"What does 'White Turkey Chili' mean?" grumps Sen. McConnell.
"Maybe it's a Mormon favorite," says Speaker Boehner.
"That's not what I meant," says Mitch. "Is it because of white turkey, or because the chili is white and not red?"
"If it had been me, I'd have given him surf and turf," says John.
"Does Mitt eat lobster?" says Mitch.
The Speaker gives an unknowing shrug. "He deserves it, for what he's done. After what Fox and the tea partiers said about him, and then for him to walk into the Oval Office and shake the President's hand!"
"Then eats lunch with him in the President's private dining room!" Mitch roars and slaps his knee. "You can hear the teeth grinding out in the hallways! These are good times for the new GOP!"
"I hope Mitt knows what a valuable man he is," says John, musing.
"I'm sure he does," says Mitch. "I'm happy for him. This is as close as he has come, in politics, to knowing who he really is."
November 30, 2012
Occupy the Internet!
Welcome to the offices of "Occupy the Internet."
We are similar to the "Occupy Wall Street" movement, which protested Wall Street ripping off the little people and giving it to the rich people. Their battle cry was, "The 99 percent." Ours is, "Our 2 cents worth."
If we all got our 2 cents worth, the Internet would be a fabulously productive place. Instead, it's impoverished. Sooner or later, Internet businesses would have to start asking for handouts. Now it has happened. WikiPedia started asking last week:
“We are the small non-profit that runs the #5 website in the world. We have only 150 staff but serve 450 million users, and have costs like any other top site: servers, power, rent, programs, staff and legal help. To protect our independence, we'll never run ads. We take no government funds. We run on donations. If everyone reading this gave the price of a cup of coffee, our fundraiser would be done within an hour.”
You can donate to Wikipedia if you like, but the better solution is embedded right there in the plea, in boldface: “If everyone reading this gave the price of a cup of coffee, our fundraiser would be done within an hour.”
It’s called the multiplier effect. Everyone using Wikipedia is a lot of people – 450 million, according to Wikipedia – and if each donated the price of a cup of coffee, say $1, that’s $450 million, and you’d only be out a buck.
That's where Occupy the Internet comes in. We don't want WikiPedia to have to ask for handouts. Our goal is an Internet-wide system that would require users to pay to use WikiPedia, and every other Internet site, 2 cents for every visit. Every time 450 million users paid 2 cents, WikiPedia would earn $9 million, which would more than pay the rent.
The Wall Street ripoff is peanuts, compared to the billions of Internet users, myself included, who rip off the Internet for billions of dollars worth of free information and entertainment every day.
This should stop. When it did, every user would pay 2 cents to every page visited. That's 50 visits for a buck, 1,000 visits for $20, or whatever subscription you wanted to pay per month. I would get paid something for what I just wrote, and you would have gotten your 2 cents worth. It would revolutionize the Internet, both for content and business model. It would mean the rebirth of newspapers, for example, and good journalism. Think about it.
We are similar to the "Occupy Wall Street" movement, which protested Wall Street ripping off the little people and giving it to the rich people. Their battle cry was, "The 99 percent." Ours is, "Our 2 cents worth."
If we all got our 2 cents worth, the Internet would be a fabulously productive place. Instead, it's impoverished. Sooner or later, Internet businesses would have to start asking for handouts. Now it has happened. WikiPedia started asking last week:
“We are the small non-profit that runs the #5 website in the world. We have only 150 staff but serve 450 million users, and have costs like any other top site: servers, power, rent, programs, staff and legal help. To protect our independence, we'll never run ads. We take no government funds. We run on donations. If everyone reading this gave the price of a cup of coffee, our fundraiser would be done within an hour.”
You can donate to Wikipedia if you like, but the better solution is embedded right there in the plea, in boldface: “If everyone reading this gave the price of a cup of coffee, our fundraiser would be done within an hour.”
It’s called the multiplier effect. Everyone using Wikipedia is a lot of people – 450 million, according to Wikipedia – and if each donated the price of a cup of coffee, say $1, that’s $450 million, and you’d only be out a buck.
That's where Occupy the Internet comes in. We don't want WikiPedia to have to ask for handouts. Our goal is an Internet-wide system that would require users to pay to use WikiPedia, and every other Internet site, 2 cents for every visit. Every time 450 million users paid 2 cents, WikiPedia would earn $9 million, which would more than pay the rent.
The Wall Street ripoff is peanuts, compared to the billions of Internet users, myself included, who rip off the Internet for billions of dollars worth of free information and entertainment every day.
This should stop. When it did, every user would pay 2 cents to every page visited. That's 50 visits for a buck, 1,000 visits for $20, or whatever subscription you wanted to pay per month. I would get paid something for what I just wrote, and you would have gotten your 2 cents worth. It would revolutionize the Internet, both for content and business model. It would mean the rebirth of newspapers, for example, and good journalism. Think about it.
November 28, 2012
The Right Wing, starring Mitch, John and Mr. President
Speaker Boehner's outer office. Sen. McConnell walks in, spies a prop-up sign on Lucretia's desk:
"No shirt, no shoes, no service."
He laughs aloud. "Ha! Where'd you get it?"
"My diner, down the street. It was in his door. I had to talk him out of it. I told him who it was for. And then he autographed it," Lucretia says, gesturing at the sign. Mitch bends to read:
"Best wishes, Mr. Speaker! Nguyen"
He chortles, scratches his head. "Naked protesters in the Speaker's office. This is one to tell your grandchildren about."
"Already did," says Lucretia. "Or, rather, they showed it to me on their iPhones, laughing their little heads off."
"It's good to have a sense of humor around here," says the Speaker, walking in from his office, carrying coffee in a take-out cup labeled, "Nguyen's Diner."
"Love Lucretia's new sign," says Mitch. "Nice middle-class touch."
"Hey!" says Lucretia, a creative person. "We could turn it into a slogan. Remember the slogan, 'What's good for General Motors is good for the country'? We could say, 'What's good for Nguyen's Diner is good for the Speaker.'"
"Or," says Mitch, "'What's good for Nguyen's Diner is good for the middle class.'"
"Well, Sen. Graham didn't get it," says Lucretia. "He came in to drop off some Susan Rice notes. He said, 'Who's Nuh-goo-y-yen?' I told him it's pronounced 'Win.' Opposite of 'lose'."
The Speaker cleared his throat. "We should probably keep this quiet, but workshops are planned for House Republicans. How to pronounce 'middle class': 'mid-dull class.' You might want to adopt it for the Senate."
"No shirt, no shoes, no service."
He laughs aloud. "Ha! Where'd you get it?"
