They Really Do Try, Don't They?

I never cease to be amazed at the unadulterated spin from conservative pundits and columnists who look for any opportunity to blame President Obama for pretty much anything. It's almost as if they think they're speaking to or writing for a Fox News audience with no worry about being called to account for the obvious disingenuousness they spew. Markets down? Obama's fault. Greece in financial disarray? ...Damn that Obama. Scrapping the balloons at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this year due to high winds? ...OBAMAAAAAA!

The latest example of this comes from Washington Post opinion columnist Michael Gerson. Mr. Gerson has absolutely no problem blaming the failed Supercommittee debacle on the President. Titled "Obama Let the Supercommittee Fail," Gerson blames indifference on the part of the President for a group of twelve grown adults (yes, I'll include the Republicans on the committee as "grown-up") not coming to an agreement with a looming $1.2 trillion in cuts across the board. But amazingly, Gerson believes, or would have his readers believe, that the "supercommittee failed primarily because President Obama gave a shrug."

So what if Republicans wouldn't budge on actual revenue increases in a balanced combination with spending cuts? So what if their ultimate $300 billion tax increase offer was connected to a basic repeal of the Affordable Care Act which took over a year to pass and a privatization of Medicare? The real problem was that "these were the ingredients for a deal. But only a president can mix them and apply the heat." Yep, Obama is the cook that stirs the pot and self-motivation for 12 of an elite 100 members of our political system is of no consequence. ...Damn Obama!

The disconnect is the fact that Gerson knows that Republicans would have never agreed to anything, as witnessed by the moving of the goalposts farther and farther to the right. Ezra Klein analyzes:

If by "at fault" we mean "unwilling to compromise," we can do better than listen to the self-serving remarks of the players. We can look hard at the movement in the actual plans...

The final Boehner [/Obama] plan envisioned tax reform that would generate $800 billion in new revenues and bring the top rate down to 35 percent. In the supercommittee, the highest Republicans ever got on taxes was the Toomey plan's $300 billion, with envisioned a top rate of 28 percent. So on taxes, it's fairly clear: The supercommittee Republicans were far to the right of Boehner.

On the Democratic side, Obama eventually insisted on somewhere near $1.2 trillion in tax reform or, if the revenues were to move lower, on much less in entitlement cuts. In the supercommittee, the Democrats offered a plan with less than a trillion dollars in tax reform -- and more entitlement reforms than Obama was willing to agree to.

Boehner had about $150 billion in Medicare beneficiary cuts in his opening bid in the negotiations with the president, and he went down from there. In the supercommittee, Baucus offered $200 billion in Medicare beneficiary cuts...

These steps toward compromise by the Democrats, who swallowed hard in a serious effort to get something done, were far more than anything Republicans offered. Does it surprise anyone that Republicans would take a step further to the right in an effort to sink any deal and let the usual Republican "Obama can't get anything done" talking points continue? This has been their strategy from the start. And Gerson knows this. But why point the blame at a deadlocked "supercommittee" when you can just blame the President?

I won't bore you with anymore detail in Gerson's column (you can read it for yourself to get the full frontal asshattery) except for one line. Gerson asserts that the President "is simply in over his head." This was the same accusation hurled at President Obama on the supposed failed stimulus to stop our economy from hurdling over a cliff. Sorry for the bad timing, Mike, but maybe you should read the latest CBO report:

The economy would have been in much worse shape without the 2009 stimulus — which increased employment in the third quarter of this year by as many as 3.3 million full-time jobs, according to a report by the Congressional Budget Office...

...The CBO figures released Tuesday estimate that the stimulus package raised the gross domestic product this past quarter by 0.3 percent-1.9 percent.

Yep, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act enacted by this "in over his head" President is still stimulating the economy a year after its "end." We now know the recession we found ourselves in was much deeper and dire than anyone had estimated and had the stimulus been even larger, we might be in even better shape today. But hey, why let facts get in the way of a good villain story, right Mr. Gerson?

