 'deporter in chief'...."
Noah Rayman of Time: "President Barack Obama said in an interview that aired Thursday that 'we don't need a war' with Russia, downplaying the chance of military conflict between the U.S. and Russia over tensions in Ukraine." Here's the part of the interview that aired last night:
Sam Baker of the National Journal: "Obamacare hasn't 'won' -- but it's making a pretty impressive run. The headlines about the Affordable Care Act have turned positive lately, and they're starting to pile up. The most dire predictions from the law's critics simply haven't panned out, and now Democrats are headed into another big health care fight -- the confirmation of a new Health and Human Services secretary -- with stronger real-world evidence than they've had before. There's important information we still don't have about enrollment, and big risks loom on the horizon. Things could change. But right now, the tide seems to be turning in the White House's favor." ...
... CW: Before you get to feeling too hopeful, consider this cautionary note from Krugman, dated April 14: "It's easy to understand [the ignorance of] ... Fox-watchers and Rush-listeners, who are fed a steady diet of supposed Obamacare disaster stories.... But the real story hasn't even gotten through to many people who should know better. Over the weekend I had dinner in NYC with some very smart, sophisticated people; yes, all of them liberals. And almost everyone in the group was under the impression that Obamacare is still going badly -- they wanted me to tell them whether it could still be turned around." ...
... Jason Millman of the Washington Post: "Gallup reports that states which fully embraced the law by setting up their own exchanges and expanding their Medicaid programs saw their uninsured rate drop this year three times faster than the states that didn't.... Meanwhile, the Urban Institute ... [found] that the number of uninsured nonelderly adults fell by 5.4 million people between September and early March.... The survey doesn't cover the last few weeks of March enrollment...." Also, the Urban Institute's numbers are extremely squishy; they could be off by 2.2 million either way. ...
... Gabriel DeBenedetti of Reuters: "Americans increasingly think Democrats have a better plan for healthcare than Republicans, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted after the White House announced that more people than expected had signed up for the 'Obamacare' health plan."
Steve Holland of Reuters: "President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden took a trip to a Pennsylvania community college on Wednesday to promote a plan to train workers for skills they need for hard-to-fill jobs":
Matt Viser of the Boston Globe reviews Elizabeth Warren's new memoir, A Fighting Chance.
Amy Davidson of the New Yorker on "the Snowden Pulitzer." ...
... For another Pulitzer controversy, see the Infotainment section. ...
... This probably belongs in Infotainment, too. Caitlan MacNeal of TPM: "MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' co-host Joe Scarborough on Wednesday accused the Obama administration of revising Census Bureau questions concerning health insurance in order to mask the impact of Obamacare on the uninsured. The entire 'Morning Joe' panel followed along by mocking the revised survey, suggesting their own questions that might appear in the census. 'Is Obamacare great, or what?' Scarborough floated as a potential question." (See also yesterday's Commentariat on the Census Bureau questionnaire.) ...
... So Then.... Paul Krugman: "... it's really quite vile to have talk-show hosts who quite literally know nothing about the field, other than that they're against covering the uninsured, casually accusing Census of 'cooking the books' to support Obamacare. But remember, MSNBC is the liberal network, right? Why don't they just hire Donald Trump and be done with it?" ...
... So Then.... Dylan Byers of Politico: "Joe Scarborough is returning fire on Paul Krugman after The New York Times columnist accused him of being an 'Obamacare truther' who was didn't know his facts and was 'against covering the uninsured.' In an email to Politico, Scarborough suggested that Krugman was merely bitter after his poor showing in a debate the two held last year on 'Charlie Rose,' about the national debt. Krugman, who struggled to keep pace with Scarborough, later referred to his performance in that debate as his 'Denver debate moment.'"
Thomas Edsall: The enduring anti-abortion movement is about controlling the reproductive rights of women. Thanks to MAG for the link.
Andrew DeMillo of the AP: The ACLU "filed suit Wednesday to block a new Arkansas law requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls before it is enforced for the first time statewide in the primary election next month."
Senate Races
ConservaDem Sen. Mark Pryor (Ark.) fights back against his GOP challenger Rep. Tom Cotton with an effective "Mediscare" ad, & Alex Rogers of Time seems a little upset about it.
Alexander Bolton of the Hill: "Democrats are dying to have Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius enter the Senate race in Kansas. It seems crazy to Republicans, who see Sebelius as the face of the botched ObamaCare rollout and believe her candidacy would make it even easier for them to win the Senate majority. But Democrats say her candidacy would make Kansas more winnable, would blunt the problems ObamaCare poses to their party and would force Republicans to pour money into a red state."
