I, For One, Welcome Our New Democratic Overlords

by Andrew

The rumblings can be heard on K Street. Steely-eyed men who put their money on the line are shifting where that money goes. Yes, Democrats are welcome again on K Street, a very good sign businesses think Congress's power base will be shifting in November. And if the Democrats are in power, or even close to it, lobbyists know that they're going to have to grease those skids in order to make sure they get the legislation they want through Congress. It is, after all, the American way.

While this hardly means it is certain that Democrats will take back one or both houses of Congress in November, it will be of no small help to them. As the article points out, a few Democrats who were considering moving into the lobbying end of governance are considering sticking around to enjoy potentially being in the majority. And a few Republicans are talking about making the move to lobbying even before the election returns in, a clear indicator of which direction the tide is flowing in. As Napoleon once observed, in war the moral is to the physical as three is to one: well-motivated troops can overcome significant shortfalls elsewhere, and as the first Tuesday in November grows closer, the Democrats' morale is surging while Republican morale, already sapped by years of defending President Bush, is sagging.

A lot can happen in two-plus months. But it's hard not to like the Democrats' odds right now. Here's hoping they live up to their supporters' promises.

Comments

[cleek]

i'll believe it when i see it.

[liberal japonicus]

After working my way thru all of what has gone by during my obon vacation, I'm wondering why you didn't write 'our democrat overlords'

*ducks*

[Andrew]

cleek,

There's still a lot to overcome, unfortunately. Incumbency is a powerful tool, as is gerrymandering. But when people are spending money, I take that as a good sign.

lj,

The last thing I wanted to do was open up that can of worms again.

[liberal japonicus]

and good on you for that!

[hilzoy]

If they don't live up to our promises, I promise (to you) to hold their feet to the fire.

[Andrew]

hilzoy,

I just want to see divided government. Everything else is negotiable. Besides, if they don't it's plenty of writing fodder for me. ;)

[cleek]

call me contrarian, but after years of having my hopes dashed, i feel more comfortable expecting the exact opposite of what the lefty blogs are predicting. (i know you're not a lefty)

for example...

[Andrew]

Actually, I am a lefty.

As far as that poll goes, why worry? The worst case is Lieberman caucuses with the Democrats as an Independent Democrat, I still see that as a win, especially if the Democrats take back the Senate.

[Slartibartfast]

Actually, I am a lefty.

So, you have decreased life expectancy, and you have trouble with scissors and opening jars. Big deal.

[cleek]

Actually, I am a lefty.

really? huh. i guess i always assumed you were chosen to represent 'the right', since that's what people seemed to be clamoring for before your arrival, but that you turned out to be remarkably non-partisan about it. that'll teach me to assume. oh wait, no it won't.

As far as that poll goes, why worry?

i'm not 'worried' so much. i just think that it'll probably end up being yet another entry on the negative side of the lefty blogosphere's ledger - as most things do.

[Bernard Yomtov]

Actually, I am a lefty.
So, you have decreased life expectancy, and you have trouble with scissors and opening jars. Big deal.

But much better prospects for a major league career.

[John Thullen]

Do what I do.

Hold the scissors in your left hand and use them to open the jar in your right hand. Hope what is in the jar will put years on your life.

The logistics of commenting at the Obsidiary will be challenging once the resident libertarians and now-independent conservatives accomplish their nefarious plan for divided government. ;)

[lily]

I'd be more excited if Emmanuel, the DSCC, and the DLC would all go sit in the cormer and stare at the wall for the rest of the election. Their political instincts are almost invariably wrong.

[JakeB]

"So, you have decreased life expectancy, and you have trouble with scissors and opening jars. Big deal."

And a greater likelihood of higher lifetime income. Not to mention a greater chance of having more strongly bilateralized language function, which suggests the possibility of generally greater language abilities.

[Bruce Baugh]

Personally, I'm not expecting wonders out of the Democrats if they manage some wins. (I don't think they will. I think that once again, for the fourth time in a row, we'll have Republican wins and the news will talk about how, gee, polling just isn't reliable any more, and discussion of electoral fraud will be treated as unmentionably rude. I hope I'm wrong.) I would like the undoing of some of the worst Bush-Cheney excesses and a general renewed interest in competence and legality. But at this point, simply being less bad would be nice.

[Andrew]

another entry on the negative side of the lefty blogosphere's ledger - as most things do.

Eh. All that matters is who ends up in Congress. While I'll cop to the occasional chuckle over Kos' record, I think people who dismiss those efforts are whistling past the graveyard.

[Slartibartfast]

At this point I'm willing to entertain the notion that less bad on an individual basis might not even be required. Although, to me, campaign videos like this from an otherwise decently-qualified candidate are a bit off-putting. The comments about height and hair are relevant, how?

