Saturday Stuff

It’s just a poster, people…



…and for more, click here…



…and Robert Greenwald tells us about more voting mischief by the Kochs (Want to know why I said what I said about the people around here who didn't bother to vote last Tuesday? It's because the people in this video want to, but they're being shut out - they at least recognize what the franchise truly means)…



…and happy birthday, Neil Young.

Friday Stuff

So what say you, Mikey The Beloved, about H.R. 2309 (more here)? Want to back up that patriotic-sounding opinion column of yours today with some action that actually matters?..



...”Worst Persons” (Some congressional asshat from Nebraska wants to let the telcos allow telemarketing solicitations to our cell phones, for which we would be charged, of course – on a related note, I’m still wrestling with my “smart” phone, for which I, as a dumb user, have to come up to speed; Jim DeMint, in a timely item for today, continues to be a WATB; but James O’Keefe manages to outdo DeMint on that score, as his whiny punk ass gets dressed down by Sree Sreenivasan, Columbia Journalism School’s Dean of Students – Sreenivasan was kind, actually, since I would have mentioned little Jimmy’s criminal record too...here kitty kitty)...



…and I posted about cluster munitions earlier, and whenever I touch upon that topic, I always think of this tune; sorry, no video…



…and I present this with thanks to all of those who have served our country, and continue to do so.

Friday Mashup (11/11/11)

I realize that a Friday without wingnuttia from Christine Flowers would be – well, it would be a hell of a lot more pleasant, but we are where we are.

And today (here), she tells us that “the shame is ours” (huh?) concerning the Penn State scandal, and that there shouldn’t be a rush to judgment on Joe Paterno.

I agree, actually (on the "rush to judgment" part), even though it looks bad. My problem with Flowers, as usual, is that she seems to have no trouble calling for judicial retribution when it suits her, even though it isn't warranted (calling abortion a "capital crime" here - unbelievable language for a lawyer, but such is her stock in trade).

Next, Mikey The Beloved tells us that he recently visited our military in Iraq and Afghanistan here, adding the following also (in an opinion column timed for Veterans Day today)…

I challenge the Congress and the administration to live up to the promises made long ago and to meet the advice given by Gen. Washington and President Lincoln regarding obligations to those who served. Whether it is the vigorous pursuit of an undetermined VA claim, breaking through the bureaucracy on behalf of the family of a currently deployed soldier, or the gentle advice and care for a homeless veteran referred to my office, I and my staff stand always prepared to do our best to honor veteran service through diligent and compassionate service in return.

As far as “challenging the administration” is concerned, Politifact tells us here that President Obama has kept his promise to fight veteran homelessness. However, if Fitzpatrick is looking to blame anyone in Congress for exacerbating this problem, he should look towards the other side of the Capitol where Crazy Tom Coburn resides in “the world’s greatest deliberative body” (here...more here).

Oh, and on the subject of looking after our veterans, let it be noted that our PA-08 U.S. House rep voted against a combat pay raise here and voted against a bill guaranteeing pay to our military in the event of a government shut down here.

Update 11/12/11: Another important vet-related note here...

And that’s probably a good transition into last week’s Area Votes in Congress writeup as published in the Philadelphia Inquirer here (not much to say about it, but here it is for the record)…

House

Securities deregulation. Voting 407-17, the House on Thursday sent the Senate a bill (HR 2930) allowing start-ups and other companies to conduct public stock sales of up to $2 million per year without first registering the securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Companies now can bypass SEC registration only if the offering is private or does not cross state lines, among other exceptions.

A yes vote was to pass the bill.

All Philadelphia-area representatives voted yes.

Private stock offerings. Voting 413-11, the House on Thursday sent the Senate a bill (HR 2940) allowing start-ups and other companies to advertise private stock offerings to the general public, such as over the Internet. Firms now can publicize these tightly controlled offerings only to a limited number of "accredited," or wealthy, investors. The bill gives the non-wealthy an opportunity to also take the risk of buying into start-up ventures, while putting a $10,000 limit on an individual's stock purchases.

A yes vote was to pass the bill.

All Philadelphia-area representatives voted yes.

"In God We Trust." Voting 396-9, the House on Tuesday passed a nonbinding resolution (H Con Res 13) restating that "In God We Trust" is by law the official U.S. motto. Republican sponsors called the measure a timely reminder that America is a nation under God; Democrats said the House would better spend its time debating jobs bills.

A yes vote backed the resolution.

Voting yes: Robert E. Andrews (D., N.J.), Robert A. Brady (D., Pa.), John Carney (D., Del.), Charles W. Dent (R., Pa.), Michael Fitzpatrick (R., Pa.), Jim Gerlach (R., Pa.), Tim Holden (D., Pa.), Frank A. LoBiondo (R., N.J.), Pat Meehan (R., Pa.), Joseph R. Pitts (R., Pa.), Jon Runyan (R., N.J.), Allyson Y. Schwartz (D., Pa.), and Christopher H. Smith (R., N.J.).

Not voting: Chaka Fattah (D., Pa.).

By the way, I posted about this utter waste of time here - third bullet.

Senate

Obama jobs bill. By a vote of 51-49, the Senate on Thursday failed to reach 60 votes for advancing a bill (S 1769) to spend $60 billion over 10 years for projects to rebuild public works, stimulate the economy, and create jobs for unemployed construction workers. The vote sustained a GOP filibuster and effectively killed the bill, which is one part of a $447 billion jobs plan offered by President Obama.

A yes vote supported the bill.

Voting yes: Thomas Carper (D., Del.), Bob Casey (D., Pa.), Chris Coons (D., Del.), Frank Lautenberg (D., N.J.), and Robert Menendez (D., N.J.).

Voting no: Pat Toomey (R., Pa.).

Toomey continues to be utterly awful (once more, take a bow, all you methane dispensers who voted for him).

Republican jobs plan. Voting 47-53, the Senate on Thursday blocked a Republican alternative to Obama's jobs bill (above). In part, the GOP bill (S 1786) would extend existing transportation programs for two years at a cost of $40 billion, to be offset by unspecified cuts in other federal programs, and impose a one-year freeze on new environmental regulations.

A yes vote supported the bill.

Voting yes: Toomey.

Voting no: Carper, Casey, Coons, Lautenberg, and Menendez.

Even when the Repugs actually try, somewhat, to pass jobs legislation, they screw it up (here).

Aid to small airports. Voting 41-57, the Senate on Tuesday refused to eliminate the $6 million budget for a program to help commercial airports at smaller cities upgrade their operations. The amendment was offered to a $182 billion fiscal 2012 appropriations bill (HR 2112) for several departments that was later passed and sent to conference with the House.

A yes vote backed the amendment.

Voting yes: Carper, Coons, and Toomey.

Voting no: Casey, Lautenberg, and Menendez.

This week, the House was in recess. The Senate took up fiscal 2012 appropriations and a bill to repeal IRS withholding requirements on certain government contracts.

Continuing, Kathleen Parker of the WaPo believes that a certain Willard Mitt Romney has been acting “too nice” in the Repug presidential candidates’ beauty pageants (here).

