Mega Meg's Housekeeper Woes

California Rethug gubernatorial candidate Meg "Mega Noggin" Whitman has a problem named Nicky Diaz. That's Mega Noggin's illegal alien housekeeper of nine years. TPM has the story, complete with the "she said, she said" between Mega Noggin and Diaz -- via her attorney Gloria Allred. Mega Noggin says she had NO IDEA the housekeeper was in the country illegally; Allred says she has proof that she'll release today that proves Mega Noggin is a liar. The housekeeper also claims Mega Noggin was abusive. After spending $120 million (and counting) of her own fortune to be elected governor, Mega Bucks, er, Noggin may be brought down by someone who earned $20/hour. So, sit back, get yer popcorn and enjoy!

(Image: Is that a melon on her shoulders, or is she just Mega Noggin Whitman?)

Bad For Business

Yesterday's column by Kaplan Daily business columnist Steven Perlstein takes on the toxic, shut-the-government-down philosophy of SC radical wingnut Sen. Jim "Demented" DeMint. He warns business that while some facets of Demented's "agenda" may be appealing to them, the overall effect would be gridlock: on trade agreements, on tax policy, and other issues. He cautions business:

"I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that, once the heat of the election season has passed, cooler heads will prevail and DeMint and the other anti-government zealots will return to their rightful place on the fringes of the political system, leaving it to the grown-ups to get things done. Don't kid yourselves. You're about to create a political monster that you can't control, one bent not on reforming but on destroying the institutional framework that allows an advanced industrial economy to grow and thrive."

Translating the rage against government that has motivated right wingers since the days of St. Ronnie of Hollywood (and before) into actually governing the greatest nation on earth is something that Rethug wingnuts haven't bothered to figure out. Voters need to take notice.

(image: Demented, and funny at the same time)

The Rethugs' Mask Slips Again

How many times have we heard Congressional Rethugs talk about "job killing" actions of the Dems, and how they know how to create jobs? Well, apparently, the Rethugs like job creation. . .overseas. Senate Rethuglicans unanimously blocked a vote on a Dem bill to eliminate tax breaks for companies shipping jobs overseas, and to provide tax breaks for companies bringing jobs back to the U.S. That the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Manufacturers backed the Rethug position tells you all you need to know about their priorities. It seems that when they talk about "job creation" they actually mean "wealth creation" for their top-earning supporters.

If this doesn't become an election issue, then the Dems should hang it up. It's a "twofer" for them: tax breaks for business and jobs at home. And again, the Rethugs have been exposed as a party that will, time and again, side with the multinational corporations and the investor class over the middle class.

Get on the Boat!

We're expecting 2-4 inches of rain in the next 24 hours, so you want to make sure you don't miss the boat!

(Video by kinomontage)

Once A Dirtbag. . .

Infamous wingnut agitator James "G. Gordon Diddy" O'Keefe has been involved in another bizarre act. Fresh off of nearly landing in jail for attempting to wiretap Sen. Mary Landrieu (a felony) and after his fake "pimp" performance that smeared ACORN, the young a**hole has been caught in a plan to punk CNN investigative reporter Abbie Boudreau. The plan involved G. Gordon Diddy luring Boudreau aboard a boat and appearing to "seduce" Boudreau (even though G. Gordon could double for Ichabod Crane). Boudreau is apparently working on an investigative story on "conservative" activists, and the pimper sensed a bad ending to the story -- now he can bet on one. Well played, pimp Diddy!

Interesting to note that Boudreau says she was taped by G. Gordon Diddy without her knowledge. We only play lawyers on this blog, but isnt' that, um, illegal? We hope that G. Gordon will get his time in jail after all. . .

(photo: Please, please make him wear this outfit in jail)

Rallying Dems

Yesterday afternoon's rally for President Obama at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (ahem, our alma mater) drew over 26,000 enthusiastic supporters. Speaking at the campus' Library Mall, the President reminded the students, faculty and residents "now is not the time to give up." He continued, "the biggest mistake we can make right now is to let disappointment lead to apathy." His remarks were also broadcast to 200 other colleges and universities.

Other signs of a reemerging Dem surge were noted in a poll of likely voters in Maryland, where Dem Gov. Martin O'Malley is being challenged by former Rethug Gov. Bob "Beatle Bob" Ehrlich, who was "fired" by the voters in the last election, and who has been employed since then as a corporate lobbyist (surprise!). Last month the race was neck-and-neck, but in the most recent poll, O'Malley has jumped to an 11 point lead over Beatle Bob.

Dems seem to be waking up to the fact that Rethug / New Confederate Party rule by the likes of Sen. Jim "Demented" DeMint and the Orange Boner would be a disaster for America. The more radical the Rethug message becomes -- thanks to the teatard influence -- the more Dems, and moderate independents will be motivated to get out and vote.

