First thoughts: Crist-mas for the GOP

Posted: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:26 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro

*** Crist-mas for the GOP: Over the last several months, Senate Republicans haven't caught too many breaks when it comes to the 2010 midterms. They've had some notable retirements (Kit Bond, Judd Gregg, Mel Martinez, George Voinovich). Then Arlen Specter switched parties, giving Democrats the possibility of 60 seats once/if Al Franken gets sworn in. And last week, their best chance to hang on to Pennsylvania after Specter's defection -- Tom Ridge -- decided not to run. But today, Republicans finally get some good news when Florida Gov. Charlie Crist announces he's running for the Senate, giving GOPers their most high-profile recruit of the 2010 cycle and improving their odds of holding on to Mel Martinez's seat. But this is worth noting: Florida has closed primaries, meaning that you have to be a registered Republican to participate in the GOP primary. So that could make Crist’s primary match-up against the conservative Marco Rubio, the former speaker of the Florida House, more competitive than many think it will be. In particular, Crist’s public support of Obama’s stimulus -- remember that Crist appeared at an Obama town hall on the subject -- could be a major issue in the primary. That said, a GOP official says that if Crist gets in, he will receive the National Republican Senatorial Committee’s full support. “We think highly of Marco and believe he has a bright future, but Crist is the GOP's best hope of keeping this seat in the GOP column.” *** UPDATE *** Here's Crist announcing on Twitter at 9:10 am ET: "After thoughtful consideration with my wife Carole, I have decided to run for the U.S. Senate."

*** An early look at the map: Despite this Crist news -- and despite their opportunities to get Republican Reps. Mike Castle and Mark Kirk to run in Delaware and Illinois, respectively -- Democrats are still poised to pick up more Senate seats in 2010, says Jennifer Duffy, who monitors Senate races for the Cook Political Report. Duffy tells First Read: "Florida looks better for GOP, and the jury is out on Ohio and Kentucky," where vulnerable GOP incumbent Jim Bunning may or may not run (he said over the weekend he's running). "New Hampshire is a problem for them, and Missouri is increasingly becoming one." But it's still VERY early. At this point in the 2006 cycle -- before Hurricane Katrina, before the Abramoff scandal got out of hand, and before the situation in Iraq kept getting worse and worse -- Democrats' best opportunities were only in Pennsylvania (Santorum's seat) and Rhode Island (Lincoln Chafee's). Missouri, Montana, Ohio, and Virginia didn’t become strong pick-up chances until much later into the cycle. Translation: We’ve still got a long way to go…

*** Obama’s second-straight day on health care: Despite the White House’s enthusiasm over yesterday’s event with health-care industry groups -- which pledged to help cut health costs by $2 trillion over the next 10 years -- the day-after coverage wasn’t all that positive. The Washington Post says “the industry's promises fell well short of the White House's expansive claims.” And the New York Times writes, “None of the proposals are enforceable, and none of the savings are guaranteed… At this point, cost control is little more than a shared aspiration.” Yet Obama spends a second-straight day on health care, participating in a roundtable with business leaders at 11:30 am ET to discuss ways to cut employer health-care costs.

Video: President Obama is welcoming the health care industry's promise to cut $2 trillion in medical costs and promises to keep working to find a solution for uninsured Americans.

*** The amazing adventures of Barack & Michelle: Also today, at 2:25 pm, Obama and Vice President Biden speak at the National Association of Police Organization’s Top Cops award winners. After that, the two meet with Gen. Ray Odierno and U.S. ambassador to Iraq Christopher Hill, and then they meet with Defense Secretary Robert Gates (all closed to the press). And finally, at 7:45 pm, the president and first lady attend a White House event of poetry, music, and the spoken word. Per the New York Times, the guest list for the event includes “actor James Earl Jones, the writers Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman (who are husband and wife), the jazz singer and bassist Esperanza Spalding and the pianist Eric Lewis. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote and starred in ‘In the Heights,’ the Broadway musical that won a Tony last year, will also perform.”

