February 28, 2010

Doctors Tell Barack Obama To Quit Smoking

Obama still puffing....

He told reporters that he quit last year, like everything else, it wasn't true...

guardian.co.uk
Barack Obama is still struggling to kick smoking, according to his first medical examination since becoming president.

Obama is sensitive about his cigarette habit and tetchy with reporters who raise it. But after his 90-minute medical at the Navy hospital outside Washington yesterday morning, his doctors confirmed he had not yet managed to conquer the habit and suggested he "continue smoking cessation efforts".

The doctors said the president used medication to try to ease the pangs, they described it as "nicotine replacement therapy, self-use".
Obama promised Michelle when he embarked on his campaign to become president he would quit, at the time he said he was smoking about eight a day.He told reporters last year he had quit but still had an occasional cigarette, without specifying how many.

His health was described as excellent and he does not have to return for another medical until 2012. Obama, who is 48, has 20-20 vision, weighs 179 llbs in his shoes and clothes, and requires little medication. Apart from the nicotine replacement, he uses a non-steroid anti-inflammatory medication associated with physical activity: he regularly plays basketball at the White House.

The doctors also recommended "moderation of alcohol intake"

Ron Brownstein on Rangel: "This is the First Shoe, Further Revelations May Create Irresistible Pressure For Him To Step Down"

Surprise, Debbie Wasserman Schultz follows Pelosi's lead on Rangel, Eric Cantor says it's time for him to go...

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

At the end, Marc Morial, Urban League President: Hey just leave it up to the voters....
SCHULTZ: "Well, I think we, obviously, when a member is found to have violated House ethics rules, it's a very serious thing, and there are a number of other investigations that are ongoing. And I think what Speaker Pelosi has said is that we need to look at the totality of those recommendations and wait till the-all the investigations are complete."

RON BROWNSTEIN: "This is the first shoe. I think that this is not enough by itself, but I think many Democrats are expecting that the further revelations on the, on the ongoing investigation on his financial dealings may create irresistible pressure for him to step down."

Pelosi 2006: "Democrats Intend to Lead The Most Honest, Most Open and Ethical Congress in History"

Pelosi: "Democrats promise to work together in a bi-partisan way for all Americans"

"The Democrats intent to lead the most honest, most open and most ethical congress in history-Nancy Pelosi, November 7th, 2006
Brace yourself at 1:19....

Right behind her clapping is Chuck Schumer, and Harry Reid...

Paul Krugman on ABC This Week Says Rangel's Ethics Scandal Has No National Signficance

Vargas actually brings up a good point when comparing the situation to the Dems treatment of Tom Delay

via newsbusters
GEORGE WILL, ABC NEWS: To know Charlie Rangel is to like him. Wonderful spirit and all that. Still, one has to wonder. Suppose a Republican had revised his disclosure form and suddenly his net worth doubled and he came upon not one but two checking accounts with $500,000 in them. I mean, there comes a point at which the tax writing committee be headed by someone without the...

ELIZABETH VARGAS, ABC NEWS: And Speaker Pelosi and Steny Hoyer were all calling for Tom DeLay to relinquish his post when he was also admonished by the ethics committee.

(at 2:35)PAUL KRUGMAN, NEW YORK TIMES: Yeah, this is, you know, it is worth pointing out that none of these things actually seem to affect national policy. When Billy Townsend, when Billy Townsend basically wrote the drug, the Medicare drug bill, then left to become head of the pharmaceutical lobby, that was much more serious, but it didn't actually violate House ethics rules. So, yeah, I'm unhappy with this. I wish Rangel would go away, but it's, it really has no national significance.

Lamar Alexeander on Reconciliation: "The End of the United States Senate as a Protector of Minority Rights"



Alexander: "The difference here is that there's never been anything of this size and magnitude and complexity to run through the Senate in this way...It would really be the end of the United States Senate as a protector of minority rights as a place where you have to get have to concensus as opposed to a partisan majority"

Nancy Pelosi on This Week Says She Shares Views With The Tea Party Movement

Last summer she dismissed the tea party as 'astroturfing'...

VARGAS: Let's talk a bit about the coming elections in November. You had recently, and the Tea Party movement, do you think it will be a force to be reckoned with? You had said last summer that it was a faux grassroots movement. You called it the Astroturf movement.

PELOSI: In some respects it is.

VARGAS: Is the Tea Party movement a force?

PELOSI: No – No what I said at the time is, that they were -- the Republican Party directs a lot of what the Tea Party does, but not everybody in the Tea Party takes direction from the Republican Party. And so there was a lot of, shall we say, Astroturf, as opposed to grassroots.

But, you know, we share some of the views of the Tea Partiers in terms of the role of special interest in Washington, D.C., as -- it just has to stop. And that's why I've fought the special interest, whether it's on energy, whether it's on health insurance, whether it's on pharmaceuticals and the rest.

VARGAS: So, common ground with many people in the Tea Party movement.

PELOSI: Well, no, there are some. There are some because they, again, some of it is orchestrated from the Republican headquarters. Some of it is hijacking the good intentions of lots of people who share some of our concerns that we have about the role of special interests and many Tea Partiers, not that I speak for them, share the view, whether it's -- and Democrats, Republicans and Independents share the view that the recent Supreme Court decision, which greatly empowers the special interests, is something that they oppose.

