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Flap’s Blog @ Flap Twitter Daily Digest for 2013-02-22
- State Sen. Michael Rubio resigns to work for Chevron – http://t.co/AP5qhFl2cd http://t.co/u2R38yeaY7 #tcot 15:56:55, 2013-02-22
- Excellent mtg w/ President Enrique Pena Nieto @EPN in #Mexico City – discussed all aspects of our imp't … http://t.co/j0sc5rMHBA #tcot 15:56:54, 2013-02-22
- RT @ssharmon: Rubio cont: appearance of conflct. "The real conflicts would start with committee hearings, so my deadline to get this don … 11:58:37, 2013-02-22
- RT @ssharmon: Rubio: contacted Chevron over the holidays, & once a "contingent" offer was on the table, decided to resign b4 cmte he … 11:58:32, 2013-02-22
- RT @WaltersBee: @Political_Data Old district more Fresno oriented that new one, but voter reg similar about 50-30 Dem. Cud Latino Reep w … 11:57:28, 2013-02-22
- RT @GOPLeader: It has been 288 days since the House first passed a bill to replace the #sequester. It’s time for the Senate to do the same. 11:55:23, 2013-02-22
- FPPC stay ayway! RT @ssharmon: Rubio: no intentions of lobbying the Legislature as govt affairs manager for Chevron. 11:54:17, 2013-02-22
- LOL LOSS for DEMS RT @johnmyers: CA Senate leader Steinberg on resignation of Michael Rubio: "a tremendous loss to the Legislature." 11:51:35, 2013-02-22
- RT @WaltersBee: @AnthonyYorkLAT If Fran Florez jumps in, could Parra resist? 11:50:59, 2013-02-22
- @MattRexroad Will be like pulling teeth to keep Wyman out…. in reply to MattRexroad 11:48:30, 2013-02-22
- RT @CASOSvote: CA law re: legislative vacancy = @JerryBrownGov has 14 days to call special election for State Senate District 16 11:34:29, 2013-02-22
- CA Dems are really pissed at losing their SUPER Majority and are calling for (thru surrogates) for Rubio / Chevron FPPC investigation 11:32:15, 2013-02-22
- Dems lose SUPER Majority RT @LATpoliticsCA: State Sen. Michael Rubio resigns to work for Chevron http://t.co/oceMKHl0P4 11:25:13, 2013-02-22
- LOL Resignation of California Democrat Senator breaks Dem SUPER MAJORITY in California Legislature. #tcot 11:23:21, 2013-02-22
- Hijacking Immigration? http://t.co/o8BnUwT92N #tcot 11:21:25, 2013-02-22
- John McCain all happy in Mexico after getting roughed up by Arizona taxpayers http://t.co/AnYcNmFPTb #tcot #Isthisguyforreal? 10:55:21, 2013-02-22
- Video: John McCain and the JERK Factor http://t.co/fpxxyGEIQT #tcot 09:16:37, 2013-02-22
- Carl Washington, a former assemblyman, to plead guilty to fraud http://t.co/UTL4YDr1Bz 09:11:43, 2013-02-22
- LAO has ‘serious concerns’ with governor’s Prop. 98 calculation http://t.co/xdNpI85ayA 09:11:42, 2013-02-22
- The Sequester IS Obama’s Mess – Let Him Clean It Up http://t.co/LYgwWN24nI #tcot 08:12:04, 2013-02-22
- California faces rising bill for retiree healthcare http://t.co/ySaFZX4tI2 08:02:25, 2013-02-22
- Brown may forge alliance with GOP governors on health plan http://t.co/xQ90gEw2wP 08:02:25, 2013-02-22
- McCain responds to 'jerk' comment at town hall meeting http://t.co/C9CU3opRWT #tcot 07:38:37, 2013-02-22
- With Axelrod At NBC News, The Marriage Of Media And Politics Becomes Complete http://t.co/n9esBbjAcj #tcot 07:38:37, 2013-02-22
- Byron York: Budget hawks question Pentagon's doomsday scenarios | Mobile Washington Examiner http://t.co/YF3AsDxJWQ #tcot 07:38:36, 2013-02-22
- Field Poll: California voters want driver's licenses, other privileges for illegal immigrants http://t.co/e6RGU25MBl 06:50:32, 2013-02-22
- Freer home sales market draws Californians to Texas http://t.co/ZBCwXIHQUe 06:50:31, 2013-02-22
- Garcetti and Greuel have spent $6.6 million and it's pretty even http://t.co/2GZaotJiMY 06:50:30, 2013-02-22
- The Morning Flap: February 22, 2013 http://t.co/jw53Xbpdml #tcot 06:30:18, 2013-02-22
- Budget hawks question Pentagon's doomsday scenarios http://t.co/EEg9VS8yH8 #tcot 05:47:04, 2013-02-22
- What Unites Obama's Coalition — and What Could Divide It http://t.co/ju4cyEBB6j #tcot 05:47:04, 2013-02-22
- Can Democrats Mess With Texas in 2016? http://t.co/cQknm9wCeP #tcot 05:47:03, 2013-02-22
- RT @robertcostaNRO Text: the GOP's sequester replacement, which was passed in Dec. 2012 http://t.co/GsdfcLsgVL 05:11:07, 2013-02-22
- “I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe.”
