I have to admit that I was feeling a bit pleased with myself for this recent post in response to the 31 (at a minimum) votes to repeal the Affordable Care Law, in which, in response, I highlighted 31 U.S. House Republicans (and two Democrats) who I thought were most at fault for this utter waste of time and taxpayer money. And putting all the posts together, while a time-consuming and sometimes exhausting exercise, was something that I thought was beneficial.
However, it recently occurred to me that that’s not really going to do much in pursuit of what I believe is a bigger goal, and that is to return the U.S. House to the Democrats (or short of that, to cut into the Republican majority…besides, is Hal Rogers actually going to lose?).
So I did a bit of looking around and came up with this list of races in which control of the House could be decided, and I did the same thing I did with the 31, only with a bigger and broader group. I tried to put the Republican candidates in what I believed was an appropriate light on one hand, while including web site or other contact information for their Democratic challengers on the other.
Now I can imagine the response of “there you go again, Doomsy, trying to smear Republicans any way possible.” Well, it may shock you to know that I included complimentary information on three of them; Robert Dold for standing up for Planned Parenthood, Scott Tipton for standing up for wind power, and Richard Hanna for standing up to the Teahadists. But don’t worry – there’s plenty of other stuff to use against the rest of the list (including Hanna and Tipton, though I must say that Tipton’s challenger Sal Pace doesn’t exactly “light it up” in his interview with Ed Schultz…it should also be noted that I really couldn’t find anything on David Rosa in Texas or David Hernandez in California – I’ll admit that this list may be a bit inexact). Also, it’s likely that there are races on this list where the Repug incumbent is actually better qualified that the Democratic challenger.
The issue that matters, though, is control of the House, and if sending some less deserving Dems to Washington helps return us to the majority, so be it, as a certain Speaker said in another context (besides, who’s to say that some of these folks won’t grow into the job, in the name of the “greater good”?).
So, with that somewhat windy pretext out of the way, here is my list of the DCCC-targeted Repug U.S. House candidates and their challengers (Note: Some Republicans are challengers also in races where an incumbent isn't running or redistricting has taken place):
* - No party preference
Update 9/19/12: God, is Todd Long a mess (here)...though the Hopefully Next Congresssman With Guts may have gone a bit too far, as noted here.
Update 9/25/12: And Mike Grimm definitely earns a Dishonorable Mention for this, especially the part about Gabby Giffords.
Update 10/10/12: Some "do as I say, not as I do" stuff from Scott DesJarlais here...
Saturday, September 08, 2012
Friday, September 07, 2012
Friday Stuff
Today, we fight the corrupting influence of ALEC, the Koch Brothers, Sheldon Adelson, and on and on, but in an earlier day, the primo right-wing sugar daddy was this guy, and the Repugs (and probably some Dems too) paid homage to him…not saying this as a tribute to Moon by any means, but just acknowledging the history…
…and remember when the Repugs used to be the “daddy party” according to our corporate media? Funny, but I’m not hearing that any more (Rachel Maddow should get an Emmy, a Cable Ace award or something for the last minute and a half in particular)…
…and this actually isn’t a bad report on the American Jobs Act until the “White Ho” starts editorializing at about 1:42; as noted here, the report is a year old…just like the American Jobs Act is a year old, while “Man Tan” Boehner and Eric Cantor continue to sit on it and let it gather dust…I’ll remember that the next time I hear wingnut caterwauling about how one of their pet causes or personages “deserves an up-and-down vote”…
…oh, and speaking of jobs, Mikey The Beloved’s PR factory allowed him more room to peddle his garbage here (“the threat of high taxes creates uncertainty for job creators, along with the Supreme Court’s ruling on ‘Obamacare’ that creates a burden for middle-class families, blah blah blah”…we’ve heard it from you a hundred times before, Mikey – it was bullshit then, and it’s bullshit now – try sucking on this...and to help Kathy Boockvar, click here)…
…and that’s probably an appropriate transition to this tune – RIP Joe South.
…and remember when the Repugs used to be the “daddy party” according to our corporate media? Funny, but I’m not hearing that any more (Rachel Maddow should get an Emmy, a Cable Ace award or something for the last minute and a half in particular)…
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
…and this actually isn’t a bad report on the American Jobs Act until the “White Ho” starts editorializing at about 1:42; as noted here, the report is a year old…just like the American Jobs Act is a year old, while “Man Tan” Boehner and Eric Cantor continue to sit on it and let it gather dust…I’ll remember that the next time I hear wingnut caterwauling about how one of their pet causes or personages “deserves an up-and-down vote”…
…oh, and speaking of jobs, Mikey The Beloved’s PR factory allowed him more room to peddle his garbage here (“the threat of high taxes creates uncertainty for job creators, along with the Supreme Court’s ruling on ‘Obamacare’ that creates a burden for middle-class families, blah blah blah”…we’ve heard it from you a hundred times before, Mikey – it was bullshit then, and it’s bullshit now – try sucking on this...and to help Kathy Boockvar, click here)……and that’s probably an appropriate transition to this tune – RIP Joe South.
Thursday, September 06, 2012
Thursday Stuff
“The Choice,” indeed…
…and I suppose it’s time to put up a video from this decade for a change, so here it is.
…and I suppose it’s time to put up a video from this decade for a change, so here it is.
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
Wednesday Stuff
Rachel Maddow and Chris Matthews (who has been kicking butt lately, for anyone who’s noticed) bring us a depressing, but important, history lesson concerning the awful 112th Congress (and something neither mentioned, which is just as bad, are the stalled judicial appointments)...
...and I don’t know how many other people besides me are going to say it today, so please allow me – happy birthday to Al Stewart.
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
...and I don’t know how many other people besides me are going to say it today, so please allow me – happy birthday to Al Stewart.
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
Tuesday Stuff
Gee, I wonder what position Willard Mitt (Etch-A-Sketch, Weather Vane) Romney was taking here (great stuff, included in a film tribute to Ted Kennedy at the convention tonight)...
...and I heard be “proved it all night,” as the song goes, again in these parts (here...this is loud!).
...and I heard be “proved it all night,” as the song goes, again in these parts (here...this is loud!).
Monday, September 03, 2012
Monday Stuff
Looks like that sleazy weasel Eric Cantor needs to pay a trip to the Karl Rove-Frank Luntz GOP Messaging Factory (‘humuna humuna humuna” – and speaking of Virginia’s congressional mistake, I give you this)...
