Open Thread for February 9……

Posted February 9, 2010 by jamesb101
Categories: Blogs, Breaking News, Media, Open thread, Other Things, Politics, Updates

Tags:

Well, Well it’s been very busy here……

especially during the afternoon’s ….keep up the good work!

The pack grows and reaches out……..

But remember…..

If you haven’t done so……Sign Up…Subscribe!...to the Dog…..Ruff ….Ruff………

Sen. Shelby throws in the towel……Releases ‘blanket holds’ on nominations……

Posted February 9, 2010 by jamesb101
Categories: Aircraft, Blogs, Breaking News, Crime, Government, Law, Media, Men, Military, PoliticalDog Calls, Politics, Updates

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The Dog figured this wasn’t gonna last too long…..Senator Richard Shelby’s action was too much of a ‘in your face’ throw down…and I’m sure after making his point about the aerial tanker and a FBI facility in Alabama…the administration got the point……

Sometimes you want to get people’s attention but not clear the room……

Here’s some of the piece from The Hill.Com…….………….

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) on Tuesday announced the release of holds on almost all pending nominees the Obama administration has sent to the Senate.

Shelby’s decision to lift his wide-ranging hold means that the Senate can now vote on the nominees. As a result of the holds placed late last week, the Senate could not take action on the nominees unless it was is broken using a cloture vote that requires 60 senators or if the senator lifts the hold.

Shelby’s move had affected over 70 nominees, according to Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) office.

Shelby had placed the holds in protest of the administration’s handling of defense and counterterrorism projects slated for his district. The White House had decried the Shelby’s hold as “opposition for opposition’s sake.”

“The purpose of placing numerous holds was to get the White House’s attention on two issues that are critical to our national security – the Air Force’s aerial refueling tanker acquisition and the FBI’s Terrorist Device Analytical Center (TEDAC),” said Shelby spokesman Jonathan Graffeo in an e-mail. “With that accomplished, Sen. Shelby has decided to release his holds on all but a few nominees directly related to the Air Force tanker acquisition until the new Request for Proposal is issued.”

The Federal Government gets a ‘ Snow Day ‘ on Tuesday……

Posted February 9, 2010 by jamesb101
Categories: Breaking News, Family, Government, Health, Home, Law, Media, Other Things, Travel, Updates, Weather

Tags: , ,

Make that the ones working in D.C……….

Forget Snowmageddon, let’s call it Wintergeddon

More than 12″ possible in places; gusty winds

New storm polls: Tell us how much and name itE-mail forecast *
Winter Storm Warning Tues.-Wed. for most of metro area (map) *
Making history?Today’s Q&ASnowmageddon’s incredible output *
Watch out for ice damsMeasuring Snowmageddon’s depth *
* Power outage maps for Dominion ElectricPepcoBG&E *
* Outside now? Radar, temps & more: Weather Wall *
* News, traffic & storm coverage: Local home pageGet There


CWG team snowfall forecast for Tues.-Wed. Confidence: Medium.

Enjoy your Day off!…We’re going get Wednesday off up here in New York!………

We are a country of data Information and Entertainment ……..

Posted February 8, 2010 by jamesb101
Categories: Computers, Entertainment, Family, Media, Movies, Music, PoliticalDog Calls, The Economy, Updates

Tags: , , , , , ,

Flat screen TV’s…….Blackberrys….iPhones……Cable …….Xbox’s…….Satillite’s……Flat Screen Computers…….

John Anderson and Sharon Rapoport (above) estimate they spend $400 a month, or close to $5,000 a year, keeping their family of four entertained at home.

There are the $30-a-month data plans on their BlackBerry Tour cellphones. The Roanoke, Va., couple’s teenage sons, Seth and Isaac, each have $50 subscriptions for Xbox Live and send thousands of texts each month on their cellphones, requiring their own data plans.

DirecTV satellite service, high-speed Internet access and Netflix for movie nights add more.

“We try to be aware of it so it doesn’t get out of control,” said Mr. Anderson, who with his wife founded an advertising agency. “But, yeah, I would say we’re pretty wired.”

