Chris Dodd - Jezebel

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What Now? The Road Ahead, After Ted
Politicians Are Certainly All Unsure, Unless They're Sure.
More Obama Cabinetry And Lieberman Speculation
Sometimes I Wonder How Those Oil Companies Keep From Going Under…
Why Vote When You Can Drink?
Who Wore It Best? New Hampshire Debate Edition

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Little Green Frog (Wise Latina)
08/27/09

In reply to What Now? The Road Ahead, After Ted
I heard about this business of changing the law in Massachusetts. WTH? So you change it first to suit your needs, and now you want to change it back because it doesn't suit you anymore? It made me really mad, especially because it IS a needed law that should be passed on all states (we don't have that in GA).
Senators are elected by the people. If we lose a Senator, then we should elect another one, not have the Governor of the state appoint one for us without our input (Blago, anyone? The whole Caroline Kennedy fiasco in NY? Zell Miller?).
Yes, in this case it is unfortunate that it happened in the middle of the health care reform and to its biggest advocate, but I really, really dislike knee-jerk reactions that mess around with elections. This must be done the right way.
I'm trying to look for the segment where Rachel Maddow exposed this argument during her show in a better way than me.
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Little Green Frog (Wise Latina)
08/27/09

@Little Green Frog (Wise Latina): And I found it:
[www.msnbc.msn.com]
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Spaceman Bill Leah
08/27/09

@Little Green Frog (Wise Latina): Massachusetts is also the state that invented gerrymandering. We have a history of this shit.
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royaume de coeur
08/27/09

@Little Green Frog (Wise Latina): I don't think there's anyone saying that an appointment rather than election will happen - but in Massachusetts, the state law mandates a five month interim period. What Kennedy proposed will not change elections - it will simply allow an interim Senator to represent Massachusetts on the Senate floor while the special state election is held. I, as a Massachusetts resident, do not want to be underrepresented, especially when something as important as the health care reform is up for debate. I agree with the sentiment that it's wrong to change the laws and then change them back, but blame that on the existence of a Republican governor with a super-majority of Democrats in the state legislature. They didn't want Romney to have any opportunities to usurp them.
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Little Green Frog (Wise Latina)
08/27/09

@royaume de coeur: I agree that 5 months is a long to time to be underrepresented, but now that the state legislature is looking at changing that law, who knows what else they will do in addition to allow for an interim replacement. That is the "scary" part to me.
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Spaceman Bill Leah
08/27/09

In reply to What Now? The Road Ahead, After Ted
And my poor little MA is left with a senior Senator that has the personality of a thumbtack...
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boobookitteh
08/27/09

@Spaceman Bill Leah: here's a completely off topic story about John Kerry: in 1976 then Lt Gov John Kerry spoke at my sister's high school graduation. I remember sitting in the stands at only 8 years old thinking 'who IS this douchebag"

Over 30 years later, my opinion of him hasn't changed.
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Spaceman Bill Leah
08/27/09

@boobookitteh: Haaaaaaaaaaaa. Such an insightful child you were.
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royaume de coeur
08/27/09

In reply to What Now? The Road Ahead, After Ted
Just a note of correction: It's Deval Patrick, not Duval.

In Mass. and on Beacon Hill (I work on the Hill) there's been discussion of Mass. Attorney General Martha Coakley, a strong advocate for social justice, taking Kennedy's seat. She would be a great asset to Congress and would follow in Ted's footsteps in fighting for the disenfranchised.

Deval's much more of a managerial type - I don't think he's got the charisma or stubbornness to fight the battles on Capitol Hill.
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boobookitteh
08/27/09

@royaume de coeur: Oh that's kind of cool. I always liked Martha Coakley. I don't live in Mass anymore, but I understand Patrick's not too popular there these days so i don't know if he could get elected.
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J.D.Regent
08/27/09

@royaume de coeur: LOVE that idea
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stacyinbean
08/27/09

@royaume de coeur: That would be perfect, and she'd probably be elected pretty easily, I just hope they can do it VERY quickly. Deval might want it though because he certainly won't be re-elected as governor and this way he can be closer to BO.
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Edited by stacyinbean at 08/27/09 10:43 AM stacyinbean was starred stacyinbean was unstarred

Spaceman Bill Leah
08/27/09

@boobookitteh: I can state for a fact that my parents, Western MA Repubs (not like actual GOP), loathe him.
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boobookitteh
08/27/09

@Spaceman Bill Leah: The real measure is that my parents - elitist Lexington liberals don't like him either!
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PinkSoxHat
08/27/09

@stacyinbean: Deval is on the SCOTUS list, and he could also get a job in justice. Getting beaten badly in a special election would harm those chances. Hopefully he's smart enough not to run.
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NefariousNewt
08/27/09

In reply to What Now? The Road Ahead, After Ted
To be brutally frank, nothing changes, save one of the greatest advocates for change is gone. The House and Senate are still filled with competing bills, there is still savage and vocal criticism of reform, partisanship in Congress, and a White House back on its heels.

