Lean Forward Suits Divine New Show For Poli-SEER

Democratic Party rising star and MSNBC commentator with the perfect pundit's name, Kristal Ball, is slated to get her own network show with the perfect title — 'The Krystal Ball show — following the venerable Andrea Mitchell, according to sources close to this blog's imagination.

The suits are excited about promoting the 'Three Amigas' back-to-back to back lineup of Alex Wagner, Andrea and Krystal. Ms Ball broke her maiden for the Dylan Ratigan stable of lovelies before being claimed by aggressive Dylan rival Martin Bashir, heightening tensions and sensitivities between the two. Meanwhile, Alex Wagner took the opportunity to poach from Dylan's power lineup the highly rated Euro import, Imogen Lloyd Webber, daughter of the great composer, prompting Dylan to accuse Martin of stealing his best guests after the talented Karen Finney showed up on Bashir's turf. "But Dylan," Martin retorted innocently, "you've still got Jimmy Williams."

Krystal's first guests are to be Martin Bashir and Dylan Ratigan, with an innovation: Dylan will be making sage pronouncements from Krystal's crystal ball about our corrupt "auction-based" political system:

PS — Just funnin' Dylan, Martin et al. Have a good holiday, gentlemen and lady!

Romney Ad Postcript: Not Quite Jason ...

But point taken. I've blasted MSNBC incessantly for not calling a spade a spade and a lie a LIE. Keith was the best at it, so much so that he parted ways with his corporate masters at MSNBC. Big Eddie has planted his working class flag and muscled the power to say it, and there isn't much the suits can do about it, given his following. But they always have the last word, ironically. The Rev's been good that way. Rachel, well, that's not her style, but she pretty much lays it out. And the Irish in Lawrence makes him good for it:

But then MSNBC hires a professional partisan LIAR in Michael Steele to swell the ranks of its reactionary pundit-interlopers, and the clarity of truth is lost, just in time for the elections. Good one, GOP! Just make sure you give Michael whatever medal it is you have for MSM moles in whatever coven it is you conduct these secret ceremonies. BTW, Chris, your GOP elephant logo is WAY OUT OF DATE and incorrect. The stars aren't properly misaligned. Why isn't the GOP elephant logo truthfully represented in your graphics? Could it be ... SATAN!?

Steele MSNBC Trainwreck Continues: "Michael. Michael. Michael ..."

Michael Steele, Republican political hack par excellence disrupts Hardball segment by filibustering when asked, once again, to defend the indefensible latest outrageous LIE from the Romney campaign, as Chris loses control of the skit. That's what it's become, right, every time Michael comes on. (Don't say I didn't warn you suits, right from the get-go:) This guy is a GOP operative, a political hack who has contributed NOTHING to the honest political discourse that viewers of the only half-assed "progressive" cable channel are minimally entitled to. Instead, we get all this hard-baked spin, GOP talking points, and LIES from a loyal Republican mole. There is NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING Michael Steele has said about Republican politics that is in any way insightful or illuminating. Not that he doesn't have any illuminating insights; but he's NOT SHARING, because he remains a loyal Republican insider's insider. Michael Steele is NOT a free agent!

Here's your proof, MSNBC imbeciles: Pull up the transcript and show your audience where, since becoming an MSNBC "political analyst," has Michael said this about any of the Republican candidates like, for instance, Newt Gingrich:

Gingrich’s is an amazingly efficient candidacy, in that it embodies almost everything disagreeable about modern Washington. He’s the classic rental politician. People think his problem is his colorful personal life. He’s gonna hope people concentrate on that, rather than on, for example, ethanol. Al Gore has recanted ethanol. Not Newt Gingrich, who has served the ethanol lobby. Industrial policy of the sort that got us Solyndra — he’s all for it. Freddie Mac, he says, hired him as a "historian." He’s not a historian. Hire Sean Wilentz, hire Gordon Wood if you want a historian.

Guess who said this on Sunday last — George F. Will. Yes, the very same archetypal, respected conservative pundit. How's that for prescient, incisive political analysis from one conservative to another, heaping merciless scorn on Newt Gingrich? Lawrence was positively giddy about reporting it; but isn't that the kind of candid political assessment that Steele was hired to deliver? You've been had, MSNBC suits. What a pathetic bunch of morons, increasing dead substance air time proportionate to Steele's appearances which the audience must choose (or not) to endure. Watch:

We were spared more of the slo-mo Steele trainwreck when Chris, having totally lost control switched gears to the racist "uppity" remarks of Rush Limbaugh, the titular leader of the Republican Party. An opening for Steele as Chris and Democratic loser extraordinaire Bob Schrum remained monkishly silent. Steele didn't quite condemn it or call Limbaugh an outright racist, but he struck the right notes. Except for this. I'm looking at Michael Steele as the former Chairman of the RNC who did a creditable job leading his party to historic midterm victories. As an African American in that position, I think he was instrumental in convincing independents that the party was "normal" now — instead of the manipulative Michael Steele facade, and a handful of others' — such that the voters' initial unease, their suspicion this was still a racist party no longer obtained. But when asked why racist attitudes such as Limbaugh's still existed in his party, all Steele could muster was a tepid, "I don't know."

That's not very convincing. Michael Steele is a master of the rationalization bordering on the outright partisan lie. He can spin with the best of them and he's been spinning hard ever since his arrival at MSNBC. I have never understood African Americans who are Republicans, especially those who choose to become party operatives while enduring a barrage of racism directed mostly at Democrats and toward our first African American president. But when Steele floats the BIG GOP LIE to Chris of the false equivalence between Republican and Democratic political ads, brushing off the Orwellian Romney ad which attributes to the President words he QUOTED from the McCain campaign — "If we keep talking about the economy, we're going to lose" — as if the President said them of his own campaign, an outrageous LIE that is perfectly fine to the ethically obtuse, then Steele is nothing but a politician without a shred of honor for whom almost every lie or bigotry is "fair game" as long as the targets have a (D) before their names.

During his sophomoric filibuster against noted Democratic loserman, Bob Schrum, Steele kept insisting the Democrats have done the same things, but couldn't come up with a single example. Here's your chance, Michael. Justify this:

Sieg Heil FOX! Wanna Play PEPPER Fraulein Megyn, Bill-O Ze Nasi Clown?

According to the FOX whores, Bill-O Ze Nasi Clown and Fraulein Megyn, it's a "food product." Never mind that it burns the eyes, skin, causes inflammation of respiratory passages, lungs, respiratory distress, and is a lethal agent:

In the 1990s, the Justice Department listed nearly 70 deaths it said were linked to the use of pepper-spray. A few years later, the ACLU pressed California's Supreme Court to classify pepper-spray as dangerous and cruel, likening it to "a kind of chemical cattle prod on nonviolent demonstrators resisting arrest." The organization further claimed that its use "constitutes excessive force and violates the Constitution."

THE EFFECTS OF PEPPER SPRAY — SOURCE: UC POLICE DEPARTMENT

HOW'S THIS "FOOD PRODUCT" FEEL, FOX WHORES, EH? C'MON BILL-O, BE A MAN AND TAKE IT. SHOW US HOW 'BENIGN' IT REALLY IS.

