Jane!

My first first!

I second that.

From the “catering and flowers” link:

Clinton campaign spokeswoman Ann Lewis said fundraising began in January 2005 and when a competitive race did not materialize the campaign began investing in an extensive get-out-the-vote program.

The GOTV program that elected how many Democrats to the House in New York State?

A little campaign finance reform that liberated politicians like Hillary Clinton from spending $30 million (catering and flowers?) to defeat the Mayor of Yonkers could go a long way toward draining the allure out of this particular swamp.

I agree wholeheartedly, and would further argue that if the new majority wanted to make a difference in ensuring accountablity and good governance, electoral reform would be the place to start.

It’s not just the money, it’s the process. I don’t want my Representatives and Senators proving they can raise money and win elections. I want them to govern. Full time. Not campaign, Govern. Full time.

Abramoff’s going to prison today. The only way for him to get trips out of prison, or at least into the warden’s cushy conference room with donuts and coffee Zabar’s marble rye, knishes, and corned beef sandwiches opposite his federale handlers, is to spill new dish.

Given the options — spending scarce resources on further takedowns of defeated GOP Congressmen and Senators OR tarring the new Democratic majority with the JackOff brush by leaking rehash to the co-oped press — what would any self-respecting DoJ political appointee direct JackOff’s handlers to do?

========
Who’s Next?
========

So far I’ve seen in the press they are reporting Reid and “6-8 Senate Dems” but are not printing the other half of the rumor, that includes “many” Repub Congressman, and Rove. They aren’t reporting Rove was mentioned.

Color me skeptical about these “implicated” Democrats. We know Abramoff is a GOP bag man with close ties to Rove. What a surprise that Abramoff is all of a sudden fingering top Democrats right after the election that cost Rove his power and reputation. We’ve seen James Carville, putatively a democrat, gunning for Dean. Why wouldn’t the full force and fury of the GOP slime machine turn on Democratic leaders?

Abramoff can say anything he wants, and superficially there might be something to what he says. Unless we’re expecting a replay of the Whitewater/Lewinsky conviction via media, I’d say this is just chaff unless investigators come up with some corroborating evidence.

TeddySanFran @ 5

Abramoff’s going to prison today. The only way for him to get trips out of prison, or at least into the warden’s cushy conference room with donuts and coffee opposite his federale handlers, is to spill new dish.

Given the options — spending scarce resources on further takedowns of defeated GOP Congressmen and Senators OR tarring the new Democratic majority with the JackOff brush by leaking rehash to the co-oped press — what would any self-respecting DoJ political appointee direct JackOff’s handlers to do?

========
Who’s Next?
========

Rove would be next …

I think they would be bribing Abramoff with good NY Jewish Deli food, rather than doughnuts.

scory @
4

I don’t want my Representatives and Senators proving they can raise money and win elections. I want them to govern. Full time. Not campaign, Govern. Full time.

It’s estimated that 80% of a congresscritter’s total time in office is spent fundraising for campaigning. The staffs do nearly all of the legislative work.
_

For some reason this just doesn’t pass the smell test. They have been milking Abramoff for 3 years and NOW there are Democrats implicated? Nope, just doesn’t pass the smell test.

ZD — thanks, corrected in my 5.

and mr. murtha, abscam makes him sound like a quid pro quo kind of guy.
he sure as hell isn’t who I would want representing me. there is far more under the tip of these icebergs to come

I’m not buying the latest Abramoff leaks implicating Democrats.

First, Abramoff was winger. He hadn’t any interest in working with Dems.

More importantly, there wasn’t anything to gain. Republicans controlled the Senate. Also, Abramoff’s email troves all address manipulation of Republican office holders. There’s no there there with respect to Democrats.

I suspect that these ‘leaks’ are either completely bogus, or, if allegations against Dems actually appear that can be sourced to Abramoff and court filings – rather than unnamed Federal officials – that they will be the product of exchanges for better treatment from the administration.

Look for an ‘08 Christmas pardon for Jack.

puppethead @
7

Color me skeptical about these “implicated” Democrats. We know Abramoff is a GOP bag man with close ties to Rove. What a surprise that Abramoff is all of a sudden fingering top Democrats right after the election that cost Rove his power and reputation. We’ve seen James Carville, putatively a democrat, gunning for Dean. Why wouldn’t the full force and fury of the GOP slime machine turn on Democratic leaders?

Abramoff can say anything he wants, and superficially there might be something to what he says. Unless we’re expecting a replay of the Whitewater/Lewinsky conviction via media, I’d say this is just chaff unless investigators come up with some corroborating evidence.

Pupperhead — good to see you back again.

And to say I don’t take Abramoff at his word would be quite the understatement.

TeddySanFran @ 5

…Given the options — spending scarce resources on further takedowns of defeated GOP Congressmen and Senators OR tarring the new Democratic majority with the JackOff brush by leaking rehash to the co-oped press — what would any self-respecting DoJ political appointee direct JackOff’s handlers to do?

Seems that Brian Ross of ABC (via Raw Story) at least “mentions” that the scandal is overwhelmingly Repug:

Sources close to the federal investigation say Abramoff has offered testimony about his contacts with “six to eight seriously corrupt Democratic senators” and an ever larger number of Republican members of Congress.

