Teabaggers Mock Man With Parkinson's; Chris Matthews Rewrites History

This video, shot by the Columbus Dispatch in front of Congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy's district office, includes a segment in which a man with Parkinson’s is mocked and scorned by Teabaggers, one of whom throws dollar bills in his face. Chris Matthews of Hardball, in fine fettle this day (Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Chris!) offered the unfounded fantasy that Ronald Reagan “would have sat down to talk with this guy.”



Chris’s “Reagan Democrat” flirtations are not only annoying, but what’s worse, place him in the Texas Board of Re-Education fiction-over-fact camp. Chris’s promo says he’s a real tough interviewer who will notice “turbulence” and a “weakness” in the interviewees’ arguments, at which point he will pounce. Most of the time, though, I’ve seen him going over that metaphorical waterfall. He should have been tougher with that Texas Board member, the so-called “strict constructionist” who was cloyingly earnest, bemoaning the “trampling on the rights of the minority” while she had proceeded to do just that time and again. It’s not a question of “patterns” (the guy from the Dallas paper was woefully unprepared), it’s about not introducing falsehoods, such as the claim the Founding Fathers were Christians (why didn’t you ask her directly, Chris?) who did not intend there to be a “wall of separation” between church and state (Jefferson’s words) because it is not specified in the Constitution. Remember, Chris, that Board member said she was a “strict constructionist.” That’s CODE for, if it’s not in the Constitution, e.g., the separation of church and state, it doesn’t exist. Therefore, Jefferson is OUT.

That’s the bottom line. As for Ronald Reagan, the president who destroyed our nation’s industrial base and opened the door to the ascendancy of the religious extremists we see today rewriting our history in Texas, I am convinced he will go down in history as one of the worst, most destructive presidents ever. (That is, if our history is written by historians and not right wing hacks with a political and ideological agenda.) It’s one thing to exaggerate Reagan’s presidency (without the “a” to spell Don “SPEED IT UP” Regan) with false encomiums from the right, such as, he “won” the Cold War; it’s another to mythologize the man with nonsense, as Chris has done.



Here’s what I know, Chris: I have a friend who called Reagan Satan because his sister died of AIDS and Reagan did little for those afflicted with this horrible disease, much less even acknowledge it, mentioning AIDS by name only once during his entire presidency. As for your homily about him sitting down with the sick, these quotes come to mind:

“I'd like to harness their youthful energy with a strap.”--Concerning student demonstrations in California, 1966

“Welfare recipients are a faceless mass waiting for a handout.”—1966

“The time has come to stop being our brother's keeper.”--Concerning welfare budget cuts in California, 1967

Oh sure, most of these quotes were made during Reagan’s “Dark Period” as governor, not as the genial dunce who wrecked our country for generations, perhaps forever, destroyed our nation’s industrial base, depleted our middle class, and poisoned our politics with the extremism of the wingnuts. One good thing Reagan did: He radicalized Michael Moore, who was at Ground Zero, America’s rust belt, when the Reagan plagues of the 80s were unleashed on America’s working class.

Reagan didn’t change his stripes as president, he only got better speechwriters. And a cutthroat butler, Don Regan, the power behind the throne who bossed him around with astonishing disrespect, if not for the man, then for the office. This is a quote from Reagan, the president, in which he made light of AIDS:

“[M]aybe the Lord brought down this plague” because “illicit sex is against the Ten Commandments.”

This “Dark” Reagan that the Pollyanna-ish Chris Matthews, with his rose-tinted glasses, refuses to recognize would have certainly taken the side of the Teabaggers. Only in a slightly more dignified fashion, perhaps, which isn’t saying much.

This Is What Democrats Should have been Telling the Public All Along

This is from Rep. John B. Larson, Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. These are the healthcare provisions that will take efect IMMEDIATELY UPON PASSAGE OF THE BILL. Why haven't the Democrats been driving these points home to the public sooner?

“As soon as health care passes, the American people will see immediate benefits. The legislation will:

• Prohibit pre-existing condition exclusions for children in all new plans;

• Provide immediate access to insurance for uninsured Americans who are uninsured because of a pre-existing condition through a temporary high-risk pool;

• Prohibit dropping people from coverage when they get sick in all individual plans;

• Lower seniors prescription drug prices by beginning to close the donut hole;

• Offer tax credits to small businesses to purchase coverage;

• Eliminate lifetime limits and restrictive annual limits on benefits in all plans;

• Require plans to cover an enrollee's dependent children until age 26;

• Require new plans to cover preventive services and immunizations without cost-sharing;

• Ensure consumers have access to an effective internal and external appeals process to appeal new insurance plan decisions;

• Require premium rebates to enrollees from insurers with high administrative expenditures and require public disclosure of the percent of premiums applied to overhead costs.

