Sunday, February 28, 2010
Beyond Climate Change
Al Gore has an excellent op-ed in the New York Times about climate change, tackling some of the mistakes made by a few scientists, and the ridicule brought about by deniers who see snowstorms as proof that climate change is a hoax. Please the whole piece.
For me, the best quote from that article, deals with more than just climate change:
For me, the best quote from that article, deals with more than just climate change:
Some news media organizations now present showmen masquerading as political thinkers who package hatred and divisiveness as entertainment. And as in times past, that has proved to be a potent drug in the veins of the body politic. Their most consistent theme is to label as “socialist” any proposal to reform exploitive behavior in the marketplace.Somehow, sometime we're bound to learn how to these with these clowns, but for now, the noise of these few is surely muffling the thinking of the many.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Saint Ronnie
Conservatives love to extol Ronald Reagan's "accomplishments." So this reminder is quite timely, considering their (and many liberals) dire predictions for the fate of Barack Obama:
The unemployment rate in Reagan's second year - a full year after his tax cuts for the top 1% - rose to a post WW2 high of 10.8%. According to Gallup, only one third approved of the way he was handling the economy, with the deficit exploding due to his tax cuts benefiting the wealthy.
At the beginning of '83, his approval rating fell to a low of 35%.
Oh yeah, but remember, Reagan was white. He gets a pass.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Headline news
As I write this, the Washington Post has this story, about the White House social secretary quitting her job, as its top story. Really? A social secretary leaving her job for another is a big story?
Am I missing something or is the news cycle that slow?
Am I missing something or is the news cycle that slow?
End of the fantasy?
Could it be that the health care summit has cleared the way for us to stop pursuing the fantasy that is bipartisanship?
President Obama uttered the words that frankly, should have been understood one year ago -- Republicans have nothing to gain by voting with the Democrats. It's that simple. It's a political reality.
Now let's deal with it and pass health reform by any means necessary, using whatever procedural tactics available to us, just as Republicans have used Senate procedures to obstruct and delay.
President Obama uttered the words that frankly, should have been understood one year ago -- Republicans have nothing to gain by voting with the Democrats. It's that simple. It's a political reality.
Now let's deal with it and pass health reform by any means necessary, using whatever procedural tactics available to us, just as Republicans have used Senate procedures to obstruct and delay.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Clean sheet of paper
According to Republicans, we can solve all our problems with a "clean sheet of paper."
Exactly how a clean sheet of paper would bride the gulf between the basic ideology of the two parties is beyond me. I'm convinced that "clean sheet of paper" is a euphemism for "health care reform over my dead body, pinko commies."
Exactly how a clean sheet of paper would bride the gulf between the basic ideology of the two parties is beyond me. I'm convinced that "clean sheet of paper" is a euphemism for "health care reform over my dead body, pinko commies."
Start over
I think Democrats should heed the Republican call to start the health insurance reform over with a blank sheet of paper. I would start by writing: "Remove the age requirement for Medicare; make it accessible to all since the day of conception." Done!
Moving the window
Funny... about a year ago, opponents of health insurance reform were adamant that we needed no changes. A year later, Republicans are saying reform is imperative. For those of you who think Democratic efforts have a been a waste just notice the shift in language. We still don't agree on the "how," but Dems have moved the Overton window quite a bit.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Wholly owned
Congressman Anthony Weiner said this on the House floor:
The Republican Party is a wholly owned subsidiary of the insurance industry.Well, it's the truth!
The birth certificate, still
Some people never give up:
If the Arizona legislature has anything to say about it, President Barack Obama may have to show the state his birth certificate before seeking reelection in 2012.As one commenter said, why don't they just pass a law that a black person can't be president. It is what they want, isn't it?
