Herman Cain, a Rabbit, a Catapult and a Shot Gun

Did you think that Herman Cain walked a fine line between stupid and crazy, when he was on the campaign trail? We had no idea. It would seem that since he has been freed from the constraints of a national election, he can let his freak flag fly. CAIN!!!

Lawrence O'Donnell: Rick Perry Woulda Killed Jesus

Okay, the headline is a little bold. . .that's not exactly what Lawrence O'Donnell said, though it was his point. It comes late in this clip, which is good all the way through. Lawrence  also corrects the record on the Republicans' near-religious belief that Barack Obama's stimulus produced "zero jobs."

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

What Does Former Rep. Eric Massa Think of Obama's Package?

Just wonderin'. . .

Source: DailyKos

Hypocrisy Without Embarrassment: GOP on Stimulus

Image from source, Think Progress

I'm sure I've written a little about this already. But it needs to stay front and center. For all this "the stimulus was a failure" and "not one job was created" crap, it needs to be pointed out that they are a) lying, and b) privately taking credit for the stimulus' success.

[Excerpt]

REPORT: After Voting To Kill Recovery, 110 GOP Lawmakers Tout Its Success, Ask For More Money

Today marks the one year anniversary of President Obama signing into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, better known as the stimulus. As the economy continued to crater after President Bush left office, Obama’s stimulus sought to provide tax cuts for 95% of working Americans, funds to buoy cash-strapped state governments, new construction and infrastructure projects, and other programs to create jobs, retrain workers, and promote economic activity throughout the country. In December, the Congressional Budget Office reported that the stimulus had successfully created up to 1.6 million jobs, and today, a report shows the Recovery Act will ultimately create 2.5 million jobs. Even the conservative American Enterprise Institute found that the stimulus had boosted the U.S. economy by 4 percent. . .

Read more at: Think Progress

Democrats: There is NOTHING You Can Do to Woo GOP

Yep, Rachel Maddow again. Her Rachel Re: segments are almost always excellent, but this one manages to both kick but and take names. For real. Hypocrisy is nothing new in politics of course, on either side of the aisle. But the nerve of the current GOP to be so vocally trashing (with help from FOX "News" and talk radio) the stimulus plan, while taking credit for it back home, is a little stunning. Or at least it is when it is all laid out for you.

Stunning and tedious really. There's no way to go through the list of these Republican legislators without it being repetitive. Stick through it if you want to hear all their names. But at least jump ahead to the final fourth of the video, where Rachel is just so dead on right in her plea to Democrats: knock off the optimistic talk of bipartisanship, and kill the filibuster. It makes no difference how good the policy, or even if it originated on the GOP side, they are not going to vote with you. Rachel does everything but tell them to grow a set.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

"Train to Vegas": The Red Lie Express

I've written a couple of times about the brazen lie, that is engineered (hah!) to criticize both Barack Obama and Harry Reid. Various members of the Republican party--including Bobby Jindal--contend that a bullet train from "Anaheim to Las Vegas" is provided for in the stimulus bill. It's fiction, but it has caught on like the lie about Michelle Obama getting a lobster from room service.

The Daily Kos has put together a great video that puts it all in context. All the way up to the ridiculous assertion that the train goes to the Moonlight Bunny Ranch brothel!

"Train From LA to Vegas" Lie Gets Weirder

In an effort to slam President Barack Obama's stimulus plan and Harry Reid, the right-wing punditry (and politicians like Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal) have been spreading a lie about a train from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Supposedly the stimulus plan includes beau coup bucks for such a thing. But no such prevision exists.

You could tell it was a talking point, because it was continuously referred to as a train from "Disneyland to Vegas." It has now become a train from Disneyland to brothels. Shameless.

[Excerpt]



Latest Stimulus Lie: Harry Reid ‘Is Committed To’ A ‘Red Light Express’ To Nevada Brothel

. . .It’s a super railroad, of sorts — a line that will deliver customers straight from Disney, we kid you not, to the doorstep of the moonlight bunny ranch brothel in Nevada. I say, to the moonlight Bunny Ranch brothel in Nevada. So should your tax dollars be paying for these kinds of projects?. . .

Read more at: Think Progress

FOX "News" & GOP Lie About Disneyland to Vegas Train

Over the past eight years (or more), liberals like me have been frustrated by false stories that take a life of their own, and become conventional wisdom. Driven by Karl Rove, and aided by FOX "News" (now even more closely aligned), these partly or totally fictitious stories were fought by liberal bloggers with varying degrees of success. Like the myth of the "liberal media" many such stories simply will not die.

We hoped that with the change in the political landscape, this would stop happening. But since the election, we've had several attempts to keep doing it. Some don't really break through, remaining on the fringe, like the idiotic "Barack Obama isn't a natural born citizen" story. Others, like this one, could go either way.

It should be pointed out that there is a concerted effort to oust Nevada's Senator Harry Reid in 2010 by the GOP, and their aligned forces in talk radio and outlets like FOX "News." So, it is no surprise that they're trying to link him to this bogus story. It worked several years ago on Tom Daschle (with an unlikely assist from Jeff Gannon), so they are sure to keep trying.

