South Capitol Street

Puppies!

For reasons I can’t quite fathom, progressives have decided that one of the big stories this week should be whether or not Speaker Boehner will change the name of the “Repealing The Job Killing Health Care Law Act”. Apparently, “job killing” is now verboten speech, lest some barely-hinged right winger mistake a Democrats for a [...]

Read this post »

Hot Air » Top Picks

ABC News’ Jake Tapper and Karen Travers report: Bruce Reed, who served as Chief Domestic Policy Advisor to President Bill Clinton, CEO of the centrist DLC and executive director of the Bowles-Simpson “debt commission,” has been named the chief of…













Political Punch

ABC News’ Jake Tapper and Karen Travers report: Bruce Reed, who served as Chief Domestic Policy Advisor to President Bill Clinton, CEO of the centrist DLC and executive director of the Bowles-Simpson “debt commission,” has been named the chief of…













Political Punch

South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint (R), whose Senate Conservatives Fund is a major Tea Party fundraising force, chimed in Friday morning on which candidates he may endorse in the open seat Texas Senate race.

In an e-mail to supporters less than 24 hours after Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) announced she won’t seek re-election, DeMint poured cold water on the potential candidacy of Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst (R) and touted potential contenders Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams (R) and former solicitor general Ted Cruz (R).

“Based on media reports following Senator Hutchison’s announcement, the Washington establishment appears to be lining up behind Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst,” DeMint said. “However, the two candidates we hear about most from conservatives are Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams and former Solicitor General Ted Cruz.”

DeMint’s quick draw email suggests he will try to play a significant role in what is expected to be a crowded Republican primary. DeMint waded in to several Republican primaries in 2010 and backed insurgent candidates who, in several cases, went on to beat establishment favorites. Those included now-Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah).

The email also sets up another battle of sorts between DeMint and the National Republican Senatorial Committee. By wading into the Texas race, DeMint is encroaching on NRSC Chair John Cornyn‘s (Texas) home turf. And DeMint hasn’t backed away from that confrontation before. In 2009 when it looked like Hutchison would vacate her seat to run for governor, DeMint went ahead and endorsed Williams.

In his e-mail, DeMint sang Williams’ praises again, but stopped short of an endorsement.

“Michael is an outstanding conservative leader and he will be at the very top of our list as we consider candidates for an endorsement in the 2012 election,” DeMint said.

Hotline On Call

Ann Marie Cumming assumes post, succeeding Kris…
B&C - Breaking News

For some reason, Pope Benedict chose to speak about parent’s choices of names for their children:

It will come as a welcome blast of commonsense for those who despair at the craze of giving children names such as Brooklyn, Apple and Princess Tiaamii.

The Pope has weighed into the debate with a plea to parents to give their children traditional first names.

Benedict XVI told a Vatican baptismal ceremony that the Christian name is an ‘indelible sign from the Holy Spirit’ and protects family life, which is ‘being threatened’

He said baptism with a strong name was ‘the start of spiritual life which is fulfilled through the Church’.

(…)

The Pope added: ‘With the sacrament of baptism the Church prays and entrusts to God a new child [and] parents and godparents agree to give the newly baptised a Christian education.

‘This is a great responsibility. That is why I encourage all the faithful to rediscover the beauty of baptism and being part of God’s great family.’

Theologian Gianni Gennari told an Italian newspaper: ‘By insisting on Christian names the Pope is not violating the rights of parents but simply asking for seriousness when it comes to baptism.’

Of course, one wonders why it would matter to God what your name is.

Outside the Beltway

Saudi Arabia’s 47 most-wanted terrorists linked to al Qaeda. Image created by The Long War journal from a list published at The Saudi Gazette.

Saudi Arabia’s interior ministry has issued a new list of 47 most-wanted Saudi terrorists linked to al Qaeda. All of the 47 most-wanted leaders and fighters belonging to al Qaeda are outside of the Saudi kingdom.

Mansour al Turki, the spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, announced the names of most-wanted Saudis at a press conference in Riyadh on Jan. 9. A list was sent to Interpol last week.

Turki said the Saudis are “extremely dangerous,” according to The Saudi Gazette, which also published the photos of the 47 wanted terrorists.

