A Fury Rant

This story with Gates Jr. has gotten blown way out of proportion. I'd
rather listen to the beer debate.

A cop received a call about someone trying to break into a home. That cop
arrived at the house in question. He questioned the man like he was supposed to. The man most likely had an attitude about the situation because it was his home and he was frustrated already and was angry that the cop had the audacity to question him on his property that he paid for. The cop didn't like the attitude he was given while doing his job and developed an attitude of his own, and it went downhill from there.

I seriously doubt it had anything to do with race. That's a convenient
excuse. And now our President wants to waste time by meeting with the two of
them like it's going to solve all the racial problems in the world. I'm more
annoyed with the media actually reporting it. Who cares?

It's not the first time it has happened, it's not going to be the last time
it's going to happen and it didn't happen because of race.

I'm growing more annoyed with this President by the day. He has the power to
blow things out of proportion and he does just that.

If the neighbor who called the police would have thought of going outside
and saying, "You better leave that house alone, I just called the cops." Gates
would have been prepared with some sort of explanation of what was going on.
And it would have never gone downhill from there.

UGHHHH

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A Republican Contender In Massachusetts

... Baker sounds quite reasonable, and could be a threat to incumbent Deval Patrick:

Republican Charles D. Baker officially entered the governor’s race this morning, filing his paperwork and then swiftly launching into an attack of Governor Deval Patrick’s handling of the state’s budget and economy.

Baker immediately pledged not to raise taxes as governor, and even said he would try to lower the state’s increased sales tax – which will go from 5 percent to 6.25 percent on Saturday – if he is elected.

“I’m a no new taxes candidate,” he said, adding later for the TV cameras, “Read my lips, no new taxes.”

He said he was prochoice and was in favor of gay marriage – “My brother’s gay, and he’s married, and he lives in Massachusetts, so I’m for it. Is that straight enough?”

He also said he was in favor of the death penalty, which puts him at odds with Patrick.

I'd say that Baker is definitely a candidate to keep an eye on...

Exit question: will Republican voters in Massachusetts vote for someone who is unabashedly pro-choice and pro-marriage equality? I know we are talking about Massachusetts and everything, but I wonder if Baker can get the votes -- even in the bluest of states.

Head nod: Vast Variety

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Newt Gingrich Hauls-In Over $8 Million

What can you do with all of that cash?

A report filed with the IRS shows Newt Gingrich's political group "quietly pulled in an impressive $8.1 million in the first half of the year, a cash haul that enabled the former Speaker of the House to finance a robust political operation that includes at least 17 employees," reports Politico.

Hmm... maybe gear-up for a presidential run in 2012?

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Tequilla!

-xkcd

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You Can't Make This Stuff Up

 
A political adviser for porn star Stormy Daniels has his car 'blown up'.

Head nod: Jazz Shaw @ModVox

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Cash For Clunkers, Redux

"How about a program where we can turn in the old, washed-up pundits and talking heads on the cable nets for ones that spew less dangerous emissions?" -David Kurtz

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Birther Watch, Ctd.

Bill Maher:

And there's nothing anyone can do to convince these folks. You could hand them, in person, the original birth certificate and have a video of Obama emerging from the womb with Don Ho singing in the background ... and they still wouldn't believe it.

Which is why these, errr, true-believers are so entertaining to me.

I know that I've gone somewhat (read: completely) overboard with the Birther Watch this week, and I do apologize for it. But, as I was telling TPW last night, it's like seeing a car accident on the highway; you are compelled to look as you slowly drive past.

The Birthers are a glorious train-wreck and I find myself craning my neck to see the carnage as-it-happens. If that makes me a bad person, then so be it. However, this bad person is smiling and shaking his head in a fog of entertained disbelief.

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Sarah Palin's Next Step

Fox News has the polling data on what Americans think the former governor should do next...

In a related story, a full two percent of Democrats think that the best job for former Alaska governor Sarah Palin is President of the United States...

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Nerd Alert

Artist + Nerd + Boredom = custom designed Imperial Stormtroopers

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Cash For Clunkers Is Back

Via Politico:

The House has passed a $2 billion spending bill to save the “cash for clunkers” program, on a 316-109 vote.

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'Queen Of The Birthers'

If you haven't read about Ms. Taitz yet, Max Blumenthal has a good piece up at The Daily Beast. Money:

Since [Orly Taitz’s] “birther” campaign began, in the summer of 2008, during the late stages of the Democratic primaries, the dentist, lawyer, and mother of three has begun winning friends in high places. Taitz told me excitedly that since she opened her Facebook account, she has had to hire a staff of five to process the thousands of friend requests she receives each week.

“Anybody who does not take Obama’s word at face value will be harassed by brownshirts like Rachel Maddow,” said Taitz.

Among those requesting her online friendship, Taitz said, are House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA), Rep. Mary Bono (R-CA), and Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele. She has even received a request, she said, from someone saying they are Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “I personally checked [the request] and determined that it came from his office,” Taitz said.

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Quote Of The Day

"It’s gay. If one more person asks me if I have a Twitter, I’m going to tell them, ‘Twitter this [bleep], mother[bleep]er.’

