A simple question for NBC political analyst Chuck Todd.
By on Jul 5th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
A simple question for NBC political analyst Chuck Todd.
Media Matters writes: “Before the November 2006 midterm elections, NBC News political director Chuck Todd predicted several times that if the Democrats won ‘control of Congress’ and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) became speaker of the House, then President Bush’s ‘approval rating will be over 50 percent by the Fourth of July next year.’ … Will NBC News question Todd about his inaccurate prediction?”
UPDATE: MissLaura has more.
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Hey Todd, I wouldn’t go to Vegas for vacation — and no lottery tickets!!
July 5th, 2007 at 10:08 pmWhat Todd didn’t see coming was the approval rating of the new Democrat congress dipping below 15%.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:11 pm“Will NBC News question Todd about his inaccurate prediction?”
Of course not. Being in the PEP Squad* means never having to be held accountable for the inane things you say.
*The PEP Squad: Perpetually Erroneous Pundits
July 5th, 2007 at 10:12 pmTodd, maybe you need to switch to a weather man job – somewhere simple, LA for example, see Lewis Black for details…
“It’s going to be…… nice… back to you”
July 5th, 2007 at 10:12 pmWhat Todd didn’t see coming was the approval rating of the new Democrat congress dipping below 15%.
Comment by The Captain — July 5, 2007 @ 10:11 pm
With all due respect, The Captain, that approval rating is for Congress as a whole, not just the Democrats. And it is a fact that the Republicans have been obstructing legislation in the Senate, so as far as the American people know, this “Congress” has done nothing. They are not dissatisfied merely with the Democrats, they are dissatisfied with all of them.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:15 pm“They are not dissatisfied merely with the Democrats, they are dissatisfied with all of them.”
Fair enough. Throw them all out.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:16 pmkeel haul them all,
July 5th, 2007 at 10:18 pmand then it’s the plank fer the scurvy vermin
Fair enough. Throw them all out.
Comment by The Captain — July 5, 2007 @ 10:16 pm
Sure. I’ve said all along that the problem is with both major political parties. So, if you really like your candidate, don’t vote for him or her on the two major party lines, vote for them on a third party’s line.
But all that’s beside the point. This is about Chuck Todd and his Techno-Colored Crystal Ball. And its dead batteries.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:21 pmWayne,
The Captain has comprehension problems.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:24 pmChuck Todd….. sounds like a shopping cart wheel with a flat spot on it…
chuck-todd-chuck todd-chuck-todd-chuck-todd
July 5th, 2007 at 10:25 pmCan someone ask Tim Russert if he is going to have his lips surgically removed from Dick Cheney’s ass in the next 18 months?
Also ask him if he is aware that his book is not on ebay for 18 cents.
Jack JETT
July 5th, 2007 at 10:25 pm“Sure. I’ve said all along that the problem is with both major political parties. So, if you really like your candidate, don’t vote for him or her on the two major party lines, vote for them on a third party’s line.”
Not a bad idea.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:26 pmI always wanted to f**k Joan Jett. Her music wasn’t bad either ;)
July 5th, 2007 at 10:27 pmWhat Todd didn’t see coming was the approval rating of the new Democrat congress dipping below 15%.
Comment by The Captain — July 5, 2007 @ 10:11 pm
Wow. Those trolls sure are persistent. It doesn’t matter whether their talking points are false or not, I guess.
The number that “The Captain” cites is NOT an “approval rating”. It comes from a Gallupo poll that found 14% responded that they had “quite a lot” or “a great deal” of confidence in Congress. That same week (last week) the same polling organization found a 24% approval rating for Congress — the WHOLE Congress, not the “Democrat (sic) Congress”.
So, not only does “The Captain” spout te same tired, debunked talking points as the other, similar sounding trolls here, not only does “The Captain” use the same GOP-approved grammatically-incorrect adjectival form of the opposition party, but “The Captain” fails to attribute ANY of the poor approval rating to the obstructionist republicans, who have publically acknowledged that their strategy is to simply block legislation.
What a sad, sad performance.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:27 pmThe Captain has comprehension problems.
Comment by Zooey — July 5, 2007 @ 10:24 pm
Well, you know me. I try to give the civil ones a chance. I’m still curious if he believes that Bush and Cheney are “friends” and that Cheney would never order Bush to commute Libby’s sentence or else he would see to it that Rove did years in prison. But I never noticed a response to that before I left yesterday. I provided links to the WaPo piece on Cheney, to help him solidfy his position.
Still, as long as he doesn’t resort to some of the childish pranks we’ve observed from others, I would be polite and try to understand his view of the world.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:28 pm#5 Wayne,
I was going to fire back a reply to Captain, but I see that you were way ahead of me and you said it so well.
I find it remarkable that the media is so quick to refer to this congress as the “Democratic” congress when they know full well that the majority is so slim as to prevent overriding any roadblock thrown by the repugs. But the phrase, Democratic Congress, is the phrase picked up and used repeatedly, implanting a subliminal message into the brains of those who don’t think for themselves.
As for Chuck Todd, he is as “independent” a pundit as Frank Luntz.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:28 pmThey would choke on their words before they would say anything that didn’t undercut Demcrats, whether they are reporting news today (see first paragraph) or whether they are making lame predictions. These guys earn a lot of money, get a lot of perks, and don’t know any more about anything than we do – in fact, I often believe we know more.
anyone see how inde conservative he was on those hotline videos? then the second he went to nbc he started singing note for note what the old heads tell him to say.
pretty spineless. but then he’s a conservative
July 5th, 2007 at 10:29 pmComment by The Captain — July 5, 2007 @ 10:27 pm
Please. Is this how civilized people behave?
