My Jaw Finally Dropped

On the news this morning I watch Rick Santorum announce to his pleased audience, "do we believe in the smart and elite in this country to manage us?"


Why, no, you moron, the country is hoping that you, a member of the "dumb and tedious" will be leading our country.  


What is wrong with these bizarros?  And by "bizarros" I mean republican (I'll start capitalizing it again when I find one who has a modicum of sense and moral dignity) candidates.  As a short example, here are some of candidate Santorum's statements:


“We went into a recession in 2008 because of gasoline prices. The bubble burst in housing because people couldn’t pay their mortgages because of $4 a gallon gasoline.”


Yeah, OK, Rick.  That was the reason in your hallucinations.


“CO2 is a pollutant? Tell that to the plants.”


Sigh.  Too bad we're not marijuana plants.  It would help us believe Santorum's wild ranting.


“One of the favorite things of the left is to use your sentimentality, and your proper understanding and belief that we are stewards of this earth and we have a responsibility to hand off a beautiful earth to the next generation. 'They use that and they have used it in the past to try to scare you into supporting radical ideas on the environment. They tried it with this idea, this politicization of science called man-made global warming... I stood up and fought against those things. Why? Because they will destroy the very foundation of prosperity in our country.”


Yep, global warming is a leftist plot.


“President Obama once said he wants everybody in America to go to college. What a snob!”


I don't really need to say anything, do I?


“If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual (gay) sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything."


Ummmm, would you please explain your reasoning here, Ricky?  Oh that's right.  There isn't any.  That would be elitist.


“In the Netherlands people wear a different bracelet if you're elderly and the bracelet is 'do not euthanize me.' Because they have voluntary euthanasia in the Netherlands, but half the people who are euthanized every year, and it's 10 percent of all deaths for the Netherlands, half of those people are euthanized involuntarily at hospitals because they are older and sick. And so elderly people in the Netherlands don't go to the hospital, they go to another country, because they are afraid, because of budget purposes, that they will not come out of that hospital if they go in with sickness.”


Absolutely none of that is true.  I'll let FACTcheck.org handle this one:

FactCheck.org on the actual facts:

First, let's review the law. The 2001 Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide (Review Procedures) Act allows Dutch citizens to end their lives if they are suffering from a medical condition that causes "unbearable suffering with no prospect of improvement." There are two end-of-life procedures: euthanasia, where a doctor administers a fatal drug, or assisted suicide, where the doctor prescribes the fatal drug and the patient administers it. The law took effecton April 1, 2002.

According to a publication distributed by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, doctors must be satisfied that the patient's request is "voluntary and well-considered," and that there is "unbearable suffering with no prospect for improvement." The patient's doctor must consult at least one other independent doctor, who is responsible for ensuring the "due care criteria" is met.

After the termination of a patient's life, the death must be reported to the government and reviewed by regional committees composed of, at a minimum, a doctor, ethicist and legal expert.

Now, let's look at Santorum's three claims. We'll begin with a stunning claim that the elderly are so afraid of being euthanized for "budget purposes" that they wear "do not euthanize me" bracelets. We were told by a government official and a representative of a Dutch physicians' association that this is simply not true.

When we contacted the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, public health spokeswoman Inge Freriksen told us that "a bracelet asking not to be euthanized doesn't exist." Patients would only be euthanized after they followed the set of guidelines as outlined above.

Idiot?  Devil?  Moron?

You decide.  I don't believe in a devil.

The Face of the New Young Republicans

Here's the face of the woman, Audra Shay, thought to become the head of the Young Republicans tomorrow:



Here are the words posted to her Facebook account (post now deleted due to someone's pointing this out):

“Obama Bin Lauden [sic] is the new terrorist… Muslim is on there side [sic]… need to take this country back from all of these mad coons… and illegals,”

Here is her response to this post:

“You tell em Eric! lol.”

Someone tell me how this should be the attitude of the NEW Young Republicans.

And Here She Is!

Here it is, Sarah Palin's resignation speech in its entirety, copied from her website. When have we seen so many exclamation points in one place? Eloquence-r-not-us.

The woman quotes her parents' refrigerator magnet.


Hi Alaska, I appreciate speaking directly to you, the people I serve, as your Governor.