...and here’s another tune for the holiday (sorry, no video).
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
...and here’s another tune for the holiday (sorry, no video).
Sunday, September 02, 2012
Sunday Stuff
As we know, Willard Mitt Romney promises nothing except “the ownership society” on steroids (here).
This, to me, was a hell of a catch by Paul Slansky at HuffPo; did you know that rape is a “method of conception” according to Mr.-Puppy-Dog-Eyes-With-The-Shiv-In-His-Pocket?
And, by the way, that supposedly is "an improvement over what we have now" according to Ryan? WHAAAA????!!!
Actually, the exact quote when asked by the brainless corporate media stenographer about rape and conception (and DEAR GOD, CAN THE REPUGS PLEASE JUST ALL SHUT UP ABOUT THIS??!!) is “the method of conception doesn’t change the definition of life” (witness the vile, right-wing conservative framing in response to a question about a horrific attack of sexual violence, as if the woman is nothing more than a vessel to incubate the embryo until it forms as a fetus and the woman conceives).
I believe no other conservative politician since The Sainted Ronnie R has managed to make a career out of making the most despicable misstatements of fact and/or opinion besides Ryan. The faux earnestness of his expression while he utters this contemptible garbage is a nauseating travesty unto itself…
Update 9/4/12: And speaking of Romney/Ryan, insert your own caption for this one, comrades!
Update 9/5/12: That "fine, Christian man" strikes again (here).
…and changing topics, I guess this is appropriate for the holiday (Prog Rock lives! I just wish that damn screen would stop flipping! And yes, I also thought of Spinal Tap as listened to this.)
This, to me, was a hell of a catch by Paul Slansky at HuffPo; did you know that rape is a “method of conception” according to Mr.-Puppy-Dog-Eyes-With-The-Shiv-In-His-Pocket?
And, by the way, that supposedly is "an improvement over what we have now" according to Ryan? WHAAAA????!!!
Actually, the exact quote when asked by the brainless corporate media stenographer about rape and conception (and DEAR GOD, CAN THE REPUGS PLEASE JUST ALL SHUT UP ABOUT THIS??!!) is “the method of conception doesn’t change the definition of life” (witness the vile, right-wing conservative framing in response to a question about a horrific attack of sexual violence, as if the woman is nothing more than a vessel to incubate the embryo until it forms as a fetus and the woman conceives).
I believe no other conservative politician since The Sainted Ronnie R has managed to make a career out of making the most despicable misstatements of fact and/or opinion besides Ryan. The faux earnestness of his expression while he utters this contemptible garbage is a nauseating travesty unto itself…
Update 9/4/12: And speaking of Romney/Ryan, insert your own caption for this one, comrades!
Update 9/5/12: That "fine, Christian man" strikes again (here).
…and changing topics, I guess this is appropriate for the holiday (Prog Rock lives! I just wish that damn screen would stop flipping! And yes, I also thought of Spinal Tap as listened to this.)
Saturday, September 01, 2012
More Saturday Stuff
Oh, and by the way, while one political circus packs up and leaves Tampa and a new one makes its way to Charlotte, I think we should all keep in mind the fact that the planet is still melting, and we still need to do something about that, assuming it is still possible (and leave it to al Jazeera to do the reporting that actually matters)...
...and RIP Hal David.
...and RIP Hal David.
Saturday Stuff
Hey, if the Repugs are going to twist that “you didn’t build that” quote, then the Dems should be able to take advantage also (and for more, Matt Taibbi, in typical fashion, delivers here)...
...and I was kind of in the mood for this, so here it is (just felt like changing things up again a bit).
...and I was kind of in the mood for this, so here it is (just felt like changing things up again a bit).
Friday, August 31, 2012
Friday Stuff
(I also posted here.)
“The Man From Bloomfield Hills” – nice job by Moveon.org…
…and more avoidance by Willard Mitt is on display here (though I must say that, though I support Number 44, it takes more than a bit of chutzpah to try and tether Romney to Afghanistan, which Obama owns exclusively at this point)…
…and by the way, how did Iraq war cheerleader William Kristol, of all people, end up as the corporate media arbiter of political etiquette when it comes to all people, places and things related to the military (here)…
…and I probably shouldn’t like this because Bob’s voice is almost completely gone, but I do – are you looking for a good old fashioned “boy meets girl then loses girl then finds girl and they end up happily ever after” video? Well, this ain’t it.
“The Man From Bloomfield Hills” – nice job by Moveon.org…
…and more avoidance by Willard Mitt is on display here (though I must say that, though I support Number 44, it takes more than a bit of chutzpah to try and tether Romney to Afghanistan, which Obama owns exclusively at this point)…
…and by the way, how did Iraq war cheerleader William Kristol, of all people, end up as the corporate media arbiter of political etiquette when it comes to all people, places and things related to the military (here)…
…and I probably shouldn’t like this because Bob’s voice is almost completely gone, but I do – are you looking for a good old fashioned “boy meets girl then loses girl then finds girl and they end up happily ever after” video? Well, this ain’t it.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Thursday Stuff
Welcome to the Republican Party, Clint (here…very “non-PC” language follows)…
Update 9/20/12: And in a case of life imitating art, I guess the chair is as empty as this idiot's head; the same goes for that loser in Virginia also (here).
…and gee, THANKS, GOVERNOR BREWER (here - maybe she should have a talk with Michael Moore)…
…and time to rebut that “good Christian” Paul Ryan again…
…and this goes out to the Wisconsin U.S. House rep.
Update 9/20/12: And in a case of life imitating art, I guess the chair is as empty as this idiot's head; the same goes for that loser in Virginia also (here).
…and gee, THANKS, GOVERNOR BREWER (here - maybe she should have a talk with Michael Moore)…
…and time to rebut that “good Christian” Paul Ryan again…
…and this goes out to the Wisconsin U.S. House rep.
My 2012 U.S. House Voting Guide
It’s been a few days since I finished compiling the list of the 31 U.S. House Republicans opposed to health care reform, and I wondered what the next step should be. I mean, pointing out that these people fundamentally are frauds and charlatans is a nice, therapeutic exercise I know, even if it ended up being waaay more time consuming than I thought it would.
But how do we actually get rid of them, I wondered?
