^ Drill baby drill. So you're an Obama fan now?
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^ Drill baby drill. So you're an Obama fan now?
MN GOPer resigns over alleged ‘inappropriate relationship’
In yet another case of the GOP failing to uphold its “Family Values” mantle, Minnesota Republican Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch resigned from her leadership post after facing allegations of an “inappropriate relationship” with a staffer.
According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, Koch was confronted by her Republican colleagues about the matter, and removed herself from the top spot afterwards.
Earlier in the week, Koch neither confirmed or denied that the allegations were true to her state senators when they asked her, but considered resigning at that point.
“We’re here today with a lot of humility and some sadness and even shock,” said interim Senate Majority Leader Geoff Michel Friday evening, who declined to identify the staffer. “There is no doubt that a manager cannot have such a relationship with someone they oversee, whose budget they oversee.”
Koch became Minnesota’s first female majority leader after leading Republicans to control the Senate for the first time in four decades. She is married and has a daughter.
link: MN GOPer resigns over alleged ‘inappropriate relationship’ | The Raw Story
Quote:
Originally Posted by Boon Mee
:mid:
The second measure concerns the Keystone XL pipeline. There’s been a ton of misinformation around this part. I know some people have termed this a GOP victory but I don’t see why. Even the venerable 350.org rushed out a call to action last night saying that Obama caved on the pipeline and that everyone must call to get him to veto the bill. They are either playing along or don’t understand that this provision will ensure a denial of the permit in rapid fashion.
The bill stipulates that the Administration must make an up-or-down decision on the permit for the pipeline within two months of the signing of this act. The State Department has already said that doesn’t leave them enough time to explore the re-routing both they and the state of Nebraska and pipeline owner TransCanada have said they want to consider, to avoid the Ogalalla Sand Hills region, and particularly the aquifer that supplies water to the area. So if faced with a 60-day timeline, the State Department said, they would have to deny the permit. Earlier in the week the White House agreed with them, saying that The House bill simply shortens the review process in a way that virtually guarantees that the pipeline will NOT be approved. So adding this provision kills the pipeline in the short term.
And Republicans, by the way, KNOW this. They want the President to deny the permit. The tell is that Newt Gingrich spoke up about the pipeline in the debate on Thursday night. Republicans want to position Obama as someone destroying US jobs to satisfy environmentalists. They also would like to say that he is stopping the supply of domestic energy production. None of this is true with regards to Keystone XL. The pipeline won’t create jobs, all the energy production in this case comes from Canada, and the President actually has presided over a boom in domestic energy production, although that hasn’t led to a drop in oil prices because we simply don’t have that much oil domestically.
But the likely outcome on Keystone XL fits a narrative for the GOP. So they want to see the President cancel the pipeline to make it a campaign issue. The counter-argument for the Democrats is that the demand by House Republicans to give an answer within 60 days on a pipeline whose route remained in flux killed the permit. So this becomes your run-of-the-mill he-said/she-said, and the pipeline doesn’t get built. My understanding is that it would not impact the possibility of the pipeline being approved after the elections, when more time is given to the environmental impact. So that’s a fight environmentalists will still have to wage. In the short term, within 60 days they will have a President reject the pipeline, and then they can go to their lists and tell everyone how their pressure got it done. But they’ll have to extend a note of gratitude to Republicans, who made it all possible.
link: Senate Passes Two-Month Extension for Payroll Tax Cut, Unemployment Benefits, Doc Fix | FDL News Desk
Republicans in New Hampshire propose requiring laws be based on the Magna Carta: America Could Use Some More Magna Carta, Say New Hampshire Lawmakers -- Daily Intel
:smileylaughing:
Gov. Christie calls for referendum on issue of legalizing gay marriage
Gov. Chris Christie called today for the Legislature to put on the fall ballot a voter referendum on whether to legalize gay marriage, which Democratic lawmakers have made a top priority.
If successful, the referendum would amend the state Constitution and trump the current civil unions law. He urged all Republicans in the Legislature to put the matter to voters, but promised to veto the measure if it came to him in the form of a bill.
"I think this is not an issue that should rest solely in my hands, or the hands of the Senate President or the Speaker or the other 118 members of the Legislature," he said. "Let's let the people of New Jersey decide what is right for the state."
Christie made the announcement after a town hall in Bridgewater as the Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on the issue in Trenton.
"Let's make sure that political maneuvering is not what judges this and let's make sure this is not someone just trying to have fun and create a campaign issue," he said. "The institution of marriage if too serious to be treated like a political football."
