No Apology

Rep. Alan Grayson refuses to apologize for referring to the Republican health care plan as "die quickly." Plainly states if anyone deserves an apology it's the American people for how the debate is being handled.

Because Grayson hurt the Republicans' feelings, they have introduced a resolution disapproving of his behavior. Grayson's reply is already infamous.

What is this, junior high school? Do they think my feelings are hurt? Just what do these people think health care means? It's not some abstract "issue", we're talking about life and death! And the Republicans, who ran the government in full or in part from 2001-2009, chose to let those 44,000 people die, every single year when they were in power. And George W. Bush, whom the Republicans somehow pretend was not President for the last eight years, just let them die. He even vetoed health care for poor children.

So apologize? I don't think so.

Dead on. Looks like something I would have written. This guy's definitely got it going on. Later he even goes on to call Republicans "foot-dragging, knuckle-dragging Neanderthals." He must read The Fold cause I've been calling them cavemen for quite some time. There's nothing wrong with calling it like it is. A cock sucker is a cock sucker where I'm from.

Republicans can't comprehend a world where they are not portrayed as super tough, squared-jawed, Freedom Fighters. They do everything they can to hide their insecurities like how Republican Members of Congress enjoy a single payer health care system but want to deny it to everyone else. When they are treated with the disrespect they give everyone else, they grab their security blankie and hide.

*Update:

Completely insane Michelle Bachmann a member of the very moral values Party, the party that demands an apology from Rep. Grayson, says the Democratic health care reform plan will create "sex clinics" where 13 year old girls will get abortions. Wheeee!

Cry Babies

I love it! I absolutely love it!

For 9 months Republicans have been going around the country calling the president a foreign-born socialist enemy. This summer they ratcheted up their rhetoric by saying he wants to setup "death panels" to kill undesirables. By late August it was the president is a foreign-born socialist-nazi that wants to setup "death panels" to kill people and is also building concentration camps to intern Republicans and Christians. By September, the Republican talking point to defeat health care reform was Obama is an "enemy of humanity" who is a socialist-nazi bordering on Marxism wanting to implement a new world currency and reforming health care was his way of accomplishing all of it.

That's quite a bit actually for 9 months time. I'll stress again, these aren't wackos on the street. These are talking points from actual elected Republican officials.

But now, after nine months of lunatic Republican conspiracy theories one Democrat hit back yesterday by describing the Republican health care plan as "die quickly," and Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) has introduced a resolution calling on the House to officially "disapprove" of Grayson's comments. You have to be kidding me!! What a bunch of cry babies!

Republicans can't take it. They ruled for 8 years questioning the patriotism of anyone that spoke out against them and have in 9 months time made a mockery out of the country with their conspiracies and as soon as the tables are turned they have to run and cry like the little perpetual victims that they are.

This is how it works, though, in the Republican Fantasy World. They can call a Democratic president whatever they want. They can come up with the most vicious lies ever told, even post socialist-indoctrinated photos of Obama on the House Floor, and everything they do is a f'n Revolution!. But dare turn it right back around on them, dare do unto them as they do unto everyone else, and you are "degrading" their "integrity." They can't handle reality. They can't be forced to their own standards. Doing so is un-American. Grow up you bunch of cowards, just grow up.

Good Economic News

GDP fell less than previously measured for the second quarter. Early measurements placed GDP shrinking 1%, the new revision has it at 0.7%. Still a long way to go, however.

Deep Thought

Isn't it amazing how quickly Republicans and the right wing have turned on the President of the United States? These were the people that would not tolerate an ounce of criticism of George Bush. These are the same people that called public criticism of the president anti-American. We were only supposed to disagree in private. If we thought aloud any critique of Bush policies we were aiding the terrorists. Our value as an American was entirely judged by how much we respected the Office of the President. How quickly all that has changed. What a crazy, messed up group of lunatics, it truly is.

Double Talking Extremism

Rep. Franks of Arizona is backtracking his remarks listed below where he called the president an "enemy of humanity." Now says he only meant "unborn humanity." Funny how he never alluded to that in his speech.

Add that in with right wing news magazine calling for a military coup to either unseat Obama or at least setup some form of shared-rule. These are right wing thoughts written down. From there it goes to their masses of crazies who already think Obama is foreign-born, wants to setup a socialist-nazi dictatorship and is already building concentration camps. My what a world we live in.

Here's the Difference

I could link to a video or even embed it into this post of a crazy lady telling fellow so-called conservatives to buy more guns to defend against President Obama's drive towards fascist-Marxism, but I won't. She's a nobody. She's insane. She has a lot of problems that belong solely to her, but, most importantly, she's a private citizen accountable to no one but herself.

What I will do is embed a video of an incumbent Republican Congressman attending the very same meeting the with lady mentioned above, plainly stating the President of the United States is un-American.



Therein lies the difference. Mainstream Republicanism has become so fringe that I no longer have to link to crazy Tea Baggers, I can merely go straight to publicly elected Republican officials to prove their lunacy. When people try to shrug off the crazies, it's kinda difficult when the crazies are in control.

*Update:

To be sure as not to take the whole thing out of context, the 'How To Take Back America' conference was attended by multiple elected Republican officials including former and current Republican presidential candidates. It wasn't just the one wacko embedded above. This is a conference where Serious Republican officials flocked to rally the base. They talked about very Serious and mainstream issues like how the president is a socialist-nazi; how President Obama is trying to start a dictatorship, how Obama is a Muslim; how the president is an "enemy of humanity;" and other commonly discussed themes like how the president is "anti-white."

These are a very scary people. And they are a national political party that wants to lead this country. The terrorists have the plane.

Let the Debate Begin

Public option heads to the senate today. Should be a dandy.

In Need of Surrogates

Touching again on my post below about Rep. King posting a socialist picture of the president on the House Floor.

I have a master's degree in American history, but I'm by no means the end-all when it comes to speeches on the House Floor. The question is, has there ever been another speech where a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives actually hung a socialist indoctrinated photo of the President of the United States? Maybe there has. Maybe during the Cold War it was a regular thing for Members to stand up and portray the president as a socialist commie. Maybe McCarthy did it. I have no idea. I just think it's a pretty low point, much lower than Wilson heckling the president, that we have now entered in our national discourse. Just to be certain that Rep. King's portrait of President Obama was designed to portray him as a socialist, here is the original.

I think it's fine for National Review to do whatever is they want to. There's certainly nothing wrong with their cover story. For a Member of Congress to actually take that picture and post it on the House Floor is another thing altogether. Obama is a war president. He inherited two on-going wars from his predecessor. He is now in the process of ordering more and more troops into battle. Anyone who dared depict George Bush as a socialist while he led our Great Armies into battle would have been spayed or neutered. The GOP would have been the first to jump all over something like this had it happened to one of their own. Where are the Obama surrogates at in defending the president?

