Disqus - Latest Comments for Mike_P

Re: Citizens of the World

Mike_P — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 01:51:21 -0000

The Republican Party proudly continues its de-evolution into the Know Nothings. And it is likely to meet the same historic fate as that party, if the adults don't take charge soon.

Re: Deeds Wins Virginia Primary

Mike_P — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:48:30 -0000

Fascinating that it was here that I finally learned who the Dem nominee for Lt. Gov. is! I'm pleased to say I voted today for the two winners.

That said, McDonnell is a formidable candidate for the Republicans. Think George Allen, minus (so far) a "maccaca moment." He's attractive, well spoken, and full of sh*t. As you note, he's a graduate of my neighbor Robertson's Regent U., in the state where Robertson, Falwell, the Christian Coalition and "Religious Right" were born and lovingly nurtured. And he will have the overwhelming backing of a motivated Republican base - after all, they've lost two governorships, two US Senate seats. a number of "safe" US House seats and a Presidential over the last few election cycles. Deeds is a diamond in the rough - not charismatic, not a great debater nor TV interview. But he is a conservative Dem who is obviously appealing to voters across the commonwealth, unfailingly real on TV, and a real Virginian.

This should be interesting.

Re: Videos of Wanda Sykes’ Comedy Routine At White House Correspondents’ Dinner

Mike_P — Sun, 10 May 2009 03:40:14 -0000

I just can't see the controversy here. Wanda was spot on. "So strung out on oxy he missed his flight?" Well, if truth has become controversial, sign me up as a fan of that kind of turmoil. And after all, she didn't even link the flight to that infamously private all-male return from the Dominican Republic with a 6-month supply of Viagra prescribed to someone else. That could'a been comedy gold! Wanda Sykes is obviously an overly cautious moderate, and Limbaugh supporter.

Re: Why So Many Churchgoers May Accept Torture

Mike_P — Sat, 02 May 2009 02:43:23 -0000

These so-called "Christians," those who support the death penalty without reservation, and the torture of those who are deemed imminently dangerous to the peace and welfare of the common good, must have learned lessons from a different gospel than the one I was taught.

What was Jesus to the Romans if not that, and wasn't he subjected to torture and the ultimate "stress position" in the process of carrying out the sentence of death? If the most basic lesson of his life and death isn't part of your moral core, then attending church each Sunday is an exercise in futility, or more likely, an unholy exercise in being seen.

Re: Iran 8 Year Prison Sentence Of American Journalist Could Undercut Obama U.S.-Iran Thaw Efforts

Mike_P — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 01:48:47 -0000

Well seriously, "Braindead," if you really must use a silly sci-fi movie reference to support your apparent world-view, the obvious follow up would be, how did that all turn out for Khan in the end?

Obviously you'd prefer to just "let slip the dogs of war," to reference yet another silly Star Trek script.

Oh, and it's difficult for me to imagine the imams in Iran high fiving each other. No, your post just doesn't work on any level above low rent pulp fiction, I fear.

Yes, we mock you behind the scenes. You and your "kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out" mentality. Hopefully by the time Obama's first term is up, you will be smarter and saner, instead of the crazy uncle in the basement, yelling at the kids to get off his lawn. Or maybe you'll be able to use the Obama peace dividend to afford some decent meds.

Re: Franken’s win: An opportunity for Republicans to move toward 2010

Mike_P — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:57:45 -0000

"If Democrats are able to stop filibusters with the cloture rule, the 112th Congress is going to be a long two years of Republicans speaking loudly but having a very little stick."

Little sticks, yes - but huge teabags!

Re: With the NY20 Race Tied, Tedisco Quits Assembly

Mike_P — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 17:54:28 -0000

Per a late afternoon update yesterday at TPM-DC, Murphy was back up by a couple hundred ( http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/04/murp... ), though Tedisco's people believe they may have another chunk of votes coming from Saratoga.

This thing's going to seesaw for a while. I wouldn't be too confident about military absentees favoring the Republican, either!

Re: Bessie The Cow Says “NO MAS!”

Mike_P — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 19:32:44 -0000

"Else your just yanking away and really irritating Bessie’s ghost."

Well, what else can you expect from a couple of wankers if not lots of mindless yanking?