Presidential Race
Rick Hertzberg of the New Yorker: "On Tuesday, the State of New York took a baby step -- or maybe a giant leap! -- toward making the United States of America something more closely resembling a modern democracy: Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill joining up the Empire State to the National Popular Vote (N.P.V.) interstate compact." ... CW: While I'm all for electing the U.S. president & vice president by popular vote, I remain skeptical of the NPV movement. Should the states actually invoke this mechanism to change the outcome of a presidential election, all hell would break loose. I doubt NPV advocates have given that much thought. And the Supremes, as they have done before, could still settle the election in the highly-principled way they are wont to do.
Modern Family. Katie Glueck of Politico: Jeb Bush may not run for president because his wife Columba, who in 1999 was caught smuggling French fashion items into the U.S., may be against it. Also, one of their children was arrested on drug charges & one for public intoxication. Also, Jeb's brother is a war criminal. (Okay, that's not the way Glueck phrases it.) Also, the GOP base just might not want a Mexican immigrant (Columba) as First Lady.
Andy Kroll of Mother Jones profiles New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, next in line for the mantle of GOP Girl Savior: "Petty. Vindictive. Weak on policy."
News Ledes
New York Times: "Gabriel García Márquez, the Colombian novelist whose 'One Hundred Years of Solitude' established him as a giant of 20th-century literature, died on Thursday at his home in Mexico City. He was 87."
New York Times: "President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia emphasized on Thursday that the upper chamber of the Russian Parliament had authorized him to use military force if necessary in eastern Ukraine, and also stressed Russia's historical claim to the territory, repeatedly referring to it as 'new Russia' and saying that only 'God knows' why it became part of Ukraine....Mr. Putin's remarks on eastern Ukraine came as officials from Russia, the United States, Europe and the new government in Kiev were meeting in Geneva for four-way negotiations aimed at resolving the political crisis." ...
... Los Angeles Times: "Russia may invade southeast Ukraine to protect the local population, President Vladimir Putin said Thursday." ...
... Washington Post: "President Vladimir Putin, who repeatedly denied Russian troops had entered Crimea before the March referendum there, changed his version of those events Thursday, telling the nation that they had indeed been there all along. But the green-uniformed men observed in eastern Ukraine right now, storming buildings and raising the Russian flag, are not Russian, he said. 'Those are local residents,' he said." ...
... AP: "Ukraine is hoping to placate Russia and calm hostilities with its neighbor even as the U.S. prepares a new round of sanctions to punish Moscow for what it regards as fomenting unrest. The carrot-stick strategy emerged as diplomats from Ukraine, the U.S., the European Union and Russia prepared to meet Thursday for the first time over the burgeoning crisis that threatens to roil the new government in Kiev." ...
... Guardian: "Asked if he was expecting any progress, the US secretary of state, John Kerry, simply shrugged." ...
... Reuters is liveblogging of the Ukraine crisis.
... New York Times: "Ukrainian security forces killed three pro-Russian protesters, wounded 13 and took 63 captive in a firefight overnight in the eastern city of Mariupol, the interim Ukrainian interior minister said on Thursday. The clash was the most lethal so far in the east of the country." ...
... AP: "NATO is strengthening its military footprint along its eastern border immediately in response to Russia's aggression in Ukraine, the alliance's chief said Wednesday."
Washington Post: "A Canadian cyber crime unit has arrested and charged a 19-year-old Ontario man for allegedly hacking into the country's tax agency using the Heartbleed Internet security bug."
Washington Post: "About 24 hours after [a South Korean] passenger ferry with more than 450 aboard began to slowly sink off South Korea's southwestern coast, at least nine are dead and 287 others, many of them teenagers, are unaccounted for. South Korean news media put the number rescued at between 164 and 179, most of whom were brought ashore to the island of Jindo, where they were wrapped in warm towels or treated for minor injuries." ...
... Guardian: "The parents of hundreds of children missing after Wednesday's ferry accident off the coast of South Korea have accused the captain of the vessel of abandoning passengers after it emerged that he and six other crew members were among the first to leave the ship after it started to sink." ...
... Los Angeles Times: "Angry relatives of passengers aboard a sunken South Korean ferry criticized the government's response Thursday as the ship's captain made an emotional apology for fleeing the vessel before hundreds of others had a chance to get out." ...
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Reader Comments (15)
I thought Jill Lepore's review of Warren's book far more interesting and insightful than Matt Viser's.
http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/2014/04/21/140421crbo_books_lepore
A comment by Julie in Massachusetts got spammed yesterday, so I'm bringing it forward:
Patrick
It's not easy being a turtle, and they cause so much trouble! Thank you for the link to article on history of disputed land in Nevada. I had wondered if the land being illegally grazed had been set aside for some sort of conservation purpose.
