2011

How To Be a Dick

ArchPundit June 30, 2011 No Comments

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1-7io3OBoDQ[/youtube]

It’s not calling the President a dick that’s a problem. It’s a problem that the entire analysis of the press conference yesterday by the President was dickish because he pushed back at the bullshit Republicans have been pushing during the stand off over the federal debt limit.

Dicks like Boehner, Cantor, and The Turtle from Kentucky have voted repeatedly for an increase in the debt ceiling for years while supporting keeping the wars off budget and ignoring the effect of tax cuts on the deficit.  Yet, these dicks insist on cutting programs and not even closing any unnecessary tax breaks for companies with record profits.

It’s not that he called the President a dick that’s a problem. It’s that Halperin is a delusional dick himself.  And a douche nozzle.  Treating this negotiation as anything other than insane is what a dick would do.  If Republicans want to fight over the budget–fight over the budget, but leave the debt limit increase out of it.

Becoming upset because the President called out bullshit is exactly what is wrong with the Washington commentariat.   Politics is a way of resolving conflict.  A much better solution than the alternative that involves guns and all sorts of nasty stuff.  There’s nothing wrong with a good battle of ideas and idiots like Halperin don’t recognize that there is nothing wrong with it.   In fact, it just might lead to responsible government with clear lines drawn for an election.  Do you want an austerity program that will drag the economy into a long slow lost decade as the Japanese had in the 1990s or do you want to try and get the economy moving and through targeted spending on infrastructure?  It’s not being a dick to give voters a choice–it’s being a leader.

Boehner, Cantor, The Turtle from Kentucky all are being just as combative every day, but only in Washington does that make Obama a dick.  He’s upsetting the Mark Halperin cocktail circuit and that’s most important.

Given Rambling Disorganization Isn’t a Crime

ArchPundit June 27, 2011 No Comments

At least we know this streak in Governors going to prison is going to end at 2.

For Those Who Thought a Second Trial Was a Waste

ArchPundit June 27, 2011 No Comments

There was a gadfly juror last time that stopped a number of counts.   This was always a solid case overall and it shows today.

Judy Baar  Topinka’s release:

CHICAGO – Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka released the following statement Monday in response to a jury finding former Gov. Rod Blagojevich guilty of 17 counts against him:

“I am heartened by the Jury’s verdict against Rod Blagojevich, and pleased to see justice after many months of waiting. But make no mistake: this is nothing to celebrate. Through his unconscionable behavior and reckless leadership, Blagojevich inflicted damage on Illinois that will take years, if not generations, to repair. He broke the public trust and mismanaged dollars with a zeal that was unique even in our storied state.

“I find his behavior reprehensible and am personally pleased to see him held responsible. But more important, I hope that today’s verdict delivers a reminder that elected leaders serve the public, not the other way around – and they will be held accountable, even if it takes a while.”

“While I look forward to turning the page on Blagojevich, I hope that the lessons learned from his prosecution live on. Ironically, it would prove to be his greatest contribution to our state.”

Many of us, including her, tried to tell everyone.  It’s amazing what it took to get this clown out of office.

I Love Michelle Bachman

ArchPundit June 27, 2011 No Comments

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PsLfL9vMaUY[/youtube]

Washington Times

Mrs. Bachmann grew up in Waterloo, and used the town as the backdrop for her campaign announcement, where she told Fox News: “Well what I want them to know is just like, John Wayne was from Waterloo, Iowa. That’s the kind of spirit that I have, too.” (Someone has already posted the clip to YouTube under the name BachmannLovesGacy)

John Wayne, the movie legend, is in fact from Iowa and the John Wayne birthplace is a celebrated landmark — only it’s in Winterset, which is a nearly three hour drive away from Waterloo.

Gacy, though, had his first taste of the criminal life in Waterloo, where he lived for a short time, and where he had his first criminal conviction for an attempted homosexual assault, which landed him in prison for 18 months.

