Political Ruminations

Morning Quote: Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney tries to blame Democrats for the contraception wars (which culminated in the bombing of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Wisconsin)  and blusters his way through an interview with the right wing website, Newsmax:

“But there's no question that over the past several weeks, that a discussion about religious liberty was distorted into a discussion about contraceptives. And there was the somehow Republicans are opposed to contraceptives. I think it was most unfortunate twist by our Democrat friends. I think this will pass as an issue as people understand our real position.”

There has been no misunderstanding by Democrats of Republican positions on women’s concerns, Mr. Romney.

And, apparently Independent women understand the Republican position as well. Taegan Goddard:

The Washington Post digs into the latest USA Today-Gallup poll of a dozen battleground states and notes that "among independent women -- a key group of swing voters -- Obama had been trailing Romney by five points in a series of surveys late last year. But that number shifted dramatically in polling conducted in February and March, and the president took a 14-point lead over the former Massachusetts governor, marking a net gain of 19 points."

When Reince Priebus,  the Chairman of the Republican National Committee feels free to publicly make a remark such as this one, it becomes crystal clear exactly how Republicans feel about women.

Republicans Are Insane

I can't find the words. Suffice to say that I wasn't surprised to hear about this, which says something about the state of 'Republicanism' in our times. Hunters in helicopters could control illegal immigration.........just awful.

Topeka — A legislator said Monday it might be a good idea to control illegal immigration the way the feral hog population has been controlled: with gunmen shooting from helicopters.

Rep. Virgil Peck, R-Tyro, said he was just joking, but that his comment did reflect frustration with the problem of illegal immigration.

Peck made his comment during a discussion by the House Appropriations Committee on state spending for controlling feral swine.

Updates to the Ongoing and Increasing in Number Labor Protests

UPDATES TODAY:

> We already know that Walker was union-busting for political reasons, and at the Koch brothers bidding, but here’s what he could have done had he really been trying to deal with the budget:  "The state's entire budget shortfall for this year -- the reason that Walker has said he must push through immediate cuts -- would be covered by the governor's relatively uncontroversial proposal to restructure the state's debt. By contrast, the proposals that have kicked up a firestorm, especially his call to curtail the collective-bargaining rights of the state's public-employees, wouldn't save any money this year." H/T Steve Benen

> Jeff Cox, the Deputy Attorney General in Indiana who said he wanted to see “live ammunition” used on the Wisconsin protesters was fired.

> Scott Walker lied about campaigning on the collective bargaining issue: “I campaigned on (the proposals in the budget repair bill for Wisconsin) all throughout the election. Anybody who says they are shocked on this has been asleep for the past two years."

> WOO HOO! Indiana kills the bill! Senate leader says right-to-work bill is dead

> Calls to boycott Koch Industries (tea party sugar daddy/founder of fake grass roots movements tea party AND Wisconsin union busting ALSO sugar daddy to Justice Clarence Thomas) growing.

> Four Possible Endgames in Wisconsin

> AUDIO - It’s been confirmed that Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has censored internet access in Madison, Wisconsin, by blocking a pro-union website.

> GOP Governors Unite Against Unions

> Feingold Calls On Walker To End His 'Assault On Wisconsin's Traditions'

> UPDATED: Fox Reverses Poll Results To Falsely Claim Most Americans Favor Ending Collective Bargaining

> Indiana Official On Wisconsin Protestors: ‘Use Live Ammunition’

> CONFIRMED:  Gov. Scott Walker Pwned By Koch Impersonator – Proves Himself to Be a Whore for the Oligarchs

> Yesterday New Yorkers protested at Fox News Headquarters, angered by their coverage of the Wisconsin protests.  via @thinkprogress

News on protests from yesterday

#wi #wiunion David Koch

Morning Quote: Bill Clinton

On MLK Day, former President Bill Clinton invoked the Arizona shootings:

Dr. Martin Luther King once wrote that nonviolence means 'not only avoiding external physical violence but also internal violence of the spirit.' Today as we honor what would have been Dr. King’s 92nd birthday a little more than a week after a shooter took the lives of six people and wounded 13 others in Arizona, including a member of Congress, we’d all do well to heed this message. While no one intends their words or actions to incite the violence we saw in Tucson – and it’s wrong for anyone to suggest otherwise – we live in a world where what we say and how we say it can be read, heard, or seen by those who understand exactly what we mean and by those whose inner demons take them to a very different place.

That’s not an argument against free speech, but a reminder that, as with all freedoms, its use carries with it responsibility.

