ALL YOU NEED TO KNOWhttp://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/dnc-claims-steele-rejected-civility-statement.phpThe Democratic National Committee says that Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele has declined to sign on to a joint statement written by DNC Chairman Tim Kaine that condemns threats made to members of Congress from both parties. The draft text of the statement says that while Steele and Kaine disagree on the health care bill, they would "together call on elected officials of both parties to set an example of the civility we want to see in our citizenry" and ask "all Americans to respect differences of opinion, to refrain from inappropriate forms of intimidation, to reject violence and vandalism, and to scale back rhetoric that might reasonably be misinterpreted by those prone to such behavior." . . . [read on]
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/3/26/851297/-Republicans-Say-No-To-Civility[Politico] Republicans see the statement as an attempt to force them to either reject the statement — allowing Democrats to say the RNC finds the incidents acceptable — or to sign on to something that the DNC would later wield against them. . . . [read on]
[NB: And it could be used against them because . . . ?]It’s what they dohttp://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/republicans-who-have-fanned-the-flames.phpRepublicans' Most Incendiary Rhetoric on Health Care Reform
http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/37562Republicans: Violent Losers
GOP wants to try to use the fact that Dems are receiving threats as a reason for attacking themhttp://washingtonindependent.com/80548/conservatives-attack-double-standard-on-health-care-threatsConservatives Attack ‘Double Standard’ on Health Care Threats
Show me the spokesman on the left who is talking this wayhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/25/AR2010032501722_pf.htmlThese were the words of Mike Vanderboegh, a 57-year-old former militiaman from Alabama, who took to his blog urging people who opposed the historic health-care reform legislation -- he calls it "Nancy Pelosi's Intolerable Act" -- to throw bricks through the windows of Democratic offices nationwide.
"So, if you wish to send a message that Pelosi and her party [that they] cannot fail to hear, break their windows," Vanderboegh wrote on the blog, Sipsey Street Irregulars. "Break them NOW. Break them and run to break again. Break them under cover of night. Break them in broad daylight. Break them and await arrest in willful, principled civil disobedience. Break them with rocks. Break them with slingshots. Break them with baseball bats. But BREAK THEM."
In the days that followed, glass windows and doors were shattered at local Democratic Party offices and the district offices of House Democrats from Arizona to Kansas to New York. At least 10 Democratic lawmakers reported death threats, incidents of harassment or vandalism at their offices over the past week, and the FBI and Capitol Police are offering lawmakers increased protection.
Local Democratic Party officials in New York have called for Vanderboegh's arrest, believing he is implicated in the vandalism in Rochester, but Vanderboegh said he has not yet been questioned by any law enforcement authorities.
Vanderboegh was unapologetic in a 45-minute telephone interview with The Washington Post early Thursday. He said he believes throwing bricks through windows sends a warning to Democratic lawmakers that the health-care reform legislation they passed Sunday has caused so much unrest that it could result in a civil war.
"The federal government should not have the ability to command us to buy something that it decides we should buy," Vanderboegh said. The government, he added, has "absolutely no idea the number of alienated who feel that their backs are to the wall are out here . . . who are not only willing to resist this law to the very end of their lives, but are armed and are capable of making such resistance possible and perhaps even initiating a civil war." . . . .
More:
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_03/023064.php[Steve Benen] Vanderboegh has a physical ailment, so instead of working, he's turned to the government to supply him with a modest income. Whether Vanderboegh appreciates the irony of a radical libertarian, who demands that a small government leave people alone, getting taxpayer-financed checks from the government not to work, is unclear. . . . [read on]
Eric Cantor’s (R-VA) trumped-up “bullet through the window” story. We now know it was a random event, not targeting him – but that hasn’t stopped the whininghttp://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/03/26/cantor_bullethttp://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/3/26/851239/-Cantor-digs-deeperhttp://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/03/thats_some_defense.php[David Kurtz] Eric Cantor's latest defense: I didn't know that the police had concluded the bullet in my (sometimes) office was randomly fired until after my press conference in which I said my office had been targeted.
You know it's bad when your fallback defense is reckless disregard for the truth.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/3/26/851030/-Fox-relentlessly-hyped-Cantors-lieFox relentlessly hyped Cantor's lie
“One incident is real, one is not”http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_03/023068.phpA new STARThttp://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/3/26/851145/-Presidents-Obama-and-Medvedev-Announce-a-New-START-TreatyAfter nearly a year of very difficult negotiations, the White House and the Kremlin have announced a new strategic nuclear arms reduction treaty . . .