Um, I wonder how “nice” Romney supposedly was when he was helping to wreck companies and destroy jobs when he founded Bain Capital in 1984 and left as its CEO in 1999 (here).

And concerning Parker, I’m keen to ask the question once more; what was that Pulitzer for again?

Finally, this tells us the following…

Two prominent senators want Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to steer talks on an international weapons ban away from a plan they say would harm U.S. defense firms that manufacture cluster weapons.

At issue are efforts to secure a new global pact on cluster munitions that will take place next week in Geneva. Two competing proposals will be in play, but GOP Sens. Jon Kyl (Ariz.) and Richard Lugar (Ind.) warned Clinton they are concerned efforts to strike a sixth cluster-weapons agreement “may be at an impasse.”

“A widely supported draft protocol has emerged which imposes multilateral controls on the production, stockpiling and use of cluster munitions,” the senators wrote to Clinton in a Nov. 1 letter obtained by The Hill. “However, strong opposition from some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as well as reservations expressed by a small number of governments could derail the … conference’s efforts to achieve a sixth protocol.”

Basically, Kyl and Lugar oppose the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) for the following reason…

The CCM “fails to address 85 percent of the world’s cluster munitions stockpiles,” and is designed to permit the production, stockpiling and use of cluster weapons, the lawmakers wrote. “As such, it discriminates against U.S. manufacturers instead of promoting solutions that can effectively address the humanitarian issues associated with unexploded ordnance.”

I honestly don’t know how it’s possible for Kyl and Lugar to make that claim, since, as noted here, “The Convention on Cluster Munitions, CCM, prohibits all use, stockpiling, production and transfer of Cluster Munitions.” That sounds pretty darn all-inclusive to me.

And as noted here…

(Beirut, 16 September 2011): The Second Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions ended in Beirut today with a strong international declaration to rid the world of cluster munitions.

The 90 States Parties and signatories to the Convention at the meeting adopted the Beirut Declaration, which notes the lifesaving gains made already by the ban. It also strongly condemns the use of cluster munitions by any actor, anywhere.

“We acknowledge that the progress made since the First Meeting of States Parties and throughout the Oslo Process is the result of the successful partnership between States, international organizations and civil society,” the Declaration says.

In closing the Declaration says: “Together, we are compelled to do more, for as long as people remain at risk, to accomplish our collective goal – a world free of cluster munitions.”

Oh, and in case anyone thinks all I’m trying to do here is blame Republicans on this issue, I should point out from here that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lectured former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi about the use of cluster bombs against his own citizens, when, as noted here, the U.S. is the largest cluster bomb manufacturer in the world; these instruments of death are being manufactured by BAE Systems, DaimlerChrysler Aerospace, European Aeronautic Defence and Space (EADS), Israel Military Industries, General Dynamics, Giat Industries, Lockheed Martin, Saab Bofors, and Thomson Dasa Armements (don’t know offhand all the companies on that list with U.S. operations, but more than a few I’m sure).

And as noted here (in a post where Bushco, on its way out the door in December 2008, punted on the issue, handing it off to Number 44), 98 percent of cluster bomb victims are civilians, and 27 percent are children.

But for the moment, it looks like Kyl and Lugar are the latest culprits responsible for inaction on this issue, claiming that talks on a sixth cluster-weapons agreement may be “at an impasse” (gosh, the Senate at an impasse on deliberations? I guess, in other “news,” sky is blue and water is wet).

I guess both Repugs should count their blessings that there’s no possibility that cluster weapons (which, of course, will now be “smart,” but probably not “smart” enough to accidentally kill or maim kids) could ever blow up in Phoenix or Fort Wayne. If that were true, my guess is that there would be a whole other degree of urgency from them on this issue that is nowhere to be found at the moment.

Thursday Stuff

Gee, Karl, you would have been less subtle if you told Repug U.S. House Rep Patrick McHenry to walk up to Elizabeth Warren and punch her in the face (more here, including a way to give to Warren’s campaign in response - and by the way, concerning OWS, suck on this, Turd Blossom)...



Update 11/16/11: Here is a welcome response...



…and speaking of “Bush’s Brain” and his pals, Think Progress tells us here about how that Kenyan Muslim Socialist pre-zee-dint has been just so awful for business now, hasn’t he (repeat the lie enough times and too many people will consider it to be the truth)…



…also, “Catch-22” by Joseph Heller was published 50 years ago today (here are clips from the movie – the last shot of Alan Arkin captures my opinion on the Repug presidential beauty contests)…



…”Worst Persons” (K.O. tells us here about Teahadist crook Anthony Loiacono, John McCain having a “senior moment” about corporate tax repatriation, and also PA’s former Senator “Man On Dog” – if it were almost anyone else except Santorum, I would give this person a pass out of pity for this awful gaffe, but since it’s Santorum, the guy responsible for moments like this among many other disgusting others, I won’t)…



…and from the world of science, I give you this, which made me recall this little number (I would never undergo such a procedure, nor would I encourage anyone else to do it either).

Wednesday Stuff

In a really weird, twisted way I’ll admit, I have to thank Repug U.S. House Rep Joe (“Welcome To The Club”) Walsh for this, since it shows the GOP wingnuttia on full display (and by the way, in 1970, the U.S. Postal Service became a semi-independent federal agency, mandated to be revenue-neutral. That is, it is supposed to break even, not make a profit – not that I would expect Walsh to actually be swayed by logic)...



...and yep, they sure do find a way, don’t they...



...and we know "OWS" has been a long time coming, as the song goes, but somehow, I don't think it's going to be a long time gone (like the tune, by the way)...



...and I don’t know if it’s possible to “learn how to love” Cain, Willard Mitt, Moon Unit Bachmann and the rest (thinking of "Goodhair" Perry's "duuuh" moment tonight), though a lot of people, sadly, are giving it a good try.

Wednesday Mashup (11/9/11) (update)

I honestly wasn’t going to say anything about the sexual stuff with Repug presidential soon-to-be-no-longer-hopeful Herman Cain, since I personally had prior issues with him before we ever got to the point where we are now. However, I’m compelled to do so after reading this item from the WaPo…

If there was ever any doubt that the Herman Cain scandal was slowly slipping into a more sensational phase, then Gloria Allred’s presence at a Monday news conference with an alleged victim of the Republican presidential candidate erased any doubt.

Allred, who calls herself the “most famous woman attorney practicing law in the nation today,” has represented a motley crew of women who have brought claims against wealthy, famous, and high-powered men.

Yes, Gloria Allred is a publicity hound, but since when is she the person on trial in the court of public opinion here?

And Allred represents “a motley crew of women”? Such as Mandi Hamlin I guess, who claimed that she was “humiliated” when she was forced to take off her nipple rings at a Lubbock, Texas airport? Or actress Charlotte Lewis, who claimed that she was “sexually abused” by Roman Polanski when she was 16 years old? They’re both “motley” women, according to Nia-Malika Henderson, the person who concocted this dreck?

As noted here, though, hackery is Henderson’s stock in trade; she claimed that talks involving Iran were “an odd and troubling development” in October 2010 (as a commenter pointed out, ignoring them for 30 or so years, bastards that they are, has worked beautifully, hasn’t it?). And for good measure, I give you this, in which she criticized President Obama for giving Queen Elizabeth II a “personalized iPod” without noting that the Queen had requested it.

