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“DeMint Proposes Balanced Budget Amendment”

Robert Romano, ALG:

In a recent email to supporters, Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) proposed tying an upcoming vote to raise the $14.294 trillion national debt ceiling to a balanced budget amendment. Not a bad idea.

After all, why tie an increase in the debt ceiling to a single year’s budget cuts, when it could be tied to a requirement that all budgets be balanced? The DeMint proposal would require future Congresses to live within their means, and would be the first ever constitutional limit on Congress’ power of the purse.

The proposal still appears to be in a rough draft form, but the email gives some basic details. The amendment would “Require Congress to balance the federal budget each year… [p]revent Congress from spending more than 20 percent of GDP… [and] [r]equire a 2/3 super-majority vote to raise taxes”.

So, really, it’s a balanced budget/spending limit/tax cap amendment. This is a very good start in the right direction. It would limit how much Congress could spend in addition to requiring that the budget be balanced. That’s important because what good is a balanced budget without a cap on spending? If there were no limit on spending, Congress could just spend as much as it wants, and use confiscatory tax increases to balance the budget. Instead, under the DeMint proposal spending would be limited to 20 percent of the economy. And tax increases would require broad, bipartisan support.

[…]

Congress will never willingly rein itself in. The lesson the American people are learning is that unless the Constitution specifically requires frugality, parsimony, and fiscal prudence, it will never happen. Now is the time for strict constitutional restrictions that will save the nation from certain insolvency.

Uh huh. Racist.

Meanwhile, Rand Paul — himself likely a racist — wants to break out the fiscal machete, offering a proposal that goes after federal departments and bureaucracies to the tune of $500 billion in cuts. Paul also wants to rein in the Federal Reserve.

— Which, of course, is all largely symbolic and not very specific. Unless, you know, it is. In which case it’s all very heartless and dangerous, with women, children, and minorities hardest hit.

149 Replies to ““DeMint Proposes Balanced Budget Amendment””

  1. happyfeet says:

    In an opinion piece for the Financial Times, Mr Orszag, now a senior executive at Citigroup, said international investors should “pay close attention to the fiscal trends in the US”, noting that the political system has so far failed to tackle the country’s bleak long-term budgetary outlook.

    “If policymakers won’t act before we have a fiscal crisis at the federal level, a fiscal crisis we will ultimately have,” said Mr Orszag. “I hope it does not ultimately require a crisis to restore fiscal sustainability at the federal level, but I fear it will.”*

  2. Darleen says:

    from your last link

    Federal layoffs would be unavoidable, the White House warns.

    Warns?? As if Fed layoffs are a bad thing? Why should they get a pass when it comes to layoffs?

    Oh..an aside about CA. Gov Brown has declared a “fiscal emergency” (doah). One of the proposals to save the state money is to get rid of the Dept. of Juvenile Justice and dump the state-held kids back on the counties.

  3. […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Doug Ross, proteinwisdom. proteinwisdom said: "DeMint Proposes Balanced Budget Amendment" https://proteinwisdom.com/?p=24232 […]

  4. Pablo says:

    I’m still not seeing the point and/or wisdom of tying the two together. If they did manage to get 2/3 of both houses on board, they’d get the ceiling raised while still had an amendment dangling out there hoping for ratification. I’m all for such an amendment, but I don’t see how this necessarily gets it done.

  5. cranky-d says:

    Rand Paul picked Al Franken as his Democrat mentor or whatever it is in the Senate. I hope it shows a sense of humor and not a lack of vision.

  6. JD says:

    I am having a hard time finding something I do not like about this Balanced Budget Amendment.

  7. Mueller says:

    Warns?? As if Fed layoffs are a bad thing? Why should they get a pass when it comes to layoffs?

    E-zacly! What in the world makes them exempt from market forces.
    Do we really need so many people in the Dept. of Agriculture?

  8. Sigivald says:

    It wouldn’t work anyway.

    Not only does Congress blithely ignore the Constitution at will (as it has for ages), but it will cheerfully redefine any word you insert to limit it.

    After all, who defines what “balanced budget” means? Why, Congress does, in passing the thing, since no outside force can prevent it.

    Who decides what the GDP is that year? A group Congress assigns, no doubt – or a group controlled by the Executive, which isn’t likely to be any better. Hard or impossible to prevent them gaming it.

    Who decides, at bill-passage time, if something is a “tax” rather than a “fee”? Congress.

    See the problem?

