We’re Sorry, Too
“Won’t lose your insurance” wasn’t the whole story,
And the Obamacare rollout didn’t cover him in glory.
But he’s just the president,
Not some help-desk resident,
And anyway, President Obama at least said he was sorry.
Month: November 2013
Bohlinger Equates Tea Party, Taliban
We need to challenge the tea party representatives who like the Taliban shut our country down.
— Former Montana Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger (D), quoted by the Helena Montana Record, on why he’s running for U.S. Senate.
Cuccinelli Never Called McAuliffe to Concede Election
I have not had the opportunity yet to speak to the attorney general.
— Virginia Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe (D), quoted by Politico, saying Ken Cuccinelli (R) never called to concede the election while adding, “I stopped being surprised at politics a long time ago.”
Mitch McConnell Does Simple Math
We have a disability right now — it’s called in the Senate ’55 of them and 45 of us.’ I’m not great at math, but 55 is more than 45.
— Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), in an interview with Peggy Noonan, on the GOP’s inability to repeal Obamacare.
Unemployment, Economy Numbers Better Than Expected
204,000
Number of jobs added to the U.S. economy in October, while the unemployment rate rose to 7.3%, the Wall Street Journal reports. Combined with yesterday’s report that third-quarter GDP grew 2.8%, October economic data “have been surprisingly strong, especially considering many economists thought the 16-day partial government shutdown would skew the numbers.”
Davis Appropriates Pro-Life Language in Texas Gubernatorial Campaign
I am pro-life. I care about the life of every child: every child that goes to bed hungry, every child that goes to bed without a proper education, every child that goes to bed without being able to be a part of the Texas dream, every woman and man who worry about their children’s future and their ability to provide for that future. I care about life and I have a record of fighting for people above all else.
— Texas gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis (D), quoted by the Dallas Morning News, borrowing a phrase from anti-abortion activists.
An Inescapable Fact of Politics
In politics, when you have to eat shit, you don’t nibble.
— Democratic strategist Chris Kofinis, quoted by CBS News, saying that President Obama “would be wise to admit his like-your-plan-keep-your-plan dodge was a mistake and apologize immediately and conspicuously.”
Dems Increasingly Anxious Over Botched Obamacare Rollout
I believe that there’s been a crisis of confidence created in the dysfunctional nature of the website, the canceling of policies, and sticker shock from some people.
— Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), quoted by Roll Call, signaling increasing Democratic anxiety over the botched rollout of Obamacare.
Why Bill de Blasio Doesn’t Care, Is Driving Cadillacs in His Dreams
Much is being made of Bill de Blasio’s recent mayoral win in New York City, with the Washington Post even calling it “historic,” since he will be the first Democrat to serve in that office since David Dinkins won in 1989.
It’s not just worth nothing that de Blasio won, but how. De Blasio focused on income inequality in NYC, or what he called “two cities,” one rich and one poor, much the way the ultimately disappointing Sen. John Edwards talked about two Americas.
As Marketplace’s Sabri Ben-Achour noted:
According to the Census Bureau, income inequality in the New York City region is higher than any other major metropolitan region in the country. So taking the whole city, Brooklyn to the Bronx, if you are in the bottom 20 percent in New York your income, on average, is about $9,000 a year. If you’re in the top 20 percent you make, on average, $223,000 a year. So otherwise, put [that] the top 20 percent of the population makes about 25 times what the bottom 20 percent makes.
Tea Bagger Loser in Alabama Special Congressional Election Shows How Not to Give a Concession Speech
The much-watched special election for the U.S. House seat in Alabama’s District 1 ended with a victory for Bradley Byrne, the far-right Republican who was not a tea bagger. After losing the race by just a few points, the tea bagger, Dean Young, demonstrated the sort of juvenile behavior that has become the trademark of the tea party lately:
