Next six months may redefine Washington
Maybe I’m wrong — it has certainly been known to happen — but I’m thinking that these next six months could prove to be the most interesting and consequential six months of political theater seen in Washington in a long time. In fact, in terms of melodrama and conflict, it may rival or even exceed the 1995 standoff between President Bill Clinton and the Gingrich Republicans.
The recently concluded 112th Congress resolved nothing. As rough as it seemed at times, it proved to be two years of posturing between partners who weren’t quite confident enough to push things to conclusion. Members of both parties lacked both the courage to cut a big deal and the guts to have a knock-down, drag-out fight about it.
But the 113th Congress may be different. Explosive issues that have been put off time and time again — including immigration reform and entitlement spending — can’t be postponed much longer. Partisan and personal resentments that have long simmered seem ready to come to full boil. Confrontation is in the air — between Republicans and Democrats, between the House and Senate, between Congress and the president, between red state and blue state and even within the two political parties.
For example, I’d give House Speaker John Boehner a 50/50 chance of still holding that position come July, and that may be optimistic. His departure could come in any number of ways, from an internal caucus rebellion to a voluntary resignation in frustration. That’s because the man has been handed an impossible job, trapped between his constitutional obligation as speaker to make government work, at least at some basic level, and a Republican caucus that believes it has much to gain politically and in policy by ensuring that government falters.
As events play out, you may begin to see fractures emerge within the Democratic Party as well. For years, the antics and extremism of their Republican colleagues have united Democrats and allowed them to paper over divisions within their own ranks. They haven’t had to make any hard decisions as a party, and that may change in the months ahead, particularly if President Obama reaches some kind of deal with Republicans on the budget. Because as any student of political history knows, unity has always been a rare and temporary phenomenon with Democrats.
This all sounds a bit dangerous, and it is. Conventional wisdom holds that bitter confrontation is something best avoided in politics, and that compromise and bipartisanship are better models for good governance. Most of the time, that conventional wisdom is probably correct. But I’m not sure that’s the case under current circumstances.
At its most basic, politics is a process by which theories are tested and realities are sifted from illusions. It is disciplined by failure. Politics is also a crudely Darwinian process. At some point, you win or you lose. Decisions get made and problems get solved — one way or the other — when you have clear lines of authority and power. Once those things have been established, you have the ground rules that make bipartisanship and compromise possible.
Such lines do not exist within the rambunctious House Republican caucus. They do not exist in the relationship between House Republicans and the rest of the constitutional structure in Washington, and that explains a lot about the system’s dysfunction. But given the important battles that loom, and the apparently growing hunger for confrontation in some quarters, they may become a lot more clear.
– Jay Bookman
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569 comments Add your comment
Paul
January 7th, 2013
11:06 am
Brosephus
You may very well be right. I’m just having fun, as you can tell. Still, I have this penchant for rooting for the underdog.
Brosephus™: "Team Gump will prevail over Team Rudy"
January 7th, 2013
11:07 am
TBS
I was referring to overlooking an opponent when I said that we rarely make the same mistake twice. My partisanship aside, the knock on comparing Texas A&M to ND is that, prior to the A&M game, we faced MS State and LSU. Bama is not running the SEC West gauntlet this time.
Williebkind
January 7th, 2013
11:07 am
“That’s why the designed the anti-democratic monstrosity that is the Constitution: to hold the democratic aspirations and impulses of the people in check and thereby preserve their privilege.”
Oh my gad. I almost choked! Lennin could not be more proud. You know the communists always uses the word democracy when it acutally means dictatorship–or oligarchy.
Georgia
January 7th, 2013
11:07 am
We can’t even agree on the semantics about which we will base legislative compromise? I’m from the government and I’m here to help. It’s about the right to choose. The war powers act is inviolable. Democratic Republic vs Democracy vs Constitutional Republic vs……
The only thing Americans agree on is that everyone else’s opinion is worthless, while their opinion is gold, etched in stone, and forever beneficial to all of humankind. What? You’re talking? Shut up! I wanna talk.
