America’s long tradition of town hall meetings under attack from GOP agitators
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The town hall meeting is ingrained in the history of New England from its earliest colonial days. While in decline, the town hall meeting is still the form of government in use today in a number of small towns in New England. History of Town Meeting: Origins of Small Town Government and … Read more
Tuition tax credit, STO articles, part 2
by David SafierThe 3rd and 4th article in the East Valley Tribune's series, Rigged Privilege, came out Tuesday. The stories contain further evidence of the abuses of tuition tax credits by both private schools and School Tuition Organizations. Schools teach parents how to skirt law details some outlandish behavior by schools and STOs and is … Read more
GOP Astroturf for K Street Lobbyists and the Status Quo
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The health insurance industry lobbyists, right-wing political action committees, and the RNC are orchestrating an Astroturf campaign to disrupt townhall meetings of Democratic members of Congress to create YouTube moments for the easily gullible and incompetent mainstream media to report as public opposition to health care reform. The people who show up at these … Read more
New DNC Ad: Enough of the Mob
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The Democratic National Committee released a new web ad on Tuesday evening, accusing the Republican Party of being taken over by an angry mob of "birther" conspiracy theorists and disgruntled partisans. DNC Goes All In: Takes On Birthers, Conservative "Mob" In New Web Ad The spot, titled "Enough of the Mob," is … Read more
DNC ads praise Reps. Giffords and Kirkpatrick for health care work
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The Democratic National Committee's Organizing for America arm is launching radio spots praising two centrist Arizona congresswomen for "taking on the lobbyists and the special interests and standing up for us and our families" and "working every day to make sure we have affordable quality health care." AZ/DC Blog: DNC ads praise … Read more
Who exactly are the Blue Dogs trying to appease?
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Blue Dog Democrats got elected to office on the strength of progressive party activists and union members walking, phone banking, and contributing money and material to their campaigns (often suppressing their concerns over supporting a Democrat who self-identifies as "conservative"). You don't show gratitude to your supporters by biting the hand that … Read more
John McCain, then and now
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: What a difference a year makes. And the electorate to which he is trying to appeal (in this case, rabid GOP primary voters in Arizona). BarbinMD at Daily Kos posts this helpful reminder That Was Then, This Is Now, McCain Edition: [On Monday] John McCain said: … he'll oppose Supreme Court nominee … Read more
Health care reform in Giffords’, Grijalva’s words
by David SafierI've spend a fair number of words criticizing Giffords, both for her vague stand on health care reform and for some of the roadblocks she and other Blue Dogs have erected in its path. So in fairness, I'm going to give Giffords a chance to speak for herself, though a column that just … Read more