–Dalai Lama
Happy Friday! 04:54:26, 2013-02-22
- Flap’s Blog @ Flap Twitter Daily Digest for 2013-02-21 http://t.co/nOABe7HjFD #tcot 03:04:11, 2013-02-22
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Video: John McCain and the JERK Factor
You remember the FLAP with John McCain getting testy with Arizona constituents over questioning him on his Senate Gang of 8 immigration amnesty?
During the town hall, Senator McCain called a voter a JERK.
The above video is McCain at a subsequent being asked about the jerk comment.
One day after a confrontation at a town hall meeting in Sun Lakes, Senator John McCain held another town hall in Phoenix.
On Tuesday, an audience member of the town hall meeting fired off a string of heated questions about border security.
After attempting to answer some of the questions, Sen. McCain eventually quipped, “Occasionally I get a jerk like that guy.”
3TV asked McCain whether he regretted calling the man a jerk.
“Of course not. I call people jerks all the time, and they call me jerks. It’s supposed to be fun, loosen up,” Sen. McCain responded. “I’ve done town halls for years. They are vigorous and a little combative. That’s what it is supposed to be about. Loosen up.”Um OK.
If an idiot politician, like McCain called me a jerk, I would be sure NEVER to vote for him again.
Arizona voters should remember this little altercation and be sure to vote McCain out of office in 2016.
And, let this be a lesson to the other Arizona Senator Jeff Flake about associating with McCain and his immigration amnesty machinations.
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The Sequester IS Obama’s Mess – Let Him Clean It Up
[youtube]http://youtu.be/GZMNfP_HCUA[/youtube]
The President has a week to prevent sequestration, but I doubt he will do ANYTHING to reduce government spending.
It is not in his political makeup.
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The Morning Flap: February 22, 2013
Sequestration from Wall Street Journal
These are my news headlines for February 21st through February 22nd:
- With Axelrod At NBC News, The Marriage Of Media And Politics Becomes Complete – What’s more, Team Obama has declared it has no intention of dismantling its campaign apparatus post re-election. Put Axelrod in the catbird seat at a news outlet and the “narrative” continues. Combine that with Team Obama’s masterful manipulation of journalists, its command of social media, and an ugly picture emerges of a press indistinguishable from the political establishment.This has happened in banana republics, but never in a Western democracy. Already it’s making old-school journalists who value news gathering over politics, such as the New York Times’ Roger Cohen, ABC’s Ann Compton and the Washington Post’s David Ignatius, uncomfortable. The one thing that will stop it is a press that won’t cooperate. So where is that press?
- Budget hawks question Pentagon’s doomsday scenarios – But perhaps the biggest example of the Washington Monument maneuver is coming from the Defense Department, where it goes by another name. Over many decades of defense budget battles, the Pentagon has often used a tactic known as a “gold watch.” It means to answer a budget cut proposal by selecting for elimination a program so important and valued — a gold watch — that Pentagon chiefs know political leaders will restore funding rather than go through with the cut.So now, with sequestration approaching, the Pentagon has announced that the possibility of budget cuts has forced the Navy to delay deployment of the carrier USS Harry S. Truman to the Persian Gulf. With tensions with Iran as high as they’ve ever been, that would leave the U.S. with just one carrier, instead of the preferred two, in that deeply troubled region.
- What Unites Obama’s Coalition — and What Could Divide It – Overall, the survey put Obama’s approval rating at 51 percent — almost exactly replicating his share of the vote last November. For all of his key groups, his approval ratings today remain close to his vote shares against Republican Mitt Romney. The survey put his approval among African-Americans at 91 percent (compared to his vote of 93 percent in November), among Hispanics at 68 percent (compared to 71 percent in November), college-educated white women at 48 percent (compared to 46 percent), and adults ages 18 to 29 at 57 percent (compared to 60 percent). Considering that several percent of those in each group described themselves as undecided on Obama’s performance, those numbers suggest almost no change from his support in the election.
- Can Democrats Mess With Texas in 2016? – Can Democrats Mess With Texas in 2016? #tcot
- Noonan: Government by Freakout – The president’s sequester strategy is like Howard Beale in “Network”: “Woe is us. . . . And woe is us! We’re in a lot of trouble!”It is always cliffs, ceilings and looming catastrophes with Barack Obama. It is always government by freakout.