With that in mind, I did a bit of research and came up with a list of Democratic challengers for not quite all of the 31 that, as far as I know, is as firm as can be expected at the moment (I think there’s a question about William Smith, and the Dem primary won by Harold Whitfield was being recounted the last I checked). Also, I say “not quite all” because Boehner, Broun and Gohmert don’t have Democratic challengers (I couldn’t find any – if there are brave souls out there taking them on that I don’t know about, please leave a comment to that effect). I also hacked around with some HTML a bit and came up with the table format; the incumbent names are linked to the prior posts the same way they were during the countdown, and the challengers are linked mainly to their web sites, but also a Twitter page and a blogspot home page also.
I wish to emphasize that I know nothing about almost all of the challengers, but maybe (if you’re “represented” by any of the 31) it might be a good idea to learn more about these folks (and, if you’re so inclined, to chip in with some coin to help them out). And I’m not going to pretend that trying to knock off the incumbents isn’t going to be a mammoth exercise in some (maybe even most) cases. But that journey of a mile begins with a single step, as they say (or something).
Anyway, here’s the incumbent/Dem challenger list…
But how do we actually get rid of them, I wondered?
With that in mind, I did a bit of research and came up with a list of Democratic challengers for not quite all of the 31 that, as far as I know, is as firm as can be expected at the moment (I think there’s a question about William Smith, and the Dem primary won by Harold Whitfield was being recounted the last I checked). Also, I say “not quite all” because Boehner, Broun and Gohmert don’t have Democratic challengers (I couldn’t find any – if there are brave souls out there taking them on that I don’t know about, please leave a comment to that effect). I also hacked around with some HTML a bit and came up with the table format; the incumbent names are linked to the prior posts the same way they were during the countdown, and the challengers are linked mainly to their web sites, but also a Twitter page and a blogspot home page also.
I wish to emphasize that I know nothing about almost all of the challengers, but maybe (if you’re “represented” by any of the 31) it might be a good idea to learn more about these folks (and, if you’re so inclined, to chip in with some coin to help them out). And I’m not going to pretend that trying to knock off the incumbents isn’t going to be a mammoth exercise in some (maybe even most) cases. But that journey of a mile begins with a single step, as they say (or something).
Anyway, here’s the incumbent/Dem challenger list…
| No. | Repug Incumbent | Dem Challenger |
| 1 | Steve King | Christie Vilsack |
| 2 | Mike Fitzpatrick | Kathy Boockvar |
| 3 | John Boehner | Unopposed |
| 4 | Eric Cantor | Wayne Powell |
| 5 | Michele Bachmann | Jim Graves |
| 6 | Paul Ryan | Rob Zerban |
| 7 | Louie Gohmert | Unopposed |
| 8 | Allen West | Patrick Murphy |
| 9 | Joe Pitts | Aryanna Strader |
| 10 | Jack Kingston | Lesli Messinger |
| 11 | Patrick McHenry | Patsy Keever |
| 12 | Spencer Bachus | Penny Bailey |
| 13 | Jim Gerlach | Manan Trivedi |
| 14 | Cliff Stearns | Heather Beaven |
| 15 | Jean Schmidt | William Smith |
| 16 | Phil Gingrey | Patrick Thompson |
| 17 | David Schweikert | Matt Jette |
| 18 | Virginia Foxx | Elisabeth Motsinger |
| 19 | Pete Sessions | Katherine S. McGovern |
| 20 | Charlie Dent | Rick Daugherty |
| 21 | Cathy McMorris Rodgers | Rich Cowan |
| 22 | Chris Smith | Brian Froelich |
| 23 | Todd Akin | Harold Whitfield |
| 24 | Buck McKeon | Lee Rogers |
| 25 | Kristi Noem | Matt Varilek |
| 26 | Hal Rogers | Kenneth Stepp |
| 27 | Lou Barletta | Gene Stilp |
| 28 | Paul Broun | Unopposed |
| 29 | Mary Bono Mack | Sukhee Kang |
| 30 | David Dreier | Julia Brownley |
| 31 | Marsha Blackburn | Credo Amouzouvik |
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Wednesday Stuff
John Fugelsang gives us a dose of reality for the corporate media BS currently oozing out of our flat screens (hat tip to one of my senior correspondents for this one)…
Update 8/30/12: And I'm sure this made "the baby Jesus" cry too.
…and I think this song has a lot more to do with the reality we know than the nonsense currently playing out in “the state of Lex Luthor Scott.”
Update 8/30/12: And I'm sure this made "the baby Jesus" cry too.
…and I think this song has a lot more to do with the reality we know than the nonsense currently playing out in “the state of Lex Luthor Scott.”
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Tuesday Stuff
You want to know why I hate the Repugs? Read on…
(In case it's hard to read, I should point out that some single-digit-IQ'd life form(s) spray painted a hammer and sickle on the front of the new Obama campaign office in Doylestown, Pa.)
The link to the signup tomorrow is here (and if you really want to extend a middle-digit-on-high to the perpetrators of the vandalism, click here and make a contribution).
Now, for a change of subject, get a load of this asshat being interviewed – the miners weren’t required to attend the Romney event, but attendance was still “mandatory”? And of course, in case anyone didn’t want to attend but just show up to the mine to work, the mine was closed for “safety reasons”? And according to “federal law”? Really??
And in the matter of “payment,” this Rob Moore idiot says, “well, according to FEC law, we couldn’t pay them to attend the event.” The question has to do with payment for the job the miners weren’t allowed to perform because they had to attend Romney’s photo-op, you slug!!
…meanwhile, Rachel Maddow brings us a Tampa edition of “Debunktion Junction” (the last minute is a real hoot given the fools and frauds dispensing methane there this week)…
…and lest anyone think all I ever do is take shots at the Repugs…
…and here is my musical response to the coal miner thing (yeah, too easy I know)…
The link to the signup tomorrow is here (and if you really want to extend a middle-digit-on-high to the perpetrators of the vandalism, click here and make a contribution).
Now, for a change of subject, get a load of this asshat being interviewed – the miners weren’t required to attend the Romney event, but attendance was still “mandatory”? And of course, in case anyone didn’t want to attend but just show up to the mine to work, the mine was closed for “safety reasons”? And according to “federal law”? Really??
And in the matter of “payment,” this Rob Moore idiot says, “well, according to FEC law, we couldn’t pay them to attend the event.” The question has to do with payment for the job the miners weren’t allowed to perform because they had to attend Romney’s photo-op, you slug!!