By enacting these provisions right away, and others over time, we will be able to lower costs for everyone and give all Americans and small businesses more control over their health care choices.”

Quotable: Dennis Kucinich

“Given all the times I’ve voted against the President, going aboard Air Force One I thought proper attire was a parachute.”

Congressman and presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, announcing this morning his decision to vote for the healthcare bill. Dennis flew on AF1 with the President on the way to a rally yesterday for healthcare in Strongsville, Ohio which is in Dennis's district. During the rally, when the President was introducing Congressman Kucinich, someone in the audience yelled out, “Vote YES!” The President laughed, turned to Mr. Kucinich, and said, “Did you hear that, Dennis?” Then he asked the audience member to repeat it . . . just in case.

Dennis Kucinich is the strongest proponent of single-payer in Congress. His opposition to the bill has always been principled and the most substantively critical on the Democratic side. But he recognizes this is a first step, and Congress will revisit this bill again and again to improve it, much as it did with Social Security.

Way to go, Dennis!

W., the Texas Cheerleader: "Is Our Children Learning"?

Quotable: Limp Johnny Boehner and "Compassionate" Connie Mack

“There is no way to hide from the biggest vote they will ever cast.”

No shit, Sherlock. The House Republican Leader showing his penchant for stating the obvious. The Republicans’ concern for the well-being of Democrats who vote for healthcare reform is touching, but that is what elections are for. The President has every right, just as Reagan did, to get an up-or-down vote on his major policy initiative. There is always November.

Bring it on, TEABAGGERS!

“I feel sorry for you.”

Florida Congressman Connie Mack, to Democrats sitting across from him, after misrepresenting the effect of the healthcare bill on a woman suffering from breast cancer. Connie, save your crocodile sorrow for the thousands of women who die every year from breast cancer because they have no health insurance.

Monumentally repugnant JERK.

How Would You Like Dr. Frankenstein for Your Coroner?

This hilarious political attack ad takes the prize as the craziest of the bunch. It was from Dwight McKenna, running to unseat nine-time Orleans Parish, LA incumbent Frank Minyard by depicting him as Dr. Frankenstein harvesting organs with his loyal sidekick, Igor. (Is help really this hard to find with double-digit unemployment?) And how could the voters know they had nine times voted for the monster coroner? Is Orleans Parish Zombieland? Questions, questions . . .



Whoever came up with this ad will surely find work for the RNC, just in time for the mid-terms!

Who Says We Don't Have 50 Senate Votes for the Public Option

The public option has consistently polled as the most popular proposal of all the separate components of healthcare reform, which when polled separately get consistent support from the American people. On the Dark Side, the killer insurance industry has lobbied ferociously to keep the public option out of a final healthcare bill. It might be only a sliver, according to President Obama, but it will save hundreds of billions of dollars from the deficit. Isn’t it plain common sense that anything the insurance companies oppose so fiercely has to be good for consumers? The fact is, the votes are there:



So why is it so difficult to get an up-or-down vote on the public option? There are a couple of reasons and they may well intersect. One is that Nancy Pelosi’s headcount may be affected by blue dog DINOs who are shills for the insurance industry. The other is that the White House may have cut a deal with the insurance companies several months ago not to push for a public option. What is not clear is exactly what the White House expects to get in return?

The insurance industry lobbyists have descended “like locusts” on Capitol Hill trying to defeat this bill. Obviously, they would rather not have healthcare reform pass, but if they are going to be regulated, they sure as hell do not want the people to get a taste of HOW GREAT, COST EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT a Medicare-like healthcare option will be for Americans, because it will spell, if not the death, a great diminution of their influence. Late word from a NYT source is that it wasn’t the insurance companies the White House cut a deal with but the Hospitals associations because a public option would give the government more negotiating power on prices. The insurers continue their no-holds-barred opposition while the hospital associations have given their qualified support. Such is the world of Big Money lobbying.

The bottom line is, the public option is good public policy and would be great for consumers, but a threat to the bottom line of hospitals and insurers. That’s what it’s intended to do: foster more competition and efficiencies in the system, while lowering the costs for individuals.

