America's system of separated powers is wondrous to behold. Even considering just the two elected branches, Congress and the Presidency, its complications and intricacies baffle foreigners and Americans alike. Moreover, the 50 states remain politically pivotal, especially immediately after the decennial census. Population changes among states shift their relative weights in the Electoral College, and control of state governments post-census can shape congressional districts and therefore election outcomes. Not surprisingly, interpreting the biennial elections between presidential years is both critical and highly uncertain. In 1994, an unexpected tsunami gave Republicans control of both houses of Congress for the first time since 1954, and was widely interpreted as signalling Bill Clinton's impending defeat in 1996. Nonetheless, Clinton won re-election easily. By contrast, the 2006 Republican "thumpin'", as George W. Bush described it, did indeed foreshadow Barack Obama's 2008 victory.
This November 2, Obama was not on anyone's ballot. During his first two years, he seemed indifferent to, or in denial about, the political firestorm growing around him. In January 2010, for example, Arkansas Congressman Marion Berry described Obama's candid remarks to the House Democratic caucus. Fearing the rising backlash against his programmes, especially health care, Democrats asked how they could avoid a 1994-type cataclysm. Obama answered: "Well, the big difference [between] here and 1994 is you've got me." Apart from unrestrained egotism, Obama's answer reflected awesome political misjudgment. Bill Clinton, who defeated a Republican incumbent with a 91 per cent approval rating following the first Gulf War, could easily have said exactly the same thing in 1994. Had Obama learned nothing?
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Updates:
2:07 pm EST, November 30th, 2010 — Adams: Dems Should Seek Eric Holder’s Resignation
Decision and Obama are two words you never hear in the same sentence! I'm quite certain that he has to flip a nickel when chosing between playing b-ball or golf. Of course he has to ask his dear wife and mother in law for the nickel because they don't trust him with anything of value.
I was thinking about John today.
My view is that IF Sarah wins the presidency in 2012 (I expect her to if she goes for the job) Bolton would be an excellent foreign secretary in her administration.
One of the many highly talented people she could pick up along the way.
Just thinking.
Bolton would be an excellent foreign secretary in her administration.
Oh yea, excellent recommendation, Jack!
Come'on tough guy Smithsonian people, go ahead heros. Let's see you just display a plain old picture of Mohammad, even without the ants. Double standard chicken shits.
"leftist extremism combined with comic incompetence."
That sounds like an epidemic of a mutant superbug only instead of reaking havoc in hospitals this one has infected the White House and is reaking havoc in America.
It's being reported that Bolton, though his record shows him as demonstrably tough on jihadi terrorism, is for not the two state solution over there in the ME, but is for a three state solution. That's territorially challenging Israel's borders and Palin along with her armies of supporters now, wouldn't go for that. Neither should the international community.
Bolton thinks that if Egypt got Gaza and Jordan assumed control over the West Bank, there'd be a viable solution. Really? The water acquifiers are in the West Bank and any tampering with them would mean what's left of Israel would be wiped out in no time. No, you can't put the clear lunatics in charge of the asylum.
Not that it isn't happening all over now every agenda — the economics, the social issues…you name it.
BUT, amidst the growing din, yesterday's by-election results showed a clarion call to reason by citizens with the election of Julian Fantino and his commitment to get tough on crime. Torontonians from all reports are calling for that, from everything I've heard and read.
It was just over a dozen years ago that Toronto, Canada was cited as one of the cleanest world cities. Now you have rampant crime where citizzens en masse no longer can enjoy living in the city. It's a major feat apparently to descend in an apartment complex elevator after dark to go out to the local convenience store for groceries. Numbers of people who have left the citizen, particularly retirees, have adopted a peculiar habit in that they say "good morning, good evening" to new neighbours and literally nothing in between. That's not a life where you're virtually afraid to do community or relationship. Who knows what's actually behind their Toronto life experiences. And how can this change? Fantino may be onto the answers and let's hope he is.
The Newsmax article under twitter is reporting that up to three million employees have access to classified "secret" documentation. That's hardly plausible.
More and more it's looking like the gossipy, adolescent in nature wikileak items were likely purposeful and for one reason — to divert, change topic, from the clear economic crises, especially domestically.
Tea Partiers and all voters across all internationals don't want to lose focus of their primary needs that being, jobs. The EI benefits run out today and everybody's talking about the sordid details of political leaders management styles. I mean how much crazier can it get.
Meanwhile, retailers are hoping for Christmas sales and everybody talking them up.
The edonomic commenters are unusually quiet. Is it that bad already that it's a stalemate, mates?
To cut to the chase, the bondholders are scrambling over Merkel's appropriate suggestion that they assume SOME responsibility over the accumulating bursting bubbles.
None of the above is new news. Oh they've thrown in a couple of real beef dog bones in the mix to shift focus from the economic quagmire.