Comments on: Sticks and Stones… and Populism http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/41693/sticks-and-stones-and-populism/ Sun, 27 May 2012 09:27:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Anonymous http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/41693/sticks-and-stones-and-populism/#comment-1304882 Anonymous Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:52:01 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=41693#comment-1304882 CarlaforHillary, Not sure you understand how the Senate works. You need a simple 51 vote majority to pass bills in the Senate. However, the opposition party can filibuster to stop votes. You then need a 60 super majority to get around the filibuster. Since the Republicans have chosen to filibuster everything, it is Republicans saying that you need 60 votes not the senate rules. Go read about it before you comment. The Democrats never really had the 60 votes. They at most had 59, given the Lieberman is an independent and it was he who essentially killed the public option or lower Medicare to age 50. CarlaforHillary,

Not sure you understand how the Senate works. You need a simple 51 vote majority to pass bills in the Senate. However, the opposition party can filibuster to stop votes. You then need a 60 super majority to get around the filibuster. Since the Republicans have chosen to filibuster everything, it is Republicans saying that you need 60 votes not the senate rules. Go read about it before you comment.

The Democrats never really had the 60 votes. They at most had 59, given the Lieberman is an independent and it was he who essentially killed the public option or lower Medicare to age 50.

]]> By: Docelder http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/41693/sticks-and-stones-and-populism/#comment-1304626 Docelder Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:42:21 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=41693#comment-1304626 Here is a flashback from 2003. Pelosi asking President Bush... Where's the jobs? I wish we were doing as well as we were in 2003. Where's the jobs? Or did Nancy ever really care about jobs? http://www.house.gov/pelosi/press/releases/Aug03/prWherearetheJobs080103.html Here is a flashback from 2003. Pelosi asking President Bush… Where’s the jobs? I wish we were doing as well as we were in 2003. Where’s the jobs? Or did Nancy ever really care about jobs?

http://www.house.gov/pelosi/press/releases/Aug03/prWherearetheJobs080103.html

]]> By: FLDemFem http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/41693/sticks-and-stones-and-populism/#comment-1304609 FLDemFem Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:10:37 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=41693#comment-1304609 Here is <a href="http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2010/02/cbs-news-obama-poll-f-for-failure.html" rel="nofollow">another poll</a>, via AtlasShrugged, <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/01/19/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry6116297.shtml?tag=+stack" rel="nofollow">from CBS News</a>, which grades Obama on various thing. His average grade, F. So much for his self-given B+. The country sees him as a failure. Oh, the first link is results posted on Atlas and the second the actual poll page where you can add your votes. Here is another poll, via AtlasShrugged, from CBS News, which grades Obama on various thing. His average grade, F. So much for his self-given B+. The country sees him as a failure. Oh, the first link is results posted on Atlas and the second the actual poll page where you can add your votes.

]]> By: confused American http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/41693/sticks-and-stones-and-populism/#comment-1304608 confused American Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:07:12 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=41693#comment-1304608 Check it out Guys  --  Too Late to Apologize.... Check it out Guys  –  Too Late to Apologize….

]]> By: Tricia http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/41693/sticks-and-stones-and-populism/#comment-1304598 Tricia Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:07:57 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=41693#comment-1304598 Great post Linda! Great post Linda!

]]> By: jangles http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/41693/sticks-and-stones-and-populism/#comment-1304592 jangles Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:44:45 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=41693#comment-1304592 Political Science 101:  Politics is the pursuit of "legitimate political authority"---the lawful authority of the state.  Power is the leverage and capacity to get things done.  One can have "power" without having "legitimate political authority".  Wall St and its FIRE brigade are a good example of power without legal government authority. Obama has authority but his power is fragmented, partly because of his own failings and partly because of the infrastructure of how this country works.  Congress has authority but diminishes its own power through quirky and arcane rules and stupidness.  FDR, Lincoln, Clinton are great examples of authority and power coming together leadership, cunning and velvet covered steel .  HRC has that combination working too. Political Science 101:  Politics is the pursuit of “legitimate political authority”—the lawful authority of the state.  Power is the leverage and capacity to get things done.  One can have “power” without having “legitimate political authority”.  Wall St and its FIRE brigade are a good example of power without legal government authority. Obama has authority but his power is fragmented, partly because of his own failings and partly because of the infrastructure of how this country works.  Congress has authority but diminishes its own power through quirky and arcane rules and stupidness.  FDR, Lincoln, Clinton are great examples of authority and power coming together leadership, cunning and velvet covered steel .  HRC has that combination working too.