July 5th, 2007 at 10:29 pmlol, sorry Wayne.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:32 pmThese guys earn a lot of money, get a lot of perks, and don’t know any more about anything than we do – in fact, I often believe we know more.
Comment by Marie — July 5, 2007 @ 10:28 pm
Thanks, and I agree with your last statement. The main difference between us and the “insiders”, is that we don’t live within a “meme” that colors every analysis one gives on politics. They think that the voting populace feels a certain way about a certain thing, and they will not disabuse themselves of that notion. And when poll results counter those memes, they’re described as “surprising”. And yet, they still don’t understand how the American people were way out in front of the MSM on the war, on this administration’s corruption, and their BS lies. We’re going to have to start educating them and start asking questions ourselves.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:34 pmBut can you blame me?
http://www.celebrity-gallery.com/content/pictures/JoanJett/joan16.jpg
July 5th, 2007 at 10:35 pmWhat Todd didn’t see coming was the approval rating of the new Democrat congress dipping below 15%.
Comment by The Captain
Could it be TC that, as always, it is business as usual with the republicans. For some reason republicans do not like over sight and the only bills they want to pass are those that screw the middle/lower class. And also, 10 of the R senators up for re election are those that voted to impeach Clinton. Imagine that. They would never consider impeaching this treasonous b president. It is the republican trash remaining in Congress bringing the ratings down.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:37 pmComment by The Captain — July 5, 2007 @ 10:35 pm
That’s as may be, but in a civilized society, we keep those thoughts to ourselves. (Or share them with the intended should the opportunity, by luck, should arrive.)
Now, where wre we? Oh, yes. Chuck Todd. Clueless.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:39 pm“It comes from a Gallupo poll that found 14% responded that they had “quite a lot†or “a great deal†of confidence in Congress.”
My bad. Still with confidence in congress at an all time low, I agree with my friend Wayne. Throw them all out.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:39 pmStill, as long as he doesn’t resort to some of the childish pranks we’ve observed from others, I would be polite and try to understand his view of the world.
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider
He’s a sick pervert — to Joan Jett, who would stomp him to mush, and to me.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:43 pmWhat Todd didn’t see coming was the approval rating of the new Democrat congress dipping below 15%.
Comment by The Captain
Hmmm… is that 15% for the Dem Congress or 15% for the ridiculously childish Repub obstructionists?
July 5th, 2007 at 10:44 pmThere were many predicting that the republicans wouldn’t lose congress and the senate as well.
I also recall something about the war in Iraq being over in a few months, and being greeted as liberators.
So far the Neo-Cons have been right about a damn thing.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:46 pmHmmm… is that 15% for the Dem Congress or 15% for the ridiculously childish Repub obstructionists?
Comment by The republic of Stupidity
Yes.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:46 pm“That’s as may be, but in a civilized society, we keep those thoughts to ourselves. (Or share them with the intended should the opportunity, by luck, should arrive.)”
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider — July 5, 2007 @ 10:39 pm
Or on a thread that you know your wife is reading.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:46 pm“Hmmm… is that 15% for the Dem Congress or 15% for the ridiculously childish Repub obstructionists?”
The Dems have a majority, but I agree with Wayne that all of congress is doing pretty poorly.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:47 pm“Joan Jett, who would stomp him to mush,”
Guessing this is what he’s hoping for…………
July 5th, 2007 at 10:47 pmHe’s a sick pervert — to Joan Jett, who would stomp him to mush, and to me.
Comment by Zooey — July 5, 2007 @ 10:43 pm
I noticed that I am sorry if I am giving him reason to stay and insult my friends on the other threads while I’m not looking.
I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, and even told him as much, if he would please stop the immature, rude behavior. But I see the error of my ways. I shan’t be tolerant with him again.
(insert Bugs Bunny voice here):
Of course you know,
this means war!
July 5th, 2007 at 10:48 pmThe Dems have a majority, but I agree with Wayne that all of congress is doing pretty poorly.
Comment by The Captain
Well shucks, I have NO problem w/ THAT at all. I’ve been saying for yrs that the best message we could send to these frauds is to vote them out en masse, every election, until we start gittin’ some honest, responsible behavior out of them.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:49 pmYes.
Comment by Zooey
Zooey… you’ve come back… care for a slice of cheese?
(They are individually wrapped for your protection, ya know…)
July 5th, 2007 at 10:51 pm(insert Bugs Bunny voice here):
Of course you know,
this means war!
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider
Heh.
I can tell my wine is kicking in — that was WAY too funny. :)
July 5th, 2007 at 10:52 pmComment by The Captain — July 5, 2007 @ 10:47 pm
I said the polls show all of Congress is doing poorly. I didn’t make that statement myself. I said vote out the two major political parties, but keep the people you like if they run on another party line. Don’t put words in my mouth. And don’t try to paraphrase me so obtusely.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:52 pmOh, and thanks Wayne.
I don’t care what Jane says, you’re alright. :)
July 5th, 2007 at 10:53 pmOh, and thanks Wayne.
I don’t care what Jane says, you’re alright. :)
Comment by Zooey — July 5, 2007 @ 10:53 pm
I don’t care what Jane says, either, so are you! :D
July 5th, 2007 at 10:54 pmBeltway whores never calibrate against reality. Why bother? It would just hurt their credibility with their corporate masters.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:55 pmCome to think of it, anyone who calibrates against reality must have “an agenda” in Washington speak.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:57 pmI don’t care what Jane says, either, so are you! :D
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider
Jane’s been talking shit about us!? :-D
July 5th, 2007 at 10:58 pmNacy is a grown-up.She has support in her district and will be elected as long as she chooses to subject herself.Why she doesn’t pull the trigger….must be more to all this.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:58 pmMaybe the question is more likely why hasn’t she done it yet?
Hoping there is some calculation involved with the timing and effects.