[Excerpt]



Echoing GOP, Fox figures falsely claim Reid included $8 billion in bill directed to LA-Vegas rail

In recent days, Fox News hosts and contributors have advanced the false claim -- pushed by Republican lawmakers -- that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid included a provision in the recovery bill directing that $8 billion be spent on a high-speed rail line between Southern California and Las Vegas. In fact, the bill does not direct high-speed rail funds to any specific project, and any funding would be allocated by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, a former Republican congressman. . .

Read more at: MediaMatters

Socialism and the Right

Image from Media Matters

There has been a lot of whining, raving and--in Mark Levin's case--shrieking about socialism since the issue of the stimulus plan came around. It goes back further, actually, with most of the right-wing blowholes calling Barack Obama a socialist during the election. But the fact of the matter is, we've had elements of socialism in the United States for a very long time.

Roads, schools, police departments, fire departments and many other things are essentially socialized. Other than schools (screwls, in Limbaugh parlance), you don't much hear right-wingers complaining about these things. But, if it is health care, jobs or entitlements, well my friend, we are on the road to ruin! Now, I am no financial expert, and I have no idea how good or bad this stimulus plan is really. But I feel confident that the Limbaughs, Hannitys and Levins are wrong, because they usually are.

The Huffington Post has a great article up right now with a challenge. If the stimulus plan is evil socialism, well then don't participate. Give the money back! Don't take the job! Do you think they'll do it?

[Excerpt]

Sean Hannity's Ridiculous War Against Socialism

. . .There was Sean Hannity on television: breathlessly announcing the red dawn of "socialism you can believe in." "The New America." He called the recovery bill, "a liberal hijacking of the American way of life." Uh-huh. Hijacking. Terrorists rather than goblins on the wing. I get it. And even though we just wrapped up eight years of the largest government expansion in our country's history, Hannity derided the recovery bill as "the largest government expansion in our country's history. . ."

Read more at: <>Huffington Post

Is Monkey Cartoon Racist?

Oh boy. We all knew that having a black President would very likely spur racist comments. And honestly, I expected racism to more definitively rear its head during the election. Instead, we've gotten things more along the lines of some crazy people "Obama's a Muslin!" kinds of things, mostly. Still, with Barack Obama in the White House for the next four--possibly eight--years, we can expect somebody to step in it, with some regularity.

The cartoon pictured here is one of those, "well, is it?" kinds of things. But one thing should be considered here. Political cartoonists have to know shading and nuance. They have to be very aware of all the different angles an issue or an event can be viewed from. Having this knack is the only thing that makes political cartoons work: finding the humor or novelty in the events of the day. So how did this artist not see how this cartoon could be interpreted?

Source: NY Post cartoon seems to link Obama to dead chimp (AP)

Barack Obama Signs Stimulus Bill

Photo from source, MSNBC

Obama has only been President for four weeks, but a lot has already happened. And today's signing of the stimulus bill will probably set the tone for what we remember about the early days, maybe even for the whole administration. If it works, it will be seen as the first positive step. If it doesn't work, or if many more similar bills have to be enacted, it could be seen as an utter disaster. Remind me again why anybody would want that job?

[Excerpt]

Obama: Stimulus lets Americans claim destiny

Racing to reverse the country's economic spiral, President Barack Obama signed the mammoth stimulus package into law Tuesday and readied a new $50 billion foreclosure rescue for legions of Americans who are in danger of losing their homes. . .

Read more at: MSNBC

Stimulus Package Finally--Officially--A Done Deal?

Um, yeah. Sorta. President Obama still has to sign it of course. But that is very likely. Now, the endless speculation: Will it work? Is it working? Did it work? Why did or didn't it work? And of course, Now we need more. . . Yikes.

[Excerpt]

U.S. Congress Gives Final Approval to $787 Billion Stimulus

The U.S. Congress gave final approval to President Barack Obama’s $787 billion economic stimulus package in hopes of wresting the economy out of recession through a mix of tax cuts and federal spending.

The Senate approved the package 60 to 38 with three Republicans joining Democrats in voting “yes.” Earlier today, the House passed the measure 246 to 183 with no Republicans in favor and seven Democrats opposed. The bill, Obama’s first major victory on Capitol Hill, now heads to his desk to be signed into law. . .

Read more at: Bloomberg

Stimulus Package Approved

Photo from source, Raw Story

So, good thing? Bad thing? I have no idea. One reason my postings on the economic crisis and stimulus plan have been relatively light, is that my knowledge of economics is slight. I know, lack of knowledge on a subject doesn't stop some bloggers (or even me sometimes) from opining. And they'll haul out people like Ann Coulter--an expert on very little--to speak about almost anything, as though she knows what she's talking about.

But this whole deal is way beyond me. So here's the story. You decide.

