Drop Trou

The worst thing about the GOP's lack of moral values is not that they can't keep it in their pants but what will happen to the Tea Bagger Parties.

Needless to say, when George W. Bush was President it was un-patriotic to use a national holiday to complain about what's wrong with America. Glenn Beck told us so. Now that Bush is gone, the best thing to do on the nation's Birth Day is to drop trou and complain. Glenn Beck tells us so.

Sen. Franken

Minnesota Supreme Court orders Franken the winner. Republican governor says he will abide by court's decision.


*Update:

Norm Coleman concedes.

Sanford Admits to More Women

...but says he didn't have sex with them. As we all know, you don't have to have sex to be unfaithful and you don't have to have sex to have an independent investigation make public all your deeds.

How Holy is the GOP? (*Update)

It's amazing Republicans still don't get it. They just can't comprehend truth and reality. When Republicans pull off some extravagant sex scandal and it gets 24/7 news attention they complain it's a double standard being unfairly applied to them by the media. No, it's because you idiots go out and do stuff like this to prove how Godly you are, when in reality you're just feeble wackos.

Oklahoma Legislature to Consider Proclamation Linking the Economic Crisis to Obama's Immoral Policies.

What idiots. The economic crisis started before Obama was even president, and it's not like Bush was so moral. Just like John Hagee claiming New Orleans was hit by a hurricane because of their sins, these people are mentally ill. But it's this sort of Holier Than Thou attitude Republicans cheer on. They clap and applaud such proclamations because they think it makes Democrats appear unholy and immoral when in reality all it does is explain how the GOP is the least popular governmental institution in America.

*Update:

Just to confirm, in case anyone might have been mistaken, Republicans really do believe they are led by God. They seek God's decision and will at every possible stage in their lives, especially in their governance of this country. Mark Sanford explains:

Immediately after all this unfolded last week I had thought I would resign - as I believe in the military model of leadership and when trust of any form is broken one lays down the sword [Sanford was never in the military however. His knowledge of the military comes from watching war on his Fox News teevee set.]. A long list of close friends have suggested otherwise - that for God to really work in my life I shouldn’t be getting off so lightly.

[...]

Their belief was that if I walked in with a real spirit of humility then this last legislative term could well be our most productive one - and that outside this term, I would ultimately be a better person and of more service in whatever doors God opened next in life if I stuck around to learn lessons rather than running and hiding down at the farm.

We are all expected to fall for this hook, line and sinker-- God wants Sanford to remain as governor of South Carolina. Honestly, Republicans you are doing this to yourselves. Lose the self-righteousness and just admit you have no real plans or ideas for this country. Your whole purpose is to portray yourselves as Godly and everyone else as evildoers.

More Lying From Sanford

Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer confirms, Sanford lied about how many times he met with his forbidden love. It seems Sanford met with his Argentine lover almost triple the number of times he admitted to last week. Not to fear, though, Sanford attended some of those meetings with his spiritual adviser.

Goodbye and Good Luck

6 years and 3 months into a 4 week war, U.S. troops will pullback to operating bases and turn over security to Iraqi forces beginning June 30. Iraqis celebrated this strategic move with parades, songs and dancing. Now who in their right mind would want this wonderful experiment in American neoconservatism to come to an end? Our Freedom Bombs and Liberty Bullets have graciously liberated these people, the least they could do is say thank you. I agree with the Republicans, Iraqis are obviously ungrateful ingrates.

The AP is also reporting some of the Iraqis celebrating in the streets were seen giving terrorists fist bumps while chanting "down with Bush!"

Terrible Move by DCCC

...the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) plans to run ads on the July 4 holiday criticizing several vulnerable Republican members for their votes against the supplemental last week. As Glenn Thrush reports, “A series of 60-second radio ads will run during drive time from July 1 through July 8, according to a script provided to POLITICO — and they have the support-our-troops ring of GOP spots.”

There's no point in doing this.

For 8 solid years, and even well into today (see post below) Republicans have used this sort of "anti-American" name calling to combat anyone or anybody that might not agree with them. Debate them on policy issues, of which the Democrats are currently winning splendidly, but not on patriotism. This is politics of the past and it serves no purpose in our national discourse. Good for Think Progress at calling out the DCCC for their hypocrisy.

When hoping to hold onto a majority, the last thing Democrats need to do is take lessons from the GOP playbook.

Quickies

• Thrice married and convicted drug dealer, Rush Limbaugh blames President Obama for Sanford cheating on his wife. Says it was so out of Sanford's character that Obama drove him to do it.

• Failed presidential hopeful and Maverick, John McCain, says House is almost an autocracy with Pelosi in charge. His dementia must have kicked in because he neglected to mention Republican Dennis Hastert served for 8 years.

• Phil Gingrey, Republican representative from Georgia, compared Democratic rule of Congress to the governments of Iran and North Korea. Also compared Republican minority to that of the voices of freedom being silenced in those same countries.

• Total psycho Michelle Bachman (R-MN) says the recently passed climate bill in the House was a choice between liberty and tyranny. Tyranny of course belonging to those who favored the bill.