And what did Jay actually say today? Alliances are made to be broken? I can’t find any point that isn’t already expressed, obvious, and completely absorbed by everyone during the accumulation of 100 trillion dollars in unfunded liablitilies our children will be taxed on. It’s in the zeitgeist now, and as every new baby is born, the debt hanging over them like the Sword of Damocles will be the instrument of fiscal briss that will cut short their future and oh, it’s gonna hurt. I think we should outlaw circumcision and avoid the penile cliff! and furthermore…….
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
January 7th, 2013
11:07 am
Rich Boy: Thanks debbiedoright!!! Thanks for noticing. Maybe it’s the sand in front of my Sandestin beach house that keeps my legs toned and a nice tan 365 days a year. The luxury of enjoying the fruits of my labor! Btw, are you not ecstatic that we won’t be paying more taxes since the income threshold is @ 400k instead of 250!
Since I have relatives who have DIED for MY country, I’m not averse to paying more taxes if it means the continuation of my freedoms. You may be, but that’s because you’re too “rich” to care who has to die in order for you to play dress up on a blog.
==================
WillieBeBlind @ 10:40 — Willie did you even SEE the link that I posted with my comment? Or did you just see that it was from me, and automatically ASSumed that you knew what I was going to say, so in quick Conned knee jerk reaction, you just disagreed wtih it?
HINT: The LINK, if you would’ve had sense enough to click on it and, (Horrors of horrors!!) read it for yourself(Gasp!!!), it will show you that I was posting someone else’s words.
Duh!
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
11:09 am
DDR – “read it for yourself(Gasp!!!)”
readin’??? he don’t need no stupid READIN’!!! he goes on faith!!!
Towncrier
January 7th, 2013
11:11 am
“unfunded liabilities”
A telling phrase, ripe with significance.
TBS
January 7th, 2013
11:11 am
Stevie
Again, I think Bama will win, but SEC is down a little this year and Bama didn’t exactly play a monster schedule.
3 tough games…
2 of which they won: GA and LSU
I’m an SEC man, but will be surprised if Bama just beats up ND…
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
January 7th, 2013
11:11 am
Paul: You may very well be right. I’m just having fun, as you can tell. Still, I have this penchant for rooting for the underdog.
Hiya Paul! Happy 2013!
Paul – Did you see any of the bowl games these past few days? If so, you’ll know that there were a LOT of crap calls against the SEC.
Since your favorite team is now in the S.E.C.; AND since the S.E.C. is NOW the underdog, you can root for us!
Watch how many crap calls BAMMA will get tonight…….
Brosephus™: "Team Gump will prevail over Team Rudy"
January 7th, 2013
11:13 am
Paul
Understood. I think Saban is on a mission to avenge The Bear on this one. Bryant was 0-4 against ND.
getalfe
January 7th, 2013
11:14 am
Hillary is back.
The speaker said defense cuts are good and he needs the speaker job like he needs a hole in his head.
Hagel and Brennen will be confirmed.
Life is good.
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
January 7th, 2013
11:14 am
readin’??? he don’t need no stupid READIN’!!! he goes on faith!!!
Hiya UsinUK!! Well, if he’s going on faith alone, it would explain his aversion to facts, science, and Math. Also his BroLove for Faux News and Breibart.com…..
Paul
January 7th, 2013
11:14 am
Towncrier
“It is irrelevant in your mind. I understand that people are given benefits for which they have not worked or paid, but to say they have “earned” them is I think an interesting misuse of the English Language.”
Actually, it’s the language of the law.
“Earned” is commonly used synonymously with ‘qualified for.” So in that sense, it’s your definition of ‘earned’ you’re attempting to impose on a usage that means something else entirely.
Of course, it’s all about the argument that a bunch of loafers get free stuff from other people and they never paid for any of it, isn’t it? Go back to the legal definitions and that argument goes out the window.
