Thursday Stuff

Looks like we have some late-breaking election results :-)..



…and for more comedy, Jon Stewart nails the usual media culprits over the election here…



…and this reality-based commentary by Rachel Maddow should be required viewing for every voter (more here, and I thought this was some great commentary also)…

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…and I’ve had this song in my head all day – all I can do about this is hope.

Wednesday Stuff

Time to say adios to some departing Repugs on Capitol Hill – first, U.S. Rep Roscoe Bartlett…



…next, fellow House Repug Joe Walsh…



…and Allen West…



Update 12/2/12: Gee, I wonder if West should go watch a play (here)?

…and Todd (“Legitimate Rape”) Akin…



…and “Holy Joe” Lieberman in the Senate (and please spare me the "independent" label...and how funny is this clip anyway – and as far as the “5 trillion Obama debt” claim goes, read #3 from here and learn that that number is actually associated with Obama’s wretched predecessor)…



…and yes, I realize there’s a wholly other context to this song, but this is probably a nice “good riddance” number for all of the above; you can probably argue that this is a good tune for the end of the overall campaign too.

Some Random Post-Election Thoughts

I don’t have much to add here, except to congratulate returning Dem U.S. Senator Bob Casey and returning Dem state house reps Steve Santarsiero and John Galloway on their electoral wins last night.

And while it’s a shame that Kathy Boockvar lost last night in her quest to send Mikey the Beloved packing and give U.S. PA-08 some decent representation for a change, I can’t say that I’m totally surprised. The PA Repugs redrew PA-08 in 2010 in a way that would make it monumentally difficult for any Dem to win that district (I also thought Boockvar was a little too “nice” for much of the campaign – there was plenty to go after in Mikey’s appalling voting record over the last two years, and she could have done that earlier on even with the corporate media tut-tutting about supposedly going negative, which she would have done well to disregard anyway).

To illustrate about how difficult it is for a Dem to win PA-08, let me point out that, in 2006, Patrick Murphy barely lost the Bucks County portion of the district, but won enough of the “slivers” of Montgomery County and Philadelphia to win the district overall. Well, when the district was redrawn in 2010, those silvers were removed and replaced with Repug strongholds, of course.

Think about that for a minute the next time you hear anyone point out how supposedly “moderate” Bucks County is. Patrick Murphy, an Iraq war veteran, was running when the Bush Administration was still in power, with the debacle in Mesopotamia becoming totally apparent (and Mikey the Beloved was totally tethered to it, as you might expect) and the Katrina catastrophe was still fresh in everyone’s minds, with Dubya’s approval numbers sinking like a stone as a result. And Murphy still lost Bucks (not whining about it, just stating the truth).

(Also, I think this was a rather hilarious commentary by the Philadelphia Inquirer, assuming that Mikey would honor his term limits pledge. This guy once made a term-limit pledge too, and after last night, he’s going back to Washington also…if past is prologue, then his main opponent Aryanna Strader did well in Berks and OK in Chester counties, but Pitts probably cleaned up thanks to those poor saps in Lancaster County once more).

Returning to Mikey, I honestly would like to know how he would have fared without the benefit of his full-page ads that, in typical fashion, ran in the Bucks County Courier Times for about two weeks prior to the election. I would say that that more than neutralized that paper’s lack of an endorsement (as well as the paper’s total failure to report on this stunning development).

And while I’m on the subject of the Courier Times, is there a bigger bunch of jokers than that paper’s editorial board, which, except for Santarsiero and Galloway, basically punted on many of its endorsements (including deciding to say nothing about Casey and “Teabag Tom” Smith)?

And while the paper had the right to endorse Willard Mitt Romney here, they did so in part for the following reason: “Social Security is on the cusp of insolvency”…

Uh, no.

Finally, the most hilarious notion I’ve heard yet is that the results of this election will make the Republican Party reach out to minorities and other demographics that helped propel President Obama to a second term, as well as achieving victory for other Dems.

Really? You mean we’ll actually be spared the sight of another clown show of GOP presidential candidate “debates” like what we had to endure earlier this year, which was aimed at ginning up support from the Teahadists and practically no one else?

That’s almost too funny for words.

Take a look at this chart. This is the future of today’s Republican Party, eventually sinking like a stone as elderly white conservatives shed their respective mortal coils and pass from this world into the next.

And take future GOP electoral prospects right along with them (Update 11/8/12: And take a look at this one too).