February 27, 2010

Bush Says He Won't Criticize Barack Obama

I'm glad Dick Cheney doesn't share the same view...

Former President George W. Bush speaks at the Fort Worth Christian Schools Gala held at the Omni Hotel

washingtontimes
FORT WORTH, Texas Former President George W. Bush turned to his faith amid the tough times during his eight years in office, he said Saturday at a religious school's banquet.

"I don't see how I could be president without prayer," he told the crowd of more than 1,100 at the Fort Worth Christian School event at a downtown hotel. Bush, who has had many speaking engagements since moving to Dallas after his presidency, said he doesn't plan on staying in the public eye.

"You won't see me out there opining ... or criticizing my successor," Bush said, later adding that he is writing a book about his decisions in office so that "you can draw your own conclusions."

His speech touched on various topics, including the war in Iraq, 9-11, foreign policy, the economy and faith-based programs -- as well as previous presidents and the relationship with his father, former President George H.W. Bush.

Bush said he was guided in part by the principle that democracy yields peace. "It's in the interest of the United States to promote freedom -- all places, all times," he said.

ABC This Week Clip: Pelosi Stops Short of Calling For Rangel To Step Down

ABC has released this clip of tomorrow's 'This Week'...

Vargas: "This is why so many Americans think Congress is corrupt"
Pelosi: "No it doesn't, no it doesn't"
Explanation? Draining the swamp doesn't apply to the Democratic Party....

Pelosi will be on (pre-taped) ABC This Week and CNN,
Politico has this quote from the CNN interview:
“The point is that we have a responsibility here,” Pelosi said in an advance excerpt. “And the Republicans have had a field day going out there and misrepresenting what is in the bill. But that is what they do.”

Van Jones To Glenn Beck: "I See You and I Love You Brother, You Can't Do Anything About It"

Van Jones at the NAACP where he was given an image award

Look for Beck to respond to this Monday morning on his radio show and on Foxnews

Van Jones: Last thing I want to say is this: To my fellow countryman, Mr. Glenn Beck. I see you, and I love you, brother. I love you, and you cannot do anything about it. I love you, and you cannot do anything about it. Let’s be one country! Let’s be one country! Let’s get the job done!
more on this at blogs.nytimes.com

Beck has already responded on twitter:

This is gonna be fun to watch...

White House Wastes No Time Posting Situation Room Photo

Pete Souza, hurry up and post that photo on the WH flickr page



It took Obama 3 days to respond to the Christmas Day bomber, it takes him a few hours to hold a meeting on the earthquake in Chile and post the Situation Room photo...

Gallup Adds "Underemployment" To The Daily Averages Chart

The Underemployment rate currently stands at 19%

19%.... and we're 'back from the brink?'

Gallup defines 'underemployed' : "employed part time, but want to work full time, or they are unemployed"


The current unemployment rate from the Bureau of Labor Statistics stands at 9.7%

Tsunami Effects in California, Water Recedes in Long Beach

Foxnews video at the dock in Long Beach California


Tsunami wave travel times via gatewaypundit

Massive Magnitude 8.8 Earthquake Rocks Chile (Photos)














Video

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Tom Coburn Republican Address: "The Majority in Congress is Still Not Listening to the American People On The Subject of Health Care Reform"

"We can continue to make progress like we did at the summit. Or, they can try to ram through a partisan bill that will divide and bankrupt America"

Coburn is one of only two licensed doctors currently serving in the US Senate

Coburn:
While we listened to one another, I’m concerned that the majority in Congress is still not listening to the American people on the subject of health care reform. By an overwhelming margin, the American people are telling us to scrap the current bills, which will lead to a government takeover of health care, and we should start over.

Unfortunately, even before the summit took place the majority in Congress signaled its intent to reject our offers to work together. Instead they want to use procedural tricks and backroom deals to ram through a new bill that combines the worst aspects of the bills the Senate and House passed last year.

Obama Weekly Address: We Cannot Lose The Opportunity on Health Care Reform

"We need to move past the bickering and the game-playing that holds us back and blocks progress for the American people.
Obama:"I said at the end of Thursday’s summit that I am eager and willing to move forward with members of both parties on health care if the other side is serious about coming together to resolve our differences and get this done. But I also believe that we cannot lose the opportunity to meet this challenge.

The tens of millions of men and women who cannot afford their health insurance cannot wait another generation for us to act. Small businesses cannot wait. Americans with pre-existing conditions cannot wait. State and federal budgets cannot sustain these rising costs.

It is time for us to come together. It is time for us to act. It is time for those of us in Washington to live up to our responsibilities to the American people and to future generations. So let’s get this done."

Robert Gibbs Asked About Reconciliation To Get The Health Care Bill Through

Reconciliation is on the table, and Gibbs long answer shows they have it in mind

The "announcement" the President will have next week will probably be that 'he tried to reach out to Republicans' and it didn't work, so they will have to go with a simple majority....

Obama 2 days ago, leaving the door wide open...

