Inspire Political Discourse

Trash Talking: the health care reform bill not as unpopular as you think

At least according to Ana Marie Cox at The Wire, and she makes a very good case for her position:

I was on the phone with a Republican staffer the other day, talking about the GOP's response to the passage of health care reform legislation. He said that his side was actually pleased, not because they like the bill, obviously, but because "the public will fight back in November. It's an enormously unpopular bill and the Democrats will suffer for having supported it."

But, I replied, what about the most recent polling? The USA Today poll, that showed 48 percent of respondents think of the bill as "a good first step"? Or the ABC/Washington Post poll that showed a more voters -- (40 percent) -- say that their representative's vote on the legislation will make "no difference" in who they support in the fall than say it will be a positive or a negative? Or the CBS poll that showed a five point bump in favor of the bill after passage? Or the second ABC/WP poll that showed that Congressional Democrats and Nancy Pelosi got steady in their approval ratings among after it passed?

Be sure to read the entire article.......there is much more to it than what I quoted, and it will help you to bolster your arguments with the naysayers/proponents of "I hate the bill so I'll claim that everyone else does too, and because of all this hate, Democrats are gonna lose big in the midterms".  Heh.

Monday, March 2, 2009 on Media Matters

 

• Just weeks after suggesting Dodd should be "impeached" on CNBC, Kudlow confirms interest in Dodd's Senate seat

• Limbaugh accused Sebelius of blocking KS tax refunds, ignoring Republicans' budget demands

• Boehlert: Matthews' "Oh God" vs. Santelli's rant: Which told us more about the press?

• Media predictably revive conservative rhetoric of "socialized medicine" with Sebelius pick

• Wash. Times' Lambro falsely accused Obama of misrepresenting contents of bill
• CBS Evening News airs Donohue saying Sebelius nomination is "an insult to Catholics" without noting her Catholic support
• Wall Street Journal advances discredited claim that Clinton did not condemn Suha Arafat's remarks
• USA Today uncritically reported Rep. Price's tax deduction falsehood

Another Bailed-Out Bank and a Warped Sense of Priorities

:: The bank is Northern Trust, based in Chicago, a bank that received $1.6 million in bail-out funds.
In December, Northern Trust announced that they would eliminate 450 jobs. Last week, they celebrated in Las Vegas.

From TMZ:

Northern Trust, a Chicago-based bank, sponsored the Northern Trust Open at the Riviera Country Club in L.A. We’re told Northern Trust paid millions to sponsor the PGA event which ended Sunday, but what happened off the golf course is even more shocking.

Northern Trust flew hundreds of clients and employees to L.A. and put many of them up at some of the fanciest and priciest hotels in the city. We’re told more than a hundred people were put up at the Beverly Wilshire in Bev Hills, and another hundred stayed at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel. Still more stayed at the Ritz Carlton in Marina Del Rey and others at Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica.

Additionally, Northern Trust hosted a series of lavish parties, entertained by famous singers. What a bunch of complete losers. From CBS:

The private party was lavish; the entertainment, top notch. Grammy winner, Sheryl Crow entertained while hundreds of bankers and clients dined on steak and salmon at The House of Blues on Los Angeles's glitzy Sunset Strip. The Saturday soiree capped a week of partying.
There was dinner at the Ritz while the band "Chicago" played and cocktails in Santa Monica. All were captured by celebrity Web site TMZ. And it was all paid for by Chicago-based Northern Trust bank - three months after Northern Trust got $1.6 billion in taxpayer's bailout money and laid off hundreds of workers.

Image courtesy of TMZ.
H/T Think Progress.
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CBS News Names a Partisan Hack as Senior Vice President of Communications

::  More PARTISAN media on the Republican side. CBS News has named Jeff Ballabon, a very partisan Republican activist in New York, as it's Senior Veep of Communications. Note the testimonial from G. Gordon Liddy, mastermind of the Watergate Burglaries.
From: Potomac Flacks (bolding is mine):

Mediabistro.com reports that CBS News & Sports president Sean McManus has announced the hiring of Jeff Ballabon as SVP of Communications for CBS News. Ballabon takes over for Sandy Genelius who left CBS for Sony last fall.
McManus writes to the staff, "Jeff will oversee all media relations and public affairs for CBS News, including strategy and planning, day-to-day publicity, internal and external communications, and coordination with CBS Interactive regarding CBSNews.com."
...... of testimonials, including this one from G. Gordon Liddy: "When Jeff Ballabon tells you he can do something, consider it done, and done well." (mediabistro.com)

From: HUFFPOST:

A decade ago, I debated Ballabon in New York. I represented the Democratic Jewish community while he spoke on behalf of Republican Jews. During the debate, Ballabon claimed that, after his most recent job in Washington, he became convinced that Democrats are inherently bad people and Republicans are fundamentally good people.