All of this in a couple days time. Nothing has changed from the days when they were in charge, the days when Bush ruled the world and the GOP fought endless war. They still call everything that does not agree with them anti-American or evil. It is the first thing they do when they don't get their way. It's not that they lost elections, it's that tyranny is taking over. It's not that they are the most unpopular government organization in the world, it's that their freedom fighting voice has been silenced. They are indeed perpetual victims and constantly in blame of other people.

Sanford References Bible in Defense of Not Resigning

Any sane person would think that after the immoral acts of the Republican Party over the last decade, the last thing they would want to do is keep up their God Talk when it comes to defending themselves. There is nothing holy or moral about the GOP. Their display of governance and treatment of anyone who doesn't agree with them is the farthest thing from Christian anyone can find.

Yet Mark Sanford, the same guy who voted to impeach Clinton, is now insisting he's not going to resign because in the Bible, King David didn't resign after his affair. Sadly there are many self-labeled Christian conservatives holding a picture of Reagan watching Sanford on their Fox News teevee set and saying Amen.

More Iraq Success

Friday morning a Baghdad market bombing blew to smithereens another 13 innocent people. That brings this month's death toll from street bombings to 166. All this comes on the heels of U.S. troops to pull out of all Iraqi cities by June 30. Meanwhile, the WSJ, owned by the same person that owns Fox News, calls Iraq a success.

Changing the Rules in Mid Game

I love how Republicans can't help but talk about Sanford's fall from grace without eluding to the notion that Democrats do it too. I don't know of anyone who has said Democrats are perfect moral humans. And that's the point. We don't run our campaigns and entirely build our base around moral values voters and Christian crusaders. Partly because we aren't naive enough to think there is actually a perfect person among us, no not even Barack Obama. Not everyone has the same definition of moral values and it's never right to impose your supposed values on someone else. We all fall short of the Glory of God. It's best to keep it that way and quit pretending that a political party is actually God's right hand. None of us are, and there are actually lots of people who don't even believe in God so quit with the onward Christian Soldier holy talk and focus on yourselves for a little while and this country will be a better place.

Aside from all that, Republicans also want to be able to separate Sanford's dishonesty from his political stand against President Obama and stimulus spending. For decades all we've heard from Republicans is how Democrats have no morals or values and can't be trusted on any political position. Once you were labeled as having no morals, it didn't matter how you viewed any issue you were politically bereft and separating the issues was never allowed. I have a mind like a steel trap and I'm not going to forget any of it. And like I said on Organized Chaos, we cannot separate-- especially not now given how he presented himself publicly up until today-- Sanford’s lifestyle from his genuineness in governance. It's better just to admit it and move on than to even try to pretend that we can now all of a sudden separate morality from honesty.

Jealousy Update

If Iran wasn't so busy with their own Freedom, they would be tremendously jealous of Iraq today. At least 61 people blown to smithereens in the streets of Baghdad today. Let Freedom Reign.

Today's latest version of George Bush Freedom comes on the heels of Super Patriot Kent declaring Iraq is "a better place." Almost 200 people this week have been murdered in Iraq. I don't think it can get much better, do you?

TOAST

Unfaithful to more than just his wife.

I don't care about his affair. It's beyond politics. What gets me is that it was fine to be chair of the Republican Governor's Association while having his affair when it wasn't public. But now that he has to admit to it, and he was forced to admit it, it's not like he came forward out of the goodness of his heart, but now that he has to admit to it he's going to resign from the RGA. That's bullcrap. Until he gets caught, he portrays himself as a god-fearing, moral values family man. Typical Republican, but I'm tired of people saying he deserves credit for being honest and coming forward. Whatever. He was caught and then came forward. That's not honesty or courage. It's narcissism.

*Update:

Wait till you read the emails between Sanford and his forbidden love. Wow, talk about a sicko. Notice the dates on the emails. His affair goes back a ways. And now remember, he never resigned any leadership posts until he was caught. The whole time he was a leader of the RGA and a self-professed moral value Republican. He attended Bible study on C-Street and blasted President Clinton while calling for his resignation for, of all things, having an affair.

Sanford the Liar

Republican Governor of South Carolina just can't seem to get his story straight about his whereabouts for the last week. First his staff said they had no idea where he was. Then they said he was hiking the Appalachian Trail. When his state car was discovered at an Atlanta airport, things became fishy. Now today Sanford admits he left the country and went to Argentina. Says he wanted to go somewhere "exotic." Left his family, wife and kids, behind and went for the exotic trip to Buenos Aires. I know what you do in Buenos Aires when you leave your wife behind. Not real difficult to figure this all out.

*Update:

For the latest and best coverage of the Sanford Saga, visit my boy FitsNews. He is a former communications director for the Gov. And it seems they lied to him as well.

Now Fits' sources are telling him that the Sanford's are having marital problems and have been in counseling for weeks. Goes without mentioning all this makes my comment above even more correct: there's only a few things to do in "exotic" Buenos Aires without your wife, none of which are any good for an already rocky marriage.

**Update:

Another day in the world of the GOP. Fits is reporting there is evidence of a Sanford affair and that Sanford did not travel alone. Hummm, the only people who are going to be surprised by this will be Republicans and people at RedState.

As entertaining as Sanford's purported affair is, the real newsworthy item in all this is Sanford left the country without relinquishing power to the Lt. Governor like South Carolina protocol dictates.

One-Eighty By Summer

Watching the Right Wing fawn over their love of Iran, might just catch a person in a total state of confusion if one were to judge their policy stance from their recent rhetoric of blowing Iran off the face of the planet.

