Riehl World View

Rep. Nye (D - VA 02): From Leans Dem, To Toss-Up

Change!

Rating Change: Nye’s Re-Election Race A Tossup

With Virginia car dealer Scott Rigell emerging as the clear favorite among Republican candidates, Democratic Rep. Glenn Nye ’s re-election bid increasingly bears the marks of a very competitive contest.

As Nye and his party shift to playing defense in a historically challenging midterm election year, CQ is shifting the rating of the 2nd district race to “Tossup” from “Leans Democratic.”

It's far too early to become overly optimistic. But for now, everything certainly is coming our way. 

A little feelin' good music from Santana.

Is Congress Poised To Kill AM Music Radio?

Just happened across this. It must be a progressive move. Conyers is among the backers. Also, in the last excerpted graph it points out that it will cost America jobs, as well as free music on the radio.

If I were to compare the current music industry to a movie, it would have to be something like “2012” (2009), “The Day After Tomorrow” (2004) or some other similar end-of-the-world flick. The industry always seems to be in some sort of upheaval as new technology emerges, the way people listen to music changes and traditional record labels move closer to becoming obsolete. The latest game changer is legislation that, if passed, could deal a devastating blow to radio stations.

House Resolution 848, the Performance Rights Act, would require terrestrial radio broadcasters to pay royalties to performers — including backup singers and musicians — for playing their songs. Currently, terrestrial stations only pay royalties to songwriters. Satellite radio, Internet radio and cable TV music channels, on the other hand, pay royalties to both performers and songwriters.

The musicFIRST Coalition, an alliance of organizations representing performers, recording artists, managers, industry representatives and other advocates, held a news conference on March 2 in Washington, D.C., to encourage Congress to move forward with the bill.

According to the Associated Press, the bill, which was introduced about a year ago and which has been approved by the House and Senate Judiciary committees, is sponsored by House Judiciary Committee chairman Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich. After the press conference, Conyers talked about the injustice of performers not receiving compensation for radio stations’ use of their work.

“They work and they don’t get paid,” Conyers told several news outlets. “That’s involuntary servitude. They don’t even get any choice of whether they want to work or not — they just take their work product.”

Many radio stations, however, claim that they would not be able to cope financially with the new costs. According to research conducted by the BIA/Kelsey firm, average radio station revenue decreased by 18 percent between 2008 and 2009. Although the bill would implement a flat annual fee instead of requiring payment of royalties for those stations with gross annual revenue under $1.25 million, many believe that the added fee would run local radio stations out of business and result in employee layoffs.

Don't Back Down

Moe Lane points to some of the many reasons why we shouldn't back down in the face of smears and mischaracterizations coming from a political machine now in control of an increasingly intrusive and completely irresponsible federal government. They're designed to marginalize and silence political opposition, which makes them un-American and almost evil. 

Resistance can be quiet, or it can be loud, but it should be strong and defiant, though always legal. What it doesn't have to be is futile. Resistance never is by definition. It only becomes that when one backs down. So, don't.

Dems Doubt Health-Bill: Why Obama's Roadshow Will Fail

For starters, Obama has not even been able to convince many members of his own party in DC that his health care bill is a good idea. Meanwhile, what's the narrative behind Obama's many forays out of the White House in the last year? You can't point to a single one that has generated any success. When he went to Nevada for Harry Reid recently, it didn't raise Reid's numbers a bit.

Obama's campaign for the WH was a non-stop PR event aided by a compliant press. Since taking office, Obama has managed to disappoint the American people time and again. Yet, he's given more speeches and been in the pulbic eye, sans press conferences, of course, more than any other chief executive in modern times. None of his many apperarances have done him any real good.

There's a saying in America, fool me once, shame on you, etc .... If America's response to Obama's new roadshow gets a standing ovation, it'll sound more like a Who concert, than a state of the union address: they Won't get fooled, again.

WASHINGTON — Some House Democrats wavering over whether to back a health-care overhaul questioned whether it would effectively curb the country's health costs, highlighting a difficult issue that the White House and congressional leaders must address in the final negotiations on the measure.

The issue is one of several that have been raised by Democrats over the bill, which President Barack Obama and Democratic leaders are pushing to pass by the end of March. Conservative Democrats have raised questions over the bill's language on abortion and tax increases, while liberals are unhappy with its failure to include a government plan that would compete with private insurers.

Trouble

Of course the LA River dog item I posted earlier reminded me of ASPCA commericals, which in turn reminded me of an insurance company commercial with a dog and a song. I had already looked up the song some time ago.

And so it goes when the snow falls and your mind wanders while taking it easy on a weekend break from political stuff after a long busy stretch, I guess.

Scott Brown's Wife In 1984 Video: Babe Alert!

Okay, the song ain't much. But I'm liking her in it. Nothing much for critics to use, imo. She's a looker, as they say.

People Taking Fox And Old Media Too Seriously

Just two examples of people taking things too far. No doubt Andy will accuse Sean Hannity of encouraging this attack on some people protesting labor conditions:

PORTLAND, Maine -- A 36-year-old Maine man facing assault charges after allegedly spraying fox urine on protesters and a police officer outside a Portland restaurant. Police said the man was arrested Sunday night after spraying a group outside The Front Room restaurant protesting what they call labor violations.

And a $210 fine for "rocking out" to John Denver when you're forty-two? That isn't justice. He should have gone to jail.

FOND DU LAC, Wis.  —  Police responding to a complaint of loud noise have cited a Fond du Lac man for "rocking out" to the music of John Denver.

A police who responded to the man's apartment last week could hear Denver's music through the door.

The officer pounded on the door but the man didn't answer. Finally the officer found out the man's name from a neighbor and called to him, bringing the man to the door.

When asked why he had the music so loud, the man said he was "rocking out."

This country's going to hell.

Thanksgiving

Be here before we know it.

Valour - IT: My Marine Hero

Okay, something of a blogospheric legend gets the nod from me today for my Marine hero in my Valour-IT post. More on Project Valour - IT here.

Corporal Joshua Belile for his infamous Haji Girl. Click the image below to contribute to this worthy cause. Haji Girl video below that. It's worth it on all counts.

Coma Coma Coma Coma Coma Khamenei - You Come and Go o-oh-o ...

The latest from Michael Ledeen at PJM: Now, thank me for putting this old tune back in your head! heh!

This story has been floating around the net for the past day or so, but this report comes from a person who is in a position to know such things.  As I know very well (having been gulled into wrongly announcing Khamenei’s death a while back), it is easy to be misled, and Khamenei has had previous medical emergencies in the past, and recovered, but the source is excellent. Nonetheless, it’s always smart to apply the Reagan Caution:  Trust, but verify.  I’m doing my best.

Here is what he/she says: