First thoughts: Nov. here we come

Posted: Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:20 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg
*** November here we come: Like it or not, the campaign season is already upon us -- again. President Obama this afternoon heads to New Jersey, where he hits a fundraiser (at 3:35 pm ET) and then an outdoor rally (4:25 pm) for vulnerable Gov. Jon Corzine (D), who's up for re-election in November. It’s Obama’s first rally for a candidate since becoming president. Also today, Vice President Biden will be in Virginia, where he attends a fundraiser in Richmond for Democratic gubernatorial nominee Creigh Deeds and also promotes health-care reform and the stimulus. Those gubernatorial contests in New Jersey and Virginia are the two marquee races this off-year. And their outcomes will definitely tell us something about Obama and the state of the Republican Party. If Republicans win both, that could signal another chink in the Obama armor and a possible GOP resurgence. On the other hand, if Dems win both, it could mean that the Republican brand remains in the dumps.

*** Corzine’s Garden State challenge: Of the two races right now, New Jersey appears to be the tougher challenge for Democrats -- and it really doesn't have anything to do with Obama. Corzine has consistently trailed Republican Chris Christie (12 points per the latest Quinnipiac poll), which is never a good sign for an incumbent running for re-election. In short, the race is a referendum on Corzine, and his best opportunity to win in this deep-blue state (which Obama carried 57%-42% last year) is to turn it into a referendum on Christie. As political analyst Stuart Rothenberg reminds First Read, it’s precisely what McCain tried to do to Obama last year. And, as we know, that didn’t work. Yet the question we're hearing bit about regarding Obama's stumping with Corzine is: Why now? Well, the president has to give an incumbent Dem governor some respect, so he's going NOW, in July. The real question is whether he comes back in September or October. Our guess: He'll only return if Corzine shows signs of political life.

*** The Great American Health-Care Fight: Here’s a look at all the moving parts on health care: Obama meets at the White House with conservative Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson (at 11:30 am) and moderate GOP Sen. Olympia Snowe (11:45 am ) to discuss the issue… Families USA and PhRMA say they have hired the actors who played Harry and Louise in that iconic ‘90s TV ad against health-care reform to appear in a multimillion ad campaign SUPPORTING reform this time… In his remarks from the Rose Garden yesterday, Obama said that the White House would be focusing on health care until Congress’ August recess. "We're going to be continually talking about this for the next two or three weeks, until we've got a bill [out of] the Senate.”… And with the Senate HELP bill passing the committee yesterday by a party-line vote, Republicans are complaining that the Democratic push for health-care reform isn’t bipartisan.

Video: As the Obama administration pushes for a finished health care bill by August, Democrats in the House and Senate on Wednesday put forward their plans, which included tax increases and requirements that employers help pay for insurance. NBC's Capitol Hill Correspondent Kelly O'Donnell reports.

*** Where’s Baucus? By the way, the guy who has been too quiet this week in this renewed White House push on health care: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus.

Baucus is hesitant to move publicly until he gets at least passive approval from his GOP committee partner, Chuck Grassley. Clearly, the White House is trying to move Baucus along, as they agreed to Grassley's suggestion to meet with some moderate/pragmatic conservative Republicans at the White House yesterday (and today). Still, there is a level of frustration growing among many Democrats that Baucus hasn't made many public statements this week on timing, nor has made much public progress on a plan. Everyone is trying to defer to him, but he seems to be taking so much time that the White House might start wondering about alternative ways to move health care along -- a signal that the Senate HELP committee bill might have more life in it than some observers believe.

*** Stimulus pushback: A fairly significant political development we haven’t mentioned yet was the Obama administration’s pushback earlier this week to Arizona GOP Sen. Jon Kyl, who suggested to “cancel” the stimulus funding. So what did the administration do? They had cabinet secretaries write Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) asking if she wanted to hand back her state’s stimulus money. As Politico’s Martin writes, “Brewer knew she’d been thrown a high, hard one.” The administration continues its stimulus hardball with Vice President Biden promoting the stimulus in the Richmond, VA area -- which just happens to be Eric Cantor’s congressional district.

*** Just askin’: In the stories reporting on some minor tensions between the White House and Clinton’s State Department, how much of this is Clinton wanting turf? Or her staff pushing for Clinton to want turf? Or something the press is blowing out of proportion? The White House has certainly exerted some role over State, including ambassadors and a recent decision to nix the hiring of Sidney Blumenthal (which shouldn’t surprise anyone who followed the primary campaign). Then again, as Henry Kissinger has told Clinton -- confirmed by the New York Times -- there appears to be less friction between the Obama White House and the Clinton State Department than any previous White House and State Department…

Video: NBC's Andrea Mitchell and President of the Council of Foreign Relations Richard Haass discuss Sec. of State Hillary Clinton's speech on foreign affairs.

*** Sotomayor, Day 4: Today on Capitol Hill, senators will continue their second round of questions, and then we’ll hear from outside witnesses. Those who will testify in favor of Sotomayor include New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York D.A. Robert Morgenthau, former Major League Baseball pitcher David Cone, and New York Democratic Reps. Nydia Velazquez and Jose Serrano. Those will testify against her include New Haven firefighter Frank Ricci, Charmaine Yoest of Americans United for Life, and former National Rifle Association President Sandy Froman.