Update 11/7: By the way, in my prior comments, I didn’t mean to blow off Kathy Boockvar. I think she ran pretty much a common-sense, centrist kind of a campaign. And in a lot of places depending on which election cycle you’re talking about, that might have been good enough to win.

However, what I tried to point out above is that, for a Democrat to win in PA-08 anymore, you need to upset the proverbial apple cart to get attention from enough voters who would only vote for a Dem if they were thoroughly disenchanted with a Repug. As an example, Florida’s Patrick Murphy defeated the thoroughly odious Allen West in Florida, but even as bad as West is, he still garnered a huge percentage of the vote. I use that example because, based on my admittedly limited review, I think that district in FLA mirrors PA-08 in a lot of ways (and as I also pointed out, the fact that a just-about daily newspaper of a fairly large circulation carries the proverbial water of Mike Fitzpatrick on a continual basis doesn’t help matters, but I honestly don’t expect that to change).

Running as a Dem in PA-08, you’ve got to really “go big” on the issues and somehow get your message through the filters of the cable shouters, other commercial media including print and broadcast and the wingnutosphere directly to the people. And if I knew how to do that (and if I had enough money and the right pedigree, which I don’t), well, hell, I might even take a crack myself. And in PA-08, you’ve got to do that and also find a way to dismantle the “moderate Mikey” mythology perpetuated by the Courier Times as well as radio station WBCB, with its news director Pat Wandling also serving as one of Mikey’s biggest mouthpieces. And so far, as I said, that hasn’t been accomplished yet.

To be fair to Boockvar, though, you can’t pretend to be something you’re not. I had a chance to speak with her briefly while working the phones in Bristol, PA recently, and I found her to be engaging and thoroughly professional. She would have been a great rep, but we are where we are. I hope she and her family can now take the time to put all this noise behind them and reconnect with each other once again.

Election Stuff

Congratulations to President re-elect Obama!

...and here is a clip for the occasion (after we take a good, long, deep breath - well, we still have work to do).



Update 11/7/12: And by the way, congratulations also to Senator-elect Elizabeth Warren…

…and Senator-elect Tammy Baldwin…

…and Congressperson-elect Tammy Duckworth…

…and Congressman-elect (in Florida) Patrick Murphy…

…and Congressman-elect (also in Florida once more) Alan Grayson!

Monday Stuff

It’s a bit late to do anything about #3 here, but there’s a lot of other good voting info in this video…



…and I haven’t had much of anything to say about Bob Casey, who is running for re-election tomorrow as one of PA’s U.S. senators, the other being the thoroughly wretched “No Corporate Tax” Pat Toomey.

I guess one of the reasons is because, as nearly as I can tell, Casey hasn’t done a good job with social media (maybe wrong?), but apparently he’s run a few T.V. ads to make up for it. That’s not to deny the fact that I think he’s done a good if unspectacular job; maybe he inflated his role in keeping the Harley Motorcycle plant in York, but at least he did something about the potential job loss (puts the lie to one of those ridiculous claims, the one about Casey supposedly being a "job killer"). He also was chiefly responsible for securing an extension into this year of a 2 percent payroll-tax cut for 150 million wage earners. Casey also got $250 million added to the new health-care law for pregnant women in need of more acute care. Tom Smith, on the other hand, is a no-exceptions extremist on abortion, having bizarrely compared a pregnancy resulting from rape with having a child out of wedlock here (like too many other Republicans). Also, coming from a "big coal" background, Smith would do his best to gut any environmental legislation, which, again, makes him a typical Republican (just keep convincing yourself that climate change had nothing to do with Sandy)...



…and lest I forget, let’s all go out and support Steve Santarsiero also tomorrow, running for re-election as our state representative for PA-31 (noted here)…



…and don’t forget to help Kathy Boockvar also (and if you want a reason to vote against Mikey the Beloved, take your pick from here)…



…and though I wish Number 44 hadn’t dismissed public-sector employment here so quickly (I honestly don’t think that was his intention, however), I definitely agree with the rest of what he said here, and I think President Obama makes a good case for another term...



…and I have kind of a mixed record with this pre-voting motivational (sort of) video, but here it is again anyway, for what it’s worth – leave everything in the road tomorrow, people!

Sunday Stuff

Sounds like there were some problems at the brown shirt rally for Willard Mitt and Mr.-Puppy-Dog-Eyes-With-The-Shiv today at Shady Brook Farm (here and here – I’ve been there enough times to know how freaking cold it can get…it is a working farm, after all - Shady Brook and the Flemings also pulled similar nonsense here, noted in #3, and yes, I know they have the right to do it).

