I Hope You're Happy

Doing a little article housecleaning here, and the holidays are keeping me very busy.  Whatever your holidays, have a celebration this year, and let’s make this thing better next year, OK? Oh, and can we vote out Lieberman now instead of 2012? That’s my Christmas wish.

Speaking of which, here he is confused as to what party to run with in 2012

Um, the Aetna Lobby party? Oh, no wait, the satanist party?

Living the stereotype

White supremacist wanted for murder in Texas, nickname is Bubba, drives a pickup, Nazi tattoos, Republican party sticker in the window. You can’t write it any better than this folks.

White house changes F-22 at press conference with F-15

Well, since the F-22 is such an engineering failure, I can hardly blame them.

Pranksters use GOP URL shortener for mischief, bring down the site

So the GOP has GOP.am as a device to share links between followers. More savvy members of the public at large used it to link to porn sites and liberal sites, and the GOP had to take it down less than 24 hours after it launched. Good work, everyone. If you want to put some of these articles through that and spread it to the Republican end of the spectrum, feel free.

Republican Filibuster use this year is unprecedented

They’ve used the F-word on every major piece of legislation. Hm, “party of no” anyone? I’ll be highlighting this idea a bit more in the new year, I think.

Orrin Hatch: Republican Standard operating procedure under Bush was to no pay for things

Hence the GOP belief that the deficit doesn’t matter, except when the Democrats are in office. Hypocrisy and political credibility don’t go well together, my friends.

When pressed, they can’t even admit to their hypocrisy

Just the usual talk around and blather.

Blackwater founder was a CIA operative?

I’m not sure this ever actually played out, but I’m not surprised. The line between Blackwater and CIA did blur greatly as the war in Iraq wore on, and it played a nice trick by renaming itself Z industries, making it practically impossible to track in defense spending reports.

Just goes to show, don’t rely on God for anything

GOP Prayer leader believes gays are possessed by demons, really

Author of “Cure the Gays” B.S. gets a tongue lashing on Rachel Maddow

Worth the view.

Minnesota could lose a congressional seat in census

Hm, if only the redistriciting could cost Michele Bachmann her seat, our long national embarrassment would be over.

Al Franken beginning to use his satirical side in the Senate

My question is, if our politicians are the best at what they do, successful in such a large national intellectual sport as politics, why can’t they match wits with a comedian with no training in doing this? The flip side, of course, is can Franken control his tongue enough to be able to do business in Washington? This will get interesting.

What? TARP Profits at $16bn so far?

Well, until it’s all repaid, there isn’t really a profit in my book, but this is looking a bit better than we had hoped. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. and it isn’t a freight train.

The al Qaeda leader behind the underoo bomber was released by the U.S. from Gitmo in November 2007.

Thanks, for keeping us safe, George!

Illinois Republican Senate Primary challenger runs ad claiming opponent is gay

Keep it classy guys. Really, isn’t this the slum of elections? The Republicans in my home state of Illinois (motto: Politics, we like ours dirty) are resorting to dirty tactics early.

Karl Rove granted a divorce

I think we should demand proof he was married in the first place.

2,000 years on, an impoverished itinerant preacher has been made into a rich man

And just a little more perversion to that fun institution we call religion. I can’t wait until somebody comes up with a ministry of the rich Buddha.

The world is ending in 2011 if you’re a Christian who makes shit up about the bible

AIG’s emails as the company crashed and burned

And an exec at AIG quit over pay limits

To be fair, she handled HR, Corporate Communications and the like, not SubPrime loans. I’d rather she got paid a comparably fair wage, and the morons who got us into this got paid even less than the Federally mandated maximum.

Iraq

Obama hints at Iraq/Al Qaeda link

Hard to deny since we did a lot of leading them there.

Afghanistan

Karl Rove says Obama can win in Afghanistan

It’s a nice thought, but Rove doesn’t exactly have a great track record in being right, if you know what I mean. Didn’t he also say Iraq would be a breeze?

Gen. McChrystle: Hey, how about we go for Bin Laden?

Yes, that would be a welcome change to the war strategies of the last 8 years.

Switching Sides

Why Little Green Footballs is leaving the Republicans behind

Charles Johnson doesn’t like being associated with conspiracy theory wingnuts and haters, for some reason.

Andrew Sullivan in rather more words and eloquence

Maine politician leaves GOP over Health Care Reform

Maine State Rep. Jim Campbell leaves his party because his party left him behind.

Parker Griffith, Democrat from Alabama switches to Republicans because of Pelosi

He’s fed up with the deficit spending, but he specifically named Pelosi.

Anti-socialist Michele Bachmann took $250K in Federal farming subsidies.

Fun with Climate Change

Al Gore can’t get the facts straight

While I admire his dedication to the political aspects of this, because of the position he has put himself in, he needs to have bulletproof facts.  Otherwise, he opens himself to mockery.