Video: As firefighters in a controversial race-bias case determined by Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor speak out, Capitol Hill hearings on her confirmation continue. NBC's Pete Williams reports.

*** Naming names: Remember that commission to investigate the causes of the financial crisis? Well yesterday, Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi announced their six picks to sit on the 10-member Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission. The six: former California state Treasurer Phil Angelides (who will serve as chairman), Brooksley Born, (chair of the Commodities Futures Trading Commission during the Clinton years), John W. Thompson (chairman of Symantec), former Florida Sen. Bob Graham, Heather Murren (a retired Merrill Lynch director, and Byron Georgiou (a Las Vegas businessman and attorney). Republican leaders appointed Keith Hennessey (former National Economic Council director), Douglas Holtz-Eakin (former CBO director and McCain economic adviser), and Peter Wallison (of the conservative American Enterprise Institute).

*** Obama and the NAACP: Finally, in addition to his health-care meetings and his campaigning in New Jersey, President Obama will speak at the NAACP’s convention in New York City tonight. White House aides tell First Read that the speech will be similar to the one he gave to the group last year. It will have a LOT on education policy, some personal responsibility talk, and a plea to young blacks not to denigrate education. Also expect a reference or two to athletes and musicians.

Countdown to Palin Stepping Down: 10 days
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 110 days
Countdown to Election Day 2010: 474 days

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Comments

I see that some have read my comment thanking the conservative crowd posting comments here for helping make msnbc.com the most popular news website for the past 12 months running. I wonder how many of the conservative Homers read that and slapped themselves upside the head and went "Doh"?

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Wednesday, July 15, 2009 3:20 PM)

===========

Speaking for myself, I come here because the diversity of opinions can be interesting and invigorating, albeit mostly misguided. If that contributes to the popularity of msnbc.com that’s fine with me, I really don’t care one way or the other. Besides, reading the drivel from extreme leftist morons like you tickles my funny bone and is always good for a yuk. But thanks for thinking about us comrade, and have a nice day.

Bill, Fairfax, VA (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:26 AM)

Looks like the ‘catch phrase of the day’ yesterday was… What’s the RUSH? (pun intended)

I’ll tell you what the RUSH is… there isn’t one! Just because this President is actually accomplishing something other than a BS war based on lies and the destruction of this great country!

I know… I know… after 8 years of a Vice President who had his hand up Bush’s butt pulling all the strings… along comes someone who can actually think…chew gum… walk & text message at the same time!

Since the GEENOPEE wants to sit on the sidelines and continue to do NOTHING… why don’t you guys go looking for those WMD’s that ought to keep you occupied and out of the way for awhile!

Change is coming and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it! As your fearless clown in chief’s infamous quote ‘You’re either with us or your against us’… the dark side was so self-righteous and threw it in our faces every time someone disagreed with the right wing lunatics on anything…

See how that can work both ways now do ya? How does it feel now that the shoe is on the other foot there righties??

******************************

Okay I don’t know why this didn’t get posted yesterday (you guys chummy with Willie or something?)

That does it!!! Now I REALLY pi$$ed!!!! What’s up with giving Willie Geist his own show on MSNBC??? Sure go ahead and give Morning Joke’s ‘towel boy’ his own show but don’t consider giving someone with intellect & insight like say… Lawrence O’Donnell his own show!!!

With the way things are going around here at MSNBC the only thing that could come next is ‘The Dingbat Hour with your hosts Mika Mouse & her trusty sidekick Lizzard Cheney’

Hey I know… they could so a segment on how to water board in heels! Or better yet incorporate some yoga moves into stress positions! Why not how to make the perfect insect soufflé everytime and the right WHINE to accompany it! How about the proper table setting for the perfect ‘tea party’! Hell I’m positive they could even get Fertile Myrtle & Bristol to come on the show as a ‘special guest’ they could discuss the virtues of abstinence only!

If I wanted to watch right wing whack jobs gone wild… I’d tune into Fox & Freaks!

Mark/Domenico… Do you know if Lawrence O’ is even interested in having his own show? Or is he content to as a MSNBC contributor?

Which reminds me that every time I hear either Ed or David Schuster etc… introduce someone as a ‘Republican Strategist’ I can’t help but laughing… those are two words that SHOULD never be in the same sentence unless of course… NO is included! LOL

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:27 AM)

45 Years Ago – Debut
“Splendid, splendid. It's grand to be an Englishman in 1910! King Edward's on the throne, it's the age of men! I'm the lord of my castle, the sovereign, the liege! I treat my subjects, servants, children, wife with a firm but gentle hand, noblesse oblige... ah, lordly is the life..."
________

This is a quote from the movie Mary Poppins, a movie not so much about Mary Poppins, but about the childrens’ father and his lack of empathy of his son and daughter’s feelings. This quote could be something said by any of the GOP politicians in the year 2009. Progress is not their thing. Our U.S. Senators are so out of step with the direction this country is in the midst of going that it's downright embarrassing. Who are they speaking for? Who are they representing? Their constituents? Are they or are they not leaders? There comes a point when one must walk away from ignorance and racism completely. This is what all men and women in positions of power and real leadership are supposed to do once they take an oath of office. Whatever ignorance these Senators feel the Limbaughs, Becks and Hannitys of the world may hold should be the last thing on the Senators' minds. Our Congress should not be embracing these men. Our Congress should be discouraging them. It’s why they reside in the Capitol Building.

