Monthly Archives: January 2010

The Republican Plan To Kill Reconciliation

The Republicans have a plan to defeat Democrats in the Senate trying to use reconciliation.

I asked a senior GOP Senate aide to explain the game plan for making this an “extraordinarily difficult exercise.” He said the leadership — Senators Mitch McConnell, Jon Kyl, Lamar Alexander, etc. — are discussing how to exploit the fact that the reconciliation process allows for an “open-ended amendment process.”

That means there’s no limit on the number of amendments GOPers can offer, the aide said, or on their subject matter. A senior Democratic aide confirmed that this is the case — and that it’s a concern weighing on Dems.

“If you bring a reconciliation bill to the Senate, it’s a free for all of amendments,” the GOP aide said, cautioning that this was only part of the overall strategy. “There is no way to limit the number of amendments that are voted on. You can’t close debate. Democrats will have to vote on every politically perilous amendment that you can possibly think of.”

In practice, the GOP aide said, this means that Republicans can offer amendments that aren’t even “germane” to the health care bill. He said Republicans would also exploit individual initiatives to “fix” the bill in order to force tough votes on Senate Dems.

For instance, the aide said, one of the provisions likely to be fixed in reconciliation is the protections Senator Bill Nelson secured for Floridians enrolled in Medicare advantage. Senate GOPers could “make everybody vote against allowing that same provision to be in place for their own constituents,” the aide says.

Reconciliation is difficult, but doable. So, who will lose if the Republicans try this tactic (besides the American people, that is)? Will it blowback on the Republicans or is this why the Democrats have turned into jelly?

Tuesday Open Thread

It’s Tuesday and one day before President Obama’s first State of the Union address. What would you like to hear him say? I hereby declare this thread open.

An honest man is hard to find.

Yesterday, The Los Angeles Daily News featured a video of Santa Clarita councilman Bob Kellar informing a group of cheering protesters rallying against immigration that he is a “proud racist” who considers being called a radical a “compliment”:

We have got to wake up America. I know you guys are engaged and you understand. But I’m telling you this is serious. And if I sound like a radical, thank you. I consider that a compliment…The only thing I heard back from a couple people was “Bob you sound like a racist.” I said, “That’s good. If that’s what you think I am because I happen to believe in America. I’m a proud racist. You’re darn right I am.”

The GOP may have more trouble than they think harnessing the votes of the teabaggers:

A Tea Party convention billed as the coming together of the grass-roots groups that began sprouting up around the country a year ago is unraveling as sponsors and participants pull out to protest its expense and express concerns about “profiteering.”

The convention’s difficulties highlight the fractiousness of the Tea Party groups, and the considerable suspicions among their members of anything that suggests the establishment.

Some of them are really anti-establishment, and don’t want to be seen as a part of the GOP.

Mr. Glass said he was also concerned about the role in the convention of groups like Tea Party Express, which has held rallies across the country through two bus tours, and FreedomWorks, a Tea Party umbrella. He called them “Republican National Committee-related groups,” and added, “At best, it creates the appearance of an R.N.C. hijacking; at worst, it is one.”

So far 2010 is turning out to be the weirdest year in politics that I’ve experienced.

Who Will Run and How Do They Stack Up?

With Beau Biden’s withdrawal from the Senate race yesterday, we have a lot of scrambling going on.  Let’s discuss the pros and cons of each of the prospective Democratic candidates.

First, let’s dispense with Lt. Governor Matt Denn.  I spoke to him yesterday.  He isn’t going to run.  His two kids come first in his life, and not seeing them for days at a time would be an abdication of his most important role.  But let me say for the record, he would be my first choice.

Same for Sen. Ted Kaufman, he has reiterated that he will not run, even if Harry Themal says pretty please with a cherry on top.  He could win, but I guess that sticking around for 6 years wasn’t part of the deal with Gov. Minner and Joe Biden.

Chris Coons seems the most likely successor.  He has run New Castle County reasonably well, but Republicans will attack him with a 25% tax increase (even if that increase works out to only a few bucks a month).  He is reasonably well-respected within the county and may have benefited from an acrimonious primary fight with former county executive Tom Gordon.  The matchup drew a good deal of attention from the News Journal and may have lead to a number of statewide readers to see Coons as the good guy in the race.  He will certainly have the usual suspects nipping at his heels for perceived slights through the years (development questions will come up, but are not applicable in a Senate race).  My biggest concern is whether Coons has the stomach to beat Castle over the head with his record and challenge Castle’s “moderate record.”  If he can come out swinging, I give him a 45% chance of beating Castle.  Plus, in an off year for county executive election, he wouldn’t risk his existing job.

