Happy Birthday, Ronald Reagan!

Today is the ol' Gipper's birthday, and to celebrate the historic occasion, i'm going to ignore the AIDS epidemic.

Oh, Poor, Persecuted Herman Cain....

So, in my travels this evening through the Series of Tubes, I happened upon this from our old friend Jeremiah...

Mr. Cain had a lot of promise, and was leading in the polls early on in his campaign, but as always, Democrats in their greed, desire for power and deceitful ways found someone they could pay to tell lies about him, and destroy his candidacy for the Presidency....It's the Liberal Democrat way, folks, they don't know any other way to win than to belittle, lie, cheat, and steal from and to the American people to get their way...

Really, Jer? REALLY? After a blogging hiatus on your part of almost six months, you choose to throw your hat in the ring for Mr. Pizza? Cheering him on in his quixotic quest to transcend the many allegations surfacing against him? Where is your evidence that these are ginned-up "Liberal" plots? Why should not these individuals choose to come forward now, at a meaningful time, to share their evidence? Had I been a victim of the same behavior, I would certainly choose NOW to step up and say so in a broad public forum, absent other relief. And as for greed, desire for power, and deceit...I'm pretty sure that pursuit of same is reasonably nonpartisan. Plenty of evidence for that is available on both sides of the aisle. Convince me I'm wrong. I'm waiting.

And as for the statement that Cain was leading "early on" in the campaign...oh, please. Nobody was buzzing about him until a handful of weeks ago, and now he's old news. Deservedly so. The guy hasn't a clue, any more than most of the GOP field have. You're all scrambling so as to avoid having to anoint a reasonable, vaguely rational individual like Romney, preferring instead to christen some wacko wingnut-panderer like the likes of Bachmann or Perry to carry your standard.

Good luck with that.

"The Donald" is a Birther

Of course Donald Trump comes out as a Birther...now that he wants to be the Republican nominee for President. Its become part of the Teabagger litmus test, along with checkmarks in fag bashing, railing against Latinos, wanting to make abortion illegal, and crying reverse racism while using code words like, "He's not 'one of us'" and "he doesn't see America the same way we do", the kind of subtle word play that feeds on redneck America's prejudices and paranoia.

“Everybody that even gives any hint of being a birther — a word you didn’t use — even a little bit of a hint like ‘gee, you know, maybe, just maybe this much of chance,’ they label them as an idiot,” he told Banfield.

“Let me tell you, I’m a really smart guy,” Trump continued. “I was a really good student at the best school in the country. The reason I have a little doubt — just a little — is because he grew up and nobody knew him.”

“When you interview people, if I ever got the nomination, if I ever decide to run, you may go back and interview people from my kindergarten. They’ll remember me. Nobody ever comes forward. Nobody knows who he is until later in his life.”

"the Donald" and his comments outline just how cynical this party is and how they'll attack Obama in 2012: the GOP know that he's an American citizen, that he wasn't born in Kenya, and that he's a practicing Christian man. They also know that the Teabaggers and the stupid folk don't know this, or are looking for an excuse - any excuse - to distrust him.

Punk'd! The Wisconsin Edition

As the old saying goes: "Sunlight is the best disinfectant.", so lets spread the light across this here blog, and reveal just what a Union-busting, dirty politico Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is.

Part 1:


Part 2:

Senate Republicans block health aid for the 9/11 workers

These people searched for survivors, inhaled the toxic smoke of the rubble while working around the clock, and helped clear the remains of one of the largest twin buildings in world history, among other jobs and responsibilities in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, and this his how our Congress repays these heroes? Absolutely shameful.

Republican senators blocked Democratic legislation on Thursday that sought to provide medical care to rescue workers and residents of New York City who became ill as a result of breathing in toxic fumes, dust and smoke from ground zero...

In a vote largely along party lines, the Senate rejected a procedural move by Democrats to end debate on the 9/11 health bill and bring it to an up-or-down vote; 60 yes votes were needed, but the move received only 57, with 42 votes against.

All 42 Republican Senators voted against this bill. All of them basically told the workers to suck it up and to give more to the rich.

