Republicans Block Votes On 97 Federal Nominees In A Single Day

By GottaLaff

This video superbly paints a picture of what the Democrats are up against. Presenting full-on obstruction:

The Huffington Post has assembled a video compilation of Kyl blocking Whitehouse and McCaskill’s requests.

Keith Olbermann tweeted earlier that he'll be M.I.A. for a couple of days because he's having a routine colonoscopy. Guess who else needs one.

If you said "the GOP" you were right, since there is an entire party that has a real blockage problem:

[T]here is a backlog of 101 executive branch nominees that have yet to be voted on, ranging from the Transportation Safety Authority chief to members of the Marine Mammal Commission. Senators commonly issue “anonymous holds” to prevent a nomination from coming up for a vote.

Yesterday I posted about Claire McCaskill's response. She's trying to out the various anonymi, and then calling for unanimous consent to move the other nominees along.

Whitehouse then waited patiently for a Republican Senator to arrive on the floor. Minority Whip Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) finally appeared and began objecting to the two senators’ unanimous consent requests, ultimately blocking votes on 97 nominees.

You know the routine: The GOP will accuse "Obama's Big Government" of being incapable of getting anything done, knowing they were instrumental in obstructing what many of us fondly remember as democracy.

However, Americans are finally waking up to who these people are. Hopefully, it will be the Party of No that pays the price in November. This is unacceptable.

Senator Claire McCaskill presses GOP to reveal holds

By GottaLaff

Thank you, Senator McCaskill, for trying to out the Party of Noers who have held up democracy by placing ultra super duper double secret holds on nearly 80 of President Obama's nominees:

McCaskill asked for unanimous consent to vote on the 18 nominees. In response, Republicans allowed Democrats to confirm Stuart Nash, a nominee to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, but objected to the other nominees.

Gee, that was awfully big of them. One whole confirmation of one whole judge? Who could ask for more than that?

McCaskill:

“Section 512 of the law we passed in January of 2007 says that once the unanimous consent motion is made on a nominee, the member who is holding that nominee has to file a letter explaining their hold and that has to be published in the Congressional record”

Well that would be embarrassing. At the very least, revealing. At the very, very least, annoying to those who would rather hide under cloakroom cloaks for fear of being exposed for the block-heads they are. Pun intentional.

McCaskill will ask for unanimous consent to move 60 other nominees along.

Imagine that. She wants government to work for the people. What a traitor.

Video- President Obama at McCaskill fundraiser

Finally! Junior Democrats Want a Fight

By GottaLaff

Bravo! Kick some butt, "juniors":

Junior Senate Democrats are pushing their leaders to take a much more aggressive stance toward the Republican minority, arguing that their defeat of Sen. Jim Bunning’s (R-Ky.) unemployment benefits blockade this week proves a strategy of an active offense is far better than a passive defense.

Here is a list of those who have a-- What's it called again? Oh yeah-- spine:

Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and other members of the 2006 and 2008 classes... plus, Dick Durbin supports them. So does Harry Reid, and so do other newly spined Dems.

Who spiked their Geritol with courage juice? And hey, keep drinking:

The House and Senate Democratic caucuses have long been dominated by senior members of the party, but Whitehouse and his colleagues have the ear of Durbin, who was the leader of Thursday’s floor fight with Bunning.

A senior leadership aide praised Durbin’s work with the chamber’s backbenchers — not only in halting the filibuster, but in turning the controversy into a political liability for Republicans. [...]

Observers said the junior Senators were brought together by their relatively short terms in the Senate — and a shared sense that their party has allowed Republicans to bully the majority too often over the past three years.

A "sense" that they've been bullied? A "sense"? Gee, with powers of perception like that, the Dems are bound to stay in power.

And in another three years, they may discover that the GOP lies, too!

VIDEOS: Al Gore's group calls out Democrats (!) and GOP in new ad campaign

By GottaLaff





The Becks of the world have been asking, "Where's Gore?" He's been busy, that's where. Busy at what, you ask?

Calling out Republicans. Oh yeah, and Democrats.

Oh no he didn't! Ohhh yeah. He did. Al Gore's group, the Alliance for Climate Protection, just put up not one, but two Tee Vee Machine ads in Indiana and Maine, with two more expected in Missouri and Arkansas.

You may be asking, as you're wont to do, so what? Here's what. The ads, featuring regular old Americans, call out Democrats for backing off of cap and trade climate legislation.

