Good afternoon, Daily Kos readers. This is your afternoon open thread to discuss all things Hill-related. Use this thread to praise or bash Congresscritters, share a juicy tip, ask questions, or post manifestos.
This is a crosspost from Congress Matters. Naturally, the front page folks here have their own open thread, but this one only focuses on what really matters. (Okay, I made that last part up.)
Here's some of my thoughts. Feel free to add your own.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz thinks that the Stupak's coat hanger amendment will be stripped from the final health care reform bill.
I am confident that when it comes back from the conference committee that that language won't be there," Wasserman Schultz said during an appearance on MSNBC. "And I think we're all going to be working very hard, particularly the pro-choice members, to make sure that's the case.
The problem, of course, is that Saturday's vote was pretty close and on has to wonder how many centrist Democrats would defect over that.
But we still have Joseph Cao, right?
Meanwhile, Nate Silver breaks down the vote on the Stupak amendment and finds a bunch of pro-choice Dems voted for it.
In other health care news, Bernie Sanders would support reconciliation.
Finally (a word used with all due premeditation) the Senate might -- just might -- take up a health care debate.
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Anita Dunn is leaving the White House.
Dunn, a longtime Democratic media consultant, took over the job (communications director) on an interim basis earlier this year when Ellen Moran abruptly left the post to take a job at the Commerce Department. Dunn will return to Squier Knapp Dunn, the consulting firm where she is a partner, but will remain as a consultant to the White House on the communications and strategic matters.
Best wishes, Anita.
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"Dede Scozzafava" (remember her?) is no longer a proper noun. It is a verb.
The conservative movement's third-party candidate, Doug Hoffman, expected her support but, she said, the newcomer accountant "had no integrity." Plus, the Democrats were so nice! They called. They sympathized. They made her feel good about tossing her support to Bill Owens, who -- with her help -- became the area's first Democratic representative in more than a century.
The Democrats: "We're nicer than the New York Conservative Party."
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Chris Dodd is circulating a bill to "dramatically remake the financial regulatory system."
Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, wants to create a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) to regulate products like credit cards and home mortgages. Republicans and the financial industry have been strongly opposed to the CFPA, which is backed by the Obama administration and key House Democrats.
Bonus: The bill is only 1,100 pages long -- without amendments, of course. I just wonder if anyone is going to grouse that they "have not had time to read the bill."
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Charles Krauthammer is still delusional.
This was all ridiculous from the beginning. The '08 election was a historical anomaly. A uniquely charismatic candidate was running at a time of deep war weariness, with an intensely unpopular Republican president, against a politically incompetent opponent, amid the greatest financial collapse since the Great Depression. And still he won by only seven points.
Yep. I'm sure the ideological purification of the Republican Party will have zero consequence in 2010 and beyond.
In a related note, Democrats juggle pragmatism and ideology.
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When Congress decides not to address a pressing issue, the bureaucracy has a chance to step up and either make things right... or come up with an even dumber idea than Congress could cook up.
Case in point:
Stop missing deadlines for cleaning up polluted waterways, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency would tell states in the bay watershed.
Or we'll . . . cut off funding for cleaning up polluted waterways.
That idea, announced Monday in a new "draft strategy" for the Chesapeake, might sound as if the EPA is threatening to shoot itself in the foot.
We'll see how that works out.
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Harry Reid did his best Vulcan impersonation by claiming it is illogical for Tom Coburn to vote for the war, but to hold up a veterans care bill.
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Staying classy: GOP Rep Won't Denounce Call For Backlash Against American Muslims
While I will continue to challenge radical Islamists and point out their ties to terrorism, I have been and will continue to work with mainstream moderate Muslim leaders because the only way to stop radicalization, and prevent the spread of this radical ideology, is to support these Muslim leaders in engaging their own community.
Myrick is in fact partially echoing Gaubatz, who said yesterday: "If Muslims do not want a backlash, then I would recommend a 'house cleaning.'"
That's Rep. Sue Myrick of North Carolina, everybody. Why not give her a call and let her know what you think.
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What a relief. Sarah Palin will be returning to Twitter. If you want to join the fun and hear all about Going Rogue, follow @SarahPalinUSA.
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And finally, let's get ready to rumble! CQ Politics breaks down the Senate race in Connecticut. This is the seat that Chris Dodd currently holds. This one is turning out to be noteworthy for the entrance of World Wrestling Entertainment (now former) CEO Linda McMahon in the Republican Primary.
Can you smell what the Dodd is Cooking?