Videos- President Obama stumps for Bennett in Colorado

Joe Lieberman: I’m trying to be less political in 2010

By GottaLaff

Shorter Traitor Joe: I've done so much damage, it would be hard to top myself. Besides, I'm toast:

The independent senator from Connecticut, who infuriated Democrats by backing Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for president, told The Hill, “I’m trying to have a more governmental/legislative, less political year.”

"More governmental"? What does that mean? Maybe he meant, more "mental"... if that's even possible.

He added that staying out of the campaign spotlight “will be a nice change. I don’t have any sort of yearning to get involved.”

Shorter Traitor Joe: Nobody wants to get within ten feet of me. I'm poison.

Call for Coakley!

By GottaLaff

I get e-mails:



The race for Ted Kennedy's Senate seat in Massachusetts is coming down to the wire.

And if Martha Coakley loses, her opponent could be that final Senate obstructionist the Republicans need to defeat health reform and the rest of President Obama's agenda.

We need to do everything we can to make sure voters know how important their vote for Coakley is -- and that they get to the polls Tuesday.

So I need you to keep calling voters in Massachusetts -- or start today if you haven't yet. Click here to log-in and start making calls.

And this time, we're going to do it a little differently.

On Sunday, supporters from around the country will call in to a national conference call.

We'll recognize the top callers from today (Saturday), talk about what we're about to do, get the lay of the land from some folks in Massachusetts right now, and set some big goals for each other.

And then we'll get calling.

Can you join us for a conference call at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 17th, followed by a round of calls to Massachusetts?

It'll be a fun way to start our calling off with others around the country -- and it could well make the difference in the fight for health reform.

The call-in Number is (712) 432-0075, and the participant code is 404-284.

Please sign up for your call, and submit any questions you'd like:

http://ma.barackobama.com/MAn2nCall

Let's finish this,

Jeremy

Jeremy Bird
Deputy Director
Organizing for America

P.S. -- There will also be a conference call at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. You can sign up for whichever is more convenient for you here: http://ma.barackobama.com/MAn2nCall

Details of Obama’s Coakley campaign visit

By GottaLaff

Too little too late, or a shot in the arm?

President Obama’s much anticipated campaign event Sunday for embattled Democratic Senate hopeful Martha Coakley will take place at 3 p.m. ET on the campus of Northeastern University, the White House announced late Saturday morning.

Get out the vote, Dems!

Gasp, President Obama is punctual!

The tone of this blurb of an article on President Obama bothers me a bit. I guess "Democrats" don't worry about middling things like being on time.

Obama has embraced ideas and hired former advisers to Bill Clinton, while distancing himself from George W. Bush on issue after issue. But Obama is more like his Republican predecessor in one regard: He tends to be punctual when traveling, sometimes getting so far ahead of schedule that aides, security agents and reporters scramble to adjust.

Clinton was notorious for falling hours behind schedule, as he spun yarns at fundraisers or played cards with friends. But Obama sometimes seems as eager to get home as Bush, who disliked sleeping in strange beds.

On a recent visit to Florida and Virginia, Obama left his Miami hotel 12 minutes ahead of schedule and virtually raced through his busy day. By mid-afternoon -- after two plane rides, two helicopter rides, several motorcades and a solar energy event -- he arrived nearly an hour early in Norfolk for the Deeds campaign rally.

Obama spoke for about 20 minutes, but still got back to Washington more than an hour ahead of schedule.

Quote of the Day

On the money. Via Taegan.

"When voters step back and analyze how he made this decision, I think he's going to be in big trouble. You just can't wing something like this -- it's too important."

-- Barack Obama, quoted in David Plouffe's new book, on Sen. John McCain picking Sarah Palin as his running mate.

Videos- HBO Documentary Films: By The People: The Election of Barack Obama Previews

Anti-Reform Group Internal Memo: “Rumors Of Death Of Public Option Greatly Exaggerated”

By GottaLaff

(click on image to enlarge; via)

Rick Scott's group, CPR, has put out a memo, and it is all too reminiscent of 2004:

In a clear sign that conservatives are worried that the public option could still survive, an internal memo from a top anti-health care reform group claims that “rumors of its death” have been “greatly exaggerated,” discusses plans to run new ads targeting it, and vows to redouble efforts to foment opposition to it at town hall meetings. [...]

