Archive for February 16, 2012
The Toughest Critter on the Planet
Headline: The world’s tiniest chameleon found in Madagascar:
I’m imagining what it takes to survive in this world when you’re that size.
Pat Buchanan Plays the Victim After Being Let Go by MSNBC
Pat Buchanan is out at MSNBC.
73-year-old Pat was a hit during the Nixon administration (1969-1974).
This is Pat then:
Pat Buchanan, 1969 via Wikipedia
This is Pat in the most recent picture I can find of him, circa 2008:
Pat Buchanan, 2008 via Wikipedia
Pat, you’ve had a great run. Give thanks and bow out gracefully. But does he do that? Nooooooo. He’s a professional Republican so he plays the victim:
My days as a political analyst at MSNBC have come to an end.
After 10 enjoyable years, I am departing, after an incessant clamor from the left that to permit me continued access to the microphones of MSNBC would be an outrage against decency, and dangerous.
Oh puhleez. Your voice was everywhere. Some of us never get heard. Go gracefully into the night. Your time has come and gone. Be thankful for what you had for God’s sake.
Mitt Thinking About What to Flip-Flop on Tomorrow
I’m not big on polls because of the slippery way questions can be worded, the potential agenda of the pollster, and the margin of error-this-and-that, but this is pretty stunning and in your face (Mitt):
Minnesota Republicans Tell Americans to Go to Hell
Republicans think they have a lock on patriotism and the Constitution, but get a load of this:
As a Minnesota Senate committee approved voter ID legislation yesterday, more than 200 citizens lined the capitol building’s halls holding signs to oppose the measure.
[...]
Senate Republicans did not permit any citizens to testify on the legislation. It passed the committee along a party-line vote, 8-6, and now advances to the full Senate.
Sorry America. All our voices don’t count. As a matter of fact, none of our voices count when Republicans have their way.
32 Senators Formally Clear Way for War on Iran
My God:
A group of 32 senators from both parties unveiled a new Senate resolution Thursday that would establish the sense of the Congress that containing a nuclear Iran is not an option.
The resolution, which will be formally introduced later today, “strongly supports U.S. policy to prevent the Iranian government from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability and rejects any policy that would rely on efforts to ‘contain’ a nuclear weapons capable Iran,” and “urges the president to reaffirm the unacceptability of an Iran with nuclear-weapons capability and oppose any policy that would rely on containment as an option in response to the Iranian nuclear threat.”
Lieberman emphasized that he doesn’t want to foreclose diplomatic options, but said that if Obama decided to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities, he would have strong bipartisan support in Congress.
I hear the Israeli lobby and the military industrial complex speaking through these Senators. Never mind what the American people want. Just yesterday CNN released a poll showing that 82% of Americans think diplomacy or “no action” is the way to go:
Americans Favor Diplomacy Against Iran
CNN/ORC International poll released Wednesday indicates that only 17% of the public wants the U.S. to use force, with 60% saying diplomatic or economic action against Iran is the right response, and 22% saying no action should be taken at this time.
Men — Heads Up Regarding the Republican War on Contraceptives
Yo, men — don’t sit back and leave the fight to retain the right to contraception to us women. Imagine what your life would be like without it. My quote of the day:
Plenty of men wouldn’t relish the thought of single-handedly providing for a family the size of a baseball team. But until those men see themselves as targets in the War On Contraception, this fight is for the ladies.
The Duggars / AP
Romney Flip-Flops on Bailing Detroit Out
Oh geeze. This is just pitiful. Romney has no spine. What does he stand for? What does he believe in? And why is he running for president? Seems to me he sees it as a way to impress and one-up his daddy. Other than that, I don’t get it.
Mitt Romney today:
During a meeting with the Detroit Free Press editorial board this afternoon in Farmington Hills, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said that he wouldn’t have let General Motors and Chrysler be liquidated during the financial meltdown of 2008-09.
But he also said by intervening in the bankruptcy proceedings, the Obama administration made the solution a political, rather than a legal process.
“That is so absurd,” to suggest that he would have stood by while the automakers were liquidated, Romney told the Free Press editorial board this morning. “I can’t even listen to that. Of course I wouldn’t have allowed them to be liquidated.”
