Union Leader: 'I Think the Democratic Party is in Crisis'

Democrats just love having it both ways. As they egg on the unions in Wisconsin, urging them to keep on fighting, they've gone and scheduled their 2012 national convention in a state where unions have no collective bargaining power.

With the American labor movement newly energized by its most serious threat in years, the Democratic Party's decision to hold its 2012 convention in the least union-friendly state is causing friction with a key constituency.

The Democratic National Committee selected Charlotte to show confidence in the party's ability to win crucial swing states in the South, including North Carolina, that President Barack Obama carried in 2008. But the choice isn't sitting well with some union leaders.

"I think the Democratic Party is in crisis and they're trying to figure out who are they really going to represent," said Angaza Laughinghouse, president of the North Carolina Public Service Workers Union.

Workers around the nation have rallied in solidarity with union brethren fighting Republican efforts to curtail collective bargaining rights for public employees in Wisconsin and Ohio. But the issue is a moot point in North Carolina, one of two states where all public workers are prohibited by law from engaging in collective bargaining.

In many other ways, Charlotte makes perfect sense as the site of the convention. A bustling city of more than 700,000 with a popular Democratic mayor, the Queen City is both a center of the American banking industry and a symbol of the New South.

But it's in a state where just 3.2 percent of workers belong to a union, the lowest percentage in the country.

Ironically enough, while Obama claims Wisconsin's efforts to reign in spending is an "assault" on workers, his own federal workforce doesn't have collective bargaining either, a fact the media ignores. If he really cared about "the workers," why didn't he and the Democrats address that while they had unchecked power for two years?

Despite the rank hypocrisy, neither side is going anywhere. They're hopelessly co-dependent.

"The Democrats are following a strategy they've been pursuing for 20 years or more, in which they try to win over the swing voters while to some extent ignoring their base," she said.

Part of the Democratic establishment, though, has moved to back the protests of public sector unions, most notably the group Organizing for America, Obama's political arm within the Democratic National Committee. Obama himself has called the Wisconsin proposal "an assault on unions."

Imagine the whining if the GOP held their convention in North Carolina.

Young Democrats Getting Cranky

How would you feel if your leadership was already eligible for Social Security, has run your party into the ground and still won't let go and gracefully move on? Well, get ready for some major grumbling from some younger Democrats who realize what a bleak future they have once the current leadership is deposed. Can you imagine them taking another beating in 2012 and still having Nancy Pelosi try and cling on?

A younger generation of Democrats is chafing at being asked to stand aside and let a triumvirate of elders keep their leadership positions in the wake of a catastrophic midterm election result.

Barring an unexpected shake-up, House Democrats next year will be led by a combination of Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), Steny Hoyer (Md.) and James Clyburn (S.C.) — lawmakers who are 70 or older and have served in Congress for decades.

Most rank-and-file Democrats would have been happy with these leaders had their party retained its majority in the 112th Congress, but the loss of the House and at least 60 seats led many to anticipate a changing of the guard.

“It is inescapable that the message that was sent by the American people is they want a change in direction. And a change in direction means a change in leadership,” Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.) said on Fox News last week.

Democratic Reps. Xavier Becerra (Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (Md.), Joseph Crowley (N.Y.) and Diana DeGette (Colo.), among others, were all seen as top contenders to move up but have found themselves in limbo as Pelosi locks down the minority-leader post and Hoyer and Clyburn vie for whip. Becerra is trying to hold on to the vice chairmanship of the caucus, while Van Hollen, the campaign chief appointed by Pelosi as assistant to the Speaker, is for now on the outside looking in.

None of those lawmakers has complained publicly about being shut out, but other Democrats have warned that the party risks ignoring a message from voters if they keep the same leaders in place.

“We can’t let them sit on the bench for too much longer,” one Democratic aide said, referring to the party’s younger lawmakers. “There’s a push to add in some new ideas and new faces and new energy.”

Another aide said the old guard’s stranglehold on the Democratic upper ranks has caused grumbling among younger members.

Add to the fun we also have the ominous hints of racial overtones as Hoyer and Clyburn do battle.

This is great. Here we have a party that for decades has played old against young, black against white and now it's consuming them. Now that's what we like to call social justice.

Linked at Instapundit. Thanks!

Delusional to the Bitter End: Pelosi Says Democrats "On Pace to Maintain Majority"

If Nancy Pelosi is still talking like this tomorrow morning, I think we may have a problem on our hands.

This does not sound to me like a woman who plans to release the damn gavel from her icy clutch anytime soon - no matter what the voters say.

