It seems like only yesterday that Jane was saying, "The Democrats don’t know how to operate like a party." Oh, wait, it was yesterday, wasn’t it?
Well, just in case you were naively hoping that state of affairs might have changed overnight, Barack Obama has stepped up to deliver another reminder. Via ABC News:
Barack Obama has often said he’d consider putting Republicans in his cabinetand even bandied about names like Sens. Dick Lugar and Chuck Hagel. He’s added a new name to the list of possible Republicans cabinet members – Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Obama regularly says he wouldlook to Republicans to fill out his cabinet if he was elected, but at a town hall event in Manchester, N.H., he was pushed to name names.
“It’s premature for me to start announcing my cabinet. I mean, I’m pretty confident. but I’m not all that confident. We still got a long way to go,” Obama said.
But then the GOP names started to flow.
. . . [Obama said about] Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger: “What (he’s) doing on climate change in California is very important and significant. There are things I don’t agree with him on, but he’s taken leadership on a very difficult issue and we haven’t seen that kind of leadership in Washington."
Living in California, I can tell you that the only "leadership" the Gropinator Governator has shown has been in the field of shameless opportunism, something that I have a feeling isn’t rare in Washington, D.C., at all. Just in case anyone’s forgotten, Arnold came into office pushing an almost uniformly right-wing, pro-business agenda (remember that Bush-worshiping speech at the 2004 GOP convention?), only adopting a mostly cosmetic turn to the left after having his butt kicked by the state’s nurses union and realizing his lucrative new career in collecting corporate donations politics was dangerously close to a premature end.
But let’s take Obama at his word for the moment. If he’s really thinking about appointing Schwarzenegger to his cabinet, would he possibly name a guy who owns four Hummers to head up the EPA? Isn’t there another position that he might be more qualified for — or an appropriate job that could be created for him? The floor, dear FDL commenters, is open for your suggestions.
Update: Julia has the transcript of the actual press conference, which indicates Obama was expressing his admiration for Schwarzenneger’s environmental achievements, and was not directly suggesting him for his cabinet.
Related posts:
- Health Reform Supporter Arnold Schwarzenegger Vetoes Multiple Health Reform Bills
- Has Obama Forgotten about Pauline Beck?
- Please Welcome Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, Candidate for US Senate
- Sunday Late Night: Who is the Commerce Secretary Calling?
- As California Drowns in Red Ink, Schwarzenegger Offers a Mix of Drastic Cuts and Political Gimmicks
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Swopa!
Where?
Told them downstairs; now to read.
hi swopa!
I am so sick of each & every D cave-in to bipartisanship. I’m an Edwards person, but he is guilty of this too. Geez, they give in before the hard work even begins. Can’t see how promising to include Rs who are so marginal in today’s R party will gain them anything in the general election either. They’ve got it all wrong.
I do not understand why any democrat’s desire to get votes and win, trumps what SHOULD be their outrage at the silence, AT BEST, of the GOP politicians whom they’re talking about putting into their cabinet.
And Goddammit, John Edwards, I’m talking to YOU first, since I still support you and think you’d make the best president. :o(
We don’t seem to have a federal Secretary of Action Movies. (I’d like to suggest returning him to Austria or anonymity, whichever is easier.)
I thought Arnold was OK on environmental policy stuff, no?
Hi Swopa.
Anold could be surgeon General. Doping in sports would be eradicated. Yah!
eCAHN, I did NOT read your post, before I put mine up, but I fervently hope that some member of John Edwards’ staff keeps a good eye on the Lake, and that our back-to-back shots, hit home.
ohhh….ohhhh…ohhhh
secretary of gropage?
or even BETTER then arnold, how about the guy larry flint says is “about to leave the repulican party;
a shameless ot, sorry
I’ll see if I can email then a link.
I have it as a fact he used stuffed animals in one of his envernmental adds
As an Obama supporter, my response was – WTF?
I don’t get why the candidates all feel they need to appease David Broder for. Broder is a dinosaur. Joe Klein too.
Secretary of Inferior.
Maybe we can just leave all the countries we’ve invaded or occupied or built huge bases in, and Ahnuld can say “I’ll be back!” with enough conviction that people will just be nice to each other rather than have to put up with us again.
I think Lugar will keep as low a profile as he’s been keeping for a while now.
And I think that’s because he’s in line for the caretaker prez if Cheyney goes for “health reasons”, which resignation will mean the end of bush, too, since Darth is his insurance policy.
