lois plain's Blog

K street switching parties too?

2008-11-10T17:19:22Z

This morning at TPM Josh notes that K street is working to get a slice of the bailout pie as well as pointing out that these Dem lobbying houses were not where one would turn for access in a GOP controlled admin. I agree that the positioning will be something to watch; however, some of the upheaval has begun.

According to a Politico article written 11/5, lobbying firms are preparing for a new administration by purchasing at least one traditionally Dem. lobbying house. BGR Holding, a dominant GOP firm, has purchased Westin Rinehart. The article claims the choice was due to, "close ties to the incoming administration". Unfortunately the article does not provide any specifics with regard to that claim. (Leave a comment if you find, or know of any connection between WR & the new admin.)

It would be natural to expect repositioning, pink slips & promotions after all, K street won't close just because O will soon be in the (People's) White House. At some point I expect that the change from GOP to Dem will get used against O as illustration that change was just a buzzword. I will watch closely, but try not to jump to conclusions either way, since I am inclined toward the "throw the bums out" idea. President-Elect Barack Obama (PEBO, that's how I think of him at the moment) has earned an opportunity to show his stuff. Boy, won't he have to be the world's best juggling tight-rope walker?!

If any begin to point to K st. I will be quick to remind myself what Barack has said on the subject:

*He will listen even when he disagrees.

*Lobbyist may have a seat at the table, but not buy every chair.

*Lobbyist will not drown out the voices of the People.

*Transparency will allow public participation; the public will decide who is doing the People's work.

*It won't be easy.

*It won't be fast.

As long as these maxims are are followed I'll allow myself to enjoy the ensuing K street chaos. There will be more muck to rake yet!

Oh (Big) Brother!

2008-06-17T22:13:51Z

I can't let it go by that TPM requires a new TOS agreement. With due recognition that AP has taken recent action, I have come to doubt the worth of agreeing.

It improves my recent opinion of the site not at all that the CYA attempt is so obvious.

It is not like algebra; absurd+absurd=reasonable!

(Ok, I'm done now; this is all my opinion, I quote no one, and it is not to be construed as a harassment against TPM et al., it's 'users', or 'journalists'. I lois plain, approve this message.)

Barack's Indianapolis Press Conference

2008-05-02T20:27:45Z

This morning Obama deals head on with fresh Clinton attacks ad re: gat tax holiday.

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Intrade with the BIG picture

2008-04-23T17:16:29Z

I thought it was great to see the oddsmaker, Intrade, has taken HRC off the front page. Now it is McCain & Obama though not head-to-head yet.

http://www.intrade.com/

17 out of 21 scandal question went to Obama

2008-04-21T00:07:10Z

Interesting breakdown of debates and who they favored.

from Huffpo:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/20/debate-analysis-abc-asked_n_97599.html

I find it most interesting that Huffpo seeming injects a little mis-information into this by insinuating that the back-lash was only from Obama supporters.

See evidence otherwise from this article:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/04/18/_journalists_slam_abc_debate_t/

A fresh round of swift-boating

2008-04-19T22:20:57Z

From Baldwin Park Democrat:
http://baldwinparkdemocrat.blogspot.com/2008/04/another-internet-swiftboat-attack-on.html

I wonder if any Muckraker could find out about the email signatories; are they real? What's thier story.

Obama rally in Philly: record crowd

2008-04-19T19:02:56Z

The crowd at the Philly rally was the biggest one for Obama yet at around 35,000-most importantly he did it without Oprah.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/19/obama-draws-record-crowd-in-philadelphia/

Also there ws a bit of an 'after party'!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYUkyvpA_a8

Good thing that crowd didn't have torches & pitchforks! I thought they sounded pretty rowdy at the rally, the video illustates it. I do wish they had one stop voting, we might have seen them march right out and vote.

Breaking from Buzzflash

2008-02-26T01:22:17Z

Hillary Clinton Campaign Connection to Drudge Report Detailed by International Herald Tribune (NYT) in October of 2007

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/editorblog/054

Another attack plan (RNC)

2008-02-25T21:48:11Z

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8564.html

Perhaps you all caught this article from Politico, but I thought it was worth re-posting. It is interesting to note the carry over themes of this article and a similiar one posted today at TPM-EC that denotes GOP strategy.

As TPM also notes, since Clinton & McCain share a PR company between them, you can bet the overlap in strategy is no accident. If Obama is chosen as the Dem. candidate the nature of the attacks won't change, only the intensity. Excepting the addition of the word "liberal".

It is mighty curious to watch Dems & Reps use the same tactics. Even more strange that the RNC will choose to use tactics proven (by Clinton) to be ineffective. Also doomed, is McCain recycling one of the most infamous lies/statements in recent political history.....'No New Taxes"!

It will be a very interesting Fall. If Obama wins the General, then the poeple will have jobs. If McCain wins then the Military will have jobs. If Clinton wins then only Karl Rove will have a certain future.

You know you are a newshound when.....

2008-02-17T22:38:01Z

......it is Sunday and you have read everything of interest on each TPM page, and then some, yet you keep 'refreshing' your page in anticipation of a new story.

I know that everyone needs a day or two to refresh in a more literal way. However, it is not as if news is not happening. You might be especially tempted to feel this way if you watch CNN today. Some keep suggesting that C-span has it going on, but I don't see the proof of it. Only Buzzflash has any signs of life. Dallas paper breaks Sibel Edmonds case!

Please, if any of you know where the 24/7 news is, let me know.

Hillary, the narcotics trade, high-level bribery, Dennis Hastert, and the Turkish "deep" state

2008-02-14T02:55:02Z

Or More Fun & Games with the Clintons

from:http://takeitpersonally.blogspot.com/2008/02/hillary-narcotics-trade-high-level.html

Obama on Israel

2008-02-11T22:20:00Z

Rumor has it that there is an email circulating regarding Barack Obama and his position on Israel. Some may speculate, others go to the source.

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/foreignpolicy/#onisrael

My 1st TPM blog post!

2008-02-11T21:33:44Z

I don't know why I waited so long to create a profile at TPM. Perhaps it is partly because I was happy with my usual blogspot, however, it will close this year.

I am a true muckraker and a TPMM junkie! I read content here, I comment here, now I will blog here.