Which House Democrat should get Blue America's first endorsement? (desmoinesdem)
Blue America PAC wants you to go here and vote for one of five great House Democrats. The winner will receive Blue America's first endorsement of the 2010 cycle. You can watch videos for each of the five options here: Donna Edwards, Alan Grayson, Raul Grijalva, Barbara Lee, and Jerrold Nadler.
Posted at 11/23/2009 02:26:24 PM EST - #
It's Time To Close The Terror Gap (Cliff Schecter)
You can learn more about "the terror gap" here. Rahm agrees (or he did in 2007, see below).
Posted at 11/23/2009 12:30:51 PM EST - #
"The Conspiracy to Kill the New Deal" (desmoinesdem)
Scary and important diary by Bruce Webb.
Posted at 11/22/2009 11:23:03 PM EST - #
Blanche Lincoln's website supports public option (desmoinesdem)
Senator Blanche Lincoln is even more of a dishonest tool than I thought. On Saturday she promised to filibuster any health care reform bill containing a public option, but Think Progress noticed that on her own official Senate website, she still claims to support a public option:
“Individuals should be able to choose from a range of quality health insurance plans. Options should include private plans as well as a quality, affordable public plan or non-profit plan that can accomplish the same goals as those of a public plan.”
Earlier this year, Lincoln signed on to Health Care for America Now's statement of common purpose, which also called for creating a public option.
Posted at 11/22/2009 08:12:58 AM EST - #
Big Coal's PR Spending Spree (desmoinesdem)
Good piece by Kate Sheppard for Mother Jones:
The coal industry's major lobby group, the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, shelled out a stunning $47 million last year on lobbying, advertising and "grassroots outreach" efforts to fight climate legislation and tout the benefits of "clean coal." Its efforts to actually develop clean coal technology, however, were a lot less impressive.
Posted at 11/21/2009 10:13:28 AM EST - #
IA-03: Former college wrestling coach to challenge Boswell (desmoinesdem)
The mystery "top-rate" Republican recruit against Representative Leonard Boswell (D) emerged today. It's former Iowa State University wrestling coach Jim Gibbons. More details are at Bleeding Heartland.
Posted at 11/19/2009 12:06:26 PM EST - #
Tea Baggers Target Gore... (Cliff Schecter)
Posted at 11/18/2009 03:31:51 PM EST - #
Stimulus Watch (Jerome Armstrong)
Great new Stimulus Watch website here. Much cleaner info than the $18M waste of money at recovery.gov
Posted at 11/18/2009 01:26:00 PM EST - #
CREW seeks ethics inquiry of Bachmann (desmoinesdem)
Watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) has requested an investigation into whether Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) broke House rules in organizing an anti-health care reform rally on November 5. In a letter sent to the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), CREW contends that Bachmann violated House rules by using her official member's website to garner "grassroots lobbying" for the health care protest in question.
Posted at 11/18/2009 08:11:21 AM EST - #
Did IRC help? (MN Campaign Report)
The City of Minneapolis implemented Ranked Choice/Instant Runoff Voting for its city elections this year. Did it help? Did it have any effect whatsoever? Should we even be toying with this?
Posted at 11/16/2009 11:14:13 AM EST - #
5 Worst cities for urban youth (desmoinesdem)
According to ScoopDaily: Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, Baltimore and Cleveland.
Posted at 11/15/2009 02:40:17 PM EST - #
"The Bishops' Huge Financial Stake in Stupak-Pitts" (desmoinesdem)
Hadn't thought about this angle. Read this piece by Wendy Norris at RHRealityCheck.org.
Posted at 11/14/2009 06:44:29 PM EST - #
Conservative group wants FEC to override state laws on robocalls (desmoinesdem)
Interesting story from the Des Moines Register's politics blog:
The American Future Fund Political Action has asked the Federal Election Commission for an advisory opinion about whether federal law preempts laws like that in Minnesota. In that state, a live operator must initiate the recorded call with the consent of the person receiving the call. The political action committee, which raises and contributes money for political campaigns, is based in Virginia, but its advocacy arm, American Future Fund, is run out of Des Moines. Des Moines lawyer Nick Ryan, chairman of American Future Fund’s board, said such restrictions interfere with federal campaign finance laws, which cover the activities of federal candidates, national party organizations and political action committees. Ryan argued that the issue his group is raising is about fairness. For example, it is more expensive to conduct a telephone campaign that requires hiring staff, an obstacle to candidates with small warchests, Ryan said.Here's some background on the American Future Fund. Two of its top staffers have recently joined the gubernatorial campaign of former Governor Terry Branstad.