OOPS ... Republicans Blamed For "Supercommittee" FAIL

Look at it this way; most Republicans on the so-called "supercommittee" are forging their real careers as multi-millionaire lobbyists. Their hero isn't Ronald Reagan; it's Grover Norquist. And for iconic GOP legendary status in gaming the system, it's Jack Abramoff, America's most corrupt lobbyist. That 60 Minutes story exposing the boastful Norquist preening about his power over the GOP Congress was an eye-opener for millions of Americans. Unless they're really tuned into inside politics, most Americans have no idea who this "rathead" is, to coin his term for those who refused to sign the Norquist no-taxes pledge. But they can smell a rat and a phony when they see one. He's got most Republicans in Congress in his hip pocket.

Voters blame Republicans over the president and his congressional allies 44% to 38%. Independent voters blame Republicans 44% to 35%.

Interestingly, the Roll Call story, in a manner emblematic of Beltway Media bias, tries to make hay of the finding that a plurality of respondents favors a cuts-only approach. It's almost as if they're digging for dirt on Democrats, pulling this weed out: "But Hispanics, a key voting block in next year’s election, favored a cuts-only approach, 52% to 37%." Hmm ... Typical Latino voter: (a) no tax hikes for the super rich and cuts only to programs Latinos like, (b) electrified fences, and shoot-to-kill at the border, (c) papers please laws in red states (GOP program), versus immigration reform, expanding voter franchise, protecting programs popular with Latinos (Democrats) ... vamos pesar la balanza. "But Republicans can take heart that their approach has a plurality of support." Riiiight. Here's the poll finding, in context:

A debt-reduction plan should include spending cuts only, 49 percent of voters say, while 39 percent want a mix of tax hikes and spending cuts. Support for spending cuts only is 73 - 21 percent among Republicans and 45 - 41 percent among independent voters, while Democrats want a mix of cuts and tax hikes 56 - 33 percent. Support for cuts only is 52 - 32 percent among voters making less than $30,000 per year, dropping to 51 - 41 percent among voters making more than $100,000 per year. White voters with a college degree support a mix of cuts and tax hikes 52 - 41 percent while white voters with no college degree want cuts only 55 - 33 percent.

As usual, it all comes down to education. The more affluent and college educated the respondents are, the greater the support for a mix of cuts and tax hikes even though, theoretically, it might impact their pocketbooks. Why the poll makes a distinct finding for "white voters with a college education" is unclear and more than a bit disturbing. Thanks to the Idiot Punditocracy, to Beltway Media outlets like Roll Call, and the MSM generally for keeping American voters in a dumbed-down state of confusion unlike any other voters in developed democracies.

The Supercommittee Is Dead; Long Live Electoral Democracy!

My favorite columnist, Nobel economics laureate Paul Krugman, writes what many progressives believe of the infamous "supercommittee" of Democrats and Republicans brought together to ostensibly find $1.2 trillion, give or take, in cuts to our budget. Reasonable progressives will agree with Paul that eventually we need to match spending and revenue, but that it is also a discussion about fundamental values. What kind of country are we, have been, and aspire to be? Those are the questions we should ask before a single cut is made to a social program, or Social Security, or Medicare/Medicaid.

Now that the not so "super" committee of dubious constitutionality is officially dead, President Obama has vowed to veto any weasely scheme that attempts to exempt the $500 billion in defense cuts that would kick in automatically without an agreement. Democrats, for their part, refuse to entertain any cuts to Social Security and Medicare without a raise in taxes from the super rich. Would this sudden spine on the Democratic side have developed absent the Occupy Wall Street movement? The Occupy movement has changed the national conversation from budget austerity and cuts to the poor and middle class, to income inequality and policies that favor the super-rich at the exclusion of 99 percent of the population.

This Tea Party Congress, it should be noted, which stands at 12 percent approval, has done nothing but obstruct Democrats from governing. It's time to take the issue to the voters. Democrats can, and will, solve the problem. They need a public mandate and a filibuster-proof Congress. In the alternative, the defeat of the Democrats and President Obama will enshrine the most extreme right wing Supreme Court in generations. Should that happen, it’s game over for the country. The next president will very likely have at least two Supreme Court appointments, one from the right wing 5-justice cabal, and another from the centrist 4-justice minority. This reality supersedes any efforts to “get money out of politics” or constitutional amendments which will go nowhere. Only a 5-4 center-left shift in the balance of power will ensure the reversal of the Citizens United decision.

Those are the stakes. 

Failure Is Good

By PAUL KRUGMAN

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a complete turkey! It’s the supercommittee!

By next Wednesday, the so-called supercommittee, a bipartisan group of legislators, is supposed to reach an agreement on how to reduce future deficits. Barring an evil miracle — I’ll explain the evil part later — the committee will fail to meet that deadline.

If this news surprises you, you haven’t been paying attention. If it depresses you, cheer up: In this case, failure is good.

Why was the supercommittee doomed to fail? Mainly because the gulf between our two major political parties is so wide. Republicans and Democrats don’t just have different priorities; they live in different intellectual and moral universes.

In Democrat-world, up is up and down is down. Raising taxes increases revenue, and cutting spending while the economy is still depressed reduces employment. But in Republican-world, down is up. The way to increase revenue is to cut taxes on corporations and the wealthy, and slashing government spending is a job-creation strategy. Try getting a leading Republican to admit that the Bush tax cuts increased the deficit or that sharp cuts in government spending (except on the military) would hurt the economic recovery.

Moreover, the parties have sharply different views of what constitutes economic justice.

Democrats see social insurance programs, from Social Security to food stamps, as serving the moral imperative of providing basic security to our fellow citizens and helping those in need.

Republicans have a totally different view. They may soft-pedal that view in public — in last year’s elections, they even managed to pose as defenders of Medicare — but, in private, they view the welfare state as immoral, a matter of forcing citizens at gunpoint to hand their money over to other people. By creating Social Security, declared Rick Perry in his book “Fed Up!”, F.D.R. was “violently tossing aside any respect for our founding principles.” Does anyone doubt that he was speaking for many in his party?

So the supercommittee brought together legislators who disagree completely both about how the world works and about the proper role of government. Why did anyone think this would work?

Well, maybe the idea was that the parties would compromise out of fear that there would be a political price for seeming intransigent. But this could only happen if the news media were willing to point out who is really refusing to compromise. And they aren’t. If and when the supercommittee fails, virtually all news reports will be he-said, she-said, quoting Democrats who blame Republicans and vice versa without ever explaining the truth.

Oh, and let me give a special shout-out to “centrist” pundits who won’t admit that President Obama has already given them what they want. The dialogue seems to go like this. Pundit: “Why won’t the president come out for a mix of spending cuts and tax hikes?” Mr. Obama: “I support a mix of spending cuts and tax hikes.” Pundit: “Why won’t the president come out for a mix of spending cuts and tax hikes?”

You see, admitting that one side is willing to make concessions, while the other isn’t, would tarnish one’s centrist credentials. And the result is that the G.O.P. pays no price for refusing to give an inch.

So the supercommittee will fail — and that’s good.

For one thing, history tells us that the Republican Party would renege on its side of any deal as soon as it got the chance. Remember, the U.S. fiscal outlook was pretty good in 2000, but, as soon as Republicans gained control of the White House, they squandered the surplus on tax cuts and unfunded wars. So any deal reached now would, in practice, be nothing more than a deal to slash Social Security and Medicare, with no lasting improvement in the deficit.

