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What Everyone Needs to Know About the Islamic State
In this book, Daniel Byman explores global jihadism from its beginnings in 1979 to today, from the mujaheddin to the menacing Islamic State
Tagged book review
Coat Hangers: a Symbolic Protest Against the Stupak Amendment
Selecting singularly vivid iconography – the coat hanger – as in coat hanger abortion, CredoAction launched a campaign to persuade the 20 formerly pro-choice Democratic Congressmen who voted Yes on the Stupak Pitts Amendment to change their minds, by sending coat hangers to those Democratic House members who voted to restrict access to abortion in the healthcare bill along with their petition.
126 Days Later and Still No Republican Healthcare Reform Proposal
This morning House Democrats took to the floor to point out that it has now been 126 days, and Republicans have still not offered their healthcare reform proposal. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) said, “Rather than working with Democrats, Republicans are choosing to be the party of no and the status quo. No is not a solution.”
Poll: Heading in 2010 the GOP Has Gained No Ground
According to the new Washington Post poll, the Republican Party has gained no ground on the Democrats on the generic congressional ballot. Those polled favor Democratic candidates 51%-39%. This represents no change from 2008 when Democrats led 52%-37%, and 2006 when Democrats led 51%-45%.
How Five Democrats Sold Their Votes and Betrayed Their Party on the Public Option
Two different amendments that would have added the public option to the Senate Finance Committee’s heathcare reform bill were defeated today. Five Democrats joined the Republicans in voting against the Rockefeller amendment, Ben Nelson, Blanche Lincoln, Tom Carper, Kent Conrad, and Max Baucus. These five are Democrats in name only.
Democrat and Reform Killer Ben Nelson Wants 65 Votes in Order to Pass Healthcare
It appears that Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) will stop at nothing to kill healthcare reform. Nelson made his latest proposals while speaking to constituents yesterday. He wants to split the bill in half to pass a cost saving bill before the 2010 election, and pass expanded coverage, “at a later date.” Nelson also claims that any bill that passes without 65 votes isn’t legitimate.
Why We Must Save the Public Option
With Democrats signaling willingness to compromise on the public option, health care reform is quickly morphing into health insurance reform, which is great for everyone who already has insurance, but what about those who don’t?
Of Liberals, Obama, and the Pope
President Obama is in Rome for an historic meeting with Pope Benedict XVI, and the President is doing what any sane, rational leader should do. He is open to hearing those he disagrees with. He is not running a theocracy. He knows what he stands for, but is willing to find a common thread of agreement. I dig.
Poll: PA Democrats Want Specter to Face a Primary Challenger
Despite the fact that Gov. Ed Rendell has been in the media bellowing and warning Rep. Joe Sestak not to challenge Sen. Arlen Specter in next year’s Pennsylvania U.S. Senate primary, a new poll released today by Susquehanna Polling & Research finds that 63% say that Specter should face a primary challenger.
Rep. Barney Frank: Calls for Conservative Democrats to be Kicked Out of the Party
After 12 Senate Democrats voted to block an amendment that would have rewritten the bankruptcy laws to allow judges to renegotiate mortgages with banks, Rep. Barney Frank went off, and called for those who side with the moneyed interests to be kicked out of the party.
Specter: I am Not an Automatic 60th Vote
At a press conference new Democrat Arlen Specter stated that he won’t be an automatic 60th vote for the Democrats. He promised to maintain his independence, and cited his continued opposition of the Employee Free Choice Act as an example, but Specter announced that President Obama will campaign for his reelection in PA.
Restoring Democracy; The Progressive Agenda
There is a fine line between the strength of the left’s questioning of their officials (a good thing) and destabilizing reactionary anger (a bad thing). A recent example of this is the left railing at President Obama to prosecute the Bush administration and others for torture. Urging Obama to prosecute is tantamount to asking him to Bushify the Executive Office.
Rick Warren Compares Democrats to Prostitutes
Rick Warren was on the Hugh Hewitt show today, where explained that the reason why he gave the invocation at President Obama’s Inauguration. Warren said that he wants to have Christ like ministry, and that Jesus hung out questionable people like prostitutes and tax collectors. Apparently in his mind Democrats are the prostitutes and tax collectors of America.
