text:
But as May wore out, June dawned dark and stormy with a gale over the Channel. Up at Shipmate—code name of the Advanced Command Post on the bluff—we shivered in our tents and trailers. The meteorologists in their Nissen huts near Admiral Ramsay's headquarters worked desperately, searching the fronts for clearer skies. They were not only trying to predict the weather, they were trying to make it. Commanders' meetings at Southwick House were charged with worry. The sober fact was that the worst June storm in twenty years was whipping the Channel.
There was no promise of a break in the weather that evening. With all their alchemy, the weather wizards could not lift the blanket of cloud that hung over our heads and our spirits. We drove back through the blackout after the ten o'clock meeting June fourth with dull realization that if we could not go on June sixth, we should almost certainly have to postpone our assault for another two weeks, the earliest date when the tide would again be right. Although June seventh would still have met our conditions if the weather cleared, some of the ships which had come down from northern ports would have insufficient fuel to carry through the assault phase if it were postponed. …
It was still drizzling outside the trailer when I got up to attend the meeting set for 0400 on the morning of June fifth. … All the commanders were there when General Eisenhower arrived, trim in his tailored battle jacket, his face tense with the gravity of the decision which lay before him. Field Marshal Montgomery wore his inevitable baggy corduroy trousers and sweat shirt. Admiral Ramsay and his Chief of Staff were Immaculate in navy blue and gold.
The meteorologists were brought in at once. There was the ghost of a smile on the tired face of the tall Scot. "I think we have found a gleam of hope for you, sir," he said to General Eisenhower, and we all listened expectantly.
That was how Bedell Smith remembered the conference at which it would be decided to launch, or not to launch, D-Day. That "gleam of hope" the Scottish meteorologist provided was based on the information supplied by a network of weather stations and interpreted by analysts. Rarely, if ever, in military history would so much hinge on the data analysis and modeling of so few. The situation was not helped by the fact that some weathermen, like other human beings, wanted to tell clients what the clients wanted to hear. One would have thought they were pollsters. Like the weathermen, pollsters had to provide accurate forecasts of the climate in order for the political consultants to chart strategy.
The weathermen were right about June 6, 1944. But the Wall Street Journal reports that a pre-mortem is already under way among those close to President Obama. Why did they cast their strategy thus? On what information? "Some high-level Democrats are calling for President Barack Obama to remake his inner circle or even fire top advisers in response to what many party strategists expect to be a decisive defeat on Tuesday."
Among the complaints: Mr. Obama conveyed an incoherent message that didn't express what Democrats would do over the next two years if they retain power; he focused more on his own image than helping Democratic candidates; and the White House picked the wrong battle when it attacked Republicans for using "outside" money to pay for campaigns, an issue disconnected from voters' real-world anxieties. ….
Another senior strategist who participated in a meeting with Mr. Axelrod said the White House hadn't grasped the economic concerns voters have — something he says Republicans seemed to understand. "We ignored what voters were actually feeling and thinking," this strategist said.
133 Comments, 133 Threads
2. Amit Green
F J Harris @1 writes:
Also a good perspective on much more important days in the past.
Best wishes to America on election day … its time to start reasserting that the elected representatives are servants of the people.
November 2, 2010 - 1:27 pm Link to this Comment -
3. Gordon
Sign on Herman Melville's desk: "Keep true to the dreams of thy youth."
John Dryden: "Beware the fury of a patient man."
So . . . here comes the election (I said that).
November 2, 2010 - 1:27 pm Link to this Comment -
4. Tallgrass
For the first time in history a POTUS has declared as his enemy those of us who represent the "opposition". The real question is "why would he chose to do so" . . . clearly the forecasters with who he is so intimate failed miserably to test the gravity of the seas . . . we the "opposition" find ourselves in a life and death struggle for we have been and continue to be the frontally assulted ones. We rise to this occasion in numbers that befudle the mind of the Won. We the People KNOW who our competition is . . . for HE has declared HIMSELF to be so.
Tis time to raise the bar . . . The Won has made the challenge . . . We the People Shall be the victors!
November 2, 2010 - 1:28 pm Link to this Comment -
5. Gringo
Another senior strategist who participated in a meeting with Mr. Axelrod said the White House hadn't grasped the economic concerns voters have— something he says Republicans seemed to understand. "We ignored what voters were actually feeling and thinking," this strategist said.
It took them NEARLY TWO YEARS to figure this out?
November 2, 2010 - 1:42 pm Link to this Comment -
6. Jay
Well jobs was Abama's top priority, RIGHT AFTER the latest Bill De Jour. How could the administration and congress so drop the ball on budgets, getting the tax policy settled etc.
They showed they were totally incompetent in running the existing Federal part of the economy as they jumped in to take over huge added chunks.
Now they don't understand the fear and anger?
November 2, 2010 - 2:01 pm Link to this Comment -
7. Morton Doodslag
I agree with Gringo's sentiment above.. What does it say about the florid incompetence of Obama that these questions are only asked mere minutes before the debacle is upon which, all of which he has authored?
Our external enemies have been taking notes, and no matter the outcome of tis election, the unforgiving moments cometh for Ameruca and the world.
BTW – Wretchard — I've long wondered how you stay abreast and on top of events so well happening in the USA – despite all the new media,with time offsets and distance and such, to read your analysis, one couldn't guess that you are literally on the other side of the planet from our goings on over here…
November 2, 2010 - 2:02 pm Link to this Comment -
8. PsychoDad
Isn't it obvious? We all just aren't smart enough to understand all the wonderful things Dear Leader has done for us, and even more importantly, HOW MUCH HE CARES! His heart bleeds with every lost job and foreclosure, and empathy like that is what's really important.
So all of us who just don't get it, well, we're just going to have to go off to Dear Leader Appreciation Seminars until we fully understand this amazing man that History has gifted to us.
Buses will start circulating Wednesday morning to take you to your Seminar. Don't bother bringing luggage.
November 2, 2010 - 2:18 pm Link to this Comment -
9. Mikey
And when former President Eisenhower finished his senond term, he retired and drove the wife to Gettysburg (owned a nice farm there) in their Imperial with one security guy in tow. Consider his resume, demeanor and humility in relation to Obama as part of the exercise.
November 2, 2010 - 2:19 pm Link to this Comment -
10. kaba
Eisenhower based his decision on the advice of scientist. Those scientist knew meteorology and understood that their advice could cost thousands and perhaps tens-of-thousands of lives.
Obama has based his decisions on the advice of Axelrod, Gibbs and company. They know nothing and care less about the lives they destroy.
The difference in outcome is apparent.
November 2, 2010 - 2:19 pm Link to this Comment -
12. epignosis
Let's see how to pose the question for a class of fifth graders.
Your nation is $13 trillion in dept, not counting unfunded entitlement liabilities.
Your treasury has been emptied to prosecute foreign wars.
Your country has hemorrhaged manufacturing capability for two decades.
Your are in a ruinous meltdown in the housing market, with foreclosures mounting at an obscene rate.
Unemployment is rising at rates not seen before.Now class, answer this question with one word. Would this be a good time to pass a new trillion dollar entitlement program which must necessarily require huge tax increases in the near future?
The public has to assume because of this insanity that their is no adult supervision in the executive or legislative branches.
November 2, 2010 - 2:25 pm Link to this Comment -
13. Josh
Dept. of Many Quibbles:
Your nation is $13 trillion in debt, not counting unfunded entitlement liabilities.
* let's count them, esp public and private retirements.
* and the trade deficit.Your treasury has been emptied to prosecute foreign wars.
* Tendentious. Did we have a choice?
Your country has hemorrhaged manufacturing capability for two decades.
* Six decades.
Your are in a ruinous meltdown in the housing market, with foreclosures mounting at an obscene rate.
* Easily fixed by a little inflation, say the joy boys Bernanke & Geithner.
Unemployment is rising at rates not seen before.
* To levels not seen before.
The "good" news is that the safety net is working, or we'd already have soup lines around the block – or we'd have them around more blocks, or we'd have mass starvation.
The question is, can we continue as we are? Probably not. And yet, I begin to wonder, and the fact is that NOBODY knows. What if we can? Would that be wonderful, or a new set of horrors?
November 2, 2010 - 2:46 pm Link to this Comment -
14. Andrew X
So many times, the smart (or "smart") set focuses on the trees and cannot see the forest.
Obama had an "incoherent message", "focused more on his own image", "picked wrong battles", "didn't grasp economic concerns", etc etc, all true, all true….
But what is not mentioned is the simplest reason why the Dem fortunes are almost impossible to reverse – Namely, that Obama absolutely sucks as a politician. Simple as that. He is appallingly bad at it.
Politics is an art, and Obama is doing socialist realism with velvet-Elvis and expecting the art critics to coo over it. (Well, maybe they will…)
Obama just has no idea how to do it, and why should he? When did he ever have to? In that ferocious Senate race against Alan Keyes?? In a primary run where he scored huge in one super-day, and literally spent the entire rest of the race watching Hillary gain on him, only to win when the clock mercifully ran out? Other than that, what races of substance had he run… ever?
As for executive experience… please.
Here's one nugget: How would today's numbers differ if Obama had simply told the Ground Zero Mosquers, "Hey, I sympathize, but y'know what, my country hates this idea, so I'm asking you not to do it. Just find anther spot". That's called a "Sista Soldja" moment, Mr. Prez, remedial politics, f'r criminey sakes! Ya don't have to want it, or agree with it, you just have to do it, because it's the not-stupid thing to do. But oops, doop-de-doo, hooda saw that one??
How many such moments have been missed, that a master like Bill Clinton would have been all over?
Nope. Dems, ya bet on a horse with a pretty, shiny coat and dashing tail, who can't run fer squat, and you're stuck with him now….. no goin' back.
Good Luck with all that. People don't change who they are in their late forties. You bought him, and now you can't take him to the local park and set him free and hope you'll never see him again. Doesn't work that way.
November 2, 2010 - 2:49 pm Link to this Comment -
15. Uncle Jefe
I love the smell of panic in the morning…
"We ignored what voters were actually feeling and thinking," this strategist said.
And thank God you did.
The United States of America may yet be saved.November 2, 2010 - 2:54 pm Link to this Comment -
16. epignosis
We will be forced to continue. All the King's men and all the Tea Party folks will have a difficult time slowing this train before we reach the destroyed bridge.
November 2, 2010 - 2:57 pm Link to this Comment -
17. MarkD
We would do well to heed the words of Churchill. This is not the beginning of the end. It may be the end of the beginning.
The status quo is not sustainable, nor are the Bush deficits. Some of our electees will be corrupted by power. Some of the corrupt will survive. This is merely the start of a lifetime's work to restore order to our fiscal house.
May the pain of repaying this squandered debt make us resolve "never again."
November 2, 2010 - 3:06 pm Link to this Comment -
18. epignosis
14. Andrew – people don't change – It must be possible, because I've seen it happen. However, in the case of the President's particular arrogance disorder, he cannot be wrong. If the public is not happy with his program, the public is at fault.
You see the manifestation of his errant thought process in his assertion that "time for talk is over" which equals 'I don't want to hear any disagreement because you are wrong'. Also in "punish our enemies" and "those aren't the kind of folks who represent our values".November 2, 2010 - 3:14 pm Link to this Comment -
19. RattlerGator
14. Andrew X
Precisely right.
He is an incredibly bad politician with no ability to understand just how deficient he is.
November 2, 2010 - 3:27 pm Link to this Comment -
20. tomw
17. MarkD
The status quo is not sustainable, nor are the Bush deficits.