Obama’s record of missing votes throughout his career starting to gain attention. If you stand for nothing, you’ll sit for everything.
Demand better. Be better.
Edwards/Dodd ‘08
Jeff Farias of NovaM radio just joined the discussion downstairs.
Arnold Schwarzenegger: Ambassador to Austria
Obama’s record of
missingskipping votes throughout his career starting to gain attention. If you stand for nothing, you’ll sit for everything.Fixed.
Demand better. Be better.
Edwards/Dodd ‘08
Ambassador to Paraguay.
Swopa, great post! All I can say is, “Holy shit!” I knew he didn’t have enough experience to be president, but I didn’t know he was such an asshole. What he’s really talking about at this point is to meld the two parties together seamlessly. All the easier for a dictatorship to take hold. He’s gonna be trouble!
Living in California, I can tell you that the only “leadership” the Gropinator Governator has shown has been in the field of shameless opportunism, something that I have a feeling isn’t rare in Washington, D.C., at all.
******Stop telling untruths.If Arnold is so bad on the environment why is the Montana Gov working with him to advance the Global Warming concepts.I guess ome folks hatered for most Repukes are so vast that’s rationality has left the room.
What really bothers me about all this is that there are so many good progessive Democrats available for cabinet positions. Why aren’t they ever mentioned?
Yes PS, I like your assignment better.
back downstairs I go
The highly esteemed & pressed Swopa! (Ok, I stole that from the Goon Show CD I’m listening to. Esteemed part still true nonetheless).
Great post. The Governator’s an opportunistic slug, but his ass will be grass in our state if he doesn’t prosecute the EPA case in the courts, & Arnold the Opportunist knows enough to know that. He will be Sec. of Nothing in any Dem administration, I’d bet quite a lot on it…
I haven’t made up my mind about who to support in my primary yet, but as a former resident of California, the suggestion to put Ahnold in an Obama candidate is either the kookiest or most brilliant idea ever, depending on your point of view.
A lot of Californians would cheer at the idea of getting Ahnold out of the governor’s mansion in Sacramento, but those of us in the rest of the country would pay a steep, steep price. Like I said, it’s either brilliant or kooky, depending on your zip code.
This does not inspire me to vote for Obama. Not in the least.
Lugar has been mailing in his vote on every single Republican atrocity put forward for years now. For a Democrat to reward such slavish behavior with an appointment as Sec of State (which is all Lugar’s ever wanted for his entire career) would be an insult to all of us who believe in putting country and duty before personal ambition.
Austria doesn’t want him. Didn’t they strip his dual citizenship or something?
Cal wants the Cafe(sp)standard to be 44 miles /gal.Where else in the US are they working for that mark ???
Obama, Nancy, Harry and Hillary.
Until the Repugs clean up their own party and actually become what they once were, the Dems should freeze them out. This reaching across the aisle crapola is WAY too early.
First of all, how many Democrats occupy Bush’s admin.? Why don’t pukes have to be bipartisan?
Second, the gropinator is the beneficiary of a coup (Gray Davis faced no charges, he just took the heat for Cheny/Bush/Lay’s Enron games).
WTF would a Democrat reward that?
Secretary of Medical Marijuana
What the f****. I mean what the hey hey. At first I thought Obama is Joe-lite Lieberman. Now I am beginning to think maybe they were separated at birth, him and Lieberman. (Birthdates no factor for sci-fi fans).
And just where will Obama be when Dodd and Kennedy and Feingold are fighting against Telcom immunity this January? I wonder? What’s more important than fighting for the constitution and the rule of law? Fundraising parties with Oprah? /rant off.
How’s about Health and Human Services? He’s into physical fitness, after all, and he sure has “serviced” us Californicators right well.
Henry Kissinger: Unofficial roving ambassador to France, Brazil, Chile, Spain, and Argentina.
Tancredo’s out. Maybe he’d like to serve in the cabinet of a D prez.
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/…..house-bid/
Well, if Obama wants to create a Sec’y of Action Movies, then he can name Ahnold to that post, because it’s the only post I find him qualified for in any Democratic Administration that I would support.
I think Arnie performs as good as guv as he did as an actor. One of the last things I did before moving out of the rat race that Sacramento has become, was to vote against Arn.
