The Teabaggers and what their scorched earth approach to politics portends for this country.

Courtesy of Aljazeera:

After its humble beginnings as an astroturf, Koch-Brothers-funded revival aimed at mobilising ill-informed, reactionary, mostly older white Americans against health care reform and other psychologically-constructed monsters under the bed, the Tea Party has become an malignant force that now holds the Republican Congressional Caucus - and with it the country - hostage. 

While the Stockholm Syndrome may not have quite set in yet among all Republicans, the tri-corner-hat crowd seems to behave much like the giant Brain Bug in the movie Starship Troopers, jamming a claw into the heads of their fellow GOPers and slowly sucking out cerebral tissue until only the brainless body remains. 

Most problematic, most of the Tea Partiers, private citizens and elected officials alike, seem to possess just slightly less understanding of the Federal budget or tax code of than say, Mater from Cars. Yet, these are the people in the driver's seat as the country heads for what might be Act II of the Great Recession, unless progressives, centrists, and others edified with high school civics adopt a new strategy to counter them.

And counter them we must, for they and their ilk are nothing new, but representative of a recurring and quite dangerous political strain that has always been with us since the dawn of civilization. Their undermining of the traditions, culture, and give-and-take necessary for any democracy to function has had destructive results on free societies in the past, and taken down a Republic or two.

From its inception, the Tea Party is the very definition of the type of revolutionary movement. Until Democrats, and their leader in the White House, realise they need to stop calling people like Paul Ryan "courageous" and "serious", and start fighting fire with fire, Michelle Bachmann and her creepy pinwheel eyes are going to continue to get their way at the expense of American values and the middle-class that once made this country great.

 The late, great historian Richard Hofstadter added further insight into just the type of "movement" we're dealing with, in his 1964 award-winning tome, "The Paranoid Style of American Politics". In it, he outlines the psychological origins of the type of crazed, Tea-bagger style of all-or-nothing dedication to an absolute end, when he wrote of their forebears: 

 "He does not see social conflict as something to be mediated and compromised, in the manner of the working politician. Since what is at stake is always a conflict between absolute good and absolute evil, what is necessary is not compromise but the will to fight things out to a finish. Since the enemy is thought of as being totally evil and totally unappeasable, he must be totally eliminated - if not from the world, at least from the theatre of operations to which the paranoid directs his attention." 

 In other words, any compromise, no matter how small, is seen as an act tantamount to treason, which is precisely why we need to stop engaging these tottering tea lovers, because they simply do not believe in the workings of democracy. 

Not really too much to add here except to say that between the Teabaggers and the Domininists trying to fuck up our country this may be one of the most divisive and important Presidential elections in America's history.  Yes I realize I said that same thing in 2008, and I said it because it was true, but I am convinced that what was true then remains true in 2012.

 Personally I long for an election that is simply an election, and NOT the potential harbinger to the end of the United States of America as we know it.

By the way in case you have convinced yourself that this is mere hyperbole on my part, let me remind you of a certain Presidential election in 2000, and how the repercussions from that are still resulting in death, financial collapses, and disharmony all over the world.

Rachel Maddow points out that the downgrading of the US credit score by S&P means little, but that the blame for any harm it might cause rests solely with the Republicans.

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

I believe this is the same point that I have been attempting to drive home over and over this weekend.I appreciate Rachel Maddow's gift for breaking a complicated issue down and making it much more digestible for the public at large.

Just a reminder as to how we got here.

Courtesy of the Political Animal:

1980: Ronald Reagan runs for president, promising a balanced budget

1981 - 1989: With support from congressional Republicans, Reagan runs enormous deficits, adds $2 trillion to the debt.

1993: Bill Clinton passes economic plan that lowers deficit, gets zero votes from congressional Republicans.

1998: U.S. deficit disappears for the first time in three decades. Debt clock is unplugged.

2000: George W. Bush runs for president, promising to maintain a balanced budget.

