Erick Erickson's Blog, page 213
October 27, 2010
This is How the Democrats Will Try to Steal the Election
The old saw is that Republicans try to suppress elections and Democrats try to steal them. We are certainly seeing what appears to be the Democrats trying to steal the election in close races this year.
We now know that the SEIU is in charge of the voting machines in Las Vegas where Harry Reid's name is coming pre-checked.
But buried in the news is this curious story.
An Illinois county election official is telling the ABC 7 I-Team that thousands — potentially hundreds of thousands — of voters who are expecting a ballot sent to them by mail may be disenfranchised.
Chicagoan Rosia Carter is one of 404,000 registered Illinois voters who recently received vote-by-mail requests that were sent by the Illinois Democratic Coordinated Campaign.
"By the time I filled it out and sent it in, my vote would not get counted," Carter said.
She and others called the I-Team when they noticed the return address is not their local election official but instead a PO box for the organization.
This sounds very innocent, but we know precisely how this will work out. The Democrats, who screwed it up to begin with, will run to a Democrat on the federal bench and beg to have these ballots cast.
"We can't disenfranchise anyone (except the military)," the Democrats will cry. So the judge will ignore the law and ignore that it was the Democrats' own fault. And the judge will allow the 400,000 additional votes to come in.
Once the barrier for ballot acceptance is lowered for these people, the barrier for ballot acceptance for other reasons will also be lowered.
And once the Republicans object, the story will not be about ballot integrity. The story will be about Republicans denying people the right to vote.
Morning Briefing for October 27, 2010
RedState Morning Briefing
For October 27, 2010
Go to www.RedStateMB.com to get
the Morning Briefing every morning at no charge.
BREAKING: SEIU Handling the Voting Machines in Las Vegas
1. What Better Way to Signal the World You "Get It?" - Hire Washington Insiders!
2. It's Time to Make GOP Leadership Less Powerful
3. Did Harry Reid pull strings to protect aide in immigration conspiracy?
4. Dan Benishek: Of The People, By The People
5. Alex Sink Drips
6. We Helped Him Start His Campaign. Let's Help Him Finish It.
———————————————————————-
BREAKING: SEIU Handling the Voting Machines in Las Vegas
Remember the news story yesterday about the lady in Las Vegas who, when casting her ballot, discovered that Harry Reid's name was pre-checked for her? My friend Jim Hoft has breaking news that the SEIU is responsible for servicing those machines. Hhhmmmmm. . . .
Read more about it right here at Jim's site.
1. What Better Way to Signal the World You "Get It?" - Hire Washington Insiders!
So, expecting to pick up a number of seats by "newbies," what do GOP leaders in Washington want to ensure? They want "GOP insiders to staff outsiders," according to Roll Call. Eric Cantor's staff added, "There's a lot of important work to get done right out of the gate, so it's important that newly elected Republicans have access to experienced, competent staff so that they can hit the ground running."
According to Roll Call, "[a] Republican aide confirmed leadership's interest in having staff that works well with Boehner to move the agenda forward." And even better, the lobbyists and strategists are in on the act, as well - one lobbyist saying, "[y]ou want to be sure that the newbies, when they hit town, do not necessarily bring their campaign staff to run their Congressional offices, because in some cases they are totally ill-equipped."
But that's not really what this is about at its core. This is about making sure the "newbies" do not rock the boat and get with the program… the Washington establishment's program. The staff that the establishment will "suggest" to the new members will be the same freaking idiots who have been bouncing around the Hill forever and will be more likely to go along to get along - to continue the same way Washington has been working forever. Just take a look at top Republican offices - they are a bunch of re-treads from years past, Administrations past - and for those of us who have been in the trenches fighting for conservatism, let me just say that we have more often been fighting against them than with them.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
2. It's Time to Make GOP Leadership Less Powerful
As Election Day approaches, no outcome should be taken for granted, but it looks increasingly likely that Republicans will take control of the House, and perhaps even the Senate. For those who want to reform Congress, increased thought and planning needs to take place now because many decisions are made the very next week after the election when Republicans "organize."
