On Protecting The Innocent, Or, Is There A Death Penalty Compromise?

by: fake consultant

Sat Sep 24, 2011 at 12:21:46 PM EDT

And given the choice, I'd rather see us abandon the death penalty altogether, for reasons that must, at this moment, seem self-evident; that said, it's my suspicion that a lot of states are not going to be in any hurry to abandon their death penalties anytime soon now that they know the Supreme Court will allow the innocent to be murdered.

So what if there was a way to create a compromise that balanced the absolute need to protect the innocent with the feeling among many Americans that, for some crimes, we absolutely have to impose the death penalty?

Considering the circumstances, it's not going to be an easy subject, but let's give it a try, and see what we can do.

NY-9: Siena Poll Shows 6 Point Turner Lead

by: phillip anderson

Fri Sep 09, 2011 at 10:05:10 AM EDT

Turner Holds 6-Point Lead over Weprin with 4 Days To Go (pdf)

Voters View Turner Favorably & Are Evenly Divided on Weprin;
Say Turner's Campaign is More Positive & Weprin's is More Negative

Heading into the final days of the special election for New York's 9th Congressional District seat, Republican Robert Turner has taken a 50-44 percent lead over Democrat David Weprin, according to a Siena (College) Research Institute poll of likely 9th CD voters released today.  In Siena College's previous poll on August 10th Weprin had led Turner 48-42 percent.

Turner is viewed favorably by 48 percent of likely voters and unfavorably by 34 percent, while Weprin has a 41-41 percent favorability rating. By a 43-32 percent margin, likely voters say Turner is running the more positive campaign, and by a similar 39-30 percent margin, they say Weprin's is the more negative campaign.  

"Republican Turner heads into the final days of the campaign with a six-point lead in this heavily Democratic district after having trailedDemocrat Weprin by six points just four weeks
ago," said Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg. "Turner holds a small five-point lead in the Queens portion of the district, where he was trailing by 10 points in the previous Siena College Poll, and he has increased his lead in Brooklyn from six points previously to a now healthy 12-point bulge.

"While Turner has an overwhelming 90-6 percent lead among Republicans, Weprin has only a 63-32 percent lead among Democrats, and Turner has a 38-point lead among likely independent voters," Greenberg said.  "Currently, Turner enjoys a slightly larger lead among independent voters than Weprin has with Democrats. Weprin needs to find a way to win a larger share of Democratic and independent voters if he's going to turn
the race back around in the final days."

You can find the crosstabs here (pdf).

I found this bit quite interesting as well.

"While a plurality of voters says New York State is on the right track, nearly three-quarters of voters say the country is headed in the wrong direction," Greenberg said. "The voters' mood on the direction of the country, coupled with the unfavorable rating of President Obama - particularly among Republicans and independents - makes this a tougher election for Weprin, or for any Democrat running in this district or a district like it.

That's troubling. If a Dem running for the seat vacated by Anthony Weiner (Pelosi's decision to force him out is looking pretty dumb right about now, no?) is facing such a headwind, Dems in less friendly territory across the nation are in trouble. According to Siena, Obama's approval rating in the district is a mere 43%. In NYC.

That's very, very bad.

On the web: Weprin for Congress.

On Bilking The Sophisticated, Or, Check It Out: We're Suing Banks!

by: fake consultant

Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 17:59:45 PM EDT

You remember that little bit of a banking crisis we had a couple of years back, where banks around the world might have possibly, maybe, just a little, conspired in a giant scheme to package toxic mortgage loans into Grade A, investment-ready securities instruments, which then blew up in everyone's faces to the tune of a whole lot of taxpayer bailouts?

Well all of a sudden, it looks like an agency of the Federal Government is looking to do something about it, in a real big way.

Last Friday the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced they're suing 17 firms (I'll give you a list, bit it's pretty much all the usual suspects); depending on who you ask the Feds are seeking an amount as high as $200 billion.

As Joe Biden would say, it's a big...well, it's a big deal, anyway, and that's why we're starting the new week with this one.

NY-9: Turner Believes Zadroga 9/11 Law Shouldn't Cover Ground Zero Volunteers

by: phillip anderson

Wed Aug 24, 2011 at 16:02:32 PM EDT

I'd like to revise that. Let's make it 1 in 10.

Zadroga 9/11 health law shouldn't cover volunteers sickened at Ground Zero, GOP hopeful Turner says

The GOP hopeful running for ex-Rep. Anthony Weiner's seat says the $4.3 billion Zadroga 9/11 health law is too broad - and shouldn't cover volunteers sickened at Ground Zero.

....

"I think it is a little too broad," Turner said.

"My call would be to protect police, fire, emergency workers, construction workers, etc.

