Dear Democrats

You may think that "distancing" yourselves from Anthony Weiner and hoping he will quickly and quietly resign from Congress makes you look strong to the American people, but you would be wrong. It only makes you look like a bunch of spineless pussies who would run up to Andrew Breitbart and give him your lunch money the minute he steps foot on the schoolyard.

For the record, the correct response to this scandal is, "Yes, Congressman Weiner engaged in some questionable behavior, but as far as anyone can tell, it was a private act between consenting adults that somehow became public knowledge. There are several other members of Congress who have also engaged in similar, and perhaps more reprehensible acts who not only continue to serve, but who have been re-elected to their positions. We believe the decision on whether Congressman Weiner should continue to represent his district is one that is best made by his constituents. We will have no further comments to make, and consider this matter closed."

Continue reading Dear Democrats

Brilliant rant

From First Draft:

We can fucking count, out here. We know what 51 means. We know what 257 means. We're not morons. And all the procedural whatsit you argue today, about ConservaDems and Blue Dogs, doesn't mean shit. You had it, and we worked hard to give it to you, and we see you calling things impossible which are just very hard, and we get fucking annoyed, because we don't get to get away with that shit. Not at our jobs and not in our lives.

Now, I'm not excusing the Party of I Hate You or these teabagging excuses for human beings who think education is vaguely homosexual in some sinister way, but I am saying that the lesson we're all going to take away from this is that America just isn't a Democratic nation and we should all tack to the right and us hippies should just die in a fire already, which is bullshit. The lesson we should take away from this is that America doesn't like pussies, doesn't like whiners and it sure as fuck doesn't like parties that pretend to be able to do less than they can do just because they don't want to work that hard or have Chris Matthews call them mean.

You had majorities. You had power and you told us you were powerless. Why would anyone reward that with more power? Why would anyone think that's a good idea?

Continue reading Brilliant rant

Even Josh

If Josh Marshall is calling Congressional Democrats a bunch of pussies, you know they done fucked up.

Continue reading Even Josh

Harry Reid grows a pair and stands up for the Constitution

In a forceful statement, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV, today announced his support for upholding the first amendment's guarantees of religious freedom. "It's not a matter for political discussion where anyone chooses to build a house of worship," the Senator, who has a slight lead in the polls for his re-election campaign, said today. "As long as local building and zoning codes are respected, the government has no business poking its head into that conversation."

What?

That was Bizarro Harry Reid who said that?

Damn.

Our Harry Reid:

"The First Amendment protects freedom of religion. Senator Reid respects that but thinks that the mosque should be built some place else," said a statement from Reid spokesman Jim Manley.

Pretty soon Press Secretary Gibbs will issue a statement blaming more of President Obama's problems on the professional left.

Continue reading Harry Reid grows a pair and stands up for the Constitution

Student loans

Great piece by Chris over at Facing South on how student loan reform, which Obama called a "no-brainer" is being held hostage in the Senate. Here's the money quote:

But as The New York Times writes today, this week six senate Democrats have threatened to derail the Act, writing in a letter to senate majority leader Harry Reid that "provisions of contemplated student lending reform that could put jobs at risk."

The letter was signed by Democratic Senators Thomas R. Carper (DE), Blanche Lincoln (AR), Ben Nelson (NE), Bill Nelson (FL), Mark Warner (VA) and Jim Webb (VA).

Why don't we just acknowledge the obvious already? We never did have that majority in the Senate that we thought we did. Let's dump these bums and elect some real Democrats. Too bad Lincoln is the only one up for re-election this year.

Continue reading Student loans

Deep thought

If football is a metaphor for politics, do the Democrats have the balls to start this electoral campaign with an onside kick?

Continue reading Deep thought

Roccoco, you sleazy weasel

News & Observer:

Former Gov. Mike Easley used a private, secret e-mail account to conduct state business, his former communications directors said in depositions. The e-mail address: "NickDanger" spelled backward.

Nick Danger is a fictional private eye character featured in radio performances by The Firesign Theatre, a troupe whose 1960s Los Angeles-based act was heavily influenced by The Goon Show, a British troupe that included Peter Sellers and was also a major influence on Monty Python's Flying Circus.

Easley's spelling "Nick Danger" backward could come from a joke on the show in which Danger, sitting in his office, read his name on his glass office door: "Regnad Kcin."

Sherri Johnson, Easley's communications director, said she believed the backward spelling was Easley's own.

"The governor wrote backwards. I mean, when he wrote, he wrote backwards," she said. Which is it? Sounds like a case for Nick Danger.

As a Firehead from way back (founder of the Dog Star Esquadrille - Another Cocoon for Papoon - "We're Sirius About Papoon") it sounds like the ex-governor has been caught with his red hand in Barbara Bobo's gym shorts.

All i can say to Easley is "Eat it. Eat it raw!"

Continue reading Roccoco, you sleazy weasel

W.T.F?

The president acknowledged that Republicans have joined Democrats in some efforts, such as sending more U.S. troops to Afghanistan. But he said he was disappointed and perplexed by virtually unanimous GOP opposition to other programs, such as the $787 billion economic stimulus bill enacted a year ago.

He also noted overwhelming Republican opposition to his proposed overhaul of the nation's health care, which now is in legislative peril. Obama said he would gladly look at better ideas, but he urged Republicans to acknowledge the difficulties that many Americans face in obtaining good health care.

