...I recently returned from my fourth trip to Iraq and my second trip to Afghanistan.... the rule needs to be 'When the United States goes to war, the United States wins'.
Source: http://www.gop12.com/2009/09/pawlenty-when-us-goes-to-war-us-wins.html
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Monday, September 7, 2009
What Bi-partisanship Really Means
If, as Democrats expect, Grassley and Enzi balk at agreeing to a bill, Baucus plans to try to continue pursuing a bipartisan agreement with Sen. Olympia Snowe (Maine) – Democratic sources said.
Just one liberal Republican a bill makes.
Source: http://www.asmainegoes.com/content/baucus-98-deadline-gang-6-fish-or-cut-bait
Just one liberal Republican a bill makes.
Source: http://www.asmainegoes.com/content/baucus-98-deadline-gang-6-fish-or-cut-bait
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Media Refuses to Report On Van Jones Situation
Total words about the Van Jones controversy in the New York Times: 0.
Total words about the Van Jones controversy in the Washington Post: 0.
Total words about the Van Jones controversy on NBC Nightly News: 0.
Total words about the Van Jones controversy on ABC World News: 0.
Total words about the Van Jones controversy on CBS Evening News: 0.
His affiliation with a 1990s group called Standing Together to Organize a Revolutionary Movement has opened him to accusations that he associated with Communists. And in 2004 he allowed his name to be put on a letter requesting an investigation into whether the Bush administration allowed 9/11 to happen as a “pre-text to war.” Jones said Thursday he never believed in this so-called “Truther” movement, issued an apology for his past remarks, and said in a statement that his involvement with 9/11 conspiracy theories "does not reflect my views now or ever."
He also called Republicans a**holes, in case you're wondering...
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/26781.html#ixzz0QI0A7pSI
Total words about the Van Jones controversy in the Washington Post: 0.
Total words about the Van Jones controversy on NBC Nightly News: 0.
Total words about the Van Jones controversy on ABC World News: 0.
Total words about the Van Jones controversy on CBS Evening News: 0.
His affiliation with a 1990s group called Standing Together to Organize a Revolutionary Movement has opened him to accusations that he associated with Communists. And in 2004 he allowed his name to be put on a letter requesting an investigation into whether the Bush administration allowed 9/11 to happen as a “pre-text to war.” Jones said Thursday he never believed in this so-called “Truther” movement, issued an apology for his past remarks, and said in a statement that his involvement with 9/11 conspiracy theories "does not reflect my views now or ever."
He also called Republicans a**holes, in case you're wondering...
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/26781.html#ixzz0QI0A7pSI
Friday, September 4, 2009
Les Otten Sums It Up
AI: How do you view the legacy of the Baldacci Administration?
What legacy?
Read the gubernatorial candidate's entire interview with the Augusta Insider here
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Reminder That The Wrong Bush Boy Became President
Jeb Bush's Foundation for Excellence in Education has asked District of Columbia schools chancellor Michelle Rhee to be keynote speaker at its second annual national summit on education reform.
Rhee, an appointee of DC Mayor, Adrian Fenty, will join summit host Bush and policymakers from around the nation at the October summit in DC.
"From pay raises to pink slips, Chancellor Rhee is shaking up the status quo to turnaround a school system that has failed students for too long," Bush said. "We are tremendously pleased Chancellor Rhee will join Excellence in Action attendees to share her bold reform strategies for raising student achievement and improving the quality of education."
The Defeat of NIMBYism?
Nearly all energy experts agree that more nuclear power is necessary to lower energy costs in this nation. However, the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) problem that humans always struggle with has led to political uncertainty, and thus the market hasn't produced a fresh plant in a long, long time. A new ABC News/Washington Post poll gives hope:
"To address the country's energy needs, would you support or oppose action by the federal government to [see below]?" Half sample | ||||||
. | ||||||
| Support | Oppose | Unsure | ||||
| % | % | % | ||||
. | ||||||
"Build more nuclear power plants" | ||||||
8/13-17/09 | 52 | 46 | 2 | |||
Asked of those who support building more nuclear power plants: | ||||||
. | ||||||
| Favor | Oppose | |||||
| % | % | |||||
8/13-17/09 | 66 | 33 | ||||
It's time that President Obama and Congress ask people to do what is right for their country and accept the construction of new nuclear plants (and windmills and hydroplants...etc. al.) in their neighborhoods.