None of us will forget the Republican nominee for president, John McCain, gleefully singing about bombing Iran. It generated laughter and applause from Republicans. The bombing of a sovereign nation is commonly viewed as a "joke" amongst the Right Wing. War is such a "chicken crossed the road" issue anyways. I've lost count how many times War Cheerleader John Bolton has called for bombing Iran. Just last week he couldn't talk enough about Freedom Bombs and Glorious War. Neocon and Republican Norman Podhoretz last year said he "hopes and prays" George Bush will bomb Iran. Nothing like begging God for endless war. While running for president, tough guy Rudy Giuliani promised he would be the first to Nuke Iran if he had evidence they were preparing a nuclear program. Countless times this has been the policy of the right in regards to Iran (h/t GG).

Compare that to today's supposed "solidarity" movement with Iran. These are the same people who cheered on Iraq and still proclaim Iraq had something to do with 9/11 and also had WMD. The same people today comparing their Tea Bag Parties to Iran's election protests were just weeks ago wanting to blow them up into little pieces. Psychologically there has to be something wrong with these people. I don't think they'll ever come back down.

Jealousy Update

Iran is going to be so jealous when they hear about this.

Filed at 3:47 p.m. ET

BAGHDAD (AP) -- Bombings and shootings killed more than 30 people across Iraq on Monday, including high school students on their way to final exams, part of a new round of violence ahead of next week's deadline for U.S. troops to withdraw from urban areas.

The attacks pushed the three-day Iraqi death toll over 100, shattering a recent lull and adding fresh doubt to the ability of government forces to protect people without U.S. soldiers by their sides. American combat troops have already begun moving from inner-city outposts to large bases outside Baghdad and other cities.

Over 100 people blown up in the streets. Isn't Freedom wonderful.

Duh!

Chris Dodd finally realizes gay marriage is only for gays.

Defying the Supreme Leader? (*Update)

The BBC is reporting thousands of protesters have defied Ali Khamenei's orders to end the protests and accept the election as a victory for Ahmadinejad.

Key passage from the BBC report is this:

Iranian police have used water cannon, batons, tear gas and live rounds to break up protests over the presidential election, witnesses in Tehran say.

A BBC correspondent at Enghelab Square said he saw one man shot and others injured amid a huge security operation involving thousands of police.

Obviously much more violent than it was just a couple days ago. Reports out of Iran are still sketchy and some unverifiable. If half of what is being reported is factual then I'd say defiance of the Supreme Leader is big news, much bigger than who their so-called president is or isn't.

In other news, Republicans still can't get over their tough, macho manly talk. Again, it's all about talking tough and not necessarily anything else. For instance, conservative/Republican writer Charles Krauthammer chastises President Obama for referring to Khamenei as the "Supreme Leader." It shows weakness and non-support of freedom to call a dictator by his title. However, it's just fine for Republican John McCain to call Khamenei "Supreme Leader." Remember, only Democrats are weak, socialist, liberals. Republicans are Super Patriots that defend freedom at all costs. Wheeee!

*Update:

As protests continue today in Iran, top macho conservatives in America exact double standard on the conversation. Noted above Charles Krauthammer implodes on the president for calling Iran's Supreme Leader Iran's Supreme Leader. Just to prove my point that Republicans want a double standard applied to Democrats, Krauthammer today referred to Khamenei as Supreme Leader.

Here's more on Republicans using the term. Don't dare do such if you are a Democratic president, however.

Deep Thought

Remember the days when it was treason for members of Congress to articulate their own foreign policy outside of the president's, circa Jan. 2001-Jan. 2009?

*Update:

Flashback GOP style! Some Republican Porn for ya. You know this has 'em popping boners.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Speaks

Iranian Supreme Leader calls election valid and tells protesters to stop. Surprising to me throughout this whole election thing in Iran is foreign media attention to its outcome. Iran is an Islamic Republic. It doesn't matter who their president is, their head of state is their Supreme Leader. Republicans like to make big to do about Ahmadinejad but he's really powerless. And so would be anyone else in that office. Now if protesters deny their Supreme Leader and continue their marching then yes it becomes a big deal. We'll have to wait and see on that one.

Behold the Opposition Health Care Plan

One of the funniest things I've ever seen in my years in politics has to be the GOP's numberless budget plan they submitted two months ago. It was classic incompetence. A perfect climax to the sort of incompetence that had been leading this nation for 8 years. Today Republicans actually tried to outdo themselves by submitting an alternative health care plan, one that is supposed to be the opposition to President Obama's. Except the plan didn't really include a plan.

House Republicans presented a four-page outline of their health care reform plan Wednesday but said they didn’t know yet how much it would cost, how they would pay for it and how many of the nearly 50 million Americans without insurance would be covered by it.

It was 4 pages. Yes, the Republican health care plan for our nation is 4 pages long. When asked about the cost of the plan and why there wasn't any projections or ummmm, numbers, Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI) responded that numbers would come later.

He then went on to say the numbers for the GOP plan would come after the Democrats are done scoring their own legislation. When pressed harder for a ballpark estimate of the cost of the plan, Camp responded, "We do have ideas about that" before reiterating the GOP's idea of insuring Americans under the age of 25.

