How long can the Republicans keep up the pretense that they plan to come up with their alternative health-care-reform plan? I'm going to go with "forever." Robert Pear and Jonathan Weisman report in today's New York Times that the party is really working hard on that alternative plan:
Believing in Obama
On May - 16 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Charles Blow, New York Times
You gotta have faith. Democrats have it. Republicans don't. That is the finding of a USA Today/Gallup poll that was released on Tuesday. The poll found that:
You gotta have faith. Democrats have it. Republicans don't. That is the finding of a USA Today/Gallup poll that was released on Tuesday. The poll found that:
GOP Draws Battle Plans For Obamacare Ruling
On May - 16 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
House Republican leaders are quietly hatching a plan of attack as they await a historic Supreme Court ruling on President Barack Obama's health care law.
If the law is upheld, Republicans will take to the floor to tear out its most controversial pieces, such as the individual mandate and requirements that employers provide insurance or face fines.
Democrats’ Best Friend: The GOP Base
On May - 16 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Steve Kornacki, Salon
At the very least, the Republican Party base's revolt against its own establishment cost the GOP a 50-50 Senate tie in 2010, with primary voters forcing unelectable nominees on the party in three races that it had otherwise been on course to win. A decent case can be made that the uprising actually cost Republicans outright Senate control.And now the same thing may be happening all over again, with Nebraska joining a growing list of unexpected 2012 Senate battlegrounds "“ at least for the moment.Â
At the very least, the Republican Party base's revolt against its own establishment cost the GOP a 50-50 Senate tie in 2010, with primary voters forcing unelectable nominees on the party in three races that it had otherwise been on course to win. A decent case can be made that the uprising actually cost Republicans outright Senate control.And now the same thing may be happening all over again, with Nebraska joining a growing list of unexpected 2012 Senate battlegrounds "“ at least for the moment.Â
Military-Crippling Sequester Must Be Stopped
On May - 9 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Reps. McKeon & Ryan, RCP
Last year, as the federal government approached a limit on how much it could legally borrow, the Obama administration asked Congress to rubber-stamp an increase in the government's borrowing authority without any spending cuts to match.When House Republicans made clear that any increase in the debt limit must be accompanied by an even greater amount of spending reduction, the President insisted that he would not accept a debt-limit deal that did not include large tax increases on American families and businesses.All of this work was made more difficult by the Senate's failure to...
Last year, as the federal government approached a limit on how much it could legally borrow, the Obama administration asked Congress to rubber-stamp an increase in the government's borrowing authority without any spending cuts to match.When House Republicans made clear that any increase in the debt limit must be accompanied by an even greater amount of spending reduction, the President insisted that he would not accept a debt-limit deal that did not include large tax increases on American families and businesses.All of this work was made more difficult by the Senate's failure to...
Military-Crippling Sequester Must Be Stopped
On May - 9 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Reps. McKeon & Ryan, RCP
Last year, as the federal government approached a limit on how much it could legally borrow, the Obama administration asked Congress to rubber-stamp an increase in the government's borrowing authority without any spending cuts to match.When House Republicans made clear that any increase in the debt limit must be accompanied by an even greater amount of spending reduction, the President insisted that he would not accept a debt-limit deal that did not include large tax increases on American families and businesses.All of this work was made more difficult by the Senate's failure to...
Last year, as the federal government approached a limit on how much it could legally borrow, the Obama administration asked Congress to rubber-stamp an increase in the government's borrowing authority without any spending cuts to match.When House Republicans made clear that any increase in the debt limit must be accompanied by an even greater amount of spending reduction, the President insisted that he would not accept a debt-limit deal that did not include large tax increases on American families and businesses.All of this work was made more difficult by the Senate's failure to...
O’Keefe Evades Criminal Subpoena
On May - 6 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Conservative activist James O'Keefe spoke to a packed house of Seacoast Republicans Sunday not in person, but rather on streaming video because stepping foot in New Hampshire would trigger a criminal grand jury subpoena.
GOP Alienates Hispanics, Women & Young People
On April - 27 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Robert Reich, Salon
What are the three demographic groups whose electoral impact is growing fastest? Hispanics, women and young people. Who are Republicans pissing off the most? Latinos, women, and young people.It's almost as if the GOP can't help itself.
What are the three demographic groups whose electoral impact is growing fastest? Hispanics, women and young people. Who are Republicans pissing off the most? Latinos, women, and young people.It's almost as if the GOP can't help itself.
Republicans Have Interesting Ideas About Climate Change
On April - 22 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Sunday is Earth Day, and some Republicans who aren't convinced of climate change may not be celebrating. Mitt Romney's views on the matter have evolved to "we don't know what's causing climate change," while Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), the ranking member on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, has used the Bible to deny global warming.
Here is what the GOP presidential candidates and others have to say about climate change.
