GOP Clueless on Stimulus Package

It shouldn't surprise me, but not a single Republican voted in favor of the Obama stimulus package passed by the House this week. This after President Obama made a point of meeting with the GOP House caucus and altering the stimulus to include massive tax cuts. Their solution? More tax cuts. You know, tax cuts...that thing they did back in the early 2000s that didn't have any long-term benefits at all, especially not for the middle class? The thing they always suggest as a solution for every economic ill, even though they've suddenly become aware that we have a deficit and the people who are most capable of helping pay it down somehow deserve to pay less than the rest of us?

The Washington Post's Eugene Robinson draws an interesting parallel between this week's vote and the 1981 strike by PATCO, a union of federal aviation controllers who didn't quite realize that the national tide had turned against them:

The controllers union had legitimate gripes and calculated that the new president would deal rather than risk a disruption of air travel. The union knew that strikes by government workers were illegal, strictly speaking, but it also knew that other organizations of federal employees had gotten away with similar walkouts in the past.

Reagan declared the strike a "peril to national safety" and gave the more than 13,000 air traffic controllers 48 hours to return to work. A few complied. When the deadline expired, Reagan fired the 11,345 controllers who had defied him. Two months later, the union was decertified. Years passed before any of the strikers were allowed to work as controllers again.

...Under Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford or even Richard Nixon, the controllers might well have won their strike. Under Reagan, they had no chance -- not only because of his stubborn resolve but also because American voters had given him a broad mandate for change. (my emphasis)

Robinson rightly notes that there should be a lesson here for the modern-day GOP: they were just on the business end of epic beatdowns at every level of government. This happened because their ideas have gone stale--they've run out of solutions, and their ideology no longer addresses the problems we face. 

Nobody likes taxes and nobody likes deficits. But as expensive as this bill is, at least we get something out of it; namely better schools, better health care and better infrastructure. The stimulus, even if it ends up falling short, is at least a whole-hearted attempt at fixing the problem and setting the stage not just for recovery, but for long-term economic growth. How many times do these guys have to lose before they realize that they no longer have popular support? Right now it appears the "we-strayed-from-our-principles" cadre is winning out over the "we-just-got-crushed-so-we-better-moderate" wing. 

If this is what we can look forward to for the rest of the 111th, then one thing's for sure: if bipartisanship falls apart, it won't be Obama's fault.

Blago Removed, but Still Eligible for "Biggest Douche in the Universe" Award

Rod "Lego Hair" Blagojevich is no longer the governor of Illinois, having been impeached and removed by a vote of 59-0. Also, he can never hold office in the state of Illinois again. Also also, his hair stylist was arrested on charges of endangering the public. Blago makes one in five Illinois governors who have ended up in prison. Really guys? Get it together.

Way to embarrass your state and cast a pall over your former senator's historic victory, douche. Good riddance.

Top Dems Want to Investigate Bush

I'm not sure this is such an awesome idea. The article from AlterNet highlights how some Democratic leaders in Congress want to launch investigations into nefarious activities that the Bush Administration embraced as part of the War on Terror. From the article:

On Jan. 18, two days before Obama’s inauguration, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressed support for House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers’s plan to create a blue-ribbon panel of outside experts to probe the “broad range” of policies pursued by the Bush administration “under claims of unreviewable war powers.”

...

Conyers urged the Attorney General to “appoint a Special Counsel or expand the scope of the present investigation into CIA tape destruction to determine whether there were criminal violations committed pursuant to Bush administration policies that were undertaken under unreviewable war powers, including enhanced interrogation, extraordinary rendition, and warrantless domestic surveillance.”

I'm of two minds here. Part of me thinks that anyone who breaks the law, whether it's a shoplifting teenager or a dishonest president, should have to face the music. Not to mention the fact that the chief executive desperately needs to be reigned in after decades of an expanding "imperial presidency." 

But another part of me thinks this is potentially a very bad strategy. Yes, the Bush Administration allowed some pretty nasty stuff to happen, but then again that's not exactly a secret. Aside from the immediate verdict--an electoral smackdown and a decimated party--history will be their judge & jury. I personally did not vote to prolong the Bush era through prolonged investigations and trials; instead I was hoping to turn the page on the last eight years and move forward. 

These investigations may provide some valuable insight about presidential abuses, but at what cost? Republicans will portray them as partisan games, totally out of step with campaign rhetoric about bipartisanship, at a time when our country faces tremendous challenges. If nothing gets done to improve our national situation, that could become a winning argument in 2010 or beyond.

Gerald Ford took enormous amounts of flak for pardoning Richard Nixon, and it probably cost him a second term. But years later, after the passion of the moment has settled, many see that as one of Ford's greatest moments--he spared the country a long, drawn-out prosecution of a United States president and gave us a chance to move forward. This may be a time when we can learn from the other side.