Respectfully, let’s get serious. The only way to co-opt the right wing crooks in this country is to do exactly what Obama proposes, bring in reasonable non hack Republican cabinet members such as Lugar, Hagel and Arnold. These are well motivated people. They are not the petty office seekers which the Clintons function off such as Albright, Tenet, Berger, etc. I have no real case to make for Obama but WE cannot afford the Clintons for another eight years. It was Clinton with his nonsense which strengthened the right wing crooks and I cannot believe the amnesia. The Clintons wasted valuable years of this country’s time. And Obama will not bring that level of frivolity to our national personna.
Damning with faint praise, for sure. *g*
Tancredo to head immigration policy? *scary* Or how about Tom Delay to be given some sort of ethics in government type leadership role in Obama’s administration.
I disagree Lugar and Hagel have been good little apparatchniks of the Chimp administration. And Schwarzenegger has to be one of the most atrocious choices for governor ever.
If you’d seen the workload at my job the past month, you’d know that the “pressed” part applies, too!
Regarding BMcGrath’s comments, I’ll admit that a politician who does the right thing only out of opportunism is far better than the ones who won’t do it even then.
I don’t think there’s any need to be talking about Republicans in anyone’s cabinet. However, I did come to respect Hagel. I know I would disagree with him much on domestic issues, but he had a lot of integrity on Iraq and pretty much ended his own career.
You think Lieberman is not frivolity? I’m stunned.
Secretary of Indefensible
leftdcin72: I think we should never forget how Hagel got elected in the first place. He was CEO of AIS, now ES&S voting machine company. They were in charge of the machines and the counting of the votes. It was a surprise upset almost never before seen in Nebraska. His opponent had a 17% lead in polls the day before the election. I think it’s tragic that he did that because in many ways he’s been a voice of reason for the repubs, but I could never trust anyone who like Bush used voting machines to steal elections.
I figured Obama out. He is doing this because:
-he really really wants Fred Hiatt & Broder’s endorsement
-Krugman’s non-existent son would–if Krugman had a son-probably not support Obama since Obama caved in on Social Security==that is, if he had a son, which he doesn’t.
Well Hillary Clinton would appoint Michael O’Hanlon. Same difference.
Alas, I can only read this ridiculous stance by Obama (and Hillary, Pelosi, Feinstein, Reid, et al. on certain issues) as evidence that we’re thoroughly, totally, in-every-way fucked. If we can’t get a noncorporate, non-appeasement, even vaguely ethical populist candidate like Edwards or Dodd in there, we’re lost. Once again, the “superstar” Dems (along with the repellent “blue dog Dems”) appear to be ABSOLUTELY UNABLE, or perhaps more accurately, UNWILLING, to learn the obvious lessons of the last 7 years and act like a party in power. God this is depressing.
I won’t vote for Obama because he’s obviously a drug dealer. I won’t vote for Hillary because she said he was. That pretty much leaves me focusing on Dodd/Edwards.
I’ll second that!
Yeah. Hagel is the Diebold guy.
what has lieberman got to do with this except the Clintons supported him, not Obama. I would expect that Obama and Edwards would stay away from lieberman, if elected. I agree with you, Lieberman is total bad news. But whatever Obama says about or has said about lieberman or does with lieberman at this point is a footnote. lieberman will not be a player and if we control the senate in 08, we kick him out of the majority. I expect that to happen.
You can’t coopt the wingnuts by smooching up to RINOs. These guys are so far out of mainstream Rs, it’s not only useless to consider them, it also makes you seem weak, and we know what the Rs do to Ds who seem weak.
Geez. Where did you ever come up with that line???!!! I have my probelms with Bill, more after the fact than at the time, but “waster valuable years of this country’s time?” For starters, I’d gladly change those 8 years for W’s. And what was wrong with the economy? Did we get involved in major wars? What planet are you living on?
Secretary of Going Back in Time and Terminating the Florida Butterfly Ballot.
At which point, President Gore could appoint him Secretary of Going Further Back in Time and Convincing Me to Choose a Different Running Mate.
I assume you are not aware that Obama selected Lieberman to be his mentor in the Senate and campaigned for Lieberman during the primary last year?
Well, you’ve got to give those “independants” in NH another reason to skip voting for any of the Republicans running by promising them all the Republicans they want in an administration.
Ooh, I think we’ve got our winner.
The impression here is that Guv Arnie would like to be appointed to a position in the womens locker room.
O’Hanlon has really schocked me of late. The worst of the worst, will all the implications for Hillary.
On the modest proposal side, It seems that Mitt Romney can become pretty much anything you want in short order. For the right postion, he might be more progressive than any of the democratic candidates. To paraphrase someone, he’s got principles, and by God if you don’t like them, he’ll get other principles.
