What's the most quotable opinion you've read today?
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A quote from Michelle Malkin
“But hey, noooooobody’s talking reconciliation, right, Harry?”
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- Quoted 8 hours, 9 minutes ago by vle
Is the "Slaughter solution" the key to passing health care?
In the eleventh hour of trying to pass health care reform, things are starting to get complicated. The latest path toward the passage of the bill involves the creation of specific rules for the bill which would try to help bring on some conservative Democrats. Some background first. Each bill that goes before the House has a set of rules attached to it, usually governing how long the debate will last, how many amendments can be added and the like. Those rules are set forth by the House Rules Chairperson who, in this case, is Democratic Congresswoman Louise Slaughter. So what Rep. Slaughter is proposing is the following: Have the House vote on a bill which would essentially "fix" the Senate bill so it would achieve the compromise that they have been working on between the two Houses since the beginning of the year. Attach a rule to that bill which would say that the passage of the "fix" bill would automatically pass the original Senate bill, even though the House did not hold a vote on that Senate bill. As a result, Democrats who don't want to vote for the health care bill because it doesn't include those fixes wouldn't be required to pass the Senate bill first and show their support for a bill which has deal-breaking flaws in it. This is complicated and may not be an easy thing to sell to the American people, but can this solution be the key to passing health care reform?
- Quoted 21 hours, 48 minutes ago by johncapello
What the 'Slaughter' solution would represent
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- Quoted 21 hours, 32 minutes ago by johncapello
Is Chief Justice Roberts right to criticize the President's State of the Union address?
In the days following his State of the Union, President Obama was criticized for having delivered such a sharp criticism to the Supreme Court in his annual address. Although Justice Alito made his feelings about the remarks clear at that moment (he mouthed "Not true" in response to the President's charges), the other Justices remained silent about the controversy. Until now. On Tuesday, Chief Justice Roberts addressed this issue at a speech before law students in Alabama and even speculated that the Justices shouldn't even attend the event. He said that "to the extent it has degenerated into a political pep rally, I'm not sure why we're there" Does Justice Roberts have a point?
- Quoted 1 day, 22 hours ago by johncapello
Why the Slaughter solution would undermine our democracy
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- Quoted 21 hours, 40 minutes ago by johncapello
How should the Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) scandal and resignation be characterized?
Representative Eric Massa (D-NY) announced his retirement from the House last week because, he said that he feared that his health may be worsening. Then, the rumors of an ethics investigation began to circulate. And then he announced over the weekend the bizarre details of the incident that led to the investigation and what he claims is the real reason: he is being pressured by the White House to vote for the health care bill. He initially opposed the bill, but because it did not support a single payer system. Now he is being held up by some conservatives (like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh) as an example of how the White House is bullying their opponents. Others are not so quick to jump to his defense and believe that he is anything but a cause celebre.
- Quoted 2 days, 22 hours ago by johncapello
Sen. Evan Bayh to retire
Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh will not seek re-election this year, a decision that hands Republicans a prime pickup opportunity in the middle of the country. "After all these years, my passion for service to my fellow citizens is undiminished, but my desire to do so by serving in Congress has waned," Bayh will say, according to prepared remarks obtained by the Fix. He will make the decision formal at a press conference later today.
- Quoted 3 weeks, 3 days ago by johncapello
Why the 'Slaughter' solution may backfire
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- Quoted 21 hours, 42 minutes ago by johncapello
Did Liz Cheney cross the line when she described DOJ prosecutors as the "Al-Qaeda 7"?
Liz Cheney chairs the group Keep America Safe which has released the following ad criticizing the Department of Justice. The substance of their criticism is that they want more transparency from the Department of Justice and specifically they want to know which DOJ officials have previously acted as defendants of indicted terrorists. The problem came when they referred to these unidentified DOJ lawyers as the "Al Qaeda 7". Many liberals were upset by what they believed to be a smear, but many conservatives (some of whom worked with VP Cheney) have also come out in support of the DOJ lawyers. In a letter reported by Politico, the group of prominent Republican attorneys criticizes the group for unfair attacks and undermining the principles of our justice system. Is Keep America Safe legitimately characterizing the DOJ or has the group crossed the line?
