Do-Nothing Congress

As we fight for justice and table scraps please remember how hard our elected officials are working.

After taking off almost all of the month of August , House leadership Boehner and Cantor have penciled in just nine workdays for September.

The Washington Post reported earlier this year that the 126 workdays scheduled for 2013 were actually an increase from the 2012 calendar.

$193,000 for 126 days. Free health care for life and they get NOTHING done.

One solution to this: pay congress minimum wage, by the hour! No health care, no vacation pay. Let them live like they expect everyone else to live.

Incredible shrinking GOP

The GOP ONLY works for Big Corporations and Big Money. On almost every issue, they're taking the very opposite position compared to the majority of the American people. As long as they all continue to be "nattering nabobs of negativity" they will fail. Their base is shrinking as we speak.

Forward

Guns, God and Gasoline!

 

Heitkamp Has the Last Laugh

Sociopath or Neo-Con?

. . . We Report, You Decide

This website summarizes some of the common features of descriptions of the behavior of the fright wing.

• Glibness and Superficial Charm
  
• Manipulative and Conning
  They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims.
  
• Grandiose Sense of Self
  Feels entitled to certain things as "their right."
  
• Pathological Lying
  Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and even able to pass lie detector tests.
  
• Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
  A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.
  
• Shallow Emotions
  When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.
  
• Incapacity for Love
  
• Need for Stimulation
  Living on the edge. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal. Promiscuity and gambling are common.
  
• Callousness/Lack of Empathy
  Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others' feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them.
  
• Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature
  Rage and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an addictive cycle for abuser and abused, as well as creating hopelessness in the victim. Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others.
  
• Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency
  Usually has a history of behavioral and academic difficulties, yet "gets by" by conning others. Problems in making and keeping friends; aberrant behaviors such as cruelty to people or animals, stealing, etc.
  
• Irresponsibility/Unreliability
  Not concerned about wrecking others' lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blames others, even for acts they obviously committed.
  
• Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity
  Promiscuity, child sexual abuse, rape and sexual acting out of all sorts.
  
• Lack of Realistic Life Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle
  Tends to move around a lot or makes all encompassing promises for the future, poor work ethic but exploits others effectively.
  
• Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility
  Changes their image as needed to avoid prosecution. Changes life story readily. [Thus the Tea-bigots.]

Tea Party Logic

 

The Tea Party . . .

Never have so few,
spoken so much,
and said so little.

Sarah Plain 'n Simple

Sarah Palin appeared on the Sean Hannity comedy hour and Sean asked her about her most recent tweet. Sarah looked very pleased and proud as Sean recited her missive:

"Obama lies. Freedom dies."

It nearly moved Sean to tears.

Coburn's Racist Comments

 
Senator Tom Coburn made some vile and racist remarks about President Obama at a town hall meeting. Obama's "intent is not to destroy, his intent is to create dependency because it worked so well for him,” he told a man who asked if Obama’s goal was to “destroy America.”

Coburn added that, “As an African-American male,” Obama received “tremendous advantage from a lot of these programs.”

Is Rick Perry Gay?

Boy Howdy! The Republicons done found themselves another actor / cowboy to gun for President! Sweet baby Jesus . . . haven't they learnt nothin' yet? These faux cowboys with shiny spurs will lie, cheat, and rob ya blind every time!

I know what Obama was thinking when Slick Ricky tossed his 10-gallon hat in the ring: "Bring it on!"

Brokeback Campaignin'

Before the Texas governor gets the nod from recently divorced Karla Rove, Perry apparently has to lasso in those pesky and persistent rumors that he likes to horse around with other fellers.

Yes, We Con

Michele Bachmann:
Small mind -- big mouth.

Dead Wrong

Real American patriots are rightly dispirited about the Tea Party's instant indignation and pre-packaged protests.

But there's no reason to become bitter. The Tea Party is extremely weak. I have no doubt -- it will evaporate into thin air very soon.


Back when it mattered, the militants in this "gas-roots" movement (BOUGHT to you by the Koch Brothers) were completely AWOL.

For 8 years, Bush and his Neo-CON artists pillaged and plundered America.

That Bush kid shipped our jobs overseas, declared a tax holiday for billionaires, blew through our surplus, then spent an additional 3 trillion on war. On top of that, he cut veteran benefits while he sent five thousand of our finest to an early grave.

Meanwhile, the Tea party movement played the role of Helen Keller (before Ann Bancroft). They blindly marched in lock-step behind the GOP. Where was the outrage? The TP people turned a deaf ear to the deficit warnings and remained silent about unnecessary wars.

Then we elected a person of color  . . . and OMG! Now suddenly the blind are miraculously healed! They don't like what they see . . . literally. They're having a hard time looking out the eye-holes in their white hoods.

The Tea Bigot movement will not last because it's largely made up of old, angry, White people. Like all political movements based on fear and racism, this TP will soon be flushed down the toilet of history.

Bigger Than O'Reilly

AMNESIA

Right wingers seem to think that demonizing government and Pres.elect Obama will solve all their problems. They think maintaining a strident sense of victim hood is good for our country. Man up and quit your whining boys! Obama is not yet sworn in.

'The last 7 1/2 years have been a failure', says Newt Gingrich. Garbage spewers such as Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity seem to think we went straight from the Clinton/Gore recession to the Obama depression.

