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Water Cooler
Off the beaten path online: CBC: Obama not listening...
By kpicket on March 11, 2010 7:12 a.m.
Today's Water Cooler lineup of off the beaten path online stories are: CBC: Obama not listening,Patrick Kennedy flips out on House floor, and Dems are stuck with a mess of their own making.
- Politico: CBC: Obama not listening
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus are headed to the White House for a meeting on jobs Thursday, and they’ll have a few words to say about how President Barack Obama is doing his.
- Associated Content: Patrick Kennedy flips out on House floor
Patrick Kennedy, Rhode Island congressman, flipped out on the House floor yesterday, furiously shouting that "shameful" US policy was needlessly putting soldiers in harm's way in Afghanistan.
Townhall: Dems are stuck with a mess of their own making
I'm inclined to think both sides are wrong. They both assume that there exists some optimum course that will produce happy results. But sometimes in politics there is no course that leads to success. Disaster lies ahead whatever you do.
When will Paterson call a special election for Massa's district?
By kpicket on March 10, 2010 6:22 p.m.
New York's 29th congressional district is without a representative since former Democratic congressman Eric Massa resigned in disgrace on Monday amid scandal. It is up to New York's Gov. David Paterson, a Democrat, who is embroiled in controversy himself these days, to call a special election in order to fill the vacant seat. Mr. Paterson did say Tuesday he would call for a special election soon, but did not mention an exact date.
"He can really call it whenever he wants to or he doesn’t have to call it at all. He can keep it open. I am hearing it could be for some time in June or may just keep it open," said Thomas Basile, executive director of the New York State Republican Party, in an interview with The Washington Times. "Nobody has enough money to do two elections in one year, but the [Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee] does not have the money to put into that race…to run a race now and then run a race in November."
As long as Mr. Paterson is the governor of the state of New York, he has the ability to sign the executive order calling for a special election. Mr. Paterson and the Democratic party took their time in calling the special election for New York's 23rd congressional district. "They played around with that for some time and then they finally called the election and they called it for election day making it a very shortened campaign, because they saw that would benefit them," said Mr. Basile. As of now, the GOP congressional candidate in NY 29 is Tom Reed, who was supposed to take on Mr. Massa in November and would likely be the candidate on the Republican line, if Mr. Paterson were to call a special election before November. Mr. Reed already has the support of a number of GOP county chairs and conservative leaders.
Mr. Massa's former district leans heavily Republican and was won by John McCain in the 2008 Presidential election. If the health care debate were to drag further on, and another Republican pick-up in the House were to happen, this could further demoralize Democrats about the November 2010 elections.
Mr. Basile explained, "Holding off the election would probably be to the Democrats' favor, because it is so soon after this scandal and that district of New York does not have a whole lot of marquee name Democrats unless they manage to find a self-funder who is willing to come out of the business community, but the demographics and registration do not support a Democrat congressman in the district and this year is going to be a Republican tsunami."
'Santa Obama' isn't coming down this chimney
By carolynbolton on March 10, 2010 5:13 p.m.
If anyone can afford not to have health insurance, it's young people. And yet President Obama is lobbying for a provision in the Senate-passed health care bill that would require insurance plans that cover dependents to extend coverage until dependents reach the age of 26.
As Michelle Malkin reported today, President Obama spoke at Arcadia University on Monday, toting some “goodies” along with him.
Appropriately dubbed 'Santa Obama' by Malkin, Obama received loud applause after saying, “If you're a young adult, which many of you are, you'll be able to stay on your parents' insurance policy until you're 26 years old.”
Why the ardent appeal to young people? Perhaps President Obama is trying to buy their vote, or maybe trying to hang on to it?
According to a recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, President Obama is quickly losing support among the voting bloc he so successfully enchanted in 2008.
Let's hope students continue to see through Mr. Obama's offensive political tactics.
Beware...Massa is far left and may still have honesty problems
By kpicket on March 9, 2010 4:49 p.m.