"If someone said, 'I volunteered' or walked through there, it's just not the type," added Turner, who faces Democrat David Weprin in the Sept. 13 special election.

This is the same guy who has been trying desperately to make the phantom "Ground Zero" "Mosque" (he even uses the Pam Gellar-tastic phrase "Victory Mosque") an issue in this campaign. He even cut a TV spot using the images of the burning towers to slam Weprin over it. Classy, right?

"That day [9/11], and for months after, there were no uniforms. Volunteers worked next to rescue crews for weeks," said John Feal, a 9/11 activist and former construction supervisor who lost half his foot at Ground Zero.

"For Bob Turner to turn his back on those New Yorkers, but use images of the burning towers in campaign ads - a circus monkey can out-politic Bob Turner, he's an embarrassment to the Republican Party," fumed Feal.

So, to recap, 9/11 is perfectly OK to exploit for political gain, but those everyday New Yorkers who risked life and limb to rush the scene of the crime and do anything they possibly could to help, who spent months sifting through the smoldering rubble in Lower Manhattan to help someone's family somewhere have something they could bury with dignity, those people, well, those people are moochers who should be on their own.

Glad we cleared that up, Bob.

Oh, and go fuck yourself.

Speaking truth to LATFOR

by: simonstl

Mon Aug 22, 2011 at 17:07:58 PM EDT

New York State legislators have spent at least the past few decades gerrymandering, allowing the Assembly majority to draw district lines for the Assembly, while the Senate majority draws lines for the Senate. Unsurprisingly, we end up with legislative lines badly tilted toward the parties that drew them.

Way back in 2007, while redistricting was mostly theoretical, Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton hosted a forum on the issue, and I posted a transcript and posted an article here about it.

County Legislator Michael Lane was the voice of sanity at that forum, and I'm delighted to see that he's continued to press the issue as LATFOR - the joint legislative committee managing the deals, I mean districting - is holding hearings. In his closing, he even used the accurate word that legislators least like to hear: corrupt.

I would conclude by saying that the current process is undemocratic. Let's do it the right way. If this Task Force, or the Legislature as a whole, recommends districts in the old corrupt fashion, then I hope the Governor will keep his word and veto them. It would not be pretty and court actions might have to come into play. Whatever occurs, it is definitely time that self-serving partisan gerrymandering come to an end. Make it happen.

I've posted his whole statement below the fold, which includes notes on Tompkins County's own redistricting as well as the way the county is treated for congressional and state legislative redistricting.

BREAKING: I Don't Care Who Wins NY-9

by: phillip anderson

Mon Aug 22, 2011 at 12:06:09 PM EDT

This morning I read that (shockingly!) the race is now a measure of how pissed off people are at Obama which makes me care even less, really. I mean, there are plenty of working class folks in NY-9 that have plenty of reason to be pissed off at Obama and DC in general, though all the quotes from angry voters in that piece seem to suggest that they are pissed off over Fox News bullshit rather than anything, ya know, real.

Can the GOP steal a seat in NYC? I don't really care. What would either outcome mean for redistricting both downstate and upstate? Eh. Can corrupt machine douchebags like Vito Lopez and Joe Crowley pull out a win? Yawn. If they fail, could it mean the beginning of the end for those two and their empires of corrupt suckage? Now maybe you've piqued my interest some.

I guess what I'mn trying to say is that I've spent all summer ignoring this race for various reasons. The race looks like a typical bullshit fest with pretty low stakes from all angles.

So I'm asking you, am I wrong? If so, how?

Why should I or anyone else outside of NY-9 give a crap about this race?

Feel free to take me to school on this one.

On Running Your Own Government, Or, Why Pay The Military?

by: fake consultant

Sat Jul 30, 2011 at 07:15:24 AM EDT

You will hear a lot of conversation about the consequences from others; today, however, you are going to get the chance to be both the President and the Secretary of the Treasury, and you will get to decide for yourself exactly what bills the Federal Government should and should not pay as the cash runs out if a deal is not made by the time borrowing authority runs out.

At that point you'll be able to see what's coming for yourself - and once you do, you won't need me to tell you what ugly is going to look like.

Hitler Holds News Conference, Blames Balanced Budget Amendment For U.S. Defeat

by: fake consultant

Tue Jul 26, 2011 at 13:10:51 PM EDT

"All those ideas Mr. Roosevelt spoke of", said Hitler, "Lend-Lease, modular shipbuilding, War Bonds, secret weapons...in the end, all of them were just words, since the Americans' Congress was never willing to allow the country to fully fund its war effort."  

