Your Abbreviated Pundit Round-up

post from Daily Kos on 12 January 2009 08:05:41 AM. © Daily Kos

Monday! Holidays are over, get to work, pundits.

William Kristol: Obama's so nice. Nice people suck. Therefore... don't expect any good to come of this Presidency. He'll just continue the failed policies of the last eight years out of politeness.

[P.S. Let me point out to my critics that, on average, Monday is the most intellectual day for NY Times opinion. Of course, the average salary when Bill Gates and I drink together is pretty high, too.]

Paul Krugman:

Last week President-elect Barack Obama was asked to respond to critics who say that his stimulus plan won’t do enough to help the economy. Mr. Obama answered that he wants to hear ideas about "how to spend money efficiently and effectively to jump-start the economy."

I got a few. Start with less tax cuts and more stimulus.

Roger Cohen:

Obama should take note, name an Arab-American and an Iranian-American to prominent roles, and beware of a team that takes him — and the region — back to the future.

He said during the campaign that "an unwavering pro-Likud approach to Israel" can’t be "the measure of our friendship with Israel." Those were words. Now, with Gaza blood flowing, come deeds.

E.J. Dionne:

The SCHIP bill is unfinished business from the Bush years, and Democrats have no better way to show, and show quickly, how different their approach to government will be from the style and priorities that prevailed during the outgoing president's term.

Robert J. Samuelson: Health reform? Access. Bah humbug. Only health cost matters.

We have a health-care system that reflects our national values. It's highly individualistic, entrepreneurial and suspicious of centralized supervision. In practice, Medicare and private insurers impose few effective controls on doctors' and patients' choices. That's the way most Americans want it. Patients understandably desire the most advanced surgeries, diagnostic tests and drugs. Doctors want the freedom to prescribe.

But without restrictions, you can't afford health reform.

John Heilemann: Obama is the first independent President. That's how he will get things done.

Al Hunt: Congress? Haaaahaaha. Obama.

Michael Tomasky: Obama. No question.

Many presidents have learned the hard way that Congress, especially the Senate, serves as the cemetery for grand presidential schemes.

Not with that jobs report.

Nate Silver: Is There a Serious Conservative Argument Against the Stimulus?

Added:

Effect Measure: The mismatched flu B [vaccine] problem and what to do about it.

Read The Full Article:
http://feeds.dailykos.com/~r/dailykos/index/~3/8EFSs25u54U/683065

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Bush to write a book

post from AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth on 12 January 2009 08:04:00 AM. © AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth

From Political Wire:

The topic: "You know, I'm not quite exactly sure what it's going to be, but I'm toying with the idea of maybe describing the toughest decisions I had to make as President, and the context in which I made them."

Pepperoni or sausage?

Read The Full Article:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Americablog/~3/MCPaR8WHkFA/bush-to-write-book.html

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MORE JURY!

post from Ezra Klein on 12 January 2009 07:59:00 AM. © Ezra Klein

Petite jury, this time, not grand. Blogging will be slow until at least the early afternoon, when I'll either be released (more blogging!) or put in charge of the American justice system.[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/ezraklein_archive?month=01&year=2009&base_name
=more_jury

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KS Legislature Sworn in Today

post from Kansas Jackass on 12 January 2009 07:49:00 AM. © Kansas Jackass

At 2 p.m. today the entire Kansas Legislature will be sworn in, and in a moment of unusual[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://kansasjackass.blogspot.com/2009/01/ks-legislature-sworn-in-today.html

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Docudharma Times Monday January 12

post from Docudharma - Front Page on 12 January 2009 07:30:00 AM. © Docudharma - Front Page

Joe the Plumber I don't think journalists should be anywhere allowed war.Joe the Plumber Should Be Nowhere Near Journalism Monday's Headlines: Guerrilla Tactics at Oil-Lease Auction Russia-Ukraine gas deal hit by last-minute hitch Victory for[...]