Michael O’Hanlon. Expert of all trades, master of none?
I mean most academics I know specialize in something specific.
If Huck or Hillary gets in, I think there very well may be a place in either administration for Lieberman.
Obama/Romney 08 = 100% of the votes.
During the past election Arnold told everyone that he had balanced the budget. So 6 months later he wants to decimate education and support for poor people.
The environment things are all from his wife.
He will go down in history as the joke that he is.
FWIW, from the previous post:
New calculation, based on the 291 items now on Hugh’s List. Hugh’s Scroll would now be:
16-pt. Helvetica – 164 feet
14-pt – 127 feet
12-pt. – 96′6″
10-pt. – 69 feet
That’s if you cut out all the page-top and page-bottom margins…
Arnold had some of his hummers converted to eco-friendly type vehicles. There was a story on NPR. I don’t remember the energy source that was used. I do remember that Arnold took advantage of the opportunity to bash marijuana use, though. (See picture above of the big fat hypocrite.)
Uh oh. Are we still “winning” the war?
I notice the GOP candidates haven’t been running around saying they’ll hire Ted Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi and Barbara Boxer.
-G
I vant to schmoke some pahht.
-Der Doobienator
I think Kirk Murphy wrote a post on Arnold and California and the environment, didn’t he?
Dr. Condi Rice specialized in the old and obsolete Soviet Union. And it wasn’t long ago she was being touted as presidential timber. ;0)
I was referring to O’Hanlon’s oped about invading Pakistan. Haven’t checked his Iraq index recently. Will go over & see if we’re still winning.
That’s cuz only the Dems are supposed to be bi-partisan and bow down to the will of Broderella and the VSP inside the Beltway.
No, but most of them will mention “my good friend Joe Lieberman” in some context or other. Even George Bush had Norm Minetta as Sec. of Transportation.
I assume you were not in belgrade when Clinton intentionally bombed civilian targets in that city as part of his work off during the lewinsky scandal. I assume that is not a major war to you. So we should have the Clintons for eight more years because Obama is good to lieberman, as you say. You let the Clintons set the bar and then compare Bush to that. Better approach, how did Bush get elected in the first place. A plausible anmswer is a terribly weak candidate in Gore and the activiation of the right by Clinton, for what social purpose? His sex life.
The Clintons had the lost opportunity to develop electric car batteries during their administration as a sidebar to whatever else they touched and burned. Glad the economy was good for you.
Which war? GWOT, War on Drugs, or War on Stoopid?
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms seems like the only reasonably close fit (as long as you don’t tell him that the job is controlling alcohol, tobacco, and firearms, not promoting them.)
If Tancredo’s out, can Duncan Hunter be far behind?
“Can’t We All Just Get Along” Obama willing to select a Republican in his administration is a moot point. If Bloomberg/Hagel run as a 3rd Party it insures another Republican victory. Such a ticket would only peel away frustrated Democrats and Independents. Republicans exhibit the same party loyalty as that of the Bolsheviks or Nazis. No way will they abandon their nominee, no matter how whacked out their candidate may be.
Ooh, I’ve got it: Press Secretary! The White House press corps seems to enjoy being bullied, so he’d be perfect!
Think LOTS OF MONEY in the treasury when Clinton left – spent by Bush in one year. And you are worried about car batteries?
Obama supported Lieberman in his primary, traveling to the state to introduce him at Connecticut Democrats’ big spring event. After RGJoe lost the primary and ran as a Sore Loser CFL, Obama sent a pro-Lamont email to 5,000 of his Connecticut supporters, but traveled OVER Connecticut rather than appear with Lamont during the general election. And before all that, Obama picked Lieberman as his mentor when he was elected to the USSenate.
Obama has never said what role Lieberman would play in an Obama presidential administration.
How did I miss that one? No I think my mind saw it, remembers it, but didn’t digest. Michael O’hanlon: Another reason not to give Hillary the suitcase/football.
AP – President Bush, successful in forcing the Democratic Congress to bend to his will, complained Thursday that lawmakers had wasted time and taxpayers’ money. His aggressive stand set a confrontational tone for Bush’s final year in the White House.
I’m afraid you may be right.
There’s a Rolling stone article on the failure of the “War on Drugs.”
I’ll trade the Belgrade bombing for Iraq war 10X over.
Both are bad, but one’s much badder.
Neither would be better.