What has to come from this is a re-dedication to the cause. The White House has to come out hammering; time for the LBJ treatment. Cajole, harass, glad-hand, stiff-arm, talk, talk, and talk some more, build consensus, call in favors, make threats... whatever it takes.
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bluebears
08/27/09

@NefariousNewt a.k.a. General Awesomesauce: yeah, I have to say, I have lost all hope of a meaningful health care bill being passed and if anything Ted Kennedy's death made it seem even more hopeless. But let me also say, I never really thought he'd be back once he was diagnosed, a family member is dying of the same type of cancer and I know how quick and horrible it is.
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Edited by bluebears at 08/27/09 10:20 AM bluebears was starred bluebears was unstarred

Lymed
08/27/09

@NefariousNewt a.k.a. General Awesomesauce: Unfortunately, the advocate was gone months ago. I was hoping he could make it to Washington for the vote, but he could no longer be the advocate he was.
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NefariousNewt
08/27/09

@bluebears: Sorry to hear that -- that must make this doubly hard.
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bluebears
08/27/09

@NefariousNewt a.k.a. General Awesomesauce: thanks yeah. It was a bad day.
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Lymed
08/27/09

@bluebears: I am sorry. My aunt passed away a couple of years ago from the same cancer. I hope your family is finding peace and comfort.
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bluebears
08/27/09

@Lymed: Thanks. Honestly if I ever get diagnosed with this type of cancer I'm just gonna swallow a bunch of pills and say good-night.
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Rooo sez BISH PLZ
08/27/09

@NefariousNewt a.k.a. General Awesomesauce: IMHO, he's been doing that. I don't remember the last President who did healthcare townhall in shirtsleeves.

I think the problem, respectfully, is that he can't be the only one doing it. I don't care how many miles a day you run, that way lies burnout.
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Sputnik_Sweetheart
08/27/09

In reply to What Now? The Road Ahead, After Ted
Are any of the Boston Jezzies going to the "wake" at the JFK Library tonight? I really want to go and pay my respects, but I know it is going to be a mad house.
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NefariousNewt
08/27/09

@Sputnik_Sweetheart: No, but we're taking the kids up to Boston on Friday to see him at the library.
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bluetrain84
08/27/09

@Sputnik_Sweetheart: I think I might try for tomorrow morning's instead, although I also anticipate that the lines will be INSANE. If you work in the city, his motorcade will be going through this afternoon passing places in Boston that meant a lot to him (Faneuil Hall, state house, etc), so keep an eye out!
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AthertonMerriweather
08/27/09

@Sputnik_Sweetheart: I would like to, but think it'll be too crowded to be able to see anything. It'll be on the local news, so I plan on just watching it on tv.
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Sputnik_Sweetheart
08/27/09

@bluetrain84: I'd much rather go tomorrow as I think it would be slightly less crazy, but I have to work. It is tonight or not at all for me. :(
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Edited by Sputnik_Sweetheart at 08/27/09 10:22 AM Sputnik_Sweetheart was starred

boobookitteh
08/27/09

@Sputnik_Sweetheart: Also - I don't know if you've ever been to the JFK library, but it's not really set up for that kind of volume of people. I went to UMass Boston, right next door and there's very little parking and just a long narrow windy road to the library. Of course I graduated in 1994, so things might be better now.
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Sputnik_Sweetheart
08/27/09

@boobookitteh: I haven't been in ages, but the Bayside Expo is opening its parking lot for visitors so that should hopefully help.
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stacyinbean
08/27/09

@Sputnik_Sweetheart: I'll be heading over tonight, even if there's no chance of getting in.
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boobookitteh
08/27/09

@Sputnik_Sweetheart: They should have people park there and take shuttles to the library or shuttles from the T station.
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PinkSoxHat
08/27/09

@stacyinbean: They're supposedly keeping it open until everyone gets in. Strongly considering heading over myself.
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Penny
08/27/09

In reply to What Now? The Road Ahead, After Ted
My good friend and Boston transplant said yesterday, "maybe now the senate will pass a health bill out of respect."

I thought it was sweet.
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NefariousNewt
08/27/09

@Penny: But that may be the problem -- I don't want a bill passed simply because it would honor Ted Kennedy. I want a health care reform bill that makes sense and covers all Americans -- that would honor Ted Kennedy.
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Penny
08/27/09

@NefariousNewt a.k.a. General Awesomesauce: Oh, I know :-)
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AthertonMerriweather
08/27/09

@Penny: I hope so and I hope that his passing will cause Obama to get tough, tell people to go screw and pass the bill the way he wants.
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susanstohelit
08/27/09

@NefariousNewt a.k.a. General Awesomesauce: ITA. Just slapping Ted Kennedy's name on a crappy health care bill would be a disgrace to his memory - he'd always been a supporter of universal health care and REAL reform, not empty gestures
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Rooo sez BISH PLZ
08/27/09

@susanstohelit: I'm glad somebody said it.
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mizz2bee
11/14/08

