Posts Tagged ‘Harry Reid’

Updates I and II below and poll added

This has been going on for awhile and doesn’t seem to be going away. A plan to build a community center and mosque a few blocks (600 ft.) from Ground Zero has been dubbed the Ground Zero Mosque. It has, as you can imagine, sparked a ton of controversy. The mosque recently was approved by NYC’s Landmark Preservation Commission.

Of course this isn’t the end of it. President Obama recently discussed the issue, asserting his commitment to religious freedom, which is no small feat considering 70% of Americans oppose it. (Obama did clarify that he believes it is their constitutional right, but that doesn’t mean he supports their decision.)  Mayor Bloomberg supported their right to build the mosque with a stirring speech. One of the stronger parts:

The attack was an act of war, and our first responders defended not only our city, but our country and our Constitution. We do not honor their lives by denying the very constitutional rights they died protecting. We honor their lives by defending those rights and the freedoms that the terrorists attacked … Political controversies come and go, but our values and our traditions endure, and there is no neighborhood in this city that is off-limits to God’s love and mercy.

He received a lot of praise and hate for his speech. In my opinion, he nailed it. We can’t call ourselves “The Land of the Free” if we stop a completely legitimate group from practicing their religion based on where it stands.

People like Newt Gingrich have been throwing (more…)

For nominating Angle. This is what you get.

Enjoy the Tea Party giving Republicans defeat in the face of victory.

Adam Feser

Sharron Angle, Dr’s homegirl, opposes abortions, even in cases of rape and incest (Judging by her words I would have to assume also if it childbirth would kill the mother). She cites the old, “God has a plan” argument as her reasoning.

Each person’s belief is their belief, but she would use her belief to force a rape victim’s hand.

Also, if everything that happens is part of God’s plan, does it not stand to reason that abortion is a part of God’s plan? Just a thought.

Enjoy Reid’s saving grace.

Adam Feser

I wrote yesterday about McCain’s ridiculous threat and how silly it is to refuse to govern because you didn’t get your way. Well, Republicans have started their stand, and it is absolutely appalling.

They are shutting down committees using an overlooked rule of the Senate. If they were using Senate rules to shut down legislation they thought was bad or something, I maybe could respect it. But they are shutting down committees that are completely unrelated to health care.

They are doing it just to be dicks, and Democrats are calling them on it.

“Let me get this straight: in retaliation for our efforts to have an up-or-down vote to improve health care reform, Republicans are blocking an Armed Services committee hearing to discuss critical national security issues?” Jim Manley said as a spokesman for Harry Reid.

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) tweeted today : “Disappointed. Rs refusing to allow hearings today. Had to cancel my oversight hearing on police training contracts in Afghanistan.”

Leahy, on the GOP shutting down judicial nominations:

For months, Senate Republicans have resisted efforts to enact important reforms to our health insurance system. But when the dust settles and the emotions are calmed, history will show that President Obama and this Congress responded to a pressing national issue, and proved once again that we can act with the purpose of advancing an important national interest. Sadly, actions like today’s objections from Senate Republicans to the consideration of a highly qualified, historic nominee will be viewed as little more than petty, partisan politics.

“The Senate should be a place for debate, but I cannot imagine how shutting down a hearing on helping homeless veterans has any part of the debate on the health insurance reform,” said Akaka. “I am deeply disappointed that my colleagues chose to hinder our common work to help end veteran homelessness.”

So, let me ask you, Republican health care reform haters, are you proud of the tactics Republicans are employing that have nothing to do with reform? Is this what you want them to do?

Enjoy a lot of old white dudes acting like three-year-olds.

Adam Feser

Someone left a copy of an RNC fundraising presentation given by RNC Finance Director Rob Bickhart laying around, and Ben Smith of Politico got a copy. The presentation is anything but laudatory regarding Republican donors.

One slide covers the motivations of the givers. For smaller givers (Visceral Giving), the first reason listed is “Fear.” Their other attributes of interest are “Extreme negative feelings toward existing Administration” and “Reactionary.” The larger givers (Calculated Giving) want to be on a “Wall of fame” and are “Ego-driven.” These givers also face “Peer-to-peer pressure,” want “Access,” and are looking for “Networking opportunities.” It almost sounds like they hate their donors.

A big portion of the RNC strategy is to play on the fears of possible donors, making sure to note that they can “save the country from trending toward socialism.”

The main thrust of the strategy seems to be manipulating their stupid or big-headed donors into giving more money.

The slide show also contained a page dedicated solely to caricatures of President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid. The title of that slide is “Evil Empire.” Because the President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the Majority Leader of the United States Senate are evil, I guess.

The RNC was quick to distance Chairman Steele from the controversy. “Obviously, the Chairman disagrees with the language and finds the use of such imagery to be unacceptable. It will not be used by the Republican National Committee – in any capacity – in the future.”

Odd that their financial chair would give a presentation at a $2,500-per-head retreat when there is no plan to use any of the information, huh?

It’s also quite telling that the fundraising strategy isn’t about presenting different, better ideas than the scary ones Democrats are giving. Instead of focusing on how they would govern, the focus is on fear. It’s been obvious to most that this has been their strategy (death panels, Nazis, Glenn crying, etc.), and it’s hard to think anything different when they admit it in a confidential fundraising presentation.

Enjoy the spin on this one.

Adam Feser

It’s been some time since I’ve posted Jon busting out a funny but poignant little ditty. This video begins by making fun of Blagojevich and Reid for their ridiculous comments before getting into one of the biggest double standards in politics.

The double standard is, of course, about national security. None of the attacks that occurred under Bush count as terrorist attacks and Obama has had millions. For starters, 9/11 doesn’t count. Neither do any of the other attacks before Obama took office.

The logic required to come up with the numbers conservatives have been using is baffling, and Jon and Jon Oliver lay them out as the rules of Terror Ball. In Terror Ball, Obama simply cannot win. Also, if you listen to Oliver say “Terror Ball,” it sounds an awful lot like “Terrible.”

Enjoy Lane Kiffin’s disgrace.

Adam Feser