Kagan confirmation vote a sign of future troubles
With yesterday’s Senate confirmation, Elena Kagan is now a Supreme Court justice. She has the intellect and experience to do well in that post.
For the moment, though, I’d like to focus on the fact that 37 senators voted against her confirmation, which is perilously close to the 40 votes that would have been required to filibuster her nomination. I think that’s an ominous sign, confirming a sense that American government is coming close to a breakdown.
As an Obama nominee, Kagan is of course going to be different than, say, a Palin or Romney or Gingrich nominee. That’s how the system works. The right to make such nominations is part of the “spoils of war” that come with winning the presidency. Historically, the Senate has respected that reality.
Kagan is also well within the legal mainstream and eminently qualified for the court. In fact, one of the worst things you could say about her is that she has spent her life and career trying to avoid controversies that might prevent confirmation. Some Senate Republicans have tried to make an issue of the fact that she had never served as a judge, but on that too she falls well within the historical norm. Roughly a third of our Supreme Court justices had no prior experience on the bench, including the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who became a conservative legal icon.
So the fact that 37 senators nonetheless voted against an utterly mainstream, determinedly “safe” nominee such as Kagan ought to be taken as a serious warning sign. Most of those votes weren’t against her as a individual, they were a statement of general political opposition and would have been cast against any nominee that Obama was likely to propose.
“We are well on our way to a huge train wreck,” Tom Goldstein, a veteran Supreme Court litigator, told Politico. “I do think this is a corner we won’t be able to turn back [from], or at least there’s no sign the Senate will turn back from, for a long time.” If 60 “yes” votes “is the best anyone is going to have, a Supreme Court confirmation fight could easily turn into thermonuclear war.”
Sen. Lindsay Graham, one of five Republicans to vote for Kagan, is among those worried.
“Things are changing,” he said. “I worry the direction we’re drifting. I don’t question any of my colleagues’ decisions; I would just like to get us back to more traditional ‘advice and consent,’ where the [presidential] election is respected. I worry about where this takes us as a nation with the judiciary.”
In 1986, Antonin Scalia was confirmed by 98-0. Five years ago, John Roberts was confirmed by a vote of 78-22, with 22 Democrats voting for him. In 2006, Samuel Alito was confirmed by just 58-42, with just four Democrats voting for him, indicating that both parties are edging closer to the line. As Graham notes, the trend is ominous, threatening not just future Supreme Court nominees but the overall ability of government to conduct necessary business.
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967 comments Add your comment
stands for decibels
August 14th, 2010
12:39 pm
Link to that interview with NiN’s Trent Reznor I’d mentioned @ 12.36.
http://www.soundopinions.org/shownotes/2009/061909/shownotes.html
stands for decibels
August 14th, 2010
12:40 pm
Five oh oneth on the dead thread. I rock.
RW-(the original)
August 14th, 2010
12:45 pm
Five oh oneth on the dead thread
Congrats, but the dead thread is upstairs, truly dead. We pulled off a Friday the 13th resurrection on this one.
Southern Comfort
August 14th, 2010
12:46 pm
Still no Paul??
RW-(the original)
August 14th, 2010
12:49 pm
Still no Paul??
Could be he got caught in the vortex. Serves him right
Southern Comfort
August 14th, 2010
12:56 pm
lol!!!!
He’ll eventually find his way here. I just know it.
@@
August 14th, 2010
1:05 pm
Over a week old, but I’m just now seeing it.
Race Card Is Maxed Out?
The Race Card, The Gay Card, The Fat Card, The Poor Card.
Too funny!
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 14th, 2010
1:09 pm
@@
That Maxine Waters thing reminds me of Zell Miller and “Shirley’s little bank” quite a few years ago. I’m probably the only person who remembers that, though.
@@
August 14th, 2010
1:12 pm
Heeeyyyyyyyyy, Hillbilly! Won’t ask where you’ve been since it’s none of my business.
