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The Amazing Schneiderman?
This began as a discussion in the comments over Chris Hayes interview with New York State Attorney general Eric Schneiderman on Sunday’s edition of UP:
Hayes asked some good questions and at one point pretty much boiled it down to two camps of Liberal reaction over Obama’s SOTU announcement of freshly-minted, minty-fresh New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s appointment to co-chair a “state and federal mortgage crisis unit”. The joint investigation is charged with investigating the mortgage fiasco that precipitated America’s 2008 financial collapse and subsequent near-Depression. One liberal camp is cheering the creation of the task force and that Obama chose Schneiderman to help lead it; the other believes Schneiderman may have castrated himself and/or been neutered by the administration.
I’ve seen this skepticism peppering liberal blogs since it was announced he’d be heading up this probe. David Dayen, Atrios, and Matt Stoller to name a few.
I always find this interesting because Progressives suffer so much and fight so hard for more Progressives to be involved in the various branches of government, yet when Liberal pols reach such great heights, there’s a reflexive cynicism that kicks in among part of the base, sometimes straight into overdrive, that the Progressive politician in question will no longer be as effective, or even effective at all, as a result of getting into a higher executive or legislative office.
I remember similar criticism when Obama created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and chose Elizabeth Warren chosen to set it up. Naturally, anger and disappointment followed from the same circles over Obama eventually announcing Warren would not head the agency. Hopes had been pinned solely on Warren running it and since she was not, the whole thing was an unserious charade.
However, setting up such a bureau properly is crucial in terms of its future not only as a serious agency, but one that actually has teeth and runs efficiently and that, as a result, would be that much more difficult for future administrations to dissolve or corrupt. I wanted Elizabeth Warren to oversee it’s establishment as much as I wanted her to eventually run it.
Anger and skepticism then arose when it was announced ex-Ohio Attorney general Richard Cordray would be named the director instead of Warren. He seems to have passed the smell test, though and Obama’s recent recess appointment of Cordray seems even more deliberate considering what we now know, according to Schneiderman anyway, that setting up CPFB properly and installing Cordray just prior to the formation of this investigative task force appears to have been key in providing it the necessary staffing and resources.
There’s a paradox we should be careful to avoid as Liberals. Progressives can’t advocate for a more Progressive government, or complain that it isn’t as Progressive as it should be, while simultaneously casting doubt or aspersions on the Progressives that move into positions where they can have a serious effect on political outcomes, public advocacy, prosecutions, or policy. Especially, considering the forces already at work against them on the conservative side.
That said, there should be a healthy level of vigilance with regard to the motives and actions of any politician in the spirit of both the practical: pushing them to favor your side on a given issue, and the less practical: “keeping them honest” However, I also think that when cynicism reaches unhealthy levels it becomes debilitating and potentially destructive. It also often becomes apparent that it’s somewhat of a defense mechanism in an attempt to temper any future disappointments resulting from unfavorable political outcomes, or simply to channel anger, than a proactive skepticism that helps ensure that any given politician is an earnest advocate for the citizenry.
Personally, I feel the same way about Eric Schneiderman that I felt about Warren. I’m always glad to see more Progressives in office fighting the proverbial good fight on multiple fronts. Especially, someone like Schneiderman who hit the ground running and has fought the banks tooth and nail in the face of tremendous opposition by very powerful people. I’m also glad that Chris Hayes didn’t toss him softballs and prodded him for the information people want to know because Progressive politicians need to be able to convey things as clearly as possible when circumstances like “ongoing investigations” are opaque by nature. It helps to remind politicians that less powerful people are counting on them to come through and that hopefully they won’t be forgetting that while advancing their careers or conducting themselves publicly. This way maybe they can avoid things like developing a taste for pricey hookers or tweeting pictures of their cocks.
Image credit [top]: By soopahgrover
446 Comments
MSNBC just announced that Komen Foundation has appoligized to Planned Parenthood and restored funding.
this was in my email
To the Kindly attention of:
CBS President
CBS CEO
CBS Exexutives
CBS producers
CBS The Talk Show Hosts
Italian Embassy in Washington DC
To Whom it may be concern:
Dear Sir/Madam,
I received many complaints regarding the “The Talk” Show of Jan 17: http://www.cbs.com/shows/the_talk/video/ beginning at 5.35 minute and noted that in particular one of the Co-Hosts Sharon Osburne, made strong disparaging remarks against Italian men drawing from the tragedy of cruise ship Costa Concordia (owned by U.S. Carnival Cruise Group) near the coast of Tuscany.
