Tweet Of The Day -- Just Call Them "Republicans"

Your occasional reminder about the people whose opinions we're supposed to respect:

Once again we are reminded that one third of Americans are screaming, out of their mind, moronic, dangerous assholes. https://t.co/K54KHQEnLZ

— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) June 24, 2019

 More proof, as if it were needed:

Heavily armed militia lays siege to Oregon's Capitol as Senate Democrats cower in fear. #orpol #orleg #capkillsjobs #hb2020 #Oregon11 #orcot pic.twitter.com/XQHCEb3D59

— Oregon GOP (@Oregon_GOP) June 23, 2019

President Obama Does Grumpy Cat

For anyone not familiar with "Grumpy Cat," a.k.a. Tardar Sauce, she's a long-running internet star with a Facebook page with over 7 million likes:

Now, here's President Obama at yesterday's Democratic Women's Leadership Forum doing his best "Republicans are like Grumpy Cat" imitation:



We would offer that a better depiction of Republicans would be the character of "Taz," the Looney Tunes Tasmanian devil, who's described thusly:

..."a ferocious albeit dim-witted omnivore with a notoriously short temper and little patience. His enormous appetite seems to know no bounds, as he will eat anything in his path. He is best known for his speech consisting mostly of grunts, growls, and rasps (in his earlier appearances, he does speak English with primitive grammar) as well as his ability to spin like a vortex and bite through just about anything."

Today's Cartoon - The Republican Platform

(click on image to enlarge)

"Make no progress, Improve no planet, end no suffering."  Exactly.

(Rebecca Hendin, via gocomics.com)

Neocon Republicans And The "Who Lost Iraq?" Fast Shuffle

Several perceptive folks have noticed, particularly in the aftermath of John Ellis "J.E.B." Bush's week-long floundering on brother Dumbya's Iraq catastrophe, that Republicans are cowardly trying to turn the issue of ISIL's recent gains (after a series of setbacks) in Iraq into an indictment of President Obama (and, of course, Hillary Clinton) to divert attention from the Republican originator of the mess (and his "smarter" brother):

After more than a decade bearing the political burden of Iraq, Republicans are making a dogged effort to shed it by arguing that the Islamic State’s gruesome ascent is a symptom of Obama’s foreign policy, rather than a byproduct of the 2003 invasion they once championed.

Chaos in the city of Ramadi, which this week fell under the control of Islamic State militants, has only intensified the Republican outcry.

Steve M. at No More Mister Nice Blog noticed the corporate "mainstream media" is already engaged in tying the recent loss of Ramadi to ISIL into a narrative about the pain veterans of the Iraq War feel over seeing the city fall.  Mind you, not that the whole bloody mess originated in the first place because of the lies of Likudnik chickenhawk neocons.  More evidence, if any were needed, that the "mainstream media" is the perfect foil for Republican revisionists because it has the perspective of Mr. Magoo and the attention span of a mayfly.

Charles P. Pierce noted Steve's catch and had this to say:

...The only way for the people who shook their moneymakers for the war in 2002 to justify their continued place in our politics is to use ISIL to replace the aluminum tubes and hope that enough people don't notice what a grotesque fast shuffle this is. That will clear the way for the candidates on the Republican side -- Rubio, Graham, Jeb (!), and, most recently, Chris Christie -- who want to revive the old neocon hoo-rah while distancing themselves from its savage consequences. It looks very much like "Who lost Iraq?" may replace the disastrous decisions of the Avignon Presidency in this campaign, and that a good chunk of the Republican field will be perfectly happy to allow that to happen. For all the talk of the president's fecklessness from the chickenhawk choir, what those candidates are about right now is the worst kind of cowardice.

That Republicans are trying to turn recent events in the Middle East into a "Who lost Iraq?" narrative is beyond obscene, especially, as Pierce notes, with the same Republican neocons (Sen. "Huckleberry Butchmeup" Graham, Sen. Marco "Glug Glug" Rubio and "J.E.B." Bush adviser Paul Wolfowitz) ready and willing to repeat the same disastrous mistakes all over again, with a new generation of someone elses children. That whirring sound must be George Santayana spinning in his grave.

