Winning makes a difference

Other than the fact that Tea Baggers are mostly Republican (der), the big polling news just restates the obvious-

Republican Advantage in 2010 Voting Enthusiasm Shrinks

PRINCETON, NJ -- Republican registered voters' enthusiasm about voting in this year's midterm elections has declined significantly in recent weeks. As a result, Republicans' advantage over Democrats on this measure has shrunk from 19 points in early April to 10 points in the latest weekly aggregate.

In late March and early April, after Congress' passage of healthcare reform, both Republican and Democratic registered voters became more enthusiastic about voting in this year's elections. Republicans' enthusiasm peaked at 54% "very enthusiastic" in late March and early April, but is 43% in the latest weekly update, from April 27-May 2 -- essentially where it was before healthcare passed. By contrast, Democrats have more or less retained the slightly higher level of enthusiasm they showed right after the healthcare bill milestone.

Republicans' current 10-point lead is the smallest Gallup has measured since it began tracking 2010 election attitudes in March.

h/t Oliver

The inexperienced socialist Marxist president who could

By GottaLaff

Go ahead, Rushpublics, call him a radical Marxist commie socialist. But while you're zinging him with labels, you might want to add "successful":

By the end of this year, Obama "will have soundly achieved many of his chief campaign promises while running a highly competent, scandal-free government. Not bad for a guy whose opponents (in both parties) for the White House suggested he was too green in national life to know how to do the job -- and whose presidency began in the midst of a worldwide economic crisis that demanded urgent attention and commanded much of his focus."

Wait, what? "Scandal free"? A far cry from these pages and pages of Bush crime family escapades.

Quickie: Muslims now diss Al Qaeda edition

By GottaLaff

Today's Quickie:

When BushCo was in power, said former counter-terrorism czar Richard Clarke on Hardball just now, Muslims wouldn't stand up and criticize Al Qaeda. They do now.

Oh, and per Clarke, the world likes us again, and hence, is more cooperative. (Yes, I just wanted to say "hence".)

Apparently, having a Kenyan Muslim commie Marxist in the White House is paying off.

That was today's Quickie. Was it good for you?

Your generosity & readership made us #62 on Wikio's Top Political Blogs!

By GottaLaff

(click on image to enlarge)

Dear wonderful readers,

Because of your donations, we reached our fundraising goal! And the icing on the cake? We moved up 20 points in the last couple of months on Wikio's Top Political Blogs to number 62!

There are a kajillion blogs out there, as Paddy pointed out here, and you're pushing us up there to take our place along side with some of the best. What an honor!

Thank you so, so much for your generosity and support. Without you, there would be no Political Carnival.

Next step, finding a way to move to a bigger server to provide you with the best bloggy woggy we can.

Love, Paddy and Laffy

Home sales UP: Americans took advantage of a tax credit for home buyers

By GottaLaff

First we had the Amazing Bikini Graph, and now this new report. What will the Rushpublics have left to lie about?

The wobbly housing market is showing a rare sign of strength: pending home sales were up significantly in February, a report released Monday said, suggesting that Americans took advantage of a tax credit for home buyers.

Sales rose 8.2 percent in February, the National Association of Realtors said. Analysts had expected sales to stay flat.

Economists said Monday’s data suggested buyers were re-entering the market as the April 30 deadline approached for a government tax credit of up to $8,000. The tax credit drove up sales rapidly in the fall, when it was originally set to expire, but it has been slow to propel the market this spring.

Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the association, said Monday’s report “may signal the early stages of a second surge of home sales.”

Too bad George Bush still isn't in charge. Things would obviously be so much better.

Dear Rushpublic Party of No, Please do continue those obstructionist tactics in light of this news. It's working so well for you.

Love, Laffy

Senate passes jobs bill, 70-28

By GottaLaff

In case you hadn't heard:

The Senate voted 70-28 on Wednesday morning to pass a $15 billion jobs package, giving Senate Democrats their first legislative victory of the year.

Thirteen Republicans joined 55 Democrats and two independents to vote for the bill. Sen. Ben Nelson (Neb.) was the only Democrat to vote against it.

Final passage of the bill was made possible by the support of Sen. Scott Brown (Mass.) and four other Republicans who voted Monday to cut off a GOP filibuster.

Democratic leaders must now negotiate the differences between the Senate bill and a much larger House jobs bill, which costs $154 billion.

Details here.

That sound you hear is the collective swearing at and the rotten tomatoes hitting Scott Brown.

Stimulus attacks help Democrats gain first real traction in weeks

By GottaLaff

Traction? We got traction? How come nobody told me?

Congressional Democrats are celebrating what they say was their best week politically since Scott Brown’s victory in Massachusetts on Jan. 19.

After playing defense on the economy, the stimulus and healthcare for much of the past year, Democrats went on the offensive this week.

Now hold it right there. We went on the offensive. Mmmmm.

Give me a moment to savor that.

Democrats took advantage of the one-year anniversary of the passage of the economic stimulus package and a slow news week to blast Republicans for claiming credit for stimulus funds they opposed.

Short version: GOP = Hyp. O. Crites.