I can write all day long about the disgusting behavior of the Republican Party. They have moved so far into fringe territory that their idea of honest debate is saying the president wants to kill old people. That's crazy territory not seen in a long time in America. But the true failure here is the Democratic Party. The true point of where it all went wrong was the weakness of the Democratic Party to hold together a caucus and defend their presidents. And I stress the plurality of "presidents."

The GOP has long been on a path of conspiracy theorists and right wing extremism. It didn't start this year. All throughout the 90s Republicans did the same exact things they are doing now. Did we all forget that Republican Rep. Dan Burton of Indiana actually held a 10-day hearing on whether or not President Clinton's Christmas cards were being mailed to people with moral values? Not only that, as bizarre as it may be, Burton-- an incumbent Congressman-- actually "fired a bullet into a 'head-like object' -- reportedly a melon -- in his backyard to test the absurd notion that former White House counsel Vince Foster was murdered," by First Lady Hillary Clinton. This is not a whackjob nut on the street. Burton was a ranking Republican. He actually took to the House Floor the conspiracy theory the First Lady murdered someone. Incredible and sad if it wasn't so true.

The 90s were a crazy time and the GOP was sure to add just the right mix of insanity to the decade. Not only were the Clinton's murderers, a claim proudly displayed by Republican Christian Conservative and Moral Majority leader Jerry Falwell that he sold copies of a documentary about it. A preacher with a huge conservative following led a crusade against the president built entirely on lies. Sound familiar?

There is no shortage of Republican conspiracy theories. They govern with them. They run their campaigns on them. They build their movement by spreading the lies. Now today with a black president running the country their fantasy world has spun out of control thinking their extremely moral value party is no longer in charge, and worse yet, lost it to a black man named Barack Hussein Obama. Their tactics have been known for quite some time. They did the very same things to Clinton; it was 8 solid years of one conspiracy theory after another. Nothing has changed. But it needs to. The only way to change it is to make them own their behavior. Why is no one defending President Obama from these lunatics? There is no other way other than to make them own it. Allowing this to continue is really a Democratic failure of the worst kind.

Sen. Kyl: I'm a Man

Sen. Kyl grabs his balls and tells the world he's a man and doesn't need maternity care.



I'm sure his wife would love to have it though. His policy, which is entirely funded by tax payers, covers such basic care. It's a good plan, it really is.

Blog Updates

I abandoned the blog over the weekend. Be back some time today.

Totally Out of Line

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) proudly displays socialist poster of President Obama on House Floor.

Could anyone imagine what would have happened if a Democratic Member of Congress had displayed such a poster of our Great war time Leader George Bush? I think my hope for a return to basic sanity is long gone.

My How Things Have Changed

Remember when it was treasonous for Members of Congress to travel to foreign countries to speak ill of the president and his policies? I sure do.

Since the Great Freedom Fighting Patriots are no longer in power, it is now perfectly acceptable for Members to travel to foreign countries to undermine the president.

Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) has announced to National Review that he will be personally leading a "truth squad" to the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference, where he will make it clear to international leaders not to believe that the United States will pass legislation to deal with the issue.

Deep Thought

How long before Sarah Palin's no media allowed speech in a communist country becomes a stirring Freedom Fighting demand to a communist country for the spread of Freedom and less government intervention?

She's on the front lines fighting for freedom talking sternly to our enemies. She's very tough and patriotic.

Cantor: Freedom Fighting on the Front Lines

I'm not sure the word delusional can properly sum up just how off base the Republican Party has become. I joke, quite a bit, about Republicans viewing themselves as Freedom Fighters. But it's not like I'm making a big stretch in any regard whatsoever. Just to be certain here's what Rep. Eric Cantor had to say last week at the Values Voters Summit.

Speaking about the Tea Baggers he referred to them as “fighting on the fighting lines of what we know is a battle for our democracy.”

Our troops are on the front lines of battle. Not Tea Baggers. There is no comparison. Like I said, I don't even think delusion is an accurate term anymore. I don't even think Fantasy World captures the true unreality these people live in. There is no other way to say it, they really believe they are Freedom Fighting Revolutionaries.


*Update:

When asked to defend his claim about Freedom Fighting on the front lines, Cantor retreated and then threw out a huge lie to rally the troops.

Q: You told tea party activists that they are on the “fighting lines,” that was your quote, of defending our democracy. Do you really think Obama is a threat to our democracy?

CANTOR: What I do think is that we’ve had an unprecedented 8 months in Washington of continued increase in bailouts [...]

Q: So just to be clear, our democracy is completely secure under Obama?

CANTOR: I think we need to be very, very cognizant of the drift that we are seeing towards more government takeover [...]

That's just not true. Do we have to go through this again?

George Bush increased government more than any president since FDR. It is bona fide truth George Bush bailed out more companies than Barack Obama. Bush ordered the federal government to takeover AIG, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Bear Sterns, CitiGroup along with 234 individual banks, he was the president that signed the $700 billion TARP bailout. It was a Republican that integrated the federal government into private industry more so than any president in 80 years. Own it!

But that's not all of it either. It was George Bush that created Homeland Security, the largest government department in history. It was George Bush that implemented No Child Left Behind, the largest government takeover of education in American history. It was Bush that gave us the Patriot Act, and warrantless spying-- two programs that by far instrument the largest federal interference into the lives of private citizens since WWI.

For Eric Cantor to say that the last 8 months are "unprecedented" when it comes to government bailouts, all because Obama carried through with the auto industry plan that was already in the works before he took office, is an outright lie. You can go suck a big fat one Cantor.

No president did more to create unprecedented government growth and intrusion than George W. Bush. And never, not one time did Cantor or the Tea Baggers rally to stop him. Never did they protest Bush's actions and call themselves Freedom Fighters. Anyone who dared call Bush out for any of his large government expansion programs was denounced as succumbing to Bush-hatred syndrome or being anti-American. For the 8 years of George Bush, Tea Baggers were no where to be found. They gladly supported a president that called for war without end, large government expansion programs, warrantless spying, socialized entire industries, and spent more money than any in history.

But now, they are against government bailouts, huge expansion programs and spending federal dollars. Eric Cantor, you are a liar and a bad one at that.

**Update:

I rest my case.

Cantor tells sick constituent to look for "existing government programs," or perhaps "charitable organizations." He added, "No one in this country, given who we are, should be sitting without an option to be addressed."

The same Eric Cantor that says he and Tea Baggers are on the fighting lines fighting for Democracy and against the spread of government, encourages a constituent to look for government programs to help with medical care and expenses. He even plainly states no one should be denied the option of having their need/sickness addressed. He's such a Freedom Fighter and so against government that he thinks people with medical needs should look to the government for help; it's so imperative that no one should go without it. There is definitely something morally wrong with this whole thing.

