WTF? Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) is continuing to denounce what she says is a pattern of government takeovers of the economy — going so far as to say that the economy used to be totally private. "And what we saw this Tuesday, once the president signed the health care bill at the 11th hour in the morning on Tuesday, that … Read More
The GOP Not Done Fighting Against Health Care Reform
Looking around the internets, there seem to be two ways that the GOP intends to undo what has been done. (1) Constitutional challenge to the law itself. Several state attorneys general plan to file a lawsuit challenging the newly passed law, on the grounds that the federal government cannot constitutionally require citizens to purchase health insurance. Without getting too deep … Read More
Political Dictionary
"Obstructionism," only refers to Democratic minorities opposing Republican proposals. "Tyranny" is found when an elected Democratic majority passes legislation that Republicans don't like. "Reconciliation" describes a Senate process that Republicans are allowed to use to overcome Democratic "obstructionism." "Terrorism" refers to acts of political violence committed by people who aren't white guys. "Bipartisanship" is found when Democrats agree to pass Republican … Read More
RNC Calls Its Own Donors “Reactionary” and “Ego-Driven”
That's probably not a good way to endear yourself to your party's donors. In an unforced error, a Powerpoint presentation about fundraising was left behind at a $2,500-a-head retreat in Boca Grande, Florida, held on February 18. The presentation was delivered by RNC Finance Director Rob Bickhart to top donors and fundraisers. Politico describes it: In neat PowerPoint pages, it lifts the … Read More
Republicans And Conservatives Gather To Sign A Silly Piece Of Paper And Congratulate Themselves
It's like the "Contract with America" from the 1990's, but without anything of substance. Yup, the GOP likes to sign little manifestos committing themselves to the conservative values that (they believe) the Founding Fathers had (never mind the fact that the true conservatives in the Coloniel era sided with the British). Today's monumental screed is called "The Mount Vernon Statement", and … Read More
The Golden Issue: Campaign Finance
If the Democrats were smart, they will take this issue and own it. The issue: the recent Supreme Court decision, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, where the Supremes ruled 5-4 that corporations have the same rights as individuals when it comes to political speech and can therefore use their profits to support or oppose individual candidates. The decision appears … Read More
Quotes I Love
Family Research Council's Tony Perkins said on Fox News this morning: "I think over the years the conservative movement has become too aligned with the Republican Party." Why do I love it? Nothing like inter-party wrangling to help the Democrats stave off total disaster in 2010. Which prompts me to ask a question: with the Teabaggers putting their own candidates … Read More
Does The Public Support Obama Or The GOP?
Nate Silver has an excellent post wherein he breaks down 25 major issues being pushed by Obama and the Democrats, and sizes them up against public opinion polling. The bottom line? Of these 25 issues, Obama's position appears to be on the right side of public opinion on 14: the bank tax, repealing the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, … Read More
Worst Campaign Ad Ever
Even conservatives like Michelle Malkin are shaking their heads at this bizarre campaign ad, put out by conservative California GOP Senate candidate Carly Fiorina in an attempt to attack her moderate GOP rival, House Rep. Tom Campbell. Bizarre tone, strange imagery, and totally confusing. Which means "funny". This, kids, is a prime example of a really bad attack ad, if … Read More
ACORN Filmmaker Busted
Remember that conservative filmmaker who posed as a pimp, went into ACORN offices, and secretly recorded what happened? Quite a coup for the guy, whose name is James O'Keefe. He got to be on Fox, he pretty much dessimated ACORN (which, despite a few bad eggs, was a very worthwhile community organization), and just a few months ago, 31 far-right … Read More
Tea Party Convention Unraveling
The Tea Party "movement", which was supposed to be a movement of common average people, is starting to fall apart at amazing speeds, as it tries to transform itself from a grassroots movement into an actual politican party: A Tea Party convention billed as the coming together of the grass-roots groups that began sprouting up around the country a year … Read More
Tea Party More Popular Than Republican Party
A Rasmusson poll: In a three-way Generic Ballot test, the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds Democrats attracting 36% of the vote. The Tea Party candidate picks up 23%, and Republicans finish third at 18%. Another 22% are undecided. Among voters not affiliated with either major party, the Tea Party comes out on top. Thirty-three percent (33%) prefer the … Read More
Andrew Sullivan On Why He Left The Conservative Herd
Inspired by Charles Johnson, former Log Cabin Republican Andrew Sullivan takes time out to state the reasons why he has moved from right wing conservatism. To be fair, he has never claimed allegiance to any party (he supported, in order, Reagan and Bush and Clinton and Dole and Bush and Kerry and Obama), but he's shown a clear movement leftward … Read More
The Judean People’s Front versus The People’s Front of Judea
Sounds like the Tea Party people can't get along: Tea partiers turn on each other After emerging out of nowhere over the summer as a seemingly potent and growing political force, the tea party movement has become embroiled in internal feuding over philosophy, strategy and money and is at risk of losing its momentum. The grass-roots activists driving the movement … Read More
ACORN Madness
Everyone is talking about this Public Policy Polling survey, and in particular, one particular chunk of data. 1,065 registered voters were asked: Now… think about this. One in four registered voters think that ACORN stole the 2008 election for Obama. What accounts for this oddly high number? Are you serious?!? Half of all registered Republicans — that's about 40 million Republicans — are … Read More