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   Dan Savage, the brilliant and foul-mouthed sex columnist, has become one of the most important ethicists in America. Are we screwed?
 The federal government is supposed to issue new rules about debt levels for students in for-profit colleges. In the meantime, the states are working on their own regulations.
 Washingtons budget hawks want to decimate the federal workforce to shrink the deficit. It will have the opposite effect.
 There arent nearly enough counterterrorism experts to instruct all of Americas police. So we got these guys instead.
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October 19, 2009
GRAB A MOP.... It was an unusually good metaphor. President Obama delivered a speech in San Francisco last week, appearing at a DNC fundraising reception. He covered a lot of ground, but there was one section that stood out. This afternoon, it apparently became the basis for a nice little press stunt. In his remarks, the president explained his support for a two-party system, where "ideas are tested and assumptions are challenged." He added, "But what I reject is when some folks decide to sit on the sidelines and root for failure on health care or on energy or on our economy. What I reject is when some folks say we should go back to the past policies when it was those very same policies that got us into this mess in the first place. "Another way of putting it is when, you know, I'm busy and Nancy's busy with our mop cleaning up somebody else's mess, we don't want somebody sitting back saying, 'You're not holding the mop the right way.' Why don't you grab a mop, why don't you help clean up? 'You're not mopping fast enough.' 'That's a socialist mop.' Grab a mop -- let's get to work." Andrew Sullivan noted, "It's an inspired three-word challenge to the GOP. Devastating, actually -- because it both reminds people of the damage the GOP did while not seeming to dwell on the past or to score partisan points (while actually doing both)." With that in mind, the DNC sent out a press release this afternoon, explaining that a group of concerned volunteers will "deliver mops to the Republican National Committee headquarters and ask Republicans to pitch in and help clean up the mess they've made over the last eight years." The release added, "Last week, the President suggested that rather than simply saying 'no' to efforts to help put the country back on the right track, the GOP should 'grab a mop' and help clean up the mess we're in to move the country forward. Today, supporters will ask Chairman Steele and the Republican Party to take the President's advice: either grab a mop and help clean up the mess, or get out of the way." As press stunts go, this sounds like a pretty good idea. In fact, I'm a little surprised Democrats in general haven't picked up on this metaphor, incorporating it into party talking points. Maybe I've missed it, but Dems could use this in a variety of applications. The party's never been especially good at message discipline, but the "mop vs. mess" frame seems pretty compelling to me. —Steve Benen 3:40 PM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (39)
Comments
I love it...I just wonder if the Democrats will be smart enough to capitalize on it. Every time a teabagger starts whining, this should be the automatic response: "Grab a mop!" P.S. Telling Consuela to mop it for you doesn't count. Posted by: Cazart on October 19, 2009 at 3:48 PM | PERMALINKThe party's never been especially good at message discipline, but the "mop vs. mess" frame seems pretty compelling to me. It would be, if it wasn't a socialist mop..... Posted by: Stefan on October 19, 2009 at 3:49 PM | PERMALINKStandard night at home for me. Me: cleaning. Someone who never cleans: you're not doing it right! Me: you want to do this? Someone who never cleans: no, that's okay. I live with a Republican! Posted by: Personal Failure on October 19, 2009 at 3:56 PM | PERMALINKI think the question to ask Republicans is whether they are willing to grab a mop or are part of what needs to be mopped up. Posted by: threegoal on October 19, 2009 at 3:58 PM | PERMALINKI suppose "grab a mop" has more universal appeal than 'either sh!t or get off the pot'! Posted by: Paul Dirks on October 19, 2009 at 3:59 PM | PERMALINKMaybe Goldman Sachs, AIG and a few of those guys could use some mops too. Posted by: paulo on October 19, 2009 at 4:02 PM | PERMALINKobama: "grab a mop" rush: "grab your ankles" insert,[no pun intended], nyc cop joke here Posted by: dj spellchecka on October 19, 2009 at 4:04 PM | PERMALINKHas any Republican admitted to being at fault for anything that has happened during those long & awful Bush years? I'm genuinely curious. Posted by: zhak on October 19, 2009 at 4:08 PM | PERMALINKObama can start by giving some mops to all the Repugs in his administration. Posted by: par4 on October 19, 2009 at 4:11 PM | PERMALINKThis stunt is as pointless as the one in which that clown said he would