Dr. Ben Carson Gets His Nazi Analogies Sideways And Backwards

Here's Driftglass on remarks by Republican loon-du-jour Dr. Ben "On Meds?" Carson comparing the America of progressives and Obama supporters to Nazi Germany:

... I actually agree with what Dr. Carson said, although not in any way that would make him happy. 

The despair and rage and paranoia of post-WWI Germany that made the rise of Nazism possible -- an overpowering sense of betrayal and lost greatness... an obsession with race and purity... a berserk hatred of impure outsiders and immigrants... a willingness to believe the most paranoid conspiracies about fifth columns and internal enemies ... the relentless scapegoating of (among others) minorities, foreigners, intellectuals, unions and Liberals ... the round-the-clock raving of demagogues -- are precisely the same toxic conditions which prevail within the Republican Party and the Conservative Movement today.  

"Fox News Contributor" tells you all you need to know, too.

Sunday Reading: The Sublime And The Asinine

Carol Anderson, associate professor of African American studies and history at Emory University, has a must-read piece in this morning's once great Washington Post Bezos Bugle, "Ferguson Isn't About Black Rage."  Anderson tells us that, rather than black rage being the culprit in incidents such as the killing of an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, MO, it is white rage at the progress being made by blacks in this country that's fueling the latest "wave of fear and anger:"

It’s more subtle — less overtly racist — than in 1865 or even 1954. It’s a remake of the Southern Strategy, crafted in the wake of the civil rights movement to exploit white resentment against African Americans, and deployed with precision by Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. As Reagan’s key political strategist, Lee Atwater, explained in a 1981 interview: “You start out in 1954 by saying, ‘N-----, n-----, n-----.’ By 1968 you can’t say ‘n-----’ — that hurts you. Backfires. So you say stuff like ‘forced busing,’ ‘states’ rights’ and all that stuff. You’re getting so abstract now you’re talking about cutting taxes, and all these things you’re talking about are totally economic things, and a byproduct of them is blacks get hurt worse than whites. And subconsciously maybe that is part of it. I’m not saying that.” (The interview was originally published anonymously, and only years later did it emerge that Atwater was the subject.) 

Now, under the guise of protecting the sanctity of the ballot box, conservatives have devised measures — such as photo ID requirements — to block African Americans’ access to the polls. A joint report by the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the NAACP emphasized that the ID requirements would adversely affect more than 6 million African American voters. (Twenty-five percent of black Americans lack a government-issued photo ID, the report noted, compared with only 8 percent of white Americans.) The Supreme Court sanctioned this discrimination in Shelby County v. Holder , which gutted the Voting Rights Act and opened the door to 21st-century versions of 19th-century literacy tests and poll taxes.

The disproportionate effects of the recession and the right-wing's efforts to weaken social safety net programs and the public sector in general are also part of this pattern, as Anderson points out.  (And to be sure, the right is also fighting advancement and enfranchisement of Hispanics, women, LGBTs, and anyone who might be considered a potential Democratic voter).  The election (and re-election) of Barack Obama was simply the most recent cause for the unleashing of the white right's rage.

While we're on the subject of white rage, look no further than the same once great Washington Post Bezos Bugle for the latest rage-gasm from George "The Man With No Mirrors"  Will.  Will's op/ed (here's the link, but you're just going to waste several minutes of your life that you can't get back if you read the whole thing) is yet another stab at perpetuating the image of Rep. Paul "Lyin'" Ryan (Galt-WI) as a giant intellect of conservatism (well, considering the comparative brainpower on the right, maybe he has a point).  In the process, though, Will shows that he's still (white) enraged at the way President Obama dealt with Ryan's 25-watt intellect in an incident from over 3 years ago. Then, he took a personal swipe at the President:

[Obama] demonstrated the self-­destructive nature of his now-evaporating presidency by his contemptuous, and contemptible, treatment of Ryan on April 13, 2011. After he loftily aspired to teach Washington civility, the White House invited Ryan to sit in the front row at a speech in which Obama gave an implacably hostile and mendacious depiction of Ryan’s suggestions for entitlement reforms [ed. note: bullshit]. Obama thereby repeated his tawdry performance in his 2010 State of the Union address, when, with Supreme Court justices in the front row of the House chamber, he castigated them for the Citizens United decision, which he misrepresented [ed. note: bullshit again]. 

Both times, Obama’s behavior bespoke the insecurity of someone who, surrounded by sycophants, shuns disputations with people who can reply. Ryan, however, has replied with a book that demonstrates Obama’s wisdom in not arguing with a man who has a better mind and better manners.  (our emphasis)

A "better mind and better manners?"  Asinine on many levels.  We seem to recall Joe Biden already did a beautiful job of popping Ryan's deep thought balloons.  But that was one white guy schooling another white guy, so no multi-year umbrage from Will.  So are we the only ones who detect more than a whiff of condescending plantation racism in Will's wording?  To us, that wasn't even dog whistling, that was a siren.  Should the twice-elected President of the United States not presume to challenge his white betters?

If the once great Washington Post Bezos Bugle had a soul, this would be Will's last column for them.  Unfortunately, they don't and it won't.  But, we'll add this to the bulging "George Will is an ass" file anyway.

BONUS:  If you're still not convinced there's a problem in the Ferguson, MO, police force, check this out.

BONUS II:  Still not convinced there's a discrepancy between police treatment of whites and blacks? Remember this?  And we won't even get into Cliven "Hoof" Bundy and his band of armed thugs.

Clothes Horse('s ass)

Apparently, some members of Congress have nothing better to do on their long, long summer recess than comment on what President Obama is wearing.  We're referring of course to the tan suit that the President wore at his Thursday press conference that got New York Republican Congressman and IRA bag man Peter King in a huff.  King was miffed at what the President wore ("For him to walk out — I’m not trying to be trivial here — in a light suit, a light tan suit…") and the fact that he highlight good economic growth news rather than immediately announce that the U.S. would be carpet bombing terrorists in the Middle East.

Oh, and speaking of tan suits and terrorists, here's the esteemed terrorism expert Rep. King, right, with IRA leader Gerry Adams.

The increasingly irrelevant Beltway media were on the case of the tan suit, which only reinforces the view that policy issues are too difficult for them to digest (and certainly report on accurately) so they prefer the trivial and shallow.

