tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post5840370138377179988..comments2024-03-10T09:24:45.565+02:00Comments on Dispatches from Vilnius: Flirting with the Fiscal CliffJames Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-86542567439790542532012-12-07T17:20:34.731+02:002012-12-07T17:20:34.731+02:00Thought that would get your attention!Thought that would get your attention!avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-51581395827615749502012-12-07T17:15:57.712+02:002012-12-07T17:15:57.712+02:00He's no match for Upton Sinclair. He actually...He's no match for Upton Sinclair. He actually had something to say and was very active with socialist causes around the world. Love the story of how Sinclair and his wife financed Eisenstein's Que Viva Mexico!James Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-2311679867770669152012-12-07T17:03:05.045+02:002012-12-07T17:03:05.045+02:00Or now that I think of it, Upton Sinclair ....Or now that I think of it, Upton Sinclair ....avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-25918462040071675552012-12-07T17:01:41.848+02:002012-12-07T17:01:41.848+02:00I think he would define himself more as the public...I think he would define himself more as the public health inspector ....avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-48125491871208251212012-12-07T16:34:03.264+02:002012-12-07T16:34:03.264+02:00Woodward as a sausage maker has a nice irony to it...Woodward as a sausage maker has a nice irony to it ; )<br />James Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-31571908257671859782012-12-07T15:44:50.568+02:002012-12-07T15:44:50.568+02:00The impression I got from this book and the one on...The impression I got from this book and the one on the war was that interpretation or perspective is not Woodward's style. He writes it down and gets it out as fast as possible -- and it reads that way. A blow by blow account of what happened, when. If you are really interested in the sausage making as they like to refer to it, then it really is fascinating. Sort of like some watch a avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-52590101578902073872012-12-07T08:41:07.427+02:002012-12-07T08:41:07.427+02:00Woodward seemed to play Obama by the typical conse...Woodward seemed to play Obama by the typical conservative stereotypes. Obama had no less than 7 years as a state legislator in Illinois before Congress. Clinton was governor for 11 years and Bush for 8. Clinton's only national experience was head of the Democratic governors' association one year. He was thrust into the limelight with his 60 Minutes interview denying he had an affair James Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-4517271049094374632012-12-07T05:19:43.798+02:002012-12-07T05:19:43.798+02:00Yeah, maybe that's it. Obama hasn't show...Yeah, maybe that's it. Obama hasn't shown enough deference, but he was friendly enough when they first met when he was a Senator according to Woodward. <br /><br />It's probably true that no one is really all that qualified to be president. Bush Jr. certainly wasn't. He had failed at just about everything he had ever attempted and left the messes for Bush Sr. and friends to avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-50547575253293106852012-12-06T18:07:50.907+02:002012-12-06T18:07:50.907+02:00I think Obama didn't give him the access he ha...I think Obama didn't give him the access he had during the Bush administration, and I think Woodward's politics lean to the Republican side. I don't see how Obama was any less qualified to deal with such matters than was Bush, or Clinton for that matter.James Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-90132536608261711752012-12-06T15:16:21.470+02:002012-12-06T15:16:21.470+02:00I did think it was funny that he felt the need to ...I did think it was funny that he felt the need to tell you how to pronounce Boehner's name. Not sure who he thinks his audience is.avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-71095520135082298022012-12-06T15:08:30.123+02:002012-12-06T15:08:30.123+02:00Reid seems like the anti-Johnson to me. Not sure ...Reid seems like the anti-Johnson to me. Not sure how he stays in power, but then maybe that's what all those big egos like -- someone without one.<br /><br />Speaking of Johnson, Caro's book made top ten at the NY Times again. I'm sort of surprised. It was good, but not great. It seemed more like a bridge between the last one and the one that's coming. Can hardly wait for avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-57339735650935869422012-12-06T15:05:05.718+02:002012-12-06T15:05:05.718+02:00I've only read the last one on the war and the...I've only read the last one on the war and the first 50 pages or so of this one. They have the feel of a book written on the run without much analysis or thought. I'll probably go back and finish this one, too, when I have time after February because he does seem to report a day-to-day calendar of events. <br /><br />For some reason he has a bee in his bonnet about Obama, and I want to avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-64788131757908094812012-12-06T10:33:28.070+02:002012-12-06T10:33:28.070+02:00From the excerpt I read, Woodward placed much of t...From the excerpt I read, Woodward placed much of the blame on Obama for the previous budget fiasco, saying Barry