We'll get to the budget talk in a minute because there are two things that we have to point out off the top. First we, as Mr. Gregory did, made a note of Congressman Ryan's statement that he believes that the president is more interested in political conquest than in political compromise. We also want to point out that in addition, Mr. Ryan stated that this election was a status quo election.
In his first interview since the election, Congressman Paul Ryan seems to still being looking at things through the prism of bitter defeat. Whether you thought that President Obama's inauguration speech was a liberal vision or not is not news. As a Democratic president, he idyllic vision is going to look to the left. What should we have expected? "Why be coy?" Ted Koppel asked. And despite what Mr. DeMint would tell you, Americans chose this direction for the country. Democrats won the executive branch, gained in the Senate, and tallied a million more votes nationally in House races.
That aside, Mr. Ryan questioned President Obama's motives when he spoke about political conquest, suggesting that he doesn't have the interest of the country first. This is hardly a comment for a leader of the Republican party as Bob Woodward projected him to be. Mr. Ryan's budget contains no outlined revenue generating mechanisms and only spending cuts - austerity. England, right now, is in a triple-dip recession with the austerity measures in place. If you completely take revenues off the table, that's not compromise so to fault the president for not doing so is a shallow argument. So when Mr. Ryan said that Republicans weren't preaching for austerity but to preempt it with growth and opportunity citing Simpson-Bowles' recommendations to reinforce his argument, something he voted against, it just melts into shallow rhetoric. That's not to say that the President is guiltless; he needs to get more serious as well. As Mr. Woodward pointed out, the president once said that the Ryan proposal on medicare was a serious piece, but now dismisses it. That was during that Republican retreat at the beginning of Mr. Obama's first term where he went and stared them all down in a room by the way. But frankly, if you are a very liberal Democrat, President Obama's policies and suggested compromises don't necessarily make you happy. Andrea Mitchell pointed out that the administration had floated raising the eligibility age for social security and medicare to 67 from 65 and to understate it is didn't go over very well.
And speaking of Social Security, Mr. Ryan used his mother as an example that she is not a 'taker' because she paid into a system all her life and now she is getting back that benefit. What we don't understand is why he would deem that all right but deny future generations that same opportunity - to pay into a social insurance system so that retirement can be just that... retirement.
And just to get it on record, Mr. Ryan voted against Hurricane Sandy relief for the Northeast. Judge that as you will.
Mr. Ryan was also asked about the sequestration of the defense
budget and said that those automatic cuts wouldn't have even come up if
Mr. Romney were president because they would have worked across the
aisle to save defense. What he doesn't explain is that it would be at the expense of things like Social Security and Medicare. But here's the rub, and it brings us to the following topic.
The other aspect of the conversation that was vitally important was the turn to foreign policy and the warnings from NBC's Ted Koppel. We made this a significant point of last week's column when NBC's Richard Engel was on the program discussing foreign policy. This is most troubling because the consequences are protracted war and conflict where there will be no winners. Mr. Koppel ticked them off: An unfinished Afghanistan, chemical weapons in an unstable Syria, nuclear weapons in a fundamentalist Pakistan, Israel striking at Iran, Iran launching cyber war against the United States. Do we need to say more? No, but then Mr. Woodward cited North Korea and the meltdown in Egypt. Andrea Mitchell threw in North Africa.
And the consequence is continually serious fiscal troubles here at home. So when we hear two major conservative voices say, on this program, that the president is only about political conquest and the 'failed liberal agendas in Detroit, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles," as Jim Demint said as a rightfully indignant Andrea Mitchell shook her head, it instills no confidence in there leadership because of such a narrow agenda. Notice he didn't mention New York where much fundraising comes from. Additionally, he said that the overall philosophy of his administration is 'what difference does it make,' and this is not constructive at all so why should we believe it when he says that he's interested in the real reasons and causes. Mr. DeMint's statements do not see or take into account the complete diverse canvas that is the United States. NAACP President Ben Jealous used the phrase, 'that's playing to the cheap seats,' and that is what those kinds of comments do. It plays to pettiness that we must get passed given on how the rest of the world is changing radically week to week, and we're paying less and less attention.
Also, we didn't appreciate that Mr. DeMint would not answer many questions directly. Conscious denial of real events and in this case it was what Louisiana Republican Governor Bobby Jindal said this week about his party - the 'stupid party' comment. He wouldn't even acknowledge it or General Colin Powell's Meet The Press comments, and that's where the failed liberal agenda comments came into play. Congressman Ryan talked about the Republican party having the need to expand its appeal but ultimately there was nothing concretely stated today that starts to accomplish that.
What was amusing was when Mr. Ryan said that if we had a Clinton Presidency then we wouldn't be in the deadlocked state of affairs. He absolved his own party from any blame for our current dilemma, which again is conscious denial/ political games, but amusing due to the obvious irony. He may get what he wishes for, but what he doesn't realize that it really wouldn't change the dynamic.
There is a bright spot for Republicans and that is on immigration. From all the conversation during the round table, it seems as though there is bi-partisan cooperation for reform. And call this a gift from the Democrats to their colleagues across the aisle because it is surely going to help the Republicans' image better than it will Democrats. A bi-partisan bill will give the perception that Republicans are more sensitive to immigrants than is perceived even though they will not like many of the Democratic proposals to reform, such as the dream act, which Republicans call earned citizenship. Paraphrasing, immigration, as Mr. Ryan said, is what America is all about. And our suggestion is that while we can take this first step of cooperation [We agree with Mr. Woodward when he said that immigration, the budget, et al. is all doable.] on immigration, we just keep a keen eye on all these places we came from.
Incoming President of the Heritage Foundation, former Senator Jim DeMint
(R-SC); President and CEO of the NAACP Ben Jealous; Washington Post
Associate Editor Bob Woodward; NBC’s Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent
Andrea Mitchell; and NBC News Special Correspondent Ted Koppel.
