Vox-Populi

Tonight’s live chat continues here!

This week’s topics:

1) HOWARD DEAN AND MARKOS MOULITSAS ARE BOTH SAYING IT’S TIME TO SCRAP THE CURRENT SENATE BILL BECAUSE IT IS TOO COMPROMISED. A NATIONAL POLL SHOWS 63% OF DEMOCRATS THINK THE PRESIDENT DIDN’T FIGHT LIEBERMAN HARD ENOUGH. A CLIMATE AGREEMENT WAS JUST REACHED THAT WILL ALLOW THE EARTH’S TEMPERATURE TO RISE BY 2 DEGREES CELSIUS. THE QUESTION: IS THE IDEA THAT WE SHOULDN’T LET THE PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD GUTTING THE PROGRESSIVE AGENDA?

2) FED CHAIRMAN BEN BERNANKE HAS JUST BEEN NAMED TIME MAGAZINE’S PERSON OF THE YEAR FOR 2009. SUPPORTERS SAY BERNANKE LED THE EFFORT THAT SAVED THE WORLD ECONOMY. CRITICS SAY HE SHOULD HAVE FORESEEN THE FINANCIAL MELTDOWN AND DONE SOMETHING TO STOP IT. QUESTION: DO YOU AGREE WITH TIME’S CHOICE? IF SO, WHY? IF NOT, WHY NOT, AND WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE INSTEAD?

3) SENATOR BEN NELSON IS THREATENING TO FILIBUSTER THE HEALTH CARE BILL OVER ABORTION. JOE LIEBERMAN THREATENS TO FILIBUSTER ANY HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION. LAST NIGHT, REPUBLICANS TRIED TO FILIBUSTER FUNDING FOR THE TROOPS IN A CYNICAL MOVE TO SLOW DOWN HEALTH CARE REFORM. THIS WEEK PAUL KRUGMAN COMPARED THE FILIBULSTER TO BLACKMAIL. EZRA KLEIN CALLED IT HOSTAGE TAKING. QUESTION: HAS THE FILIBUSTER OUTLIVED ITS USEFULNESS? ARE THERE REASONS TO KEEP IT?

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BigDogMom
Member
BigDogMom

Sorry I missed Vox Populi….I’m into a really good book, so that trumps everything in my life, even feeding and walking the dogs! Hope to be at the next chat….

AlphaBitch
Member
AlphaBitch

DO share! I love good books. I’m reading Horse Soldiers now; I HAVE to pace myself, and read books about SOMETHING other than Afghanistan between the “required” reading ones.

Scheherazade
Member

I missed the Vox Populi. 🙁

whatsthatsound
Member

“Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good”. It sounds so sensible, so adult. Who could argue? The only problem is, it is usually just feelgoodspeak for “We’ve already got the Greed Kings to agree to throw the rest of you folks a bone that still has a little bit of fat on it. That’s the best deal you’re gonna get from them. Take it or leave it.”

Khirad
Member

I agreed with it when there was one thing here and one thing there, but by god, they’ve gutted it so completely and are turning it into an anti-abortion vehicle that the phrase has turned sinister in its folksy admonitions.

choicelady
Member

The Senate bill, no matter what, is only half the story. With the pick of nothing but four progressives and one muzzled conservative (caught plying favors for his girlfriend), the very real possibility is that they are passing on Lieberman, not fighting here so they GET a bill, working it massively over in Conference Committee with the very much better House bill, THEN telling Lieberman – vote or get busted off all your committees. If they do that NOW, he could decide to call their bluff when cloture is essential in the final, crucial vote. You can only threaten him ONCE. The move of the FINAL bill is what matters, NOT the Senate bill.

We all must work the Conference Committee – that is where the final language with essential programs and bill elements will be worked out. That Reid has ONLY progressives (and muzzled Baucus) is outstanding and says all that we need to know. Hold the indignation and criticism over Lieberman – this is entirely tactical, and it’s the right thing to do. I am heartily encouraged by Reid’s choices, the calm that lets Lieberman THINK he won, and the real possibility that Conference Committee will give us BACK all the good stuff AND stuff Lieberman in a closet.