…meanwhile, Rachel Maddow brings us a Tampa edition of “Debunktion Junction” (the last minute is a real hoot given the fools and frauds dispensing methane there this week)…
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
…and lest anyone think all I ever do is take shots at the Repugs…
…and here is my musical response to the coal miner thing (yeah, too easy I know)…
Monday, August 27, 2012
Monday Stuff
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Sunday Stuff
And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for (well, maybe)…
…Steven Arnold King of Iowa’s 5th Congressional District.
And why Steve King, I hear you ask?
Because he gave us the following quote (from here, including this of course)…
Basically, until the recent nonsense with King’s fellow looney tune rep Todd Akin and his “legitimate rape” episode (which King, of course, defended, probably for no other reason that because Akin was intruding on his crazy turf), I would have considered King a “slam dunk” as the U.S. House Repug most likely to be wrapped in a straight jacket and carted off Hannibal Lecter style from the chamber because he’d lost what’s left of his mind (which may yet happen anyway).
And as noted here, isn’t it accommodating of King to make himself timely in the news again as I’m putting this post together?
I’m not sure if it’s fair to say that King is the craziest individual in the U.S. House, since the Repug field is so wide and deep in that department (and what a commentary on the American voters who send these life forms slithering back to Washington every two years, by the way). He may have the edge over people such as Moon Unit Bachmann and Louie Gohmert in that, according to my unofficial tally, he has introduced more crazy actual legislation than those two (I mean, it doesn’t take a genius to say something dumb in public, but it takes someone maybe only slightly more advanced to structure his or her craziness into something that could potentially acquire the force of law). And King has done that, noted in some of the following lowlights:
Here, he compared upgrades of light bulbs on Capitol Hill to tactics of the former Soviet secret police (o-kaaayyyyyy)...
...here is a TMI report on King (I give Rachel Maddow and Kent Jones credit for trying to interject some humor, though I find King funny in no way, shape or form)...
...and K.O. basically makes a plea here to the vertebrate life forms who continually send King back to Washington over and over again.
And so there you have it, people. That is my report on 31 U.S. House Republicans who have done their best to obstruct health care reform (with Dems Dan Boren and Mike Ross thrown in as a bonus). Some of them, including Boren and Cliff Stearns (Update 8/29/12: "Mean Jean" Schmidt too), won’t be returning to Washington next year – we already know that. However, I would ask that you please keep all of this in mind as you vote early and often, I’m sure, all over the country this November.
Update 9/6/12: As Kent Jones said, Steve King isn't finished (here).
Update 9/8/12: Willard Mitt tells us something about himself by the company he keeps, and I don't mean that in a good way (here).
Update 10/23/14: He's assuming he'll get there to decline meeting them - I wouldn't be too sure (here).
Oh, and here’s one final musical number dedicated to the person at the top of the list.
#2, Mike Fitzpatrick…at long last, it is indeed time to name the #1 U.S. House Republican opposed to health care reform, and that would be this guy…
#3, John Boehner
#4, Eric Cantor
#5, Michele Bachmann
#6, Paul Ryan
#7, Louie Gohmert
#8, Allen West
#9, Joe Pitts
#10, Jack Kingston
#11, Patrick McHenry
#12, Spencer Bachus
#13, Jim Gerlach
#14, Cliff Stearns
#15, Jean Schmidt
#16, Phil Gingrey
#17, David Schweikert
#18, Virginia Foxx
#19, Pete Sessions
#20, Charlie Dent
#21, Cathy McMorris Rodgers
#22, Chris Smith
#23, Todd Akin
#24, Buck McKeon
#25, Kristi Noem
#26, Hal Rogers
#27, Lou Barletta (Two bonus selections: Boren and Ross)
#28, Paul Broun
#29, Mary Bono Mack
#30, David Dreier
#31, Marsha Blackburn (including backgrounder)
And why Steve King, I hear you ask?
Because he gave us the following quote (from here, including this of course)…
“King added that he’s thinking about introducing a bill, which if it became law, would repeal everything Obama has signed into law,” reports The Messenger, a local newspaper in Iowa. Such an extreme proposition would certainly do away with the biggest Republican bugaboos like Obamacare and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, but King’s “reset button” bill will come with many more casualties…Indeed. As Think Progress tells us, King’s bill would eliminate the Bush tax cuts once and for all (which would be fine with me, by the way), defund the military, relax southern border security, strip medals of honor from 9/11 first responders, and cancel plans to honor The Sainted Ronnie R (which would also be fine with me).
Basically, until the recent nonsense with King’s fellow looney tune rep Todd Akin and his “legitimate rape” episode (which King, of course, defended, probably for no other reason that because Akin was intruding on his crazy turf), I would have considered King a “slam dunk” as the U.S. House Repug most likely to be wrapped in a straight jacket and carted off Hannibal Lecter style from the chamber because he’d lost what’s left of his mind (which may yet happen anyway).
And as noted here, isn’t it accommodating of King to make himself timely in the news again as I’m putting this post together?
I’m not sure if it’s fair to say that King is the craziest individual in the U.S. House, since the Repug field is so wide and deep in that department (and what a commentary on the American voters who send these life forms slithering back to Washington every two years, by the way). He may have the edge over people such as Moon Unit Bachmann and Louie Gohmert in that, according to my unofficial tally, he has introduced more crazy actual legislation than those two (I mean, it doesn’t take a genius to say something dumb in public, but it takes someone maybe only slightly more advanced to structure his or her craziness into something that could potentially acquire the force of law). And King has done that, noted in some of the following lowlights:
So with all of this in mind, please allow me to present the following...King said here that the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) was “boring” (SOPA had other problems, but we’re sorry King was somehow uninterested…he gets paid too much money to be “bored” by stuff like this).
He introduced a resolution to defund health care along with Bachmann here – and then voted “Present” on his own amendment (unbelievable).
Here, he measured the worth of workers in soybeans (typical for a lunatic).
King called, basically, for a return to McCarthyism here.
King, of course, has no problem trying to legislate regarding the health care of women, though, of course, he doesn’t want any law passed that affects his body (here), which I’m quite sure is bereft of any sign of intelligent life.
What passes for King's thought process here is that employers shouldn’t have to hire gays and lesbians because they shouldn’t be told who to discriminate against, or something.
King tried to destroy food safety regulations not just in California, but all over the country, here.
He wanted Obama’s uncle to testify on Capitol Hill here – God only knows why.
King suggested states have a right to ban contraception here .
Oh, and did I tell you that King is a “birther,” of course (which is also noted by TMI below)?