During these organization meetings, Republicans will elect their leadership for the upcoming Congress, agree upon their internal conference rules, and give their blessing to the slate of members who will represent them on the powerful "steering" Committee that distributes committee assignments. Much of this resembles a bum's rush where the current Leadership offers a series of resolutions, often designed to preserve their own power, that are quickly agreed to because none of the members in attendance are prepared (or willing) to object and consider the long-term ramifications for conservatives.
Yet in many respects, these organizational meetings will lay the framework for whether the incoming class of members will actually be able to change the way Congress and their party does business.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
3. Did Harry Reid pull strings to protect aide in immigration conspiracy?
The facts of the case are these: in 2003 Diana Tejada entered into a fraudulent conspiracy with Lebanese national Bassam Mahmoud Tarhini, with the aim of securing permanent US residency for the latter (there was also and investigation whether Mr. Tarhini had links to 'extremist groups,' but nothing was ever confirmed). Money changed hands. For the next five years Ms. Tejada continued to misrepresent her relationship with Mr. Tarhini, despite official inquiries by immigration services; her eventual confession took place in November, which was one month after she joined current Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's staff. Despite her confession, Ms. Tejada was not charged with any crime at all, let alone a felony; in fact, Ms. Tejada was misidentified as still being at her former job (La Raza) by immigration officials at Tarhini's deportation proceedings. Harry Reid's office has fired Ms. Tejada only in the last month (she was an official Reid spokesperson for the latest DREAM Act push), and claims that they had no prior knowledge of her activities: this has been contradicted by Fox's own sources, which insist that Tejada's confession was partially motivated by concerns relating to her new job with Harry Reid; and that in any case it would be standard operating procedure for the Senate Majority Leader to be made aware of a situation of this magnitude that involved one of his own aides.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
4. Dan Benishek: Of The People, By The People
We are getting down to the wire here and a candidate who can win needs our help. Dan Benishek is running in MI-1 for the seat that Bart Stupak is vacating. Y'all remember Bart Stupak, right? The man who proved that the myth of the Pro-Life Democrat is just that; a myth. He disgustingly sold out the unborn, after promising not to, and voted for Obamacare. Then bravely ran away, in the form of retirement.
Dan Benishek is the man that can, and should, replace the cowardly Stupak. He has a money bomb going on right now. . . . His latest ad, entitled "Get Us Back" shows why we need him to win. Oh, and it is an ad done by a RedState diarist.
5. Alex Sink Drips
Alex Sink and Rick Scott agreed before hand to the rules of their debate. One of the rules was that they'd not take messages or converse with staff during the debate.
Alex Sink, during the debate, sung her own praises about how she always follows the rules. Then her makeup artist came in and handed her a message. During the debate.
Given Alex Sink's debate performance, however, we may need to give her a mulligan.
She spent the entire debate bragging about all the newspaper endorsements she's received. You'd think she was running for Editor of the New York Times. Of course Sink also kept denying she was an "Obama liberal."
Please click here for the rest of the post.
6. We Helped Him Start His Campaign. Let's Help Him Finish It.
It was March 19, 2009. I got on the front page of RedState and said Marco Rubio was my choice to be Senator in Florida and we should not be going all in with a guy like Charlie Crist.
Rubio was at 4% in the polls.
Everybody laughed and thought I was crazy. He who laughs last . . .
We helped Marco Rubio start his campaign. Now let's help Marco Rubio finish it.
October 26, 2010
We Helped Him Start His Campaign. Let's Help Him Finish It.
It was March 19, 2009. I got on the front page of RedState and said Marco Rubio was my choice to be Senator in Florida and we should not be going all in with a guy like Charlie Crist.
Rubio was at 4% in the polls.
Everybody laughed and thought I was crazy. He who laughs last . . .
We helped Marco Rubio start his campaign. Now let's help Marco Rubio finish it. Watch this then consider a closing gift for a job well done.
Alex Sink Drips
Alex Sink and Rick Scott agreed before hand to the rules of their debate. One of the rules was that they'd not take notes during the debate.
