".. it's time for open government, transparency..".
Uh huh. The only fly in the ointment of that noble sentiment is that open government and transparency ARE partisan issues. Remember?
Posted by North Bay at November 10, 2006 02:32 AMLook for the DLC to start the auto-cannibalism meme by trying to punk the Pelosi/Murtha leadership cadre in favor of Rahm/Cardin.
Someone needs to tell Marty Peretz at TNR to shut his fsckin' pie hole...
mojo sends
Posted by vanmojo at November 10, 2006 05:29 AMSorry! My bad, I was thinking Maryland... it's the Rahm/Hoyer faction...
mojo sends
Posted by vanmojo at November 10, 2006 05:30 AMI still think the 109th Congress will try to ram through as much shitty legislation as possible before the end of it's term.
The Terrorist Surveillance Act is one piece that we should broker to be taken off the table immediately. Even it means threatening impeachment!
We have to put our foot down and not let this 'lame duck' congress screw the American public anymore! And if they do, there will be consequences! Christ, this is why we voted them out in the first place!
Let's start with the budget first! I think the seniors, disabled, Veterans and our troops would like to know that we have their interests at heart!
I guess we have start keeping track of the last minute dirty tricks, for the election in '08'!
Posted by Seven of Six at November 10, 2006 05:47 AMWe can't get out of Iraq as long as bush is in the whitehouse.
We can't get bush out of the whitehouse as long as we are in Iraq.
We can only hope for a small, justified, polite pc investigation that grows legs and tentacles and turns into a major criminal action all the way to the top.
Posted by TIKI AL at November 10, 2006 05:50 AMWe can only hope for a small, justified, polite pc investigation that grows legs and tentacles and turns into a major criminal action all the way to the top.
pefectly put, tiki. i say start with war profiteering - who would argue against such an investigation? eventually work our way up to warrantless domestic spying (illegal prima facie, if you ask non-lawyer me, but let's get our lame ducks in a row first)
Posted by benjoya at November 10, 2006 06:03 AMThe Terrorist Surveillance Act is one piece that we should broker to be taken off the table immediately.
Seven,
Agreed. This is a truly draconian piece of legislation and if approved, will undermine our Constitutionally guaranteed rights and liberties.
And while I'm ranting: NO NATIONAL ID CARDS.
Posted by Christopher at November 10, 2006 06:12 AMCheck out Justin Raimondo's article over at antiwar.com today. He gives interesting ideas as to how policies might "change" with Bushie boy calling in the Baker Commission.
Posted by chris at November 10, 2006 06:12 AMLincoln Chaffee isn't gonna play Bush patsy for the rest of his term. He already says the Bolton nomination is dead if he has anything to say about it.
Good on ya Lincoln.
Posted by snark at November 10, 2006 06:19 AMI honestly hope Lincoln Chaffee finds another way to serve the people of Rhode Island. It's unfortunate that he and other GOP moderates had to lose office. I feel the same way about Jim Leach.
Posted by idiosynchronic at November 10, 2006 06:26 AMHeads will roll and rats will run even if they dont make the public discourse.
Bi partisanship is fine but the tone of politcs in this country has changed drastically over the last 15 years. People in new positions of power need to consolidate it and that means getting rid of the defeated and the potential future adversaries.
Lets see if the Democrats have the stomach to clean house of the accumulated garbage from a failed and corrupt administration.
Posted by Parallax at November 10, 2006 07:08 AM...It's unfortunate that he and other GOP moderates had to lose office. I feel the same way about Jim Leach.
I must disagree with you on this one idiosyn..these folks had ample time to stand up, but like the MSM they chose to remain silent..the getaway drivers are just as guilty as the bank robbers...that being said, I do respect that Chaffe is listening to the word of the electorate
Posted by Goyo at November 10, 2006 07:24 AMMSNBC now reporting that Chafee saying he may leave the GOP.
He has scruples.
Scruples make alignment with these Republicans impossible.
Posted by Anjha at November 10, 2006 07:34 AMSupposedly, McCaskill said she'd vote for Bolton. Someone needs to get on message.
I'm impressed with how Pelosi is handling the message already; but it's kinda funny watching all the big bag pundits picking on her. Scared of a grandmother, are they? They should be. With Murdoch chatting up Hillary, they might be out of jobs real soon. It would be the icing on the cake to have Fox fold and those blowhards sent back to am talk radio and guest spots as a token rightie.
Yeah, I'm a dreamer, but not the only one...