TeddySanFran @
11

ZD — thanks, corrected in my 5.

Curse you, Teddy! Now I am jonesin’ for some corned beef, piled high on that lovely marble rye! (extra pickle on the side, and give me some of that nice potato salad, too. Thanks!)

Abramoff has reportedly claimed the Nevada senator agreed to help him on matters related to Indian gambling.

The Associated Press reported earlier this year that Reid wrote at least four letters helpful to the tribes that had contributed money to his campaign.

Tourism and gambling are a major part of the state’s income, Reid would be foolish not to cater to those interests.

Abramhoff has shown he is willing to take credit for influence he did not have. There will need to be a lot of hard evidence that Reid gave him quid pro quo, and I don’t think it will be forthcoming. Remember, this is the guy the FBI had to pull off of a would be briber, lest Reid hurt him.

I don’t see any ‘digging’ by Ross beyond the Solomon stuff. Same allegations, no new evidence. Just a quote from an unidentified source.

I think I’ll wait for a little more evidence before making up my mind on this one. And I’d suggest doing the same.

Jacqrat @ 16

TeddySanFran @
11

ZD — thanks, corrected in my 5.

Curse you, Teddy! Now I am jonesin’ for some corned beef, piled high on that lovely marble rye! (extra pickle on the side, and give me some of that nice potato salad, too. Thanks!)

don’t forget the chopped Rover liver

Okay, so Abramoff, who made it a point of putative honor that he wasn’t putting any lobbying money in the hands of Democrats, as I recall the story from Vanity Fair, now suddenly fingers the new Majority Leader?

The one who throttled someone who tried to bribe him and was so annoying to the connected casino guys that a hit was put out on him. That guy.

While I’m not going to swear to anyone’s innocence, Ima need something more than this to assume that there’s anything to this at all.

Feeding the “everybody’s corrupt” meme is something to be expected from lazy journalists who are still trying to figure out how to keep their own corporate bosses happy.

I’m way more worried about Alcee Hastings as the intelligence committee chair and William Jefferson’s cold hard cash at this point than anything I’m hearing about Harry Reid, or even the admittedly disturbing video on Murtha from the long ago Abscam scandal.

J — imitating Homer Simpson’s drooling, I am.

EPU’d from the last thread, but on topic here:

sofistic @ 65

I keep wondering how we can simply make the DSCC and DCCC irrelevant. How can we convince future candidates that we have more influence and can ge them elected?

Money.

I mean real money. I know the ‘roots raised something like $15m this cycle (and before I get jumped on, that was a great effort), but that’s not much compared to what the DSCC and DCCC raised.

We need to start earlier and raise a lot more. Then we need to let primary candidate know that if they want our money, they need to sign up with our agenda. First point of that agenda needs to be public financing of elections.

There’s also organizing and volunteering, but as long as TV is seen as a necessity for winning, money will trump it in the eyes of the candidates.

Abramhoff’s dirty work involves gambling and American Indian interests. I’d look to states that allow tribes to operate casinos for other Senators that might get fingered.

Also the members of the Committee on Indian Affairs:

Republicans:
McCain, John (AZ) , Chairman
Thomas, Craig (WY)
Murkowski, Lisa (AK)
Coburn, Tom (OK)
Domenici, Pete (NM)
Smith, Gordon (OR)
Crapo, Mike (ID)
Burr, Richard (NC)

Democrats:
Dorgan, Byron (ND), Vice Chairman
Inouye, Daniel (HI)
Conrad, Kent (ND)
Akaka, Daniel (HI)
Johnson, Tim (SD)
Cantwell, Maria (WA)

That’s the list that I’d say would intersect with Abramhoff’s orbit. Given St. John’s previous ethics issues, I’d put him at the very top of the list.

Bwahahaha.

hi jeffreyw, thanks so much for “live”blogging the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing earlier today. You made me laugh til I cried.

EPU’d:

*xyz @ 113

scarecrow @ 107

*xyz

As I mentioned above, just a rhetorical request, more for Schumer’s sake than for ours. As I’ve said above, starting with my comment at 46, if Schumer persists in believing he is smarter than us and can “outwit” us, he is in for a world of pain over the next several years.

I don’t doubt the man’s intelligence, or yours; but I don’t see why we need him to admit/concede anything on this topic. I’m suggesting that these are side issues, when what we care about is whether he’ll do all in his power to keep the next Alito out or oppose the next assault on the Bill of Rights (e.g, the warrantless surveillance issue, or repeal of the worst parts of the Military Commissions Act), and so on. What Rayne said: “walk the walk.”

I think we are actually on the same page.

The reason that I want Schumer to respect and fear the progressive netroots is because I want us, the netroots to have a strong influence about all of the decisions that he will make on the important issues that you mention above.

I don’t trust Schumer to do the right thing based on his moral compass, but I believe that he can be compelled by the netroots to act according to our values.

This will only happen if he is convinced that we in the netroots are smart enough and powerful enough to make it politically personally painful for him to betray our progressive values on the important legislation that he will have a role in drafting and ushering through.