Posted at 11/10/2009 03:25:50 PM EST - #
URGENT: Call these House Ds Saturday to oppose Stupak amendment (desmoinesdem)
Bart Stupak's amendment restricting private insurance coverage of abortion will get a vote on the House floor. Here's a list of wavering House Democrats you can call ASAP. This amendment would be a very bad deal for women.
Posted at 11/07/2009 01:59:08 PM EST - #
WI-08: Wingnut plans to run as "conservative independent" (desmoinesdem)
Two-term Democratic incumbent Steve Kagen (WI-08) may face a Doug Hoffman-type independent candidate next year in addition to a Republican challenger. From WildRiversNews.com:
Former Niagara Mayor Joe Stern said Monday that he is running for the Eighth Congressional District’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Stern said he intends to run as a conservative independent and will challenge the Republican and Democrat nominees in November 2010. [...] Stern, 44, who lives in the Town of Beecher, served as Niagara’s mayor from January 2005 to January 2009. He chose not to seek re-election. [...] Stern said he considers himself a pro-life conservative candidate more closely aligned with Republicans than Democrats. “Neither party is truly serving my interests at this point,” he said. “I’m not going to run as a Republican, but I’ll be happy to take their money.”
Posted at 11/06/2009 06:42:50 AM EST - #
50 percent of southerners say Obama better president than Bush (desmoinesdem)
Via Greg Sargent's Plumline blog:
CNN finally sends over the cross tabs of that poll I wrote about yesterday finding that Obama is viewed in the south as a better president than Bush. Here are the exact numbers:
All in all, do you think Barack Obama has been a better president than George W. Bush, or do you think Bush was a better president than Obama has been?
South:
Obama better: 50%
Bush better: 39%
Posted at 11/04/2009 07:25:28 PM EST - #
What Yesterday Says About Young Voters (Mike Connery)
What Yesterday Says About Young Voters.
Posted at 11/04/2009 01:20:36 PM EST - #
Max Blumenthal on the dysfunctional movement driving the GOP (Mike Connery)
In light of the results yesterday in NY-23, this seems particularly relevant:
Tonight, Max Blumenthal and Joe Conason will appear on Book Talk Radio to discuss Blumenthal's new book Republican Gomorrah: Inside the Movement that Shattered the Party.
In Republican Gomorrah, Blumenthal describes the people and the beliefs that establishment Republicans need to kowtow to if they have any hope of running for president, and how moderates have been systematically purged from party ranks.
The conversation begins at 8pm (EST) on Book Talk Radio.
(Disclosure: I work for PBC, the organization hosting the conversation.)
Posted at 11/04/2009 01:14:16 PM EST - #
IA-Gov: Culver launches second tv ad (desmoinesdem)
Democratic Governor Chet Culver launched his second television commercial today, a 30-second spot focusing on his response to last year's flooding and this year's budget shortfall. (A few weeks ago Culver ordered a 10 percent across-the-board cut in the current-year budget.) Bleeding Heartland is a bit concerned about Culver's heavy use of conservative anti-tax framing in this ad and his first commercial, which he started running the same day former Governor Terry Branstad moved closer to announcing his candidacy.
Posted at 11/03/2009 07:51:53 PM EST - #
Hilarious Vid On Why We Must Vote No On Issue 2!! (Cliff Schecter)
Facebook group here. Video below. Happy Monday all! Full Disclosure: I am consulting on this effort to beat back a naked power grab to corrupt the Ohio Constitution, Ohio government and put all power to regulate livestock in the hands of 13 political appointees and corporate Agri-Cronies...
Posted at 11/02/2009 09:45:14 AM EST - #
NY-23: Scozzafava Drops Out! (lipris)
Clearing the way for a teabagger win, Dede Scozzafava has "suspended" her campaign in NY-23.
