The Opposition

Are you upset and frustrated with the Democratic Party to the point that you're thinking of staying home on Election Day in 2012? Think twice before you do, because these people are voting.

Must Reads

Bob Cesca: Ground Zero for American Politics

Eugene Robinson: Donald Trump as GOP Hopeful: Take Him Seriously

Keli Goff: Gwyneth Paltrow Is Right. We're All Jealous. (Of Her and George W. Bush.)

Ray McGovern: Surprise, Surprise! Iraq War Was About Oil

Wendell Potter: GOP's Medicare Plan Would Be a Windfall for Insurers

President Obama's Weekly Address - April 23, 2011

Stopping Oil Market Fraud, Beginning a Clean Energy Future

Andrew Breitbart: SUPERJOURNALIST!

Here's Martin Bashir attempting to interview Andrew "It's All A Big Left Wing Conspiracy!" Breitbart. It's an interesting back and forth that should be watched. My question is this: If Andrew Breitbart is so sure of his journalistic integrity, why is he so defensive?

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

Breitbart admits he didn't watch the full 43 minute Shirley Sherrod speech when he posted the 2 minute version on his website, claiming she racially discriminated against a white farmer. But here he tries to cover his tracks, going on to push the notion that in his "1400 word" article, he makes clear the point that her humanity was greater than her initial racism. But how would he know that if he hadn't seen the full video? And if he doesn't think she's racist, why did he call her racist?

Even if you take Breitbart at his questionable word, how many times is he going to get burned? ACORN, Shirley Sherrod, Planned Parenthood... There's a clear pattern here and Breitbart, in his enthusiasm to push his conservative meme, continues to compromise his journalistic integrity (as if that was a real concern) by putting out these stories that are debunked within days, if not hours of their posting. If you consider him completely innocent in these situations he finds himself in over and over again, his worst attribute is that he shoots first and asks questions later. That is a horrible habit for a "journalist," don't you think?

Paul Ryan's Tragic Town Hall Meeting

How soon before we don't hear about Paul Ryan anymore? If he keeps getting these kinds of receptions, he'll be treated by his Republican colleagues like a leper in a kissing booth.



Where's Bobby Jindal?

Bachmann's Birther Weasel Words

I suppose George Stephanopoulos is mad as hell and he's not gonna take it anymore when it comes to prominent Republicans and their birther bullshit. On Sunday, Stephanopoulos took on Hair Combover for Men President Donald Trump, and this morning his guest was Tea Party darling Michele Bachmann, who took time out of her schedule receiving "messages from the Mothership" to answer some questions. While she basically blames President Obama for the extension of the Bush tax cuts, conveniently forgetting that the GOP used unemployment insurance extensions and payroll tax cuts as hostages, she's also questioned about the never ending birther nonsense that they won't let go.



Yes, she's congenial in her answers but for me, it wasn't good enough. They can't step away from the "I'll take the president at his word" talking point which casts just enough doubt in the minds of conspiracy theorists. And while she agrees with Stephanopoulos that it's a dead issue and there are more important things to worry about, she struggles to hold on to it with her fingernails by suggesting Obama "introduce" his documents. "Introduce" as in "to make known for the first time." She says it twice.

MB: "... I have no problem giving my birth certificate, it wouldn't bother me at all. I've got one, its authenticated, take it." 

GS: "Well, but so does the president. According to the bill 'a candidate for president or vice president shall attach to and file with the affidavit a copy of the candidate's birth certificate certified by the appropriate official in the candidate's state of birth.'" 

MB: "That's right." 

GS: "Well I have the president's certificate right here. It's certified, it's got a certification number, it's got the registrar of the state, signed. It's got a seal on it. And it says: 'This copy serves as prima facie evidence of the fact of birth in any court proceeding.'" 

MB: "Well, then that should settle it. That's what should settle it. I take the president at his word and I think -- again I would have no problem and apparently the president wouldn't, either. Introduce that, we're done. Move on, end of story." 

GS: "Well it has been introduced. So this case - this story's over." 

MB: "Well as long as someone introduces it, I guess it's over." 

GS: "It's right here." 

MB: "There ya go."

Clinging to the tiniest shred of doubt, still talking as if this hasn't been dealt with for the last three years, she still uses the present tense, "as long as someone introduces it..." So, sorry Michele Bachmann, no credit. Those are weasel words.

I used to think Michele Bachmann was just dumb. Now I think she's diabolically duplicitous. She'll say anything she needs to in front of whatever audience to gain acceptance. Don't be surprised if she casts doubt on what she just said today, and flip-flops tomorrow back at her Fox News home base.