[Excerpt]

US lawmakers ink 789 billion dollar stimulus deal

US lawmakers faced final votes on a plan to pump 789 billion dollars into the sputtering US economy on Thursday, promising President Barack Obama a major victory by week's end. . .

Read more at: Raw Story

President Obama's First Prime-time Press Conference

I'm sure that President Barack Obama's first prime-time press conference, which focused on the stimulus bill, will be fodder for the right-wing noise machine. Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Rush Limbaugh and others will pick apart words, edit the uhs and uhms together for cute little sound clips, and pounce upon any ill-chosen word.

But there is one thing I can say about the event that I haven't been able to say for eight years: I wasn't embarrassed by our President when he spoke. Sure, I got a little drowsy a couple of times, but never flinched out of shame. That's another big change.

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

President Obama Stumps in Indiana for Jobs Bill

The President--who according to Lindsey Graham has been AWOL on the stimulus plan--made a big push for it today in Indiana, with a town hall meeting. The audience wasn't screened, and Barack Obama took all kinds of questions, with thoughtful answers. I don't know if this thing is gonna work or not, but this event shows that change is already happening.

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

RNC Chair Michael Steele: Government Jobs Aren't Real

Say what, now? If the government gives you a job, it isn't a real job? Does that mean that Michael Steele's former job as an elected official wasn't "real?" The insistence by Republicans that only small businesses create "real jobs" is quite bizarre. People who aren't working don't care if the job is considered "real" by the GOP. They just want to work and get paid for it.

Besides, even if the jobs aren't long-term, they're better than nothing. They get people paid, they pad up their resumes, and they gain job experience. All of these things are very important. And they prevent people from losing their homes, or starving to death.

As a side note, the GOP is also trumpeting that tax cuts are the most effective stimulus. If you let people keep more of "their" money, they'll spend more. OK. But what if you aren't earning any money? What if you're one of the millions who has lost his job? How do tax cuts help the people who most need it? It's all so stupid.

[Excerpt]

RNC chair: Only real jobs are those business creates

Most state governors, including many Republicans, are strongly behind a stimulus bill that will fund government projects to put large number of people back to work and get the economy moving again.

"It comes at a time when we need it," Florida's Republican governor, Charlie Crist, recently stated. "People need jobs. It's about jobs, jobs, jobs. . ."

Read more at: Raw Story

Rachel Maddow: Rejecting the Know Nothings

Have you been paying attention to the Congressional fight about the economic stimulus package? Have you been instinctively feeling that the Republican side was wrong, but didn't know how to articulate your opinion? Well, here's The Rachel Maddow Show to the rescue. Rachel has put her finger on the wrongness of the GOP's position, while explaining exactly why they're wrong. And she does it with her unique style (and snark). Enjoy.

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

Senate Reaches Stimulus Deal?

Photo from source, Huffington Post

I've tried to stay on top of the whole stimulus deal. But I have to admit, it's not really in my realm of understanding. I'm reasonably sure that the old mantra of "tax cuts!" isn't working. And when prominent Republicans--who've been wrong about everything in the last eight years--are against the thing, I've gotta think it's smarter to go the other way.

But as vexing as the whole issue is, I'm equally baffled by how the enacting of the thing works. The "breaking news" tonight is that the Senate has reached a deal. But they haven't voted on it yet. So is it really a deal? I'm bettin' there is much more drama to ensue before this thing is over.

[Excerpt]

Senators reach deal to cut stimulus bill to $780B

With job losses soaring nationwide, Senate Democrats reached agreement with a small group of Republicans Friday night on an economic stimulus measure at the heart of President Barack Obama's plan for combatting the worst recession in decades.

"The American people want us to work together. They don't want to see us dividing along partisan lines on the most serious crisis confronting our country," said Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, one of three Republican moderates who broke ranks and pledged their votes for the bill. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

Barack Obama Blasts GOP Stimulus Ideas

Photo from source, Huffington Post

Tax cuts, tax cuts, tax cuts. That and "smaller government" have been the mantra of the right for as long as I can remember. And that's it. There doesn't seem to be any more to their economic ideas. And no evidence that it works. I mean, that was their policy for the last eight years, and look how well that turned out.

I'm no economist. . .in fact, back in college I struggled with Macroeconomics. I hated it, in fact. Nobody should have to try to learn that stuff at 8:00 am. And I don't know if this economic plan is the best one. But it is pretty clear that something needs to be done, and that the GOP seems to want to do nothing. And when they get all lock-steppy, and their front line--John Boehner, Lindsay Graham, Mitch McConnell--start a-yappin', I'm pretty sure they're wrong. And I totally dug what Barack Obama had to say about it:

[Excerpt]

Obama Stimulus Speech: "Time For Action Is Now" (VIDEO)

". . .So let me be clear: Those ideas have been tested, and they have failed. They've taken us from surpluses to an annual deficit of over a trillion dollars, and they've brought our economy to a halt. And that's precisely what the election we just had was all about. The American people have rendered their judgment. And now is the time to move forward, not back. Now is the time for action."

Read more (with video) at: Huffington Post