Ralph Nader was booed today. Good.

The man lost us two elections, he deserves to be roasted on a spit.

Speaking of spoilers, there's been talk about whether Bloomberg entering the race, should he, hurts the Republicans or the Democrats. A journalist friend of mine says that Bloomberg could force Hillary, should she be the nominee, to spend money in NY and NJ, something she hadn't planned. But I think Bloomberg (and Hagel?) do something else. They give Republicans, who are mighty uncomfortable voting for a Mormon (and a flip-flopper who's simply pretending to a conservative), a reason, and cover, to walk. Sure, they'll SAY they'll vote for Romney if he's the nominee, just like voters said they'd vote for African-American Harvey Gantt against Jesse Helms. But when they get behind the curtain, Romney will be toast. Read the rest of this post...

Bush trying to deport wife of missing US solder in Iraq

Speechless. Read the rest of this post...

Do national polls accurately predict who is ahead in the presidential primary race?

Joe say "no." Chris Cillizza at the Washington Post agrees, for the most part.

The best way to glean value from national polls is to see them for what they are: a broad look at the shape of the field and the issue matrix. State polls will still tend to be the better leading indicator of which candidates are soaring or sliding.

Read the rest of this post...

Help Tom Allen defeat Joe Lieberman's best pal, Susan Collins

Tomorrow night, pro-Bush, pro-Iraq war Joe Lieberman is hosting a fundraiser for his pro-Bush, pro-Iraq war colleague, Susan Collins. On the other side, Tom Allen is holding a town meeting about Iraq tomorrow night -- trying to figure a way out of the deadly morass that Bush, Collins and Lieberman helped create and sustain. Need we say more.

Susan Collins has to go. She can -- and will lose -- next year. Every additional Democratic Senator elected in 2008 lessens the power of the turncoat, Joe Lieberman.

Don't forget Susan's other friends. She was the deciding vote to bring Mississippi's Trent Lott back to GOP Senate Leadership. Last year, she was campaigning to re-elect Rick Santorum.

Tom Allen can beat Collins, but he needs help. Financial help. Early money matters. In Maine, your contribution will go a long way.

AMERICAblog has set up an Act Blue page for Tom. Consider making a contribution in the next couple days while Joe Lieberman is collecting money for Collins.

And, in case, you need any inspiration, here's Lieberman recently touting the progress in Iraq that only he and George Bush can see:

Click To Play

Read the rest of this post...

FOX News attacks right-wing talk radio

FOX pundits attacking right-wing talk radio as a bunch of extremists with too much control over the GOP would seem an anomaly, but for the fact that Trent Lott attacked right-wing talk radio last week. One time is serendipity, two times is planned. Read the rest of this post...

Bush vetoes stem cell bill

Bush and his advisers have chosen to define his remaining year and a half of his presidency as "saying no" to the Democrats, and to the American people. (And in fact, the Republicans on the Hill have done the same - they consistently filibuster everything.) They have no plan for the nation, they have no vision for the future. Rather than figure out a new course for the country, Bush and the GOP will simply say "no" until his time runs out. We've seen this with Iraq, and every other issue they've ever touched. They don't feel the need to compromise, they don't feel the need to talk or consult with anyone. They don't even feel the need to obey the law. They do what they want, even if the overwhelming majority of the American people have had enough (the Terri Schiavo fiasco wasn't an exception, it was the rule). The only good thing to come from this travesty is that Republicans in Congress will yet again be forced to defend Bush's veto, they will yet again be forced to choose whether they side with Bush or the American people. And the more of these votes we have, the more the American people will hold the Republicans responsible at the ballot box, yet again. Read the rest of this post...

Did Bush approve release of suicide bomber commander?

Remember those teams of 300 suicide bombers who are reportedly on their way to Europe and America to kill us all? Well, their commander was in Afghan custody, yet was released earlier this year in exchange for a kidnapped Italian journalist.

Yes, the US was "outraged" about the prisoner swap at the time. But does anyone believe that the Afghan government is permitted to sneeze without asking the US government first?

We approved of this prisoner swap. And now the prisoner just sent 300 suicide bombers to kill you and your children. Read the rest of this post...

Bush will veto stem cells research -- again

Bush should be so proud of his veto record. Impeding science that can saves lives is such a legacy:

President Bush has chosen to use his veto pen three times - twice on the stem cell issue where politics, ethics and science collide. Pushing back against the Democratic-led Congress, Bush plans to veto a bill Wednesday that would have eased restraints on federally funded embryonic stem cell research, White House spokesman Tony Fratto said.

Just shows how out of touch the GOP is -- and proves again that the theocrats still run the Bush White House. Read the rest of this post...

Of course the GOP Senators are working to kill pro-worker legislation

Harry Reid announced that the Senate will be taking up the Employee Free Choice Act later this week:

Last year, the top three hedge funds earned $4.4 billion in profits, and the ex-CEO of Exxon got a $400 million golden parachute. Today, hourly wages are down while the number of uninsured is up. Today, household income is down, while the average CEO makes 411 times more than the average worker. Today – for far too many Americans – that New Deal has become a raw deal. It’s time to give working families a square deal. A square deal that honors workers and their families by giving them a real chance for a better life.

You know what the Employee Free Choice Act will mean: higher wages. Better health insurance. Safer working conditions. And by the way, we all know that employees who receive a fair standard of living are more productive. This is a win-win for employers and employees alike.

Treating American workers with dignity, respect and fairness -- can't have that say the Republicans Senators. So, true to form, GOP Senators, who have become the obstructionist caucus, are planning to block the bill. They just filibuster every piece of progressive legislation:

Despite a pitched lobbying battle between business and labor heavyweights, Senate Republicans are largely closing ranks against a Democratic union-organizing bill, using the measure to project unity after their party has been weakened by tense debates on immigration and energy.

As Democratic leaders and presidential hopefuls flocked to labor rallies yesterday to promote the union-organizing bill, which is slated for a vote early next week, the GOP embraced the standoff. Centrist Republicans who are reeling from grassroots pressure on the immigration bill and the war in Iraq appeared unfazed by the top-dollar campaign to win their votes for the union legislation.

Great. Show unity by beating up on working men and women. That's so Republican. Read the rest of this post...

DHS computers attacked 800 times in two years

Buffoons.

The Homeland Security Department, the lead U.S. agency for fighting cyber threats, suffered more than 800 hacker break-ins, virus outbreaks and other computer security problems over two years, senior officials acknowledged to Congress.

Read the rest of this post...

Wednesday Morning Open Thread

The announcement from Mayor Bloomberg that's he abandoning the GOP has the political punditry in a frenzy. A frenzy. Bloomberg-Hagel in 2008?

Have to send a big congrats to our pal, Assemblyman Danny O'Donnell, who sponsored the New York gay marriage bill and led it to passage. Not many people expected that bill to pass this year. Nice work, Danny. Now on to the NY State Senate.

Okay. Thread please. Read the rest of this post...

Suu Kyi spends another year under house arrest

Another striking example of failed international policy by the US and EU. With the strong presence of both China and India, diplomacy means you actually have to interact with other countries and build good old fashioned consensus. An outdated concept in recent years, perhaps, but military diplomacy and barking out demands has not delivered very much as we see every day in Iraq. Read the rest of this post...

New poll: 7 in 10 think economy is getting worse

How it this be possible with the booming stock market? The 70% negative is hitting a six year high.

"When asked about the most pressing financial problems their family faces today, Americans mention healthcare costs, lack of money or low wages, and oil and gas prices," Gallup reports.

At least CEO's in America are resting comfortably at night. Read the rest of this post...