The memo discusses a “Martha’s Vineyard ad strategy” that’s set to kick in next week. According to a source familiar with the group’s plans, this is a reference to a planned national ad targeting the public option that will reference the President’s vacation.

Shades of the Swiftboaty anti-Kerry wind surfing campaign? Oh yes, yes indeedy:

“Rumors of the death of the public option have been greatly exaggerated,” reads the memo, which is likely to be taken by liberal groups pushing for the public option as a sign that they need to redouble their fundraising and organizing efforts.

Read the memo. It's all there in blech-ch and white.

And speaking of blech-ch! Here's a brief refresher course on Ricky, plus another reason why you should re-read this earlier post and take action:

CPR chief Rick Scott was ousted as a hospital exec amid a 1990s fraud probe, and the memo will alarm pro-reform forces, because it shows that the anti-reform camp is beginning to sense that victory is within reach on their top goal: Killing the public option.

Don't fret, don't whine, don't cry. Just get on the phone and call.

Health Care Watch-- New Coalition of the Corrupt & Spineless: The List. Call them

By GottaLaff

UPDATE: I'm bumping this up and will continue to do so. It's that important:

Thank you Bob Cesca, for this list. Want to make a difference? Here's how:

The New Coalition of the Corrupt & Spineless:

THE WHITE HOUSE
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
Email

Harry Reid (D-NV) (just because)
Phone: 202-224-3542
Fax: 202-224-7327
Email

Max Baucus (D-MT)
Phone: 202-224-2651
Fax: 202-224-0515
Email

Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) (supports public option, but needs reinforcements)
Phone: (202) 224-5521
Email

Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) (supports public option, but needs reinforcements)
Phone: (202) 224-4843
Fax: (202) 228-1371
Email

Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
Phone: (202)224-5824
Fax: (202) 224-9735
Email

Kent Conrad (D-ND)
Phone: (202) 224-2043
Fax: (202) 224-7776
Email

Joe Lieberman (I-Douchebaggia)
Phone: (202) 224-4041
Fax: (202) 224-9750
Email

Evan Bayh (D-IN)
Phone: (202) 224-5623
Fax: (202) 228-1377
Email

Ben Nelson (D-NE)
Phone: (202) 224-6551
Fax: 202-228-0012
Email

Bill Nelson (D-FL)
Phone: 202-224-5274
Fax: 202-228-2183
Email

Chuck Schumer (D-NY) (supports the public option, but needs reinforcements)
Phone: (202) 224-6542
Fax: (202) 228-3027
Email

Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Phone: (202) 224-3841
Fax: (202) 228-3954
Email

Tom Carper (D-DE)
Phone: (202) 224-2441
Fax: (202) 228-2190
Email

Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Phone: 202-224-3441
Fax: 202-228-0514
Email

Mark Warner (D-VA)
Phone: 202-224-2023
Fax: 202-224-6295
Email

Mark Pryor (D-AR)
Phone: (202) 224-2353
Fax: (202) 228-0908
Email

Call them, email them, and don't stop. Keep pushing for a public option. Public option. Public option. Public option. Public option. Now go push.

RNC memo: ‘[E]ngage in every activity we can to slow down’ health care.

By GottaLaff

From the tone of the Comments in this thread (liveblog of President Obama's speech), it's obvious the GOP is in a bit of a panic. As you can see by the quote below, they are trying to do everything possible to prevent the Rushpublic party from going down... because if Obama gets his health care reform done, they are toast. Burnt toast.

Too bad this is all they have:

In a 12-page memo obtained by the Huffington Post, the RNC urges Republicans to “engage in every activity we can to slow down” health care reform: [...]

“The Republican National Committee will engage in every activity we can to slow down this mad rush while promoting sensible alternatives that address health care costs and preserve quality,” the memo affirmatively declares.

