The new stimulus package may contain large increases in much-needed unemployment benefits, including extending aid to part-time workers.
Also, reaction to Blagojevich's latest drama (will this guy ever go away?) and the selection of Michael Bennet to represent Colorado in the Senate.
And, what is your favorite Bushism?
The New York Times reports on what may come from the new stimulus package:
One proposal, as described by Democratic advisers, would extend unemployment compensation to part-time workers, an idea that Congressional Republicans have blocked in the past.
Other policy changes would subsidize employers’ expenses for temporarily continuing health insurance coverage to laid-off and retired workers and their dependents, as mandated under a 22-year-old federal law known as Cobra, and allow workers who lose jobs that did not come with insurance benefits to be eligible, for the first time, to apply for Medicaid coverage.
I think a focus on unemployment will be critical. Many states are already having severe problems covering unemployment benefits, including California:
The state fund that pays unemployment benefits to laid-off workers is projected to go broke in two weeks, without a bailout from the federal government.
With the jobless rate in California — and the Sacramento region — at its highest level in almost 15 years, the fund was down to $619 million Monday, paying out $34 million a day in benefits, state Employment Development Department spokeswoman Loree Levy said.
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This whole Blagojevich thing is becoming a huge embarrassment for Democrats. Actually, I take that back. It is already a huge embarrassment. He should have been impeached weeks ago:
Illinois's embattled governor said through his spokesman Saturday that Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) has a conflict of interest regarding the Senate seat being vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.
Reid telephoned Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) in early December to discuss the seat, said Lucio Guerrero, a gubernatorial spokesman. Guerrero said he did not know firsthand which candidates Reid supported during the call, but added that he knows Reid's candidates did not include Roland W. Burris, the man Blagojevich picked.
I don't see why we should be surprised that the Senate Majority Leader called a sitting Governor about a potential Senate appointment. Shocking? Um, no.
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The conservative Washington Times thinks the choice of Michael Bennet for the Colorado Senate seat will have huge benefits for Republicans:
It's hard to say who was feeling luckier after the Senate announcement in Colorado Saturday: Denver schools chief Michael Bennet, tapped to fill the seat of Democratic Sen. Ken Salazar, or state Republicans.
Three weeks ago, Colorado Republicans were staring at another Senate loss in 2010 against popular incumbent Mr. Salazar. With his nomination to become interior secretary, followed by the selection of political neophyte Mr. Bennet to succeed him, state Republicans suddenly have their strongest opportunity in years to flip a Democratic seat.
"Republicans were obviously already pleased that this was an open seat, and now they're ecstatic," said Denver pollster Floyd Ciruli. "It's an open seat, and it's being held by a political novice."
According to the Times, Attorney General John Suthers (a Republican) is already lining up support for a potential run against Bennet.
For his part, Bennet has already launched a campaign website for 2010, www.BennetforColorado.com, according to the Colorado Independent. The website includes an endorsement from Obama, who describes Bennet as an "excellent choice" and a "breath of fresh air." The Independent predicts that he will have to raise close to $15 million over the next two years, and, of course, introduce himself to Colorado voters.
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Bennet gets reserved support from the Rocky Mountain News editorial board:
Since moving to Colorado, Bennet has excelled in three very different jobs: as a deal-maker for billionaire Phil Anschutz, chief of staff for Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and superintendent. His problem-solving approach is well-suited for the U.S. Senate, too.
They do have a few reservations, namely the fact that his political views are a mystery to just about everyone and that he doesn't have "deeper roots" in the state. Interesting facts: he will be the youngest member of the Senate and he is the brother of James Bennet, the editor of The Atlantic.
Via Yglesias, the New Yorker featured a very lengthy profile of him back in 2007. At 12 pages, I'll have to save that one to read later. The selection of Bennet was another one of those "who?" moments, but I'm willing to give him a chance.
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Things are definitely looking up for Al Franken, but the Minneapolis Star-Tribune cautions there are still some hurdles to clear:
At least two things, however, still stand in the way of Franken becoming Minnesota's newest U.S. senator: the possibility of a ruling by the Minnesota Supreme Court that more wrongly rejected absentee ballots should be counted, and a legal contest that Coleman attorneys all but promised should Franken prevail.
CQPolitics reports that Republicans will try to prevent any attempts at seating Franken until the legal challenges are resolved. This will certainly be an interesting week in Congress...
Meanwhile, the Boston Globe editorial board praises Minnesota for their recount process, and calls the state a "model of democracy."
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Terry McAuliffe formally announced his intention to run for Governor of Virginia yesterday:
McAuliffe faces two other Democrats who have been active for nearly a year in an already contentious nomination fight to succeed Democratic Gov. Timothy M. Kaine.
State Sen. Creigh Deeds narrowly lost the attorney general's race in 2005, and House Democratic Caucus chairman Brian Moran is also in the race.
Yippee. The Richmond Times-Dispatch notes that he is somewhat of an outsider in Virginian politics:
While McAuliffe is bright and can absorb a lot of information about Virginia in a short period, it will take him much longer to learn the nuances of the state, Sabato said, pointing to McAuliffe's mispronunciation of Goode's name.
But Steve Farnsworth, political scientist at George Mason University, said Virginia has changed so much that the carpetbagger status doesn't hurt as much as it would have a dozen years ago.
I'm not too thrilled about Terry McAuliffe. I'm curious what you think, so I decided to do the first-ever Morning Reaction poll! Please try to contain your excitement.
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Politico is really milking the Top 10 list for all it's worth these days. Their latest installment is the Top 10 Political Newcomers of 2008, which includes, of course, Sarah Palin. And Caroline Kennedy. Although, can she really be considered a newcomer?
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The Washington Independent reports that the conspiracy theorists (or "birthers") who question Obama's birthplace are getting egged on from the tabloid media. This week's Globe has the headline: Where Obama was REALLY Born!
And it’s not like the Obama birthers are hard to string along. They spent New Years eve buzzing that Ed Hale, a host on far-right Plains Radio, was going to reveal a “divorce decree” for Obama parents that revealed, once and for all, that Obama’s 18-year-old mother had flown to Kenya to be with her husband’s unapproving family when her child was born. Hale made his announcement on December 30. The “proof” arrived on December 31. On January 1, Hale announced that his hard-won secret documents revealed… well, nothing. Not that people should stop listening to the Plains Radio roster of Obama conspiracy talk shows!
On the December 26 episode of The Lion’s Den, Hale told listeners that it would be “time to pick up guns” if Congress verified Obama’s victory, as it will do on January 6.
These people really do live in another world. Craziness. But, I guess aarrgghh will have lots of material for his diaries...
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Finally, the New York Daily News bids farewell to President Bush (the "verbal gaffe master") by remembering some of his most famous Bushisms. Some of my favorites:
"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." September 2000, explaining his energy policies at an event in Michigan.
"There's no doubt in my mind, not one doubt in my mind, that we will fail." Oct. 4, 2001, in Washington. Bush was remarking on a back-to-work plan after the terrorist attacks.
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." Aug. 5, 2004, at the signing ceremony for a defense spending bill.
And I think this is my all-time favorite:
"There's an old saying in Tennessee I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee that says, fool me once, shame on shame on you. Fool me you can't get fooled again." Sept. 17, 2002, in Nashville, Tenn.
What's your favorite?