Cheney backs Limbaugh over Powell on GOP future

Cheney favors Limbaugh over Powel in terms of GOP future. In one way this add to partisianship that helps the republicans build a more distinct name brand. On the other hand Limbaugh's politics will no doubt alienate some moderate conservatives. Would the benifits of a more Limbaugh leaning ideollogy lead to a more disicnt republican name brand help or hurt the party? It seems like to me that alienating moderate conservatives is the last thing the GOP needs to do.

What should be the issue?

It should not be about politics when talking about the use of torture. Whether Speaker Pelosi knew of waterboarding techniques or not should not be of issue. What should be of issue is how reactionary some of the measures that almost all of our citizens were ready to stomach to respond to terrorism in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 and take a look at ourselves at as a nation nearly eight years later and determine whether we are taking the most effective approaches in dealing with and preventing terrorism while continuing to not only follow basic American principles like not torturing people and whether we are following internationally recognized agreements like the Geneva Accords.

The Current Committee System

A good cool-down for the semester. A full list of rules for the process of committee assignments per party, referrals, jurisdictions, rules for waivers for exclusive committees, as hoc mechanisms, and procedures. Cool stuff for those who are political junkies and want to know more about how the assignment and referral system works. All of this is directly from the House website. Enjoy the summer!

In regards to subcommittees: "From a 1950 low of 125 subcommittees of House and Senate standing committees, the number increased to a high of 271 in 1975."

U.S. House Passes "hate crime" bill that Bush opposed

In the hustle and bustle of Washington, we sometimes forget to look at the bread and butter of what goes on there. Though Arlen Specter's party-switch is definitely significant, I prefer to look at good old fashioned law-making. Here we have a story discussing visible policy shifts from administration to administration. Hate crime legislation has always been a hot-button issue in American political circles, and it seems we might see the debate's first major development in a long time.

How It Came Down to This: 244 Democrats, 0 Republicans

An interesting article about moderates and bipartisanship

Specter: I'm not an automatic 60th vote

More fallout and reaction to the big news of the day.

An you all thought my gallery of party switchers was a bad a idea....

Shift of Power

The switch by Specter will allow him to gain traction within the Democratic Party leading up to 2010 and allow him to raise campaign finances much more easy along with not having to answer a litany of questions from reporters every time he votes with the Democrats.

A rare event with potentially huge impact

I am conjuring up a vision of United States congressmen as single-minded seekers of reelection.

Arlen Specter to convert to Democratic Party!

Wow! CNN just reported that Arlen Specter will join the Democrats (no link yet, but hopefully this story will flesh out soon). This is huge news. He will most likely remain fairly conservative, but what a smack in the face of the Republican party. Also, considering he is up for reelection in 2010, do you think this move will help or hurt his reelection chances? Will any Democrats run against him in the primary?

Clinton says U.S. no longer AWOL on climate changeStory Highlights

The US, EU, and 15 other nations will meet in a prepatory session before a UN meeting in December. The goal will be to replace the Kyoto Treaty which expires in 2012.

Lawmakers Arrested

I guess those who make the law are not about the law. Five lawmakers from different parts of the country are arrested while protesting the expulsion of aid groups in Darfur in front of the Sudanese Embassy.

New York's 20th District Seat Finally Filled

Not as dramatic as the MN Senate race, but it took four weeks to finally decide a winner for NY-20 Congressional District. In a continuation of the results from the 2008 elections, Republicans are still on the losing end, even in a district they held for decades.

Measuring success in the first 100 days of the 111th

The first 100 days is apparently not only a measure for Presidential success, but for Congressional success as well. The 111th Congress has undergone some of the most activity since the 1930's (although without the same level of success) and still has more on the agenda.

The new Congress, led by Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, have had to deal with crisis management in an economic period of unrest. From bailing out banks, TARP, investigating CEO bonus pay, and passing the largest stimulus in history, the real work has yet to be done.

Language has always been key in the fight on the Hill, especially when talking about "stimulus" which was branded a "spending bill" by Congressional GOP'ers. On the other side, the "stimulus" was a "Recovery Act" to Democrats. Congress seems to be as hyperpartisan as always, as seen in the passage of said stimulus in the House of Representatives, where it made it through without a single Republican vote supporting it.  