(photo: M. DeVries, Capital Times)

Son of Dear Leader Ascends

After years of blissful anticipation, Dear Leader Kim Jong Il has set the stage for the eventual succession of his 26- or- 27- year- old son Kim Jong Eun as leader of North Korea. Yesterday, Son of Dear Leader was promoted from civilian to four-star general, a rank acknowledging his glorious battlefield victories at Agincourt, Waterloo, Gettysburg, and Stalingrad. The Kaplan Daily reports that, according to an intercepted 17-page North Korean military document, Son of Dear Leader is said to be "a genius with exceptional talent...Anybody who meets him...wants to worship him."

Well, if he's anything like the old man, we certainly can understand that!

(Photo: The Dear Leader - not photoshopped!)

Good Times

One of the most disturbing facts of the past decade is the growing income gap between the wealthy and the middle and working class. Rethuglican / Bushit tax and economic policies widened that gap, and now the Census Bureau reports that the income gap is the widest on record. The top 20% earned nearly 50% of all income received, and income for the top 5% increased while earners at the median of $50,000 lost ground.

Remember that the Rethug message has been that the Bushit tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans need to be extended to boost the economy. Ask yourselves why, then, did those tax cuts which were implemented years ago fail to boost the economy so far. The answer is that they were never intended to do that, but merely to line the pockets of their contributors and supporters.

The Irony

"Jimi Heselden, Owner of Segway, Inc., Dies In Segway Accident"

Afterthought: Even more ironic if his name had been Cliff Rivers.

Meet the Candidate: NY Rethug Carl Paladino

Teatard favorite and Rethug candidate for Governor of New York Carl "Mr. Sensitive" Paladino has been known to send racist and "horse- on- woman- action" emails to his buddies. But this is a side of Mr. Sensitive of which we were previously unaware. However, in the great tradition of Rudy 9/11, Don Juan Ensign, Diaper Dave Vitter, Poot Gingrich, Bob Livingston, Walnuts McCain, and half the Christian right ministry, "It's OK If You're a Republican."

(Photo: Who wouldn't trust this guy?!)

"A Specious Act"

We've aired our issues with Dems who won't fight for what they say they believe in. It's not surprising that their problems stem from leaders who disregard their base and cater to Rethuglicans. . .only to have the Rethugs kick them in the teeth when the votes are counted.

Yesterday, House Dem Majority Leader Steny Hoyer was on Fux News Sunday (a problem in itself) stating that the House wouldn't force the Rethugs' hand on tax cuts for the wealthy before the November elections, saying a vote in the House would be "a specious act." Many progressive Dems, including Hoyer's House colleague Chris Van Hollen, were urging just the opposite: the Dems should pass the middle class tax cut, let the tax cut for the top two percent expire, and let the Rethugs defend the wealthiest segment of the population. Hoyer apparently wants to throw the Rethugs a life preserver before the elections. Fine, it's his funeral, but why should this hack have a leadership position in the House?

Sorry, Wrong Narrative!

Utilizing Rethug talking points, the media narrative all summer has been how unpopular the health care reform law is, echoing the Rethug line that it's out of step with American values and yet another example of Big Gummint run amok. Well, someone actually asked a few follow-up questions for a change and boy howdy! Is it possible the narrative was off by 180 degrees? Spineless Dems, take heart! Arrogant Rethugs, take note! Mainstream media, continue to ignore!

(Image disclaimer: Neither a monkey, nor an ancestor of Christine O'Donnell, this image is only intended to disparage the mainstream media - ed.)

Tea for Two (Top Two Percent, That Is)

As we noted on Thursday ("Weak Tea"), the "fat cats" bankrolling the teabaggers need to be exposed for pushing an agenda that has nothing to do with economic recovery, and everything to do with further redistribution of wealth to the richest few.

Monkey See, Monkey No See

Wherein teatard Rethug candidate Christine O'Donnell weighs in on evolution:


We didn't see her evolution from a cretin to an idiot either.

Sunday Morning Reading

There are two worthwhile articles in the Kaplan Daily this morning: "Learn to Bridge the Class Divide," by Joan C. Williams, and "Stop Worrying About the CEOs," by Paul Pierson and Jacob Hacker (we like that name!). Williams discusses how the Dems should be recapturing "the message" that it's the Democrats who are the ones looking out for the working class, not the plutocrat Rethugs. Pierson and Hacker (ly!) posit that the whining from Wall Street should free Obama (especially should conservaDems be the most prominent victims of voter anger in the midterms) to be a more progressive populist when the next Congress comes in.

Boner Boning Lobbyist?

Is Rethug House Minority Leader John "Orange Boner" Boehner (Adulterer-OH) having an affair with lobbyist Lisbeth Lyons, as the New York Times is purportedly about to publish?  If so, it would mean, among other things, that Boner is already violating the sanctity of the "traditional marriage" tenet of the Lemon Pledge.  (That didn't take long!)  Boner and Ms. Lyons, who lobbies for the American Printing Association, both deny any improper entanglement.  Boner is trying hard to keep a stiff... upper lip, and needs to make sure his thrusting and parrying isn't flaccid, lest someone penetrate to the crux of the matter.