Ummh, did I miss something? I thought that the Resident had tripled the Bush deficits in his first year. Bush deficits are unsustainable, but to not only double down, but TRIPLE down is relentless idiocy. Just like the 'double your bet when you lose' strategy.
There just isn't enough money. If you print it, you are printing funmy colored toilet paper with pictures on it.
I don't necessarily trust CNBC, but what is stated is just common sense: Bernanke's 20% dollar drop
I predict headlines about women and children being hit hardest real soon now…
tomNovember 2, 2010 - 3:36 pm Link to this Comment -
21. stoicheion
They are all 'true believers'. Marxism (Socilism, Progressivism, Communism, whatever) is the future. It is our fault for not understanding. That is why we are the enemy.
I'm good with pogo; "We have met the enemy and he is us."
Meanwhile the (D) in Kentucky 1 has 41 votes. His opponent (R) has 1600+. Works for me. With a little luck, the Democrats will be able to caucus next year in a rented bus. Think of the money they will save. No need to rent space in a luxury hotel. Instead of a million dollar buffet with prawns, Fish eggs, and Lobster they can swing by Micky D's and have an impeached former Federal Judge ask them if they want that order super-sized.November 2, 2010 - 3:55 pm Link to this Comment -
22. Promethea
I am so psyched up about this election.
I live in the Heart of Democratic Machineland, and my polling station was almost empty. I voted ONLY for Republicans (though I'm not a Republican). I voted AGAINST every judge who was running for reelection, and I left the ballot BLANK for unopposed judges. Of course, I voted YES to enable voters to recall incompetent or thieving governors.
I hope other tea partiers also tried to use their ballots creatively to send a message to the Evil Clowns who think they "rule" us.
Wretchard, thank you for all that you do to keep us informed. You have the best political blog on the internet, and your observations about American politics are terrific. I don't know how you're able to understand our culture as well as you do. You have an amazing grasp of American culture in all its variety.
November 2, 2010 - 3:56 pm Link to this Comment -
Another parallel, once the landings start (and they've started), the initial reports will be confused, contradictory, and sometimes completely erroneous. Not every report of a route will be true, and not every report of a stubborn strong point will either.
November 2, 2010 - 4:01 pm Link to this Comment -
24. Whitehall
#4 – Mr. Tallgrass
"For the first time in history a POTUS has declared as his enemy those of us who represent the 'opposition.'"
I strongly suspect that Andrew Jackson declared this many, many times during his presidency, especially about that little rich guy over at the Bank of the US, Nick Biddle and his friends.
But I'll forgive your hyperbole.
BTW, I voted to remove every California Supreme Court judge on the ballot.
November 2, 2010 - 4:03 pm Link to this Comment -
Charles Krauthamer was quoting someone else but just summed up things up very well:
"This is not an election. This is a restraining order."
November 2, 2010 - 4:41 pm Link to this Comment -
26. veracious
One of the biggest differences between June 6 and the Reich Zero (0th Reich), is genuine concern about the elements being controlled.
Eisenhower and his advisers knew that it was possible to seriously injure or even destroy that which he controlled. Without careful consideration, the whole landing could fail with _major_ losses being suffered by his force. The goal of freeing Europe would not have been achieved.
Reich Zero, has genuine concern for ideas and the subset of USA (The Party) that agree with his ideas. There is no concern for USA, if the process of manifesting those ideas, destroys it. USA does not deserve to exist in its present form anyway. The goal of manifestation will proceed at any cost, including USA collapse. Even from a gracious view of assisting the underpriviledge, poor, racially oppressed and mistreated; killing the larger USA to do it, is not caring for it.
Finally, having studied Adolf H and his war, his perspective was similar to Reich Zero. If the Wehrmacht and the nation did not win his careless battles and war, they did not deserve to live anyway. They either were supermen or they would properly die, finding out.
November 2, 2010 - 4:46 pm Link to this Comment -
27. grrr
Re #25. RWE
Charles Krauthamer was quoting someone else but just summed up things up very well:
"This is not an election. This is a restraining order." P.J. O'Rourke few days ago in PJM
November 2, 2010 - 4:49 pm Link to this Comment -
28. grrr
Re. Charles Krauthammer quote: "This is not an election. This is a restraining order." It is from http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/they-hate-our-guts_511739.html
November 2, 2010 - 4:55 pm Link to this Comment -
29. Josh
so we still have a don't ask don't tell policy for witches in the senate?
November 2, 2010 - 5:27 pm Link to this Comment -
30. bogie wheel
Another senior strategist who participated in a meeting with Mr. Axelrod said the White House hadn't grasped the economic concerns voters have — something he says Republicans seemed to understand. "We ignored what voters were actually feeling and thinking," this strategist said.
I can't help but think that "the professional left" has made it virtually impossible for Democrat politicians to tell genuine voter discontent (grassroots) from the grumbling of the perpetually outraged (the professional left).
Because there I was standing outside the U.S. Capitol on March 20, 2010 all day, among tens of thousands of other people, yelling "Kill the Bill!!!" And most if not virtually all of those tens of thousands of other people were just like me: people who in their entire lives had never been to a political protest before Spring 2009.
We knew Congress members were aware of us because members kept coming out on the balcony of the Capitol (on the side facing the Rayburn Bldg) and either just staring at us and taking pictures (Dem reaction) or waving & unfurling American flags (Pubbie reaction).
So just who the heck did those Democrats who watched us & listened to us yelling our heads off all day on March 20th think we were?
25,000 paid flunkies of the insurance companies? 25,000 Dick Armey-bots? Pleeze.
I realize that if you live & work in D.C. then you see political protests all the time.
But one would think that keeping in touch with one's constituents via district offices is supposed to help Congress members know what their constituents, as opposed to protest crowds in D.C., are thinking and feeling.
Oh, you mean THOSE constituents? The ones whom Congress members were ducking & avoiding townhall meetings with during the summer recess in 2009?
Signals from the voters have been going off like Zambelli fireworks for eighteen months now, bursting big as blazes and lighting up the sky, thundering with each Tea Party, each townhall meeting, each march and rally in D.C.
And all the Dems can do now is wring their sad little donk hooves and mumble, "Oops"?
FWIW, my own Congressman, Jason Altmire, a Dem, is almost certainly going to get re-elected. He voted against Obamacare. He cast that NO vote torn between two extremely powerful voting interests in our district — seniors (who were against Obamacare) and unions (for it). The unions and, you can bet, Nancy Pelosi, were crapping down Altmire's neck for not voting their way. But guess what? Altmire will survive another term. Know what Altmire's campaign slogan was this time around? "He listens to us."
November 2, 2010 - 5:28 pm Link to this Comment -
31. Dex Quire
Is there a republican leader who had missed more new things than Karl Rove? Sure would be nice to him take himself off the scene after this election; the man has absolutely no class. He helped drive the party into the dirt in '08 — why is he such a revered voice on Fox these days? His sniping at Palin and O'Donnell show a very very small man. Never forget seeing him grovel before "La Raza" at some conference during Bush's last year; he also adivesed Bush to grovel before the NAACP that same year. It was awful. Both entities still ended up hating both men but now thanks to Rove they have the unctious groveling on their permanent record. If he is going to sit up there and bemoan every new gust of fresh air in the republican party he's got to go…
November 2, 2010 - 6:05 pm Link to this Comment -
32. dan
they're leninists. damnit, i love you, but don't you people read.
November 2, 2010 - 6:06 pm Link to this Comment -
33. stoicheion
And on a sour note, Barney the fag is ahead by 30 points. It isn't even close. A cake walk. Rats. I'll bet he didn't even have to drag out the boxes of absentee ballots.
November 2, 2010 - 6:20 pm Link to this Comment -
34. wretchard
One problem with the Overlord plan was the relative inattention given to what happened after the Allies gained a lodgement. The analogous problem is what happens now, after the two events have happened, one within the other. The wrapper wave are the gains the GOP has made within the lower house and the Senate. The inner wave is the gains the Tea Party-type ideas have made within the Republicans, and to a lesser but significant extent, outside the GOP.
I think nothing creative can be expected from within the GOP. They'll sit on their haunches on the beach. To get out of the bocage, the Tea Party movement is going to have to start looking for a breakthrough strategy. That means they have to start building alliances between the newly elected Federal officials and the governors to create the prospect of real movement ASAP. Momentum is their friend. No loss of tempo should be allowed, especially since one unappreciated facet of the debacle is what it has shown about the Democratic leadership. It is divided and in denial. That Obama and Clinton are going to be out of the country; that Pelosi is living in cloud-cuckoo land are signs they in the grip of a real crisis, incapable for the next two weeks at least, of any kind of coherent response.
But in a month, the situation will be different. The important thing is to seize the agenda in ways that force the other side to make ruinous responses. Take the ground and raise the shield and let the opposition break on it. Easy enough to say, but hard to do.
November 2, 2010 - 6:58 pm Link to this Comment -
35. gadfly
Liveblogging with the Tea Party Patriots in DC, Richard Pollack reports:
9:17 PM PDT: The hotel ballroom broke out into "USA, USA" when Fox News announced that the Republicans assumed control of the House of Representatives.
"We did not find ordinary Americans throughout this nation" said Tea Party Patriots co-founder Mark Meckler, "we found extraordinary Americans."
The place rocked.
November 2, 2010 - 7:12 pm Link to this Comment -
36. Josh
One problem with the Overlord plan was the relative inattention given to what happened after the Allies gained a lodgement.
George Patton.
November 2, 2010 - 7:26 pm Link to this Comment -
37. Ashen
Well, talk about underwhelming. Not much of a tsunami this time around. I'm thinking that half the country wants big govt handouts and the status quo. I feel down as I had higher hopes for 2010 midterms. Oh well, looks like secession is only a few years away. Time to move to Texas.
November 2, 2010 - 7:29 pm Link to this Comment -
38. Richard Aubrey
"we ignored" has a couple of possible meanings. Usually, it means we knew but didn't bother to think about it or take it into account. Sometimes, probably not a proper usage, it means we missed it entirely, taking it for something else.
From context, it's hard to say what the WH meant by that.
To take a WW II metaphor, perhaps it's as if the airborne commanders of MarketGarden sent their intel guy to the rubber room and pretended there were not two Wehrmacht divisions resting and refitting in the area. To have been an airborne commander meant to have been a believer, begging for a dozen C47s, or older aircraft, in 1936, "Hell, everybody wants airplanes. Make your case." and good NCOs out of line divisions "Hell, everybody needs noncoms. Make your case." And by the time of Market Garden, all the good objectives got taken by the grunts before the airborne guys could put a plan together and round up a huge amount of resources. So they had to have one. As believers from the First Days of jumping, they HAD to have one more.
I submit that political operatives are believers, in something, and cannot allow themselves to think for a moment that they are going in the wrong direction. So, yeah, the electorate was miffed about, among other things, jobs. But it couldn't be allowed into the calculations. So, among other things, Sarah Palin was, had to be, an ignoramus and a nutcase. Because if they believed her…they'd have to forego the objective.November 2, 2010 - 7:36 pm Link to this Comment -
39. Josh
California rejects the future, and is none too certain about the present. For once, I hope this is not an indication of where the country is going – but it was in the legislative branch, California's legislature froze into uselessness twenty years ago, almost all major legislation since has been by proposition while the states finances went down the toilet.
San Francisco's elected officials are all loathsome, Newsome, Pelosi, Harris. OMG. Local Fox affiliate polled random riders on the mass transit Blue Line. Everyone was for Brown. Talk about your bridge to the past.
