Image via Wikipedia
In light of the previous post, I figured this would be as good a title as any.
Nancy Pelosi is taking some heat from fellow Democrat Representatives for the loss of the House to the Republicans.
So, what do you think? Is it her fault? Would it have been worth it to keep the House but ditch the PPACA? Should she step aside and let someone else take Minority Leader?
Ed. Note: Pelosi has been elected as House Minority Leader
Related Articles
- The case for Nancy Pelosi (politico.com)
- Nancy Pelosi, thank you and goodbye | Alex Slater (guardian.co.uk)
- Democrats need Pelosi’s toughness (cnn.com)
- Pelosi: Don’t blame me for the midterm disaster (hotair.com)
538 Refugees 
The voters fired sixty-plus Dems because those Dems enacted policies their constituents opposed, not because the voters disliked Nancy Pelosi.
Pelosi has represented her constituents and the progressive base of the Dem Party magnificently.
The fired Dems harbor a vain hope that, if they replace Pelosi with a more moderate figurehead, then the Charlie Brown voters will once again try to kick their Lucy “conservative Democrat” football and put them back in power. Good luck with that. The past two years of excess has pretty much destroyed the myth of the “conservative Democrat.” If you vote Dem, you only get the left and the far left.
Bartles, If you vote Rep you got Reagan, Bush41/cheney/bush and now boehner/cantor/bachmann/mcdonnell/demint …
good luck w/that!
I find it absolutely infuriating. This is an example of Dems at their weeniest, and that’s saying something.
The idea that that their most effective legislative leader in memory should step down because the GOP doesn’t like her because she’s too effective… and they’ve managed to demonize her because of it.. sheesh.
As one analyst said, it’s exactly like pulling your first-string quarterback because the opposition has complained to the press that he’s too aggressively effective in running plays and getting first downs, and it’s JUST NOT NICE.
This is a perfect chance for Dems to unite, show a solid party front for once, and say to the GOP, “Look, dudes…no offense… but up your nose with a rubber hose.”
I want Nancy Pelosi there and in firmly in charge when the challenges to HCR start flying. I think the Dem caucus should be carrying Nancy Pelosi around on their shoulders.
In my opinion, given the current economic state and the paucity of jobs for the average working stiff, the incumbent majority in the House of Representatives was doomed regardless. No, it’s not Pelosi’s fault. If anything, considering the large number of moderate-to-conservative Democrats who rightfully had to worry about protecting their slim margins back home, I’ve been amazed and encouraged by the votes she’s managed to negotiate and corral on a wide range of issues. She’s got a solid head for political strategy, unlike many of the backseat critics.
People might complain that she didn’t push far enough, but she’s constrained by what can get passed in the Senate. We saw more than one positive piece of legislation make it past the House and then die in Senate committee. That’s not Pelosi’s fault, either.
No, Pelosi’s not perfect, but I believe she fights hard and intelligently to advance Democratic policies. I think she’s better as the face of the party than someone sterner or more aggressive would be (i.e. Dick Durbin). A savvy leader lets the Whip do all of the ball-busting.
If anything, perhaps Democratic pundits and publicists should be blaming themselves for failing to get out front on messaging. That more than anything probably helped the Republicans, because they were able to frame the debate in the public sphere, and Democrats were left to flounder as they tried to defend against lies like “death panels.” But no amount of messaging can create jobs, and the number of jobs that can be created are necessarily restricted by the compromises required to get any stimulus passed at all.
So, blaming Pelosi for not waving a magic wand and creating 10 million jobs is nonsensical. Perhaps we really do want a witch in the House?
@ filistro:
As one analyst said, it’s exactly like pulling your first-string quarterback because the opposition has complained to the press that he’s too aggressively effective in running plays and getting first downs, and it’s JUST NOT NICE.
Excellent analogy! I may steal that… 🙂
This is interesting to ponder. What game are we playing? If the game is passing legislation, then she was scoring lots of points. If the game is gaining and maintaining control of the various branches of government, then she threw some key interceptions.
I think this goes back to the rule vs. govern issue that is brought up here from time to time.
@Michael… If the game is passing legislation, then she was scoring lots of points. If the game is gaining and maintaining control of the various branches of government
What is the point of achieving the latter if you’re not using it to accomplish the former?
The perks are awesome!
