Can Congressional Democrats Save Themselves?
The Democrats, just as the Republicans did a few short years ago, control the Congress by a large majority and the White House. But they, or rather their congressional leadership, are putting that at risk. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, either by conviction or miscalculation, are bent on pursuing a far left agenda. And that may end the era of “Democratic dominance” far sooner than anyone imagined.
Kim Strassel recently zeroed in on the impact of ObamaCare on the Blue Dogs. What’s a poor moderate freshman like Rep. Walt Minnick from Idaho to do? She explains that he’s tried his best to insist the plan be paid for, control costs, and omit the public option:
The irony is that a majority of politicians agree on this path, but are hostage to Mrs. Pelosi and her ruling liberal minority. And Mr. Minnick’s problem is that his fate is lashed to that leadership.
He can disavow this bill until the Idaho elk come home, but his voters see the big picture. They might applaud his votes, consider him a great representative. Then again, they might look at Mrs. Pelosi’s ambitions, and decide a vote for Mr. Minnick isn’t worth the risk of keeping her in power.
And this is a rerun of the cap-and-trade vote. Moderate House Democrats were strong-armed into voting in favor of a jumbo energy tax and job-killer to satisfy Pelosi’s ego — to show she had the votes and could work her will in the House. Now the measure is stuck in the Senate and those Democrats, especially from energy-producing states, have to explain their support for Pelosi’s agenda to the voters back home. They can’t quite figure out how cap and trade is going to help the Ohio, or Michigan, or Virginia economy. Politico reported:
Those likely to find themselves with targets on their back after the 219-212 vote: freshman Reps. Harry Teague of New Mexico, Betsy Markey of Colorado, John Boccieri of Ohio, Thomas Perriello of Virginia and Alan Grayson of Florida and second-termer Zack Space of Ohio.
The GOP’s hope is do to these vulnerable Democrats what Republicans famously did to former Rep. Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky, the Pennsylvania Democrat who ensured that her career was limited to one term when she cast the deciding vote for President Bill Clinton’s budget package in 1993.
More than 12 months until Nov. 2010. That is a loooong time. Anything can happen. Such as a revived economy for which the Dems would claim credits. That is why they want to get all their agenda and their pork projects and kickbacks (oops, I mean earmarks) thru this year.
It is beginning to look more like a replay of 1994 when just after the HillaryCare bill that was just as unpopular as this bill is. 1994 is when the Republicans took both the house and senate looks like we will be seeing it again. Although this bill is 1018 pages the HillaryCare was over 3500. This bill HR3200 though references existing law and if all existing law referenced were taken into consideration the bill would be more like 5,000 pages. I can hardly wait till 2010 to vote and hope this is one of the most participated mid term elections over the past two decades with over 65% participation.
The Republican dream:
“In short, a political majority is only as viable and enduring as its ability to command the support and trust of the great middle of the political spectrum. If, by mismanagement or overreach, political leaders abuse that trust, they will be summarily shoved aside.”
The Democrat dream:
“In short, a political majority is only as viable and enduring as its ability to command the support and trust of the great middle of the political spectrum. If, by mismanagement or overreach, political leaders abuse that trust, they will be summarily shoved aside.”
The American dream:
Peace
“After 2008 all the talk was of a permanent realignment, a shift to the left and the end of a center-right political culture.”
There was no such talk by those so-called middle of the roaders who made the difference in the Election. They were conned into believing that the Democrats represented fiscal responsibility and Barack Obama was minimally a moderate candidate. Never forget that most Americans in November 2008 received their information from the MSM. The leftist journalistic community did not describe Obama as a left-wing radical. On the contrary, it was effectively hidden. Those who accurately pointed out his past radical relationships and rhetoric were slimed as radical right extremists. Even at this late date, the con job somewhat continues. The United States, however, remains a center-right nation. Democrats must lie to the voters to win elections in the red and purple states. But God help them when those deceived voters learn the truth. And that is what is happening at this very moment!
Yes, ic, anything can happen, but a revived economy is not likely. Too many bubbles about to burst, too much toxic derivitives, too much Enron accounting. The media won’t go there, bloggers love to talk politics, but if you want the full doom and gloom information, it’s there in the gold bugs’ blogs, with gold/silver.com doing a daily roundup with links.
