Cross posted from Rational Resistance: 

Ya gotta love this, right?

First off, here's the story about Senator David Vitter, a “pro-family” Republican from Louisiana who has just been scooped up in the “D.C. Madam” case.
Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) apologized last night after his telephone number appeared in the phone records of the woman dubbed the “D.C. Madam,” making him the first member of Congress to become ensnared in the high-profile case. . . .
On his Senate Web site, Vitter says he is committed to “advancing mainstream conservative principles” and notes that he and his wife are lectors at their hometown church. Lucky for him, he says both God and his wife have forgiven him, although I'm not quite sure how he knows.
While he was running for Senate he angrily denied a story that he had carried on a long-running relationship with a New Orleans madam, but now that story also appears to be true.
NEW ORLEANS — New allegations tie Sen. David Vitter to a high-priced brothel in his hometown, one day after he publicly apologized for his connection to an alleged prostitution ring in Washington, D.C.

On Monday, Vitter acknowledged being involved with the so-called D.C. Madam. A day later, new revelations linked him to a former madam in New Orleans and old allegations that he frequented a former prostitute resurfaced, further clouding his political future.

The irony of this case is not just that he has made a career out of being a committed family guy, but also that he got his start in Congress by replacing Bob Livingston, Newt Gingrich's successor as Speaker of the House, after Livingston got called on his own sexual pecadilloes.

Vitter was the first senator to endorse Giuliani, who famously met his third wife while cheating on his first wife with his second wife.

But that's not all. Today the Orlando Sentinel has a story that Bob Allen, a Republican State Representative from Florida, has been arrested for soliciting male prostitutes.
TITUSVILLE – State Rep. Bob Allen was arrested Wednesday afternoon at a local park after offering to perform a sex act on an undercover officer in exchange for $20, police said.

Allen, R-Merritt Island, was booked into the Brevard County jail in Sharpes on a charge of solicitation to commit prostitution, a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in the county jail and a $500 fine.

I don't know much about the guy, but I'd happily speculate based on his ability to get elected as a Republican in Florida. I did find a number of bills he has sponsored, including one to stiffen (oops–sorry!) laws against lewd and lascivious conduct; one to increase penalties for indecent exposure; and one to encourage family education regarding the dangers of sexual solicitation and abuse.

We can thank Larry Flynt for at least the Vitter story, and who knows how many more to come?
Flynt hunts for political sex scandal
The Associated Press

The publisher took credit for the demise of Rep. Bob Livingston, R-La., who admitted he had had extramarital affairs after word got out that Flynt was investigating him. Livingston announced his resignation in December 1998, days before he had been expected to become speaker of the House.

Today sucked. In many many many ways. And I'm mad all over the place. I'm mad at the Dems who voted to sustain the global warming veto. I'm mad at the Franklin County nominal Dems who have probably decided that global warming is a big hoax dreamed up by Al Gore and MoveOn.org, or somesuch nonsense. I'm mad at Essex Dems Tim Jerman and Debbie Evans who presumably want to stay buddy-buddy with the IBM crowd, rather than do the right thing.  I'm mad at Speaker Symington for not holding firm and changing the date given that she clearly needed every vote. I'm mad at my Rep, Warren Kitzmiller, for making vacation plans when it was clear there was going to be a veto session – same with Rep. Sue Minter. I wonder if doing the people's business that they were elected to do couldn't rate a bit higher on their priority list. I'm mad that the Dems didn't play hardball when they attempted to suspend the rules to pass a new bill without the funding source, by using a majority vote to amend the house rule on rule suspension, rather than use the established rules requiring a three-quarters vote (which, as NanuqFC pointed out, was a doomed strategy from the start).

But most of all, I'm mad at Governor Douglas, who vetoed two bills for which there was no rational reason to be in opposition to. Out of political spite and muscle flexing, and coming from a hard right ideology that he masks in populist double-talk.

