(in appropriate voices)
Late Night: December 24th, 2013: Washington D.C. The Oval Office: The White House

White House Chief of Staff John McCain briefing the President:
John McCain: I know it’s late and I’m sorry to interrupt your watching reruns of Dancing With the Stars. Our men at NORAD have confirmed a bogey flying south across the North Slope on a track heading toward the Aleutians then to Guam. I must emphasize, Madam President that we don’t know the intentions of this unidentified object or whether it is a potential threat.
President Palin: Thank you John. As you know, we can’t take any chances with possible unfriendlies. It’s possible this was a diversionary tactic from inside the Soviet Union with the intent of a surprise nukyular attack on America from Cuba.
John McCain: Russia! It’s now called Russia, Madam President.
President Palin: Since when did they change the name?
John McCain: It happened in the early 90s, Madam President.
President Palin: Why wasn’t I informed?
John McCain: It was in all the papers and on the news, Madam President. But of course that was before you became president.
President Palin: Is Russia part of the Old Soviet Union?
John McCain: (sigh) After the Berlin Wall fell, the Old Soviet Union ceased to exist and they unified into what is now present day Russia.
President Palin: Then that’s why I said that I could see Russia from my porch. Frank. See that explanation gets into our media so they understand I stay well informed. (Press Secretary Frank Luntz nearly trips over himself getting to a phone to have Roger Ailes set the story for National Fox News). Well, do we have any intel that it could be the Sovi—er, Russians?
John McCain: No, Madam President. All we know is an unidentified object is speeding south toward the Pacific.
President Palin: Well, that’s a frightening thought. Something like that could scare our Asian Allies and jeopardize the wonderful trade agreements President Obama set in motion. This could have a really bad effect on business!
John McCain: Madam President. I’ve already consulted with the CEOs of the corporations involved and may I tell you, they ARE concerned. This could affect their profits for days to come!
President Palin: Has there been any new information?
John McCain: Vice President Beck has just informed us that the object has passed over Japan and is heading for Australia via Southeast Asia.
President Palin: This is too serious. I think we need to go to Depcon 9.
John McCain: Madam President, it’s DEF-CON and they only go from 1 to 5.
President Palin: Gotcha. I knew that. I was just testing you. Who do you think you are, Katie Couric?
John McCain: No, Madam President.
President Palin: Well, we can’t have this…this intruder cause havoc to our business allies. Is our National Guard ready?
John McCain: For what, Madam President?
President Palin: To go into action to stop this obvious Rooski threat!
John McCain: We don’t know if it’s the Rooskis…er Russians, Madam President. No, the National Guard doesn’t handle this sort of thing. Besides, most of the Guard is still in Afghanistan, Yemen and South America following your orders.
President Palin: They would have when I was governor. Well, we can’t take a chance. Do we have any boats in the area that can intercept that thing?
John McCain: Ships, Madam President. We have the Pacific Fleet there as always and they are ready.
President Palin: That’s…good? Can you have the Yorktown or Lexington move into position? See? I can too speak about things I know.
John McCain: Madam President. The Yorktown and Lexington are no longer with us.
President Palin: What? Did that peace-nik Clinton decommission them?
John McCain: Madam President. The Yorktown and Lexington were sunk during World War II.
President Palin: I suppose that was in all the papers, too?
John McCain: Yes Madam President. Again, that was before your time. Probably why you don’t recall.
President Palin: Ok, then. So do we have anything newer that could handle this situation?
John McCain: I’m almost certain we have newer equipment to handle almost anything.
President Palin: Well, Ok then. It’s time for major decision making. That’s what American Business elected me for. Have this bogey brought down at all costs.
John McCain: Madam President, isn’t that a little drastic? We still don’t know its intentions. It could be a Sov- er, Russian aircraft with communication problems. We also…
President Palin: Don’t dally, Johnny Boy. We can’t take a chance on something this dangerous threatening this great nation. And after all, we ARE the only ones who care enough to protect the world.
John McCain: But Madam President…
President Palin: Not another word! I want this threat removed immediately. Shoot it down…NOW!
John McCain: (Sigh) Yes Madam President.
John leaves the Oval office and phones the Joint Chief of Staff:
John McCain: Rush, The President wants this unidentified thing shot down immediately.
Joint Chief of Staff Limbaugh: You got it.
Twenty minutes later, back in the Oval Office:
John McCain: Madam President, I’ve been informed that the unidentified object has been destroyed but…
President Palin: Great work John. See to it that everyone gets a bonus for this. Yep. You betcha. No one screws around and threatens good ol’ U.S. of A. business ventures and gets away with it.
John McCain: Madam President. The USS Nimitz found the wreckage scattered over a wide area of the Pacific and…
President Palin: Good! Is any of it identifiable?
John McCain: Madam President. I have the unfortunate duty to inform you that you just shot down Santa Claus! Toys and games destined for good little boys and girls all over the world are now heading to the bottom of the Pacific.
President Palin: (Stunned disbelief) You mean to tell me that there really is a Santa Claus? You mean the First Dude and I have been spending our own money to buy stuff for our own kids all these years? And it’s not a liberal conspiracy?
John McCain: Madam President. I mean to tell you there WAS a Santa Claus until you had him shot down and all the toys and gifts for everyone are now…gone.
An agonizing cry emanates from the couch in the oval office. Vice President Beck sits up and cries out,” What happened to the Gold Santa was bringing me?” and promptly faints.
President Palin slumps in her chair, head in hands, “My God. What have I done?”, she cries. "I understand a couple of Wolves from helicopters and maybe a Moose or two or even a Bear…but SANTA?"
John McCain:It’s ok Madam President. We’ll just claim it was a socialist plot by a gay man who lives and works with lots of small men year round to undermine the American Business System. They’ll believe that.
President Palin: Thank you John. I don’t, I don’t know what I’d do without you.

As John McCain leaves the Oval Office he mutters to himself, ”I should have voted for Obama!”

I’m not sure whether people are so misinformed, uninformed or just plain stupid about climate change. At a store over the weekend, I had the opportunity to overhear an exchange concerning climate change, or as they so archaic and eloquently and idiotically called it, “global warming” (a phrase used totally incorrectly by the morons who deliver you news by TV, radio and print).

