Sunday Reading

The New York Times' Frank Rich comes through again with a sharp and intelligent op-ed on the political climate faced by President Obama, and how he can prevail. The bottom line: get tough and speak out, as Obama did with the Supreme Court's reactionary majority in the State of the Union message, and as he did two days later when he took the House Rethuglicans to the woodshed on live TV at their "retreat" in Baltimore. He won't get much help from hand-wringing Senate Dems, led by the ineffectual Harry "Sleepy" Reid, who despite the biggest majority they've had in decades, are (in Obama's words) "running for the hills," fearful of the teabagger mob and their enablers at Fux News.

Rich's piece should be mandatory reading for every Dem politician this morning.

Saturday Night Snowstorm Song

It's snowing more than predicted here in Maryland -- more than 6 inches-- so it's time for some nostalgic music.

I remember seeing this Ed Sullivan performance, and how cool it was when the orchestra appeared. Ignore Zal's mugging and the twit yelling "Zal!" from the audience if you can, and enjoy a beautiful song.

"Don't Ignore Your Base"

Colbert King has that message for President Obama in his op/ed today. How many times does he have to be told? And, moreover, how many times do Congressional Democrats need to be told?

In other words: Pass.The.Damn.Health.Care.Bill.Now.

Quote of the Day

"A lot of you have gone to ribbon cuttings for the same projects that you voted against." -- President Obama, pointing out the obvious hypocrisy of the Rethug House members who took credit for something they voted against.

Obama Spanks Rethugs at Their Own Retreat

President Obama spoke to the House Rethuglican retreat in Baltimore today, and clearly got the best of them. Think Progress has the details. Obama's focus was on defending the stimulus and the health insurance reform bills against numerous Rethuglican falsehoods, and he rebutted each false claim by the House members in a lengthy question and answer session. Several Rethug congressmen later acknowledged that he came out looking better than they did. Several Rethug staffers even complained that the session was televised and the exposure made them look bad. To which we say: bwahahahaha!

"We (Not) Teabaggin!"

When even certified loon Rep. Michele "I See Commies" Bachmann (Rethug-Land of Ten Thousand Flakes) pulls out of the upcoming tea bagger convention, you know the wheels have come off the cart. Maybe it's the $549 fee to get in? Or the internal squabbling that various tea bag factions are engaged in? Regardless, it will be interesting to see if the organizers will be able to pay Winky You Betcha the $100,000 speaking fee she demanded and still make a few bucks off the boobs, which of course is what this is mostly about for the organizers.

"I Don't Quit"

President Obama was in top form for his first State of the Union message last night. He was calm, direct, and didn't mince words for the Rethugs in attendance. Some of our favorite moments:

"I've been told that our political system is too gridlocked, and that we should just put things on hold for a while. For those who make these claims, I have one simple question: How long should we wait? How long should America put its future on hold?"

"If the Republican leadership is going to insist that sixty votes in the Senate are required to do any business at all in this town, then the responsibility to govern is now yours as well."

"Each time lobbyists game the system, or politicians tear each other down instead of lifting the country up, we lose faith. The more TV pundits reduce serious debates into silly arguments, and big issues into sound bites, our citizens turn away."

"To Democrats, I would remind you that we still have the largest majority in decades, and the people expect us to solve some problems, not run for the hills."

"We don't quit, I don't quit.

Also fun to watch was the Rethug reaction to Obama's plan to tax banks who haven't repaid the taxpayers, but who are giving out enormous bonuses: they sat on their hands! Good visual for the 2010 campaign. Same for the list of taxes Obama reduced: the Rethugs didn't applaud.

Finally, Justice Sam "Mosquito" Alito shaking his head and mouthing "not true" was priceless and a breach of protocol, as the President criticized the Court's right wing majority for siding with corporations on campaign ads. Mosquito has the least "judicial temperament" of any Justice in recent memory, and apparently hasn't forgotten the President's January 2006 vote against his confirmation for the Supreme Court.

(photo: NY Times)

Butthole of the Week

Well, the week's not over, but we're figuring that there won't be much to top this from (former) ESPN.com contributor, and former NBA player Paul "Humanitarian" Shirley, to the people of Haiti:

"If it's possible, could you not rebuild your island home in the image of its predecessor? Could you not resort to the creation of flimsy shanty-and-shack towns? And could some of you maybe use a condom once in a while?"