So, far from being a side issue, Schumer’s relationship to the netroots is actually the core dynamic that will determine how he treats the issues that you mentioned.

Jane Hamsher @ 14

Puppethead — good to see you back again.

Thanks. I’ve been lurking the whole time, but election stuff just sucked the life out of me. I think my involvement in Minnesota paid off, though. Still bummed about the governor’s race. Oh well.

Now I head to Albuquerque for vacation, maybe I can bring some mojo for Patricia Madrid? Maybe that’s hoping for too much…

OT– Hayden just cited Thomas Friedman in his testimony to the Armed Services Cmte…

great, just great.

I’ll have a bagel with a schmear and lox, thanks.

A source close to the investigation says Abramoff told prosecutors that more than $30,000 in campaign contributions to Reid from Abramoff’s clients “were no accident and were in fact requested by Reid.”

So,
Reid “requested” (meaning asked for money) contributions from companies who turned out to be clients of Abramoff? And we need to get our panties in a bunch over this? I notice that Abramoff didn’t seem to be involved in the funding. Just some “Abramoff’s clients”.

Sorry, but if I’m running for City Council and I hit up the local trash contractor for a donation, and it turns out some years later that that trash contractor was connected to the mob, then somehow I’ve been corrupted by the mob?

And if I think the contractor’s latest bid for my city’s contract is a good one, and I vote for it, then I voted how the mob told me?

Bullshit. This is “hey, we got anything to deflect attention this week? No? How ’bout that old Reid thing? Think the press will buy that chestnut again? WTF, we got nothing else, let’s try.”

Roast rack of lamb: Salt and pepper, cook at 400 for 15 mins. Take out and cool a bit. Dust with garlic and/or minced fresh garlic. Brush with butter, slather on some dijon mustard, pack on some good bread crumbs, back into the oven for 20 more mins (bloody) longer as you require.

Serve with steamed/grilled asparagus, small potatoes.

Eat.

Come back to new thread, sated.

Steely Dan – “Dirty Work”

Times are hard, you’re afraid to pay the fee.
So, you find yourself somebody who can do the job for free.
When you need a bit of lovin’ ‘cause your man is out of town,
That’s the time you get me runnin’ and you know I’ll be around.

I’m a fool to do your dirty work, oh, yeah.
I don’t want to do your dirty work no more.
I’m a fool to do your dirty work, oh, yeah.

Matt Stoller at MyDD refers to Karen Carter as a “progressive Democrat.” Read the following, and please tell me if this is the position of a “progressive Democrat:”

During its annual legislative retreat last fall, the Congressional Black Caucus invited Karen R. Carter and other rising stars on the African-American political scene to participate in a panel discussion on America’s emerging black leadership. The session later drew a rebuke from noted black political columnist Ron Walters, who accused the panelists, composed largely of New Democrats, of dishonoring the civil rights tradition and regarding it as a burdensome relic.

Carter, who has represented New Orleans in the Louisiana House since 1999, says such characterizations are far off the mark.

“What happened at that event was an open line of communication between generations and it was accepted with open arms by the elders of the African-American community,” she explains. “I was raised in that community and have deep respect for those who came before me.”

But Carter, 33, also adds, “I am not afraid to sit in conference rooms” with members of the older generation of leaders “and agree to disagree.”

Read the full article here.

Although I understand Jefferson is corrupt, why lie about a candidate? She may not be corrupt, although allegations that she is are circulating in NOLA, but she is certainly not progressive.

Lesser of both evils to me, and I should know.

OT again, sorry.

Lieberliar just yielded to Levin and said that “in the spirit of bipartisanship that I espouse…”

got major chuckles and an extra minute outta it.

(Hold that bagel, I need to barf!)

1,335 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..

Firepup Patriots:

“Believe none a whatcha hear and only half of whatcha see…” That’s what my old Gampa Ole used ta say and that’s what we gotta do here. The whole slimy and corrput fascist army is attackin’…this is our political Battle of the Bulge. If the fascists break thru they get the Senate back and will rule the House of Representatives thru Steny Hoyer…”and the killin’ will go on and on and …”

Let’s take this barrage and not let it take our eyes off the real fight, the fight to end the war in Iraq. This is the scorched earth tactic of the oligarchy…destroy the political mechanism that could get us and our tax dollars outta the oil fields.

KEEP THE FAITH AND YER EYES ON THE PRIZE!!

TeddySanFran @ 23

hi jeffreyw, thanks so much for “live”blogging the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing earlier today. You made me laugh til I cried.

Pleasure was all mine. Didn’t have time to read the thread as I was busy with the TVand typing. Same to all you other fine folks that gave me kudos.

(drawing circles with toe, head down, ablush)

is it me or is it really odd that after a string of fingering republicans and not one democrat, suddenly, after the midterm massacre there’s really bad democrats out there too, inclujding the new Senator Majority Leader.
.

Member of the college rethugs grover norquist bff and good buddy of the bug killing dwarf king fingers a couple of dems on his way to prison. I’m shocked. I’ll believe it when I see the proof and then I’ll be skeptical.

