++The National Review printed yesterday an article saying the Donald was a left-wing agent meant to disrupt the Republican primaries and ruin the GOP brand. First the piece said that his remarks about immigrants were meant to offend everyone . But also that they hide that he is a progressive. The Donald was inserted into the GOP to spread discord. The National Review quotes Glenn Beck as the authoritative source.
++Business Insider notes that the Suffolk poll that showed the Donald in second means that The Donald is the anti-Bush.
++Jon Stewart walked off the show last night when he heard that the Donald hadn't filed his papers with the FEC. He was only kidding because the Donald really did file.
++Rush Limbaugh says that the "Left's" campaign against the flag of the confederacy is just the first step because "the Left" aims to ban the American flag.
++The Hill writes that Nikki Haley's decision about the Confederate flag makes her prime Vice Presidential material. Just think Jindal-Haley--a Hindu and Sikh.
++Ann Coulter says that Haley is an immigrant and doesn't understand history. I guess like the South lost the war.
++A protestor outside the Charleston capitol said that taking down the confederate flag means that communism is coming. He said "The South is the only free place in the United States."
++Mitch McConnell actually asked that the statue of Jefferson Davis be removed from the Kentucky state house. I thought that was somewhat gratuitous.
++Josh Marshall has a piece up on Talkingpoints about the confederate flag being "the White Man's" flag.
++Today's the big day for Jindal. Is it because IBM refuses to attend the groundbreaking at their new Louisiana plant because of his anti-gay law? He had nothing better to do.
++Ed Kilgore has an interesting piece about President obama and the politics of change. He quotes relevant passages of two interviews the President has done,including his garage interview that gave the media a stroke with his use of the "N" word. Kilgore's piece raises interesting perspectives about the limits of change by a President.
++Business Insider thinks it will be 6-3 for same-sex marriage. Bill in Portland pleads with Pastor Scarborough not to set himself on fire.
++The Southern Baptist Convention claims now is the "Bonhoffer Moment". This puzzles me because Dietrich Bonhoffer was offended by America's treatment of blacks when he was at Union and travelled to the South. He blasted American evangelicals and fundamentalists for doing nothing about this. Now on same-sex marriage, the religion of the slave-holding south wants to do what? Bonhoffer joined the Abwehr with the intent to topple Adolf Hitler. Are the Baptists going to "assassinate" anyone? Are they going to secede from the union? Or are they going to set themselves on fire like Pastor Rick Scarborough plans?
++I think we are heading back to teabag times with the rhetoric from the Right.
Showing posts with label Nikki Haley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nikki Haley. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
June Primaries
Last night I watched as every network, pundit, Politico, Karl Rove predicted Bill Halter would win the Democratic primary in Arkansas. Virtually everyone in the Beltway predicted it. So there is a lesson here--the pundits don't know anything and they are overpaid to not know anything. It was an early night as Blanche Lincoln won her primary. Either way, it looks like the next Senator from Arkansas will be the extreme-right wing Republican Boozman. Of course, Blanche received a little help with some suspicious closing of stations in her rival's areas of strength.
The sultry Sikh Nikki Haley is on the verge of winning the Republican nominee for Governor of South Carolina. She promises to resign if people really prove she had two affairs. In the state, the shocker for Republicans was that incumbent congressman Bob Inglis looks like he will lose the run-off to an even farther right-winger. The other upset was the impossible victory of Alvin Greene, an unemployed vet, as the Democratic nominee to run against Jim DeMint.
It was not a good night for Mike Huckabee, almost all the candidates he backed lost their primary bids. The good news is that all of them were from the Christian Right. Sarah Palin endorsements have been hailed as important but on closer look that doesn't look like much. She backed Nikki Haley, and the California girls, but her congressional candidates lost. Even the Chicken Lady, Sue Lowden, who was backed by Palin, lost. And Palin's previous support in Idaho boom-a-ranged on the candidate.
As for the great new hot shots picked by the Republican Congressional Committee, all three in Iowa lost and four others have lost in previous primaries. These were the hand-picked candidates of the party, who were given wads of money. They were beaten by people who had served in elected office before and campaigned on local, not national issues.
The new theme of the media is that this is the year of Conservative Women. I guess the anti-incumbent theme was not working out. But to make that work, you have to include Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman as conservatives and not robber barons. Whitman spent an astonishing $70 million of her own money to win the Republican primary in California; Fiorina $7 million of her own. While both went hard-right, it's ironic that both had contributed to the Gore and Boxer campaigns in the past. The only real right-wing high profile winner last night was Susan Angle, the John Bircher woman in Nevada.
In the anti-incumbent fever generated by the media, someone walked back the Gallup polls over the last two decades where over 40% of Americans didn't want their own congressman elected. Comparing the years with return of the incumbent, this blogger found that it was roughly 85% incumbents being re-elected. This person explained that this was logical because our system is a majority system and roughly 40% of Americans always want their incumbent out.
