August 26-27, 2009
Aug 26 03:00 Liberal Lion Ted Kennedy, RIP Aug 26 04:21 Gov. Pawlenty to Hannity: Applaud Dissent Aug 26 05:22 Astroturf Activism In Action Aug 26 22:59 Questioning Al Franken Aug 27 10:18 Another Week, Another Confirmation Aug 27 13:59 Democrats to America: Let's Pass Terrible Legislation for Teddy
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Liberal Lion Ted Kennedy, RIP
The Liberal Lion of the Senate, Ted Kennedy, died tonight . He was 77. Controversy seemingly followed Kennedy throughout his life, starting with the mysterious death of Mary Jo Kopechne.
For years, many Democrats considered Kennedy's own presidency a virtual inevitability. In 1968, a "Draft Ted" campaign emerged only a few months after Robert Kennedy's death, but he demurred, realizing he was not prepared to be president.Sen. Kennedy will be remembered for his many legislative victories and for his endorsement of a young upstart from Chicago named Barack Obama.
Political observers considered him the candidate to beat in 1972, but that possibility came to an end on a night in July 1969, when the senator drove his Oldsmobile off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island, Mass., and a young woman passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne, drowned.
The tragedy had a corrosive effect on Kennedy's image and eroded his national standing. He made a dismal showing when he challenged President Jimmy Carter for reelection in 1980. But the moment of his exit from the presidential stage marked an oratorical highlight when, speaking at the Democratic convention, he invoked his brothers and promised: "For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on. The cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
Ironically, he died before seeing universal health care being signed into law.
Posted Wednesday, August 26, 2009 3:02 AM
Comment 1 by Ken R at 26-Aug-09 06:19 PM
"Ironically, he died before seeing universal health care being signed into law."
So... you could say that he again left the scene of a crime...
Gov. Pawlenty to Hannity: Applaud Dissent
Gov. Tim Pawlenty struck the right message during his appearance on Hannity Tuesday night. He said that the raucus townhall meeting Rep. Jim Moran held showed America "the sights and sounds of American democracy in action. I think that that should be applauded and we should say thank you to the people who are standing up to a bad idea."
By contrast, Rep. Moran behaved like a child. When protesters got upset with Howard Dean's comments, Rep. Moran said that he would ask them to leave. This isn't surprising to anyone who knows Rep. Moran. He's one of the most anti-semitic bigots in DC. But I digress.
Gov. Pawlenty also said that it's troubling that elected officials don't want to hear from their bosses on this deeply personal issue. Frankly, I'd add that it isn't just troubling but cowardly to not listen to dissenters.
What I found impressive with Gov. Pawlenty was that he stayed focused on what's at stake with this debate. He didn't stray into whether the public option was the pre-cursor to single-payer. He didn't stray into whether co-ops were the same stepping stone to single-payer that the public option is.
He's clearly throwing alot of red meat to conservatives, saying that having Democrats watch over health care "is like trusting Michael Vick to take care of your dog for the weekend." He also said that reform should "be fixed with consumers in charge, not the government."
With each impressive interview, Gov. Pawlenty is raising his visibility should he run for president. With each impressive interview, he wins over people for his ability to connect with people in a way that only he and Sarah Palin can. (President Obama once had the ability to connect with people but that's disappeared.)
For the liberals who will yap about Gov. Pawlenty's interest in national politics, I'd just suggest that putting pro-growth economic policies in place, something that President Obama hasn't done, would help Minnesota. I'd further suggest that gov. Pawlenty's guiding principles for health care are much closer to the American people's principles.
Sarah Palin and Gov. Pawlenty have been the most effective opponents of the Democrats' health care reform legislation. They've focused their criticisms on policies, not personalities. They've both done a good job not getting involved in a tit-for-tat fight. Those fights don't serve a useful purpose. In fact, they're a distraction at a time when we need to keep focused on our principles and priorities.