(Oh, and Merriam Webster does not govern definitions set out in the US Code or appropriations law decisions).
“I guess to your way of thinking, being born in America is tantamount to “earning” benefits”
You really need to think about what other people write rather than just making assumptions and running with them.
Corbin Sharpe. Baby Boomer...and Ban the Gun Thug!
January 7th, 2013
11:16 am
USinUk,
Just got your Parsnip soup recipe …Looks yummy and I’m going to try it out this weekend. Since I have to play the three legged man for another week, I’ve been doing soup pot meals…This one will do nicely!
The other half of your brain.
January 7th, 2013
11:16 am
USinUK – not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
9:50 am
“For every % you want to cut the military would you be willing to cut EVERY gub’ment giveaway program by the same %?”
why? when there is more corruption, more waste in the DoD than anywhere else???
” And where did that little tidbit come from? ” Michael Moore?
Paul
January 7th, 2013
11:18 am
Hi there, DDR!
Oh crap, not a crap game with crappy calls? Crap.
I’m just hoping for a good, clean, hard-fought, close game, worthy of a championship matchup.
With lots and lots of play reviews.
moonbat betty
January 7th, 2013
11:19 am
Does anyone think Obama will learn to ride a bicycle in the next 6 months or is he going to sequester himself in Hawaii until he does?
A grown man on a bike with training wheels is hilarious!
Kind of like his presidency.
The other half of your brain.
January 7th, 2013
11:19 am
getalfe
January 7th, 2013
11:14 am
Hillary is back.
The speaker said defense cuts are good and he needs the speaker job like he needs a hole in his head.
Hagel and Brennen will be confirmed.
Life is good.
” GetaClue, It’s nice to see that you like Homophobes & bigots, go figure. “
stands for decibels
January 7th, 2013
11:19 am
100 trillion dollars in unfunded liablitilies
Think big. Let’s project out to the year 2300, and call ‘em 100 quadrillion in “unfunded liabilities.”
That’ll put the fear a’ gee-oh-dee in ya.
indigo
January 7th, 2013
11:19 am
td – 10:33
You are complaining because “the Government regulates the entire healthcare industry”.
I’m simply pointing out that the Govt. also regulates and runs our Military.
If it’s ok for the Military, why is it not ok for healthcare?
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
January 7th, 2013
11:19 am
USinUK – not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout
I can tell you what is wrong with BLS calculation politicians select. There are more than one calculation and no small amount of different, longer term data misdirected by BO et al.
The reason the unemployment is down is not because of new jobs, it’s because 5 million folks have given up looking for work…here is a long term perspective on additional BLS data…
Any actuary will tell you that the household surveys used to calculate A table has high margin of error compared to data used to calculate B table..
As usual, the press doesn’t like to focus on this data.
Scary stuff..
http://www.forbes.com/sites/toddganos/2012/11/03/what-is-really-happening-with-employment/
Welcome to the Occupation
January 7th, 2013
11:21 am
Williebkind: ” You know the communists always uses the word democracy when it acutally means dictatorship–or oligarchy”
Just communists?
http://www.presidentialrhetoric.com/speeches/12.12.05.html
TBS
January 7th, 2013
11:21 am
Bro
You know Bama and Saban better than I but I’m not sure how much Bama overlooked the aggies as much as the aggies just took it to them..
While talent and coaching rule the day the majority of time, sometimes match ups cause even the best to have problems.
In my opinion Bama is the top team in the land but not as dominant as last year’s team.
That’s why I’m saying they will win but ND is coming.
Im not a ND fan but have watched them numerous times. Was telling USMC in Oct to watch out for them and the good possibility they would be playing TONIGHT, but all he did was laugh….
Erwin's cat
January 7th, 2013
11:21 am
Corbin – …Since I have to play the three legged man for another week…
too many possible comments to pick just one …That said, I don’t think chicks are digging you for your soup
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
January 7th, 2013
11:21 am
” And where did that little tidbit come from? ” Michael Moore?
