Rethuglican Crime Blotter, Krispykreme Edition

New Jersey Governor and capo of the New Jersey Rethuglican crime family Chris "Krispykreme" Christie is now under criminal investigation by Federal authorities over allegations that he shut down a county's prosecution of his allies in 2010.  According to the above-linked report by David Sirota in the International Business Times, former Hunterdon County, NJ prosecutor Bennett Barlyn was fired after he raised complaints about Krispykreme's intervention in protecting the county's sheriff and members of her staff who had been indicted for 43 counts for corrupt activities.  One of the accused was reported to have said repeatedly that Krispykreme would step in and expunge the indictments.

Krispykreme's history as Governor is one marked with everything from belligerent buffoonery to suspected political payoffs and extortion, and more.  His back-and-forth statements on vaccinating against communicable diseases was even knocked by far-right winger Dr. Ben Carson.  So far, his antics haven't kept the Beltway media Villagers from puffing up Krispykreme for the 2016 Republican nomination clown show.  If Federal authorities find credible evidence to indict Krispykreme in this instance, he may have to sit down and shut up for this election cycle.

The Rethugs Have You Covered Cartoon

(click to enlarge)

With the Affordable Care Act succeeding in getting some 10 million previously uninsured Americans covered and bringing health care costs down, the Rethugs' blind opposition has led them into a corner:  if the right-wing Court majority undermines the law, how will they address the newly insured who would now lose that insurance? If the past is any indication, they'll do nothing substantial and blame it on the Dems/Obama.

(cartoon:  Mike Luckovich, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Today's Reading - We Would Label Them "Sociopaths"

Linda Greenhouse has some advice for the "Justices" who agreed to hear King v. Burwell, which aims to gut Obamacare's (the Affordable Care Act) subsidies and thus end affordable health insurance for tens of millions of Americans:

I have no doubt that the justices who cast the necessary votes to add King v. Burwell to the court’s docket were happy to help themselves to a second chance to do what they couldn’t quite pull off three years ago. To those justices, I offer the same advice I give my despairing friends: Read the briefs. If you do, and you proceed to destroy the Affordable Care Act nonetheless, you will have a great deal of explaining to do — not to me, but to history.

Greenhouse believes, rightly, that some on the Court have led it into a partisan, not legal, battle.  We know who they are: the five Republican "Justices" on the Supreme Court who call themselves Roman Catholic.  So far their "faith" hasn't impelled at least four of them to come down on the side of justice and mercy on any number of cases.  Maybe if they can't be bothered to read the briefs, maybe they could read  Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching, especially the "Option for the Poor and Vulnerable."

Both Harold Meyerson and E.J. Dionne, Jr., take on Republican "big ideas man" Rep. Paul "Lyin'" Ryan's (Koch-WI) labeling President Obama's budget as practicing "envy economics."  Here's a taste of Meyerson's snarky rejoinder:

“Envy economics” — that’s how Paul Ryan (Wis.), the Republican chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, characterized the budget that President Obama submitted to Congress on Monday. 

I suppose he has a point. 

Who among us, for instance, doesn’t envy the ability of our most profitable corporations, such as Apple, to cut their taxes by shifting profits to low-tax Ireland, even though, in Apple’s case, the company doesn’t really do much business in Ireland? Obama’s budget would exploit this envy by requiring U.S. corporations to pay a 14 percent tax on the money they’ve stashed overseas to avoid paying the taxes that U.S. workers — willing but unable to pretend they’re Irish — are compelled to pay.

Dionne, in turn, labels Ryan's approach (and that of the Republican/ New Confederate/Stupid Party):

Ryan’s label invites a comparable description of his own approach, which would slash taxes on the rich while cutting programs for the poor and many middle-income Americans. If Ryan wants to play the branding game, is it unfair to ask him why “greed economics” isn’t an appropriate tag for his own approach? 

While we're talking Catholic social teaching, perhaps Lyin' Ryan, who's already been called out by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for previous mean-spirited budgets, could profit from reading the Catholic Social Teachings as well.  There's great stuff in there about the dignity of work and the rights of workers.

Try to read all the articles -- their common denominator is showing what a hypocritical, selfish, greedy, spiteful, inhumane collection of sociopaths we have in the right wing of American politics.

Remedial Education

As we noted the other day, Wisconsin Governor and Koch Industries' Employee of the Year Scott "Koch Head" Walker is proposing to cut $300 million from the University of Wisconsin System's budget, while shoveling a $200 million gift to the owners of the Milwaukee Bucks for a new arena.  To no one's surprise, Scottie was also caught trying to change the University's 101-year old compact with the citizens of Wisconsin, referred to as the "Wisconsin Idea," which has benefitted Wisconsinites by research and education extension programs aimed at improving the quality of their lives.  He basically wanted to change the compact to put more University resources into feeding his corporate benefactors.

The reaction to Scottie's clever plan was, to say the least, unfavorable, and he's since backtracked.  One thing most residents and University alumni (your humble Hackwhackers included) take pride in is the concept of a borderless University which has served the people so well.  It's made the University a leader in education and research, drawing talent from around the world.  The last thing it needs is a slippery private college dropout like Scottie rearranging its priorities and doing the bidding of major corporate interests to the detriment of higher education in the state.

Disqualifying?

The editorial board of the once great Washington Post Bezos Bugle says this about the recent statements on vaccinations by Gov. Chris "Krispycreme" Christie and Kentucky Sen. "Ayn" Rand Paul (Nut-Self Certified):

TWO POTENTIAL Republican presidential candidates, Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.) and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, have made irresponsible comments about vaccines at a time when measles has reappeared in the United States. Their remarks call into question their judgment and their fitness for higher office.

Ya think? You can add these items to the mounting evidence of their unfitness as well:

During Krispycreme's "disaster" (Economic World) visit to Great Britain this week, the conservative Daily Mail reported the anger- management- challenged Christie had this exchange (via Washington Monthly):

‘Is there something you don’t understand about, “No questions”?’ Christie snapped when a reporter asked whether he’d discussed the Islamic State group during his meetings with dignitaries during the visit to the Globe [Theater].

There's also this piece of patronizing condescension by "Ayn", who doesn't exactly exhibit Presidential qualities when speaking to this reporter (via Rachel Maddow Show):



That these two thin-skinned egotists would appear on any organization's list of potential Presidential candidates only makes sense when you consider it's the Stupid Party we're talking about.

The Hard Bigotry of High Expectations

Here's an interesting insight into the delusion of Lord Willard "Corporations Are People" Romney:  after it was clear that he lost to President Obama -- and he held on to his fantasy of victory far longer than necessary-- Lord Willard called the President to concede.  Reverting to his "47% of Americans are (** cough minority **) moochers" mindset, Lord Willard implied that the President only won due to a massive turnout of black voters in such cities as Cleveland and Milwaukee.  The President's reaction, as recounted by David Axelrod:

“‘You really did a great job of getting the vote out in places like Cleveland and Milwaukee,’ in other words, black people,’” Obama said, paraphrasing Romney’s remarks in the call. “That’s what he thinks this was all about.” (emphasis added)

Lord Willard's condescending bigotry was on display throughout the 2012 campaign, and he truly expected to win going away, even late on election night.  The thought of losing to a black man must have been inconceivable to the spoiled, privileged son of a former CEO and Governor.  It was that incomprehension and lack of self-awareness that led him to stumble into talk of running again in 2016.  No, Lord Willard, the people -- including in Cleveland and Milwaukee -- have seen quite enough of you.

Mid-Week "Yours" Song

British singer-songwriter Ella Henderson is one of the graduates of the UK's "The X Factor" show.  Her first album was released late last year, and this single, "Yours," from that album is getting increasing airplay and attention.  Enjoy.

Today's Dispatches From The Stupid Party

Public health? Ick!

As we've seen highlighted in the past few days, the Republican/ New Confederate/ Stupid Party is struggling with the concept of public health versus Freedumb! Zero sum game there, doncha know.

Two of the party's presumed candidates for President in 2016 have already provided us with their dangerous, deluded thoughts on the matter of vaccination, and now other geniuses are opining on other matters bearing on your right to a healthy life and their right to (wait for it) live in Freedumb! Here's recently elected Sen. Thom "Bacillus" Tillis (Crank-NC) on not forcing food workers to wash their hands after leaving the restroom:

“I said: ‘I don’t have any problem with Starbucks if they choose to opt out of this policy as long as they post a sign that says “We don’t require our employees to wash their hands after leaving the restroom,” Tillis added. “The market will take care of that.”

Steve Benen has the proper question for Bacillus Tillis:

If I understand his argument, the North Carolina senator would let Starbucks opt out of one regulation (hand-washing) in exchange for another (a mandated sign that says “We don’t require our employees to wash their hands after leaving the restroom”)? Is that what constitutes “regulatory reform” for Tillis?

(We pause here for our usual kudos to those Democrats who sat on their asses in North Carolina last November - this lump is your prize.)

Then there's former and future failed candidate and company sinker Carly Fiorina, who chimes in:

I do think parents have to make those choices. I mean, I got measles as a kid. We used to all get measles. I got chicken pox, I got measles, I got mumps… I think parents have to make choices for their family and their children.  (our emphasis)

Choice, yes!  Precious, unalienable choice!  (Except when it comes to women's reproductive health, let's be clear about that.)