Q & A GOP Style

Ask Republican Chairman Michael Steele a question and you get thrown out of the assembly.



Interesting isn't it that Republicans can show up at Democratic public events, shout down the host, call the president an enemy, put on some of the grandest displays of idiocy in human history and they are Freedom Fighting Revolutionaries. Show up at a Republican assembly, ask them a very polite question and you get escorted out. God only knows what would happen if you accused one of them of being anti-American.

What To Do Now?

I first clicked on this because I thought it said Hawks and a Whack Job. Morbid I know, but to my disappointment I thought I would at least read through it.

I think where I'm going to differ with Matthew is that I just don't think we can up and leave Afghanistan. Now before you read that as a call for more war, it's not. I think there has to be some sort of solution to ensuring al Qaeda and the Taliban do not get another free bed & breakfast out of the deal.

Also, I want to say that listening to people who got us into the mess in Iraq is not an option. They can print all the op-eds they want cheering on endless war and surging Afghanistan, but just remember those people have been wrong on every issue of the last decade. Maybe my biggest hang up with Afghanistan is this is something that should have been taken care of 5 years ago. It is a total mismanagement by the Bush administration-- a presidency that saw it perfectly acceptable to ignore the place that had actual ties to 9/11. So in some respects I totally understand leaving now and letting the pieces fall where they may.

Best case scenario is that Afghanistan does not turn into another safe-haven. Outside of that, there isn't much else we can do there.

Big Time Dem Donor Goes Down

According to a Justice Department press release, Hassan Nemazee was indicted this afternoon by a grand jury, charged with using fake documents and signatures to bilk Citibank, Bank of America, and HSBC out of over $290 million, in an alleged scheme that dates back to 1998.

Nemazee contributed hundreds of thousands to Democrats throughout the years. His OpenSecrets page lays it all out. He's also listed as a major bundler to President Obama's 2008 campaign.

Far-Side of Crazy

Sarah Palin has to go to an actual communist country to raise money so she can travel around this country telling people our president is a communist.

Fox News Ponders Why Obama Won't Speak to Them

After the president made his rounds of the Sunday talk shows, it was obvious he had no intention of paying respect to Fox News. And why should he? As The Fold has mentioned, last week alone the very fair and balanced Fox News falsely reported so many untruths that any respectable media outlet would have already shut down by now. Could any of us imagine if CNN or MSNBC organized protests against George Bush where people called him a socialist, a foreign-born enemy of the state, a fascist wanting to setup death panels? This is normal every day stuff for Fox.

At Fox, though, they donated entire segments to the fact that President Obama snubbed them. In their world, it was because Obama can't take criticism. Broadcasting to millions of people that Obama attended a madrassa, that he is a socialist anarchist equivalent to Che, that he wants to setup death panels to kill undesirables, that Obama is actually going to forbid you from having a yard sale, is not criticism. It's outright lies suitable only for tabloidism. There's no reason for the president to appear on Fox News and make his case to a fringe extremist group. It's a one-way street at Fox. It's not worth his time.

Including the Public

In the Republican Fantasy World, President Obama is not supposed to go on Sunday political talk shows to defend his policies against people who entirely staged protests against him. If he does, he's taking over America's airwaves, much like he wants the government to take over everything. Republican whinebags can't possibly fathom a president that includes the public in a national debate.

Fox News' Warrior Tough Guys (2 Updates)

As I demonstrated the other day, people who watch Fox News-- and there are millions who do-- have been treated to a whole slew of conservative-aimed propaganda just this week. Their viewers have been brainwashed into believing:

• Millions showed up to demonstrate at the 9/12 Tea Bagger protests
• That it was the largest march in the history of DC
• Those attending were "peaceful" and patriotic citizens wanting their country back
• The ills facing this country are all cause by God-less Democrats

As if that isn't enough for five days time, there is also the issue of President Obama changing the plans on the missile defense program originally planned for Europe. It's not that Obama doesn't want to build a missile defense program, he doesn't want to do it in Europe. He also wants to do it cheaper and more technologically advanced than Republicans want. These so-called "fiscal conservatives" want to spend endless amounts of money building missile defense shields for foreign countries but raise a ruckus if one penny is spent here at home. And because of that, Fox News has unleashed their accustomed Warrior Tough Guy Patriots to tell its millions of viewers that President Obama has committed "treason," "surrendered" to the Russians, that he is "weak" and has created a situation worse than the Cuban Missile Crisis.

These are the people that brought us the war in Iraq. They strive for endless war, just as long as they don't have to fight it. Super macho tough talk is all they know. Anyone who does not agree that we should be in a state of perpetual war, that we should completely build Poland a trillion dollar missile defense system, that preventive war is a great idea, is a "weak" treasonous terrorist sympathizer that better vote Republican the next time or risk destroying the country forever. They are the same people that gave us 8 years of George Bush. They chest-thumped his Glorious War and advocated more invasions just for the smell of it. Now today they are mad that President Obama doesn't want to use Europe as a launching pad for a third world war. Millions of people will heed their words just by watching Fox News. It's no wonder Tea Baggers are angry.

*Update:

Not only did Fox News relentlessly promote and in many ways help organize the 9/12 Tea Bagger march, their very own pundit almost entirely devised the whole idea. What if CNN had organized anti-Bush rallies? Or what if Rachel Maddow organized a march on Washington to protest the invasion of Iraq? Of course in the Republican Fantasy World, CNN did promote Bush-hatred syndrome that motivated Bush protesters but GOP conspiracy theories are nothing short of abundant if not endless. After all, we are talking about people that still think Iraq had something to do with 9/11.

Even with that, with all the tough talking Super Patriots and the Tea Bagger promotions, Fox still owes a slight bit of decency to correct its employees when they purposely spread hate-filled conspiracy theories like Glenn Beck did today. He makes a 'Tree of Revolution' and links President Obama to Che Guevara.

Now c'mon! Obama has nothing to do with Che. If anything, people who call for uprisings against the government to overthrow tyranny and oppression like Beck, Fox News and Republicans are doing have almost everything to do with Che. But even I wouldn't go as far as to draw a line linking the GOP with Che. That's ignorant. And so is Beck and Fox News for letting this happen. No sane person would ever watch that channel. There's no reason for any of this. Why aren't other media organizations reporting the blatant bias of Fox? It won't end until they do.

**Update:

Fox News producer coaches Tea Baggers during commercial break.

Hidden

Hidden away on Fox News' website is their newest poll showing President Obama with a 54% approval rating.

Ratings any president would gladly take.