2001: CBO shows the United States is on track to pay off the entirety of its national debt within a decade.

2001 - 2009: With support from congressional Republicans, Bush runs enormous deficits, adds nearly $5 trillion to the debt.

2002: Dick Cheney declares, “Deficits don’t matter.” Congressional Republicans agree, approving tax cuts, two wars, and Medicare expansion without even trying to pay for them.

2009: Barack Obama inherits $1.3 trillion deficit from Bush; Republicans immediately condemn Obama’s fiscal irresponsibility.

2009: Congressional Democrats unveil several domestic policy initiatives — including health care reform, cap and trade, DREAM Act — which would lower the deficit. GOP opposes all of them, while continuing to push for deficit reduction.

September 2010: In Obama’s first fiscal year, the deficit shrinks by $122 billion. Republicans again condemn Obama’s fiscal irresponsibility.

October 2010: S&P endorses the nation’s AAA rating with a stable outlook, saying the United States looks to be in solid fiscal shape for the foreseeable future.

November 2010: Republicans win a U.S. House majority, citing the need for fiscal responsibility.
December 2010: Congressional Republicans demand extension of Bush tax cuts, relying entirely on deficit financing. GOP continues to accuse Obama of fiscal irresponsibility.

March 2011: Congressional Republicans declare intention to hold full faith and credit of the United States hostage — a move without precedent in American history — until massive debt-reduction plan is approved.

July 2011: Obama offers Republicans a $4 trillion debt-reduction deal. GOP refuses, pushes debt-ceiling standoff until the last possible day, rattling international markets.

August 2011: S&P downgrades U.S. debt, citing GOP refusal to consider new revenues. Republicans rejoice and blame Obama for fiscal irresponsibility.

Any questions?

Jon Stewart points out that the Teabaggers are unhappy with the debt deal because "government still exists."

The Daily Show - Daily Show: Dealageddon! - A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Compromise - Tea Party No-Win
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

Yeah I guess these so-called "patriots" simply will not be happy until there is nothing left of the country but a smoldering crater.

You know like the one that sits between their ears where their brains are supposed to be located.

A weary President Obama announces deficit agreement.

Like most liberals I am not even remotely happy that we seem to have bent over backwards for the good of the country while the Republicans have done nothing but act like anarchists determined to see America's reputation, and standing in the world, destroyed.

Especially since it appears that even this agreement (IF it actually gets passed) would still not ensure that our AAA credit rating would remain intact:

Stock markets around the world rallied on Monday, in relief that the world's largest economy would probably avoid running out of cash this week. But the agreement, which includes around $2.5 trillion of spending cuts over the next decade, has been criticised by some on both sides of the political divide, and will probably not save America's triple-A credit rating.

You know I once described to a friend that the problem with many relationships is that the person who cares the least about its survival, or the feelings of the other person, is the one in charge.  Since they have less invested in the relationship's survival they are free to act with impunity, while the person who is determined to "make it work" is frantically attempting to smooth things over and keep the relationship together.

Essentially that is what we are seeing in this situation between the President and the Democratic party, and the Republicans and their Teabagging Rottweilers.  A scorched earth approach does not seem to bother the Teabaggers because they either don't understand the repercussions, or simply don't give a shit.

But watch the video up above again.

Do you see how tired and saddened that man appears?

That is a man who felt the needs of the American people in his BONES.  In this relationship HE is the one who cares too much, and who will always do what he needs to do to save the relationship/country, and the people who will be devastated by its demise.

And that, despite whatever we may feel about this apparent capitulation, is WHY he deserves our support and our faith.  He did not give up on us, and by God we should not give up on him.

You can wear a thousand flag pins, and own NOTHING but red, white, and blue underwear, but if you cannot put the needs of the American people above your own ideology, than you are NOT a patriot! And you are not part of the solution, you ARE the problem!

Congessman David Wu decides to resign, in response to allegations of sexual misconduct with 18 year old girl.

