Summers: We can walk and chew gum at the same time

By GottaLaff

Lindsey Graham wants to take his toys and go home, and GOP Leader Mitch McConnell is grumbling and rumbling in support. Lindsey is whining like a little brat, threatening to pull out of the climate bill negotiations because the administration wants to go ahead with their plans for immigration reform.

Boyoboy, he'll show us! Americans will just have to go on polluting and wheezing and hacking, and the planet will simply have to dry up like McConnell's lips if things don't go his way.

So there.


Larry Summers thinks they can do both. Multi-tasking, what a concept. Congress might even have to ::gasp!:: work extra hard:

The Obama administration wants to pursue both climate change and immigration legislation, according to a senior advisor to the president.

There is “no either/or” between the two issues, which are “both important,” said Larry Summers, the chief economic adviser to President Barack Obama.

Of course, Harry Reid sets the agenda.

Reid quickly disputed the suggestion and said he would not let Graham play one issue off the other.

That's because Harry (and Summers) wears big boy pants. Lindsey's still in Pull-Ups.

UPDATE: Apparently, I need to clarify that this post is about the ability to do more than one thing at a time, not about the substance of the bills... nor is it in any way meant to express support for Summers, specifically. I do agree with him, however, that our government can move forward on two plans simultaneously, if they can get past the usual obstruction.

Republicans soften opposition to financial reform

By GottaLaff

Just when I thought the Party of No was trying to make financial reform hit a brick Wall St., I see they're maybe, possibly, kinda, sorta relenting a teeny weeny tad:

(Reuters) - Republican lawmakers on Tuesday took a more conciliatory tone toward Democratic proposals to crack down on Wall Street as the U.S. Senate delayed debate on a financial reform package until next week.

The change in rhetoric could signal the two sides are moving closer to a deal after months of wrangling over how to overhaul regulations in the wake of the financial crisis.

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd said lawmakers have reached agreement on 80 to 90 percent of the reform bill.

"We are all optimistic that this can be fixed," said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.

Good ol' reliable, reassuring Mitch McConnell, he's always been my go-to guy for hopey changey stuff.

Color me skeptical, but it's hard to believe the G No P softening on anything. Stalling, maybe. Kvetching, definitely. Obstructing, absolutely. Softening? Mmmmnotreally.

However, they may have finally realized how quickly and drastically America will turn on them should they continue to pal around with the very corpobots who transformed us into the United States of the Homeless.

Video- What Frank Luntz Said

Just say it Harwood, they're freaking lying.

Republican lawmakers are "completely lost"

By GottaLaff

The GOP is the party that claims Democrats are dead wrong about everything, that Dems are destroying our country, shredding the Constitution, killing grandma, and running American into the ground.

This is the party that inappropriately and awkwardly shouts "You lie!" and "Hell no!"

This is also the party that cannot answer a simple question about health care reform.

Jay Bookman:

AJC editors and columnists just finished a pretty wide-ranging 80-minute interview with Sen. Saxby Chambliss and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and I took the opportunity to ask a question that had been nagging at me for a while. [...]

[H]ow are the Republicans going to cover pre-existing conditions?

“The premiums are going up either way,” he [McConnell] said.

OK, I responded, a little stunned. That doesn’t explain how the Republicans intend to cover pre-existing conditions.

“The premiums are going up either way,” he repeated.

That was that. We moved on, and I still don’t have my answer.

Good response, Mitch McNoLips!

Except for the part where he didn't respond.

At all.

Steve Benen has a thing or two to say about these things or two:

If those with pre-existing conditions will be protected, the mandate is necessary to keep costs from spiraling and to prevent the "free rider" problem. [...]

After over a year of debate about health care policy, two leading Senate Republicans, including the Senate Minority Leader, can't speak intelligently about the basics. Bookman didn't throw a curve ball at them [...]

They want protections for those with pre-existing conditions, and want to eliminate the mandate, but asked how that could work, these experienced senators have no idea how to even begin answering the question. [...]

[I]f anyone dares to scratch the surface, even a little, they're completely lost.

It's all about the talking points, drumming non-answers into the uninformed electorate's heads, ignoring facts, smearing, belittling Democratic victories, lying about Democratic policy, ignoring the truth, and being utterly unable to justify their own arguments.

Jay Bookman cornered them, Steve Benen nailed them, and it's time we expose them for what they are... and aren't.

