esrosedotblog

I have high hopes for a positive relationship between Democrats and the new administration.

One of the reasons for this is the confidence I have in Chuck Schumer of New York. He is going to be our guy in the midst of a shitstorm.

Senate Democrats’ Surprising Strategy: Trying to Align With Trump

You know, as bitter as the divide between us seems at this time, there is a lot of common ground.

This article points out that a strong but friendly opposition can attain considerable results.

The chink in the GOP armor is that Trump, at least on paper, is open to many liberal initiatives. He is a closet Democrat who likes spending, big projects and pasting his name all over the grandiose schemes he promotes.

In many ways, just the thing the wing nuts accuse the Democrats of.

So, I am over being bitter, if I was. I am over disappointment, a useless emotion. I am pretty much through the stages of grief.

Let's get on with it.

Labels: Democrats, President Trump

Our wounded man is Bernie Sanders.

Eminently unqualified for the job but persistent in his belief that he could do something if he got a chance.

Look, Bernie. You are too old, too left and too late.

I admire his spunk at his age. He has a lot more than me. All that electioneering crap.

But he has to do it.

Down from the clouds and into the street.

I do not want what he is peddling either.

I have seen this old New England righteousness before only in a different style and perhaps a different leaning.

He is a hand wringer and a sob sister.

I have nothing against Socialists. It is just that there is not one of them that has any idea of how to run the machinery of government.

They are caught up in political theory, their religion.

Not unlike the deeply religious who are so stuck on the piety that they can't do anyone any good and see a world of sin rather than a world of opportunity.

So I do not want him either.

I would rather go with another oldster who knows how to do it. Joe Biden. I am still holding his cup ready. It holds my toothbrush for now. It may yet get another outing. But he says "no". But I looked in his eye and saw a reservation.

Labels: democratic whack jobs, Democrats, lefty fringe, professional left

I have not been happy with the evident coronation of Ms. Clinton.

Sure, I will support her if she runs (?!). But the fact is that I have had just about enough of the Clintons in all forms.

As a Democrat, of course. I would never jump ship to the other team.

I am glad that Bernie Sanders is running but he is far to leftish for me and it is not a serious candidacy. And he lacks some fundamentals. Experience for one.

But now this, I could get very happy about Jim Webb.

Jim Webb: Warrior, Novelist, Senator

I could do this.

I love this photo. You can see her looking him over and seeing what we now see. Of course, I am being nasty. This is actually her quite familiar "serious look" which always ends up being a bit of a scowl.

Let's get out the popcorn. Or maybe not. I might even be persuaded to work for him!

Labels: Democrats, Hillary Clinton, Jim Webb

ROSEY GLOW

This has been a grand week.

Fully informed, more than the Mitters, I really did not expect Romney to win. I assured friends. A long time follower of Nate Silver and Sam Wang, I had confidence in the numbers. And the turnout.

I was thinking of my Dad this morning.

He would be very happy.

He was a life long Democrat. He ran for office as a Democrat. He won elections as a Democrat.

Small local elections for the School Board but, nevertheless, as a Democrat.

We had a bust of FDR in the house. It was plaster painted a bronze color and had a little American flag attached.

My Dad grew up in the depression. He would not be surprised at the callousness of the Republicans today. Little has changed. In his time there were "Hoovervilles". Tent cities thrown up for those who fell way out of the safety net.

Dad was tough and was able top get a job with A&P which lasted a lifetime.

When I needed to rebel against my Dad, I spent a short time as a Republican. It never felt right. I switched back pretty fast. I don't think he ever knew that I had done that. Good.

The sixties radicalized me some but I never left the Party. I do not agree with the left wingers even today. I like a nice moderate liberal approach.

What about the man, Obama? Cautious at first, I saw in him the same basic values that my Dad lived by and that I try to follow.

The FDR image is not far fetched. Obama will not be able to be elected for a third time. But twice will do nicely. I am very happy.

Labels: Barack Obama, Democrats, family

GARNISH ON THE MAIN DISH

Out here in California, it appears Democrats have finally achieved the impossible dream of super-majorities in both Houses of the legislature, breaking the veto power of the GOP over any legislation involving taxes.

It is a big big deal.

The Republican Party is on the rocks here. They drank the tea and it has poisoned them with the electorate.

The GOP found in five senatorial contests that the tea guys lost them the opportunity to make any headway in the Senate. They all went down. As they should have.

I figure there will be some long agonizing reappraisal among centrist Republicans if there are any left. They need to regain control of their party.

