Bunning to the rescue of big money interests -- "Screw you little guys!"

For the Republicans, Jim Bunning has created a mess with his principled, but seriously impolitic timing for declaring his fiscal conservatism.

The stakes are high.  An outgoing Senator with nothing to lose can afford to be principled even if it underscores sensibilities akin to Marie Antoinette's "let them eat cake."

Jim Bunning is not above using his power to award government money to his friends through the earmark process.  When you see his sponsorship of unfunded allocations of our money to private contractors, his stand against government spending benefiting hundreds of thousands of workers in a time of great need becomes a study in hypocrisy. 

I have a thought...if Bunning is so concerned about paying for the benefits that he claims to support, then why don't we rescind every earmark he's placed into law as a down payment?  Check his earmark record; that'll be a good start.

Democrats can't believe their luck.  Neither can I.

Health Care Reform - Negotiating 101

The President is playing the Republicans masterfully with his proposed Health Care Summit.  Here's a Summary of Obama's Plan.

For too long the Republicans have complained about the lack of bipartisanship in the Health Care Reform business.  Bipartisanship for those ideological windbags means nothing more than giving them everything they want and getting nothing for yourself.  In my book that's not bipartisanship but being spoiled.

With the Health Care Summit looming, the Republicans, who've been nothing but obstructionist since the beginning of Obama's term, have everything to lose and nothing to gain.  Here's why:

If they refuse to participate in the summit, then the accusation that they are the "Party of NO" begins to stick in an election year.  The American People don't want obstruction, they demand real work get finished.  Refusing to play ball makes the Republicans look more partisan than ever; that will not help in an election where the best way to get elected is to look more moderate.

Secondly, if the Republicans do participate, then their role of lobbing bombs is taken from them and they must contribute to a solution.  This mean compromise is the order of the day.  Unfortunately, this batch of Republicans is the most extreme bunch we've seen in a long time, so their ability to compromise is handicapped ab initio.

The net result:  Obama and his team look reasonable and industrious while working for the greater good.  The Republicans look like partisan hacks who are only in it for advantage, but really offer nothing substantive to the debate.

Fascinating and brilliant tactic if you ask me.

A note on religious hypocrisy -- 500th posting!

500th posting!!

Plenty of people in my life remain dumbfounded as to why I'm not religious. Aside from the fact that nothing positive in my life has ever been linked to religion, is the fact that many of those of the Christian stripe provide poor references for their faith because of their utter hypocrisy.

To quote George Orwell on Socialism: "As with the Christian religion, the worst advertisement for Socialism is its adherents."

George makes a good point. Adding more weight to this general antipathy toward faith of any kind, I give you the story of Tennessee State Senator, Paul Stanley.

Senator Stanley preaches evangelical values and a socially conservative agenda. He's a Republican.

What makes him a poor advertisement for evangelical Christianity is his utter hypocrisy.

Of course, many apologists will give bumper sticker responses to my claim: Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven. Hate the sin, love the sinner, etc.

I call bullshit on those sloganistic rationalization for bad behavior.

There's a real simple solution to all this hypocrisy: Don't be a hypocrite. Do what you say. Preach, not with your mouth, but with the example of your life.

I know many atheists and agnostics. Not a one engages in such immoral behavior.

So this begs the question: Maybe its faith that makes people morally weak? You gotta create a problem in order to sell the solution...right?

I don't know. I do know that such hypocrisy is what keeps many people from organized religion.

GOP still using the tax cut snake oil.

This op-ed sums up my general feeling about the GOP.

John Boehner, in a stunning display of switcheroo, came on television and said the bailout is borrowing from our children and grandchildren.

Huh?

This is the same thing Democrats have said about Bush's policies for years--policies Boehner happily supported when it helped his wealthy constituents.

The GOP touts tax cuts as the solution to everything. In days of yore, Snake Oil salesmen claimed their remedies would take care of everything too.

The problem with tax cuts is that people actually need taxable income in order to benefit from tax cuts.

The U.S. is shedding jobs so fast that the revenue stream from taxes is drying up faster than any tax cut would offset as a benefit.

The GOP needs to new religion other than tax cuts. It hasn't worked and it won't work while Americans have no jobs to make income.

Tax cuts haven't spurred economic growth. So where does that leave us?

Stimulus. But this time, the stimulus should be spent at the lower end of the economic spectrum rather than at the top where the wealthy get their share first.

English-only ballot initiative loses in Nashville!

Nashville voted down a ballot measure requiring all government business to be conducted in English.

All I can say is: Thank God!

The South already has a reputation and history of bigotry. Why must this stuff constantly pop up to remind everyone of the backwardness of many people here?