And besides, didn't we just get done with beating on the victim in the Dominique Strauss-Kahn business? And this tells us the latest on this guy.

I suppose that, while I’m on this subject involving Cain (who, somehow, I don’t think is going to making any campaign commercials where he takes a long, slow look to the camera and breaks into a wide grin again anytime soon), I should also say something about the stuff with Joe Paterno and Penn State. I know there are people out there who are using this whole mess with Joe Pa’s former pal Jerry (“Oh My Freaking God How Can This Guy Not Be A Pedophile”) Sandusky to “pile on,” using football parlance, but let me just say this.

I hope this doesn’t indelibly stain Paterno’s otherwise exemplary record as an educator and a coach, but it probably will. Because, when all is said and done, he did here exactly what the Catholic Church did for years on the abuse scandal; they “delegated” the matter and “kicked the can,” hoping it would go away.

When that strategy actually works one day on that awful issue, please let me know. I don’t see that ever happening in this universe, nor should it.

Update 11/10/11: Good point here about the riot of Penn State students over the firing of Joe Paterno and University President Graham Spanier, namely that, if OWS had overturned a news van, there would have been a police riot in response.

Next, I give you the following ramblings from John Stossel of Fix Noise here, who apparently is continuing to suffer the effects of those face slaps from wrestler David Schultz all those years ago…

It would be nice if politicians and regulators left us alone. But they don't. They always want to do more. Recently, there have been shortages of some medicines. Cancer patients can't get drugs they need. Why not?

One reason is that a big drugmaker shut down for a year in part to meet Food and Drug Administration rules. The FDA makes it so expensive and difficult to sell drugs that there isn't an eager pack of companies rushing to the fill the gap. The free market would provide that, but government intervention, such as low Medicare reimbursement, strangles it. So people suffer.

OWWW, TEH STOO-PID!!! IT BURNS US!!!!!

Meanwhile, this tells us the following from the world of reality…

Right-wing blogger Michelle Malkin and Fox Business host Andrew Napolitano have attacked President Obama for issuing an executive order that seeks to reduce prescription drug shortages, arguing that government regulations are the real problem. But Obama's executive order not only deals with regulatory delays but also attempts to tackle problems with the manufacturing pipeline, which analyses say is the biggest reason for the shortages.

And as noted here, Stossel seems to make a habit out of propagandizing about the alleged ineffectiveness of government agencies.

Continuing, none other than Abu Gonzales poked his head out of his proverbial hole to tell us the following here…

Last month President Barak (sic) Obama announced the United States military had accomplished its mission in Iraq and that we would be withdrawing all U.S. forces by the end of 2011. The announcement caught many of us by surprise. Certainly, our soldiers have fought courageously; and they and their families deserve our gratitude. Their service and sacrifice is beyond question. Whether the President's decision is the right one at this time, however, deserves closer examination.

Leave it to “Fredo” not to point out that Obama is merely acting in accordance with the Status of Force Agreement signed under Abu G’s boss (and yes, Obama should have emphasized that too; also, ‘Berto, want to try using a spell check next time?).

I guess, though, that Gonzales can be forgiven for not knowing that, since he resigned in disgrace in September 2007 and the SOFA was signed in November 2008.

Finally, I should take a minute and congratulate Diane Marseglia on winning re-election as a Bucks County Commissioner yesterday.

And as far as the good news goes, that’s about it.

Nice job, all you Democratic and independent voters who didn’t think the scandal in the Register of Wills office was reason enough to show up and vote for Diane and Det Ansinn and toss Charley (“I Have A Semi-Open Mind”) Martin; the stench was so bad that even the Bucks County Courier Times failed to endorse Martin, who was returned with Rob Loughery, thus ensuring a Repug majority.

Bravo, all you Democrats and independents who couldn’t quite find the time to vote for Ken Seda and Ron Schmid for Lower Makefield supervisor, thus ensuring victory for Jeff Benedetto and “Dobby” Dobson and giving the Repugs a stranglehold on the LMT board of supervisors (and I will admit that the independent candidacies of Ron Smith and Kristin Tyler probably siphoned off votes that would have helped Ron and Ken, and I went back and forth on that, but I decided to at least link to the Smith/Tyler site anyway; in the end, I thought it was their right to run as independents, for better or worse).

And worst of all, pat yourselves on the back a final time for not coming out to support Gene Dolnick and Linda Palsky for the Pennsbury School Board. Do you know who runs the board now? Simon Campbell, that’s who. Do you honestly think Steve Kosmorsky and Chris Cridge will do anything else but Campbell’s bidding?

Get ready for increased class sizes, cutting student programs and extracurricular activities, less teacher prep time and/or time for parent conferences, and the very real possibility of a Pennsbury teachers strike. Beautiful work.

Prepare to reap the whirlwind, you lazy fools.

Tuesday Stuff

(I’ll try posting again tomorrow...)

We have some great “connecting of the dots” here by Bob Abeshouse on the Kochs and ALEC (and once again, when you need to turn to a news agency for a well-done documentary on the political and economic truth of what is going on in this country – well, you need to turn to Al Jazeera)...

(By the way, Tim Phillips is lying his face off at about 7:40, and at about 11:15 also, thought I’m sure he’s right about spending a “substantial” amount in Wisconsin – and by the way, here is AWESOME related news! And this is pretty good too.)...



…and for what it’s worth, the fourth Led Zeppelin album (what’s that?) debuted 40 years ago today, concluding with this tune (sorry, no video – man, that’s too long ago; no shot on “Stairway to Heaven,” people).

Monday PM Stuff

Probably no posting again tomorrow, for what it’s worth – maybe some videos…

In the meantime, I have a question for Kevin Ferris; you got the guts to stand up and take a beating with a baton for your beliefs? Didn’t think so (here)…



…and that doesn’t even take this into consideration (K.O. talked to Scott Campbell, the victim, tonight on “Countdown”- no video yet)…



…and “same old, same old” from “Penumbra of Angst” Willard Mitt here…



…and yes, I’ve been on a bit of a Nickelback kick lately – could do much worse.

Monday AM Stuff

Here’s an item from a week or so ago that I’ve been meaning to get to (kind of a response to the latest mess from Kevin Ferris in the Philadelphia Inquirer yesterday – sorry, no linkee)…



…and here’s another vid in my “in” box – hope you enjoy.

Sunday Stuff

I may actually, FINALLY be over my technical challenges – so far, so good on that.

Yep, Mark Fiore is a freakin’ genius all right (here)...



...and there’s nothing like a bit of inspiration to help us keep up the fight, is there?

Friday Mashup (11/4/11)

(Posting still flaky with probably no videos for a little while longer – working on it…)

I offer the following without comment; also, last week’s Area Votes in Congress writeup had only two votes (“Herculean” efforts by the U.S. House as per usual), including a vote to “make it harder for as many as 500,000 low- and middle-income individuals and families to qualify for Medicaid, taxpayer-subsidized private insurance, or Children's Health Insurance under the 2010 health law,” so aptly put by the Philadelphia Inquirer (Mikey the Beloved voted Yes, of course - as noted here, Repug U.S. House Rep Richard Hanna claims that President Obama supports this bill, but I could not verify that by use of that Google thingie...color me suspicious).