Labels: Democrats, Republicans

ANTHEM

We have better singers.

Labels: Democrats

THE DEAD KENNEDYS

I caused a bit of a flurry with my liberal friends at the gym today.

I mentioned that as a Massachusetts guy I wasn't at all enamored of the Kennedys, most of whom are a little dim and far to fond of themselves.

I mentioned Joe and some others who did serve in Congress and meant well but were really dim jocks when it came right down to it. Or addicts, or something.

This is the kind of flip talk that I used to indulge in all the time but age and a lot of arguments have quieted me down.

In the heat of the moment, I was asked if I voted for JFK and, as I do these days, I told the truth. No. I did not and I didn't like him either. A pol, pure and simple, run by the Da' and not very adept at that. Cuba. Viet Nam.

God. The silence was profound. My friend Gene nearly fell off his bike.

But, it is a simple fact. I didn't like him then and I don't much like him now.

He mentioned that the son, JFK Jr. was an admirable figure and I just had to say that he was a playboy and hadn't done a thing. If there was an heir to the throne then what had he done.

We didn't bring up Uncle Ted. Fact is, I think that he redeemed himself and more than made up for his disgraceful behavior earlier in his life.

Why am I telling you this? Because it is true and that I haven't had a chance to say any of this out loud for a long time.

Kennedy is dignified by his assassination and the mostly unfulfilled legacy he mostly talked about but didn't have time to do anything about. Then we got LBJ.

No matter what he did, you have to put Viet Nam against it. A tough job.

So there it is.

They didn't pick me up and carry me out of the room.

Jacky? Don't get me started. She is one of the bad things about JFK too.

No. I did not vote for Tricky Dick. I just did not vote for President that year.

Joe, Honey Fitz and Jack.

Labels: Democrats, history, Kennedy family

SLOW RECOVERY

I looked to yesterdays elections all over the country as a referendum on Republican policies both in Congress and in sate elections to say nothing of two key referendums in Ohio and in Mississippi.

So this.

The Return of Sanity: Yesterday's election results amount to a broad rejection of Republican overreach.

Also, there are other good signs. Obama's Gallup approval which I look at every day is creeping up from the depths so that there is only a 4-5 point spread on the down side. This has been as high as 12-13 points for quite a while. Trending up. This is striking because the disapproval comes from both sides. Disappointed Demos and Viperish GoOPers.

This is just about right. And the economic situation improves gradually. Manufacturing output is moving up and teeny weekly downward turns in unemployment reports improves the climate.

Labels: Democrats, liberals, republican whack jobs

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF

From an Franklin Roosevelt 1936 campaign speech in Madison Square Garden:

”For nearly four years you have had an Administration which instead of twirling its thumbs has rolled up its sleeves. We will keep our sleeves rolled up.

We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace—business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering.

They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob.

Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me—and I welcome their hatred.

I should like to have it said of my first Administration that in it the forces of selfishness and of lust for power met their match. I should like to have it said of my second Administration that in it these forces met their master.”

Labels: Democrats, Re-election of Barack Obama, republican whack jobs

PROUD

First I was "in". Then I kicked "in" some extra bucks near the close of the quarter and look what happened. From Political Animal.

In a fairly impressive display, the Obama/Biden campaign announced this morning that it and the DNC had raised a combined $70 million in the third quarter — 98% of it came from donors giving less than $250. The president continues to outraise the entirety of the Republican field combined.

I am impressed with the participation. Very wide spread of low contribution donors like me.

Labels: Democrats, Re-election of Barack Obama

THE TIDE SHIFTS

On a generic congressional ballot, a new Gallup poll shows Democrats leading Republicans, 51% to 44%. It’s the biggest leads Dems have had in about three years.

The other day we saw Obama beating a generic Republican candidate by a number of points higher than ever.

Labels: Democrats, Re-election of Barack Obama

PARDOX OR WHO IS CUTTING COSTS?

If you are all about cutting the federal budget, which I am not, then you should be supporting Harry Reid's proposed cuts in the Senate budget package. Even if you are a Republican. It has twice the savings of Boehner's plan in the House.

And not only that but Boehner's people fucked up on the draft so that the CBO had it at less than a trillion and he now has to revise it and, not only that( again), the whack jobs that have signed "the pledge" may not support him and he will embarrassed even more.

Reid's plan will be the only one standing.

And today the Dow is another hundred dollars down. Three straight days.

I haven't written much about this. I support my President. But it is not his job to do the legislative lifting.