These two were proud, self-proclaimed examples of the typical Fox News watcher. They were discussing the “hoax” of “global warming” and how it was a ploy to kill jobs and increase taxes. I couldn’t help myself, it was just too enticing. I asked them how they knew all this and wasn’t surprised when they told me that Beck and Gibson “learned them” all about it. So I asked what the facts were. They told me that hundreds (according to Beck) of scientists disputed global warming. When I asked them to name any one, they said that they couldn’t remember the names (because NONE was ever named by Beck) but had no trouble recalling the 20 minutes Beck ranted about it. I asked them how it would kill jobs. They told me that America would have to shut down electric companies because of the pollution requirements and that would cost jobs. I did ask if the companies polluted, wouldn’t it be better if we could stop the pollution and have the companies still produce electricity using cleaner methods? This caused some confusion.

They then told me that all I needed to see the proof of the hoax was to look at the “cold weather”; that shows there was no global warming. Imagine that! Cold weather in winter! Genius!

Rather than go into more idiotic arguments they had, I asked if they knew what happened when the air warmed, especially air above the Arctic. They looked at each other and said that the snow would melt…but that wasn’t happening, they said. And the pictures of the receding ice in the north and the glaciers in Antarctica were photo shopped and that was just propaganda. Wow! I was impressed!

When I asked them what happens when a mass of air is heated they decided it rises. Good for them. They actually got one right. So then, what happens to that air when it rises? Well, they thought and said it moves. Right again, guys, and when that air moves what happens to the other air around it? Something has to move in to take its place and that causes “wind.” That wind can move pretty fast, right, guys? They agreed. And when that other wind moves, what happens? Well, it takes air from other places. Right again! This was remarkable! Air starts moving all around because some air is heated.

So if that air moves that much, what happens to the weather where the air was? This was tougher. I told them that didn’t it seem logical that the stuff that moved had to be replaced by “other air?” Yeah. And when that other air moves doesn’t it set in motion other air, from other places; cold and hot places; mountains and deserts? Yeah.

So if a large amount of air is heated, rises and moves away and other air has to take its place, tell me about the other air. Is it warm? Not necessarily. Is it cold? Actually it is. When air moves, it cools. This confused them. So I told them to use the analogy of a fire at their hunting camp. It’s nice by the fire but doesn’t the air rushing into the fire and going “up” pull colder air in? Isn't that why your backs get cold but your front is nice and toasty? And don't you have to keep turning around to get warm all over?Well, yeah. Now do you see how air that was artificially warmed can cause changes in the weather? Not quite, they said.

After pulling some hair from my head, I continued. If it’s hotter over the northeast and the air moves and other air takes its place what happens? Oh! Different weather moves in from everywhere. And because it’s winter, that air from the north is colder, right? I didn’t want to go into too much discussion about moisture in the air from the warm waters of the south and how as it cooled (because it's winter and the sun is lower and thus provides less direct radiative heat) would help the air move faster and bring rain that would turn to snow up north.

I told them the same thing happens in the summer only in reverse. Hot air rises faster and pulls in more air. Because the sun is higher in the sky, the southern U.S. is warmer and that air is pulled north making it hotter here. And the hotter it gets, the more air rises and pulls more air from the hot south and we get hotter. Just the opposite of winter.
I could see a glimmer of understanding. It went on for a while. I explained how the air patterns could change the circulation all over the world because of heated air over other cities and countries.

I explained how the chemicals in the air trapped sunlight and therefore increased heat which caused the air to rise starting the process over and over. And if we dumped more chemicals into the air, the air would trap more heat and so on.

Then I really got them going when I explained how the changes in water temperature of the oceans could cause warmer or cooler air over the water and how it would affect that mass of air. It was becoming clearer to them.

The discussion went on for quite some time and they really appeared interested. However, they still clung to the notion that what they heard on TV was true. After all, why would TV (and Fox) lie? More hair removed! I gave them some sites to view and told them to just read the information with an open mind (right!) I then told them that it wasn’t “global warming” meaning everything would get hotter, but instead the warming caused the changes in weather patterns all over the earth, air and water circulation and that affected climate; that it was really “climate change.” Oh! They could understand “climate change”, but not what caused it. Now they had a better understanding of the reasons for the changes.

I told them lastly to listen the next time someone tells them it’s all a hoax. Did the person on Fox provide names, references or facts or just make unsubstantiated statements? Then I told them when they heard “scientists” talking about it to listen closely because those scientists would provide information these two could really check on.

It seemed I made some headway. They both agreed to look into the matter with a little less cynicism. Both told me they had never had it explained to them how this climate thing worked; they just accepted the comments made on Fox, which were offered without proof.
Maybe I helped in some way to quash some of the corporate bull that Fox has spewed. Maybe I instilled a bit of questioning in them so they don’t blindly accept everything anyone says, including me. I told them to get facts from other places and decide for themselves rather than just believing what they hear on TV. Baby steps.

Now, if they just would learn about how corporations and Republicans are using them to make the wealthy even richer… and as I walked away, I heard them discussing who was on WWE that night! Maybe it's not ALL Fox's fault!

Well, one thing at a time.

Meet the Stupids

Oh, the irony:

Yet another study has been released proving that watching Fox News is detrimental to your intelligence. World Public Opinion, a project managed by the Program on International Policy Attitudes at the University of Maryland, conducted a survey of American voters that shows that Fox News viewers are significantly more misinformed than consumers of news from other sources. What’s more, the study shows that greater exposure to Fox News increases misinformation.

Here at C&L, that study is greeted with a big "Duh!". When I was Managing Editor of the site, I had to take periodic breaks from monitoring Fox News because I could feel my brain turning into sludge from the nonstop campaign of propaganda, half-truths, flat-out lies and ugliness that passes for Fox News content. I fear for David Neiwert now, especially since he takes it upon himself to take apart Glenn Beck's lunacy day after day. I'm completely serious when I say that it took a toll on my health to subject myself to Fox's toxicity. I'd hate to see Dave go through the same health issues I have.