UPDATE:  Ruben Bolling sums it up also (click on image to enlarge):

(Attribution: Ruben Bolling)

Today's Cartoon - Mad Men

(click on image to enlarge)

(Rob Rogers, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Ah, yes, the Republican debates, where the biggest issue leading up might be how to find a stage to fit all the clowns.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Lincoln

Tomorrow is the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. Arguably our greatest President, Lincoln was, of course, also the first Republican president. Think about that for a moment, and then think about the contrast between Lincoln's great soul and the small-bore hacks (see below) that comprise the modern Republican Party. The party of Lincoln is now the party of Limbaugh and Palin; of Coulter and Bush; of Boehner and McConnell; of...aw, hell, you get the picture. We'd like to think Lincoln would be not only proud of, but also be in the same political mainstream as President Obama, a Lincolnphile himself (as most Americans are). For modern Rethugs to in any way associate themselves with the memory of this great American would be downright blasphemous.

More "Country First" Republicans

More Republicans to be added to the list of those breaking ranks and supporting Obama in the national interest:

Charles Mathias - former U.S. Senator, Maryland

Linwood Holton - former Governor, Virginia (and current Gov. Tim Kaines' father- in- law)


Holton announced his support months ago, Mathias in an op/ed in yesterday's WaPo.

How True

Sen. Barack Obama today on Republicans:

"They're very good at negative campaigning. They're not so good at governing."

Of course, with the ever-willing "main stream media" available to keep its thumb on the scale for the Rethugs.

Rib-Cracker of the Week

Wonkette has an unintentionally hilarious vid produced for Rethug Sen. John Cornyn's appearance at the Texas State GOP convention. Check out Wonkette's alternative lyrics. Also check out the dude "cowboy" hat, vest and jeans Cornyn sports in the vid. Someone's been shopping at Nieman Marcus! This is a man who made his millions in law, not ropin' an' ridin'. Is it "shockingly gay," as Wonkette says? You be the judge -- but just make sure your bladder is empty before you click on the video!

Not Connecting the Dots

The most recent NBC/WSJ poll illustrates how so many Americans fail to connect the dots:

43% say they're worse off than in 2004;

50% to 37% is the generic Democrat to Rethug party preference margin;

Obama 47%, McSame 44% (Clinton 47%, McSame 45%);

Clinton 47%, Obama 43%, the choice of Democrats only;

45% to 38% is the margin by which Democrats think Obama would be the strongest candidate against McSame.

You see what's curious about these numbers. Aside from the oddity of some Clinton Democrats supporting her while at the same time thinking Obama would do better against McSame, you have the larger conundrum of a certain slice of the electorate willing to give the Rethugs another 4 years. Four more years of pounding trillions of dollars down the wrong rat hole (Iraq); four more years of torture; four more years of the growing income disparity between the wealthiest and the rest of us; four more years of stagflation; four more years where we have to hold our breath that a vacancy doesn't pop up on the Supreme Court; four more years of neglect on global warming; four more.. oh, you can fill in the rest.

This has to be a "change" election, where the question is simply put, "Do you want four more years of reckless incompetence and diversions?" First, the Democrats have to pay attention (no thanks to HRC, who is framing the election on McSame's terms), then they need to get the message across to others in the electorate who are still having trouble connecting the dots.

Poppy Endorses Walnuts!

In a show of geriatric solidarity, former President George Herbert Walker "Read My Lips" Bush today endorsed fellow sepulchral Rethug Walnuts McCain. As endorsements go, this one could have a real downside since Poppy is rightly viewed as the ultimate establishment Rethug who betrayed conservative principles by going back on a certain pledge ("Read my lips, no new taxes"). And who appointed a certain Supreme Court justice (liberal David Souter). Not the kind of move likely to persuade the likes of Limpballs, (M)Ann, or Glenn "'Roids Afire" Beck that Walnuts is in tune with the crazy music playing in their heads.

(Photo: Poppy about to dig some Mantovani. STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

We've been noticing the appearance of the poll-tested word "Change" at rallies for candidates of both parties, but it is truly risible when it shows up at Rethug rallies, don't you think? Just look at this collection of, ahem, middle-aged white men and tell us what about them suggests "change?" (Not pictured: Walnuts McCain, who reeks "change.")

Perhaps, as Walnuts pointed out, it can be applied to political chameleon Willard "Mousse/ Muff/ Flip" Romney, since he's changed his position on basic issues so often.

Or perhaps "change" could be applied to Rudy Toot Tooty, since he changes wives/ mistresses as often as he changes his oil (or perhaps because change is what Rudy is paying his staff these days).

Or perhaps "change" could be applied to sleepy Fred "Foghorn Leghorn" Thompson, since it's about time he changed into his "lumberjack" shirt and climb into his red pickup truck to show (every election cycle anyway) that he's a "man of the people."