*** Meet Sonia Sotomayor: As we continue our SCOTUS shortlist profiles, today we look at Sonia Sotomayor. She currently serves on the Second Circuit in New York and was appointed to that position by Bill Clinton. BUT she was appointed to her first federal court appointment by President George H.W. Bush… She checks lots of boxes: Woman. Hispanic. Empathy… While working for the famed Robert Morgenthau in the New York District Attorney's office in the early 1980s, she described herself as a "liberal.”… Also has drawn criticism for saying in 2005: “All of the legal defense funds out there they're looking for people with court of appeals experience because it is-- court of appeals is where policy is made." She tried to backtrack, but conservatives are already rallying to defeat her based on this.

Video: Executive Director for the National Republican Trust Political Action Committee, Scott Wheeler, explains why choosing the next Supreme Court Justice should be done through a bipartisan process.

*** More on Sotomayor: Other bio information: Child of parents born in Puerto Rico... Grew up speaking mostly Spanish... Raised in a public housing project in The South Bronx in the shadow of Yankee Stadium... Father died when she was 9... A diehard Yankees fan, she's credited as the judge who saved baseball, issuing an injunction that led the eventual settlement of the 1990s-era Major League Baseball strike... Described by the New York Times in the early 1980s as an incessant smoker… Divorced from Kevin Edward Noonan in 1983 after seven-year marriage (no children). She left the NY District Attorney's office a year later and went into private practice... Graduated summa cum laude in 1976 from Princeton after winning a scholarship to the school... Earned her law degree from Yale in 1979, where she edited the Law Review.

Countdown to NJ GOP primary: 21 days
Countdown to VA Dem primary: 28 days
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 175 days
Countdown to Election Day 2010: 539 days

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Comments

The GOP - Thick As Thieves

What is it about Iraq or torture that the GOP doesn’t understand? The Bush Administration was wrong every single step of the way. They have zero credibility. So why are they still allowed to lie to us? Have they not done enough damage? I’m beginning to believe that Dick Cheney has a few screws loose. He’s out there trying to salvage his reputation. Why? Does he truly believe that aside from a handful of gullible supporters, that we can take what he says at face value? Well, we can’t. We have seen and heard too many lies. Too many deaths.

Why would ANYONE believe this man? It sounds to me like people who believe him are really speaking about loyalty to the Republican Party and nothing more. They will throw truth to the wind before ever admitting that Iraq was a mistake. And now we have Julie Nixon Cheney sticking up for her father. That’s what daughters do. But the right wing media? Disgraceful.

The GOP is no good for anybody. As we have seen. What happened in Iraq yesterday was bound to happen. 4 tours for our troops. Awful. Shameful.

Albert Speer spent 20 years in jail. I’m not even sure this man ever fired a gun during the second World War. But jail he went to. As h e should have. And he spent his time in prison writing his book about the Third Reich. But he did it behind bars. This is where Cheney should be doing his talking. In front of a judge or behind bars. Not on MY air waves.

Sorry Cheney. We’re not as stupid as your supporters are. And we’re going to continue to speak up until you shut up. Just GO AWAY. Preferably to the nearest prison.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:35 AM)

Republicans can not actually think this is going to work for them!!!!!! There is definitely no light at the end of the tunnel for republicans!!!! This part called the gopigs is done for a long long time and they have noone to blame but themselves!!

Greg Remington (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:37 AM)

Slow news day?

Champ, Lumberton, TX (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:39 AM)

I am just LOVING the new GOP talking points about Dick Cheney: He loves his country soooooooooo much, that he is willing be the lone voice in the night, crying out to protect her.

Let there be no doubt: Dick Cheney is a coward and a liar.

The media is complicit in providing he (an his family) free airtime to spread lies, fear, and deceit in a shameless effort to PROTECT THEMSELVES from prosecution at the expense of OUR COUNTRY.

On Morning Joe, Liz Cheney wondered why the current administration does not reach out to her father for advice. Why would ANYBODY ask Dick Cheney for advice, Liz? What is he good at? What has he succeeded at? Name ONE THING that Dick Cheney has EVER DONE that has made our country better? Anyone?

When given the opportunity to fight for his country, Dick Cheney refused 5 times. And yet the media continues to give him airtime to speak as if he is a military expert. He is not.

All that whining about the confidential CIA documents that need to be declassified? Why doesn’t the Vice President just LEAK the information like he did the identity of Valerie Plame? Yet another HEROIC ACT for Dick Cheney!

When Dick Cheney was asked this weekend whether he would testify to Congress under oath? He said “might” under certain conditions. What a brave heroic stand!

