TPM Election Central

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

2009-11-29T18:00:48Z

Levin: War Tax 'Probably Not' Going To Happen During Recession
Appearing on Face The Nation, Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) downplayed the idea of a war tax. "In the middle of a recession we're probably not going to be able to increase taxes to pay for it," said Levin. "There should have been, as far as I'm concerned, tax increases for upper bracket folks who did so well during the Bush years - that's where the tax increases should have taken place. But that should have happened some time ago."

Graham: Can We Cut Stimulus To Pay For Afghanistan?
Appearing on This Week, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) called for cuts in domestic spending, including the stimulus package and the health care bill, to pay for the Afghanistan war. "Well, I'd like to see an endeavor to see if we can cut current spending and find some dollars that we're spending today to pay for the war, and prioritize American spending. Where does our national security rate in terms of spending?" said Graham. "Are there things that we can do in the stimulus package? Can we trim up the health care bill and other big-ticket items to pay for a war that we can't afford to lose?"

Lugar's 'Audacious' Proposal: Delay Health Care Debate, Focus On Afghanistan And Economy
Appearing on State of the Union, Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) said that the health care bill should be postponed, in order to focus on Afghanistan and the economy. "The war is terribly important," Lugar said. "Jobs and our economy are terribly important. This may be an audacious suggestion, but I would suggest we put aside the health care debate until next year, the same way we put cap-and-trade and climate change [aside], and talk now about the essentials -- the war and money."

Sanders Stops Short Of Saying He'll Filibuster Bill Without Public Option
Also on This Week, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) signaled his strong support for a public option -- but didn't go so far as to say he would filibuster a bill without one. "I would be very reluctant to support legislation that did not have a strong public option," said Sanders. When asked whether he would support a filibuster, Sanders said: "I gotta see what ends up happening."

Huckabee Not Sure About 2012 -- Would Need Big GOP Support
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR) said that he's not ready to decide on whether to run for president again -- and that it would depend on whether he can get establishment Republican support. "I would have to see that the Republicans would be willing to unite behind me," Huckabee said. "The last time out my biggest challenge was with the establishment Republicans, who just never showed their support."

Armey On GOP Purity Resolution: 'Demonstrate That You're Someone Like Us"
Appearing on Face The Nation, former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX) spoke favorably of the so-called "purity" resolution being proposed at the Republican National Committee, saying that it calls on candidates to "demonstrate some allegiance to the primary positions taken by the party. That's not a litmus test. That's just if you want us to give you our money, our support, our troops in the field, our endorsements, then demonstrate that you're someone like us."

Scozzafava: 'I Think It WAs Very Difficult' For RNC 'Not To Cave In' To The Right
Also on Face The Nation, former NY-23 Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava blamed the loss of the special election on conservative groups such as the Club For Growth, who forced her out of the race in favor of Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman (she subsequently endorsed Democrat Bill Owens). "I think it was very difficult for leadership at the RNC not to cave in to the pressures that they were receiving from the right," said Scozzafava.

TPMDC Saturday Roundup

2009-11-28T18:07:55Z

House Oversight Chairman Wants Answers On Party Crashers
Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, wants answers on the two party-crashers at President Obama's state dinner. "We need an immediate investigation into the facts of this case, and a review of the Secret Service's security practices," said Towns. "I have asked for a preliminary briefing next week and will follow the investigation until we understand what actually happened."

New Group Seeks To Draft Dick Cheney For 2012 Presidential Race
A new Web site, Draft Cheney 2012, has been launched to ask former Vice President Dick Cheney to run for president in 2012. "There is only one person in our party with the experience, political courage and unwavering commitment to the values that made our party strong - and that person is Dick Cheney," said Christopher Barron, an organizer of the group.

Nader On Potential Senate Run: 'It Really Depends On What Kind Of Momentum There Is'
Ralph Nader said he is "absorbing a lot of the feedback" before he makes a decision on whether to run for Senate in Connecticut, against incumbent Democrat Chris Dodd. "It really depends on what kind of momentum there is and how many people are willing to roll up their sleeves," Nader explained, "because I'm very accustomed to people saying 'run Ralph run' and then they drift away, predisposed and preoccupied with their daily life. It has to be bottom up."

Justice Department Says ACORN Can Be Paid For Existing Contracts
The Justice Department has declared that the new Congressional ban on federal funding for ACORN should not be read in such a way as to break pre-existing contracts with the group, "where doing so would give rise to contractual liability." Acting Assistant Attorney General David Barron also argued that the breaking of contracts, including where ACORN's services have been performed but payment hasn't yet been processed, would raise constitutional concerns that are best avoided through a narrow interpretation of the law.

