What Republicans Should Care About

Hello Bloggers! I hope everybody is having a great Summer 2010! I'm enjoying it so far. Btw, to be precise, the definition of perspective I'm referring to is "the faculty of seeing all the relevant data in a meaningful situation."

I admit that I still have blog fever (the bad kind) and will continue to stay away from serious political blogging (I've decided the insanity and absurdity of today's far right can cause cancer), but I thought it might be fun to create an interactive blog game of sorts for those who occasionally stumble across my blog - and wish to vent. If you want to read about serious politics, feel free to browse my past work.

So, to my blog game. I call it What Republicans Should Care About (yet Ignore). Yes, it is a game, not a political debate. It's a place for progressives to vent their frustrations with the other side. Republicans can go play their own blog games. So, I'll go first, and if you like it, feel free to join in by contributing your own within the comments section of the blog.

What Republicans Should Care About (yet Ignore) #1 on 06/22/10

How their blind support of America's military-industrial complex and war-mongering is a leading cause of America's debt, leads to a culture of corruption in Washington, produces few jobs, pollutes our environment, costs our government billions annually, and leads to thousands and/or millions of deaths (American and foreign) based on an unsustainable, false pro-democracy-at-any-cost, divine-right, far-right culture that insists America is the right hand of God in the world  - in other words, the world's police force.

My Reaction

To both Republicans and war-friendly Democrats, WE are not the world's police force. WE cannot afford it. WE do not have the money anymore. We Democrats are not going to allow you to destroy our social systems, including our recent health care changes, to police the world at all costs. We are not going to allow you to whittle our government down to two items: defense and corporate welfare.

WE are sick and tired of the corruption, the secrecy, and the lies. We need to figure a better way to work with other FRIENDLY nations to free us from carrying this enormous burden alone. NATO is a starting point, but we need more cooperation and international investment to form stronger worldwide defense forces against terrorism and evil governments. It is possible. The right always screams bloody murder about world governments and a world police force, unless they're controlled by America, and for America.

The right's narrow-minded belief in American exceptionalism and moral authority is going to drive this nation into bankruptcy if they are allowed to lead us again. Time is running out on any Democratic leadership's ability to repair the damage without sacrificing some of the best parts of what is left in civilized politics. Time is running out. Social justice and moral responsibility is doomed in America if the Republicans regain power.

What Republicans Should Care About (yet Ignore) #2 on 06/22/10

How their blind support for Israel is one of the most exhausting, demoralizing, hard-headed and deadly issues in the world today. America and Israel are paying the price for conservative, stubborn pride and personal and national realism every damn day. Instead of trying to build bridges, conservatives choose to remain opposed to anything that might look like a compromise. Instead of being forced to get along, conservatives take the tough stand and hold their ground. Instead of trying to create mutual understanding, conservatives stand against the world based on an absurd idea that Israel can do no wrong.

My Reaction

This has to stop. It's destroying Israel's chances for a prosperous future. It's causing American conflict (and death) globally. Most important, it's crazy. Israel is a democracy, but that doesn't give it the right to take what isn't and wasn't theirs. It's time America pulls the plug. WE need to force Israel to accept its pre-1967 borders, sue for peace with its neighbors, and end this ridiculous conflict for good.

More to come! Have a great day - Michael!

The GOP and the "Patriot Card"

Hello Readers! I would like to point out again just how blind Republicans are to their own hypocrisy. We all know how Republicans refuse to acknowledge their own guilt in government, especially when it comes to lies, war profiteering, debt spending and ignoring the rule of law, but they also refuse to acknowledge their own anti-Americanism.

Democrats have endured being called unpatriotic and unAmerican for years. I call it the "patriot card," since it's kind of like the "race card." Republicans play it all the time, and have adopted the tactic as a specialty within the party. It's one of their favorite blunt instruments used to pummel everyone who's not Republican, including independents and the politically neutral-by-nature, into seeing the left-wing [or any non-Republican] as bad for America. It sounds crazy, but it's true.

The real irony is that Republicans are openly threatening to our government all the time, especially lately, and their methods are often blatantly unpatriotic, if not worse. I'm shocked the way Democrats ignore it. Why don't we learn from the Republicans and start calling those REPUBLICANS UNAMERICAN, or ANTI-AMERICAN, since they are, and it's effective. Allow me to start by saying that RUSH LIMBAUGH IS ANTI-AMERICAN and UNPATRIOTIC!

Republican leaders have been casual with their remarks lately about how they want President Obama to fail. Limbaugh has been their torch bearer. The Republicans have not only been unpatriotic, they've been downright treasonous. Yes, there have been many Republicans in the media suggesting treason. Sean Hannity even posted a poll on his website offering his viewers the opportunity to choose how they would start a new revolution, and every option included a violent overthrow of some kind. So let's say it together: SEAN HANNITY IS TREASONOUS!

Would they allow Democrats to get away with the same kind of unAmerican speech? NEVER!! They would have been screaming bloody murder by now. They would have used the "patriot card" to CRUSH and discredit the Democrats - both the media and the leadership. WAKE UP DEMS, for this is what Americans care about! This is how they create impressions about OUR leaders. We need to point out their hypocrisy and their evil intent. The Republicans have been talking trash so we need to TAKE OUT THE TRASH!

What can we do to help? Let's point out - whenever possible - just how unAmerican and unpatriotic the Republicans are these days. Let's start calling them out when they try to undermine the government and our elected leaders. Let's use the "patriot card" to discredit THEM. You never know, it may ultimately lose some of it power, like the "race card," and fade away. That would be a great day.

Monday's Political Rant #1 - Michael

Bush and the Patriots Who Stole Billions!

Good Morning! It's conspicuous by its absence in the media, but the US Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, the Army's criminal Investigation Command and the Justice Department NOW BELIEVE people in the US military and those in the BUSH Administration stole billions in cash that was sent to Iraq on pallets for reconstruction shortly after the fall of Saddam.

They're reporting that US military personnel and Bush appointees may have intentionally misspent or pocketed over $50 billion in American taxpayer dollars. $50 BILLION! That far exceeds the scope of the Wall Street bailout theft, making it potentially the "greatest fraud in US history."

They report the money is simply unaccounted for because many of the contractors and sub-contractors simply disappeared. They haven't been able to track it down! It's an INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF MONEY - enough money to bailout every broken state and local government in the US, and it's GONE!

What can we - the law abiding citizens of this nation - say except thank you once again to our Republican friends who SUPPORTED and STILL SUPPORT some of the greatest thieves in US history. George Bush, Dick Cheney, and the whole CORRUPT bunch of lying, scheming, scummy "patriotic" Republicans who raided the treasury over the past eight years!

What really bugs me is how ordinary Republicans continue to deny that Bush and his people were involved in any war profiteering or theft. They act like the whole Bush Administration was just a victim of bad luck and unfortunate circumstances, or they blame the Iraqis. When are they going to WAKE UP and SMELL THE SCUM for who they are? When are they going to start to use the brain God gave them? It's denial on a national scale.

More and more evidence hits the news every day about how the American people were screwed, and they still deny it. Instead, they spend all their energy whining and complaining about petty issues like how our elected officials are fulfilling their campaign promises by spending our money on us - hardworking Americans. Unless something changes soon, then the majority of Americans will begin to see them as nothing but loyal Republican WHACK JOBS!

