In interest of future speculation– however– the special election results in Massachusetts offered promising hope.  Many expected a sure win for the Democratic Party, yet Republican Scott Brown walked away Senator in the end.  The victory may have been unexpected by established sources, yet it was anxiously anticipated by citizen’s nationwide.

USA Today: Two weeks ago, Massachusetts Democrat Martha Coakley enjoyed a double-digit lead in polls, was raising an average of $24,000 a day in political contributions and had yet to put up a single campaign television ad.

In a matter of days, her front-runner status had collapsed. Suddenly, a little-known Republican state lawmaker, Scott Brown, had turned the contest for the Bay State’s Senate seat — a seat that had been held by Edward Kennedy for 47 years — into a real race.

Massachusetts voters responded Tuesday by turning out to the polls in droves as snow fell across portions of the state, delivering an upset victory for Brown despite a 3-to-1 Democratic advantage in voter registration. The Associated Press called the race less than an hour and a half after polls closed.

This is upsetting to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi not only because it shows how potentially misleading “voter registration” advantages can be, but also the very real delay this will put on her much criticized health-care reform bill.

The fallout: Democrats rethinking health care bill

“People do not want the trillion dollar health care plan that is being forced on the American people, and this bill is not being debated openly and fairly. It will raise taxes, it will hurt Medicare, it will destroy jobs and run our nation deeper in to debt,” Brown said in his acceptance speech.

[...]

House Republican Leader John Boehner fired back at Pelosi’s “right on course” comment, with spokesman Michael Steel saying, “Regardless of what happens in Massachusetts, it’s clear that jamming this government takeover of health care through Congress will set off a political firestorm. The American people are screaming, ‘stop’ at the top of their lungs, and out-of-touch Democratic leaders ignore them at their peril.”  Politico

The Associated Press reported that some were concerned that they would “block Brown long enough to complete congressional passage of the health care plan he has promised to oppose.”  Harry Reid comments:

“The people of Massachusetts have spoken. We welcome Scott Brown to the Senate and will move to seat him as soon as the proper paperwork has been received,” said Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin said he would notify the Senate on Wednesday that Brown had been elected.

The loss by the once-favored Democrat Martha Coakley in the Democratic stronghold was a stunning embarrassment for the White House after Obama rushed to Boston on Sunday to try to save the foundering candidate. Her defeat on Tuesday signaled big political problems for the president’s party this fall when House, Senate and gubernatorial candidates are on the ballot nationwide.  Associated Press (Yahoo News)

Needless to say, the Speaker of the House is in store for some “big political problems” of her own.  Contribute your support to the John Dennis Campaign today, and help insure she gets her full share.

Brown is a free-market advocate who believes that the “federal stimulus bill made government bigger instead of creating jobs.”  Nancy Pelosi is overwhelmingly responsible for such growth (previous post).  Congratulations on your win, Senator Scott Brown.

CBS puts the cost of the military flights at about $170,000 (which doesn’t include the commercial flights, hundreds of hotel stays, and 10’s-of-thousands of dollars in meals and other expenses).  “This nation’s hurting.  But Nancy Pelosi can use 3 military jets… and then refuse to answer any questions about it,” says Jack Cafferty, CNN.  “What a horrible woman she is.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks with GM CEO Ed Whitacre, alongside UAW President Ron Gettelfinger, center, while they view a Chevy Volt on Monday at the North American International Auto Show. (SUSAN TUSA/Detroit Free Press)

When Pelosi visited the North American International Auto Show at Cobo Center yesterday (Monday), she was met by protesters.  Upset with the recent bailout of the auto industry, they couldn’t miss the opportunity to voice their indignation with the Speaker of the House.  Her comments, no doubt, only added fuel to the fire.

“Our hopes are riding on the auto industry succeeding in this country,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi…

She led a congressional delegation to the show and — after riding in the hybrid versions of the GMC Sierra pickup and Chevy Equinox — declared: “The investment that taxpayers made in the auto industry is one that will be rewarded.”

[...]

“There is no doubt the American auto industry needs help, but the Democrats’ solution of government takeovers and expansion isn’t the answer,” said Republican National Committee spokeswoman Kristen Kurkowski.

[...]

About two dozen Tea Party activists picketed outside of Cobo Center… The state and national Republican parties mocked Pelosi for her comments that the visit was historic.