I am happy about a couple things. I'm happy that Symington and Shumlin shut down any and all attempts to gut the bill. It was definitely time to draw a line, and it's nice to see that they can do that when they want to. I'm also glad that they stuck it to Douglas for the cameras, as the Governor was trying to wax environmental while basking in his victory (look for it on the news tonight).

But for today, I'm more mad than anything. We should think carefully about primary challenges to some of the folks who side more often with the Governor on important issues. And none is more of a pain in the ass than Rep. George Allard (“D”-St. Albans). While I personally allow for conservative Ds in a conservative district, there is a line. This guy – the only Dem to vote to uphold both vetoes, as well as the one during the session – has either got to go, or be forced to change his party affiliation. If he's the only Dem who can take the district, fine. Let's leave it to the Republicans – but I'd be willing to bet that an actual Democrat would have a better chance than people think.

Allard. Must. Go.

Nope, nothing about impeachment or the clowns known as the 'legislature' here.

It's safe to assume that all of our readers have at least a fleeting interest in politics, I mean, you're not coming here for recipies, right? And then there are others…they're like the Trekkies of politics, not just interested in the current events, but the actual history of politics. Well, my friends, I have something for you that I stumbled upon a few nights ago. The University of Virginia's Miller Center for Public Affairs has a great site here that is full of thousands of hours of recordings of presidential conversations, many secretly recorded… and it's not just Nixon:

Between 1940 and 1973, six American presidents from both political parties secretly recorded just under 5,000 hours of conversations. This site is designed as a service to the research community by making freely available all of the presidential recordings, along with relevant research materials, so that scholars, teachers, students, and the public can hear and use these remarkable tapes for themselves.

Lots of good stuff there, from the Nixon stuff to JFK discussing the pros and cons of withdrawing from Vietnam, even FDR speaking about African-Americans in the military. Yeah, I know, it's for the political diehards, but if you are one of those kinds, you can now have some junk food as well as get a great glimpse into little-known history. Enjoy. 

With mataliandy moving (again) into retirement for the moment, we're proud to bring Vermont blogosphere usual suspect Julie Waters onto the front page team! Julie, of course, garnered fame over at Reason and Brimstone last election season.

I, for one, will be careful how I cut and paste from here on out…

It's veto-override time, and the Dems have laid out an issue that places them in stark contrast with Jim Douglas. Despite his attempts to control the global warming debate, Douglas has let his snarky side shine through with dismissive and patronizing comments about the topic. Meanwhile the Democratic legislators have been out drawing contrasts on this, as well as on the other veto in play – the campaign finance bill. Check them out here and here for some examples.

Given the events of the week, it would seem to behoove us to consider the names being bandied about as potential replacements for Governor Douglas – all of which would, presumably, take energy and climate issues more seriously. Despite the assumptions of many, most of the Democratic “A-listers” are in no hurry to challenge political juggernaut Douglas. There's no sign that politicos like Peter Shumlin, Gaye Symington, Deb Markowitz or Jeb Spaulding are making any moves. For who is, we consult the rumor mill (and if anyone has heard any other buzz, please chime in in the comments)…

(This would be something. – promoted by Brattlerouser)

cross posted at Evolving Peace 

Out along the Left  Coast an earthquake is about to emerge in the city by the bay. Now I don not wish for a real earthquake to happen in San Francisco; however Cindy Sheehan is about to make some seismic fault lines upon the weak Democratic machine of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Nancy Pelosi who self appointed her dictation to the rest of the Democratic Party and claimed that “impeachment is off the table,” is now about to see the power of democracy. While Cindy Sheehan is about to throw her hat in the ring and challenge the weak impotent Nancy Pelosi for her Congressional seat I encourage others across the land to follow suit. In Vermont, I nominate Dan Dewalt for that call.

While Speaker Pelosi has dictated her will upon her faithful flock of chicken hawk Democrats the Bush/Cheney administration continues to ignore the rule of law and the will of the people. Let us remind the Democrats that we elected them to reverse course in America and as we sit on the sidelines more die in Iraq, individuals are still spied upon and secretly tortured and the detriment to our earth is further exasperated. It is nice to hear words from Democrats that they do not support the war nor the President and now we even a few token Republicans give lip service as well; however the truth of the matter is that until we remove the chief architects of this deceit America’s reputation will be permanently tarnished.

