Eugene Robinson's Blog, page 118

Robinson: Democrats were forced to go ‘nuclear’ at last

Way to nuke ’em, Harry.

It was time — actually, long past time — for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to invoke the “nuclear option” and ask his colleagues to change the Senate’s rules. This isn’t about partisan politics. It’s about making what has been called “the world’s greatest deliberative body” function the way the Framers of the Constitution intended.

Read full article >>
       

Robinson: Cheney sisters, separated over gay marriage

Looks like the holidays are going to be, shall we say, a bit awkward for the Cheney family.

Actually, more than a bit. A feud between the former vice president’s daughters emerged into public view over the weekend when Liz Cheney, who is trying to win a Senate seat from Wyoming by pandering to the far-right Republican base, went on “Fox News Sunday” and declared her opposition to gay marriage.

Read full article >>
       

Robinson: Obama was contrite but also resolute

It was a necessary retreat, but President Obama made clear Thursday that his bottom line remains unchanged: “I’m not going to walk away from 40 million people who have the chance to get health insurance for the first time.”

Read full article >>
       

Robinson: The country is doing better than you think

The economy is growing much more quickly than expected. Inflation is basically nonexistent. The federal budget deficit has been slashed dramatically. The stock market is reaching all-time highs. One of our long-running wars is over, and the other is winding down. The status of the United States as the world’s preeminent economic and military power is unchallenged.

Read full article >>
       

Robinson: There’s time to fix the Affordable Care Act

It takes chutzpah, or perhaps just an extraordinary lack of self-awareness, to argue vehemently that a program should not be implemented — and, when it is, complain it isn’t being implemented well enough.

Read full article >>
       

Robinson: The out-of-control NSA

Let’s get this straight: The National Security Agency (NSA) snooped on the cellphone conversations of German Chancellor Angela Merkel? Perhaps for as long as a decade? And President Obama didn’t know a thing about it?

Read full article >>
       

Robinson: Hail to the Washingtons

I’m a bit late to the topic, but the Washington, D.C., professional football team really ought to change its name. As encouragement for the franchise’s stubborn owner, we should just stop saying the offensive word.

Read full article >>
       

Robinson: Our best bet is to grow the economy, not cut it

It’s fine to talk — eventually — about chronic deficits and mounting debt. But now that our government is up and running again, the nation’s first priority should be economic growth.

Sorry if this gives conniptions to all you deficit hawks out there. Actually, I’m not that sorry, because it was the hawks’ over-the-top warnings of impending doom that provided intellectual cover for the meat-cleaver budget cuts we’re living with today.

Read full article >>
       

Robinson: Republicans’ hollow defeat

President Obama’s victory this week was as complete and devastating as Sherman’s march through the South. But there is no early sign that the zealots of the anti-government far right have learned the lessons of their defeat — which means that more battles lie ahead.

Read full article >>
       

Robinson: Democrats up the ante on GOP’s poor hand

Acrazy thing is happening in shuttered, dysfunctional Washington: Democrats are pushing back.

This phenomenon is so novel and disorienting that many Republicans in Congress, especially the tea party bullies, seem unable to grasp what’s going on. They keep expecting President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to fold like a cheap suit because, well, such a thing has happened before. I guess it’s understandable that the GOP might have forgotten the difference between bluffing and actually holding a winning hand.

Read full article >>