KEEP SPEAKING UP ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT IN THE BILL!!! This is NOT over!

PS – I posted this only to scroll down to see all of you eastern folks were heading to bed. Getting up a head of steam and speaking my mind really loses some oomph when there is no one there to read it. LOL!!!!! G’night all you folks out there. Talk at you (youze?) tomorrow.

Khirad
Member

Yes, on the substantive stuff. I’m here to read it. As to all the Western folks here, I don’t know what’s up. Either some aren’t observing boycott and are over at the-place-that-shall-not-be-named, or, they have actual lives on a Friday night. Tough call… 😉

boomer1949
Member

Khirad,

Too darn tired, didn’t visit Queen of the Damned and, to be perfectly honest, don’t have an actual life even on a Friday night. 🙂

Kalima
Admin

Looks like everyone has nodded off and like Greta Garbo, I’m alone but don’t “vant to be alone.”

Ok, I’ll get on with my cleaning then and see you later. *wavesherduster*

Khirad
Member

How come we can’t keep anybody hanging around?

Kalima
Admin

Our “Get up and go” got up and went?

bito
Member

well friends you all have kept me up past my bed time, so I wish you all a good nightnd Kalima a GOOD day.

A special thought to KQ. GET WELL, guy!!!

Kalima
Admin

Take good care bito. Rest well and good night.

kesmarn
Admin

Well, friends, it’s 11:15 p.m. here and I’m losing altitude fast.
Good night to all, from kes.

Kalima
Admin

Good night kesmarn, rest well and be safe.

kesmarn
Admin

Kalima, one last word before I crash. I now have three cats begging at my door for hand outs. The huge (25 pounder) one I told you about, a little grey tiger and a black one. What have I started?? I wonder if they have food stamps for animal feeding “suckers” like me?

And good night all, one more time !!

Kalima
Admin

Are you trying to catch up with me?

I know that we can never send them away hungry. “Fat cat” has to start a diet, pronto!

GN again. 🙂

PatsyT
Member

Nighty Night

bito
Member

G’night k’esmarn, stay warm.

Kalima
Admin

Yes, thank you nellie!

PatsyT
Member

Thanks again Nellie – great job – you ask very good questions that make you think.
and that is the problem with the general public they do not want to think to much.

bito
Member

Senate rule 22 has worked well in the past, the abuse of it the last two sessions have been shameful.

kesmarn
Admin

Thanks again to nellie for filling in so admirably for AdLib. Now we know what the mysterious email was about yesterday! 😮

TheRarestPatriot
Member

LMAO…You in here turning the lights on and off, Obama20082012? LOL

kesmarn
Admin

TRP, I had a chance to skim over a few posts quickly before I went to Vox Populi, and it sounds like you had a great time in TN. Glad things went well. Maybe a new career?

Obama20082012
Member

Danag I missed it! 🙁

Obama20082012
Member

And I can’t spell!

bito
Member

Obama, either can I

kesmarn
Admin

Obama, if it weren’t for the “edit” feature, I’d be in huge trouble. (Another thing HP lacked!)

Kalima
Admin

They used to have it and a delete button too.

kesmarn
Admin

No kidding, K? I joined in 2008 and I guess by then they had gotten rid of both. What a strange place! I surely don’t miss it…

Kalima
Admin

I joined June 07 and during the years they got rid of almost everything, including the long time posters.

kesmarn
Admin

Like a good capitalist, Arianna views humans as expendable resources. What a fraud she is!

Kalima
Admin
Khirad
Member

Funny how it is with that with loyal posters, huh. What other business model follows that course?

On the edit – it is GOOD there isn’t one, because the trolls would bait you then change theirs. I’ve wished I had an edit, but I just reply to my own comment, fastidious as I can be about spelling and such.

Kalima
Admin

Yes it is funny, it’s like a well respected store suddenly tell their loyal customers to eff off.

Kalima
Admin

Oh I don’t know, I rather like the word “danag.”

Khirad
Member

I just realized that too. Dang! I knew it was Friday too, but it escaped me that it was ‘Friday’. Ever done that?