Pete Schwartzkopf is Jack Markell’s right hand man in the legislature.  One of his earliest and strongest backers, Pete has done what it takes to win elections and has been rewarded by being the majority leader.  That said, outside of the politically aware, Pete is unknown.  In a race where the Republican was someone besides Mike Castle, Pete would be the favorite.  Sadly, the opponent is Mike Castle.  I would give Pete a 15% chance of victory, and he would likely cede his position of majority leader for the effort.

One possibility that hasn’t been discussed is that Jack Markell could run.  And Jack could win.  He has money in the bank, name recognition, support from across the aisle and a nascent organization that could be enthusiastically called back into service.  Also, we would be able to have Matt Denn move up to Governor (did I mention that Matt Denn is awesome?).  I would give Markell a 50-50 shot against Mike Castle.  He is likable and with the Carney primary, showed that he knows how to throw a punch.  Unfortunately, it ain’t gonna happen.  Jack Likes his job and has a number of opportunities that have opened up to him in his role as Governor.  Bummer.

Who am I missing here?  John Kowalko?  He has name recognition, but his fundraising isn’t up to the standards of a run for federal office.  Same goes for Karen Peterson, although I would love to see either of them throw punches at Castle.  Who else?

Legislative Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., Jan. 26, 2010

Last week that the General Assembly meets until breaking for about a 6-week recess to enable the Joint Finance Committee to conduct budget hearings.

POST-GAME WRAP-UP

A few bills previously discussed here were passed on Thursday. In the Senate:

SB 81 w/SA5(Sokola)-Requires nutritional information to be prominently displayed in fast food restaurants. 15 yes, 5 nos. Who voted which way on this bill? I don’t know b/c the Senate does not put roll call votes online, just the vote totals. And, since the Senate also does not put the Senate Journal online, you’re basically SOL unless you were there.

This practice is a complete and total mockery of the idea of open government. This practice should change immediately.  Either that or explain to the public why they aren’t entitled to hold their Senators accountable for their votes by knowing HOW they voted. Plus, sometimes, roll calls ARE provided. Who decides which ones are and which ones aren’t?

SB 189(McDowell)-Clarifies that costs for state green energy projects be paid for out of energy savings, and not from general revenue streams. One senator voted against this, I know not who.

In the House:

All gambling revenues, all the time. Rep. Schwartzkopf’s HB 310, which authorizes the introduction and operation of table games in Delaware, finally passed with several amendments attached. But not before impassioned debate on how to ensure that legislators don’t get cushy casino jobs (it was finally done by amendment). It is a testament to the ethical standards of the General Assembly that such a discussion was even necessary.

Final vote on passage was 27 yes, 5 no, 6 not voting, and three absent. Bill goes to the Senate, where I expect it to be fast-tracked this week before recess for JFC.

PRE-GAME SHOW

Senate Agenda-The Senate is scheduled to consider a fairly pro-forma and non-controversial set of house bills today. Today’s agenda does afford me yet one more teaching opportunity. Yay! When you click on the agenda, you will notice that, in addition to the prime House sponsor, a Senator’s name will be appear in parentheses. This does not mean that said Senator is even a sponsor on the bill although, of course, they could be. What it does mean is that said Senator chaired the committee that released the bill to the floor and, as such, is the designated floor manager for the bill. The senator may, and often does, defer to a senator more directly involved with the bill, such as a key co-sponsor.

House Agenda-Today’s agenda is highlighted by HB 300(Bennett), which requires a state agency response to a FOIA request within 10 business days. I expect smooth sailing for this one.

There’s also an interesting, if unnecessary, constitutional amendment, that brings Delaware’s state constitution into compliance with Federal law that makes 18 the legal voting age.

Hey, kids, another teaching opportunity! Amendments to the Delaware Constitution must be passed by two consecutive sessions of the Delaware General Assembly. They can’t be enacted by passing them in two consecutive years of the same session. I believe, constitutional attorneys are welcome to prove me wrong, that constitutional amendments are not subject to the Governor’s signature.