When you add this possible theft to the long list of waste and war profiteering already proven during the BUSH YEARS, the Bushies and the Republicans will undoubtedly go down as the greatest thieves in the history of the republic. Republicans like to call themselves the "party of small government" or "low taxes." What a joke! If justice prevails, they will always be the "party of crooks," as law enforcement and historians begin to prove how they stole billions, if not trillions, from the American people.

Tuesday's Political Rant #1 - Michael

Those Who Don't Learn From History

Hello Bloggers - I thought I would try an experiment today. I was talking to a friend yesterday about the stimulus package and the Republican opposition, and something interesting happened during the debate. I found myself saying that I used to love to believe what the Republicans preach - smaller government and lower taxes - until I found out it doesn't work. So, what changed my mind?

I wanted to remember, so I began to recall my political past, and how I wasn't always what Republicans like to call a "liberal" Democrat. (I personally like the term "progressive," because it describes our thinking better.) I was a Democrat, just not the same kind. I was misguided.

Growing up in New Orleans, I campaigned and worked for Representative and later Senator John Breaux (D-LA) in the mid-eighties. He was a moderate "Blue Dog" Democrat, believing in many Republican issues at the time. Smaller government and lower taxes were high on the list. I supported many of the same positions, and even voted for George H. W. Bush after leaving the Senate.

I was young and foolish, and like so many Americans believed their stories about how smaller government and lower taxes would create a fantastic economy and society where success would trickle-down to everybody willing to reach for it. Reagan was a GREAT salesman, and charlatan. After the first Bush presidency, it all started to smell like old, rotten fish.

For those of us who were paying attention, the Lee Atwater movement under the first Bush began to show the ugly side of Republicans. If anybody wants to learn more about that political period, I recommend watching "Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story." It's an excellent documentary about how Republican tactics evolved to create Karl Rove and George W. Bush. Be sure to have a friend nearby while watching - it's VERY SCARY!

Anyway, Republicans at that time started to look negative, racially divisive (their "Southern Strategy" was in full swing), and unconcerned about the economics that help ordinary people. They were looking great at getting people to vote against their best interests. It was weird. They started to divide and conquer the nation based on "wedge issues." It was also obvious nothing was "trickling down" to help Average Americans. If anything, they were shipping jobs overseas and destroying the middle-class.

Unfortunately, most Americans weren't paying attention. By and large most Americans hate politics, and would rather be spoon fed slogans than do their homework. They didn't want to know or understand Lee Atwater or Newt Gingrich during the first Bush recession; they only wanted a promise of better times.

That ignorance led to support priming the gears for the Republican revolution, but fortunately for Democrats they suffered a significant set-back when the "Man from Hope" - or Clinton - came along. He was the kind of salesman Americans love. Unfortunately, Americans eventually gave Newt Gingrich and his Republicans Capitol Hill.

Before they won the bulk of their power, Bill Clinton and the Democrats passed legislation to lower the debt and raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans. Republicans called it "job killer" legislation, just like they did with the stimulus this week, and voted against it en masse. Democrats called it responsible government. They focused on reducing the Reagan-Bush era debt and creating jobs.

They Republicans followed-up with their "Contract with America," and despite being bold at the time, it was pretty much ignored and dismissed in the end. They were more concerned with acquiring more power, and they knew they could if they turned their attention to wedge issues, creating a cult-like following, and impeaching the President.

The real political irony of the nineties is how the Republicans took credit for the work of the Democrats. Incredibly, they convinced their flock, and many independents, that the greatest economic boom in American history was the work of Bush and the Republicans in Congress. Clinton's debt reduction initiatives and national stabilization programs were dismissed. Despite facts to the contrary, their ignorant, sheep-like constituents believed it.

Eventually, after creating a web of lies about their "success" and tactical wedge issues like gay marriage, the Republicans stole the 2000 election. Instead of Al Gore - who we voted for, we wound up with George Bush, Dick Cheney and more Republicans. It was a very sad day for the majority of Americans who actually voted to continue with the Democrats, and the well managed Clintonian economy.

The Republicans got to work on their "ill gotten gains" and focused immediately on castrating the government. In early 2001, George Bush and his team began installing incompetent, unqualified people into positions of power - EVERYWHERE in government. They were mostly loyalists it turns out; people they could count on to shrink what they saw as a bloated, inefficient and ineffective government. Unfortunately for them, it turned out to be the opposite. It turns out that less government led to less of everything!

Their version of the US government FAILED to prevent a massive attack on 9/11, FAILED to protect Americans from predatory lenders, FAILED to enforce financial regulations that created a housing bubble, FAILED to regulate Wall Street losing trillions in American savings, FAILED to provide assistance that led to the death of thousands after Katrina, FAILED to prevent war profiteering and incredible waste, and FAILED in just about every area of running the US government and helping the American people. The Republicans would later call it bad luck.

They pretty much FAILED everywhere, leading to the LOWEST APPROVAL RATINGS of any administration in history. They said they didn't care, but what else could they say. They were failures. Overall, the Republican principles that guided George Bush and Dick Cheney led to the worse government in American history, which contributed to some of the greatest disasters in American history.

At this unique time in American politics, listening to the Republicans continue to insist their principles of smaller government and lower taxes work best for the American people, it's important for us to assess what is right and what is wrong about their sales pitch.

So, let's try something we all do from time to time. Let's create a list of pros and cons, to help us visualize it. Let's explore whether our Republican friends should continue to believe their REPUBLICAN policies and beliefs. Here are just a few of my examples for now. Feel free to add your own.

PRO: Smaller government is better government.
CON: Republicans have proven smaller government is not better government. Size isn't the issue. It's about effective government, and the best value for money. Democrats like Obama support that idea.

PRO: Lower taxes help grow the economy and create jobs.
CON: Republicans proved that lower taxes are not enough. Most economists believe growth is encouraged by multiple factors, including government assistance related to education, health care, regulation/oversight, and all kinds of government stabilizing forces. Surgically applied tax cuts are good, but Republican efforts to simply lower taxes across the board have led to lower wages and bubble economies. It's also untrue that lowering taxes on the rich creates jobs - at least AMERICAN JOBS. The rich create some jobs, but how and where is debatable. It's also true that many hoard their money; the middle-class always spends it.

PRO: Less or no regulation is better for a free market.
CON: Republicans proved that reducing or eliminating regulations can lead to bubble economies and chaos. Republican-led deregulation has led to disruptions in every major area supporting the economy, including infrastructure, transportation, state and local economic development initiatives, health care, industrial safety/mining, industrial pollution, protecting the environment [for human health], urban planning/growth, executive compensation, investor protections, and much more. Deregulation has proven to be very dangerous to both the economy and people.

PRO: Transfer payments/social safety nets are harmful to the market and society.
CON: Republicans support transfer payments and social safety nets when it applies to saving large corporations or their own investments, but call it "socialism" and harmful when it's designed to protect individual, less affluent Americans. It's obvious to most Americans now that Republicans support the "privatization of profit and the socialization of risk." Republicans tolerate the "redistribution of wealth" as long as it benefits wealthy Americans. In the end, transfer payments like Social Security, Unemployment Insurance and Medicare stabilize the economy and society.

