2010 Elections and Pro-Life Women: A Correction for Modern Feminism

Chris Christie on absence during NJ Blizzard: Video
Never has so much Controversy surrounded a trip to Disneyland than NJ Governor Chris Christie's decision to commit to his Family Vacation plans over the state of NJ during last week's powerful Snow Storm. Christie's dicey decision might just compel Superbowl winning quarterbacks to shovel snow upon winning the big game. During a news conference in Monmouth County, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie explains why he and Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno were both out of the state at the same t...

Party Time!
Bob Casey Vulnerable in ’12? Lancaster, Pa.—Seventeen months before the 2012 Republican U.S. Senate primary in Pennsylvania and nearly two years before the next General Election, GOPers in the state are already discussing who their Candidate will be against freshman Democratic Sen. Bob Casey Jr. The talk of a spirited 2012 challenge to Casey has been fueled by a just-completed Quinnipiac University Poll showing only 39% of state voters approve of his performance, while 29% don&rsquo...;

"The protection accorded under Irish law to the right to life of the unborn was based on profound moral values deeply embedded i
Wrote the European Court of Human Rights in Case of A, B, and C v. Ireland, which Linda Greenhouse discusses in the NYT: No right under the [European] Convention was violated [where the plaintiffs were able to travel to another country to obtain an Abortion], the court said by a vote of 11 to 6. Granted, “the process of traveling abroad for an abortion was psychologically and physically arduous” for these women. And granted also that in their particular circumstances, they could hav...

Like father, like daughter
For 40 years Jean-Marie Le Pen has ruled one of the most successful and feared ultra-nationalist movements in Europe. In 2002 he shocked France by winning through to the second round of the presidential election. But now at 82 years of age, the father of the Front National is ready to step aside and he is backing his daughter Marine to succeed him. "I didn't take to politics readily," Marine told me. "But then as the daughter of Le Pen, it is probably unavoidable that I enter...

Will Tea Parties Transform Legislative Landscape in 2011?
2010, Bob Cusack reports at the Hill, “was the year of the Tea Party“: . . . the Tea Party was in many ways a net asset for the GOP as Republicans grabbed control of the House and cut into the Democratic majority in the Senate.  However, there was Collateral Damage as Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.) and other Senate GOP hopefuls seen as the party’s best chance of winning general-election races were ousted in primaries. Some blamed Tea Party Candidates for costing Republicans a Senate ...

Christie returns to NJ; finds himself on the defensive
As reported on last week, there was more than just a blizzard that hit New Jersey last week as political debates sprung up in Governor Chris Christie's absence. Normally, it would not have been a Big Deal if Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno had not chosen to also leave the state at the same time. Senate President Stephen Sweeney was able to manage the state and guide it through the blizzard and ensure everything was taken care of. However, Christie was still out of the state and for too many he ...

FAMU and Al Lawson and Associates to honor Lieutenant Governor-Elect Carroll
Florida A&M University and Al Lawson and Associates are hosting a black-tie event this evening honoring Florida's first African-American Lieutenant Governor-elect, Jennifer Carroll. The event begins at 7 p.m. at the Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium on the campus of Florida A&M University. Carroll enlisted in the United States Navy in 1979 and served for 20 years. She served as a jet mechanic and worked her way up through the ranks to retire as a Lieutenant Com...

AP Item on Martinez's Inauguration in NM Notes 'Place in History,' Omits Status As Nation's First Latina Gov.
AP Item on Martinez's Inauguration in NM Notes 'Place in History,' Omits Status As Nation's First Latina Gov. Republican Susana Martinez has claimed her place in history as New Mexico's first female Governor, taking office with the start of the new year. If it weren't for the "place in history" part, I might have blown right by it without hesitation. But speaking of a "place in history," especially at a wire service that sometimes seems overly obs...

