Virginia and New Jersey are turning into gimmes for the Republicans. And the Democrats just sounded so very good, well, until they got elected. Then the bills came due . . . . .

I guess Deeds figured out that a 20 year old term paper wasn't an effective attack against an opponent who leads him by double digits.

considering the polling on unions, I don't know that being endorsed by the teacher's union is going to give hm a big boost.

Actually, he has about as much of a chance as corzine to pull this out.  Being associated with Obama is like sky-diving with a brick parachute.

It looks liek we're gonna lose the governorships in NJ and Va
That's too bad, buth soon we'll have a Democratic Governor in California....... Jerry Brown !!

Answer: Deeds, Teamsters, SEIU and AFL-CIO;

Question: Name four dinosaurs that are soon to be extinct.

A RADICAL, REACTIONARY Move
A RADICAL Right Wing Move

Corporate participation in elections means Corporate Control of Elections

As if they don't control the electoral system, already

Welcome to American 'Democracy'


From the NYT:

'...A Threat to Fair Elections
September 7, 2009

The Supreme Court may be about to radically change politics by striking down the longstanding rule that says corporations cannot spend directly on federal elections. If the floodgates open, money from big business could overwhelm the electoral process, as well as the making of laws on issues like tax policy and bank regulation.

The court, which is scheduled to hear arguments on this issue on Wednesday, is rushing to decide a monumental question at breakneck speed and seems willing to throw established precedents and judicial modesty out the window.

Corporations and unions have been prohibited from spending their money on federal campaigns since 1947, and corporate contributions have been barred since 1907. States have barred corporate expenditures since the late 1800s. These laws are very much needed today. In the 2008 election cycle, Fortune 100 companies alone had combined revenues of $13.1 trillion and profits of $605 billion. That dwarfs the $1.5 billion that Federal Election Commission-registered political parties spent during the same election period, or the $1.2 billion spent by federal political action committees.

The Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld the limitations on corporate campaign expenditures. In 1990, in Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce, and again in 2003, in McConnell v. Federal Election Commission, it made clear that Congress was acting within its authority and that the restrictions are consistent with the First Amendment.

In late June, the court directed the parties to address whether Austin and McConnell should be overruled. It gave the parties in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission a month to write legal briefs on a question of extraordinary complexity and importance, and it scheduled arguments during the court’s vacation.

All of this is disturbing on many levels. Normally, the court tries not to decide cases on constitutional grounds if they can be resolved more simply. Here the court is reaching out to decide a constitutional issue that could change the direction of American democracy.

The court usually shows great respect for its own precedents, a point Chief Justice John Roberts made at his confirmation hearings. Now the court appears ready, without any particular need, to overturn important precedents and decades of federal and state law.

The scheduling is enormously troubling. There is no rush to address the constitutionality of the corporate expenditures limit. But the court is racing to do that in a poorly chosen case with no factual record on the critical question, making careful deliberation impossible.

Most disturbing, though, is the substance of what the court seems poised to do. If corporations are allowed to spend from their own treasuries on elections — rather than through political action committees, which take contributions from company employees — it would usher in an unprecedented age of special-interest politics.

Corporations would have an enormous say in who wins federal elections. They would be able to use this influence to obtain subsidies, stimulus money and tax loopholes and to undo protections for investors, workers and consumers. It would take an extraordinarily brave member of Congress to stand up to agents of big business who then could say, quite credibly, that they would spend whatever it takes in the next election to defeat him or her.

The conservative majority on the court likes to present itself as deferential to the elected branches of government and as minimalists about the role of judges. Chief Justice Roberts promised the Senate that if confirmed he would remember that it’s his “job to call balls and strikes and not to pitch or bat.”

If the court races to overturn federal and state laws, and its well-established precedents, to free up corporations to drown elections in money, it will be swinging for the fences. The American public will be the losers....'

I have family in VA and they tell me tide has turned quickly there. People in VA have seen enough of the Obama gang and the lack of direction leadership.

Look for a return to Republican Conservative leadership in VA.

I don't see the Dems getting elected. Period.

America is awake now and fully aware of the liberal insanity.

Nothing from nothing leaves nothing.

The only hope Democrats have at this point is to make a major and I mean major swing toward the center. They are so far out in left field that they have lost touch with the majority of Americans.

We knew this would happen, but they seemed to feel annointed to try and take the country in that direction.

Answer is: NO

Anyone who thinks that if the republicans win in VA and/or NJ, that means its all over for Obama and the Dems., simply do not understand politics in those states.  VA is a swing state, and its had two Dem. governors in a row, so its very understandable VA's would seek something new.  NJ, while a blue state for presidential elections, notoriously elects republican governors...like NY did with Pataki, 3 times.

Here is another story you missed:

Dr. Tara O'Toole, nominated to the position of undersecretary of science and technology, failed to disclose her ties to a lobbying group called "Alliance for Biosecurity".

It gets better, though.  Despite the group's having spent over $500,000 lobbying congress and Homeland security since 2005, Robert Coyle, an ethics official at Homeland Security, says that Dr O'Toole does not have to disclose her ties to the lobbying group, because the group is not incorporated.  In his mind, that means that the group does not exist.

Does that mean that the money they spent was counterfeit?

