The Blogosphere Matures


One of the more interesting things established in the November election and the resurgance of the Democrats was the effect the blogosphere had. While treated with scorn by the Beltway Elite of both sorts-- the 'Contented Loser' faction of the Democrats and the pontificating windbags of the media set. Entirely dismissive of this community 'pajama wearing geeks', they are only now realizing the effect the blogosphere has and will continue to have on future elections, belatedly realizing that this medium can scupper a campaign faster than you can say ' Macaca'. Blogosphere support most certainly had an effect on a number of the races---because the candidates had early online support that worked hard to get their message out. While online blogosphere support may not guarantee success you just are not going to win without (OK- maybe in Florida) it. The WaPo takes a look at this in the link below--

On the Electronic Campaign Trail - washingtonpost.com


And here's one reason for blogger clout.
DKos , alone, has doubled in size the last two years. That's a whole lot of blogosphere.

The Hundred Hour's-- Done!!!

42 hour's on the clock. Seem's it 's still ticking on the 'Hundred Hour' agenda set by the new leadership in the Congress. It's ticking because somehow the 110th Congress managed to get more done in 42 hour's than the 109th did in two years. And without a single flag burning piece of legislation.

This a huge victory for the Democrat's in that they have proved both that goverment can work ( after Hastert's quagmire of non productiveness that wasn't the hard part ) and that Democrat's can govern. As well it firmly send's the message about who is in charge now. There are further benefits. This example will bode well for reference in the '08 election cycle--that there is someone who will be able to sort out the shambles that will be left for GW's successor. And that should go a long way to convince the electorate the answers are not, and will not be provided by the GOP.

The Hundred Hour's have proved there can be change for the better. Below is a link for someone who is much more qualified to adress this.,
Speaker of the House Pelosi.
The Blog Speaker Nancy Pelosi: Progress is Possible Again The Huffington Post

Jim Webb and the Response




Those who were wondering what impact Jim Webb would be making on his arrival in the Senate didn't have to have to wait long. The freshman Senator, member of the Senate Foriegn Relations Commitee, Armed Services and Economic and Veterans Affairs Commities should provide a most interesting rebutal to the President's speech. Stay tuned. Link here:
Webb Picked to Give Democrats' Response to Bush - washingtonpost.com

The Same Playbook-- With a Twist


Those that watched President Bush's speech from the White House were
disapointed if they expected anything
different in his approach to the conduct of the war he started. Except
for a couple of sniveling, much too late, very tiny mea culpas, we pretty much saw nothing except more of the same. The same script continued with a visit to Fort Benning and the usual captive audience of soldiers.Far fewer unwashed citzenry and for some reason the Rovian playmakers think there might be fewer of them Dem'crats. They don't seem to realize that every day there are more Democrats in the Army.Only this time there was a twist.

The base commander, Major General Walter (I was at Abu Graibe) Wojdakowski, in lockstep with the White House plan ordered that none of the soldiers present speak to the press. Interesting order coming from an officer who figured in the Abu Graib scandal in his position as Gen Sanchez's deputy.

I have been a soldier for many years and in that time I have had a lot of contact with the press, overseas on operations and domestic. I have been told how to say things, what not to say,
not to pretend I knew what was above my pay grade (eg- gov't policy) and above all to say something. I have never been ordered not to talk to the press. This is a first for me and I find it disconcerting to say the least. The Generals rational is that he wanted the focus on the President's speech. A poor rational. It is not his concern to worry about the focus on the President's speech. It most most certainly his his concern that his focus be on the soldiers under his command. General Wojdankowski failed his soldiers in forgetting the rights they serve to defend. In his effort to toady he forgot his place. And that is definitly something to consider when he comes up for a higher position, as has been rumored ( he was considered for a command position in Europe that required a third star and Senate approval). The General makes for a poor representitive of values he stifles himself. I know the type. Any career military person does. They are, unfortunatly,rathar common and some do go a long way. But this suckholing glory monkey should be put out to pasture soon. It would give him time to read up on the First Amendment.
At Fort Benning, a Quiet Response to a Presidential Visit - washingtonpost.com

Coulter's Crimes



It seems the long arm of the law is about to catch up
with pundit Ann Coulter, a rather unpleasant vessel of vitriol, over discrepencies with her voter registration.



I can't wait to see her splashing some personality around the court room. She had best hope the judge she draws hasn't heard about her threats to poison judges who didn't see it her way.


Full story here:


The Blog Brad Friedman: New Coulter Voter Fraud Docs: Police Report Says TWO Third Degree Felonies, One Misdemeanor May Have Been Committed by GOP Darling The Huffington Post

The Hundred Hours Begin To Tick


Tuesday's sitting of the 110th Congress began the clock on the Democratic Majority's Legislative plan--known widely as the 'Hundred Hours'. The Hundred Hour's refers of course to the time the House is actually in session and spans a couple of weeks. The agenda being presented is both modest and ambitious. Modest in that they are all things any functioning Congress should be able to do. Ambitious in that the previous Congress could achieve very, very little.

