This Is How They Repay Us

Mario Diaz-Balart, attacking SCHIP:

In a flame-fanning tirade on Spanish-language radio last week, Díaz-Balart called the tax hike [to pay for SCHIP] an "attack on the Cuban-American community." He added: "It would hurt an industry specifically in Miami-Dade, in South Florida, an industry that is almost entirely Hispanic: those who make cigars by hand, which is a cultural tradition. That industry will not survive."

Lincoln Diaz-Balart, disrupting Tom Lantos's memorial service:

The House had a meltdown today in the middle of the memorial service for the late Rep. Tom Lantos, a Holocaust survivor who was chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The service, in the Capitol's historic Statuary Hall, was disrupted when a Republican House member unexpectedly called for a procedural vote.

And that's when all hell broke loose.

House Democrats were furious, charging the procedural motion was disrespectful. "Very bad taste, very" as one senior House Democratic aide put it.

Republicans were apparently worried that Democrats were about to force debate on contempt-of-Congress citations against White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former White House counsel Harriet Miers. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) is the member who hit the panic button, so to speak, and called the procedural vote. His real purpose in calling the procedural motion was to protest the lack of a vote on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act - before the contempt debate started.

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, grandstanding about that stupid Petraeus ad:

The chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., said the ad "is outrageous and it is deplorable" and called upon her "colleagues on both sides of the aisle" to condemn the ad and, somewhat inexplicably, to apologize to the general for the impugning of his integrity.

Democrats everywhere know that we don't need people like this in Congress. It goes without saying that the DCCC leadership should realize this, too.

•  The DCCC will get minimal netroots support

  until it cleans up its act.

  by FishOutofWater on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 04:47:27 PM PDT

  •  "Minima"? Zero as far as I'm concerned.

    The Lantos story is unforgivable.  What a creep.

    And the DCCC wants to be friends???

    by Phil S 33 on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 04:49:55 PM PDT

    •  They won't get one red cent from me

      I will support Larry Kissell and other Dems through Act Blue.

      by FishOutofWater on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 04:56:37 PM PDT

  •  Did Pelosi affirm support for the challengers?

    I'm starting to warm to her more and more.

    by Send Rahm a Cheesecake on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:08:10 PM PDT

    •  Yes

      NT.

      by homoaffectional on Sun Mar 16, 2008 at 01:21:57 AM PDT

  •  Why don't we add

    Joe Garcia, Raul martines and Annette Taddeo to Blue Majority?  I was impressed with all 3, going by their websites.

    You guys need to be adding more people before the March 31  Q1 fundraising reports are due, so we can show our clout.

    by Mimikatz on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 06:29:53 PM PDT

•  Excllent

  research David. Wow. That pretty much says it all about this. Why can't the DCCC accept this obvious reality? Do they think for one secodn the RNC wouldn't drag them through hell if the tables were turned?

  by DarkSyde on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 04:48:00 PM PDT

  •  As much as I admire your attempt

    to educate the members here about science, DarkSyde, all of these events are old news. No research beyond reading the newspapers was required.

    by Angry Old Man on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:24:57 PM PDT

    •  go back to your bridge, angry old beyach

      by Uberbah on Sun Mar 16, 2008 at 09:04:46 PM PDT

•  Miami--Misunderstood

  I spend half of each year in Miami. And I can assure you, the younger and less wealthy Cubans would be very happy to feed the Republicans to the sharks. Responding to "old money" donations, the current reps are on their way out.

  Obama says he trusts them--to represent us to their families in Cuba, and to be our ambassadors. They will support him.

  by MrMichaelMT on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 04:48:54 PM PDT

•  I didn't even know that about the Lantos service

  Shame on him.

  by ScottyUrb on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 04:50:00 PM PDT

  •  You didn't?

    Shame on you.

    by Angry Old Man on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:10:52 PM PDT

•  Ileana y los Diaz-Balart

  Gusanos. Todos son gusanos.

  by Ivan on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 04:52:24 PM PDT

  •  LOL

    Classic. That's exactly what they are, worms. Now if we can just step on them.

    by oak510 on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 04:55:50 PM PDT

  •  They should be asked if Embargo is alibi.

