http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/senate/ en-us Sun, 5 Jul 2009 13:03:50 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285878/posts Thanks to vacancies created by last fall’s election, then-president-elect Barack Obama faced the first dramas of his administration: Finding credible, re-electable bodies to fill those seats. Remember the good old days of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and whether or not he could legally appoint someone to replace Sen. Obama? Then there was the near-anointment of Caroline Kennedy to replace New York’s Sen. Hillary Clinton. After much controversy, Roland Burris took Obama’s Senate seat, N.Y. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand replaced Hillary, Vice President Joe Biden’s former chief of staff, Ted Kaufman, took his place in the U.S. Senate, and Michael Bennet of... Townhall.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285878/posts#comment Sun, 5 Jul 2009 13:03:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285262/posts The Wall Street Journal’s editors weigh in on Al Franken’s Senate win: The ‘Absentee’ Senator. The Minnesota Supreme Court yesterday declared Democrat Al Franken the winner of last year’s disputed Senate race, and Republican incumbent Norm Coleman’s gracious concession at least spares the state any further legal combat. The unfortunate lesson is that you don’t need to win the vote on Election Day as long as your lawyers are creative enough to have enough new or disqualified ballots counted after the fact. lgf http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285262/posts#comment Sat, 4 Jul 2009 04:14:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284749/posts TALLAHASSEE - The Florida Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Gov. Charlie Crist must fill a Central Florida appeals court opening from the original list of six nominees and can't reject the names because he wanted a more diverse slate of candidates. The governor had demanded more racial diversity last December when he rejected a list of six white lawyers to fill a vacancy on the Fifth District Court of Appeal based in Daytona Beach. The vacancy was created by the December retirement of Judge Robert Pleus of Windermere. Sun Sentinel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284749/posts#comment Fri, 3 Jul 2009 12:24:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284665/posts A possible bid for the 2010 Republican Senate nomination in Kentucky certainly won't enable eye surgeon Rand Paul to rake in the mega-millions in campaign donations procured by his much better-known father -- Texas Republican Rep. Ron Paul -- when he campaigned for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination on his strongly libertarian-tinged platform. CQ Politics http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284665/posts#comment Fri, 3 Jul 2009 05:47:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284501/posts Over the eight years of George W. Bush's presidency, proponents of major global-warming legislation tried to spark action in Congress by focusing on the Senate.There, heavyweights like Republican John McCain of Arizona and Democrat-turned-independent Joe Lieberman of Connecticut helped raise awareness of the climate issue even though they never approached the 60 votes needed to pass a bill capping greenhouse gas emissions.But with President Obama in the White House, strategists shifted their attention to the House. And Friday, they scored a big win, a 219-212 vote in favor of a sweeping climate and energy bill.Now the focus shifts again... The New York Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284501/posts#comment Fri, 3 Jul 2009 00:07:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284478/posts The well-placed and well-connected are set to make trillions off new climate bill; economic collapse about to accelerate The sweeping new bill which just passed the House last Friday, the Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 [2], is ostensibly about climate change, but it is in fact a bill of staggering economic ramifications that is going to accelerate the takeover of the economy by the well-placed financiers who have already plundered the Treasury and the Fed of $12+ trillion and counting [3]. It was rushed through the House in the tradition of such nightmarish legislation as the Patriot Act... The Corbett Report http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284478/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 23:39:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284446/posts Senate bill fines people refusing health coverageBy RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR – 58 minutes ago WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans who refuse to buy affordable medical coverage could be hit with fines of more than $1,000 under a health care overhaul bill unveiled Thursday by key Senate Democrats looking to fulfill President Barack Obama's top domestic priority. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the fines will raise around $36 billion over 10 years. Senate aides said the penalties would be modeled on the approach taken by Massachusetts, which now imposes a fine of about $1,000 a year on individuals who refuse to get coverage.... AP via Google http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284446/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 22:18:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284196/posts On June 25, the House passed the Waxman-Markey climate stabilization act, which would institute a cap-and-trade system to restrict Americans’ carbon emissions. While proponents of the bill have sought to argue that the costs of such a system would be negligible, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the bill proposes a massive and highly regressive tax on the U.S. economy, and could potentially cause not only extensive business failures, unemployment and privation within our borders, but starvation among poorer populations elsewhere. To understand this, it is only necessary to look at the numbers. According to a report... Roll Call http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284196/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 16:41:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283984/posts