There were so many ways to title this but it just wouldn't fit.
Roy Ashburn (R - CA St Sen- 18, Bakersfield) got a DUI after leaving a gay bar in Sacramento on "Latin Night." Of course, he is a FAMILY VALUES Southern CA Republican, well known for his efforts, out there saving heterosexual marriage for all eternity.
Yup. Republican CA State Senator Roy Ashburn, age 55, of Bakersfield decided to have a hot time in Cow Town on Tuesday night in Sacramento.
(If you are from NorCal, you already are roflayao at that opening. Have you ever been to Sacramento, off the freeway, past 8pm on a winter weeknight ? Or to Bakersfield? Hint. If you're going to a movie, eat dinner before. If you're going to a restaurant, get there before dark. They roll up the sidewalks, turn off the lights, and you can't even find a panhandler. It's beyond spooky. )
Ashburn, well known for his scorched earth, global warming denial, immigrant hating, gay bashing family values alliance with then State Senator and now CongressmanTom McClintock, with whom he has shared a staffer, Dan Brennan, as Ashburn's former communications director went on to become McClintock's district director,
was them pulled over by the CHP for drunken driving at 2am. With another, younger man in the passenger seat. After coming from, according to sources, "Sacramento's premier GLBT Nightclub."
It was Latin Night at Faces Nightclub. Ai, aye, cha - cha- cha ! Dancin' Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Hot !
The manager claims she didn't see him, because "we don't see a lot of white guys here on a Tuesday night."
Well, yeah, who's going to admit they served the guy one too many for the lawyers to fight over ?
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpoi...
At least half a dozen leaders of the Republican Party have joined forces to create a new political group with the goal of organizing grass-roots support and raising funds ahead of the 2010 midterm elections, according to people familiar with the effort.
The organizational details of the group, expected to be called the American Action Network, are still being worked out, but it is expected to contain both a 501(c)3 and a 501(c)4 component. In simpler terms, a 501(c)3 can advocate on policy matters while a 501(c)4 is an election arm.
Republican leaders expected to be affiliated with the group include former Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, former Bush adviser Karl Rove, Republican strategist Ed Gillespie, and Republican donor Fred Malek.
Jenny Sanford, the soon to be ex- wife (divorce filed and pending) and campaign manager of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, has written a book, called "Staying True."
Governor Sanford, who completely disappeared for five days last summer, for a side trip to Argentina to get it on with his mistress, leaving aides with the alibi of "he's hiking the Appalachian trail" says that he has not read the book yet.
"I know anything Jenny does, she does well, so I look forward to reading it along with everybody else," he said, according to The Sun News.
Per Tim Rutten's review in the LA Times, "Staying True"
is a memoir of a marriage that only can be described as the Contract With America meets Southern gothic.
/snip
In fact, by the time we get to the affair late in the book, it's a bit of a relief, since this is about the first normative impulse either of the Sanfords seems to have had during their marriage.
/snip
As Sanford informs us elsewhere in the book, "Women were made for sacrifice."
And boy does she sacrifice . . . over and over and over. What's never clear from her extended exercise in score-settling is why? The man she describes is driven, self-absorbed, pathologically cheap and 360-degrees weird. She runs his political campaigns, puts up with his habitual absences and bears him four sons.
http://www.latimes.com/feature...
You didn't misread that title - SB400, the bill in the PA State Senate for statewide single payer health care, is getting some hearings because of Republican State Senator Don White. Here in Pennsylvania, single payer isn't a partisan issue. We've got bipartisan bills in the Senate and House with Governor Rendell's pledge to sign them if they pass.
The hearing will take place on December 16, from 9:00-10:30 AM in room 8E-A East Wing, located on the lower level of the Capitol building. Those in support of SB400 will have 45 minutes to present their information and arguments, and those opposed will also have 45 minutes.
This is a vitally important step forward, and one of the only times in history that a state-based single payer bill has been granted a senate committee hearing.
Whether you live in Pennsylvania or not, this is great news for progressives. Follow me below the fold to find out more and see how you can help.
Yesterday I wrote a diary titled "We're sorry you're stupid, but you're not allowed to hold back the rest of the class anymore." in which I made the point that most Republicans are reality denying fools who will swallow any lie if it fits into their pre-conceived view of the world. The point of that diary was that we should try to reach out and pull out of the matrix whoever we can from the burning, sinking S.S. Ronald Reagan and then leave the rest of the fools behind, because, quite frankly, we are wasting our phucking time with these nit-wits and I'm tired of explaining reality over and over again to the Orly Taitz's of the world who will scream "WHERE IS THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE!" no matter how many times we show it to them.
Therefore, without further ado, I present for your approval the Republican rebuttal to my diary below the fold.
Call it "Pollution denying", or "Reality Denying", it's all the same to the Professional Liars who are Senate Republicans.
In a touchdown celebration of "told you so" that is the equivalent of blowing your ACL while dancing after a homerun that went foul, Inhofe proceeds to insult the esteemed Senator from California, Barbara Boxer, by saying "We Won, You Lost, Get a Life."
