TPMDC Sunday Roundup
Palin Plans To Stay Involved In Politics
Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) told the Washington Times that she'll be staying involved in politics: "I will go around the country on behalf of candidates who believe in the right things, regardless of their party label or affiliation." She did not rule out a presidential campaign in the future. "I'm not ruling out anything - it is the way I have lived my life from the youngest age," she said. "Let me peek out there and see if there's an open door somewhere. And if there's even a little crack of light, I'll hope to plow through it."
McCain: Palin Will Continue To Be A Major Factor
Appearing on Meet The Press, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) was asked about Sarah Palin's resignation. "Obviously I was a bit surprised, but I wasn't shocked," said McCain. "I love and respect her and her family, I'm grateful that she agreed to run with me." He added: "I'm confident that she will be a major factor in the national scene and in Alaska as well."
Sebelius Doesn't Rule Out Taxing Health Benefits
Appearing on State of the Union, Sec. of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius said that health care reform will have to be paid for. "We all have a shared responsibility, that we all need to play a role," said Sebelius. When asked by Wolf Blitzer about whether the Obama Administration would reject taxation of health benefits, she said there are "no lines in the sand at this point."
Kyl: "No Chance" Of Health Care Bill Before August
Appearing on This Week, Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ) declared that health-care reform will not pass before the August recess. "There is no chance that it's going to be done by August," said Kyl, who said that President Obama wants a quick bill because "the longer it hangs out there, the more the American people are skeptical, anxious."
Durbin: Secret Cheney Program "Could Be Illegal"
Appearing on This Week, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) said that former Vice President Cheney's concealment from Congress of a secret counterterrorism program may have been illegal. "The executive branch of government should not create programs like these programs and keep congress in the dark," said Durbin. "To have a massive program that was concealed from the leaders in congress is not only inappropriate, it could be illegal."
Feinstein On Secret Programs: "I Think You Weaken your Case When You Go Outside Of The Law"
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) told Fox News Sunday that Congress should have been informed of former Vice President Dick Cheney's secret counterterrorism programs. "I think you weaken your case when you go outside of the law," said Feinstein. "And I think that if the Intelligence Committees had been briefed, they could have watched the program. They could have asked for regular reports on the program. They could have made judgments about the program as it went along. That was not the case because we were kept in the dark. That's something that should never, ever happen again."
Sessions: I Hope Secret Program Story Doesn't Impact On Cheney's "Outstanding Record"
Appearing on Face The Nation, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) questioned the accuracy of the Cheney story -- but he expects it will be looked into. "I don't know what the facts are, but I believe that Vice President Cheney served his country with as much fidelity as he could possibly give to it, and he tried to serve us in an effective way," Sessions said. He added: "I hope nothing like this will impact on his outstanding record."
Cornyn: If Sotomayor Had Her Way, People Would Be Denied Promotions Because Of Race
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) used some strong language against Sonia Sotomayor. "Well, what's troubling about the outcome in the Ricci case, where -- if judge Sotomayor had her way, that cities would basically deny promotions based on the color of one's skin," said Cornyn, "including Hispanics like Lieutenant Ben Vargas, who will be testifying at the hearing this week, and that's just wrong. That can't be the case."


















I think mcbush fell on his head sometime in 2008 or something. He is completely different from the mccain pre-2008. You would have thought after he got slaughtered in November he would go back to being mccain. I don't understand what happened to this guy. Very bizarre.
July 12, 2009 1:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Democrats continue to talk about the "real John McCain." THIS is the real John McCain--the petty asshole who holds a grudge and sees his role as spoiler.
Dems flocked to McCain as a "man of principle" because he often opposed Bush. He opposed Bush because Bush beat him and he was being a petulant child. It had nothing to do with principle and/or character.
Frankly, I don't understand why he continues to be courted by the media. The guy is a senile loser with nothing to say. He has no power and no agenda, just a slate of pet peeves.
July 12, 2009 6:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
You have hit me with this before, but I kind of remember in 2000 he wasn't that bad and prior to 2000 he wasn't that bad either. After 2000, I agree he was just anti-bush to a certain extent, but I really think he changed alot in 2008 from the way he was before.
July 12, 2009 8:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
you should give this a whirl:
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain
July 13, 2009 7:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
you are remembering a fiction. a fiction that mccain actively and - for a time - successfully cultivated.
July 13, 2009 8:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Cross my heart and stick a needle in my eye.
July 13, 2009 11:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
As for taxes to pay for the health program -- what about something I have written about repeatedly and at length (ad nauseum) on TPM Cafe: taxes on pollution (like mercury emissions, including within whatever the 'allowable' limits are) and scarce resources (like nonrecycled paper in throwaway paper products) to both benefit society and pay for the health program at the same time? It also makes sense to tax health-destroying chemicals to pay for a health program
July 12, 2009 2:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Sessions: I Hope Secret Program Story Doesn't Impact On Cheney's "Outstanding Record"
I'm sure nothing this administration, Congress or the Senate will do will give Cheney the credit he deserves.
