Obama goes toe to toe with Republicans at health care summit

President Barack Obama's historic health care summit Thursday ended with Democrats realizing that if they are going to reform our nation's health care system they are going to have to do it alone - surprise, surprise!

In an impassioned last ditch effort plea to influence Republicans that health care is not a privilege but rather a right for all Americans, the nation's most powerful Democrats made the case for the most important issue not only facing the nation, but the party's political future.

During the live broadcast summit, it was clear early on that Republicans and Democrats had no real intention of trying to iron out a deal that would bring affordable health care to more than 40 million Americans currently living without it.While both sides conceded that they agreed on a majority of the measures in the Senate and House bills, neither would budge on a number of issues dividing the two parties on the the bill, including the Democratic bid to use the federal government to regulate health insurance, subsidize coverage for tens of millions of Americans and reshape the nation's health care system.

While both groups stuck to their talking points throughout the near eight hour summit, the vocabulary and depth of talking points on the Republican side made the group sound like a broken record as they continually attempted to convey their message to Democrats that Congress should just start over and pass measures "incrementally," instead of as one bill. Yes, you heard that correctly after a year of debate over heatlh care Congress should just start all over - makes a lot of sense especially considering both the House and Senate have already passed versions of a bill.

Democrats, however, argued that such an option would not work because the health care system is too big and everyone needed to be in one pool if the highly complicated system was going to work under the reforms. The late Sen. Ted Kennedy, who fought for health care reform up until the time of his death last year, wrote in his memoir, "True Compass," about how former President Jimmy Carter had wanted to pass health care in incremental steps, over time, instead of in one bill. In response to why this strategy would fail, Kennedy told Carter, "I don't think you can go to an elderly group and say, 'You're in...the second phase [of coverage], but if we pass the first [phase] and if hospitals keep their costs down and the economy doesn't go so much into a deficit, then you might be phased in."

Kennedy also made a point following the quote in which he said Carter had originally wanted a single payer, one bill system, but had decided to go against it because he felt, if successful, it would give Kennedy a platform to challenge him for the presidency. Kennedy explains though that Carter made a poor political calculation in this instance, because if they had passed comprehensive national health insurance together, Kennedy writes, it would have been a huge victory for Carter - making it harder for Kennedy to challenge him for the presidency, which he later did.

This leads us to a point that goes beyond a fundamental difference between how Republicans and Democrats view we should fix health care. And that point is that Republicans, no matter how much Democrats bend to their wishes, are not going to vote for health care reform, because they don't want to do anything that might help President Obama get reelected in 2012.

In the end, while the summit gives Democrats a specific instance too point to in terms of seeking bipartisan support for the bill, it sets the stage for Democrats to pursue a go-it-alone strategy that will include the House passing the Senate bill and the Senate making provisions to their bill through a budget procedure called reconciliation - which Republicans are already complaining about. Although, it should be noted that Republicans have enacted the procedure of reconciliation on a number of occasions in recent decades, most notably using it to pass the Bush tax cuts for the rich. But the Republicans challenge of the Democrats use of reconciliation should come as no surprise as the Republican motto has always been "do as I say, not as I do."

While the summit could be viewed as pure political theater, it does in fact signal that the end of the health care debate is in sight. While voters did not see lawmakers actually tackle a specific issue and come to an agreement, it did in many ways show that both parties have their own ideas, right or wrong, on how to ensure a better health care system for Americans. Either way, one thing is for sure, health care is going to be passed with or without Republican support, which should in the end be a huge win for Democrats and even a bigger win for the American people.

Scandal prompts Paterson to drop election bid

After facing more scrutiny and scandals than even Richard Nixon encountered during his presidency, New York Governor David Paterson has decided not to run for reelection after allegations surfaced earlier this week concerning his involvement in a violent domestic dispute between the governor's longtime adviser David Johnson and a woman, according to Democratic officials.

On Wednesday, the New York Times reported that Paterson had called the alleged victim prior to one of her key court appearances in the case. The unidentified woman also reportedly told investigators that State Police had been “calling me and harassing me to drop the charges.” Paterson's office has acknowledged he talked to the woman but says she placed the call. A spokeswoman for the governor also denied allegations that Paterson had tried to keep the woman from pursuing domestic violence charges against Johnson.