When Dick Cheney was asked if former President Bush knew about the torture program he directed, the Vice President said that he “basically” approved it. What the hell does that mean? Why isn’t the media trying to find out? Talk about the tail wagging the dog.

Dick Cheney isn’t fit to clean Gen. Colin Powell’s boots, just as he was unfit to serve as our nation’s Vice President. The fact that the “media” continues to validate this idiot is just another example of what a twisted “democracy” this truly has become.

Nashville_fan (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:40 AM)

Richard Joes (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:40 AM)

I hear the GOP is hoping Crist wins the FL senate, so he becomes their best hope for 2012 against Obama. However, Crist is considered moderate [and a self-hating self-denying homosexual], and therefore, he will have problems with the rightwingreligousnutjobs controlling the republican party. Also, imagine what would happen with how we're perceived by the middle east if we election President C[h]rist!

pat huntington ny (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:42 AM)

What will work for Republicans will be when everyone realizes what a failure Obama's economic and foreign policy programs are. It won't take long either. Sooner, rather then later, people will realize what an idiot Obama is with all of his (over)spending programs. The voters will run to the Republicans in droves when they realize the Democrats and Obama have sold them down the river.

Stimulus? What Stimulus? (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:43 AM)

I’m beginning to believe that Dick Cheney has a few screws loose. He’s out there trying to salvage his reputation. Why? Does he truly believe that aside from a handful of gullible supporters, that we can take what he says at face value?
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Why won't Obama release the entire torture memos, not just the redacted versions, and we can judge for ourselves the worth of Cheney's words? He can do that, but he's chosen to politicize this argument...the same thing Bush was guilty of.

Deja Vu...All Over Again (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:43 AM)

Crist's move puts Steele and Florida conservatives on the spot. They will lose the race to the Dems if they put up a right winger to beat Crist.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

matt (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:44 AM)

DG, Houston, TX (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:51 AM)

Why are the repugnant ones so scared of Sonia Sotomayor? Why are they afraid of an honest woman becoming a Supreme Court Justice? Time to cram a good Liberal judge down the throats of the Evil Elephants after what they did the past two horrible picks by the bushwhacker.

That's so funny that the repugnant ones are scurrying to find good candidates for Senator races, well they just don't have good candidates who appeal to Mainstream America. Until the limprwristed conservative crybabies stop whining about everything President Obama does then they'll keep losing seats in Congress.

President Obama had better not trust the health industry "promises" about cutting costs by $2 trillion over ten years. As soon as they think they're in the clear they'll start ripping us off again with their outrageous price increasesd over the past few deacades. We can never trust these self serving freemarket freeloaders to clean up their act by keeping price increases reasonable. Only a good single payer government backed health insurance program will keep private insurance companies honest.

Support Single Payer Health Insurance!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:54 AM)

First Read: And the New York Times writes, “None of the [healthcare] proposals are enforceable, and none of the savings are guaranteed… At this point, cost control is little more than a shared aspiration.”

This also sums up Obama-nomics.

Arden Penn, PA (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:55 AM)

Answering Monday’s posting:

In the middle- Special needs children my hiney, Palin had no problem parading her special needs child around when she was campaining for Vice President. However we found out later that she cut special needs funds out of her budget in Alaska. So spare me the selfrighteous indignation approach to my comments. Half of the comments you post are ingnorant. Don’t let the Sikes comedy skit fuel your courage to call me names, I bite back and far worse than Sikes ever could. Whatever you are, don’t let your wooden God fool you into calling me names. I don’t tolerate bulls*** from S.O.B.’s on any level. F.Y.I. I know who enacted the law. I didn’t agree with it then. Unlike you, if a lawmaker in the party of my choice screws up, I don’t make excuses for them.

Chet- You are suggesting that people shouldn’t be proud of who they are or what they do. Perhaps they should remain in the shadows. Perhaps you are one of those people that do things that you are ashamed of in private, thinking no one will see you…there is one that does and he is the one that matters to me most of all. You have no right suggesting what a person should do with his or her life. That’s the whole problem in this country now. We stick our nose in where it shouldn’t be. He has a right to speak up, just as you are voicing your disapproval of what he did… it wasn’t your business or your place to judge his actions, do you know his heart? Get real.