In the Dogs house……we have Five TV’s on cable….One computer hard wired to cable….and a Lap top with Wifi……a  Blackberry and two cell phones ……with a few hard wired telephones and a fax machine with a seperate line……

And we spend about $400 a month….. just like the Rapoports…….

We’re hooked……….

Here’s the link for the rest of the piece……

Merlin on the Colorado Governor’s race……

Posted February 8, 2010 by jamesb101
Categories: Breaking News, Government, PoliticalDogs Merlin, Politics, Polls, Updates

Tags: , , ,

Hello Dog!

Ritter’s Exit in Colorado coupled with Hickenlooper’s Official Entry makes the Colorado Governor Race a whole new Ball-Game a new Statewide Survey shows.

Rasmussen Survey

Colorado Governor 2010

Denver Mayor John W. Hickenlooper (D)  49 %
former U. S. Rep. Scott McInnis (R)  45 %
Others  1 %
Undecided  6 %

Merlin’s Observation:

I told everybody after Ritter’s Exit that Hickenlooper would be a formidable Opponent  (Yes you did) and that McInnis probably isn’t the best Candidate for Republicans. Hickenlooper can run as Outsider, McInnis can’t. I’d rather would have loved seeing Colorado Attorney General John Suthers (R-CO) to run.

Merlin

Pennsylvania Representative John Murtha is dead at 77………

Posted February 8, 2010 by jamesb101
Categories: Breaking News, Government, Law, Media, Men, Military, Politics, Updates

Tags: , , ,

Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), 77, a Vietnam veteran who staunchly supported military spending and became a master of pork-barrel politics, died Monday at Virginia Hospital Center. The 19-term lawmaker died from complications of gallbladder surgery.

Elected to Congress in 1974 from a southwestern Pennsylvania district that has been economically devastated by the decline of America’s coal-mining and steel industries, the gruff and jowly Murtha was beloved by his constituents for tapping billions of dollars in federal funds to seed new industries there.

He was revered among Democrats — and even some Republicans — for his skill in using the power of the federal purse to make kings and deals. A right-hand man of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), he was considered one of the most influential lawmakers on Capitol Hill and credited with her ascension.

The former Marine became a mentor to lawmakers trying to learn how to work Washington\’s power levers but also a symbol of the controversial congressional practice of “earmarking.” In that process, lawmakers can add federal funds to the budget to give no-bid contracts to pet projects and companies of their choosing. Murtha faced a drumbeat of questions about possible ethical conflicts in his earmarks, as executives and lobbyists for the firms receiving the earmarks were among his most generous campaign contributors.

Murtha was firmly unapologetic, saying it was his duty to help his district create jobs and U.S. soldiers gain new research and tools to help them in battle. To a television crew following him in a House office building with questions about potential conflicts, he held up his miniature red, page-worn copy of the Constitution.

“What it says is the Congress of the United States appropriates the money,” he said. “Got that?”

This from Merlin……

Hello Dog!

I’ve BREAKING NEWS which is also SAD NEWS to report:

U. S. Rep. John Murtha (D-PA 12) has died at the Age of 77. My Condolences to his Family and Friends.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/

Merlin

The Dog is sorry to see such powerful former Marine and Strong Politian pass away…..Our wishes go out to his family…….

This from SE……

This from CNN:

Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania, a longtime fixture on the House subcommittee that oversees Pentagon spending, died after complications from gallbladder surgery, according to his office. He was 77.

The Democratic congressman recently underwent laparoscopic surgery to remove his gallbladder.

Murtha was hospitalized in December and had to postpone a hearing with Defense Secretary Robert Gates on the administration’s strategy in Afghanistan. The congressman returned to work after a few days in the hospital and helped oversee final passage of the 2010 defense appropriations bill.

{snip}

RIP.

Note:….With us being political junkies……I leave this link to the  Washington Post’s The Fix for the political side of  John  Murtha’s passing…..

The death of longtime Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha (D) this afternoon will set off a special election in his very competitive western Pennsylvania 12th district.

According to state law, the governor has ten days once the vacancy is officially declared to decide on the date for the special election, which can come no sooner than 60 days following that proclamation.