In regards to the incident, the woman reportedly told police Johnson “choked her, stripped her of much of her clothing, smashed her against a mirrored dresser and taken two telephones from her to prevent her from calling for help.”

Paterson formally announced his campaign just five days ago but had already faced mounting calls from Democrats to drop out of the race in the midst of controversy that had arisen from a previous New York Times article claiming that he had often been off duty and hard to contact during many of the most important moments of his governorship.

Paterson became governor in 2008, after former Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned in a high-priced prostitution scandal. Paterson's decision to step down will allow Attorney General Andrew Cuomo a shot at running for the governorship unopposed. Paterson currently holds an approval rating of 26 percent, which is the lowest point in the 27 years of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion poll that conducted the study.

Paterson is expected to announce his decision not to run for reelection later today.

CNN Poll: Americans place blame on Republicans and Dems for partisan divide

While Republicans continue to point fingers at the White House for not doing enough to involve them in the legislative process, a new opinion poll conducted by CNN/Opinion Research Corporation shows two-thirds of Americans think that the Republicans in Congress are not doing enough to cooperate with President Barack Obama.

The poll, which had its results released Wednesday, showed 67 percent of people questioned in the survey think that the GOP is not doing enough to cooperate with the White House - a number that is up six points since last April. However, President Obama and Democrats are not completely left without blame in the poll, as 52 percent of people think the president is not doing enough to cooperate with the GOP, while 47 percent say he is doing enough to reach across the isle. The poll also shows that most Americans believe the Democrats should be the first ones to reach across the political isle to strike a deal.

"That's a big change from last spring, when Obama was still in the honeymoon phase of his first term," CNN Polling Director Keating Holland told CNN. "Congressional Republicans were familiar to Americans, but Obama was new to them, so his early attempts to reach out to the GOP continued to resonate even after it became clear that bipartisanship was not within easy reach."

To learn more about the poll, visit Full results (pdf)

Brown and 4 other GOPers vote to pass jobs bill

The party of "no," became the party of "yes" on Monday, when five Republicans joined Senate Democrats to vote in favor of moving Sen. Harry Reid's $15 billion jobs bill forward.

Republicans had originally thought the 41st vote they picked up when Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) was elected, would allow them to filibuster every bill Democrats brought to the Senate floor. However, Brown along with four other Republicans - Sens. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Susan Collins (R-ME), Kit Bond (R-MO) and George Voinovich (R-OH) - broke stride with their party and helped Democrats overcome the dreaded GOP filibuster. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) was the only Democrat to break with his party.

The final vote tally was 62-30.

Any hope of passing the bill was almost lost when Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) was forced to leave the Senate after being diagnosed with stomach cancer. This forced Democrats to find two Republican votes in order to avoid the filibuster.

"Work with us on this," Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid said prior to the vote. "Show us you're serious about legislating."

After the vote, Reid added: "I hope this is the beginning of a new day here in the Senate."

Brown also addressed his decision to support the legislation following the vote: "I came to Washington to be an independent voice, to put politics aside, and to do everything in my power to help create jobs for Massachusetts families. This Senate jobs bill is not perfect. I wish the tax cuts were deeper and broader, but I voted for it because it contains measures that will help put people back to work."

The bill, which was scaled back from the original version, would renew the Build-America Bonds Act of 2009, extend tax breaks for small businesses, renew highway programs through December, exempt businesses from paying Social Security payroll taxes this year after hiring a new worker and put $20 billion in the highway trust fund.

The legislation could head to final vote later this week and is intended to merge with a broader, $150 billion version that has already passed the House.

While the vote is not a stunning surprise considering the five Republicans are all considered more-or-less to be middle of the road politically, it is good to finally know that at least a handful of Republicans can say more than just "no." Although, 37 Republicans did vote against a bill that will undoubtedly help create jobs for the millions of Americans currently out of work. Also, two of the Senators who voted in favor of moving the bill forward are set to retire this year. Either way, it is good to see the American government, most notably the Senate, working for the people again.