This is what a stupid dick does, he gloats. The fact that he is dead wrong and corrupt just makes it worse.
Except climate change is FACT, you didn't win and you're a stupid towel, James InhoFAIL.
Since a group of tea bagging protestors comprised of mostly white people have the cojones to burn Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congressmen Tom Perriello in effigy, I thought it would be a good idea if someone in the media would go so far as to ask these people why they don't just go all the way in their supposed "defense of freedom and liberty" and burn President Barack Obama in effigy as well. I mean, if they are really brave and all, why shouldn't they?
They don't just hope HE (President Obama) FAILS, they hope America fails, and they (The Republican party) are helping it happen by obstructing reform and fighting job growing legislation that will help America recover.
They hope you lose your job and go broke so that you are pissed off and miserable, and they hope this lasts until 2010 and 2012 so you can take it out on the incumbents who are in office, and when we "throw the bums out" Republicans will finally get back the political power that they crave so much.
The Republican party is sabotaging America's recovery for political gain.
This is the new meme that we as Democrats should push in order to expose the elected Republicans for what they are, fake patriots who put politics above the best interests of their own nation.
Sen. Sherrod Brown does NOT pull any punches once he gets started, and this time he beat up on poor ole Shooter something awful.
First Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) put up a lame defense for another 5 years of Afghanistan, but at least he was kind enough to throw Dick Cheney under the bus while he did it. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) then systematically torched Dick Cheney (Sith-Lizard planet) for being Co-Proesident to FAIL.
Today on ABC's Top Line, co-host David Chalian asked Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) if he would "opt-out" of the public option for his state if the measure passed. Pawlenty dodged: "Well, I don't know if we would opt out but I personally would like to opt out because I don't like government run health care." But Chalian persisted, and ultimately, Pawlenty said that he would oppose the public option for Minnesota:
CHALIAN: But you would lead a charge in your state to opt out if that was an option available?
PAWLENTY: I think so because I don't like government run health care.
This is another absolute beaut from the CongressmanWithGUTS, Alan Grayson (BIG D-FL08).
In a hearing on the Republican Witch Hunt over ACORN (pardon to any witches), Alan Grayson SCHOOLS the Republicans on the committee and achieved classic EPIC WIN!
The news broke late yesterday afternoon that the Senate Finance Committee sought to broker a compromise measure regarding the Public Option. Giving each individual state a choice of whether or not to provide a public option appeals to fiscal conservatives and red state legislators whose most coherent reservation regarding health care reform is a concern over cost. Still, these kind of messy federal/state mandates reinforce substantial inequality. A Medicaid-style measure like this would mean that those who lived in most well-funded blue states would have superior health care coverage, while those who lived in most, if not all red states would have their health care costs still largely dictated by private carriers, many of which hold near-monopolies in individual states. If the aim of reform is to level the playing field for every American, this falls well short of the stated objective.
Today's Politico contains a brief, but noteworthy column written by Ben Smith, which underscores the controversy regarding Medicaid reform.
The Medicaid expansion would, in a stroke, add 11 million people to the program's ranks by raising the income cap, and one key negotiating point at the moment is the share of that cost the federal government will pick up.
The income cap, however, is only one facet to increasing eligibility. Many states, particularly red states, do not extend coverage to single adults at all, no matter how dire their need. Coverage is often provided only to adults with children and sometimes Medicaid coverage is granted to children only, leaving their parents with nothing. As a result of this, many adults are forced to file for SSI disability to obtain Medicaid coverage, since doing on is the only means by which they might attain any health care coverage at all. However, this removes individuals from the workforce, reduces tax dollars paid into the tax system as condition of employment, and places a drain upon the never-ample General Fund out of which all Medicaid expenses are paid. Removing these strict qualifying factors might costs more in the short term, but the long term consequences are much more detrimental. Someone pays the cost when a person goes bankrupt from enormous medical bills or visits the Emergency Room without insurance, having no means to pay at all. Still, to simplify this unnecessarily as another annoying example of the red state/blue state divide would not be a fair telling of the truth.
Republican governors haven't been the only ones raising doubts.
Tennessee Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen has been an outspoken foe of the plan, and a senior Republican aide notes that two more left-leaning Democrats are also raising complaints. According to the Columbus Dispatch, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland "warned on a recent visit to Washington that the 'the states with our financial challenges right now, are not in a position to accept additional Medicaid responsibilities.'
"Strickland said that he wants a health care package that is inclusive and provides for all citizens', but he adds that if Medicaid is expanded, he hopes to see the Federal Government assume the greater portion of the costs, if not the total costs.'"
And New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch last week refused to sign a letter than other Democratic governors sent to congressional leaders urging passage of a health care bill this year, because it failed to "address concerns regarding potential cost shifting to the states," according to a spokesman for the governor quoted by the media.
