Defend Your Vote

Change You Can Believe In? #election2010 #tcot #progressive

AngelinaC — Wed, 19 May 2010 13:13:10 +0000

There is a rip in the force when Sen Jim DeMint (R, SC) and liberal Markos Moulitsas from Daily Kos agree on the results of an election. Both of these men believe that one thing is clear from the results of Tuesday evening — establishment power is losing the control it once had over the American electorate.

From the Associated Press:

Any doubt about just how toxic the political environment is for congressional incumbents and candidates hand-picked by national Republican and Democratic leaders disappeared late Tuesday, when voters fired Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania, forced Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln into a run-off in Arkansas and chose tea party darling Rand Paul to be the GOP nominee in Kentucky’s Senate race.

It appears that the forces alive in Washington have completely lost touch with the tone of the American people or they simply do not care. In 2008, then Senator Barack Obama won the Presidency on a platform of change, hope, and the uniting of all Americans to the flowery but catchy phrase –”Yes, We Can!” However, after a controversial stimulus package, Unwellness Reform that caters to insurance companies, failures to keep his promises with the LGBT community, and difficulties with Wall Street Reform many voters have begun a new political mantra– “NO YOU CANT!”

In fact, with shocking irony the anti-establishment activism (not to say that I agree with all activists positions) that helped to elect President Obama, are sending the message to D.C politicians that unless they begin to deliver the change they promised that their jobs could be next.

From Politico (citations included for reference):

The anti-establishment, anti-incumbent fevers on display Tuesday are not new. The ideologically charged, grassroots activists flexing their muscle in this week’s primary showdowns are the same breed as primary voters who four years ago stripped the Democratic nomination away from Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who later won as an independent.

What’s now clear, in a way that wasn’t before, is that these results reflect a genuine national phenomenon, not simply isolated spasms in response to single issues or local circumstances.

This is a stark and potentially durable change in politics. The old structures that protected incumbent power are weakening. New structures, from partisan news outlets to online social networks, are giving anti-establishment politicians access to two essential elements of effective campaigns: publicity and financial support.

This might be the reason why President Obama has suddenly turned his back on “new media” calling devices such as ipods, ipads, social networking, and other online communication technology a distraction. Why? The same tools that Obama used during the Presidential Elections to create a matrix of supporters has created additional groups (especially on Twitter) of online activists who are willing to call the President out when he veers off the highway of change and onto the alley of back room deals and corporate agendas.

The real losers of Tuesday nights election are President Obama and Mitch McConnell. The lesson they can learn from this is quite clear — if you do not deliver on the changes you promised you are next! A warning siren has gone off! The American people are no longer satisfied with promises of change, hope, and political deification. At this point, Americans are asking for change they can see!

We invite you to Defend Your Vote.

Eric Cantor Fail #tcot #hcr

Must Read Blogs and Op-Ed’s — April 14, 2010

AngelinaC — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:31:37 +0000

Something is brewing! It is hard to tell what it is, but something is definitely brewing. Based upon early estimates the Democratic Party will most likely lose several seats in the House and Senate during the mid-term elections. There is an enormous amount of visible angst from both the left and right regarding the Obama administrations policies, that have the Tea Party Movement gaining exposure, and a few (although minimally covered) left wing organizations beginning to become active. What is apparent is that nobody is happy with how things have progressed. The right is upset about everything the right has always been upset with (to long to list and many wont read)! The left (I am rather impressed by the GetEqual Movement which includes Lt Dan Choi and Robin McGeehee) is now become increasingly frustrated by the administrations refusal to begin to push through the left agenda even though it knows it most likely will lose much in the elections. If you had $500 and you knew that someone was going to take it from you in November, what would you do? I’d buy me an IPAD!

