Read a little. Learn a lot. • Tightly-written news, views and stuff • Follow us on TwitterBe a Facebook FanTumble us!

14 Feb 2010 22:16

tags

Politics: Debbie Medina hoping she can bounce back from Glenn Beck flop

  • This is war. They don’t shoot at you until you are over the target. We are over the target.
  • Far-right Texas gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina • Regarding the race and the fact that she said something incredibly stupid to Glenn Beck. Medina has been trying to do damage control ever since that fateful Thursday radio show. But if she can get beyond it, she has a lot going for her. She’s actually to the right of Rick Perry, which is impressive, and her poll numbers are high enough to make a dent. We’ll see if she holds up – her quote exposing her as a 9/11 truther is a massive doozy. source

14 Feb 2010 22:00

tags

Politics: Obama needs an official Twitterer; must not suck at their job

  • Think you know how to use social media to the fullest? The Obama administration might want to use your services. The prior social media queen, Mia Cambronero, is leaving, and they have a job opening for the position. They need your help to make sure Obama’s Twitter, Facebook and MySpace pages are well-updated. Note: One of the main qualifications is “Ready to work hard; this isn’t a 9-5 sort of job.” Secondary note: Newsbusters is freaking out because Cambronero is tied to MoveOn.org. source

14 Feb 2010 10:27

tags

Politics: Like filibusters? Don’t? They’re not going away anytime soon.

  • Republicans are gambling they can convince the American people Democrats can’t get much done, and at the moment, their gamble is paying off.
  • Former Democratic Sen. Bob Kerrey • Regarding the Republican’s strategy to filibuster the Democrats’ agenda so that it helps them in the next election. The filibuster has significantly changed in usage since the days of civil rights, and is now routinely used as a political stalling tactic. We just want to make a point here: While the GOP’s filibuster usage is inexcusable, the Democrats did the exact same thing to get a majority in the Senate in 2006. In fact, they did it at a faster clip. While the rule really needs to be changed on a fundamental level, it’s not going to happen easily: It requires 67 votes to make a change like that. source

13 Feb 2010 21:15

tags

Politics: We have a tip for Robert Gibbs: Don’t call it “the Twitter”

  • before A while back, our boy Robert Gibbs admitted in an interview that he wasn’t able to use Twitter from the White House, which hurts Obama’s until-then-solid Web 2.0 cred.
  • now Gibbs joined Twitter today as the account @PressSec, and his handle of the service is a little suspect. He called it “the Twitter.” He’s a PR person. Yikes. source

12 Feb 2010 12:32

tags

Politics: Biographer: Patrick Kennedy just wants a life out of the public eye

  • I think he wants a more private life. … It’s difficult being a Kennedy. People see the upside, without being aware of the downside.
  • Patrick Kennedy biographer Darrell M. West • Regarding why Patrick Kennedy might be so willing to give up his congressional seat. Beyond poll-related reasons (Kennedy, who’s been in Congress since his mid-20s, wasn’t doing well), recent family issues had a lot to do with it. He has two cancer-survivor siblings, his mom is an alcoholic and his dad, Ted Kennedy, just died. “There is lot of stuff going on in that family at every level,” he said. Kennedy, at 42, is young enough to enjoy life out of politics. source

12 Feb 2010 10:32

tags

U.S.: Patrick Kennedy willingly gives up a legacy of Kennedys in Congress

  • 54
    years
    the amount of time a Kennedy has been in Congress in some way, shape or form
  • early
    2011
    the period when that’s probably going to end; blame Ted’s kid, Patrick, for this source

12 Feb 2010 09:44

tags

Politics: Richard Shelby apparently the antithesis of bipartisanship

  • “We were stuck. I just feel like we weren’t getting anywhere.” Sen. Christopher Dodd has had enough of Sen. Richard Shelby’s crap, apparently. Shelby, a.k.a. the guy who held up 70 of Obama’s appointees to win pork for his state, has been holding up Dodd’s plans for a financial industry reform bill. So, instead, Dodd’s going to work with freshman Sen. Bob Corker, which should make things interesting for the Senate Banking Committee. source
 

12 Feb 2010 09:24

tags

Politics: Apparently, the Senate Democrats are a bunch of pansies

  • Grassley and three to four Republicans would have voted for it, but all the other Republicans would have beaten the living ^&%$ out of us [during the 2010 midterms], claiming the bill was too bloated.
  • A random Democrat who supported Harry Reid’s decision • Regarding the jobs bill that was cut by $70 billion. You guys are @(&@(@(. Get a backbone and call us later. Do you think FDR would’ve done something like this, knowing how badly the country needed it? It’s a jobs bill. $15 billion does not help create jobs. $85 billion does. What’s the point of having a majority if you’re not going to use it? source

11 Feb 2010 21:18

tags

Politics: Glenn Beck uncovers a 9/11 “truther” in a Tea Party candidate. WTF?

  • I think some very good questions have been raised in that regard. There are some very good arguments, and I think the American people have not seen all of the evidence there, so I have not taken a position on that.
  • Texas Republican gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina • Answering a point-blank question from Glenn Beck: “Do you believe the government was in any way involved in the bringing down of the World Trade Centers on 9/11?” This is a Tea Party candidate. Who was doing well in the polls until now. Saying something stupid. To. Glenn. Beck. Ahahahahahahahaha … ahahahaha … and we thought Harold Ford, Jr. had the market on saying stupid stuff all locked up. We don’t say this often, but good job Glenn Beck! source

11 Feb 2010 21:17

tags

Politics: Poll: Obama’s chances in 2012 are completely up in the air

  • 44% of respondents say they’d vote for Obama again in 2012
  • 42% of respondents would rather vote for an anonymous “Republican candidate”
  • 14% support a fringe candidate or don’t care one way or the other source