Important news that is fit to print, some of which one will rarely, if ever, see printed in the mainstream press.
A blast from the past: The 2008 Presidential Campaign
Apparently there was a big rift between John McCain and Sarah Palin. His staff knew Palin was not up to the task for which she had been chosen but alas, the campaign staff worked 24/7 for a successful outcome for the Republican Party.
Let the country be damned. So much for putting one's country first.
Had John McCain won and subsequently passed away, we'd be stuck with a President 20 times worse, even more incurious, dumber and consequently more dangerous than W. We'd likely be at war with the rest of the planet and they'd be drill, baby drilling in all of our backyards in Alaska, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and anywhere else where oil might be found. There would also be monthly book burnings and political Rovian witch hunts 24/7/365.
One McCain staffer and friend apparently called Palin a
In an interview with Vanity Fair, McCain staff admitted to their appalling lack of proper vetting of a potential future Vice President and President.
McCain campaign members, in a series of conversations, told the magazine that "no serious vetting had been done before the selection (by either the McCain or the Obama team), and there was trouble in nailing down basic facts about Palin's life" -- an omission that would cause immediate trouble as details of Palin's sordid family life began to emerge.
Palin's lack of aptitude in her new starring role as V-P candidate became obvious quickly. At times, it seemed as if she was more concerned with her popularity back home in Alaska than with the national presidential campaign that she was now a central part of.
"By all accounts, Palin was either unwilling, or simply unable, to prepare," the piece says. "In the run-up to the Couric interview, Palin had become preoccupied with a far more parochial concern: answering a humdrum written questionnaire from her hometown newspaper, the Frontiersman ... At the same time, she grew concerned that her approval ratings back home in Alaska were sagging as she embraced the role of McCain's bad cop."
Let's give a round of applause to the Party of the Morally Superior and Patriotic for putting their country last.
Trouble continues ahead in GOPdise?
Few folks are left who identify themselves as Republicans.
Gee whiz. I wonder why?
According to a poll posted on Plum Line Greg Sargant reveals that Independents continue to peel away from the GOP and to Obama on big issues.
This week's big Washington Post poll asked respondents who they trust to handle health care, the economy, the budget deficit, and terrorism. The poll didn't include a partisan breakdown, but WaPo's polling director sent it over to us, and here's where indys stand:
* On health care, 51% of indys trust Obama, and 26% trust GOPers in Congress.
* On the economy, 51% of indys trust Obama, and 31% trust the GOP.
* On the budget deficit, 52% of indys trust Obama, and 30% trust the GOP.
* And on terrorism, 53% of indys trust Obama, and 36% trust the GOP.
I guess the GOP is no longer viewed as the Party who will keep us safe. Imagine that.
The Republican Blame Game: Pin your sins and screw ups on someone else, preferably a Democrat.
The Republicans certainly have a tough time taking ownership and responsibility for their personal evil doing. Rush Limbaugh, one of the Party's most celebrated and revered leaders, blamed S.C. Governor Mark Sanford's affair on President Obama.
He had just tried to fight the stimulus money coming to South Carolina. He didn't want any part of it. He lost the battle and said "What the hell? The Federal government is taking over! I want to enjoy life!"
Enjoy life, Sanford did, and at S.C. taxpayers' expense. Speaking of which, he seems to be suffering from Lady MacBeth syndrome. Sanford cannot stop apologizing.
House Minority Leader Boehner (R-OH) is not happy with the recently passed climate change bill. He called it a pile of shit.
What does a Republican do when he can't get his way?
1. Go to one's constituents and scare the living daylights out of them.
2. Smear Democrats who voted for the bill.
Further, officials with the House GOP's campaign arm, the National Republican Congressional Committee, confirm that they will run with paid media over recess in districts of conservative Dems who voted for the bill. The official would not reveal details on the ad buys at this time.
Republicans also intend to eat its own members who voted for the legislation.
And so the GOP began the process of, what one Democratic strategist called, "eating its own." A classic western "Wanted" posted was sent around the web accusing the eight Republicans -- Reps. Mary Bono Mack (Calif.), Mike Castle (Del.), Mark Kirk (Ill.), John McHugh (N.Y.), Frank LoBiondo (N.J.), Leonard Lance (N.J.), Dave Reichert (Wash.), and Chris Smith (N.J.) -- of "selling out taxpayers." Rush Limbaugh, in the process of ridiculing the bill's sponsor, Rep. Henry Waxman, damned the Republican Party for facilitating the legislation's passage.
What mean spirited sore losing whiners. I wonder if Republicans are worried that their sugar daddy donors will cut them off.
Another blast from the past: Bush Justice. Fascism, at its very finest.
The hunted down and persecuted political prisoner, former democratic Alabama governor, Don Siegelman demands a new trial. Siegelman charges the government with judge and jury tampering.
Karl Rove's grand scheme to undermine the Democratic Party was to attack it at its local level. And that he did big time.
The Bush-Cheney-Rove Justice Department prosecuted 600 elected officials plus 2,500 collateral cases (children, elderly parents, children of defense lawyers, etc), and 85 percent of the officials were Democrats. And -- this is something the filmmaker came to understand after producing this film -- most of the rest were moderate Republicans, not Federalist Society Republicans.
The prosecutions were concentrated in presidential election swing states, as were the U.S. attorney firings.
The cases overwhelmingly -- almost all of them -- went to the small number of judges who had been appointed by George W. Bush.
All the cases that resulted in short prison terms included probation periods until after the next election.
Top fundraisers and staff of presidential candidates Clinton, Edwards, and Obama were indicted.
The video posted here is very chilling and a must see.
This is precisely what a permanent Republican majority would have meant. How about that for the best dictatorship money can buy?
Does anyone else agree that Karl Rove should serve hard time in Gitmo? His treasonous, anti-democratic and un-American behavior matches that of any domestic terrorist as far as I am concerned. How many lives, families and careers did Rove destroy during his pathologically ruthless and uncalled for witch hunts?
Speaking of Republican dictatorships, our Texas Governor Perry is itching to get to his July 4th tea parties so he can talk about his
secession obsession. He is in such a big hurry to get to the tea parties that he refuses to add SCHIP to the forthcoming special session agenda.
He's also said that he doesn't like the idea of expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program to allow a buy-in for families with incomes up to 300 percent of poverty (some $63,600 for a family of four).
CORRECTION: This figure should be $66,150 -- I got an old figure at this morning's news conference.
How's that for putting one's constituents first?
Finally, Al Franken (D-MN) wins. Again. I've lost track of how many recounts, court rulings, etc. have been made in favor of Franken. Republicans fought against the democratic process for six long and expensive months. During this period of time the people of Minnesota were left with 1 U.S. Senator. The GOP did everything it could, including burning a lot of bucks, to delay and block a Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate.
How's that for the best democracy that Republicans can deliver?
