Granny D passes away at 100

From WMUR:

Former U.S. Senate candidate and longtime political activist Doris "Granny D" Haddock has died. She was 100.

Haddock gained national recognition when she walked across the country to call attention to the issue of campaign finance reform. The trip started in 1999 and ended in 2000.

"At 90 years old, I walked across the country -- 3,200 miles," she told News 9 in a January interview. "I walked every step."

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Sup Ct Chief Justice Roberts criticizes Obama

Presidents are allowed to criticize the Supreme Court, and have. Supreme Court justices, especially the chief justice, are supposed to be objective and above politics. The court isn't supposed to respond to anything at the State of the Union. For Roberts to be whining about Obama's speech a good month after the SOTU is rather pathetic. If he doesn't like the rules, he can always quit. Then again, Roberts' style is more to simply overturn rules that don't jive with his political agenda. Read More......

Schwarzenegger to pass on CA GOP convention

Wow. Guessing the GOP isn't gonna want someone to be president now. Read More......

Biden in Jerusalem: 'We must build an atmosphere to support negotiations, not complicate them.'

Yesterday, I did a post on the announcement by the Israeli government that it was going to start building more settlements in occupied territory -- while Vice President Biden was en route to Israel for peace talks:

I'm no expert on the Middle East, but it sure looks like the Israeli government trying to send the U.S. a signal. From the pool report, we were told Biden's plane left for Jerusalem at 8:30 PM EST and arrived at 4:08 Israeli time (seven hours ahead of EST.)

Today, from Jerusalem, Biden issued a statement on this action, which used some pretty strong diplomatic language:

I condemn the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem. The substance and timing of the announcement, particularly with the launching of proximity talks, is precisely the kind of step that undermines the trust we need right now and runs counter to the constructive discussions that I’ve had here in Israel. We must build an atmosphere to support negotiations, not complicate them. This announcement underscores the need to get negotiations under way that can resolve all the outstanding issues of the conflict. The United States recognizes that Jerusalem is a deeply important issue for Israelis and Palestinians and for Jews, Muslims and Christians. We believe that through good faith negotiations, the parties can mutually agree on an outcome that realizes the aspirations of both parties for Jerusalem and safeguards its status for people around the world. Unilateral action taken by either party cannot prejudge the outcome of negotiations on permanent status issues. As George Mitchell said in announcing the proximity talks, "we encourage the parties and all concerned to refrain from any statements or actions which may inflame tensions or prejudice the outcome of these talks."

Would that everyone listened to George Mitchell (something that was said often by people from Maine who revered him).

This is such a complicated issue. It does seem like the U.S. government was being tested. And, Biden really didn't mince words. Read More......

Massa describes 'tickle fight' with staffer

Okay then.

Representative Eric J. Massa, who resigned from Congress amid allegations of sexual misconduct, vehemently denied any wrongdoing during a television appearance on Tuesday even as he described having tickle fights with staffers in a house they shared.

Mr. Massa acknowledged exercising poor judgment in his interactions with his staff on another occasion. He recalled tickling an aide during a birthday party in a townhouse he shared with five of his staff members.

“Now they are saying I groped a male staffer,’’ he told Mr. Beck. “Yeah I did. Not only did I grope him. I tickled him until he couldn’t breathe and then four guys jumped on top of me. It was my 50th birthday. It was kill the old guy. You can take anything out of context.’’

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Obama To Republicans: You had ten years to focus on costs

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Rush wants to live in a country with high quality (socialized) medicine

Rush Limbaugh said he's leaving the United States if the health care reform bill passes. Think Progress has the audio, but here's the key line:

I’ll just tell you this, if this passes and it’s five years from now and all that stuff gets implemented — I am leaving the country. I’ll go to Costa Rica.

My first thought, like most, is: okay, go.

But I did a little research. It's no wonder Rush wants to live in Costa Rica. To say the least, Rush isn't the healthiest specimen around. He's overweight, has addiction issues and heart problems. Costa Rica has an excellent health care system called "Caja." Sure, it's socialized medicine. But, it works for the people of Costa Rica and visitors alike:

It's been more than 65 years since this small country of 4.6 million people introduced a public health care system. Spending $6,000 less per capita than the United States on health today, Costa Rica boasts a longer life expectancy and an infant mortality rate nearly equal to that of the U.S.

With a reputation for high quality and low prices, the country has even fashioned an industry out of health care, attracting hundreds of visitors each year who take advantage of medical tourism.

“What we don't understand is how we are able to work with this,” said Rosa Climent, medical director of the Costa Rican Social Security System, pointing to a chart that shows employers pay 9.25 percent and workers pay 5.50 percent of their salaries into the system, which covers “all our health needs. And how the U.S. pays so much more and doesn't cover its citizens.”

Not only do Costa Ricans have an 86.8 percent coverage rate, but the public health system ser ves residents who live miles from cities.