Months ago, Wu sent the lead image above of himself in a tiger suit to a female staffer in his campaign using his congressional Blackberry. The message contained no text, just the photo of Wu dressed like a tiger.

Courtesy of the Christian Science Monitor:

Rep. David Wu (D) of Oregon announced Tuesday that he will resign his seat, after allegations of an unwanted sexual encounter with a young woman.

“The well-being of my children must come before anything else,” said Representative Wu in a statement. 

“With great sadness, I therefore intend to resign effective upon the resolution of the debt-ceiling crisis," said Wu, who was elected to Congress in 1998 as the first Chinese-American in the House.

On Friday, Wu's hometown newspaper, The Oregonian, broke the story about his alleged encounter with an 18-year-old over Thanksgiving weekend last year. Wu told his senior aides that the encounter was consensual, the story reports.

This is what the Oregonian reported over the weekend:

A distraught young woman called U.S. Rep. David Wu's Portland office this spring, accusing him of an unwanted sexual encounter, according to multiple sources. 

When confronted, the Oregon Democrat acknowledged a sexual encounter to his senior aides but insisted it was consensual, the sources said. 

The woman is the daughter of a longtime friend and campaign donor. She apparently did not contact police at the time. 

One person who heard the voice mail described the woman as upset, breathing heavily and "distraught."
 
In the voice mail, the young woman accused Wu of aggressive and unwanted sexual behavior, according to sources with direct knowledge of the message and its contents. 

Reporters could not verify the young woman's age. Notes on Facebook over the past 18 months indicate she graduated from high school in 2010. California records show she registered to vote in August. 

I got a lot of flack back when I was saying that Anthony Weiner needed to resign, because people were arguing that what he did was consensual and not even really sex.  I imagine this time everybody will agree that Rep. Wu simply needs to leave office as soon as possible.

Personally I do not think he will be of much use in getting past this debt ceiling crisis, but he is definitely giving his party a black eye as long as he stays around in his role as a Democratic Congressman.

I do not know the full story here, and of course everybody is innocent until proven guilty, but my instincts tell me that this girl is the more believable party. Which means to me that Wu is potentially a VERY bad guy, and he needs to not only leave politics but to face charges of rape or sexual assault.

When it comes to hurting young women, ideology does not even enter the equation. I don't care if you are a Democrat or a Republican, if you are a predator you need to pay for your crimes.

President Obama talking to a group of bipartisan college students about politics.

A friend sent this to me the other day and I am very glad that they did.

If you listen carefully to what he is saying it essentially explains exactly how he sees his job and why he approaches difficult problems in the measured way in which he does.

I still feel, despite the fact that there are many things still undone (Or not being done fast enough for our liking), that this man may have a real chance to go down in history is one of the greatest Presidents we have ever known.

Breaking News-the Minnesota budget stalemate is over

From MSNBC.com

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton and top Republicans agreed Thursday to end a budget impasse that prompted the longest state government shutdown in recent history, after the Democratic governor surrendered on raising taxes.
Dayton said the state government would be back in business "very soon," but he didn't say exactly when.
The deal to erase a $5 billion deficit came after a big sacrifice from Dayton, who made new income taxes a central campaign message last year and the centerpiece of his budget. He dropped that and said he would accept — with conditions — an offer the GOP put forward on the eve of the shutdown to bring about $1.4 billion into the budget by delaying payments to schools and selling tobacco payment bonds.

Republicans agreed to his conditions, which included relinquishing a list of policy changes such as banning state aid for stem cell research and a plan to cut the state workforce by 15 percent.

They conceded to higher state spending than they had wanted. Republican lawmakers spent months insisting that the two-year budget be capped at $34 billion, the amount the state was projected to collect without new sources of money. Instead, it will be closer to $35.4 billion.

The deal — if approved by lawmakers — would end a government interruption that has lasted two weeks and isn't over yet.

