The Note, 12/03/08: New Hopes
EmailBy Rick Klein with Hope Ditto Fresh from the glow of their historic electoral sweep, Democrats are getting a glimpse of their own limits. President-elect Barack Obama’s pull wasn’t enough to bring out voters in Georgia one more time, for one more Senate seat. On the Hill, Democratic leaders are retooling a political jalopy — an unpopular measure, designed to boost unpopular companies, that might work as well as the electric car (photo-op road trips in hybrids notwithstanding). A pitch-perfect transition is showing some signs of strain, with Latino groups not satisfied if Bill Richardson (getting tapped for Commerce Wednesday) is the only Latino in the Cabinet. (Quick — which ethnic group would Democrats most like to lock down long-term after last month’s election?) And former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., is putting himself in the mix for an unexpectedly open Senate seat in 2010. “I am going to think about it for the next month or so,” the former governor e-mails The Note. Suddenly, it’s not a terrible time to be a Republican. For starters, the GOP has its bulwark: There will not be 60 members of the Senate Democratic caucus (and there probably won’t be 59, either). It was a blowout in Georgia, as Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., coasted over Democrat Jim Martin: “Democrats who turned out last month in enthusiastic support of Barack Obama apparently did not show up at the polls on Tuesday,” Robbie Brown and Carl Hulse write for The New York Times. “Mr. Chambliss’s victory ends at least for this year the Democratic push to reach the 60-vote milestone, though the party is holding out hope that a victory in the continuing Minnesota recount will give them 59 seats in the Senate.” Surprise — the Obama effect just may not be the same without Barack Obama on the ballot, or without Obama himself campaigning in person for a candidate: “Chambliss’s margin of victory looks to exceed almost all runoff polling on the race, suggesting that the turnout models used in the polling overshot Democratic turnout without President-elect Obama on the ballot,” The Hill’s Aaron Blake reports. “Republicans still know how to win an election,” said RNC Chairman Mike Duncan. “Republicans could take some solace in the fact that Georgia once again would represent the beginning of a comeback,” said Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz. Let’s not get carried away — but for a demoralized party that’s looking for something to build on, this might represent something. At the very least, it guarantees that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell will be the most powerful Republican in the nation for at least the next two years. (And now that 60 is out of the question, what will the appetite be for a prolonged fight over No. 59?) As for Obama’s role in Georgia, history will record a careful play: “Obama tip-toed into the race, but never became fully involved. He recorded a radio ad for Martin and an automated ‘robo’ call, but declined an invitation to come to Georgia and campaign for his fellow Democrat. Many of his campaign volunteers came to Georgia to help the Martin effort,” Jim Tharpe writes in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Turning to the auto bailout — still a more than decent chance this spills well into next year. “President-elect Barack Obama’s administration-in-waiting is quietly exploring options for negotiating a bailout of the ailing auto industry when the Democrat takes office in January,” Time’s Jay Newton-Small reports. “While no one is ruling out the possibility of Congress appropriating money next week, a senior Obama aide told TIME, there is a sense that a comprehensive solution is unlikely to come from whatever legislative action Congress may take before the end of the year.” It’s looking like one more try in a lame-duck Congress: “There are no legislative details and he has not yet read through the Big Three proposals or heard the auto CEOs’ collective mea culpa later this week, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said today he will put an auto industry rescue package (details tbd) on the Senate floor next Monday,” per ABC’s Z. Byron Wolf. “Differences remain with the White House over how to finance any bailout. But the speaker said she had discussed the issue with President Bush Monday, and sent a letter to House members Tuesday evening, laying the groundwork for calling Congress back next week,” per Politico’s David Rogers. “For both Pelosi and the White House, much depends still on Senate and House committee hearings Thursday and Friday.” “The Bush administration and Democratic leaders are at a stalemate over where the money would come from, and some Republicans still believe letting the automakers file for bankruptcy is a better option than sending