"I don’t have anything to say, and what I have to say is not that relevant. Anything that is relevant, I’m going to bottle it up and then squeeze it onto a record somewhere." -Kid Rock, expressing his, err, strong feelings about the social media service.

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Dude, What Is Happening In New Jersey?

There must be something in the water...

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The Summit Of Beers

James Fallows has the round up.

Pres. Barack Obama: Bud Light. Oh, please.

Prof. Henry Louis Gates: Red Stripe. Bud Light with a more interesting label and pedigree. Without the label, not many people could tell this from the watery Tsingtaos and Yangjings that were until recently the bane of my existence. Truth of the modern age: lagers the world round whose brewers go easy on hops and malt have a certain je ne sais quoi nothingness.

Sgt. James Crowley: Blue Moon Wheat Beer. OK. Faux-microbrew. I don't like wheat beer, but at least it's an identifiable flavor.

VP Joseph Biden: Non-alcoholic Buckler. Can't criticize that.

What would have seemed the obvious, gimme choice for the host: Sam Adams. Respectful to the Boston guests. All-American. Patriotic. Available in many styles. Beyond reproach on flavor.

Personally, I would have gone for Yuengling... but I'm in Pennsylvania.

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More Cash For The Clunkers

Glenn Thrush (who is getting a lot of linkage on the blog today) reports:

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told colleagues Friday morning that the House will vote on a measure to transfer $2 billion from the stimulus to replenish the depleted cash-for-clunkers program, which has run out of money in its first week.

Under the fast-track bill, Democratic leaders will use funds from a renewable energy loan guarantee included in the stimulus, according to a Democratic aide.

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Guiliani Tells Obama To 'Shut Up'

Foreals:

Rudy Giuliani, who has returned as a leading Republican spokesman, condemns Obama's health care plan on Hannity, and offers, in response to the president's hope that the Gates arrest would be a "teachable moment," this:

"He's actually right. It is teachable. Here's the lesson: Shut up."

While I think that Obama should not have weighed-in until he knew all of the details, it strikes me that Gotham City's former mayor could have expressed his sentiment with a little more tact.

Head nod: Ben Smith

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When Are Effigies Are Approriate?

Never. Wipe that smug grim off of your face dude -- you look foolish.

Honestly gang -- how would hanging a member of Congress in effigy add anything constructive to the debate about health care (or any other subject)? Instead, you simply look like a douchenozzle. Period.

Glenn Thrush:

If this is the face of anti-health care reform protest, the GOP has a serious problem.

This unidentified man decided he was doing the Tea Party-anti-reform effort a real solid by hanging freshman Maryland Democratic Rep. Frank Kratovil in effigy [note the creepily expert knotted noose] with a placard "Congress Traitors The American [and a word that looks like "idol"].

What was this guy thinking? 'Gee, I should do something offensive to bring attention to my cause'? Unreal. The same goes for lefty-loons who do similar things -- all of you are simply ignorant.

But, this leads me to an important subject: universal health care.

Look folks, there is a lot of rhetoric flying around the health care debate -- and rightly so. I have not weighed-in on it yet (and may not at all) because I constantly go back-and-forth over the issue.

On one hand, I feel that everyone deserves quality health care, regardless of socio-economic conditions, employment, gender, race, class, et al. The idea that so many Americans live without health care (or live with very little health care) is more-than-depressing to me.

On the other hand, aside from the military, what truly successful programs does the government run? I'm wary of the idea of handing over an entire industry to Uncle Sam -- with little-to-no guarantee that the process will be beneficial for everyone.

So, I invite everyone to make their feelings known. Educate me (and everyone else) as to why your are or are not in favor of government-funded health care.

...but please, while I know it's difficult, try to avoid hanging anyone in effigy.

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Tweet Of The Day

"Has O's illegal alien aunt received a White House beer invite yet?" -michellemalkin

Classy.

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'Cash For Clunkers' Out Of Money

Super.

The program — aimed at giving at boost to the U.S. auto industry — was supposed to expire at the end of October. But in the one week since it took effect, it appears to have run dry of the $1 billion allocated to it, aides said Thursday.

The White House will need to decide whether to push for more money at a time when it’s also pushing an ambitious and expensive domestic agenda — or let the program fade after it was touted as a way to help Detroit while improving the environment.

One Michigan Republican, Congresswoman Candice Miller, has alreayd come out in favor of extending the program, saying in a statement that “There can be no doubt that the Cash for Clunkers program is a complete success given the fact that the entire $1 billion allocated to the program was expended in less than a week.”

She called the program “simply the most stimulative $1 billion the federal government has spent during the entire economic downturn.”

Ugh. You know things are topsy-turvy when a Republican Congresswoman wants to throw more government money on the heap...

Head nod: Allahpundit

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'America Is Less Safe'

...without Sarah Palin keeping an eye on Russia:

Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin said today that America was less safe now that she was no longer keeping an eye on Russia, but added that she hoped other Alaskans would step up to fill the security void she has left.

"What with me being out and about trying to progress the agenda of so many Americans out there, it's not possible for me to be seeing when Putin's rearing his head like I used to be doing," she said.

