Showing posts with label elections. Show all posts
Showing posts with label elections. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Supreme Court #McCutcheon Ruling Guts Campaign Finance Reform

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Whoa, SCOTUS just made another ruling that could change the course of future elections. While Democrats might also benefit, the answer to creating a stronger democracy can't be to flood political campaigns with even more money! All politicians are too beholding to special interests as they are. *sigh* I guess all Campaign Finance Reform laws are moot now, or will be overturned by the Supremes?

From Business Insider
The Supreme Court struck down caps that individuals can make to candidates or political parties during a two-year election cycle, in an opinion issued Wednesday by Chief Justice John Roberts.

The case, McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, marks the most consequential campaign finance ruling from the high court since the landmark Citizens United decision in 2010.

Critics immediately denounced the decision, saying it would give wealthy donors more freedom to influence an election.

. . . In 2014, the limit on all contributions was $123,200.

The Supreme Court's decision does not do away with limits on individual contributions to candidates for president or Congress, which now stands at $2,600 an election.























































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Monday, August 20, 2012

GOP Congressmen Naked and Drunk in Galilee

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What a disaster for the GOP Clown Show!

Politico Exclusive Story
During a fact-finding congressional trip to the Holy Land last summer, Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-Kan.) took off his clothes and jumped into the sea, joining a number of members, their families and GOP staff during a night out in Israel, the sources told POLITICO. Other participants, including the daughter of another congressman, swam fully clothed while some lawmakers partially disrobed. More than 20 people took part in the late-night dip in the sea, according to sources who were participants in the trip.

. . . The Sea of Galilee, a Christian holy site, is where Jesus is said in the Bible to have walked on water.

The FBI looked into whether any inappropriate behavior occurred, but the interviews do not appear to have resulted in any formal allegations of wrongdoing.

But Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), who was the senior most GOP lawmaker in Israel on the trip, was so upset about the antics that he rebuked the 30 lawmakers the morning after the Aug. 18, 2011, incident, saying they were distracting from the mission of the trip.

Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was also on the privately funded excursion, which means two of the three top Republicans were a part of this trip. Neither Cantor nor McCarthy went swimming that night, the sources said. Some of their staff did.



THE NAKED SEA
Report: Late-Night GOP Swim In Israel Involved Drinking, Nudity
~ Front Page Headline on Huffington Post

NUDES fLASH! Skinny-dipping pol in Sea of Galilee
~ New York Daily News Headline

The GOP party of religion and family values cavorting nakedly in drunken bacchanalia where Christ walked on water. On the heels of Todd Akins "legitimate rape". The hole is getting deeper and deeper, one shovelful at a time.
~ comment by Lynne CA on Politico

I am surprised that the Sea of Galilee didn't part like what happened for Moses. I know if I was a water molecule, I wouldn't want to go there.
~ comment by HailtoThee Osiris on Politico

It looks like those holier than thou bozos turned their Israel trip into a toga party doesn't it?
Phonies is as phonies do.
~ comment by rkerg on Politico

Here's why:
1. On official duty.
2. Official duty paid for by a private agency but still being paid a government salary.
3. Costs upwards of $10,000.00 per person.
4. If the trip/expenses were not reported on the yearly disclosure forms, expect a visit from the IRS as well.
Any questions?
Classed dismissed!
~ comment by What Ever Man on Politico

The Republicans were on a fact finding mission to find Sodom and Gomorrah.
~ comment by RailRoadMike on Politico

Swim naked and drunk for Jesus. Hallelujah!
~ comment on Daily Kos

As Jesus once said: Thou shall get drunk and swim nude with thy colleagues, their daughters and your staffers whilst representing your nation!
~ comment by LieparDestin on Daily Kos

Public nudity in front of a minor? I have a feeling that there were laws broken.
~ comment by captainlaser on Daily Kos

Kiss my ass...this is a holy site!
Show a little respect!
;)
~ comment by Brainwrap on Daily Kos

I feel incredibly remorseful that I have caused embarrassment to my constituents and I have caused folks who believe in me to be disappointed,” Yoder told The Star Sunday night.
The gravity of the situation and the actions I’ve taken are not lost on me, and I feel certainly regret at what has occurred, and I just want to apologize to my constituents for a momentary lapse in judgment.
~ Kansas Congressman Kevin Yoder

This could have implications at least for (Ben) Quayle, the son of the former vice president. Ben Quayle has significant primary opposition for his Arizona seat from Dave Schweikert, a tea party-backed candidate.
~ Atlanta Journal Constitution

Ben Quayle is still an embarrassment to AZ and our country. It's not bad enough he was a founder of an adult website disparaging women, but now mocking the Congressional seat. Who paid for this trip? I'm sure we did. How much did it cost us?
What else can he do? Hopefully he will not be elected this year and just fade into the sunset.
~ Tamara L on Politico




































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Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Joe the Plumber Calls for Border Shoot-Out

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I’m running for Congress. How many congressmen or people running for Congress have you heard, put a fence up and start shooting? None? Well you heard it here first. Put troops on the border and start shooting, I bet that solves our immigration problem real quick.
~ Samuel Wurzelbacher, alias "Joe the Plumber" campaigning for office in Arizona