Alex Sink, during the debate, sung her own praises about how she always follows the rules. Then her makeup artist came in and handed her a note. During the debate.
Given Alex Sink's debate performance, however, we may need to give her a mulligan.
She spent the entire debate bragging about all the newspaper endorsements she's received. You'd think she was running for Editor of the New York Times. Of course Sink also kept denying she was an "Obama liberal."
Never mind that few, if any, of the newspapers in Florida that endorsed her would have endorsed her if she was not an Obama liberal. Newspapers, when given the choice, endorse the liberal. Period.
And Sink has lots of endorsements — every Obama liberal running every liberal editorial page in Florida loves Alex Sink.
That's another reason you should conserve Florida by turning off the Sink.
More here at CNN, which notes that the person who sent Sink the note was the person who signed the "no notes" agreement for Sink.
Seven More Days. You Have Not Stopped Obama. You Have Won Nothing.
You have not stopped Barack Obama. You have not, to paraphrase P. J. O'Rourke, served the restraining order.
You have not made this country safe.
You have not stopped the advance of socialism in this country.
You have not stopped the Democrats from destroying the economy.
You, all of you, have won nothing. NOTHING.
And it will stay that way — imaginary wins, fictitious actions against an elite hostile toward the idea of America — unless you vote on November 2nd.
You, me, all of us, we have won not one damn race. Many have decided it is in the bag. Many have decided they've done all they can, given all the can, and are now resting.
Don't rest. The election is exactly seven days from day.
You have won not one race. But you can.
Vote.
And then the real fight begins November 3rd.
In the meantime, here again are the top 99 races in the country. The GOP only needs 39. 37 are already swinging their way. Bold picks are my personal favorites.
Give money. Volunteer. Pray.
Rank
2010 Incumbent
District
Nominee
Rating
1
Melancon
LA3
Safe R
2
Gordon
TN6
Safe R
3
Snyder
AR2
Likely R
4
Ellsworth
IN8
Likely R
5
Moore, D.
KS3
Likely R
6
Edwards, C.
TX17
Likely R
7
Kilroy
OH15
Likely R
8
Massa
NY29
Likely R
9
Markey
CO4
Likely R
10
Halvorson
IL11
Likely R
11
Kosmas
FL24
Likely R
12
Tanner
TN8
Likely R
13
Dahlkemper
PA3
Likely R
14
Driehaus
OH1
Lean R
15
Kratovil
MD1
Lean R
16
Kirkpatrick
AZ1
Lean R
17
Perriello
VA5
Lean R
18
Nye
VA2
Lean R
19
Stupak
MI1
Lean R
20
Shea-Porter
NH1
Lean R
21
Baird
WA3
Lean R
22
Hodes
NH2
Lean R
23
Teague
NM2
Lean R
24
Grayson
FL8
Lean R
25
Kagen
WI8
Lean R
26
Kanjorski
PA11
Lean R
27
Berry
AR1
Lean R
28
Pomeroy
ND1
Lean R
29
Obey
WI7
Lean R
30
Sestak
PA7
Lean R
31
Childers
MS1
Lean R
32
Murphy, P.
PA8
Lean R
33
Kissell
NC8
Lean R
34
Titus
NV3
Toss Up/Tilt R
35
Boyd
FL2
Toss Up/Tilt R
36
Boccieri
OH16
Toss Up/Tilt R
37
Space
OH18
Toss Up/Tilt R
38
Mollohan
WV1
Toss Up
39
Schauer
MI7
Toss Up
40
Herseth Sandlin
SD1
Toss Up
41
Marshall
GA8
Toss Up
42
Spratt
SC5
Toss Up
43
Mitchell
AZ5
Toss Up
44
Arcuri
NY24
Toss Up
45
Hill
IN9
Toss Up
46
Carney
PA10
Toss Up
47
Foster
IL14
Toss Up
48
Hall, J.