"My diner, down the street. It was in his door. I had to talk him out of it. I told him who it was for. And then he autographed it," Lucretia says, gesturing at the sign. Mitch bends to read:
"Best wishes, Mr. Speaker! Nguyen"
He chortles, scratches his head. "Naked protesters in the Speaker's office. This is one to tell your grandchildren about."
"Already did," says Lucretia. "Or, rather, they showed it to me on their iPhones, laughing their little heads off."
"It's good to have a sense of humor around here," says the Speaker, walking in from his office, carrying coffee in a take-out cup labeled, "Nguyen's Diner."
"Love Lucretia's new sign," says Mitch. "Nice middle-class touch."
"Hey!" says Lucretia, a creative person. "We could turn it into a slogan. Remember the slogan, 'What's good for General Motors is good for the country'? We could say, 'What's good for Nguyen's Diner is good for the Speaker.'"
"Or," says Mitch, "'What's good for Nguyen's Diner is good for the middle class.'"
"Well, Sen. Graham didn't get it," says Lucretia. "He came in to drop off some Susan Rice notes. He said, 'Who's Nuh-goo-y-yen?' I told him it's pronounced 'Win.' Opposite of 'lose'."
The Speaker cleared his throat. "We should probably keep this quiet, but workshops are planned for House Republicans. How to pronounce 'middle class': 'mid-dull class.' You might want to adopt it for the Senate."
November 26, 2012
The Right Wing, starring Mitch, John and Mr. President
Sen. McConnell's office. The Speaker walks in, carrying a book-shaped wrapped package.
"John," says the senator in his offhand bloodhound way. "Have a nice Thanksgiving?"
"Very nice," says John. "Nothing like Thanksgiving in Ohio. We had the President's Italian red with the bird. Mitch, here's an early Christmas present."
"Well, that's a nice surprise," says Mitch, accepting the package. "I have an early gift for you, too," picking up a book-shaped package from his desk and handing it to John. They open the packages and laugh together.
"'Why Romney Lost'! exclaims John, as the two men hold up identical David Frum books, No 13 on the Times' bestseller list.
"Great minds," Mitch chuckles, flipping open the cover, as John does, to find an inscription:
"Mitch – here's a comment from a reader of the book: 'I believe a party that is fiscally responsible, and respects others' social views will resonate with Americans of all sorts. I can't say enough good things about this book. Spot on. Let's hope there is a change in the winds.'
"Merry Christmas! John."
The two men look up and laugh together. "The exact inscription I put in your book!" says Mitch.
"Amazing, sometimes, how alike we are," says John.
Into the office stumbles Martha, the Senator's office manager, still in her overcoat.
"Martha?" says Mitch. "You're late . . ."
"Missed my carpool," she says. "I had a horrible nightmare. Sarah Palin! Hair cut like Pelosi's! Talking like Rachel Maddow! Having lunch with Warren Buffett!"
John smiles, pulls his iPhone from his pocket, lets Martha read a Tweet:
"You read Frumdum's piece of moose pizza?" #Sarah"
Martha relaxes into a sigh. "So she doesn't want to be President of the United States."
"Didn't say that," says John.
"John," says the senator in his offhand bloodhound way. "Have a nice Thanksgiving?"
"Very nice," says John. "Nothing like Thanksgiving in Ohio. We had the President's Italian red with the bird. Mitch, here's an early Christmas present."
"Well, that's a nice surprise," says Mitch, accepting the package. "I have an early gift for you, too," picking up a book-shaped package from his desk and handing it to John. They open the packages and laugh together.
"'Why Romney Lost'! exclaims John, as the two men hold up identical David Frum books, No 13 on the Times' bestseller list.
"Great minds," Mitch chuckles, flipping open the cover, as John does, to find an inscription:
"Mitch – here's a comment from a reader of the book: 'I believe a party that is fiscally responsible, and respects others' social views will resonate with Americans of all sorts. I can't say enough good things about this book. Spot on. Let's hope there is a change in the winds.'
"Merry Christmas! John."
The two men look up and laugh together. "The exact inscription I put in your book!" says Mitch.
"Amazing, sometimes, how alike we are," says John.
Into the office stumbles Martha, the Senator's office manager, still in her overcoat.
"Martha?" says Mitch. "You're late . . ."
"Missed my carpool," she says. "I had a horrible nightmare. Sarah Palin! Hair cut like Pelosi's! Talking like Rachel Maddow! Having lunch with Warren Buffett!"
John smiles, pulls his iPhone from his pocket, lets Martha read a Tweet:
"You read Frumdum's piece of moose pizza?" #Sarah"
Martha relaxes into a sigh. "So she doesn't want to be President of the United States."
"Didn't say that," says John.
November 19, 2012
The Right Wing, starring Mitch, John and Mr. President, episode 8
Sen. McConnell, Mr. Speaker, I write a blog which supports The 47 Percent. We favor "Anything that gives the middle class a leg up." As such, I am following with interest your collaboration from the GOP side in creating "A New Era for America."
As a member of The 47 Percent, I want to share my thoughts about a story I read over the weekend. This one, from The New York Times: "Business owners and investors are rapidly maneuvering to shield themselves from the prospect of higher taxes next year, a strategy that is sending ripples across Wall Street and broad areas of the economy."
An example: Steve Wynn, whose business is Las Vegas casinos, who "has been a vocal critic of higher tax rates." On Tuesday, tomorrow, Wynn shareholders will "collect a special dividend of $750 million, a payout timed to take advantage of current rates."
The story says that this strategy will save just Wynn himself more than $20 million in taxes. Sirs, I can't adequately express how The 47 Percent would appreciate a similar strategy to save themselves just $200 in taxes, just with the Christmas season upon us. Talk about a leg up!
Apparently, though, we DO get a leg up of sorts. The story said Wynn alone would save $20 million, but it didn't say $20 million of what? If he is saving $20 million, it must mean he is paying some unknown figure in taxes in December, that he would not have been paying otherwise, before the end of the year, if ever (if Mitt had been elected). The same is true of many other business owners and investors. It must mean that it took only two weeks for The 47 Percent's vote (all for Obama, by Mitt's own definition) to count in a way that adds up, eventually, to dollars and cents for us! Such a quick return is very exciting!
Well, it's off to the big bird at Grandma's house. The 47 Percent hope you gentlemen have a great Thanksgiving!
As a member of The 47 Percent, I want to share my thoughts about a story I read over the weekend. This one, from The New York Times: "Business owners and investors are rapidly maneuvering to shield themselves from the prospect of higher taxes next year, a strategy that is sending ripples across Wall Street and broad areas of the economy."
