Wednesday Reads
Posted: November 3, 2010 Filed under: morning reads 78 Comments
Welcome to Gridlock! It wasn’t an election sweep by Republicans but it wasn’t a great show by the Democratic party either. We know a few things: Agent Orange will be the House Speaker and the Senate Democratic majority has narrowed. A few good ones have fallen (e.g. Russ Feingold). A few bad ones are in (e.g. Rand Paul). And I will be less hobbled when the mighty FEDEX fleet arrives at my front door today to deliver a new harddrive for my computer and a new BlackBerry to replace the one with the dead expensive battery. Other than that, just like SCOTUS, every thing will depend on the very few folks that are willing to work to find middle ground.
Consensus can be so elusive in a democracy.
Here’s the take about the House take over from MSNBC.
Still, the returns signaled a hurricane of voter discontent with Obama and Democrats in general, as Americans delivered their verdict on the president’s far-reaching health care law and economic relief efforts.
You can only imagine what kind of images the word hurricane brings to my mind. I listened last night to the future Speaker’s remarks that represent the worst of voodoo economics. We’re in a fragile economy and thinking that a few tax cuts for the wealthy is going to heal the economy is craziness. The deficit will heal only when the economy is strong. The economy will be strong when wages are strong and the job market is strong. That’s the ‘real’ economy. Banks are just a pass through. If the Dem’s hadn’t taken their eye of the ball, the return of voodoo economics to the house would have been an impossibility.
That is all.
I know I said that my overwhelming feel was that all politics is local, but I have to admit that the loss of Senator Russ Feingold makes me very sad. So much for thinking there were a few places where reason prevailed.
Feingold, one of the most liberal members of the Senate, had trailed much of the race. He was challenged by Johnson, a businessman, over his support for President Barack Obama’s healthcare overhaul, and over government spending.
It’s not the size that matters. It’s the future growth. It’s the interest rate. It’s the state of the economy. Deficits are relative. Deficits come from many things. Balanced Budgets are not the holy grail. You shouldn’t overspend in a good economy and you shouldn’t underspend during a bad economy. I’m not sure why so many folks that think they are pro-commerce believe they know best when their economic ideology is ruled by flawed concepts, but I do know that until most politicians come in with some economic knowledge under their belt, we’re doomed.
With all the election weirdness last night, there is one bright spot: Lexington Kentucky elected its first openly gay mayor. They may have cursed us with Rand Paul as a senator, but some parts of Kentucky see the future.
Kentucky’s second-largest city has elected an openly gay man as its next mayor. Vice-Mayor Jim Gray was victorious tonight in his second campaign for the city’s top job, beating incumbent Mayor Jim Newberry.
“This is a tremendous victory for Lexington, for Kentucky’s LGBT community and for fairness. We are proud of Jim Gray and his fantastic campaign staff who fought hard for this win,” said Chuck Wolfe, Victory Fund’s president and CEO.
So, my next big question is this. Since Democrats will keep control of the Senate, what does this mean for Senate Majority Leader? Harry Reid returns to the Senate. Can we assume he will continue his role?
On a personal note, I’d like to mention that Skydancing is evolving. Two weeks ago, I looked at this as nothing more than my file cabinet. It’s now becoming a real team effort and a real community effort. The bounty of community is something I respect, appreciate, and cherish. No matter the differences or distances, there is always something we can learn from each other. Thank you for your support, your voice, and your friendship. I wish BostonBoomer and her mom a safe trip to Indiana and I look forward to a valued voice from a respected happy friend. She has challenged me to stand up for what I believe in during times when going along seemed the easy path. She’s one strong woman and she has a voice of wisdom. When she speaks, I listen. I am so pleased that she will continue to share her voice wiith all of us. She’s got mad research skills and I’m anxiously waiting to learn more from her.
(Also, I just wanted you to know that I appreciate all the tips and I’m sharing it with BB just so you know. We’ve been a team for awhile and I owe a lot to her guidance. So, after some thought I felt that any donations to skydancing shoud be team donations.)