The Republican Party has undergone a series of transformations in just eight short years. They've gone from overzealous, chest-pumping Neanderthals who have the stones to question anyone who dared criticize Bush Jr., to a party that supports torture and violating civil liberties in the name of "defending the homeland", now to greedy lawmakers who care only about keeping Corporate America in the black, to hell with everyone else.

GOP blocks repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell

The story:

Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked an effort by Democrats and the White House to lift the ban on gays from serving openly in the military, voting unanimously against advancing a major defense policy bill that included the provision.

The mostly partisan vote dealt a major blow to gay rights groups who saw the legislation as their best hope, at least in the short term, for repeal of the 17-year-old law known as "don't ask, don't tell."

If Democrats lose seats in the upcoming congressional elections this fall, as many expect, repealing the ban could prove even more difficult – if not impossible – next year. With that scenario looming, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that a lame-duck session was being planned and that lifting the ban would be taken up then.

The episode upset advocates who believe that neither President Barack Obama nor Reid did enough to see the measure through.

"The whole thing is a political train wreck," said Richard Socarides, a White House adviser on gay rights during the Clinton administration.

So Republicans are against letting gays serve openly in the military, financial reform, affordable healthcare, etc. but love handing out tax breaks to the richest 2% of Americans, and pulling out every trick in the political book to see that Barack Obama fail, so they can retain power. And somehow, these assholes label themselves as "Christians"?

To my gay/lesbain friends: don't give up hope. The ones who blocked DADT today won the battle, but will, in time, lose the war.

The Fundamental Problem Between Democrats and Republicans

My take on the shameless middle-finger both sides gave to 9/11 first responders can be found at Jonathan's Corner. Please read and leave a comment, and the Count can cut and paste my post if he so wishes.

_____________________________________

The Fundamental Problem Between Democrats and Republicans

Of all the things Dems and the GOP could endlessly argue and debate, I would at least think that the rescue workers - many of whom have suffered damage of their organs, have developed breathing problems, or other medical-type issues - that sacrificed their lives to save others trapped in the rubble of the World Trade Center....something like giving them free healthcare and compensation for their tireless efforts would be a no-brainer, everyone in the freaking House of Representatives would unanimously support.

The bill came to the floor, was debated for weeks, and the final tally was in: yeas - 255, nays - 159. Did I mention that the bill, despite it's clear majority, didn't pass? Yes, you read that right: it had a clear majority in the House, and it didn't pass. And, oh yeah - and i'm sure this will shock every last one of you - most of the 159 representatives who voted no were.....drum-roll, please.....Republicans. So what was the argument behind voting no, you ask?

GOP critics branded the bill as yet another big-government "massive new entitlement program" that would have increased taxes and possibly kill jobs.

To pay the bill's estimated $7.4 billion cost over 10 years, the legislation would have prevented foreign multinational corporations incorporated in tax haven countries from avoiding tax on income earned in the U.S.

Bill supporters said that would close a tax loophole. Republicans branded it a corporate tax increase.

Pardon my French, but ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!?!?!?! These are the men and women who put their own lives on the line for their fellow man, and this is how you choose to repay them!? By giving them the proverbial finger while you, once again, defend the interests of Corporate America!? What the hell is wrong you?? At what point did outright greed trump helping those who have given back and are suffering from respiratory problems and whatnot?

And the Democrats....I can't even begin to explain what I think of these guys....

King said Democrats were "petrified" about casting votes as the fall elections near on controversial amendments, possibly including one that could ban the bill from covering illegal immigrants who were sickened by trade center dust.

When will you guys stop acting like a bunch of petrified pussies, and start standing up to these corporate thugs? You have the Majority and yet, you're letting the Minority run the show???

Great. Republicans keep sucking that big business cock, while Democrats refuse to fight back against Republican opposition. The result is that the 9/11 first responders don't receive the treatment and the benefits they so rightly deserve, which, inherently, outlines the fundamental problem with our two parties in this day and age: Democrats are like the Lion in The Wizard of Oz, desperately searching for some courage, while the Republicans have morphed into Daniel Day-Lewis's character in There Will Be Blood: a greed-filled misanthrope who has longed forgotten to call the human race his own.