Also, any deal reached now would almost surely end up worsening the economic slump. Slashing spending while the economy is depressed destroys jobs, and it’s probably even counterproductive in terms of deficit reduction, since it leads to lower revenue both now and in the future. And current projections, like those of the Federal Reserve, suggest that the economy will remain depressed at least through 2014. Better to have no deal than a deal that imposes spending cuts in the next few years.

But don’t we eventually have to match spending and revenue? Yes, we do. But the decision about how to do that isn’t about accounting. It’s about fundamental values — and it’s a decision that should be made by voters, not by some committee that allegedly transcends the partisan divide.

Eventually, one side or the other of that divide will get the kind of popular mandate it needs to resolve our long-run budget issues. Until then, attempts to strike a Grand Bargain are fundamentally destructive. If the supercommittee fails, as expected, it will be time to celebrate.

MSNBC WATCH: Alex Wagner Tries to Bridge The Gulf Between “Morality” And The GOP. Ouch.

With a little help from Michael “I spent several years in a monastery” Steele, Megan “I’m such a confused independent Republican but can pronounce ‘New Hamp-SHAR’ like an airhead valley girl” McCain, Willie “The Wingnut” Geist, and well … who cares; might as well tune into Fox for the red meat instead of Alex’s tea parlor wingnut parley. All I can say about Alex: Smart, but youthfully “why can’t we all get along” naïve. Alex, we’re so past that. Unless you want to have a frank, no-holds-barred discussion of why that is, such that Michael will start babbling “youse guys” this and “youse guys” that. Call him the LIAR that he is. He really loses his cool because he knows it’s true. And Michael, speaking as a Catholic, there are child abusers who went to monastery, so I'm not impressed.

Michael, he's one big windbag bullshit machine in need of bursting. Start with the false equivalency on GOP misdeeds (video ad lies) compared to Democrats, and expand outward. And challenge Megan to show her true colors. The smarter she talks, the less she sounds like an airhead. And if Melissa thinks there's no difference between MSNBC and Fox, well then ... never mind.

Understand, these people are to a significant extent in the grip of generational right wing brainwashing and denial of reality. Watching the show is like watching progressives in name becoming their captors; a progressives “Stockholm Syndrome.” It’s so typical; Melissa, with her natural inclination to get along and be nice, be compassionate, find common ground, until she and Alex leave their intellect, their outrage, and their skepticism in a jar by the door. It’s a common affliction of progressives and liberal-minded people known unofficially as the ‘get along to go along’ syndrome. And so we get this:

Melissa (paraphrasing): "Well it all depends on what "media" we're talking about — what will MSNBC say about the Tea Party, and what will Fox say about OWS?" HUH ... Nice, Melissa. Really nice. You're a part-time MSNBC host/pundit-without-portfolio (or a clue, I'm beginning to think), and you blithely lump MSNBC together with Fox? Even I wouldn't go that far, but after watching a disgusting snippet or two of Alex's show ... I sort of get your point; I can’t see much difference between the two.

Next topic: Michelle Obama booed at NASCAR event. Between Michael (think pompous ass politico), “Stepping back and looking at the political landscape ...” Oh, STFU Michael. Please. Just STFU. … And Melissa, are your priorities straight? … “I wouldn’t boo President or Mrs. Bush …” Oh really. Here’s the thing, Melissa: I WOULD BOO President Bush because it’s his policies and actions as president that drove us to where we are today. But I would NOT boo Mrs. Bush because it’s not only disrespectful but it isn’t personal. Neither she nor their kids are politicians promoting destructive policies. The same standard applies to Mrs. Obama. Booing her at a NASCAR event is disrespectful. Booing the President may be, if it's a (borderline; everything's political) nonpolitical event, but it's cricket; those guys and gals are wingnut yahoos and, well, it’s a free country, and if they don’t want health care or a black president, or something ... boo. Hoo.

Alex, I don’t know to which “family” you refer, but it doesn’t include a large portion of your natural audience. Trust me on this.

COPS BEHAVING LIKE FASCIST PIGS AT UC-DAVIS

How can ANYONE justify this at UC-Davis?! The dehumanizing way this fascist scumbag went about spraying these kids as if he's spraying weeds indicates the NAZI RATBASTARD in riot gear has NO BUSINESS BEING A "LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER" OF ANY STRIPE.

That he and another NAZI were placed on "paid administrative leave" by the university pending an "inquiry" is itself outrageous. WTF do you need to "inquire" about other than what you see on the video and pictures?! RESIGN NOW, UC-DAVIS CHANCELLOR KATEHI! Watch Katehi's WALK OF SHAME past students protesting in silence following a press conference; the student (vid below) who was among those pepper sprayed led the silent shaming of Chancellor Katehi. Here is an eyewitness account:

A pretty remarkable thing just happened. A press conference, scheduled for *4:00pm* between the UC Davis Chancellor and police with local press on campus, did not end in an hour, as planned. Instead, a mass of Occupy Davis students and sympathizers mobilized outside, demanding to have their voice heard. After some initial confusion, UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi refused to leave the building, attempting to give the media the impression that the students were somehow holding her hostage.

A group of highly organized students formed a large gap for the chancellor to leave. They chanted “we are peaceful” and “just walk home,” but nothing changed for several hours. Eventually student representatives convinced the chancellor to leave after telling their fellow students to sit down and lock arms (around 7:00pm).

ME: Chancellor, do you still feel threatened by the students?

KATEHI: No. No.

One of the students pepper sprayed yesterday by chemicals that blew into his mouth (he was standing near the students huddled on the ground), a young man wearing a brown down coat over a tie-dye shirt, said he met with Katehi and personally showed her a video of the pepper spraying attack. Speaking to about a thousand students with the “human mic,” the young man said he personally asked for her resignation

Bend It One Last Time, Beckham

The impact David Beckham has had on U.S. professional soccer cannot be minimized. It's as if one can draw a demarcation line with BB (Before Beckham) on the left side and AB (After Beckham) on the right to trace the league's enhanced national and international profile. More than a "franchise player" for the LA Galaxy, David Beckham has become the "league player" for the MLS.

In the run-up to the MLS 2011 final between the LA Galaxy and the Houston Dynamo tonight at 9 pm eastern on ESPN, the Galaxy got past Real Salt Lake in a thrilling 3-1 game that had everything except a Beckham goal — he had an assist, which is almost as good. I tuned in and was caught up immediately, despite the football on the other channels. I hope you'll do the same. It promises to be a great final, with Robbie Keane, the Irish goal-scoring machine, hopefully repeating his "hat trick" from the semi, which notched him two great goals. Watch:

Although Beckham's 5-year stint in the MLS with the LA Galaxy was marred by the failure to deliver a championship — close but no cigar — and by injury — a ruptured achilles tendon in a meaningless off-season game for Milan which kept him out for most of the 2010 MLS season — he came roaring back in 2011 to become MLS Comeback Player of the Year, leading the Galaxy to another championship final with greater prospects for success this time around. At 36, David Beckham may be in the twilight of his playing career, but he has an enviable work ethic for a professional athlete. Said MLS Commissioner Don Garber:

“The fact that this has been his best year at 36 is pretty remarkable. It’s a tribute to the incredible machine he is and how focused he is on training. He has this identity as a fashionable cultural icon, but at the end of the day, he’s a hard-working, focused sportsman.”

