Like Lucy taking the football from Charlie Brown's poised kicking toe, Republicans have once again punked Democrats on the budget process. Will our side ever learn that they are congenital liars and that Republican leaders cannot be trusted to negotiate in good faith?
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor pulled out of bipartisan negotiations to raise the nation's debt limit, according to multiple reports.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Cantor indicated an impasse over taxes prompted his exit from the budget discussions for now. A GOP aide close to the talks told The Huffington Post that the disagreement could only be settled by President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner.
The aide said that Cantor was open to returning to the table, but that they've come to an impasse over "not so small tax increases" that Democrats are insisting on. "We can't go there, so until Boehner and Obama resolve that, it doesn't make much sense for Eric to keep going to the meetings."
Here again Democrats have demurred on making the case for fairly taxing the rich and corporations to resolve current budget and deficit issues. Cowards like Michael Bennet continue to neglect the fact that taxes are the lowest in generations, and those who aren't paying their fair share are banking trillions of dollars as our economy continues to piddle.
Democrats had better go on the offense, had better figure out how to make tax increases an inevitable occurrence and prepare themselves for the onslaught of lies until the economy turns around.
President Obama could lead the way to sound progressive policies on the budget "crisis". He will certainly have to change some of his assumptions and tactics. Senator Bennet might have the nerve to follow. But now the issue is being kicked down the road again thanks to another strategic win by Republicans and the continuing inability of Democrats to propose common-sense solutions that the public wants and needs. In order to truly kill this ongoing recession - a recession and debt that Republicans are mostly responsible for - Democrats will have to take the heat during the next election cycle and do what's right, maybe even fight for some "not so small" tax increases........something they've been unwilling to do even after given a clear mandate in 2008.
Both Colorado Democrat Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennet were among the first senators outside the so-called "Gang of Five" to get details - and support - a plan to slash more than $4 trillion from the federal debt through a combination of spending cuts, tax increases and Medicare and Social Security reforms.
Udall and Bennet have been briefed on the details of a still-working plan and officials from their offices said Thursday they are on board to help move the process forward in any way they can.
Sirota was pointing out the other day how DC is a self-contained business model that is completely detached from reality and the rest of America. Colorado's Senators are about to prove his point with another bipartisan compromise* emanating from an institution universally declared dysfunctional even within Washington, DC's prallel universe.
A bipartisan group of Senators has been working to craft a comprehensive deficit reduction package based upon the recommendations of the Fiscal Commission. While we may not agree with every aspect of the Commission's recommendations, we believe that its work represents an important foundation to achieve meaningful progress on our debt.
When Gang of Six talks broke down due to Senator Tom Coburn's congenital defects (hypocrisy and lying) Senator Bennet protested that the Gang was still viable and that the talks should continue:
"I don't think it's dead. And I think, in fact, I would say that has some of the most promise we have because we've got three Democrats, three Republicans, working together to try to come up with a plan."
One can only assume that Michael Bennet supported the plan of all six senators to cut up to $530 BILLION from Medicare. He supported the Gang of Six even after Coburn had quit...with one of the most pitiful quotes I've heard from a United States Senator.
And with all that one can only ask why Bennet wanted the job in the first place.
Because if he is too cowardly to tell the people of our state that he, too, thinks we need to cut that money from our elderly and sick then he is not properly representing us. And he has no business taking the $174,000 salary we pay him to analyze our nation's problems and make the tough policy decisions that the job, and our citizens, rightly demand.
Bennet's Bipartisan Budget Buddies II: Mitch McConnell and Tom Coburn
Michael Bennet wanted to be a United States Senator. And he wanted the full imprimatur of voters to a full six-year term to an institution that he repeatedly stated was "broken". He even employed his three daughters to gain sympathy and help drive home his campaign's message:
I agree with the Senator that Washington, DC is a cesspool of too-close relationships and shop-worn rules rituals. Yet why does Bennet time and again endorse those failed habits? Why does he enable the phony bipartisanship loved only by The Denver Post's Editorial page and DC's most elite, and usually conservative, pundits?
When you do something together, the result is that it's not usable in the election. I think there's an understanding that if there's a grand bargain, none of it will be usable in next year's election.
