Brink

LOUISVILLE, KY(AP) -- The Imperial Klans of America (IKA) filed in Federal District Court today for an emergency injunction against the implementation of the Hate Crimes Modernization Act of 1999.

The IKA's attorney cited that the website being planned would "have a chilling effect on his client's free speech rights."

The Southern Poverty Law Center states that the IKA is the second largest Klan organization in the nation .

The IKA states the following in their Declaration of Beliefs:

"WE BELIEVE that the Man Adam (a Hebrew word meaning: ruddy, to show Blood, flush, turn rosy) is father of the White Race only. As a son of God (Luke 3:38), made in His likeness (Gen. 5:1), Adam and his descendants, who are also the children of God (Psalm 82:6; Hos. 1:10; Rom. 8:16; Gal. 4:6; I John 3:1-2), can know YHVH God as their creator. Adamic man is made trichotomous, that is, not only of body and soul, but having an implanted spirit (Gen. 2:7; I Thes. 5:23; Heb. 4:12) giving him a higher form of consciousness and distinguishing him from all the other races of the earth (Deut. 7:6, 10:15; Amos 3:2)."

((Credit to Lloth for writing the article))

John Merican, LA Times:

What will Representative Baudin focus on now?

3 minutes ago, Mejia36 said:

Hello, Can I have Dem Leadership masking? Im usually Deputy DNC Chair but im acting chair atm and would like to be able to move some stuff around in the warroom. Thanks

Done!  

Debate over Balanced Budget Amendment breaks out into local newspapers, television

Spatting over the Balanced Budget Amendment continues, as members of House get into it over local media outlets.

Speaker of the House John White, Democratic Representative Mark Anderson, Newly-elected House Minority Whip Andrew Sutherland, and Democratic Representative Aaron Frost all submitted comments to local media about the Balanced Budget Amendment, starting with Anderson.

"I may agree with the Speaker on this issue, but him being the one out there fighting for it makes him a hypocrite,” Anderson told local Cincinnati CBS affiliate WKRC. “The man won't answer basic questions about his bill's costs and never finds a dime to pay for them. Now he thinks he can come down the mountain? That man is talking with his tongue out of his shoe."

The Speaker soon responded that the “Democrat political machine is out in full force”.

“I see that the Democrat political machine is out in full force to cover-up another one of their flip-flops,” the Speaker said. “Their new attack line is one again rooted in lies and misleading the American people.... My record is clear, my principles have never wavered.”

These comments set off Sutherland to jump on Speaker White.

“So let me get this straight, the Speaker of the House is touting a piece of legislation that failed to become law to defend his flip-flopping on outrageous spending and to support his proposed amendment also guaranteed to fail. Man, the people of Iowa must be proud he is working so hard to accomplish nothing,” Sutherland told the Chicago Tribune.

Returning to the House debate on the Balanced Budget Amendment, more Democrats have come out against the legislation, including House Minority Leader Nathaniel Dodge. Dodge called it amongst other things, a “monstrosity” of an amendment.

“Now I might understand if we were running a huge deficit caused by conflated spending and irresponsible tax cuts as we saw under the last two Republican Presidents,” Dodge said. “But we're not. We're running a surplus. So while the Majority likes to talk a good game about fiscal responsibility they have been the most irresponsible this session.”

Dodge cited the 21st Century American Defense Act, introduced by Republican presidential candidate Charles Fong, as an example of Republicans being irresponsible on fiscal issues.

Interestingly enough, New Jersey Republican Laura Prescott came out to oppose the legislation, making one defector from the party stance on the legislation from each side of the aisle.

“To believe that a simple balanced budget amendment can solve the problem with wasteful spending is just a cheap talking point achieving no more than increasing the divide between our two parties,” Prescott said on the House Floor.

That created enough momentum against the bill for Democrats to call for a motion to table, which is currently in progress. Representative Claudia Douglas tried, after the vote to table started, to maybe try to lean some more Democratic votes against the motion to table. She also seemingly called for everyone to work together.

