Mario Piperni dot Com

I had to write something about Rod Blagojevich’s impeachment.  Actually, I need to thank the former Illinois Governor for keeping me amused for the last number of weeks and more important, for giving the professional comedians out there such a rich source of material to draw from.

I think I can best sum up Blagojevich’s performance by offering you a segment of MSNBC’s Countdown with Keith Olbermann’s show from last night.  Watch for the second half of this clip where Olbermann plays the highlights from this week’s late night television shows portrayal of Blagojevich.  It’s hilarious, especially the Mother Teresa, Ghandi and Stephen Colbert segments.

Recipe for creating a 60 seat majority in the Senate.

• Elect yourself a base of 56 Senate seats. (done)
• Get 2 independents to caucus with your majority.  (done)
• Hope that Al Franken is victorious in his court battle with Norm Coleman for Minnesota’s senate seat.
• Appoint a Republican Senator from New Hampshire (Judd Gregg) as your new commerce secretary.
• Pray that the Democrat Governor of New Hampshire appoints a Democrat to replace Gregg.

Alright, let’s add those numbers up: 56 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 60 !

If President Obama offers the commerce position to Gregg, you can bet that Republicans will plead with the New Hampshire senator to turn it down.  Interesting stuff politcs.

For anyone who has paid attention for the last 8 years and were repulsed by the display of arrogance and smugness by the Republican party, you can’t help but smile these days.  The GOP is a party in disarray with no vision, no soul and no direction.

In an article in the Washington Post – For GOP, a Case of Misshapen Identity – Republicans speak of a need to redefine themselves and set a new course for the future.   They speak of their party being “broken“, in a “rebuilding time“, “trying to figure out who we are” and “soul searching“.

It is refreshing to hear some Republicans finally understand that the party’s “deeds did not match its words. Did not rein in spending. Did not rein in earmarks” and that “In many ways we got what we deserved“.

You’re damn right you did!   Bush and his minions made a mockery of not only the democratic process but of his own party as well.

All that said, let’s all hope the Republican party does, in time, become a principled political force focused on the needs of the country and not on those of a select few.  One party rule for too long a period of time is unhealthy and dangerous for any country.

So while I hope the GOP does eventually find itself, for now I’ll delight in watching them wander in the desert of mayhem and lost identity.  It sort of puts a smile on my face.

I understand that politics is what it is and Republicans are playing the opposition game but how funny to hear them now claim they have the answers as to how to get the economy moving.  This is from a party which held the levers of power for 8 years, six of which they had complete control of both the White House and Congress.

What they fail to understand, I think, is that people voted for change.  If they wanted the same fiscal policies which drove the economy into the ground, they would have voted for John McCain.  As for President Obama, he is obviously doing his best to get a bipartisan bill but at the end of the day, it’s going to be a Democrat bill.  Republicans are not about to roll over for Obama no matter how much their partisanship further hurts the country.