I have yet to see this in the Republican Party. In the year 2009. The entire country is watching and listening to this BS. And all we can do is sit here and shake our heads. Dignity. Where has it gone? To think that their behavior is merely a reflection of the right wing’s attitudes is totally false and an excuse. A bad excuse. These so-called United States Senators are solely responsible for their own actions this week. This isn't about Limbaugh or Glenn Beck. This is about Senators Sessions and Graham, etal and their zero lack of character. We need to make it perfectly clear - these Senators do not represent we, the people. And haven't for a very very long time. This is not the kind of government we want representing us.

Evidently the word “empathy” is not in their vocabulary. They have completely forgotten why they were elected. Especially since Barack Obama won the election - by a large majority of the people.

The world has changed.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:27 AM)

EWS (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:28 AM)

Sotomayor - Another day of talking around the questions and issues.

Nikki Seven (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:31 AM)

A more liberal set of health care reform bills could not have come out of either the House or Senate. Shared responsiblity? There is none. It's all about "taxing the rich". The top 20% of wage earners in the country pay nearly 90% of the income taxes today. The health care bill is just another trip to the (nearly dry) well for the Democrats. The Democrats don't even have a clue about how many jobs they destroy because they make it so difficult for businesses to make it in the United States.

Anne Coptan, Meeker, OK (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:32 AM)

Obama IS the NAACP and isn't it about time we took the "colored people" off the end of that and changed it to AA for "African Americans?"

The NAAAA or nnaaaaaa.

Big Nardi (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:34 AM)

The campaign season NEVER ends for Obama. All he knows how to do is give a good speech.

Keep the Change (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:35 AM)

Interesting that NOT ONE member of congress will commit to enrolling n the so-called 'public option' they are so eager to foist on the rest of us.

no joe, no bo, nj (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:36 AM)

FR: GOP Sen. Jon Kyl, who suggested to “cancel” the stimulus funding. So what did the administration do? They had cabinet secretaries write Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) asking if she wanted to hand back her state’s stimulus money.

My, my, it's more of the "Chicago way" I see for Obama. He can print as much money as he wants and make others dependent on his money, then he pulls little stunts like this one. The money is going to be "given" back at some point anyway, right? Someone has got to pay for it.

Maybe Obama can just tax the "rich".

Obama is like a crack dealer. He gets you hooked, then he starts making demands. Sanford was right to Just Say No.

Stanis Meyers, NM (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:37 AM)

*** Naming names:
Start Right Here:

OTS Director at the time of this BS started was, John Reich (appointed by Bush ) announced the final decision to go ahead and implement the proposed revisions in four main areas of its existing Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) regulations to reestablish uniformity between its rules and those of the other federal banking agencies. Reaffirming the basis for the revised rules as first proposed, Reich stated, "OTS is making these revisions to promote consistency and facilitate objective evaluations of CRA performance across the banking and thrift industries. Consistent standards will allow the public to make more effective comparisons of bank and thrift CRA performance." He noted that the changes reinforce CRA objectives consistent with thrifts' performance in meeting the financial services needs of their communities.
This OTS rule revision aligned with that of the other agencies by:

1.eliminating the option of alternative weights for lending, investment, and service under the large, retail savings association test.

2.defining institutions with assets between $250 million and $1 billion as "intermediate small savings associations" subject to a new community development test.

3.Indexing the asset threshold for "small" and "intermediate small" savings associations annually based on changes to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

4.clarifying the adverse impact on a savings association's CRA rating where the OTS finds evidence of discrimination or other illegal credit practices.
These four changes generally mirror the ones made by the other three federal agencies in late 2005.

The agency noted that latitude would be provided for a short period of time to institutions in the context of examinations conducted after the effective date, July 1, 2007, in order to implement program changes under the new rule smoothly.

The CRA had received federal funds in the amout of 10 billion dollars for housing and businesses...prey for Wall Street.

Predatory lending:

In a 2002 study exploring the relationship between the CRA and lending looked at as predatory, Kathleen C. Engel and Patricia A. McCoy noted that banks could receive CRA credit by lending or brokering loans in lower-income areas that would be considered a risk for ordinary lending practices. CRA regulated banks may also inadvertently facilitate these lending practices by financing lenders. (don’t for get folks, federal funds were allocated to CRA, “10 billion” dollars.

They also noted that CRA regulations, as then administered and carried out by Fannie Mae and Freddie MAC, did not penalize banks that engaged in these lending practices. They recommended that the federal agencies use the CRA to sanction behavior that either directly or indirectly increased predatory lending practices by lowering the CRA rating of any bank that facilitated in these lending practices. You decide...

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:38 AM)

FR: "Remember that commission to investigate the causes of the financial crisis?"

This is a good thing and I look forward to a serious analysis of the problems and recommendations for change. And serious means getting past the idiot mantra so popular on this board that it was all Bush's fault.

The problems that led to the economic meltdown are complex and had been building over a period of many years. There's plenty of blame to pass around to lots of the players, and fixating on Bush is just stupid and vindictive. Best of luck to the commission.

Bill, Fairfax, VA (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:38 AM)

It's great to see President Obama in campaign mode again, this time helping fellow Democrats get reelected. Somehow I know the repugnant ones will whine he's not working when they go out and goof off doing their own campaigning, or visiting their mistresses.