And it's not a question of being a big fish in a small pond. Beckham is one among many stars in the League today, from French international Thierry Henry for the New York Red Bulls to Landon Donovan and the irrepressible Irish international Robbie Keane for the Galaxy itself. Rather, Beckham's impact was to popularize the game among fans who love him as much for his off-the-field cultural iconic status as for his on-the-field heroics. Ultimately, they're indivisible. That's who David Beckham is. Anyone who's seen the charming film, Bend It Like Beckham, about a young immigrant Indian girl who loves soccer and idolizes Beckham, coming of age in England with dreams of bending a shot like one of David's beauties, understands his positive contribution to that universal culture of dreams and fun and excellence that inspires young people the world over.

Robbie comes to this final having played two games for Ireland inbetween, but Beckham isn't worried: “Robbie’s Robbie. He wants to play in every game possible. He’ll get his legs back. He’ll be fine.” For David, who is in the final year of his contract, this may be his last game in the MLS. His millions of fans are hoping he'll go out the champion that he is, and that he'll feast our eyes for one more final, one last time, with the magic of his goal-scoring prowess:

David, whatever you do today, and from this day forward: THANK YOU.

UPDATE: Galaxy wins the MLS Cup, 1-0, a Landon Donovan goal with a sweet pass from Robbie Keane. It was Beckham to Keane to Donovan = goal. In the post-game interview, Donovan said Beckham was masking a hamstring pull suffered in training and played "on one leg" the entire game. He said it was "an honor" to be David's teammate. These guys are consummate pros and gamers. In the last play of the game, David had a foul shot perfectly profiled for his right foot. He bent it in alright. The goalkeeper made a sturdy save. Congrats to the Galaxy, America's first world class soccer superclub.

WINGNUT WATCH: Andrew Breitbart Gets Colonial Blowjob; Little Jimmy O'Keefe His Comeuppance ...

At the risk of inspiring yet another of Rachel's dubious "art project" discoveries, Andrew Breitbart's "acting" debut featuring an "accidental blowjob" is so dreadful that we couldn't have produced a better "Tea Party" mockery if we tried. Look for a coming episode in the Koch Brothers slave quarters of an envelope-pushing TRIcornerHatSOME involving a drunk Andrew Breitbart, a lecherous Grover Norquist and their favorite boy-toy, James (I still lives with my parents in Jersey) O'Keefe. Called Courage, New Hampshire (Vote For Ron Paul), this vanity Tea Party production will get its first screening at a Monrovia, CA movie theater, hosted by gay-bashing Islamophobe idiot Victoria Jackson, best described in a favorite blog as the "has-been-who-never-really was."

"Since the sound of grown men weeping tends to arouse Breitbart, he then rips off his knickerbockers and receives a blowjob from a man in a tricorner hat. (1:00 in video.) The High Sheriff is subsequently entangled in a gay sex scandal involving a bulletin board in the center of town called Ye Olde Grindour, and lithographed images of his genitals. Surprisingly progressive show."

BREITBART, THE HARD SHERIFF GRUNTS GUTTURALLY: "AAAAHNHRRRGHH ..." 

Considering his abject failure at landing a job which will get him out of his parents' home and keep him out of jail, Little Jimmy O'Keefe is now being sued by his own jackals-in-crime as the gang who couldn't shoot, much less point a camera, straight. And with his penchant for wearing provocative outfits, like Scottish kilts (typically worn with no underwear) and fuck-me-I'm-a-whitey-pretend pimp hand-me-downs, it stands to reason Little Jimmy would be in high demand in the sexually repressed male bastions of Rightwingville:

Funnin' Rachel Maddow: Rachel, You Got Some 'Splainin' To Do ...

OK, Rachel, I'm convinced. The Incredibly creative 'Herman Cain Art Project' is REAL. Now you tell me, Rachel, because I can't quite wrap my mind around this one: Who is Herman Cain's Picasso? I cannot believe, meaning no disrespect, that Herman Cain, a pizza mogul and self-declared "businessman," has the creative chops to conjure up a "complicated, ... widely sourced [art project] pulling from movies and songs and video games and even TV shows that were turned into movies.” So who's behind it — that is the question. The cigarette guy? No way. We need some answers to your provocative Herman Cain theory, Rachel:

And one more thing: As a taxpayer, I'm ROYALLY PISSED that this lady's husband is now the first Republican candidate to request, and receive, Secret Service protection at our expense; watch her eyes when asked whether Herman Cain would make a good president. Personally, I think she's an Obama voter:

The Education of A Wingnut: Daily Caller "Reporter" Who Was At Chris's Book Party Roughed Up By Police

Remember the young lady from the Daily Caller who went to Chris's book party looking to record a caught-on-camera grope? This time she got more than she bargained for — no sheltered wingnut existence there — when caught up at the point of the OWS Wall Street demonstration on Thursday in New York City. She was shoved against a taxi and roughed up by the cops. Props to the wingnut for having some chutzpah derring-do.

It's ironic that the demonstrators she was there to discredit ultimately came to her aid and solicitously asked if she was "all right" as we see her, clearly way way out of her comfort zone, shaken and in tears. She seems incredulous that the authority figures wingnuts so look up to, like the police, shoved her down "when I wasn't doing anything. They shoved me up against the taxi." One astute demonstrator asked if it was recorded — "we need to put this on Facebook." Now there's a good sense of positive PR for the movement. Through it all we can hear the crowd shouting: "The whole world is watching, the whole world is watching!" Live and learn, kiddo, although I'm sure your politics won't change any. But you never know.

Word of advice to the demonstrators: Keep it clean and keep it peaceful. They know this; but should they spot troublemakers or anyone inciting violence, turn them in. Holding one's ground as we see in this video is perfectly appropriate. But keep in mind: The Daily Caller was there to capture violence by the demonstrators, and no one else. The fact that it was police violence visited on the DC's totally incredulous tearful reporter, was unfortunate for the Daily Caller — we don't want to see anyone get hurt — but not for the movement. Here's the raw video of the "fracas," which is worth a look even though it's meant to discredit the movement. Watch some of yesterday's brutality, courtesy of the NYPD and the people's chronicler for-a-day, the Daily Caller:

Best-Yet Newt Description: You Guessed It ...

Chris Matthews, who considers Newt Gingrich to be the earthly incarnation of Mephistopheles (no argument there, other than perhaps granting Newt an unwarranted exalted position), came up with a fittingly creative description for the Newt Demon ... watch:

Chris had Rightwingville spinning their wheels in faux indignation. The context: Newt the bomb thrower par excellence, once said Democrats should be jailed for bailing out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Now we discover he was paid $1.6 million to lobby on Freddie's behalf. He claims it was payment for his services as a "historian," making him history's best-paid historian. I'll second that, Chris: "I THINK IT'S SO GREAT."

