The Blue State

And you thought 2006 was a landslide

We have been taught over the years that all politics in local.  In 2006, however, the midterm elections became a national referendum on the party responsible for the Iraq war, corruption and mismanagement.  As political scientist Stuart Rothenberg notes, while the presidential election will be front and center, so too will be the race for majority in the US Senate.  22 of the 34 Senate seats up for grabs are Republican:

The National Republican Senatorial Committee starts out with threemigraines — New Hampshire and open seats in Colorado and Virginia. Bythe end of the year, Democratic candidates could be running ahead inballot tests in all three states.

Three other states whereRepublicans lead seem headed for tight races: Maine, Minnesota andOregon. All three states lean Democratic in presidential races, and theGOP’s weak national standing increases the risk for Sens. Susan Collins(Maine), Norm Coleman (Minn.) and Gordon Smith (Ore.), each of whomwould likely win re-election comfortably in a neutral politicalenvironment.

In addition, the uncertainty about Nebraska, whereSen. Chuck Hagel is less than even money to run for re-election, andquestions about New Mexico and Alaska, where incumbents long assumed tobe safe have ethics clouds hanging over their heads, make a Democraticgain of five to seven seats a serious possibility next year.

The Democrats will face tough challenges in Louisiana and South Dakota.  If they can win those two, we are looking at the possibility of them picking up somewhere between three and nine Senate seats.  Nine additional seats would give the Democrats 59 total, which pretty much assures their being able to force cloture on every measure.  With a Democrat in the White House as well, so much could get done between 2009 and the end of 2010, when the next congressional elections are held.

Aside from Iraq, this Congress has been a success

When you subtract the Democrats' half-hearted effort to end this war, they actually have accomplished a lot in other areas.  In the two years Democrats have to accomplish their six campaign pledges, it took just nine months for the Democrats to accomplish half of them:

The passage of the student loan bill on Friday is the fourth measureheaded to  President Bush’s desk from the Democrats’ “Six in ’06”campaign pledge. If Bush signs the education bill as expected, three ofthe Democrats’ high-profile legislative promises will have become lawless than nine months into their majority.

So in all, here are the six major promises that the Democrats made during last year's campaign season:

1. Minimum Wage -- Passed and signed
2. 9/11 Commission Recommendations - Passed and signed
3. Student Aid -- Passed and about to be signed
4. Energy Independence
5. Retirement Security
6. Affordable Health Care

Congress passes sweeping changes in student aid

You cannot say this would ever happen under a Republican Congress.  On Friday, the Democratic Senate and House passed legislation that would decrease student loan interest payments:

Congress on Friday approved the largest overhaul of education fundingin more than 60 years, a $20.9-billion program that would boostfinancial aid to students and reduce interest payments on their loans.

Students who enter certain public sector jobs would have their debtserased under the plan, the total cost of which would be offset byslashing government subsidies to lenders. It also calls for a$510-million investment in minority colleges.

The program would have particular impact in California, which has morerecipients of low-income student grants than any other state. Thebill's increases to those Pell Grants are expected to benefit about 5.5million needy students nationwide.

As a recent college graduate who had to deal with student loans, this legislation is incredibly good news.  In many cases what we have happening are people even as old as 28 still paying off college debt, mostly due to all the interest.  The average student graduates with $19,000 in debt.

Specifically, here are the key details:

• Maximum Pell Grant increased from $4,050 to $5,400.
• Interest rates cut from 6.8% to 3.4%.
• All of the changes would take affect by the year 2012.

The Senate passed it by a vote of 79-12, and in the House it was 292-97.  Bush is expected to sign the bill.

Democrats might be getting the picture

This isn't done deal yet.  But it looks like the number two-ranked Senate Democrat, Dick Durbin (D-IL), is putting his foot down and will oppose new war funding unless the money is tied to a withdrawal strategy:

Durbin’s commitment--and a forceful speech he delivered against newfunding for Bush’s war strategy--positions an influential Senate leaderin favor of a hard line at a moment when some Democrats are signaling awillingness to compromise on war funding.

“This Congress can’t give President Bush another blank check for hiswar in Iraq,” Durbin said. Later, he added, “The Consitution givesCongress a means to force the President to change course: the power ofthe purse. For the sake of our long-term national security interests,Congress needs to use that authority now.”

Durbin had better realize that if he puts his foot down on this issue and then lifts it back up, there will be lots of angry progressives and calls for him to give up his leadership post.

This is just in the nick of time.  Remember, the White House is asking for more money:

The White House is expected to ask for some $200 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan for the fiscal year that starts on October 1.

Pretty much all progressives agree that the only money allotted for Iraq should be funds that pay for redeployment from the country.  Like with other blogs, Democrats who vote for funding without a plan for complete withdrawal will be outed on this web site.  Enough is enough.

GOP lawmaker found dead today

Congressman Paul Gillmor, a Republican from Ohio, was found dead in his apartment today after not showing up for work:

The body of the 68-year-old congressman was found by staff members whowent to his apartment Wednesday after he failed to show up for work,according to a Republican aide who spoke on condition of anonymitypending an official announcement.There was no immediate word on thecause of his death.

Gillmor's office did not respond to a reporter's call.

Gillmor has enjoyed a long career in public service:

Gillmor, who represented Ohio's heavily Republican 5th District in theBowling Green area, was first elected to Congress in 1988.

According to the Cleveland Leader, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland will hold a special election to fill the US House seat.  It is located in a solidly Republican district:

Gov. Ted Strickland will have to call a special election for his seatin the house. The district that Gillmor served is solid territory forthe GOP so Democrats most likely won't have much of a challenge whoeverthe party puts in as a candidate for the seat.