Will say you’ve been missed though!!!!!!!!!!
(IBSH)
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 14th, 2010
1:21 pm
Won’t ask where you’ve been since it’s none of my business.
Whatever scenario you could dream up is probably a lot more interesting than the truth. (IW&SH)
stands for decibels
August 14th, 2010
1:26 pm
Five oh oneth on the formerly dead thread.
fmt.
stands for decibels
August 14th, 2010
1:28 pm
The good news about doing a long run mid-morning today? It wasn’t nearly so hot as it’s been.
The bad news about doing a long run mid-morning today? It’s not fun to inhale water vapor for an hour and a half.
Guess we’ll all dry off sometime in October.
Southern Comfort
August 14th, 2010
2:01 pm
dB
The body is 70%-80% water. Inhaling it may not be fun, but it may prolong your life a little.
@@
That 1:05 is hilarious. I wish I had one of those cards, although it won’t be valid until Obama leaves office.
josef nix
August 14th, 2010
2:04 pm
Hey, y’all!
Now this is one bad ass bunch of dedicated bloggers! Betcha nobody else down to the AJC can claim this kind of, well, uh, “loyalty.” Hope the Bruin’s handlers appreciate it and give him his reward…maybe a hurricane relief check…?
Hillbilly
Good to see you back! Was asking after you the other night but was told I was being a silly twit…
RW
Got ya in that j$…
j$
Thanks for being our Moses…
PAUL
Come on in, your FEMA trailer’s ready…
@@
What’s a matter…ain’t you got no empathy for po, fat, Indian lesbians? No Supreme Court seat for you…
SFD
I seem to remember hearing somewhere that Razon says that he had had to give the song to Cash, it admired his version that much…
SoCo
Thanks for the suggestion…did as instructed even before you told me to!
josef nix
August 14th, 2010
2:06 pm
What’s with this dead thread, thing…This is the Lazarus thread…risen from the dead!
stands for decibels
August 14th, 2010
2:07 pm
So what’s for dinner tonight?
My fambly subsisted on hot dogs (ok, Hebrew nat’ls, but still) yesterday evening after a swim, so today it’s back on the straight and narrow with a whole-wheat corkscrew pasta salad with about nine kinds of veggies and fresh mozzarella.
Tomorrow looks like thai red curry & coconut chicken soup.
And you folks?
josef nix
August 14th, 2010
2:11 pm
SFD
Make that RazoR and HE not it…ssshhh…it’s just I’m so happy to be here…!
SoCo
i hear you’ve got the king of trumps…gotta be a left handed lesbian welfare mother to get the Ace…
josef nix
August 14th, 2010
2:30 pm
SFD
Cajun meatballs, rice, hearts of palm salad, fried okra, garlic bread and homemade brownies with praline ice cream…
RW-(the original)
August 14th, 2010
2:43 pm
Sausage dogs with homemade and garden fresh bell and jalapeno pepper relish, but tomorrow I’ll get back on the straight and narrow with a red pepper rosti and a giant porterhouse.
Southern Comfort
August 14th, 2010
3:09 pm
Damn, I need to come to one of your houses for dinner tonight. I think we’re doing seafood, but I’m not the head chef, so I don’t know. I just show up with an empty stomach and huge appetite.
josef
What’s that about trump cards?
theyeshaveit
August 14th, 2010
3:17 pm
You folks sure eat well. I am going out to have me some chorizo con huevos.
josef nix
August 14th, 2010
3:26 pm
SoCo
When @@ was talking about the whatever cards…I was thinking in terms of the deck, not the credit ones! Me? All I get is the queen of hearts!
Tonight was mine in the kitchen…been over a hot stove all day…he better appreciate it! Meat balls are done, creole sauce is simmering, salad is chilling, brownies are cooling, rice has steamed..garlic butter made….the okra is sliced and breaded waiting for him to fry–wouldn’t even attempt it, the man is a master…
josef nix
August 14th, 2010
3:27 pm
eyes
Tienes huevos?