Harry Reid a senior senator from a state with lots of Indians got money from…Indians. A senator took money from his constituents. Quick, alert the media. Oh heck Rove already did.

Berkeley’s jewish deli, Saul’s. good enough for us left coasters…good place for brunch.

MayDaze @ 22

EPU’d from the last thread, but on topic here:

sofistic @ 65

I keep wondering how we can simply make the DSCC and DCCC irrelevant. How can we convince future candidates that we have more influence and can ge them elected?

Money.

If money doesn’t effect how elections are contested (or if there’s a serious limitation to the amount that can be raised and used), then contributions from lobbyists, special interests, and other influences are reduced, if not removed, and thus the link to potential corruption.

To create positive and lasting structural change, the answer is not raising more money. It’s making the money unnecessary.

It would be odd if both Nevada Senators didn’t have their hands tightly gripping the windpipe of any and all gambling legislation, since that’s what the entire economy of Nevada is based on. I mean, other than the weapons testing and flying saucer development.

punaise @ 37

Berkeley’s jewish deli, Saul’s. good enough for us left coasters…good place for brunch.

I was going to ask you, Punny if that place was still there… but I didn’t want to hijack the thread any further. Oh well!

Yum!

scory @ 38

MayDaze @ 22

EPU’d from the last thread, but on topic here:

sofistic @ 65

I keep wondering how we can simply make the DSCC and DCCC irrelevant. How can we convince future candidates that we have more influence and can ge them elected?

Money.

If money doesn’t effect how elections are contested (or if there’s a serious limitation to the amount that can be raised and used), then contributions from lobbyists, special interests, and other influences are reduced, if not removed, and thus the link to potential corruption.

To create positive and lasting structural change, the answer is not raising more money. It’s making the money unnecessary.

Did you read my entire comment?

Jacqrat @ 39

punaise @ 37

Berkeley’s jewish deli, Saul’s. good enough for us left coasters…good place for brunch.

I was going to ask you, Punny if that place was still there… but I didn’t want to hijack the thread any further. Oh well!

Yum!

bon appetit!

MarcLord @ 39

It would be odd if both Nevada Senators didn’t have their hands tightly gripping the windpipe of any and all gambling legislation, since that’s what the entire economy of Nevada is based on. I mean, other than the weapons testing and flying saucer development.

Absent gaming, this place (Vegas) would be another Barstow. One more dessicated truckstop/railstop town.
_

I’m jonesing for a bitch-slapping:

How on God’s [formerly] green earth are we talking about dems as compromised (as in he can’t lead, he’s been compromised..) when we are faced with the most hideous malevolent anti-american fascist dictator the population has ever had the misfortune of being infected by? And I’m only talking about the vice-president! Words only sputter out about our Iraqifallacious president.

These are the enabelers and the bringers of the new holocast in which millions of people are either killed, seriously injured, displaced, contaminated, radiated, infected and oh yes, disaffected.

My brain can’t comprehend why there aren’t emergency impeachment procedures in process right now. Dems and Reps need to throw out these scumbags of history. Thev’e administered the coup de grace to our ecosphere.

Damn them.

A little background. This story has been around since the latter part of 2005 in one form or another. I don’t know if this is a new allegation, but it sounds so much like an old one that I don’t see what the difference is.

From a 2005 WaPo article:

The Indians’ largess flowed to higher-ranking Democrats as well. Senate Democratic leaders Reid and Daschle each received more than $40,000 from the tribes and from lobbyists on Abramoff’s team during the period.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..02158.html

From a Bloomberg article dated Dec. 21, 2005:

Reid spokeswoman Tessa Hafen said the senator is still considering whether to return the $60,000 in donations he received from Abramoff associates and clients. The money includes contributions that came from Abramoff’s former employer, Greenberg Traurig LLP, a lobbying and law firm with multiple issues in Congress.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/…..p;refer=us

That Bloomberg article is one of the few I’ve seen that were careful enough to indicate that this relationship had existed in many cases before Abramoff arrived on the scene. Reid and Sen. Dorgan were both tarred with this brush, and at least in Dorgan’s case it was pretty clear that this was a long-standing relationship.

UPDATE: Fixed the WaPo link. This is a rehash of a comment I left in an earlier thread.

What I find most odd in this story is the “6-8″ quantification of the number of Democratic senators involved. It is curiously imprecise. One would think Abramoff would have a definite number in mind to go with the faces.

This reminds me of a scene in the original The Manchurian Candidate movie when the red-baiting, Senator McCarthy-like character is trying to determine exactly how many communists he should fraudulently claim have infiltrated the State Department. After portraying some arguments with his wife, the scene ends with the character wordlessly staring at a Heinz ketchup bottle. The next scene opens with the character dramatically declaring “There are 57, 57 I say, communists in the State Department.

The 57 is impossibly high for the Senate, but a “6-8″ is a simple transition from 57, just increment each digit by one and put a hyphen in between. I have absolutely no real evidence for this speculation, but then neither does the ABC story.

scory @ 38

MayDaze @ 22

EPU’d from the last thread, but on topic here:

sofistic @ 65

I keep wondering how we can simply make the DSCC and DCCC irrelevant. How can we convince future candidates that we have more influence and can ge them elected?