The loony left took over the Democrats in 2004 and they are driving the bus. Unless the Democrats remove Reid and Pelosi they will keep on the same path.
I remember the video of Obey in the halls of Congress telling some of these activists with great irritation that their demands could not be met since they did not have the votes.
Democrats contempt prevents them from hearing conservative views and they live in a echo chamber.
Liberal idealogy and their adherents first took over cities and that is why cities like DC Philly, Chicago, Detroit are so bad. Then these liberals took over states. CA, Mass, Michigan and now those states are in bad shape.
Now they took over the Presidency and the nation and the nation is sliding downhill faster than thought possible.
Personally I do not want the Democarts to save themselves . They deserve the results of their actions.
Blue Dogs voted for Cap and Trade, Tarp and the stimulus they deserve to lose.
What I find kind of amusing is that the same independants that voted to put these bums in power are “shocked,” absolutely “shocked,” that they are acting like big-spending ultra liberals. This is what they do, this is what they specialize in, spending other people’s money on projects that only benefit their constituents (also known as pork). Lets hope that 2010 is an instant replay of 1994, the last time the Democrats discovered what happens when the American public finally pushes back against them. They will lose and there are many, many, people out there who will make it their mission in life to make sure they lose. Count on it.
ic, very true. The Demos’ problem is that all of the resistance they’re meeting may not be due to “conviction or miscalculation” as Jennifer puts it, but plain ol’ stupidity and arrogance. After all, Pelosi has lunched on her own shoe leather almost as much as Joe Biden.
Democrat over reach and it’s negative political consequences for the more moderate members of the caucus.Rubin identifies who can be vulnerable if they go along with the Speaker and the left and right coasters who dominate the Democrat leadership. These are the political pals who are aligned most closely with the agendas of frequent lefty visiters to Pajamas Shadow, Moho, Jharp, Vivo and BC. It’s ironic that what these contributors covet is not popular with the majority of voters in the counrty. The majority does not want Obama care or Cap and Trade legislation, yet Pelosi and company are ramming it through.
Their political single mindedness will inevitably damage the more moderate elements of the Democrat party. The “mandate” of November is being cast aside in August because the far left leadership mistakenly believes that the majority of the rest of America is just like them.
There will be a steep political price for this hubris. American independents and more moderate Democrats are waking up fast and they don’t like the over reach. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Awaiting the inevitable personal attacks.
The elections of 2010 will cause the moderates to distance themselves and push this legislation off the table. I don’t think it will be enough to keep them in office as they attempt to convince voters they were hoodwinked also.
is it that difficult to take a poll of registered voters in each voting district?
“Anything can happen. Such as a revived economy for which the Dems would claim credits.”
That would be the conventional wisdom but I think that this Government may finally have finally figured out a way to be the first government in history to so alienate the public in so short a time that even a clear end to a recession won’t save them. Ms. Rubin’s litany of missteps here illustrates just how vulnerable they are.
Keep up the righteous anger, Conservatives! We are correct on the government healthcare issue, we are correct on the effect of “Cap and Tax” (that it will cripple American industry, jobs, and our economy), and we are correct that free market capitalism is the most fair system in the world. As Milton Friedman says, a free market solution is a win-win all around. The manufacturer gets paid for the products made, the employees get paid for their work, and the consumer gets the product. There. Win-win. Socialist countries –no matter if you look at Eastern or Western Europe — HAVEN’T PROGRESSED LIKE OUR FREE MARKET SYSTEM. Lefties just need to compare the success of this country with the limited success (and often abject failures in more oppressive Communist countries)of Socialist countries. Even Communist China is trying to lift their economy by installing a limited FREE MARKET SOLUTION.
Why Obama supporters and others on the Left can’t see this is, in my view, willful blindness.
Mom in Wisconsin
Can the Democrats revive themselves? That question would be relevant if they would stop their check writing fast enough to see the writing on the wall that they even have a problem. They are too busy fighting on the PR front, marginalizing Americans exercising their freedom of speech rights and strongarming the moderates cowering within their own party. Much too busy to pay attention to their dropping poll numbers or the anger growing outside their ivory tower.