What planet does this guy come from? It's astonishing that CBS News would name Ballabon to its senior management.

In fact, it is not atypical of Ballabon to use this kind of extreme partisan rhetoric. During the 2008 election, Ballabon said, "Obama is incredibly dangerous."

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Political News Catch-Up Summary - Thursday, January 22 - Friday, January 23, 2009

:: Jan. 23 - A bank which received bailout money, employs the wife of House Republican Whip Eric Cantor. Bolding is mine. From PROPUBLICA:

House Republican Whip Eric Cantor [1], a rising star in the Republican party, has been a prominent voice demanding accountability in how the government doles out hundreds of billions for bank bailouts.
This Thursday, Cantor cast a high-profile vote opposing release of another $350 billion in bailout funds. Unpublicized until now was a recent development: The Treasury Department used $267 million of taxpayer funds to buy preferred stock in a private banking company that employs Cantor's wife.
The bailout for New York Private Bank and Trust (NYPBT) [2] came earlier this month as part of a Treasury Department program to boost "healthy banks" with extra capital. NYPBT is the holding company for Emigrant Bank [3], a savings bank with 35 branches in and around New York City. Diana Cantor runs the Virginia branch of Emigrant's wealth-management division, called Virginia Private Bank & Trust, which targets an ultra-rich clientele.

Hmm...and where exactly is your accountability re this direct conflict of interest, Mr. Cantor?

Mark Wilson/Getty Images.

Political News Summary - Tuesday, January 13, 2009

:: Roland Burris to be sworn in to the senate on Thursday.

“Roland Burris will take his seat in the Senate Thursday – a day later than planned so that his family can be on hand for his swearing in, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Tuesday.”Source: POLITICO

__________________________
:: Pelosi's Cat Cam.

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:: Breaking News: Timothy Geithner, Obama's nominee for SOTT, under some scrutiny re his personal taxes and his housekeeper's immigration status.
From everything I have read up till now, it seems that this will not cause Democrats to withdraw their support. But, we'll see.

Full Transcript - This Week's George Stephanopoulos' Interview With Obama, January 11, 2009

George Stephanopoulos' Exclusive Interview with President-Elect Barack Obama

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Hello, again. In nine days he will be president of the United States. This morning Barack Obama is our exclusive headliner. Welcome back to THIS WEEK.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT-ELECT: Thank you, George.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Does it feel like you're president already?

OBAMA: No.

Political News Summary, Monday, January 5, 2009

:: IPD Daily Political Cartoon Find.

Gary Wasserman, the Boston Globe
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:: Update on the Coleman-Franken senate race.

Obama Press Conference December 11, 2008 - Transcript and Video

Watch the video of PEBO's remarks or read the transcript after the jump.

:: CHICAGO - Full Transcript of President-Elect Obama's Press Conference on Dec.11, 2008, including the press corps questions, and Obama's responses.

Daily Political News Round-Up - Wednesday, December 3, 2008

►John Brennan forced out of consideration for CIA director by the Obama team, thanks in large part to liberal bloggers.

“Former CIA official John Brennan, once considered the top choice to serve as CIA director in President-elect Barack Obama's administration, was pressured by the Obama transition team to pull his name from consideration, according to friends and former intelligence associates.
Brennan's withdrawal, offered in a Nov. 25 letter to Obama, came after liberal bloggers mounted an opposition campaign against his possible appointment.”  NPR

................................................................................................................

►Wingnut Alert: Senate leadership to craft legislation that will clear the wingnut hurdle to Hillary Clinton's appointment as Secretary of State. Bolding is mine.

“the Senate leadership is working to craft legislation that will make it possible for her to take the post despite a Constitutional clause saying that members of Congress are ineligible to take an appointed post if the salary for the post in question has increased while the member was in elected office.

The Senate's efforts, which would cut the Secretary of State's salary back to what it was when Hillary was reelected to her current term, come in response to a declaration yesterday by the winger group Judicial Watch that the Constitution blocks her from serving.”  TPM

Lieberman Goes Unpunished by Senate - DPN - Wednesday, November 19, 2008

►ABC News reports that P-E Obama has appointed a blogger, the first ever to fill a cabinet position, for his cabinet. | Source

►Lieberman crows to Couric about his lack of punishment, and says he feels "closer to Dems" than he has since 2000. *gagging*

Watch CBS Videos Online

“Asked to respond to critics who are angry at how little punishment Lieberman received for campaigning against Barack Obama in the election, the Connecticut Independent pointed to Barack Obama's appeal against retribution.”  »Huffpo

:: Lieberman: Dems didn’t punish me »Politico

►Not really political 'news' persay, but nevertheless of interest to many online, Andrew Sullivan, at The Atlantic poses the question "Will Blogs Kill Political Magazines?" Interesting and well written, Sullivan is one of my favorite writers online.