Here in Vermont, Peter Welch continually says his number one priority is to end the war, and says that impeachment would be a distraction from its resolve. I refute his claim and state that it is not his prerogative to follow Nancy Pelosi’s agenda but to follow the grassroots call of impeachment. For that reason, even though I tediously worked on his campaign and wrote numerous letters on behalf of his candidacy I am publicly declaring that I will not vote for Peter Welch unless he signs on to articles of impeachment. Likewise, since Peter appears not to listen to voice of the people I am recommending that we as a people vote for someone who truly understands Democracy and that is why I am recommending Dan Dewalt for Congress. A man who understands what freedom and democracy stands for.

Come on and take the Pledge.

I state your name so solemnly swear never to vote for a political candidate who 1. Refuses to uphold the Constitution and continues to allow and imperial President and Vice-President to do as they feel fit with our country or 2. Has supported the war directly or indirectly or. 3. Has supported other candidates who have voted for this war (including Obama, Clinton, and Edwards).

And therefore, I solemnly swear to only vote for candidates who have supported Articles of Impeachment for President Bush and Vice-President Cheney and those who clearly voted to defund the war immediately and have never once supported any measures of this illegal and immoral war.

Those who are failing to call for removal of the war’s architects are just as responsible as those who have orchestrated it. If you live in San  Francisco say no to Nancy Pelosi and anywhere else in the country stand up and refuse to support the candidates of war and obstruction. Democracy calls for impeachment…

Peace

Robb Kidd

“Let's impeach the President for lyin'
And misleading our country into war
Abusing all the power that we gave him
And shipping all our money out the door
Who's the man who hired all the criminals?
The White House shadows who hide behind closed doors
They bend the facts to fit with their new story
Of why we had to send our men to war”- Neil Young..

I had to post this story, even though it means we have two non-political stories in a row here.

 It's from NPR this morning. If you play guitar, you know Mel Bay.

In case you haven't yet heard, Springfield Vermont has won the battle of the Springfields for the privilege of hosting the premiere of the Simpsons movie, due in theaters soon. Jim Douglas has already made a pithy comment on the matter, and other politicians will undoubtedly follow. No doubt local celebrities galore will attend. Ten to one the event will even turn out our US Congressional delegation, pictured below.

See ya at the movies (h/t to Bill).

Meet Lousiana Republican David Vitter.



Sometimes its fun when Republicans do the work for us.

Despite the gloomy predictions, Democratic Legislative leaders are going into this veto override session swinging. Tomorrow at 9:30 at the statehouse, leadership will be hosting Ned Raynolds, Northeast Climate Policy Coordinator for the Union of Concerned Scientists who, according to Senator Shumlin's office, will “share new scientific findings from the Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment Report (which is being released regionally on the 11th).  Mr. Raynolds remarks will focus on the consequences for different sectors of the Vermont economy under two global warming emissions scenarios.” The presentation will take place in the Cedar Creek Room, if you're interested.

With top McCain campaign advisors Terry Nelson and John Weaver (and now Deputy Campaign Manager Reed Galen and Political Director Rob Jesmer) joining the avalanche of staffers given the heave-ho of late, the former presumed frontrunner's operation is in freefall. No word on whether or not former Vermont GOP head Jim Barnett is among the casualties yet, but it's likely he won't last long regardless, given the fact that McCain has less money on hand than even dark-horse Republican candidate Ron Paul. Ouch.

Think the neocons are on their way out? Not if Rudy Guiliani has anything to say about it. Neoconservative patriarch Norman Podhoretz has been tapped as a foreign policy advisor by Rudy's campaign. To get a flavor of the guy, here's his recent op-ed entitled The Case for Bombing Iran: I hope and pray that President Bush will do it. Swell.