I suppose this comes from all that medical marijuana, the state is going up in smoke, and dave's not here.
November 2, 2010 - 7:42 pm Link to this Comment -
40. peterike
Results are very good overall. Those racist Republican crackers in South Carolina have apparently elected both a black Congressman and an Indian-American governor. That's got to be getting some Lefty knickers in a twist.
But it seems that while the Red and semi-Red states are rejecting Democrats soundly, the very bluest places are staying pretty Blue. This bodes ill, methinks, for California, and I'm also very worried about Sharon Angle in Nevada. I don't think she's going to make it. Too many dead bodies and stuffed wallets voting for Reid.
Well, I think I'm getting into bed. My idiot Congressman is well ahead, as I figured. New York continues to send the biggest gaggle of brain dead non-entities to Congress, surpassed perhaps only by California. Whatever are we going to do about these places?
November 2, 2010 - 8:03 pm Link to this Comment -
41. Deano41
On a positive note, as California goes down stern first, it won't be a Republican governor or legislature to blame. Our family has been here since 1900, and I'm too old to move. I'm sorry for my granchildren, but I don't look for any improvement in the next four years.
November 2, 2010 - 8:17 pm Link to this Comment -
42. Josh
Los Angeles registrar reports only 39% turnout.
Woulda thought with the "enthusiasm gap" that would be huge for Republicans, but it doesn't feel that way.
My congressman Henry Waxmoustache survives, and my Democratic state senator – has been dead for a couple of months, but is reelected.
November 2, 2010 - 8:25 pm Link to this Comment -
43. rickl
37. Ashen
Well, talk about underwhelming. Not much of a tsunami this time around. I'm thinking that half the country wants big govt handouts and the status quo. I feel down as I had higher hopes for 2010 midterms. Oh well, looks like secession is only a few years away. Time to move to Texas.Yep. I'm underwhelmed too. It's more like a ripple than a tsunami. A modest majority in the House is not going to defeat the entrenched bureaucracy, the increasingly leftist judiciary, and the unconstitutional czars. They will be timid, and will be under continuous attack from the executive branch and the media.
As I understand it, Bernanke is set to begin the next round of quantitative easing tomorrow. The dollar will be devalued, and food and energy prices will increase. The standard of living for the majority of Americans will decline. How many people will be begging for even more socialism in 2012?
I am getting a distinct whiff of a blown opportunity tonight. I had some champagne ready, but I don't feel like drinking it.
November 2, 2010 - 8:34 pm Link to this Comment -
44. Greifer
–New York continues to send the biggest gaggle of brain dead non-entities to Congress, surpassed perhaps only by California. Whatever are we going to do about these places?
Sorry, but don't forget MN. I know we're small, but per capita, our brain dead non entities might be worse.
In MN, I don't think there's any industry left here that isn't on the take. Unlike CA which is all public employees because everyone else left, MN has healthcare, IT houses and ethanol. Obamacare is their dream. Cap and trade is their dream. They jsut don't believe the recession matters, because the little pieces of paper keep coming.
And when those pieces of paper don't work anymore, because they aren't being sent by the feds to MN, they are just going to blame the evil tea party.
November 2, 2010 - 8:37 pm Link to this Comment -
45. Josh
on the positive side Obama will leave the country tomorrow and with any luck ducks will eat the bread crumbs and he won't be able to find his way back.
November 2, 2010 - 8:39 pm Link to this Comment -
46. peterike
Guys, let's not be too gloomy. The House victory is huge. Consider the relentless media propaganda that had to be overcome to get there. Also, we've seeded a lot of talent for the next rounds. This is how you win. You build a strong bench.
At the very least, we can now stop Obama in many ways. If the Republicans are smart (yeah, I know…) they will pick good fights and start to uncork key investigations. They have GOT to go after vote fraud, once and for all. I suspect a ton of it in Nevada.
The Senate is inherently harder to win. Name recognition counts, and its a lot harder to campaign across a whole state if you're not the incumbent. Even so, we got close in very Blue states and took out a real Leftist bum like Feingold and a hack like Blanche Lincoln. As states like New York and Cali begin to collapse fiscally, the effects of the Democrats will become apparent even to some of the truly stupid.
And in a final nod to Whiskey, in a few of the races I checked, it seemed as ever the big factor for the Democrats was the female vote. Women even voted against O'Donnell 61/36 (accd to exit polls). Irksome.
November 2, 2010 - 8:59 pm Link to this Comment -
47. Cetera
43. rickl
Yep. I'm underwhelmed too. It's more like a ripple than a tsunami. A modest majority in the House is not going to defeat the entrenched bureaucracy, the increasingly leftist judiciary, and the unconstitutional czars. They will be timid, and will be under continuous attack from the executive branch and the media.
As I understand it, Bernanke is set to begin the next round of quantitative easing tomorrow. The dollar will be devalued, and food and energy prices will increase. The standard of living for the majority of Americans will decline. How many more people will be begging for even more socialism in 2012?
Yeah, I'm pretty down about this whole thing after all the hype. 60 seats or thereabouts is a great start, but it isn't enough. I also realize that this is mere the start of something that will take generations to resolve. I also think that we don't have that much time. I think the point of no return may be at most five or six years down the road. If we had a chance for saving the nation and the Constitution, tonight had to be a big deal. It wasn't.
Too many people still didn't vote. The turnout was big, but it wasn't a majority of the country. Too many people either don't understand or don't care. There are also far, far too many people who are willing to take the handouts, demand more, and beggar their neighbors.
I hate to be a downer. It sucks, and I'm not happy about it. I think the only thing that can save our Constitutional Republic at this point is a collapse and getting back to fundamentals. It will be uglier than anything I can imagine. The alternative is even more ugly. Really, even a collapse would probably go against us. We're up against the wall, beset from all sides, and people in our little band keep stabbing us in the kidneys when we aren't looking. Hell, sometimes even when we are.
It is always darkest before the dawn. It is also always darkest just before you realize the dawn isn't ever coming again, and then it quickly fades to black. This trial of ours will either find us purified, and we will rise stronger and more faithful, or it will find us wanting, and we will be burned off as chaff, and rightfully so.
May I Am Who Am preserve us.
November 2, 2010 - 9:04 pm Link to this Comment -
48. trangbang68
Dispatch from the border election department:
I worked the polls at a southside Tucson polling place. Raul Grijalva the incumbent congressman who called for a boycott of his own state for daring to want to clamp down on illegals in a tough fight.
Quite a day at the polls. We had 158 folks on the register vote and 100 provisional ballots. 95% minimum of provisional ballots were Dems and were for causes like they already got an early vote, moved ,had six addresses,etc. Several voters spoke no English, Had a few union thugettes pushing the envelope outside. One burst of provisional voters came from a couple of addresses where civilized behavior is drinking 40′s and smoking blunts. Probably never voted before. Even had a Dhimmicrat poll watcher trying to make a case that it was suspicious there were so many provisional ballots. Not suspicious at all Sherlock if there name isn't on the roster. My wife thought I would get into poll work but at the end of the day I felt like the thin veneer of our freedom is peeling fast.
Other border news, had a guy beheaded in Chandler Arizona last weekend over drug trafficking and three Americans shot dead in El Paso today.November 2, 2010 - 9:10 pm Link to this Comment -
49. rickl
46. peterike
Women even voted against O'Donnell 61/36 (accd to exit polls). Irksome.I call it disgusting.
The 19th Amendment continues to be problematic for me. I'd support repeal, but then superb candidates like Palin, Bachmann, and Haley, as well as decent candidates like O'Donnell and Angle probably wouldn't be in the running. And there have been many, many women doing grunt work on the ground in the Tea Party movement.
Why do so many women voters vote against good women candidates? Cattiness? I don't get it. I'm at a loss.
November 2, 2010 - 9:25 pm Link to this Comment -
50. Charles
I thought the pubbies would do better. But they did do well enough to stop the legislative side of O's agenda.
November 2, 2010 - 9:27 pm Link to this Comment -
51. Josh
I dunno, is this enough?
Well, control of the house, Mark Rubio in the senate and Russ Feingold out, …
If Angle can win in Nevada, I'll take it.
But Cuomo in New York and Brown in California … ugh. I mean, serious ugh.
Did y'all hear the pinheaded comment from Governator Ahnold last night after the Giants beat Texas, that that's just like California voters would beat down the Texas oil companies that wanted to suspend California's anti-global warming laws? Ahnold, babe, you sound like a little gihl.
And as others have pointed out, Bernanke in the mornng will spend half a trillion dollars on laxatives. And the next day Obambus leaves the country. And then the lame ducks will limp back to Congress for one last quack at things.
November 2, 2010 - 9:37 pm Link to this Comment -
53. Matt Beck
The industrial midwest and the east coast have flipped heavily Republican, but what the frack happened out here in the west? I'm not buying the numbers coming out of Colorado and Nevada.
November 2, 2010 - 10:29 pm Link to this Comment -
54. starling
Meet Florida's Newest Congressman
Lt. Col. Allen West (R-FL22)
I wonder what the Congressional Black Caucus will do and say with him in the room?
November 2, 2010 - 10:47 pm Link to this Comment -
56. Ivan
One thing at a time, the US could do with gridlock. Overwhelming victories tend to be phyrric. The results ensure that the Democrats cannot blame Republicans for the performance of the economy while the Repubs enjoy the priviledge of sniping without having to offer alternatives of their own. There really is a Deux Ex Machina in the US electoral system.
November 2, 2010 - 11:08 pm Link to this Comment -
57. Deano41
A good friend made an interesting observation this evening. Since the Republicans didn't take control of the Senate, it is better to still have Harry Reid as leader. Reid is pro Second Amendment. If Reid lost, that would probably put Chuck U Schumer in charge, and he hates the Second Amendment.
November 2, 2010 - 11:09 pm Link to this Comment -
58. Josh
If Whitman had spread around some of her money to break a few of these Democratic congressional districts, I'll bet that would have boosted her far more than spending the money on herslf. Werd.
I know, gerrymandered the way they are maybe its impossible, but even the effort might have boosted her at the head of the ticket.
Just heard Jerry Brown's victory speech. I'm old enough that I've watched friends and family (and myself) as they get older, and you're watching and listening and just little things pop up and you ask, "What was that?". Brown has always been intelligent (and stupid in just those ways that really require intelligence to carry off), but I heard several of those little non sequiturs, and he's not even sworn in yet at age 72. Gonna be a tough ride out here in California, folks.
November 2, 2010 - 11:15 pm Link to this Comment -
59. Josh
we won't get fooled again!
… ok, maybe we will. maybe we enjoy being fooled. sigh.
Boxer's victory speech … y'know, thirty years ago she seemed like a sharp cookie, but that was then, times were so different, now she is such a caricature of herself. Fiorina still not conceding, made a speech about how close it still is. I dunno, could all the media outlets be wrong? (yes) But I'm not holding my breath. Whitman about to speak … everyone waving 12″ square pictures of a golden poppy (California state flower, not the Afghanistan variety), … ok it does sound like a concession … unite behind (Brown and) a common cause … eh. "A new error … era … of bipartisan problem solving can begin tomorrow." Yeah right. More poppies.
November 2, 2010 - 11:39 pm Link to this Comment -
60. Sgian Dubh
37. Ashen
Bingo. I feel much like I did at the end of the World Series. Uncharacteristicly, I didn't have a dog in the fight, but I have an emotional (kinship) attachment to Texas.
Unfortunately, when the Rangers (bless their hearts) got to the "Big Game," the "liberals" kicked their ass.
