2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

[Kepler]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

That's the part I don't get. Biden last year was whining about how the GOP has invoked cloture more than anytime in history. As someone who was in the Senate for 30 years, couldn't he see this coming? And if he can't convince his old collegues to allow votes, shouldn't he know how to get around this sort of obstruction (for example linking to budgetary matters that only need 51 votes - the same way they finally got health care passed when they had no other options)? Obama served in the Senate. He knows the rules too. I can see a governor, a guy like Clinton for example, having trouble figuring out Washington's games since he never served in Congress. There's no excuses for these two to have so much trouble getting their agenda enacted while they sat on overwhelming majorities. People may agree with Obama that the GOP is acting like juvenile a-holes. But as the Economist put it best a few weeks ago, Americans like their Presidents to be winners, not victims.

All good points. I don't expect Obama to know the rules -- he was Senator for about as long as the Pirates were above .500. Also, Obama's inner circle is strongly policy first / procedural second (just as all recent presidents have been -- the last president whose people really understood procedure was LBJ). Because he was particularly weak on process he needed the kind of expertise that, for instance, all of Cheney's K Street cronies had: how to make gravity work for you rather than against you. The one place Obama has been able to make great strides is the place where the president essentially rules by edict: foreign policy.

If the electorate awarded soccer-style Fair Play Points Obama would win in a walk, but as Rover said, the public doesn't particularly punish moral turpitude in its politicians, however much it wails about it. Nobody every won reelection by saying "the other fellow didn't play square."

 

[Priceless]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

Chris Christie has reportedly decided NOT to run for president.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

Chris Christie has reportedly decided NOT to run for president.

No sheet. Damm that just plain sucks.

 

[Bakunin]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

Given the number of staffers these guys have, I find it incredibly hard to believe a president wouldn't bother to have at least one "procedure guy" to handle the legislative side in Congress. The greatest policy ideas in the world aren't going to do a bit of good if you don't know how to maneuver them through the ****ing Senate.

 

[Kepler]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

Good article by a Market Watch reporter: the 10 Best Things Government Has Done.

"Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket." Libertarianism is no exception.

 

[Bakunin]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

I'd say the business-racket parts happen nearly simultaneously in many cases.

Once there's a pool of money, it's destined to be funneled to places it's not supposed to go.

 

[Kepler]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

Given the number of staffers these guys have, I find it incredibly hard to believe a president wouldn't bother to have at least one "procedure guy" to handle the legislative side in Congress. The greatest policy ideas in the world aren't going to do a bit of good if you don't know how to maneuver them through the ****ing Senate.

They do have procedure guys, of course, but it's more about whether the knowledge and experience is right there in the back of your mind whatever you're planning. You have to "build in" process realities to every aspect of a policy's construction, because it will always fail at its weakest point. Very smart people who know subject matter backwards and forwards (cough Jimmy Carter cough) always seem to think they can create a policy ex nihil and then figure out how to get it through the process at the end. That has never worked in the history of democracy going back to Ancient Greece. You have to be counting votes and hurdling obstacles and balancing interests right from the first day or you'll go nowhere.

People take the wrong message from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. It's not sincerity and persistence that saves the day. That stuff grows on trees. It's Jean Arthur's character who's important.

 

[unofan]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

People take the wrong message from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. It's not sincerity and persistence that saves the day. That stuff grows on trees. It's Jean Arthur's character who's important.

The ending of that movie struck me as a huge deus ex machina. Jimmy Stewart's about to pass out from his filibuster, and the other guy finally confesses everything for...no real reason whatsoever.

 

[Priceless]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

Bachmann's been teaching history to Rick Perry

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Q3ZpC0hBfZg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

I've said it before, I'll say it again. Bachmann should be the nominee. She's been out in front on every issue. She isn't just a Tea Partier, she IS the Tea Party.

 

[Kepler]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

I've said it before, I'll say it again. Bachmann should be the nominee. She's been out in front on every issue. She isn't just a Tea Partier, she IS the Tea Party.