"Eric - you have got to have a mental deficiency to keep supporting this crossbred socialistic Nazi
and you must be a homosexual cause you swallow every
Hobama spits out and smile afterward....I've just got to know...do you have a job?"
Patrick, KY

Hey Patrick - As always you're wrong about everything in your petty personal rant. Sorry no mental deficiencies like you have, and no I'm not gay but I'm happier than you are. Yes I do have a job, rather I own my own business and have been semi retired for over 7 years; I'm a capatalist entrepreneur and what are you but a little socialist drone so better get back to work before your boss fires you. Socialists and Nazis are on different ends of the political spectrum but a dimwit like you wouldn't know that. My question to you is do you have a brain because from your clueless rants you certainly have yet to demonstrate it!

Only an Idiot who is the King of the Kingdom of Idiots like John Kyl would suggest we stop spending thhe stimulus money. It's obvious just how scared the dopes of nope are that the stimulus will work over the two year span it's intended to work in. Ofcourse they're trying to tout their premature victory chant that the stimulus isn't working yet, but then most of the stimulus money hasn't been spent yet. I see the Veterans Administration has finally gotten out the checks to us disabled vets like me and Terry from Iowa so we can help pump up the Obama Recovery from the Bush Depression.

In Obama We Trust!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:39 AM)

More Soros money, this time to push the biggist confiscation of wealth of the American people ever, the so called Health Care Reform bill. Soros is dismantling the country $1 trillion dollars at a time.

We're All Eqaul (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:39 AM)

Hey Pelosi ~~~

Seriously, are you TRYING to bust up the CIA for your own lying sake? You aren't a patriot. You're a figment of your own self-absorbtion. Your a$$ belongs in a jail cell on Gilligan's Island. You are THAT funny and THAT stupid.

Now the CIA says "it's pay back time." Better come clean.

Another Bad Chihuahua (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:39 AM)

Re Sen. Kyl, Why can't he take a firm stand? The people of Arizona deserve to know exactly what stimulus funds are for in their state, and deserve an answer from Senators Kyl and McCain. If the stimulus money should be rejected on principled grounds, they should stand firm and reject it. If their rejection is only posturing, they should be called on it. More accountability in politics is a good thing (regardless of party affiliation).

let it be (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:40 AM)

On the healthcare bill: Seems the critics have their panties all in a wad spewing "what is the rush?" "How can congress get such a large reform bill right in 3 weeks?" I don't believe the President is looking for a bill on his desk in three weeks. He wants each version of the committee's bills done before the August break. People, and I'm talking to you Joe Scarborough and Mica and Maria Bartoromo, et al. Calm down! No one expects this to be a done deal and signed into law in 3 weeks. Not even President Obama. Geez.

Lisa in FL (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:40 AM)

I'm Stressed, Too!! (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:40 AM)

Republican support, for the Democratic HCR plan?

Let's see, what's there to support. Price controls? Rationing? Forced insurance purchase? "Free" health care, that somehow costs $1.5 trillion? No tort reform? Covers illegals? Tax small business owners out of business?

Nope, not much there that can be supported.

Justine Case, Texas (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:42 AM)

Obie +++

Breaking the back of the American taxpayer.
A self-indulgent schemer with no direction out of the tax hikes that will swallow all of us, and doesn't give a damn either.

Taxing soda pop and bottled water won't get it.

Bad Chihuahua (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:43 AM)

" If Republicans win both, that could signal another chink in the Obama armor and a possible GOP resurgence. On the other hand, if Dems win both, it could mean that the Republican brand remains in the dumps."

It means nothing of the sort. You people try to make up a bunch of crap to CREATE NEWS instead of actually report it.

No matter who wins it doesn't mean a THING about Obama, or even the brand of either party. The only thing that matters is the two people involved in each of the races.

BL, Cincinnati OH (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:43 AM)

Day by day, this place is getting more conservative. I like that. I like that a lot!

J Oker (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:44 AM)

How sad that at this time politicians care more about campaign money, polls and partisanship 1 1/2 yrs before 11/10. Does anybody really questions why we are in the mess we found ourselves time after time.

Juan,Ft Lauderdale, Fl (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:45 AM)

Passing bills such as health care and cap and trade must be done in bi-partisan manner. This "We won" mantra by the Democrats is getting a little old. The Democrats did not win the right to have the government take total control over the health care sector and the energy sector.
----------------------------------------------------
EWS is right. Three points-

-Obama campaigned as this reasonable centrist, and I doubt he would have won in such a convincing fashion if he had revealed what he really planned to do in his first year. He probably still would have won, but he hardly campaigned on spend, spend, spend.
-So many on this board have such contempt for the Republicans, but they forget that those Republicans in Congress still represent the views of many Americans. 57 million Americans DID vote for the other guy last November.
-They're now running ads in states where moderate Dems are resisting a trillion dollar health care reform, to pressure them into supporting it. Is that what the Obama team considers leadership?

Elizabeth, Short Pump VA (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:46 AM)

1. Why do Governorships have a direct reflection on the White House and not on the individual running for office? As a swing voter I'm not voting as approval/condemnation of the Obama administration. I'm voting on the person who might do best for my state. Personality, experience and values count more than the letter following their name.

2. Health Care- Waiting on Chuck Grassley.. *sighs* Those who have to work with the man will tell you the man is ancient and mean. He despises those providing health care and personally thinks he can do it better although he knows nothing about how. To have him in charge of the Republican-led efforts means that nothing but regulation and big business will come of it. Iowans need to do the country a favor and retire the man.

