Does the Creigh Deeds gubernatorial race suggest the death of the Blue Dog Democrats? Creigh Deeds tried to tack away from President Obama and run too much in the middle. Virginia is not ready for a ultra liberal governor, but it didn’t want a Democratic candidate who water down his beliefs and goals until he became a milquetoast Republican. Creigh Deeds was trying to get votes that he would never get because he has a "D" by his name. This same kind of political play has been used by Blue Dogs in the House and Senate in their opposition to health care reform. At the same time, Creigh Deeds and other Blue Dogs ignored those that would support them if they actually stayed true to the ideas of the Democratic Party Platform. Creigh Deeds created a really lose lose situation for himself. He ran away from a popular president during his first year in office, he didn’t sure up his base, and he went after an impossible constituency. These were bad political plays.
The lesson to be learned from the Creigh Deeds campaign is that Democrat who act scared of their party's name and who run away from their sitting President are sinking their own ship. Blue Dog Democrats need to get a new play book. -- Deeds is in trouble because he played with an old one. Did Creigh Deeds misjudged the political will of the state, or didn’t he fully grasped how enmeshed the state was in a paradigm shift? The shift that is happening is always the toughest to see, that is what is happened to the GOP. Like Creigh Deeds, they are running as if it is the latter part of the 20st century instead of 2009.
The good news is, the gubernatorial campaign is not over. If Creigh Deeds' campaign can be pulled out of its troubled waters by President Obama, look at the wider message that will be sent to Blue Dogs.
The MSM did not dig into the story of the racism on the correctly. There was no in-depth reports on those emails or comments made during the campaign, and since Obama has been in office. Even after Jimmy Carter's remarks, the MSM did not go back and highlight these incidents to show maybe he has a reason to say what he said. Instead, MSM just went around asking people do you think there is racism involved in the criticism of President Obama. They merely conducted opinion polls among pundits to determine whether racism was at root of these extreme horrific attacks.
Furthermore, asking Presidents Clintons opinion or whether or not Obama’s critics were espousing racist animosity, was a none starter. Since he was accused of playing the race card during the campaign, Clinton had lost his credibility on this front.
Colbert spout is interesting:
Blackwashing: Colbert Unveils New Strategy For Racists Who Want To Bash Obama (VIDEO)Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/25/blackwashing-colbert-unve_n_299601.html
Banality of Town Hall Protesters
By the birthers latching on to the forged Kenyan birth certificate make them certified kooks?
Kenyan Birth Certificate: Obama Birthers Latch On To Forgery
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/03/kenyan-birth-certificate_n_249850.html
For state and local governments, the flood of federal recovery money lifted total revenues by 7.5%, overcoming an 8% drop in state and local tax collections. The stimulus funds let states avoid cuts, rather than increase spending.
Since the stimulus served to bail states out of 30 to 40% of their local & state budget deficits, it's hard to imagine how dire the conditions would be. Perhaps the "vacationing" congress members will get the key question: "How would it be for our state if the stimulus wasn't implemented?" Let's see the Republicans sputter around that question.
Stimulus cash lifts states, localities
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-08-02-stimulus_N.htm
Congress's Health Care compromises are far from perfect, it has legs. If it has legs, it can walk as while as run. It is not Obama's plan but it has life, its not dead.
Dr. Tiller was in church performing service as an usher in his church when he was shot and killed. At the end of the day, this is all about the right to privacy. Late turn abortions are very personal decisions. It must remain a private matter between the patient and doctor. To take someone’s life for helping a patient during a wrenching moral dilemma is unconscionable and threatens everyone who holds a dissenting opinion on privacy and abortions. People who spout intolerance should be careful what they say and how they say it. Loose lips do more than sink ships, they can take lives.
We should be forward about the some inevitable consequence, if this fanaticism about Obama’s economic policies and how he is embracing socialism. To some this is just chatter, and they are scoring political points and increasing television ratings. While for others this kind of talk, it is a call to action to save the nation from destruction. It was irresponsible when Sarah Palin was spouting such obscenities during the campaign, and it is irresponsible now. Even though, the newspaper in Warren, PA apologizes for the advertisement calling for Obama’s assassination, this kind of think is far too pervasive woven in the fabric of our present day nation. The opposition needs to take store and find other ways to oppose the Obama Administration. To reiterate, loose lips do more than sink ships, they have the ability to motive others to take lives.
