Why Democrats Lose

Kenneth O’Brien

Well, Now the Democrats have nothing.

No Presidency. No Senate. No House. A minority of State Houses and State Legislatures.

Why is that the case? 

Racism, Misogyny and Privilege: The Basis Of Modern “Conservatism”

Ken O’Brien

The Dow Industrial Average is approaching 18,000. Job growth in November hit a fifteen year high. Unemployment is below 6%. Gasoline prices are approaching $2.50 per gallon. And we are finally making progress in achieving universal health care – first proposed by Harry Truman over 60 years ago.

By any objective measure the Obama Administration has been a success.

This is especially true by comparison to our sister economies of Western Europe, which have consistently teetered on the brink of resurgent recession. 

The Alternative Minimum Tax - Red vs. Blue

Ken O’Brien

NEWS UPDATES Dec. 7 -
Tax filing delay looms if no fix for minimum tax: IRS
IRS Chief Warns Again About AMT Hit

If you aren't familiar with the alternative minimum tax - commonly known by its initials, AMT – you might want to get acquainted with it. Congress created the AMT back in 1969 to make sure that certain high-income citizens couldn't skip out on paying taxes altogether by gaming the system. So under the present regime, you pay either your regular taxes or the AMT (which is essentially a flat rate that eliminates most deductions), whichever is higher. A definite hassle (because you have to calculate your taxes twice), but at least it sounds fair, right? 

Platform Posturing

Ken O’Brien

When your opponent is shooting himself in the foot, you don’t help him.

That was exactly my reaction when I heard about all this right wing high-fiving about the Democratic Convention changing the language in their platform.

Overnight the Republican smear machine launched a campaign about the absence of the word “God” and the reference to Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel from their platform. 

Whither Grover Norquist?

Ken O’Brien

Lawrence O’Donnell likes to refer to him as the “most powerful man in America who holds no elective office.”

He is Grover Norquist, founder and President of Americans for Tax Reform. He is most notable for the pledge his organization requires to support candidates for U.S. Congressional office. The pledge requires that the signatories promise to "oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rate for individuals and business; and to oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates." 

Republicans: Size Doesn’t Matter

Ken O’Brien

Way back in my high school days I participated actively in debating.

One of the fundamental components at the start of a debate was for the first speaker to define the key terms of the debate. Unless challenged, this guaranteed that all participants were talking about the same thing.

Unfortunately that practice doesn’t apply to political campaigning. 

Republicans: Darwin Was Right - When It Comes To Society

Ken O'Brien

According to the National Journal, “On evolution, just 23 percent of Republicans said in a 2009 Pew poll that human life had evolved solely through a natural process, while another 26 percent said evolution had occurred under divine guidance and 39 percent said life has always existed in its present form. When Gallup phrased the choices slightly differently last December [2010], just 8 percent of Republicans said they believed human life had evolved without assistance from God, 36 percent said evolution had proceeded under divine guidance, and a 52 percent majority said God had created “human beings pretty much in their present form.”

The Republican Big Lie….

And How It Can Trip Them Up Now

Ken O’Brien

The current Washington soap opera relates to the extension of payroll tax cuts that would benefit the vast majority of Americans in the middle class.

The core issue is the manner in which we would pay for this tax holiday.

Democrats have proposed a surtax on those earning in excess of $1 million per year

Republicans initially proposed further spending cuts. Now, in the absurd compromise for a two month extension, the proposal is to have a surcharge on mortgage fees for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae mortgages.

However, it is acknowledged that such a “pay for” would be insufficient for a full year extension.

 

So, come January, the battle will be joined again on the issue of how to pay for these payroll tax cuts.

Draft Hillary!

Kenneth M. O’Brien

The time has come to admit that I made a mistake.

I believe that it is also time for national Democrats (at least the majority of us) to admit the same.

For the good of the country Barack Obama should step aside. If it comes to it, he should be set aside.

Circumstances call for a Harry Truman.

We have a more talkative version of Calvin Coolidge.

Smart ALEC

Kenneth M. O’Brien

America’s (genuine) cowboy humorist, Will Rogers, famously remarked,” I am not a member of any organized party — I am a Democrat.”

That observation is as true today as it was when it was made over seventy years ago. Herding cats is easier than getting Democrats to fall in line.

On the other hand, Republicans are notorious for conformity. I am not going to debate this. It is common knowledge and those who wish to dispute it overlook the various mechanisms that the Republican cult has created to excommunicate the unfaithful. As things stand today, even Ronald (on your knees, may his name be praised) Reagan would be declared anathema (after all he raised taxes 11 times and the debt ceiling 17 times during his eight years in office).