send a bag of salt to Senator Snowe's office, in order to 'melt' her. Seriously, someone is buy real mops for this? Waste of money, waste of time. Posted by: John on October 19, 2009 at 4:12 PM | PERMALINK"Has any Republican admitted to being at fault for anything that has happened during those long & awful Bush years? " No they still blame Clinton for all the bad stuff up to November 3,2008, after that it's all Obama's fault. It's almost as if the Bush presidency never happened in their world. (I wish that was true in ours) Posted by: Atlliberal on October 19, 2009 at 4:13 PM | PERMALINKDemocrats going to town hall meetings held by their Republican representatives and waiving mops would make good TV. Posted by: John Dillinger on October 19, 2009 at 4:21 PM | PERMALINKWhat an excellent idea! I have been amazed at how shameless the Rethugs are -- may be this mop stunt will deliver a dose of much needed shame to them... Posted by: Radha on October 19, 2009 at 4:30 PM | PERMALINKJohn, @16:12, Not real mops, no. For Republicans, a mop-shaped lapel pin is quite sufficient. Posted by: exlibra on October 19, 2009 at 4:30 PM | PERMALINKKudos Steve for bringing this to our attention. This is populist Obama at his best. Let's all grab mops!! Posted by: Chris- The Fold on October 19, 2009 at 4:33 PM | PERMALINKPlease let's not take this to the "stunt" level. Get the point across in the media that the president used the clever metaphor, but let's not lower ourselves to redstate foolishness. This would be one of the lesser traits of Republican operations to mimc. Message unity, yes. Tire gauges, not so much. Posted by: MCA on October 19, 2009 at 4:35 PM | PERMALINKIs a Swiffer acceptable? Or is it too socialist? Posted by: Keori on October 19, 2009 at 4:38 PM | PERMALINKIt's pretty clever, however, by the end of business tomorrow, I'll wage that some fringe of the right wing will turn it into something It's the stupid McCain tire gauge idea, but done competently. Posted by: Winkandanod on October 19, 2009 at 5:04 PM | PERMALINKP.S. Telling Consuela to mop it for you doesn't count. Thanks a lot Cazart, I had to mop the coffee off my desk after reading that one. Posted by: Scott F. on October 19, 2009 at 5:09 PM | PERMALINKGrab a mop! is the best rallying cry I've heard in months. Perhaps it can be used to poke the Party of No into action and re-energize liberals and progressives. I like John Dillinger's idea. Let's also see rows of mops lined up outside committee room doors while members of Congress work on solutions. Create mop logos to remind Americans that "this mess was brought to you by the previous administration" without having to state it over and over again. Label each mop handle- banking system/Wall Street, unemployment, healthcare, deficit/national debt, insurance industry, eduction, energy, trade, immigration, terrorism, gay rights, Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel/Palestine, Iranian nukes, Guantanamo Bay, etc. How I'd love to hear a few Democrats confront the Republican opposition, fear mongerers, and obstructionists with, "Where's your mop?" "You have a better idea? Get a mop!" Put the onus on the opposition. Ginning up fears and smears, saying No! or hoping for the administration to fail is not helping America. Republicans helped to cause this mess, and they need to be part of the solution. For ten months they've sat back and let the likes of Michael Steele, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Lou Dobbs and other media clowns do their dirty work for them. Now it's time they were called out to be part of the solution with, "Don't just sit there and criticize. No more excuses. Grab a mop!" Posted by: Carol A on October 19, 2009 at 5:13 PM | PERMALINKAlso: black President tells mostly-white GOP to grab a mop. Dare them to admit why it really pisses them off. Posted by: DonBoy on October 19, 2009 at 5:16 PM | PERMALINKPlease let's not take this to the "stunt" level. Get the point across in the media that the president used the clever metaphor, but let's not lower ourselves to redstate foolishness. Oh, let's do. We can bring our mops to townhall meetings and political rallies. Then when you see a Birther waving a teabag, you can smack him/her over the head with it. Yes... that has a nice visual to it. Posted by: Marko on October 19, 2009 at 5:23 PM | PERMALINKJohn@4:12 : This stunt is as pointless as the one in which that clown said he would send a bag of salt to Senator Snowe's office, in order to 'melt' her. Seriously, someone is buy real mops for this? Waste of money, waste of time.My thoughts exactly except that we appear to have reached the limits of what intelligent discourse and reason can achieve with the idiots out there who's votes are nevertheless needed. I'm sure I speak for many progressives when I say that I am both excited at the prospect of the Democrats taking the gloves off, and a little worried that it will just backfire on them (as is often the case when we attempt