Nick's Notes

NJ Senate Votes To Repeal Death Penalty

2007-12-11T20:12:00.000-05:00

By a 21-16 bipartisan vote;

Aye (17 Democrats, 4 Republicans):
John Adler (D-Cherry Hill)
Diane Allen (R-Edgewater Park)
Wayne Bryant (D-Camden)
Barbara Buono (D-Edison)
Richard Codey (D-West Orange)
Joseph Coniglio (D-Paramus)
Sandra Cunningham (D-Jersey City)
Nia Gill (D-Montclair)
John Girgenti (D-Paterson)
Ellen Karcher (D-Marlboro)
Bernard Kenny (D-Hoboken)
Raymond Lesniak (D-Union)
Robert Martin (R-Morris Plains)
James McCullough (R-Egg Harbor Township)
Joseph Palaia (R-Deal)
Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge)
Bob Smith (D-Piscataway)
Stephen Sweeney (D-Thorofare)
Shirley Turner (D-Ewing)
Joseph Vitale (D-Woodbridge)
Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck)

Nay (13 Republicans, 3 Democrats):
Nicholas Asselta (R-Cape May)
Martha Bark (R-Mount Laurel)
Anthony Bucco (R-Denville)
Gerald Cardinale (R-Cresskill)
Anthony Ciesla (R-Brick)
Lenoard Connors (R-Forked River)
Peter Inverso (R-Hamilton)
Thomas Kean Jr. (R-Westfield)
Joseph Kyrillos (R-Middletown Township)
Leonard Lance (R-Flemington)
Robert Littell (R-Franklin)
Fred Madden (D-Turnersville)
Henry McNamara (R-Wyckoff)
Nicholas Sacco (D-North Bergen)
Nicholas Scutari (D-Linden)
Robert Singer (R-Lakewood Township)

Not Voting:
Sharpe James (D-Newark)
Ronald Rice (D-Newark)

CIA Agena: Torture Is Bad, But Saved Lives...You Decide

2007-12-11T17:30:00.001-05:00

Begin the endless bickering and name calling;

You pussy-headed liberal morons want to protect the rights of people who want to kill you. You should die or move to Canada.

And you terrorist war criminals who are no better than the people you are waterboarding should be put in chains and thrown in jail for war crimes for eroding the moral highground America has long stood on.

America at it's best!

Congress Reminds Us Christmas Is A Christian Holiday

2007-12-11T15:27:00.000-05:00

Just in case we were too busy buying our children poisonous toys from China and forgot, Christmas is in fact a Christian holiday, says Congress.

So now back to your shopping with all you holy rollers.

Special Elections Today

2007-12-11T09:08:00.000-05:00

Two special elections today, one in Northwest Ohio, another in Eastern Virginia, for Congressional seats left open by the deaths of two Republicans.

In Ohio, Democrat Robin Weinrauch has a shot at picking up the seat of the late Republican Paul Gilmor, but she faces Bob Latta, son of the guy who represented the district before Gilmor. Latta's internal poll yesterday showed him trialing Weinrauch in a district Bush won over 60% of the vote in.

In Virginia, Democrat Phil Forgit, an Iraq war vet is running against Republican Bob Whitman for the seat of the late Jo Ann Davis who died in October. Forgit is an underdog. The seat was won by Bush in 2004 and Republican candidates for Governor (Kilgore) in 2005 and Senator (Allen) in 2006.

If you're in one of these two districts, GO OUT AND VOTE TODAY!

The True Meaning Of Christmas

2007-12-10T18:14:00.000-05:00

It's only commercialized when you buy crap that doesn't shove Christianity down your throat.

Huckabee Takes The Lead

2007-12-10T16:04:00.000-05:00

Has the GOP found their candidate? Probably not, but the Southern Baptist anti-gay, anti-choice, misogynistic ex-Governor of a red state likely to be won by Hillary Clinton sure is attractive.

The other guy, America's mayor? Yeah, we're done with them.

Rudy: I Made Big Mistakes, But Only A Few

2007-12-09T12:14:00.000-05:00

Karma's a bitch and so are you.

LA-04: McCrery To Retire

2007-12-07T19:23:00.000-05:00

This is a pretty shocking announcement out of Northwest Louisiana. Rep. Jim McCrery (R-Louisiana), who is the ranking Republican member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, will retire next year. The district, the fourth district of Louisiana, includes the entire Shreveport area, 3/4 of the Louisiana/Texas border, and the west half of the Arkansas/Louisiana border.

McCrery has represented the Shreveport area in Western and Northwestern Louisiana for nearly 20 years. McCrery won 55% of the vote in 2006 against two Democrats who received a combined 43% of the vote.

The seat leans Republican, but a strong Democrat, such as former Shreveport mayor Keith Hightower, can pick off this seat.

Happy Hour

2007-12-07T17:33:00.000-05:00

Turns out the Page program is like any other high school in the United States.

"Nobody gets anything until the we make the Democrats look as bad as we possibly can"

The President not a criminal, just dangerously incompetent.

George W. Bush and Kim Jong Il, BFF!

Dana Perino gets thousands of dollars in taxpayer money to tell the nation daily that she doesn't know a damn thing about anytihng.

Barack who? I just want to see Oprah, she's my girl!

Bush seeks tax cuts for fives, tens of people...otherwise, all of you are getting taxed like you've never been taxed before.

It's not a problem that needs immediate attention until a couple hundred people die.

Dick Cheney is a jerk, Speaker Pelosi seems surprised.

Eliot Spitzer is giving everyone high-speed internet access...that should make everyone forget about the whole giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants thing.

Mitt Romney won't take orders from the Mormom church, but he'll gladly take orders from any other church that will vote for him!

Our next V$CE PRE$IDENT must be loaded!

Will It Really Kill Him?

2007-12-07T12:02:00.000-05:00

All this brouhaha about Mike Huckabee and his appealing for the paroling of a rapist who later killed someone when he was Governor of Arkansas is of little interest to me.

The story goes that a relative of Bill Clinton was raped and her rapist went to jail. Anti-Clinton forces in Arkansas, where they were more ferocious than anywhere else early on, thought the convicted rapist got an unfair deal because his victim was a relative of the Clintons. The pressure put on Huckabee to push for his parole was obvious from anti-Clinton forces, but whether or not Huckabee's pleas for parole were political or just his Christian sympathetic personality is up for question. Perhaps this is the unintended consequence of his Christian beliefs, sort of like his sympathetic stance on illegal immigration and his reluctant support for the death penalty.

Even if Huckabee's support for parole was politically motivated, I cannot see how it would hurt him in the primary. Rather, it may actually help him. Republicans are only motivated due to their hatred for the Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton. In the general, however, it could hurt with independents, especially if he is not facing Clinton and anti-Clinton sentiment is not an issue.

Less than a month away from the Iowa caucus and with Huckabee opening quite a lead there, is it too late to derail his momentum? Is it too late for his GOP rivals to come back and stop him, or should Democrats be preparing to face the former Governor of Arkansas in the general. Is that why this issue is suddenly coming to light?

Flowers For Hillary

2007-12-06T20:40:00.000-05:00

The former first lady may have the support of someone VERY interesting.

When your mistress and wife get together, well, it's a Lifetime movie in the making.

House Passes Energy Legislation

2007-12-06T18:18:00.000-05:00

The House of Representatives passed an energy legislation that will cut tax breaks to oil companies and requires the automotive industry to increase fuel economy 40% to 35 miles per gallon by 2020.The bill will also mandate that electric utility companies generate 15 percent of their energy from renewable sources of energy such as wind, biomass or solar power by 2020. That mandate, and the tax breaks, were dealbreakers with the White House, who threatens to veto it.

The bill got the support of 14 Republicans;
Mary Bono (R-California)
Mike Castle (R-Delaware)
Jim Gerlach (R-Pennsylvania)
Robin Hayes (R-North Carolina)
Tim Johnson (R-Illinois)
Mark Kirk (R-Illinois)
Ray LaHood (R-Illinois)
Frank LoBiondo (R-New Jersey)
Jim Ramstad (R-Minnesota)
Dave Reichert (R-Washington)
Illeana Ros-Lehitnen (R-Florida)
Christopher Shays (R-Connecticut)
Chris Smith (R-New Jersey)
Greg Walden (R-Oregon)

7 Democrats opposed the bill, mostly from Southern oil states;
John Barrow (D-Georgia)
Dan Boren (D-Oklahoma)
Allen Boyd (D-Florida)
Gene Green (D-Texas)
Nick Lampson (D-Texas)
Jim Marshall (D-Georgia)
Charlie Melacon (D-Louisiana)

Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell warn the bill may not get passed the Senate, for no other reason than the Republicans will filibuster...again. Reid is ordering the parade of Presidential candidates back to Washington for the vote.