Don't Forget
August 14th, 2010
3:35 pm
I’m gonna start with a spinach salad topped with feta cheese, home grown tomatoes, black olives, croutons and roasted red pepper italian dressing. Then it’s grilled chicken tenderloins probably with a little fried okra or maybe an ear of roasted corn. Until then though maybe a little pizza
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0ODUbDLS7A
Southern Comfort
August 14th, 2010
3:47 pm
josef
That card is no good right now according to the fine print on the back.
josef nix
August 14th, 2010
3:55 pm
SoCo
That fine print’ll get ya every time, won’t it!
@@
August 14th, 2010
3:59 pm
Leftovers.
Southern Comfort
August 14th, 2010
4:16 pm
josef
Either the fine print or the interest!!!
josef nix
August 14th, 2010
4:19 pm
Got some errands to run…will try to check back in before the dinner hour….
stands for decibels
August 14th, 2010
4:26 pm
I think we’re doing seafood, but I’m not the head chef, so I don’t know. I just show up with an empty stomach and huge appetite.
I just show up on the weekdays, myself, and my better half handles culinary matters. Weekends, I (generally) commandeer the kitchen.
And with that, I’m off to an early dinner. Bon apetit!
stands for decibels
August 14th, 2010
4:31 pm
before i go–my better half had a question for Josef.
J-nix, when you get back–do you make your own praline ice cream? if so, what kind of machine do you use (and would you recommend it to a noob?)
RW-(the original)
August 14th, 2010
5:31 pm
Welcome to Real or Fake
RW-(the original)
August 14th, 2010
5:48 pm
And before an outer band of Tropical Depression Paul swoops through and wipes this place out, my link at 5:31 has nothing, or at least very little, to do with body parts.
Don't Forget
August 14th, 2010
5:51 pm
Ok, I watched “Real or Fake”
Here’s some more on the stimulus if you dare.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VOE6JRfDs8
RW-(the original)
August 14th, 2010
6:00 pm
I don’t think 3 minutes of RorF is criminal enough to be punished with 10 minutes of RM, but we could go endlessly down the road she’s going down with either party you want. For instance, Harry Reid introduced a bill in 1993 to end birthright citizenship.
theyeshaveit
August 14th, 2010
6:44 pm
josef said eyes
Tienes huevos?
por supuesto, hermano. (pero no con chorizo, hombre)
theyeshaveit
August 14th, 2010
7:05 pm
Don’t Forget,
I watched the entire segment. I am planning to petition those publishers who make dictionaries to add a new synonym for the word “hypocrisy”. The new synonym of course is spelled G – O – P.
RW-(the original)
August 14th, 2010
7:13 pm
eyes,
I think it would make more sense for it to be spelled P-O-L.
Don't Forget
August 14th, 2010
7:16 pm
RW-(the original)
August 14th, 2010
6:00 pm
I don’t think 3 minutes of RorF is criminal enough to be punished with 10 minutes of RM, but we could go endlessly down the road she’s going down with either party you want. For instance, Harry Reid introduced a bill in 1993 to end birthright citizenship.
Good point RW but I will also point out that:
“Reid already apologized profusely for this in a speech in 2006, admitted he was wrong, and described this as the “low point” of his career. In other words, Reid himself agrees that it was indefensible.”
His reversal occured well before the current national political debate on the issue.
So, have any of the Republicans who proposed mandating health insurance in the late 80’s early 90’s renounced their position prior to the current debate? What about pay as you go? The deficit commission? Cap and trade? etc.
Bruno
August 14th, 2010
7:22 pm
Hey DF–What is it that we aren’t supposed to forget?? Is it a reference to Jerry??
Kicking off the song festivities for tonight:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8zC1tzQXi0
RW-(the original)
August 14th, 2010
7:25 pm
DF,
Probably.