Dayton announced the deal outside his office with House Speaker Kurt Zellers and Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch after a three-hour negotiating session. The somber looks on their faces testified to a hard bargain.

"We're on a fast-track to getting this resolved permanently," Dayton said.

Speaking to reporters outside the governor's office, Dayton said the shutdown would be done “very soon, within days,” The Star Tribune reported.

"It was about making sure that we get a deal that we can all be disappointed in, but a deal that is done, a budget that was balanced, a state that was back to work," Zellers said.

"Nobody is going to be happy with this, which is the essence of real compromise," Dayton said.

The deal is contingent on approval by the Legislature, no easy task after an election in which a more conservative Republican caucus took power. But Koch said she believed rank-and-file legislators would approve it.

Dayton didn't say when he will call a special legislative session to pass a budget but indicated it would be within days. He said a stopgap funding measure won't be necessary because the two sides will agree on and pass bills setting a new two-year budget.

Yet many of the deal's details remained murky, including exactly what will be cut from planned spending.

The shutdown has idled 22,000 state employees, closed state parks and rest stops and cut off funding to many social services. It has cost the state millions in the cost of preparing for the shutdown and in lost revenue since then. The interruption has also prevented entrepreneurs and professionals from getting state licenses.

The latest licensing snag threatens to stop the sale of Miller, Coors and other popular beers in the state within days.

Payments by the state to schools and local governments have continued, and a court has taken some of the pressure off by restarting the flow of cash to programs ranging from child care assistance to home meal services for the elderly.

The governor sounded weary earlier Thursday when he told a University of Minnesota audience in Minneapolis that he would embrace the GOP proposal. He said people he met as he traveled around the state had this clear message: End the shutdown.

"They want this resolved, and they don't even care how. I care how," Dayton said.

The deal is contingent on approval by the Legislature, no easy task after an election in which a more conservative Republican caucus took power. Koch and Zellers said they believed rank-and-file legislators would approve it. Republicans hold narrow majorities in both chambers, and Democratic minority leaders weren't in on the deal-making.

"Certainly we're not doing any end zone dances," said Rep. Mike Benson, a freshman Republican from Rochester. "Realistically there are some things that are going to go down hard. Sounds to me we're kicking the can down the road a little bit with the education shift, but we're not raising taxes."

Democratic House Minority Leader Paul Thissen said in a statement that it would be up to Republicans to pass the compromise.

Unions, and some Democrats, sharply criticized the plan as irresponsible for borrowing against future revenue.

"More debt and more borrowing only make this bad situation worse," state Rep. Ryan Winkler, a Democrat from Golden Valley, said in a statement. Winkler said the delay in school funding, which has become a regular part of Minnesota's budget balancing, would "mortgage our children's future."

"Some of what we have been working for has been set back years today," said Rev. Grant Stevensen, who heads a coalition of Twin Cities congregations focused on social justice issues and said he was disappointed that Dayton dropped his call to raise taxes on top earners.

Outside the Capitol, there was frustration that the impasse went far enough to close government.

"I guarantee I lost some business out of it," said Jim Berg, who owns a 13-cabin resort in Crosslake and was hurt by the suspension of fishing licenses in the shutdown.

Berg said he's not sure whether the settlement comes soon enough for him to salvage the rest of the summer.
"Only time's going to tell that," he said.


Although I'm not happy Gov. Dayton had to make alot of concessions, I will give him credit for compromising, something the Republicunts won't do.  I have to admit this deal is horrible, it just increases more cutting into the future.  We need to balance the budget now.   As a Minnesotan I am glad the government will be back to work soon, hopefully I can get my property tax rebate by Aug 12 so I don't have to dip into my savings for vacation.

Anthony Weiner resigns!

From the Guardian:

Twenty days after the scandal dubbed "Weinergate" erupted with the sending of a sexually suggestive photograph on Twitter, a rising star of the Democrats was forced to resign his congressional seat in the face of pressure from the highest levels of his party.

