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A quote for the week – I can hardly believe someone would say this…
This is a quote that was published today by Buck Banks in Pensito Review. It was headed “Now This Guy Is A Sore Loser!”
Eric Dondero
“All family and friends, even close family and friends, who I know to be Democrats are hereby dead to me. I vow never to speak to them again for the rest of my life, or have any communications with them. They are in short, the enemies of liberty. They deserve nothing less than hatred and utter contempt…. I strongly urge all other libertarians to do the same. Are you married to someone who voted for Obama, have a girlfriend who voted ‘O’. Divorce them. Break up with them without haste. Vow not to attend family functions, Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas for example, if there will be any family members in attendance who are Democrats.”
— Former Ron Paul aide Eric Dondero, asserting that the only recourse to President Obama’s re-election is “outright revolt” and therefore is launching a “personal boycott” of Democrats.
Eric Dondero blogs at LibertarianRepublican.net.
I am impressed with how much difference can be read into the American psyche. What is wrong with these people? What good is a country where everyone believes the exact same things? How woud progress ever happen? Who would have invented the goddam lightbulb?
Related articles
- Eric Dondero on Boycotting Democrats — Daily Intel (nymag.com)
- Boycotting Democrats (politicalwire.com)
- Dondero: Un-Friend All Obama Voters (drudge.com)
- Losing With Grace (themoderatevoice.com)
We say farewell to former Senator Arlen Specter, dead at 82.
Arlen Specter, who spent 30 years representing Pennsylvania in the Senate offended Republicans and Democrats in almost equal measures with maverick votes and a frank cockiness that finally ended his career in politics, died Sunday at his home in Philadelphia. He was 82
Specter, who had battled a number of major illnesses in recent years, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, was a hard-driving former prosecutor described even by some admirers as sarcastic. But he stood well above many of his Senate colleagues in his combination of intelligence and effectiveness.
Specter won no lasting gratitude from either liberals or conservatives during his career, and he especially alienated women.
After yet another “betrayal” of Republicans on the 2009 stimulus plan, he was forced to make the most dramatic leap in a career that was full of them. But this time he did not make it across the chasm. Facing defeat in the 2010 Republican primary election, Specter surprised the nation by announcing in April 2009 that he was switching parties – for a second time. (In 1965 he switched from Democrat to Republican after winning election as Philadelphia district attorney on the Republican ticket in an end-run around the city’s Democratic machine.)
His Senate change delivered a veto-proof majority there to President Obama. But not for long. Pennsylvania Democrats, many of whom had voted against him for years, refused to accept his final conversion. The party change did not secure his position, however. He avoided the Republican primary but got smacked in the Democratic primary. His career ended.
Related articles
- Arlen Specter, dead at 82 (illinoisreview.typepad.com)
- Former Sen. Arlen Specter dies at 82 (rawstory.com)
- Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter Dies [Rip] (gawker.com)
- Former U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter dead at 82 (riehlworldview.com)
- Former Senator Arlen Specter Dies of Cancer (voanews.com)
- Sen. Arlen Specter Dies At 82 (npr.org)
- Former Sen. Arlen Specter dead at 82 (dailykos.com)
What you remember from a convention makes a big difference.
Among all the very effective speakers at last night’s Democratic Convention – the most important being Michelle Obama who brought down the house – the one I remember the most was Stacy Lihn.
Stacy Lihn
Lihn is mother to little Zoe Lihn, a child born with a congenital heart defect, who already has needed three open-heart surgeries which would, in all likelihood, push her close to, or past, her insurance company’s lifetime coverage limit. Lihn told the crowd that President Obama‘s health care reform law “is saving my daughter’s life,” and made it clear that if Mitt Romney is elected, and makes good on his promise to repeal Obamacare, the consequences for Zoe would be disastrous.
“Governor Romney says people like me were most excited about President Obama the day we voted for him. But that’s not true. Not even close. For me, there was the day the Affordable Care Act passed, and I no longer had to worry about getting Zoe the care she needed. There was a day the letter arrived from the insurance company saying our daughter’s lifetime cap had been lifted. There was the day the Supreme Court upheld Obamacare… And like so many moms with sick kids, I shed tears.”