She urged fellow residents of her hometown, Wasilla, to keep an eye out for the suspicious activities of any Russians they might see from their front porches.

"It's just like a neighborhood watch, only with the neighborhood being America and the watching we're doing not being for car thieves and all but for Communists with big furry hats," she said.

She also admonished the media to "quit making things up," adding, "that's my job."

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Slow Jamming Sliding Poll Numbers

I could do without Puffy... but it is still pretty good.

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Kites over Gaza

A world record kite flying attempt.



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Anti-Monkey Butt Powder

This could quite possibly the strangest advertisement I've ever seen.

...well, on Facebook at least.

So, it may not be the first question that you are thinking, but... what is 'monkey butt' anyway? Based on context, I assume it is akin to what I'm familiar with as 'swamp ass'. Anyone want to take a crack at this one (tee hee hee)?

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Reminder

...this is still going on in Iran.

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What's In A Name?

In case you were curious what your Douchebag Name is... check out DouchebagNameGenerator.com.

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Sarah Palin...

...professor?

If the course was shooting stuff from helicopters, you betcha!

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Jar-Jar's Fate

...at the hands of true Star Wars fanboys:


credit: davechensipod | head nod: Justin Gardner

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Why I Miss Cable

Because I miss great moments like this with Scarborough and Smerconish -- two of my favorite conservatives.

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Hard Wuerk

-M.Wuerker, Wuerking Drawings

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Quote Of The Day II

"The only way I could get elected governor is the way I got elected mayor -- things have to be so bad... I got elected mayor, I believe, on the theory of -- it can't get worse. So if it gets to that point, maybe I'll decide." -Rudy Giuliani, on running for governor of New York in 2010.

Head nod: Political Wire

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Auto-Tuning The News...

..gets some legit press coverage.

Personally, I can't get enough of this stuff!

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Shatner On Conan On Palin, Redux

...going back to the well.

Hey, if it gets you ratings, go for it Conan!

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Birther Watch, Ctd.

From Stars And Stripes:

Army Maj. Stefan Cook sought out a notorious lawyer in February, formally volunteered for an Afghan deployment in May and was granted orders to deploy in June.

But the Army reservist’s intention appeared not so much to fight for America as to fight against President Barack Obama, in furtherance of a bizarre conspiracy theory.

In July, Cook filed a lawsuit against the Army, the defense secretary and the president, claiming that Obama could not lawfully order him to go to war because he is not the legitimate president of the United States.

[snip]

Soon after Cook filed his lawsuit challenging the legitimacy of his deployment, the Army ruled that since he volunteered to go to Afghanistan, he was within his rights to change his mind. No lawsuit was needed.

In fact, said Lt. Col. Maria Quon, a spokeswoman for Army Human Resources Command, “he just had to call or e-mail.”

On July 14, the commanding general of Special Operations Command Central formally revoked Cook’s orders. Two days later, a Georgia court dismissed the case.

Lt. Col. Holly Silkman, a spokeswoman for SOCCENT, said the Army couldn’t let Cook’s critical engineer billet be hijacked by further legal wrangling. Cook was scheduled to deploy on July 15, and his position cannot sit empty.

The officer Cook was supposed to replace “is going to have to remain in Afghanistan a while longer,” Silkman said, noting the Army is seeking a replacement. “No one has been identified yet, but it is a priority fill, so we’re working on it and expect to fill it soon. Engineers are in high demand.”

So, thanks to this Birther hack, a soldier who was expecting to come home to his family and friends after serving in Afghanistan has had to stay longer, until the Army can find a replacement. Unreal.

If I were a nutter conspiracy theorist and I had the choice between making a public relations grab and helping a fellow soldier get back home, I would think that the PR could wait... but not for a Birther.

Head nod: Doug Mataconis @BTB

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Health Care Math

I posted this question in a comment over at The Liberty Papers and as I’ve been sitting here today working I’ve delved into more deeply.

How much money would it take to provide health care to every American every month?

The monthly premium that Seniors pay for Medicare Part B is $95.40 a month. Medicare Part B is highly popular.

US Census Bureau’s Population clock estimates the population of the US at 307,040,414 as of 07/30/09 at 14:45 GMT.

Currently every working adult in America has a percentage of their gross income deducted as Medicare taxes. As of 2009 the rate was 2.9% which is divided evenly at 1.45% between the employee and the employer.

On top of this American’s have the health insurance premiums which can widely vary (about$150 a paycheck where I work.)

Now here is where I get theoretical. Instead of taking out the Medicare taxes or having every American pay an insurance premium, give them back that money and instead charge them $95.40 a month and put every man, woman, and child in America on Medicare Part B. That comes to about $29,291,655,495.60 collected every month in Premiums. Would that be enough money to cover the health care needs of every American in the US every month?

According to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation probably not. In 2007 the the cost of health care in the US averaged out to about $7,421.00 per person. $95.40 a month only comes out to about $1134.00 a year per person. What usually happens with programs like Medicare however is that the premiums and taxes paid into it are put into a trust fund of some sort. A portion of which is then taken and used to create some sort of interest earning revenue. So, if you take that $29 Billion a month or $351,499,865,947.20 from one year, and take a portion of it and put it into some sort of interest bearing market, would that the combined result be enough to pay for the health care of every American?

