Buck Naked Politics

Backlash Against NARAL: an Example that the DNC Should Seriously Consider

by Deb Cupples |  Earlier today, I blogged about the backlash that many Democrats predict will come if the DNC continues to insist on disenfranchising Florida's and Michigan's primary voters. Just a few hours later, I came across a good example of a backlash: the one brewing against the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) for jumping into the fray and endorsing Barack Obama on Wednesday.

It's a move that even Obama-supporting NARAL members consider ill-timed and ill-advised, especially given that Hillary Clinton has a long, strong, and impressive record of supporting NARAL's cause and women's rights generally.  Politico reports:

Warning of Backlash if DNC Refuses to Count Florida and Michigan

by Deb Cupples |   Since at least March, rancor has grown among ordinary Democrats who don't appreciate the tactics that certain high-level DNC leaders (e.g., Howard Dean and Donna Brazile) have employed during the nominating process -- tactics soundly evincing that ordinary voters' votes don't matter to DNC "leadership."  We've covered it , as have No Quarter, Taylor Marsh and many other blogs.

Among those odious tactics were the DNC's stripping of 100% of Florida's and Michigan's delegates, though more than 2 million people voted in those states' primaries.  The DNC has a chance to rectify this on May 31, when it will hear appeals from Florida and Michigan. 

Below is a well worded plea to the DNC  -- which also warns of dire consequences for the Democratic Party if the DNC continues to insist on disenfranchising Florida's and Michigan's Democratic voters.  Hats off to the man in the video (via No Quarter), who accurately captures the sentiment of many ordinary Democrats.

Money Launderer Sentenced

by Deb Cupples |   In November 2005, then-Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA) resigned after pleading guilty to taking more than $2 million in bribes from defense contractors.  Federal District Judge Larry Burns sentenced Cunningham to eight years and four months in prison.

Yesterday, the same judge sentenced Thomas Kontogiannis to eight years and one month in prison for his role in laundering Cunningham's bribes.  Former U.S. Attorney Carole Lam spearheaded the case against Cunningham, after which the Bush Administration essentially fired her.  (Memeorandum has commentary.)
 

Conyers Suggests Kicking Karl Rove's Ass?

by Deb Cupples |  The Crypt has an interesting post, part of which is below:

"Just off the House floor today, the Crypt overheard House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers tell two other people: “We’re closing in on Rove. Someone’s got to kick his ass.”

"Asked a few minutes later for a more official explanation, Conyers told us that Rove has a week to appear before his committee. If he doesn’t, said Conyers, 'We’ll do what any self-respecting committee would do. We’d hold him in contempt. Either that or go and have him arrested.'”

"Conyers said the committee wants Rove to testify about his role in the imprisonment of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, among other things."

Yes, an arrest might be just the thing -- far better than an ass kicking.

California Court Rules Against Ban on Gay Marriage

As far as states go, California does tend to be a trend setter.  The California Supreme Court just struck a blow against that state's ban on gay marriage.  The LA Times reports:

"The 4-3 ruling declared that the state Constitution protects a fundamental 'right to marry' that extends equally to same-sex couples. It tossed a highly emotional issue into the election year while opening the way for tens of thousands of gay people to wed in California, starting as early as mid-June."

Memeorandum has commentary.

Hillary Defends Obama

by Deb Cupples |  Hillary Clinton has been sabotaged (in some cases ripped apart) by surrogates and prominent supporters of Barack Obama -- and yet, Hillary defended Barack yesterday against President Bush's criticisms.  Yesterday, BenSmith reported:

"Hillary, today in Rapid City, South Dakota, defended Obama from President Bush's apparent comparison of him to Neville Chamberlain, Ken Vogel reports.  She told reporters:

'President Bush’s comparison of any Democrat to Nazi appeasers is both offensive and outrageous on the face of it, especially in light of his failures in foreign policy. This is the kind of statement that has no place in any presidential address and certainly to use an important moment like the 60th anniversary celebration of Israel to make a political point seems terribly misplaced. Unfortunately, this is what we’ve come to expect from President Bush.'"

Memeorandum has commentary.

 

Pentagon's Manipulation of Media & Public Opinion

Salon's Glenn Greenwald is doing a fine job of battling Pentagon spokesperson Larry Di Rita, who continues to deny that the Pentagon had used military "analysts" to manipulate the media (and public opinion) during the Iraq war lead-up.

There's too much to quote, so I'll just give you the link instead.  Memeorandum has commentary.

Edwards Endorses Obama

The New York Times reports that John Edwards endorsed Barack Obama yesterday -- at a rally in Michigan.  One can't help wondering about the time and place: why before the DNC Rules Committees' May 31 meeting (at which members will decide what to do about Michigan and Florida) and why in Michigan?