PRO: A strong defense is critical to American power and overall success.
CON: Just like Dwight D. Eisenhower predicted, the American military-industrial complex has become a behemoth that threatens to strangle the nation. Republicans are obsessed with American power. They have grown to believe in American unilateralism and hegemony. The truth is America must work with partners in today's multi-polar world, and those partners must be forced to share the burden. The industrial-military complex needs to be put on a diet, and Republicans need to accept that America cannot continue to go it alone. America needs to invest in a renewable economy, not just bombs and guns.

That's it for now. I hope you enjoyed my little list. Feel free to add your own.

So, based on this little journey through time, I now see why I left the Republican sales pitch behind. Smaller government and lower taxes SOUND AWESOME, but are really nothing but a pipe dream when you begin to see them applied in the real world. Republicans need to realize that Milton Friedman was wrong. Republican efforts at supply-side economists are a failure. Free trade over fair trade is a failure. American jobs have become CRAP!

We took a chance on Republican principles, and Americans are overwhelmingly throwing in the towel. We're ready to go back to the principles that work. The Democrats didn't invent those principles; Democrats simply embrace what works. I hope the American people understand that and support what is right.

Saturday's Political History/Perspective #1 - Michael

The Cynical Cult of Republicanism

Good Morning Bloggers - It's amazing, but Republicans are completely ignoring the wishes of the American people, who - based on recent elections - are asking their leaders to change course and try new solutions.

Democratic attempts at compromise on the stimulus bill by eliminating programs important to Democratic constituencies meant nothing. The Republicans are playing hard-ball and rejecting everything the Democrats are trying to do.

Instead of new political solutions, today's "cult-like" Republicans are devoted to pitching the same tired old ideas of lower taxes and corporate give-aways that may represent their special interests, but have proven ineffective at growing the economy FOR THE BENEFIT OF CREATING GOOD JOBS FOR AMERICANS! Overall, multi-national, corporate growth is not enough for most of us.

To be very blunt Republicans, the majority of Americans and competent economists are tired of hearing you repeat yourselves. Get NEW IDEAS for God's sake! There's more to growing an economy than lower taxes! Unfortunately, for all of us, when the GOP failed to get their way yesterday, they took their votes and went home like pathetic brats.

I challenge those Republicans who believe their party always has the best of intentions to defend the Republican version of the stimulus package. It offered no new solutions to the problems facing Americans in the immediate future - job creation and growth!

It featured [politically and economically] untenable tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations. It was nothing more than a rehashed version of what was attempted under the Bush Administration, which created few jobs and created the housing bubble-type economy that crashed. To be blunt, it was BS!

Despite history and facts, Republicans tried to claim their version would create over six million new jobs in just two years. It was an absurd claim, dismissed by most reputable economists as well as the Congressional Budget Office.

The GOP offered no immediate assistance to state and local governments that require quick help to avoid disaster, and did nothing to help Americans without jobs or prospects. The GOP is much more charitable to the Iraqis. Americans be damned! Overall, their plan was a joke!

Their childish adherence to ineffective policies of the past borders on the psychotic. Americans should now ask themselves a few questions? Do Republicans really care about creating and growing new jobs? Do Republicans care about them?

If they do, they don't show it. Why don't they try to compromise with the Democrats for the good of the country? Why don't they care about creating a united front that would signal better times, economic improvement and encourage new public spending?

Instead, Republicans are willing to allow the US government to appear conflicted, thus adding to economic uncertainty and consumer anxiety. It's already clear the Republicans are willing to allow Americans to suffer a great deal. How? Because MILLIONS OF AMERICANS NEED HELP NOW!

Democrats are listening to the American people. President Obama is listening. They are trying to respond. They know Americans will endure more debt now to save the nation, their jobs and the economy.

Despite OBVIOUS REPUBLICAN LIES that "Democrats wish to create debt," the Democrats are responding to the nation's demand for change. Republicans can chant their old tunes of "government waste" and "Democratic tax-and-spend debt" all they want, but all it does is make them look unhelpful, absurd, hypocritical, and out-of-touch.

We Americans know that Republicans created the overwhelming majority of today's debt, and that Democrats wish to lower the debt.

Just like under Clinton, Obama wants to lower the debt again once the crisis is over. The American people know that Democrats want to help Americans, while the Republicans are now famous for primarily helping the Iraqis, the industrial-military complex, and their own interests.

So, what are the Republicans really up to? It's all about taking back power! Republicans enjoyed being in power and they want it back. They want it back so bad they can taste it. It's now clear they don't give a damn about bipartisanship, and they'll do whatever they can to undermine President Obama, serve their own interests, and take back their power.

In the same way they reject science, they will reject any responsibility for the crisis and focus on scoring political points. They will force the Democrats and the American people to go it alone. They are nothing but power hungry political game players. They are pathetic, unpatriotic, unAmerican, harmful, unethical and at times downright evil in the cynical, dangerous way they behave.

I only hope that most Republican Americans see what's happening to their leadership, and act to do the right thing before it's too late. Let's all work to make 2010 another year of change.

Thursday's Political Rant #1 - Michael

Republicans and Fear

Hello Bloggers - As many of you already know, I've been on the "Save American Justice" bandwagon lately hoping for leading Democrats and Obama to take a strong position against the Bush lawbreakers since the inauguration. Unfortunately, I may be giving up on convincing our Republican friends based on numerous recent debates.

To be blunt, I'm having trouble meeting ANY Republicans - yes, I mean ANY - that are willing to admit that Bush went too far. They always defend Bush as honest at first, but when pressed with the facts they always turn to a "laws and the Constitution be damned" response. The "he kept us safe" and "that's all that matters" argument always prevails. Many finish with "the ends justify the means" even if they don't always realize they're saying it.

No matter what I say to them, our nation's founding principles of justice, humanity, and fair play during wartime mean very little to today's frightened Republican minority. They are completely uninterested in fair play these days. They seem almost brainwashed.

Our nation's "rules of engagement" have been pretty much the same since George Washington fought the British. Our founding father was a great example of fair play, despite the atrocities committed at that time. A few Americans have been charged with war crimes during past wars, but so far America has been considered a role model on how to act during times of crisis. American presidents have been pretty great leaders, representing our higher ideals during conflict, by and large.

America helped create the international conventions that guide civilized modern conflict - to the best of our ability at least. We always fought to protect civilians and prisoners, no matter how horrible they were, for decades. We didn't waiver on our principles in the past despite enemy atrocities and crimes. We always took the high road, hoping to serve as a good example of what is right in the world. Until Bush and his sheep-like Republicans, we were a shining example of good in the world - that "shining city on a hill" that Reagan liked so much.

The Republicans I've been talking to recently all seem willing to do "whatever it takes" to keep us safe. They all seem unconcerned with past rules of engagement. They seem to feel that "everything has changed in the world." I'm sure our forefathers would disagree with them if they could share some of their horror stories. I don't care what you say, but this nation has faced horrible enemies for over two centuries, and I'm sure we can handle a few thousand religious, pirate-like zealots, without abandoning our principles.

Bush and Cheney somehow brainwashed a large part of America into profoundly changing their national mindset. "9/11 changed everything" is a phrase they use far too often, and one that should be eliminated from our national debate. Their "war on terror" is also counterproductive.

The conservatives I've debated seem perfectly comfortable with the idea of torture ("on Americans if necessary" was said), eavesdropping ("on AMERICANS too" was mentioned), open-ended suspension of habeus corpus, soldiers on our streets, detention camps, neighborhood informants, private armies, and even genocide against those who they say "threaten our existence." It's very black and white with them. There is a rancid, ugly fear out there today, and it's mostly coming from Republicans. Let's hope our democracy holds; a potential dictator could have a field-day with today's Republican minority.

