GOP failure in 31 seconds

Americans United for Change and AFSCME have teamed up to make an ad. It will air nationally on cable, and in D.C. The ad itself shows that the Republican Party, who have now turned to Rush Limbaugh for their marching orders, and become the party of "NO".

The Times they are a changin'

What is being witnessed in America today is astonishing on many levels, the jobless rate, the vacant homes and businesses, and the bickering between two sides of ideology.As a citizen who has fell victim to the unemployment wave sweeping across the country, it is clear that it is ugly out there.When the numbers are tallied at the weeks end, we see 10.6 here and 7.2 there, adjust those numbers where applicable.Displaced workers sit idly by await for the phone to ring with good news, or the mail to arrive with a check. In the midst of the crisis Americans face, many try and live modestly and search for work, and/or re-invent their skill(s). As diligent as they may be, the reality is, working class people in our country are hurting.

Being sure to know what is going on in the environment around, I make sure to check the headlines and editorials, and most certainly the letters to the editors. I have seen one clear message from our elected officials on the Democratic side, "we must act now", and another from the Republicans "tax cuts!". Well tax cuts don't mean anything to the citizens who are not getting a paycheck. A little help for people who are sharing concerns about groceries and energy bills is a little more enticing than a "tax cut". When we hear the rants of CNBC's Rick Santelli,his behavior is not rare in Republican circles, the "I GOT MINE" attitude is alive and well...for now. I was recently at a right-wing blog where I took part in the conversation and what we are seeing in a capitalist environment that helped the country onto this ridiculous road. Responding the Franken/Coleman debate I was greeted with hostility from a commenter. The full exchange can be read here.

Here are a couple excerpts: "You are a full blown pinko, commie bastard aren’t you? 50 years ago you would have been blacklisted or even tried for treason. I guess what they say is true; good things never last. Besides you losing your job doesn’t indicate that there is any problem with capitalism; it just indicates that you personally are worthless."

"How does that feel? To have chosen something to devote your life to and to be informed by your employer that you aren’t worth having on the payroll?"

First of all, the snaky remarks I had made were regarding the Minnesota Senate race.Yet, the comments were personal shots against those of us who became statistics. This is what we are encountering on our computers, televisions, and newspapers, as well as from some politicians. President Obama has signed the Jobs Bill and Housing Bill with the optimism that they will help the American people. Some Republican Governors such as Bobby Jindal of Louisiana , Sarah Palin of Alaska, and Mark Sanford of South Carolina are threatening to reject the monies being offered, are they ideological opportunists or Governing for the people of their respective states? I can venture a guess what their ailing constituents may think...

People in America who believe in aspects of Democratic Socialism have been ridiculed over the years, being called everything from unpatriotic, to "pinko commie". However, when the curtains are drawn, behind them are Americans of every class, every political color, and every race, after all they are all still American. While the Bills signed into law may have spending you do or do not agree with, it is critical in these times that we call on our officials to "promote the general Welfare and secure the Blessings of Liberty" and not put their future aspirations ahead of the people. It is also in the best interest of our fellow citizens to recognize the times are a changin...and when it comes down to it, we are all vulnerable and all affected .

Mayor Virg Bernero of Lansing,Mi. takes on Fox News

Leave it to Murdoch owned New York Post

The Rupert Murdoch owned New York Post ran a cartoon comparing the unfortunate event of Travis the Chimp's demise, and the Democratic Stimulus Bill signed by President Obama on Tuesday. While the Post has been historically a right-wing publication, to the best of my knowledge has never been "racist" . It has been made clear that Republican Congressional members, right-wing pundits, journalists, and bloggers hate the idea of helping Americans in need. More or less, they are saying "we don't like your ideas, but we don't have any!"


Reasonable people around the country are sharing in the outrage. To dismiss this as a joke, and suggest people are missing the joke, as the New York Post has,is not only irresponsible, but a step backwards in race relations for our country. They took their statement a step further by slighting Rev. Al Sharpton, who spoke loud and clear about how offensive this caricature is. Following the historic election and inauguration of President Obama, many people made it clear they took issue with his race. On so many levels this cartoon is racist. It is widely known that "monkey" has been a term to degrade African-Americans, and while some may not have noticed, there is a "Beware of Dog" sign and yes, both Police officers are white.

One would hope that the Post would issue an apology, but we cannot expect that from Rupert Murdoch. However, it is clear that editorial staff members, and Republicans should and could issue a statement of condemnation .