NY19
Nan Hayworth
Toss Up
49
Bright
AL2
Toss Up
50
McNerney
CA11
Toss Up
51
Giffords
AZ8
Toss Up
52
Minnick
ID1
Toss Up
53
Salazar
CO3
Toss Up
54
Schrader
OR5
Toss Up
55
Adler
NJ3
Toss Up
56
Klein
FL22
Toss Up
57
Hare
IL17
Toss Up
58
Rodriguez, C.
TX23
Toss Up
59
Davis, L.
TN4
Toss Up
60
Chandler
KY6
Toss Up
61
Boswell
IA3
Toss Up
62
Owens
NY23
Toss Up
63
Bishop, S.
GA2
Toss Up
64
Delahunt
MA10
Toss Up
65
Donnelly
IN2
Toss Up
66
Skelton
MO4
Toss Up
67
Murphy
NY20
Toss Up
68
Wilson, C.
OH6
Toss Up
69
Taylor
MS4
Toss Up
70
Grijalva
AZ7
Toss Up
71
Bishop
NY1
Toss Up/Tilt D
72
Heinrich
NM1
Lean D
73
Critz
PA12
Lean D
74
Boucher
VA9
Lean D
75
Larsen
WA2
Lean D
76
Peters
MI9
Lean D
77
Connolly
VA11
Lean D
78
Maffei
NY25
Lean D
79
Sanchez, Loretta
CA47
Lean D
80
Kind
WI3
Lean D
81
McMahon
NY13
Lean D
82
Altmire
PA4
Lean D
83
Walz
MN1
Lean D
84
Murphy, C.
CT5
Lean D
85
Sutton
OH13
Lean D
86
Rahall
WV3
Lean D
87
Himes
CT4
Lean D
88
Shuler
NC11
Lean D
89
McIntyre
NC7
Lean D
90
Perlmutter
CO7
Lean D
91
Pallone Jr.
NJ6
Lean D
92
Kennedy, P.
RI1
Lean D
93
Etheridge
NC2
Lean D
94
Costa
CA20
Lean D
95
Loebsack
IA2
Lean D
96
Oberstar
MN8
Lean D
97
Braley
IA1
Lean D
98
Hinchey
NY22
Lean D
99
Carnahan
MO3
Lean D
Morning Briefing for October 26, 2010
RedState Morning Briefing
For October 26, 2010
Go to www.RedStateMB.com to get
the Morning Briefing every morning at no charge.
1. Seven More Days. You Have Not Stopped Obama. You Have Won Nothing.
2. This is STUNNING: SEIU's Racism Rears Its Ugly Head Again
3. Jim Moran ranks military service below PTA membership.
4. Congressional Report: Obamacare Costs America Nearly 800,000 Jobs
5. Democrat Bob Etheridge Still Can't Answer Simple Questions
6. Viva la Union? Breaking the Stranglehold of Government Unions Before It's Too Late.
———————————————————————-
1. Seven More Days. You Have Not Stopped Obama. You Have Won Nothing.
You have not stopped Barack Obama. You have not, to paraphrase P. J. O'Rourke, served the restraining order.
You have not made this country safe.
You have not stopped the advance of socialism in this country.
You have not stopped the Democrats from destroying the economy.
You, all of you, have won nothing. NOTHING.
And it will stay that way — imaginary wins, fictitious actions against an elite hostile toward the idea of America — unless you vote on November 2nd.
You, me, all of us, we have won not one damn race. Many have decided it is in the bag. Many have decided they've done all they can, given all the can, and are now resting.
Don't rest. The election is exactly seven days from day.
You have won not one race. But you can.
Vote.
And then the real fight begins November 3rd.
In the meantime, here again are the top 99 races in the country. The GOP only needs 39. 37 are already swinging their way. Bold picks are my personal favorites.
Give money. Volunteer. Pray.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
2. This is STUNNING: SEIU's Racism Rears Its Ugly Head Again
One paragraph in a story about a Chicago politician teaming up with the SEIU to get out the vote on November 2nd says a lot about the SEIU and its views of African Americans.