Bush, Cheney and the irresponsible right-wing media have helped turn a large chunk of Americans into pathetic, frightened cowards. Yes, if that applies to you, that's what I consider you - a COWARD! Yes, I said it, a COWARD!

That's what I've been calling my Republican friends who espouse undermining our national principles out of fear. You see, I would rather we risk our lives, and remain brave Americans, than sacrifice the best of what this nation is about - justice and human decency - out of fear. YES, I said it, and I mean it. OUR LIVES, ALL OUR LIVES, EVEN YOURS! For God's sake Republicans, grow a pair! Trust me, I'll feel the same way if we're attacked again. Being attacked will change NOTHING!

Just like our soldiers, we need to stand-up for what we believe in. Our nation needs to be an example for good in this world. No matter how bad they get, we need to stay above it. We need to always treat our enemies as human beings. Justice should not be sacrificed at the alter of fear. I will never stop fighting to preserve our national honor and system of justice. We need to fight to remain a just and honorable nation.

Monday's Political Rant #1 - Michael

It Seems History Has a Sense of Humor

Good Morning Bloggers - Well, the holidays are over - thank God - and now we begin to focus on the inauguration and the upcoming storm of activity by the new Obama Administration. Something tells me that's it's going to be a fascinating year of analyses, praise and criticism.

Before we get to the more practical matters of turning the Bush DEPRESSION into a RECESSION, I would like to comment on the state of the far right, or what some might call their EXTREME DENIAL and lack of support for change. There are many reports, and lots of FOX "News" coverage, about how Obama will be making a mistake if he tries to be "too extreme" in his policies.

They do credit him with appointing a "moderate" team so far, but they won't stop criticizing him for plans to push FDR-like programs. You know, health care reform and stuff that WE AMERICANS voted him into office to fix.

They also won't stop repeating their BS about HOW he was elected. Did you know that he was elected due to "white guilt" and a strange and "irrational" hatred of George Bush, and not for his policies or "socialistic" ideas? I know, it's news to me too. It seems they feel the American people really didn't vote for change. I know, I know, WEIRD!

Wow, it would appear the Republican far right has gone past denial into some sort of alternative universe. A good example of their extreme thinking erupted this Christmas with the release of a new CD by a leading contender to become chairman of the Republican Party, Chip Saltsman, featuring a parody song called Barack the Magic Negro. It's repulsive, but many of them think it's hilarious. I think it serves as a great port-hole into that other universe.

I'm proud to say that many leading Republicans were horrified after he distributed the CD, but I'm less proud to report that a reasonable survey of right-wing websites and news organizations show comments very supportive of the parody. Rush Limbaugh LOVES it. It would appear that far right Republicans seem to have trouble distinguishing between good parody and racism.

The Republican party needs to recover from HEAVY electoral defeats over the past two years, and it won't survive unless it reaches out to younger and ethnically diverse voters. So, what is their method of recruiting such voters? To release a parody mocking Barack Obama's ethnicity and skin color. Sung to the tune of Puff the Magic Dragon (also a parody), the lyrics have left most intelligent Republicans cringing.

Chip Saltsman, a former leader of Tennessee Republicans, who is seeking to take over the party's national committee, sent the CD to party members as a Christmas gift. But unlike him, few found it funny. Let's hope that Chip finds a new career, better suited to his talents. How about sewer worker, or Tennessee Klan leader?

Anyway, that CD is only one example. Others include the fact that Sarah Palin has been named "conservative of the year" by more far right Republican organizations than you can count. Just do a search, and you'll find there are too many to name here. You don't even hear John McCain being mentioned anymore.

It's all about her these days. The woman is an IGNORANT fool with little education and a love of killing things, and they love her. She knows NOTHING about the world, or the economy, and they LOVE her? What the hell is wrong with them? Did you know that her 2009 calender is a top seller on Amazon? Okay, I admit it, they scare the hell out of me.

I'm also very disturbed by the right's denial about America's new faith in Obama. They seem to think it's a media construct. They also keep saying they would have won the election if they had been "tougher," and "stuck to their conservative principles more." What the hell is wrong with the far right? They LOST because of that conservative hard-headedness. Most of America wants to come together, they want GOVERNMENT TO HELP THEM, and they refuse to see it.

I know I shouldn't care, because it is their funeral, but I still want to understand them. Why do they keep hitting their heads against brick walls? Why do they keep thinking that the majority of Americans want a Sarah Palin? Where are the polls that make them believe that BS? I don't get it. It's like 30% or more of the country is either retarded or mentally unstable, capable of believing whatever BS they want to.

Oh well, I'll have to let it go. Let's just watch them bash, crash and burn. The majority of us will move on to fix the problems they created. They will do what they do. Just like the Republicans who praised Hoover for years after he left office, claiming that the roaring twenties were the best years of America, the far right will continue to sing the praises of Bush and claim that Obama does not represent the true America.

The Bush Legacy Project will continue to spin, lie, and tell tall tales to small groups of Republicans who want to hear their version of history, because they don't want to face the truth about what really happened. Did you know Hoover was a great president? They say history will vindicate them, but we all know it won't. The rest of us can't afford to wait for them; we have to get to work fixing things.

Monday's Political Rant #1 - Michael

Update - Wow, many ordinary Republicans are defending Saltsman. I guess they're tired of hiding and finally want to come-out-of-the-closet to share their racism with the world. Smart Republicans know it's NOT a good strategy, because what some call a simple rejection of political correctness, most of the American people call ugly racism. Wow, you guys are screwed!

Coming Out Would Have Been Preferable

Hello Bloggers - Minneapolis judges say that Idaho Senator Larry Craig has lost his latest attempt to withdraw his guilty plea in a Minneapolis airport men’s room sex sting.

That is FANTASTIC! I cannot tolerate that guy - that's my attempt at reversing their intolerance. He's a smudge on humanity, especially the same-sex part. He's an emotional and sexual retard with a "wide stance" that should be shunned by both groups.

It gets worse. If you look into his Senate track record you find a man who sold his soul to lumber and mining interests long ago. You're wrong if you think it was for the citizens of Idaho. He fought against good government and environmental groups that had tons of evidence to suggest those industries cause far more harm than good. There were better industries to promote; he chose not to.

He also fought against every gay rights initiative. If I may address you Larry, you weren't a good leader. You are a horrible hypocrite, and a creep too - my guess. Trolling for sex in bathrooms? What is wrong with you dude? What a role model? Actually, you're kind of sleazy and scummy like many Republican hypocrites. Anyway, the GUILTY plea will stand and you'll always be remembered for being a HYPOCRITICAL PERV.

Ironically Senator, you would have been better off just being openly gay. There's very little stigma for that these days. There's a BIG one for being a bathroom pervert - straight or gay. Something tells me that you're going to grow into a very lonely, miserable old man. Perhaps you and George Bush could form a club? Good luck with that Larry. One more karmic, Republican tale of good riddance to bad rubbish.

Tuesday's News and Opinion #1 - Michael

Alan Keyes is a Bitter Republican Loser

Good Morning Bloggers - Well, once again I'm not surprised by the craziness of the Republican far right. The McCain campaign was bad enough, but the idea that they're still fighting to keep Barack Obama out of office is simply mind-blowing.