Jamey- I don’t take too kindly to nemrod’s that accuse me of spewing hate towards special needs children. I’ll bet a dollar to a dime that you don’t give a fig about special needs children. I have a nephew that is a special needs child and I love him dearly, he doesn’t ride the short bus and my sister isn’t offended by my use of the “slang” comment, so don’t accuse me of spewing hate. You are behaving as though you are wearing the shoes that I just bought you and they fit your feet quite well, by all means wear them. I am not apologizing for any comment (s) that I make. I ment exactly what I said. I wasn’t aware of sensorship out here, perhaps everyone else should be informed.

If you or anyone else find my comments offensive, then I suggest that you watch what you post out here yourselves. There are many times that I read comments out here that I find distasteful and the majority of the time insulting. If I stepped on any ones toes, just say OUCH and keep typing…I do it all the time.

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:55 AM)

Governor Crist is popular here in Florida (where I live) precisely because he's not a right wing idealogue. On the other hand, Marco Rubio is an example of exactly what the GOP needs to shun like the plague if it ever hopes to regain the people's trust. Same goes for "Dick" Cheney, the Shrub, Rush Limbaugh, James Dobson, and all those other right wing nut cases.

Steve the Computer Guy, Tampa, FL (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:56 AM)

Interesting set of articles. Not one mention about Obama's balloning deficit numbers. Not one mention of Dick Cheney's daughter absolutely taking apart the liberals gas-bags on Morning Joe today. Barnicle just rolled up into a ball and started rocking when Cheney's daughter had everyone of the liberal commentators on that program grapsing at air trying to defend their liberal positions. No mention of Obama's ridiculous growth projects for the next few years. No mention that another 500,000 Americans are out of work.
Richard Joes (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:40 AM)

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Any new ideas for the republican party yet Richard joes???????????? All you do is spew and you like the rest of the gopigs have no new ideas at all!!!

Sean Denver (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:57 AM)

On Health Care Reform:
Insurance companies are in opposition to any Health Care Reform, because they are afraid of losing profits from consumers paying high insurance premiums, Wall Street doesn’t want to see Health Care Reform because they won’t have as many investors buying stock into insurance companies. We are spending 6% over the amount of money that this nation takes in for the Social Security and Retirement programs. We took in 32% in income, we spent 38%. This is the largest culprit in our national budget and it must be fixed.

Some have said that, “This is socialized government”; “Obama is a socialist”. All of this is boloney. The truth be told, seniors are receiving Social Security Checks and Medicare every month. I wonder if they have stopped to think where the money comes from. Medicare is a federally funded program.

There are those that haven’t worked or didn’t pay anything into the system receiving a form of medical benefits and monthly income. I wonder if they ever stopped to wonder where the money comes from to support those benefits. The Conservatives that are in opposition to Health Care Reform should be taken to the wood shed for lying and frightening those that are without understanding of the importance of this issue.

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:58 AM)

Crist is nothing but a political wonk/opportunist who was first Attorney General of Florida, Governor and now wants to be Senator. He conviently marries a very wlthy and politically connected women after years of singlehood. The Miami Herald recently had articles documenting that our jetset gov does not work near 40 hrs weekly and if you add up all the Fridays and wknds he does not work it would be a total of 3 months straight and that includes this year alone. While Floridians are losing their jobs, their homes and services are cut. Why the man's approval rating remains high will be seen when he too busy campaigning. He's nothing but slick a opportunist Governor.

Juan, ft lauderdale, fl (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:58 AM)

Charlie is the best they have.... They should be trying to push in to become the face of the party.... Once again it shows they are still the same party with the same power structure......

Who could give Obama problems in 2012 and could win.. Charlie or Palin... GOP so dumb!!!!!! Crist has a rare balance...!!!!

Rogue Nation,Wv (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:01 AM)

I find it Odd that the no one in the MSM has brought us a timeline of corresponding incidents regarding Cheney's assertion of keeping America safe, in line with the Torture memo's released to date. What most of us remember are an assorted array of colorcoded Fear mongering warnings released by the Whitehouse, that Now seem to have been politically motivated to keep the Electorate up in arms over " The Boogeyman"!

Yet they (MSM) continue to let this story playout with All eyes on Nancy Pelosi ! WTF is up with that ! As anyone with half a brain know's, Nancy did'nt make Policy in 2001, that was Bush & Cheney.

