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Your First Read team presents our first Senate ratings of the 2010 cycle:
THE TOSSUPS:
Pure Toss-up: Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania
Toss up/Finger-on-Scale D: Colorado, Nevada, Washington, Wisconsin
Toss up/Finger-on-Scale I: Florida
Lean D: California
Lean R: Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, New Hampshire
Probable D: Connecticut, West Virginia
Probable R: Delaware, Arkansas, North Carolina, Louisiana, Iowa
Solid D: Hawaii, Maryland, New York (Schumer), New York (Gillibrand), Oregon, Vermont
Solid R: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah
Leave a Comment:
I can't fault the Right for being wrong on all the platforms they stand upon.
Those platforms have no support from the party of 'NEIN, NEIN NEIN!'
Pres Obama is pushing for people to do more for themselves. Take the School Districts for instance... they are pursuing funding on their own. Pres Obama is pushing for people to make decisions thus less gov't intereference and yet the Republicans are wanting to force women not to have a choice.
The rhetoric is deafening.
Louis,
CNN poll in July asked if government is doing to many things that should be done by individuals and business, or should government do more to solve our country's problems. 61%-35% said government is doing to many things.
Recent Rasmussen poll revealed that likely voters support repeal of HCR by 56%-27% and another showed that by 52%-28% voters believe government spending does more harm than good.
Seems like the party of no are not the only ones saying no to Obama.
Who is deaf?
Actually, the better question is - does Obama even care what the American majority think.
Does it ever occur to him that when he says -
and his wife takes 40 of her closest friends (and the necessary 70 secret service agents) on Air Force Two to southern Spain to take up 60-70 rooms at $2,500 per room per night.........
Spending millions in Spain when Americans on the gulf (and everywhere) are shuttering little restaurants and businesses.....
Obama and his wife evidently believe we are the "little people" as the BP chairman suggested.
Is Obama deaf? Is Obama blind? Or is it pure elitist arrogance, BP chairmen and CEOs on steroids?
I realize Obama won the Nobel for BS. He probably believes he can sucker the American people again with his BS - he just needs to explain things to us again because we are too simple to understand how much good he has done for us.
Maybe he deserves another Nobel.
Nobel for Narcissism.
I would put Florida in the "Lean I" category.
I agree with Charles. Florida should be Lean - I.
It was good seeing California leaning D. Cruella F_UPrina would be a disaster.
Thanks FR - I'll be watching those races, as well as the governor's races, that way I'll know where to plan my travels (no need to spend money in a repugnant controlled state, and won't do it even in my own if oily boy wins the gov. seat.)
While interesting to see probable Senate outcomes we'll just have to wait until November to see the real deal. Let's hope the majority of American voters will be turned off by the party of sore losers who always say no to recovering our Bushwhacked economy because all they care about is their pathetic party and seizing control so they can rule unwisely.
On This Day In History – August 6, 2010
“Japan has marked the 65th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima with the United States represented at the ceremony for the first time. The attendance of the US has been viewed as a signal of President Barack Obama's push to rid the world of nuclear weapons.”
___________
No matter how much I try to justify dropping these bombs on civilians to end the War in Japan, I can’t. I have listened and read about as much as humanly possible, but nothing will ever convince me that this was a good decision.
“Meanwhile, memorial services have been held in Europe where some of the worst events of World War II occurred. Some 200 Germans travelled to Ukraine's capital Kiev to take part in actions aimed at apologizing for their Nazi forebears' crimes in the 1940s.”
__________
“The idea that children born on U.S. soil should be denied their right to citizenship because of the parents' undocumented status is born of the same disregard for human dignity that declared the children of enslaved Africans to be perpetual slaves. It is rooted in the same fear that has misinformed our nation's interpretation of justice and fairness for more than a century; and it is also a framework that we must abandon if we are to realize our own legacy--and destiny--as a nation of immigrants.”