Next, I give you a lesson in Political/Media Double Standards 101 - first, the following (here)…

(Repug presidential candidate Herman) Cain had the chance to take these old accusations about sexual harassment straight on, but that chance for him is gone now, in the wind, over a week when his version of things became as ridiculous as Bill Clinton telling us all that he did not have sex with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky.

Herman Cain was never going to be a serious candidate for his party's presidential nomination, even against a field softer than Carvel ice cream.

Now he's through.

And for the response from "the usual suspects," I give you the following (here)…

Following a report accusing Herman Cain of sexual harassment in the 1990s, media conservatives are claiming that such allegations are often "meaningless" or used as "a political tool." But studies show that victims often endure serious psychological and professional side effects as a result of the experience.

And let’s not forget that this denial is coming from the same bunch who voiced a similar reaction to the sex scandal involving former U.S. House rep Mark Foley a few years ago (here), though the Clinton/Monica Whatsername business will be forever new in the eyes of both the Repugs and our bought-and-paid-for Beltway media (here).

Continuing with the “values” stuff, here is more…

In a 396-9 vote, the House of Representatives reaffirmed "In God We Trust" as the nation's motto on Wednesday. The resolution's Republican sponsor said it would clear up any confusion President Obama created by once referring mistakenly to "E Pluribus Unum" — a Latin phrase meaning "out of many, one" — as our motto. ("In God We Trust" replaced "E Pluribus Unum" in 1956.) Obama mocked Congress for frittering away its day on such a symbolic gesture instead of focusing on creating jobs. Wednesday's debate only took 35 minutes — was it really a waste of time?

Well, you can put me down for a “Yes” on that one, particularly since the measure was taken up to “clear up” the supposed confusion on the matter caused by Number 44.

The main reason I’m bothering to say anything about this, though, is to point out the following (here)…

Lawmakers voting against “In God We Trust” include Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich), Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA), Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), and Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA). Voting present were Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Rep. Melvin Watt (D-NC).

Amash, by the way, was the only Repug to vote No, though, as noted here, Ron Paul (a libertarian “kindred spirit” from what I can tell) would have voted No also because he didn’t think the Feds had the right to tell the states what to do here (I don’t think Paul “finds the nut” that often, but he deserves credit when he does).

And by the way, I’m highlighting the other No votes to give them credit; I just want to make sure that’s understood (the Repugs’ non-jobs agenda staggers on).

Further, this post at The Hill tells us the following…

Combining Express Scripts and Medco is an opportunity for two leading pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to apply private sector know-how to solve our country's biggest healthcare challenge: lowering the cost of healthcare while raising the quality.

By joining complementary strengths, the proposed merger will benefit the nation's patients, employers and managed care plans, leading to safer and more affordable medicines for American families.

And in case you were wondering, the post was written by the public affairs manager of Express Scripts (sorry, but put me down in the “this is a bad idea” column here).

As noted here, Medco once locked out 500 employees in a labor dispute, and Express Scripts very nearly closed their facility in nearby Bensalem, PA for similar reasons (here). In addition, this tells us that the two strongly encourage prescribing generics over name-brand drugs, which is often wise for cost reasons particularly since so many drugs are “off patent” at this point (though this tells us of cases where plan subscribers needed the name brands, but were given the runaround by Medco when they tried to obtain the meds from their doctors).

I just can’t see how the merger of Express Scripts and Medco will do anything except further remove the element of judgment by a degreed medical professional from an issue of patient care that will be performed instead by a more-or-less clerical functionary trying merely to fill a quota.

Finally (in local news), time is growing short until next Tuesday’s election in which Dems Gene Dolnick and Linda Palsky are running against the protégés of the odious Simon Campbell, Steve Kosmorsky and Chris Cridge, respectively (here is a recent letter from Dolnick in response to Campbell’s typically sleazy tactics, and here is a letter on behalf of Dolnick and Palsky…you know we’re getting close to November 8th because Campbell once again published the salaries of Pennsbury employees – wonder if it ever occurred to Simple Simon to use that money constructively on behalf of the district and the students instead of feeding his oversized ego? I know the answer, but I'm keen to ask anyway.)

Oh, and Mikey The Beloved left a tape-recorded phone message at Le Manse Doomsy encouraging my vote for Kosmorsky – more ammunition to support Dolnick instead as far as I’m concerned.

Also, Dem Lower Makefield supervisor candidate Ron Schmid wrote the following Guest Opinion (he and Ken Seda want the township to authorize liquor sales at restaurants…Lower Makefield is currently “dry,” which to me never really served as much of a deterrent to alcohol abuse – wish it did, though). In addition, this letter appeared on behalf of Independent supervisor candidate Ron Smith, who also rebutted more nonsense from Repug opponents “Dobby” Dobson and Jeff Benedetto here (OMIGOD, those Democrats are going to raise your taxes again – which the Repugs never do….riiiiiight). Finally, here is an endorsement of Dem Bucks County Commissioner candidates Det Ansinn and Diane Marseglia along with Repug Rob Loughery; it’s long past time for Charley (“I Have A Semi-Open Mind”) Martin to go.

By this time next week, we’ll be living with next Tuesday’s result. Let’s do our part to make sure we’ve started the ball rolling to Democratic gains next year (including President Obama’s re-election) instead of stopping whatever momentum we’ve achieved dead in its tracks.

Wednesday Mashup (11/2/11)

(I’ll try to get back to this blogging thing again…)

I know it’s hard to imagine, but it’s only been a year since the voters of Wisconsin elected Hosni Mubarak Walker as governor (here)…

As soon as Walker was elected on November 2, 2010 (his 43rd birthday), public-worker unions in Wisconsin began to Walker-proof their paychecks. Before the governor and the newly minted GOP legislature even took office in January, public-sector unions tried to rush through new contracts.

Assuming you buy the claim from Irrational Spew Online here that public sector unions tried to “rush” through their contracts (and I emphasize that I don’t), this tells us how the public sector employees ended up losing out on the deal regardless. Also, poster Christian Schneider claimed that Walker’s current approval rating is 42 percent, approximately where it was in March (interesting given that, as noted here, it was 37 percent in July). However, I have no recent polling data to challenge Schneider here.

So what exactly is Walker doing in response to the recall effort against him? Well, as noted here, he’s relying on “unlimited donations” (think ALEC and the Kochs) and making the recall process more difficult (here). And remember how eliminating public sector employee bargaining rights was supposedly about austerity because Wisconsin was “broke”? Well, he still managed to pony up about 60 grand for iPads, as noted here.

And in an effort to maintain the Walker mythology, Fix Noise propagandized as per usual about the “Wisconsin Miracle,” as noted here. On top of that, the Washington Examiner falsely claimed that Walker was doing what Badger State voters wanted him to do here (if anyone wants to revisit more Walker-related misery, click here).

