We apologize in advance today, for ourselves and our industry as a whole, for multiple reasons.
First, today is election day in locations across the country. The major races for governor in Virginia and New Jersey, and for Mayor of New York City likely won't be that competitive, if the exit polls match the polling that's already been done. If you hate the runaway watchdog role that most media outlets use during our nearly perpetual election seasons in America, we apologize for those colleagues of ours who will slip back into this abrasive style of journalism - and continue it for the next three years.
We also apologize for those members of the media who are are still stuck on the same story, namely of Republicans crying wolf over Obamacare. Yes, Republicans - especially those in the extremist wing of their party - are still going to try to continue to sabotage the Affordable Care Act at every turn. No, Obamacare isn't going away.
Finally, we also apologize for those members of the media who are still chasing the Edward Snowden/NSA spying story like some kind of rabid dog. As yet another document release by Snowden this past weekend showed, the U.S. is far from the only friendly nation spying on it's allies. European nations do it too, as does Brazil, who made an international stink in September about the NSA spying on Brazillians. Yet Monday, the Brazilian government admitted they'd also spied on several diplomatic targets, including the U.S.
The biggest reason we're apologizing on behalf of our industry, however, happens to be the pack mentality and sheer stupidity that will likely soon take over much of the political media space, in the wake of the 2013 campaigns and today's elections.
As we already noted, the major elections today will likely be won by Terry McCauliffe in Virginia, by Chris Christie in New Jersey, and by Bill DeBlasio in New York City. While much of the political media will be desperate to snarl and yelp and make the Virginia Attorney General's race more than it is, the likelihood is that most of the major offices up for grabs today in Virginia will go to Democratic candidates. Which means even if the Republican wins today in the Virginia Attorney General's race, he likely won't be able to do much with his new position, politically.
Where we think many more of our colleagues should be looking is at races like the 2014 Florida Governor's race, or the 2014 Second District U.S. House race in Nebraska.
In Florida, former Governor Charlie Crist is also a former Republican, though he's since changed his registration to Independent, then Democratic. He announced the start of his 2014 campaign on Monday, taking hard swipes at the extremists in the GOP. That announcement by Crist, while not unexpected, will force any Republican candidate for the Florida governor's seat into a difficult position. They will have to explain both why extremist Republicans drove moderates like Crist out, and why moderates who can make compromises aren't as good as extremists who refuse compromise.
In Nebraska, the race for the seat currently held by GOP Rep. Lee Terry may also be a harbinger for other races across the nation. Rep Terry just picked up yet another challenger from the extremist tea party wing of the Republican Party, Omaha businessman Dan Frei. Terry may end up with multiple Republican challengers once again, though it's the Democratic challenger for the seat, well-liked progressive Democratic Omaha City Councilman Pete Festersen who could prove Terry's biggest challenge — especially since the House GOP has passed no real legislation Terry can trumpet as a success.
Whatever your feelings about election-focused political coverage, just know that today's elections not only signal the beginning of the 2014 races - they also signal the start of the 2016 presidential campaigns.
As we said, on behalf of our industry, we apologize for the next three years.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Monday, November 4, 2013
Pigs & Priorities
While the Democratic-led Senate remains in session this week in Washington, it should surprise no one that the Republican-led House is effectively on vacation once again. In theory, House members are "working from their districts," though these days that often means hiding from angry constituents while dashing from one fundraiser to the next for their umpteenth re-election campaign. The entire time, of course, these members of Congress are collecting their annual salary of $174,000, along with all of their benefits.
When you contrast that kind of Congressional largess with the effects of the food stamp cuts now reverberating around the country, our members of Congress - especially those in the House of Representatives - look like selfish, overgrown pigs, metaphorically speaking. Frankly, far too many of them look that way in real life, too.
The truth is, when House members do finally get their overfed behinds back to Washington to eke out a bit of work, no one should be talking about cutting safety net programs, cutting federal retiree benefits, attacking workers, or permanently cutting the budget. The discussion should be about investment - both in American infrastructure and growth, as well as in American workers.
In short, it's time America's fat corporations and overfed rich started paying far more than they have during the last 30 years, thanks to Republican-led austerity charades. At least, that's how a growing number of relatively conservative billionaire businesspeople see it - and they'd be the ones paying more.
While Warren Buffett has long said America's wealthiest should pay more, many have foolishly written him off on that point. Last week billionaire investor Bill Gross of PIMCO made it clear he agrees with Buffet, in an essay he wrote for his company's website. Gross specifically said, "If you’re in the privileged 1%, you should be paddling right alongside [working class Americans] and willing to support higher taxes…The era of taxing 'capital' at lower rates than 'labor' should end."
That point hit home over the weekend in an article from the Financial Times that pointed out U.S. public investment has now fallen to its lowest level since the end of World War II. The economists and sources cited in that report - including Douglas Holtz-Eakin, former head of the CBO under President George W. Bush - made clear what the data they see is saying. America is now in massive danger of long-term economic damage without heavy investment in areas like high-speed internet, improved and repaired waste-water treatment systems, 'green' and next-generation power generation, and repair of bridges and roads. That investment must come through increased revenue.
