THIS WEEK IN POLITICAL NEWS -- 9/9/11
OBAMA PRESENTS HIS JOBS PLAN: I just watched the Obama speech. You all should stop what you’re doing and watch it; it’s only 30 minutes. It was exactly what I needed. He was FIRED UP and ready to go -- finally! He announced he’ll be submitting a detailed bill, called the American Jobs Act, that will include payroll tax cuts, tax credits for businesses that hire, funds to repair bridges, roads, and schools, extended unemployment insurance -- all to be paid for by methods he’ll announce next week. The plan is “considerably larger than expected, with an estimated $447 billion in stimulus money.” When was the last time Obama issued something bigger than expected?! He insisted that Congress act, and right away: Obama used the phrase “pass this bill” 12 separate times. And he specifically called out Republicans by reminding them they have supported these exact measures before. One of my favorite lines, calling for a payroll tax cut: “I know some of you have sworn oaths to never raise any taxes on anyone for as long as you live. Now is not the time to carve out an exception and raise middle-class taxes, which is why you should pass this bill right away.” Another great line, which can be seen as a swipe at Rick Perry: “We shouldn’t be in a race to the bottom, where we try to offer the cheapest labor and the worst pollution standards. America should be in a race to the top. And I believe that’s a race we can win.” One more, which only comes across half as good in text: “Should we keep tax loopholes for oil companies? Or should we use that money to give small business owners a tax credit when they hire new workers? Because we can't afford to do both. Should we keep tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires? Or should we put teachers back to work so our kids can graduate ready for college and good jobs? Right now, we can't afford to do both. This isn't political grandstanding. This isn't class warfare. This is simple math. These are real choices that we have to make. And I'm pretty sure I know what most Americans would choose. It's not even close. And it's time for us to do what's right for our future.” And then he ended by declaring that he will “take that message to every corner of this country.” In other words, Repubs, he’s coming for you.
Really, just go watch it. Obama in scrappy mode is really fun.
GOP DEBATE LOWLIGHTS: On Wednesday, the Republicans gathered in the Reagan library in California to try to see who could sound the craziest in the least number of words (winner: Rick Perry by a 10 gallon hat!). Most attention-grabbing moment: Perry defended and reiterated his position that Social Security is a “Ponzi scheme” (ie, a criminal fraud), and that anyone who denies that position is telling a “monstrous lie.” You have to love the political pandering that went right along with his seeming political suicide, when he emphasized that current retirees have nothing to fear and can count on their benefits continuing to flow. You could almost hear him shouting to the Florida grandmas, “Yes, I said Social Security is a criminal monstrosity, but that won’t change anything that you get. See? Nothing to worry about here!” Romney tried to come off looking reasonable by insisting that the GOP nominee “has to be someone who isn’t committed to abolishing Social Security but who is committed to saving Social Security.” But as Rachel Maddow noted last night, Romney has repeatedly endorsed Social Security privatization -- or, in other words, “abolishing” the program as we know it. Other great (meaning terrible) moments:
A SIDE NOTE ON SOCIAL SECURITY: With all this Social Security bashing going on (though today Perry’s people tried to insist that he never suggested the program was unconstitutional and that it’s “misinformation” to claim he wants to abolish it), it’s important to make a few facts clear. First, if we do nothing, it remains solvent through 2038. Second, if we raise the cap on taxable income, we could ensure the solvency of Social Security for 75 years. And third, it’s no more a Ponzi scheme, as Matt Yglesias puts it, “than anything else that relies on future economic growth.” Indeed, it strikes me that it’s no different than any government program -- like, say, disability payments for returning vets -- paid for by taxes. Just because my payroll taxes pay for current retirees -- just like my income taxes pay for current veterans’ benefits -- doesn’t make it some sort of fraud. It’s what a nation of young productive people and old non-productive people does; it’s how we support each other. Am I missing something?
