• Pinboard Links

    Flap’s Links and Comments for August 18th on 09:02

    These are my links for August 18th from 09:02 to 14:06:

    • Los Angeles to quit hiring Standard & Poor’s to rate investments – Los Angeles, which recently saw its $7-billion investment portfolio downgraded by Standard & Poor's, has decided to no longer hire the rating company to rate the soundness of the city's investments.

      "We have really lost faith in S&P's judgment," Interim Treasurer Steve Ongele said.

      After its downgrade of U.S. debt last week, S&P cut its rating of L.A.'s general investment pool to AA from AAA. It also downgraded dozens of other municipalities with large investments in U.S. Treasury notes.

      One of them, Northern California's San Mateo County, has decided not to renew its contract with S&P. Florida's Manatee County has also dropped its contract with the company, according to news reports.

      Speaking before the City Council's Budget and Finance Committee meeting Monday, Ongele said Los Angeles should be proud for cutting ties with S&P.

      "The market crash that came with the real estate debacle, it happened because folks like S&P rated AAA corporations that were not worth much of anything, corporations that are no longer there today," Ongele said. "The fact that we have the courage to do this, the fact that we are the first city, I think that's a big bragging right."

      ======

      Shooting the messenger

    • California GOP, wooing candidates and money, will hold 2012 straw poll at September state convention – Hoping to attract GOP presidential candidates — and fire up its activist grassroots — the California Republican Party is taking a cue from Iowa and planning a high profile straw poll of the 2012 presidential hopefuls at its big September statewide convention in Los Angeles.

      The straw poll will be a marquee event at the convention expected to attract more than 1,000 delegates and party activists when it convenes Sept. 16-18 at the JW Marriott at LA Live, state party chair Tom Del Beccaro told us today.

      Already, Tea Party darling and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, the winner of the recent Ames straw poll in Iowa, is scheduled to be the opening keynote speaker on Friday night — a move that will clearly pump up party faithful expected to jam the event.

      But Del Beccaro has been in touch with the other leading Republican candidates, and predicted Bachmann won't have the hall to herself when it comes to wooing backers, volunteers and donors in the Golden State, which is also the nation's biggest political ATM.

      ======

      Read it all.

      But, I think I will take a pass that weekend.

      Does anyone really think that the candidates besides Bachmann will want to dump tens of thousands of dollars to compete in very blue California?

      Well, maybe and if maybe then I will attend.

    • Democrats cheer more lenient Obama rules on illegal immigrants – Democrats in both chambers are cheering Thursday after the Obama administration unveiled more lenient rules surrounding the deportation of illegal immigrants.

      The changes – announced by the Department of Homeland Security – will allow many non-violent illegal immigrants to remain in the country and apply for work permits. Instead of blanket deportations, agency officials will perform a case-by-case reviews, weeding out violent criminals and other high priority cases while closing the books on those considered no threat.

      Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said the change “will help prioritize our limited enforcement resources to focus on serious felons, gang members and individuals who are a national security threat rather than college students and veterans who have risked their lives for our country.”

      ======

      Color me cynical but Obama needs the Hispanic vote desperately since he has delivered virtually nothing to that community.

      Now, the Obama Administration is thwarting the will of the Congress AND the people.

    • Dilbert August 18, 2011 – Back to the Future | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Dilbert August 18, 2011 – Back to the Future #tcot #catcot
    • foursquare – Blogging away (@ Home)
    • Untitled (http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/aug/17/westlake-village-man-announces-plans-to-run-for/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed) – Westlake Village man announces plans to run for new 26th Congressional District » Ventura County Star:

    • Flap’s California Morning Collection: August 18, 2011 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Flap’s California Morning Collection: August 18, 2011 #tcot #catcot
    • President 2012: The GOP Sends Obama’s Getaway Postcards from Martha’s Vineyard | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – President 2012: The GOP Sends Obama’s Getaway Postcards from Martha’s Vineyard #tcot #catcot
    • Another Billionaire Offers the Country Unsolicited Political Advice | Broadside Books – RT @michaelpleahy: My new article: "Another Billionaire Offers Unsolicited Political Advice" @broadsidebooks #tcot
    • Capitol Alert: Assembly GOP requests immediate release of spending records – Good Luck with that! RT @CapitolAlert: Assembly GOP requests immediate release of spending records
    • Flap’s Links and Comments for August 18th on 08:57 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Flap’s Links and Comments for August 18th on 08:57 #tcot #catcot
  • Pinboard Links

    Flap’s Links and Comments for July 26th on 11:33

    These are my links for July 26th from 11:33 to 11:35:

    • New polls confirm Obama’s Democratic base crumbles – With all of the spotlights on the high-stakes debt maneuverings by President Obama and Speaker John Boehner the last few days, few people noticed what Vermont's Sen. Bernie Sanders said:

      "I think it would be a good idea if President Obama faced some primary opposition."

