Republicans Reportedly "transitioning" away from the FISA Telecom Immunity fight….

Glenn Greenwald Reports that The Hill is reporting the following:

I’m still traveling and so have only a little bit of time to comment, but The Hill is reporting that the GOP is de-prioritizing their efforts to enact the Rockefeller/Cheney FISA bill:

"House Republicans are poised to shift their focus from national security to the economy, hoping to rally opposition to what they claim are Democratic plans to raise taxes amid the economic downturn.

Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) is expected to announce Thursday that the House GOP floor emphasis will transition away from passing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and earmark reform to "stop the tax hike.""

I tend to think that the Republicans, at least the ones in the Senate realize that they are not going to win this fight and that it could cost them some serious votes in the coming election. So, I tend to think they’ve changed their priorities.

Unlike some of the more of the ardent Right Wingers or as the rest of the World calls them, the Right Wing Lunatic Fridge, I know that if these companies get immunity, America’s Justice system would be totally undermined. Now, do I believe that the Bush Administration broke the law? I do not know that, as I have zero proof of such claim.

My feelings are, if the Bush Administration has done nothing wrong, then what do they have to hide? If they’ve done nothing wrong, they should not have a problem with the investigations or lawsuit, because they would be vindicated.

Unlike some of the more far right Conservatives, I do not believe that Corporate power should be protected. Every American, of any Religious persuasion, and yes, that does include Muslim, have the right to legal recourse, if they feel that they’ve been unfairly investigated. That is one of our Nation’s founding principles.

Others: Think Progress

Does all of America want a National Healthcare Program?

Perhaps Not.

Wow. Big Surprise there. (not!)

Like me, most people know that our incompetent Government can’t even get a Border Fence up, you think they could provide a quality and the key word here is QUALITY healthcare system? Don’t make me laugh. Rolling Eyes

Other Opinions via Memeorandum

Liberal shill Randi Rhoades Quits Air America

Another big story, the Liberal version of Michelle Malkin has quit Air America.

From what I read, she has gotten a deal with Clear Channel.

Quite frankly, I could give a rip, if I ever heard her on the air again. She brings nothing, at all, to the Political discourse in America. She’s a hater. I cannot stand her kind of liberalism…..and this is from someone who listens to Stephanie Miller on a regular basis.

The Progressive movement just doesn’t need people like her. If it is to be taken seriously. That is, if it even is anymore, seeing how Hillary is destroying the movement. Just sayin’. Nerd

McCain closes Obama's lead in a poll…..that includes "leaners"….

An interesting poll, taken by the Associated Press-Ipsos shows that McCain is basically tied with Obama.

Quote:

An AP-Ipsos poll taken in late February had Obama leading McCain 51-41 percent. The current survey, conducted April 7-9, had them at 45 percent each. McCain leads Obama among men, whites, Southerners, married women and independents.

Clinton led McCain, 48-43 percent, in February. The latest survey showed the New York senator with 48 percent support to McCain’s 45 percent. Factoring in the poll’s margin of error of 3.1 percentage points, Clinton and McCain are statistically tied.

However, here’s the thing that kind of makes this poll a joke:

Although the race between Clinton and Obama remained unchanged, there were a few shifts in whom voters are choosing:

• The gender gap has mostly disappeared, with Clinton losing her advantage among women. In February, 51 percent of Democratic women supported Clinton while 38 percent were for Obama. Now they’re statistically tied at 44 percent for Clinton, 42 percent for Obama. That is partially offset by a decline in male support for Obama, down 7 points to 50 percent, while Clinton gained 10 points among men. She is now at 42 percent.

• Obama and Clinton are now statistically about even among households earning under $50,000. In late February, Clinton led 54 percent to 37 percent, but now it is just 48 percent to 41 percent.

• Obama now leads Clinton among self-described moderate Democrats, 51 percent to 35 percent. Previously they were 45 percent Clinton, 40 percent Obama.

The poll questioned 1,005 adults nationally. Included were interviews with 489 Democratic voters and people leaning Democratic, with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.4 points; and 369 Republicans or GOP-leaning voters, with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 5.1 points.

I mean, how fixed can a poll be? If that wasn’t a bad poll, I don’t know what is. Rolling Eyes Frustrated

Leaning?!?!?! That could mean anything, how do we know those people weren’t lying?

I really do not think that this will really matter, the general public and those paying attention, know the John McCain is going to be equated with Bush and his Policies and people will not vote for him. Obama will win, I think, I would be wrong. But I highly doubt people will vote for him.

Others: MSNBC, Wake up America, TalkLeft and PoliGazette (via Memeorandum)

Clinton is ahead in the polls in PA.

This according to a TIME Poll. It really does not matter however, because Obama has a lead in delegates.

I guess, that is why I don’t understand the MSM’s attempt to paint this as an attempt to steal the nomination. Not like that is going to happen, if you think that the super-delegates will switch to her, you’re crazy, they will do the will of the people.

I just don’t understand why Hillary just doesn’t concede defeat and hope she gets a VP nod, like the rest of them. Rolling Eyes

Anything to inflate her ego, I suppose.