This story needs to get out, and be repeated and repeated.

H/t: Rachel Maddow via Twitter, who will hopefully cover this tonight on her show.

Cartoon of the Day

Click to enlarge, via.

Video- Candy Crowley slams McConnell's criticism of reconciliation: "You voted for reconciliation"

Sometimes they follow thru.

Audio- Beck says Sens. Graham and McConnell have "put on a skirt and heels and started sounding like Nancy Pelosi"

A little close to home, donchathink?

Video- Sunday Loon Watch: Republicans start counting their November chickens

Here's hoping these guys are very disappointed in the fall. Via Jed.

McConnell: 'Not clear' if GOP can block partisan tactic on healthcare

By GottaLaff

Mitch McNoLips on Fox News Sunday:

It's "not clear" whether enough Democrats will defect on a majority-vote procedure on health legislation to stop it, the Senate's top Republican said Sunday.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said that opposition to using a maneuver to bypass filibuster rules would be bipartisan, but hedged as to whether it would be strong enough to block such a tactic.

Mitchy? Hedge? Nooo....

McConnell and Reid, along with other House and Senate leaders from both parties, will also head to the White House on Thursday for a bipartisan, televised summit on healthcare.

McConnell said he would attend the event "in all likelihood," putting to rest doubts that he or other Republicans may not show up.

Good for them. Now they can say "no" in person.

VIDEO: Mitch McConnell breaks down and sobs on Senate floor

By GottaLaff



Um, alrighty then:

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is not known for his emotional outbursts, especially in public, but he wept openly on the Senate floor Thursday as he spoke about Kyle Simmons, his outgoing chief of staff.

"To me, he's been more than a staffer.... He’s made me look better than I am for 15 years."

Well, somebody had to.

H/t: Greg Skilling

Quote-O'-The Day: Reid/McDonnell Snow Angels edition

By GottaLaff

This just popped out of Prez O's mouth as he talked to the press about a bipartisan meeting on jobs:

"McConnell and Reid are out doing snow angels on the White House lawn."

Beauty & the Beast: Palin, McConnell wage proxy battle in Kentucky Senate race

By GottaLaff

Beauty and the Beast:

The Senate Republican primary in Kentucky has emerged as a proxy battle between two leaders of the factionalized Republican Party, Sarah Palin and Mitch McConnell.

At stake is the direction of the Republican Party, which Republican leaders in Washington fear could turn off middle-of-the road voters if it lurches too far to the right.

Maverick v. Establishment? Rogue v. Entrenched? McBrainless v. McChinless?

[Andrew] Breitbart said people in the Tea Party “love” Sarah Palin because “they sense she’s not beholden to the Beltway [and] they like her independent spirit.”

She's not beholden to ethics either... Dude.

Republican leaders in Washington, in contrast, have had trouble winning over Tea Party partisans.

They should count themselves lucky on that score.

The emergence of the Tea Party and the hostility of its members toward the GOP establishment gives party leaders cause for concern because it reflects growing estrangement with the party base. [...]

It’s questionable whether Tea Party conservatives could develop enough strength and unity to upset the leadership hierarchy in Washington, but they certainly threaten to play havoc in primaries.

A "DC insider":

“McConnell truly sees the prospect that the tea baggers could veer his party further to the right, far enough to the right to turn off moderates trending his way,” said Cross, using a derisive term for Tea Party activists.

“The Democrats best chance of winning the seat is for Rand Paul to be the nominee,” he said.

Meanwhile, generally speaking, the D Party could do a little unifying itself, and in the process, attract a few independents and moderates their way.

Mitch McConnell Campaign Accepted Funds From Foreign Bribery Suspects

By GottaLaff

Time for Show and Tell, brought to you by our very own Supreme Court Five:

Since 2005, McConnell has received $21,000 — spread between his campaign and his leadership PAC — from a PAC run by BAE Systems Inc., according to disclosure records examined by TPMmuckraker. BAE Systems Inc. is the American subsidiary of BAE Systems, the world’s second largest defense contractor, headquartered in Britain.

In addition, United Defense Industries, another defense contractor bought by BAE in 2005, reportedly pledged half a million dollars to the McConnell Center at the University of Louisville, a political science foundation that the senator created.

McConnell has been good to be BAE, which owns a facility in Louisville, Kentucky. For fiscal year 2010, the senator requested earmarks for the company worth a combined $17 million.