Even that bastion of anti-worker sentiment Wal-Mart has now admitted: America has gone too far in cutting and gutting. As Lydia Depillis of the Washington Post's Wonkblog noted this weekend, Wal-Mart is pressuring its American suppliers to bring manufacturing for Wal-Mart customers back home. With rising labor costs overseas, America's gas and oil boom, and the current risk of global supply chains, even if American companies have to pay more to American workers, the cost of production in the US is now barely more expensive than it is in China.
It should be noted the faction of the GOP that has driven many of the anti-worker policies that have affected American politics since the Reagan era has adopted the "Tea Party" name. Behind their many masks over the last 30-plus years lies the same arrogant, ignorant, "me first, screw you" pigs they've always been. Except, of course, now they're in Congress.
The fat that Americans should really be cutting in the next few elections should be those political hogs who continue to favor budget cuts to programs for the working poor over investment in our nation.
When you contrast that kind of Congressional largess with the effects of the food stamp cuts now reverberating around the country, our members of Congress - especially those in the House of Representatives - look like selfish, overgrown pigs, metaphorically speaking. Frankly, far too many of them look that way in real life, too.
The truth is, when House members do finally get their overfed behinds back to Washington to eke out a bit of work, no one should be talking about cutting safety net programs, cutting federal retiree benefits, attacking workers, or permanently cutting the budget. The discussion should be about investment - both in American infrastructure and growth, as well as in American workers.
In short, it's time America's fat corporations and overfed rich started paying far more than they have during the last 30 years, thanks to Republican-led austerity charades. At least, that's how a growing number of relatively conservative billionaire businesspeople see it - and they'd be the ones paying more.
While Warren Buffett has long said America's wealthiest should pay more, many have foolishly written him off on that point. Last week billionaire investor Bill Gross of PIMCO made it clear he agrees with Buffet, in an essay he wrote for his company's website. Gross specifically said, "If you’re in the privileged 1%, you should be paddling right alongside [working class Americans] and willing to support higher taxes…The era of taxing 'capital' at lower rates than 'labor' should end."
That point hit home over the weekend in an article from the Financial Times that pointed out U.S. public investment has now fallen to its lowest level since the end of World War II. The economists and sources cited in that report - including Douglas Holtz-Eakin, former head of the CBO under President George W. Bush - made clear what the data they see is saying. America is now in massive danger of long-term economic damage without heavy investment in areas like high-speed internet, improved and repaired waste-water treatment systems, 'green' and next-generation power generation, and repair of bridges and roads. That investment must come through increased revenue.
Even that bastion of anti-worker sentiment Wal-Mart has now admitted: America has gone too far in cutting and gutting. As Lydia Depillis of the Washington Post's Wonkblog noted this weekend, Wal-Mart is pressuring its American suppliers to bring manufacturing for Wal-Mart customers back home. With rising labor costs overseas, America's gas and oil boom, and the current risk of global supply chains, even if American companies have to pay more to American workers, the cost of production in the US is now barely more expensive than it is in China.
It should be noted the faction of the GOP that has driven many of the anti-worker policies that have affected American politics since the Reagan era has adopted the "Tea Party" name. Behind their many masks over the last 30-plus years lies the same arrogant, ignorant, "me first, screw you" pigs they've always been. Except, of course, now they're in Congress.
The fat that Americans should really be cutting in the next few elections should be those political hogs who continue to favor budget cuts to programs for the working poor over investment in our nation.
Friday, November 1, 2013
Finding Satisfaction
With Halloween and the World Series over, Thanksgiving just four weeks away, and Daylight Savings Time rolling to its end for this year, the minds of our staff members seem to be as unsettled as the leaves outside our office doors. Call it an early holiday distraction.
After all, while we're already discussing some of our favorite holiday foods, we're also torn today even thinking about food. In case you missed it, America's food stamp program is $5 billion shorter today, thanks to the obstruction of unhappy extremists in the GOP. For a program that only costs the average American 10¢ a day, yet multiples the power of a single dollar in our economy by $1.70 - all while preventing millions of elderly, disabled, children, and nearly a million desperately poor veterans from starving - there's no logic to why Republicans continue to fight to keep food out the mouths of their fellow Americans.
Still, the extremists in the Republican Party are continuing to fight for even more cuts in the Farm & Food Bill. Thankfully, there are some like Sen. Mike Johanns who believe a deal may yet be possible. We applaud Sen. Johanns' optimism, and hope that he's right, that an honest compromise can be reached on the farm bill, as well as many of the other bills finally being officially debated in Congress.
Of course, it would help Sen. Johanns and all of the members of U.S. Senate if their counterparts in the Republican-led House would actually stay in DC and do the work that is their responsibility, as members in both chambers did earlier this week. Don't look for the House to get back to that work level any time soon, though, as they're on vacation - excuse us, "working from their districts" - for the next two weeks.