It’s so easy to see when you hear each Democrat being interviewed about the townhalls. Each and every one (including Gibbs) spins the growing outrage with the same brush-off, “These people aren’t a true representation of America.” Yeah. Right. Keep on trying to marginalize and see if that helps silence the angry “mobs”. Tell Americans to just shut up and take the bitter pill because big brother knows whats best for you. That surely will shut up the angry “mobs”.
The outrage is real and growing. Imagine the fury when Congress reconvenes in September and votes to ram through the health care legislation ANYWAY. Gird your loins and batten down the hatches.
The real problem for conservatives and the GOP is that historically once a bill is passed and becomes policy/law there is no going back. Even President Reagan learned this when he tried to dissolve the Dept. of Education and got such strong opposition the he failed to be able to do away with one of the most wasteful parts of government. What does the GOP do if the senate approves ObamaCare, energy bill, etc…..
Feedback very welcome.
The Dems will be roasted in 2010. The tripwires they’ve already set in place will lead to a double dip recession. For example, ever tracked oil futures? When the economy looks like green shoots, oil jumps up. Doh? So what is the largest non-controlled variable cost? Energy with it’s rippling effect. Too late for Obamacons to keep energy low or to “conserve your way to prosperity”. Then the debt and interest and rates going up. All drive down earnings. Market will spike then retest the lows – typical of Bear Market Rallies.
Then, there’s the fact that Obama will literally, if need be, kill to get his agenda through. Once in the cacoon of DC, the thugs will club them into submission.
The voters will savage the Dems in 2010. May be too late but will be worth watching anyway.
Pollyanna Rubin: Never underestimate the foolishness of the American public, nor the rapacity of the Demogoguic party.
It’s now 1933. But time runs faster today. Go Galt.
#3 Vivo: Dream on.
I say that it’s time for Pelosi to go! The best way to ensure her demise as leader is to vote against ALL Democrats. A vote for any Democratic member of Congress is also a vote for Nancy Pelosi.
I don’t trust any of these Democrats. They are blaming everything on Pelosi, yet they still vote with her. Why in the heck would we send them back for two more years? We’ve already seen what can happen in six months. Lord help us all if they are given four times the amount of time.
No Democrat in 2010.
The x factor in the 2010 and 2012 elections is ACORN and widespread voter fraud. The Franken fiasco in Minnesota was only the most obvious instance of a stolen election in 2008. It seems every close and disputed election broke the Dems way. What are the odds of that? I wonder if we are going to see a replay of the Iran elections. Of course without protesters being beaten down in the streets. That couldn’t happen here or could it?
The Democrats overreached with Porkulus, again with the useless TARP which is essentially a slush fund for useless programs, & again with Cap & Trade (in the House); the Socialized medicine is the last straw for many people. However, the spineless Blue Dogs may not be saved by voting against the health care bill in the House since many of them have red marks against them with Porkulus, TARP, & Cap & Trade. The Sleeping Giant is fully awake & very angry. But I don’t pity these self-serving egotistical politicians. They get what they deserve. And they rightfully deserve the scorn from the American people.
The politicians remain too cloistered in their Washington DC fishbowl; it’s time they see what the real world is like with their town halls.
Being a member of Congress is a great gig; power, adulation, pretty good pay, fantastic benefits and perks—a two house allowance, travel allowance, exemptions from all those annoying requirements like job protections and wage and hour requirements for your staff, large staff allowance, good working conditions, free mailing allowance, telephone allowance, nice cafeterias and some private eating areas with subsidized food, private gym, swimming pool, beauty salon and barber, large security team, low number of working hours and frequent long vacations, junkets all over the world, etc, etc., etc., very good health care benefits, and the best retirement package in the federal government, and I at least thought that the Democrats had a rather fine-tuned sense of self preservation when it came to keeping this sweet deal and their seats. Obviously, I was wrong.
There must be something like LSD in the water up on Capitol Hill, else why would Pelosi be calling voters “un-American” and likening constituents to “Nazis,” Specter saying that they were “not representative of America,” Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Leigh engaging in gross disrespect by talking on her cell phone while supposedly listening to a question from a cancer-stricken constituent, and other members running from constituents, snubbing them, insulting them, holding telephone town halls instead of face to face meetings, and calling them “political terrorists” and tools of the RNC and the Insurance industry.