Behold the Republican Party

The party of Lincoln, the party of Teddy Roosevelt, even the party of Ronald Reagan just doesn't exist anymore. When anyone argues an old Republican talking point, remind them that that party no longer exists. Ronald Reagan would not even be considered for the 2012 nomination in the new, current batshit GOP. The inmates now run the asylum.

When the merry-go-round of who leads in the polls every six weeks has completely done a 360° turn and landed on Newt Gingrich once again, bypassing the only real shot the GOP has in making the 2012 election a competitive race in Mitt Romney, perennially polling second, you know they have a problem.

How else would you describe it when a candidate says something that's actually logical but the analysis afterwards says that it'll sink him in the polls? Here's what Newt said on his immigration stance at last night's 437th GOP debate that is going to ruin him:

"I do not believe that the people of the United States are going to take people who have been here a quarter century, who have children and grandchildren, who are members of the community, who may have done something 25 years ago, separate them from their families, and expel them," he said.

After the debate, Gingrich defended his position, telling CNN, "I can't imagine any serious person who will walk down the street, see someone they know for 20 years and say, 'You're leaving your family, you're leaving your church, you're leaving the community... and we are kicking you out forcibly.'"

Apparently, that sentiment is just too sane for today's Republican Party. He was immediately attacked by Mitt "What's My Stance Today?" Romney's campaign. Yet, when questioned if Romney is in favor of deportation of 11 million or so undocumented immigrants, Romney's advisor would not answer the question directly.

Romney has done the same thing in regards to his stance on a payroll tax cut, something you'd think the entire cadre of GOP candidates would agree to except for that nagging little fact that they'd then be in agreement with evil socialist, Marxist, Communist, Kenyan-born President Obama. They twist themselves in knots trying not to get caught on video agreeing with the President even on things with which they fundamentally agree.

And don't get me wrong, I'm not defending Newt in any way; he's just as fucked up as the rest of these nitwits. I'm just pointing out the fact that when any of them have a moderate stance on any issue, when it's not the furthest far right stance, they are exposed to criticism and they lose the nutjob vote. The same thing happened with Rick Perry when he was asked about his bill making in-state tuition available to undocumented students in Texas.

"If you say that we should not educate children who have come into our state for no reason than they've been brought there, by no fault of their own, I don't think you have a heart," he said. "I still support it greatly."

For this statement, he was jeered.

If this presidential race is even close with this collection of loons, American society is a lot worse off than I thought.

Occupy Something

POSTED BY JHW22

A friend just posted a photo of troops in Afghanistan with a sign telling OWS protestors to quit bitchin'. I decided not to post that picture because I respect that the men chose to serve but disagree with them on their perspective and I don't want to add any animosity toward them personally when I rant. I don't want these particular men to be the ones I am speaking to because who I am really speaking to are all of the people who don't get some things about the OWS movement OR who are choosing to pretend it's something it isn't.

First of all, don't forget that some in the OWS movement are vets who came home to no jobs.

Also, I know a lot of people who go to the OWS protests on their days off or after work. I also know of some people who telecommute from the protests. So the idea that every supporter of OWS is jobless isn't completely accurate.

And finally, seems odd that Republicans have been "bitchin'" about the unemployment rate, so why is it when unemployed people take a stand on the lack of jobs because of failed economic policies, there's a flip on who should be bitchin' and who should shut up?

I have to admit that I am not a full supporter of OWS, nor am I against it. There are things I agree with and things I don't. As with any movement of frustrated people, some are saying things I applaud and some are saying things that piss me off. I can't get on board to the point of going down to one or following any of them on Twitter. But I do feel it's necessary to call bullshit on false memes about them. Really, the OWS people are taking a different approach to expressing the same frustrations many in the Tea Party expressed.