Now he's against the war!

Fucking douchebag.

"Well, if he's such a student of history, has he not understood that, you know, that's the one thing you don't do is engage in a land war in Afghanistan, alright, because everyone who's tried over a thousand years of history has failed," Steele continued.

Steele also extended his criticism of the War in Afghanistan to the mission's strategy, addressing the recent dismissing of General Stanley McChrystal.

"The [General] McChrystal incident, to me, was very comical," he said. "I think it's a reflection of the frustration that a lot of our military leaders has with this Administration and their prosecution of the war in Afghanistan."

Now the prick tells us!

Greed Over Principles or: the G.O.P.'s attitude toward Americans

My take on the GOP blocking the Jobs bill can be found over at Jonathan's Corner. Please read and review, and, as always, the Count can post my take on Banned and Dangerous if he wishes.

___________________________

Remember John McCain's slogan he used back in 2008, Country First? Remember how all of the GOP talking heads repeated how that, under a McCain-Palin administration, he was going to put "Country First"? When all Senate Republicans and one conservative Democrat stood together to block a jobs bill that would have reinstated many financial aid programs, including unemployment benefits to those currently out of work and/or looking for a job, is this what they had in mind when it comes to "Country First"?

Reid and Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), in an effort to mollify a handful of conservative Democrats and moderate Republicans, have spent the past several weeks trimming the bill to reduce its deficit impact. But after jettisoning several provisions to help the old, the poor and the jobless, reducing the bill's ten-year deficit impact down from $134 billion to just $33 billion, the bill is still sinking. Not a single Republican is willing to lend support and Nebraska Democrat Ben Nelson is still holding out, leaving Democrats two votes short of the 60 needed to overcome a filibuster.

Extended unemployment benefits lapsed at the beginning of June. By Friday, more than 1.2 million people out of work for longer than six months will have found themselves ineligible for the next tier of extended benefits, which were originally provided by the stimulus bill to fight the recession. Other programs that lapsed include elevated federal aid for state Medicaid programs and a "Doc Fix" that prevents doctors from a 21-percent drop in reimbursement for seeing Medicare patients.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, in a statement put out today said the reason the Republicans in the Senate blocked this important piece of legislation for millions of Americans is because they're worried about what this will do to the deficit.

That's complete bullshit!

If these so-called "fiscal conservatives" were so concerned about the deficit, then why did the GOP rubber stamp Bush Jr.'s tax cuts to the wealthiest 2% of Americans and to big business? If the Republicans were that concerned about bringing some fiscal discipline, then they wouldn't have allowed Reagan to balloon defense spending from $134 billion to $290 billion within the 8-year tenure of his presidency, or hold firm on Bush and the neoconservatives' push to drag America into an unnecessary war with Iraq. Now these self-righteous pricks have the stones to tell us that now they're worried about the national deficit they helped create over the last eight years, only after they were bounced out of power!?

Let's cut the fucking bullshit and get to the real reason the Senate Republicans are giving the proverbial middle finger to Americans who are desperately trying to find work: they've made the cynical bet that the only way they'll get back into power is to block, de-rail, and oppose every scrap of legislation the Democrats and President Obama try to push through in order to help middle-class Americans. They don't care if America has to face another near-economic crass, or if kids on the streets of New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles have been reduced to begging for food because the parents can't afford a damn meal, let 'em starve; hungry kids are not they're problem. To the GOP, the ends will always justify their means.

So, I revert to my original question: back in 2008, when McCain's slogan was "Country First", and all the right-wing talking heads said that under a McCain-Palin administration the pair would put "Country First"...did they mean this one? Because they've got a funny way of showing it.

Gov. Perry Beleives that the Gulf oil spill may have been God's will

The Gulf oil spill might be a bigger disaster than that of the Exxon Valdez over 20 years ago. The destruction it is causing - and will cause down the road - to wildlife may be irreversible for decades. The federal government is already investigating into what caused the oil rig to explode, but Governor Rick Perry of Texas believes he already knows he answer: The oil spill may have been an act of God.