That’s what’s happening now with the daily sequester warnings. Seven hundred thousand children will be dropped from Head Start. Six hundred thousand women and children will be dropped from aid programs. Meat won’t be inspected. Seven thousand TSA workers will be laid off, customs workers too, and air traffic controllers. Lines at airports will be impossible. The Navy will slow down the building of an aircraft carrier. Troop readiness will be disrupted, weapons programs slowed or stalled, civilian contractors stiffed, uniformed first responders cut back. Our nuclear deterrent will be indefinitely suspended. Ha, made that one up, but give them time.Mr. Obama has finally hit on his own version of national unity: Everyone get scared together. - Is President Obama overplaying sequestration hand? – President Barack Obama’s greatest adversary in the latest budget battle isn’t the Republican leadership in Congress — it’s his confidence in his own ability to force a win.He has been so certain of his campaign skills that he didn’t open a line of communication with House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell until Thursday, a week before the spending ax hits. And when they did finally hear from Obama, the calls were perfunctory, with no request to step up negotiations or invitations to the White House.
- Why Obama and Rove Should Sit Down and Keep Quiet
- Fewer Americans Getting Health Insurance From Employer – Fewer Americans reported having employer-based health insurance in 2012 than did in 2008, 2009, and 2010, but at 44.5% it is unchanged from 2011. At the same time, more Americans continue to report having a government-based health plan — Medicare, Medicaid, or military or veterans’ benefits — with the 25.6% who did so in 2012 up from 23.4% in 2008.
- H.R. 6684: Spending Reduction Act of 2012 – Legislative Digest – GOP.gov – RT @robertcostaNRO Text: the GOP’s sequester replacement, which was passed in Dec. 2012
- Flap’s Blog @ Flap Twitter Daily Digest for 2013-02-21 – Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Flap’s Blog @ Flap Twitter Daily Digest for 2013-02-21 #tcot
- Mark Levin schools Charles Krauthammer on why it’s not “honorable” for governors to expand Medicaid » The Right Scoop – – RT @trscoop: Mark Levin schools Charles Krauthammer on why it’s not “honorable” for governors to expand Medicaid
- A Tax By Another Name – Writing in the New York Times yesterday, Yuval Levin made the case for means-testing Social Security and Medicare. As you’d expect from Yuval the case is well made and elegantly thought-through. It’s also, if I may respectfully say so, misguided. Partly as a consequence of the refusal to make consumption take its fair share of the tax load, the US already taxes income on a pretty progressive basis (even more so, I suspect, if, just for the sake of argument, you excluded the very richest from the equation—highly taxed wage income generally makes up a lower percentage of their total take). Means-testing these two programs would only tighten the screws still further.
- Capitol Alert: Kristin Olsen to move to smaller office after failed GOP move – Kristin Olsen to move to smaller office after failed GOP move
- Charles Krauthammer: Immigration — the lesser of two evils – The president suggested he would hold off introducing his own immigration bill as long as bipartisan Senate negotiations were proceeding apace — until his own immigration bill mysteriously leaked precisely as bipartisan Senate negotiations were proceeding apace.A naked political maneuver and a blunt warning to Republicans: Finish that immigration deal in Congress, or I’ll propose something I know you can’t accept — and flog the issue mercilessly next year to win back the House.
- The 60th vote: Republican Richard Shelby to vote for cloture on Hagel; Update: Deb Fischer too? « Hot Air – Looks like Chuck Hagel is the next Sec Defense. Let the sequestration begin:
- 6 Questions for the Immigration Reformers – From border security to H1-B visas, much needs to be answered in the looming immigration debate.
- Obama reaches out to Boehner, McConnell as sequester cuts loom – The Hill – Obama symbolism over substance: #tcot
- DIGITAL 50: The Hottest People In Online Politics – Business Insider – DIGITAL 50: The Hottest People In Online Politics – Business Insider #tcot
- Flap’s Dentistry Blog: Dentist Acquitted and Wins $7.7 Million Judgment in New York Medicaid Fraud Case – Dentist Acquitted and Wins $7.7 Million Judgment in New York Medicaid Fraud Case
- Flap’s Dentistry Blog: Chicago’s Dental Health Safety Net on Verge of Collapse? – Chicago’s Dental Health Safety Net on Verge of Collapse?
- Ed Markey: Dred Scott = Citizen’s United – Flap’s Blog – Ed Markey: Dred Scott = Citizen’s United #tcot
- ‘The Great Sequester Panic’ – ‘The Great Sequester Panic’ #tcot
- The Benefits of Exercising Outdoors – NYTimes.com – The Benefits of Exercising Outdoors #tcot
- Smoking cessation in old age: Less heart attacks and strokes within five years – Smoking cessation in old age: Less heart attacks and strokes within five years #tcot
- Study disputes long-term medical savings from bariatric surgery – latimes.com – Study disputes long-term medical savings from bariatric surgery #tcot
- Harry Reid says he’ll run for re-election in 2016; won’t comment on Sandoval as opponent – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told the capital press corps at the Nevada Legislature Wednesday night that he will seek re-election in 2016.The news conference came after he gave a speech to state lawmakers, like Reid does every legislative session.When asked if he would run for re-election, Reid said, “Sure, why not?”