    I recall that IR-L wrote an op-ed piece for USA Today a decade or so ago. All the proof she had that it was working is that Castro asked to end it. A real anti-Communist would have no problem believing that he was well aware of King Midas's curse--that because he asked that everything he touched turned to gold, he starved with a plate of golden food in front of him--that Castro would be most afraid that his request would be granted.

    The weight of evidence is that the embargo is an alibi for Castro to excuse his failings. If they can't handle that charge, they should have been voted out of Congress long ago.

    by Judge Moonbox on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:18:36 PM PDT

  •  You stole my comment

    by cachola on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 06:31:57 PM PDT

•  When you're right ..

  you're right.
  And you're right.
  I called the DCCC the Friday.

  by the biped on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 04:53:27 PM PDT

•  DCCC in Florida = DLC = Clinton

  Funny how HRC wants HER healthcare plan, but her surrogates are not doing anything to get Dems elected. That should tell everyone where she really stands on "Universal Healthcare".. Notice who is contributing to her campaign? Ins. Healthcare companies..

  by Blue Texas on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 04:53:35 PM PDT

  •  Right. It's all Senator Clinton's fault

    Why not support Senator McCain?

    by Angry Old Man on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:12:40 PM PDT

    •  Rhetoric over substance.

      She says she wants "Universal Healthcare" but what is she doing to secure enough Democrats to get the bill passed.. We know that Obama helped get Hasterts seat to turn Blue.

      So answer me this.. without new democrats taking the place of old republicans how is HRC going to get anything accomplished?

      How is HRC on the top of the ticket going benefit Red State Democrats down the ticket?

      How is HRC going to get her health plan through congress without bringing said Red state Democrats into the Congress?

      by Blue Texas on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:41:01 PM PDT

      •  Wow !! First she is the cause of all the

        world's problems. Then she is so weak that she can do nothing. Wow!

        by Angry Old Man on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:44:05 PM PDT

        •  Can a HRC supporter

          Just please answer why HRC's surrogates are not doing their job in Florida? which is the point of the diary.

          I know it's important to get those delegates seated that's the most important thing is to seat those delegates, The Florida Delegates take precedence over Everything else..,, but in the mean time how bout the lowly Red State Democrat that is also on the ticket.. Are they now being held hostage like the contributions to the DNC?

          But if you want you can answer any one of the questions I pose in my previous Post..

          by Blue Texas on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:50:47 PM PDT

          •  Who said that I support Senator Clinton?

            by Angry Old Man on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:56:37 PM PDT

            •  Let's see..

              In the Subject line it says "Can a HRC supporter" you responded.. with an inane statement about her being the cause of all the worlds problems.. Couldn't agree more by the way...

              So Let's try it again.. Why are Hillary Clinton's Surrogates in Florida not trying to get Democrats Elected? If she can not get down ticket Red State Democrats elected, How can she get HER "Universal Health Care" Bill Passed. Or is it just Rhetoric,, you know,, Saying Anything To Get Elected...

              by Blue Texas on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 06:05:12 PM PDT

              •  Sorry, but you seem to

                have misread my posts. Senator Clinton is in the center of the Democratic Party. Senator Obama is to her right. I am so far to the left of both of them that I am falling into the Socialist Party -- too bad that there isn't one in this country. We really need one.

                And, by the way, ad hominem remarks are not appreciated.

                by Angry Old Man on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 06:14:23 PM PDT

                •  You're annoying.

                  by lizah on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 07:38:18 PM PDT

    •  HRC already did

      by cachola on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 06:33:24 PM PDT

•  Fuck it, they're always good for crumpets and tea

  Who cares if they are deplorable Republicans. They are friends with DWS. This bond of friendship is more important than defunding the war or getting SCHIP passed.

  by bobinson on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 04:55:49 PM PDT

  •  I care that there are filthy Republicans involved

    in what looks like an iran-contra re-run, there is a pattern emerging that should scare the bejebbers out of all of us.

