Weekend Music Twofer

We've featured part of this Erik Satie piece before, but here's the full three sections of "3 Gymnopedies" performed by Aldo Ciccolini. We also wanted you to see this interesting 1924 short film, "Entr' acte," that was created by filmmaker Rene Clair to accompany the music. Clair was a pioneer in the Dadaist school of art. Note that Satie is shown in the first part of the film (he's the man wearing the bowler hat carrying the cane). The music has the atmospherics of a 1920's Paris salon, with a quirky blend of machine and art:



This is a beautiful piece by jazz pianist Keith Jarrett, who clearly has absorbed some Satie in his life. The piece is from 2011's "Rio" and gives us the sensation of rain falling -- or perhaps a peaceful weekend about to start:

Picture of the Day

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren is sworn in as a new Senator by Vice President Biden.

We give our thanks to the good people of Massachusetts -- including our dear friend P.E.C. -- for sending Sen. Warren to Washington.

(photo: Reuters)

Holiday Fruitcake

One of the biggest fears of the Rethuglican / New Confederate Party is that the Affordable Care Act (or Obamacare) will prove to be so popular with the public once it's implemented that they'll be blamed for obstructing it on a national and state level. They're worried that it will become as popular and successful as Social Security and Medicare, and they'll be on the outside looking in. That's why you see perennial clown Rep. Michele "Minnesota Loon" Bachmann introducing as the first piece of legislation in the 113th Congress the total repeal of the ACA. This, despite the fact that 33 previous attempts have failed, at a cost of millions of dollars and precious time wasted.

Speaking of time wasted, this is the same clown party that brushed away a relief package for victims of Hurricane Sandy, until the pressure built to move on the package today. It's the same lunatic crowd that, after the 2010 elections where they promised to deal with jobs jobs jobs, introduced as their first two measures in the 112th Congress bills to repeal the ACA and ban Federal funds for abortions.

(photo: Can't....stop....looking....at...the eyes...the eyes...the eyes...)

Patti Page (1927-2013)

R.I.P. Patti Page, who passed away on New Year's Day at the age of 85. Page was one of the most beloved and successful of American popular singers, charting 14 gold records including "Allegheny Moon," "Cross Over the Bridge," "(How Much is That) Doggie in the Window?" and "Mockin' Bird Hill." If you didn't hear her during the 50's, it's because you didn't have access to a radio or TV. Hearing of her passing led to our going back and listening to some of her hits, and boy did that bring back wonderful memories (and a tear or two). This is her signature song, and her most popular (her one platinum record):

Rethuglican War on Women: Violence Against Women Edition

Yesterday, it should be noted and remembered, the monkey House New Confederate/ Rethuglican Party allowed the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization to die, meaning for for the first time since 1994 there is no comprehensive, governing Federal law in this area. Why did the mossback misogynists of the right choose to continue their war against women in this way? The reauthorization would have provided coverage to Native American women, same-sex couples and immigrants (!).

Wow, just when we thought these pricks couldn't stoop any lower. Or, as Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) put it:

"The House Republican leadership's failure to take up and pass the Senate's bipartisan and inclusive VAWA bill is inexcusable. This is a bill that passed with 68 votes in the Senate and that extends the bill's protections to 30 million more women. But this seems to be how House Republican leadership operates. No matter how broad the bipartisan support, no matter who gets hurt in the process, the politics of the right wing of their party always comes first."

File this in the same folder as "legitimate rape," transvaginal probes, "binders full of women," unequal pay for women, and "pregnancy from rape is part of God's plan."

Out With The Old

As this post is being written, the 113th Congress is being sworn in, and some of the most delusional and hate-filled members from the 112th Congress are departing. The Dems picked up seats in the Senate and House in what was expected to be a Rethuglican year, and some of the Rethugs that were booted out were among the worst: Allen "Commies in Congress" West, Joe "Deadbeat Dad" Walsh, and Todd "Legitimate Rape" Akin. Here's hoping they achieve their well-deserved oblivion.

Storm Warning Cartoon of the Day

(click to enlarge)

Nothing revealed the emptiness of the wing nut soul as much as the initial refusal of the House Rethuglican majority to consider a bill for relief of Super Storm Sandy victims, more than 2 months after the debacle. Pressured by their Rethug colleagues in New York and New Jersey, they've agreed to a vote on the bill.