More like these….:
GAO
Military Commanders
Math
and the biggie — Wait for it…….
The Pentagon
getalfe
January 7th, 2013
11:21 am
” GetaClue, It’s nice to see that you like Homophobes & bigots, go figure.”
I do like you cons but you are being too hard on yourself.
Joe Hussein Mama
January 7th, 2013
11:23 am
USinUK — “yay!!! so, tell us where the BLS is wrong on unemployment.”
Don’t believe I suggested that they were.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
11:23 am
Corbin – sort that knee OUT, man!!! Hope you’re feeling better, even if you are hobbling a bit. And, yes, the soup is totally yummy!! I made it for the mister on Saturday and he was all about it!
Corbin Sharpe. Baby Boomer...and Ban the Gun Thug!
January 7th, 2013
11:24 am
Paul
January 7th, 2013
11:18 am
…and I want to see a knife fight in a phone booth type game. I got in early at my bookie for ND +9. I figured it was worth a couple hundred on the spread… He’s not doing that anymore… Heh, heh
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
11:25 am
JHM – “Don’t believe I suggested that they were.”
you didn’t … willieb did. in fact, he said HIS math was better than theirs … so I’m just askin
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
January 7th, 2013
11:26 am
stands for decibels
January 7th, 2013
11:19 am
I think the total unfunded Medicare and SS liabilities are currently at around 70 trillion and rising. The addition of PelosiCare will not exactly be welcome new variable. All this means is that future taxpayers will be on the hook for materially more contributions to each.
You realize when social security was enacted, we had some 17 workers supporting every recipient in 1950, currently 3:1
The other half of your brain.
January 7th, 2013
11:26 am
DebbieDoRight – A Do Right Woman
January 7th, 2013
11:21 am
” And where did that little tidbit come from? ” Michael Moore?
More like these….:
GAO
Military Commanders
Math
and the biggie — Wait for it…….
The Pentagon
Wait for it! Try showing actual facts, NAME DROPPER.
How about these names,
Granny,
Jay,
Kammy,
Carlos,
Stands,
GetaClue,
and a whole lot Moore, pun intended.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 7th, 2013
11:26 am
How will the next six months define THE SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS! ?
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
January 7th, 2013
11:27 am
Paul – for every bad call, I hope BAMMA gets mad and comes back with this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlizzRM3ERg
That’ll stop bad calls in their tracks!
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
11:27 am
Damn, DDR – thanks for beating me to the punch with your 11:21!!
other sources for DoD waste and corruption:
http://www.examiner.com/article/pentagon-wastes-30-billion-and-we-wonder-where-was-senator-hatch
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
11:28 am
and a little more about it here:
https://www.stlbeacon.org/#!/content/27748/mccaskill_armed_services
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
January 7th, 2013
11:28 am
Stands
The projection in a few short years will be 2:1….pick any two kids you know and tell them thanks for the future..
getalfe
January 7th, 2013
11:28 am
“GetaClue”
Who?
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
11:28 am
My personal favorite is this:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2020449/Marines-defend-F-35-fighter-jet-programme-cost-reaches-385bn.html#ixzz1ThFlF9mg
Joe Hussein Mama
January 7th, 2013
11:28 am
USinUK — “you didn’t … willieb did. in fact, he said HIS math was better than theirs … so I’m just askin”
I don’t believe willie will ever show us his math. Assuming it actually exists and wasn’t just pulled out of his hindquarters.
St Simons - aboriginal BOOTAKOOK 2014
January 7th, 2013
11:29 am
man, what stage of con grief is this?
indigo
January 7th, 2013
11:29 am
Brosephus
We’ve been having a “bad and worse” choice in American politics for many years now. One of the main problems is that politics has gotten so dirty and Big Money owned that good, principled people simply decline to run.
We’ve had the option for write-in candidates also for many years now but it’s made little or no difference.