There is nothing in last night's elections that given any clue of some over-arching theme this year. In Nevada, it looks like voters will split their ticket--vote against Rory Reid, and vote for Harry. The Republicans actually nominated someone normal in Brian Sandoval, who beat sex-scandal plagued Gibbons. The great GOP targeting of Harry Reid is looking like it's going up in smoke.
Americans don't seem to care for rank amateurs. Jerry Brown easily won the Democratic nomination for governor in California; and former Governor Terry Branstad won the Republican nod in Iowa. And, Obama as the Black Bogeyman seems only to work in the already Republican south. People seem more interested in local affairs and not the political line du jour. Even the "white supremacists" in Montana didn't pull off the coup in the Republican primaries. Maybe Americans really don't like overtly creepy people.
I was devastated by the loss of Moldovan-Israeli karate expert Orly Taitz, the Queen of the Birthers. It would have made the Secretary of State race in California interesting.
Even Judge Roberts embrace of America by the corporations, for the corporations doesn't seem to be panning out so well. The Supreme Court has knocked out the Arizona Fair Elections law, which would have allowed state funding of elections. The timing would benefit John McCain but no one else. But even still, the heavily corporate funded Republican "hot shots" lost. The wealthy candidates like Whitman, Fiorina and Linda McMahon have won but on their own dime.
So far, I'm still at a traditional view of the 2010 election--usual losses of the president's party according to historical lines--nothing so dramatic.
I keep watching the Texas governor's race. it seems the GOP is taking no chances but trying to facilitate the Green Party getting on the ballot.
The sultry Sikh Nikki Haley is on the verge of winning the Republican nominee for Governor of South Carolina. She promises to resign if people really prove she had two affairs. In the state, the shocker for Republicans was that incumbent congressman Bob Inglis looks like he will lose the run-off to an even farther right-winger. The other upset was the impossible victory of Alvin Greene, an unemployed vet, as the Democratic nominee to run against Jim DeMint.
It was not a good night for Mike Huckabee, almost all the candidates he backed lost their primary bids. The good news is that all of them were from the Christian Right. Sarah Palin endorsements have been hailed as important but on closer look that doesn't look like much. She backed Nikki Haley, and the California girls, but her congressional candidates lost. Even the Chicken Lady, Sue Lowden, who was backed by Palin, lost. And Palin's previous support in Idaho boom-a-ranged on the candidate.
As for the great new hot shots picked by the Republican Congressional Committee, all three in Iowa lost and four others have lost in previous primaries. These were the hand-picked candidates of the party, who were given wads of money. They were beaten by people who had served in elected office before and campaigned on local, not national issues.
The new theme of the media is that this is the year of Conservative Women. I guess the anti-incumbent theme was not working out. But to make that work, you have to include Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman as conservatives and not robber barons. Whitman spent an astonishing $70 million of her own money to win the Republican primary in California; Fiorina $7 million of her own. While both went hard-right, it's ironic that both had contributed to the Gore and Boxer campaigns in the past. The only real right-wing high profile winner last night was Susan Angle, the John Bircher woman in Nevada.
In the anti-incumbent fever generated by the media, someone walked back the Gallup polls over the last two decades where over 40% of Americans didn't want their own congressman elected. Comparing the years with return of the incumbent, this blogger found that it was roughly 85% incumbents being re-elected. This person explained that this was logical because our system is a majority system and roughly 40% of Americans always want their incumbent out.
There is nothing in last night's elections that given any clue of some over-arching theme this year. In Nevada, it looks like voters will split their ticket--vote against Rory Reid, and vote for Harry. The Republicans actually nominated someone normal in Brian Sandoval, who beat sex-scandal plagued Gibbons. The great GOP targeting of Harry Reid is looking like it's going up in smoke.
Americans don't seem to care for rank amateurs. Jerry Brown easily won the Democratic nomination for governor in California; and former Governor Terry Branstad won the Republican nod in Iowa. And, Obama as the Black Bogeyman seems only to work in the already Republican south. People seem more interested in local affairs and not the political line du jour. Even the "white supremacists" in Montana didn't pull off the coup in the Republican primaries. Maybe Americans really don't like overtly creepy people.
I was devastated by the loss of Moldovan-Israeli karate expert Orly Taitz, the Queen of the Birthers. It would have made the Secretary of State race in California interesting.
Even Judge Roberts embrace of America by the corporations, for the corporations doesn't seem to be panning out so well. The Supreme Court has knocked out the Arizona Fair Elections law, which would have allowed state funding of elections. The timing would benefit John McCain but no one else. But even still, the heavily corporate funded Republican "hot shots" lost. The wealthy candidates like Whitman, Fiorina and Linda McMahon have won but on their own dime.
So far, I'm still at a traditional view of the 2010 election--usual losses of the president's party according to historical lines--nothing so dramatic.
I keep watching the Texas governor's race. it seems the GOP is taking no chances but trying to facilitate the Green Party getting on the ballot.
Friday, May 28, 2010
The Wonderful Wacky World of Polls
Democrats have criticized Jerry Brown for not campaigning in California because of the massive personal fortunes being pumped into the race by Meg Whitman. In Washington, this week the news was that Whitman and Carly Fiorina have taken huge leads in the Republican primary, but no mention of the general election. Seems Jerry may have been playing this right, let the Republican flame wars continue. Brown leads Whitman 48-36 and Poizner 48-32.
