| GOP to Steele: "Shut your pie-hole and raise money or you're fired" It has been humiliating watching Michael Steele walk back his unfortunate display of backbone and independence that led him to say that Rush Limbaugh wasn't the leader of the republican party, he was. Immediately upon Limbaugh mocking him on the air, he was apologizing. Who were we supposed to believe? Him or our lying ears? Yeah, he had said it, but he didn't mean it...Several Republican advisers to Congress and the previous Bush administration told Washington Whispers that they had concerns that the war of words is driving a wedge between the party when it should be healing the division between conservatives and moderates in the wake of the 2008 election. "What is amazing is that Steele was elected because of his communications skills, and it is those skills that are damaging the Republican Party. Before people begin to completely judge him as worthless, Steele needs to focus and knuckle down on building a strong foundation at RNC so we can begin rebuilding our majority," says a top GOP strategist who has worked for House and Senate Republican leaders. "If his implosion continues, RNC members are likely to call a special session to dump him for an effective chairman. There is not much patience for failure."
And while the republicans tear one another to shreds President Obama's approval rating soared to an all-time high, according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. Two-thirds feel hopeful about his leadership and six in 10 approve of the job he's doing in the White House. "What is amazing here is how much political capital Obama has spent in the first six weeks," said Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart, who conducted this survey with Republican pollster Bill McInturff. "And against that, he stands at the end of this six weeks with as much or more capital in the bank." The republicans, on the other hand, finds their favorability at an all-time low. They also get most of the blame for the current partisanship in Washington and trail the Democrats by nearly 30 percentage points on the question of which party could best lead the nation out of recession.
The stupid really does burn Dear FSM, I don't ask for much, but please, please, please don't let these people breed...
DoJ halts manufacture and shipping at Missouri pharmaceutical company St. Louis-based KV Pharmaceuticals, and its subsidiaries, ETHEX Corp. and Ther-Rx Corp. have been was shut down by the DoJ today for making and distributing adulterated and unapproved drugs. Under the terms of a Consent Decree, the defendants are barred from resuming the manufacture and distribution of drugs until an independent expert, retained by KV, conducts a comprehensive inspection of the company's facilities and certifies that they are in compliance with the FDCA and CGMP, and FDA gives written notification that they can resume operations.
Warrant issued in Chandra Levy murder Jeffrey Taylor, U.S. Atty. For Washington D.C., held a press conference today to announce that a warrant had been issued in the murder of Chandra Levy nearly eight years ago. Her disappearance led to the revelations of an extra-marital affair with her boss, U.S. Congressman Gary Condit, and destroyed his career. Prosecutors allege that Ingmar Guandique killed Levy as she jogged through Rock Creek Park on May 1, 2001. Her remains were found in 2002. Guandique is currently serving time in a federal prison in Adelanto, Calif., for attacking two female joggers in the same park within the same period as the attack on Levy.
Toyota reports February sales off 40% As the economy continues to contract and new cars stubbornly stay on the lot as if they have taken root, Toyota reported the worst monthly numbers yet in the year-long slide in auto sales. Ford, the American auto company in the best health, also reported a worst-yet month, with sales off 48%.
J.C. Watts mulling run for Governor of Oklahoma He indicated interest but only said that he would make a decision and an announcement within 45 days.
Irresponsibility personified The engineer at the controls of the commuter train that crashed in Southern California last year sent a text message to a teenaged boy - on the very day of the crash - that he would let the youth operate the locomotive, even though that is a violation of safety laws. The transcript of messages sent and received by the engineer, Robert Sanchez, came as the NTSB opened a two-day hearing into the Sept. 2008 collision in suburban Chatsworth that killed 25 people and injured at least 130 more.
Coast Guard calls off search for missing boaters The search for two missing NFL players and a friend who had played college ball ended at sundown Tuesday. The three men had drifted away from the vessel on Saturday and the CG issued a statement that it does not believe anyone is alive on the surface of the water. Missing in the cold, choppy waters of the Gulf in winter were were Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper, free-agent defensive lineman Corey Smith and former South Florida player William Bleakley. Hopes were buoyed on Monday when former college player Nick Schuyler was plucked from the hull of the capsized boat after 36 hours adrift. A cooler and a life vest were located sixteen miles from the where Schuyler was rescued.
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Marcy Kaptur took Tweety's lead and dressed down Rep Jeb Hensarling of Texas for using the disparaging "Democrat Party" epithet while addressing the chamber. "I'd like to begin by saying to my colleague from Texas that there isn't a single member on this side of the aisle that belongs to the "Democrat Party." We belong to the Democratic Party. So the party you were referring to doesn't even exist. And I would just appreciate the courtesy when you're referring to our party, if you're referring to the Democratic Party, to refer to it as such.
McShame's earmarks amendment fails John McCain, who was overwhelmingly, humiliatingly crushed in last November's presidential election, attempted today to attach an amendment to a spending bill that would have stripped out the approximately 9000 earmarks that have been added to the legislation. His amendment failed 63-32, with a simple majority needed for passage. Only two Democrats voted with McCain: Evan Bayh and Missouri's Claire McCaskill. Eight republicans - including Missouri's Kit Bond - voted against the McCain amendment.
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To everyone who donated or subscribed the last two weeks of February, thank you from the bottom of my heart. The bills are paid and the lights are on. I do need to raise about a hundred bucks for one important subscription that will expire next Monday, but I am also waiting for a snail-mail donation that might still show up at my bank. So all in all, we are in good shape around here...
I just wanted to say thanks again. You guys always come through for me and you can't imagine how awed and overwhelmed and amazed I am by that. I don't know what I have ever done to deserve you guys and your support and friendship, but I sure am grateful for each and every one of you every single day.
Thank you again for supporting what we are trying to do here. This place really does exist because of you, and I don't want you to forget that. I certainly don't. |
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Best New SoapBlox - 2008