Ford's Feeling All Right

Toronto's bad boy Mayor Rob Ford has never been shy about cutting loose.  Here he is gyrating to the Bob Marley tune, "One Love" (sample lyrics: "Let them all pass all their dirty remarks; there is one question I'd really love to ask: is there a place for the hopeless sinner,who has hurt all mankind just to save his own beliefs?").  They have their hopeless sinner for sure, and he's all for feeling all right.  He really gets his groove on starting at the 24 second mark in the video:

30 Vs. 1 Million

As their anti-"Obamacare" ship slowly sinks beneath the waves, Republicans have tried all manner of diversions and schemes to deny uninsured Americans affordable health care.  In Florida, where a Rethuglican Governor and state legislature are in control, they came up with an "alternative" to the Federal "HealthCare.gov", but that provided only limited services, and none of the protections of the Affordable Care Act.  So how's that working out?  Not so good: a grand total of 30 people have signed up for the Republican alternative (that's not a typo;  it's actually 30).  By contrast, nearly 1 million Floridians have been able to obtain affordable private sector insurance through "Obamacare."  There would be even wider coverage if the Governor and state legislature hadn't blocked additional Medicaid funds under "Obamacare."

Adding to this political pratfall  is the fact that the "alternative" was championed by none other that Florida's teabagger Sen. Marco "Glug Glug" Rubio, erstwhile candidate for the Rethuglican Presidential nomination, to the tune of $1.8 million in Florida taxpayer money.  Perhaps they should call the failed Florida experiment "Rubio(doesn't)Care." (Musical accompaniment)

McConnell Campaign Manager Resigns Amid Bribery Scandal

Jesse Benton, Sen. Mitch "Missy" McConnell's (Koch-KY) campaign manager, resigned today after documents surfaced possibly linking Benton to a bribery scandal involving the political campaign of former Rep. (and Rand's daddy) Ron "Uncle Crazy" Paul in the Iowa caucuses in 2012:

As [former Rep. Ron] Paul's political director in 2012, Benton has been tied to the scandal that saw thousands of dollars exchanged for political endorsements prior to the 2012 presidential caucuses. On Wednesday, former Iowa state Senator Kent Sorenson pleaded guilty to charges in connection to receiving under-the-table payments for switching his backing from U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) to Paul. Sorenson then lied to investigators about the payments, according to the Department of Justice. Sorenson's guilty plea was accompanied by two documents, which could potentially implicate Benton, the Herald-Leader notes.  [snip]

Benton was hired in 2012 by McConnell to head his 2014 reelection campaign, seeking to boost his credibility with libertarian factions of the Republican party. It was seen as a surprising move, one that has caused other troubles for the McConnell campaign. In 2013, a phone recording surfaced in which Benton said that he was holding his nose while working for McConnell and thinking of the long-term best interests of Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.).

Benton is also the grandson-in-law of Ron Paul.  Crazy... er, cozy.

(Photo:  Benton and McConnell.  Actually, they both stink;  vote for Alison Lundergan Grimes and contribute to her campaign here.)

Federal Judge Blocks Texas' Abortion Law

A ruling by a Federal judge earlier today overturned Texas' restrictive abortion law that was passed last year by the Republican-controlled state legislature and signed by Texas Gov. and future LensCrafter spokesmodel Rick "Oops" Perry.  The law required the state's 19 clinic that were licensed to perform abortions to have hospital-level facilities, effectively limiting the number of compliant clinics to 7 by next Monday.   Last year, current Dem candidate for Governor, State Senator Wendy Davis, gained national attention for her 13 hour filibuster of the bill.  (Donate to her campaign at this link.)

This hasn't been Oops' month, with this reversal of a law he championed and his grand jury indictment for corruption.

Weekend Song

Happy birthday to Belfast's own Van Morrison, who turns 69 on Sunday.  After leading Anglo-Irish R&B group Them to the top of the charts with such hits as "Gloria," "Here Comes The Night," "Mystic Eyes," and "Baby Please Don't Go," Morrison embarked on a successful solo career.  His composition "Brown Eyed Girl" was his first solo hit in 1967, and remains his most popular.  Enjoy your (Labor Day in the U.S.) weekend --

Laughin' and a-running hey hey

Skipping and a-jumping

In the misty morning fog 

With our hearts a-thumpin' and you,

My brown eyed girl.

The Republican War On Women: The Reckoning

From Politic-ho (via Daily Kos), reports of a reality check on how that Republican/ New Confederate/ Stupid Party rebranding is coming along with women:

A detailed report commissioned by two major Republican groups — including one backed by Karl Rove — paints a dismal picture for Republicans, concluding female voters view the party as “intolerant,” “lacking in compassion” and “stuck in the past.” 

When female voters are asked who “wants to make health care more affordable,” Democrats have a 39 percent advantage, and a 40 percent advantage on who “looks out for the interests of women.” Democrats have a 39 percent advantage when it comes to who “is tolerant of other people’s lifestyles.” 

Female voters who care about the top four issues — the economy, health care, education and jobs — vote overwhelmingly for Democrats. Most striking, Democrats hold a 35-point advantage with female voters who care about jobs and a 26 percent advantage when asked which party is willing to compromise. House Republicans say jobs and the economy are their top priorities.  (our emphasis)

No one could have seen that coming.

Georgia's Mini Mitt

The campaign for the U.S. Senate in Georgia pits Dem Michelle Nunn, daughter of Georgia's well-respected former Sen. Sam Nunn, against plutocrat job-killer Republican David "PerDon't" Perdue.  Her campaign is doing fairly well in this red state, and a new ad she has on the air should remind people of who's on their side and who's only interested in taking their money and jobs.  The ad's clearly reminiscent of the successful Bain Capital ads during the 2012 campaign against Willard "Mittens" Romney. Watch:



Real people, telling their wrenching story of betrayal by a clueless plutocrat who wants to be a Senator.  Well done.

(h/t to Talking Points Memo)

Our Broken Media, McCain-Todd Edition

No one works the Sunday morning talk show circuses better than Arizona Sen. and sore loser John "McNasty" McCain.  When there's bombing a country in the Middle East on the agenda, McNasty (often accompanied by his sidekick South Carolina Sen. Huckleberry Butchmeup*) can be counted on to show up, bitterly wagging his finger at President Obama, whom McNasty will never forgive for beating his wrinkled butt in 2008.