It is one thing for the SEIU to send in paid (and unpaid) operatives to get people out to vote, it is quite another for them to target a race because they are more "persuadable" than others.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
3. Jim Moran ranks military service below PTA membership.
Here's a really good rule of thumb: when you've done something not only dumb, but actually vile - in this case, if you've declared that wearing your country's uniform for twenty-four years is not 'public service*' - don't compound the error later by trying to explain it away. Jim Moran (D, VA-08) apparently does not understand this rule of thumb, which is why he is now trying to try to walk back from the aforementioned vile thing that he said about Patrick Murray.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
4. Congressional Report: Obamacare Costs America Nearly 800,000 Jobs
Today brings us the latest report from Senators Coburn and Barrasso, the two Republican physicians who've been doggedly following up on all the things we were promised about Obamacare, particularly the ones that have already turned out to be flat-out lies ("The gall!" shrieks a Democrat Hill staffer).
Much of the report is based on combining the findings of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and news reports following up with people who've already felt the law's impact. Central to this issue: the impact of the legislation on America's unemployment picture. Remember when Nancy Pelosi promised the health care bill would create four million jobs — "400,000 of them almost immediately?" Let's go to the videotape.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
5. Democrat Bob Etheridge Still Can't Answer Simple Questions
Democrat Bob Etheridge [NC-2] seems to have a problem with questions. He just cannot find it in himself to answer them.
When students asked him last year if he supported the Obama Agenda, Bob Etheridge assaulted them.
During a recent debate, Republican Renee Ellmers challenged the Obama Agenda-loving Etheridge* and asked how he believed the federal government could handle one-sixth of the economy better than free enterprise system.
Bob Etheridge's answer was really not surprising.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
6. Viva la Union? Breaking the Stranglehold of Government Unions Before It's Too Late.
Last week, it was revealed that the government workers' union AFSCME is spending $87.5 million to try to keep Democrats from being defeated on November 2nd. Interestingly, some people seemed shocked by this. They really shouldn't be though.
For decades, America's union bosses have touted a desire to be more like their European counterparts and they've figured out the only way for them to accomplish this is through the political process. As November 2nd quickly approaches, however, the headlines across Europe should give Americans who are footing the bill for the government workers some pause before traipsing down the path to Paris.
October 25, 2010
Why Is Dan Maes Allowed To Debate?
A new poll out in Colorado shows Dan Maes getting only 5% of the vote.
Why is he allowed on stage to debate Hickenlooper and Tancredo? Just because he is a Republican? If the guy were a Libertarian, a Greenie, a Reform Party guy, etc. he would be seen as illegitimate with 5% in the polls.
Why is CBS4 giving him a platform when he doesn't even have a political pulse?
Having an "R" next to his name is meaningless at this late date.
Eight Days Left. Here's a List of Candidates to Choose From.
Here is how things are shaping up — in order.
I have prepared the chart below, though truth be told, Club For Growth did all the leg work. I just plugged in websites. I left off the likely D and long shot races to focus on the seriously viable races. There are a lot of them. We only need 39 and there are 37 lean or safe Republican ones already.
I'd start at "Toss Up" and work my way down. I've bolded the candidates I like a lot this year. Sean Duffy and Tim Griffin remain at the top of that list, but there are some other stellar candidates.
Note that I cannot link to Nan Hayworth's website. She and her husband profit from killing children and her husband has advocated policies designed to shut down Catholic hospitals that will not kill children.
Also, although Star Parker is not on the list, I believe she is going to be the surprise of the year.
Rank
2010 Incumbent
District
Nominee
Rating
1
Melancon
LA3
Safe R
2
Gordon
TN6
Safe R
3
Snyder
AR2
Likely R
4
Ellsworth
IN8
Likely R
5
Moore, D.
KS3
Likely R
6
Edwards, C.