ESPN fired the clown after he posted his noxious "thoughts" on another blog. If we could only drop him off in Haiti with his "thoughts" tattooed on his small forehead.

"O'Keefe? We Don't Know Any O'Keefe"

It looks like hard times ahead for junior wingnut cub reporter James "G. Gordon Diddy" O'Keefe. Busted on felony charges stemming from the attempt to bug the phones of Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu, G.G. Diddy is experiencing the doors of former wingnut allies slamming in his face. The latest is the Salt Lake County Rethug organization, which cancelled a speech by G.G. Diddy on "ACORN's unethical behavior." [Snicker, tee hee, nice turnabout!] Fux News was also disconsolate over their young hero's fall from grace as the pimped-out ACORN slayer of yore.

It's our fondest wish that G.G. Diddy serve time, but not before disclosing the Rethug operators who supported his caper.

(photo: G.G. Diddy's clever disguise as a telephone repairman didn't fool the Feds)

In Fux They Trust

Given the number of hardcore wingnuts, it's not surprising that a recent poll finds the Fux "News" Channel the "most trusted" source of television news. Not surprising, because these folks aren't looking for news, they're looking for a confirmation of their own biases and delusions, and Fux delivers the goods. As the pollsters put it:

"A generation ago Walter Cronkite was the most trusted name in the country because of his neutrality. Now people trust Fox the most precisely because of its lack of neutrality. It says a lot about where journalism is headed."

Ironically, ABC News finished last in trust in the poll; ABC News is the network of White House Correspondent Jake "Tippy" Tapper, who defended Fux News as a "sister organization" after it was called out by White House officials last fall.

Headline of the Day

"Man Caught At Airport With 44 Lizards in His Pants" (via HuffPo)

A little song, a little dance, a little party in his pants. And the security screeners thought he was just happy to see them.

Rethug Crime Blotter - Junior Wingnut Edition

James "G. Gordon Diddy" O'Keefe, the junior wingnut who "exposed" ACORN as the demofascistcommie fraud that it is(n't), was arrested by the FBI today along with three other stools when they attempted to tamper with the phones in Sen. Mary Landrieu's New Orleans office. O'Keefe and his ninja henchmen were posing as telephone repairmen when the caper went south. Look for RedState and the Freepers to start the legal defense fund toot sweet.

(Photo: "G. Gordon Diddy" O'Keefe, and his moll from the ACORN sting, in happier times.)

"America the Ungovernable"

...Ungovernable, if you have the current mix of nihilist, obstructionist Rethugs, spineless Democrats, and a largely clueless public. That's Michael Cohen's analysis in the current Newsweek. Can't say we disagree.

The question is, come tomorrow night's State of the Union, if the President will be counted in among the spineless Democrats, trying to mount the magic pony of bipartisanship and delivering rhetorical cream puffs to his audience, who badly need to hear some truths for a change.

Another Seat Down The Drain?

When Vice President Biden was elected, the Senate seat that he held for 36 years was filled on a interim basis by his long-time aide Ted Kaufmann, with the expectation that Biden's son Beau, Delaware's Attorney General, would run in 2010. The Rethugs are expected to put up popular Representative Mike "White" Castle. Unfortunately, Biden has announced that he won't run to fill his father's seat, so White Castle has a much easier race in front of him and is the new favorite to win.

Not to question Biden's intestinal fortitude, but compare his situation with that of Massachusetts Sen.-elect Scott "Centerfold" Brown who until the last couple of weeks was written off in the face of what was expected to be an easy Democratic win. The Rethugs are throwing caution to the wind and going for it; Dems are putting their finger in the wind and running from it.

Liars and Their Lying Lies

Conventional wisdom is that politicians generally spin the truth to their liking, but in the case of South Carolina Rethuglican Sen. Jim "Demented" DeMint, the truth never met Demented's acquaintance. And he lies even after hearing his own recorded statements.

Demented was caught in a blatant lie on ABC's This Week today when he denied -- even after hearing an audio tape of himself -- that he said health insurance reform should be the President's "Waterloo." Demented was later called out by New Jersey's Dem Sen. Robert Menendez, who said the Rethug's "whole political strategy is for this President and this Congress to fail." The Rethug approach is to use lies -- "death panels," "Government takeover of health care," "pulling the plug on granny" -- to obstruct reform on behalf of the insurance corporations, and assume that the broken mainstream media won't challenge the lies. Today was a rare instance where they assumed wrong.