Student Loan Debt Forgiveness for Stimulus?
An interesting idea making the rounds in recent weeks has been to have the government pay off all currently outstanding student loan debt as a means of stimulating the still-in-recession economy.
It is an intriguing concept. The theory goes that this measure would inject money into the economy (the purpose of all stimulus) by freeing up additional spending cash each month for the hundreds of thousands of citizens currently dedicating a portion of their income, not to mention setting aside money in their savings accounts, for debt repayment. Additionally, this would avoid moral hazard, as their was no expectation on the part of these people that they'd be bailed out and there would not be future expectation of bail outs. And, even if there were, since this would reward higher education, the additional people paying for more learning would increase the human capital of the nation.
Of course, Republican Punk doesn't support any additional stimulus. The country is in the process of a slow recovery and we cannot afford any further deficit spending or bubble-creating. Would this have been a good idea if it had been thought of before the pork-basket that was the $700 million plus "stimulus" package. Very possibly. But keep in mind, higher education costs are rising much faster than inflation, primarily due to government intervention that promotes lower-and-middle class people going to college regardless of their ability to pay or whether it is actually in their best interest. So, there are a lot of unintentional consequences that must be considered with any plan.
Diane Watson (D-CA) Praises Fidel Castro, Che Guevera, Militant Communism, Calls Republicans Racist
Also, interesting note on Council of Consevative Citizens concerning how Che Guevera felt about black people:
“The Negro is indolent and lazy, and spends his money on frivolities, whereas the European is forward-looking, organized and intelligent.”- Che Guevara
Jay Rockefeller Wants To Give Obama Power To Take Over The Internet
Internet companies and civil liberties groups were alarmed this spring when a U.S. Senate bill proposed handing the White House the power to disconnect private-sector computers from the Internet.
They're not much happier about a revised version that aides to Sen. Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat, have spent months drafting behind closed doors. CNET News has obtained a copy of the 55-page draft of S.773 (excerpt), which still appears to permit the president to seize temporary control of private-sector networks during a so-called cybersecurity emergency.
The new version would allow the president to "declare a cybersecurity emergency" relating to "non-governmental" computer networks and do what's necessary to respond to the threat. Other sections of the proposal include a federal certification program for "cybersecurity professionals," and a requirement that certain computer systems and networks in the private sector be managed by people who have been awarded that license.
They're not much happier about a revised version that aides to Sen. Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat, have spent months drafting behind closed doors. CNET News has obtained a copy of the 55-page draft of S.773 (excerpt), which still appears to permit the president to seize temporary control of private-sector networks during a so-called cybersecurity emergency.
The new version would allow the president to "declare a cybersecurity emergency" relating to "non-governmental" computer networks and do what's necessary to respond to the threat. Other sections of the proposal include a federal certification program for "cybersecurity professionals," and a requirement that certain computer systems and networks in the private sector be managed by people who have been awarded that license.
This is very scary. Besides creating further barriers to market entry through another unnecessary licensure program (folks, it's not really capitalism when the government decides who can and can't do things, its corporatism that just protects the big dogs), the ability to declare a cyber-emergency (with no clear, congressionally-set guidelines to what that means) gives the Executive the power to declares martial law on information and free speech.
What if Bush had tried this?
Glad to See the Supreme Court Was Never Politicized
Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, who worked as Ted Kennedy's counsel in the mid-1970s -- rushed from his vacation to Boston for tonight's memorial at the JFK library.
When I asked Breyer what it was like to work for Kennedy, he stopped and smiled broadly.
“For me, who was on the staff and I loved being in the staff, it was the most wonderful job of I’ve ever had.”
“Better than being on the Supreme Court?’ he was asked.