Former Congressman Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) may still have problems with the truth and just because he is sticking it to liberal Democrats this past week does not mean he has changed his ways. Mr. Massa accused The Washington Times' Water Cooler blog of not showing all the facts when we caught him on video telling a crowd of Net Root Nation attendees he would vote against "the interests" of his district.
Fox News Channel Host Glenn Beck plans to have Mr. Massa on his show today. Mr. Massa resigned yesterday amid controversy and scandal from an ethics probe rooted in a sexual harassment complaint froma male staffer. Mr.Massa says the complaint only came from "salty" language he used around staffers and that Democratic leaders forced him out, because he was a "no" vote for the House health care bill the first time around and said he would still vote "no" this time as well.However, Politico is reportingtoday that he was under investigation for allegedly groping male staffers.
It is important to keep in mind that Mr. Massa initially said he was not going to run for reelection due to a cancer recurrence, yet that reason seems to have withered away some in recent days.
The former congressman lashed out at White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel yesterday on a local New York radio station, claiming Mr. Emanuel -- while completely naked -- tried to intimidate him in the congressional gym showers over votes Mr. Massa had cast previously.
Tom Reed, the Republican who was supposed to challenge Mr. Massa this year, is concerned that Fox News Channel's Glenn Beck may make a national hero out of Mr. Massa, when, in fact, the former congressman is not known for his honesty and is a far-left liberal progressive -- the kind Mr. Beck usually rails against each night on his program.
"I think there are a lot of legitimate questions as to what he is saying. We're seeing a transformation of his positions and his explanations of his resignation I think there is some serious questions that need to be raised," Mr. Reed said. "I would say there are some serious inconsistencies in his statements, and I am troubled by what he is saying."
Mr. Reed stresses that it is not for him to decide whether or not Mr. Massa is indeed telling the truth but the people. However, if there is one thing he knows for sure, he said, former Congressman Eric Massa is a far-left liberal progressive.
"We've been campaigning for months. All you have to do is look at the former congressman's position on health care as being a single-payer advocate, and I would say that it speaks volumes of his progressive liberal belief system," Mr. Reed said.
"If you look at his record and you see what he's said print, over and over again, he's a strong believer to government being the solution to all of our problems. We need to grow government and, to me, that's completely opposite of what we believe in," the conservative Republican explained.
Radicalized Civil "Rights" Division
By QHillyer on March 9, 2010 11:44 a.m.
The superb Hans von Spakovsky has a comprehensive run-down on the way-left backgrounds of the key lawyers in the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department. It dovetails nicely with our editorial today on the latest on the New Black Panther Party voter-intimidation case. Key lines from the von Spakovsky piece:
"The overwhelming majority of the individuals who populate the Civil Rights Division have always felt that because they are pursuing a virtuous mission, they are infallible and somehow have license to contravene the law, skirt ethical lines, and participate in acts of deception. Until recently, these leftists were able to act with impunity, and even today, the mainstream media continues to turn a blind eye until the Division’s misconduct becomes so glaring (think New Black Panther Party) that it simply can no longer be realistically ignored."
One more note is in order: It would be too easy just to say that these abuses can be laid at the feet of AG Eric Holder. The fact is, these policy and personnel choices are vetted at the top levels of the White House. These are the president's radical choices. And the question still remains to be asked, who was the mysterious "other person" who attended the meetings of DoJ no. 3 Thomas J. Perrelli when Mr. Perrelli was at the White House apparently discussing the Black Panther case? And did the president himself weigh in on the case?
Off the beaten path online: 43% have less than $10k for retirement...
By kpicket on March 9, 2010 9:51 a.m.
Today's Water Cooler lineup of off the beaten path online stories are: 43% have less than $10k for retirement,How the Labor Dept. finessed the jobs report, and 66% of Independents say Obama is to their left.
- CNN: 43% have less than $10k for retirement
The percentage of American workers with virtually no retirement savings grew for the third straight year, according to a survey released Tuesday.
