Shut Up He Explained

By Keith R. Schmitz

The above of course is part of the catch phrase comedy that Charlie Sykes employs on his program and blog which passes for wit, if wit was to pour out of widget factory. He has of course ripped this off from a real wit, Ring Lardner.

There seems to be a bit of common ground that liberals and conservatives could be occupying regarding the health care reform negotiations. That being the Barack Obama campaign promise to hold negotiations of major legislation on C-Span. Right now that isn't going to happen.

Sykes and almost everyone on the right including the corporate puppets at Americans for Prosperity are clamoring for an open process. Now. Operational word here.

Liberals are upset because this what the Obama administration is back peddling and providing worry of possible giveaways to come. Real adults aren't happy about it but they recognize that politicians do not deliver on every campaign promise when the cold hard light of governing hits them in the face. We of course hope for better but we know our hearts get broken every so often.

We would like to presume our conservatives friends believe the same thing, but they don't. While they want the Obama administration to be as transparent as Saran Wrap, their hero Dick Cheney was opaque as Reynold's Aluminum foil when it came to the totally secret energy deals, presidential papers, the White House visitors log and endless matters dealing with our government. In fact often we were damned lucky to find out anything, unlucky when we did.

Our government. Not Dick's government.

The only difference is liberals were for sunlight then, we are for sunlight now. As for the rad right, not so much then.

Kind of makes you wonder what they really believe in, or is it to use the title to this summer's Larry David/Woody Allen movie --- Whatever Works.

Jensen Convictions Overturned, McBride Calls for Slap on the Wrist

So now that former Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen's three felony convictions have been overturned on appeal, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen is calling for Jensen's case to be resolved without another trial. Predictably, Jessica Bucher is on board with Van Hollen's recommendation, going so far as to say that if allowed to plead to a series of misdemeanors "He'll be punished far more severely that way than any of the other legislators over the years who did the same thing and skated."

Now someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but Jensen won't be punished "far more severely" than Chuck Chvala and Brian Burke, both of whom did the right thing by accepting responsibility for their roles in the same criminal behavior Jensen engaged in and accepting the punishments meted out. Apparently, Jess Bucher seems to think Jensen should be held to a lesser standard, making me wonder why that could be. However, I'm sure it has nothing to do with Jensen's political affiliation, because that'd expose Jess Bucher as nothing more than a conservative shill...oh wait, too late.

Scooter Libby v. Georgia Thompson

McBride on the Libby "get out of jail free" card:

Remember that Libby was convicted of lying in a politically-motivated investigation into something that wasn't a crime. In other words, he covered up something that wasn't criminal.

Right. He was convicted of four felonies for lying to FBI agents and the grand jury. No big deal.

Here in Wisconsin, we know a woman, Georgia Thompson, who spent four months in federal prison and didn't even commit a crime. McBride thought that was perfectly OK.

Remember that the next time Ms. Law 'n Order mouths off about double standards.

UPDATE: McBride can't stop talking about Bill Clinton's pardon of Marc Rich, as a defense for what Bush has done for Libby. Jay Bullock reminds us, however, that Libby was Rich's lawyer.

Don't like my advice? Wait 5 minutes

Jessica McBride is never short of advice on how politicians should handle -- or "frame," as she would prefer -- issues.

No matter that she has no relevant experience in that arena which would give her any credibility.

And no evidence that Republicans are foolish enough to ever take her advice.

But it certainly doesn't slow her down.

McBride outdid herself this week with two pieces of advice on the same issue, dated the same day -- and which contradicted each other.

Writing about the State Senate Democrats' universal health care plan -- which Assembly Republicans have vowed to kill -- in her Waukesha Freeman column , she said:

Republicans need to frame the issue right. When the Assembly "blocks" the universal health care program, what it's really blocking is another $15 billion in tax increases in addition to the increases already proposed.

So her advice to the GOP is to highlight the cost of the plan and posture themselves as those who are blocking a big tax hike.

But on her blog, the same day, she says:

Republicans shouldn't be a one-trick pony. Being strong on taxes is very important. But what are the Republicans' ideas for other important issues like this one, other than holding the line on taxes?...

I am suggesting that the Republicans come up with a conservative plan to deal with spiraling health care costs in this state, which are breaking governmental and other budgets.

We do need to do something about health care costs. I'd love to see the Republicans come up with a viable plan so the Democrats stop dominating the stage on this issue. Otherwise, they're just the guys (and gals) blocking tax increases. That's all well and good, but rising health care costs are a problem. So what are Republicans going to do to help fix it?

So now just blocking a tax increase isn't good enough. The GOP need to propose some solutions of their own to the health care crisis.

Jessica, of course, offers nary a one.

For someone who writes regularly about others' inconsistencies , real or imagined, that upset her, we'll say this for McBride: She is consistently inconsistent.

And don't quote Ralph Waldo Emerson in her defense. It is safe to say he would consider her not a great thinker, but a little mind.