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Monday, January 05, 2009

Thoughts from the RNC Debate

Posted by: Amanda Carpenter at 2:11 PM

I just filed my story about the debate and wanted to share some thoughts with those of you who might be watching it online.

The unwillingness on behalf of the candidates to directly attack current RNC Chairman Robert "Mike" Duncan for his management of the 2008 presidential election dismays me.

In big-time college and NFL football, coaches get fired after a bad season. Everyone seems to think, and will tell you on background, it should be the same in politics. No one wants to stay it out loud on stage though. At least for today.

Update: Townhall got a big shout-out from Ken Blackwell at the debate. When asked what his favorite website is he said "Townhall.com." In fact, Blackwell mentioned Townhall.com three times by my count.

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Monday, January 05, 2009

PURPOSE OF GAZA OPERATIONS: PROTECTION, NOT PUNISHMENT

Posted by: Michael Medved at 1:28 PM

At the beginning of Israeli operations against Hamas, the New York Times ran a deeply dishonest headline. “Israeli Air Raids to Punish Hamas Kill 200 in Gaza,” said America’s “Journal of Record.” In fact, the purpose of the Israeli strike wasn’t punishment– it was protection. Israel made clear its single goal in going after Hamas: to put an end to the literally thousands of rocket attacks on Israeli civilians. “Punishment” and “revenge” were beside the point – and in no sense is the current struggle part of a “cycle of violence.” The rocket attacks by Hamas weren’t a response to violence, but rather an answer to withdrawal--Israel’s controversial 2005 decision to put a unilateral end to Israeli occupation of Gaza. Concessions actually produce a more reliably violent response from Islamic terrorists than do decisive military actions.

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Monday, January 05, 2009

Spotted

Posted by: Amanda Carpenter at 12:42 PM

Long, long lines at in Washington's "Metro Center" metro stop of people waiting to purchase an commemorative Barack Obama Inaugural metro card for $10 each.

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Monday, January 05, 2009

Where to Watch the RNC Debate Online

Posted by: Amanda Carpenter at 11:17 AM

FYI: CSPAN will be live-streaming the RNC Chairman debate HERE.

If you don't like the quality of that stream, Americans for Tax Reform is hosting their own stream, too. You can get that HERE.

You can probably get in on some live-chatter on the RNC Chair Twitter feed HERE, too if you're into that kinda thing.

I'm heading out to go cover it. I'll blog something if it's very newsworthy, and post some pics but otherwise will be posting a summary for the homepage immediately after.

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Monday, January 05, 2009

Stalling Sen. Franken

Posted by: Amanda Carpenter at 10:18 AM

A top GOP senator is making the case that Al Franken cannot be immediately seated by Senate if the Minnesota Canvassing board declares Franken the winner over Republican incumbent Norm Coleman later today.

It appears Republicans could stall Franken for at least a week, which would give Coleman time to advance legal arguments against the board's decision, by employing arcane Senate rules.

National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman John Cornyn told Fox News that "The Senate's rules require an election certificate that can't be issued until after 7 days after the canvassing board certifies the recount."

Cornyn said Senate Republicans could also refer the board's ruling to the Senate Rules Committee, much like Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said he would do to prevent Roland Burris from filling President-elect Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat.

The Rules Committee, filled by 19 senators, could take up to 90 days to make a recommendation on the fate of either senator.

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Monday, January 05, 2009

Obama's "Neighborhood Ball"

Posted by: Amanda Carpenter at 9:56 AM

Barack Obama wants to make a good impression with his new neighbors in the District.

"This is an Inauguration for all Americans," said President-elect Obama in a statement. "I wanted to make sure that we had an event that would be open to our new neighborhood here in Washington, D.C., and also neighborhoods across the country. Michelle and I look forward to joining our fellow Americans across the country during
this very special event."

Tickets for the event will be given to DC residents at free or "affordable" prices, according to his transition team. It will also include elements of webcasting and text messaging to include supporters outside the Beltway.

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Monday, January 05, 2009

The Case Against Michael Steele

Posted by: Matt Lewis at 5:55 AM

Rob Bluey makes it over at RedState...

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Sunday, January 04, 2009

Re: Gov Kaine to Chair DNC

Posted by: Matt Lewis at 6:33 PM

Virginia is an odd state, in that the governor cannot succeed himself. As such, this gives Kaine something to do after his term expires. Keep in mind, he was an early supporter of Obama, and was on the veep short list, so he is due a good favor.

The notion that his election would help Democrats in Virginia is concerning. One thing is for certain; if Terry McAuliffe is elected governor of the Commonwealth, you will know Obama's victory in Virginia wasn't a fluke -- and that Virginia has, indeed, morphed into something other than the old Virginia.

I recently watched a documentary about the 2004 Ohio elections, called "So Goes the Nation." McAuliffe's interviews were filmed -- no kidding, here -- in the back of a Limo. He also had the audacity to say that if George H.W. Bush had not been elected president, that Ronald Reagan would probably have gone to jail. If that guy gets elected governor of Virginia, all hope may be lost...

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Sunday, January 04, 2009

Gov Kaine to Chair DNC

Posted by: Amanda Carpenter at 5:48 PM

Democrats will install Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, replacing Howard Dean, sources tell the Washington Post.

Kaine will work as part-time chairman until his term as Governor expires in 2010--a move that increases the Democrats odds of keeping Virginia in their column.

According to the Post, a "veteran operative" will run the DNC's day-to-day operations until Kaine takes over.

