Joe Klein is mean

Apparently he does not think much of George Bush Jr.

That we have slightly more than one President for the moment is mostly a consequence of the extraordinary economic times. Even if George Washington were the incumbent, the markets would want to know what John Adams was planning to do after his Inauguration. And yet this final humiliation seems particularly appropriate for George W. Bush. At the end of a presidency of stupefying ineptitude, he has become the lamest of all possible ducks. ~ Time

 Stupefying ineptitude? Ouch. But he is not done.

Bush has that forlorn what-the-hell-happened? expression on his face, the one that has marked his presidency at difficult times....

.....This is a presidency that has wobbled between those two poles - overweening arrogance and paralytic incompetence. 

In the end, though, it will not be the creative paralysis that defines Bush. It will be his intellectual laziness, at home and abroad. Bush never understood, or cared about, the delicate balance between freedom and regulation that was necessary to make markets work. He never understood, or cared about, the delicate balance between freedom and equity that was necessary to maintain the strong middle class required for both prosperity and democracy. He never considered the complexities of the cultures he was invading. He never understood that faith, unaccompanied by rigorous skepticism, is a recipe for myopia and foolishness. He is less than President now, and that is appropriate. He was never very much of one.

But Klein does have some respect for Bush, he thinks Bush has a good understanding of Baseball. 

It has been a strange Presidency.  There was a time when holding Bush accountable in this manner would lead to a book burning or in the case of the Dixie Chicks, a CD burning.  But today, it is pretty much solid public opinion that the Bush Adminstration has been utter disaster.

Purity Watch

Kathleen Parker is no longer a "conservative," because of this piece critical of the Theocons.

This is so  because James "Sponge Bob could make your kids gay" Dobson has declared it to be so. Good thing we got Sponge Dob on the beat policing those deemed insufficiently pure.  

He won't be Silenced (though he wants to silence you).

Palinsms - Maganetic Refrigerator Poetry Part 10

Palinism for the Day. 

IFILL: Governor (what about Afghanistan and a surge there)?

PALIN: Well, first, McClellan did not say definitively the surge principles would not work in Afghanistan. Certainly, accounting for different conditions in that different country and conditions are certainly different. We have NATO allies helping us for one and even the geographic differences are huge but the counterinsurgency principles could work in Afghanistan. McClellan didn't say anything opposite of that. The counterinsurgency strategy going into Afghanistan, clearing, holding, rebuilding, the civil society and the infrastructure can work in Afghanistan. And those leaders who are over there, who have also been advising George Bush on this have not said anything different but that.

Naming a Civil War General as the commanding General in Afghanistan is one thing, but what's the deal with: 

Certainly, accounting for different conditions in that different country and conditions are certainly different....McClellan didn't say anything opposite of that.. And those leaders who are over there....have not said anything different but that.

Magnetic Refrigerator Poetry - Part 9

Say what you will but very few believe in the mysterious 4^th Branch of Government Theory. Dick Cheney does.  Apparently Sarah Palin does as well.  Someone best recall all the elementary school social studies books, pronto.

Palinism for the Day:

IFILL: Governor, you mentioned a moment ago the constitution might give the vice president more power than it has in the past. Do you believe as Vice President Cheney does, that the Executive Branch does not hold complete sway over the office of the vice presidency, that it it is also a member of the Legislative Branch?

PALIN: Well, our founding fathers were very wise there in allowing through the Constitution much flexibility there in the office of the vice president. And we will do what is best for the American people in tapping into that position and ushering in an agenda that is supportive and cooperative with the president's agenda in that position. Yeah, so I do agree with him that we have a lot of flexibility in there, and we'll do what we have to do to administer very appropriately the plans that are needed for this nation. And it is my executive experience that is partly to be attributed to my pick as V.P. with McCain, not only as a governor, but earlier on as a mayor, as an oil and gas regulator, as a business owner. It is those years of experience on an executive level that will be put to good use in the White House also.

Clueless.

Is your state down on its luck

In these troubled economic times, is your State in need of tax revenue for roads, schools and healthcare?  How about trying this approach?

From Connecticut the Headline of the Day: Gay marriage law could boost state economy.

