Good afternoon, Daily Kos readers. This is your afternoon open thread to discuss all things Hill-related. Use this thread to praise or bash Congresscritters, share a juicy tip, ask questions, offer critiques and suggestions, or post manifestos. We'll be here all weekend.
So I'm spending all weekend reading, writing a review and preparing a presentation on The Presidency in a Separated System by Charles O. Jones. My section is on the various ways bills become laws. Wish me luck.
Here's the Washington news for this Friday.
Frank Lautenberg
Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, who was diagnosed with stomach cancer.
N.J. Sen. Frank Lautenberg's cancer treatments are expected to span months
The type of cancer that U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg was diagnosed is B-Cell Lymphoma of the stomach, a cancer that is treatable but will require months of chemotherapy.
Lautenberg's oncologist James F. Holland said in a statement released by the senator's office that Lautenberg would receive between six and eight treatments at three-week intervals. Holland's statement indicated Lautenberg expected to continue his work in the Senate in between treatments
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Jobs Bill Vote
At the risk of politicizing a man's failing health, this means trouble for the Jobs Bill vote on Monday:
But the Demcorat will miss Monday's cloture vote on the jobs bill. Democrats will now need at least two Republican votes to cut off debate.
And guess who the Democrats are approaching to get those last few votes? Scott Brown.
Democrats woo Scott Brown’s vote for president’s $15B jobs bill
Sen. Scott Brown - who campaigned on jobs creation - is facing the first tough test of his independence as Republicans and Democrats court his support for a critical employment bill slated to come up for a vote Monday.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is challenging the rising GOP star to buck his own party and support the Democratic measure.
"The issue for Sen. Brown is the Republican leadership is prepared to vote against it for purely political reasons," Reid’s spokesman, Jim Manley, told the Herald. "The question is whether Sen. Brown is going to vote with his constituents or vote the way the Republican leadership wants him to vote."
Okay, that's one in the maybe column. Can we get another? Of course not.
Dems Looking For GOP Votes On Jobs Bill; GOP Not Interested
With a vote coming up Monday to begin debate on a jobs bill, Democrats are hoping they can get a few Republican votes for cloture. But the Republicans are looking to block the bill, even though they support its content, claiming instead that they've been mistreated by Democrats.
Somebody call the Whaaambulance.
Then get me a dictionary so I can look up the definition of irony.
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He said, the WH said
There is one really effective way to remove a strong primary challenger who just might unseat an entrenched incumbent. Promote him.
Sestak says federal job was offered to quit race
Not so, says the White House
Rep. Joe Sestak (D., Pa.) said yesterday that the White House offered him a federal job in an effort to dissuade him from challenging Sen. Arlen Specter in the state's Democratic primary.
The disclosure came during an afternoon taping of Larry Kane: Voice of Reason, a Sunday news-analysis show on the Comcast Network. Sestak would not elaborate on the circumstances and seemed chagrined after blurting out "yes" to veteran news anchor Kane's direct question.
"Was it secretary of the Navy?" Kane asked.
"No comment," Sestak said.
To his credit, Sestak is staying in the race and will not be tempted to trade some hotshot Executive job for a shot at the Senate.
Still, the latest on Pennsylvania from Nate Silver (Jan. 28, 2010) says this:
Arlen Specter May Be Screwed, But He Probably Isn't THIS Screwed
After Massachusetts, I'm going to try to resist critiquing individual polls that contain pessimistic results for Democrats, particularly since we're transitioning into a more systematic and objective approach into forecasting the midterms. Nevertheless, I find this Franklin & Marshall poll that shows Arlen Specter 14 points behind Pat Toomey -- and Joe Sestak 23 points behind Toomey! -- to be a little dubious.
A couple of notes from a Pa ex-pat. The F&M poll is considered to be the best in the state. On the other hand, Quinnipiac polls the state frequently as well.
And full disclosure, I am supporting Sestak. Here's his ActBlue page. I'm comfortable saying that since Sestak has raised $586,000 there compared to less than $900 for Specter.