“The promise of American democracy, and inclusiveness, is one that is built on the idea that from the many, we become one strong nation. There is a continued need for the development of a federal continuum of comprehensive legislative responses to undocumented immigration; but there should be no tolerance for the denial of rights that protect individuals from racially-biased exclusion, exploitation or denigration.”
As abolitionist Frederick Douglass said in an 1869 speech on The Composite Nation, "immigration should be settled upon higher principles than those of a cold and selfish expediency. There are such things in the world as human rights...they are universal and indestructible."
This talk about the 14th Amendment doesn’t surprise me. Once again, our racism and bigotry is coming to the forefront. And it is unfortunate that it’s coming directly from our United States Senate. We have a very very long history of bringing people into this country to work. We all know what it is. It’s called cheap labor, with no rights offered. They do their work and are either left in the shadows of our country or they are sent back to where they came from, either by ship or by walking. And that’s wrong.
Here’s hoping our country and specifically the GOP will wake up when speaking about the 14th Amendment. No matter how you attempt to disguise it, hate is hate. This is not something our government should be open to. Under any circumstances. How long do we have to continue to blame these immigrants, legal or not? Employers didn’t mind hiring them. For years and years. And now they want to send children away who were born here? No one ever thought to deal with our borders in a serious manner. No one. Put the blame where it belongs. With our government and their irresponsibility over the many many years. Including SENATOR John McCain. Does he ever look in the mirror? Listening to these Senators makes me so so ashamed of our government. To the point where I can't listen. Doesn't anybody in the Senate READ about our history? Have they not learned anything?!
__________
“The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.” Oliver Wendell Holmes
"Anybody But DeMint" - Lawrence O'Donnell
Pat:
Good to see you back!! I really have missed these history lessons. Have a great weekend my friend.
Great post, a little history and thought provoking. The fact that the US is participating did not get much media coverage.
I have mixed feelings on the bombing. The human aspect was appalling and horrific. The only weak justifications I have managed to rationalize are that WWII Japan with their all consuming "honor" and suicide-mission mentality would have continued fighting for years; the world witnessed what could happen, saw the magnitude and destructiveness of the atomic bomb's power unleashed and possibly caused even the most determined enemy to pause before starting another World War. I imagine Harry Truman had difficulty justifying the human toll the rest of his life.
Pat, the atomic bombs were intended to be dropped on military targets that the regular air force couldn't get to. It is sad the the level of civilian casualties was as large as it was - I wonder if the damage would've been less if the Hiroshima bomb hit its target (it missed by about 800 ft, so probably not).
However, consider this: if the devices weren't dropped, then the Allies would have gone with a conventional land invasion. Considering that it took 9 days from Hiroshima to surrender, and that a major aspect of Japanese culture is the code of the samurai (bushido), a part of which demands ritual suicide instead of allowing the dishonor of surrendering, the resistance would have been MUCH greater, and the amount of military and civilian casualties consequently MUCH higher.
It's one of those "lesser evil for the greater good" arguments, I suppose.
Pat this is an excellent post...voted
We have a long way to go before we are more tolerant and respectful of our fellow man. No one should try to impose their religious or moral views, it should be no one's business where I pray or whether I pray and if I dont, that makes me a bad person.
Amending the Constitution is a very serious undertaking and in this case has far reaching consequences.
What is even sadder I received an e mail a few days back showing Detriot then, and Hiroshima after ther bombing. Then it showed Hiroshima today and Detriot today. Man what a shame. Hiroshima new and rebuilt, Detroit in shambles! We someday need to learn how much war has cost this country, and continues to today. There has got to be a better way. As my counterpart from OKlahoma named Stephenson always closes with - Peace! It's the only answer.
While as a person I find the reality of two Atomic bombs being dropped and the fallout that followed disturbing beyond all imagination. It definitely speaks more about the defective beings that we are than the chosen people that religions make us out to be.
With that being said I must also ponder the idea that if we hadn't been the first country to use it militarily, who, when, and where would have been the first?