      This is political treason 469 days before a presidential election. Yes, yes, this is just a crusty old New England independent for now, albeit one who caucuses loyally with Harry Reid's Democratic posse.

      But while most of the media focuses on Republican Boehner and the tea party pressures on him to raise the debt limit not one Liberty dime, Sanders' mumblings are a useful reminder that hidden in the shadows of this left-handed presidency are militant progressives like Sanders who don't want to cut one Liberty dime of non-Pentagon spending.

      Closely read the transcript of Obama's Monday statement on the debt talks stalemate. The full transcript is right here. And the full transcript of Boehner's response is right here.

      An Unbalanced Approach to a Balanced Approach

      Using political forensics, notice any clues, perhaps telltale code words that reveal to whom he was really addressing his Monday message? Clearly, it wasn't congressional Republicans — or Democrats, for that matter.

      The nation's top talker uttered 4,526 words in those remarks. He said "balanced approach" seven times, three times in a single paragraph.

      That's the giveaway. Obviously, David Plouffe and the incumbent's strategists have been polling phrases for use in this ongoing debt duel, which is more about 2012 now than 2011. "Balanced approach" is no sweet talk for old Bernie or tea sippers on the other side.

      Obama is running for the center already, aiming for the independents who played such a crucial role in his victorious coalition in 2008. They were the first to start abandoning the good ship Obama back in 2009 when all the ex-state senator could do was talk about healthcare, when jobs and the economy were the peoples' priority.

    • House GOP revolts against Boehner plan – House Republicans do not have enough support to pass their debt-ceiling increase plan on their own, a top conservative said Tuesday as his party’s leaders tried to cobble together a coalition of Republicans and Democrats to put the bill over the top.

      “There are not 218 Republicans in support of this plan,” Rep. Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican who heads the powerful conservative caucus in the House, told reporters Tuesday morning.

      That means Speaker John A. Boehner will have to rely on Democrats to pass the $1.2 trillion spending cuts plan — support Democrats’ top vote-counter said he’ll be hard-pressed to gain. Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer said “very few” Democrats will vote for the Boehner plan, though he acknowledged there could be some.

      A vote in the House is expected Wednesday, and Republican leaders are trying to round up enough support to pass their version. They hope that if it can pass the House, that will pressure Senate Democrats to drop their alternative and accept the GOP’s plan.

      ======

      Read it all.

      Going to be a tough vote tomorrow

  • American Debt Linit,  Barack Obama,  Day By Day,  Democrats

    Day By Day July 25, 2011 – Truck Stop

    Day By Day by Chris Muir

    Notwithstanding Sam, but President Obama is throwing the American people under the bus in insisting on a debt ceiling deal that carries past the 2012 Presidential elections. Actually, he is playing Russian Roulette with the world-wide financial markets.

    The House GOP should send him a short term “all cuts” deal and dare the Democrats in the Senate and/or the White House to block it.

    Then, the Dems/Obama break it, they OWN it.

    Previous:

    The Day By Day Archive

  • David Wu,  Democrats,  Nancy Pelosi

    Updated: Oregon Rep. David Wu Will Not Run for Re-Election But Will Not Resign – Pelosi Calls for Ethics Investigation

    +++++ Update+++++

    House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called Sunday night for an ethics investigation into allegations that embattled Rep. David Wu (D-Ore.) forced an “unwanted sexual encounter” with a young woman.

    Pelosi’s statement came shortly after Politico first reported that Wu would not seek an eighth term next year, which a Democratic source confirmed, adding that pressure is building for his resignation.

    “With deep disappointment and sadness about this situation, I hope that the Ethics Committee will take up this matter,” Pelosi said. “I will send a letter to the Ethics Committee [Monday] asking them to formally initiate a review of this matter.” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel (N.Y.) supported the Minority Leader’s request in a separate statement.

    And, DCCC Chairman Rep Steven Israel is calling for Wu to resign.

    But, again, what leverage does the leadership have?

    Congressman David Wu of Oregon did some interesting things right before his re-election in last years midterm elections. He allegedly wandered around Oregon like an insane person, for one. Also, it appears he sent his staff e-mails like an insane person, along with photos of him dressing up like some kind of tiger furry

    This has to be driving the Dems wild in D.C.