In reply to Politicians Are Certainly All Unsure, Unless They're Sure.
The obstacle that Hillary has in the Senate is that she is a relative newcomer there. She can't do as much as the old guard. She doesn't have the seniority of many people, and so it would be years before she would get the choice committees. She could make an immediate diference as SOS. I personally don't think that she wanted the VP spot because if Obama had lost with her on the ticket, it would have hurt her chances in 2012 since it would have looked like she couldn't bring in the votes.
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brendastarlet is on it
11/14/08

@mizz2bee: if she goes back to the Senate, there is talk she wants to challenge Harry Reid as majority leader. But the Senate doesn't care that she got 18 million votes in the primaries: they care that she's in the middle of her second term and has never been a committee chair. If she is SOS, she gets the big plane, she gets a big staff, she can send Bill off as the special representative to somewhere, she can entertain at her beautiful house. Meanwhile, Obama still has Biden and whomever he choses as NSC advisor, and he can let her do her thing.

The only problem is Bill: would he try to act as SOS himself, speak for her, and get her and Obama in trouble? You can't control him.
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robot ninja spy
11/13/08

In reply to Politicians Are Certainly All Unsure, Unless They're Sure.
Sorry to threadjack, but Rachel Maddow totally just referenced Spencer Ackerman and if I don't type that out, I won't remember to mention it during CH tomorrow.

/threadjack
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PilgrimSoul
11/13/08

@r.n. spy hearts robert downey, jr.: I heard it too.
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Vivien Smith-Smythe-Smith
11/13/08

In reply to Politicians Are Certainly All Unsure, Unless They're Sure.
You know, professing one's allegiance to Israel is neither the excuse nor the occasion for slurs about Arabs. Very uncool.
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annejumps
11/13/08

In reply to Politicians Are Certainly All Unsure, Unless They're Sure.
Omgggg, I hope he comes to Georgia. *flails*
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TRexstasy
11/14/08

@annejumps: SQUEEEEEEEE!!!11!!

Me too, me too!
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anonymiss
11/13/08

In reply to Politicians Are Certainly All Unsure, Unless They're Sure.
i'd also like to note that a part of obamas economic plan is offering tax breaks ONLY for companies who do not outsource and close domestic offices. auto makers, take note!
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PilgrimSoul
11/13/08

@anonymiss: hey, Lou Dobbs. :) just because jobs were once done by Americans doesn't mean it might not now be appropriate to do them elsewhere.
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odinsraven
11/13/08

In reply to Politicians Are Certainly All Unsure, Unless They're Sure.
This is taken from a Time article, and explains why GM has us all fucked:

"But ultimately, whether GM is dead or alive, the taxpayers are on the hook for billions, for everything from lost tax revenues to higher unemployment costs to taking over GM's pension obligations. The decision that Washington has to make is whether we pay for GM's survival or for its funeral."

So we either pay to keep everyone employed, or we pay when everyone becomes unemployed. Sounds awesome.
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PilgrimSoul
11/13/08

@odinsraven: Time is really fucking oversimplifying that choice.
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rmric0.wedding.photographer.and.manny
11/13/08

@odinsraven: At least under that we could put them to work for us.
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hellosunshine
11/13/08

In reply to Politicians Are Certainly All Unsure, Unless They're Sure.
I'd just like to share that I currently have a bag of Pizza Cravers and a box of wine in my possession. Jealous?
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Crabby Cakes
11/13/08

@hellodarling loves president obama!!!: That really makes me want to skip step class and head straight for the Barefoot wine and burgers.
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TheFormerJuneBronson
11/13/08

@hellodarling loves president obama!!!: I'm breaking into the nog and Crown Royal tonight. The hell with Thanksgiving.
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hellosunshine
11/13/08

@Crabby Cakes is SOLID AS BARACK!: Yeah, I haven't worked out in, uh, I can't remember and so every day I'm all "today's the day I will do a workout!" and yet? Today was so crappy that I'm all eff that noise, it's time for alcohol and crap food.

All I need is a giant bowl and this day will be THE BEST.
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anonymiss
11/13/08

In reply to Politicians Are Certainly All Unsure, Unless They're Sure.
im starting to think i should start a business, but kinda knowing it will fail, continue to operate under the policies that lead to my business losing money and not being competitive, then ill be like, "yo what up guys wheres my billions".
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Crabby Cakes
11/13/08

@anonymiss: Anonymiss, demanding money is NO WAY to get money from the government! You have to be WAY more whiny about it, use completely irrelevant statistics and parade them around as fact and scare the American populace into thinking this is the only answer!
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anonymiss
11/13/08

@Crabby Cakes is SOLID AS BARACK!: *takes furious notes*

IM GONNA BE RICH BITCH!
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Crabby Cakes
11/13/08

@anonymiss: Also, complain about having no money while you and your executives take wildly luxurious "business trips."
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ceejeemcbeegee is not here
11/13/08

In reply to Politicians Are Certainly All Unsure, Unless They're Sure.
And for the record, Hillary got serious consideration.
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