An Idea To Help Pass Our Agenda

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Thursday July 02, 2009 · 7:21 PM PDT

2009/07/02 · 19:21

With Al Franken being seated as the 60th Senator, stories turn to the significant influence this may have on the balance of power.

However, Harry Reid and others have pointed out that the absence of Senators Byrd and Kennedy due to health concerns significantly hampers their ability to muster the 60 votes needed to overcome the filibuster.

The simple solution would seem to be passing a law that makes it possible for senators to vote by proxy when seeking medical treatment for urgent health reasons.

The fact is, if this change were instituted, Democrats would be giving less away in concessions, and accomplishing more of their agenda. Additionally, it is only allowing our elected representatives express their will when they are too ill to attend. I think Democrats can easily make that case to the public, because in the end, I believe it seems only fair to let the votes be counted.

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Thursday June 18, 2009 · 11:06 PM PDT

2009/06/18 · 23:06

I almost wrote this diary a few days ago, and decided I'd sit on it (read: forgot to write it). When I heard the ad again earlier today, I decided I should do some research.

I regularly listen to my local progressive station on my way to and from work. And I understand that due to their ongoing financial difficulties, they have to take ads from anyone willing to sponsor them, even if that's a dating service promoting infidelity.

But Ed Schultz has been saying things in some of the ads he does on the air which are direct, scathing attacks on Pres. Obama's record in office.

Quotes after the break.

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Monday April 20, 2009 · 5:33 PM PDT

2009/04/20 · 17:33

Should low level government workers (military, intelligence) be prosecuted for carrying out orders if the people who gave those orders are not?

This poses a moral dilemma for me, and I was wondering what the community's view of the question is. I have two arguments competing in my mind which seem convincing, yet are mutually exclusive.

Here goes.

Poll

71 votes Show Results

So, whaddya think?

71 votes Vote Now!

So, whaddya think?

We should prosecute everyone involved, from the top to the bottom of the command structure

30 votes

We should prosecute whoever we can, even if it means only prosecuting those at the bottom of the command structure

0 votes

I would only support prosecutions of those who received orders if those who gave them are also prosecuted

27 votes

I support amnesty for all those who were just following orders

3 votes

I support amnesty for everyone involved

11 votes

A Response To Kos on Caroline Kennedy

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Tuesday December 16, 2008 · 1:10 PM PST

2008/12/16 · 13:10

Markos, while I respect your right to try to rally the community you helped create, please remember to do it with respect. One of the most offensive things about Republicans is how they mischaracterize the views of Democrats to make us seem weak, unpatriotic, and stupid. This "With us or against us" mentality has defined the Bush/Limbaugh years, and is poisonous to honest debate.

That is why it is so disheartening to see you characterize supporters of Caroline Kennedy's as "...desperate for an American monarchy and will discard notions of meritocracy to reward their favorite political dynasty."

As generously as I can put it, I think you've widely missed the mark. Here are a few reasons why.

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Wednesday December 10, 2008 · 1:51 AM PST

2008/12/10 · 01:51

So far, based on everything that has come out, Pres-elect Barack Obama has done nothing wrong. In fact, his refusing to cooperate comes from the most credible possible source: surreptitious recordings of the governor complaining about it.

Unfortunately, regardless of whether the Pres-elect or one of his emissaries did anything questionable, this still threatens to diminish Obama's momentum going into the pivotal "first 100 days" of his administration.

That's why we should all be glad this came out sooner rather than later.

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Wednesday June 25, 2008 · 6:42 AM PDT

2008/06/25 · 06:42

I have been wondering in my mind what Sen. Obama could do which would really help bring about the long term change we need in this country, and one idea struck me, so I thought I'd see what the community thought.

I know this is probably impractical for a thousand reasons, but I thought I'd cast it into the zeitgeist anyway, see if it stuck.

He should propose a plan to stop the use of property taxes to pay for schools, moving us to a system under which the states in tandem with the federal government spend the same number of dollars per student nationwide.

Poll

19 votes Show Results

This is a

19 votes Vote Now!

This is a

stupid idea, never work

6 votes

brilliant idea, never work

5 votes

brilliant idea, I hope he proposes it asap

8 votes

In Praise Of Paul Krugman (and the fighter vs. unifier paradigm)

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Sunday June 22, 2008 · 9:55 AM PDT

2008/06/22 · 09:55

I have watched with disappointment for months as Paul Krugman, one of my favorite writers, has used his column to question and undermine Sen. Obama's historic candidacy.

Paul Krugman has always been a committed progressive, and one of the true consistent voices questioning the Bush administration even when his approval ratings were stratospheric.

And while I understand Mr. Krugman has had to bare the disappointment of seeing his preferred candidate go down to defeat twice (I believe he supported Sen. Edwards before he dropped out, switching his allegiance to Sen. Clinton) I felt he was egregious in his attacks on the prospective nominee.

