Pennsylvania: Keystone Politics

November 8, 2009 - 11:58 am

Jack Kelly Sunday

Not much fact-checking in this week's column by Jack Kelly.

There IS this:
But if you're one of the 84 Democrats who represent districts carried either by George W. Bush in 2004 or John McCain last year, the time to ponder this is before casting a potential career-terminating vote on health-care "reform." [emphasis added.]
That's a bit of a cheat, isn't it? I mean why include the districts of House Democrats carried by Bush in 2004 if only to beef up the number of "Dems at risk"?

Especially since there were only 49 Democratic House Districts voting for McCain in 2008.

I guess Jack really doesn't think anyone will check his work.

November 8, 2009 - 11:00 am

HA!

I just got a fundraising call from the DSCC -- I think -- they were asking for money to elect more Democratic Senators.

I made sure the telefundraiser knew that I would not give any money to elect any Blue Dogs. No money unless I know it would go to Senators who would/will reject the Stupak/Pitts Amendment.

I probably should apologize to the guy who called because I nearly bit his head off and I have been where he's at, but then again, he seemed to have never heard of the Stupak Amendment so screw him.
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November 8, 2009 - 08:23 am

Sunday Not So Funnies, Altmire Edition


Former Health Care Industry Lobbyist and Congressman Jason Altmire continues to bite the hand that feeds him.
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November 8, 2009 - 01:05 am

Who's going to run against Jason Altmire? (In the primary I mean)

Someone, please!

Not only did he vote yes on the Stupak Amendment, he voted no on the Health Care Reform bill.

Why exactly did anyone bother to vote out Hart?
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November 7, 2009 - 11:42 pm

Health Care Reform Bill Passes in the House -- Blue Dogs, Republicans and Spineless Dems Throw Women Under the Bus

The Stupak Amendment to the Health Care Reform bill in the House of Representatives passed with 240 yeas, 194 nays and 1 present vote.

What does that mean?

It means that women have been singled out to be the only class of people to actually lose coverage under the HCR bill.

While Rep. Bart Stupak (D, He-Man-Women-Haters-Club) claimed that the his amendment would just ensure that no federal funds would pay for abortion, that is just a BIG FAT LIE. There is already the Hyde Amendment which says no Federal funds can be used to pay for abortions except in the case of rape, incest, or life of the woman.

November 6, 2009 - 08:16 pm

Markos gets Tancredo to storm off MSNBC set

You see, while former congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO) has "talked to vets" about their health care, he may not have realized that Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitas actually is a veteran. A fact that Markos pointed out to Tancredo while reminding Tancredo that he had sought and received a deferment for the Vietnam War even though he was a supporter of the war at the time.

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November 6, 2009 - 06:49 am

Just when you thought they couldn't go any lower...

There's this sign from yesterday's GOP anti-health care rally:

If you can't tell, it reads: "National Socialist Health Care: Dachau, Germany – 1945."

Because trying to expand health care coverage for millions of uninsured Americans is exactly like the mass murder of Jews by Nazis. I mean anyone can see that, right?

One might be predisposed to assume that this banner was the work of someone with a long history of mental problems except for the fact that we know that many attending this rally have been fed a steady diet of outrageous propaganda warning them of death panels, government as the enemy, and a president who is supposedly an illegitimate foreign-born usurper and undercover Muslim terrorist bent on destroying the country.

November 6, 2009 - 06:47 am

The Trib. Again.

Yawn.

Aw, geez. We gotta do this again?

From one of today's Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorials:
By destroying the myth that state control of alcohol sales ameliorates societal harm, a new Commonwealth Foundation report bolsters the case for ending Pennsylvania's archaic status quo.

"Government-Run Liquor Stores: The Social Impact of Privatization" (available at CommonwealthFoundation.org) says privatizing sales lowers per-capita consumption and DUI-related fatality rates and doesn't increase underage drinking.

It concludes: "Evidence from 48 states over time shows no link between market controls and ... social goals."

The Reason Foundation estimates Pennsylvania could sell its wholesale and retail liquor operations for $1.7 billion. And, Commonwealth's Nathan Benefield estimates, annual alcohol sales tax revenue would remain close to its existing level.

November 5, 2009 - 06:47 am

Now That Hoffman Lost...

From Mediamatters:
Right-wing media figures enthusiastically endorsed and boosted the failed Conservative Party candidacy of Doug Hoffman in the race to fill a vacant seat in New York's 23rd Congressional District, with several of them hosting Hoffman on their radio or television shows. Media figures who boosted Hoffman include Glenn Beck, Lou Dobbs, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Rush Limbaugh, Mike Huckabee, Michelle Malkin, and Andrew Breitbart's BigGovernment.com.
To that heady list we can add a local: Our Very Own Jack Kelly. Here he was just this past Sunday:

Political soothsayers will be studying the returns Tuesday from Virginia and New Jersey for omens that could predict the outcome of the midterm elections next year.