The plan is sound and sends a good message, one that badly needs to sent. That government can work and that it can work on behalf of the electorate, sometimes even getting things done. Just as has happened the last two days with the House passing H.R. 1 ( Homeland Security) and H. Res 35 ( Intelligence Oversight) . That was Tuesday. Today saw the passage of the Minimum Wage Bill, followed by predictible howls of indignant Republicans who just don't get it---that a few extra dollars in working peoples pockets will do a lot more the economy than another tax cut for the rich. There is a lot riding on the success of the 'Hundred Days' but so far they are off to a good start.


Details here:

U.S. House Digest

Boehners Ball Game



Rep. Boehner couldn't come into work today. Seems he had a previous commitment. He got himself to the Big Game but I hope he can afford the tickets. The price will be steep. I have
written here before about how Nancy Pelosi comes from a pretty hard political school. And Boehner just put himself in the killzone of a skillful ambush. With any luck he'll get the game ball. He'll need it. Speaker Pelosi has some others of his on a chain. Read how here in this cross post fromwww.dailykos.com




Daily Kos: Boehner's Game ( with poll)


And for dessert is this photo of GW with The Guy He Never Met




Working on this now--

More ' Surge' Talk From Wes Clark


Wes Clark has an Op Ed in the Washington Post, discussing
Bush's 'surge plan' General Clark's profile is getting higher lately.
Senator Biden announced for President yesterday, causing barely a ripple.
It's time for Clark to make a splash. There is a potential tidal wave of support out there.

Wesley K. Clark - The Smart Surge: Diplomacy - washingtonpost.com

Wes Clark On The 'Surge'

Wes Clark has an op-ed piece here on plans afoot
for a troop surge in Iraq. Check it out.





Independent Online Edition > Commentators

Whats Happening In Washington Monday?


It's going to be a pretty busy week in Washington. The 'Hundred Hours' kick off Tuesday and, of course, we all wait in breathless anticipation of the unveiling of The New Plan To Avoid Admitting Defeat Yet coming from President Bush. Monday itself is pretty quiet--The Senate debates S.Res 19(11:30 AM), to commerate the life of President Ford then move on to S. 1, the Ethics Bill. In the House it's a Pro Forma sesion at 2;00 PM. All in all, a potentially quiet day. The calm before the storm. Tuesday the House kicks into gear. There will be a lot happening. You can be a Ralph or you can follow all the action in detail at the link below:

U.S. House Digest


It's a project put together by someone over at
http://www.dailykos.com/ -sharis0502 and well worth a look. If you want a day to day summery
check it out.

The Hundred Days And The Hundred Hours




This week saw the swearing in of the
new Congress and the New Speaker,
Nancy Pelosi. Tuesday sees the official
beginning of the 'Hundred Hours', a
Democratic Party pledge towards swift
action on a number of the issues that
require urgent attention.














In March 1932, when FDR took office he embarked on an ambitious program, The Hundred Days, not just to establish the New Deal, but also because he recognized the need for government to show leadership and stability in what where perilous times.

















They were desperate times. Drought was just beginning to hit the mid west. Violent strikes had hit many sectors, especially hard in the coal mines where virtual indentured labor conditions existed. The Bonus Marcher's had been harshly dispersed ( in a glimpse into the future Douglas MacCarthur had used extreme violence ,in a direct contravention of his orders from Hoover- not the last time he would do so. Nonetheless the blame is Hoover's and part of his legacy), millions of unemployed men and woman roamed the countryside and haunted the cities in search of employment. Factories were silent and banks were collapsing. Things were so close to the edge that when someone asked FDR if he feared being the worst ever President he replied that he was more concerned with being the last one.

Accordingly, Roosevelt felt that swift, visible action was required. Speaker Pelosi has it right. There is a breakdown in faith in government ( we are however, nowhere near the same state of crisis!) and people need to see Government work---effectivly and on their behalf. The Democratic agenda is ambitious, but not overly so. It is achievable and when that is done the foundation for further accomplishment's will be laid. FDR's was very ambitious, and considering the times verged on the revolutionary. His inauguration on March 4 1932 was followed immediatly by the commencement of the Hundred Days. First came, on March 9, the Emergancy Banking Act. On 19 June came National Industry Recovery Act (NIRA). In between was alphabet city--- the CCC, The Agricultural Adjustment Administration, the TVA, CWA (Civil Works Administration--later the WPA, then the PWA) and the NRA, amongst others. Some were succesful, indeed, changed the face of the country ( the Manhatten Project would not have been possible without the TVA ). The CCC built many things that people today see every day-- and do not know their origin ( the CCC is worth a post of it's own at a later date.) The NRA- National Recovery Act- later brought down by the Supreme Court ( Court Pack in '37 is another post coming soon!) has been the subject of debate and if it didn't fulfill all it's promise performed many important functions, not the least of which was giving hope where none existed.