Does her staff even let her watch the news?

For that matter, her sidekick Chris Van Hollen might need to get out a little more too.



Via Breitbart.

Women Flocking To Democrats At Last Minute ... Really?

Let's get one thing straight from the beginning. Anybody who claims to be an expert on the actions, motivations, or inner workings of the female of the species is either seriously deluded or a fool.

Anyway, in yet another attempt to blunt all of the bad news about the upcoming bloodbath coming for the Democrats in November, a little known group with an even larger group of mostly unknown people has come out with the assertion that women voters are at the last minute returning to the Democrat party and giving them hope.

ABC’s Michael Falcone reports:

Women are beginning to “make up their minds” about the candidates they will cast their ballots for on Election Day, and that may be a good thing for Democrats, an expert on women’s voting trends said on Friday.

ABC described the group this way.

Gardner’s nonpartisan organization is dedicated to engaging unmarried women in the political process.

The group in question is called Women's Voices, Women's Vote.

Clue number one, the web site has a dot org designation. That is always a clear sign that this is probably a liberal or progressive organization. Lo and behold, what happens when I dig through and find the bios of the people that make up this group?

Page S. Gardner, Founder and President, WVWV
Ms. Gardner also has managed some of the most hotly debated national public policy issue campaigns, including those related to reproductive rights, civil rights, national budget priorities, technology and trade. Ms. Gardner has been credited with designing and implementing some of the most creative and successful issue and legislative campaigns, as well as staging come from behind candidate victories in key battleground races.

Ruth Ferguson, Chief Finance Officer, WVWV
She began her career in politics as a policy analyst for the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. She was appointed to serve as the first staff director for the first-in-the-nation Caucus of Women Legislators in the Massachusetts State House.

Chris Desser, Fellow, Tomales Bay Institute
Chris has practiced environmental law has served on the boards of many companies, foundations and progressive non-profits including WDN, The Rockwood Leadership Program, Patagonia, Mother Jones Magazine, and the Rainforest Action Network.

Michael Lux, President, American Family Voices
Michael Lux is the co-founder and CEO of Progressive Strategies, L.L.C., a political consulting firm focused on strategic consulting for non-profits, PACs, and progressive donors. Since starting the company, Mr. Lux has launched a number of important new projects, including American Family Voices, an issue advocacy group working on pocketbook issues for American families, and the Progressive Donor Network, which works to coordinate a network of individual donors, issue advocacy groups, and top flight political consultants and strategists.

Mr. Lux has a diverse background in the consulting, labor and consumer advocacy world. Lux serves on the boards of several important organizations, including the Arca Foundation, the Proteus Fund, 21st Century Democrats, Progressive Majority, the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, and the Clinton-Gore alumni association.

Mimi Mager, Partner, Heidepriem & Mager
She served as a member of the Clinton-Gore transition team, Special Assistant/Deputy to the Director of VISTA, Executive Director of the Friends of VISTA, Executive Director of the Women's Campaign Fund, Senior Advisor in the Michael Dukakis, Mondale-Ferraro, and Fred Harris presidential campaigns, and Legislative Assistant to Senator Jim Abourezk (D-SD). Mager serves on the Board of Directors of the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, Bright Beginnings Inc., and Friends of VISTA.

Willliam McNary, President of USAction
William McNary has been called one of the most electrifying and inspirational speakers of our time. McNary serves as the President of USAction, the nation's largest coalition of progressive grassroots organizations working together to win social, racial, economic and environmental justice.

You would think they would also update their website.

McNary currently serves on the Climate Change Advisory Group for Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. He was the Vice Chair of Consumer Affairs for Governor Blagojevich's transition team.

John Podesta, President and CEO, Center for American Progress
John Podesta is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for American Progress. Mr. Podesta served as Chief of Staff to President William J. Clinton from October 1998 until January 2001

So the supposedly non-partisan organization has nothing but liberal progressives deeply involved in Democrat politics and the head of the organization likes to tout the fact that she has helped many an underdog candidate win an election. Seems to me she is hoping for some of that magic now.

Maybe somebody ought to check out their non-profit status, but I am sure Mr. Podesta has already taken care of that.

And ABC, before running stories that are planted by far left organizations, try to hold on to whatever "journalistic integrity" you have and at least do a cursory check on them. Or did you and decided to run with the propaganda anyway?

The last piece of irony for you. The head of this organization which looks out for unmarried women and cares so deeply for them is married with children.

