What in the world is happening with Donald Trump?   Is he really throwing his hat in the ring to run for the Presidency on the Republican Ticket or is he simply trying to boost the ratings of his show,  ”Celebrity Apprentice”?   Nobody seems to have an answer to that. However, what they do have an answer to is the fact that his “birther” reincarnation is a bit odd and dodgy.   He seems to have hopped on the Tea Party Express, but will the Tea Party remember that Trump himself (or at least in 2000 when he ran as a Reform Candidate for President) was in support of Universal Health Care? He has been a Democrat, an Independent, and now a Republican.   So, very confusing!   However, one thing I am not confused about is the possibility of him replacing Charlie Sheen on “2 1/2 Men” — he seems to be filled with Tiger Blood and Adonis DNA!  I guess he could, after all, be winning!

Unemployment Is Down… But Here Is the Bad News — Yahoo
Cooperation in Congress?  It’s In Our Constitutional DNA — David E. Skaggs
Donald Trump Is Getting Weirder — Gail Collins
Feeling Betrayed, A Furious Tea Party Shakes It’s Fist At Both Political Parties — David Firestone
Finding Madame President — Washington Post

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As the world watches Egypt erupt in turmoil, there are several stories that are not being told.   The most important one is that there is an Egypt lurking in the shadows of every nation.  Now, simple minded and the arrogant alike think that this is not possible in the Western World — but I beg to differ that it is!   It might be advantageous for us as voters, and as a country to look at the deep underpinnings of the Egyptian crisis and note the similarities.

For years, Egypt has suffered through very high unemployment rates, which has made life a “literal” hell for its citizens.   For years, many have been virtually under employed and living day by day.   For the last 3 years (and possibly longer), in the United States unemployment has been above 9%.  The stinging defeat of the Democrats in November, was partially because the Democratic leadership did not seem to address the unemployment issue in a more timely manner.   This came only 2 years after the voting public kicked out the Republican leadership for basically the same thing!   In many other Western Countries including Canada, England, and Italy unemployment numbers are climbing, yet the quality of its governmental leadership seems to be declining.

At the same time, voters are turning to other resources to “vent” and “discuss” their frustrations.  Twitter and Facebook have become mainstays of popular communication.  Virtually any subject including unemployment and other political hot button issues can be discussed by the masses.   What would happen in one of the Western Countries if 10% of active Twitter uses began to rise up and demand change?   What would happen if the same happened on Facebook?   Let’s not forget the social oriented blogs such as Daily Caller and Huffington Post, which combine news and political content with a very well oiled social media machine!  In essence, a western revolution is occurring, yet done so in status updates and tweets.

Each time we go into a voting box, we vote to create a better world for ourselves and those we love.   If our leaders are not doing the jobs they were elected to do, we must put party lines and partisan politics aside.  We must replace each and every politician until they realize that their job is the will of their constituency.  Until then, we are in our own Egypt, and we must break free!

The White House’s Plan to Push Mubarak Out of Egypt — Elspeth Reeve
The Reality of Virtual Power — Joseph S. Nye
China, Twitter and 20 Year Olds Vs. The Pyramids — Thomas L Freidman
Why Israel Fears a Free Egypt — Aaron David Miller
Staying In the Shadow of The Gipper — Karen Tumulty

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Elspeth Reeve writes a great op-ed breaking down the current conditions of Congress.   I find it rather alarming and I am dumbfounded that the members of Congress are not taking a good look at these numbers.   According to the Gallop Poll, Congress has an 83% disapproval rating.   This means that only 17% of the country approves of the policies and legislation that Congress is currently taking.

So, I am watching C-Span right now, and the debate over repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”.   The conversation is very alarming, and I wonder whether or not these congressman even know what they are saying.  Rep Boyer (R-IN) is comparing gays in the military to obese people, and believes that the military has restrictions for a reason.   Is this the “medical” definition of the past declaring homosexuality a “mental disorder”.   Clearly, he has not checked the latest version of the DSM.

While listening to members blathering on and on (blah blah blah) and pontificating on their belief systems, I realized that the problem is that Congress is not in touch with the fabric of American lives.   They seem to be very isolated in their beliefs and their opinions, which leads me to think that they are either not listening to their constituencies or they simply do not care.  Elected officials are elected to vote the will of their constituency!   So, I am really not bothered when someone in a very deeply conservative area votes conservative — its an honest vote, but what I do take aim at is those that are voting for purposes other than their constituency.   Simply put, we put you in Congress to vote our minds, our opinions, and our hearts — leave yours at the door!