Condi Rice has already Admitted"They were all Scared in the Whitehouse", where's the followup on that MSM ?Where's the followup on Cheney Never forgiving Nixon for giving up so easily regarding Presidential Power's ? Cheney has always thought the Presidential Office was Immune to the Law of the Land, which we all live in. Where's the followup on the mysterious Fire at Cheney's residence a few month's before American's voted to kick the Scared SOB"S out of Our House ?

They'res way to much Entertainment Reporting going on with the MSM & No investigative reporting regarding " Why was Bush & Cheney hellbent of keeping American's Scared" just because they were scared themselves !

As Claire in Missouri will say, " Where's the Popcorn, this Movie has a lotta scenes yet to playout".

We can only Hope, that the MSM won't let us down like the runup to Bush V. Hussien Part 2.

I'll be checking back later for Comedy relief as the GOP poster's get thier collective Wedgies all twisted up over Wanda Sykes again today .

Comedy is good for the Soul !

Rick,Ky (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:02 AM)

I see Obama's popularity is up again. That means more people like to be lied to by the Obama-man.

Blowing Smoke (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:02 AM)

This is politics. The best thing for the republicans at this point is just allow the democrat majority to grow. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. The democrats are still in the mode of blaming Bush, but that won't last for much longer and they will have to be accountable for the issues of the country.
DG, Houston, TX (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:51 AM)
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lol....really!!! You might want to read up friend, the Econ is on the upswing...we have bottomed out. Only way is up. So let us be in power as the economy grow

Ego Trippin,Wv (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:03 AM)

Well, it will be Run Down Crist Day on this board today. Have at it libs. We really enjoy seeing how hateful and bitter you can be.

Charlies Army (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:03 AM)

Today I get to go vote and I'll be voting against all of Arnold's Nightmare Propositions. He's done nothing but bankrupt our state with his clueless leadership.

After so many years of claiming executive privilege to not testify to Congress I seriously doubt that War Criminal Cheney says he now wants to testify before Congress. Yet another ploy by a desperate criminal to avoid proper justice. We need war crimes trials for all those responsible for bringing about this illegal immoral torture program.

I am sure that President Obama will pick a fine candidate to replace Souter. I'm also sure no matter what the repugnant ones will whine baby whine as they continue to be the dopes of nope.

Prosecute War Criminals Bush and Cheney!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:08 AM)

Any one else see Liz Cheney dismantle the liberals hosts today on morning joe? 4-1. 4 liberals against one Liz. Liz won hands down.

Stephen Marly, NJ (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:08 AM)

Sub Sailor (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:09 AM)

About health care..I saw that Scott guy on CNN this morning. Exactly who is he advocating for other than the status quo? Here is my thought on how to win the optics on health care...if you already have a plan nothing will change. So really, the only people this debate is about is the uninsured. They don't have insurance now, so why argue against treatment standards or denial of service when those people are not recieving none at all right now? The presently insured are effectively not part of this debate...it's about the uninsured and I'm sure most of them would like some form of health care. I think an "all of the above" approach can be taken..offer a choice of tax rebates or gov backed low cost plan. All it is, is making health care available and affordable for nearly all income levels...not forcing people to sign on to specific plans. Those who oppose it are simply doing it to reduce competition for insurers or out of ideology(while offering no alternative). I think the current system needs competition and a gov backed insurance option would help set standards that all would have to meet. I'm currently under a PPO with my company so it doesn't effect me, but I'm sure those who work part-time at mom and pop stores or in the service industry would appreciate it.

On another note, I don't like the concept of health care being an 'industry'. It should be a service that isn't focused on profits but providing service and care. When you see credit card companies and non-traditional insurers getting involved you know it's only going from bad to worse. Unfortunately, they are not bound by the hippocratic oath like doctors are.

Cjake (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:09 AM)

Obama’s second-straight day on health care:

These are some of the things that could be done. Some may call this big government, but I see it as effective cost saving of taxpayer dollars.

1. Medicaid could be taken out of the hands of the States. It should be supported on the Federal level. State governments are not trust worthy, too many politics involved.

2. Medicaid is deducted from everyone’s pay that is employed in this State. Tax payers are paying for this program anyway. It should be deducted via federal income tax, the same as Medicare.

