Post-State Of The Union Wrap-Up

Hey readers (the one or two I may have left),

So, last night was President Barack Obama's first "official" State of the Union since taking office. Now, I could do one of two things. I could break it all down, line by line, just like all the T.V. commentators have done last night and into today (like I'm sure they are doing right now). However, I learnt during my skoolun' (pump money in the schools, please!) that over-analyzing isn't fun for anybody, especially the one writing the paper. So, if you want a broken down analysis onf Obama's outlined policies, then I humbly direct your attention to the links on the right havd side of the page.

My second option (and the one I've decided to go with, if you haven't figured that out already) is to point out some of the interesting things I've read since the SOTU, some intested finds by others during the speech, and something else only Chris Matthews can get into.

First off, I love fact checks. They were so helpful during the campaign. Here's an Associated Press fact check of some of Obama's bigger statements last night.

In gooder news (darn those public schools again!), 83% of Americans had a favorable view of Obama's first SOTU. Now if that can just translate into support, specificly by members of Congress. But as blindly as the Democrats will follow Obama, the Republicans will stray in the other direction.

*Sigh* Just what do I say about Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Alito. When President Obama admonished the Supreme Court's recent 5-4 decision to lift the 100-year old campaign finance law that prevents massive corporation from spending however much they like and saturate the airwaves with tons of commercials saying how great one candidate is, and how terrible another candidate is, Justice Alito dropped his head, shook it back and forth, and appeared to be saying "not true". Here's the video, including Obama's line, and Alito's response:

YouTube's CitizenTube page is compiling questions from you (well, maybe not exactly YOU, but the average, everyday viewer, to present in an interview next week they are conducting with President Obama himself. So, if you have and questions about anything in the State Of The Union speech, send those into YouTube (that's a suggestion -- not a threat or anything.

*Double Sigh* Any finally, drumroll please, from the That's Just Plain Stoopid file: MSNBC host and political commentator Chris Matthews after Obama's SOTU. For those of you who haven't seen this yet -- before you watch this next video -- pop quiz, hotshot: What color is President Barack Obama's skin? Well, obviously, Chris Matthews was so enthrawled with the SOTU, well, just watch:

Okay, so I guess I understand what he's TRYING to say -- I think -- but it either didn't come out right, or this is one of those situations where is sounds sorta-kinda stupid in your head, and you say it anyway, and it sounds even more idiotic out loud, where everyone else earshot and TV-shot can hear you. Chris later clarified his comments (which made sense) a little bit later.

-Adam

Democrats Axe Public Plan From Health Bill

Those mysterious "sources" are at work again, except this time, they aren't talking about Tiger Woods supposed, um, relationship issues. This time, however, these sources are confirming to the media that the Democrats have struck an internal agreement on what they want in the health reform bill.

And as sure that the fact that my dry sense of humor can't translate through keystrokes, this "all public" healthcare bill is DOA. Now the plan will be private plans with government oversight, which will no doubt be a breath of fresh air to moderate Democrats, and those who can count to 60 through the mid-western political map.

The plan reportedly also calls for Medicare to be expanded to all people ages 55+, which will no doubt be a breath of fresh air to everybody who can order off of the back page of a Denny's menu.

Look, I know a lot of Democrats aren't going to like this, but this really is the only option at this point. If the public plan went forward, not only would Democrats be railroaded by the Republicans, but by the more moderate Democrats as well. Not to mention that next year is an election year.

Believe it or not, this does still meet President Obama's message of change -- instead of going to the table divided, or wanting something to pass that never will, calling a huddle first ensures that at least we can all sell the same play.

-Adam

AP sources: Dems reach deal to drop gov't-run plan - Yahoo! News

Democrat Views now on Twitter!

Democrat Views is now on Twitter! Obviously, this site has been lagging lately, so I thought that maybe I could get back into it (slowly) by getting into Twitter first.

Find me @DemocratViews.

Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Dead at 77

Long-time Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who has served 43 years in the United States Senate, has died at 77.

-Adam

Franken's Long Road is Finally Over, Sworn in to Senate

Comedian candidate Senator Al Franken was finally sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden today, eight months after election day on November 4th. Raw video of the swearing-in can be found here.

There's been a lot of talk since this whole Franken-Coleman thing started, about how Franken would be the 60th vote, that some iron-clad fist would come down upon the Senate, preventing any and all possible filibusters. That is such a load of bull. There will be no 60-vote filibuster override. There will likely not even be any serious filibusters -- even the back-and-forth threats of filibusters during the Bush Administration produced more threats than actual attempts. Have any of these any of these Senators actually sat down and listened to debates on the floor of the Senate? Where you find a member of Congress, you'll likely find two different opinions on a matter. 60 votes means 120 different opinions, folks -- there's no way this will ever happen. Especially when you look at some of these Democrats in the so-called super-majority. Let's take a look at one in particular:

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) - Former Democrat. Caucused with the Democrats, and sides with them on a majority of issues, with the exception of the that get talked about on the news. One these issues, Joe always seems to surround himself with Republicans and denounce whatever happens to be on the table at the time CNN's cameras show up. Won't likely vote for cloture on big issues; smaller issues won't likely be filibustered. He's may be caucused with the Democrats, but since he had to get there as an independent, I have to imagine that he's still somewhat upset at his former party, and no one should put it beyond an elected officials to stick it to someone he doesn't like, just because.