Posted by iamcoyote at November 10, 2006 07:35 AMNancy Pelosi won't hold impeachment hearings because the GOP made deals with her. So you see? It's up to us to rally and DEMAND the victorious DEMS give us impeachment. Then when Nancy screws up as Prez, we'll impeach her! And replace her with the full-figured good looker from Missouri, the new Senator,the blonde babe.
No impeachment? Why did the Dems win in the first place? Besides, Gore Vidal said W would be impeached so I'd rather believe that fag than the hag fag Nancy.
Posted by Mal Feasance at November 10, 2006 07:48 AMNancy Pelosi won't hold impeachment hearings
Listen - hold on to your ____.
The Dems have subpoena power. The Dems will be doing oversight and investigating.
Once the investigations open the box of worms - they will have no choice except impeachment.
Do not worry about this.
There is also the DIY Impeachment petitions. Hundreds of thousands were mailed.
Posted by Anjha at November 10, 2006 08:04 AMJosh Marshall says the RNC is asking for Michael Steele (the guy who bussed in homeless people to hand out fake dem flyers and who also sent out literature with a D next to his name) to be their new head.
Hey, Mal, you channelling scout this morning? Pretty funny! As we all know, Pelosi won't hold impeachment hearings, because she's smart enough to realize you need to gather evidence first! Thank goodness we have people in office who care about the future.
Posted by iamcoyote at November 10, 2006 08:05 AMTIKI, I can't believe that srewball J.D. Hayworth has not thrown in the towel. I'm sure he believes that Diebold let him down!!
Or do you use Diebold there? We are still using 20 year old ES&S machines in our district.
As the wingnuts get ready to start their scorched earth policy regarding the obvious outrage of Congressional oversight and investigations, someone needs to look into the history of how other beloved Republican presidents handled these things---both ordinary oversight and extraordinary lawbreaking investigations.
Didn't St. Ronnie cooperate fully with the Iran-Contra hearings? I don't remember a constant stream of District Court--Court of Appeals--S. Court battles there. And Daddy Bush actually had amiable relations with his Dem Congress and its oversight as I recall.
Of course, he was a responsible, competent adult, unlike Nero Jr., and not batshit crazy like Deadeye Dick. Big differences.
The Cheney regime must be framed as the radical, constitutional-crisis-a-day administration at every turn.
Posted by euzoius at November 10, 2006 08:43 AMHow freaking droll!
Republi-con staffers may have to go on (GASP) unemployment insurance! Gad...and I thought they were all self-made manly men and women who could hunt and fish and carve log cabins from the wilderness to survive.
You guys notice the smell around here? It doesn't smell like troll shite! Where did they all go? "Ooo hooo! Trolls! Cinton got a blowjob..."(chirp, chirp). Damn.
And when our AZ team gets a chance, can you guys explain the dynamics of the very unfortunate Kyl re-election?
Was it not explained that Kyl is one of the absolute most radical right wing extremists in the Senate? The biggest Bush supporter possible--right there with Santorum, Sessions and the appalling Cornyn? Was Pederson effective?
Pretty galling that this wasn't very close given the huge "headwind" that Kyl should have had to fight.
Posted by euzoius at November 10, 2006 08:48 AMThank you darlin' Anjha, for your support and faith in common sense and decency, like agreeing with me about Peloosly. The site is a winner. I urge everyone to bitch and moan for impeachment! The blacks broke records in Maryland voting over Katrina. Bush should be impeached for Katrina alone! George Mason University in Arlington is sponsoring a day long symposium regarding the truth about 9/11 tomorrow. I'll have to metro in, start out at seven thirty am so I can get a front row seat. I guess the new information coming out as the symp promises, is that yeah, Bush did plan the whole deal after all!! With his buddies, who did all the intelligent plannning, Bush just gave his okay.
Posted by Mal Feasance at November 10, 2006 09:19 AMWe need to show Pelosi our support so she has the backing to beat Steny Hoyer down and get Jack Murhta in as Majority Leader.
Contributions to her leadership pac is one way to do that.
I'm ahving trouble finding the link to the PAC, this has some contact info for starters.
Posted by Duckman GR at November 10, 2006 09:50 AMKyl had strong backing from the RNC and many major fundraisers. There is a lot of money on the golf courses here.
