Thursday, October 27, 2005

Senate panel backs $10 billion in health care cuts . WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday approved $10 billion in Medicaid and Medicare savings as part of a broader effort by congressional Republicans to trim spending and approve additional tax cuts. By Donna Smith. [washingtonpost.com - washingtonpost.com - elections, campaigns, government and politics news and headlines.] 2:47:28 PM    comment []

Cuba takes up U.S. offer of hurricane aid. Read full story for latest details. [CNN.com - World] 2:41:18 PM    comment []

2 Science Groups Say Kansas Can't Use Their Evolution Papers. The stinging rebuke came less than two weeks before the state school board is expected to put the science standards into effect. By JODI WILGOREN. [NYT > Home Page] 2:40:13 PM    comment []

OH HARRIET, HARRIET. WHAT A HORRIBLE HUMILIATION. I WONDER, DO YOU STILL THINK GEORGE W. BUSH IS "THE BEST GOVERNOR - EVER"? DO YOU STILL WONDER IF HIS KIDS REALIZE HOW "COOL" HE IS? AND DO YOU STILL THINK HE'S THE MOST BRILLIANT MAN YOU EVER MET? HOW EMBARASSING, THIS WHOLE RIDICULOUS FIASCO. WELL, NOW IT COMES TO AN END. HARRIET MIERS HAS WITHDRAWN HER NOMINATION TO THE SUPREME COURT, RECOGNIZING, WE HOPE, WHAT THE REST OF THE NATION RECOGNIZED FROM THE START, THAT SHE MAY BE A NICE LADY, AND THE PRESIDENT MAY INDEED "KNOW HER HEART" ... BUT SCOTUS MATERIAL SHE IS NOT. NOW PRESIDENT BUSH WILL NOMINATE SOME OTHER CRONY, SOMEONE PERHAPS WHO HAS EXPERIENCE AS A JUDGE. OR AT LEAST KNOWS SOMETHING OF THE CONSTITUTION. SOMEONE WHO WON'T EMBARRASS HIMSELF WITH THE KIND OF ANSWERS HARRIETT GAVE ON THE SENATE QUESTIONNAIRE. AND HARRIET? WELL SHE CAN GET BACK TO DOING WHAT SHE KNOWS BEST. SUCKING UP TO THE PRESIDENT ... AND PROVIDING HIM THE KIND OF LEGAL COUNSEL HE HAS GROWN DEPENDENT ON, AND WHICH HIS ADMINISTRATION WILL BE IN DIRE NEED OF WHEN FITZGERALD ISSUES HIS INDICTMENTS. THAT'S YOUR THOT FROM THURSTON. 1:51:49 PM    comment []

The Cabal's Italian Branch. Recent investigations show that the old Rome supplied the new Rome with the forged documents needed to sack Babylon. [TomPaine.com] 1:50:44 PM    comment []

Eric Schmeltzer: Democracy Corps -- Shove It Up Your Candy Asses. Stan Greenberg can take his polling memos and shove them up his ass. In fact, when they have time to get their heads out of their own asses, James Carville and Bob Shrum can take whatever they find up there and shove it up Stan Greenberg's ass too. The latest polling memo [pdf] from their group, Democracy Corps, reads, "To become the agent of change in the year ahead, the Democrats will have to be reformist, populist and nationalist, armed with new ideas for renewing the country." Oh really? You think? Isn't that the same reason you all whispered behind the scenes that nominating Howard Dean would mean a certain loss for the Democrats? I thought being too reformist and too populist was just too darn "angry" for America. I thought a year and a half ago you had polling that showed people didn't want that. Hell, you showed it to anyone who glanced at you. Now it is a strategy to win? Gee, thanks Einstein. I agree with this premise, though. I've been saying it for a long time. Flavia Colgan has written about the need to have a united reformist message on this blog. Lord knows that my friend and former Progressive Caucus colleague, David Sirota, has written about it for years. Bill Hillsman, who is a message genius, in my estimation, wrote a book about it, but has the DNC called him in? So the premise is finally right, but the best you can come up with is "a Democratic agenda centered on health care, education and energy, followed by a top-end tax cut repeal and homeland security?" That's a laundry list of things that don't exactly meld together into a vision. Just off the top of my head, I could whittle these things into three large themes: Security, Prosperity, and Opportunity. If you want to make it into a positive, reformist, populist message that works outside the beltway, try "Your Party, Your Government," if you want to make it a party message, or "Returning Government to You," if you don't, and put "Restoring Security, Prosperity, and Opportunity for America" in the subhead. Then get to your laundry list of changes. That was three minutes worth of work, and while not much better than average, it's a hell of a lot better than what Democracy Corps is heading towards. Why these chuckleheads can't sit down for a couple of hours together and come up with something even better than a single idiot on a keyboard like me is not a surprise. When you bury your head in polling data and don't head out into the heartland to talk to people, face to face, you come up with a message that satisfies your tabs, not flesh and blood people. So, Stan, James, and Bob, once everything is rolled up nice and tight and stored up Stan's ass, how about getting out of Washington, sitting in a diner or two, and listening to what people are talking about âo[base "] REALLY listening.. Maybe you'll finally get what we, the infamous "populist reformers" have been trying to get through your thick skulls for a while. What do YOU all think the Dems message should be? Think of the top-line theme, along the lines of "Contract with America," and then sub-themes, etc. I'll personally send all of them to Democracy Corps. [The Huffington Post | Full Blog Feed] 12:54:51 PM    comment []

