Political Ruminations

Morning Quote–Stephen Colbert on Sarah Palin

In a flashback from from February 8, 2010, Colbert utters a truly definitive sentence regarding Palin:

Sarah Palin is a fucking retard!

Morning Quote: Alan Greenspan on Ayn Rand’s ‘Atlas Shrugged’

Alan Greenspan is among the most well known of Ayn Rand's supporters, and in fact, he became a member of the Collective upon marrying another Rand¹ disciple.

Mr. Greenspan made the following comment in defense of Rand's book, 'Atlas Shrugged', in a letter to The New York Times in 1957:

Atlas Shrugged’ is a celebration of life and happiness. Justice is unrelenting. Creative individuals and undeviating purpose and rationality achieve joy and fulfillment. Parasites who persistently avoid either purpose or reason perish as they should.

In other words, only the most successful/richest among us, deserves to survive.

Worthy of noting, sales of 'Atlas Shrugged' have soared in recent years. One poll ranked it as the second most influential book of the 20th century.....second only to the Bible.

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¹ Mark Ames on Ayn Rand's worship of an American serial killer:

The best way to get to the bottom of Ayn Rand's beliefs is to take a look at how she developed the superhero of her novel, Atlas Shrugged, John Galt. Back in the late 1920s, as Ayn Rand was working out her philosophy, she became enthralled by a real-life American serial killer, William Edward Hickman, whose gruesome, sadistic dismemberment of 12-year-old girl named Marion Parker in 1927 shocked the nation. Rand filled her early notebooks with worshipful praise of Hickman. According to biographer Jennifer Burns, author of Goddess of the Market, Rand was so smitten with Hickman that she modeled her first literary creation -- Danny Renahan, the protagonist of her unfinished first novel, The Little Street -- on him.

Political Must Reads

In a must read piece, John Amato goes after Alan Greenspan, Ben Stein, the Tea Party, et al, for their very bad Randian ways.

As you know, Greenspan was at the helm like an anti-Captain Kirk during much of the destruction of the world's financial systems during his reign in politics.

Also. Down With Tyranny compiles a list of quotes by Republicans on the Republican opinion of the lazy, lacking, good for nothings who are the unemployed in America.

It’s hard to understand the Republican mind. If you try too hard, you may end up catching a case of their insanity, or at least being plagued by nightmares, or your psyche might end up so wounded by the assault that you need to go for counseling or maybe just a prescription for some valium. My suggestion: Just let their own words do most of the talking. It is what it is. They reveal the inner workings of their twisted minds just fine. The only cure for Republicanism is complete derision and dismissal. Herewith some classic examples of Republican Mental Illness, or RMI as we call it at the Down With Tyranny Medical Center.

Morning Quote: John Adams

John Adams, in a letter to Benjamin Rush (12 April 1809):

When I went home to my family in May, 1770, from the town meeting in Boston, which was the first I had ever attended, and where I had been chosen in my absence, without any solicitation, one of their representatives, I said to my wife, "I have accepted a seat in the House of Representatives, and thereby have consented to my own ruin, to your ruin, and to the ruin of our children. I give you this warning, that you may prepare your mind for your fate." She burst into tears, but instantly cried out in a transport of magnanimity, "Well, I am willing in this cause to run all risks with you, and be ruined with you, if you are ruined." These were times, my friend, in Boston, which tried women's souls as well as men's.

Morning Quote - Joe Scarborough on the Republicans 2012 Problem

MSNBC host, and former congressman, Joe Scarborough, in his piece for Politico on November 30, on the ‘Palin Problem’:

Republicans have a problem. The most-talked-about figure in the GOP is a reality show star who cannot be elected. And yet the same leaders who fret that Sarah Palin could devastate their party in 2012 are too scared to say in public what they all complain about in private.

Paul Krugman Nails Republicans

A must read. ‘The Humbug Express’

The Plight of the 99ers

A comment posted on Krugman’s blog, points to the really terrible plight of the 99ers.