The Shameful 10 Democratic Senators Who Voted to Protect Multimillionaires
Even though the unemployment rate rose from 8.1% to 8.4% over the past month last night the Senate passed a $250 billion amendment to slash the estate tax for multimillionaire estates. Ten Democrats joined with Republicans to add the amendment to the Obama budget. It is no shock that these 10 Dems are now trying to pretend like the vote didn’t happen.
Democrats Set the Rush Limbaugh Trap for the GOP
There is a new strategy afoot in the Democratic Party.
GOP: Creative People Are Useless
The conservative consensus is creative people can’t change shit.
Endangered: Republicans Only Have an Advantage in 5 States
A new Gallup analysis of their 2008 polling data has found that not only has the electoral map sh
Stimulate THIS
In regards to President Obama’s new stimulus package, Ohio Republican House Minority Leader John
Socialism; This Year’s Dirty Word.
President Obama’s Socialist views tend to surface in nearly every conversation.
With Caroline Kennedy Out, Is Cuomo The Senate Choice?
With the news tonight that Caroline Kennedy has withdrawn her name from consideration to fill the Senate
Senate Votes Down Resolution To Block The Release of TARP Funds
By a vote of 42-52 the Senate voted down a resolution to block the release of the remaining $350 billion in TARP funds.
Top House Democrat Opposes Dr. Sanjay Gupta for Surgeon General
John Conyers says no to Dr. Sanjay Gupta for Surgeon General because Gupta opposes single payer universal health care.
Franken Certified as the Winner, Coleman Vows to Fight On
After the Minnesota Supreme Court rejected a request to count an additional 650 absentee ballots, the attorneys for Sen. Norm Coleman vowed to fight on despite the fact that Democrat Al Franken is likely to be certified the winner of the Senate election.
Remembering Senator Claiborne Pell
Former U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell (RI – D) died on January 1, 2009. I heard the late Senator speak in 1995 at a rally on Capitol Hill.
Video: Blagojevich Vows He Will Be Vindicated
In the biggest show of political bravado I’ve seen in a long time, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich read a statement today that not only showed him to be defiant, but also promising to beat the federal corruption charges brought against him.
Here is the video:
Poll: 83% Say Obama Transition is going About/Better than Expected
A new Marist College poll released today of registered voters found that a whopping 83% said that president elect Barack Obama is doing either about or better than expected. The poll also found that voters think Obama will move the country in the right direction, and they approve of his choice of Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State.
Lieberman: I Feel Closer to the Democrats Now
In an interview with Katie Couric on the CBS Evening News Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman said that he feels closer to the Democrats now than he has since the 2006 election. He also backed off of the Obama is a Marxist line, and defended his speech at the Republican convention.
Here is the video:
Alaska Senator Elect Begich Disagrees With Obama on ANWR
Mark Begich’s victory over Republican Ted Stevens has brought the Democrats closer to the magic number of 60 Senate seats, but his win also points out that there are some major policy differences in the Democratic caucus. In Begich’s case, the disagreement involves energy and ANWR, but those looking looking for liberal legislation might be disappointed by Obama and this Congress.
Who Is Obama Attorney General Pick Eric Holder?
NBC News and Newsweek are reporting that Barack Obama’s senior legal advisor Eric Holder has been offered and accepted the position of United States Attorney General, so who is Eric Holder, and what can we expect out his Justice Department?
Lieberman Acknowledges Owing Obama
After Democratic Senate Caucus voted 42-13 not to strip Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman of his Homeland Security chairmanship, Lieberman admitted both that he owes Obama, and that he regrets some of the remarks he made about the president elect during the presidential campaign.
Obama Saves Joe Lieberman
It is being reported tonight that Senate Democrats will vote tomorrow not to strip Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) of his powerful chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee. Lieberman will lose his subcommittee chairmanship,and has Barack Obama to thank for his light punishment.
Hillary Clinton Rumored to be Secretary of State Pick
So Hillary Clinton, the vanquished Obama foe for the Democratic nomination was seen boarding a plane headed to Chicago today. And this act has fueled tremendous speculation that she may be under consideration by the Obama transition team for a cabinet position.