Too Big to Fail? It’s Gotten Worse
On April - 20 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Neal Boortz, Nealz Nuze
Here's another example of Obama's smoke-and-mirrors style of ruling. Dodd-Frank. Obama and the Democrat Congress passed Dodd-Frank with the promise of ending the concept of "too big to fail." Just yesterday Obama was touting Dodd-Frank and hammering any Republicans who want to repeal it: "Anyone who is pledging to roll back Wall Street reform, Dodd-Frank, would also roll back this vital consumer protection with it."
Here's another example of Obama's smoke-and-mirrors style of ruling. Dodd-Frank. Obama and the Democrat Congress passed Dodd-Frank with the promise of ending the concept of "too big to fail." Just yesterday Obama was touting Dodd-Frank and hammering any Republicans who want to repeal it: "Anyone who is pledging to roll back Wall Street reform, Dodd-Frank, would also roll back this vital consumer protection with it."
Facebook posts: "In 1993 the Republicans embraced a health platform that proudly features an individual mandate as its main component."
On April - 19 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
The Truth-o-Meter says: Half-True | Facebook post says Republicans embraced individual mandate in 1993
We recently noticed a Facebook post that took Republicans to task for flip-flopping on the individual mandate, the key issue in the Supreme Court case on President Barack Obama's health care law. "In 1993 the Republicans embraced a health platform that proudly features an individual mandate as its main component," the Facebook post says. "(Newt) Gingrich argued for individual mandate in 2008. (Mitt) Romney urged Obama to embrace individual mandate in 2009. But now that it’s a Democratic health plan the Republicans want to vilify, decry, demonized this very thing that they invented."
>> More
The ‘Likable’ Barack Obama
On April - 16 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
William McGurn, Wall Street Journal
How likable is Barack Obama?Very likable, it seems, at least in contrast to his GOP rival. According to a Washington Post/ABC News poll released a few days ago, Americans by a more than 2-to-1 ratio say the president is more "friendly and likable" than Mitt Romney.Many Republicans, and especially conservatives, can find these numbers hard to credit. Some note that the poll sampling favors Democrats and thus artificially inflates the president's numbers. Still others have come to dislike President Obama so much that it makes them suspicious when they read numbers indicating they...
How likable is Barack Obama?Very likable, it seems, at least in contrast to his GOP rival. According to a Washington Post/ABC News poll released a few days ago, Americans by a more than 2-to-1 ratio say the president is more "friendly and likable" than Mitt Romney.Many Republicans, and especially conservatives, can find these numbers hard to credit. Some note that the poll sampling favors Democrats and thus artificially inflates the president's numbers. Still others have come to dislike President Obama so much that it makes them suspicious when they read numbers indicating they...
Dems Face Payback After Limbaugh Attacks
On April - 13 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Toby Harnden, Daily Mail
Hilary Rosen's comments were a spectacular own goal by Democrats but also a result of their recent overreach in attacking Republicans for a supposed "war on women" and portraying Rush Limbaugh as the leader of the GOP.Perhaps the most preposterous thing Rosen said on CNN last night was not the foolish "never worked a day in her life" jibe aimed at Ann Romney but her contention that Republicans invented the notion of a "war on women".
Hilary Rosen's comments were a spectacular own goal by Democrats but also a result of their recent overreach in attacking Republicans for a supposed "war on women" and portraying Rush Limbaugh as the leader of the GOP.Perhaps the most preposterous thing Rosen said on CNN last night was not the foolish "never worked a day in her life" jibe aimed at Ann Romney but her contention that Republicans invented the notion of a "war on women".
Barack Obama: "Republicans in Congress refuse to list a single tax loophole they are willing to close."
On April - 5 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
The Truth-o-Meter says: True | Obama says Republicans in Congress won't name one tax exemption they want to repeal
President Barack Obama said a budget proposed by House Republicans lacked "a shred of credibility," especially when it came to tax cuts. Obama said their budget includes $4.6 trillion in lower taxes over the next 10 years, with no way to pay for them. "We’re told that these tax cuts will supposedly be paid for by closing loopholes and eliminating wasteful deductions," Obama said. "But the Republicans in Congress refuse to list a single tax loophole they are willing to close. Not one." We wanted to check Obama’s claim that ...
>> MoreBarack Obama: "Republicans in Congress refuse to list a single tax loophole they are willing to close."
On April - 5 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
The Truth-o-Meter says: True | Obama says Republicans in Congress won't name one tax exemption they want to repeal
President Barack Obama said a budget proposed by House Republicans lacked "a shred of credibility," especially when it came to tax cuts. Obama said their budget includes $4.6 trillion in lower taxes over the next 10 years, with no way to pay for them. "We’re told that these tax cuts will supposedly be paid for by closing loopholes and eliminating wasteful deductions," Obama said. "But the Republicans in Congress refuse to list a single tax loophole they are willing to close. Not one." We wanted to check Obama’s claim that ...
