• Del.icio.us Links

    links for 2009-08-05

    • National Republicans turned the tables on their political counterparts Wednesday by redirecting angry telephone calls coming into their switchboard to the Democratic National Committee.

      The DNC released a Web video early in the morning accusing the GOP of inciting mob activity at town hall meetings.

      At the end of the video, the DNC instructs people to call the Republican National Committee to express outrage. Callers who dial the RNC's main number to voice their concern about the DNC's charges are told to press 1, which sends them to the DNC's main switchboard.

      (tags: Obamacare DNC rnc)
    • Americans appear split over President Barack Obama's health care reform proposals, according to a new national poll.

      Fifty percent of those questioned in CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Wednesday morning say they support the president's plans, with 45 percent opposed.

      The results indicate a generational divide.

      "Obama's plan is most popular among younger Americans and least popular among senior citizens," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "A majority of Americans over the age of 50 oppose Obama's plan; a majority of those under 50 support it."

      (tags: Obamacare)
    • A federal jury convicted a former Louisiana congressman Wednesday of taking bribes on 11 of 16 counts in a case in which agents found $90,000 in his freezer.

      Former Rep. William Jefferson, a Democrat who had represented parts of New Orleans, was accused of accepting more than $400,000 in bribes and seeking millions more in exchange for brokering business deals in Africa.

      It took jurors five days to reach a decision after an eight-week trial. Most of the trial was government testimony. The defense wrapped up its case in a matter of hours.

    • I have confirmed from multiple Republican congressional offices that, despite Democrat attempts to portray American citizens as “Nazi-like” and “a mob” for questioning members of Congress on healthcare, the DNC is coordinating activity to target swing district Republican congressmen in their offices.

      Multiple Republican offices have received calls from the Democratic National Committee in their district offices asking for the office hours of the office, when the Congressman is expected to be in the office, etc. Staffers in the offices are confident the data will be compiled by the DNC to send activists to Republicans’ offices to push the healthcare agenda.

      In other words — while the Democrats are accusing the Republicans are orchestrating protestors at open townhalls, the Democrats are going to push activists straight into congressional offices to cause scenes fit for the local newscasts.

      (tags: Obamacare DNC GOP)
    • American voters, by a 55 – 35 percent margin, are more worried that Congress will spend too much money and add to the deficit than it will not act to overhaul the health care system, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today. By a similar 57 – 37 percent margin, voters say health care reform should be dropped if it adds "significantly" to the deficit.

      By a 72 – 21 percent margin, voters do not believe that President Barack Obama will keep his promise to overhaul the health care system without adding to the deficit, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University national poll finds.

      American voters disapprove 52 – 39 percent of the way President Obama is handling health care, down from 46 – 42 percent approval July 1, with 60 – 34 percent disapproval from independent voters. Voters say 59 – 36 percent that Congress should not pass health care reform if only Democratic members support it.

    • The Obama administration characterized Bill Clinton's unexpected visit to Pyongyang to secure the release of two American reporters, held unjustifiably by North Korea for nearly five months, as a private, humanitarian mission. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has insisted that the fate of the women who strayed into the North (whether accidentally or deliberately is still not clear), should be separated from the unresolved issue of the North's nuclear weapons program.
    • Campaign Spot reader Jeanne passes on a good point:

      You've give some great advice regarding tea parties and town hall protests. Could you perhaps
      pass along one more?

      Even in areas where representatives are conservative and/or oppose Obama's health care takeover,
      it's still important for us to show up at their town hall meetings. We want them to know we support them, we're following the legislation closely, and we're well informed.

      Call the local media and tell them your group plans to attend. Be courteous and keep questions
      short and succinct. Be prepared with good responses to media inquiries. That should produce some good coverage for our side of the debate.

      (tags: Obamacare GOP)
    • Health care legislation before Congress would allow a new government-sponsored insurance plan to cover abortions, a decision that would affect millions of women and recast federal policy on the divisive issue.

      Federal funds for abortions are now restricted to cases involving rape, incest or danger to the health of the mother. Abortion opponents say those restrictions should carry over to any health insurance sold through a new marketplace envisioned under the legislation, an exchange where people would choose private coverage or the public plan.

