Kevin McCarthy Drops Out of Contention for Speaker of the House

I have to wonder if the withdrawal of Kevin McCarthy for Speaker of the House has more to do with a) his accidental revelation that the Benghazi/email investigations were about hurting Hillary Clinton; b) Rachel Maddow's very effective campaign to show that the potential "Speaker" doesn't speak very well; c) the Tea Party faction and their resistance to the establishment; or d) that Mr. McCarthy is possibly about to have a sex scandal. Time will tell, but it's kind of fun for a Democrat.
 

It's just the icing on the cake that McCarthy managed to mangle a metaphor in his announcement.

Rick Santorum Gets Tea Bagged

For decades, conservatives pandered to the kooks and the crazies on their far right, throwing them red meat, and wooing their vote. When the Tea Party was born (immediately after the election of a black president, don't tell me it's a coincidence), suddenly, the nutbar fringe went front-and-center. The establishment tried to co-opt the brand, and sometimes has managed to weave them in while staying in control. But the rabble really weren't supposed to ever get actual power, ever have much of a say.

I don't know the right analogy, whether it's Frankenstein's monster, or more akin to a cancer or a zombie virus. But these batshit crazy people are getting more common, and closer than ever to the levers of power.

Listen to this tea bagger's insane rant, and watch how likely (repeat) presidential candidate Rick (don't Google me) Santorum dares not shut her down for fear of alienating a voting bloc.

[Excerpt]

Frothy Mix Gets Teabagged



Probable GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum appeared this past weekend at the South Carolina National Security Action Summit, an annual event held by Frank Gaffney and the Center for Security Policy. . .

Read more at: Joe.My.God.

Captain Obvious: Chris Matthews Discovers Tea Party "Aren't That Far" from White Supremacist Groups

I've had a few issues with Chris Matthews of late, where his always vacillating political needle seemed lodged in libertarian/conservative land. But he still shows flashes of reasonableness, even if the topic is blindingly obvious. In this case, it's noticing the not-so-very-far-apartness of white supremacist groups and "Tea Party" conservatives. Um yeah, we noticed that.

[Excerpt]
MSNBC’s Chris Matthews: Tea Party Republicans ‘aren’t that far’ from white supremacist groups

MSNBC host Chris Matthews slammed Tea Party Republicans on Tuesday, likening them to white supremacist organizations like the one currently linked to House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA).
 

Image from source, Raw Story

“How do you think Louie Gohmert feels toward David Duke?” Matthews askedHuffington Post reporter Sabrina Siddiqui. “How do we know? What do you think of [Ted] Yoho, and that crowd? These guys believe [President Barack Obama] was somehow an illegal immigrant from Africa because they can’t stand the fact that he’s an African-American president. Let’s be honest about it — they’re not that far from the crowd they refuse to associate with. . . .”

Read more at: Raw Story

Joe Biden Disses the Tea Party.

Image from source, Mediaite

Way to go, Joe! Sometimes, the man can be inelegant, but he is often right, whether he hits the right notes or not. Here, on this topic, there is no need for delicate phrasing.

[Excerpt]

Biden Reportedly Calls Tea Party ‘Crazy’: ‘They Have No Judgment’

Vice President Joe Biden met in private with black clergy members in South Carolina today, and according to one report, Biden told them that the tea party is “crazy” and very much unlike previous incarnations of the Republican Party. . .

Read more at: Mediaite

Right Wing World: A New Party to Split from the GOP? Great Idea!!!

I thought that the Tea Party was supposed to be "better" and "more conservative" than the establishment Republican Party. But when the establishment cowtows to the Teas, and the Teas all run as Republicans, who can tell them apart? So, someone has gotten the bright idea to start a breakaway party. And, get this. . .with Sarah Palin as its figurehead. Yeah!

I couldn't have scripted it better. This would be so amazing. Do it! Do it now! Don't wait until after the midterms, strike while the iron is hot!

