Home > Jay Bookman > Archives > 2008 > November > 21 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USDelayed inauguration date has to be fixed
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This is a dangerous interregnum for the American people, with a lameduck president whose mistakes have stripped him of credibility, influence and apparently confidence, and a new president still two months from taking power. That’s a problem we’ll eventually need to address with a constitutional amendment that moves up the date of inauguration for future presidents.
The current date was set by the 20th amendment, which accelerated the transfer of power from the original March 4 to the current Jan. 20. Not surprisingly, that change occurred in 1933, in the midst of the Great Depression, when Americans decided they couldn’t afford to wait four months between presidents. The amendment was passed by Congress in 1932 and in less than a year it had been ratified by enough states to take effect, which suggests the seriousness with which it was taken.
Now, with another major financial crisis underway, the lack of leadership from Washington could be a real problem. In one sense there’s not a lot a president could do — there’s no magic bill he could sign or rule he could change to make things better. But the markets are always driven by psychology, and never more so than in a moment like this. The difference between a sense of drift in Washington and a sense of strong leadership at the helm could be significant.
As the New York Times reports:
“We can’t get from here to Feb. 1 if the current ‘who’s in charge?’ situation continues,” said Robert Barbera, the chief economist of ITG, an investment firm, arguing that Congress should adopt a stimulus package, including temporary tax cuts, as rapidly as possible. Instead, he said, Washington seems paralyzed…
The Standard & Poor’s index of 500 stocks fell by more than 6 percent on two consecutive days, Wednesday and Thursday, something that had not happened since July 20 and 21, 1933, in the midst of the Great Depression, when panic was brought on by collapsing commodity prices.”
The current collapse may halt, at least temporarily, when the New York markets open this morning, given what happened overnight. According to the AP, “European and Asian stock markets rebounded Friday as expectations of a recovery on Wall Street prompted investors to scoop up battered financial and energy shares.” But it’s hard to argue with any certainty that this is the worst of it.
Back before the election, legal scholar Sanford Levinson foresaw just this calamity, even proposing a possible if unlikely solution:
“As it happens, one doesn’t need to amend the Constitution to ‘solve’ this problem at least for this year: Dick Cheney could resign on November 5, to be replaced by the winner of the election. This could take place simply by following the procedures of the 25th Amendment, which allows a president to nominate a new vice president should the office become vacant, subject to congressional confirmation. Upon such confirmation, President Bush could then resign, to be succeeded by the newly installed Vice President….”
As Levinson acknowledges, that’s not going to happen. For the moment, we’re stuck with both our current president and our current system. One problem is two months from a solution; fixing the second will take a little more time.
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Comments
By DB, Gwinnettian
November 21, 2008 8:12 AM | Link to this
Only after we investigate the BIRTH CERTIFICATE CONTROVERSY!!!11!!
/wingnut
By Bud Wiser
November 21, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this
So what do you want Jay, to ignore or rewrite all of our history (again) and put BHO in office tomorrow? Even a talented community organizer such as he requires a little prep time, don’t you think? Maybe you want to hurry up and pay more taxes now or something? Huh??
And who’s payroll is this Levinson idiot on, George Soros? You know what is said about academia such as this tool: Those that can, do: those that can’t, teach.; and may I humbly add my own mark … Those that can’t teach, write about that those that do; all others become politicians.
A solution is needed right now for sure. If Washington bails out those arrogant a*******es from Detroit, we may as well throw in the towel. I think that what is required is far beyond the reach of community organizers.
By "The Corporal"
November 21, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this
To Jay
What unbridled demagoguery !! Did you make this same argument when Billy Boy was leaving office ?? It would have helped with some of those pardons.
Leave the date alone.
I hope the blizzard of the century hits on January 19th. The Secret Service would love it !!
P.S. To Taxpayer
If you find any typos, please ignore them and just stick to the debate.
By Keeping It Real
November 21, 2008 8:47 AM | Link to this
The more I read and listen, the more I realize that no one can change the politics of Washington. I voted for Obama, not believing that he could change Washington…but improve it. It does not matter about party(liberal vs. conservative) or whatever, the system is what it is. Capitalism controls both parties. It is there for all of us to see. Our economy is in a mess for those who do not have cash assets. Obviously, any cash invested in financial instituions is just a ghost. Those stuff shirts from GM, Ford and Chrysler just told us that they could care less about the middle class who are struggling. Wake up America and get behind Obama as he attempts to share the wealth(not spread). Before this is over, this might prove to be a novel idea.
By Wyld Byll Hyltnyr
November 21, 2008 8:48 AM | Link to this
Jay, what’s the hurry. “Ol Jes Wordts” doesn’t have the stones to make a meaningful decision. Let’s look at facts, seven weeks ago, the economicy became the driving issue of the campaign. “Ol Jes Wordts’” campaign siezed upon that and hammered Sen McCain over the head with the economy. One would suppose that “Ol’ Jes Wordts” concluded that the economy was issue number one and that his team would need to hit the ground running. Yest against that backdrop, “Ol’ Jes Wordts” has not nominated a Secretary of the Treasury” to calm the markets, rather his remarkable inaction has fueled a market calamity. All things considered, a reasonable man would have concluded that the Treasury Secretary would have been appointment number one, right out of the gate in light of the economy’s importance and the amount of time the issue has been front and center. But, no, “Ol’ Jes Wordts” can’t pull the trigger on any thing tough - just doesn’t have the stones. At a time when the country needed and the circumstances demanded even the small measure of leadership requisite to name a Treasury Secretary, “Ol’ Jes Wordts” voted present beause he just does not have the stones (or experience) to make a tough decision. If speeches were horses, “Ol’ Jes Wordts” would have this nation’s problems ride into the sunset. Unfortunately for us, he won’t be able to vote present forever.
By DB, Gwinnettian
November 21, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this
If memory serves, George HW Bush himself complained in late ‘92, after losing to Clinton, that the interregnum was too long.
Good topic. We really ought to seriously consider amending the Constitution in such a way that would maintain stability in order to accommodate the possibility of any seriously contested elections. If that’s possible.
By AmVet
November 21, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this
Off topic, but what’s a mother to do? (The most serially impeachable president in US history will get a free ride until he quits the oxygen habit, as the spineless Democrats and the repulsive Republicans will never, ever hold him and his co-conspirator Darth Cheney accountable or seek justice.)
Hair in book helps identify Copernicus’s remains
His final thesis between 1508 and 1514 that the Sun, not the earth was at the center of our solar system, challenged the Bible, the church and past theories, and they had important consequences for future thinkers, including Galileo, Descartes and Newton.
One of the Christian church’s great proclaimed enemies.
500 years on and they are still trying to sell stupid to the ignorant…
By leni
November 21, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this
Reason for the interregnum was the length of time needed for all parties to reach Washington . They traveled on horseback. So it might be wise to delay the changeyness. They could be back to giddyup by midterm.
By Mrs. Godzilla
November 21, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this
If we moved up the inauguration Bush wouldn’t have the time to gut environmental legislation, burrow appointees into the bureacracy and loot the treasury.
By Swami Dave
November 21, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this
Gee…..dealing with some of these liberals is alot like playing cards with a 4 yr old. “No, 2s are wild except on Thursday or the 1st card played is a J then its Ks, but only after you discard a 5”
What should we call this new amendment: The “Get-Obama-In-Quick” amendment? Will we need to pass another one in 2012 (after he loses) to keep him IN office longer to “enable a more prudent, measured introduction to a new administration”? I guess that we could call that one the “But-We-Want-Obama-To-Stay” amendment.
Personally, I have no desire to see the President-elect inaugurated before the end of the year. Americans are already pretty much guaranteed a retroactive tax increase (ala Bill Clinton) once Obama / Pelosi / Reid take control in 2009. The last thing we need would be for this bunch of thieves to pass one in the lame duck session for 2008 as well!
We already have a president - your messiah said so himself.
I do find it incredible that liberals are now clamouring for a consititutional amendment to move the inauguration date. Aren’t these the same folks who oppose amendments that would require balanced budgets, protect unborn children, or define marriage to “protect” the consititution……except in cases where it is activist judges redefining it to what it doesn’t even say basically by judicial fiat.
Oh, sorry. I forgot 3s were wild on Friday after you play a 10 after 2 4s or 2-7-10-J-A is a winning hand when you hold up two fingers and whistle Mary-had-a-little-lamb while standing on one leg.
-Swami Dave
By RW-(the original)
November 21, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this
Why did the transition seem so short the last time? Oh yea, because the loser spent seven weeks trying to steal the election.
Seriously Jay, how short a time do you want? The incoming President needs time to put his team together and the election isn’t official until the middle of December. As WBH notes above me Obama hasn’t bothered to name a treasury secretary which wasn’t that big a deal until Congress recently made that the most important job in the world. He could also announce that he wouldn’t pursue capital gains tax increases or corporate tax increases for some conditions based period of time and put some stability into the market before taking office.
By reebok
November 21, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this
Amend the Constitution to ‘fix’ a non-existent problem for purely political gain? I though only Republicans had that mindset.
By Paul
November 21, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this
I will offer a couple month delay has some advantages. Do they outweigh the current disadvantages, given the economic situation? Maybe not. Do they outweigh the current disadvantages, given normal events absent the economic crisis? Maybe.
A mistake Pres Clinton made was frittering away the time before inauguration. Rahm Emanuel’s been there, done that, and as we’ve seen, it won’t happen again. If the Pres-elect uses the time to pick his people, get them cleared (there are an awful lot of emails sent in a lifetime that have to be reviewed….) and get realistic proposals hammered out, then it’s time well spent. I’ll even offer if the current wait was drastically shortened and these actions took place after inauguration, critics would be harping “why wasn’t this done earlier? Why so disorganized?”
Some time between administrations is needed. Just how much is the question.
By "The Corporal"
November 21, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this
Headline: Obama to delay repeal of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’….
What happened to the Campaing Promise?
One Reason: Recruiting. If you think it’s hard to get recruits now … just wait and see what happens when he does this. Remember, the great majority of military personnel (especially those who want to serve in the combat arms of infantry, artillery and armor) are conservative.
By DB, Gwinnettian
November 21, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this
I guess a person who posts political potshots under a goofy internet handle would know all about courage and then some, but I’m going to dispute Wyld’s assertion @ 8.48 that Obama hasn’t demonstrated political toughness with a pretty obvious two-word answer: Joe Lieberman.
An insecure man would’ve had a stern word with his Senate collegues and seen the disloyal neocon twerp stripped of rank and given an office in the Capitol building’s basement toilet. Instead, Obama rather publicly asserted that he wanted no retribution taken, and is leaving a man who could, if he chose to, make a lot of trouble with his Senate committees.