Inslee Running For Washington Governor, Supports Full Marriage Equality

by: fake consultant

Wed Jun 29, 2011 at 07:12:52 AM EDT

The candidacy was announced with a speech that focused on "process improvements" and the invocation of new technology jobs as an economic engine for job growth (and in fact the event took place at the headquarters of a company that has developed seed-derived biofuels that have been used to power military and commercial aircraft).

But that's not the part that's going to be the most interesting for the civil-rights supportive reader.

The most interesting part is that Inslee was quick to offer his support for full marriage equality in the State of Washington, should he find himself elected.

On Hole Cards, Or, "Drill, Baby, Drill"? Why? Is Canada Out Of Sand?

by: fake consultant

Wed May 25, 2011 at 05:34:57 AM EDT

Naturally, this has brought the Sarah Palins of the world back out in public, and once again the mantra of "Drill, Baby, Drill" can be heard all the way from the Florida coast to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

But what if those folks have it exactly backwards?

What if, in a world of depleting oil resources, the last thing you want to do is use yours up?

To put it another way: why isn't all our oil part of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve?

On Happy-ing Their Gilmores, Or, Will Body Bags Be The New Gold Watch?

by: fake consultant

Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 07:23:21 AM EDT

I have been encouraging folks to take advantage of the recent Congressional recess to have a few words with your CongressCritter about the proposed Death Of Medicare and all the proposed cuts to Social Security...and you have, as we'll discuss...and now we have an opportunity to do something on a national scale, just as we did a few weeks ago in support of Social Security.

This time, we're going to concentrate on fighting the idea that retirement ages should go up before we become eligible for Social Security and Medicare (and elements of Medicaid, as well), and that Americans should just keep right on working until the age of 67 or so-which isn't going to be any big problem...really...trust us.

Now that just makes no sense, and to help make the point we have a really cool video that you can pass around to all your friends-and your enemies, for that matter, since they'll also have to worry about what happens to them if they should ever make it to old age.  

On Open-Source Entertainment, Or, Today, Jon Kyl Meets Twitter

by: fake consultant

Thu Apr 14, 2011 at 05:57:09 AM EDT

Of course, that 90% claim was total hooey; it turns out that only 3% of Planned Parenthood's work relates to abortions. (The Federal funding for abortions part is, too; the Hyde Amendment made such funding illegal decades ago.)

When confronted, Kyl's office released a statement claiming the Senator's comments were "not intended to be a factual statement".

Sir Rev. Dr. Stephen T. Colbert, DFA, decided to have a bit of fun with Kyl, and he challenged his audience to Tweet their own "Not Intended To Be A Factual Statement" about Kyl.

I decided to compose a Tweet of my own...and then another...and before I knew it I had an entire story's worth; that's why, today, we'll be taking a taking a short break from the daily grind to have a bit of fun with a man who truly deserves it: Jon Kyl.

Social Security: Are You Ready For A Congressional "Video Staycation"?

by: fake consultant

Mon Apr 04, 2011 at 01:00:30 AM EDT

Now what I have for you today starts out as a bit of insider information that came to me on background-but it turns into a chance for those of us who support Social Security to very much get in the faces of our members of Congress, for two whole weeks.

And to make it even better, I'm going to throw out a few direct action ideas "for your consideration" (as they say in Hollywood during Awards Season) that would absolutely make good street actions and YouTube videos, both at the same time...and even more importantly, we'll absolutely make some great Spring Break fun.  

Social Security: Get On The Phone Tuesday And Wednesday And Help Fight Cuts

by: fake consultant

Sun Mar 27, 2011 at 18:10:54 PM EDT

I know that doesn't make a lot of sense, considering the disconnect between Social Security and the deficit-but once again it's "Continuing Resolution" time on Capitol Hill, where some use the threat of an impending shutdown of the Federal Government to extract concessions from the other side...and some on the other side try to make points with the voters by out-conceding their opponents.

So Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, there's a national push on to get voters to call their Senators and remind them to vote for an Amendment that is a big ol' "I'm not willing to cut Social Security just because other people philosophically want to cut Government any way they can" kind of reassurance to the voters, and I'm here to encourage you, once again, to make a couple phone calls and do some pushing of your own.

I've also been storing up a couple somewhat facetious random thoughts which will be the "garnish" for today's dish; you'll see them pop up as we go along.

On Monday Morning Philosophy, Or, Founders Tell America: "You Figure It Out"

by: fake consultant

Tue Mar 22, 2011 at 15:05:16 PM EDT

Some among us have managed to turn their certainty into something that approaches a reverential calling, and you need look no further than the Supreme Court to find such notables as Cardinals Samuel Alito and Antonin Scalia providing "liturgical foundation" to the adherents of the point of view that the Constitution is like The Bible: that it's somehow immutable, set in stone, and, if we would only listen to the right experts, easily interpreted.