It is hard to see how Boehner will survive this but it is not my problem. Doubly shamed. The faulty arithmetic yesterday and the half a loaf today.

What a show.

Labels: Democrats, republican whack jobs

FROM THE PAST

Charles Manatt, Former Democratic National Chairman, Dies at 75

I was in ROTC summer camp with Chuck in 1956. Quartermaster Corps. Fort Lee Virginia.

We never connected again but I kept track of him over the years and watched, with pleasure, his tenure with the Democratic apparatus including being DNC chair and also the head of Bill Clinton's campaign.

I think Michelle Obama spent some time in his firm or something like that.

It is not unusual to see people my own age felled by a stroke or heart attack.

It's weird.

I notice the age and then pull back and disqualify myself from contention for the big prize. The last one.

When I know or knew someone it is a little more sobering. But not much.

There is some nostalgia, the memory of younger days and then, blam, into the present and back to work.

So long Chuck. You and I had about the same proficiency for the military. Couldn't even shoot straight. But we had a lot of fun trying.

Why were we even there?

In those days of the draft, one alternative open to a college guy was to go into ROTC and sign up for six months active duty and six and a half years in the Reserve or go on active duty for two years and then Reserve for four. Or something like that.

It was known that one could negotiate the Reserve part and I did. I served the time but not very seriously and not in a unit.

That summer when Chuck and I met, the ROTC camp at Fort Lee was filled with people like us who saw this option as the best of a set of bad choices. It also seemed as though my company and platoon had more of us fake soldiers than any other.

We excelled at fooling around.

Always well dressed, passing inspections, gung ho on field exercises, we were, in a way, mocking the reality by taking it seriously in an unseriously way. Irony.

If you look at this official photo of the older Mannatt, you will see a slight glint of a smile that says "even this isn't to be taken too seriously".

Our platoon won the mock battle at the three day bivouac which everyone dreaded but somehow converted into a lark. Camping. Chuck and I were on the CO's staff. Another buddy who couldn't not take it seriously even if he did not.

The conversion of a painful duty into a brilliant experience with intensity and purpose for an ironic end was a great lesson for us.

We would never, ever be in the Army. This was it. So we made more than the most of it.

"If you are stuck in an asshole situation, get over yourself, take it in, have fun. Make it your own. Join others in the fun."

Labels: Democrats, gay military, nostalgia

DINO

I have never been a fan of Evan Bayh, a Democrat in Name Only.

And an asshole to boot. To take the ad hominem approach.

He never disappointed to score a point off Obama or to play politics with serious issues. I don't expect down the line adherence to Democratic Party orthodoxy like the GOoPers do of theirs, but Evan is a challenge.

Now, just before he disappears into the lobbying maelstrom, this:

Evan Bayh and a Never Ending Series of Disappointments

Bayh has not only flipped into lobbying from his vaunted aspiration to teach but has gone to the very devil itself, the US Chamber of Commerce. He will work with Andy Card, the Bush guy, to spin their shit into shinola.

I won't even put up his fucking picture. A weasel. A rat. Can he be both? If possible, Bayh would do it.

For sure a DINO.

Labels: Democrats, evil bastards

SEXTING

Weiner Admits Sending Inappropriate Photos and Lying

It amazes me that men in the public eye, intelligent, able to be elected to office, have this blind spot about two things. One is sex and that they can get away with what "normal" men can not. The other is the sinkhole of the coverup.

In this case, literal.

Anthony Weiner is an internet flasher. He admits to sending pics of his pubic region to women on line. Email. Special delivery.

A flasher.

Now. I have to say that I am first to defend people's right to use the internet for sex. Or to send porno to one another. But not to stalk, not to overpower, not to direct unwanted attention or photos.

All that.

The old guideline. Did anyone, including me, get hurt? In this case, probably, if the attention was unwanted. And Wiener sure hurt himself.

And this is so lame. A photo of gray undershorts? His shaved chest? Come on. if you are going to send something to someone who doesn't mind seeing it, go all the way.

It is true. Americans are really hung up about sex.

At least he is not, at this point, planning to resign. A sort of "fuck you" to the prudes and Aunt Sallies. Good for him. But can he hold out? Probably not.

Labels: Democrats, politics, thought police

OUT TO LUNCH

The GOoPers are running away from the Ryan budget that they voted unanimously.

Why did they do this? Pass it? Didn't they know that they were stepping on the third rail?

They are given to these ruinous excursions into unreality.