The Most Hated Congress Ever — Elspeth Reeve

Get America Working:  We Need a Movement to Solve a Crisis — Dylan Ratigan
Michael Moore Offers Bail Money For Assange, Lauds Wikileaks — Atlantic Wire
Usurper in Chief — Maureen Dowd
Partying with Lobbyists — Dana Milbanks

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Is the love affair with President Barack Obama truly over?   It is if you read Ted Rall’s latest opinion piece!  Rall writes one of the most scathing critiques of the first two years of the Obama administration, which would be standard if he was a Republican — but Rall is one of the nations most vocal liberal and progressive voices. Unlike many on the left who are still drunk on “yes we can” (although we didn’t and probably won’t), Rall states that Obama has not really changed at all, and opines that maybe we (the electorate) have.   Using descriptors such as “weasel”, “devoid of character”, “toxic”, and revealing that Obama is “as much a right winger as Dubya”, Rall formulates a compelling argument to the progressive community that still supports Obama despite his less than progressive presidential record.  His article is a must read! Thanks Ted.

Obama Was Bad From the Start — Ted Rall
MSNBC Suspends Joe Scarborough:  For Political Donations — Greg Mitchell
Axis of Depression — Paul Krugman
Repeal It. Now. — New York Times Editorial Board
Don’t Touch My Junk — Charles Krauthammer

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We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming…

Oh, how we quickly forget!  Just three days after one of the craziest elections in modern history, we have moved away from the issues of the people once again and back to the game.   What is the game?   At this point, I do not think even Democrats or Republicans know the answer to this quite profound question.   One thing they do know how to do is play it!

On Friday, NBC announced that they had suspended Keith Olbermann without pay.   Is this for real or is this political theater?   The New York Times is claiming that NBC is milking Olbermann’s suspension for PR value.   This Week had this to say about the matter:

Privately, NBC execs have said that they don’t intend to fire Olbermann, and that they see this as “a chance to draw a distinction between the journalistic standards of their news division and the standards of Fox.”

This could very well be a valid point since both Countdown and The Rachel Maddow Show made comments on Keith’s suspension.

Here is Thomas Roberts discussing Keith’s suspension on Countdown.

Here is Rachel Maddow who shows the vast campaign contributions via competitor Fox News.

Oh, the beauty of the game!   Now, can we go back to important issues — like figuring out why more gay people are voting Republican?

– AC
Keith Olbermann’s Suspension:  Did MSNBC Overreact? — Yahoo
The War Has Just Begun — David Shribman
Why Are More Gay People Voting Republican? — John Hudson
Anti Government Voters Offer Little In Way of Solution — Georgie Anne Geyer
The 4 Trillion Dollar Question — New York Times
Would We Be Better Off Under President Hilary Clinton? — Dana Millbank

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I am often disturbed by pieces that opinion writers publish.   At times, I even wonder whether or not they are being paid by political parties, political groups, or politicians themselves because the ideas they express are just “bad sh$t crazy”.   In today’s opinion pieces, Susan Estrich writes about why Harry Reid should win his election in Nevada.  Her reason is interesting:

That is why Reid should win.

It may not be fair, and it’s certainly not her fault, but Reid can do a lot more for the people of Nevada at a time when they need all the help they can get.

He can do that because, if he’s re-elected, the president will owe him.

The President will owe him?  Owe him for what?  Stripped down Wall Street Reform, stripped down Health Care Reform, inability to get the Defense Authorization Bill passed, which has led many gays and lesbians to “sit out” the election?  What exactly has Harry Reid really delivered?  More importantly, shouldn’t President Obama and Harry Reid focus on what they owe to the American people?  This is why we should defend our votes!

After the Midterm Election, Who Will Drive Bi-Partisanship — Christian Science Monitor
For Democrats:  Red Alert in the States — David Paul Kuhn
What Should Happen in Nevada — Susan Estrich
Can’t Keep A Bad Idea Down — Thomas Freidman
Just Say Yes To Pot — Katrina vanden Heuvel

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Are the Democrats really going to be brutalized on November 2, 2010 or is this a ratings grabbing news sweep?   This is a question that many people ask because it is difficult to completely understand how so many people would want to return to the policies of the previous Presidential administration.  David Kuhn (who I disagree with much of the time) write an interesting opinion for Real Clear Politics, that addresses a lot of real concerns as we move into November.  However, all the polling shows that people are equally disgusted with both Republicans and Democrats.   Is the real issue that Americans are just sick of our current political structure, yet our current two party system is broken and needs to be fixed?