In fact, McNasty holds the record for most appearances on the floundering Press the Meat show, and if yesterday's rub-a-dub with Chuck "Not My Job" Todd on his MSNBC show was any indication, McNasty will continue to be the virtual co-host on that program.  The two engaged in what can only be described as a mutual tongue bath, trading compliments, advice and broad smiles, signaling that Not My Job's tenure at Press the Meat will be little different from the departed Dancin' Dave Gregory's.
________
*Esquire.com's Charles P. Pierce's memorable moniker for Sen. Graham)

Economy Bouncing Back

The Commerce Department announced today that the U.S. economy grew at a robust rate of 4.2 percent in the second quarter of this year.  Economists say that the continued expansion of the gross domestic product signals that the recovery is well underway across multiple sectors of the economy.

At some point, the current political / media narrative will catch up to reality and shift from the foreboding descriptions of the economy from 5 years ago, and credit this Administration -- despite being fanatically opposed by a desperate Rethuglican party -- for getting the economy back on the road after the previous Administration drove it into a ditch.

Ukrainian Forces Engage With Russians

Russia's de facto invasion of Ukraine continues, with NATO reporting "well over 1,000 Russian troops" operating in southeastern Ukraine in support of pro-Russian separatists.  Despite the capture of 11 Russian soldiers inside Ukraine in the past few days, Russia continues to deny any military incursion into Ukraine.  The cross-border troop movements have occurred at the same time Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko was meeting with Russian autocrat Vladimir "Vlad the Invader" Putin in Minsk, Belarus.

The objective of the Russian forces appears to be Mariupol, a sizable port city northeast of the Crimean peninsula.  Ukrainian forces were driven from the border town of  Novoazovsk in the past two days by what were described as pro-Russian separatists supported by units of the Russian army.

Today's Cartoons: Double Whopper Edition

(click to enlarge)

(Clay Jones, via gocomics.com;  see more at claytoonz.com)

(Mike Luckovich, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

As noted on Monday, Burger King is another one of those "American" companies that wants to have every advantage of doing business in the United States, without paying its fair share in taxes.  As for us, we'll be avoiding their horsemeat burgers in the future.

Stewart Nails Clueless Fuxers

The Daily Show's Jon Stewart returned from vacation last night to deliver a passionate overview of the events in Ferguson and to mock the execrable coverage by the bigots at the Fux Channel, most notably Bill O'Liely and Sean "Heil" Hannity.  Classic Stewart.

This Is Your Politics On Koch

Dems have been attacking the negative influence of corporate money in politics for years, and with the shredding of campaign financing limits -- notoriously following the Citizens United court decision -- the problem is critical.  The infamous right-wing Koch brothers, whose father was a founder of the neo-fascist John Birch Society, operate behind front organizations to support Republican candidates who are committed to mindless polluter deregulation, doing away with the minimum wage (and unions), and eliminating the social safety net, while cutting taxes on the wealthiest Americans. (Caught on tape: hello, Republican Sen. Mitch "Missy" McConnell (Koch-KY)!)

Beltway media cynics -- including pay-to-play hack Mike Allen of "PoliticHo" -- are chuckling at the Dems' advertising campaign for the 2014 mid-term elections in which they identify the Koch brothers' attempts to buy policies favorable to them. But the same hacks in the media might want to take a second look after this story about several Rethug candidates for the Senate who showed up earlier this summer and lavished praise on the Koch front organization, "Americans for Prosperity," which plans to spend a staggering $125 million to support extreme right-wing candidates in 2014.  To think that these candidates, if elected, would turn their backs on their biggest benefactor is nonsense.  That's the danger to our democracy, and the winking and smirking of corrupted media hacks is a huge part of the problem.

Mid-Week Dog Days Song

Happy birthday (tomorrow) to British singer Florence Welch, of Florence + The Machine, who has earned Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Album.   With summer fading, her "Dog Days Are Over," here in an MTV Unplugged performance, seems like a good choice.  Enjoy.

The Teed-Off Pundits

The Beltway media has been in a tizzy for days over President Obama's golfing during his brief vacation in Martha's Vineyard.  Questions from the Villagers at daily White House press briefings focus on the "optics" of the President golfing while THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END!!  Of course, "optics" are what our broken media know how to cover best since it requires the least thought.

NY Times columnist Maureen "MoDo" Dowd, someone who, when she's not obsessing on the Clintons' sex life is mocking Obama, had a true "jumping the shark" column in the Sunday Times, which is nicely summarized by Simon Maloy.  (Speaking of of "optics," Miss MoDo swooned over Dumbya's staged "Mission Accomplished" landing on the aircraft carrier -- we think it was his codpiece that impressed spinster MoDo).  Compare Obama's predecessor's vacation time at the same point in his Presidency (407 days), with Obama's (138).  It's also worth remembering that St. Ronnie of Hollywood, who wasn't heckled by a tame press when he was vacationing, was no stranger to vacationing during crises.  Finally, when they think of Presidents golfing, the media should remember this classic from Dumbya, intrepid fighter of "evil-doers."

Pic of the Day

Weeper of the House John "Mr. Tangerine Man" Boehner must feel powerless sometimes, with his out-of-control, off-the-deep-end teabagger Representatives calling the shots.  Well, he still has one friend:  a wind-up toy monkey, which we're sure he prefers to talk to rather than the teabaggers.  The whole situation makes him want to cry….

UPDATE:  Meanwhile, the wingnuts in the House are allocating $350,000 on a frivolous lawsuit against the President that everyone knows is going nowhere.  But, cut those food stamps!

UPDATE II:  We know one thing is making Mr. Tangerine Man happy - he's pulled down some nice profits from a corporate tax dodging (inversion) scheme.

The Russians Are Coming….

A group of Russian paratroopers have been captured inside Ukrainian territory, and the Ukrainian government accused the Russian Federation of sending them on a "special mission" to assist pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.  Videos of two of the paratroopers left no doubt of their authenticity, with one saying:

"Stop sending in our boys. Why? This is not our war. And if we weren't here, none of this would have happened. They would have sorted things out with the government themselves."

