Whose Job To Reverse DADT

post from MyDD on 15 June 2009 11:49:43 PM. © MyDD

It's clear the Obama WH doesn't want to touch DADT. Obama claims he can't act administratively, and that Congress must act before change. So will the White House push for Congressional action on the move...at some point...sometime? Not yet. Seems no[...]

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Left Holding the Bag on Intel

post from Taylor Marsh on 15 June 2009 11:41:30 PM. © Taylor Marsh

Dems are reportedly poised to change the way they’re briefed on major intelligence issues that require utmost secrecy. Greg Sargent is reporting that House Intel chair Silvestre Reyes is also prepared to compel the CIA to provide actual details of[...]

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Protests in Iran continue and expand, seven
killed

post from AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth on 15 June 2009 11:41:00 PM. © AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth

The Independent's Robert Fisk from the marches in Tehran:

Not since the 1979 Iranian Revolution have massed protesters gathered in such numbers, or with such overwhelming popularity, through the boulevards of this torrid, despairing city. They jostled and pushed and crowded through narrow lanes to reach the main highway and then found riot police in steel helmets and batons lined on each side. The people ignored them all. And the cops, horribly outnumbered by these tens of thousands, smiled sheepishly and ? to our astonishment ? nodded their heads towards the men and women demanding freedom. Who would have believed the government had banned this march?

The protesters' bravery was all the more staggering because many had already learned of the savage killing of five Iranians on the campus of Tehran University, done to death ? according to students ? by pistol-firing Basiji militiamen. When I reached the gates of the college yesterday morning, many students were weeping behind the iron fence of the campus, shouting "massacre" and throwing a black cloth across the mesh. That was when the riot police returned and charged into the university grounds once more.

At times, Mousavi's victory march threatened to crush us amid walls of chanting men and women. They fell into the storm drains and stumbled over broken trees and tried to keep pace with his vehicle, vast streamers of green linen strung out in front of their political leader's car. They sang in unison, over and over, the same words: "Tanks, guns, Basiji, you have no effect now." As the government's helicopters roared overhead, these thousands looked upwards and bayed above the clatter of rotor blades: "Where is my vote?" Clichés come easily during such titanic days, but this was truly a historic moment.

CNN now reporting Iran state media has updated the death toll to seven people. From reading the Robert Fisk article above, it sounds like the pro-religious government Basiji forces are attacking those at the far end of the rallies. They are too outnumbered to touch the large groups so they cowardly attack stragglers.

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Polling and Political Wrap-Up, 6/15/09

post from Daily Kos on 15 June 2009 11:40:08 PM. © Daily Kos

Some of the bigger (and funnier) campaign news is already on the front page--check out, in particular, DeMint's endorsement of the right wing insurgent candidate in Florida, as well as the Norm Coleman saga that will never end, if Norm gets his way.

Onto the rest of the goings-on in Campaign 2009...2010...2012...

WH 2012: T-Paw Ready to Dip His Toes in the Water
Well, it's not a surprise, but now we have a probable motive for Tim Pawlenty's decision not to seek another term as governor. Washington Whispers is reporting that Pawlenty is about to embark on a two-year long "listening tour" of sorts, checking to see if the appetite is there on the part of the GOP electorate for a Pawlenty 2012 bid. H/T on this story to Taegan Goddard, who also posts today that another campaign for 2012 is starting to warm up its engines--that of Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal.

RACE FOR THE HOUSE: The Early Target Lists for 2010?
Crisitunity over at Swing State has looked at recently released information from the DCCC and NRCC, and finds a list of eight Republicans and thirteen Democrats that are on the target lists. Neither list contains any real shockers, although the list does make clear that the DCCC is going to back their high-profile challengers in three districts (PA-06, FL-10, DE-AL) that are not yet open, but could well be open by 2010. Curious, on the GOP side, to see them going after OH-01 and OH-15, but NOT OH-16. Boccieri's comfortable win there must have scared them off somewhat.