Republicans insist tax increases are off the table for Ohio
COLUMBUS — Republicans had a lock on Ohio’s State Government for 12 years from 1995 to 2007, but the new GOP-led government that begins taking over today with the start of the 129th General Assembly will have a new look. The Republican Governors during those earlier 12 years, George Voinovich and Bob Taft, pushed Tax Increases through the legislature to keep state Budgets in balance and protect what they considered to be essential state services. This time around, any kind of tax inc...

Blog De KingShamus Greatest Hits 2010 Edition
“Hits”?  There were hits here? Yeah, this is pretty lame, but whatevs.  Here some of what I thought I did that was halfway decent. El Té Fiesta-Hispanic Conservatives Celebrities, Twitter and the nature of the debate A Tale of Two Campaigns-Democrats and Republicans in 2010 Fiscal Conservatism can advance Social Conservatism Obama: ‘We can absorb a Terrorist attack’ The RINO-Less Than Useless Is America Radical? Totally. B...

GOP investigator critical of attorney general
The Republican's top House investigator has a suggestion for Attorney General Eric Holder: Step it up or step down. California Rep. Darrell Issa (EYE'-suh) says Holder is hurting the Obama Administration because the Justice Department isn't doing more to investigate several issues. Issa — who's set to lead the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee — says the department hasn't done enough concerning the activities of the now-defunct community group ACORN, as well as a 2008 i...

Carol Moseley Braun: Not a coalition builder
Dr. Martin Luther King dreamed of a color-blind society. Yesterday, including an allustion to The Blues Brothers film, Chicago Mayoral Candidate Carol Moseley Braun, surrounded by other the Reverend Jesse Jackson and other African Americans, made this declaration: "We're getting the band back together ... Dr. King has to be smiling on this day because we have the coalition together again." Two years ago Barack Obama put together a coalition of many groups to become president. More recently, two ...

RNC Communications Chief Leaving
The top spokesman at the Republican National Committee will leave his post just after Elections for new officers are held, even if Incumbent chairman Michael Steele keeps his job. Doug Heye, who has served as Communications Director since February, will make an official announcement on Monday. He will not immediately announce a new position. Heye has been closely tied to Steele for several years. Heye served as Steele's Communications Director in 2006, when the then-Maryland Lieutenant Governor ...

Susana Martinez Sworn Into Office
The LA Times reports: When she takes the oath of office Saturday morning in Santa Fe’s historic plaza, Susana Martinez will become New Mexico’s — and the nation’s — first elected Latina Governor. The 51-year-old, four-term Doña Ana County District Attorney is also a rising star in national Republican circles, already being mentioned in the blogosphere as a potential vice Presidential Candidate in 2012. But as she takes over from Bill Richardson — a termed-out Democ

Potential Up and Comer in National Politics
New Mexico Gov.-elect Susana Martinez, right, with Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, is a rising star in national Republican circles, already being mentioned in the blogosphere as a potential vice Presidential Candidate in 2012. (Denis Poroy, AP / November 17, 2010) by Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Birthplace of Independent Conservatism It is of course way to early to tell, but... Susan Martinez , New Mexico's new Republican Governor is planning to focus on the right agenda for difficult times....

As one Latino Governor leaves, another arrives!
New Mexico, one of the most Latino states in the Union, has just ushered in the era of Susana Martinez, the newly inaugurated Republican to replace Democrat Bill Richardson. She has indicated that she will make education one of her top priorities as Governor, and she has a really unique opportunity to distinguish herself as New Mexico is one of the lowest ranking states in High School graduation rates in the country. Yesterday in her inaugural address, Martinez said, “Nothing we do is more...

The Legend Continues: Outgoing NM Gov. Bill Richardson Refuses to Pardon 'Billy the Kid'
Let's face it - once Billy Joel wrote that ballad glorifying his murderous legacy, the Kid's chances of ever being granted a posthumous gubernatorial pardon dropped dramatically. (CNN) -- Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico will not pardon legendary Wild West outlaw Billy the Kid in the death of a Law Enforcement officer more than a century ago, he said Friday. Richardson made the announcement on ABC's "Good Morning America" the same day he leaves office. The issue facing Richardson was whether...