But there are those who clearly thrive on a diet of non-informational crap.

In eight of the nine questions below, Fox News placed first in the percentage of those who were misinformed (they placed second in the question on TARP). That’s a pretty high batting average for journalistic fraud. Here is a list of what Fox News viewers believe that just ain't so:

• 91 percent believe the stimulus legislation lost jobs
• 72 percent believe the health reform law will increase the deficit
• 72 percent believe the economy is getting worse
• 60 percent believe climate change is not occurring
• 49 percent believe income taxes have gone up
• 63 percent believe the stimulus legislation did not include any tax cuts
• 56 percent believe Obama initiated the GM/Chrysler bailout
• 38 percent believe that most Republicans opposed TARP
• 63 percent believe Obama was not born in the U.S. (or that it is unclear)

The conclusion is inescapable. Fox News is deliberately misinforming its viewers and it is doing so for a reason. Every issue above is one in which the Republican Party had a vested interest. The GOP benefited from the ignorance that Fox News helped to proliferate.

Yes, the people who get their news from Fox are stupid. But Booman wonders if it's a chicken-or-egg scenario: do people get stupid from Fox or do stupid people gravitate to Fox?

I'd like to see a controlled experiment where they let one group of people self-select which cable news network they watch and another group is assigned randomly. Then we can see if the stupid people are choosing Fox News and being made more stupid, or if Fox News can draw in mentally competent people and turn them into drooling buffoons who think Charles Krauthammer isn't a deluded crackpot but a sage patriot and overall mensch.

Frankly, I think it's both. Almost every stupid, misinformed person I know is a Fox News viewer...and every single one of them gets even dumber each year.

This is absurd! And any Democrat who agrees with Obama on this should be ousted immediately, including our Quisling Jason Altmire. In case you didn't know, he favors dumping social security in favor of letting you invest - and lose - your money in the Stock Market, just like so many millions did in 2008. And just because the market is back up, the money you lost is STILL gone and you have to start over with nothing! Do you have enough time for that?

Call this Bluedog Democrat now and tell him that he can not support anything that could kill social security.

By the way, while you seniors didn't get a Cost of Living increase this year because Obama and the Republicans and many Democrats spent too much of your money in Afghanistan, remember that THEY got a 1% raise. 1%! Big deal you say? They make $174,000 a year. They get $1740 extra dollars per year of your money and you get nothing. The average social security payment is around $1000 per month. 1% of that is ten lousy bucks, $120 per year - and it's taxable (Jason can invest that extra money to make more since he doesn't worry about where his next meal is coming from)! And you're supposed to live on that while he and they get one hundred seventy four times as much as you? is it because they and their families are more important than you and yours?

If you think that way, don't ever complain again.

Call the guy at this number: 724- 226- 1304

and tell him not to touch social security, which, by the way does NOT IN ANY WAY AFFECT THE DEFICIT. So if you hear that, you're being lied to. Social Security is solvent through 2037 and even then, if nothing is done,benefits will reduce by less than 20%. Do you think your investment can stand losing everything again in another Wall Street Criminal Action?

You want a solution? There's a simple one but the President and Congress don't want to use it because they want their buddies on Wall Street to get richer. All that's needed is to increase the social security cap from $106,000 and make the rich pay their fair share. The CBO (Congressional Budget Office, a TOTALLY NON-PARTISAN DEPARTMENT) has determined that that simple fact will insure social security until 2075! But you won't hear anything about that from Altmire or the media.

When you call, ask him about that. If he gives you ANY excuse or run-around that it won't work, ask him why he disagrees with the CBO and economic experts, you know, the ones who do these things for a living...rather than cater to the whims of Altmire's 3% wealthy in his district!

Call 724- 226-1304!

It's YOUR MONEY FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE he's giving away!

Here's the reason the bill shouldn't pass!

The innocent-sounding payroll tax holiday, on the other hand, will lead inexorably to killing Social Security. Let me explain:

Sixty members of the Senate are unwilling to raise taxes by 3 percent on the $250,000 and first dollar (and all those dollars earned above $250.001) of those making over $250,000 and by 1.6 percent more (for a total of 4.6 percent) on the $384,860 and first dollar {and all those dollars earned above $384,861) of those making over $384,860. They are even unwilling to spare everyone making less that one million dollars any increased taxes and simply raise taxes by 4.6 percent on the $1 million and first dollar (and all those dollars earned above $1,000,001 of the nation’s multimillionaires and billionaires. (I say multimillionaires because anyone with a net worth of a few million dollars is not making an annual income of over one million dollars.)

Given that unwillingness to raise taxes by less than a nickel on every dollar earned over $1 million, I find it unfathomable that a more conservative Congress, in two years, in an election year, will increase the payroll tax by 2 percent on the very first dollar, and every other dollar up to the cap, earned by virtually every single worker in the country. Consequently, I think we have to assume that the payroll tax holiday will be extended beyond the two years the president is proposing and quite likely could become permanent....

A permanent two percent cut in Social Security contributions doubles the 75 year projected shortfall.... The pressure to cut Social Security in a slow, gradual way for younger workers will be enormous. Progressives will not want to cut benefits for the low-income – and they shouldn’t be cut; they should be increased. Despite the fact that there are few beneficiaries who do not desperately need their Social Security – 2/3rds of the elderly and 70 percent of people receiving disability benefits rely on Social Security for half or more of their income and most people think even more people will be dependent on it in the future – nonetheless, means-testing Social Security will become a viable option.... Changing the benefit formula in the manner proposed by a majority of the Catfood Commission, will appear attractive, even though it would gradually and inexorably eviscerate the benefits of the middle class, and with it, their support for the program.

Too good not to share. This is how the world sees the idiot from Wasilla.
From Crooksandliars.com

This video, produced by Taiwan's NMA (Next Media TV, is good for more than a laugh. It also makes you realize what an international laughingstock Palin's continuing high profile makes of the American political scene generally.

They must think that we're frigging nuts to even allow someone like this the kind of political ascendancy she's achieved. And you know what? They're right.