Just like with their numberless budget proposal their planless health care plan is supposed to be accepted as complete fact. No questions asked. I'm sure somewhere in their planless plan, they promise to cut spending, shrink government and restore honor, dignity and moral values to America. Yeah, I'm guessing President Obama isn't going to have too difficult of a time getting his agenda passed.

They Really See Themselves as Revolutionaries

"Iranian twitter activity similar to what we did in House last year when Republicans were shut down in the House."

That's a tweet from Republican Congressman Peter Hoekstra posted a little over an hour ago. How insane can Republicans really be? They truly see themselves as modern day Warriors battling enemies for the good of mankind. Everything they do is a Revolution!

Their Tea Bag Parties are revolutionary, so they claim. Last year they hosted a circle jerk on the House floor (of which Hoekstra is referring to above) and called it a modern Revolution! They beg for the return of their self-labeled Reagan Revolution and whenever they win a House or Senate seat it immediately becomes a Revolution. They are entirely consumed with being tough, macho Freedom Fighters.

If anyone else, anyone who may, let's say, become the first black man elected President of the United States, or have 4 million people celebrate in the nation's capital when he's sworn in, or have some of the largest crowds ever assembled wherever he goes, dares make mention that things are changing, Republicans immediately label whoever that person may be as un-American, liberal, socialist or weak. But they send a text message from a circle jerk on the House floor and they are greatest thing since Abraham f'n Lincoln.

*Update:
(h/t tpmdc)

Next to being Great Warrior Revolutionaries, the GOP sees itself as "perpetual victims" of oppression. Long ago, like 6 months ago, they were in charge of the Executive Branch of the American government. Today they are but an oppressed lot much like that of the Iranian people.

"Good to see Iranian people move mountains w social media, shining sunlight on their repressive govt - Texans support their bid for freedom," Culberson posted earlier today. He then followed it up with this: "Oppressed minorities includeHouseRepubs: We are using social media to expose repression such as last night's D clampdown shutting off amends"

Is there anything sadder than seeing the people who want to Constitutionally enforce marriage inequality and removing a woman's right to privacy, wallow themselves in such self-pity? Not to mention, these are the same people who want us to bomb the holy daylights out of Iran. Repulsively deranged to their core.

Iran Is Jealous

The worst thing America could do right now is directly engage the government of Iran on its election. Whether Republicans who are calling for the president to “act” are meaning we should use force or for the president to simply state that the election was a sham, either would be totally counterproductive considering our history in the region. We are not known as a polite friend to Muslim countries. The last time we sided with an Iranian uprising things didn’t turn out too well for us or for the Iranian people. That’s why Obama’s words today are a refreshing change from the macho war rhetoric of the Republican era.

“It’s not productive, given the history of U.S.-Iranian relations, to be seen as meddling, the U.S. president meddling in Iranian elections. … I do believe that something has happened in Iran where there is, there is a questioning of the kinds of antagonistic postures towards the international community that have taken place in the past, and that there are people that want to see greater openness and greater debate and want to see greater democracy.”

It’s refreshing on many levels but mostly to see a president who actually knows history and has learned from it.

War loving Republicans see such language from President Obama as weakness. To them only tough, macho, manly talk about Glorious War and Freedom Bombs can quench their inner thirst for more war coverage on their Fox News teevees. Their love of war is so great that they are now publicly stating the invasion of Iraq is the cause of the reformist movement in Iran. In short, Republicans are saying Iranians are jealous of all the freedom George Bush delivered to Iraq. In other news, more than 40 people this week have been blown up in the streets of Iraq. Jealous they are.

War Funding Fun

Democrats are tying $5 billion of IMF funding to the Iraq/Afghanistan war funding bill causing Republicans to vote against the bill. It would have been un-American during the Bush administration for a member of Congress to vote against funding the troops. Today it's patriotic to oppose them.

In all honesty, this is the sort of stuff that is never going to change in Washington. It's called politics. Measures get tied to bills all the time. I'm not against tying an IMF funding measure to a bill, I'm against continuing the war in Iraq.

Not an Ape, But Not Any Better

The very Serious and mainstream GOP responds yet again with more racist innuendo about the Obama's. This time a Tennessee Republican state senator's office gets busted circulating racist email.

Newscoma posted details of a racist email sent from Sherri Goforth, legislative aid for Sen. Diane Black (R-Gallatin). The email depicts the Presidents of the United States with President Barack Obama as a pair of eyes in a black background.

There really is no difference between Jim Crow South and the modern GOP.

It's worth comparing last year's GOP image of their Great Leader to that of their image of our current president.


The man who wrecked our country and left office the most disliked and unpopular president in history, is portrayed as a strong, brutish Warrior rolling up his sleeves to take on evildoers with his large over-sized fists. While our current president gets his wife called an ape and himself as a black faced nobody. I just can't figure out for the life of me why the Republican Party is the least popular government institution in existence today.?.

South Carolina GOPer Says Escaped Gorilla Is First Lady's Ancestor

That mild, mainstream, very Serious, Republican Party for ya. Rusty DePass, a Prominent S.C. Republican writes comment on Facebook page that an escaped gorilla is just an ancestor of the First Lady and probably harmless.

Crusty Old White Men still can't figure out the world left them behind.