The memo also encourages members to organize town halls, write op-eds, and even engage in “street theater” protests outside Democratic events. “And in a bit of irony,” Huffington Post notes, “the memo’s authors encourage readers to frame the president as the one acting out of political motivations.” Indeed, one section of the memo reads, “Yes the party of change is up to the same old political tricks.”

Pot. Kettle. Political tricksters.

They must be organizing to comment on blogs, too. We haven't had an influx of trolls like this for quite awhile... which suits us just fine. Every time a troll comments an angel gets its wings we register more hits (ad revenue). But that's not important now. What is important is the hypocrisy. As in:

"America first": that's their motto.

Because, you know, our health care system has worked so well for us* so far. I pay $20,000 a year, what do you pay? And what do you get?

Did I mention I have to wait months for an appointment, weeks if it's urgent, days if it's extra super duper urgent? Die, baby, die.

Your thoughts?

*"And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this is working very well for them."

Mitch McConnell won't offer support for Ensign’s re-election + bonus Rachel Maddow C Street VIDEO!

By GottaLaff

Rats. Ship. Leaving.

[...] Ensign said “his support is coming from his fellow senators as well as those ‘on both sides’ of Senate leadership.” However, it appears that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is not part of that group. Today during a press conference on Capitol Hill, he declined to offer his public support for Ensign:

QUESTION: Senator McConnell, Senator Ensign has said that he will remain in office (inaudible) reelection. Do you support him in (inaudible)?

MCCONNELL: Well, I think Senator Ensign will have to speak to those issues himself. And you can ask him about it.

I guess Mitch McLipless doesn't care to be part of The Special C Street Family.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Or maybe he's just not willing to waste his time crying for Argentina.

Vulnerable GOPs want Palin to stay home

By GottaLaff

How's that resignation workin' for ya, Miss Personality Disorder?

Republicans facing tough elections in 2010 don’t want Sarah Palin campaigning with them.

Though the soon-to-be-former Alaska governor is seen as popular with the conservative grass roots, several Republicans said she’d help them by staying home in Wasilla. [...]

Several other lawmakers indicated a wariness about accepting help from Palin, but did not want to criticize the GOP’s vice presidential candidate from last year. They said Palin could hurt them by firing up Democrats.

An unnamed GOP lawmaker representing a district that Obama carried in 2008 told The Hill that if Palin came into his district, his opponent would “probably be doing a dance of joy.” [...]

Centrist Republican Rep. Mike Castle (Del.) said that Palin’s polarizing views, coupled with her surprise decision to resign with 18 months left in her term, would make it difficult to ask for her help.

“I think the combination of her being very conservative and the fact that what she did has concerned some of us would mean that people may be hesitant about having her in [to campaign],” said Castle, who is considering a bid for Senate in 2010.

Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R), who is running to become Michigan’s governor in 2010, said he needs a better explanation of why Palin suddenly quit her job before he’d want her campaigning with him in Michigan.

“I’ve thought about it but I don’t have an answer,” Hoekstra said. Before making a call on a Palin visit, he said, “I need a better understanding of why she quit. Why quit with a year and a half to go?”

She didn't have an answer? Well, don't worry... she'll try to find ya one and I'll bring it to ya.

H/t: Ellen

Quote of the Day

No argument here. Now let's hope we can do it again in '12.

"If you read history about Bobby Kennedy's unfinished race in '68, this was, in my view, the unfinished Bobby Kennedy campaign -- the idealism, the passion, the inspiration he gave to people, it was organic and it was real and it wasn't manufactured at a tactical level in the campaign. It was a function of the president's unique skill set and presence, and it was really taken advantage of by a campaign that for the first time using the social networking technology..."

-- McCain campaign manager Steve Schmidt, quoted by Politico, speaking with "unabashed admiration" of the Obama campaign.