TX17
Likely R
7
Kilroy
OH15
Likely R
8
Massa
NY29
Likely R
9
Markey
CO4
Likely R
10
Halvorson
IL11
Likely R
11
Kosmas
FL24
Likely R
12
Tanner
TN8
Likely R
13
Dahlkemper
PA3
Likely R
14
Driehaus
OH1
Lean R
15
Kratovil
MD1
Lean R
16
Kirkpatrick
AZ1
Lean R
17
Perriello
VA5
Lean R
18
Nye
VA2
Lean R
19
Stupak
MI1
Lean R
20
Shea-Porter
NH1
Lean R
21
Baird
WA3
Lean R
22
Hodes
NH2
Lean R
23
Teague
NM2
Lean R
24
Grayson
FL8
Lean R
25
Kagen
WI8
Lean R
26
Kanjorski
PA11
Lean R
27
Berry
AR1
Lean R
28
Pomeroy
ND1
Lean R
29
Obey
WI7
Lean R
30
Sestak
PA7
Lean R
31
Childers
MS1
Lean R
32
Murphy, P.
PA8
Lean R
33
Kissell
NC8
Lean R
34
Titus
NV3
Toss Up/Tilt R
35
Boyd
FL2
Toss Up/Tilt R
36
Boccieri
OH16
Toss Up/Tilt R
37
Space
OH18
Toss Up/Tilt R
38
Mollohan
WV1
Toss Up
39
Schauer
MI7
Toss Up
40
Herseth Sandlin
SD1
Toss Up
41
Marshall
GA8
Toss Up
42
Spratt
SC5
Toss Up
43
Mitchell
AZ5
Toss Up
44
Arcuri
NY24
Toss Up
45
Hill
IN9
Toss Up
46
Carney
PA10
Toss Up
47
Foster
IL14
Toss Up
48
Hall, J.
NY19
Nan Hayworth
Toss Up
49
Bright
AL2
Toss Up
50
McNerney
CA11
Toss Up
51
Giffords
AZ8
Toss Up
52
Minnick
ID1
Toss Up
53
Salazar
CO3
Toss Up
54
Schrader
OR5
Toss Up
55
Adler
NJ3
Toss Up
56
Klein
FL22
Toss Up
57
Hare
IL17
Toss Up
58
Rodriguez, C.
TX23
Toss Up
59
Davis, L.
TN4
Toss Up
60
Chandler
KY6
Toss Up
61
Boswell
IA3
Toss Up
62
Owens
NY23
Toss Up
63
Bishop, S.
GA2
Toss Up
64
Delahunt
MA10
Toss Up
65
Donnelly
IN2
Toss Up
66
Skelton
MO4
Toss Up
67
Murphy
NY20
Toss Up
68
Wilson, C.
OH6
Toss Up
69
Taylor
MS4
Toss Up
70
Grijalva
AZ7
Toss Up
71
Bishop
NY1
Toss Up/Tilt D
72
Heinrich
NM1
Lean D
73
Critz
PA12
Lean D
74
Boucher
VA9
Lean D
75
Larsen
WA2
Lean D
76
Peters
MI9
Lean D
77
Connolly
VA11
Lean D
78
Maffei
NY25
Lean D
79
Sanchez, Loretta
CA47
Lean D
80
Kind
WI3
Lean D
81
McMahon
NY13
Lean D
82
Altmire
PA4
Lean D
83
Walz
MN1
Lean D
84
Murphy, C.
CT5
Lean D
85
Sutton
OH13
Lean D
86
Rahall
WV3
Lean D
87
Himes
CT4
Lean D
88
Shuler
NC11
Lean D
89
McIntyre
NC7
Lean D
90
Perlmutter
CO7
Lean D
91
Pallone Jr.
NJ6
Lean D
92
Kennedy, P.
RI1
Lean D
93
Etheridge
NC2
Lean D
94
Costa
CA20
Lean D
95
Loebsack
IA2
Lean D
96
Oberstar
MN8
Lean D
97
Braley
IA1
Lean D
98
Hinchey
NY22
Lean D
99
Carnahan
MO3
Lean D
The Illegals Are Canvassing
Out in Washington State, illegal aliens are canvassing for Patti Murray.
That's right — they are going door to door encouraging people to go vote and vote for Patti Murray.
