Former President George H.W. Bush says his son Jeb should run for president — but probably not right now, considering how many Bushes we’ve already had. That and other political news in today’s Election Central Sunday Roundup.
One of the most hopeful developments in the American Jewish community over recent years has been the creation of J Street, the new pro-peace, pro-two state solution lobbying organization. In The Forward, Eric Yoffe, President of the Union of Reform Judaism attacked J Street’s refusal to get on board with the Gaza attack. Here J Street responds.
Richardson bowing out as Commerce Secretary nominee, says NBC. The reason? Has to focus on the investigation from his time as NM governor.
As we reported last night, the Minnesota recount is now complete. And Al Franken won by 225 votes. The Canvassing Board is slated to meet tomorrow when they’re expected to certify the result. Sen. Schumer (D-NY) just released a statement in which he, not surprisingly, said Franken is clearly the winner and that he should be seated — notwithstanding whatever post-recount legal challenges outgoing Sen. Coleman (R-MN) might attempt. That sets up a probable fight with the Republicans since Sen. Cornyn (R-TX) has promised to filibuster any effort to allow Franken to take his seat.
Just as corporations that no longer run a profit have been known to resort to innovative financial instruments to hobble along in the absence of a working business model, it seems the woebegone Senate Republicans are looking to pioneer a novel and ingenious use of the filibuster to compensate, at least in part, for their present inability to win actual elections. Sen. Cornyn (R) of Texas is the head of the Republican senate campaign committee. And if he follows through on his promise, his caucus will actually use the filibuster not to stymie legislation but to prevent the Democrats from adding another senator (Al Franken) to their ranks.
With such innovations the possibilities really are endless.
I’m going to dig more into the details on this tomorrow. But this is starting to sound like a pretty big chunk of the stimulus bill is aimed at garnering GOP support.
I really hope we’re not putting the cart before the horse here.
And these refundable business tax cuts sound like they could easily turn out to be giveaways without having much tangible stimulus effect on the economy.
Sen. Reid tells Coleman to concede.
(ed.note: Not sure that’s who Coleman’s taking his advice from. But there you go.)
Al Franken, in tights, impersonating Mick Jagger. I’m just going to leave it at that.