One of the biggest conundrums of American politics today is the fact that a significant majority of Americans want government services like Medicare and Medicaid. 62% of Americans want a public health care insurance option of some form, however most simply don’t want to pay for it. It’s that type of thinking that got California into the mess it’s in. But as long as everyone is willing to chip in, pay their fair share, could we make Medicare work for everyone. Seniors like it. Sure it needs reform as well to cut costs. But it does work. And the idea that the quality of care would suffer? I find that unlikely. Most medical research that happens in America today is at least in part funded through loan and grant programs funded by State and Federal government. That is unlikely to change no mater what we do to health care reform.

And just to clarify; this is more of a thought exercise than anything and not necessarily a move I would 100% support or something I expect congress is likely to do.

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Pawlenty Stepping Up His Profile

For what will, no doubt, be a 2012 Presidential run:

Tim Pawlenty, who last week assumed the No. 2 job at the Republican Governors Association, is set to give a speech today before the Republican National Committee at its retreat in San Diego. Minnesota Public Radio says it "represents a key opportunity for the Minnesota governor to raise his national profile and make his pitch to the party faithful."

I wonder if he'll veer wildly to the right to court the base -- or maintain a relatively moderate stance as he is reported to have done as governor of Minnesota?

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Things Are Getting Pretty Scary When...

...Bill O'Reilly starts to make this much sense to me.

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I CALLED IT!!!

My words:

Next up: pundits debating whether or not it is appropriate for a sitting President to publicly consume alcohol. Far-right-wingers criticize Obama for drinking Löwenbräu and not choosing an American classic like PBR...

And now... what's this?

(CNN) — The upcoming White House meeting with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and the Cambridge police officer who arrested him earlier this month appears to have touched off a fresh debate all on its own: what kind of beer should be served?

Earlier this week the White House indicated each man would drink the beer of their choice — Bud Light for President Obama, Blue Moon for the police officer, and perhaps Red Stripe or Beck's for Gates.

But one Massachusetts congressman thinks another beer entirely should be served: Boston's own Sam Adams.

In a letter to Obama dated Wednesday, Massachusetts Rep. Richard Neal strongly urges the president not to drink Budweiser, now owned by a Belgian company. Nor should the White House consider serving Miller or Coors, Neal writes, both owned by a United Kingdom conglomerate.

Instead, the White House should serve the three men — all with ties to Massachusetts — the local favorite, not only because of its popularity in the region but also because it remains the largest American-owned and brewed beer, Neal says.

Okay, so Rep. Neal is not a right-winger (he's a Democrat representing Massachusetts' 2nd District), and he's not necessarily criticizing anyone for drinking 'unAmerican' beers (rather it's more a political posture since Sam Adam's is a Massachusetts brewed beer), but I still want the credit. I CALLED IT.

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Quote Of The Day

"The Iranian demonstrators have obtained a very important result, however things go. Now the Western public opinion, especially in Israel, the United States and Great Britain, historical enemies of the Iranian regime, is compelled to see Iran in a different way. Not as a country of religious fanatics willing to follow their leaders to the folly of atomic war, but also as the country of boys and girls who use computers, listen and play music, and are willing to take to the streets and also to die for freedom. Now the West knows that the Iranians are not enemies, because we saw that many of them are men and women like us." -Francesco Defferrari

Head nod: TYWKIWDBI

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Birther Watch, Ctd.

Part I is here.

Now, for your viewing pleasure, Part II:



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Tweet Of The Day

Joe Scarborough is running double-duty:

"ARE YOU SERIOUS??? Did Glenn Beck really say the president has "a deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture"? Outrageous." -JoeNBC

"Conservatives attacked the Dixie Chicks for saying much less about President Bush than what Beck said about President Obama." -JoeNBC

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I'm Mad As Hell...

... and I'm not going to take it any more!


Donnie Deutsch:

If you're an African-American or white American who's tired of this kind of talk, write to the CEO's of those companies and say: 'you know what, put it somewhere else on Fox News, I'm not saying take it off of Fox News, take it off this man's show.

After the jump, I've listed Glenn Beck's corporate sponsors, in case you want to make your voice heard...

General Motors:
Chairman: Edward E. Whitacre Jr.
President, CEO, and Director: Frederick A. Henderson
EVP and CFO: Ray G. Young
300 Renaissance Center
Detroit, MI 48265-3000
Contact Media Relations at 888-436-6687
MI Tel. 313-556-5000
Contact form: http://www.gm.com/...

Campbell Soup:
Chairman: Harvey Golub
President, CEO, and Director: Douglas R. Conant
SVP, CFO, and Chief Administrative Officer: B. Craig Owens
Campbell Soup Company
1 Campbell Place
Camden, NJ 08103-1799
NJ Tel. 856-342-4800
Toll Free 800-257-8443
Fax 856-342-3878
http://www.campbellsoupcompany.com
Contact form: http://www.campbellsoupcompany.com/...

