Friday Stuff

Gosh, I guess I'm not as cool and hip and "with it," as I thought, dawg - kudos to John Oliver for this...



…and I don’t know what happened to that damn plane either – what a tragedy (and CNN is merely idiotic, while Fix Noise is being dangerously stupid as usual)…



…and I’m sure Rachel will hear from Chuck and Dave’s lawyers again over this – kudos to her (yes, it’s depressing, but in response, we need to steel our resolve even more…no excuse for a crappy turnout, ever…)…



…and I think this is a song and a video with a lesson for all of us.

Thursday Stuff

I know we’re not officially done with that four-letter-word for the white stuff that starts with “S,” but according to my calendar, today is the first day of spring, so…



...and as people smarter than I have pointed out, we live in the era of angry billionaires, and they are raging yet again (and kudos to Anna Galland - and by the way, paging "Space Cadet" Corbett and "Governor Bully" too)...



…and as a follow-up, I give you this atrocity from the “Peach State”…



…and I thought this was an interesting story – here is a tune for the occasion.

Wednesday Stuff

And I know Ken Langone apologized, as well he should, but I’m sure it was only because he was busted for his BS (and once again, I don't know of any comparably extreme rhetoric on our side)…



…and far from the Beltway bloviators, this tells us what real people think of that fine "Christian" man, Mr.-Puppy-Dog-Eyes-With-The-Shiv…



…and file this under “proverbial blind squirrel finds the nut” – “Goodhair,” as The Eternal Molly Ivins called him, will still never be president, though…



…and here is a tune to commemorate a truly infamous anniversary.

#41, Markwayne Mullin (OK - 02)

As part of my “tribute” to the U.S. House Repugs and their 50 51 52 votes to repeal the Affordable Care Law...

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).

And for the record, let it be known that Mullin took over the seat once held by "Democrat" Dan Boren, so the voters of his district apparently didn't have to worry about any actual performance on their behalf from one bad choice to another.

Update 12/14/20: I didn't know the Trail of Tears was a "volunteer walk" - at least that's what Mullin thought of it (to the extent that Mullin thinks at all, of course - here).

#42, Raul Labrador (ID - 01)

As part of my “tribute” to the U.S. House Repugs and their 50 51 52 votes to repeal the Affordable Care Law…I give you Labrador on immigration (here)…

“The people that came here illegally knowingly — I don’t think they should have a path to citizenship,” he said on NPR, according to Talking Points Memo. “If you knowingly violated our law, you violated our sovereignty, I think we should normalize your status but we should not give you a pathway to citizenship.”

“Normalize your status”? What does that even mean? And as the story tells us, only about 10 percent of this country actually sides with Labrador.

Labrador, though, is quick to blame Obama on immigration, as noted here – “A speech is not a bill?” Bills are supposed to come from Congress, not the White House, you moron.

And as noted from here, Labrador says that the Dems want to cover undocumented workers in health care reform, which is patently untrue…

This month, Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho) blamed a standoff over health-care benefits for his decision to drop out of bipartisan talks with seven colleagues who were negotiating a House alternative to the Senate immigration proposal. That has forced House leaders to proceed with a series of smaller-scale proposals next week in lieu of a sweeping agreement.“

When I joined the group, I was told that the aliens would have to pay for their own health care,” Labrador told Fox News. “Now that has changed. And I can’t agree to all of the exceptions.”

Frustrated Democrats argue that Republicans are picking a fight where one does not exist. In both chambers, Democrats say, they have agreed that illegal immigrants would not be eligible for public benefits - including health-care subsidies and Medicaid - as they embark on a path to permanent legal status, which would take at least 10 years under the Senate plan.“

We have said since day one that undocumented people will not have access to subsidies in the Affordable Care Act,” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said last month. “Any thought that we want to do something different than that is simply not true. It is a bottom line. No need to even discuss it.”

But of course, according to Labrador, the failure to pass immigration reform is the fault of the Dems – uh huh.