Dare we start a dialog about the less-fortunate citizens being conveniently ignored by just about everyone: the 99ers? Millions of them, in fact. Their benefits started expiring last summer. How many are being added per day to the homeless population of Los Angeles (48,000 and counting as reported recently by the New York Times)?

Their plight is the result of trickle down hiring policy, the idea that if jobs are created, employers will fill the jobs with the unemployed. Of course, the opposite is the case, with recent experience being the latest mantra of the business world, effectively barring the 99ers from a livelihood. Never mind the previous education, the years or prior experience, their work ethic - good workers are turned into bad candidates by selection practices that seek to find fault and find reasons to blame at every step in the review process. Wrong keywords on the resume, resume written by a coach. Didn't follow up soon enough, called back too soon. They don't know how to network, but they bothered their contacts too much. Didn't have a polished enough look, wore a suit when the office was casual. All capital offenses that "justify" sending honest, good workers to tent city.

And to this I suppose we can expect Conservatives and their Corporate Masters to say “Bah, humbug!”

Morning Quote – VIDEO: Rachel Maddow on Newt & Newt Gingrich on Unemployment Compensation

One of the men who would be your president, 2012 wannabe, and pretender to seriousness, Republican Asshat, Newt Gingrich weighs in on unemployment compensation during a speech to GOP activists:

I'm opposed to giving people money for doing nothing.

And Rachel Maddow strikes back at the hypocritical and pathetic, 2012 wannabe, Newt Gingrich:

Let is review for just a second how Newt Gingrich makes his money,

For starters, he hands out fake awards in exchange for cash. Newt Gingrich makes money right now running a fake awards for small businesses scam. Last year he tried to give one of his fake awards to a small business called The Lodge in Dallas, Texas. In exchange for a $5,000 donation, Gingrich offered The Lodge, a strip club, a certificate, a novelty gavel and a dinner with him. When Mr. Gingrich realized he was giving one of his fake awards -- for a $5,000 donation -- to a strip club he decided to rescind the award and the dinner invitation. In mid-December, Gingrich sent another letter to The Lodge and asked them for a $2,000 donation to his American Solutions organization. This is how Newt Gingrich makes his money but he doesn't think that you earned yours.

Newt Gingrich is a direct mail scam artist. He hires the analog equivalent of spammers to troll the Yellow Pages, looking for businesses he can fool into thinking they are winning a 'Newt award,' and then he cons money out of them for accepting it.

 

Obama Took Over the Internet

At least that’s what Conservatives are claiming. The truth is far less sexy.

The FCC enacted new regulations to protect you, the consumer, the average internet user, from discrimination by the telecom-cable companies.

The regulations prevent service providers from blocking rival services, or dividing traffic to sites in to slow and fast lanes, which would give priority to certain [large corporations] providers of web content. In other words, the regulations seek to ensure that you have equal access to all legal content on the web.

But, according to Conservatives, these regulations enacted in order to protect consumers, constitute a nationalization of the internet, or, or, worse…….

Please.

Steve Benen:

I suppose it's possible that these Republicans are just deeply confused, have absolutely no idea what net neutrality is, and are spewing nonsense just to rile up right-wing activists. It's also possible these Republicans know the truth, but are shamelessly lying as part of a larger campaign to scare unsuspecting conservatives about a "big government" bogeyman.

But it's worth appreciating the fact that the rhetoric from prominent GOP voices really is unhinged. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) insisted that "unelected, unaccountable Democrat [sic] FCC commissioners are taking over the Internet." Incoming House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) called the policy "another government takeover." Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) told a national television audience yesterday, "[W]e're starting to see the FCC say, 'You have to come to us to get permission to manage your own website.'"

The incoming chairman of the House Commerce Committee, Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), has even vowed extensive hearings, in the hopes of using "every resource available" to halt the new regulations.

This is a classic case of the Republican position having absolutely no relation to reality at any level. It's just crazy. These folks are either lying or ignorant -- those are the only two options. The irony is, the whole point of net neutrality is to protect consumers from the very restrictions Republicans are whining about. The far-right rhetoric isn't just wrong; it's the opposite of the truth.