If the Teabaggers Did Nirvana . . .

This is a musical tribute to the know-nothing tradition in American politics so bizarrely promulgated by the Teabaggers and ineptly exploited by the Republicans. This great parody by "Weird Al" Yankovic cuts close to the truth of the day:



What is this song all about?
Can't figure any lyrics out
How do the words to it go?
I wish you'd tell me, I don't know
Don't know, don't know, don't know, ooh no
Don't know, don't know, don't know...

Now I'm mumblin' and I'm screamin'
And I don't know what I'm singin'
Crank the volume, ears are bleedin'
I still don't know what I'm singin'
We're so loud and incoherent
Boy, this oughta bug your parents
Yeah!

*belch*

hing!

It's unintelligible
I just can't get it through my skull
It's hard to bargle nawdle zouss
with all these marbles in my mouth
Don't know, don't know, don't know, ooh no
Don't know, don't know, don't know...

Well, we don't sound like Madonna
Here we are now, we're Nirvana
Sing distinctly? We don't wanna
Buy our album, we're Nirvana
A garage band from Seattle
Well it sure beats raisin' cattle
Yeah!

moo..

baa...

And I forgot the next verse
Oh well, I guess it pays to rehearse
The lyric sheet's so hard to find
What are the words, oh nevermind
Don't know, don't know, don't know, ooh no
Don't know, don't know, don't know...

Well, I'm yellin' and we're playin'
But I don't know what I'm sayin'
What's the message I'm conveyin'?
Can you tell me what I'm sayin'?
So have you got some idea?
Didn't think so
Well, I'll see ya
Sayonara, sayonawa
Ayonawa, hodinawa
Odinaya, yodinaya
Yaddayadda, yaaahyaaah
Ayiyaaaaaah!

Quotable: Thomas Jefferson on Education (or Lack Thereof)

“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.”

“Freedom [is] the first-born daughter of science.”

Thomas Jefferson, banished by historical revisionist Winston McLeroy Smith at the Ministry of Truth, a.k.a. the Texas Board of Re-Education.

Keith Olbermann's Dad has Died

Our condolences and thoughts go out to Keith Olbermann and his family on the passing of his father. Keith, who anchors Countdown on MSNBC, is one of the truly good guys in broadcast news and opinion journalism. His commentaries during the course of his father's illness on the need for healthcare reform were powerful and heartfelt. And when Keith promoted the free health clinics in several states with an outpouring of contributions from his audience, he did it without fanfare, contributing $30,000 out of his own pocket which he never publicized. We got to know Keith's mom and dad through the son's commentaries. He was proud of them and one sensed the parents had much to do with the good and generous person we know Keith to be.

Thomas Jefferson, Author of the Greatest Political Document in History, Cut by the Texan Fascists

That’s right, the author of the Declaration of Independence, Virginia’s Constitution, and America’s transcendent Renaissance man was simply too un-Christian for the dentist McLeroy and the religious extremists on the Texas Board of Re-Education. The violence committed against our nation’s glorious history and some of our enduring historical icons by these Nazi bastards is so immense that one doesn’t even know where to begin. This must NOT be allowed to stand. Educated people throughout this land must rise up against the Medievalist Religious Right and say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

Quotable: Adolf Hitler’s Ghost Gives Texas Board of Education the Nazi Salute

"Through clever and constant application of propaganda, people can be made to see paradise as hell, and also the other way round."

Mein Kampf, by Adolf Hitler-- p. 376

What Makes America Any Better Than a Totalitarian State

. . . when this is allowed to happen:

AUSTIN, Texas — A far-right faction of the Texas State Board of Education succeeded Friday in injecting conservative ideals into social studies, history and economics lessons that will be taught to millions of students for the next decade.

These right wing bastards do not know the FIRST or LAST thing about their nation’s history, run their mouths about the “tyranny” of the state, and then use the FASCIST STATE OF TEXAS to ram this religious fundamentalist garbage masquerading as history and social studies down the throats of our kids, parents, and teachers for decades to come. And then we ask ourselves why OLDER generations of Americans are generally better educated than YOUNGER generations.

This should NOT EVER be about left or right, or any political agendas. It should be about HISTORY and FACTS and WHAT REALLY HAPPENED. What can be more utterly despicable and undemocratic than that a right wing dentist, who is not a teacher or historian or academic, and who was defeated for reelection because he is an ignorant extremist, should DECIDE a FANTASTICAL social studies CURRICULUM FILLED WITH LIES for the rest of the country.