Money.

If money doesn’t effect how elections are contested (or if there’s a serious limitation to the amount that can be raised and used), then contributions from lobbyists, special interests, and other influences are reduced, if not removed, and thus the link to potential corruption.

To create positive and lasting structural change, the answer is not raising more money. It’s making the money unnecessary.

Or, getting a lot more bang for each buck. A scientist just asked me a question which directly relates. I’ve been curious about the same thing. Here’s the question:

“I’d really like to see the 2006 election data broken down comparing results ((a) % wins and (b) % wins per campaign $ spent) of Dean’s netroots approach versus Emmanuel’s machine. Is there a link to this information?”

Carville hobgoblining on CNN with Wolf Bluster.

*xyz – yes. same page.

Jane — the emergence of these old stories seems to me very much tied to the rise in influence of the Dems at a time when the whole Bush regime is collapsing. This looks like a warning signal to the Dems not to move too fast (and it could be coming from inside the party, too). I’m very suspicious that all this stuff is coming out now, after the election, when it was always there and could have been used before. That suggests this is all part of the internal party struggle — otherwise, why wait till after? — over what the agenda will be in January. — but who knows?

scory @ 37

MayDaze @ 22

EPU’d from the last thread, but on topic here:

sofistic @ 65

I keep wondering how we can simply make the DSCC and DCCC irrelevant. How can we convince future candidates that we have more influence and can ge them elected?

Money.

If money doesn’t effect how elections are contested (or if there’s a serious limitation to the amount that can be raised and used), then contributions from lobbyists, special interests, and other influences are reduced, if not removed, and thus the link to potential corruption.

To create positive and lasting structural change, the answer is not raising more money. It’s making the money unnecessary.

Absolutely! For example, federally funded campaigns. Taking back the airwaves and making it a requirement that the broadcasters give the airtime away to candidates. Actually, nationalizing the airwaves for each candidate’s airtime.

BobbyG @ 43

MarcLord @ 39

It would be odd if both Nevada Senators didn’t have their hands tightly gripping the windpipe of any and all gambling legislation, since that’s what the entire economy of Nevada is based on. I mean, other than the weapons testing and flying saucer development.

Absent gaming, this place (Vegas) would be another Barstow. One more dessicated truckstop/railstop town.
_

Ah. Barstow. I must admit it’s a welcome sight if you’re about to run out of gas.

Jacqrat @ 40

punaise @ 37

Berkeley’s jewish deli, Saul’s. good enough for us left coasters…good place for brunch.

I was going to ask you, Punny if that place was still there… but I didn’t want to hijack the thread any further. Oh well!

Yum!

And is Chez Panise still there? Still waiting to go there.

MayDaze @ 41 –

I did, and I agree with what you say.

But the issue of money, and the use of it to lubricate and fuel the electoral-industrial complex of Washington DC is so overwhelming and so corrosive that, in my opinion, you can’t get to accountability and good governance without changing the role of campaign contributions in the national electoral process.

OT..New HSA rules..After Jan 14 ‘07, you will need HSA permission to leave the country by Air or Sea travel. The next turn of the screw will be an exit visa.

Democratryoshki…And I’ll have a blintz, with sour cream and a Dr. Brown’s Cel-Ray.

;>)

scory @ 53

MayDaze @ 41 –

I did, and I agree with what you say.

But the issue of money, and the use of it to lubricate and fuel the electoral-industrial complex of Washington DC is so overwhelming and so corrosive that, in my opinion, you can’t get to accountability and good governance without changing the role of campaign contributions in the national electoral process.

You may be surprised that I agree completely. But we have to get there from here first. Think of it as a backfire to try to stem a raging forest fire. Sometimes you have to use a process to get rid of that process.

scarecrow @ 52

Jacqrat @ 40

punaise @ 37

Berkeley’s jewish deli, Saul’s. good enough for us left coasters…good place for brunch.

I was going to ask you, Punny if that place was still there… but I didn’t want to hijack the thread any further. Oh well!

Yum!

And is Chez Panise still there? Still waiting to go there.

Oh yeah . . . and still on my “go there to eat before you die” list.

hmmm, somehow a dem senator from a state that actually has BOTH indians AND legal gambling receiving campaign contributions from indian gaming tribes (i.e., his constituents) just doesn’t seem to have the same obvious look of corruption as those gopers from non-gaming states without indian populations that were getting the same money.

and why are we just now hearing about “seriously corrupt” democrats? as others have pointed out, jack was a gop bag man all the way. if he had the goods to take down a half dozen dems they would have been the FIRST ones he turned in, not the last.

scarecrow @ 51

And is Chez Panise still there? Still waiting to go there.

still there, still excellent, still expensive! the heart of the “Gourmet Ghetto”. Alice Waters has been very involved in local public shools, promoting school vegetable gardens, local food producers, and wholistic eating.

What’s all this talk about Chez Punaise? Is he even more multi-talented that he lets on?

RBG @ 59

What’s all this talk about Chez Punaise? Is he even more multi-talented that he lets on?

heh. always cooking up something!

