Democratic Party Videos: Political Blogs & Videos // Current

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7 days ago

Key Senate Democrats trim cost of health care bill

WASHINGTON - Determined to advance President Barack Obama's health care agenda, key Senate Democrats are calling for a... more

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Franken wins Minnesota Senate Seat

The Minnesota Supreme Court on Tuesday declared Democrat Al Franken the winner of a tight U.S. Senate race over Republican Norm... more

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Dems Refuse To Stand For Pledge Of Allegiance During Special Session

ALBANY (CBS) ― As incredible as it may seem, pictures obtained by CBS 2 HD are of the Democratic senators who locked themselves inside their chamber so they could be "first in" for Gov. David Paterson's special session. The pictures, shot through the window of a Senate door, seem to show that it was all about taking possession of the podium.

Yonkers Sen. Andrea Stewart Cousins is seen standing there to prevent the Republicans from taking over. The move came shortly after Democrats said talks of establishing a bi-partisan operating agreement fell through because a Republican coalition insisted the Senate president be Bronx Sen. Pedro Espada.

What happened next was equally incredible. With the Democrats in their seats, the Republicans marched in and tried to take the podium. They were rebuffed, so they held a session from the well of the chamber and passed dozens of bills by acclamation.

When Republican senators start the session with the pledge of allegiance. The Democrats didn't stand to participate and when one tried to stand, he was pulled down.

After the Republicans gaveled out, the Democrats gaveled in their special session. The problem was Sen. Smith said they couldn't proceed because they didn't have the governor's bills

The big question is when or if they'll ever be able to pass anything.

"At this time, no one in this chamber is holding the governor's business back, other than the governor's office not having the material needed on time," Smith said.

Paterson was furious. His aides said the bills were sent to the Senate chamber at 1 p.m.

"I've been a public servant for over 20 years and what I've seen in the last two weeks in the Senate disgusts me. Their inaction is a dereliction of duty. I pledge as governor there will be no more tolerance of these delays and these distractions."

Paterson has lashed out at senators for the ongoing soap opera. It's been two weeks since the state Senate accomplished anything and the governor said enough is enough.ALBANY (CBS) ― As incredible as it may seem, pictures obtained by CBS 2 HD are of the Democratic senators who locked themselves... more

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24 days ago

Obama plans sweeping financial regulations

President Barack Obama (D) is planning sweeping financial regulations. The regulations would be the largest reforms since the 1930's during the great depression. Coordination among federal and state oversight agencies will be increased. In addition, President Obama plans on creating a federal regulatory board that would have broad authority and oversight powers. The overall goal is to prevent another recession such as the one the United States is in now.

WASHINGTON - Senior Obama administration officials on Monday said in a newspaper op-ed piece that a landmark financial regulation reform plan to be released this week will target capital requirements, securitization and other problem areas blamed for the global financial crisis.

Obama is ready to roll out an overhaul of the intricate rules and systems that govern America's troubled financial institutions, proposing the most ambitious revision since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

The goal is to prevent a recurrence of the economic crisis that erupted in the United States and exploded last fall with devastating consequences still reverberating around the world.

Unlike the government's temporary ownership stake in automakers and major financial companies, the regulatory changes are designed to be permanent. They could result in a major realignment of power and authority among government agencies that set the rules for banking, lending and investing and touch American lives through daily transactions, from credit cards to mortgages and mutual funds.

In the most complete summary of the plan seen in some time, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and National Economic Council Chairman Lawrence Summers said the plan would offer "a stronger framework for consumer and investor protection."

The piece was published in The Washington Post days ahead of the expected release on Wednesday of a package of administration proposals, under discussion for six months now.

One administration proposal, said Geithner and Summers, will be "raising capital and liquidity requirements for all institutions, with more stringent requirements for the largest and most interconnected firms."

In addition, large and interconnected firms whose failure could threaten the stability of the system "will be subject to consolidated supervision by the Federal Reserve, and we will establish a council of regulators with broader coordinating responsibility across the financial system."

