OC Mayor: Racism Cost Him His Job

Karma is a bitch. I wonder if this guy is a Republican?

Los Alamitos, CA Mayor Dean Grose has announced that he will be stepping down from his position on March 2, after sending an “e-mail picture depicting the White House lawn planted with watermelons.

Grose has since apologized, saying the picture was never meant to offend anyone. The old non-apology apology. They don’t apologize for their racist positions, they apologize IF YOU were offended BY their racist positions.

What was it meant to do? They only thing it is meant to do is offend.

And what is up with white Republicans in Orange County, CA? Mega-churches, shitty plastic surgery, boob jobs on Grandmas and racism. What a mix.

Source: Think Progress

Gallup: Republicans Warming To Obama

The Republican obstruction thing is really paying off. Obama's approval rating among the GOP jumped 15 points last week, from 27% to 42%. Keep up the good work, Eric Cantor and Bobby Jindal.



Source: Gallup

Paul Krugman: Don't Think Twice, It's All Right

The usual dour Paul Krugman is very upbeat on the course Obama is setting.

"Elections have consequences. President Obama’s new budget represents a huge break, not just with the policies of the past eight years, but with policy trends over the past 30 years. If he can get anything like the plan he announced on Thursday through Congress, he will set America on a fundamentally new course.

The budget will, among other things, come as a huge relief to Democrats who were starting to feel a bit of postpartisan depression. The stimulus bill that Congress passed may have been too weak and too focused on tax cuts. The administration’s refusal to get tough on the banks may be deeply disappointing. But fears that Mr. Obama would sacrifice progressive priorities in his budget plans, and satisfy himself with fiddling around the edges of the tax system, have now been banished."

This is the time in our history to really tackle health care in America. Since the country was left in shambles after Bush, it is up to the Center Left and Obama to rebuild it.

Source: NYT

Colbert Challenges To Battle Steele, MC vs MC

The GOP and hip-hip are such a natural match. Like chalk and cheese. Upon hearing the RNC wanted to update their party principles and "apply them to urban-surburban hip-hop settings", Stephen Colbert challenged RNC Chair Micheal Steele to a freestyle rap debate.

I can see it now, the apropos "THUG LIFE" written across Steele's belly. NRA patches on his sleeve, throwing up his timely "2 Legit 2 Quit" hand signs.

The basketball is in your basketball court, MC Steele.

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Stephen Challenges Michael Steele

Colbert Report Full Episodes
Political Humor

Joke of the Day
Stand-Up Comedy

CPAC: Politics For Idiots Or Diet Jeff Foxworthy?

Just in from CPAC today, Cliff "I eat paint chips" Kincaid, head of a conservative group Accuracy in Media, uses the tired "Obama is not an American" line. Good topic for CPAC amid all what is happening. Does he know Hawaii is a US State?

Would he object to John McCain being born in Panama?

Love when the Retard-icans use the "I have not seen his birth certificate" line. Have you seriously tried? Have you tried "the Googles" or "the internets"? I haven’t seen Palin’s or Bush’s or Boehner’s or Jindal’s birth certificate either. What a specious argument.

When Palin does not produce the birth certificate for her son, Trig, the CPAC crowd could care less. How about when George W. Bush failed to complete his Air National Guard duty back in the day? No record of that has ever been put forward. The CPAC crowd does not care for those, either.

When does Larry The Cable Guy or Jeff Foxworthy speak at CPAC?



Source: Think Progress

Lauer Calls Out Santelli: Gibbs Body Language A Threat?

Matt Lauer calls out Rick Santelli for being "threatened" by Robert Gibbs.

As a TV person on CNBC, Rick wants to invoke anonymity when he mouths off. He was not reporting the news when he asked his rhetorical question to the traders on the Chicago Mercantile trading floor that day. He was going the sensational route. He wanted people to get angry. Fair enough. But be prepared to take the heat when you sound off course and have a horrible track record on calling out harmful Government spending.

Then Rick brings up his wife's interpretation of Gibbs body language?

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

Source: HuffPo

Rush Limbaugh As Used Car Salesman: Trust Me

Like when the used car salesman says "trust me". What's with the ultimatum, Rush? Why the pressure to convince people what they see is not reality?

"[T]he people on our side are really making a mistake if they go after Bobby Jindal on the basis of style. Because if you think — people on our side I’m talking to you — those of you who think Jindal was horrible, you think — in fact, I don’t ever want to hear from you ever again. … I’ve spoken to him numerous times, he’s brilliant. He’s the real deal," - Rush Limbaugh, the current Republican party leader.

At his biggest moment, Jindal came up lame. That's when it matters. It's the classic "double down" of a bad gambler. You've already lost, why not lose even bigger? It's only the health of the country you're dealing with. Nothing you really care for.