Mitt Romney, November, 2008:
Gosh, I wonder if this might, just might, have something to do with this brown nosing:
The Detroit News survey of 500 likely voters puts Santorum ahead of Romney 34% to 30%, with Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul lagging behind at 12% and 9%, respectively. Twelve percent were undecided.
I can’t help but think of one of my favorite quotes from Maxine: “Wipe your mouth, there’s still a tiny bit of bullshit around your lips.”
Junk Food Junkiness
I swear, the imagination of the junk food industry is limitless. Have you heard about the new Taco Bell Doritos Locos taco? The shell is essentially a Dorito with the usual taco “meat,” cheese and lettuce inside. God knows how much salt the Dorito “cheese” dusting adds.
(H/t Foodimentary.com)
Mitt Romney Pulls Out of CNN Debate, Debate Canceled
About three hours ago news broke that Mitt Romney would not participate in a March 1, Super Tuesday GOP presidential debate hosted by CNN due to “scheduling problems.” My immediate thought was that Mitt was basically bowing to the prevailing wisdom that the more voters see of him, the less they like him.
Romney's Official Portrait as Governor of Massachusetts
Fast forward a few hours and we learn Rick Santorum and Ron Paul also pulled out so CNN canceled the debate altogether:
CNN canceled its March 1 Republican presidential debate on Thursday after three of four candidates declined to participate, citing busy campaign schedules leading to Super Tuesday on March 6.
“Mitt Romney and Ron Paul told the Georgia Republican Party, Ohio Republican Party, and CNN Thursday that they will not participate in the March 1 Republican presidential primary debate,” CNN said in a statement. “Without full participation of all four candidates, CNN will not move forward with the Super Tuesday debate.”
Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum also said he would not participate, leaving only former House Speaker Newt Gingrich committed to attending.
Still scheduled is a Feb. 22 debate sponsored by CNN and the Arizona Republican Party in Mesa, Ariz. It will be moderated by CNN’s John King.
Andrea Saul, a spokeswoman for former Massachusetts Gov. Romney, said, “With eight other states voting on March 6, we will be campaigning in other parts of the country and unable to schedule the CNN Georgia debate. We have participated in 20 debates, including eight from CNN.
I don’t buy Romney’s spin. I think he wants to minimize his live television appearances because he comes off as so painfully stiff and artificial. With all his money, he can arrange it so the Romney we see the most of is the Romney who appears in professionally choreographed, million dollar ads. That’s what’s going on here, imho. Lucky for him Santorum and Paul pulled out too, rendering moot the question as to why he suddenly had “scheduling problems.”
2012 Republican Campaign Posters
Hey all, I came across some 2012 Republican campaign posters (wink, wink):
(Inspired by this.)
Politico Mistakes Wisconsin State Flag for Union Flag
Holy cow:
In his barnstorming speech [yesterday in Wisconsin], the President called for tax cuts for American manufacturers and higher taxes for companies that move jobs overseas. He stood before the American flag and the blue Wisconsin flag, which portrays working men of old — a sailor and a miner below a busy badger. Emblazoned across the bottom is the year of the state’s founding, 1848.
Yet, reporting on the speech, Politico reporter Donovan Slack wrote, “Behind the stage where he will speak today are two flags: an American one, as usual, and right alongside it — and just as large — a flag for the local union, Wisconsin 1848.”
“The President has been mum in recent months on the battle raging in the Badger State between unions and Republican Gov. Scott Walker,” he continued. But Slack saw the presence of the “union” flag as definite evidence concerning Obama’s feelings. “It’s very clear what side President Obama is on here in Wisconsin,” writes Slack.
Politico has since removed the article.
There’s no excuse for this kind of sloppy “reporting” (other than an agenda-driven mindset). Slack saw what he wanted to see and reported it as fact without, apparently, taking two seconds to oh, say, Google “Wisconsin state flag,” or “local union, Wisconsin 1848″ for confirmation.
Awe, Poor Nuclear Power Plants
This adorable video will almost — almost — make you feel sorry for nuclear power plants:
(Via.)
(H/t Beth.)
Women Excluded from Republican Hearing on Contraception
House Republicans are holding a hearing this morning on President Obama’s “controversial” rule requiring employers and insurers to provide contraception to their female employees. Here is a photo of the witnesses:
All men. Unbelievable.