Program Note: We like that they brought back a 'Meet the Press Moment,' in this case John Kerry appearing on the program in 1971. It was a pertinent clip given Senator Kerry's confirmation as Secretary of State, and you can see the full clip online - definitely important viewing. However, we'd prefer that it didn't come in the middle of the program. We realize that you can not have it at the very end of the program, having to plug the full version of the clip online and then another plug for the Press Pass during the week. It's too much. Perhaps, keeping the clip pertinent to today, play it toward the end of the round table discussion and get some quick reaction for more perspective and insight. Thoughts?
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Sunday, January 20, 2013
1.20.13: It's Half-Time America
Senator's Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) debate the most prevalent of topics among Americans on today's program and to paraphrase Warren Zevon, there were lawyers debating guns and money. However, the debate was substantive in that when you heard from both, particularly on the issue of gun safety, the effective of what President Obama is proposing based of Vice President Biden's task force is certainly questionable. Senator Cruz offered a lukewarm endorsement of the idea of universal background checks but was quick to point out that it wouldn't have prevented the tragedy in Newtown, CT, which is true, but would an assault weapons ban prevented it. Maybe, maybe not because what's to say that the weapons used wouldn't have been different than a Bushmaster semi-automatic rifle?
Mr. Cruz was astute in his political rhetoric today in that on the gun safety issue, he stated that the 1994 assault weapons ban was the least success bills passed. There is little evidence that it did have a significant effect - that's true and what he smartly left out is perhaps because there were many loopholes in the law (what is and is not an assault weapon) or that the Congress legislated against doing studies on gun violence (something that President Obama has changed via executive order).
Senator Schumer was not on his game here, especially when the Texas senator said that the loophole of buying weapons at gun shows without a background doesn't exist when in fact that it does. The fact is, something that Mr. Schumer could have noted, is that 40 percent of all guns purchases occur without a background check. The secondary market (illegal because of the lack of background checks) is approaching half the total of sales. For universal background checks to be effective, those sales have to not only be checked but have to also have to be able to be traced back to the seller.
Rhetorically, Mr. Cruz may have won the argument but it wasn't without its significant exceptions. First, in response to the NRA's ad that talked about President Obama's children receiving armed protection and calling him a hypocrite because it doesn't endorse it for everyone, Mr. Cruz attempted to brush it off say that people can run the ads they want, but it's deplorable that he did not denounce the ad. He wouldn't bite on the question when Mr. Gregory pressed him for a second time to address whether or not it was over the line. Also, his reticence to endorse anything meaningful in the wake of this latest tragedy clearly shows through and speaks to the perception of Republicans' indifference to these mass killings. Additionally, in this vein, Mr. Cruz would not offer any insight with regard to Gen. Powell's comments last week on the program, in which he talked about the 'dark vein of intolerance' in the Republican party, only citing the vice president's comment address a predominantly an African-American audience about if the Republicans obtain the office of the presidency, they will be put back in chains. Mr. Cruz called that the most racist statement of the 2012 campaign, which is completely disingenuous given that many Republican politicians and political figures [read: Donald Trump] indulged in systematic coded racism for an extended period of time against Mr. Obama with comments of birtherism, 'Food Stamp President, shuckin' and jivin',' etc.
Senator Schumer, however, is correct in that there has to be reasonable common sense limits to gun ownership, and most Americans agree, because clearly there are too many guns in circulation and there are too many people dying from gun violence in this country. We agree with Mr. Schumer that we ignore the role guns play to our general welfare at our peril.
Speaking of general welfare, Doris Kearns-Goodwin reminded us that we can not project strength abroad if we are not in a strong position at home and that's certainly the case. If we're not careful, the petty squabbling in the face of a big debt problem will be our undoing. It was politically imperative that Republicans took the debt ceiling threat off the table in general going to their 'fallback' position of increasing the limit for a three month period. Mr. Cruz was correct that the Democrats continue to want the specter of default hanging out there, and why? Because it's a political winner given the fact the it's wide perceived that Congressional Republicans are willing to tank the world economy to prove a political point - something everyone sees. Republican Joe Scarborough explained that most of the American people are not with Republicans when it comes to fiscal issues and boldly admitted that the only reason Republicans have control of the House is because of gerrymandering. To say it another way, they have to rig the districts because they're not broadly winning elections with their approach.
And the reason Mr. Cruz didn't comment on Mr. Schumer mentioning the McConnell amendment is that it gives the president to authority to raise the debt ceiling while requiring a two-thirds majority of the Senate to deny the increase is because hard right conservatives are strictly against giving the president that kind of authority even though it puts the responsibility squarely on the president's shoulders. This is just another example piece of evidence that the Republicans can not get together on their own ideas within the party.
We can not solve big issues when we're only tallying small political wins and losses, and our democracy is failing us if we can not come up with a long-term compromise. If we can not move beyond this, we will not move forward. The panel discussed the various ways in which the President, on the cusp of his second term, can improve the environment such as reaching out more to his Democratic colleagues as well as Republican. That would be the inside game, but Ms. Goodwin also stated as she has before that the president needs to use his bully pulpit and take his case to the people - the outside game. They make it seem like Mr. Obama is not good at either, despite getting a lot done in his first term. The reason the bar is so high for Mr. Obama's second term is because he himself set it there. As Joe Scarborough noted, the president's approval rating is at 52% while Speaker Boehner's is at 18% so he must be doing something right despite feeling that the President came into the White House ill-prepared.
Where most people feel the president has fared better is in foreign policy. But again, we have some intern housekeeping as it relates to foreign policy and that is with the nomination of Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense. Senator Schumer outlined the questions and concerns that he had with the nomination and after speaking with Mr. Hagel, he was satisfied with the answers. Just on the stupidly simplistic surface of it all to a layman, it seems odd that the Democratic president would nominate a Republican and Senate Democrats would in favor while the Republicans would be, not just against, but adamantly against the nomination. Especially since that when it comes right down to it, both parties are ultimately equally hawkish. Mr. Schumer, in fact, noted that most all the antagonism was coming from the hard right, to which Mr. Cruz interjected that he had serious concerns about Mr. Hagel, basically confirming Mr. Schumer's point.
