links for 2010-03-10

Are there enough votes in the House to pass the Senate's health-care bill? As of today, it's clear there aren't. House Democratic leaders have brushed aside White House calls to bring the bill forward by March 18, when President Barack Obama heads to Asia. Nevertheless, analysts close to the Democratic leadership tell me they're confident the leadership will find some way to squeeze out the 216 votes needed for a majority.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi has indeed shown mastery at amassing majorities. But it's hard to see how she'll do so on this one. The arithmetic as I see it doesn't add up.
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It will be a reach……

The federal government should promote choice and competition to lower health care costs while rejecting a wholesale overhaul of the nation's medical system, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Carly Fiorina said Wednesday.

Fiorina said the plan pending before Congress misses the goal of making sure every American, including those who are currently uninsured, has access to quality, affordable health care. It "creates more problems than it solves," said Fiorina, one of three Republicans competing to face three-term incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer in November.

She also questioned whether the nation can afford the proposal.

Her comments came as President Barack Obama traveled to a St. Louis suburb as part of a series of town hall-style events to promote health care reform.
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Obamacare is on life support

The California media have certainly latched on to the controversy over Tom Campbell’s Sami Al-Arian connection. The question they’re now raising is whether the self-inflicted wound is fatal. First, it was the Los Angeles Times. Now the San Jose Mercury News focuses on Campbell’s letter written on behalf of the terrorist, as well as Campbell’s inability to get his story straight:
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A deep hole indeed…..

DeVore likes to portray himself as a protector of taxpayers, yet he still gets paid his yearly salary of around $95,000–plus a car allowance, housing allowance and per diem of around $165 tax-free dollars a day when he is in Sacramento–as he campaigns for another office while ignoring his current constituents.

As Holt put it, candidates like DeVore "are on the peoples' clock when they are campaigning."

The funny thing is, I'd imagine ol' Chuckie supports a part-time Legislature–at least once he's left it.
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Do as I say NOT as I do….. Typical career politician……

After Campbell's ill fated support for the atrocious Prop 1-A, last year, mercifully defeated by over 60% of the voters, helping initiate the Tea Party Movement, Campbell lost all justification for seeking higher office. Like some Republicans, Campbell thought just a few more taxes will help "solve" the budget crisis. Campbell failed to understand the first rule for solvent government. It's the Spending Stupid.

No one is more more charming that Tom Campbell. He probably could out debate French President Nicolas Sarkozy in French. Tom is enormously bright and multi talented. He is only weak with economics and foreign policy.

Add on Campbell's foreign policy chops, and its time to duck. There probably has not been anyone so little deserving the republican senate nomination, since……well its hard to find a parallel. Tom Kuchel? William M. Gwin?
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Good analogy with Kuchel…..

The California Republican Party will hold its state convention this weekend, but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will not be lending his star power to the event.
The Republican governor told reporters Tuesday he would not be attending the three-day convention in Santa Clara because he "can't be in two places at the same time."

Schwarzenegger declined to say where he would be. His spokesman said only that the governor had a prior commitment.

Schwarzenegger has a strained relationship with the party, primarily over state spending and debt. He previously told fellow Republicans that they are "dying at the box office."

The GOP candidates seeking to succeed him, Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner, have featured speaking slots during the convention.
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I cannot recall a sitting GOP Governor boycotting his own party's convention.