At the same time, Russian military forces have stepped up their attacks at the border between the two countries, with a Russian attack helicopter killing 4 Ukrainian border guards.  There are also reports by Ukraine that pro-Russian separatists are being assisted by a column of Russian armored vehicles and are attacking the southeastern Ukrainian town of Novoazovsk.

Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin is meeting in Belarus today with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to discuss Russian intervention in Ukraine.  These incidents undoubtedly topped the agenda.

Home of the Tax Evader

"Just around the corner" if by "corner" you mean the Canadian border….

News that hamburger chain Burger King is bidding for Canada's iconic Tim Hortons coffee and doughnut chain provides another example of corporations relocating in foreign nations to dodge U.S. corporate taxes, while profiting from huge consumer sales in the U.S.

The tax-avoidance scheme is called "inversion," and we've recently noted where corporations are setting up their headquarters abroad to duck taxes here.  The assumption that all large corporations pay the full rate (35%) in corporate taxes is belied by the fact that the average rate they pay is 12.6% after taking advantage of write-offs and loopholes in the tax code.

From shipping jobs overseas to shipping themselves there, it's all about short-changing the public and pocketing the change in profits.

Today's Tomorrow Cartoon: Approved Ferguson Responses

(click to enlarge)

(Tom Tomorrow, via Daily Kos)

Headline Of The Day

"Massachusetts man fears his horns, ’666′ forehead tattoo will make a fair trial impossible"

Yes, that could pose a problem.  Let's hope he's not from Salem, also.

The Republican War On Women - Minnesota (Not So) Nice Edition

Try as they might to avoid it, Republicans attempting to hide their paleolithic attitudes toward women (and non-whites and non-straight people) are being exposed.  The most recent example is "Dim Jim" Hagedorn, Republican/ New Confederate/ Stupid Party candidate for Congress in Minnesota's 1st District.  In the past, on his blog "Mr. Conservative," Hagedorn had some deep Conservative thoughts:

Lest anyone challenge his bona fides, Hagedorn wanted to make abundantly clear he was a straight white male. "Senator McCain's campaign was all but flat lined before he brought the feisty Caribou Barbie into our living rooms," he wrote in 2008. "Which reminds me, on behalf of all red-blooded American men: THANK YOU SENATOR McCAIN, SARAH'S HOT!" 

Not all female politicians were viewed as favorably. In a 2002 post, Hagedorn referred to Washington Democratic Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray as "undeserving bimbos in tennis shoes." Former Bush White House counsel Harriet Miers, he wrote in 2005, had been nominated "to fill the bra of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor."  (our emphasis)

We haven't seen his footwear, but we're going to say "Dim Jim" is an undeserving himbo in wingtips clown shoes.

Saturday Cartoon - That's Not What We Mean By "Diversity"

(click to enlarge)

 (John Deering, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

Community relations might be a little difficult in places like Ferguson, MO, with psychopaths like (recently suspended) Sgt. Maj. Dan Page on the St. Louis County police force.  Sample quote:

"Policemen are very cynical. I know I am," Page says from a podium on the video. "I hate everybody. I'm into diversity. I kill everybody."  (our emphasis)

Page also rants about his opposition to hate crime laws and calls President Obama an "illegal alien."

Then there are these two sweethearts.  Missouri officials might want to administer some saliva tests to their state and local police to see how many cops like Page and his co-loons are strutting around with military-grade weapons.  Just a thought.

Insert Coin, Watch Scotty Dance

It's corruption season for Republican governors.  The latest shady deal to be exposed is Wisconsin Gov. Scott "Beam Me Up Scotty" Walker, who is alleged by prosecutors to have personally pressured contributors to his 2012 recall campaign to contribute to the right-wing Wisconsin Club for Plutocrat Growth, in order to duck campaign financing limits and disclosure laws.  Direct coordination between political campaigns and groups like Wisconsin Club for Growth -- which can accept unlimited, anonymous donations -- violates Federal law.

Beam Me Up Scotty is infamous for doing the bidding of the one percenters.  Gogebic Taconite LLC, a large iron mining firm, contributed $700,000 to Wisconsin Club for Growth and got their money's worth when the Governor later signed legislation to streamline mining regulations that benefitted Gogebic's mining project.  Birther Donald "Rump" Trump donated $15,000 to the group after a meeting with the Governor.  Then there's the prank call that he got in 2011 from a journalist pretending to be billionaire wingnut David Koch where he sucked up to his benefactor, promising to deal harshly with public employee unions.

The plutocrats, unlike the people, are getting what they paid for with Scotty.

Hail To The (Slur)

The formerly great Washington Post Bezos Bugle has decided, as a matter of editorial policy, not to use the Washington football team's name, which is a slur on Native Americans according to the Federal Government (not to mention dictionaries).  The policy only impacts what's written on the editorial pages, not in the sports or news sections.  Too bad.

Owner Li'l Danny Snyder may have to cancel his subscription over this, which would elevate the quality of the subscribers immensely.

Weekend Box of Rain Song

This is a beautiful Phil Lesh/ Robert Hunter song from the Grateful Dead's "American Beauty" album that Lesh wrote to sing to his dying father.  He's said "Box of Rain" was intended to mean "the world we live on," and the time spent on it as ephemeral as, well, a box of rain.  But while we're talking about rain (it's been raining off and on hereabouts), we have to give a shout out to our Arizona Bureau Chief, AZ Gail, hoping that she stayed dry during the recent flooding in her area.  Enjoy the weekend and the song, because

It's just a box of rain

I don't know who put it there

Believe it if you need it

or leave it if you dare

And it's just a box of rain

or a ribbon for your hair

Such a long long time to be gone

and a short time to be there.

So Virginia's Not For Lovers After All?

The corruption trial of former Virginia Governor Bob "Blowdry Bob" McDonnell now hinges on whether the coin-operated former Governor can convince the jury that he and his -- uh -- materialistic wife Maureen were not enough of a couple to conspire in separating health pill magnate Jonnie Williams from his money in exchange for government favors.  The defense has been suggesting for weeks that the McDonnells were in a "broken marriage" that precluded any conspiracy between them to extract loans, gifts, etc, from Williams.