Of course, the large checks from the telecom companies to the Republicans currently shrieking in defense of an internet with out equal access, probably have nothing to do with it. Right?

Morning Quote: Mitch McConnell is an Unmitigated Liar

Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell [R-KY], on the Senate floor, preaching the GOP gospel of lies. When reading, substitute the word “regulated” for the word “nationalized” in order to have a better understanding of McConnell’s lies and nonsense.

Today, the Obama administration, which has already nationalized health care, the auto industry, insurance companies, banks and student loans, will move forward with what could be the first step in controlling how Americans use the Internet by establishing federal regulations on its use.

Ya gotta hand it to them [GOP] . They are very good at defending their corporate bosses, albeit at the expense of the American people whom they are sworn to serve.

VIDEO: President Obama's Remarks at the Signing of the DADT Repeal Act of 2010

Full transcript here. 

Compromise Version of the 9/11 Responders Health Care Bill Passes in the House and the Senate

The two obstructionists, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), and Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY) agreed to a compromise which reduced the total compensation package to $4.3 billion, down from $6.2 billion. The “time span was also significantly limited to five years each for the health treatment program.”

“I’ll stand in the way of anything that doesn’t make sense and doesn’t spend our money wisely, so you know, it doesn’t matter what the issue is, we’re in such a hole, Jon, that we don’t have the luxury of not getting things right,” Coburn told ABC News today after announcing the deal.

Last night on CNBC, Coburn defended his obstruction of the bill and his insistence that it lavishes too much money on dying 9/11 first responders, saying “we’re spending four times as much money as we need to.” Coburn said that the actual cost of pre-deal bill would be $11 billion (he disputed the way the Congressional Budget Office scored it), and suggested that it was not paid for, saying, “we don’t have an extra $11 billion right now.” ....

Of course, the bill would not require an “extra” $11 billion. The bill is entirely paid for by offsets, some of which were changed at the GOP’s behest. As ThinkProgress has noted, these offsets — which at one point included a tax on foreign corporations — led the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to lobby against the measure. ...

The Senate passed a compromise version of the 9/11 first responders bill this afternoon. "The measure was passed on a voice vote with no one objecting after Democrats and Republican critics reached a compromise reducing the bill's cost from $6.2 billion to $4.2 billion." The House will vote on it later today.

I still feel pissed off that this did not pass with out Republican obstruction, in its original form, and with out making these responders fear for their futures. Taking care of these people who took care of us should have been something that we could all agree on.

Via Think Progress

History Made, START Treaty Ratified

President Obama becomes the first Democratic president in U.S. history to sheperd ratification of an arms-control treaty to its completion during his tenure. From Think Progress:

The New START Treaty was approved in the Senate by a vote of 71-26. Thirteen Republicans, a quarter of the Republican caucus, broke with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ). This is the first time an arms control treaty has ever passed without the support of the minority leader. As Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) said yesterday, “In today’s Senate, 70 votes is yesterday’s 95.”

A year ago, President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize for his vision of moving toward a world without nuclear weapons. The ratification of the START treaty is a small but important step toward this goal. It ensures that nuclear stability is maintained and lays the groundwork for future negotiations with Russia, paving the way for deeper cuts in the U.S. nuclear arsenal. While the START treaty has been called a modest treaty, the implications of its failure would have been anything but and would have caused dangerous upheaval in the post-Cold War nuclear order.

Happy Holidays!

Very light blogging between now and January 2. Have a peaceful and happy holiday season!

Morning Quote: President Obama on Signing DADT Repeal Act

       White House Photo, Chuck Kennedy

At the signing ceremony for the DADT Repeal Act this morning, President Obama:

We are not a nation that says ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’ We are a nation that says ‘out of many, we are one.’ We are a nation that welcomes the service of every patriot. We are a nation that believes all men and women are created equal. Those are the ideals that generations have fought for. Those are the ideals we uphold today.

Would this have happened under a Republican president? Not in a million years.