Sometimes the Hardest Thing and the Right Thing Are the Same

There may be nothing more cognitive of Republican/conservative hypocrisy than the "Values Voters" summit getting ready to start in Washington this weekend. There's no denying, these people really believe they embody true moral values and that they alone form the best representative group to advance such principles. It's a spectacle, truly it is.

Aside from that, because it does go much deeper than circle jerks, their hypocrisy is fundamentally ingrained into their very being. Heckler Congressman Joe Wilson, who yelled "you lie!" at the president when he said illegal immigrants would not be covered by health care reform, encapsulates the GOP perfectly. One would think Wilson would be staunchly opposed to illegal immigration, especially after a tirade as foolish as what he put on. But Joe Wilson actually introduced legislation to keep an illegal alien in the country. Blows your mind, I know.

Two months ago Rep. Wilson introduced legislation that would allow Sainey Fatty, an illegal immigrant, to live here freely and legally. Brings the term "you lie" to a whole new meaning.

I seriously doubt Wilson's legislation makes it to the MSM since that would require "journalists" doing actual research. Instead the MSM will focus on "racism" and he said/she said politics (tabloid journalism) rather than actually doing their jobs.

Deep Thought

80,000 in attendance + those watching it on Fox News at home + those there in spirit + the thousands of Muslims George Bush Liberated + those the world over struggling for Freedom and fighting against the rule of tyranny = 1 Billion Tea Baggers marching on DC.

It's a Revolution! suckas!!!!

Complaints about DC Metro System

I think the left is completely looking at the surface of the complaint letter written by Texas Republican Kevin Brady. In short, Brady wrote to the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA) complaining about service on Sept. 12 (you know the day of the largest protest ever held in the world).

“These participants, whose tax dollars were used to create and maintain this public transit system, were frustrated and disappointed that our nation’s capital did not make a great effort to simply provide a basic level of transit for them...”

...So the letter goes.

I don't think Brady is complaining that the metro wasn't prepared for the hugest crowds ever assembled, but using it as an example of the excesses of Big Government. For instance, if Big Government can't even make a train run efficiently how can it possibly provide health care to 300 million people, or at least something along those lines. Sure he wanted his constituents to have a lift to the rally but it's more about highlighting government's inadequacies than anything else.

Now as you will, this brings us to a whole other point altogether. According to official WMATA reports, use of the Metro was only up roughly 80,000 riders over what it normally is for any given Saturday. That number fits squarely into numerous credible reports listing Tea Bagger attendance in the 60,000-80,000 range. This can only prove Barack Obama hijacked the WMATA computer system and changed ridership numbers causing a conspiracy to circulate around the world that Tea Baggers are stupid.

*Update:

True enough it's on the far-side of insane for "Big Government" protesters to write letters complaining about government services that failed to get them to their protest on time. I'll agree to that all day long. But really, the Metro worked just fine the day of Sept. 12. Were there lines? Sure. Did some have to take cabs? Absolutely. But to complain that it didn't meet their standards of service is elitist more than it is anti-socialist. Okay, I suppose they aren't anti-socialist when they're mad government-run programs didn't get them somewhere on time. They're just crazy, I know.

Even at Obama's inauguration, the Metro system carried about a million people that day and it was remarkably efficient. I was there. Here's a video from my cellphone showing what it really looks like when there are millions of people at a rally in DC.



**Update:

Here's what a backed up crowd trying to get through a gate really looks like when there are millions of people in DC. Again, taken from my very own cellphone at Obama's inauguration. Honestly, if there is anything that proves crowd size for the Tea Baggers it's the public transit system.

Huge Shocker

This is going to come as a huge shock to most people but Fox News is saying that President Obama's decision to scrap a George Bush project is a terrible idea that is going to make America less safe. It's all negative all the time at FNC.

Just this week alone, people who watch Fox News were told the 9/12 Tea Bagger protests were the largest crowds in history, millions of people showed up to them entirely comparable to the Civil Rights marches; that crowds of government protesters carrying signs referring to our president as a foreign-born enemy that wants to setup death panels and destroy the country were "peaceful" and "passionate" Americans publicly demonstrating Great Patriotism; that the ills facing this country are brought about by God-less Democrats who have no morals or values; and that doing away with any program George Bush setup or sought for this country is siding with the terrorists to put America at risk. All negative all the time. Failure is all they want.

The Extent Just To Lie

Wouldn't all the lies the right wing has told about crowd size at the 9/12 Tea Bagger protest be enough to wake people up especially the media? Wouldn't the lying contradict their cause?

Glenn Beck said on his radio show Monday that the event was the "largest march on Washington ever." Now c'mon. There is no way that's true. Apparently the largest crowd ever assembled in the world, quietly coasted into DC, didn't cause any traffic congestion, didn't flood the Metro system, didn't require any extra law enforcement officials, and DCists didn't have to leave town for the weekend to avoid the mad-rush of people (a very telling sign actually).

I spoke to a friend last night that lives in DC. He said he walked right up to the Metro and rode it to Foggy Bottom with no trouble at all. Walked a couple blocks down Pennsylvania and got a coffee at Starbucks without waiting in line. The city wasn't crowded or impassable. The largest march ever would have congested the city to the max.

The lengths the right wing is going to exaggerate crowd size is emblematic of how they do everything. As Little Green Footballs points out, Republicans have been using quotes about Obama's inauguration to justify their lies.

This is so pathetic I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Dozens - if not hundreds - of right wing blogs are running with this quote, portraying it as a statement about the tea party held last weekend: 'We believe it is the largest event held in Washington, D.C., ever.'

The quote is from January. The National Park Service spokesman was talking about Barack Obama's inauguration.

The best, though, has to be this post by right wing nut job Pam Geller. The third picture she posts to tout crowd size in the millions is from a rally over ten years ago. It wasn't from the 9/12 event. They are a crazy people. I don't think there is a sane one in the bunch.

Thug it out with me now...

We need tanks and hummers, not hybrid cars!
We need honest politicians, not communist czars!
USA, not the USSR.
We need more Ann Coulter and less Bill Maher.

More Corrupt Dems

8 of the 15 most corrupt elected officials in Washington are Democrats, says CREW.

Gangsta Rap, White Boy Republican Style

Those attending the Tea Bagger 9/12 protest were not only greeted by billions and billions of fellow sack slappers, they were also thoroughly entertained by none other than Hi-Caliber, a gangsta rapping Republican.



Check out his flow:

We need tanks and hummers, not hybrid cars!
We need honest politicians, not communist czars!
USA, not the USSR.
We need more Ann Coulter and less Bill Maher.
[…]
I don’t need another lecture from the Socialistic hypocrite.
Tuesday was your birthday, but where’s your birth certificate?

Is it possible to feel sorry for people that are too dumb to deserve it?

*Update:

You know...if I were a Republican this would have been enough for me to call it quits. This is seriously the opposition force in America?