In the meantime, to help Kathy Boockvar, click here...



…and this little number goes out to Mikey The Beloved for all of those disgusting red road placards with the white lettering that are popping up all over Doomsy-land saying “Save Medicare, Vote Fitzpatrick” (and even though this is a great tune, I'm still uncomfortable with the borderline misogyny, truth be told).

Saturday Stuff

I’m personally pissed that Willard Mitt and Mr.-Puppy-Dog-Eyes-With-The-Shiv are going to be in my “hood” tomorrow – if I can manage to come up with a creative and appropriate response, I’ll let you know – in the meantime, it looks like Mr. Burns has made up his mind :-)…



...and here’s a reminder about the Repug presidential nominee...



...oh, and here’s another instance of Mikey The Beloved fluffing his precious “job creators,” or, as he puts it, people who know how to sign the front of a paycheck instead of the back of one, or something – I guess supposedly clever remarks like this one are another reason why he couldn’t even secure the endorsement of his own PR machine (if you can help Kathy Boockvar, please click here)...



…also, don’t forget to set your clocks back an hour.

Friday Stuff

Cenk Uygur pointed out that tax cuts for the rich don’t work (which we knew), but we now have the proof (so of course the Repugs are trying to quash the findings)…



…and for no particular reason, I give you this (and let’s hope for a rain-free next few days, at least – if anyone out there still needs help recovering from Sandy, or if you’re able to assist, please click here).

Thursday Stuff

Sixty years ago today, the first hydrogen bomb test was conducted on Eniwetok atoll in the Pacific – this clip from the documentary “The Atomic Café” provides some context from that period…



…and going from one “bomb” to another (and I don’t mean that in a good way), I give you this (and to help, click here)…



…and Lawrence O’Donnell tells us how Willard Mitt milked Hurricane Sandy to get face time in the midst of a genuine crisis – no depths to which Romney won’t sink (here, and let's not forget this too)…

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…and happy birthday to Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who I also mentioned here (though I must say that we’ve had enough of the rain for awhile).

Wednesday Stuff

Keep bashing the unions, Willard Mitt – you’re doing just fine (here...and if you can help President Obama, click here)...



...and here’s a Halloween request; don’t eat your candy all at once :-).

Tuesday Stuff

“Romnopoly” indeed (here)…



…and it looks like “Governor Bully” went off-script again here, though, to be fair, I honestly don’t believe that he cares about a “script” at the moment; kudos to him…



Update: On further review, as they say, let me add the following: yes, give Christie credit for stepping up during a crisis, but let’s face it, this is part of his job. And the bar on this stuff is set pretty low for Repug governors to begin with.

…and it looks like “weather vane” Willard Mitt “shook that Etch-a-Sketch” again, or something, based on this (and no, I’m not trying to imply that the wreckage left by Sandy is worse than any other natural disaster that has struck our country recently because it happened here as opposed to elsewhere)…

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…and here’s something a little “goth” for the occasion (only two days left to put up this video, so here it is).

Monday Stuff

So Willard Mitt Romney considers federal disaster relief “immoral” (here)…



…Really? (from here)…

…and here’s a tune to listen to while the power flickers.

Sunday Stuff

Try watching this without feeling the bile rise in your stomach because Willard Mitt Romney’s presidential hopes haven’t yet been stomped utterly into oblivion…

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…oh, and by the way, get a load of the pro-Romney campaign signs featured in the hardcopy version of this New York Times story (I guess no one had enough paint to make the “Obama Bad” and “Obama Lying” signs also)…

Update 1: Oh yeah, I forgot to add this (I think Digby was first with this item)...



Update 2: By the way, I seriously hope that the Bucks County Courier Times isn’t expecting some plaudits or something for choosing not to officially endorse Mikey The Beloved for another term in Congress because they’re upset over that sleazy ad attacking Kathy Boockvar for her husband representing some of Mumia Abu-Jamal’s sympathizers (which, the last I checked, was perfectly legal according to the Constitution), the ad that Fitzpatrick said was “troubling” concerning Boockvar (I can't find the column from that miracle of technology known as phillyburbs.com, but it appeared in print Friday - never mind, here it is).