Check out an outline of both the Senate and House bills below.

SENATE JOBS BILL

• A $13 billion hiring incentive, by offering an employer exemption from Social Security payroll taxes for every unemployed worker hired in 2010.
• More "Build America" bonds for projects such as local schools.
• A one-year highway bill extension.
• Speedy tax write-offs for small-business expenses.

HOUSE JOBS BILL

• Infrastructure spending of $48.3 billion for roads, bridges, modernized public buildings, and clean water.
• Aid to local governments totaling $26.7 billion.
• Help for the unemployed and for working families, at a cost of $79 billion.
• Other provisions including a highway-bill extension.

President Obama unveils new health care bill

After focusing his attention on passing health care reform for nearly a year, President Obama has finally taken the bull by the horns and revealed his own health care plan.

The trillion dollar plan presented by Obama on Monday, is aimed at bridging the bills previously passed by the Senate and House last year. It intends to extend coverage to 31 million Americans currently living without health care, not to mention it will expand Medicare prescription drug coverage, increase federal subsidies to help people buy insurance and give the federal government new authority to block excessive rate hikes by health insurance companies.

Sadley, the bill does not include a public option, which many Democrats have proposed passing through reconciliation in recent weeks. But it does eliminate an unpopular provision in the Senate bill that exempted Nebraska from paying increased Medicaid expenses, in return for Sen. Ben Nelson's vote.

Administration officials expect the plan to cut the deficit by $100 billion over the next 10 years. The total cost of the bill is estimated at $950 billion over the next decade.

The release of Obama's bill sets the stage for the upcoming heatlh care summit with top Republicans on Thursday. Obama hopes the bill will force Republicans to come up with their own plan, instead of just bitching about plans proposed by Democrats. 

To learn more about President Obama's plan, visit www.whitehouse.gov/health-care-meeting

What will the president's proposal mean for you?

Q: Will my premiums / costs go up because of health reform?

A: No.

• According to the independent and non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, people who get coverage through their employer today will likely see lower premiums.
• Reform will lower premiums by reducing administrative costs, increasing competition between insurance companies and creating a larger pool of insured Americans.
• And remember, the cost of doing nothing is high. In ten years, health care spending for each employee at an average big company will be $28,530.

Q: Will I be required to provide coverage that I can’t afford?

A: No.

• The President’s proposal  does not require that small businesses provide coverage to their employees. Instead, the President’s proposal  provides tens of billions of dollars in new tax-credits to small businesses to make it easier for them to provide coverage if they choose to do so.
• Today, small businesses pay up to 18 percent more than large firms for the same health insurance policy.  The independent and non-partisan Congressional Budget Office found that with health insurance reform, premiums for small businesses will go down. 
• In addition, you will be protected from sudden, arbitrary rate hikes because a worker get sick;  because insurance companies will no longer be permitted to base the cost of coverage on health status.

Q: I have Medicare, will my benefits be cut?

A: No. 

• Your guaranteed Medicare benefits will not be cut. 
• In addition, you will have benefits you don’t have today:  Preventive services like cancer screenings at no cost, and a substantial reduction in prescription drug prices if you fall into that gap in coverage known as the “donut hole”.  Over time the bill closes this coverage gap completely.  And the Medicare Trust Fund will be extended for more than nine years, making sure that the Medicare program will be there for seniors now and in years to come.

Q: I don't have insurance, can I afford coverage?

A: Clearly, the system we have today is broken. If you don’t have health coverage, there’s no limit on how much insurance companies can charge you, and they can decide to refuse to sell you a policy at their whim. Health insurance reform will change all of that.

• For the first time in history, there will be limits on how much anyone will have to pay to receive health care coverage. And depending upon your income, you may be among the tens of millions of Americans who will get a tax credit to to help pay for your coverage. 
• And for the first time in history, insurance companies will no longer be allowed to simply tell you “no”. They will be required to offer coverage regardless of your health status, and they cannot jack up rates or drop you from your coverage when you get sick.

Q: I buy insurance, will I pay more than I am paying today?