In retrospect however, whatever hurt feelings there may be, Paul Krugman has been a light which has helped to guide the progressive movement, and his concerns have all been to ensure we got a President every bit as progressive as we needed.

For this he deserves nothing less than our humble praise, even if it is time for him to come around to seeing what we do in Sen. Obama.

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Friday June 20, 2008 · 12:02 AM PDT

2008/06/20 · 00:02

David Brooks clearly fell off the Obama wagon hard. He went from writing absolutely glowing articles about Sen. Obama, to somewhat ambivalent yet respectful articles, and now to outright character assassination.

I usually enjoy David Brooks' column. He writes with an eye towards culture at large, and is often elucidating when discussing society in general.

It is, however, when he aggressively carries water on behalf of the Republican party that Brooks is at his worst. And today he wrote as clear cut a partisan hit piece as they come, so I thought I'd take the time to take it read it so you wouldn't have to.

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Friday June 06, 2008 · 8:36 AM PDT

2008/06/06 · 08:36

UPDATE: Rep. Rob Andrews may not be a credible source. The overall tenor of comments has been strongly supportive of keeping the post up, but as some commenters point out, DKos readers should view Andrews' comments with a grain of salt given his record.

I don't know if it's still appropriate to post this. Thank G-d the nomination fight is over, and maybe we should all just try to forget the "wrongs" and be gracious winners.

But as an American, an idealist, a Jew, and a constituent of Sen. Clinton's, I can't sit idly by as people vying to represent me and my interests exploit the basest human emotions for their personal gain.

Not. Gonna. Happen.

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Wednesday May 28, 2008 · 8:37 AM PDT

2008/05/28 · 08:37

Today seems to be a dumping station for conservatives to tell us Hillary Clinton is really winning. There is a three article collection forming a Bermuda triangle like axis of BS about the Democratic race.

In short form, Byron York and Rich Lowry argue that Democrats are betraying the "one person, one vote" mentality that drove outrage following the Florida 2000 election. York and Lowry seem to have written their articles using the same 5th grader's math homework.

Ed Koch, on the other hand, simply takes the position that Hillary Clinton is being treated unfairly, and should fight to the convention.

It worries me greatly that these views aren't limited to the stupid or malicious people writing these articles, but will have an effect on many under informed Democrats as well. That's why we need to push back by at very least exposing how ridiculous their arguments are.

More after the jump.

Poll

68 votes Show Results

Is it possible to effectively push back these types of arguments?

68 votes Vote Now!

Is it possible to effectively push back these types of arguments?

Yes

14 votes

7 votes

Why bother, we won!

9 votes

There's no cure for stupid, and Koch, Lowry and York all got the affliction

38 votes

Tell The DNC What You Think On MI/FL - Using Hillary's Site For Good

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Friday May 16, 2008 · 12:56 PM PDT

2008/05/16 · 12:56

Hillary Clinton has a page on her site encouraging people to send a message to the DNC Rules and Bylaws committee which is meeting on May 31. As you're probably aware, this is the meeting at which the Florida and Michigan delegates will have their first opportunity to finally be apportioned and thus removed as a political issue.

I am encouraging my fellow Kossacks to take a moment and send a response encouraging the RBC to follow the rules set out at the beginning of the primary season to which all of the campaigns signed on.

Now, remember, this isn't just about making sure Obama wins the nomination, as seems all but certain now. This is also about making sure this gets done as quickly and cleanly as possible so nobody can claim these states were disenfranchised and weaken our nominee there in the fall.

Please send in a submission so we can deal with this final festering issue from the primaries. And it's on to the general!

Updated: Note, I changed the link to the DNC's website since people pointed out in the comments that is a preferable way to contact the DNC.

Clinton Turns Gandhi On His Head

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Sunday May 11, 2008 · 10:07 PM PDT

2008/05/11 · 22:07

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." - Mahatma Gandhi

Clinton ran the race backwards.

First she declared victory, then she decided to fight, then she was laughed at for her "new math", and now she's being ignored.

But perhaps if Superman could spin the earth backwards, reversing the space time continuum...

Poll

112 votes Show Results

If Superman wanted to...

112 votes Vote Now!

If Superman wanted to...

he could get Clinton elected

0 votes

even he could not get clinton elected

67 votes

superman is a libertarian, stupid

45 votes

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An Idea To Help Pass Our Agenda

Does Ed Schultz know he's attacking Obama?

Question and poll on torture prosecutions

A Response To Kos on Caroline Kennedy

On Blagojevich: We're lucky this happened now

A Bold Proposal For Sen. Obama: Educational Equality

In Praise Of Paul Krugman (and the fighter vs. unifier paradigm)

David Brooks: "Dr. Barack Vs. Fast Eddie Obama" Column Gets It So Very Wrong

NJ SD: Exploiting Jewish/Black Tensions Discussed By "High Level" Clinton Staff

York, Koch, Lowry - But, Clinton + Popular Vote = BFF

Tell The DNC What You Think On MI/FL - Using Hillary's Site For Good

Clinton Turns Gandhi On His Head