People who know me know that besides faith and family, nothing's more important to me than our beloved Alaska. Serving her people is the greatest honor I could imagine.

I want Alaskans to grasp what can be in store for our state. We were purchased as a territory because a member of President Abe Lincoln's cabinet, William Seward, providentially saw in this great land, vast riches, beauty, strategic placement on the globe, and opportunity. He boldly looked "North to the Future". But he endured such ridicule and mocking for his vision for Alaska, remember the adversaries scoffed, calling this "Seward's Folly". Seward withstood such disdain as he chose the uncomfortable, unconventional, but right path to secure Alaska, so Alaska could help secure the United States.


People who know me know that besides faith and family, nothing's more important to me than our beloved Alaska.

Alaska’s mission – to contribute to America. We’re strategic in the world as the air crossroads of the world, as a gatekeeper of the continent. Bold visionaries knew this - Alaska would be part of America's great destiny.

Our destiny to be reached by responsibly developing our natural resources. This land, blessed with clean air, water, wildlife, minerals, and oil and gas. It's energy! God gave us energy.

So to serve the state is a humbling responsibility, because I know in my soul that Alaska is of such import, for America’s security, in our very volatile world. And you know me by now, I promised even four years ago to show my independence… no more conventional “politics as usual”.

And we are doing well! My administration's accomplishments speak for themselves. We work tirelessly for Alaskans.

We aggressively and responsibly develop our resources because they were created to be used to better our world... to help people... and we protect the environment and Alaskans (the resource owners) foremost with our policies.

Here’s some of the things we’ve done:

We created a petroleum integrity office to oversee safe development. We held the line for Alaskans on Point Thomson – and finally for the first time in decades – they’re drilling for oil and gas.

We have AGIA, the gasline project – a massive bi-partisan victory (the vote was 58 to 1!) – also succeeding as intended - protecting Alaskans as our clean natural gas will flow to energize us, and America, through a competitive, pro-private sector project. This is the largest private sector energy project, ever. This is energy independence.

And ACES – another bipartisan effort – is working as intended and industry is publicly acknowledging its success. Our new oil and gas “clear and equitable formula” is so Alaskans will no longer be taken advantage of. ACES incentivizes new exploration and development and jobs that were previously not going to happen with a monopolized North Slope oil basin.

We cleaned up previously accepted unethical actions; we ushered in bi-partisan Ethics Reform.

We also slowed the rate of government growth, we worked with the Legislature to save billions of dollars for the future, and I made no lobbyist friends with my hundreds of millions of dollars in budget vetoes... but living beyond our means today is irresponsible for tomorrow.

We took government out of the dairy business and put it back into private-sector hands – where it should be.

We provided unprecedented support for education initiatives, and with the right leadership, finally filled long-vacant public safety positions. We built a sub-Cabinet on Climate Change and took heat from Outside special interests for our biologically-sound wildlife management for abundance.

We broke ground on the new prison.

And we made common sense conservative choices to eliminate personal luxuries like the jet, the chef, the junkets... the entourage.

And the Lt. Governor and I said "no" to our pay raises.

So much success in this first term – and with this success I am proud to take credit... for hiring the right people! Our goal was to achieve a gasline project, more fair oil and gas valuation, and ethics reform in four years. We did it in two. It’s because of the people… good public servants surrounding the Governor's office, with servants' hearts and astounding work ethic... they are Alaska's success!

We are doing well! I wish you'd hear more from the media of your state's progress and how we tackle Outside interests - daily - special interests that would stymie our state. Even those debt-ridden stimulus dollars that would force the heavy hand of federal government into our communities with an “all-knowing attitude” – I have taken the slings and arrows with that unpopular move to veto because I know being right is better than being popular. Some of those dollars would harm Alaska and harm America – I resisted those dollars because of the obscene national debt we’re forcing our children to pay, because of today’s Big Government spending; it’s immoral and doesn’t even make economic sense!

Another accomplishment – our Law Department protected states’ rights – two huge U.S. Supreme Court reversals came down against that liberal Ninth Circuit, deciding in our state’s favor over the last two weeks. We’re protectors of our Constitution – federalists protect states’ rights as mandated in 10th amendment.

But you don’t hear much of the good stuff in the press anymore, do you?