Presidents and Religion

2007-12-06T17:11:00.000-05:00

Here's an interesting list of the religions of our past Presidents;

George Washington- Episcopal
John Adams- Unitarian
Thomas Jefferson- Deist
James Madison- Deist/Episcopal (disputed)
John Quincy Adams- Unitarian
Andrew Jackson- Presbyterian
Martin Van Buren- Dutch Reformed
William Henry Harrison- Episcopal
John Tyler- Episcopal
James Polk- Methodist
Zachary Taylor- Episcopal
Millard Fillmore- Unitarian
Franklin Pierce- Episcopal
James Buchanan- Presbyterian
Abraham Lincoln- unknown
Andrew Jackson- unknown, probably Baptist
Ulysses S. Grant- Methodist
Rutherford B. Hayes- Methodist
James Garfield- Disciples of Christ
Chester Arthur- Episcopal
Grover Cleveland- Presbyterian
Benjamin Harrison- Presbyterian
William McKinley- Methodist
Theodore Roosevelt- Episcopal
William Taft- Unitarian
Woodrow Wilson- Presbyterian
Warren G. Harding- Baptist
Calvin Coolidge- Congregationalist
Herbert Hoover- Quaker
Franklin D. Roosevelt- Episcopal
Harry Truman- Baptist
Dwight Eisenhower- Jehovah's Witness/Presbyterian
John F. Kennedy- Roman Catholic
Lyndon Johnson- Disciples of Christ
Richard Nixon- Quaker
Gerald Ford- Episcopal
Jimmy Carter- Baptist
Ronald Reagan- Presbyterian
George H. W. Bush- Episcopal
Bill Clinton- Baptist
George W. Bush- Methodist

Presidential Candidates;

DEMOCRATS:
Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden: Roman Catholic
New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton: Methodist
Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd: Roman Catholic
Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards: Methodist
Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich: Roman Catholic
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama: Christian (United Church of Christ)
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson: Roman Catholic

REPUBLICANS:
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani: Roman Catholic
California Rep. Duncan Hunter: Baptist
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: Southern Baptist
Arizona Sen. John McCain: Episcopalian
Texas Rep. Ron Paul: Baptist
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: Mormon
Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo: Presbyterian
Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson: Southern Baptist

The Religious Litmus Test

2007-12-06T14:05:00.000-05:00

It's sad that in this country we need to have a religious litmus test for a Presidential candidate, at least in the Republican Party.

Mitt Romney's presidential campaign should be judged on his ideas, his stances on policies and his record as Governor of Massachusetts from 2003-2007, not on whether or not he worships at a temple or a church. Today's speech by Mitt Romney, where he almost seemed desperate, is a sad event in our history.

I found this part of Romney's speech especially titilating;

Let me assure you that no authorities of my church, or of any other church for that matter, will ever exert influence on presidential decisions. Their authority is theirs, within the province of church affairs, and it ends where the affairs of the nation begin. As governor, I tried to do the right as best I knew it, serving the law and answering to the Constitution. I did not confuse the particular teachings of my church with the obligations of the office and of the Constitution - and of course, I would not do so as president. I will put no doctrine of any church above the plain duties of the office and the sovereign authority of the law.

See Mitt blew it there in my opinion. He's right to respond to the fears of the Christian fundamentalists that his religion would have some say in his presidency. The problem is, the reason these nuts are so worried are because they want THEIR religion to control the decisions of the next President. These zealots see their religion, their Bible, their version of the story, as the rightful ruling doctrine of the United States, and Mitt Romney cannot be President because he does not belong to that doctrine, he belongs to another doctrine. It's a scary thought, that our country is really like that, but it's even scarier that I'm defending Mitt Romney.

I sort of want him to win the nomination now, just to spite the fundamentalists.

NY-20: Gillibrand Pregnant

2007-12-05T19:01:00.000-05:00

The Albany Times-Union has reported the freshman Democratic Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand, who defeated John Sweeney to be the 15th, and majority clinching, seat on election night, is pregnant with her second child.

Gillibrand, 40, and her husband, Jonathan Gillibrand, have one child, Theodore, who is four years old. The congresswoman will continue to do her duties until her doctors tell her otherwise.

Gillibrand is due in May. She will be the second woman to give birth this session. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R-Washington) gave birth to a baby boy, Cole McMorris Rodgers, last May.

Only four other members of Congress, including one other New Yorker, have given birth while in Congress. Yvonne Brathwaite Burke (D-California) was the first in 1973, followed by Enid Greene (R-Utah) in 1995, Susan Molinari (R-New York) and Blanche Lincoln (D-Arkansas), both in 1996. McMorris Rodgers was the fifth this year.

The Boy Who Cried Weapons Of Mass Destruction

2007-12-05T07:05:00.000-05:00

They charge that liberals and the left are flip-floppers who change their views on an issue based on what's popular. Well, sometimes they do, but sometimes changing your views is warranted when it turns out you were wrong all along.
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Today we learned that Iran perhaps isn't as great a threat as the President had let us to believe. Are we supposed to be shocked? He insists they're still dangerous and still wants nukes, but his insinuations are just plain assumptions at this point. It is dangerous and counterproductive to make allegations based on assumptions. It destroys our credibility as a nation, not that we have any credibility anymore. We were wrong on Iraq, we were wrong on Iran. We are 0 and 2 in that region as of now.

Only six weeks ago, this President was invoking World War III, all the while his administration, and perhaps even the President himself. knew there was no immediate risk from that country. Europe, Russia and China aren't excited at all about pressuring an important oil producing country. They will be less so now it appears there is no immediate risk from Iran.

President Bush convinced us Iraq was an immediate threat. We went to war, a war we can't end, and we found out, everything was true. If not a liar, the President and his administration were incompetent and wrong. This is not the type of thing where an hypothesis is ok. We cannot run around being bellicose and threatening war because we have a hunch. The world is not going to stand besides a government that keeps overstating threats and is consistently wrong. How are we to be trusted? What happens when we're actually right? Will our allies around the world trust our judgment?

President Bush stands in front of the world today as the Boy who cried Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Bush: Iran Still Dangerous

2007-12-04T16:06:00.000-05:00

"Iran was dangerous, Iran is dangerous, Iran will be dangerous"
-George W. Bush

Replace Iran with President Bush and the statement still rings true.

OH-05: Are Republicans Worried?

2007-12-03T22:50:00.000-05:00

There's two special elections occurring next Tuesday. One is in the Ohio 5th District, vacant since it's Representative, Paul Gilmor, died in early September. The district leans Republican. It has been in Republican hands since 1939. President Bush won over 60% of the vote in this district.

OH-05 is centered in Northwestern Ohio, including Fremont, Tiffin, Norwalk and Bowling Green, as well as the southern suburbs of Toledo.

The Republican nominee is Bob Latta, an Ohio State Senator and the son of Del Latta, who held the seat for 30 years. The Democratic nominee is Robin Weirauch, who got 43% of the vote against Paul Gilmor last year. As of late, Republicans are pouring a lot of money into the special election campaign, raising flags that perhaps they believe Weirauch to be stronger than they think. An internal poll showed Latta 14 points up, but only at 50%. In response, Democrats appear to have poured a lot of their resources hoping to pull off an upset. Some insiders say the race is likely to be close, reminiscent of the 2005 race in the similarly-conservative Ohio-2 district near Cincinatti where Democrat Paul Hackett, an Iraq war vet, won 48% of the vote against Republican Jean Schmidt, an Ohio state legislature. The closeness of the race (Schmidt's predecessor, Rob Portman, had consistently gotten 70% of the vote in earlier elections) was seen as a harbinger for 2006, when Democrats won both houses of Congress.

Election Day in the Ohio-5 is December 11th

US Now Says No Nuke Program In Iran

2007-12-03T15:28:00.001-05:00

Seriously, can this governmet make up their damn minds.

A US intelligence report now says the Iranian government halted nuclear development in 2003 and has not restarted a nuclear weapons program, despite what the Bush administration has been telling us.

The report concluded that Iran is at least three years away from developing the technology that could be used to enrich uranium and build a nuclear bomb.

The Bush Administration is not backing down on it's assesment that Iran is the boogey man of the world. National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley reiterated the administration's message that Iran's nuclear ambitions, which the NIE report says may not exist at all, is a serious risk.

Venezuela Rejects Chavez's Reforms

2007-12-03T13:48:00.000-05:00

If there was any doubt in anyone's minds that Venezuela was a democracy with a bad leader, here's your proof.

Chavez says he will respect the voice of the people. I have my doubts he'll go quietly in 2012, but the moral of the story is...Venezuela is a democracy and Chavez is a democractically elected leader, whether you like it or not.

Iowa Congressman Endorses Edwards

2007-12-03T11:10:00.000-05:00

As the Democratic Iowa Caucus turns into a three way dead heat between Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Barack Obama and former Senator John Edwards, the first endorsement came out today from Iowa's congressional delegation.

Freshman Demcorat Bruce Braley, who represents Iowa's First District centered around Dubuque, Davenport and Waterloo, endorsed John Edwards.

Braley says of Edwards;

“Throughout this campaign, on issue after issue, John has proposed bold ideas to end the power of special interests in Washington and restore our government to the American people,” Braley said in a statement released by Edwards’s campaign. “John is the only Democratic candidate who grew up in rural America, and he has the most specific, most progressive and most far-reaching ideas.”

The rest of Iowa's delegation; two other Democratic House members, two Republican House members and Senators Tom Harkin, a Democrat, and Chuck Grassley, a Republican, have yet to endorse.

Braley's endorsement comes as Marc Ambinder states that Edwards has the best organization on the ground in Iowa. Ambinder notes that the campaign has trained "at least two precinct captains in more than 87 percent of caucus precincts statewide. Generally, campaigns don't release this kind of info, but in Edwards's case, it reinforces the case made by rival campaigns privately: if the caucuses were held tonight, based on organization alone, Edwards would probably win."

Iowa is much of a tossup as a tossup could be.

Music Memory Jar: December 3, 1984

2007-12-03T01:04:00.001-05:00

2,000 people were killed instantly and another 6,000 would later die from a chemical leak at a Union Carbide plant sends a toxic cloud of odorless gas through the town of Bhopal, India.

Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke sees his governmet reelection by a narrow margin.

British Telecomm, now known as BT, is privatized by Margaret Thatcher's conservative government.

In New York City, a certain blogger was...eh, he was an 18 month old colicky baby who took a liking to the soothing sounds of Hall and Oates...especially their latest hit; "Out Of Touch"

Rove's Delusional Attempt To Shift Blame

2007-12-02T13:36:00.000-05:00

See, Karl Rove's biggest problem is that he is no leader; when he's right, he wants to be praised like some God, when he's wrong, he wants someone else to take the blame. In his latest WTF moment, he blames Democrats in Congress for the Iraq war, trying to convince us that the President never wanted to go to the war in Iraq, but it was Tom Daschle and the Senate Democrats who pushed the President into the war.