KS-GOV/KS-SEN: One Blowout, One Nailbiter, According to SUSA Poll on GOP Races
SurveyUSA takes an early temperature on the Republican primaries in both the gubernatorial and Senate races in the Sunflower State. In the gubernatorial race, U.S. Senator Sam Brownback has a huge lead over KS Sec. of State Ron Thornburgh (58-19). Meanwhile, in the race to replace Brownback, it is predictably close between two of the state's GOP Congressman. Jerry Moran, considered the more moderate of the two candidates, has a mere two point edge on Wichita Congressman Todd Tiahrt (40-38).

MN-GOV: Bachmann Refused To Slam Door On Gubernatorial Aspirations
Kossacks hoping for Michele Bachmann to take her show statewide may get their wish after all. After her spokesperson issued a rather vague denial of a Bachmann bid for Governor, Bachmann herself left the door open in an interview with MPR, saying that she would absolutely jump into the race if she "felt the tug." She said that "right now" she feels her place is in the House. One way to kill a denial of interest? Using the words "right now" to discuss your current circumstance...

MO-SEN: 2010 Field May Already Set In Show-Me State
The Hill reports an interesting development in the open U.S. Senate race in Missouri to replace retiring Republican Kit Bond. It appears as if Missouri state Treasurer Sarah Steelman, long rumored to be a candidate for the U.S. Senate, is apparently stepping back from that race, and may instead focus on the House seat being opened up by MO-07 Congressman (and U.S. Senate candidate) Roy Blunt.

That would, for all intents and purposes, clear the field for both sides. This would mean that the likely November matchup would be between Democratic MO Secretary of State Robin Carnahan and GOP Congressman Roy Blunt. Carnahan had a narrow lead in recent polling.

NH-02: First Confirmed GOP Candidate in Democratic Open Seat Race
The Boston Globe reports that Republicans have their first official candidate in the open seat contest in NH-02 to replace Congressman Paul Hodes (who is preparing to run for the U.S. Senate). The prospective candidate is Bob Giuda, who once served in the NH state House of Representatives (and with 400 representatives in the 41st largest state in the Union, who hasn't??).

Giuda is the lone Republican to officially announce a bid, though others are still looking at the race. Thus far, a handful of Democrats are in the race, with the likely frontrunner being state Rep. John DeJoie.

VA-GOV: Deeds Gets A High Profile Assist On the Internet
Now that the primary has been dispensed with, President Obama seems eager to lend a hand to newly-minted Democratic nominee Creigh Deeds. In an email that went out to the Organizing for America e-mail list (Obama's former campaign e-mail list), Obama minces few words in advocating for the state Senator for central Virginia:

Creigh has an ability to bring people together, build consensus and deliver results. He will bring the same bipartisan, pragmatic approach to politics that former Governor and now Senator Mark Warner and my friend Governor Tim Kaine used to help Virginia move forward over the past eight years.

I know that approach works because I've spent some time in your great Commonwealth. In my experience, Democratic candidates with a pragmatic approach to solving problems can be successful. That's the approach my campaign took last November to put Virginia in the Democratic column for the first time since 1964. And that's how Creigh Deeds will win this fall.

WI-GOV: Doyle in Danger, According to PPP Survey
PPP goes into the Midwest and finds Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle in deep trouble against two prospective GOP challengers. According to the pollster, Doyle trails Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker by eight (48-40) and former Congressman Mark Neumann by one (42-41). This, of course, stands in pretty stark contrast to last week's Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll in the state, which had Doyle leading both candidates by double digits (but with less than 50% of the vote in each case). PPP did not test Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton, who is a probable entrant into the race if Doyle elects not to attempt to serve a third term.

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-Wrap-Up,-6-15-09

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Monday Stuff

post from The Liberal Doomsayer on 15 June 2009 11:36:00 PM. © The Liberal Doomsayer

ZOMG, RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!! HERE COME THOSE AWFUL DEMOCRATS AND THEIR "SOCIALIZED MEDZIN"! AND RONNIE WARNED US!!!

AND SOYLENT GREEN IS PEOPLE!!!

(Ok, I'm calmed down now - and The Sainted Ronnie R. was "buds" with this guy, let's not forget)...

...and sorry, Holy Joe and Huck (well, actually, I'm not at all)...