More:
http://washingtonindependent.com/80715/into-the-guts-of-new-start-how-to-get-from-here-to-zeroA pretty good weekhttp://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_03/023074.php[Steve Benen] When you pass health care reform after 100 years of trying, complete the most significant nuclear arms treaty in decades, and complete a major overhaul of federal student loan programs, folks in the West Wing can walk with a bit of a spring in their step. . . .
Help on foreclosureshttp://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/03/finally-some-real-oxygen-drowning[NYT] The Obama administration on Friday announced broad new initiatives to help troubled homeowners . . .
Poll: narrowing the “intensity gap”http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/3/26/851011/-Narrowing-the-intensity-gaphttp://www.americablog.com/2010/03/winning-has-given-dems-momentum-and.html[The Hill] Political momentum has shifted so fast over the last week that it has given Republicans whiplash. . . . [read on]
It’s been clear that the central tension for Repubs in the fall is how to court teabagger support without signing on to their more extreme litmus tests. It looks as if repeal of health care reform is going to be that wedge issue – and I think the Dems are figuring out how to exploit ithttp://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/repeal-wars-splitting-gop.phphttp://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/senate-republicans/video-mark-kirks-repeal-clock-is-ticking/http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/health-care/white-house-talking-points-heres-what-repeal-would-take-away/[WH] Let’s be clear about what they want to take away:
* They want to cancel tax credits for small businesses to cover up to 35 percent of employer premium contributions to help these businesses afford coverage for their employees.
* They want to restore the insurance companies’ right to deny your child coverage because of a pre-existing condition…
* They want to take away a $250 rebate to Medicare beneficiaries who hit the prescription drug donut hole this year.
* They want to restore the rights of insurance companies to drop your coverage when you get sick or place lifetime limits on your coverage…
When opponents of reform argue for repeal, they’re arguing to take all of these benefits away.
You expect rational consistency?http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/03/26/they_scorn_socialism_but_want_government_to_create_jobs.htmlA new Bloomberg Poll finds that more than 90% of Tea Party backers say the United States "is verging more toward socialism than capitalism, the federal government is trying to control too many aspects of private life and more decisions should be made at the state level."
At the same time, 70% of those who sympathize with the Tea Party "want a federal government that fosters job creation."
Obama Derangement Syndromehttp://crooksandliars.com/logan-murphy/tn-man-enraged-obama-sticker-slams-suTN Man Enraged By Obama Sticker Slams SUV Into Car With 10 Year Old Child Inside
Orrin Hatch (R-UT) is pathetichttp://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/03/26/hatchWhen even Time's Mark Halperin is labeling a politician's comments "breathtaking cynicism," you know it's pretty bad. That's the case today, with comments that Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, made on CNN Thursday night.
Hatch has been opposing the individual mandate contained in the healthcare reform bill President Obama signed into law this week; he says it's unconstitutional. But, CNN's Campbell Brown pointed out, back in the 1990's, during the Clinton administration's reform efforts, Hatch supported a bill that contained a similar mandate.
To that, Hatch responded, "Well, in 1993, we were trying to kill Hillarycare, and I didn't pay any attention to that because that was part of a bill that I just hadn't centered on."
More:
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_03/023062.phpWHEN EVEN A HACK MANAGES TO EMBARRASS HIMSELF
John Boehner (R-OH) is pathetichttp://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/3/25/850787/-John-Boehner-Is-Shocked-That-Anyone-Reads-The-National-ReviewBoehner also abruptly ended his Thursday press conference after a reporter asked whether it was inappropriate to refer to a Democratic member as a "dead man" politically in this charged environment.
Boehner told the National Review last week that Rep. Steve Driehaus (D-Ohio) "may be a dead man" politically in his congressional district if he voted in favor of the health care reform bill.
"I don't think so," Boehner said. "No one saw this quote of mine in this publication before Mr. Driehaus and others made a public issue out of it. Thank you." [read on]
John McCain (R-AZ) is pathetichttp://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/john-mccain-excuses-sarah-palins-reload-twJohn McCain Excuses Sarah Palin's 'Reload' Tweet and Political Crosshairs Post
Sarah Palin (R-TLC) is pathetichttp://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/03/27/quote_of_the_day.html"'Take up your arms' means voting."
-- Sarah Palin, quoted by the Odessa American, insisting the media mischaracterized her as inciting violence.
