Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth

Read this now:

So it is hard for me to reconcile this mass approbation of blatant stupidity with the achievements we Americans have given to the world. We as a nation and as a culture have had so many shining, glorious moments where stupidity was forced to STFU. We put a man on the moon - several, in fact - and it was the Failure Is Not An Option inventiveness that got Lovell, Swigert and Haise back to earth alive. We split the atom. We invented the light bulb, the telephone, the airplane, peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies.

We invented the circular saw, the electric hot water heater, the elevated railway system, the engine muffler, the fire escape, Kevlar, the life raft, the medical syringe, the railway crossing gate, the rotary engine, the submarine telescope, the windscreen wiper – all inventions by American women, by the way.

The pictures are priceless...

How the Mighty Have Fallen

I've been trying to hold off on the conservative bashing as much as I can. It seems a little gratuitous at this point. But then I see something like this from RedState (no link):

4. DNC Chair and Obama lose two council seats in their backyard
The media will ignore it, but they shouldn't.

Democrats lost two seats on the Alexandria, Virginia city council.

Boy, how long has it been since I've been able to report good news on an election night for Republicans? With results from 26 out of 26 precincts, and absentees included, Republican Frank Fannon and GOP-endorsed independent Alicia Hughes appear to have won seats on the Alexandria City Council. The Democrats will still control a majority of four out of six seats, but this is a couple rippes of red in a deep blue community in a purple state - the best news for local Republicans in a long time.

But the implications are bigger. Barack Obama won this county 72-27. Senater Mark Warner is from Alexandria. Democratic National Committee Chair Tim Kaine is the Governor of Virginia.

Barack Obama lost today. The Democratic National Committee lost today.

That's right, Alexandria city council. A massive loss for the Democratic National Committee (and the President). I guess the tide is turning. Palin '12! Whatever gets you through the night...

I get email

This one is from Michael Steele, head of the Republican National Committee:

Dear dan,
I hope Arlen Specter's party change outrages you. It should for two reasons:

First--Specter claimed it was philosophical--and pointed his finger of blame at Republicans all over America for his defection to the Democrats. He told us all to go jump in the lake today.

I'm sorry, but I don't believe a word he said.

Arlen Specter committed a purely political and self-serving act today. He simply believes he has a better chance of saving his political hide and his job as a Democrat. He loves the title of Senator more than he loves the party--and the principles--that elected him and nurtured him.

Second--and more importantly--Arlen Specter handed Barack Obama and his band of radical leftists nearly absolute power in the United States Senate. In leaving the Republican Party--and joining the Democrats--he absolutely undercut Republicans' efforts to slow down Obama's radical agenda through the threat of filibuster.

I'll say it as well. Republicans, go jump in the lake. Then have a picnic by the lake. Maybe tell some jokes. It's time for the grownups to clean up your mess.

Sincerely,
Radical Leftist (a.k.a 68% of Americans)

What Digby Said

Read this:

Kilmeade's belief that nobody should be allowed to have an opinion backed up with experience or knowledge tracks perfectly with the conservative movement, on a variety of subjects. We shouldn't listen to scientists on climate change, or health professionals on health care, or weapons inspectors on Iraq. The plural of data is not anecdote.

BTW - the plural of data is...data.

Texas, home of the hardboiled morons

First, take the creationists:

And Patton has the unmitigated gall to declare that it’s a lie to assert the reality that the overwhelming consensus among scientists is that evolution is as much a fact as anything in science is.

Given the extent of his lying, it would make perfect sense if you came to the conclusion that even his professions of religious belief were also a lie, that in fact all he cares about is political legitimacy for his lunatic, far-right ideas.

That's something I've always wondered about those who go against the teachings of their religion in the name of said religion. For example, if you're hustling your sheep for cash in the name of Jesus, doesn't that mean that you have contempt for his teachings?

Then there's governor "good hair" and his band of merry idiots in the state legislature.

After Gov. Rick Perry's recent comments about some Texans talking secession from the union made national news, legislators are considering issuing a "cease and desist" order to the federal government.

"This state prefers, to the greatest extent possible, to control our own destiny," said Rep. Vicki Truitt, R-Keller, one of several members co-sponsoring the measure. "We prefer that federal government limit the amount of federal mandates it forces upon the people of Texas."

