The Commentariat -- Feb. 13, 2013
Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science. -- Charles Darwin
CW: Greg Sargent, via a tweet from Alex Bolton of The Hill, answers the question I asked yesterday: "Chuck Hagel cleared the Armed Services Committee by a straight party line vote. Next up: A full Senate vote. Republican Senators continue to hint that they will obstruct the nomination, perhaps by 'hold.' So it's good to see Harry Reid announcing that he will not, in fact, honor any Republican holds on Hagel's nomination. Getting tough on GOP obstructionism is long overdue, particularly in the wake of the passage of weak filibuster reform." ...
... Steve Benen calls Sen. Ted Cruz's (RTP-Texas) remarks prior to the Committee vote for Chuck Hagel "an unnerving display of McCarthyism." Right he is:
... MEANWHILE. Dana Bash of CNN: "In personal and biting terms, House Speaker John Boehner argued that President Obama's failure to find agreement with Republicans is a result of his lack of 'courage' and 'guts' to do what it takes." A bit later Boehner said, "I've tried repeatedly to come to agreement with the president. Every time I've gotten burned." CW: now you tell me -- who lacks courage & guts?
Neil Irwin of the Washington Post: "Combined with decent job creation numbers to start the year and other data on business activity, the economy seems to be holding up OK in 2013 despite the [payroll tax rise & the] tax increases implemented as part of a deal to resolve the 'fiscal cliff' at the end of 2012." CW: Irwin's reporting is a good example of carrying the Republican message. He ledes with this clause: "the 2 percentage point increase in payroll taxes that went into effect January 1" & carries through continuing to call them "payroll tax increases." But there was not a 2% increase in payroll taxes; rather, the 2% payroll tax holiday ended and payroll taxes went back to normal. Words matter.
Michael Schmidt & Nicole Perlroth of the New York Times: "President Obama signed an executive order on Tuesday that promotes increased information sharing about cyberthreats between the government and private companies that oversee the country's critical infrastructure, offering a weakened alternative to legislation the administration had hoped Congress would pass last year."
Annie-Rose Strasser & Adam Peck of Think Progress: "The Violence Against Women Act reauthorization passed through the Senate on Tuesday afternoon, by a vote of 78 to 22. Of those opposing the legislation, all 22 were Republican men. Every female Senator supported the bill.... Two Senators -- Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) -- also offered significant amendments to the VAWA bill. Grassley's amendment stripped all Native American, LGBT, and undocumented victim protections. It was voted down on Thursday of last week. Cornyn's, aimed exclusively on the bill's language relating to tribal lands, failed on Monday.... The version passed by the Senate today will next go to the House for a vote, where it is expected to encounter some difficulties, particularly over the protections of tribal women included in the bill." These smiling SOBs apparently think violence against women is A-OK:
When Did You Stop Beating Your Wife (or Significant Other)?
... "Fighting for Florida." Marco Rubio "justifies" his vote against the Violence Against Women Act. Something, something, states' rights, something, Indians! ...
... CW: Rubios's "concerns" about "the conferring of criminal jurisdiction to some Indian tribal governments over all persons in Indian country, including non-Indians," are particularly vacuous. According to the National Task Force to End Sexual & Domestic Violence Against Women, "Section 904 of S.1925 is limited to only crimes of domestic violence or dating violence committed in Indian country where the defendant is a spouse or established intimate partner of a tribal member. It does not permit tribal prosecutions unless the defendant has 'sufficient ties to the Indian tribe,' meaning he/she must either reside in the Indian country of the prosecuting tribe, be employed in the Indian country of the prosecuting tribe, or be the spouse or intimate partner of a member of the prosecuting tribe." So when Marco writes that his vote is a way he is "fighting for Florida," he is fighting for some white guy who live in, say, Everglades, Florida, & is married to a Seminole whom he likes to beat up. Well, that makes all okay, Marco.
Jon Chait of New York continues to get the best of MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, but -- remarkably -- Scarborough doesn't know it: "What makes Joe Scarborough such an enjoyable figure is his combination of affability, good intentions, high self-regard, low self-awareness, and total lack of analytical reasoning skills. He is not remotely dislikable. He is Ron Burgundy come to life." [Emphasis added.] ...
... ** James Downie of the Washington Post: "In the runup to President Obama's State of the Union address Tuesday night, several pundits have called on the president to focus on reducing the deficit. Early reports, though, indicate the president will talk more about jobs -- a good sign, because highlighting deficit reduction is wrong on both political and policy grounds.... The fact is, though, that not only is our national debt close to stabilized, whether or not the sequester takes effect, but also deficit reduction in the past two years 'would stand far above any other fiscal tightening since World War II.'"
ABC News: "Prominent environmental leaders ... are planning to risk arrest Wednesday at a protest outside the White House. Executive director Michael Brune would be the first Sierra Club leader to be arrested in an act of civil disobedience. The club's board of directors approved civil disobedience for the first time in its 120-year history as a way to oppose the pipeline, which would carry oil derived from tar sands in western Canada to refineries in Texas. Activist Bill McKibben and actress Daryl Hannah also are participating in the protest.