Jenny Sanford Moves Into The Limelight
The New York Times reports that South Carolina First Lady Jenny Sanford has been expanding her public profile in the wake of her husband's sex scandal, with Mrs. Sanford coming out with a new book, trademarking her own name, and an upcoming interview with Barbara Walters -- and perhaps even a run for office: "In South Carolina, some politicians and experts believe she may run for office. They are quick to note that she has served as campaign manager during her husband's races, shares his conservative fiscal values and acted as de facto chief of staff briefly in his first term."

Norquist: Nelson, Specter Would Break Tax Pledge If They Vote For Health Care Bill
The Hill reports that Grover Norquist says Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) would be violating the Americans For Tax Reform pledge to not raise taxes, which both of them have signed, if they vote for the health care bill as it is currently written. Norquist also said that Specter would not be released from the pressure of the pledge, simply because he signed it when he was a Republican: "That doesn't get you off the hook."

Tareq Salahi Donated To Virginia Pols And Sold $25K Worth Of Wine For Kaine Inaugural

2009-11-28T00:26:18Z

We already know that now-famed party crashers Michaele and Tareq Salahi of Hume in Faquier County in Virginia like to pose with celebrities and top politicians, but they also dabble a bit in local political donations.

Tareq Salahi, who owns Oasis Winery, has made two donations large enough to make the federal database - $600 to Republican George Allen's first campaign for the U.S. Senate in Virginia and $1,000 to Rep. Jim Moran's (D-VA) primary campaign in 2006.

Virginia Public Access Project records show that Tim Kaine's inaugural committee bought $25,000 worth of Oasis wine for an event held the night before Kaine's inauguration in 2006 as governor of Virginia.

TPMDC tonight interviewed state Delegate Dave Albo, a Republican from Northern Virginia.

Albo is a longtime friend of the Salahis, even attending an ACDC concert with them recently.

"They are really fun and very nice," he said.

Albo said the Salahis spend a lot of time at social events.

"They are the kind of people who would get invited to something like that," Albo said.

As I reported earlier, they have attended events at the executive mansion and were involved with Virginia tourism promotion and active in the state's winery association.

Salahi also donated $2,500 to a Democratic candidate for delegate in 2007.

Presented By:

2009-11-28T00:26:18Z

The Salahi-Obama Meeting

2009-11-27T23:36:14Z

The White House just released this photo of Michaele and Tareq Salahi meeting President Obama at the Nov. 24 state dinner the Salahis crashed.

Check it out:

Here's our story on the couple.

And check out this rundown of other famous people the Salahis have shaken hands with, including John McCain, Donny Osmond, Charlie Rangel, Prince Charles and Matt Damon.

Earlier tonight, the Secret Service took sole responsibility for the Salahi-Obama handshake, and promised that other uninvited socialites will not be taking pictures with the leader of the free world any time soon.

Friends In High Places: The Salahis And The Famous People They Take Pictures With

2009-11-27T23:15:46Z

Tareq and Michaele Salahi may not have what it takes to get a White House state dinner invite, but the couple has far-ranging connections with the famous, near famous and wannabe famous.

Photos found across the net show the couple posing for photos with a diverse crowd of people you've heard of, ranging from Donny Osmond to John McCain to Prince Charles.

The couple's relationship with celebrity is more than just skin deep -- as we already mentioned, the Salahis claim their wedding included speeches from then-Virginia Gov. Mark Warner and Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, among other famous names. Last year, Tareq Salahi attempted to buy his family's winery in a complex deal that he said put him at odds with celebrity investor/star of Kazaam Shaquille O'Neal. Much like the Salahis' recent attempt to get close to a celebrity for fame and fortune, the deal with Shaq resulted in some negative headlines.

Some of the big names that have stood next to the Salahis over the years:

Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL)

Fmr. Virginia Gov./DNC chair Tim Kaine

Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA)

Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy

Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI)

Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY)

Matt Damon

Party Crashers: Who Are Michaele And Tareq Salahi?

2009-11-27T22:22:19Z

For all the consternation about how two uninvited reality show hopefuls were able to crash a state dinner at the White House, much remains unknown about who the husband and wife glitterati wannabes actually are.

TPM has been digging, and on close examination Michaele and Tareq Salahi have been moving in high end social and political circles for quite some time.

The White House is just the creme de la creme of the hot spots they've hit - the Salahis have attended receptions at the Executive Mansion in Virginia, big-dollar dinners for Congressional leadership and appear grinning next to top politicians and celebrities in dozens of photos on the Internet.