didn't know how to play the game. It was pretty clear to me that the Republicans felt they were in the catbird seat, having overturned the House and weren't going to budge an inch with the next election around the corner. Woodward always struck me as a neocon. He no longer James Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-69611649598496053342012-12-06T10:30:25.120+02:002012-12-06T10:30:25.120+02:00I'm no fan of Harry Reid either, but he did ne...I'm no fan of Harry Reid either, but he did negotiate the last "fiscal cliff" talks, getting a10-year, $2 tril budget cut package through Congress, which is more than what Boner or Mitch was willing to do. They seemed perfectly willing to shut down government. <br /><br />It seems this time Obama is willing to play the "shut down" card, already going through the process James Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-46357247022208780472012-12-06T08:18:17.714+02:002012-12-06T08:18:17.714+02:00As much as I might like to blame everything on Bon...As much as I might like to blame everything on Boner and Mitch, there's more blame than that to go around. When I see Harry Reid step up to the microphone, I change the channel.Rick Diguettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09556088192579865532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-7089779701716648172012-12-06T02:57:15.822+02:002012-12-06T02:57:15.822+02:00Woodward's initial description of Boehner (&qu...Woodward's initial description of Boehner ("pronounced BAY-ner" according to Woodward but it's really BERner with the e=an umlaut) is that of a deal maker who smokes too much and likes a glass or two of merlot at the Republican country club. I would say more than two from the looks of him, but that's from someone who worked in bars for too long.<br /><br />I bailed on the avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-15035323592330235412012-12-06T02:25:54.263+02:002012-12-06T02:25:54.263+02:00Seniority. It's like the military.Seniority. It's like the military.Rick Diguettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09556088192579865532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-27349929205521088812012-12-05T16:59:26.855+02:002012-12-05T16:59:26.855+02:00I wonder how guys like Boehner and McConnell rose ...I wonder how guys like Boehner and McConnell rose to the top. They are both so weak, not the type of standard bearers Republicans are demanding these days. <br /><br />Curious what Woodward had to say about Boehner?James Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-83381803774825290582012-12-05T15:52:48.878+02:002012-12-05T15:52:48.878+02:00As he should be. I do love watching him and other...As he should be. I do love watching him and others have to squirm defending tax cuts for the super rich though. They all want to go back to the days of Eisenhower, except they don't want the rich to pay taxes anymore. They want to "broaden the base." Even Pelosi said that the other day. Squeeze every nickel they can out of the poor and working class first. avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-84066155610402061452012-12-05T14:33:17.585+02:002012-12-05T14:33:17.585+02:00Fun to see the Republicans in such disarray over t...Fun to see the Republicans in such disarray over the budget talks. Boehner is getting hit from all sides.James Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-88504140949794592582012-11-30T16:57:44.138+02:002012-11-30T16:57:44.138+02:00The House Repugs don't want to get teabagged i...The House Repugs don't want to get teabagged in 2014, so they stick to their ridiculous anti-tax pledge, figuring it saves their seats. They don't give a rat's ass about anyones' interests except their own. The only recourse is to vote them out of office. The Dems have to hang tough.James Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-2749734780865920402012-11-30T15:27:58.648+02:002012-11-30T15:27:58.648+02:00That's because they are more interested in att...That's because they are more interested in attacking Susan Rice than raising taxes on the super rich. avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-56546469471570074512012-11-30T15:04:09.471+02:002012-11-30T15:04:09.471+02:00The oddest thing is that Boehner and republicans s...The oddest thing is that Boehner and republicans still think playing around with the debt ceiling is a defensible strategy. I have yet to hear one reputable economist describe this as anything but outrageous.Rick Diguettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09556088192579865532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-1887543253620324012012-11-30T14:54:53.156+02:002012-11-30T14:54:53.156+02:00Boehner appears to be losing his grip on the House...Boehner appears to be losing his grip on the House,<br /><br />http://news.yahoo.com/tom-cole-republican-congressman-making-waves-fiscal-cliff-110532741--abc-news-politics.htmlJames Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-78338251005414130662012-11-28T14:39:54.195+02:002012-11-28T14:39:54.195+02:00Charlie Rose had Warren Buffett and Carol Loomis o...Charlie Rose had Warren Buffett and Carol Loomis on the other night discussing the fiscal cliff, taxes and other economic matters,<br /><br />http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/12672James Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.com