Archive for March, 2010

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The GOP Is Now Officially Guilty of Petulance

I think it was noted here somewhere the other day that on Tuesday, Senate Republicans used a little-known rule to prevent hearings from proceeding past 2:00 PM. In fact, our own beloved Sen. Carper was forced to halt a Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing on transparency due to Republicans’ refusal to give unanimous consent to [...]

25Mar2010 | Scott P | 24 comments | Continued
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Legislative Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show-Thurs., March 25, 2010

Let’s start with yesterday’s Session (In)Activity Report. The General Assembly could have, and I think, should have, saved the State some money by, at most, holding one week of session from mid-March to the Easter break. The lack of activity does not justify 9 days of session. I understand why the action is relatively sparse–there’s [...]

25Mar2010 | El Somnambulo | 1 comment | Continued
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Mike Castle: Pro-Repeal?

Mike Castle held a fundraiser with pro-repeal Republican Senator Orrin Hatch. The Republican discipline on health care reform is starting to disappear though. Some Republicans like Mitt Romeny (who is having trouble explaining why the MA individual mandate is o.k. but the national mandate is not), Rep. Mike Pence and Sen. Jim DeMint [...]

25Mar2010 | Unstable Isotope | 13 comments | Continued
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Where Are My Smelling Salts?

Where did I put my fainting couch? I can’t find any pearls to clutch! The News Journal weighs in on the Biden hot mic moment:
When you call a press conference, watch what you say in front of the microphones.
Thanks to modern technology, the globe can now hear your whisper.

All Mr. Biden has to do is [...]

25Mar2010 | Unstable Isotope | 11 comments | Continued
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Reconciliation – 2 More Votes To Go

The Senate finished its “vote-a-rama” early this morning (votes on all the B.S. amendments Republicans made to the reform reconciliation package). The Senate parliamentarian ruled for the Republicans on 2 points of order this morning.
Jim Manley, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, said Republicans consulting with the Senate parliamentarian had found “two minor [...]

25Mar2010 | Unstable Isotope | 20 comments | Continued
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No You Can’t (Featuring John Boehner)

I saw this probably a half a million times today between my email and Twitter — it is really worth it, though:

24Mar2010 | cassandra_m | 8 comments | Continued
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Burris Breaks From the Violence.

Dave Burris: “This behavior by Congressional Republicans (childish) and certain Tea Party elements (criminally dangerous) will cost the GOP in 2010.” I am going to say something that I never thought I would say: I agree with Dave Burris.

24Mar2010 | Delaware Dem | 116 comments | Continued
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Postal Service Looking for Five Day Week

This idea has been kicked around for several years now, but the US Postal Service is now taking the first formal steps toward five-day delivery:
The postal governing board agreed to ask the independent Postal Regulatory Commission for an opinion on dropping Saturday delivery. That request goes to the commission next week.
Under the proposal, mail delivery [...]

24Mar2010 | Scott P | 9 comments | Continued
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Wednesday Open Thread

Well, I’ve had an interesting morning so far. The police knocked on my door at 2 AM to inform us that me and my husband’s cars had been vandalized with graffiti. Apparently some geniuses went through the neighborhood and spray painted a lot of cars and even some houses. My husband and I [...]

24Mar2010 | Unstable Isotope | 41 comments | Continued
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One Simple Reason Why the Health Care Law’s Mandate IS Constitutional

First of all, let me say how much better I like writing “Health Care Law” than “Health Care Bill”. But on to the topic, there is a simple but under-reported fact in the whole “The individual mandate is unconstitutional” debate, that, while not new, only came to my attention last night. Last night on Countdown, [...]

24Mar2010 | Scott P | 25 comments | Continued
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You Must Read This Post

The post is really too good and too complete to give a good excerpt. It’s called “An open letter to conservatives” and it’s a well-researched post on some of the Republican hypocrisy, lies and calls for violence with many, many links included.
Now the advice. You’re going to have to come up with a [...]

24Mar2010 | Unstable Isotope | 30 comments | Continued
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Palin Says “Don’t Retreat, Instead – RELOAD!”

Commonsense Conservatives & lovers of America: “Don’t Retreat, Instead – RELOAD!” Pls see my Facebook page.

Sarah Palin

Hop on over to her Facebook page and find her targets – Complete with cross-hairs.

Conservatives are playing a very dangerous game.
Some are even issuing instructions…
On Friday, former militia leader Mike Vanderboegh called for anti-Democratic vandalism across the country to [...]

24Mar2010 | pandora | 28 comments | Continued
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Legislative Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show-Wed., March 24, 2010

Looks like they must’ve installed some new, even more compelling, solitaire games on the Legislative Council computers. How else can you explain that yesterday’s session report cites activity going back to at least June of 2009 as new action effective yesterday? Perhaps the porn filter was on the fritz?
With that caveat, here is yesterday’s session [...]