After thinking it over I’ve come to realize that’s pretty ballsy, really. It’s a way of telling most of the serious players in DC that he is not afraid of oversight, he isn’t worried about the kind of shots he’ll take from naysayers. This—combined with his smart pick of Napolitano for Homeland signals to onetime iron-cage deathmatch opponent McCain that he’ll not have to fret so much about re-election in 2010—is how an intelligent man says “bring it on.”
Watch and learn, GOPers.
By Bosch
November 21, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this
I think the time is good the way it is.
The economic problems we are seeing now are inevitable, and moving up the inauguration isn’t going to stop that. If anything it gives the next administration a little more time for this wave to make it to shore and see where it lands. Then, in January, we’ll all see a little more clearer what needs to be done.
“Patience is a virtue,” my mom always said.
By findog
November 21, 2008 9:22 AM | Link to this
Dear Jay,
Absolutely not! Have the Secretary of Health or the Surgeon General do something for the psychology of the market drivers but we have been doing too much for THE MARKET. Or get the sandhogs to put some Lithium in the New York City water system. But HECK NO to more tax cuts!
Why did we get to the point of such cheap credit, because Wall Street demanded continual interest rate cuts. Why did we have to cut taxes too much, because Wall Street demanded those cuts to reinvest in jobs. Why can’t we let those ill advised Bush Tax cuts expire, because Wall Street demand they remain in place to bolster the economy. Why have we given so much authority, and treasure, to Wall Street, because corporations had 401k’s established to replace pensions. Now we are the great ownership society President Bush promised and we all need to feel the pain.
Congress rushed in to bail out Wall Street to our own peril; I certainly do not want an administration to rush in with reorganization every four years. Ten weeks is barely sufficient to have a capable team vetted, issued clearances, and in place for the challenge they have accepted.
By Taxpayer
November 21, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this
Well, there you go just tossing around my label as though it were something to be toyed with. The nerve, Corporal. Have you no decency!
As for Bush and Cheney — they both resigned some time ago. That is, they resigned themselves to destroy the US. History will remember the Bush administration and it will not be kind. How could it be. After all, it is by far the most inept administration this country has ever seen and to make matters worse, it’s not over yet.
By the way, I noticed that Einstein’s hypothesis, E=mc^2 has been confirmed. The war-mongering Republican party’s one piece of science that they cling to so fervently no longer requires a leap of faith — the bomb really works! Aren’t you Republicans just thrilled. That should add a whole new dimension to your fears of ever letting a terrorist group obtain any “m” or “c”. Just imagine what they could do with this blend of “ingredients”. They could even go so far as to “create” their own mass with a simple manipulation, m=E/c^2. The sheer horror of it all. On a side note, this equation also led to the creation of Star Trek. A clever writer deduced that light speed could be achieved simply by taking the square root of E/m. Just imagine the possibilities if one did not take the square root. Perhaps Corporal would like to debate this topic of immense concern to all who dwell in this age of corroborated immense energy reserves.
By Truthman
November 21, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this
I swear I saw a lightening bolt in the replays of AG Mukasey when he went down last night!!
Maybe He got tired of the lies, too!
By findog
November 21, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this
Wyld @8:48 I just love how the people who claim that American Business creates jobs and wealth bemoan big government but now that Uncle Sam has to nationalize their losses they demand to be put in the front of the line. Naming an individual to be Treasury Secretary on January 20th is going to do what to get Paulson to better manage the bailout?
By Wyld Byll Hyltnyr
November 21, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this
Hit a nerve, didn’t I, DB, Gwinnettian. Lieberman was a no brainer, he votes with the Dems 90% of the time and he may be the magic number when it comes to the filibuster. Deciding not to hammer Lieberman was no more a tough decision than deciding that you’ll need to use the rest room during the course of a given day. What it does show is just how radical and dumb Harry Reid and his cohorts must be to even consider stoning what may be the magic number for the philibuster. From behind a a goofy internet handle and filled with courage and then some, I must “axes”, why no secretary of the treasury - is it because each possible appointment has consequences for which “Ol’ Jes Wordts” will be held accountable? DB, maybe you can tell me, why hasn’t he pulled the trigger on the appointment the country most desperately needs - doesn’t have the stones, that’s what I say.
By "The Corporal"
November 21, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this
To Soixi:
Interesting read from this morning …
Obama has:
… promised to raise capital gains taxes, perhaps even double them.
… promised to sign the so-called Card Check bill.
… promised to raise income taxes on the largest jobs producing segment of our economy, small businesses.
… promised more business regulation.
and that’s just for starters and you wonder why the market is down ?
By getalife
November 21, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this
Hell, w should have been impeached when they found no WMD’s in Iraq. If he was not the worst ever, we would not have this conversation.
Mukasey fell out giving a speech at the Federlist society. Nice group of radicals but looked liked he might have drank too much.
I watched a CNN piece with lobbyists handing out checks to freshmen reps. One Dem asked, “What is the alternative?”
Don’t take the legal bribery checks stupid and listen to the people instead of special interests.
Anyhoo, there is no change, just business as usual in Washington.
Lower your expections for the future of government. It is still broken.
By Joey
November 21, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this
I am not convinced that the system is broken. If the pendulum was swinging the other way Jay would never support this proposal.
Eleven weeks after the vote is not much time, even in this electronic age. The vote, even though it is considered a rout, has not been certified yet.
This reads to me like Jay’s prelude to insisting that the Electorial College is passe’ and the Presidential election should be based on a “Plurality of the Total Votes Cast”.
I might be persuaded to shorten the time between voting and ignaugration. But never would I support doing away with the Electorial College.
By @@
November 21, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this
And here I’ve always heard it was conservatives who anxiously awaited “the second coming”.
Be patient, jay! Only 45 days until you will experience your manifestation of ecstasy and passion.
Oooooooooo!!!! the audacity of hope……
By DB, Gwinnettian
November 21, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this
At minimum, the Legislative and Executive starting dates ought to be synchronized, yes?
Has anyone considered the possibility that a new Congress and Senate could, if they were feeling angry or ornery, impeach and convict Bush just for the hell of it?
Seems to me the old terms ought to expire at the end of the calendar year, with the new teams assuming office on New Year’s Day. It’s already a national holiday; why not make it extra special every four years?
By Mrs. Godzilla
November 21, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this
Coporal
There is no doubt as to why the market is down.
The GOP has had the checkbook for 8 years.
It’s called The Bush Depression which will be followed by The Obama Recovery.
By Independent
November 21, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this
Jay, a newly elected president needs those 2 months to fill all the positions of the administration. Bad idea.
By TW
November 21, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this
Who is currently under contract at $400k/yr to be our president?
I know we pay Saxby to golf, but surely we don’t pay ‘w’ to suck his thumb…actually, maybe that’s a good thing?
Funny how the anti-welfare right is cool with ‘w’s salary…
By findog
November 21, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this
Here’s a question for our Republican friends: As that Senator’s Obama and Biden have both resigned their seats and have yet to be replaced how come McConnell is not the new Majority Leader? Maybe even the national GOP doesn’t want to have to deal with the last days of the Bush Presidency…
By DB, Gwinnettian
November 21, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this
Wyld, not only should you know to quit when you’re behind, you couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn from ten paces at high noon. With a shot of Jack’s to calm the shakes.
Harry Reid is “radical?” Joe Lieberman would be of any more use to the Dems than t!ts on a bull to overcome a GOP filibuster? Obama owes you a Treasury-guy announcement yesterday to satisfy some secret, southern-fried manhood requirement?
Oy. Have fun kids.
By AmVet
November 21, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
He’s running out of time, but it is still possible, quite possible, that Bush has one more major debacle up his sleeve.
The bookends of an abysmal administration - My Pet Goat and The Great Bailout of 2008.
The head poster boy for why the “conservative” (Or is it “center-right”? “Libertarian leaning”? “Strict Constructionism? I get their inane weekly slogans all mixed up) hemorrhaging GOP has gotten absolutely annihilated in the past two elections.
And why they are now the walking dead political party for the clod-busters, religious nut jobs and the crackers here in the Moron Belt.
And virtually NO ONE else…
By @@
November 21, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this
And just so-s you know-s, jay…..
Bush wins praise for transition work Officials of both parties say it could be the most successful switch ever
U.S. President George W. Bush is leaving office with some of the lowest job-approval ratings in history. He’s being assailed by both of his would-be successors, one of whom will inherit two wars and the most severe financial crisis since the Great Depression.
Meanwhile, Bush is engineering what may be the most carefully considered and potentially successful presidential transition in modern times, both Democrats and Republicans close to the process say.
*The president started the preparations last spring, ordering federal agencies to get ready for a new administration, with deadlines for various tasks. By August, White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten had persuaded representatives of Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama to join in. The advance work may get the new president off to a fast start, participants say.
By Taxpayer November 20, 2008 11:32 PM | Link to this
@@ is feeling left out.
You’re kidding, right?
You may see this cyber-setting as a “tea party” for women but I’ve gotta tell you…..
I prefer the company of men, where idle chatter is considered a waste of time.
Pinkie up, girlfriend!
By Mrs. Godzilla
November 21, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this
When do we get to talk about the Turkey video…..?
By Wes
November 21, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this
Jay,
Given the possibility for recounts and litigation in this day and age how much time is needed to determine who the president is? I understand your desire for instant gratification; however, a working solution might be appropriate.
By Midori
November 21, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this
Taxpayer,
you must certainly have struck a nerve.
Now your “friend” is preemptively whining.
Good job!!!
By Taxpayer
November 21, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this
Mrs. Godzilla,
I beg to differ with your 9:42. GW has the credit card AND the ability to raise the credit limit whenever needed. That portion of his reign of terror has come to an abrupt end because we, as a nation, are broke. Unfortunately, he still holds a key terror card — the abandonment of scientific principles for whatever reason — and he has shown no qualms when it comes to playing it. His utter disregard for our health and for the environment may yet be demonstrated with further strokes of his pen before his time in office is up. Bush has repeatedly shown an uncanny ability to add new dimension to the definition of “terrorist”, domestic, that is, through his actions so be prepared for the worst during his dreaded final days in office. Perhaps if everyone were to e-mail him asking for mercy via a promise from him to sign no more documents….It could help.
By G
November 21, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this
Bush and Company having time to implement all kinds of rules, and make all kinds of deals that are just plain bad, bad, bad, for the sole reason that they know Obama would do something completely different, that just makes me angry!
The voters have spoken quite clearly that they don’t want any part of any more Bush and Company insanity.
Just because the authority of the office is passed to a new president doesn’t mean that the transition process has to be entirely complete before the inauguration. That’s why we have career staffers in every department and agency.
Also we need President Obama in there now, it’s evident and has been for almost 8 years, that Bush is dumb, stupid, ignorant, etc.
By JAY BOOKMAN
November 21, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this
I think the claim that we need the current 10-week transition overestimates the problem. The British, for example, make the change from party to party literally overnight. The former prime minister of 10 Downing Street moves out; the new one moves in.