He will continue to live free and he and all those folks in Washington who have the same total lack of any morality or love of the Constitution and what it represents will just keep on demolishing what little this nation has left.
Too bad those millions of REAL patriots had to die over the past couple hundred years just so that, in the end, scum like this could tear apart all they died for and demolish whatever remains...
and because "We the Voters" have just as little morality as those in office... we will no doubtably assist the min tearing down whatever remains in the next election cycle by putting them back into power.
Our children's future is bleak indeed because they will most likely be the generation in which voting is no longer allowed...
because the common folk in this nation do not care about this democracy enough to hold the VIPs destroying it accountable... IMHO
July 12, 2009 2:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
You really said it. It is appalling that those who send our young out to die just don't get it. Why and how do they end up in charge?
Why has there never been a definitive study of the MEN (because that is the gender that has done this) who have historically sent our best and brightest to die, seemingly have no regrets, even when it is abundantly clear that the whole mission was for the wrong reasons, or was unattainable, or was otherwise achievable?
Malcom Gladwell, where are you?
Actually, I am going to try to get a hold of him and propose this topic.
July 12, 2009 9:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Palin campaigning for Democrats????
One fruit loop short of a full bowl
July 12, 2009 3:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's a funny one I haven't heard before. I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to use that one in the future.
July 12, 2009 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
What's Palin going to do if no one wants her to campaign for them?
July 12, 2009 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sure the DSCC and DGA would love to pay her to campaign for whoever opposes their candidates...
July 12, 2009 3:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hah!
I'm wondering if her support would force a Democrat to behave more like a Democrat? Imagine that some Blue Dogger very publicly gets the support of the Quitter from Wasilla...How's that going to play exactly?
July 12, 2009 3:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Trust me...there are plenty of weenies around here who would love for her to campaign for them. I'm far too embarassed to admit the number of "Go Get 'Em, Sarah!" bumperstickers I see around here.
July 12, 2009 4:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
What part of the country are you in? None here in SoCal.
July 12, 2009 6:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
I bet there are alot of those bumper stickers behind the orange curtain. Other than that, probably non-existent.
July 12, 2009 7:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Georgia.
Most of the bumperstickers are on pickup trucks which usually include a series of "FairTax", "NoBama", and "O(like the logo)crap" stickers as well. My personal favorite was the "Bend O(logo)ver" sticker the other day. The ironic thing was there was a huge Jesus fish right next to it. How very christian, eh?
July 12, 2009 8:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Unfortunately, that is typical of the Jesus fish type. Just like all those "christian" republican leaders f*cking around on their wives and sodomizing boys. Pathetic. I'd rather take a dem over a "christian" republican any day. They are more honest.
July 12, 2009 8:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I feel this song is very appropriate for the occasion.
July 12, 2009 8:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Your ideas were unspecific but your outfits were terrific". . .kinda says it all.
July 13, 2009 10:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
"I will go around the country on behalf of candidates who believe in the right things, regardless of their party label or affiliation."
---You mean you will campaign for whoever will pay you the most money.
July 12, 2009 6:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
From USA Today/Gallup, about 4 days ago:
They're really drinking the kool-aid. With the winner-take-all nature of the Republican primaries, she's got a realistic chance of being the nominee.
The very scary thing about Palin is this - she's tapped into a very strong sense of victimization and, dare I say it, entitlement. There are a lot of people who feel that they've played by the rules, and are getting screwed. She's tapped into that anger. I'm glad she's not very good at it.
July 12, 2009 7:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
And the people who identify themselves as republican are down to like 24% or so of the voting population. That's why she would win the primary and lose the election in a landslide. I find these party id polls annoying due to the change in party id. Of course that 24% of the population overwhelming opposes obama and supports rambo. Bottom line, who cares at this point.
July 12, 2009 7:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I voted in the last Republican primary, and expect to vote in the next one. I will vote for the person most capable of running the country, which i can't imagine will be palin.
I don't like the idea of voting for someone so incompetent that it increases obama's odds of reelection, as there is always an outside chance that obama won't win.
I'd rather have a small chance that the best of the bad wins, than a slightly less chance that someone even worse that that leads our country. wisdom i learned from gw. my guess is romney will look like the least crazy of the bunch in 2012.
July 12, 2009 11:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
So, who was your write in last time, because none of the last crop was capable of running the country.
July 13, 2009 12:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
i went with ron paul because i thought he at least would stop with the warring.
July 13, 2009 4:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Now that Palin is free to leave Alaska, the fight is on in the Republican party between the Romney camp and the Palin camp. They already hate each other. Palin has a lot of catching up to do to support the party financially as much as Romney has. And she is going to need a lot of money to run against his deep pockets. Should be an interesting and party-splitting battle.
July 13, 2009 2:14 AM | Reply | Permalink