The downward beat goes on for the Republican Party....from Countdown with Keith Olbermann.....
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Saturday, August 1, 2009
Birthers destroying the Republican Party (Video)
Friday, July 31, 2009
Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) has prostate cancer
Officials tell The Associated Press that Democratic Sen. Christopher Dodd has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Dodd planned to announce the diagnosis at a news conference in Hartford, Conn., Friday afternoon.
Dodd, 65, is chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. The five-term senator is up for re-election next year.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the senator's health.
Hartford Courant
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Ratings you can "BELIEVE IN" for Lou Dobbs!!
None of this should be a shock.
When you go on television, call the president a racist (Beck), continue to question or raise doubts on a ridiculous question of his birth (Dobbs) then backlash will come forward.
Many Americans do not buy into the argument of Obama is not an American. Thankfully, many understand that extensive research has been performed, including looking at the actual document in Hawaii. And gratefully, many understand that this argument is just bullshit.
So, is it helping Lou Dobbs? NO.
A 15% loss in total viewers in just two weeks! Well done Lou, well done. Just go ahead and fax your resume over to Fox News now, because you've probably alienated the average CNN viewer to the point of no return, and, try as you might, the average Fox News viewer isn't going to flip the channel over to CNN ever, even when Shep Smith is on the air.
The average CNN viewer is pretty moderate, centrist. For Dobbs to hound this is a turn off, as he is seeing in his numbers. If Dobbs wants to continue his rant, take his show to FOX where they have a corral of non-journalists lined up, only for entertainment and shock-jock purposes, just there to create controversy and provide nothing but entertainment.
Lastly, as markos over at Daily Kos stated, "..birthers are mostly Republican and Southern." You can add 2+2, can't you?
Research 2000 for Daily Kos. 7/27-30. All adults. MoE 2% (No trend lines)
Do you believe that Barack Obama was born in the United States of America or not?
Yes 77
No 11
Not sure 12
So 11 percent of Americans are Obama-hating conspiracy theorists. How do they break down?
Yes No Not sure
Dem 93 4 3
Rep 42 28 30
Ind 83 8 9
Northeast 93 4 3
South 47 23 30
Midwest 90 6 4
West 87 7 6
Once again, Republicans find themselves outside the American mainstream. And reality.
NY Observer
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In case you missed it: President Obama and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Philippines, Talk to the Press (Video)
President Obama and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines talk to the press after a meeting. July 30, 2009.
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Representative Anthony Weiner challenges the Republicans for slamming Medicare, a government run health care program (Video)
h/t to sluggahjells at TWD
Weiner on Rachel Maddow....
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Thursday, July 30, 2009
Beer Summit !!! (Picture)
President Barack Obama, right, and Vice President Joe Biden, left, has a beer with Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. , second from left, and Cambridge, Mass. , police Sgt. James Crowley at the White House in Washington Thursday, July 30, 2009.
Please let this be the end of this!!!
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Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients Announced
Nancy Goodman Brinker is the founder of Susan G, Komen for the Cure, a grassroots organization that invests in research to fight breast cancer.
Pedro Jose Greer Jr. is the founder of Camillus Health Concern, an agency that provides medical care to more than 10,000 homeless patients a year in Miami, Florida.
Stephen Hawking is a theoretical physicist and author who has worked through a severe physical disability to pioneer academic research in math and physics.
Jack Kemp, who receives the award posthumously, served as a congressman and as secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. He also encouraged development in urban communities.
Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, has served as a senator for 46 years and has pushed for quality and affordable health care for children, seniors and people with disabilities.
Billie Jean King, a professional tennis player of the 1960s and 1970s, was the first openly lesbian major sports figure in the United States.
Rev. Joseph Lowery has been a leader of the struggle for civil rights since the 1950s. His work included helping to organize the Montgomery bus boycott that followed Rosa Park's refusal to give up her seat to a white passenger in 1955.
Joe Medicine Crow – High Bird is the last living Plains Indian war chief and author on Native American history and culture.
Harvey Milk, who receives the award posthumously, became the first openly gay elected official of a major U.S. city when he joined the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. He pushed the civil rights movement for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
Sandra Day O'Connor was the first female U.S. Supreme Court justice.