Okay … let’s just say when the hard drive comes in, the sharing will increase. I will be much more able to search out things so, today I am relying on community and friends! The presentation went fine. I’m sleeping in late but I know you all will make it work!
So, what lessons do you think were learned last night? What messages were sent?
Does it change anything?
What’s on your reading and blogging list this morning?
peej
Carissa
ecocatwoman
mablue2
Mama Lopez
peggysue22
quixote
skydancingguestblogger
Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Sky Dancing 
Good morning, Dak.
Russ Feingold out? 😦 😦 😦
I have no idea if it was a politically sound move at the time, but his efforts to censure Bush made me a fan for life.
Feingold’s loss is really the one that hurts the most.
We have to thank th Blue Dogs and Obama’s bi-partisanship that real Progressive in the Congress ended up as the biggest losers.
Ian Welsh succinctly gets it.
http://www.ianwelsh.net/why-dems-lost-for-complete-idiots/
‘Anyone who doesn’t understand this, is, forgive me, a complete idiot.’
I rarely do links so sorry if it doesn’t work – it’s just so right on.
I have nothing against Ian Welsh, but that’s a real Mandos infected, and women hating, faux progressive comments section.
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have to say that the comments on that Welsh piece are really disturbing.
That’s my feelings too.
Yup. I’m watching CNN. They said like sixty house pick ups in the house. It’s like the map went completely red. Much worse than 94.
guess that was the difference between ’94 and ’10 Obama was alluding to when he said he was the difference between the two elections /snark
I’m late to comment on the election, but I am very pleased Paladino(saur) did not win the governorship of my state….NY.
I don’t know.
It’s harsh but I think the progressives have only themselves to thank.
Feingold was not acting like a progressive when he voted for ObamaCare and other elements of Obama’s non-progressive agenda.
I know he and other progressives were between a rock and a hard place but I don’t buy that the Blue Dogs were the problem — they only had the power they did because Obama was on their side.
IMO progressives paid a price for the disappointment in Obama and then progressives going along with him.
I thought Russ should have voted against Obamacare too. On the other hand, he was one of the few real liberals remaining in the Senate. Let’s hope he’ll find something else useful to do, like start visiting Iowa in preparation for a primary challenge to Obama.
Are you moving to Iowa BB, or just accompanying your mom? Sorry for being so off topic…
It’s Indiana. That’s not as far away as Iowa, lol. I hope to move there eventually. This time, I’m just going to help my mom out for awhile. I’ll be back here after Thanksgiving.
He’s the one, well him and Sestak and Patrick Murphy, that make me sad this morning.
I was disappointed but didn’t, myself, blame him for voting for Obamacare, I really do think at that point he and all Dems were between a rock and a hard place, thanks to Obama, but I think it cost him.
I also remember Pelosi working to pull together a better HCR with a public option, etc, but ultimately having to go along with Obama — and I’ve wondered if she ever regrets supporting Obama over Hillary. Because I really do think a big part of voter dissatisfaction can be traced to Obamacare being such inferior health care reform compared with what Hillary would have fought for.
I don’t think Feingold went down in WI because he wasn’t Progressive enough or didn’t act like a true Progressive. I really don’t.
From my point of view, as long as the Stupak stuff was in the hcr bill, any liberal should have refused to support it.
Yup, and the Public Option and all of the missing ME Too promises.
Why do you think Feingold lost, mablue?
Zaladonis,
I really don’t know. He got in trouble early on and I couldn’t figure out why. He even tried to play the conservative card, the independent card, the tea party card and any other card you could think of, but nothing seemed to help him.
His opponent was clearly conservative on all fronts and the mood in the country kept getting worse for Dems.
He even tried to play the conservative card, the independent card, the tea party card and any other card you could think of, but nothing seemed to help him. that’s part of the answer right there . He was all over the place
The rich businessman with the most chance of winning is Ron Johnson, who is up against Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI). Polls show him leading. He is flooding the airwaves painting Feingold as joined at the hip with President Obama, which is totally untrue. Feingold is one of the most independent senators and often bucks his own party. Still, the ads seem to be working.