That’s it for today. Please check back tomorrow for very busy committee days and some likely votes as well.

Good Advice: Actions That Can Be Taken Now

Probably one of my least favorite genres of blog posts right now is “What Obama Should Do” posts. Everyone is full of good advice, but I tired of talking and I want action. DarkSyde at Daily Kos has an action/advice post that is worth a look:

It’s refreshing to see the WH take notice of growing frustration and outright anger over the dawdling pace of badly needed reforms. Going forward, voters are angry, they’re looking for those at fault. There’s no need to erect scapegoats when the actual perps can serve. Here’s just a few examples.

• On important issues, force the filibuster, not on paper, on the floor. Ask David Waldman and he’ll explain this is a way bigger pain in the ass procedurally than you think, but it’s doable and the lack of healthcare or a decent job is a hell of a lot bigger pain in the ass for us lowly non Senators. Let people tune into CSPAN and see a stooge shut down the government and thwart popular sentiment by droning on about evil Nazi democrats, and people will get sick of it. Pretty soon that obstructionist’s support will run for cover like roaches in a laser beam.

• Fire someone who has failed spectacularly. Pick a cabinet official or committee chairman or whatnot that’s wrapped up in Wall Street or healthcare, and demote them or kick them to the curb. This sends a powerful message throughout the Beltway and beyond that in the WH or Congress, just like in any other job the rest of us have, failure is not lavishly rewarded.

• When something works, don’t stop doing it. Be they bankstas or healthcare insurance executives, they are at fault and No One Likes Them. Keep them on the public hotseat, drag their sorry asses before committee and grill them mercilessly. Alternate with words from ordinary Americans whose lives have been utterly destroyed by these dicks. Time it right and they can be stammering on about their bonuses and summer homes on one news channel even as a conservative blabber-mouth defends them with a filibuster on another. Wash, rinse, repeat.

It’s not too late for Democrats to salvage this election cycle, at least somewhat. Democrats need to realize that there is anger out there, a lot of it because of the poor economy but also because we see the bad guys being rewarded and the rest of us aren’t getting much. It will be a disaster for Democrats if we’re seen as ineffective at legislating as well as in the pocket of the bad guys.

Smell The Bipartisanship

Republicans haven’t changed much from the Bush administration. Bipartisan to them still means that Democrats adopt Republican ideas:

Last week, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) “made it clear that the only starting point for bipartisan compromise would be for Dems to drop their health care plan and embrace the GOP one.” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ken.) made the same offer yesterday.

John McCain took a similar line yesterday, suggesting that the only ideas that can pass in a Democratic Congress are those that come from Republicans.

Mr. McCain, a Republican from Arizona, said on the CBS news program “Face the Nation” that President Obama should sit down with Republican leaders and begin adopting some of their ideas for improving the nation’s health care system such as overhauling medical malpractice lawsuits, allowing residents of one state to buy health insurance from a company in another state, and granting tax credits for people who purchase health insurance on their own.

I wonder how many ConservaDems are jumping up and down in glee at the thought of adopting Republican ideas? Remember the Republican health care plan they introduced this summer?

The Republican plan was nothing short of laughable — it did nothing for the uninsured, nothing for those with pre-existing conditions, and nothing for those worried about losing coverage when it’s needed most. It was an entirely partisan plan, written in secret. The Republican proposal sought to create a system that “works better for people who don’t need health care services, and much worse for people who actually are sick or who become sick in the future. It’s basically a health un-insurance policy.” And as we learned in November, the plan included provisions that “mirror the suggestions put forth by the lobbying entity of the private insurance industry way back in December 2008.”

Indeed, the official Republican plan didn’t even offer modest provisions that the party used to support. Roll Call reported at the time, “Under the GOP plan, insurance companies would still be allowed to exclude anyone with a pre-existing medical condition from coverage, there would be no national insurance exchange and businesses would not face any mandate to provide insurance nor individuals to buy it. Boehner also left out tax credits to help the poor and middle class buy insurance — a central pillar of most GOP reform proposals and a key feature of a four-page outline Republican leaders released in June.”

The individual mandate used to be a Republican idea. Dropping the public option was also a Republican idea. Really, Republicans still don’t have any ideas except protection of the status quo. Senator Baucus spent months trying to hammer out a plan with Enzi and Grassley, which they vowed to vote against no matter how many concessions Democrats made.

