City Hall
The Health Care legislation just signed by the President creates more than 150 new Boards and Commissions to develop regulations to enact the bill.
Visit the following site to read the list:
For a bill 1000+ pages, these Boards/Commissions would, on average, be responsible for less than 10 pages each. Generally when a law is written, that law delegates to a Cabinet Secretary and his/her staff to develop the steps that will carry out that law.
Why are so many staff needed to enact this bill?
Give us your point of view in the comment box below:
November 10th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Please say it isn’t so. But it must be, because CA just decided to take another 10% from their residents.
November 2nd, 2009 at 9:08 pm
It looks like the czars are on their way out…or should I say then have been found out. Absolute power does corrupt absolutely, and though all Presidents have had advisors in the past, they have worked by quite suggestion and advisement, not by being empowered sufficient as to usurp Cabinet Secretarys.
October 25th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
I think Dick Morris is brilliant. I say “I think” because he is sometimes hard to follow because he won’t stop hawking his book.
October 19th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
FOX NEWS REACHES ACROSS PARTY LINES
By DICK MORRIS & EILEEN MCGANN
Published on DickMorris.com on October 19, 2009
Printer-Friendly Version
Is FOX News “an arm of the Republican Party” as White House Communications Director Anita Dunn says?
Democratic and Independent voters beg to differ. A national survey shows that 46% of those who watch FOX News “just about every day” are Democrats or Independents as are 50% of those who watch it “several times each week” or more.
Overall, the survey showed that 21% of all American voters watched FOX News every day and 18% watched it several times each week. So, combined, 39% watched the station several times each week or more.
• Among Democrats, 17% watched it several times each week or more
• Among Independents, 46% the station several times each week or more
• And among Republicans, 55% tuned in several times each week or more
The survey indicated that 11% of all American voters watched CNN “just about every day” and 20% watched several times each week or more.
Combined, 31% watched CNN several times each week or more.
For MSNBC, the totals were 10% watched just about every day and 8% watched several times each week. Combined, 18% watched MSNBC several times each week or more.
These data, seen against the backdrop of the recent storm of White House criticism, casts the Administration attacks on FOX News in a different perspective. Could it be that the Obama Administration is concerned about FOX News not because it is “an arm of the Republican Party” but because it is so widely seen among Democrats and Independents?
That the two top spokespeople for the Administration this Sunday (Emanuel and Axelrod) both chose to attack FOX News shows how obsessed this thin-skinned president is with his coverage. It is truly amateur hour at the White House from the top down.
These data come from a national telephone survey taken by the Global Marketing Research Center in Melbourne Florida during the week of October 13-16, 2009. The survey was taken from a statistically valid national sample of 800 registered voters. 36% of the respondents said they voted for more Democrats than Republicans while 32% said they voted for more Republicans. 24% said they voted equally for each party.
The survey was funded by the League of American Voters.
October 7th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
SNOWE AND LINCOLN WILL DETERMINE EVERYTHING
By DICK MORRIS
Published on TheHill.com on October 6, 2009
Watch how Maine Republican Olympia Snowe and Arkansas Democrat Blanche Lincoln vote in the Senate Finance Committee on the Baucus version of the Obama healthcare plan. As Snowe and Lincoln go, so will the Congress.
The Democrats need Snowe’s vote desperately, to convince wavering moderate Democrats that they can offer a veneer, however thin, of bipartisanship to the health proposal. If Snowe, their last chance at a Republican vote, opposes the Obama/Baucus proposal, there is no hope of a bipartisan fig leaf for the package.
On the other hand, if Snowe backs the bill, it will send a signal to moderate Democrats that it’s OK to join in and the bill will probably attract the 60 votes it needs for Senate passage.
Lincoln’s vote becomes critical if Snowe votes no. Lincoln is probably the single most vulnerable Democrat running for reelection in 2010. She is the proverbial canary in the coalmine. If she makes it, so will all the Democrats. Hailing from a conservative Southern state, her poll numbers suggest that she would be in a heap of trouble with a stiff challenger.
If Lincoln defects and joins the Republicans in voting no (as she has done on a number of amendments), she will do a lot to cement her chances to remain a senator, but will open a wound in the Democratic Party. A domino effect will likely set in.
Her Arkansas colleague, Democrat Mark Pryor, will feel exposed by her defection and will probably consider voting no as well. It will be very hard for the son of moderate David Pryor to explain why Lincoln jumped ship but he chose to stay on board.
Sen. Ben Nelson (D) of Nebraska, encouraged by Lincoln’s vote, will probably vote no as well. These negative votes will bring huge pressure on Mary Landrieu, the Louisiana Democrat. Nor can the president count on the support of Joe Lieberman (I) of Connecticut, who has warned that, despite his basic support for the concept of the bill, it would be hard for him to back it given the current economic and fiscal crisis.