“Better than this, yes, in many respects,” he added.
Source: Glenn Thrush
Republican Punk Is Back!
After a refreshing vacation and break from the real world, the blog has returned!
Unfortunately, things didn't stop while we were offline, so here's a quick recap:
The Holder justice department decided looking back instead of forward was a good idea after all, and is investigating a small group of CIA interregators. To quote Peter King: "It's Bulls***! Makes you wonder whos side they're on."
Scott Kazmir was traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for a pair of high potential, low minors prospects and a player to be named later. Kazmir was having a very bad season and is signed for over $30 million over the next two years (more if his 2012 option was picked up), so while first instinct is advantage Angels, it could turn out to be a win for both teams (if the prospects work out quickly and Kazmir rebounds) or possibly even another coup for the Rays, such as when they got Kazmir and another prospect for Victor Zambrano.
Jim Doyle announced he wasn't running for re-election as Governor of Vermont, likely costing the Republican party a critical seat in a dark blue state.
Matt Skiba has plans to record a solo album. Here's to hoping that the Alkaline Trio frontman can make something as good as his short-lived post-punk side project, Heavens.
And of course: Ted Kennedy, 1932-2009. It's the end of an era.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Great Description of T-Paw
This is when it's handy to be vanilla. You think it's the vodka that's going to land a blow to your head, or the decadent chocolate a blow to your heart.
But since Pawlenty is so Pawlenty, he can point fingers without anyone noticing the middle one's also extended.
Source: GOP 12
But since Pawlenty is so Pawlenty, he can point fingers without anyone noticing the middle one's also extended.
Source: GOP 12
Ridge Confirms That Terror Alerts Were Politicized
A sad revelation in the autobiography of Tom Ridge, the inaugural Homeland Security Chief:
Tom Ridge confirms a long-held suspicion among Bush critics, writing in his new autobiography that he "was pushed to raise the security alert on the eve of President Bush's re-election, something he saw as politically motivated and worth resigning over."
While it is good on Mr. Ridge, someone long respected for his political honesty, to have resigned, as well as to follow one of the unwritten rules of politics by not revealing this until after the Bush administration ended, it is a sad day for Republicans that we find ourselves seeing that some liberal conspiracies were true.
It is also unfortunate, because this blog now finds itself complimenting President Obama for keeping the Terror Alert level out of the news and downplaying it (while not taking away the transparency.)
Source: http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0809/Politicizing_the_terror_alerts.html?showall
Tom Ridge confirms a long-held suspicion among Bush critics, writing in his new autobiography that he "was pushed to raise the security alert on the eve of President Bush's re-election, something he saw as politically motivated and worth resigning over."
While it is good on Mr. Ridge, someone long respected for his political honesty, to have resigned, as well as to follow one of the unwritten rules of politics by not revealing this until after the Bush administration ended, it is a sad day for Republicans that we find ourselves seeing that some liberal conspiracies were true.
It is also unfortunate, because this blog now finds itself complimenting President Obama for keeping the Terror Alert level out of the news and downplaying it (while not taking away the transparency.)
Source: http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0809/Politicizing_the_terror_alerts.html?showall
Majority Believe War In Afghanistan Wasn't Worth It
Scary numbers from ABC News/Washington Post Poll. For the first time ever, a majority of Americans believe the War in Afghanistan was not worth fighting. Not only that, but a 45% plurality believe we should begin reducing troop levels immediately (the opposite of what is needed according to virtually every foreign policy/military expert)!
We've said this before and we'll say it again: Mr. President, this is where you need to be spending political capital. You have always been a strong supporter of this very necessary war, and with all the domestic problems, you are risking the possibility that there will be no support from the left remaining to do what needs to be done in Southwest Asia.
We've said this before and we'll say it again: Mr. President, this is where you need to be spending political capital. You have always been a strong supporter of this very necessary war, and with all the domestic problems, you are risking the possibility that there will be no support from the left remaining to do what needs to be done in Southwest Asia.