While I certainly support the freedom to criticize, the comments used by Mrs. Osborne are as incorrect as they are baseless. Indeed, placing the behaviour of a single person, no matter how grave, on the same level as that of an entire people is tantamount to an insult, which I certainly cannot accept and wish to return to its sender. While considering the Costa Concordia accident it is important to remind that the passengers were brought to safety by Italian rescue units, whose dedication and skills avoided a much larger tragedy. And that, along with the failings of some, there also are stories like that of Giuseppe Girolamo, a 30-year old musician who gave his place on a raft to a child and has since been missing, that should be given due visibility.
Given that Mrs. Osborne seems to attach great importance to military heroism, perhaps the best judgement on the Italian military is the appreciation of the United States Armed Forces, who can rely on a contingent of 10,000 Italian men and women operating jointly with US and NATO allies in some of the world’s most dangerous regions, such as Afghanistan, Lebanon and Kossovo, who gave dozens of lives in the fight agains terror. Indeed, it should always be remembered that heroism and cowardice have never been limited to a single people, and it is unfortunate to see a network with the prestige of CBS associated with such shallow comments.
I would encourage Mrs. Obsorne to refrain from further ethnicity-base humour, a relic of a past which we do not regret, and recommend her to visit Italy. She will find a friendly country, with individuals capable of surprising feats and a whole community which reacts to ill-informed prejudice with a smile.
Sincerely,
Vincenzo Arcobelli
President Committee
Italians Living Abroad
Consular District of Houston
214-995-0173
http://texas.comites-it.org/
http://www.comites-it.org
also in my email a pitch by adam green of bold progressives to support Bernie Sanders
lately i have scaled down my political giving considerably, but i think i’ll pitch in for Bernie
From Greg Sargent’s Plum Line*
lol, on sam’s show today, talking about picking your nose and kids eating boogers, yes i am familiar with that cultural reference, but sam’s friend said something funny “don’t yuk my yum!” apparently that’s a common expression
that’s what i should have told toni and michele the other night when they were yukking my yum (and 60th’s and crank’s)
I wish i had known that expression then
BlueDuPage Blue DuPage
steveweinstein Steve Weinstein
HuffingtonPost Huffington Post
Already what was reported on the news has been fact checked:
dailykos Daily Kos
rudepundit The Rude Pundit
nicolesandler Nicole Sandler
toniD February 3, 2012 10:23 am
Koch Bros. Mouthpiece Tells Occupy: “Forget the 1%, Go After Granny”
———————————–
Alternate headlines:
Why Ex Septuagenarian?
Occupy Octogenarians!
Just Say Nonagenarians!
—–
(Quinquagenarian is awesome in its awesomeness and really difficult to pun. Sexagenarian is funny all by itself).
jeffjarvis Jeff Jarvis
mire February 3, 2012 11:30 am
…I would encourage Mrs. Obsorne to refrain from further ethnicity-base humour…
———-
In deference to your outrage I will henceforth refer to these
as Italianfowl.
Initial Republican response to jobs report: uh…er…
by Meteor Blades for Daily Kos Labor
[more]
@mire: It’s too bad the Italians didn’t take down Reince Preibus comments also.
These stereotypes of ethnicity can be really painful.
Good for them to write that letter!
2012: Women Will Be Key for Senate Democrats
By Elizabeth Hartfield
[more]
Democrats link Kochs, Rep. Tim Griffin
Posted by Max Brantley on Mon, Oct 3, 2011 at 3:48 PM
[more]
@toniD: I have been reading comments under articles about the employment report and they (as always) fall into one of several categories.
1.) The Tin Foil Brigade: “All of the numbers are cooked by [fill in the blank] to [fill in the blank] their cynical [fill in the blank] for world domination.”
2). The Party Prevarication Poo-Pooers: “The [Democrats or Republicans] cooked the numbers to make [fill in current President] look [good or bad] and the timing is suspicious, too.”