- NY Post: How the Labor Dept. finessed the jobs report
As I told readers in last Thursday's column, Americans were about to get snowed. If the February labor numbers were bad, the Obama administration was going to blame the recent snowstorms.
Investors Business Daily: 66% of Independents say Obama is to their left
Supporters like to portray President Obama and his agenda as centrist. But those actually in the political center beg to differ. In fact, 66% of independents say their ideology is to the right of Obama, according to the latest IBD/TIPP poll. Just 14% say they’re more liberal.
State legislatures fight back against Obamacare
By kpicket on March 8, 2010 8:38 p.m.
States across the country are beginning to take steps in the chance that the Democrats' health care legislation indeed becomes a reality, so their legislatures already are acting to head off a number of items in the massive 2,700 page bill.
The Boston Globe is reports:
The Virginia Legislature this week is poised to become the first state to pass legislation that says citizens cannot be required to have medical insurance.
If states are allowed to opt out of the mandate, the foundation of Obama’s effort would be undermined, turning the nascent revolt here into one with national implications.
Dozens of other states are considering similar measures, possibly setting the stage for one of the greatest tests of federal power over the states since the civil rights era.
It appears the Obamacare health care bill is causing a resurgence in federalism in various states, and if the bill makes it to President Obama's desk, it will be interesting to see how soon thereafter mandated health care will need to be defended in a court of law.
Conyers bribery scandal sentencing
By dmastio on March 8, 2010 6:56 p.m.
Democratic congressman John Conyers' wife, Monica, former president of the Detroit city council, is set to be sentenced on Wednesday. There are reports the prosecutors are asking for four years or more in the slam.
This is just the spectacle Democrats need as even The New York Times covers Democrats' growing ethics problems in New York and Washington on the front page.
The juiciest bit of the Detroit Free Press report is buried way down at the bottom:
During (a related) trial, prosecutors contended Conyers pressured Greektown entrepreneur Jim Papas to hire Riddle as a consultant after Conyers generated what appears to be a favor for Papas from her husband, U.S. Rep. John Conyers, a Detroit Democrat.
In a signed July 2007 letter shown to jurors, the veteran congressman supported a controversial Papas-operated, hazardous-waste injection well in Romulus that he previously had opposed. Papas issued a statement last summer denying any wrongdoing and insisting that Riddle's hiring was unrelated to the letter.
My, my, this was going to be the most ethical congress, like, evvvvvva.
Massa to resign on schedule
By kpicket on March 8, 2010 6:39 p.m.
CQ Politics is reporting Rep. Eric Massa (D - NY) will resign as originally scheduled.
Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) will follow through with his resignation, scheduled to take effect at 5 p.m. Monday, his chief of staff confirmed.
Massa suggested to a New York radio station on Sunday that he could rescind his resignation after asserting that an ethics investigation into allegations that he sexually harassed an aide may have been orchestrated by Democratic leaders to get him out of office before the health care vote.
PC(USA) releases part one of Israel-bashing report
By anathhartmann on March 8, 2010 1:56 p.m.
Late last week the Middle East Study Committee of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) issued the first part of what promises to be a damning, anti-Israel analysis of the Arab-Israeli conflict and a few light divest-from-Israel urgings. The rest of the report, which will include recommendations the committee suggests be taken "with our partners in the Middle East and the United States," will be released later this week. Lest anyone hold his or her breath till then, it is worth noting that in 2004 the PC(USA) became the only religious body in the United States to take up a divestment campaign against the Jewish state. The campaign was only repealed after it rightly drew ire from Christians and Jews alike.
The material that has been released so far is nothing new. It is the same tired rhetoric of human rights abuse and "occupation" that has been hurled at Israel and her supporters for years--all of it, sadly, nothing more than a way of saying Israel should not exist. We hear, for example, the rest of the report advocates for the Palestinian "right of return," a concept which demographically alone renders null and void the concept of a Jewish homeland.
