Specter Townhall coverage

Bringing back a little "pimp my blog".... Those looking for news and commentary on Specter's town hall in Lebanon, PA today would do well to check out my compadres over at PAWatercooler.com for in-state perspective.

The posts are still going up, but here are some of the ones up already.
"Cliff's Notes"
Specter not ruling out single-payer
Some Reactions
Hammered
Cap & Trade, EFCA questions

Posted by: JoeCollins at 12:14 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Stoner In Chief To Share The Love

Looks like it'll be cool for drug-crime convicts to get student loans soon. 

I don't have a strong opinion either way (I'd probably have a clearer opinion if pot crimes were legally distinct from crack or heroine crimes) but thought I'd put it on the radar.

Posted by: Moron Pundit at 12:06 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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This can't be good.

Oh yay.
Quote
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday charged that Colombian troops had enteredVenezuala...

Gee, I wonder whose side Obama will be on.

Did I say that with a straight face? I've been practicing is why I ask.

Posted by: Veeshir at 07:55 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Billy, you dumb fuck

Cocaine contributed to his death. 

Posted by: Alice H at 03:52 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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I got mentioned by one of the Real Housewives of Atlanta tonight.

Just saying.  #lameclaimstofame

Posted by: It's Vintage, Duh at 10:08 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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RIP John Hughes

Posted by: Alice H at 04:14 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Now why would *she* be there...

Rielle Hunter, John Edwards' alleged babymama, is in a federal courthouse in North Carolina. Where, coincidentally, a grand jury has been convened to investigate Edwards' campaign finances.

Posted by: Alice H at 10:26 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Bring It, Bitches!

Given the shitty performance so far by the Democrats in the Health Care debate, I wonder if I should be scared or amused by this story.

But Democrats who’d pushed for a vote before the break are dreading an onslaught of advertisements funded by business. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is putting $2 million toward fighting a Democratic proposal to create a government-run “public plan” to compete with private insurers.

To counter that, Democratic leaders will be coordinating media strategies and grassroots efforts with advocacy groups such as Health Care for America Now, Families USA and AARP, along with unions such as AFSCME and the Service Employees International Union.

In a briefing with reporters Thursday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) acknowledged that Democrats have been losing the message war "a little bit" to Republicans. He said Democrats have had problems communicating with the bill as it changed in the legislative process.

“We’re responsible for putting together a plan. We've been focused on that,” Hoyer said. "Republicans have been free to conjure up whatever they want.”

But now, he noted, some industry groups like the American Medical Association and the pharmaceutical industry who derailed reform in the 90s are on the side of Democrats who want to overhaul the system.

“Harry and Louise are going to be saying this is a good thing,” Hoyer said. “We're going to be on the air, we're going to be in the neighborhoods.”

In addition to noting presidential events, the three-page strategy document lays out a detailed campaign of district events, rapid response, and conference calls with lawmakers to update them on strategy.

Posted by: eddiebear at 09:23 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Blue Dog Democrats Raking In The Cash?

Not surprisingly, the 50 or so "centrist" House Democrats are raking in big time cash donations from lobbying groups.

In the 2008 election cycle, as fundraising for the National Republican Congressional Committee declined by roughly one-third from 2006 and fundraising for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee grew by just 26 percent, the Blue Dog PAC more than doubled its take (from $1,239,516 to $2,636,273).

And it raised more than $47,000 per Blue Dog from other political action committees — more than twice the $22,000-per-member total from the 2004 cycle.

Some of that cash came from interests that aren’t necessarily in sync with labor or even with traditional Democratic constituencies. In just the first half of 2009, all told the Blue Dog PAC took in $1,058,750 in contributions from other PACs, including health care PACs, which have already kicked in $297,500; energy PACs, $162,500; and financial services PACs, $134,500.

Former Rep. Charlie Stenholm (D-Texas) says the business community’s strategy is no mystery. It is making donations, in part, to gain influence with the Blue Dogs.

“I mean, what other conclusion could you come to?” he said with a laugh. “And that’s something that the Blue Dogs have sought. They want to be in that position, to have influence.”

I give it about 3 years before we start hearing about some of these Blue dogs taking shady money for their influence. just a thought.

Posted by: eddiebear at 11:15 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Guy who can't win PA Senate seat within 1 pt in poll

When "Benedict" Arlen Specter switched parties there was a massive recruitment effort on the part of the PA-GOP and the NRSC to recruit some other Republican candidate "who can win" to challenge Pat Toomey.