In the inexplicable department, the Club of Growth has backed teabagger candidate Susan Angle in the Republican primary in Nevada. Why would anyone do that, even from an ideological point of view? This woman is several planks short of a full deck. The recent polls have Hapless Harry Reid trailing Chicken Lady Sue Lowden 42-39% and Tarkanian by 42-41 but leading Angle by 42-39%. In the Republican primary, Chicken Lady leads Teabagger lady 30-29%. Reid had been trailing by over ten just a few weeks ago.
Rand Paul monstrous Rasmussen 25 pt lead over Jack Conway apparently was a mirage. In one poll, he leads by 1 and in another by 4. His anti-Civil Rights attitude hurt him among Democrats and Independents but improved his standing with Republicans--the Party of Lincoln.
Nikki Haley, our Punjabi Sikh sex goddess in South Carolina, is not going to "address the issue of her affair until after the election". Flat-footed Mitt Romney today vouched for her upstanding morals. But her supposed lover just released 1,000s of e-mails between the couple.
Richard Blumenthal, after lying about his Vietnam War service, still clocks in with a 56-31 pt. lead over Wrestling Lady Linda McMahon. The defeated Republican Simmons will not campaign or endorse McMahon. But Joltin' Joey Lieberman, who hasn't gotten much press coverage lately, says he would be "open to backing McMahon", signalling he wants some bribe from the Obama White House. However, Lieberman's defeated rival, Ned Lamont looks like he's going to be the Democratic candidate for Governor. Lieberman's name in Connecticut is mud. I wouldn't worry about it if I were Blumenthal.
In another curious development, South Carolina's Senator Jim "Waterloo" de Mint, the mastermind of Rand Paul's victory, has a Democratic rival Vic Rawls. Rawls has never run for a state-wide race before. A nationally recognized poll has DeMint with a 19 point lead but a 43% approval rating. In a local poll, deMint has a slightly lower approval rating but only a 7 pt. lead.
Admiral Sestak has a 43-40 pt. lead over Club of Growth leader Pat Toomey. Sestak has gained 14 pts among independents and a few pts among Republicans. The caterwauling of Karl Rove, Rush Limbaugh and Rep. Issa about Obama committing an impeachable offense by "offering Sestak a job if he withdrew from the Democratic race" is actually about derailing Sestak's momentum and his ability to capitalize on his primary victory. The Toomey candidacy is one of the most important for Republican ideologues.
Progressives are doing cartwheels over Halter's 47-44 lead over Blanche Lincoln but both candidates would lose to the Republican.
In North Carolina, Elaine Marshall has jumped out to a lead over her primary opponent Cal Cummingham. Marshall is now in a statistical tie with the Republican Burr in the general election.
While 70% of Americans are for eliminating Dont' Ask, Don't Tell, the Republicans can not yield on this even though Pentagon officials say it's really time to do away with the policy. It has nothing to do with any military issues. The reason is that the party is to controlled by the Religious Right, who can not tolerate any give on issues pertaining to gays. The House passed a compromise on DADT pending a study at the end of the year and the Senate armed forces committee passed it along party lines. John McCain vows to filibuster the whole defense bill because of the DADT amendment. Always thinking of supporting the troops.
The American Spectator has printed a rumor,which I think is credible. It bolsters my belief that Elena Kagan is really meant to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The Spectator claims that Ginsburg will resign within two months to allow Obama to pick another justice with the current Congress. It writes that Ginsburg fears the possible loss of liberal Democrats in the Senate in November, which would restrict Obama's choices. I believe that choice #3 is the liberal since the composition of the Congress will not change until 2012. This would allow the #4 judge by Obama, which would shift the gravity of the court for a long-time, to be someone that would not be a lightening rod because of his or her opinions.
In the inexplicable department, the Club of Growth has backed teabagger candidate Susan Angle in the Republican primary in Nevada. Why would anyone do that, even from an ideological point of view? This woman is several planks short of a full deck. The recent polls have Hapless Harry Reid trailing Chicken Lady Sue Lowden 42-39% and Tarkanian by 42-41 but leading Angle by 42-39%. In the Republican primary, Chicken Lady leads Teabagger lady 30-29%. Reid had been trailing by over ten just a few weeks ago.
Rand Paul monstrous Rasmussen 25 pt lead over Jack Conway apparently was a mirage. In one poll, he leads by 1 and in another by 4. His anti-Civil Rights attitude hurt him among Democrats and Independents but improved his standing with Republicans--the Party of Lincoln.
Nikki Haley, our Punjabi Sikh sex goddess in South Carolina, is not going to "address the issue of her affair until after the election". Flat-footed Mitt Romney today vouched for her upstanding morals. But her supposed lover just released 1,000s of e-mails between the couple.
