As glad as I am that another Republican pushing the myth that Katrina spilled no oil got called on it, it's driving me nuts that no one will pick up on one of these Republicans being Norm Coleman. Remember Coleman anyone? The guy in a tight race with Al Franken? The guy we could beat over the head with this yet no one with a platform is doing it?! For crying out loud, he's ON AUDIO saying, "We had the worst natural disaster in the history of this country Katrina, and there wasn't a drop of oil spilled." Here are the links to the audio and the debunking by Think Progress:
http://www.ravensblog.net/archives/june2-08.php#coleman-full

Posted at July 16, 2008 5:54 PM in response to GOP Senator Called Out On China-Cuba Oil Myth -- By Fox News

"THEY'RE ALL working for the MOB!!"

That tin foil hat must be particularly tight today.

And if what you say about Democrats defending their cronies were true, this story would never be appearing on left-leaning blogs/news sites. Yet here it is.

Posted at July 16, 2008 2:57 PM in response to Rangel Uses Official Letterhead to Solicit Donations for "Monument to Me"

What Dem primary? The primary isn't until September, and it looks like Franken has just token opposition.

That huge Coleman lead in the youth vote looks bizarre. Why has no other poll picked that up if it's right? I haven't seen an age breakdown in other polls. Anyway, even if Franken was supposed to be up big, it's still just mid-July. I wouldn't be asking where Franken's senate office will be located just yet.

Posted at July 15, 2008 3:32 PM in response to Not So Fast: Another Poll Shows Franken Trailing

The expectations DO matter. The reason 2006 was such a resounding defeat for the GOP was their insistence they were going to do all right. If they talk about getting blown out and then do better than that, they'll say the Democrats didn't win much after all and the media theme will be the Democrats unexpected defeat.

Posted at July 11, 2008 5:35 PM in response to Top GOPer Concedes That Party Has No Safe Senate Seats

I e-mailed my Democratic senator last night and urged her to not just vote for the Bingaman and Dodd amendments, but to filibuster the bill if neither passes. Don't know if I accomplished anything but she can't say she didn't hear from constituents.

Posted at July 9, 2008 11:06 AM in response to Mukasey to Testify Today; Senate to Vote on FISA

Then why don't the oil companies drill the 69 million acres they already have leased? Because they don't want more supply. The only reason to open more acreage to leasing is so the oil companies can claim more reserves, which means an increase in the stock price and the executive compensation. It won't however mean a single additional drop of oil.

Posted at July 3, 2008 4:48 PM in response to Vulnerable GOP Senator Recites Bogus China-Cuba Oil Myth

You don't know Coleman. He may be a weasel, but I've been watching him since he ran for mayor, and he's a good politician. His moderate voting record is mostly an election year conversion, but it's always been part of his rhetoric. He's more in contact with reality than many Republicans, a benefit perhaps of being a weathervane instead of an ideologue. His approval rating has always been around 50% which is the danger area for incumbents, but being vulnerable isn't the same as being weak, and this election would be tough for any opponent. If it were otherwise, I imagine there would have been more candidates for the DFL nomination.

On the other hand, please Franken and the DFL, hit Coleman on this, and on his statement that there were no oil spills caused by Katrina. He can be made to look like a liar or an idiot on an issue that working for the GOP.

Posted at July 3, 2008 4:45 PM in response to Vulnerable GOP Senator Recites Bogus China-Cuba Oil Myth

On the one hand, it's tempting to let these crooks continue to operate because the money they suck up isn't available for actual campaigning by Republican candidates. On the other hand, what would it do to Republican fundraising if grassroots conservatives came to believe that direct mail fundraising was likely to be fraudulent? Then the money really dries up, at least until they adapt, and considering how much conservative causes rely on direct mail, that's a big adaptation.

Posted at July 2, 2008 4:24 PM in response to Washington Fundraising Firm Drains Some Campaign Coffers, Not Others

Is there any legal justification at all for saying that a man detained while at an airport in the United States was never in the United States? I can't fathom what the majority was thinking.

It's probably up to Congress to award Arar his just compensation, because we know the fascists on the Supreme Court will uphold the decision.

Posted at July 1, 2008 4:00 PM in response to The Daily Muck

STOP THIS! Hasn't Franken written something offensive, somewhere sometime? Let's go on and on and on about that!

Posted at July 1, 2008 3:27 PM in response to CREW Files Complaint About Sen. Norm Coleman's Cheap Rent