May 19, 2010
— Ace Jim Geraghty's point here is good -- even as I was making the "Critz-ran-as-a-conservative" spin-argument, I realized its infirmity.
Because the problem is that is how most Democrats in these sorts of districts always run. The question was not whether a Democrat from this sort of district would pose, yet again, as a conservative, while actually planning to vote for just about everything Nancy Pelosi wants -- that was guaranteed beforehand -- but whether or not this age-old trick would still work.
Alas, yes, it still does work.
Some conservatives bitterly chuckled that Democrats were celebrating the victory of a pro-life, pro-gun Democrat who opposed health care and cap-and-trade. (Public Policy Polling found only 30 percent of the districtÂ’s voters support Obamacare, and 58 percent oppose.) This comes on the heels of an anti-Obamacare, anti-Pelosi, pro-life Democrat, Mike Oliverio, knocking off incumbent Alan Mollohan in West Virginia. They contend that few Democrats will be able to run on as conservative a platform as Critz and Oliverio did.That argument is true enough, but a lot of Democrats who are considered vulnerable will be attempting to run as conservatives this fall. In fact, what made PennsylvaniaÂ’s special House election a useful indicator was that the two candidates offered precisely the arguments we should see in many swing districts this fall: the Republican arguing that the Democrat was a puppet for President Obama and Nancy Pelosi, and the Democrat insisting that no, he had nothing to do with those Washington liberals, that he was just a homespun country boy who voted in his districtÂ’s best interest. Tuesday, a district full of conservative Democrats concluded that Critz made the more persuasive argument.
A more persuasive argument? Or assumed a more agreeably-hypocritical posture?
Yes, people tend to do that all too frequently, buy into transparent nonsense, which often makes me wonder if people simply enjoy being lied to. That is: It's very possible people prefer hypocrites because fundamentally they are hypocrites themselves; they want politicians like themselves, people who mouth platitudes about responsibility and accountability and our children's future while voting to bankrupt those children.
Geraghty's next point is good, too:
For political junkies, a campaign on national themes is the natural and obvious choice. But no one ever asked the voters of either this Pennsylvania or that New York district whether they wanted their local House race to be a proxy war between two national parties. Up in New York’s 23rd Congressional District, there were plenty of voters who care about widening the St. Lawrence Seaway, redevelopment around Plattsburgh Air Force Base, highway plans between Watertown and Plattsburgh; topics that don’t get asked about on appearances on the Sean Hannity show or CNN. Hoffman’s botching of an interview with the Watertown Daily Times editorial board was much more harmful than it seemed at the time; no conservative should emulate Dick Armey in his dismissal of “regional concerns as ‘parochial’ issues that would not determine the outcome of the election.”Tim Burns never quite emulated those comments, but he did repeatedly declare his candidacy a referendum on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Obama administration. Considering how badly the pair poll in the district, that simply wasn’t the case. Conservatives chuckle at Democrats who constantly invoke George W. Bush and Sarah Palin, and note that neither of those figures will be on the ballot this November. Well, Obama and Nancy Pelosi weren’t on the ballot Tuesday, either.
Hmmm... not sure how to handle that, then: I guess maybe conservative candidates have to run almost entirely as local politicians, and not try to nationalize the race too much by their own words or own ads, and maybe just trust that, even while not mentioning Pelosi, the general mood of the electorate will show itself. Maybe it's a don't-force-it-let-it-simply-come sort of deal.
There's a problem with that, though: "Local issues" is often synonymous with "directing federal money into the district" or "pressing for special federal favors," and that is far more congruent with the Democratic agenda with the Republican one.
Conservatives 4 Palin thinks we couldn't have won this heavily-Democratic race except in a low-turnout election, where our party's enthusiasm could edge down the gap in actual turnout; but Ed Rendell craftily scheduled this vote to occur on the day of the Pennsylvania Senate Primary, denying us that low turnout:
I had been worrying about this since Rendell made that announcement and as I watched the election returns online last night, my concerns were confirmed. It became clear very early that there was no way Tim Burns could win a special election run concurrently with a primary election for the same race. This was evident to me despite the point made by Rick Santorum and others early in the evening that the initial numbers were coming from Democrat strongholds and Burns could come back to win when the more conservative precincts were counted. This wishful thinking was unrealistic. There was never going to be sufficient Republican votes to overcome the 2-1 Democrat to Republican advantage in the district given that voters had to declare their party affiliation to vote in the primary on the same night.The data I paid particular attention to in the PA-12 race were the results coming in from the primary election. From the very beginning, the number of votes being cast in the Democrat Primary for the 2012 general election in PA-12 was nearly twice the amount being cast in the Republican Primary. You would expect this since, as Santorum noted, mainly Democrat precincts were being counted. But as numbers began coming in from more conservative areas, the trend continued. Indeed when all the votes were tallied, 80, 736 were cast in the Democrat primary and only 45, 852 in the GOP Primary.
We had a relatively uncontested primary (Toomey won in a walk, as expected) and they had a hotly-contested one; that assured PA-12 Democrats would be out in force.
This may be true as well, but in many of the districts we hope to pick off in November, we can't count on a low-turnout election, either: Midterms aren't as big as presidential elections, but they're hardly small-potatoes elections, either.
Nate Silver covers all of the votes yesterday, including PA-12, of course:
The results: Mark Critz (D) defeats Tim Burns (R), 53-45.The conventional wisdom: A big, clutch win for Democrats.
The reality: Neither outcome would have been surprising here. The polling showed a toss-up, and the district (with a PVI of R+1) is close to the national median. There's a lot of variance in open-seat elections for the House; even in an environment like 2008, Democrats would have had about a 30 percent chance of losing this seat, and even in one as relatively poor for them as 2004, they would have had about a 40 percent chance of winning it.
Still, the 8-point margin of victory was surprising. As I wrote yesterday morning: "It's really only if one of the candidates wins by middle-to-high single digits ... that [PA-12] might tell us something", and Critz met that threshold.
Republicans have some decent excuses; they may have been harmed by the fact that there was a contentious Democratic Senate primary occurring at the same time, for instance, and the DCCC seems to have a peculiar knack for winning special elections. The Democratic candidate ran against his party's health care bill! But make no mistake: there are garbage cans being kicked, and consultants being sworn at, at NRCC headquarters right now. And the Republicans may need to engage in some self-reflection about whether nationalizing the race will be the optimal strategy in each of 50 distinct states and 435 distinct Congressional Districts.
I think that this race was in fact "meaningful," as Silver says, not particularly that Critz won in a heavily Democratic that has been electing a Democrat for 36 years straight, but that he did so without much of a scare.
That does seem to suggest that our previous optimism was ill-founded: Yes, we may still win the House, but it will be, as it was once thought, a hard thing to do, and that talk of a full-on Democratic wipe-out was silly.
Butterball Pudgebunny Chris Matthews said it would have been "catastrophic" if Critz had lost, considering the built-in Democratic advantage there. And I guess we could extrapolate from PA-12 (assuming it wasn't an aberration) that November won't be catastrophic for Democrats. But "not catastrophic" is not the same as "good" or even "fair."
The Democrats, I think, will still do very poorly in November. I'm moving away from my giddy catastrophe stuff, but we don't actually need a Democratic catastrophe to win -- just winning what it looks like we could and should win should do the trick.
It will still feel like a catastrophe to the Democrats, of course.
Posted by: Ace at
12:01 PM
| Comments (282)
Post contains 1485 words, total size 10 kb.
Posted by: t-bird at May 19, 2010 12:09 PM (FcR7P)
Posted by: damian at May 19, 2010 12:09 PM (4WbTI)
Nope. I cannot accept defeat to the Democrats. I mean look at these people. They're awful.
They're corrupt and they're liars and they're anti-American and, AND they hate the people.
How the fuck are we losing to any of them? After a while we need to step back and look at WE are doing wrong. Whatever we're doing, it ain't working. There is no good reason we should be losing to these despicable pieces of feces.
Posted by: Mr Peebles at May 19, 2010 12:10 PM (uFokq)
Posted by: GulfCoastTider at May 19, 2010 12:10 PM (+8jFr)
Posted by: logprof at May 19, 2010 12:10 PM (Mmw0q)
Posted by: age-old trick at May 19, 2010 12:11 PM (gbCNS)
That is what makes them tend to vote Dem. First because the elderly have always voted Dem and second because they either pay no taxes or very little taxes and they want to see the gravy train continue.
They have no skin in the game and they want to vote themselves largess from someone else's pockets.
