Rand Paul Having Problems With Civil Rights

Wow, not a good start for the GOP candidate from Kentucky. On Rachel Maddow's show, he was asked no brainer questions about segregation. Simply put, he couldn't answer a question asking is it ok to refuse service to black people. He couldn't answer the question. Check it out.

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POTUS St Struggling With Leadership

When leadership is needed on a horrible new law, Obama View Blogseems to struggle.

"But as Obama returned to Washington from Illinois Wednesday night, he walked back to the press cabin on the presidential aircraft and, in an impromptu Q&A, essentially declared immigration dead.

Obama's retreat -- after encouraging senators only weeks ago to take up immigration reform -- clotheslined Senate Democrats. Since their proposal had already been leaked, they had no choice but to go ahead with the rollout of the plan Obama had just doomed. 'I don't know in what context the statement was made last night,' Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told reporters at Thursday night's rollout."

Again, leadership is needed, and Obama's struggling to provide it.

FBI Investigating Mine Owners For Bribery

Things just got hotter for the owners of the mine that killed 29 miners.

"NPR News has learned that the Mine Safety and Health Administration is one subject of a federal criminal investigation surrounding the explosion of the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia three weeks ago -- a disaster that killed 29 miners. The probe also looks at Massey Energy, the owner of the mine."

Obama's Bush Moment

From ThinkProgress, Obama's first Bush moment.

D'oh

GOP Moderates Head For The Doors

Charlie Crist has left the republican party to run for senate as an independent in Florida. This is just another case of the republican party expunging the moderates of its party.

"The more complicated truth, say top GOP officials from both wings of the party, is that an ornery conservative base is expressing its disgust for Republicans who have both flagrantly defied the party and represent a distrusted political establishment."

What is sad is that the GOP is a party of "if you are different, get the hell out." So many moderate republicans are on the verge of extinction. And the trouble for the GOP is that with the "anti-incumbent" atmosphere right now, the gains they get in november will only embolden the radicals. So come 2012, they are going to nominate, in their primaries, radicals that are unelectable.

GOP Sides With Wall Street

Is the GOP not worried about being the "party of no" and the "Wall Street Party?"

"Senate Republicans, united in opposition to the Democrats’ legislation to tighten regulation of the financial system, voted on Monday to block the bill from reaching the floor for debate. As both sides dug in, the battle has huge ramifications for the economy and for their political prospects in this year’s midterm elections."

Reid Getting Tough With GOP

Wow, who knew Reid could get tough. One of the biggest gripes with Reid is his unwillingness to challenge the GOP. It has been so bad sometimes, people have wondered if it would be better if Reid lost his reelection bid. I, myself, have thought similar things.

But when it comes to Wall Street Reform, Reid draws the line:

"fter quarterbacking health care reform through its tricky final moments in the Senate, Reid put the GOP on the spot yesterday, forcing them to filibuster a broadly popular Wall Street reform bill, and promises to do so over and over again."

Reid did just that. He made the GOP filibuster three times in a row. Which is extremely rare for the Senate leader. Who knows where it goes but I think he's been more combative because of his tight reelection bid. I hope he's remembering all of this so that, if he does get reelected, he'll know what people want from their senator.