Others: TalkLeft, Telegraph, Marc Ambinder, The Moderate Voice, PoliBlog (TM), Donklephant, The Page, PoliGazette, Below The Beltway, Political Machine, TPM Election Central, Southern Political Report and more via Memeorandum

Attack reported by Student was a Hoax

(H/T and thanks to Michelle Malkin)

Remember the attack that I reported here two days ago?

Turns out that it was a hoax.

The Story from TylerPaper.com:

A 13-year-old girl who claimed she was attacked by a group inside Athens Middle School was caught on a surveillance camera causing the injuries to herself.
The girl now faces disciplinary action from the school and will be charged with filing a false police report, AISD superintendent Fred Hayes said during a news conference today.
The parents of Melanie Bowers have since sent letters of apology to school and law enforcement investigators.

Not only is this an insult the Hispanic community, it’s an abuse of our Law Enforcement. I am quite glad to see that she will be charged.

Video:

Jewish Racism by a Obama Supporter!

The Article: Reverend Eric Lee’s Anti-Semitism: A Personal Story (via Pajamas Media)

On April 4, 2008, at a Los Angeles event commemorating the assassination of Martin Luther King, the African-American fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi gave Israeli-American Daphna Ziman its Tom Bradley Award for community service. Then the event’s keynote speaker, Reverend Eric Lee, turned to Ms. Ziman and launched an anti-Semitic diatribe. Roger L. Simon interviewed Ms. Ziman.

Watch this Video:

That’s the saddest thing I have ever had to watch. I think Senator Barack Obama needs to publicly condemn this, there’s just no call for it.

I look for this to be the big story in the next couple of days.

Update: Thankfully, this is being picked up, several Bloggers have started talking about it: Roger L. Simon and Classical Values

Clinton's Poll Ratings do the Fade….

There’s no denying it. Clinton is slipping, so says Gallup:

Personally, I don’t see why she stays in. Because it will only ruin the party. But that’s your Liberals for you.

Others: The Daily Dish, Talking Points Memo and TPM Election Central (via Memeorandum)

Early Evening Political Humor

Political Blog Wars are so amusing to watch.

Mainly because both sides talk past one another. Not once do they listen to the other side.

Go see what I am talking about. I think that’s the reason why the main stream media hates us Bloggers so much. I doubt one could argue the fact that most Bloggers, especially Political Bloggers, like me, always feel the need to be right and to get the last word.

To me, watching a Blog war, is like watching a roman conquest. Flaming boulders being shot back and forth, it’s quite amazing. Grown people, squabbling like children.

But then again, that’s Politics.

Chris Matthews makes New York Times Magazine

As much as I hate to admit it, I like the guy…..and I’ll explain why.

The article: Chris Matthews, Seriously. (O.K., Not That Seriously.) by MARK LEIBOVICH (via New York Times Magazine)

Quote:

Whenever Chris Matthews says something he likes, which happens a lot, he repeats it often and at volumes suggesting a speaker who feels insufficiently listened to at times. “Tim Russert finally reeled the big marlin into the boat tonight,” Matthews yelled — nine times, on and off the air, after a Democratic debate that Russert moderated with Brian Williams in late February at Cleveland State University. Matthews believed that Russert (the fisherman) had finally succeeded in getting Hillary Clinton (the marlin) to admit that she was wrong to vote in favor of the Iraq war resolution in 2002. “We’ve been trolling for that marlin for what, a year now?” Matthews said to Russert.

The reason why I happen to like Chris Matthews is because he has a redeeming quality. The quality is, that no one, I don’t care who they are, cannot sell a line of B.S. to Chris Matthew’s, He just doesn’t let it happen. Michelle Malkin went on his show and tried it, and Chris Matthews made her look like an idiot. Needless to say, she never went back there.

As he does say on his show, he is tough, fearless and blunt. In fact, Media Matters for America AND Media Research Center both, have expressed their disdain for the guy. I mean, how many people can say, that they have effectively pissed off both Liberals AND Conservatives? Not many.

There’s one part of this story that I refuse to believe, because it’s just too unbelievable.

Quote:

According to people at NBC, Matthews has not been shy in voicing his resentment of Olbermann. Nor, according to network sources, has Olbermann bothered to hide his low regard for Matthews, although when I spoke to him, Olbermann denied any personal animosity toward Matthews and told me that he appreciates his "John Madden-like enthusiasm for politics."

I’m sorry, I just do not buy this at all. Keith Olbermann is professional of the highest order. I do not believe for one minute that Olbermann and Matthews have any problems at all. In fact, I tend to believe that they get along great, I also think they tend to agree much more than people know. I mean, how else would Olbermann get away with using Matthew’s trademark "Ha!" on his OddBall segment? It just does not add up. I tend to believe that the author of this article either doesn’t watch Keith’s show or just was reporting on gossip. Do you think that Matthew’s would allow his voice to be parodied, if he didn’t like someone? I highly doubt that, Matthews is not that stupid.

I recommend reading the article, it’s a bit long and it basically exposes Chris Matthew’s faults and his good points. It was handled fairly and honestly, and I think that is what Chris would want.

Chris Matthews has written some books, might want to pick one up:

Amazon.com: Life’s a Campaign