Update 8/26/13: Yeah, how dare those pesky civil rights workers get all “negative” (here)! Gosh, why can’t they sing and dance while facing voter ID obstruction and disenfranchisement?

#40, Ted Yoho (FL - 03)

As part of my “tribute” to the U.S. House Repugs and their 50 51 52 votes to repeal the Affordable Care Law...

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 10/7/13: OWWWWWW!! THE STUPID!!! IT BURNS US!!!!!

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…”

Update 4/15/14: What a dope (but we already knew that, right?).

#39, Stephen Fincher (TN - 08)

As part of my “tribute” to the U.S. House Repugs and their 50 51 52 votes to repeal the Affordable Care Law...

Here, Fincher basically says that if you don’t work, you shouldn’t eat (Welcome to Gulag USA, despite the fact that Fincher gets huge farm subsidies, as noted here).

This tells us that, like many others in his party, he voted against relief for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

Here, he introduced a bill requiring drug testing of 20 percent of welfare recipients and applicants (of course, if Fincher were interested in doing anything besides trying to score cheap political points, he might look a little further south to see if it actually does any good, as noted here).

Also, based on this, it looks like he doesn’t know how to file a campaign disclosure statement properly (i.e., he “claimed to have almost no assets at the start of his campaign, and has since filed multiple inconsistent financial disclosure forms, revealing significantly greater assets.”).

He probably should also get a new press secretary too while he’s at it (here – some truly obnoxious “tweets” from someone named Elizabeth Lauten…nothing wrong with her having an opinion even though I most certainly don’t agree, but…and call me old fashioned, I know…aren’t government employees supposed to be non-political?).

As stated already, Fincher gained particularly odious notoriety over the farm bill. And noted here from January, that wretched subsidy from which he benefitted along with too many other Washington politicians still remains, while SNAP assistance was ultimately cut – pathetic.

#38, Ted Poe (TX - 02)

As part of my “tribute” to the U.S. House Repugs and their 50 51 52 votes to repeal the Affordable Care Law...

Here, Poe quoted the KKK Grand Wizard on the U.S. House floor (lovely).

Here, he held a health care “town hall” in a funeral home (interesting messaging...oh, riiight - "death panels"; I get it now).

Poe said here that the U.S. gave aid to Cuba and Venezuela (uh, no).

Here, he tried to rally the nation against the supposedly grave danger faced by incandescent light bulbs (pretty sad when you’re a “sock puppet” for Erick “Son of Eric” Erickson).

And speaking of Poe, the video from here with him along with Steve King and Louie Gohmert is kind of silly, but fun (and it speaks truth to stoo-pid).

#37, Scott DesJarlais (TN - 04)

As part of my “tribute” to the U.S. House Repugs and their 50 51 52 votes to repeal the Affordable Care Law...

I wish it could be said that all U.S. House Repugs opposing health care reform are truly facing electoral problems for 2014, but except for DesJarlais, I don’t think that’s apparent at the moment (love to be wrong). I guess the “line in the sand” for the Teahadists is when you betray them on “values” issues, as opposed to issues that actually impact their lives such as the sequester, jobs, health care, the environment, etc. (what a joke).

With that in mind, I give you this…

He was fined $500 for having affairs with patients here (he’s an OB-GYN, I believe).

Here, he apparently pressured one patient who was his mistress into getting an abortion (nice guy).

Here, he supported his ex-wife’s decision to have two abortions prior to their marriage (as far as I’m concerned, that should be kept in the family, but don’t parade yourself as a “family values” Republican if you have these skeletons in your proverbial closet, OK?).

Also according to Politico (above link), DesJarlais “lavished gifts” on one patient he had an affair with, including an expensive watch and plane tickets.

When even the chairman of the state’s Republican Party says that he doesn’t expect DesJarlais to be re-elected next year…well, I guess the “fat lady,” as they say, is getting ready.

Update 1/31/14: Gee, aren't those pesky unintended consequences a real bitch, as noted here? Ha and ha...