The reinforcement for all this politically squabbling is frankly coming from significant voices in the media starting with most of today's panel in their generally dismissive attitude to their colleague Richard Engel's statements, which we found to be the most significant of the program due to their sobering nature. When Mr. Engel said that the Chinese model looks better to the developing world, he was correct, but we feel he misspoke in making his point, which was that it's not the citizenry that thinks it's better but the people in control are resorting to that model because it's the easier route vs. U.S. style democracy. He noted the chaos that it has brought to the Middle East - Syria, Egypt, Libya. However, to be frankly, we're not sure if we agree Mr. Engel on his interpretation of President Obama's decision not to side with former President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak and its significance. He postulated that it could turn out to be the president's most important, which came under a general objection from the rest of the panel. But if you extrapolate it out, the point is quite clear explaining that the anarchical state of Syria could spark conflicts in both Iraq and Lebanon inflaming the entire region, which would include Israel taking some sort of direct action on Iran and its nuclear facilities, and us becoming deeply involved.
The greater point being, is that our Congressional leaders haven't even come close to collectively looking at itself in the mirror and making an honest assessment. Because if we did, we'd notice that fewer countries around the world are looking at and to us. Mr. Engel is correct in a way, they're looking at China's and it's economic strategy, and they're not looking at ours because we don't have one.
Mr. Schumer defensively said that the Senate will have a budget this year... that will include revenues, but whether House Republicans go for it is a whole other headache that awaits us in the president's second term. Right now, it's halftime America. Happy Inauguration Weekend.
David Axelrod; MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough; Presidential Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin; and three of NBC’s finest: Special Correspondent Tom Brokaw; Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel and Chief White House Correspondent and Political Director Chuck Todd
Mr. Cruz was astute in his political rhetoric today in that on the gun safety issue, he stated that the 1994 assault weapons ban was the least success bills passed. There is little evidence that it did have a significant effect - that's true and what he smartly left out is perhaps because there were many loopholes in the law (what is and is not an assault weapon) or that the Congress legislated against doing studies on gun violence (something that President Obama has changed via executive order).
Senator Schumer was not on his game here, especially when the Texas senator said that the loophole of buying weapons at gun shows without a background doesn't exist when in fact that it does. The fact is, something that Mr. Schumer could have noted, is that 40 percent of all guns purchases occur without a background check. The secondary market (illegal because of the lack of background checks) is approaching half the total of sales. For universal background checks to be effective, those sales have to not only be checked but have to also have to be able to be traced back to the seller.
Rhetorically, Mr. Cruz may have won the argument but it wasn't without its significant exceptions. First, in response to the NRA's ad that talked about President Obama's children receiving armed protection and calling him a hypocrite because it doesn't endorse it for everyone, Mr. Cruz attempted to brush it off say that people can run the ads they want, but it's deplorable that he did not denounce the ad. He wouldn't bite on the question when Mr. Gregory pressed him for a second time to address whether or not it was over the line. Also, his reticence to endorse anything meaningful in the wake of this latest tragedy clearly shows through and speaks to the perception of Republicans' indifference to these mass killings. Additionally, in this vein, Mr. Cruz would not offer any insight with regard to Gen. Powell's comments last week on the program, in which he talked about the 'dark vein of intolerance' in the Republican party, only citing the vice president's comment address a predominantly an African-American audience about if the Republicans obtain the office of the presidency, they will be put back in chains. Mr. Cruz called that the most racist statement of the 2012 campaign, which is completely disingenuous given that many Republican politicians and political figures [read: Donald Trump] indulged in systematic coded racism for an extended period of time against Mr. Obama with comments of birtherism, 'Food Stamp President, shuckin' and jivin',' etc.
Senator Schumer, however, is correct in that there has to be reasonable common sense limits to gun ownership, and most Americans agree, because clearly there are too many guns in circulation and there are too many people dying from gun violence in this country. We agree with Mr. Schumer that we ignore the role guns play to our general welfare at our peril.
Speaking of general welfare, Doris Kearns-Goodwin reminded us that we can not project strength abroad if we are not in a strong position at home and that's certainly the case. If we're not careful, the petty squabbling in the face of a big debt problem will be our undoing. It was politically imperative that Republicans took the debt ceiling threat off the table in general going to their 'fallback' position of increasing the limit for a three month period. Mr. Cruz was correct that the Democrats continue to want the specter of default hanging out there, and why? Because it's a political winner given the fact the it's wide perceived that Congressional Republicans are willing to tank the world economy to prove a political point - something everyone sees. Republican Joe Scarborough explained that most of the American people are not with Republicans when it comes to fiscal issues and boldly admitted that the only reason Republicans have control of the House is because of gerrymandering. To say it another way, they have to rig the districts because they're not broadly winning elections with their approach.
And the reason Mr. Cruz didn't comment on Mr. Schumer mentioning the McConnell amendment is that it gives the president to authority to raise the debt ceiling while requiring a two-thirds majority of the Senate to deny the increase is because hard right conservatives are strictly against giving the president that kind of authority even though it puts the responsibility squarely on the president's shoulders. This is just another example piece of evidence that the Republicans can not get together on their own ideas within the party.
We can not solve big issues when we're only tallying small political wins and losses, and our democracy is failing us if we can not come up with a long-term compromise. If we can not move beyond this, we will not move forward. The panel discussed the various ways in which the President, on the cusp of his second term, can improve the environment such as reaching out more to his Democratic colleagues as well as Republican. That would be the inside game, but Ms. Goodwin also stated as she has before that the president needs to use his bully pulpit and take his case to the people - the outside game. They make it seem like Mr. Obama is not good at either, despite getting a lot done in his first term. The reason the bar is so high for Mr. Obama's second term is because he himself set it there. As Joe Scarborough noted, the president's approval rating is at 52% while Speaker Boehner's is at 18% so he must be doing something right despite feeling that the President came into the White House ill-prepared.