Al Franken is going to the Senate. From The Chicago Tribune: After a fierce legal battle and a vote recount that stretched on for seven months, the Minnesota Supreme Court unanimously ruled Tuesday that Democrat Al Franken should be certified as the winner in the state's U.S. Senate race. Norm Coleman has conceded. And here's the thing: Franken's victory gives the Democratic caucus 60 votes in the Senate, enough to overcome Republican filibuster attempts. There is a lesson here for detached/oblivious gun owners. Particularly since Franken won by a mere 312 vote margin. And especially because Coleman was rated "A"... gun rights examiner http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283984/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 12:20:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283968/posts WASHINGTON -- The Minnesota Supreme Court has now ended months of vote fraud and other assorted acts of skullduggery to pronounce Al Franken winner of the state's 2008 senatorial race over Republican Norm Coleman. The process was unseemly, and it is conceivable that the court's justices merely acted out of civic pride. They did not want Minnesota's U.S. Senate races to attain the sort of notoriety attached to aldermanic elections in Chicago or presidential elections in Iran. Mr. Franken is an admitted clown. As such he will be the only admitted clown in the United States Senate, though he will... American Spectator http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283968/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 11:35:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283891/posts WASHINGTON -- The Minnesota Supreme Court has ended months of vote fraud and other assorted acts of skulduggery to pronounce Al Franken winner of the state's 2008 senatorial race over Republican Norm Coleman. The process was unseemly, and it is conceivable that the court's justices merely acted out of civic pride. They did not want Minnesota's U.S. Senate races to attain the sort of notoriety attached to aldermanic elections in Chicago or presidential elections in Iran. Franken is an admitted clown. As such, he will be the only admitted clown in the United States Senate, though he will be seated... Townhall http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283891/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 06:29:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283695/posts How Cool Is Franken? by Eric Alterman Not only does Al Franken’s hard-fought victory give Democrats a magical 60 seats, it gives the Senate its first genuinely funny ex-comedian. Eric Alterman shares memories of his friend and former neighbor. Senator Franken? As long as it has taken, it’s still pretty hard to believe my friend and former neighbor is due to be sworn in early next week. He’ll be “Senator Franken” to the press and the lobbyists, and “my distinguished colleague” to the rest of that esteemed body. But as for the rest of us, I think we can safely... The Daily Beast http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283695/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jul 2009 23:46:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2283403/posts The crippling gridlock in the New York State Senate is actually an opportunity — state lawmakers have a one-time chance to reform the legislatureÂ’s fundamental partisan flaws. The Senate is in a deadlock between Democrats and Republicans, with each party possessing 31 members of the 62-seat senate. New York Gov. David Patterson has called for a special session of the Senate every day since the regular session of the Senate ended on Jun. 22 without voting on basic appointments and legislation. Both parties rebuffed the governor by convening separately for a total of three minutes to satisfy only the minimum... The D.C. Writeup http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2283403/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jul 2009 17:39:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2283401/posts Tie a black ribbon made of any material available (strip of fabric, black garbage bag or other material) on trees, streetlight poles, antennas and anything else that you choose to decorate. *Arm Band The black ribbon represents the certain death of the American economy that this bill will bring. Richmond Tea Party http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2283401/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jul 2009 17:38:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2283157/posts As if the coronation of the ultimate liberal, Obugger, as president wasn't enough, The Founders must surely have turned over in their graves now, just before the 233rd anniversary of their "domestic terrorism," to quote the odious Janet Napolitano. So, in their honor, let's take a look at the real Sen. Al Franken, D (for D@#$head)-Minn., through a montage of some of the best and brightest moments of his moonbat life. I hope you're happy, Minnesota. Feed Your ADHD http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2283157/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jul 2009 12:13:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283017/posts Franken wins by changing the rules. The Minnesota Supreme Court yesterday declared Democrat Al Franken the winner of last year's disputed Senate race, and Republican incumbent Norm Coleman's gracious concession at least spares the state any further legal combat. The unfortunate lesson is that you don't need to win the vote on Election Day as long as your lawyers are creative enough to have enough new or disqualified ballots counted after the fact. ... Mr. Franken now goes to the Senate having effectively stolen an election. If the GOP hopes to avoid repeats, it should learn from Minnesota that modern... The Wall Street Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283017/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jul 2009 04:01:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282969/posts The House passed a sweeping energy and global warming cap and trade bill Friday. This bill, titled “America’s Clean Energy and Security Act,” or better known as Waxman-Markey, is the Democrats’ answer to the worst recession in decades: a national energy tax -- a tax designed to impose economic pain