Mike Papantonio receives Death Threats after appearance on Fox News

Frequent Fox News guest Mike Papantonio received his share of embittered threats from viewers. Mike is better known to the thinking class as a defense attorney, co-host of Air America's "Ring of Fire" , GoLeft tv causes. Mike's sometimes abrasive style of engaging debate is entertainment for his fans and friends, however the Fox viewers see it differently. Following his Feb. 10 , the outspokenness of his "Pap Attack" monologues, and his tireless efforts amongst progressives for civil rights, and environmentalth appearance, Mike was greeted with kind words like these...

"May you die a horrible death from brain cancer you frigging scumbag", and this "Better hope you're on a bail-out list when you start feeling the pain that the great-half-african icon, y'all put up there in Our face, falters again, and again, there won't be enough stimulus to keep your sad voices on the air,"

Keep in mind, Jim Adkisson of the Unitarian Church shooting in Tn. last year was a Fox viewer who hated liberals. His home was littered with the writings of Sean Hannity, Bill O' Reilly and their ilk.
What seemed to ruffle the feathers of host, and viewer alike was Mike saying "Republicans are a one-trick dog." I happen to agree with him. Since the historic election of Barack Obama , the right has been whining about tax cuts, the Fairness Doctrine, Socialism, and "spending". However, they forget about the spending the GOP was doing for the last eight years that assisted us in the direction we've been heading. While I wish a safe return to the airwaves for Pap, staying off Fox for a week might be wise.

Compliments of Lee Camp

Republican target Rep. Barney Frank spars with Jim Demint

Appearing on a panel on ABC's This Week, Rep. Barney Frank and Senator Jim Demint spar over the stimulus plan and tax cuts. While Republicans are delivering the newly spirited claim "Oh my! Just look at the spending", the win here goes to Mr. Frank for pointing out they did once worry about spending in Iraq.

The after Super Bowl

With all the celebrating and cheering for the Super Bowl, I wanted to take minute and commend Think Progress and Marcy Wheeler for mentioning the Arizona Cardinal who could not appear in the big game.

"I speak, of course, of Corporal Pat Tillman, who left the NFL after 9/11 to serve in the Army Rangers. Tillman was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004. For months after his death, he was used as a propaganda tool to glorify Bush’s failed wars. The exposure of the truth behind Tillman’s death has since turned him into a symbol of the duplicity of the Bush Administration, the fight for the truth, and the futility of the war itself.

The New York Times writes that Tillman will not be forgotten this weekend. Soldiers will watch the game “from a U.S.O. center in Afghanistan that bears Tillman’s name and was built with money donated by the N.F.L. in his memory.” Tillman’s jersey, emblazoned with his number 40, is the best selling item on the team’s website. “It’s great,” said former Arizona quarterback Jake Plummer, who was Tillman’s college and Cardinals teammate and a close friend. “But in the grand scheme of things, it all kind of stinks because he’s not around.”

Here is an interview of our friend Jeff Farias and Pat's Mother Mary Tillman

The RNC's latest move to be relevant

The Republican Party has taken another step to find themselves and selected Former Lt. Governor Michael Steele to chair the RNC. After being called the party of "old fat white men" for years, they have chosen another ideologue to look diverse. While Michael Steele is respectable on certain levels, his positions on numerous policies are no different than the likes of Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh. Granted, Steele is not the embarrassment you get in the likes of Eric Cantor, Mitch McConnell, or George W. Bush,as he regularly will appear on Fox with a demeanor that is engaging.Although, he is clinging to falsehood that the 1994 power grab by the GOP, "Contract for America" is a good thing. While that campaign was spearheaded by Newt Gingrich, it served as nothing but to define the party, much like we witness today, the "party of no".

While the message of the Republican Party has been murky since the initial (s)election of Bush in 2000, the party faithful struggled to stay on track. Now they find themselves bloodied after two election cycles in which they continued their fall into the abyss. If your rhetoric is more tax cuts and Iraq was a good policy, you are stymied. Failing to recognize the needs of a country and the needs of our troops in harms way and offering no plan is not the strategy of leadership. When asked about what plans the party has, Steele as I mentioned, refers to policies that got us where we're at, Rep. Cantor's response this weekend, when asked of the "plans" of the GOP, he responded "I will get back to you".

We can only hope the party of "NO " does not resort to biting the ear of their Democratic opponents as Michael Steele's former brother in-law Mike Tyson did in the ring. Continuing on their current path of irrelevance, which could slide even more in the coming days does have a benefit, Democrats will be able to do work on behalf of their Districts and states truly represent the American people.