Posted by: Vic at May 19, 2010 12:13 PM (6taRI)
Not if your the one who has to carry it on his back. (think spending)
Posted by: Buzzsaw at May 19, 2010 12:14 PM (tf9Ne)
Posted by: damian at May 19, 2010 12:14 PM (4WbTI)
Posted by: taylork at May 19, 2010 12:15 PM (0Hn5w)
My idiot Obamabot roommate is constantly crowing about how "x" (car sales, etc.) is better than it's been "since 2007"!!!
Also, a shocking number of people who vote are simply not paying attention, and so for another acquaintance, a PhD student in California, he pays almost no attention to the news and is still high on how awesome cool it is that Obama won.
Posted by: Kensington at May 19, 2010 12:17 PM (aDdAT)
17
(keeping in mind that independents didn't vote in this one)
how do you figure?
PA is a closed primary state.
Posted by: Marybeth at May 19, 2010 12:17 PM (hBRoa)
Posted by: taylork at May 19, 2010 12:18 PM (0Hn5w)
Mark Critz (D) ran as Murtha Jr, i.e., nothing will change, DC money will keep flowing, and I hate those guys in DC as much as you do! I'm one of you!!
He ran against ObamaCare. He ran against Cap&Tax. If he has to actually cast any votes on something controversial between now & Nov 2010 it will be a way to see how he really thinks.
Posted by: Boots at May 19, 2010 12:18 PM (06JTY)
Posted by: snapdragon at May 19, 2010 04:12 PM (5Etcj)
FTFY
Posted by: Waterhouse at May 19, 2010 12:18 PM (u+34p)
Posted by: snapdragon at May 19, 2010 04:12 PM (5Etcj)
Is that what your dad used to tell you as he put you to bed in that strange way? At least, it explains why you've turned out the way you have.
Posted by: progressoverpeace at May 19, 2010 12:18 PM (Qp4DT)
Posted by: DirtyJobsGuy at May 19, 2010 12:18 PM (N7ULP)
College republicans where are they?
52% think O has a rockin' body.
Cornyn, McConnell, Graham, Hatch and a handful more of that RINO tribe are exuding surrender at every turn. It is hard to be enthusiastic about this bunch of zombies.
They like dictators too, that way they make more money and just go along (easy).......
Buy gold, hope your daughter is married to a Doctor and get a good lawyer (dem. preferred)
Posted by: non_dhimmie at May 19, 2010 12:18 PM (zACGu)
Unless a whold bunch of indys rushed to register GOP or Dem before the deadline.
PA, as messed up as it is in place, at least still has the right kind of primaries.
Posted by: Marybeth at May 19, 2010 12:19 PM (hBRoa)
When Tim Burns was a CEO he evidentally shipped alot of PA jobs overseas. That is a hard record to run on in a blue collar district with very high unemployment whether it was justified or not.
Posted by: robtr at May 19, 2010 12:20 PM (fwSHf)
Posted by: snapdragon at May 19, 2010 04:12 PM (5Etcj)
That's what she said.
Posted by: Michael Scott at May 19, 2010 12:21 PM (Mmw0q)
Yeah, but since it was held on primary data there's a good chance that Independents just didn't vote.
Posted by: taylork at May 19, 2010 12:21 PM (0Hn5w)
Posted by: Bugler at May 19, 2010 12:23 PM (VXBR1)
Posted by: crapdragon at May 19, 2010 12:23 PM (VDgKF)
When Tim Burns was a CEO he evidentally shipped alot of PA jobs overseas. That is a hard record to run on in a blue collar district with very high unemployment whether it was justified or not.
Posted by: robtr at May 19, 2010 04:20 PM (fwSHf)"
When you are a CEO your allegiance is to the company, it's workers and it's shareholders. By law you must do what is best for these constituents. Probably he had no choice but to ship the jobs overseas cause the unions, if they were involved, were probably unreasonable. Maybe the guy needs to communicate his reasoning on some of this stuff so that it can't be taken out of context or twisted anymore than it already is.
Posted by: curious at May 19, 2010 12:23 PM (p302b)
Did you see Rand Paul this morning responding to questions of why he'd hold Victory party at a Country Club? His answer on GMA was to cite Tiger woods!!!!!! hahahaha
also note, last year Ron Paul smeared Palin as a "Country Club Republican", which she's never been a member of a Country Club and......Ron Paul is a Lifetime member of the Lake Jackson Country Club
Posted by: jp at May 19, 2010 12:24 PM (DFDtC)
We have a big big problem and you all know what it is.
No one, besides a few (e.g. Col West, etc.) is making the case for Republican conservatism. The GOP, as a party, is not united in its message. It's almost as if they don't really give a shit.
They don't even want to do a new version of the Contract with America. They're putting no effort into explaining why people should vote for them.
The fucked up thing is Obama, Reid, and Pelosi are doing all the heavy lifting! Come on, Republicans: just put a little effort into it and you can win. it. all.
Posted by: Mr Peebles at May 19, 2010 12:25 PM (uFokq)
Posted by: Bugler at May 19, 2010 04:23 PM (VXBR1)"
Truthfully, I wanted to believe that the GOP would find their voice and get a set...now I'm beginning to think that they truly are in cahoots with the DEMS. I'm trying to figure though, what they are in cahoots about.
Posted by: curious at May 19, 2010 12:25 PM (p302b)
Many of them are not in favor of smaller government. They're Republicans, not necessarily Conservatives.
Posted by: damian at May 19, 2010 12:25 PM (4WbTI)
Ron Paul is a Lifetime member of the Lake Jackson Country Club
They're letting WHO in my country club?
Posted by: RON PAUL~! at May 19, 2010 12:29 PM (VDgKF)
Posted by: Gary at May 19, 2010 12:30 PM (nfrWk)
Posted by: Deanna at May 19, 2010 12:30 PM (oflVV)
You'll never see a serious liberal ever--not ever--vote for a Republican.
Which makes me wonder why so many of ours feel the need to pander to them.
Posted by: Curmudgeon at May 19, 2010 12:31 PM (ujg0T)
You're all wrong. Critz didn't win because he was supposedly Conservative, he won because he's basically another Murtha. The people in that district simply cannot give up that pork. They can't give up their old union Dem ideas. They have been trained like monkeys to hold out tin cups to get the tax payers' money while the Democrat organ grinder plays the same old tune. I never expected Burns to win, and frankly am surprised he did as well as he did.
Well said, but are the saps in that district in for a rude surprise when their freshman congresscritter won't be able to deliver?
Posted by: Curmudgeon at May 19, 2010 12:32 PM (ujg0T)
What can we say? We like free shit. Give us more. We don't care what it is - airports, museums, cherubic angel figurines from Walmart ...
Just give us some loot. We love it so much, we'd suck John Murtha's decomposed wanker for it.
Posted by: PA-12 at May 19, 2010 12:33 PM (VMPZa)
Every day for the last 4 years that scene from Braveheart comes to mind.
The scene in which Wallace tries to get Robert the Bruce to be the leader he is capable of being.
THIS. This is the scene. This is us in 2010. Holy shit...This.
Posted by: Mr Peebles at May 19, 2010 12:36 PM (uFokq)
Posted by: Robin at May 19, 2010 12:38 PM (6uXZa)
...who makes the laws/regulations that drive up the costs of doing business to the point where the only way to keep from folding is to start making your product somewhere without an EPA to keep your factory from expanding or shut down your production altogether?
Posted by: HeatherRadish at May 19, 2010 12:38 PM (mR7mk)
Posted by: Dr. Spank at May 19, 2010 12:38 PM (SbFur)
Posted by: curious at May 19, 2010 04:23 PM (p302b)
Yeah maybe, but if you're a democrat, out of work, worried about being out of work or havn't got a raise in three years I think you probably on hear the part about this guy sending jobs overseas.
Posted by: robtr at May 19, 2010 12:39 PM (fwSHf)
Unemployed people are disinterested in these explanations. Something about his campaign bothered me. It seemed to talk more about national trends than the candidate. I guess that's one reason why. Hopefully, Republicans will learn from this and run better campaigns in November. Burns did pretty well.
Posted by: Tattoo De Plane at May 19, 2010 12:39 PM (mHQ7T)
Posted by: East Bay Jay at May 19, 2010 12:40 PM (ocHBO)
Well said, but are the saps in that district in for a rude surprise when their freshman congresscritter won't be able to deliver?
Who says the gravy ain't gonna flow? We'll just fire up the printin' presses and send a couple of billion over there. Who cares if it costs four hundred dollars for a pack of Winston Reds and a case of Pabst Blue Ribbon? Them steelworkers is tough as nails. They won't mind paying a hundred bucks for a dozen donuts and a quart of buttermilk. It ain't their money anyway.