Civil Rights Group Mobilizing On Dawn Johnsen's Behalf

By GottaLaff

My original posts about Dawn Johnsen's potential here, and the GOP filibuster threat here. But... and there's nearly always a but... thankfully, civil rights groups are all over this:

While it's not clear how serious Senate Republicans are about filibustering Dawn Johnsen's nomination as chief of the Office of Legal Counsel at DOJ, civil rights groups aren't waiting to find out.

Marge Baker, executive vice president of People for the American Way says, "We're going to do whatever we can to mobilize our members to make sure they're in contact with their representatives."

She says they'll be armed with two stories: that, contra Sen. John Cornyn, Johnsen is eminently qualified to head the OLC [...] and that GOP calls for a filibuster are hypocritical given the Republicans' usual contention that the president should have broad leeway to choose his advisers and cabinet officials, and their opposition to the filibuster for judicial nominees.

Baker:

"It's not ok to filibuster a lifetime appointment but it is ok to filibuster a temporary one?" She asked rhetorically. "It should be backward."

Speaking of backward... scilbuphsuR.

Awww: Jim Bunning Admits Fundraising is "Lousy"

By GottaLaff

Some funsy-wunsy Jim Bunning flashbacks can be found here, here, here, and here. Now this will make more sense. Feelings of schadenfreude encouraged:

As the first quarter fundraising period ended, Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) said told the Louisville Courier-Journal that his own efforts to raise money for his re-election campaign have been "lousy" so far.

Said Bunning: "If at first you don't succeed, you try, try, try again. We're working hard at it. Surprisingly we've had pretty good success the last month."

"The West Wing" Cast Comes to Washington to Lobby Card Check

By GottaLaff

Mmmm, I can almost hear strains of the W.W. theme song now:

If Congress won't listen to the real president push for the pro-union Employee Free Choice Act, maybe the popular fake president from TV's West Wing can win passage of the bill. Cast members of The West Wing, including Martin Sheen, Bradley Whitford, and Richard Schiff, will hit Capitol Hill Tuesday to debut a new grass-roots campaign to boost support for the controversial "card check" labor legislation. It was dealt a blow last week when Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter, most likely the deciding Senate vote, said he wouldn't vote for the bill. "I think it couldn't be a more appropriate time for them to be coming to town to help draw focus to this issue and draw focus to the workers," says Josh Goldstein, a spokesperson for American Rights at Work, which is hosting the event. [...]

Allison Janney, who played Press Secretary C. J. Cregg, now does work for EMILY's List, while Whitford is on the board of directors of American Rights at Work and was instrumental in bringing part of the cast back to Washington to fight for this bill. "He has been highly involved in activist work for fighting for the rights of America's workers," Goldstein says.

Anything that will help the cause is fine by me. I wonder if this campaign will make a difference. I sure hope so.

More than 10,000 of you have stood up to Bill O’Reilly

By GottaLaff

I'm sure Think Progress won't mind my copying and pasting this one in full:

Since the launch of our Stop Supporting The O’Reilly Harassment Machine campaign on Wednesday afternoon, more than 10,000 of you have taken action. Thank you for all your support! In just two days, here’s all the successes we’ve had:

– UPS announced it will no longer advertise on The Factor [Laffy Note: Paddy posted about that here]

– Capital One expressed “regret” for O’Reilly’s insensitivity and explain that it does not endorse his views.

– A Ford spokesman candidly told us that he agreed with us about the “rantings of the hopelessly pig-headed Mr. O’Reilly.” (Ford then clarified that the statement did not speak for the company)

– AT&T said it makes “every effort” to ensure their advertisers are in keeping with the company’s “corporate values and philosophy,” but it would not say whether O’Reilly’s show was in keeping with that philosophy.

– Bill O’Reilly lashed out at us, calling us “insects”

– Amanda appeared on MSNBC’s Countdown with Keith Olbermann to discuss the campaign

Let’s urge more companies to follow the lead of UPS. Please join our campaign.

Billo is messing with the wrong crowd. How nice that we are mobilizing so effectively for such a good cause.

