Right Wing World: Sarah Palin Advocates Impeachment

You know, because when it comes to matters as serious as the impeachment of the President of the United States, I always look to half-term, half-wit governors from states with a population that is dwarfed by 17 US cities. I'm aware that I should ignore this shrill, past-her-prime mean girl, as attention (and money) is what she thrives on. But as long as Right Wing World looks to this clueless twit as some sort of political guru [get better heroes!], she's not going away. And when she stirs up shit, it tends to splatter around.

So, Palin adds her endorsement of the idea of impeachment. Someone will have to explain to her that it doesn't involve actual peaches, I suppose. Her reasoning seems sort of screwy to me. But we know from the Bill Clinton impeachment that the right will use absolutely anything as a reason. It's not so much an impeachment for a specific reason, but one just for the sake of it. Just like last time. But last time, it just made Clinton more popular, set his wife on a wave of sympathy and congratulations, and probably lead to the upcoming candidacy of Hillary Clinton.

But, I'm telling you. When Nancy Pelosi said, "impeachment is off the table," in regard to George W. Bush, the right should have taken that great gift, and returned the favor. Because if any president deserved impeachment, it was Dubya.

Image from source, NewsCorpse

[Excerpt]

Impeachment Fever: America Rejected Sarah Palin, Now She Rejects America
 
The “Quitta From Wasilla” is making headlines again by displaying symptoms of acute Obama Derangement Syndrome. Sarah Palin, the 2008 GOP nominee for Vice-President, who was soundly rejected by American voters, is now calling for the impeachment of President Obama (again), who was elected twice with significant majorities. . .

Read more at: NewsCorpse

"Operation: American Spring" an Embarrassing Failure

I know, I know, the weekend isn't over. The throngs of patriots could arrive in DC on Saturday or Sunday. And winged monkeys could fly out of my nether-regions. No, the ridiculously named and ludicrously conceived Operation: American Spring is an embarrassing flop, a devastating splotch of FAIL on the tea bagger movement. And by movement, I mean tootling along at 5 mph in Rascal­­­® scooters.

Their goals were to compel by force the removal of President Obama, Vice President Biden, Speaker of the House John Boner Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. They were going to do this--apparently--by sheer force of will. Or something.

[Excerpt]
 
'Operation American Spring' Is Still Waiting for Its Millions of Patriots
 
Operation American Spring, the mass D.C. rally aiming to force several top government officials — including the president — to resign, spent a portion of its first day at the capital assuring people tuning into its livestream that more people are on the way. The protest's lead organizer, Harry Riley, promised 10 million to 30 million people would show up for his event; Friday's crowd appeared to be in the dozens to hundreds. . .

Read more at: The Wire

Veep Meets Veep: Selina Meyer & Joe Biden Skip the WHCD

Veep--HBO's scathingly funny send-up of Washington politics-- isn't for everyone. If you get squeamish watching embarrassing things happen to main characters, it's probably not for you. But I think it's one of the best shows on television, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus deserves every Emmy she earns for it. And now, JLD's fictional Veep, Selina Meyer meets real-life Veep, Joe Biden (with special appearance by Nancy Pelosi).

Democratic Congress Members Sign on to Strike Down DOMA

Image from Towleroad

The Supreme Court will have a lot of incentive from some high wattage names to back up a decision to strike California's Proposition 8, as well as the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). They just keep pouring in, the latest being from 212 Democratic members of Congress. Sure, there are naysayers and busybodies sending in their briefs to retain both Prop 8 and DOMA, but I don't think (or hope) that they'll be as persuasive. The good guys are calling for tolerance, equality and justice. The bad guys are calling for the right to continue discriminating, to prevent people from having equal rights, and to base law on religion. If SCOTUS upholds either DOMA or Prop 8, it will be a sign that politics ultimately trumps the Constitution and fair play. And it will be a very sad day for America. Crossing my fingers that it doesn't end that way.

[Excerpt]

212 Democratic Members of Congress Ask Supreme Court to Strike Down DOMA: BRIEF

212 Democratic members of Congress led by Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) including all seven out LGBT members and some who voted for DOMA in 1996 have asked the Supreme Court to strike it down in a brief submitted today in the Edith Windsor case. . .

Read more: Towleroad

House Votes Against "Obamacare" for the 33rd Time

Nancy Pelosi doesn't look upset. Image from TPM.