Plouffe to the Rescue?

We see it as good news that Obama campaign mastermind David Plouffe is going to be rejoining the Administration as its polling and uber-political coordinator with the DNC, the various Congressional campaign committees, and statehouses. Indeed, Plouffe's opening shot, an op/ed in today's Kaplan Post, seems to be setting just the right tone for how Democrats should be girding for the 2010 midterms and beyond. (Aside: also check out Devilstower's excellent piece at Daily Kos.)

The first point Plouffe makes: "Pass a meaningful health insurance reform package without delay." This runs counter to the prevailing meme in the Village, which has been unduly influenced (as usual) by Rethug spinmeisters - as an example, the Post's Outlook section today has two crowing pieces from Rethug pollsters/advisers about how and why the Rethugs are back, bay-beee! Yes, and please explain why 56% of voters are unhappy with the GOP's direction, versus 19% who are happy with it (Public Policy Polling, Jan. 2010)!

Want more proof of the "run for your life" CW among the Villagers? Look no further than the Post's lead editorial today, calling for "Health diplomacy," (i.e., wasting even more time trying to find a few Rethugs to support a watered-down reform bill) which was clearly written by editorialist David Ignatius, who has an amplifying op/ed ("An Obama Plan B for health care") on the opposite page! Dems would do well to ignore these "helpful suggestions," which are clearly intended to preserve the status quo and the Rethug worldview. As Plouffe says in his op/ed's final point, "Instead of fearing what may happen, let's prove that we have more than just the brains to govern--that we have the guts to govern."

Amen, brother.

Unintentionally Hilarious Comment of the Day

"Sunshine really does work if you allow it to." -- Artificially orange-hued House Republican minority leader John "Man Tan" Boehner, commenting on the Rethug-favorable ruling by the Supreme Court allowing unlimited corporate funding of political ads.

But Man Tan would prefer bottled sunshine over the real thing any day.

(photo: "I can't believe how much my corporate sponsors are paying for this golfing vacation!")

"Stunning...Intellectual Dishonesty"

The fallout continues over the Supreme Court's outrageous decision to allow unlimited corporate political campaign funding. It was the subject of a furious White House push-back in the President's weekly address today. Ruth Marcus has a pointed op/ed about the "intellectual dishonesty" of the majority's legal reasoning. To say this is the most radical mis-reading of the Constitution since the Dred Scott decision in the 1850's is not an exaggeration. The cliche is that elections have consequences, and this is the consequence of three Rethug presidencies (Reagan, Bush I and II) who put the current 5 crackpot "conservatives" on today's Court.

"Fight or Flight?"

Skip the Charles Kraphammer and Michael "Mushroom Cloud" Gerson op/eds in today's Kaplan Post, and go directly to Eugene Robinson's piece, "Fight or Flight?" Kraphammer and Gerson, as we know, only want whats best for Dems and are always there with the helpful dagger, er, idea.

A more concise way of expressing Robinson's (and our) viewpoint is offered by the makers of Balls Beer. Take a refreshing gulp and enjoy!

A Supremely Bad Idea

The Supreme Court has ruled 5 to 4 to eliminate most of the limitations on corporate funding for Federal political campaigns, opening the door to massive corporate influence over elections. While labor unions would also be free to fund ads under the decision, corporations have a huge advantage in resources. Under the phony banner of "free speech", the Court's conservative majority's decision will allow corporations to fund attack ads for political candidates that oppose their corporate interests. Speaking for the minority, Justice Stevens noted that this would place corporations at an extreme advantage in swaying opinion and therefore elections.

So we see once again that the core of conservative philosophy is the "golden rule": He who has the gold, rules.

"Run For Your Lives"

Only in Washington, and only in the Village in Washington, would 59 votes be less than 41. Eugene Robinson, whose shorts rarely get twisted up his butt, has a more sane view:

"You'd think from the overheated commentary that this was the end of the world (as we know it). Instead of having 20 more votes in the Senate than the Republicans, the Democrats now have only 18 more votes. Run for your lives."