An example: Steve Wynn, whose business is Las Vegas casinos, who "has been a vocal critic of higher tax rates." On Tuesday, tomorrow, Wynn shareholders will "collect a special dividend of $750 million, a payout timed to take advantage of current rates."
The story says that this strategy will save just Wynn himself more than $20 million in taxes. Sirs, I can't adequately express how The 47 Percent would appreciate a similar strategy to save themselves just $200 in taxes, just with the Christmas season upon us. Talk about a leg up!
Apparently, though, we DO get a leg up of sorts. The story said Wynn alone would save $20 million, but it didn't say $20 million of what? If he is saving $20 million, it must mean he is paying some unknown figure in taxes in December, that he would not have been paying otherwise, before the end of the year, if ever (if Mitt had been elected). The same is true of many other business owners and investors. It must mean that it took only two weeks for The 47 Percent's vote (all for Obama, by Mitt's own definition) to count in a way that adds up, eventually, to dollars and cents for us! Such a quick return is very exciting!
Well, it's off to the big bird at Grandma's house. The 47 Percent hope you gentlemen have a great Thanksgiving!
November 18, 2012
The Right Wing, starring Mitch, John and Mr. President, episode 7
"That went well, I thought," says Speaker Boehner, returning to his office with the President's bottle of birthday wine, a pricey Italian red, under his arm.
"Yes, it did," says Senator McConnell. "The first day of 'A New Era for America.'"
"'Where Obamacare Becomes Americare!'" John smoothly recites, beaming, "thanks to us."
"Pelosi knows what's going on," says Mitch, "running for the leadership for two more years. She wants to be in on it."
"I told you she had developed some redeeming social values since last week," John says, flashing the purple plastic bracelet Nancy gave him: "WWAD" – "What Would Abe Do?"
"At the meeting, Senator Reid seemed okay with it also," says Mitch, "but he is still my No. 1 worry. He may resist this plan. He may become an obstructionist. He may become the old me."
"He may be slow, but not that slow," John says with a shrug. "There's just too much in the plan for him. Remember our goals: 1. take the real GOP back from the tea party 'Limbaugh Republicans'; 2. meet Obama halfway to achieve 'A New Era for America,' real progress in the next four years in the economy, in health care (Americare! I love it), in immigration reform, in women's issues; 3. claim credit for the 'New Era' in the 2016 campaign; 4. nominate a viable presidential candidate for a change, and; 5. crush the tea party in the process. What's not to like?"
Mitch grins. "Plus," he says with emphasis, "and I am just realizing this, the GOP solves its problem, of being leaderless, that everyone's been talking about. A proven leader emerges overnight."
"Who?" says John. "Me?"
"No, John, sorry," says Mitch. "President Obama! He becomes the de facto leader of the GOP! All that magnificent organization of his, that made us look like chumps in the election, becomes ours to jointly utilize in the New Era of cooperation!"
"Wow," says John. "That won't sit well with people like the guy down in Texas who says Obama and all of his people are 'maggots feeding on the carcass of the republic.'"
"John," says Mitch, "who are we going to listen to in the next four years, a minor Texas county party official, or President Obama?"
"Damn, Mitch, I feel like a brand-new Speaker!"
"Happy birthday, John."
"Yes, it did," says Senator McConnell. "The first day of 'A New Era for America.'"
"'Where Obamacare Becomes Americare!'" John smoothly recites, beaming, "thanks to us."
"Pelosi knows what's going on," says Mitch, "running for the leadership for two more years. She wants to be in on it."
"I told you she had developed some redeeming social values since last week," John says, flashing the purple plastic bracelet Nancy gave him: "WWAD" – "What Would Abe Do?"
"At the meeting, Senator Reid seemed okay with it also," says Mitch, "but he is still my No. 1 worry. He may resist this plan. He may become an obstructionist. He may become the old me."
"He may be slow, but not that slow," John says with a shrug. "There's just too much in the plan for him. Remember our goals: 1. take the real GOP back from the tea party 'Limbaugh Republicans'; 2. meet Obama halfway to achieve 'A New Era for America,' real progress in the next four years in the economy, in health care (Americare! I love it), in immigration reform, in women's issues; 3. claim credit for the 'New Era' in the 2016 campaign; 4. nominate a viable presidential candidate for a change, and; 5. crush the tea party in the process. What's not to like?"
Mitch grins. "Plus," he says with emphasis, "and I am just realizing this, the GOP solves its problem, of being leaderless, that everyone's been talking about. A proven leader emerges overnight."
"Who?" says John. "Me?"
"No, John, sorry," says Mitch. "President Obama! He becomes the de facto leader of the GOP! All that magnificent organization of his, that made us look like chumps in the election, becomes ours to jointly utilize in the New Era of cooperation!"
"Wow," says John. "That won't sit well with people like the guy down in Texas who says Obama and all of his people are 'maggots feeding on the carcass of the republic.'"
"John," says Mitch, "who are we going to listen to in the next four years, a minor Texas county party official, or President Obama?"
"Damn, Mitch, I feel like a brand-new Speaker!"
"Happy birthday, John."
November 17, 2012
The skin of our teeth
Below is a compilation of comments collected from media political reports in the last week. Question: What do all the commenters have in common?
“Romney, take responsibility for being flawed candidate, w/delusional campaign w/no vision.”
“I don’t want to rebut him point by point. I would just say to you, I don’t believe that we have millions and millions of people in this country that don’t want to work.”
“We’ve got to give our political organization a very serious proctology exam.”
"I absolutely reject that notion. I don’t think that represents where we are as a party. We have got to stop dividing the American voters.”
“There’s got to be a positive reason to support Republicans.”
"Most of today’s Republicans understand that they need to decontaminate their brand."
"We have a period of reflection and recalibration ahead for the Republican Party. Clearly we have work to do in the weeks and months ahead."
“You can’t expect to be a leader of all the people and be divisive.”
“He’s not going to be running for anything in the future.”
“He never developed an emotional foothold within the GOP so he can exit the stage anytime and no one will mourn.”
"The 47 percent comments represent both a fundamental misunderstanding of the country, they offer a constricted vision of the Republican party and the potency of a big tent conservative message."
“It shows a huge misreading of the electoral landscape. A rather elitist misread. Where does he think his votes came from in rural America?”
"I'd like to see Romney and his team go out gracefully. (Yes, that requires actually... going away.)"
What do all the commenters have in common? They all voted for Mitt Romney. Reading their comments today says something about the size of the bullet all of us in this country dodged Nov. 6.
“Romney, take responsibility for being flawed candidate, w/delusional campaign w/no vision.”
“I don’t want to rebut him point by point. I would just say to you, I don’t believe that we have millions and millions of people in this country that don’t want to work.”
