“Justice has been served.  Osama bin Laden, the man responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent Americans is dead, thanks to the relentless efforts of President Obama and American security forces. Our thanks to the brave men and women who serve in our military and security forces who put their lives on the line in the successful pursuit of the mastermind of the 9/11 terror attacks.

“The President kept his word pledging in 2007 to send American forces to hunt down this heinous terrorist wherever he was hiding even in Pakistan if need be. I join with all Americans in thanking the President for making the demise of Osama Bin Laden his number one priority in the war on terror.”

Source

Statement from Congressman Denny Rehberg on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“This welcome news is bigger than any single terrorist or architect of evil – it is about the ultimate futility of the stand he took against our freedom. In the ten years after his cowardly attacks, bin Laden lived as a fugitive, even hiding in caves. But he could not hide from the long arm of justice. Jan and I are so proud of our men and women serving our great country and we honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in keeping America safe.”

Source

Statement from Congressman Erik Paulsen on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“The news that American forces have killed Osama bin Laden marks a significant achievement in the fight against terrorism. I want to thank the countless American soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen, intelligence officials, as well as their families, for their tireless efforts in protecting our country.”

Source

Statement from US Senator Patty Murray on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“The President’s announcement tonight is tremendous news for all Americans and for counterterrorism efforts worldwide.

“The superb work of our military and intelligence communities have led to the death of the mastermind of the worst attack in our nation’s history. It is indeed a great moment.

“I applaud our troops, intelligence operatives, and the Administration for never wavering in this important goal in the broader war on terrorism.

“This is a particularly important day for the thousands of Americans who lost a family member, friend or loved one nearly ten years ago. And all of our thanks go to those who have been lost in our military efforts and to our veterans and their families.

“This is indeed a significant moment and one that will continue to propel our efforts to root out terrorists wherever they reside. We must continue to remain vigilant and focused on the protection of the American people.”

Source

Statement from US Senator Debbie Stabenow on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“Osama bin Laden murdered thousands of Americans, yet evaded justice for years. Our country is united in gratitude to the brave men and women of our intelligence and counter terrorism community and our troops for their sacrifices in keeping us safe from terror.”

Source

Statement from US Senator Rand Paul on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“I commend our troops, the intelligence community, and the military leaders involved in both the administrations of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama for their perseverance and courage in pursuit of this most grievous enemy of the United States of America.”

Source

Statement from Congressman Eric Cantor on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“The man with the blood of more than 3,000 Americans on his hands, the man who forced us to begin to think the unthinkable – is now dead,” Cantor said in a statement. “I commend President Obama who has followed the vigilance of President Bush in bringing Bin Laden to justice.”

Cantor said that bin Laden’s killing shows that “justice has been done after, President Bush said nearly a decade ago, ‘Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done.”

The Virginia Republican said that “We will not relent in our fight against terror and our efforts to keep America safe and secure.”

Source

Statement from Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“I want to express my deepest gratitute to the men and women of the U.S. military and intelligence community.  The news does not bring back the lives of the thousands of innocent people who were killed that day by Bin Laden’s horrific plan, and it does not end the threat posed by terrorists.”

Source

Statement from Congressman Paul Ryan on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“The President’s announcement that Osama Bin Laden has been killed by the brave men and women of our military is a momentous turning point in our nation’s ongoing War on Terrorism. This strikes a major blow to al-Qaeda and its allies. While we must remain vigilant in defense of freedom and democracy in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other fronts, this is certainly fantastic news that Americans have spent years waiting for.”

Source

Statement from US Senator Mitch McConnell on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“The death of Osama bin Laden marks a long-awaited end to the work of the man responsible for the 9/11 attacks. No one who remembers the horror of that day can help but feel relieved that Osama bin Laden is dead. This is a great victory in the War on Terror and for all who have worked so tirelessly over the years to thwart the monstrous designs of this madman and his disciples. On September 11, 2001, America came together and vowed that we would never forget the memory of those whose lives were lost on that terrible day. Tonight’s announcement shows that we have made good on that pledge. It is proof that no matter how difficult or how long it takes, our military, intelligence forces and law enforcement officials will never stop until the job is done. America celebrates tonight, and is grateful for the heroic efforts of the many men and women around the world who have fought and who are still fighting to protect the world from terrorism. Though they may never make the headlines, we are ever mindful of their many sacrifices. This war on terror continues, but we can be happy tonight that with the death of Osama bin Laden, the world is a better place.”