Besides, we just gotta keep 'em happy until we can swamp the country with brown people. Then we won't need them anymore and they can fuck off and die.
Posted by: Democrat Party at May 19, 2010 12:41 PM (P33XN)
Posted by: HeatherRadish at May 19, 2010 04:38 PM (mR7mk)
I agree with what you are saying, I'm saying that it's a much easier argument to make against Burns in an ad than it is for him on this issue.
Posted by: robtr at May 19, 2010 12:42 PM (fwSHf)
But not the part about Nancy Pelosi's House raising the cost of hiring you to the point it's not worth it.
Posted by: HeatherRadish at May 19, 2010 12:42 PM (mR7mk)
Fo shizzle, ma nizzle! Michael Steele is in da hizzle!
Posted by: Embarrassing Party Chair at May 19, 2010 12:43 PM (mHQ7T)
Yeah, I agree with that. Wicked easy--you need about 10 seconds of air time. I don't know how you explain "look, there's federal regulations...." in 10 seconds.
I'm just cranky.
Posted by: HeatherRadish at May 19, 2010 12:44 PM (mR7mk)
Posted by: chemjeff at May 19, 2010 12:45 PM (JgygP)
Posted by: HeatherRadish at May 19, 2010 04:42 PM (mR7mk)
That's pretty much what I am saying. If make the Nancy Pelosi argument your are pretty much saying hey my profits were far more important than your job aren't you?
Posted by: robtr at May 19, 2010 12:45 PM (fwSHf)
Posted by: Editor at May 19, 2010 12:46 PM (pUfK9)
Posted by: Jehu at May 19, 2010 12:49 PM (du0s3)
really JP, you're going to argue that membership in an ACTUAL country club makes one a "country club republican."
God how dense are you? What are you, crapdragon's little sister?
(I don't agree that palin is a cc rep, but still, how stupid is that argument?)
Posted by: s'moron at May 19, 2010 12:49 PM (UaxA0)
Only in John Murtha's sanctified slimy, corrupt Church of Permanent Government Welfare for Idiot Serfs is this manner of ungodly faith possible.
The State of Serfdom is poisonously sick in both heart and soul.
Keep your distance sick twisted Serfs, I want nothing of your evil.
Posted by: Harvrad Inbred=Liberal's Useful Idiots at May 19, 2010 12:50 PM (F2/lB)
Indeed they are. I'd like to think that a politician could make the adult point that businesses exist to make money, not to provide jobs, and that without profit, there are no jobs anyway, whatever the intentions.
I'd like to think that, but it won't work. Leastwise, not until we come out the other side of the purification that's coming.
Posted by: damian at May 19, 2010 12:51 PM (4WbTI)
No, you say, "Look, if Democrats hadn't made producing this widget here cost three times as much as making it in China and shipping it here, I could have kept your cousin on AND hired you."
(The "But you voted for Murtha, 'cause you prefer getting a gov't check without working" stays in your head.)
Posted by: HeatherRadish at May 19, 2010 12:51 PM (mR7mk)
Any time a Democrat tries to run as a moderate or conservative, Remind the voters of Stupak and Nelson.
Posted by: TC at May 19, 2010 12:52 PM (4XzsU)
Nobody's making that case well enough. A candidate should explain how they will make the lives of their constituents better. Burns' campaign was more about the Tea Party than the people who live in a district that has been fed a steady diet of pork for decades. To them, both parties want power and care nothing for them. Burns was just going to Washington to be an obstructionist in their minds.
Posted by: Tattoo De Plane at May 19, 2010 12:52 PM (mHQ7T)
There is the problem in a nutshell people think companies are in business to employ them and not to make a profit on the companies investment.
You can't easily un-teach what the public school has pumped into their skulls all their lives.
Posted by: Buzzsaw at May 19, 2010 12:52 PM (tf9Ne)
The same thing is happening to Michigan. This is why we MUST get the communist party out of power and get rid of all the RINOs when we can.
Posted by: Vic at May 19, 2010 12:52 PM (6taRI)
There was never going to be sufficient Republican votes to overcome the 2-1 Democrat to Republican advantage in the district given that voters had to declare their party affiliation to vote in the primary on the same night.
I voted yesterday, as a Republican. The polling place was empty. I asked the pollworker why there wasn't higher turnout, given the marquee dem race. He said that our precinct was majority Republican registered. There just wasn't a lot of interest in voting on the Republican side, even though the Governor primary was a contest. (sort of). People shouldn't look at the relatively small number of Republican votes yesterday as any indication of relative strength or weakness in PA.
Toomey had a weak challenger, and so did Corbett. There were about a dozen Lt. Gov candidates, one of whom was the TEA party candidate, and I believe he came in second behind the winner.
It seems that the only really motivated voters yesterday were the anti-Specter crowd and the carriers of the Murtha torch.
Posted by: kallisto at May 19, 2010 12:52 PM (+FkcS)
Posted by: Bosk at May 19, 2010 12:52 PM (pUO5u)
Posted by: Guy Fawkes at May 19, 2010 12:53 PM (7VvJB)
Posted by: andrew at May 19, 2010 12:55 PM (g4nDD)
I'd like to think that, but it won't work. Leastwise, not until we come out the other side of the purification that's coming.
Posted by: damian at May 19, 2010 04:51 PM (4WbTI)
I agree with you there too, I just wouldn't expect the people that lost their jobs or ones that might lose their job in the future to vote for me if I made that decision. In my opinion if you are going to be a CEO of a company in a district and later want to run for office in that district you better be able to point to all the jobs you created in the district, not the ones you shipped off.
Posted by: robtr at May 19, 2010 12:56 PM (fwSHf)
http://tinyurl.com/26bcnnr
(I hope my tinyURL-fu is good today)
In a letter to Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Arizona Corporation Commissioner Gary Pierce said a boycott war is bad for both sides, and said he would "be happy to encourage Arizona utilities to renegotiate your power agreements" to end the electricity flowing to Los Angeles.
Letter below
Dear Mayor Villaraigosa,
I was dismayed to learn that the Los Angeles City Council voted to boycott Arizona and Arizona-based companies — a vote you strongly supported — to show opposition to SB 1070 (Support our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act).
You explained your support of the boycott as follows: “While we recognize that as neighbors, we share resources and ties with the State of Arizona that may be difficult to sever, our goal is not to hurt the local economy of Los Angeles, but to impact the economy of Arizona. Our intent is to use our dollars — or the withholding of our dollars — to send a message.”
I received your message; please receive mine. As a state-wide elected member of the Arizona Corporation Commission overseeing Arizona’s electric and water utilities, I too am keenly aware of the “resources and ties” we share with the City of Los Angeles. In fact, approximately twenty-five percent of the electricity consumed in Los Angeles is generated by power plants in Arizona.
If an economic boycott is truly what you desire, I will be happy to encourage Arizona utilities to renegotiate your power agreements so Los Angeles no longer receives any power from Arizona-based generation. I am confident that ArizonaÂ’s utilities would be happy to take those electrons off your hands. If, however, you find that the City Council lacks the strength of its convictions to turn off the lights in Los Angeles and boycott Arizona power, please reconsider the wisdom of attempting to harm ArizonaÂ’s economy.
People of goodwill can disagree over the merits of SB 1070. A state-wide economic boycott of Arizona is not a message sent in goodwill.
Sincerely,
Commissioner Gary Pierce
Ouch
Posted by: fixerupper at May 19, 2010 12:56 PM (J5Hcw)
They're mostly Catholics around there. Winking, nudging and bribing are the cornerstones of their faith. Plenty of time to repent later.
Posted by: Tattoo De Plane at May 19, 2010 12:56 PM (mHQ7T)
You're exactly right.
Think cap-n-tax.
Think "comprehensive immigration reform".
Think card check.
Think VAT.
We cannot afford to sit back and watch and rely on some false sense of inevitability.
Posted by: chemjeff at May 19, 2010 12:57 PM (JgygP)
Posted by: Trimegistus at May 19, 2010 12:57 PM (LvhBv)
Maybe we should all chip in a nickel and buy Ace a copy of The Almanac of American Politics.
While visiting a bookstore about 13 years ago I skimmed the section on my region (I was just getting politically active then) and I gathered a wealth of knowledge from only a few pages. And 13 years later that knowledge is still pretty much up to date.
It's available on Amazon but costs just north of $50.00. Maybe Glenn Reynolds can help an impoverished blogger out?