Some say things changed for me on August 29th last year – the day John McCain tapped me to be his running-mate – I say others changed.

Let me speak to that for a minute.

Political operatives descended on Alaska last August, digging for dirt. The ethics law I championed became their weapon of choice. Over the past nine months I've been accused of all sorts of frivolous ethics violations – such as holding a fish in a photograph, wearing a jacket with a logo on it, and answering reporters’ questions.

Every one – all 15 of the ethics complaints have been dismissed. We’ve won! But it hasn't been cheap - the State has wasted thousands of hours of your time and shelled out some two million of your dollars to respond to “opposition research” – that’s money not going to fund teachers or troopers – or safer roads. And this political absurdity, the “politics of personal destruction” … Todd and I are looking at more than half a million dollars in legal bills in order to set the record straight. And what about the people who offer up these silly accusations? It doesn’t cost them a dime so they’re not going to stop draining public resources – spending other peoples’ money in their game.

It’s pretty insane – my staff and I spend most of our day dealing with this instead of progressing our state now. I know I promised no more “politics as usual,” but this isn’t what anyone had in mind for Alaska.

If I have learned one thing: life is about choices!

And one chooses how to react to circumstances. You can choose to engage in things that tear down, or build up. I choose to work very hard on a path for fruitfulness and productivity. I choose not to tear down and waste precious time; but to build up this state and our country, and her industrious, generous, patriotic, free people!

Life is too short to compromise time and resources... it may be tempting and more comfortable to just keep your head down, plod along, and appease those who demand: "Sit down and shut up", but that's the worthless, easy path; that's a quitter's way out. And a problem in our country today is apathy. It would be apathetic to just hunker down and “go with the flow”.

Nah, only dead fish "go with the flow".

No. Productive, fulfilled people determine where to put their efforts, choosing to wisely utilize precious time... to build up.

And there is such a need to build up and fight for our state and our country. I choose to fight for it! And I'll work hard for others who still believe in free enterprise and smaller government; strong national security for our country and support for our troops; energy independence; and for those who will protect freedom and equality and life... I'll work for and campaign for those proud to be American, and those who are inspired by our ideals and won't deride them.

I will support others who seek to serve, in or out of office, for the right reasons, and I don't care what party they're in or no party at all. Inside Alaska – or Outside Alaska.

But I won’t do it from the Governor’s desk.

I've never believed that I, nor anyone else, needs a title to do this - to make a difference... to help people. So I choose, for my State and my family, more "freedom" to progress, all the way around... so that Alaska may progress... I will not seek re-election as Governor.

And so as I thought about this announcement that I wouldn’t run for re-election and what it means for Alaska, I thought about how much fun some governors have as lame ducks… travel around the state, to the Lower 48 (maybe), overseas on international trade – as so many politicians do. And then I thought – that’s what’s wrong – many just accept that lame duck status, hit the road, draw the paycheck, and “milk it”. I’m not putting Alaska through that – I promised efficiencies and effectiveness! That’s not how I am wired. I am not wired to operate under the same old “politics as usual.” I promised that four years ago – and I meant it.

It’s not what is best for Alaska.

I am determined to take the right path for Alaska even though it is unconventional and not so comfortable.

With this announcement that I am not seeking re-election… I’ve determined it’s best to transfer the authority of governor to Lieutenant Governor Parnell; and I am willing to do so, so that this administration – with its positive agenda, its accomplishments, and its successful road to an incredible future – can continue without interruption and with great administrative and legislative success.

My choice is to take a stand and effect change – not hit our heads against the wall and watch valuable state time and money, millions of your dollars, go down the drain in this new environment. Rather, we know we can effect positive change outside government at this moment in time, on another scale, and actually make a difference for our priorities – and so we will, for Alaskans and for Americans.

Let me go back to a comfortable analogy for me – sports… basketball. I use it because you’re naïve if you don’t see the national full-court press picking away right now: A good point guard drives through a full court press, protecting the ball, keeping her eye on the basket… and she knows exactly when to pass the ball so that the team can win. And I’m doing that – keeping our eye on the ball that represents sound priorities – smaller government, energy independence, national security, freedom! And I know when it’s time to pass the ball – for victory.