Re: Britain and Europe Welcome President and First Lady

Mike_P — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 02:44:22 -0000

As always, an outstanding effort here, Mr. Kern and co. I came to The Moderate Voice tonight in anticipation of a post from worldmeets.us with regard to the presidential visit. My hope was your editors/translators had somehow managed to stay ahead of the curve in offering international reaction to the visit, but honestly, I had low expectations. It's a lot to ask of fledgling sites such as yours to provide a global view quickly and accurately, but once again you've delivered. Big kudos also go out to Joe and TMV for continuing to meet remarkable standards in hosting the links I seek.

Re: "A Congressional Party That Is Congenitally Unable to Govern"

Mike_P — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 01:08:10 -0000

Allow me a two-fer of cliches in response. It has ever been thus, and "I belong to no organized party. I am a Democrat."

It kind'a goes with the territory. I believe it reflects a basic difference between those who self-define as conservative (Republican) and those who do the same as liberal (Democrat). Conservatives, by their nature, tend to follow in lockstep once a leader has pointed the direction. Liberals fight and scratch each other each step of the way (See Jonathan Chait, or Paul Krugman, or PUMA, etc., etc. for perfect examples.)

Which is better for governance? Well, given the last 8 years, I'll take kicking and scratching over lockstep every time. It's the same way I think of America's answer to the old Soviet "argument:" Democracy is chaos - better the safety and sanity of centralized power. The Democratic Party process sure ain't pretty, but historically, it has worked pretty well most of the time. And most importantly, it retains a greater ability to self correct when wrong, instead of doubling down on stupid (see reelection: Bush, George; Cheney, Dick for perfect recent examples).

Re: Obama's Afghan Plan Is His Vietnam

Mike_P — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 02:47:53 -0000

"The mere presence of uniformed foreign troops no matter what their purpose is defined by militants and nationalists as “occupiers” and used as recruiting propaganda tools for al-quada."

That is true, but then the mostly Arab "troops" of Al Quaeda are erstwhile occupiers as well, are they not? Civilian Afghans, the vast majority of that nation, as opposed to "militants and nationalists," despise them, on a cultural and racial level. And of course, it was the Arabs' actions (with help from the unloved extremist Taliban who had taken over) which led to Western troops occupying that country, a reality I doubt is lost on many Afghans given the aforesaid enmities. And Afghanistan, at least among its "elites," does have a long and until relatively recent, history of being open to universal education, acceptance of the sciences, etc.

But we're not going to bring "American style" democracy to Afghanistan. The Obama Administration's plan acknowledges that, if largely between the lines. It is focused on defeating - or more likely rendering impotent - the threat from Al Queda to the West from that region. That is a far more reasonable goal than the armies you mention that went to Afghanistan to die were charged with. Our mission is an apples to oranges comparison with theirs.

Two issues you rightly mention, opium poppy production within Afghanistan, and the safe haven offered Al Queda in Pakistan's tribal regions, are the toughest nuts to crack in progressing toward our goals, it seems to me. Another, the corruption issue, will live on centuries after we've left as it always has. As far as poppy production goes, it's not as if Afghan farmers see anywhere near the reward of the high street price the final product fetches in the US or Europe. They aren't getting rich growing it. It's simply the crop easiest to grow and sell to a waiting customer. Replacement crops have been mentioned - pomegranates for instance - but like many others it would take many years of farming before any profit on the effort would be realized. (While Afghan marijuana is prized around the globe, that doesn't seem too viable either, given Obama's recent utterances on its legalization here!)

It seems to me that Pakistan is the real linchpin in all of this. That is the safe haven Al Queda now seems to operate from. A new, highly unstable government is in charge, in a nation with a history of coups, and an existential enemy in India it is distracted by. Most worrisome, it has advanced refined technology, from its well known nuclear capacity, to likely biological and chemical capabilities, with a scientific community that has in the past been, well, friendly to extremists, and a powerful intelligence service and army whose loyalty to the ruling government is in in serious doubt.

We have options in dealing with all of the impossible issues which must be addressed. The Administration's plan seems an attempt to begin dealing with them in a realistic way. And if the last 7 years of utterly incompetent decisions have so narrowed our options that all we are left with is the choice between prayer and not standing a snowball's chance in hell, I think this new course represents a choice of the better path.

Re: The Republicans Present Their Own Budget Plan With One Tiny Hitch

Mike_P — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:51:50 -0000

Don't worry, though they took a well deserved hit on this roll-out, I'm sure next Wednesday's version will go much better. That's right, just wait 'til April Fool's Day for the real one.