A comparison of the letter the committee has written to "Our Palestinian Friends" and the one it has written to "Our Israeli Friends" shows a stark one-sidedness. The first note has the tone an admonishing parent might use when chiding a child about not picking up his toys or sneaking an extra cookie before dinner. The second, to the Israelis with whom the PC(USA) is supposedly so friendly, is full of references to Israel's "dehumanization" of Palestinians, "violations of human rights" and "incumbent violence."
Nowhere in either letter does the word "terrorism" or any of its derivatives appear. The only passage in which one can deduce terrorism is being mentioned is the following feeble wrist-tap of a paragraph: "We still see the occupation as the major obstacle to regional stability, and to the just solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We do not see it as the only obstacle. Being oppressed does not justify using the means of the oppressor; nor does suffering from the breach of international law permit similar breaches, even if smaller in scale."
So "occupation" of lands tactically won in a defensive war is still the "main obstacle" to peace? Since the creation of the modern state of Israel, more than 1,600 Israelis have been murdered by Arab terrorists. But apparently this does not constitute a stumbling block on the path to coexistence. We are similarly confused by the "means of the oppressor" line. Since when does the Israeli military use explosive devices strapped to suicide bombers to murder civilians in pizza shops, at checkpoints and in cafes?
Judging from this first part of the PC(USA) report, it will come as no surprise when the remainder of the supposed analysis recommends strangling Israel economically through the undertaking of yet another ill-conceived and backward divestment policy.
Will Massa rescind resignation?
By kpicket on March 8, 2010 10:29 a.m.
Roll Call is reporting that disgraced Congressman Eric Massa (D - NY) who was scheduled to resign from office to day at 5 PM is "hinting" that he could rescind his scheduled resignation today pending if stopping health care "becomes a national story.":
Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) suggested on a New York radio station Sunday that he could rescind his resignation — scheduled to take effect at 5 p.m. Monday — after asserting that an ethics investigation into allegations that he sexually harassed one of his aides may have been orchestrated by Democratic leaders to get him out of office before the health care vote.
Responding to a caller to his weekly radio show on WKPQ Power 105 FM, a recording of which was made available via the Web site of local station 13 WHAM-TV, Massa said: “I’m not going to be a Congressman as of 5 o’clock [Monday] afternoon. The only way to stop that is for me to rescind my resignation. That’s the only way to stop it. And the only way that’s going to happen is if this becomes a national story.”
During the hour-and-a-half show, Massa said that Democratic leaders are using the House ethics committee to get him out of office before the vote on health care because he voted against the House health care bill last fall.
“Mine is now the deciding vote on the health care bill, and this administration and this House leadership have said, 'they will stop at nothing to pass this health care bill, and now they’ve gotten rid of me and it will pass.’ You connect the dots,” Massa said Several times during the broadcast Massa raised the prospect of rescinding his resignation if national news media picked up on his story of being railroaded out of office by Democratic leaders.
Off the beaten path online: Eric Massa slams Democrat leaders for ethics probe...
By kpicket on March 8, 2010 9:16 a.m.
Today's Water Cooler lineup of off the beaten path online stories are: Eric Massa slams Democrat leaders for ethics probe,Obama's Mid East horror show, and Massa attack.
- Politico: Eric Massa slams Democrat leaders for ethics probe
Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) says the House ethics committee is investigating him for inappropriate comments he made to a male staffer on New Year's Eve — and that he's the victim of a power play by Democratic leaders who want him out of Congress because he's a "no" vote on health care reform.
- Yid with Lid: Obama's Mid East horror show
The stories of the US engagement with Syria and the sanctions issue regarding Iran's nuclear program are fascinating. Each day there's some new development showing how the Obama administration is acting like a deer standing in the middle of a busy highway admiring the pretty headlights of the automobiles.