3. Naming Names- The former CALIFORNIA state treasurer??? Isn't that a litte like the fox and the henhouse? Wouldn't someone from a state where there is budgetary restraint have been better- or don't those exist?

Jill B, Washington, DC (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:47 AM)

Top 5 reasons I know that those opposing health care reform don’t have any LOGICAL way to explain why our CURRENT SYSTEM needs to be “protected:

1. After DECADES of rising costs and the number of uninsured swelling annually, they inexplicably ask “What’s the rush?” (Easy to be patient when you are getting rich peddling lies to the uninformed.)

2. After belittling President Obama’s focus on reforming healthcare, saying that he needed to “focus on the economy” first, their new talking point is now “This is 1/6th of the national economy, we need to get this right”. (So you are admitting that the President was right, healthcare reform IS economic reform.)

3. After telling us for years that those who are uninsured had nobody but themselves to blame, the new pivot point is “Of course we should do something to help the uninsured, but why reform the entire system?” (Because it sucks.)

4. After cheerleading for the Iraq War, making plans to stay involved in a costly armed conflict there indefinitely, campaigning to bomb Iran and North Korea, and threatening to take on Russia over their conflict with Georgia – all unpaid for military expenditures in the billions of dollars – the media now asks with a straight face “How are we going to pay for healthcare?” (The same way we pay for everything else we think is important . . . my mom said it best "Instead of figuring out how you CAN'T do it, figure out how you can.")

5. The Republican Party now says that all government is bad, and therefore shouldn’t be allowed to break up the for-profit-health-rationing-cartels that are denying care to the American people to increase their profits.

After using the Justice Department to settle political scores, using the CIA to spy on American citizens without permission, using the Office of the Vice President as a clearing house for off book terror and assassination plots, wasting millions of dollars on unsafe trailer homes for Hurricane Katrina victims and letting U.S. military hospitals fall into shameful disrepair, it is easy to understand the Republican parties jaded view of
government.

(They aren’t very good at it - maybe they should get "real jobs" and stop leeching off those of us who CAN make government better.)

America fell for all these scare tactics before, and what do we have to show for it? Absolutely nothing.

The game is up folks, the American people are DEMANDING real healthcare reform . . . and we are going to finally get it.

And no amount of whining about it from politicians and pundits (who are insured) is going to change that.

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:47 AM)

[[I’ll tell you what the RUSH is… there isn’t one! ]]

Oh, there's a rush all right. The rush is to get yet another huge taxing and spending bill through Congress with as little debate as possible, and a vote on a final version that will only have been read by Democratic leadership and their lobbyists.

The other rush is to get it done before the congresscritters have to go home to face their constituants, who ultimately will pay the price in so many ways for the socialization of health care.

Congress Should Be Renamed To Be Rush Street (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:48 AM)

Stephen Colbert did not disappoint last night as he ripped on Keith Olbermann for ripping on him as being a member of the conservative media. If Keith is smart he'll get a clue and just let it go as he will never win a dissing contest with him. I hope that Keith rethinks what he said about Colbert and realized he was wrong and apologizes, Colbert and Keith both have the same agenda of attacking the repugnant ones - just from different angles.

If Baucus waits for that deadbeat Grassley to move then nothing will get done. Max has to dump his deadbeat conservative sore loser and move the health care bill along without that dope of nope. I see that the repugnant ones are lying about not getting any input on the health care reform bill, the Democrats were foolish enough to give the dopes of nope 160 amendments to the bill and yet the repugnant ones lie that they had no input. This is the kind of false thanks the Democrats get for trying to be bipartisan with a bunch of whining sore losers.

We all have to hope that President Obama and the Democrats prevail on the health care reform bill with the public option. They need to point out the fallacies of the repugnant ones like rationing, government getting in between them and their doctors or that pumping a trillion dollars and adding upwards of 30 million new customers will lose jobs. We have rationing with our private health care plan as 47 million people can't get any health care unless it's a dire emergency, We have to wait in lines for getting transplants in our private health care system. We have little minions in little cublicles at the private insurance companies who get in between patients and their dcotors by refusing to pay claims so they can earn a commission of payments denied. Pumping so much money and adding so many new customers for our health care system means more jobs for doctors and nurses and more hospitals and doctor's offices so that means more jobs not less.

Pass Health Care Reform with the Public Option!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:49 AM)

FR: "By the way, the guy who has been too quiet this week in this renewed White House push on health care: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus."

Maybe because Baucus is one of the few adults in this game. Maybe because he more than others is concerned about how to pay for HCR. Maybe because he is among those closest to crunching the cost/revenue numbers that never seem to quite add up. Maybe because he is particularly attuned to the impact that raising this tax or that tax will have, both from a political and an economic perspective. Maybe because he understands the difference between giving a speech that promises a popular reform and doing the gruntwork to figure out how to craft a bill that is budget nuetral. Tough job, let the man take his time.

Bill, Fairfax, VA (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:50 AM)

FR: "Those will testify against her include New Haven firefighter Frank Ricci, ..."
-----------------------------------------

Another story that doesn't quite fit the corporate media "narrative" goes unmentioned. Would you guys get struck by lightening or something if you were to mention that Ricci is the beneficiary of a minority set-aside? He got to be a fireman through the Americans with Disabilities Act. Is it fair that he replaced some "abled" person who needed that same job? (Cue Jesse Helmes' "white hand" commercial showing a job rejection letter being crumpled up).

