As GI's stream towards Iraq in the Surge That Can't Be Stopped, two major problems for the Bush plan have already surfaced. First, as suspected, the Kurds want no part of Baghdad and are refusing to go down and join the Sadr purge. Second, Sadr also wants no part of it and has apparently told his army to lay low and wait it out. I guess we may find out what happens if you give a Surge and nobody comes.
Posted by T2 at January 20, 2007 10:28 AMi hope al gore enters the race..but if not..i am on full board for hillary..she will make a good president..she is tough as nails.and i believe in her heart a liberal... she will do great things for the people of this country..
Posted by dennis at January 20, 2007 11:30 AMHillary is the centrist choice, and probably the best shot at grabbing the middle vote for the Dems.
Like Steve, I think Bush's proposals for health care are somewhat interesting and at least a starting point for conversation. Making healthcare a taxable benefit is something that will probably find a lot of opposition from both Republicans and Democrats.
I wouldn't be surprised if all of the "First 100 hours" stuff dies off, except for the minimum wage hike (assuming there are some tax breaks for small business included in the final bill). And now that the 100 hours are over, I suppose "that's it" and we're in full 2008 campaign mode now.
Posted by muckdog at January 20, 2007 11:58 AMmore good was accomplished for the American public during the first 100 hours, mucktroll, that the GOP Congress managed in six years. The key words above, before you respond, is American public. Not Corporate Fat Cats. But yes, Dems will be in full campaign mode soon just as the McCain's and other GOPer hopefulls are. Their problem, however, is a guy named George W. Bush and six years of K Street Crime.
Posted by T2 at January 20, 2007 12:31 PMI dread the hate-filled anti- Hillary din that will be coming from our TV sets. As soon as someone finds the smelling salts and revives Drudge, can you imagine what we'll be in for.
Posted by Jim DeRosa at January 20, 2007 12:37 PMLets wait and see what was "accomplished" based on what makes it through the Senate and gets enacted by the President, eh T2?
Posted by muckdog at January 20, 2007 12:42 PMI dread the hate-filled anti- Hillary din that will be coming from our TV sets.
Well, I'll add to that din. Why should we install another dynastic family in the White House? No way. We've had nothing but Clintons for 15 years, and Bushes for 20, and it's time for all of them to leave the WH alone. Besides that, I resent the triangulation and teeming personal ambition that has marked every single move HRC has ever made. Remember the flag burning amendment? Gee, that answered a critical national issue. Now she's against the surge, after Obama entered the race and the American people galvanized the other Dems.
I will never vote for her for President (I will continue to vote for her for Senator). Never.
That din's getting a little louder....
Posted by nyc at January 20, 2007 12:59 PMThe good part was on every bill Nancy and Steny got a significant amount of Repub votes even with all the whining.
Muckdog you're right, will have to wait to see what happens in The Club but Nancy and Steny did their job in the House and got a lot of bipartisan support doing it. I'll take it.
Posted by Daryl at January 20, 2007 01:30 PMThe Senate might be the death of the House's 100 hour measures. For example, Sen. Baucus turning against the party on the minimum wage increase, as described in a Yahoo news article about the first 100 hours (my emphasis):
Republicans also insisted on attaching $8.3 billion in small business tax breaks to a Senate version of minimum wage legislation. The legislation was written jointly by Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (news, bio, voting record), D-Mont., and the committee's ranking Republican, Charles Grassley (news, bio, voting record) of Iowa. Reid has said he would support the tax breaks to pass the new wage floor. But House Democrats have objected, noting that tax legislation must originate in the House, with the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee.Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (news, bio, voting record), D-N.Y., said Senate Democrats were essentially telling the House that Congress would not raise the minimum wage if it did not contain tax breaks.
"How are you going to explain that?" he asked. "I don't know what Baucus and Reid are talking about."
Why is it so hard to have a straight up or down vote a bill that considers only the minimum wage?
GORE/OBAMA 2008
Posted by Christopher at January 20, 2007 02:43 PMSpeaking of the Hillary attack surge, a reader brought to my attention how the Moonies are going after Hillary.
From Insight:
Hillary's team has questions about Obama's Muslim background
http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/flash_4.html
Are the American people ready for an elected president who was educated in a Madrassa as a young boy and has not been forthcoming about his Muslim heritage?
This is the question Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s camp is asking about Sen. Barack Obama.
An investigation of Mr. Obama by political opponents within the Democratic Party has discovered that Mr. Obama was raised as a Muslim by his stepfather in Indonesia. Sources close to the background check, which has not yet been released, said Mr. Obama, 45, spent at least four years in a so-called Madrassa, or Muslim seminary, in Indonesia.
"He was a Muslim, but he concealed it," the source said. "His opponents within the Democrats hope this will become a major issue in the campaign."
Very crafty, those pro-Bush Moonies.
Posted by Christopher at January 20, 2007 02:55 PMJohn Reid Edwards will be sworn in as POTUS in January 2009.
Posted by God Of War at January 20, 2007 03:50 PMHilary Clinton is not electable as President. She plays the middle and both sides against the other - this never works in Presidential Campaigns (just ask John Kerry). For the love of G-d ... don't let her get past the primary ...
Christopher ~ I agree with you, a Gore/Obama ticket, or even an Edwards/Obama ticket would be much more effective.
Posted by CitizenBoo at January 20, 2007 03:57 PMABC guide for Democrats who want to win the national election for a change.
Anyone
But
Clinton
And now that the 100 hours are over, I suppose "that's it" and we're in full 2008 campaign mode now.
Well, after 12 years of republi-cons enjoying a 1.5 day work week, it was refreshing to at least have people there for more than 10 hours a week. You republi-con fuckers were the laziest bastards, and passed mostly legislation provided you by lobbys...which you didn't even bother to read. The Democrats doing something was refreshing...and it was precious to hear you republi-cons fucks whine about being worked too hard.
The first 100 hours legislation is largely turd soup. Very unimpressive legislation. Of course, as many have pointed out it will all be vetoed. So why should the Dems have done any better? That's their job. It appears they took to the siren song of lobbyest money early in the session. I expect a few half-hearted investigations in the future, but little else of real merit.
At least Princess Sparkle Pelosi got her nut from Pharma. Too bad Dems aren't posting the donations from lobbyests on the website they are giving us on which we can read pending legislation. You know the one I'm talking about. The website we will never see.
Posted by phidipides at January 20, 2007 05:00 PM