France is another example. Nicolas Sarkozy was elected May 6, 2007 and took office May 16. Our extended transition is the rare exception internationally, not the rule.
By Taxpayer
November 21, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this
I apparently struck multiple nerves, Midori. Corporal proclaims that he doesn’t appreciate my help with typos and @@ is trying to recover from that virtual wedgie I gave her last night. Life is good, even with extended pinkies. Cheerios anyone.
By Truthman
November 21, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this
NO WORLD LEADER SHAKES BUSH’S HAND!!
THAT ABOUT SUMS UP THE “ESTEEM” WITH WHICH THE “MURDERER FROM MIDLAND” IS HELD THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
He’s a boob with a capital W!!
By Abomi Nation
November 21, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this
“Dick Cheney could resign on November 5, to be replaced by the winner of the election.”
Yes, markets are driven by psychology, so are are the American people when confronted with disaster. We the people need closure, this plan would provide that.
Presidents as destructive as Bush should be forced to leave the White House like the disgraced Nixon did before fleeing into exile.
We need to see Bush get on the helicopter as Nixon did. We need to see that final, disgraced, wave good-bye. Ceremonial as it may be, we need closure.
Its important for us. The healing can only begin when we see him flying away to a minimum 8 year self imposed exile. The Crawford Texas ranch needs to be transformed into our own little Presidential Gitmo. Sure the law says we can’t force him to stay there, but guess what? Who cares.
We need to see the “Nixon wave good-bye”
Hurry.
By Goldie
November 21, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this
and that’s just for starters and you wonder why the market is down ?
Corporal @ 9:34 — no, there’s no wondering why the market is down… it’s because of the ongoing failure of your “TRICKLED ON” economics being played out to its ultimate death! The economy has been going downhill for the past 4 years or maybe more, with continuous job losses and corporate failures such as Enron, WorldCom, Lehman Brothers, etc.
And your guy W just lurks around with his face hanging on, and trying to make an illusion of his “legacy” and “book deal.”
The market keeps crashing further because of the Repugs’ failed policies and corporate cronies robbing the coffers!
By getalife
November 21, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this
“I want to thank everybody who turned out and voted for me in November. Together we can get America moving again,” Obama says. “But the elections aren’t over. In Georgia, there’s a runoff on Tuesday, December 2, and I want to urge you to turn out one more time and help elect Jim Martin to the United States Senate.”
Support our President and vote for Martin.
By Dusty
November 21, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
NO, Jay Bookman, NO changing the date for inauguration.
We know you wanted it the day after Obama was called the winner. But you JUST HAVE TO WAIT.
One thing for sure, Obama is simply calling back all of Clinton’s Yes People to keep the tradition. SO WHY WAIT? Right? Even Hillary is coming back in case there’s another great CONSPIRACY she must define. And WAXMAN!!! And DASCHLE (whom his own constiutents would not vote him in)!! And HOLDER the great pardoner of criminals!! Yeah, let’s get going and bring them all back in a HURRY!!! Maybe there will even be a place for Atlanta’s former mayor Campbell who would fit right in. What’s Rezko’s new position?
No wonder Makasey fainted yesterday. He probably heard about OBAMA’S new crowd of comebacks!! It’s enough to make us all faint-hearted if nothing else.
PS-LIBS: Bush is not running for reelction and Sarah Palin is busy runnning the state of Alaska. You can stop the accusations and lies now. The country is safe and you do not have to fight the president and the troops anymore. Relax! Obama is going to babysit you libs now and make you happy!!
By RealityKing
November 21, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
Now that Obama has completely betrayed the American people’s vote for change by filling his cabinet 1/2 full of lobbists and 3/4 full of Clintonians.., we should just end this socialistic nightmare now and impeach him for fraud.
By Ray
November 21, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this
Bookman,
We left the UK sometime ago because we didn’t like how they did things in their political and religious arena, although much of our government is patterned after theirs. If you are holding up France as an example of good political management and sound judgment I certainly question your spin on our system. Maybe the Annointed One could take the oath beneath the Eiffel Tower. That should satisfy all of you “global community” liberals. We are not, and never will be, European. We are uniquely American and aim to stay that way.
By RealityKing
November 21, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this
But Obama might as well be President today.., his wins adverse effects on the free market have certainlytaken hold. Moving us well beyond ‘Crisis of Confidence’ into just plain ‘Crisis’.
But of course, there’s no real relationship there…, hay Jay.
By Mrs. Godzilla
November 21, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
The Bush Depression…..
after ready some of the above I have to agree to some extent with Foreclosure Phil…..mental whiners.
By Dusty
November 21, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this
SUPPORT OUR COUNTRY AND VOTE FOR CHAMBLISS.
By @@
November 21, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this
At Taxpayer’s stoner — uhmmm tea party in Wonderland…..
I apparently struck multiple nerves, Midori. Corporal proclaims that he doesn’t appreciate my help with typos and @@ is trying to recover from that virtual wedgie I gave her last night.
ZZzzzzzzzzzzz……
Speaking of Corporal, the Mad Hatter went on in a mournful tone, `he won’t do a thing I ask!’
To which Corporal responds, `Is that the reason so many tea-things are put out here?’ he asked.
Yes, that's it,' said the Mad Hatter with a sigh:it’s always tea-time, and we’ve no time to wash the things between whiles.’
`Then you keep moving round, I suppose?’ said Corporal.
Exactly so,' said the Mad Hatter:as the things get used up.’
`But what happens when you come to the beginning again?’ Corporal ventured to ask.
Suppose we change the subject,' the Mad Hatter (creative liberties taken here) interrupted, yawning.I’m getting tired of this. (it was actually the March in lockstep Hare - Midori who feigns fatigue, but…..?)
Will that be one lump or two girls?
Off to pack. The warm sandy beaches call me.
By Truthman
November 21, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this
Let’s see:
Clinton years: Prosperity, $1.25/gal gas, Peace (7 out of 8 years - Kosovo) and an $87 billion surplus when he left office
Bush years: Deepest recession since the ’30s, $4/gal gas, two wars (one illegal/immoral) spying, trampling the rights of the accused, Terry Schiavo, Alberto Gonzales, Rumsfeld, Ashcroft, signing statements, Cheney…I beleive I’ve made my point!!
Poor Dusty/AJC/RW/Corporeal: Their little, demented dream of a “Leave it to Beaver” world where the white, conservative male dominates, women know their place and negroes…gosh I never saw a negro on “LITB!”
It’s all “Gone With The Wind!” The wind of change that has blown across America and will send Zaxby “The Chicken Man” Chambliss back to his dump in Georgia!
DUMP CHAMBLISS…HE’S W’s FAVORITE RUBBER STAMP!!
Oh, and by the way, keep showing Jim Martin and Obama together. Except for deniers on this site, Most Americans look at Obama and see the future. Then, they look and Chambliss/Bush, who slandered a true war hero, and see the failed past!!
DUMP CHAMBLISS DEC. 2!!!
By Truthman
November 21, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this
Mukasey as a microcosm of the Bush years:
Started out with lots of support an momentum, got up to speak, told a lot of lies, got locked in an endless loop, and fell over unconscious when the truth overwhelmed him!
DUMP CHAMBLISS DEC 2.
By Soothsayer
November 21, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this
Why did it happen? The stagnation of real wages and salaries meant that less income could be saved and had to be consumed to maintain the American Lifestyle. In addition, way too much social emphasis was placed on consuming vs. producing.
By Ray
November 21, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
Dusty has a point. Looks like we are going to get mostly re-cycled libs instead of the change that the Annointed One harped so much about. How many other political promises is this clown going to toss under the bus. He started with Hairless Joe and hasn’t slowed down yet. Maybe he is saving Treasury Secretary for the outcome of Cold Cash Jefferson’s trial. He seems to know how to handle other people’s money. Or maybe be can talk McKinney into quitting the Green Party and re-joining the fold. We can’t wait.
By Abomi Nation
November 21, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this
A contest was run to determine who was the best investor of the new millennium.
So who is this master investor? Turns out to be 14 year Johnny Doe of Springfield, Mass. He was the runaway winner in a contest that included Wall Street’s best and brightest.
So what is Johnny’s secret? “My piggy bank,” said Johnny. I got it when I was 6. “I but all my pennies, nickles, dimes and quarters in it and now I have $322.62.”
“That kid, didn’t lose one cent,” said one impressed stock broker. “His return was a remarkable 0.00%, which is spectacular, considering he was investing in the Bush economy. All my Wall St buddies lost big. We’ve been wiped out.”
What’s little Johnny advising you to do with any money you have left and didn’t lose? “I plan on putting all my piggy bank money in a high yield savings account. I figure I should be able to easily get 0.35% APR. Maybe as high as - 0.50.”
“He’s a genius, that kid, pure gold.”
By Soothsayer
November 21, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this
“I think it would be worse than the depression,” Whitehead said. “We’re talking about reducing the credit of the United States of America, which is the backbone of the economic system.” Whitehead encountered plenty of crises during his 38 years at the investment banking firm and was a young boy during the 1930s.
By Truthman
November 21, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this
MARKET IS UP TODAY. THAT MUST BE BECAUSE OF OBAMA, TOO!!!
By Soixante huitard
November 21, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this
Heck with this interregnum nonsense.
Give me my special dedicated Monty Python YouTube channel !!!! :
By Soixante huitard
November 21, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
TRASH OUR COUNTY AND VOTE FOR CHAMBLISS!!!
By Soixante huitard
November 21, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this
TRASH OUR STATE - VOTE FOR CHAMBLISS!!!
By Tell It Like It Is
November 21, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this
RealityKing,
Obama is a politician and a very smart one at that. He knows how to play the Washington game. How many presidents do you know that have used the word “change” in their platform. Obama just used it better than anyone else has ever done. He knows that he cannot make everyone happy or change all of Washinton politics. Even God cannot do this as witnessed by church in-fighting and religous bigotry. By the way, is not the church we attend every Sunday socialistic?
Face the music, there is a new sheriff in town. You may not like him, but he will do more than any other president has done to unify us. That is the main reason that America has lost so much esteem,influence and power in the world. We keep fighting amongst ourselves.
I voted for Obama and I will support him when I agree and critcize him when I do not agree. I did not vote for Bush, but I treated him the same way. That’s called democracy.
By Soothsayer
November 21, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this
Over the past decade, the nation has been borrowing massively abroad—some $739 billion in 2007 alone. And it is easy to see why: With the government running up huge debts, and with Americans’ household savings close to zero, there was nowhere else to turn. America has been living on borrowed money and borrowed time, and the day of reckoning had to come. We used to lecture others about what good economic policy meant. Now they are laughing behind our backs, and even occasionally lecturing us. We’ve had to go begging to the sovereign wealth funds—the excess wealth that other governments have accumulated and can invest outside their borders. We recoil at the idea of our government running a bank. But we seem to accept the notion of foreign governments owning a major share in some of our iconic American banks, institutions that are critical to our economy.
