The only subject Sen. Bernie Sanders doesn’t touch on here (of the ones that matter anyway) is climate change, though he hints at it with a reference to the Kochs (the best stuff comes beginning after about 5:40)…
…and in her own way, Rachel Maddow also chronicles the wingnut insanity on the health care law with Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel…
…and I don’t think we can expect much from those knuckleheads running the U.S. House, but let’s try anyway to get them to make Monsanto play by the rules (whatever they are now, I admit) for a change (here - try to get Monsanto...and Boehner and co...to abide by this)…
…and here’s a tune to help us kick start another weekend – and by the way, THIS IS LOUD!
As noted here (from today's post from here – fifth bullet), the U.S. House Repugs recently held their 42nd vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
To me, the idiocy (to say nothing of the pointless taxpayer expense) of these votes speaks for itself. However, since I have promised to highlight a U.S. House Republican for every one of them (as I did here and here), that means that I’m currently down by 2, having highlighted 40 to date, for what it’s worth.
So, without any more ado, let me make up my quota:
#41 - Ted Yoho (FL - 03)
Like every other Repug (I believe) in the House, Yoho (a darling of the Teahadists) voted to cut SNAP benefits while maintaining farm subsidies (here).
Yoho also praised an alleged “birther” conspiracy and called “Obamacare” racist against white people (here).
In addition to food stamps, he also railed against gay marriage and “terrorist immigrants” here.
And speaking of SNAP, it looks like Yoho and his wife applied during the Carter Administration – but of course, he opposes it now because he wants to “wean” people off it, or something (here).
There’s lots of stuff on Yoho here, including his “don’t tax our tanning beds” idiocy.
Update 10/11/13: Actually, I’m not sure who’s more of an idiot here – Yoho, or the caller presumably from his district who thinks that furloughed federal workers automatically “are home watching Netflix and whatever…”
#42 - Markwayne Mullin (OK - 02)
Mullin confessed to being a “birther” here (that pretty much seems to be required for admission into the Teahadist “club”).
He said here that he personally witnessed food stamp “fraud” in Washington, D.C. because someone who was poor was also apparently able-bodied too, which was too much for his tiny mind to process I suppose (of course, he said this when he was safely back in his home district).
Oh, and did you know that Mullin took about $370,000 in stimulus funds (here – so much for that baaad “big gumint”).
Here, he claimed that the price of a McDonald’s hamburger would rise to $20 if the minimum wage was raised to $10 an hour (hat tip to Blue Oklahoma for the above two links).
And of course he denies that climate change is happening, even though he’s from a state that has been buffeted severely by its effects (here).
I really hope this is the end of this nonsense, but somehow I have a feeling that, before the 2014 mid-terms, we’ll hit the half-century mark (love to be wrong).
If we do, don’t worry; I’m loading up with plenty of ammunition (metaphorically speaking, of course).
Gee, I wonder why Billo won’t debate Former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich (here – and what follows is another promo for “Inequality for All,” which opens tomorrow)…
…and as long as I’m mentioning Falafel Man, here’s a clip recommended by the teenaged one; a “dance mix” based on the O’Reilly freak out that I’d never seen before until about a month ago – enjoy (definitely NSFW - love the stuff with the jacket)...
…and I think all of Martin Bashir’s “Clear The Air” commentaries are good, but his words from about 2:00 on here should be required viewing for everyone…
…and I really don’t go in for the whole “gender politics” or “gender media” or “gender anything” bit, but if women called the shots in Congress (here), I’m sure there would be ample bitchiness, but somehow I think a hell of a lot more would get done on behalf of this country, particularly for kids and families (though I know there would be exceptions)…if you really want to “go there,” then I guess it’s fair to say that men, in total, have made a hash of things – sigh.
Update 10/10/13: I’d like to be mad about this, but there’s one problem – it documents an irrefutable fact.
Yep, if you’re looking for timely, pinpoint news analysis, then go right to Jon Stewart, on the Affordable Care Act in particular (here – and I guess Huckleberry Graham is an expert in things that “suck”)…
…and file this as another item for the “elections have consequences” file (as if, God help us, a Republican presidential administration would support this – we know what Republicans in Congress have done, and will try to do)…
…and I have to confess more than a bit of disgust over this; the clip below gives us a primer on what True The Vote is all about (beginning with Brentin Mock and Amy Goodman at about 5:25)…
…and I have more than a bit of disgust also over this – makes me recall this tune.