3.) The Those Aren’t The Real Numbers Naysayers: “The unemployment figures do not include [fill in non-working group] or [fill in another non-working group] or [fill in yet another non-working group].
The first group is batshit crazy and obsessed with the idea that everything is a conspiracy.
The second group is a more focused collection of batshit crazies whose cynicism toward the other political party is curiously absent when examining their own.
The third group has the most members. They conflate methodologies and numbers from several different sources in a bogus comparison. So long as the numbers are gathered and compiled in exactly the same manner for each report cycle, the numbers have value when compared to numbers from previous cycles that were gathered and compiled by the same source in the same manner. Take, for instance, tracking your gross monthly household expenditures. If there is a spike or a drop, something’s different. You don’t know what is different if you have not also been tracking exactly where each dollar went but you certainly know that something is different about the most recent month as compared to previous months.
The third group also tends to use government-generated numbers to dispute other government-generated numbers, which is curious because they are disputing the validity of government-generated numbers by citing additional government-generated numbers. Confused? I bet you are.
For instance, if the methodology uses unemployment insurance recipients to measure unemployment from one time period to the next, the Those Aren’t The Real Numbers Naysayers will protest, “What about the people who were dropped from unemployment insurance payouts but still don’t have a job?” and then they go on to cite government-generated numbers that tally the unemployed people who fit exactly into that category.
I wonder how many people who read the same set of simplistic, stupid comments under published articles begin to realize that reasoning has levels of proficiency, and that repetitious, boneheaded remarks indicate the beginner’s slope at the ski resort of contemplation?
@toniD: I bet the Dorians had some nasty things to say about the Ionians.
So it goes.
@Crank Bait: A lot do seem the same. Talking points embedded into their pea brains so they don’t have to think for themselves.
@Crank Bait: That’s a column all on it’s own!
[grinning widely]
Starring George Clooney as Paul Krugman
@Cat Chew: Haha!
Knew there was something else about Krugman I liked!
Martin Bahir got Sharon Angle to appear on his show. Remember how Rachel was trying to get her?
He’s letting her talk but I’m waiting for Martin to insert the knife!
This is sad.
‘Lunch Scholars’ Video Reveals American Teens Can’t Answer Basic Trivia (VIDEO)
Sam:
In Alabama, God Says “Don’t Pay Teachers”
GOP Lawmaker Walked Out of Prayer Breakfast
@Crank Bait: yum!
This Week in God
By Steve Benen
–
Fri Feb 3, 2012 3:41 PM EST
@toniD: or the pinprick as it may be
did he?
this photo at the top of the blog every time i refresh reminds me to look up on Netflix the “Man on a wire” movie. I have seen it already a few years back and din’t think much of it, despite all the hype surrounding it, but maybe i should give it another chance; though, sometimes it’s just a matter of taste; i just didn’t share in all the ooohhhs and aaaahhs
@mire: Not as hard as I would have liked and she rambles and her voice is as irritating as Sarah’s. I’ll put up the video when they post it.
He did try to corner her but she went into meme mode and I think Martin was afraid to attack her like he would a man.
this kemen foundation bith saying that she pulled funding from organizations under investigation; the investigation under which PP is under was instigated by abortions foes who accuse it of perfoming abortions. They seem not know that abortion in this country is still legal and not a crime; they hope that by continuing to treat it as a crime and referring to it constantly as something extremely vile it will be considered such but it’s not so easy
Mire, you’ll like this news….
Schneiderman: MERS And Servicers Engaged In Deceptive and Fraudulent Practices That Harmed Homeowners And Undermined Judicial Foreclosure Process
[more]
@mire: that comment was prompted by reading this article
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/02/susan-g-komen_n_1250651.html?ref=mostpopular
@mire: And, it’s not getting easier for them. This social media/Internet-fueled backlash is proof positive that their regressive anti-woman garbage is deeply unpopular and way out of the mainstream. What I saw on Twitter and Facebook seemed like 100 to 1 against the Koment decision. This was a HUGE populist victory for women, Planned Parenthood and the pro-choice movement.
Basically the anti-choice and anti-contraception political gambits like those of the Catholic Church and Komen Foundation have all been foisted on the public out of seemingly nowhere with much of the machinations taking place behind the scenes because wingnut fundies know that the only way they can possibly succeed in pushing their agenda is by sneaking it past quickly and hoping no one in the media notices.
