Monday Stuff

post from The Liberal Doomsayer on 26 April 2010 11:42:00 PM. © The Liberal Doomsayer

"Worst Persons" (A Thai restaurant down under - g'day, mate! - doesn't let a diner enter because they thought the man's dog was gay...I have a feeling that, if the proprietor thought he heard that instead of "guide dog," then maybe he should lay off the Foster's; speaking of people acting mentally impaired, Stephen Baldwin, uber-conservative, devises perhaps the world's most obnoxious online tip jar in His name - hate to be in his shoes when he's at St. Peter's gate one day, assuming he gets there; but Sen. Chuck Grassley gets the nod for being against health care reform before he was for it...those teabaggers may have short attention spans, Chuck, but not THAT short)...

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Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

...and I think this is a cool new tune.

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Liberal Democrat rips Gordon Brown and the
'convention of old politics'

post from AMERICAblog News on 26 April 2010 11:38:00 PM. © AMERICAblog News

Just as the world was mystified in 2000 when Bush had fewer popular votes yet more electoral votes, the UK is exposing one of its quirky leftovers from another era. It is possible for Gordon Brown's Labour Party to finish in third (last) place yet still maintain the role of Prime Minister if there is a hung Parliament. The Lib Dem leader (Nick Clegg) is currently running in second place though his numbers are improving. He caused a controversy over the weekend because some thought he would only cooperate with the Conservatives and not Labour. Yesterday, he clarified that Labour was fine, but not a chance working with Gordon Brown. The Guardian:

Clegg, however, has not been deterred from trying to set out the Lib Dem stance. He said: "I think, if Labour do come third in terms of the number of votes cast, then people would find it inexplicable that Gordon Brown himself could carry on as prime minister. As for who I'd work with, I've been very clear ? much clearer than David Cameron and Gordon Brown ? that I will work with anyone. I will work with a man from the moon, I don't care, with anyone who can deliver the greater fairness that I think people want."

Asked if he could work with the "man from the moon but not Gordon Brown", he said: "I just don't think the British people would accept that he could carry on as prime minister, which is what the convention of old politics dictates when, or rather if, he were to lose the election in such spectacular style."

Lib Dem officials confirmed that Clegg was singling out Brown as the man the country would not tolerate if Labour dropped to third in share of the vote.

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Open Thread

post from Crooks and Liars on 26 April 2010 11:30:16 PM. © Crooks and Liars

thelma and louise_337ae.jpg

Click here for larger image. Heather emailed me about The McLaughlin Group calling Palin and Bachmann the "Thelma and Louise" of the GOP.

Open thread below...

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http://crooksandliars.com/bluegal/open-thread-392

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Polling and Political Wrap, 4/26/10

post from Daily Kos on 26 April 2010 11:20:04 PM. © Daily Kos

A brief vacation for the Wrap this weekend, but here we are, back at the keyboard. And with the absence of the weekend edition, it is safe to assume that the Monday edition of the Wrap is going to be positively bursting at the seams.

With that in mind, let's get after it...

THE U.S. SENATE

IN-Sen: NRA Guns For Coats In Upcoming GOP Senate Primary
With about a week to go until a competitive GOP primary for the U.S. Senate in the Hoosier State, the National Rifle Association is taking aim at an old Republican foe. They will send out a mailer this week reminding voters of the impure voting record of Coats on 2nd Amendment issues. The crux of the discord, apparently, was Coats' decision, over a decade-and-a-half ago, to support the Brady Bill. Coats' main opposition in the primary comes from lightly funded (though ideologically pure) former Congressman John Hostettler.

NV-Sen: Tea Party Propping Up Underdog GOP Candidate
In another example of how outside conservative groups might unwittingly benefit the object of their scorn (national Democrats), the group Tea Party Express is wading into the competitive GOP Senate primary in Nevada. The interesting thing is that they are wading into the primary on behalf of Sharron Angle, a former Assemblywoman generally considered to be the third most viable option in a general election against Majority Leader Harry Reid. Indeed, a new poll out from the Nevada News Bureau finds Angle (17%) in third place in a prospective GOP primary, trailing Sue Lowden (41%) and Danny Tarkanian (24%).

UT-Sen: Numbers Looking Very Dire For Bennett In New Poll
An interesting quirk of Utah election law might spell doom for incumbent Republican Senator Bob Bennett. A new poll out of Utah GOP voters, taken for Deseret News, finds that 41% of GOP voters will absolutely not vote for Bennett in any circumstances. The problem for Bennett? You must have support from at least 60% of voters to avoid any potential primary. Absent that support, Bennett will have to roll the dice on an activist-driven primary, which would almost certainly be curtains for the incumbent. Therefore, Bennett's most likely path to victory involves converting voters who have already made up their minds in the negative.

