Joe Lieberman, GOP Freshman Senator

post from TalkLeft on 05 November 2008 09:46:00 AM. © TalkLeft

Remember when Joe Lieberman hated filibusters? When he helped form the Gang of 14 to stop those awful filibusters of extreme Bush judges? Now he sings a different tune:

Lieberman also hinted that next session, he would be supportive of conservative efforts to filibuster progressive legislation. Lieberman said that the filibuster is a “key” to stop such “passions of the moment” [-] LIEBERMAN: And I think the filibuster is the key. You know, it gets a bad name, but it was really put there, a 60-vote requirement, to, as somebody said to me when I first came to the Senate, stop the passions of a moment among the people of America from sweeping across the Congress, the House, through the Senate, to a like-minded President and having us do things that will change America for a long time. So the filibuster is one of the important protections we have.

If I were Harry Reid, I would put it to Lieberman this way, the moment you join a Republican filibuster is the moment you are thrown out of the caucus and stripped of all committee chairmanships. If you want to act like a GOP freshman Senator, then we will treat you like one.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

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http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkleftThePoliticsOfCrime/~3/443318358/1192

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Ensign: GOP shouldn’t focus on abortion or
gay rights.

post from Think Progress on 05 November 2008 09:45:00 AM. © Think Progress

With Democrats expanding their control of the Senate to a solid majority, National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Ensign (R-NV) is arguing that Senate Republicans need to ?re-establish what the Republican Party is all about.” Calling for a return to a “big tent Republican Party,” Ensign says that issues like abortion and gay rights “should not be at the core of the party“:

Although Ensign was not ready to call for a break from socially conservative ideologies, he said issues such as abortion or gay rights should not be at the core of the party.
?I think we lost our way on our fundamentals? in recent years, Ensign said, adding that ?those are the issue that we can disagree on as a party.?

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http://thinkprogress.org/2008/11/05/ensign-gay-rights-abortion/

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Obama-Biden Transition Project

post from DemConWatch on 05 November 2008 09:42:00 AM. © DemConWatch

Official announcement from the Project:

With Barack Obama and Joe Biden?s election, this planning process will be now be formally organized as the Obama-Biden Transition Project, a 501(c)(4) organization to ensure a smooth transition from one administration to the next. The work of this entity will be overseen by three co-chairs: John Podesta, Valerie Jarrett, and Pete Rouse.

The co-chairs will be assisted by an advisory board comprised of individuals with significant private and public sector experience: Carol Browner, William Daley, Christopher Edley, Michael Froman, Julius Genachowski, Donald Gips, Governor Janet Napolitano, Federico Peña, Susan Rice, Sonal Shah, Mark Gitenstein, and Ted Kaufman. Gitenstein and Kaufman will serve as co-chairs of Vice President-elect Biden?s transition team.

Supervising the day-to-day activities of the transition will be:

Transition Senior Staff:
Chris Lu ? Executive Director
Dan Pfeiffer ? Communications Director
Stephanie Cutter ? Chief Spokesperson
Cassandra Butts ? General Counsel
Jim Messina ? Personnel Director
Patrick Gaspard ? Associate Personnel Director
Christine Varney - Personnel Counsel
Melody Barnes ? Co-Director of Agency Review
Lisa Brown ? Co-Director of Agency Review
Phil Schiliro ? Director of Congressional Relations
Michael Strautmanis ? Director of Public Liaison and Intergovernmental Affairs
Katy Kale ? Director of Operations
Brad Kiley ? Director of Operations

The official website for the transition is www.change.gov and it will be live later today.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.demconwatchblog.com/2008/11/obama-biden-transition-project.html

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Obama Wins! More Words From Lincoln University
Students

post from All Spin Zone on 05 November 2008 09:40:00 AM. © All Spin Zone

These students from Lincoln University voted for the first time, most of them. They mostly voted for Barack Obama, and experienced a win the very first time they voted. Not many of us have ever experienced such an event. Lincoln University is where Langston Hughes and Thurgood Marshall got their educations, and one of these students may walk in those fine footsteps someday, for now with an African American President, they know that anything is possible for them.

Here are their words:

I spoke to my grandmother this morning and she said “I never thought i would live see us get to the mountain top.” I think this election has united America and hearing President elect Barack Obama gave me and many others hope. The bible says that eight means new beginning and that ’s what I think is going to happen.

Kenya Wright

Last night was wonderful! History is definately in the making. The most touching moment was when Lincoln University was on the news showing that as students we’re making a difference. It took us 4 to 8 hours to vote, but it was worth it because Obama WON Pennsylvania.

Brittney H.

Wow my vote actually mattered. It really hasn’t even set in yet. The couple of minutes I spent in that booth aided in such a great mark in history. It truly feels good!

Jennifer W.

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the change we’ve been waiting for. We are the change we seek.” Obama…This statements speaks volumes about my experience here voting at Lincoln University. I personally stood in line for 6hrs to cast my ballot as well as many other College and University students.

William D.

Lastnight was amazing that someone of color is president. Meanwhile will I still be able to hang-out with my white friends. lol

Andre Crier

When Barack Obama won the presidency, I was extremely happy. I mean people let’s think: we now have an African American ready to take over the United States by storm. Although I did not have the right to vote in this election (too young), I can still say that I have live in the lifetime.

Jalaal H.

