The top Democrat on the House Homeland Security committee is calling the Secret Service director and the couple who crashed the Obama administration’s first state dinner to testify on the incident Thursday.
Washington police have identified Maurice Clemmons as the in the murders of four police officers yesterday near Tacoma, Washington.
Clemmons is not unknown to Arkansas authorities:
Clemmons is a convicted criminal with a long rap sheet who had a 95-year prison sentence commuted in 2000 by then-Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, said Pierce County sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer.
This isn’t the first time a dangerous criminal received a commuted sentence from Mike Huckabee. During his time as Governor, he released convicted rapist Wayne Dumond….who went on to
In fact, Bloomberg News notes Huckabee released an during his time in office and this latest tragedy may end any discussion of him as a candidate in 2012:
“If you pardon someone and they do something, it’s bad news,” said Matt Mackowiak, a Republican strategist. “It can come back to haunt you.”
Huckabee, in a statement on his Web site, said that if Clemmons is found to be responsible for the shooting, “it will be the result of a series of failures in the criminal justice system.”
Huckabee, who lost the Republican presidential nomination last year to John McCain, was criticized during the campaign for the number of clemencies granted to prisoners while he was governor.
According to an AP analysis at the time, Huckabee granted 1,033 clemencies during 10 years in office, more than double the number granted by three governors during the previous 17 years.
Clemmons has been since Huckabee put him back on the streets, but that probably won’t add any comfort to the families of the victims. This was an epic failure on numerous fronts, starting with the decision by Huckabee in 2000 to set him free.
For his part, Mike Huckabee has now released a statement, for setting him free in 2000.
The senseless and savage execution of police officers in Washington State has saddened the nation, and early reports indicate that a person of interest is a repeat offender who once lived in Arkansas and was wanted on outstanding warrants here and in Washington State. The murder of any individual is a profound tragedy, but the murder of a police officer is the worst of all murders in that it is an assault on every citizen and the laws we live within.
Should he be found to be responsible for this horrible tragedy, it will be the result of a series of failures in the criminal justice system in both Arkansas and Washington State. He was recommended for and received a commutation of his original sentence from 1990, this commutation made him parole eligible and he was then paroled by the parole board once they determined he met the conditions at that time. He was arrested later for parole violation and taken back to prison to serve his full term, but prosecutors dropped the charges that would have held him. It appears that he has continued to have a string of criminal and psychotic behavior but was not kept incarcerated by either state. This is a horrible and tragic event and if found and convicted the offender should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Our thoughts and prayers are and should be with the families of those honorable, brave, and heroic police officers.
With the Senate set to begin debate Monday on President Barack Obama’s signature domestic issue, the all-hands-on-deck Democratic coalition that allowed the health care reform legislation to advance is coming apart.
President Barack Obama delivered official orders Sunday night to members of his national security team for a sweeping overhaul of the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, according to a White House official.
in the Democratic primary for the special election for Senate in Massachusetts has consistently placed Attorney General Martha Coakley first. Past that, it’s a bit of a jumble: Representative Mike Capuano is second or battling for second with businessman and former Republican Steve Pagliuca, and City Year founder Alan Khazei is generally in fourth place, though in one recent poll is tied with Pagliuca for third.
Now, the Boston Globe — the state’s largest paper — has .
The 48-year-old Khazei offers a strong vision for success in the Senate, channeling the energy of activist groups and private-sector policy incubators while dedicating himself to the laborious task of building legislative coalitions.
He offers a time-tested and relevant example of this approach: his two decades of work bringing together politicians of both parties and citizen-activists to develop a national service plan. The recent service bill named for Kennedy and providing for 250,000 volunteers in a domestic Peace Corps is largely the fruit of his labors.