Okay, is it necessary for me to say that the big "Red Tide" 2010 election was won by the flood of Republicans on the strength of "Jobs, jobs, jobs!!!"? People remember that, right? It was going to be a laser focus. Of course, if they'd voted for jobs, and people got jobs, that might make the economy better, and that might look good for President Obama.

So, every time you see a commercial from Karl Rove's SuperPACs droning about Obama and his "broken promises," do me a favor and remember the Congress, won't you? The only promises they kept was the secret-ish ones they dog-whistle about abortion. Wow, they were focused like a laser on abortion. I'm not sure how that translates to jobs. Oh, and the Affordable Care act (Obamacare). They've "repealed" that, 33 times. The latest time they did that was on Wednesday. And it has zero effect, except they can brag about wasting time, I guess. I'm guessing it costs a bunch of money to keep the House of Representatives open on any given day. How much money have they wasted on a pointless quest?

[Excerpt]


House GOP Holds 33rd Vote To Stick It To ‘Obamacare’

House Republicans will vote Wednesday to repeal ‘Obamacare’ — again.

Ahead of a Republican-led House vote Wednesday to try to repeal ‘Obamacare’ for the 33rd time, House Democrats expressed a growing sense of optimism that their biggest achievement in a generation is here to stay, invoking the lessons of history. . .

Read more at: TPM

Democrats Show Up at Empty House Floor, GOP Cuts Cameras

Here come the scary Democrats!
Image from Think Progress

Was this a bit of political theater? Yes, yes it was. Was this Nancy Pelosi sticking her finger in John Boner Boehner's eye? Yes. But, it proves the House was really not in session. And it proves that when the GOP is backed into a corner, they get all childish. Shut off the cameras! Cut their microphones! Ridiculous. But kudos to the Democrats for making them have a spaz attack.




[Excerpt]


House Democrats Rush Floor Demanding Republicans Come Back To Work, GOP Cuts Off C-SPAN 




House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and a group of Democratic lawmakers took to an empty House floor today to demonstrate that they were willing to work while Republicans lawmakers are at home. “Where are the Republicans?” demanded Assistant to the Minority Leader James Clyburn (R-SC). Joining Pelosi and Clyburn were five other House Democrats who are assigned to the payroll-tax extension conference committee. . .

Read more at: Think Progress

Rick Perry Challenges Nancy Pelosi to a Debate

Seriously. Does he have a problem that 12 steps
could help? Image from source, The Hill.

Oh, for pete's sake, why?

[Excerpt]

EXCLUSIVE: Perry challenges Pelosi to debate

Dear Leader Pelosi,

After reading about House Minority Whip Steny Hoyers' outburst over my "Overhauling Washington" plan, I wonder if his obstructionism reflects your own opposition and that of the Democratic Caucus to urgent reforms the American public so vehemently demand. . .


Read more at: The Hill

House Democrats Punk the GOP Majority with "Present" Votes

Nancy Pelosi, plotting to hit John Boner Boehner with
his own hammer. From TMM

Now, this is amusing. For quite some time, detractors of President Obama have criticized his use of a "present" vote when he was a state senator. But as the excerpted article below shows, a vote of "present" can be a strategic maneuver, and can also be very entertaining to watch if you are a political junkie. Here, the Democrats in the House of Representatives used the tactic to force Republicans to squirm. A lot. It isn't often that the Dems try something so strategic, or so successful. Kudos, Mrs. Pelosi!

[Excerpt]


Pandemonium! Dems Jam Republicans With Even More Conservative Budget

What was supposed to be a routine vote in the House -- to knock down an amendment authored by conservative Republicans -- turned into pandemonium on the House floor Friday, as Democrats tried to jam the plan through, and hang it around the GOP's necks. . .
 
Read more at: Talking Points Memo

House Passes "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal

Image from source, The Advocate

Or rather, they passed an "It's okay to repeal DADT if a whole bunch of people agree it's okay." Or something. For the second time. It's a great step, but meaningless unless Harry Reid manages to overcome a sure-to-be-tried filibuster. There is no reason--short of homophobia--to keep this always archaic and ridiculous law in place. The military is for repeal, for the most part. The American public is for repeal in large percentages. And there are already gay people in the military, just as there always have been. That won't stop John McCain and Mitch McConnell from claiming that "America" wants DADT to stay. 

[Excerpt]

House Approves DADT Repeal



The U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday approved a stand-alone bill to repeal the 17-year-old law barring lesbian and gay service members from serving openly in the military by a vote of 250-175. . .
 