“We’ve got to give our political organization a very serious proctology exam.”
"I absolutely reject that notion. I don’t think that represents where we are as a party. We have got to stop dividing the American voters.”
“There’s got to be a positive reason to support Republicans.”
"Most of today’s Republicans understand that they need to decontaminate their brand."
"We have a period of reflection and recalibration ahead for the Republican Party. Clearly we have work to do in the weeks and months ahead."
“You can’t expect to be a leader of all the people and be divisive.”
“He’s not going to be running for anything in the future.”
“He never developed an emotional foothold within the GOP so he can exit the stage anytime and no one will mourn.”
"The 47 percent comments represent both a fundamental misunderstanding of the country, they offer a constricted vision of the Republican party and the potency of a big tent conservative message."
“It shows a huge misreading of the electoral landscape. A rather elitist misread. Where does he think his votes came from in rural America?”
"I'd like to see Romney and his team go out gracefully. (Yes, that requires actually... going away.)"
What do all the commenters have in common? They all voted for Mitt Romney. Reading their comments today says something about the size of the bullet all of us in this country dodged Nov. 6.
November 16, 2012
The Right Wing, starring Mitch, John and Mr. President, episode 6
"Lucretia!" yells John from his desk.
She appears in the doorway. "Yes, Mr. Speaker?"
"Lucretia," he says. "What are we going to do about Mitt?"
Lucretia gives a little laugh, waves her hand. "Don't worry about Mitt. He's just processing."
"Well, everybody I talk to wishes he would just go away," says John. "It's all over the media."
"Yes, I know," says Lucretia. "But he's had a terrible shock. He got jilted. You remember what it's like to get jilted."
John frowns. "Maybe I do, and maybe I don't."
She smiles. "See? You're still not over it. Mitt just needs somebody to talk to. He needs to tell them it's nothing he did. It's the things the other guy did."
Senator McConnell is on the settee. "You know," he says, beginning to understand, "it was actually a huge circle-jilt. Millions of people, inside that Mitt bubble that everybody is talking about, dead-certain that Mitt would win."
Lucretia holds up The Washington Post. "Every day in the paper, jilted Republicans are processing, from Nevada to Georgia," she says.
"So you don't think Mitt and the bubble are going to steal any thunder from our meeting with the President today," says the Speaker.
"No sir, I don’t," says Lucretia. "The President is the last guy they want to think about. They will all be focused inward, reading old campaign speeches, wondering what might have been, wondering when the pain will go away. It actually works out pretty well for you and the Senator, on Day One of the New GOP."
She appears in the doorway. "Yes, Mr. Speaker?"
"Lucretia," he says. "What are we going to do about Mitt?"
Lucretia gives a little laugh, waves her hand. "Don't worry about Mitt. He's just processing."
"Well, everybody I talk to wishes he would just go away," says John. "It's all over the media."
"Yes, I know," says Lucretia. "But he's had a terrible shock. He got jilted. You remember what it's like to get jilted."
John frowns. "Maybe I do, and maybe I don't."
She smiles. "See? You're still not over it. Mitt just needs somebody to talk to. He needs to tell them it's nothing he did. It's the things the other guy did."
Senator McConnell is on the settee. "You know," he says, beginning to understand, "it was actually a huge circle-jilt. Millions of people, inside that Mitt bubble that everybody is talking about, dead-certain that Mitt would win."
Lucretia holds up The Washington Post. "Every day in the paper, jilted Republicans are processing, from Nevada to Georgia," she says.
"So you don't think Mitt and the bubble are going to steal any thunder from our meeting with the President today," says the Speaker.
"No sir, I don’t," says Lucretia. "The President is the last guy they want to think about. They will all be focused inward, reading old campaign speeches, wondering what might have been, wondering when the pain will go away. It actually works out pretty well for you and the Senator, on Day One of the New GOP."
November 14, 2012
Mitch, John and Mr. President episode 5
Mitch McConnell is in his office, scanning The New York Times opinion page:
"President Obama’s sweeping re-election victory stunned many in the Republican Party . . . What does the G.O.P. need to do over the next four years if it wants to take back the White House?"
"Take back the party," Mitch grumbles just as Speaker Boehner walks in.
"We've got trouble," John says.
"Please don't tell me you're having an affair with Jill Kelley," says Mitch.
"Who's Jill Kelley?" John says.
"Never mind. What's that thing on your wrist?"
John extends his right arm to display a purple plastic bracelet. "It says, 'WWAD?' 'What Would Abe Do?' Pelosi gave it to me."
"Whoa!" says Mitch. "Aren't we going a little fast here?"
"Don't worry," says John. "Nancy has developed some redeeming social values since last week. Just getting ready for Friday's meetings. Reaching across the aisle, et cetera."
"What's this about trouble?" Mitch asks.
"The Brooks column," John says, and reads from a folded paper:
"This is not the Republican Party of 2010. Today's Repuplicans no longer have an incentive to deny Obama victories. He's never running again. Most of today's Republicans understand that they need to decontaminate their brand."
John looks at Mitch. "That is almost word-for-word your memo to me from last Wednesday. Do we have a leak?"
"That's the least of our worries," Mitch says. "Look at the front page of the paper." John looks. "See us anywhere?" John shakes his head. "That's our trouble," says Mitch. "This damn sex business has taken over."
"What can we do?" says John.
Mitch looks at John. "Go ask Pelosi to lunch."
"President Obama’s sweeping re-election victory stunned many in the Republican Party . . . What does the G.O.P. need to do over the next four years if it wants to take back the White House?"
"Take back the party," Mitch grumbles just as Speaker Boehner walks in.
"We've got trouble," John says.
"Please don't tell me you're having an affair with Jill Kelley," says Mitch.
"Who's Jill Kelley?" John says.
"Never mind. What's that thing on your wrist?"
John extends his right arm to display a purple plastic bracelet. "It says, 'WWAD?' 'What Would Abe Do?' Pelosi gave it to me."
"Whoa!" says Mitch. "Aren't we going a little fast here?"
"Don't worry," says John. "Nancy has developed some redeeming social values since last week. Just getting ready for Friday's meetings. Reaching across the aisle, et cetera."
"What's this about trouble?" Mitch asks.
"The Brooks column," John says, and reads from a folded paper:
"This is not the Republican Party of 2010. Today's Repuplicans no longer have an incentive to deny Obama victories. He's never running again. Most of today's Republicans understand that they need to decontaminate their brand."
John looks at Mitch. "That is almost word-for-word your memo to me from last Wednesday. Do we have a leak?"