To Stop Fraud, Do We Need a Moratorium on Foreclosure? — The Atlantic Wire
As View of Big Gov Go, So Go Dems (Out the Door) —  David Paul Kuhn
The Road Ahead for Progressives:  Back to Basics — Gara LaMarche and Deepak Bhargava
Playing All The Angles — Maureen Dowd
The Rage Won’t End on Election Day — Frank Rich
Five Myths about Sarah Palin —  Matthew Continetti

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I have been a Democrat since I registered to vote in 1991.  However, in July of 2010, I switched my affiliation to Independent after the Congress and the President (who formed a unprecedented super majority) failed to pass any true progressive legislation.  So, I am rather amazed when I read an opinion piece like,  ”Which Obama Will Emerge After the Storm,”  by David Kuhn and Real Clear Politics.

The majority of the article focuses on Bill Clinton’s return to the center (citing failed healthcare and gays in the military) after losing the house in 1994.   Although not expressed, Kuhn infers that Obama has catered to the left (ala Bill Clinton) during the first two years of his presidency.  What I would like to know is where?   Obama has had his own issues with healthcare and gays in the military (ala Bill Clinton), but the striking difference is that Obama has always CAVED to his Republican opponents.  He caved with the public option, and the gays are still ‘forced into silence’ in the military.   So, what exactly has he done or accomplished that has been liberal?   Offshore Drilling?   Wall-street Reform?  Stimulus? Education reform?  Energy Reform?

I agree with Kuhn on his general assessment of Obama.  Will the real Barack Obama please stand up?   Who is he?  Have we ever really known or is he simply a narcissistic projection of our own desire for change?  Kahn states:

It’s the practical move. Congress will be more polarized next cycle. Obama will need Republicans to win legislation. It’s the ideal time to bridge red and blue America. Partisanship can become his antagonist. But will this president choose issues that transcend partisan fault lines?

The danger of Obama defining himself at this point is that it will alienate much of his voting block.   Agreeing with Kahn once again, I do believe that he must win back the Independents to win re-election, but will it be at the cost of losing much of his progressive base?   Will he count on “progressives” having nowhere else to go, and the continued fear of a President Palin or President Romney be what keeps progressives in line?

When we wake up from the ever intoxicating elixir of political rhetoric the only “change you can believe in” is the faces of the politicians that promise change.

AC

Conservatives Long for Clinton, Perplexing Liberals — Heather Horn
Which Obama Will Emerge After the Storm — David Paul Kuhn
Lou Dobbs, American Hypocrite — Isabel MacDonald
Maddow Can’t Stop Candidate From Explaining Himself — Alex Elchler
The End of the Tunnel — Paul Kruggman
The Facebook Searchers — David Brooks
Palin Will Run In 2012 If You Want Her To — Jonathon Capehart
Why Won’t The GOP Compete for African American Voters — Eugene Robinson
Hold the Optimism — David Ignatius

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Something is brewing!   It is hard to tell what it is, but something is definitely brewing.   Based upon early estimates the Democratic Party will most likely lose several seats in the House and Senate during the mid-term elections.    There is an enormous amount of visible angst from both the left and right regarding the Obama administrations policies, that have the Tea Party Movement gaining exposure, and a few (although minimally covered) left wing organizations beginning to become active.   What is apparent is that nobody is happy with how things have progressed.  The right is upset about everything the right has always been upset with (to long to list and many wont read)!   The left (I am rather impressed by the GetEqual Movement which includes Lt Dan Choi and Robin McGeehee) is now become increasingly frustrated by the administrations refusal to begin to push through the left agenda even though it knows it most likely will lose much in the elections.    If you had $500 and you knew that someone was going to take it from you in November, what would you do?  I’d buy me an IPAD!

How Bad Could 2010 Really Get For Democrats? — Sean Trende
Solving a Problem Like Stupak — The Nation
Dems Favored in First Election Since Health Care — Real Clear Politics
Tea Parties Vs. Hard-Left Protests — L. Brent Bozell
Obama In the Quagmire — Richard Reeves
The Price of Assassination — Robert Wright
Sabotaging The Tea Party — Stephen Stromberg

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Has technology ruined the political debate?  Richard Reeves wrote a great Op-Ed regarding the “new” behavior of Washington Politicians in a world of blackberries, twitteratti, and nonstop news coverage.   Reeves theorizes that Democrats and Republicans no longer spend anytime together, which prevents any type of bipartisanship to occur.  Instead they receive their talking points from party leaders rather than the American people.  Congress assumes that the people will fall in line, despite the laws that are being enacted.   However, it remains blind to the people using the same tools (facebook, twitter, social media, even blackberries) that they are using, and are much more educated about their activities.  The question is — will they ever listen?

Republican Showdown in the Lone Star State — RealClearPolitics
Like Crist-Rubio for GOP, Lincoln-Halter Race Could Define Dems — John Nicholas
Why Washington Doesn’t Work Anymore — Richard Reeves
Why I’m Not Running For Senate — Harold Ford Jr.
Senators Annoying Senators — Kevin Huffman

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