3. States should be audited to ensure that the funds they are deducting are actually going into the Medicaid system. If Governors don’t want the funds to leave their states, they should be held accountable.

4. Physician reimbursement needs to be audited and hospital reimbursements should be audited as well. This should be done on a national scale for both Medicare and Medicaid. (be surprised what we might find)

5. Physician reimbursements per procedure and treatments should be adjusted according to the cost of time and labor that is given to each patient, by physician and staff. This will ensure that states are reimbursing Physicians at a fair cost for their time and services. This will ensure that the physicians will be willing to treat patients with the insurance. A lot of them don’t receive reimbursements in a timely manner and the cost of services provided is cut by the state to almost zero when they receive reimbursements (other reason physicians won’t see Medicaid patients).

6. Diagnostic services could be addressed per patient’s age. (I’ve seen 80-90 year old patients receive diagnostic treatments that were unnecessary, just because Medicare covers it)

7. Surgical services per medical facility in all “managed care environments” needs auditing. Unnecessary surgeries are being performed on patients that are 80-90 years old, just because Medicare covers it.

8. Accreditation inspections could come from the federal level, this would create more jobs in the health Care Sector (hospitals usually pay for this) this should be federally mandated, it will keep everyone honest. Joint Commission usually grades the hospitals which determine if they will continue to receive “federal funds”. (I won’t get into details)

SSI is also apart of the Social Programs (same as Medicaid) and according to the 2007 budget, only made up of about 13% of total spending. I really do find this hard to believe, that is why I feel that States need to be audited.

So get this, we pay for Medicaid and social programs and we pay up the yang for medical insurance to the blood sucking insurance companies and yet we wonder why families can’t afford the cost of medical care. Tax payers have gotten squeezed so much that we can’t get squeezed anymore.

Something’s got to give. Health Care Reform must pass this year. I don’t trust providers promising to work with consumers, why all of a sudden they want to? Because they don’t want any concrete laws passed. If they pretend to cut cost they will only raise them after the President leave’s office. Pass Health Care Reform President Obama.

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:09 AM)

Why won't Obama release the entire torture memos, not just the redacted versions, and we can judge for ourselves the worth of Cheney's words? He can do that, but he's chosen to politicize this argument...the same thing Bush was guilty of.
Deja Vu...All Over Again (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:43 AM)

Leaving aside the fact that you're demanding Obama to declassify information that may disrupt ongoing terror investigations, let's consider your point. Cheney is essentially saying that because torture produced information, it is therefore worth doing. Cheney is not saying that it produces information that otherwise wouldn't have been obtained, or that the methods used are inherently better than the methods used for decades that complied with international law. If we accept that, why engage in torture? We seemed to be getting all the information necessary prior to the Bush Administration.

So let's be honest: we had a group of very scared, very angry individuals running the government, who decided to break the law under the misgotten notion that anything done to obtain information, if successful, is OK, even if legal alternatives would produce the same information.

Not into torture, PA (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:10 AM)

lol....really!!! You might want to read up friend, the Econ is on the upswing...we have bottomed out. Only way is up. So let us be in power as the economy grow
Ego Trippin,Wv

Really? Where is this happening? Obama himself says unemployment will hit 10%. Only upswing in employment is in, you guessed it, government jobs.

Franklin Straton, Florida (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:11 AM)

Not into torture, PA (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:12 AM)

I would like to take this time to say to everyone that has had to read my viel that has flowed out of my pie-hole, That I am truly sorry!

Rush is indeed correct and I have seen the light.

I have been a fool, moron, handicap-hater and leftist wacko.

And for that and the rants that will follow - I AM SORRY

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:14 AM)

I see Obama's popularity is up again. That means more people like to be lied to by the Obama-man.
Blowing Smoke (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:02 AM)

Blowing Smoke,

How does it feel to be a member of a party that accounts for only 20% of the population? You're barely better than the Greens and Libertarians!

Sucka! (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:15 AM)

I'm a liberal....I think Crist is a good guy..very political. I think he is more bound by the politics of the present than any real ideology but that is fine by me, it means he listens to his voters. What impressed me is on voting day he extended the voting hours, even though he knew it would be an advantage towards Obama. So, I think he'd be an improvement over Martinez who seemed to follow the party line than think for himself. But he's currently too moderate for national GOP politics(which is REALLY bad sign for Repubs), fine for his state although.