But what if that absolutist point of view is absolutely wrong?

What if the Original Intent Of The Founders, that summer in Philadelphia...was simply to get something passed out of the Constitutional Convention, and the only way that could happen was to leave a lot of the really tough decisions to the future?

What if The Real Original Intent...was that we work it out for ourselves as we go along?

Social Security: If You Can't Kill The Program, Screw The People

by: fake consultant

Sat Mar 05, 2011 at 11:46:33 AM EST

They're going to sell it to you, if they can, as a way to "lower the deficit", or words similar...but what this is really about is making the actual Social Security program work less well-because, after all, if a program is popular today, the best way to make it less so is to apply a bit of "treat 'em like their cars were impounded" to every interaction customers have with the system.

And what better way to make sure that happens...then to aggressively demoralize everyone who works down at the ol' Social Security office?

Campaign Manifesto #3: On The Road, Defending Social Security

by: fake consultant

Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 04:53:35 AM EST

The Fake Campaign, as you may recall, is fake headed for Wisconsin, to show solidarity, and we've fake hitched a ride on a delivery truck headed for Rush Limbaugh's Florida broadcasting studios-but we fake found ourselves caught up in the all-too-real Giant Grip Of Winter that has seized the Midwest over the past week.

We're back on the road now, but we were stuck for darn near a half-day there at Wall...and if you know anything about South Dakota, you know there are really only two things to do in the City of Wall: you can shuffle back and forth between Gold Diggers and the Badlands Bar, partaking of numerous intoxicating liquors along the way...or you can head on into Wall Drug (the same one that's on all those bumper stickers and signs) and partake of the finest display of Giant Jackalopia on the planet.

The Campaign, naturally, chose Jackalopia-and that's why today's Manifesto is all about the fake impromptu 5-cent-coffee-fueled Social Security Town Hall that we held in the Wall Drug Mall for several hours while we waited for I-90 to reopen.

Campaign Manifesto #2: In Which We Travel To Wisconsin

by: fake consultant

Mon Feb 21, 2011 at 03:51:25 AM EST

Having made the announcement, we're already making our first campaign trip-and oddly enough, our first trip as a Congressional candidate will take us to Madison, Wisconsin, where we'll link up with a few folks who, apparently inspired by me, have taken to the streets in a very big way.

When we get there I'll need a parka, a nice hat, a thermos of coffee, and a big fat Sharpie-so let me go get it all together, and then we'll be on our way.

Campaign Manifesto #1: In A World Of Phonies, It's Time For A Fake Candidate

by: fake consultant

Fri Feb 18, 2011 at 09:08:12 AM EST

We have a wavering President, far too many feckless Democrats, and Republicans that have decided to dive headfirst into total "insane mode" in a full-blown effort to destroy this country just as fast as possible.

To give but one example, in my own District, WA-08, we are represented by the absolutely useless Republican Dave Reichert, whose best-known legislative achievement is that he has virtually no record of any legislative achievement whatever.

Now we've had a very interesting relationship, you and I, over these past few years; in my efforts to "bring you the story" I've been a fake political consultant, a fake lobbyist, even a fake historian...and now, I think it's time to try to bring our relationship to a new level.

And that's why, America, I'm announcing my fake candidacy for Congress.

NY-13: Representative Grimm Says the Only Perks of Being in Congress are the Ladies

by: BingChester

Mon Feb 07, 2011 at 18:33:57 PM EST

After speaking to the Staten Island Rotary last week at the Staten, West Brighton, an audience member asked about 'the really cool perks about being a congressman'.

"I'm single," Grimm quipped. "It's all the ladies. I get little notes, so-and-so wants to go out to dinner. That's it."

Yes, that's right folks.  Public service is all about getting a little love from the ladies.  Congressman Grimm is smiling from ear to ear about all this new found attention by women who are suddenly interested in him because of his status as an elected official.  Almost makes you wonder about his oh so charming personality.  But really, the kicker comes next.

"You can't take a slice of pizza," Grimm said. "The rules have almost gotten ridiculous. If someone was once a lobbyist, they can't buy you a cup of coffee. The ethical rules are so tight that there really are no perks."

Color me disgusted on this one.  The perk is that you are serving the people.  Few people get the reward of being put in a position where you can improve the lives of your fellow community members.  That's a damn good perk right there.  Oh, and there's also the very comfortable salary you get on the dime of the American people as well as that socialist government funded healthcare and pension.  But no, Congressman Grimm is upset that a lobbyist can't buy him a slice of pizza while telling him how to vote for whatever corporate backed bill is coming up the pipeline.

The reason these hard ethical rules are in place is that we don't trust people like Congressman Grimm to exercise good judgment in the gray areas.  And from statements like these, it's abundantly clear why.