"Let us work together to meet the challenges of the 21st century, to slash wasteful spending and put more money in the pockets of the American people. And let us make this priority a ‘must,’ rather than a ‘maybe’,” said the Congresswoman on the floor.

If the legislation passes, it is expected to have a tough path in the Senate, with Senate Democrats starting to come out against the legislation. The most prominent of those senators is Senator Anderson Sherman.

"Speaker White's current attacks come from a man who couldn't wait to pass a teacher's bill before CBO numbers were made available,” Sherman said in a statement. “He voted for and pushed more than a fair share of unbalanced bills in the last two years alone… The amendment is doomed to failure, and has only been brought up by the Speaker to keep his donors happy and his base angry.”

The use of special interests as a tactic of attack in Washington has existed for a while, but however with the Presidential elections, it is becoming a prominent thing within the District of Columbia. The Balanced Budget Amendment continues to have a tough path to pass with the 2/3rds majority needed in Congress. Furthermore, current partisanship looks to make that long, windy path even tougher.

2 minutes ago, Storm said:

Congressman Thomas provides a practical approach for dealing with the problems our nation faces. He understands the plight of the American worker and wants to ensure that everyone is provided a chance to achieve everything that they desire, and we do that by putting Americans first in our trade deals, education systems and assuring that all Americans are given the same opportunities.

Will you be advising his campaign as well as being on the trail? Or will you mostly stick to the latter?

Michael Bledsoe, CBS News:

What in particular, made you support Thomas for the nomination?

Samantha Roscoe, CBS News:

Mr. Conroy, how is Representative Baudin fighting against the establishment in your eyes?

28 minutes ago, Damien said:

Dem leadership mods for being Whip if thats a thing?

It is a thing, and they have been given to you.  

Balanced Budget Amendment debate heating up, as Democrat announces support for it

In a move sure to surprise many in the Democratic Party, one Ohio congressman has announced his support for the Balanced Budget Amendment currently being considered on the House Floor. Mark Anderson, congressman from Ohio’s 2nd congressional district, in a PR today announced his support for the amendment based on a relatively simple concept.

"I don't think it's wrong to ask our government to use the same basic budgeting techniques as every household in this great nation. Hell, my wife and I have to make sure we live inside a budget. I know I can't get a trillion dollar credit card. So it's a little absurd for our government to ask for one," Congressman Anderson said.

CBS News Political Analyst Gordon Brink mentioned how good this could be for Anderson’s stature within his congressional district.

“Look, Anderson is from a conservative House district as a Democrat,” Brink said. “If he wants to keep his approval ratings on the up, he will have no choice but to buck the party on some things like this.”

The amendment, which passed committee by unanimous consent, was docketed by acting House Majority Leader John White last night. The amendment would require that the budget be balanced every fiscal year, unless three-fifths of both the House and Senate say it can be. It also says that the debt limit cannot be increased unless the same circumstances take place. Another interesting provision in the amendment is that it can be waived for any year that the United States is in war or a year in which “the United States is engaged in military conflict which causes an imminent and serious military threat to national security and is so declared by a joint resolution.”

The amendment has seen a lot of debate since it came to the House Floor last night. Things kicked off with North Carolina Republican Claudia Douglas calling for unanimous consent on the legislation. Douglas's reasons for supporting the legislation and Anderson’s were similar. 

“The American people long for good governance, for their representatives to hold their federal government accountable and to the same standards that millions of American families must meet every year,” Douglas said when making the motion.

Virginia Representative Benjamin Thomas, a Democrat, would soon reject unanimous consent on the motion. Fellow Democrat Aaron Frost expressed concern that if the amendment were to pass, that it could used as a hostage-taking opportunity for Republicans.

“However, as this bill does have good intentions,” Representative Frost said. “I cannot hope but wonder whether this bill will open a door toward 'A series of unfortunate events', where elected officials who choose to abide by only party lines will hold this country hostage for political gain.”

Michigan’s Alex Boroski, a Republican, soon accused Democrats of acting against America’s needs on the floor. He also questioned why Democrats were against the amendment.

