The Morning Plum
* CNN poll: Percentage who blame Republicans for the economy down sharply, percentage who blame Dems on the rise.
* Senator Mary Landrieu says she thinks Harry Reid will be able to pull health care off, perhaps signaling a Yes vote to move the bill to a debate.
* White House not terribly eager to profer FBI and Pentagon witnesses to Joe Lieberman’s hearing into the Fort shootings, says it would compromise criminal investigation.
* Interesting read from Jonathan Allen on anger at Rahm Emanuel among Hispanic lawmakers.
* Karl who? Dick who? Reviving fears of terrorism not even on the radar of Republican governors charting the GOP’s comeback strategy.
* But it’s very much on Liz Cheney’s radar: Now she’s telling local officials in a small Michigan town that they’re wrong for wanting to take the Gitmo detainees.
* Obama’s claim to soldiers that they “make a pretty good photo op” was a joke.
* Senate health care bill’s public option with opt out would leave about a third of the country without access to it.
* Charles Krauthammer: Plans to try Khalid Sheik Mohammed in New York have given 9/11 “a second life.” Or so he hopes, anyway…
* Ron Paul and Alan Grayson are rocking the House with their push to subject the Federal Reserve to more scrutiny.
* Rudy Giuliani still debating whether 9/11 is enough to get him elected to the Senate.
* And Sarah Palin’s endorsement of profiling in response to Fort Hood puts her at odds with Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
What else is happening?
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Does Krauthammer read his own paper? What a fool!
“In terrorist trials over the past 15 years, federal prosecutors and judges have gained extensive experience protecting intelligence sources and methods, limiting a defendant’s ability to raise irrelevant issues and tightly controlling the courtroom.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/19/AR2009111903470.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
Just what Lieberman needs, another opportunity to grandstand.
President Obama nominates Dana Perino for a broadcasting board position.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/obama-has-a-job-for-dana-perino-really/
You just can not hold Tracy Flick back for long.
Quitter Palin scheduled to visit Fort Hood, Texas.
Presumably; to thank them for not cutting and running, half way through their tours of duty.
“In October, the Standish City Council unanimously passed a resolution that essentially asked the Obama administration for federal prisoners, even Gitmo detainees, according to the Michigan Messenger.”
I guess Liz Cheney knows better then the officials elected by the residents of Standish City, MI. Fine, take their name off the list, I am sure the others won’t mind losing the competition. Thanks Liz!
So, will Hoffman concede again today?
Why Hoffman needs to concede again!
http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20091120/NEWS03/311209950
@Liam
“Presumably; to thank them for not cutting and running, half way through their tours of duty.”
I believe an “oh, snap” would be in order. Well done!
Nate Silver looking ahead to the Senate races next year…
“I suspect the net gain for either party will not exceed two seats” http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/11/senate-handicapping-one-year-out.html
Things are really heating up on Financial Regulations reform and general discontent from some Dem. members of Congress about how things are going in their districts or States re: jobs. Between the Grayson/Paul edit the Fed. Bill, the Black Caucus staving off a vote on regulation to capture the attention of the WH, some Dems (DeFazio) beginning to call for Geithner’s resignations and the stagnant jobs market, I predict we’ll be hearing a lot more from the WH in the coming weeks about the economy. I hope they can get a handle on some of this stuff, people are getting very antsy for good reason.
Liam and Andy, are you guys going to keep me company tomorrow night again if we get a vote in the Senate on HCR? I’m not that crazy about the bill, I prefer the House bill but I’m hoping they can make it better in Conference if they can get it there.
Vick’s Nasal Spray Recalled, because it contains bacteria.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/11/20/vicks.recall/index.html
I expect FAUX NEWS to blame the tainted product on “Obamacare”
Alterman on Perez and TNR…
“what has gone largely unremarked is how much of TNR’s ire has, of late, been directed at American Jews and in particular Jews who believe that the best way to protect Israel’s long-term future would be to commit itself to finding a common ground for peace with the Palestinians.” http://www.thenation.com/doc/20091207/alterman
@Insimca.
Yes I will.
“Vick’s Nasal Spray Recalled, because it contains bacteria.”
bu… bu.. but I thought private industry was infallible!-(
… Remember in the old days, when you could sell your toxic product and not worry about being legally liable for your actions?
And then those darn liberals came along in their hippie van along with their Scooby Dog…
And now there are laws against selling tainted products…
And now there are trial lawyers that will sue irresponsible business owners…
/snark
Is there a preview button I’m missing because I have “scripts” OFF?
@News Reference.
No preview feature available. It has been requested, and Greg has promised to have one available soon.
NR – Preview buttons ??? In Greg’s blog ??????
Ha, ha, ha. Good joke.