If only we could get our border under control to keep them germs from comin' in!  That's what Rep. Mo "Slo-Mo" Brooks (R-Texass) is a-thinkin':

"I don’t think there is any healthcare professional who has examined the fact, who could honestly say that Americans have not died because the diseases brought into America by illegal aliens who are not properly health care screened, as lawful immigrants are."

Uh, how can we put this to Slo-Mo... no:

The congressman mentioned enterovirus, the spread of which conservatives blamed on undocumented immigrants. The Centers for Disease Control said there was no evidence linking immigrant children to the virus.  (our emphasis)

So, maybe the Congressman would propose immunizing those "illegal aliens" before they sneak across the border?  See, that way American kids could have the Freedumb! not to be immunized! Except,

According to the World Health Organization, immunization for measles in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, where a majority of undocumented children have recently emigrated from, is about 93 percent. Children are also vaccinated at processing facilities just across the border.  (our emphasis)

That would be a better vaccination rate than in, say, Orange County, California, United States of Freedumb!  But, we're not scientists, so...

UPDATE:  Now that the tree has been shaken, the nuts are falling out.  What a pitiful excuse for a "Doctor."

Rep. Schock's Fabulous Office

Illinois Republican Representative and male pinup Aaron "Schlock" Schock has a redecorated office in the Rayburn House Office Building, and it's……Fabulous!  Schock's interior decorator (mwahaha) redecorated the office after the rooms in the popular PBS serial "Downton Abbey."  The rooms are replete with such decorative touches as red walls, gilt accessories, and a lavish spray of pheasant feathers.  The redecoration was discovered by an inquisitive reporter, who was unceremoniously ushered out of Schlock's opulent office by an embarrassed press aide once the questions started.

This is someone who voted against funding PBS (Downton Abbey!!), who consistently supports cutting domestic discretionary spending and voted against amending Federal hate crimes laws to include sexual orientation, gender identity and disability.  But when it comes to feathering his own nest, Schlock is pheasant feather freaking Fabulous!

UPDATE:  What's not so Fabulous! is one of Schlock's senior aides, who had to resign for making racist and "Obama's a secret Muslim" Facebook entries.

UPDATE II:  What IS Fabulous! is Schlock's hiring a full-time boyfriend photographer to, you know, capture his awesomeness as they travel together.

There's No Vaccine For Stupidity

Like unvaccinated carriers of an infectious disease, the anti-vaxxers in the Republican/New Confederate/Stupid Party are exhibiting symptoms of anti-medical science stupidity.  We noted yesterday that New Jersey Gov. and poster boy for anger management Chris "Krispykreme" Christie and Kentucky Sen. and self-certified ophthalmologist "Ayn" Rand Paul  think it should be up to the parents whether or not to vaccinate their children.  That "thinking" back in the 1950s would have led to an epidemic of polio, even with the Salk vaccine available.  Smallpox has largely been eradicated as a result of worldwide immunization efforts.  Medical experts are appalled at the dangerous ignorance on display by Rethuglican politicians, especially with the outbreak of measles in dozens of states.

The latest hack to spread the anti-vaxx disease is Wisconsin Rep. Sean "Dr. No" Duffy, who thinks an "oppressive state" shouldn't tell parents to immunize their children.  Savor that bat-sh*t wingnuttery for a moment:  what he's saying is that public health officials -- even personal physicians -- represent an "oppressive state."  This clown has seven children, by the way, and each of them one day could be carriers of an illness, simply because their dad is a right-wing kook.  For those who remember the far-right crusade against fluoridation that was boosted by the likes of the ultra-rightwing John Birch Society, this is a reboot of the same science-denying, paranoid, anti-public mindset that threatens us all.

BONUS:  We'd like to quote, at length, Charles Pierce's take on the matter:

Coming after Chris Christie's similar comments over the weekend, it is now incumbent upon us to ask whether the anti-vaccination theories are on their way to becoming one of those conservative conjuring words, like "Keystone XL pipeline" or "school choice." This is especially true since both Christie and Paul have framed their remarks with boilerplate conservative defenses of parental rights and personal freedoms. So is the measles virus the new handgun? Will dozens of sick kids in California join dozens of dead kids in Connecticut as the price we have to pay for our freedoms? Are we going to Teach The Controversy on this one, too. Is this, like The Bell Curve was for Andrew Sullivan and The New Republic, Open For Debate? It's one thing to dance away from science on global warming. It's quite another to have one of our only two political parties line itself up against medical science. If the voices in your head and the clamor of your own ambition can drown out the simple fact that we had measles defeated in this country in 2000, and now, after a long stretch of know-nothing propaganda, measles are back with a vengeance, then you can quite simply use politics to defeat public health in the lives of us all. For a physician like Rand Paul, the son of Crazy Uncle Liberty (!), who also is a doctor, lending your credibility to the quack healers of the Internet bespeaks a certain contempt for learning that has become all too common.

