As the domestic auto industry falls into desperate straits, and the federal government decides whether to bail them out, we need to take a look at one of the root causes of this crisis.

John Dingell.

As the longtime chairman of the House committee on Energy and Commerce, Dingell has stymied real efforts to force the "Big 3" (GM, Ford, Chrysler) to learn from the disaster of the 70s. Meanwhile, those companies have repeatedly refused to look at what was right in front of their faces. As a result, they are in serious trouble.

I'm not fond of the idea of bailing out the very people who, through their short-sightedness and stupidity, have caused the problems their companies are facing. We should learn from the failures of the current $700 billion bailout. Any federal money spent to bail out the auto industry should come with serious strings:

First, a requirement that the auto industry invest in creating high-speed, electrified rail lines for both passenger and freight rail.

Democrats rubbed out another five republican Congressmen in the Northeast yesterday, including three in New York, one in New Jersey, and, in a historic victory, finally ending the tenure of New England's last remaining Member of the House, Chris Shays.

In NY-29, Eric Massa succeeded in his second attempt to knock off incumbent Shotgun Randy Kuhl. In NY-13, City Councilman Michael McMahon took Vito "More families, more values" Fossella's formerly safe seat with over 60% of the vote. In NY-25, Dan Maffei will replace retiring republican James Walsh.

So that's that. Republicans just stopped being a national party. Too bad for them.

The New York Times:

WASHINGTON — National Republican officials have decided to withhold financial support from all but two closely contested Congressional races in New York, as the party braces for the possibility that it could lose several more House seats in the state.

The decision to abandon much of the state came after internal party polls showed Republican candidates in at least three once-promising races falling behind their Democratic opponents, a party official briefed on the internal deliberations said. [...]

Two of the races effectively being written off in New York are in districts currently held by Republican incumbents who are retiring at the end of the year — the 25th Congressional District in the Syracuse region, now held by James T. Walsh; and the 13th District on Staten Island, where Vito J. Fossella is stepping down. Representative Fossella was found guilty in a Virginia court this month on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.

A third New York race the party has chosen not to finance is in the 20th District, a heavily Republican area that runs from the mid-Hudson Valley to Lake Placid. It is represented by Representative Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat who is completing her first term.

The NTCC seems to think, despite recent polling, that it still has some juice in NY-29 and NY-26.

According to The Albany Project, Kathy Konst will not run for Congress, but will instead run for State Senate.

The only question now is, how long will it take for her to change her website yet again?

UPDATE: The question is open; her site is back to its old tricks.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

DEMOCRACY FOR NEW YORK CITY BLASTS PASSAGE OF FISA BILL

Democracy for NYC is severely disappointed that the House of Representatives has
voted to pass a bill that is unnecessary at best, and a severe blow to freedom at
home and abroad. The House vote on H.R.6304, the “FISA Amendments Act of
2008,” indicates a denial of reality among both Democrats and Republicans, and a
repudiation of the foundation of the American way.

Under current law, the President may already authorize wiretaps before even asking
for a secret warrant. There is absolutely no chance that a potential terrorist
operation will go undetected because of a legal technicality. As such, the 1978 law
still upholds the American system of checks and balances while also allowing the
government agencies charged with protecting us to act quickly whenever they
believe that quick action is needed. The law as it exists today works very well,
which is why both left- and right-wing groups and publications have stated that we
don’t need to change it.

Unfortunately, too many people in the House of Representatives don’t understand

Huffington Post blogger Howie Klein in his other blog, "Down with Tyranny", says the DCCC is spreading false rumors that NY 13th Congressional District Democratic candidate Steve Harrison is dropping out of the primary against Councilman Michael McMahon. The winner faces Republican Frank Powers for the right to replace Vito Fossella. Against Fossella in 2006, Harrison received a higher percentage of the vote than any Democrat ever under the district's current configuration.

Here's Howie's blog. http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2008/06/in-case-youre-sick-of-hearin....

The country has this debate every time the economy falters, as it is doing now: Democrats vote to extend unemployment benefits, republicans reveal their inherent contempt for those less fortunate than themselves by voting against such an extension. Here's how your delegation voted yesterday on HR 5749. The bill passed with a solid majority, but not by enough to escape George Bush's veto pen.

Y: District 01 Bishop, Timothy H (D)
Y: District 02 Israel, Steve (D)
N: District 03 King, Pete (R)
Y: District 04 McCarthy, Carolyn (D)
Y: District 05 Ackerman, Gary (D)
Y: District 06 Meeks, Gregory W (D)
Y: District 07 Crowley, Joseph (D)
Y: District 08 Nadler, Jerrold (D)
Y: District 09 Weiner, Anthony D (D)
Y: District 10 Towns, Edolphus (D)
Y: District 11 Clarke, Yvette D (D)
Y: District 12 Velazquez, Nydia M (D)
N: District 13 Fossella, Vito (R)

Democratic Congressional candidate Steve Harrison (NY13th CD Staten Island, Southwest Brooklyn), who in 2006 received a higher percentage of the vote than any Democrat ever under the district’s current configuration, is challenging September 9th primary opponent Councilman Michael McMahon to five debates, 3 in Staten Island and two in Brooklyn. The primary winner faces the eventual Republican nominee in November to replace incumbent Vito Fossella, who is not seeking re-election because of his recent scandals.

Harrison wants to begin debating his opponent as soon as possible.

"I'm ready to go today" said Harrison, "Mike told the Staten Advance that he wants to discuss the issues. So let's discuss. I've been discussing Congressional issues for over two years. have a website, campaign team and money in the bank. It will be interesting to hear what Mike says about National issues and why he voted for congestion pricing and the largest property tax hike in history and why, as a Democrat, he's vying for the Conservative party endorsement."

Harrison soundly defeated Fossella, who ran on the Republican and Conservative lines ,all five times they debated in 2006.

The saga of government intrusion into the private lives of government workers continues. Congress is now taking up the issue of Homeland Security Presidential Directive #12, a directive intended to, quite reasonably, standardize ID cards in government facilities to include contractors and students.

I met Diane Benson, Congressional Candidate in Alaska, about a month ago and was very impressed. But only got to hear her speak as a candidate tonight. Again I was impressed. Diane is a genuine American who has worked hard all her life to get an education and to better the life of her son. Often she and her son have worked hard for our country and for their community. She has the confidence of someone who worked their way through school driving trucks while raising her son. She has the confidence of a woman who worked in the male dominated workers camp on the Alaskan pipeline. She has the confidence of someone who has had to work for everything, being given nothing easily. The contrast with the spoiled brat who inhabits the White House is about as striking as you can get.