February 26, 2010

CNN Interviews Van Jones, Says He's Now a "Bridge Builder"

He says at the beginning that he signed one of Glenn Beck's books at a speech...

Interviewed by CNN's Suzanne Malveaux, who, in my opinion, must have agreed to a softball interview before Van Jones would sit down...

Here's some Flashback from the Revolutionary

Cable News Ratings: Foxnews Strong Across the Board

Demo for last night

mediabistro

Total Viewers: O'Reilly and Hannity first and second, Brett Baier matching the total viewers of Olympic coverage...Right here is the biggest reason the Olympics will be so sorely missed, night after night it bumped MSNBC programming right off the air, what a great joy it was to turn on MSNBC and see Curling instead of Matthews, Schultz and Olbermann

Michael Steele on CNN: The Health Care Summit Was "A Death Panel For Obamacare"

Wolf says those a "pretty sharp words"

Steele: "President interrupted more than he listened...Instead he engaged as if he was a sub-committee chairman to beat back efforts by the opposition to get just one more piece of legislation on the table"

President Obama and Michelle Statement: Desiree Rogers Has Done a "Terrific Job" as WH Social Secretary

Remember the reaction when Bush said the same about Brownie?


whitehouse.gov
We are enormously grateful to Desiree Rogers for the terrific job she’s done as the White House Social Secretary. When she took this position, we asked Desiree to help make sure that the White House truly is the People’s House, and she did that by welcoming scores of everyday Americans through its doors, from wounded warriors to local schoolchildren to NASCAR drivers. She organized hundreds of fun and creative events during her time here, and we will miss her. We thank her again for her service and wish her all the best in her future endeavors.”
Video report of Desiree Rogers stepping down...

George W. Bush: "I'm Glad Cheney Is Out There"

Takes a shot at Jimmy Carter?


politico
For the first time, former President George W. Bush has said publicly that he approves of former Vice President Dick Cheney’s high-profile role in defending the past administration’s national security policies.

“I’m glad Cheney is out there,” Bush said Friday morning at a reunion breakfast that was the inaugural event for the Bush-Cheney Alumni Association. The reception, held at a downtown Washington hotel, was closed to the press. Attendees supplied this account of the remarks.

Cheney originally had been scheduled to appear with Bush but did not come because he is recovering from a heart scare. Bush visited his former vice president in McLean on Thursday and said Cheney “is feeling well” and has “a fierce constitution.”

The former president started with a funny patter that several attendees related to stand-up. In announcing his book, he joshed: “This is going to come as quite a shock to people up here that I can write a book, much less read one.” Bush made it clear he plans to continue to keep a low profile: “I have no desire to see myself on television. I don't want to be a panel of formers instructing the currents on what to do. I'm trying to regain a sense of anonymity, I didn't like it when a certain former president -- and it wasn't 41 or 42 -- made my life miserable."
Here's Cheney and Bush meeting for the first time in over a year from yesterday's post

Pelosi Sidesteps Question of Charlie Rangel Stepping Down

Not much to say on the Dems culture of corruption

Listen closely at :09, after reporter says: "Given that you promised to run give the most ethical and honest Congress in history" Pelosi says "And we are"
AP:Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is declining to speculate on Rep. Charles Rangel's future after the ethics committee said he violated House rules by accepting corporate-sponsored trips to the Caribbean.

Pelosi said she had yet to read the committee's report and noted that the powerful chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee remains under investigation on other alleged ethics lapses. She said "there is obviously more to come" and "we'll just see what happens next."
Flashback: Brian Williams in 2007 asks Pelosi what drains the swamp means?
Pelosi: "Turn this Congress into the most honest and open Congress in history, that is what I intend to do"

Rasmussen: Obama Hits The Roaring Twenties

A new low...


rasmussenreports
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows that 23% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Forty-three percent (43%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -20.


Data for these updates is collected via nightly telephone interviews and reported on a three-day rolling average basis. As a result, just one-third of the interviews for today’s update were collected following the President’s health-care summit. Sunday morning will be the first update based entirely upon interviews conducted after the summit.

Obama started his Presidency at +28, This is a drop of 48 points in a little over a year

AP: Brisk 5.9 Percent Growth in Q4 Will Likely Fade

The growth "isn't expected to carry over into this year"

What a surprise....

Associated Press
WASHINGTON – The economy rocketed ahead at a 5.9 percent pace in the final quarter of 2009, stronger than initially estimated. But the growth spurt isn't expected to carry over into this year.

The fresh reading on the nation's economic standing, released by the Commerce Department on Friday, was better than the government's initial estimate a month ago of 5.7 percent growth. It would mark the strongest showing in six years.
Even so, it didn't change the expectation of much slower economic activity in the current January-to-March quarter.

Adding to that picture was a separate report Friday that sales of previously occupied homes fell sharply in January for the second straight month, to their lowest point since summer. The results were far worse than forecast. They are another sign the housing market's recovery is faltering.

Roughly two-thirds of last quarter's GDP growth came from a burst of manufacturing — but not because consumer demand was especially strong. In fact, consumer spending weakened at the end of the year, even more than the government first thought.
Instead, factories were churning out goods for businesses that had let their stockpiles dwindle to save cash. If consumer spending remains lackluster as expected, that burst of manufacturing — and its contribution to economic activity — will fade.