Source

Statement from US Senator Roy Blunt on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“Osama bin Laden’s death is a major victory for America. This development is the culmination of the sacrifices and dedication from our brave troops and intelligence professionals. After nearly a decade, it also brings a great measure of justice and closure for all Americans who lost loved ones as a result of the brutal attacks against our nation on 9/11. While this does not mean the end of our fight against global terrorism, bin Laden’s death is a major blow to al-Qaeda and the terrorist organizations that he financed.”

Source

Statement from US Senator Richard Burr on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“The death of Osama Bin Laden marks the culmination of the greatest manhunt ever undertaken by American forces.  This is a major development in our fight against terrorism and proves our resolve to hold accountable those who harm American citizens, but we must remain vigilant and not lose focus on the overall mission and our goal of eradicating terrorist threats.  There still remains a dire threat posed by Bin Laden’s followers and the seeds of hate he planted across the globe, and while we are immensely grateful for this victory, our work is far from over.”

Source

Statement from US Senator John McCain on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“I am overjoyed that we finally got the world’s top terrorist. The world is a better and more just place now that Osama bin Laden is no longer in it. I hope the families of the victims of the September 11th attacks will sleep easier tonight and every night hence knowing that justice has been done. I commend the President and his team, as well as our men and women in uniform and our intelligence professionals, for this superb achievement.”

“But while we take heart in the news that Osama bin Laden is dead, we must be mindful that al-Qaeda and its terrorist allies are still lethal and determined enemies, and we must remain vigilant to defeat them.”

Source

Statement from US Senator Susan Collins on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“The director of the Counterterrorism Center informed me tonight that Osama Bin Laden was killed in a U.S. Operation. This welcome news is a credit to our intelligence efforts and brings to justice the architect of the attacks on our country that killed nearly 3,000 people on September 11, 2001.”

Source

Statement from US Senator Chuck Schumer on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“This is a thunderous strike for justice for the thousands of my fellow New Yorkers — and citizens from all over the world — who were murdered on 9/11,” Schumer said in a statement. “It took close to ten years, but the world’s most wanted terrorist has finally met his deserved fate. New York’s heart is still broken from the tragedy of 9/11, but this at least brings some measure of closure and consolation to the victims and their families.”

“This is a massive accomplishment for the countless military and intelligence personnel who have been urgently dedicated to this task for the past decade,” he said.  “Because Bin Laden’s evil dogma has poisoned the minds of so many others, we cannot let up in the war on terror. This successful mission sends a definitive message to those who would test the resolve of the people of the United States of America: do not doubt our resolve; if you do us harm, we will find you, we will mete out justice, and we will prevail.”

Source

Statement from US Senator Max Baucus on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“This is a great day for America. I salute the brave men and women who made this happen. Tonight my thoughts are with the victims of the 911 attacks, their families and our troops serving on the front lines. May this news bring us one step closer to finding justice and one step closer to bringing our troops home.”

Source

Statement from US Senator Jon Tester on the death of Osama bin Laden:

“America’s troops and intelligence agents have sacrificed and given precious lives in the long hunt for Osama bin Laden, and tonight our forces have delivered justice to the entire world. I proudly stand with all Montanans to say thank you – and job well done – to all who have dedicated their lives to stamping out bin Laden and the absolute evil he stood for.”

“While bin Laden’s death is a true victory, our vigilance in the worldwide fight against terrorism doesn’t end here. Bin Laden’s death with make our world safer, but together with the international community, our nation will remain steadfast in our commitment to security, safety, and opportunity for all Americans.”