I have given my reasons candidly and truthfully… and my last day won’t be for another few weeks so the transition will be very smooth. In fact, we will look to swear Sean in – in Fairbanks at the conclusion of our Governor’s picnics.

I do not want to disappoint anyone with my decision; all I can ask is that you trust me with this decision – but it’s no more “politics as usual”.

Some Alaskans don’t mind wasting public dollars and state time. I do. I cannot stand here as your Governor and allow millions upon millions of our dollars go to waste just so I can hold the title of Governor. And my children won’t allow it either.

Some will question the timing. Let’s just say, this decision has been in the works for awhile…

In fact, this decision comes after much consideration, and finally polling the most important people in my life - my children (where the count was unanimous... well, in response to asking: "Want me to make a positive difference and fight for ALL our children's future from outside the Governor's office?" It was four "yes's" and one "hell yeah!" The "hell yeah" sealed it - and someday I'll talk about the details of that... I think much of it had to do with the kids seeing their baby brother Trig mocked by some pretty mean-spirited adults recently.) Um, by the way, sure wish folks could ever, ever understand that we all could learn so much from someone like Trig - I know he needs me, but I need him even more... what a child can offer to set priorities right – that time is precious... the world needs more "Trigs", not fewer.

My decision was also fortified during this most recent trip to Kosovo and Landstuhl, to visit our wounded soldiers overseas, those who sacrifice themselves in war for our freedom and security… we can ALL learn from our selfless Troops… they’re bold, they don’t give up, they take a stand and know that life is short so they choose to not waste time. They choose to be productive and to serve something greater than self... and to build up their families, their states, our country. These Troops and their important missions – those are truly the worthy causes in this world and should be the public priority with time and resources and not this local / superficial wasteful political bloodsport.

May we all learn from them!

*((Gotta put First Things First))*

First things first: as Governor, I love my job and I love Alaska. It hurts to make this choice but I am doing what’s best for Alaska. I’ve explained why… though I think of the saying on my parents’ refrigerator that says “Don’t explain: your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe you anyway.”

But I have given my reasons… no more “politics as usual” and I am taking my fight for what’s right – for Alaska – in a new direction.

Now, despite this, I don’t want any Alaskan dissuaded from entering politics after seeing this real “climate change” that began in August… no, we need hardworking, average Americans fighting for what’s right! And I will support you because we need you and you can effect change, and I can too on the outside.

We need those who will respect our Constitution where government’s supposed to serve from the bottom up, not move toward this top down big government take-over… but rather, will be protectors of individual rights - who also have enough common sense to acknowledge when conditions have drastically changed and are willing to call an audible and pass the ball when it’s time so the team can win! And that is what I’m doing!

Remember Alaska… America is now, more than ever, looking North to the Future. It'll be good. So God bless you, and from me and my family - to all Alaska - you have my heart.

And we will be in the capable hands of our Lieutenant Governor, Sean Parnell. And Lieutenant General Craig Campbell will assume the role of Lieutenant Governor. And it is my promise to you that I will always be standing by, ready to assist. We have a good, positive agenda for Alaska.

In the words of General MacArthur said, “We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”




PS - In a big HAR moment, I pressed "publish post" to put this on my blog and was instantly entertained with an ad for SarahPAC. I only had to click on it to be taken to this:

Verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry Interesting

It's just hit national news that Sarah Palin is not only not intending to run for re-election of Governor of Alaska, but she will step down early. Yes, she will leave her term in office early, passing the torch to the Lt. Governor.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ....... y'all are saying, right?

Indeed.



What would bring a politician to such an abrupt decision? Scandal about to break? Intentions of running for higher office? The latter seems unlikely given that leaving office early when you're not even campaigning seems to wreak of major scandal in alASka.

Also, this coming so soon after the interesting "Vanity Fair" feature on Palin, which included the paragraph:

"Palin is unlike any other national figure in modern American life—neither Anna Nicole Smith nor Margaret Chase Smith but a phenomenon all her own. The clouds of tabloid conflict and controversy that swirl around her and her extended clan—the surprise pregnancies, the two-bit blood feuds, the tawdry in-laws and common-law kin caught selling drugs or poaching game—give her family a singular status in the rogues’ gallery of political relatives. By comparison, Billy Carter, Donald Nixon, and Roger Clinton seem like avatars of circumspection. Palin’s life has sometimes played out like an unholy amalgam of Desperate Housewives and Northern Exposure."

