×
- Today's spectator sport, in the absence of any actual news to report on, seems to be divining the "meaning" of the Massachusetts special election. Well, I'll tell you. It means Democrats retain 60 seats in the U.S. Senate or Republicans gain one seat. If the latter scenario, then House Democrats will either pass the Senate health-care reform bill as-is and try to make changes later through the budget reconciliation process, or the bill will be killed by Democrats -- not Scott Brown -- who think passing this legislation will weaken them in the midterms. I don't know why they would believe that they came to Washington to not pass legislation their party campaigned on, but if they do, then they do not deserve to be in power.
- Annie Lowrey brings the 'ol statistics to bear on our broken political institutions: "one year into the Bush administration, there were 70 appointees awaiting confirmation. One year into the Obama administration, there are 177." That would be the result of the cowardly Senate hold, which elevates the temper tantrum to the level of high parliamentary tradition. And as Ezra Klein observes, it also prevents executive branch accountability -- Obama can't fire anybody because he can't be guaranteed a replacement will get a speedy hearing.
- Regardless of what the Senate picture looks like tomorrow, the White House is shifting to a more defiant and confrontational stance, according to a Politico piece, one which is "the boldest rhetorical route, which is to go out and fight and let the chips fall where they may. We can say, ‘At least we fought for these things, and the Republicans said no.’" I guess I'll believe it when I see it. That being said, Jeff Greenfield's question is a good one: "Put bluntly, who's afraid of Barack Obama? Who in the political arena frets over what might happen if he or she crosses the president?"
- Remainders: Olympia Snowe is not, repeat, not trustworthy, and considering her a "plan C" option is foolery; John Yoo explains how his former boss governed in the tradition of George Washington; Harold Ford wants his quixotic would-be Senate bid to be about the issues, especially those he cares not to talk about; The Washington Post is a very troubled publication; and will we ever be spared these sophisticated debates by our media elites over what constitutes a "real American?"
--Mori Dinauer