We're all pissed about a lot of the same things. The difference is the Tea Party half-assed their anger (being mad at the wrong things in most cases) and they half-assed their protests. Sure they made a big mess of the health care reform debates. But where were they during the last six months? Nowhere. They dropped the "mad at too much of anything that bugs us" ball and the OWS protestors picked it up and have run with it. They are mad a lot of the same things and people, but generally more for the right reasons and with far less undermining influences trying to take over.

So I find it amusing when the Republicans bitch and moan about the unemployment rate and want to say Obama and Geithner and Bernanke and Pelosi and anyone else they don't like is to blame for there being "no jobs" and then they turn around and tell protestors, protestors with more dedication than the Tea Party protestors, to get a job. Remember, Republicans, you keep telling us there are no jobs. You keep telling us Obama killed jobs, that he hasn't created any jobs. Yet, you want these OWS people to go get one?

Please.

Gentlemen, Your Fans AREN'T Gentlemen

POSTED BY JHW22

I *was* a NASCAR fan until today. I was never the typical fan: I am a liberal, atheist, anti-hunter but I actually enjoyed the sport. But after today, I am done with it. Mrs. Obama was at the final NASCAR Sprint Cup race of the season to support the troops and their families yet she was BOOED even though NASCAR fans pride themselves on being supportive of the troops. The dumb ass fans should have put their hate aside and taken just one moment to agree with the First Lady on something. But they couldn't. Their drunken ignorance was an insult to her efforts to help military veterans and spouses find jobs, homes, health care, etc. They didn't even take a MOMENT to consider that MAYBE she is doing something they would agree with.

And yet I am called partisan by conservatives even though I NEVER booed Laura Bush. And SHE killed someone.

But let me say this, ANYONE on the left who thinks her being there was a mistake is FUCKING STUPID! She did exactly the right thing: she walked into a lion's den to stand with and for our military. She knew it was a place she'd be unwelcome and yet she went. Good for Mrs. Obama, Mrs. Biden and their staffs for putting their values ahead of their egos and fear.

And fuck every fan who booed this wonderful woman standing for real values when they burp and fart their lame, hollow support of American military families.

This Would Be Funny If It Weren't So Sad

Music Break! Clark Terry

Notice when Clark Terry plays his flugelhorn solo, he's holding it upside-down.

Must Reads

Joan Walsh: More Baggage for Newt Gingrich

Greg Sargent: Obama never secretly killed the public option. It’s a myth.

Bob Cesca: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Newt Gingrich

The Rude Pundit: Observations on the Post Raid Occupation in New York and This is Not Your Fucking Movement; This is Our Fucking Movement

Nicholas Confessore: Vilifying Rival, Wall St. Rallies for Senate Ally

E.J. Dionne: How we can succeed through supercommittee’s ‘failure’

President Obama's Weekly Address - November 19, 2011

Creating an Economy Built to Last

Happy Birthday, Speaker Boehner

Weeper of the House John Boehner is 62 today. Happy Birthday, Blubber Boy! Where are the jobs bills?



(Photo via Bob Cesca)

WTF!

"How do you say 'delicious' in Cuban?"

~GOP Presidential hopeful Herman Cain

The Most Ironic Thing Ever

Jerry Sandusky's autobiography title.

House GOP Priorities

Is it jobs? Is it the economy? Is it foreign policy?

Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives are fighting an effort by the Obama administration to make federally-subsidized school lunches more healthy.

A January proposal by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) aimed to limit — but not eliminate — fries and pizza on the lunch menu.

...Under pressure from lobbyists and some food companies that sell frozen pizza, salt and potatoes, Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee rejected the new rules, painting them as “burdensome and costly regulations.”

Pizza is a vegetable. See? It's all about the important things.

UPDATE (8:10pm): Also this.You know, because it's important.

The House of Representatives passed a measure Wednesday that would make a permit to carry a concealed firearm from one state valid in any state that allows citizens to carry concealed weapons. The vote was 272 to 154.

Study Something!

I'm trying to digest Herman Cain's latest, and probably biggest, misstep on the campaign trail.