RELATED:

• Full Transcript - President Obama's Remarks on Signing DADT Repeal Act

• VIDEO

UPDATE: It appears that the military is prepared to quickly move forward on the certifications. From Huffington Post:

Although several military service chiefs expressed opposition to repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell, President Obama has spoken to them since the measure passed, and they are all ready to move forward expeditiously on implementing and certifying the changes.

"The President called every single service chief separately, talked to them, and they are all about moving this forward very quickly," said a White House official who helped lead the president's DADT repeal effort. "They're soldiers; they understand this is the law of the land, and they're going to get this done. They went through a process that was beyond repute to show we can do this, and I think you'll see a very, very fast process."

In a press conference on Wednesday, Obama reiterated that point, saying they "all said that we are going to implement this smartly and swiftly, and they are confident that it will not have an effect on our military effectiveness."

 

 

Transcript: Full Remarks by President Obama at the Signing of the DADT Repeal Bill

Watch the video here.

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Remarks by the President and Vice President at Signing of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010

Department of Interior

Washington, D.C.

9:10 A.M. EST

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hey, folks, how are you?  (Applause.)  It’s a good day.  (Applause.)  It’s a real good day.  As some of my colleagues can tell you, this is a long time in coming.  But I am happy it’s here.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome.  Please be seated.

It was a great five-star general and President, Dwight D. Eisenhower, who once said, “Though force can protect in emergency, only justice, fairness and consideration, and cooperation can finally lead men to the dawn of eternal peace.”  

By repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" today, we take a big step toward fostering justice, fairness and consideration, and that real cooperation President Eisenhower spoke of.  

Morning Quote: Steve Benen on Mitch McConnell

Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell, has made it very clear that he intends to obstruct progress over the next two years, much as he did over the last two years, only in order to ensure that Obama is a one term president. Steve Benen’s scathing assessment of McConnell:

By some measures, Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is an exceptional Senate Minority Leader. This may seem counterintuitive given his personal and professional characteristics: he's not honest; he doesn't negotiate in good faith; he has no real respect for institutional norms; he's proven himself willing to put his party's interests above the nation's interests; and he's never demonstrated any working knowledge of any area of public policy.

But if it's the job of the Senate Minority Leader to offer knee-jerk obstructionism, mindlessly oppose the majority's agenda, stymie the chamber's ability to function as a legitimate legislative body, and basically be an all-around pain in the arse, Mitch McConnell is very good at what he does.

Former Justices Stevens and O’Connor on the Citizens United Ruling

We knew that Justice Stevens held a poor opinion of the ruling as he was one of those who dissented. Justice O’Connor, however, was retired at the time of the ruling, and it appears now that she also has concerns about the ruling. And well she should. From a Newsweek interview:

O'Connor: I suppose the court has had occasion to change its view on certain issues over a period of years. Do you see any on the horizon that you think the court might well reexamine as things go on?

Stevens: Well, you know, Sandra, I dissented in a lot of cases, and I'd like [the court] to reexamine them all [laughs]. I don't expect them to, but I think they made a serious mistake in the [Citizens United] campaign-finance case, in which they overruled the portion of an opinion you and I jointly authored [on the McCain-Feingold campaign-finance law]. And I think you might share my view.

O'Connor: I notice that myself, and when I am asked about it, I often say, "Well, the court overruled part of what I wrote." And leave it there. It is a source of concern today, the extent of campaign contributions and whether corporations and unions must be held to the [same] standard as an individual. These are tough issues for the nation and the court.

According to a report by the office of New York City Public Advocate, Bill de Blasio, groups that protect the identity of their donors, and/or are allow to spend unlimited amounts, spent $132.5 million to influence the vote during the 2010 election cycle, which amounts to approximately a third of the spending by all outside groups on the midterms, or 15% of all federal election spending in 2010.