Image from FreakingNews

[Excerpt]

Conservative Activist Proposes Third Party With Sarah Palin As Its Leader
 
Steve Baldwin, a former California lawmaker and onetime executive director of the Council for National Policy, believes that Tea Party and Religious Right activists should form a third party to “do to the GOP what the GOP did to the Whig Party 150 years ago. . .”

Read more at: Right Wing Watch

Hillbilly People (A Rocky Mountian Mike Song Parody)

Another goodie from Rocky Mountain Mike, this time about some of the sadder elements of today's voting public. To the tune of Sly & the Family Stone's Everyday People.

To hear much more from Rocky Mountain Mike, click here.
 

Yes, Obama's Approval Rating Is Down. . .But Not as Much as Everyone Else

Amongst friends, I've openly pondered, why are President Obama's approval ratings so low? All things considered--and that would be the relentless and constant opposition from Republicans in and out of elected office--I think he's doing a pretty good job. I don't agree with everything he's done, and some of the stuff that sort of carried over from Bush? Yeah, I could do without a bunch of that. But on balance, I think he's been a pretty good president. Certainly better than anyone who ran against him.

 

Image from source, NewsCorpse

But I get it that Right Wing World hates him. Hates. Him. That would be somewhat understandable, if it was simply a response to his policies, but it's been like this from Day 1 (or earlier), and hasn't dissipated, it's only gotten worse. And they hate him even for things that they used to be for. It's transparent, naked hatred (and I don't know if you happened to notice, but he's black). So, anyway, I'd get it if his approval ratings were hovering around 50%. That would make sense. But in the 40s?

I'd chalk it up to a fickle, easily distracted, easily led, not particularly interested public, except for the fact that Obama's ratings are among the best of the rest of our elected officials! 'Course, people could still be disconnected and hate 'em all, I suppose. But before the Boehners and McConnells and the rest get too overjoyed about Obama's predicament, they should look at their own numbers. And before the completely sell their souls to the Tea Party, they should look to see who is at rock bottom.

[Excerpt]

GOPee Yew: What The Media Isn’t Telling You About Obama’s Poll Numbers

A new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll (pdf) has some decidedly bad news for President Obama. The American people, according to this survey, are losing patience with the President and expressing it with low opinions of his job performance, foreign policy, and leadership. It is a distinct concern for him as his administration heads into its final two years. That said, the news isn’t all bad. But far be it for the media to put the results in context so that people get a balanced perspective of the nation’s mood. In addition to the floundering numbers, there are some areas that ought to produce some optimism for the President and those aligned with his policies. First among them is the fact that, while Obama’s numbers are nothing to write home about, his political rivals are doing so much worse that may want to run away from home. . .

Read more at: NewsCorpse

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor Suffers Surprise Loss in Primary Battle

Is it so hard to see why there is a page called Eric Cantor's Bitch Face?
Image from source, MSN

I can't ever think of the House Majority Leader without thinking of Eric Cantor's Bitch Face, a satirical tumblr page that pokes fun of Cantor's perceived haughtiness and detachment from ordinary folks. And it just may be that attitude that lost him his seat, in a surprise primary night result.

Of course, it could also be the fact that tea baggers were pissed at him for his insufficiently awful immigration stance. And also, of course, because this election was so sparsely attended by voters other then tea baggers. And so, instead of Virginia being home to the second most powerful Republican in the House of Representatives, they'll have (assuming their new candidate wins) a House freshman. But the Tea Party can claim a fairly significant scalp: one of their own guys, more or less.

[Excerpt]

House Majority Leader Cantor defeated in primary

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor was defeated Tuesday by a little-known economics professor in Virginia's Republican primary, a stunning upset and major victory for the tea party. . .