The only solution I see is a third party that is manifestly NOT beholding to Big Business or Big Unions or any other special interests and honestly wants to serve the people.
Unfortunately, I don’t have the slightest idea how such a party could be formed.
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
January 7th, 2013
11:29 am
1/2 of a Brain – Sorry that link for the Pentagon didn’t go through (you wouldn’t of clicked on it anyway….but….) — here it goes again:
http://www.military.com/daily-news/2012/08/20/congress-pushes-for-weapons-pentagon-didnt-want.html
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
11:30 am
but, you know, $385B here … $385B there … soon you’re talking REAL WASTE.
but, yeah, let’s take it out of the hide of the poor and unemployed.
getalfe
January 7th, 2013
11:31 am
” think the total unfunded Medicare and SS liabilities are currently at around 70 trillion and rising. The addition of PelosiCare”
Speaking of clowns.
Good grief.
Brosephus™: "Team Gump will prevail over Team Rudy"
January 7th, 2013
11:31 am
TBS
Team members have said how they lacked intensity when prepping for A&M. I think there is a significant difference in prepping for three tough teams in three weeks vs preparing for one tough team over a month. ND will not be a cakewalk by any means. The O-line for Bama will be the key to their success or failure.
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
January 7th, 2013
11:32 am
The Pentagon, which is facing end-of-year cuts that it says could cripple its ability to fight future wars, may spend billions in coming years on weapons systems and programs it says it doesn’t need but are favored by area members of Congress.
The Dayton Daily News analyzed proposed defense budgets for 2013 and identified five programs that Ohio’s congressional delegation is fighting for although Pentagon officials have called them unnecessary and unaffordable.
Critics say these big-ticket items are earmarks in disguise, using the Department of Defense budget for economic stimulus. They also point out that the multi-million dollar contracts are awarded to major campaign contributors.
Defenders of these programs say the Pentagon isn’t flawless, and sometimes doesn’t budget for things it needs. Plus, without the money, lawmakers say Ohio could lose thousands of jobs. The five projects favored by Ohio politicians that are under scrutiny:
- The Global Hawk Block 30 drone program;
- The C-27J Spartan cargo aircraft;
- Upgrades to the M1 Abrams tank;
- Air National Guard funding;
- A proposed East Coast missile defense system.
Peter
January 7th, 2013
11:32 am
Let’s do what Ronald Reagan did……. make make illegal aliens citizens eligible, and raise the tax revenue base !
Erwin's cat
January 7th, 2013
11:32 am
but, you know, $385B here … $385B there … soon you’re talking
REAL WASTESolyndra !USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
11:32 am
“Wait for it! Try showing actual facts, NAME DROPPER.”
see above links, aptly named half-a-brain.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
January 7th, 2013
11:32 am
getalfe
January 7th, 2013
11:31 am
What exactly is wrong with my comment?
Peter
January 7th, 2013
11:35 am
I we did as Reagan did and allowed illegals to become citizens..then they would increase the Social Security funding.
curious
January 7th, 2013
11:35 am
td- Healthcare not totally regulated before Obamacare.
td- The military has nothing to do with the economy.
I thought he was well informed; learn something new every day.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
11:35 am
“but, you know, $385B here … $385B there … soon you’re talking REAL WASTE Solyndra !”
$535M vs. $385B
right. no difference there at all.
Towncrier
January 7th, 2013
11:36 am
“Actually, it’s the language of the law.”
My point still holds. It has now become a codified misuse of the English Language. There was a time when the word “gay” meant happy or the word “n****r” simply meant (as in Latin) black. I haven’t done the research, but I would not be surprised to discover that when the words “earn” or “earned” first appeared in law in this context, it was because the benefits were actually being paid or worked for.
‘“Earned” is commonly used synonymously with ‘qualified for.” So in that sense, it’s your definition of ‘earned’ you’re attempting to impose on a usage that means something else entirely.”