Posted Wednesday, August 26, 2009 4:21 AM
Comment 1 by J. Ewing at 26-Aug-09 08:32 AM
I think they make a great team: Sarah Palin setting up a great tagline against the specifics, with her "death panel" reference (like Dan Rather's "false but accurate" account of the Bush AWOL story), and Pawlenty's broader-brush comments that, essentially, anything the current Congress does in this area is wrong, and dangerous.
Comment 2 by cellardoor10 at 26-Aug-09 11:06 AM
I just wanted to note that the protesters he kicked out were Randall Terry and his friends, from NY, and not residents of VA's 8th Congressional District, and therefore not his constituents. In addition, he offered to let them stay and ask the first question if they would allow the rest of the people there (Moran's actual constituents) to hear what was going on.
Comment 3 by Ken R at 26-Aug-09 06:18 PM
This is an example of the major contrast between how liberals and conservatives handle their differences. At the rallies that I have been to, good decent regular folks are just really concerned about the issues and how this administration's policies are going to bankrupt America.
Astroturf Activism In Action
Last night, Jim Moran held a townhall meeting on health care reform in Reston, VA. Officially, his invited guest was former DNC Chairman Howard Dean. Unofficially, his invited guests were Organizing for America:
President Obama's own campaign spinoff organization on Tuesday descended on a town-hall meeting in Northern Virginia, handing out hundreds of hand-painted signs that said "reform now" and "vote yes on HR 3200," the massive health care bill tabled in the House before its summer recess.What a stand-up bunch. They're attending these meetings. They're handing out signs. They're making their voices heard. When it comes time to identify themselves, however, these cowardly Democrats won't identify themselves by name, signifying that they know their priorities aren't popular.
Several workers passed out the homemade signs at the back of a high school gym shortly before a town hall featuring former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. "The signs are from Organizing for America," said one woman handing them out, but she would not give her name, saying, "I don't feel comfortable doing that."
Mr. Moran sought to explain the legislation now under consideration, but was booed repeatedly. "No one will lose their health care," he said before being drowned out by boos. "No one will be required to join the public option," he said, breaking off as the crowd's booing reached a crescendo.It'll be interesting to see whether pushing this health care reform will prevent Rep. Moran's re-election. I don't have the answer to that but I'm guessing that it isn't helping.
"Liar!" someone shouted. "Shut up!" others yelled.
When he tried to explain the cost, at least $100 billion a year, some estimates say twice that, Mr. Moran declared "that cost is fully paid for." The crowd burst out into loud laughter, again drowning out the congressman.
Posted Wednesday, August 26, 2009 5:25 AM
Comment 1 by eric zaetsch at 26-Aug-09 06:21 PM
These things on both sides are tedious. Both sides are problematic. The Senate will have to do something. Then thee will be a confeence committee. If it drags into the election cycle, any Dems impeding progress will have primary challenges; and the vote will be energized. The GOP may see that it either loses in the off-year elections or enough of them bail on the ones bought by the insurance industry so that reform is passed. It looks as if the Dems stand to make more politically if they can maneuver the GOP into killing reform by a filibuster. So will the Dems go the reconciliation way, or hang the GOP out to dry until close to election time and then hang them out to dry. I expect Howard Dean would caution the Dems to not prematurely try reconciliation. That's my guess. The rest, the townhall BS is all Kabuki theater.
Stylized but unrealistic.
Questioning Al Franken
According to Martiga Lohn's article , Al Franken supports a "nonprofit, government-run plan." Franken re-iterated his support for this "during a meeting with a dozen advocates, staff and media."
Sen. Al Franken promised Wednesday to fight for public health insurance, telling advocates he favors a nonprofit, government-run plan.Minnesota's junior senator didn't have the fortitude to hold a real townhall meeting. Instead, he filled the meeting with like-minded anti-capitalists. Now that's a profile in courage. NOT. Then again, Sen. Franken isn't capable of explaining why he believes what he believes beyond the talking points he was sent home with. Harry Reid said that he should support it so he's supporting it.
Franken spoke during a meeting with a dozen advocates, staff and media. There was little but agreement as the first-term Democrat listened to faith leaders, heads of health and welfare groups, union representatives and advocates for people with disabilities and seniors.