    And Republicans seem to like this stuff, and it reaches deep into the upper regions of the Bush Administration.

    Links:

    1, November 2007

    2, December 2007

    3, December 19 2007

    4, January 2008

    5, January 12 2008

    6, January 18 2008

    7, February 2008

    8, March 2008

    This should keep folks reading awhile.

    But more than anything we need to pressure McCain about this.  Would he poison the nation because he might not like Hugo Chavez?  a diary  I suspect he would.

    You ask "This is how they repay us?"  It sure as hell looks worse than you think.

    by boilerman10 on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:29:02 PM PDT

•  Congress is not a big social club

  its the place where the people's business gets done.

  I know David Broder likes to think of Congress as a place for cigars and brandy, but David Broder isn't a Democratic member of Congress who willingly sought a job with a specific responsibility to elect more Democrats. He's a hack who watches history like its on God's television in front of him.

  If you can't go after a Republican held seat because you are bowlin' buddies with that Republican, well kudos from David Broder, I'm sure he will lament your lost seat when the GOP takes it from you as repayment for your kindness, but for now you shouldn't ever be in a leadership position tasked with switching seats from Red to Blue.

  by LeftHandedMan on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 04:58:20 PM PDT

  •  Sorry but as much as I dislike

    Broder, he is right. Congress has become hothing more than "an old boy's club" with women now included. Congress has done next to nothing for the people in the past 15 years.

    by Angry Old Man on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:17:54 PM PDT

  •  Cigars and Brandy?

    I thought Nancy Pelosi banned smoking in the House lobby.  Though I guess there's still the brandy.

    by Navy Vet Terp on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:20:15 PM PDT

•  I say we return the favor by removing the embargo

  on Cuba.  Anyone else up for a trip to Havana?  Would make an interesting YearlyKos.

  by Johnny Venom on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 04:58:36 PM PDT

  •  I view ending the embargo

    like I viewed the normalization of relations with Viet-Nam.

    What are you waiting for?

    The people who are against it have been wrong for so long they don't know anything but being wrong.

    The second its over and done with, people who aren't foamy mouthed talk radio zombies are going to feel so stupid that they ever listened to these people who made it out to be vital to keep doing the same dumb thing for life.

    And the ultimate irony may be that Cuba ends up with a more open government, or a complete change in government, when America stops playing cold war games.

    by LeftHandedMan on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:03:55 PM PDT

    •  this is so overdue it's criminal

      It's the height of hypocrisy that we trade with China, Vietnam, but not with Cuba.  

      by Johnny Venom on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:08:52 PM PDT

      •  But China and Vietnam provide our companies

        With favorable labor conditions.  Would the Communist regime still governing in Cuba permit their workers to work 12 and 14 hour days seven days a week, young girls 10 to 14 tied to textile machines, for pennies, all so Wal-Mart can pay the foreigners 96 cents per pair of pants?

        by Navy Vet Terp on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:23:12 PM PDT

        •  A very noteworthy observation

          by Angry Old Man on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:54:12 PM PDT

          •  Navy T, Angry O M, very good.

            the REAL opposition is the social system that has a non profit  pro people health care and won't allow slave labor foreign ownership. They ran most of the wealthy land owners who used serfs off out of Cuba.  They are not going to give land back to those families of the rich, or companies that were nationalized back.

            They are not going to open up their labor code like Iraq, outlaw labor unions and allow total repatriation of earnings and the exploitation back.  to the ex-owners. China has a 35 cent/hour
            minimum that isn't even enforced. imagine that 90 miles off Florida! Cheap transport and starvation wages. Just like Haiti, only worse!

            No thanks. Cuba has a growing tourist business with some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. The Florida old gusano haters can simply hate until they die. The rest of us can have normal relations like any other country with them.

            by Pete Rock on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 06:06:00 PM PDT

•  Reminds me of my intense distaste for aged

  "Cuban Reactionaries"

  by revenant on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:00:26 PM PDT

•  EXCELLENT NEWS from IA

  just in from AP:

  Half the 14 delegates allocated to John Edwards on the basis of caucus night projections switched Saturday and Obama got most, if not all, of them.