(h/t FitsNews)

*Update:

DePass is now apologizing but insisting the First Lady started it by saying humans descended from apes. The only thing wrong with that is the First Lady never made such a comment. It's purely a racist comment plain and simple.

In reality, the First Lady is an actual descendant of a family of slaves from South Carolina. It's horrible enough as an American to have to write that last sentence and repulsively shameful to think someone from the present State of South Carolina, which happily enslaved millions of blacks, would even make such a comment.

Tea Baggers Brand Socialist Fists

It now appears the Tea Baggers are into Fisting!











Boy does that sure look like a bunch of communists doesn't it?


And how 'bout this one:













What a bunch of losers. They can't even Tea Bag their way to an original logo.

Mine's still better. Y'all can borrow, no questions asked.

Don't Point While Looking In a Mirror

Newest Republican Fantasy World denial is that the white supremacist Holocaust Museum gunman was a "lefty."

Their reasoning is since Ahmedijad is a Holocaust denier and he's an islamofascistliberal, Holocaust deniers are all "liberals" and can't possibly be right wing. What they're really saying is that in their make-believe world, a world where George Bush was a popular president, all things evil are liberal and someone like von Brunn must be a liberal.

Fact of the matter is antisemitism is neither left wing nor right wing but white supremacy and nationalism are certainly part of right wing ideology. What is messed up is American political labeling.

I'm not saying this guy was a Republican, I'm saying the Republican Party is moving in the direction of this guy.

More War, Thank God for Glorious War

John Bolton, a man who has never seen an ounce of combat his whole life, just can't get enough Glorious War on his Fox News teevee.

Many argue that Israeli military action will cause Iranians to rally in support of the mullahs' regime and plunge the region into political chaos. To the contrary, a strike accompanied by effective public diplomacy could well turn Iran's diverse population against an oppressive regime. Most of the Arab world's leaders would welcome Israel solving the Iran nuclear problem, although they certainly won't say so publicly and will rhetorically embrace Iran if Israel strikes. But rhetoric from its Arab neighbors is the only quantum of solace Iran will get.

I've lost count of how many times Bolton has advocated more war in the Middle East, just as long as he doesn't have to do the fighting that is.

How We Got This Way

This is going to be great news for Republicans. Just last night Genius Boy Karl Rove exonerated the Bush administration from any blame for current budget deficits. And from there we will have a plethora of right wingers follow Rove's lead and spout all across the internet Republicans did not run up the largest deficits ever seen in world history and that it's Obama and Dems who are responsible.

Those of us who don't live in the Republican Fantasy World, will actually remember the Bush administration inherited the largest surpluses ever and turned them into the largest deficits ever, and when you actually look at budget numbers over the last decade (as if we need more proof), you'll see it's even worse than we thought.

David Leonhardt did just that with an analysis printed in Tuesday's Times. From that we see Obama's contribution to the current deficit is but a smidgen of the actual numbers. His greatest contribution to the deficit isn't from his health care plans but from his continuation of Bush era policies, like the war in Iraq. Luckily for us Matt Ygelsias has put together a nice pie chart illustrating the areas most responsible for the current deficit.

Anyone who is not completely engulfed in the Republican Fantasy World would not need such a report to state the obvious, THIS IS BUSH'S FAULT. But Republicans will continue to deny the last 8 years, pretend everything was splendid and that any fiscal irresponsibility today comes directly from the Democrats and Obama. Amazingly, now that they are out of power, Republicans have returned to being fiscal conservatives again. They won't read the Times' report. Heck they'll call it "gotcha media" and blame it all on liberals and terrorists and run and hide from reality by coozying up to Fox News where Karl Rove gets to unabashedly claim George Bush and the Republicans bare no responsbility for anything that is happening to the country today.

Deep Thought

I wonder when bin Laden promised there would be terrorists in our streets killing us if he has now activated his GOP sleeper cell?

Yet Another Right Wing Gunman

A second right wing gunman in as many weeks has to draw some attention to the fact that the militant right wing being propped up and incited by Fox News and right wing hate radio and its talking heads is a serious matter.

This is the third such gunman in a year's time.

• Last week was the murder of Dr. Tiller by a right wing anti-abortionist.
• Last summer was the shooting deaths at a Tennessee church by a right wing Warrior, who while being arrested quoted lines from a Michael Savage book and who had in possession at his home numerous right wing extremist books from Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity to name a few.
• Also last week we learned of former Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough's connections to a Florida right wing, anti-abortionist and convicted murderer.

Today's gunman was part of the "birther" caucus of the Republican Party. That's the fringe Republican/conservative/wackos who believe President Obama is not an American citizen. It's become so Republican mainstream to perpetuate the "birther" movement that two Republican congressmen have bills that would require presidential candidates to present their birth certificates before they are allowed to run for the office. Now today we have a right winger shooting up a Holocaust museum who also just happens to believe the President of the United States is a foreign born enemy. Wonder where he's getting credence for such thoughts? Von Brunn is surely a guy Rep. Michelle Bachman would be very proud of.

And just listen to Shepard Smith from Fox News connect the dots by reading some emails they recieve daily at Fox from right wing extremists.



And here's the Leader of the Republican Party pushing the "birther" movement live on his radio show.



This is violence being incited by the right wing. We first saw it at McCain-Palin rallies and now it's reached a threshold of cold blooded murder. Be proud GOP, be very proud.