Because, you see, in the process of saying “well, both Fitzpatrick and Boockvar are good candidates, and voters would be fine either way,” the paper helped to reinforce the “moderate Mikey” mythology that has helped to maintain Fitzpatrick’s career in public life long after it should have ended (with the editorial board of the paper obviously ignoring the information presented here). The paper also ignored the fact that Fitzpatrick (or his supporters anyway) pull this crap every time Fitzpatrick runs for office, as noted here.

Considering all of this, here is a reminder to anyone out there who may have forgotten what a thoroughly unrepentant weasel Mikey truly is (and to help Kathy Boockvar, please click here...and a hat tip to Mrs. Doomsy for pointing out what the Courier Times said, since I‘m sorry to say that I missed it – yes, it does happen)...



…and here is an extended weather forecast.

Saturday Stuff

(I also posted here.)

Can’t make the case any plainer than this, people…



…and good luck with the storm, people – anybody got a “C” battery :-).

Friday Stuff

Given the thoroughly amoral behavior described in this video, I honestly don’t know how we can be (or should be) surprised by this (h/t Atrios...and I didn’t know about the vision-impaired professor, and please spare me the “boys will be boys” mea culpa – that behavior was learned from somewhere…God, Romney is such a scumbag, and the Huffpo piece makes this even more of a sick joke)…



…and I don’t know if this is a “message” song or not, but I don’t care because it just rocks.

Thursday Stuff

Yep, Willard Mitt keeps such interesting company, doesn’t he (and speaking of Mourdock and “interesting company,” I give you this, and this, including this doofus from PA)…



…and I give you genius stuff from Stephen Colbert here, though he comes perilously close to breaking the pane of pseudo-reality he creates with his typical TV persona…



Update 10/26/12: Definitely not a fan of Rice, but credit where credit is due here...

…and changing the mood a lot, this from Sen. Al Franken reminds us that Sen. Paul Wellstone, his wife Sheila, and their daughter Marcia died in a plane crash ten years ago today (don’t know why the last 20 seconds or so of this video are messed up)…



…and this is intended as a bit of a tribute.

Wednesday Stuff

(I also posted here.)

The Repugs keep pulling garbage like this, so I guess I have to respond somehow (Any actual grownups in that party? Show of hands?)…

"Legitimate Rape" Pharmaceutical Ad (TW) - watch more funny videos

…and I give you the following baseball commentary based on this (and I’m rooting for the Tigers, even if Prince Fielder does need his own area code – sad face).

Tuesday Stuff

President Obama tries to close the deal on this election, in admirable fashion I may add (here)…



…and in so doing, throwing back in the face of a certain former Massachusetts governor all of his bouts of “Romnesia” (a genius tag line - I wish this video had gone on a little bit longer...here)…



…and it looks like Willard Mitt “don’t know much geography” also, as noted here, keeping up with a less-than-honorable Repug tradition (here)…



…and it looks like we have a last-minute entry to the field (“gonna lean on the one percent,” huh? Sold, American!).

Monday Stuff

You know what? Can we just put an end to this charade once and for all?

Here, President Obama utterly busted Willard Mitt Romney on the fact that he has been UNEQUIVOCALLY, THOROUGHLY AND UTTERLY WRONG throughout his ridiculous campaign, not just on foreign policy but on everything else, and all he has to offer in response is, “yeah, well, says you Obama!”

Seriously, people, are we going to continue to see polls about how this election is supposed to still be close? And yes, I know it probably will be until the end, but come on! Who is the adult in the room here and who isn’t?

And to be selfish for a minute, am I going to continue to be deluged with phone calls and Email with every Democrat in the universe putting the bite on me for mo’ and mo’ and mo’ and mo’ money?

After this joke of an election season, every adult in this country who is registered to vote should hound their politicians night and day for public funding of elections exclusively, and 30-day campaign periods with limits on TV appearances. No exceptions. And limit the public funds to Democrats and Republicans, but not for third parties. Deal?

(Yeah, I know, hit the “snooze” button and change the channel…and to help Obama, click here)

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…and by the way, happy birthday to John Wesley Harding (maybe my theme song here – hope not).

Two Pre-Debate Videos

“Any” president, Willard Mitt (here)?...



…and as you watch this video, I would ask that you keep this in mind also (here as well).

Sunday Stuff

RIP Sen. George McGovern (more here)…



…and I’m putting up this video chiefly to highlight what that idiot Darrell Issa did with his Libyan “document dump” as noted here (yeah, as C&L says, we know what Rahm is, but he’s spot-on here)…



…and when I think of McGovern, I think of this song; I know the “ain’t no Democrat” part doesn’t fit, but I think the rest does (yep, another song by Jackson Browne, I know, but I don’t know anyone else out there writing or performing this kind of music).