Now that's the kind of traction we can believe in.

Darrell West, director of Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution, said the hypocrisy message would resonate with voters more than the “Party of No” attacks.

I say, use 'em both. Hey, if the shoes fit...

Pakistan, U.S. Intel Capture 2 Top Taliban Figures, Militant Chiefs

By GottaLaff

President Obama has accomplished more in a year than BushCo did in eight:

KABUL — Pakistani authorities, aided by U.S. intelligence, said Thursday they have apprehended more militant chiefs following the capture of the Afghan Taliban's No. 2 figure — arrests that together represent the biggest blow to the militant organization since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001.

The Rushpublics can ignore, twist, and distort our president's track record all they want, but it won't change the facts.

Recovery Watch: Republicans Jeer While Analysts Cheer

By GottaLaff

Sometimes it's so darned difficult to grasp facts. Even obvious ones that show up in reports and charts and stuff. The Rushpublics remind us of that daily.

So, for the very simple among us:

The New York Times’ David Leonhardt:

“Perhaps the best-known economic research firms are IHS Global Insight, Macroeconomic Advisers and Moody’s Economy.com. They all estimate that the bill has added 1.6 million to 1.8 million jobs so far and that its ultimate impact will be roughly 2.5 million jobs [...] The Congressional Budget Office, an independent agency, considers these estimates to be conservative.”

The economy also expanded at an inflation-adjusted annual rate of 5.7 percent last quarter, much of which can be attributed to the stimulus package.

If that was too complicated for the GOP, they can go back and take another peek at the pretty picture above.

Obama has most legislative success of any modern president -- including Reagan

By GottaLaff

Why, this must mean everyone has been wrong! The punditiots have been wrong, the memes have been wrong, the wrongistas have been wrong.

Yes, as difficult as this is to process, the Democratic Congress (that is apparently in dire straits, especially after President Scott Brown got elected) has been successful.

Under President Obama's leadership.

Democratic.

Congress.

Successful:

Norm Ornstein argues that despite poor approval rates "this Democratic Congress is on a path to become one of the most productive since the Great Society 89th Congress in 1965-66, and Obama already has the most legislative success of any modern president -- and that includes Ronald Reagan and Lyndon Johnson. The deep dysfunction of our politics may have produced public disdain, but it has also delivered record accomplishment."

Imagine that.

Pelosi: “We’re on the brink of passing healthcare reform"

By GottaLaff

Democrats have been on the brink of a lot of things, but health care reform hasn't been one of them... until now:

After a year of legislative tussling among Democrats in both the House and Senate and after an intense day of negotiating between Obama and the leaders of both chambers on Wednesday, senior House Democrats indicated they could be ready to put the finishing touches on final legislation before the beginning of next week.

“We’re on the brink of passing healthcare reform,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). “We are making progress which will get [us] closer to reconciling the House and Senate bills.”

It worked

By GottaLaff

Earlier I posted about the pressure Joe Sestak was putting on Arlen Specter to "encourage" his support of Dawn Johnsen.

It worked:

Even after he became a Democrat, Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter said that he opposed Johnsen’s nomination. However, today his office released a statement in which Specter says that he will now support her:

After voting ‘pass’ (which means no position) in the Judiciary Committee, I had a second extensive meeting with Ms. Johnsen and have been prepared to support her nomination when it reaches the Senate floor.

Spencer Ackerman notes that Republican Sen. Dick Lugar (IN) has also said he is standing by his support for Johnsen, meaning she has the 60 votes necessary to be confirmed.

Health Care Watch- Worst case scenario: Obama wins

By GottaLaff

According to this report, Obama wins:

As everyone gets back to work on Capitol Hill, it's increasingly clear that President Obama survived a brutal August and that even under a worst case scenario he'll be able to sign a meaningful health care reform bill.

Marc Ambinder : "After August, conservatives have exhausted their repertoire of arguments and many of their demagogic tricks. Public support for significant health care reform as something worth doing remains high. Support for Obama's plan remains unchanged -- didn't grow, certainly, but didn't decline. Support among Democrats remains at 90%. Obama's message tomorrow night will be one that dovetails with what the American people believe: it's important to get health care reform done."

Jonathan Chait: "Despite all of the setbacks and all of the missed opportunities -- despite this train wreck of a month -- the situation remains remarkably similar to what it was before the recess. Significant health care legislation is likely to pass, particularly if Obama manages to give a good speech on Wednesday night. And while the possibilities for what that legislation might accomplish have certainly diminished, mostly for worse, it's not clear how much they have diminished -- and to what extent progressives may yet have the power to change that fact."

Most important, Democrats are coming to realize that failing to pass a bill when they control the House and Senate would be political suicide -- just like it was during the 1990s.

What's are those phrases again? A backhanded compliment? Damn with faint praise?

Seriously, I suppose passing any health care reform legislation (as opposed to health insurance reform) can be called quite an accomplishment, especially after so many years. It just doesn't feel all that meaningful if a public option goes by the wayside.

Analysts: Stimulus Is Contributing to Recovery

By GottaLaff

The good news and the ....