How Bad Could 2010 Really Get For Democrats? — Sean Trende
Solving a Problem Like Stupak — The Nation
Dems Favored in First Election Since Health Care — Real Clear Politics
Tea Parties Vs. Hard-Left Protests — L. Brent Bozell
Obama In the Quagmire — Richard Reeves
The Price of Assassination — Robert Wright
Sabotaging The Tea Party — Stephen Stromberg

Must Read Blogs and Op-Eds — March 27, 2010 #tcot #hcr #dadt

AngelinaC — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 03:04:32 +0000

I was not alive in 1963 when President Kennedy was shot down in Dallas, TX, nor was I alive in 1968 when both Martin Luther King and Senator Robert Kennedy were killed. If I was, I am sure that the time period before the Brothers Kennedy and Dr. King were killed was very similar to the political temperature in Washington now.

During the 60’s the world was riddled with a set of problems — not dissimilar to the problems that we are dealing with now. We were in a war in Vietnam, the womens rights movement was building, and African Americans desired equal rights. Today, we are at war in Iraq and Afghanistan, dealing with whether or not every American should receive Health Care, barely recovering from the largest recession since the Great Depression, and now gays are advocating to remove the military albatross known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” from their necks.

I am not a fan of Peggy Noonan, I find her articles filled with the conservative rhetoric of an age long passed. However, in her recent opinion called, ”The Heat Is On, We May Get Burned,” Noonan introspectively brings up many issues many of us are afraid (possibly because of our bloody history) to speak or even think.

Noonan states:

What I keep thinking of is a beehive. A modern, high tech, highly politicized democracy is a busy beehive, and sometimes the bees are angry, and sometimes someone comes by and sticks a big sharp stick in the hive. The biggest thing Washington should do right now is stop it, stop poking the stick.

The beehive was already angry about a million things a year ago, and most of those things, obviously, were not the fault of the administration. People are angry at their economic vulnerability. They are angry at the deterioration of our culture, angry at our nation’s deteriorating position in the world, at our debts and deficits, our spending and taxing, our threatened security in a world of weapons of mass destruction. Their anger is stroked by cynical politicians and radio ranters and people who come home at night, have a few drinks, and spew out their rage on the comment thread. It’s a world full of people always cocking the gun and ready to say, if things turn bad, ”But I didn’t tell anyone to shoot!”

Today, Former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin (she did it earlier in the week on Facebook) asked Tea-Party protesters to “reload”. One of the attendee’s said the following about the health care bill. ”It’s a joke, just another way to enslave the American public.” Many of the problems in American are the result of failed politicians, but the answer is not to be violent it is to vote them out of office. Not use language, which can (despite Palin’s supposed good intentions) in the minds of the mentally fragile invoke our nations worst nightmares.

In 1963, Lee Harvey Oswald someone apparently obsessed with Marxism and Communism, and unhappy with his the world (the American world) around him (according to Wikipedia) loaded a gun and shot [then] President Kennedy. Does another collective sacrifice have to happen to wake us up and unite us as a country? I pray that we become a nation of spirited debaters, rather than a nation collectively possessed by our own ideas of right and wrong, good and bad, left and right, and good and evil.

I pray for the future of our great nation!

Angelina C. in New York
– March 27, 2010

The Heat Is On, We May Get Burned — Peggy Noonan
Nancy Pelosi’s Triumph — A Long Time Coming — William Bradley
5 Dems Who Wish They Had Last Week Back — Sean Trende
The Power of Zero — Richard Reeves
What Really Matters — Susan Estrich
Damn! I Wish I Was a Republican– Ted Rall
The Wingers Who Cried Wolf — Joe Conason
Can ‘No’ Revive the Republicans? — Tobin Harshaw
The Rage Is Not About Health Care — Frank Rich
Health Care Reform, at Last — NY Times
Federally Funded Abortions Are In Our Future — Kathleen Parker
Why Did Health-Care Reform Pass? Nancy Pelosi Was In Charge — Vince Bzdek

Obama to make 15 recess appointments

simonj — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 01:54:00 +0000

It was announced Saturday that President Obama will make 15 recess appointments to 15 nominees who are still awaiting confirmation by the Senate.

