This after he voted to allow the filibuster against the background checks, and after I recently heard a political advertisement of his play on conservative talk radio stations bragging about the fact that he helped to block the Democratic budget proposal.
So does that mean he is not willing to go "full retard" and become a Republican, but that he IS willing to become an Independent in order to distance himself away from the party that put him into office? Or am I over analyzing this?
When I postulated earlier that our lone Senate Democrat might be about to switch sides I received some blow back from his State Director Susanne Fleek-Green telling me I was mistaken.
If I am indeed mistaken about Mark's political affiliations perhaps she, or somebody else, could explain exactly what IS meant by the heading above, his recent votes, and that fact he seems to be campaigning on how much he is NOT like the Democrats.
Because as a REAL Alaskan Democrat I would really like to know.
Update: For those wondering, Mark Begich will face NO challenge from any other Democrat in 2014:
Alaska Democrats have endorsed U.S. Sen. Mark Begich for re-election.
The endorsement is somewhat unusual in that the party typically doesn't announce its support for any one candidate in a primary.
Party spokesman Zack Fields says the party can endorse in limited circumstances. He says Alaska Democrats felt it important to get their support for Begich on the record early, given the flood of outside money that's expected in the race.
So there you have it. Even if Begich refers to himself as an Independent, he will still be the only Democrat-like candidate for Alaskans to choose from.
He might as well call himself a rogue and get it over with.
ReplyDeleteHe's trying to explain why he's not representing the interests of the democrats who voted for him.
Yeah, he's trying to pull a Lisa Murky and be all "independent" can't put a lable on me crap. Yeah, I'll lable you Marky - Blue Dog Dem since 2010 and now a Repub wanna be.
ReplyDelete2008! How soon we forget, eh? :)
DeleteErrr Gryphen...why don't you just go ahead and say it.....Mark Begich is a....
ReplyDeleteS E L L O U T!
Because I followed so many progressive AK blogs in '08, I donated to his Senate campaign even though I don't live in AK. I will never do so again -- not after his vote against background checks.
ReplyDeleteRepublican Leaders Refuse To Make Appointments To Key Obamacare Panel
ReplyDeleteThe top two Republicans in Congress informed President Obama on Thursday that they will refuse to fulfill their duty under the Affordable Care Act to recommend members of a new board with the power to contain Medicare spending.
It’s a dramatic power-play driven by the explosive partisan politics of Obamacare and with potentially important implications for federal health care policy.
In a letter to President Obama, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) noted their original opposition to Obamacare, reiterated their intent to repeal it entirely, and declared that they would not make any appointments to the Independent Payment Advisory Board.
The IPAB is a 15-member panel whose members must be confirmed by the Senate. The President selects three members himself and is required by law to seek three recommendations each from the top Democrat and Republican in each chamber. With Thursday’s letter, Boehner and McConnell refused to make any recommendations.
The IPAB will be stood up in 2014 by Obamacare and tasked with making cuts to Medicare provider payments (it may not touch benefits) if costs exceed economic growth plus an additional percentage point in any given year. Congress can override it by passing equally large cuts with a simple majority or waiving the cuts entirely with a three-fifths majority.
“Because the law will give IPAB’s 15 unelected, unaccountable individuals the ability to deny seniors access to innovative care, we respectfully decline to recommend appointments,” Boehner and McConnell wrote in the letter.
But there is a catch: if IPAB fails to do its work for any reason, the Health and Human Services secretary must order the cuts herself. So in a way, Boehner and McConnell are surrendering some of their power in order to appear as though they’re thwarting Obamacare — when in reality they’re merely turning over more control to the executive branch.
“Under the ACA, if the IPAB fails to make a recommendation as required under the IPAB provision, the Secretary may make a recommendation in its place,” said Tim Jost, a professor of health law at Washington and Lee University. “So if no IPAB is created, it is not fatal.”