Update 8/26/14: I think the gene pool for some of the voters in Tennessee's 4th needs a lifeguard (here - grrrr...)

#36, Jim Bridenstine (OK - 01)

As part of my “tribute” to the U.S. House Repugs and their 50 51 52 votes to repeal the Affordable Care Law...

Bridenstine said here that the Supreme Court doesn’t get to decide which laws are constitutional, or something, in response to a question about the Affordable Care Act (Marbury v. Madison, jackass).

He called President Obama “an incompetent, vengeful liar with no moral compass” on the floor of the U.S. House (here – yeah, just keep blaming us libs for how uncivil we were to Dubya; as usual, conservatives look in the mirror and see everyone’s reflection but their own).

He demanded that Obama apologize to Oklahoma here for allocating funding for climate change research here (um, aren’t you just the slightest bit curious about what caused the Moore tornado, congressman?).

And of course, being a typical Teahadist, Bridenstine is afraid “Man Tan” Boehner will “cave on taxes” because of the sequester, as noted here (maybe, instead of “taxes,” Bridenstine should worry about this instead; fat chance, I know).

#35, Tim Huelskamp (KS - 01)

What a prize this guy is, if I do say so…

As far as Huelskamp is concerned, you’re not allowed to discuss gun control (particularly in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook carnage) because you would be advocating a “political agenda” (here).

He also said here that he would file a constitutional amendment to try and restore DOMA, despite the fact that it was overruled by John Roberts and The Supremes (but just remember, it’s “jobs, jobs, jobs” as far as Huelskamp, Cantor and Boehner are concerned). And in keeping with that, he spread more BS here about how kids supposedly do better in dysfunctional hetero families than functional same-sex ones (to the point where even Fluffyhead called him on it).

Basically, Huelskamp is such a Teahadist not job unwilling to compromise that he’s been removed by fellow Republicans from committee assignments (voted against the Violence Against Women Act, also voted against Sandy relief – of course…here).

But how do his constituents feel, I wonder…

“We hear criticisms that [Huelskamp] won’t get along, but that’s not what we elected him for. We elected him to vote for principle,” said Paula Carr, a 64-year-old who sells and repairs lawn and garden equipment. “Compromise is why we’re in the condition we’re in now — too much compromise over the last 30 years.’’

With all due respect to Ms. Carr, the main reason for the “too much comprise” over the last 30 years is because you’ve had the proverbial rug pulled out from under you by Republican politicians selling you “values voter” snake oil while income inequality has gotten worse and worse and worse. And at the risk of sounding like a snotty liberal, I should point out that it was up to you to overcome what I’m sure is your longstanding dislike of people with my political opinion and study the issues that truly matter with an open mind. And apparently, you failed to do so, to the point where you have sent a numbskull like Huelskamp to Washington, where he can do damage not just to your district but the whole country (and that quote means that you’re just as oblivious to that now as before).

Oh, and don’t count on Huelskamp to help with immigration reform either, since he thinks that appealing to Hispanics is “very discouraging” (here).

Take a bow, you voters in KS – 01…heckuva job!

Update 10/09/13: What a pathetic little slug (here).

Update 1/29/14: Yep, Huelskamp is just another “one trick pony” – when all else fails, just attack that gol-danged “li-bu-ruul media” (here - and as far as BENGHAZI! is concerned, as I’ve said at least half a dozen times, I don’t recall any outcry at all when our ambassador David Foy was murdered in Pakistan in 2006).

#34, Tom Cotton (AR - 04)

As part of my “tribute” to the U.S. House Repugs and their 50 51 52 votes to repeal the Affordable Care Law

Here, he said that he didn’t think women were qualified to serve in the military (nice - it should be pointed out, though, that Cotton actually did serve, unlike most other Repugs).

Here, he said that Iraq was involved in 9/11 (ah, a golden oldie…oh, and when it comes to evaluating Number 43 and “Deadeye Dick,” Cotton believes 9/11 shouldn’t be included, as noted here).