taxpayer dollars their way in a troubled economy,” The Hill’s Silla Brush reports. It won’t be pretty: “Government leaders know that if they provide a bailout without wringing sufficient concessions from all of the parties, they will be publicly vilified and punished in the next election,” Steven Pearlstein writes in his Wall Street Journal column. “In truth, there’s not much doubt that the government is going to step in here, just as it has done with the financial system. The consequences of doing nothing — for the economy, for government revenue, for the political and social fabric — are just too great. The only questions concern the size of the bailout and what form it will take.” Among the possibilities: “The urgent call for help comes as lawmakers have begun reaching out to Wall Street experts to explore how the government could help the companies prepare bankruptcy filings that would take them in and out of Chapter 11 protection quickly, with much of the financing and other restructuring measures worked out with creditors in advance, people familiar with the matter said,” The Wall Street Journal reports. “In the past several days, congressional representatives have met with bankers and bankruptcy experts to discuss the possibility of a so-called prearranged bankruptcy for either GM or Chrysler.” “The automakers’ plans will be reviewed during Congressional hearings on Thursday and Friday and their performance and the taste it leaves could determine if lawmakers can pass legislation when they return to Capitol Hill next week,” ABC’s Alice Gomstyn, Jonathan Karl and Z. Byron Wolf report. Anyone spy a GOP opportunity? “Republicans can begin to regain their reputation as guardians of the taxpayers and smart stewards of the economy by following Nancy Reagan’s advice: just say no,” Jennifer Rubin blogs. Beyond the bailout, quick action planned for January on the Hill: “Democratic congressional leaders, eager to trumpet that change has come to Washington, are looking to enact quickly a series of popular bills in January in such areas as renewable energy, children’s health care and embryonic stem-cell research,” The Wall Street Journal’s Naftali Bendavid reports. “The top priority remains an economic stimulus package. But Democrats also want to tackle rapidly an array of bills they consider ‘low-hanging fruit,’ ” Bendavid writes. “The goal is to send a message to voters that Democrats have delivered on the change they promised.” One piece of action that won’t happen: “President-elect Barack Obama has quietly shelved a proposal to slap oil and natural gas companies with a new windfall profits tax,” David Ivanovich writes for the Houston Chronicle. “An aide for the transition team acknowledged the policy shift Tuesday, after a small-business group discovered the proposal — touted throughout much of the campaign — had been dropped from the incoming administration’s Web site.” On tap Wednesday in transition-land: an 11:40 am ET press conference in Chicago, where Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M., will be introduced as Obama’s nominee for Secretary of Commerce. “Richardson made no secret of his desire to return to Washington after Obama’s election, as he was entering his seventh year as governor,” The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza writes. “He is the first Hispanic to be selected for Obama’s Cabinet. Should Richardson be confirmed as commerce secretary, New Mexico Lt. Gov. Diane Denish (D) would take over as the state’s chief executive until Richardson’s term runs out in two years.” ABC’s Jake Tapper: “This brings to three the total number of primary opponents Mr. Obama has officially moved to put in his cabinet, including Vice President-elect Biden and Secretary of State nominee Hillary Clinton.” Cue the tensions: “Bill Richardson’s nomination as Commerce secretary won’t satisfy top Latino lawmakers, who sent President-elect Barack Obama’s transition office a letter yesterday afternoon recommending a slate of 14 Hispanics for the remaining eight Cabinet slots,” Bloomberg’s Hans Nichols writes. As for Hillary — there wasn’t a chance this would be easy, was there? “Senate Democrats were working Tuesday to put together legislation making it possible for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton to become secretary of state despite a constitutional clause that some critics argue should bar her from joining the cabinet,” Peter Baker reports for The New York Times. “The issue may seem esoteric but it generated attention Tuesday among legal scholars and bloggers arguing over whether it would be unconstitutional for Mrs. Clinton to serve as President-elect Barack Obama’s secretary of state because the salary for her new office was increased while she served in the Senate.” Assuming it works out (safe bet): “Clinton’s planned ascension to Foggy Bottom