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A Pessimistic Prediction
Contra Matthew Yglesias’s rosy-eyed belief that passing financial reform will somehow prove to be a much easier task for the Democrats than health care was, I offer you these pessimistic reflections on how things will go horribly wrong:
Democrats will outline a “strong” version of the financial reform bill, though it will still basically be objectively watered down in comparison to the hopes raised by liberal progressive bloggers following the many rumors of Volcker’s return to power in the administration.
This “strong” bill, however, will face staunch resistance by bankers (though many bankers and financiers—especially the smarter ones—will also have decided to simply double-down and go along with the administration, probably as a PR move), as well as nihilistic rage by Republicans, who will be able to launch a massive campaign of deception and further rile up populist ire against the Obama administration.
In an effort to please the Republicans, as well as the holdouts in the banking industry, Obama will launch a series of “backdoor” meetings, through which the bill becomes further watered down. Also, no Republican will support it—and Democrats will not call them out on it in public.
Republicans will launch a massive advertising campaign demonstrating how the Obama administration has “colluded” with the financial sector, and that the Democrats are in the pockets of lobbyists and billionaires. Misguided populist rage ensues.
Years later, creepy, plastic-haired Republican is elected president and—thanks to instantaneous Democratic capitulation and a debilitating case of political Stockholm Syndrome—their proposed financial
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Obama Campaign is Sitting on $30,000,000 Surplus
Instead of soliciting even more money from its record breaking support base, the Obama campaign should spend its reserves.
Why have I been getting two e-mails every fucking day asking for campaign donations when the Obama campaign has a thirty million dollar surplus?
For example, this e-mail from David Plouffe on November 20th:
I have a special request for you…. like in the campaign, we’ve decided to do things differently.
For the first time, transition efforts won’t be financed with donations from Washington lobbyists and PACs — which means we’ll need to keep asking for your help. Your generosity during the campaign helped get us here, but building a more transparent and open government means continuing to rely on a broader group of people to do this the right way.
…Will you help support the urgent mission of our transition team with a donation of $25 or more?
I think I’ll pass.
Bob Dylan on The Election
“I was born in 1941,” he said, a wavering sentimentality in his scratchy voice. “That was the year they bombed Pearl Harbor. I’ve been living in darkness ever since. It looks like things are going to change now.”
If Bob says so, it’s good enough for me.
PUMA’s Damn America, Move to Canada
Some of the most interesting reactions in last night’s election came from the supposed Hillary Clinton holdouts who chose personality over ideology and decided they just couldn’t vote for Obama. Here are last night’s comments from Hillaryis44, which quickly go from cocky to sad and then onto racist with the eventual cry of “God Damn America,” a phrase which was abhorrent to these bitter people, just weeks ago. I guess they hate America now because someone they think hates America was elected President, if that makes any sense.
They still claim his supporters must be puppets of the media. Even after an overwhelming victory, they refuse to accept the existence of rational support for Obama and denounce most of America.
These are the scum of the American Electorate. Swayed by personal attacks, rumors, and misdirection. Seemingly unattached to any real issues and more concerned with phony narratives and firsts than the direction of the country.
6 PM: Obama Simply Can’t Beat McCain.
moononpluto Says:
No way in hell is obama plus 15 in pa, noone ever has had it more than 5
wbboei Says:
What’s with Hillbuzz asking us all to “be nice” to Obots if Oliar loses??
Are they kidding me with that shit? I plan to gloat my head off and give the subtle O’liar finger to every bot I run across.
Right on. We will treat them with the same love and respect they treated us and hillary after
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Flat Stanley
Obama’s newest advisor:
“Sometimes I get a little nervous before talking in front of a crowd, but Flat Stanley helped me practice the speech,” Obama wrote. “He made me recite it in front of him and then even gave me some advice so the speech would go smoothly. Flat Stanley is really a great coach.”
Obama is Funny (OK, So’s McCain)
Hey, this is really funny. I wonder who’s idea it was to call Al Franken.
Hey this is really funny. I wonder who’s idea it was to call… that famous funny conservative guy… uh… Dennis Mil– I wonder when Al Franken decided to join the GOP.
AFL-CIO Speech on Obama
Ok, it’s at the top of Digg and it’s from the Steelworkers convention in July. But it’s still great.
… in prison!
When Obama chaffed McCain for forgetting how many houses he owns, Rogers huffed, “This is a guy who lived in one house for five and a half years — in prison.”
Yeah, it’s from a Maureen Dowd column, sorry. I couldn’t resist the pause.
Obama and the Hecklers
Some sort of black socialist movement interrupted Obama’s speech. Then the (largely white) audience started chanting “Yes, we can” but I’m still unclear what that was in reference too. “Yes, we can- shout down protesters?”
And I believe Obama puts on some sort of accent at the end of this video. Of course anyone who’s been in the South for a few days can tell you that you do fall into those patterns. That Burroughs quote about language being a virus holds true.
For future reference, now that we live on youtube, it’s important to remember to print in bigger fonts.
[Via The Guardian.]