You Can Be Part Of Big Love Too!

Big Love Mitt Romney has announced a fund raising essay contest for his 2012 presidential run. The winner of the contest will get to join him for a Red Sox game this summer in his family's seats. Now I'm assuming he must own a couple rows to be able to get his whole family to fit, but in case he's talking about just one winner for one seat and given the fact the guy's a millionaire he should be able to accomodate.

Remember just a couple months ago Big Love announced the GOP was the Party of Revolutionaries! So he's wanting the essay to be about what it means to be a Free and Strong America. Because right now we are not Free and Strong, it's only when a Republicans are in charge of everything that America is a Big Bad, Strong, Manly, Macho, War Fighting, Free nation. Viva Bush!

Site Maintenance Update

Alrighty, it appears the new format is in place but we still have a lot of kinks to work out. Just about the time I thought everything was good to go, late last night I saw where Falcon Hive had an update to this theme. It was actually more than just an update it was a totally different version. But I couldn't get the newer version to work so I have switched back to the former and will work on the 2.0 when I have time.

As you can see there is a scrolling Featured Content slider at the top. I'm still learning how to use it so it's going to pose some problems for a little while. Everything else is pretty much the same. I'm hoping comments don't screw up and I'm hoping all the links are correct-- if you find anything broken let me know. Other than that The Fold is ready for is second year of operation!!

Site Maintenance

The Fold will be going through site maintenance all day today. As you can see we are making lots of changes, so do bear with us.

Thanks!

Palin: We Are Headed Toward Socialism (2 Updates)

Sarah Palin tells Super Patriot Sean Hannity that America is heading in the direction of socialism. She goes on to mention that the new administration is doing nothing to reign in spending or shrink government. Is there anything more ignorant and more oblivious to history than the modern GOP?

If you add Reagan's two-terms, Bush 1's term, and Bush 2's two-terms you get 20 years of Republican rule in America. Not one time did the GOP ever reign in spending or shrink government, but now they expect-- no demand-- a Democratic administration must do it in order to not be spending us down the road of socialism. There is nothing, not an ounce of evidence to point to that suggests Republicans govern with their so-called "core principles." In fact never in American history has government grew larger and been more fiscally reckless than when the GOP was in power.

But more amazing is that during the Glorious Reign of George W. Bush, when government grew at a faster rate than anytime since WWII and when spending became more out of control than at any time in our history, did the GOP ever once chide Bush for his policies or call it socialism. They praised him as a bold and strong leader and spoke endlessly about his courage. It is the epitome of being mentally brain dead to look upon history and conclude the GOP stands for fiscal responsibility and small government. And it is totally inexcusable to allow Sarah Palin and other right wing extremists off the hook on this.

*Update:

As if we needed more evidence of the ignorance surrounding the GOP, one mustn't look any further than today's call from the right wing to boycott GM. Why not boycott AIG, or Lehman Brothers, or Fannie and Freddie or the 13 other banks Bush socialized?

The GOP is not against socialism or Big Government one bit. While in power the GOP socialized more private industry and bailed out more private companies than any political Party ever has in American history. They are only against it when Democrats do it. And then want to pretend like they've never done any such thing and are small government, fiscal conservatives. Their delusion is a sickness brought about by forced amnesia.

**Update:

As it seems, this post was picked up on another thread at Scout.com, of which I am fan (thanks PDH). Not sure of the initial purpose of linking to this on a sports board; nonetheless, I will address it briefly. The thread asks the question if this post is offensive or not. To Republicans and conservatives I can see how it can be seen as such. But really, what do you have to refute the claims I make? When did Reagan ever shrink government or "reign in spending." When in the last 20 years of Republican Rule did small government, fiscal conservatism lead the way? Only those living in a Fantasy World can claim Republican rule leads to small government capitalism.

That brings us to zigbee's reply on the discussion thread.

"this is NOT the great depression. Unemployment is at a 25 year high. Last I checked the great depression was, uh, about 70 years ago and unemployment was at 25%. Cuting taxes and government spending is the way to get this economy going as Reagan did.........now, 3-2-1 here comes the conservative bash..."

My first question is what in the world constitutes a "conservative" in the first place. Secondly, Reagan raised taxes 11 different times. He also instituted the largest corporate tax increase in history. Is that the conservatism/Republicanism you are referring to zigbee? Or was it that Reagan tripled the national debt during his 8 years that makes him a conservative? It never fails, the answer to all the world's problems, most assuredly America's problems, from Republicans is to follow the Great and Wise Reagan who did nothing of the sort Republicans claim he did. It is a Fantasy to think Reagan set the bar for conservative government. It only coincides with those who think the last 8 years have been excellent for our country. No time did Reagan ever shrink government or cut spending. It's really time to grow up.

More GOP Ties to Right Wing Gunmen

Former Congressman and current MSNBC host, Joe Scarborough, admits to having ties with Michael Griffin, a convicted killer and anti-abortion zealot in Florida. The theme the Republican Party doesn't entice right wing extremist violence is on shaky ground.