They own a winery and are heavily involved with the U.S. Polo Team, and they managed to get formally announced at the White House Wednesday night, before posing happily with Vice President Joe Biden and Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. (They also met President Obama in the receiving line.)

The Secret Service today admitted "failing" to screen the couple, who did not appear on the guest list, saying in a statement they are embarrassed about the situation.

Secret Service agents reportedly visited their Virginia winery and the couple also reportedly has financial trouble.

The Salahi lawyer has told news outlets they did not crash the event and they plan to address the issue in an interview with Larry King Monday night.

TPM has spoken today to people who have interacted with the Salahi couple, and those sources say the couple loves the limelight. They find out where the hot social scene is buzzing and show up, dressed to the nines.

They've posed with politicians and celebrities (even interviewing hip-hop's will.i.am) and have shown up at more-and-more D.C. events as buzz builds over the new Real Housewives cast.

The couple claims Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Justice Anthony Kennedy were speakers at their 2003 wedding, though TPM has not been able to confirm that detail. (Warner appears in photos on their winery Web site.)

Gawker speculated as to whether the couple's ties to the Indian embassy had something to do with how they ended up at the dinner, but Rahul Chhabra, a spokesman, strongly denies that possibility.

"Neither the embassy nor anyone from the embassy was involved in any way in their getting into the White House. Nor did we request any invitation for them," Chhabra told TPMDC today.

We've called and emailed the Salahis for comment - and we'll update you if we hear back.

The news also percolates as the White House prepares for a busy season of holiday parties for diplomats, government employees and members of the press.

Late Update: Evan takes a sample of the celebrities and politicians the Salahi couple has met along the way.

Friday night document dump update: The White House releases a photo of Obama meeting Michaele Salahi.

Maurice Ferre Gets Going In FL-Sen With Attacks On Crist

2009-11-27T17:47:05Z

Former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre announced his bid for the Democratic senate nomination in Florida back in October, but has been relatively silent since. Not anymore. Ferre has come out swinging this week, attacking Gov. Charlie Crist (R) and slamming Sen. George LeMieux (R), who Crist appointed earlier this year.

On Wednesday, Ferre attacked Crist, suggesting the governor was lying about his record in a recent interview with the St. Petersburg Times.

"Charlie Crist has been anything but 'honest and truthful' and he certainly has put politics over people," Ferre said in the statement. "Sadly Charlie Crist has not done the job we have already elected him to, property taxes have not gone down and either [sic] have insurance rates. Now Charlie wants a promotion when he doesn't merit one based on performance in the job he has now."

Today, Ferre turned his attention to LeMieux, Crist's former Chief Of Staff who Crist appointed to the senate seat after Mel Martinez (R) vacated it in August. LeMieux isn't running in the race for his current job (which Crist and Ferre are vying for), but has recently hinted he might run for Florida's other senate seat in 2012.

"What we need in Washington now is less partisanship and less jockeying for political advantage and more bi-partisan problem solving," Ferre said today. "Instead [LeMieux] plays politics -- to the determent of Florida."

Ferre criticized Crist over the LeMieux pick, and called on LeMieux to stay out of the current senate race.

"Governor Crist chose to appoint a staff member and political operative to the U.S. Senate," Ferre said. "I want my Senator working on Florida's problems not out fundraising for his political benefactor."

The new attacks on Crist an interesting turn of events for a campaign that, rumor had it, was part of an elaborate plan to destroy Rep. Kendrick Meek (D) run by Crist allies.

Top 10 Things You Didn't Know Before Reading Plouffe's 'Audacity To Win'

2009-11-27T16:56:24Z

TPMDC is thankful today for political books that aren't boring or retread, and David Plouffe's "The Audacity to Win" fits into that category.

Plouffe ran the Obama campaign in 2008 and still does work for the DNC's campaign arm Organizing for America. He dishes in his book on some of the campaign's best-kept secrets.

We've reported on a few since the book came out - the Obama camp leaked the John Edwards haircut, they pushed for an early state campaign pledge to "box in" Hillary Clinton and Edwards offered to endorse for a spot on the ticket.

But there's so much more.

I covered the entire long campaign, and it was fascinating to read a candid book and peek under the hood at what had been a famously tight-lipped shop.

There are plenty of examples of Plouffe being cheap, and a few mentions of Plouffe and Robert Gibbs in their boxers.

After the jump, TPMDC's Top 10 things that Plouffe reveals in "Audacity to Win."

* Shouting match:

At one point of high stress, Plouffe and David Axelrod "got into a heated shouting match" on a daily conference call. (Plouffe did many early-morning calls from his bathroom so he didn't wake his family.)

