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WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats on a congressional committee say the panel has obtained no evidence that a flawed gun smuggling probe called Operation Fast and Furious was conceived or directed by high-level political appointees at Justice Department headquarters. The Democrats say the probe grew out of a misguided five-year-long effort during both the George W. Bush and Obama administrations in the Phoenix division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to dismantle arms trafficking networks along the Southwest border.

How profoundly America has changed since January 2009. I was pondering this the other night during the State of the Union address. Did you know that our elite military units like the Navy SEALs are now examples of America at its absolute finest? Why, wasn’t it just a few years ago that Sen. Dick Durbin was comparing these very same troops to the Khmer Rouge and Joe Stalin’s Red Army? What used to be Dick Cheney’s hit squad is now a beacon of freedom. But now of course the president is a Democrat. When Durbin spoke a Republican resided in...

According to the latest Rasmussen Poll, 21% — more than one in five — Democrats have abandoned the Party since Obama’s election as president. While most have become Independents, identification with the Republican Party has also risen not only since 2008 but also even since the GOP’s 2010 victory. Rasmussen, who tracks voters’ party identification (self-described) every month, shows that Democratic Party identification, has dropped by eight points (or 21%) since Obama’s election in November, 2008 while Republican Party identification has risen by three points over the same period. Despite speculation in the liberal media that the Republicans in Congress...

BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, Texas (AP) -- The bloody drug war in Mexico shows no sign of relenting. Neither do calls for tighter border security amid rising fears of spillover violence. This hardly seems a time the U.S. would be willing to allow people to cross the border legally from Mexico without a customs officer in sight. But in this rugged, remote West Texas terrain where wading across the shallow Rio Grande undetected is all too easy, federal authorities are touting a proposal to open an unmanned port of entry as a security upgrade. By the spring, kiosks could open...

The Senate’s curious and byzantine rules and traditions are well explained in Robert Caro’s Master of the Senate, part of his sprawling, multi-volume biography of Lyndon B. Johnson (the fourth volume is scheduled to be released next year). Johnson, through his own cunning and ruthlessness, was arguably the most powerful Senate leader ever, as he bent the supposedly uncontrollable upper chamber to his will. In one anecdote from the book, Johnson — characteristically — split the difference between liberals and conservatives in the Senate by ramming through a modest increase in the minimum wage. Johnson got the bill passed by...

How To Identify A Zombie (Updated) How to Tell the Difference Between Zombies and #Occupy Protesters. Hope it helps.

Check this out!!!!!

‘Star Wars’ actress: Date with Sen. Dodd brought wild questions from Sen. Kennedy Holy Obi-Wan Kenobi! “Star Wars” actress Carrie Fisher claims the late Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) asked her some pretty frank questions while dining out with the star and former Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.). According to published excerpts from Fisher’s new book, “Shockaholic,” the entertainer, best known for her role as Princess Leia, was fresh out of her first stint in rehab and on a date with a then single Dodd back in 1985. Kennedy joined the pair at dinner in D.C.. Fisher writes, “Suddenly, Senator Kennedy, seated...

*snip* But perhaps most striking is Democrats' decision to jettison a popular method of paying for pieces of President Obama's $447 billion jobs bill, which failed in a bipartisan vote in the Senate. The majority is not looking to tax Americans who make more than $1 million to offset the veterans' jobs provision; rather, they will keep in place current fees for V.A. home loans. The abandonment of the millionaire surtax is a victory for Republicans, who have, heretofore opposed such a measure, and it also signals a significant compromise by Democrats toward improving the nation's persistently poor jobless rate.

Nearly two dozen Democrats led by U.S. Rep. Gene Green of Houston on Wednesday implored President Barack Obama to approve the controversial Keystone XL pipeline that would carry oil sands crude from Canada to southeast Texas refineries. The project would boost America’s energy security and the U.S. economy, the lawmakers said in a letter to Obama. “The proposed Keystone XL pipeline represents a true shovel-ready project that would directly create 20,000 high-quality domestic manufacturing and construction jobs for Americans who are desperately seeking employment,” the Democrats wrote. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to decide by mid-November whether the...

