VIDEO: Florida Lawmaker Caught Looking at Porn on Senate Floor

By GottaLaff

If I had to sit through endless senate sessions, I'd sneak peeks at The Daily Show, but to each his own:



B.Us.Ted:

On Thursday morning, Sunshine State News captured exclusive video of Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, looking at pornographic material on his state-issued computer on the Senate floor.

Ironically, as Bennett is viewing the material, you can hear a senator's voice in the background debating a controversial abortion bill.

"I'm against this bill," said the voice, "because it disrespects too many women in the state of Florida." Bennett defended his actions, telling Sunshine State News it was an email sent to him by a woman "who happens to be a former court administrator."

"I was just sitting there, bored as they were debating the abortion bill," Bennett said.

"I opened it up and said holy [expletive]! What's on my screen? and clicked away from it right away."

Sure he did.... after several seconds... after he realized someone might see. And he only reads Playboy for the articles.

Oh, but I kid the Senator.

His spokesperson said that Bennett thought he was viewing an email about an item being debated on the Senate floor. That would have been some debate.

There were other images he'd downloaded that were caught on camera, too, including at least two videos. He was also caught on camera watching a video of a dog. Apparently, nobody knows whether or not he also thought that was an email about a bill being debated on the floor... regarding spaying/neutering laws maybe?

When asked if he ever looks at pornography while on the Senate floor, Bennett responded, "You'd have to be insane to do that. It all goes through a server. I don't think anybody would be doing that."

Nah, nobody ever does that.

Billionaire Jumps Into Florida Senate Race

Florida is turning into the race to watch. Via Taegan-

"Just in case Florida's Senate race wasn't interesting enough, Palm Beach billionaire Jeff Greene plans to file papers this morning to enter the contest as a Democrat," the Palm Beach Post reports.

Adam Smith: "His colorful profile -- Mike Tyson was best man at his 2008 wedding, ex-Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss lived in his guest house after prison, and he made many of his millions betting on the housing collapse that killed Florida's economy -- normally would make a candidate like Greene a long shot. But in a race where Democratic frontrunner Kendrick Meek is little known to most voters and Crist non-partisan candidacy means it will be a three-way race, Greene's ability to saturate Florida TV with commercials could make him a major contender."

In 2008, Forbes ran a profile of Greene titled, "The Reluctant Billionaire."

Republicans starting to worry?

This is very very interesting. From what I've seen Thompson was doing very well against Feingold in the polls. Plus, Pitaki seems to be backing away from running against Gillibrand. Add in some promising economic trends and hmmm. h/t Ben.

MILWAUKEE - According to a source who has spoken with TODAY'S TMJ4 HD's Charles Benson, former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson says he will not run for Senator Russ Feingold's seat.

Thompson is set to announce his future at a "tea party" rally in Madison on Thursday.

(snip)

Thompson told The Associated Press on Wednesday morning that he hadn't made up his mind on whether he'll enter the race. He says, "The only person who knows what I'm going to do is myself and I don't know what I'm going to do."

Democrats Gain in Ohio

Little by little we'll fight our way back. Wonder how much of this was from actually doing something instead of vacillating? Via Taegan-

A new Quinnipiac poll finds that Democrats are having a mini-surge in Ohio and now lead in both the U.S. Senate and Governor's races.

In the Senate race, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher (D) leads Rob Portman (R) 41% to 37%, reversing a three point Portman lead in February. Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner (D) also edges Portman, 38% to 37%, reversing a five point Portman lead.

In the gubernatorial race, Gov. Ted Strickland (D) leading challenger John Kasich (R), 43% to 38%.

Rubio's Grooming Becomes a Campaign Issue

How do the Republicans feel about metrosexuals? Via Taegan-

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) accused rival Marco Rubio (R) of getting his back waxed in an interview on Fox News last night.

Said Crist: "He's trying to pawn himself off as a fiscal conservative. And yet just in reason weeks, two weeks Hairy-back ago it has come out in news accounts he had a Republican Party of Florida credit card that he charged $130 haircut, or maybe it was a back wax -- we are not sure what all he got at that place."

Lawmaker Who Opposes Gay Rights Caught in Gay Bar

By GottaLaff

Hyp. O. Crite:

Sources tell CBS13 that California state senator Roy Ashburn (R) "was arrested for allegedly driving drunk after leaving Faces, a gay nightclub in midtown Sacramento, early Wednesday morning."

