24.01.12 | 0

Shaky Supporter

I may not contribute to Obama’s
reelection. The only thing he changed
in DC is his mind. Yes we can was
apparently limited to compromise.

Instead of pleasing me, he wowed
Wall Street, delighted drug makers
and inspired insurers. When he needs
campaign money he can ask them.

Given the Republican candidates,
the president will probably win
without my help, but he’ll need it
if he competes on American Idol.

21.01.12 | 0

Puzzlement

Republicans have a tough life.
Torn between looks and pugnacity,
philosophy and theology, they’ve
had three elections with as many
winners. Perhaps, as Gingrich did,
they could try for an open marriage.

18.01.12 | 0

Recycling Opportunity

It’s bad enough when Republicans
lie about the president being liberal,
but now Democrats are doing it, too.

Pointing to a teetering economy, rickety
financial regulations, troops trickling
home, they say, “See, detectable change!”

Obama’s version of progressive policies
gives smoke and mirrors a bad name,
makes me miss Bush’s bare-faced bull.

Barack’s campaign committee is lucky.
The competition gives it one persuasive,
and fully honest claim: “Not Romney.”

11.01.12 | 0

Hobson’s Choice

Republicans seem determined to make
their likely nominee easy to defeat,
by linking him with all we’ve come
to hate about the Wall Street world.

Unfortunately, when we look to see
just who belongs to Romney’s circle
of financial friends the first face
we see has Obama’s friendly grin.

07.12.11 | Comments Off

Straw Man to the Rescue?

There’s no question that the
Tea Party’s refusal to bargain
causes our current problems,
but there are signs of change.

Polling indicates a possible shift
in political intent. Republicans
appear willing to preserve the
nation by nominating a Newt.

28.11.11 | Comments Off

Bait and Switch

The president should recognize
that compromise is out-of-date.
His governing approach has
failed, so it’s time for change.

Obama may be swapped out
unless he concentrates his skills
on winning control of congress
instead of getting re-elected.

Extolling others will be easier
than trying to justify his record,
and contenders he applauds may
get voters to choose him, too.

22.11.11 | Comments Off

Accountability

Blame Occupy Wall Street on Barack Obama.
Youth rallied to his guarantee of change,
elected him and Democratic candidates
by large majorities, and watched them quibble.

Instead of repealing policies liberals hate,
the President tried to schmooze the opposition.
He passed some laws, but only after sanding off
any roughness that rankled the Republicans.

He coddled corporations while claiming to reform
the medical system, then buried any benefits
in so much verbal camouflage folks can’t find them.
But next to his financial fix, healthcare was cured.

It may not be fair, but enthusiasm is now despair.
Occupy’s unstated goal is total transformation:
Make this a government for people, not money.
If it won’t take control of Wall Street we will.

09.11.11 | Comments Off

The Duncan Theory

Three years ago the nation surged
toward the Democratic party – hard.
Last year it fell way back – harder.

This year a few states rejected new
Republican efforts to reduce voting,
union, and reproductive rights.

Some pundits call this a pendulum
effect, I say poor civics education
created a generation of yo-yo voters.

02.11.11 | Comments Off

Pitiful Prognosis

Conventional wisdom says Obama
will lose. His disappointed base may
not volunteer, contribute or even vote.

Democratic politicians he’s neglected
aren’t likely to be surrogates. Reelection
is rare with unemployment this high.

Obama’s only real opportunity to win
seems to lie in raising lots of money
to spend on Perry’s primary campaign.

30.10.11 | Comments Off

Ephemerality

All political advertising deceives,
and the law says that’s okay.
No surprise, the ads and the laws
originate with the same folks.

We can begin to get rid of some,
and neutralize the effect of money
on elections, if we will just ignore
all campaign TV commercials.

That shouldn’t be difficult if we
remember that selecting candidates
because we like what they say is like
picking a spouse for their hair color.

21.10.11 | Comments Off

Metaphors Matter

We used to call a good education
the first rung on the ladder of success.

Nicholas Kristof says it’s “the most
reliable escalator out of poverty.”

This New York Times columnist
recognizes the impact of obesity.

19.10.11 | Comments Off

Our Wheels Squeak

Occupy Wall Street
elicits the usual response.
Republicans over-simplify,
call it a mob. Democrats
search for list of goals.

Getting in the face of those
who appropriate everything
might be the objective.
The message: ignore our
rightful needs at your peril.

12.10.11 | Comments Off

Time for Change

Liberals should admit we usually
end up electing Republicrats.

No matter what candidates we vote for
corporations seem to buy them.

Since we’re failing in Washington,
let’s dedicate our energy to electing

Democrats in the states. Whatever we do
business wins with Barmitt Obamney.

24.09.11 | Comments Off

House Takes Hostages, again

Unsurprising

The Republican House took off,
leaving government and victims
without funds — hostages to the
tea party’s adolescent demands.

That’s what happens when voters
choose contenders that sound
like they might save us a buck —
we all end up down on our luck.

21.09.11 | Comments Off

Obama Winning Is Not Enough

Go for Broke

He emerges from the land of make believe
spouting new demands and veto threats,
and delighted Democrats say, “Obama’s back!”

Speeches propelled his earlier electoral success,
but he stumbled in negotiations with Boehner,
got pushed into a hole, and pelted with dirt.

To really win this time, he must convince
misinformed voters to elect a large majority
of Democrats, or he’d be happier losing.

If he becomes president without solid control
of congress, Republicans will likely blame him
for overseeing destruction of the middle class.

10.09.11 | Comments Off

A New Approach

For the best result in the next election
congress should immediately pass the
president’s job bill without debate.

If they take his recommendation, and
it works, they will share the credit.
If it flops they can say, “He failed us.”

If they don’t give him all he requested,
he can call them obstructionists, and
and many might lose the next election.

Oh, since Obama won’t take my advice,
I’ve decided to counsel Republicans so
I can feel good when I’m ignored.

01.09.11 | Comments Off

On, Wisconsin!

When Obama was campaigning
he made dozens of great speeches.
Now he can’t even schedule one.

Until the next election we’re stuck
with a president who won’t try much,
and a house that will say no to that.

The nation’s only hope seems to be
to let Republicans win, over-reach, and
make voters mad enough to rebel.

26.08.11 | Comments Off

Time for a New Tactic

Everyone but the president seems
to see his conflict with congress
is not about policy. It’s personal.

Maybe it’s because he’s Democratic,
or black, or both. It can’t be because
he’s liberal, because he’s not.

Republicans must hate Obama
more than they love the country or they
wouldn’t let us suffer so he can’t win.

Since Barack said he preferred one
good term to two poor, he could resign
and let Biden fight a flummoxed foe.

10.08.11 | Comments Off

Kathy Nickolaus to the Rescue

Wisconsin Democrat’s struggle
to gain control of the state Senate
attracted almost $40 million and
legions of union ground troops.

That money was largely wasted.
Republicans seemed to win, as usual,
because the Waukesha County Clerk
messed up the vote count – again.

She wins close elections by making
what investigators call “honest errors”
so often, one could say she has turned
incompetence into an art form.

31.07.11 | Comments Off

Time to Show Him the Way

Since the President won’t,
Democratic Senators
will have to become leaders.

They must vote against any
debt ceiling compromise
without tax increases,

and remind Obama of his
oath to defend the constitution,
including the 14th amendment.