07.31.10 -- 2:01AM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)

Uni-Tea! (Hold the Milk ...)

As we reported earlier this month, Tea Partiers are congregating in Philadelphia tomorrow for a 'Uni-Tea Rally' aimed at spotlighting the diversity -- racial and otherwise -- of the Tea Party movement. And TPM's Evan McMorris-Santoro and Jillian Rayfield are going to be there filing live reports (with video) through the day.

--Josh Marshall

07.31.10 -- 1:00AM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (6)

Is It a 'Trial'?

Here's something I've been wondering about.

When I first heard the news that Charlie Rangel was likely to face a "trial" in the House on the 13 violations he's accused of, I remember being sort of surprised. That's not only because I think I didn't realize things had progressed quite that far but because I didn't know that the Ethics Committee held 'trials'. Tonight we learned that Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) is going to face a 'trial' as well.

Now, there are a lot of things about Congress I'm no expert on, to put it mildly. But I'd always thought these disciplinary hearings were called 'hearings', not 'trials', which is obviously a more charged word and doesn't seem to really describe what's involved.

Read more »

--Josh Marshall

07.31.10 -- 12:18AM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)

Should Be a Fun September

I'm not sure quite what to make of this. But on top of Charlie Rangel's now all but certain trial/hearing before the Ethics Committee in September, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) is also being charged with misusing her office and has decided to contest the charges in another trial.

--Josh Marshall

07.30.10 -- 9:25PM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (6)

Gore Case Dropped (Cont'd)

We've now updated our original story from this afternoon on the Portland DA's decision not to prosecute Al Gore. We've added the prosectors' memo, which was obtained by the local media, which makes the prosecutor's decision to drop the case considerably more critical of accuser, Molly Hagerty, than I'd first understood.

--Josh Marshall

07.30.10 -- 8:29PM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (11)

Speeding While Spinning (SWS)

Is this the first time for this?

This morning Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA) was doing a live radio hit on KFBK back in the district while driving to the Capitol. But he had to cut the interview short when a Virginia police officer pulled him over for speeding. According to the AP listeners could hear the police officer, on air, telling Lundgren to hang up the phone.

Lundgren later explained he'd been driving "probably just slightly over the speed limit."

--Josh Marshall

07.30.10 -- 7:53PM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (7)

On the Case!

You may be getting down on the Senate because they couldn't manage to hold a vote Thursday on that jobs bill that Republicans are filibustering. But they did manage to double the penalty for marijuana brownies.

In case you were wondering.

--Josh Marshall

07.30.10 -- 6:32PM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (7)

Case Closed

The Portland Oregon DA's office has closed the Al Gore (alleged sex assault) case because "a sustainable criminal case does not exist."

--Josh Marshall

07.30.10 -- 5:47PM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (3)

Rangel Update ('Or Not' Edition)

Earlier we reported that Rep. Gene Green (D-TX), who leads the investigative subcommittee of the Ethics Committee, said the body had recommended a 'reprimand' for Charlie Rangel. Now he says he 'misspoke'.

Nope. No idea.

--Josh Marshall

07.30.10 -- 2:23PM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (28)

"An Act of War"

Did you hear that the Zetas drug gang stormed across the US-Mexico border last weekend and seized two ranches near Laredo?

Actually it didn't happen. But is that really a reason not to keep talking about it?

--Josh Marshall

07.30.10 -- 1:59PM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (6)

Yet More on Rangel

The House Ethics Committee is recommending a formal 'reprimand' of Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY).

--Josh Marshall

07.30.10 -- 1:08PM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (40)

Schlafly: Obama Pushing For More Welfare Moms

In case you missed it yesterday, long-time conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly is telling supporters that President Obama is trying to find more single moms to put on welfare since once "you kick your husband out, you've got to have big brother government to be your provider."

Dems, eager for an issue, are calling on Republicans who've taken Schlafly's money, to renounce her.

My thought: What kind of vitamins is Schlafly taking? And can I have some.

--Josh Marshall

07.30.10 -- 12:42PM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (17)

What's Missing From This Picture?

Republicans are in an uproar over federal Judge Susan Bolton's decision to strike down major portions of Arizona's controversial immigration law. But you may have noticed that there hasn't been a lot of criticism of Bolton herself or cries of 'judicial activism', as you normally hear in cases like this.

That's because Bolton has always enjoyed Republican support. And Jon Kyl, Arizona's junior senator, recommended her for her current job in the late 1990s.

--Josh Marshall

07.30.10 -- 12:06PM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (7)

What's He Accused Of?

You know that yesterday the House Ethics Committee charged Charlie Rangel with 13 ethics violations and now he's scheduled to stand trial in the House.

So just what is he charged with? Our Rachel Slajda brings you the details.

--Josh Marshall

07.30.10 -- 11:38AM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (4)

We Interrupt The Serious News ...

... to bring you this brief interruption of fluff: Pics of the Hudson River Valley venue for Chelsea Clinton's wedding this weekend.

We now return to regular programming.

--David Kurtz

07.30.10 -- 11:15AM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (49)

Not a Shining Moment

The ADL -- which, let's remember, is the Anti-Defamation League -- comes out against the so-called Ground Zero Mosque.

The argument, which you can see in the link above, is painful and tortured. We believe in freedom of religion. They have every right to build there. But just this one time, let's make an exception.

Sad.

--Josh Marshall

07.30.10 -- 9:44AM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (25)

Force of Habit?

Senate Republicans are now filibustering a jobs bill based mainly on tax cuts.

--Josh Marshall

07.30.10 -- 9:40AM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (10)

Reid v. Angle

Mason-Dixon has a new poll out this morning which shows Harry Reid one point over Sharron Angle, though that shows her possibly recovering a bit from a few weeks ago. Here's the TPM Poll Average of this race below. As you can see, Reid's finally crossed over into the lead. But it's basically still a margin of error race.

--Josh Marshall

07.30.10 -- 9:29AM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (229)

My Kind of Democrat

I don't know Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY). We've never met or had any one-on-one dealings. For all I know, he may be unbearable in person. But his feisty public persona -- his no-holds barred, pugilistic, in-your-face approach to politics -- is a glimpse of what a muscular progressive attitude and approach to politics would look like. His indignation doesn't lead him to smug hand-wringing. When he's outraged by something, he actually gets outraged. When his opponents are being idiots, he doesn't aloofly dismiss them; he reacts as if they are idiots.

Take a minute to watch Weiner erupt last night on the House floor. It's pretty classic stuff.

Read more »

--David Kurtz

07.30.10 -- 8:55AM // RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (5)

Limbo-Economics: How Low Did It Go?

Revised government numbers out this morning show GDP growth was zero for 2008 and -2.6 percent for 2009, the worst drop since 1946.

--David Kurtz