As Jon Stewart says "I think you're confusing tyranny with losing."

Stewart mocked Andrew Breitbart, a former editor of the Drudge Report, who now runs his own Web news portal, for saying that since Obama became president, his children’s public school no longer used the term ‘St. Patrick’s Day’ but rather, ‘Potato Day.’

“I’m not Irish but I’m not sure ‘Potato Day’ is more politically correct than St. Patrick’s Day. I think it might be worse,” laughed Stewart before going on to say:

“And while President Bush was the one who started the bailout, nationalizing an insurance company, added a $17 trillion drug prescription entitlement program, had a government-mandated public school initiative, literally titled ‘No Child Left Behind,’ wiretapped citizens without warrants, created secret internment camps in international waters behind the reach of our justice system and allowed his vice president to live in a netherworld between the executive and legislative branch…Only now with the advent of ‘Potato Day’ has tyranny come to our shores.”

Stewart advised angry Republicans that they were "confusing tyranny with losing." “Now you’re in the minority, it’s supposed to taste like a sh** taco.”

I have nothing to add...

Come in Earth, can you hear me?

Some days it's hard to live in Texas, even in Austin. I work for a technology company that is in the process of offshoring as fast as they can, both personnel and manufacturing plants. We've had continuous rounds of layoffs for the last 3 years. The CEO took the opportunity last year to host a McCain rally featuring Phil "degregulatin'" Gramm on company property. To top it off, yesterday and today I had to listen to the emboldened wingnuts yammering about "tea parties".

I've worked here 10+ years. For eight of those years, shrubby was the President. The wingnuts were loud and proud and the rest of us kept the topic to actual work (what a concept). Since the election, the wingers were pretty quiet...until yesterday.

I know of four or five people in my area who blew off business meetings to head on down to San Antonio (home of the gullible dumbass) to worship their hero Glenn Beck. Some of those "left behind" were busy calling to get all the updates.

By the way, if you want a chuckle some time, Google "San+Antonio+flouride".

Anyhoo...today they are all back in the office feeling good (except for the hangovers) and talkin' loud. Here's what I found out today:

1. Conservatives rarely "rally" as they all have jobs. The same guy bragging about this was minutes later telling someone to make a Friday meeting early since he's out the door at 2pm every Friday. I guess the thousands laid off from this company in the last few years have all been liberals.

2. There were (I freaking kid you not) *black helicopters* hovering over the San Antonio teabagathon taking pictures with "facial recognition software". Just...wow.

Texas better get blue in a hurry or I'm out as soon as the economy picks up. Doug Sahm, Stevie Ray, Freddie King and Lightnin' Hopkins only have so much hold from the grave...

On a related topic, I went on foxnews.com last night to see what was going on. In the "You Decide" section they had the following question:

YOU DECIDE: Will Washington Respond to Tea Party Message?

My response:

SuxToLose says:
April 15, 2009 at 10:00 pm
What message?? Is it that you don’t think that 95% of Americans deserve the Obama tax cuts? Or is it that federal income tax should be abolished, thus defunding the military? Or is the message that it’s not fair that the “conservative movement” is wasting away? Gee, why would Obama ever call you bitter?

Just curious.

but alas, the teabaggers didn't want to play.

Go Al!

I get letters. Today, I got an urgent fundraising plea from Michael "Rush is my daddy" Steele, alleged chairman of the Republican National Committee. Seems he is a little concerned about the Minnesota recount.

we’ve got some unfinished business to attend to. Specifically, we’ve got to stop liberal Democrat comedian Al Franken from stealing Norm Coleman’s U.S. Senate seat in Minnesota.

As you may know, Norm Coleman won re-election on November 4th by 215 votes. But a subsequent recount -- tainted with inconsistencies and improperly counted ballots -- awarded a temporary 225-vote margin to Franken.

Oh NOES!! Improper recount - better go to court!

As I write to you, Franken and his allies are working feverishly to persuade a panel of judges in Minnesota that certain un-counted ballots must remain un-counted… and deny the one-person, one-vote principle which is the very foundation of our democratic process.