is the culmination of a strenuous effort over the past several months to fashion a next act in a career that long has been defined by two distinct halves: flamboyant celebrity on one side and dogged, often lonely, distance runner on the other,” John F. Harris and Glenn Thrush write for Politico. Joe Biden’s day, per the transition office: “Vice President-elect Biden will be in Washington D.C. for a briefing by the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism, led by former Senators Bob Graham of Florida and Jim Talent of Missouri. The Vice President-elect will be joined at the meeting by Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, who President-elect Obama announced on Monday will be nominated as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.” And — Senator Bush? The retirement of Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., means an open seat for the GOP to defend in 2010 — but may give the party a better chance to hold on to it. “I am considering it,” Jeb Bush e-mails Politico, Carol E. Lee and Jonathan Martin report. “Bush allies say he is seriously considering it, despite his image as hard-charging executive rather than compromising legislator,” Adam C. Smith writes in the St. Petersburg Times. “He remains focused on the important policy issues facing our country in these challenging times, chiefly education reform,” a Bush spokeswoman said. “Gov. Bush hopes to play a constructive role in the future of the party, advocating ideas and policies to get the conservative cause back on track.” “An affirmative decision from Bush would likely clear the field of Republican, if not Democratic, candidates,” Michael C. Bender reports for the Palm Beach Post. Keeping up the fight, in Minnesota: “Franken unexpectedly picked up 37 votes due to a combined machine malfunction and human error on Election Day that left 171 Maplewood ballots safe, secure but uncounted until Tuesday’s final day of recounting in Ramsey County,” Mike Kaszuba and Curt Brown write for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. “By the end of Tuesday, with 93 percent of the total vote recounted, the Republican’s lead stood at 303 votes with the state Canvassing Board set to finalize results Dec. 16. More than 6,000 ballots have been challenged by the two campaigns, with Coleman challenging 183 more than Franken.” “The day’s other news — which Franken’s campaign quickly described as a ‘breakthrough’ — came when [Secretary of State Mark] Ritchie’s office asked local election officials to examine an estimated 12,000 rejected absentee ballots and determine whether their rejection fell under one of four reasons for rejection defined in state law,” they write. Our new format: The Note has a new format and a new online look starting this week. The morning Note will continue to serve as a tipsheet that lays out the day ahead in politics, publishing every weekday morning, though it will typically be shorter than it was during the election season. The Note’s “Must-Reads” will continue to provide an early set of links to the stories that are likely to drive the day. Both products will live on the new Note blog, which will be updated throughout the day with the latest reporting from ABC News’ political unit and reporters. Bookmark the link below to get The Note’s daily morning analysis:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/the_note/index.html And for up-to-the-minute political updates check out The Note’s new blog . . . all day every day:
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Rick Santorum Sweeps 3 States 
Pentagon to Open Additional Jobs to Women
The “Democratic Party Leadership” and Obama need to know that in my opinion the recent election results were not a rush to liberalism but a pragmatic shift in many areas:
Foreign Policy is broken – Republican ideas failed so fix it only really as far as the application of force is concerned.
Economic Policy is broken – Republican ideas failed so fix it but bailouts and handing out money aren’t the answer as a rule.
Health Care is broken – Republican ideas failed so fix it but don’t create entitlements based on specific diseases or conditions.
Seems kinda broad but I don’t think it is.
Posted by: Mr. Coffee | December 3, 2008, 8:42 am 8:42 am
Everyone reading Tea leaves. Now this is the silly season.
Posted by: Thinking | December 3, 2008, 9:23 am 9:23 am
I am very happy with what our President-elect has been doing so far. He is not taking his new role lightly. He is not doing this to make himself look good for his daddy. He is trying to make a difference to our country. If he makes mistakes, he is only human. But I feel his heart is in the right place. He will always do his best. His quote from Truman, “The buck stops here”, is exactly what I have been waiting for a very long time to hear from our nation’s top leader.