“They have had training in the use of arms, and some of them have had leadership roles in al Qaeda,” Turki said.

According to Turki, none of the 47 al Qaeda operatives are in the Kingdom. Twenty-seven of them are thought to be in Pakistan and Afghanistan, 16 are thought to be in Yemen, and four more are believed to be in Iraq.

Missing from the current list of most-wanted Saudis are some of the top leaders of al Qaeda, including Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda; Osama’s sons, Mohammed, Said, and Hamza bin Laden, both of whom hold senior leadership positions; Sheikh Saeed al Saudi, Osama’s brother-in-law and a senior al Qaeda leader; Said al Shihri, the deputy leader of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula; and Shaykh Muhammad Abu Fa’id, a top financier and a manager for Shabaab, al Qaeda’s affiliate in Somalia.

Several Saudi al Qaeda leaders, some of whom were not on the kingdom’s previous lists of most-wanted terrorists, have been killed in Afghanistan and Yemen over the past year. In a propaganda tape released last fall, al Qaeda announced the deaths of commanders Abu abd al Rahman al Madani, Abu Salamah al Najdi, and Luqman al Makki. The three Saudis were said to have been killed in Afghanistan. A US airstrike in Kunar province in September 2010 killed Sa’ad Mohammad al Shahri, a longtime jihadist and the son of a retired Saudi colonel.

In December 2010, Yemeni security forces killed Abu Hammam Qahtani, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s propagandist, who founded the terror group’s media arm. Qahtani was wanted by the Saudi government.

1 The Long War Journal

Saudi Arabia’s 47 most-wanted terrorists linked to al Qaeda. Image created by The Long War journal from a list published at The Saudi Gazette.

Saudi Arabia’s interior ministry has issued a new list of 47 most-wanted Saudi terrorists linked to al Qaeda. All of the 47 most-wanted leaders and fighters belonging to al Qaeda are outside of the Saudi kingdom.

Mansour al Turki, the spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, announced the names of most-wanted Saudis at a press conference in Riyadh on Jan. 9. A list was sent to Interpol last week.

Turki said the Saudis are “extremely dangerous,” according to The Saudi Gazette, which also published the photos of the 47 wanted terrorists.

“They have had training in the use of arms, and some of them have had leadership roles in al Qaeda,” Turki said.

According to Turki, none of the 47 al Qaeda operatives are in the Kingdom. Twenty-seven of them are thought to be in Pakistan and Afghanistan, 16 are thought to be in Yemen, and four more are believed to be in Iraq.

Missing from the current list of most-wanted Saudis are some of the top leaders of al Qaeda, including Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda; Osama’s sons, Mohammed, Said, and Hamza bin Laden, both of whom hold senior leadership positions; Sheikh Saeed al Saudi, Osama’s brother-in-law and a senior al Qaeda leader; Said al Shihri, the deputy leader of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula; and Shaykh Muhammad Abu Fa’id, a top financier and a manager for Shabaab, al Qaeda’s affiliate in Somalia.

Several Saudi al Qaeda leaders, some of whom were not on the kingdom’s previous lists of most-wanted terrorists, have been killed in Afghanistan and Yemen over the past year. In a propaganda tape released last fall, al Qaeda announced the deaths of commanders Abu abd al Rahman al Madani, Abu Salamah al Najdi, and Luqman al Makki. The three Saudis were said to have been killed in Afghanistan. A US airstrike in Kunar province in September 2010 killed Sa’ad Mohammad al Shahri, a longtime jihadist and the son of a retired Saudi colonel.

In December 2010, Yemeni security forces killed Abu Hammam Qahtani, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s propagandist, who founded the terror group’s media arm. Qahtani was wanted by the Saudi government.

1 The Long War Journal

Trevor Thomas, director of communications for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, is joining Equality Matters, a gay rights and advocacy offshoot of the liberal group Media Matters. Thomas has been named Director of Programs for the new group.

The move comes as Media Matters grows and expands beyond media criticism into more direct advocacy. In October, Media Matters president David Brock told POLITICO that the group was slowly expanding beyond its traditional role, as it collected 15,000 signatures for it’s anti-Fox advertiser boycott.