RedState's Big Silly Putty campaign against Kent Williams

By GottaLaff

Compare the sentiments that continue to fester at RedState to those of today's events that have been posted down thread. Which do you think America is more apt to embrace:

RedState.com to [Joeyess]
show details Jan 14 (2 days ago)

Alerts@redstate.com

joe:

We've had several missions for the RedState Army of Activists. You probably haven't noticed as we've primarily directed them to individual states.

This should be one for an individual state, but we need to take this nationwide and make it a national rebuke.

Meet Kent Williams. He is allegedly a Republican in Tennessee. The GOP took the State House in Tennessee and rallied to one of their own to be Speaker.

Williams had other plans. He made a deal with the Democrats, betrayed the Republicans, and got himself elected Speaker. He then put a Democrat in the number two spot.

On opening day of the legislature the outgoing Democrat Speaker of the House stood behind Williams whispering directions in his ears.

It's clear he's a weak mind and will be putty in the hands of the Democrats.

Here's the assignment:

Kent Williams' address is 126 S. Main Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643.

Go here and send Kent Williams some silly putty. Let's put in his hands a pretty accurate representation of what he is.

http://astore.amazon.com/reds0b-20?%5Fencoding=UTF8&node=9

Sincerely yours,

Erick Erickson
Editor, RedState.com

I'm pretty sure RedStaters already have enough Silly Putty on hand, since kneading flesh-toned goop is most likely one of their more common and challenging pasttimes... that and Sit 'n' Spin for their more advanced members.

What an effective ploy, sending along eggs and eggs-worth of putty, especially the silly kind (how apt) to the Tennessee Speaker, a "bad" Republican (original post here). Apparently, he's not a silly enough Republican.

How could this brilliant idea fail? It's inspired! I'm sure minds will be changed, Williams will see the light, and once again, all will be well in RedStateLand.

This is typical of how Bush followers problem solve.

Maybe we should deluge them with Crazy Glue. It might help seal their mouths, since they've already sealed their fates. And hey, they can relate easily to the product name.

H/t: Joeyess for sharing this e-mail in Comments.

NBC promotes latest Ann Coulter book despite previous condemnations

By GottaLaff

The Madam's Apple is back:

Dear Friend, As you know, Ann Coulter has a long history of making controversial statements. In media appearances and her syndicated column, Coulter has likened President-elect Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler repeatedly, called Al Gore a "total fag," and written that without affirmative action, African-American Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) couldn't get a job "that didn't involve wearing a paper hat." She has also repeatedly discussed potential acts of violence against people she doesn't like or with whom she disagrees, including saying of Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens: "We need somebody to put rat poison in Justice Stevens' crème brulee." » Call NBC and ask why they are reportedly again helping Coulter promote her latest book despite past condemnations by NBC staff for her history of reprehensible comments. Despite this long and well-documented history of controversial statements, NBC has once again reportedly invited Coulter to promote her latest book on its airwaves. On Fox News' Hannity & Colmes, during a segment in which she called Obama an "atheist" and asked if "we could get all of his aliases before he's sworn in on the Quran," Coulter announced that she is scheduled to appear on the January 6, 2009, broadcast of NBC's Today. Enough is enough. Even NBC-affiliated hosts and anchors have expressed disgust over some of Coulter's more offensive rhetoric. Today co-host Meredith Vieira has acknowledged that the media are part of the problem, saying "we're perpetuating it." » Call NBC and ask why they are reportedly again helping Coulter promote her latest book despite past condemnations by NBC staff for her history of reprehensible comments. It is time to hold NBC accountable. In light of both her history and the numerous condemnations of her by NBC staff, the network should reconsider reportedly providing her with a platform from which to make these comments. Call NBC today and let them know what you think. Thank you for your continued support. Eric Burns President Media Matters for America P.S. Invite your friends, family, and co-workers to call NBC as well. Forward them this important message -- Click Here.

---

Good ol' corporate network news.

60 Minutes- The Long-Shot Candidate

It was interesting to see all this again. I remember watching Obama's announcement that he was running way back on that cold day in February and thinking, "Man, it would be great, but it's not going to happen". Thank g-d I was wrong.