She lives in Marblehead, Massachusetts with her husband, Peter Wright, and their son, James.

GOP Maintains Huge Lead Among Likely Voters

So much for the myth that Democrat enthusiasm is improving. Despite nonstop campaigning by Obama, the GOP still has a commanding 17-point edge among likely voters two weeks out from election day. How's that Chamber of Commerce smear working out?

The latest results are from Gallup polling conducted the past two weekends, Oct. 7-10 and Oct. 14-17, and based on interviews with more than 2,700 registered voters and more than 1,900 likely voters.

For Republicans to lead, or even be at parity with Democrats, on the generic congressional ballot indicates they are in a good position to win a majority of House seats in the upcoming elections. This is because of Republicans' typical advantage in voter turnout, which in recent years has given that party an average five-point boost in support on Election Day.

If the elections were held today and roughly 40% of voters turned out -- a rate typical in recent years -- Gallup's Oct. 7-17 polling suggests Republicans would win 56% of the vote -- 8 points greater than their support from registered voters, and 17 points ahead of Democrats, at 39%. If turnout is significantly higher, Republicans would receive 53% of the vote (a 5-point improvement over their registered-voter figure), and the Democrats, 42%.

I do expect a higher turnout this year, but not from depressed Democrats. Independents are moving overwhelming toward the GOP and for an off-year, expect what I like to call Broken Glass Republicans to come out in droves. That is, the folks who will crawl over broken glass to cast their vote against Obama, Reid and Pelosi.

Is it any wonder Obama has seemingly begun to hallucinate?

More here.

The poll suggests that the GOP is poised to make large inroads on the Democrats' majorities in Congress on Nov. 2. Democrats have claimed that they have made progress in terms of voter enthusiasm over the past few weeks, with President Obama headlining heavily-attended rallies in key states to rally support among young voters.

But Democrats have failed to make up ground overall against Republicans in the poll, which is considered a bellwether of the outcome on Election Day.

Enthusiasm Gap: GOP Primary Turnout Largest in 40 Years; Dem Turnout Lowest in 80 Years

Just wait until the numbers roll in on November 2.

Fueled by tea party activism and hotly contested races, Republican participation in this year’s primary elections was up. But Democratic participation fell to a record low, leaving overall voter turnout at the second lowest level ever for a midterm election, an analysis by American University’s Center for the Study of the American Electorate concludes.

Some 9.8% of voting-age adults participated in GOP primaries this year, the highest percentage in a midterm election since 1970 and well above the 7.3% who cast ballots in the 2006 midterm, the study found. Some 8.2% of voting-age adults took part in Democratic primaries, down from 9% in 2006 and the lowest percentage of all midterms since 1930.

A breakdown of the numbers is here.

Be very quiet, though. The race-card Democrats have a secret weapon.

Update: More good news for the GOP. You might say a tsunami is coming. Yet it's bigger than that.

Update II: A historical perspective on what could happen November 2.

Thanks to Hot Air for the link.

Huge Surge for GOP in CNN Poll

They weakly try to spin this as both parties are unpopular and everyone in in an anti-incumbent mood. But the numbers of people saying they'll vote GOP in November is rising with a massive upswing in independents leaning to the Republicans. When November 2 rolls around there sure will be plenty of incumbents tossed out of office and the overwhelming number of them will be Democrats.

With November's midterm elections less than two months away, a new national poll indicates that the Republicans' advantage over the Democrats in the battle for Congress is on the rise.

According to a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Monday, the GOP leads the Democrats by 7 points on the "generic ballot" question, 52 percent to 45 percent. That 7-point advantage is up from a 3-point margin last month.

The generic ballot question asks respondents if they would vote for a Democrat or Republican in their congressional district, without naming any specific candidates.

"The survey indicates that independents and voters who dislike both parties are starting to break toward the GOP," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "In a year when anger at incumbents is a dominant political force, the key to the election lies among those who aren't rooting for either side."

According to the poll, the two parties are equally unpopular. Forty-nine percent of all Americans have an unfavorable view of the Democrats, with the same percentage feeling the same way about the Republicans. Just over one in five questioned dislike both parties.

Back in April, Americans who dislike both parties appeared to mildly favor the GOP on the generic ballot, by a 43-to-39 percent margin, with a large number saying at the time that they would pick a minor-party candidate or stay at home.

"Now, a lot of those voters appear to be bolting to the GOP," Holland said. "Republicans now have a whopping 38-point advantage on the generic ballot among voters who dislike both parties."