"A male passenger, who was not identified as a lawmaker, was also in the car but was not detained... Ashburn, a father of four, is a Republican Senator... with a history of opposing gay rights."

I'm sure he was just giving the guy a ride home. Designated driver. Good Samaritan. Yeah, that's gotta be it.

Video- Bunning Objects To Unemployment Bill Again, Despite GOP Support

What. A. HUGE. Ass. Via TPM.

Video- The Daily Show: Senate After Dark

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Senate After Dark
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Video- VP Biden goes after Bunning fillibuster

Good old Joe, doing the yeoman's work.

Video- J.D. Hayworth - I Believe Obama Is An American Citizen, Just Being Provocative for Radio

Dumbass. If he weren't so execrable I'd be rooting for him over McCain in a heartbeat. Via TPM.

Sen. Jim Bunning holds up unemployment insurance and Cobra extensions on Senate floor: 'Tough s--t'

Fun starts about 422. I didn't get a chance to listen to all of it for the cussing, so let me know in comments if you can hear it. Bunning should get together with McCain and they could start a Cranky Old Farts Club.

Senate Democrats spent Thursday night hammering away at Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) for single-handedly holding up action in the upper chamber – but he blurted out a message to one of them on the Senate floor: “Tough s—t.”

In an unusual display in the normally sleepy chamber, Bunning – without the support of GOP leadership – has blocked efforts to quickly approve a series of extensions to measures that would otherwise expire Sunday, including unemployment insurance and the Cobra program that allows people who lose their health benefits to continue getting coverage.

And that has led to a furious exchange on the floor, with Democrats attacking the senator, who has refused to relent on his objection, in unusually harsh terms.

In a colloquy with Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Sen. Jeff Merkley, a freshman Democrat from Oregon, was pleading for Bunning to drop his objection, when the Kentucky Republican got fed up.

“Tough s—t,” Bunning said as he was seated in the back row, overheard by the floor staff and others in attendance.

A spokesman for Bunning did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tea party spazs seek recall of sitting Democratic senators

This is one of those "if only they used their power for good" moments. What a waste of time and money.

Republicans' chances to retake the Senate are limited by the fact that only a third of the chamber is up for re-election this year, but some conservative activists are pushing to force more Democrats onto the ballot in November by trying to recall them.

It's a long-shot approach, the legal hurdles are tremendous - no member of Congress has ever been recalled - and it's limited only to states with recall laws that are broad enough to include federal officeholders.

But the first test comes Tuesday, when a judge will hear oral arguments from the Sussex County Tea Party, which is trying to recall Sen. Robert Menendez, New Jersey Democrat.

"Nine states, including 12 Democratic senators who are not up for re-election otherwise, could all be on the ballot with a recall," said Peter Ferrara, a lawyer for the conservative American Civil Rights Union, which is helping the tea partiers with their case. "Given what they're doing on health care this year, that's just going to be a huge boost to the recall effort."

Most Liberal and Most Conservative Lawmakers

Always an interesting report. Via Taegan-

The National Journal's annual vote ranking study is out.

Liberals: "The most liberal members in the Senate include Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Roland Burris (D-IL), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), all tied for first place. In the House, 8 members share the distinction -- Reps. Rush Holt (D-NJ), Gwen Moore (D-WI), John Olver (D-MA), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Mel Watt (D-NC) and Henry Waxman (D-CA) are tied for the top spot."

Conservatives: "Unlike Dems, GOPers get to fete a clear winner in the most-conservative sweepstakes: This year, Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) takes the prize. He's closely followed by Sens. Jim DeMint (R-SC), Jim Bunning (R-KY) and Tom Coburn (R-OK). In the House, Reps. Trent Franks (R-AZ), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Randy Neugebauer (R-TX), Pete Olson (R-TX), John Shadegg (R-AZ) and Mac Thornberry (R-TX) share the prize."

Marco Rubio Used Party Credit Card for Personal Expenses

Looks like the Golden Boy has holes in his pockets. Via Taegan-

U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio (R) "charged grocery bills, repairs to the family minivan and purchases from a wine store less than a mile from his West Miami home to the Republican Party of Florida while he was speaker of the Florida House," according to records obtained by the St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald.

Rubio said that "he paid for all personal expenses billed to an American Express card given to him by the party to use from 2005 to 2008, when he left public office. The rest of the charges, he said, were legitimate party expenses."

