Get Ready for the Obama/GOP Alliance

Snyder to support Schostak for GOP chairman
In an announcement released this afternoon, Snyder said Schostak “is the right person to lead our party as Republicans assume the mantle of leadership and work to reinvent Michigan.” Schostak was credited, along with outgoing party chairman Ron Weiser, with leading a successful GOP fund-raising operation in 2010, helping the party elect Snyder, expand its majority in the state Senate and regain the majority in the House. Several other potential candi...

New poll undercuts GOP claims of a midterm mandate
WASHINGTON — A majority of Americans want the Congress to keep the new Health Care law or actually expand it, despite Republican claims that they have a mandate from the people to kill it, according to a new McClatchy-Marist poll. The post-election survey showed that 51 percent of Registered Voters want to keep the law or change it to do more, while 44 percent want to change it to do less or Repeal it altogether. Driving support for the law: Voters by margins of 2-1 or greater want to ke...

Democrats Lose Because They Didn't Fight for Popular Progressive Policies
Stephanie Taylor is cofounder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, a 600,000-member Grassroots group. Democrats lost because they didn't fight strongly enough for popular progressive change—like a Public Health Insurance Option and a breakup of the big Wall Street banks that sunk our economy. We commissioned a post-election National Poll of those who voted. It showed that the 2010 electorate was much more conservative than the 2008 electorate. Many Democrats didn't show up. Neit...

Progressives Target 'Dude, Where's My Health Care' GOPer (AUDIO)
A progressive group is launching a multi-pronged attack on Rep.-elect Andy Harris, the freshly-elected Republican physician from Maryland who made headlines last week when he, essentially, asked Congressional Staffers why he has to wait 28 days for his government Health Care. Harris, who like many Republicans this year ran on repealing the landmark health care law singed by President Obama, is the subject of ridicule in a new radio ad being broadcast across his Maryland district by the progres...

John Baer: Despite lacking clout, Philly will still be felt in Harrisburg
THE DRAMATIC DECLINE in Philadelphia's clout - the end of the Specter/Rendell era, statewide Republican rule, a power shift in Harrisburg, the loss of Dwight Evans as appropriations boss, a dire fiscal outlook - strikes fear into many city advocates. I'm not here to tell you this fear is misplaced. Tougher times are ahead. But, for several reasons, it's overblown. First, let's look at the carnage. Philadelphians Arlen Specter and Ed Rendell, whatever you think of them, were tireless, often succe...

Leftovers - November 22, 2010
Interestingly, 9 Republican senators abstain from Sen. Mitch McConnell's brief calling Health Care reform Unconstitutional. Scary: Rep. Bob Inglis thinks his GOP primary loss was mostly because voters think his belief in Climate Change is "Satan's side." Despite pockets of incredibly high Unemployment, Rep.-elect Allen West thinks that no one in DC is suffering. Forget who's running for the White House in 2012; Sharron Angle is considering a run for Congress. Remember "Climate-gate"? Well, it t...

Lame-duck Congress's first task: avoid a government shutdown
Funding for Fiscal Year 2011 is set to run out Dec. 3. Will emboldened Republicans be willing to shut down government rather than pass a Trillion-dollar Budget that expands the Deficit? Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (2nd l.) gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington on Nov. 16. He has suggested that Republicans are gearing for a fight with President Obama over the budget. Of all the unfinished business on Capitol Hill, two issues - taxes and spending - ...

Shuler Says More Centrists Needed
Rep. Heath Shuler is pushing the Democratic Party to adopt more Centrist policies after the GOP’s huge gains nationwide in this month’s election. And he’s looking to President Barack Obama to follow suit. With many moderate Democrats and even some Liberals saying the party needed a change of leadership after the election losses, Shuler, D-Waynesville, led a largely symbolic campaign this past week to become the top Democrat in the U.S. House. He took more than 20 percent of vot...