:: James Joyner responds to Sullivan »Outside the Beltway
:: Sullivan responds to Joyner in Will Blogs Kill Political Magazines?, Ctd.

60 Minutes Interview With Michelle and Barack Obama - Full Video

A smashing interview with Michelle and Barack Obama by 60 Minutes. Among the topics covered by Steve Croft solely with President-elect Obama were the economy, the big 3, Guantanamo (Obama reiterated his intent to shut down Guantanamo and stop the torture), national security, Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden, the financial crisis, and former presidents Lincoln and FDR.

During Croft's conversation with both of the Obamas, they talked about their visit to the White House, the soon-to-be family dog, their resolve to ensure that the whole experience of being the children of a president doesn't adversely affect their daughters, and college football.

One of the most interesting aspects of the interview for me, was the opportunity to see the  interaction between Michelle and Barack Obama as a couple. But, most heartwarming for me was the realization that I had while listening to Obama talk. And that realization is that we have indeed chosen the best and most knowledgeable man to be the 44th president. I have very high hopes for this presidency, and I am eager to watch it all play out.

Don't miss this interview, it is well worth watching!

Watch CBS Videos Online

This interview originally aired on CBS on Sunday, November 16, 2008.
The full transcript is available here.
Photo Credit: Aaron Tomlinson/CBS

RECENT POSTS

>Political News Round-up, Monday, November 17, 2008
>The Changing Face of the G.O.P. as Infighting Rules - Part I
>Solidarity With Prop 8 Protesters
>Sarah Palin in Desperate Need of an English Class.....or Three
>Palin Still Matters
>Palin and Rachel Maddow on Bloggers in Pajamas
>Op-Ed: Prop 8 Unconstitutional

Political News Round-up, Monday, November 17, 2008

►Lieberman May Survive With Slap on the Wrist - Roll Call
According to Roll Call, Dem leaders are expected to allow Lieberman to keep his chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee but lose his chairmanship of the Environment and Public Works subcommittee.This amounts to nothing, not even a slap on the wrist, IMO. I really had hoped that they would kick him to the curb, as he so richly deserves.

►Palin is the first confirmed speaker for the 2009 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) - Think Progress
Palin so loves the attention, she apparently plans to stay in the national spotlight, even in to 2009 OMG - *screams and pulls some more hair out*

►Obama interview with 60 Minutes - CBS
         - full video here
         - NYT on the interview
         - Huffpo on the interview
         - Politico on the interview

►Clinton in the vetting process - NYT
         - Huffpo on the vetting process
         - Politico - Bill vetting could cost Hillary her Cabinet post

►John McCain and Obama meet today - HuffPo
         - Pics and statement from meeting - HuffPo
         - Obama And McCain Talk Transition - The Washington Post
         - Obama Meets With McCain in Chicago - NYT

Note: There has been no update from Alaska on the count to determine which candidate has won the Senate seat. The Democrat, Begich, was at last tally on Friday, ahead of convicted felon, Senator Ted Stevens, by 1,000+ votes. We really, really want Begich to win, because if Stevens does, he will be ousted, and Palin will very likely take his place. Which would put her in a much better position for 2012. *throwing pennies in a fountain and muttering incantations*

Palin Continues to Lie Re the Findings of the Troopergate Report - Does she think that we can't read?

Palin: ‘No Abuse Of Power There At All’ In Troopergate Report»

A report released last Friday by the bipartisan Alaska Legislative Council found that Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) “abused her power” and violated a statute of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act — an act, the report stressed, that “is not optional.”

Since the report’s release, the McCain-Palin campaign has been in full spin mode. Campaign manager Rick Davis falsely claimed “there was absolutely no wrongdoing found in the report.” And when asked by a reporter if she abused her power, Palin dodged, saying “there’s nothing unlawful or unethical about replacing a cabinet member” — referring to her dismissal of Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan.

But yesterday, during an interview with the local CBS affiliate in Pittsburgh, Palin stooped a little lower, stating flat out that the Legislative Council’s report had found that she did not abuse her power:  Full article here.

Troopergate Goes to Alaska Supreme Court

►Alaska Supreme Court takes up 'Troopergate' case - The Huffington Post

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Alaska Supreme Court will decide whether to block the findings of an abuse-of-power investigation due to be released next week that could be potentially damaging to Gov. Sarah Palin's vice presidential candidacy.