Lihn went on to outline what Zoe’s future would be after the election of a Romney/Ryan ticket:
“If Mitt Romney becomes president, and Obamacare is repealed, there’s a good chance she’ll hit her lifetime cap. There’s no way we could afford to pay for all of the care she needs to survive. When you have a sick child, it’s always in the back of your mind and sometimes, in the front of your mind. On top of that, worrying that people would let an insurance company take away her health care just because of politics? One in one 100 children are born with a congenital heart defect. President Obama is fighting for them. He’s fighting for families like mine, and we need to fight for him.”
The audience’s response to Lihn and her family, who appeared next to her on the podium, was highly emotional and supportive. Certainly, this was a speech that everyone would remember when they think of Obamacare… I know I will.
Conventions are a lot like commercials for political positions and and, like commercials, help the voter determine which brand to buy. The big difference between Republicans and Democrats on this issue is that people will remember the major positions: The Republicans will dismantle Obamacare and cut Medicare and Medicaid using the money to afford tax cuts for the rich. The Democrats made it clear that if Republicans are elected a little girl will die.
How the Republicans deal with the actual results of their campaign goals can easily affect voters. There is no way they can make their cuts sound beneficial to sick children.
Related articles
- DNC Speaker Stacy Lihn: Obamacare ‘Is Saving My Daughter’s Life’ (mediaite.com)
- Mother Stacey Lihn praises Obamacare for saving her daughter’s life (guardian.co.uk)
- Dems wear ‘Obamacare’ label proudly (politico.com)
- Five key moments from Tuesday night at the Democratic National Convention (pennlive.com)
Harold and Kumar Go to the Democratic National Convention
One of the things I like about Obama and the Democrats that I didn’t see with Romney and the Republicans: they have a sense of humor.
Kal Penn will be hosting live coverage of the convention on BarackObama.com.
Kal Penn and the First Lady rehearse for the convention. The First Lady speaks tonight.
Related articles
- Harold and Kumar Help Obama Promo Democratic National Convention (mashable.com)
- First Lady arrives at Time Warner Cable Arena (charlotteobserver.com)
- TV/Film Actor Kal Penn To Host Democratic Convention’s Livestream Celebrity Special (deadline.com)
- When Michelle Met Kumar (buzzfeed.com)
- Michelle Obama Preps for Democratic National Convention (justjared.com)
- Kal Penn leads celebrity political panel at Democrat National Convention (hollywood.com)
Quotes of the Day – Diversity of the Democratic National Convention
Remember last week when the Republicans put up black, woman, hispanic and other speakers (in front of the virtually all white audience) and said their convention represented a much more diverse America than the Democrats ever could? Well, they ought to take a look at a convention where the speakers AND the conventioneers are made up out of a great mix of Americans.
“This is truly the most diverse, the most open, the most transparent, the most exciting convention we’re about to undertake. It is big, it is bold, it is beautiful, it is America.”
– Alice Germond, Democratic National Committee Secretary
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
“We’re doing things a little different than the Republicans. A lot more delegates, Latino delegates, African Americans, women. In addition to having very prominent roles like the keynote speaker, and in my case chairing the convention, you’ll also see that our platform reflects our values.
“The face of our party will reflect the values of our party”
– Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Convention Chairman
Makes me proud to be a Democrat.
Related articles
- DNC theme: Building economy from middle out (charlotteobserver.com)
- Villaraigosa Touts Diversity as Half Democratic Delegates Women – Bloomberg (bloomberg.com)
- Obama, Democrats to make their case as convention opens (reuters.com)
- In a Switch, GOP’s Speakers Highlight Diversity (cornhusker4palin.newsvine.com)
- DNC 2012, by the numbers (politico.com)
- NBC’s Chuck Todd: ‘Democrats Wish They Had The Diversity’ Of The GOP (mediaite.com)
- Open, accesible and diverse, versus secret, exclusive and white (proseandthorn.wordpress.com)
West Virginia interaction: JohnCase responds to Senator Manchin…
My good friend and radio personality John Case received an e-mail from Senator Joe Manchin (D – WV) which, to all appearances, supports many of the subjects which we on the left do as well. John points out that this is a ruse… and, of course, with an election coming in November, Joe is trying to make himself look OK to Democrats.
