With us or against us?

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Wednesday September 23, 2009 · 4:48 PM PDT

2009/09/23 · 16:48

During the George W. Bush years, a whole lot of us were critical of the view that you're either with us or against us. It encapsulated the whole lazy thinking, jingoistic, false patriotism nonsense of the Republican party.

But that sort of thinking seems to have infected parts of the blogosphere, including here.

Now we hear that the most important step forward in providing health care to Americans is just horrid because it isn't single payer. Sure, there are restrictions on what insurance companies can do and nearly all Republicans aren't happy about any of them (have you heard the BS arguments about how insurance companies shouldn't be forced to cover folks with pre-existing conditions?), but none of it means anything. No, it's all ashes and crap because it doesn't do everything you and I want.

maineiac

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Monday September 14, 2009 · 4:50 PM PDT

2009/09/14 · 16:50

Several national polls have asked people about the congressional heckler and the vast majority think that his behavior was awful.

85% in the CNN poll answered that the behavior was inappropriate.

But one group stands out. Regarding Rep. Wilson's heckling, USA Today/Gallup found

Six percent describe their reaction as "thrilled."

And who are these folks in the 6% fringe?

That group was solidly Republican.

Well, no surprise there. I figure these are folks who believe all sorts of, well, interesting things. I bet a lot of the shouters at the town hall meetings hold this view.

maineiac

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Saturday September 12, 2009 · 2:48 PM PDT

2009/09/12 · 14:48

So, how many people protested today? Michelle Malkin gives the figure of two million, more than came to the inauguration.

But ABC News, relying on people who actually know how to figure out crowd size says there were 60,000 to 70,000 -- which is a whopping 3.5% of what Malkin and a bunch of twitters said.

Carrying signs depicting President Obama as Adolf Hitler and the Joker, and chanting slogans such as "'No big government" and "Obamacare makes me sick," approximately 60,000 to 70,000 people flooded Pennsylvania Ave, according to the Washington DC Fire Department.

Math is hard!!

More about Wilson

maineiac

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Wednesday September 09, 2009 · 7:09 PM PDT

2009/09/09 · 19:09

In brief, the rude Republican has a problem with loose lips and, surprise, surprise with race.

From the NY Times

Jackie Calmes points to the biography of Mr. Wilson in CQ’s "Politics in America," which includes this line: "Wilson’s sharp and careless remarks sometimes land him in hot water." One example listed was Mr. Wilson’s constant criticisms of Senator John Kerry during the Democrat’s presidential campaign, and even includes a reference to Mr. Wilson’s characterization of the news that Strom Thurmond had fathered a daughter with a black woman. Even after the longtime Republican senator’s family acknowledged the paternity, Mr. Wilson called the notion a "smear on the image" of Mr. Thurmond.

maineiac

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Wednesday June 17, 2009 · 4:12 PM PDT

2009/06/17 · 16:12

So yesterday we were told that the husband of the woman with whom Senator Ensign had an affair got severance pay. Today it turns out that the woman involved was paid more than usual for her work and -- listen up -- their 19 year old son was paid as a "consultant" by the Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC).

maineiac

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Friday April 10, 2009 · 7:32 AM PDT

2009/04/10 · 07:32

The so-called National Organization for Marriage (but you can call it the National Organization for Straight Folks Getting Hitched but No One Else, No Way) has put out talking points for its supporters.

These show they have already lost. What do I mean?

First, something about the group. These are the people who generated the "coming storm" ad that appears to show "real" (straight) people who are suffering because gay folks can marry. You may have also seen the outtakes and practice sessions of the actors. The group is headed by Maggie Gallagher. She claims to be a "marriage expert," but her highest level of education is a B.A. in religious studies.

maineiac

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Friday February 27, 2009 · 6:44 AM PST

2009/02/27 · 06:44

It's been five and a half weeks since President Obama was inaugurated, a wonderful day when we marked this change from the Bush era to a progressive administration. And, yes, on that day, there were many who talked about America having broken a racial barrier in having the first black president.

But Republicans still seem to want to make the point that, hey, the president is black.

You can see that in three quotes from Republicans on Obama's speech to Congress:

Nicely delivered, and it remains inspiring to see an African-American conduct the rituals of the presidency.

Hewitt

Tonight, we witnessed a great moment in the history of our Republic. In the very chamber where Congress once voted to abolish slavery, our first African-American president stepped forward to address the state of our union.