I realize that I pretty much have the liberal echo chamber here at work with both Martin Bashir and Ed Schultz, but here’s the thing; they’re right, in particular on health care (and Ed is truly righteous, but God, I get so sick of hearing our side refer to it as “Obamacare”; I also apologize for giving so much as one second to that life form named Ted Cruz – somehow, charlatans like him, Mike Lee, Rand Paul, etc. end up getting elected by people who are too stupid to be allowed to breed)…
Chris Hayes helps us to keep our eye on the ball, as it were, on health care reform, and our crappy economy overall (good for him for calling BS on David Frum)…
Nice speech, Mr. President – better damn well keep backing it up (here)…
…and I think what we’re seeing on the Repug end of things, particularly in the U.S. House, is the ultimate realization of the “ownership society”; them that’s got shall get, them that’s not shall lose…
…all of which leads to the comedy described here by Rachel Maddow, though I don’t suppose it’s all that funny given what could happen to the country as a result…
…and I don’t know about you, but I continue to be grateful that Alan Grayson is serving in Congress once more (here)…
…also, allow me to sneak in a plug for this site, along with the following video…
…meanwhile, did you know that the crisis in Syria is in reality a dark portent to the “end times” that the full mooners have been warning us about? Fortunately, Stephen Colbert explains (and yes, this is a gag, as is just about anything involving Neil Cavuto of Fix Noise)…
I’m hearing that Steve Kornacki hasn’t done such a hot job of blowing up wingnut talking points since he took over for Chris Hayes on “Up,” and with that in mind, I don’t exactly understand why he gives a fig about what Mikey the Beloved will do concerning the latest debt ceiling nonsense from “Orange Man.”
You know what Mikey will do? Whatever Boehner tells him, that’s what (and remember when Rachel Maddow’s very reasoned observation that the House Speaker stinks at his job was blown off as more liberal crazy talk? Who’s “crazy” now, I wonder?)…
…and speaking of TRMS, this sounds like a pretty reasonable discussion on guns with Mark Kelly, husband of Gabby Giffords (once more trying to prove that our fight for common-sense gun laws is pretty much with the idiotic “leadership” of the NRA and not rank-and-file members)…
…and I’m glad Rev. Al isn’t letting “Calgary” Cruz off the hook (unlike the rest of our somnambulant corporate media) for the latter’s recent invocation of Jesse Helms…
…and so Obama goes for a deal which could lead to the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons without anyone dying, hopefully – so of course our political-media-industrial complex of stupidity haz a sad…
…and happy birthday to Fee Waybill of The Tubes (just a little ‘80s here, I know :-).
So “tinsel town” finally decided to give “The Button-Down Mind” his long-overdue recognition, huh? Two terrific situation comedies weren't enough – he couldn’t get it unless he appeared on that dippy show (yes, I said that – kind of funny, but I get the joke after about five minutes).
Well, at least he got it – congratulations (here’s a bit from back in the day)…
…and do you want to know why I detest our Beltway courtier media? I give you Fluffyhead’s response to Barney Frank’s perfectly valid question here about why the “banksters” need so much damn money for themselves versus everybody else (a segment timed for the fifth anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers, which ushered in the financial ruin that still traps many of us)…
…and it looks like PA guv Tom “Space Cadet” Corbett is going to accept Medicare expansion after all, based on this, but only under the condition that those covered can prove they’re looking for work (nice).
In addition to the fact that this requirement likely would not survive a court challenge, it is also pointlessly cruel (and to do something about it, click here – this all makes me recall this video)…
…and kudos to Martin Bashir for this (yes, despite it all, I believe in “American exceptionalism” a bit too, though with qualifications, of course)…
It’s all about energizing the base, fanning the flames of perpetual outrage, Ed and Gene (particularly for the mid-term elections), and that about sums it up…
…and the numbers don’t lie on climate change (and here is more food for thought on the subject - figures)…
…and here is just a reminder that health care reform is the law of the land, and it will be a winner for the vast majority of this country if Republicans in legislatures across this country stop trying to f*ck it up…
…and I think this is an appropriate song for a Saturday night.
I wish K.O. were still in politics, but it’s great that he’s back, and I think he shows some admirable restraint here dealing with this nut job CBS columnist basically making fun of NFL players whose post-retirement lives were ruined due to the head trauma inflicted during their careers (Keith mentioned Andre Waters, the former Eagle who killed himself, and though I know he could have mentioned many others, he could have added this guy too – and given all of the wingnuts who cheered on the mess in Iraq without actually suffering for it themselves, why wouldn’t they feel the same disconnect towards professional athletes?)…
…and here’s another milestone coming up, a quite unhappy but vitally important one, of which we’re reminded by Rev. Al Sharpton…
…and if a businessman knows that Keystone XL is a sucker bet, then why shouldn’t the rest of us feel the same way?...