Quite frankly, with the results of the election and all that that portends…there is now, much more to do. Appropriately, since I've now been labeled as an "enemy" by the President of the United States, the options as to how one might respond to such an inane insult, are quite diverse.
I intend to explore ALL of them.
OBTW, I'm not one bit pissed off. ~
November 3, 2010 - 12:46 am Link to this Comment -
61. stoicheion
37. Ashen, I'm right there with you, sorta.
I think it was the gleaming possibilities. This was actually an epic election of historic proportions. It just wasn't epic enough.
It is like fighting a Hydra, we cut off 1 head and inflicted some damage to the body but the beast lives on. It will grow more heads.
Or to switch back to D-Day motif, We secured the beach but not the exits from that beach. The big mistake at D-Day was made years before. In late '42 when planning was started the US Army was assigned the right flank. That was for logistics reasons, since the build up of US troops was planned to go into southern England, with the UK and Canadian troops quartered in the East. So to an Army guy, it made sense to put the supplies and reinforcements behind the troops they were supplying and reinforcing.
If they had asked the Navy, they would have been told it didn't make any difference. They didn't, since talking to the Navy wasn't done in the Army of that time. As one of MacArthur's staff told an Ozzie General; "We are fighting the Japs but the Navy is the enemy."
As a result of that decision, the UK troops wound up facing terrain that begged for mobile warfare, something the Brits never quite got the hang of. The US Army, which was designed and built for mobile warfare faced terrain that required Infantrymen, which the US was as bad at as the Brits were at mobile warfare.
So you had a boxing match with one opponent wearing a right hand glove on his left hand and a left hand glove on his right.
Then to really screw the pooch, a decision was made in '43 that the single most important objective was capturing a port so the Allies could make best use of American industry.
The inability of the American high command to adjust to changing battlefield conditions meant that when the inevitable breakout came, it went in the wrong direction. So instead of drivng behind the Germans and going on to Berlin in August of '44 Patton was turned the wrong way with orders to capture a port.
Remember, Berlin and Paris are just over 500 miles apart. At the time of the breakout there was less then 100 troops (border guards) between the allied army and Berlin. Within 24 hours that number had increased to thousands. Patton wanted to do it but Bradley and Ike got timid. Patton captured Le Mans on the 8th of August. It would have been logistically possible for the 3rd Army to be in Berlin in a week. That would have made a port unnecessary and totally screwed up the time table.
Can't have that.
So now the slog will continue. The Dems will spin this election as a bad loss but not a repudiation of the Obama agenda. That means the White house will continue it's Socialistic ways, while blaming Conservatives for the results. It was a tactical win but strategic defeat.November 3, 2010 - 1:00 am Link to this Comment -
62. blert
I recognize that California voters are led by the MSM nose.
I've seen it up front and personal.
Rather like the 2008 vote going to Zero — letting the ***** storm land on Brown is sweet justice.
There is nothing that Meg could do to fix Sacramento.
AFTER Brown is recycled
( yes, you heard right – -we recycle our Moonbeams out here)
Meg will have an opportunity to pull a Joan of Arc in 2014.
After the fiasco that must come, she'll re-arrive on stage like the USArmy liberating a hell camp.
IT IS ESSENTIAL that the House never bail out Albany nor Sacramento nor Olympia nor Honolulu nor Salem nor Boston nor …….
IT IS ESSENTIAL that the House not be played as the HEAVY vs the unemployed or those on relief. That stuff is chump change. The House must use unemployment extensions as a tool to trim the rest of Leftism.
Simply put: trim the elite — DO NOT AXE THOSE IN ADVERSITY.
The money to correct our problems must come from the money cartel. The criminals who collectively ruined our financial markets must be exposed…
And have their bust-out payouts clawed back.THIS IS PRIORITY NUMBER ONE.
If the House fails to dog and whip the malefactors then it must and will be the end of the Republican surge.
FORGET compromise with the Pelosi Regime.
Kick that tyrant to the curb.
BLANK legislation — shades of the Enablement Act!
Good grief!
November 3, 2010 - 1:50 am Link to this Comment -
63. blert
61. stoicheion
During the COSSAC phase the US Army insisted on being to the left in the invasion.
The British ALSO insisted on being to the left. They planned on Dunkirk II if worst came to worst. Further, in their ENTIRE European experience they had ALWAYS prevailed upon their allies to have them stationed at the coast. Period.
So when push came to shove – FDR folded. Even before the invasion, the US Army figured it was a first magnitude error. THE BULK of the fighting was destined to be in this area yet Britain was already 'tired.'
When Patton was notified that he'd be getting the SOUTHERN Armored Army he was thrilled. It goes beyond being reinstated.
Patton instantly recognized that the southern route was the CLASSIC invasion route for all time. The Rhine and other rivers are north to south flowing — hence the southern route = shallowest headwaters.
In the movie "Patton" there is a classic bit whereby Patton is across a minor river bellowing at a regimental commander. The general tells his Lt. Col to get a move on — there's a stinking ford just west — why hasn't he crossed yet?
The movie places this in Sicily — the reality is it occurred during the breakout in France.
The whole thing was a set up by Patton. He'd been all over the area in WWI — hunting for game. Knew it like the back of his hand. Hence, knew all about the ford crossing. All of the locals knew about it for approximately 2,500 years.
It was fantastic internal publicity. Patton was able to shame his fastest armor ( 4th Armored Division ) and astoundingly get in front of them! This river in France, BTW was supposed to be his southern Army boundary as established by SHAEF.
And now you know why both Bradley and Patton were having kittens when Mony talked Ike into COMPLETELY SHUTTING OFF 1st AND 3rd Armies so that HE could build up for Market-Garden.
This gambit extended the campaign by six to eight months.
Yes, the German forces in the West had completely given up hope at that time. The tip off was mounds of bicycles and rifles. Since no gas was available, even the occasional King Tiger tank was found on the retreat. ( This single semi-survivor was not even demo'd! )
In WWI there was the Miracle of the Marne…
In WWII there was the miracle of the days before Market-Garden. German morale went from less than zero to — 'You know, we might make it."
The Aachen story being a case in point. It would have been occupied as an open city in the AM. By noon the story had changed 180 degrees. Why? Ike's stoppage. That's why.
IF Aachen were so occupied, the ENTIRE West Wall system is broken and the ENTIRE next six months of bloody fighting would not be necessary.
It's so painfully true, and it is so embarrassing that neither Britain nor America wants the time-line studied. To do so would impeach the judgement of Mony and Ike. Now you know why it gets brushed over.
November 3, 2010 - 2:17 am Link to this Comment -
64. Salt Lick
So now the slog will continue. The Dems will spin this election as a bad loss but not a repudiation of the Obama agenda. That means the White house will continue it's Socialistic ways, while blaming Conservatives for the results. It was a tactical win but strategic defeat.
That made me chuckle, stoich. Gaining a 50+ vote lead in the House is a "strategic defeat" because without a total repudiation of the Obama agenda in 2010 we'll be blamed for that agenda's catastrophic consequences by 2012. With respect, stoich, I think this kind of thinking is in and of itself a "strategic defeat."
November 3, 2010 - 3:55 am Link to this Comment -
65. anton
11. Josh
I'm waiting as fast as I can …Two more years….hang in there
54. starling
I, for one, am appalled at how white and middle class his supporters are…..my God it looks like a Tea-Party rally.
sarc off/ let us hope that THIS guy runs for President soon. George Washington didn't want to stay in charge as long as he did, but as a loyal soldier he did what was best for his country. Perhaps we can convince West to do the same. BTW my money is on West if it ever come to that "hand to hand" thing…I am offering 200 to 1.
When all is said and done this is just the first step. The Republicans must understand that they are not popular, the Dems have simply managed to steal the Most Hated spot (for now). They also need to pay attention to the Tea Party; this will gag the Old School types as there are no official leaders to glad-hand and co-opt in the Tea Party crowd. The Speaker To Be seems to have made an outreach to them and I think he has gotten the idea.
Presenting the new agenda to the public will be the biggest obstacle. The MSM and the Dems have always portryed the Repubs as heartless pricks and every budget-cutting suggestion will be accompanied by howls and lamentations of widows starving in alleyways because of some action by the Conservatives. The case must be plainly made that tough decisions must be made now or far worse times will be in store for everybody. Getting that message out through the MSM filter is the real challenge. It must be driven home relentlessly that the choice is between tough times or the abyss (and we are headeed for the abyss).
Another thought (as I just saw one of those district by district red/blue maps) there seems to be even less support for the Dems outside some small coastal regions (and a few highly concentrated cities) than there was in the last few elections. you could probably fit all of the land-mass they own into one medium sized state. Redistricting will be interesting with all the new Pubbie Govs in charge.
November 3, 2010 - 5:06 am Link to this Comment -
66. Cetera
56. Ivan
One thing at a time, the US could do with gridlock. Overwhelming victories tend to be phyrric. The results ensure that the Democrats cannot blame Republicans for the performance of the economy while the Repubs enjoy the priviledge of sniping without having to offer alternatives of their own. There really is a Deux Ex Machina in the US electoral system.
That is probably the best I've seen anyone put this, and probably our best hope for the next couple of years. I hope they all have balls of iron.
Matt Beck:
I'm not sure where in Colorado you are from, and I do know that there as some vote hanky-panky going on here in Denver Metro, but I completely believe the numbers for Colorado. The Denver Metro area may as well be little California without the palm trees.
My wife and I feel constantly isolated by the idiots here. Everyone is so damn liberal, thinks the best place to work is with the government (federal or state, either is good) and that only the government can solve any problems. It is one of the most liberal places I've ever lived. Everyone is so damn concerned about the environment and smoking pot and when the handouts will be coming from the government.
At this point, I think it's time I start looking for someplace to move. I'm about done with Colorado, and I no longer feel safe here. This place under Hickenlooper is going to be sanctuary state numero uno.
Even with a concealed carry, you aren't allowed to have a firearm and ammo within arms reach of each other in a vehicle. The cops are crooked (or at least browbeat and handcuffed by those above). I don't trust any official in the state.
November 3, 2010 - 5:27 am Link to this Comment -
67. anton
66. Cetera
Michigan has gone red, outside of the Detroit metroplex it is very nice, the Upper Peninsula is particularly pleasant. We are a "shall-issue" state as well. I would be thrilled to have a BC reader move here.
November 3, 2010 - 5:54 am Link to this Comment -
68. tharkun
54. starling
re: Lt. Col. Allen West (R-FL22) … I wonder what the Congressional Black Caucus will do and say with him in the room?
West may just be the one who can finally "break" the hypocritical obscenity that is the CBC. If they hold true to past form they will try to exclude him just as they did with J.C. Watts. Watts meekly, and wrongly, acquiesced in deference to comity, but West may be made of sterner stuff. I hope so.
November 3, 2010 - 5:54 am Link to this Comment -
69. The Ledge
This map looks very red and it would look extremely red if there were only red and blue.
After looking at this map I think Barky Obama should go soak his swollen head. His ego needs deflating…or in more modern terms "down sizing."
November 3, 2010 - 5:56 am Link to this Comment -
70. The Ledge
Here a pure red and blue map. It is very red.
November 3, 2010 - 6:22 am Link to this Comment -
71. peterike
Rickl @ 49. In regards to women, Whiskey has posted his election comments at his blog. Well worth reading.
He makes the simple and unavoidable point: "White women don't like Republican women much." I'll leave you to read the rest.