John Rossomando Follow John on Twitter Democrats from the president on down have been quick to latch onto Occupy Wall Street and claim it as the left’s answer to the tea party. But they do so at their own peril. The movement is about as relevant to the larger society as the Ku Klux Klan or right-wing militia because even they are able to mount rallies, but they don’t reflect anyone beyond themselves. The same goes for “Occupy Wall Street” because it owes its origins to an online call by AdBusters, a Canadian far-left wing group that expressed hopes of...

A longtime top aide to Gov. Deval Patrick was busted on drunken driving charges over the weekend and has been put on unpaid leave, the Herald has learned. Ron Bell, the governor’s $97,000-a-year community affairs director, was arrested at 3:30 a.m. Saturday in Brookline after being stopped for alleged erratic driving, police said. Police said Bell, 48, was swerving and nearly hit a median strip on Boylston Street before he was pulled over. He had a “moderate” odor of alcohol, his eyes were “glassy and bloodshot,” and he failed three field sobriety tests, according to a police report. Bell refused...

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, in an attempt to pluck an arrow out of President Obama's rhetorical quiver, tried to get the Senate to vote on the president's $447 billion jobs bill Tuesday -- presumably to test whether Democrats have the votes to pass it. But while Obama repeatedly has called on Congress to pass the bill right away, Democratic Leader Harry Reid shot down the effort, accusing McConnell of pulling a political stunt. "I am disappointed that he would play games with this important legislation," Reid said, pledging to take up the bill later on in the session. The...

Dems want Obama's job speech to contrast with GOPBy JIM KUHNHENN AP – 15 hrs ago WASHINGTON (AP) — The tiff over the timing of President Barack Obama's jobs speech to Congress offers little hope that Republicans and the White House will now find common ground on how to reduce the nation's painfully high unemployment. In fact, some Democrats say it's time Obama stopped trying so hard to negotiate. On matters large and small, Obama has yielded to House Speaker John Boehner in a string of concessions that have unnerved Democrats and emboldened Republicans. A chorus of Democratic voices is...

Five most vulnerable Dems in redistrictingBy Cameron Joseph - 08/20/11 07:30 AM ET Congress’s lines are being redrawn, putting some longtime incumbents in a tough spot heading into next year’s election. Due to population shifts and partisan interests, some congressional districts are undergoing extreme makeovers, forcing their representatives to run in unfamiliar and sometimes inhospitable territory. Here are the five most vulnerable Democratic incumbents. #5: Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-Mo.) Missouri is losing a congressional district, and Republicans in control of the Missouri statehouse overrode Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon’s veto to axe Carnahan’s suburban St. Louis district. He still plans to...

Coalition of Moderate 'Blue Dog' Dems Shrinking FastAssociated Press Published August 19, 2011 WASHINGTON -- The Blue Dogs may be losing their bark. Despite polls showing a desire for more compromise in Washington, the political climate for moderate to conservative Democrats in the House has continued to deteriorate. The 2010 election dropped the number of so-called Blue Dogs from 54 to 25. And the shrinking continues. Rep. Mike Ross of Arkansas will not seek re-election next year. Rep. Dan Boren of Oklahoma also plans to retire. Rep. Joe Donnelly of Indiana has opted to run for the Senate. Rep. Heath...

GOP members on Cut, Cap, and Balance: From Earlier Site page article excerpt: White House talks with Congressional leaders resumed as President Obama’s hopes for a deficit reduction deal to coincide with an increase to the debt ceiling resurfaced. President Obama called Congressional leaders to the White House in separate meetings to discuss the “Gang of Six” proposal. VIDEO

I guess this isn’t shocking news in any way, but it is interesting to seem the head of the AFL-CIO put it so bluntly: If you listened to the rest of the clip you probably loved, as I did, the part where Trumka explains that nations around the world are promising people free health care and generous retirement benefits. I assume he means Europe, but has he seen the news lately in England or Greece or Spain or Portugal? Apparently not.

A chief Republican critic of a controversial U.S. anti-gun-trafficking operation was briefed on ATF’s “Fast and Furious” program last year and did not express any opposition, sources familiar with the classified briefing said Tuesday. Rep. Darrell Issa (Calif.), who has repeatedly called for top Justice Department officials to be held accountable for the now-defunct operation, was given highly specific information about it at an April 2010 briefing, the sources said. Members of his staff also attended the session, which Issa and two other Republican congressmen had requested. Fast and Furious targeted Mexican gun traffickers but was linked to the killing...