to "fight fire with fire"). I have no doubt that all the similar stunts (tire guage, anyone?) the Republicans have paticipated in will be quickly forgotten and there will be endless squawking about "political stunts" and how "wasteful" it is to buy x# of brooms (are they for both House and Senate, everyone or just for Republicans?). Although a couple hundred brooms (tops) are a small price to pay to gain the political advantage necessary to clean up "the mess", they surely use this to paint Democrats as "wasteful". So... I'm torn. Posted by: JTK on October 19, 2009 at 5:42 PM | PERMALINKNY Times Headline, late October, 2009: House Republicans Injure Selves, Harmless Bystanders With Mops "I thought it was for jabbing," said one thoroughly confused House member. Posted by: BGinCHI on October 19, 2009 at 5:45 PM | PERMALINKSo how long does Obama get to blame someone else for his ineptness? Has he blamed Bush for the bombings in Iran that killed some of his friends? Has he apologized on behalf of America yet? Posted by: fred t on October 19, 2009 at 5:57 PM | PERMALINKSo how long does Obama get to blame someone else for his ineptness? Who has time, when there's still so very much of Bush's ineptness to clean up? That said, not to rain on anybody's parade, but count me op on the whole mop thing. I think it's stupid when RedState proposes sending bags of salt to Olympia Snow, and that mock-clever stunts like these are equally irksome when my side does it. Oh for crying out loud. Sending people items based on rhetoric you've invented has always been a stupid, empty gesture. It is dumb when the Red State Strike Farce sends rock salt to Sen. Snowe, and it is just as dumb when we do something similar. Just stick with the words. Posted by: Shade Tail on October 19, 2009 at 6:08 PM | PERMALINKHow the heck did I get on "brooms" (@5:42)? Oh yeah... I was playing with my Dale Earnhardt "#3" toy car. Now 'scuse me... BROOOOM!!!! BROOOOOOOM!!! Posted by: JTK on October 19, 2009 at 6:27 PM | PERMALINKThe party's never been especially good at message discipline........ Aw man, I laughed so hard, I spit up on my keyboard. You slay me, you really slay me. Posted by: Homer on October 19, 2009 at 6:49 PM | PERMALINKThe GOP itself is a stinking mess that needs mopping up - who can do that? Posted by: N e i l B ♠ on October 19, 2009 at 9:18 PM | PERMALINKWe can use the Mop to clean up all the tea left over from the tea-baggers, Posted by: JoyZeeBoy on October 20, 2009 at 9:43 AM | PERMALINKHe just visually turned the entire GOP into that dude Sidney Poitier slapped the bejeezus out of in "In The Heat Of The Night". Posted by: IndieTarheel on October 21, 2009 at 3:10 PM | PERMALINKHello from Russia! Just yesterday, I did some math on the good, old Stimulus bill. Roughly $600 billion of spending (in addition to somewhere around $180 billion in tax cuts). And the benefit? To "save or create" somewhere around 3.5 to 6.8 million jobs. That's somewhere between $90k and $170k dollars per job hypothetically "saved or created" which is in my view a pathetic outcome even if it turns out to be true. We have a lot of experience that shows this level of job creation (not just job "saving") happens after any recession even when government sits on its tail and does nothing. But that's Obama's idea of what a mop does and how much it costs to mop. Similar things happen with other Obama efforts like health care or carbon emissions cap-and-trade. There's a whole lot of money spent and a whole lot of imposition (including the twisting of rule of law as in the car company bailouts) on society for little gain. The Democrat portion of Congress isn't helping either. Dumb stuff like banning incandescent light bulbs or the recent "cash for clunkers" giveaway will come back to haunt them. My question to all of you here. Who is going to clean up after Obama is done mopping? What puzzles me here is why Democrats expect Republicans to sign on to the suicide pact (the "mopping" as it were). There's no advantage to the Republicans, even assuming Obama's actions would benefit society in the long run. You might not like partisan politics, but there's a really good chance it'll deliver a Republican "anti-Obama" in the Whitehouse in 2012. And in my view, if that person "mops" the mess that Obama seems insistent on leaving, then the US will be better for it. OTOH, the Republicans could nominate a real cad. That sort of incompetence has happened before. Hi guys. A mind troubled by doubt cannot focus on the course to victory. Help me! There is an urgent need for sites: Stealth forex trading system. I found only this - alert forex day trading system. Gains want the trading of other trend existence and currency economy number, forex trading system. Potential trading online - software, forex trading system. :rolleyes: Thanks in advance. Melissa from Lesotho. Posted by: Melissa on February 19, 2010 at 4:20 PM | PERMALINKPost a comment
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