Tagged politics

27

Rachel Maddow Explains How Republicans Broke the Senate

On her MSNBC program Rachel Maddow recently sat America down and tried to explain to them how Republicans have managed to break the US Senate by abusing the filibuster. Maddow said, “Since they lost the Senate they have turned it into a stronghold for their own party by using power the senate minority is usually entrusted not to abuse. They’ve used that power to break the institution.”

11

Big Pimpin’ and Media Whorin’ Around With Sarah Palin

On the surface, the purpose of Sarah Palin’s visit to Haiti appeared to be to draw attention to the plight of Haitians, but the reality is that Palin is drawing attention to herself and her need of Graham’s evangelical religious-right voting bloc. If Palin was the Christian she claimed, she would give all her money to help the afflicted without asking for attention or recompense, but a pimp’s primary concern is making money and drawing attention to themselves.

3

Keith Olbermann Exposes Rupert Murdoch’s Betrayal of the War on Christmas

On his MSNBC program Countdown, Keith Olbermann exposed how Rupert Murdoch and his New York Post have betrayed their own war on Christmas by turning their backs on baby Jesus in order to promote the worship of Santa Claus. Olbermann said, “William Donohue and Rupert Murdoch’s New York Post, traditional combatants in the war on Christmas have trained their yuletide guns on someone not for failing to put the Christ back in Christmas but for failing to worship Santa Claus.”

19

Crash: Sarah Palin Is Now Less Popular Than George W. Bush

According to a new poll released today by Bloomberg, Sarah Palin’s favorable rating continues to plummet, while her unfavorable rating skyrockets. Only 33% of Americans have a favorable view of Palin compared to 57% who hold an unfavorable view of her. The only other figure on the poll who was as unpopular as Palin was former president George W. Bush, and even Bush is more popular than Palin.

13

Where’s the Tea Party When You Need Them?

The left and the left of left are at each other’s throats, locked in a battle of high minded principles versus bread and butter pragmatism. Divided over whether President Obama is a skilled negotiator who had to make a bad deal in order to protect the unemployed and the middle class, or a weak leader who caved in to hostage takers. If there was ever a time when we could use a common enemy, it’s now. Oh sure, Sarah Palin is still out there, fluttering and twittering around. But with her book sales flagging and her reality show ratings down, she just isn’t the polarizing figure we need right now.

12

Obama’s Disapproval Rating Almost Doubles with Democrats

A new McClatchy-Marist poll was released today and it contained some that should give both the White House and President a cause for concern as they implement the President’s new centrist strategy. According to the poll, Obama’s approval rating has dropped to a new low of 42%. This decline is being fueled by a near doubling in his disapproval rating among Democrats.

6

Steve King Should be Censured

Recently, Congressman Steve King stood on the steps of the U.S. capital and accused a group of African American farmers of being frauds and drug addicts. He called their class-action lawsuits – which showed that black farmers were denied federal loans that were given to white farmers – “slavery reparations.” And he blamed it all on President Obama, for being so “very, very urban.”

17

Obama Admits That Tax Cuts For The Rich Won’t Create Jobs

President Obama was on NPR’s Morning Edition Friday discussing the compromise on the Bush tax cuts when in response to a listener’s question about how keeping the tax cut for the rich will create jobs Obama said, “It doesn’t, which is why I was opposed to it — and I’m still opposed to it.” Obama admitted that he had to compromise because if he didn’t he felt that the economic recovery would be endangered.”

16

Conservatives Lick Their Chops While The Left Cannibalizes Obama

After President Obama’s press conference announcing a deal with Republicans on tax cuts, the left exploded with such ferocity and divisiveness that it’s no wonder conservatives always win. While the left demonizes Obama as a sellout for making the best out of losing situation for the majority of Americans, and you can be certain that conservatives are licking their chops watching the left cannibalize President Obama for governing from the center; it is short-sighted and arrogant to believe otherwise.