When asked if he thought Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval would run against him, Reid said, “Oh, I don’t know.”
When asked if he could beat Sandoval, Reid said, “Hey, I don’t get involved in fights I don’t have to.”
When reminded that he was a boxer in his youth, Reid replied, “But I’m not stupid.”
- 15 GOP senators call for Hagel to withdraw – POLITICO.com – RT @politico: 15 GOP senators call for Hagel to withdraw:
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Flap’s Blog @ Flap Twitter Daily Digest for 2013-02-21
- Mark Levin schools Charles Krauthammer on why it’s not “honorable” for governors to expand Medicaid » Th… http://t.co/Abz6UXRiTP #tcot 18:57:43, 2013-02-21
- A Tax By Another Name http://t.co/RekDkoOBy4 #tcot 18:23:16, 2013-02-21
- RT @trscoop: Mark Levin schools Charles Krauthammer on why it's not "honorable" for governors to expand Medicaid http://t.co/iPzttyUgGI 18:20:21, 2013-02-21
- Charles Krauthammer: Immigration — the lesser of two evils http://t.co/yvTE4leACv #tcot 17:49:03, 2013-02-21
- 6 Questions for the Immigration Reformers – http://t.co/JHE0hdrXUY http://t.co/4u512wF0As #tcot 17:49:03, 2013-02-21
- Kristin Olsen to move to smaller office after failed GOP move http://t.co/7owRQa7vN9 17:43:51, 2013-02-21
- 6 Questions for the Immigration Reformers – http://t.co/JHE0hdrXUY http://t.co/2pIQIAlFgQ #tcot 16:39:04, 2013-02-21
- 6 Questions for the Immigration Reformers – http://t.co/JHE0hdrXUY http://t.co/SGOyio9eA9 #tcot 15:34:42, 2013-02-21
- 6 Questions for the Immigration Reformers – http://t.co/JHE0hdrXUY http://t.co/yediSQVt8l #tcot 14:26:38, 2013-02-21
- The 60th vote: Republican Richard Shelby to vote for cloture on Hagel; Update: Deb Fischer too? « Hot Air http://t.co/pPCgLxa86X #tcot 12:43:57, 2013-02-21
- 6 Questions for the Immigration Reformers http://t.co/wk0iEBAyct #tcot 12:43:57, 2013-02-21
- Obama reaches out to Boehner, McConnell as sequester cuts loom – The Hill http://t.co/EfRyYPaqsJ #tcot 12:43:56, 2013-02-21
- Looks like Chuck Hagel is the next Sec Defense. Let the sequestration begin: http://t.co/Jgy6xQIt9c 12:29:28, 2013-02-21
- Obama symbolism over substance: http://t.co/9W7hKminnY #tcot 11:42:50, 2013-02-21
- LOL – yeah I bet RT @briefingroom: Obama reaches out to Boehner, McConnell as sequester cuts loom http://t.co/n80M4zcIzd 11:41:54, 2013-02-21
- ‘The Great Sequester Panic’ http://t.co/0o63F3hdYQ #tcot 11:34:53, 2013-02-21
- DIGITAL 50: The Hottest People In Online Politics – Business Insider http://t.co/VAeOseUTsb #tcot 11:34:53, 2013-02-21
- DIGITAL 50: The Hottest People In Online Politics – Business Insider http://t.co/TVEDttQBEK #tcot 11:34:52, 2013-02-21
- Chicago's Dental Health Safety Net on Verge of Collapse? http://t.co/L6frJYigEQ 11:31:52, 2013-02-21
- Dentist Acquitted and Wins $7.7 Million Judgment in New York Medicaid Fraud Case http://t.co/qDYyTrUJQA 11:31:52, 2013-02-21
- Ed Markey: Dred Scott = Citizen’s United http://t.co/V7XOuCXcav #tcot 11:07:26, 2013-02-21
- Smoking cessation in old age: Less heart attacks and strokes within five years http://t.co/3Ric65eadr #tcot 10:46:29, 2013-02-21
- Study disputes long-term medical savings from bariatric surgery http://t.co/JqQz9tjnMQ #tcot 10:46:29, 2013-02-21
- The Benefits of Exercising Outdoors http://t.co/jydyUiAH35 #tcot 10:46:29, 2013-02-21
- DIGITAL 50: The Hottest People In Online Politics http://t.co/w1eFn7f4Ka #tcot 09:51:20, 2013-02-21
- Harry Reid says he'll run for re-election in 2016; won't comment on Sandoval as opponent http://t.co/7jAlUQdcMg #tcot 09:51:19, 2013-02-21
- Ha! My Twitter feed is full of self-congratulatory hugs about this online list: http://t.co/e4dm8JR0dp #tcot 09:29:06, 2013-02-21
- Day By Day February 21, 2013 – Laws http://t.co/TY57GlXKuh #tcot 09:08:33, 2013-02-21
- California laws banning 'one-stop' optician shops withstands challenge http://t.co/Dcno6VPnt9 08:37:55, 2013-02-21
- RT @politico: 15 GOP senators call for Hagel to withdraw: http://t.co/09sMeR5Wer 08:27:53, 2013-02-21
- In California, thousands of teachers missing needed credentials http://t.co/mJVjrChLAR 07:28:15, 2013-02-21
- California Field Poll: Gov. Brown's approval rating up in poll http://t.co/hv75zDfEF4 07:28:14, 2013-02-21