Sidney Poitier was the first African American to be nominated for and win an Academy Award for best actor.
Chita Rivera was the first Latina recipient of the performing arts award from the Kennedy Center. She made her breakthrough performance in 1957 as Anita in the Broadway premiere of West Side Story and has won two Tony Awards.
Mary Robinson was the first female president of Ireland. She is also the founder of Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative, an organization that focuses on the link between human rights and globalization.
Janet Davison Rowley is a human geneticist and the first scientist to identify a chromosomal translocation as the cause of leukemia and other cancers. She received the National Medal of Science in 1999, the United States' highest scientific award.
Desmond Tutu is a retired Anglican archbishop who played a lead role in South Africa's anti-apartheid movement. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984.
Muhammad Yunus pioneered micro-loans in his effort to reverse poverty trends. The Bangladeshi economist provided small, low-interest loans to low-income people in Bangladesh. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.
Video and Pictures of the ceremony at the White House, here
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President Obama, "Hello??? um...I don't know what you are talking about???"
I am on a retreat with family in Detroit. Some know that my father in law is not in his best condition and we are spending some family time together. Anyway, I spoke to my mother on the phone last night and she said quite frankly, "What the hell is Obama talking about on this health care?"
I have been so entrenched and angered about congress that I had to step back and actually listen to my 69 year old mother and her simple question. Then I had to go back to campaign mode and after looking at how the White House is framing this for the public, I had to answer, "I don't know."
Simplicity is a bitch.
Really.
The more simple an answer, the easier it is for the masses to understand.
Though we are seeing our president out on the stump selling the health care message, the masses are not getting it. And my mother is a hard lefty, former precinct captain queen in Chicago, can sell a dead man anything, and if she does not get it then many others like her don't either.
I then had to take Pithy Cherub's advice and watch the AARP online/call in show on C-SPAN. If you have not watched it please do so, our president was wonderful. What struck me is all the misinformation, disinformation that is floating around out there, but even more so, the nagging question of, "Why should I be concerned about this, a senior on medicare, got insurance, etc., but why should I be concerned?"
The White House is doing a piss poor job right now on educating the public of the value of health care reform. We know that Obama's White House battle is on many fronts, we picked him to chew gum and to walk and talk at the same time, but the public is not getting this.
One thing I do know is that the Republican's argument, which is weak as water, is making headway and ground. This is due primarily to the lobbyists helping the Republican Party to muddy the waters, pay off these politicians and craft their message.
In order for President Obama to become successful in selling any health care reform, he needs a solid BILL with talking points to do so. At this point, he is going around the country and hosting town hall meetings with vague talking points. That is not specifics and that is not helping the public to understand this. Which is the problem of all these convoluted polling numbers we are seeing.
The Democrats in D.C. need to understand that if this health care initiative goes down, SO DO THEY. The Democrats in D.C. need to understand that if they are the agent of obstruction, they will be challenged at the polls. The Democrats in D.C. need to understand that if they love the power of the MAJORITY PARTY that they are at risk of becoming the MINORITY PARTY. The Democrats in D.C. need to understand that if they do not stand with their president, that they are threatening us not to stand with THEM.
My mother is like millions of Americans who like President Obama, voted for the Democrats, but if she does not understand how this will benefit HER, then millions of others don't understand EITHER.
Democrats in D.C. get your shit together and get a bill crafted that the President can SELL. We have the best person in politics to do it, stop hindering his tools with constant stalling and procrastinating. President Obama needs a bill and the public needs to understand what is at stake before it is TOO LATE.
ok, my rant for today....
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In case you missed it: President Obama's town hall meeting on health care reform in Bristol, VA (Video)
President Obama holds a town hall on health reform and business at a Kroger in Bristol, Virginia. He takes questions from Kroger employees and explains why we need health insurance reform. July 29, 2009.
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In case you missed it: President Obama's town hall meeting on health care reform in Raleigh, NC (Video)
President Obama holds a town hall in Raleigh, North Carolina, focused on health insurance reform and small business. He discusses the economy and the need for health care reform, as well as the eight health insurance consumer protections, which are core principles that demonstrate how health insurance reform will affect you and your family. July 29, 2009.