"For the first time, we blew up at each other," he wrote. F-bombs were involved. Jim Messina, now a deputy White House chief of staff, told Plouffe the fight was "horrible."

"It was like watching your parents have a screaming match at the dinner table," Messina told Plouffe.

He and Axelrod apologized to each other, with Plouffe telling his longtime friend, "It was bound to happen once."

* He had planned to leave

One of the most surprising reveals in "Audacity to Win" is that Plouffe never planned to stay through the general election. His wife, who had given him a positive pregnancy test wrapped up as a present during the brutal primary in Ohio, was due two days before the election and he'd been missing her and his young son all year as the primary stretched on. (And on.)

"In early spring I told Barack that once we had sealed the nomination I would step down as campaign manager. ... I could no longer run the show in Chicago," he wrote.

Plouffe's wife had returned to Washington and essentially couch-surfed with friends and family. "I couldn't stomach not being there to help," Plouffe wrote.

"Barack was not happy with my decision ... several members of the staff expressed [to my wife] their personal alarm at the disruption it would cause ... there was no time to spare for a leadership transition."

In the end, it was Plouffe's wife who convinced him to stay, telling him "[W]e have an obligation to do everything we can to elect him in November."

* Bush called Obama

During the whole "suspend the campaign, fly back to Washington" scuffle between Sen. John McCain and Obama, the Democrat talked to then-President George W. Bush. Obama told Plouffe his conversation with Bush was "interesting."

"He doesn't seem all that thrilled about holding the meeting. Almost apologetic," Obama told Plouffe.

Obama added that Bush said, "I know what it's like to be in the middle of a presidential campaign and have something like this dumped on you ... I'm not sure why McCain thinks this is a good idea. But I have to move forward."

* LOL - Texting Went Wrong

Plouffe said the campaign had planned to text supporters in the morning their choice of Joe Biden to be Obama's running mate. But it didn't quite work out that way.

"Shortly after midnight, the Associated Press was the first to name Biden as the pick. Their story was based on one unnamed Democratic source. One. It sounded pretty thin to me. ... I was absolutely convinced they did not have it directly ... I understood the competition to be first. But I felt this was a real low moment in terms of reporting in the campaign, and I subsequently learned that some of the AP reporters were uncomfortable as well. They knew their story was shaky but their bosses said to go regardless. We started sending out texts right away. ... We felt good that it held as long as it did and that most of our supporters heard from us first."

* Bayh wasn't sure he could deliver Indiana

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) was among the three finalists in the veepstakes, but "was modest about his ability to help deliver the state," Plouffe wrote.

"I don't know if I can help push you over the line there. I assume it won't hurt, but I couldn't in good conscience say those eleven Hoosier electoral votes will be in your column if it's Obama-Bayh," Bayh told Plouffe. (They did win it.)

* Initial battleground list was bigger

The first campaign map of hopeful states included the ultimate battlegrounds that delivered Obama the presidency, but also a few longshots.

Among those: Montana, Texas, North Dakota, South Dakota.
At the time, campaign aides mentioned those but not Texas, and at first thought Alaska was possible (before the GOP ticket was formed).

Obama told Plouffe: "I'm not really interested in spending my time dreaming up landslide scenarios. Let's just make sure we hit 270. I don't want to get 260 wishing for 360."

* Wright was wrong

When Rev. Jeremiah Wright exploded onto the scene, Plouffe, Axelrod and Gibbs pressed him on whether he knew about some of his fiery sermons.

"I don't recall any of these parts of these sermons," Obama told the group. "From time to time - and it was fairly rare - Wright would say something I thought crossed the line or was even in poor taste. I would often come up to him after and say so, and he and I would sometimes have heated disagreements. But I'm positive I never heard anything like this."

He also told them parishoners found Wright to be "more erratic over time."

Plouffe also revealed, "He had told me in the middle of the Wright episode during the Pennsylvania primary that he would end his candidacy if he honestly thought Hillary had a better chance of winning and that he really was damaged electoral goods."

* Stellar fundraising

Plouffe writes there were days when they raised up to $2 million during the general election campaign, making the team grateful they'd opted out of the public financing system.

"It was like watching a volcano erupt ... There were times when we were raising $250,000, $300,000, even $500,000 an hour. (Plouffe also thought Sarah Palin gave them a big bank account boost.)

* Attacks on taxing health care

Obama told Plouffe he didn't like the way the campaign was attacking McCain on his proposal to tax health care benefits as "the biggest middle-class tax increase in history."