Stay tuned ........... something is VERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRY fishy in alASka today.

You Heard It Here First!

Soooooo ........ today it is revealed that South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford was not really hiking the Appalachian Trail as he told the media following his four day mysterious disappearance. Rather, he was following his wienie to Argentina, cheating on his wife with his Argentine mistress.



He said it began oh so innocently. Gee. Don't they all. Someone just SUCKED his poor, innocent, family loving arse right into an affair.

Snapola! You heard it right here moments after his "disappearance" was announced.

Wonkette Story

FOX News, in their usual attempt to disregard the truth for their own convenient and false information, first identified Mark Sanford as a Democrat:

FOX News!

Good to know they're so afar of the facts that they don't even know who USED to be a potential candidate for the Republican presidential nomnination in 2012.

There are also reports that he traveled the Wienie Express to Argentina on the public's dime. Oh dear. It just gets worse and worse, doesn't it? And this is only the 2nd day!

Taxpayer Dollars, too?

So ..... FOX News and Republicans ....... who's elitist?

South Carolina Republicans are considering impeachment. I think maybe his wife should just make short work of him herself. ;)

The oh-so-sad-story:

Yet Another Republican Governor Takes a Hike

As "The Today Show" blathers on and on about something called "Jon and Kate Plus Eight" (ARGHHH!) I find myself intrigued by the most current reports of a Governor who seems to have something to hide. Hmmmmmm .......... what COULD it be, we wonder?

Republican Governor of South Carolina, Mark Sanford, seems to have been missing for days. His office couldn't find him ..... his friends looked far and wide ....... even his wife and family had no idea of his whereabouts. A Governor gone missing.

Strange ............ or ......... predictable?

"The lieutenant governor couldn't figure out where Gov. Mark Sanford was. Calls from a state senator and close friend rolled to voice mail. Even his wife said she hadn't talked to him for several days."

Where, oh where could our fair guvner be ...... oh where, oh where could he be?

OHHHHH ........ HIKING, he said, upon his return to his job after four secretive days away. Hiking the Appalachian Trail. Alone. Having told no one ahead of time where he was going.

OF COURSE!

Stay tuned ...............

Did you miss the big GOP blowout?

Last night the GOP had a good ol' Washington, DC fund raiser, accompanied by the usual right-wing blathering and unfounded attacks.

Jon Voight emceed the event. I quote: “Obama as a candidate portrayed himself as a moderate but turned out to be wildly radical,” Voight said, “Everything Obama has recommended has turned out to be disastrous.”

No wonder even his own daughter won't speak to him. I'd be mildly interested to know what he feels is a disaster. But only mildly. Perhaps he thinks that saving the country from a depression is disastrous.



Unable to come up with an original thought, Voight repurposed the campaign slander regarding Bill Ayers again. Well, I suppose when you don't have anything concrete to complain about you might as well go back to the same old harpy lies and innuendo, eh?

Newt Gingrich was the central speaker. This is the Newt Gingrich who hasn't held elected office for what ...... a decade now? He won the headlining speaker slot, beating out the ever in the background Governor Palin. Now there's a choice for ya. Both are hoping to receive the nomination for President in 2012. I'm hoping that Parah Salin will get the nomination ....... not only because she would ensure a Republican loss but just imagine the jokes based on her grammatical skills alone!



"I'm the mayor, I can do whatever I want until the courts tell me I can't." --Sarah Palin, as quoted by former City Council Member Nick Carney, after he raised objections about the $50,000 she spent renovating the mayor's office without approval of the city council.

One might wonder if at some point the Repos will recognize the irony of having an actor emcee their event. All their harping criticism of "liberal Hollywood" and claims that actors should just "do their jobs" and stop talking about politics. Yet Jon Voight's opinions (rehashed though they may be) bring huge applause.

Hmmmmm ....... so actors are stupid if they're liberals and should just shut up ...... but if they are hate-minded conservatives their opinions are valid. Ok. I get it now. Repos hate actors who speak out, but elect their own to office (Schwarzenegger, Reagan, Thompson [Fred]). Does this mean that their actors should just "shut up and act", or ............ explain that one.