In my little neighborhood Blanding's turtle, listed as threatened in Massachusetts, nest in our yards. For the entire month of June I scour the neighborhood looking for the nesting beauties, and if possible protect their nests. Last year an individual attempted to nest in the flower garden of a neighbor. It was early evening, and still light and hot as hell. She was in the process of mulching the bed. A nesting turtle is easily spooked, and it's always best to keep a comfortable distance from her until she has deposited her eggs. I politely asked the neighbor if she might cease mulching activities until the next day to allow turtle to nest. The neighbor (and friend?) said, "this is MY private property and I can do whatever I want when I want, and I'm not stopping for a turtle". The turtle left, and I was not able to relocate her. Did I mention she's republican (not the turtle), and that her family refers to her as "nature girl".
People like her discourage me, but I try to remember the neighbors who are happy to be slightly inconvenienced, if at all, by a turtle nest. It's scary how callous the Bundy clan is regarding the environment. And then after seeing your post I watched the trailer to http://www.midwayfilm.com/ Life is tough for birds too.
Viser's review of Warren's new book was practically worshipful; Lepore's was snarky. Both, in their ways, strike me as speaking to the despair people feel about our political system and our political players. Both, at the same time, and in their own ways, seemed to demand that we not change the system except, possibly, at the very fringes. Go figure.
Re: That Girl; just finished up reading about Sue Martinez, NM Gov. and new look of the Republican party. Que caliente! Que calor! Bet tamales to pesos somewhere in the GOP somebody is saying, "Remember Palin, remember Palin.". Not to worry though, the puppet strings will not be visible by 2016. She is every bit as ready as George Bush was when the party of the rich and greedy picked him as their front man.
Dylan Byers take on the Krugman/Scarborough is puzzling. That is not how it went down as anyone can see watching the video. Here is what I said back then:
Watching the Krugman/Scarborough debate last night on Charlie Rose I came to
several conclusions: Joe is of mediocre intelligence and cannot hold his own
in a debate about economics –– he has the arrogance of those with mediocre
intelligence who portend to know something about something they really don't
know at all, yet accuse their opponent who does of arrogance. Krugman tried
and tried and tried to explain to Morning Joe the reason for why we need to
concentrate on jobs, getting the economy up and running NOW rather than this
obsession with debt and deficits which we can take care of later on. But Joe
would have none of it and stuck to his premise waxing into syrupy medleys
about saving our children and grandchildren, blah, blah,blah. And I would
have liked to have duck taped Charlie's mouth––his interfering talk over his
guests drives me crazy. At the end Krugman looked exhausted and his refrain
of "I'm disappointed," at the lack of real discussion was written all over
his face. It was a sad display.
March 5, 2013
@ Julie: Liked your story about the turtle nesting––had no idea they would nest in one's garden. Sorry about your neighbor although you now know a lot more about her, don't you?
I. too, just finished reading about Martinez. I've got a sneaky feeling the Party of the huge beast with the long snout and flapping ears isn't going to take a chance with her. The way they dust off women in general they'll want a MAN to take up the reins. Now they just have to find one.
PD,
Your comment about the arrogance of those with mediocre intelligence got me thinking about information exchanges and even simple debates over current issues.
Not long ago I was drawn, somewhat unwillingly, into a discussion about the ACA with several red state denizens who were describing it in the most Fox-worthy tones. When asked my opinion I gave a fairly succinct accounting of my support and the reasons for it. Then the attacks started. So I brought out the big guns: facts. I was pretty pissed so I went on the offensive and took down every unsupported assumption and false conclusion. I could tell that none of this was being well received.
So then I asked them about their insurance situations and whether or not they knew anyone who needed healthcare. They all did. But, they stated, they didn't want socialism. I thought about letting that go but decided not to. After I finished I invited them to back up their charges. They looked at me with what I could only interpret as a combination of loathing and suspicion. One of them called me a smart ass son of a bitch.
And that was that.
Now, I don't a tenth of what Krugman knows, but I do know that too many like Scarborough and these other people, simply don't do well with facts. They like easy to remember, unchallenged talking points. And when they sense that their argument, such as it is, is not winning, resort to ad hominem attacks. This is why I don't like getting into these kinds of conversations here in my blood red state. And I'm not saying everyone has to agree with me. If I'm wrong, prove it to me. I'll be happy to adjust my thinking if I'm that far off. I'd prefer, after all, not to be an idiot. But you do have to prove it with facts. Appeals to faux patriotism, junk economics, pre-packaged slogans, and name-calling do not convince.
I didn't see the Krugman-Scarborough tête-à-tête on Charlie Rose, but I've seen both of these guys many, many times. Scarborough is a typical fast talking smoothie. Always ready with a snarky come back if he's bereft of facts, which is quite often. Complaining about someone's "debating style" is nothing but a dodge employed by someone who has nothing. Nothing. Krugman's arguments rely on facts, history, a Nobel Prize level understanding of economics, and reason, to which most conservatives seem stupendously impervious.
