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Video: California Senator Barbara Boxer Says GOP Should Be Thanking Democrats for Budget Cuts
Click on the image above for the video
Come on, Barbara, who are you kidding? The Dems could have passed this budget last year but did not because of the political fall out and the November elections.By the way, notice how Boxer is changing the subject away from budget cuts to abortion and collective bargaining rights/unions.
If the GOP does not hold the line now, even with a shutdown of the government for a while, there will never be any worthwhile budget discipline.
Hold the line Republicans, take the political heat and make the cuts.
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Hypocrisy Alert: Democrats Now Following Republicans into Undisclosed Donor Field
The Los Angeles Times has the story about how independent political organizations which can accept unlimited cash and not disclose its donors are being formed by the Democrats for the next election cycle. And, remember how the LEFT criticized the Koch Brothers out in Palm Springs?
Democrats putting together new independent political organizations for the 2012 campaign are embracing a model that will allow them to conceal their donors — the very tactic for which they criticized Republicans in 2010.
Majority PAC, a new group aimed at electing Democrats to the Senate, and American Bridge 21st Century, which will serve as a research hub, are being organized as so-called super political action committees that can raise unlimited amounts of money from contributors whose donations are reported to the Federal Election Commission. But both are also affiliated with nonprofit 501(c)(4) social welfare groups that can raise money from undisclosed donors and give money directly to super PACs.
The same dual structure is being considered by Bill Burton and Sean Sweeney, two former White House aides who are likely to launch their own independent expenditure effort in support of President Obama’s reelection, according to people familiar with the plans.
What is good for the goose is also good for the gander, I suppose. But, why not cut the pretense and allow anyone to give unlimited amounts of political contributions as along as they are timely disclosed on the internet?
Then, all of the machinations can go by the wayside.
Otherwise, it is just hypocrisy.
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President 2012 Video: GOP Uses Social Media to Respond to Obama Campaign Launch
Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s Response to Obama Campaign Announcement. April 4, 2011Quite a difference from the 2008 campaign.
If the Republicans’ response to President Barack Obama’s campaign launch Monday is any indication, social media will play a major role in the 2012 election.
Shortly after Obama’s first video for the campaign went up, Tim Pawlenty, the former Minnesota governor and potential GOP candidate for the 2012 presidential race, released a YouTube retort. The video (below), which has the urgent music of an action film, features Pawlenty responding to an Obama sound bite, by asking, “How can America win the future when we’re losing the present?” Pawlenty concludes, “In order for America to take a new direction, it’s going to take a new president.”
Since its release Monday, the video has gotten about 53,000 views, compared with 168,000 for Obama’s. Pawlenty also released the video on his Facebook Page, which has 81,000 fans. Obama has close to 19 million Facebook fans.
Thanks to Twitter and Facebook, the GOP has made great strides in technological aided communication since the 2008 campaign. This was evident in the 2010 midterm elections and will be expanded during the coming election cycle.
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Poll Watch: Americans Would Blame Obama and Republicans About Equally If Government Shuts Down
Kind of a lose-lose according to a Pew Research Center Poll.
With an April 8 deadline approaching for a possible shutdown of the federal government, the public remains divided over whether congressional Republicans or the Obama administration would be more to blame if a shutdown occurs.
Currently, 39% say Republicans would be more to blame if the two sides cannot agree on a budget and the government shuts down, 36% say the Obama administration, and 16% volunteer both sides.
These opinions are little changed from late February. However, opinions are far different now than they were during a similar dispute in 1995, shortly before the government did shut down. In November 1995, a few days before the government shut down, 46% said it would be mainly the Republicans’ fault while 27% said the Clinton administration would be more at fault, according to a Washington Post/ABC News survey.
The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted March 30-April 3 among 1,507 adults, finds that most (55%) want the lawmakers they agree with on this issue to be more willing to compromise, even if it means they pass a budget they disagree with. Far fewer (36%) want the lawmakers they agree with to stand by their principles, even if it means the government shuts down.
President Obama is sponsoring a meeting tomorrow at the White House to supposedly work out a deal between Democrats and Republicans. However, the President is playing the mediator and not the leader, so who knows how this will turn out.
On the other hand, Tea Party House members, prefer to stand on principle rather than compromise. Here are the numbers:
So, what does it all mean?
President Obama’s deal had better be a good one or the government WILL shut down for a while on Saturday. There really is no RISK electorally to Tea Party conservative members of the House.
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Poll Watch: 31% Approve of Republicans, 32% Approve of Democrats in Congress
Looks like equal disapproval in the latest Gallup Poll.As Congress attempts to come up with a budget agreement to avoid a government shutdown, Americans’ views of both parties in Congress are equally negative — 31% approve of the Republicans in Congress and 32% approve of the Democrats in Congress. Each party’s rating is among the lowest Gallup has found since the question was first asked in 1999.
American voters are not happy about the economy and the growth of government. They are taking it out on Congress and will take it out on President Obama if the economy and unemployment does not turn around.
Congress faces difficult challenges in trying to jump-start the economy while also reining in spending as Americans grow increasingly weary of the federal budget deficit. The difficulty of these tasks is compounded by divided party control of Congress, with Republicans in the majority in the House of Representatives and Democrats controlling the Senate. To date, Congress has struggled to find agreement on long-term budget solutions, opting instead for short-term agreements to avoid a government shutdown. Its ability to do so, particularly this week, with the looming April 8 deadline to pass a 2011 budget or a continuing resolution, could play a crucial role in determining whether Americans’ views of Congress improve or deteriorate.