Detroit Free Press

It’s quite humorous to consider the presumed number-one carbon emitter in Congress taking delight in a hybrid car.  This presumption is of course based on her military jet, which has been flying the Madame Speaker coast-to-coast since 9/11.   Cost is estimated to be around $60,000 one way, and that doesn’t include food… or flowers.

Picture courtesy of The Absurd Report.

He and his team set the “bar” high, hoping to raise $20,000 yesterday.  To their pleasant surprise, the “bar” seems to have been set too low!  Today, it is approaching $25,000.  He sent out a “thank you” for all the gracious donations:

Thank you to all of the donors to our John Dennis for Congress Campaign money bomb yesterday. I am honored, humbled and grateful.

[...]

Thanks also to all of you who supported the bomb in other ways.

[...]

We will use your contributions well and will, I believe, make history.

Regards,
John Dennis

It’s not too late to donate, visit his site today: www.johndennis2010.com

Said Dr. Paul, “John Dennis is truly committed to Liberty, personal freedom, fiscal discipline and a more sensible foreign policy. I am very happy that John has decided to run for Congress and wholeheartedly endorse him.”

For more information on John Dennis, please visit www.JohnDennis2010.com.

Congressman Paul’s endorsement comes through his Liberty PAC, a Republican leadership PAC committed to supporting Liberty minded candidates across the country.

Said Liberty PAC director Jesse Benton, “John Dennis is a terrific candidate who is going to ask tough questions like: ‘Why is Nancy Pelosi running up crushing budget deficits?’, “Why has she allowed President Obama to expand the war in Afghanistan?’, and, ‘Why has Nancy Pelosi refused to support transparency and accountability at the Federal Reserve.’ The constituents of California’s 8th district deserve answers to these questions. John Dennis will hold her accountable.”

LINK

Pelosi is learning the hard way that there’s a difference between receiving attention for being a pioneer and receiving attention for fouling up on the job…  To call it a disastrous public performance would be polite.  NY Times

Having been in office since 1987 with virtually zero opposition, what kind of havoc could this woman wreak?

The first and foremost complaint has been her readiness to support and advocate “bailouts” for American industry.  Especially considering the “industry” originally bailed out, which can hardly be called an industry at all; i.e. the banking (money derivatives) sector of our economy.  America has lost its position as a manufacturing superpower some years ago.  It has since been saturated with international finance derivatives specialists.  This position is only strengthened by government bailouts, and to the dismay of citizens, our “real worth” in the world has diminished as a result.  To bailout the institutions responsible is absolutely ludicrous; unless your agenda differs form that of the people you serve, Ms. Pelosi.

Healthcare reform under Pelosi has blatantly included penalties of up to $250,000 and 6 years in jail for those who cannot afford health insurance.  Yet we are to believe that this is GOOD for the 40 million or so who are uninsured?  This is the same practice Obama denounced in reference to Hillary Clinton’s reform plans.

Although she is currently unloading her war efforts on the President, no one can deny that she has been a pivotal force in the funding for both the Iraq and Afghanistan war fronts.  This kind of “flip-flop” policy making is nothing unheard of to those following the Speaker’s procedures.

The Hill says that she is looking for a new “boogeyman” come 2010, pointing out:

In her book, “Know Your Power”, Pelosi wrote that the first agenda item in winning campaigns is, “You must take down the ratings of your opposition.”

And keep in mind that she is not new to the game.  This is a multi-generational political spinster, as John Armor points out here.

There is one hope, one person, one candidate that can usurp the Queen of the House.  His name is John Dennis, and he needs your help now more than ever.  Please visit his site and “vote with your wallet” TODAY to show the Madame Speaker that we are serious.  She wants a “boogeyman” for 2010?  She has one.

THE PELOSI INDEX, analyzes and tracks every member of Congress’ true voting record and details how often these self proclaimed moderates vote to support Pelosi’s radical transformation of America.

SUMMARY

Since the beginning of the legislative cycle in January 2009, 150 House Democrats have voted for Speaker Pelosi’s radical agenda on all nine major pieces of legislation scored in the INDEX. More than 220 Democrat members have sold out America’s core values to vote for the Speaker’s liberal plan more than 75% of the time.  These members threaten to destroy the American way of life through economy-crushing tax increases and the massive expansion of government control and spending which has already begun to saddle our future generations with enormous levels of unsustainable debt.

