THIS IS NOT ->Delawareliberal
CHECK US OUT AT: http://delawareliberal.wordpress.com/Tuesday, January 31, 2006
CRAAAAAZY Left wing nuts...
...want the following people to be the Democratic nominee.
Feingold 32%
Clark 23%
Warner 11%
These top three in the daily kos poll don't strike me as radical left-wingers. Warner, the most centrist of the bunch, was in single digits this summer.
UPDATE II- Clark gets major props today for his speech on Monday.
"And as for the partisan charge that Democrats are living in a pre-9/11 world, let us be very clear: the policies followed by this Administration since 9/11 - the belligerent tone, the unilateralism, the excessive reliance on military force are not making us safer; they are increasing the dangers we face abroad and distracting us from the most important challenges here at home."
UPDATE - Feingold gets major props today for his questioning of Alberto Gonzales during his confirmation hearing.
In a letter to the attorney general yesterday, Feingold demanded to know why Gonzales dismissed the senator's question about warrantless eavesdropping as a "hypothetical situation" during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in January 2005. At the hearing, Feingold asked Gonzales where the president's authority ends and whether Gonzales believed the president could, for example, act in contravention of existing criminal laws and spy on U.S. citizens without a warrant.
Gonzales said that it was impossible to answer such a hypothetical question but that it was "not the policy or the agenda of this president" to authorize actions that conflict with existing law. He added that he would hope to alert Congress if the president ever chose to authorize warrantless surveillance, according to a transcript of the hearing.
For republicans "hypothetical" means "we have not been caught doing that yet".
Feingold 32%
Clark 23%
Warner 11%
These top three in the daily kos poll don't strike me as radical left-wingers. Warner, the most centrist of the bunch, was in single digits this summer.
UPDATE II- Clark gets major props today for his speech on Monday.
"And as for the partisan charge that Democrats are living in a pre-9/11 world, let us be very clear: the policies followed by this Administration since 9/11 - the belligerent tone, the unilateralism, the excessive reliance on military force are not making us safer; they are increasing the dangers we face abroad and distracting us from the most important challenges here at home."
UPDATE - Feingold gets major props today for his questioning of Alberto Gonzales during his confirmation hearing.
In a letter to the attorney general yesterday, Feingold demanded to know why Gonzales dismissed the senator's question about warrantless eavesdropping as a "hypothetical situation" during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in January 2005. At the hearing, Feingold asked Gonzales where the president's authority ends and whether Gonzales believed the president could, for example, act in contravention of existing criminal laws and spy on U.S. citizens without a warrant.
Gonzales said that it was impossible to answer such a hypothetical question but that it was "not the policy or the agenda of this president" to authorize actions that conflict with existing law. He added that he would hope to alert Congress if the president ever chose to authorize warrantless surveillance, according to a transcript of the hearing.
For republicans "hypothetical" means "we have not been caught doing that yet".
As American as Hatred, Bile and Apple Pie
I'm going into my "press blackout" in advance of the SOTU tonight. However, before I sign off I wanted to make an observation. On the brink of yet another address to the nation where Bush is bound to claim that the state of the union is "strong" or some such nonsense, I think it is interesting that the Republican Party no longer tries to hide the fact that it is the party or hatred, bile and disunity.
Where once the GOP was subtle about it, we now have Delaware republicans so full of hate for Joe Biden that their billboards are rejected by Clear Channel.
Where once the republican leadership would publicly repudiate the hate filled words of people like Ann Coulter, and try to distance themselves from Ms. Coulter's calls to assassinate sitting supreme court justices, now the professional haters are cultivated and valuable members of the republican intelligentsia.
Where once republican Presidents like Reagan would at least go through the motions of being the advocate fore the interests of the whole country, we now have Bush who is very candid about is disdain for the middle class and eager to use disunity as a tool to advance his benefactors narrow economic interests.
If anyone out there decides to watch the President mouth the words of unity and prosperity tonight please let me know if the union is simply "strong" or "never stronger".
Monday, January 30, 2006
A Question for Senator Carper
Why not ask Senator Carper if there really any reason for this debate not to continue? Even those Democrats who have declared that they will vote for Alito should recognize that their Democratic colleagues, the majority of their party, feel the need to keep discussing this nomination.
Does the vote happening on Wednesday or Thursday make that much difference compared to the enormity of a lifetime appointment to the highest court on the land? What is the big rush? We rushed into Iraq with no debate and look how that turned out. Why not vote vote no on cloture and support the filibuster? What is the worst that could happen?
Senator Thomas Carper
Phone: 202-224-2441
Dover: 302-674-3308
Georgetown: 302-856-7690
Wilmington: 302-573-6291
UPDATE - From Digby, Via (my hero) Kos
When it became clear that the vote was going against the filibuster, Diane Feinstein, a puddle of lukewarm water if there ever was one, decided to backtrack and play to the base instead of the right wing. That's new folks. Given an opportunity to make an easy vote, until now she and others like her (who are legion) would always default to the right to prove their "centrist" bonafides. That's the DLC model. When you have a free vote always use it to show that you aren't liberal. That's why she was against it originally --- a reflexive nod to being "reasonable."
Does the vote happening on Wednesday or Thursday make that much difference compared to the enormity of a lifetime appointment to the highest court on the land? What is the big rush? We rushed into Iraq with no debate and look how that turned out. Why not vote vote no on cloture and support the filibuster? What is the worst that could happen?
Senator Thomas Carper
Phone: 202-224-2441
Dover: 302-674-3308
Georgetown: 302-856-7690
Wilmington: 302-573-6291
UPDATE - From Digby, Via (my hero) Kos
When it became clear that the vote was going against the filibuster, Diane Feinstein, a puddle of lukewarm water if there ever was one, decided to backtrack and play to the base instead of the right wing. That's new folks. Given an opportunity to make an easy vote, until now she and others like her (who are legion) would always default to the right to prove their "centrist" bonafides. That's the DLC model. When you have a free vote always use it to show that you aren't liberal. That's why she was against it originally --- a reflexive nod to being "reasonable."
GHWB-gate
On Friday George H.W. Bush did show up at a republican fundraiser in Wilmington. Jason of Delawareliberal, misled by faulty intelligence on the matter, had reported that Bush was likely to be a “no show” at the event.
Delawareliberal spokesperson, Scott McClellen has recently faced reporters looking into the Delawareliberal’s willingness to use faulty intelligence in its reporting.
Q: Scott, does Jason consider the intelligence that his secret source within the Delaware GOP provided him on George H.W. Bush to have been good intelligence, or to have been faulty intelligence?
MR. McClellan: I’d like to address that issue by repeating - The security of the American people is Jason’s top priority. – the fundraiser Friday was to pay tribute to Laird Stabler for his great record of accomplishment that he has achieved in public service.
Q: So was it good intelligence – not faulty?
Q: He has a legitimate question. You can't just whitewash it and say we're not going to talk about that today.
MR. McClellan: But I can say that we've already addressed that issue, and we have.
Q: You didn't answer the question, though.
MR. McClellan: We've already addressed the question. Today is a day to pay tribute to Laird, and we're going to stay focused.
Q: I asked a question about something else, about whether the intelligence was good, or whether it was faulty.
MR. McClellan: And we're going to stay focused on honoring. Liard. That's where our focus will be.
If I were a republican I would let it stand at that. However I can understand that some people might find my spokesperson, Mr. McClellan’s, remarks less than satisfying. So, I will add that I apologize to anyone who feels that they are owed an apology and in the future I will not pass along information from my secret source, unless it is information that conforms to my preconceived notion of the truth.
Friday, January 27, 2006
Carper to Vote No on Alito
We have enough Dems voting no on Alito that the question should now be, how many can we get to vote no on cloture and support a filibuster?
Hilary Clinton is on board for a filibuster.
UPDATE: I just called Carper's Dover office to thank him and to ask him to support the filibuster.
Call NOW! He has just over 48 hours to decide which side he is on.
Senator Thomas Carper
Phone: 202-224-2441
Dover: 302-674-3308
Georgetown: 302-856-7690
Wilmington: 302-573-6291
UPDATE II: Coulter Advocates Poisoning Justice Stevens To Allow For Another Bush SCOTUS Pick
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (AP) -- Conservative commentator Ann Coulter, speaking at a traditionally black college, joked that Justice John Paul Stevens should be poisoned. Coulter had told the Philander Smith College audience Thursday that more conservative justices were needed on the Supreme Court. - Via CNN
Hilary Clinton is on board for a filibuster.
UPDATE: I just called Carper's Dover office to thank him and to ask him to support the filibuster.
Call NOW! He has just over 48 hours to decide which side he is on.