But really, if true, Boner doesn't have much to worry about.  Look at John Ensign, David Vitter, Nikki Haley, etc.  The micro-brow sheeple that are the Rethug base are a forgiving lot, as long as the transgressor is a right-wing hypocrite.   Also, isn't this simply a physical manifestation of what lobbyists and pols do on a regular basis anyway?

(Photo: Is that a putter in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?)

"Banana Republic Here We Come"

Paul Krugman talks about what happens when one political party will say anything to gain power: hello, banana republic! In our own modest way, we will be addressing "consequences" in the lead up to the election in a future blog (contain your excitement, please!).

Mental Health Break

"This is America. I don't want a tomato picked by a Mexican. I want it picked by an American. Then sliced by a Guatemalan, and served by a Venezuelan in a spa where a Chilean gives me a Brazilian." -- Stephen Colbert, "testifying" before the House Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Security. The glares from some of the Rethug Congressmen (neo-Fascist Steve King of Iowa being one) indicated that Colbert's humor was hitting its mark. But it was disappointing to see a humorless Michigan Dem John "Grim John" Conyers' clueless reaction: he asked Colbert to leave when it became obvious that he departed from his written statement. If not for Colbert, that hearing, worthwhile as it was, would have been ignored. (Conyers later reversed his position).

Here's the clip of the testimony.

Lemon Pledge

Jon Stewart nails the Rethugs' Lemon Pledge.

Some Kinks in the Equinox

It's just a few days into fall but it's hotter than the air coming out of Oklahoma Sen. Jungle Jim Inhofe's pie hole. Nevertheless, we're noting the passage of the season with this gem from The Kinks.

Health Reform, the "Pledge," and Political Malpractice

Today, six months after passage of the health reform bill, several key provisions take effect, including no lifetime limits on benefits, sick/costly customers can't be dropped for "technical" mistakes, and children can't be excluded from coverage because of pre-existing conditions. Not bad...for a start.

Meanwhile, in the alternate reality known as Rethuglican politics, Congressional Rethugs issued their lobbyist-written "Pledge to America" today, which was, as expected, the usual right-wing dogma not even warmed over: smaller government, cut non-defense spending, ban abortions, repeal health reform, etc. Oh, and keep those big tax cuts for the wealthy! It's Lemon Pledge*!

And the Dems? Are they ready to do battle over Obama's proposed extension of middle- class- only tax cuts? Are you shitting us? They would need to have a central nervous system (brain and spine) to do that!

* H/t to "Countdown."

Weak Tea

E.J. Dionne has a great op-ed article today in the WaPo / Kaplan Daily on the "fast one" being pulled by the Tea Farty on the public and mainstream media. He cites the total number of wingnuts who have voted in the Rethug primaries in Alaska and Delaware for teatards (86,441), as well as polls showing that around 6% of voters had attended a teabagger rally or meeting. Contrast those numbers with the out-of-proportion coverage in the media and influence on Rethug politics. Even more ominous is the all but unmentioned backing the "grass roots populist" teabaggers are receiving from billionaires like the Koch brothers, who are happy to have these wingers do their lobbying for them, from the lobbying firm FreedomWorks (Dick "Major Dick" Armey's group), and from the Fux Network.

As Dionne concludes, it's about time for progressives and the media to call them out on their "scam."

(photo: "Crazy" like a Fux)

Fruitcakes and Political Fantasy

Worth reading today is Steven Pearlstein's article in the Kaplan Daily, wherein he cautions deluded Rethuglicans not to imagine that because their prospects look good in November it follows that the Rethuglican party "can claim vindication for every nutty notion spouted by its leaders," like how Keynesian economics was proven wrong in the recent/ continuing unpleasantness. He also asks how the

"...beleaguered private sector has responded to this unwarranted and unconstitutional government takeover of the economy? Profits are booming, and publicly traded share prices are up 70 percent!"

Since many of these folks are cut from the same sociopathic cloth, Perlstein is right in saying there's no pleasing them, whether its Sen. Jim "Demented" DeMint (Crackpot-SC) or Wall Street hedge fund manager Anthony "Scaramouche" Scaramucci, who whined at the recent CNBC town hall with Obama that he and his hedge fund masters of the universe were tired of being Obama's whipping boy (the Obama response, which generated the town hall's biggest applause: large portions of the public think I haven't been tough enough!).

Playing Post Office

Much of the frustration among progressives is over the weak spines and lack of conviction that Congressional Dems have. While Rethugs are on the offensive with literally nothing to offer in terms of solutions that differ from the policies that got us in the trouble we're in, Dems are running for cover. Instead of touting the benefits of, for example, health insurance reform (no more pre-existing condition games or losing coverage after losing your job), Dems are defensive. Their leadership in Congress is less than stellar, with tired old Harry Reid leading the Senate Dems and low caliber, ineffective Steny Hoyer leading the House Dems. This exchange, reported in the Kaplan Daily today, tells you all you need to know about why the Dems are in danger of losing big in November:

"Your schedule," Linda Scott of PBS remarked to Hoyer at Tuesday morning's meeting, "looks pretty light." She asked whether Democrats are "telling you they need to be back home, rather than naming post offices?"