- Quoted 3 days, 23 hours ago by johncapello
The President brings back "Pay-Go"
From The White House... The President, having just signed the "Pay As You Go" law, discusses the importance of this fundamental rule to getting budget deficits in check. Ensuring that new spending and tax cuts are offset was a important factor in creating the budget surplus of the late 1990’s.
- Quoted 3 weeks, 5 days ago by johncapello
Why the 'Slaughter' solution won't work
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- Quoted 21 hours, 43 minutes ago by johncapello
Should the Obama administration reverse its position and try KSM in a military tribunal?
The Washington Post is reporting today that President Obama's advisers are about to recommend that the trial of Khalid Sheik Mohammed be moved out of the federal court system and into the military tribunals. This follows months of political wrangling between the Justice Department and the state and city of New York over whether or not it is in the best interest of justice to hold the trial in Lower Manhattan. After the Mayor and Governor pulled their support for the NYC venue, it became more difficult for the Obama administration to push ahead with that trial in federal court.
Should the President change his position and push for military tribunals?
- Quoted 6 days, 23 hours ago by johncapello
Representative John "Jack" Murtha dies at 77
Representative John "Jack" Murtha died Monday at Virginia Hospital Center from complications stemming from a recent gallbladder surgery. He had been a representative from southwestern Pennsylvania since 1974 after serving nearly 22 years in the Marine Corps. He was the first combat veteran from the Vietnam War to be elected to Congress.
In recent years, he had been known for two things: 1) his opposition to the war in Iraq and 2) his masterful use of earmarks to bring money back to his district.
- Quoted 1 month ago by johncapello
What can we learn from the leaked RNC fundraising presentation?
Politico ran with an exclusive story this morning of a somewhat revealing PowerPoint presentation from the RNC that was delivered to a group of donors in Boca Raton, FL last month by RNC finance director Rob Bickhart. Some of the most intriguing parts of the presentation include a slide which depicts the President as the Joker, the Speaker of the House as Cruella DeVille and the Senate Majority Leader as Scooby Doo(?) and another which describes the motivations of potential donors. Some of the reasons listed on the slide for the "Visceral Giving" donors were "fear", "extreme negative feelings toward the Administration" and "Reactionary". The "Calculated Giving" donors were characterized as being motivated by "Peer to Peer pressure", "access" and being "ego-driven"
The RNC is already trying to distance itself from the presentation by condemning the imagery used to depict the Democratic leadership.
But is this a revealing document or much ado about nothing? What can we learn from this leaked presentation?
- Quoted 1 week ago by johncapello
Palin speaks at Tea Party Convention
NASHVILLE — “I’m so proud to be an American! Happy birthday, Ronald Reagan.” Sarah Palin took the stage of the National Tea Party Convention to a thundering ovation, which she cut down quickly by praising “anyone who serves in uniform or has served in uniform” and diving right into her speech. “I am a supporter of this movement. I believe in this movement,” said Palin. “America is ready for another revolution.”
- Quoted 1 month ago by johncapello
Is the President offering real leadership with his path forward on health care?
The President called for an "up-or-down vote" on health care in the next few weeks at a 15-minute speech in the East Room of the White House today. Before a crowd of doctors (donned in white coats) the President re-counted the year of debate and the political maneuvering which had brought the country to this point. Although he didn't use the term "reconciliation" he was advocating for that process to be used to pass the final elements of health care reform through the House and Senate.
As the American people grow fatigued over the political bickering around the most contentious issue of the past decade, is the President showing real leadership? Is he leading Congress and the American people forward to the passage of comprehensive health care reform?
- Quoted 1 week, 1 day ago by johncapello
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