Political Ruminations

92 Year Old Vet Comes Out for Obama-Slams Mitt Romney Brilliantly

This is absolutely fantastic! I can just imagine Mitt Romney breathing fire as he listens to the awesome Ralph Maxwell, a 92-year-old WWII veteran, as well as both a former attorney and district court judge,  dissect him with a very fine scalpel.  Watch:

Via Balloon Juice

(Very late) Morning Quote: Rep. Joe Walsh

Enormously despicable deadbeat Illinois dad, Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL) attacked his opponent, double amputee veteran Tammy Duckworth (D), by bashing her simply for talking about how her military service had informed her worldview:

“ Understand something about John McCain. His political advisers, day after day, had to take him and almost throw him against a wall and hit him against the head and say, “Senator, you have to let people know you served! You have to talk about what you did!” He didn’t want to do it, wouldn’t do it. Day after day they had to convince him. Finally, he talked a little bit about it, but it was very uncomfortable for him. That’s what’s so noble about our heroes. Now I’m running against a woman who, my God, that’s all she talks about. Our true heroes, it’s the last thing in the world they talk about. That’s why we’re so indebted and in awe of what they’ve done. ”

Watch:

Adding…..Vote Vets is now calling for Walsh’s resignation, full statement as follows:

Joe Walsh’s disgust for our veterans’ sacrifices knows no bounds. First, he falsely and maliciously claims that Tammy Duckworth, a veteran who lost her legs in Iraq didn’t have much of a record of service. Now, he denigrates that same American hero for talking about how her experience shaped her worldview and strengthened her resolve to serve even more – a conversation that isn’t just legitimate to have, but crucial as America charts its course domestically and internationally. This is a new low for this deadbeat dad. Telling a veteran to shut up on the 4th of July is beyond the pale. We are past the point of calling on Joe Walsh to apologize. He should step aside and and stop embarrassing his district and America.

Sabotage of an economic recovery: Republicans block extension of unemployment benefits.Again.

Via Bob Cesca:

I can't recall another example of the minority party deliberately sabotaging an economic recovery like this. They're blocking jobs-creation legislation, and they're blocking unemployment benefits for the people who have lost their jobs. They're dooming the economic recovery to be sucked under by the jobless issue.

And there appears to be nothing the president or the Democrats can do about it. Nothing. Not until the conservadems stop enabling the Republicans -- not until they stop being duped by the astroturf shrieking of the tea party anti-spending zealots. Congress is balking at any new spending because the screechers have spooked them into believing that people give a flying eff about the deficit.

Via The Hill:

The House failed Tuesday afternoon to pass an unemployment benefits extension under suspension of the rules. 

The bill failed to gain the two-thirds needed — 261-155 — with 30 Republicans voting in support while 16 Democrats opposed the legislation.

The House willl try again with a simple majority vote on Wednesday, as the $33 billion six-month extension will now head to the House Rules Committee.

Rules is expected to approve a rule for consideration tonight, which would set up the legislation for floor consideration Wednesday. That vote won't require two-thirds support for passage.

Even if the House passes the measure, however, there's doubt the Senate has the votes to approve it before leaving for the July 4 break.

Personally, I wonder just how far Republicans are willing to go in order to regain power.

UPDATE: In the Senate, Republicans blocked a measure to provide additional benefits to homeless veterans.