13

Christine O’Donnell Compares Extending Unemployment Benefits to Pearl Harbor

While speaking in Virginia last night, Sarah Palin’s mini-me Christine O’Donnell compared the extension of unemployment benefits for 2 million Americans to Pearl Harbor. O’Donnell said, “Tragedy comes in threes, Pearl Harbor, Elizabeth Edwards’s passing and Barack Obama’s announcement of extending the tax cuts, which is good, but also extending the unemployment benefits.”

29

Obama Dares Republicans To Test His Willingness to Fight

President Obama held a press conference to defend the compromise that he reached with the Republicans on a temporary extension of the Bush tax cuts in exchange for a long term extension of unemployment benefits. In response to critics of the deal, the President dared Republicans to test his willingness to fight, “I will be happy to see the Republicans test whether or not I’m itching for a fight on a whole range of issues. I suspect they will find I am.”

5

Despite Media Reports Otherwise The Obama Coalition is Alive and Well

It has become a popular theme in the media lately that the presidency of Barack Obama is doomed because the coalition that supported him in 2008 has shattered under the weight of disappointment and anger, but the facts tell a different tale. Polling tells us that Obama remains wildly popular with African-Americans, Liberals, Democrats, Latinos, Voters 18-29, and women. In short, the Obama coalition is alive and well.

8

Senate Democrats Prove Worthless to Obama in Tax Cut Debate

Despite standing up in front of the media and proclaiming their outrage over the possibility of compromising with Republicans on the issue of extending the Bush tax cuts, Senate Democrats again demonstrated their ineptitude by not being able to get the support of the entire caucus for limiting the tax cuts to total income of $250,000 or less. The all talk no unity Democrats have now forced the same compromise that they claim to hate.

13

The DREAM Act: An Urgent Call for Unity

The children of undocumented immigrants didn’t have a choice in where they would grow up. Their parents made the decision for them. But most children of undocumented immigrants who grow up in the U.S. love their hometowns and this country, even though we don’t treat them right. This is why the Dream Act is not only vital to the Hispanic community, but also an important first step towards true immigration reform.

Palin in Scarborough's Crosshairs
36

Joe Scarborough Exposes Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck’s Fake Palin Support

It turns out that Joe Scarborough’s criticism of Sarah Palin in a column for Politico today was just the tip of the iceberg. On his MSNBC program Morning Joe, Scarborough exposed the truth about the right and Sarah Palin. Talk radio hosts and Republican leaders privately say they don’t want her, but they are afraid to take her on. Scarborough basically accused the talk show hosts, who defend Palin for 3 hours a day on the air but don’t really support her, of lying.

7

John McCain Calls for Regime Change In N. Korea

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) was discussing the latest conflict between North and South Korea on CNN’s State of the Union today, when he returned to the neo-con siren song of regime change, “I think it’s time we — yes. I think it’s time we talked about regime change in North Korea, and I do not mean military action.” Of course, McCain really means military action. How else could the most isolated regime in the world be removed?

23

How Obama Misstepped Into The TSA Body Scan Quagmire

In politics everything happens for a reason. There are very few coincidences, which has become evident once again by the furor over new TSA screening procedures and equipment. Beneath the emotional outrage there is a policy battle taking place on the battlefield of public emotion, and the Obama administration’s reluctance to engage in this realm has resulted in more criticism for the President.

13

Meet the New Enemies of Glenn Beck: Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert

Poor Glenn Beck just can’t let go of his jealousy of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. Today on his Fox News program, Beck went on the attack against Stewart and Colbert by claiming that they keep people in denial. He said, “What better way to keep people sheep then making sure that people get their news from a comedian?….Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, that’s not news. That’s a monologue. That’s jokes.”

27

A Fox News Fairy Tale: Sarah Palin Will Clean Obama’s Clock in 2012

Yet another example of how Fox News is revving up their Republican campaign machine for Sarah Palin occurred on Hannity last night when Sean Hannity claimed that, “I think Gov. Palin, if they keep up with this radical agenda will clean Obama’s clock.” That’s a nice fairy tale for Sean Hannity to spin, but let’s take a look at what will really happen if Barack Obama meets up with Sarah Palin in 2012.

