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Wednesday Morning Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 10:16:31 AM EST
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The Citizens United case will be reargued today before the Supreme Court, which now includes Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor. I will crib something from someone who knows more about the issues than I do later.

I understand some irrelevant and impotent person is giving a speech tonight on health care reform. Based on what some centrist bloggers have told us, I am not sure why we should watch it. It's not President Snowe, but we'll give it a shot tonight anyway, Jeralyn and I.

This is an Open Thread.

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    Wednesday Morning Open Thread | 43 comments (43 topical)

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    Just thought you should know . . . (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by nycstray on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 10:27:33 AM EST
    I've landed a certain Gator on my bench in Fantasy Football ;)

    Just got back from a 10 day (none / 0) (#29)
    by vml68 on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 02:25:25 PM EST
    vacation in Maine. The last three days we spent at a remote sporting camp on a lake in the North Woods.
    Thought I would let you know that I had Ms Dot on my mind then, because Oliver came alive in a way I have never seen while we were there. We had him off leash the entire time since we pretty much had the place to ourselves. He went nuts running through the woods while we were hiking and swimming in the lake.
    Judging from the pics of your cabin in CA, Ms Dot is in for quite a treat.

    I am planning a trip to Vermont next month....Gyrfalcon, I'm giving you advance notice.... :-)!!

    Parent

    Long Sunday piece by Krugman (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by Dadler on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 11:12:48 AM EST
    How Did Economists Get it So Wrong?

    Today (5.00 / 3) (#6)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 11:34:54 AM EST
    Today's date is 09/09/09.

    Will my computer self-destruct today even as I type?

    ooooo.... spooky... (none / 0) (#10)
    by desertswine on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 12:03:23 PM EST
    I'm stayin' inside.

    Parent
    Bwwaaahh, that is exactly (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Cream City on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 12:40:56 PM EST
    what they are expecting, so they will know where to find you. . . .

    Parent
    the DSCC called asking for $ for public option (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by kempis on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 12:19:13 PM EST
    I'm serious.

    I just got a call from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee asking for a donation so that they can continue to elect Democrats, who, unlike Republicans, fight for the public option. The young woman was very nice, very sincere, and very misled.

     I told her that I was a strong supporter of the public option but that considering so many Democrats were not, I was unwilling to give them any money. Instead my money will go to organizations fighting specifically for the public option. "We are," she said. "No ma'am. You are and I am, but many Democrats are not." It was truly upsetting. And I have to wonder how much of Obama's "public option" talk tonight is about fund-raising--in a fraudulent way.

    Someone please tell me I'm wrong. I don't like thinking that we have such little real representation in DC....I especially am horrified that the DSCC is resorting to what amounts to bald-faced lies to get donations from unsuspecting people who support the public option and believe that Democratic Senators--like Max Baucus--do, too.

    Really disturbing....

    They sent me a fundraising ask last month (5.00 / 2) (#25)
    by shoephone on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 02:06:19 PM EST
    and used the health care issue as bait. I wrote them back and said, "fageddaboudit. The DSCC is opposed to what I want on health care. And take me off your mailing list immediately."

    Parent
    Oh. My. God. (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by gyrfalcon on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 01:47:35 PM EST
    Incredible.

    I really wish I had not read (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by vml68 on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 01:58:30 PM EST
    the article. I could have lived without knowing the details. Ugh!

    Parent
    Yeah, too much information (none / 0) (#50)
    by gyrfalcon on Thu Sep 10, 2009 at 12:05:34 AM EST
    And it's not like the guy is George Clooney or something.  I mean, yech.

    Parent
    Easy on the praise... (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by kdog on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 03:56:45 PM EST
    if he resigned over guilt for giving a certain lobby favorable treatment to the detriment of his consituents at large, then I'd say he has some decency and good for him.

    But he's only resigning for spewing his sex life over an open mic...and no other reason.  If he was a model legislator who made the same mistake, and a lobbyist wasn't the other party, I'd be pissed he resigned over something so dumb.