Jindal

maineiac

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Wednesday February 25, 2009 · 6:52 PM PST

2009/02/25 · 18:52

From the fever swamps of the conservatives at The Corner, we get a bizarre argument that Thoreau wouldn't have liked Obama.

When Obama hearkened back to Thoreau’s day to promote lavish government spending:

In the midst of civil war, we laid railroad tracks from one coast to another that spurred commerce and industry. From the turmoil of the Industrial Revolution came a system of public high schools that prepared our citizens for a new age. In the wake of war and depression, the GI Bill sent a generation to college and created the largest middle-class in history. And a twilight struggle for freedom led to a nation of highways, an American on the moon, and an explosion of technology that still shapes our world.

[Obama] broke with Thoreau, who wrote:

Yet this government never of itself furthered any enterprise, but by the alacrity with which it got out of its way. It does not keep the country free. . . Government does not educate.

link

maineiac

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Monday November 17, 2008 · 5:53 PM PST

2008/11/17 · 17:53

With all the talk about Hillary Clinton perhaps becoming the Secretary of State, there is the possibility of an open Senate seat. How would that seat be filled?

If Sen. Hillary Clinton was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as secretary of state in 2009, the governor gets to appoint a replacement.

That term is the elected at the next general election, which is November 2010. Then that choice would serve a two-year term until the regular six-year term is elected in November 2012.

link

With a Democratic governor, David Patterson, the replacement of course will be a Democrat. But who should it be?

maineiac

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Friday September 19, 2008 · 8:30 PM PDT

2008/09/19 · 20:30

I took a look at The Page for its listing of the candidates' schedule and found for Saturday:

Obama: Two events in Florida
Biden: One event in Virginia

McCain: A meeting with a KY congressman and a time out to see Navy play Rutgers in Maryland
Palin: No events listed

Now, McCain often takes Sunday off. If he does that again, he'll have spent an entire weekend in September with no campaign events.

As a longtime politics watcher, that seems very strange to me. It's certainly possible he's spending some time on debate prep, but staying out of the public eye for a full September weekend is quite remarkable.

What's up with that?

Palin's family flying to Ohio?

maineiac

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Friday August 29, 2008 · 4:47 AM PDT

2008/08/29 · 04:47

I just went over to look at Sarah Palin's bio at wikipedia (which, by the way, seems like someone has taken trouble to make very, very positive. Those of you who know about the scandals in her administration who can edit wikipedia might want to make some changes).

In any case, it says:

On Friday, August 29, Fox & Friends reported that Palin's family departed hastily from Anchorage, Alaska aboard a Gulfstream jet that landed near Dayton, Ohio, site of McCain's planned vice presidential announcement. They cited the website Change&Experience.com, which also had correctly leaked travel details for Sen. Joseph Biden to Springfield, Illinois for Barack Obama's announcement.

link

So who knows if this is true. Note also that The Page now features a big picture of Palin.

Biden - A fighter against violence against women

maineiac

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Saturday August 23, 2008 · 4:55 AM PDT

2008/08/23 · 04:55

[Note: This is an adaptation of a diary I wrote called "What you probably don't know about Joe Biden." It's part of Biden's story that is not as well known as his work on national security and foreign policy. And I'd say that it tells you a lot about him. I'm old enough to remember coverage of the Biden hearings for the Violence Against Women Act; I don't know if the msm paid attention but the feminist press did.]

I suspect most people know about Biden because of his activities on foreign policy. But there's something he did that is much less known, but is very significant. How significant? Biden called it, "The single, most important legislative accomplishment in my 32-year-old career in the Senate."

So what was did Biden do? Joe Biden is the Senator most responsible for federal policy to combat violence against women. He took on the issue, learned a good deal about it, and got a bill passed under difficult political circumstances. And he has not left this issue alone. He has continued to be a leader in the fight against violence against women.

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With us or against us?

The 6% fringe

3.5% of stated turnout

More about Wilson

Who paid the Ensign hush money? It's a financial scandal, not a sex scandal.

What group's anti-equal marriage talking points show

Why are Republicans still talking about Obama's race?

Thoreau wouldn't have liked Obama?

If Clinton goes to State, who should take her Senate seat?

Is McCain even campaigning this weekend?

Palin's family flying to Ohio?

Biden - A fighter against violence against women