The Houston Chronicle, a fairly reputable newspaper, is reporting this morning that "the U.S. Supreme Court will consider Friday whether to take up a lawsuit challenging President-elect Barack Obama's U.S. citizenship, a continuation of a New Jersey case embraced by some opponents of Obama's election." This does NOT make the Supreme Court look good if it's true. The document was certified by a state government for heaven's sake.

So, they still think the birth certificate is a forgery. The birth certificate that was officially validated by the government of Hawaii, one of the fifty states. The conspiracy theorists are all up in arms because the governor of that beautiful state had the certificate sealed to protect it. They, of course, are reading that to mean that it's a forgery and should be authenticated by the US Government. Wow, that says a lot about states' rights.

It's fortunate that most legal experts say the appeal has very little chance of succeeding. Most observers believe the court will not overlook the fact that state OFFICIALS stamped it as authentic - something courts rely on every day to settle disputes.

Alan Keyes, who lost to Obama in the 2004 Illinois Senate race, is one of the plaintiffs. What the hell is your problem dude? Do you enjoy stirring crap everywhere you go? Your suit is a joke, which kind of makes you a joke. There, I've said it, YOU ARE A JOKE!

Hawaiian officials say the certificate is locked in a state vault to protect it. No matter what you think, they are the officials and you're not. They have the authority to call it authentic and to lock it up to protect it. GET OVER IT YOU FREAKIN LOSER! I say that to both Keyes and all you Republican idiots out there who keep wasting our time.

I think we Democrats need to get used to this crap. When you listen to the Republican crazies out there like O'Reilly, Hannity, Savage, Beck, it's obvious that we're going to have an irrational opposition for many years to come. They're going to continually pitch whatever dirt they can, just to see what sticks. The McCain campaign was a dirt throwing machine. Of course, they're blind to the fact that they all look like SCUM!

Barack is an American! Deal with it you weirdos! I guess the only answer is to work harder and talk louder about things Americans really care about. That should make help drown out their BS. I do have one prediction though. After living through the last eight years, I'm of the opinion that once everything is back on track, and people begin to feel comfortable about how things are going, they will once again start to listen to the crazy right.

Those guys always seem to benefit when things quiet down, and people begin to dwell on issues that divide us, instead of what matters. They feed on that division. It is obvious to me and many Americans that they are the bottom-dwelling scum. They mostly surface after we clean up. Just like mold in the real world, they grow on healthy bodies, turning it dark and slimy. Oh well, let's do our best to keep the mold away for as long as possible. Anybody have a good anti-fungal to use on Alan Keyes?

Thursday's Political Rant #1 - Michael

Bush Spying and Telecom Immunity Goes to Court Again

Good Morning Bloggers - One of the greatest battles fought against the despicable Bush Administration and the Republicans over the past few years involved immunity for the telecoms.

Earlier this year the Bushies sought to immunize people and companies who broke the law. They were being sued by many groups because they willingly gave our private customer data to US intelligence agencies before and after 9/11 WITHOUT a warrant. My own AT&T was one of the worst corporate "snitches," but there were others. I was a big supporter of those lawsuits.

For those who weren't aware of the battle, it involved a heated Congress where many fought very hard to keep it from passing. The domestic spying bill that angered so many of us passed in July. In a bold and unprecedented move, Congress voted to kill the lawsuits and grant retroactive amnesty to any phone companies that helped with the surveillance.

American history will never the same in my opinion. It was one of Congress' darkest moments. It reminded me of the Alien and Sedition Acts before the Civil War. Unfortunately, in one his darker moments, President-elect Barack Obama was among those who voted for the law.

Other Senate Democratic TURNCOATS who made speeches in favor of the bill and Bush were Senator John D. Rockefeller (D-WV) and my own Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA). I wrote all of them over many months and none of them gave a good answer for domestic spying or why they believed the telecoms should receive immunity for breaking the law.

So, now the battle has one last test. David Kravitz of Wired is reporting that a federal judge today in San Francisco is deciding whether to hear a case to determine if the law is constitutional. It will affect the nearly four dozen lawsuits filed by civil liberties groups and class action attorneys against AT&T, Verizon, MCI, Sprint and other carriers - they claim the cooperation violated federal wiretapping laws and the Constitution.

I think we should all keep a close eye on this case if it proceeds. Congress trashed the Constitution, so it will be interesting to see if the courts help piece it back together. I believe that a Constitutional Amendment should have been necessary to make that kind of law.

They spied on Americans WITHOUT WARRANTS guaranteed by the Constitution BEFORE AND AFTER 9/11! That is a FACT! You Republicans can argue it all you want, but there is plenty of evidence supporting it. It's even accepted by the criminals at the Bush Administration.

We are supposed to be a nation of laws, not of whatever is convenient for a particular group in power at the time. Congress FAILED us, as usual. They should have voted against that law. Diane Feinstein FAILED me.

It should not be allowed to stand. We can't write any more letters to our Senators, for that time has come and gone. All we can do is HOPE that the courts do their job. All we can do is HOPE that sanity returns to those in power again.

Tuesday's Political Rant #1 - Michael

Political Rant: Hateful Republican Liars Blaming Everything On Obama

Good Morning Bloggers - I won't cite specifics here, because there are too many, but last week and over the weekend the overall amount of Republican BS already being thrown at President-Elect Obama would be laughable if it wasn't so tragic. The Republican truth assassins are hard at work and the man hasn't even been inaugurated yet.

Of course, the worst culprits are the usual suspects: Hannity, O'Reilly, Limbaugh, Beck, Savage and others. Not only are they claiming that the election was stolen, and being stolen in Minnesota and Alaska, but they are constantly blaming the stock market downturn and EVERYTHING about the current economic crisis on Obama. The "Obama Recession" was a joke at first, but I'm not laughing so much now. It's beginning to get me angry.

Why do I let those assholes get to me? Yes, I needed to say the word. They are assholes. Actually, they're worse, but I need to keep this PG. No matter how much I try to ignore them, they are getting to me. I guess it's the repetition. They're blaming Obama for everything they destroyed and we can't shut them up. Why? I want to shut them up!

Okay, cool down Michael. Let's evaluate the situation. So far, they're blaming us for:

• the credit crisis caused by their lack of oversight and regulation;
• the stock market collapse caused by their poor management of the economy and their record-breaking debt creation;
• a "secular revolt" because gay people are angry after religious conservative Republicans successfully funded and passed a proposition in California that over-turned rights for a large segment of society;
• election fraud because of ACORN, which has been involved in elections for decades and has never officially registered any voters because all it does is collect signature cards for state officials (not to mention there is evidence the Republicans stole over six million votes); and,
• basically EVERYTHING they've SCREWED UP on us.

I'm pretty sure that's only the beginning. Well, what can we say except GET REAL PEOPLE! Any Republicans who are believing their crap are delusional. I'm not a psychologist, but I think it's clear you people need help. IT IS NOTHING BUT REPUBLICAN PROPAGANDA!

Two great resources to help clear the polluted air are BIG LIES by Joe Conason and/or Cracking the Code by Thom Hartmann. Both describe the Machiavellian/Rovian tactics of blaming the other side for your own mistakes. Muddy the water, lie, cheat and steal if you must. Win at all costs. The end justifies the means. It's all part of their world. It's sad, but true.

