Here's a memory test for you. At what age does a youngster first become aware of a world beyond one's own backyard, classroom, and Saturday morning cartoons? I was 8 years old in the summer of 1960 when, one afternoon, I sat down in front of the TV set to watch the Three Stooges only to find something completely different going on. There were all these people in a very large room and there were balloons, signs, music, speeches and general partying. You old timers may have already guessed I'm talking about the 1960 Democratic National Convention - the one where JFK was nominated. I think this is when I first became a political junkie! I clearly remember watching the Kennedy-Nixon debate, although I had zero grasp of anything they were talking about.
As an old timer myself, I can now remember stuff that was going on 50 years ago. I will spend the rest of my life commemorating the 50th anniversary of everything I lived through as I was growing up.
This Thursday marks the 50 anniversary of JFK's inauguration. Expect to hear some media hype about it in the coming week. I will be posting my own memories about it later in the week.
In the mean time (here's your little memory test) feel free to post a comment about your earliest recollection of a political or cultural event...
The Democrats are having a good debate with themselves over this Obama-GOP tax cut deal. I continue to think Obama was too quick to cut a deal to extend the Bush tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires. When dealing with bullies, the correct answer is NOT "Thank you sir, may I have another?".
But, we are where we are. So, what now?
Well, let's look at the bright side. This debate has been dominating the headlines for the last two weeks and, while Democrats fight among themselves, it is becoming clear as day which party wants to take care of the people at the top while doing nothing to create jobs, and which party wants to take care of the rest of us without adding another 61 billion to the deficit. It's nearly impossible to expose the Republicans for what they really are but this battle has caused them to expose themselves. So, that's good.
While the tax cuts for the wealthy and the estate tax cuts won't do anything to help the economy, there are other things in the deal that will. As it turns out, the deal has a lot of stimulus stuff in it that, theoretically, should help the economy and create jobs. If we can grow the economy, that would increase tax revenues and at least partially offset the 61 billion added to the deficit by giving tax cuts to the rich. A growing economy helped Clinton. That's why he had a budget surplus.
This also works well for the 2012 election cycle. For one thing, the low-info voters who just want Democrats and Republicans to get along just might give Obama credit for boosting the economy. But, here's the big thing. If the Democrats are smart (yeah, I know, that's a big if), they will introduce a bill BEFORE the election to make the tax cuts for the middle class permanent. If the Republicans, in an election year, decide to again hold the middle class tax cuts hostage, they'll be making a huge mistake.
I am well aware of the concern that the payroll tax holiday could become a trap that would allow the Republicans to gut Social Security. That will need to be managed very carefully. I don't want to gloss it over but, for now, just keep in mind two words - seniors vote. Two more words - third rail.
So, for now, progressives should hold out for a better deal and continue making as much noise as possible so there will be no doubt who's on whose side. Maybe get rid of the estate tax cuts and extend the unemployment beyond the 99 weeks when it runs out.
I believe in turning lemons into lemonade. It kills me to type this but - take the deal.
Where were you fifty years ago? I was in the third grade and all the news was about "President-Elect Kennedy". The Kennedy-Nixon race in 1960 may have set me on the road to becoming the political news junkie I am today.
Anyway, just to give fair warning, you should prepare yourselves for a lot of JFK 50th anniversary stuff between now and the 50th anniversary of his assassination and its aftermath three years from now...
The 50th anniversary of the inauguration (JFK and Ike both wore top hats)
The 50th anniversary of First live telecast of a presidential news conference
The 50th anniversary of the Bay of Pigs
The 50th anniversary of the Speech at the Berlin Wall "Ich bin ein Berliner"
The 50th anniversary of Cuban Missile Crises
The 50th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe singing Happy Birthday Mr. President
And, of course, November 22 2013 - the 50th anniversary of that Friday afternoon in Dallas in 1963, and the 50th anniversary of the swearing in of LBJ aboard Air Force One. By the way, November 22, 2013 also just happens to fall on a Friday. I don't know how that day will be commemorated in Dallas but I plan to make my hotel reservation now so I can be on the grassy knoll at 12:30pm.
Enroute to a Phil show in Pittsburgh in July 2002, Steve and Joe take a detour to rent a couple of bikes to explore the tunnels in abandoned sections of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