"In the same way that heterosexual people think about going to Vegas to get married or Tijuana to get divorced, Connecticut could position itself as a mecca for gay marriage," Johnson said.

It might work.  Think Utah as the Marriage Capital of America.  I hear gay marriage enjoys popular support in Salt Lake City already.

Could be big bux.

Number of the Day - 61

In the latest Gallup Poll of GOP Faithful on who they'd like to see run for the 2012 Republican Nomination, Jeb Bush has a 61% disapproval rating.

No more Bushes? 

Sarah "W" Palin leads the pack (just ahead of Mittens) with 67% of those surveyed saying Yes to a Sarah run in 2012.

The Disaster that has been the Bush Administration - Chapter 379

Headline for the Day, 2004 Edition:

BUSH ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES NEW HUD "ZERO DOWN PAYMENT" MORTGAGE - Initiative Aimed at Removing Major Barrier to Homeownership

It does not matter what George Bush Junior tried to do.  His intentions may have been good, but in case after case the results are the same: He fucked it up. Every time.

Now this is not the only reason for the mortgage meltdown, because other commercial entities gladly went along issuing loans to people who could not afford them.  And Wall Street repackaged the bad loans in the form of lousy collateralized debt obligations and bonds with bogus ratings.  

But man, this is the Bush Administration in a nutshell.  Bold on initiative, short on planning and combined with a stunning degree of incompetence.

Old bulls ride off together into the sunset

Larry Craig and Ted Stevens depart the senate together.  Waxes Craig in an ode to Ted:

"Uncle Ted, I'm going to miss you," Craig said. "This Senate will miss you, your state will miss you and America will miss you."

The GOP is lightening its load with these involuntary retirements. 

It has got to be hard to run as the party of righteousness when so many of your members are merely human.  I guess these terminations are the flip side of that coin. 

"Change" you can believe in.... Get It?

Now this is funny. Taco Bell has asked rapper 50 cent to change his name to 79 Cent and rap about items on its value menu.

50 cent doesn't think so, however. He filed a $4 million suit against Taco Bell, claiming the restaurant chain infringed 50 Cent's trademark namely that this letter was really an advertisement using 50 Cents name without permission.


Lighten up dude. What about the little guy? Times are tough and some folks need to make the most out of their spare change. Taco Bell is just doing their part.

50 cent must not want to make the most out of this opportunity for "Change."

It can be explained

From the smart people at the corner we learn all was well, the GOP coalition was in ascendency and all was going according to plan until an unfortunate event(s) (instead of of a series of unfortunate events) sunk the good ship Bush.

Sinking Ship

but be much closer to the truth, to suggest that "God, gays, and guns" powered Republican successes that year (1994)--and the "revolution" sputtered out as soon as Republicans touched Medicare.

So from 1994 onward, all as well, that is until Bush pushed the Prescription Drug Bill and then the wheels fell off.  What about about Iraq and the utter incompetence that hallmark the Bush Presidency?  What is one thing the Bush has done well (other than strenghtening Traditional Marriage)?

Have fun with the coalition building.

Feats of Wingnuttery

Up until a couple of months ago I had never heard of ACORN.  This is a group dedicated to registering low income people to vote.  However on occasion, some ACORN employees have been found cutting corners by making up fake registrations so that employee could get paid without working.  What you have is vote registration fraud but without voter fraud because the results of the election are not affected. For Example: You might see Donald Duck added to the roles, but Donald Duck never shows up to vote.  

Not so according to wingnuts. In Wingnuttia, ACORN is threatening the fabric of our democracy with stolen elections.

How does Donald Duck not showing up to vote in your precinct effect the outcome of an election?  I was never quite sure why some allowed themselves to get worked up into a froth over this matter.  But thanks to RedState Blog, we now know how ACORN steals elections:

We all know about ACORN right? The group masterfully steals elections by overwhelming the system with fraudulent voter registration applications that translate directly into voter fraud. They stampede election centers causing chaos so votes can be cast while people are distracted. They vote for the dead and claim racism when they are challenged.

I have to admit, also, that I have not kept up with the crazies at RedState for several months. But I could not have guessed that this is what they were afraid of.  Yes, it is groups of ACORN Wiseguy Mafiosi bum rushing polling places causing chaos and somehow casting fraudulent ballots from Donald Duck and his Disneyland Friends at your precinct.  