Richard Blumenthal, after lying about his Vietnam War service, still clocks in with a 56-31 pt. lead over Wrestling Lady Linda McMahon. The defeated Republican Simmons will not campaign or endorse McMahon. But Joltin' Joey Lieberman, who hasn't gotten much press coverage lately, says he would be "open to backing McMahon", signalling he wants some bribe from the Obama White House. However, Lieberman's defeated rival, Ned Lamont looks like he's going to be the Democratic candidate for Governor. Lieberman's name in Connecticut is mud. I wouldn't worry about it if I were Blumenthal.
In another curious development, South Carolina's Senator Jim "Waterloo" de Mint, the mastermind of Rand Paul's victory, has a Democratic rival Vic Rawls. Rawls has never run for a state-wide race before. A nationally recognized poll has DeMint with a 19 point lead but a 43% approval rating. In a local poll, deMint has a slightly lower approval rating but only a 7 pt. lead.
Admiral Sestak has a 43-40 pt. lead over Club of Growth leader Pat Toomey. Sestak has gained 14 pts among independents and a few pts among Republicans. The caterwauling of Karl Rove, Rush Limbaugh and Rep. Issa about Obama committing an impeachable offense by "offering Sestak a job if he withdrew from the Democratic race" is actually about derailing Sestak's momentum and his ability to capitalize on his primary victory. The Toomey candidacy is one of the most important for Republican ideologues.
Progressives are doing cartwheels over Halter's 47-44 lead over Blanche Lincoln but both candidates would lose to the Republican.
In North Carolina, Elaine Marshall has jumped out to a lead over her primary opponent Cal Cummingham. Marshall is now in a statistical tie with the Republican Burr in the general election.
While 70% of Americans are for eliminating Dont' Ask, Don't Tell, the Republicans can not yield on this even though Pentagon officials say it's really time to do away with the policy. It has nothing to do with any military issues. The reason is that the party is to controlled by the Religious Right, who can not tolerate any give on issues pertaining to gays. The House passed a compromise on DADT pending a study at the end of the year and the Senate armed forces committee passed it along party lines. John McCain vows to filibuster the whole defense bill because of the DADT amendment. Always thinking of supporting the troops.
The American Spectator has printed a rumor,which I think is credible. It bolsters my belief that Elena Kagan is really meant to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The Spectator claims that Ginsburg will resign within two months to allow Obama to pick another justice with the current Congress. It writes that Ginsburg fears the possible loss of liberal Democrats in the Senate in November, which would restrict Obama's choices. I believe that choice #3 is the liberal since the composition of the Congress will not change until 2012. This would allow the #4 judge by Obama, which would shift the gravity of the court for a long-time, to be someone that would not be a lightening rod because of his or her opinions.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Countdown to Rapture
Carol Bauer issued her Capital Prayer Alert asking her prayer group at American Values to try and persuade Christians who are waiting for the imminent return of Jesus Christ not to simply give up and wait but also to vote. "You can be a modern Esther 'for a time like this'. Also you can donate.
Bryan Fischer writes for the website Rightly Concerned a piece entitled, "Would Jesus sign the Arizona immigration law? In a heartbeat." Fischer is the policy director of a Beltway Christian values organization. Clearly, he must be a compassionate conservative.
Whatever Jesus may or may not sign, Latinos are abandoning the Republican party in droves. Obama enjoys a 68% approval rating and Democrats enjoy a 54-21 approval/disapproval rating. the Republicans are now at 22% approval and 44% disapproval. In 2010 races, Democrats are topping their 2008 high in getting the Latino vote--now 58%. Polls are showing White in Texas is gaining Latino support and Democratic Senatorial candidate in Arizona Glassman is now seizing the majority.
Libertarians feel betrayed by Rand Paul and are thinking about running a candidate against him in Kentucky. Mitch McConnell said that Paul has "talked enough."
One of the Republicans 'Top Gun" recruits for this year--Vaughn Ward-- lost his primary race to Raul Labrador in Idaho's 1st District. Vaughn had announced his candidacy by literally repeating Barack Obama's speech at the 2004 Convention. It was also discovered that all his policy positions had been lifted verbatim from the websites of other candidates around the country. In his debate with Labrador, Ward did not know whether Puerto Rico was a country and suggested we did not want it as part of the United States. It was thought that Ward would be a shoe-in against Democrat Walt Minnick, who won in 2008. Sarah Palin flew into the state to endorse him but actually faced demonstrations by Republicans.
Sarah Palin's other big pick Nikki Haley, candidate for governor of South Carolina, really was naughty and had an affair with Will Folks, a Republican operative and blogger. In the e-mails discovered by the press, it appears there is even a photo. The e-mails also document that Nikki asked Will how to handle this issue with the media. What is strange by now is that neither party is denying the e-mails. But Haley is denying the affair.
Dino Rossi has entered the Republican field in Washington State after months of arm-twisting by the National Republican Senatorial Committee. They believe he can beat Patty Murray, who currently has about an 8pt lead over him. But teabaggers aren't taking this lying down and vow to run a candidate against him. Dino Rossi has run perpetually as long as I can remember.
Today I endorse another Republican for office. Young Boozer--really his name--for Treasurer of the Great State of Alabama.