Fitzgerald. just rented some extra office space, Steve Clemons reports. [Think Progress] 12:34:01 PM    comment []

Harriet Miers Withdrawal Letter. The National Review has obtained a copy of Harriet Miers’s withdrawal letter: Dear Mr. President: I write to withdraw as a nominee to serve as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. I have been greatly honored and humbled by the confidence that you have shown in me, and have appreciated immensely your support and the support of many others. However, I am concerned that the confirmation process presents a burden for the White House and our staff that is not in the best interest of the country. As you know, members of the Senate have indicated their intention to seek documents about my service in the White House in order to judge whether to support me. I have been informed repeatedly that in lieu of records, I would be expected to testify about my service in the White House to demonstrate my experience and judicial philosophy. While I believe that my lengthy career provides sufficient evidence for consideration of my nomination, I am convinced the efforts to obtain Executive Branch materials and information will continue. As I stated in my acceptance remarks in the Oval Office, the strength and independence of our three branches of government are critical to the continued success of this great Nation. Repeatedly in the course of the process of confirmation for nominees for other position, I have steadfastly maintained that the independence of the Executive Branch be preserved and its confidential documents and information not be released to further a confirmation process. I feel compelled to adhere to this position, especially related to my own nomination. Protection of the prerogatives of the Executive Branch and continued pursuit of my confirmation are in tension. I have decided that seeking my confirmation should yield. I share your commitment to appointing judges with a conservative judicial philosophy, and I look forward to continuing to support your efforts to provide the American people judges who will interpret the law, not make it. I am most grateful for the opportunity to have served your Administration and this country. Most Respectfully, Harriet Ellan Miers [Think Progress] 10:53:50 AM    comment []

Michael McConnell Focus of Early Speculation on Miers Replacement. Speculation on Harriet Miers’s replacement has begun. Two top Beltway insider publications, ABC’s The Note and Hotline, are focusing on 50-year-old Utah native Michael McConnell. Here’s the Note: Fast replacement? White males need apply? Does Miers keep her White House job? Leaks about how Miers got picked? Will anyone but historians read the Miers do-over questionnaire which was about to be released? Lessons for the President? Lessons for the conservative movement? What will Rush say at noon? Stay tuned . . . . (Oh, and Michael W. McConnell.) Also, Hotline blog: One name we’re hearing a lot this morning (including from a White House official) is appeals court judge Michael McConnell, who is based in Utah. Some facts on McConnell, courtesy of ACSBlog: – On privacy and reproductive rights: “While he has yet to have ruled on a case related to reproductive rights, in 1996 McConnell signed a statement in support of a constitutional amendment that would ban abortions. The statement read, ‘We believe that the abortion license is a critical factor in America’s virtue-deficit.’” – On environmental protection and property rights: “Writing for a unanimous panel in Biodiversity Associates v. Cables, 2004, McConnell upheld a federal law that permitted logging in the Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota.” – On federalism: “McConnell appears to adhere to the principles of the Constitution In Exile movement that criticizes the federal courts for granting too much deference to the legislative and executive branches of government.” – On sexual harrassment: “McConnell criticized the Supreme Court’s 1998 opinions that have helped to combat sexual harassment. McConnell called the court’s decisions in Burlington Industries, Inc. v. Ellerth and Faragher v. City of Boca Raton, which held that employers could be liable for sexual harassment by suprvisors, losses for the ‘conservatives on the Court’ that would result in ‘unleashing plaintiffs[base ']Äô lawyers on the nation[base ']Äôs workplaces to enforce codes of civil behavior’ and ‘fear and resentment.’” Cultural right leader Jay Seculow of the American Center for Law and Justice said last summer that “Michael McConnell would be my choice.” Perhaps he’ll get his wish. [Think Progress] 10:41:49 AM    comment []

© Copyright 2005 Patricia Thurston.