By Midori
November 21, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this
Well, I for one don’t have any problems whatsoever with Obama tapping former Clintonites for his transition team and cabinet.
After all, they represent a time when the country was run by competent people.
Bush brought a bunch of failed criminal retreads from the Nixon and Reagan era.
You get what you pay for.
By Joey
November 21, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this
Jay (10:35): Regarding the ability of England and France to transition their leaders more quickly than U.S.:
England: 50,000 square miles, population 50 million.
France: 211,000 square miles, population 20 million.
U.S. 3,500,000 square miles, population 305 million.
By AJC/DNC Management
November 21, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this
But the markets are always driven by psychology
You just absolutely have to love this line^^.
So Phil Gramm was dead on about you whiners, eh?
And are we not now admitting that the “psychology” in the markets is that a tax and spend socialist will soon be in control of the government and will ruin prosperity and entrepreneurship?
And they are not selling their assets accordingly?
We already gave up who knows how much, bailing out this bank, bailing out that insurance company and they thanked us by bailing out of the stock market.
So the answer is more debt, good money after bad?
I pray for you America.
By Soothsayer
November 21, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this
[The self-centered attitudes of the 1920s seemed to fit nicely with the needs of the economy. Modern industry had the capacity to produce vast quantities of consumer goods, but this created a fundamental problem: Prosperity could continue only if demand was made to grow as rapidly as supply. Accordingly, people had to be persuaded to abandon such traditional values as saving, postponing pleasures and purchases, and buying only what they needed. “The key to economic prosperity,” a General Motors executive declared in 1929, “is the organized creation of dissatisfaction.” Advertising methods that had been developed to build support for World War I were used to persuade people to buy such relatively new products as automobiles and such completely new ones as radios and household appliances. The resulting mass consumption kept the economy going through most of the 1920s.
But there was an underlying economic problem. Income was distributed very unevenly, and the portion going to the wealthiest Americans grew larger as the decade proceeded. This was due largely to two factors: While businesses showed remarkable gains in productivity during the 1920s, workers got a relatively small share of the wealth this produced. At the same time, huge cuts were made in the top income-tax rates. Between 1923 and 1929, manufacturing output per person-hour increased by 32 percent, but workers’ wages grew by only 8 percent. Corporate profits shot up by 65 percent in the same period, and the government let the wealthy keep more of those profits. The Revenue Act of 1926 cut the taxes of those making $1 million or more by more than two-thirds.
As a result of these trends, in 1929 the top 0.1 percent of American families had a total income equal to that of the bottom 42 percent. This meant that many people who were willing to listen to the advertisers and purchase new products did not have enough money to do so. To get around this difficulty, the 1920s produced another innovation—“credit,” an attractive name for consumer debt. People were allowed to “buy now, pay later.” But this only put off the day when consumers accumulated so much debt that they could not keep buying up all the products coming off assembly lines. That day came in 1929.](http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia761584403/GreatDepressionintheUnitedStates.html)
Sounds kinda familiar doesn’t it?
By Soixante huitard
November 21, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this
By the way, is not the church we attend every Sunday socialistic?
Yes, some of them downright Trotskyist.
By the way, did anyone catch Kitty Pilgrim upbraid Cardinal Mahoney — a guest sympathetic to her cause who had come on the show not only to not renounce the church’s statements about Obama’s language being ‘apocalyptic’, but to actually pile on — for smiling at the end of his words and thereby ‘making light of a serious subject’?
Truly bizarre.
By Truthman
November 21, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this
Midori…don’t forget all those graduates of the Pat Robertson School of Law who now run (ruin?) the DOJ!!
Everyone oughta check out the accreditation the ABA gives Pat Robertson’s Law skool!!
By Suffering Cats
November 21, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this
Jay, do you mind going over to Jeff Schultz’s office and explaining to him what the “Employee Free Choice Act” is about? He is telling folks in his so called sports column that it gives workers the right to form unions, as if we don’t have that right already. Thank you and have a great weekend.
By Soothsayer
November 21, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this
You’ll still hear some—and, loudly, the president himself—argue that the administration’s tax cuts were meant to stimulate the economy, but this was never true. The bang for the buck—the amount of stimulus per dollar of deficit—was astonishingly low. Therefore, the job of economic stimulation fell to the Federal Reserve Board, which stepped on the accelerator in a historically unprecedented way, driving interest rates down to 1 percent. In real terms, taking inflation into account, interest rates actually dropped to negative 2 percent. The predictable result was a consumer spending spree. Looked at another way, Bush’s own fiscal irresponsibility fostered irresponsibility in everyone else. Credit was shoveled out the door, and subprime mortgages were made available to anyone this side of life support. Credit-card debt mounted to a whopping $900 billion by the summer of 2007. “Qualified at birth” became the drunken slogan of the Bush era. American households took advantage of the low interest rates, signed up for new mortgages with “teaser” initial rates, and went to town on the proceeds.
A how-to on ruining the economy
By AJC/DNC Management
November 21, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this
Peggy Noonan has the big O (orgasm) for the big C (Klinton:)
On the face of it, the apparent offering of the secretary of state job to Hillary Clinton is a clever, interesting choice: An experienced and sophisticated workhorse with her own standing in the country, and bearing a name that is popular in the world, will be the public face of U.S. diplomacy. Mr. Obama gets to put her in a subordinate position while appearing to be magnanimous, and her seat in the U.S. Senate will likely be filled by a more malleable Democrat who won’t be plotting from day one to get to the White House. A threefer.-WSJ
Plot and scheme on each other, eh?
By leni
November 21, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this
The Big O could probably give the markets a little boost by announcing that Larry Summers is his choice for Treasury, but it’s doubtful he has the courage. Summers didn’t make many friends in his party with his comments on women’s abilities. Have to agree though I did pretty well in physics myself. His big mistake was telling Cornel West that a rap cd is not scholarly work and Harvard would appreciate it if he got off the porch and into the library. West went to Princeton in a snit (maybe a cadillac ). . But I think that episode hurt Summers more than the gender thing.
By "The Corporal"
November 21, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this
I just voted early for Chambliss. Can we say filibuster !!
To Mrs. G. and Goldie
We’ll see on the economy. There are many factors involved and Obama’s looming reign is one of them for those who have money to invest.
I’ll be interested in your take if we are the same or worse off in four years. Will you be honest with your answer then?
By Greg Mendel
November 21, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this
The interval between the election and inauguration is normally of no great importance. Normally, presidential administrations are competent enough to assure stability until the new administration takes office. But, the administration responsible for both allowing a grave and preventable crisis to occur and being too incompetent to solve it remains in office.
On the morning of 9/11, my first thought was that George Bush was President of the United States. Like any patriot, I wished him well, but felt the crisis demanded the likes of Lincoln — a leader with the wisdom to deal with the attack without allowing the nation to become terrified, and making matters worse by wreaking havoc on the Constitution and our form of government and global leadership.
Unfortunately, George Bush inflicted far more damage on this country than al queda could even dream of. The worst president in US history was at the helm, not Lincoln.
Now, in a crisis that threatens the nation even more than 9/11, the same aggressively incompetent administration remains in power during the most crucial weeks. We aren’t headed for a recession. We’re headed for another depression.
If Obama were in the Oval Office today, I doubt there is much he could do at this point. Bush remains in office, but has no idea what to do, and obviously doesn’t care. What he can and will do is make the situation worse.
Bush’s lifelong legacy is one of being handed something that works, and utterly ruining it. That’s his legacy to the United States. And HE is the legacy of every American who chose him over intelligent leadership.
Lincoln and FDR held the nation together in times of crisis. George Bush is nowhere to be seen, and even a glimpse of him makes Americans recoil.
By Bud Wiser
November 21, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this
Yeah, let’s change the inauguration date to Dec 24.
We could all be treated to a Jeremiah Wright and Father Flagler Christmas.
By AmVet
November 21, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this
Looks like Lazy Fred is going back to the one area of his life where hes not considered a complete failure - the boob tube.
Thank gawd that nut never got a sniff of the Oval Office.
One dufus thespian in the White House every hundred years is plenty.
http://newsmax.com/entertainment/peoplefredthompson/2008/11/21/153705.html
By TW
November 21, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this
Greg Mendel @ 12:13 - Great post. All those not presently staring at the insides of their colons agree.
By Call it Like it is
November 21, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this
Yea, we all look to the future with Robin Hood Obama and the New Socialist Movement!
Yip, Yip!
By Dusty
November 21, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this
Midori may get what she paid for but I voted and got President Bush. He has kept us strong and free and I am thankful for that.
I did not vote for Pres Elect Obama but I got him anyway or was it President Clinton?? Anyway, I HOPE to remain free and will support Obama as much as I can which may be hard to do with the sound of his policies.
You see, I am independent type who does not want FREE healthcare, Free education, Free mortgage pickups, Free food, and Free supplements for failure.
Most adults, not all, realize that NOTHING IS FREE. You pay one way or another. I like the way it is done NOW so don’t change it to FREE. I hope someone whispered that in Obama’s ear. He needs to hear it.
FOR SOIXIE
TRASH OUR STATE. VOTE FOR MARTIN.
By Soothsayer
November 21, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this
After 1975, the United States would never again post an annual merchandise trade surplus. Such high-value, finished-goods-producing industries as steel and automobiles were no longer dominant. The new economy belonged to finance, insurance, and real estate—FIRE.
By Soixante huitard
November 21, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this
TRASH YOUR BRAIN — LISTEN TO DUSTY
By Abomi Nation
November 21, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this
No, you may not say filibuster. The Dems won’t need 60 seats to prevent a filibuster.
There are a couple Republicans that will not go along with a filibuster because if they do they will get crushed in 2010 when they run for re-election. The Dems will need at the most 2 Republicans to say no to a filibuster, piece of cake.
Sorry, no filibuster.
By dw
November 21, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this
Many of the lib folks want a constitution du jour. So they can grant and take away rights as they see fit. I like this today and that tomorrow and who knows what the next day. In support of their want for a fluid constitution - I propose an amendment in the next couple days be ratified to invalidate all elections previously held and choose political folks (including President) by a roulette wheel with one blue space and one red space. That would be truly fair, non-biased, open-minded, environmentally friendly, and economically responsible. Did I forget any of the jargon?
By Soixante huitard
November 21, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this
There’s this goony used car salesman type who keeps popping up on my TV screen, talking about ‘saxby economics’ or something. He seems to thing all anybody cares about is how much taxes they pay. I think he wants to get you in on a pyramid scheme or something.
By SkepticTank
November 21, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this
Seems like only yesterday that the rabid right was clamoring for a constitutional amendment to allow foreigners like Ahnold Schwartzenegger to run for President.
Now, they whine in unison as Jay proffers a constitutional amendment that would ultimately affect Republicans and Democrats alike.