MSNBC Watch: The Hilarity Just Keeps On Coming

Memo To Lawrence: Howard Fineman, by his own admission, isn't the smartest person in your three-person panel — Alex Wagner is. Howard is the best journalist, by far. And Lawrence ... well, despite your disgraceful POLITICO suck-up, you're still a better interviewer than David "My hands are tied, I tellya!" Gregory. So there's that.

Lawrence's lasting contribution to the MSNBC primetime hosts lineup: the uptempo transition, "joining me now is (guest X,Y,Z)" ... adopted by the Rev, I noticed, adding more pace to his presentation, with the wrap, "Thank you very much for joining me" ... Even Rachel, who's never had pacing problems is using the line. Maybe the suits are getting skeert of Cenk and his Merry Band of Young Turks joining Current as awesome tablesetters for Keith. Have you seen their promo at Current? I think they're sending MSNBC a no-yawns message. I know it's a no-brainer, but I was first to suggest Cenk would be a great fit for Keith and Current. It'll be a strong independent progressive lineup.

Memo To Chris: How's that synchronicity with your best buddy Michael Steele working for ya? Steele had you for lunch — AGAIN! — on the Perry-Romney BIG LIE claiming President Obama said Americans are "lazy." He didn't, of course. He said the U.S. government such as the folks at Commerce haven't been hungry enough over the last two decades in seeking investment opportunities for U.S. companies. Comparing Michael to some crazy uncle that you trot out at Thanksgiving, then telling him not to "interpret" you is kinda WEAK, Chris. And when you have a primo BULLSHIT ARTIST under contract, like Michael the crazy grammarian, you need to counter with someone (Michael Feldman totally whiffed) having a STRONG BULLSHIT radar — like Joan Walsh, por ejemplo, who could cut Steele down to size with her first, contemptuous, "that's RI-DI-CULOUS."

A word about Martin Bashir. So maybe the suits got him for the British accent, to add a touch of class to the lineup. And with that retro look, the buzz-cut, glasses and tweedy suits, Martin looks like the British ad exec they should have cast on 'Mad Men' instead of that other humorless guy. But Martin's proven to be a likable, thoughtful progressive, unlike Dylan Ratigan, who follows him. Today Martin got an attack of the giggles when he asked Dylan if he was carrying a "concealed weapon." Don't quite know what to make of it, but I know I like Martin.

Dorli Rainey, 84-Year-Old Menace To Society, Pepper Sprayed By Seattle's Finest

Can anyone be more emblematic of the spirit of the Occupy Wall Street movement than Dorli Rainey? The feisty 84-year old woman was pepper-sprayed by Seattle's non-age discriminatory police while at an OWS demonstration in solidarity with their brothers and sisters at Zuccotti Park in New York City. In the meleé that ensued as the police indiscriminately pepper sprayed the gathered demonstrators, Rainey was nearly trampled underfoot if not for the swift action of a big, strong Iraq War veteran who scooped the diminutive senior up and said,"You're safe now" as he led her to safety. Very cool.

(Photo: Joshua Trujillo/Seattlepi.com)

Here is the incomparable, unbowed Dorli Rainey with Keith, in one of his finest interviews ... he just listens and lets her talk:

Universal Female Reaction To Man Wearing Loincloth

Our Secretary of State is a total delight ...

The Vaunted "DEMOCRAT MACHINE"

This graphic says it all; (for "DEMOCRAT MACHINE" at its best, look [sell]out for "supercommittee" final product);
Just follow the arrows:

Is Your Water On FIRE?

This 'Fracking Song' by David Holmes explains it all in song:



Then Rachel picks up the story:



If the Republicans have their way we'll all be drinking GOP tap water flambé while dying extra quickly of oil & gas industry cancers.

Reasons Not To Watch Daytime MSNBC

Moron Joe; Dylan Ratigan; sticking Chris Hayes on the equivalent of a graveyard shift timeslot; reactionary pundits like Karen Hunter (is she still defending Herman Cain?) and Boris The Blowhard Republican — where's the progressive, not to mention Democratic, perspective? It's CNN-Lite with Richard Lui, the ex-CNNer, who allows Boris The Blowhard to refer to a nonexistent "Democrat Party."

Do you have any idea how infuriating this partisan trash talking disrespect is, MSNBC suits?  Don't call yourself a professional newsman, Mr. Lui, if you don't know to correct any anti-Democratic pundit who says that. It's not as if we haven't incessantly covered this ground before. To the point where then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi had to correct then-President George W. Bush. And he graciously conceded the point, promising to say the party's name correctly. It seems Mr. Lui hasn't gotten the memo. He keeps allowing his obnoxious Republican pundits to deliberately trash the party's name. It's disrespectful.

There is no such entity as the "Democrat Party" just as there is no such thing as the "Democrat machine." There is the Democratic Party, which is the longest continuously existing political party in world history. For that reason alone — set aside policy, philosophy, history — it deserves the minimum respect accorded a great institution by virtue of its longevity in the fabric of American history, from its earliest anti-Federalist (the Republicans of the day) foundational faction of Jefferson, Madison and Monroe, to acquiring its modern name under Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren. That Mr. Lui seems oblivious to this is his CNN mentality infecting MSNBC. That MSNBC insists on pursuing the CNN model is the surest path to perennial second- and third-bananadom.

This is just another example of the myth of MSNBC as a progressive channel, one which allows insults of Democrats, liberals, and progressives to be meted out by right wing pundit-interlopers, and a host of center-right types and fake Democrats on a daily basis. A recent example: Dylan Ratigan thundering to the guy doing "Democratic" commentary on his show, of President Obama: "He's YOUR president!" Someone must have said something to Ratigan because since his frank outburst Ratigan's gone overboard with his, "excuse me, President Obama." Too late, Dylan. You can't shove your anti-Obama, anti-Democratic bias back in the tube once you spout it out.

So much for the "liberal" and/or "progressive" channel.

So President Obama And His APEC Pals Get OCCUPIED, And The Next Day ...

There's a nationwide police crackdown that results in the eviction of Occupy protesters from New York to Oakland. Perhaps it was just an unhappy coincidence. But was the President embarrassed or annoyed by Hawaiian Singer Makana's bold security breach to play multiple versions of his Dylanesque ballad celebrating the Occupy movement and the 99 percenters? Here's the story and the decidedly subversive musical offering — for a summit of self-styled masters of humanity:

APEC World Leaders Dinner Gets Occupied

BY ANDY BICHLBAUM ON NOV 13 2011 - 9:18AM TAGGED:

November 13, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

APEC World Leaders Dinner Gets Occupied

Within secure zone, musician sings on behalf of the many

Honolulu - A change in the programmed entertainment at last night's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gala left a few world leaders slack-jawed, though most seemed not to notice that anything was amiss.

During the gala dinner, renowned Hawaiian guitarist Makana, who performed at the White House in 2009, opened his suit jacket to reveal a home-made “Occupy with Aloha” T-shirt. Then, instead of playing the expected instrumental background music, he spent almost 45 minutes repeatedly singing his protest ballad released earlier that day. The ballad, called “We Are the Many,” includes lines such as “The lobbyists at Washington do gnaw.... And until they are purged, we won't withdraw,” and ends with the refrain: “We'll occupy the streets, we'll occupy the courts, we'll occupy the offices of you, till you do the bidding of the many, not the few.”