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Source: MSNBCPresident Barack Obama (D) is planning sweeping financial regulations. The regulations would be the largest reforms since the... more

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28 days ago

Dem's Bogeyman Luntz Schooled Reid, Other Dems On Messaging

The Senate Democratic leadership attacked GOP pollster Frank Luntz at its weekly press conference Thursday, mocking Republicans... more

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1 month ago

Obama pitches pay-as-you-go plan for Health Care

President Barack Obama (D) pitched a pay-as-you-go plan for health care spending. Obama said "It is no coincidence that this... more

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1 month ago

Thom Hartman on Obama - Part 2

Radio show host Thom Hartman on progressives and the Democratic Party. Thom Hartmann is a host of a nationally syndicated daily... more

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1 month ago

Obama to Forge a Greater Role on Health Care

President Barack Obama (D) has decided to play a greater role in the health insurance debate. Mr. Obama will begin town hall style debate all across the country on the issue. The President supports a national health care option, and strongly supports preventitive medicine.

WASHINGTON — After months of insisting he would leave the details to Congress, President Obama has concluded that he must exert greater control over the health care debate and is preparing an intense push for legislation that will include speeches, town-hall-style meetings and much deeper engagement with lawmakers, senior White House officials say.

Mindful of the failures of former President Bill Clinton, whose intricate proposal for universal care collapsed on Capitol Hill 15 years ago, Mr. Obama until now had charted a different course, setting forth broad principles and concentrating on bringing disparate factions — doctors, insurers, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, labor unions — to the negotiating table.

But Mr. Obama has grown concerned that he is losing the debate over certain policy prescriptions he favors, like a government-run insurance plan to compete with the private sector, said one Democrat familiar with his thinking. With Congress beginning a burst of work on the measure, top advisers say, the president is determined to make certain the final bill bears his stamp.

“Ultimately, as happened with the recovery act, it will become President Obama’s plan,“ the White House budget director, Peter R. Orszag, said in an interview. “I think you will see that evolution occurring over the next few weeks. We will be weighing in more definitively, and you will see him out there.”

On Saturday, while Mr. Obama was traveling in Europe, he used his weekly radio and Internet address to make the case that “the status quo is broken” and to set forth his ambitious goals.

Broadly speaking, he wants to extend coverage to the 45 million uninsured while lowering costs, improving quality and preserving consumer choice. His budget includes what he called a “historic down payment” of $634 billion over 10 years, accomplished mostly by slowing Medicare growth and limiting tax breaks for those with high incomes.

“We must attack the root causes of skyrocketing health costs,” Mr. Obama said, singling out institutions like the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and the Cleveland Clinic as among those that offer high-quality care at low cost. “We should learn from their successes and promote the best practices, not the most expensive ones. That’s how we’ll achieve reform that fixes what doesn’t work and builds on what does.”

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Source: The New York TimesPresident Barack Obama (D) has decided to play a greater role in the health insurance debate. Mr. Obama will begin town hall style... more

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1 month ago

House Dems draft sweeping health bill

House Democrats are drafting a sweeping health-care reform that creates a national insurance marketplace where people can choose... more

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1 month ago

Christie wins NJ Primary: Will face Gov. Corzine

Christopher J. Christie, a former prosecutor who sent a parade of corrupt New Jersey politicians to prison, handily won the Republican nomination for governor on Tuesday, earning the right to try to dislodge the state’s embattled Democratic incumbent, Jon S. Corzine.

His romp past Steven M. Lonegan, a feisty former mayor, sets the stage for what could be a fierce and expensive confrontation with the wealthy Mr. Corzine, who came to office vowing to rescue the state from financial crisis but has watched his popularity sink to record lows as the recession made matters worse.

“I think he’s a good man, and I think he’s well-intentioned,” Mr. Christie said of Mr. Corzine. “But he is simply wrong for this job.”

The fall campaign, one of only two for governor this year (the other is in Virginia), promises to be treated to varying degrees as a referendum on President Obama’s momentous first year or on Republicans’ continued viability — in New Jersey, if not nationally. The last Republican to win statewide was Christie Whitman in 1997.