Washington Independent: Massa attack
Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.), the disgraced resigning congressman, is going down swinging and taking the news cycle with him. His weekly radio show — and, likely, any media he does today — is a festival of criticism of the White House, specifically of Rahm Emanuel.
Danny Glover: Boycott Hugo Boss at the Oscars
By kpicket on March 7, 2010 7:33 p.m.
Be on the look out for any Oscar attendees in Hugo Boss wear. Danny Glover is looking for them. The U.K. Telegragh is reporting Lethal Weapon actor Danny Glover is up to his usual left-wing activism. He is calling on his fellow actors on the red carpet tonight to wear pins on their lapels reading "Keep the Hugo Boss Plant Open":
He and the union sent a letter saying 375 workers would lose their jobs if the factory closed and asked Hollywood to "take a small stand for American workers."
Not surprisingly, Mr. Glover found it easy to side with the labor unions, but Hugo Boss has already explained the company is not globally competitive, but that did not stop Mr. Glover from asking his Hollywood friends to not wear any Hugo Boss fashion items at the Oscars tonight. The Telegraph further reports reaction from Hugo Boss CEO Andreas Stockert:
Hugo Boss, which is based in Metzingen, Germany, said the Cleveland factory is under capacity and not globally competitive. It makes two lines of men's suits there.
In a letter to workers in December, Hugo Boss chief operating officer Andreas Stockert said that the company had negotiated in good faith with the union and that it had a responsibility to shareholders.
This is not the first conflict between the unions and Hugo Boss. In 2006, union officials demanded a new contract for workers at Hugo Boss (savannahnow):
Union officials have reached a tentative agreement with Hugo Boss on a new contract for workers at the German fashion retailer's Midway distribution center, Unite Here announced Tuesday.
The workers, mostly African-American women, are paid an average wage of $7.63 an hour and currently have no retirement plan, Unite Here union officials said. Employees have been working without a contract since April.
One source of contention, union officials said: Hugo Boss employees in Ohio earn significantly higher wages and have an employer-funded pension plan.
More recently, in December 2009, when economic times had become worse, Hugo Boss proposed to close a plant in Brooklyn in order to outsource the jobs overseas, which would be less expensive. The unions, of course, complained, either not admitting or realizing that it was a mess of their own making.
Mr. Glover's whining over a clothing plant closing is ridiculous in and of itself, because the union leaders he supports continue to squeeze companies to the point where they are forced to lay off American workers and outsource their labor. Who actually wins in the end? Surely it is not the workers or the hapless company.
CBS: U.S.-born al Qaeda arrest news incorrect
By kpicket on March 7, 2010 1:41 p.m.
CBS News is reporting the following: U.S.-Born al Qaeda Arrest News Incorrect
An "important Taliban militant" was arrested today in Pakistan. But that is where the confusion started.
Earlier it was reported by Pakistani media that intelligence agents had arrested Adam Gadahn, the American-born spokesman for al Qaeda, in an operation in the southern city of Karachi.
It was further reported by the Associated Press and Reuters that Gadahn had been arrested, sourcing security officials.
CBS News was told by sources in the Pakistan government that it was Gadahn, even after U.S. officials refused to confirm it was the California native for whom a $1 million reward has been posted.
Now, CBS News' Farhan Bokhari in Islamabad writes that earlier reports the detained individual was Gadahn proved false. According to a Pakistan security official who spoke with CBS News on condition of anonymity, the arrested individual is in fact "a Taliban militant leader who is known as Abu Yahya."
The official said evidence compiled from an interrogation of the suspect and information exchanged with U.S. officials verified the man's identify.
The reassessment only added to the confusion surrounding the arrest of a man earlier described by other unnamed Pakistani security officials as Gadahn.
"In the light of our latest information, I can say, this is not looking like Gadahn. But it is still the arrest of an important Taliban militant," said the Pakistani security official who spoke to CBS News late Sunday.
The New York Times, sourcing American and Pakistani officials, reports that the man arrested was Abu Yahya Mujahdeen Al-Adam, and describes him as an al Qaeda commander who was born in Pennsylvania.