So, let's try to keep it all in perspective. They're going to try to pin EVERYTHING that's going wrong on us. They're going to try to BLAME US for their own failure. I guess we're just going to have to live with it and hope it doesn't work. I hate it, but there's not much we can do about it. I'll try to relax and let it go, and I hope you can do the same.

Monday's Political Rant #1 - Michael

Political Rave: Miserable Republican Felon Ted Stevens Begs for His Job

Good Morning Bloggers - I have another RAVE this morning. Politico is reporting this morning that CONVICTED REPUBLICAN Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK), the "misery of the Senate" who is facing possible expulsion from the Republican Conference next week, is "contacting his Republican colleagues and urging them "to give him a chance" and hold off on any such vote until his legal appeal is resolved."

I don't know about you guys, but I LOVE IT when an old miserable bastard like Ted Stevens, a man who has done very little for his constituents or for mankind, is being forced to BEG his fellow senators to keep his job.

This came about after Republican Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) publicly declared that he will offer a motion next Tuesday to kick Stevens out of the Republican Conference, thus stripping him off his committee assignments. In response, Stevens has been calling his GOP leaders and other colleagues urging them to hold off.

Politico is reporting that "Stevens is assuring his fellow Republicans that he will step down if he loses his appeal, but in the meantime, he wants them to hold off on kicking him out of the Republican Conference." I say THROW THE OLD CANTANKEROUS CURMUDGEON OUT!

I remember him from my days working in the Senate. He was a miserable old bastard then, and from what I read he's worse now. He has been a thorn in the side of the Senate for decades, and it's time for him to GO!

The longest-serving Republican in Senate history was convicted last month on seven counts of failing to report more than $250,000 in improper gifts. I don't care if he maintains his innocence and refuses to resign from the Senate. Drug dealers act the same way. The man is a convicted FELON and should be forced OUT, unless you Republicans want to keep FELONS in your ranks.

Stevens BEGGING his colleagues makes me feel very happy. Let's hope this is only the beginning of many Republicans begging for their jobs, or freedom from jail. Hopefully we'll come to a day when George Bush, Dick Cheney, Karl Rove and Donald Rumsfeld are all BEGGING for their freedom. I look forward to that day.

Friday's Political RAVE #1 - Michael

Political Rant: Another Bush Minion Threatens Our Democracy

Hello Bloggers - The Raw Story is reporting more disgusting Republican BS claiming that its own interviews with numerous legal experts suggest that Colorado US Attorney Troy Eid has "misled reporters and diverged from state law when declining to prosecute any of the three men arrested in Denver for threatening to assassinate Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama."

"Eid, who was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2006, declined to prosecute the three men on charges of threatening to assassinate Barack Obama during his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention, saying that the suspects were "just a bunch of meth heads" and their words failed to meet the legal standard for "true threat.""

So, IF the legal experts are correct, then not only do we Democrats have to put up with constant Republican law-breaking, we also have to put up with weak-minded morons letting potential political assassins - the worst kind of assassins I might add - go free.

How many more GOP party simpletons are we going to have to suffer? What's next, are you going to start shooting us openly in the street? I guess you'll have to wait until the protests after Tuesday's stolen election get under way. There will be more confusion that way.

If the legal experts are correct, Mr. Eid, Troy, I personally will come after you if anything happens to the Senator. Our anger will wipe that goofy grin off your smug, Republican face.

IF you let them get away and anything happens, WE WILL BLAME YOU! Don't be a Republican lackey. DO YOUR JOB! Remember your oath. If you do not, and anything bad happens, you will be blamed.

Sunday's Political Rant #2 - Michael

Political Rant: McCain, Palin, and the Nation's First Campaign Klan Rallies

Good Morning Bloggers - I would like to talk about McCain's latest campaign tactic. While watching Hardball yesterday I was struck how the pundits agreed - Pat Robertson and the more moderate ones - that the current tactic of stirring up the base will only lead to putting off the independents and moderate Republicans. I agree completely. This tactic has to hurt McCain, not help him.

Over the past few days we've listened to McCain and Palin spew garbage at their "rallies," while their audiences shout "terrorist," "Nobama," "traitor" and "socialist" at the mention of the Democratic Senator. The audiences have been filled with boos and rude gestures. One rally supposedly featured a large number of middle fingers, along with shouts of "treason," "kill him," and one actual report of a "lynch him." The really incredible thing is that the corporate media isn't making a big deal out of it. They're talking about the candidates, but they're not talking about the wackos in the audience very much at all. It's bizarre.

This goes beyond the base, my friends (spoken annoyingly), this is more akin to a KLAN RALLY! The only thing missing is the burning cross. What do they think they're doing? This is insane. It's DANGEROUS to stir up those kinds of people. They could KILL somebody. They might even turn against us, the average Obama supporters, like dogs ready to tear at red meat. Trust me, I've almost been bashed for my beliefs, so I know how dangerous fanatics can get.

McCain and Palin need to switch gears. Somehow I think it's a long shot since they seem to be running out of ideas. After the Rev. Wright and Bill Ayers attacks they will find other ways to stir the base over the weeks ahead, while sticking to what works. Let's see, what pisses rednecks off? They'll probably move on to his "conflicted heritage," his father's muslim roots, how annoyingly smart he is, the way he's too elegant, how classy and cultured he is, the way he's too dapper and statesman-like, and finally end by criticizing his big ears. Oh yea, and he's an "elitist." Oh my God, what idiots.

To be very blunt, the people at those rallies are nuts, and they don't read much either. They're blaming the Democrats for the financial crisis, and they want McCain to "throw all the Democrats in jail" when he "wins" in November. In Wisconsin yesterday one fan said, "I can't stand to look at him, I don't trust him. I don't like the circle of friends he keeps, and I don't like his policies. I'm pissed off by it. I'm beyond mad. How is he climbing up in the polls?" I'll tell you how, he's the better candidate.

McCain's supporters are showing the same hatred for the media. Palin is even encouraging them to hate the media. She criticizes the press at most of the rallies. "It's dangerous territory whenever I suggest the mainstream media isn't asking all the questions." The crowds then go wild, shouting and cursing at the media in attendance. McCain's advisers are saying that their crowds are "spirited" and "frustrated" instead of "hate-filled" and "crazy" like any good psychotherapist would tell you. They dismiss the crowd's angry tone as "unrepresentative" of their campaign." Yea, right.

I can't believe we have another month of this crap. We've moved from a legitimate, dirty campaign, to a bloody cock fight in the deepest, darkest, foulest backwoods. When is the next rally boys? Do I bring a sheet? McCain, Palin and the Republicans are inciting anger they may not be able to control. Somebody is going to get hurt. If it isn't the Senator himself (God forbid), then it's going to one one his supporters. The people attending their rallies are crazy, and they shouldn't be stirred up. I am scared something ugly is going to happen. I hate to predict it, but somebody is going to get seriously injured or killed, and probably soon.

Friday's Political Rant #1 - Michael

Political Rant: Barney Frank's Honorable, Tough Stand Against GOP Propaganda

Good Morning Bloggers - I hate to beat the proverbial dead horse as they say, but I just had to post another article about how the Republicans are using race to explain away their own mistakes related to predatory lending and the credit crisis.

One of my favorite Congressman, Barney Frank, the man who recently suffered the obnoxious slings and arrows of that Fox "News" moron, Bill O'Reilly, supported my assertions yesterday that Republican criticism of Democrats over the nation's housing crisis is a veiled attack on the poor that is racially motivated.

