Democrats Blame Money on Losses - Really?

To hear top Democrats tell it, the party is being wildly outgunned this year in the fight for campaign cash as Republicans rely on outside groups to funnel money to GOP contenders.

But the numbers tell a different story.

It’s true that conservative third-party groups are outspending their Democratic rivals. But the Democrats still have a sizable cash advantage in their party committees – making this year’s elections a lot more of a fair fight than Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi let on.

So far, the latest figures show that the Democratic Party machinery has outraised its Republican counterpart in this campaign cycle by almost $270 million.

And even when outside spending on television advertising and direct mail is added to the mix, Republicans still haven’t closed the gap.

The money race totals come to $856 million for the Democratic committees and their aligned outside groups, compared to $677 for their Republican adversaries, based on figures compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics. - Politico Story

Pelosi's Private Jet - We Pay for it

No, Nancy Pelosi doesn't routinely fly around in an Air Force One-sized jet.

Yes, she extends the Speaker Shuttle perk to her family and colleagues.

The next speaker will control the House of Representatives, and with it one of the biggest perks in politics: free flights on luxury jets that are the military versions of a Gulfstream V. Well, they're free to the speaker, but paid for by your tax dollars.

How much? House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office says it doesn't receive "comprehensive cost estimates." Military documents indicate a one-way flight for the current speaker (between Washington D.C. and California) costs, on average, $28,210.

Figuring out the details about the so-called "Speaker Shuttle" service and how it's been used isn't easy. The information is undeniably public in nature, but it's not readily-available. Our attempts to contact the office of former House Speaker Dennis Hastert went unanswered. Pelosi's office provided some information, but a spokesman told us the office simply don't keep track of what types of planes Pelosi flies where and who's aboard.

The military does track all of that, but getting the answers requires filing a Freedom of Information (FOIA) request. It can take months for a FOIA response to be answered, and then the material provided is jumbled chronologically and often incomplete. - CBS News Story

Obama - "punishing our enemies"

Laura Ingraham said Obama’s comments about "punishing our enemies" was not something the man occupying the Oval Office should say and called it un-presidential on "GMA" this morning.

“He is the president, George. He is the president of all the people,” she told me.

President Obama told Univision recently,“If Latinos sit out the election instead of saying, 'We're going to punish our enemies and we're going to reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us,' if they don't see that kind of upsurge in voting in this election, then I think it's going to be harder."

“I know that everyone is rough and tumble in this campaign. But he is still the president,” Ingraham said. “And the fact of the matter is there is a national revolt going on against many of the policies that he and Nancy Pelosi pushed through against the will of the people, number one health care reform. That is not an enemy of the country those are the people of the country.” - ABC News Story

Friday, October 22, 2010 - Shows - The Sean Hannity Show

Friday, October 22, 2010 - Shows - The Sean Hannity Show

Legal Questions Over Blumenthal's Campaign?

A source this morning forwards on an email this morning from inside Attorney General Dick Blumenthal's campaign for Senate, in which his aides discuss tarring Linda McMahon in cooperation with Planned Parenthood.

The email's subject line is: "Worst of WWE + women photos."

"Hey all--Grossman is looking for mysoginistic photos of women and WWE. Planned Parenthood wants to hit LM hard on it," press staffer Marcy Stech emailed seven other aides to the campaign and the State Democratic Party. "What do we got?"

"Grossman" is the Democratic consultant Andrew Grossman, and the email seems to raise the question of whether the campaign is coordinating with Planned Parenthood, an outside group.

Blumenthal spokesman Ty Matsdorf said there's no co-ordination, and that the request was simply for an image that would be circulated on Twitter or in a press release, but not in a paid ad campaign of any sort. - Politico Story

Democrats Take out $17 Million Credit for Election

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has taken out a $17 million line of credit for use in the final weeks of the campaign, signaling the party leadership’s commitment to having the money to counter an onslaught of millions of dollars in pro-Republican TV ads.

The new line of credit was disclosed in a DCCC report filed Thursday night with the Federal Election Commission. - Politico Story

I know that it is shocking that they can't keep on a budget even while trying to get elected.

British Government Cutting Deficit - Must Read for America

LONDON (AP) — Fighting record debt, the British government on Wednesday outlined the largest cuts to public spending since World War II — slashing benefits and thousands of public sector jobs with an austerity plan aimed at restoring the nation's finances.

After the country spent billions bailing out indebted banks, and suffered a squeeze on tax revenue and an increase in welfare bills, Treasury chief George Osborne staked the coalition government's future on tough economic remedies.

Osborne confirmed there would be 81 billion pounds ($128 billion) in spending cuts through 2015, which he claims are necessary along with some tax increases to wipe out a spending deficit of 109 billion pounds ($172 billion).

As many as 500,000 public sector jobs will be lost, about 18 billion pounds ($28.5 billion) axed from welfare payments and the pension age raised to 66 by 2020, earlier than previously planned.

Even Queen Elizabeth II will take a hit, asked to trim the budget the government provides for her palaces and staff by 14 percent.

"It is a hard road, but it leads to a better future," Osborne said, preparing the public for hardship as he seeks a balanced budget within four years.

Osborne stood on the floor of the House of Commons for more than an hour and ruthlessly dismantled program after program built during the Labour government's 13-year reign, saying Britain must "confront the bills from a decade of debt." - AP Story

Democrats Turn on Conway after Paul Attacks

Mortgage Loan Modification Unfair?

It was quite a riveting sight recently at Cal Expo in Sacramento, the latest stop for the "Save The Dream" tour put on by NACA -- Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America. Thousands of struggling homeowners waited in line overnight in hopes of holding on to the American dream, by making their monthly payments more affordable.

"If I get the loan re-modification today, it will give me the security, knowing that me, my husband, and my five kids will have a home," said Shari Lewis, who bought her Elk Grove, Calif., home in 2001, only to find herself drowning in debt nine years later. But on this day, her luck changed.

After meeting with lenders, Shari was able to significantly lower her mortgage payments, and keep her five-bedroom suburban home.

She credits NACA, a federally-funded nonprofit that's been holding huge marathon events to help homeowners facing foreclosure.

"People are able to come here, and in the same day, restructure their mortgages saving $500, sometimes over $1,000 a month," says NACA's charismatic leader, Bruce Marks.

We saw another homeowner, Althena Peet, actually embrace her lending counselor, tears streaming down her face. "My monthly payments were $1,888 per month, and its down now to $687.64. That's with 2 percent interest. I just can't believe it," Peet exclaimed. - FOX News Story

Stimulus Money only Helped Temporarily

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The federal stimulus program saved a senior center in Providence, R.I., from certain death last year.

But the salvation proved fleeting.

Now that the stimulus funds have run out, the Fox Point Senior Center may be forced to close its door this winter, leaving its 140 members with no place to go for a hot meal, socializing and exercise. As it is, there's only one staffer left to handle all the center's programs and seniors' needs.

"The stimulus was a Band-Aid to get us through the last year," said Melanie Borges, the center's director and sole employee. "But now we're back to scrambling."

Stimulus recipients across Rhode Island and the nation are struggling to survive now that the federal funding is running dry. States are already warning of even harsher spending cuts next July, when they have to balance their budgets without the extra help from Washington, D.C. - CNN