Hucksterbee's Latest Bible Lesson

Former Fux Teabangelist Mike Huckabee Hucksterbee thinks that pretending to run for President in 2016 will juice his book sales, and they probably will among his Bible-thumping followers.  But he has no chance at the Presidency, and comments like the one he made yesterday that compared being gay to drinking prove he's not ready for political prime time.  With a majority of voters favoring marriage equality, Hucksterbee knows that by holding his culture warrior views, he's disqualifying himself probably from the Rethuglican nomination, and certainly from the general election.

Hucksterbee's sanctimony was caught in a wringer recently when he criticized music star Beyonce's songs, only to be shown clips of him playing bass with draft dodging admitted pedophile Ted "Crap My Pants" Nugent singing the sexual "Cat Scratch Fever."  Imagine that as part of a Dem ad;  Hucksterbee can, and that's only part of why we should expect a Romneyesque statement from him later this year.

Today's Tomorrow Cartoon

(click to enlarge)

Expect a lot of deceptive half-measures from Congressional Republicans on climate change in order to take some of the (no pun intended) heat off of them after years of denial and obstruction.  With majorities in both houses of Congress, the Rethugs will make superficial gestures without substance on everything from climate change to immigration reform to income inequality to try to convince voters in 2016 that they care sooo much about issues that a big majority of Americans want resolved, without actually doing anything.

(cartoon:  Tom Tomorrow, via Daily Kos)

From The Sports Desk...

Watching Seattle Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll imitate a deer in the headlights last night during an ESPN interview, his eyes darting nervously around a nearly empty Seahawks locker room as if a mob of angry fans was about to descend, was uncomfortable.  His botched play call -- what many called the worst play call in football history -- will be remembered for years to come, as the decision was made to pass on the one yard line rather than hand the ball to star running back Marshawn Lynch.

On a different note, half time entertainment was over-the-top (sponsor Pepsi obviously dropped a bundle on the garish effects), and the vaunted commercials again were more about amusing the viewers rather than informing, with the exception of a stark Nationwide Insurance ad that addressed accidental deaths among children.  The chip dip and boo-yah viewers wanting chuckles or "awws" were not pleased that their Super Bubble was penetrated by the depressing ad, according to reports.  Such is life; just ask the Seahawks.

A Brit Has A Question For Chris Christie

New Jerksey Governor and man with his own zip code Chris "Krispycreme" Christie is on a resume-padding but largely (heh) ignored trip to Great Britain, where the locals can't quite place the name, but have a related question:

“I’ve vaguely heard of him,” said Michael Rabbett, 67, as he sipped red wine from a plastic cup (“wine beer,” he noted). He paused to let the name roll around in his head. 

“He’s in the background of my head. But not really,” he concluded. 

Alerted to Mr. Christie’s reputation for voluble candor as well as his party affiliation, Mr. Rabbett asked his own question. “Has he told that lady from Alaska to shut up?” 

No, he was informed. Mr. Christie had not tried to silence the former governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin. “Well why not?” he inquired.  (our emphasis)

God bless Great Britain!

In light of the current measles outbreak, it's also noted that Krispycreme was asked about vaccination and responded that (the overwhelming scientific evidence in favor of) vaccination should be "balanced" by the parental right to choose not to vaccinate their children.  As should, we presume, the issue of blood letting with leeches vs. not.  What a jackass.

UPDATE:  This self-certified nitwit ophthalmologist is even more of a jackass.  Surprise.

(h/t New York Times, via No More Mister Nice Blog)

Polling Putin: What Beatings, Censorship and Propaganda Can Do

(click on image to enlarge)

(Tom Toles, once great Washington Post Bezos Bugle)

Christopher Walker and Robert Orttung discuss the danger of taking Russian President Vladimir "Vlad the Invader" Putin's soaring "popularity" in the polls at face value:

... We should not accept a definition of popularity that is achieved via truncheon, censorship and propaganda.

Putin may well retain the support of certain segments of the Russian population. But given the degree of state-controlled “manufacturing” inherent in generating his “popularity,” uncritical reporting of Putin’s stratospherically high approval numbers does a disservice by feeding into the misguided notion that he is unassailable.

We've said it before:  it's a continuing tragedy that a nation with as much culture, talent and potential as Russia is led by such a sorry collection of (literally) small tyrants and kleptocrats. (But of course, we have our own national shame:  just look at the Republican-led Congress.)