Breach of Decorum

House votes to disapprove of Rep. Joe Wilson's behavior at last week's presidential address to a joint session of Congress.

I don't see anything wrong with this. If Wilson saw fit to speak up and say what he did then there is nothing wrong for the House as a body to speak up and rebuke him for it. It is well within the powers of the House of Representatives to do this. Censure might have been a little bit extreme but shaking their finger at him is fitting.

Blog Updates

Couple quick items this morning.

First, the javascript on the site seems to be toying with me this morning. As you can see the slider at the top is stuck. I'll see what I can do about that.

Secondly, I don't always agree with the liberal wing of the Democratic Party. I have plenty of disagreements with them actually (guns, personal responsibility, stuff like that). But their gripes about media coverage when it comes to protesting does sound rather accurate. For example, in 2002 over 100,000 people showed up in DC to protest the impending war with Iraq and ultimately the Bush administration. As documented, WaPo covered the event on pg. 12. For the Tea Baggers, a group much smaller than 100,000 people, WaPo ran the story on Pg. 1. Inconsistent? Yes. Biased? Maybe not. But I do think those complaining about difference in media coverage do have a point, to a certain extent if nothing else.

Finally, It's worth a brief mention to note that Pollster.com has Obama's job approval trend line edging upward for the first time since early August. May not last but it's worth a mention.

It's Official

Right wing hero and total nut job, Glenn Beck says his 9/12 Tea Bagger protest had 1.7 million people. And this will be all the proof Tea Baggers need. It is now official, this is the largest protest in Milky Way history. We all should join ranks with them and put this country on the path George Bush and his crew had us on up until January 2009.

Fantasy World Is In Control

Freedom Works lowers Tea Bagger turnout numbers. Now says only 4 quadrillion people showed up. While Fox News claims President Obama is using Nixon-style politics to dismiss protesters.

FNC...

Just as President Richard Nixon built a crushing victory in 1972 on the so-called Silent Majority -- those supposedly well-behaved Americans who did not protest their government -- the current administration seems to be pushing the argument that its support is broad-based and quietly minding its own business.

"A quiet plurality," is how Georgetown University professor Stephen Wayne put it, declining to invoke the specific term for the divisive politics of the Nixon administration.

Whether the Obama administration enjoys, or will soon enjoy, such a plurality is unclear. Public opinion continues to shift. But the administration is claiming that support all the same.

What are they even talking about? President Obama already has well over a majority support (heck even Fox News has him at 53%). Besides, we just had an election. Obama had a "crushing victory" where millions showed up at his inauguration, and many millions more voted for him. In fact he got more votes than any presidential candidate in history. What possibly is "unclear?"

Not to mention, the Obama administration never used the phrase "silent majority." Any reference to Nixon is solely coming from Fox. Just from a quick glance at their site, one gets the impression that Obama is very unpopular and using tactics from a disgraced president to remain in power. They're crazy! Obama's approvals are nearly triple that of George Bush's and never once in 8 years did such a story remotely similar to this one appear at Fox News. You know, enough is really enough.

Why Lie? (2 Updates)

Why lie about attendance? Seriously why do Republicans have to claim there were 1-2 million people marching in DC over the weekend when clearly there wasn't. The DC Fire Department is claiming the attendance was 60-80 thousand. What's wrong with that? That's a lot of people. Why even try to lie about something so false. Would it not hurt to tell the truth one time?

I was in DC on Jan. 20th when there were 2 million people inside the park. There were another 2 million outside the park trying to get in. During that day, the Metro was totally overwhelmed running nonstop, even bringing in extra trains just to keep up. None of that happened this past Saturday. Mass transit wasn't even affected.

All throughout Bush's two terms, there were numerous protests well close to the million mark. None of these marches, of course, were advertised on cable news 24/7, or being promoted by one of the most popular cable talk shows on television. They were simply spontaneous grass roots movements organized not by the media. We can't say the same about the Tea Baggers so I can understand their embarrassment when their attendance numbers are dwarfed by silly war protesters and people full of Bush hatred syndrome. I'm almost embarrassed for them.

*Update:

Amanda at Pandagon makes a great point about the need for Republicans to lie about turnout numbers. It's really second nature for Republicans to not only lie about such easily discredited things, but to also take them on and just keep lying about them. The people lying about 2 million Tea Baggers are the same people that lied about death panels, killing old people, concentration camps, socialist takeovers, free health care for illegals, fake birth certificates and ultimately gave us 8 Great years of George W. Bush. They are the very same people. None of us should be terribly surprised that exposing their lies only makes them lie more.

**Update:

I love this quote by Tea Bagger organizer Brendan Steinhauser describing all the nut sacks involved.

[Tea Baggers] should be put in the same category as Martin Luther King's historic march on Washington for civil rights or the Vietnam War protests. It was "definitely the largest conservative protest in American history," he told me, "and it's really not received the coverage it deserves."

Never mind the first part about being in the same category as the Civil Rights movement, I can't think of anything more ridiculous than that. The people affected by the Civil Rights movement were being denied many basic freedoms, like the right to vote. Tea Baggers are just mad their guy didn't win. There's a huge difference between the two.

It's the second part that really sums this up. Uuuuhhhh when was there ever a "conservative protest?" I can't really think of any. Unless you want to consider torch baring crowds in the South demanding slavery for people like Obama after Lincoln's election, but other than that I really can't think of any.

I do know one thing, this is not conservatism:

That's a sign from a wonderful Great American Patriot at Fox News' 9/12 Tea Bagger event.

{"when we smell the burning flesh from the ovens it will be too late for us all"}-- truly sickening

That kind of stuff has nothing to do with conservatism or its movement. Conservatism used to be fresh with ideas of controlling government and keeping its focus on people by emphasizing individual liberties and restraint when necessary. What they had on Saturday is unrecognizable to conservatism. Saturday was just a bunch of crazy, angry people who watch Fox News all day long and listen to a drug addict for advice and think 8 years of George Bush has nothing to do with why government is the way it is today. Crazy is mainstream for the GOP.

OMG!

My buddy Max Blumenthal was at the Tea Bagger protest in DC and I reckon this whole video is completely false, out of context and represents a left wing conspiracy to paint Republicans as the dumbest people on the face of the planet.

Telling Sign in GOP Response

Watching Rep. Charles Boustany give the Republican response to President Obama's speech before Congress, something stuck out at me right from the beginning. Congressman Boustany states:

The cost of health care is rising. Federal spending is soaring. We're piling huge debt on our children. And families and small businesses are struggling through a jobless recovery with more than 2.4 million private sector jobs lost since February.

I don't even know if that 2.4 million number is true, sounds high but that's not my point. Check out the reference to February, however.