- 572 San Francisco city workers paid more than governor http://t.co/kWgBtz0qlc 07:28:13, 2013-02-21
- (500) http://t.co/4tbtSdawPy http://t.co/TJowTkhcMf #tcot 06:25:16, 2013-02-21
- @ConservativeDoc Of course, typical Time Magazine…. in reply to ConservativeDoc 06:22:58, 2013-02-21
- Start off the day with The Morning Flap http://t.co/Abp33xd31o #tcot 06:01:05, 2013-02-21
- The Mornng Flap: February 21, 2013 http://t.co/jtOG0dNp61 #tcot 05:59:18, 2013-02-21
- Bitter Pill: Why Medical Bills Are Killing Us | http://t.co/F5jrKWIgsZ http://t.co/Cq1C8vjaDy #tcot 05:51:41, 2013-02-21
- GOP Has Trouble Settling on Candidates Who Can Win http://t.co/qcbECWnm7m #tcot 05:51:41, 2013-02-21
- The future of free-market healthcare http://t.co/zXbbtxF8RB #tcot 05:51:40, 2013-02-21
- RT @conncarroll Morning Examiner: Republicans winning sequester fight despite themselves http://t.co/zHuwFdKeaf 05:21:34, 2013-02-21
- Shocker = not RT @jimgeraghty 49% disapprove of Obama's handling of gun policies, 44% approve http://t.co/3KKZyQdUMa http://t.co/aiH8Oc5Ujy 05:20:09, 2013-02-21
- Sorry, but total BS – sentiment is clear = no rift. RT @TheFix How immigration threatens to tear the GOP apart. http://t.co/Il33gSzXQA 05:18:43, 2013-02-21
- Ted Cruz knocks Obama on immigration http://t.co/H0mz8GXWJ2 #tcot 05:17:13, 2013-02-21
- Foreign Buyers Hop on Rental Trend http://t.co/kTcf4crRxg #tcot 05:17:12, 2013-02-21
- “I’d rather be a failure at something I love than a success at something I hate.”
–George Burns
Happy Thursday! 04:44:54, 2013-02-21
- Flap’s Blog @ Flap Twitter Daily Digest for 2013-02-20 http://t.co/MyhD8Po7e2 #tcot 03:05:11, 2013-02-21
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Ed Markey: Dred Scott = Citizen’s United
[youtube]http://youtu.be/zK_nOjMU3kk[/youtube]
Really?
In a campaign appearance on Tuesday, Representative Ed Markey (D., Mass.), one of the front-runners in the race for John Kerry’s former Senate seat, compared the Citizens United Supreme Court decision on campaign finance to the pro-slavery ruling in Dred Scott: ”The Constitution must be amended. The Dred Scott decision had to be repealed; we have to repeal Citizens United, otherwise democracy as we know it will be in danger.”
Maybe Republican and former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown should reconsider……
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Day By Day February 21, 2013 – Laws
Chris, funny, how it is all about the guns….
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The Morning Flap: February 21, 2013
These are my news headlines for February 21st:
- Bitter Pill: Why Medical Bills Are Killing Us | TIME.com – 1. Routine Care, Unforgettable Bills
When Sean Recchi, a 42-year-old from Lancaster, Ohio, was told last March that he had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, his wife Stephanie knew she had to get him to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Stephanie’s father had been treated there 10 years earlier, and she and her family credited the doctors and nurses at MD Anderson with extending his life by at least eight years.Because Stephanie and her husband had recently started their own small technology business, they were unable to buy comprehensive health insurance. For $469 a month, or about 20% of their income, they had been able to get only a policy that covered just $2,000 per day of any hospital costs. “We don’t take that kind of discount insurance,” said the woman at MD Anderson when Stephanie called to make an appointment for Sean. - GOP Has Trouble Settling on Candidates Who Can Win – One of the interesting things about recent elections is that Republicans have tended to do better the farther you go down the ballot.They’ve lost the presidency twice in a row, and in four of the last six contests. They’ve failed to win a majority in the U.S. Senate, something they accomplished in five election cycles between 1994 and 2006.But they have won control of the House of Representatives in the last two elections, and in eight of the last 10 cycles.And they’ve been doing better in elections to state legislatures than at any time since the 1920s.