Posted by: scentsofroses | December 3, 2008, 9:25 am 9:25 am
Where’s the “Kicker”? I always looked forward to the end where the lighthearted stuff was.
Posted by: Myles Marcovitch | December 3, 2008, 9:27 am 9:27 am
Rick, our morning buddy, stop this nonsense. If Chambliss had reached his 50% on Nov. 4 and retained his seat, not an eye would have been raised. Georgians fired Max Cleland because they bought that he was hooked to Osama bin Laden by none other than Chambliss. No matter what the people of GA do or Chambliss does, he is forever stained with the disgusting campaign he ran in 2002. As for the rest of your morning post: Mr. Obama is not yet president and the Senate is out of session. Trying to determine what the public will react to in total absence of anything substantive is pissing in the wind.
Posted by: Slow News Day Rick? | December 3, 2008, 9:37 am 9:37 am
Thank God the socialist, robin hood democrats who got us into this mess don’t have total control.
Posted by: dave-kc | December 3, 2008, 9:42 am 9:42 am
Republicans shouldn’t get too excited about re-electing an incumbent in the Deep South, their only remaining geographical base (unless you include the Prairie Dog states). They’ve lost 13 Senate seats in the last 2 elections, while the Democrats lost none, zero, nada. Unprecedented. And I love their opposition to helping restart the economy. I hope they’ll keep it up, now that they don’t have the votes to block needed change. Anyone remember Herbert Hoover and the following 30 years?
Posted by: tmginnova | December 3, 2008, 9:49 am 9:49 am
scentsofroses
If only I could be as drunk on the obama-kool-aid as you are, then maybe I could be smelling roses all day, too.
BO has said he will make our military DRASTICALLY smaller by cutting funds, and during an interview in san francisco last year he said “in my administration energy prices will skyrocket”. (to combat global climate change)
Remember, BO is a limousine liberal who will fly on private jets, stay at 5-star hotels, drive luxury SUV’s, eat at 5-star restaurants, have 3 homes, but will expect the rest of us to live like the indians used to.
Posted by: KeepTheChange | December 3, 2008, 9:51 am 9:51 am
scentsofroses since Obama has not yet taken office he really has not done anything but show the world that he is all about politics as usual.Just wait until he takes office and starts giving those who voted for him what they deserve then you can judge his term.I myself will pray that GOD protects those smart enough not to have voted for Obama from the TAX and SPEND Frenzy that Obama is promising even before he takes office.He wants to SPEND half a TRILLION dollars to stimulate the Economy and that is on top of the other wild SPENDING SPREES that him and his minions want to impose upon the tax payers of this Nation.So you had better save what you can now because when he takes office no one will have anything left to save.
Posted by: Jesse Tomblin | December 3, 2008, 9:57 am 9:57 am
I saw a picture of Chambliss. Looks like somebody put a white wig on a pig, stood it up on its hind legs and stuffed it into a suit. A pork perfect
Southern Republican Senator!
Posted by: Bill in NC | December 3, 2008, 10:11 am 10:11 am
KeepTheChange — Is that the best critique you can come up, made-up stuff about military weakness (which must be why Sec. Gates and Gen. Jones signed up to work with Obama, huh?) and having Americans live like “indians”? You left out the usual right wing claptrap about marxists and Muslims under every bed. That kind of nonsense didn’t impress anybody during the election and it won’t now. Jesse — If you’re so concerned about spending sprees, I don’t suppose you noticed the debt left us by W. And he did that while allowing the economy to sink into crisis. Obama, with the American people’s support, will try to get us out of that mess, with or without your help.
Posted by: tmginnova | December 3, 2008, 10:27 am 10:27 am
Go Sarah, Go Sarah
Posted by: respectfulcitizen | December 3, 2008, 10:30 am 10:30 am
tmginnova
What are you disputing regarding what I said about BO????