Sadly, a lesson that may never be learned by the Right Wing, which seems unable to determine the difference between our right to speak freely, and the criminal behavior of shouting “fire” in a crowded theatre. And what else is the current state of our politics but a crowded theatre harboring a fuse always lit?

Sarah Palin Takes the Low Road….Cries Blood Libel

In a shrill Facebook post, and on a web video, Sarah Palin accuses the media of committing “blood libel” against her in regard to the Arizona shootings. I guess it was just way too much to expect that she do the thoughtful, rational, decent thing and  apologize for her part in this horrific incident, vow to forego the violent pictures she likes to paint with words, and vow to fight gun violence. Huh.

The Atlantic defines the term “blood libel”:

The term "blood libel" has been used by a number of conservative pundits -- such as Glenn Reynolds, writing in the Wall Street Journal Monday -- to reject liberal criticism as part of the fierce debate that has rage these past few days over what constitutes responsible political speech. But it is nonetheless a term with a specific historic meaning that sits uncomfortably in Palin's video and is bound to open the former Alaska governor to a fresh round of criticism, distracting from the rest of her message in the video. The blood libel is an anti-Semitic myth dating to the middle ages that Jews murder Christian children to use their blood in religious ceremonies; it served as the basis for centuries of genocidal persecution.

Yeah, Sarah, the media is interested in murdering your children. Oh…..but wait, it was a Liberal child that was murdered by a gun toting madman who targeted Rep. Giffords in part because of your idiotic gun sight map.

You can read Palin’s full statement, “America’s Enduring Strength” below the video, or on her Facebook page.

Watch the Palin video, "America’s Enduring Strength" [keep your barf bag handy & be sure to note the flags, the mantelpiece, as part of Palin’s attempt to appear presidential]:

 

TRANSCRIPT, "AMERICA'S ENDURING STRENGTH", by SARAH PALIN:

Like millions of Americans I learned of the tragic events in Arizona on Saturday, and my heart broke for the innocent victims. No words can fill the hole left by the death of an innocent, but we do mourn for the victims’ families as we express our sympathy.

I agree with the sentiments shared yesterday at the beautiful Catholic mass held in honor of the victims. The mass will hopefully help begin a healing process for the families touched by this tragedy and for our country.

Morning Quote - David Brock to Rupert Murdoch

David Brock, Founder and CEO of Media Matters, addresses the Fox connection with the Arizona shootings in this January 10 letter to Rupert Murdoch:

Dear Mr. Murdoch,

Since the early days of 2009, I have warned your network and others in the media about the very real dangers of extreme anti-government rhetoric and the stoking of fear.

I cautioned against Glenn Beck's proclamation that he was a "progressive hunter" and his statement that the government was full of vampires before he instructed his viewers to "drive a stake through the heart of the bloodsuckers." And against Palin revealing her 2010 "targets" with a map showing gun sights over 20 congressional districts, including that of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, urging followers to not "Retreat, Instead -- RELOAD." I said on national television that inducing fear, anger, and the use of violent imagery creates a climate of fear, suspicion, and paranoia that could lead to another Oklahoma City.

I hoped my warnings would be heeded. Instead, they were cast aside.

Even after evidence emerged in October that California gunman Byron Williams was inspired by Beck to attempt to assassinate progressive leaders and I pleaded for Palin to set an example by condemning her Fox colleague's violent and revolutionary rhetoric, Fox did nothing to address the situation. 

On Beck's radio show, he and Palin jovially mocked my concern. For seven minutes on air, the pair joked about my plea to tone down the rhetoric. Beck said it was "laughable," "sad," and compared me to the "smelly kid in third grade." Palin giggled and said I was "silly" and that my argument was "pathetic" and "desperate" before ultimately concluding, "I stand with you, Glenn."

Beck and Palin are two of Fox's most recognizable figures. Before this heartbreaking tragedy in Arizona, you were either unwilling or unable to rein in their violent rhetoric. But now, in the wake of the killings, your network must take a stand.

You have the power to order them to stop using violent rhetoric, on and off of Fox's air. If they fail to do so, it is incumbent upon you to fire them or be responsible for the climate they create and any consequences thereof.

My previous warnings were laughed off and ignored. For the country's sake, I hope you take them more seriously now.

Sincerely,

David Brock

Founder and CEO, Media Matters for America

Cenk Uygur Destroys the Myth of the 'Both Sides' Equivalency

If you've been reading the pundits online today, you know that the Right Wing is very busy trying to absolve themselves of what is surely nearly sole responsibility for the Arizona shootings. Cenk completely destroys this ridiculous notion.