Republicans also have a large and growing advantage among independents. Sixty-two percent of independents questioned say they would vote for the generic Republican in their district, with three in 10 saying they'd cast a ballot for the generic Democrat. That 32-point margin for the Republicans among independents is up from an 8-point advantage last month.

So that's a 24-point boost in one month, but let's just keep pretending it's simply an "anti-incumbent" mood rather than what it is: anti-Democrat.

Update: Even more good news.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% of Likely Voters would vote for their district's Republican congressional candidate, while 36% would opt for his or her Democratic opponent. The survey data was collected on the seven days ending Sunday, September 5, 2010.

This matches the largest advantage ever measured for the Republicans. Three weeks ago, the GOP also held a 12-point lead.

Still, while the margin has varied somewhat from week-to-week, Republicans have been consistently ahead in the Generic Ballot for over a year. During 2010, the GOP edge has never fallen below five points. When Barack Obama first took office as president of the United States, the Democrats enjoyed a seven-point lead on the Generic Ballot.

Thanks to Ace and Hot Air for the links.

'But the Reason We're Going to Keep the Majority Will Be Because of Their Crazies'

I love the smell of desperation in the morning. Whenever the Democrats start offering advice to the GOP you know their in full panic mode. If some GOP contenders in the Senate are so crazy, why not step back and let them implode?

Sarah Palin's revenge may be sweet - for Democrats.

With a Palin-backed insurgent on the brink of toppling Alaskan Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Democrats on Wednesday pointed to her home-state triumph as proof the Tea Party is brewing up trouble for the GOP.

Murkowski, whose father lost the governorship to Palin in 2006, trailed lawyer Joe Miller by about 2,000 votes on Wednesday after outspending him by about 10 to one, with some 8,000 absentee ballots to be counted.

And many were pointing to Palin's endorsement of the little-known attorney over a scion of a political family Palin has feuded with for years - and who was named to the Senate by her dad over Palin.

"I think Palin had a big impact," said veteran GOP consultant Ed Rollins. "There's still a little of that bad blood there." But Rollins said the big problem was Murkowski underestimated her opponent and the Tea Party.

"Basically, she didn't run a very good campaign," he said.

It leaves the GOP establishment with a little-known nominee it did not support. But Democrats still face a tough time winning, since their pick, Mayor Scott McAdams of tiny Sitka, Alaska, has little cash and isn't much better known.

So the "GOP establishment" in Alaska is in trouble. Um, hate to break it to you folks, but the "GOP establishment" in Alaska is Sarah Palin, and now Joe Miller and the Republicans who voted for him.

It's incredible the lengths the media will go to to deride Palin and when her candidates win it's supposed to be bad news? Do they think people are as stupid as they are?

But at least it gives them a chance, just like in six other states including Kentucky and Nevada where Tea Party darlings have knocked established party leaders by running far to the right.

"I'm not naive - some of these guys are going to win," said one Democrat. "But the reason we're going to keep the majority will be because of their crazies."

Republicans think "crazy" is ignoring Tea Party energy. In fact, 3.5 million more Republicans have voted in primaries this year than Democrats - a flip from 2006 when Dems swept to power.

Gee, that's a lot of crazy people out there.

Back in Alaska, meanwhile, the desperate Democrats already are calling Miller a dangerous enemy.

Oooh. He's so scary!

Assorted links and roundup on Alaska here.

GOP Enjoys Huge Enthusiasm Gap

Time for a little panic at the DNC.

An average of 59% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents have said they are more enthusiastic than usual about voting this year compared with past elections, the highest average Gallup has found in a midterm election year for either party since the question was first asked in 1994.

The prior high for a party group was 50% more enthusiastic for Democrats in 2006, which is the only one of the last five midterm election years in which Democrats have had an enthusiasm advantage. In that election, Democrats won back control of the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time since 1994.

The current average is based on four measures of this enthusiasm question since February, including the recent June 11-13 USA Today/Gallup poll. In that poll, 53% of Republicans said they were more enthusiastic than usual about voting and 39% were less enthusiastic, while 35% of Democrats said they were more enthusiastic about voting and 56% were less enthusiastic.

Republicans' net score of +14 more enthusiastic in the latest poll compared with the Democrats' net score of -21 represents the largest relative party advantage Gallup has measured in a single midterm election-year poll. More generally, Republicans have shown a decided relative advantage in enthusiasm throughout 2010, averaging a net score of +28, compared with Democrats' net score of 0.

Expect a barrage of "How tea partiers will hurt the GOP" stories from the lamestream media any time now. It's already started in rather comic fashion.