Remember that Rethug House Majority Leader Eric "The Cancer" Cantor proposed after multiple tornadoes struck Missouri in 2011 that we needed to find "offsets" in the budget before aid could be sent. Yet these soulless monsters will fight to their political death to protect their wealthiest benefactors from losing one penny in taxes.

(cartoon: Jeff Danziger)

More Rethuglican Internecine Warfare

Oh, the schadenfreude, it's sweet.

Twit Tweet of the Day

From the spokesman for House Majority Leader Eric "The Cancer" Cantor, just before The Cancer voted against Boehner on the "fiscal cliff" tax increase:

Majority Leader Cantor stands with @speakerboehner. Speculation otherwise is silly, non-productive and untrue.

— Doug Heye (@DougHeye) January 1, 2013

"Stands with" for Rethug radicals apparently means "you're on your own." Such effortless lying is still shocking.

Rethuglican Knife Fight Breaks Out

Not long after splitting their votes on tax hikes for the wealthy, the House Rethugs are in a nasty fight over funding for the victims of Super Storm Sandy. New York Representative and veteran Islamophobe Peter "Burger" King is accusing his fellow Rethug congressmen -- in particular hapless Speaker John "Orange Boner" Boehner -- of knifing New York and New Jersey in the back by refusing to provide continuing funds for the rebuilding of communities hit by Sandy. Here's what he had to say:

"I'm saying right now, anyone from New York or New Jersey who contributes one penny to congressional Republicans is out of their minds, because what they did last night was put a knife in the back of New Yorkers and New Jerseyans. It was an absolute disgrace."

Burger was so broiled that he reportedly didn't rule out switching parties (ed.: that's one offer the Dems should refuse). Funny how Rethuglicans hate Big Gummint except when they need it to rescue them.

UPDATE: Apparently, the spat has been ended by Orange Boner's pledge to hold a vote on a relief package in the next 2 weeks, so we don't have to worry about Burger King showing up on the Democrats' doorstep.

(photo: Burger King has gas pains over raw meal deal)

Mid-Week Song

Phosphorescent is the professional name of Brooklyn-based indie musician Matthew Houck. This tune, "Song for Zula," is from his upcoming album Muchachos, scheduled for release in March 2013.

Tax Bill Passes House

After the Senate passed a bill 89 - 8 to allow taxes for the wealthiest Americans to rise, the House of Monkeys Representatives voted late last night to approve the Senate bill by a vote of 257 - 167. Individuals making over $400,000 and families making over $450,000 will see their income taxes increased, and will see an increase in the rate they pay on capital gains. Unemployment benefits for 2 million Americans were extended for a year, and the sequestration of funds for domestic and defense programs was delayed for two months, setting up another battle on that and the debt ceiling.

Interestingly, the bill passed the House with 85 Rethugs voting for the measure, including hapless Speaker John "Orange Boner" Boehner and Randian Rep. Paul "Lyin'" Ryan. Voting against the measure were 151 Rethug dead enders, including Majority Leader Eric "The Cancer" Cantor, who is clearly scheming to win the Speakership at some point.

Let's Meet the Starting Lineups

We're in the midst of college football bowls here [sad trombone Michigan, Wisconsin, Big Ten Conference], so we thought we'd have Key & Peele give us this little taste of the season:



We'll have more Key & Peele at another time (they're known for their spot on take on President Obama and his "inner black man").

(h/t Washington, D.C., Bureau Chief Brian)

Cliff Dwelling

In our post-New Year's Eve, almost post-cliff state (the "fiscal cliff" deal passed by the Senate early this morning won't be taken up by the House until this afternoon at the earliest), we hereby offer selected commentary on "the package:"

From Robert Reich, who sees a lot to dislike about the "lousy" deal (and doesn't even count the loss of the payroll tax cut).

From Matthew O'Brien, who talks about the biggest thing missing from the deal, the aforementioned payroll tax cut - or an equivalent middle class stimulus.

From Paul Krugman, who, like Noam Scheiber, doesn't like the deal, but thinks it is better than what some were fearing from the "conceder-in-chief," whom the Rethugs needn't fear in future "negotiations."

From Michael Tomasky, who sees a 200-year-old pattern of obstruction and thinks, considering that, Obama did... ok.

From us, we'll withhold final judgment until after the lesser ape house House of Representatives acts, but right now, it's safe to say we have to go with Ms. Maroney:

(Photo: Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney's not impressed.)

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!