Those who could hear Makana’s message included Presidents Barack Obama of the United States of America, Hu Jintao of China, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia, Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada, and over a dozen other heads of state.

“At first, I was worried about playing ‘We Are The Many,’” said Makana. “But I found it odd that I was afraid to sing a song I’d written, especially since I'd written it with these people in mind.”

The gala was the most secure event of the summit. It was held inside the Hale Koa hotel, a 72-acre facility owned and controlled by the US Defense Department; the site was fortified with an additional three miles of fencing constructed solely for the APEC summit.

Makana was surprised that no one objected to him playing the overtly critical song. “I just kept doing different versions,” he said. “I must’ve repeated ‘the bidding of the many, not the few’ at least 50 times, like a mantra. It was surreal and sobering.”

Makana’s new song is inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement, which has taken root in cities worldwide. Last Saturday, eight protesters were arrested when they refused to leave the Occupy Honolulu encampment at Thomas Square Park. Occupy Honolulu has joined other groups, including Moana Nui, to protest the APEC meeting, and while Makana performed, hundreds of people protested outside.

AS I WAS SAYING: Homeland Security, FBI Coordinating Nationwide Crackdown On Occupy Movement

"They're gonna come back. This is a movement that can't be stopped," said Dan Siegel, former adviser to Oakland Mayor Jean Quan. Siegel resigned in protest over Quan's authorized police crackdown. The hapless, once progressive Mayor Quan, now singing a different tune as part of the establishment, leaving the impression of a rudderless boat in choppy seas has, predictably, let the cat out of the bag:

Speaking on a BBC radio show, Oakland Mayor Jean Quan says she was recently on a conference call with 18 cities dealing with 99 Percent occupations and that they were discussing how to handle the situation:

QUAN: I was recently on a conference call of 18 cities across the country who had the same situation where what had started as a political movement and political encampment ended up being an encampment of the people who started them.

Wouldn't you like to be a fly on the wall of that conference call? Who was in attendance; who chaired; were Homeland Security, FBI, and other federal "agencies" represented? This thing is taking on a really weird 60s flashback quality to it. Before you know it, they'll have revived Cointelpro. I kid you not, folks. Stay alert for infiltrators. In the meantime, an Examiner correspondent — sorry, foolish Daily Kos poster; this dude has solid journalistic creds; talk about passing the "smell test" for trashing a blog (Examiner) while contributing to one (Daily Kos)! — reports the following:

Over the past ten days, more than a dozen cities have moved to evict "Occupy" protesters from city parks and other public spaces. As was the case in last night's move in New York City, each of the police actions shares a number of characteristics. And according to one Justice official, each of those actions was coordinated with help from Homeland Security, the FBI and other federal police agencies.

The official, who spoke on background to me late Monday evening, said that while local police agencies had received tactical and planning advice from national agencies, the ultimate decision on how each jurisdiction handles the Occupy protests ultimately rests with local law enforcement.

According to this official, in several recent conference calls and briefings, local police agencies were advised to seek a legal reason to evict residents of tent cities, focusing on zoning laws and existing curfew rules. Agencies were also advised to demonstrate a massive show of police force, including large numbers in riot gear. In particular, the FBI reportedly advised on press relations, with one presentation suggesting that any moves to evict protesters be coordinated for a time when the press was the least likely to be present.

I believe this is credible information coming from a credible source. Why? Because I don't see what the downside is, from the Feds' POV if it's supposed to be misinformation. Who wins, who loses? The Feds are definite winners; it's quite possible this is a deliberate, or controlled leak. Does anyone really think Homeland Security would mind if we thought they were coordinating the crackdown on the Occupy movement? Or the FBI? The Obama administration, yes? You do — really? Then you're very foolish indeed, Daily Kos poster. President Obama has taken a half & half hands-off approach, saying it's up to the municipalities to decide how they will deal with the OWS encampments and protests. But should they need logistical or tactical support, or advice, please feel free to drop your helpful, friendly spooks, Secretary Napolitano and Director Mueller, a line. Or a tweet? Count on it.

It's not really all that sinister. In fact it's more like spook bureaucrat institutional-think: They probably see it as a great opportunity for interagency coordination right down to the state municipality level. Does anyone really think Homeland Security would pass up such an opportunity to test their nationwide security network, to conduct a nationwide eviction sweep with minimal First Amendment implications? Hell, it's a lot better than a dry run exercise. What they don't quite understand is that this movement is a lot bigger than they realize, and before they know it they'll be wading in even deeper still.

"Brain Freeze" For Herman Cain? NO WAY, José!

Let's get one thing straight: A "brain freeze" implies there's knowledge/know-how to be imparted behind the sudden, and painful to watch, "brain freeze" in which the brain ceases communicating with the language synapses and the open mouth takes on the character of a flap-jaw. The subject might as well be speaking in tongues. Weren't you half-expecting Herman's head to swivel all the way around and pea soup to shoot from his mouth? See, a true "brain freeze" presumes a logical, rational, articulate answer is tucked away somewhere in that gray matter before it temporarily "freezes." What we saw from Herman Cain was the sheer panic that comes from the realization, "I don't know WTF I'm supposed to say about this 'Becky-becky-LIBYA-stan' 'cause I have NO FUCKING IDEA what President Obama's policy was in the first place." And there's no Newt beside him for Herman to say, "You go first, Newt." O.M.G.!

That's the "businessman's" dirty little secret: They can surround themselves with acolytes and yes-men/women (who double up as sexual harassment toys) to answer these things for them. The "businessman/CEO" gets to stand there, make sweeping statements, sing a tune or two, and NEVER be challenged by a suck-up media. EXCUSE ME?!

No one ever told Herman he would have to face the music at one point in this campaign. Even George W. Bush knew that, but he had lots of sharpies working for him. I don't quite see the cigarette guy cutting it. I mean, debates are one thing: Even an IDIOT like Mama Grizzly can get past them by seducing National Review's Rich Lowry, who said "Palin sprinkled magic boner dust thru the TV, into the living rooms of American males." Oh-Kay ... as Bill Buckley turns in his grave. (And don't be giving Herman ideas, Rich; he's in enough hot water with those thousands of women not yet sexually harassed by him.)

No. A true "brain freeze" would presuppose Herman had an answer to a very simple foreign policy question. Instead, this is what happens when he's caught like the proverbial deer in the headlights, as millions watch his agonizingly slow, painful embarrassment unfold. You know that stroking the tie move, crossing the legs, and taking a drink of water? Classic signs of performance panic. With a twist. Herman was making sure he was still dressed, his pants were on, and his zipper in the UP position. Because at that moment he was having one of those Freudian nightmares where you believe you're standing in front of all the world wearing nothing but your underwear. Twirl, twirl, twirl ... "Got all this stuff twirling around in my head ... DO I REMEMBER GETTING DRESSED?!"

Politics is a cruel, cutthroat business. When you start feeling sorry for the candidate — and I felt genuinely sorry for Herman — he's finished.