November 3, 2010 - 6:41 am Link to this Comment -
72. heyyoukidsgetoffmylawn
It may be urban legend, but I've heard whispered that among a certain far flung but secretive and dedicated sub group of Canadians there is a ritualized drinking game associated with the movie bearing the above noted title.
Every time the Canadian contribution to D-Day is mentioned, they take a drink.
Alcoholics Anonymous…what a pack of cards.
With Remembrance Day seven days away and close relatives
whose sacrifices are mine to keep let me say only…they had a beach.
November 3, 2010 - 6:43 am Link to this Comment -
73. sad but happy
Sadly, our local State Senator, a Democrat, who has done a good job for the past 4-6 years, has lost. It was an undeserved loss…and a lot of people voted straight party tickets – indicating to me the Obama factor has really had a huge impact. Obama has screwed a lot of politicos not just at the Federal level (not surprising). 2012 will be interesting.
November 3, 2010 - 6:57 am Link to this Comment -
To use the D-Day strategy what we need is a breakout. Operation Cobra.
The prelude to Cobra was the massed bombing attack by USAAF heavies that would bust up the German defenses and let Patton move out. But the USAAF leadership decided to attack a 90 deg to the lines instead of parallel to it as the Army. Parallel would minimize the damage to US troops of any bombs dropped short.
The first day they dropped short and killed, among others, Gen McNair. A halt was called and the attack was carried out the next day.
Some bombs still fell short and hit US troops. But most did not, and turned the German lines into a lunar landscape. The ground attack bogged down at first but eventually broke through the shattered German lines. The whole of the German army in the west probably could have been cut off and destroyed had Monty let Patton close the Falise Gap rather than the Canadians, who were battling against to the north.
And as stoicheon says, at the end of the war even the USAAF had figured out that if they had paused the strategic bombing effort in August 1944 and used the 17's and 24's to carry fuel and supplies to Patton we might well have had his Shermans idling in downtown Berlin before Thanksgiving.
So it is gonna take an Operation Cobra, with us losing some of our own to friendly fire, and a bold leader with the proper support. Either that, or we let the Left go ahead and wreck the country and then hang'em all when there is no one to stop us from doing so.
November 3, 2010 - 7:08 am Link to this Comment -
75. batman
@16,epignosis: "All the King's men and all the Tea Party folks will have a difficult time slowing this train before we reach the destroyed bridge."
@34, wretchard (brilliantly as usual): "I think nothing creative can be expected from within the GOP. They'll sit on their haunches on the beach. To get out of the bocage, the Tea Party movement is going to have to start looking for a breakthrough strategy. That means they have to start building alliances between the newly elected Federal officials and the governors to create the prospect of real movement ASAP. Momentum is their friend. No loss of tempo should be allowed, especially since one unappreciated facet of the debacle is what it has shown about the Democratic leadership."
This is the time to consolidate and reshape the narrative. The sticky inertia of the bureaucracy will reassert itself soon.
wretchard again: "The important thing is to seize the agenda in ways that force the other side to make ruinous responses. Take the ground and raise the shield and let the opposition break on it. Easy enough to say, but hard to do."
Time and tide wait for no man. Or as the Bard put it much better: "There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat. And we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures."
November 3, 2010 - 7:32 am Link to this Comment -
This is the second time I have been grouped in a file by POTUS Obama B. H. (PBUH) as an enemy of my country, once as a terrorist because I am an alleged, easy to suduce by the dark side, veteran and the second when POTUS (PBUH) said, "vote for us (democrat) or be considered an enemy" I know he was referring to Mexican citizens and Latino American's but I got the idea who was his enemies. Anyone not on the new dem plan of fiscal slavery.
So whistling Bonnie Blue flag I voted with my state and region for straight Republican ticket.
As for D-day 6/6/44 I had two uncles who were not uncles yet land there, one landed on the day and survived the war unscratched the other was held back three days on a ship and landed later, He did well he said, till he hit the Bocage region and then an MG 34 put something hard into his face, he survived also.
Sometimes it's better to be first than late to a show.November 3, 2010 - 7:47 am Link to this Comment -
77. peterike
Another huge upside from yesterday. Republicans won 17 state legislatures. This is exactly what is needed to put into play L3′s strategy of using the states to force change at the Federal level.
Really, the biggest question now is how co-opted the new Republicans will get once they see the bright lights of Washington and the innumerable perks of office.
November 3, 2010 - 7:49 am Link to this Comment -
78. Lark
Safety nets are for people who are already falling or bound to fall, not growing and thriving. And your blessed safety nets have a patchwork pattern of irregularly shaped holes. Google "categorical neediness" (a.k.a. Racism, Sexism and Agism 101) and you'll learn why a multitude of low income men are excluded from Medicaid, thus inflating the numbers of the uninsured, no doubt some hardworking ones in construction and agriculture, seasonal industries with no mandate to provide health insurance. Take a gander: http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/05/uninsured-cps/index.htm#income. Where's the 2006-2010 reports? Good (loaded) question! Let me know if you can find it…Wretchard
Thanks for the history lesson as usual!!November 3, 2010 - 7:56 am Link to this Comment -
79. Harvard Yard Conservative
November 3, 2010 - 8:02 am Link to this Comment -
80. Don Rodrigo
53. Matt Beck
The industrial midwest and the east coast have flipped heavily Republican, but what the frack happened out here in the west? I'm not buying the numbers coming out of Colorado and Nevada.I can't speak for Nevada, but someone posted at BC recently about a "Colorado Project" or something that outlined how progressives took over the political reins in Colorado by stealth. Supposedly makes for alarming reading.
November 3, 2010 - 8:15 am Link to this Comment -
81. jimbo
A report from Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District.
Two noteworthy comments from the victory speech of Paul Ryan ("America's Congressman" and new Chairman of the House Budget Committee):
1. quoting Winston Churchill, "Americans can always be counted on to do the right thing…after they have exhausted all other possibilities."
2. "The spending spree is over!"
Slightly under the radar, but not insignificant – the governor and BOTH legislative houses in Wisc. flipped from D to R. I suspect there were similar results in many other states. (BTW – in 2008, Wisc. went for Obama 56%-42%.)
No, "Happy Days" are not here again. Plenty of difficulties ahead. It's not clear that the system has adequate reserves to hold. But now we at least have a fighting chance.
And on a personal note – our family won't have to move to America's "autonomous tribal regions" just yet.
November 3, 2010 - 8:24 am Link to this Comment -
82. Kinuachdrach
Wretchard has a great point about the need to seize the initiative and exploit the landing zone.
It would be great for all elected Federal Republicans, House & Senate, to caucus somewhere in the heartland (far from evil DC) in the very near future and have a vigorous debate about the way forward.
It would be great to see a short set of declarations coming out of such a Republican-only debate:
- The States are on their own. No new help will be coming from the bankrupt Federal government. Indeed, existing federal assistance to the States will be trimmed.
- The Federal budget will be brought into balance over a defined period of time by cutting spending and by growing the economy, not by increasing tax rates or introducing new taxes & fees.
- Federal programs will be scrutinized closely to see how they have contributed to growing the economy. Programs & Departments that can't prove they have helped create private sector net-tax-paying jobs may be changed or cut.
- Pay levels in the Federal sector will be reduced 10% per year until they are in line with private sector jobs.
- The Federal Reserve will be scrutinized closely. If there is inflationary printing of money, the institution of the Fed will be replaced.
- The borders will be brought under control.The Republicans need to keep the declaration short & simple, focused on creating jobs and re-industrializing the US.
November 3, 2010 - 8:28 am Link to this Comment -
83. epignosis
75. batman – Social Security (1935) is the gateway drug. You will have no success convincing the public to relinquish their security blanket. Don't try to take it away. Just change " drug dealers". Transfer ownership to the states. After all, hasn't the trust fund been emptied by the feds. The "lock box" only contains IOU's from the same people who are $13 trillion in debt. Transfer the payroll revenues to the states in block grants or something like that. Don't restrain the authority of the states to craft effective solutions.
That maybe the first step of the "12 step program" to cure addiction.November 3, 2010 - 8:31 am Link to this Comment -
84. Charles
Governor Huckabee on fox said the turnover in favor of the pubbies on the state level was no less a story than the house turnover. Was reiterated by National Review Online.
Historic GOP Gains in State LegislaturesNovember 3, 2010 - 8:37 am Link to this Comment -
85. maineman
DR @ 80: The Colorado Strategy, if memory serves, was about putting your boys in positions to act as a fulcrum for your progressive lever. May have been specific to state AG's in particular, which played out in the Franken heist in 08.
November 3, 2010 - 9:01 am Link to this Comment -
86. Habu
Republicans are the next piece of meat on the political rotisserie. Hoi polloi will expect the problems developed over the past decades, yes decades, to get solved within the next two years. Microwave government; instant jobs, instant 4% unemployment. It ain't gonna happen and won't happen in most of our lifetimes, (unless you're twelve years old and blogging here).
Deficit spending, fiat Fed, NO manufacturing worthy of the name all contribute to the continued downward spiral of the US and the world in general. Waving the flag won't help one iota.
Whether it is a global movement by the elite for one world government or simply economic stupidity on the electorates part is irrelevent. We now have a hole so deep, so massive that neither Keynes or Smith can dig us out.
Dig a bunker and buy rice and ammo and a Berkey water filtration system.
November 3, 2010 - 9:02 am Link to this Comment -
87. Peter Boston
I suspect that the most significant outcome may be the real tsunami of GOP takeovers in State legislatures. Some houses are GOP for the first time in close to 100 years.
If the Federal trainwreck is to be slowed it can only be by the States. Only the States have the Constitutional powers, the money, and the people to throttle down the Feds.
Will they? Don't know yet. This is a darn good start.
Here's hoping that public employee unions will get on the GOP target acquisition radar. If anything can be tagged as the single dagger pointing at the heart of the Republic – it's the public employee unions.
November 3, 2010 - 9:20 am Link to this Comment -
88. stoicheion
"With respect, stoich, I think this kind of thinking is in and of itself a "strategic defeat.""
You might be correct. On the other hand PMA only goes so far. I'm sure at least 1 of the jumpers out of the WTC was thanking real positive about a soft landing. Unfortunately, Gravity is immune to PMA…..
The reason we didn't run the table is that the Socialists are much better at propaganda. It has been a speciality of the Linenists, Socialists, Marzists, whatever since Marx and Engels got drunk in Café de la Régence one night in '44 (1844 for those that are counting). I men, really, dude…..If Conservatives cannot convince a herd (pack? school? flock?) of Valley Girls that re-cycling moonbeams is a wacky idea, Then there is no chance of reason ever prevailing. So any opportunity to slay the beast that is missed is an opportunity that will not appear again.
While I have no doubt that the solid weight of middle America will eventually prevail over a motely assemblage of Valley girls, tree huggers and assorted fruits and nuts, Think of the cost.
Attrition warfare is always bad.
I was over at HuffyPo and commenters there were claiming that the beating wasn't that bad and other POTUS'es have come back from worse defeats. So the Spin machine is already heating up the bearings. By March, yesterdays election will be a stunning victory for the Obomination.
Ignoring the Socialists ability to turn a massive defeat into victory would make us as bad as them.November 3, 2010 - 9:35 am Link to this Comment -
89. jWarrior
54@starling: There was a black Republican member of the House in the 90s (don't remember his name), and the Congressional Black Cacucus refused to let him join. I expect West will get the same mis-treatment.
According to liberal doctrine, blacks, women, or gays who are Rebublican are not authentic. Can't let the interest groups off the plantation; they might get ideas. Ask Juan Williams.