The fact that he gave a speech in oregon and told the adoring crowd “Americans can’t keep driving their SUV’s, keep their thermostats on 70 degrees and think the world is not going to care” shows where his loyalties are. This is the far-left mentality BO possesses, as does the rest of “one world order”, anti-American liberals.
Nevermind that limousine liberals like Al Gore have 5 houses, private jets, private yachts, $30,000.00 monthly utility bills, and one heck of a “carbon foot print”, while traveling the globe telling us peasants to live like indians.
Are you disputing…….
The fact that in is his book BO says “he sought out the marxist professors in college”?
The fact that the man who launched his political career was a marxist(ayers)
The fact that his pastor of 20 years, whom BO titled a book after (audacity of hope), called his best friend, mentor is also a marxist.
The fact that BO said in an interview given in san francisco “energy prices will skyrocket under my administration”.
The fact that he has REPEATEDLY said “I will cut back military spending” and “Iran is a tiny country, not a serious threat”.
As for your comments about Bush, you are right he should have done more to prevent the socialist democrats from trying to give everyone a house regardless of their ability to pay. But can you imagine what the liberal loons would have shouted… “YOU JUST HATE POOR PEOPLE YOU MEAN REPUBLICAN!!”
Posted by: KeepTheChange | December 3, 2008, 10:46 am 10:46 am
JESSE The national debt is at 11 trillion dollars and still climbing. Bush never vetoed a spending bill. SO MUCH FOR CONSERVATISM
Posted by: BSKI | December 3, 2008, 10:49 am 10:49 am
Jesse…..We have nothing left to save, this administration took care of that
Posted by: BSKI | December 3, 2008, 10:52 am 10:52 am
BSKI
When will all of you obamabots realize that democrats have controlled congress and also the “purse strings” for much of the last 20 years? Please do some research outside of what ABC or MSN force feeds you. You will see that robin hood liberal democrats like chuck schumer, barney frank, chris dodd, harry reid, pelosi have been injecting socialism into our capitalist system.
All under the banner of “affordable housing”, democrats wiped away lending standards banks traditionaly used to avoid risky loans. Groups like acorn, along with the help of barry o, are the reason are housing market tanked.
Posted by: KeepTheChange | December 3, 2008, 11:01 am 11:01 am
Very well put Scentsofroses
Obama is doing a great job…he is getting together an administration who are not only experienced but will talk things over with him and if they disagree will say so and that is what he wants not the kind of administration we have had for the past eight years.
The Republican Party has a long long way to go to earn any trust from the American people. Mr. Bush and his cronies should have been impeached long ago. Yes there is blame in both parties but they were in charge with a Republican Congress for six years. Shame on us for voting him in again although I personally never voted for him.
We need someone like President Obama to straighten this out…no he will not be perfect, no one is, but he is trying and this is such a huge mess it will take a long time….God bless and help him.
Posted by: Barb | December 3, 2008, 11:01 am 11:01 am
I just posted something and it is now nowhere to be seen.
I agree withi scents of roses.
Obama is trying to straighten out this HUGE mess left by Bush and his cronies who had a REPUBLICAN CONGRESS FOR SIX YEARS.
It’s ridiculous that he wasn’t impeached long ago much less elected to a second term.
Posted by: Barb | December 3, 2008, 11:09 am 11:09 am
Barb
Please give a reason as to why Bush should have been impeached. He never lied under oath as bill clinton did, which was grounds for impeachment.
Bush listened to all of his advisors around him, along with listening to MULTIPLE SPEECHES Clinton gave regarding WMD’s. Everyone said he either had them or was attempting to get them.
The liberals scream at the top of their lungs “SEE NO WMD’S, BUSH LIED! KIDS DIED!” But none of these liberals ever seem to acknowledge the mustard gas that was found or the bodies of the HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF SADDAM’S VICTIMS THAT WERE FOUND. Saddam used chemical weapons against his own people, refused to comply with the UN’s weapons inspectors and was given MULTIPLE CHANCES TO COMPLY.