The Republican mayor of Reno, Nevada, the city made famous in the television series RENO 911, proclaimed his friendship with Chicken Lady Sue Lowden but insisted on calling her Suicidal Sue.
While Obama bounces around between 48-52% approval rating, the generic lead for Democrats in congressional races now clicks in at 4-6% over Republicans. Even Tan Man Boehner admitted to Fox News that taking over the house will be a "heavy lift". This is a dramatic change of tone from just two weeks ago when he said that the GOP could pick upwards to 70 seats and that over 100 were in play. Yesterday, he suggested that Republicans could pick up 30.
While the majority of Americans believe the stimulus package didn't work, the CBO has a new report out today that says it created upwards of 2.8 million jobs and meant between 1.7-4.1% higher in the GDP. By September, the report says that the total jobs created will be 3.7 million, which exceeds President Obama's predictions.
For such a screw-up, President Obama seems to have the Midas touch. He made money from the bank bailouts. He got paid back with interests on the GM loans. And even with the disasterous BP oil spill, it looks like the government will make over $30 billion in fines. And his stimulus package will have created 700,000 more jobs than he promised. What a loser.
It looks like DADT will finally come to a close by the end of this week. A CNN poll shows that 78% of Americans support open gays serving in the military. Even 60% of Republicans support the idea.
Large majorities of Americans now support immigration reform, even among Republicans.
While James Carville was screaming at President Obama to come to Louisiana, (which he's doing on Friday)the President has sent 22,000 people to the Gulf and has over 1,000 vessels out at sea near the leak. A few weeks ago he sent Steven Chu to Houston with a team of hand-picked scientists to figure out a solution. One of these scientists was an expert on the engineering problems involved with Mars. Apparently, they are comparable to the operations 5,000 feet below the sea.
The Senate Republicans invited President Obama to lunch to talk policy. However, it has been reported that the exchanges were heated. We know about them because the hosts within minutes of the lunch breaking up repeated verbatim what they said to the President. But no one reported on what the President said. The last time this happened, Obama ate the House Republicans for lunch because it was aired on television. This time the Southern Senators made sure they got the final word. A pretty rude display considering they invited the President of the United States. But then again he is black and they are Southerners, who know how to handle these things.
Jeffrey Beauregard Sessions says that he may delay the Elena Kagan hearings until he has read all the memos she wrote in the Clinton Administration. Interesting statement. He's not the chairman and he can't dictate the schedule. And the Boy won't wait for you either.
Elena Kagan doesn't cross her legs like a lady when she sits. That passes for thought around here.
If you listen to Baked Alaska, Glenn Beck and watch Drudge, there is a creepy writer snooping around the Palins. He's even rented a house near them in Wasilla. He's like a stalker even though it was Sarah Palin who took a photo of the author reading on his deck. Beck has demanded Random House cancel the author's contract or his viewers will boycott them. Who is the mysterious creep--none other than Joe McGinness! Random House issued a statement vouching for the record and accomplishments of their long-time author, including his book on Alaska. Apparently, Baked Alaska never read it. Afterall, her father last week said pointedly that "she doesn't make any decisions." I wonder who around her does.
Glenn Beck is concerned that Christians don't understand that they will lose their religious freedoms. He says that Barack Obama is orchestrating an advertising boycott of his show to silence him. Anthony Weiner, the SEIU, the AFL-CIO, Van Jones, and others are in on the plot and meeting regularly with Barack Obama to discuss this. He says that Barack and Michelle Obama listened to Jeremiah Wright about the issue of religious freedom. And, I am sure, Glenn, he said to shut down the churches.
The name Jeremiah Wright is what they call "the tell" in gambling. Jeremiah Wright is known in certain Christian circles as being one of the leading crusaders against the so-called "Gospel of Wealth". You know the people that say Jesus doesn't want you poor, he wants you rich. He has been battling the in-roads they have made in the black community and been trying to get black churches to affirm their historical mission. While people remember the Republicans playing Wright's "Chickens have come home to roost" sermon, they do not realize how connected the Wealth Gospel people are to Republicans. That is why Glenn Beck tells everyone to leave any church which has a social gospel. The only ones without one are these well-paid Elmer Gantrys,peddling get rich schemes.
The Republican-wing of the Tea Party led by Mark Williams, our Nixon dirty trickster, has vowed to defeat Scott Brown because he betrayed the Tea Party. The more I listen to the teabaggers I get the distinct impression that their ideal of America existed under the Articles of Confederation. During a Connecticut tea party led by Dick Armey, the audience enthusiastically called for secession from the United States and a convention of states, which would withhold federal incomes taxes from the national government until it capitulated to its demands. One of the big fights against our Constitution was brought about because states feared a national government. I get the sense these people did time travel back to that debate. Unfortunately, for them, many of the states like Texas, which have suggested secession, get far more in federal spending than they give. To Dick Armey's credit, he tried to put a damper on such discussion. You get a distinct feeling that the tea baggers are no longer useful and are an embarassment to Republicans. But it's too late.
