Take a poll on the 2012 GOP ticket- here. Will you vote GOP in 2012? Me - it's doubtful I'll ever vote GOP nationally..but hey, things change rapidly...
(Ya know, I love the game of politics...the poll is really just an excuse to post my current hunches for the 2012 GOP ticket)
The weekend usually brings a big drop off in visits here. Frankly, I have little to say today after spending the day watching the USC Spring football game I am now in the mood to kick back and relax into the evening.
So FILLER in on tap!
As the first 100 days of the Obama administration approaches please give a letter grade to his performance so far. I will tell you my vote: D.
Personally, I am not a fan.
On the foreign policy front he gets an F from me. The worst elements of his personality are on display whenever he goes overseas. The apology tours are displays of weakness. Instead of just claiming he knows everyone hated Bush but he's not Bush- he ought to also make the case for American leadership as well. Believe it or not, we existed as a nation before Bush and - even - before he was born. Shocker! And we did a lot of good. Shocker!
He's blowing his chance to reinvigorate foreign policy. The leaders of the nations who will present him with the biggest problems don't give a rats ass if he's sorry. Sarkozy has already said he has no "backbone". The French President knows a thing or two about people with no backbone. He's leads a nation of them. Promote yourself loudly and carry a jello stick is Obama's policy.
On the domestic front I give him a C. Mostly because he seems determined to revamp healthcare in his first year. About this fear of rationing - all I can say is our healthcare system is already rationed. People go who get sick go bankrupt, poor people choose between the doctor and dinner. That is rationing of resources. This issue must be dealt with NOW.
The rest of his agenda is drags him down in my book. Dishonesty and corruption is still the norm. TARP is the biggest swindle in our history - and will only lengthen our pain - extending it over generations.
Here's news: G-20 summit actually achieved something (by Kevin G. Hall and Steven Thomma, McClatchy) The leaders of the world's major industrialized nations accomplished something at their G-20 summit here Thursday that rarely happens at such gatherings of heads of state. They produced large achievements. They pledged the first-ever global regulation of hedge funds and private-equity firms, big players in global finance that have enjoyed operating under the regulatory radar. They agreed to a require banks to set aside more capital in good times to help them function in bad times. They vowed to crack down on tax haven nations that allow the wealthy to escape taxation. And they pledged $1.1 trillion to the International Monetary Fund and related institutions to help revive the global economy.
In short, the summit marks the end of an era of unbridled global capitalism and a turn toward stronger government oversight of economics, coordinated globally. Leaders of the Group of 20 effectively closed the door on an era of history and opened the door to a new one.
President Obama Heralds 'Historic' Effort at G-20 (by Jake Tapper at Political Punch, ABC News) President Obama (Thursday) afternoon expressed confidence that the economic and regulatory steps the G-20 countries committed to this afternoon will mark "a turning point in our pursuit of global economic recovery."
An IFI success (by Paul Krugman) Credit where credit (line) is due: the G20 outcome was better than I expected, with something substantive and important emerging - namely, much bigger funding for international financial institutions (IFIs), plus expanded trade credit. This will help smaller, currency-crisis countries a lot. A turning point? No. But realistically, most big-time international meetings produce nothing; this did something significant.
House, Senate budget plans boost Obama agenda (AP) Passage by both House and Senate of companion budget plans gave President Barack Obama and his allies on Capitol Hill a key victory, but the debates also exposed some of the president's vulnerabilities. Obama's Democratic allies passed plans broadly supporting the young administration's agenda of higher spending on domestic programs like education and overhauling the nation's health care system. The $3.6 trillion House plan passed by a 233-196 vote Thursday.
But 20 House Democrats, mostly lawmakers representing GOP-leaning areas, abandoned Obama on the final vote. That reflected considerable unhappiness over unending deficits. Even after modest cuts to Obama's budget, the House plan predicts a $598 billion deficit in five years, while the Senate plan would produce a $508 billion shortfall.
Bayh And Nelson Vote Against Obama Budget Because It 'Costs Too Much,' But Support Costly Estate Tax Bill (Think Progress) While not a single Republican broke with their party to vote yes on the measure, two "moderate" Democrats-Sens. Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Ben Nelson (D-NE)- voted no. Nelson defended his vote in a prepared statement: "...it just costs too much." Similarly, Bayh issued a statement saying he opposed the budget in an attempt to be the voice of "fiscal responsibility"...But if Bayh and Nelson are really concerned about the cost of the budget, why then did they also vote yesterday in favor of a $250 billion tax cut for the rich? As the AP explains, Bayh and Nelson along with eight other "moderate" Democrats broke with Obama and voted to reduce estate taxes from which 99.7 percent of Americans were already exempt.