Was Howard Dean Good for the DNC?
With the news that Howard Dean will stepping down from his post as chairman of the DNC once his term ends in January, I wonder if Howard Dean helped or hurt the Democratic Party. The answer depends on whether we are talking Dean the spokesperson, or the man in charge of the DNC.
Vote NO On Prop 8
In a rare moment for California, it is cold and raining this morning. But as I pulled up to my voting place, I noticed many people braving the rain (ok, in CA it’s more like a dirzzle), and the cold (it was a “freezing” 65 degrees!), many of them eager–almost too eager–to cast their vote.
Rahm Emanuel To Be Chief of Staff?
Many newspapers (and other news sources), including the Associated Press, the Chicago Sun-Times, and the Denver Post reported last night that the Obama campaign has reached out to Illinois representative, and a veteran of Bill Clinton’s White House, Rahm Emanuel to feel out interest about becoming Obama’s Chief of Staff.
Scott McClellan Endorses Barack Obama
Prominent Republican figure, and four-star General, Colin Powell, caused a big splash this past Sunday when he endorsed Barack Obama for president. But he’s not the only prominent Republican figure to offer an endorsement of Obama. Yesterday, former White House Press Secretary under George W. Bush, Scott McClellan, went on DL Hughley’s new CNN program “DL Hughely Breaks the News” and essentially gave Obama his official endorsement.
Palin’s Collapse, Economy Power Obama to Leads in Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania
Quinnipiac University’s polling institute released the results of their latest poll this morning (Wednesday). But this is no ordinary, generalized, national poll. Quinnipiac specifically polled the three biggest, most critical swing states: Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Here is what the poll results showed:
Florida: Obama up 49% to 43% pre-debate and 51% to 43% post-debate
Ohio: Obama up 49% to 42% pre-debate and 50% to 42% post-debate
Poll: Republicans to Blame for Bailout Failure
A new ABC News/Washington Post poll finds that voters blame the Republican Party for killing the $700 billion bailout bill by a 2 to 1 margin. Ninety Five percent of those surveyed labeled the financial problems either a crisis, or a serious problem, and 88% are worried that the failure of the bailout bill will worsen the nation’s economic problems.
Obama and the Fringe
The events of the past couple of weeks have helped Obama to take a narrow lead in the latest polls and we can suspect that in upcoming polls that his lead will grow larger. Americans are a bit freaked out by what they see on the nightly news or what they are reading in the daily paper.
Campaign ’08: The Missouri Report 9/17/08
It is that time again to take a look at how the presidential race is shaping up in the Show Me State. As we all know, this is a very close, important and historical election. Missouri is a key state in this election, as it is the epitome of a swing state.
Campaign ’08: The Missouri Report
Welcome to a new column here at Polticususa.com. For the next couple of months, until the election in November, I will be posting a news report at least once a week detailing how the election is playing out in the state of Missouri, a key swing state.
The Most Powerful Words From the Democratic National Convention
It is truly amazing what words can do. They can inspire us to great heights or scare us into strangling our own better angels. I guess that’s why speeches given by politicians are so important. They really only get one or two chances to get their message out.
Which brings me to the Democratic National Convention. Well, all conventions, really. Imagine what they’d be like without the fiery speeches packed with biting one-liners and inspirational messages.
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5 Thing to Watch for During Obama’s Denver Speech
https://politicususa.co/en/5-Things-to-Watch-Obama-Speech
Rarely has an acceptance speech been as watched and anticipated as Barack Obama’s acceptance speech tonight at Invesco Field.
Biden Gives McCain a Blue Collar Punch in the Mouth
With his acceptance speech Joe Biden demonstrated exactly why he was chosen to be on the ticket with Barack Obama. Biden’s speech was a combination of blue collar empathy, and strong attacks against John McCain.
Big Skies in Schweitzer’s Future
Poor Brian Schweitzer. Or maybe not.
After a phenomenal, grounded, very human speech in Denver last night, all attention is on Hillary Clinton this morning. Her one-line zinger, “No way, no how, no McCain” is being run as the headline in many newspaper stories covering her speech from last night.