On Fox News Sunday, Rove kept to his story, even as Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) countered his argument with a quote by former Bush Press Secretary Ari Fleischer;

"It was definitely the Bush administration that set it in motion and determined the timing, not the Congress. I think Karl in this instance just has his facts wrong."

Rove disagrees and one wonders...does he really believe the crap he says?

Rudy: GET AWAY FROM ME!

2007-12-01T00:19:00.000-05:00

Rudy Giuliani reminds us that as President, he will not answer questions about anything to a media that doesn't wish to paint him in a positive light.

Yesterday, as media approached him to ask him questions on his controversial shifting of funds during his affair with his now wife, Rudy's henchmen got physical with the media.

Seriously, if Rudy can't handle Newsweek, how is he going to handle North Korea? Oh right, blow them up while he hides in a bunker. Isn't that what Giulianis do?

Democrats To Pass Energy Legislation

2007-11-30T19:21:00.000-05:00

Speaker Nancy Pelosi has struck a deal with Michigan Democrats in a new energy bill that will increase fuel economy standards by 40% by 2020;

Automakers would be required to meet an industrywide average of 35 miles per gallon for cars and light trucks, including SUVs, by 2020, the first increase by Congress in car fuel efficiency in 32 years.

Republicans protested the bill because it did not include funding for domestic oil drilling and production. Pelosi stated she hoped the bill would push for alternative forms of energy and renweable energy.

The bill is expected to pass the House and Senate and go to the President desk, and what he does is still in question.

Happy Hour

2007-11-30T18:59:00.000-05:00

-So a Jew and a Black man walk into a restuarant...

-This wouldn't have happened if they would've just called AT&T.

-Pelosi and Murtha are having a little bit of a tiff

-um, Bill O'Reilly, when we say illegal alien, that is not what we mean.

-Condi Rice decided the Middle East was too daunting, so she was gonna start cleaning up a smaller mess...like Africa

-At Christmas, little brats cry, scream, and pout until they get what they want.

-To appease fiscal conservatives, the government has decided terrorism has been defeated.

-The United States, the strongest, most powerful country on the planet, got double teamed by Israel and Venezuela in the same day.

-We spent all this money with which I could've purchased a Hummer or an overpriced pair of jeans, so either die or get cured dammit!

-The Republican who ousted Tom Daschle is not about to get involved in THIS mess.

Hostage Situation At Hillary Clinton Campaign Office

2007-11-30T15:06:00.000-05:00

A hostage situation is unravelling at the headquarters of Senator Hillary Clinton's campaign office in Rochester, New Hampshire.

MSNBC is reporting two hostages have been taken

UPDATE: Hostage taker apparently wants to talk to the Senator, who is in Washington D.C. at the moment, not in New Hampshire

Kerik Defends Giuliani

2007-11-30T01:54:00.000-05:00

Yeah, ok, that's going to help, because nobody is more believable than Bernard Kerik. I mean look at him, big halo over his head and everything.

What's next? Is Lindsay Lohan going to defend Amy Winehouse' drinking problems?

NJ-07: Whitman's Daughter to Run

2007-11-29T19:33:00.000-05:00

Kate Whitman, daughter of the only Republican to win a statewide election in New Jersey in 20 years; former Governor Christine Todd Whitman, announced that she will run for the New Jersey 7th Congressional District seat being vacated by Mike Ferguson.

The district, which meanders around Northern New Jersey from Roselle, Cranford, Scotch Plains through Somerset and Hunterdon Counties, has a slight Republican tilt. Whitman, the mom, won it in both her gubernatorial races, but McGreevey and Corzine won it in the past two Governor's races.

If Whitman gets the nod, she will face State Assemblywoman Linda Stender, who narrowly lost to Ferguson last year 49%-48%.

Rudy Scandal Keeps Getting Better`

2007-11-29T15:52:00.000-05:00

Apparently Judy Nathan used the NYPD as her personal taxi service.

Keep it coming guys, this is getting pretty exciting.

Rudy: It's Everyone Else's Fault

2007-11-29T14:13:00.000-05:00

Who won't Rudy Giuliani blame for his apparent cover up of his secret affairs with Judy Nathan in the Hamptons.

He says it's the police department's fault for billing the security expenses to obscure city agencies. He blames the Democrats for a vast liberal conspiracy out to destroy him. Is this what we need, another President who can't take responsibility for his actions and just throws blame to everyone else?

What's next, is he going to blame his kids for forcing him to go to Southampton to fool around with Judy? Anything's possible with Mr. 9/11.

RFK Jr. Endorses Hillary

2007-11-29T11:58:00.000-05:00

Robert F. Kennedy Jr has endorsed the woman who holds the same Senate seat his father did four decades ago.

Kennedy endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton for President, saying she "has the strength and experience to bring the war in Iraq to an end and reverse the potentially devastating effects of global warming."

Kennedy lauded Clinton's record as Senator and the way she won over New Yorkers since her controversial run for Senate seven years ago.

Former Rep. Henry Hyde Dies

2007-11-29T10:10:00.000-05:00

Henry Hyde, the former Republican Congressman who represented Chicago's western suburbs for over 30 years had died at 83.

Born in Chicago, Hyde attended Duke University and Georgetown University. He received his law degree from Loyola University. Hyde served in the Navy during World War II, seeing combat in The Philippines. He was a Democrat until the 1950's when he supported Dwight Eisenhower. He served in the Illinois House of Representatives until 1974, when he was elected to Congress. A staunch pro-life politician, he vehemently opposed abortion rights. He served on the House Judiciary Committe since 1975 and chaired the committee from 1995-2001. Hyde is most famous for presiding over the Bill Clinton impeachment trials. Although rather conservative, he supported some gun control, including the Brady Bill and the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban. He also was skeptical of the Iraq war.

Hyde retired from Congress in 2006. After the Mark Foley scandal broke, some Republicans suggested Speaker Dennis Hastert should resign and be replaced by Hyde for the last few months of the 109th Congress. His seat in suburban Chicago was taken by Republican Pete Roskam, who narrowly defeated Democratic challenger Tammy Duckworth 51%-49%. Earlier this month, Hyde received the Presidential Media of Freedom.

Hyde underwent open-heart surgery in Chicago in July. He suffered from complications from the surgery which caused him to be hospitalized. Hyde passed away at 3 a.m. He was 83.

Mr. 9/11 Man's Terror Ties

2007-11-29T08:10:00.000-05:00

Rudy Giuliani will protect America and defend it from Islamic terrorism, unless, of course, he can make a buck, then Americans are on their own.

GOP Debate Open Thread

2007-11-28T23:41:00.000-05:00

Mike Huckabee stood out like he was standing five feet higher and forward than the rest of the GOP candidates. He seemed less antagonistic than the rest of the religious right candidates. Duncan Hunter's response that the military is a Judeo-Christian institution is just plain insulting to any non-Christian, non-Jewish, and/or liberal thinking soldier, plus I don't think that's what Colin Powell meant, but nice job hiding behind one of the few popular Republicans nowadays. I would normally say he should apologize, but there is too much calling for politicians to apologize. Politicians need to stand by their comments and people need to either not vote for them or deal with it. Mitt Romney's response to the question was even more stupid.

The two candidates who stood out were Huckabee and McCain who seemed to reclaim his maverick streak when talking about torture and the fair tax.

The one thing that surprised me was the audience's response to the retired gay general; the booing. It's embarassing. It reminded me a little of the 2002 Georgia Senate race, when instead of respectfully disagreeing with a man who lost half his body in Vietnam, they labelled him a traitor and dragged him through the mud. That seems to be the GOP way nowadays, standing behind the soliders when it's convienent, but if they disagree with us, throw them off a cliff.

Nice

New Yorkers Paid For Rudy's Affair

2007-11-28T18:12:00.001-05:00

America's Mayor apparently attempted to hide the price of his trips to the Hamptons during his then-secret affair with his now wife Judy when he was still Mayor.

Giuliani billed obscure city agencies for tens of thousands of dollars in security expenses during weekend trips to the Hamptons during 1999 and 2000. The city comptroller sought to investigate in 2002, but "security reasons" prevented the city from doing so. Politico.com received the news through New York’s Freedom of Information Law

Rudy opponents shouldn't get all excited just yet. Those who back Rudy won't abandon him on this. They'll defend him and find every way possible to discredit his opponents because that's what they do best. Oh, and don't forget...9/11.

Seriously, any Republican who votes for this man owes Bill Clinton an apology.

Streisand Endorses Clinton

2007-11-27T16:05:00.000-05:00

What? Did ya think she'd be behind Giuliani?

Rove: Iraq is Congress' Fault

2007-11-27T14:04:00.000-05:00

Is he serious?

I'll comment more when I stop laughing.

Giuliani: I Never Doubted Iraq Was Right

2007-11-27T01:50:00.000-05:00

Displaying that very face of ignorance that has destroyed the GOP, Rudy Giuliani reminds us that despite everything, he never had any doubt invading Iraq was the right thing to do.

In the bizarro world of Rudy Giuliani, Qaddafi apparently peed his pants when we invaded Iraq, so that's why he stopped supporting terrorism (nope, had nothing to do with the fact his Libyan oil was now gold.) He claims everyone will agree that the Iraq war was the right move by Election Day.

Seriously, if you vote for this man, you deserve all the unnecessary wars you get.

IL-14: Hastert Resigns...Now

2007-11-26T23:57:00.001-05:00

Dennis Hastert's two decade service in the United States House of Representatives which culminated in being the longest serving Republican Speaker of the House came to abrupt end tonight.

The Illinois Republican, who was expected to leave the House soon, resigned effective tonight. His seat will be filled by a special election that will be called by Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich, likely to be held on February 5th to coincide with the Democratic primary in Illinois.