Morning Quote: Rachel Maddow on DADT Repeal

Rachel Maddow’s comments to MSNBC News after the Senates vote on DADT repeal:

This is the president’s victory. This is something about which the President took a lot of criticism, a lot of abuse. Um, a lot of skepticism from his otherwise most loyal supporters on this. But this is an issue on which the President did not waver. He continually insisted that this was possible, that it would get done. It in fact was not possible for the President to do this through executive action. This is something that had to happen legislatively if it was really going to happen in a definitive way. The President did not waver. He did work on the Senate to make this happen. He insisted that it was possible against a lot of people, including me, saying it was not possible. This is a difficult promise kept. It's not just a promise kept. It was one that was hard to keep, that cost a lot of political capital, and a lot of work, and this is the President's victory today, and his base will reward him for it. [emphasis mine]

Very classy comment from Ms. Maddow.

Watch:

 

A Few Things to Note on DADT Repeal Implementation

Despite the passage of the DADT Repeal Act in both Houses of Congress, the DADT repeal won’t be implemented immediately, due to further requirements yet to be met, the most obvious being the President’s signing of the bill.

Not so well known or obvious, is the certification process by President Obama, and his top military advisors, who must certify that lifting the ban won't negatively affect the fighting ability of the troops.

Once the certification takes place, there is a 60-day waiting period prior to implementation by the military.

Thus, it will be a few months before we see the actual implementation of the repeal. Considering the struggle that it took to get to this point, not so long at all.

Andrew Sullivan, from his post entitled "Obama's Long Game: 65-31"

Like 2009's removal of the HIV ban, which was as painstakingly slow but thereby much more entrenched, this process took time. Without the Pentagon study, it wouldn't have passed. Without Obama keeping Lieberman inside the tent, it wouldn't have passed. Without the critical relationship between Bob Gates and Obama, it wouldn't have passed. It worked our last nerve; we faced at one point a true nightmare of nothing ... for years. And then we pulled behind this president, making it his victory and the country's victory, as well as ours.

We also know now what a McCain administration would have done: nothing. The disgraceful bitterness and rancor and irrationality that the Senator has shown these past few months reveal just how important it was to defeat him and his deranged, delusional side-kick in 2008.

Many of us appreciated his "long game" from the beginning. We understood that to use an executive order to enact civil rights for gays and lesbians serving in the armed forces would have been a stopgap measure, one easily overturned immediately upon the next Republican administration taking office.

Not to gloat, but I hope that those of you who have been burning the president at the proverbial stake because you doubted his "long game", are chastened. You should be.

Quote of the Week

President Obama, in his statement after  the Senate voted to repeal DADT:

It is time to recognize that sacrifice, valor and integrity are no more defined by sexual orientation than they are by race or gender, religion or creed.

Well said sir. Well said.

Manic Progressive Firebagger: Obama Took My Penis

A perfect summation of Firebagger thinking. Seriously.

H/T Likala

Morning Quote: Peter Wehner Tells Sarah Palin Not to Run in 2012

Conservative blogger, Peter Wehner

Virtually every time Ms. Palin speaks out, she reinforces some of the worst impressions or deepest concerns many of us have about her. If she were to become the voice and representative of the GOP and the modern conservatism movement, both would suffer a massive rejection. Sarah Palin will not be elected president; and for her sake, I hope she decides not to run.

Via Bob Cesca

It's DONE! Senate Votes for Repeal of DADT

Finally. And due to President Obama’s refusal to take the easy way which would have likely resulted in the reinstatement of DADT during the next Republican administration. From Think Progress:

Moments ago, in a vote of 63-33 the Senate invoked cloture on a bill to repeal the 17-year-old Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, paving the way for final passage in the coming days hours. The House passed the measure on Wednesday.

Democrats delivered eloquent speeches in support of open service. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) said, “I’m here because men and women wearing the uniform of the United States who are gay and lesbian have died for this country, because gay and lesbian men and women wearing the uniform of this country have their lives on the line right now in Afghanistan and Iraq and other places for this country.” Immediately before the vote, Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT), who has been the strongest advocate of repeal in the Senate, urged his colleagues to repeal the ban, saying “We’ve come to a point in our history, I hope, where neither race nor religion, ethnicity, or gender, or sexual orientation should deprive Americans of serving the country as the patriots they are.”

