We noted the paradoxical and continuing GOP dominance in sex and morals scandals in recent years, not withstanding valiant attempts on the part of the Dems to get in the game (Spitzer, Edwards, et al.). We already brought you the GOP sex scandal flow chart. But if you’re more visual in inclination we’ve now prepared this official TPM GOP Sex Scandal Slideshow. Who are we missing?
Late Update: Admittedly there are a lot of GOP hounds who didn’t make it on our list. And you’ve been writing in suggesting various candidates. But there are some basic criteria we followed in assembling the list to keep some limit on all the possible examples. We decided not to go back before the beginning of the Bush presidency in 2001 (so Newt Gingrich doesn’t count, at least not for anything he’s been caught for yet) and, with a couple extreme exceptions (read: state Sen. Bob Allen of Florida) to keep it to federal officeholders and governors. So far the one suggestion I’ve seen that I think we probably should have added is former Rep. John Sweeney (R-NY).
House Democrats really pulled out all the stops to pass the energy bill. That and other political news in today’s TPMDC Saturday Roundup.
The eight House Republicans who voted FOR the Waxman-Markey climate change bill:
Mary Bono (CA)
Mike Castle (DE)
Mark Kirk (IL)
Leonard Lance (NJ)
Frank LoBiondo (NJ)
John McHugh (NY)
David Reichert (WA)
Chris Smith (NJ)
CQ takes a closer look and points out that all of those Republicans, except Smith, hail from districts that went for Obama over McCain. The bill passed 219-212.
Late Update: On the flip side (from The Hill):
One Democrat was upset that his leaders would needlessly force vulnerable Dems to vote for a bill that will come back to haunt them. Mississippi Rep. Gene Taylor (D) voted against the measure that he says will die in the Senate.
“A lot of people walked the plank on a bill that will never become law,” Taylor told The Hill after the gavel came down.
Taylor knows the score as well as anyone. Since 2006, when Democrats took control of Congress, the Senate has been the La Brea Tar Pits of progressive legislation passed by House Dems.
Amanda Palmer covers ‘Billie Jean’ at the Troubadour in West Hollywood a few hours after Michael Jackson died.
More from the evolving story of the Coalition Against Competition. This from TPM Reader RP …
Not getting enough notice is the fact that in manylocal health care markets there are very few insurance companies offering care plans. In many places there are one or two companies that provide most of the insurance. Particularly true if you set aside the uninsured people and the people the plans reject who can only get coverage from the high cost state coverage pool. If you look at US Representatives and Senators who oppose the Public Option, in many cases they are receiving political funds from insurance companies with near monopolies in their coverage locations. TPM Muckraker could/should compile a table of representatives, the health care insurance companies donating to them and the percentage of their markets they control. That would tell a big story about what is really happening.
Sotomayor Watch: The Supreme Court decision in the New Haven firefighters comes down this morning. That and the day’s other political news in the TPMDC Morning Roundup.
I was out enjoying a beautiful Sunday so I didn’t get a chance to watch the old media v. new media clash yesterday on Howard Kurtz’s CNN show until this morning. I assume I’m not alone. Watch.
As the health care debate heats up over the summer one of the central arguing points will be the possibility of creating a “public” or government-run insurance option as part of the reform bill. We take a look at how the early argument is shaping up and how important a public option seems to be to President Obama in today’s Sunday Show Roundup …
Full-size video at TPMtv.com.
The Ricci decision, much watched as part of the Sotomayor confirmation process, just came down. The Supreme Court reversed in a close decision. That is, the majority did not agree with Sotomayor.
Quick read from CBS News’ legal affairs guru Andrew Cohen: “Could have been a lot worse for Sotomayor, whose candidacy for Court finds solace from four dissenting Justices. Political damage minimum.”
Majority opinion by Kennedy, joined by Roberts, Scalia, Thomas, and Alito. Separate concurring opinions by Scalia and Alito. Dissent by Ginsburg, joined by Stevens, Souter and Breyer.
Late Update: The RNC reacts.