  HOPE is alive and well. We need a diary on this. this is my Mallox tonight.

  by HEAT on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:02:22 PM PDT

  •  JustWinBaby has a diary on the rec list

    about this.

    by LeftHandedMan on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:04:43 PM PDT

    •  thanks. didn't see it n/t

      by HEAT on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:05:38 PM PDT

  •  off topic.

    by Newsie8200 on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:08:37 PM PDT

•  Can we flip them?

  This is a husband and wife team, right, two congresscritters? Why don't we flip them? They are for sale. So why don't we make a better offer? It is easier to be a Democrat anyway, or will be soon.

  Or, can we find Cuban-Americans to oppose them? Would replacements have to be Cuban-Americas?

  We should take them out together. We will only have to remove a few, and flipping in gonna look good.

  by Village expects idiot home soon on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:05:30 PM PDT

  •  And get what?

    A couple of Bush Dogs?  More AND BETTER Democrats!

    by beemerr on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:17:06 PM PDT

    •  Here are the opponents:

      The Democratic candidates are named in DavidNYC's previous FP diary:

      The good news: Top Dem brass sent letters of support to our three South Florida candidates - Annette Taddeo, Joe Garcia& Raul Martinez- who are each offering stiff challenges to incumbent Republicans.

      by Judge Moonbox on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:34:16 PM PDT

•  What Lincoln did was pretty bad

  FL Dems... did this get negative coverage in FL?  Did the FL Dem Party push this in local media?

  by Newsie8200 on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:07:44 PM PDT

•  Disgusting.

  In the middle of a memorial service?

  Just when I think those orcs on the right can't sink any lower...

  by slksfca on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:08:31 PM PDT

  •  It happened weeks ago. Where have you all

    been?

    by Angry Old Man on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:19:00 PM PDT

  •  Imagine the outcry

    If Democrats tried that during a memorial service for a deceased Republican House member.  The outcry would be well deserved, but it should work both days.

    by Navy Vet Terp on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:25:28 PM PDT

    •  Hell there was even manufactured "outcry"...

      ... and accusations about how Democrats were acting during a memorial service for a Democratic Congress member... in this case, Senator Paul Wellstone.  It was disgusting, the kind of lurid, hypocritical projection-laden allegations they were making against Dems.

      by homoaffectional on Sun Mar 16, 2008 at 01:26:51 AM PDT

•  Classy. nt

  by The BBQ Chicken Madness on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:08:48 PM PDT

•  INsane

  But it shows you the true nature of conservatism.

  Conservatism = If the kid's parents can't afford health care, drop dead.

  Conservatism = Better to give Ken Lay a tax cut than pay for health care for kids.

  Sick philosophy, sick people.

  by davefromqueens on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:11:22 PM PDT

•  SCHIP: sin taxes are always regressive...

  Sin taxes pit working people against each other, dividing Democratic constituencies.

  Sin taxes feed a "moral majority" mentality.

  Sin taxes avoid the real issue of progressive taxation.

  Sin taxes are a Republican agenda for all of these reasons and we should not be dragged into playing that game.  

  The way to fund SCHIP is through the general revenues, and if that means raising income taxes at the upper end of the spectrum, go for it.   Let the Republicans try defending millionaires and billionaires against the needs of uninsured children.  That is a social justice fight with no internal conflicts, and that's one we can win without dividing against ourselves.  

  by G2geek on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:16:04 PM PDT

  •  Leave it to the Dems....

    ......to come up with a way of financing the otherwise wonderful SCHIP program that is even less ethically acceptable than watching the program die.  They somehow managed.

    by Mark27 on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:56:33 PM PDT

    •  It's the mentality of

      taking the easy way out by using indirect measures.

      At some point we have to be willing to face down the big scary monster in the room, and fight it on principle.  

      The old pragmatism of indirect measures and triangulation has not served us well, and it has got to be defeated decisively, in favor of a can-do attitude that is not afraid of taking on the big battles when needed.  

      by G2geek on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 06:03:44 PM PDT

      •  Yep. The Longer They Take the Path of Least..

