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LIGHTNING ROUND: ONCE A LIEBERDEM, ALWAYS A LIEBERDEM.
- As expected, Joe Lieberman will be staying in the Democratic caucus and retaining his Homeland Security chair, his only punishment being the loss of the chairmanship of a less consequential subcommittee. According to Howard Dean, this was largely the result of the intervention of Barack Obama -- the DNC chair said Obama "called the shots, and that's fine." I'd say that both Marc Ambinder and Mike Tomasky have the right take on this: The Democratic/Obama agenda is too big to waste time on the relatively minor issue of Lieberman and to understand the nature of the Lieberman dilemma is to understand Senate itself -- a very exclusive club that doesn't take expulsion lightly.
- The Washington Post has a great piece on Bush administration appointees "burrowing" into non-political positions within the federal bureaucracy, making them very difficult to remove.
- Michael Isikoff reports in Newsweek that Obama has decided to name Washington lawyer and former Clinton deputy AG Eric Holder for Attorney General. Tim and Adam have more on the pros and cons of a Holder appointment. Meanwhile, Jake Tapper calls Hillary Clinton for SoS almost a done deal, citing Democratic sources who say the formal announcement could come as early as next week. Glenn Thrush is more cautious, saying Clinton is "conflicted" over the decision.
- Mark Murray reports that Chuck Schumer will step down from his post as head of the DSCC and be replaced by heir-apparent Bob Menendez. On the other side of the aisle, Carrie Dann reports, "Big Bad" John Cornyn will ascend to top of the NRSC.
- As Georgia gears up for a runoff rumble between Saxby Chambliss and Jim Martin, the state continues to host high-profile surrogates, including Bill Clinton, Al Gore and Mitt Romney. Early voting has begun in the state, even drawing some lines at polling stations.
- Barack Obama made a surprise video appearance at the Governors Global Climate Summit, promising action and urging cooperation.
- Beau Biden, long groomed to replace his father in the Delaware Senate, has declined to fill the vacancy, even as he prepares for a tour in Iraq. Chris Cillizza has a roundup of the possible replacements on the Dem bench and potential Republican challengers.
- And finally, Sarah Palin is the first confirmed speaker at the 2009 CPAC convention in Washington D.C.. Based on what I saw at CPAC this year, she's likely to achieve demigod status amongst the participants next February.
--Mori Dinauer
COMMENTS (4)
"...she's likely to achieve demigod status..."
This is new? Looks, a sharp tongue and no brains. Your very typical Republican hero, of either gender.
Posted by: Dan | November 18, 2008 5:55 PM
WE HAVE MORE TO DO:
Democrat Jim Martin is in a runoff against Bush Republican Saxby Chambliss for the Senate seat from Georgia. Bush's Saxby Chambliss voted against spending a few measly dollars to provide health care coverage for Georgia, and Americas needy children. But he supported wasting hundreds of billions of your dollars, and the life BLOOD of Americas finest on an unnecessary war in Iraq.
At a time when 47 million of you have no health insurance coverage, and over 100 million of you with insurance are just one major illness away from complete financial destruction. Bush and Saxby Chambliss voted to make the heart break of bankruptcy relief even harder for all of you to use.
You see, Bush and Saxby Chambliss, and his family don't have to worry about their health care coverage. They have the finest health care coverage your tax money can buy for them. Courtesy of you. The American Tax payer. In fact, no one but the super rich can afford the health care coverage you the tax payer provide for Saxby Chambliss, and his family for FREE! with your tax dollars.
He supposedly works for you. But he doesn't think you and your family should have access to the type of taxpayer supported FREE health care that you provide for him, and his loved ones for FREE!. Doesn't that just make you BURRING MAD!
Vote for JIM MARTIN for US senator from Georgia. Vote for JIM Martin who will be on your side. Vote for JIM MARTIN who will work with President Obama and a majority congress for you. Vote for JIM MARTIN most of all for your-self, your family's, friends, and loved ones. Vote for JIM MARTIN for a better America, and a better World.
Don't let Saxby Chambliss make a chump out of you by tricking you into voting against your own best interest. Saxby chambliss is NOT! on your side. He's not one of you. He is on George Bush's side. And we all know what a catastrophe the Bush Chambliss administration has been the past 8 years.
Contact all your family and friends and do every thing you can to see to it that JIM MARTIN and GEORGIANS! take that senate seat back for Georgia, and America. No matter where you live in America. This is important to you. President Obama will need all the help, and power you can give him to try and fix this catastrophic mess that the Corrupt Bush Chambliss administration has created.
As I said before you will have to vote in overwhelming numbers to overcome the Bush Chambliss "Let Them Eat Cake" vote fraud machine. Vote early if you can. Then help everyone you can get to the polls and vote for JIM MARTIN. You and your loved ones don't have to be Saxby Chambliss's victims anymore.
I know you will get it done. Just like you did for President Obama.
God bless all of you
jacksmith - WORKING CLASS... :-)
Posted by: jacksmith | November 18, 2008 8:07 PM
(Some may wonder why Barack Obama can so easily forgive or does not like to be critical.)
Alice Bailey in "Esoteric Psychology II" says there are three characteristics of a server who has made soul contact.
1. Harmlessness in thought, acts and speech.
2. A willingness to let others serve in their own way. This is a big idea! Let others serve as they can without interfering. Why? Because their souls will direct their service, not us. We are to do our service and let others express their service. We help others by standing beside them as they serve, giving them encouragement and opportunities.
3. Joyfulness which is a quality of the soul.
There is a group of people in the world leading us into this age of service. Alice Bailey calls them the New Group of World Servers. This group of subjective servers has no outer form or organization. There is not even a list of members. They do not know each other by name. Through their service to humanity we recognize them. These individuals are a cross section of all races, religions, nations and organizations concerned with the welfare of humanity. The New Group of World Servers are busy leaders in every field, who mobilize people, resources and ideas forming the new world.
Their mission is inspiring people to believe in the essential oneness of humanity, the One Humanity. Their goal is to attract people of goodwill to work together without fanaticism, hatred, or separatism, to build a new world order. They do not force others to see the new view of the world. Instead, they present clear, concise, understandable ideas that people can identify with and actualize. These ideas, turned into ideals, stimulate all who come into contact with them. People want to join them to work for a better world.
http://members.tripod.com/~TOLN/index-3.html
Posted by: Angellight | November 19, 2008 7:52 AM
jacksmith, I don't disagree with much of what you wrote, and were I a Georgia resident, you can believe Martin would have my vote.
But you really do need to run your postings through a spell- and grammar-check. Your message would be so much more effective if it was well-written.
Posted by: JB | November 19, 2008 11:14 AM