This is impossible nowadays because Twitter and Facebook now trump the MSM. This was a social media victory full stop. Had the Internet not blown up, something like this would never have gotten play in the MSM.
BIg, big victory.
FDLDissenter The Dissenter
thinkprogress ThinkProgress
stevebenen Steve Benen
TPM Talking Points Memo
JesseLaGreca Jesse LaGreca
BuzzFeedBen Ben Smith
Schneiderman Suit Represents a Carve-Out on Foreclosure Fraud Settlement
By: David Dayen Friday February 3, 2012 11:23 am
[more]
chrislhayes Christopher Hayes
We’ll also have Michelle Alexander on the program tomorrow to talk about newjimcrow.com
upwithchris Up w/ Chris Hayes
This weekend & next we’ll be on Sat. @ 7AM EST & Sun. @ 8AM EST. Then starting Feb. 18th we’re on @ 8AM Sat. & Sun. followed by new @MHPshow
RawStory The Raw Story
Heart-wrenching testimony kills proposed Virginia abortion regulation. rawstory.com/rs/2012/02/03/…
[must read!]
RT_America RT America
RT_America RT America
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels signed “right to work” legislation into law yesterday. So what can workers in Indiana expect now?
RT_America RT America
Kevin Kamps, Beyond Nuclear joins Thom Hartmann. Earlier this week – California’s San Onofre nuclear power plant had to be unexpectedly shut down after radioactive water was discovered leaking out of the plant’s Unit 3 reactor. Officials claim the leak is fully contained within the concrete dome of the plant. This comes at the same time that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is warning that aging nuclear plants in the eastern and central portion of the United States might not be able to withstand an earthquake and its effects. But wait – there’s more…
@Cat Chew: The following link is within your link and makes the link you linked more linkalicious.
http://hoodedutilitarian.com/2011/09/explaining-the-joke/
—————————————-
mire February 3, 2012 4:24 pm
@Crank Bait: yum!
——–
No one can say that you don’t know how to poke fun at yourself.
What’s for dinner? I’m not hungry but I could be with the slightest bit of encouragement.
drgrist David Roberts
Here’s what climate change looks like is.gd/xTPKMA
Have to see this:
...and this one shows the location of each of the 3,078 daily high temperature records set or tied in the contiguous U.S. in January:
Much more here and it’s stunning!
[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/#!/A_ThinkingGirl/status/165571227149283329"]
[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/#!/jaketapper/status/165545697364541441"]
[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/#!/argylestyle/status/165481107289149440"]
[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/#!/washingtonpost/status/165481355973636097"]
60th Street February 3, 2012 4:55 pm
…Basically the anti-choice and anti-contraception political gambits like those of the Catholic Church and Komen Foundation have all been foisted on the public out of seemingly nowhere…
——————-
The following comment is based on speculation, anecdotal evidence and out-of-the-loop guesswork, so take it with a grain of salt.
The American Catholic Church is the Left Wing of Catholicism and has been for a long time. The permissiveness of parishes like The Immaculate Non-Conception (just kidding) are a thorn in the side of the Vatican.
Meanwhile in Europe, the dictates of The Church are now taken on an a la carte basis more often than not.
When proclamations from the Vatican are taken by the non-Catholic public as the beliefs and attitudes of all Catholics, it’s pretty far off the mark. If Papal edicts regarding contraception and abortion were taken as gospel (pardon the pun, I can’t stop myself) by rank-and-file Catholics, America would be knee deep in The Faithful. Every Catholic family could field a baseball team.
That’s not the case. So when anti-abortion folks say they’ve got Catholics marching to their tune, they are counting on a German guy in Italy to be speaking for everyone who knows that a rosary isn’t a necklace.
New thread up:
Romney: “I’m not concerned about the very poor. We have a safety net there.”
@toniD: Austerity – The worldwide plan to dismantle the social safety
naomi klein sounded the alarm, “the bells and whistles” in her shock doctrine book, but not enough people payed attention, or rather, the people that count, the 1 percent, totally ignored it and forged right ahead
and here we are
blood and tears legislation, they call it in Itay
indeed
@mire: That was wonderful. Thanks, I needed that!
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Current background image March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Washington, D.C. (August 28, 1963) by Penn State Special Collections Library