Tom Tancredo wants to organize rallies in Arizona in favor of their immigration bill. But William Gheen of the Americans for Legal Immigration PAC has pulled out of the June 5th rally because its being organized by a man named Dan Smerglio, who has links to neo-Nazis and skinheads. On Smeglio's Facebook page , he lists as his favorite band SAGA, the Swedish Neo Nazi Rock band. Gheen is no angel himself because he called on Lindsey Graham to come out of the closet and admit his homosexuality. Gheen suggested people were blackmailing Graham so he would support immigration reform. You can imagine what these rallies will look like.
Bryan Fischer writes for the website Rightly Concerned a piece entitled, "Would Jesus sign the Arizona immigration law? In a heartbeat." Fischer is the policy director of a Beltway Christian values organization. Clearly, he must be a compassionate conservative.
Whatever Jesus may or may not sign, Latinos are abandoning the Republican party in droves. Obama enjoys a 68% approval rating and Democrats enjoy a 54-21 approval/disapproval rating. the Republicans are now at 22% approval and 44% disapproval. In 2010 races, Democrats are topping their 2008 high in getting the Latino vote--now 58%. Polls are showing White in Texas is gaining Latino support and Democratic Senatorial candidate in Arizona Glassman is now seizing the majority.
Libertarians feel betrayed by Rand Paul and are thinking about running a candidate against him in Kentucky. Mitch McConnell said that Paul has "talked enough."
One of the Republicans 'Top Gun" recruits for this year--Vaughn Ward-- lost his primary race to Raul Labrador in Idaho's 1st District. Vaughn had announced his candidacy by literally repeating Barack Obama's speech at the 2004 Convention. It was also discovered that all his policy positions had been lifted verbatim from the websites of other candidates around the country. In his debate with Labrador, Ward did not know whether Puerto Rico was a country and suggested we did not want it as part of the United States. It was thought that Ward would be a shoe-in against Democrat Walt Minnick, who won in 2008. Sarah Palin flew into the state to endorse him but actually faced demonstrations by Republicans.
Sarah Palin's other big pick Nikki Haley, candidate for governor of South Carolina, really was naughty and had an affair with Will Folks, a Republican operative and blogger. In the e-mails discovered by the press, it appears there is even a photo. The e-mails also document that Nikki asked Will how to handle this issue with the media. What is strange by now is that neither party is denying the e-mails. But Haley is denying the affair.
Dino Rossi has entered the Republican field in Washington State after months of arm-twisting by the National Republican Senatorial Committee. They believe he can beat Patty Murray, who currently has about an 8pt lead over him. But teabaggers aren't taking this lying down and vow to run a candidate against him. Dino Rossi has run perpetually as long as I can remember.
Today I endorse another Republican for office. Young Boozer--really his name--for Treasurer of the Great State of Alabama.
The Republican mayor of Reno, Nevada, the city made famous in the television series RENO 911, proclaimed his friendship with Chicken Lady Sue Lowden but insisted on calling her Suicidal Sue.
While Obama bounces around between 48-52% approval rating, the generic lead for Democrats in congressional races now clicks in at 4-6% over Republicans. Even Tan Man Boehner admitted to Fox News that taking over the house will be a "heavy lift". This is a dramatic change of tone from just two weeks ago when he said that the GOP could pick upwards to 70 seats and that over 100 were in play. Yesterday, he suggested that Republicans could pick up 30.
While the majority of Americans believe the stimulus package didn't work, the CBO has a new report out today that says it created upwards of 2.8 million jobs and meant between 1.7-4.1% higher in the GDP. By September, the report says that the total jobs created will be 3.7 million, which exceeds President Obama's predictions.
For such a screw-up, President Obama seems to have the Midas touch. He made money from the bank bailouts. He got paid back with interests on the GM loans. And even with the disasterous BP oil spill, it looks like the government will make over $30 billion in fines. And his stimulus package will have created 700,000 more jobs than he promised. What a loser.
It looks like DADT will finally come to a close by the end of this week. A CNN poll shows that 78% of Americans support open gays serving in the military. Even 60% of Republicans support the idea.
Large majorities of Americans now support immigration reform, even among Republicans.
While James Carville was screaming at President Obama to come to Louisiana, (which he's doing on Friday)the President has sent 22,000 people to the Gulf and has over 1,000 vessels out at sea near the leak. A few weeks ago he sent Steven Chu to Houston with a team of hand-picked scientists to figure out a solution. One of these scientists was an expert on the engineering problems involved with Mars. Apparently, they are comparable to the operations 5,000 feet below the sea.
The Senate Republicans invited President Obama to lunch to talk policy. However, it has been reported that the exchanges were heated. We know about them because the hosts within minutes of the lunch breaking up repeated verbatim what they said to the President. But no one reported on what the President said. The last time this happened, Obama ate the House Republicans for lunch because it was aired on television. This time the Southern Senators made sure they got the final word. A pretty rude display considering they invited the President of the United States. But then again he is black and they are Southerners, who know how to handle these things.
