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Lindsay Grahm censured by SC GOP
Republican leaders in a South Carolina county have censured their own U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham for working with Democrats on a climate bill and other legislation.
The Republican has often worked with Democrats in Congress, but Charleston County Chairwoman Lin Bennett says his work on climate legislation is the last straw.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.c...
Any plans to change the name from Republican to American Whig party? "Patriot: the person who can holler the loudest without knowing what he is hollering about." Mark Twain
In light of the apoplexy, it's probably worth remembering that Graham hasn't moved to the center. Let's once again take a look at the always-helpful VoteView analysis, which ranks lawmakers from the most liberal to the most conservative. In the current Congress, #1 is Dick Durbin (furthest to the left), #100 is Tom Coburn (furthest to the right). Graham is tied for #82, meaning only 17 senators are to his right.
Wonder what they do to real moderates. Pitchforks at midnight? "I'm all naked and wet!" - Homer Simpson
Before his prez run, McCain was the same way, as was Trent Lott. When Lott lost his majority leader post to McConnell because of his racist comments at Strom Thurmond's birthday party, a lot of Senate D's were pissed because they knew they could actually work with Lott and not with McConnell. In fact, I just registered www.veryliberalagitatedpissedoffpeoplewithnoorganization.com -Laughing Boy
Any thoughts that might have something to do with it? "You're getting your ass kicked in this thread beej, but you're too dumb to figure that out." - Ralphie
To achieve these gains they work hard to disenfranchise young people (the population is highly mobile and needs registration laws that accommodate the lifestyle) and minorities (why they really hate Acorn-voter registration).
If you cut the voting population in half suddenly 19% is 38% wah-la
The pendulum is all the way on the other side of the room, eh? "Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys."
P.J. O'Rourke
"A female state senator says if women's suffrage were being voted on today she would not support it, because the 19th Amendment was the start of a decades-long erosion of family values. "I'm an old-fashioned woman, Senator. Kay O'Connor told The Kansas City Star. "Men should take care of women, and if men were taking care of women (today) 'we wouldn't have to vote."
The Republican Party has become an embarrassing parody of itself. "The only way you could be worse is if you were Wade Norris." Ralphie
"The fossil record utterly refutes evolution." BJWilson83, graduate student
Right?
Armory plans to pull money from Veterans Trust Fund
WINDSOR - A plan to build three National Guard armories in Colorado will draw heavily on the state's Veterans Trust Fund, which supports veterans programs.
Last week, Governor Bill Ritter (D-Colorado) held a news conference to discuss the proposed construction of the armories. The training facilities would be based in Windsor, Grand Junction and Alamosa. The multi-million dollar project will likely pull all $4.6 million out of the state's Veterans Trust Fund. That money would then attract around $12 million in federal matching funds.
The Veterans Trust Fund was established years back with Colorado's tobacco settlement money. It funds programs that provide direct services to veterans like food, shelter and health care.
http://www.9news.com/news/arti...
Speaking of pitchforks and burning torches, I just got mine, and the Vet advocates of the state are assembling now .... "Patriot: the person who can holler the loudest without knowing what he is hollering about." Mark Twain
I mean I get the fight about Piñon Canyon - but three new armories? And when we get the 12m from the feds- does the VTF get paid back?
"In a sense, this is a new way to use that money for veterans because the National Guard [is made up of] veterans," Bozella said.
Now, we just need to figure out how to get homeless vets -- some with alcohol and drug problems, due to PTSD -- into the National Guard, I guess.
Should we set a date now no matter what happens since they'll be on recess? I'm going to Austria with my girls until the 15th of December, so maybe something between Christmas and New Years'?
Maybe we should do it via email so JeffcoBlue isn't following me there with the night-vision goggles. :) "Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys."
I might be out of town during the Xmas-New Years break (family in Europe) so that's out. "Patriot: the person who can holler the loudest without knowing what he is hollering about." Mark Twain
The Beej, circa 8/26/2010
I'm still not sick of it. "Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys."
You're going to Austria? God, I am so envious. "The only way you could be worse is if you were Wade Norris." Ralphie
How freaking great is that? "Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys."
And screw it, while I'm embarrassing myself, I should also admit that I loved John Denver. Are you aware that Julie Andrews suffered a throat injury a few years back and can no longer sing? Now that is a tragedy.
Thanks for the video. That just made my night. "The only way you could be worse is if you were Wade Norris." Ralphie
Totally not an Austrian tune.
I love John Denver as well. You should email me, and I'll tell you some great stories.
