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Sen. Robert Byrd -- the longest-serving member of Congress -- passes away at the age of 92… His death could complicate the Democrats' math in the Senate… Kagan's SCOTUS hearing begins today at 12:30 pm ET… Previewing the GOP line of attack against her… Was the past week a turnaround for the White House, or a mirage of one (Friday's job numbers will be key in answering that question)?… Breaking down Obama's answers at yesterday's press conference (on the deficit/debt, Afghanistan, and Kagan)… And Giannoulias gets subpoenaed in Blago's corruption trial.
*** Byrd passes away: In the middle of the night, West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd (D) -- the longest serving member of Congress (from 1953-2010) -- passed away. He was 92. And much like Ted Kennedy's death nearly a year ago, Byrd's passing complicates the math for Democrats in the Senate, at least temporarily. Democrats now have a 58-41 majority in the chamber, so two votes shy of the 60 needed to break a filibuster. That could make passing the financial reform legislation -- which seemed more than likely this week, with President Obama hoping to sign it into law before July 4 -- a bit more difficult than first thought. It also might deny Elena Kagan an additional vote for her confirmation to the Supreme Court. Democratic West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin will have the ability to fill Byrd's seat, but it is unclear whether that replacement can serve out the remainder of Byrd's term (which is up in 2013), Politico writes. However, a Manchin adviser tells First Read that he doubts there will be a special election in November.
*** Kagan's big day: Speaking of Kagan, beginning today at 12:30 pm ET, the Senate Judiciary Committee holds its hearings on her bid to succeed John Paul Stevens on the U.S. Supreme Court. Today, we'll see the opening remarks from the senators who sit on the committee, from Sens. John Kerry and Scott Brown (who will introduce her), and then from Kagan. Tuesday and Wednesday feature the Q&A; and Thursday will bring us the witnesses who will testify for and against Kagan's nomination. But this won't be the only highly publicized confirmation hearing this week. On Tuesday, beginning at 9:30 am, the Senate Armed Services Committee holds its hearings on David Petraeus' nomination to be the new U.S. commander in Afghanistan.
*** Previewing the GOP attacks: On TODAY this morning, NBC's Pete Williams previewed the Kagan hearings, pointing out that although she was easily confirmed as U.S. solicitor general (Republicans Coburn, Collins, Gregg, Hatch, Kyl, Lugar, and Snowe voted for her), she'll face much tougher questions this week. Among them: Harvard Law School's policy towards military recruiters, her lack of judicial experience, her views on abortion and gun rights, and even her argument 15 years ago that the Supreme Court nomination hearings shouldn't be a "charade" and that nominees should offer up full and honest answers. The latest GOP attack on Kagan has been describing her as a "political adviser" and "political operative" for her work in the Clinton White House (though that work wasn't much different than Chief Justice John Roberts' work in the Reagan administration). Our latest NBC/WSJ poll showed 29% supporting Kagan's nomination, 23% opposing it, and 47% who didn't know enough to say -- meaning that this week's hearings are going to be important.
*** A turnaround or a mirage? What a difference a couple of weeks can make. After being besieged, first, by criticism of its handling of the Gulf spill and, then next, by criticism from Gen. Stanley McChrystal on Afghanistan, the White House begins this week with a pep in its step. This comes, of course, after President Obama fired McChrystal over the controversial comments he and his team made to Rolling Stone, replacing him with Gen. David Petraeus. And it comes after the House and Senate finalized an agreement on the financial reform legislation, with Congress expected to vote on this final package this week and with Obama expected to sign it into law before July 4 (yet that was before Byrd's passing. But this week's job report -- on Friday -- will bring us news that will determine if we're really seeing a turnaround of sorts for the White House, or if last week's relatively good news was an exception to what has been a difficult spring and summer. One other thing: Not only is there some pep in staffers' step, but there's a resignation that they know something unexpected is coming. And this may be a good thing for them; they seem to finally be in a comfortable rhythm for the unexpected.
*** 'I'm doing it because I said I was going to do it': In his press conference concluding his G-8/G-20 trip to Canada, President Obama gave this statement in response to a question about the steps his administration has taken/will take to reduce the deficit. He mentioned his call for a discretionary spending freeze, PAYGO, and his debt-reduction commission. And then he said this: "One of the interesting things that's happened over the last 18 months as president is, for some reason, people keep on being surprised when I do what I said I was going to do. So I say I'm going to reform our health care system and people think, well, gosh, that's not smart politics, maybe we should hold off. Or I say, we're going to move forward on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and somehow people say, well, why are you doing that, I'm not sure that's good politics. I'm doing it because I said I was going to do it… And people should learn that lesson about me, because next year when I start presenting some very difficult choices to the country, I hope some of these folks who are hollering about deficits and debt step up, because I'm calling their bluff."
*** Obama on Afghanistan: Also during yesterday's press conference, Obama gave this response about Afghanistan and when the U.S. will leave: "My focus right now is how do we make sure that what we're doing there is successful, given the incredible sacrifices that our young men and women are putting in. And we have set up a mechanism whereby we are going to do a review..., and that by next year we will begin a process of transition. That doesn't mean we suddenly turn off the lights and let the door close behind us."
*** Obama on Kagan: And Obama was asked about Kagan's SCOTUS nomination. His answer: "I am absolutely confident that if you give a fair reading of Elena Kagan's record and her performance in every job that she's had, what you see is somebody with an extraordinarily powerful intellect; somebody with good judgment; somebody who understands the impact that laws have on individual Americans; somebody who is able to broker understandings between people of very difficult ideological bents… So as I examine some of the arguments that have been floated against her nomination over the last several weeks, it's pretty thin gruel. Having said that, I expect that my Republican colleagues and my Democratic colleagues should ask her tough questions, listen to her testimony, go through the record, go through all the documents that have been provided to the Senate Judiciary Committee, and then vote their conscience."
*** Americans' views on Israel: We had so many interesting numbers in our new NBC/WSJ poll that we didn't have time last week to talk about all of them. Today, we look at the American public's attitudes toward Israel after that country's raid on a flotilla headed for Gaza. In the poll, 61% -- an all-time high in the poll -- say they sympathize more with Israel than with Arab nations. Also, a plurality of 34% believe Israel's actions against that flotilla was justified, compared with 29% who say they weren't justified, and 32% who don't know.