Ashura and Foreign Policy

Normally theology is a Dem Bones thing, but I thought this was an interesting read, since it relates to our foreign policy. Plus, I think we would all do well to learn more about what makes the Middle East tick so we can cut through the bull and form legitimate opinions. The Roanoke Times had an article Monday about the upcoming holiday of Ashura, a hugely significant event for Shia Muslims throughout the world. I remember a little about Ashura from a class I took on Middle Eastern politics, so here's a very rough nutshell approximation of what it's about:

Not long after the Prophet Muhammad founded the Muslim faith, he and his followers built a pretty large following in the Arabian peninsula. But when Muhammad died, the Islamic community came into conflict over who should lead their new faith, and there were basically two schools of thought: one said the caliph (roughly like the pope) should be drawn from among his peers, the other holy men of Islam (roughly like cardinals)--this group became the Sunni. The other group said that only members of Muhammad's family were worthy of leading the community--here come the Shia. All of this came to a head in 680 AD at the Battle of Karbalah (in modern Iraq). Muhammad's grandson Ali Hussein led a small group of Shia defenders against a much larger Sunni force; the battle became a massacre, and Hussein was executed along with all his defenders. To this day, Shia Muslims revere Hussein as a martyr and put him on a similar level as Christians view Jesus, though without the messianic connotations. This BBC article is several years old, but it has some good info as well. 

This whole episode led to a schism that has persisted ever since, dividing Muslims into Shia and Sunni--blood has been spilled more than once, and it continues to happen in Iraq. When the British and French reapportioned the former Ottoman Empire after World War I, they paid no attention to ethnic and religious territorial lines. They pretty much drew random lines on a map to come up with the new countries, which they agreed to split 50/50 between their empires. This hodgepodge effect is a big reason that Middle Eastern politics are so complicated today. I hope that President Obama's appearance on al-Arabiyah will set the stage for improved relations with the Muslim world so that we can begin to construct a lasting peace and undo some of the mistakes of the past.

Playing the Beatles Backwards

Now for a totally non-political distraction that came to my inbox recently: Playing the Beatles Backwards, a ranking of 185 Beatles songs from best to worst from JamsBio Magazine. It's a good read, though some of his rankings are blasphemous fallacies--"Julia," one of the few real gems on the White Album, is only #148? "And Your Bird Can Sing" is lower than "Within You Without You"? Lies. Filthy lies. 

Nevertheless, I commend the effort of ranking and rating all these songs, and providing a Youtube link to each one as well. Go forth and enjoy.

Webb, Perriello Ask for Better Amtrak Service in Danville

Congressman Tom Perriello and Senator Jim Webb asked Amtrak to improve rail service into Danville last week. This is especially timely for me, since I rode the Amtrak to Danville on the way back from D.C. Thursday night. They make some very good points about ways to improve ridership; Tom's money quote is in bold:

"I'm pleased to join with Sen. Webb to press for options that make it easier for people to travel to and from Danville by rail, and look forward to working with Amtrak and city officials to make our plan a reality," he said. "It's time to look for game-changers, and increased access is part of that answer."

Among the upgrades to Amtrak service, Webb and Perriello requested the placement of a Quick-Track automated ticket machine at the Danville station and the consideration of marketing strategies, in partnership with the city, designed to increase ridership.

They also asked for more convenient train schedules--something other than a 4:57 AM departure time would be a good place to start, and arriving in Danville at 11:14 PM wasn't particularly awesome either. More trains at more reasonable times would almost certainly put more people on the rails, especially as gas prices start to head north again. Their request for automated on-site ticketing would be especially helpful, as there is currently no way to purchase a ticket at the train station--this could be a nasty surprise for any unsuspecting tourist or businessperson hoping to catch a train home.

One thing they didn't mention is that the train station/science museum is located in the heart of downtown Danville, near a community market that hosted Vice President Joe Biden in October and a music pavilion that brings in some pretty large acts during the summer months. Along the same street are several blocks of what appear to be old tobacco warehouses sitting vacant (Danville readers, correct me if I'm wrong.) Those structures could be converted into office and retail space, as well as roomy apartments for families and young professionals. Having a train nearby such mixed-use urban areas could help revitalize downtown Danville and boost the overall economy of the region.

My Inaugural Adventure

Hello all, it's good to be back. It's been nearly a week since my last post, wherein I promised inaugural stories and the like, so here goes:

I carpooled to D.C. last Monday with local musicians and campaign superheroes Doug & Telisha Williams, and we encountered an almost eerie lack of rush-hour traffic. We met up with some friends and former campaign workers and headed to the Old Dominion Brewery, which I highly recommend. After that, we parted ways and I spent the night at a friend's apartment on the campus of George Washington University--between myself and three other young Obamaphiles, it was a cozy fit.