I just found this useful site. Excerpt above is from an article on “Can You Buy a Senate Seat or Governor’s Post?”. It also has decent electoral maps.
http://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2010/Senate/Maps/Nov02-s.html#10
I don’t buy that. Money and what it can buy is effective but only goes so far.
In Connecticut, for instance, Senate candidate Linda McMahon spent a colossal amount of money to defeat Richard Blumenthal, and even though Blumenthal was, additionally, broadsided by McMahon’s campaign discovering and exploiting his fibbing about having served in Viet Nam, Blumenthal won.
I think, especially with an incumbent with Feingold’s bonafides, defeating him was about more than campaign spending.
I think the tea party cut possible republican gains. most of the most shrill ones lost.
ITA, dakinikat. The Tea Party cost the Republicans some seats they could have picked up.
Yes, and the sad thing is that those yelling, “Take Our Country Back”, were really saying to GIVE BACK CONTROL TO WALL STREET GREEDOS! Yup, all of us saw our stocks go down and yet they still live in million dollar homes and they are still taking vacations with the bonus checks.
Russ Feingold will be missed and I hope he runs again.
Your teaming with BB is very happy news. 🙂
The message, I think, is we’re not pleased with the past two years but we’re not throwing out the Dems en masse A) because they’re not the problem per se and B) Republicans aren’t offering anybody/thing better.
I’m sad about Feingold and a couple others but I think the despair from Democrats is kind of silly. Dems still have the WH and Senate and the GOP doesn’t have an overwhelming House majority. There’s workability in this mix if there’s leadership.
That said, I think Nancy Pelosi is likely one of the angriest people in America this morning and Barack Obama is one of the most delighted. Now he has an enemy and he has an excuse for passing what he wants to pass anyway and he can call it a successful compromise. Not sure that’s what’ll happen but there it is.
As for what was learned last night, I think not much. The MSNBC posse and the CNN crowd are as stupid and biased as ever. As is, of course, Fox. And from what I’ve seen so far they’re typical of what’s percolating up this morning. But maybe smarter minds learned something.
Lastly, I can’t help but be amazed at Dems being at all surprised by what happened. If anything, I’m surprised it wasn’t worse for Dems. Two years ago when Obama won I said right away he better get to work right away, burn the midnight oil for two years because after that the GOP is back in town. I mean come on!
Nancy has only herself to blame too. She has been going in the wrong direction ever since she announced that impeachment of Bush was “off the table.”
I hope one day the Dems will learn that it’s important to satisfy THEIR OWN base, and not to perpetually chase some elusive “Center”.
Hear, hear!
I am so sick of that center meme.
It made sense in the early 90s when Clinton employed it — anybody remember how long we’d been desperate for a viable Democratic candidate?! But let’s move on folks!
Right on!
Also, what she knew, when she knew etc., and the blah, blah comment about Obama being sent by God or some such thing…I couldn’t believe she said that.
i am happy to visit you here at sky dancing. i am still disturbed about whatever went on at TC. i sensed the change in tone there just before you posted about it. it felt like it had become exclusive and anyone who wasnt a front pager or a constant commenter would be run off. what i had thought was a safe haven had turned into a place where if i dared to come out of lurking, my comments would not be welcome. it’s sad to witness and i feel the loss.
Thank you for all the kind words, Dakinikat. I’ll be leaving soon, and hope I’ll be able to check in from Indiana on Thursday night.
Safe travels, BB.
Looking forward to hearing more from you.
Who won?
Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, the Birthers, Mitch McConnell, Karl Rove, the Koch Brothers, Dick Armey, Ralph Reid, Fox News.
Who lost?
Us. And the former Democratic Party along with its feckless leadership who believed that installing a “celebrity” in the WH and labeliing this a “historic victory” while ignoring the lack of experience and Right Wing leanings would be the answer.
I hate to say “I told you so” but that statement says it all. The Dems have no one else to blame but themselves as they hand back the power into the very same hands that brought us here in the first place.