    Yeah, someone might sue – but will the Courts decide that Congress can’t do that, or that “it’s Congress’ business to decide what a tax or a fee is for its own purposes”? Perhaps. But not reliably, and not rapidly.

    To really, effectively reign in Congress would require:

    A) Congressmen who actually want to spend less and do less (hah!)

    and/or

    B) Dramatically limited powers of the State, with the Courts actually enforcing them, and years upon years for it to take effect.

    and possibly

    C) Court-mandated review of bills to ensure ahead of time that they’re actually within the enumerated powers of Congress.

    which implies, practically

    D) Limits on number of bills and/or page count per session. Which is a winner all around.

    Or, even more unlikely than a)

    E) An active populace who mostly want a more minimal government. This, sadly, does not appear to be remotely a majority opinion overall, by revealed preference.

    Not holding my breath on that.

  9. motionview says:

    Does anyone have a link to the actual text?

  10. Joe says:

    What’s not to like about a balanced budget amendment?

  11. Joe says:

    Well beyond the obvious racism, misogyny, homophobia, and fascism of having a balanced budget amendment.

  12. mojo says:

    Flotsam vs. jetsam

  13. Bob Reed says:

    I like DeMint’s proposal, but it seems more like a procedural rule change to me than an amendment to the US Constitution. Like JD said, it’s hard to find something you don’t like about it. If anything, I don’t like the limit being set at 20% of GDP, but will admit that it is in line with what the historical expenditure has been in the modern era. Heck, I say dial that suckah down a few points!

    And Paul’s cuts seem like a good starting point on spending reduction, especially abolishing the Dept of Ed. But we’ll have to cut a whole lot deeper than that to get back in the black (RACIST!)…

  14. happyfeet says:

    “We’re going to build stuff, and invent stuff,” said Obama.*

    god fucking help us

  15. Sarah Rolph says:

    “Warns?? As if Fed layoffs are a bad thing?”

    Yeah, huh? They still don’t get it. This is our goal!!!!! Lay off vast swaths of them! The Department of Education would be a nice start.

    “To really, effectively reign in Congress…”

    You mean rein in. Reigning is what they’re doing now…

  16. SteveG says:

    hf

    without the prompter he devolves into nonsense pretty quickly.

    long ago I was watching 60 minutes and they were ambushing the CEO of a sham corporation that was scamming money from some school district. they ask the guy what his duties are for the corporation and he answers “well, I do things” 60 minutes: “like what?” guy answers “I do things; important things, the things that need doing”

    Obama at least had the wits to claim a Boeing sale to China as his own, even though it was done under Bush in 2007. But otherwise I think Obama does important things, the things that need doing and is due for another vacation here soon

  17. Darleen says:

    An active populace who mostly want a more minimal government

    Good lord, do you know how often I’ve read this week that China does it better? That “free-market” capitalist is passe? How responsive China is to emergent economic issues! It poured more money faster in their stimulus then we did and they have a thriving middle class!

    But hey, what filtering the internet, disappearing people who ask for liberty and controling how many kids you get to have are just mere pebbles in the road …

  18. SteveG says:

    The media is going to be filled with imaages of brilliant inner city youths forced to share the same pencil surrounded by one legged kids with whooping cough as gunshots ring out in the background.
    Cornell West will be asked to provide the analysis and it’ll all boil down to racism

  19. Big Bang Hunter says:

    “We’re going to build stuff, and invent stuff,” said Obama.”

    – Personally I’d go easy on invoking God’s help in all of this. After all, if He isn’t already either laughing His heavenly ass off, or well and truly pissed at what we’ve wrought, I doubt He would have gifted us with the Chocolate Jesus in the first place.

    – Besides, Congressional *invention* is how we got here.

  20. cranky-d says:

    G-d doesn’t care much about our earthly governments I don’t think. We got ourselves into this mess, and He had nothing to do with it.

  21. cranky-d says:

    BTW, how the heck is anyone supposed to “build stuff and invent stuff” when the government is busy trying to confiscate every stray scrap of wealth lying around? Without wealth (money, time, human capital,etc), one cannot build stuff and invent stuff.

  22. newrouter says:

    “We’re going to build stuff, and invent stuff, make up stuff” said Obama.”

  23. Big Bang Hunter says:

    – New signs of possible intelligence on the planet Earth?.

  24. Danger says:

    “Warns?? As if Fed layoffs are a bad thing? Why should they get a pass when it comes to layoffs?”

    How bout we tie reductions in military forces to federal government employee reductions?