The recession didn't just begin in February 2009. It didn't start after Obama took office. But that's just want Republicans want people to believe. Reality is quite different actually. The recession mixed with massive job losses began in 2007. It's been going on for almost 19 months. In 2008 the economy lost 2.6 million jobs-- the most since the end of WWII. If you look at it in terms of job losses versus past recessions, you see this is very bad.

But it didn't just start in February like the GOP alluded to the other night. It began well under a Republican administration. It was a two-term administration that saw the greatest loss of jobs since the Great Depression. Things were already in a terrible situation long before February. Invoking the Regretted History Law doesn't change reality.

Blog Updates

I was out for a long weekend attending the Tea Bagger event in DC. No, actually I had better things to do than slap nut sacks with some guy who voted for George Bush but only now thinks taxes are too high and government is too big. I'll be doing some updates throughout the day on some items but pay close attention to right wing hysteria over turnout. Some are even claiming, hysterically, almost two million people showed up. DCFD puts the number at about 60,000. Wheeee!

GOP Version of Respect

Let's see how Republicans offer their respect to the President of the United States.

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) angrily yells "you lie!" during the president's speech while Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) walks out. These guys are great patriots. And we wonder why Tea Baggers act so rude and offensive. They get if from those they elect to Congress.

The last time George W. Bush stood before a joint session of Congress he had approval ratings in the mid-20s. Three-quarters of the population disapproved of the job he was doing. No president in history, not even Nixon, had such high disapproval ratings. His two terms were complete failures. Yet not one person in that joint session of elected American officials yelled that he was a liar or stood up and walked out on him because he wasn't saying things they agreed with. The man who led us to war on nothing but lies was never treated with such utter disrespect.

Republicans would have been the first to question anyone's patriotism that dared treat Bush the way they have Barack Obama. They would have been the first call what they did last night anti-Americanism. I'm not going to stoop to their level, but the GOP really should check themselves because right now they are on a path that is only going to lead them to an era of political failure not seen since the Civil War.

Speech Reaction

Jaz has asked for a little bit of commentary on the president's speech. I'm happy to oblige.

I only caught a small portion last night. Not enough to generate any opinion. Most of the immediate media post-coverage was on Rep. Wilson's behavior, which intentionally or not by Wilson, did the substance of the speech no justice. This afternoon I watched the speech online and read it.

Overall I would say it was a good speech. Some of the important items that jumped out at me were the president's defense of the public option, his overall requirement that everyone have health insurance, that the public option pay for itself, and a promise to provide low cost coverage immediately.

Concerning the public option the president had this to say:

But an additional step we can take to keep insurance companies honest is by making a not-for-profit public option available in the insurance exchange. Let me be clear - it would only be an option for those who don't have insurance. No one would be forced to choose it, and it would not impact those of you who already have insurance. In fact, based on Congressional Budget Office estimates, we believe that less than 5% of Americans would sign up.

The president also went on to caution his more liberal and progressive friends that the public option was merely a means to an end, that fighting insurance company abuses was the real goal. I agree with that, I just happen to believe a public option is the best way to fight such abuses.

He also said that he was open to other constructive ideas as well, but warned, "I will not back down on the basic principle that if Americans can't find affordable coverage, we will provide you with a choice. And I will make sure that no government bureaucrat or insurance company bureaucrat gets between you and the care that you need." Policy-wise that is entirely what this is about, getting affordable insurance to those that need it because in the end it helps all of us.

This brings us to the next big policy step, providing insurance to everyone. The president was adamanet on this. Another way of putting it is if someone doesn't have health insurance, they will get it under the new plan. Creating a new health exchange to provide affordable coverage is the best way to make this happen. The new exchange would work nearly the same way all insurance programs work: pay a price for certain coverage. The exchange would only encompass those who want it and as the president says, be self-sufficient. People without insurance would be able to opt into this new exchange and receive insurance much the same way Members of Congress do.

Providing coverage as soon as possible, even through a trigger system (or a stopgap) is also a new policy direction mentioned by the president as well. I think it's a reasonable request. It's definitely something that wasn't in the president's original campaign proposals. It's a borrowed idea, but one I think is much needed.

In all, I felt it was good and effective. Getting the debate to a level of basic sanity is a must. If he has to give another next week, do it. It's that important.

Sanford: God Is Using Me

Getting lost in this week's shuffle is Republican South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford once again referencing God's will in hopes to defend against calls for his resignation.

"God can use imperfect people to perform his will."

Sure thing Marky Mark.

Sanford also used a classic Republican manuever to question people's faith. They do the same with patriotism too. 'If you actually believe in America then you'll support such and such, if you don't you must not be a patriot.' Except this time Sanford uses for it religion and to justify his administration.

"If you believe in this process of redemption, repentance, hope, and growth, then you've got to stay around for the second part of the show."

In other words, if you truly believe in God and the Bible, you'll allow me to remain as governor since God has forgiven me and is now using me-- imperfect and all-- to perform his will. Sanford is led by God in a Walk we all envy. Question him or his Walk With God and you are going against the very will of God Almighty.

Continuing the Charade

I have no doubt that many tough talking Republican Revolutionaries! like Erickson in the post below, or whatever other wackos currently makeup the GOP, will indeed boisterously cheer on Rep. Wilson's tirade last night. Some will condemn it like John McCain rightfully did last night, but most will chest thump Rep. Wilson and hold him up as the next great Revolutionary!. Just like with the Palin lie where she cognitively wrote that President Obama wants to setup death panels, which is just not true, Wilson's pathetic outburst last night will be all Republicans need to prove their case that Obama wants to give illegal aliens free health care. The real liar, though, is Joe Wilson.

Both Fact Check and PolitiFact have debunked the lie. Just like with "death panels" it won't matter to Republicans. Facts do not concern them. Right now they are proud of what Wilson did. He proves that they are true Freedom Fighting Warriors and that Barack Obama is so dishonest and so untrustworthy that a true Patriot had to call him out on it right on the floor. His deed is done.

I couldn't possibly imagine what these very same tough talking Republicans would be saying if a Democrat did the same thing to Bush. As disliked as Bush was, more so than any president in modern history mind you, he was never treated the way Obama was last night. Thanks again Republicans for bringing us to a new low.

*Update:

Rep. Joe Wilson personally called the White House last night to apologize. I wanted to make sure I noted that. I think an apology on the House Floor is something he should consider too. But I am glad to see he is genuinely sorry for his behavior. And I think it ends with that.

He's sorry that he burst out like he did, but as you can see in this video he began defending his claim that the president is lying.



His deed is done. He's sorry he acted like a total fool but he stands by his comment. It's really all Republicans will need to continue this newest talking point that President Obama wants to give free health care to illegal aliens. Facts will concern them none at all. And just like with "death panels" we'll be discussing free health care for illegals for the next two months.

