1:27 a.m. | Updated WASHINGTON — A small group of Republicans, led by Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, stalled the Senate on Wednesday by waging a nearly 13-hour old-school, speak-until-you-can-speak-no-more filibuster over the government’s use of lethal drone strikes — forcing the Senate to delay the expected confirmation of John O. Brennan to lead the [...]
Tag Archives | Dick Durbin
Without Weapons, Wayne LaPierre Shoots Blanks
THE PRIZE in the current gun safety and control debate has always been universal background checks. It is the mother of all wins that nothing else matches, because absolutely nothing hits the target of gun violence more directly. Senator Dick Durbin took it to the N.R.A.’s LaPierre, who couldn’t figure out how to regroup. Mark [...]
Top Story — Demographic Shellacking Leads to GOP Immigration Epiphany, Legislation Pending *Updated*
“This is consistent with our country’s tradition of being a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants.” – Senator John McCain (Press conference announcing new immigration reform push) ISN’T IT amazing what a demographic shellacking can do. Packed room at the press conference announcing the latest effort in immigration reform. A powerful group of [...]
Obama Versus the Republican Right in Congress on the Debt Ceiling
In the event that Republicans make good on their threat by failing to act, or by moving unilaterally to pass a debt limit extension only as part of unbalanced or unreasonable legislation, we believe you must be willing to take any lawful steps to ensure that America does not break its promises and trigger a [...]
President Obama’s House Poodle, Nancy Pelosi, Puts Her Party Over Middle Class and Seniors
“Yes, I do… I believe the President has shown great leadership in what he put forth…” Pelosi, adding, “Yes, the Democrats will stick with the president — and maybe not every single one of them.” [Huffington Post] WHAT WILL the rest of the congressional Democrats and progressives do? As for Rep. Nancy Pelosi, she can [...]
Top Story — Pending Deal or No Deal? Sen. McConnell Rebuffs Taxing Top 2% *Updated*
IT’S BECOMING clear that since President Obama gave in once on extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest that McConnell and Boehner think he will again. The Hill reports: “We’re insisting on keeping tax rates where they are, first and foremost, to protect jobs and because we don’t think government needs the money in [...]
Is Grover Over?
The Colbert Report Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive “I think we ought to take the 98 percent deal right now,” [Republican Rep. Tom Cole] said of freezing income tax rates for all but the top 2 percent of earners. “It doesn’t mean I agree with raising the top 2. [...]
Goldman Sachs Bailout King Blankfein to Powwow with House Republicans, While Obama Rules Out Social Security For Now
GOLDMAN SACHS bailout king CEO Lloyd Blankfein is headed to Capitol Hill to push his ideas for the fiscal cliff scheme in person. The guy who advised that the Social Security “retirement age has to be changed” in an interview with Scott Pelley of 60 Minutes recently, is headed to a meeting with House Republicans [...]
Obama and Medicare, the Coming Unraveling
HIDING BEHIND Paul Ryan’s Medicare voucherism has made President Obama’s campaigning a lot easier and his next move on the program seem reasonable. Watching this unfold, going all the way back to the summer of 2011, waiting until after November for the trigger to be pulled, has made this election cycle surreal. This is election [...]
AARP Boos Paul Ryan
WHEN YOU work in Congress crafting policy it’s a different story than when you stand in front of the very people you’re planning to shiv if you get the power. From Think Progress, their post was tweeted 5,493 as of this post, with Ryan getting called “liar” and told him to “go home.” Mr. Ryan [...]
What Remains After the Balloons are Gone
AT LEAST THE Democrats know how to put on a show, which is more than you can say for the Republicans. Tonight will include Scarlett Johansson and Kerry Washington, as well as Natalie Portman and Eva Longoria. Meanwhile, below the stagecraft remains the same elite political system that is strangling fairness and access for all. [...]
23 Democrats Voted Against Gillibrand’s Food Stamp Rescue Legislation
Congress has grown increasingly concerned about spending for the food stamp program. Some 26 million Americans received the aid in 2007, while more than 44 million received it last year, at a cost of $76 billion. The Congressional Budget Office estimated recently that demand will continue to grow through 2014 in the wake of the [...]
Progressive Notes: Why Occupy Wall St.?, Liberals Howl at BofA, 10th Anniv. of Afghan War,and Other Doings
Art offers his perspective as a movement progressive activist. “I cannot afford a politician so all I made is this sign!”-Sign from Occupy Houston event. Occupy Wall St. moves forward and gains steam. And its spreading to 100 cities. The media is reporting on it increasingly. So the words from one of it’s organizers, Yotam [...]
Progressive Notes: Thought Congress was Nuts? Meet the Super Congress.
Art offers his perspective as a movement progressive activist. I saw this and find it to be outright shocking (ish). The fools in congress want a Super Congress. You read right. What a violation of the Constitution and the intent of the founders and democracy itself. Congress would create a panel of 12, 6 Dems [...]
Recent Comments