And this, I'm afraid, is the most likely explanation for Bennet's insatiable quest for bipartisanship in Congress' guerrilla war over how to fund and pay for government. Even as each attempt at bipartisanship fails, Bennet plaintively wails that it really will work, Toto:
Talks among a bipartisan group of senators to try to solve the nation's fiscal woes seem to have stalled in recent weeks, with a separate set of talks led by Vice President Joe Biden taking a larger share of the spotlight.
But senators continue to root them on. On ABC's "Top Line" today, we featured an interview with Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo. - who is not among the so-called "Gang of Six" - where he praised their talks and said they are continuing to make progress.
"It's not dead," Bennet told ABC's Jonathan Karl, in the latest installment of the "Subway Series."
Senator Michael Bennet is desperate for a bipartisan budget agreement to hide behind. An irrational exuberance for bipartisanship must have been one of the conditions for his job. More likely, I still think he's afraid to actually make a policy decision that will get him a yucky Denver Post Editorial. So much for that (D) behind his name, because that forever makes him a target of the Dan Haley/Dean Singleton Hydra. I don't get our leaders' reticence to act like Democrats here in Colorado: (D) must stand for Defensive in this state.
So, who shall this inexperienced Senator be bi with on the budget?
The Gang of Six simply didn't finish the job, and indeed, it was built to not finish the job, with Republicans desirous to drag out talks so Senate Democrats looked like they didn't have a plan. In this sense it was no different than the Max Baucus-led Gang of Six on the health care law.
Bennet has constantly complained that DC is broken, yet time and again he has deferred to the status quo and ensured that those who broke the system are able to keep it broken. The Baucus Health care "product" was horribly weak and Republicans kept nitpicking at it even after the bipartisan gang had an "agreement". The current debate to bring the budget into balance has all the same dynamic, and a Republican Party that continues to deceive even as they pretend to negotiate in good faith with their peers.
Bennet seemingly couldn't resist another shot at bipartisanship despite its repeated failures. It's just as likely he doesn't have the fortitude to take a real stand in the debate. Or maybe he just doesn't want to do anything that could piss anyone off.
Fat chance of that in this day and age.
Bennet shouldn't think his opponents will change a 100% successful strategy of PNK'ing D's and perverting democracy in the budget and deficit discussions. Why would they? Yes, Senator Bennet is green, but he's been in the Senate long enough to see the dominant pattern. He shouldn't trust Republicans on the budget and shouldn't be allowed to pass off his decisions to another round of dysfunctional bipartisanship. Time for Bennet to lead for once and show voters at least some of what they voted for.
First, he didn't come out of the starting block with a compromise pleasing to the entrenched extremist Republican minority obstructing a tax increase (unlike a certain President we know) (ref. John Hickenlooper). He made a definite proposal and he stuck to it. When the Tea Party gurus tried to change the subject and make unions the issue, not taxes, Brown refused to fall for the Shock Capitalist feignt and stuck by the unions. He didn't flinch or apologize for his support of higher taxes, even suggesting - mirabile dictu - that the GOP's zombielike anti-tax dogma showed their bad faith and lack of concern for Californians (ref. Bennet and Udall). They squealed like stuck pigs with lipstick on (don't apologize Obama) and looked foolish.
What else could the supremely intelligent Brown teach our timid Senators?
Second, Brown talked directly to the people of California, not just the obstreperous and incoherent Republican commandants. Again, unlike a certain President. Over and over again, he took his message to YouTube (you got to love that), as well as highschool gyms and union halls. For a septuagenarian he made a certain young president look like a geezer. Again the GOP squealed, and most people here saw the Republicans for what they are: ideological bullies who act like South Park's Cartman when somebody stands up to them.
There are more lessons for local (D)'s that can be learned from Jerry Brown. Sure, Mike Rosen would make fun of them and him, but is there an issue that he wouldn't -- no matter the source?
No, and that's the primary lesson our Senators, our Governor, and our unemployed Representatives can learn from a successful Democratic Leader.
Even after back-to-back landslides delivered them the White House and huge majorities in both houses of Congress, they refused to take a stand for sound policy or Democratic principles.
Instead, they sought common ground with the Republicans no matter how wrong and cruel they might be, inching ever rightward until they achieved a suitably pro-corporate outcome.
It can't be said much more clearly than that.