That likely means the special election will be held on May 18, which is the date already set for federal primaries around the state. (Special elections costs the state huge sums of money and it’s likely that Gov.Ed Rendell will choose to go with an already established election day to save some cash.)

Murtha’s passing comes at a tenuous time for House Democrats as they seek to convince some of their older members to re-up for another term in the face of what looks to be a difficult national political environment for the party.

Merlin on the Nevada Governor’s race…..and Harry Reid’s son…..

Posted February 8, 2010 by jamesb101
Categories: Other Things

Hello Dog!

A new Statewide Survey in Nevada shows Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid (D-NV), Son of Nevada Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) has an uphill Battle to retake the Nevada Governor Mansion.

Rasmussen Survey

Nevada Governor 2010

Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid (D)  44 %
Incumbent Governor Jim Gibbons (R)  35 %
Others  13 %
Undecided  8 %

Former Nevada Supreme Court Judge Brian Sandoval (R)  45 %
Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid (D)  33 %
Others  11 %
Undecided  12 %

Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid (D)  40 %
North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon (R)  36 %
Others  14 %
Undecided  10 %

Merlin’s Observation:

This Poll is consistant with other Polls conducted by Mason-Dixon for the Las Vegas Review Journal. It isn’t probably all that wise to run two Reid’s at the top of the Ticket.

Merlin

From the Dog……Ah, Rasmussen gives this on the Nevada Governor’s race……seems Merlin is a little ahead of things on the ground in the state……

The first Rasmussen Reports look at this year’s election for governor of Nevada finds Democrat Rory Reid, son of Senator Harry Reid, trailing Republican frontrunner Brian Sandoval by 12 points, 45% to 33%, among likely voters in the state.

Things improve dramatically for Reid if Sandoval, a former Nevada attorney general and U.S. District Court judge, is not the GOP nominee.

Reid leads embattled Republican Governor Jim Gibbons 44% to 35%.

Against North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon, he posts a 40% to 36% lead.

In the three contests, just over 10% prefer another candidate, while anywhere from eight percent (8%) to 12% are undecided.

Kate Gosselin party’s in NYC without the hair extension’s…….

Posted February 8, 2010 by jamesb101
Categories: Breaking News, Entertainment, Family, Media, Other Things, Updates, Women

1265642320_gosselin-290.jpg

Kate Gosselin has changed her look — again.

The reality mom, 34, debuted a stick-straight shoulder-length ‘do with bangs in New York City Friday night while partying at hot spot Butter.

Hey…the lady deserves a night out …after all…she is single now!

Mood Music Monday 2.8.10….from Up 4 Discussion….

Posted February 8, 2010 by jamesb101
Categories: Blogs, Entertainment, Music, Up 4 Discussion, Updates

Tags: ,

From JSin……

It’s Monday!

WHO DAT?! to ALL my SAINTS fans!

Enjoy the Music:

The Zeigeist ( economic data ) for the week of February 8……

Posted February 8, 2010 by jamesb101
Categories: Economic Data (Zeitgeist), Media, Polls, The Economy, Updates

Tags: , ,

The Zeigeist ( economic data ) for the week of February 8……

Pollster.com

Obama Average Job Approval   47.7%

Pollster.com

Obama Favorability   52.9%

Pollster.com

Right Direction / Wrong Track   36.1% / 59.4%

Pollster.com

Congressional Approval   18.3%

Standard & Poor’s

S&P 5001   069.03 (up 235 points since 1/20/09)

National Federation of Independent Businesses

Small Business Optimism Index   88.0 (down 0.3% from November)

ABC News/Washington Post

Consumer Comfort Index    49 points below zero

U.S. Department of Labor

Initial Weekly Jobless Claims   480,000 (down 105,000 since 1/20/09)

Bankrate.com

Interest on 30-Year Fixed Mortgage   5.04%

RealtyTrac

Newly foreclosed properties in December   349,519

U.S. Department of Labor

Unemployment   9.7%

U.S. Department of Labor

Consumer Price Index   +0.1 in December

Mortgage Bankers Association

Quarterly Delinquency   9.64%

National Association of Realtors

Sales of Existing Homes, Annual Rate (Monthly)   5.45 million in December (down 16.7% from November