Month: August 2011

They all show heavy majorities (most in the mid-60s) in favor of raising taxes on the wealthy as part of a deficit reduction plan. Yet this is the one issue on which Republicans seem determined to take a stand. If the Democrats cannot marshall 2 – 1 support for their policies into actual legislation, they really need to pack it in as a viable party (although one could argue they packed it in years ago).

Hillary Clinton joins forces with North Korea and Iran, and only the NRA is able to resist:

Eli Lehrer explains why approval rating "floors" matter much more than ceilings – and Obama’s lows are currently "higher than those for any President since Kennedy":

Right after 9/11, when President Bush gave some excellent, inspiring speeches and promised resolute response to terrorist attacks, many people who think very little of his policies voiced their approval for him in a time of crisis. He had a 92 percent approval rating at the time. Nonetheless, nearly half of the country voted against him three years later. The ceiling on a president’s approval rating, in short, doesn’t matter much since many of the people expressing “approval” won’t actually vote for the President. …

A president’s approval rating "floor" on the other hand, does seem to reflect something real: the number of people who will stick with the President's policies even in very tough times. … For Obama, a 41 percent "floor" this means that he only needs to attract roughly 10 percent of the population to support him over his opponent since at least 41 percent of voters (and probably more than that) will likely select his name no matter. This won’t be easy. But it is yet another reason that Obama faces pretty good odds of winning a second term in office.

Ponnuru is on the same page.

In July the generic Republican was beating Obama by a whopping 47 – 39 percent in the Gallup poll. A month later, the numbers are reversed, with Obama winning 45 – 39. Why, given liberal unrest, conservative contempt and a string of rotten news stories, especially on the economy? I'd say the debt ceiling debacle. People know who nearly destroyed the economy because they refused to compromise on ideology over the debt. And they don't want to bring that kind of recklessness back to the White House.

– Fox News commentator Megyn Kelly. Transcript:

Kelly: What a moronic thing to say […] Is maternity leave, according to you, a racket?

Gallagher: Well, do men get maternity leave? I can’t believe I’m asking you this, because you’re just going to kill me.

Kelly: Guess what, honey? Yes, they do. It’s called the Family Medical Leave Act. […] I want you to know that the United States is the only country in the advanced world that doesn’t require paid maternity leave. Now I happen to work for a nice employer that gave me paid leave. But the United States is the only advanced country that doesn’t require paid leave. If anything, the United States is in the Dark Ages when it comes to maternity leave.

Odd to hear a presenter on Fox defend the importance of maternity leave, but I'm sure many conservative women feel the same way about the boorishness of some on the far right. Odder still to hear a Fox presenter praise a signature Clinton administration achievement. And fascinating to hear about the importance of maternity leave for "bonding and recovery."

After allegedly giving birth to a child with special needs, Sarah Palin took two days off.

“It’s like saying this glass of water is a glass of beer. Well, you can call it a glass of beer, but it’s not a glass of beer. It’s a glass of water. And water is what water is. Marriage is what marriage is,” – Rick Santorum, making the only argument left for the anti-marriage equality cause.

Except it isn't an argument.

Michael Medved checks in on the demographic that helped propel Obama to the presidency:

Considering the strident, hyperpartisan polarization in Washington, it may come as a shock that more than one out of five Americans who use the word “conservative” to define their ideology still think Obama does a fine job as president. Who are these conservative Obama lovers? The answer to that question points toward the second revelation that helps explain how an unequivocally liberal president maintains a chance to prevail in an increasingly conservative nation. The voters who support Obama in spite of ideology are to a great extent black, Hispanic, and Asian conservatives who feel drawn to right-wing ideas but remain allergic to the Republican Party.

Medved is right on the numbers, but surely still in denial about the reason:

Part of this unease stems from multigenerational family traditions, or from the GOP’s longstanding reputation as a closed country club welcoming only elderly, white, Christian males, or from cynical Democratic efforts to suggest that any criticism of Obama proves the presence of deep-seated Republican racism.

And the rhetoric about illegal immigrants, "anchor babies," and Arizona style laws for Hispanics?

And comments like Haley Barbour's that segregation was no big deal? And the actual demonstrations of racist imagery and rhetoric from many Tea Party rallies (almost entirely white)? And the repeal of the health care law, backed by Hispanics in vast numbers? And the unrelenting contempt for gay people and our families? Could these have something to do with it? And could the definition of "conservative" be different for different people?

My definition of conservative is a live-and-let-live, debt-phobic, small government pragmatism, with a strong but prudent defense policy. The current GOP's definition is a fundamentalist Christian, anti-government, war-making, torture-endorsing nationalism. Maybe the new brand has lost some of its lure – especially among minorities, and anyone with a gay family member or friend. Maybe Michael could imagine how some of us gays can be conservative too.

“I think [Perry] will put Romney in the microwave and turn it up to high. Romney’s been avoiding the heat so far, but not when Perry gets in,” – Mark McKinnon in an interesting piece by Dan Balz.

I find it fascinating that the youngest and brownest of the Bush scions has now endorsed Huntsman. Perry is no George W. He is far further to the right. That's why one senses he could win this, unless Palin gets in the race. Given their ideological, stylistic and theocratic closeness, she would certainly be a permanent campaign fixture for him. And he is a perfect fit for the current GOP:

“Bush by nature, in Texas, wanted to be a conciliator,” said one Texas strategist, who requested anonymity to give a candid assessment of Perry. “I think he wanted to be somewhat bipartisan. I don’t think Perry’s particularly interested in those things. I don’t think he’s afraid to be partisan. I don’t think he’s afraid to be tough and mean when he has to.”

For these reasons, Perry would be toast in a fairly normal economy. But what we now know is that this will be an election in hard times, with populism and resentment and religious fundamentalism on the rise everywhere. My hunch is that in a Perry-Obama match, Obama would wipe the floor among Independents and those who remember the last president from Texas. But the wild card of recession makes me leery of any conviction about this.

(Photo: Texas Gov. Rick Perry (L) speaks on stage alongside Rev. C.L. Jackson, of Houston's Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church (C) and Alice Patterson, Texas State Coordinator for The Response USA at the non-denominational prayer and fasting event, entitled 'The Response' at Reliant Stadium August 6, 2011 in Houston, Texas. Thousands attended the event organized by Gov. Rick Perry in order to pray for God to help save 'a nation in crisis' referring to America. By Brandon Thibodeaux/Getty)

The Onion has the latest.

Blair Scott, a spokesman for the American Atheists, Inc., was subjected to over 8,000 death threats and other violent rhetoric after appearing on Fox News. Some examples:

And they say my refusal to call these people Christians is offensive.