Almanacs “Could Nancy Pelosi Lose Control of the House? - RealClearPolitics” plus 3 more |
- Could Nancy Pelosi Lose Control of the House? - RealClearPolitics
- The Almanac - Jan. 28 - Post Chronicle
- Apple Leads the Pack of Application Stores, Android Distant Second - PR Inside
- Elbert, McGarrah play at Old Sloop - Gloucester Daily Times
| Could Nancy Pelosi Lose Control of the House? - RealClearPolitics Posted: 28 Jan 2010 06:13 AM PST At its essential level, a political party is an extra-governmental conspiracy to control the government. Our constitutional system disperses power across three branches, two chambers of Congress, and federal, state, and local levels. The parties are centralizing forces, trying to unite all governmental power under the party banner. They accomplish this task when conspiring officials across the government coordinate their activities with others whose views are similar. To be successful, a conspiracy requires a shared belief among the conspirators that their interests are linked - something to the effect of, "Whatever happens, we sink or swim together." This is really the only glue that binds a political party together. American party structures are very weak; partisans participate in the "conspiracy" only if they believe it will help them in the long run. For some time, it's been clear that the efforts to pass the health care bill have tested the Democrats' ability to conspire. With the bill's apparent failure, stories abound suggesting backbiting among party leaders across branches of government. This was the report in a recent Politico story: President Barack Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will be all smiles as the president arrives at the Capitol for his State of the Union speech Wednesday night, but the happy faces can't hide relationships that are fraying and fraught. Senate Democrats are mad at House Democrats. House Democrats are mad at Senate Democrats. And everybody is mad at the President. This is not the mark of a well-functioning conspiracy! But things could get worse. House roll call votes from late in 2009 suggest that there might be a backbench revolt brewing that could undermine Democratic control of the government. Remember, the Democrats control the House only because they can muster the needed 218 votes to pass legislation or execute procedural maneuvers. That's the essence of the House conspiracy. But, again, it's an entirely voluntary one. If Blue Dogs, moderates, or at-risk members start defecting in large enough numbers, and Pelosi can't pull in the needed half-plus-one of the chamber - she loses effective control of the legislative appartus. By the end of December, there was a surprisingly large number of backbench defections. Let's run through a list of the big ones from June onward.  These were all partisan votes in that Republicans mostly voted against the Democratic leadership. Two of the bills - HR 2454 (cap and trade) and HR 3962 (health care reform) - were high profile pieces of legislation that attracted a lot of attention. But the rest did not garner nearly as much focus, and several of them are downright obscure. And yet the number of defectors was still high. It's striking to see 29 Democrats defect on a concurrent resolution providing for the adjornment of Congress. Or how about 39 Democrats defecting on a bill "to permit continued financing of government operations." That's an increase of the debt limit. How could so many vote against it? After all, the House voted through all the spending that required an increase in the debt limit. Yet Pelosi could only muster 218 Democrats to do what absolutely, positively had to be done! This is the mark of a partisan conspiracy that is in some jeopardy. All of these bills passed, defectors aside. Yet the concern for Democrats should be that, as we approach the 2010 midterm, the number of defectors begins to hit 40 or more. That will happen if Democratic backbenchers sense a need to put more distance between themselves and the leadership. In that case, the Democrats will need Republican votes. They got enough on cap-and-trade, but the GOP caucus might not be so amenable in the future. Something like this happened in the summer of 1994. Rich Lowry referenced it on the Corner recently. What happened was that, in the course of passing President Clinton's crime bill, the Democratic leadership suffered huge defections on what should have been a worry-free procedural vote. Michael Barone offers a recap in the 1996 Almanac of American Politics: [T]oo many Democrats, lulled by the widespread assumption in Washington that Hillary Rodham Clinton's healthcare package or something like it would inevitably pass, failed to separate themselves from this increasingly popular program until it was too late. Ultimately, Democrats won enough Republican votes to pass the crime bill. Yet this simple procedural vote exposed a deep crack in the Democratic foundation, as the party leadership was no longer able to keep 218 members together on crucial votes. If something like this happens in the 111th Congress, what would be the result? Simply put, the Democrats would lose effective control of the House. Nancy Pelosi would continue to be Speaker, top Democrats would still hold all of the key committee chairs, but they would be unable to legislate on the hard stuff. They could still get things like HR 4474, the "Idaho Wilderness Water Facilities Act," passed through the House - but on anything with a whiff of controversy, she and the leadership could be in trouble. This is something to watch for as we enter an election year with continued high unemployment, a marginally unpopular President, and an economy experiencing only a tepid recovery. It could be a challenge for Speaker Pelosi to keep 218 of her partisans together, and retain effective control over the legislative process in the House of Representatives. Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
| The Almanac - Jan. 28 - Post Chronicle Posted: 28 Jan 2010 04:47 AM PST Today is Thursday, Jan. 28, the 28th day of 2010 with 337th to follow. The moon is waxing. The morning stars are Mars and Mercury. Evening stars are Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, Uranus and Neptune. Those born on this date are under the sign of Aquarius. They include Roman Catholic St. Thomas Aquinas in 1225; Canadian Prime Minister and statesman Alexander MacKenzie in 1822; Cuban revolutionary and poet Jose Marti in 1853; French novelist Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette in 1873; concert pianist Arthur Rubinstein in 1887; abstract expressionist painter Jackson Pollock in 1912; sculptor Claes Oldenburg in 1929 (age 81); actor Alan Alda in 1936 (age 74); former leader of Liberia Charles Taylor and ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, both in 1948 (age 62); singer Sarah McLachlan in 1968 (age 42); French President Nicolas Sarkozy in 1955 (age 55); and actors Susan Howard in 1944 and Elijah Wood in 1981 (age 29). On this date in history: In 1547, Henry VIII dies and 9-year-old Edward VI becomes king of England In 1782, the U.S. Congress authorized creation of the Great Seal of the United States. In 1878, the first commercial telephone switchboard began operation in New Haven, Conn. In 1958, The Lego company receives a patent for their toy building blocks. In 1965, Canadian Parliament accepts a new national flag design. The new flag includes a red maple leaf in its center. 1965 - The current design of the Flag of Canada is chosen by an act of Parliament. In 1974, Israel lifted its siege of Suez City and turned over 300,000 square miles of Egyptian territory to the United Nations, ending the occupation that had begun during the October 1973 war. In 1982, kidnapped U.S. Army Brig. Gen. James Dozier was rescued in Padua, Italy, after 42 days in the hands of Italian Red Brigades militants. In 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded 72 seconds after blastoff from Cape Canaveral, killing all seven crewmembers, including civilian teacher Christa McAuliffe. In 1993, a federal judge in Los Angeles ruled that the U.S. military's policy against homosexuals was unconstitutional because it was "based on cultural myths and false stereotypes." In 1995, the United States and Vietnam agreed to exchange low-level diplomats and open liaison offices in each other's capital cities. In 1997, five former police officers in South Africa admitted to killing anti-apartheid activist Stephen Biko, who died in police custody in 1977 and whose death had been officially listed as an accident. In 2000, the U.S. government admitted that workers making nuclear weapons were exposed to radiation and chemicals that led to cancer and early death. In 2003, at least 42 passengers burned to death when a luxury tourist bus collided with a truck carrying paints and chemicals in India's eastern state of West Bengal. Also in 2003, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his Likud Party retained power in Israeli parliamentary elections. In 2004, the chief U.S. weapons inspector in Iraq told Congress "we were almost all wrong" in believing Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and called for an outside independent investigation of the apparent intelligence failure. In 2005, Condoleezza Rice was sworn in as the 66th U.S. secretary of State. She was the first African-American woman to hold the office. Also in 2005, European scientists confirmed the