SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE:

WILL GOP TAKE A BATH IN DEBT TALKS? – Now, baths are good.  We're all for cleanliness here.  We're a pro-cleanliness site.  But taking a bath in politics is something else.  There's a widespread feeling in conservative circles that the Democrats are setting a trap for the GOP, which will dutifully fall into it.  The debt talks are complicated, but the Dems know how to demagogue a complicated issue, as Obama did today when he said today that, if there's no agreement, Social Security checks might not be delivered.  It's a dishonest tactic, but it always works.  As one pundit noted, congressional switchboards are immediately deluged with calls from worried seniors.  With the media on Obama's side, it's almost inevitable that the Republicans will take the brunt of the blame if the talks go wrong, unless they do a better job of explaining their anti-tax position to the American people.

WHERE RONNIE WALKED –  Ronald Reagan spent years doing ads for General Electric.  But would GE's current honcho hire him?  Probably not.  Jeffrey Immelt is Obama's poodle in big business, and he was out fronting for the president today, advising corporate leaders to stop complaining about government policies and get to work creating jobs.  Immelt is the chair of President Obama's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.  He said he'd have some ideas on job creation by the end of the year.  It's heartwarming to see such a sense of urgency.  Maybe he can explain his schedule to a middle-aged unemployed guy with kids in college.  It's like the old saying, "You go to bed with Obama, you get up with a yawn."

LIGHT BULB LAW STILL STANDS – The House failed to repeal legislation mandating that light bulbs become dramatically more efficient.  Many conservatives opposed the original legislation, asserting that the choice of light bulbs should be left to individual buyers.  I know I'll get flak on this, but I had no serious problem with the requirement for change.  Congress is tasked by the Constitution to regulate interstate commerce.  While I favor minimal regulation and free markets, sane energy standards are within reason, especially as private industry was moving so slowly.  The fact that repeal failed in the conservative House indicates that there wasn't much public passion behind it.  I hope the mandate has the effect of spurring private competition for efficiency and quality, and lowering prices, which is what real competition usually does.

ARNOLD TO GO BACK TO HOLLYWOOD – Arnold Schwarzenegger is slated to return to Hollywood filmmaking in September, according to industry sources.  He will star in a western.  This is entirely logical.  The American public has yearned for years for a western starring an aging bodybuilder with an Austrian accent who had an out-of-wedlock child with his maid while serving as governor of our largest state.  I can't wait.  I'm already standing in line for my tickets.  I think his sidekick in the film should be John Edwards.  What a team.  They could do a series, like the Bob Hope/Bing Crosby road pictures.  Hollywood is back!  Just don't take the kids.

July 12, 2011