24Mar2010 | El Somnambulo | 1 comment | Continued
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Michelle Rollins Speaks

Thanks to commenter John Manifold for pointing us to this post at Delaware Grapevine. Sussex County Republicans celebrated a belated Lincoln Day event and Michelle Rollins was one of the featured speakers. She sounds like she’s going to run:
“Four score and seven days ago, I awoke with a dread that said I can [...]

24Mar2010 | Unstable Isotope | 8 comments | Continued
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The Republican Party Works for Fox News

…..so says David Frum goes way past my argument that Republicans govern based on what looks good for Fox News (and how much money they send to their friends). Watch:

23Mar2010 | cassandra_m | 4 comments | Continued
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Tea Party Nation’s Master Plan to Repeal HCR

Look what landed in my email box:

Tea Party Nation

A message to all members of Tea Party Nation

Now we fight!!!
Over the last few days, you have heard very little from Tea Party Nation on the Socialist Health Care vote. This was by design. We had little more to offer than other patriot groups and [...]

23Mar2010 | MJ | 12 comments | Continued
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Senate Republicans Find More Ways Not To Work (While Still Being Paid)

They really are big babies.
There is a little-known rule in the Senate stating that hearings can’t happen after 2:00 p.m. each day without unanimous consent. However, every day, at the start of business, the Senate generally agrees, by unanimous consent, to waive this rule and continue with the necessary business of holding hearings. Here is [...]

23Mar2010 | pandora | 11 comments | Continued
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Chris Coons’ Statement on Signing of HCR

Got this via one of our loyal readers:(I still don’t get any correspondence from the Coons campaign even though I’ve signed up for it.):

Congress made history Sunday night, adopting landmark health care reform critical for our nation’s economic future and the well being of its citizens.

It’s great news for the more than 100,000 Delaware residents who are uninsured and the 70,000 Delaware residents who will qualify for tax credits to help them afford the health insurance they need.

The bill passed Sunday night will also give 140,000 Delaware seniors access to free preventive care while lowering prescription drug costs for 25,000 seniors on a fixed income.

23Mar2010 | cassandra_m | 13 comments | Continued
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New Poll Shows Big Swing In Opinion On Health Care Reform

As expected, nothing brings success like success. Right now, most people are just starting to hear about the good provisions of the bill and not the horserace.
Americans by 9 percentage points have a favorable view of the health care overhaul that President Obama signed into law Tuesday, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds, [...]

23Mar2010 | Unstable Isotope | 7 comments | Continued
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HCR 2010 = WMD 2002

Anyone who’s been around this site lately should recognize the title of this post. It’s the little signature that commenter anonone has been putting at the end of his comments. Well, I’ve been thinking about this a bit (no, I don’t have anything better to do — thanks for asking) and I’ve decided that he [...]

23Mar2010 | Scott P | 6 comments | Continued
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Tuesday Open Thread

Welcome to the first official day of our Socialist Nightmare. President Obama signed the health care reform bill today and the Senate also begins debate the reconciliation sidecar bill. So, are you ready for an open thread?
Chris Matthews owes Rep. Alan Grayson an apology. In January, Chris Matthews dismissed the scoop given [...]

23Mar2010 | Unstable Isotope | 16 comments | Continued
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President Obama Signing HCR

It happens today at 11:15AM. So go get your celebratory beverage, send your boss on a wild goose chase and watch.

If you can watch it, here are some online streaming options:

23Mar2010 | cassandra_m | 39 comments | Continued
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Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show-Tues., March 23, 2010

Before I preview today’s session, I simply HAVE to feature  House Concurrent Resolution #28, introduced by the most bat-shit crazy of the House & Senate Rethuglican Caucus. Note the moderate tone this resolution strikes:
URGING THE 111TH CONGRESS TO ABANDON THE IRRATIONAL PURSUIT OF A FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE FEDERAL HEALTHCARE ENTITLEMENT PLAN AND ENACT LESS COSTLY ALTERNATIVES [...]

23Mar2010 | El Somnambulo | 5 comments | Continued
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Obama’s Leadership Style

Andrew Sullivan wrote a column about Obama and his leadership style that hits things right on the mark.
Obama has bet that this is his destiny. He is extremely cautious from day to day, staggeringly flexible on tactics, but not at all modest when you look at the big picture. He still wants to rebuild the [...]

23Mar2010 | Unstable Isotope | 24 comments | Continued
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How Will We Tell The Difference?

Republicans are grumpy:
GOP senators emerged Monday to caution that the health debate had taken a toll on the institution, warning of little work between parties the rest of this year.
“There will be no cooperation for the rest of the year,” McCain said during an interview Monday on an Arizona radio affiliate. “They have poisoned [...]

22Mar2010 | Unstable Isotope | 86 comments | Continued

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