Nov. 7, 2010

CLAREMORE, Okla: In the last hundred years, Democrats in Oklahoma have survived tornados, dust storms, wildfires, blizzards, floods, heat waves, and ice storms. But on Tuesday the wind that come sweepin’ down the plain was calamitous, a regular human catastrophe. This cyclone originated in Washington, and picked up speed the closer it got. As it roared across the state it flattened Democrat candidates, from U.S. Senate down to county dog catcher. Congressman Dan Boren was the sole surviving Democrat, and that was only because he dove into a fox hole.

In Claremore and Oologah, regardless of the election results, spirits were high for a birthday celebration. It started on Nov. 4 with a cake with 131 candles, and ended two days later with a parade. In between, the fourth graders of Oologah put on a musical program that would make any Vaudeville actor proud. In addition to dozens of family members, special guests were two ladies who played 12-year old twin daughters of mine in the 1933 movie, Mr. Skitch. They were funny in the movie, and are still a delightful pair.

Back to politics, the Republicans in Oklahoma, and a bunch of other states, have the yoke placed squarely on their shoulders. They’ve got to balance a budget without cutting off too many voters. All except California and New York. Those two will keep dropping deeper into debt, hoping the rest of us will feel sorry for them and throw down a rope. But they only want a rope, not to pull themselves up, but only if there’s bags of money attached to it.

President Obama admitted the “political cost of the health care bill was much higher than expected.” In other words, he was surprised it cost him 60 Congressmen and 7 Senators. What the rest of us are concerned about, but not surprised, is the dollar cost of the bill. The vast majority of Americans had it figured out even before Democrats got around to reading the bill, that it would cost us more.

The news about the higher cost finally reached the AARP this week. You’ve got to feel sorry for the thousands of workers for that outfit. They campaigned and lobbied and spent millions to get it passed, and now they find out their own health insurance costs are going up ten or twelve percent. The AARP was a fine organization aimed at helping retired people but it got off track when it let in people as young as fifty who are still working. Even if he’s not working, a man that young should be ashamed to claim membership.

Timothy Geithner met with Jon Stewart to discuss the economy. You may be wondering, What could a Treasury Secretary possibly learn from a comedian about economics? Well, in 1929, when Secretary Mellon had skimped and saved a surplus of $185,000,000, I offered this observation: “They are all arguing over what to do with it, but nobody has ever suggested applying it on our national debt, which is over $30,000,000,000.”  Well, I hope Jon gave him some tips on cutting spending because Mr. Geithner has no hope of ever seeing a surplus.

I read where the Republican candidate for governor in Illinois can’t figure out how he lost. “I was ahead in all the polls right up to election day.” The answer is obvious: Chicago. See, on election day, all kinds of people vote in Chicago, but these pollsters only call people who are alive.

Historic quotes from Will Rogers:

“It’s going to be mighty hard after it’s over to tell which one to congratulate. If this depression stays with us, the loser Tuesday is going to be the winner.” DT #1951, Nov. 4, 1932

“There was nothing personal in the vote against you (President Hoover). You just happened to be associated with a political party that the people had just lost their taste for.” DT #1955, Nov. 9, 1932