What is that important? Well, Illinois' favorite son, Barack Obama, is running on the Democratic side, and turnout will be huge in Illinois on the Democratic side and it will help the Democratic nominee for the seat.

The district is R+4. George W. Bush won 55% of the vote here. It streches from the Chicago suburbs of Elgin and Aurora through a long swath of Northern Illinios including Dixon to the outskirts of the Quad Cities near the Mississippi River.

Democrat John Laesch won 40% of the vote in 2006 and is running for the open seat, as are Republican State Senator Chris Lauzen of Aurora, who lost the race for Illinois Comptroller in 1998, Republican Mayor Kevin Burns of Geneva, and Republican businessman and former statewide candidate Jim Oberweis, who has run in the GOP primaries for Governor in 2006 and Senator in 2002 and 2004. Democratic candidates include Laesch, attorney Jotham Stein or businessman Bill Foster.

Hastert's depature leaves three Republican seats open, including the open seats og Ohio-5 and Virginia-1, left open by the deaths of Paul Gilmor in September and Jo Ann Davis in October. Both seats are holding special elections on December 11. Republicans currently have 199 members in the House of Representatives, the first time their number has dropped below 200 since 1994. All 233 Democratic seats are filled, but Julia Carson of Indiana is being treated for terminal cancer and is absent from Washington.

Louisiana Governor-elect Bobby Jindal will vacate his seat in January, meaning the GOP will not have a full 202 seats until at least February.

Republican Senators Threaten To Cut Aid To Iraq...No Seriously

2007-11-26T21:19:00.000-05:00

FINALLY, they get tough

Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia) threaten to cut aid to the Iraqi government if they do not move forward in political reconciliation that is so badly needed there.

Finally, the GOP has realized sending in troops is pointless unless the Iraqis themselves do some work. Democracy does not come at the barrell of a gun.

Cheney Heads To Hospital

2007-11-26T16:01:00.001-05:00

Irregular Heartbeat is the reason.

More info as it becomes available.

MS-Sen: Trent Lott To Resign

2007-11-26T14:02:00.000-05:00

Just when the Mississippi GOP thought it was safe when Thad Cochran decided to run again, this happens.

If he resigns before the end of the year, there will be a special election in the spring, if he resigns after the first of the year, the special election with coincide with the general election in November, which means Mississippi, like Wyoming, will elect two Senators at once. He's expected to leave before the end of year when coincidently new ethics rules passed by the Democratic-controlled Congress that would ban members of Congress from lobbying on the Hill for two year after they leave office.

An open seat would give the Democrats a chance to win a Mississippi Senate seat for the first time since 1982. Former Attorney General Mike Moore, Current Attorney General Jim Hood and Former Governor Ronnie Musgrove are both potential Democratic candidates for the seat. GOP Governor Haley Barbour will appoint a caretaker for the seat who may or may not run for reelection in 2008. They include GOP Congressmen Roger Wicker and Chip Pickering. Pickering has stated he was retiring from his Congressional seat next year.

IN-07: Carson will not run for reelection

2007-11-26T12:15:00.000-05:00

Julia Carson, terminally ill from cancer, will not run for reelection in 2008 leaving the Democratic-leaning Indianapolis-based seat open.

This should make the seat slightly safer, but after the surprising defeat of Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, a Democrat, in elections earlier this month, who knows?

Huckabee Relates

2007-11-25T23:04:00.000-05:00

Whether or not I believe he would do anything about it is another story, but it would be nice to see a GOP candidate who is not tied to big oil and can speak the truth.

IN 07: Carson Terminally Ill

2007-11-25T13:57:00.000-05:00

Sad news out of Indianapolis

Rep. Julia Carson (D-Indiana) has announced she is terminally ill with lung cancer. Carson has been ill since September and has not been present in Congress.

Giuliani: Businesses Aren't Greedy

2007-11-25T10:21:00.000-05:00

One wonders if this man has even seen Wall Street more or less worked five blocks away for eight years.

Really, are there people in this country who believe, Post-Enron, that corporate greed isn't a problem? If you vote for this man, you deserve to lose your job to a greedy CEO.

Australian Prime Minister Defeated

2007-11-24T05:08:00.000-05:00

Prime Minister John Howard has not only lost his position as Prime Minister, he's lost his Parliament Seat to the opposition.

The first time that has happened since 1928.

Kevin Rudd will be the new Prime Minister of Australia.

Labour has picked up somewhere between 23 and 26 seats to gain a majority of about 20 seats.

Watching this election reminds me of the Democratic victory in 2006.

Australian Elections Open Thread

2007-11-24T01:46:00.000-05:00

Exit polls say Prime Minister John Howard will be defeated, both in his Parliament seat and from power.

Opposition Labour will win with about 53% of the vote.

More tomorrow

Poland's PM Pulls From Iraq

2007-11-23T22:01:00.000-05:00

The coalition of the willing has...stopped being willing.

Poland's new Prime Minister has announced he is planning on withdrawing troops from Iraq.

Well, we still have Australia, at least for one more day.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-22T10:42:00.000-05:00

Spending the day with family

Take a minute today to smile with pride that this holiday is one of the few that is uniquely American.

Court OK's Michigan Primary

2007-11-21T18:00:00.000-05:00

Michigan's Primary will be January 15th

That means New Hampshire's will be sometime between January 3rd and 15th

UPDATE: New Hampshire's primary is January 8th

Got 'Em

2007-11-21T16:49:00.000-05:00

I don't know if this will spark a censure or impeachment movement in Congress, but it's definitely not what this administration needs right now.

At this point, does it really matter...there's only 13 months, 29 days left of this administration

NY-19: Saul Drops Out

2007-11-20T22:05:00.000-05:00

New York's most vulnerable Democratic Congressman caught a huge break.

Andrew Saul has dropped out of the race for the NY-19th Congressional seat in the Lower Hudson Valley. Saul was seeking the GOP nomination to take on freshman Democrat John Hall, who narrowly defeated Sue Kelly last year in the district, which includes the farthest northern New York City suburbs.

Quote of the Month

2007-11-19T21:18:00.000-05:00

"If God, as they say, is homophobic, I wouldn’t worship that God."
-Archbishop Desmund Tutu

FDNY Slams Giuliani

2007-11-19T19:31:00.000-05:00

"Giuliani is running on 9/11 and portraying himself as a hero. It's disgusting. It's horrible," FDNY Deputy Fire Chief Jim Riches said, "This guy will do anything to get elected. He's misleading voters and distorting the truth. He didn't prepare the first responders for a terrorist attack. The Office of Emergency Management was a joke that day. There was a lack of communication. People died unnecessarily."

The Firefighters are probably the most beloved and respected people in New York City. Granted this was one guy saying this, but it was a big guy. If he doesn't have firefighters behind him, his 9/11 card gets thrown out.

Open House Seats

2007-11-19T18:42:00.000-05:00

Democrats:

Colorado-2 (Udall)
Maine-1 (Allen)
New Mexico-3 (Udall)
New York-21 (McNulty)

Republicans:
Alabama-2 (Everett)
Arizona-1 (Renzi)
California-52 (Hunter)
Illinois-11 (Weller)
Illinois-14 (Hastert)*
Illinois-18 (LaHood)
Minnesota-3 (Ramstad)
Mississippi-3 (Pickering)
New Jersey-3 (Saxton)
New Jersey-7 (Ferguson)
New Mexico-1 (Wilson)
New Mexico-3 (Pearce)
Ohio-15 (Pryce)
Ohio-16 (Regula)
Wyoming-AL (Cubin)

No wonder the GOPers are backing Bush, they are so many lame ducks.

*-Hastert has hinted that he may resign before his term is up triggering a special election

Hofstra Wins Last Debate

2007-11-19T17:02:00.000-05:00

My alma-mater, Hofstra University, has been chosen to host the last presidential debate next year on October 15, 2008. University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi will hold the first debate, while Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee will hold the second debate on October 7. The Vice Presidential debate will be at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri

I graduated from Hofstra last May, and at that time we were starting the process of trying to get the debate.

This is great news for my school.

NJ-07: Ferguson Will Retire

2007-11-19T13:17:00.000-05:00

This came by complete surprise. I think he's afraid he's too vulnerable and now he can vote like an Alabama Republican.

This opens the seat up for Tom Kean Jr. who ran for the US Senate last year. He will face Linda Stender, who narrowly lost to Ferguson.

Kean probably has the upper hand, but this is not New Jersey's most Republican district.

UPDATE: Kean says he's not running. Stender has an excellent shot at this seat.

Rudy's Healthcare Flip Flop

2007-11-17T04:10:00.000-05:00

Rudy Giuliani wants to pretend to be a foe of "socialized" medicine.

Only, lookie what we found out he did while mayor.

How did 9/11 make you change your mind on this one, Rudy?

Reid Shows Some Leadership

2007-11-16T21:02:00.000-05:00

Harry Reid actually stood up to President Bush. Reid is vowing to keep the Senate in session during Thansgiving break to prevent any recess appointment.

It's a shrewed, smart, calculating political move I applaud Reid for doing this and taking a stand.

Hopefully, he wont back down on this one.

Happy Hour

2007-11-16T16:57:00.000-05:00

-WE WANT THE DEMOCRATS TO GET THE TROOPS OUT OF IRAQ AND THEY WON'T, but we just don't want them to do it by cutting funding or we'll elect Republicans.

-We like that other anti-gay, anti-choice, anti-freedom of religion uptight guy too, you know, the one who isn't Mormon.

-Move over Red Cross and Red Crescent, here comes Jihad to the Rescue.

-And now everyone can breathe a collective sigh of relief.

-Curtis Silwa wants to run for New York City Public Advocate...so he can fire himself.

-Ahhh, the unintended consequences of the pro-life obsession.