POLICE STATE WATCH: First-Ever National (Coordinated?) Sweep of Occupy Protests

Is this a moment which will go down in infamy in our nation's history? The last I checked the Constitution, the people have a right to peaceably assemble and petition their government for a redress of grievances. It's right there in the First Amendment to the Bill of Rights of our Constitution:

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Yesterday, as the media raged about the PSU sexual abuse tragedy, it was a perfect diversion for mayors across the nation to deploy their anti-riot police units against the Occupy Wall Street demonstrators. There ensued a clean sweep of OWS encampments in what could well be described as a coordinated action by the mayors and their "elite" police teams. It would be no surprise if we subsequently learn that Homeland Security was involved in some way — at the very least in the loop — as the OWS protesters were rounded up and evicted from their encampments.

Was it a dry run for the suppression of anti-government demonstrations — of any kind? Sure had that "feel." They can run exercises against mock terrorist events and civil disturbances, but there's no substitute for doing it against thousands of real demonstrators, even when they are peaceful and pose no threat whatsoever to constituted authority. Next stop: The courts, injunctions, and a change in tactics to larger, more targeted demonstrations, including perhaps but not limited to, a march on Washington, and: Occupy the Mall? Occupy Congress, the Supreme Court, and/or the White House?

Here's an incomplete rundown of this unprecedented POLICE STATE sweep:

• Mayor Bloomberg, New York's pretend progressive mayor, evicts original OWS demonstrators from Zuccotti, aka "Liberty" Park in police sweep; over 200 arrests.

• Oakland, CA: Predawn sweep and eviction; 32 arrests.

• Portland, OR: Camps at Lownsdale and Chapman Squares dismantled; some protesters resisted and were arrested.

• Chapel Hill, NC: Police Swat team sweeps vacant auto dealership, wearing riot gear and brandishing their assault weapons against peaceful, terrified kids branded as "anarchists." Un-fucking-believable.

• Berkeley, CA: Historic birthplace of the 60s "Free Speech Movement" is the site today of a demonstration — is another police crackdown in the offing?

PASTORAL SCENES OF POLICE TAKING DOWN OWS FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA: LET FREEDOM RING!

Elizabeth Warren IS AWESOME: Slams Dirty Rove Ad With Grace, Dignity

Here is Elizabeth Warren taking the high road in response to a filthy Karl Rove hit-ad. Warren introduces herself to voters, lets them know who she is and why she's on their side, having opposed Wall Street and the banks (Scott Brown's largest underwriters in the Senate) when it wasn't fashionable to do so.

Catholic Church Goes Tea Party: Blames "Government" And "Culture"

I wonder when that bastion of masculine depravity known as the U.S. Catholic Bishops are going to recast their opposition to child sexual abuse, such as it is, in the same light they're railing against same-sex marriage and abortion, blaming the state and federal governments and our “culture” for a woman's right over her reproductive decisions and a gay person's right to marriage. Is the Catholic Church's sexual abuse of boys the fault of governments and our “culture” too? Here's one pious hypocrite, Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the bishops conference, on the unfolding PSU horror story:

“Every time that once again takes over the headlines we once again bow our heads in shame,” the archbishop said. “We know what you’re going through, and you can count on our prayers.” And then the kicker: Dolan said the Penn State scandal was proof that sex abuse was “widespread” and not associated with a particular faith. “One of the things we've learned is, tragically, it's people who have earned positions of trust,” he said. Prayer and passing the buck. Nice FAIL, Archbishop. Are governments and our “culture” to blame here too? Or could it possibly be the insular, secretive, patriarchal institutions living in another century, and resistant to any and all change, particularly that which would include the voices of half our population, in equal measure: women.

TEA PARTY REMEDIAL ED: History v. Pseudo-History

Learning to tell the difference, first, and then knowing the difference through independent research and verification, is the first step toward enlightenment on any given historical topic. A true grasp of history is essential to an informed electorate, for it directly impacts one's knowledge of politics and economics. Here Chris gives the Teabaggers an object lesson in history as a remedy for their ignorant notions of government:

And HOW NOT TO BE A HISTORIAN. Well, you can begin by not being a right wing polemicist who lies, as he must, on a daily basis. To be an honest and honorable historian is to come to grips with the truth, the facts, and objective historical realities — the textbook history that should not (before the right wing Texas Board of Education rewrote our children's schoolbooks) be questioned for historical accuracy. Bill-O the Clown claims there are only four errors. O'Really Bill-O? Then how do you account for at least 12 and as many as 17 identified errors at last count? What a pathetic blowhard — keeping America Teh STOOPID. Here Keith and John Dean deconstruct Bill-O the Clown for presuming to be a Lincoln historian:

Goldie Taylor Comes Forward, NAMES Abuser

Good on Goldie Taylor for having the courage to come forward and name her abuser.* If anything good comes of this PSU horror, then it's giving the silent victims of sexual abuse the strength to break their silence and fight back against the predators who hide behind their institutional authority. Even after years have gone by. There should be no statute of limitations for sex crimes, period. Particularly sex crimes against minors. And kudos to Lawrence for the rare gift of enabling guests on his show to reveal things about themselves outside their comfort zones that would help others in similar circumstances. It's never done in a disrespectful or exploitative manner. I guess that's why we like Lawrence. He's good at what he does. Outside politics, of course. And socialistic adverts sitting on a plush corporate boardroom maroon leather divan.

*Correction: I meant to say "abuser" not "accuser". Carlos mind-melt. It happens.

Funnin' Rachel Maddow: You MISSED One!

I guess you're "human, after all" ... to quote Rick Perry. Our beloved Rachel Maddow, the best of the best at MSNBC, responded to yet another backfiring assault on the importance of the federal government and the scope of its essential functions. To a person, in my view, everyone who argues for the elimination and privatization of large chunks of the federal government is either (a) an ideological zealot (Ron/Rand Paul) or (b) doesn't know WTF they're talking about (Rick Perry, Teabaggers). What's wrong with this spirited defense of our government from Rachel? Watch:

Yup, what's missing is Rachel's BELOVED (and mine) National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an agency of the Department of Commerce. For those who think the right wing's anti-government hysteria is a recent development, driven perhaps by our deficit and down economy, think again. Back during the "good old days" of the Clinton presidency, a time of unparalleled prosperity in our nation's history, wingnuts were targeting for demolition the selfsame departments Perry couldn't name in all, let alone understand their function of service and paramount importance to our leadership position in the world.

The greatest single project ever undertaken by modern man was one cited by Rachel, the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos, New Mexico, which built the first atomic weapon and began the nuclear era. Setting aside any moral reservations, the fact is, had it not been us, then it would be either the Nazis or the Soviets. And anyone who is familiar with the history of that "Pharaonic" project would understand that it was way outside the scope and competency of the private sector. The Department of Energy grew out of that project, and has become intimately linked to our national security. For any American to propose abolishing this department of the U.S. government is tantamount to madness. Who needs traitors when we've got destroyers of government running for president to serve destroyers of jobs in the public/private sectors?

Government, as President Obama said recently, by way of Lincoln, is here to do for us the things that "we cannot do for ourselves." After all, We, The People are the government. Second, this toxic idea that the federal government is an "alien" entity outside of the people and hostile to us is, similarly, a longstanding separatist strain in American history that dates back at least to the Civil War, and to the defeat and subjugation of the Confederate South by the Yankee North. The southern secessionists, represented by Governor Perry and his right wing "states rights" cohorts, have never gotten over it. The so-called "Tea Party" is the Republican wingnut manifestation of its Confederate wing. Debt and taxes are but pretexts for this rabid, irrational hatred of a "tyrannical" government.