Michele Bachmann (R-MN) is pathetichttp://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/bachmann-100-of-our-economy-was-private-before-september-2008.phpBachmann: '100% Of Our Economy Was Private' Before September 2008
Scott Brown (R-MA) is pathetichttp://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_03/023071.php[Steve Benen] The poor guy is on TV all the time, but he just seems in over his head. . . . [read on]
This woman’s voice is like nails on a blackboard. But it is VERY interesting that a former candidate for President, who plucked an unknown (and unqualified) first-term governor from Alaska to be his VP, who protected and promoted her when everyone laughed at her shallowness – now has to ask for HER support and affirmation that he is a “real conservative.” In what kind of party does a four-term Senator and leader of his party need the validation (and political “juice”) of a ditzy reality t.v. personality?http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/03/26/palin_mccainhttp://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/palin-everyone-here-today-supporting-john-mccain-we-are-all-part-of-that-tea-party-movement.phpAWK-ward!
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/03/26/mccain_and_palin_together_again.htmlThe Wall Street Journal notes that bringing in Palin "is a slightly awkward move by the McCain camp. Since the presidential campaign ended, McCain aides have aired a lot of criticisms of the former running mate, and in Going Rogue, Ms. Palin called the McCain campaign disorganized and slow to focus on the economy."
Even Chief Justice John Roberts is finding GOP obstruction problematichttp://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/3/26/850792/-Chief-Justice-Roberts:-How-About-Some-Recess-AppointmentsJust give it up. This is becoming ridiculoushttp://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/3/26/851264/-They-Never-StopSenator Jon Kyl (R-AZ), on the possibility that the President will make recess appointments for two nominees to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that Republicans have been blocking for months: “If they were to do that, it would make it very difficult to have bipartisan cooperation.”
What did you expect?http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/still-no-republicans-predict-continued-obstruction-post-health-care.phpStill No! Republicans Say Obstruction Will Continue Post Health Care
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/coburn-pulls-the-trigger-jobless-benefits-extention-blocked-by-gop.phpJobless Benefits Extension Blocked By GOP
In Iraq: the return of Allawihttp://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2010/03/the-return-of-iyad-allawi.phpWhy civilian courts work for terror suspectshttp://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/03/26/another-reason-to-use-civilian-courts/Cass Sunstein for the Supreme Court?http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/03/26/courtBuying elections just got easierhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/26/AR2010032604375.htmlhttp://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/3/26/851158/-Court-Strikes-Down-Contribution-Limits-On-Speech-CommitteesLucky boyhttp://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/ap_charges_reduced_against_okeefe_in_landrieu_case.phpCharges Reduced Against O'Keefe In Landrieu Case
The truth hurtshttp://www.salon.com/news/politics/republican_party/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2010/03/26/frum_aeiAmerican Enterprise Institute sends David Frum into the wilderness
http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/03/david-frum-fired-aeiDavid Frum, onetime coiner of the phrase "axis of evil," but more recently a persistent critic of the increasing Palinization of the Republican Party, was fired today by the American Enterprise Institute, the conservative think tank he's worked at since leaving the Bush administration. Bruce Bartlett, another reform conservative who was fired by a think tank for being too critical of Republicans, comments:
Since, he is no longer affiliated with AEI, I feel free to say publicly something he told me in private a few months ago. He asked if I had noticed any comments by AEI "scholars" on the subject of health care reform. I said no and he said that was because they had been ordered not to speak to the media because they agreed with too much of what Obama was trying to do.It saddened me to hear this. I have always hoped that my experience was unique. But now I see that I was just the first to suffer from a closing of the conservative mind. Rigid conformity is being enforced, no dissent is allowed, and the conservative brain will slowly shrivel into dementia if it hasn't already.http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/03/26/frum_says_donors_forced_him_out.htmlFrum Says Donors Forced Him Out
More:
http://capitalgainsandgames.com/blog/bruce-bartlett/1601/groupthink-right-would-make-stalin-proudhttp://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/republican-party/david-frum-denies-he-was-terminated-for-slamming-gop/http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/david-frum-aei-split-conservatives.htmlYou saw the story a while back that “serious” news people within the Fox News organization are getting uncomfortable that the network’s poster boy is a certifiable lunatic and bomb-thrower. Boss Roger Ailes tells them to shut uphttp://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/i-have-sentimental-weakness-for-my.htmlOopsie! Fox News interviews someone even crazier than they bargained forhttp://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/tea-partier-victoria-jackson-too-crazy-foxBonus item: Billmon makes a brief (?) return to diagnose GOP disinformation strategies. Ah, how much we miss himhttp://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/3/25/850840/-Spock-with-a-Beard:-The-Sequel***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).I don't get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don't run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a "mission," it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***
FAMILY VALUES