Senate sitting on 290 bills already passed by House

Democrats suck so hard. D's should be standing up at every opportunity and pointing directly at the R's who play these bullshit games. I'm tired of ranting about the horrid messaging of these jackasses, and I'm not the only one.

Exasperated House Democratic leaders have compiled a list showing that they have passed 290 bills that have stalled in the Senate.

The list is the latest sign that Democrats in the lower chamber are frustrated with their Senate counterparts.

An aide to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) says the list is put together during each Congress, but that this year’s number is likely the largest ever. However, he said Pelosi blames GOP senators, not Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) or Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).

“The Speaker believes that the filibuster has its place, but clearly Senate Republicans are taking what was once a rare procedural move and abusing it to the detriment of progress for America’s working families,” said Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill.

(snip)

The list of stalled bills includes both major and minor legislation: healthcare reform; climate change; food safety; financial aid for the U.S. Postal Service; a job security act for wounded veterans; a Civil War battlefield preservation act; vision care for children; the naming of a federal courthouse in Iowa after former Rep. Jim Leach (R-Iowa); a National Historic Park named for President Jimmy Carter; a bill to improve absentee ballot voting; a bill to improve cybersecurity; and the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

Video- Scarborough asks Rubio if he condemns Beck for calling Obama a racist, comparing him to dictators

So, you think he condemned Beck?

New Jersey Lautenberg senator suffers fall

Oh c'mon already, stop messing with the damn Democrats. The odds of an 86 year old actually leaving a hospital under any circumstances is iffy at best.

(CNN) - Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-New Jersey, was hospitalized Monday after taking a fall, his spokesman said.

The 86-year-old Lautenberg, who is in his fifth term in the Senate, was taken to the hospital as a "precautionary measure," spokesman Caley Gray said.

"The senator is in great spirits and joking with the doctors," Gray said.

He will remain at the hospital overnight for observation, Gray said.

J D Hayworth makes it official, running against McCain

Gonna be some fun soundbites out of this one. (Video above gets good at about 1 minute in) We're going to be hearing that "common sense conservatism" b.s. alot in the coming year.

(CNN) – The Republican party's most recent presidential nominee has earned a primary challenge from the right on President's Day.

J.D. Hayworth, a former Arizona congressman and radio host, is scheduled to formally announce Monday that's he's challenging Republican John McCain for his U.S. Senate seat.

Though his intentions have been known for months, Hayworth will formally announce his candidacy during a rally at his new campaign office in Phoenix at 10 a.m. local time (noon ET). The event kicks off what is scheduled to be a three-day, 10-stop campaign swing through the state.

Hayworth, who served for six terms in the House before losing his 2006 re-election bid, stepped down last month as host of his conservative talk radio program in Phoenix. While he says he respects McCain's service, he says McCain's been in Washington too long and isn't conservative enough.

"We all love and think the world of John and John's place in history is secure," the 51-year old Hayworth told CNN correspondent Casey Wian on Friday. "But John no longer represents the common sense conservative philosophy that most Arizonans share."

Mort Zuckerman Considers Senate Bid

Zuckerman and McLaughlin have totally turned the McLaughlin Group into a half hour of PUMA style Obama bashing. Hopefully New York rejects another millionaire trying to buy a seat. Via Taegan-

Mort Zuckerman, real estate tycoon and publisher of The Daily News, is considering a run against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), the New York Times reports.

Zuckerman regards Gillibrand "as vulnerable to a challenge and is convinced that, at a time of economic tumult and political unrest, his background as an outsider to government, and his record as a businessman, will appeal to the state's electorate."

He is also conducting a poll testing his viability.

"Rather bizarre" VIDEO: Nevada Sen. candidate Danny Tarkanian (R ) Mistakes Reagan and... Reid?

By GottaLaff





Drunk or just dazed and confused?

The Hill finds a "rather bizarre" video clip of Nevada Senate candidate Danny Tarkanian (R) "stumbling over his words as he apparently tries to talk about Reagan's '11th Commandment' -- thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican."

Tarkanian refers to the famous slogan as the "11th Amendment" and repeatedly attributes it to Reid, not Reagan.

Confusing Saint Ronnie with Harry Reid won't get you too far with the Rushpub Reagan worshipers.

Maybe Tarkanian just gets stage fright. Or has a really bad memory.

Or shouldn't be running for office.