Well, the latest Quinnipiac Poll has Specter 45 to Toomey 44. The same poll also shows Toomey ahead of Specter's Democratic primary challenger Rep. Joe Sestak 39 to 35.

So, to those frantically trying to recruit Tom Ridge, Bill Scranton, or State Sen Jane Orie, or trying to get Rep. Gerlach to switch from the Gov race to the Senate race, you can officially get bent now. We've got our guy, and he knows how to win with a conservative message tailored to persuade independents.

Get a summary of the poll here, follow news and analysis at PaWatercooler.com, GrassrootsPA.com, and PoliticsPA.com.

Posted by: JoeCollins at 07:21 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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Moron Corrections Department, Overpriced Ham Edition

Fuck! And I thought we had us an awesome scandal to get worked up about.

The references to "2 pound frozen ham sliced" are to the sizes of the packaging. Press reports suggesting that the Recovery Act spent $1.191 million to buy "2 pounds of ham" are wrong. In fact, the contract in question purchased 760,000 pounds of ham for $1.191 million, at a cost of approximately $1.50 per pound. In terms of the dairy purchase referenced, USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) purchased 837,936 pounds of mozzarella cheese and 4,039,200 pounds of processed cheese. The canned pork purchase was 8,424,000 pounds at a cost of $16,784,000, or approximately $1.99 per pound.

Posted by: eddiebear at 12:46 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Budget still stalled out in Harrisburg

State employees are now not being paid.  Basically, we're projected to run a $3 billion dollar shortfall already, and Fast Eddie Rendell and the Democrats want to spend yet more money (the state already spends way too fucking much) and raise taxes (they're already high in PA).  The GOP has the Senate, and they're refusing to have anything to do with raising taxes.  They know that if they don't hold firm against the Democrats, they'll be replaced by people who will.  So it ought to be interesting to see what happens.  I should note, Fast Eddie has never gotten the budget out on time.

Posted by: doubleplusundead at 08:56 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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A Coup In Honduras?

Maybe.I have no idea who is who in this deal, but Fausta is being very helpful with insight.

Posted by: eddiebear at 12:58 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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HI! BILLY MAYS HERE FOR ENBALMING FLUID!*

Billy Mays has been found dead in his Tampa, FL home. 

*Too soon?

Posted by: It's Vintage, Duh at 11:04 AM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
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Time To Return A Favor

I don't have a video but if you've been watching CNN you know that the Iranian government has started "beating women until their husbands faint" and "chopping people with axes like animals" and shooting into crowds.

I think it is time for the United States to return the favor the Iranians did us in Iraq.  Certainly we could find a bunch of Iranian hardware in Iraq and return it to the people of Iran.

Also, if anyone living in any oppressive regime can read this, know that the PEOPLE of the United States stand with your attempts at freedom.  If you push hard enough you will eventually find us pushing at your back no matter how feckless our government is.

Update: This is a link at HotAir.  I wish I could find the video they played on CNN.  It was so disturbing they went to commercial immediately.  Still, their top video is some inane bullshit about fucking Jon and Kate.  Fox News is not any better.

Our media is ridiculously useless.

Posted by: Moron Pundit at 10:51 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Looks like leaving work early was a good idea!

Yikes.  WMATA is confirming at least 2 deaths.  And as the Hammer says, when a government agency confirms deaths that quickly, there are surely many more to come. 

Posted by: It's Vintage, Duh at 05:23 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Wow. Just Wow.

This photo speaks volumes. I can't get over this view.

Posted by: conservativebelle at 08:54 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Medical Workers in Tehran Protest Violent Protest Deaths

They know the truth about the basij. No, I don't understand it, but there is some interpretation on the sidebar of the video, explaining about the injured and death count.  The videos on YouTube are overwhelming.  My heart breaks for them all and I admire their courage and fortitude.

Posted by: conservativebelle at 12:45 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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To Prove I'm Not Just A Reflexive Obama Hater

I'm going to say I think this is pretty cool.  Certainly, that will be a very special moment for the young lady and vastly more valuable than whatever bullshit she'd have been doing on the last day of school.

Posted by: Moron Pundit at 02:12 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Horrible

Someone's crazy, anti-Semitic 89-year-old grandpa has gone on a shooting spree at the US Holocaust Museum.  Could someone call Ron Paul's office and make sure he's accounted for?

And, since one of my friends has already called me an ass (seriously) for pointing out how this shooting couldn't have happened due to DC's gun ban, I'll just stop there.

Posted by: It's Vintage, Duh at 01:37 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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