Read more at: MSN

What Happens in Vegas: More Is Now Known About Walmart/Pizza Parlor Shooting

I've noticed something about gun violence, and the response it gets when it happens, in social media and the blogosphere. You get the news that a school, or a store or a military base or some other area has been attacked by a shooter or shooters. There's usually a bit of shock, followed by a smattering of sorrow and well-wishes to the survivors, and the families of the dead. It's all eventually old news, and overshadowed by the next shooting. But in between, we get:


- From liberals and/or gun control advocates (I'm the former, mixed with a tad of the latter), there is tsk-tsking. finger wagging, condemnation of the NRA and speculation. The speculation usually goes to the obvious places first, "gun nuts," tea partiers, right-wing extremists, those "sovereign citizen" people. There is a whole lot of resignation and weariness that nothing is going to change, and a simmering anger about how it's all just allowed to continue. And of course, you'll have the fringy leftists who go too far, though they're (I believe) in the minority.

- From conservatives and/or gun rights activists (I used to be the former with a tad of the latter), there is a reflexive defensiveness with amazing and instantaneous hostility. Right away, there are proclamations about what liberals are going to say or do. There are defiant announcements that this better not lead to a "gun grab." There are seeds of  conspiracy theories sown almost immediately. And there is a heavy emphasis on making sure that the perp is perceived as either a) a radical lefty, b) a radical lefty posing as a conservative in order to smear them, or c) maybe a radical righty, but if so, a lone wolf with no connection to any other conservative group or individuals. And, of course, you'll have the fringy rightists who go too far, and they are in abundance.

If you don't believe me, hit any major newspaper's comments section on this story. Or go straight to the source at FreeRepublic.com, and click their section labeled "BangList." Yes, it's really called that.

Meanwhile, let's get a few facts on this whole Las Vegas shooting, shall we? As horrific as the attack was (and I'm tempted to call it a terrorist attack), there are also fascinating elements to the story, and how it is unfolding. For instance, the connection the Millers (the killers) had to a law passed in Indiana that allows citizens--under certain conditions, naturally--to shoot cops. 

[Excerpt]

Shooters carried arsenal, supplies into Sunday rampage



Jerad and Amanda Miller left their downtown apartment Sunday morning loaded for a long fight. Police said the Millers had a small arsenal and survivalist gear in two bags when they entered a northeast Las Vegas Wal-Mart on Sunday, killed a shopper who confronted them with his own gun, and then shot it out with officers before taking their own lives. . .

Read more at: Las Vegas Review-Journal

Right Wing World: Cliven Bundy Jumps from Republican to a REALLY Nutty Party

In this installment of Republicans Really Need Better Heroes, we have Cliven Bundy. He's the Nevada rancher who is grazing on federal land, but doesn't want to pay the bill. For some reason, this has inspired a following of alleged "Constitutionalists," who were--for a time--interrogating fellow citizens. That "I don't get it" would be to state, and understate the obvious.

But ol' Cliven isn't happy with more people than just the BLM, and liberals, and O'Bummer. He's dumping the whole GOP! So where'd he go, the Tea Party, right? Well, no, since the Tea Party is just the base of the Republican Party. Instead, he picked the party that was tea bagging before tea bagging was cool: The Independent American Party. These are not independents, you understand. It's an actual collection of like-minded people, and they're bananas.

I remember when I first moved to Nevada almost 20 years ago, reading about the Hansen family, all of whom were IAP. They're anti-federal government, like Bundy. But they went significantly around the bend on most issues. The oddest thing is, these uber-conservatives are against government issued ID, which puts them at odds with the uber-conservatives who are trying to implement Voter ID. here's a link. And remember, her platform is presented with a bit of polish for the election. But I think you can see where the IAP is coming from. And since Cliven Bundy apparently doesn't believe the federal government exists, he should fit right in.

Image from source, Wonkette

Anyway, I don't know if the Hansens ever secured any significant office, but they keep trying. Janine Hansen is running for Congress, and if you want to see what she's all about,

Again, Republicans: find better heroes.