Really hoping the money hasn’t been heavily spread already and blurred the judgement.
Hard to believe she is sitting still and just watching.
There is a very real chance for greatness here with just a little guts.Hope it’s the guts that win this time over the cash.
That’s always a tough one.
My bad. Still with confidence in congress at an all time low, I agree with my friend Wayne. Throw them all out.
Comment by The Captain — July 5, 2007 @ 10:39 pm
Holy smokes!
I did not see that coming. I credit you, Captain, with some measure of integrity. I’m used to trolls here simply repeating right-wing talking points long after they’ve been proven wrong. My apologies for lumping you in with that sordid lot.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:58 pmComment by spit take — July 5, 2007 @ 10:58 pm
Keep reading, The Captain is a true bag of hammers.
July 5th, 2007 at 10:59 pmBeltway whores never calibrate against reality. Why bother? It would just hurt their credibility with their corporate masters.
Comment by VerbalKint — July 5, 2007 @ 10:55 pm
A man will think whatever you want him to think, if he thinks his next paycheck depends on it. (I didn’t say it, someone else did. Possibly Will Rogers, but that might be wrong.)
July 5th, 2007 at 10:59 pmComment by Zooey — July 5, 2007 @ 10:58 pm
Moi?
July 5th, 2007 at 11:08 pmNot all Democrats are felons but all felons are Democrats.
True so true.
July 5th, 2007 at 11:09 pmNot all Democrats are felons but all felons are Democrats.
True so true.
Comment by Flaco — July 5, 2007 @ 11:09 pm
———————————————————————————–
So very, very true.
July 5th, 2007 at 11:13 pmInteresting- when you turn the graph over, it resembles the Haliburton profit chart covering the same time period. Just saying.
July 5th, 2007 at 11:14 pmTrue so true.
Comment by Flaco
Well, by that resaoning, Flucco, all Repubs would appear to be child molesters..
True, so true…
July 5th, 2007 at 11:15 pmWhile it is true that not all conservative people are stupid, all stupid people tend to be conservative.
July 5th, 2007 at 11:17 pmWhereas, the majority of right thinking people are wrong.
July 5th, 2007 at 11:19 pmMoi?
Comment by Jane E. Schneider
**clearing throat**
No Jane, please disregard, it’s the wine talking. I swear!! :-D
July 5th, 2007 at 11:25 pmSo very, very true.
Comment by Mr. President
You’re using Flaco as well.
July 5th, 2007 at 11:25 pmWhile it is true that not all conservative people are stupid, all stupid people tend to be conservative.
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider
Spot on, my friend.
July 5th, 2007 at 11:26 pmComment by Zooey — July 5, 2007 @ 11:25 pm
Wine, yeah, riiiigghht. ;-)
July 5th, 2007 at 11:31 pmWhile it is true that not all conservative people are stupid, all stupid people tend to be conservative.—- Wayne A. Schneider
Whereas, the majority of right thinking people are wrong— Raven
So true.
The lights are on, but nobody’s home.
July 5th, 2007 at 11:32 pmComment by Zooey — July 5, 2007 @ 11:25 pm
What? Just because I agree it means I am using him?
I was the one who posted the “Felons are Smarter than Liberals” article in the first place.
Now you are just trying to mess with me.
July 5th, 2007 at 11:33 pmHe should probably retire, or quit making ridiculous predictions.
July 5th, 2007 at 11:36 pmThere is an issue with credibility, methinks.
This just means that Todd was way off the mark on this one. He has no business being a political analyst. Obviously he can’t keep his right-wing bias out of this. Stu Rothenberg also predicted that the democrats would not be able to take over the Senate. He was wrong too.
July 5th, 2007 at 11:36 pmWine, yeah, riiiigghht. ;-)
Comment by Jane E. Schneider
Second glass! I’m feeling very loose, and very focused.
La La La….
July 5th, 2007 at 11:39 pmTodd’s as smart as a pig with a pocket watch.
July 5th, 2007 at 11:40 pmNow you are just trying to mess with me.
Comment by Mr. President
You’ve been using him from the beginning, just like CT and The Joker. Now you’re afraid they will find out what you are.
July 5th, 2007 at 11:40 pmComment by Zooey — July 5, 2007 @ 11:40 pm
What am I, Ms. Know-it-all?
July 5th, 2007 at 11:42 pmIt looks like David the Dhimmi is hiding from this thread too!
July 5th, 2007 at 11:42 pmDavid where are you liar?
What am I, Ms. Know-it-all?
Comment by Mr. President
You collect and use people to make yourself feel powerful and important.
What you are doing is weak-minded and wrong. I’ve watched you do this, and thought you might see the error of your ways on your own, but again, I was wrong.
I’m asking you to stop.
July 5th, 2007 at 11:46 pmComment by Zooey — July 5, 2007 @ 11:46 pm
You agree with people all the time, how is that any different?
How do I “collect and use people”?
That is nonsense.
July 5th, 2007 at 11:50 pmRepublican director of the “Young Republican Federation” Nicholas Elizondo molested his 6-year old daughter and was sentenced to six years in prison.
What lie was FLACO telling, again?
July 5th, 2007 at 11:52 pmHow do I “collect and use people�
That is nonsense.
Comment by Mr. President
You are in denial. It’s too disgusting for you to contemplate. Examine your life, and do what is right.
July 5th, 2007 at 11:52 pmYou collect and use people to make yourself feel powerful and important.
Mr President is doing nothing more than rounding up the bobble headed bleatists in effort to become the headcheerleader. He makes a few good debateable points but always falls back on the dittoheads for support.
Sapere Aude Mr President.
Republican Mayor Jeffrey Kyle Randall was sentenced to 275 days in jail for molesting two boys — ages ten and 12 — during a six-year period.