When kind-heartedness becomes indifference

Two years after the mortgage company Countrywide promised to help Katrina victims by suspending their mortgage payments, the company is not remaining true to its word:

According to a class-action lawsuit filed in Louisiana today,homeowners say the mortgage giant is now demanding any deferredpayments be paid up immediately, often with interest and penaltiesattached. Plaintiffs' attorneys say that as a result, many strugglinghomeowners have been sent into foreclosure.

In a goodwill gesture after Katrina hit two years ago, Countrywideannounced it would suspend mortgage payments for hurricane victims forup to 90 days. Homeowners say they were told by Countrywide agents thatany deferred payments would be added to the back end of the loan term,and that no lump sum, interest or penalties would be imposed.

According to the lawsuit, however, homeowners have been notified byCountrywide that they have to either pay the entire deferred amountimmediately or restructure their loan in a way that would cost themthousands of additional dollars.

We write all the time about war profiteering.  This is flood profiteering.  If these Katrina victims don't pay back their loans, Countrywide stands to rake in huge profits off all the interest.  Also, for this to happen on the two-year anniversary of Katrina is insulting.

Please call or email Countrywide and tell them how you feel about their indifference towards Gulf Coast residents, many of which are still trying to put their lives back together.

Also, email your Senators and House Representative, and urge them to investigate these despicable tactics by the mortgage industry.

Cartoon: Brainless: Life After Rove

(click for larger view)

By Andrew Wahl of the Wenatchee World

Each week for the last two years, cartoonist Andrew Wahl has submitted a political toon to The Blue State blog.  After a brief summer hiatus, he's back!

Rove accused Fox host of being agent of Democratic Congress

I missed this one yesterday, but got a laugh out of it this morning when I read it.  Karl Rove went on three Sunday news shows -- Meet the Press, Face the Nation and Fox News Sunday.  Of the three, Rove seemed to be the most annoyed during the Fox interview.

When host Chris Wallace asked Rove why he chose not to comply with a congressional subpoena, the White House adviser who will resign at the end of the month seemed a bit irked by the question:

Mr. Rove said the Constitution prevented him from complying with aCongressional subpoena to describe his part in the firings of United States attorneys.

When Mr. Wallace argued that executive privilege did not prevent himfrom answering a reporter’s questions (“Why did you push to fire someU.S. attorneys in the president’s second term?”), Mr. Rove turnedtesty. “I know you don’t understand you’re being an agent of Congresswhen you ask me that question,” he said. “But you are.”

Fox News is usually considered by Bush officials as a safe harbor.

Chris Wallace an agent of the Democrats?  Now that is a line we will definitely never hear anyone use again.

Congress? Who Needs Congress?

Remember back in 2006 when the Democrats promised the American people that if elected to the majority, they would start holding the Bush Administration responsible for their activities. Some even suggested that some of the problems the country is facing can be traced back to a Republican Congress that simply "rubber-stamped" everything on the White House agenda.
Well times, have changed! And with Bush's presidency entering lame duck status, the time has come to slowly submit to a hostile legislative branch, and attempt to salvage any chance of a Republican at 1600 Pennsylvania come January 2009. Right?
Wrong!

His strength is sapped by an unpopular war, Democrats are running Congress, and the 2008 presidential election is in full roar, distracting attention from the president's priorities. With dwindling options, Bush has decided he might get more done in his final months by going it alone.

That's right! Now that Congress isn't giving Bush what he wants, he'll simply stop asking them to approve his programs and just start making changes himself. But surely these must be minor issues we're talking about here. No way would anyone in the White House be brazen enough to go after the big fish. Here are three examples of issues that Bush is attempting to  bypass Congress on are:

• Immigration
• Energy
• Education

Like I said, minor issues. No need to bring Congress in on this. Let the monarchy mayhem continue! I would love to see the headline in tomorrow's paper, "President Bush Declares Legislative Branch Unnecessary: Disbands Congress."

$8 million for new House gym?

If only House Democrats like Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) spent just as much energy trying to get us out of Iraq as they do trying to renovate the House gym, we might actually get somewhere.  Shockingly, this excerpt is actually true:

Pelosi is set to square off against Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), the power-lifting chairman of the House gym committee.

Abercrombie is touting his efforts to secure funding in the legislativebranch spending bill to begin an estimated $8 million renovation of theHouse gym. The project is personally important to Abercrombie, who setsa yearly goal to bench-press 200 pounds more than his age, now 69.

Pelosi and other Democratic leaders are not eager for amultimillion-dollar renovation of the congressional members-only gym tobe one of the first accomplishments of the Democratic majority. Theyworry that freshman Democrats could be attacked on the campaign trailnext year for approving a fancy new gym for themselves after winningoffice.

There actually is a House Gym Committee.  It consists of two lawmakers, one Republican and one Democrat (so this is not just a Democrat problem!).  When Democrats won majority last November, Abercrombie knew he would take over as chairman.

As a fitness fanatic myself, I can understand the need for the House to have a fitness center.  But $8 million?  Hilton and Marriott hotels put together great fitness rooms in their resorts for a microscopically small fraction of that price.  If anything, clean the place out, buy new equipment and maybe give it a new paint job.  But again, $8 million?  We did not vote the Democrats into power for this.  Their jobs are to end the war in Iraq, fight corruption and hold Bush accountable.

So please, Abercrombie, don't waste the Madam Speaker's time by trying to fight her on this meaningless issue.