Although Gingrich is making attempts to appear as though he is pandering less to the radical religious right Republican minority (he knows that's the only way to get elected), when one reads their speech copy, it's just same ol' same ol'.

Sigh.

Cheney Joins the Ghetto Crew

Ok ..... I know, I know. He was there already a member of the Coulter-Hannity-Limbaugh Ghetto Crew. Hard to imagine a rational person being able to dig himself a deeper garbage pit than Dick Cheney already has ..... and yet ..... he does it!

Now this right-wing torturer is taking on Colin Powell. Colin Powell, a respected man who speaks for the moderates in the Republican party. Cheney attacks HIM now that Cheney's lost his supreme power as the worst, most powerful VP the U.S. has ever encountered?

Read it here if you haven't already:

Cheney

As many Republicans try to distance themselves from Bush and Cheney ...... attempting to portray them as the OLD face of the Republican party (from which we should run as fast as possible, by the way), Cheney once again makes it clear that he just, plain, doesn't get it. Power does, indeed, corrupt, and he is a perfect and prime example.

Andrew Sullivan says it much better than I could, so why paraphrase? Here is his well written article on the matter of politicans who are mentally challenged far beyond being able to age and retire gracefully:

Andrew Sullivan

Every time Cheney opens his mouth (or the rest of the ghetto crew, for that matter), I become even more proud of this man:



The contrast becomes even more astounding as TGC (the ghetto crew) digs themselves in deeper and deeper. Republicans want to believe that history will judge George W. Bush more kindly than present times do. Highly unlikely. Particularly with Cheney wielding the shovel.

30+ Years of Change?

Doing a little research this morning sparked by the latest Bush/Cheney controversy now being exposed ...... albeit as more or less of an aside, for now ...... by long respected reporter Seymour Hersh (who exposed the My Lai massacre, Pentagon Papers, Iran Contra, etc.).

I came upon this paragraph:

"They revealed that the government had knowledge, early on, that the war would not likely be won, and that continuing the war would lead to many times more casualties than was ever admitted publicly. Further, the papers showed that high-ranking officials had a deep cynicism toward the public, as well as disregard for the loss of life and injury suffered by soldiers and civilians."

Guess what that paragraph refers to .... go ahead. Sound familiar? Sure does. Could be referring to the Iraq war and Cheney, whose response to the reporter's statement that most of the United States population was against the Iraq war was ...... "SO?"

However, that paragraph does not refer to the Iraq war. It refers to the Vietnam War. It refers to the Pentagon Papers which were ultimately revealed by reporter Seymour Hersh. Hersh, who is now in the news as is Dennis Kucinich, for exposing "an executive assassination ring" which reported directly to former Vice President Dick Cheney's office.

This being the same Dick Cheney who publicly voiced his distaste and disdain for the citizens of his own country.

Now Dennis Kucinich is being impugned by Republicans (as is normal) for requesting an investigation into these illegal actions. They're calling him a lunatic, fraud, and worse. Once again ...... sound familiar?

It seems to me that the Republican Party is now the party of "don't upset the apple cart with the truth"! They scream "STATUS QUO .... STATUS QUO" via their actions and impugning of anyone who dares take them to task for their illegal and immoral behavior. It's the classic response of the guilty while making their attempt to retain their veil of secrecy. It's the typical teenaged tactic of using offense as your best defense. Impugn and degrade the accuser.

Nixon attempted to squash the publication of the Pentagon Papers. Cheney thought the public's desire to remove our country from an illegal, immoral war warranted a nasty "SO" as his response.

It would be easy to say, right now, a snarky "come a long way, haven't we?" But that would be too easy. I think we are about to travel a long way. At least, we have the potential now and are beginning to show signs of improvement. As we all know, change takes a long, long time.

Fortunately we have a new administration in place, working overtime to fix numerous major problems. Yes, it IS all right to say that our country has problems. The Republicans' "love it or leave it" absurdities aside, we know that it takes love, patience and very hard work to correct those things which have gone astray.

I do love my life in this country and feel that our environment and our country are worth fixing. You can't fix what you refuse to acknowledge.