Watch:

  Via Bob Cesca

VIDEO: Rep. Giffords Comments on Sarah Palin’s Crosshairs Map

Sarah Palin published her “crosshairs map” to Facebook during the run-up to the midterm elections.

On March 25, 2010, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords [D-AZ], the congresswoman who was shot in the head over the weekend, made the following comment about being targeted on Palin’s despicable map:

...for example, we're on Sarah Palin's targeted list, but the thing is that the way that she has it depicted has the crosshairs of a gun sight over our district, and when people do that, they've gotta realize there are consequences to that action.

The quote is at approximately 2:20 in the video. Watch:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Rep Giffords comments on targeting by Sarah Palin

Count me sick at heart.

Glenn Beck on Violence

Oh, the irony. Screenshot via Gawker.

HT Bob Cesca

Poor Little Sarah

Not. Feeling sorry for herself, Sarah Palin to Glenn Beck:

I hate violence. I hate war. Our children will not have peace if politicos just capitalize on this to succeed in portraying anyone as inciting terror and violence.

Via Bob Cesca

Rise in Right Wing Violence

Huffington Post:

WASHINGTON -- This election season, a man was arrested for hitting a protester at a rally for Washington GOP Senate candidate Dino Rossi, a man stomped on the head of a woman at a campaign event for Kentucky GOP Senate candidate Rand Paul, local police wrestled to the ground a Democratic man at an event for Rep. Eric Cantor (R), Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) received suspicious powder to his office, biker supporters of Florida GOP congressional candidate Allen West harassed a Democratic tracker and Alaska GOP Senate candidate Joe Miller's private security force handcuffed and detained a reporter.

And all that was in just the past two weeks.

"It's been quite amazing over the last couple months, but really over the last two years," said Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate groups and extremism. "I'd date this, in many ways, to the rise to power of Obama. Many people we saw coming with AR-15s to town halls and so on, and all of that. But I do think that it's gotten even hotter out there. I think the reaction to the stomping of that woman's head has been quite amazing. The idea that the guy could say that he needed an apology and that he's not being condemned by the political class from sea to shining sea is astounding."

You have to wonder what's next.

More on Right Wing Violence

Media Matters summarizes the most egregious incidents of right wing violence and threats against progressives in the past year.

Attack on MoveOn worker was the latest in string of violence and threats against progressives

White powder and swastikas mailed to Rep. Grijalva. On October 21, an envelope containing "a plastic bag of white powder and two pieces of paper with swastikas written on them" was reportedly mailed to Rep. Raul Grijalva's (D-AZ) campaign office. The powder was determined to be non-toxic.

Byron Williams set out to kill people at Tides Foundation and ACLU. On July 18, Byron Williams was stopped by California Highway Patrol and engaged in a shootout with law enforcement. He later said he planned to murder individuals at the Tides Foundation and ACLU and his mother said he was angry about "Congress railroading through all these left-wing agenda items." As reporter John Hamilton documented, Williams said he saw Fox News' Glenn Beck as "a schoolteacher" and that "it was the things [Beck] exposed that blew my mind." Indeed, the gunman, Byron Williams, was driven by belief in conspiracy theories that have been pushed by Beck and other members of the right-wing media.

AZ federal judge threatened, Grijalva office fired on after ruling on AZ immigration law. Politico reported in July: [....]

Kentucky Stomper Asks for Apology From Lauren Valle

Tim Profitt, you are not only a despicable thug who thinks it makes him more manly to beat on women, but you are a criminal who belongs behind bars.

You are also a moron of the first order if you think that Ms. Valle in any way owes you an apology. On the contrary, your boss, Rand Paul, should step down as the Republican nominee for the Senate because the culture comes from the top down. Losers, all of you. From TPM:

Tim Profitt -- the former Rand Paul volunteer who stomped on the head of a MoveOn activist -- told told local CBS station WKYT that he wants an apology from the woman he stomped and that she started the whole thing.

"I don't think it's that big of a deal," Profitt said. "I would like for her to apologize to me to be honest with you."

Rand Paul fired Profitt after this incident hit the news, and made a half-assed apology. Profitt was a campaign coordinator prior to the firing.

Related Posts: 
- Teabagger Rand Paul Supporters Attack MoveOn Activist at Rally Last Night [VIDEO]
- UPDATE: Victim of Attack by Rand Paul Campaign Coordinator Speaks Out

UPDATE: via Barefoot and Progressive, Full page ad in Herald Leader today touts endorsement of the Curbstomper  Yes, the ad is for Rand Paul, who needs to lose this election bigtime. Let's do it!