"Obama was unhappy when he saw the ads and demanded less drama," Plouffe wrote. Obama told the campaign: "I don't think people will find that charge credible, and while I can make the case that it's true, I think it puts too much spin on the ball."

The irony, of course, is that taxing benefits is among the proposals being considered in the current health care debate.

* Slogan in doubt

Obama told his staffers he was "not sold" on the "Change We Can Believe In" slogan that ended up being the centerpiece of the campaign.

"Do you really think it says enough? Nothing about issues at all," Obama told Plouffe.

Plouffe says he also found it "a bit awkward and perhaps ephemeral. But it also had potential because it was a bit unusual and could reinforce our message."

CT Report: Green Party 'Picketing' Ralph Nader In Hopes He'll Run For Senate

2009-11-27T16:27:09Z

Ralph Nader, leader of countless protests during his decades of activism, is now reportedly himself facing "picketers" who want him to run for Senate. CTNewsJunkie.com reports that the Connecticut Green Party is trying to "woo" Nader into a race against Sen. Chris Dodd (D) by showing up at Nader's public appearances "with homemade signs."

From the report:

The group is expected to gather at the Noah Webster Library in West Hartford Friday where Nader is scheduled to speak about his new book 'Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us!" ... The Connecticut Green Party has said they've been having trouble to get in touch with Nader, who has been busy with his book tour. Friday's book event in West Hartford presents them with the perfect opportunity.

The idea of a Nader senate run has excited Green Party members, who see the race as the party's best chance at getting a voice on Capitol Hill. The AP reports on the mood:

[Connecticut Green Party chair Tim] McKee said he hopes the Green Party can help turn the Connecticut Senate race into a national race and encourage people from across the country to contribute to Nader's campaign. He estimates they'll need to raise at least $3 million to $5 million.
"We could be extremely competitive, and we think we could win," he said.

Nader has not publicly addressed the idea of a run for Senate since rumors of a run started several weeks ago.

Green Bean Casserole And Huckleberry Pie On Obama Thanksgiving Menu

2009-11-27T15:45:16Z

The Obama family's first White House Thanksgiving was resplendent with pie.

They hosted about 50 guests, including family, friends and staff, the White House said.

The White House told the pool reporter on holiday duty that Obama's favorite Thanksgiving dishes are turkey and pumpkin pie. However, last year he told reporters his favorite dish was sweet potato pie.

Republicans used to make fun of all the times Obama would say on the campaign trail that he loves pie. In one example, he goes on and on about the pie:

Yesterday's menu after the jump.

White House Thanksgiving Menu

Turkey Honey-Baked Ham Cornbread Stuffing Oyster Stuffing Greens Macaroni and Cheese Sweet Potatoes Mashed Potatoes Green Bean Casserole
Banana Cream Pie
Pumpkin Pie
Apple Pie
Sweet Potato Pie
Huckleberry Pie
Cherry Pie

Obama Phoned Troops On Holiday

2009-11-27T15:32:53Z

President Obama spoke with members of the armed services on Thanksgiving, a few days before he will be announcing an increase of more than 30,000 troops to Afghanistan.

The White House said Obama made 10 calls to troops.

He called two service members in each of the five military branches "to wish them a Happy Thanksgiving and to let them know how much Michelle and he are truly thankful for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the nation," the White House told a pool reporter on holiday duty.

"The calls to the two Army soldiers were both deployed in Afghanistan. The calls to Marines were to one deployed in Iraq and one in Afghanistan (same with the Navy and Air Force). The calls to the Coast Guard went to one deployed in the Arabian Gulf and one in Iraq," the pool reporter wrote.

Obama on Tuesday will speak from West Point Military Academy to announce his plan - and an exit strategy - for more troops in Afghanistan, complete with an explanation of his rationale in making the decision.

It comes after nine meetings of his War Council and nearly two months of deliberation.

His top Cabinet members dealing with the military and diplomacy will testify on Capitol Hill Wednesday.

Hoffman Announces 2010 Bid: I'm Not Saying There Was Voter Fraud In NY-23, But I'm Not Not Saying There Was Either

2009-11-27T15:27:59Z

As Josh reported yesterday, Doug Hoffman is preparing a second run at the NY-23 congressional seat next year.

On his website yesterday, Hoffman laid out his reasons for deciding take on Rep. Bill Owens (D) so soon after he conceded to the freshman Representative for the second time. In short, Hoffman suggests again that the Nov. 3 special election was rigged in Owens' favor -- and then immediately apologizes to elections officials for offending them with the claim.