-Perhaps if he had an decency to live by any of them, Rudy Giuliani would know they're actually called Commandments. The sad reality; the group of conservative lawyer lemmings clapped anyway.

-One is a globally respect Nobel Laureate, the other the most unpopular leader in American history...Karma's a bitch ain't it.

-Mr. Big Man Fiscal Conservative and his minions don't want Democrats spending your hard earned taxpayer money...unless they can too.

-Democrats have been insensitive to church doctrine while governing a nation that has separation of church and state. What Scandal! Call the National Enquirer.

And You Thought Iran Was Bad?

2007-11-16T04:30:00.000-05:00

From Saudi Arabia, our partners in peace, our partners in the War on Terrorism.

President Bush actually held hands with the leader of the country that condones this.

And we stand idly by a let it happen. Some superpower we are.

Houses Passes Electronic Surveillance Bill

2007-11-16T02:18:00.000-05:00

The bill wasn't what Bush wanted. It strengthens court oversight over surveillance of suspected terrorists, but does not include immunity to telecommunications corporations who assisted in eavesdropping American citizens.

So if you helped the government committ a crime, you're not getting away with it.

The vote was 227-189

Five Republicans voted in favor;
John Duncan (R-Tennessee)
Jeff Flake (R-Arizona)
Wayne Gilcrest (R-Maryland)
Bob Inglis (R-South Carolina)
Wayne Jones (R-North Carolina

Five Democrats voted against;
John Barrow (D-Georgia)
Mike Capuano (D-Massachusetts)
Nick Lampson (D-Texas)
Mike Michaud (D-Maine)
Jose Serrano (D-New York)

Capuano, Michaud and Serrano oppose any bill authorizing government surveillance. Other opponents, such as Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) and Ron Paul (R-Texas) were not present.

Interestingly enough, Democrats picked up the votes of some of their usual dissenters on national security, like Dan Boren (D-Oklahoma), Jim Marshall (D-Georgia) and Gene Taylor (D-Mississippi)

Republican Wakes Up: Iraqi Government Needs No More Money

2007-11-16T00:39:00.001-05:00

I always liked Lindsey Graham, even when he endorsed the neofascist principles of the Republican party.

He's right here, there needs to be political change in Iraq, and if we're going to keep our troops there, then dammit, we're going to push this country's government to get their damn act together.

The Illusion of Success

2007-11-16T00:16:00.000-05:00

If the surge has produced anything, it's produced an excellent illusion that Iraq is under a great transformation. Do I think that's true? Not really. It seems to me all we did is plug a leak with our finger and the only way to keep it the leak from starting up again is to keep our finger there forever.

But that's not how the people will see it. I'm convinced of this. Americans very easily change their minds on issues and then blame the politicians who just did what they wanted. Remember, nearly two-thirds of Americans supported the Iraq war and nearly two-thirds of Congress voted for it. Now we don't want it anymore and what do we do? We blame Bush, Congressional Republicans and Congressional Democrats. We should be blaming ourselves for buying the administration's excellent work of fiction and letting our post-9/11 emotions get the best of us. Are we going to do it again? Are we going to buy the idea that this "success" forces us to stay in Iraq another five years, elect a President who will do it and then be sorry we did on January 22?

Brian Baird, a Washington Democratic Congressman, has already been convinced this farce is success. President Bush is doing an excellent job changing the Iraq debate in time for next year's election. Republicans will use this "success" as reason to stay in Iraq longer and enough people will buy it to see Democrats are agents of defeat and send Republicans back to the White House, only to regret it six months later.

Andrew Sullivan says it great after watching the Democratic debate;

The Democrats had better think through the shifting sands of Iraq with a little
more authority than they seemed to muster tonight.

To me, this "success" was inevitable and the Iraqis would've stood up against Al-Qaeda whether we were there or not. There has been little to no political reconciliation and the only thing the Iraqi government could agree on is to condemn an American defense contractor as terrorists. It is time to finally tell the Iraqis that we have done everything we can, and we've tried long enough. We need to plan for a withdrawal, not because we're defeated, but because we've done all we could and now it's up to the Iraqis. They have a certain amount of time to get their act together, because they seem to doing it just fine now, and then we're going on to other, more important, things. We are faced with the possibility of battling Iran, a country that if we go to war with it, will be the largest country we've fought since Japan. We're also faced with the possibility that Pakistan, a country of over 100 million people and nuclear weapons, may become an extremist state. We cannot be Iraq's babysitter forever. Our soldiers deserve a better mission. They deserve a mission with true results, not one to fix the colossal mistakes our politicians have made.

I'll Be Pro-Life If You Vote For Me!

2007-11-15T22:52:00.000-05:00

Big man...Big Man!

Giuliani, who stands up for abortion rights, stands up for gay rights, stands up for stem-cell research will appoint judges who believe otherwise just so 25% of the country will vote for him.

Really Rudy, if you're so damn tough, loose being real instead of winning being fake.

I'm looking at you too Hillary.

Debate Open Thread

2007-11-15T22:39:00.000-05:00

No, I didn't watch it

Well, I watched a piece of it...I like Wolf Blitzer, but he seems to think he's doing a simultaneous interview on The Situation Room instead of moderating a debate.

Clinton bounced back, although I don't think she did that bad last time minus the immigration question. I don't think any of these guys can debate, which scares me when they're up against the bloodthristy bastards on the GOP side. I feel like Giuliani will tear these guys apart and the idiot population will buy his crap.

I'm worried.

IL-14: Hastert Resigning, Really This Time

2007-11-15T16:43:00.000-05:00

He will step down at some point this year.
Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert bid his colleagues farewell in a final speech Thursday, expressing worry about the "breakdown of civility" in politics.
Funny, considering it was under his Speakership that the breakdown in civility began.

Hastert's resignation will trigger a Special Election, perhaps the most contentious one so far in the 110th Congress. (MA-05 was pretty contentious, but to me, it was never a question who would win, it was just by how much).

Hastert's seat was considered a potential Demcoratic pickup in 2008. If Hastert is gone by January 1st, Governor Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, may schedule a special election for the seat on February 5th, the same day as the Democratic primary, which may bring out a slew of Democratic voters who are out for Obama, their native son, increasing the chances of a Democratic pickup.

HOWEVER

February 5th may just be a primary election day, setting up two candidates for a later general election date, that may favor Republicans.

Hastert may also be delaying retirement due to the fact the GOP already has two vacancies and will soon have a third.

Virginia 1 (Jo Ann Davis) and Ohio 5 (Paul Gilmor) are both open until elections on December 11th and Louisiana 1 (Bobby Jindal) will be open soon because Jindal will take the oath of office as Louisiana's new governor.

The Price of Family

2007-11-15T16:16:00.000-05:00

Hey, gas prices may be skyhigh, but I'll just bitch and moan cause ain't nothing gonna keep me from eating turkey and watching Uncle Tommy get drunk and call Cousin Tiffany a slut.

Houses Passes War Funding Bill

2007-11-15T00:06:00.001-05:00

Bill requires the President to begin withdrawing troops in 30 days with the goal of complete withdrawal by December, 2008.

He will, of course, veto it.

It passed 218-203-1

Four Republicans voted Yea;
Walter Jones (R-North Carolina)
Phil English (R-Pennsylvania)
Christopher Shays (R-Connecticut)
Jim Walsh (R-New York)

Wayne Gilchrest (R-Maryland) a known war opponent, voted nay.

Fifteen Democrats voted Nay;
Tom Allen (D-Maine)- opposes all funding
Brian Baird (D-Washington)- supports funding, after opposing it in the past
Dan Boren (D-Oklahoma)
Jim Cooper (D-Tennessee)
Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) opposes all funding
Nick Lampson (D-Texas)
Jim Marshall (D-Georgia)
Jim Matheson (D-Utah)
Michael McNulty (D-New York)- opposes all funding
Mike Michaud (D-Maine)- opposes all funding
Vic Snyder (D-Arkansas)
Pete Stark (D-California)- opposes all funding
John Tanner (D-Tennessee)
Gene Taylor (D-Mississippi)

John Lews (D-Georgia) voted Present.

MS-Sen: Cochran To Run Again

2007-11-14T13:45:00.000-05:00

A sigh of relief for the GOP

Safe Republican

Spitzer Drops License Plan, A Note on Immigration

2007-11-14T12:36:00.000-05:00

Thank God.

This is a contentious plan that saw no short-term effects to the voting public and little long-term effects to justify forcing it into law against massive public opposition. The voting public, whether it be because of racism, xenophobia, or just that it aggravates them that illegal immigrants found their way to America easier than their ancestors, do not show sympathy with immigrants who come here illegally.

It is true that some immigrants are forced, by economic or political means, to come to the United States illegally, and most come here looking for a decent living and not to take advantage of our social services. Sure some illegal immigrants are forced into slave labor just to keep themselves in the country, but the American people do not show sympathy with their plight.

Americans see their country has something that needs to be earned. Their ancestors sold everything they had to get on overcrowded, dirty boats for weeks at a time only to come to Ellis Island and be forced to go through hurdle after hurdle before arriving in America and have to start from scratch. In the eyes of Americans, illegal immigrants did not earn their way to America. They ran across the Rio Grade, or got off a plane and went into hiding after their visa expired. Americans feel, and justifiably so, their ancestors would not have been given such a fair deal if their ancestors came to America illegally, whether their arrival illegally was justified or not.

Now there are racial and xenophobic undertones in this debate as well. I highly doubt the debate would be as divisive if the immigrants came from Ireland, Scotland, or Norway. The color of immigrants' skin, the language they speak, and sometimes the religion they preach and seen by many as a threat to all-things American. This argument, however, would still be present if all immigration was legal and documented, as it was in the early 20th century.