Assuming I am wrong, and that gangs of hoodlums did wreak havoc on Election Day casting fraudulent ballots here, there and everywhere, where are the Prosecutions from the Bush Justice Department? 

Crickets. Just Crickets.

Magnetic Refrigerator Poetry - Part 8

A Classic Palinism:

That's why I say I, like every American I'm speaking with, we're ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy. Helping the—it's got to be all about job creation too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans and trade—we've got to see trade as opportunity, not as competitive, scary thing, but one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today—we've got to look at that as more opportunity.

You have to wonder what Katie Couric was think when this went down.  I bet is was....OMG my RATINGS, my rating are going to go up. My ratings are going to go up. Oh My God!

Mission Accomplished - Bush has strengthened Marriage!

Here’s one for Dobson and the anti-gay marriage crowd.  Bush has managed to partially fullfill a campaign pledge from 2004: Strengthen Traditional Marriage.  

Headline of the Day: Divorce rate more likely to fall than rise during economic downturn, say matrimonial lawyers: 

The rate of divorce is more likely to fall than rise in the economic downturn, but chances are that it will stay the same if history is any guide, said attorneys who specialize in the area.

The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers said in a press release that 37% of its members who responded to a recent survey said that the divorce rate typically drops during economically challenging times and only 19% said the rate typically climbs, while 44% said there's no change in the rate.

These are challenging times and the divorce rate typically drops when the economy is flailing. For an administration with little to show in way of accomplishments, here is one for Dobson, the wingnuts at The Corner and all their dwindling posse to be proud of.  Bush pulled out all the stops and came through for you guys on this, finally. 

Rejoice for your fealty to Bush has brought forth a great VICTORY. Celebrate in the streets. Traditional Marriage has been STRENGTHENED.

Bushism to Live ON!

This just in:  Bush to continue his reign through the bureaucracy.

Headline of the Day: Administration Moves to Protect Key Appointees - Political Positions Shifted To Career Civil Service Jobs

Let me get this straight. You plant ideological free-market-deregulators at key positions such as an EPA post for administration of the Clean Water Act.  These people are responsible for enforcing the Act even though they are opposed to the Clean Water Act.  Make sense?

In other words, Bushism can live on to fight another day.

Banks left Un-Nationalized – Bourgeoise To Be Bailed Out - Proletariat Enraged!

I was listening to the AM Radio the other day in the car to see if I could glean any words of wisdom to come through the din. But no luck. However one thing, other than theories about TRIAD and/or the Trilateral Commission, that did come through is that the Proletariat of Greater Wingnuttia is not too happy that the $700B appropriated for the Troubled Asset Rescue Plan (TARP) will not be used to nationalize the banking industry.  Yes this is outrageous, my friends.  

With the banks still in the hands of the Capitalists, the $700B may instead go to prop up the Bourgeoisie instead, you know, the merchant class that relies on you to purchase Flat Screen TV home theaters with surround sound, living room suites, Hummers, the latest home appliances and other things you really don’t need right now but are nice to have, all with $0 down - 0% interest - same – as – cash - instant - miracle - financing. 

Whither Circuit City, whither the Bourgeoisie, whither the economy and Comrade Paulson comes riding to the rescue.  So Wingnuttia is enraged. Dreams of nationalizing the Banks have fallen to plans to prop up the Chamber of Commerce Crowd that make up the Bourgeoisie.  

What is a Wingnut to do?  

On one hand your leaders have told you: the best thing you can do to serve your country is to never criticize President Bush to go out and shop; that deregulation and tax cuts solve all problems; that red ink and deficits don’t matter; that lunch is always free; and that yesterday and today’s bills will never come due. On the other hand, now that the bill has in fact, come due along with interest and penalties, someone is gonna have to pay up.  

What is a Wingnut to do?  

Do we try to determine who is going to pay the bill and how much each will have to pay?  Would it be beneficial for everyone going to pay a little via the $700B TARP (and the next bailout), or will would it be prudent to risk payment in other ways like suffering through prolonged recession(s), economic decline and / or lower standards of living?  A good question but without easy answers and thus this is the quandary for the AM Radio Crowd.  