Meanwhile, Ahnold has gone liberal on the Republicans, and they’re all trying to bail on him. Ironic, isn’t it?
By Taxpayer
November 21, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this
Maybe next year would be a good time to come out of retirement. Now that the Republicans will be required to pay taxes, working for the government is looking very appealing. A cushy government job paid for with taxes from Republicans that will be kicking and screaming and whining every step of the way to the post office on April 15. I must say that does have some appeal. I could even log on and tell all the Republicans here how much I got paid from their tax dollars on a daily basis. Maybe I could even get in a photo op with Saxby — the Republican that wants to reduce our taxes (his words) — out on the golf course and post that with a date and time stamp. Oh, the possibilities. Let’s raise those pinkies high. Cheerios.
By Mrs. Godzilla
November 21, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this
THE BUSH DEPRESSION
KUWAIT CITY (AFP) – The United States has asked four oil-rich Gulf states for close to 300 billion dollars to help it curb the global financial meltdown, Kuwait’s daily Al-Seyassah reported Thursday.
Quoting “highly informed” sources, the daily said Washington has asked Saudi Arabia for 120 billion dollars, the United Arab Emirates for 70 billion dollars, Qatar for 60 billion dollars and was seeking 40 billion dollars from Kuwait.
Al-Seyassah said Washington sought the amount as “financial aid” to face the fallout of the financial crisis and help prevent its economy from sliding into a painful recession.
The daily said the United States plans to use the funds to help the ailing automobile industry , banks and other companies suffering from the global financial turmoil.
By SkepticTank
November 21, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this
Did you notice that the new Republican talking point is that this economy is tanking as a reaction to the Obama presidency?
At least I feel vindicated. I voted against Republicans because they always deny their own accountability. They’re certainly predictable, those conservatives.
By AJC/DNC Management
November 21, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this
The Democrat’s rhetoric on taxes and health care is frightening people in the investing classes over what critics call ‘wealth redistribution.’
For one measure of investors’ fear that their hard-won battle for better tax treatment of stock dividends is in danger of being overturned, look at the behavior of the iShares Select Dividend Index Fund (DVY, news, msgs), an exchange-traded fund that tracks the performance of the stocks that pay the highest dividend yields. It’s down 24% this year — almost twice the 13% decline of the broad market. The steepest part of that decline came after June 1, when it became clear that Obama had bested New York Sen. Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination.-MSN Money
Any questions?
By Midori
November 21, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
excellent post about the DOJ, Truthman.
I had forgotten about those incompetent, ignorant goons.
By dw
November 21, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this
To Skeptic Tank,
Seems like right now you are in fantasyland. I would venture that most conservatives would not want foreign nationals running for office. You may have come across some obsure individual, but definitely not the vast majority. As far as I’m concerned Arnold should not be allowed to hold any public office. I further would state, going forward, it is my opinion that no one should be allowed to run for any public office unless both their parents were U.S. citizens at the time of the individual’s birth.
By mm
November 21, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this
Will all you wingnuts please quit selling your stocks and putting the cash in your mattress!!!!!
I know Rush scared you into selling, but you are crashing the stock market.
By Midori
November 21, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this
Yes Dusty - you did get what “you” paid for: incompetence, cronyism, ignorance, stupidity, boorishness, failed economy, rising unemployment, housing crisis, — the list goes on.
you must be very proud.
And that “we haven’t been attacked” nonsense doesn’t cut it.
What was the gap between the first World Trade attack and 9/11?
your diversion dog don’t hunt.
Now Corporal is wishing for filibusters to go along with a White Christmas.
We will succeed in spite of marginalized fools of your ilk.
You people belong in the Middle Ages.
You root for all that is bad, and sneer all that is for the common good.
Got Inquisition?
By AJC/DNC Management
November 21, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this
By mm November 21, 2008 1:03 PM Will all you wingnuts please quit selling your stocks and putting the cash in your mattress!!!!! I know Rush scared you into selling, but you are crashing the stock market.
Why? So you can tax the hell out of them? And then snort the money up your nose?
Be serious.
By SkepticTank
November 21, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this
dw
And I would say that you suffer from selective amnesia. Senator Orrin Hatch, Republican from Utah, actually proposed such an amendment:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/02/22/elec04.prez.schwarzenegger.ap/index.html
Again, you prove again how uninformed you are and how easily you can cast aspersions.
By DebbieDoRight
November 21, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this
and that’s just for starters and you wonder why the market is down?
The market was down before Nov. 4th— guess that blows your theory out of the water huh?
==================================================
No wonder Makasey fainted yesterday. He probably heard about OBAMA’S new crowd of comebacks!! It’s enough to make us all faint-hearted if nothing else.
I think he heard that he and his merry men may be indicted if the new appointee has to look to closely at his “books”.
By mm
November 21, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
The only thing going up my nose is the stench of the Bush Administration.
Oh, and supporters like you.
You wingnuts should be so proud. The moron you voted for twice has now squandered or stolen every dollar from this country.
By dw
November 21, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this
To Skeptic Tank,
No, I “suffer” from never heard of it. Sorry I spend most of my day doing work and not sputtering my brainwashed position such as you do with your brainwashed position.
So one individual proposes it and you lump everyone to it. Just because it is proposed does not mean it has widespread agreement. So get a grip!
By the way, what town in New Hampshire is the only one named such in the world? Oh you don’t know, so to follow your logic proposed to me above, you must be so uninformed and ignorant.
By Midori
November 21, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this
Debbie,
they’ve never met a fact that they haven’t run from, screaming at the top of their lungs.
By CommunistAJC
November 21, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this
Truthman, How stupid are you? Really, how stupid? Worst recession since the Great Depression? Really? Where are all the soup and bread lines? Gas is at $4? I filled up IN CHICAGO for $2.02 yesterday. Maybe you should go back to high school and learn basic math and US history. By the way, just 5 months ago the DOW was at 14,000. How have the past 8 years been a recession? Go sell stupid somewhere else troglodyte because there are some smart people on here to call out your idiocies.
By SkepticTank
November 21, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this
The town is Poplin, New Hampshire. Or was. Its name was changed to Fremont in 1854.
Strangely, you believe that Senator Orrin Hatch was one of only a handful of wingnuts who supported the constitutional amendment. I will not resort to calling you an ignoramus, but your brain truly needs a fact-checker before your fingers type the drivel.
There was widespread support for such an amendment. It later fizzled, as did your memory of your party’s self-serving, power-grabbing ways.
By leni
November 21, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this
And The Big O is in seclusion reading My Pet…….to………..(Yeah you are right Mr. Orwell. Better not say it)
By CJ
November 21, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this
Dear “The Corporal”,
When Bill Clinton left office, our country was in fantastic condition. Bush wrecked our country’s economy, military, and industry.
Every day that ticks by is a day too long!!!! I would advocate the same if McCain had won the election as well!
Great concept, Jay!!
By Greg Mendel
November 21, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this
“Any questions?” — AC/DC
Yes. When are we going to see your proof of how inaccurate those polls are that show Obama leading McCain in the presidential race? I know the election is over, and McCain lost bigtime (as the polls predicted), but you were very confident at the time.
Also, with fear of a Democratic administration and congress supposedly rampant, why has the approval rating of the Republican Party actually declined six points after the election? I guess Gallup is wrong again, eh?
Do you suppose it’s because the chickens are coming home and roosting on the party that gave us Saint George and the Dark Ages?
By making
November 21, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this
Leave the date alone…it’s worked for the past 70+ years. So far Obama hasn’t showed us anything BUT that he’s like any other politican…a very smooth talker and said what he needed to say to get elected. He’s not even in office yet and he’s going to rethink his tax plan on a day by day basis. He told us change is coming…if he was so confident that he was the one, why didn’t he have his cabinet selection decided prior to now? Where is one GOP selection for his cabinet as he said there would be several on it? Don’t get me wrong…W is an idiot and did very little for the country except to keep us a free country with a miserable economy. But you wait and see, with Obama, the ONLY fast change with his administration will be raising taxes for everyone!!!
By Jim Valentine
November 21, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this
Yeah, let’s change the rules to suit YOUR intentions Jay.
By dw
November 21, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this
Wrong one. Even if it is possibly another correct answer, there is no way you didn’t know without some internet help. My point is there is no way everyone knows about everything.
I would bet that this proposal died almost immediately as it would not have received widespread support from the masses. Maybe a few Republic politicians, but not the masses of conservatives.
I know I’m never going to convince you, so I will cease for now.
By Call it Like it is
November 21, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this
Yea, we got a NO EXPERIENCE LEFT WING HACK
By Correction
November 21, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this
Perhaps Obama can reverse the downward spiral (and consumer investment fear and confidence) by simply stating (on national tv) that he will NOT raise taxes, redistribute wealth, increase capital gains tax, and create more government….
I’ve yet to hear how he plans to pay for his “change” programs….
By Truthman
November 21, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this
Ah, the laments of the ego-wounded neo-con!!
The characteristic knashing of teeth, demonizing those who now have dominion over their miserable lives, the conspiracy theorists and outright haters of progress!
How do they (AJC)MANAGE to wake up in the morning knowing that their little, neandrothal world is crumbling around their lily-white world with nothing but DUSTY remains of their MISMANAGED world where only their REALITY is KING.
Keep yipping, little neo-con chihuahua’s of Jesustan!!
By CommunistAJC
November 21, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this
CJ, Yeah cj, everything was just great when BJ Clinton left office. He ignored Bin Laden and the dot com bubble burst. Yeah, all Bush’s fault. Go sell stupid somewhere else. You ramble on like you’re Janet Reno or something.
By making
November 21, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this
He’ll raise taxes like crazy to pay for the programs. He also said he would bring the troops home…yeah right, they’ll come out of Iraq and go to Afgan and probably Pakistan. I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t enforce the draft to build up troops!
By Soixante huitard
November 21, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this
To Call it Like it Ain’t: (ea, we got a NO EXPERIENCE LEFT WING HACK)
Awe.
You no likey, likey ?
Just lie back and think of the Old Confederacy my friend, it’s gonna all be just fine.
By Greg Mendel
November 21, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this
“But you wait and see, with Obama, the ONLY fast change with his administration will be raising taxes for everyone!!!” — making
It’s possible. Anything’s possible. But, I’m curious. This “Obama is going to raise everybody’s taxes” theme (along with the “socialist takeover” stuff) is repeated over and over by various commentators on this blog. How do you know that Obama is going to raise taxes on everyone?
The Republicans have started and prolonged two wars, the costs of which are inexplicably off-budget. At the same time, they cut taxes, which is never done in wartime. The government pays its bills with income from taxes and fees, mostly, and our national debt is astronomical. It would be logical and fair for the people who allowed such insane spending to actually pay for it.