Lie Of the Year?

We have our first nominee, and it’ll be hard to beat.

Ginger Gibson, in today’s News-Journal, reported on how Delaware Park maxed out on political contributions to well over half the members of the Delaware General Assembly. Many of those contributions came right around the time that the existing racinos “beat back proposals to increase the number of casinos and allow sports betting at new locations.”

Which brings me to the first legitimate contender for Lie of the Year.

But first, in the interest of fairness, I want each and every one of you to set aside your skepticism and/or cynicism for just a moment. Please consider with an open mind the possibility, no matter how remote, that the following statement about the contributions just might be true.

From William Fasy, COO of Delaware Park, and noted altruist, especially when it comes to legislators:

“We donate to campaigns because we understand the difficult jobs legislators face and believe it is the right thing to do,” Fasy said. “We don’t expect anything in return.”

Bill Fasy recognizes the extraordinary pressures that legislators face in padding their second, third, or fourth pensions. He realizes that it’s tough to maintain that second home in Fenwick, create the facade that one still lives in the District that elected them, and even travel back to the home district on rare occasion, on a mere two pensions and a legislator’s salary.

One wonders whether Fasy and his casino cohorts donate $600 to each degenerate gambling addict who loses all at their racinos. One wonders just how many of those degenerates the racinos turn away (or towards Gamblers’ Anonymous) while they still have one last nickel in their pockets. Actually, one doesn’t wonder at all.

“The difficult jobs that legislators face”?? What Fasy really means is the difficult job of making the ‘right’ decisions for the racino industry. Which may or may not have anything in common with the public’s interest. After all, isn’t it more difficult for challengers to raise money? Where is DelPark’s charitable instinct to help them?

As Gibson’s article pointed out, in addition to contributions from Delaware Park, several legislators also got contributions from the Delaware Standardbred Owners Association, and from the notorious Byrd and Davis lobbying shops, who number the tracks among their clients.  And that doesn’t even include personal contributions from high-ranking racino officials. All merely to help those overworked public officials with their difficult jobs.

Almost as big a lie as Fasy’s is the by-now standard response from legislators. Dick Cathcart said it, but it might as well have been spoken by all legislative recipients in unison:

I get a check from them every year,” House Minority Leader Richard Cathcart, R-Middletown, said of the Delaware Park contribution. “I don’t think there is any connection with the vote.” Cathcart brokered the deal that got sports betting enacted and, with support of the casinos, legalized table games. He has opposed proposals to authorize new casinos.

Yep, to paraphrase Don Tollefson, Cathcart just gets the annual check because he’s a gooo-ooo-d guy. And an elected official with lots of clout.

Ladies and gentlemen: Your Delaware General Assembly. And the lying liars who enable them.

Monday Open Thread

Is it Monday already? I swear a weekend was supposed to happen – did I miss it? Let’s open this thread anyway.

Congratulations to Kelly Kulick:

Kelly Kulick used a 15-pound bowling ball to smash a 52-year barrier when she became the first woman to win a professional PBA Tour tournament.

Kulick, 32, accomplished the milestone today at Red Rock Lanes in the Tournament of Champions, one of four “major” events in the Professional Bowlers Association.

“It’s been a dream of mine to win a PBA Tour event, but I couldn’t have imagined it would come in the Tournament of Champions,” Kulick said moments after defeating Chris Barnes 265-195 in the championship game aired live on ESPN.

Girl power!

From the bad luck files:

A woman who was taking an art class at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art has accidentally fallen into a Picasso painting and damaged it.

The painting called The Actor sustained a vertical tear of about six inches (15cm) in the lower right-hand corner.

But the damage did not affect the “focal point of the composition” and should be repaired for an exhibition later this year, the museum said.

I wonder how often something like this happens?

How Biden Decision Screws Dems Statewide

“I’ve always depended on the kindness of strangers.”-Blanche DuBois from Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire”.

So have down-ballot candidates in every election. The top of the ticket drives out the voters, and those further down the ballot benefit or suffer based on who is motivated to vote in any given election cycle.

