FYI: The President is NOT your Friend. And He Shouldn't Be!

It is funny how the flow of politics works. Two years ago, the Democratic Party was literally in lockstep, riding the Tidal Wave of the 2008 elections. Republicans were in disarray, and everything seemed to be coming up Donkey. 2010 is the complete opposite, as Republicans are riding the Tidal Wave and Democrats are in disarray. This has lead some prominent Democrats to criticize or even curse out the president, as he tries to find a modus vivendi with the new Conservative majority.

Here's the reality, legislators of both parties, THE PRESIDENT IS NOT YOUR FRIEND. No president is. The whole system is set up to put the branches of government at odds, in order to preserve the rights of the People. So, the Executive SHOULD be looking out for his own ability to govern, and NOT worrying about your ability to get stuff done without him. You've seen what perfect party unity has gotten you - extremely unpopular bills passed despite CLEAR signs that the American people were against you - so maybe it is time for a little disunity to allow sanity to return.

Here's hoping a return to divided government means a return to humble government. And a government where checks and balances are seen for what they are - our most valuable hedge against tyranny (whether of the sinister or the well-meaning).

Moderation is never easy

Congrats, and a Reality Check

Congratulations to the Republican Party (and Tea Party) on winning back the House in a historic sweep not seen in 70 years. Congratulations to the Democratic Party for holding onto the Senate, if only by a seat or two.

As all parties settle down to the business of governing, let's remember a few basic facts that will be all-too-tempting to ignore:

1. This was a HOUSECLEANING, because the People believe Congress has been ignoring their will and best interests.

2. This was NOT a mandate for every Republican idea in the hopper. It was specifically a mandate to FIX THE ECONOMY. Let's not get sidetracked onto other issues, at least until people are going back to work.

3. This was a warning to all career politicians - Left and Right - that if the major parties don't get their act together, voters are ready to embrace a Third Party (in this case the Tea Party) who offers solutions and vents their anger. We see no benefit to hanging onto historical party structures "just because".

So, please govern humbly, and be focused on the task at hand. Or else 2012 will look a lot like 2010, but without a happy ending for Republicans.

Ouch. Sadly true over the last 2 years.

PA Democrat admits sponsoring Tea Party spoiler

CRChair had previously brought to our attention a scheme by NJ Democrats to split the Connservative vote by getting a fake Tea Party Candidate onto the ballot. Now, a Pennsylvania Democrat has admitted doing the same. It is a sign of the depth of the Democratic Party's panic over their fortunes on November 2, that their only hope is to provide more Conservative alternatives.

Bryan Lentz, the Democratic nominee running for the seat being vacated by Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.), said he knew that volunteers from his campaign helped Tea Party candidate Jim Schneller.

"If somebody's already made the decision to run, I didn't think that 'helping' with the process of signature petitions was improper," Lentz told told the Delaware County Daily Times editorial board in an interview.

Lentz said he could not remember when he learned of his volunteers' work on behalf of Schneller, but he said, "I didn't think it was a bad thing for the process or for my candidacy."

Republican vs Democratic Strategies

From Political Grafiti.

Is Specter defection GOOD for the GOP?

Gloating democrats have made no secret of their opinion that the conversion of Arlen Specter from Red State to Blue State is the death knell of the opposition party. But some have another theory that it may be the beginning of real problems for the Democrats and President Obama.

With the likely seating of Al Franken from Minnesota, Democrats will have 60 seats in the Senate, giving Obama unambiguous governing majorities in both bodies. He’ll be responsible for everything. GOP obstructionism will go away as an issue, and Democratic defections will become the constant worry and story line. This will make it easier for GOP candidates in 2010 to ask to be elected to help restore some checks and balance in Washington -- and, meanwhile, Specter’s party change won’t likely have made much difference in getting key legislation passed or not.

It is an interesting theory, and I think more than a little true. Jim Jeffords did little to weaken GWB, in the end, and instead allowed the GOP to come together against a perceived outside threat. This may be the stimulus that Republicans need to finally rally together, and begin repairing the party from the inside-out.

Arlen Specter goes to the Dems

Some may remember in 2001 when Vermont Senator Jim Jeffords switched from the Republican to the Democratic party in an attempt to create a clear majority for the Democrats. They may also remember it did not amount to much in the end. Well, Republican Senator Arlen Specter - famous for breaking ranks with the Republican party on the stimulus package - has decided to follow the same path and will be switching to the Democratic Party.