And Charlie Rose, I'm sure, was not much help. I used to like Charlie Rose's show. I'd get to see guests who appeared nowhere else. But over time the historians and writers and thinkers have been largely supplanted by Master of the Universe types.
When you only ever talk with these kinds of people, your view of the world changes. When I hear Charlie pushing for things like entitlement reform and austerity measures, a rich man insulated in his Washington studio, talking day after day with greedy, power mad, sociopathic pricks, I want to punch him. My other standard Rose response is to say "Charlie, shut the fuck up and let her talk! Fer chrissakes." He rumbles over most everyone (the MOU types receive much more obsequious treatment), both asking and answering his own questions.
But that's a bit beside the point.
I do enjoy talking to people with opposite points of view. The only way you learn is by listening to or reading about things you aren't familiar with. The frustrating thing is, rather than getting a personal, well thought out alternate approach to a problem, to hear rubber stamped Fox-talk and Rushbo talking points. This is maddening.
But then you listen to an idiot like Joe Scarborough jabber on about stuff he knows next to nothing about (Krugman is 100% right about that) and you know, you just KNOW, he NEVER talks or listens to anyone who thinks differently.
When I read Marie's skinny on the Mother Jones profile of Susanna Martinez, I thought, "you know, they're ALL like this....pundits, politicians, oligarchs, at least everyone who gets a microphone":
"Petty, vindictive, and weak on policy."
You could also add ignorant of history, dismissive of facts, and in ridiculously strident thrall to ideology. Even those of mediocre intelligence should occasionally be able to look past this stuff, at least for a peek at what's on the other side. But they never even try.
No wonder Krugman is frustrated. Join the club Paul.
Governor Martinez is living proof that you don't have to be a man to be an asshole.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/04/16/1292565/-An-Idahoan-shows-Bundy-what-a-real-Western-rancher-is?detail=email
Joan McCarter in Daily Kos writing about Bud Purdy, an Idaho rancher who showed how it should be done. Back in the day, we actually had Democrats/Progressives in Idaho.
Faux News and their ilk would never profile someone like Purdy. Violent confrontation is more their style.
I'm not giving up on NPR. I just heard them talk about Gabriel Marquez for ten minutes. Let me know if you can find that on any other broadcasting media.
Professor Robert Cohen has a really interesting take on the Ukraine crisis and the American/NATO response on today's épisode of Democracy Now. Essentially he heavily criticizes the response of the West and that of Obama and Kerry in particular with their unwillingness to admit the true reason for the buildup of the crisis and their subsequent chauvenism while Putin essentially holds the deck. And did you see Snowden make his surprise appearance on Putin's talkshow? He wanted to know if Putin was spying on his people... He said no so that clears that one up thanks Eddie!
Watched the whole Prez presser, from "hello folks" to "thanks." Good show. Good theater. He's finally learned that "some folks" are Republicans, and that's encouraging. And he banged pretty heavily on the Republicans for wasting time fucking around with Repeal ACA and other lost causes and on shaming them and Cantor on immigration expansion [called "reform" by those who would squeeze it even tighter].
@ safari: Here is the Democracy Now bit you cited with Stephen Cohen who months ago said he thought we would get into a cold war with Russia. It is indeed an interesting piece especially his criticism of American policy. Cohen has been, himself, criticized for being a Putin apologist but I pay close attention to his stance on this. Last night watched a CSpan symposium of Russian scholars debating this situation––there are many differing views. Thanks for alerting us to this particular D.N. segment.
http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/17/we_are_not_beginning_a_new?autostart=true
Missed the live event, but today M(innesota)PR rebroadcast the LBJ Library 50th for the Civil Rights Act, with addresses by the President and, then, George W Bush. The President was predictably eloquent, erudite and clever, but W was a surprise: eloquent, erudite and clever, with many vituperations for the resistance of his constituency to civil rights. And he sounded sincere. Had he given that speech in '01 or '05, he would have lost the republican vote by a landslide. Worth a listen.
ACA up to 8 million. Does anyone doubt that it could have been 15 or 20 million if those Red states had gotten behind it?
@ Pepe
Thanks for including the link, I was on my ipad and I can't figure out how to copy and paste... I've also heard that he's considered by some as a Putin apologist but I couldn't disagree with his reasoning in that segment. I think the NATO buildup, especially being so public and provocative, is completely unnecessary and is only going to further complicate negociations. Putin isn't trying to invade all his neighbors, especially not a NATO ally, so what's the point? Sounds like some military folk just trying to measure penis sizes to me....