Senator Thomas Carper
Phone: 202-224-2441
Dover: 302-674-3308
Georgetown: 302-856-7690
Wilmington: 302-573-6291
UPDATE II: Coulter Advocates Poisoning Justice Stevens To Allow For Another Bush SCOTUS Pick
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (AP) -- Conservative commentator Ann Coulter, speaking at a traditionally black college, joked that Justice John Paul Stevens should be poisoned. Coulter had told the Philander Smith College audience Thursday that more conservative justices were needed on the Supreme Court. - Via CNN
FRIDAY !
Light posting today. I have to get my tux back from the cleaners for the Delaware GOP fundraiser tonight.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
I can't post on delawarewatch...
I don't know if the glitch is on my side or Dana's. Is anyone else having issues?
Can someone please tell me why conservatives like JTTR, Delathought, Hube, and the rest of Rhodey braintrust don't seem to get this?
Is Bush turning America into an elective dictatorship?
By Jacob Weisberg
It's tempting to dismiss the debate about the National Security Agency spying on Americans as a technical conflict about procedural rights. President Bush believes he has the legal authority to order electronic snooping without asking anyone's permission. Civil libertarians and privacy-fretters think Bush needs a warrant from the special court created to authorize wiretapping in cases of national security. But in practice, the so-called FISA court that issues such warrants functions as a virtual rubber stamp for the executive branch anyhow, so what's the great difference in the end?
Would that so little were at stake. In fact, the Senate hearings on NSA domestic espionage set to begin next month will confront fundamental questions about the balance of power within our system. Even if one assumes that every unknown instance of warrant-less spying by the NSA were justified on security grounds, the arguments issuing from the White House threaten the concept of checks and balances as it has been understood in America for the last 218 years. Simply put, Bush and his lawyers contend that the president's national security powers are unlimited. And since the war on terror is currently scheduled to run indefinitely, the executive supremacy they're asserting won't be a temporary condition.
- via Slate
UPDATE: From the New York Times
Judge Samuel Alito Jr., whose entire history suggests that he holds extreme views about the expansive powers of the presidency and the limited role of Congress, will almost certainly be a Supreme Court justice soon. His elevation will come courtesy of a president whose grandiose vision of his own powers threatens to undermine the nation's basic philosophy of government -- and a Senate that seems eager to cooperate by rolling over and playing dead.
It is hard to imagine a moment when it would be more appropriate for senators to fight for a principle. Even a losing battle would draw the public's attention to the import of this nomination.
By Jacob Weisberg
It's tempting to dismiss the debate about the National Security Agency spying on Americans as a technical conflict about procedural rights. President Bush believes he has the legal authority to order electronic snooping without asking anyone's permission. Civil libertarians and privacy-fretters think Bush needs a warrant from the special court created to authorize wiretapping in cases of national security. But in practice, the so-called FISA court that issues such warrants functions as a virtual rubber stamp for the executive branch anyhow, so what's the great difference in the end?
Would that so little were at stake. In fact, the Senate hearings on NSA domestic espionage set to begin next month will confront fundamental questions about the balance of power within our system. Even if one assumes that every unknown instance of warrant-less spying by the NSA were justified on security grounds, the arguments issuing from the White House threaten the concept of checks and balances as it has been understood in America for the last 218 years. Simply put, Bush and his lawyers contend that the president's national security powers are unlimited. And since the war on terror is currently scheduled to run indefinitely, the executive supremacy they're asserting won't be a temporary condition.
- via Slate
UPDATE: From the New York Times
Judge Samuel Alito Jr., whose entire history suggests that he holds extreme views about the expansive powers of the presidency and the limited role of Congress, will almost certainly be a Supreme Court justice soon. His elevation will come courtesy of a president whose grandiose vision of his own powers threatens to undermine the nation's basic philosophy of government -- and a Senate that seems eager to cooperate by rolling over and playing dead.
It is hard to imagine a moment when it would be more appropriate for senators to fight for a principle. Even a losing battle would draw the public's attention to the import of this nomination.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
In Praise of Well Regulated Monopolies
I'm a free market capitalists, but corporations (like children) need limits. My electric bill is going up 40 percent this may and here is why, "In the late 1990's Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey began rolling back government oversight of power generation to spur competition and drive down prices. Competition for residential customers never materialized, however and in New Jersey and Maryland, where deregulation is nearly complete, prices have spiked." - WNJ 1/25/06
Update From Anon
Trying to figure out how we got into this mess...
From the New Castle Business Ledger and from Ron Williams, of all people.
greendel.org is all over it:
Perhaps the most guilty of all are Delaware’s media. Here’s how it works: Before she retired, one of the Gannett-owned Wilmington News Journal’s most experienced reporters, Jane Brooks, covered utility matters. She seldom reported any point of view other than that of utilities. She would walk right by a demonstration of angry citizens in order to write down the blather of utility people. When we called the Conectiv public relations shop a few weeks ago, guess who answered the phone? “Jane Brooks.”
The General Assembly, like the Governor’s Office, is played like a violin by Conectiv and big industrial interests. The many screw-ups by Conectiv over the last couple of years have had no effect on this control. John Flaherty of Common Cause has shown that during the course of Delaware’s main “deregulation” bill, the House of Representatives changed its definition of conflict of interest so more members could vote to deregulate Conectiv. Some of the members most flagrantly subservient to utilities include Sens. Thurman Adams and Robert Venables, and Rep. Roger Roy.
Update From Anon
Trying to figure out how we got into this mess...
From the New Castle Business Ledger and from Ron Williams, of all people.
greendel.org is all over it:
Perhaps the most guilty of all are Delaware’s media. Here’s how it works: Before she retired, one of the Gannett-owned Wilmington News Journal’s most experienced reporters, Jane Brooks, covered utility matters. She seldom reported any point of view other than that of utilities. She would walk right by a demonstration of angry citizens in order to write down the blather of utility people. When we called the Conectiv public relations shop a few weeks ago, guess who answered the phone? “Jane Brooks.”
The General Assembly, like the Governor’s Office, is played like a violin by Conectiv and big industrial interests. The many screw-ups by Conectiv over the last couple of years have had no effect on this control. John Flaherty of Common Cause has shown that during the course of Delaware’s main “deregulation” bill, the House of Representatives changed its definition of conflict of interest so more members could vote to deregulate Conectiv. Some of the members most flagrantly subservient to utilities include Sens. Thurman Adams and Robert Venables, and Rep. Roger Roy.
Breaking - MASCITTI ABOUT TO GO?BREAKING -
This is a First Slate scoop.
Al Mascitti just made a enigmatic reference on his morning talk show on WDEL:
When asked by a caller about trying to talk to the News Journal editorial's staff in order to "shape up" their opinions, Mascitti made a passing reference: "Well, they don't listen to me now, and they will probably be listening to me much less in the future.... but, you'll hear about that soon."
Al Mascitti just made a enigmatic reference on his morning talk show on WDEL:
When asked by a caller about trying to talk to the News Journal editorial's staff in order to "shape up" their opinions, Mascitti made a passing reference: "Well, they don't listen to me now, and they will probably be listening to me much less in the future.... but, you'll hear about that soon."
The Delawareliberal Take on State and County Races
I opened this can of worms, so I feel I should lay out the "Delawareliberal Voting Agenda" in consice terms so there is no confusion.
In general elections:
1) I'm working for and voting for the Democratic ticket.
2) That means I am going to end up voting for some crappy Dems from time to time.
3) I will never EVER vote for a third party candidate out of "protest". That protest vote is a vote for the republican.
In primary elections:
1) I'm working for and voting for the more progressive candidate.
2) That means (over the long run) I will not have to vote for as many crappy Dems in the future.
I do this becuase the Democratic party is the party of civil rights, economic justice, firm and fair relations within the international community, and along with organized labor, a check on the rapacious greed of twentieth century capitalism. I'm voting the ticket to make sure it gets back to that.
Retired Army Officer Hates America, Writes Love Letter To Terrorists
The News Journal picked up this AP story this morning. I guess that makes them a "liberal" newspaper?
Deployments Stretching Army, Study Finds
WASHINGTON (AP) - Stretched by frequent troop rotations to Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army has become a "thin green line" that could snap unless relief comes soon, according to a study for the Pentagon.
Andrew Krepinevich, a retired Army officer who wrote the report under a Pentagon contract, concluded that the Army cannot sustain the pace of troop deployments to Iraq long enough to break the back of the insurgency. He also suggested that the Pentagon's decision, announced in December, to begin reducing the force in Iraq this year was driven in part by a realization that the Army was overextended.
As evidence, Krepinevich points to the Army's 2005 recruiting slump - missing its recruiting goal for the first time since 1999 - and its decision to offer much bigger enlistment bonuses and other incentives.
"You really begin to wonder just how much stress and strain there is on the Army, how much longer it can continue," he said in an interview.
This sounds pretty bad. I wonder why this guy hates America so much?
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Rothenberg updates prediction: more Dem gains in House
This should not come as news to some of you.