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Wednesday, July 29, 2009
This is why health care won't change, when you have blue dogs PROTECTING the insurance companies (Video)
MSNBC's Donny Deutsch tells viewers to BOYCOTT Glenn Beck's advertisers and gives information to do so (Video)
When you are losing the political fight, what do you do? You create controversy, as the small percentage of far, far right wingers are doing so, thus enters Glenn Beck. I was driving on my way to Detroit for a family gathering and listened to Ed Shultz today. One thing he said that hit the nail on the head is this, "...Glenn Beck never worked on a news beat, is not a journalist, he feeds on some white people in this country who are just racist...."
He is right.
For Glenn Beck to state that Barack Obama is a racist is some bat shit crazy talk. We all know Obama was raised by his WHITE family. Repeat, WHITE family. Obama has taken plenty of heat from some in the African American community that he is not BLACK enough, for whatever that shit means. And I am African American.
Creating controversy is all about not addressing the issues on the table, especially health care. Has anyone seen the Republican Party's health care plan? Wow, I hear crickets!! Well, there is no plan. We all know this. The Republican Party stands with the health care and insurance lobbyists to continue the status quo approach. So, we have a former alcoholic (not hating), who rants on things he knows nothing about and ends up calling the President of the United States a racist. Again, bottom feeding.
Why am I angry? Because there are racists in this country and many white racists who are probably looking around their existence and need a finger to point at for where they are in their life. Enters blame it on the Latinos or African Americans or Women, or anyone who is not a white bigot male. This is dangerous. Repeat. This is dangerous.
FOX NEWS is not a news organization. Donny Deutsch is right, BOYCOTT and BOYCOTT NOW. All information is here.
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Glenn Beck must be DRINKING again....Unbelievable (Video)
h/t jed @ Daily Kos
Glen Beck from Fox and Friends
BECK: This president, I think, has exposed himself as a guy -- over and over again -- who has a deep-seeded hatred for white people, or the white culture. I don't know what it is.
BECK: What kind of president of the United States immediately jumps on the police?
BECK: Now they're going to have a beer? That's obscene.
KILMEADE: But listen, you can’t say he doesn’t like white people. David Axelrod’s white, Rahm Emanuel’s his chief of staff, this, I think 70 percent of the people we see everyday are white. Robert Gibbs is white.
BECK: I’m not saying that he doesn’t like white people. I’m saying he has a problem. He has a, this guy is, I believe, a racist.
MSNBC
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Tuesday, July 28, 2009
In case you missed it: FLOTUS, Michelle Obama at opening of Caroline Family Practice Health Center (Video and Transcript)
Donny Deutsch calls birthers, "hate-mongering," "fear-mongering," "racist" (Video)
Outted birthers: Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Aaron Schock, Tim Murphy, Charles Boustany
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It is time for members of congress to feel the HEAT
The bloggers have done a damn good job of putting the pressure on congress, getting involved, making phone calls, talking health care to our friends and neighbors, explaining the public option. We need to pat ourselves on the back; we did and are doing well.
Now, it is time to "pump up the volume."
It is that time of the year for our lovely congress critters to go home for a month, paid for by us, the U.S. taxpayer.
At home they can catch up, walk their districts, drive their districts, go to parades, participate in local functions, and even have town hall meetings to address their constituents concerns.
Town hall meetings, gatherings with a congress critter, you get the picture?
There is no excuse for any of us not to participate in any town hall meeting. These congress critters will have these meetings set up all through their districts and throughout the state. There is no reason why we should not be there to voice our concerns about maintaining a solvent, viable, solid public option.
I am writing this because writing will only do so much.
When I decided to support Barack Obama, writing about it was great but eventually I had to get up and take action. I had to go to Iowa and knock on doors. I took a week off work and worked the caucus week in January of 2008. I had to pick the phone up and call people that I did not know and present the Obama Campaign position. I raised over $12,000.00 as a grassroots fundraiser for the Obama Campaign. I did all that and you know what? The shit made a difference. Hell, he won!!
Now we need to do this to congress and mobilize. The congress critters need to feel the damn HEAT when they go home and it needs to be about health care, public option and where they STAND. All these congress critters are running to get out of Washington, D.C., but going home should not be cozy. They need to feel the heat and that is the heat of you, their constituents.