King also falsely claimed the number of uninsured would increase under “Obamacare” here.
He also said unemployment is caused by “a nation of slackers” here (and what a trifecta in the pic, by the way).
He also claimed that the Romney team comes to him for advice, supposedly, here (I’m sure Willard Mitt wants to put some duct tape over King’s mouth for that).
Here, he says some Americans just don’t need health care (maybe he should give up his own to try and prove his point).
I guess King is trying to "triple down" on the stoo-pid here regarding his thoroughly baseless charge against Huma Abedin, wife of former Congressman Anthony Weiner and aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
This tells us about King’s “English only” bill, which is another typically moronic idea.
This tells us, among other things, that one of King’s hometown newspapers actually tried to take back its endorsement of him in his 2010 election campaign against Matt Campbell (yep, we’re talking a whole other level of wingnuttia here).
Here, he compared upgrades of light bulbs on Capitol Hill to tactics of the former Soviet secret police (o-kaaayyyyyy)...
...here is a TMI report on King (I give Rachel Maddow and Kent Jones credit for trying to interject some humor, though I find King funny in no way, shape or form)...
...and K.O. basically makes a plea here to the vertebrate life forms who continually send King back to Washington over and over again.
And so there you have it, people. That is my report on 31 U.S. House Republicans who have done their best to obstruct health care reform (with Dems Dan Boren and Mike Ross thrown in as a bonus). Some of them, including Boren and Cliff Stearns (Update 8/29/12: "Mean Jean" Schmidt too), won’t be returning to Washington next year – we already know that. However, I would ask that you please keep all of this in mind as you vote early and often, I’m sure, all over the country this November.
Update 9/6/12: As Kent Jones said, Steve King isn't finished (here).
Update 9/8/12: Willard Mitt tells us something about himself by the company he keeps, and I don't mean that in a good way (here).
Update 10/23/14: He's assuming he'll get there to decline meeting them - I wouldn't be too sure (here).
Oh, and here’s one final musical number dedicated to the person at the top of the list.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
More Saturday Stuff
I would like to have seen a bit more of an edge, but Kathy is the one running against Mikey, not me - to help, click here...
...and happy birthday to Jeff Tweedy of Wilco (I think I put this up once before, but that's OK).
...and happy birthday to Jeff Tweedy of Wilco (I think I put this up once before, but that's OK).
Saturday Stuff
You want to try shooting yourself in the foot again, Willard Mitt? And to do something about it, click here...
…and I think this was a pretty tidy wrapup of the Repug presidential nominating circus (hat tip to Crooks and Liars)…
…and RIP Neil Armstrong…
…probably too easy of a selection as a tribute, but there you are (sorry, no video, just some pics).
…and I think this was a pretty tidy wrapup of the Repug presidential nominating circus (hat tip to Crooks and Liars)…
…and RIP Neil Armstrong…
…probably too easy of a selection as a tribute, but there you are (sorry, no video, just some pics).
Friday, August 24, 2012
Friday Stuff
I’ll probably wrap up the congressional countdown this weekend, but not tonight (Wondering who gets the top “honors”? It won’t be long).
In the meantime, I have only this to say in response to this story – let him rot in prison until he’s dead, then cremate him and burn his ashes (no video)…
…and happy what-would-have-been 100th birthday to Gene Kelly – there’ll never be another…
…and I’ve been meaning to put up this ad featuring President Clinton for the whole week; still not totally happy with him for torpedoing the PA Attorney General prospects for Patrick Murphy, but as somebody said, politics ain’t beanbag…
…and this week marked what would have been the 66th birthday of Keith Moon, so allow me to provide the following (literally Moon’s final performance; there was no footage of this tune available for “The Kids Are Alright,” so they performed it specifically for the film, and Moon died soon afterwards…probably a bitterly ironic selection given the idiocy upcoming in Tampa next week, I realize).
In the meantime, I have only this to say in response to this story – let him rot in prison until he’s dead, then cremate him and burn his ashes (no video)…
…and happy what-would-have-been 100th birthday to Gene Kelly – there’ll never be another…
…and I’ve been meaning to put up this ad featuring President Clinton for the whole week; still not totally happy with him for torpedoing the PA Attorney General prospects for Patrick Murphy, but as somebody said, politics ain’t beanbag…
…and this week marked what would have been the 66th birthday of Keith Moon, so allow me to provide the following (literally Moon’s final performance; there was no footage of this tune available for “The Kids Are Alright,” so they performed it specifically for the film, and Moon died soon afterwards…probably a bitterly ironic selection given the idiocy upcoming in Tampa next week, I realize).
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Thursday Stuff
(I also posted here.)
Good luck to you two crazy kids – hope she got her “happy ending” (hey now!)…
...and now, time for the penultimate post on the congressional countdown…
You really didn’t think I was going to forget our own PA-08 rep, did you?
Now you may ask why, aside from reasons of personal pique, I might put “Mikey The Beloved” Fitzpatrick so high on the list, above high-profile miscreants like John Boehner or Eric Cantor. After all, Mikey only sits on the House Financial Services Committee, and he isn’t even the chairman (Spencer Bachus has that role, and he’s #12 on the list…speaking of money, it should also be noted that Mikey signed Grover Norquist’s “no tax pledge” in 2004; as far as I know, Norquist doesn’t live in PA-08).
It has to do with the issue of health care in particular, as opposed to, say, energy, foreign policy, the economy, etc.
You see (as noted here), Fitzpatrick is a cancer survivor (colon cancer, to be exact). I give him credit for his recovery and I wish him continued good health (my disagreements with him are political, not personal).
Given that, though, wouldn’t you expect him to have some insight into the whole issue of health care that other politicians don’t have? Wouldn’t you expect him to realize that our system of delivering health care in this country is fundamentally broken, and we need both government and industry working together to make it more equitable for everyone and thus delivering better results for our health care dollar (kind of the way, say, FDR better understood the poor and downtrodden in this country when he was treated for polio at Warm Springs, Georgia, though Heaven forbid that I would even imagine comparing Mikey to either Roosevelt who was elected president)?
I mean, you would expect that, wouldn’t you? However, since we’re talking about Mike Fitzpatrick, I have four words in response.
Na. Ga. Ha. Pen.
So let us begin with this, shall we…
…though I think this video tells the story pretty much…
...and here is yet another example of Mikey's brand of "constituent service" (Gee, "no cameras," huh? Part of the job description is facing those you don't agree with, congressman.)...