[Excerpt]

CLIVEN BUNDY QUITS REPUBLICANS, JOINS FORCES WITH SOMEONE EVEN MORE UNTETHERED TO REALITY

Those sensitive to such things may have sensed a great disturbance in the Loonosphere over the weekend, as Cliven Bundy left the Republican Party and signed up with the Independent American Party of Nevada, the local version of the rightwing Constitution Party. And why does this matter? It is not insignificant, because Cliven’s new party is also the home of the awesomely batshit David Lory VanDerBeek, who we profiled a while back when he was predicting civil war and expecting Obama to come and kill him. Mr. VanDerBeek (motto: “I don’t put spaces between the three chunks of my last name”) is still out there — way out there — being a Sandy Hook Truther and running a can’t-lose candidacy for Nevada Governor. . .

Read more at: Wonkette

"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

Scandal: IRS Scandal-ette Turns Out to be Scandal Free

The IRS "scandal" has always stuck in my craw for really not being a scandal, or more specifically, a completely miscast one. The scandal was never who the IRS targeted in their probe, it was that they ended up giving tax exempt status to political groups at all. But Right Wing World was frothing at the mouth that Tea Party groups were targeted for auditing. How dare the IRS examine a political group for claiming to not be a political group! I mean, it was ridiculous.

But it's turned out to be even less than they thought it was. What are the odds that FOX "News" and right-wing talk radio set the record straight now? I'm guessing, never. But maybe Darrell Issa will finally shut up. At least about this subject.

[Excerpt]

New Records: IRS Targeted Progressive Groups More Extensively Than Tea Party



Image from source, Think Progress

A series of IRS documents, provided to ThinkProgress under the Freedom of Information Act, appears to contradict the claims by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and his House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that only Tea Party organizations applying for tax-exempt status “received systematic scrutiny because of their political beliefs.” The 22 “Be On the Look Out” keywords lists, distributed to staff reviewing applications between August 12, 2010 and April 19, 2013, included more explicit references to progressive groups, ACORN successors, and medical marijuana organizations than to Tea Party entities. . .

Read more at: Think Progress

Obama Uses Tea Party Imagery: "Don't Tread on My Obama Care"

Brilliant, just brilliant. I love it.

[Excerpt]

Obama Co-Opts Tea Party Slogan For Obamacare Bumper Sticker

President Barack Obama's new Obamacare bumper sticker sure looks familiar. Here's how it looks, as unveiled and promoted at BarackObama.com, which is now run by the president's advocacy group, Organizing For Action. . .

Read more at: Talking Points Memo

Michele Bachmann: The Tea Party is an Intellectual Movement

I just can't. . .

 

In Honor of CPAC: David Ippolito's Tea Party Anthem

Tea Party Thinks Conservative CPAC Not Conservative Enough!

I'll just be in the corner over here, laughing.

[Excerpt]

Tea Party Members Say CPAC No Longer Represents Conservative Values




MRCTV spoke with attendees at a fifth anniversary Tea Party rally to see if they believe the so-called Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), currently underway in the Nation's Capital, still reflects conservative values. . .

Read more at: CNSNews

Tea Party Turns Five

Image from source, Wonkette

The Tea Party (allegedly an acronym for "Taxed Enough Already") has made a lot of news in its five years of existence. Most of it of a dubious nature, and a whole lot of it embarrassingly silly. The silliest part is how seriously some of the tea baggers* take it, even though its origins aren't really grass roots, and its mission has been a bit muddy. I mean, at first, they were all about smaller government, and lower taxes, and never mind all of that social stuff.

Fairly quickly--aside from the Koch Brothers' backing and opportunistic hangers-on--it became clear that the Tea Party was really a rebranding of the GOP base, the rabid, religious right. Suddenly, abortion and gay marriage were in the mix. And the candidates being supported by them were bonkers. The crazier, the better! They had initial success (though some of the nuttier candidates didn't make it), and today are just as nebulous in purpose and form as they were in the beginning, other than being as extremely right-wing as is possible.

