TresSugar

Say What?

TresSugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:51:50 -0700

"I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary. I am ready, willing and anxious to take on all comers and have my candidacy for re-election determined in a general election. Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans."

-Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter announced today that he's switching parties. This will give the Democrats a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, assuming Al Franken is eventually seated as Minnesota's senator. President Obama called Specter to say the Democrats "are thrilled to have you."

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Do You Ever Feel Like a "Closet" Democrat or Republican?

CitizenSugar — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:30:17 -0800

Republican Congressman Anh "Joseph" Cao represents a very Democratic district in Louisiana. Last night, he joked that he might be a "closet Democrat" despite his official party affiliation. He also said that parties shouldn't define lawmakers since "we are basically servants of the citizens of the United States."

Cao's statement about being a secret member of the opposition party got me thinking - how often do people's party identification and actual political views clash?

Living in San Francisco many people I know identify as Democrats, since "Republican" has been a bad word here, especially over the last eight years. Still, I have some "democratic" friends who hold pretty conservative views. Maybe they're just to afraid to admit they're actually Republicans. On the other hand, I know some "liberal" adverse individuals who actually support gay marriage, abortion rights, and maybe even some government action to help the economy.

Do you ever feel like if you followed your head, and not your heart, you'd probably switch party affiliation?

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Boehner: Hard to Sell GOP Ideas Since Dems Offer Theirs Free

CitizenSugar — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:30:26 -0800

House Minority leader John Boehner thinks the Republicans have a marketing problem, not an idea problem. See, the Democrats have an unfair advantage. They peddle the notion that Americans can get something for nothing. Naturally, everything sells faster when it's free!

Boehner explained yesterday:

We have a tougher job than our friends across the aisle. They’ve been offering Americans a free lunch for the last 80 years, rather successfully. Those of us that believe in a smaller, more accountable government, we have a tougher time making our principles relevant to the American people. But it’s our challenge, and we’ve got to do it.

I'm pretty sure most politicians offer a free lunch from time to time. They have to win elections after all. Which idea do you think is easier to sell: small government or big government? How about we just settle on smart government.

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Obama Unleashes at Dem's Retreat - Productive or Partisan?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 09:30:13 -0800

At the Democrats retreat last night, President Obama sounded more like candidate Obama using tough language to repudiate his Republican critics and fire up the Democratic majority.

Calling his opposition's ideas "tired" and "worn," Obama maintained that Americans had voted against false theories of the past. And he asked Republicans rhetorically: "What do you think a stimulus is? It’s spending - that's the whole point! Seriously.” But some of his strongest language came for his predecessor George W. Bush, when he said:

When they say, "Well, why are we spending $800 billion [when] we’ve got this huge deficit?" – first of all, I found this deficit when I showed up, No. 1. I found this national debt, doubled, wrapped in a big bow waiting for me as I stepped into the Oval Office.

Do you think Obama's new found fighting spirit will help get the US economy back on track?

Biggest Headlines of 2008: Barack Obama Defeats Hillary Clinton For Nomination

CitizenSugar — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:30:29 -0800

Hillary Clinton had the name, the experience, the money, the contacts, and the tenacity - yet her momentum of inevitability couldn't stop Barack Obama. Before he upset Hillary in the Iowa primary, few people took the two-year senator's chances of beating the front-runner seriously. His victorious finish in the the marathon Democratic primary proved to be one of the most shocking headlines of 2008, and of American political history.

Obama's ability to persevere through dozens of debates with such a policy-expert as Hillary, and his skill in dodging the kitchen sink lobbed his way from Camp Clinton proved to make him a stronger general election candidate. The early airing of potential scandals (like Rev. Wright or the Obama in Muslim garb pictures) and Obama's demonstration of executive prowess in running a capable campaign most likely got Americans more confident in his presidential abilities.

And, of course, the storyline for these two Democrats is far from over. Perhaps something they accomplish together as president and secretary of state will make the cut for biggest headline of 2009! As for this past year, stay tuned because we'll be looking back on all the biggest news from 2008!