    Embattled Rep. David Wu will not seek reelection in 2012, but he wont resign from office now despite allegations that the Oregon Democrat had an unwanted sexual encounter with the teenage daughter of a close friend last Thanksgiving.He isnt going to be running for reelection, a Wu adviser, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told POLITICO late Sunday night. But he hasnt done anything that rises to the level of requiring him to resign.

    Wus decision to stay in office comes after a frenzied weekend of lobbying and pressure tactics designed to convince the Oregon Democrat to leave office, all of which seemed to have failed for now. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is likely to step up the pressure on Wu following this latest development.

    Pelosi and other top Democrats are reviewing their options on Wu, which include outright calls for him to resign or to seek an Ethics Committee investigation into the explosive allegations against him.

    First it was New York Rep. Anthony Weiner and the continuing story of the strange behavior of Rep. David Wu.Not a good summer for Congressional Democrats and Nancy Pelosi.

    By the way, Wu should be assigned to a closet until he resigns.

  • David Wu,  Democrats,  Nancy Pelosi

    Oregon Rep. David Wu Will Not Run for Re-Election But Will Not Resign

    Congressman David Wu of Oregon did some interesting things right before his re-election in last year’s midterm elections. He allegedly wandered around Oregon like an insane person, for one. Also, it appears he sent his staff e-mails like an insane person, along with photos of him dressing up like some kind of tiger furry

    This has to be driving the Dems wild in D.C.

    Embattled Rep. David Wu will not seek reelection in 2012, but he won’t resign from office now despite allegations that the Oregon Democrat had an “unwanted sexual encounter” with the teenage daughter of a close friend last Thanksgiving.“He isn’t going to be running for reelection,” a Wu adviser, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told POLITICO late Sunday night. “But he hasn’t done anything that rises to the level of requiring him to resign.”

    Wu’s decision to stay in office comes after a frenzied weekend of lobbying and pressure tactics designed to convince the Oregon Democrat to leave office, all of which seemed to have failed for now. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is likely to step up the pressure on Wu following this latest development.

    Pelosi and other top Democrats are reviewing their options on Wu, which include outright calls for him to resign or to seek an Ethics Committee investigation into the explosive allegations against him.

    First it was New York Rep. Anthony Weiner and the continuing story of the strange behavior of Rep. David Wu.Not a good summer for Congressional Democrats and Nancy Pelosi.

    By the way, Wu should be assigned to a closet until he resigns.

  • Pinboard Links

    Flap’s Links and Comments for July 23rd on 18:59

    These are my links for July 23rd from 18:59 to 19:25:

    • How the White House killed the deal – In an aggressive move, the House speaker’s office has put out a blow-by-blow on how the debt talks collapsed:

      The White House is misleading reporters tonight by claiming that new revenue in the framework that was discussed would have been generated by letting the current tax rates expire. That is simply false. Under the framework, a CEILING was offered by the White House that would generate $800 billion in new revenue over ten years. This would be done through comprehensive tax reform that would clear out deductions, credits, and loopholes in the system – and spur economic growth.
      After the gang of six plan came out, the White House moved the goal posts and insisted on $400 billion more in higher taxes – a 50% increase in revenue – and wanted that to be the FLOOR instead of the ceiling. The President acknowledged this in his remarks tonight. “Letting tax cuts expire” was never part of the tax reform agreed to. Please let me know if you have any questions. – steel
      Summary of the White House ‘walk backs’ during discussions of the ‘framework.’:

      =====

      Read it all.

      I agree with Jennifer Rubin, it looks like Obama wants a default.

    • Sources: Young woman accuses Oregon Rep. David Wu of aggressive, unwanted sexual encounter – A distraught young woman called U.S. Rep. David Wu's Portland office this spring, accusing him of an unwanted sexual encounter, according to multiple sources.

      When confronted, the Oregon Democrat acknowledged a sexual encounter to his senior aides but insisted it was consensual, the sources said.

      The woman is the daughter of a longtime friend and campaign donor. She apparently did not contact police at the time.

      One person who heard the voice mail described the woman as upset, breathing heavily and "distraught."

      In the voice mail, the young woman accused Wu of aggressive and unwanted sexual behavior, according to sources with direct knowledge of the message and its contents.

      Reporters could not verify the young woman's age. Notes on Facebook over the past 18 months indicate she graduated from high school in 2010. California records show she registered to vote in August.

      Wu, 56,  did not respond to repeated questions from The Oregonian over the past four days.

      Late Friday, Wu issued a one-sentence response: "This is very serious, and I have absolutely no desire to bring unwanted publicity, attention, or stress to a young woman and her family."

      =======

      Read it all.

