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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Congress: Bunning gets brushed back

Posted: Monday, December 15, 2008 9:10 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under:

"Senator and Hall of Fame baseball pitcher Jim Bunning, who spent the first seven years of his baseball career in Detroit (five of them as an All Star), was uninvited to a scheduled stint signing autographs in Michigan this weekend after the Kentucky Republican voted against a bailout for the auto industry, the Detroit Free Press reports. 
 
The price tag on the stimulus package expected to hit the Hill next January might be higher than House Dems had expected. 
 
National Journal's Ron Brownstein on the auto bailout: "American automakers could learn a great deal from their Japanese competitors, starting with the value of a ritualized public apology for failure." 
 
Roll Call: "Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) are putting their band of reformers back together and hitting the halls of Capitol Hill in pursuit of their latest mission -- curtailing the practice of earmarking federal dollars in legislation, sources said late last week." 
 
The Blue Dog coalition in the House may have a parallel group of counterparts on the other side of the dome soon. Indiana Senator Evan "Bayh, who has spoken with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) about his initiative, said he is trying to create a faction of moderate Senators who will gather on a weekly basis ahead of the usual Tuesday Democratic Caucus meetings." 

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We see what happened the last time McCain and Feingold showed up with campaign finance reform. Obama got a billion dollars to get elected. Many said it was grass roots money, but one of these days, when the media ever takes a break from covering Sarah Palin, they'll find that much of the money came from George Soros.
Doing the right thing has it's price. I'm certain Bunning was crushed.
Regarding the auto bailout, it seems like the Republicans are more interested in one last show of defiant solidarity instead of what's in the best interest of the people they serve (or their party).  What some of these southern senators who are trying to procect their foreign auto plants don't seem to realize that if people can't afford to buy cars at all, foreign or domestic, then it should stand to reason that foreign automakers will eventually fail as well.  When that happens, where will these senators be then?

36 Days Until Inauguration Day (Woo hoo)!
http://jawillie.blog.com
Hey Tinsel Towne, I sent Obama money. And I don't have to hide behind a fake name. Just like I didn't when I donated money to his campaign. And everytime the RNC or McCain/Palin came out with another lying Ad I donated more. But never much. Just 20 bucks or so at a time. That's how he made the money. So get over yourself. If you want to make snide, snarky remarks at least be brave enough to put your name on them or crawl back under your rock and shut up.
Hey Tinsel Towne, I sent Obama money. And I don't have to hide behind a fake name. Just like I didn't when I donated money to his campaign. And everytime the RNC or McCain/Palin came out with another lying Ad I donated more. But never much. Just 20 bucks or so at a time. That's how he made the money. So get over yourself. If you want to make snide, snarky remarks at least be brave enough to put your name on them or crawl back under your rock and shut up.
Annette, Odessa,

Dear Annette - Eat Me.
Thanks Annette, YES WE DID!!!!!!!!!!


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