Jeffrey Beauregard Sessions says that he may delay the Elena Kagan hearings until he has read all the memos she wrote in the Clinton Administration. Interesting statement. He's not the chairman and he can't dictate the schedule. And the Boy won't wait for you either.
Elena Kagan doesn't cross her legs like a lady when she sits. That passes for thought around here.
If you listen to Baked Alaska, Glenn Beck and watch Drudge, there is a creepy writer snooping around the Palins. He's even rented a house near them in Wasilla. He's like a stalker even though it was Sarah Palin who took a photo of the author reading on his deck. Beck has demanded Random House cancel the author's contract or his viewers will boycott them. Who is the mysterious creep--none other than Joe McGinness! Random House issued a statement vouching for the record and accomplishments of their long-time author, including his book on Alaska. Apparently, Baked Alaska never read it. Afterall, her father last week said pointedly that "she doesn't make any decisions." I wonder who around her does.
Glenn Beck is concerned that Christians don't understand that they will lose their religious freedoms. He says that Barack Obama is orchestrating an advertising boycott of his show to silence him. Anthony Weiner, the SEIU, the AFL-CIO, Van Jones, and others are in on the plot and meeting regularly with Barack Obama to discuss this. He says that Barack and Michelle Obama listened to Jeremiah Wright about the issue of religious freedom. And, I am sure, Glenn, he said to shut down the churches.
The name Jeremiah Wright is what they call "the tell" in gambling. Jeremiah Wright is known in certain Christian circles as being one of the leading crusaders against the so-called "Gospel of Wealth". You know the people that say Jesus doesn't want you poor, he wants you rich. He has been battling the in-roads they have made in the black community and been trying to get black churches to affirm their historical mission. While people remember the Republicans playing Wright's "Chickens have come home to roost" sermon, they do not realize how connected the Wealth Gospel people are to Republicans. That is why Glenn Beck tells everyone to leave any church which has a social gospel. The only ones without one are these well-paid Elmer Gantrys,peddling get rich schemes.
The Republican-wing of the Tea Party led by Mark Williams, our Nixon dirty trickster, has vowed to defeat Scott Brown because he betrayed the Tea Party. The more I listen to the teabaggers I get the distinct impression that their ideal of America existed under the Articles of Confederation. During a Connecticut tea party led by Dick Armey, the audience enthusiastically called for secession from the United States and a convention of states, which would withhold federal incomes taxes from the national government until it capitulated to its demands. One of the big fights against our Constitution was brought about because states feared a national government. I get the sense these people did time travel back to that debate. Unfortunately, for them, many of the states like Texas, which have suggested secession, get far more in federal spending than they give. To Dick Armey's credit, he tried to put a damper on such discussion. You get a distinct feeling that the tea baggers are no longer useful and are an embarassment to Republicans. But it's too late.
Tom Tancredo wants to organize rallies in Arizona in favor of their immigration bill. But William Gheen of the Americans for Legal Immigration PAC has pulled out of the June 5th rally because its being organized by a man named Dan Smerglio, who has links to neo-Nazis and skinheads. On Smeglio's Facebook page , he lists as his favorite band SAGA, the Swedish Neo Nazi Rock band. Gheen is no angel himself because he called on Lindsey Graham to come out of the closet and admit his homosexuality. Gheen suggested people were blackmailing Graham so he would support immigration reform. You can imagine what these rallies will look like.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Drips and Drabs
Arizona's immigration king Charles Pearce is back at it again. This time he wants to repeal the 14th amendment by depriving children born of immigrants on U.S. soil for their citizenship. If you follow where the idea comes from, it's part and parcel of the Christian Nationalist and White Supremacist movements' dogma. There are real Americans like me and then anyone legalized by the 14th Amendment--freed blacks and women and immigrants are second-class citizens. That is the core of their argument against Obama's elgibility for office. Now Arizona wants to purge the state of their Hispanic and native American heritage.
Rand Paul had a few hectic days after his primary win. He joins Louis Farrakhan and Prince Bandar as the only people who have failed to show on Face The Nation after booking an appearance. Rand Paul's response about repealing the Civil Rights Act for public accomodations not only produced considerable backlash from the media and Democrats but also led to the unsightly emergence of old conservative thoughts on the Civil Rights Act itself, including the very ugly writings of Bill Buckley,Jr. in the 1950s, writings which he later publically regretted. The more research into Rand Paul and his positions the worse it got. He appeared before the extreme right Constitution Party conference and the neo-Nazi Stormfront website endorsed him. A raw libertarian candidate dramatizes the deep weaknesses in libertarianism as an actual governing philosophy.
America's Sheriff Joe Arpaio doesn't look like he'll be riding the anti-immigration tide in Arizona much longer. Papers delivered to the court showed that the sheriff has a slight problem of manipulating $50 million of public funds in Maricopa County and the County Board would like to know more.
Linda McMahon showed that the Republicans are recruiting high caliber candidates. The World Wrestling Federation head beat Ann Coulter's favorite Rob Simmons for the Republican nomination for the Conneticut Senate seat. I hate to say it but Ann Coulter was right.