Still, Obama has not said he would tax everyone, and doesn’t have the power to tax. But, the claim that he going to raise everyone’s taxes is unfounded. It’s fine to predict things and guess what will happen. But, where is the evidence? I’m not arguing, I’m just asking.
By jst
November 21, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this
I’ll normally agree with Bookman to some degree - at the least give him a passing nod - but this is just whacko. I understand the sentiment, mind you, and I’m sure it’s just a linguistic exercise to incite the rhetoric and not something he’s serious about. But the two month delay is critical pre-planning time for Obama - for any pres elect - to strategize, choose cabinet members, and so forth. Not sure Obama would want to hit the ground running now, even if he could.
By CommunistAJC
November 21, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this
Greg Mendel, Get your facts straight. THE DEMOCRATS ALSO SIGNED ON TO THESE TWO WARS. THE SOON TO BE SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON AND THE VP JOE BIDEN SIGNED ON FOR BOTH WARS.
By Dusty
November 21, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this
ALREADY TRASHED !! SOIXIE’S BRAIN!! SHE VOTES FOR MARTIN!!
Midori doesn’t like being free from terrorists.
DDR…U can look at Makasey’s “books” any time. He’s straight arrow. But hold your nose when looking at Holder’s because there aint nothing sweet about ‘em.
Jay Bookman is going to skip Thanksgving and Christmas so he can have an early inauguration. Obama is going to play the Santa Claus that gives and gives (with your money).
Getalife gives us a link to HUFFINTON’S PURE PROPAGANDA FOR LEFTIES. They concocted ANOTHER shiftless sugar sortie of pure imagination.
VOTE FOR CHAMBLISS AND KEEP AMERICA SWEET
By Soixante huitard
November 21, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this
The Republicans have started and prolonged two wars, the costs of which are inexplicably off-budget.
Actually there is ONE explanation.
Let’s put it this way: what would you do if you were stuck on a train that you didn’t want to be on. Well, you can request that the train stop. But what if the other passengers like riding just fine?
Well, one way to do away with the train is to cause it to get stuck in high gear and break the braking mechanisms in hopes that you can make it go off the rails and crash. Then, presto, no more train.
It’s almost like a kind of terrorism is you think of it.
By making
November 21, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this
Greg Mendel…Large corporations don’t pay taxes…small business owners hire very good accountants that claims every possible loop hole that they can find for us…so we pay very little taxes…programs will then be funded by raising taxes for the poor…or Obama will not be able to do anything…so it’s four more years of W! Do you think he wants to be remembered as W #2…I don’t think so, he’ll raise taxes on you.
By Dusty
November 21, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this
Dear Soixie Napoleon. 2:28
Just lean back and think of your victory at Waterloo. Then forecast the next four years. Even Waterloo won’t seem bad after that.
By Dusty
November 21, 2008 2:47 PM | Link to this
Soixie,
You keep getting your ideas crossed. TERRORISTS ARE THE ENEMIES, not Republicans and not George W. Bush.
Your posts indicate that you have forgotten who attacked America. It was NOT George W. Bush. Would you mind telling your buddies who also seem to have forgotten just whom is the ENEMY?
By Soixante huitard
November 21, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this
Just lean back and think of your victory at Waterloo.
No, thanks. I prefer thinking of my lovely Justine.
Then forecast the next four years. Even Waterloo won’t seem bad after that.
But, Dusty, you’re the one down by the tracks trying to tear them up out of spite, in the process risking getting run over and flattened by the oncoming train that’s barreling down the tracks.
One of the reasons by the way the train’s moving so fast is your guys greased the tracks so much and put in turbo-chargers on the train itself.
So move along now, let’s not play by the tracks. That can make an awful mess when that train comes around the bend with no warning.
By Dan
November 21, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this
another typically leftest idea, sounds good superficially but upon further examination holds no water. Aside from the fact that the executive office holds little economic sway anyway. We are talking about the most powerful position in the world, its not like handing off the car keys.
By Truthman
November 21, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this
Where, pray tell, is the country “TERRORIST” or “TERRORISM!”
I can’t beleive how grown men are SO scared of a few thousand Islamo-fascists who no more embrace the Qu’ran than Eric Rudolph embraced his Bible.
They scream “THE TERRORISTS ARE COMING, THE TERRORISTS ARE COMING!!” But, they never tell you HOW THEY ARE GOING TO GET HERE?
It’s all just fear-mongeringby scared little boys who still can’t sleep w/o a night light!!
By Truthman
November 21, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this
Hey, Waterloo was a pretty good deal for our British brothers and sisters!
By Truthman
November 21, 2008 3:21 PM | Link to this
Brainless neo-cons:
I don’t care about Hillary and Joe, MY NEXT PRESIDENT NEVER - REPEAT, NEVER - VOTED FOR W’s ILLEGAL, IMMORAL WAR IN IRAQ
NONE OF THE TERRORISTS WERE IRAQI’S AND THEY HAD NO WMDs.
THOSE ARE THE FACTS AND THEY ARE INDISPUTABLE!!!
By Dan
November 21, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this
actually making, loop holes or no loop holes, business don’t pay taxes anyway they simply raise the prices, no matter how you slice it the end user pays. But the pols know people don’t realize that so they claim to tax the faceless evil corporations!
By Truthman
November 21, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
Malcolm X daughter refutes Al-Qaeda leader - compares him to Farrakhan - ‘die=hard Obama fan’
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-11-21/malcolm-xs-daughter-rebukes-al-qaeda-leader-1/p/
By Greg Mendel
November 21, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this
“Greg Mendel, Get your facts straight. THE DEMOCRATS ALSO SIGNED ON TO THESE TWO WARS. THE SOON TO BE SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON AND THE VP JOE BIDEN SIGNED ON FOR BOTH WARS.” — Communist
No, YOU get your facts straight:
Fact # 1: H. Clinton has not been names SoS Fact # 2: Joe Biden is not yet Vice President Fact # 3: Neither signed on for both wars. Both voted for a joint resolution to authorize armed force against Iraq. Fact # 4: At the time of the vote, President George Bush had (supposedly) made no decision to invade Iraq. Fact # 5: Only one Republican voted against the resolution (Chaffee) Fact # 6: George Bush and his administration assured congressional Democrats and Republicans, as well as the American people, that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction, including a nuclear weapons program, and was an imminent threat to US security. Fact # 7: George Bush lied to congress and the American people.
If you somehow didn’t notice the invasion was concocted, promoted, and prolonged by the Republican Bush administration, maybe you can find that “Mission Accomplished” banner on E-bay.
And about that banner — at first the Bush administration lied that the aircraft carrier’s personnel put it up. Finally, and quietly, it “unlied” — a rare example of the administration admitting the truth.
By making
November 21, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this
Iraq is the preamble to the real war in Afgan and Pakistan. Irag will seem like a piece of cake in comparision to Pakistan.
By Syd
November 21, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this
Jay, your man won so time to get your panites out of a wad. Most times I read your colume it is so full of holes I can’t tell it apart from swiss cheese. You said nothing. You stated “the markets are always driven by psychology”, well, the markets are not reacting to favorabley about the incoming president.
By Dan
November 21, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this
About the only thing Mendel got right was putting the numbers in order LOL
By Truthman
November 21, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
Syd and the rest of you free-enterprise nerds.
Let capitalism take it’s course. If the Big 3 can’t compete; SEE YA!!
They held back on CAFE standards and clean technology since the Carter administration, so it’s not like the have been very friendly to the average American.
AND, YES, I EXPECT AND HOPE MY TAXES GO UP. THE CHIMPEROR GOT US INTO THIS MESS, AND IT’S GOING TO CAUSE A LITTLE PAIN TO GET OUR HOUSE BACK IN ORDER.
Why aren’t you neo-conmen and women willing to pay for the mess you beloved W left America…oh, that’s right…your love of money far exceeds your love of country or your fellow man.
By Truthman
November 21, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this
Mr. Mendel,
Don’t confuse them with facts! It makes there tiny brains get all overheated!!
By making
November 21, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this
No we don’t like paying for lazy Americans(which include some of my family members). Stupid program of welfare and corruption is why we are in the situation we have today. That 700B bailout package will turn out to be 1 trillion before it’s over…if we’re not in a depression come fall of 2009.
By Call it Like it is
November 21, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this
OMG!
This is for all of the Robin Hood Change Socialist supporters out there! Hey this is long but for all the uninformed people it’s a quick recap of what’s going on!
Something to think about!
The following ‘speech’ was written recently by an ordinary Maine-iac [a resident of the People’s Republic of Maine ]. While satirical in nature, all satire must have a basis in fact to be effective. This is an excellent piece by a person who does not write for a living.
The speech George W. Bush might give:
Normally, I start these things out by saying ‘My Fellow Americans.’ Not doing it this time. If the polls are any indication, I don’t know who more than half of you are anymore. I do know something terrible has happened, and that you’re really not fellow Americans any longer.
I’ll cut right to the chase here: I quit. Now before anyone gets all in a lather about me quitting to avoid impeachment, or to avoid prosecution or something, let me assure you: There’s been no breaking of laws or impeachable offenses in this office.
The reason I’m quitting is simple. I’m fed up with you people! I’m fed up because you have no understanding of what’s really going on in the world. Or of what’s going on in this once-great nation of ours. And the majority of you are too damned lazy to do your homework and figure it out.
Let’s start local. You’ve been sold a bill of goods by politicians and the news media.
Meanwhile, all you can do is whine about gas prices, and most of you are too damn stupid to realize that gas prices are high because there’s increased demand in other parts of the world, and because a small handful of noisy idiots are more worried about polar bears and beachfront property than your economic security.
We face real threats in the world. Don’t give me this ‘blood for oil’ thing. If I were trading blood for oil I would’ve already seized Iraq ‘s oil fields and let the rest of the country go to hell. And don’t give me this ‘Bush Lied…People Died’ crap either. If I were the liar you morons take me for, I could’ve easily had chemical weapons planted in Iraq so they could be ‘discovered.’ Instead, I owned up to the fact that the intelligence was faulty.
Let me remind you that the rest of the world thought Saddam had the goods, same as me. Let me also remind you that regime change in Iraq was official US policy before I came into office. Some guy named ’ Clinton ’ established that policy. Bet you didn’t know that, did you?
Now some of you morons want to be led by a junior senator with no understanding of foreign policy or economics, and this nitwit says we should attack Pakistan , a nuclear ally. And then he wants to go to Iran and make peace with a terrorist who says he’s going to destroy us. While he’s doing that, he wants to give Iraq to al Qaeda, Afghanistan to the Taliban, Israel to the Palestinians, and your money to the IRS so the government can give welfare to illegal aliens, who he will make into citizens, so they can vote to re-elect him. He also thinks it’s okay for Iran to have nuclear weapons, and we should stop our foreign aid to Israel . Did you sleep through high school?