According to the AP's Glen Johnson reporting from Boston yesterday, the Massachusetts Democrat and Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, said the GOP is "appealing to its base by blaming the country's mortgage foreclosure problem on efforts to expand affordable housing through the Community Reinvestment Act."

He said the blame "is misplaced, because those loans are issued by regulated institutions, while far more foreclosures were triggered by high-cost loans made by unregulated entities." As my regular bloggers know that is a point that I've been banging away at for over a month now.

The Republicans refuse to acknowledge that regulatory protections were in place to insure against fraud and credit problems. They act like the Community Reinvestment Act and other legislation left lenders unprotected and vulnerable like sheep ready for a slaughter. To anybody who has read the legislation and the accompanying regulations (see my earlier posts) the assertions are wrong - or lies if you will.

Do you Republicans even listen to yourselves? The whole idea is crazy. It was caused primarily by a lack of oversight by the Bush Administration over the past eight years. Other causes involved Republican-led deregulation signed by Clinton in 1999 (he was wrong too), a housing bubble (caused by the lack of oversight and subsequent, over-confident market forces), and ultimate mismanagement and greed.

After a lot of homework, including a review of recent congressional testimonies, I would say the causes are pretty much in that order. The poor people who took the loans are the least guilty, unless they lied - also the fault of the predatory lenders in my opinion. Aren't there ways to find out if people are lying?

Frank said Republicans controlled Congress for 12 years and passed no regulation, while Democrats passed a Bush administration Fannie and Freddie regulation package since gaining control of the House and Senate in January 1997. Frank is rightly accusing the Republicans of race baiting their constituents. "They get to take things out on poor people," Frank said at a mortgage foreclosure symposium in Boston. "Let's be honest: The fact that some of the poor people are black doesn't hurt them either, from their standpoint. This is an effort, I believe, to appeal to a kind of anger in people."

Frank dismissed charges the Democrats failed on their own or blocked Republican efforts to rein in the mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. I agree with him. I researched and discovered that both parties attempted Fannie and Freddie reform legislation from their own party perspectives, and both failed over the years due to a lack of compromise. Much of it was caused by the Bush Administration and its demands for massive structural changes designed to help Wall Street, and less industry regulation that Democrats felt threatened a system that has worked well for decades. Despite the congressional conflict, the crisis still grew out of a lack of Bush oversight.

House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio called Frank's remarks "a lame, desperate attempt to divert Americans' attention away from the Democratic party's obstruction of reforms that would have reined in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and helped our nation avoid this economic crisis."

Mr. Boehner, the only lame and desperate things here are you and your party. You guys are willing to lie, cheat and steal to get your way. You are lying to the American people about the cause of this crisis, and you are attacking an honest man like Barney Frank to beat him in November and back up your absurd, deceitful, conspiracy theory that poor people brought down Wall Street.

Barney Frank did not cause this crisis. More than twelve horrible years of Republican "leadership" caused this crisis. The same leadership that brought us war, tragedy, and corruption on a massive scale. It is time the Republicans stop blaming others for what they caused, and take responsibility for their failures.

Rovian tactics like "muddying the waters" to make everybody look bad in this situation will not work. It was Bush and the Republicans. I hope you take the time to learn what I've learned, and vote them out of power in November.

Tuesday's Political Rant #1 - Michael

Political News/Opinion: Al-Qaida Claims More Victories Over George Bush

Good Morning Bloggers - I would like to point out how AP this morning is saying a new al-Qaida video is once again declaring victory over America and its allies, and how we are "facing defeat at the hands of Islam." They are saying that our economic crisis is one more example of how they have helped destroy our great country.

I don't know if we should be counted out yet, but I have been saying for years that George Bush and his policies are playing directly into the hands of Osama Bin Ladin and al-Qaida. It's almost as though he's been working from their notes.

"The enemies of Islam are facing a crushing defeat, which is beginning to manifest itself in the expanding crisis their economy is experiencing," said Gadahn, in a clip of the message distributed by the SITE Intelligence Group, a Washington-based monitor of militant Web sites. "A crisis whose primary cause, in addition to the abortive and unsustainable crusades they are waging in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq, is their turning their backs on Allah's revealed laws, which forbid interest-bearing transactions, exploitation, greed and injustice in all its forms." Incredibly, Gadahn, 29, grew up in Riverside County, east of Los Angeles. He's American.

Whether you want to admit it or not, the terrorist scum is right in some respects. George Bush - and his Republican-financed "Iraqi crusade" - has driven us into a scary, dark place. They - along with al-Qaida - have bled our nation dry. The bailout is one more wound - on top of so many others - caused by them. Our survival will depend on Obama's election and his ability to rise to the challenge. It won't be easy, but it can be done.

Monday's Political News/Opinion #1 - Michael

Political Opinion: Dumbing Down the GOP

Hello Bloggers - I saw this piece on Salon.com and just had to share it. If you read my work then you'll agree that it fits a pattern. I often ask the question, "WHY are Republicans so willing to nominate unqualified people to run the country?" It makes no sense to many of us observing from the other side. I challenge Republicans to make the same claim, and if you say Obama then I say you're comparing apples to oranges - the man is brilliant! Even your smartest, most obnoxious Republican pundits agree with me on that one.

Excerpts from "The dumbing down of the GOP"

"Why aren't more conservatives disgusted that their party nominated a person devoid of qualifications for the vice presidency (again)?"

"Sarah Palin's debate performance should signal the beginning of the end of her fad. But for the moment it is worth looking at the meaning of her nomination, without the protective varnish of what conservatives usually dismiss as political correctness."

"Why should we pretend not to notice when Gov. Palin's ideas make no sense? Having said last week that "it doesn't matter" whether human activity is the cause of climate change, she said in debate that she "doesn't want to argue" about the causes. It doesn't occur to her that we have to know the causes in order to address the problem. (She was very fortunate that moderator Gwen Ifill didn't ask her whether she truly believes that human beings and dinosaurs inhabited this planet simultaneously only 6,000 years ago.)"

"Why should we ignore her inability to string together a series of coherent thoughts? As a foe of Wall Street greed and a late convert to the gospel of government regulation, along with John McCain, Palin promised to clean up and reform business. But when her programmed talking points about "getting government out of the way" and protecting "freedom" conflicted with that promise, she didn't notice."

"Why should we give her a pass on the most important issues of the day? Supposedly sharing the fears and concerns of the average families who face the burdens of mortgages, healthcare and economic insecurity, Palin simply refused to discuss changes in bankruptcy law and proved that she didn't know the provisions of McCain's healthcare plan."

"There was a time when conservatives lamented the dumbing down of American culture. Preservation of basic standards in schools and workplaces compelled them -- or so they said -- to resist affirmative action for women and minorities. Qualifications mattered; merit mattered; and demagogic appeals for leveling were to be left to the Democrats."

"Not anymore."

"The ultimate irony of Palin's rise is that it has occurred at a moment when Americans may finally have grown weary of pseudo-populism -- when intelligence, judgment, diligence and seriousness are once again valued, simply because we are in such deep trouble. We got into this mess because we elected a man who professed to despise elitism, which he detected in everyone whose opinions differed from his prejudices. That was George W. Bush, of course. Biden was too polite and restrained to say it, but the dumbing down is more of the same, too."

(Read the whole story at http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2008/10/04/dumb/)

I agree with the author completely. I hope you consider what you're doing to the country, not just your party.

