Thursday Open Thread [6.14.12]

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ABC News has a handy flowchart showing the many ways in which the Supreme Court could rule on the Obamacare case. A ruling is expected either on Monday, June 18 or Monday, June 25. And what did the special election in Arizona's 8th Congressional District tell us about November? It tells us that we can be outspent, and the Republicans can outrageously lie in their ads, but so long as we have the right message (and we did), we will win. Remember, the Arizona 8th CD is a Lean GOP district. And it is in the insane state of Arizona. And the Democratic message won.

How To Remove A Tea Partier

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Like a good Tea Partier, Wagner voted against every single appropriation of money put forward by the legislature, including a bill that arrived on Governor Brian Schweitzer’s desk last April which contained grant money for local communities (including Wagner’s district), for things like sewer upgrades, fire department repairs, and the like. Schweitzer–who is known to enjoy mixing it up with right-wingers–saw an angle. He noticed that Wagner had voted against the bill. So, Schweitzer used his “line item veto” power and selectively crossed out the funds that would have gone to Wagner’s district. Schweitzer did this to several legislators who voted against the grant billl. Schweitzer said that it was logical to assume that if Wagner and others voted against the bill, then their constituents must not have expressed much interest in getting the money.

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., June 14, 2012

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Hoo boy, we're gonna have us a (figurative, one would hope) Shoot-Out At the Not OK Corral today. The Sheriff of Nuttingham and his Posse Comatosis will finally have to, um, face the law(makers). Thass raht. HB 325(Schwartzkopf) occupies the Top Gun position on today's Senate agenda. It'll pass, and I don't think it'll take Gov. Markell too long to sign it. Leaving only the  question: Will Sussex County's self-proclaimed top lawman honor the law of the land?

Wednesday Open Thread [6.13.12]

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A new DailyKos/SEIU/PPP poll finds that 49% of registered voters nationwide think Republicans are "intentionally stalling efforts to jumpstart the economy" to ensure President Obama's defeat for re-election. This is largely in line with a Washington Post/ABC News poll released in November that found 50% of Americans nationwide agree with the statement that President Obama is "making a good faith effort to deal with the country's economic problems, but the Republicans in Congress are playing politics by blocking his proposals." That's not exactly the sabotage question, but it's close. The problem of this election is whether the electorate will reward such treasonous action.

Crystal Ball: Denn takes early lead in the 2016 Governor’s Race; Biden’s Future

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So it seems the supporters of both State Treasurer Chip Flowers and Lt. Governor Matt Denn got a workout yesterday and today. Both camps took turns voting early and often. At the end of the poll, after 24 hours, it's Matt Denn with 53% to Flowers' 43%. It looks like we will have another competitive Democratic primary in four years, although a lot can happen between now and then. This got me to thinking: what are Beau Biden's future plans?

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., June 13, 2012

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Internet gambling’s almost here. Guess it beats turning people upside down and shaking the coins into the seat cushions. And what would an internet gambling bill without even more sops to the racino industry? Hey, at least it’s a reverse-Robin Hood where the rich at worst don’t get their taxes increased and at best they get more blood money from the degenerates. HB 333(Viola) passed the House yesterday by a vote of 29 Y, 8 N, 4 Not Voting. There are no ideological lessons to be learned from the roll call, as supporters and opponents came from all political stripes. Did I mention even more sops to the racino industry? Yep, more $$’s for thoroughbred and harness purses. Oh, and something to do with waiving racinos’ licensing fees for slot machines.

ASBC Tax Policy Review Session

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The Obama Administration said that they wanted an open and frank dialogue with sustainable and small business leaders and in a late afternoon tax policy session, they got it. Aviva Aron-Dine, Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy fielded questions from about thirty ASBC members who presented the administration with a list of Tax Policy Principles formulated by the group and spoke with a unified voice against tax cuts and tax credits as a means to restore the economy. "We are here to tell you flat out that tax credits do not influence hiring." one ASBC member said. Another member added that when the Administration proposes tax cuts and tax credits as a means for restoring the economy, that it only serves to bolster the administration's congressional critics argument that he is not cutting taxes and slashing spending fast enough.

The Polling Report [6.13.12]

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Ron Barber, former aide to the nearly assassinated and critically injured Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), defeated right wing teahadist Jesse Kelly, famous for his obsession with guns and for campaign events where he and his fellow right wing terrorists would shot at pictures of Giffords and Obama, last night by a healthy nearly landslidish margin of 53% to 46%. The PPP poll on this race we talked about yesterday basically nailed the result, which is very difficult in House races, and which is why we consider it the most accurate poll in the business.