An earlier blog based on previous reports is below.
Will Obama administration follow through on treason charge with Adam Gadahn?
#3 NEW AP UPDATE: U.S. defense, intelligence and law enforcement officials could not immediately verify the reported detention of Adam Gadahn, a 31-year-old spokesman for al-Qaida who has appeared on videos threatening the West, including one that emerged earlier Sunday.
*Older UPDATES at the bottom
American-born al Qaeda spokesman Adam Gadahn was captured by Pakistani authorities, according to a breaking news report from the NY Daily News:
Adam Gadahn, the treasonous Californian Al Qaeda leader who has long been on Washington's Most Wanted list, was nabbed in Pakistan Sunday - a huge victory in the battle against the terror network.
After some confusion in the intial reports, the Associated Press quoted Pakistani officials confirming the arrest of Osama bin Laden's mouthpiece.
The Dawn, Karachi's English-language newspaper, broke the news with a photo of a man being taken away with a bag on his head.
Gadahn was bagged just hours after releasing a new internet video urging American Muslims to go on shooting sprees like Maj. Nidal Hasan's at Fort Hood last year.
He is the first American to be charged with treason since World War II.
If convicted, he faces the death penalty.
Growing up in Riverside, Calif., Gadahn moved to Pakistan in 1998 and received training in an al Qaeda camp six years later, said the AP. He has been sought by the FBI since 2004 and has appeared in more than half a dozen al Qaeda videos, heckling and threatening the West while calling for its demise. Gadahn had been tagged with a $1 million reward leading to his arrest or conviction, the AP reported.
The Obama administration appears to be flaky about where to try confessed 9/11 terrorist mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Will Obama's Justice Department, headed up by Attorney General Eric Holder, fold and not follow through with the treason charge made in 2006 by the Bush Justice Department? What about interrogating Gadahn?
Don't be surprised if Gadahn defenders cite the case of American Muslim convert and Jihadist John Walker Lindh, who joined the Taliban and was captured in 2001 in Afghanistan by American troops. He was charged in the civilian criminal court system and given a 20-year federal prison sentence.
#1 Update: Hot Air's Ed Morrissey points out Pakistan's refusal to extradite captured terrorists. This may very well put another wrinkle into the situation both internationally and legally.
#2 Update: American Thinker's Rick Moran says if Gadahn was indeed captured on Pakistani soil, extraditing him to American soil does not look good.
(Video) Romney: I only changed my mind on abortion
By kpicket on March 7, 2010 9:40 a.m.
Former Massachusetts Governor and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney spoke with Fox News Sunday's Chris Wallace this weekend about 2012 presidential possibilities and Mr. Romney's views on abortion and same-sex marriage, which many have said he has flip-flopped on. (video below)
Hatch: Dems may push smaller health care bill through reconciliation
By kpicket on March 5, 2010 4:05 p.m.
On a bloggers conference call this afternoon Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah expressed his concern that Democratic leadership will manipulate parliamentary procedure and try to push through a smaller version of the health care bill through parliamentary rule manipulation and reconciliation.
Reconciliation has never been used to pass social legislation that did not have massive bi-partisan support. Of the nineteen times reconciliation has been successfully used since 1974, only three were for social legislation. These were: welfare reform, SCHIP, and college tuition. These three proposals were passed with at least 78 votes. Welfare reform had 78 votes. SCHIP had 85, and college tuition had about 78.
Republicans have repeatedly referenced Democratic Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, author of the budget reconciliation process, as someone who has stood against using the parliamentary procedure to pass the massive health care bill in the Senate. Today, however, Mr. Byrd changed his mind.
“Now its my understanding that [Senator Byrd] is now coming off that and saying that a smaller bill can be done in reconciliation,” Senator Hatch said. “Even though a larger bill would not have a chance at passing without the manipulation of the reconciliation rules, the way they’re going to do it is to protect their people over in the House.”