"We always name post offices," Hoyer replied with irritation. "It's a worthwhile endeavor to do that, and people really do appreciate it, particularly when it's their name and their community."

The Democrats are unable to rally themselves around tax cuts for millions of Americans, and their leader is defending . . . postal namings."

That would be funny if it weren't a symbol of what is wrong with Dem leaders who enjoy the largest majority in years. The economy is turning around slowly, the Dems should have the Rethugs where they want them on tax cuts for the rich, the Rethugs are flailing with extreme candidates, and yet it's the Dems that are nervous.

Summer's Almost Gone

Both the astronomical summer which ends tomorrow night, and White House economic advisor Larry Summers, who will be leaving at the end of the year. Summers has been a poster boy for unequal treatment of Wall St. vs "Main Street" for those unhappy with the pace of the recovery. Maybe they can serenade Larry on his last day with an appropriate, dusty oldie from the Silhouettes (who apparently never mastered lip-synching).

Holy Money Laundering!

While we were raised Catholics, I think I can safely speak for my brother Hackwhacker and myself in saying that we have... significant reservations about the conservative hierarchy of the Church, dating back, oh, at least a millennium -- the brief, shining moment that was the Papacy of John XXIII notwithstanding. Perhaps some of this has to do with its history (the Inquisition, alleged collusion with Fascists and Nazis, pedophilia, etc.) and some with its orthodoxy (birth control, a woman's right to choose, gay rights, AIDs in the developing world, etc.). In recent years, the American Catholic Church has often worked hand-in-glove with the Rethuglican Party, as the Tweedledee and Tweedledumb of reactionary policies. This has often happened through the auspices of the "Catholic League," a barely disguised front group for the Rethuglicans.

You must permit us a little sigh of satisfaction, then, with the news that the Italian financial police have seized $30 million in assets from the Vatican's bank account and is investigating several top bank officials in connection with a money-laundering probe. We wonder what the penance is for that? Three Hail Marys, two Our Fathers, and 10 years in prison?

(Photo: "Ciao, baby!")

Quote of the Day

"(DE Rethug Senate Candidate Christine) O'Donnell is where the GOP has been heading for some time. The party's leaders have steadfastly refused to take a stand against any idiocy, even suggesting they agree that Obama might not be a Christian. Their intellectuals have supported and advanced the know-nothingness of Sarah Palin. Nothing to them is beyond the pale. This party is not fit to govern." -- Blind squirrel Richard Cohen finds a nut -- or two -- in the increasingly unhinged Rethug ranks.

"Yet Another Pink-Faced Half-Wit"

Treading the nonexistent line this morning between satire and reality, the Onion gives us "yet another pink-faced half-wit", who shall remain name(Boo-Hoo)less. As a bonus, the photo accompanying the article shows a small passel of pink-faced half-wit sheeple. Priceless.

Winky Finishes 5th Behind Old White Guys

Assorted wingnuts and American Talibangelists assembled in D.C. over the weekend to spout nonsense, discredited right-wing platitudes, and borderline sedition. The self-described "Values Voter Summit" also produced a straw poll for the 2012 Rethug / New Confederate Party nomination. The winner? None other than obscure Indiana Rethug Rep. Mike "Tup" Pence. Tup Pence won the polls for both the presidential and vice presidential positions. The rest of the field? Alaskan grifter Winky You Betcha came in fifth (!!) in the presidential poll behind such unelectable stalwarts as Poot Gingrich, Mike Hucksterbee, and Mormon heathen Mittens Romney. Which goes to prove that Winky's support is a mile wide and an inch deep among her natural constituency, certainly not what the shiny-object-following media would have us believe.

(photo: Regardless of the poll, "Values" voters liked Winky's sporty secessionist look)

"Fat Elvis"

Today's must read: conservative broadcaster John Batchelor's devastating portrait of Poot Gingrich (whom knowing Rethugs in Congress refer to as "Fat Elvis" =snicker =snort= BWAHAHAHA), the "Young Dumbs," and The Orange Boner. Refreshing to see this level of honest critiquing from the right.

What They Stand For

To understand what manner of troglodytes run the Rethuglican Party in certain parts, one need only look at what the platform of Montana Rethugs says regarding homosexuality. That, rampant Islamophobia, global climate change denying, Obama- is- a- socialist- Muslim, creation- not- evolution, ad nauseam is what we're up against in this country. Blind, ignorant, hatred is their true platform.

(Image: This would still be legal, however)

"Let's See, It's M-e-r. . .no, M-i-r. . ."