WA-Sen: SUSA Makes Ras Look Rosy About Murray Re-Elex Prospects
It is an odd day on the Wrap where the "wet blanket" polling award for Democratic prospects doesn't go to the folks at Ras. But SurveyUSA takes the gold medal by a mile, with their poll late last week showing incumbent Democratic Sen. Patty Murray down double digits to potential challenger Dino Rossi (52-42), and only leading a raft of little known Republicans by margins ranging from 1-4 points. Rossi is said to be nearing a decision on whether or not to make a third stab at statewide elected office (he lost races for Governor in 2004 and 2008).

THE U.S. HOUSE

FL-08: GOP Finally Gets Their Man in Grayson Race
After it seemed a few months back that he would be sitting out the 2010 electoral cycle, former state senator Dan Webster reversed course and announced a bid for Congress late last week. Webster will be challenging fiery freshman Democrat Alan Grayson. Webster faces a multi-candidate GOP field, including several aspirants who might have stood aside if Webster had made his intentions known earlier. Webster is getting a late start, and the object of his general election ambition (Grayson) is sitting on a monster warchest after a nearly seven-figure first quarter of fundraising.

FL-22: Internal Poll Gives GOP Lead in Ron Klein's District
Take it with a dollop of salt, what with it being a candidate's internal poll and all: a new internal poll for the campaign of GOP contender Allan West shows the Republican leading sophomore incumbent Ron Klein by a two-point margin (44-42). The two squared off back in 2008, and Klein was victorious by a ten-point margin (55-45).

WV-01: Is A Three-Decade Incumbent In Serious Danger?
In a diary over a FDL which quotes The Hill and other sources, there is apparently a growing sense that fourteen-term incumbent Democrat Alan Mollohan is in serious jeopardy of being defeated in the Democratic primary by state senator Mike Oliverio. According to the article, in-state polling (although it is unclear whether the polling in question is internal, or for a public client) has Mollohan down in the high single digits to Oliverio. Mollohan countered with an internal showing him up over Oliverio by high single digits. Judging from the issues profile on his website, it would appear that Oliverio would qualify as a pretty conservative Democrat.

THE GUBERNATORIAL RACES

IL-Gov: Democratic Castoff Plans Indie Bid For Governor
This has the faint whiff of scorn/vengeance, and it remains to be seen if it has an impact on the gubernatorial election in the Land of Lincoln. Scott Lee Cohen, who won the Democratic nomination for Lt. Governor in an upset and found his nomination shot out from under him after a metric ton of ugly news came out about him, is now contemplating a bid for Governor as an Independent. On paper, one would think that a high-profile (albeit for all the wrong reasons) Democratic Indie candidate would be bad for incumbent Democrat Pat Quinn. However, it is equally likely that Cohen can split the anti-incumbent vote with Republican Bill Brady. The net result? Likely a wash, and perhaps less than meets the eye--it's hard to imagine him scoring a big proportion of the vote.

MI-Gov: Could There Be A Kevorkian Factor in Gubernatorial Race?
Democrats could not possibly be wishing for this to happen, but a new poll out today from Michigan pollsters EPIC-MRA seems to hint at a potentially damaging scenario for Michigan Democrats. The poll, of the pending Democratic primary, tested the possible entrance of controversial Kevorkian attorney (and 1998 Democratic nominee) Geoffrey Fieger into the race. As of right now, he holds the lead (28%), with a modest lead over House Speaker Andy Dillon (20%) and Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero (13%). Fieger was turned away easily in his 1998 bid, defeated by double digits by incumbent GOP Governor John Engler.

MN-Gov: Dem Field Thins Dramatically After Convention
In something of a surprise, the Democratic Convention ended in Minnesota with the candidate that polls showed as the most electable Democrat no longer in the race. Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak did not survive the weekend, as former House speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher emerged as the choice of the convention. She will now face former US Senator Mark Dayton, and former state legislator Matt Etenza, and a host of lesser-known candidates in the primary.

NH-Gov: Second Poll Seems to Confirm Lynch Vulnerability
After cruising to re-election the last two cycles, a new poll out from PPP confirms a finding from Rasmussen: Democratic Governor John Lynch is feeling some heat this time around. The pollster has Lynch under 50% against all prospective Republicans, after two cycles in a row when he toppled 70% of the vote. Lynch draws 47% of the vote against all three Republican prospects: former statewide official John Stephen comes closest, trailing Lynch by eleven points (47-36).

THE RAS-A-PALOOZA

The Ras-A-Palooza fully returns to form to open this week, with GOP affirmations from the Dakotas to the shores of Maryland.

