Dem. leaders currently in charge of the party suck. The party would be in a much better position with McCaskill, Clinton, Wasserman-Schultz, Webb, Shumer. I wish Obama put Reid, Kerry, Dodd, and a few others in his cabinet. This is gonna be a megga rant on a lot of issues, so bear with me. First, look at this idiot:
Then comes word that Obama's nominee's are being blocked by members of the Democratic Party. What?
See how a pro does it after the bump......
look at this pro:
Ouch!
Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't it seem odd as shit that Obama still has sooooo many outstanding nominees that have yet gone through the confirmation? Could the Senate dems be angling for power? What gives:
The nominations of two of President Obama's top science advisers have stalled in the Senate, according to several sources, posing a challenge to the administration as it seeks to frame new policies on climate change and other environmental issues.
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) has placed a "hold" that blocks votes on confirming Harvard University physicist John Holdren, who is in line to lead the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Oregon State University marine biologist Jane Lubchenco, Obama's nominee to head the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. According to sources who asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to discuss the matter, Menendez is using the holds as leverage to get Senate leaders' attention for a matter related to Cuba rather than questioning the nominees' credentials
Menendez, Robert - (D - NJ)
502 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4744
Web Form: menendez.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm
Nelson, Ben - (D - NE)
720 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-6551
Web Form: bennelson.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm
Reid, Harry - (D - NV)
528 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3542
Web Form: reid.senate.gov/contact/
Gillibrand, Kirsten - (D - NY)
531 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4451
Bayh, Evan - (D - IN)
463 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5623
Web Form: bayh.senate.gov/WebMail1.htm
And this cant be the only one. Solis took way too long, so did Holder, so did Geitner, so did too many nominees. That allowed for these tax problems to become an issue. One woman quit because she owes 200 bucks. Dashle prob. needed to go but get with it dems! Look at this:
President Barack Obama’s economic advisers are increasingly concerned about the U.S. Senate’s delay in confirming the nominations of Austan Goolsbee and Cecilia Rouse to the White House Council of Economic Advisers.
Without Senate confirmation, the two economists are barred from advising the president as the administration tackles the worst financial crisis in 70 years and tries to advance the spending plan Obama submitted to Congress last week.
"It’s frustrating," said Christina Romer, who heads the three-member CEA. "These are hard economic times and we desperately want to get them through the Senate and definitely on the job."
"They are both superb economists," she said. "I can’t imagine what the holdup is."
Goolsbee and Rouse appeared before the Senate Banking Committee on Jan. 15 and were slated for a full Senate confirmation on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, according to a senior administration official. Instead, they were approved by the panel Feb. 10.
Gotta love the dems
Then there is news of Geitner sitting in the finance dept. all alone. What in the world? The biggest crisis of my time and the guy responsible for handling it, doesn't even have a damn secretary? What are they doing, seriously? I dont want the congress to bow to Obama, but dont be a blocker. Reid has to win re-election. BREAKING NEWS: Obama won Nevada
Baye has to win re-election. BREAKING NEWS: Obama won Indiana
Nelson has to win re-election. BREAKING NEWS: Obama won... We'll he can help.
And to futher my fustration, look at this idiot some more:
Now the bluedogs are barking:
Moderate and conservative Democrats in the Senate are starting to choke over the massive spending and tax increases in President Barack Obama’s budget plans and have begun plotting to increase their influence over the agenda of a president who is turning out to be much more liberal than they are.
A group of 14 Senate Democrats and one independent huddled behind closed doors on Tuesday, discussing how centrists in that chamber can assert more leverage on the major policy debates that will dominate this Congress.
Afterward, some in attendance made plain that they are getting jitters over the cost and expansive reach of Obama’s $3.6 trillion budget proposal.
Asked when he’d reach his breaking point, Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson, one of the most conservative Democrats in the Senate, said: "Right now. I’m concerned about the amount that’s being offered in [Obama’s] budget."
Another attendee, Sen. Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.), said she expected the newly formed caucus to shape Obama’s budget proposal as it moves through Congress.