*** Alexi and Blago: Turning to the midterms, Illinois Democratic Senate nominee Alexi Giannoulias has said that Rod Blagojevich's attorneys "have subpoenaed him to testify at Blagojevich's corruption trial. Giannoulias said Sunday that he introduced a friend of President Barack Obama's to a union official. The friend, Valerie Jarrett, allegedly was Obama's choice to replace him in the Senate after he was elected president. Prosecutors say Blagojevich sought favors from the White House in return for Jarrett's appointment and delivered the message through the union official."
*** More midterm news: In Arizona, it was announced that John McCain and J.D. Hayworth will face off in back-to-back debates on July 16 and 17… In California, Carly Fiorina has launched an ethnic outreach tour… And in Massachusetts, Charles Baker (R) is gaining ground on Gov. Deval Patrick in that state's gubernatorial contest, pew a new Boston Globe poll.
Countdown to AL run-off: 15 days
Countdown to GA primary: 22 days
Countdown to OK primary: 29 days
Countdown to KS and MO primaries: 36 days
Countdown to CO and CT primaries: 43 days
Countdown to Election Day 2010: 127 days
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Hypocrite and Scumbag:
Sometimes stories come and go as the 24-hour news cycle is like the old Cookie Monster on Sesame Street. But last week I saw an interview CBS did with Bobby Jindal.
Jindal’s actions deserved some major exposure. For weeks now he has been attacking President Obama for not doing enough in Louisiana. Jindal was trying to make political hay saying that our President was not moving fast enough.
Well, I tip my hat to CBS for revealing that President Obama had authorized 6,000 National Guard troops to fight the oil spill, but Jindal activated only 1,053. Eighty percent of the authorized troops were not activated and remained idle!
When caught in this political game, Jindal tried to blame federal government “red tape”, but Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen simply said that was a lie. Jindal’s requests were approved within the same day.
I guess it is a question of who you believe, but Adm. Thad Allen is not trying to make political points so I believe the Admiral. What were the 1053 troops told to do? Not to clean up the beaches and wetlands, but to keep reporters away from BP officials! Now isn’t that incredible!
So we have another Republican, along side Joe Barton, who is beholden to BP. That wouldn’t be so bad in normal times, but not during a crisis. Governor, your beaches are being destroyed and you are NOT making every effort to mitigate the problem! You are letting the problem get worse by playing politics and trying to blame the President, just to gain points with BP.
So I ask again, why are the hard working fishermen and laborers voting for Republicans? Don’t they know that their governor is a hypocrite and a scumbag?
Ron who can forget Piyush's hard line stance AGAINST the stimulus package?
Then when no one was looking Bobby Bo Jingles was running around the state holding up GIANT checks like he was Ed McMahon with the Publishers Clearing House!
Scumbag indeed!
The New York Times also ran a story about how Jindal has been slow to respond to the oil spill crisis that his party's anti-regulatory zeal made inevitable. But I doubt we'll hear anything about this on CNN. Anderson Cooper has practically beatified Jindal and has him on every other night to bash President Obama for his supposedly slow response to the oil spill. CNN has bought into the "Obama bad, Jindall good" narrative, and they're not going give their viewers any facts that don't promote that narrative. Like Michael Moore once said of CNN and its biased reporting on medical care: Who's keeping them honest?
What happened to the money that BP also sent his way? MI also has an allotment of 6,000 National Guard and they have called up even less. Jindal is playing politics with the lives of his people, they do not see it though because they still think Rush and Glenn are truthsayers.
The Misinformation Channel tried to make an arguement about how our President could react so fast on the McChrystal issue and take over 60 days on the gulf. Gretchen Carlson ask Newt if that was not a good analog. And on TV Newt said NO WAY. Put President Carlson in her place.
Good morning, Ron ~ Big ditto to your post. Bpbby Jindal is a walking exercise in irony, as well as hypocrisy. You may also recall that Jindal was dead set against the economic stimulus package because he was opposed to government spending on such frivolous things as, for example, volcano monitoring in Alaska. It's all in whose ox is gored and when. Those national guard troops sound a little bit like Jindal's perverse version of Ray Nagin's school buses.
As for whether Louisiana fisherpersons know their governor is a hypocrite and a scumbag, they know only what they hear. And the only thing they've heard for too long is that liberals are demons who want to take money out of their pockets and give it to illegal aliens. They don't drink the sand because they're thirsty; they drink the sand because they don't know the difference.
But here's a serious question for you -- what republican is NOT beholden to BP, or at least to the oil industry in general? I certainly can't think of one. For that matter, the list of democrats who are not beholden to the oil industry is probably pretty short, too. It's the natural consequence of "pay to play." And until we fix that, we will get this.
Good post as usual, Ron. Also last week was the infamous "wall of barges" that supposedly would create an impenetrable barrier to oil. Behind the barges? Dead marshland, killed by the oil that managed to slip by. On the morning news this morning was a little look at skimming/boom operations and a reporter on the beach with a bit of tar mixed with sand. A storm had pushed the boom up onto the beach and the the oil over the top of the booms. Also a note that oil is increasingly showing up without ever having been seen as a slick, giving time to mobilize to the extent possible. The dispersant is keeping the oil suspended below the surface in small droplets. When it gets to warmer water the droplets rise to the surface and foul the beach in a sort of sneak attack.
The lesson of all of this, I think, is that effective regulation and improved safety devices at the wells themselves are the only lines of defense. Anything else is like the Cat in the Hat trying to clean up that pink ring around the tub. He just spread it around instead of actually cleaning much of anything. We'll get part of it but there's enough left to wreak havoc on the environment and the jobs of those who depend on a clean Gulf to make a living. Of course that would be bad, it would send the rigs off to drill near Brazil and West Africa or some such, and no one will ever drill for oil in America again. Except of course all the places where we're already drilling. And shallow water. And the new areas that were opened by the Bush Administration. And the oil companies will be chafing at the bit to get back into reserves that they already are aware of, since that's cheaper than exploring new places. Somehow this tiny bit of missed opportunity is more important than the many more jobs that have been destroyed in fishing, tourism, and related industries, not to mention the dead wildlife and the persistent poisons we're erupting into the environment. Oh, the hypocrisy of it all.