Obama needs to either get up off his butt and begin to lead or else his chances in reconsider 2012. As of today, those chances are pretty dim considering.
As but a small – and foreign at that – voice I greatly appreciate being allowed to partake in this great, inclusive, and apparently ever growing 🙂 community. Looking forward to seeing it evolve!
So, in my constant pursuit trying to figure out what made the whole world fall for Obama, this excerpt from an article in Spiegel about ‘Obama’s Election Debacle’ provides me with yet another piece of the puzzle. Yes, I’m sure it could be that ‘the idea’ had as much to do with it as the actual man.
Just thinking about team Dak and BB warms my heart!!!
Safe trip, BB. Thanks for letting us know your presentation went well, Dak.
Yea!
It was pretty much a GOP sweep here in bitter-cling PA. Quelle surprise.
MA stayed Blue. I’m proud of my people.
We just need to kick Scott Brown out of our delegation and MA is completely “clean”.
It’s still the economy everywhere but the. Beltway.
My dem rep, John Adler, has been replaced by the repub, Jon Runyan, a former football player. No surprise here.
Interesting – Lisa Murkowski in Alaska is winning as a write-in candidate after being beaten in the repub primary by Joe Miller. Too bad she’s not a liberal.
Safe trip, BB.
Team dak + BB will = a great blog! Yay!
Speaking for myself, I am not inclined to want to listen to Snooki Boehner, Crazy Bachmann, or Screeching Palin for the next two years.
The Dems better get their act together – most importantly President Indifferent – and begin to fight for the public or we may all be wasting away under the insanity passing itself off as “faux democracy” led by the fundies and the corporate interests who infest this nation with a never ending supply of money.
Not that I hold out much hope.
some conservative commentator on CNN just inkled jeb for president in 2012. Who would think a bush resurrection possible even a year ago?
A Bush candidacy might motivate some anti enthusiasm. It would me, if my anger or total disillusionment didn’t immobilize me first! I remember 2000 and 2008.
Me! (Waving hand frantically, and doing my best Arnold Horshack imitation.) That’s been my tinfoil hat theory since the 2008 primaries, when the Obama Love Train took off on its mission to destroy the Democratic Party.
My tinfoil hat theory too. The wrong Bush son won, so now they’ll go with the right one. Makes me wanna barf. And all that crap in 2008 about if Hillary won it’d be a dynasty? People can kiss my butt for saying that.
From the BBC:
“Obama’s world image tarnished – but policies will remain”
The mid-term congressional elections have certainly weakened US President Barack Obama domestically, and to an extent he has also been weakened internationally.
Peoples and governments around the world might think that if he cannot impress his own people, then he cannot impress them either. His reception at the G20 meeting in South Korea next week will be watched closely.
and again:
“Republicans ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ as they take Illinois”
For the faithful, the message of the song Don’t Stop Believing was vindicated.
For Mr Obama there was an altogether grimmer message. Chicago was the scene of his speech where he proclaimed his great presidential victory.
Who would have thought the city that gave him a night to remember only two years ago would give him a night to forget so soon afterwards?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11683652
Dubya’s memoir to be published next week.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-11680239
I wasn’t shocked at all and predicted that no wmd would be found. Amazing that the president of the U.S. couldn’t judge the situation as well as I, a citizen with no special inside knowledge, could.
I put this in and then realized probably nobody’s interested in it right now, as there is a recent election to be dissected.
Sorry, I’m always going off on tangents.
I accidently did the same thing yesterday, posting out of the blue about Social Security. Sometimes we can’t help ourselves!
As for WMDs, I knew too. And I remember some other liberals felt certain as well. Still, even our “knowing” wasn’t the biggest part, the outrage wasn’t that Bush believed they were there but that he ordered the inspectors out when they were discovering Iraq might very well be clean of them.
Bush is just a liar about those events, always has been. He and his neocon pals wanted a war and they wanted it in Iraq, and they wanted revenge on Saddam Hussein.
