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links for 2011-02-17
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Amid the third straight day of chaotic but largely peaceful protests at the Capitol, Democratic senators Thursday boycotted a Senate vote on Gov. Scott Walker's budget-repair plan, forcing Republicans to put off further action in that house until Friday at the earliest.
With Democrats hiding out just over the Illinois border and drawing national media attention, Republicans had too few lawmakers to take a vote Thursday and had to adjourn. With thousands of demonstrators swarming the Capitol Square, GOP lawmakers vowed to come back Friday morning to try to take up the proposal, which would help solve a state budget shortfall by cutting public employee benefits and most public union bargaining rights.
Democrats holed up in the Clock Tower Resort & Conference Center in Rockford, Ill., while Republicans said they wanted law enforcement to bring them to the Capitol if they were still in Wisconsin.
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A mockery of their oath of office.Come on……
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Sarah Palin addressed a variety of issues Thursday at a gathering of business officials in Long Island, New York including her 2012 plans, first lady Michelle Obama, President Obama's proposed budget, the crisis in Egypt, and her feelings on the media.
Here's a snapshot of what she had to say:
On her 2012 ambitions:
"I am still thinking of leading this country. I am still thinking about it. I haven't made up my mind. We hired a chief of staff because Todd is getting tired of doing it for me."When asked who else she might envision at the top of the GOP ticket Palin responded, "No one is more qualified to multi-tasking and doing all the things you need to do as a President than a woman."
She then began reciting from her resume, listing her experience as a mayor and running for Vice President.
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Sarah Palin can't let it go…..always setting herself up to be the victim.
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Tennessee was a rare state where Barack Obama performed worse in 2008 than John Kerry did in 2004, albeit by less than one point on the margin. But the state now joins red-turned-blue neighbors North Carolina and Virginia as states where Obama has actually improved since the last election. While he lost to John McCain by 15 points last time, he now trails next year's crop of Republican frontrunners by no more than 12.
Neighboring Arkansas' Mike Huckabee typically does best against the president in Southern states, and he comes closest to matching McCain's margin of victory here, 53-41. The other candidate who usually runs closest to Obama, Mitt Romney, beats him here, 48-41. But neighboring Georgia's Newt Gingrich can manage only a 46-43 lead, and Sarah Palin actually ties the president at 45%.
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Tennessee is solidly red….
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While most of the Democratic establishment is visibly encouraging Tim Kaine to dive into the Virginia Senate race, the same cannot be said for Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano in Arizona.
In fact, top Democrats are unenthusiastic about a Napolitano Senate candidacy for retiring Sen. Jon Kyl's seat, according to those familiar with the race and Arizona politics.
Beyond the routine calls that are made to any potential candidate, one source noted that there's been little outreach from typical Democratic players to urge the former governor to run.
"There's not much interest in her. She has a long, long, long record, closely tied to President Obama. She's got a lot of baggage," said a Democrat involved in the race.
Dubbed derisively as "Big Sis" by Matt Drudge, Napolitano also took a considerable amount of heat for declaring that "the system worked" after the Christmas bomber was able to board a plane.
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Time has passed Big Sis by and Jeff Flake will be the next Sen -
Rather than call a “truce” on social issues as possible presidential contender Mitch Daniels suggests, Sen. John Thune tells The Brody File that, “I don’t think we can minimize those in the debate.”
Thune is mulling a presidential run and The Brody File spent the whole day with him on Capitol Hill this past Tuesday. The Brody File received exclusive access into certain meetings Thune was holding that day. All of that will be part of a feature airing on The 700 Club in a few weeks.
Thune told me, “For any conservative or any Republican to get elected to office, you have to have the support and hopefully the energetic support of people who care passionately about the social issues. So, they’re important. And we shouldn’t trivialize that.”
++++++Not exactly what Mitch Daniels said but is the CW that opponents will use against him – should he decide to run
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Gov. Mitch Daniels is recovering at home after surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder.
The governor's office says the outpatient surgery Thursday morning at Indiana Orthopedic Hospital Northwest in Indianapolis was successfully performed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Sandy Kunkel.
