Morning Joe 3/20/2012 -- Time to focus

On Morning Joe today the major topics covered were Romney/Santorum in Illinois, Afghanistan and Medicare/budgetary concerns. A lot of regulars were on -- Heilemann, Halperin, Eugene Washington, Tina Brown, etc. Paul Ryan was on to talk about his new budget and Gene Sperling was on to support Obama's healthcare plan as it relates to Medicare savings.

Regarding Romney and Santorum, it's obvious that Scarborough is running out of steam with the Santorum, Underdog story, although Scarborough must have said ten times that GOP voters don't like Romney. Romney is winning, has gotten way more votes and has twice as many delegates, it doesn't matter how much voters like Romney, are turned on by him, whatever -- Romney is winning and has the best chance to beat Obama. For me, though, it's not just about beating Obama -- it's about systemic changes in government, and I don't care how the changes come about as long as they come about. I'm more concerned with economic liberty and an empowered private sector than I am which political party wins -- however, since we've given government so much power, it's necessary to go through government to demand limits on power, and I believe Romney and the Republicans are the best chance to get that done, and that's a slim chance. This shows how screwed up the system has become. Ron Paul would be the best chance, but he has no path to win and little support within government. Paul can influence Romney, though, and I think he has already. One reason so many Republicans wanted Santorum and Gingrich to stay in the race was to Paul from gaining influence, so unless the GOP can resolve the split between statists and anti-statists, even a Republican win might not be enough.

Paul Ryan is one representative in DC who is trying to make the changes necessary to avoid financial collapse. Sperling came on to say that Obamacare has cut Medicare, although Scarborough rightfully said that Obamacare cuts Medicare only to create another entitlement program to take up the slack --  the costs of entitlements under Obama go straight up. It will take a combination of Ryan-like costs savings and economic growth. Hopefully Romney will be able to liberate the economy enough for the private sector to create economic growth. The Romneys and Ryans and Pauls in government are our last hope, in that they can roll back statist gains.

Also, we have to end the mideast wars. If Republicans can do all this, they will be in power for decades to come. If Republicans fail, we are in for financial collapse and complete loss of freedom as we've known freedom.

Morning Joe 11/3/2011 -- Ron Paul and Bob Woodward -- Two Americas

This morning on Morning Joe, I have to hand it them, they put on a good show, despite the continued Herman Cain-bashing. Interspersed in serious conversations was the repeated accusation that Cain didn't know China has nuclear weapons, yet the Cain campaign has answered that charge by stating  Cain meant attack capabilities on submarines and such -- Mika's father, who was on the show later, even alluded to this in a back-handed way. Even if this expanation is not believed, Morning Joe should have reported the explanation. It's petty to withhold such information.

But enough about Cain, and enough about how Obama is helped politically by Republican weakness. The media play up the weaknesses of Republicans and ignore the strengths, and this is why I commend Morning Joe for puitting Ron Paul on the show, as well as Paul Ryan. Before Paul came on, the panel talked about no viable, intelligent and informed Republican candidates to challenge Romney. Paul has been basically ignored by the media, and when he gets play, it's usually to frame him as extreme, but when you listen to Paul you realize he is far more informed and intelligent than most people in DC. Paul understands our fundamental problems regarding government spending, the Fed central planning, foreign intervention and corporate welfare. If Republicans can embrace these ideas, perhaps they can become relevant once again.

Bob Woodward was on the show, and contrast between Woodward and Paul is striking. Woodward represents the liberal status quo and Paul represents the new opposition to statism and the liberal status quo in DC. Scarborough represents the old Republican Party which has become irrelevant, although, as usual, ever the people pleaser, Scarborough tried to identify with Paul. Scarborough and Paul do agree on Afghanistan and Iraq and mideast interventions in general. As Paul was making his case for bringing home the troops, Woodward sounded pathetically out of touch as he parrotted the administration's position of keeping al qaeda out of Afghanistan. It's such a tired defense of this decade-long slog in the mideast.

Paul might not have the poll numbers, but he has strong and loyal support of many young people, and the support of soldiers who are suffering the consequences of our foreign policy. Paul's time is drawing near as the nation learns more about our government's failed statist interventions, and as the nation understands the power games in DC. Paul Ryan was on later, and his explanation of what the new Republicans are attempting is at odds with Obama's nation-wide dissing campaign as he attempts to frame Republicans as haters of the poor, the environment, safety in the work place, etc. Ryan makes sense, and he has a plan to back it up. Obama should justify his plan over the Republicans plans rather than dishonestly frame the Republicans as evil.

Today, the Morning Joe crew had some useful conversations, and at least we got to hear different perspectives. As Paul said, this is about philosophy and direction. If we as a nation don't decide we must empower the private sector and limit government, then we'll get the same statist results over and over as we decline. Jonathan Capehart and Rick Stengel were on, and they talked about lack of economic opportunity and the failure of public education, but what they didn't talk about is how government intervention has played a major role in creating these problems. The welfare/warfare State is broken.