How about something like "Hey, you assholes had 8 fucking years to run the country and you fucked it up so badly that Americans elected me and a Democratic Congress by majorities we haven't seen in decades to fix it.

"Now if you can't be useful, shut the fuck up and get out of the way, because i was elected to bring hope and change to the American people."

Sigh.

UPDATE: Politico sez Obama was a bit more forceful than that AP extract portrayed. I sure hope so.

Continue reading W.T.F?

Jon Stewart on Democrats

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
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Continue reading Jon Stewart on Democrats

Rumors

I hear Scott Brown is going to challenge Harry Reid for Senate majority leader.

UPDATE: Interesting read at TPM:

But the more interesting finding may come from Obama voters who simply decided to stay home yesterday. They were asked, "do you think Democrats in Washington, DC are fighting hard enough to challenge the Republican policies of the Bush years, aren't fighting hard enough to change those policies, or are fighting about right?"

A plurality, 39 percent, said "not enough," 25 percent said "about right," while only 12 percent believe Democrats have been too ambitious.

Continue reading Rumors

Massachusetts

Does anybody seriously believe that Democrats are in danger of losing Teddy Kennedy's Senate seat for the first time in 2 generations because they're on the verge of passing a health care reform package that's too liberal?

Continue reading Massachusetts

Context/subtext

No Republicans are going to vote for a health care reform bill. No Republicans in the Senate are going to vote to bring a bill to the floor for a vote. Democrats are going to own health care going into 2010.

Everybody knows this.

You'd think, then, that the Democratic leadership would realize that compromise, especially with the likes of Joe Lieberman and Blanche Lincoln, is going to be seen by most Americans as a sign of weakness, not strength. After all, if you can't stand up for what you believe in to Joe Lieberman, how are you going to stand up for America against Kim Jong Il?

Continue reading Context/subtext

Dear Chris Dodd

You wrote to me just now:

There's a long debate ahead of us, and the continuing support that you have shown our reform efforts are helping us face the relentless attacks from the Republicans. Thank you so much.

So, y'all have finally kicked Ben Nelson and Joe Lieberman out of the Democratic caucus?

Continue reading Dear Chris Dodd

Not with a bang . . .

But a whimper:

A 2008 Durham case marked by sensational accounts of Satanism and sadomasochism appears to have wound to a close with best-interest misdemeanor pleas by a man first charged with rape and kidnapping, and by a woman charged with letting those crimes happen.

Joseph Scott Craig, 26, and wife Joy Suzanne Johnson, 31, have entered Alford pleas, under which defendants do not admit guilt but concede that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict them.

Durham defense attorney Woody Vann said the pleas were entered and approved Nov. 17 in Superior Court. The action brought an apparent end to a case that included testimony that defendants and victims lived in the same house, brought together by a mutual interest in Satanism.

I guess the Attorney General's office didn't think this was a newsworthy enough event to warrant holding a press conference, sending out a news release, or even issuing a statement to the media. And it's been over a week since the pleas were actually entered.

Sigh.

h/t to Joe

Continue reading Not with a bang . . .

Strategy

For the past 40 years or so, Republicans have opposed every Democratic initiative, hoping to pick off a few "moderate" or "conservative" Democrats to vote against their party. They reason, correctly, that Americans will figure that if the Democrats can't stand up to a bunch of wheezing old fart bed-wetters, how in the world will they stand up to our real enemies.

That Blanche Linclon, Ben Nelson, and Mary Landrieu haven't figured this out yet is one of life's enduring mysteries.

Continue reading Strategy

Democrats

Meh.

We busted our asses between 04 and 08 to get a solid Democratic majority in the NC Congressional delegation.

I hope Larry Kissell remembers how much money he raised for his two campaigns from progressives all across the state when he tries to figure out how to replace it in his re-election campaign next year.

And don't get me started on Democrats who voted for the Stupak "Women are second-class citizens" amendment. Fuck Heath Shuler and Bobby Etheridge.

Continue reading Democrats

Americans for Prosperity

You may recall that last year, in the run-up to the vote on a prepared meals tax for Durham, revenues raised by which would have been used to fund art and cultural activities, the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People found an ally in the North Carolina chapter of Americans For Prosperity in opposing the tax. I thought it was somewhat of a strange pairing, but hadn't realized that Art Pope was one of the players in AfP. I fully expect that next year, when the city of Durham starts contemplating a new sales tax to raise revenues for a regional transit system, that we'll see more of the same from DCABP and NCAFP. Would love to be proven wrong on this, though.

So here's a video of Rachel Maddow and national AFP president Tim Phillips, for your enlightenment. Pretty amazing that a local group headed by member of the North Carolina Democratic Party State Executive Committee can find a way to make common cause with this group.

Continue reading Americans for Prosperity

How did I know?

Saw this headline, and i just knew that our own Bev Perdue would be on this list.

Six Dem Governors Hold Out On Health Care Letter

Damned if i give the Democrats another minute of my time or nickel of my money.

Continue reading How did I know?

Winning the hearts and minds of the American people

Something tells me this ain't the way to do it.

Americans would be fined up to $3,800 for failing to buy health insurance under a plan that circulated in Congress on Tuesday . . .

How fucking stupid can these people be?

Continue reading Winning the hearts and minds of the American people

Enlightened

Good to know that Republicans don't have a monopoly on Teh Stupid.

If there ever is government-run health care, the first ones to sign up should be the president and every member of Congress, including myself.

Hey, Mike! I pay for your government provided health insurance. Can i get a refund?

Continue reading Enlightened