Here's the utter hypocrisy of the measure.

It was proposed by a Republican, someone who trumpets fiscal restraint. But, the measure cost the city over $350,000.00, just to put it to a vote. Also, if enacted, the cost of changing the government to an English only system would have put a greater burden on the city's coffers. Revenue is down and we can ill-afford such a ludicrous expense for a bigoted law.

The politician who advocated this measure, Eric Crafton, attempted to make good on a campaign promise. That promise, having at its heart an anti-immigrant animus, will haunt Republicans.

Some even argued, an I agree with them, that the measure violated the Constitution and possibly anti-discrimination law. If true, then it shows the sponsor as a bigot. Republicans are already fighting for their political lives with Hispanics and then bozos like Crafton do stupid things like this. Chip Saltsman made the mistake of sending out a CD containing an insensitively title song while running for the chair of the RNC, so it seems that Tennessee Republicans are a font of bigotry and stupidity.

For far too long the Republican party has relied upon pretexts and code words to signal their constituents of the racist aspects of their agenda without having the balls to openly proclaim their true feelings. It high time they get called on the carpet for this stuff.

Thank God this measure didn't pass.

Those of you who know me understand my irritation with politicians who use code and offer pretexts for doing things that they wouldn't openly do because of the public outrage.

Crafton pushed an initiative that was bigoted in its purpose and the consequences should fall directly on his head for it.

Saltsman is an idiot...apparently the appropriate choice to lead the RNC

Here's why I constanty wring my hands over the state of politics in Tennessee.

Apparently, this Republican from Nashville, Chip Saltsman, is running for the RNC Chair.

In a fit of parochial idiocy, Saltsman sent a CD containing a song entitled "Barack the Magic Negro".

Of course Rush Limbaugh is all over this accusing the liberal media of applying a double standard because they supposedly supported Gangster Rapper Ice-T when he released a song called "Cop Killer".

Saltsman gives Tennessee a bad name. His asinine decision reflects poorly on Tennessee painting an image of us to the world as backward hicks. Thanks Chip for destroying any progress the state has made in repairing our image to the rest of the world. Chip is apparently unaware or at least oblivious to the fact that the KKK was born not 80 miles from Nashville.

Let's straighten something out about the Ice-T issue: Americans are by history anti-establishment. "Cop Killer" was an honest response reflecting the irritation certain communities had with the establishment as represented by the police.

Saltsman's idiocy, even if the song was not technically a slur against the President-Elect, did carry the stain of racism by virtue of its title.

The song was sent in a wink-wink sort of way with an eye toward laughing as a result of racial issues associated with it. THAT'S THE PROBLEM!

Not the intent behind it. Few are accusing Saltsman of being a racist. He's just an insensitive boob without any sense of history or discretion.

The bozos on the Right deserved to lose and they'll end up longer in the wilderness for lining up behind Saltsman's foolishness.

I'll say it again: Thanks Saltsman. Thanks RNC. Thanks right-wing morons for making us all look bad to the world.

Libertarian hypocrites. Libertarians should be for personal freedom.

Here's what I don't get.

Libertarians are worried that Obama's election spells the end of libertarian ideals.

Many libertarians have bought into the notion that only Republicans and by extension, conservative ideals represent the last best hope for freedom.

What I want to know is why do libertarians drink the kool aid from the Right?

Where were libertarians when a Republican and self-described conservative took complete advantage of a crisis to push through one of the most invasive restrictions on our privacy rights? (Patriot Act)

Where were libertarians when this same politician sought to restrict a woman's right to control the use of her own uterus?

When Republican supporting libertarians talk freedom, they should choke on their words.

Neither party has the market cornered on freedom.

I, myself, have rather libertarian views. I've even voted libertarian in the past.

What I won't abide is a hypocrite. And for libertarians to suck it up and vote for a party that seeks restriction of personal rights, then I call them for what they are: Liars.

Conservatives are lying to themselves and trying to get us to believe it too.

Here's what I don't get about the "conservative" movement.

Those who call themselves such were more than happy to support George Bush, not once, but twice for the presidency.

Now, when his malfeasance has come back to tarnish the Republican brand and along with it, conservativism's bona fides, those same conservatives claim that Bush "wasn't a true conservative."

This is nothing but post hoc definitional hedging. In other words, it's bullshit.

Conservatives may need to lie to themselves about the state of their ideology and the status of the party who carried their banner (Republicans), but they shouldn't expect the rest of us to buy into their lame excuses and justifications.