Add to this suicidal line of crap the blatant lies and obvious manipulation that has taken place in this health care debate—the attempted ramming through of a mammoth, highly complex and unread bill without even cursory analysis or debate, the denial or misrepresentation of the many horrendous provisions that are clearly in the bill for anyone to read, unleashing union goons on citizens trying to attend health care town halls, plants like 11 year old Julia Hall, the little girl at Obama’s New Hampshire town hall the other night whose mother is the head of New Hampshire for Obama, the SEIU thugs who delivered the beat down to the black vendor outside a town hall last week, the 5 foot high Obama as Hitler poster held up by a Dingell supporter—he was spotted giving out pro-Dingell flyers after the town hall meeting—at Dingell’s town hall so as to discredit opponents, and the phony Doctor enthusiastically endorsing the health care reform bill at Rep. Sheila Jackson Leigh’s town hall last night–Hello, people do have cell phone cameras and the Internet these days–and you have to conclude these arrogant totally, unscrupulous, totalitarian frauds have a death wish.
The real question is will voters finally lose trust in CNN and the MSM that are the propagandists of the Democrat Left? I love reading Pajama Pants, watching Fox News, and other Right leaning media, but I wonder how many other potential voters are doing the same. These are, after all, where the opposition voices are getting out. Republicans lost 2004 and in 2008 the Presidency, besides the dislike for McCain even by his own, partly out of the constant tilted coverage.
“Blowback from voters as a result of the party’s liberal agenda may make a mockery of all that “realignment” talk.”
True enough but realgnment has always been more a hope than a reality for both sides. Back in the mid-terms during GWB’s first term the unheard of happened – a Congressional gain and takeover by the party in power. I recall clearly the crowing by the Right how the Dems were going to be out of power for generations to come. We know how that worked out.
Re #22 Jettboy: Here’s a remedy to that problem. Pass it along. http://newsbusters.org/
I don’t think that the 2010 results will be good for the Dems even if the economy rebounds because the mask has slipped on the lefts agenda. The Mods won’t fall for the Obama lies again. Pelosi and Reid along with Obama have shown that they consider the American people to be ignorant and in need of the superior intellect of the Dems.
The blue-dogs were all recruited by Pelosi. To her they are canon fodder in 2010. The left will pass its agenda and sustain Obama’s veto’s later to preserve the changes. Pelosi and crew fear not passing the agenda far more than the wrath of the middle. Soros and moveon are the pay masters and must be satisfied.
Imagine if a Republican president and Republican majorities failed to pass tax cuts. The Democrats can’t fail the left again, it will shatter the party.
The blue dogs are history – one way or the other. If they don’t go along with Pelosi, they’re toast within the Democrat party forever, and probably won’t be supported for re-election. If they go along with Pelosi, they get voted out.
So they’re out of a job either way. My guess is that they go along with Pelosi, get voted out, and are given jobs as undersecretary of Commerce or some such as payback. And they get to continue traveling in the Democratic party circles.
#26 Ruebacca
I thought it was Rahm that did the recruiting. Anyhow, I have a fear that no realignment will come about because most of the Republicans are just as clueless as the Blue Dogs in regaining the confidence of the Tea Party crowd.
The whole gestalt of the movement is that politicians can not be trusted once they get inside the beltway, overdose on the privileges, and treat the voters as peasants once they are re-elected. I think, most like me, feel we’re always getting the run-around; they’re not listening, and their staffers respond to all calls, letters, and emails.
We need better candidates, ones who will support or pledge to term limit themselves, ones who will accept on equal terms what they dole out to us – on taxes, on retirement plans options, on health care options, etc. – and won’t accept any pay raise until they balance the budget.
As long as Dems provide welfare and free anything, they will be re-elected.
Come 2010 they will release money for projects. Then they sit back and tell us what they have done for us by giving us our money back. It will be lapped up by the uninformed, uncaring.