And in conclusion, I should note that a Courier Times story from February 2011 (link expired) quoted attorney Mary Helf, who said after hearing him speak that Fitzpatrick has “got a lot to learn. I just want the enormous challenges our country faces to get fixed, and I hope he's up to it."
Well, I think we have our answer. And to do something about it, click here.
Good luck to you two crazy kids – hope she got her “happy ending” (hey now!)…
...and now, time for the penultimate post on the congressional countdown…
#3, John Boehner…and that brings us to #2 on the list of U.S. House Republicans opposed to health care reform, and given that, I have a question:
#4, Eric Cantor
#5, Michele Bachmann
#6, Paul Ryan
#7, Louie Gohmert
#8, Allen West
#9, Joe Pitts
#10, Jack Kingston
#11, Patrick McHenry
#12, Spencer Bachus
#13, Jim Gerlach
#14, Cliff Stearns
#15, Jean Schmidt
#16, Phil Gingrey
#17, David Schweikert
#18, Virginia Foxx
#19, Pete Sessions
#20, Charlie Dent
#21, Cathy McMorris Rodgers
#22, Chris Smith
#23, Todd Akin
#24, Buck McKeon
#25, Kristi Noem
#26, Hal Rogers
#27, Lou Barletta (Two bonus selections: Boren and Ross)
#28, Paul Broun
#29, Mary Bono Mack
#30, David Dreier
#31, Marsha Blackburn (including backgrounder)
You really didn’t think I was going to forget our own PA-08 rep, did you?Now you may ask why, aside from reasons of personal pique, I might put “Mikey The Beloved” Fitzpatrick so high on the list, above high-profile miscreants like John Boehner or Eric Cantor. After all, Mikey only sits on the House Financial Services Committee, and he isn’t even the chairman (Spencer Bachus has that role, and he’s #12 on the list…speaking of money, it should also be noted that Mikey signed Grover Norquist’s “no tax pledge” in 2004; as far as I know, Norquist doesn’t live in PA-08).
It has to do with the issue of health care in particular, as opposed to, say, energy, foreign policy, the economy, etc.
You see (as noted here), Fitzpatrick is a cancer survivor (colon cancer, to be exact). I give him credit for his recovery and I wish him continued good health (my disagreements with him are political, not personal).
Given that, though, wouldn’t you expect him to have some insight into the whole issue of health care that other politicians don’t have? Wouldn’t you expect him to realize that our system of delivering health care in this country is fundamentally broken, and we need both government and industry working together to make it more equitable for everyone and thus delivering better results for our health care dollar (kind of the way, say, FDR better understood the poor and downtrodden in this country when he was treated for polio at Warm Springs, Georgia, though Heaven forbid that I would even imagine comparing Mikey to either Roosevelt who was elected president)?
I mean, you would expect that, wouldn’t you? However, since we’re talking about Mike Fitzpatrick, I have four words in response.
Na. Ga. Ha. Pen.
So let us begin with this, shall we…
Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick claims in his campaign literature and ads to be "leading the fight against Obamacare" in order to "preserve Medicare." There are worse Republicans in Congress than Mike, but on this issue, and too many others, he is lockstep with the tea party, and is leading the wrong fight.And concerning other matters, I give you the following:
Obamacare does not threaten Medicare. It does not cut the statutory Medicare benefits offered to seniors at all. It merely trims back the "Medicare Advantage" bauble added by President Bush to the Medicare tree so that private insurers could administer benefits to Medicare recipients instead of the government, at what has turned out to be a much higher cost. All of us want to trim the deficit. Cutting a boondoggle like Medicare Advantage is the right place to start.
The real threat to Medicare comes from the infamous Paul Ryan budget, which Fitzpatrick unwisely supported. It would cut the heart out of Medicare as we know it, ending the federal commitment to provide the current statutory Medicare benefits for future Medicare participants who are not yet 55. Ryan offers instead federal "premium support" (essentially a fixed price voucher) for seniors to use to buy private insurance or traditional Medicare, and tosses the program to the states to do with as they will. There would be no guarantee that either the private insurer or what is left of Medicare would continue to provide the same benefits Medicare now provides, or that the federal "premium support" would cover the costs of either program. Seniors might well be stuck paying more for less comprehensive coverage.
Fitzpatrick voted for the Ryan budget, and Mitt Romney says he supports it, too. It is the GOP agenda for gutting Medicare. For all the gory details, read Paul N. Van de Water's March 28 article "Medicare in the Ryan Budget" on the website of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, here.
Ryan argues that cuts in Medicare must be made to reduce the budget deficit and keep Medicare solvent, but then proposes in his budget an increase in military spending, even though we presently spend more on defense than all the rest of the nations of the world combined, and are not more secure for it than Scandinavia, Switzerland, Germany, Canada and a lot of other countries who spend a fraction of what we spend per citizen. They also provide more generous assistance in obtaining medical care to their seniors and to the less fortunate among them. They, and President Obama, have the right priorities. Mike Fitzpatrick, Mitt Romney and the GOP are on the wrong track.
Gregory S. Hill
Richboro, PA
And in response to this, Mikey claimed that the Democrats were “playing politics” (how con-vee-nient for Mikey – basically, he messed up by opposing the Democrats yet again; he could have voted to penalize offshoring companies and still kept the spending bill alive)…Fitzpatrick also voted in support of HR 822, “a bill that would force PA to accept concealed carry permits from every other state, even if a carrier is too dangerous to be granted a permit under our own laws,” as Retired Chief of Police in West Goshen, PA Mike Carroll told us (more is here).
He also gets it for holding a “tele” town hall, as noted here, even though he criticized Patrick Murphy relentlessly for it during the 2010 campaign (and during his first congressional break, he held a “town hall” event at a senior center…nothing wrong with that except for the fact that he totally froze out working people from attending...hasn't had any lately either, I don't believe; haven't heard of any - could be wrong).
And oh yeah, he did have another “town hall” with the Teahadists, as Think Progress reminds us here (the one in which Mikey accused President Obama of treason from 4:16 to 4:20, even though the “professional” journalists of his house organ, the Bucks County Courier Times, had not one word to say about it).
And of course, totally ignoring the maxim that criticism of the Commander-in-Chief stops at the water’s proverbial edge, he visited our troops in Afghanistan here and said that Number 44 “risked mission failure” with force reductions (of course, not a word from Mikey about how Obama’s wretched predecessor continually shortchanged the effort).
