They Keep Trickling On Us

As we watch the unfolding crisis in Egypt and the demands for greater economic opportunity, Think Progress notes that income inequality in the U.S. is greater than that in Egypt: Egypt is ranked the 90th in inequality, while the U.S. ranks 42nd in inequality of income, according to the CIA World Fact Book. It's another sign that right-wing "trickle down" economics has been a huge failure and a scam. According to the article:

"Currently, the top one percent of households make nearly 25 percent of the total income in the country, after they made less than 10 percent in the 1970′s. Between 1980 and 2005, 'more than 80 percent of total increase in Americans’ income went to the top 1 percent.'"

While there won't be rioting in U.S. streets over this issue, it's a clear sign that the concentration of economic power is increasing -- a result of decades of tax breaks and loopholes, insider dealings, deregulation and other goodies for the richest Americans, who are "trickling down" on the rest of us, but not in a nice way.

(image: Don't Trickle On Me)

Cartoon of the Week

A light bulb, a flashing red light, and lit matches. Progress, fear, and violence, as depicted in their contemporary political forms. Brilliant cartoon by Barry Blitt of the NY Times, above this column by Frank Rich.

Rethug Crime Blotter

He's barely been a U.S. Congressman for 3 weeks but Florida Rethug David "Reimburse Me" Rivera is already facing allegations that he siphoned off $60,000 in campaign funds for unexplained personal use. A state criminal investigation is underway to determine whether Reimburse Me violated campaign finance laws.

He looks like the male version of failed Delaware Senate candidate Christine "Witchy Woman" O'Donnell, who apparently lived off of campaign contributions as a perpetual candidate for whatever position opened up. Count on them to be the first to object to gummint spending and waste/fraud/abuse. It's how they roll.

Weekend Song

Charlie Louvin (nee Loudermilk), 83, of the Louvin Brothers country duo, passed away on January 26. Along with his brother Ira, who died in 1965, the Louvin Brothers were an early influence on such talents as the Everly Brothers, the Byrds, and Emmylou Harris, among others. While country music is not for everyone, you can still enjoy their close harmonies, interweaving along with the mandolin (Ira) and rhythm guitar (Charlie). Here's their biggest hit, from 1956:

Don't Tell This To A Teatard

"Wednesday's Congressional Budget Office estimates indicate the government will have to borrow 40 cents for every dollar it spends this fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. Tax revenues are projected to drop to their lowest levels since 1950, when measured against the size of the economy." -- Item in the New York Times.

Rahmbo Don't Need No Stinkin' Finger

Now that the Illinois Supreme Court has ruled that former White House Chief of Staff Rahm "Rahmbo" Emanuel can be on the ballot for Mayor of Chicago, he's once again become the favorite to win the election on February 22, with early voting allowed starting next Monday. The Supreme Court's unanimous ruling was based on residency law going back to the 19th century.

Bowing to calls for civility in politics, Rahmbo had his middle finger amputated, as seen in the photo *cough cough*.

Not History, Herstory

There's an increasing tendency on the far-right to twist or outright fabricate U.S. history to suit their political message. Case in point: half-term Alaska Governor Sarah "Mama Fizzley" Palin, who thinks that the Soviets won the "space race," and that the cost of the space race caused their country to collapse roughly 30 years later. Fizzley, who is trying to compete with loony Michele "I See Commies" Bachmann for the tin foil hat demographic, was responding to President Obama's "Sputnik moment" reference in his State of the Union message.

While Fizzley may not realize that the U.S. "won" the space race by being the first on the moon -- thanks to a massive Government-led and funded effort -- she's bucking Rethuglican orthodoxy by saying that the Soviets' expenditures on the space race caused their economy to collapse. Here all the time we thought St. Ronnie of Hollywood brought the Evil Empire to its knees by winning the arms race, which the Russkies couldn't match.

As Keith Olbermann often said when referring to the Wasilla Wingnut, "That woman is an idiot."

Uprisings in the Arab World

After a popular uprising toppled the government of Tunisia, it may have only been a matter of time before the frustration with strongman rule in the Arab world boiled over. Now demonstrators in Egypt and Yemen have taken to the streets, in Egypt to demand an end to Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule, and in Yemen to protest the government of Ali Abdallah Saleh. Spearheading the protests in both countries are thousands of students and young people who are angry at a lack of economic progress and dictatorial rule. The Egyptian government is employing thousands of police and security forces to control the demonstrations, which have spread from Cairo to Suez, and the situation is extremely tense. Yemen is a new "ground zero" for expanded al Queda operations, and the government there has been cooperating with U.S. efforts to disrupt their activities.

Developments in Egypt and Yemen bear close watching given the strategic importance of these Arab nations. Will it be a failed "Prague spring" moment or will democracy take root in these important Arab countries?

Mid-Week Song

A Tom Petty classic is our choice for this rainy/sleety/snowy day on the East Coast. Enjoy.

