Embattled Illusions

Recess Time
Republicans had attempted to block the president from installing nominees they opposed over the long break by holding “pro forma” sessions over the holidays, in which members of both chambers — usually those who live in states close to the Capitol — gavel in for minutes or even seconds before gaveling out to try to meet the definition of holding a Congressional meeting. Senate Democrats had taken similar steps to block President George W. Bush from making what are known as recess appointments, which can last up to two years. Until Wednesday, the tactic had prevented two administrations from putting their choices in place without Senate confirmation. 


The action by Mr. Obama immediately sparked questions of what constitutes an actual Congressional recess, the legality of Mr. Obama’s move and the future of the Congressional confirmation process. (NYT, 1/5/2012)


Democrats had used a similar process to try to thwart Mr. Bush's recess appointments late in his term when they controlled both the House and the Senate. Prodded by West Virginia's Robert C. Byrd, who has since died, Majority Leader Harry Reid kept the Senate in pro forma session. Some advisers urged Mr. Bush to ignore the Senate and make recess appointments anyway, but he declined. Now Mr. Reid is supporting Mr. Obama's decision to make an end run around a Senate practice that he pioneered. (WSJ, 1/5/2012)


Where to begin? Reid hypocritical. Bush principled.  And where are the Liberals who screamed about Bush and Cheney running roughshod over the Constitution?


Head, Hands and Feet
But many researchers have reached a conclusion that turns conventional wisdom on its head: Americans enjoy less economic mobility than their peers in Canada and much of Western Europe. The mobility gap has been widely discussed in academic circles, but a sour season of mass unemployment and street protests has moved the discussion toward center stage. (NYT, 1/5/2012)


Astute readers know that these stories are a staple of state-controlled media reporting during Republican administrations (the legions of homeless during the Reagan years, spiraling poverty in the Bush years, etc.) So what is going on here? Why the stories under Obama?


Allow RedStateVT to explain. 


Obviously the blame does not accrue to Obama. Instead the objective is to "document" the inequities in the American system as it now works so that Obama and the Democrats can build the case for more wealth redistribution. This is another part of the "fundamental transformation of the country" that Obama talked about at his inauguration. Yes, we were listening.