…and I noted the recent observance of Thelonious Monk’s 95 birthday a little while ago – time to do the same for Mr. John Birks Gillespie.

Saturday Stuff

Second verse, same as the first (from the day before – here)…



…and I remember getting dressed up for Saturday night – sigh.

Friday Stuff

I suppose “Obamacare” does cover pre-existing conditions, but I’m afraid Romney’s type of stoo-pid could be terminal (certainly for his presidential prospects, though we need to make sure of that – here)…



…and with stuff like this, no wonder Willard Mitt has “Romnesia” (funny)…



…and what of Willard Mitt’s “youthful ward”? Check this out (and this - typical)…



…and shifting the tone again, I give you this from Robert Redford (yet another important reason to vote for President Obama)…



…and 50 years ago, we were smack dab in the middle, basically, of the Cuban Missile Crisis, which lasted from about October 16th to the 28th – I thought Chris Matthews had some really good stuff on that on the following episode of “Real Time” (now watch those bastards at HBO find a way to block this video like they always do)…



…and happy birthday to Karl Wallinger of World Party.

Thursday Stuff

(I also posted here.)

Yep, you can tell we’re in the home stretch of a U.S. House re-election campaign featuring Mikey The Beloved – the Courier Times today, in the front page banner, has a reminder to look inside the paper for a full-page ad telling us how great Mikey supposedly is…yes, I get it that the paper can accept any advertising they want, but that still utterly reeks, almost as much as their largely pungent Op-Eds – and to help Kathy Boockvar, click here…



…and I don’t suppose this is really that funny, but it does make a point that needs to be made (more here)…

The Woman For Mitt Romney with Selma Blair from Selma Blair

…and I should have included this clip of Obama’s summing up at the Tuesday debate before now, but better late than never…



…and I think this is a bit of a catchy tune from these guys – they’ve ended up wearing pretty well, don’t you think?

Wednesday Stuff

I read some pundit who equated this moment from Willard Mitt (Binders Full of Women…???) Romney last night with Gerald Ford’s remark about supposed Polish autonomy way back when – just a thought...oh, and here is another thought…



...and I wish Obama had said, “yeah, here’s my pension, you doofus” and accented it with a crotch grab; I realize, though, that while that would have been highly satisfying, it probably would have cost # 44 the election – looks like that was Romney’s “I’ll bet Rick Perry 10 grand” moment, only slightly updated - here…



…and I don’t know why any life form with a pulse would trust Romney on anything, but I think this is an appropriate smack down on the whole question of what Romney would do if, God help us, he got the opportunity to sign legislation relegating Roe v. Wade to the dust bin (and with a Repug Congress and – God help us – he and Mr. Puppy-Dog-Eyes-With-The-Shiv in charge, you know he’d get it)…



…and happy 71st birthday to James Seals of Seals and Crofts; not going to get into the whole baha'I thing tonight, though…with all of the political flotsam and jetsam out there, I’m in the mood for a bit of escapism, and I think this vid delivers – hope you agree.

The Inky Gets It Straight On PA-08

The Philadelphia Inquirer announced its endorsement in the eighth district U.S. House race…

…and it’s Kathy Boockvar!

As the Inky tells us here…

A scurrilous Republican ad campaign against Democrat Kathy Boockvar offered (Mike) Fitzpatrick a chance to speak out against the divisiveness that continues to paralyze Washington. But instead of showing leadership, he has mostly talked about his bipartisan credentials as a former county commissioner.

Add his party-line votes to repeal the health-care overhaul and approve budgets that would gut federal programs, maintain tax cuts for the wealthy, and threaten traditional Medicare, and it becomes clear that Fitzpatrick is cozying up to tea-party policies far from his district's mainstream.

Gosh, it looks like the word has gotten out that Mikey’s “spine” is made of vermicelli. Color me shocked!

I’ve criticized the Boockvar campaign for not attacking Fitzpatrick’s awful voting record more. But even though PA-08 was heavily redrawn to support the Repugs…well, if Boockvar somehow manages to pull this off, I’ll gladly eat humble pie.

This is what happens when you get all kissy faced with the Teahadists, Mikey. And it couldn’t happen to a more deserving person.

To help Kathy, click here.