15

Barack Obama, High Priest of Baal

When Republicans recently declined to meet with President Obama, it was a rejection of Old Testament proportions. The degree of concern over President Obama’s religion is truly astounding. How can any God-fearing Republican have any time at all for any liberal? It’s like inviting a Canaanite to dinner, or for the Republicans in this case, agreeing to meet with the high priest of Baal in his house.

14

Sarah Palin Gets Outted as George Soros’ Manchurian Caribou Barbie

It was only a matter of time before the culture of paranoia and fear that dominates the Republican Party turned inwards and started attacking its own, as it seems that Glenn Beck’s weeks of fear mongering about George Soros have come home to roost in the form of allegations that Sarah Palin is really a sham candidate. She is a puppet set to do Soros’ bidding if she wins the Republican nomination in 2012.

8

John McCain’s Eternal War Against Gays At Home and American Soldiers Abroad

John McCain is a war hero, and advocates permanent wars regardless the cost in lives and drain on the economy. He also knows that allowing gays to serve in the military is wrong, regardless that a majority of Americans, the Pentagon, and service members support repealing DADT. McCain also doesn’t want an end to the war in Afghanistan because he has gross memory loss regarding the Iraq war.

11

Rachel Maddow Exposes the Phony Republican Earmark Ban

On her MSNBC program last night Rachel Maddow took on one of the great myths of American politics that banning earmarks is the same as cutting spending. Maddow called the Republican position on the earmark ban what it really is. According to Maddow the Republican earmark ban is an, “epic quest to seem fiscally responsible without actually being fiscally responsible.”

13

Republicans Stall the START Treaty And Dream of More Deficit Spending

Republicans claim we need an anti-missile defense system [cue to them rubbing their hands greedily together in anticipation]. But isn’t the best way to get rid of a missile threat to get rid of the missiles themselves? Oh wait, a missile defense system is another way to spend money and ratchet up the U.S. deficit. Getting rid of missiles gives Republicans less to spend money on.

11

Danger Lurks On The Horizon For MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann

With the NBC/Comcast merger on the horizon and reports about the infighting at MSNBC surrounding Keith Olbermann becoming more numerous there is real danger lurking on the horizon for Keith Olbermann at MSNBC. If Olbermann fans thought their job was done after the Countdown host returned from suspension last week, they best get prepared because the battle has just begun.

22

Disapproval of Sarah Palin Reaches an All Time High

It is just days before TLC’s heavily hyped Sarah Palin’s Alaska debuts, and Gallup released a new poll today which showed that 52% of Americans have a negative view of Palin. She has a negative rating of 83% among Democrats and 53% with Independents. Republicans gave Palin an 80% approval rating, but it is awfully tough to be president or even a reality TV star, when over half of America hates you.

14

Keith Olbermann Returns to the Air and Delivers A Classy Apology

Keith Olbermann returned from the world’s shortest indefinite suspension tonight, and he delivered a very professional and classy apology on Countdown. Olbermann said, “I owe you three apologies. Foremost for having subjected you to this drama. Another by having not known by observation since it is not in the contract for not making political donations although any rule like that probably isn’t legal.”

46

Republicans Plan to Pay For Tax Cuts With Unemployment Benefits

Republicans belie their belief in fiscal responsibility when they insist on giving unfunded tax cuts to the wealthy. Enter the poor, unemployed, and working-class Americans. Republicans and teabags label unemployment benefits an entitlement just like they call Social Security and Medicare welfare. Their goal is to privatize Social programs so Wall Street can prosper, and take away unemployment benefits to help pay for tax cuts for the wealthy.

18

How Will the Standoff Between Keith Olbermann and MSNBC End?

The twist and turns keep coming in the saga of Keith Olbermann’s suspension, with the latest being that Countdown was suspended for refusing to apologize on the air for his political donations. Instead of a rules violation, what we have here is a power play between MSNBC and their top anchor. If the network holds firm, Olbermann could be sitting at home for a long, long time.

33

TLC Morphs into Fox News While Visiting Sarah Palin’s Alaska

Joe McGinniss is now suing Sarah the pedophile hunter, or rather, the network promoting Sarah’s public image as a 2012 candidate, TLC, a subsidiary of the Discovery Channel for invasion of privacy and is demanding to be removed from the reality show over due to “unauthorized videotaped images of Mr. McGinniss which were obtained without his knowledge or consent.” Who can miss the irony of “discovery” in this context? Discovery will be had if TLC doesn’t back down after infringing upon Joe’s privacy rights.