  25. Stephanie says:

    Olbie’s out at PMSNBC. http://www.mediaite.com/tv/breaking-keith-olbermann-announces-tonights-countdown-as-his-last-show/

    MSNBC released a statement moments ago reading, in full:

    “MSNBC and Keith Olbermann have ended their contract. The last broadcast of “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” will be this evening. MSNBC thanks Keith for his integral role in MSNBC’s success and we wish him well in his future endeavors.”

  26. Rupert says:

    We have had several government groups look at the housing problem in Indiana. The solution – We need more studies. Just by coincidence, the people chosen to run these government operations are related to our leaders. They make good money – and benefits.

  27. newrouter says:

    poor oberdude now his bs fascism is top shelf in the obama house.

  28. Stephanie says:

    If he shows back up in sportscasting somewhere…

  29. Stephanie says:

    via Iowahawk

    Help Wanted: Jocksniffing drama queen with flair for hysterics needed for prime time host slot. Send resume & scream tape to MSNBC, NY NY

  30. Pablo says:

    Ah, there are adults in charge of MSNBC again.

  31. newrouter says:

    and this was “unexpected by whom”?

  32. happyfeet says:

    I think MSNBC might be in jersey

  33. newrouter says:

    perhaps keif can get a gig on the spanish channels the fcc told comcast to create

  34. happyfeet says:

    wiki says 30 rock though

  35. newrouter says:

    tacos with keif on comcast channel 4329 on demand

  36. geoffb says:

    MSNBC thanks Keith for his integral role in MSNBC’s success and we wish him well in his future endeavors.”

    Management forgot the /sarc> tag.

  37. newrouter says:

    “Ah, there are adults in charge of MSNBC again.”

    the fcc are bureaucrats serving their messiah

  38. happyfeet says:

    oh it looks like they were in Secaucus til 2007

  39. bh says:

    Olbermann gets their best ratings.

    Does this suggest they’re moving away from moonbattery?

  40. Stephanie says:

    Steph over at Ace’s:

    Mr. Olbermann did not discuss any future plans, but NBC executives said one term of his settlement will keep him from moving to another network for an extended period of time

    He didn’t have a link. *He if that is PWs Steph*

  41. newrouter says:

    “Does this suggest they’re moving away from moonbattery?”

    ask immelt he is an O! team member now.

  42. bh says:

    I don’t get it. All their hosts are ranting nutters. Why fire the one pulling the best numbers?

  43. newrouter says:

    yes and comcast and nbc just closed. yes O! a fascist. hey let’s govern car co.

  44. newrouter says:

    “Why fire the one pulling the best numbers?”

    umm 2012?

  45. bh says:

    Could be that he wasn’t doing as well with the younger demo. You can see that in my link above and this MSNBC statement via Mediate talks about how their other shows are doing with the 25 to 54 segment.

  46. Stephanie says:

    The guys that run Comcast are “rightwingers what felch little kids” or something if I get the flavor of the odors eminating from the leftoids. Evidently some bigwig chick on the newser side of NBC got axed, too.

  47. Stephanie says:

    This is spot on from Insty:

    TIM PAWLENTY’S BOOK SALES NOT TOO IMPRESSIVE. Well, he wrote a book called Courage to Stand, but then — the week it came out, when tested publicly at a crucial moment — he sat.

    And yeah, that matters. As I write this, his Amazon rank is 5,185 — which seems about right.

    Powerline guys and Capt Ed must be steamed.

  48. bh says:

    Doh, repeated your link.

  49. JD says:

    Good riddance, Olbergasm.

  50. sdferr says:

    So much deadwood, so few chainsaws.

  51. newrouter says:

    “TIM PAWLENTY’S BOOK SALES NOT TOO IMPRESSIVE”

    beta republican males need not apply.

  52. happyfeet says:

    The only U.S. manufacturer of a key lethal injection drug is discontinuing the drug’s production because Italian authorities wanted a guarantee that it wouldn’t be used to put inmates to death — a decision that could disrupt executions in states already struggling with a shortage of the drug.*

  53. Stephanie says:

    I think he will run. I don’t think he will get much traction. Looks like Newt is in, too. I saw somewhere today that Huckabee’s last campaign manager just took a job elsewhere, so indications are Huck’s not running. Rudy’s making noise, too. He’s the anti-Palin or something.

  54. Pablo says:

    I don’t get it. All their hosts are ranting nutters. Why fire the one pulling the best numbers?

    Consider MSNBC as a division of NBC. Then imagine you’ve just taken all of it over. Assuming you’d like it to be a reputable operation, what do you do?