Every single one of these congress critters will have public outings, town hall meetings, something to gather and talk to constituents. You need to be THERE.
And even if your congress critter is on board, solid for health care and the public option at these events, you need to be there to thank him or her for standing with YOU.
Congress is bought and sold. The lobbyists are spending 1.4M a day or more to kill this health care plan, to remove permanently any public option for the public. The only way to battle this is with voices and I mean in front of these congress critters so they know what the deal is.
President Obama said that health care was going to be the hardest legislation to move. Seeing the obstacles, HE AIN'T LYIN'. But, we were told that a man by the name of Barack Obama would never become president, and look what happened.
Power is in numbers and voices. We did this once; it is time to do it again. Mobilize and be heard.
Contact your local districts of your congressman or woman, here. Just call the local office and find out about the public outings, town hall meetings, etc., and show up.
Contact your U.S. Senator, here. Find out when they are going to see their constituents and show up.
Communicating on the blogs is wonderful, exhilarating, exciting, but these congress critters don't hear blogs, they respond to PEOPLE. If you want this health care reform, TELL THEM and let them know who you are.
If members of congress don't hear you, don't feel the heat, they will continue to work with the status quo, which equals the lobbyists.
It is just that simple.
Cross-posted @ Daily Kos
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Birthers a "gift" to the Democrats
If the Republicans can not reel in their own, they are in trouble going down the road.
"Dear Birthers: Stop! Sincerely, Serious Conservatives."
I’ve held fire for the last several months as I’ve watched the so-called "Birther" movement gain steam. At first it was amusing, like playing a drinking game — you know, like taking a shot every time Chris Matthews explains why he insists on pronouncing the former Vice President’s name "CHEE-knee."
It’s not amusing anymore.
As one of the GOP operatives whose job it was to defeat Barack Obama in a campaign for federal office (there have only been three GOP campaigns run against him, and I’ve been involved with two of them), I can attest to the fact that nowhere in our opposition research did we find any reason to believe that the man was not a natural born citizen of the United States.
I can also attest to the fact that Alan Keyes, who, at about 1:22 into this video shot on February 20 of this year, lays out the "Birther" case against Obama, never raised any doubts about Obama’s alleged overseas birth while he was running against Obama for the United States Senate in Illinois in 2004.
Oh, Alan Keyes said all sorts of other nutty things while he was the GOP Senate nominee in 2004, the kinds of things that cause campaign operatives to go gray prematurely — "Jesus Christ would not vote for my opponent," Second Daughter Mary Cheney was a "selfish hedonist" and other such bon mots — but he never once challenged Obama’s place of birth.
Nor did he suggest Obama had anything to do with the introduction of the Edsel, nor the marketing of New Coke; nor the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby, nor the disappearance of Amelia Earhart; nor did Keyes allege Obama was anywhere near Graceland on the morning of August 16, 1977, nor did he suggest Obama had anything to do with the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa.
But that "Birther" thing ...
Seriously. Is this anything but a gift to the Democrats? read more here...
It is a gift to the Democrats, but more importantly as many minorities of all shades watch this unfold by the Republicans, they are more aligned to the tag of "Racist Party." And that is a fact.
In the meantime, Lou Dobbs continue to DEFEND the birthers...
While Chris Matthews continues to slam the birthers and Lou Dobbs:
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Stand with Durbin, Leahy and Schumer for a robust public option.
As sluggahjells tweeted, "The line in the sand is being drawn in the Senate on a public option" and he is RIGHT.
Senators Durbin, Leahy and Schumer created a website, Citizens for Public Option.
It is apparent that we have DEMOCRATS who will oppose any robust public option plan, due primarily to the industries that they have taken a great deal of money from. Mainly the insurance and health care industries. I wrote about them and put them on blast, here.
If we want anything done, any real change, we will have to do it.
If we depend on congress, YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT IT.
Get involved. Read more about it, here.
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Senate Judiciary Committee votes in favor of Judge Sonia Sotomayor (Video)
Vote out of committee was 13-6. This now goes to the senate floor, the Republicans do not have the votes to block this nomination, Judge Sonia Sotomayor WILL BE the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.