Allow us to further comment along the lines of the post below: Someone needs to clue in the spineless, gutless Dems ("Call for Sen. Evan Bayh") who want to scurry into their holes and await the Apocalypse. Get on the offensive. Get control of your message. Have some discipline. And for God's sake don't look for ways to undercut yourselves. Whether you believe it or not, history is on your side, just as it has been for most of the past 80 years. Act like it.

Meanwhile, here's someone else's take:

Mass. Casualties

You have to hand it to the Rethugs and their recruited army of teabaggers: they aren't afraid of sticking it to the big, bad Dems. Just one year after Obama's inauguration, they've convinced a sizeable number of 'Murcans that returning to the policies that got us into the protracted mess we're in is the right thing to do. And you have to wonder when the Dems will get that spine implant they've so desperately needed for so many years. Trying to be all things to all people makes you weak; if you stand for everything, you stand for nothing. Where the Dems are being described today as "running scared" the Rethugs are defiant and pushing back.

Massachusetts is being touted by the cable gasbags as the end of Obama's agenda. Not once have we heard any discussion of the monolithic obstructionism and falsehoods employed by Rethug politicians that's stalled most of Obama's initiatives. According to the Villagers, it's the Dems and Obama who need to be more "bipartisan," given the vote in Massachusetts. Of course, we know in advance that the Rethug agenda is not to cooperate, but to bring Obama down -- to make health insurance reform his "Waterloo" in the memorable phrase of SC Rethug Jim "Demented" DeMint. Guaranteed the Rethugs will be even less likely to work with the Dems; they've been emboldened by the recent elections in VA, NJ and now MA.

Stay tuned and see if the Dems get the message, and get a spine.

Looking Backward

The scorekeepers in the mainstream media are already proclaiming the end of the Obama era, even before Massachusetts votes for their senator today. It's worth noting that a Rethug victory would still give the Dems more votes in the Senate than the Rethugs have had since 1923. It's also amazing, if the polls are accurate, what short memories and little patience so many people have. The arsonists who started the fire, and who have tried to block the firemen from putting out their fire, could end up in charge of rebuilding. As we said, amazing.

Sports Break

Maybe we're not wildly enthusiastic about any of the teams left in the NFC playoffs, but it sure was nice to see the Dallas Cowpies get smashed hard by the Vikings by the score of 34 to 3 (bwahahaha!). While some may argue that the Vikings' superfluous touchdown in the final 2 minutes was "rubbing it in," we say "call the waaaah-bulance." It's the offense's job to score points and it's the defense's job to keep them from scoring, something the Cowpies failed miserably to do on both sides of the ball.

(image: Pacifiers were distributed in the Cowpies' locker room after their defeat)

Quote of the Day

"'Game Change' inadvertently confirms just how many of our top political journalists are Villagers. . .For one thing, Heilemann and Halperin write about the campaign as if they were not active participants in shaping it. . .The media focus on [whether illegal immigrants should have driver's licenses] is precisely what the liberal bloggers gripe about: surely, they insist, our politics does not have to be this trivial. Heilemann and Halperin's response? 'The press always wants a race. The press always loves conflict.' This highlights a problem in the authors' perspective. If they consider themselves part of this press that wants to create a race through their reporting, at the expense of examining the issues, then they share responsibility for trivializing campaigns." -- Boston College political science professor Alan Wolfe, writing in today's WaPo. While Wolfe doesn't have many kind things to say about bloggers, he does credit them with identifying this kind of gossip masquerading as "journalism."

What's Going On In Massachusetts?

Andrew Sullivan provides an on-the-ground observer's take on the Coakley/Brown race for Senate. For me, from afar, the top 3 reasons its a race at all are:

1) Coakley ran a lazy, smug, over-confident campaign until it became clear voters weren't going to coronate her just for showing up;

2) Throw the bums out anger: Massachusetts has a Democrat-dominated government, and they can't get it done even when they control things (shades of Washington);

3) Short memories: voters don't know/ care/ remember which party got us into the economic and financial mess we're in, plus see #2 above.

(Image: bostonheraldinteractive.com; Stuart Cahill/Faith Ninivaggi)

The Great Bank Robbery of '10: Obama's Weekly Address

Here's the President's weekly address, this week taking on the bankers and Wall Street. We're reminded of the Woody Guthrie line, "Some rob you with a six-gun and some with a fountain pen."