Now, I understand Spitzer's rational. This is a problem that the federal government, thanks to lack of enforcement of the laws, has forced us to deal with. Unlicensed illegal immigrants cause accidents which drive up insurance costs. Licensing them and allowing them to get insurance decreases those chances, but I highly doubt any licensed illegal immigrant is going to be able to afford car insurance. Instead of steamrolling his plan, Governor Spitzer really needed to convince the people why he has to come up with this plan; "Because lack of federal invervention on the issue is causing unlicensed drivers to get into accidents, costing New Yorkers more. Until they come up with an immigration solution, we have no choice but to license them, so they can get insurance."

He didn't

The reason for massive public opposition to this is largely anger over these immigrants entering the country illegally and not being punished for it. Giving them driver's licenses is seen as a reward, ignorning the fact that they've committed a crime, even if it's only a misdemeanor.

Suicide By Cop

2007-11-13T18:01:00.000-05:00

I backed them over the Amadou Diallo case, I even back them over the Sean Bell case

But this is in no way the cops' fault. This was suicide by cop. This kid was menally ill. He was suicidal and he led everyone around him to believe he was armed and dangerous.

The only question I have is...20 rounds???? Have we not learned anything from Diallo.

Tancredo's Appeal To The Ignorant

2007-11-13T13:22:00.000-05:00

Cause nothing makes you vote for a guy more than seeing an ad with a bomb in a shopping mall before the holiday season. Those scary villainous Islamic Mexican terrorists!

What do you expect from a man who thinks nuking Mecca will actually STOP terrorism, rather than exacerbate it.

Monday Afternoon Amusement

2007-11-12T15:43:00.000-05:00

-Ok, now everyone in Georgia can stop worrying, the Governor is praying, that should solve everything.

-The Pope is coming to America to stop priests from touching little children...and say a mass or two.

-Conservatives like Fox News, country music and movies where things blow up, Liberals like everything else.

-Max out your credit card at the Woodfield Mall or Sherman Oaks Galleria, put yourself into thousands of dollars in debt, or the terrorists win.

-McCain's mom tells us Mormons bribe people, even know the Mayor of Salt Lake City who was accused of doing it, was a Catholic.

-I'm the King of Spain BITCH! Don't make us colonize your sorry ass again!

-Gordon Brown, haven't you learned from your predecessor, the British Prime Minister is supposed to obey his lord and master in Washington, D.C. C'Mon, man, even the French are taking orders from us now.

Senate Rankings: Week of November 11th

2007-11-11T17:55:00.000-05:00

Solid Democrat:
Arkansas
Delaware
Illinois
Iowa
Massachusetts
Michigan
Montana
New Jersey
Rhode Island
West Virginia

Likely Democrat:
South Dakota
Virginia

Lean Democrat:
New Hampshire
New Mexico

Slight Lean Democrat:
Louisiana
Colorado

Tossup:
Minnesota

Slight Lean Republican:
Maine
Oregon

Lean Republican:
Kentucky

Likely Republican:
Alaska
Idaho
Nebraska
North Carolina
Oklahoma
Texas

Solid Republican:
Alabama
Georgia
Kansas
Mississippi
South Carolina
Tennessee
Wyoming
Wyoming (Barasso)

NM-Sen: Udall Is Running

2007-11-10T19:01:00.000-05:00

US Representative Tom Udall (D-New Mexico) is officially running for the US Senate seat being vacated by Pete Domenici

Udall had originally decided not to run, but has since changed his mind. Udall has polled stronger than any other New Mexico Democrat, minus Governor Richardson.

Udall represents Northern New Mexico, including Santa Fe and Taos and part of Eastern New Mexico, includin Clovis, in the House. He is the son of Stewart Udall, former Arizona congressman and Secretary of the Interior during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations and the nephew of Mo Udall, Stewart's brother who also was an Arizona congressman and a Presidential candidate in 1976.

Udall's candidancy means all three members of the New Mexico House delegation are running. Republicans Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce are also running. Udall has polled over Wilson and Pearce in the double digits in recent polling.

Udall is less certain than Mark Warner in Virginia, but more certain than his cousin, Mark Udall in neighboring Colorado. He's about the same as Jeanne Shaheen in New Hampshire. I predict all four will likely be Senators in the 111th Congress.

Lean Democrat.

WY-AL: Cubin to retire

2007-11-10T00:24:00.000-05:00

Two in one day

Wyoming's Barbara Cubin, who barely won reelection last year in a state where Bush won 69% of the vote, is retiring next year.

This is good for the GOP, as the seat is risky with Cubin, but safe without her.

Happy Hour

2007-11-09T16:15:00.000-05:00

-How could you put me on trial?I truimphed over adversity! I'm the 9/11 hero guy! Do you hate America that much? But...remember 9/11? If you put me in jail, the terrorists win.

-No, Georgia can go f*&% itself, we're Florida and we need the water so our lawns outside our McMansions can be green and lush. After all, we're only surronded on water on THREE sides, not FOUR.

-Terrorists are threatening to stage a coup in Pakistan, so it goes without saying Musharraf will have to put a Western-educated female advocate of democracy until house arrest.

-AMERICA SUPPORT THE ADVANCEMENT OF FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY, AND WILL FIGHT TYRANTS WHEREVER THEY ARE...except South Asia.

-Gee, if we try to pull out of Iraq in the middle of the Veterans Day clearance sale, we might piss off a few dozen people in Oklahoma.

-Hey, Even Republicans see little green men.

-The death penalty is a deterrent, even when they never use it, at least that's what New Jersey Republicans say.

-Giuliani says he has experience to negotiate, but just like he when he was Mayor, he won't.

-IT'S GOING TO BE A LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG YEAR

NJ-03: Saxton to retire

2007-11-09T15:24:00.000-05:00

A huge blow to the GOP.

Saxton's district is D+3. Bush narrowly lost it, but Corzine and Menendez both won it.

State Senator John Adler is running as a Democrat for the seat. While there are some Republican state legislators in the district, Adler is running in what would be a Democratic year in an open Democratic seat.

Giuliani is the only thing that can save Republicans here, and even then, this district is in South Jersey; Cherry Hill and Mount Holly, and not in North Jersey where Giuliani is strong.

Slight Lean Democrat.

Bush's First Override

2007-11-08T13:06:00.000-05:00

I'm sure he's thrilled.

The Senate joined the House in giving Bush his first override of a veto, of the water projects bill. The Senate voted to overrie 79-14, joining the House, which voted on Tuesday to override 361-54.

The news would cover it, but of course OJ Simpson is arriving at a courthouse in Las Vegas, so they're a little busy right now.

Well, Well, Well

2007-11-08T00:32:00.000-05:00

Turns out the possibility that one day Iran may develop one nuke isn't the biggest concern for us after all.

Music Memory Jar: November 8, 1997

2007-11-07T23:00:00.001-05:00

Mary McAleese is elected President of Ireland...her presidency remains.

Ramzi Yousef is found guilty of masterminding the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center...his prison term remains

A very pregnant Iowa woman Bobbi McCaughey gives birth to seven children at once...yes seven children...her utereus remains

A high school freshman finds solace by sitting in his attic window at night, looking out over New York City and listening to the music of Marilyn Manson, Filter, Silverchair, Korn, and yes, Metallica. Ten years later...well...The Memory Remains

House Passes ENDA

2007-11-07T22:07:00.001-05:00

That is the Employee Non-Discrimination Act that prevents employers from firing people because of their sexual orientation.

In a perfect world, a law like this would be moot and just more unnecessary government intervention, but even my semi-libertarian heart can't overlook the fact that the LGBT community is treated like second class citizens in much of this country. Like I always say, if Americans are going to act like children, the government should treat them like children.

35 Republicans voted for the bill;
Judy Biggert (R-Illinois)
Mary Bono (R-California)
John Campbell (R-California)
Mike Castle (R-Delaware)
Tom Davis (R-Virginia)
Charlie Dent (R-Pennsylvania)
Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-Florida)
Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Florida)
David Drier (R-California)
Jeff Flake (R-Arizona)
Vito Fossella (R-New York)
Rod Frelinghuysen (R-New Jersey)
Jim Gerlach (R-Pennsylvania)
Wayne Gilchrest (R-Maryland)
Davd Hobson (R-Ohio)
Mark Kirk (R-Illinois)
Joe Knollenberg (R-Michigan)
Randy Kuhl (R-New York)
Frank LoBiondo (R-New Jersey)
Thaddeus McCotter (R-Michigan)
Jim McCrery (R-Louisiana)
John McHugh (R-New York)
Candice Miller (R-Michigan)
Todd Platts (R-Pennsylvania)
Jon Porter (R-Nevada)
Deborah Pryce (R-Ohio)
Jim Ramstad (R-Minnesota)
Dave Reichert (R-Washington)
Illeana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Florida)
Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin)
Jim Saxton (R-New Jersey)
Christopher Shays (R-Connecticut)
Pat Tiberi (R-Ohio)
Greg Walden (R-Oregon)

25 Democrats voted nay, 7 of them because it did not include the transgendered (All but two from New York City oddly enough);

Yvette Clarke (D-New York)
Rush Holt (D-New Jersey)
Mike Michaud (D-Maine)
Jerrold Nadler (D-New York)
Edolphus Towns (D-New York)
Nydia Velázquez (D-New York)
Anthony Weiner (D-New York)

Another 18 Democrats voted nay because they just plain opposed the bill (and are mostly from the south);

John Barrow (D-Georgia)
Marion Berry (D-Arkansas)
Bud Cramer (D-Alabama)
Artur Davis (D-Alabama)
Lincoln Davis (D-Tennessee)
Chet Edwards (D-Texas)
Nick Lampson (D-Texas)
Dan Lipinski (D-Illinois)
Jim Marshall (D-Georgia)
Mike McIntyre (D-North Carolina)
Charlie Melacon (D-Louisiana)
Nick Rahall (D-West Virginia)
Heath Shuler (D-North Carolina)
Ike Skelton (D-Missouri)
John Tanner (D-Tennessee)
Gene Taylor (D-Mississippi)

The President says he'll veto the bill and it's unlikely to see Senate passage before the end of the year, but it's a step.

