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NEWS ABOUT: politics as usual

Maybe Dodd's Angling for 'Cushy Bank Job'

Senator's threats on Volcker rule insane, and bad politics

(Newser) - That Sen. Chris Dodd would sacrifice tighter regulations on big banks in the name of bipartisanship is so insane—and bad politics, to boot—that his threats on the so-called Volcker rule have Joe Klein wondering if the Connecticut Democrat “just wants a nice, cushy bank job after he... More »

Bank Risk Rules Could Die in Senate

Retiring Dodd wants GOP support, Obama be damned

(Newser) - President Obama’s plan to limit the amount of risk big US banks can take could well die in the Senate if the measure isn’t seen as bipartisan enough by Chris Dodd, the retiring Banking Committee chair, and Senate Republicans. “He wants to end his career with an... More »

Obama Turns Into a 'Deficit Peacock'

His gimmicky idea to cut spending doesn't bode well for the nation

(Newser) - President Obama's gimmicky idea to keep the budget in check by freezing non-defense spending shows he's fallen into the "deficit peacock" camp, writes Paul Krugman. The camp abounds with politicians who support superficial—but politically popular—methods to present the illusion of fiscal discipline. It won't work, and "... More »

Nation Can't Afford Democrats' Policies

Va. governor McDonnell rips federal debt, health reform

(AP) - The nation cannot afford the spending Democrats have enacted or the tax increases they propose, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell said in the Republican response to tonight's State of the Union address. McDonnell criticized the huge run-up in federal debt, and said that while Americans want affordable health care, but they... More »

'Let's Seize the Moment, Start Anew': Obama

President focuses on health, jobs, ugly politics

(Newser) - In his first State of the Union address, President Obama waded directly into the financial crisis and the partisan mire of Capitol Hill in tonight’s wide-ranging speech. Obama said the US economy is still struggling, but “the worst of the storm has passed.” And, he urged the... More »

Obama Will Target Health, Jobs, 'Corrosive' Washington

'Despite our hardships, our union is strong,' speech says

(Newser) - The White House has released excerpts of President Obama’s State of the Union address scheduled for 9 EST tonight. Some highlights, via the Wall Street Journal :
  • “Despite our hardships, our union is strong. We do not give up. We do not quit. We don’t allow fear or
... More »

Both Parties Rip GOP's Confusing 'Census' Survey

It's a fundraising mailer, but envelopes say 'official document'

(Newser) - A mailer from the Republican National Committee is drawing fire from both parties over its resemblance to official US Census documents. The “Congressional District Census” is in fact a fund-raising attempt, but comes in an envelope marked “DO NOT DESTROY OFFICIAL DOCUMENT,” Politico reports, noting that the... More »

Mormon Church Aimed to Cover Tracks on Marriage Ban

Directed funds to outside organization

(Newser) - The Mormon church wanted its members to support the 2008 effort to ban same-sex marriage in California, but urged they do it through an outside organization to give the leadership “plausible deniability,” according to documents released today in the Proposition 8 trial in San Francisco. The Catholic church... More »

GOP Wants Brown Seated ASAP ... Just Like Kennedy

But state must certify first, Senate rules say

(Newser) - As the victory of Scott Brown in the Massachusetts Senate race sinks in around Washington, Republicans are pushing for Brown to be seated as soon as possible—and using “a novel and ironic precedent,” Brian Beutler and Eric Kleefeld write. Senate rules require a victory be officially certified... More »

20+ Lawmakers Hit Copenhagen on US Dime

Full delegation—including staffers, plus wives—over 100

(Newser) - More than 20 members of Congress hit the Copenhagen climate conference last month, a CBS investigation finds—and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office, which was in charge of the guest list, is being shifty about what it all cost. Of the fact that lawmakers (and some wives) commandeered three... More »

Obamacare's Real Architect? GOP's Romney

Too bad it's political suicide for him to say so now

(Newser) - Though no Republicans voted for the health-reform bill that just passed the Senate, one GOP star could claim a large chunk of credit for it. The plan has many of the same features as the successful plan Mitt Romney brought to Massachusetts as governor, Timothy Egan writes—but, though Romney... More »

Pelosi Rips Obama Over Broken Campaign Promises

House Speaker irked over president's health tax plans

(Newser) - Evidently taking a hard line heading into conferences on Congress’ health bills, Nancy Pelosi ripped President Obama today for breaking campaign promises. Reminded that then-candidate Obama wanted such negotiations to be public, the House Speaker rejoined, “There are a number of things he was for on the campaign trail.... More »

Taxpayers Send $40K a Month to Ex-speaker, Now Lobbyist

Dennis Hastert gets paid by both sides

(Newser) - Taxpayers are doling out more than $40,000 a month to pay for Dennis Hastert’s office, staff, cell phone, SUV, and satellite TV subscriptions—even though the ex-speaker of the House now works as a lobbyist. It’s a troubling situation, ethics experts tell Politico , because though the law... More »

Palin: Drop 'Greener Than Thou' Act, Arnold

Feud erupts after Schwarzenegger questions climate stance

(Newser) - Two days after Arnold Schwarzenegger suggested her stance on climate change is based more on politics than scientific knowledge, Sarah Palin swung back, saying the California Republican should drop his “greener than thou” act. “Why is Governor Schwarzenegger pushing for the same sorts of policies in Copenhagen,”... More »

Lieberman Wins: Dems to Drop Medicare Buy-In

Health bill takes another hit as leaders seek votes

(Newser) - Senate Democrats, in danger of losing the votes they need to pass health care reform, bowed to Joe Lieberman last night and acknowledged that they are ready to drop the plan to allow people over 55 to buy coverage under Medicare. That idea itself was a compromise intended to appeal... More »

Grayson to Cheney: 'STFU'

Mouthy Congressman rips mouthy ex-VP

(Newser) - The man Republicans (and many Democrats) wish would just shut up and go away had some words for the man Democrats (and many Republicans) wish would do the same, in vulgar—if dated—style. Asked about Dick Cheney’s view of holding terror trials in New York, Rep. Alan Grayson... More »

Reid Compares Health-Reform Opponents to Segregationists

... to predictably furious Republican reaction

(Newser) - Not that the health-reform debate needed more fuel for its rancorous fire, but Democrat Harry Reid tossed some on today anyway, comparing conservatives who would block the current measure to those who tried to stop the emancipation of slaves and universal suffrage. The GOP reaction was swift and angry, with... More »

How Obama Screwed Up

Lack of bipartisanship undercuts campaign promises

(Newser) - It's polarized, lobbyist-laden business as usual in Washington, and President Obama is largely to blame despite his campaign pledges to change the way business is done in the capital, writes Fred Barnes. Obama mistook his personal election victory for a victory for liberalism and failed to try hard enough for... More »

Lobbyists See Advisory Roles Clipped by New Obama Rule

Feds aim to cut special-interest access; K Streeters demur

(Newser) - An Obama administration rule taking effect over the next few months will take potentially thousands of those oh-so-evil Washington lobbyists off panels advising federal officials on everything from consumer protection to environmental policy. The panels’ web is so tangled, the Post reports, that the feds aren’t even sure how... More »

Grayson Weeps on House Floor

Bemoans casualties of lack of health insurance

(Newser) - Alan Grayson continued with his penchant for the dramatic yesterday, shedding copious tears on the House floor as he read letters from families of people who died because they didn't have health insurance. “For god's sake, I look forward to a time when we have finally done our jobs,... More »

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