Regarding the First Thoughts on Van Jones, I was very disappointed to see the way that some of his words were twisted around by Beck.  The 9/11 Truther thing was a liability, to be sure (especially in light of the "Birther" drama), but the communist label was completely taken out of context.  He described himself as a FORMER communist, and then only when describing his transition from an avowed communist to an avowed eco-capitalist.

I have to ask Beck's supporters: does this mean that all of the former New Leftists who now command the Neo-con ranks should have been given the boot when they tried to take leadership positions?

You would think that a party trying to expand its ranks would believe in rewarding defectors from the extreme Left, not punish them.  I suspect that ol' Arlen in Pennsylvania never would've switched sides if the Dems had told him that he'd have to resign from the Senate as soon as he made the switch.

The two full months of Obama euphoria was fun while it lasted. Remember the feeling of how superior he and Biden were to those of the past? America was fresh and new and with a bright future. We were going to get honesty for a change.

It's been kind of like going to a theatre and realizing when you walk out after the movie is over it was all just make believe. An account of fiction.

We, the American people have come to that realization. A wasted period of time in our history at this point it appears going to the Obama/Biden Big Screen Release of 08.

In a word, Rated 3-D for Dud, Disappointing and Dangerous

In the end Deeds will end up like the "green" Czar Van Jones, outta here.

I live in VA and will work for the Deeds campaign. I don't know how any sane person could vote for McDonnell or that turkey Comstock. They are ultra right wing ideologues who don't belong representing us Virginia. I don't know who the posters above have been talking to, but I don't hear anyone complaining about Obama -- except those that already didn't support him!

It's pretty sad when Chuck Todd goes on the air and essentially lays out the excuses for the "stupid" who oppose Obama's speech today.
This country is truly "sick"!

MO Attorney: Regarding the First Thoughts on Van Jones, I was very disappointed to see the way that some of his words were twisted around by Beck.

Beck twisted nothing. Jones was the one doing the twisting, in the wind. From his videos, to signing a 9/11 Truthers petition, to him calling Republicans a******, it was all Jones. Beck is a patriot for bringing these things to the fore-front, doing things the main stream media would not do, and that was to start vetting these "czars" Obama has on his staff.

Why is McDonnell bragging that he went to Jerry Falwell's University on the G.I. Bill?  The G.I. Bill is a government social program that both he and his party oppose.  McDonnell has even called recipients of VA benefits "communists," so where does he get off?  A man with any honor who believes these things would not accept these benefits.  McDonnell is by definition a coward.

Marcus D., Chicago: '... continue to hear people say "Republicans" oppose the Obama plan.

How can this be a "real" issue? Democrats control all branches and can ram anything they want down the throats of the taxpayers, like it or not...'

Actually, Everyone knows the Republicans will Filibuster HCR
That makes it Imperative that Democrats get 60 votes in the Senate
60 votes is tough when you've got 60 Senators, only

Among he 60 are Bayh, Nelson, Laicoln, and Lieberman

Evan Bayh's wife got $ 3 MILLION from the Health insurance industry in the Past 2 YEARS !!
How likely is Evan Bayh to cooperate in real reform ??
He's already bought and paid for

That's why Obanma needs to use RECONCILIATION


But, you already knew that,
Don't play dumb, Marcus
It's really not that much of a stretch for you

DOES OBAMA DO MATH?

Rasmussen Poll:  
Forty-five percent (45%) of Americans believe that labor unions weaken America while only 26% hold the opposite view. (YET OBAMA SUCKS UP TO THE UNIONS!).

THE CHANGE IN OBAMA'S APPROVAL & DISAPPROVAL RATINGS SINCE TAKING OFFICE ARE INCREDIBLE --- TOTAL VOTER APPROVAL IS DOWN 15% WHILE TOTAL DIASPRROVAL IS UP 15-25%.  

OBAMA CANNOT EFFECTIVELY GOVERN WITH THESE NUMBERS!

Bob in Arlington, that sounds a little farfetched that McDonnell has called VA benefit recipients communists.  Where did you pick that one up-Daily Kos?  

McDonnell keeps calling himself a "war hero"... sorry, Bob, but hanging out in Germany in the last 70s does not make you a "war hero"... and to think this guy has the nerve to advocate shutting down America's VA hospitals.  He hates our troops, so maybe he shouldn't call himself a hero.

Why can republicans speak so bad of our ppresident and the current administration and get away with it. Yet when Van Jones just voiced his opinion on the bush administration he was trounced on. I guess Glen Beck/ Hannity / Rush/ Palin should NEVER be allowed to be in a goverment administration because of there communist attitudes on our current administration. What goes around will come around!!!!Of course none of them could probably run for dog catcher and get elected, even without there nasty attitudes against our government.

Maybe McDonnell hasn't specifically referred to VA recipients as "communists," but he and his party are both fervently opposed to any kind of government-sponsored health care, like VA hospitals.  He considers them welfare and socialism... He essentially wants to shut down the VA hospitals, and probably feels the same way about Medicare.  I imagine Medicare is safe, but this country hates veterans, and basically considers them suckers, so if Bob had his way, he'd probably be able to succeed in his goal of ending the VA.

Don't play dumb, Marcus
It's really not that much of a stretch for you

MSierra, SF

Typical. Liberals only know to ridicule the opposition. A sad effort to appear superior. I applaud your show of how even Obama can't get his party behind him.

What's behind the curtain?  Nothing. Just another liberal smokescreen pointing at conservatives.

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