Morning Joe 10/10/11 -- Maybe it's a systemic problem

After many of us have been crying out loud, "It's the system, stupid!", Scarborough, Harold Ford and John Heilemann suspect this morning during the first part of Morning Joe that our problems in government might be systemic. There was no analysis beyond this recognition, though, except that stubborn Republicans have to talk to the Democrats and "get things done". Getting things done is big in the political class, as is talking to one another, but I would suggest that first they decide what  to talk about and what to get done. As long as Obama and Democrats are determined to raise taxes and manage the economy, there is little to talk about.

Scarborough was actually to the left of Harold Ford. Ford understands that regulations and central planning have created uncertainty in the market, even if Ford ultimately promotes clear intervention that doesn't cause consequences, whatever that is -- clear stimulus efforts to rebuild America, I suppose. Scarborough fell into a trap a long time ago, just like all Centrist Republicans, when he embraced the idea of working with Democrats to help shape a new economy. The Centrists made the same mistake that Republicans have made for decades -- they thought this time it will be different -- they thought Obama would reach across the aisle and bring everyone together in a smart government to "get things done." Scarborough and Centrists criticized the new breed of Republicans who held their ground regarding cutting spending and limiting government power, and now the Centrists can't criticize Obama and the Democrats fullthroatedly because they don't want to be associated with New Republicans, yet the Centrists are realizing just how politically vicious and statist the Democrats have become under Obama, Reid and Pelosi.

I will be the first to admit that both Republicans and Democrats are flawed, and the two party statist system is seriously flawed, but the degree to which Democrats are attempting to change the system to hardcare statism represents America's greatest systemic problem. Paul Ryan is not not the obstacle, as Scarborough suggested -- the problem is a statist system pushing a progressive agenda -- it has killed our economy, and until systemic changes are made to free up the economy, there will be no recovery.

I agreed totally with Scarborough and the Morning Joe gang later on when they called for an end to the Afghanistan War. Although the public is war weary and ready to bring the troops home, an alliance of neo-liberals and neo-cons remind us of the dangers of Pakistan and Iran and their nuclear efforts. So, what are we going to do, take over these countries and destroy their nuclear facilities? How is staying in Iraq and Afghansitan solving the nuclear problem as it relates to Pakistan and Iran? It would be like battling the Amish in Pennsylvania because Canada has nukes. Both Iran and Pakistan would likely collapse economically if we pulled out of the mideast, stopped all aid and started producing our own energy. Would this make them more dangerous? These countries aren't suicidal -- they are playing a dangerous Game -- one they've played for centuries -- but they are not suicidal. There are other countries close to Iran and Pakistan who are better suited to play the Game -- America needs to quit playing the Game and get serious about stopping our own government from destroying America, forget about Pakistan and Iran.

Meet the Press 10/9/2011 -- Republican-Obsessive Disorder

Why do I analyze political/news programs like Meet the Press, Morning Joe and, now, Up with Chris Hayes? They are basically useless as far as real issues facing Americans go, because their focus on politics reduces most of the analyses to political tactics, popularity contests, image-making, spin, the back and forth of the horse race, etc., but at least these shows give us a glimpse into the media mindset regarding politics, and it reveals who media favors in the political race -- also, the guests, intentionally and unintentionally, reveal what they really believe about the role of government. Finally, Hayes' show is funny.

David Gregory performed interviews with Rahm Emanual and Paul Ryan. The Emanual interview was a waste of time, because he merely parroted the administration's position that Obama is fighting for the middle class and poor while Republicans are obstructionists protecting the rich. Earlier on Chris Hayes' show, the same claims were made, and both shows played clips of Joe Biden saying the Republican Party has done nothing but say "no".

I've heard this same line throughout the major media outlets, but when Paul Ryan was interviewed, he gave a completely different account. One of the charges Obama and others on the Left made and is circulating in media states that Republicans have no jobs plan, yet Ryan claims that 12 bills related to job growth have been sent to the Senate from the Republican controlled House, and the Senate won't take up the bills and put them to a vote. Plus, Harry Reid is even blocking Obama's jobs bill from a vote, because Reid doesn't have enough Democrat votes.

Anyone reasonable watching the various political shows which repeat over and over Obama's claim that Republicans's have no plan also notice that the hosts of the shows don't question the claim -- they don't ask about the Republican bills stacked up in the Senate, and they don't challenge the political spin which frames Republicans as obstructionists. And when Gregory was confronted on the panel by a Republican representative making the same point as Ryan made, Gregory immediately framed this as a problem of disagreement in congress. A clip Gregory played that showed Biden making the claim Republican leaders are captured by an extreme base was the most revealing mindset revealed during the entire Meet the Press show, but Gregory didn't pick up on it -- no one picked up on it.