Next, I give you more wingnut harrumphing here over a recent Florida appearance by Obama Labor Secretary Hilda Solis (she used the word “teabaggers” to describe the “racist sign and funny hat and Revolutionary War uniform in some cases” crowd – how impolite)…

Solis was speaking at the state Democratic convention, so some red meat is to be expected. But "teabaggers"? That's the level where the debate still resides? Cabinet secretaries resorting to vulgar insults?

Oh yes, how awful it is for “cabinet secretaries” to be “vulgar” and “insult(ing).”

And as proof, allow me to revisit the dark days of Bushco once more, in which former Defense Secretary Rummy himself basically questioned the worth of Vietnam War draftees here.

Also (under the heading of what I would consider to be “vulgar” behavior by cabinet secretaries), I give you the following from former Buscho Interior Sectary Gale Norton…

(In December 2003), (Norton) unveiled this proposal, which would change current regulations governing livestock grazing on more than 160 million acres of western public lands administered by (the Bureau of Land Management). The administration described its decision as an effort to "improve working relationships" between the BLM and ranchers, and to "protect the health of rangelands." But in fact the proposal would repeal a number of environmental standards, delay implementing others, and through bureaucratic manipulation render most of the remaining environmental standards unenforceable.

All in all, the regulations would remove opportunities for the public (other than ranchers) to provide input into management decisions, slant environmental analyses and appeals procedures to favor ranchers over environmentalists, and make it easier for ranchers convicted of environmental crimes to obtain grazing permits. The proposal would also allow ranchers to obtain ownership of water rights, fences, wells, and pipelines on public land, thus crippling the BLM's ability to manage the land in the greater public interest.

And when it comes to “vulgar” and “insulting” behavior from presidential cabinet secretaries, it would be difficult to top former Bushco Labor Secretary Elaine Chao here…

You could lose your job to a foreign worker—not because he’s cheaper but because he has better workplace skills and discipline. That’s the message (Chao) hears from U.S. executives who are worried about America’s competitive future. While losses are low thus far—one study estimates that only 280,000 jobs in the service industry out of 115 million are outsourced each year—that could change. Beyond the cheaper cost of labor, U.S. employers say that many workers abroad simply have a better attitude toward work.

“American employees must be punctual, dress appropriately and have good personal hygiene,” says Chao. “They need anger-management and conflict-resolution skills, and they have to be able to accept direction. Too many young people bristle when a supervisor asks them to do something.”

Besides, considering that the original post had to do with “vulgar” and “insult(ing)” behavior aimed at the Teahadists (Ooopsie! Didn’t mean to hurt their widdle feelins), I don’t think they have a leg to stand on in the umbrage department when you consider this.

Finally, it looks like Orange Man is losing what’s left of his mind again (here)…

It’s safe to say Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) does not agree with President Obama’s suggestion on Tuesday that Americans are better off now than they were when he took office.

“Are you kidding me?!” Boehner said loudly in response to a reporter’s question on the comment. “Why don’t you go ask the 14 million Americans who are out of work whether they’re better off today than they were four years ago?”

Here are a few items to consider in response:

Here is proof from last June that government spending has helped job creation, not hindered it.

Here, Boehner said that the weak jobs report in September was due to the threat of high taxes, or something (and, when given an opportunity to support the President’s jobs bill in response – well, this tells us what happened anyway).

Also, two days after opposing the Obama jobs bill, Boehner and his pals also blocked infrastructure investment (here).

Oh, and who can forget this little moment with the speaker when he tells us what he thinks of the prospect of federal job losses?

In addition, I give you this, in which an actual small business owner criticizes Repug John Kline (and, by association, Boehner) for claiming that those supposedly awful government regulation are “killing jobs.”

As noted here, though, Boehner’s latest outburst is just “part of the plan” - more here.

In addition, here is a recent comparison chart of the effects of the stimulus in this country on gross domestic product when compared to the U.K., which did not receive the benefit of a stimulus (I seriously hope that this forever kills the zombie lie that the stimulus “did not create a job,” but I know better, sadly).

I’m not optimistic, however, that there will be a change of heart here on the part of the House Speaker, particularly since it looks like “Achtung Baby!” Boehner has another metaphorical fire to put out, as noted here.

Update 11/3/11: Amazing his nose doesn't grow when he says this stuff, isn't it?

Update 11/6/11: Unsurprising which of the Beltway gasbags thinks public sector job losses are fine here (Note: it isn't Krauthammer for a change).

Monday Stuff

Remember when I said last week that posting would be sporadic? Well…

In the spirit of the season, Rachel Maddow tells us here about a hobgoblin named Paul Wolfowitz…

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

…and by the way, Happy Halloween (day to day on the whole posting thing).

Friday Mashup (10/28/11)

Today’s Philadelphia Inquirer tells us the following (here)…

New Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput says he isn’t likely to change his mind about creating a window to allow some past victims of sexual abuse by priests to file lawsuits after the statute of limitations in their cases has expired.

Chaput, in a discussion Thursday with the Inquirer Editorial Board, said statutes of limitations exist for sound legal reasons, and that exceptions should not be made just to allow litigation against the Catholic Church.

I realize this isn’t exactly “man bites dog” stuff, but it’s important to get Chaput (pronounced “shay-poo,” I think) on the record here. And this sounds a little like that stunt he pulled when he was the Denver Archbishop here – namely, supporting the extension of the statute of limitations for sexual abuse of minors for civil lawsuits, but only if it included public schools (and I was not able to find any evidence of clerical abuse in public schools in that archdiocese; by adding the public schools, though, it would sink the extension since the teachers’ union would protest…I would argue that Chaput knew that would happen).

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss…

Continuing, I give you today’s headlines in illegal surveillance (well, some recent headlines anyway – as noted here)…

The rise of government surveillance is a troublesome legacy of the September 11 attacks. Today, video cameras are visible everywhere in public places, recording people’s every move. But what about spying that can’t be spotted?

Ten years after 9/11, new questions are being raised about what the US government is secretly doing on the internet and through satellites, using the Patriot Act and other national security law as justification.

Two American senators with access to top-secret intelligence raised the alarm in May, suggesting that the invasion of law-abiding Americans’ privacy was being carried out clandestinely - and that people would be shocked if they knew the extent.

“I want to deliver a warning this afternoon,” Senator Ron Wyden said on May 26 during a Senate debate. “When the American people find out how their government has secretly interpreted the Patriot Act, they will be stunned and they will be angry.”

Exactly what activities US agencies are carrying out remains unclear. Senator Wyden and Senator Mark Udall - also on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence - have been unable to elaborate on their accusations because of official secrecy law.

However, observers surmise that ordinary people may be caught up in an electronic dragnet searching for terrorists. Civil liberties advocates suggest that intelligence and law-enforcement agencies may be reading and cataloguing people’s e-mails in databases, as well as tracking their mobile phone locations.

Also, here is more in the annals of this country’s disintegration into a police state regardless of which political party is in charge (looks like this new “rule” says that federal agencies can lie about FOIA requests…doesn’t exactly sound “hopey changey” to me). And for more, here is an entire listing of related stories from the New York Times.