13 years with that position eh and it took him that long to figure out it was his low point. And oh by the way there was this same debate going on back then when he suddenly renounced his position.
Don't Forget
August 14th, 2010
7:26 pm
Maybe it’s time for this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPBLfzTPCDc
Don't Forget
August 14th, 2010
7:27 pm
RW-(the original)
August 14th, 2010
7:25 pm
DF,
Probably.
13 years with that position eh and it took him that long to figure out it was his low point. And oh by the way there was this same debate going on back then when he suddenly renounced his position.
I’m not impressed by Reid at all. That election is definitely a “hold your nose and vote” election.
RW-(the original)
August 14th, 2010
7:34 pm
That election is definitely a “hold your nose and vote” election.
Most of them are.
Southern Comfort
August 14th, 2010
7:35 pm
RW
I’d agree with you on the spelling choice of P-O-L. Many polticians from differing political philosophies do that crap. The sad part is that many of the voters are like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuvF113uty4
The politicians take full advantage and rail against whatever’s popular at the moment. When they preach the opposite years later, not too many people remember their original position.
Bruno
August 14th, 2010
7:39 pm
Up here in Gwinnett, I’m wondering what is motivating B J Pak to run for the state house. Based on the number of phone calls and mailouts I’ve received, he must be spending a small fortune, far more than the position pays.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sVUvpdT-NY
@@
August 14th, 2010
7:42 pm
Why should we care if Chinese prostitutes drink responsibly? It’s not our roads they’re driving on.
Ridiculous!
I have a pair of pants just like that girl’s. Mine have a dragon embroidered on the back of one leg. I wonder if hers did?
I guess I’ll never know.
Bruno
August 14th, 2010
7:45 pm
Just for you, @@–Some Chinese music under the banyan trees…….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaNt5S9pibQ
@@
August 14th, 2010
7:59 pm
Very nice, Bruno. My dragon thanks you.
Bruno
August 14th, 2010
7:59 pm
Babylon sister, shake it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiy09DIsZFU
Bruno
August 14th, 2010
8:04 pm
“My dragon thanks you.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7skuSSj6Yho
Tonight when I chase the dragon
The water will change to cherry wine
And the silver will turn to gold
Time out of mind
Bruno
August 14th, 2010
8:10 pm
Never going to do it without the fez on……
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q71gvV9n9Cs
Bruno
August 14th, 2010
8:14 pm
Congratulations, this is your Haitian divorce:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGUO4mokUo8&feature=related
AmVet
August 14th, 2010
8:18 pm
Evening gang.
Just a self-admitted Dead neophyte, but still know what I like. And I like this…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WIzGAYotsg
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 14th, 2010
8:22 pm
Went to the garden a while ago and got me a nice, yellow meated watermelon. Sho’ nuff good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1zzeEiAv1g
AmVet
August 14th, 2010
8:28 pm
A dedication to SoCo/Billy Preston. I’m guessing he’d enjoy this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NbTpssTGRI
And one for HD.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yojZ-Ksr8AE
AmVet
August 14th, 2010
8:28 pm
A dedication to SoCo/Billy Preston. I’m guessing he’d enjoy this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NbTpssTGRI
Bruno
August 14th, 2010
8:33 pm
It’s never too late to get on the bus, Am.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21JqwfBj9NA&feature=related
This song is called “The Eleven” because it is played in 11/8 time. Some pretty strange lyrics as well.
AmVet
August 14th, 2010
8:35 pm
LOL, Bruno. I’m just a slow learner…
Some Johnny “99″ Cash.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Six2YfyX-rU
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 14th, 2010
8:40 pm
AmVet
Back at ya’ with Gregg’s son.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLr5yu813nY
Bruno
August 14th, 2010
8:52 pm
HD–Back at ya’ with Gregg’s “other son”, my buddy Michael Allman:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOjeum_HX0s
Southern Comfort
August 14th, 2010
8:53 pm
AmV
Thanks for the Skynyrd. Can never hear too much of them. I didn’t get this in earlier this week, but in honor of the 50th anniversary of my all-time favorite children’s book:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPxPciXcJvc
Please excuse the video quality, but I’m sure the message still comes thru.
