Saturday, April 27, 2013
Stephen Colbert's Interview in Pennsylvania
The man's a genius. In this interview, he questions a politician who knows he's a comedian, knows it's a comedy show, and still takes the interview seriously. Every minute is funny. Enjoy.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Republican Jackass of the Week
Meet Oklahoma House Majority Leader Dennis Johnson.
Johnson used his time during an Oklahoma House debate to discuss effective strategies for small business owners. Here's what he said:
"There’s such a thing called 'niche marketing,' he began. “You find out what you do better than somebody else and that’s what you market. Then you get the reward of success. People come back to you,” he continued. “They like the service they get, and they don’t ask me—they might try to Jew me down on a price, that’s fine. You know what? That’s free market as well.”
This comes right on the heels of the other Regressive Republican, Alaska Congressman Don Young, who recently said, "My father had a ranch; we used to have 50-60 wetbacks to pick tomatoes."
Johnson used his time during an Oklahoma House debate to discuss effective strategies for small business owners. Here's what he said:"There’s such a thing called 'niche marketing,' he began. “You find out what you do better than somebody else and that’s what you market. Then you get the reward of success. People come back to you,” he continued. “They like the service they get, and they don’t ask me—they might try to Jew me down on a price, that’s fine. You know what? That’s free market as well.”
Immediately after this anti-Semitic comment, someone off camera says something like, "what was that?"
After a befuddled attempt to figure out what he said, he kinda, sorta apologized.
“I apologize to the Jews. They’re good small businessmen as well."
Wow. "I apologize to the Jews."
Hilarious and pathetic at the same time, he then uses the second stereotype to backup his apology:
"They’re good small businessmen as well."This comes right on the heels of the other Regressive Republican, Alaska Congressman Don Young, who recently said, "My father had a ranch; we used to have 50-60 wetbacks to pick tomatoes."
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Republican Jackass of the Week
Texas governor Rick Perry.
You may remember his embarrassing run for president during the Regressive republican "Clowncar of Buffoons" primary last year, when he ran against such legendary Mensa-types as Michelle Bachmann, Donald Trump, Rick Santorum, Pizza King Herman Cain, Ron Paul, the "rent is too damn high" guy, and the guy who wants to colonize the moon while 8 year olds clean school toilets, Newton Gingrich.
Rick Perry was the one who vehemently wanted to shut down 3 agencies, very specifically the Department of Education, the Department of Commerce, and... "oops".
This was also the guy who had a ranch named "Ni**erhead."
But he was able to remember one thing at each campaign stop: to oppose federal spending no matter what.
“Washington’s insatiable desire to spend our children’s inheritance on failed stimulus plans and other misguided economic theories have given us record debt and left us with far too many unemployed,” he said at an event to kickoff his campaign last year.
He bragged about how Texas's economy was allegedly booming. And he was one of the nutjobs who wanted that state to secede from the union (treasonous as well as illegal).
Who needs the federal government and their handouts? Right, Rick?
Turns out he does.
The little man with the big mouth begged President Obama to declare his state and its fertilizer exploding town a disaster area -- and he had his big hat in his little hand begging for money.
What happened to all that swagger? All the arrogance? How about that Teabagger mentality that said "no" to aid for hurricane-damaged New England states unless we find something to cut in the budget elsewhere to make up for it?
Why ain't good ol' boy Rick and his ten-gallon hat gettin' together with all them thar real 'mericans and pickin' themselves up by their own bootstraps? Why aren't the Teabaggers refusing all that dirty money that will be shipped in from the Blue States?
Because they're phonies, liars and hypocrites.
Rick Perry, standing there with his open palm up, waiting for a handout -- you know, the "free stuff" his kind pretends to hate.
Our Regressive Republican Jackass of the Week.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Republican Jackasses of the Week
Every Regressive republican in the US Senate who voted against the gun control compromise measure to expand background checks -- and four Jackass Democrats who voted with them.
This proposed law would simply have required background checks at gun shows as well as for guns sold online. You still would have been able to sell a gun to anybody on the street with no paperwork whatsoever. This was very basic, common sense gun legislation that 92% of the American people wanted.
