LSJ Blogs: People's Politics

The Specter Of Abandonment

Well, Arlan Spector is leaving the Republican Party.  And, the Republican party’s chief spokesperson (no – not Michael Steele – although he had a lot to say), El Rushbo, says he’s glad to see him gone.  In fact he wishes Specter would take the McCain’s (both John and Meghan) with him.  It seems Rush wants to see the party of old white men get older, whiter, and more masculine.  What a great party leader!!

Obama's 100 Days -- What do you think?

Wednesday marks Barack Obama's 100th day as president. What do you think so far?

Arlen Specter, D-PA?

One of the reasons the Republican Party lost its way, along with its Congressional majority, was Arlen Specter, Senior Senator from Pennsylvania.  If there was ever a poster-boy for a Rino, Republican in name only, that would be Specter.  He believes neither in fiscal nor social conservatism and, as far as I can tell, does not seem to have a core; he is a perfect moderate—John McCain without personality.

Nattering Nabobs of Negativism

Who among you are guilty of being purveyors of the pessimistic and spreaders of the collective glum?  Certainly you are not one of those garrulous individuals who are voicing their hopes and prayers that the Obama administration will fail in its attempts to get us out of the current economic recession, end the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, fix health care, save GM and Chrysler from oblivion, and solve a bunch of other pressing societal problems are you? Just in case you might, I have some advice for you of the cynical rhetoric. 

The left and national security

 I have repeatedly said I would rather have seen Obama elected President with a republican controlled Congress than anyone else with a Pelosi/Reid led Congress. Unfortunately we have the worst of all worlds; a leftist President with far left Congressional leadership. Why does it matter in the arena of national security?

TEA Parties

I’m curious what the reaction to the readers of the People’s Politics were to the Taxed Enough Already (TEA) gatherings at a number of spots around the country?  I went to the Lansing TEA Party last Wednesday that reportedly had about 5,000 people there.  As there were so many signs, I couldn’t see all the people to corroborate that number, but it seems like a reasonable estimate.  I understand the crowds varied from about 600 to 1,000 in Washington D.C. to somewhere between 20,000 to 30,000 in Atlanta, GA.   National estimates vary from 200,000 to a high of 618,000 people in about 800 locales around the country. 

Conference on Election Issues

The League of Women Voters of Michigan and Henry Ford Community College are cosponsoring a conference on three of my favorite political issues: Term Limits, Judicial Elections, and Voting Reforms. 

I would encourage other political geeks to try to attend if you are able.  Details and a link are below.

Rosa Brooks

I just heard on the news, but didn’t see it in today’s LSJ or any quick review of the national newspapers on the net, that Rosa Brooks was appointed as an advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Michelle Fluornoy.  Wow.  This staggers me as I have been a relatively frequent reader of her column for the Los Angeles Times to ensure I could keep abreast of the left’s views on things.  As of this writing, nothing about her appointment has appeared on the Rush or Drudge websites either (that is for you Bob). 

Rightwing Extremism

I had just about gotten to the point of thinking the left wing political class is hilarious in both their pronouncements and their policies, but then something like the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) report on “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment” comes out and I have to reassess my thought processes.  The report in its entirety is fairly short and can be reviewed here.  

A bit of good news

I’m a bit surprised there has not been much commentary on the rescue of Richard Phillips, the captured Captain of the American crewed Danish ship.  While I stand behind no one in my happiness that he was safely rescued, there are a number of things about the situation I find perplexing.