And So I Go: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Today’s newsletter from “The Hill” has some interesting articles.   I find it most gratifying that even some Democrats are bucking Obama.  On the other hand we have the RINO’s from Maine and Mass.  who  just can’t wait to jump on the Obama band wagon!  BB

The Hill: Key Dem warns Obama on Afghanistan spending By Carlo Munoz The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee is warning the Obama administration that Congress could refuse to fund Afghan security forces after U.S. troops leave the country. The Hill: Trade bill raises fight over earmarks for GOP By Alexander Bolton Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) plans to move forward with controversial legislation suspending duties on imports despite concerns it violates the House’s self-imposed earmark moratorium. The Hill: Three Secret Service agents leave due to prostitution scandal By Amie Parnes Three secret service agents allegedly involved in the prostitution scandal in Colombia are leaving the law enforcement agency. The Hill: House clears highway bill with Keystone pipeline mandate, thwarts Obama By Ben Geman, Russell Berman and Keith Laing Defying a White House veto threat, the House on Wednesday passed legislation that extends transportation program funding through September and mandates construction of a controversial oil pipeline from Canada to the Gulf Coast. The Hill: ‘War’ of words returns post Giffords shooting By Mike Lillis Fifteen months after the shooting of Gabrielle Giffords led to calls for politicians to tone down their rhetoric, Republicans and Democrats are prominently using “war” in their respective campaign messages. The Hill: Altmire ads unfair, say Dem colleagues By Cameron Joseph Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.) has exasperated a number of senior House Democrats by running attack ads against his primary opponent, Rep. Mark Critz (D-Pa.), that they see as unfair distortions. The Hill: House GOP leaders rebuff White House push on cybersecurity By Brendan Sasso House Republican leaders are standing firm against intense pressure from the White House to embrace regulatory mandates for cybersecurity. (this is the Left’s bid to control the Internet and nothing less.  Beware of government getting control of the People’s Voice which is exactly what the Internet is.  BB) The Hill: Rep. West misses recent CBC meetings By Molly K. Hooper Members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) say the group’s only Republican lawmaker hasn’t attended a meeting in months. The Hill: Carmona earnings close to $1 million By Josh Lederman Former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona earned more than $900,000 over the past year from an array of organizations ranging from a health resort and medical schools to Coca-Cola and the company that makes Taser guns. The Hill: Obama warns GOP not to move spending bills that break debt deal By Erik Wasson The Obama administration on Wednesday stated for the first time that the president will not sign any 2013 spending bills until the House abandons the spending levels in Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget. (No problem here since the bills must pass the Senate before they go to the President and Harry Reid is holding up 30 bills in the Senate that have been passed by the House.  And the Dems/Obama claim the Republicans are balling up the works!  BB) The Hill: Opinion: Dems should pitch budget By A.B. Stoddard Shockwaves rippled through Washington this week when the Senate Budget Committee chairman announced he would propose an annual budget resolution and hold a committee vote on it. Gasp! Yet the split-second spasm of regular order soon gave way to paralysis when Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) decided that governing was indeed too difficult in an election year. The Hill: Q&A with Julia Louis-Dreyfus By Kris Kitto Julia Louis-Dreyfus has moved into the White House — but she’s not the top dog. The New York Times: In Ohio, hurdles for both candidates By Sabrina Tavernise and Jeff Zeleny More than half of the state’s electorate is white and working class, a group that President Obama and Mitt Romney have each had a hard time connecting with. Bloomberg: Comeback candidates key to Senate control By Laura Litvan Four of the most contested U.S. Senate races in 2012 feature a former officeholder who hasn’t been on the ballot for a dozen or more years. As majority control of the chamber might come down to a seat or two, the question of whether voters again embrace them — and which ones — may be decisive. Associated Press: Romney, Obama both claim Reagan legacy By Tom Raum President Barack Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney both like to channel Ronald Reagan. Pentagon chief: ‘We’re within an inch of war almost every day’ By Jeremy Herb Defense Secretary Leon Panetta offered a blunt assessment of the threats facing the United States on Wednesday, saying the potential for another war breaking out remains high in places like North Korea. Sen. Boxer encourages House to immediately appoint highway bill negotiators By Keith Laing Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) encouraged the House Wednesday afternoon to immediately appoint negotiators for a conference about a new federal highway bill with the Senate. GOP lawmaker: Dick Clark should be remembered as model of free enterprise By Pete Kasperowicz House Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier (R-Calif.) said Wednesday evening that famed TV producer and American Bandstand host Dick Clark, who died Wednesday at the age of 82, should also be remembered as an inspirational participant in the free-enterprise system. FCC asks Supreme Court to uphold fine for Super Bowl ‘wardrobe malfunction’ By Alicia M. Cohn The Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to review whether the FCC has the authority to fine CBS for broadcasting a split-second glimpse of singer Janet Jackson’s bare breast in 2004. GSA scandal exposes waste – of Congress’ time By Melanie Sloan, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) The revelation that the General Services Administration (GSA) spent $823,000 on a conference in Las Vegas exposed waste on a grand scale – the colossal waste of time by members of Congress rushing to investigate what’s already been investigated and punish those already punished. Gingrich: Saying Fox News more biased not ‘blaming the media’ By Justin Sink Newt Gingrich defended his comments critical of Fox News and insisted he wan’t “blaming the media” during his first interview with the network’s radio arm. NASA administrator: Final shuttle flight marks the ‘next era of exploration’ By Geneva Sands A day after the Space Shuttle Discovery shuttle captivated Washington, D.C., in its final flight, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator Charles Bolden said the event marked the “next era of exploration” for the agency. EPA finalizes first-ever air pollution rules for natural-gas ‘fracking’ By Andrew Restuccia The Environmental Protection Agency unveiled first-ever regulations Wednesday aimed at reducing toxic air pollution from the natural-gas drilling practice known as “fracking.”  (The most abundant, CLEAN and cheap fossil fuel is being targeted by the EPA.  I hope the next president dioes away with this monster agency that has done so much to take America down.  BB) North Carolina Dem joins Blue Dogs By Cameron Joseph Rep. Larry Kissell (D-N.C.) has joined the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of fiscally conservative, centrist House Democrats. House GOP advances measure rolling back Dodd-Frank provisions By Peter Schroeder House Republicans on Wednesday advanced legislation that would roll back portions of the Dodd-Frank financial reform law. Toomey to force vote on Ryan budget By Alexander Bolton Congressional Republicans are coalescing around a plan for reforming Medicare sponsored by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).