Much will be made of this - some will likely say it is the "death knell for the GOP". But the fact is that Specter already made the choice when he supported the stimulus package. He is now looking at his district, and see there are no Republicans willing to support him for another term - he will lose in the primary. So he is rolling the dice by jumping ship. Likely, he will still lose and wind up a man without a party.

Still, who knows? I have been wrong before. Maybe the real change will be the GP convincing Senator oe Lieberman to come over to the GOP. After all, he has allegedly been informed by party leaders that they will NOT support him in his next reelection bid.

What if Obama loses?

After a nearly euphoric month for Barack Obama, signs are now beginning to show up that John McCain may be competitive after all. In early voting, turnout among new voters is light and this is a major demographic that Obama is counting on. Likewise, many poll show a tightening race overall with a significant number of undecideds still out there. If Obama were to lose next week, it will raise many questions amongst Obama supporters (including inevitable charges that the "election was stolen"). If that does come to pass, here are a few thoughts I think are worth remembering.

• Despite perhaps the worst since Nixon for Republicans, due to the War and the Economy, Obama has rarely held a commanding lead. This should have been a warning sign from the start.
• Obama took on a risky strategy for this race, running on his personality (and his "inevitability") more than issues. Yes, he has been strong on opposing the war, but otherwise has cloaked specific policy goals under the banners of "Change" and "Hope." Voters like a big thinker, but also want one who actually can articulate a plan.
• Americans like divided government, where one party can keep a check on the other. Perhaps all the talk about a one-party system in Congress and the White House has reminded people that unrestrained government (Right or Left) is a dangerous thing. But if so, expect a massive win for the Democrats in Congress.
• Electronic voting failures should not be laid at the feet of just one party. The Democrats have been in power in Congress and in many State governments for years, and have had plenty of time to debug the process.
• America is still a center-right country, by and large. While they want to throw out the bums who got us here, they may not be ready for a wholesale lurch the the Left.

I have no inside info here, and to my mind I still think Obama is going to win with Bill Clinton-style margins. And you all know I am no fan of John McCain. But it is worth getting these out here now, before the heat of the moment arrives.

Do Mod-Bloggers think we should add anything else to this list?

Refuted? Obama tried to delay Iraq Agreement

The Iraqi Foreign Minister has refuted claims that Barack Obama tried to delay the latest Iraqi agreements until after the election. This claim was reported here on Friday, so I felt it important to report this ASAP. Things still seem to be somewhat confused as to what did happen, but it appears the worst accusations are untue.

Obama/Biden 2008

Capping off a day of "suspense" with the most predictable choice conceivable, Barack Obama has chosen Senator Joe Biden of Delaware as his running mate.

Barack Obama named Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware as his vice presidential running mate early Saturday, balancing his ticket with a seasoned congressional veteran well-versed in foreign policy and defense issues.

Obama announced the pick on his Web site with a photo of the two men and an appeal for donations. A text message went out shortly afterward that said, "Barack has chosen Senator Joe Biden to be our VP nominee."

Biden, 65, has twice sought the White House, and is a Catholic with blue-collar roots, a generally liberal voting record and a reputation as a long-winded orator.

Be watching today for feigned shock and betrayal from communities which wanted an all-minority ticket at his choice of "another old white guy" for veep.

What would an Iraqi withdrawal plan mean to the Presidential race?

Barack Obama has made a cornerstone of his campaign that he is the only candidate out there who opposed the Iraq War from the beginning and who will get U.S. troops out. It has been central to his popularity among the core of the Democratic Party, and was the wedge that got the foot in the door for a rookie senator from Illinois. And, it has been a critical defining difference between Obama and John McCain.

But now it appears a formal withdrawal agreement with the Iraqi government is close. It could be signed in the next month or so, and it would put real (though tentative) end dates for U.S. combat troops and advisory troops in the country.

If such an agreement is signed, how will it impact the campaign? Will Obama see a sudden drop in popularity, as his key issue becomes moot? Will John McCain see a bump in the polls with an end to the War now in sight? Or will Hillary Clinton use it at the Democratic Convention as an argument to overturn the original delegate totals because "facts have now changed"?

What do Mod-Bloggers think the impact of such an agreement would be?

