Missed this Beauty

As everyone knows, there is a huge debate in the lame duck session of Congress about the sunset provision of the Bush Administration's tax cuts from 2001, which are mainly for individual and estate taxes, and 2003 tax cuts for corporations. If I recall from the Clinton years, we had higher rates for everyone, and everyone made money or lived decently. I was one of them who struggled, but my tax rate was not that high to begin with. We had a balanced budget, although I was very unhapppy how welfare mothers were treated. On the other hand, poverty and unemployment were not as great as they are today.

Rep Alan Grayson, who lost his Congressional re-election nearly 3 weeks ago, still has conviction and courage to stand up against the Wingnut machine. I missed this speech the other day, but noticed links to it on various blogs, including Taylor Marsh's which is where I finally saw the entire clip. It is classic.



I wish the Obama Administration would hire this man, but I think Alan Grayson is not enough centrist for them. They don't like anyone defending their progress directly, especially good Democrats. Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann try, but I think even they will get fatigued at some point.

Taylor Marsh has some serious criticisms of this Administration, especially on the weak messaging issues. More often these days, I find myself agreeing with Taylor's strong opinions. The only reason that I don't have her site on my blogroll is that her readers still keep pining for Hillary Clinton and how Hillary would have made a better president. I don't she would have as I think she would have moved to a more centrist position, albeit she would have worked on keeping her message consistent. While John Edwards was let go by this blogger sometime ago, I keep thinking Alan Grayson reminds me so much of what an Edwards Democrat would want for this country to get it out of the ditch.

Teh Bayh-Bye

As just about all BW readers know, Sen Evan Bayh (Dino-Indiana) has called it quits after this year. Lots of speculation about the timing as much as why one has $13M in coffers, has won solidly twice, and waited until nearly the filing deadline.

Well, I'm one of those who isn't going to say good-bye to Bayh as I think he will be back, but maybe for a run in 2016 (which presumes--and I use that term carefully--Obama wins re-election). He's also betting that the left will leave him alone once he leaves.

In order not to pile on all of the negatives, I will say something positive about his decision: I've often thought we had too many career politicians, and yes, including Teddy Kennedy, as well as John Murtha, who is being buried in PA as I type this post. Both were good patriots, but many times, they weren't able to get the job done.

My point being (and at the risk of sounding almost libertarian) is that campaign finance reform won't happen. The SCOTUS made sure of that. Lobbyists will continue to take up more jobs in DC and our voices cannot be heard above the loud music played on K street. So, what is the alternative? Term limits --3 for the House, 2 for the Senate--in order to get rid of the asinine chairmanships that keep Joe Lieberman in charge when he should have been kicked out of the Democratic Caucus years ago.

Evan Bayh may be a career politician too. But yesterday, he activated a self-imposed term limit. That's a good thing.

Teddy RIP

Tonight, a very unusual thing happened: a teabagger campaigned and won Teddy Kennedy's seat in a special election in MA.

Unbelievable. I'm not going to point fingers, but I will point out complacency and entitlement of this campaign--indicative of what the voters probably feel about Congress. Kos at DK seems to have a similar thought of my quick take.

Peter Daou opines: Liberal Bloggers to Dems: We Told You So.

However, there seems to be some in-fighting w/in the MA Dem Party in some circles.

Update (h/t DK): this is not so cool by Obama to tell the world he called newly-elect Senator Brown in congratulating him. I know, Obama thinks he can charm him, but I suggest otherwise; Brown is owned by the teabaggers' message which is "We hate government and therefore anything you stand for, except for helping Wall Streeters."

And apparently, newly-elect Senator Brown doesn't mind using his new status as Senator-elect to solicit dates for his "available" daughters. Real classy.

Michael Moore is a Hoot-tooting Democrat

Larry King is interviewing Michael Moore at the Timber Lanes Bowling Alley in Traverse City, MI. A bunch of UAW workers are wearing T-shirts that say "Bowlers for Obama" and are bowling their frames behind him.

Good line about polls about some folks who said they wouldn't vote for Obama because he's African-American. Michael Moore: Who are these Americans? Are they Christians? Which century was this poll taken in?

Classic Michael Moore on teaching Republicans who the real populists are.

For clips of the interview, go to the DU.

More l8tr...

Endorsing Obama-Biden: The Change of Partnership

As BW readers can tell, I am effusive about the pick of Joe Biden to Obama's ticket.

I called my momma, the dyed-in-wool-Democrat, who had many doubts about Obama as I did. Especially since Obama had voted more than 130 times "present" while in the Illinois legislature and I didn't know his positions since when he ran against a wingnut carpetbagger, I didn't get to hear what his positions were on many issues . I couldn't understand why Planned Parenthood thought Obama was fine on their issues. And I still don't.