The Chart is absolutely fascinating and VERY detailed.  But even a quick glance will give an accurate overview of which Congress members are supporters of the “Pelosi Agenda,” sort of speak.  View Chart

Upset 2010?
by Ryan Jaroncyk

Not your typical Republican, John Dennis is adopting an unorthodox strategy in his bid to unseat Speaker Nancy Pelosi in next year’s congressional mid-terms.  Many political pundits would consider his campaign a long shot, especially in the more liberal domain of San Francisco, but rising voter discontent and a 27% congressional approval rating may set the stage for some potentially spectacular upsets.

Pelosi is revered by most Democrats and is one of the most powerful women in the world.  She is a seasoned politician and has become one of the most recognizable faces in the US Congress. However, a number of developments have weakened Pelosi’s political standing. In an October poll, Pelosi registered a 34% approval rating in the state of California, with only a small majority of Democrats (51%) giving her high marks.  Since the 2006 Democratic takeover of Congress, Pelosi and her fellow Democrats have continued to fund the Iraq War, despite offering vociferous opposition under President Bush, and three years later, there are still over 120,000 troops stationed there and sectarian violence is once again on the rise.  In early 2008, the Bush-Pelosi $168 billion stimulus failed to rescue the economy from the coming crash.  In 2009, the $787 billion stimulus failed to stem unemployment at the predicted 8.1%, the Afghanistan-Pakistan war has been ramped up with two substantial troop surges in less than a year, and healthcare reform has disappointed many in the Democratic Party.  Couple these troubling developments with an angry grassroots movement bent on punishing incumbents throughout the nation, and Speaker Pelosi’s seat may not be as secure as she’d like.

Enter John Dennis.  Dennis is a successful businessman and entrepreneur running as a political outsider.  Unlike most of his fellow Republicans, he believes America should withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as close down a significant number of US military bases around the world.  Instead, Dennis advocates a more limited, focused, and cost effective approach to national defense. On the domestic front, Dennis is a staunch defender of civil liberties, a diehard fiscal conservative, and a devoted adherent to the Constitution.  Not afraid to hold his own party accountable, Dennis even campaigned for Dr. Ron Paul in the 2008 presidential primaries, a campaign that vigorously challenged the GOP’s foreign policy, debt-laden fiscal record, and inability to predict the economic collapse.  For a closer look at Dennis’s positions on a slew of issues, click here.

If healthcare reform turns out weaker than expected, climate change legislation stalls, unemployment still hovers around 10%, the pace of the Iraq troop drawdown disappoints, and the Afghanistan war bogs down yet again, Pelosi could face robust competition from the upstart Dennis.  However, if the opposite scenario plays out, then Dennis will not stand a chance and Pelosi will face an easy reelection.

Keep an eye on this California’s 8th Congressional District.  Things could get very interesting.

Read original post at www.caivn.org

The Department of Defense didn’t ask for money to update the old officers club in San Francisco’s Presidio into a visitors information center and exhibition space. Neither did any other member of Congress – except House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. (SF Gate)

The San Francisco Chronicle reports on the $626 billion defense appropriations bill approved by the Senate last Saturday.  $128 billion is allocated to Iraq and Afghanistan.  

Typical to modern legislation, it was heavily laden with earmarks.  The total came to 1,720, amounting to $4.2 billion.  Congress recently passed a $447 billion spending bill (Dec 13th) with over 5,000 earmarks, as reported in a previous post.

After the defense spending bill passed the House this week, Pelosi issued a statement praising the measure for making “critical investments in the success, health, well-being and training of our men and women in uniform.”

Pelosi mentioned that the bill included a pay raise for military personnel and resources for everything from treating troops suffering from traumatic brain injury to money for “first-class equipment and armor.”

But she didn’t mention the money for the Presidio Heritage Center.

[...]

The $5 million earmark will fund close to 25 percent of the center’s estimated renovation and help leverage other donations from corporations and foundations, said Tia Lombardi, director of public affairs at the Presidio Trust.

In other words, the trust needs federal subsidies to lure private investment – so it no longer has to rely on federal subsidies. The building, which dates to the early 1800s, is now used for exhibitions and events.  (SF Gate)