That is to say, commentator Glenn Beck.
H.L. Mencken once opined to the effect that, nothing was so injurious to certain ideologies than to fervently believe in them. That describes Beck to a "T" as he was howling for "small government" and libertarian virtue for a good ten minutes this morning.
HE complained at length about being "a successful business owner" (he owns a magazine no one has ever heard of) who couldn't plan for the future out of fear that the gummint was about to double his taxes or parachute social workers into the suburbs.
The fact that neither he nor I nor FORD MOTORS are considered good credit risks has nothing to do with his anxiety.
The is no policy to resolve Glenn Beck's fears, I recommend a liberal does of old fashioned miltown...something old timey for an affronted conservative.
Apparently, the eight years we've just escaped of libertarian utopianism wasn't enough for Glenn....in his mind there is a better purer form of economic catastrophe we could embrace if only we had a courage to do so.
Hence his disappointment, hence the need for downers.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
So let me get this straight...
the GOP caucus in the US House turned down 275 billion in tax cuts in the current stimulus package?
Because...somone crooned over a giant mummified hairball and announced in a voice oracular that if they say NO to their dearest wish then Obama will undoubtedly better the offer?
Honest to Ghod are these yokels HIGH???
To Humble Elias the ideological gap is clear and unambiguous, the GOP's House caucus is emotionally invested in presidential failure no matter what the cost to the nation or their own tax-cutting theology.
Nevertheless with consummate grace, Obama is still playing nice with these dingbats...why I cannot imagine. Perhaps the soft line is calculated to pick up some votes in the Senate (the likeliest scenario) or the President wants to gently introduce the House Republicans to political isolation.
Because...somone crooned over a giant mummified hairball and announced in a voice oracular that if they say NO to their dearest wish then Obama will undoubtedly better the offer?
Honest to Ghod are these yokels HIGH???
To Humble Elias the ideological gap is clear and unambiguous, the GOP's House caucus is emotionally invested in presidential failure no matter what the cost to the nation or their own tax-cutting theology.
Nevertheless with consummate grace, Obama is still playing nice with these dingbats...why I cannot imagine. Perhaps the soft line is calculated to pick up some votes in the Senate (the likeliest scenario) or the President wants to gently introduce the House Republicans to political isolation.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Stimulatin' Stimulus
Some good things are in this upcoming bill, more money for education which is good news for the Commonwealth as diplomas are one of our biggest exports.
Apparently, health care subsidies will be offered to the unemployed as well so some of the sting will come out of the recession.
All this lifts burdens off the Commonwealth...but I'm wondering though, in the light of another billion dollars in cuts...maybe just maybe it's time we rethought the state's balanced budget rule, either as a temporary measure or a full repeal...d'ye think we are getting full value for those even-steven balance sheets in a recession?
Just sayin'....
Apparently, health care subsidies will be offered to the unemployed as well so some of the sting will come out of the recession.
All this lifts burdens off the Commonwealth...but I'm wondering though, in the light of another billion dollars in cuts...maybe just maybe it's time we rethought the state's balanced budget rule, either as a temporary measure or a full repeal...d'ye think we are getting full value for those even-steven balance sheets in a recession?
Just sayin'....
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
More good news
Casino gambling might might...might be back on the table hyar in the Commonwealth.
Just what we need to get thru the crisis, a chance driven method of confiscatory taxation for the working class.
Just what we need to get thru the crisis, a chance driven method of confiscatory taxation for the working class.
Monday, January 26, 2009
DeLeo rising?
Robert DeLeo, the House Ways and Means Chairman has released a list of 87 supporters of his candidacy for the Speakership. One notes that rising liberals like Will Brownsberger as well as established progressive machers like Jay Kaufman can be found on that list.
However...Arlington's own Sean Garballey is nowhere to be seen on said list...which of course could mean nothing since Boston.com doesn't give any corroboration as to the list's accuracy.
On the other hand one's vote in the House has a very finite value to any incoming leadership cadres, the trick is make the best deal, back the right people and hope and pray to ghod you've done right by the district and the Commonwealth.
However...Arlington's own Sean Garballey is nowhere to be seen on said list...which of course could mean nothing since Boston.com doesn't give any corroboration as to the list's accuracy.