Half a year after Congress enacted the largest economic stimulus plan in the nation's history, the measure is contributing to what increasingly looks like a budding recovery, analysts say...

...but significant concern remains about rising unemployment and the initiative's contribution to the federal budget deficit.

While some congressional Republicans and others remain dubious about the success of the stimulus plan, economists generally agree that the package has played a significant part in stabilizing the economy.

They are less certain about how big the impact has been.

Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody's Economy.com, said, "I don't think it's any accident that the economy has gone out of recession and into recovery at the same time stimulus is providing its maximum economic impact."

Yet even as the economy shows signs of improving, labor markets remain as weak as they have been in a generation, with unemployment standing at 9.4 percent.

"It's very reasonable to say that the reason we're in recovery is because of the unprecedented policy response, and that includes all of the above."

VIDEO- GOPFail: Analysts predict billions in benefits from 'Cash for Clunkers'

By GottaLaff



The good news headline won't stop all those Rushpublic crankypants from whining and crying. And you know why they're whining and crying? Because President Ba-lack Obama is having a few success stories, and they can't bear that:

The "Cash for Clunkers" program will continue with a $2 billion supplement that some analysts say could provide a boost of billions of dollars more as it reverberates through the economy.

Critics, however, say the program merely shifts consumer spending from one area to another.

The tone of that video is more negative than positive. But go back and listen to the arguments. Go ahead, I'll wait....

... Done? Good. Let's recap:

"Marginal increases in fuel economy"? "Not where you'd put the first dollar if your real objective for saving energy"? ANY increase in fuel economy is a plus, and this is only part of an overall clean energy program. Improved fuel efficiency is coming.

As for that "buy now, buy now" criticism... wasn't that one of the objectives of the stimulus package? To provide a badly needed and immediate jolt, kinda like, you know, The Surge in Iraq that everyone is so fond of touting as a Big Success?

Yeah, it's probably a better idea to do absolutely nothing... or to say that somehow the economy will spontaneously improve, just as it somehow spontaneously crashed. That's the latest meme that the Rushpublics are desperately trying to push, anyway.

And their ideas have worked so well for us so far, haven't they?

GOP Wants Cash for ClunkersFail Because It Helps Mainstreet, USA. Too Late

By GottaLaff

Your Daily Dose of BuzzFlash, via my buddy Mark Karlin:

[T]he "cash for clunkers" program is so popular with Mainstreet Americans that it makes them feel more positive about the national government. My God, it's kind of like a tax break, but coming from the Democrats, but it benefits middle Americans, not just the tiny percentage of super wealthy, and it boosts the economy by increasing production -- not by just tossing 2 trillion dollars into the Wall Street gambling casino that only produces embossed paper shares that have little anchoring real value and gambling debts from the likes of derivatives.

Yes, the "cash for clunkers" additional 2 billion dollars will pass the Senate before adjournment because the horse is out of the barn, and the GOP won't be able to placate enraged potential car buyers with Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh "white victim" demagoguery if they filibuster it.

Consumers know a bargain -- and they're glad to get it from their government.

Much more here.

Dee-lish!

Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell predict 'clunkers' passage

By GottaLaff

Can we turn in Rushpublic clunkers for cash? I'm thinkin' that would be the fastest way to move us all into the wealthiest 1%:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said he has votes to extend "Cash for Clunkers," ensuring that the popular program will receive a $2 billion extension before Congress leaves for the recess.

And Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), a critic of the program, seems to agree with him.

"What I anticipate is that there will be a vote by the end of the week," McConnell said. "The matter will be completed by the end of the week."

Even the most resistant Senate Republican, Jim DeMint, when asked if he'd filibuster cash for clunkers, said: "it's not my intent right now."

My, my. A successful Democratic stimulus program and a major rescue in North Korea courtesy of the ObamAdministration... all in one week.

Those Corporate Tea Tantrumers are going to have to scream a whole lot louder to drown all that out.

Obama win rate with Congress: 95%-- Most successful in 50 + years

By GottaLaff

And we have a winnahhhh!

As his presidency approaches the half-year mark, Barack Obama is on pace to be the most successful Oval Office occupant in more than half a century when measured by his ability to get Congress to vote his way — even though he shows signs of carefully picking his fights on Capitol Hill. [...]

So far, Obama has taken clear positions on relatively few floor votes — 26 in the House and 37 in the Senate, including 20 votes to confirm his nominees. Still, his success score of 95.2 percent, if it continues for the rest of the year, would be the highest for any president since Congressional Quarterly began this measurement in 1953. That’s true not only for the first year of a presidency, but also for any year. [...]

Senate Republicans have so far supported Obama 56 percent of the time. That’s the second-highest Senate GOP support score for any Democratic president — just shy of the 60 percent they gave Clinton in 1997.

Tweet-O'-The-Day: Obama is a Success edition

By GottaLaff

Maybe Bill O'Reilly can include this Tweet-O'-The-Day in his new comic book:

Obama's trip success causes Dow to race above 8,000, and causes Rush Limbaugh's head to explode.

Suh-weet Tuh-weet!