“First being that it won't allow them [Democrats] to overspend on programs that I think need to be abolished or at least cut their spending by a significant margin,” Boroski said. “Possibility number two is that they support the bill, but a republican introduced it to this chamber.”

Things have continued to get more heated on this debate with most recent comments from newly elected House Minority Whip Andrew Sutherland of Illinois.

“Mr. Speaker you currently have a bill up for a vote that you don't even know the fiscal impact of and yet are asking us to support it,” Sutherland said. “You can't speak about fiscal restraint out of one side of your mouth and then demanding to spend millions if not billions of dollars out the other side of your mouth.”

Even the pundits are seemingly heated on this debate, starting with Des Moines Register Political Reporter Heather Holson.

“The BBA is an anachronistic soundbite that sounds like good policy but would inevitably lead to cuts in Social Security, Medicare and other vital social policies,” Holson said.

Former Sutherland Communications Director John Alexander expressed interest in why Republicans are pushing this legislation now.

“Now whats interesting is the Republicans are pulling this card during the time of a surplus and not a deficit so it may be harder to pass this because no one feels the pain right now,” Alexander told CBS News.

Brad Adams, Former Chief of Staff to the current House Speaker, commented about how this, in his eyes, pushes Democrats into a corner.

“The Democrats, as of late, have been pushing the Republican Party on the surplus,” Adams said. “This docket by the Republican Party is smart, it allows them to stand up for their fiscal conservative policies, however, pushes Democrats in a corner.”

Regardless of whether this legislation passes or fails the House, it looks like it will be a hot topic in Washington for the near future.

Good Morning VGS!!

In light of recent events, we feel it is prudent to give a friendly reminder to everyone about the Terms of Service of VGS. It is sometimes a good thing for everyone to get a little refresher on the terms just so no one violates them, intentionally or unintentionally.

Have a great day!!!  

EDIT: Also, if you are curious about some of the inside sausage of your approval ratings check this out.

I have undertaken the task of moving people who have been signed out to the members list. If I have moved your masking to members by mistake, please let me know ASAP. 

On behalf of the entire AB (Vandy, myself, Lloth, Tyler, Cwill, Bella, and our owner Cyril), we would like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!!

Go eat some turkey, gain a few pounds, and we hope to see you back ready to burn off those calories here on VGS soon!!  

Consensus on Democratic Foreign Policy: All candidates relatively similar

Three Democrats are currently officially in the presidential race, and as with the Republicans, have some differing stances, however the similar gist, when it comes to issues of foreign policy.

In the platforms, only one of them directly addresses the Panama Canal situation. However this mention is somewhat vague. Grayson’s platform calls for a “bilateral agreement between the US and Panama that increases Panama sovereignty while keeping US interests safe.” This is assumed to mean that Grayson is interested in renegotiating the canal treaty, however it is unsure exactly to what extent he would want to keep or give ownership of it.

The section on foreign policy in the DuBois is considered relatively short, however one thing that he does address relatively specifically is Russia. DuBois, if elected, would work to repeal the Jackson-Vinick amendment, which is an amendment to the 1972 Trade Reform Act that did not allow the President to give Russia most-favored nation status. Countries with this status are given specific trade advantages by the World Trade Organization (WTO). DuBois would also support admitting the Russian Federation into the WTO. We asked Representative Thomas about admitting Russia into the WTO, and we found that DuBois and Thomas disagree on the issue.

"Congressman Thomas is leery at the prospect as he feels that the Russian political system and economy remain too unstable, but is willing to take a deeper examination into the issue,” Thomas’s press office told CBS News.

Grayson did not address the Jackson-Vinick amendment or WTO status directly in his platform, however he did makes some comments about Russia inside of it. His two planks on the subject were: “Push Russia to work towards reducing each other’s nuclear arsenal,” and “Work with Russia to finally put an end to the remnants of the Cold War.”

Another issue that has been being grappled by many for long is the issue of Israel. Representative Thomas, in his platform, announced support for the middle eastern country and put his support behind the two-state solution.