Why do liberals insist on giving olive branches and platforms at columbia college to holocaust denying mass murderers, but have no problem calling Bush a terrorist?
Posted by: KeepTheChange | December 3, 2008, 11:31 am 11:31 am
If the people of the United States are heard by our representative Washington government there will be no bailouts of private sector businesses by the government. If those presently in control of congress and those we’ve sent to Washington to vote according to our wishes insist on turning a deaf ear to our voices they will be remembered at the polls in 2010 and 2012 etc. It’s our government in general that needs to get away from party politics and be built from the bottom up, not just the economy. We must ensure we are in control of our future by our votes, the only real tool we have to control congress.
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | December 3, 2008, 11:31 am 11:31 am
Let’s see if there will really be any difference between what the Bush administration policies and actions were and Obama’s. I don’t believe there will be any noticeable change at all.
Once Obama sees the true facts (not the ones the press and Dems have pushed as “Facts”), he will make the same decisions.
Posted by: Aristotle | December 3, 2008, 12:09 pm 12:09 pm
So the Republicans keeping a Senate seat in a former Confederate state heralds some great electoral sea change? The media is desperate to disprove its “liberal bias” claims.
Posted by: Nancy Beth | December 3, 2008, 12:16 pm 12:16 pm
The only reason why chambliss won is because we got who we wanted! So don’t read too much into it. Lol
Posted by: Iva | December 3, 2008, 12:49 pm 12:49 pm
In golf they call this the “Silly Season”. I’m so glad that we will soon be done with the last 8 years of the bush/cheney silly season.
Posted by: pt | December 3, 2008, 12:50 pm 12:50 pm
I CONCUR. DO NOT READ TOO MUCH INTO
CHAMBLISS WIN. THE MAJORITY HAS SPOKEN, AND THE VOTES ARE IN, AND THE LAST 8 YEARS ARE SOON TO BE OUT.
Posted by: JF | December 3, 2008, 1:08 pm 1:08 pm
I told you people down here in our ” cling to our guns, religion & values state that we love Saxby! And Sarah Palin didn’t hurt, either! I guess all the pre-registered last month by yhe Dems had to rush out & get them a crack rock instead. See, they were too stupid to know how crucial this vote was! Makes me laugh so hard!!P.S. Go away Al Franken: YOU HAVE LOST to a much smarter guy up there in Minnisota!! JUST GO AWAY!!
Posted by: blatzrox | December 3, 2008, 1:13 pm 1:13 pm
Bush didn’t lie???? the war, the economy, just sat there and watched, he didn’t know what was going on? Clinton lied about something personal which should have been between himself and his wife…if you can try to impeach a man for this how about a war that shouldn’t have been, Katrina where hundreds of people died as Bush sat there, the economy,
This idiot ran our country into the ground. I’m tired of hearing Republicans repeat and repeat the same old thing…give it up…you lost! Let President Obama have a chance. We gave you a chance for eight years….look what we have…it’s such a mess I don’t think it can God forbid get any worse!
Posted by: Barb | December 3, 2008, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm
KeepTheChange,
You seem to forget that your George Bush has been flying in private jets, keeping lobyists in the white house to ensure that his ranch in Texas is well supplied, bought 7 more homes in Texas during his presidency.
Oh, and by the way your defeated John McCain has 7 houses and flies in private jets too.
Posted by: Kensing James | December 3, 2008, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm
I don’t understand how so many are spinning this Georgia election as a big Republican victory.
If anything, this is a moral boost for the Democrats that a Republican Incumbant was forced into a run-off in one of the reddest of red states.
For Republicans to be jumping for joy over this is like Laker fans celebrating a 2 point win over the Knicks!
Posted by: Dee | December 3, 2008, 1:42 pm 1:42 pm
I don’t understand how so many are spinning this Georgia election as some kind of a huge Republican victory.
If anything, this should be a moral boost for the Democrats that a Republican incumbant was forced into a run-off in one of the reddest of red states in our country.