One reason for this is that, as I have written, Democratic voters are clustered in large metropolitan areas, which helps them in the Electoral College but hurts in legislatures with equal-population districts.
But there’s another reason, which has been particularly glaring in races for the U.S. Senate: candidate quality.
- The future of free-market healthcare – Over nearly a century, progressives have pressed for a national, single-payer healthcare system. When it comes to health reform, what have conservatives stood for?For far too long, conservatives have failed to coalesce around a long-term vision of what a free-market healthcare system should look like. Republican attention to healthcare, in turn, has only arisen sporadically, in response to Democratic initiatives.Obamacare is the logical byproduct of this conservative policy neglect. President Barack Obama’s re-election was a strategic victory for his signature healthcare law. Once the bulk of the program begins to be implemented in 2014 — especially its trillions of dollars in new health-insurance subsidies — it will become politically impossible to repeal. And as the baby boomers retire and Obamacare is fully operational, government health spending will reach unsustainable levels.The great irony of Obama’s triumph, however, is that it can pave the way for Republicans to adopt a comprehensive, market-oriented healthcare agenda. The market-oriented prescription drug program in Medicare has controlled the growth of government health spending. Similarly, conservatives can use Obamacare’s important concession to the private sector — its establishment of subsidized insurance marketplaces — as a vehicle for broader entitlement reforms.
- The Pro-Growth Sequester – The Obama administration is whipping up hysteria over the sequester budget cuts and their impact on the economy, the military, first providers, and so forth and so on. Armageddon. But if you climb into the Congressional Budget Office numbers for 2013, you see a much lighter and easier picture than all the worst-case scenarios being conjured up by the administration.For example, the $85 billion so-called spending cut is actually budget authority, not budget outlays. According to the CBO, budget outlays will come down by $44 billion, or one quarter of 1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP is $15.8 trillion). What’s more, that $44 billion outlay reduction is only 1.25 percent of the $3.6 trillion government budget.
- Ted Cruz knocks Obama on immigration – Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) says President Barack Obama wants to “scuttle” immigration reform by injecting a path to citizenship into the debate so Democrats can keep the issue alive for political gain.“The president has been focusing on amnesty — a path to citizenship that skips ahead of the line,” the freshman tea party senator said Wednesday at a speech in Dallas, according to The Dallas Morning News. “That, he knows, is a position not supported by a great many Americans and not a position that will achieve bipartisan cooperation. It’s designed to scuttle the bill.”
- Foreign Buyers Hop on Rental Trend – US Masters, a real-estate investment trust that has raised $276 million, primarily from Australian retirees, is one of a handful of foreign firms that are betting on the U.S. housing recovery by buying houses at discount prices.The business of buying-and-renting houses, long dominated by local mom-and-pop investors, has morphed over the past two years into one of the hottest investments on Wall Street. Dozens of pension investors and private-equity firms, such as Blackstone Group LP BX -2.19% and Colony Capital LLC, are clamoring to buy homes in beaten-up markets, sometimes using money from foreign co-investors.
- Majority of U.S. citizens say illegal immigrants should be deported – More than half of U.S. citizens believe that most or all of the country’s 11 million illegal immigrants should be deported, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday that highlights the difficulties facing lawmakers trying to reform the U.S. immigration system.The online survey shows resistance to easing immigration laws despite the biggest push for reform in Congress since 2007.
- Missile Defense Tests Successful, but Future of Program in Doubt – The unanswered question is whether the Missile Defense Agency will be permitted to advance this space-based missile defense capability—whether through the STSS program or the PTSS program—to a deployed constellation at all. There should be little doubt that arms control advocates, both inside the Administration and out, are livid that this test took place at all, let alone that it was successful. This is because a space-based missile defense capability is incompatible with the Administration’s arms control agenda.
- Gov. Scott agrees to expand Florida Medicaid program – Gov. Rick Scott announced plans Wednesday to expand Medicaid coverage to roughly 900,000 more people under the federal health overhaul, a surprise decision from the vocal critic of President Barack Obama’s plan.Scott said he will ask the Legislature to expand the program under a bill that would expire in three years, after which it would require renewed legislative support. He’s the seventh Republican governor so far to propose expanding the taxpayer-funded health insurance program.
- Tea Party and Republican groups launch Hispanic outreach – Tea Party and Republican groups launch Hispanic outreach #tcot
- How former Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. Spent His Campaign Funds – Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D) pleaded guilty today “to a conspiracy to siphon about $750,000 in federal campaign funds for their personal use,” the Chicago Tribune reports.”About 3,100 personal purchases were made on campaign credit cards, totaling $582,772.58… Prosecutors said $60,000 was spent on restaurants, nightclubs and lounges; $31,700 on personal airfare; $16,000 on sports clubs and lounges; $17,000 on tobacco shops; $5,800 on alcohol; $14,500 on dry cleaning; $8,000 on grocery stores and $6,000 at drug stores.””In one of the more exotic purchases, Jackson used campaign funds in the spring of 2011 to pay a taxidermist in Montana $7,058 for two mounted elk heads to be shipped to his office in Washington. This was the beginning of an FBI sting, according to court documents.”