Posted at 10/31/2009 11:56:57 AM EST - #
NY-23: Pataki Goes Rogue, Endorses Teabagger Darling Doug Hoffman (lipris)
Sarah Palin, Michele Bachman, Jim DeMint, Tony Perkins, Michelle Bachman and now George Pataki. Didn't see that coming.
Posted at 10/30/2009 01:39:29 AM EST - #
Dunne Considering Run For VT-Gov (Nathan Empsall)
The race for Vermont's open Governorship is getting pretty crowded. Former state senator and Lt. Gov nominee Matt Dunne is publicly considering throwing his hat in the race. Dunne is a highly progressive, young, extremely bright, experienced, and articulate thinker who would do an amazing job for New England. I volunteered for his 2006 Lt. Gov. campaign, which outperformed the Democratic Party's nominee for Governor. Encourage him to run at vermontfuture.org.
Posted at 10/29/2009 04:41:34 PM EST - #
McGovern Grandson Looks to Challenge Thune in 2010 (Jonathan Singer)
Congress Daily reports:
Matt McGovern, grandson of former Sen. George McGovern, D-S.D., is considering running against GOP Sen. John Thune next year, South Dakota political sources said Tuesday. The younger McGovern is a state director for Repower America, a nonprofit organization supporting "comprehensive clean energy legislation."Per Congress Daily, McGovern served as Barack Obama's South Dakota director in 2008.
Posted at 10/28/2009 11:56:02 AM EST - #
IA-03: Two potential challengers for Boswell (desmoinesdem)
Most House district rankings put Iowa's third Congressional district in either the "safe D" or "likely D" category, but two prominent Republicans are still thinking about running against Leonard Boswell. Bleeding Heartland has background on Brad Zaun and Mike Mahaffey, who will decide within the next few weeks whether to run for Congress next year.
Posted at 10/27/2009 07:24:42 PM EST - #
NJ-Gov: Daggett Goes After Christie and Corzine (Jonathan Singer)
Can't say it's not entertaining:
Posted at 10/27/2009 03:48:54 PM EST - #
Stop The Agricultural Industrial Complex Assault (Cliff Schecter)
Posted at 10/27/2009 09:15:08 AM EST - #
Social Networking with the Democrats for U.S. Senate (Senate Guru)
Click here for a compilation of the social networking links for the Democratic incumbents and candidates running for U.S. Senate in 2010.
Posted at 10/22/2009 08:22:02 PM EST - #
NC-Sen: 8 Ways Richard Burr Displayed Poor Judgment, a Lack of Integrity, and Utter Contempt for Others (Senate Guru)
Senate Guru compiles a list of the eight ways Richard Burr has displayed poor judgment, a lack of integrity, and utter contempt for others, often disregarding - or even actively harming - North Carolina's families. These include voting against giving rape victims their day in court, lying about support for "Cash for Clunkers," voting to keep "being a victim of domestic abuse" a pre-existing condition, and a certain order to his wife to make a notorious run on the ATMs.
Posted at 10/21/2009 08:50:33 AM EST - #
Kent Conrad caption contest (desmoinesdem)
Bold Progressives has $100 for the person who submits the best caption for a photo showing public option foe, Senator Kent Conrad, holding his poodle.
Posted at 10/18/2009 08:18:41 AM EST - #
Complete Q3 Fundraising Numbers for 2010 Senate Candidates (Senate Guru)
Posted at 10/18/2009 02:29:25 AM EST - #
VA-Gov: WaPo endorses Deeds (desmoinesdem)
Not surprising, but worth a read. Excerpt:
If the current campaign for governor has clarified anything, it is that state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, the Democratic nominee, has the good sense and political courage to maintain the forward-looking policies of the past while addressing the looming challenge of fixing the state's dangerously inadequate roads. The Republican candidate, former attorney general Robert F. McDonnell, offers something different: a blizzard of bogus, unworkable, chimerical proposals, repackaged as new ideas, that crumble on contact with reality. They would do little if anything to build a better transportation system.There are plenty of reasons why Mr. Deeds is the better choice for governor in the Nov. 3 election. He has stood with Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, the incumbent, and his predecessor, now-Sen. Mark R. Warner, in support of the sane fiscal and budgetary choices that have made the state one of the best-governed and most business-friendly in the nation. Mr. McDonnell has generally spurned those policies, most notably by opposing Mr. Warner's landmark tax package in 2004, which attracted bipartisan support as it boosted public safety and education and protected the state's finances. Mr. Deeds has compiled a moderate record on divisive social issues that reflects Virginia's status as a centrist swing state. Mr. McDonnell has staked out the intolerant terrain on his party's right wing, fighting a culture war that seized his imagination as a law student in the Reagan era.