Now, riddle me this, Batman. With two non-competitive races apparently heading this year’s ballot, how the bleep are the Democrats gonna drive out their voters? No presidential, no gubernatorial, two statewide offices that nobody gives a bleep about, and, frankly, I, for one, couldn’t care less whether the Beaudhisattva gets reelected. And, other than the rabid Archmere groupies, I don’t think most D’s do either. Bottom line: The D’s are in trouble, and are clearly in danger of losing the State House of Representatives. To a large degree, regardless of how good a job a given Rep is doing, if they’re in a swing district, they’re in trouble.

It was always gonna be a difficult landscape for Democrats. With a tanked economy nationally and locally, and people looking for instant solutions, incumbents are vulnerable. And D’s are especially vulnerable as they’ve proven themselves incapable of developing and advancing a coherent message.

The one saving grace was a high-profile Senate race that would drive all the loyalists out. A high-profile race engineered by the Bidenistas with the passive acquiescence of Gov. Chicken  ‘n Dumplings.

I HATE these family dynasties. However, once the deal was cut, the Beaudhisattva was obligated to follow through, and the Bidens were obligated to make it happen. But they didn’t. No doubt Joe will puff out his chest and tell everyone that Beau displayed extraordinary integrity in making this choice. Bullshit. The Beaudhisattva has shrunk in office and, now, has shrunk from it. Time for pere to find fils a nice position in the ‘investment industry’.

For the D’s in the House, you’re gonna have to survive on your own. Acting like Democrats for a change must be Step One. If all that you do this year is cut and cut, you inevitably are cutting services that those most at risk (and most likely to be D’s) want and need. You know that the R’s are just gonna obstruct. Start by making the wealthy pay their fair share by reversing the trend towards a flat tax for the millionaires. Save programs with those $$’s and dare Rethugs to oppose them.

In addition to funding essential programs at the expense of the flat-taxers, and enabling Democrats to run like Democrats, it will also raise taxes on the self-entitled Bidens. Maybe they need to be reminded how the other half lives.

The Real Bush Legacy

Bush was a terrible president who left a mess for us to clean up. Record deficits, lying to lead us into war, torture and contempt for the Constitution, and the worst recession since the Great Depression. Potentially his biggest legacy will be the activist Roberts Supreme Court, which rolled back 100 years of law in regards to financing of campaigns.

One Republican attorney said that the new ruling basically turns the political landscape into the “Wild Wild West.” Another GOP election lawyer said that the ruling represents “a huge sea-change in campaign finance law. The Court went all the way. It really relieves any restrictions on corporate spending on independent advertising.”

Republicans are overjoyed, because they think the ruling will benefit them at the expense of Democrats. Just think about all the commercials we’ll see from Republican think tanks like the Heritage Foundation and Republican groups like the Club for Growth and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (Oh, I’m sorry. I meant “nonpartisan” groups that happen to parrot GOP talking points and give money to GOP candidates).

The ruling is a giant win for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the big corporations, which tend to donate heavily to Republicans. Many Republicans have therefore come out and praised today’s decision:

– Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX): “It is about a nonprofit group’s ability to speak about the public issue. I can’t think of a more fundamental First Amendment issue. … [The ruling could] open up resources that have not previously been available [for Republicans].”

– Rep. Steve King (R-IA): “The Constitution protects the rights of citizens and employers to express their viewpoints on political issues. Today’s Supreme Court decision affirms the Bill of Rights and is a victory for liberty and free speech.”

– Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN): “If the freedom of speech means anything, it means protecting the right of private citizens to voice opposition or support for their elected representatives. The fact that the Court overturned a 20-year precedent speaks volumes about the importance of this issue.”

– Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY): The court took a step toward “restoring the First Amendment rights [of corporations and unions]. … By previously denying this right, the government was picking winners and losers.”

– RNC Chairman Michael Steele: “Today’s decision by the Supreme Court in Citizens United v. FEC, serves as an affirmation of the constitutional rights provided to Americans under the first amendment. Free speech strengthens our democracy.”

– Senate Candidate Marco Rubio: “Today’s SCOTUS decision on McCain-Feingold is a victory for free speech.”