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Racists hide behind any cause they can, even the BIRTHERS
Let us all take our daily smart pill!!!
Does anyone think that if Barack Obama was not an American citizen that the Republicans would not have KNOWN that??? Especially former President Bush???? He had all the tools to find that out. NEXT. Does anyone think that the United States Secret Service did not investigate, as well as the FBI on this matter? That is what they do, INVESTIGATE.
This bogus charge that he does not have a birth certificate is utter bullshit. This is a red herring for those that ARE RACISTS to cling onto an excuse that Barack Obama is not a citizen.
Does this look bad for the GOP? Yes, they are only rallying their very narrow group they are trying to cling onto. Does this play for independents or moderates in this country? NO. This is a ridiculous issue and argument.
This is a bottom feeding issue. Just like a push-poll, that is what this issue is for the BIRTHERS. It won't go anywhere, but will continue to point the finger at the Republican Party as being wayyyyy out of touch and does NOTHING to bring many voters, like minorities that they need to their party.
A vocal group of conspiracy theorists known as "birthers" are riling the White House with their persistent claim that Barack Obama is not an American citizen and therefore ineligible to be president.
The claim that the United States' first African-American president was born in Kenya, not Hawaii, first emerged during his presidential campaign, but it has garnered more media attention in the summer "silly season," a traditionally slow news period when many Americans are on vacation.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs looked exasperated at his briefing on Monday when a reporter asked him, "Is there anything you can say that will make the birthers go away?"
"If I had some DNA, it wouldn't assuage those that don't believe he was born here," Gibbs replied. "But I have news for them and for all of us: The president was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, the 50th state of the greatest country on the face of the earth. He's a citizen.
"A year-and-a-half ago I asked that the birth certificate be put on the Internet because Lord knows, you got a birth certificate and you put it on the Internet, what else could be the story?"
The digitally scanned copy of the "certification of live birth" from Hawaii's Department of Health shows Obama was born in Honolulu at 7:24 p.m. on August 4, 1961.
The nonpartisan FactCheck.org, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, examined, handled and photographed the original certificate in an effort to put the controversy to rest.
"We conclude that it meets all of the requirements from the State Department for proving U.S. citizenship. Our conclusion: Obama was born in the USA, just as he has always said." read more here....
And last night this passed in the House of Representatives, ACKNOWLEDGING that Barack Obama was born in Hawaii and is a citizen of the United States of America.
Last night, the House passed a resolution by 378 to 0 in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Hawaiian statehood -- which also included language recognizing the state as President Obama's birthplace.
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Most Republicans to vote "NAY" on confirming Judge Sonia Sotomayor
Are we surprised at this?
After all the racist talk from the Republicans or the D.C. Republicans "spokesmen"?
Grassley and Sessions worried about her personal biases? Please. Did they ever put their own "biases" in check when it came to former George W. Bush and how he practically destroyed this country?
Again, remember, red herrings to hide behind how they REALLY FEEL.
Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor appears headed to quick confirmation as the first Hispanic justice despite opposition from a growing chorus of conservative Republican senators who say she would bring liberal bias to the high court.
A Senate Judiciary Committee vote Tuesday was expected to advance Sotomayor, President Barack Obama's first Supreme Court nominee, to the full Senate, where she's all but guaranteed to be confirmed in a bipartisan vote next week.
Most Republicans on the Judiciary panel, including ranking Sen. Jeff Sessions and second-ranking Sen. Chuck Grassley, say they will vote no. At least one Republican — Sen. Lindsey Graham — is siding with party moderates who plan to join Democrats in backing Sotomayor.
Republicans are divided on the politically perplexing question of how to vote on Sotomayor. Many are eager to please their core supporters by opposing her but fear a backlash by Hispanic voters, a fast-growing part of the electorate, if they do so. read more here...
Backlash from the Latino base? You betcha!!!!
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Monday, July 27, 2009
In case you missed it: President Obama's statement at the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (Video and Transcript)
President Obama addresses the opening session of the first U.S-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, saying the relationship between the two countries will shape the 21st century. The President called for deeper cooperation on issues like financial regulation and clean energy. July 27, 2009.