From having been ranked as a possible future Democratic leader and the frontrunner to become New York mayor in 2013, Anthony Weiner's fall from grace is spectacular and close to complete. He has spent his entire adult life in politics, having been elected in 1991 as the youngest councillor to serve in New York city then aged 27.

True to his character as an abrasive and at times antagonistic politician, Weiner, now 46, at first tried to lie his way out of the sex scandal he had provoked by sending lewd photographs of himself to several different women. When the rightwing blogger Andrew Breitbart revealed his actions on 28 May, Weiner initially claimed his Twitter account had been hacked into, later changing his story to say he wasn't sure whether the images of a semi-naked man were of him.

After further revelations emerged virtually every day of his sexually charged interactions, he went in front of the cameras on 6 June to admit that he had been involved through cyberspace with at least six different women. But even then he refused to stand down from his New York seat.

Weiner's resignation was made on the day that party leaders had been preparing to strip him of his powerful positions on congressional committees — a move which would have further humiliated and weakened him.

The official line taken by party leaders such as Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic chief in the House of Representatives who has called on him to resign, was that the scandal was distracting attention from important political debates such as the economy.

I just watched this on CNN. 

It was pretty sad even though I have been one of those saying that he had to make this choice all along.

There was some asshole in the audience yelling out insulting questions, that I assume is one of Howard Stern's douchebags.  That was uncalled for in my opinion, and I would have hoped that Weiner could at least have been given some respect on the day that he did what he needed to do for his party, for his family, and for his country.

Wasting no time, the Democrats use the first Republican debate to ridicule them.

(H/T to Politicususa.)

I watched a little of this last night, and after it was over I had to wonder if they all left in separate vehicles or if they all climbed into the same clown car together, and careened off into the sunset.

None of these losers is any competition for President Obama.  His only competition is job growth.

Interesting subtext in this Nissan Leaf commercial

For me this just about sums up the difference between the Republican party and the Democratic party.

The GOP is all about hanging onto the past, regardless of how poisonous and primitive it might, for fear of what the future might signify to them and their beliefs.

While the Democrats, or progressives if you prefer, plunge headlong into the future, joyously anticipating the potential wonders that await them around every corner.

Yes I realize that is terribly simplistic, but it does have a certain poetic reality to it , don't you think?

Okay can we finally agree that Anthony Weiner should resign now?

Twit pic taken at House members gym

Courtesy of the New York Daily News:

TMZ published a new slew of squirm-inducing self-portraits, including several full-body shots taken in the House gym - some clothed, some not.

Several show Weiner showing off his naked body holding only his camera and his privates.

Another source close to Weiner said the congressman was surprised it took two weeks for the gym photos to surface.

Weiner shrugged off calls from top Democrats - including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel and Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz - worrying more about what his rank and file colleagues think, a source said.

The source said one person Weiner would listen to is his mentor, Sen. Chuck Schumer. Schumer says he is "heartbroken" but has stopped short of telling Weiner to quit.

The other person Weiner will take advice from - his wife, Huma Abedin - is in Africa with her boss, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Weiner is still convinced Abedin won't divorce him, and is still telling people she wants him to stay in Congress, sources said.

The lusty lawmaker is afraid of what Clinton, who has some experience with misbehaving husbands, may be whispering to Abedin, the source said.

The last two weeks have taken a toll on the congressman, who isn't sleeping and spends hours pacing his apartment, friends said.

Look I am a good progressive, I know that it is unfair that David Vitter gets to nail prostitutes and keep his Senate seat, I get all of that.  But come on!

How is this helping the Democrats remain credible when it comes to calling out Republicans on their hypocrisy? 

In my opinion there is NO way for Weiner to survive this, and as much as I may personally hate it, he simply has to respond to the calls for his resignation and take one for the team.

We have too much to do, and this is an enormous distraction.