Here’s the correspondence:
On Wed, Jul 18, 2012 at 9:27 PM, Joe Manchin <info@joemanchinwv.com> wrote:
Dear John:West Virginia is still recovering from the storms that did so much damage these past few weeks. The power is back on, but families lost their groceries, saw their fuel expenditures rise, and many, many people lost pay because businesses weren’t operating. What more evidence do we need that American infrastructure needs improvement?
But in the middle of our suffering in West Virginia, the Army Corps of Engineers announced that it had awarded a $94 million contract to provide reliable electricity for Helmand Province, Afghanistan. That’s right – while thousands of West Virginians were without power just a short drive away, the federal government decided it would be a good idea to spend all that money halfway around the world to buy electricity for a country that doesn’t even want our help.
I went to the Senate floor and I let my colleagues know that I am very frustrated and angry about this, and that I’m not going to just sit by and watch Washington treat West Virginia like it’s less important than Afghanistan. Now that West Virginia is officially asking for federal disaster recovery help, I’d like the folks in Washington to hear what you have to say, too.
Add your name to my petition and leave your thoughts for the record on my website.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: if you build a bridge in West Virginia, we won’t blow it up. If you build a school, we won’t burn it down. In fact, we’ll be very appreciative. And if you help us invest in a more reliable electric system, we will use that power to make this country stronger, to power this nation’s economy, and to provide good-paying jobs.-Joe
John’s response:
I am sorry, Senator Manchin, but — while I am glad you are opposed to further unnecessary
expenditures in Afghanistan — I will not support you for re-election. I believe that candidates who espouse, as you do, Republican talking points on energy, the president, climate change, and other matters should be defeated. I will not vote Republican — so I am not planing to vote for you.
I think voters who are tempted by racism or ignorance, or simple misinformation about the future of coal and the its costs/benefits to West Virginia, to vote for you — should really get to enjoy the full consequences of Republican policies you are pursuing — why get it half-baked and stale from you, or Gov. Tomblin for that matter. Get the full dose of political poison!
By the way — I have a radio program on weekday mornings in Shepherdstown. Maybe I have it all wrong! Feel free to call in to WSHC Listen Live line from 8-9 AM Tues thru Friday, 304-876-5369, if you would like to discuss this.
very truly yours,
John Case
Host, The Winners and Losers Radio Program
WSHC, 89.7 FM / 897wshc.org
Shepherdstown, WV
Of course, the odds of Joe Manchin calling into the Winners and Losers radio show are greatly weighted to “no show.” John is correct that this so-called Democrat really seems to be a Republican (as does Earl Ray Tomblin) – from not supporting the President in the Senate to publicly affirming that he will NOT attend the Democratic Convention.
Thanks for making this correspondence public, John.
Related articles
- I’m really tired of hearing how Obama is costing WV coal jobs. Not True! (underthelobsterscope.wordpress.com)
- Jay, Manchin ask Obama to OK state disaster request (wvgazette.com)
- Why Joe Manchin Flees From Barack Obama (powerlineblog.com)
- Manchin to skip Democratic National Convention (politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com)
- Top West Virginia Democrats RSVP ‘No’ to DNC Convention (nymag.com)
- W.Va. Dem brass skipping DNC (politico.com)
- Some Democrats to skip their convention (politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com)
- Manchin Questions Afghan Aid After Mass Power Outage at Home (wsaz.com)
- Manchin links state storm outages to Afghan aid (wvgazette.com)
Poll shows Obama’s proposal to raise taxes on the rich is a winning political position…
The proposal Obama has made to raise taxes on households making at least $250,000 a year was the subject of a poll by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center.