In reaction to Christie's bombshell, State Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union), a sponsor of the bill, said same-sex marriage is "a right that's guaranteed by the Constitution. It's up to us to implement it as legislators."
Earlier this month, Democrats introduced the bill, S1, first in the new session to symbolize its importance.
"I would hope the Legislature would be willing to trust the people the way I'm willing to trust the people," Christie said, reiterating his personal opposition to gay marriage. "I think it's the institution of marriage and it's bigger than just a word, it's hundreds of years of tradition both legally and societally and religiously and that's what I stand up in protecting."
Still, Christie said he would be willing to consider strengthening the legal protections under the state's civil unions law, and when he heard hospitals were denying visitation to same-sex partners, he called on Health Commissioner Mary O'Dowd to look into the matter.
The GOP loves this guy?: Gov. Christie calls for referendum on issue of legalizing gay marriage | NJ.com
Love Allen West
Rep. Allen West - "Obama, Reid, Pelosi, get the hell out of the USA" - 28 January 2012 - YouTube
"This is a battlefield, that we must stand upon. We need to let President Obama, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, (audience boos) and my dear friend the chairman of the Democrat National Committee, we need to let them know that Florida ain't on the table," West said. "Take your message of equality of achievement, take your message of economic dependency, take your message of enslaving the entrepreneurial will and spirit of the American people somewhere else. You can take it to Europe, you can take it to the bottom of the sea, you can take it to the North Pole, but get the hell out of the United States of America."
This guy rocks!:)
and he might be on his way out the door and not because of Dems,...........it's because of Rethugs/redistrictingQuote:
Originally Posted by Boon Mee
Florida GOP trying to force Allen West out of Congress through redistricting?
another Rethug looking for a different job soon: Florida GOP trying to force Allen West out of Congress through redistricting? Update: Bad rap? Update: Another defense of Florida GOP plan « Hot Air
The fraction of people calling themselves Democratic is now at an all-time low of 32.5%.
Republicans, 35.9%.
So of course you can understand why media polls give Democrats a +8-+10% advantage. They don't call 'em
spinmeisters for nothing...
Secretary of State Charlie White (R) removed from office after guilty verdict
Indiana Secretary of State Charlie White (R) was found guilty early Saturday morning of felony voter fraud charges, and the governor appointed an interim director. Court wrangling over White's fate and replacement is likely to continue, however.
The jury began deliberating after lunch Friday and returned the verdict around 2:20 a.m. Saturday.
White (R), the state’s chief election officer, was found guilty of six out of seven felony counts. The jury found him not guilty on a charge of fraud against a financial institution.
The charges centered around allegations that White (R) was registered at his ex-wife's home when he voted in the May primary even though he lived at a new townhouse on the other side of Fishers, making him ineligible to run for office. He admits the mistake but denies an effort to deceive calling the incident “an honest mistake.”
White (R) will be sentenced at a later date, possibly early to mid-week next week.
A felon (R) lookin’ for a job: Secretary of State Charlie White convicted of felony charges
Republican candidate airs racially charged ‘Debbie Spenditnow’ ad during Super Bowl
A Super Bowl ad for U.S. Senate candidate Pete Hoekstra uses an Asian woman speaking in broken English to accuse his rival, Democratic incumbent Debbie Stabenow, of helping the Chinese economy.
“Thank you Michigan Senator Debbie Spenditnow,” the woman says in the 30-second ad as she rides her bike through a rice paddy field.
“Debbie spends so much American money, you borrow more and more, from us. You’re economy get very weak, ours get very good. We take your jobs. Thank you Debbie Spenditnow.”
Filthy racist: Republican candidate airs racially charged ‘Debbie Spenditnow’ ad during Super Bowl | The Raw Story
Rep. Bachus (R) faces insider-trading investigation
The Office of Congressional Ethics is investigating the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee over possible violations of insider-trading laws, according to individuals familiar with the case.
Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.), who holds one of the most influential positions in the House, has been a frequent trader on Capitol Hill, buying stock options while overseeing the nation’s banking and financial services industries.
Snip (and what does he do with this information)
Bachus said he gave up his “hobby” of trading when he became chairman of the Financial Services Committee after the Republican takeover of the House in November 2010. Although he has sometimes made money on trades, his financial disclosures indicate that his net worth has been cut in half during his time in Congress, declining from up to $2.3 million in 1995 to up to $1.1 million at the start of this year.
Stoopid: Rep. Bachus faces insider-trading investigation - The Washington Post
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/12/us...end-on-it.html
LINDSTROM, Minn. — Ki Gulbranson owns a logo apparel shop, deals in jewelry on the side and referees youth soccer games. He makes about $39,000 a year and wants you to know that he does not need any help from the federal government.