It's not online, but beltway political analyst Stuart Rothenberg has updated his House 2006 predictions:
Democrats still have the potential for major gains (even taking the House), but their current prospects are somewhat lower. As we begin 2006, we are increasing our estimate of likely Democratic gains from 4-6 seats to 5-8 seats, with a bias toward even greater Democratic gains. More competitive GOP open seats would enhance Democrats' chances of taking the House. - Via Daily Kos
As previously noted, the 5-8 seat gain scenario leaves the House in a virtual deadlock that will set the table for a Dem takeover in 2008.
It's not online, but beltway political analyst Stuart Rothenberg has updated his House 2006 predictions:
Democrats still have the potential for major gains (even taking the House), but their current prospects are somewhat lower. As we begin 2006, we are increasing our estimate of likely Democratic gains from 4-6 seats to 5-8 seats, with a bias toward even greater Democratic gains. More competitive GOP open seats would enhance Democrats' chances of taking the House. - Via Daily Kos
As previously noted, the 5-8 seat gain scenario leaves the House in a virtual deadlock that will set the table for a Dem takeover in 2008.
Banned From Rhodey
I'm not allowed to post at Rhodey anymore. Common sense, it seems, drives them nuts. Anyway, They have a post up giving John Kerry the business over his take on illegal wire taps. Here is my response:
So Kerry is the poster boy for this point of view?
I would have thought you could have gotten similar choice quotes from conservative republicans like Brownback, Grahm and Lugar, ex-congressman Bob Barr, the NRA, Columnist Christopher Hitchens and Grover Norquist, all of whom agree with John Kerry.
They all believe that instant wiretaps are an important tool - a important tool that is provided for in the FISA LAW. What does Bush need with laws though? He is the law right?
Dangerous stuff, I know. The braintrust has thin skin though.
I Wish Republicans Did My Performance Review
You don't have to "do" anything to get a great performance review from a republican. If your job is to "accomplish missions" you don't have to have accomplished anything.
If your job is to stop torture, you don't have to stop torture. If you SAY you are going to "spread freedom", that is quite enough. You don't have to do it.
If a republican is giving you a performance review just talk about what you are GOING to do, and they will think you are doing a super job.
MikeM at Down With Absolutes blogs today about a republican performance review of sorts. The performance review is for someone who is NOT supposed to kill people he is interrogating. Guess what? He killed somebody. Guess what else? His performance review is pretty good.
If a republican is giving you a performance review remember, words speak louder than actions.
If your job is to stop torture, you don't have to stop torture. If you SAY you are going to "spread freedom", that is quite enough. You don't have to do it.
If a republican is giving you a performance review just talk about what you are GOING to do, and they will think you are doing a super job.
MikeM at Down With Absolutes blogs today about a republican performance review of sorts. The performance review is for someone who is NOT supposed to kill people he is interrogating. Guess what? He killed somebody. Guess what else? His performance review is pretty good.
If a republican is giving you a performance review remember, words speak louder than actions.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Breaking News: Bush Takes Unscripted Questions
Bush to Country: I'm an idiot
Of course the audience was a screened bunch of ringers eager to throw some softballs at President, but the fact that they were not "scripted" makes this news worthy.
Making The Most out of GOP Disarray
A Delawareliberal reader muses, "So maybe it's time to pick off a few GOP House members? Who's vulnerable?
To which I reply,
4th RD
Dipinto (R) represents a district that went 61% for Kerry.
7th RD
Smith (R) represents a district that went 55% for Kerry.
10th RD
Valihura (R) represents a district in a district that went 56% for Kerry.
11th RD* (see below)
Lavelle (R) ran unopposed in a district that went 54% for Kerry.
18th RD
Spence (R) ran unopposed in a district that went 62% for Kerry.
21st RD
Maier (R) represents a district in a district that went 54% for Kerry.
24th RD
Oberle (R) ran unopposed in a district that went 64% for Kerry.
25st RD
Ulbrich (R) represents a district that went 60% for Kerry.
27th RD
Lofink (R) ran unopposed in a district that went 56% for Kerry.
To which I reply,
4th RD
Dipinto (R) represents a district that went 61% for Kerry.
7th RD
Smith (R) represents a district that went 55% for Kerry.
10th RD
Valihura (R) represents a district in a district that went 56% for Kerry.
11th RD* (see below)
Lavelle (R) ran unopposed in a district that went 54% for Kerry.
18th RD
Spence (R) ran unopposed in a district that went 62% for Kerry.
21st RD
Maier (R) represents a district in a district that went 54% for Kerry.
24th RD
Oberle (R) ran unopposed in a district that went 64% for Kerry.
25st RD
Ulbrich (R) represents a district that went 60% for Kerry.
27th RD
Lofink (R) ran unopposed in a district that went 56% for Kerry.
Delaware GOP in "complete disarray"
Celia Cohen paints a pretty bleak picture for the Delaware GOP in her recent column.
My secret source within the Delaware GOP goes even farther. In his/her words the party in in "complete disarray" with insiders even beginning to point fingers at Michael Castle for his unwillingness to spend any of his political capital to help field legitimate republican candidates.
I'd love to be a fly on the wall at the fund raiser this Friday. It sounds like the tension will be as thick as the goose liver pate.
Republican Redistricting Backfires in Brandywine Hundred
Republican redistricting which concentrated republican votes in one Brandeywine Hunred RD at the expense of two other districts opened the door last year for democrat Diana McWilliams. This year Eric Levin is poised to win in 11th.
At some point I'd like to interview Mr. Levin about this race. In the meantime, someone should ask the republicans to help redistrict Kent County.
Halliburton Cited in Iraq Contamination
Why bother doing what your are getting paid hundreds of millions of dollars to do when it is much cheaper to NOT do it?
By LARRY MARGASAK, Associated Press Writer Mon Jan 23, 4:12 AM ET
WASHINGTON - Water supplied to a U.S. base in Iraq was contaminated and the contractor in charge, Halliburton, failed to tell troops and civilians at the facility, according to internal documents from the company and interviews with former Halliburton officials.
Although the allegations came from Halliburton's own water quality experts, the company once headed by Vice President Dick Cheney denied there was a contamination problem at Camp Junction City, in Ramadi.
"We exposed a base camp population (military and civilian) to a water source that was not treated," said a July 15, 2005, memo by William Granger, the official for Halliburton's KBR subsidiary who was in charge of water quality in Iraq and Kuwait.
They know that thier "support the troops" republican buddies in congress will not press an investigation, so it looks like thr troops will take second place to Haliburton share holders.
By LARRY MARGASAK, Associated Press Writer Mon Jan 23, 4:12 AM ET
WASHINGTON - Water supplied to a U.S. base in Iraq was contaminated and the contractor in charge, Halliburton, failed to tell troops and civilians at the facility, according to internal documents from the company and interviews with former Halliburton officials.
Although the allegations came from Halliburton's own water quality experts, the company once headed by Vice President Dick Cheney denied there was a contamination problem at Camp Junction City, in Ramadi.
"We exposed a base camp population (military and civilian) to a water source that was not treated," said a July 15, 2005, memo by William Granger, the official for Halliburton's KBR subsidiary who was in charge of water quality in Iraq and Kuwait.
They know that thier "support the troops" republican buddies in congress will not press an investigation, so it looks like thr troops will take second place to Haliburton share holders.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
WHOO!! HOO!! AN ALL DEMOCRATIC SUPERBOWL !!!
Pittsburgh's defeat of Denver and Seattle's defeat of Carolina sets up an all Democratic superbowl. Although Colorado is trending blue, Pennsylvania and Washington state are both soild blue states.
In football as in politics, when Democrats win, the country wins.
In football as in politics, when Democrats win, the country wins.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
What We Have Lost
As Bush preps for his State of the Union lie fest/pep rally it is worth reflecting on what The Bush regime has done.
Ivo Daalder writes:
America's power and influence in the previous century was built not just on its military and economic prowess, but especially on the belief of many that it would use its power to the benefit of all rather than of the United States alone. But that view of the United States as a benevolent power is now gone. America's image in the world has been tarnished by launching an unnecessary war of choice, flouting international law, and its appalling abuse of detainees. Polls indicate that large majorities in Europe have an unfavorable opinion of America and, shockingly, that a majority of Europeans now believes the United States poses the greatest threat to international security.
When trust is broken, a commitment to diplomacy can only do so much. When an American secretary of state has to spend an entire week in Europe to argue that the United States does not torture people -- and leave without having convinced anyone that she's speaking the truth -- you know something profound has changed in America's relations with the world. In such circumstances, a willingness to talk, to negotiate, even to compromise is not enough. It will take a new administration, fully committed to restoring trust in an America rededicated to the rule of law, to begin to reverse the damage that has been done.