July 5th, 2007 at 11:56 pmI was the one who posted the “Felons are Smarter than Liberals†article in the first place.
* Republican County Board Candidate Brent Schepp was charged with molesting a 14-year old girl and killed himself three days later.
This Felon happened to be smarter than a Republican.
Grow up MR P. Your playing idiotic political games that help to obscure justice. GROW UP PLEASE.
July 5th, 2007 at 11:59 pmWe have a very beautiful world out there but its becoming overrun with sick demented people. Even politicians get into the act. Pundits and their divisive ditto heads offer nothing in the way of cure but obscurity.
I am tired of your posts Mr P. They have lost what little comedy the held. You are becoming as insane as the rest of the brainwashed media idiots by repeating their unoriginality and their brainwashed spooge.
July 6th, 2007 at 12:04 amLook for this on tomorrow’s ThinkFast:
Alleged madam can distribute records By LUBNA TAKRURI, Associated Press Writer
43 minutes ago
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070706/ap_on_re_us/escort_list
Fit, meet shan.
July 6th, 2007 at 12:11 amFit, meet shan.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire
I don’t know what that means, my friend, but I’m laughing like crazy. Release the records!!!
:-D
July 6th, 2007 at 12:16 amAlleged madam can distribute records By LUBNA TAKRURI, Associated Press Writer
While I always admit I could be wrong, isn’t Dick Cheney’s name supposed to be on that list?
If so, could it be the final straw that forces at least him to step down? If not that, then what?
And if it isn’t true, can I start a rumor and claim that it is? It’s just a hypothetical question.
July 6th, 2007 at 12:40 amwhat about Tall Tale Dan Rather ?
July 6th, 2007 at 12:43 am“what about Tall Tale Dan Rather ?”
Comment by FDR — July 6, 2007 @ 12:43 am
Sorry, no thread has been found on this site for the referenced subject. We recommend that you search at redstate or drudge for said subject.
July 6th, 2007 at 12:49 amAlright, my TV just gave me this:
http://www.ready.gov
“There’s no excuse for not having a plan in case of a terrorist attack”. WTF?
Back after I check under my bed again.
July 6th, 2007 at 12:54 amJust put on another coat of TurtleWax and crawl into your shell. You’ll be able to weather anything!!
July 6th, 2007 at 12:58 amWhat the retard trolls don’t understand, and therefore cannot process, is that Congress as a whole always has lousy approval ratings. People will give favorable ratings to the Congressman they voted for, but will invariably hate everyone else in Congress. BFD.
Not that this will matter, and they’ll keep cranking out the bogus 15% number while they’re at it.
July 6th, 2007 at 12:59 amBNF – perhaps that’s it, off to ‘polish my shell’
July 6th, 2007 at 1:00 amBNF – perhaps that’s it, off to ‘polish my shell’
Comment by TerrytheTurtle
Thanks for sharing, Terry. Because we were all dying to know that you were, er, buffing the carapace.
July 6th, 2007 at 1:02 am“buffing the carapace.”
Comment by gummitch — July 6, 2007 @ 1:02 am
Is that what the kids are calling it these days?
July 6th, 2007 at 1:03 amIs that what the kids are calling it these days?
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider
I dunno. They won’t tell me anything.
July 6th, 2007 at 1:05 amComment by gummitch — July 6, 2007 @ 1:05 am
I guess we should try to stay on topic.
So, gummitch, tell me. Do you think Chuck Todd “buffs his carapace”?
July 6th, 2007 at 1:06 amI dunno. They won’t tell me anything.
Comment by gummitch
Yes, that’s what they’re calling it.
July 6th, 2007 at 1:09 amSo, gummitch, tell me. Do you think Chuck Todd “buffs his carapace�
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider
We won’t know for sure until we see that list of Deborah Palfrey’s. Could be that he was paying someone else to buff it for him.
July 6th, 2007 at 1:13 amSo, gummitch, tell me. Do you think Chuck Todd “buffs his carapace�
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider
Wow. Inquiring minds want to know!
July 6th, 2007 at 1:14 amWow. Inquiring minds want to know!
Comment by Zooey — July 6, 2007 @ 1:14 am
We’ve both been very careful. It’s only dirty if you think it is. ;)
July 6th, 2007 at 1:17 amor, as Juan would say, his carapacho!
July 6th, 2007 at 1:31 amWe’ve both been very careful. It’s only dirty if you think it is. ;)
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider
So it is. :D
July 6th, 2007 at 1:34 amChuck Todd is a piece of crap, there is no doubt about that.
July 6th, 2007 at 1:40 amTodd got his money and that’s all that matters. Others have done the same. The White House has paid out alot of taxpayers money to make sure Americans believe what their told. Look at the polls that show how many Americans still believe Cheney when he says Iraq has WMDs. Yes Americans still believe Bush who says there’s no Global Warming and that the Iraq people want our troops to stay in Iraq. Yes we pay the Iraq people to tell who are the terrorist yet no one says a word. I hope McCain gets lots of American money for during his fund raiser visit to Iraq. Now George W. Bush is a Judge and knows more then the educated Judges on the bench. Next Bush replace Roberts as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Bush is so good he didn’t even have to ask the Attorney General any questions about commuting Libby sentence.
July 6th, 2007 at 2:44 amLeave it to the Bush loyalists to make predictions based entirely on wishful thinking. I could have predicted the exact opposite outcome based on the very same premises in Todd’s little pipe-dream scenario.
Todd should stop pretending to be a political analyst and start writing horoscopes: He would be just as wrong, but he would do a lot less damage to the nation.
July 6th, 2007 at 2:50 amI’ve noticed that the people who whine most loudly about how the Democratic Congress “isn’t doing anything” are in fact pig ignorant of what the Dems have been doing. Here’s a sample:
House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers is “expected to move swiftly to conduct hearings on the commutation.”