"We want to give the president a chance, but our concern is going to be on the budget, looking forward," Landrieu said. She added that she agrees with Obama that there needs to be "fundamental change" in fiscal policy, but she said "we do have to keep our eye on the long term, on intermediate and long-term fiscal responsibility."
Sen. Evan Bayh, the Indiana Democrat who assembled Tuesday’s skull session, added that he was "very concerned" about Washington’s level of spending, especially in a $410 billion "omnibus" spending bill to fund the government until the start of a new fiscal year in October.
As for the tax increases on high-income earners called for in Obama’s plan, Bayh said, "I do think that before we raise revenue, we first should look to see if there are ways we can cut back on spending."
"The American people and businesses are tightening their belts," Bayh added. "I think we need to show that the government can economize as well."
If the moderate Democrats in the Senate are willing to work with moderate Republicans — as Bayh said they are eager to do — they will negate the White House’s ability to portray opposition to Obama’s spending as partisan obstructionism.
I would have a lot more respect for the blue dogs of they had done this 4 years ago when Bush was spending us into oblivion, but hey, what do I expect?
They are going after Obama's nominees:
Dem questions Obama appointee
The appointment of Chas Freeman to chair the National Intelligence drew not-unpredictable fire from the pro-Israel right, as Freeman favors a harder line on Israel and has raised money from the Saudis.
But a House Democrat, Las Vegas's Shelley Berkley, broke ranks today to question the appointment as well, joining GOP leaders Eric Cantor and John Boehner and other Republicans in a letter to the inspector general for the Director of National Intelligence:
"We ask you to fully investigate Amb. Freeman’s past and current relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – both personal financial disclosures and the list of all contributors to the Middle East Policy Council across all years that Amb. Freeman drew a salary from the foundation – and report back to Congress on any potential conflicts of interest," the letter says.
Questions for Obama
Seems as if my party has asked more questions of Obama in a month than they asked Bush in 8 years.
Allowing repugs to get away with hypocrisy:
Take the earmark story from today:
McCain's proposal drew the support of 30 Republicans and two Democrats, and the outcome reflected the enduring value of earmarks to lawmakers. While polls routinely show these pet projects to be unpopular, local governments and constituents often covet them.
The maneuvering came on legislation to assure continued funding for several federal agencies past March 6. At $410 billion, the bill represents an 8 percent increase over last year's spending levels, more than double the rate of inflation.
Republicans made two other attempts during the day to reduce spending in the bill, but failed both times.
Shouldn't repug be required to pay a price for complaining about spending and earmarks while they put a bunch of spending and earmarks in the bill?
Then there is the Minn. Senate Race. We should have Norm Coleman and the repug on a Bar-be-que right now. I know the big dogs have bigger fish to fry, but isn't this is what the DNC and activist are for. After 8 years of Bush, hpw can we allow repug to claim that an election was stolen? BLOGGA PLEASE!
Coleman wants a re-do? Fuck Coleman!
For more than a month, Norm Coleman stressed flaws in Minnesota's election system.
And on Monday, Coleman lawyer Jim Langdon wrote the three-judge panel to suggest the problems are so serious they may not be able to declare a winner.
"Some courts have held that when the number of illegal votes exceeds the margin between the candidates -- and it cannot be determined for which candidate those illegal votes were cast -- the most appropriate remedy is to set aside the election," Langdon wrote in a letter to the court.
Coleman's team rested most of his case Monday in the U.S. Senate election trial after more testimony underscoring problems with the election system. Under questioning from the Republican's lawyers, Minnesota's elections director acknowledged inaccurate data in the registration system that could exclude otherwise qualified people from voting.
Then we want to expell the junior senator from Illinois while he let a convicted sex-offender (Stephens) and a "john" (Vitter) not only skate, but call for a resignation? Only my party can pull that off.
The strategy to look above the fray is one thing, but letting the repugs control all eco-chambers is another. Can we do a little better as a party, please? If not, then it will be a hell of a long 4 years.