Tuesday Stuff

On the one hand, it’s terrific to see so much citizen action in all of the political stuff with the videos in particular (and yeah, it’s even better that it benefits Obama and the Democrats, mainly because the Repugs are just stone cold nuts on the national level). On the other hand, it’s sad to me that such participation is necessary because our traditional corporate media has, for the most part, utterly failed in its duty to educate and inform…

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

…and this goes out to Willard Mitt, who apparently got smoked by Obama based on the observations of the teenaged one (with Romney apparently looking oh so presidential on that Libya thing – not!).

Monday Stuff (updates)

And the Catholic Church continues to support (wink, wink) this pirate (more here…watch this and then ask me why I’m supposed to need some damn debate to make up my mind)…



Update 1 10/16/12: Uh, yep (and as far as I'm concerned, the analogy to organized crime is utterly appropriate).

Update 2 10/16/12: More here...

Update 3 10/16/12: And concerning the whole "debate" thing, I think this was very well-said, bad language and all.

…and a long time ago, I worked for a company in downtown Philadelphia where the former CEO, now deceased, once threatened to fire any employee who voted for Bill Clinton – I left soon after he said that, so I really didn’t think it was worth it to tell him what he could do in response; basically, the more things change…I know you know the rest (here)…



…and this goes out to Willard Mitt and “Mr. Puppy-Dog-Eyes-With-The-Shiv” (the latter noted here), because, as I sometimes say, you just can never get enough Frank Zappa…



…and I would say that this was nicely done; IMHO, Willard Mitt is the real “Slim Shady.”

More Sunday Stuff

As far as I’m concerned, the real “takeaway” in this New York Times profile of former Bushie (and now chief Romney) economist Glenn Hubbard comes near the end…

Mr. Hubbard earned much more making the same pro-industry point in several court appearances, as an expert witness on behalf of corporations and mutual fund interests. One of those cases was a lawsuit by employees of ABB, a power generation products manufacturer, against the company and Fidelity, the mutual fund giant, over accusations that ABB paid excessive fees, at the employees’ expense, to manage the company’s 401(k)plan.

During a cross-examination, Mr. Hubbard said Fidelity had paid him $420,000 for his participation in the case. About $200,000 of that was direct billings — he charged $1,200 an hour — and the rest came from a company called the Analysis Group, which provides teams of experts for research projects. Mr. Hubbard earned 7.5 percent of the amount that Analysis Group researchers charged Fidelity.

A federal judge in Missouri ultimately found that ABB and Fidelity had breached a number of their fiduciary duties and in March of this year ordered ABB to pay $35.2 million and Fidelity to pay $1.7 million for losses.

But (John P. Freeman, emeritus professor of business and professional ethics at the University of South Carolina School of Law at the University of South Carolina) says he believes that Mr. Hubbard’s scholarship on this subject — particularly the paper he co-wrote — was shoddy and did genuine damage.

“What Hubbard and (John C. Coates IV of Harvard Law School) have done is pour holy water on the Investment Company Institute’s hopelessly stupid defense of fees charged by mutual funds,” he said in a telephone interview. That Mr. Hubbard took money for the paper casts doubts on his motives, Professor Freeman says.

And when it comes to Hubbard, I think the following should be considered from here (the clip ends with Maddow and a perplexed look on her face – I can’t imagine that anyone else has a clue as to what Romney is talking about either)…



…and this to me is a first; a video with a bunch of guys standing in the middle of a creek on a cold night greeting aliens, and apparently alcohol isn’t involved.

Sunday Stuff

RIP Arlen Specter – on the “con” side, there’s the infamous “magic bullet” theory, the Anita Hill inquisition, the fact that his “answer” to almost every issue was to hold a hearing, and probably more than a few items I’m forgetting (and he commendably spoke “truth to stoo-pid” here a little over five years ago and, as nearly as I can tell, didn’t invoke anywhere near the amount of flak Harry Reid took for saying basically the same thing).

On the “pro” side, he served our country in the Air Force and also served in government (as well as the U.S. Senate from PA, of course) for about 40 years, delivering millions to our beloved commonwealth and creating thousands (or maybe more) of jobs. And even when I disagreed with him (which was often), I believe that he honestly examined an issue and exercised his best judgment, which, to me, is why we elect these people even when they don’t do what they want.

And yes, he became a Democrat a couple of years ago out of political expediency. But honestly, was he wrong to basically say that the Republican Party (on the national level, at least) has gone around the proverbial bend?

Our sympathies go out to Specter’s family and friends (more here)…



…and notwithstanding Specter’s comments here about “Holy Joe” Lieberman (as well as the self-promotion, though who doesn’t do that these days?), I still think he made some good points here (including the Romney dig at the end - heh).