UPDATE 2: Rand Paul's Democratic opponent, Jack Conway, has called on Paul to return all contributions received from Tim Profitt, the Kentucky Stomper.

UPDATE 3: Rand Paul Refuses To Return Head-Stomper’s $2,000 Donation

UPDATE: Victim of Attack by Rand Paul Campaign Coordinator Speaks Out

You can view the video of the attack here. 

UPDATE 1 - The man who stomped on Lauren Valle's head and neck is Tim Profitt, a campaign coordinator from the Paul campaign. Mike Pezzano, mentioned in my original post, is the man who held Valle down. From Talking Points Memo:

The Rand Paul campaign has just severed ties with their Bourbon County coordinator -- a man by the name of Tim Profitt -- who has identified himself as the supporter who stomped on the head and neck of a MoveOn activist outside of the Senate debate in Lexington, KY last night, according to Fox News.

UPDATE 2 - Valle has a concussion and a sprained arm. From The Washington Post:

She has told MoveOn officials that she suffered a concussion and sprained shoulder and arm, a MoveOn spokesperson confirms.

The woman, Lauren Valle of MoveOn, had approached Paul and tried to give him an "employee of the month" award from a fake company called Republicorp, when Paul supporters dragged her to the ground and stepped on her head and shoulder.

UPDATE 3 - The Tea Party Republicans who felt the need to tackle and stomp on a woman are pathetically unmanly, and should be sitting in a jail cell.

Our remedy, as a group, is to VOTE. Drag everyone you know to the polls with you, and vote Democratic. Not voting is just another way of casting your ballot, but for a Republican.

From HuffPost:

On Tuesday, Lauren Valle spoke for the first time since being thrust into the center of an alarming campaign fracas. Valle said that she recognized the Paul supporters who went after her and felt frightened almost immediately after they claimed they were there to do "crowd control." Her treatment, she said, was "premeditated."

“I have been at a bunch of events before, the previous debate, and the Rand Paul campaign knows me and they have expressed their distastes for my work before. What happened last night was that about five minutes before Rand Paul's car arrived they identified me and my partner, Alex, who was with me. They surrounded me. There was five of them. They motioned to each other and got behind me. My partner Alex heard them say 'We are here to do crowd control we might have to take someone out.'”

“When Rand Paul's car arrived a couple of them stepped in front of me so I stepped off the curb to get around them to get back out front. At that point they started grabbing for me and I ran all the way around the car with them in pursuit. The footage is after I've run all the way around the car and I'm in front of the car and that is when they took me down. One or two people twisted my arms behind my back and took me down... It was about two-to-three second after that that another person stomped on my head. And I lay there for 20 seconds or so and my partner Alex came and got me up and that's the point where there is the media clip of me speaking.”

A spokesman for the Lexington Police Department said on Tuesday afternoon that "Mr. Profitt is currently being served with a criminal summons ordering him to appear before a Fayette County District Court Judge."

Teabagger Rand Paul Supporters Attack MoveOn Activist at Rally Last Night

This is horrifically awful. One of the teabaggers even stomped on her head. Stunning use of brute force by Tea Party thugs.

One of the perpetrators was identified as Mike Pezzano, a Kentucky open carry advocate, and a Rand Paul supporter.

These men should go to jail, but it isn't likely to happen. I guess only the right wing has first ammendment rights now.

Digby:

Look for Breitbart and the boyz to say she "provoked" the crowd by being there and got what she deserved.

Adding.....these creeps also indulged themselves in a little bre@st [the use of the @ is to fool google, which shuts you out of safe search if the word is used] fondling when they were pushing her to the ground. Scum.

via Bob Cesca

ht IntoxiNation

Further updates

Joe Miller: Communist East Germany is a Good Example of a Nation That Achieved Border Security

Miller made this comment during the same forum where his guards thugs handcuffed the founder and editor of an online magazine, Tony Hopfinger, because Miller didn’t like the questions he was asking. Miller’s thugs held Hopfinger until police intervened. Very creepy on both counts. The Anchorage Daily News:

The scuffle between the editor of Alaska Dispatch and Joe Miller's security guards at a public forum in Anchorage late Sunday is getting much national attention today. Getting lesser but growing attention is Miller's answer at the forum to a question from the audience about how he would deal with illegal immigration. Anchorage blogger Steve Aufrecht was there and is among those today who are criticizing Miller's response that Communist East Germany is a good example of a nation achieving border security. He quotes Miller as saying: "The first thing that has to be done is secure the border. ... East Germany was very, very able to reduce the flow. Now, obviously, other things were involved. We have the capacity to, as a great nation, secure the border. If East Germany could do it, we could do it."

Well then.