I’ll see y’all sometime tomorrow. Gotta call it quits early tonight.
theyeshaveit
August 14th, 2010
9:06 pm
Just in case anyone is driving by…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6avuh3K_70&p=CEC33CC83C7DFC4F&playnext=1&index=10
AmVet
August 14th, 2010
9:22 pm
The world is changing boys.
The longest continuous series in college football – Kansas/Nebraska – will end after 2010 and 105 years.
eyes, one of my Cars faves…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz-0bitY7Pw
Bruno
August 14th, 2010
9:46 pm
Gotta strange magic……
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11A8JZ-RDDo&feature=related
Bruno
August 14th, 2010
10:27 pm
Time to get the Led out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpJia1TrzL8
Bruno
August 14th, 2010
10:33 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drLi9K0_8jk
theyeshaveit
August 14th, 2010
10:46 pm
Here is someone who knows his trade…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfNmyxV2Ncw&playnext=1&videos=qoHovLRotMU&feature=artistob
Bruno
August 14th, 2010
11:15 pm
Back at ya, eyes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke7SC9xgKNM
AmVet
August 14th, 2010
11:37 pm
Some sweet Utopia bubblegum.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgR9Ak7VT6Y&feature=related
RW-(the original)
August 15th, 2010
12:13 am
There’s a movie coming on one of the HBO channels in a few minutes and I think its time to poll the denizens of the Barely on Life Support Thread. The title is The Devil Wears Nada and the choices are.
A) A clever title for a deeply religious movie
B) An Indie/Artsy kind of flick
or
C) What Skinamax refers to as The One That Got Away
Your responses please?
theyeshaveit
August 15th, 2010
12:24 am
RW,
Ahem…. D) All of the above?
Closing out the evening with some bubblegum…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUrzicaiRLU&playnext=1&videos=y2zaXRzVKvE&feature=artistob
RW-(the original)
August 15th, 2010
12:27 am
eyes,
I’m guessing this is one of the few times that your “D” option is impossible.
theyeshaveit
August 15th, 2010
12:37 am
RW,
Ah, clever man…..but what’s to stop one from doing an independently produced, deeply religious skin flick?
Meanwhile, Momma told me to shop around.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQGXa3FiXKM
RW-(the original)
August 15th, 2010
12:43 am
Well I guess it’s only impossible with the upcoming flick but I love that song, eyes. Definitely one that should be saved for Jay B’s soul night.
stands for decibels
August 15th, 2010
7:50 am
Mornin’.
About the apparent upcoming Friday Afternoon Drive Soul Train, I’ll let you folks in on a little secret, should you be looking for a killer track that nobody is likely to post…
http://wfmu.org/podcast/SV.xml
WFMU’s Mr. Fine Wine bills his show as “One hour; 23 or 24 soul 45’s.” And it doesn’t get much better than that.
stands for decibels
August 15th, 2010
7:56 am
but what’s to stop one from doing an independently produced, deeply religious skin flick?
amen!
@@
August 15th, 2010
9:48 am
The Last Temptation of Christ?
King David?
Maybe not what most consider “skin flick” but a humanizing look into biblical lives just the same.
Now if Caligula (who DECLARED himself a god) is the kinda skin you’re looking for, they made a movie about him.
Southern Comfort
August 15th, 2010
2:06 pm
RW
Missed out on your quiz, but when in doubt, go with “C”.
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 15th, 2010
8:19 pm
If this thread resucitates, I saw this program yesterday on Monsanto and GMO seeds. I thought it was very interesting and it’s supposed to be aired several more times in the coming days.
http://www.linktv.org/programs/david-vs-monsanto
theyeshaveit
August 15th, 2010
8:34 pm
HD,
Perhaps, the thread is alive but the humans need a bit of CPR.
