American Nightmare

Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Bob Casey (D-PA) sent a letter Tuesday morning to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner asking him to stop paying members of Congress if the nation defaults on its debt obligations. Stunt or serious move?

While I admire the efforts of the senators to align themselves with those in our nation who are under tremendous economic stress, I do not think that there is anything that can equal the hardships that face those who are currently looking for work. Any job posting, no matter how spartan the pay or difficult the work, has thousands of applicants vying for it. Many of us fighting that daily battle wonder if any of our elected officials can fathom the pain and anxiousness of losing a paycheck, and many times with it, precious health care coverage. The loss of one paycheck for a senator is an annoyance: the loss of one paycheck for many Americans is the ingredient that turns the American dream into a nightmare.

Palin v. Bachmann

Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann: Room for Both?

Remember when knowledge, skill, gravitas and political acumen were needed to run for president? Apparently the Grand Old Party took those requirements off its application. But if you have to pick one, the advantage goes to noted historian Michele Bachmann.

Palin and Bachmann would be vying for the same voters, so they cannot enter this primary together and expect to go far. Bachmann has the slight edge because she has some Christian conservative bona fides (i.e. Oral Roberts University) and has really defined herself as the tea party champion (if you ever wander into a crowd and wonder if you are at a tea party rally, just look up on the dais: if Michelle Bachmann is there, you're at one).

Palin has too many negatives to be effective, huge Fox following or not. Her daughter's turn on "Dancing with the Stars" lasted longer than Palin did as governor. She stated that she resigned from the governor's office for the betterment of Alaska. She should resign from political life for the betterment of America.

Albatross

GOP Senators Smart to Embrace Ryan Plan?

When you are hiking in the woods and become lost, the proper protocol is to stop going deeper and regain your bearings. Republicans who have been traditionally moderate who are now chasing the tea party are just becoming more lost. The Paul Ryan (D-Wis) budget and its Medicare implications are not just parlor talk: voters in NY-26 showed that it has little to no support at the ballot box. Stalwart Republicans like Snowe need to stand on their long records of accomplishment. That is the best defense against a primary challenge.

And to all my friends on Dean Heller's staff: rent; don't buy. Your boss is the only person to twice vote to end his career on the Hill.

Mitt Romney's Problem with Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney gave a speech defending himself against the accusation that he did the right thing by working to put health care into the hands of his constituents as governor of Massachusetts. Hell, I think he should have added dental: look at that smile!

Unfortunately for Gov. Romney, he is going to be hit on this from all sides. His fellow Republicans (if there are any fellow Romney Republicans) are going to say he is an uber-liberal who wants to give away health care on street corners, while Dems are going to say "welcome to the fold."

The best move for Romney would be to own it so completely that he has to charge rent and royalty fees for people who use the term "health care." Although I am a yeoman Democrat, I believe his speech should go along these lines: "Yes, I pushed to make sure that the people of my state could live healthy, productive lives. If a person has good health, they can consistently go to work, earn a paycheck, and pay taxes out of that check, which will in turn ensure that schools are solid and produce a new generation of healthy, educated workers, which ensures prosperity and a nation that can compete on a global scale with emerging powers. I will now take questions."