His competition, Keller, is an advocate for the Fair Tax. If anyone can point me to a decent, dispassionate discussion of this, I'd be obliged. To me, it appears that the Fair Tax shifts the tax burden away from the upper quintile onto (mostly) the middle three quintiles. As far as I'm concerned, anything that could substantially lighten the mass of the current tax code while ridding us of yet another entrenched government beaurocracy is a good thing, and if they can rig it so that the tax burden itself doesn't change, it looks even better.

I'd suggest a premium tax for luxury items as a means for rebalancing, but I have no idea how that might work.

[liberal japonicus]

I've grown pessimistic enough to agree with Bruce, and add that what may have seemed like an incomprehensibly twisted use of racheting up the threat of terrorist actions will probably sway enough people. I'm kicking myself that I decided not to post the comment I had before leaving for vacation, which was that I thought that the PETbottle bombers were probably an overreaction, and expected the whole thing to be a screwup by Blair, but I thought that I would be ridiculed in my absence.

[KCinDC]

I can't speak for Gary, but I wouldn't have been bothered by "Democrat Overlords", since either an adjective or an attributive noun would be okay in that particular phrase -- they're overlords who are Democrats. It's true that in Brockman's original sentence "insect" could be an adjective or an attributive noun, but certainly he could have said "ant overlords", and you could say "dog overlords" or "apple pie overlords" or "orbital-mind-control-laser-wielding abominable snowman overlords" without being at all ungrammatical.

[Jesurgislac]

Actually, I am a lefty.

I'm ambisinister, myself.

While this hardly means it is certain that Democrats will take back one or both houses of Congress in November

Since there's no prospect of electoral reform as yet (not enough Americans prepared to emulate the Mexicans and insist on investigation after rigged elections) I'd say it's just about the most certain thing in politics that the Republicans will retain both Houses in November.

[Gary Farber]

"Actually, I am a lefty."

I know a guy with a store for you.

[rilkefan]

Can I just get my trust back?

[rilkefan]

Peace is war.

[Phil]

I'm kicking myself that I decided not to post the comment I had before leaving for vacation, which was that I thought that the PETbottle bombers were probably an overreaction, and expected the whole thing to be a screwup by Blair, but I thought that I would be ridiculed in my absence.

LJ, I certainly can't prove it now, but the day of the arrests I delivered a big monologue to my wife in the car on the way home from work, to the effect that this was going to turn out to be much, much less than initially met the eye, and explaining exactly why I thought so. I wish I had posted it then. You and I would look pretty smart, which for you isn't a big deal, but for me would be quite validating.

[Gary Farber]

Since you've complimented me a number of times, and often agreed with me, Phil, it's entirely clear to me that you are a person of great discernment, keen intelligence, perceptivity, perspicuity, and wit, and are a gentleman and a scholar, besides.

[dr ngo]

... and are a gentleman and a scholar, besides.

And, no doubt, a fine judge of horse flesh.

[hilzoy]

Completely OT: I am going to Sweden next week, and in the course of planning things I learned that my completely random decision to go to a part of Sweden I've never been to before will place me within maybe forty miles of this:

"The world’s largest cheese slicers stand at the southern entry to Ånäset on the E4. They are a symbol not only of Västerbotten’s Kingdom of Cheese but also of Ånäset’s Cheese Store."

Will I be able to resist going considerably out of my way to see the world's largest cheese slicers? (I am a complete sucker for things like that, and if I was going to have a car, it would be a no-brainer.)

[Gary Farber]

"Will I be able to resist going considerably out of my way to see the world's largest cheese slicers?"

You should not resist, and you should post pictures and a report.

Also: cheese for everyone!

[Dantheman]

"Will I be able to resist going considerably out of my way to see the world's largest cheese slicers?"

Resistence is futile (especially if less than one ohm). And pictures would be greatly appreciated.

[liberal japonicus]

You and I would look pretty smart, which for you isn't a big deal, but for me would be quite validating.

Thanks Phil, but if I remember correctly, you have played (are still playing?) in a decent band which actually has paying gigs. Let's trade!

BTW, haven't had a music thread in a while, Andrew, howzabout giving your faves so we can really give you what for?

[Jesurgislac]

Will I be able to resist going considerably out of my way to see the world's largest cheese slicers?

I hope not, especially if you take pics.

We have seen the Queen of cheese,
Laying quietly at your ease,
Gently fanned by evening breeze --
Thy fair form no flies dare seize. -Ode on the Mammoth Cheese Weighing over 7,000 Pounds

[cleek]

Roquefort and grueyere and slippery Brie
All of these cheeses they happen to me
Rough pecorino and moody Rams Hall
Stop me before I just swallow it all
Somebody ring the cheese alarm
-- the cheese alarm, Robyn Hitchcock

[Jesurgislac]

To us it is a glorious theme
To sing of milk and curds and cream,
Were it collected it could float
On its bosom, small steam boat,
Cows numerous as swarm of bees
Are milked in Oxford to make cheese.
--"Oxford Cheese Ode", James McIntyre again, the man was a chenius...