Republicans to Break With Bush On Reasons for Iraq Invasion
Tommywonk this morning blogs on the The New York Times report that "a high level intelligence assessment" debunked the story of the sale of uranium ore to Iraq nearly eleven months before Bush's infamous "16 words" in his 2003 State of the Union address.
If this new reporting proves anything, it proves that the Bush regime's strategy of running out the clock is proving effective (at least in the short term) as each new story about how we were led into war on a pack of lies seems to get less and less attention in the "liberal" media.
But what about the long-term implications? As Tommy put it, "White House claims that Bush based his case for invading Iraq on errors made well down the chain of command of the intelligence community are even less credible than before."
This credibility gap will take a toll on every Republican running for office in '06 and '08. Republican's from Castle to McCain will either have to align themselves with Bush on Iraq and continue to pretend that the emperor has no clothes, or they will break with the President in order to establish some credibility of their own. Either way, this is a lose/lose situation for republicans up and down the ticket.
If this new reporting proves anything, it proves that the Bush regime's strategy of running out the clock is proving effective (at least in the short term) as each new story about how we were led into war on a pack of lies seems to get less and less attention in the "liberal" media.
But what about the long-term implications? As Tommy put it, "White House claims that Bush based his case for invading Iraq on errors made well down the chain of command of the intelligence community are even less credible than before."
This credibility gap will take a toll on every Republican running for office in '06 and '08. Republican's from Castle to McCain will either have to align themselves with Bush on Iraq and continue to pretend that the emperor has no clothes, or they will break with the President in order to establish some credibility of their own. Either way, this is a lose/lose situation for republicans up and down the ticket.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
it is not a lie, it is an illness
Don't blame Rick Santorum for this transparent lie:
November Santorum: "The K Street project is purely to make sure we have qualified applicants for positions that are in town. From my perspective, it's a good government thing."
January Santorum: "Well, I don't know what you mean by Senate liaison to the, quote, 'K Street Project.' I'm not aware of any Senate liaison job that I do for the K Street Project."
He has an illness that we will probably be hearing more about as the Abramoff trial moves forward. A.R.A.S which stands for Acute Republican Amnesia Syndrome.
Please say a prayer for Rick's speedy recovery.
TONIGHT: Public Invited to Join in Rally in Support of Senate Bill 80
Wednesday, January 18,
at 7:00 pm
Newark Senior Center at 200 White Chapel Road in Newark, Delaware
State Representatives Deborah Hudson and Melanie George Marshall, State Senator Patricia Blevins, NCC Councilwoman Karen Venezky and former NCC Council President Stephanie Hansen are holding a rally in support of Senate Bill 80 on Wednesday, January 18, at 7:00pm at the Newark Senior Center at 200 White Chapel Road in Newark, Delaware. Representative Hudson and Senator Blevins are sponsors of Senate Bill 80 which prohibits human cloning and authorizes embryonic stem cell research.
The purpose of the rally is to organize public support for the bill, discuss the current status of the bill and any amendments, and debunk recent misrepresentations by groups in opposition. The rally is open to the public and anyone with an interest in supporting the passage of SB 80 is invited to attend. Groups which have expressed support for SB 80 and have been invited to participate in the rally include:
1. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
2. The Delaware Multiple Sclerosis Society
3. A. I. DuPont Institute
4. Delaware Autism
5. The Alzheimer's Association
6. The State Council for Persons with Disabilities
7. The American Diabetes Association
8. Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition
9. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
10. Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council
For further information, please contact Stephanie Hansen at (302) 376-9033. - From Erine Lehman's "The Progressive Line"
at 7:00 pm
Newark Senior Center at 200 White Chapel Road in Newark, Delaware
State Representatives Deborah Hudson and Melanie George Marshall, State Senator Patricia Blevins, NCC Councilwoman Karen Venezky and former NCC Council President Stephanie Hansen are holding a rally in support of Senate Bill 80 on Wednesday, January 18, at 7:00pm at the Newark Senior Center at 200 White Chapel Road in Newark, Delaware. Representative Hudson and Senator Blevins are sponsors of Senate Bill 80 which prohibits human cloning and authorizes embryonic stem cell research.
The purpose of the rally is to organize public support for the bill, discuss the current status of the bill and any amendments, and debunk recent misrepresentations by groups in opposition. The rally is open to the public and anyone with an interest in supporting the passage of SB 80 is invited to attend. Groups which have expressed support for SB 80 and have been invited to participate in the rally include:
1. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
2. The Delaware Multiple Sclerosis Society
3. A. I. DuPont Institute
4. Delaware Autism
5. The Alzheimer's Association
6. The State Council for Persons with Disabilities
7. The American Diabetes Association
8. Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition
9. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
10. Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council
For further information, please contact Stephanie Hansen at (302) 376-9033. - From Erine Lehman's "The Progressive Line"
Honestly, where would the GOP be without him?
They blame him for everything. They excuse every criminal act they commit by saying that he did it first, and if Al Gore did not buy (on some level) the republican line that something called "Clinton fatigue" existed in the country, Bush would not be where he is today.
Local blogger DUPED by White House. What else is new?
The White House smear of Al Gore was dutifully picked up here in the Delaware-blogosphere by Delathought. That is how the right-wing smear machine works, everyone plays his or her part. Now it turns out that the AP has updated its story on the Bush administrations smear of Gore to include the facts: charges of hypocrisy leveled against former Vice President Al Gore by Attorney General Gonzales were completely baseless.
McClellan said the Clinton-Gore administration had engaged in warrantless physical searches, and he cited an FBI search of the home of CIA turncoat Aldrich Ames without permission from a judge. He said Clintons deputy attorney general, Jamie Gorelick, had testified before Congress that the president had the inherent authority to engage in physical searches without warrants.
I think his hypocrisy knows no bounds, McClellan said of Gore.
But at the time of the Ames search in 1993 and when Gorelick testified a year later, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act required warrants for electronic surveillance for intelligence purposes, but did not cover physical searches. The law was changed to cover physical searches in 1995 under legislation that Clinton supported and signed.
Bush's attorney general, Alberto Gonzales, made the same arguments as McClellan during interviews Monday on CNNs Larry King Live and Fox News Channels Hannity & Colmes.
The bottom line is that The White House responded to Gores criticism with a dishonest smear. That is not surprising. The surprising part is that they still have a great many dupes and apologists like Delathoughtwho are eager to aid and abet them in their malfeasance.
The larger issue, however, is that the White House doesnt have an honest response to criticism of their warrantless domestic wiretapping program.
McClellan said the Clinton-Gore administration had engaged in warrantless physical searches, and he cited an FBI search of the home of CIA turncoat Aldrich Ames without permission from a judge. He said Clintons deputy attorney general, Jamie Gorelick, had testified before Congress that the president had the inherent authority to engage in physical searches without warrants.
I think his hypocrisy knows no bounds, McClellan said of Gore.
But at the time of the Ames search in 1993 and when Gorelick testified a year later, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act required warrants for electronic surveillance for intelligence purposes, but did not cover physical searches. The law was changed to cover physical searches in 1995 under legislation that Clinton supported and signed.
Bush's attorney general, Alberto Gonzales, made the same arguments as McClellan during interviews Monday on CNNs Larry King Live and Fox News Channels Hannity & Colmes.
The bottom line is that The White House responded to Gores criticism with a dishonest smear. That is not surprising. The surprising part is that they still have a great many dupes and apologists like Delathoughtwho are eager to aid and abet them in their malfeasance.
The larger issue, however, is that the White House doesnt have an honest response to criticism of their warrantless domestic wiretapping program.
What is that sucking sound?
I know Bush is going to try and talk about how great the economy is in order to trick some people into keeping their money in the stock market. But has reality caught up with the fantasy world thinking that marks this Administration? I think we may soon find out.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Republicans: Defending the Indefensible
The first ever "Think Flag" award for excellence in bog commenting is hereby presented to the following comment. Face it, the current Administration has led principled conservatives into defending the indefensible day after day. Conservatives now find themselves justifying behavior and policies they would hang a Democrat for. If you still want to be a Republican, the only way you can keep your integrity now is to wish for a completely different set of Republicans.
And when you do install your principled conservatives in office, and you finally succeed in balancing the budget over the corpses of Social Security and Medicare: Swarms of aging baby boomers will attack your mansions by night, bearing patio torches and Weed Whackers.
Well done.
OH-SEN: Hackett refuses to back down, stands by GOP/bin Laden comment
Paul Hackett's comments in the Columbus Dispatch are getting some attention. Of note was this one:
"The Republican Party has been hijacked by the religious fanatics that, in my opinion, aren't a whole lot different than Osama bin Laden and a lot of the other religious nuts around the world," he said. "The challenge is for the rest of us moderate Americans and citizens of the world to put down the fork and spoon, turn off the TV, and participate in the process and try to push back on these radical nuts - and they are nuts."