Me 3. I still recall the surreal atmosphere. My friends and co-workers had become pod people hell bent on waging war. And they were all willing to go along with the (IMO, obvious) lie to satisfy their desire for vengeance. Not one of America’s finer moments.
P.S., that’s one of the reasons I love Cynthia McKinney. In 2008, I reminded folks whenever I could that only one presidential candidate voted against the war.
“But Mr. Bush admits that he was shocked when no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq.”
But Mr. Cheney told him that there were WMDs!
Faith-based war mongering.
Bingo!
But, but, but Cilin Powell had a photo with a big truck and it had wheels and steering wheel Too and shucks NO WMDs! Who would have thunk NO WMDs.
Have you noticed how no one asks about the wars these days?
Shrub believed his own propaganda. I don’t think O does, that’s why he bothers me even more.
Didn’t shock me either. The UN inspectors said there were none. We’d been boycotting the country forever, it didn’t even has Russia as an underhanded alley. Where were the WMD to come from?
The view from Illinois: Obama is toast; true liberals retain 99% of seats.
Yep, that’s my headline for this morning. Although the press is saying that the Illinois governor’s race is still too close to call, Quinn has enough of a lead, with 99% of the precincts reported, to retain his position–and he ran on a platform of increasing taxes! Quinn is a populist from way back (he personally began the push for the Citizens Utility Board, colloquially known as CUB, which is the only organization that, for years, has stood between consumers and massive rate increases by the utilities), and he has never been part of Obama’s Dem. machine. Quinn has enormous integrity, and I’m really proud of my fellow Illinois voters for being able to distinguish the wheat from the chaff. I think it also didn’t hurt that Quinn is older, gray-haired, and clearly not looking to use the governorship as a springboard to any other political positions.
Other state Dems, such as our AG, Lisa Madigan, and our Secretary of State, Jesse White, demolished their opponents by at least 2-1 margins. Of course, it’s easier in those types of positions, where duties are tightly defined, for voters to see whether or not an individual is doing a good job. Those margins held up even in districts and counties that shifted red this year. Democrats also kept control of the General Assembly, and while we lost one good guy up in my district, we gained one good guy farther south along the North Shore, so it seems that Illinois voters still don’t think Repubs are the answer to local issues.
What about U.S. congressional races? Well, every true liberal incumbent was returned to office. Every one. Take note, Mr. Obama. If people think you’re doing a good job of representing them, they don’t care what label you wear on your lapel. Meanwhile, races became more problematic for blue dogs. Rahm’s hand-picked BD from the last election cycle, Bill Foster, went down decisively in IL-14, and two-term incumbent Melissa Bean is trailing in IL-08. Unfortunately, in IL-10, Dan Seals, who had a lead in pre-election polling in Mark Kirk’s old district, seems to have lost to the Repub in a very close race. Impressively, Seals managed to win in the Lake County portion of his district, which has historically gone for Kirk. This was Dan Seals’ third attempt at a congressional seat, and he’s never been able to break through the 49% mark, so I don’t think we’ll be seeing him again at the local level.
As for the Kirk/Giannoulias race, Giannoulias was never a quality candidate–although, for that matter, neither was Kirk. Kirk has tried to position himself as a moderate, but, let’s be honest: no Repub remains a moderate if s/he doesn’t have to worry about an election every two years. There were some other candidates the Dems could have tapped, but, I think at the time the decision was made, Illinois Dems still thought the world loved Obama and that Obama’s support could carry their candidate across the finish line. They were wrong.
Bottom line, although there were a couple of disappointments, Illinois voters held onto their common sense. Greens produced an impressive 3% tally across all their races, an indication that the tide is turning. Also, based on the elections I’ve watched in my own district and county for the past 9 years, there are a lot more independents than anyone realizes. Fewer and fewer people are voting a straight ticket anymore.
Wasn’t Illinois bright blue before yesterday?