Obama is a very, very cautious politician. Too cautious to be a leader, so I thought. Until yesterday.

Joe Biden is not the best orator. I remember he had to follow JRE at the Harkin Steak Fry as the last candidate, and to be truthful, I felt sorry for him. It was 4:00 and most folks wanted to get home before dark. But he still spoke from his heart. I think Obama probably thought that was endearing.

So, Obama did go for change: someone to be his real partner, someone who could help define (besides JRE) why Washington is broken. Someone who has tried to fix it and couldn't, but decided new blood transfusion might revive our country. And Biden is the surgeon to do it.

I'm endorsing an Obama-Biden partnership for our country today. And it is the right change, if Obama sticks to his word about it (he tends to throw many under the bus). I will hold a President Obama accountable for it.

Here's a note I sent to his campaign yesterday:

Dear Senators Obama and Biden:

Yesterday was the most remarkable day in the life of a John Edwards supporter. I hold John and Elizabeth Edwards deeply in my heart as they go through some trials that will make them stronger in the long run, as Senator Obama expressed about Senator Biden in his tragedy before he was sworn into the Senate.
I ask sincerely that just because the Edwardses are in their own media ridden challenges not to lay aside the poverty and health care issues to be in front that Senator Obama promised to Senator and Mrs. Edwards. Those promises should be honored.

Senator Biden brings so many strengths to this ticket. I feel comfortable about voting for a ticket, and to me, it should sold as a partnership as Senator Obama brought up yesterday. Please do not allow Senator McCain to define a small gaffe, in which Senator Obama is accustomed to hearing from someone else "the next President of the US"; Senator Obama' excitement was about the partnership and the readiness of the team.

I just donated for the first time to this campaign, albeit is a small one and that's what I can afford. And I'm fired up, ready to go with posting any Youtubes or classic zingers that I heard and continue to hear from Senator Biden. Finally, I have belief that in addition to your healthy egos, there is a sense of purpose in getting things done for the people of America. My challenge to you is to figure out the timing of the bold changes, particularly in health care, for our citizens.

And Senators, I think both of your best advisors are "drop-healthy" gorgeous: Future First Lady Michelle Obama, and Jill Biden, the Future First Lady of Observatory Drive.

Sincerely yours,
Benny

Update: I just got this message from Joe Biden to display this video:



Fired up, ready to go for the change we want to see. Joe-bama, O-Biden. Works for me. It works for my momma, as she is now ready to support this ticket. And she is 77 years old. She knows that McCain (and his many houses) doesn't give a damn about her social security.

The pic is borrowed from Kossack AAbashier, whom I met at YK07 last year, and a good Democrat. He and Mrs. AAbashier are emergency veterinarians who rescue pets.

Hillary Clinton and I Agree on Joe Biden

“In naming my colleague and friend Joe Biden to be the vice presidential nominee, Barack Obama has continued in the best traditions for the vice presidency by selecting an exceptionally strong, experienced leader and devoted public servant. Senator Biden will be a purposeful and dynamic vice president who will help Senator Obama both win the presidency and govern this great country.”

from The Page blog at Time Magazine.

Thank you, Senator Clinton. Your personal stock just went up with this blogger. Go knock a few out of the ballpark while at the DNC in Denver.

Update: A Great Soldier, Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Passed Away

Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio — a Democratic superdelegate and one of Hillary Clinton's most ardent supporters — is in critical condition at a Cleveland Hospital. She has been taken off life support and not expected to make it.

Update: Congresswoman Tubbs-Jones passed away a hour ago. So sad.

Clinic spokeswoman Eileen Sheil says Tubbs Jones died at 6:12 p.m. Wednesday after suffering a brain hemorrhage caused by an aneurysm that burst and left her with limited brain function.

She suffered the hemorrhage while driving her car in her east side district Tuesday evening. Source: AP via Yahoo!

A bit about her: The 58-year-old Tubbs-Jones was the first black woman to represent Ohio in Congress and a strong critic of the Iraq war. Her first term was in 1999.

Before becoming a member of Congress, Tubbs Jones was elected a judge of the Cleveland Municipal Court in 1981, and subsequently served on the Court of Common Pleas of Cuyahoga County from 1983 to 1991.

In 1990, she ran for Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio replacing Mary Cacioppo, the winner of the Democratic Primary, who withdrew for health reasons. She narrowly lost that race to Republican incumbent J. Craig Wright.

She then served as the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor from 1991 until resigning in early 1999 to take her seat in Congress.

On December 19, 2006, Tubbs Jones was named Chairwoman of the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct for the 110th Congress. She was also a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Tubbs-Jones didn't go gently into that good night last night. She fought as she could, just as she did in her life. I enjoyed her on C-SPAN each time she was on the show, and she was a beacon of hope who possessed a bit of pragmatism.

More l8tr about this great lady and member of Congress.