Texas Governor Rick Perry (R) claimed on Monday that the oil rig explosion that caused a massive -- and still-expanding spill -- may have been "just an act of God" that could not have been prevented.

Speaking at a conference sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Perry offered his theory to a reporter who asked if events such as the recent West Virginia mine disaster, the financial meltdown or the BP oil spill may have been encouraged by too much emphasis on free enterprise and lax regulations.

Perry disagreed wholeheartedly:

"We don't know what the event that has allowed for this massive oil to be released," Perry said. "And until we know that, I hope we don't see a knee-jerk reaction across this country that says we're going to shut down drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, because the cost to this country will be staggering."

Uh, Rick? I come bearing a message from Televangelist Pat Robertson: he wants you to stop stealing his material.

I'm ashamed that this Congressman hails from a San Diego county district

Duncan Hunter believes that we should deport children whose parents are undocumented immigrants.

"Would you support deportation of natural-born American citizens that are the children of illegal aliens," Hunter was asked. "I would have to, yes," Hunter said. "... We simply cannot afford what we're doing right now," he said. "... It takes more than just walking across the border to become an American citizen. It's what's in our souls. ..."

Too dumbfounded to respond to this right now. Count or Ralphyfan, have at it.
I'll have something to say about the Republican resurgance of immigrant bashing and the larger picture of us either tomorrow or Friday.

GOP doing what they do best

Whenever soething doesn't go their way: throw the political equivalent of a temper tantrum, while important hearings are delayed.

For his part, Judiciary Chairman Pat Leahy (D-Vt.) was livid when his committee was forced to delay consideration of several judicial nominees.

"I have accommodated requests from Judiciary Committee Republicans to delay the Committee's hearing to consider Professor Liu's nomination," Leahy said.

He continued: "For months, Senate Republicans have resisted efforts to enact important reforms to our health insurance system. But when the dust settles and the emotions are calmed, history will show that President Obama and this Congress responded to a pressing national issue, and proved once again that we can act with the purpose of advancing an important national interest. Sadly, actions like today's objections from Senate Republicans to the consideration of a highly qualified, historic nominee will be viewed as little more than petty, partisan politics."

Jim Manley, a spokesperson for Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), objected to the objection. "For a second straight day, Republicans are using tricks to shut down several key Senate committees. So let me get this straight: in retaliation for our efforts to have an up-or-down vote to improve health care reform, Republicans are blocking an Armed Services committee hearing to discuss critical national security issues among other committee meetings? These political games and obstruction have to stop - the American people expect and deserve better."

Stay classy, Republicans!

Now "The Drugster" and Crybaby Beck are smearing an 11 year-old boy

Apparently, picking on a 11 year-old kid isn't beneath these cocksuckers.

Marcelas Owens, a young boy who's been appearing on TV and at press conferences with Democrats who are trying to sell their health care plan, is a new fascination for some right-wing pundits, who have been saying incredibly cruel things to and about the Owens' family and tragic history. Owens' mother died in 2007 of pulmonary hypertension – a rare condition that requires constant expensive medical care - after she lost her fast food restaurant job and her health insurance. The family's representative in the Senate, Democrat Patty Murray, talked about Marcelas at President Obama's recent bipartisan health care summit and ever since, the boy and his grandmother have been granting interviews and speaking up in favor of Democratic health care reform.

Here's Limbaugh's comments:

"Now this is unseemly, exploitative, an 11-year-old boy being forced to tell his story all over just to benefit the Democrat Party and Barack Obama …And, I would say this to Marcelas Owens : 'Well, your mom would still have died, because Obamacare doesn't kick in until 2014.'"

And here's Beck with his:

"That's the George Soros-funded Obama-approved group fighting for health care…Since all of the groups are so concerned and involved now, may I ask where were you when Marcelas' mother was vomiting blood?"

Lovely. Picking on a fucking kid. These two guys aren't men. They're a pair of fucking cowards of the first order.