Re: Ubiquitous Obama

Mike_P — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:10:27 -0000

elrod beat me to it. These Zogby online polls are about as scientific as a Lindsay Lohan poll on TMZ. See pollster.com for a reality check.

Other than that pick of a nit, I agree with your analysis!

Re: AIG's Bonus Babies: Pay 'Em & Fire 'Em

Mike_P — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:18:29 -0000

AustinRoth, I can't speak for Silhouette, but I certainly support that idea. But short of that reasonable standard of accountability for what these, ahem, executives have wrought, I'll be at least temporarily mollified with the post title's suggestion.

Extreme rendition to any country that sees fit to prosecute them could come later, as long as we get first crack at selling their remaining viable organs for profit and the furtherance of more worthy lives here.

Re: China Warns U.S. Over Spending Perils

Mike_P — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 01:16:08 -0000

One thing I think you need to remember is that the Chinese are essentially playing chess here. To understand the Premier's statement, you need to keep your eye on the bigger picture, and be thinking at least a few moves ahead (as you rightfully note with regard to the upcoming meeting of the G20).

For instance, this week in US-China relations was also notable for the S. China Sea "skirmish" between several Chinese vessels and an unarmed U.S. naval survey ship in international waters that China would love to claim as its own. The U.S. has deployed a couple of (very heavily armed) destroyers in response. (Now, think of the P-3 Orion incident at the start of Bush's presidency, in which Chinese aircraft managed to force the unarmed Navy command and control aircraft to land on Chinese territory, after literally ramming it in international airspace.)

Also, on the other side of the board, the U.S. dollar has actually gotten stronger over the last several months, and international investors have flocked to it as a safe haven, precisely because of our (relatively) bold stimulus policies and inherent international strength. The Chinese investment in the U.S. remains the safest investment on the planet, given the global situation. Meanwhile, the Chinese renminbi is rapidly falling, and their economy has already begun to experience the deflationary slide you mention the U.S. should be so worried about. China is *at least* as dependent on the U.S. consumer as the U.S. is dependent on Chinese investment. In short, neither can survive without one driving the other's growth. We are locked in a desperate lovers' embrace, and any hint of divorce would result in murder/suicide.

To top it off, China's elite is *deeply* fearful of popular internal rebellion, should two decades of massive, extraordinary economic growth suddenly and mercilessly come to an end, and head sharply south.

But there are other pieces on the board still unplayed. Taiwan, for instance.

While the day-to-day chess moves certainly bear taking into account, one must remember the nature of the game being played, and keep the larger picture in mind.

Re: Here's The (In)Famous "Rush Is The Leader" TV Ad

Mike_P — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 01:29:16 -0000

"The Fairness Doctrine"
...doesn't exist.

SATSQ. Or maybe SATSS (statements)

Re: It's Now Rush vs. Steele

Mike_P — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:47:50 -0000

For the last week or so, it's been clear that the Administration realized that a small incendiary device thrown into the heart of the simmering Republican Party could set off secondary explosions capable of ripping it apart. Thus, the "Rush Limbaugh is the philosophical leader of the Republican Party" meme was born.

And man, look at the fireworks! Limbaugh is the perfect foil, an extremely controversial and a far more widely reviled than loved entertainer, who's big mouth is only exceeded in size by his ego. Sure enough, Cantor and Steele were forced to dangle the bait, and Limbaugh the egotistical orca leaped high out of the water as he snatched it, hook, line and sinker.

Will his weight pull the Republican boat under? Probably not, but the Party is bailing furiously, instead of say, uniting and opposing Obama's agenda with a singular message.

Re: Adios to Paul Harvey and, Good Day

Mike_P — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 02:51:02 -0000

Over the last 25 or so years, each time I heard Harvey on the radio was an occasion for me to wonder at his longevity. "He's not dead yet?" His was one of the voices that was just always there, if less and less frequently for me over the years, that said yep, the rural America you grew up in is still out there. RightDem above almost exactly mirrors my location and understanding of the man's politics of the time, and though I didn't agree with him on that, I was usually entertained by his anecdotes, not to mention his ad pitches.

He was truly an icon, and we're worse off now that he's gone.

Re: When They Come for your Guns...

Mike_P — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 01:15:34 -0000

I can own any gun? When do I get my backyard howitzer? (The freaking mocking birds are driving me nuts.) It's just a big gun, amirite?