See above. I will have to research this matter, to see when the term was first used in the way you describe. I am not a lawyer, LOL. But I DO know English. If anyone has already done this research, please chime in.
“Of course, it’s all about the argument that a bunch of loafers get free stuff from other people and they never paid for any of it, isn’t it?”
In cases where that truly applies, yes. But not in principle. You should follow your own advice: “You really need to think about what other people write rather than just making assumptions and running with them.”
BTW, I am still waiting on your rational for believing that 1) the apostle Paul had “sexual hangups” (based on evidence) 2) gay marriage is permitted by the Scriptures despite there being no explicit discussion of anything but heterosexual marriage and 3) plain prohibitions of homosexuality by Paul in the NT should be ignored or dismissed because of belief # 1.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
January 7th, 2013
11:36 am
DebbieDoRight – A Do Right Woman
January 7th, 2013
11:32 am
How any sane human can suggest that our security would be compromised if we cut 20-25% out of defense budget is nuts.
Why do we need to spend more than the rest of the universe combined? Do we have that many threats? Are our shores at risk?
Cut the military 20% and all else 10% in the case of the latter, it only involves sqeezing out inefficiencies…we can do that without anyone getting hurt..
getalfe
January 7th, 2013
11:37 am
SR,
Matherbation and it is called ObamaCare.
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
January 7th, 2013
11:37 am
man, what stage of con grief is this?
They’re STILL in Stage 1! You know they’re slow and pedantic — it could take MONTHS for them to reach Stage 2.
And then we’ll have to suggest that they get “help” from a licensed psychologist in order to cope.
Erwin's cat
January 7th, 2013
11:38 am
right. no difference there at all.
that pesky decimal
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
January 7th, 2013
11:38 am
Peter
January 7th, 2013
11:35 am
Agree. Amnesty is only practical action. Arguably, since we haven’t enforced the immigration laws to any real extent, we should be estopped for doing so…Amnesty combined with real and serious closing of the borders is the only solution that can work..
Brosephus™: "Team Gump will prevail over Team Rudy"
January 7th, 2013
11:39 am
Unfortunately, I don’t have the slightest idea how such a party could be formed.
We already have alternative options. People just choose to ignore or not explore those options. You have numerous smaller parties if you simply must belong to a party. There is also the independent option and avoid parties altogether. As a last resort, there is the write-in. People are simply lazy and just choose between the two major parties. There is nothing written in stone that requires such fealty though. You have to disconnect yourself from the Matrix in order to see that.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
11:41 am
“Cut the military 20% and all else 10% in the case of the latter, it only involves sqeezing out inefficiencies…we can do that without anyone getting hurt..”
well, except for the lobbyists …
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
January 7th, 2013
11:41 am
‘“Earned” is commonly used synonymously with ‘qualified for.”
IOW — He got nuthin!
RB from Gwinnett
January 7th, 2013
11:42 am
Just another day of whiny fat kids begging for another cookie.
It’s amazing to me the complete avoidance of the debt issue by the left. You got your symbolic tax increase on the rich, now what? What are you going to do to address the huge budget deficit and the debt now that you’ve “won” but what you won is mere window dressing?
Begging for more cookies isn’t going to fix the problem, libs. Grow up, look in the mirror, and then tell us what the plan is.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
11:42 am
“that pesky decimal”
it might be “liberal math”, but as I understand it, the difference between million and billion is a wee bit more than a decimal.
Towncrier
January 7th, 2013
11:42 am
“Amnesty combined with real and serious closing of the borders is the only solution that can work.”
What did Yogi say? “It’s déjà vu all over again”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_Reform_and_Control_Act_of_1986
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 7th, 2013
11:42 am
Looks like Kyle installed a selective moderation policy next door. Sorta like he is choosing who can post there. Multiple identities seems to be verboten there.
Interesting to note the absences and finding them a JG’s today
Regnad Kcin
January 7th, 2013
11:45 am
‘“Earned” is commonly used synonymously with ‘qualified for.”