Where most people feel the president has fared better is in foreign policy. But again, we have some intern housekeeping as it relates to foreign policy and that is with the nomination of Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense. Senator Schumer outlined the questions and concerns that he had with the nomination and after speaking with Mr. Hagel, he was satisfied with the answers. Just on the stupidly simplistic surface of it all to a layman, it seems odd that the Democratic president would nominate a Republican and Senate Democrats would in favor while the Republicans would be, not just against, but adamantly against the nomination. Especially since that when it comes right down to it, both parties are ultimately equally hawkish. Mr. Schumer, in fact, noted that most all the antagonism was coming from the hard right, to which Mr. Cruz interjected that he had serious concerns about Mr. Hagel, basically confirming Mr. Schumer's point.
The reinforcement for all this politically squabbling is frankly coming from significant voices in the media starting with most of today's panel in their generally dismissive attitude to their colleague Richard Engel's statements, which we found to be the most significant of the program due to their sobering nature. When Mr. Engel said that the Chinese model looks better to the developing world, he was correct, but we feel he misspoke in making his point, which was that it's not the citizenry that thinks it's better but the people in control are resorting to that model because it's the easier route vs. U.S. style democracy. He noted the chaos that it has brought to the Middle East - Syria, Egypt, Libya. However, to be frankly, we're not sure if we agree Mr. Engel on his interpretation of President Obama's decision not to side with former President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak and its significance. He postulated that it could turn out to be the president's most important, which came under a general objection from the rest of the panel. But if you extrapolate it out, the point is quite clear explaining that the anarchical state of Syria could spark conflicts in both Iraq and Lebanon inflaming the entire region, which would include Israel taking some sort of direct action on Iran and its nuclear facilities, and us becoming deeply involved.
The greater point being, is that our Congressional leaders haven't even come close to collectively looking at itself in the mirror and making an honest assessment. Because if we did, we'd notice that fewer countries around the world are looking at and to us. Mr. Engel is correct in a way, they're looking at China's and it's economic strategy, and they're not looking at ours because we don't have one.
Mr. Schumer defensively said that the Senate will have a budget this year... that will include revenues, but whether House Republicans go for it is a whole other headache that awaits us in the president's second term. Right now, it's halftime America. Happy Inauguration Weekend.
David Axelrod; MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough; Presidential Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin; and three of NBC’s finest: Special Correspondent Tom Brokaw; Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel and Chief White House Correspondent and Political Director Chuck Todd
Sunday, January 13, 2013
1.13.13: Obama Republicans
Just as we once had Reagan Democrats, we now have Obama Republicans, of which General Colin Powell (Ret.) is one. What that constitutes is a Republican that agrees with the President on certain, key issues - defense, guns, immigration, emergency aid and disdain for the fringe right (i.e birthers and gender politics). Others would be New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Senator Olympia
Snowe (R-ME), Ohio Congressman Steve LaTourette to name a few - people
who have principles but are willing to compromise for the greater good.
Really what this all says is that in reality, the Democrats have moved
to a Reagan-like position - more to the center-right (as a general
proposition) than ever before. Think of this - President Obama has
ordered more drone attacks than George Bush ever did; Jimmy Carter didn't drop a single bomb on anyone. Another Obama Republican is of course Defense Secretary nominee Chuck Hagel and on today's program, Gen. Powell laid out the major bullet points of Mr. Hagel's resume in support of the former Senator's nomination.
Most important of Mr. Hagel's positions is his stance on Israel and the Israeli lobby, which Gen. Powell defended. He explained that in saying 'Jewish lobby,' Mr. Hagel misspoke and that the Israeli newspaper, Haaretz has even used the phrase. The general went on to say that the former Senators support of Israel was very firm, but that it was all right to differ in opinion on some issues with the Israeli government, not exactly be in lock step all the time. As a senator, Mr. Hagel did not vote in favor of the Solidarity with Israel Act.
Here's what that Act says: Prohibits funding for the United Nations (U.N.) if the Security Council or General Assembly of the U.N. grants Palestine, the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), or the state of Palestine a change in U.N. status from a permanent observer entity before the Secretary of State certifies to Congress that a comprehensive peace agreement has been reached with Israel.
We can see why there would be objections on both sides. On the one hand, an American politician could see it as a slap in the face to Israel if Palestine gets membership into the United Nations. On the other, one could see it that we're not observing the world democracy body's decision on something so it's like we're only in favor of democracy at home, but not abroad. Or maybe Mr. Hagel disagreed with the equating the PLO with the prospective state of Palestine, something this column believes is not an equal equation. Either way, we're sure they'll ask during the hearings. But just to note, we agree with Colin Powell in that if someone says 'Jewish lobby' instead of 'Israeli lobby,' that person should not be called anti-semitic.
For Mr. Hagel's fate, Colin Powell believes that he is a very good choice for Defense Secretary and that he will indeed be confirmed. However, in his strong endorsement of Mr. Hagel, Gen. Powell did eventually indicate a point of disagreement. In discussing the resistance to military action with Iran (not necessary), Mr. Hagel is on record as not supporting sanctions on Iran due to their pursuit of a nuclear weapon. Gen. Powell said he believes sanctions are vital.
All that, along Mr. Hagel's changed views of gays in the military, to which Gen. Powell rebutted that the elimination of Don't Ask, Don't Tell is law and that as Defense Secretary, Mr. Hagel would fully implement it, make Chuck Hagel a man without a party. He's is being challenged from both the right and the left. As Andrea Mitchell pointed out, Senator Schumer (D-NY) was ambivalent about the choice which says a lot. Then on the right side, you have Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) saying it was an 'in your face' pick. Honestly though, who doesn't want to make an 'in your face' pick? On anything...