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Sunday, January 04, 2009

RNC Debate: Questioning The RNC Candidates

Posted by: Jonathan Garthwaite at 2:10 PM

Time is running out to submit questions for the RNC Chairman candidate debate Monday at 1pm.

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Sunday, January 04, 2009

Welcome Back Amanda

Posted by: Jonathan Garthwaite at 2:06 PM

Welcome back and congratulations Amanda. ? Perfect timing. ?You're back just in time the Democratic train wreck.

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Sunday, January 04, 2009

Pay-to-Play Probe Snares Richardson

Posted by: Amanda Carpenter at 1:51 PM

Barack Obama hasn't even been inaugurated and already the Democrats ethical problems are piling up.

While Rod Blagojevich and Roland Burris are marching to Washington to claim Obama's old Senate seat, Obama has to start interviewing for another Secretary of Commerce.

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has unexpectedly decided NOT to accept Obama's appointment as Secretary of Commerce because of his role in an unfinished grand jury "pay-to-play" investigation.

"Let me say unequivocally that I and my Administration have acted properly in all matters and that this investigation will bear out that fact," he said in a statement. "But I have concluded that the ongoing investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process."

Federal investigators began examining Richardson's relationship with the California-based CDR Financial Products, Inc. last August as a part of a nationwide municipal bond scandal investigation. Richardson, however, was not the original target of the investigation that began in Jefferson County, Alabama where Bloomberg News said may CDR's illegal actions may have caused "the biggest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history."

In 2003 and 2004, CDR's President David Rubin donated $100,000 to Richardson's political action committees, Si Se Puede and Moving America Forward. In 2004, Rubin received $1.4 million worth of contracts from the State of New Mexico to provide consulting services about interest-rate swaps for one of Richardson's $1.6 billion transportation bond projects.

Both parties insist no-wrongdoing took place.

Richardson's unexpected withdrawal re-opens the jockeying for the coveted slot of Secretary of Commerce---one of the plum positions disgraced Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was caught on wiretaps saying he desired in exchange for an appointment to Obama's vacated Senate seat.

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Sunday, January 04, 2009

Top Senate Dems Continue to Reject Burris

Posted by: Amanda Carpenter at 10:44 AM

Democratic leadership had their talking points in order regarding the Burris appointment for the Sunday morning shows.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Blagojevich is "obviously corrupt" and that Burris is "tainted," although the Governor has not yet been found guilty of anything on Meet the Press this morning.

"It's not the person who has been appointed, it's the appointee," Reid said, attempting to dismiss criticisms that Burris was being unfairly attacked. The Leader also maintained the Senate's right to determine its membership and said, "there is a cloud over Blagojevich and there is a cloud under the state of Illinois. The state doesn't have a vote."

(Reid also denied having ANY conversations with Blagojevich about the rejection of Reps. Danny Davis and Jesse Jackson, Jr. as possible appointments to the seat. "He's [Blagojevich] making it up," Reid said repeatedly.)

Meanwhile, the Senate's number two Democrat and Illinois senior senator unleashed a new talking point regarding the appointment. On ABC's "This Week" Sen. Dick Durbin (D.) conceded that disgraced Governor Rod Blagojevich has the "state constitutional authority" to appoint Roland Burris to fill Barack Obama's senate seat. On the other hand, Durbin maintained that the "Senate has the U.S. constitutional responsibility to decide if Burris was chosen in a proper manner."

Unrelated update: MTP's David Gregory asked some good "holding them accountable" type questions by bringing up Reid's previous statements about the Iraq war and President Bush.

Reid mostly refused to say he was wrong by declaring the war a "failure" in 2007, but reaffirmed negative feelings about Bush. Gregory asked Reid if he regretted calling President Bush a "liar" and a "loser" at various points in time. Reid said "no" by explaining that "I am who I am."

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Sunday, January 04, 2009

Class/Race War Over Senate Appointments

Posted by: Amanda Carpenter at 9:23 AM

Some liberals see racism in Leader Harry Reid's decision to oppose Governor Blagojevich's appointment of Roland Burris to Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat and Reid's support for Caroline Kennedy to replace Hillary Clinton's slot.

Via "mycritters2" at the Democratic Underground blog:

On one hand, we have Dems threatening not to seat an African American duly appointed to serve in the US Senate by a sitting governor; an African American who has worked his way up from local office through statewide office before this appointment.
On the other hand, we have Dems cheering the naming of a wealthy white woman who has never held public office, interviews badly, but has an important surname and the “right” pedigree.

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Sunday, January 04, 2009

Obama and Israel

Posted by: Amanda Carpenter at 6:59 AM

Barack Obama was considering making a major foreign policy address from a Muslim capitol during his first 100 days, but that was before the violence the IDF marched into Gaza.

It's unknown if he's still mulling the trip over. If he does schedule a Muslim address it would certainly send a bad signal in this environment.

Democrats will say Obama has been unconditional in his support for Israel although his stance was questioned throughout the Democratic primary. Obama has gone to great lengths to make neutral statements about the conflict and has tolerated anti-Israel views from close advisors like Samantha Power and his former pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Conveniently enough, Obama is using the time before he takes office to stay quiet on the situation, which, shows respect for not sending out conflicting messages from the executive office. Some pro-Israel advocates want Obama to make a statement sooner than January 20th and are contrasting images of Obama's winter beach vacation with violence abroad to criticize the President-elect for not taking a stand.