Saturday Stuff

Boy, does Lawrence O’Donnell have good ideas on improving those debates, as noted here…



…and I think his new recording comes out on iTunes and everywhere else in about a week – can’t wait.

Friday Stuff

Rachel Maddow tells us about “True The Vote” here, and it looks like this Teahadist bunch of fools and frauds needs a lesson in “physician, heal thyself,” as noted here (and that Ohio scumbag Jon Husted ended up firing the two Democratic workers who protested Husted’s early voting restrictions, and I believe they sued - good)…

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Update 10/15/12: What bastards (Husted and Mike DeWine, I mean).

…and speaking of the teabaggers, it looks like they’re going to descend on a location near the court house in Doylestown, PA tomorrow morning at around 9:00 – if you’re able, it would be great to appear and counter-protest (parking in the location is kind of sucky, though) – I could probably put up this video every night for one reason or another if I wanted to, but it’s particularly appropriate now…the great Spencer Tracy nailed these characters a long time ago…



…and while I stand by what I’ve said about the debates, well, I don't know if this makes up for his vote for that fraud of a bankruptcy bill all those years ago, but I think it comes close (and of course, all Eddie Munster can do in return is sit there with that dopey grin on his face - hey Catholic Church, you still support that fraud and his running mate?)

Of course you do - why do I even ask (sad face)...



…and a couple of days ago, I missed what would have been the 95th birthday of Thelonious Monk– enjoy.

Thursday Stuff

(I also posted here.)

I don’t like the “play” either – the “actor” for PA-08 isn’t any good (harking back to this - and to do something about it, click here)…



…and apparently, that fine, upstanding Roman Catholic man from Wisconsin is (based on the teenaged one’s preliminary reports) getting his lunch handed to him by Biden tonight, maybe because he tried stuff like this...and this is a nice way to take advantage (Rob Zerban is running against Ryan for the seat currently held by Mr.-Puppy-Dog-Eyes-With-The-Shiv-In-His-Pocket)…



Update: And here is the post-debate analysis from the wingnutosphere...



Update 10/19/12: And speaking of Ryan - well, heckuva job here (what a shame...and what does that story tell you about Ryan's supporters, by the way?).

…and Rachel Maddow tells us about the scientific discoveries of enlightened individuals, none of whom apparently reside in the U.S. House Republican Party, as noted here (surprised?)…

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…and no “message” songs tonight, just rock (no video – and they’re coming to town apparently).

Wednesday Stuff

RIP Alex Karras (here is the quote from Mongo that everyone remembers)…



…and by the way, I saw this and admitted I had a hard time trying to determine if this was a parody or an episode of “Meet The Press” with Dancin’ Dave…


In Bipartisan Spirit, Obama Makes Deal To Get Kicked In Balls

…and let’s not forget that the greed head scams of Willard Mitt and his pals had some real-world impact on people who can afford it the least, as noted here (and here is more on the Repug presidential nominee – and why does that idiotic smirk look so familiar?)…



…and speaking of which, today is the tenth anniversary of the passage by Congress of the Authorization to Use Military Force in Iraq, as noted here (and yes, the Bushies will waste no time reminding us that Democrats voted for it also…43 and his fellow pirates “broke” Iraq, so they own it…well, they did at least, but guess who “owns” it now?).

…(by the way, I’d intended to put up “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath since I believe that’s an eminently appropriate tune, but I didn’t like any of the videos – I included Jackson Browne last night I know, but this is an excellent substitute).

Tuesday Stuff

Looks like Willard Mitt has finally broken through with a prized voting demographic (true dat – heh...bad language alert)…

Blacks For Romney - watch more funny videos

…and here’s something to keep in mind while Mr. Puppy-Dog-Eyes-With-The-Shiv gets ready for his debate with Biden, and vice versa – yeah, I know the “47 percent” thing is old by now, though Obama needs to bring that up big time in the last two debates…and yes, I know about this too…still thoroughly nauseating to hear Repugs talk about a “moral tipping point” when these characters themselves have the “morality” of feral alley cats)…

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…and happy birthday to Jackson Browne…



…and John Lennon.

Monday Stuff

Gee, I wonder if Willard Mitt Romney would like to shake that Etch-A-Sketch of his upside down and erase this de facto endorsement of the Obama jobs record from 2006 (here)…



Update 10/10/12: The takeaway for me are the graphs from here...