Cjake (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:15 AM)

To Rick, KY:

Geat post today . . . good to see you posting again . . . we need all the common sense we can get around here! lol

You are so right . . .the "media" in this country is completely ineffective.

They now think "tough journalism" means making the serious face and pretending like they don't like our President so they can pretend to be "impartial".

This just in . . . you can like someone and still do your damn job . . . I like my kids . . . but I still have to question and discipline them . . . same with my husband, friends, and coworkers.

It's okay to laugh . . . but then get to the point . . . is that so hard?

(And I mean the REAL point, not a bunch of gotcha BS based on dueling "economic predictions" that are all wrong.)

P.S. Thanks for the nice comment yesterday - made me smile!

Nashville_fan (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:16 AM)

I have been conflicted over the whole torture issue--whether to prosecute or to move on from it--but would be willing to offer a deal to Cheney to never prosecute him for anything he did as Vice President if he would just shut up and go away. I understand that the media is about sales and ratings and so they give him an audience to keep the controversy going but I am so tired of hearing his thoughts--and now his daughter--presented as if they meant something.

Steeler Fan Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:16 AM)

"Any one else see Liz Cheney dismantle the liberals hosts today on morning joe? 4-1. 4 liberals against one Liz. Liz won hands down. "
- Stephen Marly, NJ
=================================================
I didn't see any liberals Stephen . . . who was the liberal? Every person on the panel was on her side, so what's your point . . . or were too spineless to disagree to her face . . . don't want "daddy" getting mad at you, now do we?

What I saw was a bunch of soft ball "questions" being given to "daddy's little apologizer".

And it was pathetic. As usual.

But hey, if you felt vindicated, yay you.

Nashville_fan (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:19 AM)

Before we get to the torture memos. I want to see the energy memos or recordings or what ever documentation that may be left that shoot you in the face cheney would not let be made public!!!!!!!!!!

Terry, Disabled Vet, Des Moines, IA (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:21 AM)

Nashville_fan: "What has he succeeded at? Name ONE THING that Dick Cheney has EVER DONE that has made our country better? Anyone?"
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Easy. We didn't have a foreign terrorist attack in the US while he was in office (not counting 9/11), which means Dick Cheney kept America safe for 8 years from terrorists (except for that one bad day in September 2001).

Plus, there were no swine flu outbreaks while Cheney was in office, which means he also kept us safe from swine flue. The outbreak started only after Barack Obama became president. I also noticed that I had fewer bad colds during the Cheney Administration than I did during the Clinton Administration.

There was no end to the wonders Dick Cheney wrought while in office.

Houston (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:23 AM)

Anita I'm glad you explained that, when searching for a doctor I was wondering why they often refused Medicaid. I'm not under it, but that is the first thing the nurse asks..who is your carrier. If you have Medicaid or none, you are shown the door. No wonder so many people simply go to the ER..even for minor ailments.

Cjake (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:23 AM)

DJ (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:27 AM)

>>>The media is complicit in providing he [Cheney] (an his family) free airtime to spread lies, fear, and deceit in a shameless effort to PROTECT THEMSELVES from prosecution at the expense of OUR COUNTRY.

Dick Cheney isn’t fit to clean Gen. Colin Powell’s boots, just as he was unfit to serve as our nation’s Vice President. The fact that the “media” continues to validate this idiot is just another example of what a twisted “democracy” this truly has become.

Nashville_fan (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:40 AM)
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On the contrary, Nash. I say keep Cheney and the rest of the GOP insane-asylum (Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity, Bachmann, Palin, Steel, Sessions, etc.) front and center in the media spotlight. The more America sees of these fools, the more they'll see what the GOP has become, which makes it that much less likely they'll come into power again. Look at the poll numbers. The more these people talk, the better Obama's numbers look, and the worse the GOP's look. (I doubt even no-bo-no-jo can deny that.) At this point, Obama would have to be caught beating his wife and kids before anyone will ever vote the Republicans back into office.

http://jawillie.blog.com

jawillie, Philadelphia, PA. (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:28 AM)

>>> It 'doesn't matter' how many lives were saved? Really? Well, I respectfully disagree. I would accept the 'torture' of a few to avoid another 9/11.
DJ (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:27 AM)
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Even if you were one of the ones tortured because the government mistakenly thought you were plotting against it?

http://jawillie.blog.com

jawillie, Philadelphia, PA. (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:29 AM)

Let's take the torture issue once step further Repukes. If you are for torture then you would not mind if the local police stop you and during that stop they decide to beat the tar out of you just because they think you have some information? Sound plausible? Sure, can it happen go ask anyone who lived in NAZI Germany!!!!