Racialism, Rethugs and Tin Man

TNR's Jonathan Chait does a nice job of dissecting the nexus of Tin Man Steele, the Rethugs' history on race, and the Rethug faux outrage over the Harry Reid quote. It's all a reflection of the Rethug ethos, from Steele, to Limbaugh, to Robertson, to Lott. (h/t to Germantown's own, Brian)

Not Buying This Ford

Political chameleon and conserva-Dem Harold "Prince Hal" Ford is putting out statements that he's considering challenging New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in the Dem primaries. Prince Hal had a snark-worthy interview published in the New York Times a few days ago, that showed him to be the privileged operator the transplanted Tennessean is. What NY team does he support? The one whose owner he's closest to. Been to all the boroughs in New York City? He's flown over all of them. Mingled with New Yorkers? He takes a limo to and from work -- sometimes MSNBC, sometimes Merrill Lynch, where he's a vice president. And he always has breakfast at the Regency on Park Avenue.

The superb and charismatic New York Rep. Anthony Weiner has a few great words on the subject of Prince Hal, who must think New York owes him a Senate seat. Better for Prince Hal to return to Tennessee, where he can pretend to be a Dem again.

(photo: African American [!] Prince Hal campaigned as a "Dem" in Tennessee in 2006 -- enough said)

"Shhhh. . . He's Going to Say Something!"

We so rarely have any posts on the Supreme Court -- Justice Sotomayor notwithstanding -- that we had to note this item from Crooks and Liars.

Apparently, Supreme Court Justice Clarence "The Quiet" Thomas was about to ask his first question in almost 4 years which would have truly been historic. He is well known on the Court for never questioning attorneys from the bench, and, aside from a few public appearances, very rarely was heard from in his 19 years on the Supreme Court. With a judicial record even further to the right than Justice "Scalliwag" Scalia, maybe it's better that he keep his mouth shut and let people assume he has nothing good to say.

(photo: Clarence The Quiet struggles to keep his eyes open during oral argument)

Comic Relief

Reprising Winky You Betcha's disastrous interview with Katie Couric, where Winky was asked what newspapers she read and responded "all of them," Boo Hoo the Hoot asks Winky who her favorite Founding Father is. And Winky replied. . .yep, "all of them."

Tragedy in Haiti

It's hard to focus on politics after watching the horrific story of Haiti's earthquake. International aid officials have been told to expect a major catastrophe. Most of Port-au-Prince has been leveled, and the death toll will almost certainly be in the multiple thousands as debris is removed.

For the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, this is beyond devastating.

(UPDATE: Sadly, racist nutbags like Talibangelist Pat Robertson have to weigh in and blame the earthquake on the Haitian people)

(UPDATE 2: Add the despicable Pills Limpballs to the sick chorus. Proving once again what a soulless, twisted thing he is)

Quote of the Day

"This gives her a platform she can use to stay relevant...and to flush out some of her policy positions." -- Todd "Toad" Harris, Rethug consultant who couldn't name anything the Rethugs had done for the country in the last 20 years, on Winky You Betcha's new job at Fux "News." (Hmmm - "stay relevant?" Didn't know she was.) Maybe she could get "Joe the (not a) Plumber" to help her flush those policy positions of hers down the Fux crapper. Yeah, Winky, you show those policy positions who's boss!

It's Joe Time

The Onion has the report:


Biden Criticized For Appearing In Hennessy Ads

Wait a minute. Oh my God, is that Michelle Malkin with the Joe Man???

Village "Games"

Take time to read Glenn Greenwald's scathing review of the latest gossipy tome, "Game Change," from Washington media Villagers Mark "Drudge Rules Our World" Halperin and junior partner John Heilemann. It's a perfect summation of all that is wrong with today's political "journalism" emanating from Washington, which prizes the sensational and shallow stories over substantive coverage of issues that impact our daily lives. To them, it's all a "game" and they simply keep score: who's up, who's down, who's in, who's out.

The book is full of anonymous, unattributed backbiting of the kind that you would normally find in supermarket tabloids. In particular, the duo's gratuitous, overkill smear of John and Elizabeth Edwards -- who have long since faded from the political scene in disgrace -- is causing some second thoughts from cable's talking heads this morning (e.g., MSNBC's besweatered Mika and Bob Woodward). Why was it necessary to publish anonymous, unflattering tattle about Elizabeth Edwards' role in her husband's campaign, when she is battling final stages of cancer? Was that necessary to round out the picture of the 2008 presidential primaries?