A: No. 

• You will likely pay less---perhaps much less.  If you buy coverage like you have today on your own, premiums are expected to drop by 14 to 20 percent. If you get coverage through your job, premiums could decline by up to 3 percent.
• In addition, many Americans buying coverage in the individual market will qualify for tax credits that reduce their premiums by an average of nearly 60 percent – and they will get better coverage than what they have today.

Ron Paul wins conservative presidential straw poll

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), who garnered a small, but energetic grass roots movement of supporters from both sides of the isle during the previous presidential primaries, may have just taken a step closer to being the front runner for the 2012 nomination, after winning a landslide victory in the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday.

Paul, a libertarian and foe of government spending, captured 31 percent of the 2,400 votes cast in the annual contest, which is supposed to show how the GOP's conservative wing regards their potential presidential candidates. Mitt Romney finished second with 22 percent of the vote, Sarah Palin finished third with seven percent of the vote and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty finished fourth with six percent of the vote. Five percent of participants voted for "other" and six percent were undecided.

It has been reported that the announcement of Paul's victory drew loud boos from the right-wing audience, which represented their discontent with the field as a majority of participants said they wished the party had a better field of candidates to choose from.

Paul's victory, however, may have had a lot to do with young voters as 54 percent of the polls voters were between the ages of 18 and 24. Tea Partiers were also represented at the conference in strong numbers, and their resistance to mainstream Republican candidates may have also helped push Paul to victory.

Even with Paul's victory in the poll, it is unlikely that the libertarian hero would actually win the Republican nomination for president in 2012, especially considering his liberal stance against the war in Iraq, his rejection of a possible military confrontation with Iran and his noninterventionist view on foreign policy. However, his strong views on cutting spending and reducing the size of government could score him major points with Tea Party activists and Independents who lean farther to the right on social issues like gay marriage, abortion and health care. While liberals and Democrats don't want to lose the oval office in the next election, Paul would to some degree be a breath of fresh air in regards to a Republican candidate - who are usually so far to the right it is hard to find any common ground with the nominee.

In the end, the poll is just another reminder that Republicans have virtually no candidates to run in the 2012 election. A recent Gallup Poll shows President Obama slightly leading the Republican candidate in the 2012 election, 44 percent to 42 percent. However, this type of poll does not factor in how the nation will perceive the Republican candidate after all the vetting by the media and public has been completed, while it does consider these factors in Obama's case. For instance, if Ron Paul was to win the Republican nomination he would have to explain why he voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Paul has defended such a decision in  previous statements, but it would become a whole new animal if he won the nomination, not to mention he would have to deal with any embarrassing personal issues that could be lurking in his past, which is something no presidential candidate can avoid in today's politics.

Either way, if the Republicans intend to regain control of the oval office in the next election they will certainly have to find the kind of candidate that can not only energize their own base, but also the Independent base - which seems to be harder and harder for them as the nation moves more to the left on social issues that Republicans continue to resist.

Sen. Gillibrand and fellow Democrats renew fight for public option

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) is one of four U.S. Senators who earlier this week presented a letter to Senate majority leader, Harry Reid (D-NV), arguing for Democrats to use their majority to pass a public option through budget reconciliation.

In addition to Gillibrand, the other three Senators initially signing the letter were Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) - all virtual newcomers in the Senate. Since then, a number of other Senators have jumped on board, including Al Franken (D-MN), Pat Leahy (D-VT), John Kerry (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT).

The process of reconciliation only requires 51 votes for passage and is a process that can not be filibustered. George W. Bush and Republicans used reconciliation three separate times to pass tax cuts for the rich during the previous administration. Republicans also attempted to use reconciliation to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling but failed. President Clinton attempted to use reconciliation to pass his health care bill in 1993, but Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) argued that reconciliation was out-of-bounds for a process that is mainly about budgets. However, Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) has stated that reconciliation could be used to pass a public option.