Senate Democrats View 2012 with Trepidation
While not even a month has passed since the last national election, Democrats are already worrying that 2012 may prove to be a tougher environment for the party - and one that could spark major turnover. See, Senate Democrats have a lot to lose come 2012, because of the 33 seats in play next election, 23 are currently held by Democrats - or the Independents who Caucus with them. Republicans are only tasked with defending 10 seats, and GOP leaders feel confident they'll actually net at least four...

All Palin, all the time
With Sarah Palin’s new book (America by Heart), her new TV show (Sarah Palin’s Alaska), her daily Tweets from-on-high and her current Fox News gig - her rabid supporters can surround themselves with non-stop, 24 hour Sarah. It’s All Sarah, All the Time. But there now appears to be no such enthusiasm coming from many serious-minded Conservatives who see Palin as being more of an irritant than somebody fit for the presidency. There are always those Conservatives who’l...

Melanie Sloan
A lot of eyebrows were raised when Melanie Sloan and her organization, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, seemed to be shilling for the for-profit college industry. It seemed out of character, since CREW’s done a lot of good work. People were less surprised to see that former Bill Clinton lawyer Lanny Davis was lobbying for them formally, since he’s been a hired gun for a while now, representing an array of Corporate Interests. Now, though, the plot thickens as i...

The Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN) / Five Things Worth Watching
In early November several of AAN’s analysts and members gathered in Stockholm, to brainstorm, exchange ideas and participate in the annual SCA conference. We started the discussions by doing a quick round, asking everyone what the one or two issues were that are likely to be central, or that should not be forgotten, as we move into a different phase of international engagement in Afghanistan. Given the gathered knowledge and experience it seemed like a good idea to share an off-the-cuff ove...

Five 4 Friday with David Brody: Newt Gingrich
David Brody sits down with author and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. Miller vs. Murkowski (0:49) Whatever It Takes (Ep. 2) (9:12) Dr. Donna Campbell & Clint Didier (44:38) Dr. Tawfik Hamid - Ep. 02 (54:55) Love in An Elevator (Ep. 3) (11:16) Dr. Condeleeza Rice & Gen. Colin Powell (44:23) Human Nature - Are We Basically Good? (5:16) Sex: Now You're Talking! (23:32) Journalist David Brody asks politicos and influencers 5 offbeat questions every Friday. Journalist David Brody ...

Obama Foodorama: Monday: First Lady Michelle Obama Brings Let's Move! To Miami, Will Announce New Project
First Lady Michelle Obama will be in New York and New Jersey today, for two Let's Move! events. All the details about her visits to Harlem and Newark are here. On Monday, Nov. 22, Mrs. Obama will again be on the road with her campaign, taking it to Miami, Florida. The East Wing is promising a big announcement of a new Food Industry commitment for the ambitious effort to end Childhood Obesity within a generation. Mrs. Obama's afternoon visit to Riverside Elementary School will highlight the Chefs...

Daniels: Wonks Love Him, Grassroots Dont
Among Conservatives who value good Public Policy, no figure may be more adored than Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana. He is the thinking man’s conservative, a man who can successfully lease a toll road and keep taxes low to promote Economic Growth. Even Liberals admit that he has done an excellent job in Indiana. In light of this track record, how can he not be considered a prime Candidate to be the GOP’s Presidential Candidate in 2012? The problem is that he polls absolutely abysmally am...

Fox News Admits Beck’s Restoring Honor Rally Was Political
Just like a compulsive liar who can’t keep their facts straight, Fox News slipped up again today by admitting something that everyone already knew; Glenn Beck’s Restoring Honor rally was political. On Fox And Friends Andrew Napolitano said, “Glenn Beck assembles the largest gathering in political history the largest political gathering in 40 years.” While defending the Tea Party and Glenn Beck’s Restoring Honor rally Andrew Napolitano said, “You know I have be...

The New War Congress: An Obama-Republican War Alliance?
But here's the curious thing: while the Democrats suffered a net loss of more than 60 seats in the House in the Midterm Elections just past, only three of the defeated Democrats had voted against funding an escalation in Afghanistan this past July 27th. Three other anti-war Democrats (by which I mean those who have actually voted against war funding) retired this year, as did two anti-war Republicans. Another anti-war Democrat, Carolyn Kilpatrick of Michigan, lost in a primary to Congressman-e...