**Update:

Sarah Palin issues Facebook statement about the president's speech. Stands by her "death panel" claims and accuses people who call it a lie of lacking civility, specifically the president.

"In his speech the President directly responded to concerns I've raised about unelected bureaucrats being given power to make decisions affecting life or death health care matters," Palin wrote. "He called these concerns "bogus," "irresponsible," and "a lie" -- so much for civility."

Cheering On the Extremists

Total nutjob and self-proclaimed Christian-conservative-- and operator of Redstate.org-- Erick Erickson declares Rep. Joe Wilson a "great American hero" for demonstrably calling the president a liar during last night's speech to a joint session of Congress.

Erickson, as you'll recall, referred to Judge Souter as a "goat f*&king child molester." Very Christian of him. Here's the screen cap.

Erickson is also married to a good friend of mine's cousin. I had a beer with him one night in DC. Maybe we can get together and discuss this whole great American thing. Call me, Erick!

Very Classy

A very Patriotic Freedom Fighting Warrior Republican jumps up and yells "You Lie!" at President Obama tonight during his address to Congress.



Rep. Joe Wilson is indeed a very Serious Mainstream American, the GOP is full of 'em actually.

Deep Thought

It's not enough that someone you didn't vote for is president. We are well beyond that. For Republicans and especially self-labeled Christian conservatives, President Obama is not just someone they didn't vote for, but someone who is an enemy. That's really what this whole thing is about. Republicans truly view the President of the United States as enemy that only won the election because he deceived millions into voting for him and because ACORN rigged the election. If it were not for that, their very moral values, mainstream and Patriotic party would still be in power today.

Frightening, but real

From the very people who don't want President Obama speaking to schoolchildren.



We can talk all day about how crazy they are. We can discuss endlessly their hypocrisy. But really the true focus should be on the fact that their very reason for nearly worshiping George W. Bush was merely because he's a Republican, and to them Republicans are the embodiment of moral values and fiscal conservatism. They are the true strong leaders of this nation. They are Freedom Fighters. Call them crazy, yes. But don't neglect the substance of what makes them crazy.

Don't Dare Hold Them To Their Own Words

Big Bad super tough talking Republicans love the federal stimulus package. I know, I know, that is directly opposite of what they say in public in regards to federal spending or fiscal conservatism. One grand example of a Republican who loves to talk sexy about federal money and how he's a conservative is Texas Governor Rick Perry. Now a few months ago Perry was so against the stimulus package, so against any of that money coming to his state that he floated the idea of seceding from the Union in order to stop the federal expenditures. Drastic measure I know. But when you are against federal stimulus spending as much as Republicans are, destroying the nation is really only a small step to demonstrate just how "conservative" you really are.

Just like other Republicans, in reality Perry is actually all for stimulus spending. In the last couple of months, Perry has doled out about $100 million in law enforcement grants, mostly to agencies of his choosing. The money, of course, comes from President Obama's stimulus spending but Gov. Perry wouldn't dare let anyone know that. In his Fantasy World, every penny comes straight from him. Perry isn't alone in any of this either. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal loves him some federal money too. The only thing they like more than federal money is going on teevee talking about how much they hate federal stimulus spending and popping boners about seceding from the Union.

Fired Up?

A System Only For Themselves

Just a fascinating read about a Republican town hall hosted last week by Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL) that coincides exactly what I've been talking about here on The Fold.

One of the questions read aloud by Posey was: Why should taxpayers pay for your insurance when you clearly make enough money to pay for it on your own? Good question really.

Posey's answer was so typical of modern Republicanism that it has to sting when they hear it. He forthrightly exclaimed it was one of the perks of the job. A perk he thoroughly enjoys. It's a perk that is totally publicly funded by tax dollars. It's nearly the same exact system he wants to deny to people who are not Members of Congress. The Florida paper catches Posey in his hypocrisy.

"Keep in mind Posey received free health care premiums courtesy of taxpayers during his many years in the Florida Legislature. And that taxpayers pay up to 70 percent of Congress members' premiums."

Yes, and keep in mind too that the other 30% is still tax payer funded. The whole system is paid by tax dollars that are paid by people like you and me. It's such a great system that Posey calls it a "perk." It's a perk he doesn't think anyone else should have. He voted against the stimulus bill. He voted against SCHIP and now he claims he's against a public option that would allow people to buy into the very program he has raised his entire family on. It's socialist elitism.

Even with the public option that is in the House bill currently, those who can afford to pay the other 30% such as Posey, would have to. There is very little difference between Posey's plan he calls a "perk" and allowing the public to buy into a plan he enjoys. Only those who don't make enough would be exempt from premiums. The ratio would still be 70-30. Yet Republicans are so against extending the same plan to non-Members of Congress they are going around the country saying the president wants to setup death panels, is foreign-born and a socialist-- a disgusting way to demonstrate they really don't want people to have health insurance. If Obama is a socialist for wanting to extend benefits that Members currently enjoy, what are the people who raise their families off the very same system but refuse it to everyone else? They're socialist elites. They're certainly not conservative or small government crusaders.

Green Czar Quits, Radical Republicans Remain

Gotta admit I haven't been following this one too closely, mainly because I don't care. But here's a great comparison from Fox News' Republican Fantasy World.

A 9/11 truther is a radical according to Fox News. A Tea Bagger that believes the president was born in Kenya, is a socialist fascist that wants to setup death panels is a Patriotic American. So Patriotic that Fox News gladly promotes Tea Bagger protests all over the airwaves.

If Van Jones had to resign because of his radical views, then why is there no call for Republican Members of Congress who are just as radical to resign as well? The answer is simple really. The media establishment is just as radically complacent in all of this as any organization could ever be.

More Patriotic Mainstream Republicanism

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) said President Obama is trying to setup an "authoritarian government" by implementing a national police force, taking guns away, and stifling the media.

Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) agrees with, if not encourages, a constituent to compare Obama to Hitler for wanting to create a "superior race."

Once again, these are not wackos on the street. These are elected Republican Members of Congress. They are mainstream Republicans and their views represent current Republican ideas.

In 2007, Congressional Democrat Pete Stark was forced to apologize and routinely called anti-American by Republican Members of Congress for remarks he made about our Great and Powerful Leader George Bush.

When Bush was in power, any effort to criticize him, his plans for endless war, Freedom Bombs or economically destroying the country, were viewed as the most outrageous of insults to ever be libeled against the republic. But today, we have Republican Members of Congress proudly suggesting that President Obama is a socialist, a fascist, wants to setup death panels, wants to build concentration camps, is trying to form an authoritarian government, and whose very presence as president is a direct attack on American soil by a foreign-born enemy. All that in 8 months time too. Eight years into Bush's presidency and Pete Stark was forced to publicly apologize and was nearly censored by the House for openly criticizing the president. How far we've come in 8 months time where openly disagreeing with the president meant you were a traitor to now it's perfectly acceptable to say the president is an enemy of the nation. Wheee!