Once Obama’s plan fails to attract 60 votes, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) will fall back on reconciliation as a strategy and hope for 50 votes. But if the Democrats pass the bill with 50 votes, it will set a precedent they may come to rue. It would basically eliminate the filibuster as a parliamentary tactic and would condemn any future minority party (Democrats in 2011?) to the same irrelevance as afflicts their House colleagues. To be in the minority in a chamber run by a bare majority is not a fun task.
However, if Lincoln votes yes, it will send a signal to all moderates that even the most endangered of their species is willing to risk backing the program and will do a great deal to shore up the president’s defenses.
All this means that if the elderly citizens of Arkansas and Maine — and their families — want to avoid the evisceration of the Medicare program contemplated in the Baucus/Obama bill, they had better get busy. They need to deluge both senators with urgent pleas to vote against the $500 billion cut in the Medicare program. Neither senator can afford to alienate her elderly constituents, but what do they expect when they vote to take the hatchet to Medicare?
Newt Gingrich found out that cutting Medicare is a ticket to political oblivion. Barack Obama will learn the same lesson. The question is: Will Olympia Snowe and Blanche Lincoln join him?
October 6th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Obama and the Dr’ s at the photo op was hilarious. The last time I laughed so hard at someone wearing a Dr’s white coat was In the Marx Bros Duck Soup (I think) movie where Groucho was running around in a white Dr’s coat as Dr, Hackenbush!
Too funny !
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:15 am
Guess Acorn wasn’t in Copenhagen to rig/ buy votes. What a disgrace to have an American president get snubbed by the world in such a clear and decisive manner.
Looks like The Messiah has lost his mo-jo.
September 24th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Now we need to look closely at the Education Czar. He’s got some issues too.
September 5th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Yes, you are judged by the company you keep. Theses “Czars” have no oversite and theses types of appointments should be stopped immediately and declared illegal. This Jones character is a self-avowed communist and his socialistic views are dangerous, especially when he has the president’s ear.
Also, Jones is a “truther” and was a signer (43rd I believe) of a maifesto that questioned whether President Bush knowingly allowed the attacks on 9-11.
Jones isn’t the only radical in this administration without any kind of oversight. Congress must stop this type of appointment and Jones and his ilk must be given the boot–immediately.
September 4th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Charles Krauthammer’s latest column is interesting regarding the drop in Obama’s ratings. Find it on the Washington Post website.
September 3rd, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Yea, ole Harry was probably looking for some phone numbers of old Kennedy girlfriends… or maybe a half-pint.
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:41 am
Oh, and old Harry Reid said that Ted’s death would help pass the health care bill. Oh my gosh, was he there going through Kennedy’s pockets just after he died? Sicko.
August 31st, 2009 at 10:38 am
I agree with Topper… Ted is dead, and hopefully this government takeover of healthcare.
Had Kennedy had the government run healthcare now being proposed, he wouldn’t have lived the nearly year and one-half since being diagnosed with a brain tumor. He would have been denied treatments such as the surgery he underwent, radiation and chemo, as he was 77 years old and had inoperable cancer. He would heve been told to “take some pills” to relieve the pain and would heve been dead in two months.
Think about that.
August 31st, 2009 at 10:28 am
I’m hearing all this drib about passing health care for “Ted Kennedy”.. How about listening to the more than 50% of Americans that do not want the healthcare proposals now on the table?… how about NOT passing health care for “the people of this country”?
August 20th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
I read today that some survey indicates that the Dems could lose as many as 20 seats in the mid-term elections. It’s deja vu all over again!
August 19th, 2009 at 9:56 am
Great quiz and it was right on the mark for me too. I like the fact that it’s short and to the point.
Hey it looks like Barbara Boxer is going to have to fight to keep her seat. It’s going to be interesting if some of these far lefters end up getting left out!
August 18th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Hey JW! Cool quiz. It was dead on for me. The link worked, by the way. All I had to do was click on it.
You’ll see some pretty serious conservative vs liberal talk going on if you visit the Daily News page.
Do you think more Boomers are conservative or liberal?
More interesting, which would they have been considered when they were about 20 years old? Has it flipped?
August 18th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Hi everyone!
This is fast, fun and enlightening. Assess yourself.
So, you think you know where you stand, politically. Think again. The
result from this short test may surprise you and give you some food
for thought.
You’ll be asked just 10 questions, and then it instantly tells you where
you stand politically. It shows your position as a red dot on a
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The most interesting thing about the Quiz is that it goes beyond
the Democrat, Republican, and Independent.
The Quiz has gotten a lot of praise. The Washington Post said it
has “gained respect as a valid measure of a person’s political
leanings.” The Fraser Institute said it’s “a fast, fun, and accurate
assessment of a person’s overall political views.” Suite University
said it is the “most concise and accurate political quiz out there.”
