Comments on: secrets and substance http://www.ordinary-gentlemen.com/2009/05/secrets-and-substance/ Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:46:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Notre ‘Bama | The League of Ordinary Gentlemen http://www.ordinary-gentlemen.com/2009/05/secrets-and-substance/#comment-7304 Notre ‘Bama | The League of Ordinary Gentlemen Mon, 18 May 2009 16:39:20 +0000 http://www.ordinary-gentlemen.com/?p=4159#comment-7304 [...] a member of the Democratic Party, who can neither find nor fight their way out of a paper bag.  As ED rightly points out Pelosi and Reid et. al do not inspire confidence.  [Though Br. Kain's also right that The [...] [...] a member of the Democratic Party, who can neither find nor fight their way out of a paper bag.  As ED rightly points out Pelosi and Reid et. al do not inspire confidence.  [Though Br. Kain's also right that The [...]

]]> By: Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle http://www.ordinary-gentlemen.com/2009/05/secrets-and-substance/#comment-7279 Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle Sat, 16 May 2009 23:41:33 +0000 http://www.ordinary-gentlemen.com/?p=4159#comment-7279 Ottovbvs: What has Reid accomplished in the Senate? Very little. He can't even get Dawn Johnsen confirmed. How sad is that? Ottovbvs:
What has Reid accomplished in the Senate? Very little. He can’t even get Dawn Johnsen confirmed. How sad is that?

]]> By: Pelosi & Reid Just As 20th Century As Boehner & McConnell? Why Of Course They Are! http://www.ordinary-gentlemen.com/2009/05/secrets-and-substance/#comment-7270 Pelosi & Reid Just As 20th Century As Boehner & McConnell? Why Of Course They Are! Sat, 16 May 2009 13:24:55 +0000 http://www.ordinary-gentlemen.com/?p=4159#comment-7270 [...] Kain nails it: To me, Pelosi’s denial (and accusation against the CIA) lays bare a deeper truth about the [...] [...] Kain nails it: To me, Pelosi’s denial (and accusation against the CIA) lays bare a deeper truth about the [...]

]]> By: Ottovbvs http://www.ordinary-gentlemen.com/2009/05/secrets-and-substance/#comment-7269 Ottovbvs Sat, 16 May 2009 12:26:07 +0000 http://www.ordinary-gentlemen.com/?p=4159#comment-7269 If Pelosi and Reid are such schmucks you'd have to wonder how they won control of house and senate TWO YEARS before Obama was elected president and then further increased their majorities in 08. This attempt to drag Pelosi into the torture controversy is basically an in beltway game that has little resonance in the country and will probably be forgotten in a week, If it's not it will be because it builds the pressure for some sort of congressional or administration truth investigation. Somehow I don't see this ultimately redounding to the credit of Republicans particularly since a few nasty accusations are surfacing that amongst other things these guys were being tortured to provide evidence of a link between Hussein and Al Quaeda. Overall the effort to make Pelosi some sort of boogey man to compete with Cheney doesn't seem to have any legs to me. I'm also mildly entertained by the newfound Republican enthusiasm for the truth and integrity of the CIA who they have been more or less at war with for the past eight years. If Pelosi and Reid are such schmucks you’d have to wonder how they won control of house and senate TWO YEARS before Obama was elected president and then further increased their majorities in 08. This attempt to drag Pelosi into the torture controversy is basically an in beltway game that has little resonance in the country and will probably be forgotten in a week, If it’s not it will be because it builds the pressure for some sort of congressional or administration truth investigation. Somehow I don’t see this ultimately redounding to the credit of Republicans particularly since a few nasty accusations are surfacing that amongst other things these guys were being tortured to provide evidence of a link between Hussein and Al Quaeda. Overall the effort to make Pelosi some sort of boogey man to compete with Cheney doesn’t seem to have any legs to me. I’m also mildly entertained by the newfound Republican enthusiasm for the truth and integrity of the CIA who they have been more or less at war with for the past eight years.

]]> By: Quote Of The Day at Hispanic Pundit http://www.ordinary-gentlemen.com/2009/05/secrets-and-substance/#comment-7264 Quote Of The Day at Hispanic Pundit Sat, 16 May 2009 07:11:20 +0000 http://www.ordinary-gentlemen.com/?p=4159#comment-7264 [...] then I think the GOP should have no trouble at all coming in and cleaning up.” — E.D. Kain Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and [...] [...] then I think the GOP should have no trouble at all coming in and cleaning up.” — E.D. Kain Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and [...]

]]> By: John M. http://www.ordinary-gentlemen.com/2009/05/secrets-and-substance/#comment-7262 John M. Sat, 16 May 2009 04:40:06 +0000 http://www.ordinary-gentlemen.com/?p=4159#comment-7262 It's true that personality is a remarkably strong force in politics, and that the current House and Senate leaders for the Democrats are currently rather useless. However, I'm not sure how rudderless the Democrats would be without Obama. If he hadn't run we'd probably have Hillary in charge right now, and say what you will about her, she is certainly leagues more capable than Reid or Pelosi. I think the Democrats also have a pretty clearly articulated agenda, particularly on the environment and health care as well as the wars abroad. Now, is there an overarching philosophical principle as there was with conservatism a few decades back? No. But I for one hope we (as a country or even dare I say planet) are moving away from an era of grand governing principles (not just conservatism or liberalism but also recent failed grand experiments like communism, fascism, and socialism). I would like to think that we are instead perhaps heading towards an era of pragmatic solutions to problems on the ground. It’s true that personality is a remarkably strong force in politics, and that the current House and Senate leaders for the Democrats are currently rather useless. However, I’m not sure how rudderless the Democrats would be without Obama. If he hadn’t run we’d probably have Hillary in charge right now, and say what you will about her, she is certainly leagues more capable than Reid or Pelosi.