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Hillary Clinton: No way. No how. No McCain.
Tonight Hillary Clinton shifted the conversation from I support Barack Obama to telling her supporters why they need to support Obama. Mrs. Clinton gave a stirring speech which served as both a great end to her presidential campaign, and a new beginning to her supporters’ relationship with the Democratic nominee.
Dennis Kucinich Rocks the Democratic Convention
In what was the best speech given by any of the early speakers so far, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) energized and enthralled the Democratic Convention with his call to action in support of the Democratic ticket.
America, Meet the Obamas
The task that Michelle Obama faced tonight as she gave the headline speech of the first night of the Democratic convention was to reintroduce and humanize the Obama family, and she more than delivered.
Ted Kennedy Rises to Pass the Torch to Obama
Ted Kennedy’s surprise speech tonight was not long, and the senator certainly looked frail, but none of this diminished the emotion and power of Kennedy passing the torch to Barack Obama.
Clinton and Obama Shoot Down Rumors of Convention Disunity
Clinton advisor Maggie Williams and senior Obama advisor David Axelrod put out a joint statement this morning to refute a Politico story that there is still tension between the two
A Possible Ted Kennedy Surprise in Denver
Both ABC News and the Associated Press are reporting that if Sen. Ted Kennedy’s health allows it, he is going to Denver to make an appearance at the Democratic convention on Monday night.
The McCain Strategy to Split the Democratic Convention
With a new ad released in praise of Hillary Clinton and surrogates dispatched to the Sunday talk shows, it seems that presidential campaign of John McCain is trying to split the Democratic Party between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
Here is the new McCain ad:
Bye Bayh Kaine; Secret Service Sent to Biden Home
CNN just reported they have confirmation from many sources that Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana and Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia have both received a phone call from Barack Obama telling them neither of them has been selected to be the running mate.
Possible VPs at “Disclosed Locations.”
Vice President Dick Cheney needs a secret bunker.
Vice President Dick Cheney needs to hide in “an undisclosed location.”
Well, Dick Cheney can go F himself…
Joe Biden Looks Happy About Something
A quick update on the Obama VP situation:
Over at MSNBC’s “First Read,” they are reporting that Senator Joe Biden, the front runner for Obama’s VP in many people’s minds, had a very interesting three-minute interaction with some reporters who were camped out on his front lawn this afternoon.
Sources Say Obama Has Picked His VP
Steve Clemons of “The Washington Note” said that sources close to Senator Barack Obama have informed him Obama has decided on his VP candidate, though no name was divulged.
Speculation Grows that Obama Will Announce His VP on Wednesday
Both Jeff Greenfield of CBS News and Marc Ambinder of The Atlantic have confirmed that the Obama campaign is sending staff for campaign event in Richmond, VA next Thursday, but the twist is that Obama’s schedule has been announced for every day next week, except Wednesday.
Obama VP Update: Biden, Bayh, Richardson and Kaine
With time literally ticking off the clock until the Democratic National Convention in Denver slated to begin in about 10 days, more and more speculation has been swirling about who Obama’s VP pick will be.
Clinton and Obama on Her Name Being Placed Into Nomination
The press offices of both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama issued a joint statement today praising the fact that both of their names will be placed into nomination at the Democratic convention.
Sebelius Hints at Obama VP Pick
Barack Obama has always said that he will not wait until the Democratic National Convention to name his Vice Presidential nominee. His camp has consistently intoned that a VP candidate will be clearly presented to the American people before the convention occurs to serve as a signal of the kind of presidency and administration he will have.
Hillary Clinton Supporters Get Their Show of Respect
With the announcement Sunday night that Hillary Clinton will be the headline speaker for the second night of the 2008 Democratic convention, perhaps the few disgruntled Hillary Clinton supporters will stop whining about the lack of respect they have been getting from the Obama campaign.
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Dick Durban: Bill Clinton is Hurting
Sen. Dick Durban (D-IL) was on Fox News Sunday this morning, and he had some interesting comments about Democratic Party unity and Bill Clinton.
Obama: No Controversy with the Clintons
Barack Obama spoke to the media and did his best to play down reports that there are still are still some bad feelings between himself and the Clintons.