Today's WTF Moment: Don't Touch Medicare Say GOP Voters

Government spends too much. We have to cut, cut cut! Well, what do we cut?
From Steve Benen:

...a new Marist poll out today... asked respondents:

"Do you support or oppose doing each of the following to deal with the federal budget deficit: cut Medicare and Medicaid?"

Among all registered voters, 80% opposed these cuts. Among self-identified Tea Party supporters, 70% opposed these cuts. Among self-identified Republicans, 73% opposed these cuts.

80% of registered voters and even 70% of self-proclaimed Tea Partiers who think the government spends too much oppose cuts in those socialist health care programs! So, to whom then, are GOP politicians catering? Who are they representing? Someone had better tell Paul Ryan to keep his government hands off Medicare.

And yes, you can say all you want that under the Ryan plan Medicare won't be touched for those 55 and older, but does that really matter? What about people who are 54½? Or 53? Provided they've worked steadily since college (or high school), they've paid into Medicare for over 30 years with the promise that it would be there in their retirement. These people who wouldn't qualify due to some arbitrary pencil pusher's number will still continue to pay into Medicare for a minimum of another 10 years until they retire. Do they not count?

Well, I would hope that this poll will be shouted from the rooftops by every Democrat in office to show the absurdity of the Ryan proposal and what it will do to the social safety net that has been promised to the American people by its government.

Speaker John Boehner made it a quick talking point after the 2010 election that they were sent to DC "to do the people's work." Now that they see that 80% of "the people" and ¾ of "his people" don't want their Medicare cut, will he be so quick to scrap it from their budget proposal?

Fiscal Responsibility

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Fulton Fish Market) and Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-The Land of Tears) voted to increase the debt limit five previous times.

Remind me again who was president during those years?

Via MoveOn.Org

Stupidity Epidemic

Question 23 in the latest PPP poll for Iowa Republicans:

Q23 Do you think Barack Obama was born in the United States?
Yes..........26%
No...........48%
Not sure...26%

Seventy-four percent, SEVENTY-FOUR PERCENT, either don't believe or are unsure President Obama was born in the United States. That's a whole stateful of stupid.

ADDING... The same poll defines 77% of the poll takers as somewhat or very conservative.

Trump: Stephanopoulos Co-opted by "Obama and His Minions"

STEPHANOPOULOS! This is the way you deal with the Trump birther issue while interviewing him. Challenge him on his outrageous statements, switch the burden of proof to Trump since Obama has already proven his, and make Trump look like the fool that he is.



Seriously, Trump? I'll release my tax returns when Obama releases his birth certificate? Well, we're waiting because he has done so. And this mook is leading in the GOP polls. Amazing. I don't know if that shows the sorry state of the Republican players in the field or exposes the incredible idiocy of poll taking Republicans voters.

Dumbass.

POSTED BY JHW22

I just suffered through a terrible interview with President Obama pathetically whined and harrumphed by a Dallas "news" guy. Seriously, the guy looked personally offended and on the verge of punching or crying the entire time. But the real dumbass moment came as he told the anchor in his little summary schpeel:

"After the interview, Obama pointed out that he doesn't like an interviewer challenging his comments."

Perhaps the "interviewer" was a little too distracted to hear that Obama actually said:

"Let me finish my answers the next time we do an interview, all right?"

I am taking a big guess here, that Mr. Interviewer is one of those "My first amendment rights were violated when I was criticized" kind of guys.

And no, I won't add any fame to the guy by posting his name here. No Google hits from me, dumbass who can't tell the difference between "Let me finish" and "Don't challenge me". You see, dumbass, you can interview and challenge while still letting the person you are asking questions of actually ANSWER them. Didn't you learn that in Interviewing 101, dumbass? Oh, wait, you probably went to the same interviewing college as Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity and Chris Matthews....

UPDATE: The Texas Tribune, a fairly respectable online paper, seems to take the side of the reporter. FAIL.

Trump's Foreign Policy: Take The Oil

This is truly amazing. With all the Donald Trump birther nonsense, I've not heard anyone in the mainstream media make bones about this area of the Trump Doctrine: "Take the oil."

That's it. Libya? Take the oil. Iraq? Take the oil. So simple, even a six-year old can figure it out. Invade a new sandbox and steal the kid's pail and shovel. Invade another country and take over their oil fields. Just like that. GENIUS!



If you can't stomach the 15 minute interview (but I suggest you try), here's another quote that can't be ignored: "I have great respect for Fox, I think they do a great job." Well no wonder Trump has not only boarded the crazy train but has become its conductor. He gets his news from Fox! Watching Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity is bound to eat at your brain cells like crystal meth.

Perspective

Here's Pepsi CEO Indra Nooyi on what she thinks of President Obama's performance and giving us a little perspective on the way our system of government functions... or doesn't as the case may be.