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Fiscal Conservatives, my ass
The behavior of Michael Steele is no surprise:
Infuriating his party’s major donors, RNC Chairman Michael Steele is “spending twice as much as his recent predecessors” on private planes and paying more for “limousines, catering and flowers.” A Politico analysis found that the RNC’s “payments for charter flights doubled; the number of sedan contractors tripled, and meal expenses jumped from $306,000 to $599,000.”Spend it, baby, spend it.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Ronald Reagan voted with Democrats
Scott Brown voted for cloture on the jobs bill.
Time to tea bag him!
Time to tea bag him!
5-3
The American ice hockey team beat the Canadian team in the winter Olympics. Proof positive that our health insurance system is better then their health insurance system.
(The preceding was a right wing thinking moment).
(The preceding was a right wing thinking moment).
Just do it!
I don't care how you do it. I don't even care -- within reason -- what's actually in it. Just pass a health insurance bill that if nothing else, moves the ball from the current status quo.
Pass a damn health insurance reform bill already, Democrats. Just do it any way you can.
Pass a damn health insurance reform bill already, Democrats. Just do it any way you can.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
CPAC money quote
Joe Klein:
The CPAC straw poll, which was won by Ron Paul, reinforces the general sense of the G.O.P. as a high school Ayn Rand Fan Club.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
7% for Sarah
Even I could have spewed enough venom to get 7% of the straw poll at the CPAC.
How's that hatey-retardey thing workin' for ya, Sarah?
How's that hatey-retardey thing workin' for ya, Sarah?
CPAC Straw Poll
No wonder Mitt Romney did so well (yeah, I know Ron Paul but he's a joke in the general scheme of things) in the conservative conference straw poll for presidential nominee in 2012 -- Romney lied, and lied, and lied! And with that crowd, that's a family value.
Some examples of his lies:
Some examples of his lies:
And so it's worth noting when Romney, the former Massachusetts governor positioning himself for the 2012 presidential race, tells the CPAC crowd that Democrats are opposed to tax cuts.
He conveniently left out the fact that the stimulus bill backed by President Barack Obama and approved by the Democratic-led Congress included $288 billion in tax benefits, including refundable credits of $400 for individuals and $800 for families in 2009 and 2010 covering about 95 percent of taxpayers...
Democrats are against balanced budgets? You might chalk that up to harmless hyperbole except for important facts that Romney overlooked: A Democratic president, Bill Clinton, oversaw surpluses and the nation's debt skyrocketed under President Bush, a conservative Republican.
Oh, and what happened to the beauty queen? She's fading fast even in their world, isn't she? Only 7% of the most conservative conservatives voted for her.
Friday, February 19, 2010
How far for the far right
How far right have the right wing movement moved? So far that Bill O'Reilly is now the voice of reason among that group:
"Talking Points" does not mean to lecture. We've made mistakes here as well. And there is no question that President Obama is having some big problems. All the polls show that. So is he a legitimate political target. But if CPAC makes a weekend out of bashing Obama, it will be making a big mistake. In order to regain power in America, conservatives must come up with solutions to complicated problems. And that's what they should be doing at the Washington convention. And that's "The Memo."And with that kind of attitude his ratings will continue to lag behind Glenn Back.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Losing his hard-on for Palin
Looks like conservative pundit George Will is losing his hard-on for Sarah Palin, at least, politically speaking:
Yet Sarah Palin, who with 17 months remaining in her single term as Alaska's governor quit the only serious office she has ever held, is obsessively discussed as a possible candidate in 2012. Why? She is not going to be president and will not be the Republican nominee unless the party wants to lose at least 44 states.I think Mr. Will is being a little too pessimistic about losing 44 states. Enough people voted for George Bush; I'm sure she'll get many of their votes too. Also.
The more attention Palin receives, the fewer Americans consider her presidential timber. The latest Post-ABC News poll shows that 71 percent of Americans -- including 52 percent of Republicans -- think she is not qualified to be president.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Public option. Now!
About 8 Democratic Senators are requesting that Senate leader Reid submit the public option via reconciliation, which would require 51 votes, not the undemocratic 60 needed for cloture.