“The United States Senate has the responsibility to approve or disapprove of my nominees,” Obama said in a written statement

The appointments will be going out to the following people. – Source CNN

•Craig Becker to NLRB.

• Jeffrey Goldstein, under secretary for domestic finance, Department of the Treasury

• Michael F. Mundaca, assistant secretary for tax policy, Department of the Treasury

• Eric L. Hirschhorn, under secretary of commerce for export administration and head of the Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of Commerce

• Michael Punke, deputy trade representative – Geneva, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

• Francisco “Frank” J. Sanchez, under secretary for international trade, Department of Commerce

• Islam A. Siddiqui, chief agricultural negotiator, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

• Alan D. Bersin, commissioner, U.S. Customs and border Protection, Department of Homeland Security

• Rafael Borras, under secretary for management, Department of Homeland Security

• Jill Long Thompson, Farm Credit Administration Board

• Mark Gaston Pearce, National Labor Relations Board

• Jacqueline A. Berrien, chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

• Chai R. Feldblum, commissioner, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

• Victoria A. Lipnic: commissioner, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

• P. David Lopez: general counsel, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Must Read Blogs and Op-Ed’s — March 2, 2010

AngelinaC — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:47:56 +0000

Has technology ruined the political debate? Richard Reeves wrote a great Op-Ed regarding the “new” behavior of Washington Politicians in a world of blackberries, twitteratti, and nonstop news coverage. Reeves theorizes that Democrats and Republicans no longer spend anytime together, which prevents any type of bipartisanship to occur. Instead they receive their talking points from party leaders rather than the American people. Congress assumes that the people will fall in line, despite the laws that are being enacted. However, it remains blind to the people using the same tools (facebook, twitter, social media, even blackberries) that they are using, and are much more educated about their activities. The question is — will they ever listen?

Republican Showdown in the Lone Star State — RealClearPolitics
Like Crist-Rubio for GOP, Lincoln-Halter Race Could Define Dems — John Nicholas
Why Washington Doesn’t Work Anymore — Richard Reeves
Why I’m Not Running For Senate — Harold Ford Jr.
Senators Annoying Senators — Kevin Huffman

Is a reconciliation showdown ahead??

simonj — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:37:47 +0000

The current talk on the wire is that a reconciliation showdown is looming ahead. What will this mean for the vote and what will the spin train drop off at the door?

Washington (CNN) — With the health care summit showing no sign of getting either side to budge, lawmakers are staking out positions in the battle many believe is imminent: a presidential effort to push legislation through without Republican support.

On the political talk shows Sunday, Democratic and GOP leaders fought over budget reconciliation, the parliamentary procedure that could allow a vote in the Senate and circumvent a GOP filibuster.

Source

But exactly what is reconciliation? Lets ask some experts..

“Reconciliation” means “restoration of harmony.” But as a term of art in budgeting, it has become an act of war. President Obama and most Democrats in Congress hope to include health and education reform in reconciliation instructions as part of the budget process. No mystery why. The sixty vote hurdle in the Senate of the filibuster could scotch these central components of their agenda via united Republican opposition. Bills considered under reconciliation cannot be filibustered and can therefore pass the Senate by majority vote. Republicans are outraged by what they argue is an egregious partisan power grab, one that tramples on Senate rules and norms permitting extended debate and amendment.Source

Ok so now whats with all the spin?

What is the precedent for using reconciliation to enact major policy changes? Much more extensive than the architects of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 had in mind-or than Senate Republicans are willing to admit these days. Reconciliation was designed as a narrow procedure to bring revenue and direct spending under existing laws into conformity with the levels set in the annual budget resolution. It was used initially to cut the budget deficit by increasing revenues or decreasing spending but in more recent years its primary purpose has been to reduce taxes. Twenty-two reconciliation bills were passed between 1980 and 2008, although three (written by Republican majorities in Congress) were vetoed by President Clinton and never became law.