Anna Molly:
I recall your senator Russ Finegold wanted to make some serious changes in election reform. With the Supreme Court messing with big companies making donations, I think we will see a lot of "pay to play".
Ironically, Ron, Feingold sold his soul for campaign finance reform by giving in on the John Ashcroft nomination. An interesting example, all by itself, of pay to play. And, sadly, not much real reform. But you're right. The Citizens United decision only covered indirect contributions, but the Court's twisted analysis would apply equally to direct contributions. Corporations probably think this may not be the right moment in history to prove that, and they can probably accomplish just as much with what they've already got.
Mark and Domenico:
I too wish Byrd to rest in peace. Forgive me for sounding heartless, but who is now President ProTempore and fourth in line of succession?
Sorry I missed CBS's broadcast. Maybe I need to switch stations to the one challenging the political officials. Good post as always.
Excellent Post. I am starting to question if my concern for what is going on in the Gulf may be misguided. I keep seeing how the politicians in this region and playing games with the lives of its people, and the people are not standing up for themselves, or if they are we the people are not seeing it. All I here is President Obama this, President Obama that. BP is our friend, where are the resources?
Why are not the poeple of LA sitting in front of Jindals office asking him what he is really doing to help them. Same for that clown in MI. Why have they not activated more National Guard then complain they have no-body t clean up the mess. What about the money that has already been given to some of these states. What are they doing with that. Is Jindal waiting for another photo op so he can take the credit as he astands there with the check????
I hope I am the only one that is starting to feel this way, but I suspect maybe not.
I have been singing this song from day one. What about the states and their responsibilities. Should'nt the states be the first responders in this case?
These media reporters and pundits keep blamimg the President instead of asking questions participants on this and other boards have being asking.
Penny,
This Activist Supreme Court Bench is sure doing everything they can to Nationalize ALL Debate on every topic. States Rights, indeed?!
Ron, You idiot, you think that the people of the area affected by the oil will vote for Oilbama? He failed miserably to stop the oil from reaching their shores. Don't beg for votes. You and the Disastocrats are responsible for this Disaster. Talking about Bush, this is nothing compared to Bush's behavior. The American people don't want another 4 years of his rule. They won't survive it. You're witnessing their anger and frustration with the defeat of the Democrats in the primaries.
Wake up Juven. It's time for your meds...
Juven, I am sorry, but you seem to have your facts terribly distorted. What did Your State's Reps do to stop the oil?? THEY are the ones who have the Ability (or are Supposed to) to be the First Responders. After all, it is YOUR beaches and wetlands being impacted, so what did You and Yours do?? Apparently NOthing. What ARE You and Yours doing?? Apparently NOthing but complaining that the Federal Government, whom you have been complaining for Decades gets "Too Much Into State's Business" is now "Not Doing Enough for the States". Which way is it?? You cannot have both. And if you have been actually reading the news, you would find that the Federal response is actually based on the STATE's response plans...Which there were None, or were terribly outdated. So totally get over the whole 'Obama hasn't stopped the oil' gig, that has been totally debunked now and the STATES and THEIR representatives and governors are the ones at fault...Jindal is actually complicit with BP at this point, having accepted $25M from them and apparently only using it for airtime for his own political aims.
So Juven, get off that horse, it wont walk, let alone canter or gallop, except over a cliff with you riding it to the very rocky bottom!! You should have checked it's teeth and hooves before handing over your money and mind to those dishonest horse traders on Faux Neuz!
I used to be a KKK leader and among the old documents I found a statement issued by the klan many years ago. The Imperial Wizard was quoted many years ago that the worst mistake the KKK ever made was to recruit that snake oil salesman Robert Byrd. He didn't quit the Klan . He was all ready to corrupt even for the KKK
Barack Obama is the President of the United States.
Last week in South Carolina, an African-American candidate soundly defeated the son of segregationist Strom Thurmond...and it wasn't even close.
Senator Robert Byrd's time passed long ago. Now, so has he.
R.I.P.
Surprisingly, I don't disagree with this. As Feisty said, Godspeed to Senator Byrd, and thoughts and prayers to his family.
Godspeed Senator Byrd!
And I am looking forward to watching the Republican’ts make a@@es out of themselves (like they know any different) in attempting to block the Kagan confirmation! lol
Feisty,
Let us see what the Repugs do for us this week. May be tough to beat last week.
You mean there really IS a number less than zero?
Thanks you two for the laugh! :0))
Anna,
Too funny. Thanks. But if there is one, they will find it.
I have said for months, just when I think they can't get any lower, someone throws 'em a shovel and they keep digging.
Perhaps to embrace China's thriving economy?
Considering that in a recent vote in N.C. the totals in many counties added up to Over 100% of registered voters, I would suppose that the Repubs can certainly find a way to come up with negative numbers too!
Hiya Gang, I am ready for another fun week of Whack-a-Troll, I hope that they actually provide us with some intelligent opinions which would make the game that much more interesting. Please note that this is not a denigration of those who post here with real opinions (some of which I disagree with and will argue the point...but that is the point of this blog) but to the drive-by trolls who just pop their heads up occasionally.
Robert Byrd will be remembered in American Politics for a long, long time. May he be entered into the history books with honest attendance to his good and bad sides, his victories and losses and an honest accounting of his impact on politics and our Government in general.
May the Gentleman Rest In Peace!!
RIP Senator Byrd...People do learn, grow, change...sometimes even for the better...
Well said dangerfield, I agree. IMO that's one of the most inspirational thing about Byrd's life. He recognized his bad attitudes and indefensible positions on the subject of race. He faced them full on, apologized to all affected, and demonstrated that the change in attitude was real by backing it up with action. Rest in Peace.
Ron,
You are correct in that Jindal is not doing everything to mitigate the problems. What he IS doing is manipulating the situation for what he considers to be his best potential political benefit.
We saw this clearly last week when Pyius literally cheered at the Judge's ruling to stay the moratorium on exploratory rigs. Was Jindal honest about the economic impact of shutting down 33 out of 3,600 wells? Of course not! If Pyius was really concerned about the people or ecology of LA, he would have been out there with the Government challenging his oil buddies to PROVE they are safely operating and HAVE a plan for responding to any disaster that actually references experts that are still among the living and that make allowances for wildlife beyond the walruses and seals that were well accounted for in the plans of EVERY oil company operating in the Gulf.