Cheeseheads Have Had Enough

Maybe it was the defection of Brett Favre to Minnesota that did it or maybe the ghost of Vince Lombardi paid them a visit; or maybe, just maybe people everywhere are fed up with the Democrats. It seems the party in disarray--the Republicans as depicted by the dinosaur media--is set to make an impact in the elections in Wisconsin this year. How big an impact is yet to be determined, but the fact that some folks are taking notice is enough to surely send another thrill up Chrissy's leg.

Until recently, Wisconsin seemed to be a Democratic strategist's dream — a blue state getting bluer. Its two U.S. senators were well-established liberal Democrats. The governor's office and both houses of the Legislature were in Democratic control after years of divided government. And President Barack Obama won the state in 2008 by 14 percentage points, one of his largest victory margins anywhere.

But something went awry on the way to Democratic hegemony.

A conservative insurgency — headed by a Republican candidate who actively courts, of all things, the tea party — is now making a strong bid for governor. And across the state, Democrats suddenly find themselves fighting to hold seats they once took for granted.

Of course, I'm sure the Dems will continue to tell us it is because their message is not getting out, which is what they always seem to say when they get in trouble in the polls.

The narrative conveyed in the reporting of this election cycle of which political party it is that is in trouble is not matching the reality on the ground. This, of course, means that the media will have to work overtime to drive home the point that conservatives are losers while they work on the articles for the post-election apocalypse that the Dems appear headed for is somehow a win for them.

Do I really expect Feingold to lose? No, but I hope he drains money from other contested campaigns that the Dems are hoping to win.

Georgia Teacher Put on Leave for Allowing Kids to Dress Up as Aging Democrats

Sure, people are going to be outraged. But why should folks be upset when a teacher re-enacts American history and allows students to impersonate West Virginia Democrat Robert Byrd?

A north Georgia history teacher faces punishment after administrators say she let four students wear Ku Klux Klan-like robes for a historical reenactment.

Lumpkin County Schools superintendent Dewey Moye told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that teacher Catherine Ariemma made a poor decision.

Administrators say four students in Ariemma's advanced placement history class donned Klan-like outfits while filming historical reenactments. Moye says students saw them Thursday and parents of a black student complained.

Moye says Ariemma is on leave with pay.

Ariemma stands by her decision.

“This project was about racism in U.S. history,” Ariemma said. “Not just racism against African Americans, but racism as a whole.”

She said including the Ku Klux Klan was an essential piece.

“You cannot discuss racism without discussing the Klan,” she said. “To do so would be to condone their actions.”

She admitted that she may have made a mistake by letting the students film the Klan reenactment on campus.

“I feel terrible that I have students who feel threatened because of something from my class,” Ariemma told the AJC. “In hindsight, I wouldn’t have had them film that part at school.”

Ariemma is an award-winning teaching. Last year, the Georgia Senate passed a resolution lauding her “dedication to her students and her profession” after she was honored as Lumpkin County High School’s 2009 STAR Teacher. The Student Teacher Achievement Recognition program is sponsored by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Professional Association of Georgia Educators and recognizes teaching excellence.

Kids should certainly be taught about the history of the Klan and its roots within the Democratic Party. What's wrong with that?

Update: Video added via Just a Grunt.

Spin This, Dick

Attempts at damage control are already underway for the disgraced Connecticut Attorney General Richard (Dick) Blumenthal. But there's just no ambiguity here. He says he served in Vietnam and he didn't. Some things you just can't spin, try as hard as you might.

Previewing a campaign event tomorrow, Myers wrote that "Dick has a long record of standing up for veterans. Tomorrow, veterans will be standing up with Dick."

Dick may have a long record, but how will we know those standing up for Dick are actual veterans? Can we get a check of their records, Dick?

Assorted reaction here this morning.

While the Linda McMahon campaign is taking credit for feeding the info to the Times, it's worth noting GOP contender Rob Simmons actually served in Vietnam.

Rob’s public service career began when he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1965 as a Private, and spent 19 months in Vietnam where he earned two Bronze Star Medals. Rob continued his military service in the U.S. Army Reserve as a Military Intelligence Officer, retiring as a Colonel in 2003 with over 37 years of active and reserve service.

He is past commander of the 434th Military Intelligence (MI) Detachment New Haven, CT, which won the Reserve Officers Association’s Outstanding Small Unit Award in 1996. In 1998, Rob was recognized by for his contributions to the Military Intelligence Corps with the Knowlton Award for "Integrity, Moral Character, Professional Competence and Selflessness.”

Replacement candidates for Blumenthal are already being mentioned.

A New York Times report Monday night that Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal had lied about serving in Vietnam had pundits and pollsters across the nation speculating about the impact that it will have on an already tough mid-season election for Democrats.

Speculation immediately turned to Northwest Connecticut’s local congressman, 5th District U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy, as a possible “replacement” candidate should this revelation be a death blow for the Blumenthal campaign.

An organization called Public Policy Polling tested Murphy against potential Republican nominees Linda McMahon and Rob Simmons in early January. He led both by 7 points, but the organization said the poll basically functioned as “generic Democrat” against McMahon or Simmons since Murphy has “low name recognition” statewide.

'We Have Learned Something Important Since the Days That I Served in Vietnam'

Surprise! Another phony Democrat soldier. This one is basically a shoo-in to inherit Chris Dodd's seat in Connecticut.

Well, maybe not.

At a ceremony honoring veterans and senior citizens who sent presents to soldiers overseas, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut rose and spoke of an earlier time in his life.

“We have learned something important since the days that I served in Vietnam,” Mr. Blumenthal said to the group gathered in Norwalk in March 2008. “And you exemplify it. Whatever we think about the war, whatever we call it — Afghanistan or Iraq — we owe our military men and women unconditional support.”

There was one problem: Mr. Blumenthal, a Democrat who is now running for the United States Senate, never served in Vietnam. He obtained at least five military deferments from 1965 to 1970 and took repeated steps that enabled him to avoid going to war, according to records.

The deferments allowed Mr. Blumenthal to complete his studies at Harvard; pursue a graduate fellowship in England; serve as a special assistant to The Washington Post’s publisher, Katharine Graham; and ultimately take a job in the Nixon White House.

In 1970, with his last deferment in jeopardy, he enlisted in the Marine Reserve, landing a coveted spot in a unit in Washington, D.C., which virtually guaranteed that he would not be sent to Vietnam. The unit conducted part-time drills and other exercises and focused on local projects, like fixing a campground and organizing a Toys for Tots drive.

Many politicians have faced questions over their decisions during the Vietnam War, and Mr. Blumenthal, who is seeking the seat being vacated by Senator Christopher J. Dodd, is not alone in staying out of the war.

But what is striking about Mr. Blumenthal’s record is the contrast between the many steps he took that allowed him to avoid Vietnam, and the misleading way he often speaks about that period of his life now, especially when he is speaking at veterans’ ceremonies or other patriotic events.

Sometimes his remarks have been plainly untrue, as in his speech to the group in Norwalk. At other times, he has used more ambiguous language, but the impression left on audiences can be similar.

In an interview on Monday, the attorney general said that he had misspoken about his service during the Norwalk event and might have misspoken on other occasions.

“My intention has always been to be completely clear and accurate and straightforward, out of respect to the veterans who served in Vietnam,” he said.

Except for that part about lying about your service.

Bye-bye, Dick.

At a 2008 ceremony in front of the Veterans War Memorial Building in Shelton, he praised the audience for paying tribute to troops fighting abroad, noting that America had not always done so. “I served during the Vietnam era,” he said. “I remember the taunts, the insults, sometimes even physical abuse.”

Mr. Blumenthal, 64, is known as a brilliant lawyer who likes to argue cases in court and uses language with power and precision. He is also savvy about the news media, and attentive to how he is portrayed in the press.

We'll see about that tomorrow.

If he's got the slightest shred of decency he resigns from office and terminates his campaign.

Stupid Democrat Tricks: Brooklyn Pol To Swim Sludge-Infested Waters for High-Speed Internet

You have to figure if this schmuck had any clout his district would already have been wired with the broadband dreams of his desire, but I've never even heard of this chump so desperate men seemingly will do anything for optimum browsing speed, even if it means taking a dip in waters so foul the EPA strongly recommends against it. By my thinking I have to think this guy is either completely loco or, considering he's from Brooklyn, could well be a Chuckie Schumer acolyte and knows that there are no depths one won't sink to to get thee some camera time.

If I were a Google rep I'd show up promising the next generation technology complete with TV cameras and promises of free Internet access and then make sure the guy got the latest in dial-up technology. He'd never know any better since he'd be in the ER fighting off the toxic damage from swimming in hazardous waste.

A Brooklyn assemblyman is offering to swim in the notoriously polluted Newtown Creek if Internet giant Google installs high-speed Internet in his district.

