TresSugar

Carly Fiorina's Spotty Voting Record: Shocking or So What?

TresSugar — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman isn't the only businesswoman gunning for a political career in California. Republican Carly Fiorina, once the head of Hewlett-Packard, wants to challenge Barbara Boxer to her senate seat. Just one problem: she has a very spotty voting record.

According to Morris County, NJ, election officials, Fiorina registered to vote in 1997 but never actually voted there; her record in California isn't consistent either. A Fiorina spokesperson says that while "she didn't vote all the time . . . she did vote." Would you vote for a senator who doesn't vote much herself?

Front Page: Health Sec. Confirmation Sped Up Due to Swine Flu

TresSugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 08:00:57 -0700

The Senate is expected to confirm Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as Secretary of Health and Human Services today, so she can quickly start her response to swine flu. - AP
Since the outbreak of swine flu, the WHO and the CDC have been trying to balance the need to provide information about the deadly disease without causing panic. - New York Times
Fox has declined to air President Obama's primetime news conference Wednesday, instead sticking with the regularly scheduled show Lie to Me. - AP
A photo op intended to capture images of an Air Force One plane with a majestic Statue of Liberty set off a panic yesterday in NYC. - AP
A cult leader being held on the French India Ocean island of Reunion for child sex charges escaped from the jail in a helicopter. - AFP
While his fiancée is still by his side, the wedding for accused "Craigslist Killer" Phillip Markoff has been called off. - People

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Briefing Book! Burris Ignores Trouble, Gears Up For Election

LibertySugar — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:30:19 -0800

Illinois Sen. Roland Burris is gearing up for his 2010 election bid. - Wonkette
Lobbyist Vicki Iseman speaks out, says she did not have an affair with John McCain. - Huffington Post
World's first Jackie Chan museum opening in Shanghai. - Shanghaiist
Model sues after runway slip. - Lemondrop
Newt Gingrich is back with new NYT magazine profile. - Town Hall
CIA destroyed 100 terror interrogation tapes. - Huffington Post

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Senate Passes Stimulus Bill: Now What?

CitizenSugar — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 11:00:27 -0800

The Senate has passed its version of the stimulus bill. After the Democrats secured the votes, Senator Charles Shumer asked Republicans to acknowledge the economic crisis, and "that they actually lost the election.”

The bill passed by a 61 to 37 vote margin. Three Republican senators did cross party lines to vote for the bill, including: Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, and Olympia Snowe (pictured here), and Susan Collins of Maine. Independents make up the largest majority of voters in Maine, a state that has been hit hard with job loss.

The Senate bill must now be reconciled with the House version that had more aid for states and local governments, along with fewer tax cuts. After the House-Senate conference committee comes up with a compromise bill, the debate and voting will happen again in both chambers.

Meanwhile, President Obama is holding a town hall meeting in Ft. Myers, FL. If you need a recap - positive spin included - the White House Blog is live blogging. Woah!

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Rejected Artists: Senate Removes Art From Stimulus Package

CitizenSugar — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 09:30:33 -0800

Looks like the Grammys wish for a secretary of the arts won't be coming true anytime soon. The Senate voted 73-24 yesterday to ensure the arts will not receive any of President Obama's stimulus package.

The amendment will not only hit museums, theaters, and art centers, but also other leisure-loving places like swimming pools, zoos, and community parks. It will "ensure that taxpayer money is not lost on wasteful and nonstimulative projects." Unstimulating art is the worst anyway!

The House's original plan penciled in $50 million - a 1/17,000 piece of the $827 billion pie. Americans For the Arts, an advocacy and lobbying organization, hopes to delete the amendment from the final draft. It's launching an email campaign and placing ads that say "Arts=Jobs" in political journals this weekend.

But when three-quarters of the Senate says no, last-minute efforts to reverse its decision sounds like wishful thinking. Artists!

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Should There Be Special Elections When Senators Resign?

CitizenSugar — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:30:47 -0800

Senator Russ Feingold has plans to introduce a constitutional amendment that would call for special elections when a senator leaves Congress midterm.