“As always, my thoughts and prayers are with the hundreds of Montana troops serving overseas. We are forever grateful for their service, and we’re anxious to bring them home safely”

Source

While Gallup notes:

U.S. presidents rarely see a spike in public support after their delivery of State of the Union addresses. Since 1978, Gallup has measured only four instances when a president’s approval rating increased by at least four percentage points after a State of the Union address, with Bill Clinton the president in three of these instances and George W. Bush in the other.

While that’s true, I couldn’t help but notice that in 1995 (after the Republican Revolution in 1994), with a pre-speech approval rating 47%, President Bill Clinton saw a post-speech bump of 2%.

The question is, however, was Obama’s speech better than Clinton’s? I’m not so sure, but it’ll be interesting to see later this week how the American people responded.

What do you think? Share your comments below.

Graphic: Approval Ratings Pre- and Post-State of the Union, Presidents from Jimmy Carter to George W. Bush

From the Wall Street Journal:

WASHINGTON—With the Massachusetts Senate seat unexpectedly in play, Democrats are weighing alternative scenarios for passing a health bill without their filibuster-proof majority.

Congressional Democrats and the White House have rapidly stepped up the pace of negotiations on a final bill in the last 48 hours as polls showed a tightening race in Tuesday’s special election.

But Senate leaders need every one of the 60 votes they can call on—including two independents—to pass the bill. A Republican victory in Tuesday’s special Senate election would deprive them of that margin.

It’s also possible that vulnerable Democrats could bolt after a defeat, leaving more votes to make up. Even a narrow victory for Democratic contender Martha Coakley—in one of the nation’s bluest states—could unnerve fellow party members.

Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Democratic leadership circle in the House, acknowledged Friday the Massachusetts race would “complicate things if we lose.”

While we’ve known for awhile what was at stake with this special election, it’s disgusting to see what “nuclear options” are being proposed and considered by the various Democrat caucuses.

So far, four options have come to light: Move Quickly, Pass the Senate Bill, Use Reconciliation, or simply Give Up.

This obviously poses a challenge for the Democrats.

Should Scott Brown win, they’re going to have to select one of the four options mentioned above if they want to get their health care bill passed. Unfortunately for them, no matter which option they go with (other than waiting it out and hoping for a miracle), the current Democrat majority is going to lose a huge chunk of their base, those who lean more towards identifying themselves as conservative or moderate Democrats.

Not only will the Democrats lose popularity amongst there base, but they’ll also lose a significant amount of political capital, which is essential during an election year.

Unfortunately for the Democrats, they’ve set up a legislative agenda that will fracture them even more should they not maintain a safe number of reliable votes. After all, this Congress still hasn’t been able to come up with a cap and trade policy that is popular with the American electorate.

Luckily for the GOP, if the Democrats aren’t able to hold Ted Kennedy’s seat, and their filibuster-proof majority, I think it’s safe to say that the Dem’s are going to into a tailspin between now and November, essentially writing their own attack ads, paving the way for a Republican victory.

Links:

Politico: Tea Partiers rally: ‘Kill the bill’

Dakota Voice: Code Red Rally Today Against Gov’t Health Care

The Washington Independent: Nervous About Health Care, Tea Parties Look to 2010

Christian News Wire: Concerned Women for America Joins ‘Code Red’ Rally on Capitol Hill

Courthouse News Service: Right Wingers Dress in Red to Protest Bill

CNN Political Ticker: Dean: Time to ‘kill the Senate bill’

CBS News: Conservatives Rally to “Kill the Bill”

CNN Political Ticker: Conservative ‘Code Red rally’ hits the Hill

The Hill: Tea Party supporters, conservative groups rally outside Capitol

Video Coverage:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Photo Coverage:

Congressman Kingston Speaks at Code Red Rally

Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA) looks on as Mr. William Temple of Brunswick, GA is interviewed by a correspondent from National Public Radio in Washington.

Code Red Protest in DC

Code Red Protest in DC

Code Red Protest in DC

Conservatives rallied in Washington Tuesday to show their opposition to Democrats' plans for health care reform. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

(AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)

Connecticut resident Tom Hill poses with a homemade sign. The other side featured a health care message for Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.). (Photo by David Weigel)

Nobody ever believes me when I say how rough my neighborhood in Pentagon City is, but Remy finally gave me something I can use to back it up.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Sadly though… I don’t own any brown flip-flops. They are always sold out.