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Front Page: Georgia's Runoff For US Senate Seat Underway!

CitizenSugar — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:00:19 -0800

Today Georgians go to the polls to vote in the runoff for their US Senate seat. If Democratic challenger Jim Martin beats Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss, the Democrats will be one seat away from a 60-seat supermajority. - Atlanta Journal
After declaring a fiscal emergency in California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger urged lawmakers to "get off of their rigid ideologies" and work toward solving the state's financial crisis. The Governor warned that California could run out of cash in two months. - LA Times

India's foreign minister has demanded that Pakistan arrest and turn over about 20 people wanted under Indian law as fugitives. Indian officials maintain that the planners of the recent attacks are at large in Pakistan and have demanded Pakistan take action. - New York Times
A cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe, caused by contaminated drinking water, has killed nearly 500 people. - BBC News
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Briefing Book! Al Franken's Bid For Senate Seat Dealt Blow

LibertySugar — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:30:18 -0800

Senate: Supermajority dream beginning to fade? Minnesota board rejects Al Franken's absentee appeal. - Donklephant
Obama: Is Obama bringing change to the cabinet? President-elect tells reporter that "the change will come from me." – Huffington Post
Liberals: This one is a joke? Liberal ad says thank you, Sarah Palin. - 23/6
Race: Fear of "race card" accusations handcuffed McCain campaign? Advisers describe an environment of overwhelming caution. - Townhall

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Does Barack Obama Have a Mandate?

LibertySugar — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:30:16 -0800

Speaking about uncertain economic times at a press conference today, President-elect Barack Obama said one thing's for certain: He has a mandate. Obama explained:

We had, I think, a decisive win, because of the extraordinary desire for change on the part of the American people. And so I don't think there is any question that we have a mandate to move the country in a new direction, and not continue the same old practices that have gotten us into the fix that we're in.

Despite his confidence that he has the political capital to change the country's course, Obama also said he realizes a large portion of the country voted for John McCain and that "wisdom is not the monopoly of any one party." Do you agree with Obama's bold statement that Americans support his agenda for change?

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Democrats Keep Former Enemy Lieberman Close

LibertySugar — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:30:28 -0800

Joe Lieberman used up another one of his political lives, after Senate Democrats voted today to let him keep his chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee. The 2004 Democratic VP nominee, turned defeated primary candidate, turned independent senator delivered some hard punches against Barack Obama during the presidential campaign, on behalf of his Republican friend John McCain.

Instead of truly punishing Lieberman by stripping him of the crucial post, the Democratic caucus, including newly elected senators, voted to remove him from chair of the less-important Environmental Public Works Committee, a symbolic gesture.

The 42-13 vote for Lieberman today proved that independence from the party won't cost you power. Do you think the decision to keep Lieberman in power was a signal of a postpartisan era to come, or a rejection of the American people who voted for change?

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The Democrats Are Coming! Boom in Gun Sales After Election

LibertySugar — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 10:00:01 -0800

Making sure to exercise their Second Amendment rights before it's too late, firearm fans have gone on a shopping spree. Gun shop owners report record sales since Tuesday, suspecting that customers fear a Democratic federal government could curtail the right to bear arms with new gun control laws. In fact in October, there were 15 percent more background checks issued for new purchases.

Barack Obama's stance on gun control shouldn't cause too much panic in the gun-carrying community. The president-elect has said that he "will protect the rights of hunters and other law-abiding Americans to purchase, own, transport, and use guns." He also believes the Second Amendment creates an individual right, just as the Supreme Court decided earlier this year. Even so, Obama does support national legislation against carrying concealed firearms, and he may reinstate the ban on semiautomatic assault weapons.

If you're a gun enthusiast, do you feel like your rights will come under fire from the new Democratic leadership, or are you comforted by the fact that a lot of other problems might push gun control to the bottom of the agenda?

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