Democrats Consider Plan to Cut Funding for Guantanamo Bay Prison, Forcing Its Closure
SENATE SUBPOENAS WHITE HOUSE, VP’S OFFICE
House Judiciary Committee To Hold Hearings On Bush Clemency Powers
Reacting to the Office of the Vice President’s assertion that it is not an “entity within the executive branch,†Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) announced that he will introduce an amendment to cut off funding to Cheney’s office.
House To Bush Admin: Comply With Subpoenas Or Face Contempt
Senate Judiciary Committee Issues Subpoenas For NSA Domestic Spying Documents
John Conyers (D-MI) announced the launch of a new web page, to respond to the growing number of current and former Justice Department career lawyers and other employees raising concerns about politicization in the Department.†The page “provides a secure method for DOJ employees to communicate what they know to Committee investigators.†See the page HERE.
Congress to investigate Bush’s signing statements.
Congress Passes Major Gun Control Legislation in over a decade, spurred by the Virginia Tech campus killings and buttressed by National Rifle Association help. The bill improves state reporting to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System to stop gun purchases by people, including criminals and those adjudicated as mentally ill.
Senior House Democrats threatened Thursday to issue subpoenas to obtain secret legal opinions†and other Justice Dept. documents related to the NSA’s warrantless domestic surveillance program, “the most aggressive action yet by Congress in its oversight of the…program.
Senate Judiciary Committee announced it was preparing to approve legislation to restore habeas corpus on Thursday.
House oversight committee is expanding its investigation “into ties between jailed GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff and the White House
The House plans to trigger another veto showdown with President Bush this week by clearing legislation that would expand federally funded embryonic stem cell research.
The Senate Armed Services Commitee has passed legislation “that would grant new rights to terror suspects held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, including access to a lawyer regardless of whether the prisoners are put on trial.†It would also “narrow the definition of an enemy combatant and tighten restrictions on the types of evidence used to prosecute and keep a person detained.â€
Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) have introduced the Healthy Families Act (HFA), which would guarantee that workers receive at least seven paid sick days each year. Tell Congress to support this legislation here.
House passes flag bill Bush opposed. Governors could order federal facilities to lower their flags to honor fallen military troops under legislation passed by the House Tuesday.
House Democratic leaders have decided to use their Honest Leadership and Open Government legislation from the 109th Congress as the basis for the lobbying reform bill that the House Judiciary Committee is expected to mark up this week. By doing so, the leaders are on a trajectory to meet key demands made by left-leaning advocacy groups favoring strong reform.
New union bill has the power to level playing field after conservative idealogues gutted workers’ rights
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) introduced a measure Monday to force the Pentagon to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and move the trials of Al Qaeda suspects to the United States.
Congress Probes Allegations Of Wrongdoing In Bush Reading Program
After more than a decade of government inaction, gay-rights proponents in Congress have gotten several major bills moving through the Democratic-controlled chambers, a development that could result in the greatest expansion of federal protections for gays and lesbians in US history.
Kucinich Officially Moves To Impeach Cheney
Congress To Pass Bill For October Troop Withdrawal
The Justice Department is conducting a probe of a $6 billion reading initiative at the center of President Bush’s No Child Left Behind law, another blow to a program besieged by allegations of financial conflicts of interest and cronyism.
House and Senate Democrats reached a deal Friday afternoon on a package of tax cuts that will accompany a $2.10-an-hour increase in the federal minimum wage.
The Democratic National Committee sued the Justice Department, demanding it turn over any e-mail traffic with the Republican Party on the U.S. attorneys controversy and criminal investigations.
House Democrats propose bill to give shareholders at public companies a formal say in executives’ compensation packages.
The House yesterday passed the Taxpayer Protection Act, to protect taxpayers against “identity theft, deceptive Web sites and loan sharks.” It also makes it “easier for taxpayers to retrieve property lost as a result of a wrongful Internal Revenue Service levy and directs the IRS to notify lower-income people that they qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit.”
House to Begin Probe Into 2006 Florida Election
In the wake of a news report that the Election Assistance Commission altered its findings to overstate the pervasiveness of voter fraud, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today asked the Senate Rules and Administration Committee to look into the matter.
President Bush is threatening to veto a Senate intelligence bill that’s laced with provisions that would force the White House and spy agencies to be more responsive to Congress
Senate Passes Bill To Widen Stem Cell Research
Kucinich demands answers on $4 gas as domestic policy chairman
Congress To Probe Lynch, Tillman Misinformation
By 280 to 152, the Democratic-controlled House voted to require sponsors of the pet spending items to be publicly identified, a move that sponsors say will do away with some of the most egregious waste of the taxpayers’ money.
A separate vote to reinstate the “pay as you go” rule [passed] 280 to 154. It requires that increases in spending on entitlement programs be offset by savings elsewhere, so as not to raise the budget deficit.
The new House rules bar members from taking gifts, meals or trips paid for by lobbyists, or the organizations that employ them. The rules also ban lawmakers from using corporate jets and reimbursing the owners.
House Democratic leaders prepare legislation that would permanently shift the tax burden from the have-nots back to the have-mores.
Dems Call For Investigation Into Bush Appointment Of Swift Boat Donor
“The Office of Special Counsel confirmed to ABC News it has launched an investigation into General Services Administration chief Lurita Doan, probing concerns she may have violated a ban against conducting partisan political activity at government expense by participating in a meeting featuring a presentation by a White House political aide on GOP election strategy.â€
Waxman To RNC: Turn Over Your Emails
House Bill Will Bring Back Paper Ballots
Nearly five months after Florida Republican Vern Buchanan narrowly defeated Democrat Christine Jennings in the state’s 13th District, a congressional committee has organized a task force to investigate the controversial election.
