A Man Without a Country: Joe Lieberman is Screwed.

He walks like a republican, talks like a republican, and votes on foreign policy like a republican, so why is it taking so long for him to switch parties? The Connecticut Senator, while retaining his seat by running as an independent, is registered as a Democrat-for now. Sen. Reid (D-NV) will likely strip him of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairs, effectively making him persona non grata. Political realignment would seem to be an easy choice given that Connecticut republicans essentially gave him his seat after state democrats had shown him the door. His hawkish views on Iraq, support for Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), and speaking at the Republican National Convention may not be enough to overcome his liberal social views, creating a major snag in changing affiliations.

Connecticut is in blue New England, and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) might see an opportunity to snag a senate seat with a more conservative candidate while democrats will assuredly run a strong candidate in 2012. Senator McConnell likely sees support for the war in Iraq as Lieberman’s strongest asset, an issue that might very well be resolved in a few years. The Kentucky senator will also wonder how much help Lieberman will be in the upcoming fights for health care, the environment, taxes and Supreme Court nominees and decide that Joe would be little more than window dressing.

Don’t despair for Joe, though. His predicament is largely self-made. An elected official, of course, is expected to following his conscience. Publicly supporting a republican presidential candidate, any republican, is a different matter and should be enough for exile. Speaking at the republican convention was just fucking insane. What was he thinking? Senator Reid wouldn’t notice?

Whatever the outcome, Senator Lieberman seems poised to become marginalized, a man without a country whose hubris forced him to turn away from the party that nurtured him. So long, Joe, you won’t be missed.

Rahm Emanuel: Partisan White House or Strategic Move?

Political partisanship is the conventional wisdom of appointing Rep. Rahm Emanuel to Chief of Staff. Perhaps, but it may also show the political savvy of President-elect Obama. Sure he sent a dead fish to a democratic pollster and his elbows are as sharp as anyone in Washington, but does this sound like the type of man the President-elect would like to have to go through to enact his agenda?

Presidential agendas, even with their own party controlling congress, are not typically synchronized-witness the Clinton presidency up to 1994 and you get my drift. By appointing the Chicago congressman, the President-elect removes a potential source of resistance and gets a highly effective advocate in return. Emanuel will also bring discipline and stability to the White House, an important lesson learned by President Clinton and used to great effect by the Current Resident. In addition, he knows how to navigate congress, presumably what Senator Schumer (D-NY) meant by "He is the perfect choice. He knows the Hill, he knows substance, he knows politics, and most importantly, he can get the job done."

Republicans should also take hope. Senator Graham (R-SC) said "Rahm knows Capitol Hill and has great political skills; he can be a tough partisan but also understands the need to work together." Like an attack dog on a leash, President-elect Obama will be able to use Rep. Emanuel to enforce party unity while he crosses the aisle in the name of bi-partisanship.

Of course the mainstream media loves a controversy (and so will I if someone ever pays me to write this drivel), so the story is about how the President-elect is reneging on his promise of bi-partisanship after only two days. Speaking ironically (I assume) Republican partisan John Boehner (R-OH) called the appointment an "ironic choice for a president-elect who has promised to change Washington, make politics more civil and govern from the center." But I think that’s just hot wind escaping from the congressman’s pie hole.

I think the media does not give the President-elect enough credit in appointing Rep. Emanuel as Chief of Staff. I believe it shows great instincts and political savvy, and a large measure of self confidence. As the saying goes “keep your friends close, and a guy who sends dead, rotting fish even closer.”

Three Planks for a Better America

John Gray said “To offer a man unsolicited advice is to presume that he doesn't know what to do or that he can't do it on his own.” If this seems a bit harsh to apply to the Democratic Party as a whole, consider that their congressional approval numbers are below that of President Bush – no small feat. It is my belief that the only way out of our current mess is paved by three actions that should be adopted and carried out in concert by the Democratic Party.

The three planks, to be implemented together are: a complete and total withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan immediately (once completed this will need to be changed to “reduce the size of the military and utilize it sparingly and as a last resort”), universal health care and prescription drug price reform for all Americans, and finally a change from fossil fuels to a mix of renewable and sustainable resources. Wow, seeing the planks on paper make them sound outlandish, and one might be inclined to ask how we will pay for all of this, or if they solve the 2008 financial crisis. The answer is that the three planks work together in concert, shifting where Americans and their government spend money. Roughly speaking, these planks represent the opposite of “trickle down economics”- a “geyser” economic plan, if you will.

Plank 1: A complete and total withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan immediately.
We spend, at least officially, nearly $12 billion dollars a month for the war in Iraq alone; money that is sorely needed in our economy. From an objective distance three things become clear: we won’t ultimately be successful, we don’t have the money even if we thought we could be successful, and we are less safe due to our involvement. Only one rational course of action remains: leave immediately.

Plank 2: Universal health care and prescription drug price reform for every American.
The World Health Organization reports that Americans spend more on health care than any other nation on the planet, yet we rank 37th in overall performance and 72nd in overall health. Furthermore, we are the only industrialized nation to not have universal health care and as a result have more than 40 million people uninsured. Other countries get better health care, live longer lives and have more doctors and nurses by spending less money- all because they have universal health care.

Plank 3: Move quickly from fossil fuels to a mix of renewable and sustainable resources.
The United States is poised to start a revolution in green energy, we need only embrace it. We have a wealth of universities and research institutions to provide the necessary technology. Renewable resources abound with plentiful sunshine in the south, winds in the Midwest, tides on two coasts and geothermal activity across the country. Currently we are sending truck loads of dollars to other places, and in some cases fueling terrorists who wish to harm us. Renewable sources of energy would keep those dollars at home.

In the next several posts, I hope to prove that these three planks will ultimately solve the current economic crisis and restore the strength of the American economy.