Liz Cheney Still Can't Tell the Truth

Against the grain of the Republican Fantasy World, Big Dick Cheney announced last week that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. That's a startling admission for a War Cheerleader like Cheney. Those of us in the reality-based community have known for quite some time there was never a connection, it was; however, the first time the Republican Fantasy World had ever been targeted with such talk. But his daughter Liz (not the gay one) had to take it a step further Thursday and reassure the Republican Fantasy World despite her father's admission, he never in the first place said there was a connection. Aaaahhh..that's how Fantasy World inhabitants reckon the two versions of our Blessed War in Iraq, I see.


Too bad that's a lie.

Here's Cheney in 2003 making all kinds of assertions to Tim Russert about a connection between Iraq and 9/11.

I can remember you asking me this question just a few days after the original attack. At the time I said no, we didn't have any evidence of that. Subsequent to that, we've learned a couple of things. We learned more and more that there was a relationship between Iraq and al-Qaeda that stretched back through most of the decade of the '90s, that it involved training, for example, on BW and CW, that al-Qaeda sent personnel to Baghdad to get trained on the systems that are involved. The Iraqis providing bomb-making expertise and advice to the al-Qaeda organization.

Here's Cheney once again making the claim that there were connections between Iraq and 9/11. And here's a ton of statements by both Bush and Cheney linking the attacks of 9/11 with Iraq.

Why do we have to keep going over this? Iraq was a war of choice launched by a bunch of madmen who did nothing but spread lies and fear to an entire nation. They wanted this war and now they want no responsibility for it. They are a sick lot right to their core.

Inhofe: The Great American Hypocrite

And once again, we see the true colors of the Republican Party emerge. I made the case the other day that the only argument-- the only possible response-- to anything that does not agree 100% with the Republican Fantasy World is that person is obviously "un-American." There is nothing more evident about Republican behavior than such a response.

The other day it was Republican Senator Lindsey Graham questioning Judge Sotomayor's worth as an American; today it's Republican Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) with the nerve to actually call the President of the United States "un-American," adding that he doesn't even know whose side Obama is on.

Pathetically spoken from a very pathetic individual. It's curious to hear Inhofe speak of such "un-American" activities considering his very own private business was socialized in 1986 because it was completely broke. Here's a guy who completely mismanages his business into the ground, has to have it socialized by the government (during the Cold War mind you) and he's running around calling other people "un-American?"

The Republican Party is so broken it has not even one leg to stand on.

Deep Thought

It's no coincidence that Osama bin Laden, Rush Limbaugh, Hamas, Newt Gingrich, Ahmadjinedad, Mitt Romney and Ayman al-Zawahiri, all want Obama to fail.

Hand Holding and Reality

Liz Cheney says Obama's policies equate to holding hands with terrorists.

“I think that if we lived in a world where terrorism, and the slaughter of innocents, and Iran’s hegemonic hopes for the Middle East could be met, could be defeated, could be dealt with by sort of hand-holding going forward, then we’d be in a much simpler environment.

Really? Liz, maybe you should have paid attention to your father's administration and its policy toward holding hands with terrorists.

There is no country with more ties to terrorism than Saudi Arabia-- home to 15 of the 19 hijackers. They say stupidity is genetically inherited. The Cheney's are the missing genetic link.

Obama in Egypt

Some personal highlights of Obama's speech in Egypt today, and a video.



Personal highlight passages:

• Calls Iraq war of choice.

"Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq was a war of choice that provoked strong differences in my country and around the world."

• Israel and Palestine both have a right to live in peace in a secure state.

"At the same time, Israelis must acknowledge that just as Israel's right to exist cannot be denied, neither can Palestine's."

• Calls out Muslim nations for their treatment of women and calls for full rights for women.

"Our daughters can contribute just as much to society as our sons, and our common prosperity will be advanced by allowing all humanity – men and women – to reach their full potential."

• Directly tells Muslim people we are not at war with Islam.

"In Ankara, I made clear that America is not – and never will be – at war with Islam. We will, however, relentlessly confront violent extremists who pose a grave threat to our security."

Long overdue speech by an American president. I'm very proud to be an American today.

Gots His Numbers Wrong

The right wing is literally up in arms about President Obama saying that in terms of population we are one of the largest Muslim countries in the world. The right wing is claiming this proves Obama is a secret Muslim. Though he's not, it does prove Obama has his numbers wrong. According to 2007 census.gov numbers, the U.S. is 54th in Muslim world population. I really don't consider that to make us one of the largest in the world. You're wrong B.O.

Limbaugh: Life Influences Are Fine As Long as They Agree With Me

The leader of the GOP and convicted drug dealer, Rush Limbaugh, once again delivered his marching orders to his brown shirts about President Obama's nomination of Judge Sotomayor to the Supreme Court.

“She would be the sixth Catholic on the Supreme Court. … She’s a Catholic, a devout Catholic, she hasn’t got a record on [abortion] … I can see a possibility of supporting this nomination if I can be convinced that she does have a sensibility towards life.”

Of all things, religion-- especially one that is introduced at birth to a person such as Sotomayor's Catholicism-- is a personal life influence. Just last week Limbaugh stated that personal influences should not be allowed to rule the Bench and that Sotomayor must be stopped. As with all things Republican, personal influences are not allowed unless those influences happen to agree 100% with their own Fantasy World view.

Fat Limbaugh's comments, however, concerning Roe v. Wade couldn't be further from mainstream America than is his addiction to divorce and pills. All latest polling suggests overwhelmingly Americans do not believe Roe should be overturned.