That's right, not just Rushpublics, but Al Gore, the former Vice President, is mentioning Even Bayh, Claire McCaskill, Blanche Lincoln, and others by name via Repower America. And that's the so what:

Repower America, a project of Al Gore's Alliance for Climate Protection is upping the pressure on swing-vote Democrats to support legislative action on climate change.

Let's hope it works... because "so what?" won't work when it comes to saving our planet.

Democratic Senator Makes Threat to Health Care Reform

By GottaLaff

I couldn't find the video for this, but here you go:

[Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) ] said her vote will be determined by the Congressional Budget Office analysis of Harry Reid's new healthcare bill.

"Until we get the numbers back from the Congressional Budget Office we're all on hold," McCaskill told Fox News Sunday. "I have to be assured that this is going to bring down the deficit and is going to bring down healthcare costs for Missouri families."

She said she'd vote against the bill if the CBO report says the bill adds to the deficit (something President Obama said he would not accept) or doesn't cut costs.

VIDEO- Hardball: Dennis Kucinich, Claire McCaskill talk health care reform

By GottaLaff

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I mentioned Dennis Kucinich's remarks in passing here, but now you can hear the whole conversation.

I like listening to Kucinich when he discusses health care reform. Who wouldn't trust this guy?

Medicare for all was, as I said earlier, my first choice. That's out, so...

McCaskill: 'Weird' when good job numbers used as political fodder

By GottaLaff

I'm glad somebody finally came right out and said this:

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) on Sunday fired back at Republicans who claim the recent drop in unemployment is not enough to prove Democrats are handling the economy effectively.

In a pair of tweets to followers this afternoon, McCaskill remarked:

December of last year we lost more than 600,000 jobs. November this year we lost 11,000. Good news. Progress. Still work to do.

So weird when politics turns good news into cynical disappointment.

Of course, referring to the job numbers as any kind of "improvement" whatsoever would be an admission of defeat in their sick beady little eyes... just as passing a decent health care reform bill would.

To the Rushpublics, "America first" is code for "screw ordinary citizens, we're power hungry money-grubbers". Higher employment numbers and healthy Americans make them look like the self-serving failures that they are.

As McCaskill tweeted, "Weird".

AUDIO: McCain-McConnell Health Care Road Show Closed To The Public

By GottaLaff

Um, Boy Georgie redux much?

Today, Republican Sens. Mitch McConnell (KY), John McCain (R-AZ), and Kit Bond (MO) held a “Health Care Reform Forum” at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO. However, the event was closed to the public. [...]

[T]he attendees had all been invited by either the hospital or the senators. [...]

McConnell and McCain will be continuing their health care road show this week. Both events will also be closed to the public:

– Charlotte, NC: McCain and McConnell will “join Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., in Charlotte on Tuesday for a ‘hospital forum’ at Carolinas Medical Center. With hospital employees and Burr’s invited guests attending, there will likely be little room for the public in an auditorium that holds fewer than 300 people, said Gail Rosenberg, spokeswoman for Carolinas HealthCare System.”

– Hialeah, FL: The event at Palmetto General will feature McCain, McConnell, and Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL). “It will be open to the press, but closed to the public.”

Way to have confidence in your message. Having a few control issues? Worried that our side may show up and challenge your lies and dearth of ideas?

Now compare and contrast their numbers and methods to those of Organize for America's.

Meanwhile, Claire McCaskill went on Kansas City radio station 980 KMBZ and commented on JSid's and Mitch McLipless's reluctance to actually, you know, include the very people whom they claim to represent:

Video- Limbaugh lauds people at McCaskill town hall who "are not being intimidated by Obama's goons"

VIDEO-- Claire McCaskill: We Need To Look At Impeaching Jay Bybee

By GottaLaff

I'm glad this is getting some attention:



McCaskill also reiterates what we already know: President Obama has made it clear he "doesn't want to look in the rearview mirror."

Steve Benen writes, “The question shouldn’t be whether to impeach Jay Bybee, but rather, how quickly the impeachment hearings can begin.”

My original post about calling for the impeachment of Bybee is here.

Happy birthday, Ted Kennedy

By GottaLaff

Sen. Ted Kennedy said it is time to reform the nation's health care system. The senator, who is battling a brain tumor, spoke at a health care summit being hosted by the White House.
(March 5)

Bittersweet Tweets from Claire McCaskill:

Tonight going to the Kennedy Center for a musical tribute in honor of Ted Kennedy's birthday. Glad he's able to make it.