Morning Quote: Sarah Palin’s Latest Word Salad

During his interview of Sarah Palin on Wednesday night, Bill O'Reilly told Palin that Charles Krauthammer doesn't believe that her reality show is helping her politically, and he asked Palin if she felt that was true. Her response was, as per usual when she has no ghostwriter to speak for her, pathetically childish and word-salady. She also failed to answer O'Reilly's question.

Well, bless his heart. He’s probably used to those in the political beltway who perhaps aren’t out there working but they’re talking and they’re meeting people and they’re doing their ‘strategery’ [sic], whereas I’m workin’ and I’m havin' a great time doin’ it. It’s been a pleasure to bring Americans along for the ride to show them… America’s Fort Knox, this land that we call Alaska, has to offer and to film eight episodes to show Americans what it is that we do and have up here in terms of resources. [she then repeatedly cuts O'Reilly off to plug her latest book]

O'Reilly, evidently in an attempt to clarify, since Palin had not answered his question, asked her outright if she feels that the television show helps her in the "political arena". Palin again responded in a cringe worthy manner:

I told Alaskans that I was gonna do all that I could to promote Alaska. And I’ll tell ya that TLC’s debut show as the highest-rated show in that cable network’s history. I think it’s doin' a good job for Alaska… Promoting Alaska and even more importantly promoting domestic resources that we have in America that can be tapped into to allow us to be more secure, healthier, more prosperous. A lot of the show has to do with the resources that we have that need to be developed.

Good grief, gag me. This woman wants to be our PRESIDENT, arguably the single most powerful position on earth. The very idea of that is nothing less than completely ridiculous.

Jon Stewart on the Republican Filibuster of the Zadroga Bill for 9/11 Responders

Republican politicians appear to operate with something in place of what we call a "conscience". The immorality of their behavior in this instance, in the gratuitous filibuster of the Zadroga bill,  is just completely unconscionable and astounding.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Worst Responders
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog</a> The Daily Show on Facebook

 

Political Cartoon of the Year

Sometimes a picture truly is worth……10 million words.

Via The Washington Post

Morning Quote: George Washington Stomps Tax Protesters

For all those who seek to challenge the mandate of the Affordable Care Act, a flashback to the 1790’s when farmers in Western Pennsylvania rebelled against a tax leveled on whiskey by Treasury Secretary, Alexander Hamilton in 1791. In a letter to Benjamin Harris in 1792, George Washington wrote of his frustration in this matter:

The disinclination of the individual States to yield competent powers to Congress for the Federal Government—their unreasonable jealousy of that body & of one another—& the disposition which seems to pervade each, of being all-wise & all-powerful within itself, will, if there is not a change in the system, be our downfall as a Nation. This is as clear to me as the A. B. C.

In 1794, the U.S. Army marched into western Pennsylvania, ordered by President George Washington to bring the state in to compliance with the law and put down the armed insurrection, known as the Whiskey Rebellion. That's how the father of this country dealt with the likes of those who refused to pay taxes in order to contribute to the general well being.

HT Elding

Morning Quote: Rep. Spencer Bachus “Washington is there to serve the banks”

Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL), who will be the new chairman of the House Financial Services Committee in the 112th Congress, to The Birmingham News:

In Washington, the view is that the banks are to be regulated, and my view is that Washington and the regulators are there to serve the banks,

Well, that should fill his campaign coffers with Wall Street money.

Via Think Progress

Just an FYI..I won't be posting much, if at all, over the next few days. I've been sick for several days,  and now, I'm ....sicker.  Will resume posting, hopefully, later this week.

Do Americans Really Want the Bush Era Tax Cuts Extended?

In a word, yes.

While much of the Left online, in terms of both bloggers, and commenters, are very ambivalent about the Obama-GOP tax cut deal, and in fact, many of these same people wanted to let the tax cuts expire completely if they could not be extended for the middle class only, the rest of America wants the tax cut deal enacted. Gallup Polling Matters:

The most important thing to recognize: Americans want some type of action taken before the end of the year to avoid all Bush era tax cuts expiring. Americans do not want the tax cuts to go away as a result of the inability of the warring factions in Washington to agree on what to do about them.