Ron, those affected most by the spill will; hopefully, begin to see what people like Pyius and Barbour are all about. They care not one whit for the people of their state as long as their own political career can advance and they can continue to line the pockets of themselves and their friends with the prolific oil money that seems to infiltrate every decision made in that region of the country.
Now, can our wonderful 2 party system please pass an extension of unemployment benefits; It is the right thing, economically, politically, and most important, morally...
I agree, the Dems need to go ahead and MAKE the Repubs actually Hold a filibuster, making them step up and speak for the entire time, instead of just buckling to the Threat of a filibuster. If they are going to threaten, Make them do it in the plain light of day and the media. I have an idea that it would not take too long at all before the threat went away and the extension passed. The Dems have a MAJORITY in both the House and the Senate, why do they not actually press this advantage and call the Repubs out for their threats and grandstanding obstructionism? America would be Much better for it!!
But Ron, what else can you expect from someone that runs from their REAL first name. Piyush never uses his first name and always goes by the name he took from a fictional brady bunch character. I've always thought that there were issues behind that. I'm really not that fond of leon but I haven't told people to call me Billy yet. To me, his renouncing his name Piyush that easily shows a lack of honesty.
RIP Robert Byrd
leon, you are so absolutely right.
I worked for a guy who ran from his name and he was pretty dishonest to the core. A capitalist who ran a promising company (that his wife created) into the complete dirt heap.
PS. Are you leon, Houston? Feisty and I have been worried about you! take care!
Clara - yessss that's our 'Leon' ;0)
Leon: Take care of yourself. We need your thoughts and wisdom.
Robert Byrd was also a friend and staunch supporter of another great American; J. Edgar Hoover. The hypocrisy here is interesting regarding Byrd. The only former KKK member in the U.S. Congress was a Democrat.
CU F,
The others left and are in the Republican Party, still bigoted and still white.
I don't hear anyone defending that CU. Please don't try manufacture an dispute where there isn't any. To be honest, I think Bag Boy said it best. And I may be the only one here who's not surprised by that.
The hypocrisy is yours, CU. Byrd changed his views as he matured. He stayed with the Democratic Party as it became more progressive. But hardcore racists in the Democratic Party like Strom Thurmond became Republicans.
Senator Byrd did an interview with Bernard Shaw in December 1993.
Q: What has been your biggest mistake and your biggest success?
A: Well, it's easy to state what has been my biggest mistake. The greatest mistake I ever made was joining the Ku Klux Klan. And I've said that many times. But one cannot erase what he has done. He can only change his ways and his thoughts. That was an albatross around my neck that I will always wear. You will read it in my obituary that I was a member of the Ku Klux Klan.
Compare that to Democrat turned Dixiecrat turned Republican Senator Strom Thurmond who, when asked in 1998 if he had any regrets about running as a segregationist announced, "I don't have anything to apologize for," and "I don't have any regrets."
So, what was your point?
CU Farley
Come on now you know he was a southern democrate, this was the reason why years ago blacks were republicans, southern democtats were they guys who put jim crow laws into effect after reconstruction. farley you know that!!!!
CU:
Sen. Byrd joined the KKK when he was a young, impressionable man - 23 or 24 years old. Ironically, it was during that time that he decided to pursue a political career. He lost interest in the KKK, stopped paying his dues and quit the organization. He realized his mistake.
Byrd explained in his 2005 autobiography that he was a member because he "was sorely afflicted with tunnel vision—a jejune and immature outlook—seeing only what I wanted to see because I thought the Klan could provide an outlet for my talents and ambitions." Byrd also said, in 2005, "I know now I was wrong. Intolerance had no place in America. I apologized a thousand times... and I don't mind apologizing over and over again. I can't erase what happened."
CU, have you evolved and matured as a person since you were 23 or 24 years old? Have you changed at all? Have you faced your selfish ambitions, deepest fears and prejudices, overcome them, and apologized to the world repeatedly for them? Until you have done so, who are you to judge Robert Byrd?
Gail, excellent post and voted.
Gail and Da Noid - perfectly stated. Thank you, both!
CU gets the bottom dweller vote of the day for being FIRST to bring it up,...What will they write in your obit, CU?
He was still a Granad Dragon in his heart. Everything else is political theatre. Those of you that are caucasion on here can dismiss what he did very easily, African Americans can't. Maybe he can be forgiven but not forgotten for what he did.
I was born during the decline of the Civil Rights era but my father speaks of Byrd and his participation in the Klan. As a man that experienced that violent era, he said Byrd will never be forgiven.
He will always be linked to the KKK the same way some of you will always link Republicans to bigot and racists.
Clara - Speaking of bottom dwellers... You couldn't ask for better timing! lmao!
At least Senator Byrd was not a closet racist. He long ago admitted his mistake and went on to lead a productive life as an exemplary senator and supporter of civil rights.
I would wager there were other KKK members in the past but they never came out publicly.
R.I.P.
Let's not forget a Congressman from Texas who campaigned against the 1964 Civil Rights Act. George H.W. Bush. At least Senator Bird evolved and moved passed the segregation era. Unlike many Neanderthals and GOP Teabaggers.
Fiesty:
You know I'm getting realy tired of your snark ass remarks. Your going to make me call you something that probablly won't make it past the moderators, but I think you are F'n with the wrong brother.
Sheila:
So I guess open racism is not RACISM but closet racism is. Makes no sense. I know your not black making a statement like this. Some of those OPEN racist committed the most agregeous acts known to man.
Byrd filibustered the MOST important Civil Rights bill.
What have Democrats done for the black community since the Civil Rights Act?
Point Blank: He was an active member of the KKK and he has gotten a pass the last 40 yrs.
ITM,
You make your own hypocrisy and 'lie' in it. Funny how you embrace the Dixiecrat mentality now. At least you KNOW who your "real" friends are.
You're joking..right? What have the Democrats done for the Black Community since the CRA?
Let's start with minimum wage increases, Pell Grants and college loan programs, Federal Fair Housing, Head Start, ADC, Job Training programs, Medicaid, Medicare, Equal Employment Opportunities, Consumer Protection laws, Hate Crimes legislation....and Oh, did I mention anything about HEALTHCARE?