Posted by: Ed Anger at May 19, 2010 12:57 PM (7+pP9)
Easiest way to get Burns elected? Have Cantor promise that if he gets in the House, he'll have a seat on Appropriations. It won't happen (even the GOP has a line that wants one of those seats) but it would guarantee the seat. Burns wouldn't even have to promise actual pork.
Posted by: AmishDude at May 19, 2010 12:57 PM (Vo2Ef)
Posted by: The MFM at May 19, 2010 12:58 PM (V/EYZ)
Not if Fast Eddie has anything to say about it. Or am I wrong here?
Posted by: Tattoo De Plane at May 19, 2010 12:59 PM (mHQ7T)
Maybe we should all chip in a nickel and buy Ace a copy of The Almanac of American Politics.
Excellent idea!
Posted by: Michael Barone at May 19, 2010 12:59 PM (8OTio)
(The "But you voted for Murtha, 'cause you prefer getting a gov't check without working" stays in your head.)
Posted by: HeatherRadish at May 19, 2010 04:51 PM (mR7mk)
Heh, yeah that will work, "I could have given you and your cousin wife a job but you stupid welfare queen hillbillys voted for Murtha for 30 years and shit in your nest" Now vote for me!
Posted by: robtr at May 19, 2010 01:00 PM (fwSHf)
Posted by: The MFM at May 19, 2010 01:01 PM (V/EYZ)
Posted by: damian at May 19, 2010 01:02 PM (4WbTI)
FYI
HONOLULU — Hawaii elections officials are reporting that about 43 percent of the ballots mailed to registered voters in the contest for Hawaii's vacant congressional seat have been returned.
Office of Elections spokesman Rex Quidilla said Tuesday an estimated 137,000 ballots have been returned out of the 317,337 that were sent voters in the all-mail special election for the 1st Congressional District.
The ballot-return rate is much higher than the 13.3 percent who voted at traditional polling places in the 2002 race to fill a vacancy in the 2nd Congressional District.
The leading candidates are Republican Charles Djou and Democrats Ed Case and Colleen Hanabusa.
Ballots must be received by the state by Saturday.
Posted by: Guy Fawkes at May 19, 2010 01:04 PM (7VvJB)
These folks are social conservatives and Catholics?
Take a series of pictures from the Folsom Street Fair and airbrush pictures of the Dem candidate into them. Run those as ads before November.
Posted by: Democrat Party at May 19, 2010 01:04 PM (P33XN)
All of that same information is available on the 'net, you just have to go to multiple sources to get it.
Posted by: Vic at May 19, 2010 01:05 PM (6taRI)
Posted by: The MFM at May 19, 2010 01:09 PM (V/EYZ)
85 Fast Eddie is term limited. We will be voting in a new governor in November. I believe the state legislature determines the congressional redistricting, right now the PA state house is barely Dem, and the senate is Republican majority. That will probably switch back to its normal state of Republican majority in both houses come November.
I'm reposting the best description of the Crizt victory, this is from the "About Last Night" Thread, comment 217:
Next: enough with the rationalizations on PA 12. It's clearly some sort of 'pocket' throwback; maybe this is where we parked our neandertals. Maybe in a few centuries the peculiar branch of hominoids there will have evolved sufficiently to handle modern technology, like plugging in those RCA Victor 10" b&w TV sets. Is there any evidence they even have cable? The printing press? Fire?
Remember the Republican victories in NJ and MA were due to massive voter discontent, and many Independents swung back to the Republicans. I don't know how much weight should be assigned to the PA 12 situation, the voters there clearly are a unique subset of the population.
Posted by: kallisto at May 19, 2010 01:09 PM (+FkcS)
No comments from haterz!
Posted by: logprof at May 19, 2010 01:12 PM (Mmw0q)
I got here kind of late, so if you've said this already, please forgive me:
ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL!!!!11!!1
Posted by: TimothyJ at May 19, 2010 01:12 PM (IKKIf)
Posted by: The MFM at May 19, 2010 01:12 PM (V/EYZ)
Posted by: logprof at May 19, 2010 01:16 PM (Mmw0q)
Does anyone know where Arlen Specter is today?
We need to keep an eye on that bastard. He's probably up to something evil that will cause a high body count.
Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at May 19, 2010 01:16 PM (P33XN)
80, 736 dem votes hot primary
45, 852 repub votes in uncontested primary
repub loses by about 10,000 votes.
so.... yea. November is coming.
Posted by: Macho Comacho at May 19, 2010 01:16 PM (HfXRl)
Does anyone know where Arlen Specter is today?
We need to keep an eye on that bastard. He's probably up to something evil that will cause a high body count.
Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at May 19, 2010 05:16 PM (P33XN)
--He already figuratively suicide-bombed when he voted for Porkulus then switched parties. Don't want anything literal.
Posted by: logprof at May 19, 2010 01:18 PM (Mmw0q)
Cordially...
Posted by: Rick at May 19, 2010 01:20 PM (HbWhE)
Posted by: Tattoo De Plane
Is this meant to represent all Catholics, or those who would support a kleptocrat? If it's the latter, then I agree. if it's the former, bite me.
Posted by: Blue Hen at May 19, 2010 01:23 PM (R2fpr)
99 - I have a confession. Last night I heard the old coot's concession speech, and for a brief moment I actually felt sorry for him. His voice was hesitant, it sounded as though he was about to cry. I really don't think he saw this coming. But that's the problem in a nutshell, his sense of entitlement about the damn senate seat. Nobody really liked him anymore, Republican or Democrat. He could have made a graceful exit from public life, now he goes down in history as the Biggest Chump of 2010, Category: Politics.
At this moment he most likely has dried his tears and is composing an enemies list for purposes of revenge and retribution.
Posted by: kallisto at May 19, 2010 01:24 PM (+FkcS)
Posted by: Vic at May 19, 2010 01:24 PM (6taRI)
Does anyone know where Arlen Specter is today?
We need to keep an eye on that bastard. He's probably up to something evil that will cause a high body count.
Posted by: Dack Thrombosis
Does auditioning as a replacement for Jessica Cutler coount?
Posted by: Blue Hen at May 19, 2010 01:24 PM (R2fpr)
Don't you just feel the urge to beat them?
Posted by: Crossposted, for Great Justice at May 19, 2010 01:25 PM (4WbTI)
Posted by: bergerbilder at May 19, 2010 01:29 PM (S1Ttj)
How many times in the past have I said social cons are not conservatives just because they are pro-life? Most of them are just religious liberals.
Posted by: Vic
I have met very few religious liberals that were pro-life. In the Catholic church today, there is a slew of people who's agenda is torture (when a Republican is President) gutting immigration laws and social spending. The US Conference of Bishops said nothing against the deals, bribes or blackouts associated with Obamacare. The only token reisistence was a mail in campaign against the abortion provisions. Even then, they seek to reduce that aspect, as seen by the accomodations given to 'Catholic' pro-abortion politicians. Pro-lifers I have known were either libertarians of various stripes or social conservatives.
Posted by: Blue Hen at May 19, 2010 01:29 PM (R2fpr)
Posted by: Vic at May 19, 2010 01:31 PM (6taRI)
file this under: fucking cocksuckers
msn.com headline: Could Angry Arizona Cut Power To L.A?
Angry.
Posted by: Mr Peebles at May 19, 2010 01:31 PM (uFokq)
Posted by: Curmudgeon at May 19, 2010 01:32 PM (ujg0T)
Posted by: Arlen Rain Man Specter at May 19, 2010 01:32 PM (P33XN)
hahaha, Robert Kennedy Jr, the cocklicker who called us traitors for not believing the Global Warming hoax...
his stupid asshole wife got busted for drunk driving!
Posted by: Mr Peebles at May 19, 2010 01:32 PM (uFokq)
Posted by: exceller at May 19, 2010 01:32 PM (jx2Td)
Alas, yes, it still does work.
So Democrats rely on stupid, gullible voters to get elected, then
but we knew that...
Posted by: Jones at May 19, 2010 01:33 PM (JL3qV)
I wasn't limiting to Catholics but from what I have seen there are quite a few single-issue anti-abortion "cons" who love big government and big spending.
And almost always their pro-life stance is based on religious feelings.
Posted by: Vic at May 19, 2010 01:34 PM (6taRI)
Is this meant to represent all Catholics, or those who would support a kleptocrat? If it's the latter, then I agree. if it's the former, bite me.
Not all by any means, but sadly there *is* a large "Catholic" Left. I put it in quotation marks because you can argue that they aren't really Catholic, but they are there nonetheless. The Jesuits are chock full of them.