This clip was actually recorded in Salzburg proper. Julie Andrews did two Christmas specials from there. One was with Placido Domingo singing "O holy Night".
I shit you not.
:) "Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys."
My favorite Doonesbury episodes were the ones in which Uncle Duke would sit on his front porch in Woody Creek and shoot at John Denver's house. Best to kill them early instead of letting them possibly need food stamps.--marilou, 2010
Fidel emailed me this morning, dan last week. We should put the group together via email for the dinner. "Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys."
We went to Europe in 1991 and spent 3 or 4 nights in Salzburg. Amazing place! We were in Europe for 4 weeks, and that was #1 on my Places to Go Back To list. We had an unfortunate collision with 3 liters (each) of Augustiner Brau one afternoon, which led to a most amusing trip back to the hotel, during which I was laughing and screaming because his shortcut through the mental hospital and across the railroad tracks wasn't working and I had to pee RIGHT NOW....
Fun times. LB, be sure to have some Augustiner Brau but also be sure to have adult supervision.
I seem to recall a few years back some revival movie houses played "The Sound of Music," and the whole audience would intentionally sing along and get involved a la "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."
My memory is correct. Just found this article:
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/S...
Instead, we will be trudging between family gatherings, pretending to tolerate each other.
LB, you may put in the Sound of Music, but around here, it's Home for the Holidays.
Quote: "Well, we don't have to like each other, Jo. We're family. " "Patriot: the person who can holler the loudest without knowing what he is hollering about." Mark Twain
Have you been to the brewpub beneath the old windmill, Brouwerji 'tIJ?
I've only had a beer once, myself, in one of the pubs with everything stained from hundreds of years of tobacco abuse: a so-called Bruine ("brown") cafe. Didn't smoke anything there, at least, myself.
I think something will definitely happen, but I don't think these loafers in the Senate will finish it this year. Say what you want about Nancy, but she does get shit done.
Also, Ali indicated interest as well and I would like to meet him too if he still wants to go.
Can you give me an E-mail address that dosen't reveal anything, and I'll E-mail you today ? " And there are no Christian terrorists."
My email is on my username or account thing here at Pols.
Good luck to you and the wife. That's awesome. "Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys."
I've always, always wanted a girl, and my Romanian mother in law is breathing into a paper bag until she gets here. She's so damn excited.
It's a very happy time in life. " And there are no Christian terrorists."
Congrats! Tom Tancredo Interview
"We sent a letter to the clerk laying out the totals," Conklin said. "The key is that Hoffman conceded, which means the race is not contested. However, all ballots will be counted, and if the result changes, Owens will have to be removed."
"FORT HOOD, Tex. -- Army officials intend to charge Maj. Nidal M. Hasan with premeditated murder in last week's killing of 12 soldiers and a civilian at Fort Hood, an Army official said Thursday."
"The murder charges are expected to be announced Thursday afternoon."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
Under the Military Justice System, before a case is referred to a General Courts Martial (the most serious, and the only one that can hand down the Death Penalty) there must be an Article 32 hearing. This is somewhat like a Grand Jury, except there are extra protections built in to keep it conflict-free.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A...
I heard rumors that the Fort Hood JAG was going to skip the Article 32 hearing, but this proves it. If the Army screws up his prosecution by bowing to political and media pressure, I'll be pissed. "Patriot: the person who can holler the loudest without knowing what he is hollering about." Mark Twain
I deal with quite a bit of military, but not like this at all. Thanks. "I'm all naked and wet!" - Homer Simpson
O'CALLAHAN v. PARKER, 395 U.S. 258 (1969)
RELFORD v. U.S. DISCIPLINARY COMMANDANT, 401 U.S. 355 (1971)
and then this one, which overruled the prev ones.
SOLORIO v. UNITED STATES, 483 U.S. 435 (1987)
In that the court held: "The jurisdiction of a court-martial depends solely on the accused's status as a member of the Armed Forces, and not on the 'service connection' of the offense charged."
Since it didn't really set the record straight, most Military authorities have agreements with local and state jurisdictions on who gets to try who.
In this case, the alleged crime was committed on a military installation, against other military members (both Active Duty and Civilian employees.) If for some insane reason the military doesn't Court Martial him, the Feds would be next in line.
The only reason for that is that while the Military has a Death Penalty for a lot of charges (including rape) it very seldom executes them. There's only eight people on Death Row, and their execution has to be approved by the President. The last military execution was in 1961, by hanging. "Patriot: the person who can holler the loudest without knowing what he is hollering about." Mark Twain
That's a really awful thing to do.
