13 Dec 08 Bastard Republican Vampires
Michael Moore has a few words for those Republican Senators who went after the UAW:
We have a little more than a month to go of this madness. As I sit here in Michigan today, tens of thousands of hard working, honest, decent Americans do not believe they can make it to January 20th. The malaise here is astounding. Why must they suffer because of the mistakes of every CEO from Roger Smith to Rick Wagoner? Make management and the boards of directors and the shareholders pay for this.
Of course that is heresy to the 31 Republicans who decided to blame the poor, miserable autoworkers for this mess. And our wonderful media complied with their spin on the morning news shows: “UAW Refuses to Give Concessions Killing Auto Bailout Bill.” In fact the UAW has given concession after concession, reduced their benefits, agreed to get rid of the Jobs Bank and agreed to make it harder for their retirees to live from week to week. Yes! That’s what we need to do! It’s the Jobs Bank and the old people who have led the nation to economic ruin!
But even doing all that wasn’t enough to satisfy the bastard Republicans. These Senate vampires wanted blood. Blue collar blood. You see, they weren’t opposed to the bailout because they believed in the free market or capitalism. No, they were opposed to the bailout because they’re opposed to workers making a decent wage. In their rage, they were driven to destroy the backbone of this country, not because the UAW hadn’t given back enough, but because the UAW hadn’t given up.
19 Nov 08 Ostrich In Chief
Mitt Romney is assuming the mantle of Ostrich in Chief for his party. In one those “let them eat cake” moments he strongly urged in today’s New York Times that the big three automakers should be forced into bankruptcy. He believes that bankruptcy, rather than putting them permanently out of business, will result in a Walmart-style royal screwing of their workers.
First, their huge disadvantage in costs relative to foreign brands must be eliminated. That means new labor agreements to align pay and benefits to match those of workers at competitors like BMW, Honda, Nissan and Toyota. Furthermore, retiree benefits must be reduced so that the total burden per auto for domestic makers is not higher than that of foreign producers.
Now in the first place, I don’t believe there would continue to be an American auto industry if these companies are forced into bankruptcy. In an economy like this it doesn’t matter how energy-efficient your cars are, or how cool they are, or how cheap they are. Nobody’s buying anything, foreign manufacturers are just as screwed as the Americans. You know those foreign governments are going to keep their auto businesses afloat, they’d have to be idiots to let them fail.
But the real issue is whether the Walmart employee model is the one we want for this country’s future. Mitt Romney and the Walton family obviously love it. The Waltons have gotten mega-rich by screwing manufacturing and sales employees. I’m sure they’ve pumped a lot of contributions to their “free market” Republican friends to keep the status quo in place. It’s a simple equation, the very rich get richer and every cent comes out of a working man or woman’s sweat.
18 Nov 08 Joe Stays
I’m sure this decision will be over-analyzed all over the web, so I’m not investing in much thought about it. They’re keeping the weasel on a leash, in hopes that he’ll help block future filibusters. It might even work.
13 Nov 08 Begich Winning In Alaska
Alaska is proving to have the most screwed up government in the nation, based on their inability to count votes in a timely manner. Is it Palin’s fault? Enquiring minds want to know lol. More than a week after the voting stopped, they still haven’t gotten to the bottom of the vote pile. However there is one piece of good news for Democrats: Begich takes lead in latest vote count. Looks like they’ll finish the tally by the end of next week.
11 Nov 08 Joe The Not-Democrat
It’s hard to believe that the Democrats in the Senate would let Joe The Lieberman slide for campaigning against Obama, but it’s starting to look like they might. My take on the situation is to reserve committee chairs for real Democrats and let Joe The Independent caucus with whoever he wants. It sounds like the Democrats might be feeling nervous about potential filibusters. If so I have some more advice for them: grow a set or borrow Hillary’s.
This was not just a guy who helped the other team, he actually was the other team.
Rachel Maddow sez:
With Democrats like Joe Lieberman, who needs Republicans?
06 Nov 08 The Senate Races in 2010
Some Republicans may be sitting back breathing a sigh of relief now, thinking that they can still control the country because there are enough Republican Senators left to filibuster. Some Progressives may feel that the main job is done now that the Democrats have elected a President and majorities in both houses of Congress. Both of those assumptions are wrong, for opposing reasons.
President-elect Obama is sending a very loud and clear message with the impending appointment of Rahm Emanuel as Chief of Staff. Emanuel, who has a reputation for being both tough and pragmatic, will be taking names. There will undoubtedly be direct consequences for any failure to support Obama. The Republicans, who are likely to attempt to filibuster, will be targeted on all levels, particularly during the 2010 elections. Any Democrat who strays from the party line will likewise be at risk for both appropriations and future campaign support. Joe Lieberman can kiss his ass goodbye on January 21, 2009.
In two years Barack Obama raised approximately $650 million in support of his campaign agenda. He is fully capable of raising another couple hundred million in the next two years to target anyone who tries to impede his progress in achieving that agenda. Rahm Emanuel will be managing the payback list. The Senators on the lists below are up for election in 2010. If any one of them, from either party, gets in Obama’s way the payback will be profound and immediate.