Greenwald nailed it once again.

Ooo-ooo Jerry's!

Just heard one of those celebrity impersonation spots for Jerry's Subs and Pizza. This time the celebrity lampooned was Rush Limpballs. Played to perfection - pompous, self-satisfied, "99.9% sure" of his "facts." Wish we had an audio link. Hilarious. The disclaimer says "overpaid opinionator's voice impersonated." Jerry's just earned a customer for life.

"Tea for... What!?!?"

Seems like the tea bagger convention scheduled for early February in Nashville is turning off many of its tea baggin' grass(astroturf)rooters. As TPM reports, many of the original numbnuts that formed the movement won't be attending the event, which will feature Winky You Betcha (Fux's newest hire) and Michele "I See Commies" Bachmann, due to the steep $549 price of admission and the nagging feeling that, just maybe, the Rethugs were hijacking the movement ("Call for Tin Man Steele!"). If Winky wasn't charging a reported $100,000 speaking fee, they maybe could have brought down the admission fee to a level a few more of the tea baggers not named Dick Armey could afford.

Department of Unintentional Hilarity

It appears that failed TV wingnut pundit Tucker "Mothertucker" Carlson has launched a new web "venture" -- if by venture you mean something destined to end in the toilet. He's calling it "The Daily Caller" and it's supposed to be about "covering the people in power", i.e. another right-wing smear site.

Mothertucker claims that the site will play it straight, but what does his venture look like? His partner is a former aide to The Dick, his opinion editor is a former Rethuglican National Committee press secretary, and his web is receiving major funding from a big-time Wyoming Rethuglican donor. (The subheading to Zowie Howie Kurtz's WaPo piece in the print edition is "Tucker Carlson and company say their site will maintain nonpartisan civility." Yes, and Jesus rode dinosaurs.)

"The Daily Caller:" we're betting most people won't be answering the calls.

More Hilarity: Read James Wolcott's take on Mothertucker's money pit.

(photo: Ta-da! Mothertucker announces his new web site with uncustomary fanfare)

Reading Reid

The cable news chatterers are buzzing about Sen. Harry Reid's idiotic gaffe in describing then-Sen. Barack Obama as "light-skinned" with "no Negro dialect" back in 2008. And, of course, the Rethuglican establishment is jumping on board, trying to score political points (it would be interesting if Rethuglican political meetings were on hidden camera to see how the mostly white, Southern Rethug politicos referred to the President in everyday conversations). While the Rethugs are trying to make this an issue of "liberal hypocrisy", it's clearly a generational problem for Reid, who is 70, more than one of political beliefs. Reid's record of support of legislation that benefits lower income and middle class Americans -- black and white -- is in clear contrast to the Rethuglican politicians speaking up in phony outrage over his comments.

That said, it's unfortunate that Harry Reid is the current face and leader of the Dems in the Senate. He's essentially a parochial, small-bore politician from a state whose major industry is gambling. Yes, his votes and heart are in the right place, but it's a shame the Dems don't have a younger, more charismatic person to lead the fight in the Senate. And one not prone to language of the '50s.

Headline of the Day

"Jonah Falcon, Man with World's Largest Penis, Unemployed in New York" (from the Huffington Post)

And the problem is, he counts as 2 men in the unemployment figures. . .

The Bitter John McNasty

Arizona Sen. John McNasty is running scared in his re-election bid for the Senate. Faced with a far right-wing challenger in the Rethuglican primaries, McNasty is running a campaign ad saying, "I stand in [Obama's] way every day."

This, from the "maverick" who tried to sell himself as an independent, courageous conservative who was willing to work with Democrats. You know, to achieve "something greater than our own self interests." Riiiight, Johnny. Since Obama's inauguration, McNasty has voted in a block with his Party of No: against the stimulus package, against raising the minimum wage, against health insurance reform, against every piece of legislation that would represent a victory for the man who whipped his ass in 2008. Bitter much?

"Character, integrity, country first?" Not for Johnny anymore.

(photo: McNasty's having a hard time standing in the President's way)

Rethug Crime Blotter

Police in Greenwich, Connecticut have arrested John Michael "Felon" Farren, former Deputy General Counsel in Dumbya's White House, on charges of attempted murder and assault/strangulation after he tried to beat and choke his wife to death. His wife is in stable condition with a broken jaw and nose. She apparently had asked Felon for a divorce. We think she's already won her case. . . .

