Another week has gone by peeps. I, again, feel the need to inject my opinion and viewpoints into the past weeks hottest events (remember, only you can make me stop...I suddenly feel like Smokey the Bear). It was just about a year ago when I watched then Dem. Candidate Obama declare in a televised debate that it was Silly Season in politics. Well, after waiting diligently for a year: It's BAAAaaack! Grab the popcorn (really, I'm from Orville Redenbacher's home state and we need some serious love) and enjoy the review. Perhaps, since it's silly season you would prefer some ice cream.
This week I will focus on Sports, Law, the economy, and Politics (not necessarily in that order).
Sports.
Not much of a general sports fan but I do love me some football. Kicking the week off early the Superbowl has come and gone and what are the odds, two great games two years in a row? Not having a dog in this race (as I rarely do, my team almost never makes it in...Bear Down!) I wasn't too invested in the outcome. Over the years I've come to view the 'bowl as more of an obligation then a desire. But the past two games are slowly changing my opinion. Here's to the Steelers 27-23 last minute win. All you Steeler fans, let's keep PA Blue! Condolences to the Cardinals fans but I can't help wondering if your state went Blue last Nov., well....let's just say things might have been different.
In a way the Superbowl was the perfect kickoff to Silly Season.
Law.
Now, I ain't much of a lawyer (thank God) but I do know that WineRev is back from FL. What does this have to do about Law? Nothing. But it does have everything to do with some of the best analysis/coverage of the Coleman v. Franken lawsuit. I have to admit: I couldn't have given a tin shit in a brass crapper about the details of the proceedings as long as there was D-59 in the Senate. A week ago I started reading WineRev's Diaries and I've been sucked in. I can't pimp him enough. Read the Diaries, you'll thank me. But I do have a bone to pick. As soon as I started reading his summaries, he goes on VACATION...to FLORIDA...in the middle of WINTER...to visit, of all people, his MOTHER! I think someone in this community needs to consult me before thier next vacation.
Anyway, Silly Season continues in this case just today. It seems Coleman wants to count votes that he himself rejected back in December. I thought that for a brief moment, at the end of last week, Coleman's legal team was starting to get it's act together. I guess not.
But here's my two cents: elections decided by courts are scary to me. I don't think I'll have much opposition on this idea, but this contest seems to have two faces. On the one, it seems the judges are allowing Coleman's team to just muck around court making fools of themselves without much legal precedent and the far too often contradiction. On the other, I think the Judges have Minnesotan's best interest in mind. They need representation in the Senate, and though this has drawn on far too long in my opinion, I think it will quash any appeal attempts by Coleman. He's getting more than his fair day in court, and to date it's netted him three votes. I just hope this plays out like I think it will: Franken victory.
Oh, and here's a hat tip two to Americans I can get behind when in comes to Law: Eric Holder at the DOJ and soon to be Norman Pinetta at the CIA. Make us proud boys!
Economy/Politics.
Welcome to Silly Season. Here we go. I heard Rep. Dave Camp, who had an interview on NPR last week, go on and on about how there weren't enough tax cuts in the stimulus. In the VERY NEXT SENTANCE he said tax rebates for low income people who pay little to no taxes should be taken out of the bill (sorry, couldn't find a link). Dave, this is America calling, I'm Chauncey phoning it in: You're Silly. Especially since the people he represents are overwhelming middle-, low-middle-, poor-classs people in MI (and I guess stupid).
I know this was last week, but I still can't get over it: Not a single Republican voted for the stimulus in the House. Republicans, this is America calling, I'm Chauncey phoning it in: You're Silly.
You want Silly? I'll see you and raise a Krusty: The Senate. Oh, John McCain my old..old....old friend (Ha! that was awesome you should try it!), an entire bill on tax cuts. I'll say this about him, you gotta love his gusto for a guy his age.
And then Lindsey Graham crying about how he's not getting enough love from the President (we call him Barack, I call you Senator Pee-Pants).
It is really unbelievable. It seems like one Republican can't let another Republican out-do them. If you're silly...I'm sillier, if you're crazy...I'm bat-shit crazy, if you're insane...I'm a fucking molotov-cocktail to the brain! I have not heard one single Republican idea that doesn't involve tax cuts. I haven't heard one substantive Republican discussion on how to get us out of this crisis. Have you? Enlighten me!
It's not that they're not a party of ideas, it's that they're a party of old ideas. It seems to me that they are a party that is desperately grasping to the past while the rest of the world boldly charges forward. They are a party that has become so entrenched in its own ideology, that they can't change. No. That is wrong. They can't accept reality. And although I'm writing the week in review in 2009, I might as well be writing it in 1933. We have seen this playbook before, we know how to get back on top, why won't the GOP accept it? It boggles the mind and it is just plain Silly.
Now, my favorite part: Our President. Just when I think Our President isn't doing enough he surprises me he gives me something like this. I know most all of you have seen this, but this is some (not all) of the Populist Rant I want more of. Our President talks not about the hopes and dreams of his Party, or other Democrats, he talks about Our hopes and dreams, and how he can help them come true. When is last time you had a President who stood behind a podium and spoke like that? For me, never. And it gives me great excitement to witness it in my lifetime.
Finally, jackets in the Oval Office? Really? This is the best you've got? Then goodbye Karl Rove, I'll never miss you.
Have a GREAT WEEK! And enjoy Silly Season while it lasts.