…and happy belated 60th birthday to Tommy Shaw of Styx – here’s a song from them which is a bit topical at the moment (and yes, I know it was written by Dennis DeYoung…sue me).
In addition to the anniversary we observed a few hours ago, yesterday was also the 40th anniversary of the coup in Chile which installed dictator Augusto Pinochet (and as is so often the case, we were on the wrong side)…
…and we lost Ambassador Chris Stevens in Libya a year ago also, as noted here (BENGHAZI! calls for a serious bipartisan investigation; good luck trying to get that from the numbskulls in charge of the U.S. House)…
…and speaking of foreign stuff, here is Jon Stewart’s one-and-only take on what’s going on in Syria (and welcome back, by the way - Update 9/14/13: And the "takeaway" is here)…
I’ve got a few things to get to, but they can wait for a day at least – I’ve seen fewer and fewer flags on this day flying at people’s homes as years have gone by, driving around for the usual reasons; today I didn’t see any at all…
…and I wish I could track down the original video for this, which was as great as the actual tune.
Fifty years ago today, 20 African American schoolchildren attended their first day of public school in Alabama, marking the end of segregation in that state (the climax to the incident noted here – President Kennedy spoke to the nation about it in the clip below)…
…and I don’t know why Martin Bashir ended this with a quote from Pope Douthat, but I still think this is a good commentary…
…and I thought this was funny stuff once more from Stephen Colbert, but I have to admit that it makes my liberal heart sad to see John Kerry as the butt of jokes, even though he admittedly misspoke (Update 9/11/13 - Although, on the other hand...)…
…and “Take Back The City” is a neat tune from these guys, and I think this is also.
…and some at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver are protesting a “humanitarian” award to be given to Dubya here (Giving him an award? Seriously?).
With that in mind, I think this is a totally appropriate response…
…and here is more comedy gold from Stephen Colbert on Fix Noise, Eric Bolling in particular…
I’m not a bit surprised that Rummy, who was completely and utterly wrong on Iraq along with the rest of the foul, fetid Bushco bunch, has returned to lend us his “expertise” on Syria, as noted here; lather, rinse, repeat (dear God)…
…and here’s a reminder of how our supposedly august captains of industry in this country who damn near wrecked our economy don’t deserve any slack either…
…and we recently put to rest a beloved family member who smoked the vast majority of her adult life – please, people, do…not…smoke…
…and I wouldn’t know Robin Thicke if I tripped over him, but I do know that there will never be another Marvin Gaye, singing here with Philly’s own Tammi Terrell from back in the day (a response to this article).
…and I think Rachel Maddow does us all a real service here by reminding us what a President McCain would have done at this point in his presidency (and what commanding leadership on display here – pitiful that he never gets called out the way he should by the Beltway courtier media)…
…and this is just sad; Emily Yates, a veteran protesting the Syria stuff at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, was accosted here and carted off even though she appeared to be doing absolutely nothing wrong – I’ve been to a few historical sites and we have a lot of respect for the park police, but as far as I’m concerned, this was nothing but an utter embarrassment (NSFW)…
…and I think “Gramps” McCain would do well to listen to this song, and maybe even President Hopey Changey too.
This qualifies as actual “news” from Governor Bully (happy birthday to his wife) – however, if I were a New Jersey taxpayer and I ended up footing the bill for this nonsense, I’d be plenty steamed (more here – though, as I’ve noted before, we don’t have bragging rights in PA, the land of Governor “Space Cadet”…and to help Christie’s opponent Barbara Buono – and yes, it still matters very much – click here...and from the "thin-skinned egomaniac" files, I give you this; so criticizing Christie for being out of shape is the same thing as criticizing his weight? Really??)…
…and have you heard about “meatless Mondays” yet? Well, here is more info…
…and count me in with Amy Goodman on the whole Syria thing here (even though it disgusts me to be anywhere near the same side as that moron Rand Paul) – yes, what’s happening in Syria is terrible, and yes, it cries out for a solution, but there are several problems at least: 1) You go up against Syria, you might as well go up against Russia and Iran too, and maybe even China; 2) I don’t know any way to help the anti-Assad insurgents without indirectly helping al Qaeda too…
…and this song also covers how I feel about the whole Syria mess (h/t Atrios – and another bad thing about this is that it gives Gramps McCain and Huckleberry Graham a chance to flaunt some imaginary foreign policy bona fides on the Sunday morning gab fests and make them look like they’re playing President too…and of course, Boehner and that sleazy weasel Eric Cantor now see a way for the words “Obama” and “quagmire” to end up in the same sentence – and I’m not referring to “Family Guy”– which is just ducky as far as they’re concerned).