There’s a whole bunch of stuff on Fitzpatrick and energy here, including votes against funding clean energy and preserving tax breaks for oil companies (and incorrectly blaming President Obama for rising oil prices).
This takes you to a three-part series of posts I did earlier this year concerning all of Fitzpatrick’s supposed “accomplishments” in 2011, including supporting the “TRAIN” Act (HR 2401), which, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, would permanently block environmental rules on mercury and other cross-state pollution, possibly leading to as many as 25,000 deaths from heart and asthma attacks; the “Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011” which amends the Clean Air Act to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from “(issuing) any regulation concerning, taking action relating to, or taking into consideration the emission of a greenhouse gas to address climate change”; and HR 140, which would end birthright citizenship in this country, thus repealing the 14th amendment to the Constitution.
More stuff on Fitzpatrick and health care is here (more evergreen BS - “Obamacare” was supposedly “railroaded” through Congress…a particularly silly lie…and “tort reform” is supposedly needed to keep coverage affordable…also, Fitzpatrick has claimed that “Obamacare” would take about $500 million from Medicare, which is most definitely not true.)
(And by the way, in the Wordpress post above, Fitzpatrick claimed that the health care reform bill was 2,700 pages. In the previous video, he says the bill was 2,600 pages. Earlier in the countdown, Louie Gohmert claimed that the bill was 2,800 pages. Which is it, Repugs?)
The congressman said he voted against a motion by Democrats because he thought it would have killed the legislation and prevented Republicans from cutting the budget.Continuing, I also give you the following…
Two weeks ago, while defending his vote not to penalize companies that ship jobs overseas, Bucks County Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick said the motion defeated in January would have sent the full bill back to committee, where it would have been killed.
And since it was tied to House Resolution 38, which allowed Republicans to cut federal spending, the GOP would have been prevented from slicing the budget. It turns out, that's not the case.
Because the term "forthwith" was included in the Democrats' motion, the proposal to "curb the practice of U.S. companies sending jobs overseas" would have been attached to the spending-cuts bill and it could have been voted on immediately.
That was confirmed by the office of another House Republican and Lara Brown, a political science professor at Villanova.
"It is true that there are two forms of recommit motions, and yes, the 'forthwith' does matter in terms of whether the bill dies because it gets sent back to the committee or it is voted on with the new language inserted," Brown said.
…
Jesse Ferguson of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said this about Fitzpatrick's vote:
"While Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick talks about cutting spending, he should stop spending taxpayer money on corporations that ship American jobs overseas. The Republicans' plan to reduce federal spending protects tax breaks for companies shipping our jobs overseas, and is funded on the back of middle income families."
There’s no question that our election politics are full of extreme rhetoric, which both sides can agree is not helping us have an intelligent debate. But the mud slinging described in “Politics of the extreme” (Aug. 12) does not factor in one thing: actual votes.…and if you’re looking for another less-than-illustrious moment from Mikey during his return to Congress, I give you this…
Rep. Fitzpatrick has earned his reputation as a far-right congressman, whether you agree with his votes or not. He voted for the Ryan budget twice, which would turn Medicare into a voucher program while giving tax breaks to the super wealthy. He voted against considering a bill called the Bring Our Jobs Home Act to stop tax incentives for companies that ship jobs overseas. And recently, he voted to extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest 2 percent.
These are just a few votes among many Congressman Fitzpatrick has taken that fall in line with the increasingly far-right Republican Party. Mitt Romney took a gamble choosing Paul Ryan because he thinks voters will accept his party’s extreme positions. Congressman Fitzpatrick’s gamble is that he hopes his moderate district won’t notice.
Lindsay Patterson, President
USW Local 404
USW Political Coordinator
…though I think this video tells the story pretty much…
...and here is yet another example of Mikey's brand of "constituent service" (Gee, "no cameras," huh? Part of the job description is facing those you don't agree with, congressman.)...
And in conclusion, I should note that a Courier Times story from February 2011 (link expired) quoted attorney Mary Helf, who said after hearing him speak that Fitzpatrick has “got a lot to learn. I just want the enormous challenges our country faces to get fixed, and I hope he's up to it."
Well, I think we have our answer. And to do something about it, click here.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Tuesday Stuff
(Maybe back to the congressional countdown tomorrow, or the day after – not sure yet.)
Meanwhile, the numbers don’t lie, people, no matter how much the punditocracy tries to spin them (and I’m not talking about Krugman)…
…but when you need up-to-the-minute reporting on the Repug National Convention coming up in Tampa, that means it’s time for America’s Finest News Source…
Tampa Bay Gay Prostitutes Gearing Up For Flood Of Closeted Republicans
…in the humor department, though, let’s remember a real pro; RIP Phyllis Diller (And how many of you out there knew that she was also a classical pianist? Show of hands)…
…and somehow I missed the passing of one-hit wonder Scott McKenzie, but what a hit it was (hat tip to Crooks and Liars for the last two vids).
Meanwhile, the numbers don’t lie, people, no matter how much the punditocracy tries to spin them (and I’m not talking about Krugman)…
…but when you need up-to-the-minute reporting on the Repug National Convention coming up in Tampa, that means it’s time for America’s Finest News Source…
Tampa Bay Gay Prostitutes Gearing Up For Flood Of Closeted Republicans
…in the humor department, though, let’s remember a real pro; RIP Phyllis Diller (And how many of you out there knew that she was also a classical pianist? Show of hands)…
…and somehow I missed the passing of one-hit wonder Scott McKenzie, but what a hit it was (hat tip to Crooks and Liars for the last two vids).
Monday, August 20, 2012
Monday Stuff
And then there were three...
(Hat tip for the pic to Jed Lewison of Daily Kos.)
…and that indeed brings us to #3 on the list of U.S. House Republicans opposed to health care reform, and that would be John Boehner of Ohio, the House Speaker.
To be honest, I’m starting to run out of words to describe these characters, so I’ll just turn it over to Matt Taibbi again, as I did with Moon Unit Bachmann (here)...
And by the way, the reason why Boehner is on this list is because he once referred to health care reform as “Armageddon,” as noted in the video below (here)…
You want more proof? Here it is…
And at this point, I’m not sure what else there is to say about Boehner, except to note what Rachel Maddow tells us here…
...however, I believe this video captures Boehner in his essence, sort of...