Maybe in the underground lairs of GOP, Inc. Bobby and Rush have some amazing conversations, provided Rush brings his stash.

Source: Andrew Sullivan

Louis CK: Everything Is Amazing, No One Is Happy

Louis CK: "Everything Is Amazing, No One Is Happy" segment on Conan O'Brien.

Paul Krugman: Jindal Channels Butthead

He's not too impressed with the GOP response.

"The intellectual incoherence is stunning. Basically, the political philosophy of the GOP right now seems to consist of snickering at stuff that they think sounds funny. The party of ideas has become the party of Beavis and Butthead." - Paul Krugman on his blog

Umm, like what's volcano monitoring? Huh-huh. Yeah, yeah. Do I smell a Beavis and Butthead political show on FOX Noise? Who would be Cornholio?

Source: NYT

Hey Bobby, It's Time To Give More

Bobby Jindal thinks "government is the problem" and you "can't trust the Federal government".

As he looks at his home state of Louisiana, does he think private and small businesses are going to rebuild New Orleans? Did he think the government was big enough at the time Katrina was washing away an entire city? Does he think the post-Katrina response was adequate? Should the government have been bigger and bolder in protecting New Orleans and the Gulf Coast? And as he looks at David Vitter, his Senator who cheated on his wife while wearing diapers, can he trust him? I guess I would be dubious, too, but I'd still have hope.

Maybe you can't see how great government is from your vantage. After all, you are a product of Louisiana politics and its storied corruption. But where I live in New York City I have great mass transit that runs 24 hours, a police force that has cut crime massively, a Mayor who banned smoking, and for all it's flaws, it gets it right most of the time.

When you approach things from presumed failure and want to cut your responsibilities, you're doing the exact opposite of what you probably do in private life. If your son was failing in school, you would get him a tutor. But, as a conservative, you like the idea of getting a tutor for only your son because you can afford it. If there was a way to chip in a few Federal bucks and have a few parents pay to have a few students tutored, you would vote against it.

Turning your hate and lack of trust in the government onto yourself, reflects back on you as a person. We usually hate what we don't know and don't trust things because we are untrustworthy. Maybe you should expose yourself to more cities and States, Bobby. Maybe visit some schools and libraries and see what the future looks like. Ride a subway and have dinner with a fireman. Or maybe hang with an unemployed derivatives trader and wax nostalgic about Barry Goldwater's defeat in the 1964 or how Bush 41 bailed out the S&Ls in the 90s.

My advice Bobby, embrace that the Government your Republican Party under Bush 43 grew to its largest size ever and harness it's big lumbering inefficiencies for good. If you could re-do Katrina, I'm sure you would do a better job. You would have done for Louisiana what we are trying to do for America now: It's at these times we need not less, but more.

David Brooks: Jindal Response Was "Insane"

David Brooks is a guy who gets paid to fantasize about conservatism on PBS, he gets to be wrong most of the time, he sits up there with NPR's pragmatic liberal Mark Shields and plays the tragic conservative foil. Brooks barely chastises or raises an eyebrow when his Republican party runs things into the ground. Last night was different.

Brooks, in a steady OCD rocking motion, goes off on Bobby Jindal's Republican response, calling it "insane" and "nihilism". I guess you have to give him credit every once in a while.

Like the banks and Wall St companies that took their flawed game plan and, not just had a bad year with lower earnings, but completely destroyed themselves and are no longer around, the Republican brand is in the same boat. The people assessing the risk are not doing their jobs, the house of conservative cards is about to collapse. The GOP CEOS have ruined it for the GOP shareholders. And like the iconic Lehman's and the Merril Lynch's, you may have been around for years doing well, but now you don't exist.



Source: WaPo

The Man With A Plan

The Center Left has arrived.

My simple take on the speech: we have a smart man in charge with Obama. Dealing with his inherited problems will test his mind, but he seems up for the challenge. When Bush entered office, he inherited a budget surplus of $128 billion from Clinton. Upon Bush leaving office, he bequeathed a budget deficit of over $1 trillion to President Obama.

I like the way Obama logically breaks down how is going to change things, what he hopes to change, what he has already changed. His mandate is palpable.

"We will rebuild," he declared, "we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before."

Which only made Piyush "Bobby" Jindal's response sound that much more childlike. Sucks to follow Obama, but he sounded amateurish. Bobby, you brought up Katrina? The GOP has to remember Bush is gone, you can use big words and talk like a grown-up now. We're adults.

In one word, I'd sum it all up as Ali G would say [sic], "REKOGNIZE!"



Full transcript here: Source: HuffPo

Quote Of The Day: Rahm Emanuel

What do you do when the other side fails to dress a starting team?

"The public wants bipartisanship. We just have to try. We don't have to succeed."