For Republicans to be jumping for joy over this is like Laker fans celebrating a 2 point overtime win over the Knicks!
Posted by: Dee Evans | December 3, 2008, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm
KeepTheChange: “Bush never lied under oath as bill clinton did…”
Yes, lying under oath is what makes it technically a “crime,” but lying to the American people is morally wrong whether you are under oath or not.
Of course, all presidents lie occassionally. In fact, all people do. But I do think that lying to convince a country to go to war is rather more serious than your average “little white lie.”
Posted by: jock59801 | December 3, 2008, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm
Funny how little Obama could “rally the troops” in Georgia this time. The problem he’s having is that moderate voters have had a month to see who he is.. and they don’t like it. The markets have responded to his election with negative results, compounding our existing problems. His promises of hope,unity and change have amounted to rabid partisanship, politics as usual and lies. The honeymoon is over and he didn’t even make it to the white house yet.. The next 4 years should be interesting, if nothing else.
Posted by: howwouldiknow | December 3, 2008, 2:01 pm 2:01 pm
Think this is a tad hyperbolic. Obama didn’t carry Georgia to begin with so why would anyone have assumed that he could help Jim Martin win.
Posted by: Brooklyn Democrat | December 3, 2008, 2:04 pm 2:04 pm
Jock59801
How did Bush lie? He said that our intelligence said saddam had weapons of mass destruction, which is what clinton’s intelligence told him. bill was just too busy getting pleasured in the oval office to do anything about it.
Posted by: dave-kc | December 3, 2008, 2:06 pm 2:06 pm
howwouldiknow -
…is a good moniker. Gallup/USA Today has 78% of Americans approving Obama’s transition and cabinet choices (including 57% of Republicans). Hardly supports your belief that “the honeymoon is over.”
Posted by: Brooklyn Democrat | December 3, 2008, 2:09 pm 2:09 pm
Dee Evans, Jock59801 and Brooklyn Dem:
You are all so right.
And I just think some Republicans are sore losers and do not want to face reality…I believe President Obama is on the right track…at least he is doing something, not sitting there with a deer in the headlights look like our current one is!
Posted by: Barb | December 3, 2008, 2:20 pm 2:20 pm
Brooklyn Democrat : I’d be careful about polls, because they’re also showing his approval rating has dropped 10% since the election.
Posted by: howwouldiknow | December 3, 2008, 2:56 pm 2:56 pm
Barb : Of course you believe he’s on the right track. That’s what drinking the kool aid is all about.. believing what they tell you without thought. But unless Obama completely abandons his anti-business, anti-profit platform he promoted during the election campaigns things are only going to get worse and worse. That’s reality, and you need to come to terms with it.
Posted by: howwouldiknow | December 3, 2008, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm
I have never in my life, seen such hatred after an election. I was no fan of the Bush Administration and took my jabs at him but NEVER attacked the entire conservative base who vote and lean to the right as “brain-washed”and stupid.
The remarks against ANYONE who votes Democrat-the whole Democratic party and the ones against Obama have simply gone too far. He is no more a Socialist, Communist and terrorist then you or I. He is simply putting together an agenda that will hopefully give ALL Americans a chance to live in some dignity. What is wrong with that? I can’t believe this is coming from within our own country and it is disgraceful. We are in the worst economic crisis since the Depression and when unity, peace and the will to work together s/b first and foremost,we’re tearing each other apart.
I cannot believe the out-right death threats that have been directed against our next President across the Internet and HATE Groups that have been formed against the entire liberal base. In the interest of fairness, I looked for blogs/groups that dislike the conservative base and while I found a few the content was not anywhere NEAR as bad as the levels directed at those who lean left. In general, most of us have TOLERANCE and ADAPT to what is around us but there is always going to be extremists, which in itself-Right OR Left is DANGEROUS. PERIOD.