Another

Proof he’s going to get pushed harder than anyone else on this.

James Inhofe: Climate change denier denied

As theatrically as a Republican with his panties in a bunch, he flies to Copenhagen to give an interview to one reporter. Message received, Jim.

DOE: Windfarms don’t hurt property values

So what else you got? And don’t give me any Wind Turbine Syndrome Bullshit.

Skepticism is not the bane of science, despite what the press will tell you

This is a major story that many lay people who oppose many issues are trying to create. Don’t believe any of it. Science likes skepticism. It’s just a shame the American education doesn’t teach the scientific method well enough for people to get it.

Diane Feinstein wants to kill 13 solar and wind power projects to protect Mojave Desert

Yet another reason not to like her. There’s no reason why we can’t build an ecologically sensitive green energy plant, figure it out.

Iran

Note to Obama: the diplomacy didn’t work

Iranian document says they tested a bomb component. They’re using the North Korean school of diplomacy where they pretend to give a concession then stall and never do. How much line will we give them before we try something else?

Revolution is imminent

Opposition forces taking control of police weapons and vehicles.

Fox News: Give me a poorly forged Iran nuclear document and I’ll give you a war

You guessed it, that document proving Iran is making warhead components was a fake.

Ayatollah Kadivar is putting his money on revolution because the people know the government is Bullshit

Republicans take note.

Alan Grayson

Well, somebody had to tell Cheney to STFU

Not too into this one Alan. This is America and we have free speech

The unfunny Palin

Media guidelines for a Palin book tour appearance

No foreign journalists, no taping, no interviews. Maybe the Canadian chick got to her.

Going birther

Leave no lunatic stone unturned.

She got an award! Biggest lie of the year

Death panels wins her the honor.

Blogger on her banned list

And he’s rightfully proud. I would be, too.

The logic is perfect

Bachmann: A year ago, 100% of the private economy was private

Um, yes, it sure was.

Lou Dobbs: NOW I’m for Amnesty for illegal immigrants

Hm, I’m smelling a sellout to an election demographic that isn’t going to vote for him anyway.

Fox News: We know this is a lie, so we no longer will officially follow our official no tolerance truth policy

Apparently rules and journalistic ethics are only for amateurs.

Another Republican politician can’t accept modern societal sensitivity

The quote was, “Really, your son is a homo?” This continued insensitivity to those who aren’t “like them” further distances the Republicans from modern reality. This time it was Mecklenburg County South Carolina commissioner Bill James.

Republicans in Indiana are kicking out people who aren’t conservative enough

Yeah, that makes perfect sense, kick out the majority middle folks. I like the quote that people are inherently conservative. That’s a pretty big assumption, there buddy, and what do you have to back that statement up? Huh buddy? People aren’t inherently anything, there’s no conservative political gene, and this assumption is part of what is wrong with the Republican party, too much assuming they are right, and not enough actually going out and finding out if they are.

The Republicans aren’t the party of No. McCain introduces anti-net-neutrality bill on the eve of the FCC formulating a net-neutrality plan. One of these statements is true.

In case you’re wondering, the McCain one is true, but I’m thinking you’ve got a good idea of this kind of thing by now.

The Senate passes anti discrimination bill for sexual orientation

Which is about freaking time.

Rachel Maddow goes over some of the fallout for the 30 Senators who voted against the Franken Anti-rape bill.

Looks like a lot of conservative Southern states are not happy with their Republican Senators.

Victoria Jackson’s lover letter to Glenn Beck

For her, he’s the only one that tells the truth. For the rest of us sane and reasonable people, not so much.

Clarence Thomas to other judges: STFU

Actually, he said that they pretty much know their decision before verbal arguments, and so they shouldn’t put up this charade of being interested in the lawyer’s arguments. Maybe he should just get out of there and let some real justices take over.One of his statements is interesting.

So why do you beat up on people if you already know? I don’t know, because I don’t beat up on ‘em. I refuse to participate. I don’t like it, so I don’t do it.

Refuse to participate? In difficult cross-examination or at all, you haven’t asked a question in four years.

The White House vs.  Foxnews

Here’s the basics of the who what where when and how

Just take a good look at this, and then pay attention to the next few stories. I’m not saying this is a bad thing to do, but it is a good tactic.

Rep. Alan Grayson: Foxnews is the enemy of America

While this is probably true, the justification is weak. Foxnews is not the enemy of America because it twists stories to its own point of view, it is the enemy of America because it take a point of view. For this matter, Liberal radio and MSNBC, as much as they are a reaction to Fox, are the same. They serve to divide the country, and leave a chasm in its midst. As we go, Olberman and the like become just as dogmatic and biased as Fox. The gulf becomes more and more of a vacuum, and this is why I think Fox is the enemy of America.

