Monday Reads
Posted: November 11, 2013 Filed under: 2016 elections, morning reads 44 Comments
Good Morning!
Today is Veteran’s Day when our country shows appreciation for our soldiers living and passed that have served in uniform.
I’m not quite sure why this article was written because Elizabeth Warren has already “rallied” around Hillary Clinton. Every woman Democratic Senator signed on to a letter that supported the Clinton Candidacy. But, I suppose that pundits make a living trying to start something. This is by Noam Schieber at the NR.
It’s hard to look at the Democratic Party these days and not feel as if all the energy is behind Warren. Before she was even elected, her fund-raising e-mails would net the party more cash than any Democrat’s besides Obama or Hillary Clinton. According to the Times, Warren’s recent speech at the annual League of Conservation Voters banquet drew the largest crowd in 15 years. Or consider a website called Upworthy, which packages online videos with clever headlines and encourages users to share them. Obama barely registers on the site; Warren’s videos go viral. An appearance on cable this summer—“CNBC HOST DECIDES TO TEACH SENATOR WARREN HOW REGULATION WORKS. PROBABLY SHOULDN’T HAVE DONE THAT”—was viewed more than a million times. A Warren floor speech during the recent stalemate in Congress—“A SENATOR BLUNTLY SAYS WHAT WE’RE ALL THINKING ABOUT THE OBNOXIOUS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN”—tallied more than two million views.
The poll numbers also suggest the Democratic Party is becoming Elizabeth Warren’s party. Gallup finds that the percentage of Democrats with “very negative” views of the banking industry increased more than fivefold since 2007, while the percentage who have positive views fell from 51 to 31. Between 2001 and 2011, the percentage of Democrats who were dissatisfied with the “size and influence of major corporations” rose from 51 to a remarkable 79.
Frankly, I think Clinton has plenty of liberal cred even though she does have more connections to both the finance industry and the military 
than Warren. But, I doubt that the argument that Democrats really want to be more liberal will impact the primary climate. I think this is especially true with the choice being between the two women.
There is, however, an argument to be made that a governor may be in a better position to be elected than some one who has spent time in Washington. Two writers from the NYT examine the potential line up.
Part of this is cyclical. As a rule, governors look bad during an economic downturn, as they are identified with spending cuts or tax increases to balance budgets, and are bold and in command during an economic rebound. And some governors are certainly struggling, be it Gov. Rick Scott of Florida, a Republican who failed to get his Legislature to back him on expanding Medicaid coverage, or Gov. Pat Quinn of Illinois, a Democrat who is widely unpopular after a failed effort to change pension laws there.
Yet the contrast these days appears as strong as any in memory, reflecting not only the breakdown in Washington but also a particularly activist class of governors, often empowered by having a legislature controlled by a single party as they enact the kind of crisp agenda that has eluded both parties in Washington.
“Right now, governors are the most popular political players in the country, mainly because of the dysfunction in Washington and because the public perceives governors as being bipartisan, pragmatic and able to work things out,” said Bill Richardson, a former governor of New Mexico and Democratic candidate for president in 2008. “Governors are the hot political items right now.”
The difference is reflected in polling. In the latest CBS News poll, 85 percent of respondents expressed disapproval of the performance of Congress, and 49 percent expressed disapproval of Mr. Obama. By contrast, less than a third of respondents in a variety of state polls said they disapproved of the performance of governors like Mr. Christie; Jerry Brown of California, a Democrat;Bill Haslam of Tennessee, a Republican; and Mike Beebe of Arkansas, a Democrat.
The European Space Agency is watching one of its satellite fall to earth today.
The European Space Agency says that one of its research satellites that ran out of fuel will most likely crash to Earth into the ocean or polar regions.
The agency said Sunday the crash is expected to occur between 1830 GMT Sunday and 0030 GMT on Monday (1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. EST).
It says “with a very high probability, a re-entry over Europe can be excluded.”
Spokeswoman Jocelyne Landeau said the satellite, GOCE, will mostly disintegrate as it comes down and “we will have only a few pieces which could be 90 kilograms at the most.”
With Veterans Day coming up on Monday, America’s oldest living military veteran is enjoying the spotlight on his service once more, but even at the age of 107 he doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
Richard Overton, an Army veteran of World War II now living in Austin, Texas, still enjoys cigars and whiskey every day.
