We’re toddling on toward the end of the week – and for those Congress people who are wondering if they are going to be members of the next Congress… it’s nail-biting time.
Usually something close to 85% of the sitting members of Congress will be returned every two years – but all the signs this year seem to be pointing to a much lower number that will return to the next session. One pundit who is highly respected in these things says about 70 seats are in play in this mid-term election cycle.
Hmmm… I’m a little skeptical myself because I *know* I have this tendency to find the evidence I’m looking for – whether it’s there or not. (L) That’s not good practice for someone who wants to make a living prognosticating political fortunes – fortunately that’s not me. (J)
But when you see a long-term Congressman decide he’s not going to run again – Like David Obey – who I saw on TV describe himself as bone-tired and facing a tough political year – you begin to think things *are* shifting around. Obey is the House Appropriations Committee Chairman and he announced yesterday (Wednesday) that he won’t seek reelection – thus ending a 41-year House career and giving up one of the most powerful committee posts in the Congress – the one that decides how much and where the money goes.
There are other ‘straws’ in the wind – but I’m not astute enough to match wits with publications like Congressional Quarterly and others whose daily business it is to take the political blood pressure across all 50 states and distill it for you in a magazine that only costs seven or eight hundred dollars a year to subscribe. [But then if you’re a congressperson, you can charge it to your office account.]
So I’ll just leave it at that for today… for my money that’s one of the biggest signs it’s “going to be a bad day at Black Rock!” And I won’t hazard a guess on the numbers… and we’re still more than seven weeks away from the fateful reckoning… But never fear those congresspeople have the house wired. They don’t even have to vote on their wage raises anymore… it happens automatically unless a majority decides NOT to give themselves a raise this year… Nice arrangement – huh -- ? Saves having to answer all those nasty letters from the District saying “Why did you vote yourself a raise when we’re all out here trying to scrape up a living?” Well, that’s just a neat little gimmick they came up with allowing themselves to NOT have to vote on a pay raise – Charming arrangement.
Well… enough of my ‘sour-grapes’ approach to things today. I think I’ve just been listening to too many Presidential pronouncements. We’ve suddenly struck a vein here – seems like there’s one too often… as in TWO this week without even trying hard. Oh well… either side follows the slogan: “It takes our rascals to catch their rascals.” Maybe we ought to try changing horses in mid-stream between this year and the next. The moral landscape has a 50-50 chance to improve.
Cordially, IN HIM
Jack
Delayed audio link:
http://www.wmuu.com/blog/category/audio/just-a-minute/
“JUST A MINUTE”
A STROLL AROUND THE MENANGARIE
Just a Minute: -- Let’ take a walk around the DC menagerie. Kathleen Parker, pundit in the Washington Post calls attention to the President’s Monday afternoon whine that he’s being “talked about like a dog.” But he added it wasn’t in his prepared remarks.
Dana Milbank, also a “Postie” says it’s the Republicans who are “howling and growling at the same time.” Stephanopoulos of ABC interviewed the
Mr. Obama allowed White House staffers to take questions from the assembled reporters on condition they would not be identified. Question: When will these new stimulus jobs appear? Answer: “2011.” Question: “January 2011 or December 2011?” Answer: “Over the course of the year.” Apparently nobody briefed the President because he answered: “Immediately!”
That’s when you start to understand why things are so confused in the White House – currently known as the Animal Shelter. I’m afraid you shouldn’t look for much improvement before Next Year.
¨ I’m Jack Buttram.
(END)
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