Something's Gotta Give

Washington is an absolute mess, and the states are not far behind. Health care continues to struggle, although the President has indicated that he is nearing the end of his tether, and he wants to move forward. (Cue the brass band.) Today, Rasmussen reports a new low – his approval rating is -21. I watched the summit for seven and one half mind-numbing hours, rewarded only by Dick Durbin asking the Republicans if they would like to give up their insurance in favor of their touted plan. While that didn’t make up for it, it was a relatively golden moment.

The Democrats claim that their goodwill efforts have met with obstructionism, and that is true. The Republicans claim that their negativity represents the mood of the populace, and that is also true – but not for the reasons that they have put forth. Seven and a half hours was spent repeating the same talking points ad nauseum. (Had I heard, “Let’s take a clean sheet of paper and start over!” one more time, I would have wept.) If the desired effect was to paint the scenery of stalemate, the summit was a success. It was an otherwise complete waste of time, effort, and money. It wasn’t even particularly good theater. I promise you that, at this point, if the Democrats were willing the scrap the entire project for the Republican plan, it would not be good enough. The Republicans see no problem with voting against their own proposals. Both sides are currently enjoying a panoramic view from atop their own petards.

Today’s news features a story regarding unemployment benefits. The latest extension is running out, so 20,000-25,000 Fl@ridians will lose benefits each week. A stopgap measure is before the Senate, but is being held up by Jim Bunning (R-Kentucky) who takes issue with the funding. The state is scrambling to work out the details of funding the benefits out of non-existent income. Congressman Peters (D-MI) is exhorting everyone to call Sen. Bunning and voice their opinion of the latest one-man Republican filibuster.

Calls for changes in the Obama inner circle ring out. White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers had announced her departure effective the end of March. Hopefully, her “obligations” will not tire out the twenty-odd remaining employees too terribly much. Articles demanding that Rahm Emanuel resign abound, along with an article by Dana Milbank asking tongue-in-cheek for Rahm to become President. David Axelrod has been roundly criticized for his perpetual campaign mode, and David Plouffe has been brought back to reconstitute the magic. POLITICO points out painfully that the brilliant team that facilitated the election has proven incapable in helping Obama govern. The Daily Beast states that the inner circle is made up of romantics indulging in hero worship. Economists critique SOT Timothy Geithner regularly, and justifiably. AG Eric Holder just can’t seem to decide where and when to hold trials, and his department thinks that Bush Torture Memo authors were guilty of “bad judgment”. Political appointees are piled up in drifts in the Senate, thanks to an unhappy Senator who didn’t think that budget cutbacks were applicable to his state – although he has recently removed the blanket hold, the process remains hopelessly in arrears.

New York Governor David Paterson has decided not to run for re-election, even though he said that he would a few days ago. Probably, allegations of obstruction of justice influenced his decision, along with polls that showed him to be sinking like a stone. Tea Party matinee idol (and Senate hopeful) Marco Rubio of The State Which Must Not Be Named has some explaining to do about charges incurred on the Republican Party of Fl@rida’s American Express card. To wit: automotive repairs (justified as damage that occurred at a RPF event), haircuts, meals, airplane tickets for his spouse (of course she should come as the First Lady of the Florida Senate), and most inexplicably, a bunch of money to the Farm Stores, a drive-through sort of 7-11 that sells cigarettes, sodas, milk, cheetos, ice cream and the like. He accuses the Crist campaign of smear tactics – frankly, it sound like an RPF inside job – and Jeb Bush is supporting (while remaining “neutral”) him. I’m certain that other states are messed up as well, but few mess up with the same panache as New York and Flor-i-duh. Also, Sarah Palin’s spokeswoman has walked off the job, and a massive earthquake (8.8 on the Richter scale) has hit Chile, killing hundreds and causing tsunamis in the Pacific Basin.

My head is spinning, and it’s not all the sinusitis either.

Altogether, things seem even messier than before. I have to wonder if anyone, anywhere has any idea of what the hell is going on here. Even “business as usual” seems to have come to a screeching halt.

This is an open thread.