Kevin Drum asks the same questions and has some answers.

Republicans and Medicare

KD thinks they drank their own Kool-aid which is a danger for them given the number of false premises and distortions that they ride on. They begin to believe their own rhetoric.

I think that there is another thing. They have no leadership.

Sure, it looks like Boehner and Cantor and a few others are driving the legislative car but, in fact, they are not. I don't think that they even get along very well together. Mike Pence. HOvering in the background.

I have seen these guys on morning teevee and they are on a head trip. They are competitive with each other. A house divided.

Another thing. They are not very smart. They are dogmatic and that is not good for thinking. Rationality.

Look at the crazy shit they have passed and not one bill for jobs. How can this be? Because they have no solutions, they are afraid to commit to real governance and they hate Obama. He took their toys away. And he will eat their lunch any day of the week.

Meanwhile, Nancy Pelosi is having a good time annoying the shit out of the opposition.

Pelosi pokes fun at Republicans in disarray over Medicare, budget vote

Labels: Administration Obama, Democrats, Republicans

BALLSMANSHIP

This is how we handle the GOoPers in California.

Challenger Announces at Lawmaker's Town Hall Event

Here's a unique way to announce that you're running for office: Attend an event hosted by your rival to inform him that you are going to challenge him.

The Sacramento Bee reports that's exactly what Darren Spellman (D) did this week during the Q-and-A portion of a town hall meeting hosted by Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA).

Labels: Democrats, Republicans

NO COMMENT

The first meeting of the Senate Tea Party Caucus on Thursday attracted just four senators — out of 47 GOP members — willing to describe themselves as members. The event was as notable for who wasn't there as who was. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), once a tea party favorite, has for now declined to join the caucus, whose first meeting was organized by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.). Sen. Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican whose campaign sprung from the small-government movement, has said he's unsure if he'll join. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) showed up to address the group of activists, but then hustled out of the room, ignoring reporters' questions about whether he was in or out.

Some comment.

There are two ways to look at this.

One is to exhibit a bit of schadenfreude but I will eschew that as I just finished emailing with a friend who is inclined towards tea and I want to keep some comity going.

The other way and more common visionish, is that this is the typical reaction of professional politicians. Use, pander to, lie to win over and then, after election, abandon.

This is an old story in the Democratic Party.

Senators are institutions among themselves. The Senate is a collection of fiefdoms. They are a black hole of self interest for the most part.

Gay people know this. All the happy horseshit at election time and then foot dragging once elected.

Welcome to the party, Teas. Mark Rubio? A member of the club already.

Labels: Democrats, politics, tea party

FAREFUCKINGWELL JOE

I have given it 24 hours. The news that Joe Leiberman will not run again. The sorry bastard.

I have been a long anti-fan of the Senator who has never let a moment pass without grandstanding his piety or his obnoxious attitude. A world class back stabber. I do not allow the C-word in the blog but it would go right here.

I was working on a suitable item for the blog but I found this at Bill in Exile. A blog that is NSFW or much of anything else but hot opinions on a narrow range of subjects. But he has Joe to a tee.

SO LONG ASSHOLE:

Holy Joe Lieberman, The Last Honest Man, has announced this morning that he will retire from the United States Senate when his term expires in 2012.

Joe Lieberman is a duplicitous weasel of the very first order and his work on getting DADT repealed, although admirable, does not in any way make up for the twenty years worth of offenses he’s perpetrated while in office.

It takes a lot for a politician to be loathed by both Democrats and republicans, but that’s Joe in a nutshell and its why he decided not to run for a fifth term.

Because basically everyone in his home state of Connecticut fucking hates him.

From his incredible sanctimony, to endorsing John McCain for president, to opposing a public option in the health care reform bill simply because doing so pissed off Liberals, Joe Lieberman rarely passed up an opportunity to act like an asshole.

So long Joe, don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out, you fucking scumbag.

He is a prick. But, let's not go ad hominem.

And let's be polite.

Thank you Joe for being the stalking horse for a lot of resentment we have had for the blue-doggers and DIROs that will now be more exposed for the hypocrisy in the coming years. Do you hear me Ben Nelson?

They are no longer "better than that fuck Joe Leiberman". They will now have to stand on their own.

Labels: Democrats

QUOTE OF THE DAY

From Kevin Drum.

Quoting Sen. Lindsey Graham (R–SC), on the Democratic victories of the lame duck session:

"When it's all going to be said and done, Harry Reid has eaten our lunch."

Labels: Administration Obama, Democrats