The whole thing is disgusting and needs to change. I don’t believe the Republicans are any better. People like Arlen Specter need to go…He was elected by one party and reps another..not kosher..the party should have been able to pull him out of office, and the voters need to take him down.
However, Specter is only a symptom of the caliber of people we have in office
“I thought it was Rahm that did the recruiting.”
And I thought it was Carville and the FOB (friends of Bill) gang that came up with the idea of defeating Republicans by running conservative Democrats. If that is the case you have to wonder about how those blue dogs feel now that their sponsor is languishing in Africa and the new Boss is ready to make them the next round of folks under the bus.
Just one thought about term limits. In addition to the number of terms that can be ’served’ we should also have a provision that there will be no sequential terms. That way, they have to run for office on their own time rather than being paid while running for their next term. It also gives us a chance to look for a better option even before the maximum number of terms is met.
Hey, where’s Joe Biden? Sure been quiet lately.
Health care reform has been hyjacked by a minority that want a draconi9an new federal bureaucracy that would cost a fortune & still need more money to function Why is it when we need things fixed, some decide to crush what we have & re-create a system “they” envision as perfect?
Obama keeps telling folks they can keep their plans, but most know that once the taxpayer subsidized plan is out there, employers will dump employees becase the fine is cheaper than maintaining their current coverage. That lie or distortion, is obvious & folks resent someone telling them it s not true.
Obama tells people he does NOT want a single payer system. Yet there are multiple video’s showing him calling for exactly that.
Obama once said, ‘they cling to their guns & religion.” Then, until the audio was released, he said, “I did not say that.” In the end, what we have is a President who has troublw with the truth on what most see as minor issues. If he will lie about them, then what else will he lie about that is more important?
I whole-heartedly agree with Paul. One of my biggest problems with the 2004 election was that one of my Senators spent the better part of two years doing nothing but running for the office of President, but was still being paid his entire salary + perks. (Not that I care for him much, but he WAS elected to represent the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and it would be nice if he actuially did the job he was ‘hired’ for.) Wouldn’t it be nice if all you ‘regular’ people could spend a year looking for a better job while still being paid your full salary from the job you are trying to leave?
It has always been my contention that any politician trying to run for a higher office (Governor running for Congress, Congressman running for Senate, Senator running for President, even something State-related, like State Senator running for Governor) should be required to resign from their current position before making their bid for new office official. That way the people will get the representation they voted for in the first place ALL THE TIME, and it might keep a few politicians from seeking higher office if they know they’re going to lose their cushy current job if they do.
My understanding is that they plan to release $100 billion per quarter of stimulus funds in 2010. They assume this will prop them up for the mid-terms, no matter what they do presently.
The problem for Blue Dogs like Minnick is that, whatever their vote on Obamacare or Cap-n-Trade or any other bill that comes up, they’ve already cast one inexcusable vote: the vote for Pelosi and her leadership team.
So however nice and moderate the Blue Dogs are themselves, it’s dawning on voters that if the Blue Dogs won’t insist on responsible leadership for their own party and instead indulge the same old partisan hacks, what’s the point.
Republicans who challenge (and probably defeat) those Blue Dogs in 2010 should pay attention. The Republican Freshman class of 2010 had better insist on a leadership team that doesn’t look like a rehash of the same people who lost the confidence of voters in 2006.
Even if there is massive spending in 2010 a little over 4 months from now it will be too little too late, as the only jobs will be government jobs that last for a short period with low pay. Also enough damage has been done already for most sane people to not forget what has been going on, and they are as mad as hell and are to the point of rebellion, even if things get a little better the skepticism will continue.
People are tired of being lied to and will take it out on the liberals and I see a near record turnout at the polls in 2010 and I for one will be one of those participating in it!