    Parent

    Check out these new photos... (5.00 / 2) (#28)
    by desertswine on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 02:23:11 PM EST
    from the refurbished Hubble telescope. Just mind boggling. They were released today. The first one looks like a butterfly.
    MA legislature (none / 0) (#2)
    by CST on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 10:31:06 AM EST
    debating today whether or not to allow an interum appointment.  Here's to hoping they do.

    gotta love pols (none / 0) (#11)
    by bocajeff on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 12:03:36 PM EST
    I'm sure the legislature was just shocked at the untimely and unforeseen death of Sen. Kennedy. Got them completely off guard....

    Parent
    I'm sure (none / 0) (#14)
    by CST on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 12:27:55 PM EST
    they didn't want to deal with it while he was still alive.  A bit morbid.  Kennedy didn't send the letter either till right before he passed.  I'm sure that will have an impact on the decision.  At least I hope it does.

    Parent
    I'm in love... (none / 0) (#3)
    by kdog on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 10:47:51 AM EST
    with this lady...she ain't whining, she ain't crying, she just wants to be left alone and has her crowbar ready to make it so.

    I wish she was giving a speech tonight instead of that other cat...that I'd tune in for.

    Pervert... (none / 0) (#5)
    by kdog on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 11:14:22 AM EST
    school administrators at it again...why can't the unnamed administrator just be a cop and leave the school administering to more sensible people.

    Trigger Support (none / 0) (#7)
    by waldenpond on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 11:40:04 AM EST
    James Clyburn came out yesterday and said he supports the trigger option.  Talking head says that Clyburn knows the count and that Clyburn must think this is a way to save the PO.

    I just called Clyburn's office (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by shoephone on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 01:37:54 PM EST
    You will not believe this!!!

    I asked the person answering the phone what it means for Democrats when the Democratic House Whip has signalled he will not push for something the majority of Democrats, and the majority of Americans want -- a public insurance option -- and instead tells the media he likes the "trigger".

    The Clyburn person said, "I'm not allowed to discuss policy."

    "WHAT?" I asked him. Democratic policy on health care is a SECRET? Since WHEN? He spoke publicly about it yesterday!"

    He said: "It's not a secret. I'm just not allowed to discuss it."

    I told him that was a load of b.s. and that Clyburn will certainly pay for this stupidity. Then I hung up.

    I also called Hoyer's office and they would not talk about it either.

    The Democrats have made me their enemy. I am on the warpath.

    Parent

    It's a secret from whom? (none / 0) (#46)
    by cawaltz on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 04:06:33 PM EST
    The people they were elected to represent?

    Quite frankly THAT position shouldn't be allowed. If you represent me I should be entiteld to know what you are doing and saying on my behalf.

    Parent

    My sweet Claire's (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by MO Blue on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 04:29:18 PM EST
    standard office BS reply right before she votes with the Republicans is

    Senator McCaskill has not decided yet.


    Parent
    Plugging my buddy's book (none / 0) (#8)
    by Dadler on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 11:59:15 AM EST
    John H. Ritter, who writes probably the best baseball novels for young readers today (though they are about more than baseball obviously).  His latest is The Desperado Who Saved Baseball, with none other than Billy the Kid taking the Diamond.

    If you have a kid who loves baseball, John's a great writer for them.  

    Sh*t, wrong title (none / 0) (#9)
    by Dadler on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 12:00:29 PM EST
    The Desperado Who STOLE Baseball.

    It's sort of a sequal to The Boy Who Saved Baseball.  

    Sorry, John.

    Parent

    Steve Jobs makes a real world appearance (none / 0) (#12)
    by andgarden on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 12:05:59 PM EST
    at an Apple event. First since the liver transfer.

    Early reports from Citizens United (none / 0) (#16)
    by andgarden on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 01:14:17 PM EST
    oral arguments: campaign finance reform is kaput.

    Are your early reports (none / 0) (#19)
    by Steve M on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 01:45:57 PM EST
    from the same people who gave us the early reports on the Voting Rights Act case?