McCain on GMA Says Reconciliation Will Have "Cataclysmic Effects"

Calls the bill Bernie Madoff accounting


abcnews
President Obama's health care summit was a good opportunity for Americans to consider the contentious issue, but passing a Senate bill with 51 votes in what's called budget reconciliation would have "cataclysmic effects," Arizona Sen. John McCain said.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., says health care plan can be improved "step by step.""Here they are with a program that's another $2.5 trillion cost to the taxpayers," the former GOP presidential candidate told "Good Morning America's" George Stephanopoulos today. "We are ready to work on a number of issues with the president but we want to do it step by step."

"We don't want the budget gimmickry that gives you six years of benefits for 10 years in taxes. I mean, that's crazy. That's Bernie Madoff accounting," he said.

Obama's bill, released Monday, is estimated by the White House to cost $1 trillion over 10 years, but Republicans say that number is a lowball and that costs over time will be considerably higher.

David Axelrod Open To Reconciliation: "Let The Vote Be Held, Let The Majority Rule and Lets Move On"

David Axelrod on CNN Campbell Brown, even Campbell is warning him of the gravity of reconciliation.

4th video in one day on the Democrats plans for reconciliation, Harry Reid, Ben Cardin, Barack Obama and now David Axelrod...
Brown: "Doesn't he [Lamar] have a point? If the President is prepared to ram it though with just Democratic votes, a simple majority, does that not undermine his claim to be seeking a solution that both parties really truly can support?"

Axelrod: "Campbell, I would say a few things about that, one is both the House and the Senate have passed the major health care reform bills and what has been discussed as using the reconciliation process...Every single Republican Senator in that room I believe has cast votes for reconciliation, including the largest tax cut in history that dwarfed this legislation"

Brown: "You don't think there's real danger?...For such a major massive policy change like this is gonna be, you know that if this were to pass, it would be life changing, ground breaking obviously for a lot of people, for both parties and for frankly congress, doesn't that make this a little bit different?

Axelrod: "I think the American people believe in the principle as was articulated by many Republicans on many issues along the way in majority rule, all they want is an up or down vote and they want to move on, lets have a vote, lets finish this debate, lets have a up or down vote, lets not use procedural blocks that keep us from having an up or down vote, I think the American people say, you know what, let the vote be held, let the majority rule and lets move on"

Obama Spoke More Than All 17 Republicans Combined At The Health Care Summit

But he doesn't count his time because he's the President

Obama: 119 minutes, 17 Republicans: 110 minutes

via weaselzippers
By the end of the televised event, Mr. Obama had spoken for 119 minutes - nine minutes more than the 110 minutes consumed by 17 Republicans. The 21 Democratic lawmakers used 114 minutes, giving the president and his supporters a whopping 233 minutes, according to a "talk clock" kept by GOP aides.

From the beginning, no one could agree on anything, even how much time each side had used. When a miffed Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican leader, pointed out early on that Democrats had controlled 52 minutes to Republicans' 24, Mr. Obama jumped in to dispute even that.

February 25, 2010

Chuck Todd: "Republicans Were Seen 10 Times More Prepared For This Summit Than The Democrats Were"

Chuck Todd on a late edition of Hardball

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Grieving Walter Koenig (Helmsman Chekov From Star Trek Original Series) Breaks Down While Talking About The Death of His Son

Walter Koenig talks to the press

Watch CBS News Videos Online

latimesblogs
A tearful Walter Koenig appeared at a press conference Thursday evening to confirm that a body found earlier in the day in Vancouver's Stanley Park was that of his son, missing "Growing Pains" actor Andrew Koenig.

"My son took his own life," Walter Koenig said, wife Judy at his side.

Both parents and about 10 of Andrew's friends had returned to Stanley Park -- which at 1,000 acres is larger than New York's Central Park -- on Thursday morning to conduct their own search. They split into teams, Walter said, and after about two hours a call came from the other team saying that Andrew's body had been found. Walter and Judy then went to the site.

The body was found off a trail in a densely wooded area, and "was unseen from the path," a police spokeswoman said. Police have no reason to believe foul play was involved, she said, and would not release a cause of death, as a coroner's investigation has been opened.

Koenig, who played best friend Richard "Boner" Stabone to Kirk Cameron's Mike Seaver on the sitcom in the late 1980s, was last seen on Valentine's Day in Vancouver, where he had been visiting friends. He was reported missing Feb. 18 after failing to catch a Feb. 16 flight home to the L.A. area. He had stopped taking medication for depression about a year ago, said his father, one of the stars of the original "Star Trek" series.
William Shatner tweets following the news:

George W. Bush and Dick Cheney Meet For First Time In Over a Year (Video)

Bush and Cheney today...

Former President George W. Bush and former Vice President Dick Cheney today met face to face for the first time since leaving office over a year ago – and just three days after Cheney was hospitalized for a fifth heart attack.
ABC News:
Cheney and Bush, both sporting dark suits, shook hands and exchanged grins on the steps of Cheney’s residence in McLean, Va., before turning to wave to the ABC News camera.