"That's the least of our worries," Mitch says. "Look at the front page of the paper." John looks. "See us anywhere?" John shakes his head. "That's our trouble," says Mitch. "This damn sex business has taken over."
"What can we do?" says John.
Mitch looks at John. "Go ask Pelosi to lunch."
November 12, 2012
Mitch, John and Mr. President, episode 4
Speaker Boehner's office, "Fox News" on TV. Bill Kristol is speaking.
"You know what? It won’t kill the country if Republicans raise taxes a little bit on millionaires. It really won’t, I don’t think. I don’t really understand why Republicans don’t take Obama’s offer to freeze taxes for everyone below $250,000. Make it $500,000, make it a million."
John smiles at Bill's words, switches to "Face the Nation."
"This is a promising moment for the Republican Party," Peggy Noonan is telling Bob Schieffer.
Mitch looks at John. "Leverage. Just like we all talked about yesterday."
John nods. "They're getting the word out nicely. The President is a huge opportunity for us. Amazing, how everybody seems to understand that."
"For this week, you just keep placating your people," Mitch says. "You're the good cop, I'm the bad cop. The Bachmann faction will be sticking pins in Rove for at least another week. That will give us time to get everybody else on board. O'Reilly, Hannity, Will, Krauthammer, the WSJ editors. One more big weekend on the talk shows should do it."
"Krauthammer will be tough," John says.
"Screw him, then," blurts Mitch. "We're playing hardball now. We can't take back the country until we take back the party."
"Wow," says John. "And you were the one who swore to make Obama a one-term president."
"Yes," says Mitch, "and you see where it got me."
"You know what? It won’t kill the country if Republicans raise taxes a little bit on millionaires. It really won’t, I don’t think. I don’t really understand why Republicans don’t take Obama’s offer to freeze taxes for everyone below $250,000. Make it $500,000, make it a million."
John smiles at Bill's words, switches to "Face the Nation."
"This is a promising moment for the Republican Party," Peggy Noonan is telling Bob Schieffer.
Mitch looks at John. "Leverage. Just like we all talked about yesterday."
John nods. "They're getting the word out nicely. The President is a huge opportunity for us. Amazing, how everybody seems to understand that."
"For this week, you just keep placating your people," Mitch says. "You're the good cop, I'm the bad cop. The Bachmann faction will be sticking pins in Rove for at least another week. That will give us time to get everybody else on board. O'Reilly, Hannity, Will, Krauthammer, the WSJ editors. One more big weekend on the talk shows should do it."
"Krauthammer will be tough," John says.
"Screw him, then," blurts Mitch. "We're playing hardball now. We can't take back the country until we take back the party."
"Wow," says John. "And you were the one who swore to make Obama a one-term president."
"Yes," says Mitch, "and you see where it got me."
November 11, 2012
The 47 percent are people again
In the week before the election, President Obama said at a rally that "Voting is the best revenge."
At his rallies, Mitt picked up on it: "Did you see what President Obama said today? He asked his supporters to vote for revenge. Instead I ask the American people to vote for love of country."
To many Americans, the president's statement was a play on the old saying, "Living well is the best revenge," or, "Laughter is the best revenge," or any of a number of others. To the 47 percent, though, the statement was literal. I voted for Obama for many reasons, including a couple where I was voting against myself. But after what Mitt said about me and the 47 percent, our vote, as it was part of Obama's success, truly was a revenge vote. Mitt didn't care about our love of country. He said he didn't care about us at all.
Coincidentally, last weekend, TCM showed "The Grapes of Wrath." Those people were victims, but not of the Mitt variety. They needed government assistance desperately, but they didn't get it. They just kept on going.The movie's last lines were delivered by the great Jane Darwell, who won the 1941 Supporting Actress honor for her role as Ma Joad.
"I ain't never gonna be scared no more," Ma says. "I was, though. For a while it looked as though we was beat. Good and beat. Looked like we didn't have nobody in the whole wide world but enemies. Like nobody was friendly no more. Made me feel kinda bad and scared too, like we was lost and nobody cared.... Rich fellas come up and they die, and their kids ain't no good and they die out, but we keep on coming. We're the people that live. They can't wipe us out, they can't lick us. We'll go on forever, Pa, 'cause we're the people."
I feel like that today. The 47 percent can feel like people again. They can't wipe us out, they can't lick us, and we'll go on forever, 'cause we're the people and we're going "Forward." The only way we can go.
At his rallies, Mitt picked up on it: "Did you see what President Obama said today? He asked his supporters to vote for revenge. Instead I ask the American people to vote for love of country."
To many Americans, the president's statement was a play on the old saying, "Living well is the best revenge," or, "Laughter is the best revenge," or any of a number of others. To the 47 percent, though, the statement was literal. I voted for Obama for many reasons, including a couple where I was voting against myself. But after what Mitt said about me and the 47 percent, our vote, as it was part of Obama's success, truly was a revenge vote. Mitt didn't care about our love of country. He said he didn't care about us at all.
Coincidentally, last weekend, TCM showed "The Grapes of Wrath." Those people were victims, but not of the Mitt variety. They needed government assistance desperately, but they didn't get it. They just kept on going.The movie's last lines were delivered by the great Jane Darwell, who won the 1941 Supporting Actress honor for her role as Ma Joad.
"I ain't never gonna be scared no more," Ma says. "I was, though. For a while it looked as though we was beat. Good and beat. Looked like we didn't have nobody in the whole wide world but enemies. Like nobody was friendly no more. Made me feel kinda bad and scared too, like we was lost and nobody cared.... Rich fellas come up and they die, and their kids ain't no good and they die out, but we keep on coming. We're the people that live. They can't wipe us out, they can't lick us. We'll go on forever, Pa, 'cause we're the people."
I feel like that today. The 47 percent can feel like people again. They can't wipe us out, they can't lick us, and we'll go on forever, 'cause we're the people and we're going "Forward." The only way we can go.
November 09, 2012
The long conversation, cont.
The television, in Speaker Boehner's office.
Interviewer: "Will Paul Ryan emerge as a leader in the House?"
Speaker Boehner, offhandedly: "Paul Ryan is a policy wonk."
Mitch, watching the television: "Good sound bite on Paul, John."
"Thanks," says John, taking a breath. "This isn't going to be easy, you know."
"It's all in the timing, my friend. And your timing was great! When an interviewer gives you an opening, take it! Much more effective than just coming out and saying Paul Ryan is a stiff in the new scheme of things. It's not our purpose to start a civil war in the party."
The telephone rings. "Speaker Boehner, it's Karl. We need to – "
"Karl! Look at the time! Gotta run!" John hangs up the phone, picks up cold coffee, pours it on the phone. "Lucretia!" he yells.