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http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Docudharma/~3/509777075/showDiary.do

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OPENLY GAY BISHOP TO DELIVER INVOCATION AT
OPENING INAUGURAL SERVICE.

post from Ezra Klein on 12 January 2009 07:27:00 AM. © Ezra Klein

Mike Allen reports:The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, who became the Episcopal Church?s first openly gay bishop in 2003 and last year entered into a civil union with his gay partner, will deliver the invocation for Sunday?s kickoff inaugural[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/ezraklein_archive?month=01&year=2009&base_name
=openly_gay_bishop_to_deliver_i

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OBAMA'S DISAPPOINTING FOOD POLICY.

post from Ezra Klein on 12 January 2009 07:18:00 AM. © Ezra Klein

Tom Philpott delivers a nice reality check on the Obama campaign's almost wholly disappointing approach to food policy. Despite the momentary flash of promise when Obama mentioned Michael Pollan's work in an interview, his subsequent appointments and[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/ezraklein_archive?month=01&year=2009&base_name
=obamas_disappointing_food_poli

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The Year of the Rat

post from Pasadena New Progressive on 12 January 2009 07:17:00 AM. © Pasadena New Progressive

[It made a lot of sense that the soon-to-be last (not soon enough for me!) year for the Chinese, was the Year of the Rat (how much sense does that make, in hindsight??)

January 26, 2009 officially begins the Chinese New Year. The Chinese rely on the much more sensible (and poetic) lunar calendar. But look how close this falls to President Obama's inauguration date (Jan. 20). And a much better animal is placed by the ancient Chinese to represent and embody this New Year: The Year of the Ox.

excerpt:
The year of the Ox is just what?s needed to clean up any mess and clutter left by the Rat. The Ox is not as he appears and should not be underestimated or considered slow or unaware.

The Ox is the quintessential hardworking, conventional cleaner-upper who will put everything back in order and turn chaos back into reason.

Wow, I sure hope so!!]

The Best of Pasadena New Progressive, Part 3: The Year of the Rat

The Year of the Rat was published on February 8, 2008.

I confess to being a little disappointed that this is the Year of the Rat.

I mean, haven't we just gone through the DECADE of the Rat??

There are so many "Rats" around today - locally, statewide and nationally - and the Internet is PLAGUED by them...

does it really have to be the YEAR of the Rat? can't we get one of the "better" ones? (I could really use a Dragon or a Tiger at this point...)

well, the Chinese Astrologers much have know what they were doing (they chose, afterall, the much, much saner Lunar calendar). They MUST have had a reason for choosing the rat (think of all the other animals it could have been!) to represent a Whole year, and not only that, making it the 1st in their cycle.

they must have been trying to tell us something.

Perhaps, in their infinite wisdom, the Chinese Astrologers were trying to tell us the Truth and the truth is that, yes, there are always going to be a lot of "Rats" in the world.

"[The year] promises a lot of bickering, bargaining and petty arguments"

"[but also] it is a time of hard work, activity and renewal"

Maybe this is the year, we get rid of some rats. We stuff up their holes with steel wool, we replace the springs on their traps - make them snap nice and tight. We go on the offensive and make the Year of the Rat, be one to remember!

and no, a "Pied Piper" isn't going to appear to drown all of them (and do all of the work for us).

We are going to have to go after them one by one. And its going to take real effort - the "hard work" the Astrologers warn us of - to accomplish anything. For as everybody knows, Rats are one of the most tenacious animals on the planet!

Its not going to be easy, but the Year of the Rat is not sounding so bad at all anymore.

Read The Full Article:
http://pasadenanewprogressive.blogspot.com/2009/01/year-of-rat.html

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Another Republican Senator Calls It Quits After
Helping Bush Bring The Country To Its Knees-- Who Will Replace Voinovich

Although George Voinovich had been elected a state representative and, in 1978, Ohio's Lt. Governor, his debut on the national scene didn't really come until he resigned as Lt. Governor after one year to run against-- and beat-- Cleveland Mayor Dennis Kucinich. (Later, after a disastrous run for the U.S. Senate in 1988, Voinovich was elected Governor of Ohio.) My own awareness of him came because of the tremendous support (both as mayor and governor), to the tune of $65 million, he offered the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame. Since 1999 he has been a U.S. Senator and, at least in the beginning, was one of the Republicans most willing to vote with the Democrats on behalf of working families. (Right wing fanatics are still haven't forgiven him.) And you may recall that he broke with the far right by refusing to back Bush's choice of extremist sociopath John Bolton as UN ambassador.