It's (high school) football playoff time...again. All those teams that are in the playoffs are vying with each other at neutral sites.
Remember back in 2000 when a couple of our current board members stuffed the idea of a new, very expensive stadium down the throats of the taxpayers of Highlands? One of the biggest pieces of bullshit we heard from those who were so intent on bilking us was "But it will be used for all kinds of athletic events including WPIAL Playoffs. And that will generate a lot of cash for the district!"
SO...the question is this:
Can anyone tell me how many playoff games have been played at our 4 million dollar (plus interest) stadium? I'm sure someone knows. And how much money has the district made from the albatross?
With the advent of higher taxes next year and really high taxes the next 10 years because our "Poor teachers" need to live like politicians in their retirement, I can think of 4 million reasons why Wantland, Wisner and Heasley have no business on this board. If any one of them had even an ounce of decency or respect for the district and its taxpayers, they'd resign right now.
How many playoff uses for the stadium?

From Mark Morford:

To all of you who either flip-flopped your wishy-washy ideals and switched your vote from bluish to reddish this past election because Obama and the lukewarm Dems failed to solve all world problems in 700 days, or because you got yourself so emotionally riled up/mentally watered down by the sexy caveman grunts of the Tea Party that you actually bought the BS line about being "mad as hell" about nothing even remotely coherent.

Here is your grand message: You are hereby wonderfully, thoroughly screwed.

Oh darling, it's so very true. The fun-filled news is, despite all the bluster and rhetoric, thinly veiled racism and rampant Islamophobia on display, the new army of jittery, anti-everything GOP bobbleheads that you just voted into office doesn't care a single iota about you, or your haphazard values, or what you sometimes occasionally stand for. And what's more, deep down, you secretly know it.

Are you slightly offended? Are you scowling and mistrustful of the notion? I'm delighted to hear it. Also: It doesn't really matter.

You don't have to believe me. Just wait until nothing at all is done to service the Tea Party non-agenda, because it's ridiculous and impossible to service. Just wait until you note how there is no actual shrinking of government, no restoring some bogus sepia-toned idealism that never existed, no saving of your job. There is, of course, but one GOP agenda: furthering their personal stranglehold on all things powermad and avaricious.

Republicans and The Tea Party: 20th Century ideas for the 21st Century.































I'm as disappointed as any Progressive over the spineless actions of the Democrats and Pseudo-Democratic President. However, we really ARE between a rock and a hard place and sadly, the Democratic Leaders know it and are taking full advantage of it.

But unfortunately ignoring or not voting for the Democrats including the quisling Blue Dogs in Congress will only hurt us to a much greater extent than them. The only CURRENT realistic alternative is to vote ALL the Democrats back in. If there's a choice between a current Blue Dog or turncoat Democrat and a Progressive running, so much the better. But not voting for a Democrat just out of spite or because you think it'll send a message won't do the country any good. In fact it'll probably result in a much worse economy and quality of life...for those of us not making a few hundred thousand dollars a year!

It's a hell of a choice; those who have no balls (Democrats) but do SOME things for the people or those (Republicans) who would emasculate the rest of US! (Some, like O'Donnell, may actually want Americans turned into eunuchs!)
The choice then, is clear for now. We must maintain a Democratically controlled Congress. We've lost too many freedoms already and the Tea Party and Republicans will take the rest from us. That alternative is unthinkable, unaffordable and probably unlivable for many Americans.

So vote Tuesday as if your and your family's future depends on it. Hold your nose or whatever expression best describes your disgust and make sure the Democrats continue control of our government.

Keep Democratic control of Congress and over the next 2 years we can actively work to install true progressives and replace those who did nothing for the Left. It'll be better than having Boehner and Bachman, McConnell and Sessions running and ruining our lives for the next two years,

THEN...in 2012...it'll be time to change, starting with the primaries and especially with the top position. Remember those who shit on us and replace them. Not with change we can believe in but with change that will be real.

by Jed Lewison

Sun Oct 31, 2010 at 05:00:03 AM PDT

[Such a good reminder, we're going to run it once every day until the election. Susan]

Questions:

1. What was the average monthly private sector job growth in 2008, the final year of the Bush presidency, and what has it been so far in 2010?

2. What was the Federal deficit for the last fiscal year of the Bush presidency, and what was it for the first full fiscal year of the Obama presidency?

3. What was the stock market at on the last day of the Bush presidency? What is it at today?

4. Which party's candidate for speaker will campaign this weekend with a Nazi reenactor who dressed up in a SS uniform?

Answers:

1. In 2008, we lost an average of 317,250 private sector jobs per month. In 2010, we have gained an average of 95,888 private sector jobs per month. (Source) That's a difference of nearly five million jobs between Bush's last year in office and President Obama's second year.

2. In FY2009, which began on September 1, 2008 and represents the Bush Administration's final budget, the budget deficit was $1.416 trillion. In FY2010, the first budget of the Obama Administration, the budget deficit was $1.291 trillion, a decline of $125 billion. (Source) Yes, that means President Obama has cut the deficit -- there's a long way to go, but we're in better shape now than we were under Bush and the GOP.

3. On Bush's final day in office, the Dow, NASDAQ, and S&P 500 closed at 7,949, 1,440, and 805, respectively. Today, as of 10:15AM Pacific, they are at 11,108, 2,512, and 1,183. That means since President Obama took office, the Dow, NASDAQ, and S&P 500 have increased 40%, 74%, and 47%, respectively.

4. The Republican Party, whose candidate for speaker, John Boehner, will campaign with Nazi re-enactor Rich Iott this weekend. If you need an explanation why this is offensive, you are a lost cause.

The moral of the story is this: if you vote Republican, I hope you enjoy Election Day -- because you're not going to like what comes next.

If you think you understand what the tea party is about, you owe it to yourself to watch this. It's a little long, about 20 minutes but it shows just how much the tea party is lying.
If you have trouble believing any of this, it's too late for you. The comments reported have been fact checked by factcheck.org, a totally non partisan organization that even the Republicans use.

Watch this then decide how you can justify a vote for any tea party candidate.