(photo: He wanted to wear his pinstripe suit, but the cops wouldn't let him)

No Mojo for Joe

Public Policy Polling is showing Sen. Joe Lieberliar (Likud-CT) tanking in its latest polling. Lieberliar's approval rating is 25% (67% disapprove). Ratings on his health care reform performance is even lower, with 19% approving and 68% disapproving. It's not just Dems who loathe him, but Independents and even his Rethug base have turned on the Smarmy One. 2012 can't come soon enough.

(Photo: The Kiss)

Rethug Accomplishments? That's a Trick Question!

Tweety corners Rethug strategist Todd "Toad" Harris, who can't name anything the Rethuglicans have done for the country in 20 years:



(via Firedoglake)

The Party Girl

We noted just yesterday that the Washington party scene is of utmost importance to the Beltway media elite. It's their way of getting access to top political figures and notables. One of that scene's most aggressive doyennes is Sally "Party Girl" Quinn, wife of former WaPo editor Ben "Bad" Bradlee, and who -- coincidentally enough -- writes a column for the WaPo. Nepotism aside though, Party Girl's column today focuses on how things have gotten so divisive in her Washington. Why, in years gone by, Party Girl used to sit at a table with the likes of Barry Goldwater, John Warner, and some liberals whom she can't recall, and everybody just got along famously! She laments the tension in today's political Washington, caused by people saying mean things about each other.

Party Girl, however, is no stranger to mean talk. She was in the Beltway media's forefront in dissing the Clintons (especially Hillary), mostly because they rebuffed invitations to her parties. Her snippy self-righteousness about President Clinton's sexual misbehavior was a case of throwing stones from a glass house: she and future hubby Bad Bradlee had an affair while he was separated, but still married, to his wife. And what's Party Girl's remedy to perk up those dinner parties? She writes:

"There's an old saying that you should never discuss politics or religion at dinner parties. I disagree. I think you can talk about money and sex as well. It's all about how you bring up these things, which are after all on everyone's minds. . .Of course when all else fails, there's nobody who won't lean in when the topic turns to sex."

Especially Party Girl.

(photo: Party Girl after one too many parties)

"Sick of the Israelis..."

...and the Palestinians, too, for that matter. That's Andrew Sullivan's take on the current (and forever) status of this blood feud, and it's hard for us not to agree with him. It's apparently the message Rahmbo sent to the Israelis, too. Good.

Dumbass Recommendation of the Year (So Far)

Rep. Peter "Burger" King (Rethug-Dimbulbland), on what President Obama should do to be more effective in the war on... uh, terror:



(via TPM)

Our Broken Media: The Villager Party Circuit, cont'd.

Think Progress' Matt Yglesias skewers the insufferable Villager Mark "Drudge Rules Our World" Halperin's take that the Obamas are "failing" at keeping the Washington cool kids happy and entertained. Halperin apparently believes that attending more embassy parties and cocktail parties with the journalistic elite would serve the Obamas better, than say, attending to more pressing national problems. "Wooing official Washington" to Halperin seems to mean wooing his friends like the Sally Quinns, David Broders. and Cokie Robertses rather than anything "official," as Yglesias points out. But this is exactly how the Beltway media think of themselves: running "official" Washington, holding court and requiring elected officials to pay their respects at their "salons." Otherwise, nasty op-eds and stories appear, whispered rumors spread, and careers are ruined. Just ask the Clintons.

Keep The Laughs Coming, Tin Man!

Rethuglican National Committee Chairclown Michael "Tin Man" Steele has been a gift for Democrats and late night comics; not so much for the party he thinks he leads. When asked Monday on Herr Hannity's radio program whether Rethuglicans would win the House in 2010, in a burst of uncharacteristic honesty Tin Man replied, "not this year." He also went on to question whether the Rethugs "are ready" for the responsibility. (Who slipped the sodium pentothol to Tin Man?)

It took less than a day for Tin Man to do a 180 on his comment, declaring on Tweety's show Tuesday that Rethugs could win the House. That didn't satisfy embarrassed Rethugs. Said a spokesman for the National Rethuglican Congressional Committee,

"independent political analysts and even liberal columnists have stated that Republicans have a very real shot at taking back the majority in 2010."