The End Of An Error
It seems like everyone else is talking about how the Retirement of Representative Patrick Kennedy marks the end of an era -- the first time in 63 years there hasn't been member of the Kennedy family in office. I've gotten more than my share of mileage out of kicking the Kennedys, so I figured I might as well get my two cents in. In 1947, Navy Veteran John F. Kennedy entered the House of Representatives, and that's where his family's legacy has ended. But for all that time, only five members hav...

Drafting Daniels, cont'd
Yale Students have launched the second effort to draft the Indiana Governor. The argument: We hope – however unlikely it might seem today – that the Presidential Election of 2012 will, rather than entrench both sides deeper within their prejudices, start a mature and serious discussion about the future of the United States. We believe that the best Candidate to lead that discussi...

Kaine to stay as DNC Chair; says Obama will not be challenged in 2012
From the AP reporting on Tim Kaine’s appearance on “State of the Union” on CNN, Former part-time Virginia Governor now full-time DNC Chair and Obama Cheerleader Tim Kaine said he expects to remain in that job for another two-year term and that the chances of Obama being challenged are “virtually nil”. Kaine “said there’s always the possibility that a fringe Candidate could try to mount a challenge. But Mr. Kaine said Democrats feel very good about Mr. O...

Short Takes
New York and New Mexico have new Governors this morning. Outgoing New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson denied Billy the Kid a posthumous pardon. North Korea would like to cool things off with everybody else. A bomb in Egypt killed 21 people outside a church. Stormy weather, including thunderstorms and tornadoes, killed six in Arkansas and Missouri. Finally final: Joe Miller concedes the Senate race in Alaska. The state had already certified Lisa Murkowski. Travel Light: Florida's new lieutenant gove...

New MI AG Bill Schuette: The first responsibility of government is the safety and security of Michigans families... we needed to
The Granholm approach. Something I have posted on recently: Video: Victim's family outraged after Granholm commutes sentence of rapist murderer Legacy: Granholm commutes sentence of rapist/murderer of teenage girl Legacy: Granholm commutes sentence of 1st degree murderer serving life without Parole; family of victim outraged Detroit Free Press: Granholm should be proud of her true legacy - pushing murderers, rapists, child molesters out of jail early to save money Granholm on pace to commute m...

The good, the bad, the ugly: Outgoing AG Lynch has seen it all
PROVIDENCE -- Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch leaves office Tuesday after eight years as the state’s chief law-enforcement officer. It’s a job he’s found “incredibly rewarding,” but also frustrating — and when asked if he will miss it, he responds with an emphatic “No.” “I’m done,” he says. “It’s time to move on.” “I’m very lucky to have had the opportunity to serve the people here. I&#...

(Alan Grayson interview) Enter: Swinging. Exit: Much the Same Way.
Source: The New York Times ORLANDO, Fla. — He has zero faith in the incoming speaker of the House, John A. Boehner, whom he calls a “tool of special interest.” He derides the Tea Party’s successes as “bought and paid for by the enormously rich and the selfish.” And he can barely contain distaste for his Republican successor, whose views he sums up as “bizarre fundamentalist.” Representative Alan Grayson, a Democrat from Florida’s Eighth Congressional District, i

Understatement of the day
Image by Getty Images via @daylife NY Times: ... Representative Alan Grayson, a Democrat from Florida’s Eighth Congressional District, is leaving office on Wednesday much as he entered it two years ago — as the pugnaciously partisan, verbal-bomb-tossing, liberal folk hero of the 111th Congress. But in a wide-ranging interview as his term drew to a close, he repeatedly aimed his artillery in an unexpected direction: toward his own party. Not for overreaching, in this age of hand-wri...