The roiling debate about health-care reform has been a boon to the political fortunes of Ross and 51 other members of the Blue Dog Coalition, who have become key brokers in shaping legislation in the House.
A look at career contribution patterns also shows that typical Blue Dogs receive significantly more money -- about 25 percent -- from the health-care and insurance sectors than other Democrats, putting them closer to Republicans in attracting industry support.
Most of the major corporations and trade groups in those sectors are regular contributors to the Blue Dog PAC. They include drugmakers such as Pfizer and Novartis; insurers such as WellPoint and Northwestern Mutual Life; and industry organizations such as America's Health Insurance Plans.
The American Medical Association also has been one of the top contributors to individual Blue Dog members.
26 July, 2009
cops,citizens-respect is a two way street
President Obama was right the first time, that the encounter had a stupid ending, and the second time, that both Gates and Crowley overreacted. His soothing assessment that two good people got snared in a bad moment seems on target.
Gates said that Crowley was so “gruff” and unsolicitous “the hair on my neck stood up.” Crowley says Gates acted “put off” and “agitated.”
But the strong guy with the gun has more control than the weak guy with the cane. An officer who teaches racial sensitivity should not have latched on to a technicality about neighbors — who seemed to be outnumbered by cops — getting “alarmed” by Gates’s “outburst.”
Besides, after ID clearly established that Gates was in his own house, the cops should not "asked" him to step back outside. Cops can be (not all) nasty, arrogant and itching to egg you on so they can arrest you; also they can lie. I have personally witnessed such behavior.
Gates said that Crowley was so “gruff” and unsolicitous “the hair on my neck stood up.” Crowley says Gates acted “put off” and “agitated.”
But the strong guy with the gun has more control than the weak guy with the cane. An officer who teaches racial sensitivity should not have latched on to a technicality about neighbors — who seemed to be outnumbered by cops — getting “alarmed” by Gates’s “outburst.”
Besides, after ID clearly established that Gates was in his own house, the cops should not "asked" him to step back outside. Cops can be (not all) nasty, arrogant and itching to egg you on so they can arrest you; also they can lie. I have personally witnessed such behavior.
24 July, 2009
Obama, racism, cops, Gates
Obama commented on the issue again on Thursday, telling ABC News he was "surprised by the controversy surrounding" his remark. "I think it was a pretty straightforward commentary that you probably don't need to handcuff a guy, a middle-aged man who uses a cane, who's in his own home," Obama said.
"I think that I have extraordinary respect for the difficulties of the job that police officers do," Obama said. "And my suspicion is that words were exchanged between the police officer and Mr. Gates and that everybody should have just settled down and cooler heads should have prevailed. That's my suspicion."
"I think that I have extraordinary respect for the difficulties of the job that police officers do," Obama said. "And my suspicion is that words were exchanged between the police officer and Mr. Gates and that everybody should have just settled down and cooler heads should have prevailed. That's my suspicion."
21 July, 2009
we will remember when voting
Senate Republicans on Tuesday slowed down the anticipated confirmation of U.S. President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee, federal appeals judge Sonia Sotomayor.
Republicans invoked their right to postpone for a week a vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee to send the nomination for consideration to the full Democrat-led Senate, which is widely expected to confirm Sotomayor, perhaps overwhelmingly.
Republicans invoked their right to postpone for a week a vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee to send the nomination for consideration to the full Democrat-led Senate, which is widely expected to confirm Sotomayor, perhaps overwhelmingly.
more on the sellout of health care reform
Craig Holman, government affairs lobbyist for the Public Citizen advocacy group, said the continued fundraising by Baucus during the health-care debate is "very troubling."
"He's doing all this fundraising right in the middle of this effort to mark up a bill," Holman said. "When you put these events close to matters concerning these lobbyists, clearly it's a signal. You are expected to show up with a check."
"He's doing all this fundraising right in the middle of this effort to mark up a bill," Holman said. "When you put these events close to matters concerning these lobbyists, clearly it's a signal. You are expected to show up with a check."
Baucus and Grassley, bought and paid for
Most Companies which are giving all that money to the Senators on the Baucus's/Grassley Committee are major insurers, and they strongly oppose a public insurance option, which is favored by President Obama and top House Democrats.
The public also favors a public option but it has not received support from Baucus's committee. The committee members are being bought and paid for by the insurance companies no other conslucion is logical.
The public also favors a public option but it has not received support from Baucus's committee. The committee members are being bought and paid for by the insurance companies no other conslucion is logical.
why we can't get health care reform
At the table on May 26 were about 20 donors willing to fork over $10,000 or more to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, including executives of major insurance companies, hospitals and other health-care firms.