We woke up the next morning at the harsh hour of 5:45 (though none of us really slept much) to bundle up and engage in some pre-inaugural festivities, including a champagne & orange juice toast (I believe the kids call them "mimosas"). We walked out of the apartment building around 6:30 into a street teeming with students from GWU--some of the young voters who finally showed up in 2008. From every side street, every alley and every building, the crowd grew, until finally we took over the street itself. Despite the frigid cold and the early hour, the air was alive with energy and enthusiasm. There was an incredible unity of purpose that everyone knew and felt without having to verbalize it. 

We walked the street--our street--under a quarter-moon and a few leftover stars, and there it was: the sun rising over the Washington Monument. Maybe the symbolism is just now hitting me, but it really seemed, figuratively and literally, that a new day had come. 

After walking the four blocks to the National Mall, the whole crowd began packing in like sardines. As it became clear that our spot on the Mall would soon be overwhelmed and since I had received Blue Gate tickets from Congressman Perriello, I figured I should escape the Mall while I still could. I set out for the Blue Gate and left my friends to certain immobility--I lost track of Megan first, and she disappeared as if beneath a giant human wave. 

I finally waded over to Constitution Ave and looked for my ticket area, which was wrapped around a federal building on the other side of a four-lane column that was the line for the Silver Gate. The best way to get there would have been to take Constitution until reaching 1st Street and working my way there, but the road was barricaded and blocked off at 3rd. Undeterred, I charged through to the Blue line; later my friend Ryan would comment that the crowd took on a life of its own, like a giant living organism snaking its way through the city, with everyone subject to the whims of everyone else. I had the same feeling more than once last Tuesday. 

After several hours of either standing still or moving at less than snail's pace, I finally made it through security on the other side of the gate, just in time for the swearing-in of Joe Biden. I couldn't see much because I was behind some frustratingly large trees, but I could hear everything perfectly. When Obama spoke, the crowd was completely silent--I sat and listened, wondering what would make it into the great inaugural quotes of history. All around, I saw a microcosm of the Obama coalition--I saw students and twenty-somethings and thought about my college friends who supported Obama in the pages of U.Va.'s Cavalier Daily or put up rally signs outside their Lawn rooms. I remembered the laid-off women who volunteered in between classes at the New College Institute, where they hoped to earn a more competitive degree. I remembered the African American voters who made phone calls and watched polls and probably never thought they would see this day.

All in all, it took five hours to get back to the apartment. There are many legitimate criticisms to make of how D.C. handled evacuating 2 million people, but I would much rather leave it here. Despite the chaos and confusion, it really was an excellent experience. One day I'll be glad to tell my kids and grandkids that I saw President Obama's (first) inauguration and that I was there when a new kind of politics came to Washington. I hope they look back and see the start of a truly great presidency.

Out for a Bit...

I'm leaving this morning to go up to D.C. for the inauguration and will not be back until late Thursday night. There's a good chance I won't be near a computer before then, but never fear, 220 South will return on Friday with all sorts of inaugural goodies and tales of Beltway adventures.

Until then, please navigate the blogroll on the right-hand side of the screen, especially Dem Bones and What is Right for Virginia.

I Have a Dream

If you've never watched the video or read the full text of MLK's most iconic speech, here is your chance, and I encourage you to do so. 

Chills. 

The Dream at a White Church

A really cool thing happened at my church the other night. I decided to hold off on writing about it until today, given the holiday we celebrate today and the president we swear in tomorrow. Thursday evening, there was a gathering at First Baptist Church of Martinsville in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Our pastor, Dennis Knight, coordinated and co-hosted the event with Rev. Tyler Millner of Morning Star Holy Church in Axton. A quick bit of context for out-of-area readers: First Baptist is a historically white, upper-class church with a 125-year history in the heart of Martinsville City and Tyler Millner is an influential pastor in the local African-American community. 

I arrived at 6:30 and the building was already beginning to fill up--by the 7:15 start time, our cavernous sanctuary was more full than I have ever seen. Pastor Knight spoke a few words about Dr. King and gave an opening prayer, then Rev. Millner spoke. I was in the balcony operating the sound and lighting system, which gave me just the right perspective to look down and see what I hope Dr. King can see--white and black sitting side by side on the same pews. I saw people who were old enough to remember segregated movie theaters, colored-only water fountains and the battles over school integration, but none of them showed signs of remembering those things with bitterness. Those things are merely history and this is the beginning of the future. At the end of the evening, following two outstanding gospel performances, they all chatted, shook hands and thanked each other for coming; I sincerely hope we do this again next year. 

My next post will be a video of the "I Have a Dream" speech. King makes reference to the Founding Fathers and the high standards they set for the nation but could not themselves attain, and the continuing struggle to reach our founding ideals. The Founders left us a road map showing our destination. It's as if they're standing over our shoulder pointing and saying, "Doesn't this sound great? That's the kind of country we should be." Thursday night showed me that we're still heading toward that destination; Tuesday morning shows that we are much closer than we have ever been.

Cross-posted to Blue Commonwealth.