It’s still bright blue. Contrary to the press’s fascination with Obama’s old senate seat, I never thought that race was the bellweather. Remember, Obama’s predecessor was Peter Fitzgerald, a Repub who essentially bought the seat with $7 million of his own money. The true test, as I saw it, was the governor’s race and the general assembly. Those were the races where voters were going to determine whom they trusted to run things locally, and they’re all still solidly Dem. Also, as I mentioned, liberal incumbents were all returned to D.C. with solid margins. It was the Blue Dogs and the newcomers who struggled.
Interesting roundup, thank you. Just looking at the Senate races gives a distorted picture, I think.
The message from yesterday’s voting is that Bush’s policies are still hugely unpopular…it’s just they are now called Obama policies. The media constantly bangs the drum beat that the voters rejected Dems….no, they rejected Bush 3 . But that’s not what one will hear .
Very well put.
Yup. Agree with grayslady: very well put.
So glad to see BB here with you Dak, and all the commenters who have been familiar for years. A fine place to squat and lurk!
Yes, I am also happy that BB and Dak are teaming up…it should bring some much needed fresh air to the discussion. I enjoy reading both post over at TC and I am glad that you are moving forward with Sky Dancing.
Sink Concedes in Florida Governor’s Race
By DAMIEN CAVE
MIAMI — Alex Sink, Florida’s Democratic candidate for governor, conceded defeat this morning after a marathon vote count that gave Republican Rick Scott a razor-thin victory.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/03/sink-concedes-in-florida-governors-race/
………………….
I can never bring myself to vote for Sarah Palin when they brought Rick Scott and Paul Rand into Power! One wants to deny working folks Health Care by trickory and the other wants Civil Rights to be ala the free market system.
………………………………..
h/t NYS
Yes, I want someone to challenge him, he said ‘ME TOO’ only people didn’t know he was saying ‘ME TOO’ to Wall Street and that he would keep the Public Option out after saying ‘ME TOO’ and that EVERYTHING would be considered. All I got was a BIG BILL and NO PUBLIC OPTION. 😦
Interesting link. However, the author (not surprisingly, when you see that the article is coming from Forbes) is a member of a Texas “think tank” started by Dick Armey. As one would expect, his conclusion is “for heaven’s sake, don’t look to true liberals for political salvation”. Still, there’s no question that, only 2 years into his term, Obama–and his enablers–have crippled the Dem brand.
I wish I thought gridlock was ahead…but I see SS on death row and the wackiest GOP tax the poor /give money to the rich policies given a green light( and all the while they will be labeled as Dem policies) as Obama forever keeps ” reaching out ” to the GOP to find the “common ground “…what or who can stop it? It was the plan and it’s working …so far
I don’t think that dems can afford to beat up on the base anymore.
You are correct and I was surprised that they were not toning it down with some of the ‘B@tch up’ stuff going towards the women candidates that lost last night on twitter and other social media.
I also, think that the Democrats need to see WHO is really in the techie blogging front, as on a live cast last night with the two techie young dudes (cute/darlin kids about 18 or 19), the two techie folks were granny and an elected mayor in his forties (wouldn’t tell me his age). So, let’s face it, it is folks like us here, have laptops (I have two sony vios one is almost two and the other is 8 months old and my apple pro, the iPhone and a blackberry that will soon be traded in for some new pc 4 Gphone…my office computer says it is dead and will soon be replaced by a server, security computer is still off-line at the office…etc).
My point being, that when they gave us the kick out the door and called us old Knitter Bitter…blah, blah…we went with a huff and ALL OUR COMPUTERS, $$$, TIME and GADGETS! In D.C. some one took notice that on average the Knitter Bitters had the latest equipment 😯 and it is high time the Dems take notice too.
Frightening! Precisely because it’s so possible. One the one hand I am gladdened by the good showing for Greens and other independents, but on the other hand I’m depressed and apprehensive because of the point you so concisely make.
Hopefully they will allow the third parties into the debates, to get the debates onto really issues like the WARS, The Economy and The Public Option…instead of ‘Take Back Our Country’, SCREAM, ‘Constitution’, SCREAM –and a oops they forgot to read it, and the constant screaming and screaming of the word SOCIALIST!
Congressional Midterm Elections Over, 2012 Presidential Race Next