From Wiki: He is also a member of the Finance Committee, where he chaired the Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight. If that don't scare crap out of you I don't know what will. He also was chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee, he is one of six members of the Senate Republican Leadership. There are still a lot of staunch conservatives here in AZ. Kyl had a large party following here due to the Water deal he brokered. Even though he's a bu$h boot licker he's been neutered a bit with Dems taking control of the Senate. Because Frist and Santorum are gone he will be the #2 most powerful repuke in the Senate.
He ran a strong campaign on "Being one of Time Magazine's 10 best Senators", McCain stumping for him and the Dems will raise taxes!
Believe me, I was not happy about him winning.
Pederson was using his own millions to fight an uphill battle. He was former chair of the AZ Democratic committee. When I found this out, I said "No wonder the Dems are in a world of hurt here." He ran a poor campaign. I met him, and was not very impressed. He came off as very GOP-lite. I had to wash my hand after that. He did not take a stand on Iraq until late in the campaign, which wasn't going over well here anyway. He needed some good Progressive advice!
The money the Dems spent here was to get AZ-8, Gifford's new spot, Kolbe's old one. And to oust Hayworth! They also did a good job on making corrupt Rick Renzi spend a lot of money!
The Progressives and Dems kind of fought it out against each other. We just have a weak Democratic Party here. If we spent the money we could really kick ass. Janet won big though.
What really makes AZ are the Independents. We have a lot of new comers who don't register Dem or repuke.
Posted by Seven of Six at November 10, 2006 09:51 AMThank you very much for that excellent analysis, SOS, it helps me to understand the situation.
Defeating a horrible goon and taking an open (Repub) seat was stupendous work by you guys.
Posted by euzoius at November 10, 2006 10:11 AMHere's a fun data point to watch - the Rapture Index stands at 156, a -1 change, with the last update on Nov.6th.
The record high was 182 on 9-24-01. I say the next update goes to 165 +/-3.
Posted by Jim Faith at November 10, 2006 11:16 AMThey really need to get in there and dig out all the covered up rot. The only way to heal a wound is to thoroughly open it up and clean it out. If they let the Republicans skate without holding them accountable for all their cover-ups and misdeeds, it will be too easy for the Republicans to come back.
Mixing metaphors—
They need to drive a stake through its black heart, cut off its head, burn the stinking remains to fine ash, sift the ashes, and then scatter them to the winds.
Posted by cirrostratus at November 10, 2006 12:10 PMYour going to see the DEMS be very carefull with the Terrorist Surveillance Act. Your also not going to see an impeachment of Bush and very limited if any investigations. The Dems are smart enough to know that the real chance for power comes in 2008. They need control of congress and a President. First they can't afford to look weak on national security over the next two years. Second the public as a whole does not react well to a president being impeached or endless investigations. This would be a hugh mistake and they know it. Remember that a large number of the politicians that were just elected ran on a conservative platform. Some of the little hate filled Liberals are going to be very angry when they finally notice this.
Posted by creeply at November 10, 2006 01:32 PMRemember that a large number of the politicians that were just elected ran on a conservative platform.
I thought 'ru$h' had to carry their water for them?
Posted by Seven of Six at November 10, 2006 01:56 PMPhew, what stinks?
Anyway - I just finished reading threads at dKos, and MyDD about how Carville shot at Dean today. So is this for real? Are we actually about to see a war in the Democratic Party over who takes credit for this year and positions their candidate best for the 2008 election? or is Carville just shooting his ass off?
If this is really what's going on behind the Beltway, Carville et al, you're fucking nuts. I'm serious about the nuts part. Insane. Mentally hornswoggled. Not mentally competent. Off your meds.
Listen - I'm not Dean's biggest fan. I thought he deserved to lose Iowa - his campaign spun way out of control in the last few weeks, and that made certain that the attacks from outside were going to damage him badly. But he's been good steward of the national committee and he planted for good fortune. Rahm's committee did an excellent job of making the rain. But these two strategies were obviously complimentary, not conflicting. To recast a golden opportunity and gushing great fortune as less than what it could be because of x, y, & z, tells me you're talking complete and utter BULLSHIT with less than honest motives.
Posted by idiosynchronic at November 10, 2006 02:01 PMRemember that a large number of the politicians that were just elected ran on a conservative platform. Some of the little hate filled Liberals are going to be very angry when they finally notice this.
Who? Name them.
Posted by goose1 at November 10, 2006 02:03 PM7 + oozo: After "fixing" the voting machines that most affected Kyl, the van full of GOP software operatives were proceeding to the JD Hayworth 5th district, when they collided with a coyote van full of "guest workers", and sat the rest of the election out in an overcrowded emergency room, contemplating the inadequacy of the health care system.