Click on …or highlight and paste into your web browser, the link below
http://www.theadvocates.org/quizp/index.html
August 11th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Oh my gosh, and how out of touch were they with that decision anyway?
Jeez…these politicians need to be sent home more often so they can get the kind of spanking from their constituents that they’re getting now!
I love that people at these townhall meetings are reading the health care bill to the lawmakers.
Politicians can’t believe that their constituents are no long sheeple!
August 10th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Wall Street Journal just announced they cancelled the mini-jets. Good strategy for the Democrats; this was taking the attention away from health care reform.
August 10th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Wonder what the new website is about? http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck
August 6th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Ok…it’s time for the politicians to stop blaming their problems on the meteorologists. Weather forecasting is as much an art as a science. They do the best they can. They’re doing a great job of keeping us safe during tornado season.
Take a breath, people. Sh***** happens!
August 4th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
There is a great possibility that Abramson is holding the wrong coattails…we may be looking at a one term Governor and a one term President.
I’m not even sure the President will get through one term. What is this rumor about questionable citizenship? Even if he was not born in Hawaii, wasn’t his mother a citizen?
August 4th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Well, he is on his way out anyway, isn’t he? Wants to be Lt. Gov. Ii’m just not sure if he’s grabbed on to the right coattails.
August 4th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
My guess is Mayor Abrams is ready to hang up his mayorial spurs.
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Hey Fullyfigured… I was brought up right never use naughty language–unless you’re being naughty!
Anyway, tho cop and that Gates guy looked pretty uncomfortable. The race card was pulled with the wrong guy and it backfired big-time. The effect will be long-lasting. BO showed his true color (mostly black) and he’s the one who acted “stupidly”.
He must be trying to catch up with Biden the human gaffe machine.
July 31st, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Hey RayJ. I appreciate the ********** in your post. Always appreciate when a man is respectful of the ladies in the room.
I’m sure the Beer Summit has solved 200 years of problems. Boy howdy! I understand they agreed to disagree. Duh! I think the professor needs to go on a “ride along” with the police…for about a month. See if he can “reason” with some of the hard cases those cops have to deal with day in and day out.
What a bunch of bull******!
July 30th, 2009 at 10:04 am
I guess tonight, the Messiah and his props will solve all of the racial situations. Hallalulia! (and pass the contribution plate)
Give me a f****** break!
July 25th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Another example of “Whatever it takes to stay on top.”
July 24th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Today he threw his friend the professor under the bus. Guess his staff took a good look at the poll numbers and were trying to put out the fire.
July 24th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
I totally agree…when someone is elected President, he/she must take on the role of representing all people, and all persons’ viewpoints. Certainly it is not the role of the President to criticize an incident that took place within a local jurisdiction. The simple fact that he took so very long to comment on the aftermath of the Iran elections, and yet let this “stupidly” zinger go almost immediately, would indicate to me that perhaps he was letting his personal feelings show. You cannot be personal when you are President.
July 24th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Why would he give a comment at all? Why not let the investigative process take place without making any kind of statement prejudging what the police did? It is not the role of the President to wield personal criticism, particularly what appears to be based on his personal viewpoint. He needs to rise above that.
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:34 pm
The police acted “stupidly”???? Isn’t this guy an attorney? Doesn’t he know you should get all the facts before you make a statement, particularly an inflammatory statement? What the heck is Gibbs gonna do with this one?
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:32 pm
I agree. It’s like facebook but without all the silly games and quizzes and so and so is sending you cookies and beer. Nice to talk to adults.
Facebook for grownups. About time.
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:19 am
Hey, this site is great… I can speak my mind like an adult with out a filter. Thanks whoever is responsible for this cool site.!!
July 22nd, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Yet another Obama press conference. I don’t think people are watching so much anymore. The newness has worn off. The silver is tarnishing. The honeymoon’s over. The…..well, you get my drift.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:29 pm
Some people are ready for him to leave Louisville. I believe they will make a strong Democratic ticket.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Soooooooooooo. The Mayor for Life has decided to move on up to the East Side!
Wonder if he’ll reside in the Lt. Gov.’s mansion?
July 15th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Shoot-out on capital hill? How could someone get that close with a gun?
July 13th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
He is a straight talker and has made some good choices in the past. He seems to have lost his inability to filter what he says.
July 10th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
God bless Jim Bunning. Wish he’d just run on home and give one of those young whippersnappers a turn in the batting box.
July 9th, 2009 at 8:24 am
What’s up with Sarah Palin?
God love her! She’s feisty!
Can you imagine her husband pulling something like Mark Sanford did? She’d helicopter him out onto some ice field, then take off and use him as target practice. Gotta love a woman like that.
June 16th, 2009 at 11:10 am
This country elected an American Idol president last time around.
A little over half the country was elated. The other half disappointed, worried, even aghast.
But, pop culture has a propensity to tear down those whom it has built up. It’s a form of entertainment.
The bigger they are, the harder they fall.