Transcript
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Republicans all about KILLING any health care reform (Video)
From Rachel Maddow....the Republicans are all about themselves while offering NOTHING to the public for any health care plan.....33 states, 1M dollars, will blanket television with anti-health care reform....people WAKE UP....
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Cash for Clunkers, TIME!!!
Yes, this is the one program that many of my family members have been following and ready to deal, for a new vehicle.
Got an old gas guzzler in the garage? Car shoppers can take advantage of new government incentives worth $3,500 to $4,500. Owners can scrap their clunker in exchange for a new, more fuel-efficient vehicle, and lop off thousands of dollars from the sticker price. Congress approved the "Car Allowance Rebate System," or "CARS," program last month to boost auto sales and attempt to retire some inefficient cars and trucks. Here's a look at the program:
Q: Which vehicles qualify?
A: Cars and trucks must be 1984 models or newer to be eligible for a trade-in rebate. They must get 18 miles per gallon or less in combined highway/city rating — based on the "Estimated New EPA MPG" ratings available at http://www.fueleconomy.gov. The vehicle needs to be driveable, insured and licensed for at least a year — so forget about buying a clunker this summer for $500 and "flipping" it through the program. Violators face penalties if they submit false information.
Q: How do I qualify for the incentives?
A: For passenger cars, consumers can get $3,500 if the new vehicle gets at least 4 mpg more than the trade-in and $4,500 if the new vehicle gets at least 10 mpg more than the trade-in. For sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks or minivans, owners can get a $3,500 rebate if the new vehicle gets at least 2 mpg higher than the old vehicle. The rebate improves to $4,500 if the new vehicle gets at least 5 mpg higher than the trade-in. Large work trucks weighing at least 6,000 pounds can also qualify for rebates of $3,500 to $4,500. read more here....
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President Obama, Let me be clear and I mean crystal
If the Senate Finance Committee drops the public option, the bill is worthless.
Let me repeat this, "If the Senate Finance Committee drops the public option, the bill is worthless."
It means that the 1.4 million lobby pay days have won.
It means that the senate is bogged down with members on the take.
It means that the American public's voice is stiffled, again.
It means that the real power in Washington, D.C. is not at the White House but with "K Street" and the checks are being written, as I type.
This also means that you have a problem here, President Obama.
Of all the things that former President George W. Bush did, and he did more wrong than right, was that when he wanted legistaltion he did not stall, whimper or cry about it, he demanded action and it came through for him by HIS CONGRESS.
Former President George W. Bush with his lackey, Former Vice-President Dick Cheney did not play. What they wanted they got, if they had to twist arms to get what they wanted, they did it. If they had to hit hard it was with a sledge hammer and their congress felt it. In the end, the Bush congress both respected him and feared him.
This is not happening now.
We all can try to pick through what is really going on, but the bottom line is this, the Democrats are going to do whatever they want regardless of what is being said by the White House. That is called non-fear.
If the public option is destroyed from the legislation going forward, Mr. President, you can kiss a lot of loyal folks who are depending on not only you, but moreso this Democratic congress to do the right thing, GOODBYE.
They said any legislation that emerges from the talks is expected to provide for a non-profit cooperative to sell insurance in competition with private industry, rather than giving the federal government a role in the marketplace. The White House and numerous Democrats in Congress have called for a government option to provide competition to private companies and hold down costs.
Will I stand with the Democrats? Yes, but I am a Democrat. This is about all the NEW VOTERS that have come to the Democrats. This is about keeping them. This is about reality. And many are on their last leg here. When I state last leg, I mean about politics. If we, our Democrats can not deliver the change the public voted for, what is the point? It will always be business as usual and the ones who benefit will always be the ones with the very large checkbook.
You know what to do.
Call the U.S. Senate
Source
Cross-posted @ Daily Kos
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Is this true?
If so, Dodd and Conrad have a lot of explaning to do:
Despite their denials, influential Democratic Sens. Kent Conrad and Chris Dodd were told from the start they were getting VIP mortgage discounts from one of the nation's largest lenders, the official who handled their loans has told Congress in secret testimony.
Both senators have said that at the time the mortgages were being written they didn't know they were getting unique deals from Countrywide Financial Corp., the company that went on to lose billions of dollars on home loans to credit-strapped borrowers. Dodd still maintains he got no preferential treatment.