The Democrats much as the Republicans before them have failed to read the American voters minds. This time the Democrats mistakenly interpreted the election of President Obama as a sign that the country has finally become a left leaning nation. This is simply not true, the country’s sentiment solidly approximates the bell curve with the majority of Americans in the middle right or middle left with relatively few on either extreme. The country as a whole was tired of Republican “rule.” The Democrats could have run my houseplant as a candidate and stood a very reasonable chance of winning, so dissatisfied were many with Republicans. It is noteworthy to more than a few of the comments expressed by town hall “mob” attendees have expressed outrage at Speaker Pelosi’s comments. I suspect that many more than a few of the “silent majority” are unhappy with this comment as well and this does not bode well for the realignment. I think many are waking up to the hypocrisy of the strident left bemoaning such things as warrant less wiretapping (which is understandable) and calling then President Bush some not so nice things, but that same strident left is so silent on the “fishy” website issue. Had Karl Rove proposed something like this in support of Bush’s Social Security reform the left would have complained long and loud. The American people see through this hypocrisy as well as the hypocrisy of calling people who support their policies “grassroots organizers” and those who oppose them “mobs” and they will pay a price for their perfidy.
Yup. At this point, substantial, visible recovery by 11/10 is all but impossible, even if they completely reversed course.
#27..Tommy….I think you have it right. More likely czar positions than undersecretary positions. There may be 100 czars before the end of the decade.
There’s another possibility – a mutiny that replaces Pelosi with a moderate. I still don’t think this would stop a bloodbath in ’10, though.
Even thought there’s a lot of ideological resonance between Pelosi and Teh Won, I don’t think Teh Won would be too sorry to see her go.
vivo: you have not the faintest idea what the American Dream is.
It certainty has little to do with what the Democrats want for us. They dream of Stalin and Chavez.
The Power-Drunk Ding-a-Ling-Dems are digging their own graves faster than I even imagined with their B.S. agendas they figured could be rushed/rammed and crammed down people’s throats.
Rah-Rah-Rah! Gooooooo Dems!
I previously posted about vulnerability for Democrat moderates who follow the leftist leadership in their party. That does not mean that things can’t change in favor of the Dems.
First, it is likely the economy will recover somewhat before the end of the year and in 2010. That will help the incumbent majority as a positive message.
Second, the Democrat machine is well positioned to do well. The majority of governors are Dems as are the state legislators.
Thirdly, the Republicans have more vulnerable Senate seats than the other party does. They start off playing defense.
Finally, the Repubs have few stars and have damaged their message through profligate spending when in power.
The Republicans can improve their seat totals in Congress and will likely hold more governors offices. However, alot can happen between now and then and the party has shown an ability to blow it’s foot off.They will need to be smart and have a good message in order to have success in 2010.
50,000 quatloos says your wrong.
If the GOP wins in VA and NJ it will be a promising start for 2010. I am hoping Reid and Pelosi continue with their name calling of ordinary Americans, and senior citizens. The latest name calling has come from Harry Reid, where he called us evil mongers.
Reid being defeated in 2010 will be a major score for the GOP.
Calvin at 45,
How much is a quatloo in US dollars?
The recession is quite elderly at this point having started almost two years ago at the end of 2007. I could certainly be wrong, but even some anemic recovery is likely.
The MSM will bray and crow about that, even if unemployment stays above 8 %. Of course it will all be due to the Messiah and his band of little angels in Congress and their amazing stimulus plan. That is why I think it will matter.
Let me know about the quatloo ratio. I know it will be hard to calculate given the dollars fall in value since congress has spent us into poverty.
The reason Nancy and Harry can get away with saying the STUPID things they say is their constituencies are diverse (in their isolation), some define themselves by how they get off, some by MY PARTY, and some by going along. They triangulate and confirm their ONLY priorities (personal power and job security) by keeping these individual groups isolated (and weak). They insult the intelligence of their voters and get away with it. Perhaps ignorant saps (like Jharp) are perfectly happy being mere riders on the train, but frankly what needs happen is a wake up call
The Cow and Harry insulted all, not just the right (and left) and need be replaced by the competent (which Ms pelosi and light fingered harry are most assuredly not).
So San Fran and Vegas, tired of being hijacked by the stupid, ethically compromised and spineless? Time to recall.
Oh, if your sole definition of who you are is driven by the color of your skin, how you get off, or your gender, you need to get out of the way, YOU ARE THE PROBLEM.
Rah rah ree kick them in the knee, rah rah rass kick them in the other knee Or figure it out yourself. Vote the democrats (communists) out of office in 2010. Hope the Blue Dog democrats enjoyed their little experience by just being a member of a communistic party.