It is not illegal for illegals to go canvassing, other than the part about them being illegal in the first place. But it is rather indicative of the stark differences between Rossi and Murray on the issue and the desperation of those whose first act in this country was an illegal one and their desire to be embraced as legal.
Pramila Jayapal, head of OneAmerica Votes, says the campaign is about empowering immigrants who may not feel like they can contribute to a campaign because they can't vote.
"Immigrants really do matter," Jayapal said. "If we can't vote ourselves, we're gonna knock on doors, or get family members to vote."
That's rather galling to me. They are not supposed to be in this country and are out trying to affect the public policy of this country?!?! They shouldn't be empowered. They should be deported.
Morning Briefing for October 25, 2010
RedState Morning Briefing
For October 25, 2010
Go to www.RedStateMB.com to get
the Morning Briefing every morning at no charge.
1. Pretending The Union Money Doesn't Exist
2. AFL-CIO: People who believe in 10th Amendment have "cultish beliefs"
3. Union axes worker for wearing 'Bush' shirt, hat
4. Is Jack Conway Involved In an Investigation About His Brother?
5. Torn Between Two Lovers: Democrat Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD)
———————————————————————-
1. Pretending The Union Money Doesn't Exist
Desperate Democrats have been hyperventilating for the past month over money being spent by corporate and other groups, notably the Chamber of Commerce and Americans for Prosperity, to run campaign commercials. To conservatives, running commercials to attempt to persuade voters in advance of an election is known as "free speech," and turnabout is fair play after corporate money went heavily for Obama in 2008, but let's play along here; how much of an advantage does the GOP have here?
Well, according to Greg Sargent, the Washington Post's in-house left-wing activist, it's huge: "The total on the right: $74,733,356. On the left: $9,868,057. And the groups on the left, unlike on the right, consist of well-known names like the Sierra Club and Defenders of Wildlife." This is the standard spin from the Democrats, and Sargent is nothing if not a reliable source for whatever the standard spin from the Democrats happens to be on a particular day. But conspicuously absent from Sargent's list are the largest unions, led by unions of public employees whose taxpayer-funded salaries are funneled into compulsory union dues and then passed on to the people who set those taxpayer-funded salaries.
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2. AFL-CIO: People who believe in 10th Amendment have "cultish beliefs"
When the term astro-turf didn't stick, and tea bagger was thrown into the harbor of bad ideas, union bosses went into overdrive trying to think of new and creative ways to demean Americans who don't agree with their socio-fascist ideals.
Earlier this week, the CWA's Larry Cohen decided that the Tea Party Movement advocates slavery. Now, the AFL-CIO is charging that Americans who believe in the Constitution's Tenth Amendment are like cult worshipers.
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3. Union axes worker for wearing 'Bush' shirt, hat
A California union stagehand was abruptly terminated Friday for wearing a "George H. W. Bush" sweat shirt and hat while constructing a stage to be used for a get out the vote rally featuring President Barack Obama.
Duane Hammond says his clothes were not a political statement, rather a sign of support for his son, who is serving on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. George H. W. Bush.
"I'm just humiliated," Hammond said. "My son has been in the Navy for three years, he's serving proudly, and I'm wearing his flag, so to speak."
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4. Is Jack Conway Involved In an Investigation About His Brother?
Jack Conway is the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Democratic Senate nominee against Rand Paul.
Jack Conway's brother, Matt, was a prosecuting attorney for Jefferson County, Kentucky.
Matt has been under investigation for possible drug use or drug trafficking.
Louisville, KY narcotics detectives tipped off Matt Conway twice that he was under investigation.
The investigation has been compromised. Matt Conway and the tow detectives who tipped him off have all given misleading and/or false statements — Matt Conway doing so under oath.
There is a lingering question about what Matt Conway's brother, the Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, knew — if anything.
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5. Torn Between Two Lovers: Democrat Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD)
You know, one of the (many) problems with Washington is that all-too-often politicians are too easily bought by special interests and end up selling out their constituents (and America). Historically, it's been a bi-partisan disease that goes something like this . . .
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