The court accepted an emergency appeal late Friday filed by six Alaska lawmakers who claim the investigation is being manipulated to hurt Palin before Election Day on Nov. 4. The court scheduled oral arguments for Wednesday on whether to suppress the probe's findings.

The independent investigator conducting the probe plans to turn over his conclusions by next Friday to the ...........Continue reading here.

RELATED POSTS:

• Troopergate documents
• Troopergate from the beginning
• Colberg files suit to quash subpoenas

• Lawsuit to Freeze the Troopergate Investigation Goes to Court

• Legislative subpoenas go unanswered

• Palin, Monegan comments on Troopergate changed over time
• Alaska Politics blog: The Troopergate papers
• Colberg files suit to quash subpoenas
• Video: Colberg Friday news conference
• Video: What Palin has said about Troopergate, and what the campaign says now
• Todd Palin Ignores Subpoena in Troopergate Investigation

• Todd Palin Ignores Troopergate Subpoena - CBS News

• Todd Palin Subpoenaed in TrooperGate Investigation

• Alaskans Against Sarah Palin Rally

Palin Says Being Gay is a Choice

The Washington Post Opinion Writers:

"But as for homosexuality, I am not going to judge Americans and the decisions that they make in their adult personal relationships. I have one of my absolute best friends for the last 30 years happens to be gay, and I love her dearly. And she is not my 'gay friend,' she is one of my best friends, who happens to have made a choice that isn't a choice that I have made. But I am not going to judge people."

-- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric

Gov. Palin, a choice is between Coke or Pepsi, Cher or Celine, Yuengling or Budweiser, Jimmy Choos or Manolos. Not whether to be gay or straight.

No one would choose to put their careers on the line. "Of our over 5,000 Legal Help Desk calls in 2007, 78 percent (2,778) were sexual orientation discrimination," says Lisa Hardaway, media relations director of Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund. "Of the sexual orientation discrimination issues, 26 percent (730) were workplace-related." According to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, about 12,500 people who were serving their nation with honor have been drummed out of the military since 1994 because they were gay under the nonsensical "don't ask don't tell" policy. At least 59 of them were Arabic linguists who are sorely needed in the war on terror.

No one would choose to be part of a marginalized group whose members have to sue their way to basic rights so that their relationships and their families are respected. Rights, such as hospital visitation and inheritance, that heterosexual couples take for granted. Continue reading here.

RELATED ARTICLES:

• View all posts on Inspire Political Discourse tagged "Sarah Palin"

Lawsuit to Freeze the Troopergate Investigation Goes to Court

Inspire Note: What is Palin hiding? If she is innocent, let the investigation go forward, and allow the public to know the truth.

►Troopergate suit heads to court - The Anchorage Daily News

A lawsuit aimed at freezing the Legislature's abuse-of-power investigation of Gov. Sarah Palin hits the courtroom this week.

Troopergate documents

Troopergate from the beginning

Colberg files suit to quash subpoenas

RELATED ARTICLES: 

►Legislative subpoenas go unanswered

►Palin, Monegan comments on Troopergate changed over time

►Alaska Politics blog: The Troopergate papers

►Colberg files suit to quash subpoenas

►Video: Colberg Friday news conference

►Video: What Palin has said about Troopergate, and what the campaign says now

►Todd Palin Ignores Subpoena in Troopergate Investigation

►Todd Palin Ignores Troopergate Subpoena - CBS News

►Todd Palin Subpoenaed in TrooperGate Investigation

►Alaskans Against Sarah Palin Rally

Anti-Palin Rally on Saturday Angry About Troopergate

►Anti-Palin rally calls for Colberg removal - The Anchorage Daily News

TROOPERGATE: More than 1,000 protesters gather in downtown Anchorage park.

A protest slamming Gov. Sarah Palin's handling of the state's so-called Troopergate investigation -- and calling for the attorney general to lose his job -- drew more than 1,000 people to the Delaney Park Strip in Anchorage on Saturday. Continue reading here.

RELATED ARTICLES:

►Legislative subpoenas go unanswered

►Palin, Monegan comments on Troopergate changed over time

►Alaska Politics blog: The Troopergate papers

►Colberg files suit to quash subpoenas

►Video: Colberg Friday news conference

►Video: What Palin has said about Troopergate, and what the campaign says now

►Todd Palin Ignores Subpoena in Troopergate Investigation

►Todd Palin Ignores Troopergate Subpoena - CBS News

►Todd Palin Subpoenaed in TrooperGate Investigation

►Alaskans Against Sarah Palin Rally