$410 Billion Omnibus Bill Could Pass Tuesday with the Help of Weak Republicans

Mo Money’ Mo Problems:

Despite earlier reports buzzing around the Hill that Senate Democrats may not have the 60 votes needed to prevent a GOP filibuster of the $410 billion spending omnibus, TheHill.com is now reporting that the Democrat leadership is now confident that they will have the votes necessary to make this happen.

Last November, the only thing the Democrats failed to do was capture the 60 Senate seats needed to prevent a filibuster. This means that if they are going to get anything done, it’s going to have to be with the help of some Republicans willing to cross sides. The Democrat’s most likely help will come from Republican Senators who are looking to gain some much-needed political capital – like in Maine and Pennsylvania for example, two blue/purple states with “vulnerable” Republican Senators. I think that they should be more worried about retaliation from their own party than those voters on the left who didn’t vote for them in the first place.

During the recent stimulus fight, there were three Senators who decided to play the role of a modern day Judas’: Senators Collins and Snowe, both of Maine, and Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania. They’ve definitely played it well.

Yes my friends, it appears that the party of Reagan is slowly assimilating into the party of pansies, where those elected to serve on what has become a reality show, now better known as “House… and Senate” spend their days in the dark bowels of the various House and Senate buildings, meeting with key staffers and politicos not discussing policy, but figuring out what tradeoffs will get them reelected.

While Snowe and Collins haven’t been mentioned, I wouldn’t be surprised if they join arms with Senator Specter again, who is believed to be a key player for crossing over, all with the end result of propping themselves up, while dragging the Republican brand and Party into the ground.

The article also goes on to say that Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa (the guy who the Republican Party should exile for his sneaky online sales reporting provision), and Senator Kit Bond of Missouri could also become the latest round of Senators to go native. Are they the Brutus’ of the GOP?

Why aren’t we stopping them?

If I were Michael Steele, my message to the Republicans in both the House and Senate would be simple: “grow a damn pair or I’ll make sure your sorry asses don’t get re-elected.”

We’ll see what happens… and I hope to have more updates tomorrow.

New Political Rapper: MC Tarp Fund?

This is probably the funniest video I’ve seen in awhile, regardless of the target. MC Tarp Fund definitely has some skills. I’m quite impressed.

Best line:

Get your story straight man and make it quick, your political capital fell faster than stocks in Reykjavik

I guess this is the power of the Stephen Colbert army. If you’re unsure what sparked this video, and a variety of other spoofs, here is the clip that started it all:

Steele: GOP needs ‘hip-hop’ makeover and just in time as the GOP exceeds Dems on Twitter

From today’s Washington Times:
Newly elected Republican National Committee Chairman Michael S. Steele plans an “off the hook” public relations offensive to attract younger voters, especially blacks and Hispanics, by applying the party’s principles to “urban-suburban hip-hop settings.”

It’s no secret that the republican party has an image problem.

In the past, republican leaders have tried to mask the problem by simply changing their clothes – this cover up is just another form of denial and actually has hurt more than it has helped.

I believe, however, that Michael Steele recognizes that the GOP needs a complete make-over (just in time for DC fashion week) and that Steele is truly willing to lead (maybe through force and some kicking and screaming) the RNC and state gops into the 21st century.

Apparently Steele’s leadership is already working.

According to another Washington Times article GOP surpasses Dems on Twitter:

Republicans finally get it — and have jumped on Internet technology in hopes of dominating it in the same way they used talk radio in the early 1990s to build a following.

“Every time I send out a tweet, I’m throwing another shovel of dirt to help bury the old media,” said Rep. John Culberson of Texas, a 52-year-old Republican who became one of the most quoted speakers at the Republican National Committee tech summit Friday.

Of the 219 congressional Republicans, 49 were using Twitter, while 27 of 317 Democrats were using it as of Monday, according to Tweet Congress (www.tweetcongress.org). The site tracks use of Twitter, a social messaging Web site that allows microblog text entries of 140 characters or less, known as tweets.

RNC to host its first ‘Tech Summit’ this Friday

Over the weekend I found out about and registered for a technology summit that the Republican National Committee will be hosting at their headquarters this Friday (February, 13).

The goal of this summit appears to be simple, give Republican activists who are also involved in various tech-related communities the opportunity to share their ideas and possibly recommend new products or concepts that could help the GOP rebuild their image and infrastructure.

News of the summit was also briefly mentioned on Politico.com:

A Republican closely involved with the changes at the party said the summit “underscores the seriousness with which the new chairman takes the party’s deficiency in terms of the use of technology internally and externally,” and the fact that “the Republican party is well behind the Democratic Party.

The Republican acknowledged that tech conversation during the chairman’s race — which featured one moment at the Americans for Tax Reform debate at which candidates compared their personal tech use — left much to be desired.

“That was ridiculous and embarrassing to watch,” the Republican said, adding that Friday’s event will be “an open casting call” for Republicans both inside and outside current debates over the party’s technology, and focused on communicating the GOP message more broadly than has been done in the past.

If  you’re going to be in the DC area this Friday, or would like to share your ideas via email, you can find more information here.

Michael Steele’s Weekly Republican address

Here is new RNC Chairman, Michael Steele’s weekly Republican address, from YouTube.com:

He needs some practice, maybe even a few classes from the Leadership Institute, but I’m confident he’ll get better over time. At least the message is on point.

If you cant access YouTube, here is the transcript:

“This is Michael Steele, Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Democrats have controlled both branches of government for less than a month. And you have to wonder if all that power has gone to their heads.

“For the last two weeks, they’ve been trying to force a massive spending bill through Congress under the guise of economic relief.

“All of us — Republicans and Democrats — agree the government must act to kick-start the American economy. American families are doing their best to balance their own budgets and pay their mortgages.

“The fastest way to help those families is by letting them keep more of the money they earn. Individual empowerment: that’s how you stimulate the economy.

“But the Democrats have a different philosophy. Instead of leaving money in the family checkbook, they want to send it to Washington, run it through a slow and inefficient government, and hope that does some good.

“When families keep the money, they spend it, save it, or invest it. And the private sector economy benefits when families and businesses buy consumer goods or invest it for the future. But when Washington spends the money, some of it may flow into the economy, but all too often, much gets wasted.

“Democrats in Congress want a one-trillion dollar spending bill. You’ve heard about the pork-barrel programs they want to fund… 45 million dollars for ATV trails and removal of fish passage barriers is one that caught my eye. Exactly what is a fish passage barrier and why does it cost 45 million dollars to stimulate the economy with it?

“That’s why Republicans in the House voted against uncontrolled spending. This is not a bragging point, but rather a statement that at least Republicans would stand with the American taxpayer.

“But voting ‘no’ is not enough… and Republicans have offered innovative ideas to help struggling families and small businesses. We’ve offered plans to spark job creation and investment through lower taxes, to stop the taxation of unemployment benefits, and to help Americans keep their jobs and their homes.

“The comprehensive Republican plan would lower taxes for all working American families. If you’re married, the first 16,750 dollars you make this year will be taxed at ten percent. Why don’t we cut that rate in half to give instant buying power to every working American family?

“Good ideas… lots of them… all left out of this plan by the Democrats in Congress.

“Republicans stand ready to work with reasonable Democrats to do what is right for America.

“But it will take more than bipartisan words from the President. It will require fair-minded action from Democrats in Congress.

“Thanks for listening.”