Caroline Kennedy was funny. "I never thought I'd be in a room with so many Senators" My fav James Taylor sang From Belfast to Boston.

The Pres arrived at the end to lead us in singing Happy Birthday to Ted. Happy & sad. Took some video. If it turned out I will post tomorrow.

To clarify, went to Kennedy Center celebration of Ted Kennedy's 77th BD. He looked great. A terrific tribute to him with wonderful music.

And many, many more. Please?

Claire McCaskill keeps her word

By GottaLaff

I'm sorry I missed most of this, but I caught the end of Claire McCaskill's remarks. She kept her word:

"Earmarks are clearly an equal opportunity activity. Don't take anyone seriously who says one thing and does another. That's the biggest sin of all. Any parent will tell you: The example you set is more important than anything you say. I yield the floor."

Tuh-Weet! McCaskill to call out Rushpublic leadership

By GottaLaff

Tweet from Claire McCaskill just now:

Giving speech on floor around 2:15sh E Time to call out R leadership for saying one thing & doing another. Re:wasteful spending & earmrks.

Give 'em hell, Claire.

Hey, financial institutions, give it back!

By GottaLaff

A few months ago, I was having a conversation in which I wondered aloud why the government couldn't cut outlandish bonuses, and/or temporarily and/or partially limit incomes of those greedy Big Biz types, given the dire state of the economy. I was sternly admonished, including being told that such a thing would be impossible.

I hung my head in shame and shuffled off to my room without supper. After all, as I've mentioned here previously, I admit to being woefully inept when it comes to discussing most things economic. So off I went, feeling like a fool.... until:

A day after President Barack Obama bashed bailed-out banks for giving huge bonuses, Sen. Claire McCaskill, (D-Mo.) proposed capping salaries for employees at companies accepting government funds.

“We must have our financial institutions survive but not with a culture that thinks it’s all right to kick the taxpayer in the shins,” she said in a Senate floor speech.

McCaskill introduced legislation that would forbid employees at firms collecting government funds from collecting more than the $400,000 salary made by the president of the United States, until the company no longer relies on money from the $700 billion government rescue fund. The cap would include not only salary but also bonuses and stock options.

“If any of them think it is a hardship to take the salary of the president of the United States, I dare them to say it out loud right now,” McCaskill said. [...]

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) said he plans to “get back” billions of dollars worth of bonuses being paid out by financial services companies.

"I'm going to be urging — in fact, not urging but demanding — that the Treasury Department figure out some way to get this back," Dodd told reporters Thursday. "This is unacceptable.”

Thank you, Chris and Claire. I have been vindicated.

McCaskill Tapped for New Oversight Post

By GottaLaff

Joe Lieberman shouldn't chair anything:

Claire McCaskill will get to chair a new subcommittee under the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (chaired by everybody's favorite, Joe Lieberman). This subcommittee, the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Contract Oversight, will be responsible for overseeing all federal contracting. Quite the plum for McCaskill, who will be able to draw on her previous experience as auditor.

Here's the entire press release.

Howard Dean To Step Down At DNC

Job well done, Dr Dean. I like the idea of Claire McCaskill to take his place, she really was quite good as a surrogate for the Obama campaign.

After four years at the helm of the Democratic National Committee, Howard Dean is preparing to relinquish his chairmanship.

Dean, who has been serving in the post since 2005, has said in the past that he would serve only one term, though his successful work with the Obama campaign had led some Democrats to wonder whether he would stay on into the next administration. This won't be the case, officials at the DNC confirm. He will serve as chair until his term ends in January. The party will settle on a new head when it hosts a meeting during the week of Obama's inauguration.

9/15/08- John McCain: Fundamentals of the economy are (still) strong

He needs to be called out on this every single moment of the day. Twice on the half hour. How freakin' clueless and/or pandering to his out of touch economic advisers is he? Video via TPM.

Delighting Democrats: "The fundamentals of our economy are strong," McCain reiterates at a Florida rally this morning, before noting that "these are very, very difficult times."

It's a line for which Democrats have criticized McCain before, not least because it echoes President Bush's view.

Just heard Claire McCaskill repeating it on MSNBC. More please?