policywank » Obama

“Ideological blockage”

Dave — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 02:03:55 +0000

…is the best way that I’ve ever heard anyone say that right wing economics is full of shit.

Prayer Breakfast

Dave — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:21:33 +0000

I woke up this morning and turned on MSNBC. President Obama was about to make his speech at the national prayer breakfast. I watched the first few minutes before getting in the shower. I was really pleased that he took yet another high profile opportunity to acknowledge Americans of “no faith”. I have never in my lifetime been acknowledged as a part of the national community in that sense. I have never been acknowledged as someone who might be a good, thoughtful, committed person who wants good things for the world and community he lives in. It’s a powerful thing that really placates my sense of disappointment in some of the other things he’s doing. He also said that when he, later today, makes an announcement about his office of faith based and community programs that this office will not privilege one religion over another nor privilege religious groups over secular ones. Win.

Hey, Lee Cowen, stay quiet if you don’t know the answer…

Dave — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:52:05 +0000

Someone needs to send NBC’s Lee Cowen a copy of the constitution.

You may well have heard that Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has supposedly decided to appoint former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to Barack Obama’s senate seat. I just watched Lee Cowen speculate that the U.S. Senate may just have to accept this because, after all, Blagojevich is the legally elected governor of Illinois and he has the sole power to decide this, in spite of Harry Reid’s objects.

Um, no.

Given the nature of this scandal, one might have thought that reporters covering the story would take two minutes to brush up on the appropriate section of the constitution. Since Mr. Cowen didn’t bother, I’ll provide this to any member of the media who wants to comment on this news story. It’s Article I, Section 5 of the U.S. constitution:

Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties as each House may provide.

Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two thirds, expel a member.

Each House shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may in their judgment require secrecy; and the yeas and nays of the members of either House on any question shall, at the desire of one fifth of those present, be entered on the journal.

Neither House, during the session of Congress, shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.

First Disappointment

Dave — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:27:36 +0000

I had hoped that Obama would actually take office before disappointing me. Y’all know I was never too enthusiastic an Obama supporter until the final weeks of the campaign. So, it’ s not like my expectations were super high to begin with. Obama is the reason that Joe Lieberman continues on as chairman at Homeland Security. If the senate Democrats don’t boot Lieberman the very first time he fails to tow the line on some important issue, I’m done with them. No more donations of time, money, or anything else until the leadership changes.

On a completely unrelated note, Congressman Phil Gingrey is a moron.