When Blowdry Bob took the stand for the first time yesterday, he portrayed a frayed marriage and a spouse beyond control in an attempt to distance himself from the gifts and loans provided by Williams.  Blowdry Bob, who was once mentioned on a short list of Republican Presidential possibilities, noted that his wife spent more time on the phone with Williams than with him, all part of an effort to distance himself from the "pay-to-play" corruption charges against him.  We'll see how the strategy works, but the prosecution will be eager to explore Blowdry Bob's direct involvement with Williams, for example his $30,000 investment in Williams' company, the $15,000 given to him to cover his daughter's catering costs, and much more.

BONUS:  Here's a teaser from Eugene Robinson's op/ed this morning on the Guv:

How far would you go to stay out of jail? Would you publicly humiliate your wife of 38 years, portraying her as some kind of shrieking harridan? Would you put the innermost secrets of your marriage on display, inviting voyeurs to rummage at will? 

For Robert McDonnell, the former Virginia governor on trial for alleged corruption, the answers appear to be: “As far as necessary,” “Hey, why not?” and “Sounds like a plan."  

Republican family values!

(photo:  "Bob, not so tight, you're choking me….Bob….Bob?"  Also, nice watch, Governor!)

No Good News There

Grim international events are keeping President Obama, the U.S. and the international community busy:

Earlier today, Ukraine accused Russian of invading its territory by sending a unauthorized truck convoy across the border near the city of Luhansk, where Russian separatists are losing the battle with Ukrainian forces for control.  Ukrainian officials said more than 100 trucks crossed the border, with only "34 or 35" having been thoroughly checked by border officials.  As a statement by Ukraine's foreign ministry indicated, "Neither the Ukrainian side nor the International Committee of the Red Cross knows the content of the trucks. This arouses special concern."  While many of the trucks may contain food, water and medicine, given Putin's designs on Ukraine, would it surprise anyone if arms and military supplies weren't tucked away with the "humanitarian" aid?

In the Middle East, the brutal murder of James Foley by ISIS/ISIL is only the latest outrage by their terrorist army, which has engaged in mass executions, rape and slavery.  Initially drawn into the battle against Syrian dictator Assad, ISIS/ISIL has waged a genocidal, fanatic cross-border war against Muslims, Christians and religious minorities in the territory they have gained.  Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel stated yesterday that ISIS/ISIL is as well-financed, well-armed and "beyond what we've seen" in terms of a very serious threat.  This won't be a "cakewalk."

UPDATE:  NATO sources are reporting instances of Russian artillery firing from inside Ukraine in support of pro-Russian separatists.  A NATO spokesperson said, "Russian artillery support - both cross-border and from within Ukraine - is being employed against the Ukrainian armed forces."  Ominous but not entirely surprising news.

Paul Ryan's Most Pressing Issue: Cutting Taxes On The Wealthy

Ayn Rand admirer and soon-to-be-Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee (!) Rep. Paul "Lyin'" Ryan (Galt-WI) has told the right-wing rag the "Weekly Standard" that he thinks cutting the top marginal tax rate for wealthy Americans is an "even more pressing" need than it was in the reign of St. Ronnie of Hollywood, who cut it from 50 percent to 28 percent.

Because we don't have enough income inequality?  Or is this his way of addressing his "new focus" on poverty?

No, he's just showing his long-standing, true colors to his fan base of "Makers," whose philosophy of economic Darwinism drives their Republican Party's failed "trickle down" policies.  It's precisely the wrong formula for a healthy and prosperous middle class, which is the true driver of economic growth.

Perry's Pickle Cartoon of the Day

(click to enlarge)

We're going to enjoy watching "Oops" in the weeks and months ahead deal with the pickle he's in.

BONUS:  As usual, Andy Borowitz comes through.

BONUS II:  He can't remember what he's charged with, either.  Oops!

(top, Stuart Carlson, bottom, Rob Rogers, via Gocomics.com)

Pop Go The Weasels

The week of demonstrations in Ferguson, MO has given a lot of clowns "permission" to let their racist freak flag fly.

Exhibit 1:  Samuel "Joe Not A Plumber" Wurzelbacher (and John McNasty/Winky Palin campaign prop) posted some nasty comments on his Facebook page, including this neo-Nazi jibe:  "The best way to end rioting in Ferguson…Job Fair…They'll scatter like cockroaches when the lights come on."  As the link notes, a job fair was held there in June, and thousands showed up.  Btw, does "Joe Not A Plumber" even have a job these days? *

Exhibit 2:  Not that the Ku Klux Klan ever needs "permission" to act like the mouth-breathing morons that they are, but a pathetic Klan outfit that calls themselves the "New Empire Knights" gathered an hour's drive from Ferguson to have a fundraiser for the police officer who, as they put it, "shot a n*gger criminal."  If any of these sheet-wearing losers were actually dropped into Ferguson, they'd shit soil their sheets.

Exhibit 3:  What racist moment would be complete without the "input" of head-banging has-been, draft dodger and likely pedophile Ted "Crap My Pants" Nugent (and Willard Romney campaign prop) who wants every fellow moron to know that "liberals are complicit in Michael Brown's death."  Riiiight, not the racist right wingers on your side of the fence who for decades have red-lined housing in communities based on race, and have denied voting rights, employment opportunity and equal education based on "conservative principles" and "states' rights."  Crap My Pants also helpfully lists some whites killed by blacks (and no riots!!) on his sick Facebook page.

BONUS:  TBogg collects some of the remaining dregs on this posting.

* BONUS II:  Actually, "Joe Not A Plumber" has a job --- thanks, Obama! (Literally) h/t No More Mister Nice Blog.

What A Fool Believes

"What’s all the stink over the Redskin name?” Ditka said. “It’s so much [expletive] it’s incredible. We’re going to let the liberals of the world run this world. It was said out of reverence, out of pride to the American Indian. Even though it was called a Redskin, what are you going to call them, a Proudskin? This is so stupid it’s appalling, and I hope that owner keeps fighting for it and never changes it, because the Redskins are part of an American football history, and it should never be anything but the Washington Redskins. That’s the way it is. "  -- former NFL player and coach and current ESPN analyst "Iron Head" Mike Ditka, in an interview with RedskinsHistorian.com's Mike Richman.  Ditka once said not running as a Republican (what else?) against Barack Obama when Obama ran for the Senate was the "biggest mistake" he ever made.  We recommend the forehead-challenged Ditka, who is intimately associated with the terms "stupid" and "appalling," go to the nearest gathering of Native Americans and greet them with, "Hi, Redskins!" to see how they take it. That might turn out to be the "biggest mistake" he ever made.