Dear Mark Sanford, SC Lost the Civil War

I thought federal power was decided when South Carolina opened fire on Fort Sumter in 1861. Such actions by the State of South Carolina started the Civil War in which federal authority over the states was forever affirmed. Apparently in Mark Sanford's Republican Fantasy World none of that ever happened.

For Sanford, the legal battle has been not just about the stimulus money but about executive power in South Carolina as well. When he announced his lawsuit last month, Sanford said [5], “The question you’ve got to ask yourself is if we allow the legislative branch to come in and usurp power that has been granted through a federal law, where are we in terms of balance of power in this state?”

Federal law has authority over state law. Pretty simple really. Why is it Republicans want to pretend things never happened and that we as a country are still deciding federal authority vs. state's? Can we please progress to the 21st century???

What America Is About

I love how anyone who is not Republican must first prove they are American before serious debate can begin. We heard it all through the campaign last year from Republicans that Obama was not American and didn't hold our morals and values. Heck, he was even asked by Terry Moran from ABC News if he considered himself a black man or an American first. Could you imagine John McCain or George Bush being asked if they considered themselves crusty old white men or an American first? It would be stupid to ask such a thing. Since Obama isn't white nor Republican he must first prove his worthiness as an American. That's just how far we haven't come and just how far the GOP wants to hold us back.

It doesn't stop with President Obama either. We can see it clearly every day with anyone who isn't Republican, no matter their race or gender. Here's Pretty Eyes Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) stating he isn't sure if Judge Sotomayor really understands what America is about.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

ARE YOU SERIOUS?? Yes a female who grew up in the housing projects in the Bronx, was raised by a single mother and studied her way through an Ivy League education to become a federal judge must first prove she knows what America is about. Lindsey Graham you have no idea what America is about obviously.

Now if she were Republican we would all know she is a red-blooded American. In fact, questioning a Republican on their Americanness only proves the lack of yours. Hear any questions about Sarah Palin first proving that she knows what America is about before becoming VP? What about Alberto Gonzalez?

GM Numbers

Paul Kiel at ProPublica has some interesting numbers on the GM bankruptcy bailout takeover.

Something I learned was that the country of Canada also now has a share in General Motors. In exchange for $9.5 billion in aid, the government of Canada will receive 12% ownership. The U.S. owns 60% and Canada 12%. Will we get to share in the profits as well?

O'Reilly Blames Fox News Haters

I don't know anyone who is saying O'Reilly is personally responsible for the murder of Dr. Tiller. I do think it's entirely possible that right wing extremist behavior is perpetuated by people like O'Reilly, Hannity, Limbaugh and other right wing nutjobs who constantly spew hatred and lies over the airwaves every single day. People like O'Reilly have convinced millions of people that people like Dr. Tiller are enemies of our country and leave it at that. What to do with enemies of our country is up to the individual and that's how O'Reilly sleeps at night.

But there is a pattern here. This is not the first murder by a right wing extremist with ties to O'Reilly and the gang. Last summer a zealot from Tennessee shot up a church because he said they were "liberal." While being arrested he quoted passages from a Michael Savage book.

Cheney Admits Iraq Had Nothing To Do With 9/11

Big Dick Cheney, the man with five deferments from combat during Vietnam, admitted today that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 but that invading Iraq in 2003 was still the right thing to do because Iraq had ties to other terrorism.

"I do not believe and have never seen any evidence to confirm that [Hussein] was involved in 9/11. We had that reporting for a while, [but] eventually it turned out not to be true," Cheney conceded.

A co-conspirator in the invasion, Cheney had not the courage to go and fight when his country drafted him five different times, but had no qualms about ordering an invasion of a country that had absolutely nothing to do with 9/11 for other people to go fight. Cheney should have been this forthcoming in 2003 because the intelligence was surely there then too.

Other ties to terrorism is hardly reason for invasion. There is no country on the face of this planet with greater ties to terrorism than Saudi Arabia. It's home to 15 of the 19 hijackers and home to bin Laden, the person actually responsible for the 9/11 attacks. So why didn't we invade Saudia Arabia Mr. Cheney? Seriously, according to your revisionist history, ties to terrorism warrants invasion. There are no greater ties than the Saudis.

Another Right Wing Extremist Shooting

Remember this is the second of such shootings with ties to right wing extremists like O'Reilly.

Last July, Jim David Adkisson shot 8 people in a Tennessee church. Adkisson targeted the church "because of its liberal teachings and his belief that all liberals should be killed because they were ruining the country, and that he felt that the Democrats had tied his country's hands in the war on terror and they had ruined every institution in America with the aid of media outlets."

Police found books full of right wing extremist thought from Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity and Michael Savage in the home of Adkisson.

Reluctant Shareholder

President says American public is "reluctant shareholder" of General Motors.

You can say that again.

*Update:

GOP sounds 'retard alarm' against government takeover of GM. Mentions nothing about George Bush's 2 13 private industry takeovers.

**Update:

Fox News article critical of GM takeover mentions nothing about George Bush's takeovers of AIG, Lehman Brothers and nine other private lending institutions. Not to mention the federal takeover of Fannie and Freddie. FNC instead time warps back to the foundation of AMTRAK, which really has nothing to do with GM's current woes.