MarcLord @ 39

It would be odd if both Nevada Senators didn’t have their hands tightly gripping the windpipe of any and all gambling legislation, since that’s what the entire economy of Nevada is based on. I mean, other than the weapons testing and flying saucer development.

707

sofistic @ 65

I keep wondering how we can simply make the DSCC and DCCC irrelevant. How can we convince future candidates that we have more influence and can ge them elected?

sofistic and MayDaze –
There’s a reason why Rahm Emmanuel was chair of the DCCC — he knows inside and out the ways to raise and use campaign money. It’s been his way to make himself indispensible. And he’ll fight electoral reform like a rabid dog.

There’s how you use the backfire, MayDaze!

Laundry beckons … I’ll be back.

Steve @ 54

OT..New HSA rules..After Jan 14 ‘07, you will need HSA permission to leave the country by Air or Sea travel. The next turn of the screw will be an exit visa.

This regulation endorsed by Liebermiddle facists of CT.

Carville and Babe Buchanan on CNN “trashing” Howard Dean.

Shorter Carville: “Not one of us professionals Beltway Insiders think that Dean’s “state” Democratic party strategy was worthwhile. Dean cost us 10-20 additional seats.

All of us professionals Beltway Insiders think Dean should STFU and allow us run things.

All hail Rahm “I’m the only one who matters” Emmanuel and Chuckles “Your money or your life” Schumer.

The hatchets are coming out fast and furious when the incestuous Insiders (Carville-D and Buchanan-R) gang up to kick Dean to the curb.

Guess they’re worried about not getting enough at the trough. Piggys are so…ahem…piggy.

darkblack @ 54

Democratryoshki…And I’ll have a blintz, with sour cream and a Dr. Brown’s Cel-Ray.

;>)

watch your nested comments dolls! who’s the little fella?

gag.

Tommy Thompson’s gonna maybe run in 2008.

cnn

Mr. Donut Hole Himself

From the Journal Review, Feb 3, 2006, Harry Reid:

The study, performed by campaign finance specialists Dwight L. Morris and Associates, suggests “it’s likely that Abramoff had little impact on giving to Democrats,” the publication said in a Jan. 27 report.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/l…..96811.html

angie @ 66

gag.

Tommy Thompson’s gonna maybe run in 2008.

cnn

Gag is right. He’s totally delusional, of course. Mr. Doin’, bein’, seein’–another master of the english language. Ugh.

angie @
32

OT again, sorry.

Lieberliar just yielded to Levin and said that “in the spirit of bipartisanship that I espouse…”

got major chuckles and an extra minute outta it.

(Hold that bagel, I need to barf!)

I bet he says that when he takes a dump, too.

angie @ 67

Tommy Thompson’s gonna maybe run in 2008.

Honestly….why are people so delusional. Everyone who has declared thus far has as much chance as Pervez Musharaff.

Everyone who has declared thus far has as much chance as Pervez Musharaff.

That’s FUNNY! LOL!

I’d like to announce the formation of my exploratory committee to study the getting out of my crappy adjustable rate mortgage. Donations can be made to lindarshousefund@wuddascam.net. More info @ http://wuddacountry.buckpress.con.

TeddySanFran @ 62

MarcLord @ 39

It would be odd if both Nevada Senators didn’t have their hands tightly gripping the windpipe of any and all gambling legislation, since that’s what the entire economy of Nevada is based on. I mean, other than the weapons testing and flying saucer development.

707

The flying saucer development is just a myth to bring in defense contracts, anyway. Does anybody here seriously believe that our defense contractors, who collect megabucks for planes that don’t fly, are really going to develop effective antigravity technology? These people would break a Super Soaker.

oops. made a joke about adju*bl mor*g*ge and got tossed into mod — so sorry!

[Mod note; your rep for vile comments follows you everywhere.]

LindaR @ 75

oops. made a joke about adju*bl mor*g*ge and got tossed into mod — so sorry!

Oh, is that why none of my h*t As**n t**n gags never see the light of day?

EvilDrPuma @ 76

LindaR @ 75

oops. made a joke about adju*bl mor*g*ge and got tossed into mod — so sorry!

Oh, is that why none of my h*t As**n t**n gags never see the light of day?

No.

OT..,Eureka Springs..Did you see this about Huckabee? http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/173040/
I think they learn this stuff in theological school.

LindaR @ 73

I’d like to announce the formation of my exploratory committee to study the getting out of my crappy adjustable rate mortgage. Donations can be made to lindarshousefund@wuddascam.net. More info @ http://wuddacountry.buckpress.con.

Be careful, you may be visited by men dressed as sheiks proffering suitcases of cash.

If I were you, I’d take it.

EvilDrPuma @75

‘These people would break a Super Soaker.’

Yep, right after they made it cost four million dollars. But it would really, really soak!

Another GOPer hat in the ring, absent any National Security credentials whatsoever. Thompson is evil and odious, having presided over Claude Allen’s attempted takedown at HHS of community-based HIV prevention in San Francisco. Their attack on solutions that were working and were being replicated across the USA by pandering to the “base” with regard to abstenince, condom failure, and homo-hatred is equally to blame for the post-protease-inhibitor bump-up in HIV infections nationwide as is the “treatable disease” mythology the PIs themselves allowed.