"And while the first 100 days saw unprecedented new spending, an extension of health insurance for children, and new employee rights in wage discrimination cases, most votes and debates followed party lines. One thing Congress has not achieved in this first 100 days is clear: that much talked about spirit of bipartisanship."

1. With more on the agenda, such as the reforms in the health care system, how long can President Obama expect to have the same level of support now that his first 100 days are coming to a close?
2. Do you feel that "the first 100 days" is even a valid measure in modern politics, considering it was first used by FDR after his election in 1933?
3. Can Congressional Democrats hold the reigns of power long enough to pass the projects they have waited years to push (such as education reform, a new energy policy, universal health care, etc.)?

Democrats push for investigations into interrogation

Democrats in both chambers of Congress are beginning to push for investigations into whether or not the Bush administration used illegal techniques when questioning detainees who were suspected of terrorism, and whether or not criminal charges are in order. Senator Carl Levin, the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is leading the charge in pressuring the Obama administration to do more.

President Obama stated earlier that he will not seek charges against any CIA official who was found to have used the techniques in question (possibly to keep good relations with the intelligence community, who he desperately needs the support), and has said that he is open to charges against those who drafted the policies in question (the Bush administration lawyers and policy makers). However, he has deferred this power to his Attorney General, Eric Holder. Republicans in Congress are claiming that this is simply a move to settle old political scores, and this type of action does no good for the country. And of course, Joe Lieberman is opposed to looking into any misdeeds that the Bush administration may have committed.

1. Should Democrats investigate the former administration for possibly breaking the law? Would such an investigation help or harm the DNC nationally?
2. How far should the investigation go? If it turns out that orders came from President Bush, should he be held accountable for violating any laws?
3. When comparing the investigation of Bill Clinton to the possible investigation of George W. Bush, have the Republicans already forgotten about their personal political score settling?

House Heavyweight Feels Threat to Power

More scandals brewing. Money & politics, two great tastes that taste even better together.

John Murtha:

If I am corrupt it is because I take care of my district.

Congress, interest groups gear up for highway bill

As discussed in class on Wednesday, lobbyist groups spend large amounts of money advocating to legislators for their causes. With that said, I think many of these groups should start investing more of their money into the actual implementation of their desired projects. I realize that some groups do in fact donate money to such funds, but think that their money would be more wisely spent if they directed their money towards their projects' implementation, rather than using their resources to "buy off' legislators. Personally, I think that with the public's growing distrust in Congress' relations with lobbyist groups, having these groups show that their money is going directly the execution of such a project instead of paying for a Congressman's fine dining bill or luxury vacation would sway the public to rally more favorably towards their cause. I think that plenty of people would favor Congress' decision to pass a $470 billion dollar program to re-vamp the transportation system, if they were to know that the special interest groups advocating the project, were actually going to be paying for a substantial part of the bill. Sure, this course of action would not give legislators the exclusive "perks" they seem to enjoy, but if the public had a more positive view on Congress' actions, maybe this could persuade voters to keep them in office.

Fundraising Shows Cantor’s Growing Clout Within GOP

Someone's arrived:

House Republican Whip Eric Cantor ’s monster first-quarter campaign finance report is no more remarkable for its impressive bottom line — $963,900 — than for what it says about his exploding share of Republican fundraising clout.

Guantanamo Bay

Why does it seem to suddenly be an issue for Congress to decide. If my memory serves me correctly the Bush administration was free to dictate the creation and implementation of Gitmo. Now, it seems as though Congress wants its say in deciding what will happen with the terrorist prison. What seems to be the reason for the switch, the change in party in the White House, or new sentiments over who has the authority to decide what haooens to these prisoners? Weigh in...

Kohl now leaning moderate

Senator herb Kohl is now joining a coalition of 15 Democrats who are committed to be more fiscally responsible. Kohl Said that he wants to be more responsible because he fears that some initiatives being put out there that could hurt Wisconsinites. With the senate being a super majoritarian institution, this kind of coalition could hurt the more liberal dems. Kohl is specifically against the cap and trade measure that could raise energy bills on coal burning states like Wisconsin. Both him and Sen. Feingold voted against the measure.

Overview: Congress Works Toward Energy Compromise

A first -ever cap and trade system is in sight. Some interesting obstacles to success: getting moderate Dems on board, mitigating externalities of a the new policy(In terms of higher energy costs) , will the rest of the industrialised world get down on this and how are will this policy be enforced?