Dodd got two Countrywide mortgages in 2003, refinancing his home in Connecticut and another residence in Washington. Conrad's two Countrywide mortgages in 2004 were for a beach house in Delaware and an eight-unit apartment building in Bismarck in his home state of North Dakota.
Robert Feinberg, who worked in the Countrywide's VIP section, told congressional investigators last month that the two senators were made aware that "who you know is basically how you're coming in here."
Ok, this is the problem with congress.
The United States Congress has forgotten who they work for. If anyone believes the constitution, these elected officials are suppose to represent us, the people. But, as more things have come to light, especially around the health care legislation, the mere fact is that congress works for the corporations. The LARGE corporations that line their campaign coiffers.
Now, Dodd and Conrad, if true, is probably not the only ones in the pot who got something while touting the housing industry's water, but right now it just does not smell right.
Yes, I hear the argument that it is the AP reporting this, but this has been floating around Chris Dodd for quite some time and remember Countrywide was out of the State of Connecticut.
What I am trying to state is his that if we expect ANYTHING in health care to get done, how can it when so many are compromised from both sides? The ones that are spending the 1.4M a day to lobby are the ones who will have the final say, apparently. And that final say will be the health care and insurance industries.
The question is, "Are we going to let them?"
Source
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Senator Kent Conrad, "...not possible..." to pass a health care bill without the Republicans (Video)
This is what I call WASTING YOUR TIME in congress
A bill by another crazed Republican congressman being presented to FORCE President Obama to apologize to the Cambridge Police Department.
Damn, where was the bill(s) at forcing former President George W. Bush to apologize for lying to the country about the Iraq War, apologize for illegal wire tapping, apologize for letting his cronies make billions of dollars off the American taxpayer, apologize for not putting the effort and manpower into capturing Osama bin Laden, apologize for destroying our image internationally, apologize for leaving the economy disastrous, yes, and this is the short list.
Republicans, this is a WASTE OF TIME.
At a time of economic distress, two wars, and a health care reform effort stalled by political friction, Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, (R-Mich.) is set to introduce a bill calling on Barack Obama to formally apologize to the Cambridge Police.
The Michigan Republican announced on Friday that he would introduce the resolution unless Obama apologized to Cambridge Police Sgt. James Crowley for criticizing Crowley's handling of Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr.'s arrest last week.
The resolution is, as McCotter's Democratic critics note, a political ploy and a waste of congressional time. The congressman undoubtedly has a full plate of issues with which he could concern himself, including his home state's porous job market.
"Times are tough, people need jobs here at home, but instead of offering solutions, obstructionist Republicans like Congressman McCotter continue to put politics first," said Ryan Rudominer, press secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Source
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Home Prices up in June
In other words, the prices on homes have slashed and there are some deals out there if you can qualify for the loan and have 20-30% to put down. Think the home prices are going to skyrocket up again? Think again. It won't. Not in this economy and not with the wages that the average American is currently getting.
New U.S. home sales rose by the largest amount in nearly nine years last month, in another sign the housing market is finally bouncing back from the worst downturn in decades, the government said on Monday.
The Commerce Department said sales rose 11 percent in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 384,000, from an upwardly revised May rate of 346,000.
It was the strongest sales pace since November 2008 and exceeded the forecasts of economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters, who expected a pace of 360,000 units. The last time sales rose so dramatically was in December 2000.
Sales have risen for three straight months. The median sales price of $206,200, however, was down 12 percent from $234,300 a year earlier.
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Surprised? Ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee, Jeff Sessions voting NO to Sotomayor
I mean is anyone surprised here?
I would have been utterly shocked if Senator Jeffrey B. Sessions (R-AL) voted for Judge Sotomayor, especially with his checkered past in racial issues. Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) are also no votes. Remember, the Republicans don't have the votes the Democrats do. Sotomayor will be confirmed.
Sen. Jeff Sessions, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, says he will vote against Judge Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation to the Supreme Court in the committee vote scheduled for Tuesday.
In a column published in today's USA TODAY, the Alabama senator questioned whether Sotomayor would follow through as a justice on her pledge in confirmation hearings to show "fidelity to the law."
