Dog Days

So Much For Unity
A national progressive group is throwing its weight behind a primary challenger to Rep. Jane Harman (Calif.), the latest attempt by liberal activists to replace an incumbent Democrat they deem too centrist. (Washington Post, 5/24/10)

Now wait just a doggone minute here. We thought that it was the Republican Party that was being ‘ripped asunder’ by those radical Tea Partiers! What is going on with the ideologically unified Dem Party?

About Time
President Obama will deploy an additional 1,200 National Guard troops to the southern border and request $500 million in extra money for border security, according to an administration official. The decision comes as the White House is seeking Republican support for broad immigration reform this year. (Washington Post, 5/24/10)

RedStateVT would say that Obama is more likely looking to staunch the bleeding of his party by adopting some “get tough” Republican ideas.

Bringing Back the Bush-Cheney Playbook
The top American commander in the Middle East has ordered a broad expansion of clandestine military activity in an effort to disrupt militant groups or counter threats in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and other countries in the region, according to defense officials and military documents.

The secret directive, signed in September by Gen. David H. Petraeus, authorizes the sending of American Special Operations troops to both friendly and hostile nations in the Middle East, Central Asia and the Horn of Africa to gather intelligence and build ties with local forces. Officials said the order also permits reconnaissance that could pave the way for possible military strikes in Iran if tensions over its nuclear ambitions escalate.

While the Bush administration had approved some clandestine military activities far from designated war zones, the new order is intended to make such efforts more systematic and long term, officials said. (NYT 5/24/10)

Remember the endless outrage over the “secrecy” of the Bush-Cheney administration? Well, secrecy is back baby and RedStateVT is lovin’ it!

Mortgage Maestro Departs
As Senator Christopher J. Dodd completed what might be the capstone of his legislative career last week by shepherding a major banking overhaul through the Senate, the guest book in his office offered a glimpse of why he is not seeking re-election. It includes these recent greetings from visitors who stopped by to pay their disrespects:
“Good bye and good riddance to you,” wrote one guest on May 16. “I know it’s tough, but I expected better,” said another (April 15). “Thank you for being corrupt” (March 26). (NYT, 5/24/10)

What was it that Ronald Reagan used to say? The people usually get it right!

Charm Offensive Derailed
If President Barack Obama thought having a private lunch with Republican senators would ease partisan tensions in Congress, he grabbed the wrong recipe.The president walked into a remarkably contentious 80-minute session Tuesday in which GOP senators accused him of duplicity, audacity and unbending partisanship. Lawmakers said the testy exchange left legislative logjams intact, and one GOP leader said nothing is likely to change before the November elections. (AOLNews, 5/26/10)

After sticking it to Republicans on healthcare and in the face of declining prospects for Democrats, Obama now wants to engage the other side. Good for Repubs for not playing along.

And Then There’s This
Rep. Joe Sestak's allegation that the White House offered him a job to drop out of the Pennsylvania Senate primary race against Arlen Specter is a crime that could lead to the impeachment of President Obama, Rep. Darrell Issa said. (FoxNews.com, 5/26/10)

Let’s see if the Obama media dogs this story the same way they did…..say the Karl Rove- Valerie Plame story. So far, except for Fox it seems to be a non-event.