Passing a public option through reconciliation should have been an option from the beginning, but Democrats have proven time and time again that they're not willing to use the process to get past the filibuster rule, which in many ways has stopped Congress from moving this country forward. However, Gillibrand's decision to support such a plan pushes her farther to the left, which should help her with liberal Democrats in the upcoming primary and election - in the past many Democrats have viewed her as too close to the center for a state with many left-leaning Democrats.

Gillibrand is expected to be challenged by Democrat Harold Ford Jr., a former congressman from Tennessee who now resides in New York, in an upcoming primary. Both have attacked each other on a number of issues in recent weeks, but with Gillibrand leaning farther to the left than the centrist Ford, she is looking more and more like the right pick for New York Democrats in the upcoming primary.

Obama hails stimulus one year after its signing

While many right-wing politicians and pundits have relentlessly attacked the $787 billion economic stimulus bill over the past year, President Obama defended it today as he marked the one-year anniversary of signing the the controversial piece of legislation.

Upon signing the bill known as the Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act last year, the legislation that the administration dubbed "the most sweeping economic recovery package in history", has added between 1.5 percent and 4 percent to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in each of the last three quarters of 2009, and is said to have created or saved $2.4 million jobs last year - although unemployment has increased from 8 percent to nearly 10 percent over that period. White House advisers say it is on track to create another 1.5 million jobs in 2010.

"One year later, it is largely thanks to the Recovery Act that a second depression is no longer a possibility," Obama told an audience of business owners and workers. "It is the main reason the economy has gone from shrinking by 6 percent to growing by about 6 percent."

Critics of the bill have argued that its cost was too great and hasn't been effective at creating jobs. However, most Independent economists agree that the stimulus package diverted the country from falling into another depression equal or greater to that of the Great Depression.

"You can argue rightly that we haven't made as much progress as we need to make when it comes to spurring job creation," Obama said. "That's part of the reason why I expect Congress to pass additional measures as quickly as possible that will help our small business owners create new jobs give them more of an incentive to hire."

The president also shot back at many of his political adversaries, saying that they enjoy chastising the bill every chance they get, but always show up at the ribbon cutting ceremonies to take credit for projects the stimulus package created

I think that if voters are going to hold anything against the president and his economic stimulus package it should be that it didn't go far enough in terms of spending, as many economists have already called for a second bail-out.

Whether the Tea Partiers, Republicans or Independents like it or not, sometimes you have to spend money to make money.

"A big part of the Recovery Act has been about investing in that future," Obama said. "Yes it created jobs now. Yes, it created business opportunities now. But more importantly, it's laying the foundation for where we need to go."

Another one bites the dust: Sen. Bayh will not seek reelection

Sen. Evan Bayh (D - IN) shocked Democrats across the nation on Monday when he announced his decision not to seek a third Senate term in Indiana this year.

In a press conference announcing his decision, Bayh, 54, contributed his decision to the bitter partisan divides that have arisen in Congress in recent years.

"My decision should not be interpreted for more than it is, a very difficult, deeply personal one," he said in a press conference announcing his decision. "I am an executive at heart. I value my independence. I am not motivated by strident partisanship or ideology."

Bayh, a centrist Democrat, first won the Senate seat in 1998. Despite the current economic climate for Democrats and incumbents, Bayh said his decision to retire had nothing to do with his ability to get reelected as he believed he would have won reelection this November. He noted that it was time for him to "contribute" in different ways, either by creating jobs, heading a charitable organization or teaching at the college level.

"After all these years, my passion for service to our fellow citizens is undiminished, but my desire to do so by serving in Congress has waned," Bayh said

Obama thanked Bayh for his years of public service following his announcement not to seek reelection.

"During that time, he has fought tirelessly for Indiana's working families, reaching across the aisle on issues ranging from job creation and economic growth to fiscal responsibility and national security," Obama said in a written statement. "I look forward to continuing to work with him on these critical challenges throughout the rest of the year."

Bayh is the third Democratic Senator to announce his retirement this year, making it even more difficult for Democrats to hang on to their 59 vote majority in the Senate. At the time of his retirement, Bayh had raised $13 million for his campaign and held a healthy 20 point lead over former Republican Sen. Dan Coats.

