Great program last night Jane. You have such a soothing smile.

Who wrote that, Frank Luntz? What a load of horseshit.

I’m going to needlepoint that on a pillow! Ha!

You were great on Rachel, Jane. This needs to be picked up and screamed loudly. Ties right into Taibbi’s point that this rot is bipartisan.

It must be shown for what it is, and it must be stopped.

What are Susan’s qualifications to be on all these corporate boards who she is married to? Even if she has a degree and some job experience well I know lots of folks with degrees who are not on corporate boards.
This sounds like she is her Husbands Bagman.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagman

Business as usual in DC!!
Who would expect a politician in the pocket of big money ?

How many of these putzs are up for reelection in ‘10? I can’t recall such a piss poor Congress in 40+ years (well except from the 104th forward anyway!).

Evan Bayh is up in 2010. Funny you should ask.

I can’t imagine Bayh’s opposition to the Presidents agenda will play well in his home state.
This guy is a good example of one who is out of touch with public sentiment !

I can honestly and joyously say I’ve never been inspired by John Cornyn, but today is a new day. Does the verb “primary” come to mind for anyone else? ;-)

She earned her Bachelors of Arts from the University of California at Berkeley. She then earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California Law School in 1984.
[edit]As an attorney
Bayh began her careers in law and business as a litigator for the law firms of Gibson, Dunn, & Crutcher; and later Barnes & Thornburg. In 1989, she joined the pharmaceutical division at the Indianapolis based Eli Lilly and Company, managing the company’s handling of federal regulatory issues.[2] In 1994, she left the employ of Eli Lilly and taught at Butler University’s College of Business Administration, holding the title of Distinguished Visiting Professor.
[edit]Professional director
An Indiana newspaper listed eight corporations of which Bayh was a director as of 2006 and stated, “Susan Bayh’s position as a director for eight businesses puts her in the league of ‘professional directors’, a term used to refer to people who sit on multiple corporate boards and are not otherwise employed.”[1] Bayh began serving on corporate boards in 1994 and since then she has served on the boards of 14 corporations in the insurance, pharmaceutical, food processing, and other industries.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Bayh

My bold 1984- 1994 ten years as a lawyer and suddenly she is qualified to sit as a director on 8 corporate boards? BAGMAN!BAGMAN! BAGMAN!

Yes!

There are still lots of politicians out there that are barely aware of the blogosphere. So they think they can talk one way to the rubes at home while they use their offices as a piggybank and work against the interests of those self-same rubes. And all the while they are sure no one will notice. This is precisely why the blogosphere came into being. If Bayh wants to be a shill for the banking industry, his constituents have a right to know.

Thanks for your post on a problem that goes beyond Congress. On the state level, the financial industry has “captured” legislators and executives across the country. In ND, a relatively small state, they contributed heavily to the governor’s reelection campaign. They even reached into the state treasurer race, providing healthy campaign contributions through individual owners or employees of corporations in the financial industry. What’s worse, they have conned the National Association of State Treasurers (NAST) to partner with them on a “financial education” website called tommorow’s money.org. This “gateway” initiative is a cookie cutter website that now carries the state seal of about 30 states. Check your state treasurer website. They are all the same. Loved you on the show.

“What a load of horseshit.”
This is why I like you; cutting like a scythe, sharp and unashamedly, through these pathetic lies. What really pisses me off most of all is that jerks like Bayh have the gall to act as if the rest of us aren’t hip to what they’re doing and who they’re actually representing. (Then again, they win re-election time and again, so there’s some justification to their contempt for their constituents.)
Christ, I just made myself more miserable.

“Building Burning Bridges on The Hill”

WaPo needs a new proofreader.

Jane: You were great on Maddow. I especially enjoyed the fact that you used actual dollar amounts taken from public records to illustrate your point. It’s pretty hard to argue with plain facts. Now it’s up to Maddow to invite Bayh to respond. If he avoids such an invitation, it can (and should) be interpreted that he’s evading. If (by some fluke of nature) he should deign to appear, he would be forced to answer for the effect that any of the campaign contributions bribes might be having on his current approach to…um…problem solving.

Who wrote that, Frank Luntz? What a load of horseshit.