The survey found that 44% thought the tax increase would help the economy, 22% thought it would be harmful, and 24% didn’t think it would make a difference. An identical percentage, 44%, said a tax hike on better-off Americans would make the tax system fairer, while 21% said it would make the system less fair.
There is a deep partisan divide over the proposal. Democrats, by a large margin, said the tax hike would boost the economy and make the tax system fairer. Republicans thought the opposite, though by smaller margins.
Since this has to be decided before Jan. 1st when all the Bush tax cuts disappear by law, it will be interesting when it gets Congressional attention. Odds are it won’t be until after the November election and will depend on who gets elected President.
Related articles
- Poll Finds Americans See Ending Tax Cuts for Wealthy Beneficial – Bloomberg (bloomberg.com)
- Poll Finds Americans See Ending Tax Cuts for Wealthy Beneficial – Businessweek (businessweek.com)
- Pew Research Center: Obama Maintains “Significant” Lead Over Romney (themoderatevoice.com)
- The left’s gone left but the right’s gone nuts: Asymmetrical polarization in action (grist.org)
- Poll: Public says Obama tax plan more fair, helps economy (thehill.com)
- How Raising Taxes Can Be a Winning Issue for Obama (bloomberg.com)
- Why is it so hard to raise taxes on the rich? (salon.com)
Now that they’ve wasted our time over Health Care Repeal, will the Congress get down to Jobs?
There are only about 40 days left in the Congressional season before these champions of non-accomplishment go out to lie and buy their votes. Yet what they should be doing is getting the Middle Class jobs, not waiting to see if Romney is elected.
In Las Vegas, today marks a protest of appointed U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) to get him to support H.R 5542, the “Bring Jobs Home Act.” Heller has been focused on by the AFL-CIO. Heller, along with the Republican Party, have never voted for any Job Bills proposed by President Obama or the Democrats in congress, and it’s not likely that he or his Party will start now.
The Bring Home The Jobs Act would end a tax benefit for companies that move jobs overseas and, instead, would add a tax credit for companies that move jobs back to the United States. The bill would also prohibit the first group of companies from receiving federal grants or guaranteed loans.
The AFL-CIO is also promoting the “United States Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act” that would make public the names of companies that move call centers overseas (H.R. 3596.)
The Democratic Party in both the House and the Senate have backed Bills in the past that would end corporations from receiving a tax break for creating jobs overseas, while giving a tax credit if they create jobs in the United States, but the Republican Party stopped them with a no vote in the House and a filibuster in the Senate.
Of course, wasting time on repealing an unrepealable Health Care bill was worth the effort for Boehner and his Bozos.
And what is their job strategy based on? This:
Related articles
- Congress Fiddles as Crises Loom (thedailybeast.com)
- Rep. Van Hollen: Health care repeal vote is ’empty political gesture’ (cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com)
- Health care repeal effort: Worth the time? (cbsnews.com)
- NV Women Respond to Heller Campaign’s “A Woman’s Place is in the House” Button (nvrdc.wordpress.com)
- Even Republicans Are Dissing Appointed-Senator Heller (humboldtdems.wordpress.com)
The campaign speeches we don’t hear.
So much has been pointed out lately, through television commentaries and new legislation, about Congressmen and Senators entering office as middle-class individuals and leaving office as millionaires by using secret investment information they learn at work.
What would happen if their reelection campaigns listed the things they had done for their constituents AND said they had earned no unethical investment income and are happy with the income they make on their salaries and, say, speaking engagements?
Don’t expect to hear it. Politicians seek reelection in order to continue making money, either legally or illegally. It doesn’t matter if they are Democrats or Republicans or Independents. It’s all the same.
Frankly, I’d vote for the candidate who promised ton do the job he was elected for and not focus on his retirement wallet. And party wouldn’t matter…much.
Quote for the Morning – Women’s issues in Michigan
“Finally, Mr. Speaker, I’m flattered that you’re all so interested in my vagina, but ‘no’ means ‘no.'”