“How does a small country with a medium investment like ours achieve full cover age for all of its citizens?” asked Climent. “It's a big accomplishment.”

It is a big accomplishment. The United States should be so fortunate. Rush could extend his life expectancy by living in Costa Rica. And, health care, while excellent, is cheaper. Read More......

Media Matters discovers that Karl Rove's new book is a pack of lies

Here are the first seven major lies Media Matters uncovered:

1. Rove distorts Senate report to claim Bush didn't "lie us into the war"

2. Rove falsehood: Obama claims "Obamacare would not add to the deficit ... evidence shows just the opposite"

3. Rove revives tired smear that Gore wrongly said "that he had created the Internet"

4. Rove revives Gore-Love Story smear

5. Rove falsehood: Gore said he had "discovered the Love Canal chemical disaster"

6. Rove pals around with falsehood that Ayers was "Obama's great friend"

7. Rove wrong on number of presidents who left office by "assassination or resignation"

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Did Bank of America wrongly repossess yet another house?

Not again. Is anyone in control there? This seems to happen more than it should.

A Pittsburgh-area woman is suing Bank of America, claiming it wrongfully repossessed her home and saying that a bank contractor trashed the house and took her parrot.

Forty-six-year-old Angela Iannelli sued Bank of America in Allegheny County on Monday. She claims her mortgage payments were on time when the contractor damaged furniture, took her pet parrot and padlocked the door to her Allison Park home in October.

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GOP Senate candidate Charlie Crist accuses conservative opponent Marc Rubio of spending $130 for a 'back waxing'

Wow. I have to give Crist credit. For a guy whose own heterosexual bona fides have been under some pretty heavy doubt under the past several years, to turn the tables around on a more conservative Republican on the same issue. And accusing the guy of getting a back waxing, especially when he's Cuban, is, in my view, a less than subtle attack on the guy's "manliness" (which is only a step away from calling him "gay"), is pretty gutsy. Of course, it would probably go over better if Crist didn't sport a perpetual tan. Read More......

New poll shows public disagrees with Obama over handling of terror suspects

UPDATE: Greg Sargent thinks the poll isn't as bad as it sounds. So I pulled some of the data directly from the poll itself (pdf file). I think Greg's right. The poll is actually much better for Obama than Politico portrayed it. Other than linking to Ben Smith, and perhaps one more reporter, I'm going to cut back the links to Politico. Their reporting is simply too skewed to the sensational, and I'm tired of falling for their piecemeal approach to finding the one bad apple in a poll. Overall, the poll isn't bad for Obama, though it is pretty darn bad for Democrats in Congress.

As I've mentioned before, I think Obama shares the blame for Congress' low approval numbers. It's interesting, however, that in the polls the Democrats receive more of the blame. That suggests that personally Obama is still popular, and the public is willing to cut him some slack. Even when, in my view, he's a lot of the cause of the problem.

I'm pulling the "likely voter" data.

Country going in right direction: 31
Wrong track: 62

Approve Obama: 47
Disapprove: 48

Who favor in generic congressional election
Dem: 44
Repub: 47

America more or less safe than two years ago (i.e., under Bush)
More safe: 41
Less Safe: 44

US more or less respected in world than two years ago:
More respected: 41
Less: 51

Approve/Disapprove of Obama on various issues (again, likely voters)
Economy: 42/57
National Security: 57/40
Fighting terrorism: 54-41
Actually, the rest of the single issue polls are pretty positive for Obama as well, other than on Iran.

_________________
It's an absurd poll. It's about the Christmas underwear bomber. Seems the GOP talking points, about it being wrong to mirandize the bomber, are starting to have an effect. It's absurd because, under non-torture questioning the bomber talked.

So, just like the poll showing that only 6% of the American people believe the stimulus created any jobs (in fact, CBO says it created from 1m to 2m or so jobs already), and the Newsweek poll that showed that people disapprove of President Obama's health care reform plan until they find out the details, then they love it, this is yet another example of the White House being incapable of delivering its message to the American people.

Of course, what's more disturbing is that we've had ample evidence that the White House's messaging operation isn't doing its job, and hasn't been for a year. When will someone do something about it? After we lose the House and Senate? After we lose the White House in 2012?

Where Obama loses: interrogation and prosecution of terrorism suspects, where a 51-44 percent majority disapproves. Republicans have hammered the administration for its decision to read the alleged Christmas Day bomber his Miranda rights, and the poll results show the message is sticking.

“Two months of Republican criticism have taken a toll,” the pollsters say, with a plurality of likely voters saying they feel less confident about Obama’s handling of national security because of the way he handled the Christmas Day attempt. “And when phrased as a partisan attack, a 60 percent majority of likely voters feels more confident about the Republicans on national security,” they said.

On national security, the poll found that 50 percent of likely voters prefer Republicans, while only 33 percent prefer Democrats. It’s the return of a “security gap” that all but vanished in 2008 because of Obama’s popularity and Bush’s mishandling of Iraq.