Mr. President, welcome,” began Cheney.
“Lookin’ good,” replied Bush.
“Holding up,” said Cheney.
“Lookin’ good,” said Bush again.
“Could be worse,” said Cheney.
The two then waved to the camera and disappeared inside, where they met for over an hour. Neither camp would comment about what the two discussed.

Just To Let You Know...


I have more respect for thinkprogress than I do you...

Foxnews Shep Smith Grills Senator Ben Cardin on Reconcilication

This gets heated and Shep Smith calls him out...3:05 it starts, listen to the arrogance of power from Democrat Ben Cardin...

Cardin on reconciliation: "It's called Democracy, let the majority rule, elections have consequences"...Way to go Maryland, you voted for this clown over Michael Steele for Senate in 2006
Shep: Senator is it [reconciliation] possible?

Cardin: "Well certainly, reconciliation is part of the budget process"

Shep: "Is it possible that it is how we're gonna get this bill through?"

Cardin: "It's certainly appropriate...From the beginning I've have said that I believe in reconciliation, I think it's appropriate to allow the majority an opportunity to vote on the underlining budget issues...I think the American people are entitled to have majority rule in the United States Senate"

Shep: "So if everybody doesn't come together, lets just have a up or down vote, 51 votes will do it?

Cardin: "It's called Democracy, let the majority rule...We should allow the majority to be able to vote on an issue, elections have consequences"

Hundreds of Protesters Rally Against Obamacare at Blair House (Video)

Protesting Obamacare

Protesters rallied today outside of the Blair House during the bipartisan nationalized health care talks today..
via gatewaypundit

Americans for Prosperity rallies outside of the Blair House to send a message to those at President Obama's "health care summit" that they should keep their "Hands off Our Health Care."

Obama on Reconciliation: "The American People Aren't Always That Interested in the Procedures Inside the Senate"

This shows you that the entire summit today is a total sham on the Democrat side...

"Most Americans think a majority vote makes sense"
McCain: "There have been reconciliations but not at the level of the issue of this magnitude, I think it could harm the future of our country and our institution which I love a great deal for a long, long time"
Obama: "This issue of reconciliation has been brought up, again, I think the American people aren't always all that interested in procedures inside the Senate, I do think they want a vote...I think that most Americans think a majority vote makes sense"
After he said this, it would have been great if every Republican got up from the table and walked out of the room

Here's a photo of those uninterested Americans


Realclearpolitics, I'll ask again (second time) that you please not visit this site, ....
Pundital, there's you're link, put that in the highlight post..., RCP already has 2 links on drudge today,....

Ben Stein On Why GOP Opposes Health Care Reform: "Republicans Are Gonna Be Paying For It, Democrats are Gonna Be Receiving it"

Great television from Ben Stein...

This was right after Round 1 of the Health Care Summit
Stein: "You just ask one of the most brilliant questions I have ever heard anyone ask on t.v. which is why are so many Republicans against more government interference in the health care system and so many Democrats in favor of it? I think the answer is the a much higher percentage of Republicans are taxpayers than Democrats, and the Republicans are the people who are gonna be paying for it and the Democrats are gonna be the people receiving it...But as a general matter, Republicans as a group pay income tax at a much higher rate than Democrats"

Then to top it off, Wolf asks Donna Brazile: "Hold on, hold on Donna, what is untrue Donna?"

Pat Buchanan: GOP Has Done Itself Well, "Democrats Are On The Defensive"

"Republican Party has really done itself well"

Round one goes to the Republicans...

Buchanan: "I thought Lamar did the best job I've seen him do in a long, long time...He went after reconcilication as a terrible thing, and sure enough Harry Reid comes up and 3 times 'you're entitled to your own opinions my friend Lamar'...It was a terribly partisan moment for the Democrats...But I will say this, I think the Republicans Party has really done itself well..."I think the Democrats are on the defensive"

Video: Eric Cantor Brings The Senate Bill To The Summit

Cantor spoke a few minutes longer than this clip, Obama was clearly not listening to him during portions of his remarks...

Cantor: "To go back to basics, we Republicans care about Health Care just as the Democrats in this room...We don't care for this bill, I think you know that, the American people don't care for it for the bill, I think we've demonstrated in the polling that they don't"

Obama To McCain: "Let Me Make This Point John, The Election Is Over"

Obama's condescending attitude towards McCain is obvious..

via breitbart.tv
He talks down to McCain..

Obama: "Let me make this point, John, because we're not campaigning anymore, the election is over"

Video: Harry Reid's Opening Lies Statement on Reconciliation

He knows he's got nothing to lose....Here's Harry Reid vs. Harry Reid

Election 2010 Delaware Senate: Republican Castle 53% Democrat Coons 32%

Castle carries the male vote 2-to-1 and leads among female voters by 14 points


rasmussenreports
Now it’s official: There’s an announced Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Delaware, but, as party leaders feared, he has a long way to go.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters in Delaware shows Republican Mike Castle leading Democrat Chris Coons by 21 points, 53% to 32%. Eight percent (8%) prefer some other candidate, and another eight percent (8%) are undecided.