Rep. King and Crybaby Beck: Possible health care vote is an insult to God!

Jesus fucking Christ!

"They intend to vote on the Sabbath, during Lent, to take away the liberty that we have right from God," King said.

"Faith has been perverted," Beck responded, then repeated. "They are going to vote for this damn thing on a Sunday, which is the Sabbath, during Lent."

Beck continued:

"Here is a group of people that have so perverted our faith and our hope and our charity, that is a -- this is an affront to God."

God might want file a restraining order against these idiots.

Please tell me this is some kind of a joke

Texas Board of Education makes radical cuts to textbooks.

Teachers in Texas will be required to cover the Judeo-Christian influences of the nation's Founding Fathers, but not highlight the philosophical rationale for the separation of church and state. Curriculum standards also will describe the U.S. government as a "constitutional republic," rather than "democratic," and students will be required to study the decline in value of the U.S. dollar, including the abandonment of the gold standard.

"We have been about conservatism versus liberalism," said Democrat Mavis Knight of Dallas, explaining her vote against the standards. "We have manipulated strands to insert what we want it to be in the document, regardless as to whether or not it's appropriate."

Following three days of impassioned and acrimonious debate, the board gave preliminary approval to the new standards with a 10-5 party line vote. A final vote is expected in May, after a public comment period that could produce additional amendments and arguments.
Decisions by the board -- made up of lawyers, a dentist and a weekly newspaper publisher among others -- can affect textbook content nationwide because Texas is one of publishers' biggest clients.

Ultraconservatives wielded their power over hundreds of subjects this week, introducing and rejecting amendments on everything from the civil rights movement to global politics. Hostilities flared and prompted a walkout Thursday by one of the board's most prominent Democrats, Mary Helen Berlanga of Corpus Christi, who accused her colleagues of "whitewashing" curriculum standards.

Think Progress has a few of the cuts and/or additions the Board of Education is making:

-To avoid exposing students to “transvestites, transsexuals and who knows what else,” the Board struck the curriculum’s reference to “sex and gender as social constructs.”

– The Board removed Thomas Jefferson from the Texas curriculum, “replacing him with religious right icon John Calvin.”

– The Board refused to require that “students learn that the Constitution prevents the U.S. government from promoting one religion over all others.”

– The Board struck the word “democratic” from the description of the U.S. government, instead terming it a “constitutional republic.”

Please, Gov. Rick Perry: make good on your thrat and secede from the Union! Just keep your state's fucked-up, whitewash, revisionist view of American history away from our kids!

Down Is the New Up

According to Mark Noonan, one grouchy, asshole senator who damn-near let 200,000 unemployed Americans fend for themselves without receiving unemployment benefits = a patriotic American.

Guess what, Democrats? There isn’t an infinite amount of money – not if we fired up the printing presses full time and borrowed every red cent from the Chinese. Life isn’t a fairy tale with pot of gold at the end of the rainbow – its about trade-offs and priorities.

Bunning, after all, is just holding you to your own words – you said you wanted to pay as you go. Well, here’s your chance. None of us want the unemployed to go without benefits, but as there isn’t a magic money tree, we have to decide what do we want more:

Uh, Mark?
The piece of legislation Bunnings was throwing a fit over?
That piece of legislation that was stalled for five days by this jerkoff, had to do with making sure the unemployed do not go without being paid their benefits!
You agreed with the statement that you did not want the unemployed to go without having their benefits, and yet you call Sen. Bunnings - the man who almost let 200,000 unemployed Americans fend for themselves, and maybe more if he didn't back down - a fucking patriot!?
Do you see the contradiction, Mark?
Furthermore, where's the patriotism in allowing hundreds of thousands of Americans slip through the cracks?

Sen Kyl: Unemployment benfits turns hard-working Americans into lazy bumbs

To be fair, Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyle - aming to upstage Jim Bunnings as Senate Asshole of the Week - did not say what is titled to the letter 't,' but his comments on unemployment benefits basically mean the same thing.

A debate on the Senate floor Monday over unemployment compensation crystallized, at least for a moment, the divide between the two parties in Washington.

Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona, the Republican whip, argued that unemployment benefits dissuade people from job-hunting "because people are being paid even though they're not working."

Unemployment insurance "doesn't create new jobs. In fact, if anything, continuing to pay people unemployment compensation is a disincentive for them to seek new work," Kyl said during debate over whether unemployment insurance and other benefits that expired amid GOP objections Sunday should be extended.

"I'm sure most of them would like work and probably have tried to seek it, but you can't argue that it's a job enhancer. If anything, as I said, it's a disincentive. And the same thing with the COBRA extension and the other extensions here," said Kyl.

What the hell is wrong with these people?

Profile of an asshole: Jim Bunnings

It's tough being out of work. Jim Bunnings (R-Kentucky) is making it even tougher for them, being the only holdout for passing legislation that will extend unemployment benefits for 30 days.

Sen. Jim Bunning continues to object to extending unemployment benefits. On Monday, the Kentucky Republican once again prevented a vote on a bill that would extend eligibility for enhanced unemployment benefits and subsidized health insurance for laid-off workers by 30 days.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) asked for unanimous consent to move forward with the bill. If Congress fails to pass an extension, the National Employment Law Project estimates that 1.2 million people will lose their benefits in March.

"Six times last week, Democrats asked to extend their unemployment benefits for a short time while they work on a longer extension," Reid said. "Six times, Republicans said no. They didn't just say no to us, that is members of the Senate. They said no to their families in their own states and all our states count on us to act when we need action. They count on us to respond in the event of an emergency. This is an emergency. The Republicans in the Senate are standing between these families and the help they need while these benefits expire and expired."

To show how much contempt Bunnings has for the unemployed, the last time a Democratic senator pleaded with him to quit stalling, his response was the following: "Tough shit."

Adding insult to injury, a reporter from ABC News reportedly tried to adddress the issue to Sen. Bunnings, who responded by yelling at said reporter and gave him the one-finger salute. Fitting, since this jerkoff has been doing that to the unemployed who need these benifits to stay afloat.

Some "Christianity" these assholes show

We knew that when the rest of people who respected and admired Sen. Ted Kennedy's passing, the would be the so-called 'compassionate conservatives' who would piss all over his grave. Still doesn't make it any less repugnant...and of course, it's the nutjobs at B4V who don't know the meaning of "showing some respect for the dead."

neocon1 says:
August 26th, 2009 at 7:35 am

No - Not at all.
When good men do nothing evil prevails.
Turning ones head and ignoring evil is the same as condoning it.
Why remain silent? while others pile piety and remorse on the passing of an evil, lying, loathsome man?
He has gone on to be with the master he so well served on earth Satan. So be it
again good riddance.
You can eulogize him in your home in europe you seem to worship his ilk.

retiredspook says:
August 26th, 2009 at 8:38 am

Why remain silent? while others pile piety and remorse on the passing of an evil, lying, loathsome man?

Neocon, I can’t say it any better than that.

There have been, throughout my adult life, only three men that I wished to live long enough to see assume room temperature: Yasser Arafat, Ted Kennedy and Fidel Castro. Two down, one to go. I hope God sees fit to grant Senator Kennedy an audience and holds him accountable for his life.

I'm not gonna waste my breath in saying that these people should be ashamed of themselves, because they're not. Just allow me to call them what they are:

fucking assholes.

Late edit: Now Leo gets to spit on Ted's grave.

To quote Joseph Welch: "Have you no sense of decency sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?"

Latest GOP lie/scaretactic: the VA's encouraging vets to kill themselves!

This morning on Fox & Friends, GOP Chairman Michael Steel trotted out the newest scare tactic in killing health care reform: The Veteran's Association are encouraging the very people they're serving, to kill themselves.



This would be equally disturbing and frightening...you know, if it were actually true.



Somehow, I doubt the truth about this latest web of lies means jack shit to Steel. To the Republicans, its about protecting a morally bankrupt system which is about sucking every dollar that an average American family or individual has in their pockets. Exactly how can these people look themselves in the mirror everyday with a straight face?