Read more at: The Advocate

A Deal on Tax Cut Extensions and Unemployment?

Image from source, Huffington Post

So, finally this ridiculous argument is going to come to some sort of resolution. So, why am I still unhappy about it? Mostly because the arguments and rhetoric being used simply don't hold up to any kind of reason or logic. Somehow, Republicans voting against extending tax cuts to the middle class was sold as voting for them. Somehow, even though everyone knows that any extension of the tax cuts will lard billions or trillions onto the debt, they're doing it anyway. And not just for the middle class, but even millionaires and billionaires who certainly don't need it.

Mostly, I'm disenheartened that if Republicans are in charge--even if their numbers aren't overwhelming--they get what they want. And if Democrats are in charge--even if their numbers are overwhelming--Republicans still get what they want. Democrats are terrible at messaging. They're terrible at selling their own accomplishments. And they're terrible at punching holes in the tissue paper-thin arguments from the right.  I still believe that Democratic ideals and policies are best for the country. But will we ever get to see them implemented? Why on earth are Democrats scared of cartoon characters like John Boner Boehner and Mitch McConnell? And finally, how is it that the Obama/Pelosi/Reid triumvirate has been sold as this iron-fisted, policy steam train, rolling over Republicans? It just hasn't happened.

[Excerpt]

Tax Cut Deal: White House, GOP Leaders Close To Agreement



President Barack Obama announced "a framework for a bipartisan agreement" Monday night over the impending expiration of the Bush tax cuts. . .
 
Read more at: Huffington Posts

New Sharron Angle Ad: A Pelosi-Reid-Obama Bisexual Three-Way?

That seems to be what Sharron Angle is implying in this ad, but she couldn't really, right? Well, of course not, but that is the gag they're going for here. I'm not sure who the ad is aimed at, though. Anyone loony enough to vote for Angle already thinks that President Barack Obama, Senator Harry Reid, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are degenerate demons, so no need to convince them.  Most of us outside of the right-wing machine's bubble may like or dislike any of them, but this ad's power to sway us is pretty slight.  It's pretty silly, and likely a waste of campaign dollars. Judge for yourself.

Nancy Pelosi Pushing Obama on Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Image from The Daily Beast

I've often wondered what President Obama (and prominent Democrats in general) really think of gay people. I suspect that privately, they haven't got much of an issue with the subject.  And publicly, they have to tap dance. They have to say enough of the "right things" to get us to vote for them, but they can't do too much, or they risk alienating potential voters who do have a problem with gay people.

In that way, gay people share an uncomfortable similarity within their primary party that evangelicals do in theirs.  Once gay people help Democrats win office, they usually throw us a bone or two. Maybe even a juicy one. But the big stuff? Well, they'd like to pass that. . .it's the right thing to do. . .but now is not the time.  Like with Don't Ask, Don't tell: it has to be studied for a year. What is to study? It's a black-or-white, no shades of gray, yes-or-no question. You either let the policy stand, or you get rid of it.  And right now, they don't really want to move on it, or so it would appear.

Luckily, some Democrats have recently found their spines (or orb-like body parts), and seem to think that November be damned, they're going to get some stuff done.  It's a good strategy, in my opinion. No matter what the Democrats do, they will be portrayed as Satan's minions by the right. So, they might as well do what we sent them there to do.  And whether Democrats deem gay causes to be top-shelf issues or not, they can't really afford to dismiss the gay vote.

[Excerpt]

Pelosi calls for Obama to stop discharging gay servicemembers immediately

“We all look forward to the report on the review of the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy by the Defense Department. In the meantime, the Administration should immediately place a moratorium on dismissals under this policy until the review has been completed and Congress has acted. . .”

Read more at: AmericaBlog

FBI Arrests Man for Threatening Nancy Pelosi

Image from Blognet News

Since Nancy Pelosi became Speaker of the House, she has been vilified on right-wing talk radio and FOX "News" as practically the devil incarnate. So how surprising is it really that someone on the fringe would threaten her? Not that it is easy to sort out just who on the right counts as "fringe" anymore. But the vehement denials on the right that they are stirring up violent sentiments seem thinner and thinner.

[Excerpt]

Man Arrested for Allegedly Threatening Nancy Pelosi

The FBI arrested a San Francisco man this afternoon for allegedly making dozens of threatening phone calls to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over health care reform, the latest in the backlash against lawmakers who supported the legislation. . .

Read more at: AOL News

Health Care Passes!

