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Palin's 'Alaska': Political misstep? Or masterstroke?
One writer at the "Boston Herald" had this response: "Embarrassing? You betcha!" In "Newsweek," though, author Shelley Ross called Sarah Palin's new reality show "a flash of political brilliance." The first episode of "Alaska," like all things Palin, has detractors and supporter talking different languages.
Tea Party Patriots fall flat on transparency and stupid on tactics
The Tea Party Patriots have got a lot of explaining to do. Fresh off helping campaigns for GOP wins in the U.S. House of Representatives, members in the Tea Party Patriots organization appear to be playing dirty tricks on Capitol Hill to the dismay of tea party activists who supported efforts of the organization during the midterm elections.
Congressman-elect Michael Grimm - a.k.a 'Mikey Suits'
If you thought the mob stopped using nicknames to refer to their associates, Congressman-elect Michael Grimm, New York Republican, will tell you otherwise. Mr. Grimm, a former undercover FBI agent who investigated organized crime on Wall Street, earned the nickname "Mikey Suits" by those he infiltrated during his crime-fighting days.
Democratic shake-up looks less likely
In the almost two weeks since the Nov. 2 elections, there's been a lot of speculation about how Washington Democrats would respond: Would the party move to the right by following the advice of Blue Dogs who want a more centrist leader than Rep. Nancy Pelosi? Would it tack to the left by voting down moderate Rep. Steny Hoyer, the No. 2 Democrat in the House, in his bid for a leadership position? With just a few days before the caucus votes on those leadership decisions, the answer is starting look like the Democrats will stand pat.
Conservative lawmakers go head to head on earmarks
Post GOP victory celebrations,conservative activists are wondering just how seriously Republicans in Washington will take their pledges to stop massive government spending. Senator James Inhofe, Oklahoma Republican, has publicly spoken out against an earmark moratorium proposed by Republican Jim DeMint of South Carolina. Both conservative lawmakers are at odds with the issue and Mr. Inhofe plans to defend his position further next week.
Tea party politicizing Dancing With the Stars?
Bristol Palin is one of the four finalists on "Dancing With the Stars," the No. 1 rated show in the country, a fact that has bedeviled some fans and critics. The 20-year-old daughter of the former governor of Alaska has consistently earned low scores from the show's on-camera judges, but those scores are combined, a la "American Idol," with the contestant's call-in vote, where Miss Palin is a juggernaut. The show's producers think tea party voters who back Sarah Palin have turned "Dancing With the Stars" into a referendum on the power of grass roots political muscle.
Tea party setback? Bachmann drops leadership bid
Rep. Michele Bachmann, Minnesota Republican, has ended her bid to become chairman of the Republican House Conference and now supports Texas Republican Jeb Hensarling, who will likely get the post. "Jeb Hensarling has my enthusiastic support for his candidacy," Ms. Bachmann said Wednesday night. "Jeb has demonstrated his commitment to limited government, reduced spending and lower taxes and he will be a strong voice for the tea party’s call for these values." Mr. Hensarling has been the likely favorite for the job -- the fourth highest-ranking post for House Republicans -- since the party took control of the chamber in last week's elections.
Bachmann drops bid for GOP Conference Chair
Michele Bachmann, Minnesota Republican, dropped her bid to become House Republican Conference chair. In a statement, Ms. Bachman released on Wednesday night, she threw her support behind Rep. Jeb Hensarling, Texas Republican.
Conservative activists say 'no' to Lewis or Rogers to chair aprops
Concerns surrounding who will eventually take on leadership positions in the new 112th Congress next year are stirring up among Conservative activists in and about Washington, DC. As Republicans in the House prepare to take the reins from the Democrats, committee decisions must be made as to who will chair the powerful House Appropriations Committee. However, conservative movement leaders are leery about what they are hearing over who could possibly end up chairman of House Appropriations. Chairmen and ranking members are term limited, but conservative activists fear that long-time senior ranking members are attempting to remain past their terms by requesting waivers from GOP leadership.
Bush: Comfortable with 64
Well, he is in his sixth decade. And he is retired. Sort of. Former President George W. Bush, now 64, is the cover story on the upcoming issue of AARP Magazine, and he comes off as a reasonable but still spirited man who insists that he has no use for the limelight. Mr. Bush does not seem to fear aging, and his memory of eight years in office is still very fresh.
McMorris Rodgers wants more women in GOP House leadership
With the House Republican leadership hierarchy facing the prospect of being a nearly all-male club, the lone woman in the caucus' inner circle says she "would love to see another woman around the leadership table."
Eight House races still contested
The Associated Press just reported that Rep. Solomon Ortiz has officially requested a recount in the Texas 27 race where he is trailing tea party newcomer Blake Farenthold by just under 800 votes. The 73-year-old Corpus Christi congressman, who has held the seat for almost three decades, asked for a manual recount.
Chaffetz says newer members can fend off old spending habits of older members
Fresh from the 2010 mid-term election season, Republicans and Democrats on the hill are jockeying for leadership positions many were already speculating about prior November 2nd. While House Democrats take sides over how wise it may be for current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to remain in a top leadership position, as Minority Leader, when the GOP officially takes over the House majority in the beginning of next year, questions surrounding who will take over committee chairmanships among Republican members still need to be sorted out.
Post vote survey on conservatives: Mid-term vote was message to support or oppose Obama
The Faith and Freedom Coalition released a telephone survey by Public Opinion Strategies last week showing a majority of Christian conservatives and Tea Partiers say that their vote was a message to either support or oppose President Barack Obama.
Miller campaign cites concerns over sudden date change in ballot count
Apparently, Joe Miller, Alaskan Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, is concerned about the the sudden change of date for when the counting of the write-in ballots began. The Miller campaign released a statement on Saturday regarding how their campaign was notified about the date change.
Republicans move to have cameras in Rules Committee
On Friday, Rep. David Dreier (R-CA), the House Rules Committee Ranking Republican, sent a letter to House Chief Administrative Officer Dan Strodel requesting that work begin immediately on installing cameras in the Rules Committee hearing room
Not over Olbermann
Oh, there's hubbub, alright. MSNBC's decision to bench primetime star Keith Olbermann without pay for revelations that he donated $7,200 to a trio of Democratic candidates has rattled the media food chain. Plenty.
Sanders backs Olbermann in tussle with MSNBC
Vermont independent Sen. Bernard Sanders on Friday blasted MSNBC for suspending host Keith Olbermann for donating to Democratic candidates, calling it a violation of the TV man's First Amendment rights.
Pelosi to seek minority leader
Blue Dog survivor Heath Shuler may get his wish: a head-to-head showdown with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Pelosi announced Friday that she will seek the House Minority Leader's post in the new Congress, surprising some observers who thought the San Francisco Democrat might retire after "shellacking" her party took in the midterms. Pelosi figured in race after race across the country, with Republicans trying to tie the unpopular House leader around their opponents' necks and Democrats -- especially moderates like Shuler -- desperately scrambling to disassociate themselves.
Immigration stance likely not reason for Angle campaign demise
It has become a common talking point that former Republican Nevada Senatorial candidate Sharron Angle damaged her race against Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid because of her stance against illegal immigration. Many in the media will point to her campaign ads as proof that she was too much of a firebrand on the issue as opposed to other Republican candidates across the country; however, the numbers just do not show that to be the case.