Bonus Quote of the Day (Political Wire) "My administration is the only thing between you and the pitchforks." -- President Obama, quoted by Politico, in a behind-the-scenes account of the president's recent meeting with Wall Street CEOs. Yes, and if you don't stop coddling them, President Obama, we'll be coming after you, too. Politically, of course.-Caro
Click here for more politics and media news headlines.
Poli Sci Test. CarolynKB posted this link yesterday. A very brief test to determine where you stand politically. Check it out.
April: April 1st is tomorrow. We all know what this means! - USC's first football game of the '09 season is only 157 days away!!!! If you're in LA spring practice is open to the public. Schedule here. April 18 is Swim with Mike day, and the 25th is the Trojan Huddle - a scrimmage in the coliseum which is very picnicky and relaxed. Plus, after you can check out the Rose Garden, and Dinosaur museum, (AKA Natural History), which serve as the exterior of The Jeffersonian Institute on Bones...which...I currently can't stop watching because everyone on it is so smart and pretty...or pretty and smart deepening on my disposition that day.
Gay of the Day: Speaking of Gay Actors on Bones (we were, right?) here is a Gay of the Day since I have not had one for a while. Eric Millegan was a "squint" for the first 3 seasons of Bones. He is also a sports nut AND a musical theater lover, apologetically and openly gay, and an all around swell guy. What's not to like?
His Girl Friday: Because I just love the way they talk. David Mamet owes a debt to the screenwriters of scenes like this...
Music: Keeping it in the Bones family, the star of Bones - Emily Deschanel's - sister Zooey sings this dandy piece of pop. I luvs me some thickly produced, wall of sound, saving irony from the seething hordes of Morrissey drop outs, bubble gum pop!
(fyi: i do love Morrissey, too..but I can't live in the subjunctive, for God's sake. )
Poll: Obama below 60%. Revolt: Soldier says, "He's not my commander." Turd: Jindal clears way for Palin in 2012. No links, just thoughts: 1. Do you think stroking BHO's dainty ego is a job requirement for White House employment? It does seem as fragile as ever. 2. Do you think we will hear about W's drinking over the past few years? If W stayed sober the entire 8 years I would be stunned. Getting better: After President OBummer speaks market only drops 80 points the next day! Things are looking up! Keep Hope alive!
Wonderful Music: Steve Wonder gets The Gershwin Award for popular songwriting Thursday night. I love this man. I am seriously.
GOP Wolf in Sheep Obama's clothing:Obama's plan so far: ditch his own party and get in bed with the GOP. Loathsome. Truly loathsome. Head over to riverdaughter and check out the "hope he resigns" poster.
Whatever I think of the Gitmo order, it was truly stupid to issue it without first dealing with the disposition of the prisoners. Goodness, I intend to have fun for the next four years.
Photos: Reader and friend of L.R. sent these photos in of the snow around he and his partner's home in Louisiana. Love 'em.
I am out tonight- but there is a spring in my step after today. There is so much to look forward to. How much fun is in store for the next 1,460 odd days??? Pull up a chair. Grab the popcorn - awaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay we goooooooo!
Today's "Rappy" catagory asks voters to project into 2009. Competition is tough. Voters are allowed to write in their own choices.
Winners will be announced during the half time show of the the AIG/FANNIE MAE/GM "Give me Free Money!" Bowl sponsored by Matthew Lesko, L.L.C. in Stateline, Nevada . This is one of many fantastic bowls (such as the majicjack St. Petersburg Bowl sponsored by Astroglide.) being held in lieu of a playoff system and a sense of fair play!!!!....Plus don't forget this - the bowls have the added attraction of utterly disregarding the public will!!! Just like Congress!!! Whoo hoo!!!
Update: A pic that a proud puma sent in to L.R. after voting is at the bottom of this post.
For fun, a poll- it is a day for voting, after all:
Turns out I must spend much of the work day away from my office (which is also my dining room, fyi.) in the glamorous fleshpot the entertainment elders call "Old Hollywood" - I will be unable to get online ( a situation that, oddly, causes me to feel naked). I say unto you, fabulous Liberal Rapturites, GO FORTH AND VOTE! I will no doubt attempt to avoid watching returns when I get back - but fail - and tune in - and post something... I am so glad the campaign part of this adventure is finally ending... For a while now I've wanted to move on to the "blogging about McCain from the Left" part of the story- or the "watching the country turn on Obama" part of the story.
UPDATE: Just got back from voting. I did not vote 4 BHO. I actually feel CLEAN. I will happily vote for him in 4 years if he wins today and proves himself. Until then I still believe merit should matter.
5 people I know have voted already - all have voted DEM before. Here is the breakdown: McKinney - 1 McCain - 2 Nader- 1 Write in - Hillary Clinton -1