Source

Must Read Blogs and Op-Eds — February 16, 2010

AngelinaC — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:25:29 +0000

Has pop culture invaded the minds of so many individuals that we are willing to live in a country governed by “celebrity” rather than a country governed by able minded citizens whose ambition is to assist the American people with their day to day lives? If you think that American Idol has done more than sell a few records and propel the careers of no-named wannabes then you would be correct! Our culture has become the American Idol culture — willing to vote for the “most popular” simply because it is the “kewl” thing to do.

Could Evan Bayh be the latest contestant of the American Idol Presidency? In an interesting op-ed by Lenny McCallister from Tucker Carlson’s new “The Daily Caller”, he proposes the possibility of Bayh exiting the Democratic Party to run against Obama in 2012 as — you guessed it a Republican! Although Bayh has denied any intentions of running for President (as they all do), the current political landscape of self ambition is ripe for his picking. Could this be the change we should believe in?

Possibility of a Republican Senate Grows — Sean Trende
Bye Bayh — John Nichols
Bayh to Obama — Take this Job and Shove It! — Charles Lane
The Evan Bayh Blow To the Dems — E. J. Dionne
Bayh Denies Presidential Run — Alan Fram
Bayh Leaves Dems Scarred and Demanding Aggression — HuffPost
Predicting Bayh’s Next Move — Lenny McCallister

Scott Brown (R-MA) Wins US Senate Seat

AngelinaC — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:16:14 +0000

What agenda is the main stream media selling? It is becoming increasingly irritating that most of the MSM is selling a “republican” come back as the reason why Scott Brown won the election. The best article I could find that reflects what I feel really happened was reported by the Huffington Post.

The Huffington Post reported that the majority of voters that in the previous election overwhelmingly voted for the President Barack Obama switched allegiances to Senator Elect Scott Brown as a protest against Washington’s continued bail out of Wall Street and not enough focus on stimulating the economy to support Main Street. Many of these voters felt that Democrats were not doing enough to challenge Republican policies. In effect, the voters are screaming to Washington and instructing them that it is time to look at what “the people” want not what their campaign donor promises are.

Mass Votes! #massen #coakley #scottbrown

AngelinaC — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:54:23 +0000

As we know now Scott Brown is the winner of the MA election to fill Senator Kennedy’s seat. I will be running more commentary throughout the day to show just how the media is portraying this. Here at Defend Your Vote — we are concerned with the issues of the people and whether or not politicians are providing all their constituents there best.

1/20/10 2:39 PM — Interview on Morning Joe with David Gregory who believes that the election was about “incumbency” and not about Democrats or Republicans. Wonder if any of the pols will actually listen!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

This election Massachusetts will decide who will take over Former Senator Kennedy’s seat in the US Senate. This is a national election, and in many ways the voices of the anger towards the current conditions of the country (high unemployment, government bailouts, higher taxes) are being expressed with a surprise surge from Republican Scott Brown. Many are angered over current health care legislation from the White House. Could we see an upset victory or will Coackley squeak out a winner?

1/19/10 9:47 PM — MSNBC announces that Scott Brown is the Winner of the Senate Seat held by Senator Edward Kennedy until he passed away in August 2009. This win eliminates the filibuster proof majority in the US Senate.

1/19/10 9:44 PM Norah O’Donnell of MSNBC during the Rachel Maddow Show reported that Coakley was on vacation in the Caribbean from December 19 – January 6. – Talk about FAIL?

1/19/10 8:53 PM 40% of the Precincts reporting Brown is ahead of Coakley 52.6% to 46.6%

1/19/10 8:17 PM With 7% of the Precincts reporting Brown is ahead of Coakley.