Hilarity Ensues at the House of Representatives

This is hilarious. The Democrats don't want to vote on off-shore drilling, so they recess for the August break. Some Republicans don't want to recess until there is a vote, so they've decided to keep going. So the Democrats turned off the lights and the microphones. So the Republicans kept going and one Congressman punched a bunch of buttons into the PA system until he got the right code to turn it back on. Then the lights and microphones went dead again. So the Republicans cheered and kept going and sent out a request for a bullhorn. While this started out as a good thing, I worry that it's becoming more and more of a circus and will be look on as foolishness. Still, they haven't done up a picture of the Speaker of the House wearing a diaper like the Democrats did of Newt Gingrich. Original story here, with follow ups here and here.

Israeli Newspaper Publishes Obama's Western Wall Prayer

I was not aware of this, but apparently in Israel there is a tradition of writing one's prayers on a piece of paper ad sticking it into the cracks of the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Apparently, this is a sign of devotion and a way to get ones prayers directly to God. While Barack Obama was in Israel, he placed his own prayer in the wall - so far nothing unusual. What *IS* unusual is a seminary student promptly plucked it from the wall and an Israeli newspaper published it! This is quickly becoming a major scandal within Israel, because Wester Wall prayers are supposed to be confidential between God and the one who prays.

At the Western Wall, Obama was greeted by a crowd of curious onlookers and photographers. He donned a white skullcap, listened to a rabbi read a prayer, and inserted a folded white paper between the stones. One hardline Israeli protester shouted, "Obama, Jerusalem is not for sale."

The visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories was part of an international tour meant to shore up Obama's foreign affairs credentials ahead of the November election. Obama's prospective rival, John McCain, visited Israel in March.

While the prayer published is itself about the most generic one possible, it is refreshing to see a newspaper held accountable for a real invasion of privacy. There was nothing newsworthy about this prayer - unlike if, say, it has asked for a divided Jerusalem - and no reason to flash it before the world. Even a man who wants to be President has the right to a private relationship with God.

Starting Them Young

I guess Communist countries aren't the only ones who use propoganda to indoctrinate their young people. Today I came across the books "Why Daddy is a Democrat" & "Why Mommy is a Democrat". They are childrens books that:

"bring to life the core values of the Democratic party
in ways that young children will easily understand and thoroughly enjoy. Using plain and non-judgmental
language, along with warm and whimsical illustrations, these colorful 28-page paperbacks depict the
Democratic principles of fairness, tolerance, peace, equality, and concern for the well-being of others"

I guess I shouldn't judge too harshly since these books allow parents to share their values with their children. I just wish the parents would change their values and opinions.

It's almost official: Obama is the nominee

So says the Associated Press, among others. Now the race changes in two respects. First, we see how Obama runs against John McCain. Second, we see how Hillary Clinton works to keep herself in the spotlight and keep ahold of power, without the delegate count. Will she find a way to wheedle her way into an Obama cabinet? Will she follow her husband's example of refusing to leave the spotlight? Or will she step back, and become the "loyal opposition" within her own party?

Somehow, I suspect the press will be complicit in any attempt to keep the Clintons front and center. Otherwise, they won't have much to talk about in July.

Hillary Supporters Key to a McCain Victory?

Most of us have seen the video of "screaming woman" at the RBC meeting saying that if Obama is the nominee, all of Hillary's supporters will go over to McCain. I have been reading several left-wing bloggers and they seem equally split between those who decry the sentiment because McCain is Pro-life and those who support the sentiment because... well... their priority is getting a woman - any woman - elected.

This makes me wonder if it is possible to find a GOP woman to serve as McCain's VP who can both be enough of a feminist to please Hillary Clinton supporters, and Pro-Life enough to satisfy (please note I did not say "please") Conservatives. I could not think of anyone offhand - most of the likely suspects are too tightly linked to GWB - but if so, this could be the key to a McCain win.

Edwards endorses Obama

It took long enough, but finally Edwards has jumped off the fence. Now we'll see Clinton's counter-move. She is unlikely to take what she will see as betrayal, sitting down.

Russert: It's Over, Obama is the Nominee

Last night, the vote counts appear to show a large margin of victory for Obama in North Carolina (15 points or more) and a small win for Clinton in Indiana (less than 5 points). This has lead Tim Russert to finally declare it is over and Obama is the nominee. Apparently, Senator Clinton has cancelled all public appearances for a few days while she reviews the results and considers her next steps. The question now is, will she concede, or will this fight be taken all the way to the Convention floor. We all know the Clintons are capable of deciding to use every dirty trick to try and overturn the results, but doing so would likely destroy the Democratic Party in the near term. Can she put the good of her party ahead of herself?

It could be an interesting week for politics-watchers.

Lemmings