through higher energy prices and lost jobs. ..... The fact is that the Waxman-Markey bill is just the latest incarnation of costly cap-and-trade legislation that will have a devastating impact on the economy, cost more American jobs by pushing them overseas and drastically increase the size and scope of the... Human Events http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282969/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jul 2009 02:32:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282881/posts Minnesota Court Confirms Razor-Thin Election Win, but Party's Filibuster-Proof Majority Is Vulnerable to Internal Fissures. WASHINGTON -- The Minnesota Supreme Court cleared the way for Democrat Al Franken to become Minnesota's new U.S. senator, ending a festering eight-month election dispute and giving the Democrats a 60-seat voting majority in the Senate. The court on Tuesday unanimously upheld Mr. Franken's margin of 312 votes out of 2.9 million cast in November's election, giving him the seat that had been held for one term by Republican Norm Coleman. Mr. Coleman conceded at a news conference at his home two hours later, saying... The Wall Street Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282881/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jul 2009 00:20:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282754/posts In a 15-minute news conference, looking relaxed and upbeat, Norm Coleman congratulated Al Franken, reminisced about his 6-year term and the "longest election in Minnesota history" and didn't discuss the details of the rejected legal challenge. "We have reached the point where further litigation damages the unity of our state," Coleman said. "I congratulate Al Franken in his victory in his election." "The bottom line is that's history. I'm not looking back… We are a nation of laws, not men and women. The court has spoken.".... Moments later, Gov. Tim Pawlenty's office issued the following statement: "The Minnesota Supreme Court... Star-Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282754/posts#comment Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:49:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282753/posts ST. PAUL, Minn. -Republican Norm Coleman conceded to Democrat Al Franken in Minnesota's contested Senate race on Tuesday, ending a nearly eight-month recount and court fight over an election decided by only a few hundred votes. Coleman announced his decision at a news conference in St. Paul hours after a unanimous Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that Franken, a former "Saturday Night Live" comedian and liberal commentator, should be certified the winner. "The Supreme Court has made its decision and I will abide by the results," Coleman told reporters outside his St. Paul home. Coleman, appearing relaxed and upbeat, said he... Associated Press, Aol Feed http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282753/posts#comment Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:47:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2282705/posts While many will touch on the humor of “funny man” Al Franken now taking his shtick to the Senate, and MSNBC will likely be apoplectic tonight at the concept of 60 Democrat senators now moving forward Barack Obama’s deficit-spending, big government policies through the upper chamber, I submit that the punchline may be at the cost of “conservative” Democrat senators, including Arkansas’s own Blanche Lincoln, who will now have a target painted on them to be the 60th vote on such things as card check, cap and tax and Obamacare. The K. Ryan James Blog http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2282705/posts#comment Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:36:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282625/posts The Minnesota Supreme Court on Tuesday unanimously ruled Al Franken the winner of last November's Senate race, putting the former "Saturday Night Live” star on the brink of becoming a United States senator and Democrats on the cusp of holding a dominant supermajority in the Senate. In a unanimous 5-0 decision, the court upheld a three-judge panel's April 14 ruling that Franken defeated Republican Norm Coleman in the race by 312 votes out of 2.9 million cast.... Politico http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282625/posts#comment Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:31:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282029/posts A new Mason-Dixon poll in Florida shows that Gov. Charlie Crist (R) continues to lead former House Speaker Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate race. But Rubio is gaining in the polls as he becomes more familiar to state voters. Republican Primary Election MatchupCrist 51 (-2 from May)Rubio 23 (+5)Undecided 26 (-3) In the May survey, 56 percent of Republican voters did not recognize Rubio. That number is down to 48 percent in the past month. Among voters who recognize both candidates, the race is much closer: Crist leads with 33 percent, with Rubio at 31 percent and 36 percent... Real Clear Politics http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282029/posts#comment Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:35:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2281786/posts On Friday the House narrowly passed the Waxman-Markey climate bill, by a vote of 219 to 212. The conventional wisdom now is that the bill will have a difficult time passing the Senate. This is from the Wall Street Journal: Real Clear Politics http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2281786/posts#comment Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:21:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2281659/posts The Sunday shows gave us a pretty good glimpse of how much trouble Obama's big-ticket Socialist agenda is in. Though the Democrats are flush from their bloody House victory on Knee-Cap and Trade, Republican Senators wasted no time in trashing its prospects in the Senate. As the warm-up act on on Friday, Sen. Jim Inhofe all but guaranteed the Energy tax would never make it through the Senate. On Sunday, the rest of the team piled on. Patriot Room http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2281659/posts#comment Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:27:35 GMT