Catching Up With LePage, Scarborough, The NRA and the Crisis in Africa

That title of this article implies a general roundup and this correct. The news never stops and it is time to catch up so here we go around the world.

MSNBC host and former Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough continues to walk the fine line between being a television personality and a serious politician. Over the weekend Scarborough spoke at a National Review Conference and was one of the more popular speakers. Still several members of the far right criticized the National Review for allowing him to speak. This might be the clearest picture of the dysfunction on the right. When an articulate, fiscal Conservative like Mr. Scarborough is not worthy of a speaking slot due to his not drinking the kool aid on issues like guns then the right has a problem. Scarborough continues to argue persuasively for the right to find a voice, to carve a niche and stop being so closely identified with the one percent. He peddles the idea of a right leaning populist movement focused on debt, shared sacrifice, and the breakup of the big banks. It all sounds good to me. Most think Hillary is unbeatable in 2016 and that might well be true. Still a Christie, Scarborough ticket certainly would be worthy of much consideration.

An interesting article the other day from economist Paul Krugman talking about the new Republican bogeyman, folks on disability. Krugman shows that just as Reagan's welfare queen was a stereotype that was salable to a segment of the population so does this argument also work at times. The problem as Krugman states it is that while the disability rolls are increasing, and while inevitably there is some small amount of abuse, that the real rise is nothing more than a demographic truism. As the baby boomer population ages it is inevitable that they amount of people qualifying for disability will rise. It is a correct argument but one that we know will not be understood in all circles. As long as the right can gain followers by targeting " the lady with food stamps buying steak in front of you at the supermarket" this sort of hate and fear-mongering will not go away.

On Meet the Press this week former Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan praised Hillary Clinton stating that if we had a Clinton Presidency we would not have this debt crisis we are in. It is interesting how respected the Secretary of State is on the right, how will they react if she does agree to run. Will they be able to disavow all of their praise over the last few years when they were using her as a wedge against the President.

Watching the NRA's response to the President's gun control measures he put forth last week is a demonstration of how out of tune this organization is. When a true blue Conservative such as Oklahoma's Tom Coburn says that if measures can be taken to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people and those with mental issues they should be pursued then you know that the NRA is perhaps too far out in front of it's supply train on this one.

The political word of the week is gerrymandering. Suddenly average citizens are becoming aware of how this system of rigging Congressional districts to insure one party control is paralyzing our government. When the Republicans kept control of the House of Representatives last November despite losing the popular vote by a considerable margin what was known to a few became obvious to all.

On that note with ideas being floated in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and other states to change the electoral college in those states to match the gerrymandered districts it would be good to note that in 2004 when Democrats in Colorado suggested a similar measure they were criticized by Republicans as being hyper partisan and attempting to subvert the votes of the majority. Perhaps our friends on the right pushing these plans should ask themselves if the shoe fits.

It seems that each week we hear of another employer stating that Obamacare will cost them so much money that they will either have to manipulate their employees hours and status to get around the coverage or pass the costs on to customers or both. While it is easy to pillory executives like Papa John and the Whole Foods CEO we should understand that despite our dislike for their methods they have a point. What we have now with the President's plan is the best we could get but the problems these employers have is just another example of why employer based healthcare needs to be replaced. Remember our auto manufacturers for example are at a competitive disadvantages because of the insurance costs they bare for their employees while foreign car makers are not. The answer, as always, is a single payer system run through the government.

An article in the Bangor Daily News two Saturdays ago illustrated the coming crisis on local funding of education costs. As more and more funding is passed from the state level to the local level, and certainly the Governor's recent proposals will do nothing to alleviate that, local cities and towns are going to be in a terrible position. With the likelihood of large increases in property taxes just to maintain the status quo you are going to see divisive battles between those who have children in the school system currently and those who do not. I propose a rule that any person in elected office who claims to be pro education should have the Pinocchio treatment when saying so if he has voted to pass these costs from their constitutional place in Augusta to the local governments to fund.

Washington Post writer Eugene Robinson noted recently that it certainly appears Republicans are digging in their heels on issues rather than seeing the demographic shifts. The recent reelection of RNC head Rance Priebus indicates that little change will be forthcoming. Robinson also notes that it is interesting that Micheal Steele who led the party to it's sweeping victories in 2010 was immediately fired as RNC head while Priebus was rewarded for the defeats of last November with another term. I guess we will file that one under things that make you go hmmmm.

Proving that Arizona is tired of Florida being the state with the craziest Republicans a bill has been put forth in the Arizona legislature which would not allow qualified students to graduate high school until they took or signed some sort of loyalty oath to America. With all of the problems in this country it is interesting to think this is the biggest concern out west. Certainly this would never pass Constitutional muster.

For those in the know the decision by Senator Saxby Chambliss to not seek reelection to the Senate in Georgia is a bit ironic. Chambliss who deserves begrudging respect by Democrats for working as a member of the Gang of Six on a budget deal last year chose to resign say most insiders due to the prospect of a challenge in the primary from the right. The Senator, a strong Conservative, has been criticized by the Tea Party groups for joining the Gang of Six and even talking about the potential for revenue increases, i.e raising taxes. Irony comes in the fact that Chambliss gained his seat by running advertisements that insinuated that the incumbent at that time Democrat Max Cleland was soft on Iraq and other military matters. Cleland, it should be noted was a triple amputee as a result of his service in Vietnam. One would have thought that entitled him to an informed opinion on matters military without having his patriotism questioned. So in the case of Chambliss I guess it is karma, though one wonders about the future of a party for whom he is not Conservative enough.

Lastly there is our own Governor. Now he thinks we should take some of the Oxford Casino money that was to be targeted to education to shore up his general budget. Mr. Governor how many ways will you try to break the rules, here is an idea, reverse the tax cuts you put in place as your first act as a sop to your right wing friends. After doing that if we are still short you might have a better argument to make for shared sacrifice.

Let's hope things quiet down this week so we can all enjoy this midwinter thaw we have promised.