Translation: Norm Coleman has spent the last five weeks presenting contradicting evidence, hiding witnesses and reversing his own arguments several times, and rested his case yesterday.
So obviously NOW!!! is the time to help him CONTINUE THE FIGHT!!! AGAINST COMMIE HIPPIES!!

Your immediate financial support of the Coleman for Senate Recount Fund will help us stop this tragic injustice, and I urge you to click here now to help.

As the former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland and candidate for the U.S. Senate, I’m no stranger to the gutter campaign tactics and shady legal maneuverings of the Left Wing. They don’t fight fair, and they’ll stop at nothing to consolidate the power they crave.

This outrageous power grab by Al Franken and Harry Reid must not stand.

I had a check all written, but then realized that it was just Michael Steele asking. If it was really important I would have received an email from the real leader of the Republican party...Rush Limbaugh.

Presidential Address - Nice Visual

...Republicans refusing to stand for increased healthcare for children. Keep on digging, idiots.

This is too easy

(alternative title: Dispatches from the other side of the looking glass)

More RedState comedy. It's kind of hard to take anything you say seriously when you lead with crap like this:

3. The Verdict on President Obama's First Prime Time Presser: Pain.

What we saw tonight in President Obama was a man who, flailing about for words and faiing to form cohesive sentences and responses, turned in a stumbling, meandering performance worthy of the most extreme caricature of George W. Bush.

A sample:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

...And Mr. Bush:

Jeez...

I'm going to have to have the willpower to not turn this blog into "RedState Morning Briefing stupidity of the day". Today's bulletin is priceless:

4. A Majority Party (and President) with a Minority Mindset
Barely two weeks into his first term in office, President Obama is sucking for air and grasping at straws to pull even the semblance of a single victory of any kind out of the rubble that is fast becoming his presidency.

"the rubble that is fast becoming his presidency"

Let's review (and see if we can find "even the semblance of a single victory"):

• Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
  
• Executive Order to close Guantanamo Prison
  
• SCHIP expansion
  

This, while working the hill for the economic recovery plan.  Well, it has been 17 whole days.  What a disaster...

RedState of Disarray

I was lucky enough to sign up for the "Red State Morning Briefing", which is sent out to email subscribers and "media outlets" (which is sweet, I'd hate for "media outlets" to miss out on all the stupid).

Here's a selection of the breaking news so far...

They were off to a great start the day after America sang "na na na na hey hey..goodbye" to King George:

1. Goodbye President Bush
We get the bumper sticker cliches. But serious reflection on George Bush's Presidency has been missing.
...
History will also doubtlessly cast a more favorable eye on the many places in the world where President Bush and his team strengthened America's alliances and brought desperately needed freedom and relief.

(cough)...New Orleans...(cough)
Right, got that out of the way, on to Bipartisanship:

2. Let's Hope Obama Fails
The pleasant face and smooth rhetoric hide in the case of Barack Obama a morally depraved and crooked man.
...
A man who has gotten to his position of power by climbing the greasiest and dirtiest ladder in all of politics.
You see, what happens when the trains run on time is that people are quicker to forget the moral failures of their elected officials, and their government at large.

Hey buddy - America, Love It or Leave It!
Oh, and if you go to the Hitler allusion on day 1, what's in the clip for the rest of the EIGHT YEARS??

7. The Non-Partisan Congressional Budget Office Says Stimulus Won't Work
Obama just hired the CBO head to be his budget director. Before leaving the CBO, the new budget director's office said Obama's stimulus won't work

Yeah... about that CBO report... it doesn't exist.

Two days after the inauguration they're still on about the crushing CBO report:

3. Congressional Budget Office Slams Stimulus Plan
Republicans and others concerned about throwing good money after bad should oppose this package.
There is no policy justification for a stimulus package that centers on spending. The CBO is clear that it's simply not possible to pay out the spending at a fast enough rate.

On the 26th of January, it was "we're all gonna DIE!!!1! Monday:

2. Barack Obama Is Already Signaling His Weakness to Terrorists
Changing Bush policies designed to keep us safe will only get us killed.
3. Muslim Leaders Expect Obama to Take Eye Off Terror
It's already beginning and it will end up killing us.

Does this mean I shouldn't buy that "HOPE > FEAR" t-shirt?

Plenty more where that came from. Believe me when I tell you that RedState's well of stupid is deep.