I think the big question is whether this decision will blowback on SCOTUS and the GOP. If people are annoyed by the political ads now, imagine how many commercials unlimited money from corporations can buy. Some evidence for blowback is coming from some unlikely places, like corporations. Not all of them are happy about the decision:

Today, in response to the Supreme Court’s catastrophic decision, “dozens of current and former corporate executives” from corporations including Delta, Ben & Jerry’s, and Crate & Barrel sent a letter to Congress asking it to immediately pass the Fair Elections Now Act, which would publicly finance all congressional campaigns out of a special fund created by a fee levied on TV broadcasters:

Roughly 40 executives from companies including Playboy Enterprises, ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s, the Seagram’s liquor company, toymaker Hasbro, Delta Airlines and Men’s Wearhouse sent a letter to congressional leaders Friday urging them to approve public financing for House and Senate campaigns. They say they are tired of getting fundraising calls from lawmakers — and fear it will only get worse after Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling. […]

“Members of Congress already spend too much time raising money from large contributors,” the business executives’ letter says. “And often, many of us individually are on the receiving end of solicitation phone calls from members of Congress. With additional money flowing into the system due to the court’s decision, the fundraising pressure on members of Congress will only increase.”

I think it would be supreme irony if corporate money is used to lobby for passing a law against using corporate money in elections.

Breaking: Beau Biden Announces He’s Not Running For U.S. Senate

In my inbox just now:

As many of you know, since returning home from Iraq, I have been giving serious consideration to running for the United States Senate. I have received strong encouragement both here in Delaware and all across the country to undertake this effort – and this outpouring of support has truly been humbling.

I understand why people care so deeply about this election. The challenges we’re facing as a country are extraordinarily difficult. The economy. Jobs. Health care. Energy. Education. Climate change. Financial regulation. Foreign policy. These are not only the issues of the moment – they’re the issues that will determine our children’s future. And as someone who has had the privilege of serving with the bravest men and women on this planet, I care deeply about how we treat our returning veterans and how we resolve our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I feel strongly about these issues. However, my first responsibilities are here in Delaware. I have a duty to fulfill as Attorney General – and the immediate need to focus on a case of great consequence. And that is what I must do. Therefore I cannot and will not run for the United States Senate in 2010. I will run for reelection as Attorney General.

One of the primary reasons I ran for Attorney General was to protect the most vulnerable among us: children. As the father of two young children, I can think of no worse crime than those committed by child predators. It is why one of my first actions and top priorities as Attorney General was the creation of the Child Predator Task Force.

The idea that any child can be a victim of abuse is horrific. The fact that it has engulfed an entire community is unspeakable. The pain and trauma suffered by the children, their parents, and the families, can’t be measured. But justice can be done. And I am determined to see that it is.

I have a job to finish. And that’s what I must do.

Thank you for all your support,

Beau Biden

Time for Plan B! I’d say draft Kaufman, but I’m not sure he’d agree. After Kaufman, who’s next? Who’s likely to jump in?

The Media Gets A Clue

NBC’s Chuck Todd notices that the Tea Party movement isn’t a “grassroots” movement like it’s been portrayed by the media:

Chuck Todd actually gets this right on Meet The Press. Gregory played a clip of Dick Armey trying to say that the teabaggers represent the “center” of American politics as bizarre as that may sound and it was Chuck Todd who corrected that lie. FOX News grabbed them, promoted them, sent their hosts to caress and nurture them and were the first network in the history of broadcasting to become true political activists that worked to undermine a newly elected president.

…

(Videotape)FMR. REP. DICK ARMEY (R-TX): This is the broad center of American politics. Look at the polling data. Right now the tea party polls higher than the Republicans and the Democrats. And it is becoming increasingly clear to the electorate out there, and they’re expressing their understanding, it is the Democrat majority in Congress and the president that’s on the liberal fringe and we are on the center. There’s no doubt about it.

TODD: I don’t know they are in the center. I mean when we did our own polling on this it’s clear that the tea party gets a big benefit because there is one news organization that gives them a huge bump all the time. I mean they are favorable among Fox viewers is through the roof and the rest of the country sort of doesn’t know a lot about these folks. But the message of the tea party sort of saying the government doesn’t work, these institutions and we’ve got to shrink the size of government, is tapping into what we were just discussing before which is this — not disgust but sort of this distrust of all institutions that are out there. Government included.

Will the media also admit now that Faux News is a branch of the Republican Party? They also feature several potential Republican presidential candidates on a daily basis and were Scott Brown campaign headquarters during the election. Seriously though, is this what our politics will turn into because of the new court ruling? Will all our candidates now be media stars?