And if you didn’t like the Clinton wars, come to Book Salon on Sunday & help me get Wesley Clark. You might want to listen to this shocking interview of him on wnyc http://www.wnyc.org/shows/bl/episodes/2007/11/28
I’m sorry, but I don’t judge a whole administration by whether they developed electric batteries or not.
I’m NOT a Hillary fan. We can do better, much better.
And the economy was very good for lots of folks during the Clinton Admin. One of the best 8 years in the post WWII period. Sorry if you were left out.
O’Hanlon isn’t good on Iraq either.
A Skeptic’s Case For the Surge
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..01950.html
No I think Bloomberg would split the Republicans just like Ross Perot. Hagel is too faaaar tooo the right. I don’t care if Bloomberg was once a “Democrat.”
at least lugar is not an idiot. there are useful things he could do (if we was willing). for example, i could see giving him the job of negotiating and implementing (if he could pull it off) a world-wide nuclear disarmament treaty.
but arnold? wtf, all that does is make obama look like an idiot.
I think ze guvernator would rahther vork vit Obama zan vit zat girly mahn, Mitt Womney.
The captive-audience screen in the elevator was quoting him – I don’t recall what he said – but it was about him reducing the deficit by cutting taxes.
My response to that: ‘Is he planning a second career as a standup comedian?’
Thank you, Senator Obama, for making my choice a little easier. I see no reason to include Republicans in the next administration, even for window-dressing. Why pander to a party committed to my destruction?
I’m down to Kucinich, Dodd, and Edwards.
Didn’t I read somewhere that the only other candidate for office that Oprah has mentioned in a supportive manner was Ahnold? Wonder if he was influenced by her on that?
I like your posts
Seriously though, when will Dems realize that they are a recessive gene that need other similar recessive genes to express themselves? If you pair a recessive gene with a dominant gene, you get the dominant trait of wingnuttery.
and clinton wants to seen bush 41 around the world to make them like us?
ackkkk!!!!
Orrin Hatch was so fond of Ahhnold at one time that he wanted to amend the Constitution to allow Ahhnold to run for Preznit.
I hope that Orrin has recovered from that particular case of brainfever.
In the past six weeks, the estimate of the California budget deficit has gone from ten billion to over fourteen billion dollars. While the Assembly and Arnold celebrate an agreement on “universal” health care for Californians, Arnold is proposing huge reductions in current health care. So “everyone” will have health care later, and those who depend on the state for their social services, including health care, won’t have it right now.
It’s all a GOP shell game. He’s also proposing to sell the lottery. It’s Shock Doctrine with an Austrian accent and a Kennedy wife.
Edwards/Dodd
Dodd/Edwards
And, to his credit, 41 at least had the good sense to decline (I did read this, right?).
Coulda fooled me.
But seriously, show up for Book Salon http://firedoglake.com/booksalon/
Don’t forget that back in the early ’70s, many of the same folks pimping to amend the Constitution so that Ahnuld can run for President were pimping to change it so that Kissinger could run for President.
I don’t know Bloomberg, but most of the talking heads seem to think he would pull votes from the Democrats. The only thing Perot was not a Republican on was his hatred for GHW Bush. You may be right, but I feel more comfortable without any third party in this election.
Hatch did a splendid job sobbing over the “poor” telcom companies the other day.
Bloomberg is Mr. Negative Charisma.
Not so much good sense as rising to defend Junja. The statement his PR issued essentially said he saw no need for a goodwill tour to restore America’s name and moral standing, as we are doing just fine under his spawn.
It smelled of OldBar, the statement did.
Bloomberg? Ghouliani’s little protege. Er umm. Bloomberg sounds like he just has a bad case of “I want to be preznit” millionaritis.
Okay. However, the only time Perot had any charisma was through Dana Carvey.
Drive-by hi to everyone-a lightning strike at my house has me off the tubes for the moment. Hope everyone has a great holiday, and will be back soon!
Back in the saddle again. Thanks Jane and RBG ;-)
BMcGrarth said
Well, there’s this and this and this and I’m sure I could find more for you
Picking tidbits from other posts, Bush/Cheney/Enron’s Ken Lay plotted in an infamous hotel meeting to jack up energy rates, pushing Californians anger into a successful recall — but they needed a larger-than-life “actor” to play the role of “Governator”, thereby dumbing down the issues and prospects of real debate about what was going on. It’s what Rove, etc. do.
Schwarzenneger promised to “blow up boxes” in changing California’s structural deficits (among other problems) and promised to take no money from “special interests” because he was so rich he didn’t need them. Naturally, he subsequently has shattered all records for fund raising from the interests within the now-scandalous home lending industry, such as Ameriquest (and other industries.)