We think a majority of Americans are too smart to hand the car keys back to the party that drove us into a deep ditch domestically and internationally. The Rethugs and their Chairclown are betting otherwise.

Virginia's Open for Bidness

Newly-elected theocon Rethuglican Gov. Robert "Stealth" McDonnell is allowing his Cabinet members to serve on corporate boards, according to the WaPo. Cabinet Secretaries already make around $150,000 per year in salary. So when a lot of Virginians are out of work, blowdried Bob is letting his top political appointees hold down more than one job, and well-paying ones at that.

We would hope Virginia's righteous teabaggers would protest this unethical Gummint situation. But since it involves Gov. Stealth, a Pat Robertson-taught Rethuglican winger who poses as a "moderate," it ain't gonna happen. And besides, he's white.

(photo: Gov. Stealth: "I can grab the money with both hands.")

From His Own Mouth. . . .

. . .truer words were never spoken.

We're Having A Heat Wave

Invariably every winter, especially during a blizzard or cold snap, we hear the amateur wingnut meteorologists claim, "see, there's no global warming." This is a little like comparing the number of obituary notices one day to the next, and claiming, "see, the death rate is declining." It's confusing weather with climate. And science with politics.

This graph shows that the number of record high temperatures for the past few decades has exceeded the number of record cold days, and the trend is obvious. So the next time one of Pills Limpballs' dittoheads wants to argue about global climate change, remember this graph.

Fux's Newest Reverend

Pompous dickwad Brit "Hound Dog" Hume apparently thinks it's OK to preach his version of Christianity on the Fux Sunday poo-fling. Referring to Tiger "Hard" Woods' personal recovery from the recent scandal, Rev. Hound Dog claimed that since Woods was Buddhist, there was not the kind of path to redemption as there was in Christianity. Rev. Hound Dog then urged Hard Woods to embrace the Christian faith. The American Taliban has found a new voice!

Moreover, we're not aware of similar advice on redemption from Rev. Hound Dog for such stellar "Christians" as Mark Foley, Larry Craig, David Vitter, John Ensign, Bob Livingston, Newt Gingrich, Chip Pickering, Mark Sanford, and other members of Hound Dog's Rethug flock. Maybe he should tend to his own first.

(photo: Looks like the Reverend's been hitting the bottle)

Whole Foods' Mackey a Global Warming Denier, Too

Whole Foods CEO and extreme right-wing libtard John "Galt" Mackey is already known to be an anti-union, anti-health care reform advocate. You can now add "global warming denier" to that list. Mackey claims, in a New Yorker interview, that there's "no scientific consensus" on global climate change. Mackey would be on safer ground arguing against evolution, with himself as a case in point.

Whether or not one wishes to shop at Whole Foods, given Mackey's radical views, is an individual choice. As for this individual, Costco, Trader Joe's and good ol' Safeway are good enough for me.

(Photo: It's ass-Whole Mackey again)

Jobs? Not With Rethuglican Policies

(click image to enlarge)

This graph from the WaPo illustrates the myth that Americans are better off under Rethuglican / conservative economic policies. Note that in decades where Dems were either in the White House or Congress, or both, Americans' net worth increased -- during the Clinton years they rose the highest (58%). When the Rethugs controlled both the White House and Congress from 2000 to 2006, net worth declined 4 percent, and it wasn't that great in the Raygun / Poppy Bush '80s. And as for job growth, it was almost flat under Dumbya.

And they want to defeat Obama and return to the economic policies of tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. It's their only idea.

(h/t to Andrew Sullivan)

Sunday Morning Reading

Dana Milbank (WTF?!) eviscerates Boo-Hoo the Hoot Beck, and the brain-dead sheeple who've made him one of America's most admired people (WTF??!!). (By the way, check out in the penultimate paragraph who Boo-Hoo's defender and patron has been.)

(Image: Boo-Hoo crying tears of joy?)

Quote of the Day

"With former vice president Richard B. Cheney in the lead, [the Republicans] have embarked on an ugly course to use the incident to inflict maximum political damage on President Obama. That's bad enough, but their scurrilous line of attack is even worse. The claim that the incident shows the president's fecklessness in the war on terror is unfounded -- no matter how often it is repeated." -- today's editorial in the WaPo, referring to the Christmas Day attempted airline bombing.

Fred Hiatt must be on vacation.