Here's the rub, Chuck Hagel may be a man without a party, but not without a country. The service that he has given this country, as the general outlined, puts him on a very distinguished short list, and maybe it is this bit of disdain from both sides that makes him a good choice. We disagree with former Governor Haley Barbour (R-MS) when he said that this cabinet is shaping up to be a staff for the president. That is to diminish the service of Mr. Hagel and Senator Kerry, which isn't justified, confirmation or not. As for the Jack Lew nomination for Treasury Secretary, Republicans don't like dealing with him because Mr. Lew knows the numbers better than they do in negotiations - of course they don't like him. Republican strategist Mike Murphy explained it as president digging in for a fight in lieu of cooperation. Whether Mr. Murphy knows it or not, he's half an Obama Republican in his rejection of the fringe right and having a willingness to compromise. Given that, you can trust that when Andrea Mitchell says women are not happy, it's spot on and the president does need to diversify his cabinet. He should have nominated Ms. Rice for Secretary of State and going forward follow Gen. Powell's advice that if you want to nominate someone, don't float it out there first, just do it and let the process begin.
Mr. Gregory even challenged the General's Republican credentials because of his votes for Barack Obama and agreeing with him on issues of defense among others. Republicans should worry however, because when the general says that during the Bush administration 'We fought the wars we felt were necessary,' you can safely say he's a Republican even though he did admit that the Iraq War wasn't executed well. That's just an awful admission, one of incompetence. And though he disagreed with Mr. Hagel's assessment of the Iraq was being a huge military blunder, that admission tacitly endorses that view. Also, there's the issue of enhanced interrogation techniques. Gen. Powell said that we are not a lawless nation and that we have to be able to defend our actions. He said that we haven't used water boarding since 2003 because he was determined that it was a form of torture. Our question would be why couldn't they have determined that before they started using it. It basically leaves it tact that we did, in the past, torture people - he confirmed it.
Lastly, with everything that the general said on guns, his bottom line stance seems to be this, which is shared by many in the service: Military people don't like military weapons in the hands of people who are not military. Soldiers train and sleep with those types of weapons in contrast to an individual walking into a Wal-mart, buying a semi-automatic and then we all have to take it on faith that that individual knows what he or she is doing with it.
As Andrea Mitchell reported during the round table, the President is going to go big with the legislation with things like reintroducing the assault weapons ban, universal background checks which includes the gun show loophole and magazine capacity limits. The President will not get all of that, probably 1 for 3 - the background checks. During the panel, there was discussion of tracking the mental ill better - the crazies as Mr. Murphy called them. It's interesting to this column that no one sees that as a slippery slope to say the least. First, the whole premise presumes that when it comes to mental health, you do not have the same right to doctor-patient priviledge as one would with say cancer treatment. We heard many stories of how war veterans feel stigmatized if they admit they have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or CTE, and this in a way reinforces that notion. Also, there's the question who deems who crazy, right? Have you ever done anyone 'crazy' in your life? Some would say that political compromise is crazy and Obama Republicans don't exist. Others would say that the whole notion of the president not being born here is crazy as well. Who makes that call?
Outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said he was returning to his walnut farm, 'a different set of nuts,' he joked. Makes you wonder.
Round Table: Newark’s Democratic Mayor Cory Booker; Fmr. Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS); GOP strategist Mike Murphy; and NBC’s Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell.
Most important of Mr. Hagel's positions is his stance on Israel and the Israeli lobby, which Gen. Powell defended. He explained that in saying 'Jewish lobby,' Mr. Hagel misspoke and that the Israeli newspaper, Haaretz has even used the phrase. The general went on to say that the former Senators support of Israel was very firm, but that it was all right to differ in opinion on some issues with the Israeli government, not exactly be in lock step all the time. As a senator, Mr. Hagel did not vote in favor of the Solidarity with Israel Act.
Here's what that Act says: Prohibits funding for the United Nations (U.N.) if the Security Council or General Assembly of the U.N. grants Palestine, the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), or the state of Palestine a change in U.N. status from a permanent observer entity before the Secretary of State certifies to Congress that a comprehensive peace agreement has been reached with Israel.
We can see why there would be objections on both sides. On the one hand, an American politician could see it as a slap in the face to Israel if Palestine gets membership into the United Nations. On the other, one could see it that we're not observing the world democracy body's decision on something so it's like we're only in favor of democracy at home, but not abroad. Or maybe Mr. Hagel disagreed with the equating the PLO with the prospective state of Palestine, something this column believes is not an equal equation. Either way, we're sure they'll ask during the hearings. But just to note, we agree with Colin Powell in that if someone says 'Jewish lobby' instead of 'Israeli lobby,' that person should not be called anti-semitic.
For Mr. Hagel's fate, Colin Powell believes that he is a very good choice for Defense Secretary and that he will indeed be confirmed. However, in his strong endorsement of Mr. Hagel, Gen. Powell did eventually indicate a point of disagreement. In discussing the resistance to military action with Iran (not necessary), Mr. Hagel is on record as not supporting sanctions on Iran due to their pursuit of a nuclear weapon. Gen. Powell said he believes sanctions are vital.
All that, along Mr. Hagel's changed views of gays in the military, to which Gen. Powell rebutted that the elimination of Don't Ask, Don't Tell is law and that as Defense Secretary, Mr. Hagel would fully implement it, make Chuck Hagel a man without a party. He's is being challenged from both the right and the left. As Andrea Mitchell pointed out, Senator Schumer (D-NY) was ambivalent about the choice which says a lot. Then on the right side, you have Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) saying it was an 'in your face' pick. Honestly though, who doesn't want to make an 'in your face' pick? On anything...
Here's the rub, Chuck Hagel may be a man without a party, but not without a country. The service that he has given this country, as the general outlined, puts him on a very distinguished short list, and maybe it is this bit of disdain from both sides that makes him a good choice. We disagree with former Governor Haley Barbour (R-MS) when he said that this cabinet is shaping up to be a staff for the president. That is to diminish the service of Mr. Hagel and Senator Kerry, which isn't justified, confirmation or not. As for the Jack Lew nomination for Treasury Secretary, Republicans don't like dealing with him because Mr. Lew knows the numbers better than they do in negotiations - of course they don't like him. Republican strategist Mike Murphy explained it as president digging in for a fight in lieu of cooperation. Whether Mr. Murphy knows it or not, he's half an Obama Republican in his rejection of the fringe right and having a willingness to compromise. Given that, you can trust that when Andrea Mitchell says women are not happy, it's spot on and the president does need to diversify his cabinet. He should have nominated Ms. Rice for Secretary of State and going forward follow Gen. Powell's advice that if you want to nominate someone, don't float it out there first, just do it and let the process begin.