He says that too many Americans lean on taxpayers rather than living within their means. He supports politicians who promise to cut government spending. In 2010, he printed T-shirts for the Tea Party campaign of a neighbor, Chip Cravaack, who ousted this region’s long-serving Democratic congressman.
Yet this year, as in each of the past three years, Mr. Gulbranson, 57, is counting on a payment of several thousand dollars from the federal government, a subsidy for working families called the earned-income tax credit. He has signed up his three school-age children to eat free breakfast and lunch at federal expense. And Medicare paid for his mother, 88, to have hip surgery twice.
---
Mr. Gulbranson is a fucking idiot.
I don't see the racial angle at all. What is the alternative? To point out Treasury sales (China is #2 and Japan #1) with a white woman speaking from the United States?Quote:
Originally Posted by S Landreth
T-bills are worth discussing, as a lot of the money borrowed comes from Asia.
Quote:
Originally Posted by S Landreth
The racially-charged Super Bowl commercial put out by former Rep. Pete Hoekstra featuring an Asian actress speaking broken English has backfired and hurt the Michigan Republican’s campaign for U.S. Senate, according to a new poll on Tuesday.
Indeed, 54 percent of voters in Michigan were aware of Hoekstra’s controversial ad and 45 percent said it made them less likely to vote for him, according to Public Policy Polling. Only 16 percent said that the spot made them more likely to vote for him, and 37 percent said it didn’t make a difference in their voting preferences.
Hoekstra is now 14 points behind incumbent Sen. Debbie Stabenow in head-to-head polling, 51 percent to 37 percent. In July, her lead was just nine points, and in PPP’s previous three polls, her lead had been an average of seven points.
Quote:
Originally Posted by barbaro
:mid: :Poll: 'China girl' ad hurts Pete Hoekstra - Tim Mak - POLITICO.com
actress lisa chan apologizes for hoekstra ad
"I am deeply sorry for any pain that the character I portrayed brought to my communities. As a recent college grad who has spent time working to improve communities and empower those without a voice, this role is not in any way representative of who I am. It was absolutely a mistake on my part and one that, over time, I hope can be forgiven. I feel horrible about my participation and I am determined to resolve my actions."
Lisa Chan
--
CEO/ President, The Strive
Vice President, Sparxo Inc.
:mid: : actress lisa chan apologizes for hoekstra ad | angry asian manQuote:
Originally Posted by barbaro
Don't blame the actor, they have to take work where they can get it. I think the "racist" aspect, such as it is, is a lot less disturbing than the disinformation. The same old "the deficit is going to eat your children" bullshit for practitioners of folk economics.
I am not going to get upset with her, after learning more about her. She might be alright. She made a bad call, taking the commercial job. She knew better.Quote:
Originally Posted by robuzo
I am sure she’ll think harder about the next offer she gets.
HC: What is the best part of your job?
LC: The best part of my job, hands down, is to see the faces on the kid’s faces when we hand out new school supplies, books, awards, and scholarships. Those very moments will stay with me forever and make all the hard-work worthwhile. : How She Got There: Lisa Chan, President of The Strive | Her Campus
The Strive is a non-profit
Our partnership with Comcast strives to close the digital divide, an essential step in improving k-12 public education. The future of education is technology. Without access to internet and a computer available at home, low-income students are at a large disadvantage, causing their academic achievement to suffer. : The Strive
I have a bathing suit picture, also :)
300 years ago the English batshit crazy puritans went to America.Quote:
Originally Posted by Boon Mee
200 years ago the English batshit crazy felons went to Australia.
Australia got the better deal.
Romney co-chair resigns after allegations of same-sex relationship with immigrant
Paul Babeu, an emerging Republican figure and strong border defense sheriff, resigned from his position Saturday afternoon as Arizona co-chairman of Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign for allegations of threatening deportation on a former lover.
According to The Arizona Republic, a Romney spokesperson broke the news of Babeu’s decision to remove himself from the campaign.
“Sheriff Babeu has stepped down from his volunteer position with the campaign so he can focus on the allegations against him. We support his decision.”
Babeu has been rocked by the allegations from The Phoenix New Times late Thursday evening, where a Mexican immigrant named Jose told the newspaper that the sheriff and his lawyer threatened to deport him if he revealed their several years relationship.
Jose said that him and Babeu met in October 2006 on gay.com, a dating website, and that he maintained Babeu’s campaign website, Facebook page and Twitter account.
Babeu, who is also running for the U.S. House in Arizona’s new 4th Congressional District, is denying the allegations.