For those who will be in the DC area tomorrow (April 15) between 11am – 3pm, I strongly urge you to attend the DC Tea Party, which will be staged at Lafayette Square and outside of the United States Treasury (yes, we’re talking belly of the beast here).

Here is a partial list of speakers scheduled to be in attendance:

Princella Smith, American Solutions
Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform
Tobin Smith, Fox News
Brian Johnson, Americans for Tax Reform
Alan Keyes, Activist
Mike Church, Mike Church Radio Show
Rachel Hoff, College Republicans
Tom Schatz, Citizens against Government Waste
Josh Bolin, Reagan.org

For those of you unfamiliar with Washington, DC, below is a simple GoogleMap that I put together to illustrate the area.



View DC Tea Party in a larger map


While there is ample parking in the area, I warn you, it’s never cheap, unless you get lucky and score a street spot (usually around the monuments).

Instead of risking a $20 parking tab, or ranging parking ticket fee, my suggestion would be to find parking somewhere in Northern Virginia and just take the Metro in.

The event (both Lafayette Square and the Treasury) are located within a few blocks of 5 different metro stations: Farragut North, Farragut West, McPherson Square, Metro Center and Federal Triangle.

If you’re coming from Northern Virginia, both the Orange Line and Blue Line will get you to the event without transferring. If you have to take the Yellow line, you’ll have to transfer at L’Enfant Plaza.

Don’t forget your signs!

Yes, alas, it’s Obama’s new dog.

From Sunday’s Washington Post.

The little guy is a 6-month-old Portuguese water dog given to the Obama girls as a gift by that Portuguese water dog-lovin’ senator himself, Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts. The girls named it Bo — and let it be noted that you learned that here first. Malia and Sasha chose the name, because their cousins have a cat named Bo and because first lady Michelle Obama’s father was nicknamed Diddley, a source said. (Get it? Bo . . . Diddley?)

Bo? I guess it could be worse.

My guesses for some other names that were probably considered, but couldn’t make the cut:

• Messiah
• Rush
• Maverick
• Rummy
• Turbo (Tim Geithner’s Pick)
• Blago
• Murdock
• Mary Jane
• Gimmick (this had to be the close second)

Are there any others that I’ve missed?

Click here to view the embedded video.

It’s about time someone shut them up.

In this commercial, Dominos Pizza has used the bailouts and stimulus package to their advantage by poking fun at the process, and selling pizza at the same time.

This is definitely smart advertising.

As a tech-geek, I’ll avoid going into total analytical nerd mode, however the very fact that National Journal was compelled to write an article titled “E-Mail Surge Forces Hill IT to Keep Up” is a testament to the hard work of activists across the country.

From the article:

“There were delays on inbound Internet traffic yesterday but, given the fact that we receive on average more than 1 million e-mails per day, our system is extremely reliable and interruptions/slowdowns are rare. The volume is constantly increasing and we continually review technology upgrades to deal with it,” Kyle Anderson said in a statement.

One million emails per day, that’s a force to be reckoned with.

What I find even more uplifting about that number is that Anderson says it’s continually on the rise, which leads me to believe that a big portion of this activity can be attributed to the long awaited coming of age (in a technological sense) of the conservative movement.

Now with conservatives having a powerful presence on sites like Facebook, Twitter, Ning, and various other social networking sites, it’s extremely easy to relay information that drives action.

What’s even more uplifting about all of this is that it’s not just Hill-targeted email traffic that is on the rise, it’s also overall web-traffic.

Check out this graph showing the monthly traffic numbers of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate:

As the graph shows, December saw a decline in traffic, which is to be expected after a heated election with a lame-duck President.

However, what I find more remarkable is how quickly the level of traffic has picked up on the Hill. It’s often the case that after heated elections political apathy on both sides is a symptom that plagues even the most active politicos.

It looks like things are different now.

If political apathy can be avoided month-after-month between now and November 2010, I don’t see any reason why the Republicans in both the House and Senate wouldn’t gain (or at least keep) most of the contested seats.