November 3, 2010 - 9:53 am Link to this Comment -
90. trangbang68
Here's something to give you morning indigestion:
Barney the purple fudgepacker's graceless victory speech
November 3, 2010 - 10:08 am Link to this Comment -
91. Whitehall
As a Californian, I despair for my state. I don't blame our candidates. They made huge personal sacrifices in their runs and did a reasonable job.
No, the responsibility lies with the voters. Only they are accountable for their governance.
Our situation is like an alcoholic. We continue to drink because that's what we've done for years and years. No matter how bad drinking is for us and how clearly we realize that fact, it doesn't cost us THAT much yet that we have the courage to face the pain of stopping.
California has a ways to go before we hit bottom. Like an alcoholic, one has to hit bottom before one can look up.
We'll see more unemployment, higher taxes, more government intrusion into our day-to-day lives. However, soon our deficits will HAVE to be covered and the US government, with the GOP in control of the House, is not likely to do so, at least without the state surrendering some control to the Feds, like a bankrupt school district.
I do hope that Jerry Brown has learned a few hard lessions from his time in various offices. I would think that his time as mayor of Oakland would be especially sobering.
We can only begin to prepare for 2012.
While so many Californians are declaring that they will leave the state to the moochers, I will stay so long as my employment is available (I work in an international market with my biggest customer in Texas).
If you're a Californian and love your state, don't be the "summer soldier and the sunshine patriot." Hang in there and fight.
November 3, 2010 - 10:21 am Link to this Comment -
92. SpeakEasy
77. peterike: Yes, yes, yes.
This (soft) revolution started at the state level with members of the Tea Party Movement dragging the lethargic GOP into the fray. This is the time to state, "You're either with us, or against us." Those I know in the TPM want a return of power to the states so we can knee-cap the Federal Government, leave them only the enumerated powers defined by the US Constitution and ensure we craft language so they can not step over the line again. We are not done by a long shot and the priveleged class will stop at nothinjg to maintain their boodle. Luckily, we still have the numbers and the will; Don't let it wane!November 3, 2010 - 11:00 am Link to this Comment -
93. SpeakEasy
Re: California: I wish all conservative Californicators luck but I refuse to (willingly) subsidize your idiocy. Let them stand or fall on their own; Its the only way to truly learn.
November 3, 2010 - 11:03 am Link to this Comment -
94. Eggplant
Whitehall @ 91 said:
"As a Californian, I despair for my state. I don't blame our candidates. They made huge personal sacrifices in their runs and did a reasonable job. No, the responsibility lies with the voters. Only they are accountable for their governance."
I partially agree. There are too many idiots in California. However I'm annoyed with the Republican leadership. Once again they confronted Barbara Boxer with a weak opponent. IMHO, Tom Campbell could have easily beaten Boxer. Unfortunately the Californian Republican primary process is set up to only nominate nonviable candidates to run against Boxer in the general election. This has happened repeatedly. It appals me that Boxer is our senator. She's beyond liberal… She's brain dead. Her speeches are nonsense and non sequiturs strung together as confused stream of consciousness (the MSM never challenge her about this). California has been disenfranchised by one vote in the US Senate during the 18 years that Boxer has served as senator.
"California has a ways to go before we hit bottom. Like an alcoholic, one has to hit bottom before one can look up."
Yup, that sums it up nicely…
"I do hope that Jerry Brown has learned a few hard lessons from his time in various offices. I would think that his time as mayor of Oakland would be especially sobering."
I would not wish the California governorship on my worst enemy. California is a basket case. It's interesting that Oakland was and continues to be a basket case. I think Jerry Brown enjoys the challenge of managing collapsed political systems.
"We can only begin to prepare for 2012."
At least Obama has been neutered. Given the state of the US economy and the foreign enemies we're facing, this is a hollow victory. We need a strong and capable President. Unfortunately Obama is neither.
"While so many Californians are declaring that they will leave the state to the moochers, I will stay so long as my employment is available…. If you're a Californian and love your state, don't be the "summer soldier and the sunshine patriot." Hang in there and fight."
I'll remain in California until I'm unemployed.
November 3, 2010 - 11:11 am Link to this Comment -
95. Habu
Socialist propaganda experise or states rights,or Tea Party grass roots isn't going to pay the bill…those are simply prayers being thrown up with a weak homily to guide them.
Show me , explain to me, how deteriorating white demoghraphics and increasing welfare dole citizens are going to wrestle manufacturing away from totalitarian regimes, how we will create an economic model that will fill in the giant sucking hole we have created and 50% of our current population demands from Uncle Sugar via entitlements…. step up if you've got something solid, I'm all eyes to read about it. There isn't one. It's not self defeating it's reality.
BTW, historically for the past 4500 years these types of depressions have been solved one way …..by war.
November 3, 2010 - 11:36 am Link to this Comment -
96. SpeakEasy
95. Habu: The Federal government cannot do this, period. This can only be done state by state, with reduced (or in some cases, eliminated) regulation and finally, the bitter pill. I mean the loss of entitlement. You can't ask people to give it up, you simply stop giving it. Start by reducing it drastically. No benefits for non-citizens, period. They will either leave or get jobs. For the rest, basic subsistance only, and I don't mean food stamps or debit cards. You show up for a meal, you eat, you leave. You get the drift.
This will be very UNPOPULAR. I know. But we have to stop enslaving the providers to the consumers. Charity is VERY GOOD and should be encouraged by all means but only privately- The government has no authority to give my money to others in a charitable manner.
How's that for a start?
November 3, 2010 - 11:47 am Link to this Comment -
97. peterike
SpeakE, I agree with you, though I'm not sure any politicos would have the nerve to get that harsh. Though if they did, you'd have an interesting spill over effect.
The first state to really cut the umbilical cord would rapidly find all its illegals and layabouts moving to the state next door. As that state got closer to collapse, they might institute similar measures, forcing them to move on yet again. A cascade effect would follow, ending with all the parasites in the few last holdout bastions of Liberal insanity (figure New York and California).
A kind of virtuous circle of tough love. I'd like to see it.
November 3, 2010 - 12:14 pm Link to this Comment -
98. wretchard
The reason we didn't run the table is that the Socialists are much better at propaganda. It has been a speciality of the Linenists, Socialists, Marzists, whatever since Marx and Engels got drunk in Café de la Régence one night in '44 (1844 for those that are counting). I men, really, dude…..If Conservatives cannot convince a herd (pack? school? flock?) of Valley Girls that re-cycling moonbeams is a wacky idea, Then there is no chance of reason ever prevailing. So any opportunity to slay the beast that is missed is an opportunity that will not appear again.
The Left is nearly invincible at propaganda. But that doesn't mean they're invincible. Historically they have failed time and again, even against media noobs like ourselves. Why? They're so good at propaganda they believe it themselves. In the overwhelming number of cases, I am almost tempted to say in every case they haven't been brought down by external forces, the Left collapses when it, as a parasite, eventually destroys the host.
To some extent that is happening now. They are killing us and without realizing it, are killing themselves. That is why getting rid of the Left is so enormously painful. It isn't because anyone puts them in death camps or persecutes them or anything. They literally kill themselves. The ratio of Communists killed by Communists to those killed by noncommunists would probably be about 50:1. Ordinary people want their lives, not to take the lives of others. But those with the Will to Power are different and eventually become their own nemesis. So one way or the other, they are going down.
Our problem is how not to go down with them. The task before us is to get good enough at communications, adept enough at organizing, bold enough in our execution, that we hasten the process before Leftist self-immolation totals everybody. At some point the Left loses legitimacy because it must. When people become daily so inured to their lies that no amount of marching, sloganeering, disinformation, art or mumbo jumbo can work any more then it just happens. Complete cynicism, not idealism, is the ultimate state of the "progressive man". The better we get at resistance the sooner people see the truth, the less the damage to the host. Heck, what choice do we have?
November 3, 2010 - 12:25 pm Link to this Comment -
Peterike #97:
"The first state to really cut the umbilical cord would rapidly find all its illegals and layabouts moving to the state next door."
A while back I saw where Wisconsin was having to deal with the welfare types moving there from Chicago to take advantage of the state's more generous benefits.
See what Wisconsin did yesterday? For that matter, see what Illinois did? It was another Dread Scott Brown Decision when it came to Obama's old Senate seat.
November 3, 2010 - 12:32 pm Link to this Comment -
100. epignosis
@98 – Apart from some external calamity, we cannot expect the public to agree to a major overhaul of anything. Look at the polls. No one will talk about elimination of entitlements. There is an addiction to the federal security blanket. You have to gently convince the child to release. Look, let's just put it at the end of the bed for now. It'll be there if you really need it.
Got to get entitlements out of the hands of the feds and into the domain of the states. That's just step one. Then change regulations to allow states greater freedom to restructure, step two. If we eventually end up with personal accounts or 401k type flexibility, well, we're almost done. Some where along the line, you transition away from the liberal ruse that the rich will pay for all this.November 3, 2010 - 1:03 pm Link to this Comment -
101. grrr
Re. #98. Wretchard: "…The task before us is to get good enough at communications, adept enough at organizing, bold enough in our execution, that we hasten the process before Leftist self-immolation totals everybody…"
Yes, it might help. However, as long as they can buy populace with OPM, they are invincible.November 3, 2010 - 1:27 pm Link to this Comment -
102. epignosis
Oh! Almost forgot. Delay implementation of all provisions of Obamacare for a couple of years. The public would support that, allowing time for the economy to recover. Then, provided things go well, repeal and replace or extensive overhaul can be possible.
November 3, 2010 - 1:28 pm Link to this Comment -
103. grrr
Re. #96 SpeakEasy: "The government has no authority to give my money to others in a charitable manner."
Yes, they do have this authority. It is given to them by "others" who voted them in. After all they (the voting others) comprise at least 50% of pop.November 3, 2010 - 1:33 pm Link to this Comment -
104. Habu
I WISH the states could do it but SCOTUS all but gutted them while "interpreting " the Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) of the Constitution and the Necessary and Proper codicil attendant to it. Just think of SCOTUS verdict in Kelo. BTW the owners that took the property failed to devlop it after putting a business out of work that had worked for 50 years+
The Social Left managed to enthrall this nation in the FDR years, his advisors and cabinet flush with "fellow travelers". Then we had the rise of unions which put us at a wage disadvantage to the rest of the world. Then LBJ's "Great Leap Forward Society", Bill and Hillary and the now sour denoument of "I'm going HOME to Indonesia, Obama" after a can of whoop ass.
Demograhically Europe of the 1940′ and 50′s will cease to exist in three score years with replacement birthrates falling far short of the 2.1 per couple simply to maintain the native population. Spain for example is at 1.2, and no country has ever recovered from falling below 1.9 births/couple. Who steps in ..Islam with it's 9:1 ratio and an already substantial foothold in Europe. They may not be traditional socialists but slavers and masters of forced obeisance; what's the difference in how our freedom is lost….we've already written the check that can't be cashed.
November 3, 2010 - 1:52 pm Link to this Comment -
105. Don Rodrigo
The task before us is to get good enough at communications, adept enough at organizing, bold enough in our execution, that we hasten the process before Leftist self-immolation totals everybody.
The new GOP House majority had better start doing their own variant of this strategy immediately. The Democrats haven't forgotten how they suceeded in 1995-on in largely delegitimizing much of the GOP agenda, and claiming credit, through the White House, for successes brought about by GOP policy and renewed business confidence due to a GOP Congressional majority. The GOP mustn't be shy about claiming credit for a revived economy, which hopefully will happen, and to point to obstruction and corruption by Democrats when that actually happens.