Khazei promises to apply the same principles to other issues, believing that building a grass-roots network for change while demonstrating both commitment and a willingness to compromise in pursuit of common ground can break down political barriers. This isn’t just hopeful rhetoric. Khazei speaks admiringly of streetwise education reformers who, having seen challenging conditions in urban classrooms, dreamed up such innovations as charter schools and Teach for America. Along the way, these activists had to elbow their way around established interest groups that tried to squeeze them out of the policy debate. With the support of an energetic and idealistic senator, public policy can flourish.
Extended to issues like health care, the environment, energy, and job training, this entrepreneurial model of progressive politics offers hope for real improvements. It moves away from Reagan-era skepticism about government without relying on traditional government programs to provide all the answers.
Capuano, the Globe’s editorial board concludes, displays too much populist anger. Coakley, on the other hand, has “a personality that would play well in the Senate,” but shows zero inclination to lead on the issues, preferring a wait and see approach to, for instance, jobs creation.
It’s basically Globesilocks and the Three Bears, and Khazei comes out just right — he wants to take action on little things like the jobs crisis, but without any untoward displays of anger.
It is unlikely that any endorsement could shift the dynamics of this race, given as the only woman and the only statewide elected official in a four-person field. This endorsement, though, is basically the Globe punting by choosing the “impassioned amateur” at the back of the pack, where the endorsement is most likely to be seen as important while being least likely to be seen as decisive in a win or loss.
It’s all starting tomorrow in D.C.
The debate is expected to last at least several weeks. Democrats would like to pass a bill by Christmas, but have yet to find a formula that can win 60 votes, the number required to conclude debate.
Complicating the situation, lawmakers from both parties are planning to introduce dozens of amendments, addressing issues from a government-run health-care plan to medical malpractice lawsuits to abortion and taxes. The aim isn’t just to shape the bill but also to make political points….
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R., Utah), for example, is expected to offer an amendment to insert tough abortion restrictions in the bill, mirroring language in the bill that narrowly passed the House Nov. 7. Republicans are also likely to offer at least one amendment limiting medical malpractice lawsuits….
“This is a real opportunity for Republicans to do ‘message” amendments,” said Kevin Kayes, who worked on Capitol Hill for 23 years, including as a top aide to Mr. Reid. “More important for Democrats is to get the bill to a place where 60 members will vote for it. They will be judged by whether they get this done or not.”
Meanwhile, life still goes on in fear an uncertainty, for the millions of uninsured, as many as 45,000 a year, 123 a day, One of the millions of the uninsured, one who is staring death in the face, is .
In many ways, [Tony] Andrade, 47, is the Everyman of President Barack Obama’s push for overhauling the country’s health care system: working, but for low wages, without health benefits – in the company of 37 million employed Americans who are uninsured….
It begins on a summer morning, when Andrade makes a troubling discovery: drops of blood in his urine. The day ends with scribbles on the back of an envelope, a slapdash diary that will form a jumbled collage of his state of mind.
June 17 – “Diagnosed with tumor. Cancerous. Had to tell mom and kids. Scared, feeling real uneasy. … Lucky I went right away.”
….
Like many of this state’s 7 million uninsured, Andrade earns too much to qualify for Medi-Cal, the state’s version of Medicaid, but too little to buy insurance on his own. His pre-existing health problems, such as diabetes, inflate the premiums he’d pay for private insurance, if he could even get coverage…..
Returning to the hospital on June 29, Andrade had assumed his insurance status wouldn’t be an obstacle since the referral for surgery came through the emergency room. Instead, the Kaiser doctor informs Andrade his surgery is being canceled.
Andrade begins to sweat. He leaves despondent and demeaned. There is nothing more he can say.
“I thought doctors were supposed to help you,” he says later. “I’ve got this tumor inside me that needs to come out, that this doctor told me needs to come out, and he’s turning me away.”
….
Andrade’s .50-an-hour job makes him too wealthy for Medi-Cal – a safety net for the poorest of the poor. But Sacramento County, like all California counties, has a special program to provide for some of those not eligible for Medi-Cal: CMISP, the County Medically Indigent Services Program….