In Nevada, "Chicken Lady" Sue Lowden won a victory of sorts. Voters will not be able to cast their ballots wearing chicken outfits. I guess this constitutes compaigning.
Sarah Palin endorsed the daughter of a Punjab Sikh for the governorship of South Carolina. Nikki Haley was also supported by Jenny Sanford, the former wife of the Love Gov. But this morning things went the way they always do with South Carolina's Republicans--Nikki Haley had an "inappropriate physical relationship" with a fellow party member.
Charles Djou became the first Republican congressman from Hawaii in twenty years in a special election to replace Neil Abercrombie, who's running for governor. The Democrats split nearly 60% of the vote. Djou runs again in November. Lots of luck.
Charlie Crist still leads in the Florida Senate race with 30% over teabagger Marco Rubio's 27%.
Secessionist Rick Perry leads Democrat White by nine in the latest polls. However, as expected, White has insurmontable leads in the Hispanic community as a result of the Arizona law and the Republican support of it. The fly in the oinment may come as the Libertarians are to select their candidate, who may or may not endorse Perry. By and large, the poll is good news for White this far out from November.
Oklahoma over-rode the vetoes against their antediluvian abortion laws, again reinstating the ultrasound requirement of all pregnant women.
The Book you waited a Century For: This November the University of California will finally publish the Memoirs of Mark Twain. Sam Clemens spent the last decade of his life writing his memoirs but in his will demanded they not be published until 100 years after his death. To be published as a trilogy, they consist of 1/2 million words on his opinions about God, religion, missionaries, Theodore Roosevelt, and the Spanish-American War. He devotes over 400 pages in an addendum to his affair with his secretary Isabel Van Kleek Lyon, with whom he took up after the death of his wife Olivia in 1904. He writes that she bought him a electrical vibrating sex toy. And that's the nice part. He then says she hypnotized him and tried to take financial advantage of him. As a celebrity writer,it's fitting that he makes a comeback now.
Rand Paul had a few hectic days after his primary win. He joins Louis Farrakhan and Prince Bandar as the only people who have failed to show on Face The Nation after booking an appearance. Rand Paul's response about repealing the Civil Rights Act for public accomodations not only produced considerable backlash from the media and Democrats but also led to the unsightly emergence of old conservative thoughts on the Civil Rights Act itself, including the very ugly writings of Bill Buckley,Jr. in the 1950s, writings which he later publically regretted. The more research into Rand Paul and his positions the worse it got. He appeared before the extreme right Constitution Party conference and the neo-Nazi Stormfront website endorsed him. A raw libertarian candidate dramatizes the deep weaknesses in libertarianism as an actual governing philosophy.
America's Sheriff Joe Arpaio doesn't look like he'll be riding the anti-immigration tide in Arizona much longer. Papers delivered to the court showed that the sheriff has a slight problem of manipulating $50 million of public funds in Maricopa County and the County Board would like to know more.
Linda McMahon showed that the Republicans are recruiting high caliber candidates. The World Wrestling Federation head beat Ann Coulter's favorite Rob Simmons for the Republican nomination for the Conneticut Senate seat. I hate to say it but Ann Coulter was right.
In Nevada, "Chicken Lady" Sue Lowden won a victory of sorts. Voters will not be able to cast their ballots wearing chicken outfits. I guess this constitutes compaigning.
Sarah Palin endorsed the daughter of a Punjab Sikh for the governorship of South Carolina. Nikki Haley was also supported by Jenny Sanford, the former wife of the Love Gov. But this morning things went the way they always do with South Carolina's Republicans--Nikki Haley had an "inappropriate physical relationship" with a fellow party member.
Charles Djou became the first Republican congressman from Hawaii in twenty years in a special election to replace Neil Abercrombie, who's running for governor. The Democrats split nearly 60% of the vote. Djou runs again in November. Lots of luck.
Charlie Crist still leads in the Florida Senate race with 30% over teabagger Marco Rubio's 27%.
Secessionist Rick Perry leads Democrat White by nine in the latest polls. However, as expected, White has insurmontable leads in the Hispanic community as a result of the Arizona law and the Republican support of it. The fly in the oinment may come as the Libertarians are to select their candidate, who may or may not endorse Perry. By and large, the poll is good news for White this far out from November.
Oklahoma over-rode the vetoes against their antediluvian abortion laws, again reinstating the ultrasound requirement of all pregnant women.
The Book you waited a Century For: This November the University of California will finally publish the Memoirs of Mark Twain. Sam Clemens spent the last decade of his life writing his memoirs but in his will demanded they not be published until 100 years after his death. To be published as a trilogy, they consist of 1/2 million words on his opinions about God, religion, missionaries, Theodore Roosevelt, and the Spanish-American War. He devotes over 400 pages in an addendum to his affair with his secretary Isabel Van Kleek Lyon, with whom he took up after the death of his wife Olivia in 1904. He writes that she bought him a electrical vibrating sex toy. And that's the nice part. He then says she hypnotized him and tried to take financial advantage of him. As a celebrity writer,it's fitting that he makes a comeback now.
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