He borrowed billions of dollars to paper over the structural problems, the chicken is coming home to roost. There is a fundamental divide between Legislative Democrats who want tax increases along with any cuts, and the minority Republicans who are needed to pass any budget who refuse to approve of ANY tax increase. I can’t stand Schwarzenneger, but I thought if he was going to be worth anything it would be to bring together these two entrenched interests to actually fix the structural deficit plaguing California. But, alas, it has proven to be kind of like expecting Bush to use the sympathy of the world after Sept. 11th to bring about fundamental change.
Shame on Obama for even reaching out to the Republican aisle — he and all candidates should be showing why the progressive positions (especially when stated without party identification) are the overwhelmingly preferred positions of most Americans. If the Republicans don’t come over to the obviously correct positions, then they deserve the beating they have been getting (assuming better leadership and framing and media coverage.) Take us back on a history lesson and explain why the founders felt it important to separate church and state — for the benefit of both (to show but one example.) For a candidate that wants to use “hope”, stick to the issues instead of party identifications — because the current Republican brand is very damaged, and deliberately so.
On the subject of couldawouldashoulda…
Although Obama said some great things in 2002 against the rush to war, I have absolutely no doubt, albeit absolutely no proof, that had he been in the Senate at that time, under the tender tutelage of RG Joe, he would have signed on to the AUMF along with Dodd, Edwards, Clinton, and Biden.
Sorry to hear this RonD. Hope damage wasn’t too bad.
But Perot was a character. Lotsa raw material. Bloomberg’s just dull. I guess you can parody deadpan, but there’s no good quirk except his fading Boston accent.
I think both Obama’s and Edwards comments about including R’s in their administration is an attempt to appeal to the Independents who are sick of the GOP and their cronyism, yet will not hold their nose and vote for Hillary.
I do not blame them for trying to appear less partisan. It is clearly differentiating themselves from the GOP and I think that is the point. I think it is a subtle attempt to paint the Right Wing as extremist. Which they are.
Nice summary.
Hey Bilbo. That particular computer will never re-start again.
Off on the business of the Queen. See everyone later.
Slightly OT – I just heard Thom Hartmann conduct a straw poll. Hillary got 2 votes, Richardson – 2 votes, Obama – 3 votes, Dodd – 2 votes, Kucinich – 28 votes, and Edwards – 36 votes.
Hartmann said in all of the straw polls he has done in the last couple of months, Edwards has won every one of them.
interrresting. . .
This is why I can’t stand Obama. He parots Republican talking points about things like social security and healthcare and he just loves Broderesque bipartisanship. Great. That’s what we need–to be saddled with a GOP lite cabinet.
It’s possible, but in the tape I saw, he mentioned the potential for all of the disasters which came about. As an Illinois state senator, he was talking about possible Shiite-Sunni-Kurd civil war. At the time, even though he was taking us into war, I don’t think George Bush knew the difference between a Sunni and a Commanche.
RonD – take care…
Thanks, eCAHN — the last line should have said “deservedly so”, not “deliberately so” (on second thought, maybe some “Shock Doctrine”?)
I’ve got no problem with candidates saying (when asked, not volunteering it) that they’d consider including the other party in their cabinet (and say nice stuff about listening to all points of view.) But when asked for specifics or commitments, they should have the sense to say “now is not the time for that.”
Arnold does seem like an abomination. Something brought about by the “Smartest Guys in the Room.”
Yes! Either one would be nice… I’m partial to DK, but Edwards would get my vote too…
I can’t figure out why these numbers don’t seem to translate to the polls, especially the national polls.
All I know is that if we lose the WH again, we’re all screwed. Seriously, I think this country will be destined to become a dictatorship. Now we also can add Barack, because he will allow for a melding of the parties. Then we can all be lead around by the nose and complacently act as sheep and Barack can be a shepherd of men, whereas his father only shepherded sheep, didn’t he? He’s a “I’ll never vote for him,” for me.
New Orleans police taser, pepper spray housing demolition protestors at City Hall.
About Derr Gropinator … In His Own Words by Robert Greenwald
http://youtube.com/watch?v=UxAh-LBhnzs
Go fuck yourself Monkey Boy.
The man is pathological.
-G
ditto.
bush 41 (the elected prez) declined to go w/ Bill Clinton b/c it would imply criticism of hi son, whom he thinks has done a wonderful job.
Because, unfortunately, the audience for the Thom Hartmann program is probably not very representative of the nation as a whole.