The county will pay Andrade’s future medical bills. It will give him access to doctors who can help him control his diabetes, obesity and other health problems. And it will refer him to the specialists he needs to deal with his cancer….
Andrade’s tumor is out but at a post-op appointment, he finds out he needs more surgery. The cancer has spread to surrounding tissue….
Andrade’s tumor is out but at a post-op appointment, he finds out he needs more surgery. The cancer has spread to surrounding tissue.
Orrin Hatch doesn’t give a shit about the Tony Andrades of the nation, too few in Washington do. If the horror stories of the uninsured told over the past year haven’t managed to sink in, haven’t managed to convince those who have the power, the responsibility to fix this to give up the politics and just fix it, then nothing will.
AP – The Supreme Court has left in place an .6 million award to a woman who was paralyzed after her Ford Explorer rolled over.
In the House, courtesy of the
First Vote of the Week… Tuesday 6:30 p.m.
Last Vote Predicted… Friday p.m.MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2009
On Monday, the House will not be in session.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2009
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 2:00 p.m. for legislative business with votes postponed until 6:30 p.m.
Suspensions (7 Bills)
- – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 109 Main Street in Swifton, Arkansas, as the “George Kell Post Office” (Rep. Berry – Oversight and Government Reform)
- – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 16555 Springs Street in White Springs, Florida, as the “Clyde L. Hillhouse Post Office Building” (Rep. Crenshaw – Oversight and Government Reform)
- – Expressing support for greater awareness of ovarian cancer (Rep. Israel – Oversight and Government Reform)
- – Congratulating the Warner Robins Little League softball team from Warner Robins, Georgia, on winning the 2009 Little League Softball World Series (Rep. Marshall – Oversight and Government Reform)
- – Honoring the life of Frank McCourt for his many contributions to American literature, education, and culture (Rep. Murphy (CT) – Oversight and Government Reform)
- – To establish a research, development, and technology demonstration program to improve the efficiency of gas turbines used in combined cycle power generation systems (Rep. Tonko – Science and technology)
- – Energy and Water Research Integration Act (Rep. Gordon – Science and Technology)
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2009 AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business. On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business.
Suspensions (10 Bills)
- – To amend the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to provide for additional monitoring and accountability of the Troubled Assets Relief Program (Rep. Maloney – Financial Services)
- – Enhanced S.E .C. Enforcement Authority Act (Rep. Campbell – Financial Services)
- – CJ’s Home Protection Act of 2009 (Rep. Ellsworth – Financial Services)
- – Encouraging banks and mortgage servicers to work with families affected by contaminated drywall to allow temporary forbearance without penalty on payments on their home mortgages (Rep. Nye – Financial Services)
- – Recognizing the exemplary service of the soldiers of the 30th Infantry Division (Old Hickory) of the United States Army during World War II (Rep. Kissell – Armed Services)
- – Congratulating the Sailors of the United States Submarine Force upon the completion of 1,000 Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) deterrent patrols (Rep. Dicks – Armed Services)
- – Supporting the goals and ideals of National Military Family Month (Rep. Rooney – Armed Services)
- – Redundancy Elimination and Enhanced Performance for Preparedness Grants Act (Rep. Cuellar – Homeland Security)
- – Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Transportation Security Administration should, in accordance with the congressional mandate provided for in the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, enhance security against terrorist attack and other security threats to our Nation’s rail and mass transit lines (Rep. Jackson-Lee – Homeland Security)
- – Criminal Investigative Training Restoration Act (Rep. Lungren – Homeland Security)
– Permanent Estate Tax Relief for Families, Farmers, and Small Businesses Act of 2009 (Rep. Pomeroy – Ways and Means) (Subject to a Rule)
- Conference Reports may be brought up at any time.
Motions to go to Conference should they become available. Possible Motions to Instruct Conferees.
In the Senate, courtesy of the
Convenes: 2pm
Morning business until 3pm with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.
At 3pm, the Senate will resume consideration of , the legislative vehicle for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009.