Health-related companies and their employees gave Senator Baucus's political committees nearly $1.5 million in 2007 and 2008, when he began holding hearings and making preparations for this year's reform debate.
Grassley, the Finance Committee's ranking Republican, received more than $2 million from the health and insurance sectors since 2003. House Ways and Means Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.) took in $1.6 million from the health sector and its employees over the past two years; ranking Republican Dave Camp (Mich.) received nearly $1 million.
Money gets you in the door. The only thing the other side can do is march around and protest outside.
Health-related companies and their employees gave Senator Baucus's political committees nearly $1.5 million in 2007 and 2008, when he began holding hearings and making preparations for this year's reform debate.
Grassley, the Finance Committee's ranking Republican, received more than $2 million from the health and insurance sectors since 2003. House Ways and Means Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.) took in $1.6 million from the health sector and its employees over the past two years; ranking Republican Dave Camp (Mich.) received nearly $1 million.
Money gets you in the door. The only thing the other side can do is march around and protest outside.
19 July, 2009
failed republican policies
Joe Stiglitz is the leader of a school of economics that, for the past 30 years, has developed complex mathematical models to disprove the idea of economics devoid of regulations. The subprime-mortgage disaster is almost tailor-made evidence that financial markets often fail without rigorous government supervision.
The work that won Stiglitz the Nobel in 2001 showed how "imperfect" information that is unequally shared by participants in a transaction can make markets go haywire, giving unfair advantage to one party.
The subprime scandal was all about people who knew a lot—--like mortgage lenders and Wall Street derivatives traders—--exploiting people who had less information, like global investors who bought up subprime- mortgage-backed securities.
As Stiglitz puts it: "Globalization opened up opportunities to find new people to exploit their ignorance. And we found them."
The Republican party demolished what economic regulations that existed when they came to power in 2001 while ignoring for nine months the warnings about Al Qaeda, used as one justificaton for invading Iraq.
The work that won Stiglitz the Nobel in 2001 showed how "imperfect" information that is unequally shared by participants in a transaction can make markets go haywire, giving unfair advantage to one party.
The subprime scandal was all about people who knew a lot—--like mortgage lenders and Wall Street derivatives traders—--exploiting people who had less information, like global investors who bought up subprime- mortgage-backed securities.
As Stiglitz puts it: "Globalization opened up opportunities to find new people to exploit their ignorance. And we found them."
The Republican party demolished what economic regulations that existed when they came to power in 2001 while ignoring for nine months the warnings about Al Qaeda, used as one justificaton for invading Iraq.
17 July, 2009
more republican hypocrisy
Two Bush appointees have already moved the Supreme Court in a markedly more conservative direction. Chief Justice Roberts won 22 Democratic confirmation votes, not only with his obvious legal credentials but his bland assurances that he saw the job of a justice as akin to that of a baseball umpire -- enforcing the rules, not rewriting the rulebook.
There is a long list of significant decisions on which Roberts and Alito have led or joined a 5-4 majority, overruling precedent and narrowing individual rights. So, the Republicans complaining about activism with Sotomayor is just another lie filled with hypocrisy.
There is a long list of significant decisions on which Roberts and Alito have led or joined a 5-4 majority, overruling precedent and narrowing individual rights. So, the Republicans complaining about activism with Sotomayor is just another lie filled with hypocrisy.
10 July, 2009
Republican family values?
The wealthy parents of Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) gave $96,000 last year to the staffer who was then his mistress and to her family, his attorney said yesterday. Ensign has said that the sexual affair with Cynthia Hampton began in December 2007 and continued until the following August.
Since Ensign admitted the extramarital affair several weeks ago, he and his defenders have accused the Hamptons of making exorbitant financial demands but denied that Ensign provided any severance payments or other financial assistance for the couple. Ensign has said he has no plans to resign his office.
In an interview this week, Douglas Hampton also alleged that Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), a close friend of Ensign's, urged Ensign to end the affair early last year and suggested financial compensation for the Hampton family.
Yesterday, Coburn told the Roll Call newspaper that he would refuse any attempts to compel him to testify in court or at the Senate ethics committee about his role. Coburn, an obstetrician, claimed a legal privilege against such testimony as his physician and religious adviser.
Since Ensign admitted the extramarital affair several weeks ago, he and his defenders have accused the Hamptons of making exorbitant financial demands but denied that Ensign provided any severance payments or other financial assistance for the couple. Ensign has said he has no plans to resign his office.
In an interview this week, Douglas Hampton also alleged that Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), a close friend of Ensign's, urged Ensign to end the affair early last year and suggested financial compensation for the Hampton family.
Yesterday, Coburn told the Roll Call newspaper that he would refuse any attempts to compel him to testify in court or at the Senate ethics committee about his role. Coburn, an obstetrician, claimed a legal privilege against such testimony as his physician and religious adviser.