Dems Pass Bill To Bring Troops Home In 2008
Another criminal investigation has begun in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, where two elections officials were found to have rigged the 2004 Presidential Election recount.
FDA to enact rules to prevent experts with ties to drug industry from advising the FDA
The House Administration Committee will convene a special task force to look into the ongoing controversy of Florida’s 13th district congressional race
The Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 2007, a bill aimed at “making immediate improvements in the treatment…of wounded combat veterans passed the House Armed Services Committee by a 59-0 vote Tuesday.â€
Senate Cancels Bush Admin Power To Unilaterally Name US Attorneys…
Rep. Jane Harman introduced a bill to require all light bulbs produced or used in the U.S. to meet current fluorescent bulb standards (60 lumens per watt) by 2012, 90 lumens by 2016, and 120 by 2020.
Top White House Staff May Face Subpoenas
Democratic Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio has hired an avowed critic of Israel to work on his subcommittee of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
Congress Investigates Plush VIP Ward At Walter Reed.
This week, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) introduced legislation to provide health care coverage to all children. The Children’s Health First Act would boost spending on SCHIP by $50 billion and encourage states to cover all children with incomes up to 400 percent of the poverty level.â€
“Buried in the $124 billion House version of the wartime supplemental appropriation is an order to the Defense Department to release a report on the April 2004 death in Afghanistan of Army Spc. Patrick Tillman,†whose death by friendly fire Army leaders tried to cover up.
Yesterday, the “House Appropriations Committee unanimously approved a measure that barred the closure of Walter Reed Army Medical Center.â€
A bill granting Washington, D.C. “its first full-fledged seat in the House of Representatives passed the Judiciary Committee yesterday, clearing the final hurdle before a vote by the entire House, expected next week.â€
Democrats to open hearings on CIA leak on Friday. The Star Witness Will be Valerie Plame.
The Federal Communications Commission drew an ultimatum from the House Energy and Commerce Committee telecom panel: Return to your traditional role of consumer protection or else. “When the FCC loses sight of its proper role, consumers suffer,” said Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., told FCC commissioners at a hearing Tuesday.
A Democratic plan to require the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq passed its first test on Thursday as the House Appropriations Committee voted to endorse the proposal, overcoming Republican opposition.
Under attack for improprieties uncovered in its showcase literacy program for low-income children, the Department of Education will convene an outside advisory committee to oversee the program, known as Reading First, Education Secretary Margaret Spellings said Wednesday. Facing tough questions at a hearing before a Senate subcommittee considering appropriations for the Bush administration’s signature education law, known as No Child Left Behind, Ms. Spellings also promised to clean up the reading program in other ways.
The two election workers from Cuyahoga Co. Ohio who rigged the 2004 recount were each sentenced to 18 months in prison and the judge stated that he felt they were not telling the whole story and that they were covering for someone.
A new bill requiring the mandatory disclosure of donations to presidential libraries has made its way out of committee and is headed for the House floor.
The House passed three bills that would “roll back administration efforts to shield its workings from public view.†The measures would “streamline access to records in presidential libraries, expand safeguards for government whistle-blowers, and strengthen the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).â€
Bush’s prosecutor power grab is backfiring.
Leahy Says He’ll Subpoena Rove, Discusses Potential Crimes
The Senate voted 60-38 to approve legislation “to implement many of the remaining reforms suggested by the Sept. 11 commission.â€
Brushing aside a veto threat, the House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to overturn a 2001 order by President George W. Bush that lets former presidents keep their papers secret indefinitely.
The Chairman of the House’s Oversight and Government Reform Committee has sent 11 letters to Condi Rice requesting info on the fraudulent Niger/uranium claims.
House approves bill spending $1.7 billion over five years for cleaner water. White House, forgetting the $9 billion a month spent in Iraq, says the cost is too high.
Hillary Clinton calls for GI Bill Of Rights.
Democrats add billions of dollars to Iraq war budget, earmarked for medical care, housing, and training.
“The House of Representatives voted today to create a new congressional committee, devoted solely to addressing the issue of global warming. Legislation creating the new ‘Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming’ passed 269 to 150, with 44 Republicans voting in favor of its creation.”
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and other senators met with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales this afternoon. According to Schumer, Gonzales said the White House will not oppose reversing the PATRIOT Act provision that allows U.S. Attorneys to be installed without Senate approval.
“thanks to voter outrage and a one-year moratorium imposed by Democrats after taking over Congress,” the “number and cost of pork-barrel projects is way down” after years of record pork-barrel spending.
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman announced he will hold a hearing on whether White House officials followed appropriate procedures for safeguarding the identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson
Dems Push Legislation To Withdraw Troops By Fall ‘08
Senator Byron Dorgan introducing legislation compelling George W. Bush to actually go after Osama bin Laden
Senate Votes 51-46 to Let Airport Workers Unionize, Give 45,000 Screeners the Same Union Rights As Border Patrol, Customs And Immigration Agents; Bush Threatens Veto.
Congress has begun hearings on the substandard care for veterans at Walter Reed.
The Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2007 would nullify the Bush executive order and establish procedures to ensure the timely release of presidential records.
subpoenas will soon be issued in the matter of the allegedly coerced firings of U.S. Attorneys in the Department of Justice. A vote will take place tomorrow in the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law on whether to issue the subpoenas to Justice Dept. officials Carol Lam, David Iglesias, H.E. Cummins, III, and John McKay to compel them to appear before a subcommittee hearing next week.
The Judiciary Committee will also hold hearings next week on matters related to “Election Reform and Irregularities.”
July 6th, 2007 at 6:42 amThe DC Madam;s list is going to be a Who’s Who of the Reperv party.
