I have always seen myself as having a political outlook based on a mix of idealistic progressism and pragmatic reasoning. This pragmatism has – sometimes – led me to harbor econo-capitalist views that prevented me from  fully embracing the ultra liberal viewpoints of some of my democratic friends.

Five months into this project and it seems like things have changes… A lot!

I attribute this change mainly to the Republicans’ descent into bat_shit_fucking_crazy territory.

The republican party has been taken over by extremists who are setting an agenda that will assure its future irrelevance. Let’s go through the list shall we?

Immigration – I have no idea why, but they somehow don’t understand that racial profiling is wrong. Everyone understand that immigration should be fixed, but at least democrats don’t do it through racist laws.

Muslim center in New York – I wrote about the Cordoba project earlier this summer, but the issue just recently caught the eye of the media. I was very surprised by Newt Gingrich reactions. He’s post-Obama views haven’t earned him any brownie points (see what I did there!) , but his comment on the mosque have made me lose any respect I had left. The opposition to the mosque is just bigoted, ethnocentric and very dangerous. Why would anyone who believe in Islam ever vote republican after this? Republicans are using the 9/11 victims arguments as a face card. The real issue here is that – just like we claim – they hate anything that is different  or that they do not understand.

Obama’s nationality – Like many have said before. Would this be an issue had his dad been white and from Europe? The answer is of course not. He would have fit into the mold established by those before him and no one would have tried to figure out if he was truly who he says he is. The fact that this has stayed an issues shows that America still believes that you cannot be truly American unless you look a certain way. Which is quite sad.

According to Michael Gerson UK conservatism is the biggest threat to democrats and President Obama. His column argues that republicans may regain power by proposing austerity measures in the mold Cameron’s June 22, budget.

It’d be interesting to see if his prediction materialize. This would require — as he acknowledges — the republicans to raise taxes (on the wealthy); a crucial step that they seem unwilling to take. Congress is going to have to vote for tax hikes as well as spending cuts to successfully decrease the deficit. Cuts would not only impact welfare programs but also the defense department, including its off budget items (Iraq and Afghanistan). Are the republicans ready for that?

Here is the first:

Peaceful New Yorkers, pls refute the Ground Zero mosque plan if you believe catastrophic pain caused @ Twin Towers site is too raw, too real

Here is the second (and most controversial):

Peace-seeking Muslims, pls understand, Ground Zero mosque is UNNECESSARY provocation; it stabs hearts. Pls reject it in interest of healing

I’m not very familiar with the underlying issue, but I find these quite disturbing. There is no question that Palin is entitled to her views on the mosque’s construction, but these tweets’ wording is inconsiderate and imprudent. Perhaps Palin’s true intent was lost in the days of 140 character long statements, but she is still responsible for her words. What is the point of adding the words “peace-seeking Muslims” when the tweet could have instead called on New York’s community and those pushing for the new mosque (actually it’s going to be a center) to empathize with those against its construction.

I personally do not see the harm in the construction of the Cordoba House ( the building that Palin refers to as a mosque). The house is meant to serve not only as a religious point, but also as  learning and PR center. It is going to be build two blocks away from the trade center, not at ground-zero. I understand that the attacks are a delicate subject but it is important that we do not loose sight and forget that there is an even greater concept than the one which the towers represented. A concept that is embodied in the American experience and represented in a structured that stands just a few miles from ground-zero, shining the brightest light this world has ever seen.

I personally believe that most of these candidates will have a hard time getting elected this year. They are not going to appeal to the republican base, which today consists of the tea party. No matter how hard they spin the situation they will still be black candidates trying to gain support from a movement whose message harbors racist undertones. Also, any kind of affiliation with the tea party will turn-off black voters most of whom already have a negative perception of the G.O.P . So these black republican candidates — in most cases — are not going to be able to gain support from either the base or their own community. This severely reduces their chances of building a coalition and getting past the primaries.

Dan Mitchell is a fellow at the CATO institute where he focuses on tax policy. He is a fervent proponent of tax havens and low tax initiatives. I found one of his recent posts on the front page of Digg.com (here) where he criticized a Times article regarding the Greek debt crisis:

A quick look at the budget numbers reveals that tax revenues have remained relatively constant in recent years, consuming nearly 40 percent of GDP.

Mitchell doesn’t provide any data to back-up his analysis, but nevertheless he is wrong. A quick look at the Greek GDP shows that it has grown at a rate of over 35% since 2005. This means that tax revenue has lagged behind GDP growth by a significant margin. Where has all the money gone? I’m not taking a stand on the issue at this point. I’m just trying to “clear out” the clutter. I’d love to hear Mitchell’s response

I share Lloyd Blankfein’s beliefs that the instruments traded were quite complicated and that the firm should not be ethically liable for changes in its trading positions. Investment banks provide services to sophisticated investors, who understand that the products sold to them do not always come with a warranty. The financial services industry is known for its cut throat nature. Each party in a trade thinks that they are getting a better deal than the other.

The public needs to realize that Goldman isn’t a car salesman. The company underwrites securities that are bought and sold by investors who choose to expose themselves to their relative levels of risk.

It is going to be interesting to see what kind of welcome he gets. One side, he has been pretty good for Georgia (and of course, in my humble opinion, the nation). The stimulus bill provided millions for broadband access across north Georgia, which could help bring in more industry and improve education for the rural poor (A move, that by the way, got Sonny Perdue and Joe Biden on the same stage). Of course, today, Obama announced the first loan guarantees for new nuclear reactors in the US since the 70′s to be built where else, but in Georgia. All in all, I’d say those are two things which would normally ingratiate Georgians to the President.