Point is, of course there is a common sense line to be drawn. In almost any self defense situation I can think of (home invasion, etc.) I'd be perfectly happy to have a shotgun or handgun at my disposal. They'd probably be a lot more effective than an AK-47, unless the AK has a mounted bayonet. I've field stripped and fired everything from an M-16 to a .22 revolver, so don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the sale and ownership of personal weapons, whether for defense, sport or collecting. While I personally disagree that the 2nd Amendment's "well regulated militia" means anyone can own anything, there's settled law now that must be dealt with reasonably. The question to me is, as I believe Jazz points to above, how do we define reasonable limits?

I also agree with those who note that we have much bigger problems to worry about right now, and really don't need yet another tertiary distraction from the primary issues of this moment in time.

Re: The Future of the GOP is in Utah.

Mike_P — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 02:25:56 -0000

Sanity in (at least for me) a completely unexpected place - Utah!? He seems, oddly enough given the current state of our political affairs, a real "loyal opposition" candidate for the Republicans to run with. Given his sensible, sale-able position, the Limbaughs and Hannitys of the party will quickly deem him an apostate, label him a RINO, and in short order, attempt to run him outta' town on a rail (with bonus tar and feathers).

So I say in advance, Jon Huntsman, we hardly knew ye.

Re: The Speech: "Yes We Will"

Mike_P — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 02:50:54 -0000

A terrific appeal to a favorably inclined American public, directly from the bully pulpit. My question is, why would the Republican Party follow it by sacrificing one of their fastest rising stars, Bobby Jindal, to deliver the same tired and discredited talking points we've all heard over and over again for the last 30 years?

Palin/Jindal '12!

Also.

Re: My Rant

Mike_P — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 02:44:39 -0000

Thanks, elrod. As a witness to the last 29 years of this "market-driven, no new taxes, trickle down" BS, but one who understood it was all smoke and mirrors, and who spent many an early evening network newscast screaming at his TeeVee, I find I'm no longer able to compose a coherent rant on the fallacy of it all. I'd like to believe I was "forward thinking," or remarkably insightful, but I can't - there were millions of us. It was all so obvious. Too many wanted to believe we could get something for nothing, even as the S&Ls melted down, and we stopped actually making anything, other than our ideas, the manufacture and marketing of which were done somewhere else. Even while we declared ours an "ownership society."

What were we left with? Pushing around junk bonds, derivatives, hedge funds, and real estate futures. Charles Keating, Dick Fuld and Bernie Madoff are our economic icons. What are we saddled with? Crumbling infrastructure, an education system in chaos, crushing debt (to the Chinese, no less), and religious fundamentalism. Of course there's always our still-thriving military-industrial complex to keep us warm at night, as long as we're fighting someone somewhere. What's good for Raytheon is good for America!

I guess Reagan deserves his place on Mount Rushmore, right next to fellow historic bookend, George W. Bush. Wait, we'll probably need another edifice - a rogue's gallery, for them. Is there room on Stone Mountain in Georgia? Better yet, a New Orleans levee?

Re: A Tiny Irony: A Lost Story about Trees and Human Beings

Mike_P — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 01:49:18 -0000

A striking post, Dr. E., on several levels. (Not least of which, to me, is I hadn't realized Joyce Kilmer was a man!)

You've made me contemplate - uncommon for such a short piece of writing. Thank you.

Re: Requiem for a Republic (Guest Voice)

Mike_P — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:53:37 -0000

Michael Reagan - their family equivalent of the stupid Baldwin. I honestly can not say here in the proper vernacular what I truly think of this ass, this imbecile freeloading off his name, and his father's reputation. He's a disgrace to him, and I say that as someone who thinks it was the full fruition of Reagan's economic and social policies that brought the Republican Party - and America - to where we stand today.

Re: One Data Point To Rule Them All

mikkel — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:32:43 -0000

It is precisely the last two sentences I'm most worried about. We have far more resources than we need to keep everyone fed, sheltered and clothed. If governments were honest with the people about the global troubles and the need for a severe 5-10 year reduction in standard of living, and then used the same amount of resources that they've already expended to set up a new mini-financial system, basic needs distribution, global aid, etc. then I think the global risks would be greatly lessened.

Instead there is increasing political and personal (even racial due to immigration) vitrol as people are just grasping at straws. Everyone is starting to blame everyone else for the problem and that is what creates animosity, a break down in cooperation and true catastrophe...if not war.