This law would have required background checks, to make it harder for a dangerous person to buy a gun. This includes convicted felons, people convicted of domestic violence, and people with a severe mental illness. Apparently these Regressives believe felons, the mentally ill, and the violent deserve to go out and buy guns, no questions asked.
There was nothing controversial about this bill. It had nothing to do with limiting gigantic clips that mass murderers choose to take on their rampages. It had nothing to do with banning military style assault weapons that should be used in war zones, but not on city streets.
There is not one police department in America that I'm aware of that is in favor of gigantic clips and high powered, rapid fire weapons of war being in the hands of the public. No cop wants to be outgunned by a criminal or a rampaging murderer on the street. But this bill was not even about that. It had nothing to do with clips or assault weapons. It would simply have required background checks at gun shows and online gun sellers.
But no. The cowardly senators, who are completely owned by the NRA and the gun manufacturers they represent, refused to pass a simple law that 92% of Americans have been demanding. They stood with gun manufacturers instead of the people who elected them and pay their salaries.
The vote on the amendment was 54 to 46 against. Sounds like it should have passed, right? No. These days, thanks to the Regressives and their constant filibuster threats, 60 votes were needed for the amendment to be adopted.
Every Regressive republican senator voted against this bill, except for John McCain of Arizona, Susan Collins of Maine, Mark Kirk of Illinois, and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.
And four spineless, cowardly Democrats joined the rest of the Regressives in voting against the bill: Max Baucus of Montana, Mark Begich of Alaska, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, and Mark Pryor of Arkansas.
Progressive Change Campaign Committee co-founder Stephanie Taylor slammed the four defectors. "Today, the Senate voted against the 92% of Americans who support background checks to stop gun violence," she said. "We'll be holding accountable Democrats who voted against their constituents by running ads in their states, featuring some of the 23,000 gun owners who have joined our campaign for common sense gun reform."
Of course, the blowhards from the NRA continued repeating their well-established lie that this amendment would have "infringed on the Second Amendment, and on the rights of gun owners."
That's a blatant lie and every one of them knows it. The Supreme Court has stated many times over the years that Congress can indeed regulate which guns can and cannot be owned by individuals. Already you cannot own a machine gun, a rocket launcher, a cannon, etc.
Even the farthest rightwing nutjob on the Supreme Court, Fat Tony, back in July 2012, stated that there are "undoubtedly" limits to a person's right to bear arms under the Second Amendment, but that future court cases will have to decide where to draw the line. “So yes, there are some limitations that can be imposed," Scalia said.
And if you read the Second Amendment, it starts out with these words: "A well-regulated militia..." See? The word REGULATION is right there in the Second Amendment.
President Obama said this was a shameful day for Washington. In this clip he explains very clearly what was in the law. And I have yet to hear a single rational reason to have voted against it.
This proposed law would simply have required background checks at gun shows as well as for guns sold online. You still would have been able to sell a gun to anybody on the street with no paperwork whatsoever. This was very basic, common sense gun legislation that 92% of the American people wanted.
This law would have required background checks, to make it harder for a dangerous person to buy a gun. This includes convicted felons, people convicted of domestic violence, and people with a severe mental illness. Apparently these Regressives believe felons, the mentally ill, and the violent deserve to go out and buy guns, no questions asked.
There was nothing controversial about this bill. It had nothing to do with limiting gigantic clips that mass murderers choose to take on their rampages. It had nothing to do with banning military style assault weapons that should be used in war zones, but not on city streets.
There is not one police department in America that I'm aware of that is in favor of gigantic clips and high powered, rapid fire weapons of war being in the hands of the public. No cop wants to be outgunned by a criminal or a rampaging murderer on the street. But this bill was not even about that. It had nothing to do with clips or assault weapons. It would simply have required background checks at gun shows and online gun sellers.
But no. The cowardly senators, who are completely owned by the NRA and the gun manufacturers they represent, refused to pass a simple law that 92% of Americans have been demanding. They stood with gun manufacturers instead of the people who elected them and pay their salaries.