The perks are awesome!
LOL!!…
(God help us, that’s probably the simple truth… 😦
Why does the Rate-o-meter go back to zero? What happened to the Reply button?
Fopsie… we’re experimenting with non-threaded comments because some people (okay, it was me) 😉 have complained about missing posts and losing track of the conversation.
Just quote the relevant part of whatever post you’re responding to.
As for the Rate-o-meter… personally, I try not to even look at it. Those little amputated hands totally creep me out.
Perhaps you’d prefer a disembodied Rush Limbaugh or Sarah Palin head?
@fopplssiegeparty,
Try rating the various comments as you see fit. I’d like to see if they show up.
Loves Nancy, I’d vote for her to stay. She’s the hardest working, hardest fighting dem there is. I’ll repeat what’s already been said. She’s being hammered for getting the job done. Fili is right, this is the dems at their weeniest. Ugh!
@ Michael Weiss – I have rated several entries on several threads. It takes the vote, then after a few seconds, it reverts back to zero.
@fopplssiegeparty
I saw a handful of comments that have votes. Not sure if those are the ones you have rated, though. Can you tell me which ones you’ve tried to rate? Do the ratings show up if you refresh the page?
No, not on my end. I gave your 11:58 am post a thumbs up. Twice.
I have voted up pretty much anything from Fili, Mr. U and yourself. Hope this helps.
@fopsie… Perhaps you’d prefer a disembodied Rush Limbaugh or Sarah Palin head?
Hey, that’s a creative idea. 🙂 It would be a nice change to see those two without having to LISTEN to them. Also, people would be more likely to use the Rate-o-Meter if it meant you get to smack one of them…
My representative, Keith Ellison, tweeted today,
Sometimes doing the right thing, will cause you to pay dearly. Do the right thing anyway
Nancy Pelosi rocks. The fact that she ticks off Bart is enough reason to keep her. The fact that she scares the beegeebers out of the nutty Republican base is enough to keep her forever.
@ Fili – Sarah Palin scares me to death. I was one of the fools that was full of glee when GWB was nominated. “He’s an idiot and everyone knows it!” is what I was thinking. Boy did that turn out crappy.
Now that Pelosi is again the face of House Dems, I wonder how many Dems who survived in swing districts now become de facto GOP votes to avoid being linked with Pelosi again?
Wanna have a pool guessing how many Dem House members will vote to repeal PPACA?
fopsie… I was scared of GWB right from the start but I’m not a bit scared of Palin. Every time I throw a coin into the fountains at the Bellagio in Vegas, I wish for a Palin nomination. When I pull the turkey wishbone at Christmas dinner, I will also be pulling for a Palin nomination.
GWB had a lot going for him compared to Palin… dynastic cachet, family name, aura of power, pedigree and “old money”, cowboy vibe… all the things that are dear to the heart of Republicans who are innately snobbish and very class-conscious. They may love Palin’s stridency and conservative values, but deep in their hearts they still look on her a bit of an upstart, sort of a vulgar below-stairs girl pretending to be just as good as everybody else. Even the Freepers are divided about her. (Lots of posts begin “don’t get me wrong, I love Sarah… but…”)
She has the support of the neocons who would like to use her stupidity for their own nefarious ends, but she doesn’t have the big-money party establishment like GWB had, and that means more than a lot of people think it does. In fact, I think it means everything. I believe the GOP establishment would rather lose the presidency in 2012 than have her win it.
Speaking of mama grizzly and her teabagger cubs:
Obama Leads 2012 Rivals in Virginia
A new poll released Tuesday shows President Obama in a strong early position to win Virginia’s electoral votes in 2012.
The poll, conducted by the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling Nov. 10-13, found Obama leading against frontrunners Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, and Newt Gingrich. Obama held 11-percentage-point leads against Palin and Gingrich and 5-percentage-point leads against Romney and Huckabee in the poll, which has a margin of error of 4.2%.
Fifty percent of those polled said they approved of the job Obama is doing as president and 45% said they disapproved. Voters in Virginia have negative opinions of three of the four frontrunners, according to the poll — more voters said they had unfavorable opinions than favorable opinions about Gingrich, Romney, and Palin. Huckabee garnered the best favorability ratings of any of the Republicans in the poll — 40% said they had a favorable opinion of the former Arkansas governor and 40% said they had an unfavorable opinion.