I almost forgot my own artful language for handling this subject the last time it came up in a post (then related to Edwards iirc)
or words to that effect.
What I was surprised at was the low votes for Hil and Obama – and that Kucinich poll and not scientific at all, but still -
Ever think of adjusting top and bottom margins. Its not rocket science!
Oops – should have read “and that Kucinich was so high. I know it was a straw poll and not scientific . . .
Well, I’m late to the party, but how about Secretary of Immigration and Naturalization services? Heh.
Bob in HI
I guess people want real change, and not just lip service…
Bob, aren’t you the guy who created or is responsible for Priming the Pump? I think they’re looking for you downstairs. Frantically!
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/26298
As for the governator I don’t think he is good for anything, except maybe on the environmental issues. He and administration are going to court on the EPA decision. First time in 40 years the EPA has turned down an exception for states petition for tougher tail pipe emissions! But other than that I can’t stand the governator… he should back to being in movies, he is more believable in the movies than in real life. At the Nurses got to him, he now sticks his finger in the air to see which way to go!
He’d fail at that,too.
Now that was hee-haw funny!
In a way, I find my goals as almost reactionary, rather than progressive. I think we will be lucky if we can restore any significant measure of our prior standing in the world as generally a fair broker, and domestically restore the separation of powers, the sense of possibility and hope for progress in the lives of the lower and middle classes, and a more general belief that government can work to improve the general welfare. I think we’ll be lucky if we can make progress at such restorations. I know we cannot with any Republican as president or a Republican Congress. I feel we stand a chance with any Democrat as prsident and a Democratic Congress.
Well there was Ron Lovitz’ impression of Dukakis.
“I’m outraged.”
Well said, perfect reference.
Well, I’m a fourth-generation Californian. I voted for Davis and Bustamante in the past elections.
And frankly, I’d take Schwarzenegger any day of the week and twice on Sundays over either of those lightweights. Neither could get anything remotely progressive achieved in Cali.
Yet RINO Arnold managed to raise the minimum wage to the highest level in the country, pass some of the greenest legislation in the country, has sued the Administration to get the EPA to enforce it, and is now going to the wall for universal healthcare in the state.
Personally, I don’t see what’s to complain about. He was a demagogue in his early years, and can be a bit of an oaf, but regardless of the letter behind his name, he’s been the most effective Democrat we’ve had in the state in decades.
Good for Obama for wanting to surround himself with voices that agree and disagree with him both.
Screw so-called progressives who are so weak-willed they have to encircle themselves with yes men.
You don’t need to be bi partisan… WHY? There are plenty of good dems to fill the few key posts in any administration without sucking up to pukes.
DON’T DO IT. A bad mistake.
Play hardball!
are you sure? i think he just added some more.
hey dudes, a most excellent new post by Miss Jane is upstairs…
I was getting suspicious with the “Lieberman’s protege” and “bipartisanship” memes. Now I am definitively dead-set against Obama as our Democratic nominee.
You are absolutely right; people should know that Republicans took California in a coup against a pro-worker Governor. Arnold is using the environmental issue to promote his reputation while tightening the screws on worker safety and nursing ratios.
John Edwards gets the difference between Repubs and Democrats and that’s why so many of us in the progressive blogosophere love his feisty and fiery spirit. No surrender!
But let’s take Obama at his word for the moment. If he’s really thinking about appointing Schwarzenegger to his cabinet, would he possibly name a guy who owns four Hummers to head up the EPA? Isn’t there another position that he might be more qualified for — or an appropriate job that could be created for him?
Scwarz would be the perfect SEC DOT. When the Dems take over the government and find it looted and bankrupt by BUSHCO, they will have to depend on creative financing for its funding of basic things like transportation for government officials. As SEC DOT, the Schwarz will be able to call on all his generous corporate donors to fly around the rest of the cabinet in the luxury and style they have provided him as governor of California.
Sorry. I probably should have provided some context for the above remarks.
From the LA Times:
————–
Who foots Schwarzenegger’s bills?
The governor may be rich enough to refuse a salary, but he still takes money for travel expenses, without disclosing who’s paying.
December 11, 2007
Arnold Schwarzenegger was already so rich, his supporters claimed, he wouldn’t need to make political deals with campaign donors. Look, they said, he’s not even going to take his salary! What a deal for California!