Saturday's Political Opinion #1 - Michael

Political News/Rant: Republican Zealots Still Blaming Housing Legislation for Crisis

Hello Bloggers - The Huffington Post has another story about how Republicans are blaming the bailout crisis on minority housing legislation. I know I've been beating this drum a lot lately, but it really makes me angry that Republicans are trying to blame others for their own screw-ups. Their "blame evasion" has become so pronounced they seem to pass the buck on everything these days.

(Read the story at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/01/conservatives-seek-to-shi_n_131020.html)

I challenge my Republican readers to name anything - yes, anything - that George Bush and the Republicans have taken responsibility for recently. Their standard protocol seems to be: blame others, rewrite their history, lie if necessary, and weather the storm. Why don't we call it what it is: fear and cowardice, lies, and more fear and cowardice.

The problem isn't their protocols; it's the lack of storms. There never seems to be a real storm. Nobody seems to get that angry. Did the Republicans castrate us overnight without us knowing? Did they put drugs in our water or food? For God's sake, and ours, GET MORE ANGRY PEOPLE!

Anyway, I will continue to post all evidence showing how the Republicans are being despicable once again in trying to blame others for their incompetence, greed, and deceit.

Thursday's News/Rant #2 - Michael

Political News/Rant: Republicans Who Blame the Borrowers Getting Tiresome

Hello Bloggers - Based on earlier posts (see Monday, September 22nd - Political Rant: Absurd Republican Spin About Crisis Continues Unabated) you might have caught on that I'm kind of upset with all the Republicans who are blaming the credit crisis on minorities and others who they say "scammed the system." Many are friends of mine. They always talk about the Community Reinvestment Act and point to data that shows how much it helped encourage minority lending - see YouTube for the many propagandist videos set to music on the subject.

However, there is plenty of evidence that proves a lack of government oversight under the Bush Administration is the real culprit. There were plenty of laws and regulations in place, but predatory lending was allowed to go unchecked over the past eight years.

I owned an Internet company here in LA from 1999 to 2004 and just after Bush's inauguration a major supporter opened a quick and dirty mortgage resale company across the hall with cubicles filled with mortgage sellers pitching their wares. I spoke to many of their twenty-something year old staff at the time, and remember being shocked by the way they were compensated - mostly by commission. They called their work "pitching the poor" at the time. I'll never forget it. Something told me what they were doing was wrong at the time, and I hate to say it but my instincts were correct. If somebody like me knew something was wrong, why didn't the government, the press, and the whole business community? It was common sense. They were the predators, and that company was a good example of one that should not have been allowed to exist.

Here are excerpts from another article that might help clarify the situation for my more hard-headed Republican friends: Viewpoint: Minorities a convenient scapegoat for U.S. financial woes

"In the midst of a severe financial crisis - a meltdown fueled by clueless homebuyers, greedy lenders and money-grubbing financiers - some observers have decided to blame "minorities" for the mess. Though wiser heads have proclaimed the emergency too serious for partisan gamesmanship, some in the conservative commentariat still can't resist playing the race card."

Several days ago, Neil Cavuto, host of Fox News' Your World, proclaimed, "Loaning to minorities and risky folks is a disaster." On WorldNetDaily, a compendium of loopy half-truths, pundit Drew Zahn declared that "when federal regulators demanded parity between racial groups in lending, the only way to achieve a quota would be to begin making intentionally bad lending decisions." The conservative National Review Online trotted out a favorite whipping boy, the Community Reinvestment Act, claiming that the legislation was the result of "racially inflammatory campaigns" that forced banks to "make mortgages available to people without much in the way of income, assets or credit."

"Why would anyone inject skin color into a debate over credit? There is certainly no evidence to support this claptrap. Federal regulators have never "demanded parity between racial groups in lending." Not ever. The CRA - designed to stop banks from "redlining," or withholding loans from entire neighborhoods - has long been under attack by conservatives, but for entirely different reasons. Critics called it vague, contradictory and useless. They claimed it was unfair to banks and thrifts, which were regulated, while other financial institutions were left to lend money as they saw fit."

"That's where the argument tying the CRA to the credit crisis breaks down. The lending frenzy developed during the past few years, a period during which banks and thrifts made less than 25 percent of mortgage loans. (The law has been in place for 30 years, during most of which time there was no mortgage meltdown.) "The heart of the crisis was caused by unregulated and lightly regulated mortgage brokers and independent mortgage bankers and affiliates that are not subject to the CRA. It would be quite odd if an act ... caused institutions not subject to its purview to do things that were inappropriate," said law professor Michael Barr, who has studied this legislation. I hold no brief for dumb homebuyers, be they white, black or brown."

"But minority homeowners were frequently the victims of aggressive practices by mortgage brokers who received higher commissions for steering buyers into high-cost, subprime loans, even if the buyer would have qualified for a prime loan. The Center for Responsible Lending, a nonprofit research group, examined 50,000 subprime loans nationwide and found that blacks and Hispanics were 30 percent more likely than whites to be charged higher interest rates, even among borrowers with similar credit ratings. Again, lenders didn't push those loans to comply with any "affirmative action in lending" programs. They did it to make money. That's the same reason Wall Street's masters of the universe created all those exotic investment vehicles - instruments they didn't understand any better than some homebuyers understood their adjustable rates."

(Read the whole article at: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.viewpoint28sep28,0,6004405.story)

So, I hope that my Republican friends and fans who keep insisting the lending crisis was caused by forced lending would stop it. You are not allowed to pick and choose the facts. You must let it go. People who blame the borrowers are not looking at all the facts. We should not accept parsed debates in this country. The Bush years are almost over and it is time to go back to insisting that all the facts are considered.

Monday's Political News/Rant #2 - Michael

Political Rant: Paulson Literally Begs for Democratic Support

Hello Bloggers - The New York Times is reporting that Hank Paulson actually got on his knees in front of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D) to beg her to keep the Democrats engaged and supporting the bailout idea.

He supposedly acknowledged that Republican squabbles were torpedoing the bailout's chances, but still knelt in the White House Roosevelt Room after the photo-op session yesterday and pleaded with Nancy Pelosi not to “blow it up” by withdrawing her party’s support for the package over what Ms. Pelosi derided as a Republican betrayal. “I didn’t know you were Catholic,” Ms. Pelosi said, a wry reference to Mr. Paulson’s kneeling, according to someone who observed the exchange. She went on: “It’s not me blowing this up, it’s the Republicans.” Mr. Paulson sighed. “I know. I know.”

The rapid unraveling of an agreement over the Wall Street bailout seemed to coincide with Republican presidential candidate John McCain's ostentatious return to the Capitol. "It was the very outcome the White House had said it intended to avoid," the Times Sheryl Gay Stolberg wrote, "with partisan presidential politics appearing to trample what had been exceedingly delicate Congressional negotiations."

I must say, but as a Democrat observing Republicans as a hobby - this blog - I can't believe the way they act sometimes. The only thing I can assume is they must be panicking, and will do anything to get bailed out - especially if it costs them money. It's disgraceful the way they've governed and they way the act when desperate. I think Pelosi should ask the president to beg -many of us would pay a LOT of money to see that. Republicans should be ashamed. This is all so embarrassing for our nation. If you're not disgusted, then you should be. I'd like to see John McCain take credit for this bailout after a scene like that gets around.

Friday's Political Rant #2 - Michael