The poll was conducted among 551 Virginia voters using automated technology.
~~~~~
Mentioned previously Carter almost blew a (33) pt. lead against Ford ie the power of incumbency! And Dukakis blew a (17) pt. lead against Bush41 after the ’88 Dem convention, losing by (7) pts. because he was a very weak candidate and terrible campaigner as again, presidential elections basically come down to (2) choices and you can win by default, eh … just ask cheney/bush.
Also mentioned Obama can easily win re-election w/out FL and OH, whereas the Rep electoral math is an ever shrinkin’ equation ie a lot of small states and TX and they can’t win w/out FL and OH.
>
but not to worry, as imo mama grizzly ain’t running, except to the bank and of course (2) years is an eternity in politics. But Obama announced his candidacy Feb. 2007, so many Rep pretenders should be coming out of the closet, so to speak, real soon.
btw, if palin doesn’t run will you all call me a genius and say Nate is an idiot! 😉
solo estoy diciendo
Virginia is for Lovers or so they say …
Thanks for sharing those poll results from VA, shiloh!
Great news for Sarah Palin! 😉
It’s way, way, WAY too far in front of the election to read too much into the polling, but it’s encouraging to see that the starting blocks for Obama aren’t as far back as the collective media opinion would suggest.
@fopplssiegeparty,
I have no idea why yours aren’t appearing. Have you signed up for an account with WordPress, or are you just connecting anonymously (without username/password)? It’s possible that it doesn’t allow anonymous commenters to rate comments.
Let’s try to debug this one.
@ Michael Weiss – I do not have a WordPress account (I will get one), though it asks me for name & email address.
Shiloh:
Here is the money quote from the PPP VA poll: “This electorate, at D +1, is more evenly split, but still gives the president a 50-45 job performance mark, better than PPP has measured him almost anywhere in 2010.”
Given that the Dems were creamed in VA in 2010 and the Dem leaning Edison exit polls had Obama’s approval numbers underwater here as in nearly every other swing state, one wonders who the heck were the “voters” PPP polled here so they obtained higher approval ratings that Obama enjoys nationally with adults.
@fili,
,i>As one analyst said, it’s exactly like pulling your first-string quarterback because the opposition has complained to the press that he’s too aggressively effective in running plays and getting first downs, and it’s JUST NOT NICE.
As MW alluded to, Pelosi just QB’d her teams to one of the worst shellackings in political history. Maybe she got a lot of first downs but at the end of the game she got… well…shellacked.
@ Michael Weiss – I now have an account and I just voted on your 1:29 pm post (thumbs up, of course).
@ Fili – Thanks for having the intestinal fortitude to venture over and spy on the dark side. I get quite a visceral reaction whenever I am exposed to right wing propaganda.
Bartles regardless, again it’s (2) years out so no need for you and your teabagger buddies to start hyperventilating just yet, eh.
pace yourself …
@fopplssiegeparty
First, thanks for signing up. 🙂
Second, all I see is the one thumbs-down on that post.
Third, I did a little testing on my end, and it doesn’t appear that you need to be logged in for the ratings to work.
What browser and operating system are you running?
@GROG.. Maybe she got a lot of first downs but at the end of the game she got… well…shellacked.
That’s true… but it had nothing to do with the way she played the game. It was more like an act of God… like, say, the whole defensive squad got struck by lightning, and they had to bring the cheerleaders in as substitutes.
Nancy did the best she could with the hand she was dealt… but when confronted by a solid offensive line, those cheerleaders always just fold like a cheap suit.
grog re: shellacked ~ Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice, dying on the cross for all our sins, if one believes the Bible.
So it’s all relative, especially when talkin’ the yin and yang of politics.
Things change so quickly as all fame is fleeting …
fili,
In football, every play is not designed to score a touchdown. You have to make a bunch of small gains to score a touchdown. Pelosi went for the big play every time, against the will of the people, and it cost her the game and the season.
@GROG… You have to make a bunch of small gains to score a touchdown
Yes, and that’s where the analogy breaks down. Because no matter how difficult or improbable the series of plays, in football you get the same points when you reach the end zone.