Terry, Disabled Vet, Des Moines, IA (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:30 AM)

Charlie Crist is making a mistake by running for senate. He could have been a two term governor. Now the Florida democrats have a great opportunity to win the governor's mansion.

HH (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:31 AM)

It 'doesn't matter' how many lives were saved? Really? Well, I respectfully disagree. I would accept the 'torture' of a few to avoid another 9/11. Guess you'd rather go have thousands of innocent people die.

DJ (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:27 AM)

Then you must agree with the kind of things the NAZI's did? Same principals of extracting information just different period of time!

Terry, Disabled Vet, Des Moines, IA (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:32 AM)

Cheney is not right no matter what the memos say. So what if these enhanced interrogation techniques worked, they are illegal. So I guess that if someone needs money, they can just rob a bank because it works in getting money, even though it's illegal. Is that what he's saying? No one is above the law and 9-11 doesn't give anyone the right to commit crimes.

And Cheney does not have the right to criticize Obama on what "might happen". He can criticize his actions to date, but he should be called a traitor and unpatriotic if he does so. Remember when anyone criticized Bush and Cheney for lying about the Iraq war (something that actually happened,not something that might happen) and they were called traitors and unpatriotic? Well if criticizing the president and his administration for lying, causing the deaths of thousands of military personnel and disregarding our constitution and laws is unpatriotic and traitorous, then certainly criticizing the president for following laws and respecting the constitution because we may be attacked is definitely unpatriotic and traitorous. After all, 9-11 happened on Bush and Cheney's watch so they weren't successful in preventing an attack were they?

Treena, NJ (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:34 AM)

Well, it will be Run Down Crist Day on this board today. Have at it libs. We really enjoy seeing how hateful and bitter you can be.
Charlies Army (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:03 AM)
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Not so sure. Crist is probably the best thing going for the GOP right now. The problem is, the GOP is reluctant to embrace him because of his bipartisan tendencies. Democrats have been DYING for some cooperation and with someone like Crist, cooperation is possible. Crist is a realist, that doesn't fly with the conservative base.

Brian, Girard, OH (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:35 AM)

No Blowing Smoke more and more people are tired of you and the republicans lying to us. Wake up and think for your self for once. Stop letting Rush Limbaugh speak for you.

Mo (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:37 AM)

Really? Where is this happening? Obama himself says unemployment will hit 10%. Only upswing in employment is in, you guessed it, government jobs.
Franklin Straton, Florida (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:11 AM)
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
You can never remember that unemployment is a trailing indicator of the economy.
Months before you see unemployment increase the economy is in decline. So where was the last administration when the recession started in December of 2007. They could have / should have done something to slow the decline which would have saved jobs. But no, blame the current administration because they did something (you may not like) instead of nothing.

Again from the party of no new ideas, no leader, no clue.

Dennis, Columbus, Ohio (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:39 AM)

>>>What will work for Republicans will be when everyone realizes what a failure Obama's economic and foreign policy programs are. It won't take long either. Sooner, rather then later, people will realize what an idiot Obama is with all of his (over)spending programs. The voters will run to the Republicans in droves when they realize the Democrats and Obama have sold them down the river.
Stimulus? What Stimulus? (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:43 AM)
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I love comments like these. "Ooh, I can't wait until Obama fails so that the people will like us again and I won't have to hide the fact that I'm a republican from all of my liberal friends. Just you wait and see, we'll all be poor and the terrorists will attack us and our cities will be bombed and everyone will love us again. We can't wait. Happy day, happy day."

It reminds me of the scene in "A Christmas Story" where Ralphie dreams he'll be striken blind so his parents will be sorry for punishing him. It seems that Republicans are Ralphie waiting to be struck blind so America will feel sorry for rejecting them.

http://jawillie.blog.com

jawillie, Philadelphia, PA. (Sent Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:40 AM)

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