Andy, I really like this part from the Watertown paper. It shows how much support Scozzafava had before she was forced out. I wonder how long Hoffman will be talking about the beg, bad Acorn.
“Republican Dierdre K. Scozzafava, who suspended her congressional campaign three days before Election Day, continues to collect significantly more absentee votes than she did at the ballot box. Ms. Scozzafava received 5.5 percent of the vote on Election Day, but has been picked by 19.1 percent of absentee voters so far.”
The new advocacy group set up by Liz Cheney and Bill Kristol, “Keep Torturers Safe”, is pushing a fund for Bybee’s legal expenses… http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/declassified/archive/2009/11/19/torture-memo-author-sets-up-defense-fund-to-fight-possible-impeachment.aspx
ps…h/t on that last to Spencer Ackerman
lmsinca
I was hoping there would be more movement on Financial Regulations but the Fed Audit bill was a shocker. It may be important but there are a lot of other shenanigans going on that need adult supervision so we don’t end up swimming in more toxic stuff.
I saw a clip of Geithner defending himself against some TX congressman. I thought he made a good case. I don’t think he should resign and I don’t think Obama wants him to, but I guess we will see.
Yes, tomorrow night I will be tuning in to see what Harry has up his sleeve. While I don’t expect it to be quite the spectacle the house vote was I am anxious to see the final vote tally. I am really curious why Harry was so quick to take reconciliation off the table, after days earlier he had made a point to reiterate he had it at his disposal. I thought he should have given some explanation for his decision.
Bernie, I have a lot of respect for Nate Silver but I’m still not getting too excited about next years races. I’m really hoping HCR passes and the jobs market improves before we get too close to elections and then I’ll start really watching. I like his analysis though.
@Andy,
Actually Harry needs to just shut up about that, and should never have mentioned it in the first place. You never show your whole card, before the dealing is done.
Harry needs to learn, to keep hypothetical fall back positions to himself. All he did was let the opponents know what to plot against.
Andy, I don’t think he should resign either but the AIG bailout is a real weight around his neck. I think and he’s built up an awful lot of doubt around his policy changes because of it. I’m anxious to see how the WH deals with some of these issues, it looks like the economy and regulations will be the main topics, along with Afghanistan of course, over the next few months.
I will be back later. I had raked all the leaves from my lawn, but my next door neighbor did not removes his. There was a wild South West Wind(”Thou breath of Autumn’s being”) last night, and this morning, my lawn is full of my neighbors leaves.
I am off to herd leaves once more.
edit;
hole card…
Speaking of the need for a preview feature.
I want Geitner and Summers out of there. They were heavily involved with the Paulson fiasco, and they tried to get the one women fired, who saw the disaster looming, and tried to prevent it. They succeeded in blocking her attempts to rein in the Wall St. Bankers who ended up, creating the Financial Disaster, that she saw coming.
Dean Baker: “The People Who Couldn’t See an $8 Trillion Housing Bubble and Thought Iceland Was Thriving Oppose Auditing the Fed.”
http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/beat_the_press_archive?month=11&year=2009&base_name=the_people_who_couldnt_see_an
I know Liam, I don’t like either of them much, just don’t know if Geitner should go or not. I think he has some good ideas but has a real credibility problem. I just think we need someone in there who understands Wall Street and the Banking Industry to help guide the reforms with Congress watching every step of the way. I don’t think we’ll ever get the kind of reforms we really need but hopefully we’ll get close. Remember, the banks own the place.
McCain may face tough primary challenge.. http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/11/poll-mccain-in-dead-heat-in-potential-2010-gop-primary-for-re-election.php?ref=fpa
Prediction: If it happens that McCain loses his primary battle and then his seat, he will be invited onto more Sunday news shows than ever before.
I wanted to point out this Swampland post about the opt out provision. It pretty much confirms what I said from the very beginning. Even the CBO is skeptical that anybody would actually opt out but they had to assume some would just for argument’s sake. This is a political and policy winner and i am hoping others now jump on board with it. I realize we would like to see more folks covered by it and the premiums cheaper but all good things can come with time.
http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2009/11/19/the-senate-bill-and-the-public-option/
Liam | November 20th, 2009 at 09:48 am
Yup.
Geithner and Summers are stones around Obama’s neck.
They might make the corporatists happy but their policies are bad for almost 90% of Americans and bad for America as a whole.
Obama’s failure to have even a single progressive economist in his administration says more about him than any single thing he’s done.
Where’s the equivalent to Krugman or Stiglitz or Baker?
How about an Atrios or DeLong or Galbraith or Mishel or Reich?
How about even a Roubini or Taleb?
You know, people who had a better understanding of the economic collapse?
And not people like Summers and Geithner who had their hands in the till.
If the Dems take the fall for this 2007 Republican Great Recession it’s going to be because Obama was ignoring good progressive voices while taking the advice of corporatists like Geithner and Summers.