He’s got my dad beat. Dad just turned 90 last month. He served in England and flew bombing missions over Germany for the Army Air Corps. His favorite story is when they flew a mission under Jimmy Stewart who sounded just as you would think coming over the radio with directions. I’m going to visit Dad this next few weeks so I am sure I will hear a lot of war stories.
Just when you think Texas Republicans can’t get any worse you read something like this.
Texas Attorney General and Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott is one of a growing number of wealthy residents who are drilling wells to get around water restrictions during one of the worst droughts in history — a practice that environmentalists are warning could leave less water for everyone else.
The Texas Tribune reported on Sunday that Abbott had installed the well just months before the city of Austin began cracking down on lawn-watering restrictions.
According to the Tribune, some of the resident’s in Abbott’s luxury Pemberton Heights neighborhood had marked their lawns with signs that noted “Watering by Private Well” to avoid being hassled by the city.
“To me it’s just unconscionable,” Texas State University’s Meadows Center for Water and the Environment Executive Director Andrew Sansom told the Tribune. “It’s a total disregard for the resource… What we should be doing is reducing our consumption of water.”
Under Austin city law, Abbott is allowed to pump as much water out of the ground as he wants, even if it means another well goes dry in the process.
Gov. Rick Perry of Texas credited Chris Christie for his re-election in New Jersey, but he pointedly questioned whether the 22-point victory by Christie held any greater meaning for the Republican Party.
“Is a conservative in New Jersey a conservative in the rest of the country?” Perry said in an interview with “This Week.” “We’ll have that discussion at the appropriate time.”
As he made his first visit back to Iowa since the 2012 presidential race, Perry left the door open to another presidential bid. He said he believed voters would give him an opportunity to make a second impression, if he decided to run again, even though his first campaign fizzled amid a series of high-profile gaffes.
“Second chances are what America has always been about,” Perry said.
In a wide-ranging interview here, during a two-day visit to Iowa, Perry said the divisions among Republicans have been healthy for the party. But he said it was time for the establishment and tea party wings to rally around at least one shared goal: supporting strong candidates who can win.
“If you can’t win elections, you can’t govern,” Perry said. “So winning an election is really important.”
Yeah, 2016 has heated up already and all the clowns are crawling into the Republican Clown Car again.
On Friday, California State Controller John Chiang said
“[B]ecause higher-than-expected payroll withholdings and estimated payments are driving the good news [more state revenue], it signals that Californians are beginning to earn more, work more, and the Great Recession is becoming a faint image in the rear view mirror”
This “good news” is happening in many state and local areas (not all). This is a significant change from state and local governments being a headwind for the economy to becoming a slight tailwind.
You can check out the wonky graphs at the link above from Calculated Risk.
Anyway, that’s enough for me today! Happy Vet’s Day to our Vets! What’s on your reading and blogging list today?
peej
Carissa
ecocatwoman
mablue2
peggysue22
quixote
skydancingguestblogger
Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Sky Dancing 
Clinton/Warren 2016. Sounds like a ticket to me.
I think Warren is in a good and effective place right now. She has the perfect committee assignments too. Her knowledge of Wall Street shenanigans and outspokenness is serving us well.
I’d like to see Warren stay in the Senate. She can get more accomplished there than as VP.
I love Elizabeth Warren, but she isn’t ready to be president yet. Hillary has the background and experience–and the connections.
Rick Perry is delusional.
I’m telling you the GOP and media are out spinning the bs………….Run Hillary.
They can’t wait to crucify her.
They’re not waiting, Part of the attacks on Obama now are obliquely aimed at her.
They never stopped.
Yep yep yep! *nodding*
“I’m telling you the GOP and media are out spinning the bs”
LOL!!! They sure are spinning. They’ll have a bullshit cocoon before they’re finished. 🙂
I need to keep growing some thick skin when it comes to their bs on Hillary.
For you, Fannie, and all of us!
thank you, from all of us Beata……Say, how is Mom doing?
Fannie, I’m doing everything I can to be sure the nursing home is controlling her pain. That’s all that can be done now – make her as comfortable as possible. I’ve also let the PTB there know that I am not buying their story that she wasn’t dropped or in some other way injured by staff. So they are on alert that it better not happen again. I’m a pit bull when it comes to advocating for my mother and the nursing home knows that.
((( HUGS ))) to you.
Maybe the most ridiculous Obamacare “victim” story yet. Me, me, me, what about me?