      This is not the first time that Wu has been accused os something like this.

      My bet is that he woill not make it past Monday and will resign.

    • Pressure mounts for Oregon Rep. David Wu to resign – U.S. Rep. David Wu spoke briefly to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi by telephone Saturday after Pelosi's meeting at the White House to discuss the federal debt ceiling.

      The substance of the conversation was not disclosed but it came one day after reports that Wu was involved in unwanted sexual contact with a young woman last Thanksgiving.

      The report has triggered concerns among some Democrats that Wu's behavior could cause political difficulties in the 2012 campaign.

      Other Democratic leaders are expressing the same desire, according to those familiar with the deliberation, including some in Oregon.

      In June, Pelosi released a statement calling on former Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., to step down after a similar Saturday conversation. In that case, however, Pelosi acted weeks after the incident broke into the public and after Weiner lied about the source of lewd photographs linked to his twitter account.

      Even so, Weiner's offense was far less severe than the one Wu is alleged to have committed.

      =====

      Put a fork in Rep. Wu – He is Done!

  • Pinboard Links

    Flap’s Links and Comments for July 13th on 10:43

    These are my links for July 13th from 10:43 to 10:47:

    • Republicans Fail to Pick up Democratic Seat in 200th Consecutive California U.S. House Race – The California GOP has not picked up a Democratic held U.S. House seat in general or special elections since 1998

      Democrat Janice Hahn's special election victory over Craig Huey in California's 36th Congressional District Tuesday evening continues a more than decade long string of futility on the part of California Republicans in their attempt to pick up a Democratic held U.S. House seat.

      A Smart Politics historical review of California election returns finds that Democrats have now successfully held 200 consecutive seats in general and special elections conducted after the Election of 1998.

      Although Hahn was criticized by some for running a traditional campaign in a non-traditional election year and matchup, she was able to notch a 9.1-point victory over the conservative businessman who surprised many by eking out a second place finish in May in the heavily Democratic district.

      The 36th CD has been vacant since late February when nine-term Democrat Jane Harman resigned to head the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

      Democrats have now held their California U.S. House seats in 192 consecutive general election races over the last the last six cycles plus eight seats in special election races they have had to defend since 1999.

      But while the Republicans are currently suffering through a 0-200 stretch in pick up attempts, Democrats have won seven GOP-held seats in the Golden State out of 125 general and special election matchups during this 13-year period, or a 6 percent pick-up rate.

      Democrats won five Republican seats in 2000 (CA-15, 27, 31, 36, and 49), one in 2002 (CA-39) and one in 2006 (CA-11).

      Californians are now making up a larger and larger percentage of the Democratic caucus in Congress – currently resting at 18 percent (34 of 193 members), which marks the largest percentage in the history of the state.

      ======

      California is deeply blue like New York and Massachusetts.

    • President 2012: Tim Pawlenty says there’s no scientific conclusion that being gay is genetic – Pawlenty said "there's no scientific conclusion that (being gay) is genetic." On that specific question, we found broad agreement that Pawlenty was correct. Scientists told us that genetics may play a role in determining sexual orientation, but the current evidence suggests that it’s not the dominant factor and may ultimately be shown to play just a modest role.

      But a modest role is still different from no role. And we also think that viewers of the interview might be led to believe that because homosexuality is not primarily caused by genes, there’s no biological cause. In reality, most scientists do believe that sexual orientation is caused by biology, rather than by choice. On balance, we rate Pawlenty’s statement Mostly True.

  • Pinboard Links

    Flap’s Links and Comments for July 13th on 10:43

    These are my links for July 13th from 10:43 to 10:47:

    • Republicans Fail to Pick up Democratic Seat in 200th Consecutive California U.S. House Race – The California GOP has not picked up a Democratic held U.S. House seat in general or special elections since 1998

      Democrat Janice Hahn's special election victory over Craig Huey in California's 36th Congressional District Tuesday evening continues a more than decade long string of futility on the part of California Republicans in their attempt to pick up a Democratic held U.S. House seat.

      A Smart Politics historical review of California election returns finds that Democrats have now successfully held 200 consecutive seats in general and special elections conducted after the Election of 1998.

      Although Hahn was criticized by some for running a traditional campaign in a non-traditional election year and matchup, she was able to notch a 9.1-point victory over the conservative businessman who surprised many by eking out a second place finish in May in the heavily Democratic district.

      The 36th CD has been vacant since late February when nine-term Democrat Jane Harman resigned to head the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

      Democrats have now held their California U.S. House seats in 192 consecutive general election races over the last the last six cycles plus eight seats in special election races they have had to defend since 1999.