A month ago, just after state Attorney General Beau Biden’s surprise decision not to enter the Senate race, Castle led Coons in a hypothetical match-up 56% to 27%. Last October, Castle led Biden 47% to 42% in an earlier hypothetical contest for the seat Biden’s father, now the vice president, held for 36 years.

Dick Morris Prediction on Whether Congress Will Approve the Health Care Bill

Dick Morris puts the cost at $6 Trillion, listen at 3:25

Morris: "The people opposed to this bill have got to make the decision as to whether or not it passes, by their level of activism"

dickmorris.com has the names of 30 congressman that are vulnerable to voter backlash if they vote for Obamacare
These thirty Democratic Congressmen all voted for Obamacare the first time around. But Pelosi cannot count on their votes again as Obama tries to jam the bill through using reconciliation in the Senate. These members are all vulnerable and are frightened of the voter backlash their support for Obamacare has kindled.

The League of American voters is running ads in each of their districts to press them to vote no on Obamacare. See their ad on the screen at left. And give us money to run the ad!But also, pick up the phone and call these swing Congressmen. Let them hear from you!
From politico: Senate Dems warm to reconciliation,
And House leader John Boehner has announced his team for the Health Care Summit

New RNC Web Ad Tell Obama to "Scrap It"

GM To Shut Down Hummer After Sale To Chinese Buyer Fails

Government Motors General Motors said today it will shut down Hummer after its bid to sell the brand to a Chinese company collapsed.

Sales last year plunged to 9k from 56k in 2007

Detroit Free Press
Heavy equipment maker Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machines Co. pulled out of the deal for Hummer, known for its hulking, military-like SUVs, because it was unable to get clearance from Chinese regulators within the proposed deal timeframe.GM said it will continue to honor existing Hummer warranties.

“We are disappointed that the deal with Tengzhong could not be completed,” said John Smith, GM vice president of corporate planning and alliances. “GM will now work closely with Hummer employees, dealers and suppliers to wind down the business in an orderly and responsible manner.”

GM has been trying to sell the loss-making brand for the last year and found a suitor in Tengzhong, but resistance from Chinese regulators created difficulties from the start.

Hummer is the second brand after Saturn that GM has failed to sell as part of its restructuring. GM sold Swedish brand Saab to Dutch carmaker Spyker Cars NV earlier this year. Pontiac is being discontinued.
I wonder if the environmentalist wackos and the Earth Liberation Front are cheering tonight?

Zogby: Obama Approval at 49%, Independents Approve 39%

49% Approval

zogby.com
This latest survey shows Obama's job approval ratings have held steady among Democrats, liberals and First GlobalsTM (likely voters age 18-30) while support among political independents has fallen to its lowest level for 2010. Approval among African-Americans now stands at 88%
Obama approval among Independents at 39%, down 8% in 10 days


Here are the exit polls from Election 2008: Obama won Independents 52% to McCain's 44%
29% of all voters in 2008 were Independents

February 24, 2010

CNN Cafferty on Obama's 2012 Re-election: "My Guess is That It Won't Turn Out Quite The Same Way"

Cafferty: "If the jobs don't start coming back soon, maybe he might want to see if that community organizer job is still open"
Cafferty: "Politico is reporting that top White House advisors are quitely working on plans for the 2012 re-election campaign, for now the planning is made up of private closed door meetings of aides of all levels, I guess when you have the economy and health care reform and deficits under control then you can spend your time worrying about the next election, even if it's almost 3 years away. The article sources that the President gives every sign that he plans to run again, wants the next campaign to look a lot like the last one, my guess is that it won't turn out quite the same way"

How They Titled One of the Videos At MSNBC Video Page

'Pretty clear what side they're on...

Rasmussen: Right Direction or Wrong Track, 29% Say U.S. Heading In The Right Direction

65% say we're on the wrong track


rasmussenreports
Twenty-nine percent (29%) of U.S. voters say the country is heading in the right direction, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

Last week 28% felt that way, the lowest level of voter confidence in the nation’s course since one year ago. It also appeared to signal the end of a slight burst of confidence at the first of this year when 32% said the country was heading in the right direction.
The majority of voters (65%) believe the nation is heading down the wrong track, a figure that's held roughly steady since mid-November.

Leading up to Barack Obama’s inauguration a year ago, the number of voters who felt the country was heading in the right direction remained below 20%. The week of his inauguration, voter confidence rose to 27% and then steadily increased,
Anyone who followed these same numbers from 2004-2008 knows that the Liberal media was relentless with the right track/wrong track numbers during the Bush second term, today you have almost the same numbers and the lib media yawns...

PETA Uses Tiger Woods In New Billboard Ad

"Without the golfer's blessing"


chicagotribune
Animal-rights group PETA plans to unveil within the next few weeks a "cheeky spay-and-neuter" billboard featuring Tiger Woods — without the golfer's blessing.

The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals is searching for a local advertiser to put up a billboard in Windermere, which will include an image of Woods and text: "Too Much Sex Can Be a Bad Thing....For Little Tigers Too. Help Keep Your Cats (and Dogs) Out of Trouble: Always Spay or Neuter!"