The head of the Democratic National Committee says the administration has turned the economy around. So let us give discredit where discredit is due. Joe Biden should sue DNC chief and Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz for copyright infringement based on her statement at a Politico breakfast. We thought the vice president had a monopoly on statements completely detached from reality. "We own the economy," Schultz said. "We own the beginning of the turnaround, and we want to make sure that we continue that pace of recovery, not go back to the policies of the past under the Bush administration...

Do more on jobs, Dems tell ObamaBy Alexander Bolton - 06/10/11 06:00 AM ET Senior Senate Democrats are growing frustrated by what they see as President Obama’s passivity on the economy, and are beginning to discuss a large infrastructure package funded by tax increases. Some Democrats, such as Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin, who serves as chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, think such a package could lower the unemployment rate by as much as two percentage points. But the plan is not without political risk — Republicans would be quick to slap Democrats with the old “tax-and-spend...

Whither the Dems? Why NO call for Weiner to resign? The behavior of the Democrat leadership after Weiner’s presser yesterday afternoon is probably MORE bizarre that the congressman’s risky behavior…sending lewd pics of himself to women in cyberspace. If you think about it, it makes absolutely NO sense whatsoever. It is a LOSE/LOSE proposition for them. And thus, it’s reasonable to inquire if there is indeed something in the Dem/liberal DNA, psyche, ethos, whatever, that makes them behave in this way. Comparisons have already been made as to how Boehner handled the fairly comparable Chris Lee incident. He was gone...

With all of the vitriol being leveled against the Republican members of Congress by the media and the Democrats, one would think that their popularity would be significantly lower. In addition, due to positive coverage as well as new Democrat talking points, their leaders must have gained some? Well-- let's take a look at a new Rasmussen poll, shall we? Rasmussen is the most accurate of the major national pollsters and has largely predicted the last four election cycles. This time the organization is attempting to see who is well-regarded in Congress and who is not. Of course, the least...

~ EXCERPT ~ Democrats in Congress recently went all out to try to pass the Dream Act, an amnesty for illegal-alien students willing to enroll — and stay — in college. Most who opposed it were derided as heartless at best, racist at worse. An insolvent California — still struggling with its $15 billion deficit — is trying to advance its own version of the bill that would contravene federal immigration law and cost millions. At about the same time, the state has announced plans to release roughly 40,000 inmates due to a shortage of funds needed to address overcrowding....

Anthony Weiner, who is now embroiled in a Twitter controversy in which he allegedly sent a picture of an aroused man (wearing underwear) to a woman, is now losing support from his staunchest supporters: Democrats. After nearly a week of bumbling about and starting more questions than answering them, Democrats have become weary of the Congressman from New York. "Watching Anthony Weiner's twitter and press blitz is like watching a Charlie Sheen meltdown. It's amusing, uncomfortable, and not necessary," said one high-ranking Democratic aide. "If Weiner really wants to get beyond this, he'll shut up and let Democrats get back...

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner announced May 16 that the U.S. government has reached its legal debt limit, and that he had to dip into federal pensions to meet the country’s obligations. And if Republicans stick to their demands for major spending cuts, Geithner is going to have to start getting even more creative. It wasn’t supposed to go like this. When Democrats decided to pass on raising the nation’s $14.29 trillion debt limit during the 111th Congress’ lame duck session this December, the game plan for the 112th Congress was simple: scare “responsible” Republicans into voting to raise the debt...

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Some Dems skeptical of dual roles for new DNC chief Wasserman SchultzBy Shane D’Aprile - 04/07/11 06:15 AM ET There is skepticism on Capitol Hill about President Obama’s decision to appoint Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.) as head of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). The Florida lawmaker is respected and well-liked in the Democratic Party, but there is concern that her dual role as DNC chairwoman and House member opens the door for tensions. “I think she’s at the disadvantage of having to run a big organization and then being in a situation where she has a big part of...

Dems too crazy to winBy Cheri Jacobus - 04/07/11 06:29 PM ET Fiscal sanity versus the ruination of America. That seems to be where the budget debate lies. The Republican budget proposal to eliminate some $6 trillion in federal spending over the next decade and eliminate the deficit in 30 years is shocking — but only in the sense that the situation has become so out of hand, so insanely ridiculous, it will take at least that much and that long to right the wrongs of Washington. The insanity of fiscal policy that promotes an unsustainable chasm between spending and...