I think the Democrats also have a pretty clearly articulated agenda, particularly on the environment and health care as well as the wars abroad. Now, is there an overarching philosophical principle as there was with conservatism a few decades back? No. But I for one hope we (as a country or even dare I say planet) are moving away from an era of grand governing principles (not just conservatism or liberalism but also recent failed grand experiments like communism, fascism, and socialism). I would like to think that we are instead perhaps heading towards an era of pragmatic solutions to problems on the ground.

]]> By: Balloon Juice » Blog Archive » Co-opting the Sane http://www.ordinary-gentlemen.com/2009/05/secrets-and-substance/#comment-7261 Balloon Juice » Blog Archive » Co-opting the Sane Sat, 16 May 2009 03:18:03 +0000 http://www.ordinary-gentlemen.com/?p=4159#comment-7261 [...] forming within the chaos of the Democratic party and the underlying inherent weaknesses (see also E.D. Kain). Unless my judgment is as bad as it was in 2000 (and let’s face it, I’m still an [...] [...] forming within the chaos of the Democratic party and the underlying inherent weaknesses (see also E.D. Kain). Unless my judgment is as bad as it was in 2000 (and let’s face it, I’m still an [...]

]]> By: Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle http://www.ordinary-gentlemen.com/2009/05/secrets-and-substance/#comment-7260 Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle Sat, 16 May 2009 02:47:20 +0000 http://www.ordinary-gentlemen.com/?p=4159#comment-7260 Michael: Nancy has one big problem. She can't seem to control Steny Hoyer. The Democratic leadership in the House is old and corrupt. We need new blood(which doesn't include Rahm coming back to the House in a few years). It is obvious why Reid, Pelosi and Hoyer occupy the posts they do. Campaign cash(which Hoyer spreads around alot better than Pelosi). What we don't need though is Blue Dogs like Hoyer and his ilk running the place. They'd just as soon cave to Republicans on everything(like Reid already does). In the end, the Republicans are the ones that blew it. The Democrats just fell into regaining the majority. There is a good reason Will Rogers said what he did and it applies as much now as it ever did. Michael:
Nancy has one big problem. She can’t seem to control Steny Hoyer. The Democratic leadership in the House is old and corrupt. We need new blood(which doesn’t include Rahm coming back to the House in a few years). It is obvious why Reid, Pelosi and Hoyer occupy the posts they do. Campaign cash(which Hoyer spreads around alot better than Pelosi). What we don’t need though is Blue Dogs like Hoyer and his ilk running the place. They’d just as soon cave to Republicans on everything(like Reid already does). In the end, the Republicans are the ones that blew it. The Democrats just fell into regaining the majority. There is a good reason Will Rogers said what he did and it applies as much now as it ever did.

]]> By: Michael http://www.ordinary-gentlemen.com/2009/05/secrets-and-substance/#comment-7259 Michael Sat, 16 May 2009 01:26:44 +0000 http://www.ordinary-gentlemen.com/?p=4159#comment-7259 I agree that Harry's a waste of space, but I think a bit more highly than you about Nancy. Nevertheless, the Republicans are in deep doo-doo of their own making. Who could rise to a leadership position in today's GOP without disowning evolution, climate change, legitimate functions of government, separation of church and state, etc.? As long as the 21% of Americans who qualify as morons are GOP, I think the Dems will always have the lead in the leadership contest. I agree that Harry’s a waste of space, but I think a bit more highly than you about Nancy.
Nevertheless, the Republicans are in deep doo-doo of their own making. Who could rise to a leadership position in today’s GOP without disowning evolution, climate change, legitimate functions of government, separation of church and state, etc.?
As long as the 21% of Americans who qualify as morons are GOP, I think the Dems will always have the lead in the leadership contest.

]]> By: Fred http://www.ordinary-gentlemen.com/2009/05/secrets-and-substance/#comment-7258 Fred Sat, 16 May 2009 00:29:58 +0000 http://www.ordinary-gentlemen.com/?p=4159#comment-7258 I think you are pretty much dead-on when it comes to the top-driven Democratic party (much as the party was under Clinton as well). And your points about personality are well taken. But you can't overlook the fact that the Democratic base is far wider, deeper and more engaged in the issues than the Republican base--fertile land for growing future leaders. And many Dems (and others who voted for Obama) aren't involved because of Obama's personality so much as the way he engages the issues. If Obama's election shows us anything, it isn't that personality triumphs, but that temperment does. I think you are pretty much dead-on when it comes to the top-driven Democratic party (much as the party was under Clinton as well). And your points about personality are well taken. But you can’t overlook the fact that the Democratic base is far wider, deeper and more engaged in the issues than the Republican base–fertile land for growing future leaders. And many Dems (and others who voted for Obama) aren’t involved because of Obama’s personality so much as the way he engages the issues. If Obama’s election shows us anything, it isn’t that personality triumphs, but that temperment does.

]]>