Six Republican Senators have also announced they will not seek reelection this year, proving that it is more of an incumbent problem than necessarily a Democrat problem in this year's mid-term elections.

Democrats will now have to scramble to find a replacement candidate for Bayh's seat, as Friday is the filling deadline for the May primary.

Bayh served two terms as Indiana's governor before winning his Senate seat in 1998. He was considered a rising star in the Democratic party over recent years and even had his name floated as a possible vice presidential candidate in Sen. John Kerry's 2004 presidential run and is believed to have made Obama's short list for his 2008 candidacy.

Obama adviser: Cheney doesn't know DICK about national security

So Dick Cheney doesn't know his ass from his elbow when it comes to national security. Not that I couldn't have told you that, but earlier today it was suggested by one of Obama's top national security advisers in an interview with Candy Crowley on CNN's State of the Union.

When asked about Cheney's criticism of the way the Obama administration has fought terrorism, national security adviser James Jones replied, “Well, you know, if it’s informed, then that’s one thing," adding, "“It’s important that people understand that we have a sitting vice president [Joe Biden] who’s very much involved in the day-to-day operations of our national security. He’s a member of the national security council. He has access to all of the information.”

When asked if Jones, a retired Marine, considered Cheney to be informed on terrorism he replied, “I don’t know what his information is. I just would ask people to consider the fact that these are very serious issues for our country and that when you take them on, you take them on in a respectful way. We consult and share with both sides equally of the political spectrum and we’ll continue to do that. In the national security council, we can’t do it any other way."

Cheney has levied countless attacks aimed at the president and his terrorism policies over the past year. In March of last year, Cheney appeared on CNN's State of the Union and said a number of Obama's policies were making the country less safe - you know, things like refusing to torture terrorist suspects (I hate it when a president obeys the constitution).

While Cheney continues to try to frighten the American people with his scare tactics and delusions of mass terrorist attacks, many Republican critics, like Pat Buchanan, the Karl Rove of the Nixon administration, have stated that Obama has been tougher on terrorism than Bush ever was. In fact, Obama continued many of the Bush administration's terrorist policies (i.e. War in Afghanistan and bombing along Pakistan border) and has killed more al Qaeda operatives in his first year in office than the Bush Administration killed during their whole second term. Obama has not only continued the War in Afghanistan, but he has escalated it to a greater point than even Bush had at the beginning of the invasion.

And in terms of Obama's decision to try terrorists in civilian courts instead of military tribunals, it is proven that civilian courts have a higher conviction rate than military tribunals in terrorist trials, boasting an 88 percent conviction rate on 828 terrorist trials, compared to a 15 percent conviction rate on 20 terrorist trials conducted in military tribunals - with two of the five convicted terrorists later being released.

The fact is that if we are going to stand up to terrorists and show them that our way is good and theirs is evil, then we are going to have to stop letting these bastards, terrorists and right-wing pundits alike, scare us into believing that trying terrorists in our courts will be unsuccessful and make us more vulnerable to an attack. Because if you haven't already realized that terrorists want to kill us and destroy our way of life, than I don't know where you have been living for the past decade.

And you can thank Cheney for the attacks of 9/11 and a complete disregard for the constitution following those attacks, not President Obama.

Patrick Kennedy, son of Ted Kennedy, won't seek reelection

Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), the youngest son of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, will not seek reelection in the mid-term elections this fall, according to the Associated Press.

Kennedy, 42, will officially make the announcement via a television commercial in Road Island Sunday night. His decision to step down comes less than a year after his father's death. It will leave Congress without a Kennedy for the first time since John F. Kennedy was elected to the House of Representatives in 1946.

"My father instilled in me a deep commitment to public service," Kennedy said in the commercial. "Now having spent two decades in politics, my life has taken a new direction and I will not be a candidate for reelection this year."

Kennedy ran for office when he was just 21 and won a seat on the Road Island legislator. He would later be elected to Congress in 1995 and has represented Road Island ever since. Throughout his 15 years in Congress, Kennedy has enjoyed some key legislative victories on such issues as mental health - winning a key victory alongside his father that forces insurance companies to treat mental health disorders the same as they would physical ailments in terms of coverage and care.

"Illness took the life of my most cherished mentor and confidante, my ultimate source of spirit and strength," he said. "From the countless lives he lifted, to the American promise he helped shape, my father taught me that politics at its very core was about serving others."

While Kennedy has been easily re-elected twice in a predominantly Democratic district since assuming office, he has also battled many personal demons over the years, including his fight with depression and substance abuse. In 2006, he placed himself in rehab for prescription drugs after he crashed his car into a barrier in Washington D.C.

In the video, Kennedy thanks Road Island voters for their continued support and says he is committed to public service, although he provides no information in what capacity he will serve next. Democrats are expected to hold onto the seat.

"When I made missteps or suffered setbacks, you responded not with contempt, but compassion,'' he said. "Thank you for all the times you lifted me up, pushed me forward.''

Gov. Paterson: the only way I am leaving office is in a box

It looks as though New York State has another governor who can't keep his hands to himself. Media outlets are reporting that the New York Times is working on a story concerning Gov. David Paterson's alleged "womanizing". While his poll numbers continue to tank, Paterson said in a press conference Tuesday that the only way he is leaving office is in a "box".

"The only way I'm not gonna be governor next year is at the ballot box, and the only way that I'll be leaving office before is in a box," Paterson said in a press conference addressing the allegations.

Media outlets have reported that when the New York Times story hits it will be so "explosive" that Paterson will be forced to resign the office. Paterson and his wife both previously admitted to infidelity after Paterson took office amid allegations of former Gov. Eliot Spitzer's involvement in a high-priced prostitution scandal. The article is believed to provide an array of instances of the governor fondling women, including some aids inside the governor's mansion.

Paterson has called the rumors a "callous and sleazy" assault on his character and has promised that they won't stop him from serving out the remainder of his term and seeking reelection - Paterson currently trails Democratic opponent - state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo - in opinion polls and has raised only $3 million for his campaign compared to Cuomo's $16 million.

Paterson's approval ratings have hit new lows as of late, including one poll showing him at 26 percent last week. President Obama has also asked him not to seek a second term in office.

I think it is time for the governor to step aside and let someone with a little more self-control assume office.

Talk to the hand: Palin blasts Obama's use of teleprompter, then reads crib notes off her hand

So did you ever hear the one about the inspirational president using a teleprompter to give his soaring speeches?

Well if you thought that one was funny, you will love the one about the dumb-ass ex-Governor who reads crib notes off her hand.

During a speech at the Tea Parties first national convention, former Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin slammed President Obama for using a Teleprompter and then had the stupidity to turn around and use her "handprompter" to answer softball questions from Tea Partiers.

You seriously could not make this shit up!

I can see it now: It's 2015, Sarah Palin's president and the United States is about to enter into another nuclear standoff with Russia. President Palin and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin meet to negotiate just like President John F. Kennedy and Russian Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev once did during the Cuban Missile Crisis. But have no fear, President Palin has it all under control as she calmly checks her crib notes on her hand like an eighth grader in Earth Science class - reading nuclear and cease fire - without the Prime Minister noticing it and negotiates a truce between the two super powers.

The world rejoices, and Palin can once again see Russia from her house.

Obama's poll numbers rise

Since entering office with record poll numbers, President Barack Obama's approval rating has consistently dropped to levels below 50 percent. But following last week's State of the Union address and his question-and-answer session with Republicans, his numbers are starting to show an uptick as he enters his second year in office.

A recent Gallup daily tracking poll shows 50 percent of Americans approve of the job Obama is doing as president, while 44 percent disapprove. A Rasmussen daily tracking poll shows the president's approval rating is up four points from 45 percent of Americans approving of the job he is doing to 49 percent since Jan. 22. The number of Americans who disapprove of his job performance has also dropped five percentage points, leaving his disapproval rating at 50 percent.

It appears the president's recent performances have helped curve his poll numbers for the time being. While it has been a terrible month for the promising young president, his last week has certainly been the jump he has needed. He also appears to be retooling his message, which will either make or break the president in the polls in the coming weeks and months. Now the president just needs to get a legislative win.