Power Shifting

As a confessed political junkie, I am aware that I am an anachronism and that the vast majority of earthlings do not share my enthusiasm for the body politic. But it interests me, politics being an amalgam of power, influence and conscience. I know that the curse is that you may live in interesting times and we are surely there at present.

I suddenly see a rapid shifting in allegiances that might auger well for America. The President is truly a master politician. I think that this comes from being the first Senator elected in a long run of Governors. He knows how to work the room. Witness his quiet complicity in strengthening Susan Collin's moderate Republicans on the stimulus bill. These Senators, who include Spector, Snowe, Martinez and Voinivich are building a coalition with centrist democrats like Tester, Bayh and Conrad. They are working to cut out non stimulating pork from the present bill. And it looks like it will pass, with their help.

These Republicans have been pariah's in the Republican Party for the last eight years and I appreciate their more sensible outlook than that possessed by their soul mates in the House. Maybe we can get something done in this country after all.

****

Harry Markapolos made the SEC heads look like a bunch of stooges during the hearings the other day. He tried everything short of a letter bomb to try to get them to take notice of Madoff's racket and they dismissed him for years as a crackpot. Too busy to give him a hearing. Now they claim Executive Privilege and don't want to jeopardize current investigations. Totally non responsive, if just one of them had said, yeah, we really screwed up but instead they looked like castrated bureaucrats playing pass the buck. Hope there is a quick housecleaning. Bravo to Congressmen Gary Ackerman (d) New York for giving them hell.

****

It didn't take long for that honeymoon to be over - just weeks after a cozy dinner with the President at George Will's Spread, Charles Krauthammer proclaimed today that the Obama magic was over. Darn. That was quick. These guys are out polishing their knives in anticipation of last rites for this presidency but it might be just a tad premature.