The Ohio GOP sent out their attack dogs, and Hackett didn't budge. The Ohio Republican Party Chairman, Bob Bennett, called the remarks "hateful" and "incendiary" and asked for an apology:
"Paul Hackett's attempt to compare Christian conservatives to terrorists is abhorrent and completely inappropriate. These intolerant views have no place in the public debate, and I hope his fellow Democrats reject this divisive hate speech. Hackett has shown repeatedly that he will say or do anything to get attention, and it's unfortunate that views like his are embraced by the Democratic Party. I think, Mr. Hackett, you've once again proven who real `radical nut' is."
Standard-issue GOP intimidation. Well, you're dealing with a Marine:
"I said it. I meant it. I stand behind it. Equal justice under the law for all regardless of who they are and how they were born is fundamental to our American spirit and our American freedoms. Any person or group that argues that the law should not apply equally to all Americans is, frankly, un-American."
"The Republican Party has been hijacked by religious fanatics, who are out of touch with mainstream America. Think of the recent comments by Pat Robertson - a religious fanatic by any measure - that the United States should assassinate a democratically elected leader in Venezuela, and that Ariel Sharon's stroke was divine punishment because Sharon wished to trade land for peace."
"Since the Republican Party has been utterly unable to stand for something positive, they have created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, and have pandered to religious fanatics not to vote for something they believe in, but to vote against their fellow Americans with whom they disagree. Those among us who would use religion and politics to divide rather than unite Americans should be ashamed."
Hackett's team sent this as an email within a couple hours of the GOP comment. That's how you deal with these attacks. Quickly, honestly, and without a hint of apology. The Ohio GOP thinks they can turn Hackett into the same caricature they manufactured for Dean, but it's just not gonna happen.
I wonder if Hackett's marrow could be donated to some of our Beltway insider Dems? Maybe that can happen when he's elected to the Senate this fall. - From a Kos Diary by dday
Bush's Fear Based Initiatives
I watched Al Gore on CSPAN last night and during the times I was not thinking, "He should be the President" I was thinking, "Damn right AL! You tell 'em!"
He was very good when he called the pretend patriots out on their basic lack of guts.
Fear drives out reason. Fear suppresses the politics of discourse and opens the door to the politics of destruction. Justice Brandeis once wrote: "Men feared witches and burnt women."
The founders of our country faced dire threats. If they failed in their endeavors, they would have been hung as traitors. The very existence of our country was at risk.
Yet, in the teeth of those dangers, they insisted on establishing the Bill of Rights.
Is our Congress today in more danger than were their predecessors when the British army was marching on the Capitol? Is the world more dangerous than when we faced an ideological enemy with tens of thousands of missiles poised to be launched against us and annihilate our country at a moment's notice? Is America in more danger now than when we faced worldwide fascism on the march-when our fathers fought and won two World Wars simultaneously?
It is simply an insult to those who came before us and sacrificed so much on our behalf to imply that we have more to be fearful of than they. Yet they faithfully protected our freedoms and now it is up to us to do the same.
- Via Eschaton
Monday, January 16, 2006
A Very Bad Sign
2 die in downing of U.S. copter in Iraq
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A U.S. AH-64 Apache attack helicopter went down north of Baghdad on Monday, killing two crew members aboard, the U.S. military said. It was the third time in 10 days that a U.S. helicopter has gone down in Iraq.
I'm not statistician, but three in ten days has to be a significant number. If they have learned how to take down our helicopters, it is very bad news.
Q: Why are Democrats constantly out maneuvered by Republicans?
A: Republicans cheat.
GOP website appears to flout law, lists nonpartisan, nonprofit groups as supporters
John Byrne
Published: January 16, 2006
It's an open secret in Washington: Nonprofit doesn't always mean nonpartisan.
But RAW STORY has found that the Republican National Committee lists a panoply of conservative nonprofits as "GOP groups"--in direct violation of the nonprofit charter.
..........................................................
This is more evidence that if Dems always seem like they have one hand tied behind their back it is because they feel constrained by old fashioned things like "laws", "rules" and "ethics".
GOP website appears to flout law, lists nonpartisan, nonprofit groups as supporters
John Byrne
Published: January 16, 2006
It's an open secret in Washington: Nonprofit doesn't always mean nonpartisan.
But RAW STORY has found that the Republican National Committee lists a panoply of conservative nonprofits as "GOP groups"--in direct violation of the nonprofit charter.
..........................................................
This is more evidence that if Dems always seem like they have one hand tied behind their back it is because they feel constrained by old fashioned things like "laws", "rules" and "ethics".
Saturday, January 14, 2006
in search of the liberal media
Of all the right-wing myths and fantasies, the one I find endlessly fascinating is the absolute and unflagging belief in the "liberal" bias of the media. When the topic turns to the media, I truly feel that we live on different planets. I listen to the radio and I wonder what kind of "liberal" media would not only simply parrot the lies and obfuscations of the Bush administration, but amplify them? I turn on the TV and I wonder what "liberal" media would meekly turn every story into a partisan "he said/she said" shouting match without searching for some objective truth behind the spin? Just listen to the news show this morning and count how many times Ted Kennedy is attacked vs. President Bush's SC pick.
In defense of the myth of the liberal media we have blogers who, like a bunch of trained circus dogs, yap on cue about "study after study" allegedly proving that journalists are overwhelmingly sympathetic to the Democrats. As if some lowly journalists registering as "democrats" could infect a multi-billion dollar industry with some kind of "liberal cooties".
The facts seem plain to me. We do not have a legitimate "fourth estate" in American politics. All Gore summed the situation up well in a recent speech.
"The (network) news divisions - which used to be seen as serving a public interest and were subsidized by the rest of the network - are now seen as profit centers designed to generate revenue and, more importantly, to advance the larger agenda of the corporation of which they are a small part. They have fewer reporters, fewer stories, smaller budgets, less travel, fewer bureaus, less independent judgment, more vulnerability to influence by management, and more dependence on government sources and canned public relations hand-outs."
In defense of the myth of the liberal media we have blogers who, like a bunch of trained circus dogs, yap on cue about "study after study" allegedly proving that journalists are overwhelmingly sympathetic to the Democrats. As if some lowly journalists registering as "democrats" could infect a multi-billion dollar industry with some kind of "liberal cooties".
The facts seem plain to me. We do not have a legitimate "fourth estate" in American politics. All Gore summed the situation up well in a recent speech.
"The (network) news divisions - which used to be seen as serving a public interest and were subsidized by the rest of the network - are now seen as profit centers designed to generate revenue and, more importantly, to advance the larger agenda of the corporation of which they are a small part. They have fewer reporters, fewer stories, smaller budgets, less travel, fewer bureaus, less independent judgment, more vulnerability to influence by management, and more dependence on government sources and canned public relations hand-outs."
Friday, January 13, 2006
Biden Hatred Grips Delaware GOP
If you have read Delawareliberal for long you know that I don't like Biden as a Presidential candidate. As a Senator, I think he is pretty good, but I still harbor some bad feelings for him as a result of his failure to use his position try and stop Bush's vanity war.
Anyway, I know some people who REALLY HATE Joe Biden. It is the Delaware GOP. In their latest newsletter In Case You Missed It: News Update from across the First State they devote 15 out of 18 stories to flat out Biden bashing. Bristling with such hatred, you would think they could find someone to run against him. Oh well.
If you can wade through all of the Biden bile you will also learn that Speaker Terry Spence fights to send sex offenders to jail for life and Rep. Bobby Outten calls for safer boating.
........................................
UPDATE: I just remembered. Only 7 days until the big GHW Bush "no-show" at the Delaware GOP fundraiser.
I'm Not Sad About This
Abramoff Scandal Threatens to Derail Reed's Political Ambitions
The Washington scandal over lobbyist Jack Abramoff may claim a casualty outside the nation's capital: Ralph Reed, a former presidential-campaign adviser who once headed one of the U.S.'s largest Christian activist groups.
Disclosures that Reed once ran an anti-gambling campaign that was secretly financed by casino-owning clients of his friend Abramoff have damaged his ability to raise funds for a bid to become Georgia's next lieutenant governor, other Republicans say. Via Hubmaster
BREAKING: Right Wing Fanatics Determined to Kill Science In Delaware
WBOC NEWARK- Drama is building over a bill aimed at controlling stem cell research in Delaware. The state House was supposed to vote Wednesday on the bill but it got postponed when a key supporter called out sick.
The House bill does three things:
- Bans human cloning;
- Makes selling embryos illegal;
- It only allows research on leftover embryos from in-vitro fertilization that would be thrown out anyway.
.......................................................................
This bill is being lied about in a coordinated campaign by right-wing religious fanatics who claim that:
"The scientists who destroy the embryos know each embryo's gender and could if they wanted know its future eye color and hair color. ...Under this law, a clone may be legally created, implanted, and carried almost to term, as long as the pregnancy does not result in a live birth."