Today Voinovich announced that he would retire from the Senate after finishing his second term in 2010. Demographic and political trends, as well as recent polls, showed that he would probably lose a bid for a third term. His excuse for skipping out on the job?

"I have never seen the country in such perilous circumstances. Not since the Great Depression and the Second World War have we been confronted with such challenges, as a nation and as a world," Voinovich said. "I must devote my full time, energy and focus to the job I was elected to do, the job in front of me, which seeking a third term-- with the money-raising and campaigning that it would require-- would not allow me to do."

OK... I hope some of his GOP colleagues come to identical conclusions, particularly obstructionist extremists like Jim DeMint (R-SC), David Diapers Vitter (LA), Judd Gregg (R-NH), Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Tom Coburn (R-OK). But what's on everyone's mind now is who's going to be Ohio's next U.S. Senator?

There are four likely Republicans eyeing the seat: Bush's spectacularly failed Director of the Office of Management and Budget (as well as inept U.S. Trade Representative), ex-Congressman Rob Portman; John Kasich, another former Republican congressman, although he had been gearing up to run a hopeless campaign for governor; defeated ex-Senator Mike DeWine; and former vote-stealin' Secretary of State, the much-loathed Ken Blackwell. Four complete losers. The Democratic Party's most likely nominee is Lt. Governor Lee Fisher, although popular Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, who did a decent job cleaning up after Blackwell, is also a top contender. There are also three members of Congress considering the race, a progressive (Betty Sutton), a moderate (Tim Ryan) and a reactionary whose voting record looks suspiciously Republican (Zack Space). And what about Paul Hackett?

Read The Full Article:
http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2009/01/another-republican-senator-calls-it.h
tml

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"Celebrate this historic event in U.S. history!"

It's kinda like a great comic moment in comedy, which occurs during a comedic presentation, which is comic.

Or a fantastic moment of sexual ecstasy which happens during sex, which takes place while having sex in a sexual kind of way. (Sign me up for that, toot sweet.)

Can I make up stuff like this? Don't have to make it up, hot buns.

I do enjoy (in a decidedly oddish kind of way) the quasi-Socialist Realism style of posters like the "Be the Change" one. Nothing new for the Obamites. Leaving aside arguments about the accuracy of the charge, it's ... ah, curious that, since lots of conservative types are hurling accusations of "Socialism!" about these days, the Obamites favor art which more than slightly recalls that associated with, well, unpleasant regimes. Do they utilize this artistic mode deliberately, with intent to provoke? Inquiring minds want to know, in a sort of inquiring way, as if asking for information as we seek to inquire about matters which puzzle us.

All in the inquiring pursuit of inquiry!

Smith mentions Albert Speer in connection with the seal, but that's because Smith appears to delight in being a provocative type. Some people see wonderfully fluffy, substanceless souffles and like nothing better than making them flatter than pancakes. I would never, ever do something like that. Or mention the 1930s.

Smith also says:

I look through the dismal kitsch on offer -- who, In God's name, and in what Prozacked twilight of the mind, designed that butt-ugly poster on the first page? -- and all I can think of is stuff that ought to be there and isn't. The Dead Palestinian Beanie Baby. Strictly limited to a few thousand per year!

The Dead Palestinian Beanie Baby. Sounds like a winner! Adorable.

We're in for an adorable four-eight-whatever years. So cute it might just kill you, along with lots of other people.

Realizing that the Obamites will have much more lethal weapons at their disposal -- which I also realize they will be more than eager to use -- I think it may be the adorable, glitzy, kitschy grandeur of it all that will do me in.

Smile when you kill me, Obama. Is that too much to ask? Nope.

Read The Full Article:
http://powerofnarrative.blogspot.com/2009/01/celebrate-this-historic-event-in-us.
html

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