So what’s a Wingnut to do? 

Lambast the TARP, bemoan the un-nationalization of the banks, decry their ideological allies in the Bourgeoisie or some thing else that does not require self reflection could all be answers.

The sure answer however is to keep listening to the AM radio.  That is what they are sure to do.

Bush has left the Building

From the Department of it just can’t be. Is the President of France now the Leader of the Free World?

Who would have ever believed that France would take center stage, but, fortunately for Bush, someone is on the Job.

Now that I think about it, Bush has always been fortunate in this regard. After each chapter in his career, some body eventually comes along to clean up his mess. And after this chapter has concluded, it’s gonna be you and me, as well as the President of France, and a lot of other folks who will be cleaning up after Bush’s Blunders.

Magnetic Refrigerator Poetry Part - 7

Palinism for the Day:

VAN SUSTEREN: One quick final question. So you never said, Get me six Armani suits, or, Get me a certain stylist out of New York City, or anything like that. I mean, this is -- there was no demand from you or request from you.

PALIN: No. And in fact, the criticism that, you know, I took time out to run into Neiman Marcus or Saks -- I don't think I've ever set foot in either one of those stores, and of course, didn't know the New York stylists who they had hired or anything else.

They were really nice gals. They were wonderful people. And you know, it was, I guess, productive, in a sense, in that they picked out some really nice clothes to borrow for a while there. But that was not anything that the Palin family would have chosen for ourselves.

In fact, I'm much more comfortable in my own skin, in my own clothes. And you know, I guess it was just part of a strategy that, perhaps, you know, in hindsight, looking back, if people had to do something over again, I think they would have been more than happy, at this point, to reverse some of that and let me go back to Alaska, pack my own bags, wear my own clothes on the trail.

And that could have reflected, too, I think, more of who we are, our family as Alaskans, you know, unpretentious, not trying to change anything about appearance or what we represent. And maybe some of that is -- has to do with the clothes.

Mistakes were made. Who ever made the mistakes probably wishes they would have not made the mistakes in hindsight. This person who made these mistakes is probably not same person who said Palin and her Wasilla Hillbilly Posse were running wild, looting Nieman Marcus from coast to coast.  It is probably someone else that has second thoughts.  And Palin suggests it was the New York Stylists that were calling the shots.

Huck Whacks Mittens

More of this Please:

Per Michael Scherer, Huckabee picks up where he left off earlier this year, tweaking Romney as a rich guy and firing what may be the first shots of the 2012 primary. 

Romney, Huckabee, writes, was "anything but conservative until he changed the light bulbs in his chandelier in time to run for president.” 

At another point, Huckabee portrays a Romney proposal to encourage more investment in the market as, "Let them eat stocks!” 

Fight back Mittens! In the name of Comedy, Fight back!

Magnetic Refrigerator Poetry Part - 6

Palinism for the Day:

BLITZER: (Should) Congress go forward right now with another economic stimulus package to help the struggling middle class?

PALIN:  I do want to see the struggling middle class be the ones at the end of the day who are not stuck with the bills and stuck with the burdens. But I am not one, again, to believe that it should be just assumed that it's taxpayer bailout that will be the solution to all of the problems, all of the financial challenges that our nation is facing.

Supportive of the $700 billion initial, now hearing more rumors, more speculation of even greater amounts being poured into that. There again, need more information but not being so enthused about a second, a third, a fourth stimulus package.

About an economic stimulus for "the stuggling middle class" like those $300, $600 or $1200 checks, it sounds like she has confused it with the $700B "Rescue Package."  It is really just bizaare watching these interviews.  We know now why the McCain campaign wanted her sequestered from the scrutiny of the media.

The more she talks the more Bush starts to look like Cicero.  

Purity!

Where will the GOP go to regroup after back to back thumpin'? Answer: the GOP will run farther to the right.

To regain power, the Traditionalists argue, the G.O.P. should return to its core ideas: Cut government, cut taxes, restrict immigration. Rally behind Sarah Palin.

Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity are the most prominent voices in the Traditionalist camp, but there is also the alliance of Old Guard institutions. For example, a group of Traditionalists met in Virginia last weekend to plot strategy, including Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform, Leonard Leo of the Federalist Society and Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council. According to reports, the attendees were pleased that the election wiped out some of the party’s remaining moderates (emphasis mine).

There you have it. Let the inmates call the shots. Anyone feel a Purge coming where the insufficiently pure are pushed out?

That's the solution!

One good thing from this election that may not have gotten many pixels on is this: a whole bunch of half-witted loyalist ideologues from Alabama and the other red parts of the map, who were on the inside of the political deal making, will now have NO INFLUENCE. This means the very people who are pushing the GOP to the right and cheering the loss of their own Moderate wing are the same people who have seen an overnight drop in influence and relevance.

Magnetic Refrigerator Poetry Alert Part - 5

Palinism for the day:

KING: Don’t you think, Governor, that there’s also a right-wing media?

PALIN: There’s a right-wing, there’s a left-wing. I tend to believe that what we need is, again, back to the who, what, where, when and why, and allow the electorate — allow listeners, viewers to make up their own minds based on fair, objective, non-biased reporting. That’s what I’d like to see.

At the same time, though, it’s healthy, it’s interesting, it’s entertaining — entertaining to be able to hear the commentary on both sides. But when mainstream media, especially, is expected to be non- biased, without the commentary being involved, I think we really need to get back to giving the — some credence to the wisdom of the people, allowing them the ability to make up their own minds without hearing too much commentary infiltrated in the questions and the reporting.

Magnetic Refrigerator Poetry Part - 4

Palinism for the Day:

I know that John McCain will do that, and I, as his vice president, families we are blessed with that vote of the American people and are elected to serve and are sworn in on January 20, that will be our top priority is to defend the American people.

Oh, How the Mighty have Fallen

Today’s Story of the Day again turns to the Russo-Georgian Conflict. Our story is set in Moscow where the Leader of the Decadent Old Order of Europe, The President of France and the Tsar the Kaiser the Premier of Russia are discussing the fate of plucky (i.e., stupid) little Georgia.

With Russian tanks only 30 miles from Tbilisi on August 12, Mr Sarkozy told Mr Putin that the world would not accept the overthrow of Georgia’s Government. According to Mr Levitte, the Russian seemed unconcerned by international reaction. “I am going to hang Saakashvili by the balls,” Mr Putin declared.

Mr Sarkozy thought he had misheard. “Hang him?” — he asked. “Why not?” Mr Putin replied. “The Americans hanged Saddam Hussein.”

Mr Sarkozy, using the familiar tu, tried to reason with him: “Yes but do you want to end up like [President] Bush?”

Mr Putin was briefly lost for words, then said: “Ah — you have scored a point there.”

Well at least you can say President Bush has made an impression on Premier Putin and the President of France. I guess that counts for something. But it gets worse.

Mr Sarkozy, who is under fire for his cosy relations with the two Russian leaders, hit back with sarcasm and an attack on Mr Bush for his supposed impotence towards Russia. Mr Bush had telephoned him and urged him repeatedly not to fly to Moscow to negotiate a ceasefire, he said. “When someone had to leave for Moscow or Tbilisi, who defended human rights?” Mr Sarkozy asked.

“Was it the President of the United States who said, ‘this is unacceptable’? Or was it France which kept up the dialogue [with Russia]? . . . We were in Moscow and, as if by chance, the ceasefire was announced.” He was speaking after receiving an annual Political Courage Prize from a French review.

Ah yes, I do recall this event now. As the President of France and Premier Putin were engaged over the fate of Freedom, President Bush was posing for pictures with half-clad Olympic Beach Volleyball Players in China. And as Bush was posing for pix in Beijing, the fate of Freedom was left to the leadership of lily-livered-weak-willed-cheese-eating-surrender-monkey FRANCE.

And now we look up to Decadent France as the defender of Freedom? France?

President Bush administering a "Freedom Tap."

Oh how the mighty have fallen. Woe.

Purple, Blue and Red then and now.