Posted by: Curmudgeon at May 19, 2010 01:34 PM (ujg0T)
Posted by: Curmudgeon at May 19, 2010 05:32 PM (ujg0T)
--Just google "seamless garment" or "social justice."
Liberation theology for gringos.
Posted by: logprof at May 19, 2010 01:34 PM (Mmw0q)
Nice, "that massive commie wall street bill" is the most popular bill before Congress this term.
Posted by: snapdragon at May 19, 2010 01:34 PM (5Etcj)
I have a heart of stone where Speculum is concerned. He has and always will be a nasty piece of work. God riddance to bad PA rubbish.
Posted by: mpfs, Kia Hamster Lover at May 19, 2010 01:35 PM (iYbLN)
I think you're out of touch, but even if it's me who's out of touch, I'm glad the Republicans are fighting. If they cares solely about popularity, they would need to change their names to democrat.
Posted by: Lex Luthor, Ruler of Australia at May 19, 2010 01:36 PM (dUOK+)
Posted by: J. Fudgebunny Butterball at May 19, 2010 01:36 PM (zfRju)
"Hmmm... not sure how to handle that, then: I guess maybe conservative candidates have to run almost entirely as local politicians, and not try to nationalize the race too much by their own words or own ads, and maybe just trust that, even while not mentioning Pelosi, the general mood of the electorate will show itself. Maybe it's a don't-force-it-let-it-simply-come sort of deal."
connect with the locals, talk about things they want to talk about... hmmmm
it's just crazy enough to work!
Posted by: shoey at May 19, 2010 01:38 PM (yCH89)
Posted by: Vyceroy at May 19, 2010 01:38 PM (T4Oef)
Posted by: exceller at May 19, 2010 01:39 PM (jx2Td)
Nah, nothing good can come out of Republican candidates holding townhalls and talking to large groups of, you know, citizens...who pay taxes and shit.
Nah, that would be useless. The Republicans know what they're doing. They know what the people want what's best for the peons.
Posted by: Mr Peebles at May 19, 2010 01:41 PM (uFokq)
"Some good News: Republicans in the Senate have grown a few nads and have succeeded in blocking that massive commie wall street bill."
Actually Snow and Collins did their usual and voted for it. Dems Cantwell and Finegold joined republicans in voting against it.
Posted by: robtr at May 19, 2010 01:43 PM (fwSHf)
Snowe and Collins are DIABLOS and are a showpiece for why we should never vote for liberals with an R.
They should be stripped of all committee assignments when they do shit like this.
Posted by: Vic at May 19, 2010 01:45 PM (6taRI)
Posted by: J. Fudgebunny Butterball at May 19, 2010 01:46 PM (zfRju)
Posted by: damian at May 19, 2010 04:09 PM (4WbTI)
That right there I believe is a brilliantly subtle reference to The Jerk. Well played, sir, very well played, indeed. Though I don't like the implication that we Republicans are Navin R. Johnson, since he was a fucking retard. Oh, wait . . .
Posted by: Sharkman at May 19, 2010 01:46 PM (Zj8fM)
Posted by: Vic at May 19, 2010 01:47 PM (6taRI)
Posted by: Vic at May 19, 2010 05:45 PM (6taRI)
Yeah and their ugly too, they don't quite fit the new republican women politicians image we are trying to cultivate. When our women put on stompy boots they fucking mean it.
Posted by: robtr at May 19, 2010 01:48 PM (fwSHf)
That right there I believe is a brilliantly subtle reference to The Jerk. Well played, sir, very well played, indeed. Though I don't like the implication that we Republicans are Navin R. Johnson, since he was a fucking retard. Oh, wait . . .
But he was a poor black child. Think on that.
Posted by: Curmudgeon at May 19, 2010 01:49 PM (ujg0T)
O/T but surprised FLOTUS wasn't on her hubby's short list for SCOTUS. After all, she gives great empathy.
Sick. These fuckers are truly demented.
Posted by: laceyunderalls at May 19, 2010 01:50 PM (pLTLS)
The trick democrats use (Campaign as conservative to get elected, and then move reliably left and vote with the hard-left afterward) IS WHY REPUBLICANS NEED TO FOCUS ON THE TRICK.
I have no idea why republicans don't pound democrats into the sand on this issue.
Rule #1: Democrats are deceptive.
Rule #2: Democrats are deceptive
Rule #3: Democrats are deceptive.
Democrats always promise restraint, and then turn into lefty party hacks once in office. ALWAYS.
Posted by: Lemon Kitten at May 19, 2010 01:51 PM (0fzsA)
Posted by: 48%er at May 19, 2010 01:52 PM (gxpfq)
But he was a poor black child. Think on that.
Hmmm, he thought he was black but he was really white? Hey, Mr. President! . . .
Posted by: Sharkman at May 19, 2010 01:52 PM (Zj8fM)
Posted by: bergerbilder at May 19, 2010 01:52 PM (S1Ttj)
Sad as it is, I think the only way we ditch Obama and get a real leader in the WH is if the economy continues to drift along the way it is now (or perhaps gets a little better so that the pain on normal folks is lessened), and then send these cornholes packing in 2012.
Posted by: Bust of Churchill at May 19, 2010 01:53 PM (8/DeP)
Not a very good move to reinforce the notion that the Republicans are corporate tools.
Posted by: snapdragon at May 19, 2010 01:54 PM (5Etcj)
Posted by: dagny at May 19, 2010 01:55 PM (NuSoC)
Wouldn't the best possible result in November be to win handily but fall just short of control in each house, so that the Dems have enough retard rope with which to hang themselves while we have enough stroke to filibuster anything truly maniacal?
Uh no, our country is in peril and we need to fix it.
Posted by: robtr at May 19, 2010 01:56 PM (fwSHf)
#129
that would mean going out there and talking to roomfuls of the rubes with their banjoes twanging and their corncob pipes spewing smoke and then I'd have listen them yodel on and on and then actually pretend I heard them and voice their "Constitution this, and Stop-spending that" opinions... why, I'd barely have time to talk about me! (shudder)
Posted by: Republican Canidate at May 19, 2010 01:56 PM (yCH89)
Posted by: BeckoningChasm at May 19, 2010 01:56 PM (eNxMU)
Posted by: mikeyslaw at May 19, 2010 01:58 PM (QMGr1)
Posted by: snapdragon at May 19, 2010 05:54 PM (5Etcj)
Thanks for you concern Mr. Frum
Posted by: robtr at May 19, 2010 01:59 PM (fwSHf)
The Democratic candidate ran against his party's health care bill! _
that's good. But we all know he will now tow the party line.
Posted by: Lemon Kitten at May 19, 2010 01:59 PM (0fzsA)
Right, because we all know that Democrats have absolutely no ties to corporations..
Posted by: Kratos (missing from the side of Mt Olympus) at May 19, 2010 02:00 PM (c0A3e)
The Democratic candidate ran against his party's health care bill! _
You mean the one that passed already and been signed into law? That's convenient.
Posted by: robtr at May 19, 2010 02:01 PM (fwSHf)
Posted by: J. Fudgebunny Butterball at May 19, 2010 02:03 PM (zfRju)
Posted by: GarandFan at May 19, 2010 02:07 PM (6mwMs)
Posted by: snapdragon Takesituptheassdragon
Jesus, Mary & Joseph, can't you come up with anything more original than that old line asslickingdragon?
Posted by: mpfs,Kia Hamster Lover..so make something of it at May 19, 2010 02:08 PM (iYbLN)
Posted by: Eastern Pennsyltucky at May 19, 2010 02:09 PM (UJ7x1)
Posted by: MikeTheMoose at May 19, 2010 02:10 PM (9vE8+)
Posted by: Asscheeks of Saturn at May 19, 2010 02:10 PM (w9bVp)
Public support for Financial Reform is in the 65%-70% range.
The Democrats are trying to enact it...the Republicans are trying to block it.
Posted by: snapdragon at May 19, 2010 02:10 PM (5Etcj)
Posted by: J. Fudgebunny Butterball at May 19, 2010 02:11 PM (zfRju)
Posted by: Palerider at May 19, 2010 02:11 PM (dkExz)
Posted by: snapdragon at May 19, 2010 04:12 PM (5Etcj)
whistling past the graveyard again cocksucker?
Posted by: Unclefacts, AoSHQ Professional Debate Team at May 19, 2010 02:12 PM (erIg9)
The Democrats are trying to enact it...the Republicans are trying to block it.
Posted by: snapdragon at May 19, 2010 06:10 PM (5Etcj)
And Congress has to pass it before anyone (including members of Congress) can find out what's in it -- and realize that they want it repealed.
