No Mud Wrestling in this Debate

A Republican debate is like a WWE event or a Monster Truck rally. It brings out the ugly in all of us.  Tonight was a disappointment  though. The RNC must have slipped a tranquilizer in their water glasses. They looked like Middle School  boys trying not to be Middle School  boys. Where were the dick jokes? The booger eating?  Mark my words,  the ratings will drop.

Trump Products?

Could a person really buy Trump steaks? Or maybe his magazine?  Looks like the infomercial from the other night was a farce. Websites as diverse as NPR and the Blaze agree on this. How anyone can consider voting for this man is unfathomable.  I guess the George Carlin theory was correct,. Think how stupid the average person is. Now, half the people are DUMBER THAN THAT.  Depression.

Time to move beyond Assault Weapons

In light of the murder of 20 children in Newtown now is the time to ban assault weapons and  large capacity magazines. These serve no purpose for sporting or self defense. We need a realistic view of the Second Amendment. Now is the time.

Jim Bunning throws us a curve ball

bunning_middle_fingers
Originally uploaded by RepublicanDirtyTricks

Let me get this out of the way first... Jim Bunning gets my greatest respect for his baseball career. He is the only player to throw a no hitter in both the AL and NL. He is a legendary player in every way. He is, unfortunately, a nutjob as well. I live in Kentucky and am disappointed by the fact that we have two nutjob senators, Bunning and Mitch "Frank Burns" McConnell.
Bunning pulled a political stunt this week by voting to block extending unemployment benefits to millions of Americans. Here is what the site RepublicanDirty Tricks.com has to say about it:
"Kentucky Millionaire Republican Senator Jim Bunning put a hold on extending unemployment benefits claiming that his objection had to do with the deficit, In spite of the fact that Bunning voted for the 2008 war supplemental, 2001 Bush Tax cuts for the rich, 2003 Bush tax cuts for the rich and 2003 Bush giveaway to Big Pharma as well as voted against "pay-go" which would have ensured that EVERYTHING is paid for rather than added to the deficit."

big brother is watching you - Google and NSA working on a deal?

big brother is watching you
Originally uploaded by unfocused mike

From the ACLU's website, this frightning tidbit:
"Google and the NSA. It is hard to imagine a more potent—or frightening—combination when it comes to the collection and safety of Americans' private information.

But just such an alliance is underway. As reported by the Washington Post, Google—the world’s largest search engine company with access to intimate details of our lives—is negotiating an electronic surveillance deal with the National Security Agency (NSA)—the world’s largest spying network.

The implications of this deal are very troubling. The NSA—a component of the Department of Defense—is an intelligence collection agency with few effective checks against abuse and no public oversight of its activities. In the last decade, the NSA’s vast dragnet of suspicionless surveillance has targeted everyday Americans, in violation of the law and the Constitution."

Speak out and stop this dangerous partnership before it’s finalized.

Prayers for Haiti

It is so hard to imagine the devastation in Haiti. One of the poorest countries to begin with, and hit by a severe earthquake. Today I heard Pat Robertson say it is because they made a deal with the devil. Such callousness from a right wing nut does not surprise me. I also heard Rush Limbaugh talk to a caller today about the fact that since the US has given so much aid to Haiti over the years, the US should not do anything to help. Or maybe I misquote them both, I don't know... Perhaps they misspoke... Or maybe they are just heartless conservative nutcases who should not be given a microphone. I pray for those people and hope that God will ease their suffering. As Jesus once said, "Whatever you do for the least of these brothers of mine you do also unto me..." I see God in the face of the suffering in Haiti. Maybe Pat and Rush can search their hearts and see Him too.

Goodbye and God Bless, Ted Kennedy

Edward Kennedy Hearse Motorcade 8-27-09 058
Originally uploaded by CapeLawOffice.com

Saying goodbye to Ted Kennedy this week. An unashamed Liberal (like myself), I always loved the way he got under the skin of the right wingers. They used his name like a curse word, much as they do the word "liberal" itself. I will not go into great discussions about Ted's legacy or body of work. These stand for themselves. A member of the senate for as long as I have been alive. A stalwart liberal through it all. We will miss you Ted. I hope others step up to take up the Liberal cause and fight for the little guy like you always did.

To all those loudmouths disrupting Town Hall meetings on healthcare...

CHUY CAN'T PASS...
Originally uploaded by defekto

Sit down. Shut up. Wait your turn. Think for yourselves. Remember, silence is golden but duct tape is silver...