    The only thing I’m wondering is why Ed Schultz isn’t leaving with him.

  55. bh says:

    Ed Schultz and Laurence O’Donnell. And it’s not like Matthews and Maddow aren’t fairly out there themselves much of the time.

    So, this doesn’t really explain it to me. If they’re actually going for reputable, they’ll have to clean house. Getting rid of one guy won’t do it.

  56. newrouter says:

    “We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we are in a time when there are no heroes just don’t know where to look. You can see heroes every day going in and out of factory gates. Others, a handful in number, produce enough food to feed all of us and then the world beyond. You meet heroes across a counter—and they are on both sides of that counter. There are entrepreneurs with faith in themselves and faith in an idea who create new jobs, new wealth and opportunity. They are individuals and families whose taxes support the Government and whose voluntary gifts support church, charity, culture, art, and education. Their patriotism is quiet but deep. Their values sustain our national life. 18
    I have used the words “they” and “their” in speaking of these heroes. I could say “you” and “your” because I am addressing the heroes of whom I speak—you, the citizens of this blessed land. Your dreams, your hopes, your goals are going to be the dreams, the hopes, and the goals of this administration, so help me God.”
    http://bartleby.com/124/pres61.html

  57. Rupert says:

    I could not get Fox News for two weeks do to the poor service of Comcast. When I called to complain there was a strange indifference on the other side of the line, (and laughs on the phone). I’ll be off cable for reasons of money and the outrages fees. I stil don’t see how the head of GM can slip into a high government position without a word of opposition from the MSM.
    What I used to see as dumb luck from the Obama administration,has now turned into a strange bypass congress rule of regulating committees. Teach your children well – as to the meaning of the constitution.

  58. JD says:

    Gold Rush is a truly entertaining show.

    Getting rid of a ranting nutter and replacing with an admitted socialist ranting nutter does not speak to a desire to clean house.

  59. Stephanie says:

    @iowahawkblog
    David Burge
    I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if 0.6 ratings points suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced

  60. Stephanie says:

    Getting rid of a ranting nutter and replacing with an admitted socialist ranting nutter does not speak to a desire to clean house.

    Too true. The ranting nutters on the left (redundancy alert) are just looking for their latest straw man to validate their worldview.

  61. Bob Reed says:

    They can’t fire everyone at once or they’d sacrifice the entire audience share. Better to fire the most obnoxious one, who’s ratings among da yoots was not as good as the others anyway.

    At once, it sends a strong “shape up” message rippling throughout the asylum inmates, and buys them some time to test-drive replacements.

    My guess is, unless he starts acting more like the seasoned political “pro” he’s supposed to be, Chris Tingle is next on the chopping block.

    Because Maddow will be smart enough to tone it down a notch, and, you know, has the Ivy league credential…And her gayness is edgy enough to score bonus points with the 25-54 demographic.

  62. Stephanie says:

    From the post at Hot Air:

    Sources tell Mediaite Keith Olbermann and MSNBC were headed for a breakup long before Comcast’s rise to power, but clearly something set the divorce into motion quickly today, with network promos set to run touting Olbermann’s role in MSNBC’s coverage of next week’s State of the Union address–and, notably, a Keith Olbermann promo running on MSNBC in the hour after the host signed off and left the network…

    In recent weeks, sources tell Mediaite there have been meetings on the topic of Keith Olbermann and his future at the network. Did Comcast–as many Countdown viewers seem to suspect–order Olbermann out? It appears that the end of the Olbermann era at MSNBC was not “ordered” by Comcast, nor was it a move to tone down the network’s politics. Instead, sources inside the network say it came down to the more mundane world of office politics–Olbermann was a difficult employee, who clashed with bosses, colleagues and underlings alike, and with the Comcast-related departure of Jeff Zucker, and the rise of Maddow and O’Donnell, the landscape shifted, making an Olbermann exit suddenly seem well-timed.
    ……………………………

    Yeah, Sam Stein at HuffPo is also touting Zucker’s departure as key to Olby leaving. Quote: “Zucker was Olbermann’s protector there.” But the mystery lingers: Why was Kayo’s departure today so sudden? Did he find out about the meetings that were being held to plan his exit, and decide to quit before he was fired?

  63. McGehee says:

    Olbermann can always get a spot on Air America.

    Oh, wait…

  64. John Bradley says:

    I’m under the impression (and don’t care enough to verify it) that Olby was being paid considerably more than any of the other MSNBC hosts, what with being their ‘star’ and all — but wasn’t bringing in markedly better numbers commensurate with his salary.