You can “earn” a master’s degree or a merit badge – this does not connote paying for anything…
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
11:45 am
“It’s amazing to me the complete avoidance of the debt issue by the left. ”
hey, mr. reading-is-fundamental – we ARE talking about cuts – so, either read the posts or shut your yap.
barking frog
January 7th, 2013
11:47 am
getalfe
I am not in your blog name.
Erwin's cat
January 7th, 2013
11:47 am
it might be “liberal math”, but as I understand it, the difference between million and billion is a wee bit more than a decimal.
more like 3 places…I read right past your B and saw M…It’s hard to fathom that much waste at first glance
Brosephus™: "Team Gump will prevail over Team Rudy"
January 7th, 2013
11:47 am
We already have a legalized and practical immigration amnesty policy in the U.S., and it’s called “marriage”. One only has to marry a citizen who will file the necessary petition for you, and you will get your green card.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 7th, 2013
11:50 am
What are you going to do to address the huge budget deficit…
Did someone say “deficit”?
Which brings us to the economic level. The deficits that Bush ran up in the years in which the country was teetering on the verge of a serious recession had the beneficial effect of righting the economy. In that sense, deficits not only didn’t matter, but were a force for economic good.
Translation: IOKIYAR
Yummy republican cookies.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
11:50 am
erwin – 11:47 – when I was a college student, I was a summertime bank teller, handling thousands of dollars everyday (a huge deal when you’re 19). After a while, though, transactions totalling a hundred thousand dollars in a day didn’t phase me. I’m thinking that’s the way the DoD operates, as well – when your total budget is > $38B, millions here and there are sofa change.
http://comptroller.defense.gov/defbudget/fy2012/FY12_Green_Book.pdf
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
11:51 am
Kam – “Yummy republican cookies.”
made with real republicans?
Towncrier
January 7th, 2013
11:54 am
“Looks like Kyle installed a selective moderation policy next door. Sorta like he is choosing who can post there. Multiple identities seems to be verboten there. Interesting to note the absences and finding them a JG’s today.”
I saw that Kamchak. I think he probably wasn’t too happy with my personae, either. I don’t think I will post there again until he loosens up. He should re-read Gulliver’s Travels as an adult with the understanding it is probably the greatest piece of satire ever written. I hope he doesn’t think “A Modest Proposal” should never have been written.
That said, trying to moderate a political blog is probably like trying to herd cats. The AJC likely needs a custom coded solution to all of the “evils” done by posters. It should be done programmatically by software.
barking frog
January 7th, 2013
11:54 am
Yummy republican cookies
……………………………………….
probably taste like elephant dumb….
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
11:55 am
Kam – business needs a lift … think if it as thrift!
Republican cookies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnnVd3wgTX0
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 7th, 2013
11:56 am
made with real republicans?
Heh, heh, heh, only the best ingredients will do.
Speaking of ingredients, what the hell is a celeriac?
I know I can’t find it up here in this small hamlet in the N.C. mtns. and I don’t believe that I have ever seen it at the DeKalb Farmer’s mkt.
Is there a suitable alternative?
godless heathen - Law Abiding Citizen
January 7th, 2013
11:57 am
Let’s see how your Bushmaster works against the resources of the US Military, let alone the local police.
Got something planned?
weetamoe
January 7th, 2013
11:58 am
Ask a republican in the 4th and 5th districts about gerrymandering. Ask the House members representing toe 4th and 5th districts to solve a math (or science hmmpphhh) problem.
Explain how women TEA party supported governors Haley and Gonzalez are ripping apart the fabric of society.
Just a couple of the questions raised by comments in Jay’s blog this morning.
Wilbur
January 7th, 2013
12:00 pm
If there were a republican president the AJC would be full of stories about the poor long term unemployed who have not been able to get a job in the recession. There would be heartbreaking stories about the destruction of families and lives. Blacks would be marching in the streets outraged at the level of black unemployment. College campuses would be screaming about the lack of opportunity. Civil libertarians would be apoplectic about endless drone war.