BAE is hardly a squeaky clean corporate citizen, either. The Justice Department is conducting an ongoing investigation (pdf)into allegations that the company bribed members of the Saudi Royal family, including the Saudi Ambassador to the United States, in support of a mulit-billion dollar, decades-long deal to barter arms for oil.

You can read the whole thing here.

Mitch McLipless, this is what we mean by corporations buying elections. Even foreign ones.

H/t: Gr8RDH

VIDEOS: Jarrett v. Gregory, McConell

By GottaLaff

When Bush was in office, there the media and GOP were, cheer leading from the sidelines, rarely challenging the BushCo spokesbots, screaming patriotism at the top of their lungs... at the expense of democracy. After all, one should support one's president in a time of war.

Now Obama is in office. Here the media and the GOP are, resisting, challenging, insinuating, accusing, demonizing. Maybe someone should prop them up in front of a reel of reruns from 2001-2008, and then have the balls to confront them, and force them to answer honestly and thoroughly... if that were even possible.

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

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

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

Video- McConnell Won’t Say Whether GOPers Will Call For Full Repeal Of Reform

Chickenshit. As Greg reported, the R's are worried that the public just might actually like and want the reform and the D's are primed to use it against them.

Reid, McConnell Reach Deal to Adjourn Early, End Filibuster

By GottaLaff

Roll Call is subscription only, but here are the basics:

Senate Republicans have agreed to end their filibuster of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) health care reform bill a few hours early on Christmas Eve, a move that will allow the GOP to technically stick to its promise to force Dec. 24 vote on the measure while still making it possible for Senators to return home for the holiday.

The vote will be at 8 a.m.

Ooo, big concession. How could we possibly call them obstructionists now? *sarcasm*

Video- McConnell Vows to Stall Health Care Bill With a Lot of Amendments Over a Lot of Weeks

Not even pretending any more. Vid via Heather.

Video- McConnell: Baucus Bill Will 'Never See the Light of Day'

Can someone please forward this to Andrea Mitchell et al?

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:

POLITICAL CARNIVAL EXCLUSIVE-- AUDIO: Sen. minority leader's office admits Dem. public health care plan good for small business

By GottaLaff

As you may know by now, my friend and colleague Jim Alger has a political radio show, Common Sense, that features My Tweet Spots segments by yours truly. Well, today, Jim had some time to do a little digging, so he called Mitch McConnell's office to discuss health care reform. He managed to entice Don Stewart into a conversation.

Who is Don Stewart?

Current Position: Communications Director for the Senate Minority Leader (since 2006)

Boss: Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)

Stewart, or “Stew,” as he likes to be called, is widely considered one of the top communications directors in the Senate. He is a workaholic, who sends e-mails and press releases throughout the night and knows how to promote his boss’s agenda.

Stewart joined Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) office after the 2006 elections in an attempt by McConnell, who has often shied away from the spotlight, to bolster his communications office after becoming the Republican Senate leader. Stewart was a key part of Sen. McConnell’s plan to build a strategic communications center to help Republicans redefine and promote their message starting at the beginning of the 110th Congress. [...]

Stewart’s game is definitely media and message control, and he became one of Washington’s best and most aggressive communication directors while working for Cornyn. [...]

Stewart has worked in McConnell’s office since the start of 2007. But his job puts him in direct contact with other members of the Senate Republican leadership, including aides to Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and Senate GOP Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.). In particular, Stewart has strong Texas connections. Before working for McConnell, he spent three years as communications director for Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and three years in the press office of Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas).

In McConnell’s office, Stewart has worked alongside Chief of Staff Kyle Simmons, Simmons’ deputy Sharon Soderstrom and Press Secretary Jennifer Morris.

Jim Alger seemed to trip up the Director of Communications for the Senate Minority Leader in about two minutes. "Stew" had no prep, and appeared to admit that the Democratic plan for a public option is good for small business by saving them money. This from the party that wraps themselves in small business regularly, from tax cuts to fighting unions. According to Jim, Stew seems willing to abandon their constituency on health care.

Listen carefully and see if you agree. Did Senator Mitch McConnell's own guy sell out small business? He sure got off the phone quickly at the end. (Trouble streaming? Here's the YouTube link)



UPDATE: He also admits that Barack Obama's plan does not create a government mandate for public insurance, contrary to all the spin. Check it out.