It will be a challenge to find an advertiser to put up the sign, acknowledged Virginia Fort, a campaigner with PETA who is working on the project. "It's a fun, tongue-in-cheek approach. We hope these billboard companies will understand," Fort said.

Congressman Peter King Demands Eric Holder Release Names of DOJ Appointees that Represented Gitmo Terrorists

Peter King on Foxnews

King "We are involved here in a war for survival, a struggle for the survival of our civilization, I believe the American people are entitled to know what role these lawyers have...It is important that we know anyone who is involved in Guantanamo representing a Guantanamo detainee was also involved in the investigation of the CIA interrogators"
Here's a little reminder of Eric Holder who was Deputy Attorney General under Janet Reno in 1999 answering questions about the clemency of the 16 FALN terrorists before the Senate Judiciary Committee, this is not the first time he's been in the hot seat for doing stuff that's questionable...(Photo from 1999)

Chris Matthews: Saul Alinsky "I Admire In So Many Ways" (Video)

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

via gatewaypundit
CHRIS MATTHEWS: It’s so interesting, because Saul Alinsky, who I admire in so many ways, I don’t completely identify with his politics but back in the old days of Chicago organizing, he used to say to his young people, the opposite of what you just said. He said, “Sure there’s a lot of complexity and gray areas, and sometimes the other side has got some good points, but don’t recognize them. Once you take side, accept completely the right of your side and pretend the other side has no argument going for it.”
By the way Michael Smerconish, you think you're fooling anybody with this new Independent label? Just go become a Democrat and spare us with the head fake. You haven't advanced the ball on the Republican side one yard...Good riddance..

This from October 2008 in case anyone forgot...

Fox and Friends Discuss Van Jones and the NAACP Image Award

Clip after clip shows Van Jones in his own words

NAACP: "In America we ultimately judge people on what they are doing today for tomorrow, not what they did yesterday"

Jeb Bush Dropping Hints of Support For Marco Rubio?

Says Charlie Crist support for the Stimulus is "unforgivable"

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Bush: "On thing he's done that I just find unforgivable, which is, he is, that I'm aware, the only of statewide political leader, that embraced the Stimulus package when Republicans were fighting to suggest an alternative, and I'm supposed to be politically correct and say I'm neutral in all that, I got a problem with that"

Charlie Crist has responded to Jeb's "unforgivable" comment
Gov. Charlie Crist on Wednesday responded to remarks by former Gov. Jeb Bush that it was "unforgivable" for Crist to embrace President Obama's economic stimulus package. Bush commented in a Newsmax TV interview in which he said Crist was the only statewide leader that Bush was aware of who "embraced the stimulus package when Republicans were fighting to suggest an alternative."

"Well, everybody has a right to their opinion," Crist said. "I understand that different people view it in a different way. In the shoes that I stand in right now, I've got to look out for the people, and that's what I'm doing."

Bush's criticism of Crist is likely to rekindle speculation that it's only a matter of time before the former governor backs Crist's opponent in the Republican U.S. Senate primary, former House Speaker Marco Rubio

U.S. Senate Approves $15 Billion Jobs Plan, Sends Bill to House

2/3 of the $862 billion economic stimulus from last year still unspent and these clowns come up with a jobs bill. Wasn't the economic stimulus a jobs bill? How 'bout those jobs that were shovel ready?

bloomberg.com
Feb. 24 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Senate approved a $15 billion jobs plan that gives companies a temporary tax break for hiring those who have been unemployed for at least 60 days.

The measure, passed 70-28 today, now goes to the House where Democratic leaders must decide whether to pass it without changes or to try to merge it with a $150 billion jobs plan the House approved in December.

The Senate bill’s centerpiece is a $13 billion plan to fight unemployment by offering companies a one-year holiday from paying a 6.2 percent Social Security payroll tax for each of the new workers they add who meet the 60-day unemployed criteria.

Other provisions would increase aid to state governments by expanding federal subsidies for bonds they issue to pay for construction projects, allow small businesses to immediately write off more of the cost of equipment purchases and raise infrastructure spending. The cost to the Treasury would be offset in part by cracking down on offshore tax evasion.

Obama & Democrats in 2005: 51 Vote ‘Nuclear Option’ Is ‘Arrogant’ Power Grab Against the Founder’s Intent


via breitbart.tv
Barack Obama, Harry Reid, Chris Dodd and Chuck Schumer in their own words...

Charles Krauthammer on the O'Reilly Factor Talks About What's Hidden Things In Health Care Bill

3/2 odds against passage of the Health Care bill

On Health Care: "This is about the most inefficient, clumsy, expensive way you can imagine to do it"

On Jobs Bill: "It's really stimulus, the only difference between it and last years stimulus is that, last years stimulus is 50 times as expensive, the Democrats have learned over the last year that the word stimulus is not good public relation, jobs is wonderful. It's exactly the same idea, the only virtue of this one is that it's relatively inexpensive, $15 billion which when you and I were young was really money, but that was a long time ago, it's lunch money now. So I say, if you're gonna throw away on a new stimulus, let it be at this low level at least the harm is minimized"

Video: Bye Bye Mr. Evan Bayh...

Thanks to you progressivism could die...