Feelin's mutual ITM...
InTheMiddle, TX:
You are absolutely right. I can never know what your forefathers, your father, and you have endured, simply because of skin color. It will take many generations to work through that horrible pain, if it can ever be resolved.
I'm certainly not giving Robert Byrd a pass. His membership in a racist organization was wrong and he made a terrible error in judgment. I take him at his word that he was sorry and regretted his past involvement. However, you state that he never ended his involvement with the KKK. Would you please provide more information to support your assertion?
ITMT, go join the republicans, maybe then you'll find some real racist. People do screw up. Get over it. We have all fallen short. People won't accept apologies for their own selfish reasons.
"Clara - Speaking of bottom dwellers... You couldn't ask for better timing! lmao!"
Feisty- one of 'em (ITM) can change hands in mid air, and gain two strokes. The other one (CUF) can change hands in mid air, and forget what he's doing.
Oh, and Feisty- please don't make me come clean off your keyboard and montior, 'k?
IntheMiddle, TX-
"What have Democrats done for the black community...?
Oh my, ItM...
I went 'round and 'round right here at First Read after posing a very similar question just the other day.
Oh well, I doubt that it'll be suggested that you're a racist; as was implied, if not explicitly stated, in my case...
But, that said, I wouldn't be totally shocked, either.
LMFAO Drive-By... You 'get' it!
Monitor & keyboard escaped unharmed... but damn THAT was funny!
Well, may be it's a color thing. I'm of South Asian descent, and I agree with ITM. Bryd should not have been given the pass he got. He was in his twenties when he joined the KKK - he wasn't a 12 year old child. It seems that he has never sufficiently explained a)What his views were at the time of joining b)What caused them to supposedly change, so I'm quite skeptical that his "change of heart" was anything other than pure political theater.
Do not know what to say about Byrd. To his family of course our prayers go out to them. Byrd was one of those who maybe grew up and matured regarding his tolerance level. Who knows. But one does know that there was a double standard applied to Byrd, at least his past, versus some Republicans of late who have been crticized to a greater degree for their intolerant comments and positions. It appeared that Byrd matured, he seemed to be more of a tolerant people's person in his later years. Let's just hope it was sincere and leave it at that.
Good morning everyone.
They say that as people mature they get more like themselves. I share your hope that this was true for Senator Byrd.
I saw the President slammed all weekend, as usual. It seems the more he does, the more the knives come out. It seems to me that he's trying to enact the best policies he can get, which in turn, will help the left, the right, the center. Republicans. Democrats. Back to his there are no red states, no blue states philosphy. There is only a United States. And of course, he's correct.
Ron, the story on Jindal is disgusting. And Barbour.
I loved the President's press conference last night.
Afghanistan. Meet the Press yesterday was informative, interesting. No pundits. Just experts. Who know what they're talking about.
Have to disagree with you there, Pat. Senator McCain, who was on MTP, only knows which way he THINKS the wind is blowing. I'm still waiting to hear his "expert" opinion about how to find Osama bin Laden. Or maybe he's saving that for 2012. I think Nixon was saving his "secret plan" to end the War in Vietnam for then, as well.
I wasn't referring to Senator McCain; I was referring to the guests around the table later on in the program. I didn't make that clear.
LoL and of course I missed that part. Sorry.
No problem Anna. I wasn't clear myself. I'm with you on Sen. McCain. 100%.
Good Morning All,
The Senate has lost another lion. Senator Byrd was a towering figure in the Senate, yes, he was flawed, but aren't we all.
He found redemption from his past and was forgiven for his past involvement in the KKK and spent the rest of his life working to better life for all Americans. May he rest in peace.
The President's comment about doing "what I said I would do" resonated, and is something I've felt for a while now about his agenda and follow through. From Health Care to Afghanistan, he has done what he said he would do. We may not have liked watching it get done, and we may not always agree with the specifics and details, but he's stuck to his promises in most ways. Anyone who actually listened to what he said during the campaign (and not just heard what they wanted to hear) knows this.
Speaking of media narratives, how come CBS and the NY Times have found out about how Jindal has been dragging his feet on the oil spill response but FirstRead is silent? I hope they're not pushing the same bogus pro-Jindal narrative that CNN is.
Follow the money, Houston.
The White House shouldn't be celebrating a Financial Reform package. What a joke! The only reform I need to see is how about banks doing there job and denying people with bad credit a loan. Make them rent and earn back there credit. Also, how about people doing a little bit more research and not falling for bells and whistles banks like to announce to get your business. And stop taking out a loan that is more than you can afford!
Let's start accepting responsibility America!
Cult of Personality, what say you about a system in which the "worst" customers, those most likely to default are in fact the most profitable? One in which those who originated the loans had no skin in the game because they just resold to someone else? Someone else who disguised bad loans as good and resold them to someone farther up the chain? And so on, and so on, with the risk being hidden better with each transaction until we had a system that was all risk, and little reward except for the exorbitant salaries of those who built this house of cards? A system that was built on exploiting people who it was known would not be able to pay was destined to fail. A regulatory system that was neutered to the point where that couldn't be stopped is a disgrace.
But it's all the fault of people who wanted a house, and believed the Realtor or loan officer who told them they qualified. There's plenty of blame to go around here, the victims don't deserve all of it.
Thank you Robert Byrd for such long and storied service to our country! However this brings up a sore point with me in that too many old old people aren't retiring to enjoy their golden years when they should. The same with 89 year old Helen Thomas, while she gave us superb service for so long she really overstayed her stay as a working journalist. When old people do not retire in a timely manner that just means that there are less job openings at the bottom for young workers to get their work careers started.
It's not like Byrd or Thomas or any of the old geezers who cling to their jobs way too long actually need the money to live on. They have good retirement accounts and after working so many decades one would think they have enough money to live on in retirement. It's rather selfish of these old geezers to cling to their jobs when they don't need them when there are so many young people unemployed who need to get their work careers started so they will have enough to retire on.
We saw that in the past few years Senator Byrd could no longer function as a full time Senator, only got wheeled in for special votes. We need younger politicians who are healthy enough to work full time, not part-time old geezers who only show up occasionally. This speaks for the need for term limits or age limits for politicians and supreme court members. We need a mandatory retirement age nationally that is an upper limit and we need to care for our old folks who have given us so much for so long. We need to make sure a few old greedy geezers don't muck up the work chances of younger generations so they have the chance to give themselves a good retirement.