Regardless of their success all were met with vehement opposition from
the defenders of the status quo, just
as the Democrats 100 hour agenda will be. The strategy is sound and with perseverance will prevail--- and provide the base for continuing benefits. Just as FDR's 100 Days
forever left a mark, todays Democratic
Party can do the same.

And good things may happen.

Blunt Talk From Wes Clark


As usual Wes Clark has been keeping a busy schedule, both in the media and in support of Democratic Party candidates, such as Christine Jennings who is continuing her battle over the missing ballots in her district. For more on Clarks schedule and activities-securingamerica.com
Of particular interest are Gen. Clarks comments at the reception for the new Congress. Strong words about the posssibility of going to war with Iran. He's not shy in expressing his views in the link below.

The Blog Arianna Huffington: D.C. Notes: Wes Clark is Steamed, Jane Harman Isn't, and Terry McAuliffe is High on Hillary (Big Shock There, Huh?) The Huffington Post

Vitriol On The Fringe-- Again
A History Lesson

And so it begins. According to right wing talk
radio bafoon Hal Turner unless the new Congress
complies with his wishes they should be subject to
assassination list. Nice. A fine show he has I am

sure. Perhaps Ann Coulter, she of the poisoning judges advocacy, could be an appropriate guest for some intellectually stirring discussion. On what I am not sure, but at least they could be a support group for clueless fringies who haven't figured out there was an election and their dreams of neo con nirvanah are so much dust. Link to whole sorry saga here:


WorldNetDaily: 'Assassination' schedule announced for Congress


But before one gets too concerned with these fringy babbles and see some sort of disturbing new pattern developing bear in mind the examples of history. On the eve of the historic Democratic Party takeover of Congress a look at a previous Democratic 'Revolution', and the emotions it engendered, may be in order.

1932

The Great Depression begins to take a viral death
grip on the American ecomomy. Though it is often
thought the Market Crash in '29 was the cause of
Depression, this is not actually so. It's roots lay much deeper and complicated than that. Causes were multifold, ranging from production from rampant capitalism outsripping markets at the same time cash reserves were drying up. No-one was buying anything. Banks were collapsing ( in fact on Inauguration Day Governors in both New York and Illinois were forced to declare Bank Holidays of several days duration in order to prserve the remaining solvency of their states.)


Throughout it all- during the whole catastrophic
year Hoover had done nothing, his faith in the
system absolute. Unfettered Industry had built the
former prosperity and it surely would bring it back.
He rarely left his office and completly discounted
any tales of hardship and devestation his policies had wrought. And when he went out on the campaign trail he was shocked to find angry crowds and catcalls. After his loss, so resolute was he in his faith in his policies he pressed upon Roosevelt to adopt them in their entirity, so unable were he and his ilk to accept the failure of those policies. Right up to the end, even after the closing hours of his administration brought the insolvency of two major states, he prevailed upon FDR not to change a thing.

Roosevelt, of course, would have none of it. During the four months until he took over he said little, refusing all entreaties, allowing the Hoover Administration to finish it's term. It wasn't until the Inauguration, with his famous " Nothing to fear but fear itself" speech that he let forth his intentions and put forth the elements of what became the "New Deal" he had run on. And at that point the opposition got pretty vitriolic.


One of the nastier pieces of work was Father Arthur Coughlin who had a weekly radio show. Originally a
supporter of FDR he quickly broke with him, sparing
no restraint. Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson are pretty
tame stuff compared to their media ancestor. Coughlin was extremly anti-semitic and openly espoused Fascism. He eventually backed a miserable failure of a
third party run in '36. By the time he had faded from the picture by 1940 he had spread a lot of hate. And
it was very accepted. Huey Long was one of his allies
and was a dangerous type indeed. He ruled Louisiana
with an iron hand and made many threats against fellow Senators. He was

a major threat to FDR untill an assasin's bullet brought him down ( something his followers blamed on FDR, of course).

And the business community despised

him for the New Deal and it's attempts

to improve the working conditions of millions. The vile whispering campaigns

that were conducted would not be, one would think, part of polite society. And yet they where. Reaction amongst this set ranged from the seriously out of touch such as a Du Pont( Du Pont was a big financial backer of the anti Roosevelt's) executive who was upset because his domestic staff quit to get better paying WPA jobs to Harold Gray, the creator of Little Orphan Annie who had his tycoon character Daddy Warbucks commit suicide at the prospect of a fourth Roosevelt term. Rather exreme. And a bad idea. FDR died shortly after.

The hatred back then was pretty ugly. These people graduated from hating FDR to cheering Kennedys assasination all the way to their perverse disparegment of Bill Clinton. In fact, a case could be made that the roots of Clinton's impeachment were drawn from the well of residual hatred for FDR. Don't expect anything different from this group.

They haven't even begun to spew real bile yet. Not by 1930's standards.