This is pure nonsense. Unfortunately it is working. The right-wing is far better organized around this issue than the reality based community and has been able to sway many legislators. Everyone needs to take a few minutes today and call their state Rep. and let them know that a vocal minority that is misrepresenting the bill does not represent the views of their constituents.
If you don't know who your legislator is call your county election department to find out:
o New Castle County: (302) 577-3464
o Kent County: (302) 739-4498
o Sussex County: (302) 856-5367
The House bill does three things:
- Bans human cloning;
- Makes selling embryos illegal;
- It only allows research on leftover embryos from in-vitro fertilization that would be thrown out anyway.
.......................................................................
This bill is being lied about in a coordinated campaign by right-wing religious fanatics who claim that:
"The scientists who destroy the embryos know each embryo's gender and could if they wanted know its future eye color and hair color. ...Under this law, a clone may be legally created, implanted, and carried almost to term, as long as the pregnancy does not result in a live birth."
This is pure nonsense. Unfortunately it is working. The right-wing is far better organized around this issue than the reality based community and has been able to sway many legislators. Everyone needs to take a few minutes today and call their state Rep. and let them know that a vocal minority that is misrepresenting the bill does not represent the views of their constituents.
If you don't know who your legislator is call your county election department to find out:
o New Castle County: (302) 577-3464
o Kent County: (302) 739-4498
o Sussex County: (302) 856-5367
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Americans Trust Democrats
This Pew Research Center Report shows that Americans trust the Democrats to deal with the most pressing problems facing the country.
..the Democratic Party holds a sizable advantage over the GOP as the party better able to handle the country's most important problem (the economy). Fully 41% believe the Democratic Party can do a better job of handling the nation's top problem, compared with 27% who say the Republican Party. This represents a major shift from a year ago, when the public split about evenly on which party could better address the most important national problem...The Democratic Party is more trusted to handle every specific problem mentioned, with the lone exception of security and terrorism, and in most cases its advantage has grown significantly compared with a year ago
As the Bush administration continues in it's ineptitude, security and terrorism will certainly swing to the Democrats as well.
White, Well-Connected Lawyer's Death Sentence Overturned
Knock me over with a feather. Capano slips his head out of the noose (for now).
Attorney's death sentence overturned
Conviction stands for 1996 murder of governor's aide
DOVER, Delaware (AP) -- The Delaware Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned the death sentence of a once well-connected attorney convicted of the 1996 murder of the governor's scheduling secretary.
The sentence was flawed because the jury vote recommending a death sentence for Thomas Capano was not unanimous, the court ruled. The conviction stands, but the high court ordered a new penalty hearing, State Prosecutor Steven Wood said.
The Full Story from CNN
UPDATE: The header should read: White, Well-Connected, Republican Lawyer's Death Sentence Overturned
Attorney's death sentence overturned
Conviction stands for 1996 murder of governor's aide
DOVER, Delaware (AP) -- The Delaware Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned the death sentence of a once well-connected attorney convicted of the 1996 murder of the governor's scheduling secretary.
The sentence was flawed because the jury vote recommending a death sentence for Thomas Capano was not unanimous, the court ruled. The conviction stands, but the high court ordered a new penalty hearing, State Prosecutor Steven Wood said.
The Full Story from CNN
UPDATE: The header should read: White, Well-Connected, Republican Lawyer's Death Sentence Overturned
They Get Letters
Will Delaware's republican legislators break with Michael Castle on stem cell research? The Progressive Democrats for Delaware, hope they don't. Here is an email that just went out to all of the members of the republican caucus.
Dear Honorable Member of the Delaware House,
Here in Delaware we pride ourselves on our ability to work together in a bipartisan effort to advance our good state. Today I write to you on behalf of the almost 400 members of Progressive Democrats for Delaware to urge you to vote in favor of SB80 when it comes to the House floor tomorrow. This is an issue that both Democrats and Republicans can support, as we have seen through U.S. Representative Castle's recent actions. Delaware can and should be a leader in stem cell research. Please help make that happen.
Thank you for your kind consideration!
Rebecca Young,
Executive Director,
Progressive Democrats for Delaware
Dear Honorable Member of the Delaware House,
Here in Delaware we pride ourselves on our ability to work together in a bipartisan effort to advance our good state. Today I write to you on behalf of the almost 400 members of Progressive Democrats for Delaware to urge you to vote in favor of SB80 when it comes to the House floor tomorrow. This is an issue that both Democrats and Republicans can support, as we have seen through U.S. Representative Castle's recent actions. Delaware can and should be a leader in stem cell research. Please help make that happen.
Thank you for your kind consideration!
Rebecca Young,
Executive Director,
Progressive Democrats for Delaware
The Difference Between Funny and Sickening
There is something sickening seeing a republican run Senate judiciary committee hearing. I could not put my finger on it, but I think Chris Bowers at Mydd has nailed it.
One thing that is growing increasingly clear to me during the hearings is just how funny Republicans in the Senate judiciary committee think they are for getting away with their basic strategy in the hearings, which is for Alito to answer as few questions as possible.
Earlier today, when Specter noted that Alito had actually taken an opinion on something, all of the Republicans on the judiciary committee laughed. Then they went right on urging him to not take an opinion on anything. Getting away with the stonewall strategy is funny to Republicans.
Yesterday, Lindsay Graham, who helped prepare Alito for the hearings, made a joke about how funny it was that Alito couldn't remember anything about Vanguard or Concerned Alumni for Princeton. Everyone laughed, and then they went right on telling Alito that it was perfectly acceptable to say that he didn't remember anything. Getting away with lying is funny to Republicans.
One thing that is growing increasingly clear to me during the hearings is just how funny Republicans in the Senate judiciary committee think they are for getting away with their basic strategy in the hearings, which is for Alito to answer as few questions as possible.
Earlier today, when Specter noted that Alito had actually taken an opinion on something, all of the Republicans on the judiciary committee laughed. Then they went right on urging him to not take an opinion on anything. Getting away with the stonewall strategy is funny to Republicans.
Yesterday, Lindsay Graham, who helped prepare Alito for the hearings, made a joke about how funny it was that Alito couldn't remember anything about Vanguard or Concerned Alumni for Princeton. Everyone laughed, and then they went right on telling Alito that it was perfectly acceptable to say that he didn't remember anything. Getting away with lying is funny to Republicans.
The Economics of Abortion
With all the talk about Roe v. Wade being overturned by a Roberts/Alito court I think it is easy to loose sight of the fact that the number of abortion performed in this country is a function of economics.
When the economy is expansive, as it was during Clinton's administration, unplanned pregnancies go down as young people are offered employment and reap the material benefits of our capitalists system. When the economy runs out of gas, and job growth stagnates, as it has under Bush, unplanned pregnancies and abortions go up.
So all this talk about Roe vs. Wade is kind of a side show. If you are "pro-life" and want fewer abortions, simply vote democratic and for economic policies that support broad based job growth, not the wealth hoarding policies of the republicans.
When the economy is expansive, as it was during Clinton's administration, unplanned pregnancies go down as young people are offered employment and reap the material benefits of our capitalists system. When the economy runs out of gas, and job growth stagnates, as it has under Bush, unplanned pregnancies and abortions go up.
So all this talk about Roe vs. Wade is kind of a side show. If you are "pro-life" and want fewer abortions, simply vote democratic and for economic policies that support broad based job growth, not the wealth hoarding policies of the republicans.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
China To Give Up On Dollar, Invest In Yen, Euro
We've heard this was coming, but now the Washington Post reports that it's pretty much official:
China has resolved to shift some of its foreign exchange reserves -- now in excess of $800 billion -- away from the U.S. dollar and into other world currencies in a move likely to push down the value of the greenback, a high-level state economist who advises the nation's economic policymakers said in an interview Monday.
As China's manufacturing industries flood the world with cheap goods, the Chinese central bank has invested roughly three-fourths of its growing foreign currency reserves in U.S. Treasury bills and other dollar-denominated assets. The new policy reflects China's fears that too much of its savings is tied up in the dollar, a currency widely expected to drop in value as the U.S. trade and fiscal deficits climb.
In sum: we're screwed.
China now boasts the world's second-largest cache of foreign exchange -- behind only Japan -- and is on pace to see its reserves climb past $1 trillion later this year. Even a slight diminishing of the dollar as a percentage of those holdings could exert significant pressure on the U.S. currency, many economists assert.
In recent years, the value of the dollar has been buoyed by major purchases of U.S. Treasury bills by Japan, China and oil-exporting countries -- a flow of capital that has kept interests rates relatively low in the United States and allowed Americans to keep spending even as debts mount. Some economists have long warned that if foreigners lose their appetite for American debt, the dollar would fall, interest rates would rise and the housing boom could burst, sending real estate prices lower.