I was sorry to hear of Senator Byrd's passing. He upheld the old traditions of the Senate, and understood that it must be a deliberative body. Who will take that role now, since the Senate seems determined to crash and burn and become that which they were never intended to be? I believe that even my friend Mixed Bag would say that Senator Byrd WAS a mixed bag, of some good judgments, some bad, but the sum total of his life was service. He was also the historian of the Senate and understood why the old traditions were important, though he did take things a wee bit too far at times. Couple that were in the Huff Post article were his aversion to laptops, and the time he tried to stop a blind Senate aide from bringing her Seeing Eye dog onto the floor of the Senate. My condolences to his family.
That would be an understatement, newday.
Thank you Sen. Byrd for your service to America. A great American. Rest in Peace.
A real shame so many Americans are fooled into backing Israel when Israel has become the new Nazi Germany replete with their cries for Lebensraum and their Gaza Concentration Camp. After propping up this failed rogue nuclear state for decades all we've ever gotten in return is more and more Muslim enemies. Instead of working for Middle East Peace Israel has been doing nothing but stalling the peace process so they can steal all the land from the Palestinians that used to be theirs so the Israelis can build their illegal settlements. Just like how white people pushed the native American Indians off their lands.
Until Israel stops stealing Palestinian land and ends it's Gaza Concentration Camp we will keep seeing increased radicalized Muslims fired up and ready to go joining al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Until Israel makes peace with the Palestinians and gives them a just settlement there will be no peace in the Middle East and we'll be stuck fighting Israel's enemies for decades or centuries to come.
When this kid starts to spew this kind of race-hatred, he stops being a simple nuisance...
I might have said it a little differently that Eric did, but what's wrong with saying that until we resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we will have no real peace in the Middle East, and terrorism will continue to be a problem?
Actually I don't see any race hatred here, I see simple honesty. He is NOT attacking Jews, he is talking about the State of Israel, which even though it is essentially Jewish, the actions of the State itself has no relationship to it's religion at all. Instead it is treating others under it's power, on land that they want, JUST like they themselves were treated, all except for the gas chambers and tattooed numbers. However, the way that they have Ghettoized and restricted the Palestinians on nearly every front is absolutely abhorrent and indeed makes them the aggressors in this conflict and echos what happened to them by the Germans in WWII. When you attack a people notionally under your care, with tanks, aircraft, missiles and artillery, firing white phosphorus into hospital zones and populated areas, using human shields, and ignoring the UN the whole time, indeed, firing upon their compound and when the Palestinians have NO place to retreat to or send their civilian populace, it makes you nothing more than a self-serving, obnoxious war criminal and bully.
Israel is really the major threat to World Peace, North Korea and Iran are only runners up and of the three, Iran, whom Israel screams about, does NOT have Nuclear weapons.
You would be surprised how many would find the kid's statements reprehensibly racist, and your mischaracterization to be the kind of moral equivalency that heartens our enemies and disgusts those who we once could call our allies. Maybe a map a history book and a list of the pro-american democracies in the region would help, though the current administration and the execrable Susan Rice have emboldened those who embrace the "wipe Israel off the map" crowd. Anyone who says "
"Israel is really the major threat to World Peace, North Korea and Iran are only runners up..." Has never read a history of the region,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_wars
or who the "Palestinians" and their representatives (Hamas's 1988 charter calls for replacing the State of Israel with a Palestinian Islamic state in the area that is now Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip) are May be just another racist anti-Semite, but worse, they may simply be repeating what they hear on MSNBC.
The kid is just an offensive little twerp, his defenders are indicitive of something much more disturbing.
Actually, I am VERY well read in the history of the area. One has to remember that Israel was established partly through terrorism to begin with, and frankly, even though Israel has had to defend itself, it has continually shot itself in the foot where World Opinions and the UN are concerned. I do NOT agree with violence on ANY side of the problem, however, one must admit that the Palestinians NOW are Reacting to the treatment that they have endured under the Israelis with the same types of techniques that the Israelis used on them, fair is fair right?? That said, I DO believe that Israel must be allowed to stand and survive as a Nation, However, the Palestinians MUST be allowed to have their OWN Nation, left alone by Israel as well, or there is NO chance for any sort of peace. If Israel would only completely pull back, abandon ALL of it's Internationally-recognized-as-Illegal Settlements, quit blockading the Palestinian's movements and remove the so called "Safety Barrier" from all points where it crosses over the 1967 demarcation line and give up East Jerusalem and leave the Palestinians to manage their own borders, then the Palestinians would have no reason to be DEFENDING themselves, in this war of occupation, with their terroristic freedom fighters. The Israelis have become blind to their own atrocities and abuses, at least their right wing Zionist side has. There ARE voices of good in BOTH camps, and it is time for us to make sure that the overzealous Militant Zionists and Ultra-Orthodox Jews who are hell bent on taking ALL of the Palestinian lands for themselves (and to hell with the Arabic population, inside and outside of their borders) are reigned in.
In order for Israel to actually have peace, instead of this expensive, grinding and totally one sided 'war' then Israel is going to HAVE to give many concessions to the Palestinians, and while their own religious extremists, the Zionists and Ultra-Orthodox Jews, who are very little different than the Taliban (no modern schooling for their children, follow ONLY the Word Of God, with a militaristic bent fighting ALL those other Middle-Eastern Religious sects) and should be treated as such: as the religious terrorists that they are. As long as Israel keeps yelling "But He Hit Me BACK First" there will be no peace, as long as Israel continues to be myopic about the realities of the area it will not have World Opinion behind them. Their ONLY chance is to throw the right wingers out of office and deal HONESTLY with the Palestinians if they REALLY want to have a lasting peace with their Arabic, Muslim neighbors.