Posted by TIKI AL at November 10, 2006 02:25 PMMSNBC asked readers this afternoon to vote if Bush should be impeached.
A staggering 87% said "YES."
Bush is about as popular as bird flu.
Posted by Christopher at November 10, 2006 02:26 PMI just read that Harry Reid has promised Lieberman seniority and therefore chairmanship on a committee. What is wrong with these Democrats? Lieberman was not only the cheerleader for Bush administration but ran against a Democrat when he lost in the primary. Is there no discipline in Democratic party? Why Lieberman is not a freshman independent senator? Why such a special treatment to a traitor?
Posted by suresh at November 10, 2006 02:30 PMWow 87%. MSNBC And their so middle of the road to. LOL ... thats like asking Asian people if they eat RICE.
Posted by creeply at November 10, 2006 02:38 PMIt appears there is STILL money left over in the GOP blog-clog fund. Let us hope it runs out soon.
Posted by TIKI AL at November 10, 2006 02:44 PMsuresh,
There's always that period following an election when the players try and kiss and make up.
My guess is, Lieberman will get some meaningless committee where he can't do any harm.
Posted by Christopher at November 10, 2006 03:17 PMidio, I read those same threads and I'm amazed anyone still trusts Carville at all. That fuckwad is a traitor to the Dems, and hasn't been relevent for years. Dean saved their asses, and now the DLC wants to take the credit. And I'm sorry, but I don't trust Harold Ford as far as I could throw him, either.
Posted by iamcoyote at November 10, 2006 04:42 PMMSNBC asked readers this afternoon to vote if Bush should be impeached.
Link?
Could not find that one.
Posted by Anjha at November 10, 2006 05:44 PMMSNBC And their so middle of the road to.
Middle of the road to where? I have found that it is safer to drive on one side or the other and stay out of the middle, less people get hurt that way.
Posted by Anjha at November 10, 2006 05:46 PMidio, I read those same threads and I'm amazed anyone still trusts Carville at all. That fuckwad is a traitor to the Dems, and hasn't been relevent for years. Dean saved their asses, and now the DLC wants to take the credit.
It is time that we let the Democractic Party know just exactly who their base is. And it ain't the fucking US Chamber of Commerce.
It is all of us regular folks who give are hard earned money to those chamber members.
Dean rocked and we need to let him know.
Speaking of....did you all see the idea to send Dean $20.06 on his birthday, Nov 17th.
I can probably find a link if necessary.
Send him a little coin and a great big thank you note. If it weren't for his 50 state strategy they never would have done as they (we) did.
Carville is a prick...skelator...creeps me out. And to consider what he does with Matalin....ooooh.
Posted by Anjha at November 10, 2006 05:51 PM"Second the public as a whole does not react well to a president being impeached or endless investigations."
Oh, really. They couldn't get enough of the sordid media story on Bill Clinton and the impeachment proceedings. Those of us on the Left loved the impreachment of Richard Milhaus Nixon. I watched every day of the proceedings, and was awed struck watching our Government rid itself of a dangerous man. I'm not convinced that the public would be against such action when it came to George Walker Bush. In fact, he should be impeached. Also, a notice should go out that we will not accept anyone who tries to undermine the Constitution of the United States and our Bill of Rights.
Posted by Judith at November 10, 2006 05:56 PMGood Lord people......some great points with regard to a Democratic agenda, but you left out the most glaring inequities that the American people have had to suffer through.
After all of the high fives and slaps on the back adnauseam, what ever happened to the anger and angst with regard to our constitutional rights?
Forget impeachment for now. Our Constitution took a broad side on Oct 17th when Bush signed the Military Commissions Act. What happened to the outrage over the Patriot Act ( I and II ) ? What ever happened to all those in the Democratic party that bemoaned the unraveling mess over secret wire taps within the US?
Yes, we have some political capital to spend as Democrats, but in point of fact, within a couple of months the public at large will sour on our party just as they did the Republicans unless these glaring hits to the constitution are addressed.
If not, I would imagine that even sites such as these might be considered to be in the camp of an enemy combatant, with no recourse to an attorney or even knowing what charges are being leveled against you.
No, the Democrats will throw us a few crumbs by raising the minimum wage. Big whoop! Lets see just how much outrage the Democrats really have.