"Yes sir?" says Lucretia, appearing in the doorway.
"I spilled coffee on my phone. Get it replaced. And while you're at it, change all the phone numbers."
"Yes, sir, Mr. Speaker," says Lucretia, grinning. Lucretia is nobody's fool.
"John," says Mitch, watching approvingly. "When the time comes, would you consider being the candidate?"
John's eyes moisten. "Hell, Mitch, I can't even bring myself to say, 'Where Obamacare is Americare.' Hey!!!"
Interviewer: "Will Paul Ryan emerge as a leader in the House?"
Speaker Boehner, offhandedly: "Paul Ryan is a policy wonk."
Mitch, watching the television: "Good sound bite on Paul, John."
"Thanks," says John, taking a breath. "This isn't going to be easy, you know."
"It's all in the timing, my friend. And your timing was great! When an interviewer gives you an opening, take it! Much more effective than just coming out and saying Paul Ryan is a stiff in the new scheme of things. It's not our purpose to start a civil war in the party."
The telephone rings. "Speaker Boehner, it's Karl. We need to – "
"Karl! Look at the time! Gotta run!" John hangs up the phone, picks up cold coffee, pours it on the phone. "Lucretia!" he yells.
"Yes sir?" says Lucretia, appearing in the doorway.
"I spilled coffee on my phone. Get it replaced. And while you're at it, change all the phone numbers."
"Yes, sir, Mr. Speaker," says Lucretia, grinning. Lucretia is nobody's fool.
"John," says Mitch, watching approvingly. "When the time comes, would you consider being the candidate?"
John's eyes moisten. "Hell, Mitch, I can't even bring myself to say, 'Where Obamacare is Americare.' Hey!!!"
Why didn't the Republicans know?
Since early Wednesday morning, every Republican I have seen on media has been able to easily identify why Mitt lost.
Why couldn't they identify that the day before Mitt lost? Or the month before, or the year before? Why did all those people, up to the very last minute, throw all that effort and all that money into a plan of action that failed, and the next morning get up and know why it failed? Were they fostering delusion all that time? Why?
Here is a passage from the David Brooks column in today's New York Times.
"If I were given a few minutes with the Republican billionaires, I’d say: spend less money on marketing and more on product development. Spend less on “super PACs” and more on research. Find people who can shift the debate away from the abstract frameworks — like Big Government vs. Small Government. Find people who can go out with notebooks and study specific, grounded everyday problems: what exactly does it take these days to rise? What exactly happens to the ambitious kid in Akron at each stage of life in this new economy? What are the best ways to rouse ambition and open fields of opportunity?
"Don’t get hung up on whether the federal government is 20 percent or 22 percent of G.D.P. Let Democrats be the party of security, defending the 20th-century welfare state. Be the party that celebrates work and inflames enterprise. Use any tool, public or private, to help people transform their lives."
In all the months before the election, the Republican billionaires were cast as the one percent, moving farther and father away from the 99 percent in share of national wealth and pouring billions into the Republican campaign to protect and foster that separation. Why didn't Brooks sit down with them then? Was he deluded into thinking it wouldn't do any good, that the one percent didn't give a damn about the 99 percent? Or is he deluded today, thinking that they would?
Why couldn't they identify that the day before Mitt lost? Or the month before, or the year before? Why did all those people, up to the very last minute, throw all that effort and all that money into a plan of action that failed, and the next morning get up and know why it failed? Were they fostering delusion all that time? Why?
Here is a passage from the David Brooks column in today's New York Times.
"If I were given a few minutes with the Republican billionaires, I’d say: spend less money on marketing and more on product development. Spend less on “super PACs” and more on research. Find people who can shift the debate away from the abstract frameworks — like Big Government vs. Small Government. Find people who can go out with notebooks and study specific, grounded everyday problems: what exactly does it take these days to rise? What exactly happens to the ambitious kid in Akron at each stage of life in this new economy? What are the best ways to rouse ambition and open fields of opportunity?
"Don’t get hung up on whether the federal government is 20 percent or 22 percent of G.D.P. Let Democrats be the party of security, defending the 20th-century welfare state. Be the party that celebrates work and inflames enterprise. Use any tool, public or private, to help people transform their lives."
In all the months before the election, the Republican billionaires were cast as the one percent, moving farther and father away from the 99 percent in share of national wealth and pouring billions into the Republican campaign to protect and foster that separation. Why didn't Brooks sit down with them then? Was he deluded into thinking it wouldn't do any good, that the one percent didn't give a damn about the 99 percent? Or is he deluded today, thinking that they would?
November 08, 2012
The beginning of a long conversation
Mitch, John and Mr. President are going to work wonders with the economy, immigration reform, women’s issues and health care over the next four years.
“Nice speech, John,” Mitch says, in a conversation they should be having right about now, in John’s office.
“Thanks,” says John. “I hope I looked sad enough.”
“You were fine. Made you looked respectful of the past, and concerned for the future.”
“Do you think the President saw through it?”
“Of course he did. I’m sure Axelrod said to him, ‘Mr. President, we are watching John Boehner introduce the Republican campaign strategy for 2016.’ And the President said, ‘At last!’” Mitch gives John’s shoulder a fist-bump. “Stop being so adversarial. You have to change your way of thinking, John. Old habits die hard, but it’s okay if the Democrats know we are truly going to meet them halfway.”
“No, John!” shouts a voice through a crack held open by a foot in the door.
“Shut up, Paul,” says John.
“That’s more like it!” grins Mitch. “Say after me: ‘A new era for America.’”
“A new era for America,” repeats John.
“’Where Obamacare becomes Americare!'”
“Aaaiiiieeeee!” screams Paul. There is a thud of a body hitting the floor, then shuffling, dragging noises as Paul’s shoe disappears from the door. The door quietly closes.
“Where Obamacare becomes . . . becomes . . . “
“That’s fine, John,” says Mitch, handing him a handkerchief. “That’s enough for today.”
“Nice speech, John,” Mitch says, in a conversation they should be having right about now, in John’s office.
“Thanks,” says John. “I hope I looked sad enough.”
“You were fine. Made you looked respectful of the past, and concerned for the future.”
“Do you think the President saw through it?”
“Of course he did. I’m sure Axelrod said to him, ‘Mr. President, we are watching John Boehner introduce the Republican campaign strategy for 2016.’ And the President said, ‘At last!’” Mitch gives John’s shoulder a fist-bump. “Stop being so adversarial. You have to change your way of thinking, John. Old habits die hard, but it’s okay if the Democrats know we are truly going to meet them halfway.”