Michael Bennet has been a key to Barack Obama's capitulation on a large number of key Democratic and democratic principles. It really needs to come to an end before we lose The New Deal, The Great Society, and what's left of The Middle Class. Michael Bennet, as the old Tennessee saying goes, is either with us or agin' us.
Right now I fear it's the latter. It should be the former.
March 18, 2011
Bennet, Johanns Lead Bipartisan Call for President to Support Comprehensive Deficit Reduction 32 Republicans, 32 Democrats Sign Letter
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet(D-Colo.) and Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) today led a bipartisan call for President Obama to support a comprehensive deficit reduction package in any negotiations on the budget.
In a letter to the President, 64 Senators ask him to engage in budget negotiations beyond FY2011 that include discretionary spending cuts, entitlement changes and tax reform, to create meaningful deficit reduction. The letter notes that a bipartisan group of Senators has been working to craft a comprehensive deficit reduction package based upon the recommendations of the Fiscal Commission, and that the group's work represents an important foundation to achieve meaningful progress on our debt.
"By approaching these negotiations comprehensively, with a strong signal of support from you, we believe that we can achieve consensus on these important fiscal issues. This would send a powerful message to Americans that Washington can work together to tackle this critical issue," the senators wrote.
They are pretending to want to "balance the budget" when what they are really doing is ramping up their war against the poor and middle class. Where is there any mention here of the multi-trillion-dollar pricetags for our wars in the Middle East and other military expenditures? Where is there any mention of the deregulatory factors that caused the global financial meltdown, which led to the colossal bailout of Wall Street? These are the same senators who recently doubled down on the budget deficit by extending tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires, but now they want us to believe that the reason why they're attacking essential public services is because they're "deficit hawks"?
This isn't about the budget, people. The budget is a pretext for expanding the oligarchy's class warfare against the poor and the middle class in America and around the world.
Just over one month ago, the Senate largely abandoned a plan to ambitiously reform the Senate rules after the GOP agreed to a "handshake deal" which would curb the unprecedented spike in filibusters since the GOP lost control of the Senate. Rather than uphold their side of the bargain, eight Republican senators have now promised to take their obstructionism to unprecedented heights by threatening to place a hold on any bill which does not comply with five very broad criteria that constitute a particularly aggressive assault on the Senate's ability to function.
Senate Democrats have failed us once again.
Those like Michael Bennet and Mark Udall, who continue to have the mistaken impression that Republicans want to do anything productive for our country, even as all evidence points to the exact opposite conclusion, are derelict in their duty as our representatives and have once again failed to display even the slightest bit of principle when dealing with the most despicable group of lying, hateful and ignorant politicians this nation has known: the Modern Republican/Tea Party.
Botton line: he took to the insider DC game like a duck to water and was lucky enough to run against a schizophrenic Republican Tea Party to actually win a full-term as one of our state's most prominent civil servants.
The new Congress has now been at work for two months, and that distressing dynamic is now in play in Washington (do we reallllllly deserve what we vote for?), which leads me to this question:
Senator Michael Bennet certainly knows how to play the P.R. game.
His first success at this was his blatantly false statement that he was willing to lose his job over the Public Option. Of course, at the time he most likely knew that Barack Obama had taken the Public Option off the table and he would never face such a choice. But he sure did let everyone know about his bold statement. He even fooled little ol' me in that insidious lie.
Across our Nation, parents and educators are fighting against top down plans implemented by Sec. of Education Arne Duncan such as 'Race to the Top' and sudden school closings and teacher lay offs.
Now, a line in the sand is being drawn on this issue in Denver, Colorado as a recall effort has been mounted against School Board Member Nate Easley - specifically over his conflict of interest in employment and neglecting to listen and meet with concerned parents of Northeast Denver.
This recall will pit grassroots organizers against the 'reforms' that close schools from this administration and its Sec. of Education, Arne Duncan and will be the example to other boards who want to stop these reforms.
But this recall does not just threaten one Denver Public School Board member, but goes much higher up - even the President has been brought in for political cover in the State of the Union. (No one from the school he mentions was in the audience for the SOTU - every other honoree was in attendance, almost like a last minute addition )
There are many points of view on the new trends in so-called 'School Reform' efforts happening all around the country.