By the way, you'll never hear or see this on Fox or the Major News Channels as all they are concerned about is sensationalism and profits...otherwise why so much coverage of candidates like Palin and O'Donnell and Angle who aren't qualified to hold dog catcher jobs.

Independents and moderate Republicans,
Open you minds for 20 minutes. It will affect your next 2 years...or longer!

Just watch it, then explain it, if you can!
Thanx to DW at bigbrassblog.com

From C&L:

All this anger and frustration at the state of the country is supposedly resulting in this huge anti-incumbent fervor, but do the tea baggers REALLY think that the Republican Party wants to fix what's broken in DC? Surely, you jest.

In anticipation of major GOP gains in next week’s elections, House Republican leaders have put together a list of experienced Washington hands to help fill top staff positions for the surge of newly elected outsiders.

Leading the effort are Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio), Minority Whip Eric Cantor (Va.) and the National Republican Congressional Committee.

The leaders have put together a list of about 75 to 80 potential chiefs of staff, including current and former Capitol Hill staffers and lobbyists who have been recommended or have inquired about working for an incoming Member, according to several Republicans familiar with the document.

“There will be a lot of new, energetic Republicans coming to town — some of whom will have staff, others who will begin to assemble their teams,” Cantor spokesman Brad Dayspring said in an e-mail. “There’s a lot of important work to get done right out of the gate, so it’s important that newly elected Republicans have access to experienced, competent staff so that they can hit the ground running.”

One former GOP staffer said leadership has been actively, but informally, seeking individuals to fill the chief of staff positions for new Members from tough districts. The goal is to help the freshmen navigate Washington and to guide them through future election cycles.

“Every election cycle, the NRCC offers to assist our new members by providing a résumé file of qualified staffers,” NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain said in an e-mail.

Several Republican lobbyists said it is important for GOP leadership to assist incoming lawmakers with filling senior-level staff positions, especially for those who could face tough re-election races in 2012.

“You want to be sure that the newbies, when they hit town, do not necessarily bring their campaign staff to run their Congressional offices, because in some cases they are totally ill-equipped,” one veteran Republican lobbyist said. “Winning an election is one thing, running a Congressional operation is another. A lot of these folks are really, really new to politics.”

Besides being completely incoherent in their politics--wanting to have government out of Medicare, supporting tax cuts for the very wealthiest, adding billions of dollars to the deficit and yet, clutching pearls over the deficit, supporting the party that actually grew the size of the government while decrying the size of the government--tea bagging supporters of these upstart candidates think they're bringing in new thinking and new way of doing business in Washington DC.

Suckers.

Those entrenched, establishment Repubicans will put their entrenched, establishment lobbyists and staffers in the offices of any tea bagger who quixotically wins a seat. And those staffers, don't kid yourself, will make sure that nothing changes.

...in case you didn't know!

PA's Pat Toomey has an extremism problem

From C&L:

Pat Toomey, one of the first wingnut candidates back in the 2004 election, once held a commanding lead in Pennsylvania's U.S. Senate race. It was so strong that it forced "Magic Bullet" Specter to leave the GOP and become a Democrat. Toomey is the ex-henchman for the Club For Growth, a Grover Norquist anti-tax groupie and a James Dobson favorite. Dobson hated the fact that Specter said he wasn't going to hold judicial nominees to a litmus test, so he stepped in to get rid of him. As the election closes in, Joe Sestak has crept up in the polls and now they appear to be almost even.

Toomey's hometown paper came out yesterday and said that he might actually have a little extremism problem after all. Well, there is this: "Pat Toomey says if elected he would end abortion and put doctors in jail".

The Morning Call:

Joe Sestak and fellow Democrats want to make Pat Toomey the fringe candidate by pointing out he voted with Rick Santorum, is being backed by Sarah Palin and once ran Club for Growth, a group that backs two of the nation's more colorful candidates, Rand Paul in Kentucky and Sharron Angle in Nevada.

Suddenly, it seems to be working.

What's unclear is whether it will last and what Toomey, a conservative Republican, can do about it, except highlight Sestak's liberal record and views as a Delaware County congressman.

At their first debate Wednesday night, Sestak showed that his endgame strategy is turning voters off to Toomey by linking him to polarizing figures like Palin or Christine O'Donnell in Delaware. He used their names a number of times in his answers. Toomey, after the debate, called it "silly."

But it's not silly if it's effective.

Larry Ceisler, a Democratic consultant in Philadelphia, suspects Democratic voters may be paying closer attention now. They may be disappointed in President Barack Obama, but they are afraid of the alternative after hearing about controversial Republicans such as O'Donnell, or Paul, or Angle.

"Toomey's challenge is he can get thrown in with the O'Donnells and the Palins or he can find a way to distinguish himself [in voters' minds]," Ceisler said. "If he loses this race, it'll be on the social, cultural issues."

Fresh poll numbers, including the Morning Call/Muhlenberg College Tracker, show the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race to be a virtual tie after months of Toomey enjoying a healthy lead.

Sestak is airing a television commercial that shows footage of Toomey saying he would support legislation to "ban abortion and I would suggest penalties for doctors who perform them." The ad also links him to Santorum, whom state voters turned out of office, and to Palin.

Democrats pounced Tuesday on a Facebook post written by Palin in which she credited candidates who oppose "cap and trade" legislation on industrial emissions. In it, Palin grouped Toomey with more polarizing figures like Paul and Angle. The Democrats branded the post an endorsement.

This race has tightened up because Americans are seeing more and more of the extremist positions many of the Tea Party candidates revel in. The debates in many if the states have generated national interest because so many of the Republicans are simply anti-working class and they can't hide that fact. Let's hope this trend continues.

Here's a few more of Toomey's Extreme Greatest Hits:

Pat Toomey thinks that the economic meltdown should have continued to the bitter end

You Know Who Dick Armey Thinks Is To Blame For The Tea Party? Pat Toomey, Naturally.

Pat Toomey Tells Ted Koppel He Wants To Phase In Private Accounts For Younger Americans To Replace Social Security

I wonder if Palin can see her house from PA? She certainly can't see West Virginia. Go Sestak!