    Or I could be entirely mistaken. I’m flexible.

  65. happyfeet says:

    I agree I think this is principally cost-cutting

  66. JD says:

    Maybe Pacifica Radio will take him in. He will surely be a paid contributor to Huffandblow and Mediamatterz. Likely will do the talking circuit with Michael Moore and Cindy Sheehan.

  67. McGehee says:

    Olbermann was the face, the voice, the aerosolized spittle of MSNBC.

    Maybe the network finally managed to sign Sheriff Dupnik.

  68. happyfeet says:

    or Ricky Gervais

    he’s… trenchant

  69. McGehee says:

    Or maybe Olbermann insisted they find a primetime slot for Jared Loughner.

  70. newrouter says:

    “Well, I believe we, the Americans of today, are ready to act worthy of ourselves, ready to do what must be done to ensure happiness and liberty for ourselves, our children and our children’s children. 24
    And as we renew ourselves here in our own land, we will be seen as having greater strength throughout the world. We will again be the exemplar of freedom and a beacon of hope for those who do not now have freedom. 25
    To those neighbors and allies who share our freedom, we will strengthen our historic ties and assure them of our support and firm commitment. We will match loyalty with loyalty. We will strive for mutually beneficial relations. We will not use our friendship to impose on their sovereignty, for our own sovereignty is not for sale. 26
    As for the enemies of freedom, those who are potential adversaries, they will be reminded that peace is the highest aspiration of the American people. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it; we will not surrender for it—now or ever”

  71. McGehee says:

    Oops, I meant the other violent wackjob, the one who threatened the Tea Party guy live on TV.

  72. happyfeet says:

    someone eric someone

  73. Stephanie says:

    If he got wind of the top level maneuvering, Olby is stoopit enough and egomaniacal enough to get in a snit and leave the balance of his contract $$ on the table.

    A well timed leak from the top, gambling on his egotistic reaction after getting wind of the moves, might be the answer to the “abrupt departure.” If so, I’d give the leaker a bonus. Saved the company quite alot of dough. Not bad for day 1 for Comcast.

  74. Stephanie says:

    Eric Fuller, hf.

  75. bh says:

    James Eric Fuller.

    The cost cutting sounds like a reasonable explanation to me. And, if he’s an enormous asshole in real life like everyone says, maybe they’d have been happy to do it even if the savings were relatively minor.

  76. happyfeet says:

    hi Mr. Fuller how are we feeling today?

    You just tell the orderly where it itches and he’ll help you scratch ok?

  77. Stephanie says:

    Establishment republicans having problems keeping new members in line. Sununu proposes, caucus says STFU.

    http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/21/new-hampshire-gop-faces-tea-party-takeover/

    “It’s always good to bring new people in, and I welcome everybody to work with us,” Bergeron said of Kimball and his supporters. “But he is fairly new to the Republican scene in New Hampshire and I’m not sure he completely understands how the party works, or what our structure is.”

    Who would have ever seen this coming?

  78. Rupert says:

    Olberman always gave off that “I’m better than you” attitude. At ESPN he truly seemed angry at top sports stars that made so much more money than he. He had a degree from college and was voted most likely to succeed, or some such nonsense. He is a sad person living a sad life. It takes a great deal of effort to make Glenn Beck look smart. Olby does it every day.

  79. JD says:

    Mild correction. Olbergasm has the I am better than you with no justifiable reason for believing so attitude.

  80. newrouter says:

    “It’s a buck dancer’s choice my friend; better take my advice.
    You know all the rules by now and the fire from ice.
    Will you come with me, won’t you come with me?
    Woh – oh, what I want to know, will you come with me?

    Goddamn, well I declare, have you seen the like?
    Their walls are built of cannonballs, their motto is
    Don’t tread on me. Come hear Uncle John’s Band playing
    To the tide, come with me, or go alone.

    It’s the same story the crow told me;
    It’s the only one he knows.
    Like the morning sun you come and like the wind you go.
    Ain’t no time to hate, barely time to wait,
    Woh – oh, what I want to know, where does the time go?”

  81. Rupert says:

    That was beautiful nr. I’ve often heard such words after the Cubs lose any chance for the playoffs. I don’t know what it means but I feel much better.

  82. Rupert says:

    That was great music bh. I am amazed at how much I miss out on now that I’m old and no longer go to bars. There is a local band here that plays great Pink Floyd and even Steely Dan. I’m lost on current music and have no idea what is popular.