I’m glad the “Occupy Wall Street” crowd touched on this as a reason for protest in their first official statement here, quite rightly pointing out that our governmental/industrial complex has “sold our privacy as a commodity.”

And speaking of the protests, I give you the following from Smerky here…

Funny, Jack Bogle doesn't look like any of the members of Occupy Wall Street we've been seeing on television.

I can't picture the legendary founder and former CEO of the Vanguard Mutual Fund Group, clad in Brooks Brothers suit, adjacent to City Hall, or as one of the 50 who were arrested in Atlanta, not to mention those being sprayed with tear gas in Oakland. But that doesn't mean the Main Line patrician and capitalist icon is lacking in sympathy for some of their grievances. Bogle believes attention must be paid to their complaints.

…

While the messages coming from Occupy Wall Street often seem to lack cohesion, one mantra has been that the new economy so eloquently described by Bogle has created unprecedented income disparity. A report out Tuesday from the Congressional Budget Office detailed how, in the last three decades, "the share of after-tax household income for the top 1 percent of the population more than doubled, climbing to 17 percent in 2007 from nearly 8 percent in 1979."

So is Occupy Wall Street channeling Jack Bogle (who has analogized our financial economy to the childhood game of Rock, Paper, Scissors)? I e-mailed and asked him.

He replied, "I like the idea of the idealism, frustration, and even anger that the Occupy Wall Street movement represents. These (mostly) young citizens can see what their elders (mostly) cannot - that the financial system is responsible for much of the havoc wreaked on our economy, with the penalties paid not by the Wall Street (and Greenwich) financiers and executives who led and participated in the abuse, but by the taxpayers of our nation. That our savers, as a result, are earning close to zero on their hard-earned savings is just one more example of this economic drain and profound unfairness.

"So long as we have a First Amendment that guarantees the right of the people peaceably to assemble, their right to protest the inequities in our economic and financial system sends an important message to Wall Street: 'Attention must be paid!' In a world increasingly dominated by Goliaths, all those Davids together will make a difference."

Bogle basically invented mutual fund investing in index funds, claiming that index funds would outperform actively managed funds over time (the success of his company is a testimony to his strategy). He was also a rebel in the sense that the success or failure of Vanguard (more the former than the latter) was based on the performance of its mutual funds (he was fired from Wellington Management for trying to implement this kind of a business model – again, he was proved to be right). So basically, he has always been a bit of a rebel, as well as a visionary; to me, it’s not a bit surprising that he “gets” the Occupy movement.

And if you’re not bowled over by that, I give you this from David Zurawik…

I have had my disagreements with Keith Olbermann the last few years, but I have been watching in admiration lately as night after night he's covered the Occupy protest movement like no one else in the media.

I am surprised that he has not received more praise for getting to this major story before anyone else and understanding the massive sociology of it better than anyone yet.

Olbermann understands that Occupy Wall Street is an eruption of the pain millions of Americans are feeling. He sees it as the sign that it is of something deeply disturbing that has happened to the quality of American life and our ability to believe in the future any more.

And that is especially and heartbreakingly true for young adults who have paid their dues and gone to college only to discover there are no jobs for them. Those college students and young adults who were dancing in the streets on election night in 2008 after seeing TV coverage of Barack Obama in Grant Park are some of the same people sitting in tents in the cold and rain in American cities tonight. And no one in the media speaks to them and is telling their story like Keith Olbermann.

Olbermann has been telling their story every night while cable channels like CNN have been sending smug, superficial anchor-hosts like Erin Burnett down to the Occupy Wall Street encampment to ridicule those who are protesting. And they are doing it in empty-headed, right-wing, 1960's, pot-and-bongo-drum stereotype-think worthy of Spiro Agnew -- or Pat Buchanon (sp).

So let me get this straight – on the same day, Smerky indirectly compliments the “Occupy” protests with some reasonable perspective from John Bogle, and “Z on TV” compliments Keith Olbermann concerning the movement also?

Color me shocked (and kudos to both pundits – nice to not have to dump on them for a change).

But of course, since we’re talking about the “Occupy” protests, you can always depend on Fix Noise to bring the wingnuttia (here)...

Tea Party groups across the nation are accusing local and state governments of a double standard – charging them fees to hold rallies in public parks, while allowing Occupy protesters to set up camp for free.

“I find it extremely frustrating and upsetting,” said Colleen Owens, a spokesperson for the Richmond Tea Party. “It is definitely a slap in the face.”

Owens is demanding a refund of about $10,000 from the city of Richmond, claiming her group was charged for rallies at Kanawha Plaza but the Occupy protesters have not been charged.

“We’ve had to pay for the police, the sanitation, we had to pay for emergency personnel, and we event had to buy a $1 million liability policy,” Owens told Fox News.

She said it was unfair that the protesters have been allowed to essentially break the law by setting up camp in the city park.

“We’re trying to show this is unfair and biased treatment by the mayor and the city council,” she said. “Either force the occupiers to follow the law that’s on the books or evict them.”

And what if the city doesn’t administer the law equally?

“If they are not going to apply the law equally, then they should refund our money,” she said. “They’ve been camped out there for almost two weeks and they have not paid one dime. They are not being held accountable to follow the law, yet we were expected to follow the law.”

In response, please allow me to point out that police violence has occurred against “Occupy” protests in New York City, Oakland, Arizona, Illinois, and even Australia (Mother Jones put together a complete list to date here – so far, 2,000 have been injured, including Iraq War vet Scott Olsen from Oakland, who suffered a fractured skull and brain swelling after he was allegedly hit in the head by a police projectile, as noted here).

Memo to the Teahadists: if and when I see anything even remotely like this kind of commitment from you characters on behalf of income inequality (I can dream, can’t I?), I’ll be one of the first people to compliment you on it.

Otherwise, stop your sniveling and whining over registration fees (or whatever) and shut your respective pie holes.

Finally (turning to local politics), here is a recent Guest Opinion in the Bucks County Courier Times from Lower Makefield supervisor candidate (and Dem) Ken Seda on how he plans to enable local government to operate more efficiently without raising taxes; and speaking of that, Independent LMT supervisor candidate Ron Smith tells us about some rather creative financing that benefitted Repug supervisor candidate “Dobby” Dobson here – his “high net worth” property assessment was reduced by 20 percent by the head of the Bucks County Board of Assessments, who just happens to be Dobson’s sister.

Also, here is a letter on behalf of Gene Dolnick and Linda Palsky of the Pennsbury School Board, both running for re-election against Steve Kosmorsky and Chris Cridge, respectively (both minions of the dreaded Simon Campbell). And what would a recap of Bucks County politics be without more questionable dealings from Repug commissioner Charley (“I Have A Semi-Open Mind”) Martin (here – in response, click here to read about Dem commissioner candidates Diane Marseglia, Det Ansinn, and the rest of the slate from our party).

We need to get out and vote in support of all of these worthy Dems (or independents) on November 8th, people. We can’t turn back the Repug tide on the national level unless we manage to do it on the local level first.

Thursday Mashup (10/27/11)

Interesting poll results from the Bucks County Courier Times here, which tells me any or all of the following: 1) Most of that paper’s readership is not currently in college, 2) Most of that paper’s readership is not currently paying off a student loan, and 3) Most of that paper’s readership would reflexively hate anything this president did regardless of what it was.