Exposing Teabagger Racism

Teabaggers are playing a shell game in their recruitment efforts by sidestepping social issues such as abortion and gay marriage because, as one Teabagger leader said, “focusing on economic issues lures Democrats.” First, it isn’t working. Second, it’s like being “a little pregnant” or Hitler trading his Nazi Party swastika for a coat and tie while embracing Hindenburg to appear mainstream to the German people. (Hitler made it happen.)

There’s no “Tea Party” here, as these low-information rank-and-file voters prefer to be called. They’re Teabaggers today, tomorrow, and forever. There’s nothing more vile, obscene, and pornographic than unvarnished racism. Whether it’s manifested by the corporate tools of Dick Armey’s FreedomWorks or xenophobic “Tea Party Patriots,” racism is on full display at Teabagger rallies and demonstrations. (And for those who say the RNC’s use of the Teabagger poster of President Obama isn’t racist, consider this: What would you call portraying our African American president with a painted WHITE face? If you can’t see the connection, then you need to revisit your own attitudes about race.)

This is the face of Teabagger racism, as documented by a Latino watchdog group, Cuéntame, which literally means “Tell me.” Click at the top of video 2 to see part 3 and so on:

Setting the Record Straight: Sean Penn on the U.S. Military's Role in Haiti

“I believe this was a strictly HUMANITARIAN action on the part of the United States military, and an incredible one.”

Actor Sean Penn on the U.S. military’s role in Haiti, giving credit where credit is due while discussing Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez on the Bill Maher show. (Neither Penn nor Maher could pronounce the man’s name properly, as would be expected.)

While in Haiti, Penn gave an interview to Geraldo Rivera of Fox “News” in which he said: “People are suffering and a lot of people are doing their best –- the U.S. military and human aid groups –- to help them.” Penn continued, “the military is doing the most extraordinary job” and the “positive reporting, reporting of positive actions by the United States ... I can say has been unbelievable, unbelievable -- and meant and felt.”

I only post this because you wouldn’t know it from reading the far left blogs; it would clash with the narrative promoted by Chávez and Fidel (not all Cuban media) of the U.S. military as an “invasion” force, setting President Obama up as some sort of de facto ruler of Haiti backed by U.S. military might.

This particular fantasy has roots in the checkered history of the U.S. relationship with Latin America, but it’s simply not true, except to those who believe every anti-American declaration coming from the usual suspects.

Sean Penn has been generous with his time and consistent in the interviews he grants, whether he is speaking to Cuban or Venezuelan media or to Fox News. He has recognized the “incredible” humanitarian role played by the U.S. military. But he cannot control how his interviews are edited by Fox or Venezuelan and Cuban media. Nor can he control the selective way the far left uses his words to attack the United States. At least Bill Maher’s interview was LIVE.

If anything, as Haiti president René Préval came to Washington seeking a renewal of direct U.S. aid to Haiti, the relief efforts have been decentralized. Of the $2 billion in assistance, mostly to aid groups, the UN and development agencies, fully half of it has come from Americans. Ironically, Penn opposes the U.S. scaling back its military presence in Haiti from a peak of 20,000 on February 1 to about 8,000 in the coming days, which puts him at odds with the purveyors of the military “invasion” fantasy.

Quotable: Eric Massa on Rham Emanuel

“I went into the showers...I'm sitting there showering, naked as a jaybird and here comes Rahm Emanuel not even with a towel wrapped around his tush, poking his finger in my chest, yelling at me because I wasn't going to vote for the president's budget. Do you know how awkward it is to have a political argument with a naked man?”

Resigning ex-Congressman Eric Massa, slamming Rham Emanuel, as “an individual who would sell his mother to get a vote. He would strap his children to the front end of a steam locomotive.”

I don’t know about you, but the image of Rhambo getting naked with Eric Massa, trying to browbeat him into voting with the President seems admirable in a strange and funny kind of way . . . well beyond the call of duty. I’m warming to Rham already. And I can’t wait to see what SNL does with this material!

As for Eric Massa’s long goodbye: It’s sad and pathetic. Even Glenn Beck apologized to his audience for giving Massa the entire hour of his show. Beck got nothing except Massa’s admission of inappropriate behavior, and a lot of irrelevant weirdness inbetween.

Updating the New Political Lexicon

This was posted by Steve Benen as part of an ongoing update of our current political dictionaries. Fell free to add your own entries:

Obstructionism, for example, only refers to Democratic minorities opposing Republican proposals.