You idiots need to understand that we face a unique enemy. Back during the cold war, there were two major competing political and economic models squaring off. We won that war, but we did so because fundamentally, the Communists wanted to survive, just as we do. We were simply able to out spend and out-tech them.
That’s not the case this time. The soldiers of our new enemy don’t care if they survive. In fact, they want to die. That’d be fine, as long as they weren’t also committed to taking as many of you with them as they can. But they are. They want to kill you, and the b******* are all over the globe.
You should be grateful that they haven’t gotten any more of us here in the United States since September 11. But you’re not. That’s because you’ve got no idea how hard a small number of intelligence, military, law enforcement, and homeland security people have worked to make sure of that. When this whole mess started, I warned you that this would be a long and difficult fight. I’m disappointed how many of you people think a long and difficult fight amounts to a single season of ‘Survivor.’
Instead, you’ve grown impatient. You’re incapable of seeing things through the long lens of history, the way our enemies do. You think that wars should last a few months, a few years, tops.
Making matters worse, you actively support those who help the enemy Every time you buy the New York Times, every time you send a donation to a cut-and-run Democrat’s political campaign, well, dang it, you might just as well Fed Ex a grenade launcher to a Jihadist. It amounts to the same thing.
In this day and age, it’s easy enough to find the truth. It’s all over the Internet. It just isn’t on the pages of the New York Times, USA Today, or on NBC News. But even if it were, I doubt you’d be any smarter. Most of you would rather watch American Idol or Dancing with Stars.
I could say more about your expectations that the government will always be there to bail you out, even if you’re too stupid to leave a city that’s below sea level and has a hurricane approaching.
I could say more about your insane belief that government, not your own wallet, is where the money comes from. But I’ve come to the conclusion that were I to do so, it would sail right over your heads.
So I quit. I’m going back to Crawford. I’ve got an energy-efficient house down there (Al Gore could only dream) and the capability to be fully self-sufficient for years. No one ever heard of Crawford before I got elected, and as soon as I’m done here pretty much no one will ever hear of it again. Maybe I’ll be lucky enough to die of old age before the last pillars of America fall.
Oh, and by the way, Cheney’s quitting too. That means Pelosi is your new President. You asked for it. Watch what she does carefully, because I still have a glimmer of hope that there are just enough of you remaining who are smart enough to turn this thing around in 2008.
So that’s it. God bless what’s left of America.
Some of you know what I mean. The rest of you, kiss off.
PS - You might want to start learning Farsi, and buy a Koran.
Enough Said!
By williebkind
November 21, 2008 3:56 PM | Link to this
By Truthman November 21, 2008 3:21 PM | Link to this so what if the CIA told BHO that Iran had a nuclear bomb and was going to strike Israel on Sunday? Then BHO bombed Iran and later found it to be bad military intelligence. How would you stand on that? Even if the congress agreed.
By williebkind
November 21, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this
If we turn into Jay’s socialistic state, would he not lose his job? How can their be free blogging and a free press? Please, are denying the fairness doctrine that is being pushed by the liberals.
By Veteran Observer
November 21, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this
Thank You, President Bush for your service to our country! As one of the few two-term presidents in our country’s history, he deserves the respect, as he retires, from a grateful nation. Give Mr. Obama a break, he must have the time to put his team together and learn about the job and its complexities. He has never held an executive position in business or politics and he will need to grow into the role. Let us all calm down and quit worrying what the dysfunctional europeans think and let the process take place. So thank you to President Bush, appreciate all your hard work in keeping us safe, and good luck to President-Elect Obama.
By making
November 21, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this
Once again AJC is jumping the gun stating Hillary accepts position and CNN is confirming that she hasn’t accepted the position…
By sunshine and thunder
November 21, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this
Well, since the Obamassiah is stacking his administration with Clinton part deaux why is there such a hurry to revert back to 1999?
Look where that got us.
Have the interns been chosen yet? Democrat “rulers” have to have their playthings doncha’ know.
By Call it Like it is
November 21, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this
All I gotta say is it is easy to arm chair quarterback.
Again, all of you moan and groan about the last 8 more years. Last time that I checked, my life has not been negatively impacted because of this administration.
Therefore, this sounds like a bunch of talking points and finger pointing without a lot of facts.
By Truthman
November 21, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this
Market’s up nearly 500 points today!
It must’ve been because of PRESIDENT-ELECT BARCK OBAMA, EH!?!
YA CAN’T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS, WHINING NEO-CONS!!
By Truthman
November 21, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this
Call it like HE sees it…obviously, you have no one in the military in your family! Or in the auto business, or in the retail business, or in the construction business.
You must be a tenured professor!
By Truthman
November 21, 2008 4:24 PM | Link to this
Oh Iran, Schmiran!! Who cares about the the leadership. The average Persian (no, they are not Arab), wants better relations with the West, and America in particular.
But, of course, it’s easier for you to hate and demonize than to engage and diffuse tensions.
You must be the one who votes for all the Obama-bashing vents!
By liberal lucy
November 21, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this
truthman for obama intern!
By Truthman
November 21, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this
Actually, I’d rather be his press officer or his court jester (they were the only ones who openly spoke truth to power back when “The corporal” was a buck private!
By Truthman
November 21, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this
As usual, the AJC was right about Hillary accepting the Sec of State job…CNN is reporting that now, as well.
Oh, the pain Andi/RW/@@/Dusty are feeling right now!!!
Bwahahahahahaha!!!!!
By Razmus
November 21, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this
The Clinton’s are back in the White House and so are their people. Ironic, isnt it? just a few months ago, Obama, his adoring press (including Jay and the AJC) and most of African American society were branding Bill and Hillary with a scarlet “R” (that stands for Racist, for those who are, how should I say it, ignorant). Now Bill and his people are going to run the show. This demonstrates exactly how much Obama really meant by “change we can believe in”. Obama is now showing exactly what he was all about all along. There isn’t going to be change that “we can believe in”. He is going to be a puppet president who has to cowtow to Pelosi, to Read, to Bill and to Hillary. The Clinton people who are now headed for the White House, and there are a lot of them were, if nothing else, extremely loyal to Bill. There is going to a re-hashing of the same old tired politics in a time of extreme financial stress. Bill inherited the presidents office during a time of milk and honey. Things are much different now and there ain’t no guarantee that anything he has to say will work. Can anyone say “economic depression”?
By Bendover
November 21, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this
Catch the “Obamarecession” wave……
By mister.earl
November 21, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this
By DAVID BROOKS Published: November 21, 2008
Jan. 20, 2009, will be a historic day. Barack Obama (Columbia, Harvard Law) will take the oath of office as his wife, Michelle (Princeton, Harvard Law), looks on proudly. Nearby, his foreign policy advisers will stand beaming, including perhaps Hillary Clinton (Wellesley, Yale Law), Jim Steinberg (Harvard, Yale Law) and Susan Rice (Stanford, Oxford D. Phil.).
David Brooks Go to Columnist Page » Readers’ Comments “As long as America denigrates education and achievement as ‘elitist’ our position in the world will continue to slip.” Gavin, Washington, DC Read Full Comment »
The domestic policy team will be there, too, including Jason Furman (Harvard, Harvard Ph.D.), Austan Goolsbee (Yale, M.I.T. Ph.D.), Blair Levin (Yale, Yale Law), Peter Orszag (Princeton, London School of Economics Ph.D.) and, of course, the White House Counsel Greg Craig (Harvard, Yale Law).
This truly will be an administration that looks like America, or at least that slice of America that got double 800s on their SATs. Even more than past administrations, this will be a valedictocracy — rule by those who graduate first in their high school classes. If a foreign enemy attacks the United States during the Harvard-Yale game any time over the next four years, we’re screwed.
Already the culture of the Obama administration is coming into focus. Its members are twice as smart as the poor reporters who have to cover them, three times if you include the columnists. They typically served in the Clinton administration and then, like Cincinnatus, retreated to the comforts of private life — that is, if Cincinnatus had worked at Goldman Sachs, Williams & Connolly or the Brookings Institution. So many of them send their kids to Georgetown Day School, the posh leftish private school in D.C., that they’ll be able to hold White House staff meetings in the carpool line.
And yet as much as I want to resent these overeducated Achievatrons (not to mention the incursion of a French-style government dominated by highly trained Enarchs), I find myself tremendously impressed by the Obama transition.
The fact that they can already leak one big appointee per day is testimony to an awful lot of expert staff work. Unlike past Democratic administrations, they are not just handing out jobs to the hacks approved by the favored interest groups. They’re thinking holistically — there’s a nice balance of policy wonks, governors and legislators. They’re also thinking strategically. As Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute notes, it was smart to name Tom Daschle both the head of Health and Human Services and the health czar. Splitting those duties up, as Bill Clinton did, leads to all sorts of conflicts.
Most of all, they are picking Washington insiders. Or to be more precise, they are picking the best of the Washington insiders.
Obama seems to have dispensed with the romantic and failed notion that you need inexperienced “fresh faces” to change things. After all, it was L.B.J. who passed the Civil Rights Act. Moreover, because he is so young, Obama is not bringing along an insular coterie of lifelong aides who depend upon him for their well-being.
As a result, the team he has announced so far is more impressive than any other in recent memory. One may not agree with them on everything or even most things, but a few things are indisputably true.
First, these are open-minded individuals who are persuadable by evidence. Orszag, who will probably be budget director, is trusted by Republicans and Democrats for his honest presentation of the facts.
Second, they are admired professionals. Conservative legal experts have a high regard for the probable attorney general, Eric Holder, despite the business over the Marc Rich pardon.
Third, they are not excessively partisan. Obama signaled that he means to live up to his postpartisan rhetoric by letting Joe Lieberman keep his committee chairmanship.
Fourth, they are not ideological. The economic advisers, Furman and Goolsbee, are moderate and thoughtful Democrats. Hillary Clinton at State is problematic, mostly because nobody has a role for her husband. But, as she has demonstrated in the Senate, her foreign-policy views are hardheaded and pragmatic. (It would be great to see her set of interests complemented by Samantha Power’s set of interests at the U.N.)
Finally, there are many people on this team with practical creativity. Any think tanker can come up with broad doctrines, but it is rare to find people who can give the president a list of concrete steps he can do day by day to advance American interests. Dennis Ross, who advised Obama during the campaign, is the best I’ve ever seen at this, but Rahm Emanuel also has this capacity, as does Craig and legislative liaison Phil Schiliro.
Believe me, I’m trying not to join in the vast, heaving O-phoria now sweeping the coastal haute bourgeoisie. But the personnel decisions have been superb. The events of the past two weeks should be reassuring to anybody who feared that Obama would veer to the left or would suffer self-inflicted wounds because of his inexperience. He’s off to a start that nearly justifies the hype.
By mister.earl
November 21, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this
Timothy Genthner in line to become the Treasury secretary
You can talk all the mindless chatter against President Barack Obama until you are red in the face
the fact remains he is hiring the smartest people available
After Bush - Does anyone REALLY have a problem with smart people running the United States?
