Orrin Hatch gives the seal of approval to Obama's nominees!
Orin Hatch sounded like a member of the Democratic party when he spoke to Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC yesterday and enthusiastically supported Eric Holder, Leon Panetta, and Tim Geithner.
This is pretty big news because when Hatch speaks on these issues he carries almost half the Republicans with him and it signals an end to any real opposition to Obama's picks I believe. Sure, Specter will demand some answers on Holder since he's put up a sudden hissy fit about it, but I think Hatch sees the writing on the wall and if they obstruct Obama from the outset then they will only damage themselves in the process.
At the end of the interview Andrea offered up a "bipartisanship is in the air" kind of response. She was certainly amused at Hatch's glowing defense of Obama's cabinet picks. It was pretty funny to see the Senator from Utah discussing Democrats in this way for sure.
Hatch: I'm totally for Eric Holder....
Mitchell: Orrin Hatch, bipartisanship is breaking out all over the place. Thank you for joining us today...
Hatch: Ha, Nice to be with you Andrea.
Mitchell: Good to see you.
Yes Andrea, love is in the air.
That while ideologically opposed to the appointees, even Hatch is tired of incompetents being put in these positions.
Gonzalez may have left a bad taste even in some Republican mouths.
Also, perhaps from a self-serving perspective, again with Gonzalez, it would just look horrible to have supported him but not almost anyone else.
...second it falls below 70% KKKons will act like hyenas.
There are only a FEW MODERATES in the GOP, they are NOT interested in problem solving.
Specter is already pissing and moaning about Holder. God, I wish he would retire or something. Maybe Hatch's plus will negate Specter's negative.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Specter is the a-hole who said before Ashcroft was confirmed: "I think the president is entitled to great latitude in the selection of his Cabinet officers."
Hatch is no dummy. This is all about appearances. The Republicans are desparate to stop further losses in 2010. Besides, I wouldn't exactly call Obama's choices flaming progressive liberals. This isn't a tough call for Orin and makes him look "reasoned".
The GOP are losing 4 Senate seats to retirement in 2010.
They have to do this. 25% will not get them re_elected to office.
Plus, being viewed as obstructionists will drive another nail in their coffin.
They'll turn on Obama. Just not until it's politically advantageous to do it.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
You're absolutely on target with this. This country is currently a mess and only by pulling together (even if we doubt their ultimate agenda) will we get out of this. It still burns me that these Repub retirees will make a very hansom retirement income. But at least they will be gone!
ljmel
Actually it was announced the other day there are 5 repigs retiring.
I think he's praising Obama on his positions on various issues that are apparent in his appointments, that's all.
When Bush was elected in 2000 & 2004, we didn't hear any Democrats singing praises about his appointments, did we? Though the 2000 situation wasn't the same as it is today, things weren't exactly peachy for the party that lost then either. Clinton's impeachment had derailed the Democrats' agenda, and they could have used a nod from GW Bush if they'd climbed on the bandwagon.
Hatch may be on his best behavior the first 30 days of Obama's fledgling administration but rest assured, he will return to the usual and customary obstructionism before President's Day.
You can bet the pig farm on it.
Great, cuz real democracy is like the last 8 years. No opposition. Here's a blank cheque. Go to it.
Now all of a sudden Orrin wants to sing a couple of verses of Kumbaya with us? ;)
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
He is kicking their asses with kindness. Progressives(?) who after these eight wretched years looking for a fight are pissed.
Is it just me, or does the fact that Orrin Hatch supports them, sorta make you queasy??
I understand why you feel that way. After all these years of fighting between the two parties, you feel like it's a trap or something. You start wondering if we have been fooled by Obama. I understand those feelings, but I think in this case Orrin really is trying to hop on Obama's shiny new coattails.
Jesus, I just passed by the tv and there was Specter whining about Holder and Mark Rich. He's like an old bulldog with a worn out chew toy. He can no longer play with it but he just won't give it up.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
there is no real fighting between the parties. In fact I challenge the notion that there are any "parties" at all.
there is only one party. And it is run by the Military Industrial/Financial complex.
the rest is all theater and window dressing. Keeps the illusion alive that we have a functioning democratic republic - when, in all reality, we have a quasi-dictatorship of the elite/oligarchy.
and you are exactly right truth be told , they are all with the exception of kucinich the party of and only for the corporations! the new year will be a repeat of the last eight years , more war , more surpression of our civil rights , thiers going to be a realisation of thoes facts when flag draped coffins keep comeing from iraq and afganistan!
..especially when you check to see how many in Congress, the Senate in particular, are or have been CFR members. Long live the queen.
"Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of Stupidity" - Frank Leahy
When whorrin hatch stands up and speaks for someone you have to wonder what is in it for him?