What a deal indeed. Instead of taking a salary, Schwarzenegger takes overseas trips that feature private jets and luxury suites. His purpose is ostensibly to promote California, but his expenses are paid by donors who want something from him, like a signature or a veto at bill-signing time. Those donors funnel their cash to the governor, in anonymity, through something called the California State Protocol Foundation. Because it’s a nonprofit organization, campaign laws that limit how much contributors can give simply don’t apply.
In his first year in office, the governor duly disclosed how much he was being reimbursed for his promotional junkets. But then he was advised that filing the forms was unnecessary. The reason? The foundation wasn’t giving the money to the governor personally but to the governor’s office. Now his aides may be doing little more than making mental notes of how much foundation money he spends.
The governor’s aides say they’re complying with the law. What they really mean is that they’re releasing as little information as the law will permit. Schwarzenegger ought to be ashamed. He promised to set new standards of openness and independence. He has instead delivered creative new ways to circumvent disclosure.
Fortunately, the public is not powerless. The state’s Fair Political Practices Commission can update its regulations to keep pace with the latest, and sneakiest, methods of connecting special interest money with elected officials. It should move swiftly to mandate the kind of disclosure that Schwarzenegger could make now, but won’t.
The commission is up to the job. It has a vigorous new chairman in Ross Johnson, a Republican former assemblyman and state senator who is passionate about campaign finance disclosure. On Thursday, the commission will take up his proposal to require more disclosure by officials who spend more traditional campaign donations on jet-setting lifestyles. It’s a response to Times reports about the travels of Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez, who appears to be engaged with Schwarzenegger in some kind of champagne-and-caviar arms race.
It’s too bad that a basic sense of responsibility to the public isn’t enough to make people like Schwarzenegger and Nuñez fully disclose who is paying them, how much and for what. But it’s not. That’s why the commission must act.
http://www.latimes.com/news/pr…..3099.story
The reason that it doesn’t translate is that Thom Hartmann’s listeners are NOT random. The guy’s on Air America, fer Chrissakes! The station isn’t heard nationally. It espouses progressive “Edwardian” political views. So of course the listeners of Hartmann’s show are going to be pro-Edwards.
It’s no different from a poll on FDL. Most people, even most Democrats, have different views and attitudes…and not a few likely either don’t know about Edwards’ positions, don’t think he can win, or have other issues with him. Or they may simply like Obama or Clinton MORE.
Edwards supporters have to be careful on how they generate greater support against these issues. They have to be careful not to go “negative” against Clinton or Obama as that may actually backfire, since their attacks reflect on the candidate (just as much as Bob Kerrey’s comments reflect on Clinton). But even raising such issues as the latter may actually suggest that Edwards is “throwing mud”. So JE is in a difficult position…which is the result of allowing Clinton and Obama to get nationally organized and campaigning much earlier a strategic error.
In addition his decision to drop from the Senate likely backfired in this regard. While he doesn’t have a lot of politically encumbering votes on record over the last four years…he also didn’t have his name in the news with regularity. That poses a real problem for him. People can barely remember Kerrey, much less his Vice-Presidential nominee.
Arnold is hardly the pro-Environmentalist he appears. He was in tight with Enron’s Ken Lay…and was one of just 11 California Business leaders to meet secretly with Lay in June 2001 at the Beverly Hill’s Peninsula Hilton to discuss “business solutions to California’s energy crisis”. Arnold was an advocate for the original deregulation that created the mess. Arnold will not reveal what was discussed at the meeting, but many suspect that it was to plan for the inevitable recall election of Gov. Gray Davis that would propel Arnold to power.
Arnold only tepidly supported the legal efforts to investigate Enron and other energy brokers who initiated the crisis. And he created the package of bail-out borrowing that paid off the massive State Debt that accrued by these criminals…and only received pennies on the dollar in the resultant settlements for fraud. Instead his plan was to cut everything from fire protection and police…to hospital nurses and educational funding. That was the strategy he developed with his Economics Advisor that was pulled from Jeb Bushland. He used the Teachers pension money as a stop-gap mechanism and then refused to pay it back until courts ruled against him.
Arnold had to do a 180-degree turn after his resounding losses on a package of funding cuts that he tried to push through. He failed enormously and then, realizing he wouldn’t be re-elected…suddenly began to espouse a number of progressive measures mandating higher standards, many of which would likely be blocked at the Federal level (how convenient ~ one can sound good while knowing it’s going to be tied up in court). Actual State funding on these initiatives are minimal.
I thought Austria was all honked off at Arnold because he supports the death penalty?
Howzabout Secretary of Defense? He has all that military experience from making action movies.