By catlady
November 21, 2008 5:05 PM | Link to this
How much damage can Bush do as a lame duck? Quite a bit, and he and his henchmen seem determined to prove it. Not just by removing the Os from the keyboard, however. This man and his evil minions have done their best to ruin America.
By mister.earl
November 21, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this
Smart People Hire Smart People
President-elect Barack Obama will name Timothy F. Geithner to be his Treasury Secretary, according to a knowledgeable Democrat, elevating a Treasury veteran who as president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York has all year been at the center of the worsening economic crisis.
Stocks jumped 300 points as news leaked Friday of the appointment, which Mr. Obama is expected to announce by Monday, along with the rest of his top economic advisers.
The market’s rise followed days of steep declines and worsening economic news that spurred the Obama transition offices in Washington and Chicago to expedite announcements about the incoming economic team in hopes of rebuilding confidence in the markets and among the public.
By Abomi Nation
November 21, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this
Catlady, Bush and his bumbling team of incompetents could not even pull of removing the O’s from the White House keyboards. They’d end up taking all the zero’s.
By h ryder
November 21, 2008 5:57 PM | Link to this
January One of the year following the election should be the date. This would allow for planning of the event and all the legal possibilities to be handled. However, ideally, such a change should be unnecessary if the minority of the electors could reason logically and conduct themselves accordingly.
By JB
November 21, 2008 6:21 PM | Link to this
Why come there is no collective howl about “Chosen One” no putting his kids in a Govt school. Hmmmm.
Double standard mebbe? JB
By jon
November 21, 2008 6:41 PM | Link to this
Jay,
If the inaguration were moved up, what would AJC.com cover through January without the daily puff piece about goin’ to the ‘naguration?
Public service announcements that AJC should provide is 1) Your Prius ain’t going to plow through 2 feet of global warming snow (better hitch a ride with one of your Volvo driving lib friends) and 2) MARTA don’t go there.
Isn’t everyone excited about all the Clinton retreads coming to office?!? When I heard of the 2nd coming I thought htey were talking about the O man, but it’s the 2nd coming of the Clintons. Oh boy, sleaze returns.
I’m surprised the Hildabeast took a front row seat on the train wreck but I’m tickled. Maybe some Senators will borrow some nads and we’ll finally get some answers about her roles in various Clinton scandals.
Calling all Washington insiders, political hacks, and Clinton retreads!! Positions in the administration of change are filling up fast.
By Abomi Nation
November 21, 2008 6:58 PM | Link to this
Just think jon, one of these days Republicans might actually win another election.
If that happens, your guy/gal will get to choose their own administration.
No offense, but as of now, Republicans (especially Republican bloggers) have been reduced to background noise. I must admit, that noise is music to my ears, keep ‘em coming.
By Greg Mendel
November 21, 2008 7:16 PM | Link to this
“LOL” — Dan
LOL — Let Obama Lead!
Glad you saw the light, Dan!
By catlady
November 21, 2008 7:17 PM | Link to this
Just saw another Saxby ad. I realized only the simpleminded would believe his ads. Hard to believe anyone would accept the claims without question. IQ average must be about 85.
By RH
November 21, 2008 7:25 PM | Link to this
Another stupid Bookman idea!!
By jon
November 21, 2008 7:48 PM | Link to this
Abomi Nation,
I doubt Republicans will ever win another national election. The Dems have a winning formula and that is to take from the achievers and buy votes from the ignorant masses. Someone said, democracy will eventually fail when the people figure out that they can vote themselves a pay raise. Something like 47% of Americans pay no taxes at all now. After Barack Clinton is finished, the number will probably be over 50%. More and more resources will be diverted from national defense into social programs. More and more American jobs will go overseas to the emerging nations where people still want to work for a living and improve their standard of living. Extreme environmental laws will finish off all industry and energy production in America. There will be no “achievers” to support the social programs. The system will collapse and the Islamofacists will pop a bomb or two off in major population centers. The crippled country will turn to a messiah, an Ayatolla. All universities and churches will be burned. All the women will wear burkas. The grandchildren of todays libs will wonder what happened as they struggle in a 17th century existence.
By Greg Mendel
November 21, 2008 7:57 PM | Link to this
“The speech George W. Bush might give:” [a’la Call It Like It Is:
My fellow Americans,
I apologize. I thought I could be president of the United States because I grew up rich, and my daddy was president.
I got into Yale because I was, well, my daddy went there.
I started an oil drilling business because, well, daddy had one, and gave one to me. It didn’t do all that well, ‘cause part of my job was snorting dope and drinking, and drilling for oil got in the way. My daddy, when he was in Washington, got my little dipsh*t company an exclusive contract in the Mideast (beat out Shell and all the biggies for it because, well, my daddy was in Washington). But, I had drinkin’ and dopin’ to do, so I had to drive that company into the ground.
Then I got a baseball team. That was fun! They built me a brand new stadium. So, I said “thanks” by driving the team into the ground.
(You may notice that I kinda drive stuff into the ground.)
Well, daddy and James Baker (I call him House Boy) tried to get me elected to congress, but even they couldn’t pull that one off. But they got me elected governor of Texas. You don’t really do much as governor of Texas, but I got “executive experience.” Executive experience means that a bunch of smart guys get you to do what THEY want, but pretend you thought of it.
It didn’t happen until after I was gone, but my initiatives in Texas, well, got driven into the ground.
I almost forgot! Even though daddy and his friends helped my avoid the Vietnam draft by jumping me 500 places to the front of the line for the Texas Air National Guard, I drove that one into the ground too! Yeah, I was out drinkin’ and snortin’ while John Kerry was risking his life in Vietnam. Sucker!
But, daddy and his friends — especially Turdblossom (that’s what I call Karl Rove) — got me elected President of the United States. Imagine that! Me, a draft dodger loser, getting to be the Commander Guy. Well, hell! You got an army to order around — use it! I showed daddy a thing or two about the Middle East! You know those Viagra ads where they tell you that, if you have a you-know-what for more than a few hours, you should contact your doctor? Well, I contacted Olan Mills!
Anyhow, I drove the army into the ground, then New Orleans, then the economy. But, guess what! My buddies, the wingnuts, pretend I never existed! That I wasn’t really the decider. They think the Democrats screwed everything up!
I love my wingnuts. They stuck with me, voted for me twice. So, I’ve got to apologize. I had to drive THEM and their life savings into the ground. Couldn’t help it. It’s the way I am. A tradition.
Suckers!
God bless America.
George W. Bush
By Bud Wiser
November 21, 2008 8:05 PM | Link to this
May as well let BO come in early. One savvy community organizer will be just as out of his element in January as he is today or tomorrow.
Winning an election doesn’t make you anything but the vote count winner. It doesn’t make you any smarter than you were the day before, although looking at our criminal Congress these days, winning elections certainly makes you richer. It doesn’t make you better than anyone on the entire planet. You just got a few more switches and buttons to play with than Joe the Plumber, plus a hell of a lot more responsibility that you sought, and accountability that you didn’t.
You idiots that swoon over BO act like Christmas just came early, like Peggy Joseph, for instance. The rest of humanity with active brain matter in their skulls see this as a far, far different proposition. I hope we are only one fourth as lucky as the brain dead left seems to think we will be. Four years or less from now, we will know that for sure. Only then.
Only then.
By Bud Wiser
November 21, 2008 8:09 PM | Link to this
By Truthman
November 21, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this
Market’s up nearly 500 points today!
It must’ve been because of PRESIDENT-ELECT BARCK OBAMA, EH!?!
YA CAN’T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS, WHINING NEO-CONS!!
Back at you, tool; DJIA still down over 1300 since election day.
Can’t have it both ways, fool… couldn’t have said it better myself.
By thogwummpy
November 21, 2008 8:35 PM | Link to this
Bookman is an idiot. Like all of you who think Saddam was a misunderstood good guy (victim of Bush “the worst tyrant in history”), and want Obama (who’s done diddly SQUAT in his life except write TWO self-praising autobiographies) carved onto Mt.Rushmore already——your hate screed will not be validated by historians on the horizon. They won’t say he “stole elections” because the evidence isn’t there. They won’t say “he lied to get us into a war to steal oil”, because you can’t produce one case of an actual “lie”, nor an incident of Iraq oil theft. You can claim he caused the subprime mortgage crisis, because that was coming for over a decade…AND, 6 times he tried to get regulatory proposals thru…and each time DIMocrat Chris Dodd played partisan politics and killed ‘em in committee. The facts NEVER matter to liberals. Ever. You guys are budding facists; and if you keep it up, you’re going to get the civil war here you’ve been spoiling for.
By Greg Mendel
November 21, 2008 8:45 PM | Link to this
Because Obama has focused on the economy — what matters most to most Americans — doesn’t mean that he forgot about national security. It means he can walk and chew bubble gum at the same time — an improvement over the current REPUBLICAN president. The same president wingnuts swooned over twice, and now can’t recall.
By set the bar high
November 21, 2008 8:52 PM | Link to this
It means he can walk and chew bubble gum at the same time — an improvement over the current REPUBLICAN president.
By Greg Mendel
November 21, 2008 9:05 PM | Link to this
“I hope we are only one fourth as lucky as the brain dead left seems to think we will be.” — Bud Wiser
Your luck will increase if you avoid staring up at the rain with your mouth open. Reading a book has saved dozens of wingnuts from drowning.
By set at the bar
November 21, 2008 9:15 PM | Link to this
“I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully.”
— George W. Bush
By Biden is what?
November 21, 2008 9:23 PM | Link to this
obama:
“So let me introduce you to the next President of the United States of America”…
By GaLiberal
November 21, 2008 10:18 PM | Link to this
Nutball DB, Gwinnettian@8:12 AM said: Only after we investigate the BIRTH CERTIFICATE CONTROVERSY!!!11!!
I guess they don’t allow reading in Gwinnett county or ol’ DB either can’t read or reads only right-wing nutball crap to justify his racist views. The “birth certificate forgery” myth has been busted. Repeatedly. But that doesn’t matter to Rethuglicon bootlickers like DB. One thing that has never been resolved is Bush’s failure to complete his military service. He used his rich buddy connections to avoid service in Vietnam, repeatedly disobeyed orders to clean up his drinking (he couldn’t be cleared for flight duty), and then he just simply walked away. Bush is a slimeball and all those morons that voted him into office are now reaping the seeds they sowed. Unfortunately, so are the rest of us.
When you vote Rethuglicon, you vote against your own best interests. And DB is living proof.
By Midori
November 21, 2008 10:43 PM | Link to this
Your luck will increase if you avoid staring up at the rain with your mouth open. Reading a book has saved dozens of wingnuts from drowning.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
You sure have him pegged, Greg!!
By ja ja gabore
November 22, 2008 12:05 AM | Link to this
come on in the water, midori, it’s delightful.