What also has to happen is for new media, the GOP, and the Tea Party movement to relentlessly pursue Democratic corruption, scandalous administration behavior, etc., to keep the left off-balance, and to start planting the (accurate) notion in the public's mind that the left is not good for America.
November 3, 2010 - 1:53 pm Link to this Comment -
106. Old Salt
re: California
Making good on my threat. Readying the house for sale in spring, and looking for business for my company (consulting) exclusively out of state. Texas is our likely destination.
re: California Democrats
They own all the levers of government,and with Propositions 23 (suspend job killing "Global Warming" B.S. law) failing and Prop 25 (simple majority can approve tax increases) passing, there is literally no hope left for California.The first thing that will go will be Prop 13 laws preventing property tax increases. Prop 25 trumps Prop 13 – by simple majority the leftists can raise California property taxes, which is their first choice. Property owners have no shelter from an aggressive tax demand. They cannot move their property out of state, nor mitigate the tax through deductions.
If you OWN or PRODUCE anything in California, leave now.
re: California business
Color it "gone".See this announcement, immediately after the election. I am certain that the timing is not coincidental:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/nov/03/biogen-idec-shutting-down-san-diego-campus/California is Venezuela-North, complete with the tin-horn dictators.
Old Salt (former Californian).
November 3, 2010 - 1:59 pm Link to this Comment -
107. epignosis
@104 Habu – states are doing the dirty work on Medicaid now. Point is, a direct assault may not win the day. An envelopment is in order. Lay down a base of fire (point out that the SS trust fund has been looted) and attack from the blind side. First it just looks like what we have done with Medicaid. That won't scare too many people. Then the rule book can be changed once the child is no longer afraid of the dark.
November 3, 2010 - 2:04 pm Link to this Comment -
108. Tcobb
I tend to agree with you that we can't go "cold turkey" when it comes to getting rid of entitlements. And cutting one kind of entitlement while leaving others alone will bring out the zero-sum conspiracy nuts who claim that its all inspired by "racism, sexism, [insert your own leftist category of sub-human monster here]." Why is my entitlement going away when Suzies is not? Its not fair.In order to get any kind of workable consensus on it I think we will have to take a gradual but universal approach. Everybody must share the pain, and they must share it equally. We could start by cutting back all entitlement programs by 10% a year, not by curtailing eligibility, but by changing the amount given and freezing the standards for assessing the amounts to which anyone could become entitled to receive them. And the important thing, a very important thing–no COLA's. None.
Ever.It was before my time, but the company I used to work for was at one point going through hard economic times. The owner, who founded the company, sent forth an edict. Until economic times improved, everyone's salary, management and labor alike, no exceptions at all, would be cut by 15%. This was the level at which it would be possible for no one to be laid off. Each and every employee would still have their job. There was no polarization and bitterness because everyone had the same burden to bear.
The current welfare state is unsustainable. It has to end. The real problem is to find the way to make it fail gracefully with minimum stress to all.
November 3, 2010 - 2:36 pm Link to this Comment -
Do y'all suppose that Michelle Obama would understand it better if I said this was the first day I was proud of my country since Obama was elected?
Anybody have the current count? I saw one report where the Repubs were up to 61 gains in the House and just saw where Toomy won; I thought he was a goner last night. But I have not found a website that gives a coherent picture; all of them can't see the trees for the pine needles.
Old Salt:
What kind of consulting? We have lots of empty houses here in Florida, have no State income tax and just elected two real conservatives for governor and senator as well as got rid of that canker sore on the body politic, Allan Grayson and put a great guy in down south, Lt Col West.
November 3, 2010 - 2:36 pm Link to this Comment -
110. epignosis
@108 Tcobb – Seems like we have to plan for the long haul. Therefore, we need good numbers in the congress. If we talk cuts immediately, we won't have numbers left to execute the follow-through after 2012.
November 3, 2010 - 2:52 pm Link to this Comment -
111. Habu
States do nothing to control the money supply, the oxygen of any country. On Nov. 1 the dollar reached a new all time low against the yen on rumors of what the FED did today with QE2. The US has already lost it's AAA bond rating and this easing will make other countries seek high yields than we currently (if at all) have to offer.
That means US consumers will lose purchasing power, perhaps as much as 20%, and goods produced here (what is produced here? will become more expensive) Even Harley Davidson is abandoning the US.
We are in territory that even nut job Keynes did not think about. The middle class has all but been destroyed. We are economically impuissant and the world sees it. The states, huh, …taking down entitlements, huh …. but we can and are as of today digging a deeper hole. QE2..huh.
(aside) The Treasury is preparing to devalue the nickel by making it out of helium or something else on the periodic table that's cheap. But do you realize that the melt value of a nickle is 127% higher than it's face value? If you can't buy gold or silver(the best bet now) then buy rolls of nickels.
November 3, 2010 - 2:55 pm Link to this Comment -
112. Habu
For melt values see http://coinflation.com/
November 3, 2010 - 2:58 pm Link to this Comment -
113. blert
There is NO WAY that pension money is safe in today's financial markets.
So there is no way in hell that any Republican should waste his energy pursuing Friedmanian notions of reforming Social Security.
Beyond that, the bulge in the boomer cohort is something the markets can't handle, either. Talk about a boom-bust orchestrated by Washington.
THE ABSOLUTE LAST THING conservatives want to do is take on controversial projects that have NO HOPE of success. Top of that list is eliminating SS because of high principle. Just drop it. Don't even waste your time dreaming about it.
Focus on media operations:
Rake Frank over the coals… focus on the Money Trust and his contribution…
STOP mad Ben from spewing more fiat…
Dial in on Democrat self-funding legislation:
Small Business (mis)Administration — it's been totally captured by anti-conservatives, anti-white business men — it's hard Left and then some.
Academic funding for Leftist spew… it's all over the Federal budget. Axe it.
Pension bail out funding for the states… shut it off entirely… it's pure Democrat revenue…
Investigate ACORN et. al.
The Colorado an Nevada votes are corrupted – obviously. Investigate, then impeach.
Unfund Obamacare…
Cut Income taxes — hugely for those under 2,500,000 per year
Enact import tariffs — mid range for crude oil outside NAFTA.
Tariffs for food — trivial, say 2% (non-NAFTA)
Tariffs for trade goods — modest, start low and bump up bit by bit.
Lift retirement ages ASAP.
Kick out illegals as best one can.
Reform chain-birth citizenship ASAP.
Increase the flow of Medical Doctors ASAP.
Dismantle the hector and lecture class.
Let NY and CA twist in their folly.
Cancel Harry's magic train to LA.
Cancel all train projects — tell Siemens to shove it.
Bump up fuel taxes and widen critical freeways to 3 lanes all the way through the passes. ( I-80 comes to mind.) These roads are now 50 years old and at capacity.
Cancel any undisbursed Democrat ear-marks whenever possible.
Almost all of them are political pay-offs to machine supporters. Spank them.
November 3, 2010 - 3:09 pm Link to this Comment -
114. Ari Tai
re: entitlements, other difficult programs.
One solution is to get the federal government out of all these businesses – delegate them to the local communities (and disestablish any federal agency that is engaged in same).
Set a schedule, allow the states to "opt-in" to allow their communities of 300,000 citizens to take ownership, both authority and responsibility, and then take the $ off of the federal books (if they were even there to begin with – most are not), as well as those communities' citizen's federal tax obligation.
As it is with SSI and Medic/are/aid there are no assets that need to change hands, the cashbox is empty, Congress has spent it all. These IOUs and hand-to-hand transfers that are generational promises remain the same, but they will be managed much closer to the citizen and by their neighbors rather than by something that must still appear to be almost a foreign power in D.C. (where 50M+1 voters seem to think they should decide what's right for 50M-1, and/or be dictated to by these far removed courts and special interests). For those states that don't want to entrust self-government to their communities, retain the status-quo and pay for it with (rapidly increasing given a balanced budget law) federal taxes of citizens in those states (and ask again after each state election).
When the dis-aggregation is complete about all that will be left is the common defense, and national level volunteer associations of these communities that look after concerns of shared interest.
Good news is the 1,000+ sovereign communities (in all things domestic) can and will rapidly solve all these entitlement challenges, especially since the citizen and their enterprise will not only vote at the ballot box but with their feet as these communities experiment with alternatives for care of the abandoned and indigent, and elderly and infirm, and those others who believed a national political promise was as good as their own money invested, or family or own neighborhood's charity and care.
November 3, 2010 - 3:15 pm Link to this Comment -
Ari Tai #114:
The way I put it is that "privatizing" SS is absurd. It is already privatized; that is where all the money comes from. The real issue is whether we take at least a portion of the money collected from private sources and eliminate the middleman in DC, who is periodically "Shocked, shocked" to discover that he himself spent it all buying votes.
November 3, 2010 - 3:22 pm Link to this Comment -
116. epignosis
@88 stoicheion – perhaps it's a "gaggle" of Valley Girls.
November 3, 2010 - 3:24 pm Link to this Comment -
118. proreason
The problem with the Moron is that he doesn't weigh anything.
All of his decisions were made 20 years ago when his brain synapses were converted.
Back to the future the USSR tried from 1930 through 1989.
But with a leader like Obama, it will be different this time.
He can't be persuaded. He must be defeated.
November 3, 2010 - 3:39 pm Link to this Comment -
119. Tcobb
#116. epignosis
If you want to refer to them collectively perhaps a "giggle" of Valley Girls might be more appropriate.
November 3, 2010 - 3:40 pm Link to this Comment -
California rejects the future, and is none too certain about the present. For once, I hope this is not an indication of where the country is going …
For decades, CA was a bellweather for the country as a whole because CA was such a perfect microcosm of the country. Large, geographically diverse (mountains, deserts, plains, forests, fields…) economically diverse (aggriculture, mining, manufacturing, finance, trade, media… nearly every signficiant national indsustry was present in the state), with huge immigration rates, CA was more of a microcosm of the USA than any other state.
It still is in many ways, but it is now different in one significant way. It no longer has the same immigration profile as the US. People, especially productve middle-class people, are leaving CA in large numbers. The downward spiral of the state into the Leftopian abyss is the result of productive folks finding it easier to flee the state than to fix it. I'm guilty of that, sorry Whitehall – born and raised in California, graduated from UC, lived and worked there until I was nearly 30. But it was over 15 years ago that I moved away.
But it's a lot harder to flee the US, so the relief valve available to Californians like me (and Old Salt) isn't available to Americans. A critical part of the equation has changed. The Golden Goosed State is no longer a microcosm and bellweather for the rest of the country.
To an extent, the Conservative Flight phenomenon is a result of leftists taking advantage of American good nature and desire to get along. Leftists are so effing loud and obnoxious, nobody wants to live next to them. They're the political equivalent of a Pulp Mill. But non-leftists tend to think it's impolite to tear down your neighbors pulp mill, so we move away instead.
I think it's time to hold some people accountable for their noxious pollution.
November 3, 2010 - 3:46 pm Link to this Comment -
121. Gaffe Price
I reflect a lot on the 2006 election. Hindsight information tells me that at close of fiscal 2006, the 'federal' budget was at 166 billion dollars of deficit (borrowed? I guess..), but by the 2008 election the budget deficit tripled to 500 billion.
It is arguable that in time of war (two war theaters in 2006, Iraq and Afghanistan) that deficit spending is not only to be anticipated, but in fact *justified* (justified is the arguable part), but if the budget reached beyond what was taken in in tax revenue, it is further arguable that any palpable reduction in conservative, or republican voters on election day 2006 was due to the POV of those voters basing their decision that domestic spending (way too much) was to blame, and that a war overseas could be fought and won, but also that a congressional war over domestic welfare program spending needed to be fought and won as well.