“No, John!” shouts a voice through a crack held open by a foot in the door.
“Shut up, Paul,” says John.
“That’s more like it!” grins Mitch. “Say after me: ‘A new era for America.’”
“A new era for America,” repeats John.
“’Where Obamacare becomes Americare!'”
“Aaaiiiieeeee!” screams Paul. There is a thud of a body hitting the floor, then shuffling, dragging noises as Paul’s shoe disappears from the door. The door quietly closes.
“Where Obamacare becomes . . . becomes . . . “
“That’s fine, John,” says Mitch, handing him a handkerchief. “That’s enough for today.”
November 07, 2012
A productive four years ahead
On "Day One," the day that Mitt wanted so badly, his party threw him under the GOP bus as it left the curb and headed toward 2016.
"It's clear that with our losses in the Presidential race and in key Senate races," Sen. John Cornyn told The Washington Post, "we have a period of reflection and recalibration ahead for the Republican Party. While some will want to blame one wing of the party over the other, the reality is candidates from all corners of our GOP lost tonight. Clearly we have work to do in the weeks and months ahead."
By "wing," Cornyn meant the two wings of the Republican Party: the GOP (which I call "the pragmatists") and the tea party ("the Limbaugh Republicans"). Mitt's campaign, and his defeat, made it clear that in President Obama's second term, there will be three political parties: the Democrats, the GOP, and the tea party.
Now here is Sen. Mitch McConnell, telling the Post that Obama "must move to the center, where Republicans would 'be there to meet him halfway. That begins by proposing a way for both parties to work together in avoiding the fiscal cliff without harming a weak but fragile economy, and then when that is behind us work with us to reform the tax code and our broken entitlement system.'"
McConnell said "Republicans" would meet Obama halfway, but that was code for "GOP pragmatists." He knows the tea partiers won't move to the center or meet ANYBODY halfway, particularly the socialist Obama.
McConnell on Day One is already kicking into play a strategy I've been fiddling with for several days. The GOP, the pragmatists, looking ahead to 2016, know they have some promising young candidates to send out against Hillary. And they need to distance themselves from all those tea partiers who are unelectable or embarrassing or both, and in general a terrible drag on things.
And so the GOP consciously decides to help Obama succeed in his second term, in the process grinding the tea party into dust. The nation profits greatly thereby. Then in 2015-16, the GOP claims credit for everything. Everybody's happy, except maybe Hillary, but she can take care of herself. It's happening so fast. Looking forward, I see progress . . .
"It's clear that with our losses in the Presidential race and in key Senate races," Sen. John Cornyn told The Washington Post, "we have a period of reflection and recalibration ahead for the Republican Party. While some will want to blame one wing of the party over the other, the reality is candidates from all corners of our GOP lost tonight. Clearly we have work to do in the weeks and months ahead."
By "wing," Cornyn meant the two wings of the Republican Party: the GOP (which I call "the pragmatists") and the tea party ("the Limbaugh Republicans"). Mitt's campaign, and his defeat, made it clear that in President Obama's second term, there will be three political parties: the Democrats, the GOP, and the tea party.
Now here is Sen. Mitch McConnell, telling the Post that Obama "must move to the center, where Republicans would 'be there to meet him halfway. That begins by proposing a way for both parties to work together in avoiding the fiscal cliff without harming a weak but fragile economy, and then when that is behind us work with us to reform the tax code and our broken entitlement system.'"
McConnell said "Republicans" would meet Obama halfway, but that was code for "GOP pragmatists." He knows the tea partiers won't move to the center or meet ANYBODY halfway, particularly the socialist Obama.
McConnell on Day One is already kicking into play a strategy I've been fiddling with for several days. The GOP, the pragmatists, looking ahead to 2016, know they have some promising young candidates to send out against Hillary. And they need to distance themselves from all those tea partiers who are unelectable or embarrassing or both, and in general a terrible drag on things.
And so the GOP consciously decides to help Obama succeed in his second term, in the process grinding the tea party into dust. The nation profits greatly thereby. Then in 2015-16, the GOP claims credit for everything. Everybody's happy, except maybe Hillary, but she can take care of herself. It's happening so fast. Looking forward, I see progress . . .
November 06, 2012
Completely wrong, completely consistent
On the day before the election, Mitt told a rally crowd:
“I’ve learned that respect and goodwill go a long way and are usually returned in kind. That’s how I’ll conduct myself as president. I’ll bring people together. I won’t just represent one party, I’ll represent one nation. I’d like you to reach across the street to that neighbor with the other yard sign, and we’ll reach across the aisle here in Washington to people of good faith in the other party.”
Say what?
I wondered: Why would Mitt try to run off his party's base, on the day before the election?
If Mitt got elected president and acted as described above, the tea party would eat him alive. What would it look like if a president tried to lead the nation, but was blocked by resolute obstructionism from his own party? What would it be like if the GOP base came to hate Mitt? What would Rush do? Hey, I wonder if Rush is marketing one of those plastic bracelets: WWRD?
Anyway, Mitt is completely wrong again, when he says if elected, he “won’t just represent one party.” On Day 1, he would be representing two: the GOP, and the tea party. He says he’d “represent one nation.” Minus the 47 percent, of course, whom he has promised never to worry about.
It is so much more logical, and cleaner, when Obama wins, gets a pragmatic GOP's support to move the nation forward, giving the GOP successes to claim in 2015-16, and crushing the tea party in the process. I haven't voted yet. Can't wait to.
“I’ve learned that respect and goodwill go a long way and are usually returned in kind. That’s how I’ll conduct myself as president. I’ll bring people together. I won’t just represent one party, I’ll represent one nation. I’d like you to reach across the street to that neighbor with the other yard sign, and we’ll reach across the aisle here in Washington to people of good faith in the other party.”
Say what?
I wondered: Why would Mitt try to run off his party's base, on the day before the election?
If Mitt got elected president and acted as described above, the tea party would eat him alive. What would it look like if a president tried to lead the nation, but was blocked by resolute obstructionism from his own party? What would it be like if the GOP base came to hate Mitt? What would Rush do? Hey, I wonder if Rush is marketing one of those plastic bracelets: WWRD?
Anyway, Mitt is completely wrong again, when he says if elected, he “won’t just represent one party.” On Day 1, he would be representing two: the GOP, and the tea party. He says he’d “represent one nation.” Minus the 47 percent, of course, whom he has promised never to worry about.
It is so much more logical, and cleaner, when Obama wins, gets a pragmatic GOP's support to move the nation forward, giving the GOP successes to claim in 2015-16, and crushing the tea party in the process. I haven't voted yet. Can't wait to.