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Same-sex weddings begin in DC today

It's an historic day in the nation's capital. The first legal same-sex marriages are being performed today.

Meet one of the first couples to get married here. (They just concluded their vows, so it's official.)

It's a big step forward for equality. And, all those many homophobes on Capitol Hill will now be living and working in a community where equality is the law. They'll see first-hand that the sky hasn't fallen. And, they may even notice that their marriages are still intact.

Congrats to everyone who made this day possible. Read More......

Dems. lead in generic poll, but GOP ahead on enthusiasm

In mid-term elections, enthusiasm matters. And, the Obama administration really hasn't done much to rally the base. Gallup's latest polling shows Democrats are ahead in the generic ballot, which makes sense as Republicans have nothing to offer:

Democrats lead Republicans by a slight 47% to 44% margin when registered voters are asked which party's congressional candidate they would support in their district "if the elections for Congress were being held today."At the same time, Gallup's inaugural weekly tracking update on the 2010 elections shows Republicans with a distinct advantage over Democrats in terms of enthusiasm about voting this year.

That enthusiasm gap, measured for the first time by Gallup in this poll, is a real problem:

There are significant differences in enthusiasm by party, with an 18-point "very enthusiastic" gap between Republicans and Republican-leaning independents on the one hand, and Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents on the other.

(click on photo for larger image)
If you don't deliver for the base, the base doesn't vote or contribute or phone bank. With all the political geniuses working at the White House and on the Hill (and with all their very high paid political consultants), you'd think someone would have figured that out. Read More......

Tuesday Morning Open Thread

Good morning.

As we enter the final phase of the health care reform debate, the President and his team have focused attention on the greedy health insurance companies. During the health care debate, those companies have been raising rates as if no one can ever rein them in.

Today, America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the lobbying group of the health insurance companies is holding a meeting here in D.C. The lobbyists are going to be met with a large protest this morning. Over 50 organizations and thousands of activists will be gathering in Dupont Circle, then marching to the AHIP meeting to protest. They're going to demand that Congress listen to the American people, not the insurance companies. That's going to be hard for many in Congress, including all the GOPers in the House and Senate, who are beholden to insurance companies.

Also, today, in D.C., same-sex couples who applied for their marriage licenses last week can pick them up today. There will be legally married gay couples in D.C. by the end of the day.

Let's get threading.... Read More......

Top Wall Street banks blocked out of EU government bond deals

Not that anyone would call this protectionism or anything like that. We all know that only the US engages in protectionism. This blocking is amusing because the suggestion is that banks in Europe were somehow less risky. The credit crisis fallout has been less in some of the European banks compared to US banks though SocGen does happen to be one of the banks that received billions from the AIG bailout. How much can anyone trust any bank, anywhere?

For the first time in five years, no big US investment bank appears among the top nine sovereign bond bookrunners in Europe, according to Dealogic data compiled for the Guardian. Only Morgan Stanley ranks at number 10.

Goldman Sachs doesn't make the table. Goldman made it to number five last year and in 2006, and number eight in 2007, the data shows. JP Morgan was in the top ten last year and in 2007 and 2006 but doesn't appear this year.

"Governments do not have the confidence that the excessive risk-taking culture of the big Wall Street banks has changed and they still cannot be trusted to put the stability of the financial system before profit," said Arlene McCarthy, vice chair of the European parliament's economic and monetary affairs committee. "It is no surprise therefore that governments are reluctant to do business with banks that have failed to learn the lesson of the crisis. The banks need to acknowledge the mistakes that were made and behave in an ethical way to regain the trust and confidence of governments."

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Is serving seal meat that offensive?

Considering how cows and other animals are slaughtered, it doesn't sound much worse. The "hakapik" sounds especially brutal, no doubt, but otherwise it hardly sounds much different than the large scale methods used in the slaughterhouse factories. For me it's easy to understand anyone who is against all of this and is a vegetarian. It's more difficult to see how slaughtering and eating seals is significantly different than the other animals or fish, for that matter. If the issue was surrounding dwindling populations, that would be entirely different but the issue is about the brutality of the kills.

Then again, serving seal could very well be like serving whale meat in Japan. Nobody really wants it and some are pushing it to prop up tradition for the sake of tradition. If that's the case then yes, it's a ridiculous stunt. Indigenous populations should be able to continue traditions (within reason) but if there's limited value for the outside community, is it really necessary? Any Canadians out there with more feedback on the issue?

Canadian MPs will be served seal meat this week in support of hunters fighting an EU ban on products from the animals.

A Liberal MP, Celine Hervieux-Payette, said Wednesday's seal meat menu in the parliamentary restaurant would allow politicians to show their backing for the annual hunt.

"All political parties will have the opportunity to demonstrate to the international community the solidarity of the Canadian parliament behind those who earn a living from the seal hunt," she said.

The EU ban on seal imports was imposed last July on the grounds that Canada's annual hunt was cruel.

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