Lutz the Putz.

But she looked dfown at her paper. get her a teleprompter

s/ is that the snark thing ?

His wife Susan earns about $837,000 a year serving on seven corporate boards, among them Wellpoint, a health insurance company for which Bayh helped secure a $24.7 million dollar grant.

Isn’t this a Conflict of interest a Senate Ethics violation? Self Dealing?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-dealing

Self-dealing

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Self-dealing is the conduct of a trustee, an attorney, a corporate officer, or other fiduciary that consists of taking advantage of his position in a transaction and acting for his own interests rather than for the interests of the beneficiaries of the trust, corporate shareholders, or his clients. Self-dealing may involve misappropriation or usurpation of corporate assets or opportunities.
One of the more current and widely agreed on definitions is from political scientists Ken Kernaghan and John Langford in their book “The Responsible Public Servant”. They define self-dealing as “a situation where one takes an action in an official capacity which involves dealing with oneself in a private capacity and which confers a benefit on oneself.”
Michael McDonald, Ph.D, Chair of Applied Ethics at The University of British Columbia provides examples based from this book: “You work for government and use your official position to secure a contract for a private consulting company you own.” and “using your government position to get a summer job for your daughter”.

With friends like Bayh, who needs Eric Cantor or Mitch or Boehner. I feel the same way about our lone Dem congressman Jim Matheson. Aren’t Reid and Pelosi supposed to keep them in line?

There are 587 days before the 2010 midterms. No time like the present to start working to make more changes in Congress, particularly the Senate. The earlier we start the better chance we have.

Taibbi’s on Democracy Now! today discussing his RS piece.

WMNF’s fundraising marathon started this morning. DN! normally comes on at noon but during marathon comes on a little later. Today Amy is working the phone live, pitching for donations, during breaks in her show. She’ll be here on 6 April. Wanna spend an hour with Amy before she speaks at the Tampa Theatre? Give the the station 240 bucks. Anybody who coughs it up is in for an experience they’ll never forget.

Jane,

Terrific spot on Rachael Maddow — I love love love to see you whenever I can. You evoke confidence!! Combined with the frighteningly intelligent Maddow and, wow, what a knock out punch!

David

Makes one long for the old days of sticking the money in a refrigerator, doesn’t it?

Yeah just what does a Senator have to do to go to jail? Is being a Senator a license to commit crime Senator Vitter Diapers and Hookers Check, Senator Evan Self Dealing Slam Dunk!

The bankers and Bayh must think the Senate and the Senate staffers are too stupid to write anything. This was in their letter:

The bankruptcy code is incredibly complex. Trying to amend it on the Senate floor opens up all sorts of potential problems – drafting errors that could have severe consequences and substantive changes to the bankruptcy system that could have long-lasting and adverse consequences for our mortgage market and economy.

So sweet, didn’t want the Senate to strain its brain. Twats.

Which I suppose brings up the question – is it possible to leverage Bayh’s re-election challenge to see if we can get a better bill?

Problems like the public watches the debate:)

Yeah or is it possible to leverage Evan’s forthcoming political scandal, criminal prosecution to get a better bill?
Is Obama willing to play rough?

While I despise hypocrites like Vitter, as far as I’m concerned what he was caught doing in diapers shouldn’t be a crime. I’m far more concerned about things like Bayh’s and Jefferson’s corruption, not to mention the K Street project. What they do in their spare time isn’t my concern, as long as they’re doing it with consenting adults and not doing it to the country.

I suppose that’s one of the reasons Vitter got away with what he did.

My local paper ran an opinion piece on the event. As much as I detest my senator, Evan and do agree with the basic positions Jane sets out, This opinion piece does accurately put into perspective constituent concerns.
One does not have to love the coal industry to appreciate that it is one of the major employers and economic engine in a portion of the state that has been badly hurt by the demise of manufacturing and auto industry support cutbacks.
On Jane’s behalf, I remind all that Evan Bayh voted for cloture on the creditcard bankruptcy Bill in 2005. I am likely to join in condemnation of Bayh, but not so quick on congressman Ellsworth.
Here is the local piece.