  83. happyfeet says:

    mostly Kesha is the popular Mr. Rupert she has verve plus also sass is why

    she bedazzled her face!

  84. Big Bang Hunter says:

    – Best guess, it’s the money. Faux is taking down 7 to 7.5 times the market share of all of the others combined. Sponsors don’t like that. Particularly when the younger demographic has a much lower income to blow.

    – Comcast isn’t interested in the politics, only the bottom line. Look for more changes as the snowball to move away from cult pandering builds.

  85. bh says:

    I know what you mean. It gets harder and harder to find new music. Something I really do miss from my youth was the way my friends would be constantly finding new stuff and saying, “Dude, you gotta hear this!”

    Here‘s a site you might find useful. It’s pretty hit and miss but that’s music in general, I suppose.

  86. JD says:

    Kaitlin hearts Kesha. Her lyrics are a bit much for a 9 year old, at least to my ears.

  87. bh says:

    Don’t scare people looking for new music with Kesha, ‘feets. It’s bad karma. You’ll probably get a bad taco tomorrow, beware.

  88. geoffb says:

    OT: As I don’t wish to drop this bit into the “Sexists” thread.

    Progressive America Haters and Death-Thirsting Republicans Agree: She Can Never Be President!

  89. happyfeet says:

    sorry – I really like Kesha too she’s charmingly sincere I think … I will link my foals again in a bit for to make up

    but waht’s the deal? why is Texas getting all gross and fascist? Don’t make me come back there except I guess I need to renew my license.

    But a bill that has been proposed by State Representative Trey Martinez Fischer of San Antonio seeks to create a domestic violence registry, similar to the current sex offender registry. “Once you’ve been in an abusive relationship, you have some trust issues,” Galaviz said. “You always have some doubts, and this would be one way to relieve some of those doubts.”

    “I think it’s a great tool, especially for someone who doesn’t have the means to do a criminal background check on a potential suitor,” Galaviz added.*

    this is some sick shit I think. Alarm.

  90. happyfeet says:

    here they’re still in heavy rotation here at casa happyfeet

  91. bh says:

    From your link, Geoff:

    Next Issue: The Tea Party’s plan to summon Cthulhu and control the world.

    That would be so cool. I hope someone is working on this.

  92. happyfeet says:

    she could be president if she could get elected but that’s sort of her achilles’ heel, which has to do with how you get dipped by the gods a certain way

  93. geoffb says:

    And Professor Jacobson replies

  94. bh says:

    Uffie could maybe help wean you off silly dollar sign person.

    Another.

  95. happyfeet says:

    Professor Jacobson is such a debbie downer. But the truth is way worse than he countenances. Team R only gets one shot they can’t miss their chance to blow I think. And at the same time they have way way bad Obama envy. They want a charismatic fluffernutter to love and to follow and to make them feel good about their failshit little country.

    Well sorry folks the park’s closed the moose at the front shoulda told ya.

    The next president is not on the feel good committee. The next president is in charge of delivering some desperately bad news. And if delivering bad news is a round round hole, sweet n sassy Sarah Palin is a desperately square peg I think.

  96. bh says:

    In Pop the Glock, at about a minute in, she says, “Uffie’s banging. Feets is banging.”

    Does silly dollar sign person ever name check you? No, I don’t think so.

  97. happyfeet says:

    like uffie!

  98. bh says:

    From Jacobson:

    We do not need the Republican equivalents of 2008 Democratic PUMAs, people so embittered by the perceived unfairness of the primary process that they stayed home or switched sides in November. And that will be the result of attempts to shut Palin out of the process through the “can’t win” strategy.

    The same holds true for other potential Republican candidates — let them all enter the primaries and let them all be seriously considered regardless of what polling tells us now is the likelihood of success.

    Let’s have a process focused on issues, and yes, as part of the process electability inevitably is going to be one of the issues. But let’s not undermine ourselves by telling Sarah Palin, or Tim Pawlenty, or Mitch Daniels, or Mitt Romney or anyone else that they are wasting our time by running because they cannot win a general election.

    And let’s not insult their supporters with the same message. Remember, after the primaries the Lombardi Rule will take effect, and we are going to have to unite to defeat the billion-dollar candidate.

    That just seems like smart advice to me.

  99. Stephanie says:

    Seen this?

    http://moelane.com/2011/01/20/yes-i-have-heard-of-the-palin-steampunk-comic/

    Yuck. The drawing are bad and the story horrendous. I figure a few will turn up at DragonCon.