A PARTICULARLY DEPRESSING/ENRAGING/ALIENATING MOMENT: There were some serious low points in last night’s debate, obviously. But one moment stood out, not only for how disgusted it made me, but also for how sharply it reminded me of the wide gulf between my and my compatriots’ views. This moment came when host Brian Williams asked Perry about the 234 people -- 234! -- executed by the state of Texas during Perry’s governership. Before he could finish the question, the audience burst into loud, thunderous applause -- just at the fact of these hundreds of executions. And then, when Williams is able to finish his question about whether Perry has ever struggled with or lost sleep over the idea that perhaps even one of those men might have been innocent, Perry unblinkingly declared he never worried about it for one second. “I've never struggled with that at all,” he said. (Watch it here.) Not even after journalists and experts exposed the execution of a man who was almost certainly innocent. In fact, Perry was so unperturbed by that execution that he single-handedly shut down the investigation into the prosecution that led to the most likely wrongful execution. During Perry’s most recent campaign for reelection as governor, one primary voter dismissed concerns over this issue: “It takes balls to execute an innocent man.” Chait put it best: “It is telling that the political culture that has nurtured Perry is so morally demented that demonstrating that he blithely executed an innocent man is not a political liability.” Obama’s protestations to the contrary, there really is a Red America and a Blue America, and it takes moments like this -- seeing Americans leap to their feet to applaud the notion of executing hundreds of their fellow citizens -- to remind me how firmly entrenched in my own Blue world I am.
Good News: A Fourth Circuit panel threw out a pair of lawsuits challenging the Affordable Care Act, holding that the plaintiffs lacked standing to sue. Two of the three judges said they would have affirmed the constitutionality of the law.
Must Read of the Week: This is an old story -- it’s from 2009 -- but it’s the full account of the Texas execution of Cameron Todd Willingham, a man who was almost certainly innocent of the murders for which he was convicted and sentenced to die. It’s an incredible piece of journalism, and with Perry as the GOP front-runner, it’s a must-read.
Must-Watch Video of the Week: A very moving tribute to the workers who dug out the rubble at Ground Zero in the hours and days following the 9/11 attacks.
OBAMA PRESENTS HIS JOBS PLAN: I just watched the Obama speech. You all should stop what you’re doing and watch it; it’s only 30 minutes. It was exactly what I needed. He was FIRED UP and ready to go -- finally! He announced he’ll be submitting a detailed bill, called the American Jobs Act, that will include payroll tax cuts, tax credits for businesses that hire, funds to repair bridges, roads, and schools, extended unemployment insurance -- all to be paid for by methods he’ll announce next week. The plan is “considerably larger than expected, with an estimated $447 billion in stimulus money.” When was the last time Obama issued something bigger than expected?! He insisted that Congress act, and right away: Obama used the phrase “pass this bill” 12 separate times. And he specifically called out Republicans by reminding them they have supported these exact measures before. One of my favorite lines, calling for a payroll tax cut: “I know some of you have sworn oaths to never raise any taxes on anyone for as long as you live. Now is not the time to carve out an exception and raise middle-class taxes, which is why you should pass this bill right away.” Another great line, which can be seen as a swipe at Rick Perry: “We shouldn’t be in a race to the bottom, where we try to offer the cheapest labor and the worst pollution standards. America should be in a race to the top. And I believe that’s a race we can win.” One more, which only comes across half as good in text: “Should we keep tax loopholes for oil companies? Or should we use that money to give small business owners a tax credit when they hire new workers? Because we can't afford to do both. Should we keep tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires? Or should we put teachers back to work so our kids can graduate ready for college and good jobs? Right now, we can't afford to do both. This isn't political grandstanding. This isn't class warfare. This is simple math. These are real choices that we have to make. And I'm pretty sure I know what most Americans would choose. It's not even close. And it's time for us to do what's right for our future.” And then he ended by declaring that he will “take that message to every corner of this country.” In other words, Repubs, he’s coming for you.
Really, just go watch it. Obama in scrappy mode is really fun.