      Abortion rights supporters say that would have the effect of denying coverage for abortion to millions of women who now have it through workplace insurance and are expected to join the exchange.

      Advocates on both sides are preparing for a renewed battle over abortion, which could jeopardize political support for President Barack Obama's health care initiative aimed at covering nearly 50 million uninsured and restraining medical costs.

    • The following information is based on the requirements set forth in the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act of 2009 (commonly known as the "Cash for Clunkers Act") that was enacted on June 24, 2009, as well as the published regulations issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ("NHTSA") on July 24, 2009.

      To qualify for the "Cash for Clunkers" rebate, you must have an eligible used vehicle that you are willing to trade in for a new, more fuel-efficient vehicle.

    • Four of the top five models sold so far under the U.S. “cash for clunkers” program, aimed at boosting the auto industry, are made by foreign automakers, according to Transportation Department data.

      Ford Motor Co.’s Focus was the top seller, followed by Toyota Motor Corp.’s Corolla, Honda Motor Co.’s Civic and Toyota’s Prius and Camry, data from the department showed today.

  • William Jefferson

    Former Representative William “Cash in the Freezer” Jefferson CONVICTED of Corruption

    Former Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson, left, stands outside the Albert V. Bryan Courthouse with his wife, Andrea, after being convicted on 11 of 16 counts, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009, in Alexandria, Va.

    This conviction was a long time coming for this Louisiana Democrat.

    Former U.S. Rep. William Jefferson of Louisiana was convicted Wednesday on 11 of the 16 corruption charges against him in a case that included the discovery of $90,000 in his freezer.

    A federal court jury convicted Jefferson on four bribery counts, three counts of money laundering, three counts of wire fraud and one count of racketeering. He was acquitted on five other counts including wire fraud and obstruction of justice.

    Jefferson, a 62-year-old Democrat, was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 4, 2007, about two years after federal agents said they found the cash in his freezer. Authorities said the cash was part of a payment in marked bills from an FBI informant in a transaction captured on video.

    Jefferson had pleaded not guilty. He faces a maximum possible sentence of 150 years in prison, with sentencing tentatively set for October 30.

    After the verdict on the fifth day of jury deliberations, U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis turned down a prosecution request for Jefferson to be taken into custody, ruling that he posed no flight risk.

    The verdict showed that “no person, not even a congressman, is above the law,” said U.S. Attorney Dana Boente of the Eastern District of Virginia. Asked what might have turned the case in the prosecution’s favor, Boente said: “We always thought that a powerful piece of evidence in this case was $90,000 in a freezer.”

    A stern-faced Jefferson emerged from the courthouse with his lawyer, Robert Trout, who said the verdict would be appealed.

    Jefferson can appeal but it looks to Flap that he is going to federal prison after almost four years of legal wrangling after the cash was found in Jefferson’s freezer.

    Interestingly enough, Jefferson was acquitted on the charge involving the $90,000 in frozen cash that purportedly was to be delivered to the Vice President of Nigeria.

    However, the Harvard Law School graduate and the first African American Congressman from Louisiana since Reconstruction will be spending his retirement days pondering the frozen cash and what ruin plus shame it brought him and his family.

    Previous:

    The William Jefferson Archive


    Technorati Tags:

  • Day By Day,  Obamacare

    Day By Day by Chris Muir August 5, 2009 – Image Makeover

    Day By Day by Chris Muir

    Interesting but NOT surprising that the Obama White House, the Democrat National committee and the LEFT are coordinating a Saul Alinksy type “ridicule” attack on the opposition to Obama’s health care reform bill – Obamacare. They are losing the debate on the issues and the polls reflect this.

    Protesters to Obamcare are now referred to as “Astroturfers” and their dissent is ridiculed and discounted.

    But, not so fast.

    If I were a “Blue Dog” Democrat in a swing, competitive House district, I would think hard about discounting voters in your Congressional District.

    Ignore the protests at your own political peril.

    The opposition to Obamacare is REAL and voters WILL express their anger at the polls in 2010.

    Previous:

    The Day By Day Archive


    Technorati Tags: ,