- California Dept. of Transportation: ‘Be Sure to Black Out the ‘United States’ and [the] Motto’ | The Weekly Standard – California Dept. of Transportation: ‘Be Sure to Black Out the ‘United States’ and [the] Motto’
- Pentagon informs Congress of plans to furlough 800K civilians – Pentagon informs Congress of plans to furlough 800K civilians #tcot
- The sequester blame game – Much depends on the timing of any economic turndown. If it occurs this year, but is followed by improvement in 2014, the political consequences are not likely to be significant. If the economy is in trouble in mid-2014, then all bets are off. For this reason, among others, Republicans should reject out of hand the president’s efforts to postpone the sequester for a year. In any event, the sequester would make the Republicans a full partner with Obama when it comes to the state of the economy.In the end, though, Republicans are committed, as they should be, to cutting government spending. This is never a politically risk-free proposition. But it’s better to get a head start now, when blame might well be shared, than to save all the work for when (if) Republicans gain control of the government and will absorb all of the blame.JOHN adds: My own view is that Republicans should happily take credit for the spending cuts represented by the sequester. They aren’t anywhere near enough, but they are the most substantial spending cuts, I believe, in my lifetime. I think 75% of the population will be pleasantly surprised to learn that Congress is actually capable of cutting spending.
- The GOP’s astonishingly bad message on sequester cuts – None of which addresses the Republican problem on the sequester. If the problem is one of substance — that is, if GOP leaders truly believe the cuts threaten national security but are nevertheless supporting them — then Republicans have put themselves into an untenable situation. If, as is more likely, the problem is one of message — that is, if Republicans believe the cuts are not only manageable without threatening national security but are also desirable as a first step toward controlling spending — then the Boehner article is sending all the wrong signals.
- Video: John McCain Gets Testy With Arizona Voter Questioning Immigration Amnesty – Flap’s Blog – Video: John McCain Gets Testy With Arizona Voter Questioning Immigration Amnesty #tcot
- Mistake in First California Carbon Auction Raises Questions About Secrecy | KQED News Fix – Mistake in First California Carbon Auction Raises Questions About Secrecy
- Second cap and trade auction needs big bucks | news10.net – Second cap and trade California auction needs big bucks
- We predicted there was no tax ‘windfall’ | CalWatchDog – We predicted there was no California tax ‘windfall’
- The Morning Flap: February 20, 2013 – Flap’s Blog – The Morning Flap: February 20, 2013 #tcot
- A Mighty Wind by Ben Boychuk – City Journal – A Mighty Wind – California Flatulence Jokes
- Bitter Pill: Why Medical Bills Are Killing Us | TIME.com – 1. Routine Care, Unforgettable Bills
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Flap’s Blog @ Flap Twitter Daily Digest for 2013-02-20
- Majority of U.S. citizens say illegal immigrants should be deported http://t.co/vJcEdr66my #tcot 20:31:17, 2013-02-20
- Missile Defense Tests Successful, but Future of Program in Doubt http://t.co/kon9fIZtu3 #tcot 17:02:50, 2013-02-20
- Gov. Scott agrees to expand Florida Medicaid program http://t.co/gRJJ1fBmMQ #tcot 15:55:43, 2013-02-20
- Tea Party and Republican groups launch Hispanic outreach http://t.co/mjMYgoeg7c #tcot 15:55:42, 2013-02-20
- How former Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. Spent His Campaign Funds http://t.co/qvVwynvoGV #tcot 15:55:42, 2013-02-20
- LOL – so true! Really? RT @EWErickson: Left's slogan is "Forward." Right's slogan seems to be "Dwell". Romney at CPAC? Really? 15:54:40, 2013-02-20
- California Dept. of Transportation: ‘Be Sure to Black Out the ‘United States’ and [the] Motto’ http://t.co/w6kAhWjAKO 14:49:40, 2013-02-20
- Pentagon informs Congress of plans to furlough 800K civilians http://t.co/hoxzqDHI #tcot 12:57:20, 2013-02-20
- The sequester blame game http://t.co/T35EvqaO #tcot 12:57:20, 2013-02-20
- The GOP’s astonishingly bad message on sequester cuts http://t.co/y6U0VkUk #tcot 12:57:19, 2013-02-20
- Video: John McCain Gets Testy With Arizona Voter Questioning Immigration Amnesty – Flap's Blog http://t.co/VRDGDO2r #tcot 10:35:11, 2013-02-20
- Video: John McCain Gets Testy With Arizona Voter Questioning Immigration Amnesty http://t.co/SKsSFnt4 #tcot 07:47:47, 2013-02-20