The White House left no doubt about its intention to support Mr. Corzine’s bid for a second term. In a rousing speech on Tuesday night at Mr. Corzine’s kickoff rally in West Orange, after his victory in a lopsided four-candidate Democratic primary, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. said the governor was “on the right side of the issues” and declared: “Barack Obama and Joe Biden are committed to Jon Corzine’s reelection. Period. End of sentence. It’s simple.”

At bottom, the general election will confront New Jersey voters with a stark choice. Mr. Christie, a self-styled conservative, brings little economic experience but bold promises to rein in spending and cut taxes.

Mr. Corzine, an unapologetic liberal who has been hemmed in by budget deficits, assures New Jerseyans that his unpleasant medicine of tax increases and service cuts will prepare the state for a quicker, stronger rebound when recovery arrives.

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Source: The New York Times OnlineChristopher J. Christie, a former prosecutor who sent a parade of corrupt New Jersey politicians to prison, handily won the... more

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1 month ago

Petraeus Endorses Obama's Plans To Close GITMO, End Torture

General David Petraeus said this past weekend that President Obama's decision to close down Gitmo and end harsh interrogation... more

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1 month ago

Disgusted With Obama and the Democrats? - Bill Maher Says It All!

Bill Maher's Show “Real Time” on May 22, 2009 was quite interesting, especially if you feel let down by Barack... more

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1 month ago

Water Boarding the National Psyche

As we examine the actions of the Bush administration we are faced with a multitude of questions. Not the least of which is the how when and who surrounding the torture of human beings in the name of our safety.

The arguments defending and condemning torture are as endless and timeless as the practices themselves. As we navigate our way through these dark and uneasy waters we have begun to become accustomed to the monster that hides beneath the waves.

Even as I write these words there is someone here in America making a joke about it. Maybe it is Keith Olbermann making light of Sean Hannity’s cowardice in not living up to his offer to be water boarded for charity. Maybe it is me laughing inside at the thought of Jesse Ventura water boarding Rush Limbaugh until he admits that he has a penchant for underage Filipina girls.

Maybe it is the reality of having our innocence stripped from us like a raped virgin schoolgirl. Maybe.

But one thing is clear. It was not the terrorists that stole our virginity and our innocence. It was not an evil master mind hiding in cave in Pakistan or Afghanistan that leeched our courage dry. We did this to ourselves. We gave it up as freely as a confused and degraded whore with no self esteem. Harsh words I know but it is the truth.

If it is true that we have become strung out addicted whores it is also true that our pimps and our dealers not only share the blame for our loss of national pride they are in fact the profiteers that have fattened themselves at the alter of the sacrifice of our nation’s values.

I do not care much which side of the argument you stand on anymore. I really don’t. I find myself becoming increasingly extroverted and yet reflective. Everything I say and hear seems to be mere a reflection of me, of us, of what we have become. A never ending broadcast of our national psyche.

So let it be known that those that condemned Wanda Psyches for her so called over the line remarks at the National Correspondence Dinner that she is a merely a comedic reflection of the people we have become and damn it at least she is funny.

There is little doubt that as a nation we are facing a crossroads. Some say left. Some say right. Some say let’s charge a new path down the middle. I say that until we set aside our fears and rebuild our bridges; now all but ashes, we are doomed. We are doomed to arguments without ends, doomed to wars without victors and doomed to make the same mistakes over and over again.

We cannot even begin to rebuild our national pride until we at least acknowledge we have made huge mistakes. So to that end we have Dick Cheney reminding us that everything is alright, and that everything we do is good no matter how evil it makes us feel. We’ve got to thicken the national skin. It is all for the best. Just ignore that monster beneath the waves. They know what is best.

To ignoring that monster is to ignore the pimps, thieves and charlatans that lead us here. Here is a term that is hard to grasp for every one but if you are at all confused about where here is all you need to create a fairly accurate map is read this op/ed again and then a whole lot of history.

PeaceAs we examine the actions of the Bush administration we are faced with a multitude of questions. Not the least of which is the how... more