GOP DEBATE LOWLIGHTS: On Wednesday, the Republicans gathered in the Reagan library in California to try to see who could sound the craziest in the least number of words (winner: Rick Perry by a 10 gallon hat!). Most attention-grabbing moment: Perry defended and reiterated his position that Social Security is a “Ponzi scheme” (ie, a criminal fraud), and that anyone who denies that position is telling a “monstrous lie.” You have to love the political pandering that went right along with his seeming political suicide, when he emphasized that current retirees have nothing to fear and can count on their benefits continuing to flow. You could almost hear him shouting to the Florida grandmas, “Yes, I said Social Security is a criminal monstrosity, but that won’t change anything that you get. See? Nothing to worry about here!” Romney tried to come off looking reasonable by insisting that the GOP nominee “has to be someone who isn’t committed to abolishing Social Security but who is committed to saving Social Security.” But as Rachel Maddow noted last night, Romney has repeatedly endorsed Social Security privatization -- or, in other words, “abolishing” the program as we know it. Other great (meaning terrible) moments:
- Perry explaining that the reason so many Texans are uninsured is because of the federal government (Direct quote: “Well, bottom line is that we would not have that many people uninsured in the state of Texas if you didn't have the federal government.”);
- Santorum reveling in magical thinking about taxes (Direct quote: “We cut the corporate tax from 35 percent to zero, because we want to build the great middle of America again.”);
- Ron Paul insisting that the free market could absolutely replace food safety regulation, air traffic controllers, and drug inspections (Quote excerpts: “I think in theory, if you understood the free market in a free society, you don't need government to do that. … And, I mean, do we need the federal government to tell us whether we buy a safe car? I say the consumers of America are smart enough to decide what kind of car they can buy and whether it's safe or not.”);
- Michele Bachmann flat out lying by saying the CBO said “ObamaCare” “is killing jobs” (In fact, the CBO said impact on jobs would be minimal.);
- Newt “Tiffany” Gingrich insisting that, as president, he would fire Ben Bernanke “tomorrow” -- despite the fact that a president likely has no such authority;
- Perry transitioning from praising the Navy SEALS who killed bin Laden to decrying Keynsian economics, all in one sentence (Direct Quote: “I give more props to those Navy SEALs that did the job, but -- and the other thing this president's done, he has proven for once and for all that government spending will not create one job. Keynesian policy and Keynesian theory is now done. We'll never have to have that experiment on America again.”)
A SIDE NOTE ON SOCIAL SECURITY: With all this Social Security bashing going on (though today Perry’s people tried to insist that he never suggested the program was unconstitutional and that it’s “misinformation” to claim he wants to abolish it), it’s important to make a few facts clear. First, if we do nothing, it remains solvent through 2038. Second, if we raise the cap on taxable income, we could ensure the solvency of Social Security for 75 years. And third, it’s no more a Ponzi scheme, as Matt Yglesias puts it, “than anything else that relies on future economic growth.” Indeed, it strikes me that it’s no different than any government program -- like, say, disability payments for returning vets -- paid for by taxes. Just because my payroll taxes pay for current retirees -- just like my income taxes pay for current veterans’ benefits -- doesn’t make it some sort of fraud. It’s what a nation of young productive people and old non-productive people does; it’s how we support each other. Am I missing something?
A PARTICULARLY DEPRESSING/ENRAGING/ALIENATING MOMENT: There were some serious low points in last night’s debate, obviously. But one moment stood out, not only for how disgusted it made me, but also for how sharply it reminded me of the wide gulf between my and my compatriots’ views. This moment came when host Brian Williams asked Perry about the 234 people -- 234! -- executed by the state of Texas during Perry’s governership. Before he could finish the question, the audience burst into loud, thunderous applause -- just at the fact of these hundreds of executions. And then, when Williams is able to finish his question about whether Perry has ever struggled with or lost sleep over the idea that perhaps even one of those men might have been innocent, Perry unblinkingly declared he never worried about it for one second. “I've never struggled with that at all,” he said. (Watch it here.) Not even after journalists and experts exposed the execution of a man who was almost certainly innocent. In fact, Perry was so unperturbed by that execution that he single-handedly shut down the investigation into the prosecution that led to the most likely wrongful execution. During Perry’s most recent campaign for reelection as governor, one primary voter dismissed concerns over this issue: “It takes balls to execute an innocent man.” Chait put it best: “It is telling that the political culture that has nurtured Perry is so morally demented that demonstrating that he blithely executed an innocent man is not a political liability.” Obama’s protestations to the contrary, there really is a Red America and a Blue America, and it takes moments like this -- seeing Americans leap to their feet to applaud the notion of executing hundreds of their fellow citizens -- to remind me how firmly entrenched in my own Blue world I am.
Good News: A Fourth Circuit panel threw out a pair of lawsuits challenging the Affordable Care Act, holding that the plaintiffs lacked standing to sue. Two of the three judges said they would have affirmed the constitutionality of the law.
Must Read of the Week: This is an old story -- it’s from 2009 -- but it’s the full account of the Texas execution of Cameron Todd Willingham, a man who was almost certainly innocent of the murders for which he was convicted and sentenced to die. It’s an incredible piece of journalism, and with Perry as the GOP front-runner, it’s a must-read.
Must-Watch Video of the Week: A very moving tribute to the workers who dug out the rubble at Ground Zero in the hours and days following the 9/11 attacks.
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