From Hoffman's 2010 announcement, posted to his campaign website yesterday:

Yes, there seem to have been many vote counting problems, missed vote counts and, as was recently reported by the Gouvernour Times, software problems in the computerized voting machines. Despite these incidents, I do not believe the voters of NY-23, or New Yorkers in general, would be well-served by a disruptive and costly recount that would most likely not change the election outcome.

Hoffman has made the allegations before, blaming ACORN and "chaos" at polling stations in a recent fundraising email for potentially leading to "another stolen election." In yesterday's statement, he backed off some of the claims:

I would also like to commend those election commission officials who worked tirelessly and may have taken offense to an unfortunate and poorly worded fundraising email that was sent out toward the end of our campaign. As we tried to make sense of the false vote counts and stories of so/ftware [sic] viruses in the voting machines, we never intended to imply the election commissioners had somehow acted improperly. This was never our intention and, on the contrary, the election commissioners went above and beyond to uphold their duty to ensure a fair election took place. I owe them a debt of gratitude for all they have done.

So what's next? Hoffman says the secret to winning in 2010 is to start laying the groundwork early. "Next time we will be better prepared," he writes. He also suggests he'll run as a Conservative Party candidate again, rather than make a run for the GOP nomination. But Hoffman also says the the key to victory is for Hoffman's national supporters to take the movement back to their own congressional districts:

But there is more to do than just win back NY-23 in 2010. We must work to help other like-minded citizen candidates win across the country. We need to make time to help other candidates who are working for the principles we hold dear... other fiscal, common-sense conservatives. Together we can successfully take back our great nation, one legislator and one member at a time. We need more than one common-sense conservative voice in the echo chamber of liberal, spend thrift cacophony if we are to redirect our great country.

From Dollars To Death Panels: How Republicans Distorted Debates On Capitol Hill

2009-11-27T13:42:36Z

With Thanksgiving recess now upon us, it seems an appropriate time to revisit the hysterical Republican whoppers and talking points about the Democratic party agenda that have dominated this Congress. Herewith a top-five list:

Number Five: Paul Ryan Draws Line On Graph

Back in the Spring, when Democrats were putting together the federal budget, House Budget Committee ranking member Paul Ryan (R-WI) released a much-mocked Republican alternative, which would have basically canceled the stimulus and instituted a spending freeze of sorts. The ideas in the Republican alternative budget were roundly rebuked by experts, but Ryan wasn't deterred. Instead of accepting defeat, he unveiled some graphs suggesting that, under Republican budgets, spending would be restrained, while under Democratic budgets, it would blow through the roof.

Except his numbers weren't based on any analysis at all. Instead, Ryan used CBO numbers through 2018 and then drew an upward-sloping line on the graph completely at random. It didn't take long for Republicans to catch on and begin claiming that Democratic policies would make government spending half of GDP before the end of the century.

Number Four: Senate Health Care Bill Will Cost $2.5 Trillion

This one's only now catching on, and it's a doozy. Hours after the CBO released an analysis of Senate health care legislation last week, Senate Budget Committee ranking member Judd Gregg (R-NH) released a statement: "American taxpayers are about to see an unprecedented expansion of the federal government that will cost a staggering $2.5 trillion when fully implemented." From there, it went viral. The provenance of this number is unclear. It could have come from Michael Cannon of the CATO institute, who'd been bandying it about for a little while. Democrats do, in fact, hide some of the cost of implementing the legislation in the CBO's 10 year window. But not $1.7 trillion (or two times the bill's CBO cost) worth. Now it's on the lips of every Republican in the Senate. (Relatedly, Republicans in the House claimed that an early version of House health care legislation would cost $1.6 trillion. That wasn't true either.)

Number Three: Republicans Try Math

It seems like so long ago that the House passed far-reaching cap and trade legislation. Before they did, though, the GOP did its best to raise the specter of another energy crisis, thanks to a new, and tyrannical "light switch tax." To underscore their point, they claimed that, based on an MIT study, cap and trade legislation could cost the average household $3,128 a year. Too bad the author of that study claimed it was all hogwash. That didn't deter leading Republicans, including House Minority Leader John Boehner, from repeating the number over and over again until the day the American Clean Energy and Security Act passed on the House floor.

Number Two: Inhofe Says Obama 'Gutting Our Military'

This one needs little introduction:

His claim was based on a meme, which made the rounds in early April, that the White House's call for a modest increase in defense spending amounted to a "defense spending cut." Inhofe took it to a whole new level. And to add insult to injury, he was in Afghanistan at the time.