“As has been the policy of the United States for decades, I firmly believe that this is achievable only by two-state solution including the halting of territorial fighting and an affirmation by our Arab brothers and sisters that the State of Israel’s existence is legitimate and their right to self-governance is irrefutable,” Thomas’s platform reads.

The Grayson platform discusses strengthening American ties with Israel and standing by with the country.

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty is also something that is addressed in platforms. The treaty, if approved, would ban all nuclear explosions. This would cover explosions done for both civilian and military good. Grayson’s platform announces his intent to ratify the treaty. The United States has yet to ratify the treaty, which it signed to in 1996. This is a point where Grayson and Thomas both agree, as Thomas’s office gave us word that he “strongly supports” the treaty.

Political Analysis:

Des Moines Register Reporter Heather Holson:

“Democrats are largely in agreement in maintaining America’s place in the world. All of them call for a robust US role in protecting human rights around the globe while working with key allies

New York Daily News Political Reporter and Daily Show Contributor Anderson Scooper:

"Foreign policy is an area in which there is a lot of variety among the Democrats. In terms of content, Congressman Dubois seems to have broader and unspecified goals of leadership and seems split on free or fair trade. He's clearly struggling on the issue. Meanwhile, Grayson and Thomas have robust and challenging foreign policies citing specific issues and areas they wish to improve and pursue. While Grayson has a lot of interest in challenging China and rogue states, Thomas appears much more interested in using America's military as a force for improving human rights and building on Clinton's progress in Middle East peace talks... Regardless of the differences between Grayson and Thomas, there is an absolute information gap in this issue and Dubois is trailing by a wide margin."

Baudin and Fong foreign policies, while in some agreement, heading in different directions

As the presidential race starts to heat up, with the results from the Iowa caucuses arriving in the coming days, the Republican candidates’ thoughts on foreign policy are starting to become more clear and to the forefront. 

One of the most controversial topics in the foreign policy realm right now is related to the Panama Canal situation. President Bill Clinton has elected to keep the Canal as property of the United States for protection reasons. Congressman Baudin and the President are in agreement on this issue. Baudin recently issued a press release, before the official decision, stating the canal should stay in U.S. hands. “While we must applaud the great steps Panama has made, a new deal would have to be put in place,” Baudin told the media at the time. “with the Democratic Government before the United States should consider giving up control of the canal.”

The Fong Administration and the Clinton Administration would both also concur on whether to keep the Panama Canal in U.S. hands. “A Fong Administration supports the maintaining of the Panama Canal under the U.S. Government due to the economic and strategic importance of the canal,” the Fong platform reads. One area in which the Fong and Baudin foreign policy schools disagree, is on the idea of a national missile defense program. Fong has proposed legislation to establish a national missile defense program, while Representative Baudin disagrees on the need for a national missile defense program.

“A national missile defense program is costly, and I have not seen anything at this time to convince me of it's need,” Baudin told CBS News. In general, the foreign policy beliefs of both candidates could be considered the difference between being religious and the “big boy on the block”. “Baudin wants to reenact the crusades through intervention wherever Christians are threatened while ignoring other persecuted minorities,” Des Moines Register Political Reporter Heather Holson said. “Fong simply wants the US to be the Big Boy on the block throwing our weight around to achieve pro American goals without considering international sentiment or consequences.”

Political Commentator Aaron Rosenbaum was a little bit harsher on both of them then Holson was. "The Fong Doctrine would effectively brush aside any notion of international cooperation and multilateral coalition building in order to push a 21st Century brand of imperialism under guise of fighting terror and spreading democracy,” Rosenbaum told CBS News. “As for Baudin, he would effectively slap a crucifix on every member of the Marines and have them carry Bibles into battle.” Former Fong Chief of Staff Robert McPherson pointed out how Fong’s foreign policy looks a bit more like the ones of more recent Presidents.