Daniels is expected to return to his office at the Statehouse sometime next week.
Spokesman Jacob Oakman says he's back in charge of the executive branch of Indiana government after temporarily handing those duties to Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman.
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Get well Governor – Spring Training is just around the corner.
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Update with Video: House Votes to Block Funds for FCC Net Neutrality Order
Just in case you have heard about “Net Neutrality” but want to know what the issues are, watch the video above from Reason. Today, the House voted to defund the FCC order to compel it on ISP’s.
The House passed an amendment Thursday that would bar the Federal Communications Commission from using any funding to implement the network-neutrality order it approved in December.
The amendment, approved on a 244-181 vote, was offered by Energy and Commerce Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., to legislation that would fund government agencies for the rest of fiscal year 2011.
Walden and other critics of the FCC’s net-neutrality order argue it will stifle innovation and investment in broadband. The order aims to bar broadband providers from discriminating against Internet content, services, or applications.
“If left unchallenged, this claim of authority would allow the FCC to regulate any matter it discussed in the national broadband plan,” Walden said.
If the defunding effort fails, Republicans are pursuing a second route to try to block the FCC’s open-Internet order. Walden and other Republicans in both the House and the Senate introduced on Wednesday a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act, which would give lawmakers a limited amount of time to try to block the FCC’s net-neutrality rules.
You know, Net Neutrality sounds good but I REALLY don’t like the idea of the FCC (political appointees, no less) having an expanded role in regulating the internet. If Verizon or Comcast price control internet content (which they never have done), I can always quit them and find an ISP who won’t do that – the power of the marketplace.
If I desire MORE of certain content, then I am willing to pay for it, but NOT willing to pay for equal broadband for the general public who may not desire said content. They get a free ride.
The House is right here, but look for a veto from President Obama.
Update:
Here is video of Rep. Greg Walden on the House Floor today:
“We all want an open and thriving Internet. That Internet exists today. Consumers can access anything they want with the click of a mouse thanks to our historical hands-off approach,” said Walden. “I am pleased that my colleagues in the House accepted my amendment to ensure the FCC does not have the funds to implement the controversial Internet regulations.”
“However, the amendment is simply a stop gap measure while we work towards passing a more permanent solution,” Rep. Walden said. “I would encourage everybody who cares about keeping the government out of the business of running the internet to cosponsor the Resolution of Disapproval, H.J.Res. 37, which would nullify the rules themselves.”
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House Votes to Block Funds for FCC Net Neutrality Order
Just in case you have heard about “Net Neutrality” but want to know what the issues are, watch the video above from Reason. Today, the House voted to defund the FCC order to compel it on ISP’s.
The House passed an amendment Thursday that would bar the Federal Communications Commission from using any funding to implement the network-neutrality order it approved in December.
The amendment, approved on a 244-181 vote, was offered by Energy and Commerce Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., to legislation that would fund government agencies for the rest of fiscal year 2011.
Walden and other critics of the FCC’s net-neutrality order argue it will stifle innovation and investment in broadband. The order aims to bar broadband providers from discriminating against Internet content, services, or applications.
“If left unchallenged, this claim of authority would allow the FCC to regulate any matter it discussed in the national broadband plan,” Walden said.
If the defunding effort fails, Republicans are pursuing a second route to try to block the FCC’s open-Internet order. Walden and other Republicans in both the House and the Senate introduced on Wednesday a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act, which would give lawmakers a limited amount of time to try to block the FCC’s net-neutrality rules.
You know, Net Neutrality sounds good but I REALLY don’t like the idea of the FCC (political appointees, no less) having an expanded role in regulating the internet. If Verizon or Comcast price control internet content (which they never have done), I can always quit them and find an ISP who won’t do that – the power of the marketplace.
If I desire MORE of certain content, then I am willing to pay for it, but NOT willing to pay for equal broadband for the general public who may not desire said content. They get a free ride.
The House is right here, but look for a veto from President Obama.
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President 2012: Jeb Bush Says Indiana Governor is the “Anti-Obama”
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels
It’s starting – the mainstream GOP abandoning Mitt Romney and finding another horse.Jeb Bush, brother of one former president and son of another, isn’t going to seek the White House for himself next year, he says, but he likes what he’s seen so far from Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels.