"I don't believe that Judge Sotomayor has the deep-rooted convictions necessary to resist the siren call of judicial activism," Sessions wrote. "She has evoked its mantra too often." Saying her testimony and record were at odds, he asked: "Which Sotomayor will we get?"
USA Today
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Sunday, July 26, 2009
Face the Nation, CBS, July 26, 2009 (Video)
Georgetown University's Michael Eric Dyson and columnist Kathleen Parker on the controversy over the arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr.; White House Senior Advisor David Axelrod and Blue Dog Democrat Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.) discuss health care reform; Plus, Bob Schieffer put the Gates affair into perspective.
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Republican votes are NOT NEEDED to pass health care reform
I don't know why these Senate Democrats continue to hide behind this bogus argument.
Republican votes are NOT NEEDED to pass solid health care reform. Not when you have 60 Democratic senators in the senate. Forget about whether these individuals are liberal or conservative, they are democrats and the count is 60.
What IS NEEDED is some damn balls and guts on the part of the Democrats in the senate.
Senator Kent Conrad went on This Week with George Stephanopoulous, ABC, and stated that Republican votes are needed to pass health care legislation, when this is a lie. Conrad is the senator that is in congress pushing for a "co-op" plan to replace the "public option". Conrad clearly is not the choice or voice to deliver the strong Obama White House message for health care, not when he is constantly trying to placate the Republicans.
Democrat Kent Conrad, a key player in bipartisan Senate Finance Committee negotiations on healthcare, refused to predict whether the panel will be able to produce a bill before the Senate breaks for a month long recess on August 7.
"There are not the votes for Democrats to do this just on our side of the aisle. It is not possible and perhaps not desirable either," Conrad said on ABC's "This Week."
"We're going to finish when we're finished. We're going to do everything we can to get it right," he said. "We'll be ready when we're ready."
What I don't get nor understand in this political bubble, and take away the lobbyists, is the whimpy and weak attitudes of the Democrats in the senate. Again, take away the lobbyists influence, the Democrats run the town or supposedly but behave and act like second graders who must raise their hands for a rest room break. If my mind is current, which it is, when the Republicans ran the town did we hear anything of bi-partisanship? Did the Democrats voice or message mean anything during the Bush/Cheney regime? The answer is, "Democrats did not mean shit during the Bush hay day and were relegated to NOTHING."
I appreciate the tone of the Obama Administration in trying to be conciliatory and NICE to the Republicans, but in the end it netted them very little in support and votes. This continued notion that Republicans are needed to pass health care legislation is a red herring for those Democrats to hide behind the real issue of being afraid.
Yes, Democrats are afraid to pass health care legislation. They are afraid of ruffling feathers and afraid of all the money that many of them have accepted from lobbyists in the insurance and health care industry. Instead of doing the right thing, they will continue to hide behind the "we need Republican votes" as a continued excuse to bog or slow down any legislation.
After reading the diaries by teacherken and The Bag of Health and Politics every single Democrat in the senate should be rushing, pounding, fighting for affordable health care in this country to every American. Instead we have the continued politics of all about me and how I can continue to look like I am doing something, when I am not doing shit, continuing in the senate.
Lastly, I understand the difference between a liberal, conservative. I understand that within our own party. What I don't understand, in the end if the Democrats torpedo or shoot their own foot, don't they understand that they are the liability in 2010 and not the Republicans?
The wheels of the status quo continues......as Americans fall into a deeper hole of the uninsured....
Senate Democrats. Pathetic.
Contact the United States Senate, here
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Cross-posted @ Daily Kos
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Paul Krugman (from ABC's This Week) on the conservatives and their reactions to Gates (Video)
Paul Krugman, George Will, Donna Brazile, George Stephanopoulos, Arianna Huffington...the press behaving badly? Is anyone surprised at this?
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Meet the Press, July 26, 2009 (Video and Transcript)
Sec. of State Hillary Clinton Meets the Press live, for the full hour. She goes one-on-one with David Gregory about her role in the Obama administration and the many hot spots around the globe: Nuclear threats in Iran and North Korea; Fighting terrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan; the continuing war in Iraq; her trip this week to India and Thailand; and upcoming talks with China.
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