It looks like it might happen. In ten days - if present trends continue - we just might be looking at the dawn of four years (EIGHT YEARS???) of the age of Romney/Ryan. It would appear that the people of this doomed nation (or the ones who vote anyway) were sound asleep during the years 2001-2009. I've been bracing myself all week for this possibility. Give me a bushel of nasty-tasting lemons and I'll whip you up a couple of pitchers of the juiciest, sweetest-tasting lemonade you've ever tasted. For someone like me, the very idea of Mitt Romney in the White House is irresistible - all of those delectable morsels of unintentional comedy offered up for the taking on a silver platter! For those of us who make our names chronicling the utter catastrophe of American politics, this is something to look forward to indeed.
Then there is the schadenfreude aspect. There will no doubt be a certain element of shameful glee on my part witnessing the people who choose once again to go down this idiotic road getting everything they deserve. I know more-than-a-few people who were economically pulverized during the reign of George W. Bush, who plan on voting for Mitt Romney on November the sixth. It really is an amusing thing to behold. Some people just aren't very careful about what they wish for, are they.
And then there is the man on whom we pin all of our hopes. My first reaction to the president's troubles is to shout out, "I TOLD YOU SO!" but that would probably be a lesson in utter futility. Call it a hunch on my part but he probably doesn't read my blog (He should, you know, he really should).
But it's not too much of a stretch to conclude that he does read Paul Krugman (photo on left). The moment the details of the administration's stimulus package was announced in the early months of 2009, Krugman wrote that it will help the economy - but not enough. As it turns out he was absolutely prescient. Mr. Paul said from day one that the package just wasn't big enough. He said a huge mistake was being made in allowing a bunch of politicians to put it together. I've said this too many times to count: we ignore Paul Krugman to our own detriment. If you look at his columns going back ten years, hindsight will tell you that he has been right about ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING. If it had been me being inaugurated on 20 January 2009, the first words out of my mouth upon taking the oath of office would have been these:
"Get Krugman here - STAT."
As I write these words, rumors are rampant that there will be a major role for Paul Krugman to play in Obama's second term - if there is a second term. Do not abandon all faith.
We should never lose sight of the fact that although Barack Obama did get a lot wrong, he got a helluva lot more right. When he was handed the keys to the White House nearly four years ago, around 750,000 jobs a month were being swept away into the economic abyss. He has successfully stemmed the tide and reversed it. We are now at thirty-three months of straight economic growth, and November's numbers promise to be more encouraging than usual. How can it possibly be that we seem set to go back to the policies that brought on this calamity in the first place? Are we really that freaked out about having a black guy living in the Executive Mansion? It sure is weird.
MEMO TO "THE BASE"
I know what you're thinking and I can relate. Barack Obama has not been what I would call "a progressive's dream". But aside from that, it must be said that at least he's been trying to do the right thing....I think. We can pray all we want that in his next term (Please, God) he'll become the reincarnation of Franklin D. Roosevelt, and we can hope that when he no longer has a reelection to worry about he will become the fighting liberal that we know he is to his core. These are not by any means unreasonable expectations. But four more years of Barack Obama - in any capacity - are light years more preferable than one minute of Mitt Romney in the White House. Time to get out the vote.
And then there is the man on whom we pin all of our hopes. My first reaction to the president's troubles is to shout out, "I TOLD YOU SO!" but that would probably be a lesson in utter futility. Call it a hunch on my part but he probably doesn't read my blog (He should, you know, he really should).
But it's not too much of a stretch to conclude that he does read Paul Krugman (photo on left). The moment the details of the administration's stimulus package was announced in the early months of 2009, Krugman wrote that it will help the economy - but not enough. As it turns out he was absolutely prescient. Mr. Paul said from day one that the package just wasn't big enough. He said a huge mistake was being made in allowing a bunch of politicians to put it together. I've said this too many times to count: we ignore Paul Krugman to our own detriment. If you look at his columns going back ten years, hindsight will tell you that he has been right about ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING. If it had been me being inaugurated on 20 January 2009, the first words out of my mouth upon taking the oath of office would have been these:"Get Krugman here - STAT."