But there is not a republican in office.
So the media is quiet like good little puppies. Well done, Jay.
Peter
January 7th, 2013
12:00 pm
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am…
Yes and why penalize Georgia farmers again this year, and have their crops die on the vine ?
Erwin's cat
January 7th, 2013
12:01 pm
Speaking of ingredients, what the hell is a celeriac?
I hate it when a recipe calls for something you can’t easily get locally or without a listed alternative…Batali does it all the time
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
12:01 pm
“Speaking of ingredients, what the hell is a celeriac?”
also known as celery root – it’s a root veg that looks like a big, round, knobbly potato or turnip …
barking frog
January 7th, 2013
12:01 pm
Kamchak
celeriac is usually called celery root in the grocery story even though
that is an incorrect name…
F. Sinkwich
January 7th, 2013
12:02 pm
“Translation: IOKIYAR”
KammySpam !!
It used to be that people wouldn’t make up stupid acronyms simply to avoid public humiliation. But now I guess it’s ok if you’re a returd.
Peter
January 7th, 2013
12:05 pm
Wilbur
If there were a republican president the AJC would be full of stories about the poor long term unemployed who have not been able to get a job in the recession.
You mean a guy like Bush Jr who’s office said deficits don’t matter, and the reason we were in the recession, almost depression in the first place ?
Oscar
January 7th, 2013
12:05 pm
Cut too fast and we gets a ression. Cut too slow and we don’t make enough progress toward soling the budget deficit.
We nee a balanced approach. Where did I hear that lately . . . hmmmmm
Oscar
January 7th, 2013
12:05 pm
Cut too fast and we gets a ression. Cut too slow and we don’t make enough progress toward soling the budget deficit.
We nee a balanced approach. Where did I hear that lately . . . hmmmmm
Towncrier
January 7th, 2013
12:05 pm
“Let’s see how your Bushmaster works against the resources of the US Military, let alone the local police.”
In the event of a “war”, there would not be a head-to-head confrontation (for that would be a losing proposition). Guerrilla and terror tactics would likely be used. Perhaps like what happened in Ireland.
Oscar
January 7th, 2013
12:05 pm
Cut too fast and we gets a ression. Cut too slow and we don’t make enough progress toward soling the budget deficit.
We nee a balanced approach. Where did I hear that lately . . . hmmmmm
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 7th, 2013
12:07 pm
But now I guess it’s ok if you’re a returd.
Poor wittle ilk-boy.
Can’t post at Kyle’s so he has to come here instead.
Welcome to the Occupation
January 7th, 2013
12:07 pm
Hi Sinkwich! How are things in rubesville today?
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
12:10 pm
Erwin – celery root is found in every grocery store – it’s a common root veg.
weeatamoe – “Ask a republican in the 4th and 5th districts about gerrymandering.”
you do realize that each district doesn’t draw their own boundaries, don’t you? it starts in the House Reapportionment Committee and goes from there …
now, who runs the house reapportionment committee???
why, yes, that would be the GOP
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
12:11 pm
“Guerrilla and terror tactics would likely be used. Perhaps like what happened in Ireland.”
yeah. and hasn’t THAT worked out well.
Brosephus™: "Team Gump will prevail over Team Rudy"
January 7th, 2013
12:12 pm
Ask a republican in the 4th and 5th districts about gerrymandering.
If you’re referring to the 4th and 5th Districts of Georgia, then you should ask a Republican. Their party was in control of redistricting in 2010 when Georgia’s maps were redrawn.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 7th, 2013
12:13 pm
yeah. and hasn’t THAT worked out well.
WOLVERINES!
F. Sinkwich
January 7th, 2013
12:15 pm
“Can’t post at Kyle’s so he has to come here instead.”
Really? I didn’t know that.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
12:15 pm
Kam – 12:13 – seriously.