Election Night Recap

2007-11-07T10:10:00.000-05:00

It was a pretty good day for Democrats, with some exceptions here and there;

In the big race of the year; Kentucky's Republican Governor Ernie Fletcher lost reelection in a landslide, being defeated by former Lieutenant Governor Steve Beshear, a Democrat, 59%-41%. Beshear even carried the heavily Republican Cincinnatti suburbs, which Fletcher carried by over 20 points in 2003. Kentucky's Lieutenant Governor-elect Dan Mongiardo was Senator Jim Bunning's 2004 opponent who nearly ousted him, earning a surprising 49% of the vote.

Democratic State Auditor Crit Luallen won her reelection campaign in a similar landslide, and, according to some sources, is being touted as an opponent to Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, the Senate Minorty Leader, next year.

In Mississippi, Democrat John Eaves Jr. lost the Governor's race to incumbent Republican Haley Barbour, but Barbour's 58%-42% victory is smaller than most had expected. Barbour's key to victory lay along the state's Gulf Coast, where he is applauded for his response to Hurricane Katrina. Barbour won nearly 3 our of 4 votes cast in the Biloxi, Gulfport area. Mississippi Republicans won all statewide races, except Attorney General, where Democrat Jim Hood won reelection in a similar landslide to Barbour.

Democrats saw their own success in Mississippi, where they won back control of the State Senate, which they lost in 2004, and increased their majority in the State House.

The big news in state legislature races was in Virginia, where Democrats won control of the Virginia Senate for the first time since 1995. Democrats picked up four seats, including the Fairfax County seat of Republican Jeanmarie Devolites-Davis, wife of US Representative Tom Davis, to take a 21-19 majority in the state Senate. Democrats picked up three seats in the House of Delegates to narrow GOP control 54-44 with 2 Independents.

In New Jersey, where a ballot issue to borrow over $400 million to fund stem-cell research failed, the state legislature did not see big changes. Democratic State Senator Ellen Karcher was defeated in a nasty race by Republican State Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck and in the same district, Democratic Assemblyman Michael Panter, who won his 2005 election by 73 votes, was also defeated. Karcher's defeat was cancelled out by two surprise State Senate victories in South Jersey. In the first district, which includes Cape May and Cumberland Counties, Democratic State Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew defeated State Senator Nicholas Asselta. In the next door Atlantic City-based 2nd District, Democrat Jim Whelan defeated Republican Jim McCullough, but Whelan's assembly seat was lost to the Republicans. Democrats picked up the seat of Republican Bill Baroni in the 14th district. Baroni was elected to the State Senate, replaced Peter Inverso. Democrat Wayne De Angelo won Baroni's Assembly seat and Linda Greenstein, a Democrat, was reelected.

In Ohio, Republican Bob Latta narrowly defeated Steve Buehrer to win the Republican nomination for the Ohio 5th Congressional District special election on December 11th. He will face Democrat Robin Weirauch. Also, Janet Creighton, the Republican Mayor of Canton, located in the battleground 16th Congressional district, an open race next year, was defeated by Democrat James Healy 53%-47%.

In Texas, Democrats picked up a State House seat in Fort Worth in a Special Election, narrowing the Republican majority to 79-71. In Maine, Democrats won an open Republican state House seat, expanding their majority there.

Democrats saw mixed successes in Indiana, where Democrat Bart Peterson, Indianapolis' mayor went down in a shocking defeat against Republican Greg Ballard, but Democrats were fairly successful in other Indiana cities, winning the mayor's races in Fort Wayne, South Bend, Portage, Bloomington, and Elkhart. Democrats defeated incumbent Republican mayors in Anderson and Madison and won an open mayor's seat in Kokomo. Muncie is too close to call, but it appears the Democrat is ahead.

A ballot issue allowing for school vouchers failed in Utah, as did a tax hike on cigarettes in Oregon.

The Mayors of Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Houston, Columbus, and San Francisco, all Democrats, were reelected, while the Republican mayors of Charlotte, Jacksonville and Tuscon were also reelected. Democrat Michael Nutter was elected Mayor of Philadelphia.

Locally, in New York;

Staten Island DA Daniel Donovan was reelected in the only real race in New York City.

On Long Island; Suffolk County Democrats had a great night. Democratic County Executive Steve Levy won reelection, as expected. The Democratic town supervisors of the former Republican strongholds of Brookhaven Islip and Riverhead all won reelection. Democrats picked up a seat in the Suffolk Legislature to increase their majority to 11-7.

Nassau County saw little change, a pale comparison to two years ago, when Democrats won the DA seat. Republicans took over the Long Beach city council and votes rejected the idea of creating the position of mayor. Mayor Ralph Suozzi of Glen Cove was reelected, while the Town Supervisors of Hempstead, North Hempstead and Oyster Bay all kept their positions comfortably. In the County Legislature, Democrats appear to have kept their 10-9 majority, but failed to come close to ousting any GOP incumbent. Republican John Ciotti, the most vulnerable Republican, defeated his Democratic opponent Ali Marza 57%-43%. Democrat Jeffrey Toback of Oceanside kept his seat by a 54%-46% margin, as did Democrat Diane Yaturo of Glen Cove, who won 57%-43%. Democrat Joseph Scannell of Baldwin defeated his Republican opponent 55%-45%. Republicans have not conceded in the 14th legislative district of David Meijias of Farmingdale, who ran unsuccesfully for Congress against Peter King last year. Meijias leads his Republican opponent by 222 votes, a 51%-49% margin with 300 absentee ballots to be counted. A Meijias loss would throw control of the county legislature back to the GOP.

Polls vs. Mood

2007-11-06T14:50:00.000-05:00

Conventional wisdom points to an inevitable Clinton vs. Giuliani race, which seems to lean ever so slightly to Hillary, but when you feel the true pulse of America, it's hard to find anyone who is truly behind one of the other.

I've heard many times in conversations with family and friends that a vote for one is against the other "Giuliani's a fascist, so I'll have to vote for Clinton" or "Clinton is wishy-washy, so I'll have to vote to Giuliani, even though he's just like Bush"

Why not vote for either? This election is a year from being over, and a lot can happen in a year. Remember, if you will, of the inevitability of Edmund Muskie in 1972, Ted Kennedy in 1980, Gary Hart in 1984, Paul Tsongas in 1992 and Howard Dean in 2004.

Andrew Sullivan feels the pulse of America;

There are only two candidates who effectively respond to this desire for change of direction abroad and repair at home. They are Barack Obama for the Democrats and Ron Paul for the Republicans. The voters most engaged with this campaign so far - as measured by fundraising and enthusiasm - are clearly favoring these two change agents.

An Obama-Paul race, which in my opinion leans heavily to Obama, would truly be an indication of a united America wanted something different than what it's been fed for the last decade or so. (I'm including Clinton's years in that as well) These two candidates have hit on the idea that America needs to do a 180 and fast the most. Obama's excellent fundraising and Paul's one-day fundraising marathon yesterday indicates to me that there is plenty of support for these two underdogs out there in their respective parties. Doesn't it seem odd that the one major point these two people agree on is that we need a less aggressive and more responsible foreign policy? Will they win the primaries? I think it's unlikely, but they sure can make the eventual nominees sweat a bit. Perhaps those polls that make Clinton and Giuliani seem evitable aren't really touching the pulse of America. Perhaps we're in for a surprise come the New Year.

Despite this, I still say we're looking at a Clinton vs. Romney race out there.

MN-Sen: Franken, Ciresi Strong

2007-11-05T23:54:00.000-05:00

Survey USA;

Coleman (R)- 46%
Franken (D)- 45%

Coleman (R)- 44%
Ciresi (D)- 44%

Coleman is surprisingly weak, and Franken is surprisingly strong. Ciresi doesn't really shock me. Rasmussen's numbers are a little more believable;

Coleman (R)- 49%
Franken (D)- 42%

Coleman (R)- 46%
Ciresi (D)- 43%

Tossup

VA-Sen: Warner, Mark Still Dominates

2007-11-05T23:42:00.000-05:00

Even without Tom Davis in the race;

Survey USA;

Warner, Mark (D)- 57%
Gilmore (R)- 35%

Likely Democrat

Women At The Helm

2007-11-05T23:32:00.001-05:00

One year before what could be what may be the most important election in American history, the people of the United States of America are faced with the real possibility their next leader, and the next leader of the world's only superpower, may very well be a woman.

A woman in charge is not necessarily a new concept to our nation; 20 States have elected women governors, including large states like Texas and New Jersey. Numerous large American cities such as Chicago, Houston, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Dallas, Kansas City and Atlanta have all elected women mayors. Women have been at the helm of powerful companies, including Hewlett Packard and Kraft Foods, but a woman at the head of everything, sitting in the Oval Office with the title "Commander-in-Chief?" The closest Americans ever got to having a woman in the White House was in 1984, when New York Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro was chosen as the running mate of Former Vice President Walter Mondale, the Mondale/Ferraro ticket was soundly defeated that year by Ronald Reagan, carrying only the state of Minnesota. In 2000, former Secretary of Labor and current North Carolina Senator Elizabeth Dole made a short-lived run for the GOP Presidential nomination, but dropped out even before the primaries. It wasn't until 2007, when Nancy Pelosi became Speaker of the House of Representatives, that a woman became head of a branch of the federal government.

A recent poll shows a decent majority of Americans say the United States is ready for a woman president, but when you really dig into the psyche of Americans, you may very well find strong doubts that a woman can follow in the footsteps of the forty-three men who came before her. Is it the right time? Will our enemies take her seriously? Can she be strong and decisive? Perhaps it's our relatively short male-dominated political history that makes us reprehensible, but around the world, women have long proven to be strong and highly effective leaders, and like some of their male counterparts, others have proven to be complete flops.