      But while the Republicans are currently suffering through a 0-200 stretch in pick up attempts, Democrats have won seven GOP-held seats in the Golden State out of 125 general and special election matchups during this 13-year period, or a 6 percent pick-up rate.

      Democrats won five Republican seats in 2000 (CA-15, 27, 31, 36, and 49), one in 2002 (CA-39) and one in 2006 (CA-11).

      Californians are now making up a larger and larger percentage of the Democratic caucus in Congress – currently resting at 18 percent (34 of 193 members), which marks the largest percentage in the history of the state.

      ======

      California is deeply blue like New York and Massachusetts.

    • President 2012: Tim Pawlenty says there’s no scientific conclusion that being gay is genetic – Pawlenty said "there's no scientific conclusion that (being gay) is genetic." On that specific question, we found broad agreement that Pawlenty was correct. Scientists told us that genetics may play a role in determining sexual orientation, but the current evidence suggests that it’s not the dominant factor and may ultimately be shown to play just a modest role.

      But a modest role is still different from no role. And we also think that viewers of the interview might be led to believe that because homosexuality is not primarily caused by genes, there’s no biological cause. In reality, most scientists do believe that sexual orientation is caused by biology, rather than by choice. On balance, we rate Pawlenty’s statement Mostly True.

  • Pinboard Links

    Flap’s Links and Comments for July 8th on 12:08

    These are my links for July 8th from 12:08 to 12:11:

    • The Elmendorf Rule – The president who ignored the debt problem for two years now tells Congress to get serious about the budget – Here we go again. An approaching crisis. A looming deadline. Nervous markets. And then, from the miasma of gridlock, rises our president, calling upon those unruly congressional children to quit squabbling, stop kicking the can down the road, and get serious about debt.

      This from the man who:

      Ignored the debt problem for two years by kicking the can to a commission.
       
      Promptly ignored the commission’s December 2010 report.
       
      Delivered a State of the Union address in January that didn’t even mention the debt until 35 minutes in.
       
      Delivered in February a budget so embarrassing — it actually increased the deficit — that the Democratic-controlled Senate rejected it 97–0.
       
      Took a budget mulligan with his April 13 debt-plan speech. Asked in Congress how this new “budget framework” would affect the actual federal budget, Congressional Budget Office director Doug Elmendorf replied with a devastating “We don’t estimate speeches.” You can’t assign numbers to air.

      =======

      Read it all

      Pretty amazing….. but the Presidential 2012 polls tell the story – Obama is sinking.

    • Dem Senator Patty Murray Asked Koch Industries for Donation – Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), head of the Senate Democratic campaign effort, apparently left a voice mail for the president of Koch Industries asking for a donation. The company is owned by billionaire conservative donors Charles and David Koch.

      Koch president Philip Ellender wrote back: "I'm hoping you can help me understand the intent of your request because it's hard not to conclude that DSCC politics have become so cynical that you actually expect people whom you routinely denounce to give DSCC money."

    • DSCC asking Kochs for cash – The Kochs have become a major target of Democratic ire recently — but that hasn't stopped the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee from asking their company for money. A Koch company executive fires back in a letter to DSCC chairwoman Sen. Patty Murray:

      For many months now, your colleagues in the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee leadership have engaged in a series of disparagements and ad hominem attacks about us, apparently as part of a concerted political and fundraising strategy. Just recently, Senator Reid wrote in a DSCC fundraising letter that Republicans are trying to “force through their extreme agenda faster than you can say ‘Koch Brothers.’”

      So you can imagine my chagrin when I got a letter from you on June 17 asking us to make five-figure contributions to the DSCC. You followed that up with a voicemail* indicating that, if we contributed heavily enough, we would garner an invitation to join you and other Democratic leaders at a retreat in Kiawah Island this September.

      I’m hoping you can help me understand the intent of your request because it’s hard not to conclude that DSCC politics have become so cynical that you actually expect people whom you routinely denounce to give DSCC money.

      ======

      Pretty amazing – bash and then ask for cash.

  • Barack Obama,  Day By Day,  Democrats

    Day By Day July 7, 2011 – What is it Good For?



    Day By Day by Chris Muir

    Chris, we have seen it time and again with the Obama Administration and the Democrats in Congress and the States. If there is a law that they do not wish enforced (like the DOMA) or a law where they are on a losing end of an issue (Wisconsin collective bargaining) they ignore the democratic process and exert their will anyway – sometimes by subverting their oaths and fleeig their own states.

    What kind of elected government is that?

    Sounds like an authoritarian government to me.

    Previous:

    The Day By Day Archive