The Arkansas Times link also tells us that he, like many others in his party, voted against relief for the victims of Hurricane Sandy, and he’s a darling of the Club for Growth, no matter how that affects his congressional district…figures. Cotton is a bit of a rising GOP star, though – he’s being prompted to challenge conservadem Mark Pryor for Pryor’s U.S. Senate seat (and apparently, based on this, he’s in…yep, no problem with ambition here, having not even finished his first term in the House after winning the seat vacated by Mike Ross). And like a whole bunch of House Repugs (including Mikey the Beloved), Cotton voted to separate SNAP funding from the farm bill (here). Oh, and Cotton wants to punish not only those who violate economic sanctions against Iran (OK), but their family members too, as noted here (um, and why?).

Update 8/1/13: And I'm sure the Pryor campaign will have fun with this also.

Update 8/9/13: Why do I have a feeling that the fun is just beginning with this guy (here)?

Update 3/19/14: And Cotton keeps such cowardly company too, doesn’t he (and on this wretched anniversary, of all days)?

Update 1/30/17: And let's never forget this also, by the way.

#33, Diane Black (TN - 06)

As part of my “tribute” to the U.S. House Repugs and their 50 51 52 votes to repeal the Affordable Care Law…

Here, she introduced legislation that basically bars federal government funding on Planned Parenthood (oh brother – yeah, like that would stand up to a court challenge).

Here, she introduced legislation barring gays from adopting children (“Let’s see now, ‘Christian compassion,’ ‘Christian compassion’…I know they talk about it in the Bible somewhere, but I can’t find it!”).

Here, she said that she “children with pre-existing conditions and chronic illnesses should not have to be covered under their parent’s plan by insurance companies. Her reasoning is that insurance companies would lose too much money” (wonder if she owns any stock?).

Oh, and remember the supposedly humorous Email sent from Black’s aide Sherri Goforth (as in “Go forth and be stupid,” I guess) depicting President Obama as two eyes appearing against a black background (here)? And Goforth was merely “reprimanded” by Black in response, apparently.

#32, Blake Farenthold (TX - 27)

As part of my “tribute” to the U.S. House Repugs and their 50 51 52 votes to repeal the Affordable Care Law…

Here, he compared the unemployed to drug addicts (nice).

Here, he opposed funding food stamps (as part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP) even though he received millions in farm subsidies (and he definitely had company on this one).

And of course, as noted here, he wouldn’t be a good little Repug unless he was a member of the anti-science climate denier caucus.

He was also a little too slow, to say the least, about realizing that budget cuts hurt the economy here.

As noted here, his sister harbored a murder suspect (usually I leave civilians out of this stuff, but this is beyond the pale).

Update 12/18/14: If Farenthold had any decency, he would resign right now (here).

Monday Stuff

I watch this clip, and I almost feel sorry for Bill Maher (here, though I’m sure I know what he would tell me to do with my pity if I ever told him that).

Yes, critical commentary like this on religious zealotry is fair game, I realize, particularly with so much intolerance on this subject that currently exists in this country (and probably always will). However, I don’t know if he’s ever featured someone like, say, Sister Simone Campbell on “Real Time” to discuss how meaningful Christian activism can be on behalf of those who are underprivileged in this country. The bureaucracy and hard-headedness by “the faithful” will be forever with us, but so will the power of good works…and as always with "Real Time," NSFW...



…and Jonathan Capehart gives Mr.-Puppy-Dog-Eyes-With-The-Shiv the treatment he deserves here (and this is well done also for this day in particular)…



…and this is a special St. Patrick’s Day request from The Teenaged One from the movie “Gods and Generals”; this is the theme in the film for the Irish Brigade that fought so courageously at the Battle of Fredericksburg, which turned out to be a particularly horrific loss for the Union due to incredibly poor planning, among other reasons…



…and here is a request from yours truly for personal reasons – posting may be sporadic for a little while…I’ll let you know.