Alaska Rethug Sen. Lisa "Murky" Murkowski lost her primary to teatard candidate Joe "Brawny Man" Miller, and now has announced a write-in campaign for November's general election. To that we say, "You go, girrrrll!" Undoubtedly, Murky's chances are, well, murky for a couple of reasons. First, the teatard right has already gone for Bounty Man, so she'll get most of the people that voted for her in the primaries, but not that many more. Second, writing in her name might prove to be a major hurdle for the intellectually challenged Alaskan voters, who actually elected someone like Winky You Betcha as Governor. Can you imagine them trying to spell her name correctly on the ballot? Neither can we, but if she can split the reactionary vote with Brawny Man and a Libertarian who's also running, maybe Dem candidate Scott McAdams can edge closer to a plurality.

(photo: Murky faces a rematch with Brawny Man)

Witchy Woman

Rethug Senatorial candidate, Teatard and "Values Voter" fave Christine "No Dildos" O'Donnell (Teatard-DE) apparently dated a witch and dabbled in witchcraft herself. The airheaded O'Donnell made the admission in a Bill Maher "Real Time" show some years ago. Turns out there may be many more gems hidden in the couple dozen or so appearances O'Donnell made on the Maher show in the past. We say, start rolling the videos!

(Photo: Eeek! She saw her image in a mirror!)

Weekend Song

A beautiful B-side Byrds song, written by Gene Clark, with an assist by J.S. Bach (the guitar break is, of course, from "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring").

Review of the Week

"[The D'Souza article is] a fact-twisting, error-laden piece of paranoia...the worst kind of smear journalism -- a singularly disgusting work." -- Columbia Journalism Review, on the Forbes magazine hit job on President Obama by Indian-born wingnut Dinesh D'Souza that was deemed by Poot Gingrich a work of "profound... stunning insight." We'll go with "singularly disgusting work."

The Rethug "Vision": Gridlock

One increasingly influential Rethuglican radical, South Carolina's Sen. Jim "Demented" DeMint, can at least be given credit for not hiding his extremism, as other Rethugs do. Going against his own party's campaign committee, Demented supported Tea Farty candidates Joe "Bounty Man" Miller in Alaska and Christine "No Dildos" O'Donnell in Delaware. Now, Demented has revealed what's in store if the Rethugs take over control of Congress: gridlock. Saying that "businesses" have been telling (ordering?) him that the Rethugs should basically shut down the legislative branch if given control, Demented told Bloomberg News, "At least gridlock is predictable."

You'll remember that Demented became infamous for declaring, “If we’re able to stop Obama on this [health reform], it will be his Waterloo. It will break him.” No concern about the uninsured, no concern about rising health care costs or people dropped from coverage due to preexisting conditions. Just a political hack's calculation about what it would take to win politically. This guy is the great hope of the Rethuglican / New Confederate Party: gridlock, give the power back to the corporate giants, continue policies that create huge gaps between the middle class and the economic elites.

(photo: Demented's not clowning around)

D-I-V-O-R-C-E

Rethug uber-hack Ed "Ben Rogering" Rogers and fellow lobbyist wife Edwina are divorcing, with both claiming the other abandoned the marriage and cheated. (Rethug values live on!) Ben Rogering is a disciple of the late Lee Atwater, to whom many trace the origins (eg., Willie Horton, Southern Strategy, etc.) of the dirty, low-down, lying politics Rethugs have practiced for the past 40 or so years. Anyone who has seen Ben Rogering on teevee or on the op/ed pages of the Kaplan Daily know he's still living down to Atwater's standards.

A pox on both of them.

Mid-Week Song

Song from a few years ago, courtesy Vertical Horizon, a band with origins in D.C.

More Teatardin' History?

OK (hic)... we admit we're on this (hic) thing about the retelling (hic) of history by the inebri...inebriate...drunk. That's because it reminds us of (hic) the teatard/ Boo Hoo/ Winky (hick) world view and its True (hic) History themes: white victimization by blacks (hic), the French are to blame, and (hic) "Freedom comes from God!" This vid has it (hic) all!


(H/t again to Brian and Chi, intrepid Germantown/ Silver Spring editors)

Tea-tarded

It's amusing to see the Rethug establishment's pathetic record in their primaries or nominating conventions thus far, thanks to the teabagger Armey, er, army. In Nevada, Alaska, Utah, and Colorado, the Rethug establishment's preferred candidates went down to defeat to teatards. Now you can add Senate nominees in Delaware and New York to the list. Sadly for the Rethugs (snicker snicker) they can also probably remove some states from their likely wins in November as a result (thank you Nevada, Colorado and Delaware).

In Delaware, Christine "No Dildos" O'Donnell beat long-time Delaware politician Mike "Home Is My" Castle, but while her victory may give the baggers a warm, wet feeling, it's probably because they've just pissed away the seat to Dem Chris Coons. Even Turdblossom Rove was turning thumbs down on No Dildos' chances because of her insane positions. In New York, Carl "Porno" Paladino handily beat establishment favorite Rick "Lyin'" Lazio for the Rethug nomination, essentially worthless since either would lose to Dem Andrew Cuomo. Porno, of course is noted for sending mass e-mails out showing a PhotoShopped image of President and Mrs. Obama dressed as a pimp and whore, and for including images of bestiality in his other e-mails. Suggested slogan for Porno Paladino: "Pets Need Love, Too."

(Photo: No shit, Sherlock)

Quote of the Day

"There’s a class war on, alright. And the assholes that have the money are the ones waging it. . . .Because, as we all know, when fighting for tax cuts for Paris Hilton, it is important to remember that what makes you a producer is how much you make, not how much you actually produce." -- Balloon Juice's John Cole, on the right-wing's ever-changing definition of "rich" to suit their anti-middle class agenda.

Primary Day

Voters go the the polls in seven states and D.C. today to select candidates for the November elections. The interesting ones involve the Rethug / Tea Farty contests in Delaware and New Hampshire, where far right extremist teatard candidates are running against mainly corporatist Rethugs. The contest in Delaware for the Rethug candidacy is between Rep. Mike "Home is My" Castle and nutjob Christine O'Donnell, whom even the teatards' sugar daddy, "Major" Dick Armey, has come out against. We're hoping that O'Donnell is the nominee, since that would likely mean Dem Chris Coons' victory in November. Meanwhile in New Hampshire, the Rethug / Tea Farty split is fuzzier: Kelly Ayote has the backing of Alaska grifter Winky, but her opponent is backed by prominent teatard activists and loony Confederate SC Senator Jim "Demented" DeMint.

We'll be watching these and the other races during the day.

Will The Dems Act on Taxes?

It seems that the Dems never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. One of the messages that President Obama has been hitting hard is that the Rethugs in Congress are holding middle class tax cuts hostage to their desire to give tax cuts to the top 2% income earners. But Congressional Dems seem to be reverting to their normal mode of hand-wringing and cowering. TPM is reporting that there's a split in the House leadership over whether to vote on a measure to eliminate the Bushit tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. Here's an issue that will only make the Rethugs look bad and the Dems look good, but the Dems lack the political sense, guts and unity to act. . . for now, at least.

The Rethugs have long had protection of the wealthiest Americans in their DNA (see FDR's references to the Rethugs if you have any doubt). If the Dems give them cover by avoiding a vote, they have given away a golden opportunity to remind voters who the Rethugs actually represent.

Course Offering At Boo Hoo U?

Watching this video, we now think we know from whence the teatards and recovering alcoholic and university dean Boo Hoo the Hoot get their fractured history: beer and vodka!


(H/t to Germantown/Silver Spring editors Brian and Chi)

Poot's Dog Whistling

On the scale of crazy Rethugs, "Poot" Gingrich was out there, but never that close to the end of the scale... until now. Steve Benen talks about Poot's jumping the Obama derangement shark lately, as he's been desperately vying for media attention with the likes of Winky and Boo Hoo. Keep in mind, as Benen notes, that Poot is someone the media treats with something akin to reverence, as a "thinker." With his latest racist and demagogic dog whistles, Poot's more of a "stinker."

(Image: Poot has just that much sanity left)

Sunday Morning With Frank Rich

Our Sunday pal, Frank Rich, on Obama, the middle class, special interests, and getting his FDR groove on.

9 Years Ago Today

In memory of those who were lost, no blogging today.

Wurlitzer Weekender

The Dems have a high mountain to climb, and uh, um... oh, hell, enough with the lame segues.

Quickly Grifting Away

For years, political types refrained from overt politicking on the anniversary of 9/11. It was an unwritten rule that the day should be spent in commemoration of the dead and resolve to defeat terrorism. Well, it seems that Boo Hoo and Winky didn't get the memo. Shamefully, these two champion grifters are holding an event on 9/11 in Alaska. . . and they're selling tickets and pocketing the proceeds! And claiming that the date of their rally on the anniversary of 9/11 is just a coincidence!! Wow, that's some kind of whopper.

We suspect that this is the beginning of a long, profitable association between these two sociopathic wingnuts. So profitable, in fact, that they would lose millions if they actually found real work, say by running for office and trying to solve problems rather than profit from them. Nevertheless, we hope that they form the Rethug / New Confederate party ticket in 2012, because the Rethugs have earned a catastrophic defeat at the polls.

BONUS: You must check out the blow-back Winky's getting on her condemnation of the Florida "pastor's" Koran burning event this weekend. This is the "moran" population we keep referring to, a major part of the Rethug base.

Hitting the Rethugs Hard

President Obama came out swinging (finally?) at an Ohio appearance yesterday, calling out the Rethugs for their cynical partisan opposition to anything he proposes -- even small business tax cuts that they've supported in the past. As the President said,

“I realize in some cases there are genuine philosophical differences. . .They’re making the same calculation they made just before my inauguration: If I fail, they win.”

The President also went after House Minority Leader John "Boner" Boehner, a.k.a. John of Orange, saying,

“There were no new policies from Mr. Boehner. There were no new ideas. There was just the same philosophy that we had already tried during the decade that they were in power — the same philosophy that led to this mess in the first place: Cut more taxes for millionaires and cut more rules for corporations.”

Read the whole speech here. This is the message that needs to be hit every single day between now and the election, and not only by the President but by VP Biden, DNC Chair Tim Kaine, and every single timid Dem that is up for reelection. After 18 months of being on defense, it's time to play offense.

A Poll That Won't Be Reported

The flurry of polls over the past two weeks showing Rethugs gaining the advantage over Dems in the 2010 mid-term election got a lot of play by the "mainstream media." It reinforced the meme they've been flogging hard and just can't get enough of: Disaster for Democrats!

Well, maybe not. Gallup has a new generic ballot poll showing the parties dead even at 46% each. Still not the best news for Dems, but then again, we're 8 weeks out from the election, people! We thought we'd share this information with our faithful readers since you won't see it mentioned on the teevee or in the Kaplan Daily. In those venues, it's still Dewey Beats Truman... I mean, Disaster for Democrats!

UPDATE: E.J. Dionne also notes the strange silence of the press about the Dem-friendly poll: runs counter to their story line.

(Image: The media goes to extreme lengths to analyze polling data.)

Teatard TV

Move over, Fux: Teatard TV has come. Some Hollywood wingnuts, including Kelsey "Bad" Grammer, are backing the effort to get right-wing pap aired on their own cable channel, cleverly named RightNetwork. Bad Grammer, who's been married three times and had substance abuse -- and spousal abuse -- problems in the past doesn't seem to be the ideal sugar daddy for the family values teatards who are expected to sign up. Also, there may be a problem getting the right-wing content to actually "entertain" anyone beyond the mouthbreathers. As Ithaca College journalism professor Jeff Cohen notes,

"Comedy requires irony. It can't be frothing with hate or fear. Drama requires complexity. It can't be all black and white."

Hmmm, comedy can't be "frothing with hate or fear." That excludes a lot of their material. Drama can't be all "black and white." Well there, the teatards might prove us wrong. After all, they've made a pretty good run at black and white drama for the past 18 months.

Happy Birthday

Happy birthday (59!) to Pretenders lead singer Chrissie Hynde, one-time lady of the Kinks' Ray Davies and a charismatic star in her own right.

The Beard Gets Clipped

Alaskan teatard and Rethug candidate for the U.S. Senate Joe "The Beard" Miller was cited for his part in a 3-car auto accident near Fairbanks on August 24. The Beard was cited for failing to exercise "due care to avoid a collision" after rear-ending a vehicle that had come to a stop. Apparently, he can't drive and groom his beard at the same time.

Undoubtedly, teatards will read this as a diabolical conspiracy against The Beard:

1. Alaskan State troopers made the citation,
2. Former State trooper Mike Wooten ran afoul of Winky and the Wasilla mob in "Troopergate",
3. Winky endorsed The Beard,
4. Therefore a conspiracy is underway!!

(photo: The Beard heard they were casting for a Brawny paper towel commercial)

Amnesia Epidemic

From this morning's Kaplan Daily:

"For the first time in more than four years, Republicans run about evenly with Democrats on the basic question of which party they trust to handle the nation's biggest problems. Among registered voters, 40 percent say they have more confidence in Democrats and 38 percent say they have more trust in Republicans. Three months ago, Democrats had a 12-point advantage."

Time is running short to turn it around. The Rethugs are counting on their obstruction and deceit paying off at the polls. Many Dems need a backbone implant. Time will tell.

Who Needs to "Come to the Middle"???

Steve Benen again, this time on McNasty's butt boy Huckleberry Graham, and the meme that Obama needs to "come to the middle" in order to govern. This while the Rethugs have lunged so far to the right that the "middle" to them looks like where St. Ronnie of Hollywood was 30 years ago.

The Streak Resumes

Perennial Sunday talk show guest Rethug Sen. John McNasty was missing from the shows during July, since he was fending off a primary challenge from reptilian challenger J.D. Hayworth. But rejoice! McNasty has returned to the airwaves (albeit on the Fux Channel), as Steve Benen notes:

"McCain lost a presidential election; he's not in the GOP leadership; he's not especially influential with anyone; he's not playing an active role in shaping any legislation; his re-election appears secure; and he doesn't appear to have any expertise in any area of public policy. The Sunday shows seem to book him out of habit. It remains farcical."

One of the questions McNasty's media followers should be asking is "where did the 'Maverick' go?" He changed his positions on critical issues so as to appeal to Arizona's Rethug base. Now that he's been revealed as another demagogic right-wing pol, will we see the Village media turn on him? Riiiiight!

The Headless Governor

Arizona Gov. Jan "Papers Please" Brewer has finally had to disavow her earlier errant comments about headless bodies appearing in the Arizona desert. She now says she "misspoke." And this dimbulb is still ahead in the polls against Democrat Terry Goddard. Shame.

Election Primer

We're just getting around to this interesting 2010 election outlook by Al Giordano. What would the media narrative be should the Dems end up holding both the House and Senate, against the current herd "reporting" meme of an imminent Democratic debacle? (Hint: something along the lines of "It's still bad news for Democrats!")

Before John "The Orange" Boehner starts measuring the windows in the Speaker's office, he might want to read Giordano's analysis (then again, let Boner ride his clueless hubris for the duration). In the final analysis, it would be amusing if the "Young Guns" are actually packin' ... pop guns.

Happy Labor Day Weekend Song

Wanker of the Week

Minnesota Rethuglican Governor Tim "No Good 'N'" Pawlenty. Yet another brave, courageous act, sacrificing the interests of his state for his own political benefit! (Wait, isn't that supposed to be the other way around?)

Miss Him Yet? Uh. . . .NO

A new USA Today/Gallup poll indicates that 71% of Americans blame former Preznit Dumbya for the current state of the economy. Not surprisingly, Rethugs blame President Obama for the economic crash he inherited almost 4 to 1, as they live in their state of bitterness and denial. Of course, that denial is one reason that the Rethug brand is so damaged, and why they've had to create the "Tea Party" to voice their radical message of tax cuts for the wealthy, corporate deregulation, and hate the Mooslims, Meskins, and Marxist usurper.

While the number is good news overall for the Dems, the percentage has fallen from previous highs, indicating that the Rethug disinformation machine is having an effect, and that the Dems are faltering in getting their message out.

(photo: Thinkin' 'bout economics made Dumbya's haid hurt)

Quality Will Out

As a public service, Hackwhackers (via Wonkette) would like to demonstrate the quality of Rethuglican candidates for office in just two states:

Arizona governor (Jan "Papers Please" Brewer); and

Colorado governor (tea bagger Dan "Secret Agent Man" Maes).

Question: Which one has a brain fart, and which one is a brain fart?
(Answer: Both have/are!!)

"The Sadness She Has Left In Her Wake"

Vanity Fair has published Michael Joseph Gross' explosive new article on former Alaska half-Governor and full time grifter Winky You Betcha that's going to raise more questions about her fitness for public office -- should she graciously decide to run in 2012. Much of the article centers on her weird anger and reputation for retribution. Among the choicer nuggets:

"This spring and summer I traveled to Alaska and followed Palin’s road show through four midwestern states, speaking with whomever I could induce to talk under whatever conditions of anonymity they imposed—political strategists, longtime Palin friends and political associates, hotel staff, shopkeepers and hairstylists, and high-school friends of the Palin children. There’s a long and detailed version of what they had to say, but there’s also a short and simple one: anywhere you peel back the skin of Sarah Palin’s life, a sad and moldering strangeness lies beneath. . .

Palin does not always treat those ordinary people well, however—it depends on who is watching. Of the many famous people who have stayed at the Hyatt in Wichita (Cher, Reba McEntire, Neil Young), Sarah Palin ranks as the all-time worst tipper: $5 for seven bags. But the bellhops had it good in Kansas, compared with the bellman at another midwestern hotel who waited up until past midnight for Palin and her entourage to check in—and then got no tip at all for 10 bags. He was stiffed again at checkout time. . .

Palin’s former personal assistants all refused to comment on the record for this story, some citing a fear of reprisal. Others who have worked with Palin recall that, when she feels threatened, she does not hesitate to wield some version of a signature threat: 'I have the power to ruin you.'"

Read the whole article: it's a thoroughly chilling profile of a public figure who could be described as a sociopath or megalomaniac. The self-aggrandizement, the delusions, the repeated falsehoods all fit a pattern of someone who should be kept as far away from the levers of public office as possible.

OK, Let's Give "Credit" Where It's Due

Now that President Obama has announced the end of combat operations in Iraq, the neocon chickenhawks who lied us into a war with a country that had nothing to do with 9-11 are demanding "credit" be given to former Preznit Dumbya. Their main point is that the troop surge turned the tide in the war, ignoring the fact that none other than Gen. Petraeus mainly credits the Sunni abandonment of al-Qaeda in Iraq -- the so-called Anbar Awakening -- with the decline in violence. That abandonment was triggered not only by heavy losses of Sunni insurgents, but also by greasing the palms of tribal leaders with millions of dollars.

So, let's give credit to Dumbya (and his puppeteer "Vice" President, The Dick) with knowingly lying us into the war with multiple falsehoods: the Iraqis possessed weapons of mass destruction, the Iraqis conspired with al-Qaeda on 9-11, our actions would bring about a flourishing of democracy across the Middle East, etc. Of course, it's done nothing of the kind, and in fact has emboldened a more influential Iran in pursuing nuclear power. Over a trillion dollars has been spent on this misadventure, while Osama bin Laden remains at large far away. Sadder than all of these consequences is the loss of over 4,400 American lives, some 37,000 wounded Americans, and tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians killed and perhaps 3 million displaced from their homes. Let's never forget who gets "credit" for that.

Mid-Week Song

Take a tour of a house on Allison Road, courtesy of the Gin Blossoms. Lots of TVs.