    Anyone into Hetalia? It’s actually not bad.

  100. sdferr says:

    To the actual new-newones among us, old musics are more often than not new musics never before heard. Which can be fun for them I guess, if their hearing bones are attuned that way.

  101. happyfeet says:

    who’s trying to “shut Palin out” they’re just saying look you’re sort of a sleaze that panders to the lowest common denominator and maybe you should put love of country ahead of your own petty insipid ambitions … and the same can certainly be said of Romney and Pawlenty and Gingrich and Huckabee as well I think

  102. Stephanie says:

    I was going to post a link to the Prof, but I figured I already beat that horse enough the last few days. He says it much more better.

    Like someone who is actually getting more than 3 hours of sleep a night. Freaking Australian Open. You’d think Australia would know the prime time viewing hours in the states are not 1-6 AM.

  103. bh says:

    Definitely true, sdferr. Heh, similar problem though. Don’t have thirty friends discovering older stuff for me and saying, “Dude, you gotta hear this record I snagged at the second hand store.”

    For me, ‘feets, a big part of that message from Jacobson is “Don’t piss off your coalition partners needlessly”. “Palin voters” will be more likely to go out there and work for the eventual primary winner if people will just settle down and be cool like the Fonz about all this. (And vice versa, for whoever wins.) Did the thoughtless attacks on Daniels fill you with a sense of team pride and “let’s go get’em”? Didn’t with me.

  104. bh says:

    Whomever?

    Stupid English.

  105. bh says:

    Oh yeah, I should thank you again for introducing me to Bartok.

    He’s now always in heavy rotation when I listen to music while working.

  106. happyfeet says:

    I see your point but I don’t think that way first of all I’m not on Team R because Team R is stupid and gay and Team R needs to be looking to get on my good side I think, and I give them many helpful hints as to how they can do this

    second of all Sarah Palin in particular represents the tawdrification of the presidency that began with the election of the inept lightweight and whorish Barack Obama… it has to stop because America has a promise to aspire to – it’s supposed to be a shining example for the whole world – and it can’t do that if it embarks on an endless series of charismatic mediocrities du jour, can it?

    No! No it can’t.

  107. geoffb says:

    tawdrification of the presidency

    WJC could not be reached for a comment so we turn now to our special guest Mizz Lewinsky…

  108. Rupert says:

    Mr. pico-feets – I can’t tell where Kesha’s voice is and where the computerized mixing begins. I’m glad you like her despite the ridicule you will face. Me? – I love k.d. Lang’s voice, although her music went downhill after Mink left. Maybe that is the answer. Obama needs a Mink.

  109. bh says:

    I’m probably a bit more team R-ish. Locally, we’ve been doing great. Not by waiting to be courted either, but by taking control.

    Towards the rest? We’ve gone around and around on it.

    Had this drummed into my head at a formative age. This: Have you ever considered working with another broker? Not: Your broker sucks ass. I don’t care if he is your brother. So, I’ve internalized it because it’s effective, like breathing and putting on shoes after the pants. So it’s sorta hard to argue about. In my world, it just is. In your world, it isn’t.

  110. bh says:

    Italics are hard.

  111. Stephanie says:

    Did a ballet to Bartok (don’t recall which, but it was IIRC really offbeat) costumed as a molecule or DNA or something sciency back in the day. Totally weird. No real story line just molecules or particles or something writhing on the floor, birthing Gaia and combining and separating as DNA strands or something bizarre.

  112. happyfeet says:

    I love kd lang too .. here I have a kd lang-type for you to try

    Mr. geoff this is a different sort of tawdrification one that’s more pernicious cause it represents not just a celebration of mediocrity it also represents a glorification of identity politics by the right I think.

    They want very badly to bask in it.

  113. bh says:

    Yes, I live my life based on cold calling techniques I learned when I was 19.

    Don’t laugh at me.

  114. sdferr says:

    There’s more of the Bartok stuff popping up on the YouTube these days it seems. I can’t get enough of this one.

  115. bh says:

    That sounds hot, Steph.

  116. sdferr says:

    Geez, the Sandor has even shown up. Hurrah!

  117. geoffb says:

    Lifted from a post at “The Other McCain

    …as Da Tech Guy once advised Joe Scarborough, “Sooner or later you have to join the side you’re on.”