There will be no roll call votes on Monday.
The Thanksgiving break is behind us, but it’s a travel day for most Members. The House won’t be in session at all today, and though debate on the health insurance reform bill is set to begin in the Senate, no votes are scheduled, which should mean the action will remain low-key. So far, there’s just no real indication of how long this debate might last.
Once the House does kick into gear, there’s a full slate of suspensions to keep them busy, while they work behind the scenes and in the committees to make use of the time they’ll otherwise be spending waiting for the Senate to do its part with health care.
Most of the whispers — and not a few shouts from the rooftops — indicate that there’s a strong interest in spending the time on jobs, jobs, jobs. Which means Democrats look for ways to stimulate job creation, and Republicans say they won’t work and oppose them, then hold press events in their districts accepting the money for those programs.
The one bill scheduled for consideration under regular order this week is “relief” for the estate tax that Republicans told everyone they eliminated in 2001. Thing is — And this will shock you! — Republicans actually used (including reconciliation, by the way) to pull that little stunt off, the end result being that while the tax is eliminated in 2010, it comes back in 2011 at about double the rate it was when they started trying to cut it.
Sounds like Republicans with rich uncles were praying for some 2010 “death panels” after all.
So next time a Republican nut tells you that reconciliation for health insurance reform would be like the “nuclear option,” you can tell them Dems are busying themselves with cleaning up the mess left behind by the Republicans’ use of reconciliation to fake elimination of the estate tax.
Or, you could ignore Republicans altogether, and just watch the committees do their work instead. See their full schedule, thanks to Jeremy Koulish of , below.
From the GREAT STATE OF MAINE…
The Not-Too-Distant Future: 7am
[Ring!!!]
”Helloooo!”
”Hello? Is this the ?”
”Why, yeeeesss!”
”Oh, good. I, uh…I need some help.”
”What’s yer name, darlin’?”
”My name? Tim…er, um…Zim! Zim Zeithner!”
”What an unusual name. Is it German?”
”Uh…sure. German. Right. Whatever.”
”And what kind of ’spiritual care’ can I give ya, Hon’?”
”I need you to pray for the economy, Ma’am. It’s in the shitter…sorry, I mean it’s not doing well and I think I’m about to get fired by the president…er…of my company.”
”Well, you’ve come to the right place, Mr. Zeithner. Now, what exactly about the economy would you like me to pray for?”
”All of it! The whole thing! Now! Please!”
”Okee doke. Let’s see: you’ll want a prayer for interest rates, another for inflation. Prayers for oil prices, new home sales, holiday sales, exports, imports, commodities futures, employment…”
”Make it two prayers for employment. No, wait…TEN!
”My goodness, Mr. Zeithner, you’re serious—ten employment prayers it is. Then I’ll do a lump prayer for the Dow, the NASDAQ and the S&P 500. And we’ll also need prayers for energy projects, transportation projects, education projects, tax revenue, healthcare reform, consumer spending, consumer saving, small businesses, big businesses, borrowing, lending, GDP, productivity, organized labor, international trade, outstanding debt…”
”Wall Street bonuses! Do one for Wall Street bonuses!”
”Okay, that should about cover it. My, that’s a long list! And as a free bonus, you can have a complimentary prayer for tighter regulation of the financial markets.”
”Ummm…Nah. Skip that part.”
”Okay, then. Lemme just add these up…”[Clickety clicky clacky clackety click click... Zzzzzip!]
”That comes out to forty billion dollars and 62 cents, Hon’. But we’ll just send the bill to the Treasury Department. Between you, me and the fencepost, whoever’s in charge over there should be fired. What a horse’s p’tootie. Is he even awake?”
”Uh…I gotta go. Thanks bye!”
[Click]
”Well, what a nice man, that Mr. Zeithner. Sounds like he needs a vacation, though. Poor dear.”
Cheers and Jeers starts in There’s Moreville… [Swoosh!!] RIGHTNOW! [Gong!!]