IPAB is, however, capable of functioning without all of its members confirmed. But the letter reflects a continuation of broader GOP obstruction of Obamacare implementation. Senate Republicans have suggested that they may filibuster any IPAB nominee, period.
This approach makes it easier for a future Republican president to neuter IPAB by executive fiat. In the short term, it puts the Obama administration more directly in the political line of fire for any cuts that it does approve.
The other political incentive for Republicans to oppose IPAB is that spending Medicare dollars ...
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/05/boehner-mcconnell-letter-obama-ipab-obamacare.php?ref=fpa
I means he is a Maaaaaa-V-rick.
ReplyDeleteIt's better if he becomes and independent. At least then you can run a real democrat.
ReplyDeleteAre there any in Alaska?
DeleteNo. We don't allow non thinkers here
DeleteRep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) blasted progressive principles as "arrogant and condescending" Wednesday night in a speech outlining his vision on how to sell modern-day conservatism to voters.
ReplyDelete“Progressivism is well-intentioned but it is also — in my humble opinion — arrogant and condescending,” Ryan said at the American Enterprise Institute, according to a transcript. “Instead of helping people make their own decisions, it makes those decisions for them. It makes Washington the center of power and politicians the center of attention.”
Ryan laced his blistering critique with caveats, saying progressives were not evil, but merely misguided in pursuit of the shared goal of American exceptionalism. He also acknowledged the appeal of the liberal message and the success Democrats have had in peddling their vision to voters.
“This vision proved compelling,” Ryan said. “It drew thousands of people into government … they seized the moral high ground. They said they were the heirs of the Founders, when in reality, they were the replacements. They said they were for the people. And their opponents? They were for the rich. They were selfish.”
“Yet the Left keeps winning elections,” Ryan continued. “Why? Well, you can see the appeal. In uncertain times, people look for security. Progressives seem to have an answer … the progressive state offers a sense of security. But it’s a false sense of security because government can’t keep all its promises.”
Republicans have focused recently on crafting a more appealing political message, most notably in relation to minority voters. Some in the GOP have also acknowledged the need to soften the party’s economic message, arguing that it’s easier for President Obama and Democrats to sell a message about government benefits than it is for Republicans to sell a vision of personal responsibility.
“This vision is our response to progressivism,” Ryan said. “It’s not as easy to sell. But it is more complete and much more real. We have to show how it works.”
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) made a similar argument in a speech to the Ripon Society on Tuesday, arguing that Republicans had allowed themselves to be defined as the deficit-reduction and cost-cutting party.
Ryan on Wednesday said Republicans could stick to their message of fiscal conservatism, but needed to expand their cultural message.
“We have to stop spending money we don’t have,” he said.
“That’s our policy. But that’s not our purpose … We have failed to communicate this vision to those who have never heard of it. We’ve retreated to our cultural cul-de-sacs in an effort to protect our immediate surroundings. Meanwhile, our inner cities, our barrios, and our poor rural communities have languished. This is where our opportunity lies. This is where we must go. This is where we must demonstrate our full vision of freedom and community.”
“In short, we have to show the full scope of our vision,” he added. “We have to explain that conservatism is about more than the economy. It’s also about our culture. It’s about the kind of country we want to be. It’s about the kind of life we want to share.”
Ryan argued that the progressive view trades the “natural rights” of citizens for “government-granted rights,” which has weakened individual attachment to family and community while strengthening dependence on the government, he said.
“Yes, the federal government has a role to play, but it’s a supporting role, not the leading one. Its job is to give people the resources and the space to thrive.”
Ryan also expressed disdain for the partisan conflicts that have gripped Washington in recent years.
“We can’t treat politics like a game,” he said. “We aren’t competing for a trophy. We’re competing over the country’s future. We’re trying to determine what kind of people we will be. We have to recognize the stakes. We have to get serious.”