        ....resistance and foist the cost of government entirely on the backs of easy targets (i.e. the low-income and politically disempowered), Democrats destroy progressive goals even in "victory".  If they expand health care programs for poor children only by making the nation's tax burden infinitely more regressive than it was under Republicans, then what has anybody really gained?

        by Mark27 on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 06:19:46 PM PDT

•  we're supposed to "work together"

  and yet rethugs have no qualms about disrespecting an honored member of their own assembly. (Lantos)

  When will the dems wake up to the fact that we cannot be friends with republicans because we can never TRUST republicans. Ever.

  Unless of course they are really all on the same side.

  by lisastar on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:20:01 PM PDT

•  I'm reaching to find a reason for DWS's behavior,

  ...not knowing any details so this may be off the wall, but is it possible that the Democratic Party needs to construct better cover for neighboring Dems when seats are challenged?

  Is the local atmosphere in this swing areas so unbalanced that we "challenge one and lose two" making DWS feel left out in the cold alone and threatened?

  If so, she won't be the last and the next one may be more nuanced and more in the background.

  by kck on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:39:49 PM PDT

•  asdf

  How do all these crazies get into congress in the first place?  There is something seriously wrong with our voting process if Americans are that clueless about who they are sending to represent them.

  by BDA in VA on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:40:15 PM PDT

  •  There is something wrong with...

    too many Americans in general...  and to answer your question, the reason so many crazies get into Congress is because of all the crazies that are voting them into Congress.

    by homoaffectional on Sun Mar 16, 2008 at 01:29:42 AM PDT

•  Shitcan Debster.....

  we don't need any South florida Libermans. We have enough in CT.

  by comeinpbrstreetgang on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:45:17 PM PDT

•  Sorry

  I agree with you whole-heartedly, but the fact of the matter is that the Cuban vote is lost for at least another generation. All most (but not all) of the old folk down there do is complain about the butt-hurt they got after Batista got ridden-out on a rail. While I think Castro was just as bad, if not worse than Batista, they still live in an alternate reality. The problem is they are very passionate about this butt-hurt. My boyfriend, who is not welcome in his old family home because he is gay, explained this to me once. You see, he is the grandson of one of these refugees. Anyhow, the point is  that children are educated early on about the evils of Cuba and that of anyone who espouses the ideology even remotely like Castro - in other words, the political left (I would disagree, since Castro is not leftist IMHO). He said it is kinda like those KKK kids on Jerry Springer. The mantra and the constant ranting against the American left gets ingrained to the point it becomes second nature. They really start to believe that we are trying to turn America into Cuba. He said that some even celebrate Kennedy's assassination, since they believe the "bastard" abandoned them. Some think differently, but if they do, they don't make it known or risk being ostracized. Basically, like many hispanic gays, he got estranged from his family when he came out of the closet. The point is, the Diaz-Balarat brothers are in districts which are solidly comprised of these Cubans. It seems unlikely we can win there. I'm not saying its impossible, but I certainly wouldn't put a lot of money on it. Kinda like trying to take down Orrin Hatch, that's all.

  by dragon695 on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:47:31 PM PDT

  •  Gives them too much credit for being monolithic.

    There was a diary 3 weeks ago, which shows that Joe Garcia is getting a decent shot at winning. Maybe the other two districts can also be in play, especially if we remind people that the Surge's apparent success is due to Moqtada al-Sadr's ceasefire.

    by Judge Moonbox on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 06:29:24 PM PDT

  •  Not as hard as Orrin Hatch...

    ... sorry, but it's not.  I agree it won't be easy, and I don't think any of the three but Joe Garcia has a real shot this time around, but the ones that are willing to run more than once will bring the margin of victory for the incumbent fascists down ever so slightly every two years until they are within striking distance by 2012 or 2014.