2008

2004

Image for the Day

Germany, Industrialized World Enter Recession

Magnetic Refrigerator Poetry Alert Part - 3

Palinism of the Day:

"if they call an audible on me, if they say they want me in another position, I'm gonna do it. I'm not gonna -- especially here, today -- tell you what some crystal ball is gonna show me, 'cause we don't know what that crystal ball has within it. And there again -- there again -- my hands, my life is in God's hands. If he's got doors open for me, that I believe are in our state's best interests, the nation's best interests, I'm gonna go through those doors."

Desolation Watch - Neocon Edition

If losing the Whitehouse and a McCain continuation of Neocon foriegn policy initiatives was not devastating enough for your run of the mill neoconservative to bear and the continued trashing of Sarah the Cipher and 2012 Savior was not even more disheartening, now we get this: 

Headline of the Day: Chinese Strait Talk - Beijing and Taipei are getting along again.

You know this means don’t you?

If the threat of WWIII breaking out in the Straits of Taiwan goes away, we are going to need to double down on an ongoing “threat” or find us a new Scary Sarajevo-Style threat to take its place.

Gonna have us some busy Neocons working on this one. 

On Wingnuts and Wingnuttery, continuing

How do people like Thomas Sowell get syndicated? 

Seriously. 

When I read today’s "Words of Wisdom” from Sowell,  I’m left with no other conclusion that the guy has the sense and the depth of a box of fucking hammers.  

Seriously. 

Today (or yesterday's) bit wingnuttery ties criticism of Soviet Malfease, criticism of  the rise of Hitler (its always 1938 with these nutters), and criticism of central commie-style-economic planning all together as a critique of anti-anti-intellectualism. 

I know what he getting at.  If you go with what you feel and know what you feel is right, you are much better off.  Who needs smart people?  Smart people didn’t waive away the failures of communism and threat of fascism with a magic wand when they had a chance in the past.  Why should we trust them now?

According to our learned friend (who proves he isn’t one of those pointy headed intellectuals), Obama is just another intellectual with all his book learning, knowledge and appreciation for the complexity in the world as we find it.  This is all so passé, we are told.  See above and discussion of smart people who did not preempt communism and fascism.

So would Sowell would prefer leaders that paint the world in black and white terms, i.e., "evil" or "not evil", or "with us" or "against us"?  How about nuance? Does Sowell do nuance, because I hear real leaders don’t do Nuance. But in the real world, tax cuts and deregulation aren't the solution to every problem, good intentions only get you so far (google "W", "mission accomplished" and "Iraq") and repeated references to 1938 get you labeled as a Wingnut.

How do these guys get syndicated (wingnut welfare perhaps)?  

Seriously.

If this guy represents the best and brightest of republican conserve-a-gencia, these people are so screwed....... or shall we say, relegated to the dustbin of history.

A Nation of Laws Not Kings

I never understood WTF was wrong with Dennis Hastert when he threw the hissy fit over the federales raiding William "Cold Cash" Jefferson office.

But as time went on, it became more clear that Denny had corruption concerns above and beyond William Jefferson on his mind, he was FEARFUL about accountability on Capital Hill.  

Now we know that about 10% of House Republicans from the 109th Congress were under investigation, had their offices raided by the feds or where under indictment back in the day. A lot of them got early retirement in 2006.  This was a seriously fucked up situation.  You could line up 10 House Republicans from the 109th Congress in a Room and it is/was a certainty that 1 of them belonged in Jail. 

But a man's gotta know his limitations (and that of his party) and that is why Denny went apoplectic when Cold Cash Jefferson's office was raided by the Feds. 

Accountability. Dangerous Precedent. Denny didn't want anything to do with that.

Today we have some good news: the Appellate Court turned its back on the Hastert-Jefferson claims of sovereign immunity.  Apparently, despite Denny's protestations the USA is a nation of laws not of 535 kings. You can't hide bribes in the Freezer in your Congressional Office under the guise of Free Speech.  Maybe Congress should have policed itself, you now, with ~1 out of 10 republicans on the take during the 109th congress it is no wonder the FBI stepped in.

The William Jefferson case may now progess to Trial...... as it should.

Magnetic Refrigerator Poetry Alert Part - 2

BLITZER: Does that mean you want to come up with a new Sarah Palin initiative that you want to release right now.

PALIN: Gah! Nothing specific right now. 