Chrysler Group LLC:
Chairman: C. Robert Kidder
CEO and Director: Sergio Marchionne
SVP and CFO: Ronald E. Kolka
1000 Chrysler Dr.
Auburn Hills, MI 48326-2766
MI Tel. 248-576-5741
Toll Free 800-992-1997
http://www.chryslerllc.com
Contact form: https://www.chryslergroupllc.com/...

The Procter & Gamble Company
Chairman: Alan G. Lafley
President, CEO, and Director: Robert A. McDonald
CFO: Jon R. Moeller
1 Procter & Gamble Plaza
Cincinnati, OH 45202
OH Tel. 513-983-1100
Fax 513-983-9369
http://www.pg.com/
Contact form: http://pg.custhelp.com/...

Pfizer Inc.
Chairman and CEO: Jeffrey B. Kindler
Chairman Emeritus: William C. Steere Jr.
Chairman Emeritus: M. Anthony Burns
235 E. 42nd St.
New York, NY 10017-5755
NY Tel. 212-573-2323
http://www.pfizer.com
Contact page: http://www.pfizer.com/...

Kellogg Company
Chairman: James M. Jenness
President, CEO, and Director: A. D. David Mackay
EVP, COO, and CFO: John A. Bryant
1 Kellogg Sq.
Battle Creek, MI 49016-3599
Contact media at 800-323-0768
MI Tel. 269-961-2000
Toll Free 800-962-1413
Fax 269-961-2871
http://www.kelloggcompany.com
Media email: media.hotline@kellogg.com

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Chairman: S. Robson Walton
President, CEO, and Director: Michael T. Duke
EVP and COO: William S. Simon
702 SW 8th St.
Bentonville, AR 72716
AR Tel. 479-273-4000
Fax 479-277-1830
http://www.walmartstores.com
Contact form: http://walmartstores.com/...

Kraft Foods Inc.
Chairman and CEO: Irene B. Rosenfeld
EVP Operations and Business Services: David A. Brearton
EVP and CFO: Timothy R. McLevish
3 Lakes Dr.
Northfield, IL 60093
Contact #: 1 800 323 0768
IL Tel. 847-646-2000
Fax 847-646-6005
http://www.kraft.com
Contact form: http://www.kraftfoodscompany.com/...

Nestlé USA, Inc.
Chairman and CEO: Brad Alford
SVP and CFO: Dan Stroud
GLOBE Executive and CIO: Kimberly Lund
800 N. Brand Blvd.
Glendale, CA 91203
CA Tel. 818-549-6000
Toll Free 800-225-2270
Fax 818-549-6952
http://www.nestleusa.com
Contact form: http://www.nestleusa.com/...

I will be writing to each of these companies to -- politely -- voice my concern with their association with someone who claims that a sitting President has a 'deep-seeded hatred for white people'. Enough is enough.

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Iowa Dems & GOP Moving Caucuses

...to a Saturday. Where you at Vast and Iowan?

“We are proud to announce the Republican Party of Iowa and the Iowa Democratic Party, with the support of our respective State Central Committees, have agreed to hold the 2010 Precinct Caucuses on Saturday, January 23 beginning at 1 p.m.

“To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time either Party has held its precinct caucuses on a Saturday. Our decision to hold these important organizational meetings on a Saturday was made to encourage greater participation in an off-year caucus and get more Iowans actively involved with the work of our Parties.

“Getting more Iowans involved in their local precinct caucuses is good for Democrats, good for Republicans, and good our political process. Iowans will be making some critically important decisions in 2010 and the more people actively involved in the process the better for Iowa.”

No matter when you do the caucuses, someone will be disenfranchised. However, I am willing to bet that moving the caucuses to a Saturday will disenfranchise far fewer voters than having it in the middle of a work-week.

Head nod: Justin Gardner @TheDonk

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Making A Caricature Of The Netherlands

A strong response. Via Buzzfeed.

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Quote Of The Day II

"On the one hand, she somehow managed to ramble in a speech she had three weeks to prepare; on the other hand, no less a pop-culture icon than Captain Kirk showed up to goof on her. Whatever else she may be, she’s a bona fide star. There’s got to be a comfortable living in that somehow going forward." -Allahpundit, commenting on Sarah Palin's farewell speech and the comedy send-up(s) that ensued.

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Hard Wuerk

-M.Wuerker, Wuerking Drawings

[note the wingnut on the seal -- priceless]

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The Right America, Volume 1

Welcome to the first ever weekly column of yours truly where I will get you introduce you to the truth...something you don't get in the mainstream media today. I will make you think and defend your thoughts because let's face it...more than often I am probably right and you are probably just stating what you hear as "fact" in the news you hear with Keith, Rachel and the other goons.

So here goes... my first theme in my first column discusses what Glenn Beck brought up earlier this week... is President Obama a racist? Now... I dont know what's in the man' s heart... only God and BHO know this. But, I can certainly make a case that President Obama thinks America is a "downright, mean country" (or is that his wife Michelle Obama?) and that maybe he listened to, quoted and looked up to a man who thought "America's Chickens have come home to roost" after the 9/11 attacks on our country that killed 3,000 innocent Americans.