There is NO WAY the economy recovers by Nov.2010.
There are the SAME toxic assets STILL on the big banks books…they were just given a huge cushion and breathing room with the bailout… they are basically hoping the market recovers enough to start selling them…HA! Good luck with that pipe dream!
Basically NOTHING has changed there, except their accounting practices!
Soon we will see TSUNAMI II of the foreclosure mess followed closely by TSUNAMI III which will be in commercial mortgages.
Watch for DESPERATE calls for more bailouts and begging from the FEDS and Wall Street that something MUST be done…i.e. Same Ol’, Same Ol’.
Hunker down, watch your cash assets, and be careful with your investments…the next year will make this last year look like the good ol’ days!
Dave II, I think the Deutche Bank report is about right. Continued decline into 2011 is already built in. The more real estate declines, the more mortgages are upside down. The more upside loans are exposed, the softer the economy gets. The softer the economy gets, the more real estate declines. Even if the “stimulus” could do something to break the fall, it got siphoned off by all the grubby hands. There aren’t going to be any construction projects. Just a lot of yachts and mansions for the politically connected.
And you’re right that the commercial unwinding hasn’t even got its socks on yet.
There will not need to be a recovery by the election., If they pump a lot of money into the economy and “some” people see a little light..the press will tell us we are crazy and the economy is GREAT!!,others will fall in line. I love to see the people speaking up.
You guys need to look up Saul Alinsky. Obama and Hillary are deciples of his. You can see it in their politics. Reading about him was a real eye-opener. When you do , you see his tactics all over Obama.
Saul offered Hillary a job at one time. She did something else, but kept his practices alive, which you could see in Bill’s run. Obama was hired by a follower of Saul, for his community organizer job.
Obama and his cronies are putting Saul’s teachings into play in Washington with their tactics. I do believe they are out to destroy us as a free nation.
We DO need medical reform. It needs to be done differently. A bit slower, with more attention to detail and public approval.
PLUS!!! WHERE IS JOE BIDEN????? The adm mouthpiece??
When Blue Dog reps run for re-election next year, all of them need to be asked at campaign events: Will you vote for Pelosi to be Speaker again? Get them on the record, either yea or nay, and vote accordingly.
Don’t waste your time asking about Reid. Even if the Dems retain control of the Senate, he won’t be back unless Nevada Republicans completely drop the ball.
“The recession is quite elderly at this point having started almost two years ago at the end of 2007. I could certainly be wrong, but even some anemic recovery is likely.”
I’d bet on a W-shaped or double-dip recession. Even without cap-and-trade hara-kiri, the size of the deficit guarantees that any GDP growth will lead directly to a spike in interest rates (and Treasury auctions are *already* undersubscribed)- and down we go again. Toss in energy costs, banks effectively being run by Geithner, and an anemic EU and Japan, PLUS another round of forclosures and CDI blowups, and we’re going to be in bear-infested woods for a long time.
In fact a double-dip would be good, politically- because the Dems will *never* get away with blaming it on Bush.
52. Gracie:
“PLUS!!! WHERE IS JOE BIDEN????? ”
I’m sure the Dohministration will make Biden’s demise look like an ‘unfortunate accident’.
Approximately 225M eligible voters. Some 168M registered voters. About 125M of those voted. Obeyme got about 67M votes.
Thus he got about 40% of all those registered to vote. About 30% of those actually eligible to vote
Not exactly a mandate.
Bohemond @ 54,
I agree it is likely the recession is a W shaped one driven into the second downturn by the inflation that arises from the trillions that the Fed has put out in the last 14 months or so. The issue is timing.
Think of the situation as being similar in pattern, but not in depth to the 1936 recovery that skidded into the 1937 and 38 2nd depression. This second downturn will be driven by inflation and government economic static. 1938 was different.
Remember if there is even slightly modest recovery in 2010 the MSM will proceed to genuflect and at the same time face east on their knees in worship of his holiness and the disciples from Congress. If the timeing works out, by the time the second contraction occurs the election may already have happened.
That’s my concern.
47. Samizdat wrote:
Calvin at 45,
How much is a quatloo in US dollars?