The time was the late 90s. President Obama's Chief of Staff, Bill Daley, was then President Clinton's Secretary of Commerce. I contributed to a liberal political board populated by wingnuts who lost every argument, but hung on being endlessly circuitous and argumentative. For some reason they flocked to me. I think it was my exotic name. Sounded "foreign" or something. I tangoed with one of our favorite wingnuts — actually a decent dude, in his own way — who started a Gov. Perry rant about abolishing the Commerce Department. Well, I'd just about had enough, so I replied. This is what I said:

From the Commerce Department's "About Us" section:

"The Department of Commerce promotes job creation, economic growth, sustainable development and improved living standards for all Americans by working in partnership with business, universities, communities and workers to:

1. Build for the future and promote U.S. competitiveness in the global marketplace by strengthening and safeguarding the nation's economic infrastructure.

2. Keep America competitive with cutting-edge science and technology and an unrivaled information base.

3. Provide effective management and stewardship of the nation's resources and assets to ensure sustainable economic opportunities.

The Commerce Department touches the daily lives of Americans in many ways — it makes possible the weather reports heard every morning; it facilitates technology that Americans use in the workplace and home every day; it supports the development, gathering and transmitting of information essential to competitive business; it makes possible the diversity of companies and goods found in America's (and the world's) marketplaces; it supports environmental and economic health for the communities in which Americans live and it conducts the constitutionally mandated decennial census which is the basis of representative democracy.

The Commerce Dept. has taken a leading role in negotiating trade and international agreements on behalf of our private sector (as recently in China). It has also facilitated trade and business agreements between countries and individual states, to the economic benefit of the states."

You know, it never ceases to amaze me how right wingers love to shoot from the hip when making cheap political hay about doing away with this government department, or that — until it gets down to brass tacks and specifics, and calmer voices on both sides remind them that many of the functions performed by said department cannot, and should not, be eliminated willy-nilly.

The function of our trade representatives is to negotiate treaties and agreements. The function of the Commerce Department is to regulate and administer those agreements on behalf of our country. That's why we have an executive branch and a president. The function of Congress, as the legislative branch, is to approve those treaties and provide oversight over budget matters and administration. I'm sure you know all this (duh), so why are you imputing administrative executive functions on the Congress? In the interests of greater efficiency? Please.

As for the trade deficit, any economist will tell you that the Commerce Dept. has very little to do with it. The trade deficit is dependent on a variety of economic factors and indices that have developed over a couple of decades through both Republican and Democratic administrations. What Commerce can do is to provide assistance and data for U.S. companies to market their products, work to ensure access to international markets as required by our trade agreements, and safeguard U.S. companies and workers from unfair competition, dumping, or subsidized imports. Not only that, but who's going to issue export licenses and administer patents and trademarks? State, Defense, Interior?

You may argue with the effectiveness of the Commerce Department in certain high profile and politicized areas, like trade, but not with the necessity of its essential functions. I don't understand why you're in such a lather over it anyway; is it because Secretary Bill Daley is the brother of Chicago's Democratic kingpin, Mayor Richie Daley? 

It really irks me, a lot, how those who constantly criticize and bitch and moan about our government never seem to realize or acknowledge the positive impact it has on their everyday lives. Every time you turn on the radio or TV and tune in to the weather, it comes to you courtesy of the National Weather Service which is (you guessed it!) a division of the Commerce Department. I noticed the Weather Channel just posted huge profit and growth numbers; why? Because their raw data comes from the government, and it's free! Hooray!!

I don't think anyone today will seriously argue with the importance of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (of which the NWS is a part, along with the National Environmental Satellite Data, and Information Service which coordinates environmental and weather data collected from satellites), given the strategic impact of global warming and severe weather changes on our economic welfare. The concept of an earth science agency (NOAA) within Commerce was developed in 1965 by a Democrat, LBJ, and finalized in 1970 by a Republican, Nixon. We can thank them for their foresight on this question.

And then there is the Census Bureau, another (you guessed it!) agency of the Commerce Department. I vaguely recall your extensive use of Census Bureau data to make wrongheaded arguments about poverty during the Reagan administration. Do I hear a thank you, a few disgruntled words of recognition to our government? After all, it has so beneficently provided you with mountains of FREE data that could ostensibly become an instrument of its own destruction if the anti-government whiners have their way? I don't think so.

OK. So now you want to demolish the Commerce Department. According to your INFINITE wisdom, it's "useless." Let's go down the list: Do we do away with patents and trademarks? NO WAY! say the naysayers — who's going to protect MY intellectual property!? Well, what about export licenses? What, are YOU nuts!? Humm, surely the Census Bureau, the right wing has no use for it (Psst ... the idea is to balkanize and keep voter turnout low), right? OF COURSE NOT, wail the anti-government zealots indignantly, we just don't want the DEMOCRATS to run it! Well then, let's demolish the NOAA! Gee, my constituents might not like it if they're struck WITHOUT WARNING by a hurricane (like in the old days) ... my state is poor and we REALLY NEED the National Weather Service to give us adequate warning.

So I guess what you're saying is we smash the Commerce Dept. and carve up all these agencies, consolidating them within State, Defense, Interior, you name it, that we may achieve REAL economies of scale and TRUE efficiency! Brilliant!! It's an old cliche but a truism: The anti-government foamers just love to rail against "big government" until it comes down to slashing some agency that they like because it has a positive impact on their lives and economic well-being.

What's next on your right wing hit list: the Department of Education?

What can I say? I've mellowed quite a bit since the days of the Flying Monkey Right — yowza, they're baaack! — but even then, I had the gift of political smarts that isn't learned from experience (Chris) or D.C. connections (POLITICO, Idiot Punditocracy), but comes primarily from having core principles and beliefs, which they all lack to varying degrees. Keep trying, Lawrence; at least you can laugh your mistakes off, not take yourself too seriously, which is a prerequisite for political growth. Right now, your audience is still way ahead of you. But for some largely inexplicable reason ... we like you!

As for Chris, we like him too. For largely inexplicable reasons. I'm afraid there's less hope for Chris, as he is so in the grip of the John Harrises of this world. But then Chris writes a book on JFK ... and a glimmer emerges. (Still waiting on the Jon Stewart seal of approval, however.) Two things, Chris: Lee Harvey Oswald wasn't "a man of the left" (Jesus, drop the Charles Krauthammer affectation, already), rather he was a megalomaniacal lunatic; second, regarding the "ask not" line, Kahlil Gibran wrote it first (see my post), it's in print, circa 1926, and if JFK's Choate professor said it, where did he get it from, hmm? How about a prominent, successful author and Massachusetts resident? If you only write "truths" that are palatable to you, Chris, then you're no better than your polemicist pal, Bill-O the Clown, whose Lincoln book was banned from Ford's Theater for its many "inaccuracies" and for Bill-O'Really not knowing the difference between "furl" (a nautical term) and "furrows" one's brow.

Teh STOOPID At The Studios

Keeping America dumb and Republican.

"Base" No Longer Angry At President Obama ... For Now

The President really did not want to get on the wrong side of Robert Redford.