In a press release, Feingold explained why he wants to end appointments by governors:

The controversies surrounding some of the recent gubernatorial appointments to vacant Senate seats make it painfully clear that such appointments are an anachronism that must end. In 1913, the 17th Amendment to the Constitution gave the citizens of this country the power to finally elect their senators. They should have the same power in the case of unexpected midterm vacancies, so that the Senate is as responsive as possible to the will of the people.

While the drama-filled headlines about Caroline Kennedy and Gov. Blagojevich make this amendment seem very prudent, there could be some unintended consequences. A president might become reluctant to appoint senators to administration positions for fear that a political rival may win a special election. In addition special elections come with a hefty price tag.

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Do You Think the Roland Burris Affair Is Fair?

CitizenSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:30:47 -0800

We've all heard the tale by now: Illinois’s governor Roland Burris was appointed to replace President-elect Barack Obama as a US Senator, only he was appointed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was recently arrested by federal agents and accused of trying to sell the seat to raise campaign money. While most critics admit Burris is qualified, Democratic party leaders said they wouldn’t recognize anybody Blagojevich named.

Burris went on The Early Show yesterday and dismissed his critics, saying his appointment was valid and even showed up for the Senate later in the day, only to be refused. He then announced he was rejected for the seat while lawmakers waited the gaveling of the 111th Congress into session. Burris's lawyers were quick to say an "extraordinarily arbitrary and unlawful process is afoot." The news today is that Burris is sitting down with Senate leaders and may be granted a seat, despite all the hoopla.

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Should Caroline Kennedy Disclose Financial Records?

LibertySugar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:00:55 -0800

If NY Gov. Paterson appoints Caroline Kennedy to the US Senate, not only will she avoid an election (for now), but she will also dodge a requirement to file a 10-part, public report filled with details about her financial assets, credit card debt, mortgages, book deals, and any source of payments over $5,000 in the last three years. Theoretically, Caroline could disclose the usual information in a gesture of transparency; instead, she says she will wait to comply with disclosure requirements until after she is chosen as senator, if she is chosen at all.

Little is known about Kennedy's personal finances, except for the assumption that she is wealthy. According to the New York Times, while working for the New York City Department of Education, she declined a salary, which exempted her from disclosure rules. While I can't blame anyone for wanting some privacy, I'm not sure she'll find much working as a US senator.

Since she's going to release them at some point if she gets the job, do you think Caroline should disclose her financial records now for appearance's sake?

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Front Page: Al Franken Clings to Lead in Endless Senate Race

CitizenSugar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 07:40:25 -0800

The Minnesota Canvasing Board is prepared to award the final bundle of recounted votes, with Democrat Al Franken clinging to a narrow lead. But there's still no telling when the Senate race will actually be finished. - AP
In the West African country of Guinea, a previously unknown military group said they seized power and suspended the constitution in the hours following the death of authoritarian President Lansana Conté. - New York Times

Hillary Clinton formally took the $13.2 million loan she made to her presidential campaign off the books, helping ease her campaign debt and pave the way for her Senate confirmation as secretary of state. - Bloomberg
The state of California could be broke in two months, unless a budget deal is met. - AP

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Senate Seats: Caroline Wants NY's, IL Too Poor For Vote

LibertySugar — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:00:27 -0800

When word broke that Joe Biden's chief of staff would replace the senator from Delaware when he becomes VP, nobody paid much attention, but that's not the case when it comes to seats recently warmed by Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Today, news broke that Caroline Kennedy indeed wants the soon-to-be-free seat once filled by her uncle Bobby, and now occupied by Hillary. After wrestling with a decision to enter the public spotlight, Caroline appears ready to carry on the Kennedy dynasty.

Meanwhile, embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich still has the sole authority to appoint Barack Obama's replacement. While state legislators try to impeach the governor, another option gaining momentum includes holding a special election to let voters determine who should represent them. To find out how much a special election would cost, read more.

When it comes to letting voters decide, Illinois state clerks say not so fast - the election officials warn that there's no money to pay for the special election, which would cost between $13 and $16 million.

Do you think Gov. Paterson should pick Caroline Kennedy? And over in Illinois, is no cost too high when it comes to upholding democracy?

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