This really is a no-brainer, and frankly, I'm surprised Dems didn't focus on this from early on, for these reasons: 1) it is the aspect of the health insurance reform act most likely to reduce costs; 2) it is the one that will provide affordable health care to more people; 3) it is the one that from the very beginning the American people strongly supported; 4) it is a great step towards eventual single payer system; and 5) there is little doubt that this piece of the bill will qualify for reconciliation (unlike others that do no impact the budget and are therefore more questionable).
UPDATE: The number of senators making such a request is now up to eleven. Here's their statement to Reid:
This really is a no-brainer, and frankly, I'm surprised Dems didn't focus on this from early on, for these reasons: 1) it is the aspect of the health insurance reform act most likely to reduce costs; 2) it is the one that will provide affordable health care to more people; 3) it is the one that from the very beginning the American people strongly supported; 4) it is a great step towards eventual single payer system; and 5) there is little doubt that this piece of the bill will qualify for reconciliation (unlike others that do no impact the budget and are therefore more questionable).
UPDATE: The number of senators making such a request is now up to eleven. Here's their statement to Reid:
We respectfully ask that you bring for a vote before the full Senate a public health insurance option under budget reconciliation rules.I swear I wrote my reasons above before I saw this statement. Cross my heart and hope to die.There are four fundamental reasons why we support this approach - its potential for billions of dollars in cost savings; the growing need to increase competition and lower costs for the consumer; the history of using reconciliation for significant pieces of health care legislation; and the continued public support for a public option.
Recovery Act
Pesky independent consultants keep telling me that the Recovery Act worked, that it saved us from disaster and created more then 1.6 million jobs, and more jobs will be created in the year ahead. But I'm not so sure that's true. If it were true, my dear friends on the right -- fair minded as they claim to be -- would be pleased with the elitist black foreign-born communist in the White House, and they're not.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Bye
Monday, February 15, 2010
Fuck off, "Joe"
Wouldn't you know it... that dumb fuck "Joe the plumber" is back in the news. Why can't someone tell that piece of shit to fuck off and disappear?
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Time to hire morons
Frank Rich, assailing Democrats for failing to deal properly with Palin and her populist bullshit:
Her only concrete program for dealing with America’s pressing problems came in the question-and-answer session. “It would be wise of us to start seeking some divine intervention again in this country,” she said, “so that we can be safe and secure and prosperous again.” That pretty much sums up her party’s economic program, at least: divine intervention will achieve what government intervention cannot. That the G.O.P. may actually be winning this argument is less an indictment of Palin than of Washington Democrats too busy reading the writing on her hand to see or respond to the ominous political writing on the wall.What Obama and Democrats need is to hire a few morons who can explain to them how the vast majority of Americans who aren't paying too much attention think.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Is Gates on the hoax too?
Bill Gates talking about climate change and the need for clean energy:
Heck, most right wingers will probably think it's both.
Anyway, it's good to see someone of mister Gates' notoriety be more specific about dates and outcomes, as well as calling for a need to action.
Gates said the deadline for the world to cut all of its carbon emissions is 2050. He suggested that researchers spend the next 20 years inventing and perfecting clean-energy technologies, and then the next 20 years implementing them... Gates told the audience that climate change will cause poverty and famine that will disproportionately affect the world's poorest people.Take your pick of which version of this right wingers will choose: 1) Sure, like it's not so easy to see that the world's richest man just wants to get richer; or 2) Sure, there goes another Bambi liberal worrying about the poor.
Heck, most right wingers will probably think it's both.
Anyway, it's good to see someone of mister Gates' notoriety be more specific about dates and outcomes, as well as calling for a need to action.
Friday, February 12, 2010
The good news about Republicans calling Obama a socialist
A poll from Esquite magazine:
Remember when calling a Democratic candidate a "liberal" was the Republicans' favorite pejorative term? Obviously that's not having much impact with the American people anymore. In essence, Republicans have so misused that term that it's not longer paying off to use it.