- by John Campanelli
China has resolved to shift some of its foreign exchange reserves -- now in excess of $800 billion -- away from the U.S. dollar and into other world currencies in a move likely to push down the value of the greenback, a high-level state economist who advises the nation's economic policymakers said in an interview Monday.
As China's manufacturing industries flood the world with cheap goods, the Chinese central bank has invested roughly three-fourths of its growing foreign currency reserves in U.S. Treasury bills and other dollar-denominated assets. The new policy reflects China's fears that too much of its savings is tied up in the dollar, a currency widely expected to drop in value as the U.S. trade and fiscal deficits climb.
In sum: we're screwed.
China now boasts the world's second-largest cache of foreign exchange -- behind only Japan -- and is on pace to see its reserves climb past $1 trillion later this year. Even a slight diminishing of the dollar as a percentage of those holdings could exert significant pressure on the U.S. currency, many economists assert.
In recent years, the value of the dollar has been buoyed by major purchases of U.S. Treasury bills by Japan, China and oil-exporting countries -- a flow of capital that has kept interests rates relatively low in the United States and allowed Americans to keep spending even as debts mount. Some economists have long warned that if foreigners lose their appetite for American debt, the dollar would fall, interest rates would rise and the housing boom could burst, sending real estate prices lower.
- by John Campanelli
Monday, January 09, 2006
Gullible Wing-Nuts (heart) BS: PART II
The stupidity of the Rhodey braintrust never fails to amaze.
Today they posted an inane story of a "left-wing" prof who runs into a righteous Navy Seal. I'm breaking my rule about not linking to these idiots so you can check out the BS which took all of two seconds to check out as fiction.
The willingness to believe this nonsense is related to the blind faith that they put in the President. They live in a fantasy world where "believing" in something makes it "true". Objective "facts" and "reality" are just some left-wing tricks in this upside-down distopia.
UPDATE:
Q. What is funnier than a bunch of gullible wing-nuts falling for some urban legend and passing it off as a true story?
A. A bunch of gullible wing-nuts falling for some urban legend and passing it off as a true story, getting called on it, then trying to pretend that they knew all along.
Today they posted an inane story of a "left-wing" prof who runs into a righteous Navy Seal. I'm breaking my rule about not linking to these idiots so you can check out the BS which took all of two seconds to check out as fiction.
The willingness to believe this nonsense is related to the blind faith that they put in the President. They live in a fantasy world where "believing" in something makes it "true". Objective "facts" and "reality" are just some left-wing tricks in this upside-down distopia.
UPDATE:
Q. What is funnier than a bunch of gullible wing-nuts falling for some urban legend and passing it off as a true story?
A. A bunch of gullible wing-nuts falling for some urban legend and passing it off as a true story, getting called on it, then trying to pretend that they knew all along.
Family Traditions
Prince William began his training Sunday in the United Kingdom's elite Sandhurst academy, joining the army and carrying on a family tradition of military service.
In a parallel tradition, Bush's twin daughters began NOT showing up for duty in the Texas Air National guard, instead drunkenly yelling, "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?" from a bar stool in Texas keeping that family tradition alive.
Breaking: Republican Congress Out to Shaft Small Investors
This is from www.investmentnews.com so I don't know Castle's part in this yet, but I'll be working on it. The fake moderate is on the Banking Committee, so he might have helped draft this disaster in the making for middle class Delawareans.
Bill would decentralize SEC compliance efforts
Sara Hansard
January 9, 2006
WASHINGTON - Legislation has been proposed that would reorganize the Securities and Exchange Commission's office of compliance inspections and examinations, and could make it more difficult for regulators to detect churning and to require firms to provide e-mail.
Bill would decentralize SEC compliance efforts
Sara Hansard
January 9, 2006
WASHINGTON - Legislation has been proposed that would reorganize the Securities and Exchange Commission's office of compliance inspections and examinations, and could make it more difficult for regulators to detect churning and to require firms to provide e-mail.
Shortness of Breath...
...is what they are saying. However, sources close to the VP say that the black bugs, which writhe underneath his skin and give him his life-like appearance, need to be swapped out once in a while.
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Castle "Wishy-Washy" on Delay Ouster
Fake Moderate Mike Castle made the papers again. This time his fence sitting pseudo-comment was in a Dallas Morning News story about a formal assault on Tom DeLay's leadership position. The story indicates that dozens of House Republicans have demanded a vote to permanently remove the corrupt congressman as majority leader.
While the move requires signatures from at least 50 Republican lawmakers in order to force an election when the House reconvenes Jan. 31, Castle's salesmanship for the ouster comes across as half hearted at best.
"Rep. Michael Castle of Delaware, is also on board. "There's significant interest."
There's significant interest. Wow! now that is one searing indictment. He is really taking the wood to Mr. Delay with that kind of rhetoric. It is this kind of thing that makes me think that Castle believes in absolutely nothing, other than being re-elected.
Castle has no credibility on ethics issues unless and until he comes out publicly against a guy who:
- was admonished by the House ethics committee for providing "special access" to a Kansas utility firm in exchange for a $25,000 political contribution,
- was admonished again by the ethics committee for offering to help in elect a colleague's son to Congress in exchange for a crucial vote,
- was chastised by the House ethics committee for threatening a major trade group that hired a former Democratic congressman to lead his lobby effort instead of a Republican he had recommended,
- masterminded an illegal plan to redistrict Texas in order to consolidate his power,
- and is under criminal indictment for his associations with Jack Abramoff who has pled guilty to buying votes in Congress.
While the move requires signatures from at least 50 Republican lawmakers in order to force an election when the House reconvenes Jan. 31, Castle's salesmanship for the ouster comes across as half hearted at best.
"Rep. Michael Castle of Delaware, is also on board. "There's significant interest."
There's significant interest. Wow! now that is one searing indictment. He is really taking the wood to Mr. Delay with that kind of rhetoric. It is this kind of thing that makes me think that Castle believes in absolutely nothing, other than being re-elected.
Castle has no credibility on ethics issues unless and until he comes out publicly against a guy who:
- was admonished by the House ethics committee for providing "special access" to a Kansas utility firm in exchange for a $25,000 political contribution,
- was admonished again by the ethics committee for offering to help in elect a colleague's son to Congress in exchange for a crucial vote,
- was chastised by the House ethics committee for threatening a major trade group that hired a former Democratic congressman to lead his lobby effort instead of a Republican he had recommended,
- masterminded an illegal plan to redistrict Texas in order to consolidate his power,
- and is under criminal indictment for his associations with Jack Abramoff who has pled guilty to buying votes in Congress.
Friday, January 06, 2006
11 U.S. troops killed in escalating Iraq violence
136 total deaths nationwide Thursday, the 4th highest since war began
Updated: 9:11 a.m. ET Jan. 6, 2006
BAGHDAD, Iraq - The U.S. military on Friday announced the deaths of six more American troops killed in the recent barrage of violence that has swept Iraq, bringing to 11 the number of troops slain on the same day. - via MSNBC
Knowing what we know now, you would either have to be a deeply disturbed psycho or somehow on the RNC gravy train to think that the invasion of Iraq was a good idea.
Delaware GOP Angry I Picked on Poor Little Laird
Republicans don't get upset or angry when the President wipes his ass with the Constitution and assumes king-like powers, but when an obscure blogger mentions one of the local GOP Barons, you get this kind of reaction:
"Laird Stabler is an absolute gem of a human being, and has been a passionate advocate for Republicans for years without being a bitter partisan or demonizing the other side. I have never heard anyone issue anything but praise about him. So lay off."
First of all I did not say anything about your sainted Laird. I was trashing the screwed up invitation. Secondly, as far as I am concerned Laird Stabler is a cog in a crooked, unethical republican machine that is wrecking this country so I will certainly not "lay off".
In fact, until you "lay off" wrecking the country, I'll be the person in the back of Gold Ballroom at the Hotel DuPont giving Laird (and by extension the whole corrupt, incompetent GOP) the middle finger. Enjoy your video tape of Bush and your glass of wine!
Thursday, January 05, 2006
What Has Dean Done?
A month back I mentioned that Howard Dean's "50 State Strategy" is coming to Delaware. Although you will never read about Deans successes in the Washington Post and The New York Times which are all too eager to reprint the RNC talking points about Dean being a maniac, Dean is doing what needs to be done.
This is from The National Journal's subscription-only Hotline via Daily Kos
There are approximately 1,963 election precincts in WV. At the beginning of '05, the state Dem Party could only identify six with active Dem organizers. Twenty years ago, WV Dems abandoned their precinct-level party building operations. Part of the problem was parochial: precinct chairs didn't trust county chairs, who didn't trust the elites running the state party, who certainly didn't trust the effete liberals running the national party. The cycle of neglect desiccated what organization remained.