As I write these words, rumors are rampant that there will be a major role for Paul Krugman to play in Obama's second term - if there is a second term. Do not abandon all faith.
We should never lose sight of the fact that although Barack Obama did get a lot wrong, he got a helluva lot more right. When he was handed the keys to the White House nearly four years ago, around 750,000 jobs a month were being swept away into the economic abyss. He has successfully stemmed the tide and reversed it. We are now at thirty-three months of straight economic growth, and November's numbers promise to be more encouraging than usual. How can it possibly be that we seem set to go back to the policies that brought on this calamity in the first place? Are we really that freaked out about having a black guy living in the Executive Mansion? It sure is weird. MEMO TO "THE BASE"
I know what you're thinking and I can relate. Barack Obama has not been what I would call "a progressive's dream". But aside from that, it must be said that at least he's been trying to do the right thing....I think. We can pray all we want that in his next term (Please, God) he'll become the reincarnation of Franklin D. Roosevelt, and we can hope that when he no longer has a reelection to worry about he will become the fighting liberal that we know he is to his core. These are not by any means unreasonable expectations. But four more years of Barack Obama - in any capacity - are light years more preferable than one minute of Mitt Romney in the White House. Time to get out the vote.
http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com
Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
SUGGESTED VIEWING:
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Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
SUGGESTED VIEWING:
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The Ernie Kovacs Collection Volume Two
Eighteen months ago I wrote a review on this site for a DVD box set called "The Ernie Kovacs Collection". Just last week the Shout Factory released volume two. It's every bit as good (although not quite as comprehensive) as Volume One. Kovacs was one of the twentieth century's most visionary comedians. On top of that, the man was a scream. Sadly, his importance as a visual artist was not fully appreciated until decades after his death in a 1962 automobile accident. This set is essential viewing for any self-respecting fan of Ernie Kovacs. If you order it off of Shout's website, you will receive a bonus disc not available in the stores, eight installments of Ernie's absudist game show, Take a Good Look. Think of it as What's My Line meets Dada: Here's a link to purchase it:
https://www.shoutfactory.com/?q=node/216074
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Eighteen months ago I wrote a review on this site for a DVD box set called "The Ernie Kovacs Collection". Just last week the Shout Factory released volume two. It's every bit as good (although not quite as comprehensive) as Volume One. Kovacs was one of the twentieth century's most visionary comedians. On top of that, the man was a scream. Sadly, his importance as a visual artist was not fully appreciated until decades after his death in a 1962 automobile accident. This set is essential viewing for any self-respecting fan of Ernie Kovacs. If you order it off of Shout's website, you will receive a bonus disc not available in the stores, eight installments of Ernie's absudist game show, Take a Good Look. Think of it as What's My Line meets Dada: Here's a link to purchase it: https://www.shoutfactory.com/?q=node/216074
`
Early in his career, he would close his programs by telling the audience at home, "It's been real!", a phrase he coined. He was a bit of a paradox in that respect. Ernie Kovacs was the real deal alright - and television's first surrealist. Go figure.
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Kerry Lauerman
Joan Walsh
Salon.com
Comments
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As a changeling left by a flying saucer some 86 years ago to be raised in a human family I have some regrets at the disappearance of humanity since they did produce Kovacs and the Marx Brothers and W.C.Fields and Mae West but my regrets are tempered by the fact I lived when these ultimates also lived and that is some compensation. Cheese Whiz is OK for an occasional diversion but I have eaten better.
if 16 years of pure republican ideology brings the american cow to rebellion, it will be because half of them are not eating often, a likely possibilty. but they will imagine salvation lies in starting a war with mexico, because they have more food there. mexico will be too tough, just like vietnam was too tough, and iraq, and afghanistan.
the ship of state is going to sink, and there seems to be no one who has any ideas beyond putting a face on the bridge.