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/298743-ryan-progressivism-is-arrogant-and-condescending
Why would ANYONE quote Ryan - the man who has tried so hard to ruin America - the man who is partisan to the core - yet blames others - the man who knows NO economics yet tries to write a budget - the man who has lived on the government since he was young - yet attacks those who need government assistance.
DeleteWhat tripe to waste space on what you have written here.
O/T The Palin Plague or curse in reverse
ReplyDeleteSarah calls them losers, they finally make a profit...
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/05/09/tesla-finally-makes-money.html
After a decade of losses, the controversial maker of expensive electric cars actually makes a profit.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/321342187067543552
Sarah Palin calls Tesla a loser.
http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/ev-revolution-news/2013/may/9/tesla-stock-tsla-soars-revolution-speeds/
DeleteWASHINGTON, May 9, 2013 - Tesla’s stock (TSLA) closed up a whopping 24.4% to $69.4 per share today on tremendous volume of 28.5 million shares traded. It was a wild ride for the stock today. The company posted a Q1 profit yesterday, and the demand for the Model S is above earlier expectations.
Good company, good car, good for the environment: no wonder the stock is so hot.
As a former Alaskan, let me just say fuck Begich.
ReplyDeleteHe's become a True Alaskan (snark): Get in, get yours and then screw everyone else.
Primary the bastard and elect a Democrat.
As a non-resident but a friend of many Alaskans, I agree with you, Liz. Fuck that arrogant bastard. Same goes for Queen Asshat Sarah Palin, of course.
DeleteI can't believe that as a lifelong Democrat I am going to do this, but now that we know that Parnell isn't going to be the Republican candidate, I am going to vote Republican, even if it's Sullivan or Miller, just because I am so 100% disgusted with Begich. I know this is a stupid game to play, but it hasn't done us any good to have him in the Senate, no matter what his office staff tries to convince us of, and I simply will not put a mark in the oval for Mark. Can't do it. I dislike his politics more and more every day.
ReplyDeleteA lifelong Alaskan Democrat would never in a million years vote for Joe Miller. Go away, troll.
DeleteYou would actually vote for Joe Miller? That's more than stupid.
DeleteI'm 2:59 and I'm no troll. I would actually vote for anyone at this point other than Mark Begich, or better yet, just not vote for that office at all in the next election. A shame that you think anyone who doesn't toe whatever rigid line it is that you hold has to be a troll. As I see it, having Begich in office is no better than having any Republican. It's a lost seat. I'm not giving Mark the benefit of my support for all he has failed to do for Democrats in Alaska.
DeleteI'm an independent and while I'd never vote for Miller or Palin I'll vote for whatever Green Party candidate might be running. Mark won't get my vote.
DeleteGotta love how the dems, while preaching tolerance out of one side of the mouth are only open minded until they disagree with you. Then the words like "retard" and "troll" start flowing. Begich is a true democrat, and his self serving half assed service in AK simply proved it. The problem here is that you can't see past parties and candidates to the issues. This is about the will of the people, not some moronic liberal agenda to be pushed regardless of the people's vote. I swear if Obama told you that all true democrats should tithe half their pay checks to the Feds...oh, wait!
Deleteno
ReplyDeleteno
no Anonymous, you can't vote (R) are you kidding?!
Good god Alaskans, find some other Dem, it can't be that hard.
What say you Jesse? RUN! just f'n do it.
We all know how Begich got in - not because he is worthy of representing the people of Alaska - Begich represents Begich and anyone who will pay him to kiss their a_ _. He was a lousy mayor and he's a lousy senator. He may not have a democrat run against him in the primary, but he will have a republican run against him in the general election. And when he loses, it will be of his own accord. I hope the democrats of Alaska send him a message. WHERE IS NICK MOE - WE NEED HIM AGAIN???
DeleteAssuming a valid SC election (big ask) - Begich now knows how well a democrat does when they swing to the right to appease the RWNJs. He will lose in 2014
ReplyDelete