Houston (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:50 AM)

Maybe Arizona really doesn't need any stimulus money since they made around a million dollars from taxpayer money paying for 700 GOV'T EMPLOYEES of the SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION to go on a stress-reducing retreat at a fancy-schmancy resort there.
I'm Stressed, Too!!

--------

No one needs the stimulus money. It's Fools Gold, money created out of thin air, and it will need to be paid back, with interest. That's all it's doing is shoring up the states for another year because they can't get their budgets in order. The states will waste the stimulus money, and we'll be right back in the same hole this time next year, with the exception of having to pay off a $787 billion "stimulus" bill.

Ted, Macon GA (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:53 AM)

Rachel Maddow, love your show, but this is for you--

Your Racist Uncle Pat needs to be OFF the public stage, at least he shouldn't be called an "analyst"! Reportedly, folks shouldn't watch scarry stuff before turning in for the evening. With that Racist reappearing on your show is very scarry, NIGHTMARISH!

As you mentioned last evening, he will be PUSHING the IDEAS (hah), of the Lunatics on the far right wing, on your show!

Rachel---if you can, JUST SAY NO! At least with David Duke, the world knows what he is, Buchanan's time is long since past!

Ed, San Antonio (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:54 AM)

-So many on this board have such contempt for the Republicans, but they forget that those Republicans in Congress still represent the views of many Americans. 57 million Americans DID vote for the other guy last November.
Elizabeth, Short Pump VA (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:46 AM)
________________________________________

Kind of scary isn’t it? Keep in mind though that these 57 million American’s would have voted for a turnip if it had an (R) next to its name!

What would have been even SCARIER is if the other guy won!

One can have nightmares 24/7 about where we would be today if the other guy & Bible Spice were now running the show!

Common sense finally WON over fear & smear!

Thanks to all clear thinking rational American's who voted for President Obama!

Dumb & Dumber for $200 Please Alex! (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:55 AM)

"A fairly significant political development we haven’t mentioned yet was the Obama administration’s pushback earlier this week to Arizona GOP Sen. Jon Kyl, who suggested to “cancel” the stimulus funding. So what did the administration do? They had cabinet secretaries write Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) asking if she wanted to hand back her state’s stimulus money."
==================================================
It's about time SOMEBODY asks these politicians to put up or shut up, since the media allows them to talk out of both sides of their mouths without ever being challenged.

Kind or reminds me of that other story you folks didn't mention, the one with all the reporters emailing Governor Sanfords staff offering to not report the news and criticizing folks who did?

That tells us more about the media in this country than almost anything else - makes you wonder how many of the people parading as "objective reporters" are bought and paid for - pretty sad.

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:56 AM)

*** Stimulus pushback: The administration continues its stimulus hardball with Vice President Biden promoting the stimulus in the Richmond, VA area -- which just happens to be Eric Cantor’s congressional district.
##################################################

These people will stop at nothing to thwart the progress of the economy. They should all be kicked out of office for playing Russian roulette with people’s livelihood. It’s more than a shame, it’s down right ludicrous.

*** Obama and the NAACP: It will have a LOT on education policy, some personal responsibility talk, and a plea to young blacks not to denigrate education. Also expect a reference or two to athletes and musicians.
###################################################

When I was a child, the importance of Education was drilled into our heads starting in elementary school. Our educators worked tirelessly to offer whatever assistance they could to children with troubled families and even worked one-on-one with students. We student’s formed our own honor groups, the honor groups purpose was for studying and assisting those that need extra assistance. I am currently in the process of assisting with organizing these groups again…with the help of “old friends” from our original group.

We are teaching that education is the key to opportunity and encouraging young men and woment to excell and push a little harder towards those goals.

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:57 AM)

Nice to see Jon "Dead Meat" Corzine is having the prez in town for a fundraiser. Maybe Jonny Boy can tap into that Soros money Barry carries around with him. So what success stories is Obama going to tell about Corzine? Highest taxes in the country? High unemployment? Reduced states services? More corruption (and in NJ, that's saying something)? That teleprompter of obama's is going to have to come up with some real whoopers today to make Jon look good.

Lindy Danialson, Hightstown NJ (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:58 AM)

I was listening to BBC news last night, and Hilary was giving a speech where she was telling everyone what rights Iran did and didn't have. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but last time I checked Iran wasn't a colony or state or territory under the control of our Government. So while I agree with Mrs. Clinton that it would be better that Iran didn't pursue a Nuclear weapons program I can't imagine being the Secretary of State of a country that has hundreds of them and yelling that they do not possess the right to even do the research. Now during the Bush years we were sold the idea that islamic fundamentalists hated us because we were free which was an oversimplification, and dead wrong. The real mobilizing factors for terrorism is our imperial adventurism in muslim countries (Going back to the Fifties), and statements like Mrs. Clinton's last night. Which were similar in tone and small mindedness to statements that guys like Dick Cheney were making right before we went into Iraq. Hmmmm? I'll say it again, as foreign policy goes, we elected more of the same.