09 July, 2009
the republicans-more on Sen's Ensign, Coburn
The sex scandal engulfing Sen. John Ensign deepened Wednesday after his former mistress's husband revealed new details about the relationship, saying the Nevada Republican paid the woman more than $25,000 in severance when she stopped working for him.
Doug Hampton also provided a letter to the Las Vegas Sun that he claimed was a handwritten apology from Ensign to Cindy Hampton, a former treasurer for the senator's campaign committees. "I used you for my own pleasure," the letter reads, later adding. "Plain and simple it was a sin."
He also detailed a February 2008 meeting in which he, Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and others encouraged Ensign to end the affair, as well as the working relationship with the Hamptons. Hampton said Coburn and others tried to encourage Ensign to compensate the couple and help them relocate.
The letter and interview with the newspaper mark another embarrassment for Ensign, a 51-year-old Christian conservative who abruptly came forward last month and confessed to the affair. In addition, a severance payment could pose campaign finance and ethics issues for the Republican if the amount was not disclosed.
Doug Hampton also provided a letter to the Las Vegas Sun that he claimed was a handwritten apology from Ensign to Cindy Hampton, a former treasurer for the senator's campaign committees. "I used you for my own pleasure," the letter reads, later adding. "Plain and simple it was a sin."
He also detailed a February 2008 meeting in which he, Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and others encouraged Ensign to end the affair, as well as the working relationship with the Hamptons. Hampton said Coburn and others tried to encourage Ensign to compensate the couple and help them relocate.
The letter and interview with the newspaper mark another embarrassment for Ensign, a 51-year-old Christian conservative who abruptly came forward last month and confessed to the affair. In addition, a severance payment could pose campaign finance and ethics issues for the Republican if the amount was not disclosed.
08 July, 2009
Palin with republican hypocrisy
When you're up to your waders in barracuda, blame the media.And quit your job. And say you did it for the people. And hire an agent. And try to keep a straight face on your way to the bank.
It's a win for the Republican Party because she was the female version of [George W.] Bush in some ways. She is not intellectually curious. Republicans need to have smart, competent alternatives.
Alaskans lately have turned against the once-popular governor and filed complaints that have run up legal fees in the $500,000 range.
Nobody wants that, surely, but that's chump change for Palin, whose supporters tossed $400,000 her way the first month SarahPAC went online.
As a public speaker, Palin will be golden. Other rumors circulating suggest a television show, a possible newspaper column (but remember, Palin hates the mainstream media), and fundraising gigs where the erstwhile vice presidential candidate can retain her hot spot on center stage.
It's a win for the Republican Party because she was the female version of [George W.] Bush in some ways. She is not intellectually curious. Republicans need to have smart, competent alternatives.
Alaskans lately have turned against the once-popular governor and filed complaints that have run up legal fees in the $500,000 range.
Nobody wants that, surely, but that's chump change for Palin, whose supporters tossed $400,000 her way the first month SarahPAC went online.
As a public speaker, Palin will be golden. Other rumors circulating suggest a television show, a possible newspaper column (but remember, Palin hates the mainstream media), and fundraising gigs where the erstwhile vice presidential candidate can retain her hot spot on center stage.
07 July, 2009
GOP, a frightening reality
Naming Palin to the GOP ticket -- a top-down choice by McCain -- was the most reckless decision any national politician has made in the longest time, and while it certainly says something about McCain, it says even more about his party. It has lost its mind.
Recall, after all, that Palin was not McCain's first choice. That was either Joe Lieberman or Tom Ridge. Both were rejected by the party establishment because of their appalling moderation on social issues over which the president has little direct authority anyway -- abortion, above all -- and in Lieberman's case because he had been a Democrat.
In desperation, McCain turned to Palin. Was there a scream of protest? No. Did the Republican Party demand to know of McCain what the hell he had done? Again, no. Was it okay with the GOP if the person a heartbeat away from the presidency was -- pardon me, but it's true -- a ditz with no national experience whatsoever? You betcha.
The party had cracked up, accepting a nullity because she was antiabortion over a seasoned senator and former governor because they were not. Ideology won. The nation lost.
As for the other GOP candidates, all of them must be vetted by the party's Grand Inquisitor, Rush Limbaugh, a belch from the gutter. But when the chuckling stops, you have to ask yourself what in the world she was doing on the GOP ticket and what would have happened if McCain had won. Only part of this is alternate history. The rest is frightening reality.
Recall, after all, that Palin was not McCain's first choice. That was either Joe Lieberman or Tom Ridge. Both were rejected by the party establishment because of their appalling moderation on social issues over which the president has little direct authority anyway -- abortion, above all -- and in Lieberman's case because he had been a Democrat.