Let's start with Michelle Obama, the Chosen One's Wife. What exactly did she mean when she said "for the first time in my adult life I am really proud of my country"? Michelle Obama became 18 years old in 1982... and there has not been a moment since 1982 that she has been proud of her country? Is there a racist undertone in this saying? That FINALLY... America is choosing a Black man to run the country and therefore we have done the ultimately good thing? In 2008, she still thought America was a "downright mean country" in a campaign speech she gave. Interesting. Who are "we" mean towards?

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Orly Taitz: Bring'n Da Funk, Bring'n Da Crazy

Wow. That's a whole lot of nonsense in one place. Does anyone have the Social Security Administration on speed-dial?!

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No Michelle, Tell Us What You Really Think

Wow.

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A Shallow Thought...

Yet another hole poked in the Birther's argument, brought to you by The Political Carnival:

If Barack Hussein Obama's family was really all that sneaky and wily and part of some Big Secret Conspiracy to have him slither in and take over the United States, wouldn't they have been crafty enough to name him Chris?

Hmmm... Chris Hussein Obama still sounds mighty suspicious...

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The Case For Pragmatic Conservatism

From a really smart conservative to boot:

[I]t goes without saying that [the Republican] party is not and never was a party for theocracy as this nation is not and never was from the beginning a theocratic nation and it never should be. This is not a problem at all for those who understand this and realize that while they have their own personal faith it was never meant to be the law of the land for people of other faiths to follow. Numerous members of the centrist republican movement are people who attend services of some religion or another, but understand and celebrate this diverse society that we live in and share. The Republican Party in fact should welcome the people of all faiths based on the belief for cultural inclusion and understanding of the backgrounds of all Americans; people who while following their own faith will acknowledge and respect the personal beliefs of religion of others around them. Christians, Muslims and Jews, and any and all other faiths or those without faith should be welcome into our party.

But those who do not tolerate the religious beliefs or no belief of others and who thrive on dualistic mindsets that would pit one faith against another and even await, gleefully at times, a violent apocalypse between religion and cultures and as a result support and give power to warmongering neo-conservative ideas and who hope to establish a strict religious nation devoted to a narrow set of beliefs despite the fact that not all Americans follow each others specific belief, need not pretend to be Republican

Social conservatism has been the call to arms for these theological conservative or theo-cons. It should be stated that this does not mean that on social issues this party must be absolutely liberal. Issues such as abortion are still subject to and absolutely need real philosophical debate even within our own party, but any reasonable debate and argument has been abandoned by the religious right in favor of a simple and baseless theocratic statement against all abortion. The question of where life and the rights to life begin is never addressed by social conservatives using reasons that go beyond religious dogma, again ignoring the diversity of faith in our society as well as the separation of church and state. Or if they are, usually it’s based on pseudo-scientific premises made by conservative think-tanks. The issue of social issues such as abortion and the future of our party is addressed in another paper of mine and will show how while theo-cons have taken the debate away, there is still a wide range of views that a social liberal, social libertarian and social moderate , the latter who does not wholeheartedly accept the pro-choice position but neither sees the pro-life movement’s attitude towards the issue as correct, can agree upon. It also addresses the acknowledgement that the socially moderate, when abortion is the issue, is indeed a large chunk of the nation and must give us as a centrist party reason to debate how best to shape a message to reflect this.

Republicanism is not a rejection of the intellectuals of our society in favor of thoughtless tub-thumping. It is inherently not a party that should defend pseudo-scientific creationism over actual science. It is not a party for theocracy and a party to push the evangelical Religious Right agenda onto a nation that is composed of many different kinds of believers, and non-believers alike. While there is place for many ideas, there are some that are ultimately in complete rejection of the party’s firm stance on progress. When it comes to issues such as science in classrooms, it is easy to see where a stance agreed by all except the Religious Right can and should be made. There is nothing wrong if someone personally believes the world was created in seven days, but those who wish to have all students taught these stories as if they were actually backed in any real amount by actual science, need not pretend to be anything else other than a theocrat and certainly not a republican. The Religious Right’s hold on the GOP in their pursuit to replace science with anything else but, must be brought to an end. Other views of social issues separate from the Religious Right, what they are and how they can or cannot fit within a future party must also be reviewed and understood or more to the point, the differences and similarities of social libertarianism and social liberalism.

For more conservative thought in this vein, head over to ProgressiveRepublican.info.

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The Chuck Takes Glenn Beck To Task

...and how:

The White House doesn't want to give Glenn Beck a bigger platform or extra oxygen -- especially regarding his remark yesterday that the president has "a deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture" -- so they won't comment, even off record. Beck, after all, is a radio DJ who somehow ended up getting a national platform to give his opinion on politics. What's most amazing about this episode is that what Beck said isn't a fireable or even a SUSPENDABLE offense by his bosses. There was a time when outrageous rants like this would actually cost the ranters their jobs. But not anymore; if anything, it's now encouraged. And all of this could turn ACTUAL journalists into the next Howard Beales. It's getting nuts that the folks who are creating the perception of an ideological/polarized media world are people who have never really spent their lives being journalists. Whether it's former political consultants-turned-TV execs or former radio DJs, or former California socialites, the folks helping to accelerate the public's perception of the media off a cliff made their livings trying to do other things. Of course, Beck's crazy language could have one unintended consequence: It could cost him bookings with any Republicans who want to be popular outside Beck's hard-core bizarro-land viewers.