They left no doubt of their support for a government-administered insurance program, which Franken also favors. A nonprofit public program would give private insurers needed competition, Franken said, adding that fears the government would ration health care were unfounded.
That's what happens when people send a buffoon to do an adult's job.
It's more than a little ironic that Sen. Franken is advocating a public option at a meeting that's closed to the public. Some might even say that it's hypocritical. I wouldn't say that. Instead, I'd say that he's the opposite of a profile in courage.
Minnesota GOP Chairman Tony Sutton criticized Franken for not holding open meetings on health care. "By holding only private events, Franken gets exactly the feedback he wants," Sutton said in a statement.I said during the campaign that Sen. Franken would represent only those people who share his ideology.
He's less than three months into being Minnesota's junior senator and he's already an embarassment. I'd love to hear Sen. Franken explain why we can't have competition without a government-run entity. I'd love hearing Sen. Franken explain what provision in either of the Senate bills guarantees people the right to keep their current health care plan.
PS- Repeating the Democrats' mantra isn't highlighting the specific provision.
Posted Wednesday, August 26, 2009 10:59 PM
Comment 1 by eric zaetsch at 27-Aug-09 05:43 AM
"That's what happens when people send a buffoon to do an adult's job."
How does a reference to Pawlenty get into a post about Franken.
Gary, I don't understand.
It would have been best if Franken had booked the UnitedHealth Group boardroom to make his statement.
Absent that, why subject himself to orchestrated hecklers?
I expect Bachmann's Lake Elmo event will be interesting, if she does not close the doors to anyone having opposite opinions.
Franken, bravo. I have to read the linked article, to see if he's saying public option, or single payer. Your post is not clear on that.
And Gary, be honest, did Coleman represent everyone as he did Kazeminy? Is Baucus representing only those who agree with him, surely, but you are not criticizing that.
Your criticism is aimed only at those who do not share Gary's opinions.
Comment 2 by Gary Gross at 27-Aug-09 07:41 AM
Gov. Pawlenty IS an adult. Franken isn't. But then you knew that.
It's interesting that you used a provocative term like "orchestrated hecklers." Is it that you distrust the average citizen that much?
Michele Bachmann won't close the door to people with opposing opinions. Going on Hardball tells us that. She isn't the gutless wimp that Franken is.
Yes, Norm Coleman represented Minnesotans admirably. He got alot of positive things accomplished that improved the lives on Minnesotans.
As for your Kazeminy obsession, get over it. The case was dropped, meaning that an independent judge weighed the evidence & threw it out.
Max Baucus is representing every Montana resident because he's willing to negotiate with Republicans. Representing everyone REQUIRES THAT.
While I'm unabashedly a partisan conservative, I've long admired the work of people like Daniel Patrick Moynihan, John Breaux, Hubert Humphrey and Scoop Jackson.
Comment 3 by J. Ewing at 27-Aug-09 08:31 AM
I would love to hear Franken expound on how a "non-profit government insurance program" can encourage competition in a way better than 1300 health insurance companies ALLOWED to compete without burdensome restrictions and across state lines wouldn't.
My best guess is that he is thinking of how much competition the government insurance program called Medicare has created among the many "Medigap" insurance providers who fill the gaping holes in Medicare coverage.
All of this conjecture, of course, assumes that Franken has some knowledge of the issues and a capacity to rational consider the various points of view. Judging by his insular meeting schedule and near-isolation from his constituents, I would say those are unwarranted assumptions. We'll see if he dares to show up at the fair.
Another Week, Another Confirmation
This week, Howard Dean told a miniscule MSNBC audience that the GOP is shrinking. That's because MSNBC only has tiny audiences. There's only two conclusions you can draw if you take Rasmussen Reports' weekly polling seriously: that either the polling isn't reliable or Howard Dean is full of BS. Considering the fact that Scott Rasmussen has a sterling reputation as a pollster, I'm more apt to think that Howard Dean is full of BS.