The economy. If everyone really wants to understand the economics of this admin. and the last one even. You should read up on John Maynard Keynes. This is the guy most of our Congressmen and Senators are taught in college. His views on economy are more or less all they know. Keynesian economics is the idea that we are always going to have to booms and busts. The trick to sustaining the booms is to save during the good times and spend during the bad until the spending creates another boom in which we can start saving again. The problem with this system is that our government has a hard time saving. Bush squandered a lot of money at the beginning because of the dot com bust, and no one thought to save any when were in the middle of the housing bubble. Well really they thought their savings were in property values which as we all know now can fluctuate. Keynesians are impractical, but this is the central planning we are getting from the fed, and the dept of treasury. So read up so you know how to weather the storm. I imagine things will look like they are coming around in the spring, and by fall some might even say we emerged, but mark my words no one will do the right things during that time. The states will have infrastructures they can't possibly maintain, people will start building, and consuming without thought or reason, and the dominos will begin to fall again. Except at this point we will be 2-3 trillion more in debt. And yes it's Bush's fault, but by then it will also Obama's fault.

Also why don't we have guys on this economic investigation committee that actually saw the bubble pop coming. Like Peter Schiff and Thomas Woods Jr. Just wondering. I mean it only makes sense that the guys who knew enough to tell everyone that a crash was coming back in 2007 should be included. If I can recommend a good book "Meltdown" by Thomas Woods Jr. it's fantastic, and most of his criticism is stuff that was happening during the Bush years, so I'm not trying to push some crazy conservative agenda on anyone...

Jonathan, Flint, MI (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:58 AM)

no joe, no bo
Interesting that NOT ONE member of congress will commit to enrolling n the so-called 'public option' they are so eager to foist on the rest of us.
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
So the public option won't put private insurance out of business. Just like UPS and Fed Ex.

Dennis, Columbus, Ohio (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:58 AM)

Elizabeth, Short Pump, VA-you hit the nail on the head when you stated that Obama had campaigned as a centrist, not the crazed leftist he really is. That explains the Diageo Hotline poll, released yesterday, that showed-

-his approval ratings have dropped nine points in one month, (from65% approval to 56% approval)

-the number of people who would vote to re elect him is now 42%, with 39% voting for 'someone else'; this is down from an already unhealthy 46% to re elect, 30% someone else in June.

Interestingly, Democracy Corps, the Carville polling organization, stopped asking this question in their polls. Not because Obama's numbers supporting his re election had dropped so steeply, (they ha), but because, in order to get a good pool, they first asked for whom people had voted in November, and polled only when they got the right numbers, (53% Obama, 47% McCain). They had to drop the question fromtheir polls because, if the number who responded that they had voted for McCain had TRULY voted that way, McCain would have won the election.

Most of the people who voted for Obama thought that they were getting the second coming of Bill Clinton. They now realize that they were wrong. Most of the people who voted for 'change' actually voted for improvement. They didn't get that.

And, most of the Democrats in congress will be looking for work in January of 2011.

no joe, no bo,nj (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:59 AM)

Bad Chihuahua instead of coming up w/ your bad mouthing the President ad nauseum where are your solutions? Yeah thats right lets cut taxes for the wlthiest and deregulation. Were you under a rock or should I say a dog shelter for nasty, ulgy hairless creatures that yaps incessantly similar to you! Furthermore, Clinton proved that by taxing the wlthiest, resulted in robust economic times and a surplus, and finally Clinton created more jobs in 8 years than three of your rethuglican presidents. Your shrub of a president created a whopping 2 million jobs in 8 years. AGAIN OBAMA IS CLEANING UP THE MESS THE GOP AND APOLOGISTS/ENABLERS LIKE YOURSELF ARE IN DENIAL ABOUT WHEN THE ELEPHANTS RUN RAMPANT. Unlike you I do not goose step to everything my democrat president has done or not done.

Juan, Ft Lauderdale, Fl (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 10:00 AM)

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 10:00 AM)

Another story that doesn't quite fit the corporate media "narrative" goes unmentioned. Would you guys get struck by lightening or something if you were to mention that Ricci is the beneficiary of a minority set-aside? He got to be a fireman through the Americans with Disabilities Act. Is it fair that he replaced some "abled" person who needed that same job? (Cue Jesse Helmes' "white hand" commercial showing a job rejection letter being crumpled up).

Houston

Oh we know Houston. The liberal groups that front for Soros will go on the personal attacks of anyone that stands in the way of the liberals agenda. See Joe the Plumber for details. Regardless of if Ricci has a point or not, you can depend on these shadow organizations for the Democrats to "Dig up the dirt" on someone. Classless.

HT, Boston (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 10:01 AM)

Judge Sotomayor's nomination is a chance for us to understand more racial issues such as this one, http://www.governmentalityblog.com/my_weblog/2009/07/my-fight-with-white-supremacists-.html still occurring in our community.

NICo, NYC (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 10:01 AM)

Rachel Maddow has done a great job exposing that creepy evangelical christian lunatic fringe false church called C Street or The Family. I liked how she exposed that Zack Wimp clown for the liar he is as he said that the group wasn't secretive but he couldn't talk about what they say and do. All that fake church does is provide cover for a bunch of tax evading repugnant ones and it's time for the government to investigate it and cancel it's tax exempt status. It's just another skull and bones society hiding behind a religious cover.