Watch them do the same thing to "socialist."
Now maybe all the chicken liberals who ran away to the "progressive" term can come back home.
A full 78 percent of "Republican leaders" believe that President Obama is a socialistThis is terrific news for liberals.
Remember when calling a Democratic candidate a "liberal" was the Republicans' favorite pejorative term? Obviously that's not having much impact with the American people anymore. In essence, Republicans have so misused that term that it's not longer paying off to use it.
Watch them do the same thing to "socialist."
Now maybe all the chicken liberals who ran away to the "progressive" term can come back home.
Fing Retards
I have yet to meet or read about a Palin supporter who is not paranoid and politically nuts (in addition to everyone of them being lousy spellers -- what would the odds of that, right?). Here's the latest Palin supporter to give credence to the stereotype:
The Massachusetts man charged this week with stockpiling weapons after saying he feared an imminent "Armageddon" appears to have been active in the Tea Party movement, and saw Sarah Palin, who he said is on a "righteous 'Mission from God,'" as the only figure capable of averting the destruction of society...Every single Palin supported is a fucking retard. No exceptions. Also.
Girard's wife said her husband had recently told her: "Don't talk to people, shoot them instead," and "it's fine to shoot people in the head because traitors deserve it."
Thursday, February 11, 2010
F'ing Retards!
Another gem from the Washington Post/ABC News poll:
These people have no sense of adventure. Can you imagine how much fun life would be with Palin in the White House? No more horrifying teleprompters. Checking out the First Dude's outfits. Bombing Iran. Quitting just before the midterm elections.
Sarah Palin for president!!!
71% of Americans do not feel that Palin is qualified to be President. That includes a sharp drop in Republican support, where 45% believe she is qualified compared to 66% who thought she was last fall.Party-poopers!!!
These people have no sense of adventure. Can you imagine how much fun life would be with Palin in the White House? No more horrifying teleprompters. Checking out the First Dude's outfits. Bombing Iran. Quitting just before the midterm elections.
Sarah Palin for president!!!
Waste money, save capitalism
From a Washington Post/ABC News poll:
Come on, wasting money is what makes capitalism survive. If we were wise with our money and only spent it on things we need, capitalism would be dead. DEAD!
That's what makes "redistribution of wealth" via the federal government such a good idea -- they can spend it more effectively than you and I can to create jobs. They do so because high unemployment threatens elected official jobs much more than your inability to fly first class to a winter vacation in Vail, Colorado.
There are no no government programs that can't be saved by doing two things, and two things only: reduce defense spending and increase taxes on the richest Americans. And we'll save capitalism in the process.
In another revealing question, the poll found that taxpayers estimate 53% of their money is "wasted."Of course the money is mostly wasted. So is a big chunk of money spend by corporations, and a lot of the money spent by most people. What, you think getting tattoos is money well-spent? Or getting bombed on weekends at bar or restaurants liquor prices is money well-spent? Or having 50 pairs of shoes or dozens of creams around your bathtub? Or all those overpriced Coach or Fendi bags (yeah, even the fake ones)?
Come on, wasting money is what makes capitalism survive. If we were wise with our money and only spent it on things we need, capitalism would be dead. DEAD!
That's what makes "redistribution of wealth" via the federal government such a good idea -- they can spend it more effectively than you and I can to create jobs. They do so because high unemployment threatens elected official jobs much more than your inability to fly first class to a winter vacation in Vail, Colorado.
There are no no government programs that can't be saved by doing two things, and two things only: reduce defense spending and increase taxes on the richest Americans. And we'll save capitalism in the process.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Republican moment: Obama's tan
Obama sucks because his tan didn't come from a tanning bed or a spray.
Is she still alive?
I just saw one of these Google ads offering Ann Coulter free something and it hit me: I haven't heard about this woman in a long time. In this day of Glenn Beck, is even Ann Coulter passe or am I just not getting down to the sewer enough?