Posted at 10/17/2009 08:13:34 PM EST - #
IA-Gov: Former GOP Gov. Branstad to declare soon (desmoinesdem)
"Sources close to [former Governor Terry] Branstad" tell WHO-TV's Dave Price that Branstad will announce his candidacy for a fifth term as governor this Friday. Whatever the date, it's obvious Branstad has committed to the race. Bleeding Heartland reviews the recent news and unintentional comedy from the Branstad camp.
Posted at 10/14/2009 10:24:42 PM EST - #
IA-Sen: More speculation on a challenger for Grassley (desmoinesdem)
Former First Lady Christie Vilsack is fueling speculation that she's thinking about challenging Senator Chuck Grassley next year, saying she's "well-qualified" to run. Many Iowa politicos agree with the political gossip columnist for Des Moines' Cityview weekly, who is sure that prominent attorney Roxanne Conlin is the mystery candidate.
Posted at 10/14/2009 10:22:17 PM EST - #
“Should these men have been allowed to carry a gun?” (Cliff Schecter)
Upon the release of Gun Show: Undercover report and video last week (on which I assisted, for full disclosure), it was made clear that even when sellers know that someone cannot pass a background check, they still illegally sell. Well perhaps it is this culture of illegality and looking the other way when it comes to guns that leads to this (in Ohio no less, where 4 of these videotaped gun shows occurred): And this.
Posted at 10/13/2009 04:56:57 PM EST - #
Book Talk Radio: Mike Huttner and Mike Lux (Mike Connery)
Tonight, the Progressive Book Club is hosting a Book Talk Radio event with Mike Huttner and Mike Lux. The conversation will focus on Huttner's new book, 50 Ways You Can Help Obama Change America.
Show starts at 8pm EST. Details here.
Posted at 10/12/2009 02:17:48 PM EST - #
Food safety bill may not clear Senate this year (desmoinesdem)
So says Senate HELP Committee Chairman Tom Harkin, whose staff is tied up working on other legislation this fall. The House passed a bill expanding the authority of the Food and Drug Administration in June. Harkin is still expressing confidence that the Senate will pass a version of that bill, but not necessarily this year.
Posted at 10/10/2009 04:20:08 PM EST - #
IA-Gov: Draft Branstad PAC "ignores Iowa election law" (desmoinesdem)
When Republican power-brokers formed the Draft Branstad PAC last month, I assumed that the entity was a political action committee, as implied by the name "PAC." However, the Draft Branstad PAC registered with the Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board as a 527 committee. The distinction is important, because unlike PACs, 527 groups do not have to disclose their donors and are not allowed to advocate for candidates.
Today the Iowa Democratic Party caught the folks in charge of the Draft Branstad effort "engaging in express advocacy for Branstad, who became a candidate on Wednesday." Bleeding Heartland has the IDP's statement, with details on the violations.
Posted at 10/09/2009 07:23:34 PM EST - #
Gun Show: Undercover (Cliff Schecter)
Amazing how those criminals get their hands on illegal guns, isn't it? Perhaps not.... Full Disclosure: I have consulted on this issue and am passionate about gun safety
Posted at 10/07/2009 03:28:34 PM EST - #
PA-Sen: Meet the REAL Arlen Specter (Senate Guru)
Want to meet the REAL Arlen Specter?
Posted at 10/06/2009 11:31:49 PM EST - #
SUSA September Senate Approval Numbers (Senate Guru)
Survey USA is up with their September approve-disapprove numbers for U.S. Senators from selected states. Check 'em out. The highlight: Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley's worst numbers ever, dropping from 71-22 in January to 50-40 in September.