Well put.

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Them There's Fightin' Words

From Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison:

He doesn't like to talk about it, but to balance the state's budget shortfall, Perry accepted and spent 97 percent of the federal stimulus funds offered Texas. He wrote letters requesting the money and publicly asked Vice President Joe Biden — twice — for reassurance that Texas would receive some of it.

In other words, Perry talked loudly and carried a small stick. Instead of tightening our belt and enacting spending cuts as other states did, Texas turned almost exclusively to Washington for help. We now learn that Texas used a higher percentage of federal money – some $12.1 billion — to close its structural deficit than any other state. This is how our state budget was balanced.

So this anti-Washington rhetoric seems a little hypocritical. Perry says he rejected federal unemployment funding because it would require Texas to update our jobless rolls and expand payments for part-time workers. He claims that these benefits, once granted, would never be reversed by the Texas Legislature.

While state legislators were meeting, I generally refrained from commenting on pending issues, in hopes of removing 2010 politics from the session. I did indicate that sound business practice pointed toward finding a way to take our share of unemployment funds. I even worked with a Louisiana senator and obtained a Labor Department ruling that the added unemployment benefits could later be reversed without penalty.

Perry ignored all this. He seemed to want a political statement, even if it cost our state businesses dearly.

[snip]

A fair question to ask: What would you have done? I would have sought a way to cut the excessive federal strings. If that didn't work, I would have urged the Legislature to accept the funding and reduce the blow to Texas employers now. Then I would have had the political courage to make certain that unnecessary benefits were reversed once the current economic crisis has passed.

In fact, by engaging legislative leaders, a strong governor likely could have obtained commitments to make those future changes before accepting Texas' allotment.

Instead, Perry made a political statement carrying a $550 million price tag for Texas taxpayers. The governor's refusal to accept federal dollars to aid Texas employers was neither conservative nor responsible. It was instead the triumph of political gamesmanship over effective leadership.

Anyway you look at it, the Texas gubernatorial race will be one to keep an eye on in 2010.

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Quote Of The Day

"We got too many Jim DeMints [R-SC] and Tom Coburns [R-Ok]. It's the southerners. They get on TV and go 'errrr, errrrr.' People hear them and say, 'These people, they’re southerners. The party's being taken over by southerners. What they [sic] hell they got to do with Ohio?'" -Senator George Voinovich (R-Ohio), listing what he thinks is the largest problem facing the GOP. In Ohio, at least.

Also, Voinovich later said that this comment was supposed to be 'off the record'... oops. Awwwwwwwkwarrrrrrd.

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'President Obama Is A Racist'

Some salient discussion of Glenn Beck's mystifying comments with the Morning Joe crew, sans Morning Joe himself.


I think that they are all correct in their assessments. I do want to highlight one thing that Willie Geist touched upon. Around the five minute mark, Geist posits the idea that, had some commentator on the left made a similar comment about George W. Bush or Dick Cheney, that Mika et al. might not have been as upset. I think that is an eye-opening question and should be given some thought.

Personally, I think Beck is way out-of-line for his comment if for no other reason than Barack Obama was raised by white folks. His mother and grandparents, about whom he writes and talks at great lengths, were far and above the largest contributors to his upbringing. So, for Beck to merely suggest, much less bluntly state as fact that the President has a 'deep-seeded hatred for white people or the white culture' is nothing short of irrational.

I do wonder whether Lawrence O'Donnell is correct; will Glenn Beck own up to his statement? Will he admit that he accused the President of racism? Or, as O'Donnell suggests, will Beck claim that he never made the remarks?

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Shatner On Conan On Palin

This clip from 'The Tonight Show' is making the rounds across the Series of Tubes and it's easy to see why. Funny stuff.

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Awkward Photo Dujour

Caption: "Clearly, all of the other props were occupied at this photo studio."

Via AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com. A great time-waster.

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A Slow End To The Honeymoon

Gallup shows a fairly steady, though not necessarily dramatic decline in President Obama's job approval rating.

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Birther Watch, Ctd.

Bill O'Reilly and I agree on something. Wow.

First Ann Coulter, now Bill O? Who's next, Sean Hannity?

[for the record, I doubt that Sean Hannity or Glenn Beck would denounce the Birthers, but who knows?]

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'G.I. Joe' Looks UnAmerican, Maybe, Possibly

Ugh. The Corner's John J. Miller has yet to actually see G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra, but already he's got a bad feeling that it's going to be unAmerican. You know, based on the trailers and stuff:

I keep wondering: Is G.I. Joe still an American? He used to be, back in the day. Maybe the movie will make clear that the 21st-century version is also a "real American hero," as the tagline once put it. But this is far from obvious. The old logo was red, white, and blue. Now the dominant image is black. Nobody wears green Army uniforms.

Instead, the good guys appear to put on silver-plated robocop armor. Joe and his friends look like celluloid heroes without a country.