“The Fong Doctrine shares similarities with that of the Reagan and Bush foreign policy and particularly Reagan in terms of intervention in favor of U.S. interests and regional goals,” McPherson said. “Some of his proposals on issues like Cuba and Iraq are arguably more pro-intervention then that of previous GOP Presidents. Baudin interestingly has similar beliefs on key foreign policy issues like free trade and increasing the U.S. role in international organizations."

"Baudin's foreign policy does strike me as particularly more faith-based then that as Fong which is a bit peculiar in terms of emphasis on Christian missionaries.”

DNC Chair April Robinson addressing the press after visiting with the Diallo family.

Chris Brink, CBS News: Chairwoman Robinson, how did the visit go?

Chairwoman Robinson: Respecting the privacy of Mrs. Diallo, our meeting went well and I believe we will actually get something doen to ensure that more mothers like myself no longer have to face the fear of losing our children to trigger happy officers that are supposed to protect us.

Chris Brink, CBS News: What would you say to Mayor Giuliani?

Chairwoman Robinson: I think the mayor already has enough publicity, we should be focusing our attention on the Diallo family and most importantly ensuring that the life of Amadou is remembered and not wasted.

If the rest of the players would like to ask the Chairwoman questions, you may ask them here.

Chris Brink, CBS News:

Have you and Congressman Thomas discussed specific policy in which you agree or disagree on? If so, which ones?

Chris Brink, CBS News:

How soon will you be on the trail with Congressman Thomas?

DuBois visits family of Amadou Diallo; now second presidential candidate to do so

RETRACTION: EARLIER REPORTS SUGGESTING THAT DUBOIS PULLED AWAY LISTENING TO LOUD MUSIC CAME FROM NEIGHBOR JACKIE JUDGE. THEY HAVE NOW BEEN CONFIRMED TO BE FALSE BY THE POST.

     Democratic presidential candidate John DuBois visited the home of Amadou Diallo’s mother today in what some neighbors are referring to as “somewhat bizarre”

     Sources tell NBC News that the meeting started cordially with condolences for the death of Diallo. DuBois was also reported to say that he is ready to fight for justice on behalf of African Americans.

     “We are ready and committed to carrying the burden of ensuring justice and a brighter day in honor of the loved ones who perished,” DuBois said.

     DuBois also made a promise to the mother of Diallo.

     “I can promise you all today,” DuBois said. “That I will do everything I can, to rally this grieving nation to your aid and to the pursuit of a more just society for all of God's children.”

     The mother expressed her interest in justice, but more importantly that there is “no more Amadou's”. Reverend Al Sharpton, who was also in attendance at this meeting, expressed her sentiment in tougher words.

     DuBois proceeded to thank them for their concern and touted his 21st Century Civil Rights bill, which was introduced before the Diallo shooting.

     The 21st Century Civil Rights bill he refers to, appears to be the End Racial Profiling Act of 1999. The bill would, amongst other things, prohibit racial profiling by authorizing the United States or any person injured by racial profiling to sue in civil court.

     Reverend Sharpton thanked DuBois for his already shown interest in the issue, but expressed a preference for wanting the rest of the country to unite on racial divisions.

     Therefore, Representative DuBois would talk about former President Lyndon B. Johnson and his perceived negative record on civil rights.

     No one believed, in 1957, that a man named Lyndon Johnson,” DuBois told the reverend. “Who had a poor record on standing for the black community, would one day go on to rally a country divided to pass the voting rights bill, civil rights, and appoint the first African-American Supreme Court Justice.”

     After a question from Reverend Sharpton about whether New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani should resign for recent comments he made, DuBois responded by expressing his opinion of the mayor needing to represent “all New Yorkers equally, whether they're white, black, Hispanic, Jewish, Arab, or Asian”.

     DuBois also told the reverend that if Giuliani cannot do this, that he should resign.

     When DuBois stepped out of the house, members of the press asked him questions. He responded, amongst other things, that he would be “reaching out to members of both parties and their leadership to pass the civil rights proposals we have discussed”.

     NBC News has reached out to leadership from both sides of the aisle, and neither report DuBois having reached out as of yet.