While many are speculating how many votes Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi can round up to pass the Senate version of the health care bill, according to Mr. Hatch, House Democrats have other ideas.
“What they’re planning on doing is not voting on the Reid bill. They’re coming up with this smaller reconciliation bill and then by distorting the rules, send it over to the Senate for a final vote here,” he said.
“They’re throwing it on its face, because Nancy Pelosi can’t pass the 2.5 trillion dollar 2700 page Senate health care bill through the House without reconciliation. If she could have, she would have passed it already by now. She doesn’t have the votes, so they need to abuse the reconciliation rules to get in more special interest deals to buy off the Unions and others at the expense of the American people.”
Finally, earlier this week the Weekly Standard reported that President Barack Obama hosted ten House Democrats at the White House who had initially voted against the health care bill late last year. One of these representatives was congressman Jim Matheson of Utah whose brother, Scott M. Matheson, Jr., was just nominated by the President to the Tenth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. Questions of a quid pro quo began to swirl around, when many began to wonder if President Obama was using the nomination as leverage to gain a favorable vote on the health bill care from Congressman Matheson.
Senator Hatch, who supported the Matheson nomination to the court early on disagreed. “I don’t think Jim Matheson is going to vote with him under any circumstances. It may look bad, but it isn’t. That is inaccurate,” he said
“I basically approved his brother months ago and told him I would have no objection if he was chosen. There were others on the list I wouldn’t have had objections to either, but he was chosen before this even came up. Matheson has stood pretty strongly against this health care bill, and I think he will continue to do so. I just chatted with him yesterday, and I believe that he is a vote against it.---if he even has a vote," Senator Hatch explained.
"The way I’m getting it from some of the people I know is that there won’t even be a vote on the Reid bill. In other words, they’re going to phony this up by voting on the small reconciliation package and try to manipulate the rules so that bill with the reconciliation package becomes law once that reconciliation package is passed by at least fifty-one votes in the U.S. Senate.“
Dishonest Alliance for Human Research Protection
By dmastio on March 5, 2010 4 p.m.
Today the Alliance for Human Research Protection deceived the members of its email list. Their email blast criticized The Washington Times for running an oped by a doctor who is a convicted felon. Fair criticism. If we had known, we wouldn't have run it. It isn't likely that we will run op-eds by the American Council on Science and Health in the future.
But before the email blast criticizing The Times, the Alliance for Human Research Protection knew that that the Times was going to run a note to readers, that we did not know about the author's criminal record and that we would not have run the article had we known. They didn't include those little facts because a newspaper responding in an ethical manner doesn't make for a very exciting email alert.
That the AHRP would hold back facts from its readers, isn't a surprise because the former board member of the group who contacted The Washington Times didn't identify himself either. He contacted us as joe reader.
This is how we treat an average reader when they raise a serious issue. At 10:50, Allen Jones, a former board member of the AHRP sent an email to our letters account raising the issue. At 1:10, I responded that I would look into the issue. At 2:30 I let Jones know what actions we would take. Case closed.
Not so much.
At 2:54, the AHRP launched its email blast attacking us.
No doubt AHRP will claim it was a coincidence. When I called Allen Jones he did, but he also admitted that he had been in contact with the AHRP and that he knew their email blast was in the works.
In the scheme of things, this isn't anything big, but it shows you how much AHRP cares about being accurate.
A note to readers
By dmastio on March 5, 2010 3:23 p.m.
This is a draft of a note to readers that will appear in Monday's paper:
On March, 4 2010, The Washington Times ran an oped by Dr. Gilbert Ross, medical director of the American Council on Science and Health, entitled "When senators play doctor." Dr. Ross has written for USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times and The Washington Times previously. Dr. Ross did not disclose to the Times that he had been convicted of Medicaid fraud and, for a period of years, lost his license to practice medicine. Had the Times known these facts, we would not have run the article.