Note that I reserve that for children who are not active in politics or who have resisted becoming public figures; i.e., it doesn't apply to Liz Cheney.
I hope you're just a troll and not the serious scumbag that your post suggests you are. Best to kill them early instead of letting them possibly need food stamps.--marilou, 2010
But still. Babies are innocents and have no place in a political squabble.
Even if they belong to John Edwards. Best to kill them early instead of letting them possibly need food stamps.--marilou, 2010
Research McInnis- leave Owens alone.
OPM is now claiming authority to weed out every former political appointee from being considered for ANY federal positions at EVERY level of the GS Pay Scale, for both the competitive AND excepted service - made RETROACTIVE for the past 5 years! (This is a new, extra layer of scrutiny previously reserved for SES hires.) OPM will now check the recommended hires to "ensure they comply with merit system principles and applicable civil service laws."
Retroactive for the last five years? Don't you folks think this sets a bad precedent just in case a Republican ever comes into power again? "Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys."
http://www.chcoc.gov/Transmitt...
Understand that Federal Hiring is already only slightly less complex than the NHL Free Agency System. This just muddies an already murky process... "Patriot: the person who can holler the loudest without knowing what he is hollering about." Mark Twain
This is what I see as key:
OPM will now check the recommended hires to "ensure they comply with merit system principles and applicable civil service laws."
I want good people in those career positions. I think that good qualified people will do the jobs they are asked to do, regardless of party affiliation. I don't want dead weight Dem appointees drawing a government paycheck and occupying a career position that could go to someone with real qualifications.
As for the retroactive stuff, I'm always a bit uncomfortable with this, but I also see this as important for this move to have any good. My understanding is that this is SOP, for outgoing administrations to fill career spots with their political appointees. This is not good. There are 10 kinds of people in the world. Those that understand binary and those that don't.
There better be missions where I get to unlock things like Iraqi Moonshine and Hookers....
I'm forwarding this to too many of my friends! THANKS! "Patriot: the person who can holler the loudest without knowing what he is hollering about." Mark Twain
ACORN is suing the government over cutting off funds to it. No. Seriously.
The group's CEO, Bertha Lewis, says she underestimated the impact of the Congressional action. She says state, local and most private funds have been cut off as well.
IMHO, they've got a strong case. It was dumb for Congress to name them specifically in the bill. "I have come to the conclusion that the making of laws is like the making of sausages-the less you know about the process the more you respect the result." -- Anonymous IL State Rep. circa 1878
If you've got a problem with sending federal dollars to corrupt organizations, then write the bill that way. Problem is, that would also cut off funding for most military contractors and lots of giant health care providers. Have at it.
Having a message might help get people excited too. Best to kill them early instead of letting them possibly need food stamps.--marilou, 2010
And I don't like being nice to people. Best to kill them early instead of letting them possibly need food stamps.--marilou, 2010
Considering the US Ambassador to Afghanistan, (a former General) said to put the brakes on escalating, it might be that Pres Obama doesn't a "Blow 'em All Up" solution.
For those of you who say that he should listen to his generals, consider that everyone in DoD urged JFK to invade Cuba during the Missile Crisis, thinking it would be a cake walk. They didn't know about the Soviet Naval Infantry units in country, or their Tactical Nuclear Weapons.
I'm glad JFK considered all the options. "Patriot: the person who can holler the loudest without knowing what he is hollering about." Mark Twain
Take your time Obama....it's someone's son or daughter you're making a decision about.
Comparing Obama to JFK is nice...whether intended or not. Same level of intelligence, similar levels of problems faced, that said.....Obama has it a lot tougher. "I can tolerate chaos, I'm just not sure chaos can tolerate me" Dylan
... and here's the page with a transcript:
http://videocafe.crooksandliar...
Sometime lower-level officers write this stuff up for the boss to sign. THIS is something I imagine that McSpook devoted a lot of time to, esp trying to weasel a Silver Star out of a Friendly Fire Incident. "Patriot: the person who can holler the loudest without knowing what he is hollering about." Mark Twain
My comments here are not about divisive "gotcha" politics. They're about who actually accomplishes the good of the commons.
The good of the commons.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
Where is the error, and where is the truth, is the question. "I can tolerate chaos, I'm just not sure chaos can tolerate me" Dylan
This is a carry over from the previous administration, but obviously the current one is keeping the ball rolling. Which is a good thing. Proudly being investigated by Nancy Pelosi!
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