Mary Kate Cary Yesterday

Clinton and Democrats: On Healthcare, Just Pass Something

By Mary Kate Cary, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

Tom Daschle, the man who was originally supposed to be running the president's healthcare reform fight, told the New York Times Magazine a few months ago that one of his favorite phrases is, "The windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror."

President Bill Clinton, who has his own healthcare reform debacle of 15 years ago set squarely in his rearview mirror, met with Senate Democrats this week—essentially urging them to pass healthcare reform in whatever form they can. As McClatchy News paraphrased it, his advice was: "Just pass something."

Peter Roff Yesterday

Terrorism Trial Decision Shows Obama Doesn't Know How to Fight America's Enemies

By Peter Roff, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

Having failed in his efforts to close the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, President Barack Obama has now compounded his problem by announcing that the September 11 plotters held there will be brought to the United States for trial.

No one, least of all the family members of those whose blood is on the terrorists' hands, wants them in this country. Debra Burlingame, whose brother was the pilot of the American Airlines plan that was crashed into the Pentagon, called the prospective trial "a travesty."

Burlingame, who believes a military tribunal is the proper venue for such a proceeding, in a statement released to the press held out the likelihood of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed holding forth in open court, "mocking his victims, exulting in the suffering of their families, ridiculing the judge, his lawyers and the American justice system, and worst of all, rallying his jihad brothers to kill more Americans."

Bonnie Erbe Yesterday

Sarah Palin Looking Loony on Oprah Winfrey

By Bonnie Erbe, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

I've lost interest in Sarah Palin—a woman who has proven herself time and again to be not ready for prime time. But when she starts to exhibit signs of true lunacy, she gets a bit more interesting. She's done so once more in her upcoming and widely touted interview with Oprah Winfrey. My favorite part of the chat is when Palin talks about having the infamous father of her grandson, Levi Johnston, over for Thanksgiving. According to People (via MSNBC):

If Levi Johnston would like a piece of the Palin family turkey, Sarah Palin will save him a seat at her Thanksgiving table.

"It's lovely to think that he would ever even consider such a thing," the former Alaska governor, 45, tells Oprah Winfrey in an interview to air Nov. 16, the day before the publication of Palin's memoir, "Going Rogue."

Doug Heye November 12, 2009

Democrats’ Biggest Problem Is Spending, Not Gridlock

By Doug Heye, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

In the interest of participatory debate, I must disagree with Peter Roff.

Indecision regarding Afghanistan is a problem President Barack Obama is battling, at least in perception. But voters still want the president to make the right decision and to follow through on his oft-repeated campaign pledge to listen to the generals on the ground. Should he do so, or come up with a proposal the generals find to be a workable solution, the timing of such a decision becomes less a factor and the president may well earn bipartisan praise. (Though I agree, time is running out.)

And while gridlock demonstrates the difficulties of governing, the stimulus bill was signed into law and Obamacare passed the House. Given what we've seen so far this year, voters may actually want more gridlock. The 39 Democrats who defied Speaker Nancy Pelosi and voted against the healthcare reform bill didn't do so because of worries about gridlock, they did so precisely because their constituents wanted it stopped.

No, the Democratic Party has a larger problem. It's called spending.

Peter Roff November 12, 2009

Gridlock and Indecision Spur Polling Shift from Obama to Republicans

By Peter Roff, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

The venerable Gallup organization reports that, according to its latest national survey, registered voters now favor the Republicans over the Democrats on the congressional generic ballot test by a margin of four points, 48 percent to 44 percent.

For the Democrats, particularly in the White House, this is not good news as it reflects a pronounced move away from President Obama and his policies at a particularly critical juncture. Key to the swing is the shift in attitude by independent voters who, while not necessarily willing to call themselves Republicans, are saying they are willing to vote that way in the next national election.

Mary Kate Cary November 11, 2009

Muslim Leaders Need to Condemn Violence

By Mary Kate Cary, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

I received a call from the Gallup Organization a few nights ago, conducting a poll on various world religions. They asked if I knew the name of the holy book of Islam (the Koran) and the name of the prophet of Islam (Muhammad). But here's the sad part: they asked me if I agreed that Islam is a religion of peace. I thought about it, and said I had to disagree.

The reason I don't think Islam is a religion of peace is that I am not aware of a single Muslim cleric stepping forward to denounce acts of violence committed in the name of Islam. This has happened over and over, and yet the mainstream Muslim leaders—presumably peaceful religious leaders who are not radicals—never step forward to call for an end to murderous rampages and terrorist acts committed in the name of Islam.

Why not?

Mary Kate Cary November 11, 2009

Supreme Court Should Listen to Alan Simpson on Juvenile Sentencing

By Mary Kate Cary, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

Monday, the Supreme Court heard arguments on the constitutionality of sentencing juvenile offenders to life without parole for crimes that do not involve the taking of a life. One of my all-time favorite Republicans, former Wyoming Senator Alan Simpson, made a better argument than any of the lawyers could have—on his spending part of his youth with guns and jail, and facing the possibility of being locked up for good. It's a great read, and very persuasive. In the weeks since he wrote his opinion piece, it's been quoted in newspapers all over the world. You can read it here.

Peter Roff November 10, 2009

Time for Term Limits in Congress?

By Peter Roff, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

In the early '90s the Republican march to majority included the idea that it was time to impose term limits on members of the U.S. House and Senate. A part of the Contract with America, term limits died thanks in part to a disagreement among its supporters over just what those terms should be.

It also didn't help the cause that those who followed Newt Gingrich and Dick Armey as leaders of the House GOP determined that voluntarily ceding power to other people might not be the most prudent of ideas, especially after the party had spent 40 years in the political wilderness.

Bonnie Erbe November 10, 2009

Google's Free Airport Wi-Fi: Techno-Heroin?

By Bonnie Erbe, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

I'm conflicted about Google's announcement today that it will subsidize free wireless network access in 47 airports from now until January 15—and indefinitely in the airports of Burbank, Calif., and Seattle.

The promotion, in cooperation with Boingo Wireless, Advanced Wireless Group, and Airport Marketing Income, is the latest effort to use free Wi-Fi to boost a brand. Among others: Yahoo is sponsoring Wi-Fi in Times Square in New York, and Google is sponsoring Internet access on Virgin America flights during the holidays.

It's a great holiday gift, don't get me wrong. I'm one of those frequent travelers who hates long layovers with my laptop. I'm stuck killing time between flights only to encounter the deal-breaker of a $5.00 or $10.00 charge when I try to logon at an airport.