Or Ron Paul, who will change everything back to the 17th Century.

Or Hucksterbee, who wants to change us back into a "Christian nation."

The one candidate it couldn't be applied to is Walnuts, since he would adhere to Dumbya's Iraq "strategery" for 100 years, if necessary.

Change -- it's a wonderful thing.

Photo: l. to r., Paul, Hucksterbee, Rudy Toot Tooty, Flip, and zzzzz. Which one needs to be changed?

Rethugs Set for Debate on Who Will Lose by Smallest Margin

As the post-middle-age crop of white men who are the Rethug presidential candidates gather for tomorrow's "debate," which is only notable because it will be Huckleberry Fred's debut, Hackwhackers has a bold prediction: the name Clinton will be spoken at least 10 times more than the name Bush. Rudy Toot Toody is already running against Hillary like he won the nomination; expect the other Rethugs to try to get the juices going in the die-hard base by getting on the Hillary-bashing bus, too. Meanwhile, nominee-in-his-own-mind Rudy Toot Toody would have a hard time carrying one precinct in his home town, according to Michael Goodwin in the NY Daily News.
Pictured above: recommended annual prostate exam for Rethug presidential candidates.

Foghorn Leghorn to Join Rethug Field

Former Senator and "Law and Order" potted plant Fred "Foghorn" Thompson is all but in the race for the Rebunglecan presidential nomination. He'll be joining the Three Stooges (a.k.a. Rudy McRomney) and the Seven Dwarfs. Thompson, who makes the likes of Tweety swoon because of the manliness of his "deep voice," yearns to have comparisons drawn with former actor/President Reagan. As a Senator, Thompson was barely there, never authoring a single piece of significant legislation while, we think, longing to get back to the bit movie roles that made him a local celebrity in Tennessee and gave him juice with the chicks.

When he starts campaigning, look for Foghorn to ditch the $1,000 suits and limosine and dust off his "populist" props -- the plaid shirt (the same favored by fellow millionaire Tennessee Rethug Lamar Alexander), and the red pickup truck. Ah say, ah say, that there Fred is a man of the people!

The Hour-and-a-Half Comedy Hour

A comedy---tonight!! It's the Seven Dwarfs and the Three Stooges on the same stage, doing their hilarious riffs: Walnuts McCain doing his rendition of "BombBombBombBombBombIran," Willard "Muff" Romney doing back flips while shootin' varmints, Rudy "Toot-Tootie" Giuliani singing in drag, and the Seven Dwarfs ("Happy" Gilmore, "Doc" Brownback, etc.) who... well, the name says it all. Emceed by Tweety (who, if past is prologue, will get at least 30 minutes of air time alone).

Who Is A Republican?

On April 10, we ran a piece, "What Is A Republican?" Today, we look at who is a Republican. As with the "what," the "who" also isn't a pretty picture. But it is instructive. If you're a Republican, here's a representative look at the company you keep:

Pols
The Preznit, Dead Eye Dick, Karl "Turdblossom" Rove, "Man Tan" Boehner, Mitch "Mitzi" McConnell, "Opie" Putnam, L'il Pat McHenry, Jim "Oily and Gassy" Inhofe, "Bridge to Nowhere" Stevens, Walnuts McCain, Willard "Muff" Romney, Perfesser Newt "I'm on Number 3" Gingrich, Rudy "So Am I" Giuliani.

Pundits and Fillosofers
Rush Limpballs, Bill O'Really?, Glenn Beck, Field Marshal Hannity, Wee Willie Kristol, *ucker Carlson, Bow Tie Will, Kraphammer, Michelle (Jesse) Malkin, Krazy [D]Ann Coulter, Doughy Pantload, Brent "Bozo" Bozell. Junior Varsity: (most of whom don't rate nicknames) Melanie Morgan, Cal Thomas, Michael Wiener Savage, Pammy Jugs, Dennis Prager, R. Emmett Tyrell III.

Cons Past, Present and Future
Jack Abramoff, Scooter Libby, Tom DeLay, Duke "Not So" Cunningham, Bob Ney, Mark Foley, Claude "Lightfingers" Allen, Grover Norquist, G. Gordon Liddy, Ollie North, Reps. Renzi and Doolittle. Demeritus (R.I.P.): Richard Nixon, Spiro Agnew, John Mitchell, Maurice Stans.