…and here is an example of Frost’s sense of humor, presenting the funniest math professor of all time…
…and yes, we know that Pat Robertson is pretty much comic relief at this point while he runs out the clock, but I have to admit that this was a good take down by Anderson Cooper (the “AIDS ring,” huh? Sick old bastard…)…
…and here is a song for the holiday.
Update 9/15/13: And here is a late but timely entry.
…and I don’t know what it’s going to take for Philly Mayor Michael Nutter to call out PA Gov Tom “Space Cadet” Corbett for being the wingnut that Corbett truly is, but hopefully this video will help that along (here)…
…and Joy Reid is sadly correct, I believe, on the gun issue here…
…and with Labor Day coming up, here is another timely message from Former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich…
…and here is something sickening on a couple of levels at least (a “measles” outbreak, people – what country am I living in again? And why am I not a bit surprised that this happened in Texas? And yeah, NYC too I guess)…
I’ll try to return to something like normal posting (whatever “normal” is, I’ll admit) as soon as I can.
As I watch this, I remembered what Bill Maher said recently about this country and its wars – we’re looking at a potential “intervention” somewhere else in the world, but maybe we need to “intervene” on behalf of…ourselves…???...
…and Aaron DiDonato brings us the latest on the fracking drillers in PA trying to scam our beloved commonwealth (he still needs to lose that music and find something better, even though I still mostly dig ELP...more here)…
...and here is the speech that we commemorate today (more here)...
...and I give you a “don’t know much about geography” Teahadist and “Calgary” Cruz supporter here…
…and boy, is it good to see a Repug being attacked over an anti-environmental policy as Mike Coffman is here (“this is a recording, this is a recording”)…
…and I was really sorry to hear about this concerning Linda Ronstadt; she sang many types of music, but of course she’ll probably be regarded eventually as the pre-eminent “California rock” (whatever that is exactly, I’ll admit) female vocalist (or vocalist overall) of all time…in the documentary about the rock group The Eagles on Showtime, Glenn Frey and Don Henley recalled how she helped them by adding them to her touring band (along with Bernie Leadon also, I think), and when they decided to go on their own, Ronstadt was very classy and supportive of them, even taking their more-or-less throwaway song “Desperado” from their ill-fated second album and turning it into a gigantic hit…all the best to her (I don’t know anyone who sang “cover” songs better, including this one).
For someone who supposedly has such dead-on political instincts, I’m a bit surprised to see Governor Bully attach himself to the cast-iron political anchor known as Steve Lonegan (as in “anchor that is bound to sink straight to the bottom as quickly as possible”)…
…and it continues to defy my understanding as to why anyone thinks U.S. Senator Tom Coburn is actually sane (to say nothing of “Calgary” Cruz…I have to admit that I was mystified by about the first minute of this with the comments of this Goldie Taylor person – have to have “balance,” I guess)…
Say hello to Al Jazeera America (Time Warner Cable leapt into action immediately and dropped it – nice)…
…and speaking of courageous journalism, Rachel had better be careful with this, or the next thing you know, President Hopey Changey will sit silent while she endures the same treatment at airports as Laura Poitras and Glenn Greenwald...
…and even though I’m pissed off at Number 44 over the secrecy BS, I still have to give him credit for the ACA – the initial question from the constituent here is great, but there are so many lies in Joe Heck’s response that I don’t think I can answer them all…
“Nobody had a chance to read it.”
Um, the original legislation was released just about four years ago, as noted here, so there was, in fact, plenty of opportunity…
“It was passed in the middle of the night.”
No – actually, it was passed in broad daylight in the Senate and House on March 21, 2010 and signed into law by President Obama two days later, as noted here.
“There was no opportunity for competing plans to be debated.”
“No such thing as a free, preventive health care service…”
That’s a straw man that nobody is arguing about (Heck is having a rhetorical conversation with himself on this as far as I’m concerned). Yes, the ACA provides greater coverage, but so far, that hasn’t led to greater out-of-pocket expenses (see California and New York). And the individual mandate will provide a much larger pool of plan participants than the insurance companies will benefit from because of the ACA (and my God, is it tiresome to have to keep making these arguments over and over!).
And as I’ve also said, I’m tired of this argument that businesses that have more than the “magic number” of 50 employees will get it in the neck. The ACA was signed into law three years ago, and businesses have had that long to meet its requirements. If you need another worker but can’t hire an FTE, hire a contractor!...