Obama: Republicans do as they’re told, Democrats think for themselves

No wonder they’re so quick to call somebody a Nazi. After seeing the drivel my mother in law passes along as political thought, I believe it, but the key to that phrase is “passes along”. I’ve never seen her have a novel thought, she just passes stuff along.

Ineptitude

N.C. State Senator Republican Phil Berger brought a wheelbarrow of surveys to the governor’s office

So let’s set the scene: Republican brings a wheelbarrow of surveys from his constituents to the Democratic Governor’s office to make a point. Turns out he learned a few lessons from his constituents as the Governor made them public.

Lesson 1: “I am embarrassed to be associated with this organization. Your tactics are disgusting and you’re going to lose a generation of voters.” Seems tactics like this are not to the liking of his own voters.

Lesson 2: “Stop wording questions so geared up to get the answers you want and start wording them to actually find out the people’s opinion, not just confirm your own.” Seems maybe some Republicans do think for themselves, Mr. Berger (and Mr. Obama). Sample questions:

Do you think death panels made up of government bureaucrats should decide if your loved ones live or die?

Do you oppose Bev Perdue and the Democrats’ plan to pass a job-killing $1.6 billion dollar [sic] tax increase in the middle of a recession?

Do you support sending the North Carolina National Guard to help secure our southern border?

Lesson 3: When you’re going to make a point, read all of them, don’t just skim a few. Not only did you miss those comments above, but a $50 donation check.

Lawmakers in Utah learn more about global warming from scientists

We’ll look at two direct quotes.

Steenburgh [a scientist], while stressing he has never taken a “policy position” on climate change as a scientist, pointed to a survey that shows 97.4 percent of scientists consider human activity to have an impact on global warming.

[and...]

Rep. Lorie Fowlke, R-Orem, said the complexities and contradictions surrounding climate change are polarizing for policymakers. “I can’t express the frustration I have as a policymaker who is not a scientist how difficult it is for us to make policy decisions when the science has become so politicized,” she said.

Al Franken? passes a law? with bipartisan support? How the…?

Yes, this is a bizarro world. While the Republicans passed the Anti-ACORN bill that defunded companies with election related convictions, which reduced ACORN’s funding by $0 and theoretically defense contractors, Al Franken made a bill to defund companies who put into their employment contracts clauses preventing victims of rape from seeking legal damages.

Several points on this issue:

1) There are companies that seem to have a difficulty with its employees raping other employees, so much so that it has become a cover your ass clause in their contracts.

2) Al Franken is able to cultivate bipartisan support for a bill, when Obama and Pelosi cannot.

3) There are 30 Senators who are apparently pro-rape. Those lawmakers are:

Alexander (R-TN), Barrasso (R-WY), Bond (R-MO), Brownback (R-KS), Bunning (R-KY), Burr (R-NC), Chambliss (R-GA), Coburn (R-OK), Cochran (R-MS), Corker (R-TN), Cornyn (R-TX), Crapo (R-ID), DeMint (R-SC), Ensign (R-NV), Enzi (R-WY), Graham (R-SC), Gregg (R-NH), Inhofe (R-OK), Isakson (R-GA), Johanns (R-NE), Kyl (R-AZ), McCain (R-AZ), McConnell (R-KY), Risch (R-ID), Roberts (R-KS), Sessions (R-AL), Shelby (R-AL), Thune (R-SD), Vitter (R-LA), Wicker (R-MS)

Funny that they are all Republicans.

The Recession has ended in 79 metropolitan areas

With a very interesting graphic. Very interesting to watch the economy in the graphic as the timeline runs.But what does this really say about Republican economics versus Democrats?

According to the GOP, Jackie Robinson crossed more than one color barrier

They claim he was a Republican. While he did campaign for Nixon, he also said this about the 1964 RNC:

That convention was one of the most unforgettable and frightening experiences of my life. The hatred I saw was unique to me because it was hatred directed against a white man. It embodied a revulsion for all he stood for, including his enlightened attitude towards black people.

A new breed of Republicans had taken over the GOP. As I watched this steamroller operation in San Francisco, I had a better understanding of how it must have felt to be a Jew in Hitler’s Germany.

Republican paranoia about Muslim spies on Capital Hill

Yep, you heard it. The accusations all attack one group, with the strong, stand-up-in-a-court-of-law evidence of “they’re politically active.” According to that logic, all politicians, lobbyists, and pundits are terrorists too.

Limbaugh on the peace prize: “It’s an embarrassment.”

Yeah, so embarrassing to seek peace. Horrible.

And Glen Beck: “The Tea partiers should get it.”

Yeah, because that belligerent rabble can maintain decorum. Fuck me.