Ayatollahs
Jerry Pharisee Falwell, "Diamond Pat" Robertson, James Dobson, Wm. Donohue, Richard Land, Tony Perkins, Gary Bauer, Ted Haggard. Deacons: Rupert Murdoch, Roger Ailes

Wannabees
Joe Lieberman (Likud-CT), Tweety, Broderella, Washington Post (Fred Hiatt), CNN, L'il Russ Russert, ABC/Disney.

Front Organizations
NRA, Focus on Family, Catholic League, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Faux News, NAM, Southern Baptist Convention, Rev. Moon Inc. (Washington Times, etc.), WSJ

A scary, sickening bunch of crackpots, sociopaths, hypocrites, liars, cowards, elitists, bedwetters and knuckledraggers, huh?! Makes us glad we're not who they are.

Poll Finds Public Sides With Dems Overwhelmingly

A new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll just released shows that the Bush Assministration's Iraq policy is a "loser," with 55% saying that victory is not possible and that the war is going worse (49%) or about the same (37%) rather than better (12%) since the "surge" began nearly 3 months ago. The poll also found that 66% of the American people think the country is on the wrong track vs. 22% who think it's on the right track (and who also, coincidentally, are rooting for the Rapture). This is the lowest "right track" number in 15 years, since Poppy Bush was in office, and reveals the approximate dead-ender, hard-core Rebunglecan segment of the population.

Also notable, 56% support the Democrats' Iraq troop withdrawal deadline vs. 37% who support the Preznit's position. Maybe "9% Dick" Cheney should STFU?!

What Is A Republican?

We are pausing in our inexorable pursuit of the nimrods and poindexters who generally occupy the "trees" of the wingnut world to observe the "forest" -- that is, to ask the fundamental question,what is a Republican? We want to state in no uncertain terms that what follows is not meant to impugn the good people who find it somehow necessary to vote Republican. In fact, we have family members and friends who unfortunately vote Republican. Rather, we are attempting to sketch the party in terms of its leadership, philosophy and behavior patterns, in the objective "we report, you decide" manner we so admire.

A summary of several issue areas (Iraq, fiscal policy, immigration, and "values") should help provide a picture, in a broad but necessarily limited sense, of what it means to be a Republican. Please be forewarned, it's not a pretty picture.

Iraq

Leadership:Neoconservatives, sometimes known as "chickenhawks" for their willingness to send others into harm's way when they themselves never faced combat (Bush, Cheney, Wolfowitz, Feith, nearly all of the wingnut media and blogosphere).
Predominant philosophy:Unilateralist interventionist; establish "democracy" in the Middle East; deemphasize diplomacy, especially with states you consider "the enemy."
Behavior pattern:Ready-shoot-aim; naive; lack of historical and cultural perspective and awareness; cherry pickers (facts must fit preconceived notions to be useful).

Fiscal (tax) policy

Leadership:Wall Street/country club wing of the party; Bush, Cheney, supply side/voodoo economics remnants.
Predominant philosophy:Tax cuts for the wealthy, even in time of war; trickle down; "deficits don't matter" - Dead Eye Dick.
Behavior pattern:Unprecedented redistribution of wealth since 2000; no sacrifice asked in time of war (except giving up "peace of mind"); "Never has so much been done for so few who need so little;" cry "class warfare!" if Democrats bring up any of these points.

Immigration

Leadership:Bush and business groups vs. Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO), Bill O'Really?, Lou Dobbs.
Predominant philosophy:A divided party, the Bush wing wanting to secure borders with guest worker program, and the Tancredo wing wanting to secure borders with no "amnesty" in any way, shape or form.
Behavior patterns:Nativists want action now, White House wants to defer action as long as possible to avoid internecine bloodletting; Bush has photo-ops on border, but doesn't put heat on his own party hacks to get in line.

"Values"

Leadership:The American Taliban (James Dobson, Richard Land, Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, "Catholic League," American wing of the Likud party, etc.); Karl Rove, main organizer and cheerleader.
Predominant philosophy:Anti-choice, anti-gay marriage, anti-stem cell research; pro-government intervention in the moral life of the average American; authoritarian; flat-earth thinking predominates.
Behavior patterns:See Mark Foley, Jack Abramoff, Grover Norquist, Bob Ney, Newt Gingrich, Bob Livingston, Rudy Giuliani, Duke Cunningham, Terri Schiavo, Claude Allen, Ralph Reed, etc., etc. Hypocrisy and greed running rampant; "do as we say, not as we do;" divide, divide, divide; waiting for the Rapture.

Well, there it is, in a "nut"shell, so to speak. We warned you it wouldn't be pretty...