"I used to swim in the Newtown Creek ... and in the East River when I was a kid," said Joe Lentol (D-Greenpoint). "It was polluted at that time, if not worse than it is now. I think I can survive."

The filthy waterway that separates Brooklyn and Queens is so dirty the Environmental Protection Agency is mulling whether to designate it a Superfund hazardous-waste site.

Not to worry, said the 67-year-old Lentol, who doesn't swim laps regularly but is confident he can navigate the murky water.

"It isn't any worse than it was in the old days," he said, adding he would agree to any conditions Google makes.

Earlier this year, Google announced it would install and test a number of ultrahigh-speed broadband networks throughout the country that will be up to 100 times faster than current ones - triggering stunts by politicians trying to win over Google.

Of course the old days for Lentol were what, the mid 1950s? But hey, who are we to stop him from reminiscing?

The EPA disagrees with his tactics. "We strongly advise against swimming in Newtown Creek," said spokeswoman Beth Totman.

Don't listen to her, Joe. Do it for the children.

'If at the End of the Day We Need to Raise Taxes, We Should Raise Taxes'

They'd like to raise taxes at the beginning, middle and end of every day, except they're anathema to the public. But hey, if they're willing to further compound their misery and ensure electoral disaster this November, this is a good way to start.

Volcker, answering a question from the audience at a New York Historical Society event, said the value-added tax "was not as toxic an idea" as it has been in the past and also said a carbon or other energy-related tax may become necessary.

Though he acknowledged that both were still unpopular ideas, he said getting entitlement costs and the U.S. budget deficit under control may require such moves. "If at the end of the day we need to raise taxes, we should raise taxes," he said.

I'd like to see a poll to see how toxic a VAT would be, not to mention a carbon tax.

These people really need a good smackdown come November. Which is probably why they're in such bad shape they think running against Bush is a marketable strategy.

A Simple No Is Now a Filibuster

There sure are a lot of liberals, mainly in Congress and the news media, that need to go grab a dictionary or do a little research on what a filibuster actually is.

As I noted in a previous post, and as is increasingly well known to those who actually are capable of comprehension, Senator Jim Bunning - for the simple reason he wishes it to be paid for - is objecting to a repeated unanimous consent request by Senate Democrats to call up and pass a bill that would temporarily extend unemployment benefits, transportation funding, medicare reimbursement, COBRA subsidies and other expenditures to the tune of another $10 billion or so. Again, Democrats are requesting that each U.S. Senator agree - that is, effectively vote “yes” - to said extension without full consideration or debate on the Senate floor.

Lately Bunning is taking a lot of heat for refusing to simply give his voice to an extension of unemployment benefits, one of several other items contained in a piece of legislation that the Imperial Harry Reid wants to pass without a vote. The total bill is $10 billion, and rather then just going along with the crowd Bunning told Dingy Harry to bring the bill to the floor for a vote. Sure, it will take an extra five minutes to fire up the tote board and have everybody push the little button on their desk, but at least you've got everybody on record.

Somehow this has now turned into a filibuster, according to the press and any shrieking harpie liberal talking head or elected official who can get face time on a news show.

Just to be clear, since becoming a minority in the Senate the Republicans have held exactly zero, nada, zip, zilch, no filibusters. Sure, it's a catchy word and the lazy press throw it around like the latest kewl kid saying, trying to recapture their hippie days and deciding groovy was just too dated to use.

Senator Bunning is doing the right thing. He is not blocking anything, rather he is forcing the Democrats to abide by the rules they adopted, known as PayGo. It was a much heralded event when the Congress passed it and PrezBo signed it with much fanfare, but now that reality is staring them in the face the Democrats want to simply ignore the rules they created.

This is nothing new for them, since for decades they have governed as if the rules applied to everybody but them and with so many in the press providing cover they have been getting away with it.

Hmmm: Which Democrats Are Illegally Visiting Cuba?

Granted, this is a blind item from Page Six, so take it with a grain of salt.

WHICH members of Congress make regular, secret visits to Cuba as guests of Fidel Castro, flying in from nearby islands? Their passports aren't stamped, so no one's the wiser.

From nearby islands, huh?

Well, if I were a betting man, Carribean kingpin Charlie "The Red" Rangel would certainly be atop the board. He sure is down that way enough. A certain friend of Hugo Chavez also could be a suspect. It's not unlikely Delahunt's good buddy Hugo could arrange for a side trip so they could visit Comrade Fidel.

Another hard left suspect also comes to mind.

