Extremists

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/03/progressive_quiz.html

This is a fun survey that supposedly measures how progressive you are. Although it documents that Americans in general have become more progressive, as far as I am concerned they still have a ways to go. The questions are quite general and not particularly controversial or difficult. For example, no questions about Israel. According to the survey I am "extremely progressive." It almost sounds like criticism, like I am dangerously progressive. Oh well.

How Dare He

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2009/03/how_dare_you.php

Ari Fleisher was on the Chris Matthew's Show yesterday, in a foolish attempt to rehabilitate his love bucket, W. I didn't recognize him at first - no glasses and something bizarre has happened to the skin on his face - the texture and color looked very strange (please God, let me not find out that he has some horrible disease, so I won't be punished for mocking the afflicted.) He was so obnoxious after a while I had to mute the sound, but I did hear some choice exchanges. Matthew's brought up the economy, asking was the economy better when W left office than when he took office. Ari's non answer? 9/11, no more threat from Sadam, and we weren't attacked. There are so many stupid items in this statement, it is hard to know where to begin. First, that doesn't exactly answer the question about the economy, except in some ways I guess it does. A non answer means the Bushies left the economy in the crapper and have no arguement, except to blame it on Clinton, by alluding to inheriting a so called resession when W took office. So in typical Republican mode, he talks about something different. What threat from Sadam? When Matthew's brought up that we were attacked under Bush's watch, Ari said, "How dare you!" What? 9/11 didn't happen when Bush was president? Matthew's brought up the infamous memo Ben Ladin Determined to Attack Inside the United States, and Ari pooh poohed it, saying in essence, Oh we got thousands of those kinds of memos. And I guess they ignored them all. Ari got pissy with Matthew's saying, "Do you interupt all your guests?" I guess Ari has never watched the show, so this must have come as an ugly surprise (ha ha). As many have pointed out, the Bush years were a terrorists recruiting dream, not to mention, the incalculable damage done to our nation's economy, so the spectacle of Ari talking about the wonderfulness of the Bush years was stomach churningly awful.

I want the old Rahm back

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/09/opinion/09mon1.html?ref=opinion

This editorial in the NYT is pretty scary. I had no idea, but god knows I should have, that the Repugs were holding up Obama's judicial appointments, asking that he appoint all the Bush neanderthals that hadn't been confirmed. Their breathtaking hypocrisy is once again at work. Normie's 225 loss - must have a redo (anyone remeber Bush v Gore); obstructing legislation during a time of national catasrophe - no problem for them; judicial appointments - if we don't like 'em we will filibuster. Can you imagine if the Demies had behaved this way if the ghastly McNut had won? I want Rahm to get out his knife - I am ready for some DEAD, DEAD, DEAD action.

How can they live with themselves part 30000000000000etc.

http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/40800697.html?elr=KArks8c7PaP3E77K_3c::D3aDhUec7PaP3E77K_0c::D3aDhUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

The Minnesota Senate race is still lingering on. Normie is calling for a do over because the vote was so close, which brings new meaning to the word chutzpah. The Governor is that weasely Tim Pawlenty, which gives one pause and doesn't inspire confidence. I think the Repugs in the Senate are so unhinged that they will threaten to filibuster when Franken is finally declared the winner, which he will be after all court business is over. But when? Coleman only won the seat after grotesque distortions were bandied about in the press about the unseemly behaviour of the Democrats at the memorial service for Paul Welstone. It is almost unthinkable that the sleezy, corupt Coleman has Welstone's former seat.

Landmark Study

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20090303_Karen_Heller__From_the_right__torrents_of_vitriol.html

After spending too much time listening to the hate filled Rush, I read this article which asks yet again, why are conservative/republicans so angry. They act as though they have been an abused minority party for years and years, and that they are the most highly taxed entities on the planet. I offer this study as perhaps an explanation.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20060326/ai_n16174533
In this landmark study done by the esteemed psychologist Jack Block (actually I never heard of him before or after this study) who did a longitudinal study of children from nursery school to adulthood, found that whiny children grew up to be conservative, whereas the cheerful, curious, well adjusted children grew up to be liberals. When I have cited this study people doubt its existence and then ask me where it was done. Strangely, when I say UC Berkeley, they laugh, but I say a study is a study, no matter where it was done. So these whiny, dissatisfied kids grow up to be whiny, dissatisfied adults, which should be of no surprise to anyone. And I do love the image of Karl Rove/Rush Limbaugh trolling through nursery schools looking for the most obnoxious children to recruit to the cause.

Who let the dogs out

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/28/rush-limbaugh-at-cpac-dou_n_170792.html

I have had a blissful snow day today and have frittered much too much time away watching MSNBC. How many times do I have to watch the clip of Boil Boy (a snide reference to his excuse for avoiding serving in Nam) Rush. For those of you have been spared, or are smart enough to avoid it, Rush has been trumpeting his desire to see the Obama presidency fail. Rush is looking particularly porcine these days, even in his black threads. It is sort of fun watching the cat fight between Rush and the hapless Michael Steele, both claiming to be Top Dog. Top Dog of what, the Republican Party? I mean it really isn't something that anyone should boast about.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2009/03/steeles_re-education_already_complete.php

In the short time I was writing the previous post, Michael Steele has groveled to Rush, saying he didn't mean anything negative thing he said about Rush, thereby proving Rahm Emanuel's point that he made on MTP, when he said in essence, any Republican politician crosses Rush at their peril. I guess we know who is Top Dog, not that there was much doubt.

The Birth of the Cool (sorry Miles)

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/feb/19/steele-gop-needs-hip-hop-makeover/?page=2

The nation is be treated to quite an absurd spectacle - the GOP trying to reinvent itself as the party of the hip. Michael Steele discussed how Repugs had failed, ending with "My bad..." Hearing Michael Steele talk Valley Girl talk, is quite bizarre. The other fine moment was Michelle Bachman, who wanted to reinstate HUAC, saying to Michael Steele, "You be da man..." What was she going to follow with: "and I be da woman." One look at John Boehner or the CPAC conventionwould disabuse anyone of any Republican coolness. And as the NYT points out, the Repugs have lost a generation of supporters. It is really hard to market yourself as the hip hop party (and who would want to), if you are the party of aging white men, with a few lunatics of color.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/01/weekinreview/01connelly.html?hp