Killing and war in the name of Allah or God is still killing. Please let’s STOP the hate and rally as a country when we need it the most? PLEASE!!! In spite of what PE Obama has discussed during the campaign, he is absolutely RIGHT when he said things will get worse before they get better. I did not vote for him because I’m a brain-washed “Kool-Aid”drinker among other choice phrases but rather because his proposed policies from energy, the environment, healthcare, a time-line to end the Iraq war RESPONSIBLY, protecting women’s rights of choice and in the work place are simply with what I agree with and want. I am very political as is my mother who tradtionally votes Republican but WE get along and SHE voted for Obama this year. I research my candidates from State to Federal and I vote based on my judgement of whom I think will do the best job. For those who did vote based on gender or race, that’s THEIR problem, not mine and contrary to the assumption that those who voted for Obama think he is “the Messiah” and we’re brain-washed by him is simply a ridiculous and anger filled statement. I or anyone I know never called the people who voted Bush back in those kinds of names.
Give it a REST already and give this man a CHANCE before you tear him to shreds. So far he is assembling a diverse and intelligent supporting cast and wants what is best to help rebuild America as someone who has followed his campaign from the day he announced he was running.
Sorry my post got long but STOP the HATE!!!
Posted by: terry vanremortel | December 3, 2008, 3:29 pm 3:29 pm
Jim Martin lost that run off election because he took the Black vote for granted. He cancelled a scheduled interview with Roland Martin for a 30 second spot in the mainstream media. A politically fatal mistake for him!
Posted by: NatFrankie | December 3, 2008, 3:30 pm 3:30 pm
HAHAHA!
libruls are scared and runnin’!
SURGE!
McCain/Chambliss 2012!!!!!!
Posted by: bubba | December 3, 2008, 3:58 pm 3:58 pm
Hey there “bubba”,it’s spelled liberals and providing McCain would run again, he’ll be 76 in 4 years-(82 if the Obama Adminisration goes 2 terms), so think you’d better lay of the moonshine until you can: A: Master the English language!
and B: Have enough brains to select a candidate who won’t be so old and senile
that he won’t make it to bathroom w/o help, let alone run the country-Yeesh!!!!!
Posted by: ummagumma | December 3, 2008, 8:18 pm 8:18 pm
terry van….So well spoken. To be blamed for “drinking the koolaid” is just their hatred and stupidity talking. My spouse is 60 years old, he has only voted democrat once in his life. This is the first time that he has ever voted for a non-republican. He did his homework, as did I. We too, want the country to grow and become what it was once. The hatred is becoming a “rabid”, foaming disease. This country can’t ever become a moral leader to the world until this horrible hate-mongering stops. I have had friends in New Zealand for 35 years. I am becoming so embarrassed and ashamed of my fellow republicans, and they call themselves “Americans”!
Posted by: scentsofroses | December 3, 2008, 9:16 pm 9:16 pm
It’s the Christmas season. Maybe we can bury our divisions at least during this time of year and wish only the best for America and the Obama Administration.
We don’t need dire predictions about the next 4 years. They would have been bad no matter who was elected president.
Isn’t it time to pull together for the good of this country?
PS. Of course, Chambliss would win the run-off. Georgia is part of the very red old Confederacy. Minnesota is another story. Franken could still take that Senate Seat from Coleman.
Posted by: Nancy V. | December 3, 2008, 10:50 pm 10:50 pm
It would be a mistake to assume that the GOP is dead. Our country has always had a two party politicial system. The GOP ran a poor candidate in McCain. He is an honorable decent patriot but a very poor campaigner. Obama was a novelty and a very good campaigner and talked a great game. Now we will see if he will make a good President. Its all on the Democrats and if they don’t make all of the “changes” they promised then they will lose alot of seats in 2010.
I suggest that all of you who want to live in the past and blame Bush better start focusing on the future. Heres’ your chance so don’t waste it. Better step up and fix this country fast.
Posted by: dlc | December 4, 2008, 2:28 am 2:28 am