]]> By: AC http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/41693/sticks-and-stones-and-populism/#comment-1304561 AC Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:57:00 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=41693#comment-1304561 Ditto what oowawa wrote.  Very enlightening. Ditto what oowawa wrote.  Very enlightening.

]]> By: oowawa http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/41693/sticks-and-stones-and-populism/#comment-1304558 oowawa Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:54:53 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=41693#comment-1304558 This is a fine post, Linda, and it deserves close attention.  The link you supply in the last line to Matt Taibbi's response is well worth following.  Thanks very much! This is a fine post, Linda, and it deserves close attention.  The link you supply in the last line to Matt Taibbi’s response is well worth following.  Thanks very much!

]]> By: Guest http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/41693/sticks-and-stones-and-populism/#comment-1304542 Guest Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:29:00 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=41693#comment-1304542 Your comment is a good example of "politics." Your comment is a good example of “politics.”

]]> By: CarlaforHillary http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/41693/sticks-and-stones-and-populism/#comment-1304539 CarlaforHillary Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:28:12 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=41693#comment-1304539 Great post, Linda.  We the people are sick of both the republicans and Democrats. We are sick of the "politics."  Nothing is getting done - for better or for worse.   That is why the people vote in Repubs, then Dems, then Repubs again.  This last election cycle really woke up a lot of people, and that is why we are hearing so much populism abounding. Great post, Linda.  We the people are sick of both the republicans and Democrats. We are sick of the “politics.”  Nothing is getting done – for better or for worse.   That is why the people vote in Repubs, then Dems, then Repubs again.  This last election cycle really woke up a lot of people, and that is why we are hearing so much populism abounding.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/41693/sticks-and-stones-and-populism/#comment-1304538 Anonymous Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:27:33 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=41693#comment-1304538 I haven't always been a Matt Taibbi fan [he was a huge Obama apologist, once upon a time].  But I have to say I think his rebuttal is on the mark and I love the new one he's cut Brooks.  Thank you, Taibbi.  You may have been late to the party but you're definitely on my guest list now. As for governance?  Neither party is offering anything remotely connected to governance.  It's all parlor games and fingerpointing.  And talk.  I'm beginning to wonder if the strategy of the current crop of Dems is talk the public into a stupor.  And the Republicans?  They've become the "UN" party.  Anything the Dems want, the Republicans are agin it.  That's not governance; it's mindless obstructionism. Any wonder the public has had it up to their eyeballs?  And is DC listening?  I would say absolutely not.  I still go back to Pat Caddell's warning: Wake up, DC.  The Americans are coming.  And they're coming for you. I haven’t always been a Matt Taibbi fan [he was a huge Obama apologist, once upon a time].  But I have to say I think his rebuttal is on the mark and I love the new one he’s cut Brooks.  Thank you, Taibbi.  You may have been late to the party but you’re definitely on my guest list now.

As for governance?  Neither party is offering anything remotely connected to governance.  It’s all parlor games and fingerpointing.  And talk.  I’m beginning to wonder if the strategy of the current crop of Dems is talk the public into a stupor.  And the Republicans?  They’ve become the “UN” party.  Anything the Dems want, the Republicans are agin it.  That’s not governance; it’s mindless obstructionism.

Any wonder the public has had it up to their eyeballs?  And is DC listening?  I would say absolutely not.  I still go back to Pat Caddell’s warning:

Wake up, DC.  The Americans are coming.  And they’re coming for you.