Tale of Two Responses

The official response to the President's State of the Union address was delivered by reactionary Rethug Congressman Paul Ryan (Social Darwinist - WI), whose touted "Roadmap for America's Future" would do away with Medicare and disrupt Social Security. Unfortunately for him, he came across as an earnest young funeral director, talking in solemn and almost grim terms about the future. Of course, he didn't mention the improving job numbers, corporate profits and bullish stock market -- signs that the stimulus and other Obama measures are working, albeit slowly. After watching Obama's hopeful and positive address, it was a downer watching the official Rethug response -- they truly have nothing but "cut spending and cut taxes" in their repertoire.

Since Ryan's type of right-wing rhetoric isn't enough for the unhinged base of the Rethuglican/New Confederate Party (a.k.a., teahadists), Minnesota's crackpot Rep. Michele "I See Commies" Bachmann trotted out her singular type of divisive crazy talk on the Tea Party Express web site. Her remarks were sprinkled with the usual nuttery about "America is under attack," and the lie that reform is "government-run" health care to be policed by "16,500 IRS agents." Seriously. In clips of her remarks that were shown on the news this morning, she appeared to be staring off into space while speaking. While that was attributed to having two different cameras present, it certainly captured the spacey quality of the loon from Minnesota.

State of the Union Preview

With much of the Beltway Village media distracted over which Democratic Senator will sit with which Republican Senator at tonight's State of the Union address, there's actually some serious content that President Obama is expected to touch on, namely investments in education, science and infrastructure to make the U.S. economy more robust and competitive. He's expected to support some budget cuts, but not the ham-handed cuts the Rethugs are recklessly proposing, along with tax reform/elimination of loopholes. Everyone should be on their best behavior (we'll see), although we expect the Rethugs to sit on their hands for most of the hour, except when texting their contributors or mistresses.

UPDATE: The SOTU went pretty much as expected. Some business-friendly proposals, coupled with calls for seizing our "Sputnik moment." Nice weaving of national priorities with real-life situations represented by guests in the gallery. No catcalls from the teahadists in attendance.

Do As I Say, Not As I Do

It would appear that the revolving door between politics and lobbying is operating smoothly, as Ezra Klein notes:

"In 2010, Sen. Evan Bayh retired. Part of the reason, he told me, was that the corrosive effect of money in politics had left his profession looking corrupt. 'You want to be engaged in an honorable line of work,' Bayh said, 'but they look at us like we're worse than used-car salesmen.'

On Friday, Bayh announced that he was joining Apollo Global Management, a private-equity megafirm, as 'a senior adviser with responsibility for public policy.' Something tells me that this isn't going to vastly improve the way Americans think about their politicians."

ConservaDem "Bye" Bayh was usually one of the first to support Rethug policy proposals, so it isn't much of a surprise that he'd go for the big corporate bucks after retiring. Now he can save a place at the firm for the equally sanctimonious Sen. Joe Lieberliar (Party of Joe - CT) when he departs the Senate.

Crazy Talk

On yesterday's Press The Meat, er, Meet The Press, Rethuglican House Majority Leader Eric "Can't" Cantor initially refused to denounce far-right birther claims that the President wasn't born in the U.S. as "crazy talk." Think Progress has the key excerpt here.

While Can't tries unsuccessfully to weasel-word a response, he finally acknowledges that the President "is a citizen of the United States." Thanks so much, Can't, for your grudging stamp of approval, I'm sure the President is relieved. Now you can figure out a way to tell your far-right base that's not what you really meant.

Blast At Moscow's Busiest Airport

Moscow's Domodedovo Airport was hit today by a blast that has so far resulted in 31 deaths and 130 injured, according to the Russian Health Ministry. The explosion occurred in the international arrivals section of the airport, which is Moscow's busiest. Russian authorities have placed Moscow on terror alert as a result of the blast.

Terrorism officials suspect that this explosion was the result of a bomb placed in a location that would cause the greatest casualties, where arriving passengers congregate and which has less security. Chechnyan separatists have been waging a terrorist campaign against the Russian government for years, and have claimed responsibility for bombings in Moscow and other Russian cities.

UPDATE: Officials are now saying it was a suicide bomber in the baggage claim area. The toll is rising, too -- now 35 dead and 180 injured.

The Pack Is Back

The Hackwhackers' sentimental favorite Green Bay Packers are heading for the Super Bowl, after their 21-14 performance against the Chicago Bears yesterday. The Pack will face the Pittsburgh Steelers (whom we were rooting for against the NY Jets) in a showdown of two old-time franchises that were among the original National Football League teams (Packers, 1921, Steelers, 1933). The Pack is still the only community-owned team, and the Steelers are still owned by the Rooney family (son Dan Rooney is Obama's ambassador to Ireland). These are two great teams with long histories in football. It should be a great game.

Go Pack!