Posted by: stuiec at May 19, 2010 02:13 PM (7AOgy)
Wouldn't the best possible result in November be to win handily but fall just short of control in each house, so that the Dems have enough retard rope with which to hang themselves while we have enough stroke to filibuster anything truly maniacal?
Sad as it is, I think the only way we ditch Obama and get a real leader in the WH is if the economy continues to drift along the way it is now (or perhaps gets a little better so that the pain on normal folks is lessened), and then send these cornholes packing in 2012.
If you look back at the Congressional Elections of 1978, where the GOP gained enough to stymie, but not enough to silence the Commiecrats in Congress, the scenario plays out like that, setting the stage for an Uncle Ron in 1980. (Think the fate of the bogus SALT 2 treaty post 197
However,
(1) there is no guarantee that an Uncle Ron 2.0 will emerge, especially given the front-loaded, winner take all primary system the GOP has implemented since then. For all we know, we could get Gerald Ford 2.0 Or George H.W. Bush 2.0 again.
(2) Moreover, I think 1994 was a much happier outcome than 1978. Onus was put on the Demunists to become less Commiecrat. And Billy Jeff did do that, with welfare reform and capital gains taxes cut in half. Will the Obamunist do likewise? If yes, all the better. If no, he will be a petulant man-child and a long-standing lesson why not to vote a Commiecrat to President ever again, even more than Jimmuh Carturd was in 1984 and 1988.
Posted by: Curmudgeon at May 19, 2010 02:13 PM (ujg0T)
Posted by: snapdragon at May 19, 2010 05:54 PM (5Etcj)
would you like to see the dollar amount corporate america funneled to the obama campaign, or perhaps how many goldman sachs employees are now in his administration?
Posted by: Unclefacts, AoSHQ Professional Debate Team at May 19, 2010 02:14 PM (erIg9)
Posted by: Curmudgeon at May 19, 2010 02:14 PM (ujg0T)
Posted by: Eastern Pennsyltucky at May 19, 2010 06:09 PM (UJ7x1)
You'd think they'd have learned something from the Scozzafava debacle next door.
Posted by: stuiec at May 19, 2010 02:14 PM (7AOgy)
Posted by: Asscheeks of Saturn at May 19, 2010 02:15 PM (w9bVp)
Don't worry, dear voters!
We'll take the House in November and we'll stand strong against this unamerican administration.
Well, we'll do that for about a day or until the media call us racists. Then we'll fold like a cheap suit and scrape and grovel for forgiveness. A large part of this forgiveness will involve us going along with a lot of nation destroying legislation.
Meanwhile, we'll float our fat asses around Congress on an ocean of pork bill payoffs and crony capitalist deals that only reinforce the Communist Party line!
God, you people really are fucking stupid. The Dems always said so but we didn't want to believe it. But they're right! So we're going to take as much of your shit as we can, just like our dear colleagues across the aisle!
Suckas!
Posted by: Republican Party Establisment at May 19, 2010 02:15 PM (P33XN)
Posted by: snapdragon IliketotakeituptheassdragonIreallydo
Yes, because we all know the Republicans are the problem. Hahahahahaahahaa....asswipe.
Lay off the hash assbag.
Posted by: mpfs,Kia Hamster Lover..so make something of it at May 19, 2010 02:15 PM (iYbLN)
Posted by: Curmudgeon at May 19, 2010 06:14 PM (ujg0T)
Fuck you, you sour bastard.
Posted by: stuiec at May 19, 2010 02:15 PM (7AOgy)
Take up the platform of fiscal responsiblity, national defense, and upholding the Constitution (I'd say to just drop the "family values" -- that doesn't seem to be working out well for Republicans as of late). You have a better chance of winning using that time honored ploy (besides, the Dems have a horrid track record in those areas). Screw "we'll bring jobs back" and all that bullshit...because it's a lie; hard times are here to stay for a while. Bring up patriotism and the American spirit; talk about not kow towing to enemies both foreign and domestic. You know, the things the Dems hardly ever do.
And whatever else, the Republicans in the Congress now have to start fighting back -- because this is America (still), and America doesn't like pussies or losers (a tactical advantage that the Repubs have steadily lost since healthcare...the dumb bastiges).
Simple as that.
There are going to be districts that simply will not vote Republican -- often for the craziest of reasons. We have a county in my area that is still heavily Dem because it was a big copperhead county during the Civil War...the Republicans are still those "damn n-loving Yankees"...wtf!? That loyalty has been shaken there, but if the Repubs don't capitalize on it (see above), they'll shift right back to voting Dem -- it's already started in fact (thanks to the MFM and the economy "getting so much better"). Yes, people really are that frakking stupid and sheeplike, and it isn't just in PA.
Posted by: unknown jane at May 19, 2010 02:16 PM (5/yRG)
Posted by: robtr at May 19, 2010 02:16 PM (fwSHf)
Can anyone tell me who will be uttering Sir Arlen's eulogy? Dude got thrown under the bus by a self serving mf'er. It just ain't right.
Posted by: Reverend Wright at May 19, 2010 02:18 PM (uFdnM)
Does anyone know where Arlen Specter is today?
He just moved into the apartment down the hall from me. The retirement home isn't all that bad. Local bakeries send over their day-old pastries for all of us geezers to fight over. Yeah, I've got diabetes now, but it's free! I can also use those sugary delights to barter with the fat welfare whores for their "services". What they'll do for jelly donuts is amazing!
Oh, I see Arlen's in line already...
Posted by: age-old trick at May 19, 2010 02:18 PM (gbCNS)
Also, the fact that Bill Russell decided to be petulant and make a big deal out of not endorsing Burns didn't help.
But we shouldn't worry about this too much. Regardless of what Nate Silver says about it being "R+1", there's still a 2-1 Dem registration advantage, the seat was held by a Dem since the '70s, and the inhabitants of the district are a bunch of pork-whores. It would have been a bigger blow to the Dems had they lost it than it was to our side. We should have gone in to this expecting to lose.
Posted by: ol_dirty_/b/tard at May 19, 2010 02:19 PM (IoUF1)
I've never seen it explained so simply.
Posted by: elspeth at May 19, 2010 02:20 PM (AOIJi)
Posted by: ol_dirty_/b/tard at May 19, 2010 06:19 PM (IoUF1)
That R+1 BS came from polls, which turned out to just about as wrong as the polls in NY 23 were.
Posted by: robtr at May 19, 2010 02:20 PM (fwSHf)
That only shows how popular Obama is and why Dems win big in November!!
Posted by: papgaggin at May 19, 2010 02:21 PM (4y0YU)
Public support for Financial Reform is in the 65%-70% range.
The Democrats are trying to enact it...the Republicans are trying to block it.
Shit for brains. The public has been lied to endlessly the reasons for the financial collapse, the need for "Financial Reform" and exactly what such reform will look like if the Democrats get their bill passed. The Republicans are trying to stop another horseshit reform bill that causes more problems than it fixes and gives more power to Washington that can be abused.
Get your head out of your ass.
Posted by: Sharkman at May 19, 2010 02:22 PM (Zj8fM)
Posted by: Mark Critz at May 19, 2010 02:23 PM (snlsw)
Posted by: robtr at May 19, 2010 06:16 PM (fwSHf)
Yes, even the AP has noticed that. It wasn't enough to save Specter that Obama refused to go to Pennsylvania to campaign for him at the end -- at this point, Obama is going to have to start running ads showing him personally denouncing the people he wants to get elected. Of course, it's more likely that Democrats in tough races are going to run attack ads denouncing Obama by name.
Posted by: stuiec at May 19, 2010 02:24 PM (7AOgy)
O/T: I thought this was part of planned disaster drills, but apparently not.
Suspicious Package in Union Square a False Alarm The package was made of nails and tape and proved to be harmless. San Francisco police spokesman Boaz Mariles said the suspicious device was reported shortly after 12:30 p.m. and officers cordoned off the area. The bomb squad responded and conducted investigations in the area. Mariles said police diverted traffic from the Geary Street corridor between Post and Powell Streets and also traffic from the Stockton Tunnel. There was a voluntary evacuation in the area as police tried to keep the streets clear of both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The area was cordoned off for a little more than an hour.
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- San Francisco police have determined that a suspicious package found Wednesday afternoon near the 200 block of Geary Street is safe.
Posted by: stuiec at May 19, 2010 02:26 PM (7AOgy)
Shit for brains. The public has been lied to endlessly the reasons for the financial collapse, the need for "Financial Reform" and exactly what such reform will look like if the Democrats get their bill passed. The Republicans are trying to stop another horseshit reform bill that causes more problems than it fixes and gives more power to Washington that can be abused.