For all the progress that may have been made in Washington this week, the fact is, extremist Republicans still seem perpetually angry and dissatisfied. This week's hearing on the Affordable Care Act, with Sec. Sebelius was a perfect example of that perpetual lack of satisfaction from those on the political right.
While both the President and Sec. Sebelius took responsibility for their shortcomings in the rollout of Obamacare last month, Republicans in Congress once again refused to take any responsibility for their obstructionism that helped to cause the disasterous rollout of the ACA in the past few weeks. While private companies like Google, Oracle, and Red Hat have stepped up to help make Healthcare.gov work, Republicans have continued to work to create more obstacles for the new health insurance system.
As is often the case, Greg Sargent asked the pertinent question on Thursday: What will Republicans say - and do - if Obamacare works? If the site can be mostly repaired by the end of this month, as most knowledgable experts seem to think, and the popularity of the Affordable Care Act continues to grow, will that mollify the extremists in the GOP?
The answer, of course, is no.
For a group that constantly preaches about personal responsibility, Republican's primary representatives in Congress are either sabotaging the country they claim to love, or ducking out on their responsibilities. Don't expect that to change next year, as those same GOP leaders in the House just filed to reduce the number of workdays they are required to serve in 2014.
If you're like our staff members, you might get angry when you hear about the obstructionist, ridiculous actions like those Republicans are taking. There are literally dozens of reasons to get angry, to get frustrated, or to get fed up with the stupid things extremist Republicans do daily - and we feel all of those emotions regularly.
The good news today? There's one very good reason not to get angry.
No matter what anyone else does or says, the GOP extremists will never be satisfied. They have chosen to be filled with anger, hatred, jealousy, misogyny, and a thousand other negative traits - and they have no intention of being happy. So stop worrying about what will make them happy - and start working towards eliminating the extremists from office in 2014.
The next opportunity to remove and replace the uncompromising extremists - with either Democrats or sane, moderate Republicans - is just twelve months away.
Begin your countdown clocks toward a more functional government now.
After all, while we're already discussing some of our favorite holiday foods, we're also torn today even thinking about food. In case you missed it, America's food stamp program is $5 billion shorter today, thanks to the obstruction of unhappy extremists in the GOP. For a program that only costs the average American 10¢ a day, yet multiples the power of a single dollar in our economy by $1.70 - all while preventing millions of elderly, disabled, children, and nearly a million desperately poor veterans from starving - there's no logic to why Republicans continue to fight to keep food out the mouths of their fellow Americans.
Still, the extremists in the Republican Party are continuing to fight for even more cuts in the Farm & Food Bill. Thankfully, there are some like Sen. Mike Johanns who believe a deal may yet be possible. We applaud Sen. Johanns' optimism, and hope that he's right, that an honest compromise can be reached on the farm bill, as well as many of the other bills finally being officially debated in Congress.
Of course, it would help Sen. Johanns and all of the members of U.S. Senate if their counterparts in the Republican-led House would actually stay in DC and do the work that is their responsibility, as members in both chambers did earlier this week. Don't look for the House to get back to that work level any time soon, though, as they're on vacation - excuse us, "working from their districts" - for the next two weeks.
For all the progress that may have been made in Washington this week, the fact is, extremist Republicans still seem perpetually angry and dissatisfied. This week's hearing on the Affordable Care Act, with Sec. Sebelius was a perfect example of that perpetual lack of satisfaction from those on the political right.
While both the President and Sec. Sebelius took responsibility for their shortcomings in the rollout of Obamacare last month, Republicans in Congress once again refused to take any responsibility for their obstructionism that helped to cause the disasterous rollout of the ACA in the past few weeks. While private companies like Google, Oracle, and Red Hat have stepped up to help make Healthcare.gov work, Republicans have continued to work to create more obstacles for the new health insurance system.
As is often the case, Greg Sargent asked the pertinent question on Thursday: What will Republicans say - and do - if Obamacare works? If the site can be mostly repaired by the end of this month, as most knowledgable experts seem to think, and the popularity of the Affordable Care Act continues to grow, will that mollify the extremists in the GOP?
The answer, of course, is no.
For a group that constantly preaches about personal responsibility, Republican's primary representatives in Congress are either sabotaging the country they claim to love, or ducking out on their responsibilities. Don't expect that to change next year, as those same GOP leaders in the House just filed to reduce the number of workdays they are required to serve in 2014.
If you're like our staff members, you might get angry when you hear about the obstructionist, ridiculous actions like those Republicans are taking. There are literally dozens of reasons to get angry, to get frustrated, or to get fed up with the stupid things extremist Republicans do daily - and we feel all of those emotions regularly.
The good news today? There's one very good reason not to get angry.
No matter what anyone else does or says, the GOP extremists will never be satisfied. They have chosen to be filled with anger, hatred, jealousy, misogyny, and a thousand other negative traits - and they have no intention of being happy. So stop worrying about what will make them happy - and start working towards eliminating the extremists from office in 2014.
The next opportunity to remove and replace the uncompromising extremists - with either Democrats or sane, moderate Republicans - is just twelve months away.
Begin your countdown clocks toward a more functional government now.
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