Is it possible that someone running for office in this country, a 40 year old (virgin, she says), could actually be stupider than Sarah Palin? This moron makes you wonder at the intelligence of those who claim to be tea baggers. Are all you tea bigots as bright as O'Donnell?No wonder you support Republicans and hate yourselves.

I guess that explains a lot!

From FDL:

AMENDMENT 1
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, or petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The exchange came in a debate before an audience of legal scholars and law students at Widener University Law School, as O’Donnell criticized Democratic nominee Chris Coons’ position that teaching creationism in public school would violate the First Amendment by promoting religious doctrine.

Coons said private and parochial schools are free to teach creationism but that "religious doctrine doesn’t belong in our public schools."

"Where in the Constitution is the separation of church and state?" O’Donnell asked him.

When Coons responded that the First Amendment bars Congress from making laws respecting the establishment of religion, O’Donnell asked: "You’re telling me that’s in the First Amendment?"

Her comments, in a debate aired on radio station WDEL, generated a buzz in the audience.

Many of the students where dumbfounded that someone could be so incredibly stupid.

This is what happens during times when people who know nothing about economics (like Tea Bigots and Most Republicans) try to reduce a deficit by cutting spending. And our dear demented representative is for this approach rather than creating jobs.

Cutting taxes when people aren't making enough to make a difference doesn't help the middle class. Think about it for a minute.

If your taxes go down less than 1% (which is the average tax cut of NON TAXABLE INCOME for those making over $75,000 annually - and virtually nothing for those making less! - 1% of $100,000 is $1000 they get in addition to other tax sheltering advantages the middle and lower classes can't take advantage of because they JUST DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, while 1% of 25,000 is $250 or the amount you get. If you think that's fair, you are being brainwashed by the Republicans) what happens when local municipalities don't get Federal Funding to clear your roads of snow, fix potholes or provide other "socialist" services? They RAISE LOCAL TAXES to make up the difference. Your tax break is gone but proportionately those in the upper brackets lose significantly less because they can write off more than you. Yep! Those who make a few hundred thousand per year get an extra large tax break and the middle class gets stuck with the local bills for fixing roads etc....again.

TEA BIGOTS! WAKE UP! You are supporting the wealthy, not yourselves! And the Republicans love you for it. You want another 8 years of Bush corruption and Wall Street billionaires? Vote Republican. You'll get even more than what Bush/Cheney did to this country...or have you forgotten? Or are you just ignorant and crazy?

From Robert Reich:

Former Secretary of Labor; Professor at Berkeley; Author, 'Aftershock: The Next Economy and America's Future'

The Fed's New Bubble (Masquerading as a Jobs Program)

The latest jobs bill coming out of Washington isn't really a bill at all. It's the Fed's attempt to keep long-term interest rates low by pumping even more money into the economy ("quantitative easing" in Fed-speak).

The idea is to buy up lots of Treasury bills and other long-term debt to reduce long-term interest rates. It's assumed that low long-term rates will push more businesses to expand capacity and hire workers; push the dollar downward and make American exports more competitive and therefore generate more jobs; and allow more Americans to refinance their homes at low rates, thereby giving them more cash to spend and thereby stimulate more jobs.

Problem is, it won't work. Businesses won't expand capacity and jobs because there aren't enough consumers to buy additional goods and services.

The dollar's drop won't spur more exports. It will fuel more competitive devaluations by other nations determined not to lose export shares to the US and thereby drive up their own unemployment.

And middle-class and working-class Americans won't be able to refinance their homes at low rates because banks are now under strict lending standards. They won't lend to families whose overall incomes have dropped, whose debts have risen, or who owe more on their homes than the homes are worth -- that is, most families.

So where will the easy money go? Into another stock-market bubble.

It's already started. Stocks are up even though the rest of the economy is still down because of money is already so cheap. Bondholders (who can't get much of any return from their loans) are shifting their portfolios into stocks. Companies are buying back more shares of their own stock. And Wall Street is making more bets in the stock market with money it can borrow at almost zero percent interest.

When our elected representatives can't and won't come up with a real jobs program, the Fed feels pressed to come up with a fake one that blows another financial bubble. And we know what happens when financial bubbles get too big.

Nearly all (95%) of the companies listed here have given (much) more money to the Republicans and tea bigots than to the Democrats. These companies don't give one damn about local business or local people.
Why do they hate American Workers?
They want more Republicans in office so more Republicans can create more legislation to export more American jobs. The Republicans just defeated a bill that would have fined companies for outsourcing American jobs! But they want you to vote for them? So they can outsource more jobs?

And Toomey may be the worst of the lot!

And you still want to elect Republicans?

Click the link to see which companies are outsourcing jobs in our area.

From Mills River Progressive:

Job Tracker

Visiting the old stomping grounds a while back, I chanced to stop at a relatively new bar in town, "Harrison's Bar and Grille" in the Heights Plaza. While the Plaza has been mismanaged for quite a while by people who live out of state and don't really give a damn about this area, it was a pleasant surprise to see this new endeavor.
I was there a couple of weeks ago and had a very good dinner. The service was quite good and the waitresses were courteous, prompt and knowledgeable about the menu.
Prices were in line with what I'd expect and the selection of beer was very nice (except for the lite beer, which as everyone knows, isn't really beer!)
I missed the all you can eat crab legs Tuesday but intend to return.
If you're looking for a great place to eat, nice atmosphere, maybe watch a game or two on their screens or even show up on a Friday night to listen to an eclectic selection of music or try your part at karaoke (evidently Shake DJs there Friday nights...all you fans), Harrison's is a fine Bar and Grill to frequent.
Try it out. As a matter of fact, I enjoyed it enough to add their logo to the top of the page...no charge!
I heartily recommend Harrison's!

g

The photo has been extensively passed around today, and for good reason: it's a peak into the rarely-seen world of mechanically separated meat, or Advanced Meat Recovery (AMR).

Fooducate writes:

Someone figured out in the 1960s that meat processors can eek out a few more percent of profit from chickens, turkeys, pigs, and cows by scraping the bones 100% clean of meat. This is done by machines, not humans, by passing bones leftover after the initial cutting through a high pressure sieve. The paste you see in the picture above is the result.

