PoliWatch - Political Meanings

China: Lessons for America and The West

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 14:35:00 -0600

Ever heard of Vertical Democracy? Did you know America's democracy is termed a horizontal democracy? If not, you are missing out on world history in the making, as America will, by its political structure, lose ground against China. I highly recommend to those who wish to catch up on this history in the making, and peer into the future, John and Doris Naisbitt's new book, China's Megatrends, The 8 Pillars of a New Society.

Health Care Summit: Politics as Usual

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 02:21:28 -0600

The Health Care Summit with Pres. Obama and select Congressional individuals of the Donkey and Elephant persuasion, was obviously well prepared for by both sides. Each had their scripts well crafted, and lines rehearsed like veteran Shakespearian actors. It was as predicted, political theater at its worst.

Health Care Reform: Public Option, Reconciliation, DOA?

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:12:04 -0600

Last night, Sen. Jay Rockefeller announced he would not likely support a Public Option reform through the Reconciliation process (a process by which different legislation passed by the House and Senate, can be reconciled and bypass a Senate filibuster with 51 votes.) That announcement, for all intents and purposes, spells the death knell for the reconciliation push to pass health care reform with a Public Option. Sen. Rockefeller has been a strong supporter of the Public Option. He expressed his reservations, leaving a bit of room to change his mind, but, it is hard to imagine what would, given his arguments against it.

Bayh & Nuclear Bombshells

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:46:17 -0600

Two bombshell news stories occurred back to back this morning. Sen. Evan Bayh announces he will not run for reelection, and Pres. Obama announces $8.3 billion in federal loan guarantees for America's first new nuclear power plant in nearly 3 decades. The import and aftermath of these two news announcements strike at the heart of what is broken in American politics, demanding repair, or inviting failure.

Republicans Have Gone Anti-America

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:37:13 -0600

The Republican Party, also known as the Grand Old Party, or GOP, has evolved from a very pro-America Party in in 1994, to an anti-America Party through the last decade, taking giant strides in that direction since Americans threw them out of power in 2008. Greed, duplicity, anger, vengeance, and paranoia have taken over the group think psychology of Republicans in Congress, as well as a great many of the remaining supporters of the GOP. It is time the GOP be labeled for what its member's actions demonstrate.

SOTU. We Don't Quit. I Don't Quit !

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 08:54:46 -0600

Image via Wikipedia

The President's State of the Union (SOTU) speech was realistic, mostly accurate, and proscriptive. It was not a "feel good" speech. It accurately summarized where the nation is domestically, divided and behind schedule in addressing many of its most pressing issues. His speech pragmatically stipulated that he alone cannot bring the solutions to pass (a campaign refrain); Congress and the people have to carry their share of the load, the confidence, and responsibility.

Supreme Court: Corporate Influence Over Elections

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 10:08:42 -0600

The Supreme Court, a conservative court on the belief that money is protected speech as far as elections are concerned, overturned a century of precedent and laws moving in the other direction. Republicans continue to sabotage America, even after being deposed from majority power to rule, via their Supreme Court activist judges. As usual, Republicans say one thing and do the opposite. For appearances they rail against activist judges, all the while appointing their own activist judges to the federal benches.

Mass. Election. Independents and Anti-Incumbents!

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:01:57 -0600

For years, I have advocated for independent voters to unite around the ant-incumbent strategy. Pres. Obama won as the challenger to the Bush/Republican years, riding the wave of disapproving independent voters. He won with 53% of the vote, and his approval rating remains in that ball park, depending on what poll you look at. The off-year gubernatorial races in 2009 were dominated by anti-incumbent independent voters. And now, in an historically Democratic State, Democrats lost and a Republican shall take the late Ted Kennedy's seat. Are the Parties acknowledging this wake up call?

Political Decisions

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:31:20 -0600

Political decisions must, by definition in a diverse society, alienate some in that society. This truism is dictated by the concept of opportunity cost. For those without business school backgrounds, opportunity cost is the cost of not having selected the other choices. Every decision anyone ever makes, carries an opportunity cost. Example: The wife takes the shortest route to work. In doing so, she avoids alternative longer routes which may make her drive more interesting, less hazardous as the lesser traveled routes, or less fortuitous in passing up the opportunity to give Bill Gates a ride after his HumV broke down, which he appreciates with a sizable thank you check of a million dollars.

Obama's Afghanistan Decision

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:04:26 -0600

Obama's process, approach, and decision on where we go from here in Afghanistan was outstanding. Gen. Petraeus lauded Obama's process and decision as having gathered all of the assumptions, data, and projections and compared and evaluated them in a deliberative and nuanced way which, no other process could have permitted. Gen. McCrystal says he is 100% behind both the number of troops and the time line to begin withdrawal. Australia and the head of NATO applaud Obama's decision.

Health Care Reform Critic's Refuted

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:57:31 -0600

The NY Times reports:

The Congressional Budget Office [CBO] said Monday that the Senate health bill could significantly reduce costs for many people who buy health insurance on their own, and that it would not substantially change premiums for the vast numbers of Americans who receive coverage from large employers.

Senate Vote Moves Health Care Reform to Debate.

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:40:22 -0600

Last night, in a show of Party unity, Democrats, and two Independents, voted last night to move health care reform legislation to the Senate floor for public debate. Republicans, to a person, voted to shut health care reform down, before it could be debated on the Senate floor. Regardless of what one thinks of Sen. Harry Reid personally. or politically, this was a victory for him and his skill as majority leader.

Investing and Politics

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:59:27 -0600

If folks stowed their money away in fixed rate investments during the latter part of the Bush economy, and then reallocated that money into stock investments for the Obama economy, those folks have to be pleased at having saved as much as a 50% loss at the end of the Bush economy, and approaching as much as a 50% gain during this Obama economy, starting in March of this year.

Of course, President's don't control the stock markets. Myriad factors, most knowable, some not, play roles in the direction of market investments. The trick is to acknowledge and accept the trends without prejudice, political or otherwise. As far back as 2006 and 2007, there were clear indications the Bush economy was going to implode.

Term Limits: The GOP's Fake Gesture is Resurrected

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:41:39 -0600

Some Republicans are calling for Term Limits of those in Congress. When you are done laughing your arse off, please continue reading. Term Limits were in the Contract With America, offered by Republicans in 1994. As soon as Republicans acquired the majority in government to enact term limits, the entire issue was never spoken of by the GOP again. Until now, that is. Now, that they are the diminished minority, again.

The Stakes Could NOT Be Higher

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:43:16 -0600

Failure in Washington is not an option. America last year finished its long circular journey from 1940 to return to the precipice of national collapse. Unlike 1929, however, instead of taking that next drop off step, we sidestepped along the edge of the precipice, where we still remain today; at the edge.