Monday, February 08, 2010
Truth hurts Republicans
Poke your eyes next, will ya?
One Fox News lady made the claim that Sarah Palin wrote on her hand on purpose, to draw attention to the fact that Obama uses a telepromtper. Huh? Yeah, she did. That's like someone I know poking their eyes with a fork to draw attention to the fact that I wear glasses.
Fox, and anyone who watches them, are retards! (If you're offended by that word, just consider this comment satire).
Fox, and anyone who watches them, are retards! (If you're offended by that word, just consider this comment satire).
Republican ideas
I don't even have to know what ideas Republicans are willing to offer to the health care reform debate to know that the more of their ideas are incorporated, the lousier the bill becomes.
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Eating like Jesus
There's a new diet fad out there, based on the bible. And why not, when you consider that:
Christians are fatter than other Americans. One of several studies revealing this, published by a Purdue University team in 2006, found that 30 percent of Baptists are obese, followed by 22 percent of Pentecostals and 17 percent of Catholics, compared to only 1 percent of Jews and 0.7 percent of Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists. According to the Journal of the Southern Baptist Convention, health screenings were given at the SBC's 2005 annual meeting: Over 75 percent of its 1,472 participants were found to be significantly overweight.
Saturday, February 06, 2010
One chart, one truth
The chart:
The truth:
On the jobs front, the Bush administration sucked really bad; the Obama administration sucks a lot less.
The truth:
On the jobs front, the Bush administration sucked really bad; the Obama administration sucks a lot less.
Friday, February 05, 2010
But... is the food any good?
Naughty Canadians:
And can you imagine the looks customers coming out of the restroom will get, regardless of what they did, or didn't do, there?
I'm confused... are the bathrooms co-ed or is this invitation just for same sex couples or groups?Visitors to Mildred's Temple Kitchen, a restaurant in Toronto, Canada, are invited to spice up their love life this Valentine's Day with a trip to the bathroom.
"Have you given any thought to moving beyond the bedroom?" patrons were asked in a not-too-subtle promotional e-mail.
The individual bathrooms will be open for sexual escapades from the 12-15th February. According to the manager, Rory Gallagher, a french maid will be working the toilets, making sure everything is "going smoothly and kept clean."
And can you imagine the looks customers coming out of the restroom will get, regardless of what they did, or didn't do, there?
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran
There's nothing wrong with Obama's presidency that can't be fixed by bombing Iran, so says neoconservative Daniel Pipes:
Mister Pipes: the guy who ran on a platform of bombing Iran lost by 10 million votes.
Just as 9/11 caused voters to forget George W. Bush’s meandering early months, a strike on Iranian facilities would dispatch Obama’s feckless first year down the memory hole and transform the domestic political scene. It would sideline health care, prompt Republicans to work with Democrats, make netroots squeal, independents reconsider, and conservatives swoon.Ah yes, making conservatives swoon... what a lofty goal.
Mister Pipes: the guy who ran on a platform of bombing Iran lost by 10 million votes.
Monday, February 01, 2010
Fuck America!
Via Kevin Drum, this from an article in the LA Times:
Republicans have a jobs plan of their own -- to keep theirs! And they have made the calculation that the only way to keep their jobs is by rejecting anything Obama and the Dems offer.
When what's good for America clashes with what's good for Republicans, their response is: fuck America!
Senate Democratic leaders are expected to unveil their plans on jobs legislation this week, looking to pass a series of measures rather than one large package. The final legislation is expected to include money to fund infrastructure projects, promote green jobs and keep teachers, police officers and other public workers employed.*sigh* Republican support? I would be shocked if they get any Republican vote in the Senate.
Democrats hope to win Republican support by including tax cuts for small businesses.
Republicans have a jobs plan of their own -- to keep theirs! And they have made the calculation that the only way to keep their jobs is by rejecting anything Obama and the Dems offer.
When what's good for America clashes with what's good for Republicans, their response is: fuck America!