Late-term abortion doctor decries Tiller killing: ‘This is a fascist movement’
http://coloradoindependent.com/30017/late-term-abortion-doctor-decries-tiller-killing-this-is-a-fascist-movement
How I (and Other "Pro-Life" Leaders) Contributed to Dr. Tiller's Murder
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-schaeffer/how-i-and-other-pro-life_b_209747.html
Paper Apologizes For Publishing 'Assassinate Obama' Ad
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/29/paper-apologizes-for-publ_n_209099.html
The torture policies were not the GOP’s nor the second half of the Bush Administration, but they were Cheney’s torture policies. Congressional GOP members as well as Democratic members were briefed about torture policies after they were being implemented. Neither party argued for water boarding. The GOP must stop giving Cheney cover. His speaking tour is all about him. It is all about protecting himself from prosecution. Everything has been about him since he usurped the nomination of the vice-precedency. Keep in mind, he was asked to head the committee to select the vice president for Bush. And what every he submitted to Bush resulted in Bush selecting him as his running mate. Cheney began usurping power before he was even the nominee for vice-president. Cheney couldn’t win a national election. He had explored that possibility. So, he did the next best thing. He usurped presidential power from Bush. To be sure, Cheney is guilty of war crimes but if the nation were to look closely we would learn that his behavior probably teeters on some acts of treasons. Cheney doth protest too much!
Kemp promoted civility in political debate and governing. As an athlete, he undersood fair play – Cheney doesn’t get this
July 13, 1935 – May 2, 2009
Jack Kemp was a good public servant. He will be sorely missed. I didn’t always agree with him, but he was an honest and sincere statesman. He loved his country and the Republican Party. But he, like Arlen Specter, saw the BIG TENT Party becoming smaller and smaller. Kemp was disappointed when the 2008 Republican frontrunners for president decided to skip a GOP debate at Morgan State University moderated by journalists of Travis Smiley and focusing on issues like race. Kemp told Smiley that he was "I'm absolutely shocked and deeply and profoundly saddened that the party of Lincoln and Frederick Douglass would not come to the 'Tavis Smiley Show." Kemp saw where skipping the debate did real damage to the GOP. While the Democratic Party gained certain advantages from the their debate at Howard University. He had been a member of the Howard University's Board of Trustees. He explained that by the Republican candidates missing the Morgan State debate it was to a large degree missing the constituents of Univision, Urban League, NAACP. He thought it was "really bad politics." He said that " I don't think it's good for our democracy, and again I think we will be punished at the polls for seemingly turning our back on such a large proportion of the American people."
Kemp ripped into the Republicans by saying "We sound like we don't want immigration; we sound like we don't want black people to vote for us." Kemp saw the shrinking of the GOP on the horizon when he said: "What are we going to do -- meet in a country club in the suburbs one day? If we're going to be competitive with people of color, we've got to ask them for their vote."
Kemp was an economic conservative. He advocated low taxes and supply-side policies, but believed that inner cities needed help, and worked toward that end. He was dedication to helping the poor. He was a real a bear on education. He was pro-life but fairly moderate in his stance. He made the point during the 1988 VP debates - "I'm not a woman, and only a woman should ultimately decide." Kemp had a deep appreciation for minority issues and was a long time supporter of civil rights. Although he changed his mind on affirmative action late in his political career, he did press on with his singular quest for equality in opportunity Jack Kemp not only knew how to reach across the aisle during his nine terms in Congress, he not only consistently promoted decency, respect and civility in political debate. He had a sharp mind and an easy wit. Jack Kemp was not a saint, he was just a good Republican. The GOP would do well to remember the thoughts, words, and deeds of Jack Kemp!
Jack Kemp Rips Fellow Republicans
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/state_of_change/237000/jack_kemp_rips_fellow_republicans
Debate No-Shows Worry GOP Leaders
Candidates Are Urged to Attend Forums Sponsored by Minorities
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/18/AR2007091801781.html
Miss California Carrie Prejean’s position is not new, nor is the general response by many people to her position. Didn’t Anita Bryant the second runner-up in the 1959 Miss America beauty pageant launch a against homosexuality and to repeal a local ordinance in Dade County, Florida, that prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation? Must we re-visit this with beauty queens sitting the tempo? It really got ugly!
Anita Bryant Pie in the Face
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS91gT3XT_A
