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Topsail Island. Photo by joanneleon. December, 2012
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News and Opinion
SENATE PASSES ‘FISCAL CLIFF’ COMPROMISE 89-8 | In an 89-8 vote after 2 am, the U.S. Senate endorsed the bipartisan compromise negotiated Monday to avoid the so-called “fiscal cliff.”
The spin is that he's a bad negotiator. But this makes no sense. Biden supposedly stepped in (to take the heat off of Obama, so it's harder to say he broke his 250K promise) and Biden is a terrible poker player too? No, this isn't about being a bad poker player. This is about making
great deals for the wealthiest few. And Obama is very good at that, and the Dems keep making more and more elaborate kabuki set ups to try to distract from the fact that they don't represent the best interests of the 99%. It's clownish at this point trying to pretend they are the party of the people, using elaborate schemes to set up and push through these complex "deals", blaming the obstructionist Republicans for all of it, and using their media propaganda machine. But even with all of that power, it still comes out looking clownish and a lot of people can still see right through them.
'World's Worst Poker Player': Obama Readies Gift for GOP
President refuses to hold his line as clock ticks in Washington
As rumors of a 'deal' continue, a new Paul Krugman post on Obama's 'dealmaking':
{...} Anyone looking at these negotiations, especially given Obama’s previous behavior, can’t help but reach one main conclusion: whenever the president says that there’s an issue on which he absolutely, positively won’t give ground, you can count on him, you know, giving way — and soon, too. The idea that you should only make promises and threats you intend to make good on doesn’t seem to be one that this particular president can grasp.
And that means that Republicans will go right from this negotiation into the debt ceiling in the firm belief that Obama can be rolled.
At that point he can redeem himself by holding firm — but because the Republicans don’t think he will, they will play tough, almost surely forcing him to actually hit the ceiling with all the costs that entails. And look, if I were a Republican I would also be betting that he’ll cave.
So Obama has set himself and the nation up for a much uglier confrontation than we would have had if he had set a negotiating position and held to it.
Blog Posts and Tweets of Interest
Ferko String Band 1989- At The Strutters Ball
2 Street Mummers Parade 2012
Fralinger String Band 2012
Fralinger String Band 1977 (2nd Prize)
Fralinger String Band 1994 (2nd Prize)
1st Prize Routine's Through The Years
Remember when progressive debate was about our values and not about a "progressive" candidate? Remember when progressive websites championed progressive values and didn't tell progressives to shut up about values so that "progressive" candidates can get elected?
Come to where the debate is not constrained by oaths of fealty to persons or parties.
Come to where the pie is served in a variety of flavors.
"The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that spectrum." ~ Noam Chomsky
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