Posted at 10/04/2009 08:29:28 PM EST - #
Iranian president has Jewish ancestry (desmoinesdem)
Fascinating story in The Daily Telegraph:
A close-up of the document reveals he was previously known as Sabourjian – a Jewish name meaning cloth weaver. The short note scrawled on the card suggests his family changed its name to Ahmadinejad when they converted to embrace Islam after his birth. The Sabourjians traditionally hail from Aradan, Mr Ahmadinejad's birthplace, and the name derives from "weaver of the Sabour", the name for the Jewish Tallit shawl in Persia. The name is even on the list of reserved names for Iranian Jews compiled by Iran's Ministry of the Interior. Experts last night suggested Mr Ahmadinejad's track record for hate-filled attacks on Jews could be an overcompensation to hide his past.
Posted at 10/03/2009 11:20:03 PM EST - #
Dick Gephardt's "Spectacular Sellout" (desmoinesdem)
Sebastian Jones has the depressing story on Gephardt's lobbying career at The Nation.
Posted at 10/01/2009 03:38:49 PM EST - #
VT-Gov: Lt. Gov. Dubie (R) to run for open Governorship, will clear GOP primary field (odum)
This race is among the DGA's top targets, as the departing GOP Governor - Jim Douglas - has been considered to be unbeatable by many. Social conservative Dubie will clear the GOP primary field. Dem primary is currently at 3 candidates, and will likely be up to five by month's end. Unclear on whether VT's leftist third party (Progressives) will field a candidate.
Posted at 10/01/2009 12:11:23 PM EST - #
"Gay marriage ban is underdog in Maine" (desmoinesdem)
according to Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight.com's number-crunching.
Posted at 10/01/2009 11:36:06 AM EST - #
VIDEO: Howard Dean on the Public Option (Mike Connery)
Progressive Book Club (my employer) has video of Gov. Dean talking about health care reform and the public option - all questions submitted by our members.
Posted at 09/28/2009 05:28:55 PM EST - #
Long-live the blogosphere in the stratosphere (Jerome Armstrong)
LAS VEGAS -- The developer of the 1,149-foot Stratosphere tower on the Las Vegas Strip has died.
Posted at 09/26/2009 07:07:47 PM EST - #
Ask Congress to support $4 billion for high-speed rail (desmoinesdem)
The $8 billion in stimulus funds for high-speed rail projects generated applications from dozens of states totaling more than $200 billion. Responding to the tremendous demand for high-speed rail, the House of Representatives passed a transportation appropriations bill that invests $4 billion in high-speed rail next year. However, the Senate version of the bill allocates only $1.2 billion for this purpose. The Chicago-based Environmental Law and Policy Center makes it easy for you to send an e-mail to your members of Congress urging that the final FY 2010 transportation appropriations bill maintains the $4 billion investment in high-speed rail.
Posted at 09/25/2009 06:14:12 AM EST - #
Iowa Senate district will be "ground zero" for gay marriage battle (desmoinesdem)
A high-profile showdown is coming next year in Iowa Senate district 37. Republican State Representative Kent Sorenson has decided to challenge first-term Senator Staci Appel instead of seeking re-election to Iowa House district 74. The socially conservative Sorenson made a splash this summer with his open letter imploring Senator Chuck Grassley to provide "principled and bold leadership" to advance the Republican Party platform. Appel's husband is one of the seven Iowa Supreme Court justices who unanimously struck down our Defense of Marriage Act in April.
Bleeding Heartland says bring it on.
Posted at 09/24/2009 11:24:53 AM EST - #
Bob McDonnell Cited "All pornography is homosexual pornography" Guy in Thesis (lowkell)
And it gets worse and worse for "Pat Robertson Bob" McDonnell in the Virginia governor's race, as he is now linked to Sen. Tom Coburn's (R-OK) Chief of Staff Michael Schwartz, who also said he wants to "impale" judges, that "homosexuality is inflicted on people," and lots of other wonderful comments.
Posted at 09/22/2009 01:17:13 PM EST - #