Mr. Gregory even challenged the General's Republican credentials because of his votes for Barack Obama and agreeing with him on issues of defense among others. Republicans should worry however, because when the general says that during the Bush administration 'We fought the wars we felt were necessary,' you can safely say he's a Republican even though he did admit that the Iraq War wasn't executed well. That's just an awful admission, one of incompetence. And though he disagreed with Mr. Hagel's assessment of the Iraq was being a huge military blunder, that admission tacitly endorses that view. Also, there's the issue of enhanced interrogation techniques. Gen. Powell said that we are not a lawless nation and that we have to be able to defend our actions. He said that we haven't used water boarding since 2003 because he was determined that it was a form of torture. Our question would be why couldn't they have determined that before they started using it. It basically leaves it tact that we did, in the past, torture people - he confirmed it.
Lastly, with everything that the general said on guns, his bottom line stance seems to be this, which is shared by many in the service: Military people don't like military weapons in the hands of people who are not military. Soldiers train and sleep with those types of weapons in contrast to an individual walking into a Wal-mart, buying a semi-automatic and then we all have to take it on faith that that individual knows what he or she is doing with it.
As Andrea Mitchell reported during the round table, the President is going to go big with the legislation with things like reintroducing the assault weapons ban, universal background checks which includes the gun show loophole and magazine capacity limits. The President will not get all of that, probably 1 for 3 - the background checks. During the panel, there was discussion of tracking the mental ill better - the crazies as Mr. Murphy called them. It's interesting to this column that no one sees that as a slippery slope to say the least. First, the whole premise presumes that when it comes to mental health, you do not have the same right to doctor-patient priviledge as one would with say cancer treatment. We heard many stories of how war veterans feel stigmatized if they admit they have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or CTE, and this in a way reinforces that notion. Also, there's the question who deems who crazy, right? Have you ever done anyone 'crazy' in your life? Some would say that political compromise is crazy and Obama Republicans don't exist. Others would say that the whole notion of the president not being born here is crazy as well. Who makes that call?
Outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said he was returning to his walnut farm, 'a different set of nuts,' he joked. Makes you wonder.
Round Table: Newark’s Democratic Mayor Cory Booker; Fmr. Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS); GOP strategist Mike Murphy; and NBC’s Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell.
Sunday, January 06, 2013
1.6.13: The Little Successes
An usual day is upon us when it can be said that Newt Gingrich is making a lot of sense, at least when it comes to the debt ceiling. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) would not take the threat of not raising the debt ceiling off the table. As Senator-elect Angus King (I-ME) mentioned later in the program, if he had then the markets would go up two hundred points tomorrow. How, Mr. McConnell is much too seasoned to do something like that despite what Mr. Gingrich thinks. Mr. McConnell is still in Congress and Mr. Gingrich is not. First, the debt ceiling vote will happen in the House and even though Mr. McConnell had to come in and save the day for Mr. Boehner on the fiscal cliff, he won't needlessly take away any leverage that Mr. Boehner could use when dealing with the President. It he has said something like that, would people have felt better? Sure, but it's not smart politically which means that Mr. McConnell would never go there. Mr. Gregory pressed him on it to no avail.
The message that Mr. McConnell wanted to send this morning is that the United States spends too much, almost 25% of GDP he mentioned. According to Real Clear Markets it's at 25.3%. Whether explicitly stated or not, and most did, everyone on the today's program agreed that the United States does spend too much. If anything came out of the Simpson-Bowles interview, it was that they agreed with Mr. McConnell that this is the case most emphatically. Mr. Bowles agreed with the Senator that means testing and eligibility age should be part of curtailing Medicare costs. This column agrees with the former, but not the latter. For means testing, why give someone benefits that they do not use that we understand. However, raising the eligibility age keeps people on private insurance for two more years, which would increase the costs to insurance companies, hence increasing rates - disproportionately to the costs saved on the other side. But at least, some concrete thoughts were put on the table unlike on the subject of tax loopholes, to which Republicans will not specify what to close. And speaking of the table, everyone seems to use that phrase but until defense spending is seriously on the table then the statement is a false on. When Ms. Fiorina, during the roundtable, mentions the simple facts, she doesn't even have the inclination in mind to mention defense spending.
The other tactic that Mr. McConnell didn't rule out, when mentioned, was a partial government shutdown. What would that look like? We would presume that House Republicans would suspend business while the Democratically-controlled Senate and the Executive would still function. However, nothing would get done as nothing would be able to be brought to a vote. This is essentially the 'it's-my-ball-and-I-don't-like-the-game-so-I'm-going-home' strategy. And in this case, Mr. Gingrich was incorrect. His government shutdown, during his speakership, didn't work... for Republicans that is. It worked for President Clinton as it will for President Obama if the Republicans were to be so foolish. Republicans seem to be a bit tone deaf when it comes to what the American public says about the job they're doing in the House, but a partial shutdown would make them look even more foolishly ineffective than they have been.
The 113th Congress vs. the 112th? "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss" is how the line goes and a partial shutdown would not change that. But Mr. McConnell seems to believe that it's a shame that this is the only leverage they have. However, it isn't because as he said, he feels that revenue is now completely off the table.
The President will seek to further increase revenue (see: loopholes) when they start debating tax reform. Given what the two sides are continually going for, revenue increases and spending cuts respectively, it will not be a revenue neutral deal as Mr. McConnell said. The one fumble that Mr. McConnell made today was in his response on this latest fiscal cliff deal, in which he said there was no tax increase. There was for the top one percent. It's not that he's just ignoring the fact of the matter, but his sophomoric response saying that because the President of Americans for Tax Reform, Grover Norquist, said it wasn't a tax increase, then it wasn't. Give us a break.