Meanwhile, this tells us the following…

DENVER, Colorado — US President Barack Obama Wednesday dwelt upon his own struggles with student debt, as he laid out a plan to ease the burden of college loans and reached out to young voters in key swing state.

The president, on his second visit to the Rocky Mountain electoral battleground of Colorado in a month, said he and his wife Michelle spent years paying off a combined student debt load of $120,000.

“This is something Michelle and I know about first hand. I’ve been in your shoes. We did not come from a wealthy family,” Obama told students at the University of Colorado.

“Our folks didn’t have a lot of money. We didn’t even own our own home. We rented most of the time that we were growing up.

“We were able to land good jobs with a steady income. But it still took us almost 10 years to finally pay off all our student debt,” Obama said.

“We want you in school. But we shouldn’t saddle you with debt when you’re starting off,” Obama said, referring to the high fees, in the tens of thousands of dollars a year, many US students face on the way to a degree.

Obama’s plan, to be enacted by executive order, will mean payments would go down for 1.6 million Americans who are stuck with student loan debt, officials said.

As positive a development as this is, however, there is the following to consider (here)…

"It's a step in the right direction, but a lot of people who need the relief right now won't be the ones who benefit," said Mark Kantrowitz, who publishes the financial aid websites Fastweb.com and Finaid.org. "This plan doesn't do anything for a majority of distressed borrowers. It only helps those still in school."

And by the way, what of Former President Highest Disapproval Rating In Gallup Poll History on this subject? I give you this…

Making matters worse was a 2005 President George W. Bush decree that student loan debt is the one thing you can’t wriggle away from by declaring personal bankruptcy, says (Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal). “It’s actually worse than a bad mortgage,” he says. “You have to get rid of the future you wanted to pay off all the debt from the fancy school that was supposed to give you that future.”

Also, for comparison purposes, I thought it was a good idea to include this response from the WaPo on the very same subject…

Oh, and as long as I’m commenting on the Courier Times, allow me to compliment the paper on its wonderful new layout with its oversized photos and reduced amount of type. If I wanted to subscribe to a third-grader reader trying to pass itself off as a mass circulation almost-daily newspaper, I would do so.

Update 10/28/11: And for further evidence that Obama is doing the right thing here, I give you this.

Next, I give you the latest propaganda from Fix Noise (here)…

The famous magician Harry Houdini would be proud of President Obama’s efforts to fool Americans into believing that immigration enforcement has increased. His trick is getting the public to focus on the total number of deportations while he hides the details of what those total numbers really reveal.

Mr. Obama claims that his nearly 400,000 annual deportations of illegal aliens are higher than yearly deportations under President Bush. The claim is true – sort of, but so what? The previous president never adequately addressed the escalating cost and impact of illegal immigration so using his deportation numbers as a benchmark sets the bar very low.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! Oh my freaking God, that is way too damn funny!

So just because Former Commander Codpiece pretty much chose to ignore ended up not getting anything accomplished on illegal immigration, his numbers are exempt from comparison purposes? Gee, can President Obama use that excuse the next time some wingnut complains about something he may not have paid a lot of attention to for some reason, such as the cost of our military involvement in Libya?

Meanwhile, from the world of reality, I give you this…

The eight years of President George W. Bush’s administration saw a marked increase in illegal immigration and a drop in immigration enforcement throughout much of his tenure. For example, the number of illegal aliens arrested in workplace cases fell from nearly 3,000 in 1999 to 445 in 2003, with the number of criminal cases against employers during this period falling from 182 to four. Not surprisingly, by 2005, there were an estimated 10-20 million illegal aliens living in the United States. Even at the end of 2007 after the Bush administration’s enforcement crackdown had been underway; only 92 criminal arrests of employers had taken place, in an economy that, according to the Washington Post, includes 6 million businesses that employ more than 7 million illegal foreign workers.

Despite the failure of past amnesties and the fact that these increase illegal immigration, Bush repeatedly pushed mass legalization (amnesty) schemes for illegal immigrants using the well-worn line that they “are doing jobs Americans will not” or “are not” doing. One scheme was the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act 2007 which was defeated by widespread popular opposition.

We have needed comprehensive immigration reform in this country for way too damn long, including the DREAM Act and a path to citizenship for the illegal/undocumented/whatever the #$@! you want to call them workers if they do the right thing (“pay the fine and get in line,” people – I know I’ve said this before, but why the hell can’t the Dems come up with catchy slogans for their good ideas the way the Repugs can come up with catchy slogans for their bad ones?).

Finally, The formerly Moonie Times haz a sad over the WaPo supposedly going after the Teahadists and Republicans in general (by the way, try hyperlinking to the actual stuff you’re supposedly criticizing instead of your own lame content)...

The fury with which America’s left-leaning establishment has chronicled the country’s fiscal challenges is indeed fascinating to those of us who follow such activities.

The Washington Post’s editorial and op-ed pages are full of grand indictments against all things Tea Party, GOP Congress and the leading Republican presidential contenders.

The headlines of many recent opinion pieces reflect the unbridled vitriol: “Those reckless Republicans,” “The Tea Party, united only by anger and the Internet,” “Conservative zealotry vs. economic reality,” “Racism and the Tea Party movement,” and “The GOP’s carjacking on Capitol Hill” - is but a sampling of recent reviews produced by the establishment’s opinion makers.

In response, I give you this…

In an October 18 editorial titled, "The Wall Street Whiners: The 'Occupy' movement is made up of lots of losers," The Washington Times called the Occupy Wall Street protesters "crybabies" and "complainers" who "are desperate to blame others for their poor life choices."

As usual, conservatives look into a mirror and see the reflection of everyone but themselves (oh, and here is another conspiracy theory on OWS making the rounds that I'm happy to help destroy).

Wednesday Mashup (10/26/11)

Here’s a lesson for the Dems – want to know how to beat the Teahadists? Take them head on, as noted here…

Oregon Democrat Brad Avakian, who’s running in an upcoming special House election, released a TV ad last week in which he declares he is “ticked off” at “these tea party Republicans.”

“People are excited to see someone stand up to these thugs in Congress,” Avakian told POLITICO, arguing that he’s the only Democrat in the crowded primary field who has embraced a muscular approach against the tea party. “They haven’t been there,” he said of his opponents.

He’s not alone: Illinois Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi, another candidate facing a competitive primary, has turned his virulent opposition to smashmouth GOP Rep. Joe Walsh into the central thrust of his campaign, painting himself as the most committed tea party adversary in the race. Krishnamoorthi’s campaign recently put out a press release noting that “Raja’s record of standing up to Joe Walsh is long and well documented,” pointing out that he’s written anti-Walsh op-eds, launched a petition drive targeting the congressman and even personally confronted the Republican at one of his town halls.

…

Florida Democrat Patrick Murphy, who’s running for the seat held by Rep. Allen West, widely regarded as the tea party’s favorite son, said he detects a strong desire among Democrats to embrace an aggressive posture toward the conservatives who have shifted Capitol Hill rightward. Murphy pointed to the swelling Occupy Wall Street movement, which is railing against the corporate world in cities across the country, as evidence that the left is energized and looking for politicians willing to espouse a forceful, anti-conservative message.

