Washington Post Headline Says It All

Why is the GOP toning down criticism? Because it is becoming a booming racist voice by the crazies in the party. Obama, choosing a qualified nominee, split the GOP right down the middle with his supreme court nominee. You have the crazies itching for a fight and then you have the people who want to win elections telling them to chill it out.

From the same article:

The guy trying to elect repubs to the senate said "I think it's terrible. This is not the kind of tone any of us want to set when it comes to performing our constitutional responsibilities of advise and consent."

Newt and Rush are spouting a lot of hate right now and they GOP doesn't know what to do with the defacto leaders of their party. If it doesn't stop, it is going to get a lot uglier and the GOP will definitely lose a growing voting block: Latinos and Women

Primary Fight for Arlen Specter

Every since Senator Arlen Specter changed his party affiliation to dem the dem party elite have been trying to remove primary opponents for Arlen's re-election next year. I don't think Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) got the memo.

"While it is tempting to think that the Democratic leadership and the White House might put considerable pressure on Sestak to stay out of the primary and leave Specter alone, don't count on it. Apart from the fact that the famously stubborn Sestak adversely reacts to pressure by others, the threat of a primary makes Specter a better and more reliable Democrat on the Senate floor, something that is important given the contentious issues ahead over the next year. This also might be a sign that Democrats just aren't worried about the prospect of facing conservative former Rep. Pat Toomey in a general election."

Yes, the primary might make Arlen a more reliable vote. I also realize Arlen Specter's change gives dems the 60th vote in the senate but I don't think he should get a free pass during his DEM primary. The truth is, he is only has dem tendencies. He was a moderate repub but definitely carried Bush's water the past 8 years. Should he suddenly get a race without a primary? No. Pennsylvania is trending dem anyway and Arlen was going to lose his repub primary and then a good dem would have won the senate seat without Arlen. We don't need the leftovers of the repub party. We need good dems. Arlen better start showing his good dem credentials or he just might lose his senate seat. 

Quote of the Day

From an article written by Ted Kennedy in the Boston Globe:

"OVER THE LAST YEAR, I've seen our healthcare system up close. I've benefitted from the best of medicine, but I've also witnessed the frustration and outrage of patients and doctors alike as they face the challenges of a system that shortchanges millions of Americans.

We have the greatest doctors and medical innovations in the world, but more and more Americans are on the outside looking in to a world of progress and discovery that is denied to them because they cannot afford quality healthcare.

That's wrong - and it's about to change."

And who would know better than a man who just had brain surgery. 

Bill Clinton Still Bitter

Bill is still bitter over Ted Kennedy's and Bill Richardson's endorsement of Obama. In a NY Times Magazine article, they describe:

"People close to Clinton said he has largely got over his resentment at Obama but not toward Ted Kennedy and his niece, Caroline Kennedy. As Clinton sees it, they say, he did so much for the Kennedys over the years that he felt they became almost family. Nor has he forgiven Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, who endorsed Obama even though Clinton appointed him to two cabinet posts. "

Why does Richardson owe him? I realize that Clinton did Richardson a favor by appointing him but Richardson did his job. At the end of the day Bill Clinton has invested too much into the idea that people owe you things when, in fact, you don't. 

Bill, while I think you are great, get over your shit. 

Cool Supreme Court Graphic

Check out the very cool graphic over at CQ Politics. It has a timetable graph that shows the different parts of a confirmation process. 

Look at Anthony Kennedy. He took almost 2/3 of a year to confirm. 

The GOP Attacks Come

It took about 2 hours to organize the GOP attack squad. While I believe some repubs had prepared things to complain about, others are still taking their time before committing to an attack. 

Gov Mike Huckabee- "the clearest indication yet that President Obama’s campaign promises to be a centrist and think in a bipartisan way were mere rhetoric.”

Minority Speaker Mitch Boehner- “Senate Republicans will treat Judge Sotomayor fairly. But we will thoroughly examine her record to ensure she understands that the role of a jurist in our democracy is to apply the law even-handedly, despite their own feelings or personal or political preferences.”

Michael Steele-  “Republicans will reserve judgment on Sonia Sotomayor until there has been a thorough and thoughtful examination of her legal views.”

By looking at some of the other unknown commenters, they are going to attack her for using her "feelings" (her ability to empathize.) When did empathy become a liability? Also, attacking a women for her ability to empathize (or man for that fact) is absolutely rediculous. From what I have heard, she has been a rule of law kind of person. In one instance, ruling against a pro-choice group. 

Obama Picks Sona Sotomayor

President Obama has chosed veteran judge Sona Sotomayor to replace retiring Justice Souter. I have not read much about her record so I can't comment just yet. However, I do recall the repubs preemptively attacking her before she was nominated. This tells me a lot and she must be a good pick.

Obvious reasons why she will be confirmed. She was first nominated to federal judge by George H.W. Bush. She saved baseball by stopping the player strike years ago. She is also latina. Why is that important? The repubs already have a really bad relationship with the latino community due to attacking immigrants while Bush Jr. was trying to get immigration reform passed last year. (Which did not get passed b/c the repubs squashed it.) They cannot come after her too much for fear of alienating the few latinos still supporting the GOP.

On the face of this, this is a good pick. A lot of experience as a lawyer, trial judge, federal judge, and appeals judge. A very well rounded candidate. 

Obama v Cheney

Obama's speech on national security was not accidentally scheduled on the same day as Cheney. In politics who you choose to fight with is as important as what you say. Why not choose another republican. Why not RNC chair Michael Steele? Or Palin or any of the others?

Its because by choosing the opponent you also choose how you shape your message. Obama chose an old time GOP guy who everyone knows and only 25% of the population likes. By making war with Cheney, Obama goes after the image of the old white guy who would drown anyone who gets in his way. Obama's message is juxtaposed against Cheney's. On one hand you have a constituational scholar saying that torture actually hurts U.S. interests, helps recruit terrorists, and reduces our stature in the world. On the other hand you have a cranky old figure head saying waterboarding actually helped the U.S.

The same happened back in 2004. During the dem primary fight between Dean, Kerry, and Edwards, Bush had started attacking Kerry which elevated Kerry position in the dem party and eventually giving Kerry the dem nomination. At the end of the day, why did Bush go after Kerry? Look at the opponent Bush chose: New England, rich, private school, entitled senator. The person they were worried about was Edwards. Southern, came from nothing, good looking. (But who really knew what a douche Edwards ended up being.)

Colin Powell Firing Back

Colin Powell is firing back at his detractors this week. Last week Cheney commented on how he thought that Powell was no longer a republican. On "Face the Nation" Powell said that Cheney was "misinformed." While it is not as harsh as I would have liked, it is good to see Powell sticking up for himself.

I like Colin Powell. He was the only voice of reason in the Bush administration. Now that the GOP is in tatters, there is a struggle in the party to find a leader. Powell is the moderate voice that needs to be listened to but lets be realistic. The crazies don't like Powell. Cheney on the other hand seems to be laying groundwork for his own agenda. Which relies heavily on America being hit again by terrorists. (sick)

In the end, and I've said this before, the GOP needs cut out the social issues part of their party. They need to cut some dead wait and start from a center right platform and not the far right.