On the other hand one's vote in the House has a very finite value to any incoming leadership cadres, the trick is make the best deal, back the right people and hope and pray to ghod you've done right by the district and the Commonwealth.
DiMasi outski
The trickle of bad news for the House Speaker has reached a nice gush and so he has handed in his resignation and is leaving Beacon Hill.
Does this story sound familiar?
It ought to, it is roughly the same end meted out to the last two Speakers of the Great and General Court.
Seems to me, that the Speakership has become an "attractive nuisance" in state politics, a little too much power and far too much in the way of easy pickin's for friends, family and sundry sycophants.
I'm glad the Governor is putting up a new public ethics bill, sharpening those teeth is long overdue...but the House of Representatives is in desperate need of a structural overhaul that puts temptation out of reach and decentralizes power.
Until that happens we will be back here again and again and again...and don't think for a minute that a switch in the majority party on Beacon Hill will change things one whit. Weld-Cellucci-Swift-Romney had sixteen years to do something about public ethics from their end of the deal and they did patently nothing.
None of those governors cared at all about Flaherty or Finneran's excesses until they got caught.
Then some shocked and pious noises were emitted, nothing more.
Meanwhile with no real pressure from without, the autocracy of the Speakership grew by leaps and bounds. The problem is one of power, too much of it is concentrated into one pair of hands that has to change.
Does this story sound familiar?
It ought to, it is roughly the same end meted out to the last two Speakers of the Great and General Court.
Seems to me, that the Speakership has become an "attractive nuisance" in state politics, a little too much power and far too much in the way of easy pickin's for friends, family and sundry sycophants.
I'm glad the Governor is putting up a new public ethics bill, sharpening those teeth is long overdue...but the House of Representatives is in desperate need of a structural overhaul that puts temptation out of reach and decentralizes power.
Until that happens we will be back here again and again and again...and don't think for a minute that a switch in the majority party on Beacon Hill will change things one whit. Weld-Cellucci-Swift-Romney had sixteen years to do something about public ethics from their end of the deal and they did patently nothing.
None of those governors cared at all about Flaherty or Finneran's excesses until they got caught.
Then some shocked and pious noises were emitted, nothing more.
Meanwhile with no real pressure from without, the autocracy of the Speakership grew by leaps and bounds. The problem is one of power, too much of it is concentrated into one pair of hands that has to change.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Last week
The Globe's own resident alpha, Joanie Vennochi was whining that Judge Kimba Wood got a raw deal in 1993 compared to the free ride that someone got somewhere down the line...honestly I forget her exact argument.
This week however, Joanie snarks at the rapid rise and just as rapid fall of Caroline Kennedy's senatorial prospects with all the usual darts flung at such straw men as elitism and entitlement etc.
Honestly, I think I'd almost pay good money to have some learned elder of the tribe explain to me just what it is Joanie Vennochi in fact believes in?
She is FOR women unless you are Caroline Kennedy and against entitlement which is akin to being opposed to tornadoes and sharks at this point.
Lord knows I can't figure out her belief system and somewhere in my private papers is a dusty yet bona fide graduate degree in political science.
Mostly what Joanie does have is a fervent and somewhat humorless collection of dislikes and resentments, it isn't an ideology by any means since it's all so driven by personalities and celebrity.
Oh well, I suppose it is comforting to know that her head hasn't been turned by the Obama-palooze vibe out there, nope she'll just keep her place at the head of the Queen Bee's table in Middle School USA thank you very much.
This week however, Joanie snarks at the rapid rise and just as rapid fall of Caroline Kennedy's senatorial prospects with all the usual darts flung at such straw men as elitism and entitlement etc.
Honestly, I think I'd almost pay good money to have some learned elder of the tribe explain to me just what it is Joanie Vennochi in fact believes in?
She is FOR women unless you are Caroline Kennedy and against entitlement which is akin to being opposed to tornadoes and sharks at this point.
Lord knows I can't figure out her belief system and somewhere in my private papers is a dusty yet bona fide graduate degree in political science.
Mostly what Joanie does have is a fervent and somewhat humorless collection of dislikes and resentments, it isn't an ideology by any means since it's all so driven by personalities and celebrity.
Oh well, I suppose it is comforting to know that her head hasn't been turned by the Obama-palooze vibe out there, nope she'll just keep her place at the head of the Queen Bee's table in Middle School USA thank you very much.
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