Nancy Pelosi advanced the president’s agenda into the end zone on 2 key occasions… she got a stimulus bill passed that saved the whole world’s economy, and Health Care reform that will last for a century. Relatively speaking, each one should have been worth 100 points, not 7… especially considering the opposition she faced. Few speakers have scored momentous achievements like that against such massive odds.
@GROG,
Again, it depends on what the game is, how you keep score, and whether or not there’s a clock. I have come to believe that the two primary parties are playing different games on the same field.
fili,
That’s a difference of opinion. I happen to believe she scored negative 100 points on those two bills. They cost her party a huge majority in the House and the peoplewill pay dearly for those bills for generations to come.
MW,
I have come to believe that the two primary parties are playing different games on the same field.
I absolutely agree.
First off, I haven’t been to this site since Nate moved, but I’ve gotten tired of the impossibility of having a conversation at the NYT site. So, hi.
As to the matter at hand, I agree Pelosi has been incredibly successful at getting the House to pass bills. This is most likely the reason the GOP hates her. She’s also impervious to Republican challengers in her San Fran district. However, I don’t see why at least discussing a new Speaker is that bad.
There are several good Congressmen that would be effective. As I tried to say on the NYT site that didn’t show up, I really like John Lewis. He’s also impervious to challengers, having run unopposed for years. Having an African American Speaker would be great for the Black Caucus and might further energize the African American base. Plus he’s well liked by those that know who he is. And he’s my Congressman, so that helps.
Brian,
Welcome aboard. 🙂 If you know anyone else still over at the NYT site, please invite them to join us.
Brian, Obama should be able energize the African American base by himself as in 2008. If not, don’t think Lewis would help.
Legislation/results have more impact than who the Speaker is. In 2008, most voters didn’t know who Pelosi is/was … as much as Reps wanted to make her an issue lol.
In presidential elections always think big picture and not the small minutiae!
Brian,
This site is fantastic. Mr. U, MW, Filistro et al have done a great job.
Wow… BRIAN is here!
How nice to see you. I agree about the frustration of posting at the other site. I hardly go there anymore except to skim the headlines every couple of days.
Looking forward to your intelligent and thoughtful contributions.
Was thinkin’ a couple wks ago it would be cool if Nate dropped by and said hello, but he wouldn’t use an alias. This site is a spawn from his old blog, nothing to be mysterious about. Nate never stuck me as the type who would play games … wager/predict yes 🙂 ulterior motives no.
Hey shiloh,
Are you so sure Palin isn’t running?
Palin tells ABC she can beat Obama in 2012.
Are you so sure Palin isn’t running?
The GOP is already at war over the very possibility. Freeperville is exploding… hundreds of posts today about the interview mclever just linked to. The practical supporters of Romney and the fanatical Sarahbots who are convinced she can sweep every state but NY and CA are at each other’s throats… and the Romney supporters are being purged right and left, just for daring to say he might be the better candidate.
Here is a sample post from this afternoon, directed to a Freeperette who posted she believed Romney would have a better chance against Obama than Palin would:
To….. (name redacted)
“Oh I see. It isn’t about principles. It’s about WINNING. It doesn’t matter what they believe or support as long as they win.
You see, honey, we are in the situation we are now because of idiots like you who support the (R) at all costs. The establishment GOP is nothing more than a bunch of entitled elitists BECAUSE of blind lemmings like you. You follow the R willingly all for the sake of winning. You are no different than Peggy Noonan, Kathleen Parker and Debbie Schuessel.
By default, you disgust me. And the fact you’re touting that piece of sh!t Romney on a *conservative* site like FR is an embarrassment to Jim Robinson and the rest of us who stand up and against everything you stand for.”
232 posted on November 17, 2010 5:45:24 PM by… name redacted
Ten minutes later, the woman to whom this post was directed (a pleasant, well-spoken 11-year member of Free Republic) was permanently banned (“zotted”) by the site owner. General rejoicing ensued.
As I have repeatedly said, Sarah Plain is going to destroy the Republican Party. The civil war has already begun.
Are you so sure Palin isn’t running?
No, but if I was to wager $$$, I’d say she ain’t.
But, but, but I also said Obama had no chance against Hillary when he was down (30) pts. in Iowa Nov. 2007.
And I was also pretty sure Lebron would stay w/the Cavs, but now that he’s gone, I’m glad lol.
>
Again, as a rule I don’t make predictions, but I was right about Giuliani not running for NY governor/senator (1) year before he said no. Giuliani’s all hat, no cattle, so that one was easy.