The epicenter of this issue is being decided currently in Denver Colorado, as a recall effort has been mounted against School Board Member Nate Easley over proposed reforms that are closing schools.
This effort has attracted national attention as a test of whether traditionally Democratic institutions like the Teachers' Union will send a message that voting against the Teachers will cost politicians their office and position.
But this story does not just end with one Denver Public School Board member's recall. This issue goes back several years and involves a DPS budget scandal that involves former Superintendent Michael Bennet and Current Superintendent Tom Boasberg and is a commentary on the top down way in which Arne Duncan is radically changing our education system.
Stating the obvious once again, you, Senator Michael Bennet, said during your campaign to become a full-time, fully elected US Senator with a (D) behind his name:
"Washington's broken ways yet again have allowed the voices of ordinary Americans to be drowned out by the distorting influence of special interests."
We've all seen the dysfunction in the Senate caused by hyper-political Republicans who care about only one thing: having the presidency of Barack Obama fail no matter the cost to our citizens.
All of the returning members of the Democratic caucus in the U.S. Senate but Chris Dodd signed a letter that supports filibuster reform initiated by New Mexico's Tom Udall, according to story in the National Journal by Dan Friedman.
The letter was sent to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid urging him to change filibuster rules.
Udall cites Article 1, Section 5 of the U.S. Constitution, specifically the portion which says -- Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings. On the first day of the new Congress the Senate can pass new rules with a simple majority.
Both our Senators have said they support the rule change.
"I applaud Senator Udall for his thoughtful proposal to reform the filibuster. Bringing a new voice to the issue helps us continue to build momentum for improving the Senate's rules so we can actually get back to doing Colorado's business."
"I've decided I cannot support the treaty," said McConnell on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday morning. "I think the verification provisions are inadequate, and I do worry about missile defense implications."
Mitch McConnell was Obama's key "partner" in the bipartisan tax law that will begin the serious erosion of Social Security. And the petty Homophobe McCain?
The title quote, uttered by President Obama to describe the choice we have in the 2010 elections, captures the essence of the on-going struggle between humanity's inner-angels and inner-demons, a struggle which produces the realization of both our dreams and our nightmares, depending on which prevails in any given moment of history.
What follows is a full exposition of the meaning of the title phrase, including its significance in U.S. and World History, to the U.S. Constitution, and to the Colorado gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races of 2010.
The foreclosure crisis, the outright fraud by banks and mortgage processors, and the virtual powerlessness of any one homeowner to fight back even compelled the ever-timid Mark Udall to speak out.
So here's a chance for Bennet to speak out, too. His signature on this would tell me more about Michael Bennet than any of his ads could:
U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Mark Begich (D-AK) today sent a letter to Obama Administration officials, including Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, urging action following recent news reports of widespread improprieties and mistakes in the foreclosure processes employed by mortgage servicers.
...
"The emerging details of mortgage servicers' abusive and fraudulent practices are just one more example of large financial institutions taking advantage of hardworking families who are trying to make ends meet. I encourage the Administration to use its authority to stamp out these abuses and to do all it can to protect American families from these kinds of abuses," said Iowa Senator Tom Harkin.
Tom Harkin's got guts. And he knows exactly where the principles of the Democratic Party lead in a situation like this: to stand up for Joe Sixpack and stand up to CitiGroup and BofA.
There's time for Senator Bennet to make up for that horrible cram down vote, too, before voters make their last decision about who will be Colorado's next U.S. Senator. How long can it take to sign a letter, Mike?
Bennet is winning 85% of Democrats and Buck is winning 84% of Republicans. Bennet's slight edge comes because of something that is pretty unusual for Democratic candidates across the country this year- he's ahead 48-38 with independent voters.
The details show moderate voters, who make up a majority of unaffiliated voters in our state, to be moving in support of Bennet.
Bennet had a slight party unity advantage previously, but the candidates have now
equally locked up their bases. What is keeping Bennet treading water, though, despite the negative trends in the partisan makeup of the electorate, is that he has taken a 48-38 lead among independents, versus a 39-40 deficit two months ago. Undecided independents seem to be moving the Democrat's way. Unlike in most states, independents have actually grown as a share of the voter set, while partisans have declined, and Republicans have only increased by two points-down one to Democrats in August, up one now-a good sign for Bennet in this nail-biter of a race.