What also drew distinct frustration today was the fact that Mr. Simpson and Mr. Bowles both said that the government couldn't get the difficult stuff done, and it was only minor relief when E.J. Dionne later countered it by saying that the tax rate increase was in fact difficult. It was the first one the Republicans have voted for in over 20 years... that's how easy it was to get done. However, the frustration resides in constant, pointless back and back forth to the brink that keeps stalling the economy. Having this fight every three months is exhausting and exasperating to say the least, which speaks to Senator-elect King's point is that the overall structural problem is that the American people have lost confidence in the government to get anything done.
Even though the President isn't blameless, he has made concessions and the contention from Ms. Fiorina that he hasn't lead, and that this is the biggest problem is ridiculous. The President to his credit, has proposed some major concessions in the grand bargain and Republicans rejected it. Does the President campaign too much when he doesn't have to, absolutely. But he has to do this because all he has is to take his case to the American people with whom he has built trust. Where he hasn't built the trust is with his colleagues. And to be frank, it's too late for him to start building those relationships. And then there's the other notion that why should he have had built those relationships given the animosity and the intransience from Republicans.
Round Table: Freshman Senator from Maine Angus King (I-ME), former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-GA), Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA), former head of HP and Vice Chair of the NRSC Carly Fiorina, and Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne.
The message that Mr. McConnell wanted to send this morning is that the United States spends too much, almost 25% of GDP he mentioned. According to Real Clear Markets it's at 25.3%. Whether explicitly stated or not, and most did, everyone on the today's program agreed that the United States does spend too much. If anything came out of the Simpson-Bowles interview, it was that they agreed with Mr. McConnell that this is the case most emphatically. Mr. Bowles agreed with the Senator that means testing and eligibility age should be part of curtailing Medicare costs. This column agrees with the former, but not the latter. For means testing, why give someone benefits that they do not use that we understand. However, raising the eligibility age keeps people on private insurance for two more years, which would increase the costs to insurance companies, hence increasing rates - disproportionately to the costs saved on the other side. But at least, some concrete thoughts were put on the table unlike on the subject of tax loopholes, to which Republicans will not specify what to close. And speaking of the table, everyone seems to use that phrase but until defense spending is seriously on the table then the statement is a false on. When Ms. Fiorina, during the roundtable, mentions the simple facts, she doesn't even have the inclination in mind to mention defense spending.
The other tactic that Mr. McConnell didn't rule out, when mentioned, was a partial government shutdown. What would that look like? We would presume that House Republicans would suspend business while the Democratically-controlled Senate and the Executive would still function. However, nothing would get done as nothing would be able to be brought to a vote. This is essentially the 'it's-my-ball-and-I-don't-like-the-game-so-I'm-going-home' strategy. And in this case, Mr. Gingrich was incorrect. His government shutdown, during his speakership, didn't work... for Republicans that is. It worked for President Clinton as it will for President Obama if the Republicans were to be so foolish. Republicans seem to be a bit tone deaf when it comes to what the American public says about the job they're doing in the House, but a partial shutdown would make them look even more foolishly ineffective than they have been.
The 113th Congress vs. the 112th? "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss" is how the line goes and a partial shutdown would not change that. But Mr. McConnell seems to believe that it's a shame that this is the only leverage they have. However, it isn't because as he said, he feels that revenue is now completely off the table.
The President will seek to further increase revenue (see: loopholes) when they start debating tax reform. Given what the two sides are continually going for, revenue increases and spending cuts respectively, it will not be a revenue neutral deal as Mr. McConnell said. The one fumble that Mr. McConnell made today was in his response on this latest fiscal cliff deal, in which he said there was no tax increase. There was for the top one percent. It's not that he's just ignoring the fact of the matter, but his sophomoric response saying that because the President of Americans for Tax Reform, Grover Norquist, said it wasn't a tax increase, then it wasn't. Give us a break.
What also drew distinct frustration today was the fact that Mr. Simpson and Mr. Bowles both said that the government couldn't get the difficult stuff done, and it was only minor relief when E.J. Dionne later countered it by saying that the tax rate increase was in fact difficult. It was the first one the Republicans have voted for in over 20 years... that's how easy it was to get done. However, the frustration resides in constant, pointless back and back forth to the brink that keeps stalling the economy. Having this fight every three months is exhausting and exasperating to say the least, which speaks to Senator-elect King's point is that the overall structural problem is that the American people have lost confidence in the government to get anything done.
On each, here are two examples signaled by Senator McConnell. The animosity for the President runs so deep that when he nominates Chuck Hagel, a former Republican Senator, current conservative politicians don't like the pick. Why? Because President Barack Obama was the one who did the nominating. And even worse is the intransience, which will be the order on how to proceed for Republicans when it comes to new gun regulations. Mr. McConnell said that he didn't want to comment until he saw the vice-president's committee's recommendations. This is to say that the Republican party will not be proactive in the debate and only say what they are not willing to do in the face of the Administration's ideas.
The concept of 'little successes building up to a big good,' which has happened in Congress recently believe it or not is the optimistic notion that you can take away from today's program. What would be helpful is that instead of congressional Republicans only saying that the president needs to lead, they should try and propose something that give a little consideration of the other side. That little something would be huge.
Round Table: Freshman Senator from Maine Angus King (I-ME), former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-GA), Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA), former head of HP and Vice Chair of the NRSC Carly Fiorina, and Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne.
12.30.12: President Barack Obama Interview
In the President's interview, of course the most immediate question is whether we're going off the so-called fiscal cliff and even though Mr. Obama can not say the words 'I don't know,' but his answer sure indicated as much. Chuck Todd observed, suggesting that we go over, that the President showed no sense of urgency, not making the next, at this point, 24 hours 'do or die.' In his interview, Mr. Obama outlined quite simply what measures would be taken if we do go post the deadline. Ultimately, the Senate Democrats would have to introduce a bill that would cut taxes for 98% of Americans and then in essence dare the Republicans to block it.
