Thursday Open Thread
Welcome to the Thursday edition of your open thread. We’re finally getting a little break from the insane heat, it’s merely hellish today.
Joan McCarter at Daily Kos asks a great question: Why do Montana’s Republicans hate firefighters?
Multi-millionaire congressman Denny Rehberg is the latest Montana Republican to take on firefighters, a move that didn’t work out so well for former Sen. Conrad Burns. But where Burns just embarrassed himself by cussing out some smoke jumpers in public, Rehberg is going nuclear, taking the Billings fire department to court.
Rehberg Ranch LLC contends property and equipment was damaged at Rehberg Ranch Estates because the fire department breached its duty during a wildfire that burned more than 1,100 acres in the subdivision west of Billings Logan International Airport in July of 2008.
The company in court documents filed Friday in Yellowstone County District Court says the fire scorched trees and ground cover causing irreparable damage on a large section of land intended for development.
One would think, since that land was “intended for development” that that the wildfire just did the job that Rehberg’s bulldozers were going to eventually get around to, anyway. But that’s not going to stop this Sagebrush Rebel from trying to make a dime off the government–even if it’s just the city of Billings–with a bullshit lawsuit. It’s the Republican way out West, take advantage of cheap grazing, cheap mining, cheap water, every kind of subsidy for resource development imaginable, all the while bitching about government interference and forcing lawsuits to ensure that “development” isn’t hindered.
Rehberg does have a Democratic opponent, Dennis McDonald.
Kentucky is a state to watch this election season. Tuesday, a PPP poll showed Rand Paul and Jack Conway were tied at 43% each. Yesterday PPP released more poll data from Kentucky showing Mitch McConnell had a huge dive in popularity in Kentucky. I think it’s proving pandora’s thesis from yesterday – voters don’t like Democrats and they really don’t like Republicans.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell backed the wrong horse in the Senate primary back home in Kentucky and now he’s paying the price with state Republicans. A new PPP (D) poll out today shows McConnell’s approval rating has fallen to a record low 34% in his home state.
Even worse for McConnell is that only 38% of voters surveyed said that they want McConnell to remain the head of his party’s caucus in the Senate. Almost half — 49% — said they don’t think McConnell should keep his job as Republican leader.
The decay in McConnell’s numbers comes completely from Republicans. His numbers with Democrats and Independents is unchanged.
Tags: Open Thread
Look who’s cutting spending.
And the Democratic infighting begins. Becky Walker filed today for the 9th against Griffiths.
Also, George Bunting has filed for re-election to the Senate. His primary challenger is Perry Mitchell, the obnoxious Ocean View councilman who threw his hat in the ring for U.S. Senate for a short time. No Republican is running yet.
Vitter’s diaper is on fire! Yesterday he told reporters that his legislative aid who had threatened his girlfriend was not in charge of outreach for women’s issues. He was lying.
One of TPM’s reporters enrolled in Beck University’s (Glenn Beck’s new way to soak his fans) classes, Faith 101.
That’s bad news for Griffiths. Walker no doubt has higher name recognition from her two unsuccessful previous runs.
For all this talk of Republican resurgence there are more Democratic primaries than Republican primaries. There’s now primaries in RD8, RD9, RD10, RD24, RD27, SD20 (in addition to Treasurer & Auditor). Republicans have primaries in RD29, RD31, RD33 and SD19.
Ron “The Honorable” Poliquin is in as a primary opponent to Ron Smith in the 31st RD. Yay! The Fun Factor on this election season has just gone up appreciably. Rep. Darryl Scott also filed for reelection in the 31st.
White House: We’re not anti-business
By BEN WHITE | 7/8/10 1:15 PM EDT
POLITICO 44
The White House has launched a coordinated campaign to push back against the perception taking hold in corporate America and on Wall Street that President Barack Obama is promoting an anti-business agenda.
Obama has been happy to be seen by voters as cracking down on Wall Street but those efforts have had an unintended result: feeding a sense that the president and his party are indifferent or even actively hostile toward big business, whether those businesses are Silicon Valley tech companies, Midwest manufacturers or Main Street small businesses.
And it is more than just politics: Obama’s aides believe confidence in the general direction of White House policy has an effect on the willingness of corporations to hire, invest and push the economy toward a more solid recovery.
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“I’m not a rotten manager. I’m a really good manager. So somebody’s in lots of trouble.”
Michael Tedesco of Magnolia has filed in the 34th, as an unaffiliated candidate.
Eric Buckson also filed for re-election to Kent Levy Court.
As did George Cole on Sussex Council.
What are your opinions on the new ‘Perfect Citizen’ program?
Also I hear SF wants to ban the sale of pets now.
” Delawarean killed in Afghanistan”
Nobody wants to talk about the war or the President here, delacrat,
Cuban dissident ends 134-day hunger strike
Yahoo (AP) ^ | 7/8/10 | FERNANDO GONZALEZ and WILL WEISSERT
SANTA CLARA, Cuba – Cuban opposition activist Guillermo Farinas ended his 134-day hunger strike Thursday, following signs the communist government is making good on its promise to release 52 political prisoners…
more right wing propaganda from AP. everybody knows there are no political prisoners in the workers paradise of cuba.
anonone,
Nobody wants to talk about the war and the President, because they voted for the war and the President.
A Republican has entered the 24th RD race, Abraham Jones [open seat Oberle]. Bonini has also filed for Treasurer. Still don’t see Protack or O’Donnell!
delacrat, many were deceived by him. And now, many continue to just deceive themselves.
Great news! DOMA found unconstitutional by a Federal Judge!!!!!!!!! Yipeeeee!
BTW, “Obama administration attorneys had argued that in administering federal benefits to employees, it has the right to require marriages are between a man and a woman.”
So much for Obomba being a fierce advocate of GLBT rights.
Bonini still uses Prodigy. Is it OK to laugh at him?
Divorce is always a bad news among married couples. Some couples just cannot iron out their differences.,*’