But think about this as you "celebrate" five years of this baffling movement: the Tea Party is 30 days younger than the Obama presidency. That's right, this "organic" movement sprung up to combat an oppressive regime that was a whopping month old. One thing I'll never concede is my belief that the whole enterprise was a reaction not to a Democratic president, but to a black president.

[Excerpt]

The Tea Party Is Five Years Old Today, And Finally Acting Its Age
 
Five years ago today, Rick Santelli went on your teevee and said “We’re thinking of having a tea party” to protest (ostensibly) the Homeowners Affordability and Stability Plan, which was something that helped people keep their houses, even if these dumb homeowners were personally irresponsible and got fired because the economy shed however many million jobs in 2008-9, the nerve of some people, being affected by massive economic shocks! . . .

Read more at: Wonkette


*And yes, friends and neighbors, I still gleefully use the term "tea bagger" and its variants. For more than one reason, chiefly, a) it really torques off tea baggers and b) because it was originally Tea Party members who tried using the term to disparage liberals. But it backfired on them, and stuck. That doesn't happen often, but when it does, it is a beautiful (and hilarious) thing.

"Joe the Plumber" Gets Union Job, Whines About Co-workers

Alone in his field. Image from source, ABC News

Ugh. From the category of odd right-wing heroes: where are they now comes this update on the whereabouts of one Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher. Apparently, he's landed himself a union job at Chrysler, and has gotten sufficiently mouthy about politics while at work, that he's been branded a "teabagger." Big surprise.

Wurzelbacher--as he is wont to do--is trying to turn it around, and make it into a hypocritical liberal attack on both himself and gay people. Because, a) he doesn't realize that the sexual double-entendre can be performed by straight people too, and b) he doesn't realize that it was the Tea Party itself that used the "teabagger" epithet first, in an attempt to slur liberals. Only it got turned around on them, and stuck. Which is still hilarious, and hilariously perfect. But not as hilarious as the notion that Ol' Joe-the-not-a-Plumber expects us to believe that he's on the side of gay people.

[Excerpt]

‘Joe the Plumber’ Finds New Job, Nasty New Nickname

Looks like “Joe the Plumber” has landed himself a new job – and a new, unsavory nickname. Just four days into his union job at Chrysler, Joe Wurzelbacher says a co-worker called him a “teabagger.” Wurzelbacher catapulted into the national spotlight in 2008 when he questioned then-Sen. Barack Obama’s tax plan. After the encounter went viral, Wurzelbacher became something of a Republican icon, an example of Democrats quashing entrepreneurial spirit. Wurzelbacher campaigned for Sen. John McCain, scored a book deal and even made an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. House of Representatives – all as a staunch conservative. . .

Read more at: ABC News

New David Ippolito Song, Tea Party Anthem (I Want My Country Back)

David Ippolito--known as "That Guitar Man from Central Park"--renowned on this blog for his hilarious Tom Cruise Scares Me (Ann Coulter Scares Me) has a new song, to the tune of I Dreamed a Dream. And it's just as funny, if a little more controversial (and racy, language wise, gentle reader). I love it!

And yes, if you think you recognize him from a Cialis ad, improbably, you do.

Florida Tea Party Congressman Busted for Cocaine Possession

Nope, doesn't looked coked up at all. Image from Raw Story.

You have to cut the guy some slack. He's a tea bagger. So, it's completely understandable that when he heard he was supposed to love the Kochs, he went right out and got some coke.

[Excerpt]

Florida Tea Party Rep. charged with cocaine possession

Freshman Tea Party Rep. Trey Radel (R-FL) will appear in court on Wednesday to face charges of cocaine possession, Politico reported.  The 37-year-old former journalist could be fined up to $1,000 and faces a maximum of 180 days in jail if found guilty. He was arrested on Oct. 29 and charged on Tuesday. . .

Read more at: Raw Story