I Love Paul Hodes

One reason I didn't post right away (4.00 / 4)

was because I was searching around for other Dem Senate candidates and their HCR positions.

I'm a little surprised others would run away from it; in any event, good for Rep. Hodes for being out in front on HCR.

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by: Dean Barker @ Sun Dec 27, 2009 at 16:31:50 PM CST

This is a good example of why it was incorrect to conclude that PH was running to the center based on one vote on the use of left over TARP funds. (4.00 / 2)

The fact of the matter is that Paul Hodes votes consistently votes on what he thinks is the best policy for the state and the country-- sometimes that will make us happy, and sometimes we will scratch our collective heads, but there is little reason to doubt that he does not trim his sails to the prevailing winds.  

"But, in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope." Si se puede. Yes we can.  

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by: Paul Twomey @ Sun Dec 27, 2009 at 18:48:09 PM CST

There are others. (4.00 / 3)

For example: The opposition to a surtax on the wealthy to help pay for the House version of HRC.

And common cause with Darrell Issa for an investigation of Countrywide VIP loan flap, even though Dodd had already been cleared by Senate ethics committee.

But I agree with you that we will not always agree with every press release or vote cast by every Dem we support.

Paul will be a welcome sea change over the reign of Judd.

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by: Dean Barker @ Sun Dec 27, 2009 at 19:38:21 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Add the vote for an ethics investigation on the Murtha/PMA scandal where initially he was one of only 17 Democrats to support the motion by Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.. (4.00 / 1)

While I initially disagreed with him on the surtax on the wealthy, I've come to believe that he, the Senate, and the White House are correct when they urged funding by a tax on the "Cadillac" health plans in order to drive down health care costs by reducing  support for procedures that don't make people healthier. While this doesn't make either some unions or some CEO's happy, it is a necessary step if we are going to stop runaway health costs.

So for once, I guess I am willing to forgo soaking the rich (ie asking them to pay a small percentage of their fair share).  

"But, in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope." Si se puede. Yes we can.  

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by: Paul Twomey @ Sun Dec 27, 2009 at 19:46:39 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Oh, come on Paul. (4.00 / 1)

Are you claiming that "the Left" was all about defending Murtha?

Let's leave it at, "This is a good example of how Hodes is plenty progressive enough to deserve our enthusiastic support," and not try for "your concerns are/were silly."

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by: elwood @ Sun Dec 27, 2009 at 19:52:09 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Going against leadership (4.00 / 1)

I thought Twomey was highlighting this:

Hodes Opposes Leadership: Pushes for Ethics Investigations of Fellow Democrats

Nothing more.

www.KusterforCongress.com  

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Sun Dec 27, 2009 at 20:54:04 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Ethics investigations are bogus. They create the impression (0.00 / 0)

that public officials are being held to a higher or different standard when, in fact, using their offices to advantage friends and business associates is a form of fraud.  I mention that because the issue of "honest services fraud" is about to be considered by the Supreme Court and this innovative strategy of dealing with public officials who abuse their offices may be thrown out and we many again be left with no criminal statute to address fraud that provides no immediate material benefit to the perpetrator.  There are several convictions at risk of being reversed, including that of Skilling (Enron) Ring (Abramoff) and Siegelman (Alabama Gov.)
Honest services fraud has been the conventional charge in check-kiting cases.  Applying it to high-flyers is an innovation.  Scalia seems to be concerned that it will put all sorts of public officials in jeopardy of politically motivated prosecutions.

http://www.latimes.com/news/na...

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by: hannah @ Mon Dec 28, 2009 at 05:51:41 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Didnt mean to imply anything about the left. (4.00 / 3)

I dont think of Murtha as being of the left so dont understand your point.

What I meant is that it takes integrity to go  up against the leadership of the majority party in ethics matters. It is simple and costless to vote for ethics investigations of people in the opposition party. There are very few of either party who consistently demand high standards for people of their own party, and Hodes is one of them.

And the reluctance to dig deep into the PMA scandal  (which in essence involves funneling large donations, some of which appear to be illegal, to members of Congress in return for defense appropriations in the hundreds of millions of dollars) apparently extends to both parties, according to CREW :

Republicans, who have tried to score points over the ethical questions surrounding House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.), are treading cautiously around the Murtha-PMA issue. Several GOP lawmakers - including Reps. C.W. Bill Young of Florida, Don Young of Alaska and Zach Wamp of Tennessee and Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Judd Gregg of New Hampshire - have received funds from PMA's employees, PAC, or Magliocchetti and his family members.

Former Sen. John Sununu (R-N.H.) and Rep. David Hobson (R-Ohio) also benefitted from Magliocchetti's largesse.

(N. B. the names of two NH Senators).

The problem is that there is an institutional bias in Congress against measures that threaten either the mothers milk of campaign contributions or one's own political allies.

My point was that Hodes is one of the few to hold members of his own party to high standards.

"But, in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope." Si se puede. Yes we can.  

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by: Paul Twomey @ Mon Dec 28, 2009 at 08:37:19 AM CST

[ Parent ]

at least he tries n/t (0.00 / 0)

I'm with Annie

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by: JonnyBBad @ Mon Dec 28, 2009 at 23:22:10 PM CST

[ Parent ]