first known case of "mad cow" disease in a goat. In 2007, U.S. and Iraqi forces killed a reported 300 enemy fighters in a major battle near Najaf in southern Iraq. The U.S. military death toll for the month was set at 84. Also in 2007, British researchers warned climate effects from global warming would be irreversible in 10 years without "serious reductions in carbon emissions." In 2008, U.S. President George Bush delivered his final State of the Union address, focusing on the Iraq war, the uncertainty of the economy, a proposed tax rebate and another warning for Iran. In 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a nearly $900 billion economic stimulus plan. Also in 2009, more than 3,000 people have died of cholera during the current outbreak in Zimbabwe, the World Health Organization said. In all, 57,702 people were infected since the outbreak began last year, caused mostly by contaminated water. A thought for the day: Edward George Bulwer-Lytton said, "Talent does what it can; genius does what it must." (c) UPI Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
| Apple Leads the Pack of Application Stores, Android Distant Second - PR Inside Posted: 28 Jan 2010 04:54 AM PST 2010-01-28 13:52:46 - Netsize previews Mobile Trends Survey results at M-Days mobile conference and trade show in Munich, Germany
Munich, Germany, January 28, 2010 -- Netsize, a leading mobile commerce and communications enabler, today revealed the first results of the Mobile Trends Survey 2010. Drawing from an online survey of 1,000+ professionals and practitioners, the survey provides insights into key trends that top the industry agenda, including the advance of mobile applications stores, progress towards global mobile commerce and the pivotal importance of mobile as a means to bridge our virtual and physical worlds.Using the occasion of M-Days – one of Europe's biggest mobile industry events and exhibitions held in Munich, Germany – Netsize provided conference attendees, industry influencers and key bloggers a sneak peek into the controversial survey results, starting with respondents' views on app store leaders and the enablers that give them and their offers the competitive edge. According to the survey, the vast majority (87 percent) of respondents believe the Apple App Store will be the most successful app store in the mobile space. Google's Android Market is a distant second (60 percent), followed by Nokia's Ovi Store (30 percent) and RIM's BlackBerry App World (27 percent). Surprisingly, applications stores run by mobile operators finished low in the list, indicating that platform providers and handset makers may well dominate the space for a time to come. When asked to rate the unique selling proposition of application stores over other software distribution and sales channels, 65 percent of respondents put convenience ("everything in one place") at the top of the list. This was followed by compatibility "software applications specific to the device"), choice ("a long tail of thousands of applications to choose from"), and ease of payment ("operator billing, for example"). Netsize, provider of operator billing solutions to most of the large mobile device vendors for their application stores, released the application store survey findings to the stage for a lively discussion of the future of mobile and the role of software application stores during "Mobile Trends 2020, Mobile Research and App-Commerce: What Comes Next in Europe?" The M-Days session was led and moderated by Peggy Anne Salz, mobile thought leader and MSearchGroove Founder and Chief Analyst. The complete mobile trends survey results – which cover topics related to mobile entertainment, mobile marketing, mobile commerce, mobile payments and mobile convergence – will be released as part of the Netsize Guide 2010, a comprehensive mobile industry analysis and almanac published by Netsize and written by MSearchGroove's Salz. Netsize will launch the Netsize Guide 2010 on February 16, 2010 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Report: www.netsize.com/Ressources_Mobile-Trends-Survey-2010.htm