This gets to the propaganda issue W mentions above. For strategists at democrat party, bad news in war in Iraq was the fodder used primarily to damage the republican executive, and majority republican congress, going into 2006 election. The issue of excessive fed spending at national level meant nothing to democrat strategists charged with 2006 election strategy, as neither did any military casualties.
In fact, the deaths of soldiers and any Iraqi citizens was positively desired by the hypocrites in dem party and the left, and mid-wifed by their accessories in the media. Anyone with any humanity can see that. But humanity is the first thing to be exchanged for all it's worth on the earthly plane for the ambitious.
But democrat strategy was also to appropriate the issue of "fiscal" responsibility from the conservative, or republican agenda, and use that to run on in so-called "red" states to win there. Most if not all of those 2006 democrat incumbents lost in house races yesterday.
But their purpose has already been used, and used up, and the last thing democrat leadership wants in one party democrat rule is any dems with any form of "conservative", or "fiscally responsible" values or principles. They were expendable.
If the factor of conservative or republican no-shows was a plausible explanation for the results of the two back to back elections in 2006 and '08, then not voting in those elections was as much a vote as voting was (perhaps those who never vote in elections somehow escape this loop, I don't know).
IOW's, B.O. (and Pelosi and Reid) may be S.O.B's, but they are our S.O.B's.
Whatever the ultimate justification any conservatives had for sitting out the '06 elections, they still made a statement. They were not prepared to accept compromise on the issue of domestic spending anymore for the sake of the republican party, and the situation led to a primary fight between so-called tea party candidates versus the old guard "fog-of-the-beltway" types, of which, John McCain is perhaps the most conspicuous example.
As formidable and sometimes insurmountable an obstacle as leftist propaganda is, democrat party's ability to steal elections is as well. I changed channels last night to my local affilliates, to tune in local elections results, when I saw Brian Williams interviewing the CEO of Telemundo, as he congratulated himself, and boasted, (obliquely, of course) to delivering the stolen election. It was a close election, and they could steal it in Las Vegas county. And they did.
But Reid stolen victory is pyrric, he goes in weakened, and those telemundo types will make his life a living hell, and Reid will never be able to appease them.
I agree with Krauthammer, republicans have de facto control of senate. There are 24 dem senate seats expiring in the 2012 election. And they all have to sweat out their next moves as to how it wll play out with voters in just two years. There's going to be a lot of "present" and "NO" votes emerging from them as to any Reid/B.O. agenda overtures.
Dino Rossi had his gubernatorial victory stolen from him in 2006. We'll have to wait and see if that happens again.
I further agree with blert on the unemployment issue. It will be one of the first things to come up, and you are right, it's chump change, most suitable for "compromise" if continuing current tax rates beyond Dec. 31 expiration is our countermove "compromise" to it.
On almost anything else, we must move quickly, decisively, and effectively.
November 3, 2010 - 4:20 pm Link to this Comment -
122. epignosis
@113 blert – we'd all like to see a little justice illuminating the cockroaches. That may not play well to the unemployed. Tackle those things that restore consumer confidence that there is adult supervision at HQ. Delay implementation of Obamacare until the sky looks blue again. That will have broad public support. SS reform only looks scary if you start talking reductions. If you are protecting and restoring the trust fund, not so bad.
November 3, 2010 - 5:34 pm Link to this Comment -
123. Doug
Geeze Louise:
Kamala D. Harris (Dem) San Fran is new AG in CA
…rejected by San Fran Police Dept.Against Steve Cooley, a very fine GOP candidate backed by virtually all police departments.
Gavin Newsom Lt Governor !
Examples of what negative coatails at the head of the ticket (Whitman – Fiorina)
can wreak.…like Pelosi, Obama, and Reid!
(not to imply that Whitman – Fiorina are in the same class in the basement broom closet!)
Moonbeam on Drugs or the Sauce for victory speech.
…reminding us that he now sports a token wife.November 3, 2010 - 6:18 pm Link to this Comment -
124. Doug
Graphic display of why I despise most plastic surgery,
other than reconstructive surgery.—
19 State Legislatures turned Red from Blue…
Redistricing time!November 3, 2010 - 7:11 pm Link to this Comment -
125. Old Salt
#120 "I think it's time to hold some people accountable for their noxious pollution."
I was there about 20 years ago. I thought I could make a difference with the first School Choice campaign. I hoped the recall of Gray Davis would mean something.
However, now I'm 55 yrs old. Most of what passed for my "wealth" has been wiped out. What's capital is left for a man over the age of 40 is precious.
Here's my math: For any meaningful change to occur in California, the Assembly, the Senate, the Executive branch, and most of the CA supreme court needs to turn over. Let's say things tank in California quickly enough that enough independents and Democrats would "get religion" and the government turns over. That's maybe what – four years? Then some major regulatory changes need to occur. California would have to declare bankruptcy, or at best, find a way to convert public pensions to 401K's (i.e. stops the bleeding – state contributions to a 401K are one time and fixed – no out years liabilities). We'd have to grow the California economy to pay for our debt.
So, say all of that happens, and the state comes rip-roaring-back, 4 years for the turn over, 2 to 4 year for the fastest economic turn around in human history, that takes us to what – 2019, when I'm 63 or 64 years old. I still hold out faint hope that I can turn things around for my personal finances sufficiently that I can retire some day. If I stay in California, any wealth I generate will be confiscated in one way or another. I'll be swimming up hill against a permanently "down" economic cycle. I'll be living in a society that can no longer afford the services that I'm paying for through high taxes, because all of those taxes are going to pay pensions and debt interest.
There is no "up" in California's future, before I'm 65 or 75 yrs old. And, when enough "producers" do the math themselves (after the next set of tax hikes, the next 100 major companies shut down, and etc.), the exodus will start in mass. I am sitting here, seeing the future clearly, understanding the difference between "wishing it were so" and "knowing what is so", and I know I have to leave California. It will not recover in time for me. It will not recovery in time for my kids to buy their first house before age 40.
Old Salt
November 3, 2010 - 7:22 pm Link to this Comment -
127. Whitehall
Heard some disturbing news that sounds like massive voter fraud in California's Central Valley, Fresno and Bakersfield in particular.
CA-30 had about 30k voters show up at the polls Tuesday. That's on the low end of typical for a mid-term. Yet Wednesday, the county registars claimed that they had what might be 25k absentee or mail-ins awaiting counting. That is WAY too high. The Republican had a healthy lead before these showed up.
This is breaking news from John Batchelor's radio show tonight so I probably mangled the details but there might be clarification tomorrow – if you look close enough.
November 3, 2010 - 9:49 pm Link to this Comment -
128. epignosis
@113 blert – what do you mean by the "hector and lecture class"?
November 4, 2010 - 5:33 am Link to this Comment -
129. tomw
106. Old Salt:
Prop 25 (simple majority can approve tax increases)I thought that Prop 25 allowed for a simple majority to pass the state budget, rather than let the small minority[read Republicans] hold it hostage to sanity…
Either way, I voted for Prop 13 back when, and watched in Oakland as they removed the fire call boxes from the telephone poles down the street at the corner. Library hours were reduced, etc. All the hurt was aimed at things people liked and wanted. "Lets close the Washington Monument" all over again. That will be coming soon once again to all of CA.
My wife wants to move back to CA, where Alameda was home, but daughter, SIL, and grand baby are in Temecula. I looked. I refused. I saw home values [July 2007] were impossible for any average citizen to afford. When my $49k in 1978 Oakland bungalow was selling for $800,000, and the $180k in 1984 Dublin home was about the same market price, I knew there was a large balloon getting ready to pop. As you note, property taxes are going to go up, if they can somehow get Prop 13 declared un-constitutional, or worm their way around its limits using 'fees' that are levied based upon property value.
As far as staying and fighting, I don't think it is possible. There are too many who don't want the desert mouse disturbed, the wells uncapped off Santa Barbara, or anything done at all. Real BANANAs. They won't vote against idiotic proposals, and continue to return the same mental defectives to Sacramento and DC.
You can't overpower the unions as long as they are recognized for bargaining purposes. Their pols will stay bought. There is small hope for the coming redistricting, repeat 'small'.
It will have to go broke beyond issuing IOU's in place of real money before it can be changed, and I have little hope that can happen without a major upheaval.
tomNovember 4, 2010 - 8:17 am Link to this Comment -
130. Old Salt
Believe it or not, the only hope I hold for California is to divide it into 3 states. The interests are THAT diverse, all all political power is concentrated in San Francisco and Los Angeles, that no other voters matter. The disenfranchisement of perhaps 45% to 55% of the population is real – and that's something that I think a lot of out-of-CA-state conservatives fail to appreciate.
But no matter. Bills come due, and this entire mess will sooner or later implode in on itself. What happens when California has to issue "warrants" 1 month after the budget is set (which of course, is already 6 months late). When there is no money, there will BE, no money. Then, of course, the triage will be amusing to watch. Which government workers get stiffed, and which one's are first at the trough, when there's no longer enough to go around.
I remind my kids to look at 1989 and the ex-USSR. Regardless of how bad it was in the USSR, how many failed "5 year plans", the food lines, and so forth, in 1988 the USSR was like the mountains and rivers and – always there, insurmountable, and always will be there. Then, in the space of a few months – **poof** – it was no more.
When California "goes", e.g. bankrupt, Federal receivership, whatever, it'll probably be stunningly quick. Perhaps the U.S. House of Reps needs to consider legislation (or constitutional amendment – not sure) REVOKING statehood for any state that runs a structural deficit, i.e. that can't pay it's bills. Return California back to a U.S. Territory, appoint a Federal governor to administer it, and California, or it's several parts, can re-apply for admission into the Union – when it's operating under Adult leadership again. At the present time, I'm not sure who bears California's burden of largess, should California fail, but legally, morally, or practically, I think it falls back on the citizens of other states. Think analogy: Britains, Germans, and the Swiss picking up the tab for Turkey, France, and Greece. Hmmm .. I think the citizens like this, not so much.
Nice chatting about this, and I know Richard doesn't mind some of this chatter, but we're far off the original topic of this thread, so this will be my last post on this thread.
Old Salt
November 4, 2010 - 12:38 pm Link to this Comment -
131. Gordon
OS/130–I read yesterday that the US Treasury is now subsidizing some of CA's debt interest. We're the chump.
November 4, 2010 - 12:57 pm Link to this Comment -
132. blert
Hector and Lector:
Corporation for Punitive Broadcasting.
You'll get the most leverage by media operations. ALL radio and TV licenses held by PBS must be auctioned off and the proceeds used to pay for extensions of unemployment and enhanced food stamps.
Food inflation is about to get ridiculous, Food Stamp support must keep pace.
November 4, 2010 - 2:53 pm Link to this Comment -
133. Whitehall
When a state can no longer pay its bills, people stop doing work or providing goods for the state. When the state stops paying off their bonds, people stop lending to them.
Personally, I'm not too worried. They will try and increase my taxes but I'll just work less so they'll get less, not more. I'll probably find a black market income supplement. There are few state "services" I require – the county and city provide basic police and fire – the CHP needn't patrol the freeways.
This is a recipe for a libertarian "paradise" so we'll discredit that brand too. Yes, it might turn into "Mad Max" but so be it.
November 4, 2010 - 3:08 pm Link to this Comment
Comments are closed.