According to Ben Smith at Politico, Edwards earned 16 pledged delegates from several states and will likely get a few more from Iowa; those delegates are now like super-delegates, in that they could switch to Obama or Clinton.  Here's the unbelievable part:

DNC's Brazile Still Misleading the Public about Michigan and Florida

by Deb Cupples |   I don't understand. Once again, DNC official Donna Brazile's public statements do not reflect the fact that Florida's Democrats had no power to stop Florida's Republican legislature from moving the primary date in violation of DNC rules. 

Once again, Ms. Brazile fails to mention that her DNC committee chose to strip Michigan and Florida of 100% of their delegates, though DNC rules called for an automatic stripping of only 50%.  Once again, Ms. Brazile fails to mention that the DNC didn't even bother conducting an investigation (as required by the rules) before hurling the harshest sanctions possible at Florida and Michigan.

If Ms. Brazile is so convinced that she's right, then why has she repeatedly reduced her public argument to the misleading spin: i.e., the sound bite we've come to know as "rules are rules"?  Thanks to No Quarter for pointing out the video clip below.

Gas Price Watch: North Central Florida

by Deb Cupples |  You've likely noticed that I keep track of gas prices in my small, North Central Florida city: i.e., I take photos of the price sign at the same Texaco gas station.  Yesterday, I took the one on the left, because prices had gone up 4 cents just over the last couple of days.

Below are recent gas prices at that same station (9/10 of a cent omitted):

...........Feb 1.... April 1....May 1.....May 5...May 11....May 13

Reg......$3.16......$3.49.........$3.79.......$3.72......$3.85..........$3.89

Dsl.......$4.39......$4.09........$4.29........$4.29......$4.45..........$4.45

Notice that the price went down 7-cents from May 1 to May 5, then went up 13-cents less than a week later.  Within two days of that (yesterday), it went up another 4-cents.  The big jump is from February 1 to May 13: a 73-cent increase in just three-and-a-half months.

 

Hillary Wins Big in West Virginia, Obama Squeaks by in Nebraska

by Deb Cupples | We expected a big win for Hillary Clinton in West Virginia's primary yesterday, and that's what she got.  Barack Obama didn't bother campaigning there until the last day or two.  I don't know what his strategy was, but I suspect that it will reveal itself over the next few days -- with help from his unofficial campaigners in certain media outlets.   Below are the results from C-Span (98% reporting):

West Virginia

.....................#Votes.............%Votes

Clinton.........234,813..............67%

Obama............90,258..............26%

Edwards.........25,462................7%

The New York Times says that Obama lost big among white voters in West Virgina.  Nebraska's results are below.

Bush Administration Ignored Corruption

by Deb Cupples |   No, it's not surprising -- given that last year we learned that State Department and Justice Department officials may have turned a blind eye to corruption or illegal acts on the part of Iraq war contractors.  'Anything to reduce bad press about how the Bush Administration has conducted the war(s).

Yesterday, the Associated Press reported on the Bush Administration's ignoring of corruption at high levels in the Iraqi government:

Check the Skies for Piglets: Fox Gets it Right

by Deb Cupples |  I know.  Given that Fox's pundits unquestioningly sold their viewers on the Iraq war (and a number of other dismal Bush Administration policies), it's immensely ironic that Fox pundits are now criticizing other media outlets for outright naming Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee with three weeks still left in the primaries.  Check out the video below:

Step in the Right Direction: Judge Decides KBR Rape Case Should Go to Court

Yesterday, ABC News reported:

"A Houston woman [Jamie Leigh Jones]  who says she was gang raped by co-workers at a Halliburton/KBR camp in Baghdad won a major court battle late Friday when a Texas judge ordered that she can bring her case to court instead of forcing her into secretive arbitration proceedings with Halliburton and KBR.

"After months of waiting for criminal charges to be filed, Jones decided to file suit against Halliburton and KBR."

Just Words? Yes, According to a Chicago Tribune Blog -- and Most National Media Haven't Figured it Out

by Deb Cupples |  John Kass, a writer for the Chicago Tribune's blog The Swamp writes:

"As a candidate, Obama will do what he has to do to win. My argument is not with him--but with the national political media pack that refuses to look closely at what Chicago is. They're fixated on what it was, and they think it's clean now.

"And they've spent years crafting, then cleaving to their eager and trembling Obama narrative, a tale of great yearning, almost mythic and ardently adolescent, a tale in which Obama is portrayed as a reformer, a dynamic change agent about to do away with the old thuggish politics."