Peter writes: It depends on the exchange rate with gold-pressed latinum. =/\=
Peter @ 58,
I enjoy reading your posts on the various articles that are put out on this excellent web site. You give as good as you get. Resilliency is a key attribute.
You have me on “gold pressed latinum” and the symbol that follows. Looking forward to you educating me on what it means.
When did liberals lose their identity?
Our country was once divided by conservatives and liberals on many issues, but we all had something very important in common; we all believed in freedom. It was American to believe in liberty. It was American to believe in Freedom. I may not agree with liberals on many issues, but I surely understood where they stood and why on all issues.
Liberals have been hijacked by leftists, marxists, and socialists. How can liberals support a universal healthcare system when they have always been big supporters of choice. They are the party of Pro Choice, yet the healthcare bill is in large part an enfringement on our freedom. It is simply Un-American. I hope liberals take a long look at the Leftists that have taken control of Congress and the executive Branch and ask themselves….Is Barack Obama a liberal or a leftist?
President Obama is not one of YOU! He does not believe in the values that made America Great. Liberals and Conservatives have a chance to come together and save our country from tyranny. We first need liberals to remember who they are! FREEDOM!! Wake up before it is too late! Someday our grandkids will read about a President who almost dismantled the greatest country in the history of mankind. And we will be heroes, the ones who stood up to an evil empire. We need all Americans on board. Keep asking questions, do not stop asking questions until this bill is defeated. The leftists will keep pushing back, but if you keep asking questions they will be exposed. Liberals, take your head out of the sand and fight back, you will regret it if you don’t.
Keep asking questions!
I got off the subject a bit….The Blue Dogs are in trouble. The only way they can save themselves is to create a bill with the Gop for healthcare reform that focuses on cost and Medicare/Medicaid reform. They will have a fighting chance in 2010 if they defect from the liberals and leftists. I honestly would rather see that than Universal Health Care.
The next problem will for Obama to explain how he gets 250,000,000 votes out of 168,000,000 registered voters. hhmmmmm
Pelosi is the ultimate elitist and does not need to represent anyone..okay, maybe France…
59. Samizdat wrote:
You have me on “gold pressed latinum” and the symbol that follows. Looking forward to you educating me on what it means.
Peter writes: Quatloos and Gold-Pressed Latinum are both Star Trek references. The =/\= symbol is just a rough emoticon of the Starfleet emblem. I was trying to lighten the mood and hoped other Trekkies might catch the reference.
61. Dynomitejim wrote:
The Blue Dogs are in trouble. The only way they can save themselves is to create a bill with the Gop for healthcare reform that focuses on cost and Medicare/Medicaid reform.
Peter writes: This has actually been happening. Several bi-partisan bills (or amendments to HR3200) have been written and submitted by joint Blue-Dog/GOP representatives, and unfortunately, Pelosi and her minions keep having them killed in committee. Pelosi yells for bi-partisanship and the cooperation of the GOP, but refuses to even look at anything submitted by them. With the curren batch of Overlords, it’s either “My way or the highway!”
Also for Samizdat @ #59′s information:
http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Quatloo
http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Gold-pressed_latinum
Barack Obama & The Death Panels has a good ring for a rock band, but, as law, it’s deadly poison for the legislatures & President Obama…
I still see more people turning on the politicians as time goes on; this is going to be a long month for them.
Republicans take back the country in 2010? Nonsense!! The only thing the health care/death panels/birth certificate scandals have done is to double the number of union thugs, ACORNers, Black Panthers and other assorted gangsters who will help steal that election! And, you can also include the black racists in the Justice Department as working for a rigged outcome!
I certainly will never cast a vote for a Democrat again whereas I always considered all parties. Never again.
This administration is being run like a three ring circus. While you watch the first ring something spectacular is happening in the third ring and you missed it. This is the first time in my life that I am ashamed of my country! And I’m serious about that.
Peter the Bubblehead,
What can I say, I lost the ball in the sun on that reference. I am not a “treckie”. However, I have seen and remember many episodes, but never got the sunglasses down to field that one. Calvin, you and Peter have the Quatloo market cornered. Was it a Federation currency or something the Klingons traded in?
Live long and prosper.
Samizdat