Tyranny is found when an elected Democratic majority passes legislation that Republicans don't like.

Reconciliation describes a Senate process that Republicans are allowed to use to overcome Democratic “obstructionism.”

Terrorism refers to acts of political violence committed by people who aren't white guys.

Bipartisanship is found when Democrats agree to pass Republican legislation.

Big government describes a dangerous phenomenon to be avoided, except in cases relating to reproductive rights or gays.

Treason refers to Democrats criticizing a Republican administration during a war.

Patriotism refers to Republicans criticizing a Democratic administration during a war.

Fiscal responsibility is a national priority related to keeping our deficit in check, which only applies when Republicans are in the minority.

Parliamentarian is a seemingly independent official on the Hill who Senate Republicans are allowed to fire when the GOP disapproves of his/her rulings.

Government-run healthcare doesn't refer to popular government-run health care programs like Medicare.

The heartland is the most wonderful place in America, even if no conservative pundit would be caught dead living there.

Serving your country is honorable if you're a Republican, but a subject of derision when Democrats do it.

My contributions:

Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is a seemingly independent agency that is called "god" by Republicans when it scores their bills favorably and "partisan" when it says Democratic bills will reduce the deficit.

Start over means scrapping the healthcare bills passed by the House and Senate, including Republican obstruction of any efforts to restart healthcare reform before, and after, the 2010 elections.

Medicare is government-run healthcare for angry white seniors at town hall meetings and Tea Party rallies, and no one else.

Socialist is any Democrat who supports healthcare reform and regulation of the worst abuses of insurance companies, including a ban on preexisting conditions and lifetime benefit caps, requiring insurers to spend at least 80 cents on the dollar delivering healthcare, and covering 31 million instead of 3 million uninsured Americans.

Al Quaeda terrorist is any one of seven Justice Department attorneys who have in the past provided legal representation for individuals accused of terrorism.

Fear is what Republicans sow when they want to kill bills or raise money.

Reactionary is what the RNC calls a member of its donor base who contributes less than $30,000.

The Evil Empire is a term Republicans use for President Obama’s Democratic Party, a.k.a “democrat party” within GOP leadership circles.

Nuclear option is what a Republican minority calls democratic majority rule.

Limited government means exploding the debt with tax cuts for the super-rich, privatizing Social Security to the devices of Wall Street, killing Medicare and throwing seniors under the bus with a token voucher, and doubling the Pentagon budget while waging perpetual wars (three) that are unpaid for.

George Orwell is author of the Republican political manifesto, "1984."

Now you!

Sarah Palin Compares Self to G-O-D

Writing notes on palm . . . GoddoneIt TOO! says Sister Sarah:

“But then somebody sent me the other day, Isaiah 49:16, and you need to go home and look it up. Before you look it up, I'll tell you what it says though. It says, hey, if it was good enough for God, scribbling on the palm of his hand, it's good enough for me, for us. He says, in that passage, ‘I wrote your name on the palm of my hand to remember you,’ and I'm like, ‘Okay, I’m in good company.’”

Clinically termed the “narcissistic personality,” in non-psychiatric language this is called the “God Complex.”

“A god complex is a colloquial term used to portray a perceived character flaw as if it were a ‘psychological complex.’ The person who is said to have a ‘God complex’ can act so arrogantly that she might as well believe she is a god or appointed to act by a god. It is also often called the Messianic complex.”

Source: Wikipedia

Quotable: Sarah Palin on Canadian Healthcare

“ We used to hustle over the border for health care we received in Canada. And I think now, isn't that ironic? ”

Sarah Palin, viralizer of the “Death Panels” myth, confessing her staggering, unashamed hypocrisy during her first Canadian appearance.

Unlike the Palins, who are despicable freeloaders, the reality of it is that Americans desperate for healthcare who do not have the millions the Palins do, “hustle” across both borders to get critical healthcare. Americans make frequent trips to Canada to purchase the same maintenance medications (hypertension, cholesterol, you name it), and go to Mexico for high quality surgeries such as hip replacement, at a fraction of their U.S. cost.

Sarah Palin is such an evil woman (in the Biblical sense), that if she truly believes in God she’s got an express ticket punched straight to Hell.

Quotable: Dan Rather

“This will be the history of the Bush-Cheney Administration as told to Hans Christian Andersen”

Dan Rather, on the yet to be released George W. Bush and Dick Cheney memoirs