>> MoreObama vs. GOP: The Stark Choice
On April - 4 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Jared Bernstein, Huffington Post
I've written that Rep Paul Ryan did the world a favor by not trying to hide the ball with his budget -- now adopted by House Republicans and endorsed by Gov. Romney. Their vision for America is clear, a vision that we at CBPP have been elaborating through a set of publications in recent days (see here, here, here, and here).President Obama made a similar point Tuesday in a speech here in DC:
I've written that Rep Paul Ryan did the world a favor by not trying to hide the ball with his budget -- now adopted by House Republicans and endorsed by Gov. Romney. Their vision for America is clear, a vision that we at CBPP have been elaborating through a set of publications in recent days (see here, here, here, and here).President Obama made a similar point Tuesday in a speech here in DC:
Rick Horowitz: The War Against Teleprompters!
On April - 1 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Obama uses them. So Republicans hate them.
Rural Edge Keeps Santorum in GOP Race
On March - 24 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Jim Kuhnhenn, Associated Press
By Jim Kuhnhenn - March 24, 2012Republican presidential nominating contests often reveal a rural-urban split in the party, but what sets this year's campaign apart is the emphasis Rick Santorum is placing on that divide and wearing his successes in small-town America as a badge of honor. To hear Santorum tell it, the ability of front-runner Mitt Romney to win in big-city suburbs is a mark of ideological weakness, not political strength. "Gov. Romney does well in the counties where Democrats do well, and we do well in the counties where Republicans do well," Santorum...
By Jim Kuhnhenn - March 24, 2012Republican presidential nominating contests often reveal a rural-urban split in the party, but what sets this year's campaign apart is the emphasis Rick Santorum is placing on that divide and wearing his successes in small-town America as a badge of honor. To hear Santorum tell it, the ability of front-runner Mitt Romney to win in big-city suburbs is a mark of ideological weakness, not political strength. "Gov. Romney does well in the counties where Democrats do well, and we do well in the counties where Republicans do well," Santorum...
New Hampshire Republican Party: Says former U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter refused to host town hall meetings during her time in Congress.
On March - 23 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
The Truth-o-Meter says: Mostly False | N.H. Republicans say Shea-Porter ducked town hall meetings
Town hall-style meetings have a deep history in New Hampshire politics. But some state analysts fear the tradition of skipping these meetings is growing among lawmakers. In a statement released earlier this month, the N.H. Republican Party took aim at congressional candidate and former Democratic U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, criticizing her record of hosting Town Hall sessions during her time in office. Shea-Porter, who served in Congress from 2007-2010, is challenging Republican incumbent Rep. Frank Guinta for his First District seat in this fall’s elections. "Carol Shea-Porter is still ignoring ...
>> MoreMitt Romney: President Barack Obama is "ending Medicare as we know it."
On March - 22 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
The Truth-o-Meter says: Pants on Fire! | Mitt Romney says Barack Obama is “ending Medicare as we know it.”
Mitt Romney is trying to turn the tables on President Barack Obama by using a favorite Democratic line against him, accusing Obama of "ending Medicare as we know it." That's been a trusty line for the Democrats, with variations used in campaign commercials and press releases over the past couple of years. It was used to criticize Republicans who supported Rep. Paul Ryan's plan to dramatically change Medicare and was uttered so often that we chose it as 2011 Lie of the Year. But this time, it's coming from a Republican against the Democratic ...
>> MoreGOP targets new cost-cut board in Obama health law
On March - 21 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Republicans are revamping their strategy against President Barack Obama's health care law: If they can't repeal the whole thing, they'll try to pick off pieces. Even better if it's a new and unfamiliar bureaucracy.
Rules Change May Pave Way To Brokered Convention
On March - 21 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Unlike the 2008 presidential campaign, when Republicans awarded delegates by state, they're now awarded proportionally by Congressional district. While that's increasing the power of many late voting states, it's some party leaders worry no candidate will claim the nomination before the convention.
Romney scores big win over Santorum in Illinois
On March - 21 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Republican Mitt Romney cruised to an easy victory over top rival Rick Santorum in Illinois on Tuesday, moving him one step closer to clinching the party's volatile battle for the presidential nomination. Romney's comfortable win gave him a fresh burst of momentum in the White House campaign and new ammunition for his argument that it is time for Republicans to rally around his campaign and end an increasingly bitter nominating battle. ...
Cut spending much more deeply, House GOP plan says
On March - 20 - 2012 ADD COMMENTS
Mixing deep cuts to safety-net programs for the poor with politically risky cost curbs for Medicare, Republicans controlling the House unveiled an election-year budget blueprint Tuesday that paints clear campaign differences with President Barack Obama.