This summer brought a significant shift in voter preferences in the Generic Congressional Ballot. As Republican Congressional candidates once again lead Democrats by a 43% to 38% margin this week, this is now the ninth straight ballot the GOP has held a modest advantage.For the second straight week, the GOP's margin in the Generic Ballot Question has been outside the poll's margin of error. Of the last five weeks, the GOP's advantage has been outside the margin of error, with the other six weeks being a single point from being outside the margin of error.
Over the past nine weeks, Republicans have held a two-to-five point advantage over Democrats every week. It is important to note, however, that the recent shift is not only because Republicans have been gaining support, but that Democrats have slipped in support. While support for Republican candidates ranged from 41% to 43%, support for Democrats ranged from 37% to 39%.
It simply isn't credible to say that the GOP is shrinking when it's opening up a sizable lead in the generic ballot question.
That leads me to this bigger point: Democrats are losing credibility because they're telling whoppers at the townhalls. The Democrats' activists aren't helping with editorials like this :
In a recent letter, a writer wrote that if it wasn't for Fox News, people would not know what is in the Health Reform Bill. Huh? Fox Noise gets their information from the right-wing of the Republican party, which has already said that they will not support health-care reform. They are not interested in helping the American people struggling with the high cost of insurance, only in trying to get back in power in 2010.Simply put, FNC, especially on Greta's show and Hannity's show, are examining specific provisions of the various health care bills. Thanks in part to those shows, the American people think that they understand the health care bill better than their member of Congress :
Most voters think they understand the health care reform legislation proposed by President Obama better than Congress does, and about as well as the president himself.All of which refutes Gov. Dean's stunningly arrogant statement that the GOP is contracting. That's before we start talking about how independents aren't supporting Democrats like they did last year.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of voters rate their understanding of the health care plan as good or excellent. Only 21% say their understanding of it is poor. By contrast, just 22% say Congress has a good or excellent understanding of the plan. Thirty-five percent (35%) say Congress' knowledge of the proposal is poor.
The harsh reality is that Democratic strategists must be drinking Maalox by the bottle when they read Rasmussen's polling. The American people aren't just taking this as business as usual politics. They're looking at things and realizing that we're living in historic times. That's why the Democrats' enthusiasm gap has disappeared and why Republicans now enjoy a significant lead in the enthusiasm gap.
Posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 10:24 AM
No comments.
Democrats to America: Let's Pass Terrible Legislation for Teddy
The inevitable has happened: Democrats are using Ted Kennedy's death as a rallying point to pass health care reform:
Democrats are hoping that the memory of Sen. Ted Kennedy will revive the Democratic Party's flagging push for health care reform.This is proof that liberals can't link. Why would liberals think that public opinion could be changed by renaming unpopular legislation after a polarizing politician? Let's illustrate this this way: John Q. Public hears that Democrats introduce new health care legislation with the title of The Ted Kennedy Legacy Health Care Act." They then read the bill and notice that the same unpopular provisions that've soured public opinion are still included in the legislation.
"You've heard of 'win one for the Gipper'? There is going to be an atmosphere of 'win one for Teddy,'" Ralph G. Neas, the CEO of the liberal National Coalition on Health Care, told ABC News.
It isn't likely that John Q. Public will say this:
"The legislation still leads to rationing. The legislation still leads to fewer choices for consumers. Let's support this legislation because it's named for Ted Kennedy."
This is proof that the Democrats are frustrated that they can't pass their signature issue. It's proof that Democrats will use any news story to pass a failed policy. Finally, it's proof that Democrats are desparate to pass health care. If they fail at passing robust health care 'reform', they'll lose the midterm elections and cripple President Obama's administration going forward.
It's time that we buried Obamacare/Teddycare. It's bad policy that's being pushed by a polarizing president and that was pushed by a quarrelsome senator.
Posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 2:02 PM
Comment 1 by R-Five at 27-Aug-09 04:22 PM
Rush today said, hell yes, let's encourage the Dem's to put Teddy's name on this bill! A more fitting legacy could not be found.
Comment 2 by Gary Gross at 27-Aug-09 05:47 PM
I heard that. I agree.