It was a great day to see an African American as the president, and not only for being African American but on his views and what he offers. This will be a day never to forget and something I can tell my grandchildren fifty years from now.

Jarrell A.

As I sat and waited on the outcome of the 2008 presidential election, I couldn’t help but think that after tonight the world would have to deal with two total extremes no matter who became president. After standing in line for seven hours and experiencing extreme discomfort I realized that I am part of history. When I found out about Obama’s presidency, I cried tears of happiness because this was a very emotional historic event that will not only affect the history of African Americans, but will also make CHANGE throught the world.

Ellena S.

During recent months I have given much thought to my political identity. While I supported Obama for many months I realized my understanding of government to identify more closely to the libertarian party. My parents do not understand my decision but it is sure to inspire debate. I am excited for what is in store for the next four years.

Barry P.

As I watched the more important states turn blue last night I knew that history had been made and that there was going to be an amazing change in this country. Although it has been a slow but steady progression towards equality, we have made large steps toward this seemingly unachievable goal. These next 4-8 years are going to be groundbreaking times and we will have to stick through it together to become a true nation.

Brittany J.

Read The Full Article:
http://allspinzone.com/wp/2008/11/05/obama-wins-more-words-from-lincoln-universit
y-students/

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Fun with election day traffic numbers

post from AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth on 05 November 2008 09:40:00 AM. © AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth

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http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Americablog/~3/443578392/fun-with-election-day-tra
ffic-numbers.html

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Struggling for Obama's Soul

post from THE ENVIRONMENTALIST on 05 November 2008 09:36:00 AM. © THE ENVIRONMENTALIST

by William S. BeckerNow that we know Barack Obama will become the 44th President of the United States, we can turn to the next critical question of national leadership: In this historic moment, how bold will President Obama be?It was Candidate Obama who[...]

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http://feeds.the-environmentalist.org/~r/the-environmentalist/~3/443740893/strugg
ling-for-obamas-soul.html

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Transition Team

post from Taylor Marsh on 05 November 2008 09:34:10 AM. © Taylor Marsh

BY TAYLOR MARSHUPDATE FROM OBAMA-BIDEN TRANSITION PROJECT:The co-chairs will be assisted by an advisory board comprised of individuals with significant private and public sector experience: Carol Browner, William Daley, Christopher Edley, Michael[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://www.taylormarsh.com/archives_view.php?id=28720

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"Center-Right Nation" Watch - Ruth Marcus Edition

The Washington Post's Ruth Marcus - a reliable parrot of conventional wisdom - joins the[...]

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http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/OpenLeft-FrontPage/~3/443299925/showDiary.do

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BREAKING: NEW POLL OUT OF NEVADA!

Senator Obama is up folks.

Up! Up! Up!

By 12 points up, which I don't think can REALLY be is right, but I'm just too happy to think about it.

Now...
...I'm still worried about Pennsylvania, where I think the Reverend Wright ads COULD be having some effect, but what if... hang on let me jot down some numbers here... what if Senator Obama were to TAKE AWAY Ohio and, say, Virginia, then it wouldn't matter what happens in Pennsylvania, right? RIGHT?

And... and the latest numbers out of Florida are looking really good, but what if there's late movement due to the robo-calls into the Cuban community or what if the youth vote doesn't show up or what if African-American voters get intimidated at the last moment or if the polls don't open on time, because I'm kind of freaking out here... see... because I've been phone banking all morning and NO ONE IS PICKING UP OR, IF THEY DO PICK UP, THEY KEEP CALLING ME "FREAK" OR LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY WHEN I TELL THEM TO MAKE SURE TO VOTE AND SOME OF THEM EVEN JUST BUSTED OUT CRYING WHEN I SAID I WAS WITH THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN AND MANY OF THEM SOUND, LIKE, DRUNK EVEN, AND I'M STARTING TO WORRY THAT THERE MAY BE SOME LATE MINUTE MOVEMENT TO THE MCCAIN CAMPAIGN!

OhWhyOhWhyCan'tTheElectionJustFuckingHAPPENalreeeeaaaaaddddyyyyyyy!!!!

What?

WHEN?

Really?

REALLY?

What-- What HAPPENED?

No.

NO!

President-Elect Obama?

Well... what... do... we... do... now?

Read The Full Article:
http://www.myleftwing.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=23557

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Welcome to tomorrow

The American people have chosen Illinois Senator Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. This is truly exciting on so many different levels.

For one, he's the first African American chosen to lead our great nation and it demonstrates just how far we've progressed since the days of slavery and the more recent civil unjustness of the 30's, 40's, 50's & 60's. We have matured as a nation and now we've demonstrated this to the world and ourselves.

Secondly, it's a blow to the 'divide and conquer' strategy of the Right. The dishonorable smears and negative campaigns couldn't stop the momentum of hope, change and positivity. Most right-wing bloggers spent more time posting hateful misinformation and retouched images of Obama than they did discussing real issues. Most knew that the policies and corruption of the Bush/Cheney administration meant Republicans were in for an uphill battle. They needed to distract attention away from the fact that John McCain was simply offering more of the same while Barack Obama and the Democrats were offering real change. Divisive politics have worked well for the Republicans since Bush Sr.. Thankfully, most Americans saw through the tactic this time around.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.ruinousright.com/2008/11/welcome-to-tomorrow.html

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