Michael Kindt continues:

There's more: because it's crawling with bacteria, it will be washed with ammonia, soaked in it, actually. Then, because it tastes gross, it will be reflavored artificially. Then, because it is weirdly pink, it will be dyed with artificial color.

But, hey, at least it tastes good, right?

High five, America!

Thanks to Anna at:

Actions Speak for Themselves

In response to a comment from "anonymous" asking why Jason Altmire is giving us nothing, I suggest that "anonymous" take an evening class in basic economics (while they are still offered!)
Voting to reduce your federal taxes by LESS than $200 (forget the $400 unless you're making a lot of money) sounds great until you realize that Altmire had no problem mortgaging your children's future with his blind, lockstep, kiss-ass funding of two illegal wars. Who do you think will pay for that? Your paltry $400 federal tax cut? Get real! That $400 is going to be taken away by other business procurements.
We're paying Halliburton (Still!) huge sums of money to screw our troops. Where does that money come from? US!
If your intellect is so limited that you think you're getting a free and clear "gift" of $400 in tax cuts and don't realize that you'll pay for it in another way, you deserve the heap of bull you're going to get.
Altmire voted against the health care bill because he worked for UPMC and they didn't like it. The Tea bigots are trying to get it reversed because they have less intelligence than the Republicans pushing the repeal. Please tell me how the health care bill is hurting you? Anyone?
Did it take away any insurance you now have? Nope!
Are you paying higher premiums now? Sure! But not because of the health bill. The insurance industry says that they have to raise prices 20 to 39% because the cost of coverage has increased. And the CBO reported that 2 to 3% increases should have been acceptable. The rest is for their pockets. They have posted profits that make Wall Street envious!
Altmire voted against the stimulus even though economist after economist says it worked but needed to be larger.
The lackeys in Altmire's ads say he's independent yet he's voted more with Republicans than any Democrat should. That's not independent. That's screwing the voters of this area into thinking he's a Democrat and for the common people when his ideals show he's only committed to the 3% of the wealthiest in this area.
Altmire's FOR extending the tax cuts for the richest Americans. He believes the Ronnie Raygun bullshit that tax cuts for business create jobs. Sure! But only overseas! Businesses took the extra cash form the tax cuts and invested in 20 cents per hour workers in india, Korea, China. But they still charge Americans as if they were paying $15.00 an hour! Nice gig if you can get it. And with BlueDogs like Altmire, business will continue to screw Americans. There's no proof that any of the Bush Tax Cuts created even a thousand jobs for Americans in America.
Don't believe me? Ask Altmire to show you factual proof they created any jobs. Then ask him why he wants to keep giving then huge tax breaks while voting against better health care, more jobs and better education for Americans.

From FDL

Here are the douchebags who call themselves Democrats and yet, somehow, don’t believe the richest families in American society should pull their own weight, even in an economic culture that favors them heavily.

We have all the proof we need that the Bush tax cuts were bad for America. Keeping them in place for the wealthiest Americans can only prolong the damage they’ve begun to our economic progress in the 21st century.

As you get ‘fired up‘ and ‘in gear‘ for the final lap of Midterm Election Season the next five weeks, give thought to these officeholders on Capitol Hill who seem to think that a core tenet of the Democratic Party — that the most privileged and wealthy among us should contribute their fair share to the war machine and upward wealth redistribution engine that is our current tax system — no longer applies.

Do they deserve your support?

They don’t subscribe to the belief that the wealthiest families in America need to pull their own weight.

Do they fire you up?

These people aren’t real Democrats, in my way of thinking. They have swallowed the worst of trickle-up voodoo economics. They subscribe to the AynRandian view that “‘producers’ shouldn’t be penalized to reward parasites.”

Do they get you in gear?

House:
Bobby Bright (Ala.)
Artur Davis (Ala.)
Mike Ross (Ark.)
Ann Kirkpatrick (Ariz.)
Harry Mitchell (Ariz.)
Jim Costa (Calif.)
John Salazar (Colo.)
Jim Himes (Conn.)
Allen Boyd (Fla.)
Ron Klein (Fla.)
John Barrow (Ga.)
Sanford Bishop Jr. (Ga.)
Jim Marshall (Ga.)
Walt Minnick (Idaho)
Melissa Bean (Ill.)
Joe Donnelly (Ind.)
Brad Ellsworth (Ind.)
Frank Kratovil (Md.)
Gary Peters (Mich.)
Travis Childers (Miss.)
Larry Kissell (N.C.)
Mike McIntyre (N.C.)
Earl Pomeroy (N.D.)
Harry Teague (N.M.)
Michael Arcuri (N.Y.)
Mike McMahon (N.Y.)
Zack Space (Ohio)
Dan Boren (Okla.)
Jason Altmire (Pa.)
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (S.D.)
Jim Cooper (Tenn.)
Lincoln Davis (Tenn.)
Jim Matheson (Utah)
Rick Boucher (Va.)
Gerry Connolly (Va.)
Glenn Nye (Va.)

Senate:
Joe Lieberman (Conn.), an independent who caucuses with Democrats
Evan Bayh (Ind.)
Ben Nelson (Neb.)
Kent Conrad (N.D.)
Jim Webb (Va.)
Michael Bennet (Colo.) — “will consider a short-term compromise”
Mary Landrieu (La.) — “open-minded” to it, a one-year extension “probably would be good”
Barbara Boxer (Calif.) — supports extending tax cuts “at least 98 percent [of] Americans,” would review proposals for families above that threshold

• Total income was $2.74 trillion less during the eight Bush years than if incomes had stayed at 2000 levels.
• Average incomes fell. Average taxpayer income was down $3,512, or 5.7 percent, in 2008 compared with 2000, President Bush’s own benchmark year for his promises of prosperity through tax cuts.
• Since 2000, population grew more than wages.
• In 2008 nearly 1 in every 200 high-income taxpayers paid no federal income tax, up from about 1 in 1,500 in 1998.
• The tax cuts did not spur investment. Job growth in the George W. Bush years was one-seventh that of the Clinton years. Nixon and Ford did better than Bush on jobs.
• One of every eight dollars of the tax cuts went to the 1 in 1,000 taxpayers in the top tenth of 1 percent, the annual threshold for which was in the $2 million range throughout the last administration.
• The number of Americans in poverty, as officially measured, hit a 16-year high last year of 43.6 million, though a National Academy of Sciences study says that the real poverty figure is closer to 51 million.