Waters has also made international headlines for her frequent trips to communist Cuba to visit her convicted cop-assassin friend, Joanne Chesimard, who is also known by her Black Panther name of Assata Shakur. Chesimard was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted by a jury of the 1979 murder of a New Jersey State Trooper. With the help of fellow cult members, she escaped from jail and fled to Cuba.

Outraged U.S. lawmakers insisted she be extradited but Waters always stood by her side, likening the cop-assassin to civil rights leader Martin Luther King. In fact, she wrote Cuban Dictator Fidel Castro a letter to ensure that she was not part of the group of U.S. legislators who voted for a resolution to extradite the cop murderer. Waters told Castro that she opposed extradition because Chesimard was “politically persecuted” in the U.S. and simply seeking political asylum in Havana, where she still lives.

Whoever's leaking this information should names names.

Whatever the case, I'll simply use the mainstream media's standard of assigning guilt without evidence until we have further evidence.

Sad: Delusional Pelosi Thinks She'll Still Be House Speaker Next Year

It'll all be so easy. All the Democrats have to do is talk some more and presto, they'll retain the House. I'll have some of what she's smoking.

Even as her Republican counterpart continues to openly discuss replacing her, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says House Democrats are not yielding any ground when it comes to November’s midterm elections.

“The Democrats will retain the majority in the House of Representatives,” Pelosi says in an interview set to air Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union.

Pelosi adds, “I'm not yielding one grain of sand, we're fighting for every seat.”

The California Democrat told CNN Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley that in campaigning for November’s elections Democrats need to be aggressive in explaining to the public everything the party has done.

“So Democrats are ready. We're confident of that - what we have done for the American people. We have to get out there. We've been working hard, now we have to go out. We said we were going to do certain things, we did them. Now we have to go talk about what we have done.”

Just keep talking. Then you might lose 100 seats.

Just Because I Represent You In Congress Doesn't Mean I Have To Live There

Well, ain't this special? I just found out via an article about a community garden that my U.S. Representative doesn't even live in the district he represents. Isn't that sort of illegal?

Perhaps David Scott is so fed up with getting pushed around by Republicans in Washington that he decided to take his frustrations out on his own neighbors.

Otherwise, it’s difficult to fathom why the veteran congressman is fighting a proposed community garden on public parkland across the street from his Inman Park home with a fervor usually reserved for battling toxic waste dumps.

“Why should this be ram-rodded through?” Scott asked neighbors during a rancorous community meeting last week in a church basement. “Don’t we deserve a voice?”

Now, to be fair, Scott and his outspoken wife aren’t the only ones who oppose the garden. At least 16 of his fellow Hurt Street residents have signed a petition affirming that they don’t want the view from their porches ruined by the sight of organic produce.

But clearly it’s Scott’s clout as a Congressman that has put the brakes on a garden that’s been several months in the planning and had enjoyed strong support from much of the neighborhood. According to one bemused observer, Scott’s been seen so much at City Hall in recent weeks you’d think he worked there.

It’s worth noting that Scott doesn’t even represent Inman Park. His 13th Congressional District lies predominantly to the south and west of Fulton County.

That would be David Scott (D-GA). A self-proclaimed Blue Dog who has yet to vote against a single spending bill, and is often referred to around here as San Francisco's second representative. Nancy Pelosi is their main go-to person.

This is the same David Scott who derided a doctor at one of his townhall meetings for daring to question him about the healthcare legislation and who had a swastika painted on a sign outside his office, which is in the district he represents. An incident which has strangely disappeared off the radar screen. It might have something to do with the fact that there was a surveillance camera across the parking lot that may have caught the offender on tape and the suspicion is that it was one of his own staffers.

Video of the townhall meeting that Rep. Scott got ugly with a constituent. Actually accused people in attendance of not living in his district and just being outside agitators.

Shhh, Don't Say Socialism, Just Do It

I have seen a lot of folks writing about this poll which shows that Democrats are embracing the term Socialism, while scolding conservatives for using it as a derogatory term.

In what seems to be even more evidence of how schizophrenic Democrats are, they are also evenly split on their opinion of capitalism and socialism.

Probably the most bizarre part for the Democrats is that 85% of them have a favorable opinion of free enterprise. Don't they realize that socialism is the exact opposite of free enterprise and capitalism is the enemy of socialism?

So they think socialism is good, but they just don't want anybody saying it publicly, or something like that.

I guess the Democrats want a free enterprise, capitalistic system operating under socialist rules.

Hmmm, on second thought, that might be a good way to describe unions.