VIDEO:Pelosi: GOP Budget Will Deprive Seniors Of Meals

Dems 'likely' to offer budget alternative to Rep. Ryan's planBy Mike Lillis - 04/04/11 03:31 PM ET House Democrats are "likely" to propose a 2012 budget bill to counter the much-hyped GOP blueprint set for release Tuesday, according to a House Budget Committee aide. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (Md.), the senior Democrat on the budget panel, is still weighing his options, the staffer emphasized, but is leaning toward offering an alternative to the plan Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) will unveil this week. "It is likely," the staffer said Monday, "but he's still talking to folks, and he's still undecided." The...

GREENSBORO — A voter ID bill would keep young people and the elderly from voting, a group of college students and state legislators said Monday at Bennett College. Students from area universities have been working behind the scenes to protest the proposed voter ID bill that is currently in the House. They held a forum Monday morning to discuss the bill and followed it with a press conference to voice their concerns. “This bill makes it more difficult for me to exercise my vote and my voice,” said UNCG junior Caleb Patterson. “The voter ID bill would add one more...

A hard-core group of liberal House Democrats is questioning the constitutionality of U.S. missile strikes against Libya, with one lawmaker raising the prospect of impeachment during a Democratic Caucus conference call on Saturday. Reps. Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.), Donna Edwards (Md.), Mike Capuano (Mass.), Dennis Kucinich (Ohio), Maxine Waters (Calif.), Rob Andrews (N.J.), Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas), Barbara Lee (Calif.) and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.) “all strongly raised objections to the constitutionality of the president’s actions” during that call, said two Democratic lawmakers who took part. Kucinich, who wanted to bring impeachment articles against both former President George W. Bush...

*snip* FIRST, our viable alternative strategy is to force Senate Democrats to pass a bill. Currently, the very willingness of Republicans to do the short-terms absolves both Senate Democrats and the President of any responsibility. The House acted. It passed H.R. 1. The Senate has not. Harry Reid has essentially thrown up his hands and said that he can’t pass anything (notwithstanding the fact that he claims to run the Senate). We all know that he can pass something. Until the Senate passes legislation, real Congressional negotiations cannot begin. Not unlike their Wisconsin state colleagues, Democrats must participate to have...

Don't know if it's allowed to post the chart cause I don't see any info re copyright info.

Barack Obama’s renomination of Donald Berwick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) came as a surprise on Capitol Hill. Presidents do not usually renominate recess appointments after a recess ends their term unless the recess appointment was a true emergency or the President in question wants to make a point. In Berwick’s case the decision makes even less sense, as Obama gave the controversial Berwick the recess appointment without even allowing the Senate to hold a single hearing when his party had nearly a supermajority in the Senate. Indeed, Berwick didn’t even do the Senate the...

WITI-TV, MADISON — Before protesters stormed the capitol, the mayor of the city of Madison tried to pull a fast one. The governor's budget repair bill was on the fast track, and Madison Mayor Dave Ciesliewicz was racing against the clock to pass new union contracts first. E-mails obtained by the FOX6 Investigators show that the mayor enlisted the help of State Senator Mark Miller. They both tried to convince the Secretary of State to hold up the bill by taking the maximum 10 days allowed by law before publishing the bill.

A top House Democrat is urging EPA to quickly toughen regulation of natural gas drilling following a New York Times report on the discharge of dangerous pollutants into rivers that supply drinking water. The Times – citing internal documents from EPA and elsewhere – claims that chemicals and radioactive elements in wastewater from gas projects are creating “dangers to the environment and health [that] are greater than previously understood.” Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) sent EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson a detailed letter Saturday calling for “immediate action.” “I am outraged that state and federal regulators were evidently well aware of the...

WASHINGTON -Officials say Senate Democrats are considering including spending cuts in legislation to keep the government in operation after existing funding expires on March 4, the first time they have signaled they are willing to embrace immediate reductions. The Republican-controlled House has passed legislation to cut $61 billion through the end of the current fiscal year, and the Senate will soon consider its version of the measure. Officials say Democrats may propose cutting some or all of an estimated $8.5 billion previously approved for congressional earmark projects. In addition, they are reviewing President Barack Obama's proposed program cuts and terminations...