Paul Waldman: Why Isn’t Everyone More Worried about Me?
The original oped writer is a psychotherapist. I shudder to think how bad the complete lack of awareness and empathy make her at that. 🙂
This comment to the original NYT op-ed is a thing of beauty. I would add an amen.
Great link, Ralph. I am not being helped by the ACA and neither is my mother but I am very glad that other people are benefiting from it. Creating a better, more equal society is important to “me, me, me” even if I don’t personally get a brand spankin’ new “Cadillac plan” as part of the deal.
When the low income do better, we have a better society. Plain as the nose on your face to any who look.
Problem is with those who don’t bother to look — like those who are irritated at the thought of a more equal society.
Like the op-ed writer who can’t get facebook “likes” for her ACA posts. 😉
Amen.
SteveM: MAYBE YOU CAN ASK LORI GOTTLIEB ABOUT HER CRUSHING OBAMACARE COSTS AT THE NEXT ASPEN IDEAS FESTIVAL
That’s a safe bet. I hate being trolled by these greedy semi-wealthy asshats.
Average member of the “middle class”, Lori Gottlieb, discussing her book “Marry Him: The Case for Settling for Mr. Good Enough” on CNN:
According to Ralph’s link, Gottlieb’s 2011 book “Marry Him: The Case for Settling for Mr. Good Enough” brought her a book advance in the mid-six figures and was also sold for movie rights. Sounds middle class to me. /s
The middle six-figure class, ayup. Well, cry me a river.
Gov. Bobby Jindal Says President Obama Can “Learn From Louisiana”
My idiot governor.
http://www.forwardprogressives.com/gov-bobby-jindal-says-president-obama-can-learn-from-louisiana/
Jindal makes me weary. Is this is last term as Gov?
yes and I still think he’s going to run for prez in 2016 since he is such a poor deluded idiot.
With Jindal, Perry, and Cruz in the Clown Car it should be a real hoot!
Snowflake Snookie is gallivanting around Iowa too.
OMG, comedy writer must be rejoicing.
Not too shabby for 12 states to now …
Analysis: 50,000 Have Enrolled In Obamacare Via State Marketplaces
The Ohio governor’s race could be a good one…
The Ex-FBI Agent Who Wants To Take Down Ohio’s Governor
IMO, Elizabeth Warren is cut from the same ivy school egghead cloth as Adlai Stevenson or Bill Bradley. The so called “best and brightest” cannot govern and they can’t get elected.
Let her stay in the Senate and don’t get me started on Cory Booker.
I’ve had a belly full of newly minted Senators who think they’d make great Presidents.
Typhoon Haiyan Would Cover Nearly All Of United States (PHOTO)
Map adds scale to the massiveness of the storm.
That is something:
I also see there was an earthquake out ther tonight as well.
Haven’t had a chance to read this yet, but Billy Budd is on TCM right now…just started. It is fantastic. First movie with Terrance Stamp.
Glad to read this. Yet here in Seattle the state organization I work for has slashed funding for continuing education (stay up to date? Not important), and the last raise was … oh, about 7 yrs ago. County-wise, we’re facing another round of transportation cuts. I used to have 2 different bus routes to take me downtown, depending on if I walked North or West a few blocks. Now there’s only 1 that’s a direct route downtown, and only during rush hours. Middle of the day, or evening, or weekend — forget it, there’s nothing. The other route involves a transfer, so you need to get there extra early to make sure you don’t miss the connection. However, without new funding both but routes will be completely deleted.
The legislature hasn’t seen fit to fund transportation — but they’ve kow-towed to extend corporate welfare to Boeing, which sits on record profits while squalling about labor costs. One of our local journalist wrote in sharp satire:
And another sharp-eyed columnist notes:
Let’s have more socialists to vote for!
Sawant is so close! Mona, still following this? Proud to own my vote for her!
https://electionsdata.kingcounty.gov/election-results-nov/three/City%2C%20L-Z/Seattle/City%20of%20Seattle%20Council%20Position%20No.%202
DKos: This is the real ‘rate shock’: My parents’ amazing Obamacare story
Also contains local media coverage of several Obamacare success stories.
Wow. That made me tear up but in a good way. I am so happy to read these stories.
Me to, I really want it t0 work out for people.
Unlike the South, these areas have been strongly Republican since before the party realignments of the 1960s. The Great Plains states were one of the few areas of the country where Republicans had any significant support during the Great Depression .