Chief-of-Staff Rahm Emanuel on dealing with the flat-Earth Republicans while Obama enjoys broad support.

It takes a while to right the ship when it's been off course for so long, but at least there is a feeling of transparency and good faith.

The cynicism and self-serving "government is flawed" misanthropy of the GOP are over. We now have hope.

Source: New Yorker

Where My Presidents At?

Funny or Die have a great NY1 spoof. President to replace n-word.

"Since we finally have an African American in the Oval Office, there is no better time for the black community to embrace a new optimism...Our dream is that every child born after January 20, 2009 won't ever hear the N-Word. Who's with us? Where my Presidents at?"

SPOOF President Replaces N-Word on the news - watch more funny videos

Source: http://www.presidentplease.com/

No-Show Rove: Classic Republican Gameplan

The Bush Administration mantra, "Deny, deny, deny". Karl Rove does one better, he doesn't even show up. He's blown off 2 Congressional subpoenas and has a Federal judge ruling against his claim of "executive privilege" vis a vis similar Harriet Myers and Josh Bolten rulings.

Such a flagrant example of contempt. He doesn't even show up to invoke the non-existent privilege. Congress must step up their game.

Great segment with Alison Stewart and George Washing University professor Jonathan Turley.

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

Source: Rachel Maddow

Bush To Start Speaking Tour. Must Learn English

Bush is starting his lecture circuit next month in Canada, his online bio states,

"His policies, while controversial at times, kept the country safe for more than seven years."

Unfortunately he was President for eight years.

A reader writes: It’s like saying falling off an 80 story building is perfectly safe for more than 79 stories.

The event is being billed as "a conversation with George W. Bush". WTF? Bush leaves office and he still gets to torture people?

Source: Think Progress

Republicans 8 Years Late And More Than A Dollar Short

The GOP wakes up from an 8 year slumber:

"74 percent of Republicans in the new poll expressed grave worry about the deficit, 29 points higher than in December when George W. Bush held the reins."

Is this the re-birth of fiscal conservatism? Considering Republicans always have amnesia about the tenets of their party every time they have power, it's comes off pretty weak.

Show me one Republican who worried about deficits under Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43. Dick Cheney infamously said, "Deficits don't matter." And keep in mind Bush 43 entered with a surplus and a trend of sound fiscal governance after Clinton. The fact is 90 percent of the current national debt was run up under Reagan, Bush I, and Bush II.

The GOP lost massively in the last two election cycles while running huge deficits and Federally spending out of control, yet now that Obama is in, and America NEEDS the spending, they are worrying?

The GOP broke the system, now we have to pay for it AND listen to them whine. Let it go.

Source: WaPo

Republicans Throw Money At Iraq, Vote No On US Needs

Compare the facts:

Conservative group runs ad saying if you spent $1 million dollars every day from the time Jesus was born [assuming you believe that myth], over 2000 years, you would not equal the $800 billion in the recent stimulus package.

That is money to stimulate our economy. On American needs with plans, the GOP votes NO.

But if you use that same 2000 year span, you would have to spend $1.3 million dollars a day to cover the $1 trillion price tag the Iraq War has.

That is money flushed down the toilet. On Iraq needs and wars without plans, the GOP votes YES and with more money.

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

Helping 99 People Instead Of 1

It almost sounds like a joke set-up, "did you hear about the Republican who voted against the largest tax cuts in history?" No punch line, it's the truth.

Obama passes the largest tax cuts in American history -- $282 billion over two years -- without Republican support. Just as importantly, unlike other recent tax cuts, this one was targeted specifically at working and middle class families.

And if taxes go up on people making over $250,000, you know every Republican is going to sound the alarms as if the largest middle-class tax cut in American history never happened.

Helping 99% of the people over the richest top 1%. Democrats vote for it, Republicans vote against it. That's what it is all about.

Source: Washington Monthly

Dustin Lance Black's Acceptance At Oscars

Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black at the Oscars:

BLACK: "When I was 13 years old, my beautiful mother and my father moved me from a conservative Mormon home in San Antonio, Texas, to California, and I heard the story of Harvey Milk. And it gave me hope. It gave me the hope to live my life; it gave me the hope that one day I could live my life openly as who I am and that maybe even I could fall in love and one day get married. […]

Most of all, if Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he’d want me to say to all of the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told they are less than by their churches, or by the government, or by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value. And that no matter what everyone tells you, God does love you, and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights federally across this great nation of ours."

Source: Think Progress

Obama's Weekly YouTube Address

Biggest, quickest and broadest tax cut in history. Big difference, they are not just for the ultra rich.

Note to Grover Norquist and the Republican tax cut loons: suck it. Your patron saint Ronnie "I Don't Recall" Reagan raised taxes, Obama cut them. You're still hating.