Daniels, in his second term, is among a slew of Republicans considering a presidential campaign next year.
“Mitch is the only one who sees the stark [economic] perils and will offer real, detailed proposals,” Bush told Jacksonville business leaders, according to the Florida Times-Union.
“He would be the anti-Obama, at least socially,” Bush said in the newspaper’s account of a private gathering. “He is not good on a teleprompter, but if my theory is right that would work well for him.” Daniels, a Midwesterner with an understated sense of humor, also told the conservatives in Washington the next president will have to consider revamping entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare.
Jeb Bush’s good will stopped far short of any endorsement for Daniels, who first must decide whether he is going to take the plunge in 2012.
Mitch Daniels is not only the anti-Obama but also the anti-Sarah Pain and anti-Mitt Romney.
Mitch is recovering in Indianapolis from rotator cuff surgery yesterday but he has definitley NOT ruled out a run for the White House.
Stay tuned……
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Day by Day February 17, 2011 – Over Yonder
Michael Yon, indeed, is a national treasure.Interesting that I received a very timely e-mail from Michael when it was rumored a few days ago that General Petraeus was leaving forthwith from his Afghanistan command.
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President 2012 Poll Watch: Obama 47% Vs Huckabee 44% – Within the Margin of Error
From Pollster: Mike Huckabee Favorable RatingMike Huckabee continues to do the best against President Obama in the latest PPP Poll (Pdf).Obama has slipped a little in the last month, but still leads all of his potential opponents by at least three points. He tops Mike Huckabee, 47-44; Mitt Romney, 46-41; Newt Gingrich, 49-40; and Sarah Palin, 52-40. He also beats two offbeat dark horses: Ron Paul, 48-39, and Donald Trump, 48-34. The generic moderate Republican would win independents, 47-40, and the generic Republican nominee would essentially tie, 44-45, but the named candidates trail with these voters by between five and 24 points.
The summary:
- 47% Obama Vs. 44% Huckabee
- 52% Obama Vs. 40% Palin
- 49% Obama Vs. 40% Gingrich
- 46% Obama Vs. 41% Romney
- 48% Obama Vs. 41% Romney
- 48% Obama Vs. 39% Paul
- 48% Obama Vs. 34% Trump
So, what does this mean?
President Obama is vulnerable to a likeable, trustworthy candidate in Mike Huckabee (look at his favorability chart above) and the GOP is in trouble if they nominate anyone listed in the poll – a sort of no brainer.
But, is Huckabee likely to run?
Perhaps…..
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President 2012 Poll Watch: Obama 45% Vs. Nameless Republican 45%
Yes, President Obama is vulnerable.U.S. registered voters are evenly split about whether they would back President Barack Obama for re-election in 2012 (45%) or “the Republican Party’s candidate” (45%). This is similar to the results for the same question when it was asked a year ago.
How do the age, race and sex demographics break out?
Women and nonwhites were important elements of Obama’s winning 2008 coalition. Today, a wide gulf in political preferences remains between whites and nonwhites, with the majority of the former favoring the Republican candidate and a larger majority of the latter favoring Obama. Women are five percentage points more likely to say they would vote for Obama than are men (47% vs. 42%), similar to the seven-point gender gap in support for Obama in Gallup’s final pre-election poll in 2008.
Younger voters are one element of Obama’s original coalition that may not be intact heading into 2012. Gallup’s 2008 pre-election poll found 63% of registered voters aged 18 to 34 choosing Obama, while 33% backed his Republican rival, John McCain. In addition, 53% of 35- to 54-year-old voters and 48% of those 55 and older supported Obama in that same poll. By contrast, today a bare majority of the 18- to 34-year-old group, 51%, and 43% of those 35 to 54 say they would vote to re-elect Obama.
Remember the 2012 Presidential election will consist of 7-8 key battleground states.
Whoever the GOP nominates will have to perform well in them – most probably by micro-targeting their favorable demographic.
Now, who to choose?