Democratic Incumbent Races
Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas
Barbara Boxer of California
Ken Salazar of Colorado
Daniel Inouye of Hawaii
Replacement for Barack Obama in Illinois
Evan Bayh of Indiana
Barbara Mikulski of Maryland
Harry Reid of Nevada
Chuck Schumer of New York
Byron Dorgan of North Dakota
Ron Wyden of Oregon
Patrick Leahy of Vermont
Patty Murray of Washington
Russ Feingold of Wisconsin
Republican Incumbent Races
Richard Shelby of Alabama
Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
John McCain of Arizona
Mel Martinez of Florida
Johnny Isakson of Georgia
Mike Crapo of Idaho
Chuck Grassley of Iowa
Jim Bunning of Kentucky
David Vitter of Louisiana
Kit Bond of Missouri
Judd Gregg of New Hampshire
Richard Burr of North Carolina
George Voinovich of Ohio
Tom Coburn of Oklahoma
Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania
Jim DeMint of South Carolina
John Thune of South Dakota
Bob Bennett of Utah
22 Oct 08 Republicans Take Money From Bachmann
Michele Bachman is in a world of hurt today. She denied she said what she said, she apologized for what she said, and she’s begging for money that she desperately needs to stay in office. However, rather than give her more money, The National Republican Congressional Committee took away their money, and cancelled the ad buys they had made on her behalf. One word: Karma.
18 Oct 08 We Don’t Get Mad We Get Even
While it was a bit of a shock watching Michele Bachmann spout her fear-mongering rhetoric, the McCarthy era is long over. When someone points a finger and says “I want to investigate YOU for anti-American activities!” we don’t get scared or mad. We get even, and quickly. We raise lots money for their opponent, and then we raise some more.
Elwyn Tinklenberg, Bachmann’s opponent for a seat in Congress, is now a very happy camper. Over $100,000 has been raised for his campaign since Bachmann’s unkind and unseemly words were spoken yesterday afternoon. It shouldn’t take long for him to start putting that money to work to unseat her.
Saturday night update from CBS News: El Tinklenberg reports that he has received $438,346.57 so far.
CBS News link:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/18/politics/politico/thecrypt/main4530853.shtml
Send El Tinklenberg’s campaign some money:
http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/18660
El Tinklenberg’s Thank You message at the Daily Kos:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/18/2550/3286/381/634245
I am both hopeful and humbled at the reminder you gave me tonight – that in our country’s darkest times, it is the strength and belief and action of ordinary Americans that ultimately brings about the change we need. From the hardworking folks in Minnesota’s Sixth District to all of you: we are proud to have you on our side.
Thank you,
El Tinklenberg
17 Oct 08 Michele Bachmann (R-MN) Has No Decency
Michelle Bachman, a first-term member of the House of Representatives, called for the investigation of members of Congress for being anti-American on the MSNBC show “Hardball” this afternoon. I sat here in shock following her absurd conflation of the words liberal, leftist and anti-American. It was deja vue all over again, feeling as though we were transported back to 1954, watching Senator Joe McCarthy on TV.
I have a suggestion for the people of Minnesota, who hopefully are appalled by this fool of a congressperson: don’t send her back to Washington this November. If you do, every Democrat in Congress will make it their personal mission to see that her district pays a high price for her intemperate and downright disgusting words. Oh yaah, you betcha they will.
13 Oct 08 Desperate Republican Candidates
One of the diaries at the Daily Kos today highlighted some very vulnerable Republican candidates. The tip-off actually came from the pro-Republican Red State site, where they were bemoaning the state of the McCain campaign. The question in their minds is not if McCain can win, that just doesn’t seem very likely. At this point they’re wondering whether there is any way to offset the effects of an Obama landslide on the down-ticket congressional candidates. Their list of candidates who desperately need help is quoted below.
What this means for Democrats is simple: it’s both a reminder that every vote will count in November, and a huge opportunity to take action today. The following candidates need every bit of support you can give them, in time or money.
Al Franken - Senate Minnesota
Kay Hagan - Senate North Carolina
Bruce Lunsford - Senate Kentucky
Paul Kanjorski - House Pennsylvania
James Marshall - House Georgia
Chris Carney - House Pennsylvania
Nick Lampson - House Texas
Ashwin Madia - House Minnesota
Tim Mahoney - House Florida
Daily Kos link:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/13/154358/44/89/629444
The Senate races he wants to support as his firewall are:
Norm Coleman, Elizabeth Dole and Mitch McConnell!
So lets throw them an anvil and support
Al Franken, Kay Hagen & Bruce Lunsford
Red State link:
http://www.redstate.com/diaries/redstate/2008/oct/13/viable-options/
We must be aggressive and involved. Below are the races where, despite the expected smack down, we have a real possibility of picking up these seats. Note that the Senate side is primarily defending our own.
SENATE
Norm Coleman in Minnesota.
Elizabeth Dole in North Carolina.
Mitch McConnell in Kentucky.HOUSE
Lou Barletta in Pennsylvania-11.
Rick Goddard in Georgia-08.
Chris Hackett in Pennsylvania-10.
Pete Olson in Texas-22.
Erik Paulsen in Minnesota-03.
Tom Rooney in Florida-16.