Obama Uses Religion To Promote Health Care
"We are God's partners in matters of life and death"
The President said this during a call with Rabbis concerning his health care plan. The obvious question, "Isn't this what liberals got angry with Bush and Huckabee over?"
This blog had a problem with the undue self-confidence that Bush had when he was sure he was doing God's work and with Huckabee for saying that his surge was supported by God, and we certainly have a problem with this bull. Who do you think you are, Mr. President?
Also, interesting note on the rationing front: Ben Smith points out that this is from the Rosh Hashanah prayer that also says it is decided "who shall live and who shall die." Obviously not intentional, but that just walks into the hands of the Right.
The President said this during a call with Rabbis concerning his health care plan. The obvious question, "Isn't this what liberals got angry with Bush and Huckabee over?"
This blog had a problem with the undue self-confidence that Bush had when he was sure he was doing God's work and with Huckabee for saying that his surge was supported by God, and we certainly have a problem with this bull. Who do you think you are, Mr. President?
Also, interesting note on the rationing front: Ben Smith points out that this is from the Rosh Hashanah prayer that also says it is decided "who shall live and who shall die." Obviously not intentional, but that just walks into the hands of the Right.
T-Paw on Health Care
Add health care to the issues that Republican Punk loves Tim Pawlenty, the governor of Minnesota, on for the 2012 election. Politico has a new article on the way the good governor has thrown himself into the health care debate as the middle ground between the Massachusetts model of Mitt Romney and the harsh rhetoric of Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich:
Pawlenty said he has three major objections to Democratic plans: the public option, possible tax increases on small and medium-sized businesses and the “massive spending disaster” that would result if health care were added to a federal budget.
The Minnesota governor also supports the right to pool insurance risk across state lines, opening up private insurance markets to allow consumers to buy a policy from nearly anywhere, creating an electronic billing and prescription system, the prohibition of coverage denials based on pre-existing conditions, portability guarantees and incentivizing hospitals and patients to reduce the cost of individual visits.
His approach doesn’t always land him in the headlines, but it’s winning him notice as a serious voice in the debate without damaging his Minnesota Nice brand.
This approach is almost identical to what this blog would like to see done, and is almost certainly a middle ground that could pass through the Senate (though probably not the current House, which has too many liberals to accept giving up the public option while allowing people to buy across state lines.) The article is highly recommended reading for those who haven't already jumped on the Pawlenty band wagon.
P.S.
There is also a great one sentence description of the man I've come to adore:
“That’s Tim’s nature. He’s a quieter sort, he’s more about policy. I just don’t think it’s in his nature to use heavy rhetorical flourishes,” said Donatelli. “I think if he becomes a candidate, his message will be that he has been a successful conservative, pro-free market governor in a very blue state. That would be the one-sentence description of his political career.”
Pawlenty said he has three major objections to Democratic plans: the public option, possible tax increases on small and medium-sized businesses and the “massive spending disaster” that would result if health care were added to a federal budget.
The Minnesota governor also supports the right to pool insurance risk across state lines, opening up private insurance markets to allow consumers to buy a policy from nearly anywhere, creating an electronic billing and prescription system, the prohibition of coverage denials based on pre-existing conditions, portability guarantees and incentivizing hospitals and patients to reduce the cost of individual visits.
His approach doesn’t always land him in the headlines, but it’s winning him notice as a serious voice in the debate without damaging his Minnesota Nice brand.
This approach is almost identical to what this blog would like to see done, and is almost certainly a middle ground that could pass through the Senate (though probably not the current House, which has too many liberals to accept giving up the public option while allowing people to buy across state lines.) The article is highly recommended reading for those who haven't already jumped on the Pawlenty band wagon.
P.S.
There is also a great one sentence description of the man I've come to adore:
“That’s Tim’s nature. He’s a quieter sort, he’s more about policy. I just don’t think it’s in his nature to use heavy rhetorical flourishes,” said Donatelli. “I think if he becomes a candidate, his message will be that he has been a successful conservative, pro-free market governor in a very blue state. That would be the one-sentence description of his political career.”