- Mistake in First California Carbon Auction Raises Questions About Secrecy | KQED News Fix http://t.co/v4CIyOpn #tcot 07:41:36, 2013-02-20
- Second cap and trade auction needs big bucks | http://t.co/HXWZHdDE http://t.co/gMz0mOri #tcot 07:41:36, 2013-02-20
- We predicted there was no tax ‘windfall’ | CalWatchDog http://t.co/oFl2Coks #tcot 07:41:36, 2013-02-20
- Mistake in First California Carbon Auction Raises Questions About Secrecy http://t.co/v4CIyOpn 07:12:40, 2013-02-20
- Second cap and trade California auction needs big bucks http://t.co/gMz0mOri 07:12:40, 2013-02-20
- We predicted there was no California tax ‘windfall’ http://t.co/oFl2Coks 07:12:39, 2013-02-20
- The Morning Flap: February 20, 2013 http://t.co/hNowzkAL #tcot 06:07:38, 2013-02-20
- A Mighty Wind – California Flatulence Jokes http://t.co/8mJDv39d 05:28:33, 2013-02-20
- Obama's sequestration strategy: Shame http://t.co/q6b25r10 #tcot 05:23:23, 2013-02-20
- Anti-austerity strike to bring Greece to a standstill http://t.co/LjDIyHW4 #tcot 05:23:23, 2013-02-20
- John Boehner: The President Is Raging Against a Budget Crisis He Created http://t.co/4Sno6RhV #tcot 05:23:22, 2013-02-20
- RT @conncarroll Romney is to Obamacare as Rubio is to Obama's amnesty plan http://t.co/JvNb4ztU #tcot 04:52:29, 2013-02-20
- Shocker! RT @dcexaminer Poll: Gov. Chris Christie has a 56 percent approval rating with New Jersey Democrats http://t.co/no5gb0jy 04:49:21, 2013-02-20
- RT @kausmickey TIME cover makes it pretty clear @MarcoRubio always proamnesty-it's TeaParty interlude that was fake http://t.co/ZQgVRZVk 04:48:20, 2013-02-20
- Tea partier weighs Mitch McConnell race http://t.co/bpqUQ0Th #tcot 04:47:27, 2013-02-20
- You have to forget your last marathon before you try another. Your mind can't know what's coming.
– Frank Shorter
Happy Wednesday! 04:43:09, 2013-02-20
- Video: President Obama Speaks Out of Both Sides of Mouth on Sequester – Flap's Blog http://t.co/ERnQsod5 #tcot 04:12:00, 2013-02-20
- (500) http://t.co/1tPM9EY8 http://t.co/wqTcyJSd #tcot 04:12:00, 2013-02-20
- Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Digest for 2013-02-19 http://t.co/IYBY2S44 04:03:26, 2013-02-20
- Flap’s Blog @ Flap Twitter Daily Digest for 2013-02-19 http://t.co/oPtWsFEg #tcot 03:02:59, 2013-02-20
- Video: President Obama Speaks Out of Both Sides of Mouth on Sequester http://t.co/agudF5GR #tcot 03:02:59, 2013-02-20
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Video: John McCain Gets Testy With Arizona Voter Questioning Immigration Amnesty
GOP Arizona Senator John McCain was NOT too popular at an Arizona town hall discussion of immigration reform yesterday.
Also Tuesday, McCain hosted two town hall meetings in Arizona, during which he defended his immigration plan to upset residents concerned about border security. A bipartisan group of senators — including Arizona Republicans McCain and Jeff Flake — want assurances on border security as Congress weighs what could be the biggest changes to immigration law in nearly 30 years. Arizona is the only state with both of its senators working on immigration reform in Congress, a sign of the state’s widely debated border security issues.
During a heated town hall gathering in the Phoenix suburb of Sun Lakes, McCain said the border near Yuma is largely secure, but said smugglers are using the border near Tucson to pump drugs into Phoenix. He said immigration reform should be contingent on better border security that must rely largely on technology able to detect border crossings.
He said a tamper-proof Social Security card would help combat identity fraud, and noted any path to citizenship must require immigrants to learn English, cover back taxes and pay fines for breaking immigration laws.
“There are 11 million people living here illegally,” McCain said. “We are not going to get enough buses to deport them.”
Some audience members shouted out their disapproval.
These Arizona voters have every right to be disappointed in pro-amnesty McCain. He attempted an immigration amnesty in 2006 with Ted Kennedy and now after winning re-election by misleading Arizona Republicans (remember build the danged fence TV commercial?) McCain is at it again.
America cannot go down this road toward granting a broad-scale amnesty without first assuring border security and McCain should be called out for the shameful manipulation of immigration facts.
But, we know, we cannot trust John McCain on immigration reform.
Conservative political pressure should be placed on Senators Marco Rubio, Lindsey Graham and Jeff Flake to reject President Obama’s immigration amnesty plan.