 |
 |
   Dan Savage, the brilliant and foul-mouthed sex columnist, has become one of the most important ethicists in America. Are we screwed?
 The federal government is supposed to issue new rules about debt levels for students in for-profit colleges. In the meantime, the states are working on their own regulations.
 Washingtons budget hawks want to decimate the federal workforce to shrink the deficit. It will have the opposite effect.
 There arent nearly enough counterterrorism experts to instruct all of Americas police. So we got these guys instead.
|
   |
|
|
October 19, 2009
NUTMEGS AND TEA BAGS.... The Wall Street Journal had an interesting item the other day, noting that the "rise of conservative 'tea party' activists," which has "created a dilemma for Republicans." The GOP is, to be sure, glad to have energized far-right activists. On the other hand, the base is increasingly radical, and is expecting right-wing fealty from Republican candidates. "[T]hese newly energized conservatives present GOP leaders with a potential problem," the WSJ noted. "The party's strategy for attracting moderate voters risks alienating activists who are demanding ideological purity, who may then gravitate to other candidates or stay at home." Take Connecticut, for example, where President Obama was elected by a 22-point margin, and where the Democratic presidential candidate won literally every county in the state. Sen. Chris Dodd (D) is seeking re-election next year in the traditionally "blue" state, but is considered very vulnerable. Former Rep. Rob Simmons (R), the leading GOP challenger for Dodd, had an item on his blog on Friday, reversing course on some of his more notable policy positions:
This came just a few days after Simmons spoke to some right-wing activists and boasted, "This state and this country needs people like you.... I've made it a habit over the years to carry my Constitution in my pocket as a reminder of what this country and what this country's government is all about. But more recently because of the participation of many of you, I've added something to my Constitution. I've added a tea bag." Keep in mind, when Simmons was in the House, before his defeat in 2006, he was one of the most moderate GOP lawmakers in the chamber. In the 109th Congress, he was the seventh least conservative Republican in the House. In the 108th, Simmons was the fourth least conservative House GOP lawmaker. For that matter, he knew all about EFCA and cap-and-trade policy, and knew both were worth supporting. And now Rob Simmons is running statewide in a reliably "blue," New England state, moving sharply to the right on key issues and walking around with a tea bag in his pocket. Instead of reminding voters about his centrist bona fides, Simmons is pandering shamelessly to Teabaggers. —Steve Benen 2:05 PM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (18)
Comments
This is great news! Simmons' shift to the far right will help him win the Republican nomination, but it will surely help the Democrats hold this Senate seat - even if their candidate is Dodd. Posted by: Okie on October 19, 2009 at 2:14 PM | PERMALINKThere can't be that many Tea baggers in Connecticut. Dodd is in trouble because he's all over the place on a number of ssues, including some shakey back-door deals that have recently surfaced. Also, remember, this is the very sate that rthought LIEberman was a good bet. Look where that got them. If Connecticut wants Simmons over a Democratic candidate the Dems are in real trouble country-wide. Perhaps this Republic truly is doomed. Posted by: tevio on October 19, 2009 at 2:14 PM | PERMALINKwith the likes of simmons and lieberman, poor CN would = the wingnut state... Posted by: neill on October 19, 2009 at 2:15 PM | PERMALINKBut will the voters even remember this once Simmons wraps up the nomination and veers to the center for the general? Posted by: howie on October 19, 2009 at 2:16 PM | PERMALINKBoston.com, 8/7/09: 'Dodd cleared in ethics probe on mortgages' So no 'shakey' deals. He got VIP treatment from Countrywide like I get VIP treatment at the VIP carwash. Dodd's mortgage was no different than what others got with similar good credit. Posted by: joejoejoe on October 19, 2009 at 2:38 PM | PERMALINKpoor CN would = the wingnut state... Doesn't that honor go to Oklahoma? Posted by: Husker Blue on October 19, 2009 at 2:44 PM | PERMALINKI'm hoping there is a cynical, cold-hearted Democratic strategist out there who sees this situation developing. With a little luck and chicanery, conservative third parties could siphon off 10-20% of the GOP vote and move the GOP candidates rightward (instead of tacking to the center) during the general election. Who can be the GOP's Ralph Nader? Posted by: danimal on October 19, 2009 at 2:47 PM | PERMALINKThe cable news stations may be infatuated with them, but does anyone think the images and antics of the tea baggers and birthers and townhall malcontents are playing well with the general public? How many people do you think would feel comfortable putting that cult in power? It's an ugly, dangerous crowd. I honestly don't think it plays well with most Americans. Posted by: SaintZak on October 19, 2009 at 2:49 PM | PERMALINKDo these idiot right-wingers still not understand what "Teabagging" is? Even after all these months of people making fun of them for it? These folks really need to bookmark urbandictionary.com. And tevio, Dodd is not in trouble for that; everyone in CN knows that his stance on the big issues has been steady, and that none of those "scandals" you mention materialized into anything. He's in trouble because he tried to take off for the presidency back in '07-'08, and CN voters were kind of annoyed by that. Posted by: Shade Tail on October 19, 2009 at 2:51 PM | PERMALINKDodd will win. Don't confuse GOP wishful thinking with reality. Posted by: Richard on October 19, 2009 at 2:54 PM | PERMALINKI guess Republican politicians are convinced that progressives won't show up in 2010 in sufficient numbers to defeat their tea baggers. It might be a good bet, even in Connecticut,if the Administration continues drifting. Posted by: Ron Byers on October 19, 2009 at 2:54 PM | PERMALINKDon't confuse GOP [strike]wishful[/strike] thinking with reality. Fixed. I can only conclude that Rob Simmons tried teabagging and discovered he liked it. The voters will remember if the Dems remind them, and Dodd is far from stupid. On behalf of the Dodd campaign and progressives everywhere, thank you Rob. Thank you so, so much. Posted by: ericfree on October 19, 2009 at 3:38 PM | PERMALINKThe pandering now will be nothing compared to the Republican debates in 20011-12. I can't wait. Posted by: John Dillinger on October 19, 2009 at 4:25 PM | PERMALINKthe gop is playing with fire trying a move to the right in swing state senate races like florida...to do it in connecticut is suicidial... Posted by: dj spellchecka on October 19, 2009 at 4:40 PM | PERMALINK"The voters will remember if the Dems remind them" just thought that needed to be repeated Posted by: jefft452 on October 19, 2009 at 6:10 PM | PERMALINK"There can't be that many Tea baggers in Connecticut" Here in the most right-wing part of CT, the local 9/12 teabag rally had a grand total of 2 tea-baggers not 2 million, not 2 thousand, 2 Posted by: jefft452 on October 19, 2009 at 6:13 PM | PERMALINK
May 2011
April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 February 2003 January 2003 December 2002 |
|
|
    |
|
||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
||||||||
buy from Amazon and
support the Monthly
|
||||||||