LBJ & Lady Bird Johnson's grandchildren read excerpts from their love letters, which the Johnson Library will release tomorrow in advance of Valentine's Day:
Right Wing World
America's Most Famous Deadbeat Dad, Ctd. Natasha Korecki of the Chicago Sun-Times: "After insisting he wasn't a 'deadbeat dad' throughout his failed campaign for re-election, ex-U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh is still dogged by questions about child support. Walsh, a flame-throwing Tea Party Republican who was trying to land a radio deal and last week announced he was forming a new conservative SuperPAC, filed court papers seeking to end his obligation to pay $2,134 per month in child support.... Both he and his attorney say that since he is no longer employed as a congressman, they want to 'modify' the previous agreement so that he pays 20 percent of his current salary. Walsh is not currently employed and has no salary." [Emphasis added.]
Local News
Republicans Are Still Nasty. Michael Fletcher of the Washington Post: "Despite having one of the nation's highest jobless rates, North Carolina's government took steps to enact some of most severe [unemployment] benefit cuts in the country. The measure would shrink the maximum period of time someone could receive state jobless benefits to 20 weeks from 26 weeks and reduce the maximum weekly benefit to $350 from $535. The state Senate gave preliminary approval to the proposal on Tuesday, and Gov. Pat McCrory (R) has promised to sign it into law, which would take effect July 1.... Unless [the unemployed] collect at least 26 weeks of unemployment checks from the state, they are disqualified from getting jobless benefits from the federal government, which add up to an additional 47 weeks of aid." ...
... John Frank & Renee Elder of the Raleigh News & Observer: "A Republican measure to prevent major components of the federal health care law from taking effect in North Carolina will almost certainly be approved after Gov. Pat McCrory endorsed the effort Tuesday."
Rebekah Dryden of the "Rachel Maddow Show" runs down state actions -- in just the past 24 hours -- intent on limiting women's reproduction rights.
News Ledes
AP: "Pope Benedict XVI is celebrating his last public Mass as pontiff, presiding over Ash Wednesday services inside the packed St. Peter's Basilica in Rome."
Reuters: "The United States and the European Union agreed on Wednesday to push for the launch by the end of June of talks to create a free trade alliance that could be a benchmark for global partners to follow. A free trade deal would be the most ambitious ever attempted, encompassing half the world's economic output and a third of global trade flows."
Los Angeles Times: "Charred human remains have been found in the burned cabin where police believe fugitive ex-cop Christopher Dorner was holed up after trading gunfire with law enforcement, authorities said. If the body is identified to be Dorner's, the standoff would end a weeklong manhunt for the ex-LAPD officer and Navy Reserve lieutenant who is believed to be responsible for a string of revenge-fueled shootings following his firing by the Los Angeles Police Department several years ago. Four people have died, allegedly at Dorner's hands."
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Reader Comments (11)
Sheesh Marco's speech seemed to follow Obama's as if an echo, but he came to different conclusions based on Obama's evidence. Talking past each other is only going to get us more of he same thing we have gotten sick of.
Marco Rubio (The-Thirsty-and-Sweaty) looks like a dropout from a 9th grade debating team in a rural high school. Rand Paul is merely pathetic.
Barack Obama is a class act!
Perhaps we have a dry throat problem among the Republican young guns––Ryan, if you recall, drank enough water during his exchange with Biden to no, not sink a ship, but certainly enough to make him have to go wee wee shortly after unless of course he has a bladder that defies all that liquid along with all that blather. And speaking of blather––Rubio's little speech sounding so rich with meaning and sincerity –––I must confess, I like his voice––was void of real substance unless you consider the old tired Republican talking points having substance.
The President's speech was, as Kate says, a class act––a home run––I even teared up during all that "They deserve a vote" business which I thought very effective. As we all hoped Obama has big plans––a full agenda and if he can get just a fourth of it implemented...please tell me someone––why would anyone not want to vote for the Violence Against Women Act? What am I missing here?
Yesterday when I read the names of the Senators voting against VAWA, it was obvious they were the usual suspects.
Indeed, a criminal offense.
Looking at the image that CW posted today, it made me realize that what is needed is something like the old WANTED posters we'd see at the Post Office. (By the way, where did those go? Gotta check next time I'm there.).
What the DEMs need is to create is a similar concept, but instead of' wanted' call them the 'UNWANTED' (with BIG BOLDFACE, BLOCK letters) and let's get the posters out there pre-election time—and keep reminding everyone constantly about these Neanderthals.
I think the President's speech was well crafted. It reeked of mom and apple pie with a butt load of specific proposals. The tone, the idea and the rhetoric constructed with extreme care. Our man is a smart one. He created a lovely dilemma for the Republicans -damned if they do, damned if they don't. I love it when people are clever enough to use paradox. Moving on....