     The most bizarre part of the entire visit, however, came as DuBois left. When he left the Diallo neighborhood, neighbors and media both report him getting into a vehicle and driving away "bouncing" to loud music.

     “It kind of just seems insensitive that he would do that,” neighbor Jackie Judge said. “Our neighbor just lost her son, and this Washington do-gooder comes out here and has a nice conversation with her. That is really nice, do not get me wrong. Though, he seems to slap us all in the face when he leaves.”

     Now, two Presidential candidates are reported as having visited the Diallo family. Whether more do remains to be seen.

16 hours ago, Baudin said:

I do think that legislation can help, but ultimately it has to be a joint legislative-executive solution. We are talking long-term solutions, which need to be developed at the local level. In my mind, I would see a revamping of police training, specifically in areas covering reflex, and on-the-spot decision making abilities. We don't have all the answers from the city, and the Grand Jury is yet to make a decision, so it is impossible to say what exactly we should do, since we don't have all the information. If I were to assume, I would say the biggest problem is training. The City of New York Police Department is among the best in the world. I do not think that they would have accepted officers who are ineffective and or detrimental. No I think the problem lies somewhere in the training. I'll emphasize however, that we don't have all the information as of yet, but I am confident that Mayor Giuliani and New York City officials and advocates can come to a solution. This is a time to work together. 

Congressman Baudin, 

When you refer to a joint legislative-executive solution, do you refer to Congress as well as the White House? Have you reached out to President Clinton on this issue?

How did you get it to work Wilder? Seems no more browsers are fans of Silverlight.  

Morris discusses her success in the House

By John Caffey

In our continuing feature about newly-elected Senator Rebecca Morris, we look at her time in the U.S. House, particularly her most recent term.

   Rebecca Morris’s career began as an accountant, and later as a State Senator, but she would get into higher political offices as the mid to late 1980s came around.
   Morris would take on Bill Emerson in the race for Missouri’s 8th congressional district in 1988, which she would win.
   “She [Morris] touted her blue-collar roots, realization of the American Dream, support for subsidiarity, and social conservatism as the basis for her campaign in 1988,” Morris’s official biography reads. “Which she won.”   
   She had a lot of success in her last two years in the House, with five of six of her bills passing the House. She also made it into a leadership role last session, being the House Majority Leader.
   “Any Majority Leader will have his or her successes, certainly,” Morris said. “But I believe what I was able to get through the House in just a year - well, that will be remembered in the annals of the House.”
   Her successfully passed bills include repealing the estate and gift tax, making health insurance costs deductible for self-employed individuals, and making drug penalties harsher.
   The one piece legislation of hers that did not pass however, was the Commercial Driver's License Devolution Act of 1998.
   That legislation was going to “permit an individual to operate a commercial motor vehicle solely within the borders of a State if the individual has passed written and driving tests to operate the vehicle that meet such minimum standards as may be prescribed by the State”.
   The bill failed the House by a margin of eight votes, 220-212.
   “That's a totally valid question, and I can simply say that not all Republicans were on board with devolving authority back down to the states,” Morris said. “It's a sad state of affairs when some so-called conservatives would rather see Washington bureaucrats dictate the livelihoods of so many Americans, rather than local state-level control.”
   She also does feel that she could have done better with publicly promoting the bill.
   “I believe that I could've pushed that bill more effectively among my colleagues in the House - after all, leaders from the Democratic Party spread misinformation about it,” Morris said. “and I will be reintroducing this legislation into the Senate this upcoming session.”

Income:

10-21-17/Issue 1 Income: $340,000

Expenditures:

Balance: $6,742,000

Income:

10-20-17/Starting Income: $7,000,000

Expenditures:

10-20-17/Beginning Investment and Upkeep in Maryland: $590,000

Balance: $6,402,000

Please check out Washington Today's first issue...

http://docdro.id/5ZY48GI

In this issue, our top stories include a preview of the 106th Congress, recent term limit talk in the House, and the beginning of a multi-part feature on Senator Rebecca Morris.