]]> By: CarlaforHillary http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/41693/sticks-and-stones-and-populism/#comment-1304536 CarlaforHillary Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:24:34 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=41693#comment-1304536 @ Guest - Linda is saying that politics is getting in the way of governance and getting things done.  She never says in her analysis that politics and governance are the same thing - she explaining how those who should be governing are to busy playing politics to govern and get anything done. She is absolutely correct in her statement. With respect to the 60 vote to end a filibuster requirment, that is not a repubilican requirement, that is a Senate requirement, regardless of which party is in power.   The Democrats had a 60 vote filibuster majority and they chose not to utilize that option.  Republicans and Democrats alike do not like Obama's politics  - they want him to govern, and he is not doing that. @ Guest – Linda is saying that politics is getting in the way of governance and getting things done.  She never says in her analysis that politics and governance are the same thing – she explaining how those who should be governing are to busy playing politics to govern and get anything done. She is absolutely correct in her statement.

With respect to the 60 vote to end a filibuster requirment, that is not a repubilican requirement, that is a Senate requirement, regardless of which party is in power.   The Democrats had a 60 vote filibuster majority and they chose not to utilize that option. 

Republicans and Democrats alike do not like Obama’s politics  – they want him to govern, and he is not doing that.

]]> By: Observer http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/41693/sticks-and-stones-and-populism/#comment-1304532 Observer Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:08:49 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=41693#comment-1304532 More appointments like our Secretary of Treasury? I am a Democract and say "no thank you". No normal Democrat wants in his administration. In fact it appears some will be leaving. More appointments like our Secretary of Treasury?
I am a Democract and say “no thank you”.
No normal Democrat wants in his administration.
In fact it appears some will be leaving.

]]> By: Diana L. C. http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/41693/sticks-and-stones-and-populism/#comment-1304498 Diana L. C. Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:57:20 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=41693#comment-1304498 Democrats in Power = Republicans in Power.  I really learned my lesson this last primary and GE.  Please don't give me the "poor Democrats" line or the "evil Republicans" line.  It IS politics, and there is no real governance happening--for the people.  The Dems are not trying to govern for the people andy more than the Republicans did under Bush/Cheney.   Democrats in Power = Republicans in Power.  I really learned my lesson this last primary and GE.  Please don’t give me the “poor Democrats” line or the “evil Republicans” line.  It IS politics, and there is no real governance happening–for the people.  The Dems are not trying to govern for the people andy more than the Republicans did under Bush/Cheney.  

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/41693/sticks-and-stones-and-populism/#comment-1304494 Anonymous Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:46:23 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=41693#comment-1304494 Linda, "But politics is not the same as governance.  Governance is about getting things done. " Your statement is not exactly true when politics is getting in the way of getting anything done. The Republicans are doing nothing, but playing politics in their blocking everything, requiring a 60 vote super majority in the senate for everything (unprecedented) and their unwillingness to work with democrats on anything. No president has ever faced the kind of opposition from the opposition party like Obama has faced from the Republicans. They did more filibustering in only one year than we had during the entire 50s and 60s combines. That is 20 years of filerbustering by the Republicans fit into 1 year. It was never like this for Bush. He even had 12 democratic senators voted for the Bush tax cuts. And today we learn that Republican Richard Shelby from Alabama has made the unprecedented move of putting a blanket hold on every single one of Obama's presidential nominations. Obama is trying to get 70 nominations through. Some of these have been there for a very long time. And why is Shelby doing this? So he can get some defense contracts for his home state of Alabama. Talk about politics getting in the way of governance. Linda,

“But politics is not the same as governance.  Governance is about getting things done. ”

Your statement is not exactly true when politics is getting in the way of getting anything done. The Republicans are doing nothing, but playing politics in their blocking everything, requiring a 60 vote super majority in the senate for everything (unprecedented) and their unwillingness to work with democrats on anything. No president has ever faced the kind of opposition from the opposition party like Obama has faced from the Republicans. They did more filibustering in only one year than we had during the entire 50s and 60s combines. That is 20 years of filerbustering by the Republicans fit into 1 year. It was never like this for Bush. He even had 12 democratic senators voted for the Bush tax cuts.

And today we learn that Republican Richard Shelby from Alabama has made the unprecedented move of putting a blanket hold on every single one of Obama’s presidential nominations. Obama is trying to get 70 nominations through. Some of these have been there for a very long time. And why is Shelby doing this? So he can get some defense contracts for his home state of Alabama. Talk about politics getting in the way of governance.

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