Evan needs to go bayh,bayh….ASAP,let us say if his poor dad were alive he would be less than proud,what a little ELITIST PIG he raised

There’s problems with getting Bayh out of the Senate.

The Indiana Democratic Party loves the Bayh name.
Newsmedia in Indiana is heavily corporate influenced (Indianapolis Star was owned by Dan Quayle’s grandfather). Getting traction for Bayh doesn’t care about Hoosier homeowners in the Star is a non-starter.

Indiana Democratic office holders tend to model themselves after Evan, while claiming some progressive credentials they don’t follow through. They are not going to put up a credible primary challenge when they know the Bayh name should prevail in the general election.

The past two Republican Senators in Bayh’s seat were Dan Coats (one term) and Dan Quayle. Indiana Republicans are some of the most odious office holders around. THe chances of a decent Republican being elected to Bayh’s seat are very low, much more likely someone cut from the same cloth as Qualye or Mark Souder.

I’d like to see Bayh replaced by a progressive. i think it’s far more likely that we could see Blue Dog house members replaced in Indiana.

I have some credibility concerning Indiana politics – I ran for the state house in 1994 and 1998 as an independent. In 1994 I worked hard and received 11% of the vote – the incumbent Democratic representative won with 54% in spite of some personal issues.

YES!

Legally I agree but I must admit hypocrites who try and tell me how to live because they are all kinds of moral, who look down on me, but are doing worse than I do in secret.
Well I enjoy it when they are taken down and get angry when they skate.

give him a remote cabinet post where he can DO NO MORE HARM to us

The knowledge is out there, so I suppose that in the long run there’s a fairly small chance that the scandal itself can be leveraged. One of his political opponents will use it. Support in the face of the scandal can be leveraged, which Obama might do. IANAL, so I’m not competent to comment on any legal possibilities in Mrs. Bayh’s current employment. Since she’s not the first such case I’ve heard of, and no one else seems to be in legal hot water, my guess is that Sen. Bayh isn’t all that worried.

Yes Ambassador sounds good!

Funny how the Three Mouseketeers write an op-ed claiming they’re not looking to obstruct and they’re all about being “practical,” and there’s not an ounce of policy position above the level of platitude in the whole thing, just process arguments about how Obama can’t get anything passed without them. And they agree with Obama’s priorities, but want to do less of them (but they’re not just about watering down his proposals!)

Moderation is not a mathematical process of finding the center for its own sake.

No, but “centrism” is. And that’s why you’re not a moderate, Evan, you’re a conservative, defining the “center” as perpetually halfway between where we are now and what the conservatives want.

Getting traction for Bayh doesn’t care about Hoosier homeowners in the Star is a non-starter.

In microcosm, this is the reason we get the kind of government we have. The “news” is in bed with these people, and the voters aren’t capable of or interested in finding things out for themselves.

A long TV-based campaign might work. That’s expensive, though.

In the current anti Corporate atmosphere we don’t need a prosecution we just need to get the public aware of the self dealing the lack of a prosecution helps us then it makes people angrier.

The map is not very informative as it doesn’t show proportions by county across the state.

The news media is a big problem, no doubt about it.

I often felt that overcoming the cynicism is another big problem – I registered about 1,000 voters personally between 1991 and 1995 – often I’d get told “I don’t want to vote, it only encourages them”, etc. Obama overcame that in 2008, but given his performance in office I think it stands a good chance of coming back (cynicism that is). The only cure for this I see is greater engagement and pushing back when bad policy is followed.

Sadlyyes,

Birch is not gone yet.

it shows proportion of houses in foreclosure by county. Allen County is one of the worst hit.

Allen County (Fort Wayne) is Mark Souder’s district. He’s an odious republican and this may be a place to support a Republican primary challenge.

I’ve done a little pushing on Souder in the past – an ex-girlfriend’s husband’s family is active in Allen County Republican politics. They’ve divorced so that connection is not easy for me to work any more.

Does Bayh know that Obama carried his state, the first time a Democrat won Indiana in a very long time?

Does he know that Dems are in the majority?

Does he know about all the foreclosed homes in his state?

Perhaps a more appropriate question would be, does he care?

The only cure for this I see is greater engagement and pushing back when bad policy is followed.

Operative word = engagement

Engagement, by any means necessary.

bayh crimmini,if he doest have dementia,he needs to sit his boy down and give him a few lessons on WE THE PEOPLE

How many networks and papers are reporting about Bayh’s $$$$$ from the very corps that would be impacted by “change”? Other than Rachel, its been all crickets and empty print.

Twas ever thus.

does BIRCH have a TWITTER?……………G

Hi Ms. Hamsher, I saw you on the Rachel Maddow Show on Tuesday the 24th. I am outrage as to the Evan Bayh movement and want to know what I can do to help stop him. He stood by as well as the other Democrats and let President Bush bring this Country to a stand still and now we have a President who cares about this Country and ALL its people, even the ones that are not rich. I KNOW OTHERS ARE OUTRAGE WITH BAYH AND HIS MOVEMENT AND WANT TO DO SOMETHING TO STOP THEM so how do we get started to help the cause?

Thank you.

Following Rachel Maddow’s first airing of information of Bayh and his group approximately two weeks ago, members of USACAN and other progressive activist groups sprang into action. We posted the names and contact information about these “dissenting Democrats” to web sites and listservs. All across the country, progressive Democrats wrote letters, sent emails, and made phone calls to these Democrats. We have no problem with debating issues and policies, but Bayh’s efforts to set up a group for the sole purpose of controlling the President’s ability to pass the budget without a filibuster as well as their efforts to block climate change legislation is UNACCEPTABLE, and we have vowed to not let up on these Democrats. Many were taken by surprise as Claire McCaskill, who has been eerily quiet, but who is sending out emails requesting donations to help pass the President’s budget. Many of us remain very confused about Senator McCaskill’s motives.

In the real world, the information you have provided would be cause for indictment for bribery. What is this altered state we find ourselves in?

Talking about mortgages, the report on mortgages that came out this morn was good but according to CNBC it is the people in their homes that are redoing their mortgages that made the numbers higher.

Ms. Jane,

I tend to read you diligenty, and I find your political analysis correct in almost all instances. Thus, my fingers get worn out to the knuckles, and if I am not overly careful, I will come to be seen in the Spanish-speaking community as a “knuckle-dragging Liberal.” Thus, my Contrarian Viewpoint will fall to the wayside, and shame on you! :-)

And here is what I wrote at the Chicano Veterans Organization, earlier today. Enjoy.
__________

Evan Bayh’s “Triage Construct”

Since analogies tend to strike the brain muscle accordingly and stick permanently, I thought I would take the time to explain myself in some detail, and thusly, my analogy:

If you’re an incompetent and appropriately licensed professional, expanding the law to permit the patient to sue the hell out of you, is fair. Fair to the extent that the professional license is not yanked by the regulatory authorities. Consequently, the incompetent doctor can continue to practice incompetent medicine, and much to the benefit of the mere mortals, or I am being informed and subtlely educated so, and of course, to my ultimate detriment.

In this “Triage Construct” and as applied to another subject matter, if you are wanting to organize a labor union affiliation at your workplace, the likelihood that you will succeed is less than fifty percent, and yet, the likelihood that you will be fired by your employer exceeds this 50% level. So, if you are fired, you too can sue the hell out of your employer in attempting re-acquire your employment. In the meantime, you are the triage recipient of this newly expansive and traditional systemic. Thus, the systemic or institutional mindset is neither altered nor changed one iota but you do get to avail yourself of the law. But then, you already know that you had access to the law in order to sue your employer. Thus, you have gained nothing, but you have lost even more, and ultimately to your detriment.

Consequently, Senator Bayh’s “Triage Construct” is not even worthy of any consideration for the label that is augustly considered a political “compromise.” He will simply cause more of our fellow Democrats to become disgusted with his brain-dead “exlixir of snake oil” and as practiced by the Corporate Democrats and whence the DLC was glorified during the Clinton Era and the requisite and attendant genuflection was amply required at this political altar of years past.

And the challenge before me is to understand this nonsense being attempted by Senator Bayh, while I continue to adhere to my overriding political faith in the Truth, and to wit, a ‘participatory’ Democracy cannot be advanced by the likes of America’s Corporate Democrats. And my vote counts and is cast accordingly during each election cycle in favor for advancing a ‘participatory’ Democracy. And finally, I am thankful that I am not from Indiana.
_________

Jaango

You and Rachel make me proud to be a woman Jane!