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Indiana Senate
In a follow up to Evan Bayh's bye-bye gift to the Republicans Democrats, we have now learned that Congressman Brad Ellsworth is actively seeking the seat. The only problem is that he won't actually appear on the primary ballot. Instead the 32 members of the Indiana Democratic Party's State Central Committee will get to pick the candidate.
Brad Ellsworth says he is running for Senate
Because Bayh withdrew too late for any successor to get the 4,500 petition signatures to be on the May 4 primary ballot, the Indiana Democratic Party’s state central committee will choose a nominee. They cannot officially do so until after the primary, Indiana Democratic Party Chairman Dan Parker said Thursday.
But it is widely expected that the party — and in particular the 32 voting members of the committee — will rally around Ellsworth as their future nominee. Still, people were waiting to see if U.S. Rep. Baron Hill and others who have been considering a run will announce they are backing Ellsworth instead.
Meanwhile, the John Mellencamp for Senate campaign is picking up some steam. Their latest:
OK, folks, I've hesitated bringing this link up to the Wall thus far, but it is time to let John Mellencamp know your support is real.
Even as their insider contingent circles it's (sic) wagons, the Indiana Dems are listening, at least, so the time has come to send our favorite Hoosier son an email, encouraging him to run. ...Keep it short and personal, we don't want a form letter gong to John Mellencamp.
If you want to carbon copy your letter to mellencampforsenate@gmail.com, we will pick some of them out to publish here.
Write from your heart. And remember, the less words you need, the more likely your message will reach someone.
And the singer's email address is on that Facebook page.
Personally, I would prefer a rock star in the Senate to someone hand selected by something called the "State Central Committee."
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Torture Memos
As expected, the Justice Department has concluded that writing memos justifying torturing people constitutes "poor judgment" and not professional misconduct.
Yoo And Bybee, Lawyers Behind 'Torture Memos,' Will Not Face Disbarment, Criminal Punishment
Today, the Department of Justice released the long-awaited results of its investigation into Steven Bradbury, Jay Bybee and John Yoo, the men who wrote memos authorizing harsh interrogations for high-profile terrorism detainees, NPR justice correspondent Ari Shapiro reports.
According to the cover letter accompanying the report, last year, the Department of Justice's investigation determined Bybee and Yoo violated professional legal ethics when they worked in the Department's Office of Legal Counsel, crafting the standards for interrogating high-value terrorism detainees.
But David Margolis, the career official in charge of overseeing the Office of Professional Responsibility, overruled that finding, Shapiro says. Now the report concludes the two men "exercised poor judgment." As a result, Bybee and Yoo do not face criminal charges or disbarment.
So the lesson is that you can write a memo legally justifying torture and you will only be accused of "poor judgment."
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Tiger and Tim, too
In The Most Important News of the Day™, we have a Tiger sighting. Golfer Tiger Woods pretty much apologized to everyone for his various affairs in the course of a 13 1/2 minute presser today.
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Missing his smile and aura of invincibility, Tiger Woods finally showed his face to a waiting world Friday and apologized again for cheating on his wife, without revealing the scope of his infidelity or when he will return to golf.
Standing at a podium before a presidential-blue backdrop in a hushed room of his closest associates, Woods stumbled a few times as he read a 13½-minute statement. He offered no new details of what happened or what's next, except that he was leaving Saturday for more therapy.
~snip
Woods remained composed throughout the statement, pausing briefly before the first of several apologies. At times, however, he looked into the camera almost on cue. Begay said he got choked up listening, and felt his words were sincere.
And he didn't take any questions from the media. (Aside: I swear that this is not a George W. Bush presser.)
Wall Street trading pretty much stopped for the Woods announcement, which demonstrates the priorities of the people who control the American financial system.
And to make your Friday complete, we end with this gem:
Pawlenty compares administration to Tiger Woods, voters to scorned wife
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) on Friday told voters to follow the lead of Tiger Woods's wife Elin Nordegren and "take a 9 iron and smash the window out of big government."
Pawlenty, who is considered as 2012 presidential contender, made the comparison during his speech before right-wing activists at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington.
And this lesson learned is that it is fine for Republicans to compare the functioning of the government with the actions of a distraught and wife who just found out that her husband has multiple sex partners. Stay classy, Timmy.
With that, I bid you good weekend.