BONUS:  True to form, fellow nitwit and word salad chef Sarah "Winky" Palin chimes in =tinkle=tinkle=

(Photo: Iron Head Mike with fellow nitwit Sarah "Winky" Palin.)

Krispykreme's Unrequited Love

New Jersey Governor and head of New Jersey's Rethuglican crime family Chris "Krispykreme" Christie loves him some Bruce Springsteen, and no New Jersey citizen is going to stop him from playing The Boss' music at his town halls and rallies. Gov. Krispykreme erupted at a town hall meeting when he was told by a female audience member that she thought he had been asked not to play Springsteen's songs because his policies conflicted with Springsteen's progressive views.  Angrily marching back and forth microphone clutched hand, Krispykreme appears more and more belligerent toward the woman as she confronts the porcine politician.

Whether or not Springsteen has asked Gov. Krispykreme directly to stop playing his music at his political events, Springsteen campaigned far and wide for President Obama in 2012, while Krispykreme campaigned for Willard "Mittens" Romney.  That tells you that Krispykreme wants his audiences to falsely associate him with the ever-popular Springsteen, and don't let the big gasbag tell you otherwise.

Mid-Week Joy Song

Australian alternative rock singer Vance Joy is getting noticed beyond his home "down under."  He has a new album coming out in September, and our mid-week selection from him has been on the alternative rock singles charts for 15 weeks and climbed to #1 this week.  Enjoy "Riptide."

Photo Of The Day: Rick Perry's Mugshot

Via HuffPo, courtesy of KVUE News and Travis County Courthouse, Gov. Rick "Oops" Perry's mugshot taken today:

Where are your "smart" glasses, Governor?

From The Sports Desk...

Last night's preseason football game between Washington and the Cleveland Browns was apparently a snoozer, with both teams' quarterbacks looking uninspiring.  However, we noted that Cleveland rookie quarterback Johnny "Johnny Football" Manziel made the news not for his flat performance, but for his upright middle finger which he flipped at the Washington sidelines after a series of plays:

We'd like to think that Manziel flipped the bird at our "favorite" football team owner, Li'l Danny Snyder, but no such luck.

Fans of Cleveland's bitterest rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, were quick to jump on Manziel's gesture:

On a more mature note, two prominent broadcasters, CBS' Phil Simms and NBC's Tony Dungy have stated that they will not use the Washington football team's offensive name in their broadcasts this season.

Marches, Tear Gas and Questions In Ferguson

As every night in Ferguson, MO brings scenes of demonstrations and conflicts in the streets, one key piece to the puzzle remains outstanding:  will a grand jury charge the police officer responsible for the shooting of Michael Brown with voluntary manslaughter or a higher charge?  The grand jury convenes tomorrow to consider evidence and testimony.

While there are clearly people among the demonstrators that aren't there to demand answers but rather with their own violent agenda, the large majority demonstrating are Ferguson residents who are frustrated at the failure of authorities to give Brown and the police officer due process of law.  Mark Sumner at Daily Kos has summarized the questions that the local police should be answering, e.g. are the whereabouts of Officer Wilson known and is he a flight risk, was a crime scene investigation carried out, etc.  The local prosecutor, Bob McCulloch, appears to lack the trust of the Ferguson community, given a long record of neglect of the community and his most recent election in which he resorted to racial dog whistles, and his delay in bringing evidence before a grand jury has only inflamed the situation.

BONUS:  CNN's Jake "Tippy" Tapper is someone we've had differences with in the past, but he does a nice job of demonstrating the overreaction of local police last night (apologies for the embedded advertisement):

Going for the Human Trafficker Vote

Florida Governor and Voldemort impersonator Rick "Not Great" Scott isn't the brightest bulb in the chandelier.  Case in point:  his crack advertising team created a campaign commercial that shows a convicted human trafficker endorsing him.  Maikel Duarte-Torres, who was convicted in 2011 of trying to smuggle two Cuban girls from St. Maarten to Miami, is shown in the now-withdrawn ad embracing Not Great Scott and exclaiming, "He's created jobs…I'm just like him…"  Why, yes, you are. Excuse us;  bwahahaha!

Not Great Scott, who is running for re-election, has a shady history himself, having run a health care company involved in the U.S.'s biggest Medicare fraud case.  Birds of a feather.

Rick Perry's Dystopian Texas

From the Dallas Morning News (h/t Charles P. Pierce) evidence continues to mushroom that all is not well in future Lenscrafters spokesmodel Gov. Rick "Oops" Perry's "booming" Texas:

Texas leaders crowed Friday about the state’s latest job-growth statistics. “The Texas economic engine is strong,” Workforce Commission Chairman Andres Alcantar said. 

But growth isn’t the whole story. 

More workers die here than in any other state. On average, a Texas worker is 12 percent more likely to be killed on the job than someone doing the same job elsewhere, according to a Dallas Morning News analysis of federal data. 

That translates to about 580 excess workplace deaths over a decade. 

Construction has contributed mightily to Texas’ booming economy. And the state’s construction sites are 22 percent deadlier than the national average. 

Forty percent of Texas’ excess death toll was among roofers, electricians and others in specialty construction trades. Such workers are sometimes treated as independent contractors, leaving them responsible for their own safety equipment and training. Many are undocumented immigrants. 

Government and industry here have invested relatively little in safety equipment, training and inspections, researchers say. And Texas is one of the toughest places to organize unions, which can promote safety. 

“There’s a Wild West culture here,” said University of Texas law professor Thomas McGarity, who has written several books about regulation. Texans often think, “We don’t want some nanny state telling workers how to work and, by implication, telling employers how to manage the workplace,” he said. 

The Texas construction industry flourishes in the state’s business-friendly climate, Gov. Rick Perry has said. 

“Let free enterprise reign, and be wary of overregulation,” he declared in a 2009 speech at the Central Texas Construction Expo. “All that regulation adds to your overhead, and you can’t operate at a profit.”   (our emphasis)

What are a few excess deaths from exploding unregulated fertilizer plants and unregulated, non-unionized workplaces when balanced against corporate profit margins, eh, Gov. "Oops"?  Clearly, he and his fellow sociopath Republicans, if given the choice, would rather people be hurt than profits. "Pro-life party," indeed.