Rachel Maddow Wishes Dick Cheney A Full And Speedy Recovery

You won't find anyone else saying this at MSDNC...

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy


Maddow: "Dick Cheney has of course said and done many things with which many people have taken angry issue, myself included, but Dick Cheney is a also husband and a father and a American who has spent most of his life in public service and we wish him a full and speedy, speedy recovery..Sincerely"

Flashback: She tweeted this in December when Rush had the episode with his heart while in Hawaii

February 23, 2010

Family Of Officer Killed in Motorcade Sues City And Hillary Clinton Campaign

Corporal Victor Lozado was killed in a crash February 22, 2008

Theresa Lozada is suing the City of Dallas and Hillary Clinton.

cbs11tv.com
Two years ago yesterday, Senior Corporal Victor Lozada was riding in the motorcade of presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton when he was killed in a motorcycle crash. The lawsuit was filed in state district court Monday.

Tuesday, his widow and her attorney said documentation Lozada left behind seems to suggest some things were handled improperly. Now Theresa Lozada is suing the City of Dallas and Hillary Clinton.Sr. Cpl. Lozada crashed his motorcycle on February 22, 2008, after he failed to negotiate a curve on the Houston Street Viaduct and crashed into a guardrail, just 3 ½ weeks after completing motorcycle training.

Theresa Lozada and her attorney, David Schiller, say the sergeants death could have been prevented because he wasn't ready for motorcycle duty and they say the city knew about it. In fact, they claim documentation proving their case is now missing.

At issue are Dallas police training reports. Schiller says there are two different ones, written by the same training officer on the same day.

The lawsuit also alleges Clinton's campaign should have given the city more time to prepare for the motorcade and holds the helmet manufacturer responsible for a defective clasp that allowed Sr. Cpl. Lozada's helmet to come loose.

The family is seeking damages including loss of economic support.Calls made Tuesday to now-Secretary of State Clinton's office and helmet manufacturer Super Seer Corp. weren't immediately returned.

NAACP Image Award To Be Given To Van Jones

One of the NAACP's highest honors...Oh yes, the National Association for the Advancement of Liberal Colored People including self proclaimed Communists...

NAACP President: "This country has a shameful history of taking people who have done great things and casting them-creating distractions, discrediting them for things deep in their past"...He calls Jones an "American treasure"

cnn.com
Washington (CNN) -- While Van Jones may have left the White House under a cloud, the NAACP says that's not his whole story.

The group considers him a pioneering hero for the environment and civil rights -- so much so that it is awarding him one of its highest honors Friday: an NAACP Image Award. It's a move that is just becoming public now, which is sure to stoke the fire from Jones critics.

The Obama administration's "green czar" helped coordinate government agencies focused on delivering millions of green jobs to the ailing U.S. economy.

Jones said he was the victim of a "vicious smear campaign" based on "lies and distortions."Benjamin Jealous, NAACP president and CEO, said he's not concerned about criticism the NAACP might face over honoring the controversial Jones.
"We care about getting the best ideas, the best minds and Van is one of them," Jealous said. "What should be controversial is we pushed one of the greatest minds to the side in this country when we needed him most."

In an opinion piece on CNN.com, Jealous calls Jones "an American treasure," and says he might be "the most misunderstood man in America."

Debra Medina Asked If She Is a Truther By CNN Rick Sanchez

Medina: "I am not a truther, I don't consider myself to be a truther"
Sanchez: "First you said you don't, but then you said there are questions"

You don't hear an absolutely, positively "NO" from Medina

politicalticker.blogs.cnn
Washington (CNN) - Debra Medina, a conservative candidate for the Texas Republican gubernatorial nomination, attempted to walk a fine line Tuesday when asked if she is a "9/11 Truther."

In an interview with CNN's Rick Sanchez, Debra Medina said she believes that "Muslim terrorists flew planes into those buildings, and I do not believe our government colluded with them or worked with them in any way."

But Medina went on to say that the report issued by the 9/11 Commission, "raised some questions."
"I have not studied that report and am not going to speculate about the content, or the conclusions that they drew," she said." I know that there are questions, and that's all I'm going to say about it."

Medina drew criticism earlier this month when, in an interview with Fox News talker Glenn Beck, she refused to take a position on whether the United States government was involved in the attacks on the World Trade Center.

"I don't have all of the evidence there, Glenn," Medina told Beck on his radio program. "So I don't, I'm not in a place, I have not been out publicly questioning that. I think some very good questions have been raised in that regard. There are some very good arguments, and I think the American people have not seen all of the evidence there. So I've not taken a position on that."

Donny Deutsch Slams Marco Rubio, Calls Him a 'Coconut' Then Says He Was Unaware That It Was a Racially Charged Word

Left wing hack Donny Deutsch on Joy Behar...


newsbuster
MSNBC and CNBC contributor -- and professed Charlie Crist admirer -- Donny Deutsch used racially charged language on Monday night, smearing Republican senatorial candidate Marco Rubio as a "coconut." Deutsch appeared on HLN's Joy Behar Show
Deutsch tweets: "I wasn't even aware it could be a racially charged word"..
Sorry Donny, it doesn't matter what you did or didn't know, the fact is you said it
(Just using the Lib argument)