Vote the Green Wedge!

"The Green Party has never been as relevant as it is today. Millions of Americans face job loss, eviction, and lack of healthcare because of corporate greed and government negligence. Instead of offering solutions to create jobs and build a sustainable future, Democrat and Republican politicians from both parties continue with business as usual, spending our tax dollars to line the pockets of corporate CEOs.

Last fall, Congress gave insurance giant AIG $85 billion as part of the three trillion-dollar taxpayer funded corporate bailout. This week, it was revealed that AIG used some of that money for bonuses for its top executives.

Why are our tax dollars going to the corporate criminals who got us into this mess in the first place? Maybe it has something to do with the fact that AIG is a top campaign contributor to the elected officials who gave them the bailout.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, AIG has donated over $9 million to both Republican and Democrat campaigns over the last 20 years. AIG is a top contributor to Senate Finance Committee chair Max Baucus (D-MT) and the fourth largest contributor to Christopher Dodd (D-CT) chair of the Senate Banking Committee. As for the 2008 presidential campaign, AIG hedged their bets as usual and donated to both the Obama and McCain campaigns. In fact, Obama accepted $23,000 after AIG federal bailout funds.

In case you were wondering, Green Party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney did not accept any money from AIG; nor did any of our other candidates and officeholders. Green officeholders will never put corporate interest above people because we will never be beholden to corporations for campaign contributions. We need a strong Green Party today, now more than ever." Amen! From an email I received from the Green Party. Until we get politicians in Washington that aren't in the pocket of Wall Street, we will see no reform.

AIG Exec to Explain Bonus Payouts

FGR : Seven Deadly Sins (Greed) (44/365)
Originally uploaded by Tony…

Only in America. When the auto companies were asking for help, they were told they needed to gain concessions from their workers, UAW members, before they would be given a bailout. At the same time, AIG got their bailout. Did the workers take a pay cut? No. It appears the inept leaders who led AIG into the abyss got HUGE BONUSES. Ain't that the Wall Street way... In the words of Paul Westerberg, "The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting drunk." If you work the line at GM or Ford, you have to give up what you have earned through years of hard work and negotiation. I think we working class should be rightly angered at the greed and arrogance.

Bush-whacked Times Two!

IT is pretty much a given that George W. is the worst president anyone can remember. And I am an old fart, at 45 years young. I was thinking this the other day. I have been Bush - whacked TWICE! Turn back the clock to the early 90's. Durning the reign of King George I, the company I worked for went bankrupt and my job was eliminated. Times were tough. I had to relocate to Milwaukee to get a job. Send out a hundred resumes, get 2 responses...
Now, fast- forward to the regime of King George II. Last week amid the dismal economic situation created by said bad president, my job was eliminated again. Back to sending out resumes. I was employed continuously since 1993. Blame the presidents? Why not. The two Bushes are like bookends on either side of prosperity. If any other Bushes come along, let's pass.

It is Now SIR Edward Kennedy, Thank You!

Knight Templar
Originally uploaded by Creativity+ Timothy K Hamilton

Gordon Brown announced today in his address to congress, that the Queen has made Ted Kennedy a knight. Not sure what goes along with that knighthood, but Senator Ted deserves it, as he has fought tirelessly for the progressive cause all these years! Go Ted!

Obama Drives Stake Through the Heart of NeoCon Vampires

Obama in Dallas - Reunion Arena
Originally uploaded by slight clutter

During last night's address to the nation, he attempted to lay out his agenda for the next four years, among other things. Not intended to be highly detailed, his words were more optimistic and idealistic.
One thing of note was his pointed words toward the final vestiges of the Bush neo-conservative movement. He spoke of closing Guantanemo, and he spoke against torture. He spoke against the greed that marked the no-bid Haliburton era politics of the last eight years. As a Progressive, I was excited to hear such talk. Although Obama is a moderate, not a liberal as he is so often painted, I am glad to see him expressing concerns about issues important to the progressive movement. Good job Mr. President!

CNN Gives John Ziegler's Wingnut Movie Credibility

Conservative Media Liars
Originally uploaded by mariopiperni

Just finished watching CNN give conservative wingnut John Ziegler credibility and a free promo for his movie that purports that the evil liberal media tanked Sarah Palin's 2008 campaign. I watched the interviews, I think that Sarah tanked her own campaign.
I hate how the CNN reporter lobbed softball questions at Ziegler, and gave him credibility as a "film maker". I thought he was just another jackass talking head conservative radio host. He was when he was here in Louisville on WHAS-AM, before leaving town amid shame and sexual harassment allegations.
Until reporters ask tough questions of EVERYONE they interview, I guess anyone can get free credibility just by showing up. The right wing of the Republican Party comes across as sore losers, at a time that our country faces great challenges, most of which were created by said conservatives.