Michigan House Representative Lisa Brown (D)
Brown’s comment got her banned from further recognition on the floor to voice her opinion on an unrelated school employee retirement bill by Republicans who said Brown was “offensive.”
As Brown responded:
“If I can’t say the word vagina, why are we legislating vaginas? What language should I use?”
Related articles
- Michigan Dem banned by Republicans for using the word ‘vagina’ (rawstory.com)
- Michigan GOP Bans Lawmaker for Using the V-Word (nymag.com)
- Lawmaker Barred After Vagina Comment (politicalwire.com)
- Two Michigan legislators say ‘vagina,’ then silenced (seattlepi.com)
- Mich. rep’s vagina monologue (politico.com)
- As Punishment For Opposing Anti-Abortion Bill, Male Michigan House Leader Bans Two Female Reps From Speaking (thinkprogress.org)
Good News from Arizona… Democrats retain Gabby Giffords’ House seat.
President Obama with Gabby Giffords
The tragedy of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ being shot and one of the more miraculous recovery stories in recent years have led voters in Tucson, AZ to keep Rep. Gabby Giffords’ (D) seat blue yesterday.
Former Giffords staffer Ron Barber defeated Jesse Kelly, Giffords’ last Republican opponent, in a special election to fill Giffords’ seat (Giffords had to resign after the shooting that left her incapacitated and six dead in January, 2011.) Overcoming a 38.4% to 31.4% Republican lean in the AZ-08 district, Barber will now serve out the remainder of Giffords’ term.
Giffords is still in the process of recovering after being shot point-blank in the head, but was able to play a role in the race. She campaigned with barber in the run-up to election day. Democratic-supporting super PAC – the House Majority PAC – seemed to refer to the tragedy in a television ad focused on Kelly that ran in the district. The PAC also ran ads highlighting Kelly’s extreme views. Kelly — who was the controversial tea party candidate in 2010 — was forced to defend his political postions in the race as well and Barber’s campaign said he ran on his own merits.
Related articles
- Ron Barber, former Giffords aide, wins In Giffords’ old district (news.yahoo.com)
- Democrats hold on to Arizona seat vacated by Gabrielle Giffords (guardian.co.uk)
- Arizona Democrats hold on to Giffords’ congressional seat (nbcpolitics.msnbc.msn.com)
- Former Giffords aide wins election to finish her term (politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com)
- Giffords’ ex-aide wins race in Arizona to succeed her – Reuters (reuters.com)
- Arizona Voters Choose Giffords’s Replacement (nytimes.com)
- Former Giffords aide to be her successor (mysanantonio.com)
- Ex-Giffords Aide Ron Barber Wins Special Election (newser.com)
- Former Giffords aide Barber wins race to replace her in the House (thehill.com)
Quote of the Day: Obama on fixing the Economy
If we take the steps that I laid out to make sure that we’re not seeing teacher layoffs and we’re not seeing police officer layoffs, and we’re providing small businesses with additional financing and tax breaks for when they hire or if they’re giving raises to their employees; if we refinance housing — or allow homeowners to refinance so they’ve got an extra $3,000 in their pocket so that they can spend money and contribute to further economic growth; if we’re making sure that we’re rebuilding, work that has to be done anyway, deferred maintenance on roads and bridges that could put construction workers back to work — all those things will strengthen the economy, and independent economists estimate it would create an additional million jobs.
Now, you can’t give me a good reason as to why Congress would not act on these items other than politics — because these are traditionally ideas that Democrats and Republicans have supported. So let me be as clear as I can be. The economy needs to be strengthened.
– President Obama
(Read more HERE)
Of Course as long as we have Mitch McConnell and John Boehner publicly vowing to have NO cooperation with the President, the odds of the Republicans helping to save the economy are toilet-bowl low.