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President 2012: Reagan Library GOP Debate Rescheduled from May to September
Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is the only declared Republican candidate for President
Bowing to the reality that it is too EARLY for GOP candidates to be exposed to the pro-Obama media.The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation has postponed its debate for Republican candidates from May 2 to September 14.
The move, announced Wednesday in conjunction with cosponsors NBC and POLITICO, follows an unexpectedly slow start to the Republican presidential nominating contest.
Organizers worried that the May 2 debate, which was announced shortly after the midterm elections last November, would not attract candidates who will eventually get into the race but are delaying announcements for legal and political reasons. Only one top-tier candidate, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, has officially created an exploratory committee.
John Heubusch, the Reagan foundation’s executive director, said that pushing the debate back four-and-a-half months will allow “enough time for the full slate of candidates to participate.”
“The Reagan Foundation prides itself on sponsoring world class debates in which all of the major candidates in contention can make their point of view known to the widest possible audience,” he said in a statement. “Although there will be a long and impressive list of Republican candidates who eventually take the field, too few have made the commitment thus far for a debate to be worthwhile in early May.”
The September 14 debate at the Reagan library in Simi Valley, Calif., will still be moderated by “NBC Nightly News” anchor Brian Williams and POLITICO Editor-in-Chief John F. Harris. A reporter from Telemundo will also participate.
I believe Fox News is also sponsoring a debate in early May in South Carolina but I would not be surprised that it is rescheduled. There is NO reason/advantage for the Republican candidates to debate prior to the end of summer and so — they won’t.
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GOP House Freshmen Tell Harry Reid: “It’s Time to Pass a Bill”
Laying down the gauntlet, they are – says Yoda.
Just as GOP leaders prepare a “Government Shutdown Prevention Act” as a way to pressure Senate Democrats into passing long-term spending bill, a group of freshman members have sent a strongly worded letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) announcing that they will “rally on the Senate steps every day until you pass a long-term Continuing Resolution.” The letter was authored by Rep. Rick Crawford (R., Ark.) and has so far been signed by 30 members of the freshman class.
“Make no mistake,” the letter admonishes Reid. “Any government shutdown is the result of your lack of leadership.”
“Mr. Reid, it’s time to pass a bill,” they conclude, before signing off in telling fashion: “Bound together and determined.”
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Government Shutdown Poll Watch: 29% Blame Democrats Vs. 23% Republicans
Twenty-nine percent of likely voters would blame Democrats for a government shutdown, compared to 23 percent who would hold Republicans responsible, according to a new poll conducted for The Hill.
The results are surprising because most people blamed the GOP for the last government shutdown, which occurred during President Clinton’s first term. A week before the 1995 shuttering, polls showed the public blamed Republicans by a two-to-one-margin.
This is surprising to me but may speak to the difference as to how President Obama is perceived versus Bill Clinton. Bill Clinton always came off as a good ol’ boy POL who wold compromise if there was an advantage to him. Hence, the shutdown in 1995 was spun as a radical move by the GOP and Newt Gingrich.
Republicans have a substantial edge among independents: Thirty-four percent would blame Democrats, while only 19 percent would blame the GOP.
However, there are dangers for both parties, the poll indicates. A plurality of voters, 43 percent, would blame both Republicans and Democrats if the lights go out at midnight on March 5. Forty-five percent of respondents said neither party would benefit politically from a shutdown.
This compares to 14 percent who think Democrats would benefit and 18 percent who said Republicans would.
It is in both parties interest to NOT shut down the government.
I think the biggest winner though may very well be President Obama who would take the high road and slam the GOP. So, since Obama is not enjoying good poll ratings, the Republicans may wish to deny him a bump up with a stagnant or declining economy. They can always blame him and the Democrats without the turmoil of a government shutdown.
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Poll Watch: Number of Solid Blue Democratic States Cut by Half from 2008 to 2010
Good news for the GOP and America as the number of competitive states has increased.Gallup’s analysis of party affiliation in the U.S. states shows a marked decline in the number of solidly Democratic states from 2008 (30) to 2010 (14). The number of politically competitive states increased over the same period, from 10 to 18, with more limited growth in the number of leaning or solidly Republican states.
Here is the chart:
A competitive electoral map means a better marketplace of political ideas.
Now, for California…….
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Poll Watch: Americans Believe GOP Should Heart the Tea Party
Indeed, that is what the latest Gallup poll says.About 7 in 10 national adults, including 88% of Republicans, say it is important that Republican leaders in Congress take the Tea Party movement’s positions and objectives into account as they address the nation’s problems. Among Republicans, 53% rate this “very important.”
However, the popularity of the Tea Party movement itself has remained the same as the GOP popularity has increased. See the poll graph below:
So, what does this all mean?The GOP with the federal debt ceiling vote coming up will have to strike a delicate balance of Tea Party precepts and party politics.
While media commentators duel over whether Bachmann’s response to the State of the Union address deserved prime-time coverage, the Republican Party has its own dilemma: how much deference to show Tea Party activists and their generally conservative proposals in crafting public policy. Almost all Republicans say it is at least somewhat important for GOP congressional leaders to take the Tea Party’s views into account, with about half saying it is very important. More broadly, the Tea Party has neither lost nor gained strength since the midterm elections. It remains popular with about 3 in 10 Americans who call themselves supporters of the movement, and it continues to generate as much opposition as support overall.