…and let’s not forget this, by the way (something to keep in mind while reading this)…



…and speaking of foreign policy…well, as the astute Eugene Robinson puts it here, “domestic policy, you talk about stuff you don’t know anything about, you make an ass of yourself; in foreign policy, you start a war” (also, Willard Mitt, try reading this before you blame Obama for the SOFA)…



…and memo to Team Obama/Biden – this should be your anthem for confronting the Romney/Ryan Lie Factory while you prepare for these phony baloney TV debates (I still think that, if it has taken anyone this long to make up his or her mind and they need the idiot box to do it for them, then they’re definitely part of the problem and not part of the solution).

Sunday Stuff

(I also posted here about a local matter.)

So Mary Matalin thinks that Professor Krugman is a “liar,” huh? Why, because he backs up what he says with dumb stuff like, y’know, actual verifiable facts and data?...



(Also, concerning Bill Orally, I think the “Worst” citation is something to remember considering this.)

Oh, and in the “turnabout is fair play” department concerning Matalin, I give you this.

…also, my church did it again today, giving a (“wink, wink”) on-the-sly endorsement to the Repugs, taking a shot at President Obama; an offertory prayer intention was added for the president to “respect the life of the unborn,” plainly implying that Obama doesn’t (and the mass celebrant also warned us today about the supposedly grave threat of “human cloning”).

I’ve been attending Mass for very nearly half a century, and I’ve never heard such an intention offered for the President of the United States before.

So, this goes out to my parish which (“wink, wink”) isn’t supposed to (“wink, wink”) endorse a political candidate for the (“wink, wink”) Republican Party – heckuva job (may have to crank the volume a bit).

Saturday Stuff

I’ve been doing this blogging thing, for better or worse, since about June 2005. I’ve put up over 6,000 posts here at Blogger and about 770 over at Wordpress.

No, I’m not patting myself on the back – if I were to step back and take a look, I’m sure I’d find some stuff that was great, some stuff that was above average, some stuff that was OK, and some stuff that has genuinely sucked.

Why am I saying this? Because, if you remember absolutely nothing that I ever say or have said, or any other video, please remember this one – it sums up so very much of what I’ve tried to communicate here in about three or so minutes…



…and that being said, Mr. President, try saying this stuff to Willlard Mitt Romney’s face in the next debate also (Bob Herbert takes President Hopey Changey to the proverbial woodshed here)…



…in addition, it should be noted that Mr. Puppy-Dog-Eyes-With-The-Shiv, as well as being Willard Mitt’s running mate, is also running to retain his U.S. House seat in Wisconsin; to help his opponent, Rob Zerban, click here…



…and happy birthday to Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon (yes, I know, REO Speedwagon, “pretty boy” close-ups and all – this is still a whompin’ tune after all these years, however).

Friday Stuff

(I also posted here.)

How dare the Bucks County Courier Times actually publish an intelligent Guest Opinion today, from our former U.S. House Rep Patrick Murphy, who of course just wasn’t good enough to represent us in favor of Mikey The Beloved (here...and wow, what wingnut garbage in the comments)…

…and here are still more lies from Willard Mitt Romney (I can’t possibly imagine how he sleeps at night, and at the rate he keeps lying, I can’t imagine how his supporters do either)…



…and this tells you how long the Repugs have been trying to get rid of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (in light of this); I know Fred Rogers wasn’t all he appeared to be at times (I guess that’s the best way to put it), but he was spot-on here, testifying for funding in 1969 before Sen. John Pastore of Rhode Island (and a Dem)…



…and RIP Frank Wilson, legendary Motown producer and songwriter, who brought us this memorable tune among others (gutsy stuff, from an era where artists including those at Motown tackled issues like this frequently, with nary a right-winger in sight screaming about the "liberal media").

Thursday Stuff

(Hat tip to Daily Kos for the thoroughly apropos graphic...)

I suppose Number 44 could have had a little less “hopey, changey” and a little more fire in the belly last night, but it’s hard to look presidential when dealing with a thoroughly unrepentant liar like Willard Mitt Romney (I discussed that and other related stuff here, particularly this)…



…well, as least the POTUS “brought it” today, though he needs to do that next time to shove that garbage down Romney’s throat…



…and of course, Romney is following in a thoroughly dishonorable tradition for his party, as noted here (the Reagan/Mondale videos continue in more or less of a loop, by the way)…



...and I can think of no more apt tune for this business than this one (well, maybe Jonny Lang also).