Civil War

Civility was stillborn at the dawn of politics. So the frothing ad hominem nature of the recent debate on health care and the economy is not surprising. Nor is this country's trenchant racism coupling with rabid anti-communism anything new. The KKK has always hated niggers and communists equally. The spectrum has only shifted slightly in that black is the new red. It was naive to think that racism would dissolve in the glow of Obama's election.

Politicians have been calling each other liars since the birth of the Republic, but never has a Southern, confederate sympathizing representative called a black President a liar on the floor of the House. And precisely the fact that we've never had a black President until now amplifies Joe (not his real name) Wilson's tantrum. What's the answer to the question as to why we haven't had a black President until now? Racism, duh. Ignoring the historical context of a white southerner denouncing a black President in a House divided is not rational given the overwhelming history of slavery and apartheid in this country. Well over half a million Americans died in the civil war, to say nothing of the horrors of the Atlantic passage and the "peculiar institution." This is just not the same thing as booing a white President.

Joe's Pipe Dreams

Joe the plumber is worried that Obama is going to tax his dreams.  Joe doesn't make the $250,000 plus a year where Obama's tax increase would kick in, and he doesn't own the plumbing business he's trying to buy that allegedly has a taxable net of $250k plus a year.  He doesn't even have a plumbers license nor is the plumbing business he aspires to buy licensed.  Yet he's worrying about a 3% tax increase on money he isn't making from a business he doesn't own.  If he's smart, he'll save the extra money he gets from Obama's tax break on his actual income now and use it towards a down payment on his dream business.    

Bring Me the Head of the Architect!

Karl Rove thinks Obama hasn't closed the deal yet.  Duh. No politician closes the deal with the American electorate until election night.  Obama knows this, and that's why he's on the offensive in traditionally Republican states.  Turd blossom needs to remind himself that there is a chance the Democrats won't control both the Executive and Congress after the election to allay his fears of what non-Republican obstructed investigations of his activities during the Bush years will reveal.  Mr. Rove needs to provide some answers about his role in the apparent political firing and hiring of United States District Attorneys in violation of federal law. Ditto for the Plame affair.  Indeed, the architect of the Bush years has much to answer for, and the thought of a Democratic landslide no doubt troubles his sleep.  Hence Wall Street Journal opinion page columns hoping for the best.