Related articles
- President Obama fires back at Mitt Romney and Republicans for playing ‘political games’ over economy (dailykos.com)
- Obama gets grief for saying private sector ‘fine’ – Boston.com (boston.com)
- Romney Says America Doesn’t Need ‘More Fireman, More Policemen, More Teachers’ (thinkprogress.org)
- Shock: House Republicans and Mitt Romney would rather take Obama out of context than create jobs (dailykos.com)
- Obama walks back comment about private economy ‘doing fine’ (thehill.com)
The Wisconsin Vote is Today…
It looks like the numbers are favoring Scott Walker as Wisconsinites go to the polls this morning for the recall election. This is going to be an example of how effective millions of dollars of out-of-state money from the likes of the Koch brothers can be against locally raised funds.
Perhaps we are losing what has historically been a liberal state to unbelievable right wing lies. I hope not.
It would be a revival of pure democracy if Walker lost. Keep your fingers crossed.
Once again, I am embarrassed to live in West Virginia.
I have said many times in this blog that, with the exception of Shepherdstown and most of the Eastern Panhandle, I dislike being identified with West Virginia. Whether it is a supposedly Democratic senator who acts and votes like a Republican (Manchin) or the hillbilly stereotype other states see us as, being in West Virginia is no place for a liberal. We are victims of tons of jokes told in other states, like:
Q. Why do ducks fly over West Virginia upside down?
A. There’s nothing worth crapping on!
Well, we topped ourselves again, In yesterday’s Democratic primary, a man in prison in Texas got 4 out of 10 votes for the Presidential nomination.
Keith Judd, is serving time at the Beaumont Federal Correctional Institution in Texas for making threats at the University of New Mexico in 1999. Obama received 59 percent of the vote to Judd’s 41 percent. He got on the ballot by paying a $2,500 fee (don’t know who paid it for him…but I am not surprised that some West Virginian did) and filing a form known as a notarized certification of announcement with the Secretary of State’s office.
Interviewing a WV resident, the AP published a statement:
“I voted against Obama,” said Ronnie Brown, a 43-year-old electrician from Cross Lanes who called himself a conservative Democrat. “I don’t like him. He didn’t carry the state before and I’m not going to let him carry it again.”
When asked which presidential candidate he voted for, Brown said, “That guy out of Texas.”
Now it’s a question whether Judd will have a representative at the Democratic National Convention (15% of the vote or more usually gets you a rep.)
So, West Virginia has embarrassed me once again. Where will it end?
Related articles
- Against Obama, even a jailbird gets some votes (hosted.ap.org)
- ELECTION 2012: Texas Inmate Gets 40% of Vote against Obama in West Virginia Democratic Primary (pumabydesign001.com)
- 42% Of West Virginia Democrats Vote For Federal Inmate In Presidential Primary (theamericanteaman.com)
- Federal Prisoner Nabs 40% of Early Vote Against Obama in West Virginia Primary (treeofmamre.wordpress.com)
- Federal Prisoner Gives Obama A Run For His Money In West Virginia, May Earn Delegates At Convention (mediaite.com)
- OBAMA LOSES WEST VIRGINIA DELEGATES TO PRISON INMATE – Unexpectedly! “An obscure federal prison inm… (pjmedia.com)
- Federal inmate’s sizable West Virginia presidential vote tally (politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com)
- Manchin wins Democratic primary in West Virginia, CNN projects (politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com)
- President Obama embarrassed by inmate No. 11593-051 (twitchy.com)
Quote of Day – on the summer of economy repair
From Sandy Underpants at The Aristocrats:
if the Obama team is any good, and I think they are, they are going to spend every penny they can spend, every squirreled away billion is going to hit the economy. if it
is possible for us to have a recovery summer, this will be the summer we get it. of course it can’t be done without fingerprints and Republicans will all squeal like a stepped on cat every time a dollar gets spent. President Obama won’t be able to have an extra squirt of
creamer in his coffee without being accused of juicing the economy. so that will be our long boring political summer. to the extent that anyone pays attention it’ll be a long boring political summer that Democrats win.
You know, I agree with him and I’ll be promoting the Democratic program here on this blog all summer.
An article you MUST read!
This was published yesterday in the Washington Post. Mann is from the Brookings Institute, a progressive think tank. Ornstein is from the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank. Together, from opposite sides of the political perspective, they have put together the definitive piece on today’s upsetting problem.