Southern Comfort
August 15th, 2010
8:44 pm
HD
Interesting!! I’ll have to set a reminder so I can check that out. I’m hoping this thread can do another Jason and spring to life. Some of the other blogs can appear to be downright hostile environments.
Don't Forget
August 15th, 2010
10:38 pm
Southern Comfort
August 15th, 2010
8:44 pm
HD
Some of the other blogs can appear to be downright hostile environments.
———————————————————————————————–
It’s pretty sad that civility seems to be of no value to some folks these days. We all go off a little from time to time but some posters seem incapable of any civility at any time.
@@
August 15th, 2010
10:52 pm
Wouldn’t a breeze be considered an act of God. I’m thinking in terms of contract law.
RW-(the original)
August 15th, 2010
11:17 pm
I wonder if the Mets are rethinking how big they built the new yard.
Wouldn’t a breeze be considered an act of God. I’m thinking in terms of contract law.
@@,
Good question and “act of God” exceptions have long been included in contracts concerning my line of work. I don’t know if it has happened but if someone argued in court they couldn’t be allowed because in their opinion God didn’t exist I’m not sure what the court would do. I’m guessing they couldn’t rule on the existence of God so they would have to try to define God as nature, but it would be an interesting case.
stands for decibels
August 16th, 2010
5:46 am
HD @ 8.19, thanks for the link to LinkTV. I’d heard Percy Schmeiser interviewed awhile back on…think it was All Things Considered… his case is utterly jaw-dropping.
And RW, when I saw Frenchie’s ball hang up there last night, in 400-something feet out, I actually turned to my better half and said, “well, it had to be a pitcher’s park…”
Normal
August 16th, 2010
7:18 am
Monday’s funny…
http://punditkitchen.com/2010/08/16/political-pictures-perspective-2/
stands for decibels
August 16th, 2010
7:43 am
Here’s something funnier–Time’s Mark Halperin nicely asking the GOP to do the right thing.
stands for decibels
August 16th, 2010
7:49 am
In case you missed it atop HD’s link–that David vs. Monsanto program will be aired on LinkTV tonight at 8pm.
larry
August 16th, 2010
8:00 am
Saw Jay’s pictures of his great Northwest fishing and rafting trip on Facebook, looks like he is having a ball. Meanwhile , back at the ranch…………
http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/business-groups-spend-thousands-592641.html
larry
August 16th, 2010
8:01 am
Funny, companies are loaded with cash but they can’t hire no one except our legislature.
stands for decibels
August 16th, 2010
8:17 am
larry, as revolting as the wining-and-dining may be, frankly that’s chump change and it doesn’t bother me one-tenth as much as the advocacy adverts and Astroturfing these same cabalistas engage in.
I heard this piece about state judicial elections this morning–read this summary, if you can stomach it…
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129178835&surl=http%3A//www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/nprme.html&f=module-3
“Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce decided at that point that: ‘OK, we’ve had this court for all these years, we never had to worry about how the court voted. We get this new guy on the court, and all of a sudden we lose these three cases,’ ” Butler said. ” ‘He’s gotta go.’ ”
And go he did, with the help of ads that tried to portray Butler, a former public defender, as soft on crime. One ad sponsored by the manufacturers and commerce group, the state’s largest business lobby, began this way: “When our children go to school, they need to be safe. In our homes and neighborhoods, we need to be safe. Our sheriffs and district attorneys are on the front lines, protecting us. And you know what? Our judges need to know they also must protect us.”
Executives at Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the state’s largest business advocacy group, say they were only protecting themselves when they spent $1 million on television ads against Butler. James Buchan, an executive at Wisconsin Manufacturers, said the court under Butler had ruled to expand punitive damage awards and malpractice claims under a fragile 4 to 3 majority.
“The ideological balance on the court was what was at stake there,” Buchan said. “And so I think that’s why people were as focused as they were on that election. … There were as many groups and as much money spent supporting his candidacy as there was supporting the opponent.”