MSNBC asked readers this afternoon to vote if Bush should be impeached.
Link?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10562904
Posted by Christopher at November 10, 2006 07:42 PMTPM has a provocative post on the possible election-tipping influence of the infamous "robocalls" initiated by the RNC in the last few days preceding election day...the post suggests that
in 7 districts, each Demo challenger lost by anywhere from a few hundred to 5000 votes (v. large total vote). It would appear to be a "no-brainer" - as Dick Cheney would have it - that the new 110th Congress would surely look into curtailing such tactics, and, as always, it's the Repubs that find such reprehensible methods to be effective in poisoning and perverting the electoral process.
87% for impeachment. There it is folks.
I still say that unless Bush is impeached, we leave the door open for more of the same in the future. To think that this man will leave office and retire to Crawford without being held accountable for anything, is basically saying that what he has done is excusable. Either we believe in the Constitution and uphold it, or we don't.
Posted by Judith at November 11, 2006 02:37 AM"Forget impeachment for now. Our Constitution took a broad side on Oct 17th when Bush signed the Military Commissions Act. What happened to the outrage over the Patriot Act ( I and II ) ? What ever happened to all those in the Democratic party that bemoaned the unraveling mess over secret wire taps within the US?"
Andrew, wouldn't secret wire tapping, torture, illegal war, outing an operative, obstruction of justice, the provisions of the Patriot Act, lying to the American people, failing to stop 9/11, etc., all fall into the reasons for impeachment column? Oh, and don't forget the nuclear instructions on the Internet. Bush swore to uphold the Constitution of the United States. He broke his oath. Personally, I think he should be tried as a traitor and war criminal. Return to Crawford a free man, never having paid the price for the near destruction of Democracy. No, I don't think so.
Posted by Judith at November 11, 2006 02:56 AMThis is one mess Daddy should not be allowed to 'clean-up.'
Posted by Judith at November 11, 2006 02:58 AMI still say that unless Bush is impeached, we leave the door open for more of the same in the future.
Agreed. But I don't think Rep. Pelosi has the stomach for it -- she's even said impeaching Bus is "off the table."
This is one of the main reasons I prefer Jack Murtha for House Speaker. But it isn't for me to decide and I think Pelosi will be elected Speaker.
Posted by Christopher at November 11, 2006 03:33 AMJudith.....No doubt you are right on all accounts regarding impeachment. However, my thought is in not placing the cart before the horse so to speak. I believe that we have to show the American people that the law means something to us especially our fundemental laws as based on the Constitution.
If we were to be attacked again, whether ( God forbid ) nuclear or biological, I have no doubt that Bush would use anyone of a number of recently penned laws to close our boarders and declare Marshall Law with American troops patrolling our own streets.
We need the balance that both habeus corpus as well as the posse commitatus act provided us. Then when our Constitution is back to its former status can we go after those who had found it necessary to take those rights away.
My main point to all of this was that those who ran for office and won were the most vocal in their outrage when these laws went into effect. Where are they now?
Number one, that's an online poll, not scientific. Number two, the question is: Do you believe Bush's actions justify impeachment? We all agree that they do, but the question wasn't "should" Bush be impeached. Number three: If the Dems are going to clean up corruption, I'm not sure Murtha's the best person to be pushing for Speaker:
From TPM Muckraker:
Rep. John Murtha (PA): Likely to chair the Defense Appropriations subcommittee. Murtha's been tagged as a shameless earmarker, spending tens of millions on projects nobody wants to benefit his friends and his district. He's already been caught on tape by the FBI explaining how he works scams, so at least if the Feds pick up his trail again, they'll know what to look for. With massive classified budgets and a long history of wasteful spending, this post is ripe for abuse. The FBI probe into its former chairman, Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA), attests to that.
Number four: As a woman, I'd be mighty pissed if the first woman speaker was jettisoned before she takes office. Especially because a bunch of bloggers are recklessly demanding tying up Congress for another 2 years, making everyone vote Republican again in '08. Sure, I'd like to see these guys in the Hague or in prison and get all our money back, but investigations come first before any trial. That's why Pelosi said impeachment's off the table. For now.
Posted by iamcoyote at November 11, 2006 07:35 AMchristopher, murtha isn't running for speaker but for majority leader against steny hoyer, a DLC type who voted for the bankruptcy bill.
Posted by benjoya at November 11, 2006 12:04 PMbenjoya, You are correct.
Posted by Christopher at November 11, 2006 04:55 PM