Where do they (rethugs abusing their power) find these fuckin’ people? : Romney co-chair resigns after allegations of same-sex relationship with immigrant | The Raw Story
José :) : Paul Babeu's Mexican Ex-Lover Says Sheriff's Attorney Threatened Him With Deportation - Page 1 - News - Phoenix - Phoenix New Times
two updates,….
The latest evidence is a Wednesday NBC/Marist poll that finds Hoekstra trailing incumbent Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow by 21 points.
As I understand Hoekstra has removed the ad from his website and removed it from youtube (copyright laws?).
Nice move Hoekstra: 2012 Hypothetical U.S. Senate Tossup in Michigan_Hoekstra_Stabenow_MI Registered Voters.htm
Wolf interviews the flamer,….
Wolf asked the gay Republican sheriff how he kept his bald head so clean. The answer the sheriff gave was “when he goes down on his boyfriends they would buff his head”.
I just watched the latest debate on CNN. It's beginning to look like we can't come up with a candidate. Of course, I'll vote for whomever we put up against Obama, but in the primary I'll probably vote for Ron Paul. It's looking to me that we're going to be stuck with four more years of sluggish growth and trillions more in debt. I just hope we can recover from it.
Pierce:
One of the more telling moments in last night's Carnival of Dickitude in Arizona came when Rick Santorum — and have I mentioned recently what a colossal dick he is? — was trying to explain why he'd voted in favor of No Child Left Behind, the education-reform program that was the signature achievement of President George W. Bush prior to Bush's actual signature achievement of Screwing Up The Entire World. Most of the attention has been paid to the fact that Santorum wound up drowning in oatmeal trying to explain how senators do their jobs. Some indiscreet booing went up, but I don't think the booing had anything to do with Santorum's ungainly tumble into the abyss of Palinspeak.
I think they were booing George W. Bush.
He is the man who isn't there. Until NCLB came up last night, the years 2000-2008 had been successfully written out of the narrative of the 2012 election. For these jamokes, time effectively began in January of 2009. It was Year Zero on the Kenyan Muslim Socialist Calendar. I do not believe that Bush's political non-personhood is an accident. It is now an article of faith among the Republican base that Bush's failures stem not from the fact that he was a manifest incompetent, but that he was too liberal a president. Putting through Medicare Part B without paying for it is a greater sin to these people than running two wars off the books was. No Child Left Behind had the endorsement of Teddy Kennedy! (Aieeeeeeee!) If only Bush had tried conservatism, the fairytale goes, then conservatism would have succeeded, as it always does. It never fails. It is only failed. C-Plus Augustus failed conservatism.[Emphasis mine- Robuzo]
Read more: George W Bush in 2012 Election - The Man Who Wasn't There - Esquire
Again and again I get confirmation that my comparison of the American "conservative" habit of mind with that of former USSR Communist Party members is accurate. The problem was never communism, it was a lack of purity in application. By the way, abortion was illegal, contraception was hard to come by (abortion was the usual method, as it is in most countries where contraception is discouraged) and homosexuality could get you sent to the gulag in the former USSR.
Documents: Babeu ran private boarding school with history of physical abuseQuote:
Originally Posted by S Landreth
Lucy Babeu told the ABC15 Investigators she confronted her brother after finding a student from DeSisto school living with Babeu.
“I said what is this student from Desisto doing here? He says, ‘Lucy, he's my boyfriend. I love him’.”
Lucy Babeu told us her brother was having a relationship with the male student.
“I said Paul get a hold of yourself here,” said Lucy. “You were his teacher! You were his Executive Director! You can't do this.”
Bye bye ya sick mother fucker: Documents: Babeu ran private boarding school with history of physical abuse
Anyone with a smidgeon of common sense would vote for Fred Flintstone over the B. Hussien. Unless, of course, their so-called 'white guilt' continues to overwhelm their senses.Quote:
Originally Posted by saxpression
And I guess he could get nominated tooQuote:
Originally Posted by Boon Mee
South Carolina’s Republican lieutenant governor resigns in ethics scandal
South Carolina’s Republican Lieutenant Governor Ken Ard resigned on Friday just before being indicted on seven counts of misusing campaign money.
An hour after the indictment was announced, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years of probation and a $5000 fine. He could have faced as much as seven years in prison and $35,000 in fines.
Ard was elected in November 2010 with 55% of the vote, but by the following February the state ethics commission had begun investigating his campaign finances and he was charged with 106 civil violations. Ard admitted to these and paid a fine, but a grand jury soon began the criminal investigation that led to the current indictment.
link: South Carolina’s Republican lieutenant governor resigns in ethics scandal | The Raw Story