Daschle Withdrawls Nomination

This seems a bit odd because repubs have said nothing and Obama and other key dems were supporting him. It looks like there are more to his taxes than we see. Because if everything were there he would still be confirmed b/c he is liked in the senate. 

I guess we will have to wait for the other reasons not reported. 

Quote of the Day

“Welcome back to the White House.”

Joe Biden, in reference to Obama's effort to put labor back where it should be. 

F-ing Brilliant

Obama is floating around the idea of appointing Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) to commerce secretary. Why is this sooooo brilliant. Well, the dem governor of N.H. would most definitely appoint a dem senator. Bringing that fateful number of dem senators of 59 (when Franken finally goes to washington) up to 60.

That is the most fillibuster proof majority you can get. That means, the dems senators could bring up a "National wipe your butt in public day" and there is not one thing the republicans can do about it.

Can someone say National Healthcare!!!!!

Circus Is Finally Over

Blagovich is gone. By a vote of59-0 in the Illinois senate. Finally, the curtain has closed on this. 

Other's Obeserving the GOP Going Down In Flames

Nate Silver has noticed what everyone else is starting to see. The swan song for the GOP. 

Thus the Republicans, arguably, are in something of a death spiral. The more conservative, partisan, and strident their message becomes, the more they alienate non-base Republicans. But the more they alienate non-base Republicans, the fewer of them are left to worry about appeasing. Thus, their message becomes continually more appealing to the base -- but more conservative, partisan, and strident to the rest of us. And the process loops back upon itself.

You almost kind of feel sorry for them....almost. 

GOP In Very Serious Trouble

There has been a dramatic shift over the past 4 years. There are many reasons but most of all, the GOP's shallow, unsubstantial, talking-points-heavy style of governing has seriously soured the public against them. 

Gallup has a new poll about the "State of States": about how each state is doing in reference to party affiliation. Looking at the map to show how red/blue states are, the GOP is up the proverbial poop creek with a paddle. The map above shows those trends. It seems the GOP has only about 4 solid states left. Compare the blue to red. Wow!!

GOP had better stop alienating large portions of the population and start trying to become part of our world. The only problem is, they are totally beholden to their base. Which runs directly contrary to the way the majority of our society is trending. 

One possible explanation as to why this won't change anytime soon was at Dailykos. The bigger problem the GOP faces is that the moderates repubs have lost their seats (in both house and senate). This leaves only wingnuts. Wingnuts, too fearful of losing their primary to another more crazier wingnut has no inclination to vote on Dem bills when the vote will be later used as a bludgeon during their primary. 

Basically, they're stuck. 

Coleman Blowing the Case

Yesterday was a bit of a laughing frenzy and Coleman's lawyers shoot themselves in the foot. Coleman's attorneys cherrypicked 6 witnesses for their case and in cross examination one of them witnesses admits he lied about his absentee signature and the other said he went to the polls to vote and didn't cast an absentee vote. 

This is what they got from their witnesses. Via TPM

One of the voters was Douglas Thompson, who admitted under oath that his girlfriend filled out his absentee ballot application for him, signing his name with her own hand and purporting to be himself. His ballot was rejected because the signature on his ballot envelope (his own) did not match the signature on the application (his girlfriend's). The Coleman team's argument appears to be that he is still a legal voter in Minnesota, as the signature on the ballot was his own, even if admitted dishonesty was involved in getting the ballot.

It was so bad that over at Dailykos, some theorize that Coleman is throwing the case so that they can claim the race was stolen from him by Franken. Making Franken the boogeyman as to drum up donations. 

Not a bad conjecture. At the end of the day, Franken is still going to win.