    Parent
    Hey, I don't have a special source (none / 0) (#21)
    by andgarden on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 01:54:19 PM EST
    But how often do the Court watchers misread oral arguments in a high profile case? (I'm honestly interested, because I don't know).

    Because we all know where Kennedy stands, it seems clear to me that upholding precedent depends on Roberts getting cold feet. Do you think that's likely?

    Parent

    I dunno (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by Steve M on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 03:39:59 PM EST
    The lesson of the VRA case, however, is that there are more than two possible outcomes.

    Something Justice Ginsburg raised in her first set of questions was this provocative thought: if the Court holds that corporations have an unlimited right to engage in political advocacy, does that include corporations that may be entirely or mostly owned by foreign shareholders?  Because I'm pretty sure there's no constitutional right for a foreigner to spend millions of dollars influencing a US election.

    Parent

    Did Ginsburg raise that? (none / 0) (#45)
    by andgarden on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 03:58:42 PM EST
    I thought Scalia did. In any case, it's a very good question. I think (hope!) that even this Court would find that such a law satisfies strict scrutiny.

    Parent
    Gotta love it (none / 0) (#22)
    by MO Blue on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 01:55:43 PM EST


    With bonus... (none / 0) (#23)
    by kdog on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 01:57:44 PM EST
    "I hope a pretty pile of change was involved to get down with that" pic!

    Pics (professional) of Ms. Barsuglia (none / 0) (#26)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 02:16:59 PM EST
    here.

    Ms. Barsuglia graduated cum laude (none / 0) (#27)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 02:21:18 PM EST
    Ms. Barsuglia graduated cum laude from California State University, Sacramento with a Bachelor of Arts degree combining a double major in Political Science and Persuasive Communications. She graduated with honors from University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law with a Juris Doctor.
    I'll bet she's very persuasive.

    Parent
    Gotta say, (none / 0) (#31)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 02:32:55 PM EST
    from his record, I'd think he was a Dem.

    Parent
    Record (none / 0) (#32)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 02:33:41 PM EST
    here.

    Parent
    Well, he wasn't all bad. (none / 0) (#41)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 03:46:29 PM EST
    He was on the correct side some issues, including these:
    AJR36 Asians And Pacific Islanders, Civil And Human Rights, Hmong, Laos, Thailand 09/19/2008 Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter

     AJR67 Immigrants And Immigration, Samoans American 09/19/2008 Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter

     ACR151 Holidays And Observances, Veterans 09/19/2008 Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter

     ACR143 Hispanic Heritage Month, Holidays And Observances 09/05/2008 Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter



    Parent
    It is California n/t (none / 0) (#42)
    by CST on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 03:47:39 PM EST


    Parent
    Are you saying that in Cali, (none / 0) (#43)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 03:50:11 PM EST
    because it's so liberal, the Repubs are much more left?

    Parent
    I would guess (none / 0) (#47)
    by CST on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 04:06:40 PM EST
    a republican from california is to the left of a republican from alabama.  For example, here in MA, in order for Romney to be elected gov. he ran as a pro-choice candidate, before he changed his mind to run for national office.

    Just a hunch, I don't really know the state very well.

    Parent

    Fair enough, I tend to agree with you. (none / 0) (#49)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 04:47:23 PM EST


    Parent
    Make that... (none / 0) (#33)
    by kdog on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 02:48:24 PM EST
    I hope a monstrous pile of money and favors were delivered to her lobbying customers for getting down with that dude...surely she takes her job very seriously...too seriously:)

    Parent
    From the bottom (none / 0) (#30)
    by Spamlet on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 02:26:17 PM EST
    of the article about Michael D. Duvall:

    Tags: adultery, California Republican Assembly, California Retailers Association, Capital Resources Institute, Heidi DeJong Barsuglia, Karen Bass, Karen England, Michael D. Duvall, OC Weekly, Pete Wilson, R. Scott Moxley, Sam Blakeslee, Sempra Engery
    Wednesday Morning Open Thread | 43 comments (43 topical)

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