11

New Republican Strategy: Shoot Selves in Foot

These ideologically-motivated refusals are perhaps not such a bright idea when you stop to think about it. The problem being of course, that not many people stopped to do any thinking leading up to these midterms and Republicans seem to be doing less thinking than most. It all became about rage and ideology. Nobody was thinking in practical terms. So they all decided to have a group foot shoot instead.

38

Rachel Maddow Explains Why Keith Olbermann was Suspended

On her MSNBC program tonight, Rachel Maddow explained that Keith Olbermann was suspended for breaking a rule that forbids hosts from making political donations without prior approval, but she urged that Olbermann be put back on the air. She thought Olbermann should be held to the rule, but “I also personally believe that the point has been made and we should have Keith back hosting Countdown.”

47

MSNBC is Not Fox News: Keith Olbermann Suspended for Political Donations

MSNBC announced today that Countdown host Keith Olbermann has been indefinitely suspended by the network for making political donations to three Democratic congressional candidates. Olbermann said that he didn’t encourage other to donate, but the network suspended him for violating their policy against political donations. This once again proves that MSNBC is not Fox News where the money flows freely to the GOP.

7

Lewis Black Takes on The Epic Insanity of Sarah Palin

Lewis Black popped by MSNBC’s Countdown tonight, and he had some thoughts to share on Sarah Palin. Black said that the idea that Palin could be considered a presidential candidate is epically insane, “The whole concept of her doing the reality show is more than — and then to hear them talk about her as a possible candidate for president is — we’ve now reached epic — it’s epically insane.”

6

Keith Olbermann Mocks the New Weeper of the House John Boehner

On his MSNBC program Countdown, Keith Olbermann was recapping some of the stranger moments from last night’s victory and concession speeches when he discussed John Boehner’s leaving his man pants at home and crying at the drop of a hat, “This was set against the context of a republican campaign filled with demands from conservatives about manliness and manning up. Ladies and gentlemen, the new weeper of the house.”

32

Obama Takes Responsibility for Democratic House and Senate Losses

During his press conference this afternoon, President Obama took responsibility for the Democrats losing control of the House of Representatives. He said, “So there is not only sadness about seeing them go but there is also a lot of questioning on my part in terms of could I have done something differently or done something more, so that those folks could still be here. It’s hard, and I take responsibility for it in a lot of ways.”

14

How Sarah Palin Lost the Senate for the Republicans

The finger pointing has already begun in the Republican Party due to their failure to win the US Senate last night. Republicans had a golden opportunity to take control of Congress, but they failed, and the blame for this failure should fall on the shoulders of one person. Sarah Palin’s meddling in the races in Nevada, Delaware, and Alaska likely cost the GOP the United States Senate.

24

Glenn Beck Jumps On the Jon Stewart Bandwagon

On his Fox News program today Glenn Beck claimed that while Jon Stewart’s rally had been co-opted by the left, he still wished him luck with rally and then jumped on the Jon Stewart bandwagon by saying, “Jon we disagree on a great many things, but I don’t think we disagree of the type of people that we need to be as individual Americans.”

15

Supreme Conspiracy: How The Koch Brothers and Clarence Thomas Overthrew Democracy

In developing countries and dictatorships it’s not unusual or unexpected for the judicial system to be corrupt and biased. In America, it used to be a source of pride that our judicial system was fair and followed the letter of the law. Apparently, those days are gone and we are seeing the result of biased court decisions in this election cycle with unprecedented corporate donations to Republican candidates.

14

Rachel Maddow Meets Joe Miller and Doesn’t End Up Handcuffed

MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow was in Alaska tonight covering the state’s three way US Senate race and unlike his fellow Tea Partier Christine O’Donnell; Joe Miller actually talked to her. Even better for Maddow, Miller’s security not only didn’t handcuff her, she didn’t get arrested. That’s probably the best thing that can be said about the strange and uncomfortable interaction between Maddow and Miller.

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