Jobs

Employers cut 216,000 jobs last month while the unemployment rate rose to 9.4%.

Obama inherited an economy that was losing over 700,000 jobs a month. That's been cut in half in 7 months. Things are getting better economically. But you can't fix 8 years of George Bush Republican rule in 8 months. Slowly but surely.

Under Delusion Not Attack

The wonderfully moral, Super Patriotic, mainstream Republican Party just can't seem to realize that losing elections is not the same thing as the collapse of the country. In their world-- a world where George Bush was a popular president-- someone who is not a Republican is not American. They are the enemy that must be fought with arms, slitting wrists and prayer. Everything they do is Patriotic and/or Super Tough masculine. They are true warrior tough guy Revolutionaries!

Case in point: Jim Inhofe, Republican Senator from Oklahoma, says this country is under attack and he's not sure the country can hang on another 16 months. (Yes this Jim Inhofe)

"Every institution that has made this country the greatest nation in the world is under attack," said Inhofe.

[...]

And Inhofe worries for America's future: "Those of you who think like I do, hope this country can hang on another 16 months."

All this because we have a Democratic president. It's not just Barack Obama because Republicans did the exact same thing in the 90s. It's anyone who is not Republican. George Bush (a Republican president) nationalized entire industries. He invaded countries on a whim costing a trillion dollars of tax payer money, the lives of thousands of troops and hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians. He so mismanaged fiscal matters that he took the largest surplus in history and within 5 months time wiped it out. By the time he left office he had created the largest deficit in human history. His only domestic accomplishments were programs that grew government faster than at any time since FDR (NCLB, Medicare/b, Homeland Security). His legacy is that of a president that demonstrably grew the size of government, more than doubled the national budget, created the largest deficit ever and left us in a state of perpetual war. Eight years of George Bush equals the solidarity of true American-ness to the Republican Party. You can do whatever you like, bring the country to its knees, just be a Republican when you do it. Own it.

I'll See You In Hell Costanza

The Florida GOP issued a statement saying they do not want President Obama addressing the school children of that state because the president does not reflect their values. Katie Gordon, press secretary for the Florida Republican Party, then went on to state that President Obama's address to school children was an attempt "to indoctrinate young Americans into supporting his socialist agenda."

Let's get a couple things right out on the table here. The current Republican governor of Florida is gay. He is the leading elected Republican official in the state. He is for a lack of a better term, their leader. He has been fully endorsed by the same organization that is now calling President Obama a socialist and morally decrepit.

It is truly a disservice to an entire generation of Americans that the minority opposition party in America-- a mainstream national party-- is using as a "serious" opposing view that the President of the United States is so un-American and morally void that he's not fit to give an address to school children.

We've been through this before. Nothing has changed since the 90s. Clinton was treated the exact same way. The GOP prides itself on a self-indulging notion that they are morally and patriotically superior to everyone else. Eight solid years of deficit budgets, endless war, scandal after scandal and entire government takeovers of private industry by a Republican administration has deterred them none at all. There's no reason they should be let off the hook on this. Make them own it.

*Update:

Steven Benen has found some good comparables of Republican presidents addressing school children, which would fly in the face everything the GOP is currently fear-mongering about, if they didn't live in a Fantasy World that is.

• 1988- Reagan addressed school children nationwide via satellite where he spoke about gun control and fiscal resonsibility.
• More recently George W. Bush urged school children to join the USA Freedom Corp as way for children to support invading foreign countries (i.e., endless war).
• Bush also offered to school children a "Freedom Timeline" that sought to link the attacks of 9/11 with Iraq and to other American wars. As we all know, Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 and the American public was widely lied to in order to justify the invasion.

None of that then was viewed by the GOP as indoctrination. Oh no, they saw it as Great American Patriotism. Only Republican presidents can talk to school children about gun control and outright lies of Freedom Bombs and invading other countries just for the smell of it and it not be morally wrong. Can anyone possibly imagine what the GOP would be saying if Barack Obama went live via satellite to school children to talk about gun control????

It is insane the Republican Party is allowed to spread such vicious and outright lies all the while cheering along Republican presidents who are knowingly rewriting history. As Benen makes note, Bush's educational material listed on the White House website urged children to study the war in Iraq and how it relates to other American efforts at spreading Freedom! It also urged children to study the biographies of Bush and Cheney. What else can you call that other than indoctrination?

This national Republican circle jerk where they sit around bumping peter heads and slapping nut sacks, talking about how Great and Patriotic they are while simultaneously questioning everyone else's patriotism even that of our current president must come to an end. This whole thing is as sadistically wrong as anything has ever been in America. President Obama is not a socialist. He was not born in Kenya. He is not planning a government takeover of health care. He is not building concentration camps to intern conservatives and Christians. He is not attempting to indoctrinate our youth to gain support for a socialist agenda. I'll tell y'all right now, you can kiss my ass. There's no reason people should sit by and let this continue. Enough is enough!

Public Option Is a Must

Led by the right of center Politico, news outlets are reporting the White House plans to reveal a list of health care reform musts, a list that "reportedly" does not include the public option.

Whether or not Politico's unnamed source is correct, I have no clue. I also have no inside knowledge of anything the White House does. I do know that if the president signs a health care reform bill that doesn't include the public option, we'll be back in 5 years doing this whole thing over again. Reform simply is not the status quo. Health care reform was one of my main reasons for supporting Obama for president. It was even on my list. In my opinion, any bill that does not include the public option is not reform.

If the president does indeed neglect to mention the inclusion of a public option, it will be a great disappointment. It would be a travesty to let tea baggers dictate what should be a very serious debate. Hope and Change will take on a whole new meaning if that's the case.

WSJ: Stimulus Is Working

The day after Republican Representative Eric Cantor said we should cancel the rest of the stimulus funds, the Wall St. Journal runs a story clearly stating stimulus spending is helping the U.S. economy climb out of its worse recession since the Great Depression.

I'm not trying to give off the wrong impression on this at all. The economy is slowly turning around. Things are not where they need to be but they are getting better. It will take time, sometimes more time than we have patience for. The Dow is up roughly 10% since Obama took office. Unemployment is finally starting to languish. The manufacturing sector grew in August for the first time in almost two years. Consumer spending is up. Consumer confidence soared at its fastest rate in years. Turn around is upon us. People going around saying we should cancel the rest of the stimulus, freeze spending and calling efforts at reform a failure, are defeatists. Eight months ago they would have been called anti-American. I won't dare go that route, but they are doing this country no favors at all.