This brings the total down to 59. I really doubt a vote for cloture would come to rest at 59-41, but it would be enough. You know, I'm sure that Joe Lieberman is a great guy, but c'mon, Connecticut, you couldn't have voted for Ned Lamont?

-Adam

Sanford & ...Argentine Beauty?

Gov. Mark Sanford, who recently destroyed his marriage admitted to having an affair with a woman in Argentina... on state time... using state money, was censured yesterday after a vote within the the South Carolina Republican Party. Their vote fell short of asking him to resign, however. The vote was 22 to censure, 10 to resign, and 9 in support of the embattled governor.

Sanford's biggest problem, to me anyway, was the fact that he left the state,. and the country, without taking the appropriate steps to transfer power to the Lt. Governor first. And spending state funds during these trips. And while the state review shows Sanford did no wrong doing, we know he did use state money, since he wrote the state a $3,300 personal check. Yes, the affair was personally wrong, and it speaks to character if the elected leader of a state decides to go outside of his marriage, but an affair hurts the state and the people differently than misuse of state funds and failing to perform the duties of the office you're elected to. Those most hurt are your own family, while the state is dragged through the mud. Perhaps one of these offenses alone would be forgivable, as least as far as the general public is concerned, but with all of these things against him, a censure of the governor is getting off pretty well.

And for some personal advice for the governor: Lord knows you shouldn't ask me for relationship advice, but Gov. Sanford, if you are not in love with your life, and if this other woman is your "soul mate", get a divorce, move her up here, so you can stay near your kids, and live contently ever after (it's not happily ever after since he blew his chances of running in 2012.) Your kids will gain nothing by "staying together for the kids", which is likely what you are doing now. They're smarter than that, Sanford.

-Adam

No Title

I sit here dumbfounded that it has been 665 days since my last post of this blog. I most likely suffered some burn-out during the drawn-out campaign process -- as an avid news junkie, almost everything I watched on television was election-based news coverage. Everything that I read, or typed, on the internet had to do with Obama, McCain, and 2008. I couldn't get enough.

It would be a logical assumption to assume that I was not the only one this happened to -- after all, with the rush to place primaries so close to the beginning of the year, resulting ever earlier campaigning by the perspective candidates, this country's election process has now become, like it or not, a two-year affair (which may or may not be longer than Gov. Sanford's affair, and Gov. Palin's career.) Politics seemed to almost become a daily burden, and while the right man won, the whole thing lasted way to long in my opinion.

It is my intent to revive this site, and if it is to be so, than it will happen; otherwise, it'll likely fizzle out like last time. The objective of this blog remains the same -- as the title says, these posts are the ideas, thoughts, and views of a Democrat, me, and anyone whom wishes may read my thoughts (at least those thoughts which are transcribed here anyway, for the rest is likely too dirty, and nobody would want it.)

-Adam

Six Year Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks

God bless those who were lost, the families they left behind, the United States of America, and all her citizens.

-Adam

The Fall of Karl Rove

Karl Rove submitted his resignation to the President today, and it was accepted. He will leave at the end of August. There is no more I could put here that could make this post any greater than it currently is, so I'll stop here.

-Adam

Hit The Snooze... It's Too Early For Politics

I love politics.

I find it enjoyable. When I watch T.V., often the news channels are my first choice (thus causing me to not watch the ever-increasing amount of programs on my DVR). Politics is one of the things I love to talk about. I have yet to determine whether this makes me twisted and insane, or lining me up for a career in the political world; when I find out for sure, I'll let you know.

But unfortunately, the world of politics has taken an unfortunate, and possibly unbearable, turn. The 2008 campaign for the general elections will, if certain state's laws are held up, last almost an entire year. Of course, this all depends if New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's prediction holds true that a winner will be picked by the first four states.

In case you haven't heard (if you have, you will have no doubt performed several bouts of eye-rolling and groaning) many states have recently switched their primaries to near the beginning of the year. The South Carolina Republican party has officially switched their primary to January 19, assuring the Palmetto State will be the first southern state to hold a primary. This was due to, in part, Florida changing its primary to January 29. The SC Democratic party has stated that it will not change its primary date. However, New Hampshire has a law on it's books which requires their primary to be held 7 days be fore any other state primary. If that isn't enough, Iowa has a special law of it's own, which requires that the Iowa Caucuses be held 8 days before ANY other state votes at all, regardless of whether it uses the primary or caucus system. It's possible that Iowa new caucus date could take place at the very end of this year.

This is very concerning. After all, campaign coverage has already been going full swing for several months, and this is with just shy of 20 candidates and lots of speculation. If this thing gets locked by February, all the coverage on T.V., online, and in the papers will cause a severe strain on the American people. People who already aren't extremely interested in politics could distance themselves from it even more, because two candidates continually repeating the same slogans are all that plays in the media. People like myself will no doubt become less tolerable to the endless mudslinging and false promises continually being thrown around. While a year-long Presidential campaign could get voters to know the candidates more, it will no doubt be a continuous string of rhetoric. I don't think it will result in less voter turn-out (Bush pretty well wrapped that one up, didn't he?), but it will start a wave of Americans who are not as involved in politics as they should be; I count on that.

-Adam