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| Elbert, McGarrah play at Old Sloop - Gloucester Daily Times Posted: 28 Jan 2010 02:59 AM PST Award-winning singer and songwriter Emily Elbert will bring her soulful, jazzy folk music to Rockport on Saturday, Jan. 30. The all-ages show at Old Sloop Coffeehouse will begin at 7:30 p.m., with Andrew McGarrah opening. Elbert will be performing new songs that will be on her second CD — to be released this spring. She'll also perform her acoustic versions of rock classics by Michael Jackson, The Allman Brothers, and Jimi Hendrix, along with covers from artists such as Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, and John Mayer. At 21, Elbert has performed more than 300 shows, from Alaska to Memphis, Texas to New York, and Scotland to Puerto Rico and Peru. The native Texan lives in Boston where she is a junior at Berklee College of Music and maintains an active touring schedule. Boston's WUMB radio selected her as Best New Artist of the Year in 2008. Last summer, Falcon Ridge Festival in New York chose Elbert for its annual Emerging Artist Showcase. In November, she traveled to Scotland as a winner of the Burnsong International Songwriting Contest, where she participated in a week-long songwriters' retreat and played for Parliament and the BBC. Elbert is quickly growing in the national spotlight. Her lifelong passion for music from around the world, and distinctive combination of jazz, folk, soul, blues, and pop creates a sound that engages the hearts, minds, and ears of listeners around the globe. She blends a hip musical perspective with an in-depth knowledge of classic songs to create unique vocal and guitar arrangements. She won Berklee College of Music's Performing Songwriter Contest in the summer of 2006. Andrew McGarrah is an even younger singer and songwriter who is a senior at Pingree School in Hamilton. He grew up listening to artists such as Cat Stevens, Peter Paul and Mary, and Simon and Garfunkel, and he includes folk, rock and reggae among his musical influences. The suggested contribution for this concert is $10 for adults and $5 for those younger than 18 or older than 65, with a maximum of $20 for families. Visit oldsloopcoffeehouse.org for more information. Call 978-546-3551 or send e-mail to reservations@oldsloopcoffeehouse.org for reservations. The event is held at First Congregational Church at 12 School St. in downtown Rockport. One World Coffeehouse features folk artist Bill Staines will perform at One World Coffee House at First Universalist Church 59 Main St. in Essex. on Saturday, Jan. 30, at 8 p.m. Singing mostly his own songs, Staines is one of the most popular and durable singers on the folk music scene today, performing nearly 200 concerts a year and driving more than 65,000 miles annually. He weaves gentle wit and humor into his performances and one reviewer wrote, "He has a sense of timing to match the best stand-up comic." His music is a slice of Americana, reflecting with the same ease Staines' feelings about the prairie people of the Midwest or the adventurers of the Yukon, the on-the-road truckers, or everyday workers that make up this land. "His gentle lilting voice, spacious melodies and common-chord lyrics give his songs a homespun grace that often belies his mastery of the folk form," New England Folk Almanac said. "He is such a pure pleasure too, people forget to notice how damn good at the job of singer-songwriter he really is." Suggested donation is $15. For reservations call 978-325-3252. Encore showing of 'The Pregancy Pact' If you missed it this weekend, you have another chance to see the movie many in Gloucester have been talking about this week. The cable channel Lifetime will air an encore showing of its original movie, "The Pregnancy Pact" tonight at 7. Inspired by a true story, the film explores the costs of teen pregnancy set against the backdrop of the infamous alleged 2008 "pregnancy pact" in Gloucester. In its first four airings on Saturday and Sunday, 23.3 million viewiers watched the movie, according to Lifetime, which was the highest-rated and most watched ad-supported cable network in prime time for the weekend. The premiere of "The Pregnancy Pact" became the No. 1 rated movie on ad-supported cable among women 18 to 34 since 1998, women 18 to 49 since 2006, as well as adults 18 to 34 since 2004, Lifetime said. It was also the most watched Original Movie premiere for the network ever among women 18 to 34, women 18 to 49, adults 18 to 34 and adults 18 to 49. In addition, of the 214 Lifetime Original Movies, the film now ranks as the fourth highest rated movie among women 18 to 49 in Lifetime's history. Online, "The Pregnancy Pact" also significantly increased traffic to the network's official Web site, myLifetime.com, which generated more than 3.8 million page views over the weekend, the second most trafficked weekend in the site's history. Golden Globe- and Emmy Award-winner Camryn Manheim, Nancy Travis, Golden Globe-nominee Thora Birch and Madisen Beaty star. Fairy tale landscape of Cape Ann Local Colors Artists' Cooperative is presenting a new collection of large acrylic paintings by Lawrence Martin-Bittman. The paintings reflect Martin-Bittman's continuing love affair with the fairy tale environment of Cape Ann, its residents and visitors, aacording to the gallery. With