Now that it’s clear Harry Reid has been totally usurped by the likes of first Lieberman and now Bayh, with honorable mentions to Jim -I’m not that insane -I just kicked Harry Reid’s ass -Bunning(R), and given that polls seem to indicate Independents and Moderates (64%) agree with Obamas direction as opposed to that of the twisted sisters of Independence -Lou Dobbs and Joe Lieberman, we should try focusing on many faces these insecure fence sitters have shown to the public.

Bayh for instance, a few years, back tried to play a leader and used the All America pac to tout the proper role a true leader should play, and, how the pac will support the VOTERS CHOICE. Oh really?

First, the headline to his own personal credential page? Progress over Partisanship
http://www.allamericapac.org/i…..;Itemid=35

But then read what he says about the next President – before he knew it wouldn’t be him:

“The lesson here is clear: Pragmatic, principled Democrats can compete and win in traditional GOP strongholds like Indiana if they roll up their sleeves, get serious about security and hone in on the economic challenges facing ordinary middle class families.

In 327 days, Americans will elect a new President. Democrats have the opportunity to win back the White House and increase our congressional majorities, because we’re right on the issues and have kept faith with the concerns of the voters who put us in office.

In 2008, the All America PAC will enthusiastically support candidates who embrace this sensible blueprint for success.

Evan Bayh’s supposed “moderate objection” to the President’s budget is just more proof that the U.S. Congress is truly bought and paid for by America’s insurance and financial services industry. In my opinion, if a company’s too big to fail, they’re too big to exist.

Bayh is clueless if he thinks this will play well even in his home state. He’s about as charismatic as a piece of wood. We can only hope that some of the other so-called members of this group exit the group as soon as possible.

Great job on the story and great job on Rachel. Bayh is oddly out of step with his constituents: silver spoons are rare in Indiana. The new blue dogs care only about getting re-elected in four years, by trying to reconnect with their conservative base. But if they keep up this behavior, their base will all be on welfare.

What have you to say about Obama’s beloved Claire McCaskill? Isn’t she also a member of this coalition? Whichever way the wind is blowing I guess. Maybe her children told her to join this group.

Yep! she is in the group OK.But look here,Rachel Maddow had Begeich(sp)the senator from Alaska on her show & instead of holding Begeich to answer the question why are you in a group whose stated goal is to slow down Democratic agenda. Begeich never answered Rachel’s question but went on yapping about GOP obstruction.

Great job on Rachel’s show last night. Until we get lobbyists in Washington whittled down to something close to an appropriate size and influence then nothing will get done for the regular citizenry. I am so sick of listening to our elected representatives spin their anti-citizen votes. “Well, I couldn’t vote for it because the legislation didn’t do enough for the American people.” Political speak for “I’m voting with the lobbyists on this one.”

Thank goodness we have a President now that at least seems like he cares about the American people!

Keep up the good work.

Jane,

Wonderful job on Rachel’s show last night, there was so much talk about AIG lately that they totally forgot about people who are worried about loosing their homes. Jane we can’t let the senate make their decision on H.R. 1106 after spring break. While they go to their (HOMES) for the vacation, people are worried how long they will be able to keep their homes. Please put the word out to all the major networks that Evan Bayh is holding up hope for thousands of people needing the senate to give bankruptcy judges the power to modify mortgages. Waiting until the end of April is not acceptable make them pass the bill now.

Keep them honest.
:)

Is there a complete list of all these obstructionist “moderates” somewhere? Unfortunately, BOTH of my Senators (Udall, and the mysterious Bennet) would appear to be on it.

I have followed Sen. Bayh’s career since he entered politics, followed his Father (Birch Bayh) before that. You are all off track on Evan’s motivations. He is a very shrewd politician, and knows what he is about.

This is all about the fact that he may be running for President in 2012. He has made the decision that President Obama will only have one term, and that he will be quite vunerable in the primary.