I don't trust him ever!
It would be funny if today Holder answered each question buy saying, I can't recall.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Bush staffers removed the capital "O" from the WH keyboards and plan on stealing the paint off the walls on Jan 19th. *snicker*
I heard they were gonna take the N key.
I imagine this gang will remove all the damned computers. They can't afford to leave anything behind that might be used against them in a court of law.
Specter just spent all his opening speech time talking about what a fair kinda guy he is and how it's his duty to ask hard questions of Holder. I mean it really is all about him, as usual.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Let's be seriously here. The reason Hatch adores Holder is, Holder appointed the Grand Inquisitor, AKA, Ken Starr, special prosecutor.
when one has come to expect a certain amount of vileness from Senator Hatch, he goes and blows all one's expectations away. He is either getting tired of the fight or is only concerned with appearances.
Only when the last tree has died
and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught
will we realize we cannot eat money.
I'll swear, Obama should have run as a Republican, and then we progressives would have known who was elected. He could have handily beaten McCain in the Republican primary and maybe or maybe not Hillary in the general.
On the Stephanie Miller Radio Show it was just announced that Obama is hosting a dinner tonight...in Grandpa McCain's honor! Traitor! Lol.
Just goes to show that suddenly, with the election of Obama, the entire nation is coming together like never before. There will be nobody that questions anything he does, and America will rocket to the top in the world, with wealth flowing, jobs everywhere, and the entire world just one happy place. /snark
It's called optimism, Mr. Sunny side up, and it doesn't cost you anything, but it may take you a long way.
When Obama actually becomes President, I'll watch all of his moves and like many I will question, and yet still hope that his decisions are correct.
I'm also realistic. It isn't Obama that is setting his bar too high for his supporters, it's his supporters. No way in hell he can achieve that level of greatness. Some of us have been alive long enough to know that politicians tell you what you wanna hear. Doesn't mean they'll ever do it. And usually, they don't. But you're right. Maybe Obama is different. Maybe he is just so gosh darn good, that the political and rich elite, had no choice but to bow down the people's demands and allow the election of one of them. Or maybe I have a bridge I can sell you. I hear China is still loaning money.
...and if after negotiations I get less, I'm still more satisfied than what I would had been.
Of course Obama should aim high.
Where? I haven't heard of any job interviews around my area. Although there seems to be plenty of pink slips handed out.
...should be doing better. Here in my neighborhood, unemployment is around 50%, so I know what you mean. Here we think if Obama succeeds, hopefully we'll benefit.
That is why my optimism is at an all time low. We are beyond struggling where I live, my family included. Another factory announced it's closure this morning on the radio. Laying off another 150 workers. My bills are piling up at a rapid pace, and Unemployment Insurance takes it's sweet time. I've got to the point, where I don't even bother answering the phone anymore. My answering machine is getting wore out.
Nortel Networks Corp. owes the company more than $22 million for products and services delivered prior to the Canadian telecom equipment maker's bankruptcy filing.
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/01/15/ap5...
Study the symptoms not the virus...
the perfumes turned into a fart! unfurl the true colors! have some more cake mccain!
if Hatch is for this man, perhaps I should be against him. Senator Hatch and I rarely have agreed on anything. Blows my mind, that Hatch actually sounds like a reasonable person instead of the Orrin I've grown to love to hate over the years.
Only when the last tree has died
and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught
will we realize we cannot eat money.
In general, there is little to gain in opposing these nominees. Most of these guys understand that it is the President's prerogative to appoint his own people - one of the benefits of winning an election. Republicans will offer some mild resistance and may even vote against a few of them, mostly to keep their constituents happy.
That said, the revelations surrounding Tim Geithner from a few days ago are unnerving. Despite his otherwise sound qualifications for the office, his nomination needs to be rejected.
I haven't objected so much to some of Obama's cabinet picks, as others have here on C&L. But, I do object to the apparent lack of vetting - in the cases of Richardson, now Geithner, who's next?
For Geithner - as a nominee for Treasury Sec. to say he didn't understand the tax rules and how they applied to him is ridiculous!!!!
I'm beginning to think that maybe it is okay if I don't pay my taxes - it's such a paltry sum, I doubt the gov't would miss/overlook it and not come after me with penalties/interest and tasers!! Right....
"Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of Stupidity" - Frank Leahy
And wow again. I gotta head over to the Freeper Hate Site and watch the heads explode.
Sorry Charlie. Bipartisanship with the criminal "red" group is seen as a weakness, not a streangth. They laugh behind your back as they plunge the knife in it. DO NOT DO IT! DO NOT DO IT! DO NOT DO IT! "Blues", you have to do this on your own. Ronald 666 Wilson Reagan is dead...and so must his policies die!
Obi Wan
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