Now that Thanksgiving and Turkey day are over, we begin the Lame Duck session in Congress on November 29. I don’t know why it’s called the Lame Duck session. We don’t need our Congress to act lame or like idiots, quacking like a duck. I understand it’s considered a period when little will be done, due to the change in party leadership in 2011. The Lame Duck session, in actuality, began before Thanksgiving when Congress refused to pass a bill to extend emergency unemployment benefits beyond November 30. States provide unemployment benefits for 26 weeks. Historically, Congress has provided for additional weeks of benefits during high recession periods. Congress had given an additional 73 weeks of unemployment benefits due to the present dire unemployment statistics. It affects several million persons. You don’t have to be unemployed to understand the need for the extension of unemployment benefits bill. But with so many millionaires in Congress, perhaps having a little empathy … [Read more...] about Why Congress Reminds Me of The Wizard of Oz
Archives for November 2010
Happy Thanksgiving
Every day is a day of Thanksgiving. Take the time to especially reflect and give thanks on Thanksgiving. I attended a documentary screening during Thanksgiving week , produced by BET International, on Extra-Ordinary Life (XOL). Extra-Ordinary Life is a Washington, DC based charitable organization that nurtures and enriches the lives of teenage girls living in foster care environments. It also brings attention to children in foster care in DC and throughout the United States. The documentary focused on 8 teenagers living in foster care who traveled to South Africa for a life changing experience in the summer of 2010. There are over 423,000 children living in foster care throughout the United States. Generally, if children in the foster care system are not adopted as a baby, many remain in foster care their entire lives until they reach adulthood. Some never experience a “forever home” through no fault of their own. The documentary showed the eight teenage girls as they … [Read more...] about Happy Thanksgiving
Are the Democrats Insane for Wanting to Keep the Same Leadership?
By all accounts, the Democrats are looking to lead the Democratic Party with the same leadership as before the midterm elections. A meeting has not taken place yet. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. If that is true, then why is the Democratic Party looking to place its leadership in exactly the same hands with the same people as before the “shellacking” and loss of 60 plus seats in the House? With no apparent opposition, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D.CA) will presumably become House minority leader. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D. MD) is now on path to become the second in command after a deal was struck. Then Rep, James Clyburn will presumably resume a new post and become third in command. I heard some Democrats are touting experience as the reason for wanting to stay the course with the same trio of leadership as before the Republican romp. Yes, there’s something to be said for experience during these troubling times. But, we have a truly … [Read more...] about Are the Democrats Insane for Wanting to Keep the Same Leadership?
Game Changing Moment for President Obama
Politics is a team sport played much like football. Right now after the midterm election, President Obama is at half time going into the locker room to re-assess what worked, what didn’t work and what went wrong. As in team sports, there are good players and players who play poorly. There are teams that have all the good players and still lose because their game plan is not well executed. The converse is also true. There are teams that win whose players are not as good as the losing team. They play better. The answers are not always easy whether in football or politics. No one knows for sure what the 2010 election results mean. Republicans assert it means a complete repudiation of the Obama administration’s policies. Obama says he didn’t do a good job of explaining his policies but believes his policies are sound. But, what do Americans believe? It’s a lot more complicated than either Republicans or Obama think. And the answer as to what voters want is not a universal or … [Read more...] about Game Changing Moment for President Obama
Debbie Hines Speaks on the Michael Eric Dyson Show on Election
I had the pleasure of appearing as a guest on the Michael Eric Dyson show on November 1, 2010 to discuss the effect of Black women as the swing vote in the midterm election. In 15 states and 20 races, African American women could decide the results. Many races will have results with 2000 votes or less. There is an upswing in enthusiasm among minority women. African American women made up a large percentage of first time voters in the 2008 election. Reaching these women to come out and vote again is one key to the success of the Democratic party. Listen here to the interview and share your comments and thoughts. Don't forget to vote. Your vote counts. Pundits and polls don't determine election results. Votes do. Debbie Hines is an attorney and legal/political commentator based in Washington, DC. She holds a Juris Doctorate from George Washington University Law School and a BA from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a native of Balimore, MD. … [Read more...] about Debbie Hines Speaks on the Michael Eric Dyson Show on Election