Butler was the first incumbent in Wisconsin in more than 40 years to lose his Supreme Court seat. After Butler left the court, Buchan says, the tenor shifted. The pro-business candidate had won, and the court majority began voting for business again.
In all, nearly $9 million was spent on that race.
Southern Comfort
August 16th, 2010
8:26 am
G’morning all.
larry
I guess I think too simplistically. I’ve wondered the same thing. If these companies have so much cash and depend on consumer’s demand to keep them afloat, why not hire so that you can create consumers that will increase demand? Many companies shift profits to minimize their tax burdens, so I don’t buy the whole “tax increase” argument. There’s so many loopholes in our tax code, you can ride it like a rollercoaster. What we need is more businessmen like Henry Ford who realize it is their workers who become consumers.
dB
Things like that election do not surprise me in the least. Those in power and control will do whatever it takes to maintain that power and control. There’s usually a group of lemmings that will follow them over the cliff too. They just have to throw out the right soundbite catchphrase to find their target audience.
stands for decibels
August 16th, 2010
8:47 am
Those in power and control will do whatever it takes to maintain that power and control. There’s usually a group of lemmings that will follow them over the cliff too.
I guess I tend to see this a bit differently. This nation (and I think most that’ve come before or after via some semblance of the democratic process) endeavored to put into place sufficient checks and balances on power; it’s supposed to improve over time, wherein the good ol’ axis tilts toward justice, eventually. And I guess long term we can work this out, but I’m not necessarily willing to give it two or three more election cycles before we figure out that serious campaign reform needs to happen.
As for the aforementioned folks in power and control, not only do they do whatever it takes to maintain it—let’s not forget, when you’re talking about publicly held corporations, it is their DUTY to their shareholders to, say, literally buy a judge. And as for the “lemmings,” that’s a bit harsh. I’d like to think that most Americans (or citizens of any nation) would be bright enough to examine the veracity of their easily digested news product, but it’s not a matter of being especially bright, but rather having the time and the inclination to learn enough to know better.
To paraphrase Marlon Brando’s character in On the Waterfront, we need to look out for the lemmings a little bit. So that they can be contenders, they can be somebodies, instead of bums…
Southern Comfort
August 16th, 2010
9:48 am
dB
On the lemmings, it sounds a bit harsh, but that’s exactly what the party bases are. Either party could nominate a corpse for an office, and the base will vote for that corpse.
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 16th, 2010
10:17 am
Either party could nominate a corpse for an office, and the base will vote for that corpse.
I can think of 2 races coming up in November, where I’d rather have a corpse than either one of the live candidates.
stands for decibels
August 16th, 2010
10:32 am
On the lemmings, it sounds a bit harsh, but that’s exactly what the party bases are.
I actually didn’t realize you were talking about the base, I thought you were talking about the masses of people who veer from R to D and back again and/or often just call themselves “independent” but are really just independent of much concern over what’s going on in the world, at least politically.
I’m not sure what “the base” really means. It’s a pretty fluid term. It can mean hardcore political freaks who are extremely well informed (well, they think they are!)… or something else.
Southern Comfort
August 16th, 2010
11:06 am
Independents are another different monster. I don’t think there are truly many independents at all. I think many of them are more aligned with a single party, but just don’t want to toe the party line 100% of the time. If there were numerous true independents, I think we’d have a viable 3rd party right about now as the Dems and Repubs have basically become one and the same.
HD
I’m guessing the governor’s race is one, right?
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 16th, 2010
11:09 am
SoCo
How’d you ever guess?
larry
August 16th, 2010
11:14 am
Either party could nominate a corpse for an office, and the base will vote for that corpse.
That makes me wonder how many democrats will vote for Greene in SC.
I know there is evidence to the contrary, but i still think he was a republican plant.
If that blowhard DeMint dont win 80% to 20% percent, something is wrong.