I get so tired of conservatives who, when times were great for their agenda, were content to ignore the obvious signs of idiocy in their chosen candidate. But now, when time and reality smack them in the faces, they are wont to cut loose the very same people and party they hooked their wagon to.

The pretzel-like machinations they go through in order to maintain some semblance of cohesiveness in their ideological world is astounding.

Sowell's an idiot trying to paint liberals with an excessively broad brush--He must listen to Limbaugh

I find this diatribe from Thomas Sowell on RealClearPolitics to be absolutely hilarious.

The humor comes from his ending the article with an accusation that PhDs are ignorant. The larger theme is that intellectuals are really idiots.

Sowell goes on to talk about the mistakes intellectuals have made in the past. All good points.

Unfortunately, Sowell's attempt to lump all intellectuals together is bull. It's a logical fallacy called an Inductive Fallacy. Rush Limbaugh uses the same moronic crap to keep his sycophants hating reason and education.

Of course, individual intellectuals make mistakes, but that doesn't mean all intellectuals are guilty of those mistakes or share some complicity. Sowell implies as much by his indictment of intellectualism.

Using the same argument, I could just as easily indict the whole of conservativism and republicanism by the mistakes of the last eight years.

That would be bull also, but I have a whole truckload of evidence buttressing my argument, instead of just a few cherry-picked incidents like Sowell.

Give it up Sowell. Grow a cerebrum and learn how to use it. If can be fun riding with the big boys with big brains.

GOP should move toward fiscal responsibility and away from conservative orthodoxy

The GOP has some tough times ahead.

Although I don't consider myself a Republican, due in large part to the overly religious nature of the party, I share some common values with the Republicans on the fiscal front.

The Republicans need to attract more moderates if they wish to regain some measure of power in the future. The conservative wing will fight this, but the party cannot afford the orthodoxy of the extreme right if it wishes to return from the wilderness.

I suspect that the Republicans will come out of this newly chastened. I also suspect that they will adopt many of the attitudes and practices of the New England Republicans. Specifically, Mitt Romney.

Those values are less wingnut and more economics driven.

Rush Limbaugh gives Republicans some stunningly stupid advice for winning the next election.

Here's some advice to Republicans from everybody's favorite stink-wind, Rush Limbaugh.

Rush advises Republicans to run to the Right even more if they want to win.

All I can say is this: I hope the Republicans take the supreme bloviator's advice. If they do, that will ensure continued Democrat dominance.

Rush is known for ignoring reality in the service of his religion--Right-Wing Ideology.

Must be nice to get paid so much to live in a fantasy world and spew idiocy to like-minded sycophants.

Go Rush!

Republican backing Diebold makes ther voting machines easy to hack...probably on purpose

When I hear the Republicans complain about voter fraud, I can't help but be reminded of Diebold.

Diebold makes electronic voting machines. They make the kind without a paper trail, so if the machines screw up, then well, voting is FRAUDULENT.

Now this normally wouldn't be a much cause for concern except when Diebold does something obviously stupid that screams out for some bozo to take advantage of the voting process. Here's a good example of Diebold stupidity.

The problem with Diebold is simple. The CEO of Diebold is a staunch Republican supporter.

So I ask you: Are the claims about voter fraud really a red herring to point the finger away from the side who will actually be engaging in voter fraud?

Based of the problems with electronic voting machines, lack of paper trail, companies like Diebold offering up online keys to anyone for their voting machines. I can hardly believe voting fraud is the sole province of Democrats.

Republicans are killing themselves with their Faustian deal with the religious right and the ideologues

E.J. Dionne writes a rather compelling article about the Republican party's self-immolation.

He describes a party that sold it's soul to the religious right in exchange for political power, but is now having to pay for their Faustian deal with their soon to be visit to hell.

I wrote an essay about the same issues back in 2004 called: Charting a New Democratic Course. Published by the now defunct Democratic Policy Alliance.

I was quite pleased with myself at the time, unaware that I was a few years ahead of my time with the present situation.

Perhaps, if one waits long enough, all predictions and prophecies come true--in a sense.

Troopergate comes back to haunt McCain as previously predicted.

I warned awhile back that Troopergate would come back to rot the McCain campaign from within.

The report of the Alaska investigator into the matter has been released. The results are rather damning of Palin and her handling of the matter.

Of course, the Republicans will call it politics, but doing so ignores the following facts:

1. The probe began in July, a couple of months before Palin became the VEEP choice.

2. Governor Palin agreed to participate in the investigation until she became the VEEP choice. This indicates that the politics were coming from the Republican side.

3. The investigator was a former Republican prosecutor, so the allegations of politics seem a little unfounded.

With the above, I think this mess will turn out to destroy Palin's positive influence on the campaign unless McCain's supporters are so willfully ignorant of the facts that they choose partisanship over integrity.