For those who are interested, there is more to this story -- the deceitful tactics of a little activist group called the Alliance for Human Research Protection.
Mid-term campaign weekly round-up: March 5, 2010
By kpicket on March 5, 2010 11:17 a.m.
Mid-term election season is well under way, and 2010 is likely to be a remarkable year for a number of statewide elections with challengers taking on incumbents sitting in Capitol Hill offices and Governor seats across the country. The Water Cooler will begin a weekly round-up of some these races and other stories relating to the elections happening around the nation, so be sure to stop by and check out who may be running for office in your state.
Since so much scandal from Capitol Hill to Albany is coming from New York lawmakers this week, let's take a look at some challengers who are already mounting campaigns in the Empire state.
(NY-22) George Phillips : Mr. Phillips is starting his campaign in New York's 22nd Congressional District running on the Republican line against Democrat incumbent Congressman Maurice Hinchey. A pro-life conservative and history teacher from Endwell, New York, Mr. Phillips previously worked on Capitol Hill for Rep. Chris Smith (R - NJ). Mr. Hinchey, was first elected to the seat in 1992, and won 66 percent of the district in 2008. Mr. Phillips seems unfazed by the uphill battle he has and cited growing tea party movement support he receives in the district. "We have a theme--'had enough?' The bailouts, the out of control spending, the families leaving New York. We're just going to repeat our theme again and again, and I think that's going to appeal to a third of the voters who can't stand my opponent, but it will also appeal to a third of the voters who are also in the middle," he says.
(NY - 4) Frank Scaturro: Mr. Scaturro is a Nassau County, New York native, who has returned to the state's 4th Congressional District, after working on Capitol Hill in the Senate Judiciary Committee serving as the Counsel for the Constitution. The Republican is running against Democrat incumbent Rep. Carolyn McCarthy who has held the seat since 1997. A Constitutional Scholar and visiting professor at Hofstra Law School, Mr. Scaturro was a key aide on President Bush’s nominations of Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court."This country will remain an example to the world for the same reason it always has: the energy, talent, innovation, hard work, and faith of its people. Government should aim to foster these qualities rather than stifle them with a heavy hand," says Mr. Scaturro.
(NY - 29) Tom Reed: Mr. Reed, the former Mayor of Corning, New York is running for the seat currently held by freshman Democrat Congressman Eric Massa, who recently announced an early retirement from office this week following rumors of sexual harassment allegations, which the New York Congressman has denied, saying he is leaving office due to health issues. Mr. Reed, a Republican, was originally running on the campaign theme that Mr. Massa is too liberal for New York's 29th Congressional District, an area that went for Sen. John McCain (R - AZ) during the 2008 presidential election. Mr. Reed will take on another candidate the Democrats will likely disguise as a so-called "moderate" for this district as they did with Mr. Massa previously in 2008, so Mr. Reed's campaign strategy is changing from going after an incumbent's record to competing for an open seat.
Off the beaten path online: Black leaders say Paterson should stay in office...
By kpicket on March 5, 2010 9:59 a.m.
Today's Water Cooler lineup of off the beaten path online stories are: Black leaders say Paterson should stay in office,Rahm Emanuel is dead. He just hasn’t been told yet, and Religious left rallies for Obamacare’s final stand.
- MSNBC: Black leaders say Paterson should stay in office
Influential black leaders in New York City said Thursday night that they believe Gov. David Paterson should stay in office amid allegations he and his staff interfered in a domestic violence case involving a top governor's aide.
- Red State: Rahm Emanuel is dead. He just hasn’t been told yet.
Reading between the lines, Rahm Emanuel is dead. He may not know it, but the man has no pulse left. His ghost is now trying to defend his legacy in the White House. Chief of Staff — the real one — Valerie Jarrett killed Rahm.
FrontPageMag: Religious left rallies for Obamacare’s final stand
The Religious and Evangelical Left, plus the Islamic Society of North America and a few others, are making a final Custer-like stand on behalf of much cherished Obamacare.
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