Thomas joins former Advocate Washington Correspondent Kerry Eleveld, who starts as editor of Equality Matters.org on January 18th.

Ben Smith’s Blog

Bryan Monroe to assume newly created post at…
B&C - Breaking News

Includes Stearns, Barton,…
B&C - Breaking News

Incoming Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman announced her staff this afternoon.

Bettye Jo Pakulis, a veteran of state government, will serve as chief of staff. Pakulis served as assistant to Treasurer Denise Nappier and capitol office director for former secretary of the state Miles Rapoport.She was also deputy director for Democracy Works.

Senior advisor Martin Heft and communications director Steve Jensen both served in the comptroller’s office. Special Assistant Theresa Becchi worked on Dan Malloy’s campaign and is a 2010 graduate of College of Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass.

Malloy has repeatedly said Wyman will be an active deputy and a key player in his new administration, which may support the need for a four-person office. That’s how many current Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele had, though a cursory search of the Courant archives did not turn up any references to his spokesperson or chief of staff.

Capitol Watch

Network taps former Discovery, IFC exec for new…
B&C - Breaking News

Notable one way or the other.

More than a few eyebrows were raised recently when Time Magazine chose to honor Mark Zuckerberg as their 2010 person of the year. While many found more worthy choices on their full list - from the Tea Party to the Chilean miners - one common theme emerged around many kitchen tables: at least they didn’t [...]

Read this post »

Hot Air » Top Picks

The Texas Progressive Alliance named Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns as its 2010 Texan of the Year.

Burns, Fort Worth’s District 9 City Councilman, received international attention and acclaim in October after delivering a speech at a Forth Worth City Council meeting concerning suicide among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth as part of Dan Savage’s “It Gets Better” campaign.

In his speech, Burns spoke eloquently and emotionally about his experiences as a teen facing bullying in Crowley because of his sexual orientation. Burns’ speech, which became an internet sensation, resulted in interviews on CNN, NPR’s All Things Considered, an in-studio interview with the Today Show’s Matt Lauer, and an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.

“Joel Burns’ speech did more to raise awareness of the difficulties LGBT youth in Texas face on a daily basis perhaps more than anything else this year,” said Vince Leibowitz, Chair of the Texas Progressive Alliance. “His courageous action in delivering this speech was worthy of recognition, and progressives everywhere should salute him,” Leibowitz continued.

TPA Vice Chair Charles Kuffner of Houston echoed these sentiments. “As progressives, we stand for equality for all people. It is rare that public officials have the courage to do what Joel Burns did,” he noted.

Burns, the first openly gay municipal elected official in Tarrant County, was first elected in 2007.

Burns joins past TPA Texans of the year including Houston Mayor Annise Parker (2009); the Harris County Democratic Party Coordinated Campaign (2008); the House Democratic Leadership Team of State Rep. Jim Dunnam, State Rep. Garnet Coleman, and State Rep. Pete Gallego (2007); and Carolyn Boyle and Texas Parent PAC (2006).

In addition to giving Burns its top honors, the Alliance also named Dr. Al Armendariz, Administrator for Region 6 of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Texas DREAMers as Honorable Mentions.

Armendariz was recognized for cracking down on polluters in Texas in spite of immense political pressure from state leaders and corporations. Armendariz issued the first Emergency Imminent and Substantial Endangerment Order against a natural gas operator in Parker County which caused high levels of methane in private water wells.

The Texas DREAMers–students and activists involved in supporting the DREAM Act through peaceful protest and other means, were recognized for their work in Texas which has included everything from organizing phone banks to call and persuade U.S. Senators, to staging sit-ins and demonstrations at the offices of U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. The group has even staged hunger strikes in support of its efforts.

The Texas Progressive Alliance is a coalition of more than 50 of Texas’ most prominent netroots activists, blogs, and bloggers united to help further the progressive movement in Texas. Founded in 2006, the TPA is the largest state-based coalition of netroots activists in the United States and was instrumental in bringing Netroots Nation to Texas in 2008.

©2010 BlueBloggin. All Rights Reserved.

.
BlueBloggin