Rubio's speech rightly produced the excessive case of flop sweat and dry mouth. Jeebus, apparently the GOP didn't read the tea leaves on Obama's speech beforehand. For once Chris Matthews didn't make me shout at the TV as soon as he opened his mouth. The first thing out after Rubio's flop sweat was "that was a tinkertoy speech". Yikes - dead on. Matthews could have gone home after that. Even Steele suggested "just suck it up" in regard to Rubio's unquenchable thirst. Boehner had the thirsties too, but I suspect he was praying for bourbon in his water. Rubio confirmed that he doesn't really have the chops to move beyond the short game and that he is being fed his lines by the usual suspects. He tries to dress up the rhetoric with his match boy stories, but he's too heavy on the government helped me and my family stuff. He comes off being sweaty and schizophrenic - wouldn't buy a car from this guy. It may energize the crazies but the national electorate didn't go for that drivel in 2012. Keep it up, I like the direction your taking.
It's delicious that the arrogant little prick was just like the preceding line of arrogant pricks - not ready for prime time. The bit was worthy of what I imagine could have been a script for a silent movie with subtitles "The Perils of Match Boy Markie".
My belly laugh moment came when Obama was talking about equal pay for equal work and the camera focused on the 3 women sitting together. One was Virginia Fox, one was whatshername who is all the Rep photo ops and the 3rd? ( perhaps an uncomfortable Dem). At any rate the scowls on Fox and her sidekick were priceless. I am surprised they didn't leap up and shout "I have a vjayjay and I want to be paid less right now!" Personally I think immediately reducing their salaries by 1/4 would be in order.
Can't watch Rand Paul. He should own the "Breaking News" crawl lines since he's a perpetual train wreck. Not to crack wise about mental illness but I'm pretty sure responding to internal stimuli is not foreign to him.
A friend responded to my sending her the picture Marie posted of the 22 Republican asswipes who voted against VAWA. She opined that it would disappear into cyberspace unless someone posted it on Facebook and/or got it on YouTube.
I have no idea how to do either. Is one of my commenter friends techie enough to figure it out? If so, I think that is a great idea. I want it to go viral!
Kate: Posted it on Facebook yesterday.
How is the modern GOP like global warming?
The effects set in motion by ill considered and disastrous actions can last for a looooong time.
In the case of global warming, scientists now suggest that the effects of CO2 emissions in warming the planet could last for 1,000 years. And that's if we put on the brakes now. Today.
In the case of the GOP, the diabolical breeding of far right religion with wingnut ideology has created hundreds and thousands of monstrous little offspring piling up the evil deeds not just at the national level, but especially, and perhaps most damaging, at the state and local levels.
Just look at all the nastiness spewing out of the GOP butthole. In just a single 24 hour period, as the MaddowBlog notes, conservative buttheads in Arizona, Colorado, Virginia, Oklahoma, and other locales are continuing to wage war on women and insisting that everyone bow to their religious beliefs.
If the national GOP somehow had a lobotomy and woke up tomorrow to survey the wreck they've made of things and swore to make amends, the evil they've let loose on the planet would continue at the state and local levels for decades. At least until this generation of buttholes dies off or shoots each other.
But based on the speeches by two party luminaries Marco Rubio and Rand Paul (I know, I know, "luminary" is stretching it beyond the point of understanding where Aqua Buddha boy is concerned) it's pretty clear that it's full speed in reverse.
So the modern GOP has guaranteed more centuries (perhaps millennia) of climate disaster and decades (perhaps a century) of imbecility in state and local policy matters.
Thanks guys!
I have to agree with other commenters here about Rubio's lightweight performance. This is the best they got? Really? A trained monkey would have been more interesting. No...an UNtrained monkey. At least a monkey would have made more sense.
These guys are in serious straits if Rubio and his clown car companion, Grim Faced Toupee Boy, are the cream of the crop. I didn't see it but I'm glad to hear that some in the media, as Diane mentioned, treated the Rubio speech, littered with same old talking points, spiked through and through with inconsistencies, and generously irrigated with flop sweat, as the disaster it truly was.
Even worse than Bobby Jindal, I'd say. And Jindal was a disgrace.
Still, I suppose if facts and truth (never mind truth, how about consistency?) don't matter, then who cares what the fuck these idiots say? Although, to be fair, Lil' Randy is a cut below everyone else. When you're talking about deluded, self-righteous, egotistical assholes, this guy is the genuine article.
@PDPepe: Why indeed would they vote against Violence Against Women Act? It's because they have contempt for women.I assume their mothers were women, and their wives are women, but that seems to have escaped their limited capabilities.
This attitude escapes me. What the German general Rommel said about the Italians "Without them, there would be no civilization" applies even more so to women.
VAWA: Should have been put forth as the "Violence Against Women and Old White Republican Politicians Act". It would no
doubt have been a unanimous vote for. And what does states rights
have to do with it? Women can be beaten in certain states if those
states so declare? What a screwed up country.