When you’re making statements like that, it’s cheap and it’s easy and it will get a lot of attention very quickly. But anything that comes cheap and easy probably isn’t that interesting and isn’t going to last.
 ~ Megan McCain quoted by Wonkette

Does this moron understand that shooting over the border is considered an act of war?
~ comment by Maman on Wonkette

Joe the Dumber ~ comment by Not_so_Much on Wonkette

Sam Not the Plumber's declaration of War on Mexico is just to solidify his position of Secretary of State in the Romney administration.
 ~ comment by MissTaken on Wonkette

Who would Jesus shoot?  ~ comment by Dr._Zoidberg on Wonkette

Samuel Wurzelbacher sounds like a German name.....SHOW ME YOUR PAPER
~ comment by mitsecl on Huff Post

I wonder how Joe Wurzelbacher would react if some Mexicans said that they should put up a fence and start shooting Americans.
~ comment by Rustum in Huff Post

The GOP freak show rolls along. ~ comment by MotorcycleBoy on Huff Post
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Saturday, July 7, 2012

Rep. Thaddeus McCotter Resigns Via Word Salad

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New York Times Story
Mr. McCotter was running for re-election in a race that didn’t seem to be much of a contest, especially since he has carried the district since 2003. But his front-runner status quickly evaporated after 1,563 of the 1,830 signatures he turned in to get his name on the primary ballot were found to be fraudulent. Only 1,000 were required.
Longtime Michigan elections officials called the level of fraud “unheard-of,” and the state attorney general’s office announced a criminal investigation into the petitions.
. . . Mr. McCotter’s resignation has left his party without an obvious candidate in a Congressional district that would otherwise have been a Republican stronghold. One G.O.P. candidate who will be on the ballot for the Aug. 7 primary is Kerry Bentivolio, who, according to his official biography, raises reindeer “trained to pull Santa’s sleigh.”


From the Detroit News
As U.S. Rep. Thad McCotter's short-lived presidential run fizzled last year, the Livonia Republican turned to another aspiration: writing a TV show.
"Bumper Sticker: Made On Motown" starred McCotter hosting a crude variety show cast with characters bearing the nicknames of his congressional staffers, his brother and a drunk, perverted "Black Santa." They take pot shots about McCotter's ill-fated bid for the White House while spewing banter about drinking, sex, race, flatulence, puking and women's anatomy. It features a cartoon intro and closing snippet with an Oldsmobile careening through Detroit and knocking over the city's landmarks. The double-finned car has a Michigan license plate reading: "Made on MoTown."

The News obtained a copy of the script from a former staffer
McCotter told The News the work was unfinished and was given to a reporter without his permission. He said the show was a "cathartic" creative outlet that helped him through the humiliation of the presidential campaign flop.