1/19/10 6:07 PM — Great Piece from Dylan Ratigan’s show, which I feel really addresses the issues of this election, and the election in the fall. Establishment Fail!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

1/19/10 3:10 PM I am wondering if the Weather will reduce the suburban vote in Mass., which according to Chuck Todd would hurt Scott Brown who is dependent on the suburbs to put him over the top.

1/19/10 3:08 PM Chris Cillizza reports on what to watch in Mass.

1/19/10 3:02 PM Huffington Post is opining that the problem with the Coakley campaign is really an issue of entitlement and not one about health care — despite what the main stream media’s narrative is.

1/19/10 2:34 PM Reuters discusses Democrats exploring health care options without Coakley.

1/19/10 12:21 PM NYT reports that the disaffection of voters towards the establishment may lead to a Democrat Loss in Mass.

1/19/10 12:11 PM MSNBC’s Norah O’Donnell is reporting that voters outside Boston are going to the polls in larger numbers than the ones in Boston — this would be good news for Republican Scott Brown.

1/19/10 2:31 PM George Stephanopolis on ABC calls a Coakley Defeat the “upset of his lifetime”.

1/19/10 12:10 PM — MSNBC’s First Read is reporting that one of the problems of the Coakley campaign is that it went dark for 10 days when the interest in the election was just picking up.

1/19/10 8:57 AM — Reuters is reporting that if the GOP win the Senate Race in Mass that health insurance stock is expected to rise.

1/19/2010 Rachel Maddow discusses the Mass race along with Brown being a “bastarder?”

War with Iran’s not desired — but we’re ready, says Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Mike Mullen

simonj — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:10:13 +0000

In what seems to be an increasing number of statements regarding Iran from the US military Mike Mullen. I wonder if this is just more sabre rattling or if something is going on behind the scenes.

The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff said yesterday that while a conflict with Iran was not a desired course of action, American armed forces couldn’t ignore the possibility.

“We have certainly focused on Iran for a long time and recognized . . . what the potential could be there,” Adm. Mike Mullen said at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a think tank. “And at the same time, we’ve looked to do all we can to ensure that conflict doesn’t break out there while at the same time preparing forces, as we do for many contingencies that we understand might occur.”

The U.S. military chief also said he had no doubt that Iran, despite denials by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was attempting to develop a nuclear arsenal.

“I believe they’re on a path that has a strategic intent to develop nuclear weapons, and have been for some time,” he said.

Mullen said that a strike against Iran could be “very, very destabilizing,” but worried about its “unintended consequences for the Middle East.

“That part of the world could become much more unstable, which is a dangerous global outcome, much less regional, for the world we’re living in right now,” Mullen said.

Tehran already has been hit with three rounds of UN sanctions for refusing to comply with demands that it halt sensitive nuclear activities. The U.S. and its allies have said it is time for a fourth round of sanctions, but diplomats say Russia and China are resisting.

President Barack Obama has offered Iran the possibility of deeper engagement with the U.S. if it cooperates on removing fears about its nuclear program and on other issues. Obama had given Iran until the end of 2009 to respond to his overtures and to an offer from six major powers of economic and political incentives in exchange for a suspension of Iran’s nuclear enrichment program.

Iran ignored the deadline.

Mullen also pointed to Yemen as another area of focus, especially in light of the revelation that the plot to bomb Northwest Flight 253 on Christmas Day was hatched there.

“We’ve engaged with [Yemen's] military. . . . [it] is a country, as is Somalia, that I’ve been concerned about for some time, in terms of becoming the next safe haven for Al Qaeda, and certainly, you now see that very much in the fore as a result of this incident on the 25th of December. And from a standpoint of capability and what, I think, we need to be able to do, I’m very comfortable that we can do that right now.”

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2010/01/08/2010-01-08_war_with_irans_not_desired__but_were_ready_says_joint_chiefs_of_staff_chairman_.html#ixzz0cgptiHYz