Considering past behavior, I suspect that McCain will maintain his loyal base and Governor Palin will be viewed as a victim by that base, despite the evidence to the contrary.

Such a sad state of affairs when partisanship trumps honesty and integrity.

Notes on the VP Debate

Notes on the VP debate:

Biden knows his stuff. Palin can't speak English nor can she answer a direct question.

Palin doesn't seem to know what an "Achilles Heel" is. Rather than answer that question, she talked about her strengths. So now when they say she's well-read, I know they only mean Redbook and not history.

Bushisms from Palin: She said nucular three times instead of nuclear.

If I ever hear the word maverick again, I'm gonna puke. The way that word gets thrown around by McCain and his campaign makes me think the candidate longs for the days of high school so he could have a gang. I mean it sounds like McCain is the leader of a gang of bad boys with greasy hair, leather jackets, and girlfriends in poodle skirts. (Guess Palin kinda fits the image of a girl in poodle skirt...)

Is is a coincidence that Tom Cruise's character in TOP GUN was called maverick and was also a Naval Pilot? I think not. I bet John McCain hears Kenny Loggins singing in his head whenever he walks into a room...

Palin said that John McCain "knows how to win a war." How is that?

Let's go through a little John McCain history: He was shot down, captured, and spent five years as a POW and that qualifies him for "knowing how to win a war"?

I'll tell you what that qualifies him for: Getting shot down, getting captured by the enemy, and surviving a p.o.w. camp. These things have no relation to winning a war; they are the results of failing at war. John McCain screwed up and now he claims it as experience enough for winning a war? That's like claiming to be a master thief after you've been caught shoplifting a few time. Come on.

John McCain is trying to win Iraq to make up for the U.S. losing in Vietnam. Let it go John, let it go.

Also, what's with the shout out to an elementary school in Alaska? This is an important event. It isn't some award show where you thank your peeps and give shout outs. Let's just diminish the whole process please. Thanks Sarah.

Biden did well. He kept his mouth in check and spoke authoritatively about every issue. He knows his stuff when it comes to foreign affairs.

There's a reason Palin makes people nervous: She follows a script too closely because she lacks depth and knowledge. We can't have 8 more years of idiots in the White House.

Oh, and she's real pretty. And as we know, looks are all that matter when deciding on a presidential ticket.

Love the new look: John McCain -- Flip Flopper

The Republicans used the "flip flopper" label to great effect last presidential election.

Now, it seems that John McCain sees some value in dramatically changing his policy positions.

It's a good thing that John McCain has decided that the best way to win his election is to be more---Democratic.

Welcome John McCain. We'll send you your Donkey Button.

Palin surpise is not without its costs to McCain

E.J. Dione points out the obvious hypocrisy of the McCain camp.

McCain obviously gained a credible advantage by waiting until the last possible moment to choose his VEEP. He also got the added benefit of claiming, once again, his maverick status by choosing Palin, a comparatively unknown.

We must give him his props.

However, by choosing an unknown, he opened the floodgates of scrutiny. This is to be expected because in our political system, scrutiny by the press is part of the vetting process for the entire country. We haven't had months to learn about Palin. So, with the short amount of time we do have, the press is fitting in all the scrutiny it can. What would have been stretched out over months if he had chosen earlier is being forced into a few short weeks. That's the price to be paid for the benefit of the surprise choice.

Now the McCain campaign cries foul hoping to blunt press interest. They want the benefits of the surprise, but not the accompanying negatives that may go with it. Too bad. We can't afford another Dan Quayle and for the Republicans to all fall in line with the Palin choice shows their utter lack of depth and intellectual honesty.

I personally think Palin won't have too much in her background. Her real problems will be rookie problems and a dearth of gravitas. We'll see though.

As to the maverick title so often self-applied by McCain's folks: John McCain is no maverick. Hell, he's worked in Washington since the 1970s. He's the epitome of a Washington insider.

Calling oneself a maverick and taking a couple of principled stands against one's party doesn't a maverick make. It's called politics.

Republicans are lying about Obama...No Shit

Here's a story by the FactCheck.ORG about the crap the Republicans are spewing about Obama's voting record on taxes.

Taxes are the constant refrain of Republicans against Democrats. It would be alright if they were honest about it.

We need an honest debate and an honest discussion of the candidates. When parties resort to bald faced lies and obfuscation of their opponent's record, then they are not part of the solution, but part of the problem.

Winning at all costs seems to be the accepted norm for political parties. I, for one, think they should put the country first instead trying to win.