Get your head out of your ass.
True all dat. But the sheep have bought in. All you gotta do is blow smoke up the asses of a majority of people and you win. We have proof.
Posted by: Tony Rezko, Never Heard of Him at May 19, 2010 02:26 PM (uFdnM)
wow that photo of the South Korean Navy ship that was sunk being lifted out of the water is cool.
That must be one huge crane because it's lifting over 100' of the 288' vessel out of the sea.
Posted by: Mr Peebles at May 19, 2010 02:28 PM (uFokq)
Posted by: robtr at May 19, 2010 06:20 PM (fwSHf)
Polls on Congressional races always seem to be wrong. I don't think sample sizes are big enough to be accurate in anything smaller than a statewide race.
Posted by: ol_dirty_/b/tard at May 19, 2010 02:29 PM (IoUF1)
Posted by: Guy Fawkes at May 19, 2010 02:31 PM (7VvJB)
Ah, the old reliable: Republicans are racists! Never fails! Obama's black, they don't agree with him, SLAM DUNK!
Posted by: Slapdagon at May 19, 2010 02:31 PM (LvhBv)
The UN condemns Arizona, meanwhile...
North Koreans torpedo a South Korean naval vessel for no reason whatsoever, kill 46 sailors, and the UN says nothing.
Posted by: Mr Peebles at May 19, 2010 02:32 PM (uFokq)
And the contributions from Wall Street have nothing whatsoever to do with Republican opposition to Wall Street reform!
Honest!
Posted by: snapdragon at May 19, 2010 02:32 PM (5Etcj)
Honest!
fify
Posted by: Guy Fawkes at May 19, 2010 02:35 PM (7VvJB)
and Mitch fuckin McConnell, the cabbage patch baby, endorsed Trey Grayson.
Posted by: Mr Peebles at May 19, 2010 06:20 PM (uFokq)
I'm with ya.
Words cannot describe how much I hate that triple chinned lazy mofo. Good Lord, If he's the future of the GOP we might as well bend over and open wide.
Posted by: M. Steele's Poorly Fitted Speedo at May 19, 2010 02:36 PM (EL+OC)
And the contributions from Wall Street have nothing whatsoever to do with Republican opposition to Wall Street reform!
Rom Emmanuel could not be reached for comment. But if the Commiecrats want to do to banking what they have done to automakers and health care, hey, let them own it.
Posted by: Curmudgeon at May 19, 2010 02:38 PM (ujg0T)
"Public support for Financial Reform is in the 65%-70% range.
The Democrats are trying to enact it...the Republicans are trying to block it."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Keep clinging to that buttmonkey. National polling trends see a serious ass kicking headed your way. I wonder what will motivate engaged voters more in November, the imposition of massive new debt and entitlements by Teleprompter Jesus or the fact that Republicans oppose aspects of a financial "reform" bill. Hmmm?
Posted by: Glib Tunafish at May 19, 2010 02:39 PM (FFTqq)
The only reason I lost was because of Republican operatives who fabricated a mean-spirited attack based upon the notion I was a Rhinoceros in Name Only. This isnÂ’t true because I was always an elephant, except for when I switched and became an ass.
Posted by: Arlen Sphincter at May 19, 2010 02:39 PM (M5t+h)
Posted by: robtr at May 19, 2010 06:16 PM (fwSHf)
Another piece of epic stupidity on the part of the PA-12 Repubs was not bringing Palin in to campaign. It could be argued that in a blue state like PA, the D's could use her presence to help get their own vote out. But because of the Sestak/ Sphincter primary, the D turnout was going to be maxed out regardless. The R turnout was the problem, and she could have helped a lot in changing that.
Posted by: ol_dirty_/b/tard at May 19, 2010 02:42 PM (IoUF1)
Oh, and you can play the ever popular "Name That Party" game with this story.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at May 19, 2010 02:42 PM (foPGG)
So STFU.
Posted by: chemjeff at May 19, 2010 02:43 PM (+MB+T)
Posted by: Slapdagon at May 19, 2010 06:31 PM (LvhBv)
How much longer are we gonna tolerate this scunt before the ban hammer knocks her dick into left field?
Posted by: Arlen Sphincter at May 19, 2010 02:46 PM (M5t+h)
Posted by: slapwagon at May 19, 2010 02:46 PM (+MB+T)
How much longer are we gonna tolerate this scunt before the ban hammer knocks her dick into left field?
Meh. He's entertaining.
Posted by: Curmudgeon at May 19, 2010 02:47 PM (ujg0T)
Posted by: dagny at May 19, 2010 02:48 PM (NuSoC)
Prediction: Joe Sustek said a lot of anti-liberal things during the campaign, but he will be sucking Obama's cock by next Wednesday.
Posted by: Fish at May 19, 2010 02:52 PM (M5t+h)
And then we'd be having THAT flamewar in here between the eeyores, the concern-trolls, the Palin worshippers, and grouches like me who hate pretty much everybody.
So no, Palin's interference here would not have helped enough, and it would have dirtied her brand.
Posted by: Zimriel at May 19, 2010 02:52 PM (74pE6)
In the end, there will be only torn plastic.
.Posted by: Kratos (missing from the side of Mt Olympus) at May 19, 2010 02:52 PM (c0A3e)
92 Maybe we should all chip in a nickel and buy Ace a copy of The Almanac of American Politics.
All of that same information is available on the 'net, you just have to go to multiple sources to get it.
Posted by: Vic at May 19, 2010 05:05 PM (6taRI)
If you don't read your own blog I guess a condensed hard copy won't help.Posted by: Ed Anger at May 19, 2010 02:54 PM (7+pP9)
Posted by: chemjeff at May 19, 2010 02:54 PM (+MB+T)
http://www.cecilebledsoe.com/
she is running against a RINO.
Posted by: Guy Fawkes at May 19, 2010 02:55 PM (7VvJB)
I'd like to use ether on him...to smother him.
Posted by: Stuff Thomas Jefferson said to me this morning whilst we were eating pancakes at the IHOP. at May 19, 2010 02:56 PM (iYbLN)
I really hate the second guessing whining and the suicide watch that the right goes through every time it doesn't win an election that was virtually impossible to win in the first place.
The Burns election was a special election for a congressman to serve for 8 months. We have won the governor's races in Virginia, New Jersey and the senate seat in frikin Massachusettes for God's sake. We, although we didn't want to yet, got rid of Alen Specter and have Lincoln regretting her flipflops. A pile of dems are "retiring" and McCain is having to actually run a campaign to win the primary.
It's going well considering that most of the nation was desperately in love with Chocolate Jesus less than 2 years ago and would have voted some ugly idiot like Franken into the senate with a little help from corrupt courts and voter fraud. Calm the f down.
Posted by: dagny at May 19, 2010 02:58 PM (NuSoC)
He has copies of the three best political volumes ever published:
Stuff Jefferson Said,
Stuff Washington Said, and
Some Shit Samuel Adams Was Pissed About.
Posted by: sifty at May 19, 2010 02:58 PM (P8eW0)
Posted by: sifty at May 19, 2010 02:59 PM (P8eW0)
Posted by: dagny at May 19, 2010 03:04 PM (NuSoC)
Mitch McConnell positively reeks of weakness. He looks like the adult version of the kid who handed over his lunch money every day in order to avoid an ass kicking.
Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at May 19, 2010 03:05 PM (P33XN)
204 OT: Client #9 in the running to replace Campbell Brown at CNN.
Oh, and you can play the ever popular "Name That Party" game with this story.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at May 19, 2010 06:42 PM (foPGG)
From the article:When the Examiner put teh question to Spitzer himself, he shot down the CNN rumor, while saying that he's "been there once or twice, twice, maybe."
----------
That's some serious professional sumshit news type stuff. I'm so glad they're smart enough to keep my gates.
Posted by: Ed Anger at May 19, 2010 03:07 PM (7+pP9)
Posted by: dagny at May 19, 2010 03:09 PM (NuSoC)
Fuck the lying Dems.
Posted by: logprof at May 19, 2010 03:09 PM (Mmw0q)
Missouri man pleads guilty to assisting Al Qaeda
Posted by: chemjeff at May 19, 2010 03:09 PM (+MB+T)
Posted by: Georgie at May 19, 2010 03:11 PM (I+7Zv)
Posted by: sifty at May 19, 2010 03:12 PM (P8eW0)
Posted by: sandy burgler at May 19, 2010 03:14 PM (P8eW0)
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at May 19, 2010 03:16 PM (foPGG)
Let me guess, Amish? Mennonite? Lutheran?