_____________________
Let’s just say it: The Republicans are the problem.
By Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein, Published: April 27
Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein
Rep. Allen West, a Florida Republican, was recently captured on video asserting that there are “78 to 81” Democrats in Congress who are members of the Communist Party. Of course, it’s not unusual for some renegade lawmaker from either side of the aisle to say something outrageous. What made West’s comment — right out of the McCarthyite playbook of the 1950s — so striking was the almost complete lack of condemnation from Republican congressional leaders or other major party figures, including the remaining presidential candidates.
It’s not that the GOP leadership agrees with West; it is that such extreme remarks and views are now taken for granted.
We have been studying Washington politics and Congress for more than 40 years, and never have we seen them this dysfunctional. In our past writings, we have criticized both parties when we believed it was warranted. Today, however, we have no choice but to acknowledge that the core of the problem lies with the Republican Party.
——-> Read the rest of the article HERE.
Why I can’t stand Joe Manchin, unfortunately my Senator.
From National Journal:
Joe "the Turd" Manchin
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., who has done more than any other Democrat up for reelection this year to distance himself from President Obama, said he does not know if he will vote for Obama or presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney in November.
“I’ll look at the options,” Manchin said this week. The last three years “have made it pretty rough” for his state, he said.
That stance is at odds with almost every other Democrat who is up for reelection this year or is from a state that Romney is likely to win. And it’s an indication of the unique effort Manchin has made to establish his independence from Obama and other Democrats. The senator has regularly used floor speeches and closely watched votes to, as he puts it, “respectfully” highlight differences with Obama, especially on environmental issues. He said Obama has never called him or sought a one-on-one conversation.
Manchin said his own vote will depend on how his constituents view the contest.
Well, I tell ya. My vote is not likely to be for Joe Manchin. I may not vote Republican. I may write in someone else… but I will NOT vote for Joe Manchin if he can claim to be a Democrat and not support his party’s candidate.
In my house, Manchin is considered lower than dog poop.
So… do we have a new McCarthy in Congress?
Suppose we had a Congressman who started accusing the representatives that didn’t agree with him as being Communists? Well, apparently we do.
Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., has said “he’s heard” that up to 80 House Democrats are members of the Communist Party, but, of course, he has denied to name names.
His office says West was referring to the Congressional Progressive Caucus when he made his remark at a town hall meeting Tuesday night.
Here’s the statement his office sent to the CBS affiliate in Miami:
The Congressman was referring to the 76 members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. The Communist Party has publicly referred to the Progressive Caucus as its allies. The Progressive Caucus speaks for itself. These individuals certainly aren’t proponents of free markets or individual economic freedom.
Asked to comment on these charges, Libero Della Piana, a vice chairman of the party, stated that there were no Congressional lawmakers who were party members and that West’s comment is a “sad ploy.”
And now some folks like Sarah Palin are suggesting West as a potential VP candidate. Who would have thought?
Will Dennis Kucinich find his way back into Political Office? – Quotes for the afternoon:
“I’ll find a way back in to public service, there’s no doubt about that. The only question is where and when.”
—–
“Tomorrow’s victories will be built from the embers of defeat. Of this I have no doubt. How do I know this? I started my career in 1967 and since then, I have lost a total of eight times. Indeed, when I was elected to Congress in 1996, it was on my FIFTH try.”
There has been speculation that Kucinich may try to gain a seat from Washington state after losing in a redistricted election in Ohio. To that end, he has taken up speaking in the west coast state where the filing deadline for candidacy is May 18th.It is also easier to get on the ballot in Washington, without petitions or other expenses and complications getting in the way.
A Congressional candidate in Washington state must only pay 1 percent of the annual salary of a House Member as his filing fee and declare his party affiliation. A group called Washington Citizens for Kucinich knows how simple the requirements are and feel it is best if Kucinich makes a decision to run by the end of April.
The new 10th district, which he would run in, is a safe Democratic seat.
