Ah, but that was back in the days when our Narcissist in Chief still imagined himself charming and magnetic enough to convince anyone of anything.

Now that he's discovered he's not quite as hypnotically charismatic as he and his SuperFans always believed, he'll just go for that 51 vote majority.

Obama argues in favor of the necessity of a supermajority not just in political terms given the availability of the filibuster in the Senate. He suggests that a supermajority in favor of health care legislation is a moral requirement; he implies that a supermajority is necessary to legitimize the legislation. He contrasts the attainment of a supermajority to support health care reform with what he characterizes as the politics of the morally inferior Karl Rove.

The video thus displays both Obama's moral vanity as well as his blatant hypocrisy. What an unlovely combination.

From the always informative Naked Emperor News.

Posted by: Ace at 09:01 AM | Comments (47)
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And we all know who that benefits.

In his new book, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney accuses President Barack Obama of providing “kindling” to the “anti-American fires burning all across the globe.”

The book “No Apology: The Case for American Greatness” hit shelves Tuesday, and in it Romney focuses much of his time attacking Obama’s foreign policy.

“Never before in American history has its president gone before so many foreign audiences to apologize for so many American misdeeds, both real and imagined,” Romney writes of Obama’s overseas trips. “It is his way of signaling to foreign countries and foreign leaders that their dislike for America is something he understands and that is, at least in part, understandable.”

...“The time has come for American schools to once again systematically teach our children about the heroes of the battles that won our freedom and about the heroes that fought in the wars that gained liberty for millions of people around the world,” he writes. “The multiculturalism movement must be unmasked for the fraud that it is. There are superior cultures, and ours is one of them."

I know a lot of people have doubts about Romney, myself included, but those excerpts are simply magnificent, and anyone who denies it is not to be trusted as an analyst (and if you don't get that reference, you're new around here, aren't you?).

Mitt, what to say about Mitt? I want to like him, I wanted to fully support him in '08 but never quite could.

On a tactical level, he's a great candidate in '12. Politics is often about reacting negatively to what you have and wanting the opposite. If nothing else, heÂ’s the anti-Obama...solid, proven track record of business and government success, steady, etc. If Obama is going to be vulnerable it will be because people regret taking a flyer on the new guy and they'll want a guy (and sorry but I do mean guy) out of central casting. That's Mitt.

As for weaknesses, well they are certainly well known, though mostly they represent a problem getting through the primaries. The abortion flip, RomneyCare ("I like mandates") and his religion.

Personally, the abortion thing doesn't bother me much. I thought the idea was to win converts. If you rule people out who come over to your side from ever getting your support, what's the incentive to do it? Besides, his story about how he came to change his mind strikes me as reasonable and something a lot of people who aren't totally committed one way or the other can relate to.

As for 2012, Republicans have a history of nominating people who have waited and earned their turn and Mitt is definitely well placed to claim it's his turn. Love him or hate him, you have to admit kicking Obama up and down the street while preaching American exceptionalism is a good way to win Republican and conservative friends.

Posted by: DrewM at 08:56 AM | Comments (130)
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I think the Brits are on to something here.

...decimated by the recession - fake business facades have been installed to create the illusion that shops are still occupied...

Nothing says you're flush like flashing around a shoebox full of monopoly money. After this positive outlook adjustment, I should be fully qualified to chair the house ways and means committee.

Posted by: Purple Avenger at 08:32 AM | Comments (80)
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(A series of daily-ish roundups of the day's Climate news and commentary.)

This is by no means a comprehensive recap. The stories come from a variety of sources, and I highly recommend

exploring the linked sites for more breaking news.

(after the break...)
more...

Posted by: Open Blogger at 06:31 AM | Comments (146)
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A few dozen couples were lined up outside the D.C. marriage bureau this morning before it opened. They will be the first gay couples in D.C. to get marriage licenses. The city started issuing the licenses to gay couples after Chief Justice Roberts denied an emergency stay motion (PDF) late yesterday evening.