When Dean was running for chair, he took a keen interest in that state's tale of woe. And it was typical of what he saw in states across the country. So Dean promised state chairs: where the party had nothing, it would have something. The DNC would pay for organizers to spend four years in their states, training county chairs and precinct captains. In return for the paid staff, Dean would expect results -- larger voter files, more volunteers, higher vote totals. State chairs liked the message. Dems like Soechting, in TX, had complained for years that the national party saw them as ATMs and ignored them most of the time. Dean promised he'd repair the relationship between the party and its state affiliates. In large measure, he did.
Bush Intends to Ignore Law He Signed & Plans To Disolve Parliment...I mean Congress
Dana has bloged this but it needs to be mentioned on every blog and at every water cooler in the country. The President asserts, in the "signing statement" accompanying the newly-approved torture bill, that it doesn't apply to him.
I don't see how this could be interpreted as anything other than "a constitutional crisis".
Bush could bypass new torture ban: Waiver right is reserved
By Charlie Savage, Globe Staff | January 4, 2006
WASHINGTON -- When President Bush last week signed the bill outlawing the torture of detainees, he quietly reserved the right to bypass the law under his powers as commander in chief.
After approving the bill last Friday, Bush issued a ''signing statement" -- an official document in which a president lays out his interpretation of a new law -- declaring that he will view the interrogation limits in the context of his broader powers to protect national security. This means Bush believes he can waive the restrictions, the White House and legal specialists said.
''The executive branch shall construe [the law] in a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of the President . . . as Commander in Chief," Bush wrote, adding that this approach ''will assist in achieving the shared objective of the Congress and the President . . . of protecting the American people from further terrorist attacks."
I don't see how this could be interpreted as anything other than "a constitutional crisis".
Bush could bypass new torture ban: Waiver right is reserved
By Charlie Savage, Globe Staff | January 4, 2006
WASHINGTON -- When President Bush last week signed the bill outlawing the torture of detainees, he quietly reserved the right to bypass the law under his powers as commander in chief.
After approving the bill last Friday, Bush issued a ''signing statement" -- an official document in which a president lays out his interpretation of a new law -- declaring that he will view the interrogation limits in the context of his broader powers to protect national security. This means Bush believes he can waive the restrictions, the White House and legal specialists said.
''The executive branch shall construe [the law] in a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of the President . . . as Commander in Chief," Bush wrote, adding that this approach ''will assist in achieving the shared objective of the Congress and the President . . . of protecting the American people from further terrorist attacks."
Bush's $2 trillion Mistake or Don't Trust Republicans With Your Money
Talking points cafe posted about Nobel Laureate Joseph E. Stiglitz and Harvard budget expert Linda Bilmes' paper estimating the cost of the Iraq War at between $1-2 trillion. Needless to say, this is far higher than earlier lying estimates of $100-200 billion that Bush used to sell the vanity war.
Here is their statement:
NEW STUDY SUGGESTS ECONOMIC COST OF IRAQ WAR MUCH LARGER THAN PREVIOUSLY RECOGNIZED
A new study by two leading academic experts suggests that the costs of the Iraq war will be substantially higher than previously reckoned. In a paper presented to this week’s Allied Social Sciences Association annual meeting in Boston MA., Harvard budget expert Linda Bilmes and Columbia University Professor and Nobel Laureate Joseph E. Stiglitz calculate that the war is likely to cost the United States a minimum of nearly one trillion dollars and potentially over $2 trillion.
The study expands on traditional budgetary estimates by including costs such as lifetime disability and health care for the over16,000 injured, one fifth of whom have serious brain or spinal injuries. It then goes on to analyze the costs to the economy, including the economic value of lives lost and the impact of factors such as higher oil prices that can be partly attributed to the conflict in Iraq. The paper also calculates the impact on the economy if a proportion of the money spent on the Iraq war were spent in other ways, including on investments in the United States
“Shortly before the war, when Administration economist Larry Lindsey suggested that the costs might range between $100 and $200 billion, Administration spokesmen quickly distanced themselves from those numbers,” points out Professor Stiglitz. “But in retrospect, it appears that Lindsey’s numbers represented a gross underestimate of the actual costs.”
The Allied Social Sciences Association meeting is attended by the nation’s leading economists and social scientists. It is sponsored jointly by the American Economic Association and the Economists for Peace and Security.
............................................................
Ooops. Did I say "billion"? I meant "trillion". No price is to high for my children's children's children to pay because now America is secure from terror.
Here is their statement:
NEW STUDY SUGGESTS ECONOMIC COST OF IRAQ WAR MUCH LARGER THAN PREVIOUSLY RECOGNIZED
A new study by two leading academic experts suggests that the costs of the Iraq war will be substantially higher than previously reckoned. In a paper presented to this week’s Allied Social Sciences Association annual meeting in Boston MA., Harvard budget expert Linda Bilmes and Columbia University Professor and Nobel Laureate Joseph E. Stiglitz calculate that the war is likely to cost the United States a minimum of nearly one trillion dollars and potentially over $2 trillion.
The study expands on traditional budgetary estimates by including costs such as lifetime disability and health care for the over16,000 injured, one fifth of whom have serious brain or spinal injuries. It then goes on to analyze the costs to the economy, including the economic value of lives lost and the impact of factors such as higher oil prices that can be partly attributed to the conflict in Iraq. The paper also calculates the impact on the economy if a proportion of the money spent on the Iraq war were spent in other ways, including on investments in the United States
“Shortly before the war, when Administration economist Larry Lindsey suggested that the costs might range between $100 and $200 billion, Administration spokesmen quickly distanced themselves from those numbers,” points out Professor Stiglitz. “But in retrospect, it appears that Lindsey’s numbers represented a gross underestimate of the actual costs.”
The Allied Social Sciences Association meeting is attended by the nation’s leading economists and social scientists. It is sponsored jointly by the American Economic Association and the Economists for Peace and Security.
............................................................
Ooops. Did I say "billion"? I meant "trillion". No price is to high for my children's children's children to pay because now America is secure from terror.
Top Ten George W. Bush New Year's Resolutions...
10. Fewer decisions based on wild, drunken hunches
9. Have N.S.A. find out what really happened between Nick and Jessica
8. Stop using Situation Room monitors to play X-Box 360
7. More C-SPAN, less "Yes, Dear"
6. Team up with leading scientists to make Cheetos even cheesier
5. To capture and bring to justice King Kong
4. Beat the twins at beer pong
3. Respond to reporters questions with, "Bitch, don't go there"
2. Scale back on grueling 12-hour work week
1. "Who needs resolutions? Everything is fine"
---Late Show with David Letterman via Daily Kos
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
"What a Bunch of FRAUDS!"
My double secret source in the belly of the Delaware GOP leaked me this messed up invitation.
"What A Guy!" An Evening for Laird Stabler
Please join us!
Please join us for a truly special and memorable evening as we pay tribute to W. Laird Stabler, Jr. -- an outstanding citizen, elected official, national committeeman, statesman -- and our friend! We are so very honored that former President George H. W. Bush will be joining us to take part in this evening of celebration, laughter, and sharing of Laird's achievements and contributions! I hope you wll (sic) help us make "What a Guy!" An Evening for Laird Stabler a very special evening.
"What A Guy!" An Evening for Laird Stabler
DATE: Friday, Jan. 27
TIME: 6:30 PM - reception, 7:30 PM - dinner
LOCATION: Hotel DuPont, Gold Ballroom
Cost: $175/person -- $1,000/Silver Sponsor ($1,250/couple) -- $5,000/Gold Sponsor
Click Here to reserve your tickets online or call Chris DuHadaway at 302-651-0260, ext. 1
Or make out your check to:
"An Evening for Laird Stabler"
P.O. Box 2905
Wilmington, DE 19805
Personal, corporate, and PAC checks are accepted.
Warmest regards,
Priscilla
....................................................................................
Okay. Laird might be one heck of a guy, but count the number of screwy things going on in this invitation. I'll start:
1) "wll" Hey. I know I am the king of the typos, but c'mon GOP this is going out to your base, and they read. Umm. check that.
2) Jack Jurden graphic. 'Nuff Said.
3) "George H. W. Bush will be joining us to take part in this evening..." Please. Where is the Screw-Up-in-Chief? Laird only rates a video from a President who had his ass kicked by Bill Clinton?
4) "$5,000/Gold Sponsor" You know that is going to be the average donation. Especially when you read..
5) "PAC checks are accepted" Right. Here is the heart of it. But then again, who ever said the GOP was not a bunch of corporate whores?
I'm Back
Wow. Great posts and comments while I was gone. DemVictory will keep on posting at will (I hope). Anyway, my next holiday will be around Groundhog Day. I'm looking forward to it this year. They say if Cheney sees his shadow it means war in Iraq for only another 10 years.
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