The vote on the amendment was 54 to 46 against. Sounds like it should have passed, right? No. These days, thanks to the Regressives and their constant filibuster threats, 60 votes were needed for the amendment to be adopted.
Every Regressive republican senator voted against this bill, except for John McCain of Arizona, Susan Collins of Maine, Mark Kirk of Illinois, and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.
And four spineless, cowardly Democrats joined the rest of the Regressives in voting against the bill: Max Baucus of Montana, Mark Begich of Alaska, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, and Mark Pryor of Arkansas.
Progressive Change Campaign Committee co-founder Stephanie Taylor slammed the four defectors. "Today, the Senate voted against the 92% of Americans who support background checks to stop gun violence," she said. "We'll be holding accountable Democrats who voted against their constituents by running ads in their states, featuring some of the 23,000 gun owners who have joined our campaign for common sense gun reform."
Of course, the blowhards from the NRA continued repeating their well-established lie that this amendment would have "infringed on the Second Amendment, and on the rights of gun owners."
That's a blatant lie and every one of them knows it. The Supreme Court has stated many times over the years that Congress can indeed regulate which guns can and cannot be owned by individuals. Already you cannot own a machine gun, a rocket launcher, a cannon, etc.
Even the farthest rightwing nutjob on the Supreme Court, Fat Tony, back in July 2012, stated that there are "undoubtedly" limits to a person's right to bear arms under the Second Amendment, but that future court cases will have to decide where to draw the line. “So yes, there are some limitations that can be imposed," Scalia said.
And if you read the Second Amendment, it starts out with these words: "A well-regulated militia..." See? The word REGULATION is right there in the Second Amendment.
President Obama said this was a shameful day for Washington. In this clip he explains very clearly what was in the law. And I have yet to hear a single rational reason to have voted against it.
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
McConnell Plans to Filibuster Gun Bill
I can't remember the last time 92% of Americans agreed on anything.
But that's the number most polls show want universal background checks for gun purchases. Currently about 40% of gun purchases take place with no background checks whatsoever.
Polls show even most Republicans want background checks. And the majority of NRA members want background checks. Yet the Regressive republican holdouts in Congress refuse to do the will of the American people.
Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader, and 14 other Senate Regressives, have vowed to join the filibuster, which would not allow Senator Harry Reid's legislation to even come to a vote.
A CBS News poll says universal background checks for potential gun buyers continue to receive very strong support, with 90 percent in favor of that measure (similar to results in January and February). Eighty-six percent of Republicans, and 86 percent of gun owners themselves, support this proposal.
An ABC News / Washington Post poll shows that 65% of all American adults favor a ban on high capacity magazines, including a majority of Regressives (59%).
A Qunnipiac poll shows that 56% want a ban on assault weapons -- the rapid fire military style guns that are used in military situations.
Despite all polls showing the majority wants background checks, bans on assault weapons and limits on clip capacity, 15 Regressive Senate republicans, including their leader, are turning their backs and saying "screw you" to the American people who voted them in and are paying their salaries. These Regressives are bought and owned by the NRA, the lobbyist group for gun manufacturers.
And to make himself look even worse, McConnell announced his filibuster at the exact moment President Obama was giving a speech in Hartford, Connecticut, and meeting with the family members of the 20 kids shot to death in that state. You can clearly see where Obama's and McConnell's priorities are.
Keep it up, Mitch. You have the lowest approval ratings of any US Senator. Your job is on the line next year. Hopefully the people of Kentucky will send you back to your terrarium to spend the rest of your days nibbling on lettuce.
But that's the number most polls show want universal background checks for gun purchases. Currently about 40% of gun purchases take place with no background checks whatsoever.
Polls show even most Republicans want background checks. And the majority of NRA members want background checks. Yet the Regressive republican holdouts in Congress refuse to do the will of the American people.
Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader, and 14 other Senate Regressives, have vowed to join the filibuster, which would not allow Senator Harry Reid's legislation to even come to a vote.A CBS News poll says universal background checks for potential gun buyers continue to receive very strong support, with 90 percent in favor of that measure (similar to results in January and February). Eighty-six percent of Republicans, and 86 percent of gun owners themselves, support this proposal.
An ABC News / Washington Post poll shows that 65% of all American adults favor a ban on high capacity magazines, including a majority of Regressives (59%).
A Qunnipiac poll shows that 56% want a ban on assault weapons -- the rapid fire military style guns that are used in military situations.
Despite all polls showing the majority wants background checks, bans on assault weapons and limits on clip capacity, 15 Regressive Senate republicans, including their leader, are turning their backs and saying "screw you" to the American people who voted them in and are paying their salaries. These Regressives are bought and owned by the NRA, the lobbyist group for gun manufacturers.
And to make himself look even worse, McConnell announced his filibuster at the exact moment President Obama was giving a speech in Hartford, Connecticut, and meeting with the family members of the 20 kids shot to death in that state. You can clearly see where Obama's and McConnell's priorities are.
Keep it up, Mitch. You have the lowest approval ratings of any US Senator. Your job is on the line next year. Hopefully the people of Kentucky will send you back to your terrarium to spend the rest of your days nibbling on lettuce.
Friday, April 5, 2013
Republican Jackass of the Week
Meet Edgar Starnes.Here is a man who is so full of Christian love and Christian goodwill that he just can't help himself -- he wants to force his wonderful Christian religion on everyone in his state.
Yep. Welcome to North Carolina, the only state in the history of the USA that will have its very own, official, state religion.
I'll wait until you stop laughing.
Okay now? On with the story.
Seems like Ol' Edgar here never heard of that there dern ol' Constitution, pro-hibitin' the establishment of religion.
(Sorry. Whenever I think of one of these old redneck types, all I hear in my head is that old commercial where a hillbilly yells, "Yahooooo! Mountain Dew!" Nonetheless, I'll get back to writing in regular English now.)
See, Edgar done thunk -- er, Edgar thought he could get around the "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" clause because Congress wasn't establishing a religion on a federal level, the state of North Carolina was. See? Isn't that clever?
I guess Edgar never got up to the 14th Amendment, which basically says that no state shall make or enforce any law which would abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the country, or their life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, blah blah blah.
It means no local Jackass can overrule the US Constitution, plain and simple.
It had zero chance of ever passing.
It had zero chance of being deemed Constitutional, since, for over 100 years, the Supreme Court has ruled that the First Amendment does indeed cover state governments.
And the bill was withdrawn yesterday by the Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives.
But it was fun while it lasted.
Edgar Starnes, Republican Jackass of the Week. Now back to regular programming...
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Republican Jackass of the Week
I know it's not Friday, but there are so many...This first one's Don Young.
“My father had a ranch; we used to have 50-60 wetbacks to pick tomatoes,” Alaska Republican Rep. Don Young, 79, told radio station KRBD on Thursday. “It takes two people to pick the same tomatoes now. It’s all done by machine.”
Yep. Didn't have a clue how repulsive his casual use of that racial slur was. Not a clue. And some were actually defending this Jackass, saying in his day it was perfectly acceptable.
Well guess what? A lot of derogatory, racist words were "acceptable" to people like him four or five decades ago. Has he been in a coma since 1960?
And then there's Ben Carson.
Here's a guy who's a surgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital, so you'd think he'd have a brain of some sort.
But during a recent interview on Fox Noise, he actually said, “Marriage is between a man and a woman. No group, be they gays, be they NAMBLA [the North American Man/Boy Love Association], be they people who believe in bestiality, it doesn't matter what they are. They don’t get to change the definition.”
Subtle, isn't he?
Good job, Benny. Make your point by comparing American same sex couples with criminal child-molesters and criminal animal-molesters.
Two more Republican Jackasses of the Week.
And the Regressive Party has no idea whatsoever why women, gays, blacks, hispanics, young people and so many others will never vote for it. They are clueless, living in their own hateful, bigoted little world.
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