No More Shutdowns?

Mitch McConnell Bursts Ted Cruz's Bubble

From Talking Points Memo:  

The Republican leader's decision is a major blow to the push by Cruz and powerful conservative activist groups, who wanted Republicans to unite and filibuster a continuing resolution until Democrats caved agreed to gut funding for the Affordable Care Act.

"Senator McConnell supports the House Republicans' bill and will not vote to block it, since it defunds Obamacare and funds the government without increasing spending by a penny," McConnell spokesman Don Stewart told TPM in an email Monday. "He will also vote against any amendment that attempts to add Obamacare funding back into the House Republicans' bill."

The decision clears a path for Democrats to pass a continuing resolution that funds Obamacare. Procedurally, Democrats need 60 votes (they have 54 members) to advance the House-passed continuing resolution. But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) can strike the language defunding Obamacare with 51 votes, which frees up McConnell and every other Republican to vote against such an amendment. This way he never has to actually vote to fund Obamacare but doesn't force a shutdown over an unachievable goal.

Mitch McConnell's Primary Problem

From Huffington Post: 

It looks like things are about to get pretty interesting for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in his 2014 re-election bid. Kentucky businessman Matt Bevin has decided to offer himself up as a primary challenger in the Bluegrass State, and it looks like McConnell is about to get a pretty undiluted taste of what's been making House Speaker John Boehner's (R-Ohio) life a "living hell" lately. 

Yesterday, the National Review's Katrina Trinko reported that Bevin -- then "on the cusp" of announcing his run -- had been the target of much cajoling, and later, threats, from the McConnell camp:

“Mitch McConnell’s people reached out to Matt for several months through all different avenues trying to convince him not to run,” the adviser close to Bevin tells National Review Online. “They can pretend like they’re not afraid, they can call him a nuisance, but they were desperate not to have him. Because they are scared.”

“First they tried to threaten him,” the source added, “and then they tried to dangle shiny political prizes.”

McConnell, through campaign manager Jesse Benton, issued the standard denials, telling Trinko that no one from his camp had ever said anything to Bevin. He went on to allege that if anyone had cautioned Bevin against a run, it was "people from Matt's life" who were "desperately trying to prevent Matt from making a serious mistake." The McConnell campaign, Benton told Trinko, had a wealth of opposition material to use on Bevin. 

It was this sort of scenario that cost the Republican Party control of the Senate in the 2010 midterm elections. the GOP could have picked up another couple of seats, perhaps even that of Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), were it not for some really far right and "not ready for primetime" candidates in nevada, Deleware, Connecticut, and elsewhere. The "establishment" Republican faced a primary challenge from a farther right candidate, the farther right candidate won the primary only to be defeated by a Democrat. It appears that the party (or at least the Tea Party sect thereof) has not learned from recent mistakes. Having said all of that, it is unlikely for the Democrats to win this particular Senate seat in conservative Kentucky. the potential candidate with the greatest shot was actor Ashley judd, but she decided months ago not to run. Regardless of that however, the details of this story paints McConnell in an even more unflattering light, compounding other recent goings-on he has had challenging his leadership. These are not good times to be Senator Mitch McConnell.

The Filibuster Deal That Shamed Mitch McConnell

From Huffington Post:

Democrats not only got much of what they wanted in Tuesday's deal to move some of President Barack Obama's nominees through the Senate, they also got what they see as an important bonus -- casting Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in an unflattering light. 

The unfortunate moment culminated Tuesday morning, when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) marched onto the Senate floor not with the leader from Kentucky opposite him to announce a deal to pass the stalled nominees, but with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). 

McCain was there, according to several sources who spoke about private, behind-the-scenes talks on the condition of anonymity, because he and and several other Republicans grew fed up with their own side's stalling tactics and went around McConnell (R-Ky.) to cut the deal with Reid and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), avoiding a "nuclear option" rules change to pass the nominees. 

Reid declined to gloat, but he went out of his way to praise McCain effusively on the Senate floor. 

Democratic aides were less circumspect. 

"Today was really, really bad for him," said one, revealing that McConnell was cut out of the deal and rebuffed by Reid twice when he tried to personally work his way back in -- including just minutes before the Nevada lawmaker went to the floor with McCain...

So much for McConnell's leadership skills. First he couldn't make good on making Obama a 1-term president, now this. 

Sen. McConnell on Corporate Personhood Amendment

Apparently Mitch McConnell (R-KY) does not understand that there is a huge difference between media outlets on the one hand and Koch Industries trying to buy as many politicians as they can on the other hand. Actually I think he does understand, but he also happens to already be one of the politicians bought up by the Koch brothers...and many other corporate interests as well.

For our democracy to continue to thrive, we need to get corporate money out of politics to the extent that we can.

Republican Fail!!!

This is Senator Mitch McConnnell of Kentucky, and he leads the GOP in the Senate. After Barack Obama won the presidency in 2008, he said that his #1 job was to make Barack Obama a one term president. I just thought I would remind everyone of this.

The Wrap-Up: July 3, 2012

CNN is having all kinds of problems (besides the whole Supreme Court debacle that is).

Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC), who pretty much insulted the memory of Matthew Shepard virtually to the face of his mother, went on a tear against "Obamacare" on Twitter.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) talks about her experience with sexism in politics.

Even Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) thinks repealing the Affordable Care Act is an uphill battle. I'm sure that won't stop the GOP from trying.

What may the future hold for Evangelical churches as the next generation sees growing support for LGBT equality?

Despite touting his education initiatives as Governor, Romney's impact has been dubbed "inconsequential."

The founders of Microsoft have each given $100,000 to support Washington state's recognition of marriage equality. Sounds like time for "One Million" Moms to get angry...again.

And lastly, another Latino civil rights organization has announced its support of marriage equality.

Oh, and apparently some news guy came out yesterday...or whatever.

The Wrap-Up: June 11, 2012

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) may have accidentally admitted that extending the Bush tax cuts didn't work. It's amazing that when a Republican tells the truth, it happens by accident.

If Mitt Romney becomes president you should REALLY hope your house doesn't catch fire, you have children that need to be educated, or you have to (for what ever reason) call the cops. He seems to think we don't need more firefighters, teachers, or policemen.

I guess it was too much to hope for that Rick Santorum would go into that good night (in terms of politics of course).

A federal investigation will commence to examine racial bias in "Stand Your Ground" laws like the one used as a defense in the shooting of Trayvon Martin.

A new Super PAC is forming to help elect Republicans that support marriage equality. Don't rub your eyes, you read it correctly the first time.

Some GOP Congressmen got their knickers in a twist over a lesbian commitment ceremony (not a marriage) performed on a military base. I guess it wasn't a happy day for everyone.

Former Governor Charlie Crist (R-FL) is responding to allegations of gay affairs during his tenure.

Massachusetts Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren marched in Boston's gay pride parade and issued a strong statement on LGBT equality. Not surprising at all, her GOP opponent Scott Brown was nowhere to be seen.

And lastly, an inter-denominational coalition is coming together to defeat an attempt to enshrine discrimination into Minnesota's constitution.