Also, if you oppose her, you're a sexist.

 

[Rimbaud]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

Also, if you oppose her, you're a sexist.

And also sane.

 

[Kepler]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

I've said it before, I'll say it again. Bachmann should be the nominee. She's been out in front on every issue. She isn't just a Tea Partier, she IS the Tea Party.

You know who else was out in front on every issue?

 

[Handyman]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

The ending of that movie struck me as a huge deus ex machina. Jimmy Stewart's about to pass out from his filibuster, and the other guy finally confesses everything for...no real reason whatsoever.

Not only that, but the entire reason they are throwing him out of Congress makes no sense. If he owns the land at Willard Crick, it doesnt matter what they put there he will get PAID! They make it seem like only the boys camp will lead to the graft that should have him expelled, but in reality anything that made it through Congress that required the purchase of said land will put money in his pocket. If he was guilty, he should have been shutting up and supporting the dam project once the boys camp was gonna die.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

Bachmann's been teaching history to Rick Perry

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Q3ZpC0hBfZg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Has Perry promised to campaign in all 57 states? Even the ones where a majority of the citizens speak Austrian?

 

[Old Pio]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

They do have procedure guys, of course, but it's more about whether the knowledge and experience is right there in the back of your mind whatever you're planning. You have to "build in" process realities to every aspect of a policy's construction, because it will always fail at its weakest point. Very smart people who know subject matter backwards and forwards (cough Jimmy Carter cough) always seem to think they can create a policy ex nihil and then figure out how to get it through the process at the end. That has never worked in the history of democracy going back to Ancient Greece. You have to be counting votes and hurdling obstacles and balancing interests right from the first day or you'll go nowhere.

People take the wrong message from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. It's not sincerity and persistence that saves the day. That stuff grows on trees. It's Jean Arthur's character who's important.

"She called me Clarissa" Game over.

 

[Priceless]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

And now Christie says he is still "thinking about" running for president. If he's "tired of dealing with the crazies" then he should stay in Jersey (and yes, I realize the irony of that statement).

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

And now Christie says he is still "thinking about" running for president. If he's "tired of dealing with the crazies" then he should stay in Jersey (and yes, I realize the irony of that statement).

Fox has spoken on the matter. It doesn't want him in the election:

Sources: Christie Definitely a 'No' for 2012

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie answers a question at Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J., Sept. 22.
Chris Christie say he has finally made a definitive decision, once and for all, not to run for president in 2012, sources close to the New Jersey governor told Fox News on Tuesday.

Despite the intensity that has heightened in recent days as the New Jersey governor prepares to deliver a speech Tuesday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, several people close to the governor insist he has not changed his mind to forego a presidential bid.

 

[Priceless]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

Fox has spoken on the matter. It doesn't want him in the election:

Sources: Christie Definitely a 'No' for 2012

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie answers a question at Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J., Sept. 22.
Chris Christie say he has finally made a definitive decision, once and for all, not to run for president in 2012, sources close to the New Jersey governor told Fox News on Tuesday.

Despite the intensity that has heightened in recent days as the New Jersey governor prepares to deliver a speech Tuesday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, several people close to the governor insist he has not changed his mind to forego a presidential bid.

Yeah, that was this afternoon. He didn't address the issue tonight in his speech, but was asked by the audience and said

“I hear exactly what you’re saying and I feel the passion with which you say it, and it touches me,” Christie replied. “I’m just a kid from Jersey who feels like he’s the luckiest guy in the world to have the opportunity that I have to be the governor of my state.”

Later, he added, “I thank you for what you’re saying and I take it in and I’m listening to every word of it and feeling it.”

By morning he may be out again only to be back in the race tomorrow night.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: 2012 Elections Part I: All Politics is Yokel

And now Christie says he is still "thinking about" running for president. If he's "tired of dealing with the crazies" then he should stay in Jersey (and yes, I realize the irony of that statement).

Of course he's running. No one hems and haws this much unless he's putting together a team.