Dean Baker:
http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/beat_the_press
Krugman isn’t quite as explicit as I’m going to be:
Obama is choosing the financial kings over working Americans.
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/invisible-bond-vigilantes/
sgwhite-
Reading the link that Greg has up top, I’m wondering where that Times article figures that 1/3 of the country would be w/o it? Because of legislatures/governors controlled by the GOP? Sorry if I’m missing something…
News Ref. How much hope do you have that Obama will mix things up in his financial team? I’d like to see it as well but just don’t think it will happen. I keep telling the Obama haters here that he’s just not as progressive as they feared and Obama lovers, as they hoped.
Imsinca, I think the last part of your statement is quite accurate, but also I think the bigger picture is the unbelievable influence the financial industry has over BOTH parties. So imho, it’s less about Obama, Geitner, Summers making bad decisions, it’s about Obama, Geitner, Summers being FORCED to make those decisions by the financial sector. Obviously Geitner and Summers are deeply tied to the top echelon of that industry, but imho they would have acted in a much more dramatic and sensible (to us ordinary folks) way were Washington as a whole not completely beholden to money interests. Just my opinion, but it will be interesting to see what Geitner says in a few years about how things went down.
I agree Ethan, and I think they are all acutely aware of how unhappy Main Street still is. I keep wishing Durbin wouldn’t have said “the banks own the Senate” because I would be more hopeful for real reform.
Yeah, you would think even the financial community would be open to reform — much less HOSTILE to it! — after they nearly caused a global depression. I just don’t think we normal human beings can appreciate the depravity of an addiction to greed. It surely is far worse than any drug.
White House not terribly eager to profer FBI and Pentagon witnesses to Joe Lieberman’s hearing into the Fort shootings, says it would compromise criminal investigation.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this turned out to be a possibly true assertion and a very politically convenient one at the same time.
But it’s very much on Liz Cheney’s radar: Now she’s telling local officials in a small Michigan town that they’re wrong for wanting to take the Gitmo detainees.
Let us know when she starts frothing at the mouth over the death rays the detainess can send from their eyes.
(detainees)
“How much hope do you have that Obama will mix things up in his financial team?”
Very little, unfortunately.
But unless Obama hears strident and unremitting criticism from the left I’ve concluded it’s even less likely that he’ll chose the more progressive course.
Mind you, it’s difficult for many the left to criticize Obama while simultaneously defending him from the absurd charges by the right.
And as the right wing’s charges become more and more insane, the left, as usual, is left playing defense instead of offense.
So instead of criticizing Obama’s right wing policies, many on the left feel compelled to defend Obama’s right wing policies because of the outlandishness of the extreme right’s attacks.
In the right wing’s alternate universe, even conservative centrists are now far left. It’s an indication of how increasingly extreme right the right wing is.
Still, I’m ever hopeful that Obama will recognize that his conservative centrist policies have failed to get him much credit on the right even while adopting those right wing policies have been very damaging (as seen from the left’s perspective).
But conservative centrism is Obama’s nature.
And so we are probably stuck with right of center corporatists like Geithner and Summers.
It’s an interesting dilemma. It’s the reason why I like to see so many progressives pushing the Administration so hard to try and swing them a little bit to the left of center. It’s so intriguing how the right wing, knee jerk reaction, hates everything he does when they could actually have a pretty good shot at shaping legislation if they wanted.
Obama has reached out to the right wing repeatedly even while rejecting many of the left’s positions.
The right wing has had tremendous influence shaping legislation:
Right wingers watered down the stimulus (which is now biting US in the @ss because it was inadequate to stem job losses even while it enriched the gamblers in the financial industry).
Right wingers watered down climate change legislation (which will bite everyone in the @ss in the decades to come).
Right wingers have minimized the essential correctives to the reckless gambling of the financial industry (which means we’re risking a double dip recession because the gamblers are at their same games).
Right wingers have prevented legislation that would help stem the foreclosures (there are still a tsunami of foreclosures expected).
Right wingers have obstructed sensible healthcare legislation that would save more than 44,000 American lives per year.
And despite Obama’s active efforts to work with the right wing, the vast majority of right wingers have not only given him NO credit for his efforts, they’ve actively smeared him with ridiculous and false charges.
“The right wing has had tremendous influence shaping legislation:”
This is where I think Obama blew it personally, by catering to them without them publicly asking for it or negotiating for it, and then ridiculing him for his “socialist” policies. Ridiculous.
Again, this is why I like the progressive push and criticism, but I also don’t want to push so hard we lose Dem control. The idea of going back to a Conservative majority scares me more than any centrist position Obama takes. That’s why I’m enjoying the Tea Party movement so much, it paints the conservatives as a bunch of crack pots.
Useful blog post definitely a good contribution to the web.