Ah, the 'attack Hollywood' meme. It seems that some conservatives never tire of it.

That's right! You tell 'em John J. Miller! Forget about Osama bin Laden, Kim Jong Il and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad -- our countries' true enemies are the producers of any movie that is not patriotic enough (in your eyes). You must have adored Team America: World Police.

Oh, all snarkiness aside -- Hollywood doesn't care what you think Mr. Miller. They 'care' about making money, as does any capitalist enterprise. Are you against capitalism Mr. Miller? What are you, a socialist?!?!

Okay, so there was still a little snark in there... my bad.

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Quote Of The Day II

"This is the first Latina woman in the history of the United States to be selected for the Supreme Court. Now that is a big deal. I would not have chosen her, but I understand why President Obama did. I gladly give her my vote because I think she meets the qualifications test that was used in [Antonin] Scalia and [Ruth Bader] Ginsburg." -Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), the only Republican vote in favor of Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation as the Senate Judiciary committee approved her nomination to the Supreme Court today.

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Farewell Sarah

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Quote Of The Day

"I almost hate to indulge in such an august setting as the White House briefing room discussing the made up fictional nonsense of whether the president was born in this country. A year and a half ago, I asked that the birth certificate be put on the Internet. Because Lord knows if you got a birth certificate and you put it on the internet, what else could be the story?

"Here's the deal. If I had some DNA, it wouldn't assuage those who don't believe he was born here. I have news for them and all of us. The president was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, the 50th state of the greatest country on the face of the earth. He is a citizen." -White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, conceding that nothing the President does will ever quell the Birther 'movement'.

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Sarah Palin's Favorability

When your favorability rating is worse than Hillary Clinton's, you might have a slight problem with a future in politics.

Then again, stranger things have happened...

Read what Nate Silver has to say at FiveThirtyEight. It's worth your time, particularly if you are a Sarah Palin supporter.

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Birther Watch, Ctd.

House Resolution 593:

Whereas August 21, 2009, marks the 50th Anniversary of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's signing of Proclamation 3309, which admitted Hawaii into the Union in compliance with the Hawaii Admission Act, enacted by the United States Congress on March 18, 1959;

Whereas Hawaii is 'a place like no other, with a people like no other' and bridges the mainland United States to the Asia-Pacific region;

Whereas the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961 [...]

My empahsis. Final vote: 378-0 (55 members didn't vote). Take that Birthers.

Head nod: Doug Mataconis @BTB

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'Tron Legacy'

This. Looks. Cool.

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Drinkin' Some Beers

Insert obligatory 'tastes great, less filling' joke here:

Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Cambridge police officer Crowley will have their beer at the White House with President Obama on Thursday at 6:00 pm ET. Will the White House allow for a full-fledged pool spray, or try to limit the meeting to still photos only? The debate is taking place behind the scenes.

Gah. I thought all the 'I'd love to have a beer with him' talk was merely rhetoric.

Next up: pundits debating whether or not it is appropriate for a sitting President to publicly consume alcohol. Far-right-wingers criticize Obama for drinking Löwenbräu and not choosing an American classic like PBR...

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Pac-Man Fever

In chart form anyway...

Head nod: TYWKIWDBI

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Birther Watch, Ctd.

It simply amazes me that any elected official would posture on an issue as absurd as this one...

Also, I will admit that I still hate 'gotcha journalism' -- and this video is no different than watching Jesse Watters do his 'thing'.

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The Return Of Carly Fiorina

You remember Carly Fiorina, no? She's the former-CEO of Hewlett-Packard that embarrassed herself during John McCain's presidential campaign. She claimed that neither John McCain or his running mate Sarah Palin would be able to run a major company.

Well, it would appear that she is (re-)considering a possible run against Barbara Boxer in California:

Fiorina, a former Hewlett-Packard CEO and top economic adviser to John McCain's presidential campaign, hasn't said yet whether she'll throw her hat in the ring against Boxer for the California Democrat's Senate seat next year. But it already could be shaping up to up be one of the most closely watched Senate contests.

Senator Boxer's wildly irregular comments recently will likely not help her re-election chances either.

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Birther Watch, Ctd.

Must. See. TV.

Orly Taitz, the dentist/lawyer who has spearheaded many of the Birther lawsuits, has announced that she will be making an appearance on The Colbert Report.

I will be taping Steven Colbert show on Tuesday, but I am not sure when will they show it. You can call them and ask. The producers that I am in touch with are Emily Lazar, Amy Schwartz and Alex Cooley. I really don’t make any arrangements, they make the arrangements and I just go with the flow

If I still had my Tivo, it would sooooo be recording this episode.

Head nod: Doug Mataconis @BTB

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Meanwhile, In The Land Of Beaches And Bon Jovi

Thoughts?

My guess is that last week's big story out of the Garden State will not help Corzine's chances...

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Quote Of The Day

"No matter how odd or confrontational Henry Louis Gates Jr. was that afternoon, he should not have been arrested once Sergeant Crowley ascertained that the Harvard professor was in his own home. President Obama was right the first time, that the encounter had a stupid ending, and the second time, that both Gates and Crowley overreacted." -Maureen Dowd, in her Times column.

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