Before the 20^th Century, women in leadership roles were nearly nonexistent. That is, unless, they got their positions through their fathers, grandfathers, uncles or husbands, in the monarchies that dominated the world. In the first century, the Iceni tribe in Britain was ruled by a queen, Boudica. The tall redheaded British woman led the Iceni into battle against the advancing Imperial Roman armies, the most powerful in the world. Although the Iceni and Boudica were defeated and the Romans conquered the island of Britain, her courage and leadership forced Emperor Nero to consider withdrawing troops from Britain for a time. Boudica wasn't the only redhead British woman to show bravery in combat; a millennium and a half later, Queen Elizabeth I faced one of the greatest threats Britain had ever seen; an impending invasion by the navy and army of Spain, then the most powerful in the world. Before the underdog British set off to fight the Spanish, Elizabeth rallied her troops, telling them "I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king"
Russia's Catherine the Great, who ruled as Empress in the late 18^th Century, is widely seen as one of the most powerful of all Russian rulers. Under Catherine's reign, Russia's status as a world power was cemented on the world stage. Catherine expanded her empire to include the Crimea, most of Ukraine and Lithuania, including the annexation of the Black Sea port of Odessa, which proved important for the Russians through the next century.

Even in monarchies, however, male dominance ruled. The kingdoms of Europe did everything in their power to prevent women from taking the throne, leaving daughters and nieces on the bottom of the list, behind any man left in the family. Famous female monarchs, like Queen Elizabeth I, Christina of Sweden, Anne of Great Britain, Maria Theresa of Austria, and Queen Victoria all got their thrones because no men were left in line. Still, monarchies like Spain and Japan prefer males over females, even if male heirs rank behind females in birth order.
Democratically elected women have shown leadership even in a time of military conflict. The Premierships of Margaret Thatcher in Britain and Golda Meir in Israel had mixed results domestically, but both led their countries into battles at a time when patriotism was at record lows. Thatcher's swift defeat of Argentina in the Falklands and Meir's leadership during Operation Wrath of God after the slaughter of Israeli citizens at the 1972 Olympics inspired faith and good feelings among their people. Eugenia Charles of Dominica, the first woman leader of a country in the Western Hemisphere, played a major role in the successful US-led Operation Urgent Fury against Grenada's communist-supporting military regime in 1983.

Women leaders also played major roles in countries that transitioned from dictatorships to free societies; Corazon Aquino of The Philippines, Violeta Chamorro of Nicaragua and Liberia's Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf all led their countries out of oppressive regimes and into free democracies. Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan took power in 1988 and became the first woman to lead a Muslim country, bringing democracy to Pakistan for a period of time. Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi was elected to bring her country out of a military dictatorship nearly two decades ago, but has yet to take power and is still seen as the legitimate leader of her country, despite her imprisonment by the Burmese military junta.

Currently, women govern Germany, Chile, The Philippines, Finland, New Zealand, and Ireland, with the latter two having elected two women back to back. Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany has instituted economic reforms which have been fairly popular and successful. Irish President Mary McAleese, a native of British controlled Northern Ireland, has shown great success is building bridges between long-warring Catholics and Protestants. Finnish President Tarja Halonen has enjoyed high approval ratings throughout her term. Recently retired President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga of Latvia was credited with moving her country out of their long history as a Russian protectorate and closer to the rest of Europe. Under her leadership, Latvia became a member of the European Union. Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga of Sri Lanka was fairly successful in keeping her country together, despite strong separatist movements from Tamil Tigers in the north of the country. The four largest Islamic countries, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Turkey, have all seen female leaders with varying successes. Recently, Argentina elected their first female president, the outgoing first lady Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.

Like male leaders, some female leaders have had their criticisms and perceived failures. Canada's Kim Campbell became Prime Minister in 1993, but her perceived pessimism over the future of the Canadian economy caused her government to lose elections after just five months in power. Pakistan's Bhutto saw her government falls twice due to allegations of corruption that eventually forced her to leave Pakistan and live in exile elsewhere. Panama's Mireya Moscoso saw her approval ratings plummet before she left office in 2004 due to corruption charges. Megawati Sukarnoputri of Indonesia lost her 2004 reelection campaign because she failed to provide relief to her country's high unemployment and poverty problems. Indira Gandhi of India, who served as Prime Minister for all but three years between 1968 and 1984 held enormous power during her term, but her government was taken down in 1977 after a state of emergency was declared due to civilian upheaval that broke out when she refused to step down because of election fraud charges. In 1984, Gandhi lost her life to Sikh assassins after she ordered a military operation against Sikh militants in the sacred Sikh city of Amritsar, Punjab. Even Margaret Thatcher, whom is widely seen as a standard example of modern female leaders, saw herself fall from power due to failures and criticisms over some of her policies. Thatcher's position on European integration and high interest rates caused much division among her party and led to her ousting as Prime Minister in 1990.

Despite the prominence of women leaders in the last century, the United States is far from being the only western nation to never see a woman leader. Japan, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, and Russia have all never seen a democratically elected female at the helm. France had a chance at electing a woman last year, Socialist Segolene Royale, but she was narrowly defeated by Nicholas Sarkozy.

Hillary Rodham Clinton doesn't only hold a lead in the race for her party's nomination; recent polls show her four to six points ahead of her closest Republican rival. Although in politics, a year is a long time and a lot could happen, the junior Senator from New York looks to be the odds on favorite to succeed George W. Bush as leader of the free world. Before she can win the right to take the helm fourteen months from now, Hillary Rodham Clinton can learn a few lessons from the successes and failures from the women around the world wh came before her.

CO-Sen: Udall Leads

2007-11-05T22:16:00.000-05:00

Survey USA;

Udall (D)- 48%
Schaffer (R)- 41%

Slight Lean Democrat

NH-Sen: Shaheen Holds Lead

2007-11-05T19:01:00.000-05:00

Survey USA:

Shaheen (D)- 53%
Sununu (R)- 42%

Lean Democrat

ME-Sen: A Bright Spot For GOP

2007-11-05T17:15:00.000-05:00

Survey USA;

Collins (R)- 55%
Allen (D)- 38%

Susan Collins was considered a very vulnerable GOP incumbent, still is. She's not as popular as her GOP colleague Olympia Snowe, and she's facing a popular Democratic congressman.

Likely Republican

OR-Sen: Smith's Small Lead

2007-11-05T16:52:00.000-05:00

Survey USA;

Smith (R)- 48%
Merkley (D)- 39%

Smith (R)- 45%
Novick (D)- 39%

I'm amazed that Novick, less widely known statewide than Jeff Merkley is doing better than him. Smith is vulnerable, but Democrats will have to work hard for it.

Slight Lean Republican.

NM-Sen: Democrats Strong

2007-11-05T15:56:00.000-05:00

Survey USA;

Pearce (R)- 43%
Chavez (D)- 48%

Wilson (R)- 44%
Chavez (D)- 48%

Diane Denish holds a similar lead, Bill Richardson a commanding one, neither is running. Survey USA did not poll Tom Udall, but he held huge leads in the previous survey, where Chavez trailed the GOP candidates.

if Udall jumps in the race, then moves to Lean Democrat, but with Chavez, this is a Tossup.

Monday Afternoon Amusement

2007-11-05T14:36:00.002-05:00

If Musharraf was as forceful with Al-Qaeda as he is with human rights lawyers, we wouldn't have to take our shoes off at the airport.

Well, at least Minnesota's a lock for her.

Bernie, you're doin a heckuva job.

If a Republican can't win California, then by God nobody else can either.

And you thought two New Yorkers on the ballot was frightening, hey, what about three?

Thompson Supports Federalism

2007-11-04T12:40:00.000-05:00

Thompson's endorsement of federalism on Meet the Press today is the path the Republicans need to take if they want votes from people like me.

They love to use the Bible to defend their anti-choice, anti-gay positions, but Thompson shows why Republicans should really be opposed to Roe vs. Wade, because it trumps federalism.

Thompson supports states deciding on gay marriage and abortion, and so do I. I'm pro-choice and strongly pro-gay marriage, but I think this fight should be taken to the states.

I endorse a country where all 50 states legalize abortion and gay marriage, but through state jurisdictions and not federal jurisdictions. What isn't implied or stated in the Constitution is left up to the states. That's why if we lived in the 1950's, I'd probably be a conservative Republican.

Thompson has quickly jumped into the front as being my favorite Republican. I'm still going to probably vote Democratic next year, but I feel comfortable with someone like Thompson.

Bush Veteos Water Bill

2007-11-02T17:39:00.000-04:00

Bush vetoed a water resources bill today that was backed by over 75% of both Houses of Congress and nearly half of all Republicans.

The President is likely to see the veto overidden, the first of his presidency, reminding him and us all that while he is still relevant, so is Congress.

Lee Iaccoca Endroses Richarson

2007-11-01T16:03:00.000-04:00

Lee Iaccoca, former Chrysler CEO and Ford President, has announced he is endorsing Democrat Bill Richardson for President. Iaccoca is one of Richardson's biggest endorsers in his uphill battle for the Presidency.

Iaccoca leans Democratic, but endorsed Bush in 2000 and Republican Gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos in Michigan in 2006. He did endorse John Kerry in 2004.

Iaccoca was considered the frontrunner for John Heinz III's Senate seat from Pennsylvania after he was killed in a plane crash in 1991. Democratic Governor Bob Casey wanted to appoint Iaccoca as a Democrat, but he turned down the job.

Iaccoca says Richardson's positions of health care, education and Iraq. He also says he "just plain likes the guy"

For the record, I have also endorsed Richardson.

Bush: I Get What I Want Cause We're At War

2007-11-01T14:29:00.000-04:00

Apparently President Bush believes war means we should be a dictatorship.