And considering that Israel DOES have nukes, AND an volatile, paranoid, militaristic mindset, They ARE the greatest danger to the entire area. They have led wars of aggression very recently, bringing in overbearing firepower, technology and manpower, however, they have NOT won any of their latest engagements, which makes then seethe and want to "Prove Themselves" militaristically to the World and their Arabic neighbors. Their drumbeats to war with Iran, who may or may Not be developing a nuclear weapon themselves, shows this point plainly. At this point I almost do not blame Iran for Wanting nuclear weaponry JUST to be able to stand off Israel in the first place. Remember, Iran has NOT attacked another nation in a few centuries....So, Who is the greater Danger?? (Note, I DO NOT agree with, like or trust the present regime in Iran, they have their own set of problems and their President is a religious dictator backed only by the military and the right wing members of the religious sect. They need to have a close watch on them too, but NOT he drumbeat to war from the Israelis, which only serves to distract from what Israel is doing...Just my opinion)
Democratic Representative Alan Grayson sure hit the nail on the head last week as he said that GOP stands for Greed Over Principle! As always the repugnant ones stand up to protect the rich and greedy and the corrupt big corporations while trashing the poor and middle classes. So disgusting to see so many repugnant ones back Jerky Joe Barton's apology to BP Oil, it's obvious they care nothing for the real people of the Gulf red states or for the wildlife of habitats that are so precious. Americans have to rise up and just say no to the repugnant ones in November or they will destroy our civilization with their evil wicked evangelical christian lunatic fringe tyranny, they want to turn our country into a christian perversion of Iran.
GOP = Greed Over Principle!
Oh, I LIKE that, Eric. Thank you. By the way, do you think the nail's head ever hurts from being hit so much? ;)
Eric,
I like it. I think maybe the cat is slowly crawling out of the bag here. I am seeing more and more articles that are exposing the Greed over Principle party for what they are. A little too early for me to get excited, but some movement is out there. I also this weekend have seen more negative than positive press on the TeaBaggers as well.
I guess we will have to wait until November. Good post as usual. This got my vote.
The Supreme Court has just ruled that the Second Amendment applies Nationallly, not State by State.
One of the great conservative hypocrisies is that states' rights are only important for certain issues, like education, which they would rather not pay for if they can help it, and abortion, which they want the right to ban in their little corner of delusion. But if they want to ram guns down YOUR throat, then federal pre-emption is the name of the game. Just like DC.
Just in,
The Supreme Court has ruled that the second admendment applies Nationwide. This will wipe out State Laws that have any gun control in them.
I'm not sure which picture makes me feel safer, people running around with Tommy guns, or cowboys drinking in the saloon with their pistols.
Neither.
I consider this very bad news....
"And people should learn that lesson about me, because next year when I start presenting some very difficult choices to the country, I hope some of these folks who are hollering about deficits and debt step up, because I’m calling their bluff.”
For the sake of our country I hope some of those "very difficult choices" spread the pain evenly among all, it is past time for the wealthy in this country to feel the "pinch", let them make all the money they want but make them pay reasonable taxes on it, the days of when Wall Street prospered Main Street prospered are gone, that being said why let Wall Street enjoy the countless tax breaks they have been given, if they don't want to help the country voluntarily, force them. Wall Street was given most of those tax breaks because they reinvested that money in this country, now they throw up another plant in some far off land to enjoy slave wages, hide the profits offshore, they deserve nothing.
Senator Robert Byrd, Arrogance of Power
March 19, 2003
Pat:
This may be one of the best posts you have written. You are so right on.
Thanks Ron, I'll never forget this speech. And he was 100% correct.
Pat, Ron
Agree totally, an excellent post. Arrogance and/of power is a very dangerous thing. This arrogance was witnessed and used by the last administration....sadly.
Thanks Pat for posting this. If nothing else, it serves to remind us how wrong we were to invade Iraq. I remember when Senator Byrd gave this speech, he was so passionate...and so correct in what he said. The decision to go to war in this case, has brought us more grief and more costs than 9/11 and it is a decision that we will continue to pay for, for many years to come.
Thanks for post. I knew he made this speech. Never seen it in its entirety. The day, one of many, that the majority of Democrats in the Senate sold out and listened to Bush. Fear of losing their seats caused them to vote for authorization to go to war. Even today the Patriot act, supported by so many elected Democrats is still being authorized every time it comes up for expiration.
Its a shame that all too often Democrats know what is right but don't act or vote the right way. On social issues like Health care legislation, wall street reform the progressive ideals are bartered away. On tough issues like Immigration and Energy policy there is no substantive push to do anything. Its too tough a political season they say. For progressive we can only hope they grow a backbone.
Here's my first thoughts: Sen Byrd --R.I.P, now to realty----
If we had term limits, this would not have been an issue for the American People! The only place were mandatory retirement is not thrust upon you is Congress, this is a travesty to the American public no matter what side of the isle you sit on.
As for those Governors in the south that are politically grandstanding---you get no respect!
The way I see it, we have allowed the terrorists to win by allowing ourselves to divide our own country from within. The political parties are tearing this country apart and I can not help the feeling of old---to conqueror a powerful foe is to create divide from within. Our political parties are shameful at best and words that I really can not use at worst
Sen(s) Byrd and Kennedy should never had reached an elderly age to the point they died while in office, they left voids that create strife for the American public. While anyone can die at any age, one should have the fortitude to realize that as an elderly citizen their chances of dying increase and therefore should have had the guts to retire. Some may criticize this but the problem we face as a nation is who will fill Sen Byrd's shoes?, Who goes into his office and carries out the work ahead for the American people? This is the void that is left and while the parties bicker as to who or what takes place, the American people suffer further more!
Here Here!
Terry
Good morning fellow DAV. Very well written. The say time changes all, well at least we can hope. Situations are degrading to the point that something catastrophic is bound to happen, although I am at a lost as to how much worst our political electives can become.
What would be more catastrophic than the financial crisis we're still not over and what we're seeing in the Gulf of Mexico right now filtered through the sieve of our corrupt and inept political institutions? The water still comes out dirty. And everything from here on out will just be more of the same.
What is that saying? Power corrupts. It happened to Rome when those seeking a Dictatorhsip in the role of a Ceasar versus those seeking power as a Republic by way of the same lying within the control of the Senate. The same applies to the two parties today.
And where does one or the other get support in order to obtain and maintain that power,? The people. And how do they garner that support. By playing to people's emotions, dividing and conquering.