As to the Just Askin' question I believe the minor tensions are more a figment of the media's fascination for making controversies where none exist to sell papers or clicks. When doesn't the media blow things out of proportion just to get a rise in ratings? Just look at how they flocked to Alaska when Clueless Girl decided to abandon her post and falp her idiotic gums.

I so am laughing at how the Obama Administration got tough with that cowardly Major who didn't want to go to Afghanistan because he thought that Obama was not the legitimate Commander in Cheif because fo that fallacious birth certificate lie. Not only did the cowardly officer retire from the military in shame but the Obama team fired him from his private job of doing work for a defense contractor. Now that's poetic justice of the highest order as that deadebeat former officer got his proper comeuppance as did his dirtbag lawyer who belongs in jail. If that jerk had been an enlisted man he would have been facing a court martial for his cowardly decision to want to not serve in Afghanistan and would be serving time in Leavenworth where officers should get the same treatment as enlisted men for cowardly acts like the Major Moron made.

Oh Yeah an investigation into what caused the financial crisis is going to expose once and for all that it was Clueless George and his pitiful band of criminal hugging cronies who caused this economic mess we're in. About time to shut up the bunch of sore losers who keep whining falsely that Obama and the Democrats caused it.

Investigate and Prosecute the Criminals of The Family!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 10:01 AM)

Mr. President - where are those jobs?

LL Green, Harrisburg, PA (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 10:02 AM)

Elizabeth, Short Pump VA: "Obama campaigned as this reasonable centrist, and I doubt he would have won in such a convincing fashion if he had revealed what he really planned to do in his first year."
----------------------------------------------------

Where have you been for the last 6 months? Hiking the Appalachian Trail? President Obama has been doing EXACTLY as he promised on domestic issues, as much as is possible given Repub obstructionism. Where he has fallen short in the view of some progressives is not living up to his promises to reverse some of Bush's infringments on the civil liberties of Americans. But you just don't hear about that except on liberal blogs like Huffington Post, because it's another set of facts that don't fit the corporate media's simple-minded and false narrative that Obama = bad tax & spend liberal who's weak on defense and coddles minorities, and Repubs = good fiscally conservatives who are strong on defense who keep minorities from getting too "uppity".

Far from being treated as a"messiah", the progressive media has been much tougher on Obama than the corporate media ever was on Bush.

Houston (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 10:06 AM)

FR: "By the way, the guy who has been too quiet this week in this renewed White House push on health care: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus."

Baucus is one Democrat that took his job seriously, and was at least trying to keep the Halth Care bill as modest as possbile to attract a few Republicans. But that all went out the door when the Democratic leaders met with Obama. Obama told them to forgot about the Republicans and pass the most liberal bill they could. Baucus is now one of the Democrats that wil vote against the bill.

The Democrats will need 60 votes to pass HCR in the Senate. It's doubtful they'll get 50.

TC U (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 10:06 AM)

EWS, bi-partisan also means the GOP needs to cooperate. Right now they only seem interested in 3 things...saying "no", insisting that everything be done their way and otherwise just sitting in the corner and sulking.
Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 10:00 AM)

Not true. The Republicans have introduced over 300 amendments in the Senate version of the Democratic bills. They'd do the same on the House side, but the rules are different there, and Pelosi won't allow it.

Take the time to educate yourself to what really is going on.

EWS (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 10:09 AM)

The GOP ruled the earth for 20 out of the last 28 years and the only Dem dude to break it up was a sex maniac. The truth sounds kind of rough but he was impeached by the House and publicly apologized for his unbecoming behavior. Remember the lie "I did not have sexual relations with that woman." MONICA. her name is MONICA ... like he forgot "that woman."

So anyway, I fully understand why you libs, some extremists mixed in here and there, want to raise your Obie guy to heights almost never before reached.

The problem is that you've elected a radical and he is draining this country of every tax dollar while he spends "vacations" overseas apologizing for America. Yeah, vacations. He'd rather be with his half brothers in Africa ("I feel the blood of Africa within me") or some Muslim nation that might make him feel at home. His heart is not in America or he wouldn't tax and spend generations into bankruptcy.

Obie puts himself above all else. His agenda will prevail or you'll hear from him, one way or another.
Radical. All this while India and China still pollude while laughing at him. Iran and North Korea laugh at him. And Biden unknowingly puts him down.

A soldier in the field publicly questioned whether Obie was actually born in the USA or it's territories. A few days later he got cut loose for no reason. Obie always wins, punk that he is.

And to celebrate a Dem victory, finally, we honor and glorify the chosen one as if he never dirties his pants or even goes to the bathroom.

He will take all of us down at the same time while you lib idiots yell Obama, Obama, Obama. Pitiful, isn't it?

Bad Chihuahua (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 10:09 AM)

The public option will put private insurance out of business and cost many jobs. In the proposal, companies will be required to pay an 8% fee is they don't offer health insurance to employees. That 8%, in most cases, will be less that what they pay for private insurance, so it will only make financial sense to drop the coverage and force them into the public option. The other side of it is if they can outsource that work, they save even more. This bill will promote more outsourcing and reduction in employer provided benefits. This will not affect the rich, it will affect the working class as more and more jobs are eliminated. It boils down to numbers. This option will set a playing field that no private company can compete in. You public option fans can believe what you want, but this will eventually be a disaster for healthcare and the economy.

Va Ind (Sent Thursday, July 16, 2009 10:10 AM)

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