World Cooled Over The Last Decade; Debate Concerning What It Means
Republican Punk is not a site to debate complex science (or pseudoscience, for that matter), so this post is not meant to argue over whether the significant fall in temperature since 1997, which was an El Nino year and thus naturally hotter, means that global warming is a hoax. Instead, we would like to point out a couple of significant lines from the article concerning this fall in temperature and attempts to rebuff the ensuing sceptics:
A decade of level or slightly lower temperatures is only a temporary dip to be expected as a result of natural, short-term variations in the enormously complex climate system, they say.
"Natural variability can account for the slowing of the global mean temperature rise we have seen."
"These short term fluctuations are statistically insignificant (and) entirely due to natural internal variability," Easterling said in an essay published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters in April. "It's easy to 'cherry pick' a period to reinforce a point of view."
The climate system is enormously complex, and while man is very likely affecting the temperature in some way, it is very unlikely that any measure we take as humans could unravel these effects. To believe otherwise is incredible hubris. Thus, while Republican Punk supports a carbon tax to fix the market failure created by the lack of a carbon price, it needs to be done in such a way that it doesn't destroy the economy, because we aren't stopping global warming, whether it was man-made or not. It is sad, but true, and there is no reason to mitigate the problems we fact by ignoring cost-benefit.
Also, liberals need to follow their own advice when it comes to not cherry-picking science. Accept that there is a debate. There is a majority viewpoint and a minority viewpoint, but it only takes one scientist to be right and these people aren't insane. There are arguments to be made on both sides, and policy makers are right to pay attention to both. While men like James Inhofe are wrong to ignore climate science showing carbon-caused warming, people like Barbara Boxer and Henry Waxman are just as wrong to ignore contrarian science and refuse to consider cost-benefit analysis when writing bills.
Source: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/226/story/74019.html
A decade of level or slightly lower temperatures is only a temporary dip to be expected as a result of natural, short-term variations in the enormously complex climate system, they say.
"Natural variability can account for the slowing of the global mean temperature rise we have seen."
"These short term fluctuations are statistically insignificant (and) entirely due to natural internal variability," Easterling said in an essay published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters in April. "It's easy to 'cherry pick' a period to reinforce a point of view."
The climate system is enormously complex, and while man is very likely affecting the temperature in some way, it is very unlikely that any measure we take as humans could unravel these effects. To believe otherwise is incredible hubris. Thus, while Republican Punk supports a carbon tax to fix the market failure created by the lack of a carbon price, it needs to be done in such a way that it doesn't destroy the economy, because we aren't stopping global warming, whether it was man-made or not. It is sad, but true, and there is no reason to mitigate the problems we fact by ignoring cost-benefit.
Also, liberals need to follow their own advice when it comes to not cherry-picking science. Accept that there is a debate. There is a majority viewpoint and a minority viewpoint, but it only takes one scientist to be right and these people aren't insane. There are arguments to be made on both sides, and policy makers are right to pay attention to both. While men like James Inhofe are wrong to ignore climate science showing carbon-caused warming, people like Barbara Boxer and Henry Waxman are just as wrong to ignore contrarian science and refuse to consider cost-benefit analysis when writing bills.
Source: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/226/story/74019.html
Afghanis Take To The Polls
Keep the Afghani people in your prayers as they prove those in America who think that they can never be a working democracy wrong by turning out in the midst of violence to cast their votes in a hotly contested presidential electon.
Read More: http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/08/20/afghanistan.election/index.html
Read More: http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/08/20/afghanistan.election/index.html
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Joe Scarborough Gets Anthony Weiner (D-NY) To Admit He Doesn't Believe in Private Health Insurance
Why does anyone want Medicare, which will go bankrupt in 10 years, to be the basis for everyone's health care?
And Scarborough catches Weiner, who tries to use the populist line that the health care industry doesn't deserve its profits, by askying why any corporation deserve profits.
And Scarborough catches Weiner, who tries to use the populist line that the health care industry doesn't deserve its profits, by askying why any corporation deserve profits.
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