“We said, ‘Look, if we’re going to counter this, we need to tap into the countermovement,’ and that’s the progressives out there,” said Murphy. “I think it’s important for us to be the anti-Allen West candidate, to tap into that kind of nationwide movement.”

Murphy, a construction company executive, recently purchased an ad on the liberal Daily Kos website that features a picture of West and asks viewers, “What are you prepared to do to stop the tea party?” It adds: “Speak now, or forever drink the tea.”

The Politico story also tells us that Lois Frankel is running for the Democratic Party nomination to face West in Florida next year and using much of the same anti-Teahadist rhetoric, and Tammy Duckworth is opposing Krishnamoorthi in Illinois for the right to run against deadbeat dad Walsh (also, New Mexico Democrat Michelle Lujan Grisham, the Bernalillo County commissioner, is running in a three-candidate primary for an Albuquerque-based seat in much the same fashion).

And let’s not forget that Florida’s Patrick Murphy is not to be confused with this guy.

Next, I give you a real howler (here)…

On life support. Dead man walking. Down for the count. He’s toast. Stick a fork in him; he’s done. Pick your own metaphorical cliché as long as it acknowledges that this president is a goner. If you need proof, consider Gallup’s recent assessment of the president’s job-approval numbers: “Only one elected president since Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter, had a lower 11th-quarter average than Obama.” And we all know what happened to Mr. Peanut. Gallup brings the president’s lousy numbers to the bottom line by showing that Obama is losing to a generic Republican in its surveys, as well as in a head-to-head with the leading Republican, Mitt Romney.

I don’t know what David Hill is a doctor of, but it definitely isn’t punditry; as noted here…

...President Barack Obama leads the Republican frontrunners in the crucial swing state of Ohio.

According to a Quinnipiac poll released Wednesday, Ohioans would choose Obama over leading Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney by 45 percent to 41 percent, and has a wider lead over candidates Herman Cain and Rick Perry. He leads Perry by an 11-point margin (47 percent to 36 percent) and Cain by 8 points (47 percent to 39 percent).

Obama has widened his lead over Romney and Perry since last month, and this is the first time Quinnipiac has pitted him against Cain. In September, Obama had a narrow 3-point lead over Perry, which he has now tripled. Last month, he and Romney were statistically tied, 44 percent to 42 percent, but the president has edged forward since.

And this is from The Daily Tucker, people!

Continuing, it looks like Repug U.S. House Rep John Kline is going after the NLRB again here (that party’s non-jobs agenda drags on)…

House Republicans are again moving forward with legislation to limit the power of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

On Wednesday, the House Education and the Workforce Committee is scheduled to mark up legislation sponsored by its chairman, Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.). The bill, known as the Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act, would negate several of the labor board’s actions this year, including a proposed regulation to speed up union elections.

In response, I give you the following (here)...

What a bunch of bullshit...the NLRB is doing its job! God forbid employees get equal footing to the employer. Groups like (the Retail Industry Leaders Association, the life forms behind Kline’s bogus bill) are fronts for the 1% to prevent the 99% from being able to get ahead. They do not care about fairness in the workplace; all these bastards care about is the almighty dollar.

Here is a list of RILA members...I suggest you contact them and let them know what you think of their group—looks like I will buying a lot more locally (I am sure going to miss Apple products though).

What a shame – I’ve enjoyed shopping at Best Buys and Target, among other stores from the link…it will be tough to come up with alternatives to these outfits, but I’ll give it a shot.

Update 10/27/11: Here is a terrific response to Kline from an actual small business owner.

Further, I’ve got a couple of items pertaining to Occupy Wall Street – it seems Stu Bykofsky of the Philadelphia Daily News encountered some “one percenters” in the City of Brotherly Love who believe they pay enough taxes, thank you (here)…

In rough economic terms, the top 1 percent control about 40 percent of America's wealth. I asked if that was fair.

"Not particularly," shrugs (Center City lawyer George) Bochetto.

"People who work hard and make money get to keep it, and people who do not work hard or are not industrious should not be given a free ride for the rest of their lives," says (former Philadelphia mayoral candidate and magnate Tom) Knox.

(Renee) Amoore (of the M/WBE-certified economic development, health care, and management consulting firm called the Amoore Group) says, "We do pay our taxes and we reach out to help other people, too."

Since Amoore, the deputy chairwoman of the Pennsylvania Republican Party, knows presidential candidate Herman Cain, I asked if she agrees with his statement that if you are not rich, blame yourself.

"You know what? Yes, I do," she says, adding "you can be rich in different ways."

When the love of my family pays the mortgage and the utility bill, I’ll let you know (nice attempt to divert the argument).

Bochetto says that although "if you were a minority, it was a much rougher road," the 99 percenters who are complaining "could have been more determined, more focused and taken advantage of opportunities that are available to everybody."

Knox agrees that Cain has a point, but "some people never had the opportunity."

The flip side of Cain's remark was the crack from Massachusetts Democratic Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren that no one ever got rich on his own.

"She's a little quacky there," says Knox. "What she's trying to say is the help that you get is streetlights, roads, police. Who the hell paid for the streetlights, roads, police? That's your taxes. The 1 percent is paying 50 or 60 percent of the taxes."

Really? While that one percent has seen its income “explode,” as Think Progress notes here? And can someone tell me how the top 1 percent can be paying 50-60 percent of the taxes when they take in a quarter of the nation’s income (here)?

To be fair, there is some other even-handed stuff in here, such as admitting that a return to the high-end rate of 50 percent that we last saw under The Sainted Ronnie R might not be so bad (good luck with that, unfortunately). However, they all decry the supposedly failed “stimulus,” when I don’t see a better idea from any of them instead (and on that, I give you this).

Also, please note that Knox didn’t say that Warren was wrong, only that she was “quacky.” Well, among other choice items, this story in Philadelphia Magazine tells us how Knox tried to eviscerate an employee pension fund to pay off creditors, which resulted in a lawsuit the employees eventually won (if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck…).

And speaking of right-wing economic delusions, I give you the following from Matt Mackowiak of the formerly Moonie Times here…

The Obama campaign clearly sees political benefit in supporting the Occupy movement, and the president has voiced public support. But Democratic pollster Douglas Schoen recently argued in the Wall Street Journal, “President Obama and the Democratic leadership are making a critical error in embracing the Occupy Wall Street movement - and it may cost them the 2012 election.”

Citing the Schoen poll is particularly humorous when you find out how the “Fix Noise Democrat” jiggered the results here (and here is Mackowiak from about a year ago deriding the Dems’ attempt at conciliation with the “loyal opposition” - first bullet).

Finally, I really don’t have much to add here, but I just wanted to point out that today would have been the 100th birthday of gospel music legend Mahalia Jackson; I won’t be able to embed videos for at least a few more days (a little early for “Go Tell It On The Mountain,” though I suppose that’s a tune that can be appreciated all year long), so instead, I’ll just provide the link above that tells us her inspirational story.