‘Democrat Party’ Doesn’t Exist.

ThinkProgress.Org
During today’s House Budget Committee hearing, Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) repeatedly referenced the “Democrat Party” while questioning Office of Management and Budget director Peter Orszag. Immediately following Hensarling’s time, Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) took him to task for using the purposefully-disparaging moniker, reminding him that no such party exists:

I’d like to begin by saying to my colleague from Texas that there isn’t a single member on this side of the aisle that belongs to the “Democrat Party.” We belong to the Democratic Party. So the party you were referring to doesn’t even exist. And I would just appreciate the courtesy when you’re referring to our party, if you’re referring to the Democratic Party, to refer to it as such.

Watch the video...

Next time and every time you here someone call the Democratic Party the “Democrat Party” please take them to task just like Rep. Kaptur!

Texas Freedom Network Lobby Day

Fast on the heels of their groundbreaking report on the lack of medically accurate sex education in Texas Schools, Texas Freedom Network will be visiting legislators on Lobby Day, March 10, 2009.

TFN will address for key issues to Standing up for Science (participants choose one area to be trained in and lobby on behalf of):

• Sex education
• Stem cell research
• Evolution and science curriculum/structure and power of the State Board of Education
• Youth advocacy and sex education (a specially designed track for youth advocates or those interested in mobilizing youth on this issue)

A schedule and sign up information is accessible on TFN's website. No experience lobbying is necessary, as they will provide all the training you need to stand up for science in Texas schools.

Pres. Bush Considered Suspending 1st Amendment Freedom-Of-The-Press Rights

Extraordinary Measures
By Michael Isikoff | Newsweek
Mar 2, 2009

A new memo shows just how far the Bush administration considered going in fighting the war on terror.

In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the Justice Department [in a memo co-written by John Yoo, Office of Legal Counsel deputy attorney general] secretly gave the green light for the U.S. military to attack apartment buildings and office complexes inside the United States, deploy high-tech surveillance against U.S. citizens and potentially suspend First Amendment freedom-of-the-press rights. . .

--- Click here for REST OF STORY AT THE NEWSWEEK!... ---

When What's Good For America Is Bad For The GOP

This posting at AmericaBlog.com is a good companion article for the "Principled" GOP Opposition article posted in this blog yesterday. When a government program that's good for America is bad for the GOP, the GOP will expend every effort to oppose and kill the program.

Bill Kristol’s 1993 Memo Calling For GOP To Block Health Care Reform
By John Aravosis (DC) · 3/02/2009 08:00:00 PM ET · AmericaBlog Link

Greg Sargeant over at The Plum Line has gotten his hands on a memo Bill Kristol wrote to his party in 1993, urging them to oppose Bill Clinton's health care plan because - well - it might work. And then all the newly healthy people might like government and see that it could actually do something good for them. Ben Smith summarizes the long memo:

The memo warns that a successful Clinton plan could badly damage the GOP by improving Americans' relationship with government, and makes the case for total, uncompromising opposition based on what would become the "Harry and Louise" campaign, focused on the damage the changes could do to citizens' relationships with their doctors.

The only way that the plan would improve America's relationship with government would be if it worked. Think about that.

The GOP ultimately opposed major legislation that would have benefited every American because the legislation might have actually worked. You don't just see parallels to today's Republican party, [you see GOP conservatives] doing exactly the same thing [in opposing Obama's programs.]

The GOP is terrified that Obama's agenda, from the stimulus plan to health care reform, might actually work [for the American people.] Then Americans would see that - surprise - government can work for the people. . .

Government programs seen to work for people would render the very "small government" foundation of the conservative movement as quicksand sinking many Republican candidates standing for election.