FL-Sen: Marco Rubio (R) 37%, Charlie Crist (I) 30%, Kendrick Meek (D) 22%
GA-Sen: Sen. Johnny Isakson (R) 51%, Michael Thurmond (D) 35%
MD-Gov: Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) 47%, Robert Ehrlich (R) 44%
ND-AL: Rick Berg (R) 49%, Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D) 45%
SD-Gov: Dennis Daugaard (R) 53%, Scott Heidepriem (D) 33%
SD-Gov: Scott Heidepriem (D) 41%, Dave Knudson (R) 41%
SD-Gov: Scott Heidepriem (D) 46%, Gordon Howie (R) 31%
SD-AL: Rep. Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (D) 45%, Chris Nelson (R) 41%
SD-AL: Rep. Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (D) 48%, Blake Curd (R) 36%
SD-AL: Rep. Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (D) 50%, Kristi Noem (R) 35%
WI-Gov: Scott Walker (R) 46%, Tom Barrett (D) 44%
WI-Gov: Tom Barrett (D) 46%, Mark Neumann (D) 46%
WI-Sen: Sen. Russ Feingold (D) 49%, Terrance Wall (R) 43%
WI-Sen: Sen. Russ Feingold (D) 49%, Dave Westlake (R) 38%
WI-Sen: Sen. Russ Feingold (D) 48%, Richard Leinenkugel (R) 37%

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-Wrap,-4-26-10

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Texas Republicans Love Earmarks As Much As
Liberals Like Myself Love Big GovernmentThe Yang Of Truth And The Yin Of Hypocrisy

post from Texas Liberal on 26 April 2010 11:08:18 PM. © Texas Liberal

Despite all the talk we hear about Texans not wanting the federal government in their lives, Texas gets a great deal of money in federal earmarks. Many of these earmarks are sought by Republicans. From the Houston Chronicle— “Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison’s status as a Washington insider proved politically toxic in her bid for governor [...]

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uch-as-liberals-like-myself-love-big-government-the-yang-of-truth-and-the-yin-of-hypocrisy/

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Texas Republicans Love Earmarks As Much As
Liberals Like Myself Love Big Government

post from Texas Liberal on 26 April 2010 11:08:18 PM. © Texas Liberal

Despite all the talk we hear about Texans not wanting the federal government in their lives, Texas gets a great deal of money in federal earmarks. From the Houston Chronicle— “Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison’s status as a Washington insider proved politically toxic in her bid for governor ? but those same skills reaped more than [...]

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uch-as-liberals-like-myself-love-big-government/

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If the GOP has issues with the financial reform
bill, then why not offer an amendment

post from AMERICAblog News on 26 April 2010 11:01:27 PM. © AMERICAblog News

Yglesias has a point. Rather than trying to kill the reform bill, why not just offer an amendment to make it better? It's not like Republicans haven't been successful in the past wooing Democratic votes.

Yglesias: ?On financial regulation, over the months I?ve heard a number of Republican Senators say reasonablish things about the bill, or about problems with the bill. But it?s time to put up or shut up. If you?re concerned the bill doesn?t address something, then write an amendment to address it. If you think the bill is too tough in some respect, then write an amendment to weaken it. There?s no good reason to insist that everything be done in a secret Shelby-Dodd negotiating process.?

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Noam Chomsky: On The Depression And Revisionist
History

I'm going to leave a link for those who want to read the entire article, which appears to have been from a recent Chomsky lecture. But this paragraph I found priceless.

... I left home for graduate studies at Harvard, where I had my first extensive experience with the elite intellectual world. On arrival, I went to the standard faculty-run party for incoming students and was regaled by a very distinguished philosopher with an account of the Depression - which, he assured me, had not taken place. It was a liberal fabrication. There were no rag-pickers coming to our door in desperation in the early '30s, no women workers being beaten by security forces while on strike at a textile factory that I passed on a trolley with my mother when I was about five, none of my unemployed working class relatives. A few businessmen might have suffered, but there was nothing beyond that.

I guess that means I never saw the more recent problems, either, like a solid crowded city block of dudes waiting for a few day-labor employers to drive up in their pickups. It didn't happen. I never saw it. Ever. -- MJ

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C&L's Late Nite Music Club wishes Mike Finnegan a
Happy Birthday!

DOWNLOADS: (38)
PLAYS: (102)

Happy Birthday, Mike. He's been a huge inspiration to me in my life and is one of those people that if you are fortunate to meet, they change your life forever.

In this video he's discussing playing a track and jamming with Jimi Hendrix on Electric Ladyland.

The shuffle Rainy Day, Dream Away is an incredible spontaneous jam as Mike Finnegan tells it in the DVD. Finnegan is playing organ/ bass on this, with Miles again on drums and Larry Fawcett on tenor sax. Miles says it?s the track he is proudest of in his entire career.

If there's a better player than Mike in the music industry, I'd like to meet him. And the man sings like the wind.

We're lucky enough to have him on C&L always contributing to the awesomeness that is 'Mike's Blog Round Up.' It's a tribute to him and the entire blogosphere. We're working together and Mike continues to be the bridge that links us.

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Late Night: Love Thy Neighbor Take Care of Your
Own Shit

Question: What is the difference between Lloyd Blankfein and Aunt Toby?Answer: Aunt Toby has a septic system to make sure that her shit doesn?t hurt anyone else. Blankfein, on the other hand, couldn?t care less.Rim shot.Septic systems (in the Miller[...]

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