Republican Votes for Stimulus Package: 0, Republican Concern for the Common Worker in America: 0

The Republicans are back in their favorite roll... Obstructionists. They have proven over the last few years that they are incapable of providing anything meaningful to add to the discourse. They are just interested in lining their pockets and the pockets of their friends... They are showing their obstructionist solidarity, and the fact that they all march lock-step to the tune of Rush Limbaugh. Funny that NONE of them had a mind of his or her own. So much for bipartisanship in Washington. I hope we can rid ourselves of more of these losers in the 2010 election.

Teddy Ruxpin and Blagojevich: Uncanny Resemblance?

Teddy Ruxpin
Originally uploaded by Stratolily

They have never been seen together in public...

Rod Blagojevich vs. the Pigman

Rod Blagojevich
Originally uploaded by jburwen

Two things that did NOT help his status.

First, all the same beligerent non-burka'd-bred but inbred DNA (in Bosnia/Seriba) rousing in support of this guy, Cuz's all, plastering support of his beligerence in the states media. Although it was fun to read, it was obvious that them, his cuz's being there - not here in the USA - both brought crap publicity to Illinois, and certainly could not help. Well, it did help in my mind in that it made me think - the guy has a great name in ROD (as in hard one) and BLOW ME is somewhere in the pronunciation of his last name.

Second, the grand standing, and the self-aggrandizing - on all major media outlets - probably encouraged by counsel - was nothing short of kiss-my-ass-stupidity-I'm-on-the-way-out-anyway...... as this does not lend itself to the LOVE needed from politicians.

He may sue in a court of law.

Current lesson learned.....DO NOT PISS OFF Ill Lawmakers.

Meanwhile, he will never be governor again. Or sell insurance.

But, he is a hero is Bosnia / Serbia.....

Ciao

Bebo

The Fat Facist- Rush and Al Qaida- "I Hope Obama Fails"

Think Right - Rush Limbaugh
Originally uploaded by otdrafting

If there was ever a man at the end of his run, it is Rush Limbaugh. His appeal is to the last 25 percent of the Bush fans. The mainstream Republican party is shying away from him. His audience is fading. He has made a career that launched a thousand Anne Coulters. The acidic quotes, the one sided straw man arguments... Saying that he hopes the new administration fails puts him in the same camp as Osama bin Laden. Nice company. Both are wealthy, idealogically backward conservative windbags who would seek to set the world back a thousand years...

Bush's Moving Van or "Oh Happy Day"?

Bush's Moving Van
Originally uploaded by Lauren Miller

Here is one of the happiest photos I have seen in a long time. Like yesterday's photos of the 150+ survivors of the US Airways miracle landing on the Hudson, this shot of a moving van leaving the Whitehouse gate purportedly containing the possessions of one George W. Bush brings joy to my heart. that truck contains the remnants of the worst presidency in my lifetime, and probably, ever. It contains warrentless wiretaps, Gitmo detainees, Dick Cheney, the phony War on Terror, and the "If your'e not with us, your unpatriotic" BS of the last eight years.
So long, George W. Don't let the gate hit you on the way out...

Celebrate! Bush Declares Today "National Sanctity of Human Life Day"

Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Originally uploaded by Sol Dust Love

From Think Progress:
"As one of his final actions in office, President Bush proclaimed today that Jan. 18 is National Sanctity of Human Life Day. In his official statement, Bush made it clear that his conception of “human life” includes the unborn:

All human life is a gift from our Creator that is sacred, unique, and worthy of protection. On National Sanctity of Human Life Day, our country recognizes that each person, including every person waiting to be born, has a special place and purpose in this world. We also underscore our dedication to heeding this message of conscience by speaking up for the weak and voiceless among us.

Bush also used the occasion to tout his legacy of anti-choice policies, such as promoting parental notification laws and opposing Federal funding for abortions overseas"
Unless you are Iraqi, a Gitmo detainee, an American without healthcare, sitting on death row, a civilian in Gaza, or any victim of the last eight years of this cult of death administration, Celebrate!