    In coalition politics we often find ourselves allied with people with whom we disagree, with people we don’t like, with people who we find in some way embarrassing or obnoxious. It may even be the case that prominent leaders and spokesmen of “our side” appear to be exactly the sort of people with whom we normally can’t stand to associate. We may feel that these leaders and spokesmen are in some way discrediting the cause we support. Nevertheless, when push comes to shove, these people are contending for the same cause and are therefore not our political enemies.

  118. happyfeet says:

    hi do you like your broker? we have one what has a couple years experience. Yes. She was a broker for two years or so then she … hit a rough patch and she did a 6 episode reality show about nature and stuff. But anyhoo. We’d love to put her on your account she’s never handled an account this large before and she’s just real tickled to give it a go.

    we just need you to sign here okey dokey?

  119. Stephanie says:

    Ha!

    Hot was when my zipper broke in the middle of foute turns and every time I went off point my bodice flipped down to show my boobs. Don’t laugh. I actually finished the solo. Thank God it was in dress rehearsal or 2000 of Atlanta’s haute couture crowd would have seen it. I shudder to think of the reviews that could have garnered.

  120. bh says:

    But you’re not making that phone call. You’re making a phone call to a current Palin client. They like her. She might even be their sister in law.

  121. bh says:

    I shudder to think of the reviews that could have garnered.

    Possibly very positive reviews.

  122. happyfeet says:

    That sounds kind of awkward.

  123. happyfeet says:

    the call I mean but the boobies thing too

  124. geoffb says:

    If love of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, love of the idea/ideal of America writ large is to be called a political “identity” then yes I am in thrall of “identity” politics.

    Have been so my entire life though the particular hat on my head has changed over the years. I haven’t changed but the people making the hats keep changing them thinking to be fashionable and hip. Hats I change, principles I don’t.

  125. Stephanie says:

    Possibly, but art critics are notorious punners. The usual reviews were more like Friedman on well, anything – clueless pablum with some big words thrown in and some stupid puns that weren’t funny.

  126. Stephanie says:

    Well put, geoffb.

  127. happyfeet says:

    we will see maybe it won’t end badly

  128. Stephanie says:

    Y’all have a good night. I’m going to finish watching the Isner Cilic match and Nadal and whoever he’s going to beat up.

    Niters.

  129. Rupert says:

    feets – Carlile was pretty good; however, singing louder instead of going higher or lower in voice range only works in heavy metal bands. Does she do hard rock? I keep waiting for our first heavy metal president. On the flip side, Congress should open every session with Tattooed Love Boys. God only knows what they did to get their seats.

  130. happyfeet says:

    no she’s a baby just one cd

  131. bh says:

    I should get to sleep myself. Have to get stuff done tomorrow so Sunday can be uninterrupted football.

    Later, folks.

  132. geoffb says:

    My better half just turned off the “blues channel” which means I got to get my butt to bed too.

    Later.

  133. Rupert says:

    Feets – thanks for the music. It is a lot better than most of what I hear. I still cringe at the thought that the late 70’s are now oldies.

  134. happyfeet says:

    you bet goodnight everybody –

    late 70s has lots and lots of good stuff

  135. Rupert says:

    Nites all. Ending on a musical note – Alice Cooper shot a 74 yesterday on a very difficult pro golf course. How can normal humans compete with that? I was right in giving up golf, but still enjoy the music.

  136. guinsPen says:

    Help Wanted: Jocksniffing drama queen with flair for hysterics needed for prime time host slot.

    Godspeed, anchorfoot.

    See you in Seacaucus Wherever.

  137. Mueller says:

    #62 JD

    Gold Rush is a truly entertaining show.

    Not really. Once you understand how those things are supposed to work it’s really quite lame. And by lame I mean cringeworthy. Like that biker build father and son show.I’m constantly amazed that anyone in that shop is still alive let alone still have all their digits and eyeballs. Never do anything the way they do it in those shows!There’s no drama when real professionals do their thing.
    I’ve got a claim you can buy.

  138. JD says:

    I never said they were smart. Ormskilled. Just entertaining.

  139. JD says:

    Or skilled … Ormskilled? WTF?!

  140. JD says:

    Any of you near Pikesville, MD?

  141. guinsPen says:

    No, but father once knew a doctor in Marcus Welby, MD.

  142. Mueller says:

    Ormskilled
    I’m totally using that!

    I know JD, but I spend a lot of my work time getting people not to do the stuff those idiots do on the T and V.

  143. geoffb says:

    Readership down? Morale down? Hey, let’s do the making an unperson thing, that ought to help.

    So much dumb in such a small organization.

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