I don't know about you, but I know I was riveted to the goings on in Libya and even I could probably answer some questions on the subject, the U.S. response and our country's air and intelligence support in the NATO operation. But it seems that Herman Cain didn't have the intellectual curiosity to understand what was happening in Libya, the role of the Obama administraion and the NATO operation that took place. All he had to do was read the newspaper to give a coherent answer to the questions he was asked. And he didn't even do that. And he's running for President of the United States.

Can we say we're done with him now?

NEXT!

Pro-Life

POSTED BY JHW22

I just read this article on the effects of a down economy on infant mortality. I feel sick and angry. Angry at the GOP for effectively defining what it means to be "pro" LIFE. Why the hell don't we, as liberal, progressive, bleeding-hearts take that word, LIFE, back. WE are the party that fights for the survival of the weakest among us.

Being Pro-Life should mean not turning your back on the struggling class in America. Being Pro-Life should mean dumping the B.S. of "personal responsibility" as a way to deny people survival and instead reclaiming the real Christian support of Pro-Life -- helping the poor rather than rhetorically and politically spitting on them.

I am Pro-Life: I support policies and funding of any program that will give a woman a healthy body, that will give a child a healthy and real chance at a full life. Pro-Life isn't about the abortion issue. It's about how you support the life of the person you think is lazy, worthless and looking for a handout. If you don't value their lives, don't call yourself Pro-Life just because you like to tell women what they can and can't do with their own bodies. Pro-Life means you will fight as hard for those outside the womb as those inside. I am Pro-Life and I am Pro-Choice because I value a woman enough to give her all the resources she needs to live the best life she can. And I want a child to have the chance to be the best he or she can be.

Dumbass Quote of the Day

“[Secretary of Defense] could be the one that I could be excited about to help the generals and commanders on the ground to get what they need, to do what they do best, and that is kick the you-know-what out of everybody in the world.”

~Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain responding to the question of what Cabinet position would interest him should he not win the GOP nomination.

Hmmm... Herman Cain may have degrees in mathematics and political science, he may have worked for the military as a ballistics analyst, but with a statement like that it just proves that you can have book smarts and still be one dumb motherfucker. That single sentence should disqualify him from consideration to such a post and any would-be President actually contemplating the ridiculous notion of a "Secretary of Defense Herman Cain" should be disqualified as well.

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Chez Pazienza: Assistant Quote of the Day

Eugene Robinson: In GOP debate, Rick Perry wasn’t alone in not making sense

Ruth Marcus: The consistently inconsistent Mitt Romney

The Rude Pundit: Election Lesson: Republicans Learn That Americans Aren't Quite as Crazy as They Are

President Obama's Weekly Address - November 12, 2011

Honoring Our Veterans for Their Service and Sacrifice

CLASSIC!

Enjoy.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

How Did This Man Become A Governor?

Oh. My. God.

The American People Have Spoken

How many times have we heard House Speaker John Boehner say, "The American people want..." or "The American people sent us here to..."? How often do you think he'll use that phrase after yesterday's election results?

Well, I'll use it. If yesterday's election results have shown us anything, it's that the American people don't like hypocrites. They American people have spoken in their rejection of Ohio's collective bargaining/anti-union law. The American people have spoken in their rejection of an attempt by Mississippi Republicans to redefine "personhood" as the point of which an egg becomes fertilized. The American people have spoken in their re-election of Kentucky's Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear with 56% of the vote. The American people have spoken in their recall of Republican Arizona Senate President Russell Pierce, the author of the harsh immigration law that had been adopted in Grand Canyon state. The American people have spoken in their addition of a New Jersey Democratic Assembly member as they've cooled off of a Chris Christie love affair. The American people have spoken against voter suppression by repealing Maine's two day voting registration law and restoring same day registration.

The American people have spoken. And if the Congressional members of the Republican party refuse to listen and continue on the path of "Just Say No" to President Obama's every attempt to get the country's employment situation and GDP jump started, they're in for a rude awakening in November of 2012.