A couple of thoughts

I have a couple of thoughts that have been running around in my head I just wanted to jot down. Not going to spend much time building the case.

First, in a way is a follow up form an earlier post regarding turning the corner. Reports are that apparel sales are up 10% sounds like a good sign, still you never know until everything is all wrapped and final numbers are released sometime next early next year. The other thing is that Obama has had a good 6 weeks since the election. His tax compromise is proving to be very popular and possibly helping chance the dynamic of the current President - Congress relations. There has been a food safety bill passed, DADT ended, START is going to pass, and the possible passage of the 9/11 first responders health bill. All these are successes for the President and a number of Republican Senators are looking like Deadenders on these matters, looking at you McCain.


The second thought ties in to the above. A number of these successes have been a result of help from a handful of moderate Senators. I have thought for several months now that Joe Lieberman, Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins could exercise real power over the Senate if they so choose. Now add into the mix Scott Brown, Lisa Murkowski, and Joe Manchin into the mix and you have 6 swing votes that could truly affect the work that gets done in the Senate.

Now keep in mind President Obama has played very nice with Snowe, Collins, and Brown. He voiced his opinion to keep Lieberman closer as opposed to throw him overboard. There was a long period where these actions were and are still extremely bewildering to many who have so stronly supported in the election. These actions haven't really seen any payoffs until these last few weeks. It was Collins and Lieberman that saved the DADT repeal. Brown has been instrumental in that vote as well as the START treaty passage. Murkowski seems to have sowed a bit of independence as a result of having to go the write in path to regain her Senate Seat. Manchin is a wildcard (I guess that is another word for chicken) we will have to watch to see if he continues to vote as a republican or provide the occasional Democratic vote in the Senate.l

The repeal of DADT has passed the cloture vote Update: Passes the Senate!

I suggested a couple of days that once it became obvious that DADT would fall more senators would get behind it. Well I was close, final vote was 43 - 33 (with 24 choosing not to go on the record) last vote was 57 - 43. Picking up 6 more votes.

Congratulations to Republican Senators Brown, Collins, Snowe, Kirk, Murkawski. Congratulations to (ahem, hard to say) Senator Lieberman for resurrecting the vote and to Majority Leader Reed.

It is a good day in America.


Final vote count on passage
65 - 31. That is a pretty large jump from the earlier 57 - 43 picking up 8 yes votes and losing 12 no votes.

Once again congratulations America.


PS: on a very umimportant side note. It was a thrill seeing Mr. McCain flailing in the wind. Yes Mr. McCain "That one" beat your ass once again, should be used to it by now I'd think.

Quotes of the Day No make the Week, or more like the Holiday Season

"It is impossible to do all of the things that the majority laid out...without disrespecting one of the two holiest of holidays for Christians and the families of all of the Senate, not just senators themselves but all of the staff,"

Republican Senator Jon Kyl said, according to MSNBC.

In response to the concept of working the week between Christmas and New Years as disprecting Christians and their families.

"It just goes to show the disconnect between those we elect to represent us and those who get out there to do the work. Because I'm here to say you won't find a single New York City fireman who considers it a sign of disrespect to work in a New York City Firehouse on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day."

New York City Fireman, First Responder, Cancer patient

What a difference a year makes - Joe Lieberman edition

I awake this morning with hopeful news that the repeal of DADT may finally be imminent. The hero of the day is none other than Senator Joe Lieberman. I am not going to formulate any opinions, simply will point out that it was just a year ago that Senator Lieberman was the thorniest of the thorns in the sides of Democrats. He essentially was a one man road block to the passage of the Public Option.

Today he is potentially being heralded as a civil rghts hero.

It appears that the Senate has 62 votes to pass the repeal of DADT. Senators Lieberman and Senator Collins have kept this issue alive long enough for the House to pass it and force the Senate to have to decide whether or not to proceed with a vote.

A summary: the President campaigned for the repeal and is asking for it, the Republican appointed Secretary of Defense is for it, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff is in favor, 70% of the troops state it would not be a problem, and the general public approve of the repeal by about 75%. We now have 38 Republican Senators from southern and rural states who may run out the clock on our Service Men and Women who have volunteered to serve us. If this happens, it will morally wrong and the grandest example of how broken the Senate is procedurally.

(a possibility to watch out for if it makes it for a vote, and it is destined to pass you may see a number of Senators who are currently on the wrong side of history decide to vote for the repeal. So history can show their support. I suspect if that happens we will see far more than 42 votes to pass the repeal.)

Daily Show does it again

Having issues embedding Daily Show content to the blog. Stewart and the gang rip the GOP and their unending hypocrisy re: 9/11. Nothing more for me to add. take a look.

Pragmatic Progressive (What does it all Mean)

David Kurtz over at TPM discusses today's press conference. I believe it would do disappointed liberals good to watch. It may not make them feel any better about the deal. I do think it will illustrate the origin of the deal from President Obama's perspective.

I wrote a few post back I wrote "Disconnect"

I believe he has a vision of the way he would like things to be and a vision of what is possible for things to be. He fights for what he thinks he can achieve instead of spending too much energy on reaching for the stretch goals. This particular aspect is infuriating to many on the left. I understand why and I would hope that many of those on the left would attempt to appreciate the reality we are in instead of the ideal we dream of.

David Kurtz says much the same following the press conference today:

Today, he very clearly and loudly said: that savior persona is not me. I am the pragmatist. And you know what, I don't have a whole lot of patience for the idealists. I share their ideals, but I don't share their approach and I'm not going to get bogged down in recriminations over not living up to some abstract ideal.

President Obama wrote that he was a blank canvass that many people would cast their ideals of what / who was upon and he would disappoint a number of people.  I believe this what is happening in large part.  I feel that this is about what I expected.

That does not make me like this deal any better.  I once wrote that I am a pragmatic progressive and I believe this is a test of philosophy.

Illinois is about to pass Civil Unions law. The following is a simple, honest, eloquent speech in favor of its passage.

My hometown of Bars and Churches

One of my favorite reading spots on the web is Daily Dish They discuss a number of various important political and social topics. In addition there are a number of diversionary discussions as well. Of late there has been an ongoing conversation regarding corner pubs in America or the lack there of. Andrew Sullivan asks in a nostalgic look back to his birth place of England. He doesn't find the corner pub or it's culture here in America.

I have to say I was a bit dumbfounded by such a thought. This definitely was not my experience. Just this morning a graphic was produced that explains the disconnect with Mr. Sullivan's US experience on the East coast and in DC compared my experience growing up in the Middle of Midwest. A close examination of this maps shows I grew up in an area with more bars than grocery stores. It actually seems insane to compare the two as it's not even close in Quincy. Take a moment a read a few of the comments they hold as true to Quincy as they are for Wisconsin.

The red dots indicate areas with more Bars and the yellow dots areas with more grocery stores. compare.

David Brooks provides an assesment, seems reasonable

David Brooks is not beloved by the left.  However, he offered up this quick assessment in a discussion forum with GOP budget "wunderkind" Rep. Paul Ryan.