Dems: GOP spending cuts may jeopardize the nation’s safetyBy Jordy Yager - 02/12/11 11:55 AM ET Democrats and administration officials are charging that Republicans may jeopardize the nation’s safety as the GOP attempts to slash homeland security funding in its government spending bill. The latest Republican proposal unveiled on Friday would decrease the funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by nearly 5 percent more than Obama’s 2011 budget request. The GOP's continuing resolution would maintain the current levels of two main areas of concern: the number of Border Patrol agents in the field and disaster relief funding for...

Government shutdown on the lips of Senate Dems, not RepublicansBy Alexander Bolton - 02/04/11 06:01 AM ET Senate Democrats are talking about a possible government shutdown more than Republicans, a sign that Democrats are confident they have the political edge on the issue. Senate Democrats have met with senior White House officials in preparation for an intense clash with Republicans over government spending levels and a proposal to increase the national debt ceiling. The three highest-ranking Senate Democratic leaders warned on Thursday that a shutdown is a real possibility. “One thing we can't do is take extreme steps like shutting...

A top House Democrat said the attack on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) should change how members of Congress are screened at airports. “I really believe that that is the place where we feel the most ill at ease, is going through airports,” Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), who serves as assistant minority leader in the House, said on "Fox News Sunday." Clyburn called for the Transportation Security Administration, which administers airport security checkpoints, to interact “a little better” with the Capitol Hill Police. “We’ve had some incidents where TSA authorities think that congresspeople should be treated like everybody else,” he said....

A group of Democrats in the House are proposing a ban on using terminology in political debates, reporting and ads that can strike as a call to violence. In fact, the term ‘strike’ is among the words placed in the draft of the bill. Such words as, ‘Used his Campaign Arsenal;’ Has no Ammunition Left;’ ‘Is a Target of a new Attack ad,’ will all be banned. In addition, ‘A Fire fight Erupted;’ ‘Caught in the Crosshairs;’ ‘Take out political opponent;’ ‘The other side Shot Back,’ and ‘The President drew Sharp criticism,’ are all on the chopping block. “We don’t...

A rescue helicopter lifts off as first responders evacuate victims from a “Congress on Your Corner” event in Tucson, Arizona, where U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) among others were shot and seriously wounded. (Reuters) Democrats plotted to blame the tea party patriots for yesterday’s slaugher in Arizona. A democratic operative admitted this to The Politico. Of course, Politico buried it in their story.

Dems up for reelection under pressure to nix healthcare mandateBy Jason Millman and Alexander Bolton 01/05/11 07:53 PM ET Democrats who are nervous about reelection are increasingly ready to consider scrapping the new healthcare law’s provision that forces people to buy health insurance or pay a fine. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), one of President Obama’s closest allies in the Senate, on Wednesday said she would consider scrapping the controversial mandate in favor of a “viable” alternative. “There’s other ways we can get people into the pool — I hope — other than a mandate, and we need to look at...

COUNCIL BLUFFS — At the moment, outgoing Iowa Gov. Chet Culver has no definitive plans for the future but would like to remain a voice for renewable energy, he said during a farewell stop Wednesday in Council Bluffs. Advertising “I think energy security is the most important issue we're dealing with in this country,” he said. The growth of Iowa's renewable energy industry was his biggest accomplishment during his four years as governor, Culver said. “Today, 20 percent of our power in this state is renewable power, and that's up from 5 percent when I started.”

Democrats are preparing a spirited defense of the healthcare law in the face of Republican efforts to dismantle it. Statements from lawmakers, advocates and the administration reveal a multi-pronged strategy as Democrats prepare to deal with a new Republican-controlled House that has made repealing the new law a top priority. Democrats say they'll use the repeal debate to detail what they call the law's benefits, while simultaneously attacking Republicans for wasting time — and money — refighting old battles and pushing back on court rulings against it. Ways and Means health subpanel Chairman Pete Stark (D-Calif.) unveiled

This is the Senate Republicans’ one-page joint resolution to keep the government funded through February 2011 (via GOP Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell):

<p>The White House expressed confidence yesterday that ObamaCare will survive a federal judge's ruling that invalidates the law's health insurance mandate. But behind the optimistic facade, many liberals are worried that the current political climate could give the Supreme Court cover to strike down a key part of the law.</p>

I am trying to get into the holiday mood, but thanks to the gang of three, I can't. I am on edge all the time and have to constantly listen to the news. This roller coaster has to stop. The Lamers are trying to destroy the country by hook or by crook. Clearly this is the nadir of socialism in the US