MarcLord @ 78

EvilDrPuma @75

‘These people would break a Super Soaker.’

Yep, right after they made it cost four million dollars. But it would really, really soak!

love the soaker, hate the soak

Steve @ 78

OT..,Eureka Springs..Did you see this about Huckabee? http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/173040/
I think they learn this stuff in theological school.

I saw the AP version of the story last night. Amazing, innit? Here I’m still strapped to find moving help I can bribe with beer and pizza, and the likes of Hucklebee–who, mind you, has more money than I’ll ever earn–wants me to believe his wife needs a housewarming bribe gift registry for when they move out of the Gov’s mansion. No, nothing about this smells bad. Nothing at all.

Salon.com War Room:

Carville: Dean’s leadership “Rumsfeldian”

James Carville’s plan to replace Howard Dean with failed Senate candidate Harold Ford, Jr. may have failed, but that doesn’t seem to have stopped the former Clinton strategist’s campaign against the DNC chair.

Today, Carville is off telling reporters that Dean’s leadership is “Rumsfeldian in its competence,” and that if Dean had just listened to the often-abrasive southerner and spent $6 million the DNC had on hand then the Democrats could have picked up as many as 50 House seats, roughly 20 more than they’ve won to date. And yes, Carville still wants to see Dean replaced.

scarecrow @
49

*xyz – yes. same page.

Jane — the emergence of these old stories seems to me very much tied to the rise in influence of the Dems at a time when the whole Bush regime is collapsing. This looks like a warning signal to the Dems not to move too fast (and it could be coming from inside the party, too). I’m very suspicious that all this stuff is coming out now, after the election, when it was always there and could have been used before. That suggests this is all part of the internal party struggle — otherwise, why wait till after? — over what the agenda will be in January. — but who knows?

Very true, if it were just a smear against Dems coming from outside the party the timing is really poor.

Steve @ 77

OT..,Eureka Springs..Did you see this about Huckabee? http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/173040/
I think they learn this stuff in theological school.

Cosidering sending a nice framed photo of Wes Clark for his foyer, does Dillards have one?

punaise @ 84

Salon.com War Room:

Carville: Dean’s leadership “Rumsfeldian”

James Carville’s plan to replace Howard Dean with failed Senate candidate Harold Ford, Jr. may have failed, but that doesn’t seem to have stopped the former Clinton strategist’s campaign against the DNC chair.

Today, Carville is off telling reporters that Dean’s leadership is “Rumsfeldian in its competence,” and that if Dean had just listened to the often-abrasive southerner and spent $6 million the DNC had on hand then the Democrats could have picked up as many as 50 House seats, roughly 20 more than they’ve won to date. And yes, Carville still wants to see Dean replaced.

Carville added, “Master betrayed us. Wicked, tricksey, false. We ought to wring his filthy little neck. Kill him. Kill him. Kill them both, and then we take the Precious and we be the master!”

New thread upstairs.

“Wright writes that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice “has been doing ‘a lot of thinking’ about the issue over the past two months, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said yesterday. . . .“

Oh, so now she’s thinking about Iraq. Good, because any earlier would’ve been way too soon.

MarcLord @ 47

Or, getting a lot more bang for each buck. A scientist just asked me a question which directly relates. I’ve been curious about the same thing. Here’s the question:

“I’d really like to see the 2006 election data broken down comparing results ((a) % wins and (b) % wins per campaign $ spent) of Dean’s netroots approach versus Emmanuel’s machine. Is there a link to this information?”

Not sure if this is detailed enough, but it’s a start.

punaise @
85

Salon.com War Room:

Carville: Dean’s leadership “Rumsfeldian”

James Carville’s plan to replace Howard Dean with failed Senate candidate Harold Ford, Jr. may have failed, but that doesn’t seem to have stopped the former Clinton strategist’s campaign against the DNC chair.

Today, Carville is off telling reporters that Dean’s leadership is “Rumsfeldian in its competence,” and that if Dean had just listened to the often-abrasive southerner and spent $6 million the DNC had on hand then the Democrats could have picked up as many as 50 House seats, roughly 20 more than they’ve won to date. And yes, Carville still wants to see Dean replaced.

what an as*. You might just want to take your comment upstairs!

punaise @
67

watch your nested comments dolls! who’s the little fella?

Begala

;>)

sofistic @ 1:57 pm (#69)

From the Journal Review, Feb 3, 2006, Harry Reid:

The study, performed by campaign finance specialists Dwight L. Morris and Associates, suggests “it’s likely that Abramoff had little impact on giving to Democrats,” the publication said in a Jan. 27 report.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/l…..96811.html

Here’s the American Prospect article that article is refering to:
http://www.prospect.org/web/pa…..leId=10924

There’s a small Excel spreadsheet that shows the totals for each tribe. Unfortunately, they didn’t do any analysis of giving to individual legislators, only political parties. Their conclusion was that the Republicans benefitted much more from Abramoff’s advice to his clients than the Democrats did.