Also VA Gov. McDonnell won’t win re-election 😉 and neither will Christie of NJ who only got 48.5% against a god awful Dem ie he won by default in a heavily Dem state.
Book it! 🙂
Filistro
Just wow.
I’m actually very happy to see this, for many reasons.
1) Internal warfare within the Republican Party bodes well for the future of our nation.
2) The idea that (at least some of ) the Republicans are changing from a “win at all costs” attitude to a “principled” attitude (even if that principle is rather silly) also bodes well for the nation. I think we need more people of principle, even if they are principles I disagree with.
3) Internal warfare within the Republican Party bodes well for the future of our nation.
4) Sarah Palin will make for an amusing primary season.
5) Internal warfare within the Republican Party bodes well for the future of our nation. (Have I said that already?)
shrinkers… so true.
When I read this stuff I have to keep stopping to remind myself… these people are ON THE SAME SIDE. The attacks and vitriol among Freepers are more brutal than anything we see around here between folks way over on opposite sides of the politcial spectrum.
There was some wrangling among Freepers back when McCain got the nomination and many thought he was too mavericky… but it was nothing like this. Multiply the venom you see here by a few million times across the country, set it aside for a year or more to ferment, and then try to imagine this bunch unifying behind their eventual candidate.
also @ shrinkers …The idea that (at least some of ) the Republicans are changing from a “win at all costs” attitude to a “principled” attitude (even if that principle is rather silly) also bodes well for the nation.
Many of the Freeper-Teaper-Sarahbots talk a lot about their “principles” nowadays, and how it’s even more important to “stick to principles” than to win.
I’d like to address this to our wingers here, because I honestly have no answer… what “principles” does Sarah Palin stand for?
Apart from “pro-life” and “drill baby drill”… I’m just drawing a blank.
Michael,
I rated your 11:58 post 1 up and it seems to stick. For now.
However, I rated shrinkers 12:16 post 1 up. It changed to +1 for a minute, but then reverted back to 0. (sorry, shrinkers. I tried.)
I hope Pelosi stays as the Dem minority leader. She almost single-handedly drove the bulk of the independent voters back into the R column by ramming an unpopular piece of legislation through the House. And, as a bonus, she is alienating most of the moderate members of her party by her ego-driven insistence on retaining a leadership position after leading her party to one of the worst electoral bludgeonings in recent history. Think Heath Shuler et al aren’t itching to deal her a little political payback? Politically she is like Christmas and my birthday all rolled into one. You go girl!
Well merry Christmas parksie. I don’t think the answer is for the Democrats to all become Republicans I still think all they have to do is wait and the Republicnas will remind every one that is still sane in this country just how bad they suck at most every thing having to do with governance. But my gawd is it going to be a long two years.
Oh by the way Democrats didn’t get to pick who the new speaker was today and Republicans don’t get to pick who runs the show for Democrats and dip sticks like Heath Schuler shouldn’t be allowed to even pick his own nose.
Shrinkers: you are right McDonnell won’t win re-election here in Virginia because he can’t run again. It’s a one term deal. But I would bet dollars to donuts that he will run against Mark Warner for Senator next time around. He’s like a silky slimey snake, he says all the right things to his base and they do love him, even if he wants to make the rest of wretch.
@parksie… I hope Pelosi stays as the Dem minority leader.
See, if I were a conservative this is where I would accuse you of being “scared” of Pelosi… but I’m not, so I won’t 🙂
I wouldn’t bet on that parksie. 2010 was no “mandate”. The folks voted out were mainly Blue Dogs, who should never have been in the Dem party anyway. Good riddance.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/17/cnn-poll-only-one-third-favor-tax-cut-extension-for-wealthy/
From the Washington Monthly: “Only a third of all Americans think Bush-era tax cuts should be extended for families regardless of how much money they make, according to a new national poll.
A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll released Wednesday also indicates a vast majority of the public is in favor of allowing openly gay people to serve in the U.S. military. Both issues are high on the agenda for federal lawmakers who have returned to the nation’s capitol this week for the lame duck session of Congress.
Republicans feel like they have the upper hand on taxes, but only a third of the country supports the GOP approach. Likewise, Republicans appear positioned to kill a key nuclear arms treaty, but 73% support Senate ratification of New START.
But it’s the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” results that really stand out. The top-line results are pretty one-sided — 72% want DADT to end, while 23% want it left in place. The country is pretty divided right now, and 72% of Americans don’t agree on much, but Americans have been hearing about this issue for quite a while, and they seem to have made up their minds.
But also look at the internals — support for DADT repeal is so broad, it spans both genders, every race, every age group, every region, every party, every ideology, and every level of education. Even among Republicans, the Democratic position enjoys overwhelming support (64% to 31%). This is about as close as we get to “consensus.”
And yet, despite this, GOP officials on the Hill are still planning to kill repeal this year, and keep the unpopular policy intact for years to come.
Putting that aside, though, in the post-election environment, Republicans have been going around quite a bit lately, insisting that policymakers need to “listen to the American people.” I guess that sentiment doesn’t apply when Republicans don’t like what they hear.”
@Mainer… Oh by the way Democrats didn’t get to pick who the new speaker was today and Republicans don’t get to pick who runs the show for Democrats and dip sticks like Heath Schuler shouldn’t be allowed to even pick his own nose.
I’m going to start a “draft Mainer for 2016” movement. I’ll volunteer my services, free for nothing, as long as it takes. ALL of us will.
Oh, man… wouldn’t it be FUN??? 🙂 🙂 🙂
Jean.. late-breaking, literally just two hours ago… word is President Obama is planning to ram repeal of DADT through in the lame duck. Unnamed sources close to the pres say he intends to “get involved personally.”
And Dick Lugar today scolded his own party for their stance on START. He called them “reckless and nonsensical” and urged Dems to call an immediate vote on the treaty.
Meanwhile the GOP are running around in frantic little circles, trying to decide who’s friends and who’s not.
Fasten your seat belts, folks. This is going to be a fun couple of months 😉
free for nothing hmm, does that mean fee for something …
solo estoy diciendo
“Also VA Gov. McDonnell won’t win re-election and neither will Christie of NJ who only got 48.5% against a god awful Dem ie he won by default in a heavily Dem state.”
I have to agree on your views on the Virginia governor’s race since McDonnell is limited to one term. Christie could well pull off a re-election. The Dem bench is woeful in NJ. They are all crooks or at the very least appear to be trying to be. Christie is an “in your face” up-yours kinda guy. That plays very well in the Garden State.
Let’s hope all the Democrats find their man pants for the lame duck session.
Does anyone image the Republicans in this situation would not pass everything on their agenda in the time they had left? Does anyone imagine they’d be in any mood to start caving to the Dems? Who recalls that even after the spanking the Republicans got in 1998, they still went ahead with the Clinton impeachment, for Gods’ sake?
And Jean, I’m going to have a plaque engraved —
Republicans have been going around quite a bit lately, insisting that policymakers need to “listen to the American people.” I guess that sentiment doesn’t apply when Republicans don’t like what they hear.
Duh.
@Morty
Christie is an “in your face” up-yours kinda guy. That plays very well in the Garden State.
~~~~~
Indeed, which is why he almost grasped defeat from the jaws of victory getting 48.5% against an incumbent w/33% job approval and 58% job disapproval ie he’s not likable, but won anyways against a worse alternative, Corzine.
and yea re: Also VA Gov. McDonnell won’t win re-election as my 😉 indicated.
Jean says: “The folks voted out were mainly Blue Dogs, who should never have been in the Dem party anyway. Good riddance.”
These were the folk providing the margin of the Democratic majority. Please take the time to email these good riddance to Senator-elect Manchin. The GOP is busy inviting him to leave the Party of Asses.
@Bart… The GOP is busy inviting him to leave the Party of Asses.
Yes, it’s courtship season. I hear the Dems are sending candy and flowers to Olympia Snowe, who is thinking tea might not be her favorite beverage 😉
BTW Bart, it looks like that double-dip you’ve been waiting for isn’t going to happen after all.
Good news and rising confidence are everywhere. .. and the holiday shopping season is looking to be a great lift for the economy.
Do you all have some kind of back-up plan since the catastrophic failure of America you’ve been hoping for is apparently failing o materialize?
filistro says:
BD: The GOP is busy inviting him to leave the Party of Asses.