Republicans' Favorable Rating Going Even Lower?

Wow. Imagine that.

I was gonna let this go but geez, how many times does one have to hear Rush Limbaugh's blubber mouth say over and over, "what is so strange about being honest and saying I want Barack Obama to fail"?

Well ..... what IS so strange about a Republican wanting a Democratic President to fail? Absolutely nothing! This is no surprise, as that is the hatefulness of the Republican party today. Republicans would rather have their nation fail (as was evidenced by Dubya's reign) than have a Democratic President fix the problems they created.

Ya, read that again. Republicans would RATHER have their nation fall into a depression and FAIL than have the new President succeed at his very tough job. They see tough times for all of us, more business failing, more unemployment as BETTER than Barack Obama succeeding at fixing the mess they've made.

Is that sinking in?

Michael Steele (Chairman of the RNC) can first tell us that Limbaugh doesn't speak for Republicans, and then apologize to Limbaugh (can we say flip-flop?), and he can say "baby" on "The Today Show" while talking to Matt Lauer, but he's still a dweeb with nothing on his mind but spin, and even that wasn't very well done.

Michael Steele says that Republicans are trying to go in a "positive direction". Wha? What direction is that? Does anyone out there know?

Republicans Love Teachers

I know, I know, two Republican blogs in one day but really, I couldn't let this pass. Why? Because I come from a long line of teachers, from kindergarten to college professor. My grandfather was the Dean of Central College for 37 years. He taught math, astronomy, and several other things I'm not particularly good at. My grandmother taught Latin. They have buildings named after them.

My Father was a school Principal most of his adult life and my mother taught Latin and Kindergarten until she retired. So, when someone talks about public school teachers in this country, I listen.

I quote Ann Coulter from her most recent column on her website, speaking about Obama and public school teachers:

"He was suspiciously verbose about saving the jobs of public school teachers. Because nothing says "economic stimulus" better than saving the jobs of lethargic incompetents who kick off at 2 p.m. every day and get summers off. Actually, that's not fair: Some teachers spend long hours after school having sex with their students."

"Lethargic incompetents." Hmmm ....... teachers, are you listening?

Rush Loves the Constitution .... dontcha know

Ok Rush, you "love and revere our founding documents, the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence."

Um ...... where were these words during Dubya's administration?

Hmmm .... well ..... maybe we should just turn to the Republican mouthpieces for some more truth and facts ........ shouldn't we?



Ummm ...... ok, that didn't work, either. Let's see. What can we turn to these new Republicans for .... must be something ....... ummmmm ....... OK, got it. I know this is old, but this'll give you a chuckle. These Republicans are SO damn funny!



Oops. Not funny. Racist, factually wrong, racist ...... should I go on? No, ok. Let's try again. I know that new Republicans are good for something. I know they are!

Ok, here we go ........

Hmmmm .........

Dang ...... Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Dubya ...... I'm searching here.

Sorry. Can't find the truth here anywhere. Umm ......

Try this on for style. Explore the difference between this, and the above. Let me know what you think.

This is the best they can do?

I listened to our President last night and found myself renewing the hope for our futures which I have had for the past four months. To say that it is incredibly uplifting to hear our President speak to us with eloquence and intelligence, as though we are, indeed, intelligent enough to understand him, is understatement. Yowza! Now already there's a change I can live with!

Then the Republicans send Bobby Jindal on as their rebuttist (and I quote Dubya here ...... ok, not really ..... but he could have made up this word if it sounded even stupider). Bobby Jindal, Governor of Lousiana. Yes, Lousiana. Where the hurricane Katrina decimated its most famous city. This is what Republican Governor Jindal (of Lousiana) had to say, and I quote:

"the government didn't help us out during Katrina, so we know not to look to them for help during this economic crisis".



Now to quote Rachel Maddow when asked about Jindal's response: "ah .... a .... ah ..... bwa bwa bahhhhh...... I don't even know what to say right now".

Yep. Me, too, Rachel.

We hate to belabor the obvious (but often do it, anyway), but, ah, does Gov. Jindal recall that BUSH was President during Katrina? Hey, Bobby! Bobby! Pay attention now! Bush is gone! WE VOTED OUT THE REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION! We have a new President now! Hello??