So to recap, declining wages, increased poverty, anemic job growth and a boon for the people in the top 1%. Heckuva job!

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

From Bill Maher: (Especially the last paragraph!)

New Rule: If You Know Less About Barack Obama Than Any Other President in History, You Might be a Redneck

MAHER: And finally if you know less about Barack Obama than any other president on history, you just might be a redneck. Now, I mentioned this because last week Haley Barbour who is the former head of the Republican Party, the current Governor of Mississippi and of course Boss Hoggs of the Dukes of Hazard, said about Obama
“this is a president we know less about than any other president in history.”

Really? We know less about Obama than say Millard Fillmore? Oh yeah, Fillmore, we had too much information about that guy. I don’t need that picture in my head of Fillmore having telegraphed with sex with Harriet Tubman.

You know this effort by the right to insist that Obama is un-knowable has culminated now in the bizarre belief that the President is secretly a Muslim.

An astounding one in five Americans believe this. And two in five believe he’s a hologram projected by a Chinese satellite. One in seven thinks he’s under their bed right now..

You know it was bad enough when the birthers said he was born in Africa. Now we have the churchers who doubt his religion even though during the campaign they were screaming about Obama being too beholden to his whacko Christian minister.

But now they say he was just faking being Christian for two decades so he could secretly get elected as a Muslim.

Wow, that is one undercover brother. Let me show you some pictures of Barack Obama. He smokes, he drinks beer, he eats hotdogs... and he checks out ass. Let me tell you, if he's a Muslim he stinks at it.

Obama loves war and rich people and he never goes to church. If that doesn't prove he's a Christian I don't know what does. Wait, it gets worse. Ten percent of Americans don't think Obama is a Muslim or a Christian. They think he's "something else".

Right. He's tall. He's not white. Maybe he's an avatar. How could it happen that one of the most thoroughly researched and vetted men in our history is suddenly transformed into a giant question mark?

I'll tell you how. Because teabaggers love the truth. They just hate facts. And giving them facts not only fails to change their mind, it actually makes them embrace the bullshit more.

This is why after you spend ninety minutes patiently explaining to your brother in law that taxes had actually gone down under Obama, he calls you a fag and goes into the garage to listen to his police scanner.

In conclusion let me point out that in 2008 these same people who believed that we don't know enough about Barack Obama were completely okay pulling the lever for someone who no one had even ever heard of, the real housewife of Wasilla.

There are mixed reviews as to whether our students are learning anything or just occupying seats in a building while paying a person an atrocious salary to baby sit. But one thing is certain; the current crop of adults in charge of school districts are brainless heaps of cattle dung left in steaming piles on local roads…either that or they’re just ignorant, uncaring assholes.

Case in point: Allegheny Valley School District and their upcoming teacher contract. You’d think with all the problems this country is having with finances; with all the screwing of the American People by Big Business, Health Companies, Big Oil, and especially Wall Street and their Republican lackeys (not to mention the utter stupidity of the Tea Bigots) that some common sense might be prevalent at school board meetings. But that’s not the case. As a famous quote goes: “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it!” Same goes for school boards. Did you ever wonder about the educational or mental qualifications of those who serve on those boards? You should!

Highlands, South Butler, Freeport, Armstrong (and soon to be assholes, the Allegheny Valley School Board) all caved in to the greed of the teacher’s union’s demands that the residents of those municipalities pay for the health care of people who care more for themselves than the profession they pretend to hold dear.

In Highland’s case, over 2 million dollars and increasing yearly, of taxpayer money is being given to the teachers for nothing. By 2015, the residents of Highlands will have given nearly 15 million of their tax dollars as gifts to the greedy teachers in this district. Why? Because the residents are too stupid to attend school board meetings and remove the asses who don’t care how resident tax money is spent.

Oh, the boards pretend to make big financial savings of some things. Fools like Wantland wanted and got a stakeholder commission to determine whether renovations were necessary (unnecessary expense and time wasted). Mental midgets like No No Wisner bitched and moaned about spending money renovating Grandview while championing a new, 30-plus million dollar building to benefit her friends (but she couldn’t see spending YOUR money for heating for elementary students! Let them wear mittens!). There are other examples you all are familiar with; cutting classes because they don’t have the funds (but, Heaven forbid, don’t even think of touching any sports funds!!!!); laying off teachers because there’s no money; closing libraries because the tax base is shrinking (but give away $10,000 to a public library that students can’t use during school hours!).
But all of these austere programs pale in comparison to the Same kind of Wall Street stupidity of giving people who make $50,000 a year basically free health care insurance.

Imagine what that 15 million could do for this area? A mill is around $650,000. Making those greedy teachers pay their fair share could result in a tax reduction of nearly 10 mills over the course of the teacher’s contract! Think about it! Your school tax could be less than 13 mills instead of the 24 you now pay. Nice savings, but you ain’t getting it because the school board insanely gave your money to someone who can afford to pay what you may not be able to. Instead, you have to scrounge to pay for your family’s health and you get to pay for people who work 9 months out of the year and who the majority take jobs away from kids over the summer. And the imbecilic Tea Bigots have the nerve to bitch about allowing those who make a million a year to keep their $300,000 tax breaks! What hypocrites!

Now Allegheny Valley School Board has the opportunity to help their tax payers. Make the teachers pay their fair share…just like the rest of us. If they threaten to quit, let them. If necessary, fire those who refuse to stop screwing the tax payers. Let them find out what its like to work in the private sector and have to work 12 months a year and pay for their own benefits. There are scads of young teachers out there willing to take a job for $35,000 a year and pay for their own health insurance just to have a job.

Will the Allegheny Valley School Board do the right thing and take care of the tax payers? I won’t hold my breath. You probably shouldn’t, either.