Voting against myself, in a couple of ways
Obama hits me where it hurts when he says Mitt would restore '50s cultural values.
1) When I started writing newspaper columns in 1972, I regularly referred to my wife as "the little woman." This may seem like a small thing, but such was the ignorance, I still cringe into a tight little knot of shame. To her, I apologize once again.
2) When I go to my high school reunions (class of '61) back in Texas, there are no black faces there. Sometime in the '90s, I started to feel that our reunions were an anachronism. Once I suggested that we should have a reunion of both white and black high school classes of '61, all in one big room, talking about our high school experiences. It didn't gain much traction. Just as well. The whole idea was patronizing.
When I vote for Obama today, I will be voting against those things I don't like about myself.
1) When I started writing newspaper columns in 1972, I regularly referred to my wife as "the little woman." This may seem like a small thing, but such was the ignorance, I still cringe into a tight little knot of shame. To her, I apologize once again.
2) When I go to my high school reunions (class of '61) back in Texas, there are no black faces there. Sometime in the '90s, I started to feel that our reunions were an anachronism. Once I suggested that we should have a reunion of both white and black high school classes of '61, all in one big room, talking about our high school experiences. It didn't gain much traction. Just as well. The whole idea was patronizing.
When I vote for Obama today, I will be voting against those things I don't like about myself.
November 05, 2012
Three hard reasons, plus Sandy, to vote Obama
Three hard reasons - realities, actually - why I am voting for President Obama.
1. I was always going to vote for him, even before the Republican primaries showed that the GOP didn't have a serious candidate, or a serious platform.
2. My vote this year, for the first and I hope the last time, is also against a candidate for President of the United States, who defamed me directly. He said a) the 47 percent will always vote for Obama, and b) the 47 percent pay no taxes. Those statements, taken together, defame me, damage my reputation. I could never become a party to that.
3. The dynamics of an Obama victory present the best chance for national recovery in the next four years. He becomes what the Republicans have always wanted: a one-term president. The GOP turns to the 2016 election, when, at last, it can offer a selection of reasonable candidates. The GOP decides to work with Obama to create success in 2013-2016, then take credit for that success in the 2015-16 campaign, most likely against Hillary Clinton. In the process, the new GOP pragmatism grinds the tea party into dust. By 2015, the national recovery has profited enormously, the GOP has something to brag about, and the tea party is no more. This is, I believe, my single best reason to vote for Obama.
I said three reasons, but the Sandy story presents one more. The Sandy disaster became a metaphor for the Bush disaster. Both disasters came, they devastated, they left, they couldn't be undone. Recovery is the only option, and recovery from major disasters is always slow. Victims have only one way to go: forward - "Forward," as Obama's signs say - one step at a time. I empathize with them, and I will vote that way tomorrow.
1. I was always going to vote for him, even before the Republican primaries showed that the GOP didn't have a serious candidate, or a serious platform.
2. My vote this year, for the first and I hope the last time, is also against a candidate for President of the United States, who defamed me directly. He said a) the 47 percent will always vote for Obama, and b) the 47 percent pay no taxes. Those statements, taken together, defame me, damage my reputation. I could never become a party to that.
3. The dynamics of an Obama victory present the best chance for national recovery in the next four years. He becomes what the Republicans have always wanted: a one-term president. The GOP turns to the 2016 election, when, at last, it can offer a selection of reasonable candidates. The GOP decides to work with Obama to create success in 2013-2016, then take credit for that success in the 2015-16 campaign, most likely against Hillary Clinton. In the process, the new GOP pragmatism grinds the tea party into dust. By 2015, the national recovery has profited enormously, the GOP has something to brag about, and the tea party is no more. This is, I believe, my single best reason to vote for Obama.
I said three reasons, but the Sandy story presents one more. The Sandy disaster became a metaphor for the Bush disaster. Both disasters came, they devastated, they left, they couldn't be undone. Recovery is the only option, and recovery from major disasters is always slow. Victims have only one way to go: forward - "Forward," as Obama's signs say - one step at a time. I empathize with them, and I will vote that way tomorrow.
November 02, 2012
The recovery metaphor
"Recovery" is an apt headline to be appearing this week, over and over, in the media. Such is the damage from Sandy, authorities say recovery will take years, because recovery from that level of damage is very slow and, as Gov. Christie recognized, requires government and bipartisanship. How odd, maybe even magical, that the Sandy story presents us with a metaphor for another recovery in progress. To see how bad the Bush Administration disaster had become, by winter of 2008, click here.
Obama campaign signs say "Forward." Forward into continuing recovery, which is very slow, and not helped at all by rigidly partisan Republicans in Congress who vowed to make Obama a one-term president. Now arrives an "October surprise," this Sandy with its brutal metaphorical message. It came, it destroyed, it left, it can't be undone. Victims have only one way to go: forward, one step at a time. I empathize with them, and I will vote that way on Tuesday.
Obama campaign signs say "Forward." Forward into continuing recovery, which is very slow, and not helped at all by rigidly partisan Republicans in Congress who vowed to make Obama a one-term president. Now arrives an "October surprise," this Sandy with its brutal metaphorical message. It came, it destroyed, it left, it can't be undone. Victims have only one way to go: forward, one step at a time. I empathize with them, and I will vote that way on Tuesday.
November 01, 2012
Rushworld's loveless terrain
Rush Limbaugh said today: "Christie's the only Republican not just praising Obama, it's a – let's just put it this way. Is it wrong for one man to love another man?"
"Yes!" is the Rushworld answer that Rush is fishing for. What an insinuation. I am a man, and I love several men, and I know these men love me. A couple of them, I know, are going to vote for Mitt Romney.
Is that not okay in Rushworld? Is it wrong for one man to love another man? Is it wrong for a Republican man to love a Democrat man? Is it wrong for Christie to love Obama? What is Rush saying? Can men love men? Can men who love men in opposing parties vote, and have it count, in Rushworld? Would Rush have such votes disqualified?
Hey, Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock. I am a man who loves, and is loved by, several men. What do you say about that? Quick, I want to hear. Before the election.
"Yes!" is the Rushworld answer that Rush is fishing for. What an insinuation. I am a man, and I love several men, and I know these men love me. A couple of them, I know, are going to vote for Mitt Romney.
Is that not okay in Rushworld? Is it wrong for one man to love another man? Is it wrong for a Republican man to love a Democrat man? Is it wrong for Christie to love Obama? What is Rush saying? Can men love men? Can men who love men in opposing parties vote, and have it count, in Rushworld? Would Rush have such votes disqualified?
Hey, Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock. I am a man who loves, and is loved by, several men. What do you say about that? Quick, I want to hear. Before the election.
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