And for our brilliant logic of the day: Mormon Prop 8 supporters claim discrimination

They compare their persecution stemming from their campaign against the civil rights of others to the civil rights movement of the 60s. Yeah, funny how they only look at their own side of the issue.

Sorry for the absence, but I’ve been moving and you know how that sucks.

So my first thought of the day is about technology and how it has failed us. Not only do I not have a flying car or a jetpack, but the only people who get to play with laser guns earn minimum wage checking out my groceries.

Gay hate crimes bill passes the house

While this bill extends civil rights laws to include gays, it sucks that it has to be tagged onto a Defense Spending bill in order to get it to pass. It’s horrible that as a nation, we can’t accept people as people.

A speaking of this, watch this descent into lunacy

Apparently protecting gays from hate crimes means you’re all for sex with corpses. Really, at least according to Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas.

The most optimistic headline of the year award goes to…..

MSNBC for “U.N. approves resolution to rid world of nukes”. Great. Now that we’re resolved, what are we going to do about it? Really, there’s genocide in Darfur, the UN passes a resolution. Iran is developing nukes. The UN passes a resolution, and somehow despite that resolution, it all keeps happening again.

The latest tactic of the anti-abortion crowd is public disclosure

In Oklahoma, a law going into effect Nov. 1st means details of every abortion performed is published on a website. While the name is withheld, there’s enough information for people to put together who is being described in smaller communities.

The Confederate states were Socialist red

And yet some Republicans refuse to read history and believe the Confederate States of America were the perfect Republican Libertarian nation.

Obama can’t get anything done because of fear of Republicans?

New York Gov. Paterson took a moment to fire back at President Obama with this comment, and I think there’s some justification there. the Democrats control both houses, the Republicans have shown virtually no willingness to break party lines on anything, nor accede to reality. They’ve been about as mature as a toddler needing a time out.

So this is a great example of Republican logic

They freak out over ACORN, make a law to cut funding for companies with elections complaints against them, hurry up to pass it, and now it threatens defense contractors, many of whom have elections violations to their names. Oh yeah, and ACORN never received federal funding.

Al Franken reads the 4th amendment to Justice Department official in hearings over Patriot Act renewal

You know, the part about the specifics that must be named in a search warrant.

And Franken again

This time, he wrote a law defunding companies that prohibit employees from suing them when they are negligent in cases of rape. Hard to describe, but worth the read. You know, maybe we should elect comedians to Congress, and fewer people who are only good as sources of comedic material.

Obama to urge governments to end oil subsidies

While it would be a shock to know just how much a gallon of gas actually costs, and it would do us better in the long run to give that money to alternate fuels industries, it would be a disaster of economy.

In just one hour Justice Sotomayor asked more questions during oral arguments than Clarence Thomas has in the last three years

Maybe he’s just pining for the fjords.

The editors of Conservapedia want to edit a more conservative bible

A bit presumptuous of them to want to re-write the word of God, don’t you think? Don’t you have to be like, King James to do that? I thought it was a joke at first.

Where are all the Christians going?

The percentage f Americans who are non-believers is at an all-time high (12%) and the amount who are Christians are at an all time low (76%). Nearly a quarter of people in their 20’s profess no religion.

To start things off, I have a new proposal. I won’t say all of Congress, but all those who vote for whatever plan comes out of Congress must take it. If a plan fails to pass, ALL members of congress should be forced to do without.

From the Facts and Figures Dept.

Now, that being said, here’s the best thing I have heard said about the health care debate by a Congressman, and it happens to come from Al Franken. For an Ultra-Liberal, he’s very middle of the road and practical here (and way better than Norm Coleman).

Obama may drop public option

Word is that the public option is so sticky, Obama may drop it.

Then again, maybe Obama is ready to take the wheel on this monster truck

Well, then, finally change we can believe in.

Does Preventive medicine really make savings?

In this article, no.

Excellent Bill Moyer editorial about the whole debate

It’s hard to argue with the coverage on this

The rates of denial of claims on various insurance plans

I won’t usually link to DailyKos, but this is fairly free of bias and the figures are all quotes. Feel free to visit this page without being a Democrat.

Claims denial rates by leading California insurers, first six months of 2009:

• PacifiCare — 39.6 percent 
• Cigna — 32.7 percent 
• HealthNet — 30 percent 
• Kaiser Permanente — 28.3 percent 
• Blue Cross — 27.9 percent 
• Aetna — 6.4 percent

Democrat Hoyer on voting for the bill

No tax hikes, fully paid for or no vote from me. That sounds fair to me, really.

Meet the opposition

Rep. Jenkins of Kansas (who hasn’t read the bills) laughs at a single uninsured mother

Ok, now this is just cold.

How We’re Blowing it

Medicare pays four times the value to rent a motorized wheelchair than to buy it

Come on guys, what are you getting these at Rent-a-Center?