Yes, it’s courtship season. I hear the Dems are sending candy and flowers to Olympia Snowe, who is thinking tea might not be her favorite beverage
Please be sure to remind Olympia how long that love lasted for Arlen in the Dem primary. Comparatively, Tea is a delicious beverage.
BTW Bart, it looks like that double-dip you’ve been waiting for isn’t going to happen after all.
Thank heaven! It is bad enough being in the first L recession since the Great Depression.
Good news and rising confidence are everywhere. .. and the holiday shopping season is looking to be a great lift for the economy.
If only…
“If only…” Bart murmured gloomily…
“WOWSERS!!!!” the Philly Fed shouted half an hour ago…
Level of General Business Conditions Release November 18 ,10:00 Eastern
Consenus Before Report 5.6
Expected Range 4.0 to 9.6
Actual 22.5
Highlights
Philly Fed data have been lagging regional and national data but not in November. The report’s November index on general business conditions jumped from a zero-flat trend to a prodigious 22.5 to indicate very sharp month-to-month growth. New orders rose more than 15 points to 10.4. Shipments also rose more than 15 points, to 16.8. The region’s manufacturers are showing commitment by adding to their workforces as the jobs index rose more than 10 points to 13.3.
Other readings confirm strength: unfilled orders rose while delivery times and inventory contraction slowed. Input prices show steep month-to-month pressure at an accelerating rate yet output prices, that is prices manufacturers receive for their finished goods, continue to contract though now only slightly. This report points to accelerating strength for what is already solid growth for the national manufacturing sector.
“The GOP is busy inviting Manchin to leave the party of asses”
Yeah, I hear that’s going on with a couple of disenchanted Repubs as well. Oh, and you think Murkowski is going to forget how the party of Joe abandoned her? I hear elephants have long memories.
It’s funny, Lisa Murkowski is the first republican I’ve ever wanted to win. Out of sheer spite of course!
No Universe I fear Republicans have no memory what so ever to have a memory would require some level of real world awareness they just do no have. For them every thing is now. They can’t remember the past unless it is their own version of it and they refuse to look ahead so they all end up attending the church of whats happening now. Murkowski will caucus with the Republicans, she will squeeze every last dime out she can for her state and at some moment when least expected she will get one good back stabbing moment in not when it will help the country but when she can be the most smug. You elect people that were regressive A’holes and then expect them to come to DC and not still be represive A’holes…….well good luck with that. Murkowski and her voing record just make me cringe. She will be fine with the new game in town for she has all the correct standings. Now Jim Demented might want to give her a wide circle but I’m guessing they will kiss and make up before it is over because the one thing Murkowski isn’t is moderate. Now the one that should be watching over his shoulder is Miller. That boy bucked one woman and let down the other……one or both of them will get him.
@Mainer
You may be right. But I’m kinda with Just Sayin’ on this one. Better Murkowski than Miller.
@Mainer
I think you are probably right. The republicans are quite good at marching in lock step. I sometimes wonder if they were the inspiration for the Borg on Star Trek.
I’m with JustSayin’ too.
It’s not so much that it’s fun to see Murkowski win… but it’s DELIGHTFUL to see that Sarah Palin, Joe Miller, the Tea Party and our Bart… are all losers.
And they lost so decisively and brutally. People didn’t just vote against them… they took the trouble to carefully write in their vote, by the thousands. TAKE THAT, you crazy Teapers. We won’t LET you take our world backward, so there!
It restores my faith. It’s delicious.
@fossi
Resistance is not futile.
@Mr. U
Thanks for the encouragement! I live in a nasty red pocket of an otherwise blue state and I get discouraged pretty much on a daily basis.
Pingback: From Speaker to Minority Leader – The Loss Was Not MY Fault « StapledForehead
I am comming into this thread late but I had to comment and no one mentioned this fact: the first thing Pelosi did as Speaker was to take impeachment off the table.
I don’t care how effective she was in the last session (and she was very effective in passing legislation). I will never forgive her for taking Bush the Younger off the hook. Stains like that won’t wash out.
The sad part of the last session was having Reid curl up into a fetal ball every time a Public Con would whisper ‘filibuster, filibuster’.
She could have been a contenter but with an anchor around her ankle like Reid…..
What bugs me most is that the House was actually doing a great job, it was the Senate that messed things up. Why was the House punished for the mistakes made in the Senate?