    The three districts are not washing over with fresh new Democratic registrations... instead, they're gradually bleeding Republican affiliations, with the switchers going independent or even Dem.  The Diaz-Balart brothers are more vulnerable than IR-L for sure.  She will be in that seat for at least the next six years, but we should be able to pick off Mario and Lincoln one-by-one (not necessarily in any particular order) and leave her as the Chris Shays of that part of South Florida or after he's gone, the Olympia Snowe of Maine.

    by homoaffectional on Sun Mar 16, 2008 at 01:36:29 AM PDT

•  Ah, so these are Republicans

  that he DCCC leadership has decided not to challenge, yes?

  It took me a while to figure that out. I was scratching my head going "...how they repay us? But they're all Republicans, that doesn't make any sense."

  Might want to clarify the diary for others who may not immediately recall the situation or recognize those names.

  by VictorLaszlo on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 06:10:30 PM PDT

•  Cuban neocons, all of them. Ileana is also....

  a troglodyte Likudnik on top of it. What a mix!

  These people are a bunch of low-class bums, who should never have been allowed to grace the floor of our Congress, but then in retrospect, there's been a lot of "bums" on both sides of the isle over the years.... Time for a major clean up, all the way around.

  by Hornito on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 06:27:37 PM PDT

•  WHERE is 'our' incessant hammer fascist message?

  100's of Dems in Congress,
  1000's of staffers involved w/ media / press / public relations,

  MILLIONS in salaries!

  WHY THE FUCK CAN'T THEY HAMMER THESE FASCISTS SONS OF BITCHES 24*7*365?

  IF they ain't sell outs, then they're incompetent.

  We gotta primary all hte bastards on 'our' side

  BETTER Dems will = MORE Better Dems.

  Dishrags Dems ain't gonna do shit for us.

  rmm.

  by seabos84 on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 06:31:03 PM PDT

  •  Why don't you really tell us how you feel

    by Angry Old Man on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 06:43:11 PM PDT

    •  You're the angry one...

      ... shouldn't that be your job?

      Just kidding.  A little dib on your name, all taken in good humor, I hope.

      by homoaffectional on Sun Mar 16, 2008 at 01:38:00 AM PDT

•  More evidence that Florida is a lost cause

  The only bright spot to Global Warming is that it may take Florida off out hands.  What a political cesspool.

  by The Fonging on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 06:55:51 PM PDT

•  Slightly o/t...

  and I realize this is old news... but...

  The chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., said the ad "is outrageous and it is deplorable" and called upon her "colleagues on both sides of the aisle" to condemn the ad and, somewhat inexplicably, to apologize to the general for the impugning of his integrity.

  [My emphasis.]  

  I'm not an expert on House rules... but how did a Republican become chair of any House committee...  I thought the majority party assumed all committee chairs.  Indeed, I thought that was one of the fundamental privileges of being a member of the party in the majority.

  Can anyone enlighten me?

  by ceebee7 on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 07:47:18 PM PDT

  •  Someone screwed up.

    Ros-Lehtinen is the ranking Republican (and they can get pretty rank.)  Howard Berman is the chair.

    by OriGuy on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 10:44:35 PM PDT

•  Swing State Project

  has always been an excellent read. I haven't visited in a while, but it's certainly back in my rotation.

  by Prison4Bushco on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 09:16:15 PM PDT

•  please support the efforts to get rid of them!

  My congresswoman is Ileana Ros-L.... we call her Ileana Roseannadanna (if that's before your time, look at: http://en.wikipedia.org/...
  She has an uncanny resemblence!

  Anyway, ousting any of the Balarts or her would be a major success.  They all support Bush without even thinking about it.  They undermine any efforts to get the Democrats more engrained in the Hispanic population down here.  It will be a tough fight, but linking them to Bush will be very easy.  There are several strong candidates that need our support.  I wish than Meek and Schultz would wake up.  I'm starting to like her less and less.  

  by esherard8 on Sun Mar 16, 2008 at 05:23:32 AM PDT

•  This smells like raciscm

  The headline, followed by 3 stories of Republicans with only Hispanic names in common smacks of raciscm. Please explain if I am mistaken.

  by zeb on Sun Mar 16, 2008 at 10:14:24 AM PDT