Where for art thou Sen. Alan K. Simpson?
Your party needs you desperately.

Biz-Trib

Question:

'So, when does this story get retired from the "most posted"column so people can find something else to bicker about?'

Answer:

As soon as the Bismarck Tribune green lights another Brent McCarthy letter blaming all of our problems and social ills on the liberals and President Obama. Sorry old boy, we're not about to play "John Kerry' anymore. There's a new sheriff in town and your sequel has been canceled due to a shortage of funds and a lack of morals. Ain't life a Palin?

Honoring the Fallen

A poem by
David G. Bancroft

(Listen to TAPS)

I cannot help but think of those,
Whose anxious wait ended with a knock,
The wrenching ache felt deep down to the toes,
Knowing there was no more ticking for this clock.


Their brave loved ones served for our country’s sake
Be it yesterday, today, and time yet known,
Giving it birth and to protect … not take.
Their ultimate sacrifice shown.


The blinding tears of TAPS being played.
The overwhelming sadness of the colors given.
The proud thought of the difference made.
The final salute to the fallen . . . now in heaven.


And while there is a special day,
That we honor the memory of the gift they gave,
It should go well beyond a national thought in May,
Like every time when seeing the flag wave!

Thou Doth Protest Too Much

From failed former governor, Sarah Palin:

"I am saddened by the NAACP’s claim that patriotic Americans who stand up for the United States of America’s Constitutional rights are somehow racists.

The charge that Tea Party Americans judge people by the color of their skin is false, appalling . . .

. . . and is a regressive and diversionary tactic to change the subject at hand."

GOP's Poster Child

North Dakota’s Democratic Party is outraged over the discovery of two posters hanging in a state agency’s office, calling the anti-President Barack Obama posters “outrageous” and “obscene.” In photos released by the state Democratic-NPL Party on Wednesday, one poster in the Public Service Commission office reads:

“Thanks, Obama. You’ve spent my lunch money, my allowance, my inheritance, 35 years of future paychecks, and my retirement. You  (N-word).”

Public service commissioners acknowledge that an employee had an anti-Obama poster hanging in his office of a little girl giving the finger.

All three commissioners claimed they were previously unaware of the poster.

BP (Back Peddling)

Representative Joe Barton, Texas Republican, shocked his colleagues during the House Energy and Commerce committee's hearing on the BP oil catastrophe.

Speaking to Tony "I want my life back" Hayward -- BP's chief officer -- Barton proclaimed that Mr. Hayward and BP were the victims of the tragedy. Barton apologized repeatedly to the oil executive who oversaw the biggest environmental disaster in U.S. history.

Barton:

I apologize. I’m ashamed of what happened in the White House yesterday. I think it is a tragedy of the first proportion that a private corporation can be subjected to what I would characterize as a shakedown. In this case, a $20-billion shakedown with the attorney general of the United States -- who is legitimately conducting a criminal investigation and has every right to do so to protect the interests of the American people -- participating in what amounts to a $20-billion slush fund. It is unprecedented in our nation’s history.

I apologize. I do not want to live in a country where any time a citizen or a corporation does something that is legitimately wrong, is subject to some sort of political pressure that is, again, in my words -- amounts to a shakedown. So I apologize.

Rep. Barton has received more than $1.5 million in campaign donations from the oil industry.

Shortly after GOP officials threatened to strip the Representative of all privileges for his apology, Barton began back peddling. He apologized if anyone had "misconstrued" his remarks. The congressman's office then issued an apology for Barton's apology.

The Honeymoon is Over

Organized around fears of America's problems -- not on facts and solutions --  the Tea Party's political candidates were doomed to be revealed as right wing whiners, windbags and rabble-rousers.

However, few could've predicted the Tea Partisans would fall apart so completely, so fast.

A flood of devastating natural disasters and big business boondoggles, combined with the on-going oil catastrophe off the Gulf coast, has forced Rubio, Palin and most of the other Tea Party all-stars into a R.U.N.T. (Republican Under New Title) retreat.

It's difficult to get folks to parade around with signs saying "Drill, Baby, Drill" and "Taxed Enough Already" when they're living in emergency housing or standing in the unemployment line due to an oil spill. But that didn't stop Rand Paul! Fresh off his primary win in Kentucky, Ron Paul's libertarian son went on a Tea Party media tour.

Dr. Paul, darling of the disgruntled Tea Baggers, went on Rachel Maddow's show to air his bizarre views in prime time. The son of a senator established that, as Bill Maher put it, "the shit doesn't fall far from the bat."

Private businesses should be able to do whatever they want -- Paul indicated -- including discriminate against minority groups or Americans with disabilities.

What about corrupt companies or negligent corporations like BP? As far as the good doctor is concerned . . . "accidents happen."

That's true. Of course, accidents can be avoided with proper assessment and preparation . . . a fact that cannot be lost on the Tea Baggers in Kentucky. As the campaign begins, their candidate has decided to decline all press interviews.

"I've heard nothing from BP about not paying for the spill. And I think it's part of this sort of blame game society in the sense that it's always got to be someone's fault instead of the fact that sometimes accidents happen."
-- Dr. Rand Paul

"When does my honeymoon period start? I had a big victory."
-- Dr. Rand Paul