• 66% of Americans support the extension of the tax cuts
• 66% of Americans support the extension of unemployment benefits
• 78% of moderate Republicans support the extension of the tax cuts
• 62% of moderate Republicans support the extension of unemployment benefits
• 64% of moderate Democrats support the extension of the tax cuts
• 85% of moderate Democrats support the extension of unemployment benefits

So could we now please see an end to the endless bitching and the “why didn’t Obama let them all expire” mantra? We online are not the entirety of the American public.

Firebagger Queen, Jane Hamsher, is a Fraud

Finally. The truth about Jane Hamsher and her true agenda, exposed, and the Queen of the Firebaggers / the "Professional Left", is reduced to what she is, a profiteer. From intrepid, dedicated reporter, Osborne Ink:

She is first and foremost a self-aggrandizing publicity whore whose Accountability Now PAC has so far given $0 to progressive candidates in the first two years of its existence while spending $285,272. If she ran a non-profit this way, it would get shut down. As things stand, the PAC (which also counts Kos and Glenn Greenwald as operators) has only made noise.

Anti-Choice Zealots Will be in Charge in the 112th Congress

From Steve Benen, more reasons to regret the outcome of the midterm elections [emphasis mine]:

It's not like conservatives haven't been telegraphing their punches. Republican officials at the state level appear almost desperate to tackle culture-war social issues, and have grand ambitions. GOP activists and their lawmaker allies expect to restrict abortion rights, expand concealed-weapon laws, prohibit stem-cell research, severely limit gay rights, and privatize all kinds of services, including public education.

And then there's Congress, where the incoming House Republican majority has already said it intends to tackle birthright citizenship early in the new year. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) recently added that it's just not possible for someone to be "a fiscal conservative and not be a social conservative."

And worst of all for pro-choice advocates, Joe Pitts and John Boehner, with their newly acquired power. From The New York Times [emphasis mine]:

A leading Congressional opponent of abortion rights, who is in line to take charge of an influential House panel, plans to press for much stricter limits on the procedure.

The selection of the lawmaker, Representative Joe Pitts, Republican of Pennsylvania, as chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health presages a major shift on abortion and family planning, according to opponents and supporters of abortion rights.

Opponents of abortion gained about 45 seats in the midterm elections, and they count the next speaker, Representative John A. Boehner, Republican of Ohio, as a staunch ally, virtually guaranteeing more conflicts with the White House on the issue.

Mr. Pitts was chosen last week as the chairman of the subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over private health insurance, Medicaid and much of Medicare, as well as the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health.

In urging Republican leaders to choose Mr. Pitts, the National Right to Life Committee said he had "made the protection of the sanctity of innocent human life the cornerstone of his service in the House."

Morning Quote: Jim DeMint on Conservatism

Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC):

You can't be a fiscal conservative and not be a social conservative.

I’m sure that’s news to many in the GOP, not to mention to independents.He seems to think that they should all believe as the Tea Party does?

You Can't Shame the Shameless

This.

FIrst Snow

As I sit here, looking out at the gently falling snow, I am struck by the truly awesome beauty of Winter.

Summer has its heat, but Winter has the beauty thing, no contest whatsoever.

 

Fox Bashes Unemployed

Would they have anything to bash if their own Dear Leader, George W. Bush, had not driven the economy in to the ground, creating all those unemployed people?

Not that their bashing of the unemployed is at all righteous in any case. Assbags.

 

Via Crooks and Liars

Morning Quote: John Cole on the Assbag Firebagging Manic Progressive Morons

Balloon Juice's John Cole went off on Firebaggers / Progressives yesterday, and  I  loved his whole truthful, awesome post --- you should go read the whole thing.

My problem is you morons can’t tell the difference between holding someone’s feet to the fire and burning someone at the stake.

Me, I'm happy just to be a kenyan lefty liberal hippy socialist. 

Triangulate. Triangulate. Triangulate.

 

Obama did not triangulate.

New House Committee Chairs

Want to know how bad the next two years will be for democrats the country? Just take a look at the new House committee chairs. And let the weeping begin.