Sitting here in these chairs that

 I’m going to be proposing but in 

working with these governors who again on the front lines are forced to and it’s our privileged obligation to find solutions to the challenges facing our own states every day being held accountable, not being just one of many just casting votes or voting present every once in a while, we don’t get away with that. We have to balance budgets and we’re dealing with multibillion dollar budgets and tens of thousands of employees in our organizations.

By the way, doesn't the Governor of Alaska balance the budget by sharing the wealth from taxing oil companies?

The county where I live in has about as many people as all of Alaska. And the local county exec has to do alot more than just shake down Exxon when the schools need funding.

Holy $&!^%*# Alert!!!!!!!!

Look at this cast of clowns debating the future of conservatism.

The National Review Institute and Hillsdale College are throwing a conference devoted to that very topic in Washington a week from today. Confirmed speakers include Rich Lowry, Heather MacDonald, David Brooks, Andrew McCarthy, Frederick Kagan, and Yuval Levin.

If this is the best they got, Bobo, a run of the mill third fourth string neocon and a bunch of wingnut bloggers, I’d say the conservative movement is so screwed.

There used to be a time when these people were somewhat important in shaping the discussion of issues.  Sad, I know.  The good news now is that the NRO is irrelevent. Public opinion has passed these guys by (save Bobo occaisionally).  Anyone say dustbin of history?  

Second thought, maybe the gathering may hold some comedic value. 

The Face of the Modern Republican Party

Representative Paul Broun, R-GA, said yesterday that he is afraid that President-Elect Obama will build a Gestapo like National Security Force to impose a Marxist and/or Fascist dictatorship. Huh?  Take it away Broun:

Broun said he also believes Obama likely will move to ban gun ownership if he does build a national police force.……"We can't be lulled into complacency," Broun said. "You have to remember that Adolf Hitler was elected in a democratic Germany. I'm not comparing him to Adolf Hitler. What I'm saying is there is the potential."

There was a book published sometime ago titled "What's a Matter with Kansas," noting that conservatism had run amok there. But forget about Kansas, What is the matter with Georgia?  You got this wingut in elected office, you have Lynn "Ten Commandments" Westmoreland in elected office and you have Newt Gingrich sounding like he may be the one run the new Republican Restoration. Add it up and the Georgia GOP has some serious issues to deal with.

Magnetic Refrigerator Poetry Alert Part 1

Palinism for the Day.

Question: What did you think of Tina Fey, really?

Palin: I really liked her. Her in-laws came to one of our rallies and met us backstage. They're pretty hardcore Republicans, the in-laws were. She had told me that, she was like, believe it or not, I'm from a family of Republicans. You, know, it was like, we have more in common than you think. when I was the mayor. So gosh, we have so many examples, I mean every day, especially the first few weeks, every day something that was thrown out there.

I don't know what to make of this.  It is almost like the phrases one could string together using Magnetic Refrigerator Poetry.

What do I think of Tina Fey? John McCain probably should've picked Tina for VP instead.

Sarah's Legacy ..... ?

Headline of the day: Sarah Palin blamed by the US Secret Service over death threats against Barack Obama

Sarah Palin's attacks on Barack Obama's patriotism provoked a spike in death threats against the future president, Secret Service agents revealed during the final weeks of the campaign, so says source. 

The Republican vice presidential candidate attracted criticism for accusing Mr Obama of "palling around with terrorists", citing his association with the sixties radical William Ayers.

The attacks provoked a near lynch mob atmosphere at her rallies, with supporters yelling "terrorist" and "kill him" until the McCain campaign ordered her to tone down the rhetoric.

But it has now emerged that her demagogic tone may have unintentionally encouraged white supremacists to go even further.

The Secret Service warned the Obama family in mid October that they had seen a dramatic increase in the number of threats against the Democratic candidate, coinciding with Mrs Palin's attacks.

Well I can’t say if report is accurate or not.  But Palin’s behavior on the campaign trail was not admirable.  Whipping crowds into a froth of hatred and dividing the country into regions labeled "Real America" and "Anti-America" reckless, irresponsible and is just plain stupid.

Check that. I take it back.

I just realized that Joe the Plumber has endorsed her for 2012.  As Joe goes........