Well, thank goodness that is over. Well, not entirely over, but mostly. Now, President Obama needs to sign it, and the "fixes" go over to the Senate, where we are sure to here a bit more of the crazy.

Final tallies are here, if you are interested.

[Excerpt]

House sends health care bill to Obama's desk

After well over a year of negotiations, setbacks, and political wrangling, the House has approved President Barack Obama’s top domestic policy initiative, sending a bill to massively overhaul the nation’s health insurance system to his desk to be signed and enacted into law. . .

Read more at: MSNBC

Auto-Tune The News #10

Just because.

Funny or Sad? "No Rules for Radicals"

If you can make it all the way through this video, you have a much stronger stomach than I do. Have the Glenn Becks and Rush Limbaughs of the world convinced right-wingers that the Democrats are radicals? Because I don't know how they would have come up with that conclusion on their own.

They seem to think that the approval ratings for President Obama and the Democrats are down because America has rejected their "radicalism." But they really don't get it. The right has been firmly in the "against" column since before Obama was even sworn in. The left by contrast is not in a snit because of any radical moves. They're upset because the Democrats haven't been radical enough. The Democrats have tacked right at nearly every turn in a misguided attempt to gain some bipartisan votes (hint: they're not coming). Everyone is saying that Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid need to move to the center. Wrong move. The right will still say "no," but then so will the left. And still, swill like that contained in this video is churned out, with the bizarre notion that the Democrats are "far left." Far from it.

Health Care Reform Passes in the House

Image from source, MSNBC

Good going, Dems. It wasn't all of you, but you did it.

[Excerpt]

Landmark health insurance bill passes House

In a victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House narrowly passed landmark health care legislation to expand coverage to tens of millions who lack it and place tough new restrictions on the insurance industry. . .

Read more at: MSNBC

Sunday Roundup, Pt. 1

OK, first up, on Meet the Press with David Gregory we've got Dick Durbin for the Democratic side (in front of an incredibly fake-looking bookcase) and Kermit the Frog Newt Gingrich for the Republicans. Seriously. Newt.

Why is this man still being trotted out? Who is he any more? Why are his ideas relevant? For all of this stupid "pre-9/11 mentality" talk from the right, Gingrich has got an "immediately post-9/11 mentality." He still talks like people did right after, when they were still shell shocked. And he says stupid things like Guantanamo Bay should stay open for the duration of the "war." 'Til terrorism is gone. Well, that's just brilliant, Newt! And he still has delusions that he could ever be elected president in the United States.

And seriously, my assessment of Gregory still stands: he's got no depth. The bulk of his questions are along the lines of, "Speaker Pelosi on blah blah date said blah blah. Do you agree with that assessment? Does she owe blah blah an apology?" It's all so surfacey. Just chatter.

In the round table segment, there's still the distraction of Pelosi in this whole torture story, which as at least a week past when we should even be talking about it. I liked seeing Eugene Robinson, and Chuck Todd on the panel. There was a little more variety there from the usual faces. But in all, this week's show could have been broadcast last week. Not much there there.

Sean Hannity Owned by Jesse Ventura

I know asking for you to watch any clip of Hannity is asking a heck of a lot. But watching a clip where Sean Hannity gets clobbered on his own show? Priceless.

Bush Era Torture: All Nancy Pelosi's Fault?

Sorta took the day off from blogging until now, so sorry for the lack of posts. I wasn't sure I was getting Friday off, so when I did, I took advantage of it.

That said, I did have the time to check out a little cable news today. I caught much of White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs' press conference. And I was dismayed to hear the umpteenth "we're looking forward" excuse for why the White House won't push torture investigations. It's lame, but I sort of get it.

It's kind of like how a President can't say that he's an atheist or an agnostic, or basically just isn't too concerned with religion. Or how President Obama (and during the primary, Hillary Clinton) have to pretend that they are against same-sex marriage. It's political expediency, nothing more. But it kind of sucks.

The big news story of the day seems to be Nancy Pelosi, what did she know, and when did she know it. This isn't a real story as far as I'm concerned. It is a Republican-planted shiny thing to move the press' focus from the actual Bush Era torture story. And--big surprise--the press went for it. I even heard an MSNBC commentator saying that the question is, if Pelosi knew, why didn't she speak out at the time? Which is utter B.S., because we've known for some time now that those meetings are classified, and that briefed Congress members were barred from talking about them.

Anyway, it looks like there are some members of the press seeing through it.