Biden said we need a strong Republican Party, one that, like in years before, would make deals. To paraphrase Biden, he said "We need Republican leaders we can present with the deal and they can sell it to their members". Biden wants a Centrist/Statist Republican leadership which will rubber-stamp the Democrat agenda. Since the new Republicans are attempting to put forward a real opposition to the progressive agenda, and because they present their own plans for job creation, they are labeled by the Left as obstructionists. You don't have to be a Republican, which I'm not, to see the arrogant reasoning here. The real issue is that there are two very different visions now regarding what will create economic growth and job creation.

It remains to be seen if Republicans will stick to their vision and not just sell the Democrat "deal", as Biden wants, but so far they're holding strong with their budget proposal and plans for economic expansion and job growth. The public will surely see through media spin and realize they actually have a choice to make -- does the public want more government intervention and stimulus, or does the public want to change the system, limit the power of government, create a free market and, thus, give businesses more confidence and incentives to invest in growth and hire more workers? Right now businesses are faced with the uncertainty of higher taxes and more regulations, so they aren't hiring because they have no way of knowing what their costs of doing business will be. Ryan said that if the planned tax increases go through, small businesses will pay an effective 50% tax rate, while other countries have business tax rates of 10-25%. Is there any wonder our economy is stagnant?

Gregory had a chance to explore Ryan's claims, but he chose to shift the issue back to the charge of obstructionism and the public's anger at Wall Street. Ryan also stated he's for removing all corporate welfare and closing all tax loopholes which favor the wealthy. What else can the Left ask for? I mean this ought to please the Occupying Wall Street protesters. Ryan also said he's not concerned with protecting those already rich, but rather with creating an environment where everyone has an opportunity to prosper - this is obstructionist? Fair is fair, and media is not treating these issues fairly. Let's have an honest debate.

Morning Joe 9/15/2011 -- Political obscurantism

On Morning Joe today, the guests were Jim Cramer, Paul Ryan, Carl Berstein, Joe Klein, Chuck Todd, Rick Stengel, then regulars like Barnicle and Geist, and of course there was Mika and Joe. What was clear today is that the political class has reduced analysis to obscurantism. Both sides in the political realm do it, but the Left/Center have mastered the art of obscurantism -- it helps to keep the public off balance and to avoid ever having to lay out a set of principles -- plus it allows politicians and pundits to dodge  tough issues. The only person on the show who was clear and principled was Paul Ryan, and he was a breathe of fresh air. Ryan called for an end to corporate welfare and tax looholes by reforming the tax code. The people around the Morning Joe table all agreed, but when it comes down to reducing the power of government none of them will beat the drum for limited government.

The conversation fluttered from Obama's failures to Obama's continued popularity in spite of his failures (based on one Reuter's poll which is contradicted by other polls). Just about everyone agreed that the jobs plan fell flat, but then it was stated that Obama is addressing national solutions while congress is worried about re-election. Obscurantism is what the political class does when the facts are too harsh and reality too unfriendly for their purposes. Pundits have no problem contradicting themselves, saying one thing one minute and another the next. It's clear that many Americans are dissatisfied with government, but pundits manufacture different reasons for the dissatisfaction to avoid admitting that statism itself has failed -- Obama inherited a mess; political division prevents the best plans from succeeding; people like Obama personally, but they believe government is out of touch; Obama doesn't understand the realities of business, but business is out to profit at the expense of the poor; taxes are too high on businesses, but not enough businesses pay their fair share -- on and on it goes, with no clear analysis of any one problem, with the result being doubt and confusion. Ryan forced a moment of clarity, but it soon vanished when Ryan was gone. In the end, the question they ask is whether the Right, with Rick Perry as the model, is too extreme.

So, if the Left and the Center are accused of being biased, they can point to the times they criticized Obama and progressive policies, but in the end the choice is between an extreme Rightwing or a more moderate status quo. The political class wants to save the statist system and the Washington game. You hardly ever hear the principles of limited government and free market promoted as an alternative to government planning and engineering -- it's always a matter of who can plan or engineer the best in government.

Rick Stengel and Time Mag have Perry on the cover, and Stengel was defending Perry as a man who's tapped into public dissatisfaction -- Mika asked Stengel what he was doing, and there was a moment of insider winking. What Mika was asking is -- Rick Stengel, are you talking up Perry because you'd love to see Perry and Obama as the choices in the 2012? Stengel slyly smiled. Oh, isn't the insider game so interesting? Scarborough caught on and began pressing Stengel and Klein about Perry's extremism, because Scarborough believes that between Perry and Obama, Obama will win in landslide, and Scarborough wants a Centrist candidate on the Republican side. The political class doesn't care which party wins, although they prefer Democrats, as long as the statist system is kep intact. Democrat politicans care, of course, because they want to maintain their power, but those who make their living in the political realm just want the status quo protected because it would upset their lucrative gigs if government became limited and the private sector became empowered.