Talk & Politics

Daily Pix: Elliot Bay, Seattle.

mac — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:04:48 +0000

Great colors in North-Pacific twilight:

Seattle, WA.

No repeat of Debt Ceiling Stand-Off.

mac — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:58:39 +0000

US paying its debts.

A bit under the radar this time – but the GOP House voted again for US not paying its bills (all spending has already been approved), and the Senate killed the block along party lines 44-52.

But no drama this time, and apparently no stomach for a re-run of August ’11.

Full story.

No bacon, no funds.

mac — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:47:12 +0000

Slower days.

Since Congress doesn’t pass anything – the lobbyists hoard their cash.

From The Hill:

Spending on lobbying declined last year for the first time in more than a decade, according to a campaign finance watchdog.

The Center for Responsive Politics reported Thursday that more than $3.27 billion was spent on lobbying activities in 2011, a drop from the more than $3.51 billion that was spent in 2010. The center said the total for 2011 spending should rise a a little because about 10 percent of the fourth-quarter lobbying reports still need to be processed.

For some reference; The Obama Campaign of ’08 cost $750 million. A Senate Seat costs about $25 million. So a normal of $3.5 billion a year in lobbying – it’s a lot.

Daily Pix: The Mall, Central Park.

mac — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:34:28 +0000

From last December:

Central Park, NYC.

By apminnyc.

Daily Pix: Jupiter Island, Florida.

mac — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:46:55 +0000

Day Break in Florida, January 2012:

Jupiter Island, FL.

By Alidaphotos.

Message getting better.

mac — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:43:56 +0000

Build America.

It seems like the message machine for Obama is getting better oiling these days.

From the Hill:

“We’ve gotten a taste of Mr. Romney or Mr. Gingrich or Mr. Santorum’s theories,” Obama said. “We’ve tried it for 10 years. And it resulted in a huge crash that lost us the most jobs since the 1930′s.”

He also said that his proposal to tax millionaires is a “recipe for a fair, sound approach to deficit reduction and rebuilding this country.”

“I think whether it’s Romney or Gingrich or Santorum or any of these folks, the question to ask them is we now have the lowest tax rates in 50 years. We’ve seen the highest increase in income for the very top echelons since the 1920s. And if, in fact, we’re going to reduce our deficit while still investing in those things that we know make America grow, somebody’s got to pay for it,” Obama said.

And even the Laffer Curve, which is in part the whole basis for this “tax cut” mantra – postulates that too low or too high taxes are equally hurtful for the economy.

Note. The Super PACs are independent things.

mac — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:25:24 +0000

It's mine.

Just a reminder – these new Super PACs are not really a property of any one specific candidate, but an independent toy of some arbitrary moneyperson who wants to heavily influence an election.

As is shown in the Massachusetts Senate race just now – where the candidates signed a pact to keep super PACs out of it – but Karl Rove sits on the sidelines with his own little assault machine and says so what. This is Karl Rove’s own campaign, and he’s out to destroy anyone with whom he disagrees or feels threatened by.

Full story.

Daily Pix: L.A.

mac — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:34:23 +0000

From the City of Angels:

Los Angeles, California.

Thoughts on SOTU 2012.

mac — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:13:44 +0000

Better, slowly.

With some time to digest; the speech was good, a bit more substantive than earlier years, the economy and general mood seems to be blowing in Obama’s favor, and he’s a bit more trustworthy after the shifts in his third year.

And will he accomplish this “building a stronger economy” drive he sets out for? We’re slowly leaning towards yes.

Adam’s Legacy – Peace with France.

mac — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:12:42 +0000

US safe, then doubled. 1800-1803.

Towards the end of the McCullough book now – it seems that the distinctive and momentous achievement of John Adams really was making peace with France while President.

Disregarding constant warfare and ships sunk by the French, as well as world stage humiliation of American Envoys in Paris by Talleyrand and the Directorate – Adams kept cool – resisted warmongers and hawks at home – and requested peace while building a strong navy.

In the end Paris stepped down and offered peace, in 1800.

A few years later Emperor Napoleon dismissed the whole squabble as a “family feud”, and offered the massive territory of Lousiana to President Thomas Jefferson – thereby famously doubling US with a pen stroke.

If,

Adams had declared war on France in 1798-99, US might not even have existed today.

It would probably have been crushed, opening for an establishment of a French Empire in the north-east, and very likely a lasting chaos and warfare between Britain, France and Spain on the whole continent.

If there ever was a point were the fragile young US could’ve become history, it was during those years.

And to some dismay for Adams – the news of the French Peace Treaty was delayed some months due to postal delivery – possibly costing him the general election in 1800.