All Repukes ARE felons. The GOP is a criminal conspiracy.
July 6th, 2007 at 6:49 amChertoff = Israeli Agent.
He is in fact a citizen of Israel, which should disqualify him from any opportunity to command the most potentially oppressive organization in our system…like this FORCED LABOR PRISON CAMP in Hanna Wyoming:
http://www.democracyforums.com/showthread.php?tid=297
Lieberman was put in charge of Chertoff’s oversight committee for one reason – to PROTECT ISRAEL’S INTERESTS by protecting Chertoff from any investigations into his poor management and behavior.
Isn’t it telling that it was Bush and Rove who were directly responsible for bolstering Lieberman’s run as an Independent, helping him with fundraising and strategy?
Chertoff, Lieberman and Bush work for the same individual that Cheney does…David Rockefeller.
David Rockefeller & Dick Cheney:
American Traitors…
Cheney laughs about lying to his constituents in order to get elected:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdxLYuvvbgs&NR
July 6th, 2007 at 6:54 amPerry, #89
July 6th, 2007 at 7:06 amThanks for the updates. It was a great read!
The dems did not cut funding for the war as was anticipated by most including the people who voted for them. Had they done that I think Bush’ polls would be up. However the blowhards in both parties do not represent us but themselves. Vote them all out next time.
Government is the enemy.
July 6th, 2007 at 7:10 amPerry Logan: I soooo appreciate the work you’ve done in the compilation of the litany of work planned by the Democrats. Indeed, due to the overwhelming evidence of ongoing corruption which we are bombarded with each day, it would give the “appearance” that the new Congress is handicapped in doing much of anything about it. After all, the laundry list of offenses and criminal behavior grows with each passing day! It’s enough to make anyone’s head spin, not the least of which would be those entrusted with investigating each offense and bringing those responsible to justice.
Having said that, I’d like to also refer those naysayers who espouse the flagging numbers which this congress is presently receiving to the fact that this congress is ALSO comprised of Republicans who, incidentally, are precisely the ones forestalling these efforts, voting against any form of justice for their party members, etc. so it is hardly only Democrats who are receiving the angst and anger of the american people.
Add to that this pertinent fact: THE ONLY REASON FOR THE LOW NUMBERS HAPPENS TO BE THE OUTRAGEOUS LEVEL OF CORRUPTION PRESENT WITHIN THE GOP AND THIS REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION.
So, when the trolls keep repeating the abysmally low number which this congress is receiving, consider the source of the anger: This Administration which is Republican. Then their point will become moot because the genesis of the anger is their own party and it’s the anger of the people who can no longer tolerate the level of destruction which the Republican Party is wreaking upon this country which is responsible for that anger and low poll numbers.
In either case: It’s a lose/lose for the Republican Party when one looks beyond the numbers in this case. The numbers are low – in part because of the “stonewalling” going on by Republicans in the Congress and in part due to the actual “problem” at the base of this disgust: The Republican Party’s Level of Corruption in this Government.
So, either way, it’s a horrible black mark against the Republican members of this Congress (and the Dems for not incarcerating Republicans quickly enough!!) that brings this number down.
This is no “cause celebre” for Republicans at all if they actually realize what they are saying here…..of course, we don’t expect ignorant trolls and bigoted Rethugs to think of anything beyond the extremely superficial and inane, do we?
July 6th, 2007 at 7:55 amSo, unless we have more evidence of complicity within the Democratic segment of this congress, I’d carefully edit #93’s closing remark to: OUT WITH ALL REPUBLICANS – LET’S CUT A CLEAN SWATH NEXT TIME AND ELIMINATE THE REPUBLICANS FROM CONGRESS!
July 6th, 2007 at 7:58 am#94 Veritas, very well said. I will keep this post in mind. Election Day couldn’t come any sooner! I sure wish I could be as verbose as both you, ace, and Perry Logan.
July 6th, 2007 at 7:59 amAnd, of course, concur wholeheartedly that the government has become the enemy: Bush’s Government – The Republican Government.
July 6th, 2007 at 7:59 amHi Prof shropshire! I think the bottom line here is that this congress is failing the mandate of the people which accounts for the anger and low numbers. Why it’s failing is significant: The stonewalling of the Republican sycophants in Congress and the heinous level of corruption they have to investigate. It would boggle anyone’s intellect and it’s reached such unprecedented proportions that it’s become an almost superhuman job.
Remember: At the base of this problem, it’s entirely Republican.
July 6th, 2007 at 8:08 amunless/until we find that Pelosi hasn’t put impeachment back on the table!!
If she continues to stonewall the people on the impeachment issue, she will find herself with a job sooner than she imagines.
July 6th, 2007 at 8:09 amRemember: At the base of this problem, it’s entirely Republican.
Comment by veritas — July 6, 2007 @ 8:08 am
Were it only that simple, Veritas.
Sadly, at the base of the problem is Israel and their operatives, and their ability to blackmail EVERY politician in the Unites States.
Nothing else can explain the inaction of Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi on the REALLY big issues that Israel is most concerned about..keeping US troops in Iraq forever, and nuking Iran ASAP.
The people of America CLEARLY want their elected officials to extricate our troops from Iraq, and to prevent any possibility of a wider war including Iran and Syria.
If Pelosi and read actually were concerned with doing the people’s business, rather than simply pleasing AIPAC, they would have already taken the decisive action that the American People voted for.
The two party system is a ruse…it means nothing. It’s all scripted from on high by the likes of David Rockefeller, the Crown, and others in positions of economic control (the Banksters).
The entire system has been hijacked by AIPAC.
You can’t name a single Senator or Congressman who will say a disparaging word about them or their total control of our political process.
With all respect, THAT is the “base of the problem.”