Related articles
- Kucinich back to Washington State (politico.com)
- Kucinich: Washington’s political guest returns (seattlepi.com)
- Rep. Dennis Kucinich to headline WA forum on Social Security (ssworkswa.org)
- You: Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich hailed by colleagues after primary loss (latimes.com)
- Congress Loses Its Most Liberal Member: Dennis Kucinich Was Defeated In Ohio (businessinsider.com)
Looks like Virginia could go for Obama…thanks to women!
According to TPM, Obama Surges In The Commonwealth:
President Barack Obama’s 2008 triumph in Virginia was widely attributed to a well-orchestrated campaign that mobilized large swaths of voters, even in reliably conservative areas. Four years later, it’s growing support among women that’s giving the president momentum in the Commonwealth — and according to some observers, he can thank the Republican party’s revival of the culture wars for powering his re-election bid there.
—
Democrats believe that the GOP’s tactics have handed Obama a firewall, which might allow the president to weather a potential dip in enthusiasm among minority and exurban voters. One Democratic strategist in Virginia set an extremely lofty threshold for the eventual Republican presidential nominee. “If Republicans can’t hold at least 45 percent of suburban women, they’ll just get killed,” the strategist told TPM.
That might be a daunting task for a party embroiled in what Democrats are labeling a “war on women.”
Many of us thought we would be giving Virginia away after the election of a Repub governor in 2009, but since the numerous anti-abortion strategies which directly attack women, the current state leadership seems to have fallen out of favor among women.
It remains to be seen how Repubs will get them back.
GOP Destruction Of Middle Class And Unions Rages On
http://doubledippolitics.com/2012/03/10/gop-destruction-of-middle-class-and-unions-rages-on/
GOP Destruction Of Middle Class And Unions Rages On | Double Dip Politics… btw, Ye Olde Soapbox has been added to the Blogroll.
A Quote for the Morning – Here’s some prime speculation…
So the rumor is that Newt has picked Rick Perry to be his VP partner… Wouldn’t that make a swell team?
If there is any chance that a brokered convention, like the one the Repiglicuns are getting closer and closer to having, this could be the nominated package. You can bet the Democrats are saying “Good luck, guys.”
A Newt staffer said this, though:
“Gov. Perry thinks Newt Gingrich is the strongest conservative to debate and defeat President Obama and truly overhaul Washington. The speculation is humbling but premature.”
Related articles
- Gingrich, Perry camps deny rumors of vice presidential talks (thehill.com)
- Newt Gingrich/Rick Perry Ticket Might Be In The Works [Rumor] (inquisitr.com)
- Gingrich Rumored To Want Perry For Pre-Convention Ticket (alan.com)
- GOP Nightmare Scenario: A Brokered Convention (usnews.com)
- What Fun! The Republicans now have Newt as a Winner 🙂 (underthelobsterscope.wordpress.com)
What will be left after the Repubs finish eating each other?
Thinking of politics as leftovers, it looks like we’ll have a couple of Santorum wings and a Romney drumstick or two left over after Super Tuesday. That doesn’t leave much to serve at the great election 2012 dinner. (Did I say they are both Turkeys?)
George Will is releasing a column later today in the WaPo that pretty much says the Presidency will be out of reach for Romney or Santorum after they have destroyed each other… and that Repubs should focus on preserving their lead in Congress in order to compete against Obama for the next couple of years.
George Will!
If I were to counsel the Democratic Party I’d say Obama is doing a great job right now in sticking up for the worker, defending his record, and pushing for reelection. That should continue.
There has to be focus put now on recovering the House and maintaining the Senate… and as long as the Repubs keep their focus on Birth Control, ultrasound for pregnant women seeking abortion and all the other non-jobs, non-economic crap they are playing with, we have a real chance of booting them out of office.
Frankly, I’d like to see more jobs, less unemployment, a single-payer health plan and so many of the things we NEED to deal with the 21st Century. And we have the candidates to do it.
Summary: It’s better to be the Diner than the Dinner.
Under The LobsterScope 