That's as much an indictment of your tenure in office as your... um, indictment.

(Photo:  Booming Texas.  The unregulated fertilizer plant in West, TX, exploding on April 17, 2013, taking the town with it.)

Today's Tomorrow Cartoon - Armored Combat Police

Q.E.D., see post below.

(click to enlarge)

(Tom Tomorrow, via Daily Kos)

Violence Escalates In Ferguson; National Guard Called In

The situation in Ferguson, MO, deteriorated further last night following news that an autopsy performed at the request of the family of the slain unarmed teenager, Michael Brown, showed he was shot 6 times -- twice in the head -- prompting Gov. Jay Nixon to call in the National Guard.  Three journalists were also threatened and detained by police. During a protest prior to the midnight curfew last night, police fired tear gas into the crowd, with predictable results (video via HuffPo):

Clueless Quote of the Day

"This is not the way that we settle differences, political differences in this country.  You don't do it with indictments. We settle our political differences at the ballot box." (emphasis added) -- Clueless Texas Governor  Rick "Oops" Perry, reacting to the two-count felony indictment by a Texas grand jury for abuse of power. Riiiight!  Like suing the President for issuing perfectly legal Executive Orders, or threatening impeachment because your party didn't win the past two Presidential elections.  That's not the way we settle our political differences either, Oops.

Speaking of clueless hacks, do we really need David Axelrod opining on the decision by a grand jury made up of citizens to indict Oops by saying it appears "sketchy?"  No, we don't, so put a sock in it.

Life For An African American In Ferguson, MO, In One Paragraph

“More than four people in the car, they’re going to pull you over,” said Earl Lee Jr., a 41-year-old warehouse worker who lives in a nearby suburb. “Tint on your windows, they’re going to pull you over. Too early in the morning, they think you’re up to something. Too late, they think you’re up to something. When are you supposed to drive?” -  once great Washington Post Bezos Bugle, today.

The Unraveling Lies About "Obamacare"

Michael Tomasky has a comprehensive article on the right wing's five lies about the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare") that are being disproven as the implementation of the law proceeds.  "Government takeover," "death panels," "skyrocketing health insurance costs," were some of the falsehoods spread in  an effort to stop health insurance reform in its tracks.

Now that the ACA has had time to successfully offer uninsured Americans affordable care, either through competitive, private insurance policies offered through the HHS or state exchanges or through expanded Medicaid coverage, the apocalyptic warnings and waving of arms on the right have diminished.  Insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions, and no lifetime caps on coverage are extremely popular.  It's become harder for the right wing to argue for taking affordable health insurance away from people now that they have it.  Not that they won't try again;  after all, they've been trying to eliminate Medicare for nearly 50 years, and Social Security for 75 years.

Cartoon of the Day: Unequal In The Eyes Of The Law

Again, ask yourself:  what if the Ferguson, MO, demonstrators had been right-wing militia or xenophobic tea baggers?  Would the police have acted the same?

(click to enlarge)

(Darrin Bell, via GoComics.com)

Pic Of The Day

Ferguson, MO saw more disturbances last night, after Thursday's night of calm.  A group of looters were out and did some damage before larger groups of men doing the right thing (above) began to block entry to the stores so that the looting would stop.  Some of the men kept repeating, "Man, you're better than that," and "Who you out here for?  Better be Mike Brown."

Washington Monthly's Martin Longman (of BooMan Tribune) notes that the police were strangely passive in the face of the looting.  Looting can swiftly turn public opinion away from the underlying incident that caused the unrest, and away from the actions of the Ferguson and St. Louis County police departments.  As Longman says of the police, "It's as if looting serves their purposes."

(photo:  Men in Ferguson guard store to prevent looting, from Trymaine Lee Twitter page.)

Gov. Rick Perry Indicted For Abuse Of Power, Coercion

From the Associated Press:

A grand jury indicted Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Friday for abusing the powers of his office by carrying out a threat to veto funding for state prosecutors investigating public corruption — making the possible 2016 presidential hopeful his state's first indicted governor in nearly a century.

Two felony counts.

Oops.

Weekend Stardust Song

"We are stardust, 
We are golden,
And we've got to get ourselves
Back to the Garden."

Forty-five years ago today in Max Yasgur's field in upstate New York, a festival billed as "3 days of peace and music" began.  That was Woodstock.  Half a million people showed up under sometimes difficult weather conditions to watch 32 acts perform, including much of rock royalty: the Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, CCR, and (in only their second live performance) Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Although the venue was the "Woodstock Festival," Yasgur's farm was actually in Bethel, NY, about 45 miles from Woodstock.  In retrospect, it was probably the high water mark for the counterculture generation; the eponymous song about the festival written by Joni Mitchell expressed the hope and spiritual desire to "get back to the Garden" in the midst of the Vietnam War and social upheaval.  Joni didn't attend Woodstock and had to rely on then-boyfriend Graham Nash for some of the song's lyrical inspiration.

Here's Joni's recording of "Woodstock," made into a hit later by CSNY.  Enjoy your weekend (and peace!).

From The Sports Desk….

You don't have to be a San Francisco 49ers or Giants fan to feel some nostalgia for the demise of 54 year-old Candlestick Park (the 'Stick to most locals).  Last night, they had a big party at the 'Stick, which had its last sporting event last month, and is scheduled for demolition in 2015.  Paul McCartney performed a lengthy set, bookending the much briefer set played there in 1966 by the Beatles in their last concert.  Fans of the 'Stick weren't pleased with its swirling winds and often strange-smelling, damp environment, but they'll be happy to recall moments of sports history, including Willie Mays' 3,000th hit, Joe Montana's throw to a leaping Dwight Clark winning an NFC title and trip to the Super Bowl, and the 7.1 earthquake during the 1989 World Series that shook the stadium -- and the fans -- to the core.