a strong sense of color he looks at the daily confrontations between people and the ocean while humanizing the drama behind a screen of humor, it said. The exhibition is open to the public at 121 Main St., Gloucester, from Jan. 30 to Feb. 20. Gallery hours are Monday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. More information is available by calling 978-283-3996 or visiting www.local-colors.org Acting classes for young people Gloucester Stage Company will hold a winter session of Youth Acting Workshops for children ages 6 to 17. The six-week workshop, taught by award-winning actress Heidi Dallin, will be held Saturdays beginning Feb. 13. Each class is two hours per week and students are divided in classes according to age. This professional training program encourages students to discover and nurture their creative potential. Gloucester Stage's Youth Acting Workshops help students build self confidence and develop communication skills to use in their daily life as well as give them the opportunity to learn about the skills necessary for professional theater. The workshops include an introduction to theater basics such as theater games, improvisation, movement, vocal and physical expression, character preparation, scene study and storytelling as well as writing, public speaking and confidence building training. All classes are held at Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main St., Gloucester. Class size is limited and registration is on a first-come basis. For class times, further information and to register, call 978-283-6688. Art Haven hosts Buoy Auction, Art Show The handpainted buoys that adorned the lobster trap Christmas tree this year are soon to become collectibles. Any community member who wants a chance at owning one of works of art is welcome to join Art Haven, state Sen. Bruce Tarr and the children who painted the buoys at Cruiseport Gloucester on Friday, Jan. 29, from 6 to 9 p.m. for the Second Annual Art Haven Buoy Auction and Art Show. This year, the programming has expanded a bit to include buoys painted by local artists from The Hive Cape Ann. Similar to last year, everyone is welcome to enjoy appetizers donated by local restaurants and check out the artwork created by Art Haven students throughout the year. Admission to the event is $10 for adults, $5 with a student ID, and free for children 12 and younger. Cape Ann Winter Birding Weekend Mark your calendars for the Cape Ann Winter Birding Weekend being held Feb. 5, 6, and 7 at the Elks in Gloucester. Cape Ann is known to birdwatchers worldwide for its exciting concentrations of winter seabirds, and the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, working with Massachusetts Audubon, has planned a weekend filled with a variety of events for all levels of birders. Last year, 65 different species of birds were spotted over the course of the weekend! Expert guides will lead field trips to Cape Ann hot spots so all participants will see as many species as possible. The full schedule of events is posted on the Chamber's Web site and includes — for hearty souls — a boat trip aboard the 7 Seas Privateer. The demonstration and exhibitor venue at the Elks is open to the public and a guide will be on hand to introduce everyone to the sport of birding. For more information on becoming a sponsor or exhibitor, go to http://www.capeannchamber.com/birdingweekend. Valentine dance to benefit symphony Cape Ann Symphony will host a fund-raising dance, My Swinging Valentine, on Saturday, Feb. 13, from 7 to 10 p.m. at Cruiseport Gloucester, 6 Rowe Square, Gloucester. The Soft Touch Dance Band will entertain with some golden oldies from the Swing Era and beyond perfect for dancing and listening. This 18-piece band specializes in music from the Big Band era as well as many modern favorites. Light hors d'oeuvres and desserts will be served and a cash bar will be available. "This is an event to have fun and kick up your heels as well as to support a regional treasure right here on Cape Ann, our very own Cape Ann Symphony," said Elizabeth Frere Jones, chairman of Cape Ann Symphony's Celebrations Committee. Tickets are $30 per person in advance and $35 at the door; 18 and younger are $20. E-mail CASCelebrations@yahoo.com, or call 978-283-6750 for tickets and more information. Around Cape Ann is a column devoted to events happening on Cape Ann and artists from Cape Ann performing elsewhere. If you would like to submit an item, contact reporter Gail McCarthy at 978-283-7000, ext. 3445, or gmccarthy@gloucestertimes.com. Items should be submitted at least two weeks in advance of the event. Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
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