McCotter maintains he didn't write the show on the taxpayers' time: "Most of my writing is done in my garage … where I can smoke."

~~~~~~~~~~~~


Complete Resignation Statement Via Huffington Post
"Today I have resigned from the office of United States Representative for Michigan's 11th Congressional District.

After nearly 26 years in elected office, this past nightmarish month and a half have, for the first time, severed the necessary harmony between the needs of my constituency and of my family. As this harmony is required to serve, its absence requires I leave.

The recent event's totality of calumnies, indignities and deceits have weighed most heavily upon my family. Thus, acutely aware one cannot rebuild their hearth of home amongst the ruins of their U.S. House office, for the sake of my loved ones I must "strike another match, go start anew" by embracing the promotion back from public servant to sovereign citizen.

I do not leave for an existing job and face diminishing prospects (and am both unwilling and ill-suited to lobby), my priorities are twofold: find gainful employment to help provide for my family; and continue to assist, in any way they see fit, the Michigan Attorney General's earnest and thorough investigation, which I requested, into the 2012 petition filing.

While our family takes this step into the rest of our lives, we do so with the ultimate confidence in our country's future. True, as at other times in the life of our nation, we live in an Age of Extremes that prizes intensity over sanity; rhetoric over reality; and destruction over creation. But this too shall pass, thanks to the infinite, inspired wisdom of the sovereign people who, with God's continued blessings, will again affirm for the generations American Exceptionalism.

Truly, it is a challenging and fortunate time to live in our blessed sanctuary of liberty.

In closing, to The People of Michigan's 11th Congressional District, I can but say this: Thank you for the privilege of having worked for you

~ Thaddeus G. McCotter

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Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Governor Scott Mired in Legal Swamp Over Florida Voter Purge

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From Neil Cavuto's interview on Fox with Governor Scott - Via Newshounds

Scott told Cavuto, “The debate’s over... We’ve found individuals that are registered to vote, they don’t have a right to vote, they’re non-citizens, and they voted. I have a job to defend the right of legitimate voters… We’ve been asking for the Dept. of Homeland Security database save for months, and they haven’t given it to us. So this afternoon, …the Florida Secretary of State’s office will be filing a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security to give us that database. We want to have fair, honest elections in our state.”

Cavuto honed in on the lack of support for Scott. “Sixty seven election supervisors in your state won’t resume this purge. So what does that tell you?”

Scott responded, “We have 86 individuals that registered to vote that didn’t have the right to vote. We know 46 of ‘em did. We cannot afford to dilute the rights of citizens their vote.”

Cavuto wasn’t buying it. “Your critics, Governor, say since this purge list, you found not even a dozen who should be voting, 500 others were found to be actual citizens.” He suggested Scott may not be getting “enough bang for the bite.”

“I can understand where you’re coming from,” Cavuto said sympathetically, “But let’s say you’re found to be a citizen, you’re still on that list… you’re in a world of voting hurt?”

Scott answered, “There’s a due process… The Supervisor of Election in the County sends out a letter, you have an opportunity, 30 days to respond, after that, they have to put it in the paper, after that if you don’t respond, and you’re not on the rolls, when you go vote, you have a provisional vote… Not one person has been eliminated from the rolls that has a right to vote.”

Here’s where Cavuto revealed what was likely his biggest concern (and probably that of Fox and the Republican Party) “What alarms me is that even in your state, it seems like a lot of Republicans don’t have your back.” He cited Senator (and potential VP candidate) Marco Rubio's silence as evidence of lack of support.

Scott said, “My job is to enforce the laws.”

Cavuto said, “The ACLU and others predictably say that you’re targeting minorities, this violates the 1965 Voting Rights Act, and that this is setting up bad political news for up badly for you and your party in the fall.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~

From a Letter by Assistant U.S. Attorney General Thomas E. Perez at the Department of Justice:
Via The Miami Herald

...“As one would expect with a new program that has not previously been tested against real-world information, your program has critical imperfections, which lead to errors that harm and confuse eligible voters. Especially where the program is based on information collected sometimes years ago from driver’s license applications, the information is often going to be outdated, as a number of persons will subsequently have become citizens and lawfully registered to vote. Your data appear to be faulty in other ways that have resulted in native-born citizens, including a decorated World War II combat veteran, being sent letters demanding that they affirmatively prove their citizenship. We are aware that one county election supervisor who reviewed a state-provided list of over one thousand potentially ineligible voters determined that the list had a significant error rate, and that she advised you that further use of the list would ‘potentially disenfranchise eligible voters based on an inaccurate list.’”…
“This new program is therefore legally unenforceable in the five covered counties in Florida…”

“We are concerned about the inaccuracies in your letter regarding your request to access this program…”

“In short, your claim that the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security have worked in concert to deny Florida access to the SAVE Program is simply wrong,” Perez wrote. “The significant problems you are encountering in administering this new program are of your own creation.”

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Thursday, June 7, 2012

Mitt Romney the Police Impersonator

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Story from The National Memo:

Madden, a native Texan who graduated from Stanford in 1970 and went on to become a successful television producer and writer, has never forgotten that strange moment, which he has recounted to friends over the years as he observed his former classmate’s political ascent. The National Memo learned of the incident from a longtime Madden friend to whom he had mentioned it years ago.

Said Madden in a recent interview, “He told us that he had gotten the uniform from his father,” George Romney, then the Governor of Michigan, whose security detail was staffed by uniformed troopers. “He told us that he was using it to pull over drivers on the road. He also had a red flashing light that he would attach to the top of his white Rambler.”

In Madden’s recollection, confirmed by his wife Susan, who also attended Stanford during those years, “we thought it was all pretty weird. We all thought, ‘Wow, that’s pretty creepy.’ And after that, we didn’t have much interaction with him,” although both Madden and Romney were prep school boys living in the same dorm, called Rinconada.

Other eyewitnesses have previously recalled Romney’s alleged use of a police or trooper uniform in pranks during his high school years at the exclusive Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Phillip Maxwell, a prep school buddy, told the New Republic in 2008 that Romney had pulled over students from a girls school next door to Cranbrook while wearing a police uniform as a prank. Other former classmates described Mitt as a “happy-go-lucky guy known less for his achievements and more for his pranks.”

In The Real Romney, a biography published by Boston Globe reporters Michael Kranish and Scott Helman this year, another former friend recalled how Romney had “put a siren on top of his car and chased two of his friends who were driving around with their dates.” The two friends were in on the scheme, but the girls were not. There was beer in the car trunk, according to a prearranged plan. Mitt told his two counterparts to get out of their vehicle and into his car. Then they drove off, leaving the girls behind.

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Hundreds of thousands of men Mitt Romney ’s age got uniforms in those days the old fashioned way, by being drafted into military service. Mitt Romney avoided that with four consecutive draft deferments that he obtained that allowed him to, like his father before him and his sons after him, avoid combat in the war of his era, the Vietnam War.
~ From Lawrence O'Donnell on MSNBC:


Impersonating a police officer was bad enough. He is now hoping to get the chance to impersonate a president. He should learn to do more than just impersonate a human first.
~ comment by Phal4875 on Huff Post

I'm betting ($10K) that it comes out and they dismiss it as a Halloween costume he had laying around.
comment by eXtina on Daily Kos
























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