Overnight Calm in Ferguson, MO

Ferguson, MO went from a virtual battleground on Wednesday, to a peaceful demonstration last night where Missouri State Highway Patrol joined with the demonstrators.  Highway Patrol Captain Ron Johnson was placed in charge of the local police efforts, and the St. Louis County police withdrew with their heavy weapons.  The State Highway Patrol officers immediately began to repair relationships with the local community, angry and frustrated over the shooting of an unarmed teen, Michael Brown, on August 9.  With the name of the Ferguson police officer made public, the investigation over the use of lethal force against an unarmed person should move quickly.  In the aftermath of Brown's killing, the national discussion is also turning to the question of providing military-grade weapons and vehicles to local police forces to deal with civil disturbances and demonstrations.  The county's use of these weapons and vehicles provoked more outrage than order.

Flash: Republicans Produce Fake News

Blind squirrel emeritus Dana Milbank pauses in his analysis of President Obama's golfing habits to unearth yet another nut: 

The Republican Party has finally admitted what has been fairly obvious for much of the past six years: It produces fake news. 

This is not an earth-shattering revelation to anybody who has been paying attention, but, still, it’s an important step for the party to embrace the phoniness. 

“NRCC Launches Fake News Sites to Attack Democratic Candidates” was a headline in the National Journal on Tuesday. 

As Shane Goldmacher reported, “The National Republican Congressional Committee, which came under fire earlier this year for a deceptive series of fake Democratic candidate websites that it later changed after public outcry, has launched a new set of deceptive websites, this time designed to look like local news sources.” 

These two dozen sites, with names such as “North County Update” and “Central Valley Update” look like political fact-checking sites; the NRCC’s spokeswoman, Andrea Bozek, called it “a new and effective way to disseminate information.”  (ed. note: if by "information" you mean "lies.")

An NRCC official told me the sites are legal because, if you scroll all the way to the bottom, you’ll find, “Paid for by the National Republican Congressional Committee” in small print. “They’re not fake Web sites,” the official said. “These are real attack Web sites.” 

Real attacks, but fake news: This is a fairly accurate summary of what the GOP’s scandalmongers have been purveying during the Obama years.  (our emphasis)

What, Fox "News" wasn't putting out enough Republican bullshit?

BONUS:  And here's at least one Republican senator who thinks Fox "News" is full of it, too.

Tweedledee Departs, Tweedledum Arrives

The long anticipated canning of NBC's  Press the Meat host David "Dancin' Dave" Gregory is official:  NBC announced his departure from the program and from the network this afternoon.  This follows months of the network letting the arrogant Dancin' Dave twist in the wind as speculation about his future spread.  His replacement, Chuck "Not My Job" Todd, will drop some of his current functions in order to host the program, which slipped during Dancin' Dave's tenure.

As we noted on August 11, NBC may think it's bringing in a fresh perspective, but Not My Job is cut from the same Beltway media, false "centrist" cloth which stubbornly refuses to acknowledge that the Republican / New Confederate / Stupid Party has gone off the political deep end and is on the wrong side of public opinion on virtually every major issue.

(photo:  Dancin' Dave, left, with Turdblossom Rove in one of Dancin' Dave's most memorable performances)

Today's Cartoon: War on Who?

(click to enlarge)

(Rob Rogers, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

"War on whites."  Uh-huh.  Who else but a Southern Republican/ New Confederate/ Stupid Party peckerwood like Rep. Mo "Is Less" Brooks (Massah-Alabammy) would have such a clueless, malevolent take on America today?  Looking at those pictures (more here) and reading about what's happening in Ferguson, MO, and other places around the country, we would say if there's a war going on, only one side is waging it.

Tear Gas, Rubber Bullets Fly in Ferguson, MO

Police armed with and dressed in military gear continued to aggressively confront residents and members of the media trying to cover events in Ferguson, MO last night.  Using tear gas and firing rubber bullets, St. Louis County and Ferguson police tried to drive angry residents, along with media from the streets and businesses in the St. Louis suburb.  As we noted yesterday, Wesley Lowery, a reporter for the formerly great Washington Post Bezos Bugle, was arrested as he sat in a McDonalds and filmed police activity outside, as was a reporter for the HuffPo.  (Bonus:  Lowery, who was chastised by cable Morning Joke talking head Joe "JoeScar" Scarborough for "resisting" arrest, fired back at JoeScar with both barrels.).

With the Justice Department actively investigating the shooting of an unarmed Michael Brown on August 9 by a Ferguson police officer, the harshly aggressive tactics and militarization of the police force responding to the protests should also receive scrutiny.

UPDATE:  It's about time --  Gov. Jay Nixon (D) of Missouri is relieving the St. Louis County Police of their duties in Ferguson;  to be replaced by State and Federal police.

Governor Hair's Excellent Adventures

After his hilariously bad performance in the 2012 Rethuglican primaries, Texas Governor and future LensCrafter spokesperson Rick "Hair" Perry clearly wants to give it another try.  He's wearing "smart glasses," staging photo opportunities with fellow wingnut blowhard Sean "Heil" Hannity at the Rio Grande, and pressing the flesh at the Iowa State Fair, where he literally squeezed a 10 year old girl's hand so much she couldn't feel her fingers.  He's even being "briefed" on foreign affairs ("Shoot, I thought this was 'bout what furrin leaders were havin' affairs").  On top of it all, Gov. Hair's convinced himself that he's "awesome" and definitely Presidential material, despite the fact that only 8.7% of Rethuglicans support his candidacy.  That's not "awesome," that's awful.

(photo:  Gov. Hair, without his glasses, eats what may or may not be a corn dog.)

Overreaction - In Pictures

Pictures taken yesterday in Ferguson, MO, where Michael Brown, an unarmed African-American 18-year-old, was shot multiple times and killed by a Ferguson police officer this past Saturday (pix via Little Green Footballs):

(click to enlarge)

(David Carson/Twitter)

A sniper.  Really?  If you want to pick off unarmed civilians, there are some Russian goons in Ukraine you should get in touch with.  And get a load of the smirk on that cracker's face in the center of the picture.

(click to enlarge)

(Paul Szoldra/ Twitter)

Combat gear against unarmed civilians?  Someone might want to tell that peckerwood on the left that you don't point a weapon at someone unless you intend to shoot.

Ask yourself:  would this show of intimidating, excessive force be used against a Cliven Bundy "sovereign citizen" white racist group?  (Or maybe these cops are a Cliven Bundy "sovereign citizen" white racist group?)

UPDATE:  Roughing up the press.  Not smart, goobers.