In desperation, McCain turned to Palin. Was there a scream of protest? No. Did the Republican Party demand to know of McCain what the hell he had done? Again, no. Was it okay with the GOP if the person a heartbeat away from the presidency was -- pardon me, but it's true -- a ditz with no national experience whatsoever? You betcha.
The party had cracked up, accepting a nullity because she was antiabortion over a seasoned senator and former governor because they were not. Ideology won. The nation lost.
As for the other GOP candidates, all of them must be vetted by the party's Grand Inquisitor, Rush Limbaugh, a belch from the gutter. But when the chuckling stops, you have to ask yourself what in the world she was doing on the GOP ticket and what would have happened if McCain had won. Only part of this is alternate history. The rest is frightening reality.
republican brand sinking
Republican leaders like Palin, Sanford, Gingrich, Rove, Ensign, Limbaugh, Hannity, Romney, Jindel, Barber, Steele, and that crazy lady from Minnesota (Bachman)...all these and more are coming to power as a result of all the hubris of the past 10 years of decay in the GOP (grand OLD party).
ABA on Sotomayor nomination
The American Bar Association on Tuesday gave U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor its top rating, boosting her anticipated confirmation as the first Hispanic justice on the highest U.S. court.
The ABA said its Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary based its unanimous "well qualified" evaluation on a review of Sotomayor's professional integrity, competence and judicial temperament
The ABA said its Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary based its unanimous "well qualified" evaluation on a review of Sotomayor's professional integrity, competence and judicial temperament
06 July, 2009
Republicans Sanford, Ensign and now Palin
Was she launching her 2012 presidential campaign? Or could there be a looming scandal? No one knew, since Palin herself used vague and enigmatic phrases to justify her decision -- "because it's right," because "sacrificing my title helps Alaska most," because she has a "higher calling." But what is that higher calling? If you don't tell us, we have to guess -- or make jokes about it.
Palin's statements: that "Washington and the media" cannot understand her decision because "it's about country." In other words, for the past nine months, Palin has avoided difficult questions, preferring Runner's World to another Katie Couric interview; she has dragged her family into the spotlight when it suited her (baby Trig was in Runner's World, too) and grown angry when the spotlight became too strong; she has eschewed reason and logic (not to mention spelling and grammar), yet reacted in horror when her critics were unreasonable and illogical in response.
Then, after all that, she smugly asserts the right to decide who is a patriot and who is not. It's not about "country," in other words, it's about hypocrisy. And Sarah Palin is full of it.
Palin's statements: that "Washington and the media" cannot understand her decision because "it's about country." In other words, for the past nine months, Palin has avoided difficult questions, preferring Runner's World to another Katie Couric interview; she has dragged her family into the spotlight when it suited her (baby Trig was in Runner's World, too) and grown angry when the spotlight became too strong; she has eschewed reason and logic (not to mention spelling and grammar), yet reacted in horror when her critics were unreasonable and illogical in response.
Then, after all that, she smugly asserts the right to decide who is a patriot and who is not. It's not about "country," in other words, it's about hypocrisy. And Sarah Palin is full of it.
03 July, 2009
Cheney told him to?
Vice President Dick Cheney talked with top White House officials about how to respond to reporters' inquiries into who leaked the identity of a CIA operative, according to a court filing.
Also, Cheney told the FBI about his recollection of discussions with his former top aide, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, and other White House officials as asked for in the media's questions.
The FBI interviewed Cheney in 2004 as it was investigating the leak of former CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity to reporters the year before. Her name was revealed after her husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, criticized the Bush administration's prewar intelligence on Iraq.
The leak touched off a lengthy inquiry that led to Libby being convicted on charges of obstruction of justice and lying to investigators about his conversations with reporters. Libby told the FBI it was possible that Cheney ordered him to reveal Plame's identity to the media.
Why is that important? Because, if true, leaking an intelligence agent's name is a crime.
The liberal watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit last year seeking records related to Cheney's FBI interview.
Also, Cheney told the FBI about his recollection of discussions with his former top aide, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, and other White House officials as asked for in the media's questions.
The FBI interviewed Cheney in 2004 as it was investigating the leak of former CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity to reporters the year before. Her name was revealed after her husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, criticized the Bush administration's prewar intelligence on Iraq.
The leak touched off a lengthy inquiry that led to Libby being convicted on charges of obstruction of justice and lying to investigators about his conversations with reporters. Libby told the FBI it was possible that Cheney ordered him to reveal Plame's identity to the media.
Why is that important? Because, if true, leaking an intelligence agent's name is a crime.
The liberal watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit last year seeking records related to Cheney's FBI interview.
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