Senate Blocks Drug Import Measure; Gregg Peddles More Death Talk

by: Mike Caulfield

Mon May 07, 2007 at 19:31:47 PM EDT

The Senate voted 49-40 to approve an amendment to a bill dealing with the Food and Drug Administration, which would require the secretary of the Health and Human Services Department to certify that drug imports would pose no safety risk to American consumers before allowing pharmacies to import prescription drugs from Canada and other countries. Health officials have said they can't provide that level of assurance.

This poison pill amendment that killed it was called the Cochran Amendment To protect the health and safety of the public. A bit Orwellian, don't you think?

Our Senators both voted for the amendment, which is effectively a vote against importation.

Gregg, tired of selling irrational fear only under a foreign policy banner, decided to bring his death talk back home:

Opponents, including Enzi and Judd Gregg, R-N.H., countered that importing drugs posed a safety risk. Under Dorgan's amendment, "a lot of people are going to get hurt, and some are going to die," Gregg said.

...

Gregg denied that he was "a tool of the drug industry," noting that he voted against the prescription-drug program for seniors last year that the industry furiously lobbied to get passed.

There's like 80 jokes I could make on that, but I think my Gregg humor center has just burned out.

Anyway, here's the Senate Roll Call. You'll notice that many of the Democratic candidates weren't present for the vote. That may be because with 49 Senators against and 40 for the bill didn't have a chance. All the same, if you see Obama, Biden, Brownback, Dodd, or McCain, ask them why they didn't show.

Oh, and if you see Senator Clinton, the sole Democratic Presidential candidate in the Senate that seems to have shown up for the vote, thank her, and give her the credit she deserves.

Clinton Has 16 Point Lead In New Hampshire

by: rob

Mon May 07, 2007 at 12:27:22 PM EDT

http://bluesunbelt.c...

Hillary Clinton  40
Barack Obama  24
John Edwards  22
Other  10
Undecided  4

http://wbztv.com/top...
http://www.surveyusa...

2,000 state of New Hampshire adults were interviewed by SurveyUSA 05/04/07 through 05/06/07. All interviews were conducted after the 04/26/07 Democratic SC debate and the 05/03/07 Republican CA debate.

On the GOP side Gov. Mitt Romney now has a 9 point lead.

Mitt Romney gathered 32%, followed by Rudy Guiliani at 23% and John McCain with 22%. Fred Thompson finished fourth with 11%.

The margin of error for both polls is +/- 4%.

NH GOP Wears Rose-colored Glasses, Sees Victory in '08

by: Mike Caulfield

Sun May 06, 2007 at 21:40:46 PM EDT

Many Republicans point to the new Democratic-controlled Legislature in justifying their bullish outlook. They say much of the legislation championed by Democrats is at odds with popular opinion and will make it easy to portray them as out of touch and extremist.

...

In recent interviews with more than a dozen Republicans, several early strategies from the 2008 GOP playbook emerged. Republicans plan to highlight a handful of Democratic-sponsored bills that they say erode New Hampshire's tradition of small-government and conservatism: the establishment of same-sex civil unions, mandatory seat belt use for adults, a smoking ban in bars and restaurants, and requiring boat lifejackets for children, among others. None of those bills has yet become law, but that hasn't stopped Republicans from blaming the Democrats.

I'll admit, I'm ambivalent about the smoking ban, and I don't like the seat belt law.

But that's going to work the base into a froth? Really?

Or could it be that all those other issues are just window-dressing for a GOP gearing up for "gay men are scary" campaign?

Remember to thank our Democratic politicians for thier bravery on this issue. We wil win next time, but it won't be easy. We know that, and it was worth it.

HE'S BAAAAAACK!!!! Mike Gravel to return in next televised debate!

by: NH Ex-pat

Wed May 02, 2007 at 22:15:59 PM EDT

Former U.S. Senator and presidental candidate Mike Gravel has now been invited to participate in the next televised debate.

Caught the announcement on Buzzflash today and the orginal link is here.

I'm glad he's coming back. I like his take no prisoners style and as a former Senator, he's got some qualifications to be up there with the others.

Lots more to say about Gravel but in the meantime, I'm looking forward to a great sequel.

The synergy between blogs and traditional media

by: elwood

Mon Dec 11, 2006 at 20:11:54 PM EST

Like many -- I think most -- of the folks I've interacted with in the political blogosphere, I'm addicted to traditional media as well. I buy a Keene Sentinel and a Boston Globe every day. Thanks to this site, I now also check the Union Leader most days, giving them eyeballs and ad revenue. (more)