States do have to adhere to balanced budgets and in times of economic famine like these cannot resort to deficit spending. However, budget priorities are often disproportionately skewed away from social services and relegated to other matters, which are just as wasteful, if not more so than any pork barrel project pushed by a House or Senate member. Before Republicans and Democrats criticize Washington for its excesses or its financial demands, they would be wise to start first in their own backyards. Citing specific instances of pork barrel projects is a rhetoric device which borders on cliche, so I will spare you another retelling of it. Needless to say, room could be made even in a much reduced year of tax revenue. The obscene amount of tax breaks and concessions made to foreign automakers in order to entice them to build auto manufacturing plants is a good place to start. Those states who have never made an attempt to reform their image as little more than an endless supply of cheap labor have shortchanged themselves in ways they seem incapable of comprehending.
A more streamlined approach would, in my opinion, be best. Each state sets its own criteria regarding Medicaid in accordance to how the program was set up in the 1960's and I have no doubt that similarly messy compromises would likely typify the efforts the states willing to institute a public option. Most red states would opt out altogether, of course. I will note that a complete reliance on the superior wisdom and judgment of the Federal Government might be naive, but I have rarely seen any state government be more efficient. What I have seen is a multitude of red states whose efficiency and collective wisdom resembles a Banana Republic combined with a slap-stick comedy routine. That they are the ones who are so quick to shoot barbs at Washington, DC, strikes me as biting the hand that feeds you. Many of these states would have nothing if it hadn't been for the generosity of Capitol Hill and many of their universities would find themselves without needed funding if they couldn't achieve Federal Government grants. So it is here that I'm afraid I can't muster much sympathy for those Governors who rarely pay more than ten percent of the cost of Medicaid anyway. The real lesson to be learned here is that long-term gain is much more important than the facade of short-term cost reduction.
Remember how proud you felt when you heard change meant a 2% deal with big PhRMA to allow Health Care Reform to pass (as if their permission were essential?)
Well, it looks like someone in the Senate actually wants to fight to help Americans, not help screw them.
A Senate Democratic leader is hoping to blow up the deal reached between the White House, drug makers and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), by introducing an amendment on the floor to allow prescription drugs to be re-imported from Canada.
It's one of the simplest ways to reduce health care costs but was ruled out by the agreement, which limits Big Pharma's contribution to health care reform to $80 billion over ten years.
How can you be for the Death Penalty and be against the "Corporate Death Penalty"?
ACORN was smeared to death, and that sucks. So, how do we make the best of it?
If ACORN must go, the rest of all the Bush Era Crooked Contractors you know and loathe will just have to go too.
On Friday (Spet 25th), Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) inserted into the "legislative history" language spelling out that including all fraudulent organizations was, in fact, the intent of the Congress.
~snip~
"The bill imposes, and is intended to impose, a corporate death penalty on contractors who fall within the scope of its prohibitions."
Obama CAN NOT lose something that is already lost.
Short diary, but worth discussing.
I WANT TO KILL THIS MEME NOW!
Meme: Obama might lose Afghanistan without surge
NEW RULE: Idiots who were wrong about Iraq DON'T GET to give any more unvise about what the military should do.
Bush and Republicans LOST AFGHANISTAN the Minute they moved the debate to Iraq, like idiots.
Unvice = crappy advise from people who are always WRONG
.
Republicans, Joe Lieberman and the MIC want more war, and they want it bad. No strategy, no exit plan, just give us more troops and money or the Country is DOOMED, I say, DOOMED. And then the terrorists will win, they'll get WMD's, the Taliban will get stronger and al Qaeda will attack us again.
Blah, Blah, Blah, I've heard this bullshit before.
To which my answer to the Unxperts are: Didn't you say that about Iraq?
Memo: Attach Bush to torture = make them defend both.
Though Morning Joe doesn't say Bush's name, I think we should, and Democrats will use this to pursue justice and Destroy the GOP. I consider it a great instance of killing two birds with one stone.
Republicans will say this will damage the President's popularity in polls, they will justify and lie and say anything to avoid owning this issue, but the fact is that the law was broken, and I believe this is the beginning of a well timed plan to get the ball rolling now, and then use it against the GOP for maximum effect.
More of the cheney/bush/republican congress incompetent criminality coming to light, especially out of the VA, while Two Occupations were still ongoing and troops were returning for the care needed, as their brothers and sisters were returning in Flag Draped Coffins!!
Frank Luntz, Republican Strategist: It's one of the most important points in this entire debate. If you call it a public option the American people are split. If you call it a Government Option than the public is overwhelmingly against it.
Sean Hannity, RW Mouthpiece, Fox News Host: You know, that's a great point. From now on I am going to call it a Government option.
Dear members of the Senate Democratic Caucus, below you will find helpful definitions and other useful tools as you assemble your ability to effective use the tools of a majority party in the US Senate.
Step 1. What is a Majority Party?
No need to fret little Harry. It's just this simple.
Majority and minority parties
The "Majority party" is the political party which either has a majority of seats or can form a coalition or caucus with a majority of seats; if two or more parties are tied, the Vice President's affiliation determines which party is the majority party. The next-largest party is known as the minority party.
Reform Immigration -
March on Washington