July 6th, 2007 at 8:26 amVeritas
July 6th, 2007 at 8:39 amVeritas est Veritas, you can spin it as you like but the fact is that the dems are equally to blame. They hold the power in the congress and are more interested in partisian positioning for the sake of retaining their own political power than doing the business of their constituents. They are cowards. We do not need cowards we need statesmen and patriots.
Did he predict that Congress and Bush would have about the same dismal approval ratings?
July 6th, 2007 at 8:44 amChucky Boy, don’t play lottery with these prediction powers…
July 6th, 2007 at 8:56 amWhen has a neoCON ever been taken to task for their wrong predictions. Not one of the neoCON spokespersons have been right about anything, and yet they are still allowed to publish their drivel. And then you have the ultimate traitor, Novak. He knew quite well that he was outing a covert CIA agent and her cover company (that’s what made her covert, a cover company), and yet he did it anyway. And he has said that it was the right thing to do and he would do it again. That he did was commit treason. The only reason why he wasn’t prosecuted is that Patrick Fitzgerald was in on the fix.
I pray that some day we will have a thinking, independent fourth estate once again. But, with the consolidating of corporate ownership of our media outlets, that’s not likely to happen.
July 6th, 2007 at 9:18 am“They hold the power in the congress and are more interested in partisian positioning for the sake of retaining their own political power than doing the business of their constituents.”
Bullshit. The Democrats have passed many laws or attempted to pass laws that are being held up by the “up or down vote” Republics via the filibuster. And then when they actually get a law passed, Bush vetoes it. But, then, I suppose you would call their investigations “partisan politics”. Since when is oversight partisan politics. This administration committed crimes for 6 years without one oversight investigation by the Republics. The Democrats have a lot of catching up to do.
Go ahead and define what they are doing “partisan positioning” if it makes you feel better. They are, for the most part, doing the job we elected them to do. The only place where they have not lived up to our expectations is on the Iraq issue. But, they really didn’t have a lot of choice in the matter since they did not have the votes to pass a bill to bring our brave soldiers home.
July 6th, 2007 at 9:24 amKatie
July 6th, 2007 at 9:26 amWhat about the consolidating of corporate ownership of our political parties?
“The dems did not cut funding for the war as was anticipated by most including the people who voted for them. Had they done that I think Bush’ polls would be up. However the blowhards in both parties do not represent us but themselves. Vote them all out next time.”
If they had stood up to Bush and cut off funding for the occupation, Bush’s numbers would not have gone up. But Congress’ numbers certainly would have gone up. However, I do agree with you that most members of congress don’t represent their constituent, they represent their own pocketbooks. That’s why we need public financing of elections.
July 6th, 2007 at 9:27 amKatie
July 6th, 2007 at 9:27 amThey funded the war.
That’s why we need public financing of elections.
Comment by Katie — July 6, 2007 @ 9:27 am
And possibly term limits.
July 6th, 2007 at 9:29 am“Katie
What about the consolidating of corporate ownership of our political parties?”
What about it? It’s an unfortunate fact of politics and will be until we pass laws for public financing of elections. However, I think that this is a much bigger problem on the Republic side of the fence than on the Democratic side of the fence. The Democrats do still have representatives who fight for “we the people” whereas the Republics have none.
July 6th, 2007 at 9:29 amKatie
July 6th, 2007 at 9:54 amYou keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better but the belief that one party does it less than the other does not sanctify it.
Did he predict that Congress and Bush would have about the same dismal approval ratings?
Comment by Alejandro — July 6, 2007 @ 8:44 am
Um… if you’re asking this about Chuck Todd, then the answer would be “NO” since he predicted that Bush would be above 50%.
Duh.
July 6th, 2007 at 10:16 amChuck’s response (on First Read), to all you Haters out there:
“thanks for the comment. I figured I ought to directly respond. I’m not quite sure why I should be held responsible for Bush not taking advantage of the opportunity to look bipartisan and sign Dem-passed legislation which is one of the ways I based that prediction. It’s what happened when Clinton lost Congress in ‘94 and when Reagan lost complete control of Congress in ‘86. Hold me responsible for incorrectly concluding that the Bush White House would cooperate more with Congress, a la Clinton and Reagan. I still stand by the prediction of Bush’s job rating going up had he responded in a cooperative fashion. Good ol’ hindsight. Of course, Media Matters didn’t bother to ask for context. Believe it or not, I’m actually wrong more than with this, but considering the way Media Matters is playing this up, apparently, I don’t make many bad predictions. So for that, I guess I’m grateful for the extra attention.”
July 6th, 2007 at 10:37 amI’m not quite sure why I should be held responsible for Bush not taking advantage of the opportunity to look bipartisan and sign Dem-passed legislation which is one of the ways I based that prediction.
In other words:
“I’m not sure why I should be held responsible for a prediction made without condition on a national forum.
I still stand by my prediction of things going the way I said they would, if things had actually gone the way I thought.
So there.”
Thanks for that, Brian.
July 6th, 2007 at 11:15 amDo most of you like the new congress? Here’s what congress has been doing,300 investigations in 100 days. Thats the can do attitude we all need these days!!!
July 6th, 2007 at 12:47 pmre: Chuck’s response — that’s so typical of these propaganda pushers: quote them word for word — exactly — and it’s the fault of the people doing the quoting.
Chuck, if you’re actually wrong a lot more than this, why don’t you acknowledge it until someone exposes your bias?
“I’m not quite sure why I should be held responsible for Bush…” What a crock — he’s the same old Bush he’s always been for everyone to see. Not only that, but there ain’t enough “bipartisan” in the universe to redeem Bush’s crony ineptness. You know that , I know that — we all know that.
The reason you’re accoubtable, dear Chuck, is because you pulled something straight out of your ass through your mouth.
July 6th, 2007 at 4:39 pm