This is the best that the Republican party can offer up to rebut President Obama's well thought out, well laid out speech, keeping the American people informed every step of his way just as he said he would in his campaign speeches? Wha?

Jindal's argument is that since the federal government couldn't do anything productive for New Orleans following the Katrina tragedy, don't expect any help, at all, for anything in the future.

First of all would someone please ring Bobby up and catch him up to date on who's Prez right now? Second, could someone alert him that perhaps when he offers up a rebuttal directly following the President who speaks to us as though we are intelligent, thinking adults, he MIGHT not want to speak V E R Y S L O W L Y, using only grade school terminology and two syllable words.

Oh yes, and THIRD. Someone ...... please ........ someone ........ let Governor of Louisiana Jindal know that not only is there $5 billion in Katrina government aid still unspent in Lousiana (his state) ....... but that turning down the money coming to Lousiana via President Obama's stimulus package means that YOU are denying your state the federal help it could receive.

Sigh.

Republicans and the Truth

Ok - gotcha with that title, didn't I? You thought it was an oxymoron. It is.

This morning I listened to Bill Bennett (former Secretary of Education and later the "Drug Czar" under the first Bushy) answer a reporter's questions regarding Sarah Palin. He was asked what he thought about her saying she'd been to Iraq (she hasn't), about her saying that most vice presidents have never met with foreign leaders either (they have, with the exception of Spiro Agnew, a Republican), about her saying she said an emphatic "NO" to the bridge to nowhere (she didn't). His response? All that is quite minor, stop talking about it.

Ok .... I want to get straight on the Republican point of view. Clinton lied about getting a blow job and should be impeached. Palin and McCain lie about their own records and their opponents' records and that's minor, stop talking about it.

I think I understand now.

Check it out:

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hjO6YPkd2LcstrGwzE3p9bRY7k0g

What happened to the notion that "change is in the air"?

"Bobby is seen through the eyes of twenty-two characters. The hope, excitement and notion that a change is in the air, which Kennedy ignited in us all, black and white, rich and poor, young and old was extinguished that evening in June. From young men in their late teens to early twenties, facing the possibility of shipping off to Vietnam, to the retired doorman of the Ambassador, who has greeted the likes of every U.S. President from FDR to Johnson. From the hotel staff to the guests whom occupy the suites, to the "Youth of Kennedy Volunteers", all ages and genders are represented in screenplay."

- From the synopsis of "Bobby", 2006 movie

The movie "Bobby" is on HBO this afternoon and I'm taking a break from my hectic schedule of taking bubble baths and eating bon bons to watch. There's another line in the movie,"Now that Dr. King is gone, no one left but Bobby." The film features many news clips of Bobby Kennedy, including people who were thrilled to just "lay their hands on him."



This got me to thinking about today's political climate. What happened to the audacity of hope we were feeling which now seems to have turned to the repetition of despair? Repetition of the fear and despair felt four years ago and eight years ago. Four years ago we were thinking, "how could this happen again." Eight years ago we were aghast at what was happening directly in front of our eyes: the installation of a President of the United States who was not elected by the people, but by the Supreme Court.

Forty years ago (and I remember this, thank you very much), there WAS change in the air. There was hope in people's voices and energy in their spirits. Where is that now? Perhaps I'll see a tidbit tomorrow night when I go to Obama headquarters to offer my services. To date I haven't seen much of it. In fact lately, Democrats already seem to be ramping up for their next defeat. We're watching the polls and instead of feeling "change in the air" we're saying "how can people be so stupid", "how can the polls be so close", "how can the Republican lies be working again?"

Forty years after the assassination of Bobby Kennedy a black man is in the running for President and we have lost our hope? What has happened to the collective liberal soul? What has turned us to such wimps, so ready to believe the Republicans who tell us we are the establishment and THEY are the mavericks.

Have we become our own self-fulfilling prophecy? We so believe we're not going to take back this election and install the audacity of hope that our collaborative liberal conscience has already shot us down the rabbit hole?

It's a dead heat right now. Watching the political ads for Robert Kennedy, Jr. make me wonder why the Democrats are not putting out similar ads right now. They are talking about war, pollution and social change. Hello? Have I heard that somewhere lately?

Say it with me now: President Obama.