Newt's Lesson for John Boehner: Be More Like Pelosi
What lessons should John Boehner take from the fall of Newt Gingrich? I think there are three leading explanations for why Newt was a failed Speaker. John Harwood today pushes what I think is the least helpful of these, what I think of as the Sonny Bono explanation: Newt had a terrible media image. It is of course correct that Newt Gingrich was highly unpopular, and to a fair extent that was because of mistakes within his control. But Nancy Pelosi has is highly unpopular, and her Caucus has sho...

The Fixer: Lanny Davis Represents Union Busters, Dictators, and Now For-Profit Schools - Campus Progress
Lanny Davis, who served as a White House lawyer for President Bill Clinton, is now representing the Coalition for Educational Success (CES), an umbrella group of for-profits, which includes the well-known Art Institutes as well as the more obscure Golf Academy of America and Marinello School of Beauty. The most heated policy battle over Higher Education today concerns the Department of Education’s effort to create rules that protect Students and Taxpayers from well-documented abuses and sh...

Gingrich: No possibility Id do debate with Matthews, Olbermann moderating
Newt Gingrich was on C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal” Sunday discussing a possible run for president. While he said he wouldn’t make a decision about whether to run until late February or early March, he had some clear ideas about his approach to media-sponsored Debates should he chose to run. "There's no possibility that I would ever go to a debate and have Olbermann or Chris Matthews asking questions. I watched the debate a couple of years ago and it was an embarras...

Zandar's Thought Of The Day
Popcorn time! The new Quinnipiac Poll shows Sarah Palin holding a narrow plurality among Republicans across the country for the party's presidential nomination in 2012. And at the same time, the poll makes clear that while President Obama is vulnerable in a closely-divided country, Palin would be the GOP's worst possible nominee for the General Election race. Among Republicans and GOP-leaners: Palin 19%, Romney 18%, Huckabee 17%, Gingrich 15%. Bringing up the rear are Tim Pawlenty at 6%, Haley B...

Tea Party Activists Reportedly BEGGED Sharron Angle Not To Campaign With John McCain
Sharron Angle’s campaign staff nearly axed a high-profile, last-minute Fundraising event featuring Arizona Senator John McCain while he was already in flight to Nevada. Uncovered in a new Politico report that lifts the veil on the true dysfunction of Sharron Angle’s unsuccessful campaign to topple Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, one of Angle’s head campaign advisers apparently mounted the mission to cancel the McCain appearance, despite the crucial timing of the function. Wh...

Chemical Lobby Gets Its Way in US Senate
© thumpandwhip.com Last-Minute Calls to Republicans Scuttle Bi-Partisan Agreement to Ban BPA from Baby Bottles, Sippy Cups For several years now, Environmental Working Group (EWG) has been warning of the risks associated with bisphenol A (BPA) - especially the BPA in baby bottles, sippy cups and cans of infant formula. EWG has also been a leader in trying to get state and federal agencies to regulate this hazardous chemical. Thanks to the efforts of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the...

Tomgram: David Swanson, All War All the Time
With doves like these, who needs hawks? And yet, you're going to see a new batch of Republican hawks landing anyway. There may be so many competitors, when it comes to war funding, that -- as David Swanson makes clear -- you won't know whether our conflicts are Obama's wars, McKeon's wars, or... well, you'll have plenty of choices when it comes to continuing to boost Military budgets well beyond Bush-era levels. TomDispatch regular Swanson, an antiwar organizer and all-around dynamo, who now r...

Levin battles to keep top Ways and Means slot
As Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.) steps up his battle to remain the top Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee next year, he’s getting help from members who he helped keep in Congress. Reps. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) and Bill Owens (D-N.Y.), two vulnerable freshmen who eked out wins, are urging their colleagues to support Levin as he fends off a challenge from Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.). “As two frontline members in marginal districts, we wish to convey to you Sandy Levin’...