He would move back to Illinois, where his killing spree started, and lasted about six years. In 1980 he was convicted on 33 counts of murder, and was executed in 1994.

Michelle Bachman wouldn’t brag about it, but Waterloo has one of the larger and historic African-American populations in Iowa and is a diverse place.  It’s a great town, even though it produced this idiot.

Guilty on 17 Counts

ArchPundit June 27, 2011 No Comments

Including all of the charges on the Senate shakedown.

Guilty on race track and hospital verdicts

No decision–Ari Emanuel and the school and one on the tollway. One not guilty on the tollway charge.

Justice is sometimes slow, but it usually comes along. He will receive a long sentence most likely and will likely not be in the lowest security prison to begin with.

At 5 PM and perhaps 6 PM Stuart Shiffman, a frequent commenter here, will be on WICS to discuss the verdicts.

18 of 20 Charges Reached Unanimously

ArchPundit June 27, 2011 No Comments

While I don’t assume anything at this point, that can’t be a good thing for Rod.

Really?

ArchPundit June 15, 2011 No Comments

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3cvAjIdEy0[/youtube]

Not quite as good as this one from last cycle though:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDwwAaVmnf4[/youtube]

GOP Congressional Fights

ArchPundit June 14, 2011 No Comments

Via Rich as well

In some cases, the freshmen are being pitted against each other, creating political enemies among rookies who should be spending their first term bonding with fellow home-state newbies. For example, in Illinois, Republican Joe Walsh may have to run against freshman Randy Hultgren, meaning one of them will end his career after just one term.

A Good Crop of Candidates

ArchPundit June 14, 2011 No Comments

Rich runs down the efforts by people running for Congress with new entrants. One of the more interesting races puts Tammy Duckworth against Raja Krishnamoorthi.   Raja ran a decent campaign for comptroller and probably was better off by losing in the primary.  He also has the requisite name that is damn near impossible to spell off the bat, but Tammy will have my support in this one. That’s not a knock against Raja at all who has a real shot and would make a good Member of Congress–I just have a ton of respect for Tammy and want to see her in Congress.

Frerichs is out, which I expected in IL-13.  Frankly, a statewide run would be smarter for him so I didn’t expect much else.

Koehler is already putting in phone time which is great news.  When he was a in the Lt. Governor selection process he really impressed me and I think he’d be a perfect fit for that District. His biography is compelling (and yeah, George Ryan aide Scott Fawell ended  up doing time at his old college now converted into a prison).

Prior to serving on the Senate, Koehler spent six years on the Peoria County Board and eight years on the Peoria City Council—including two years as Mayor Pro Tem.  In every elected position, Koehler has worked tirelessly to serve the voters who elected him and to improve the quality of life of the communities he represents.

Before he first held elected office, Koehler embarked on a career of community development.  He earned a bachelor’s degree from Yankton College in 1971 and earned a Masters of Divinity from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.  From 1972 to 1978, he worked for the National Farm Worker Ministry, helping improve the lives of migrant workers.  After moving to Peoria in 1978, Koehler began a job as a community organizer and later became manager of Peoria Friendship House—an organization that helps the city’s most vulnerable citizens secure education, nutrition, clothing, shelter, and other basic necessities.

In 1985, Koehler became the first Executive Director of the Peoria Area Labor Management Council (PALM)—a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing cooperation between labor and management in the area’s many unionized factories and facilities.  In 1992 he also became President of PALM’s Labor Management Cooperate Health Programs—a purchasing cooperative aimed at finding low-cost, high-quality health care for its members and the community.

I usually wait for endorsements, but I’m on board for him as well as Duckworth.

Finally, Oneman will be annoyed as Foster jumps in the 11th with Atkinson bowing out of the race leaving the question of what Atkinson is thinking of doing.

The Subtle Approach

ArchPundit June 14, 2011 No Comments

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ3B8WvVjL4[/youtube]

Or not.  Jeebus.