Number One: Death Panels

It's possible that if TPM's Eric Kleefeld hadn't pored over every word in this rambling Facebook post by Sarah Palin, somebody else would have stumbled across it. But it's also possible that it would have gone unnoticed, and we would have had a very different political summer. "The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's "death panel" so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their "level of productivity in society," whether they are worthy of health care." Her rendering, 'death panel', gave voice to some fringe conservatives who had been chattering about how the confluence of rationing and end-of-life counseling would lead to euthanasia. They were wrong, of course, but their wrongness was confined to the fever swamps until, with Palin's help, it became the talk of the August town halls. In a way, when more mainstream Republicans began echoing the term, it marked the end of bipartisanship in health care reform. The uncontested winner.

Death And Taxes (And Tea): The Top Right-Wing Protest Moments Of 2009

2009-11-25T23:14:48Z

Hell hath no fury like a conservative scorned. Or over-taxed. Or "under-freedomed" or whatever.

From the August town hall meetings to Michele Bachmann's very own Tea Party a couple of weeks ago, here's a look back at the special moments that have defined this year's right-wing protest meme.

9. Y'all Ain't From Around These Parts, Is You?

We got one of our first tastes of the town hall melee on August 3, when we heard the story of one Texas representative whose town hall meeting featured a lot of faces he'd never seen before. He told the story all of America came to know well during August:

Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) said his health care town hall this weekend was a "mob scene" filled with people from outside the neighborhood who were brought in by the Republican and Libertarian parties.
Their purpose was not "just to get their own voice heard, but to ensure other people weren't heard," he told Chris Matthews on Hardball. "I think these folks are really desperate to stop health reform."

8. Subtlety Need Not Apply

Coming soon after Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) died, the 9/12 Tea Party showcased the movement's commitment to class.

7. Joker's On You

Never mind that it was created by a Palistinean-American college student who thinks calling Obama socialist is "stupid," that Obama-as-Joker photo was just too perfect (somehow) to not become a defining image of conservative protests.

6. I Like My Metaphors The Way I Like My Nuts: Mixed

Some say Obama is a socialist-Nazi-Muslim. Others claim the Democrats are Communist-Facists. Or, in the case of this man at Glenn Beck's 9/12 protest, the Statue of Liberty is going to die for your sins if Obama has his way. Which is, of course, just what Stalin would want.

5. You Say Racism, I Say Cultural Sensitivity

Even trained neurosurgeons can forget to use their brains when health care reform is on the line, as Dr. David McKalip of Florida taught us this July.

4. Sing, Sing A Song

There's more to fighting health care reform than just making signs and writing emails, as we learned at Bachmann's tea party this month:

3. Taking The Obama-Is-Hitler Meme A Bit Too Far

We also learned at Bachmann's tea party just what it is that qualifies as "too far" for the leaders of the conservative protest movement. Bachmann herself went so far as to say "I agree" to complaints that signs comparing health care reform to Auschwitz were "wholly inappropriate."

2. Guns Don't Kill People...

Would you take a loaded weapon with you to a peaceful protest of a Presidential appearance? Back in August, one right-wing protestor from New Hampshire gave us the answer.

1. ...People Kill People

Another golden oldie from August. Faced with counter protests from progressive groups at town halls in New Mexico, one right-wing protestor decided the time for talk was over. Luckily, the plan has yet to catch on.

Research by Selena Hill

Top 10 Wild And Wacky Political Voices -- For Whom We're All Very Thankful

2009-11-25T23:04:19Z

Here at TPM, we definitely have an eye for the weird -- and speaking for myself, I particularly enjoy the crazy stuff that right-wingers often say.

The American right often uses the rhetoric of a persecuted minority, even when they're actually in power. So having a Democrat in the White House, let alone a progressive black Democrat from Chicago named Barack Hussein Obama, has driven them to whole new heights (or lows, depending on how you count it) of rhetoric.

So let's take a look at some real stars of our current political rhetorical wars. The list is mostly Republican -- and you betchya that it was an obvious choice for the top spot -- plus one Democratic "Congressman With Guts" who gives the opposition a taste of their own medicine. We've got politicians, talk show hosts, and people who seem to be both at the same time. So sit back, and enjoy the crazy.

I'm certainly thankful to them -- for making my job a lot more interesting. If they weren't around, what would there be for me to write about?

1. Former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK)
The former 2008 Republican Vice Presidential nominee simply hasn't gone away -- if anything, defeat has only made her more outspoken as a self-proclaimed voice of the average American. After she resigned as governor of Alaska, she became an outspoken champion of the activist right, from her denunciation of Barack Obama's "death panels" that would kill her Down syndrome baby, to her attacks on the McCain campaign in her new book, Going Rogue. Sarah Palin, we salute you, and look forward to hearing even more from you in the months and years to come.

2. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)
The first-term Congresswoman from Minnesota nearly lost her seat after she got up on Hardball in October 2008, and called for a media exposé of Barack Obama and other Democrats for being anti-America. But she won in her deep-red seat anyway -- and since then, she's been a big star of the activist right herself. The self-proclaimed "foreign correspondent on enemy lines" has organized the Capitol Tea Party, called for revolution, said conservatives need to slit their wrists and become blood-brothers against the Democrats' health care plans, and warned against the use of Census information in setting up internment camps. Who knows what she'll say next?

3. Rush Limbaugh
The king of right-wing talk radio, Rush Limbaugh has been driven to all sorts of rhetorical lengths by the presence of Barack Obama in the White House. He's openly hoped for Obama to fail; he's hoped for the economic stimulus to fail; he cheered when Chicago lost out on the 2016 Olympics; and he's now jokingly (we think) calling for a military coup. The best part about Limbaugh, though, is his sheer untouchableness. If any Republican dares criticize him, the pressure then builds for a very quick apology or some kind of back-track -- it's happened several times, and will probably happen again in the future.

4. Glenn Beck
This conservative talker has become the kind of the Tea Party movement, organizing the massive 9/12 rally in Washington. His overriding theme is that America is in the grips of a leftist totalitarian effort to destroy all freedom. He's called President Obama an anti-white racist, compared Democrats to child-molester Roman Polanski -- but interestingly, he's said America would be even worse off under John McCain. His name has even been dropped as a possible running mate for Sarah Palin in 2012. Oh, if only if it were so!

5. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC)
This little-known Congressman from South Carolina became a national sensation after he shouted "You lie!" during President Obama's speech to Congress, the first time in known history that such a catcall ever happened. He immediately apologized -- but then quickly began raising money off of it, and insisting he was right on the substance. He's become a hit on the campaign trail, even traveling to a Tea Party in New Jersey in order to campaign against Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine.

6. RNC Chairman Michael Steele
The former Maryland Lt. Governor and unsuccessful 2006 Senate candidate has become a source of comic relief since he took over the national party in January. His main bad habit is then when an interview criticizes the GOP on some point, Steele agrees, and then talks about what he's doing to fix the problem and how we can all come together -- and the first part is all that anybody notices. The single greatest example was when he dismissed the influence of Rush Limbaugh -- then quickly apologized. He later claimed this was "all strategic," to figure out who is on his side and who is not.

7. Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)
The freshman Congressman is the only Democrat on this list, and he's here for a very special reason: He dishes out the same inflammatory rhetoric that Republicans routinely apply against the Democrats -- and for this, the GOP calls him crazy. His classic zinger is that the Republican plan for people who get sick is that they "die quickly." Beyond that, he's called Dick Cheney a blood-dripping vampire, quoted the late Republican Vice President Spiro Agnew in order to ridicule the GOP, and declared that Republican inaction on health care has created a "holocaust" in America. He may have gone too far, though -- and did make a public apology -- after he referred to a female lobbyist as a "K Street Whore."

8. Unsuccessful NY-23 candidate Doug Hoffman (Conservative Party)
This upstate New York accountant, conservative activist and first-time political candidate emerged as the voice of right-wing protest against a moderate Republican nominee in the NY-23 special election. His campaign caught fire, and eventually even forced the official Republican out of the race -- only to lose the election to the Democrat, in a seat that the GOP had held since the party's founding in the 1850's. He briefly un-conceded the race when late results made the margin a bit closer, and charged that ACORN was stealing the election: "ACORN, the unions and Democratic Party were scared, and that's why they tampered with the ballots of voters in NY-23." But ultimately, he did concede defeat again. Don't be surprised if he's back in 2010.

9. Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA)
The Georgia Congressman came out of nowhere to win a 2007 special election, defeating the establishment GOP candidate in a huge upset. In the Obama era, he's now emerged as a solid voice of right-wing doomsaying. He's warned that "mama" will die in agony in bed under Obama health care, said that Obama has everything he needs to establish an authoritarian government, and denounced the "rotten stinking fish that is -- Pelosi health care!"

10. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC)
Don't let the sweet grandmother exterior fool you. This third-term Congresswoman is able to dish out anti-Dem paranoia with the best of them -- especially on health care. She warned that senior citizens will "put to death by their government" under the Democrat's health care proposals. And she also warned: "I believe we have more to fear from the potential of that bill passing than we do from any terrorist right now in any country."

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2009-11-25T23:04:19Z