But then I remember I live in Georgia, home of the more vocal (Tom Price, Jack Kingston) and crazy (Paul Broun) conservatives politicians. Which leads me to wonder, given that there will undoubtedly be a large gathering of “teabaggers/ tea partiers/ hooligans with guns and a fifth graders understanding of the Constitution”, why choose Georgia? It is not as if this is a target state for Democrats on a national level. Granted, it will give him the opportunity to side step the national media filters and communicate more clearly to Georgians, but to what end?

Whatever that reason (and frankly, I can’t fathom what it is), I think this is a real opportunity for the DPG and other Democratic state organizations to connect with the base, do some organizing, and build the party up for November. Whether it is through hosting watch party’s, organizing some sort of trip to Savannah, or canvassing the event, there is a lot that can be done to support Democrats in Georgia through Barack Obama’s visit to the fair Peach State. It is definitely a great chance for building the party and base, both in Savannah, and to a certain extent statewide. The hope is of course, that those organizations don’t let the pitch sail by.

Senator Bayh from indiana just announced that he was leaving the senate at the end of his term. Although I disagree with him on some issues – mainly mandatory minimums and guns – I really believe that this is a loss for the Democratic party and congress. If there is one thing that we need more of right now, it’d definetly be moderates. Bayh mentioned the lack of bipartisanship, among other thing, as the reason for his choice. He is right, but lets not forget that Republicans have done next to nothing so far to help achieve true bipartisanship.

There are talks of a Gubernatorial run in his home state, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he just called it a day and just entered the private arena.

In understanding the Mohamed trial, what is most disturbing is how the argument has transformed. Initially, the argument was that because we will be holding a trial for a terrorist, that trial will give him a platform from which to spread hate. This has since devolved (which is difficult, because that argument is flaky as is) into a question of cost; should we be willing to pay the security costs for the trial? Should we annoy New York drivers in midtown to to transport this individual? It will cost a lot of money, and were already in debt.

This is the biggest load of baloney sausage I have ever heard, and to hear it from elected officials – who swear to uphold the constitution – makes me truly nauseous. From what research I have done, and from all precedent known to me including the Bush administration, if you set foot on American soil, your ass gets a fair trial, a jury of peers, and a sound legal defense. Hell, that is why the Bush administration set up Guantanamo – because once you touched that blessed soil that is America, no matter if you are Mother Teresa or Caligula, you get the rights which we all enjoy. To argue that for financial equity and legal expediency we should abandon this precedent – this principle of justice – because of who the lawbreaker is a betrayal of our founding documents, and our moral core. I don’t give a damn if it costs as much as the useless fighter we have pursued for twenty years or the mythical space laser missile defense shield that will never work, justice for all is why we still get to call ourselves the most free,just, and bad ass society in the millions of years of human existence (or 6,000 years, Mrs. Palin).

This leads me to the underwear bomber – the infamous mastermind who decided after Richard Reid couldn’t light his shoe on fire, maybe right under the genitalia would be better place to try and ignite. Darth Cheney will undoubtedly call his mirandizing a travesty of justice, and a failure to capitalize on intelligence. He might be right, if the premise wasn’t totally carp. Again, once you touch the US of A, you get our rights, no matter who you are.  Next, all accounts point to the fact that this guy has spewing information like a third grader with projectile vomitting thanks to FBI interrogation. Now, I don’t try to speak for others motive (ie I’m about to) but there are only two reasons I can honestly see why the Republicans are attacking the Obama administration.

1.) They smell blood on national security, and are trying to capitalize in a critical fundraising period leading up to the November elections. This one is the most obvious, and likely the ultimate factor behond much of the ballyhooing and soapboxing.

2.) If Mr. Dick Bomber (not to be confused with Dick Cheney’s personal plane) gives actionable intelligence without the use of electrodes strapped to his nearly immolated man bits, it will severely undermine the “torture saved lives” argument, and thus underscore the Republican security narrative in the run up to the next election.

So, what can be clearly seen is this: Republicans are playing to American’s fears and prejudices again, and its got some traction. But, if the administrations reply tomorrow (headed up by Vice President Folksy McTalkstoomuch) can convey a certain seriousness about returning to the American justice system traditions, and do so without a perceived naivete that has scratched at this administration from the beginning, then they have the potential to turn this fight around.

First, it is that Obama’s job approval rating is in sliding not because Barack Obama’s policies are viewed as bad, but because of his inability to accomplish them in a timely manner. Obviously healthcare is the greatest example of this, where Obama allowed the Finance Committee to serve as his primary carrier in the Senate (in the hopes of getting a “bipartisan” bill).  In so doing, he allowed Republicans to drag out the debate over such a long timeline that it has made healthcare legislation the longest single bill to exist on the floor of Congress. As FiveThirtyEight.com points out here, after each health reform passed each house of congress, there was a small bump in polls. I think the eventual analysis that Mr. Silver is right, if perhaps lacking in nuance.

The second thing I think the discrepancy shows is Obama’s ability to communicate his job performance. This is a President who averted the second coming of the Great Depression, passed equal pay for women regulations, scaled back massive intrusions of privacy to US citizens, fought the military industrial complex and won, started a highly lauded education program, has made significant breakthrough in courting the international community including and especially India, and has been able to successfully accelerate the drawdown in Iraq. But ask the common man what he has done, and I imagine the answer will be closer to some sort of distortion of socialism then these ideas.

The Obama administration needs to learn t0o communicate, and pass healthcare, and then fry the Republican party on Financial Reform. If they can do that, they will do more to protect the Democratic majority than any “batten down the hatches” strategy can.