The Washington Monthly
Several months ago, Atrios noted, "When Dems are president, perfectly normally ways of doing things are rebranded as somehow odd."Ain't that the truth.
* Teleprompters: This trend of characterizing routine developments as controversial started very early in the Obama presidency. Every modern president has used teleprompters, but Republicans and the media thought it was hilarious and wildly important when Obama did the same thing.
* Bowing: Several presidents have been photographed bowing to foreign heads of state, but Republicans and the media thought it was absolutely scandalous when Obama did the same thing when meeting leaders where bowing is customary.
* Talking to school kids: Presidents Reagan and H.W. Bush spoke to school children in national addresses, even taking a little time to push their political agendas. When Obama delivered a speech encouraging kids to do well in school, Republicans freaked out; Fox News compared the president to Saddam Hussein; and the New York Times literally ran a front-page story about it.
* Czars: For a half-century, presidents have relied on so-called "czars" for various policy areas. By one count, George W. Bush had 36 czar positions filled by 46 people during his two terms. No one cared. Obama's use of czars became the subject of months of media scrutiny, and even congressional hearings in response to Republican apoplexy.
* Oval Office attire: Several modern presidents have been seen in the Oval Office without wearing a suit jacket. When Obama did it, Republicans ran to the press to complain, and the media actually published pieces on the subject.
* Criticizing partisan media: White House complaints about unfair media coverage are as old as the republic. When the Obama White House noted what is plainly true about Fox News -- it's a Republican outlet -- the media went a little berserk, with the Washington Post and NPR characterizing the administration's criticism as "Nixonian."
* Reconciliation: Republican policymakers have relied on reconciliation to get around filibusters for decades. When Obama recommended the same tactic for health care, the GOP pretended it was an outrageous assault on the political process, and the media pretended Republicans' cries were legitimate.
* Industry bailouts: Government bailouts of struggling American industries and major companies have been common for decades. When Obama rescued GM, it was used as an example of his purported desire to a communist dictator.
* Campaign intervention: Every president has had a hand in campaign activities, with several presidents offering jobs to candidates to get them out of various races. When the Obama White House intervened in Pennsylvania's Democratic Senate primary -- offering a House member an unpaid advisory gig -- the media found it fascinating and Republicans called for the FBI and a special prosecutor to intervene.
* Memorial Day: Many presidents have not appeared at Arlington on Memorial Day. When Obama does it, there's a "controversy."
My issue is that these bills have not gone far enough to really make any type of lasting change. Too much compromise and too much nibbling around the edges. I hope I'm wrong.... don't think I am, though. And I'm HIGHLY skeptical of any 'generational shift', unless Dems maintain control for another 14 years.
However, it has been the most productive 16 months since FDR. Can't argue with that.
Economic Scene - Obama’s Progressive Project Is Changing Washington - NYTimes.com:
"With the Senate’s passage of financial regulation, Congress and the White House have completed 16 months of activity that rival any other since the New Deal in scope or ambition. Like the Reagan Revolution or Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society, the new progressive period has the makings of a generational shift in how Washington operates."
Which side of history do you want to be on? -- Page 1 -- Times Union - Albany NY:
Let's take a historical perspective. What does history tell us? History honors those who created Social Security, not those who fought it. History honors those who created Medicare, not those who opposed it. History honors those who passed civil rights legislation, not those who obstructed it.
I ask those who say "no, no, no" to everything, which side of history do you want to be on?
Pretty damn refreshing to have a Prez that, regardless, takes full ownership, and, most importantly, admit mistakes.
News Analysis - Responding to Spill, Obama Mixes Regret With Resolve - NYTimes.com
WASHINGTON — President Obama uttered three words on Thursday that many of his 43 predecessors twisted themselves into knots trying with varying degrees of success to avoid: “I was wrong.”
He strode into the East Room to mount a robust defense of his handling of the largest oil spill in American history, reassuring the nation that he was in charge and would do “whatever is necessary” to stop and clean up the BP leak in the Gulf of Mexico. But by the time he walked out an hour later, he had balanced that with a fairly unusual presidential self-critique.He was wrong, he said, to assume that oil companies were prepared for the worst as he tried to expand offshore drilling. His team did not move with “sufficient urgency” to reform regulation of the industry. In dealing with BP, his administration “should have pushed them sooner” to provide images of the leak, and “it took too long for us” to measure the size of the spill.
“In case you’re wondering who’s responsible, I take responsibility,” Mr. Obama said as he concluded the news conference. “It is my job to make sure that everything is done to shut this down. That doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. It doesn’t mean it’s going to happen right away or the way I’d like it to happen. It doesn’t mean that we’re not going to make mistakes. But there shouldn’t be any confusion here. The federal government is fully engaged, and I’m fully engaged.”
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Reason 1 billion, 99 never to purchase a HOA home... and Texas laws regarding HOAs... ? Allowing HOAs to repo homes if monthly fees are not submitted? Are you fucking kidding me?
Next to insurance cos, HOAs are the biggest, totalitarian scam out there.
Fuck you, I'm painting my house purple.
Soldier in Iraq Loses Home Over $800 Debt | Mother Jones:
"In Texas, homeowners' associations can foreclose on homes without a court order, no matter the size of the debt. In May 2008, the HOA sold the Clauers' home for a pittance—$3,500—although its appraisal value was $300,000, according to court documents. The buyer then resold the house to a third person. (Select Management Co., the company that manages Heritage Lakes, declined to comment for this story.)"
Oh He's Good, He's Reaaaallt Good: World's Greatest Motivational Speaker, Hands Down - Geekologie
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2 comments:
That Geekologie link with the plywood dude led me to the link about the 46,000 calorie Kit Kat. Man, that cost more to make than three 5-gallon batches of beer.
How may calories in the 5 gallon batch? We could probably feed an African nation for a year with both.
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