In a previous column, we said that we were optimistic, but at this late hour, we not so sure. At the top of the program, Mr. Gregory did report that Congress was going to reconvene today for a special Sunday session. But let's face it, Republicans are acting stupidly, David Brooks called it 'shambolic,' but they're not being shrewd in any sense. Granted, the consensus of the roundtable is that the President has no inside game when it comes to cajoling congressmen, and using the leverage [read: opulence] of the White House itself to get votes. However, later in the program, Doris Kearns-Goodwin said that the President had to get out in front of the people more to educate them about gun laws. They way they make it sound sometimes - he's got no inside game; he doesn't get out enough - give it a rest a bit - he was elected President... twice.
But the infighting amongst Republicans is rendering themselves unable to negotiate. The leadership can't make a deal that the rank and file will accept and the pragmatists are continually under threat of a primary challenge if they compromise in any way with the Democrats. Jon Meachum, in reference to the gun lobby, described two sides as the well organized lobby versus the common sense, but unorganized general public. But these are the sides on practically every issue, and the republicans, though unorganized themselves blindly are following the small, but organized powerful lobby.
But what about the President? Mr. Gregory noted that it has been widely reported that Republicans can not particularly say 'yes' to this President. Just look back to the healthcare fight and the ugliness that was illustrated by the Tea Party then - the fascist, socialist, otherness rhetoric. There is enough of the Tea Party left, the 'faction' that the President referred to them blaming them for the impasses that we face, in Congress that enable such absolutism of you're either with us or against us mentality. Remember, John Boehner's 'Plan B' was essentially to raise the individual tax rates for people earning over $1 million, and the Tea Party didn't give him the votes.
In outlining his priorities in a second term, at the top of the President's list was immigration, followed by economic stabilization, then infrastructure and energy. And then he took time to reiterate that his first, most immediate priority was to make sure that taxes didn't go up for the middle class. However, Mr. Gregory stepped right over those to go to gun control, referenced earlier.
Mr. Obama said he was 'skeptical' about more guns in schools, and it is in our informed opinion that teachers - civilians - should not carry guns in school. Surely, the students will learn which teachers are carrying guns, which can only contribute to a deterioration of trust between teacher and pupil. And then there's the whole scenario of a bigger, stronger student taking the gun away from a teacher and then using it. How does a policeman get to that situation in time to stop it? That is not to say that having a police officer in the school is a bad thing. It does make students and adults alike in the school think twice about doing anything illegal - drugs, guns, inappropriate behavior even.
But to say that banning assault weapons or at the very least high capacity clips wouldn't help, we would say that it wouldn't hurt. Decreasing the number of assault type weapons in our society to decrease gun violence, just seems like a common sense idea. There is a compromise there for sure - we'll let you have the assault weapon, but not the high-capacity clip - but how do you as the President go back to the families of the Sandy Hook and say we've reached a compromise? How does an official from the NRA or the Republican Party go there and say the ban is not necessary. And the answer is you don't.
Round Table: NBC’s Tom Brokaw; historians Jon Meacham and Doris Kearns Goodwin; the New York Times’ David Brooks; and NBC’s Chuck Todd.
In a previous column, we said that we were optimistic, but at this late hour, we not so sure. At the top of the program, Mr. Gregory did report that Congress was going to reconvene today for a special Sunday session. But let's face it, Republicans are acting stupidly, David Brooks called it 'shambolic,' but they're not being shrewd in any sense. Granted, the consensus of the roundtable is that the President has no inside game when it comes to cajoling congressmen, and using the leverage [read: opulence] of the White House itself to get votes. However, later in the program, Doris Kearns-Goodwin said that the President had to get out in front of the people more to educate them about gun laws. They way they make it sound sometimes - he's got no inside game; he doesn't get out enough - give it a rest a bit - he was elected President... twice.
But the infighting amongst Republicans is rendering themselves unable to negotiate. The leadership can't make a deal that the rank and file will accept and the pragmatists are continually under threat of a primary challenge if they compromise in any way with the Democrats. Jon Meachum, in reference to the gun lobby, described two sides as the well organized lobby versus the common sense, but unorganized general public. But these are the sides on practically every issue, and the republicans, though unorganized themselves blindly are following the small, but organized powerful lobby.
But what about the President? Mr. Gregory noted that it has been widely reported that Republicans can not particularly say 'yes' to this President. Just look back to the healthcare fight and the ugliness that was illustrated by the Tea Party then - the fascist, socialist, otherness rhetoric. There is enough of the Tea Party left, the 'faction' that the President referred to them blaming them for the impasses that we face, in Congress that enable such absolutism of you're either with us or against us mentality. Remember, John Boehner's 'Plan B' was essentially to raise the individual tax rates for people earning over $1 million, and the Tea Party didn't give him the votes.
In outlining his priorities in a second term, at the top of the President's list was immigration, followed by economic stabilization, then infrastructure and energy. And then he took time to reiterate that his first, most immediate priority was to make sure that taxes didn't go up for the middle class. However, Mr. Gregory stepped right over those to go to gun control, referenced earlier.
Mr. Obama said he was 'skeptical' about more guns in schools, and it is in our informed opinion that teachers - civilians - should not carry guns in school. Surely, the students will learn which teachers are carrying guns, which can only contribute to a deterioration of trust between teacher and pupil. And then there's the whole scenario of a bigger, stronger student taking the gun away from a teacher and then using it. How does a policeman get to that situation in time to stop it? That is not to say that having a police officer in the school is a bad thing. It does make students and adults alike in the school think twice about doing anything illegal - drugs, guns, inappropriate behavior even.
But to say that banning assault weapons or at the very least high capacity clips wouldn't help, we would say that it wouldn't hurt. Decreasing the number of assault type weapons in our society to decrease gun violence, just seems like a common sense idea. There is a compromise there for sure - we'll let you have the assault weapon, but not the high-capacity clip - but how do you as the President go back to the families of the Sandy Hook and say we've reached a compromise? How does an official from the NRA or the Republican Party go there and say the ban is not necessary. And the answer is you don't.
Round Table: NBC’s Tom Brokaw; historians Jon Meacham and Doris Kearns Goodwin; the New York Times’ David Brooks; and NBC’s Chuck Todd.
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