"Like [name of big-state governor], the president has taken on a string of big issues--[Afghanistan], a drastic foreign-policy overhaul, judges, plus [health care]--with predictable results. These are issues that generate political conflict. They upset settled practice, rile various institutions, stir strong opposition, and keep poll ratings low. For an activist president, lack of popularity is part of the package. "
"Crossing the finish line of his presidency with record low popularity may turn out to be a sign of substantive achievement and lasting reform."
(H/t Sullivan)
Friday, November 06, 2009
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Mob rule
A mob of angry African-American men have descended on Capitol Hill and have set seige to the offices of good, upstanding members of Congress, trying to scare them into passing a new massive health care entitlement.
Oh wait.
Seriously. I'm not sure TPM is really being helpful by giving the mob this kind of attention.
I am trying to imagine, though, what the Village reaction would be to a crowd of 2,000 or so African-American men descending on Capitol Hill to try to "scare" members of Congress.
Oh wait.
Seriously. I'm not sure TPM is really being helpful by giving the mob this kind of attention.
I am trying to imagine, though, what the Village reaction would be to a crowd of 2,000 or so African-American men descending on Capitol Hill to try to "scare" members of Congress.
"Laws are only temporary for gays"
John Cole aptly captures the disappointment and frustration stemming from the loss in Maine:
I honestly don’t know where the gay rights movement goes from here. There have been some recent successes- there seems to be some movement on DADT, an openly gay mayor was elected in North Carolina, Washington state passed a gay rights bill, Obama signed the Shephard legislation, the HIV ban was lifted, and some other victories in other states in recent years. At the same time, I understand (as much as I can) the anger and the frustration. They did the right things- they had bills passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, followed the legitimate political process, and unlike any other civil rights issue, laws are only temporary for gays and a year later it gets overturned in referendums. It has to be maddening, and I have no answers...at this point I can’t think anything other than that they have every right to be pissed. I don’t know if it will work, but maybe the only recourse left for the gay rights movement is legitimate anger. Nothing else seems to be working.
I honestly don’t know where the gay rights movement goes from here. There have been some recent successes- there seems to be some movement on DADT, an openly gay mayor was elected in North Carolina, Washington state passed a gay rights bill, Obama signed the Shephard legislation, the HIV ban was lifted, and some other victories in other states in recent years. At the same time, I understand (as much as I can) the anger and the frustration. They did the right things- they had bills passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, followed the legitimate political process, and unlike any other civil rights issue, laws are only temporary for gays and a year later it gets overturned in referendums. It has to be maddening, and I have no answers...at this point I can’t think anything other than that they have every right to be pissed. I don’t know if it will work, but maybe the only recourse left for the gay rights movement is legitimate anger. Nothing else seems to be working.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)