Murtha reminds me more and more of George Ryan
An old time pol, no more or less crooked that his peers, who later in life performed some extraordinary good deed.
Ryan commuted all Illibois death row to life when it became evident that the system had failed miserably and there were several possible miscaragase of justice present.
Murtha repudated Iraq.
Neither action rehabilitates prior corrupt behavior.
Ryan’s Drivers Licenses for sale led to deaths and injuries caused by unqualified and unfit drivers.
Murtha , evidently, was not above selling entry to our country.
This does not play well , and frankly, it should not.
It may be hard to find an honesst congressman in a position of power, but it must be done.
“Not indicted” is not vindication in my book.
Not for Rove, and nor for Murtha.

And yes, the timing is suspect…very suspect.
But it is no excuse or mitigation.
No more than Foley’s exposure at a perfect time to tip the scales was an excuse.

punaise @ 84

Salon.com War Room:

Carville: Dean’s leadership “Rumsfeldian”

James Carville’s plan to replace Howard Dean with failed Senate candidate Harold Ford, Jr. may have failed, but that doesn’t seem to have stopped the former Clinton strategist’s campaign against the DNC chair.

Today, Carville is off telling reporters that Dean’s leadership is “Rumsfeldian in its competence,” and that if Dean had just listened to the often-abrasive southerner and spent $6 million the DNC had on hand then the Democrats could have picked up as many as 50 House seats, roughly 20 more than they’ve won to date. And yes, Carville still wants to see Dean replaced.

My reply to the Austin Statesman which ran the story today. They didn’t publish it:

Dean’s 50-state strategy was patient, brilliant, and obviously paid off. It was the political equivalent of a royal flush, in spades. As for Carville, he is by his own admission mentally unbalanced, and who proudly claims to sleep with the enemy.

Carville has been completely off the farm since he called up his wife in the White House on November 8th, 2004 and told her Kerry was going to demand a recount in Ohio. His wife, Bush campaign manager Mary Matalin, kindly took that information to the team, which promptly got Ohio state election commissioner Ken Blackwell on the phone and told him to stonewall.

I’d love to compare Carville’s special brand of incompetence to Rumsfeld’s, but Carville is too much like Benedict Arnold. Don’t get me wrong, Carville is no slouch when it comes to incompetence, but being a turncoat trumps that. Too bad he doesn’t even have the self-honesty to admit it. Like Arnold, the fleeing Carville will eventually be apprehended. I see he’s prepared to be shot for treason, since he’s already wearing his blindfold.

This whole rumor does not pass the sniff test. Why would the Repugs not use this information during the election since corruption was such an issue?

The other thing about money from tribes and legislation for tribes. AZ has 21 individual tribes with distinct reservations. In AZ, casinos have to be on the already established reservation land. Western states such as AZ, NM, NV all have large reservation land.

Congressmen & Senators who have tribal lands within their states and districts, who are advocating for laws and funds for the very tribes are supporting their constituents.

AZ Indian Tribes

The debate about casinos in native culture is ongoing… is the cultural damage worth it?

That we finally can afford our own health care seems to be the underlying principle.

That we can also compile DVD’s of our almost lost languages is beyond contemplation.

Simple analysis: BLACK JACK!

What should have been obvious is that i was not implying support for the Abramovitz… i was saying that despite the elders warning (and who knows that they’re not still right) we find the casino money the key to our survival.

Someone in one of the blog comments said the republicans would be busy smearing democrats for the next election. I have read two or three stories in the media about ‘corrupt’ democrats. It has started..

I mean real money. I know the ‘roots raised something like $15m this cycle (and before I get jumped on, that was a great effort), but that’s not much compared to what the DSCC and DCCC raised.

OT, but I would suggest that the “netroots” spend 2007 raising money for the House Progressive Caucus funds (or whatever its called) with the understanding that the money be spent solely for “progressive” candidates challenging GOP incumbents. In other words, empower House progressives to fund the takeover of the DCCC by progressives in 2008 or 2010 — however long it takes.

One of the things that really disgusted me about Rahm was how he abandoned Democratic primary winner who beat “his” candidate — a couple of them managed to win (shea-porter, McNerny) but if I were a progressive thinking about running, I’d think twice about it knowing that Rahm might decide to back someone else, and not support me when I beat his designated candidate. That’s why a fund controlled by the Progressive House Caucus would come into play — it tells grassroots candidates that they don’t NEED Rahm….

paul 101 — exactly. We need to build us a BIG stick, and then we need to give the stick to the right warrior to use as we dictate.

Not turn the BIG stick over to someone who’ll club us with it as if we were baby seals.

Bide a wee, Crazy Horse – I hope the natives can rebuild wisely with the new source of money and then throw if off successfully somewhere down the line. Meanwhile, there still appears to be a long climb back to health for the Indian Nations of this land.

Can anyone here think of a positive accomplishment by Condie Rice in either of her two jobs over the last six years?

Seems that she is always getting on an airplane- and then she comes back- and nothing is ever different- but maybe I’m forgetting something.

As John Solomon knows perfectly well, the Indian tribes were not Abby’s clients, so much as they were his VICTIMS. They paid him upwards of $66 million to lobby for their interests and he took great delight in screwing them.

Solomon is just doing his damndest to try to pretend that Mister College Republican President is bipartisan.