Hi Ron, keep up the good work to you and everybody else as well. Decided to take a break from politics this week. It was getting me too depressed what I was hearing from our Federal Government on the 14th Amendment. Angry and depressed. So I stopped watching and reading the news; I stayed away from my computer for most of the week, except for work related stuff of course. I really despise the GOP now, more than ever. They do not in any way, shape or form represent me. I guess they aren't interested in the optimism that we all felt after the 2008 election. Seems they have no idea what the word means. But I'm glad it's Friday and a chance to regroup in time for the midterms. I think the voters in this country are seeing exactly what the GOP stands for, and it isn't pretty. The GOP have aligned themselves with the worst elements of the teabaggers. Because they're cowards and have no ideas of their own. Nothing new there.
Guess James Carville has had a change of heart regarding President Obama's performance since the Gulf disaster. All that screaming. All that finger pointing. All that lying and assuming the worst. Will the over the top emotional outburst performances ever end? Nope. lol
Have a wonderful summer weekend Ron.
_______
Reminder to all: Please if you can, donate to the Free Health Care Clinic in Louisiana. It is the 5th Anniversary of Katrina and this seems like a good time to let the citizens in New Orleans know that we haven't forgotten about them.
http://www.freeclinics.us/
“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” Benjamin Franklin
If your father or grandfathers were fighting during WW2, your existence is predicated on the dropping of those 2 bombs. Millions of Japanese and over a million Allied soldiers would have died during the invasion. Additionally, had those 2 bombs not been used and the horror of their effect not been seen, Russia and or the USA would have used them in a much larger scale some time in the 50s or 60s.
Pat,
How about Obama keeping the maniacs in Iran from getting the bomb before floating further away from reality.
Ron,
You're a nice guy.
Jody,
You have very little understanding of WWII. Do have any idea how many civilians died in fire-bombing? More civilians were killed in one night of bombing Tokyo than died in Hiroshima, or Nagasaki. Truman, FDR, etc weren't the bleeding heart liberals of today. (Which explains why they were able to win a war)
SeanDoonan,
When Tibbets dropped Little Boy, there were no military targets of any value left in Japan. In fact, five smaller cities had been reserved from Air Force and Navy treatment in order to accurately demonstrate the power of the Little Boy and Fat Man. Two of these cities were Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The aiming point was not military, it was the Aioi Bridge and the air burst was 300 feet off.
You are right about the "lesser evil greater good" point. I wish it was understood today.
Mac,
You missed your own point. What economic factors led to a city that was leveled over achieving a city that wasn't touched.
"Peace is the only answer" had nothing to do with the shambles Detroit is in.
Dan,
"As a person" you need to put the Austin liberal bong down and accept the reality that after 30 centuries of war, we are "defective beings" and there might be bad guys that have to be dealt with.
Pat,
You don't like the GOP and they are cowards and idiots. Congratulations, you got a green star!
GJP,
Good point.
Another reason was that Russia was coming into the theatre and no one wanted to divide up that part of the world with the Russians like we had to in Europe.
Here are a few reasons why we needed to drop the Bomb... Cape Gloucester. Guadalcanal, PELELIU ,Okinawa and IWO JIMA
@Bob:
Right you are about Hiroshima. I re-checked my source; the bigger target from a "target of military value" standpoint was Nagasaki.
SeanDoonan,
Sorry about that post, it wasn't necessary. At the time it would have been better if had gone for a ride, or something other than the above.
Having said that, let me say again that your lesser evil greater good point was very good and is an important issue that needs to be discussed as it relates to today's politically correct efforts in Afghanistan/Iraq and future conflicts. There is a lot to be learned from history, if only we would.
Thanks SeanDoonan
eric i agree the democrats have become the union only party hence the party of the communist but hey do not worry about any travel plans because after five democratic taxes your focus will be on food only. If you are lucky you will be able to afford to feed yourself. I figure five taxes on the product makers aught to bring that cost of living up at least 25% or more.