Evan Bayh has been on the shortlist for a VP slot in the last two cycles, but he has been very picky about who he would climb in bed with. He is a very popular Democrat from a red state (mayor of Indy, two term Governor, won re-election as Senator with 62%). He will be reelected in 2010, and well positioned for a POTUS run in 2012.

It’s not that Evan has been passed over for a VP slot, it’s that he hasn’t been willing to accept. He would lose more than he had to gain from such a move. He is well aware that he can easily carry blue states in the general election, and is much better positioned than most in the red states. He is an election map changer, even if the repub’s field strong candidates, which they didn’t in ‘08

His problem is that while President Obama carried Indiana running against McCain/Palin in November, the Hoosier state is writhing with buyer’s remorse already. Throw in the historical fact that the US tends to vote against the incumbent President’s party in the midterms (when he needs relection), and there you have it.

Evan Bayh cannot carry any water for the President without risking his own reelection, (Russ Feingold and others are in the same boat), and there is the chance that he will be running against Obama in the Primary. He won’t have to win in the primary, but if Obama loses in the General, Bayh will be the automatic front runner in 2016.

Believe me, Bayh isn’t doing the bidding of corporate sponsers, he’s looking out for number one.

The person pushing for a “narrower” cramdown bill, blocking the House version and reported to be writing his own?

Some Senate Democrats, including Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, continue to push for ways to narrow the bill, encouraged by the banking industry, which says the legislation would drive up the cost of credit.

If it’s true his purpose is to ‘improve’ bills and he can’t find a way to improve this one, then it’s got to be allowed to move through to a vote.

If his intent is to kill legislation then he ought to do it honestly, by announcing his opposition and putting a hold on it.

The bankers and Bayh must think the Senate and the Senate staffers are too stupid to write anything. This was in their letter:

The bankruptcy code is incredibly complex. …

If they’re not up to the job because it’s too “incredibly complex”, then maybe we need some new politicians.

Talking about mortgages, the report on mortgages that came out this morn was good but according to CNBC it is the people in their homes that are redoing their mortgages that made the numbers higher.

Still very good.

Please everyone write an email to your own Senator and Congress Person and at least the other 16 blue dogs (no disrespect to dogs here). I am hoping they will get thousands of them. I’ve written a great one that makes clear that there is no reason to oppose a President so popular, to LOSE after you have won and that I will call everyone in their state to tell them what they have done. It is unthinkable that we would not use 51 votes to pass this budget. There is only one reason to vote against the budget 1-you have sold out 2- you care nothing about America 3- you identify with the filthy Rush Limbaugh and his ilk and how in the world can anyone ever vote against healthcare when half of the bankruptcy’s in America are due to medical bills. These people are worse than the Republican snakes — we trusted them, we voted for them. Please write or call them and tell them you will do everything you can to see that they are never elected to anything again. Thank you!

There is no way of beating Bayh in the primary, if the republicans can’t beat him in the general, he’s untouchable in the primary.

If you knew anything about his wife, our former first lady here in Indiana, you wouldn’t be so surprised that she sits on corporate boards. She’s a fairly impressive lady. As for the idea that you can create the image of a conflict of interest, buy a vowel, Hoosiers will not believe for one minute that Evan is dishonest, they know him pretty well. As for illegalities, come on! Tom Dashele’s wife was a lobbiest, that wasn’t illegal. Our First Lady’s (Mrs. Obama) only professional job ever was a $300,000 position as a diversity specialist, that was created for her, and eliminated now that she has moved on!

I hate to cause flashbacks to the election, but Mrs. Bayh’s credentials compare favorably with the President’s, and she has more business experience to boot.

President Obama barely carried Indiana running against a very weak Republican ticket. Evan Bayh is far more popular in Indiana than Barack Obama, and he intends to keep it that way.

Lieberman can’t stay in one party long enough to read anything and Bayh is up for reelection. Most of the rest are one or two term senators. I can’t believe they can’t do the math (well except for Liberman). President 67% approval, republicans 17%. Can’t wait to see how the public likes this.

Well….losing your job can change the glow around anyone.

HoosierHawk,

you said, “Democrat from a red state (mayor of Indy, two term Governor, won re-election as Senator with 62%). ”

However you are in correct, at least about his history. He was never mayor of Indy. His first elected position was Secretary of State.