...and, with a nod not towards politics in any way, allow me to extend a happy 60th birthday to John Hiatt (nice assist here by Sonny Landreth).
#4, Eric Cantor
#5, Michele Bachmann
#6, Paul Ryan
#7, Louie Gohmert
#8, Allen West
#9, Joe Pitts
#10, Jack Kingston
#11, Patrick McHenry
#12, Spencer Bachus
#13, Jim Gerlach
#14, Cliff Stearns
#15, Jean Schmidt
#16, Phil Gingrey
#17, David Schweikert
#18, Virginia Foxx
#19, Pete Sessions
#20, Charlie Dent
#21, Cathy McMorris Rodgers
#22, Chris Smith
#23, Todd Akin
#24, Buck McKeon
#25, Kristi Noem
#26, Hal Rogers
#27, Lou Barletta (Two bonus selections: Boren and Ross)
#28, Paul Broun
#29, Mary Bono Mack
#30, David Dreier
#31, Marsha Blackburn (including backgrounder)
…and that indeed brings us to #3 on the list of U.S. House Republicans opposed to health care reform, and that would be John Boehner of Ohio, the House Speaker.
To be honest, I’m starting to run out of words to describe these characters, so I’ll just turn it over to Matt Taibbi again, as I did with Moon Unit Bachmann (here)...
John Boehner is the ultimate Beltway hack, a man whose unmatched and self-serving skill at political survival has made him, after two decades in Washington, the hairy blue mold on the American congressional sandwich. The biographer who somewhere down the line tackles the question of Boehner's legacy will do well to simply throw out any references to party affiliation, because the thing that has made Boehner who he is — the thing that has finally lifted him to the apex of legislative power in America — has almost nothing to do with his being a Republican.I said earlier that I thought Eric Cantor represented everything wrong with the Republican Party (on the national level, at least), and I still feel that way. However, at least Cantor makes the admittedly flimsy attempt to pretend that he’s acting according to something that he perceives to be the public interest. However, Boehner cannot be bothered with even that degree of pretense. Whenever the opportunity arises for him to shamelessly demagogue, pander on behalf of a preferred constituency or cravenly pursue legislation to further ensconce his deep-pocketed campaign donors, he is as remorseless as a shark (and, as is the case with just about all of the people on this list, I cannot possibly imagine how he manages to garner even a single vote, but of course he does, and too many more).
The Democrats have plenty of creatures like Boehner. But in the new Speaker of the House, the Republicans own the perfect archetype — the quintessential example of the kind of glad-handing, double-talking, K Street toady who has dominated the politics of both parties for decades. In sports, we talk about athletes who are the "total package," and that term comes close to describing Boehner's talent for perpetuating our corrupt and debt-addled status quo: He's a five-tool insider who can lie, cheat, steal, play golf, change his mind on command and do anything else his lobbyist buddies and campaign contributors require of him to get the job done.
And by the way, the reason why Boehner is on this list is because he once referred to health care reform as “Armageddon,” as noted in the video below (here)…
You want more proof? Here it is…
Here, he called an extension of the middle class payroll tax cut “chicken shit” (looks like we’ve finally determined another area of Boehner expertise, besides fundraising that is).
And speaking of shaking people down, Boehner did that the night of the memorial service for the Tucson shooting victims, including fellow congressperson Gabby Giffords of course (here - all class).
Boehner replied “Are you kidding me?” here when asked if this country was better off under President Obama than under his ruinous predecessor (actually, the answer is yes, and here is just one measure).
Boehner said that if federal budget cuts mean job losses, “so be it” here (Rachel Maddow has more on this a bit later).
Here, he blamed the Democrats for lack of progress on a payroll tax cut – and he then left town (figures).
He blamed the weak Sept. 2011 jobs report on “the threat of high taxes,” or something, here.
This tells us how Boehner “walked away” from debt negotiations last September, which was actually a good thing given that Number 44 was ready to give away the proverbial store, again (and this tells us how he and Eric Cantor planned to renege on the debt deal anyway).
Here, he promised Obama the Repugs wouldn’t attack him over the debt ceiling negotiation, or something (the post contains a lot of evidence as to why Obama shouldn’t believe a word of what Boehner says…oh, and by the way, the post features Boehner saying that “most Americans don’t have a clue” when it comes to entitlement reform...someone is clueless all right, but it's not who Boehner thinks it is).
And in a low moment even for him, Boehner refused to allow Frank Buckles, the last surviving veteran of World War I, the honor of lying in state in the Capitol upon Buckles’ death in March of last year here (no line that Boehner and his pals won’t cross).
Boehner refused to support a capital gains tax for small business under Obama, but had no problem with supporting two such tax breaks under Dubya (here).
Boehner also incorrectly claimed that “nobody” wants to pay for infrastructure projects, supposedly, here.
Oh, and former New York Times columnists Bob Herbert reminds us here of how Boehner once handed out checks from tobacco lobbyists on the floor of the U.S. House (tells you where Boehner’s loyalties truly lie).
Boehner also told the American Bankers Association (who lobbied Boehner to keep intact our ridiculous student loan financing process in which banks were paid exorbitant fees to do virtually nothing, though the Democrats cleaned that up as soon as they took over the House in 2006) “know that I have you in my trusted hands” here.
He also said that troop deaths in Iraq are “a small price” to pay here (he obviously has no family member who serves or knows of anyone who does, or else he surely would have known to shut his trap on that...this from a man who apparently looks for reasons to cry about everything else).
As noted here, MIT professor John Reilly told Boehner to stop “misrepresenting” a study on green energy to propagate the incorrect talking point that related legislation before Congress would “cost every American family up to $3,100 per year in higher energy prices.”
Here, Boehner blamed President Obama for failing to pass the DREAM Act (uh, you pass legislation and, if he approves, he signs it – guess you missed that lesson in civics class, Orange Man).
And here, Boehner actually blames President Obama for the weather – no, seriously, Boehner really does that.
Also, here, Boehner tried to “scale back” the Violence Against Women Act (the same mentality as the one behind this as far as I’m concerned…and featuring Puppy-Dog-Eyes Paul Ryan, the Repug veep nominee? Color me shocked!).
And at this point, I’m not sure what else there is to say about Boehner, except to note what Rachel Maddow tells us here…
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
...however, I believe this video captures Boehner in his essence, sort of...
...and, with a nod not towards politics in any way, allow me to extend a happy 60th birthday to John Hiatt (nice assist here by Sonny Landreth).
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