The type of government we have now (Democracy) is perhaps the best form of government to date. And although not perfect the system and processes have enough advantages to succeed provided the people build on those advatanges and avoid the pitfuls of the disadvantages. Unfortunately, it is not the system that is driving our government today but rather those who would change the system or to twist the same out of shape in order to realize and satisfy their own desire for power. On the surface we refer to ourselves as living under a democracy, but in the center, at the core, we are experiencing an internal civil war between individuals who place power above the survival of our democracy.
Can this change and can our democracy survive? History has taught us that it will be difficult and at best unlikely. Unless something changes the U.S. and the democracy we lived in 20, 10, 5 years ago will not be the same 50 years from now.
US Navy Disabled Veteran - Retired
Good morning to you as well and thank you for the comment. I wish that I felt better about the people serving us in Congress but I don't. Sad thing is we usually don't get a better choice to replace what we already have. Time does usually change people but I fear we don't have that kind of time as this nation is at its throats with hatred toward one another. I have been guilty of that myself and I am tired of the bickering and strife that has griped this nation.
We used to be a people who would help anyone in trouble, not anymore, we used to be a nation that no matter how bad things were, we were able to come together and stand united and face our troubles without faultering, not anymore.
I have no answer to fix this problem that is more damaging to us than any kind of attack, economic meltdown or any other disaster this country will face. The more we stay divided, the more we will spiral down and the hope that I have for my children for a better life fades.
This has been brought upon us for many years by both political parties and their lust for greed. Greed is often the most damaging to any individual or country.
I can only hope that we have the time to wait for people to change and realize that the division within this country is really destroying it.
Anna,
I hear you. As many have posted before, just when I think it cannot get worst it does. I agree that we are in store for more of the same. What frustrates me the most is that the handwriting is on the wall in big bold letters, but nobody appears to be home to read it or we have gotten so apathetic that we not longer see any hope and have just given up. I pray not. At least the most of the people on this post (Dem's) not only are reading the message, they are acting as well.
Terry, DAV,
You have said it better than I ever could. Thank you.
Hmmm...
One one of the best-liked posts on the thread condemned both major political parties for their bitter, knee-jerk partisanship...and the chasm that partisanship is creating among the people.
Interesting.
The ballot box gives us term limits based on merit, not the calendar. If a senator serves his state well, as did Sen. Byrd, the people of that state should be allowed to re-elect him for as many terms as they please. The cry for "term limits" is by those of lesser merit who could not succeed unless an artifical rule opens a door for them.
Robert Burnside,
The crux of the problem lies not at the ballot box but who we have running. The rich have been able to persuade that by their enormous amounts of money to the campaign of the individual. Let's say that we have a person that just hits on all fronts except money, the person in office generally has so much money, that the opposition can not over come.
That is why I have been an advocate for term limits. Nothing wrong with what you stated, I am just stating my opinion as to the turmoil that has been created by Sen Byrd's death and the delay that it may cause in any congressional action that he was working on for the people of this country.
That's one way of looking at it, Robert, and overall, I'm not certain I disagree with your comments.
That said, any thoughts on the huge advantages a venerable incumbent enjoys over his potential challengers? Many don't even bother with the deck stacked so overwhelmingly against them.
The sure-handed ability to play the game, the ability to fund-raise from vested interests and the powers-that-be, and spread a cash-fueled, and in some cases, overwhelming media message that the devil you know is vastly preferrable to the alternative?
That's the counter-argument...and it's not a bad one, really.
I actually believe that the Incumbent should NOT be able to campaign to hold his/her seat: their performance and voting records in office should be plenty enough of a statement of their politics and position. The abuse of one's office's power makes the playing field terribly slanted towards the incumbent, who is able to boldly lie about his position and politics while gaining Millions of dollars in "Campaign Contributions", and then after the election it is back to the normal games and getting "Campaign Contributions" for the next election. If this was enacted the politicians in office would be able to spend ALL their time with the duties of office instead of out on the Election Trail. This would severely limit the effects of Lobbyists and the Corporate monies which have so skewed politics in this Nation to the point of near unrecognizeability and help keep our politicians a little bit more honest (well, at least one can hope, right??).
Really disgusting that the repugnant ones have found some Uncle Tom clown named Thomas Sooee Sowell who has been paid to shill for the uptighty righty whities to attack President Obama with idiotic comparisons to Hitler. Ofcourse Sinner Sarah Palin has latched on to this clueless clown's baseless comparisons to Hitler because she has nothing else to offer except self serving political lies. The facist racist crowd of conservative mental midgets never bothers to fact check the Great Right Lies, they just have faith in fools who spew racist rants against our first black president.
In North Carolina there's another Uncle Tom clown spewing lies about how President Obama colluded with BP Oil to cause a leak but then it got out of control. Just another Steppin' Fetchit jerk who wants to get a payoff for lying for racist whities. President Obama did not collude with BP Oil to create a spill just to justify not expanding offshore oil drilling, that's just a Great Big Right Lie that is not backed by any facts. BP Oil caused the spill through it's own greed, just bottomline bottomfeeder thinking that ended up costing BP Oil more than had it done the drilling job correctly without cutting corners and rushing to profits.
No all the repugnant ones are trying to do is hire corrupt black people who will say anything for an almighty dollar, the racist whities just use them to hide their racist rants against our first black president because they think the White House is a white man's only club. If anyone was like Adolph Hitler it was War Criminal George Wrong Bush with his illegal wiretapping, illegal torture, spying on citizens and preemptive war to steal economic power.
President Obama has done a good job trying to keep his campaign promises despite the obstructionist efforts of the dopes of nope to stop all progress from passing. Unfortunately some of the accomplishments aren't as good as they could have been as way too many conservative amendments were adopted that ruined what could have been good bills, like health care reform and financial reform. Nope all the repugnant ones have done is allow themselves to be bribed by the locust horde of lobbyists of the Wall Street Criminals to make sure that they can still rip us all off with their corrupt business practices.
We just can't trust major corporations. I found out last week when paying my car insurance that my insurance company had changed my driving under 7,500 miles to driving over 7,500 miles without any proof or permission whatsoever. Thankfully I was paying my bill at my insurance agent's office and they are going to get me a refund. I was able to show them my odometer that showed I averaged 6,000 over 8 years. Just goes to show that major insurance companies can't be trusted and everyone should make sure to read what their deal is every time they get a new bill to make sure the corrupt insurance company doesn't change the rules of the game just so they can charge more and take more unearned income.