Years of fighting. I hope we don't wear out (4.00 / 1)

I think the biggest danger is that we'll wear out after a few years. There is going to be both wins and losses over the next four years. Those losses will get posted and blogged about over and over and over again. They will be magnified far more than the victories. I worry about the psychological effect of that.

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by: Semblance @ Tue Jan 13, 2009 at 21:06:51 PM CST

Sweet. Can you get me a job? (0.00 / 0)

Just kidding of course, though not about the needing a job part.

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by: Jason C. @ Tue Jan 13, 2009 at 21:08:59 PM CST

Holy Mackerel, Chris (4.00 / 1)

I have been behind the times here at OL.  I wasn't aware until today that Stoller is working in the House.  Well, onward with more and better Dems like Rosenberg and Stoller working inside.   I am happy that more Dems are paying attention to the bloggers.  We're not just loud; we are forthright for economic and social justice.

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by: Benny @ Tue Jan 13, 2009 at 21:43:36 PM CST

Correction (0.00 / 0)

Mike Lux, not Rosenberg...but Rosenberg is good!

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by: Benny @ Tue Jan 13, 2009 at 22:27:11 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Grayson 1, Frank sucked (4.00 / 2)

Grayson was excellent.  In fact, it is Congress who has the authority to decide what should be secret or not.

Frank's comments in the last 10 secs or so are bull----.  "We should revisit that policy, but not now while the markets are in turmoil."

No.  NOW IS EXACTLY WHEN we should decide whether secrecy is a good policy.

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by: the lurking ecologist @ Tue Jan 13, 2009 at 22:13:48 PM CST

Do you see a contradiction between the video of Grayson and this below? (0.00 / 0)

Barney Frank's bill (HR 384) to impose conditions on the next round of TARP money appears to be useless according to Barney Frank himself.  Here is Frank rendering his own bill useless:

[II]t doesn't have to be enacted. It would be helpful if it was. But if the bill passes the House with a large majority, and we have smart and cooperative people in this administration, I'm willing to accept their word that they will act as if it were the law.
I don't have a huge desire to fight for bills when the sponsors of those bills don't seem to care much.

Grayson's questioning in the video was not directly addressed to the legislation you are referencing above....however the principles of transparency and accoutability to Congress and th eAmerican people are the same.  How can you/we applaud what Grayson is doing in the video and then be indifferent to the very same matter in a slightly different piece of legislation?  Isn't that video then just a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing and leading nowhere?

"Incrementalism isn't a different path to the same place, it could be a different path to a different place"
Stoller

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by: debcoop @ Tue Jan 13, 2009 at 22:13:55 PM CST

Because Frank isn't demanding it (0.00 / 0)

Frank doesn't seem to be demanding and pushing the legislation with any real sound and fury. If he was, my tune would be different.

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by: Chris Bowers @ Wed Jan 14, 2009 at 00:28:43 AM CST

[ Parent ]

But shouldn't we? (4.00 / 1)

Barney Frank also didn't push it when the TARP fund was set up.  It was a mistake then....and it will be a mistake now.

I can see us all gnashing our teeth in frustration later when we once again find out that the we don't really know who is getting the money and how it's being spent. We aren't just trusting Barack Obama, we are really leaving it to the kinds of people who had "answers" in that video.  There are almost tribal loyalties ....Barney Frank and Chris Dodd etal have spent a lot of time with the finance community....one tends to develop relationsips, trust people just because you "know" them.

It is of course natural to trust one's one party and one's own administration....but that is precisely when the forms of government oversight must be adhered to the most.  Congress should perform its role...because they are not doing this administration a favor.  Isn't that what we had in the past criticized the Republican Congress for....lack of oversight on their own?  So why are now letting our own Congress begin to act the same way?  

"Incrementalism isn't a different path to the same place, it could be a different path to a different place"
Stoller

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by: debcoop @ Wed Jan 14, 2009 at 01:45:18 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Simply stunning (0.00 / 0)

that even after 8 years of outright theft, misgovernance and malfeasance, they're STILL trying to get away with this shit in plain view, and believe that they can.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, if Obama and these Dems won't put a stop to this, and properly deal with these people, then they're cowards and fools of the lowest order, for not only principled, but also practical and political reasons. The economy will completely go under, and Repubs will be back in power before long with a vengeance, if they don't do this ASAP.

This. Must. STOP.

The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself. (Proverbs 11:25)

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by: kovie @ Tue Jan 13, 2009 at 23:01:49 PM CST

Grayson (0.00 / 0)

Grayson looked like potentially the most valuable new member of the House if he wasn't bottled up.  That certainly still looks to be the case.

Bernanke's discovery of dormant provisions and his instant abuse of same gives me little confidence in the man.  He's a secretive trickster that sees himself as the head servant of Wall Street and not the American people.  All in all, when his name comes up for re-appointment, friend of Krugman or not, he should be sent packing.

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by: David Kowalski @ Wed Jan 14, 2009 at 07:36:47 AM CST

Hear, Hear! (4.00 / 1)

In answer to Ron Chernow's question

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01...

This guy should be our new Ferdinand Pecora.

What he needs is his own subcommittee with full subpoena powers.

Well-I can dream can't I?

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by: John Halle @ Wed Jan 14, 2009 at 08:08:58 AM CST

[ Parent ]

One more item for the To Do List (4.00 / 1)

Lest it fall through the cracks, let's remember to make it very clear that the Bush/Cheney - led NeoCon Junta must be held accountable for the damage it foisted upon our nation and the world.

http://change.gov/newsroom/ent...

It seems that Mr. O is shifting his position (at least his rhetoric) on the issue of investigating the current administration for their actions in the rush to war with Iraq. If the public opinion remains solidly in favor of such, maybe he'll give in.

This is critially important for the long-term health of our democratic way of governance.  

"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."

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by: SpitBall @ Wed Jan 14, 2009 at 09:23:54 AM CST

Grayson is from… (0.00 / 0)

...my sister's district in Orlando. Disney country. Geez, finally that place has something to recommend it.

"This ain't for the underground. This here is for the sun." -Saul Williams

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by: tru blu @ Wed Jan 14, 2009 at 11:38:01 AM CST