Posted by: Kratos (missing from the side of Mt Olympus) at May 19, 2010 03:19 PM (c0A3e)
Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at May 19, 2010 03:22 PM (P33XN)
I doubt the democrats will give up power even should an overwhelming citizen's vote tell them to go. Obama will see a second term whether we like it or not. Obama will see a third term no doubt whether we want it or not, legal or not.
These folks plan on a one party rule forever.
Posted by: HEP-T at May 19, 2010 03:22 PM (gRVOD)
Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at May 19, 2010 03:26 PM (P33XN)
Posted by: chemjeff at May 19, 2010 03:36 PM (Gk/wA)
Posted by: robtr at May 19, 2010 03:37 PM (fwSHf)
Posted by: chemjeff at May 19, 2010 03:39 PM (Gk/wA)
Posted by: damian at May 19, 2010 03:42 PM (4WbTI)
Posted by: FUBAR at May 19, 2010 07:38 PM (1fanL)
Being gay hasn't been kind to Kelly has it? Isn't that rum with Nicholas Cage?
Posted by: robtr at May 19, 2010 03:42 PM (fwSHf)
Posted by: FUBAR at May 19, 2010 07:38 PM (1fanL)
--You mean because McGillis is so fugly in that shot?
Posted by: logprof at May 19, 2010 03:42 PM (Mmw0q)
Checking event dates I find that the Republican Primary is June 8. One wonders why NONE of the papers have listed that date.
Posted by: Vic at May 19, 2010 03:43 PM (6taRI)
--You mean because McGillis is so fugly in that shot?
Posted by: logprof at May 19, 2010 07:42 PM (Mmw0q)
exactly
Posted by: robtr at May 19, 2010 03:43 PM (fwSHf)
Posted by: logprof at May 19, 2010 03:44 PM (Mmw0q)
Posted by: robtr at May 19, 2010 07:42 PM (fwSHf)
Good question for the ONT.
Posted by: FUBAR at May 19, 2010 03:45 PM (1fanL)
PA seems to veer much farther left then you would think by any traditional measure.
Perhaps we are undercutting how seriously committed to the Left the state is and shouldn't be considering it a semi-battleground state anymore...
Posted by: 18-1 at May 19, 2010 03:45 PM (bgcml)
Usually unless they become a Democrat leader, no one seems to call them on their claimed conservative credentials.
Consider, is pro-life Casey going to vote against Kagan? Did "moderate" Shuler vote against porkulus?
Posted by: 18-1 at May 19, 2010 03:47 PM (bgcml)
--You mean because McGillis is so fugly in that shot?
Posted by: logprof at May 19, 2010 07:42 PM (Mmw0q)
And it's worse she's standing next to Xenu-boy, who looks eerily similar to the way he did 20 years ago.
Posted by: FUBAR at May 19, 2010 03:48 PM (1fanL)
Of course none of the bad shit will affect ME personally, so what should I care as long as the socialists I worship win, and the guys in the bathhouse love me
Posted by: two snaps up dragon at May 19, 2010 03:50 PM (sYxEE)
And it's worse she's standing next
to Xenu-boy, who looks eerily similar to the way he did 20 years ago.
Posted by: FUBAR at May 19, 2010 07:48 PM (1fanL)
--I know: it's creepy. But then we know gay men care more about their looks than lesbians. . . .
Posted by: logprof at May 19, 2010 03:52 PM (Mmw0q)
Oh and one more thing. How do the Republicans allow Democrats to run as conservatives?
I guess what's worse is why do voters believe the BS they pedal. If they believed all that crap they would be republicans because there is no way any of their ideas are going to go anywhere with the dems.
Posted by: robtr at May 19, 2010 03:53 PM (fwSHf)
Nope, it hasn't.
Isn't that rum with Nicholas Cage?
lol, if you read the description, you'd know that's Cage's wife Alice.
/Rum's a lot prettier anyway.
Posted by: Kratos (missing from the side of Mt Olympus) at May 19, 2010 03:53 PM (c0A3e)
If Barry had any balls when it came to America haters, he'd bring this up;
How Mexico treats its Illegals
Posted by: kbdabear at May 19, 2010 03:54 PM (sYxEE)
lol, if you read the description, you'd know that's Cage's wife Alice.
As far down as I got were her legs
Posted by: robtr at May 19, 2010 03:55 PM (fwSHf)
Because Republicans don't ever explain well that there are no longer any true "blue-dog" Democrats. They're all left-tards these days.
Posted by: Kratos (missing from the side of Mt Olympus) at May 19, 2010 03:55 PM (c0A3e)
Hell no! Just stating the obvious.
/Remember I have the Blade of Olympus again.
Posted by: Kratos (missing from the side of Mt Olympus) at May 19, 2010 03:57 PM (c0A3e)
I knew dum-dum, I trollbusted dum-dum, and snapdragon, sir, is no dum-dum
Posted by: Lloyd Bentsen at May 19, 2010 03:57 PM (sYxEE)
Did he not campaign for Burns' opponent?
I really don't think we should worry about the Burns loss. Murtha died in harness. It seems kind of understandable to me that people might vote for his aide as a quasi-incumbent sympathy vote. Sort of like when people vote for the wives of dead representatives. I wouldn't do it, but I think lots of people do tend to want to give the person closest to the recently deceased dead politician a shot.
He'll rack up a voting record - one that will presumably be in lock-step with the Dem leadership (and counter to how he ran) - and the voters will get a chance to yank him out soon enough.
Posted by: Y-not at May 19, 2010 04:13 PM (Kn9r7)
PA seems to veer much farther left then you would think by any traditional measure.
Nope, at least not where I hail from. I've been gone 28 years, but this place never changes. This district has a lot of "Mayberry" towns in it. Salt of the earth, give you the shirt off their backs. What everyone's been attributing to stupidity is really the same comfy cocoon the rest of us were jolted out of in '08. These folks just haven't fully realized the dire impact of Obama yet.
Above, someone mentioned their college roommate who doesn't follow news or politics STILL thinking Obama's a god. Well, these folks could care less what's going on in DC and the majority aren't paying attention -- just like the college roommate -- even though these folks are either blue-collar, elderly or youngsters.
I could write a book on the way to campaign in this district, but who would read it? If I had to sum up the lost opportunities of the GOP here it would be that the issues aren't being addressed the right way. There are no citizens of productive age living here because all the kids that can, move away after college. There are no jobs, no industry, no business.
The streets will be lined for the 4th of July parade and the churches are gorgeous historic structures that are sparsely attended because it's just the elderly going, but everything is kept up neatly and for the most part, well-taken care of.
The governors don't even try to get businesses to locate there anymore. Once we had a Volkswagen plant, and believe me, the welfare-ites you're blasting loved the $$ they made there. After VW closed (relocated to Mexico), SONY opened a plant that stayed for a few years. That closed within the last year. The govs dangle sweet tax-free deals and when they run out, the businesses move out.
This area is ripe for the picking for any kind of business to move in. A good candidate needs to explain, in simple language, how the cost of doing business in the state/county makes the business look elsewhere.
Posted by: RushBabe at May 19, 2010 04:19 PM (W8m8i)
Posted by: Neo at May 19, 2010 04:31 PM (tE8FB)
Posted by: pby at May 19, 2010 04:50 PM (DCuOk)
@258: "PA seems to veer much farther left then you would think by any traditional measure."
Northeast. Communism runs deep in their veins.
Posted by: Fa Cube Itches at May 19, 2010 05:01 PM (kmEfr)
Posted by: Rick R at May 19, 2010 05:16 PM (9LeQb)
At least you were efficient in your weightless comment, bravo.
Posted by: damian at May 19, 2010 05:53 PM (4WbTI)
Posted by: Dan at May 19, 2010 06:45 PM (LhjwW)
Posted by: dfcvbcb at May 19, 2010 08:10 PM (n2yDq)
The GOP has more than enough big wins after 08 to feel good about going into 2010. Especially since they've seemed to have raised a pretty good roster of new candidates. PA-12 was hyped a little bit as if the RNC was going after it hard as can be and that wasn't really the case, in October the foot will have the pedal on the floor, or at least it better be.
Posted by: skwiself at May 19, 2010 09:36 PM (XvlZj)
Posted by: Georgie at May 20, 2010 04:39 AM (I+7Zv)
Posted by: LorenU at May 20, 2010 10:27 AM (ZMeaC)
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Posted by: logprof at May 19, 2010 12:04 PM (Mmw0q)