Opponents of the new marriage law also filed a Section 1983 civil rights lawsuit against the city, mayor, and chief judge (who administers marriage) alleging that their Fifth Amendment due process right is violated if the law is given effect. Scroll down to "Update 2" to see the complaint.

Related: A commenter jokingly wrote last week that he'd have to wait and see what Andrew Sullivan said about whatever gay thing I was talking about to be sure of the "monolithic gay Republican position." Oh my gravy, don't do that! Instead, take a look at this Big Government interview with GOProud's director, Jimmy LaSalvia. They talk about GOProud's stance on limited government, free markets, strong national defense, marriage, DADT, and--a big one that I get asked all the time--pride parades. It rebuts the folks who keep claiming that GOProud is just another lefty gay group.

Oh, Right, Catholic Charities: I had intended to mention this in the original post, but got distracted. Catholic Charities, which partners with D.C. to provide a host of social services, has stated that henceforth it will not be providing health benefits to spouses of new employees. Old employees will keep their current benefits for spouses if they're already enrolled, but to avoid providing health benefits to gay spouses in the future, the organization will not be providing spousal benefits anymore.

Catholic Charities highlighted this problem with the marriage law when it was proposed last year, noting that as a city contractor it would have to choose between accepting city funds (and the anti-discrimination rules that come with them) or quiting its contracts with the city. Among other things, the organization provides homeless shelters, domestic abuse prevention programs, and city-sponsored adoption placement.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 05:51 AM | Comments (112)
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Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 05:24 AM | Comments (131)
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Out of His Cold Dead Hands... In an update -- Rangel says he's staying.

...

Maybe he can catch up on his napping.

Harlem Democrat Charles Rangel now says he will step down as chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, NBC News has learned.

He may make the move as early as tonight and Michigan Democratic Rep Sander Levin will temporarily take over the committee.

Some details still need to be ironed out, but sources said Rangel has been pushed to step down before the House voted on a bill to forcefully strip him of the coveted chairmanship.

I ignored this completely as same-old-same-old and going-nowhere-fast. Guess I was wrong.

Or, as Allah noted: Gee, guess those Democrats are really worried about November.

Thanks to enoxo.

"The Dam Broke Today:" Charlie Rangel joins the Pantheon of High-Integrity Heroes who resigned just before they were fired.

Posted by: Ace at 06:44 PM | Comments (202)
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Good evening M&Ms.

A glimpse of the past: San Francisco in 1905
Here is some footage taken from a streetcar in San Francisco back in 1905, before the 1906 earthquake. It's interesting to watch the people dodge streetcars, early automobiles, and even horses. And apparently people really did wear the costumes that we see today in period pieces. And I doubt any of the people shown would have imagined that they would be watched by people almost a hundred years later using magic-like technology. Yet I doubt they were fundamentally all that different from you or me. The soundtrack is La Femme D'Argent by Air.

Posted by: Maetenloch at 05:39 PM | Comments (648)
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Rick "Adios Mo-Fo" Perry holding strong against Kay Bailey.

I still don't get this. I mean, I live here, I should get it. But I don't.

Anyway, he's going to smack her around tonight and Bill White in November.

9/11 Truther (sorry, she is) Paulbot Deb Medina actually holding around 17% or so.

BONUS: Adios Mofo

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 05:13 PM | Comments (105)
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And he wants to be California's governor again.

"You learn a lot running a business. But you don't learn anything about working in government," she said.

Brown says that in the past 27 years he's learned to be more patient, less impulsive.

"I was pretty colorful! Pretty interesting! So next time I may not be as colorful, but I'll still be interesting," he said.

He won't be as colorful, or as interesting. Still, Linda Rondstadt, back in the day.

It ain't on my resume but it's noteworthy all the same.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 04:10 PM | Comments (165)
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