No is always the right asnwer when you cant afford yes. If you dont believe that try this simple experiment spend all of your money take out credit cards in your kids names but do not stop their take out credit cards in your grandchildrens names I am sure you will be their hero LOL
Got those credit cards paid off that you teabagger republicans took out on your children and grandchildren from 2001 to 2006? Didn't think so you just turned them over to us Democrats to pay off, we'll take care of them just like we always do.
Oh, sure, those communist concepts of 5-hour weeks, 8 hour days and overtime, vacation pay, holiday pay, health care benefits, a living wage, a safe working environment--all because of unions. Guess the fact that coal miners and textile workers died fighting to give the American worker a voice and YOUR benefits is just another round of communist, socialist thinking. Get a book and read about the horrors of the early 20th century workplace, you might learn something.
If you dont believe that spend all of your money go wild just keep spending take out credit cards in your kids names go on and take out credit cards in your grandchildrens names and spend that money too the sky is the limit. I am sure you will be their hero! LMAO!
Now your just being stupid sandyshores.
So how do you justify the GOP and Bush unfunded tax cuts and unfunded spending spree?
Now Jody, you know they're gonna pull a JoAnna on you and not respond or if they do it will be with twisting of the words.
FrankH. You're right, they never answer that question.
To get a Government for the people we have to kick out all of these "BUMS" remember they brought us to where we are now ....looking the other way as they friends reaped huge profits ...We need term limits 2 in a lifetime not these old relics on the public dole for 35+ years !!
If we do that, then the only people who will be able to run for government will be the wealthy (like now). Term limits aren't the answer. What is needed is for ALL Americans to get off their butts on election day and vote....no excuses. Get involved and vote.
I don't know how much lower republicans can go than denying the heros of 9/11 health care benefits just because it would force big corporations and their money grubbing greedy friends to pay taxes on the money they have stored away in offshore accounts.
Republicans keep on using the phrase 'George Bush's fault' to shift the focus or responsibility for the mess created a way from them (Republicans).
Obviously they know it is their fault that the economy is in this shape. Republicans were advising Bush on
what to do so they should not pretend that since Bush is gone then they are now clean. It still remains
REPUBLICANS FAULT that the economy is in this shape.
They (Republicans) were there for 8 years. The mess that took them 8 years to create can not be easily cleaned
up in 18 months and they know that very well. But you still find them blocking the actions that Democrats are trying to take to clean up the mess they left.
No one ever blocked or obstructed Regan from doing his work the way Republicans are doing now to Obama.
What have the Republicans done to show they can governed better, and create jobs? Nothing. They have shown they are loyal to their party, and could care less about the average person, who may be out of work, or have no health care. I worry if they get back in office, that they will finish the job of making America go bankrupt. I don't think they will do this intentionally, I think they really believe if they cater to Corporations and Wall Street, these people will pay them back, by giving them a few crumbs from the table. In the short time they will, they will start hiring some people back, but as soon as the economy get stable, they will lay them off again, especially if it looks like the Democrats might come back into power. The economy is all political. I think if they Democrats loss, both the House and the Senate, and the Republicans win, nothing will get done for the average person, but a lot will be done for Corporates and Wall Street. The President will not be able to get ANYTHING done, and the Republicans will increase their efforts to make him fail, and look incompetent. The Democrats needs to stop criticizing the President so much, and the when they don't get everything they want. In this climate of "just say no," in order to get anything done, he has to compromise. Sometimes it looks like he has compromised to much, but he knows if he wanted anything done, he has to do what he has to do. Those Democrats who feel he hasn't been aggressive enough, need to look at the whole picture. It is easy being a candidate, but when you are the President, you can't show favorites. You must to do what is for the majority of the the people, and you can't please everybody. They need to think of the alternative, if the Democrats loss both houses. Nothing will get done, just distraction games will be played to destroy this President, just like they did with Clinton. They have no new ideas, it will be nothing but wars, and rumors of wars, tax cuts for the rich, services cuts for the poor, and middle class, and finding scandals for the Democrats. They have already started with Waters and Ragel, this is just a example of what is to come.