LA-04: McCrery To Retire

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.

House Passes Energy Legislation

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.

Democrats To Pass Energy Legislation

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.

IN 07: Carson Terminally Ill

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.

Reid Shows Some Leadership

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.

Houses Passes Electronic Surveillance Bill

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

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

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.

Houses Passes War Funding Bill

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.

Happy Hour

-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

Bush's First Override

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.

House Passes ENDA

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.

Bush Veteos Water Bill

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.

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

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

Bush Reminds Us Why We Elected Democrats

I don't understand George W. Bush.

I mean I do, but I don't.

He comes out today to take shots at the unpopular Congress, but did he deliver a death blow, or did he resuscitate life into Congress.

Bush says Congress is wasting it's time investigating his administration. American people overwhelmingly want investigations of his administration, even his own impeachment. The American people are angry at Congress for what they perceive is lack of accountability from the Democratic Congress. If Bush is upset over investigations, then I guess the Democratic Congress is holding him accountable after all.

Bush complains Congress is wasting it's time passing a SCHIP bill he's only going to veto and the House will only fail to override, but, the American people like this bill and want the Democratic Congress to pass it despite what Bush says. If Bush is upset, that means Congress is doing what the people want...forcing him to accept the SCHIP reauthorization.

Simply put, Congress is not unpopular because it hasn't gotten anything done. Congress is unpopular because they're seen as Bush lackeys who fail to end the Iraq war or hold the administration accountable. The President has a 25% approval rating, when he's unhappy with Congress, Congress wins.

Mukasey Nomination In Jeopardy?

Democrats seem to be lining up in opposition to the nomination of Michael Mukasey as Attorney General. Just a few weeks ago, Mukasey was thought to be breezing through the nomination process. Now? Not so much.

Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Carl Levin (D-Michigan) and Chris Dodd (D-Connecticut) have all announced their opposition to Mukasey because the nominee refuses to acknowledge the waterboarding is torture (which it is.)

I still think Mukasey will be confirmed, but the overwhelmingly confirmation the President wanted is not going to happen now.

House Passes Another SCHIP Bill

The vote was 265-142. Not a single Republican switched their vote from last time, but all but one Democrat did.

Baron Hill (D-Indiana), Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), Kathy Castor (D-Florida), Mike McIntyre (D-North Carolina), Bob Etheridge (D-North Carolina) all voted aye despite voting nay in the original bill, but all voted to override the President's veto last week.

Dan Boren (D-Oklahoma) who voted nay in the original bill, but voted to override the veto was not present.

Gene Taylor (D-Mississippi) was the only person to switch his vote, having voted nay originally and against overriding the veto.

Jim Marshall (D-Georgia) again voted nay, having originally voted nay and no to overriding the veto.

Republicans are angry because the vote occured while many of them were out in California with the President, including Brian Bilbray, David Dreier, Elton Gallegly, Gary Miller, Duncan Hunter, and Darrell Issa. They accused the Speaker of using the disaster and the Republican absentees as a means to show less nay votes. However, two Democrats from Southern California whose districts have been affected by the fires were also not present; San Diego's Susan Davis and Bob Filner.

Nine other Republicans were absent, all most likely nay votes, and eight, including Boren, Democrats were absent, all reliable yes votes.

The Democrats look to fall about 10 votes shy of a veto override this time, assuming they all show up.

You Job Is To Vote

Republicans are agigtated because Democrats scheduled another vote on a second SCHIP bill today, when some Republicans from California are out following the President around in an attempt to look competent.

"Members should not have to choose between making an important vote in Washington or being in California helping our constituents to get the aid they need to rebuild their homes and their lives,"

Quite frankly, your job is to represent your people in Washington. You have staffs in your districts that handle constiuents. After important work is done in Washington, then you go home and visit victims and offer help. Is it necessary to be there right now? Are people going to be that upset if you say "Due to a busy session this week in Congress, I will be unable to return to my district until Saturday, but my constiuents are in my hearts?" They don't need you, they need food, water and money.

Or are those photo ops for your reelection website so important it can't wait two days.

Or maybe they're just looking for photo ops to put on their campaign websites next year.

Defending Stark

I am extremely outraged that Speaker Pelosi has decided to apologize for Pete Stark's remarks yesterday on the House floor.

Did Newt Gingrich apologize when Indiana Republican Dan Burton called President Clinton a "scumbag?"

Did John Boehner apologize when Georgia Republican Lynn Westmorland questioned Arkansas Demcorat Mike Ross' intelligence on the House floor last July?

Who apologizes for Rush Limbaugh attacking soldiers for taking a stand and using the freedom they so bravely fought for? Who apologizes for Ann Coulter calling Jews "imperfect?"

Why is it that the Democrats and liberals have to apologize for being harsh, but Republicans and conservatives get a free ride?

Stark's comments may have been presented better, but I'm not sorry. I've heard dozens of people, even people who supported Bush in the past, say what he said. Our government needs to stop sugarcoating their beliefs and saying what they really feel. Lord knows the right wing has been doing that.

The Bravest Person On Earth

One must admire the unrelenting patriotism one must have for his or her country for them to return to that country and face near certain death. Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto could have thrown in the towel on Pakistan after they hanged her father. She could have given up when forced her into exile long before Islamic radicals began powerful there. She could have lived out her days in the safety and security of Dubai or London, advocating for a free Pakistan from afar. No one could deny that staying out of Pakistan would've been a smart and lifesaving thing to do. Instead, seeing the need for democracy to return to Pakistan, one of the few Muslim countries to have enjoyed a free society, she went back home facing death threats, and barely survived an attempt on her life in the city she was born in.

Defiant, she did not go into hiding after yesterday's attack. Today, she reminded the world what bravery looks like.

"We are prepared to risk our lives and we are prepared to risk our liberty, but we are not prepared to surrender our great nation to the militants."

Ms. Bhutto can teach everyone out there a lesson about leadership. Among those who should take notes; Congress.

If Ms. Bhutto is willing to give her life for what she believes is right, then the Democratic leadership should be willing to risk their seats for what's right. That is true leadership.