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..."Worst Persons" (Jonathan Weisman of the Murdoch Street Journal has a con-vee-nient memory lapse as to who exactly it was who took over Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and AIG...I'll give you a hint; it was Number 43; The Doughy Pantload somehow finds an equivalency between liberals calling neocons for what they are and anti-semitism...uh huh; and the city council of Brooksville, FLA gets just a tad bit extreme in their dress code - wearing briefs "on the outside," huh? And yes, I know that part is truly a joke.)...

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

...the only thing dumber than the Brooksville, FLA city council is this vid (I think these guys saw "Magical Mystery Tour" one too many times; and oh yeah, if you play the backwards part at the end backwards, it sounds like "raspberry sauce").

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Open Thread

post from Crooks and Liars on 15 June 2009 11:30:15 PM. © Crooks and Liars

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You know you've been meaning to kick in five bucks (or more) to C&L's donation drive. Now is a great time to do that.

Open thread below....

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Indie Retailer of the Day: Vintage by Crystal

post from Moue Magazine on 15 June 2009 11:15:24 PM. © Moue Magazine

So I discovered the art of "Vintage by Crystal" at the SOWA Open Markets in Boston this past Sunday.[...]

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Late Night: Git off, Pa, Yer Crushin Mah
Marlboros!

Again, I ask: What part of "21st Century" don't you understand?[...]

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Andrew Breitbart: Still An Idiot

For reasons that are clear only in his addled brain, Andrew Breitbart decided to reprise the comical, profanity-laced tirade he unleased last week to John Cook at Gawker for his column in today's Washington Times ... sans the profanity.

It's hilarious.

In its obvious zeal to create a one-party state, the Democrat-Media Complex (the natural coalition of the Democratic Party and the mainstream media) last week seized upon the horrific murder of a security guard at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington as an opportunity to ascribe blame to the American conservative movement and to further marginalize the Republican Party.

First, that's Democratic-Media Complex to you, bub. Second, the beauty of the marginalization of the Republican Party is that you really don't have to do anything except sit back and enjoy the show. And third, what Breitbart and his band of fellow-whiners seem to miss is that it isn't about blaming the conservative movement for the shooting at the Holocaust Museum, it's pointing out their idiocy for dismissing the Department of Homeland Security report (pdf) that warned of increasing violence from rightwing extremists - a report that Republicans, for reasons only they can explain, took as a personal attack on them.

And it seems that there is no one more defensive on this than Andrew Breitbart. The best part is when he says:

... the right wouldn't be so crass or foolish to try to blame the political left for the existence of - or motivation behind - haters like Mr. von Brunn.

This in the middle of a column where he cites Markos Moulitsas, Arianna Huffington, the Daily Kos convention (what's that?), Cindy Sheehan, and "the dominant "multicultural" mind-set at the liberal American college campus and on prominent left-wing blogs" as sharing "eerie similarities" with Mr. von Brunn.

And for those who missed it, he's the shorter version of Breitbart's column.

John Cook, this is Andrew Breitbart. I'm basically fuming and I'm reading your shit at Gawker right now, saying that this guy's a rightwing extremist. And it's such a fucking slander on people like me. This guy went after, this guy was after neocons like me who are conservative. He had the address of The Weekly Standard there. Conservatives believe in individual liberty, they don't believe in group's rights. This guy's a multiculturalist, just like the black studies and the lesbian studies majors on college campuses. This guy was a 9/11 truther. This guy's hardly a rightwinger. This guy's political philosophy is more akin to the drivel that you hear on a college campus that delineates us by group, not by individuality. It's the exact opposite of my political philosophy. It's deeply offensive that you would use this for political gain. I could care less how you describe me in regards to Drudge or anything, but for you to put on me this fuck-face crime against humanity is so fucking beyond the pale.

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C&L's Late Nite Music Club: The 50 State Strategy
with William Elliott Whitmore (IA)

Title: DryArtist: William Elliott Whitmore
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William Elliott Whitmore, from Lee County Iowa, has earned a dedicated following by touring with loud, heavy acts like Converge and Clutch. If you think metalheads only like it fast and loud, think again. A deserving representative of Iowa's musical mantle, indeed.

Every Monday night, C&L's Late Nite Music Club will feature an act from every state, alphabetically by state, as part of LNMC's 50 State Strategy. Know a band or artist that you think is the best in their state? Email suggestions to latenitemusicclub [at] gmail.com. Next week: Kansas.

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