i think the democrats are in danger too. Not because they're too liberal, and not because the GOP has found its way out of the wildnerness.

Because on so many issue, the Democrats have BECOME the GOP. Glenn, if you told me in 2008 that by 2009 the biggest obstacle to health care reform would be the Democrats who've been making this promise since Truman's term, I wouldn't have believed you.

But look at them. Just look at these assholes. Look at the way they've handled the economic crisis: what have they done differently than what the GOP would have done? Nothing but handouts to the people who got us into the mess to begin with, with no regulations whatsoever. I thought that was the big objection to the Democrats: they believe in 'too much regulation". i guess that's another debunked myth.

And don't get me started on the war, or state secrets, or torture, or any of that.

When Congress goes on vacation in a few days, what do they have to show the American people? The GOP has nothing (excpet perhaps "we stopped health care from moving forward". The Democrats have very little to brag about either: They can't say the economy is better. They can't say the stimulus worked, since there's talk about a second request (and by the way, you can thank Senator Specter for the too-small package). They can't say they passed health care or ended the war.

In fact, I called my Senator, Bob Casey, and asked for a list of accomplishments. What i got was a lot of stuff about what the Senator had worked on, and how he had fought, and how he would talk about where the stimulus is helping in PA. "Effort", however, doesn't equal "accomplishment", and in any case when the "accomplishment" is something like "no strings attached bailout for Goldman Sachs", that's cause for shame, not bragging rights.

i think the GOP may well squeak out a victory in 2010, due to the simple fact that a lot of Democrats like me are planning on staying home or voting for a third party. And while I realize the name alone brings on the flames, I sure do like that Ron Paul character, even if I don't agree with everything he stands for.

anyone have an email for Alicia Shephard? That kind of nincompoopery deserves a direct response.

for some reason, whenever I call jane harman's office and bring up things like "if she didn't do anything wrong, she has nothing to fear, just like every other American" her staff hangs up on me.

They also hang up when, in response to official statements like "it never happened", i point out that there were warrants and everything was done by the book. and yes, they did tell me that the conversation "never happened".

And don't even use the words "hoist" or "petard", because that makes them hang up too.

Can you say "someone's testy"?

Personally, i am delighted by this turn of events. I will be making more fun tomorrow. Any suggestions for what to ask jane Harman's office?

the fact of the matter is that politicians will say anything to get elected. they don't necessarily mean what they say.

anyone remember chris carney, who lied to howie klein? http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2008/08/chris-carney-boasts-that-hes-anti.html

or jerry mcnerny, who wanted to bring the troops home when he campaigned, and then promptly did the opposite once elected? http://firedoglake.com/2007/08/16/no-more-gop-talking-points-please/

or to discuss Obama himself, he promised to filibuster and FISA bill that had immunity, and then broke that promise.

politicians will say anything to get elected, but it's actions that count. How much you wanna bet we're staying in Iraq, or that health care will turn out to be just too darned expensive to get to this year?

One of the sadder things about using the family and social connections to obtain higher office is that oftentimes incompetents get positions they really shouldn't have.

Let's consider my Senator, Bob Casey. Here's a guy whose father was former governor of PA: before ascending to the Senate (thanks to a coronation by PA Governor Rendell and NY senator Charles Schumer), Bob Junior was the treasurer for PA and later the auditor general. Yet he voted for the paulson bailout, which any numbnuts with a high school diploma could see wouldn't work. now, casey's office expresses surprise that predictable abuses happened.

in short, family connections and wealth often lead to extraordinarily unqualified people holding positions of power.

As a Philadelphia resident and voter, i can tell you with no small authority that FOX is lying. I vote in a public school around the corner. Voting takes place at the city-run rec center across the street as well. The lobby of my brother's apartment building is enormous: voting takes place there too.

The filth and lies that come out of FOX smell worse than Tony Snow's retired colostomy bag.

Finally, Philly is a city that is still healing from a racist and segregated history: the last thing we need is for FOX to sow division among the good people of our city.

@Sirota: Since when has Charles Schumer been anything OTHER than silly and stupid?

Every once in awhile, just for shits and giggles, i call up his office and read his staff the defense of Mukasey, pointing out how many of Schumer's predictions came out wrong. The I bring up his whole "disappointed but not surprised" comment, from Mukasey's infamous stonewalling last year. "Mr. Schumer recommneded him SO highly and in fact said the stonewalling would end. So why is he saying he's NOT surprised? And do you know if he'll be writing a new editorial, perhaps titled 'My Bad America, my Bad'?"

Interestingly they don't have an answer for that. Also interestingly, Schumer has been making some very hoyer-like statements about how Obama's bigger plans need to be put on hold.