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SIX ISSUES the Teaparty-Republicans consider more important than jobs

Because there has been NO JOBS’ BILL created or even discussed, the House Republicans’ supposed “mandate” last November apparently meant they should spend 3 months on the following cultural / societal issues:

1) Curtailing Abortion Rights

2) Defunding Planned Parenthood

3) Defunding NPR

4) Investigating American Muslims

5) Declaring English As America’s Official Language

6) Reaffirming The “In God We Trust” Motto

Read more…

It’s true — who cares if you have a job and food as long as English hasn’t yet been declared the official language? All this and maybe a government shutdown too! One could say that House Republicans have their finger DIRECTLY on the pulse of America.

And we’re all waiting for the GOP’s Merry Christmas Bill, where store clerks who say “Happy Holidays” are sent to Gitmo. The War on Christmas will not be ignored!

Another Teaparty activist / Republican who says she’s NOT a f*cking racist source Marilyn Davenport, a Southern California Tea Party activist and member of the central committee of the Orange County Republican Party sent out an email to fellow conservatives which contained the following: Under the words, “Now you know why — no birth certificate,” is this picture. What did Marilyn have to say when the Orange County Weekly phoned her for comment? “Oh, come on! Everybody who knows me knows that I am not a racist. It was a joke. I have friends who are black. Besides, I only sent it to a few people–mostly people I didn’t think would be upset by it.” Yes, come on! Her friends who are black are sure to enjoy this “joke.” Marilyn blames the media for blowing the story out of proportion. Marilyn Davenport — socially retarded, ongoing failure at life: See news report video…
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Another Teaparty activist / Republican who says she’s NOT a f*cking racist

source

Marilyn Davenport, a Southern California Tea Party activist and member of the central committee of the Orange County Republican Party sent out an email to fellow conservatives which contained the following:

Under the words, “Now you know why — no birth certificate,” is this picture.

What did Marilyn have to say when the Orange County Weekly phoned her for comment?

“Oh, come on! Everybody who knows me knows that I am not a racist. It was a joke. I have friends who are black. Besides, I only sent it to a few people–mostly people I didn’t think would be upset by it.”

Yes, come on! Her friends who are black are sure to enjoy this “joke.” Marilyn blames the media for blowing the story out of proportion.

Marilyn Davenport — socially retarded, ongoing failure at life:

See news report video…

Either we were all Left Behind or Harold Camping is made of fail. Again. This isn’t the first time Camping has done this. You know who’s really going to be upset about this now: the current Harold Camping / Family Radio followers, many of whom, Camping’s executive producer says, have “given up their jobs, sold their homes, [and] maxed out their credit cards.“  That’s astonishing to me. It’s like the magical thinking of a small child. Plus Camping probably spent over $100 million in his May 21 / Rapture advertising campaign — all funded by donations. I don’t even want to think about what people are going to be like right before 12/21/12. More →
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Either we were all Left Behind or Harold Camping is made of fail. Again.

This isn’t the first time Camping has done this. You know who’s really going to be upset about this now: the current Harold Camping / Family Radio followers, many of whom, Camping’s executive producer says, have “given up their jobs, sold their homes, [and] maxed out their credit cards.“  That’s astonishing to me. It’s like the magical thinking of a small child. Plus Camping probably spent over $100 million in his May 21 / Rapture advertising campaign — all funded by donations. I don’t even want to think about what people are going to be like right before 12/21/12.

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Ten years ago, Bush said “Tax relief will create new jobs, tax relief will generate new wealth…”

Yesterday’s lies are today’s lies. A decade of FAIL, brought to you by George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and the GOP. From Pat Garofalo | Think Progress — read the whole thing, but here are some highlights on this 10-year anniversary of fail:

10 years ago tomorrow, the first of the Bush tax cuts was enacted. That 2001 tax cut was followed up by a second tax cut in 2003, passed after Vice-President Dick Cheney reportedly asserted that “deficits don’t matter.” The tax cuts were sold as necessary economic stimulus that would boost job creation and a moribund economy. “Tax relief will create new jobs, tax relief will generate new wealth, and tax relief will open new opportunities,” Bush said on April 16, 2001 as he was pushing for the passage of the first tax cut. Two years later he said, “These tax reductions will bring real and immediate benefits to middle-income Americans… …

DIDN’T CREATE JOBS:

  • Following the Bush tax cuts, “Overall monthly job growth was the worst of any cycle since at least February 1945, and household income growth was negative for the first cycle since tracking began in 1967.”
  • “The economy boasted 132 million jobs in June of 2001, the month that the first of the Bush tax cuts was signed into law. Three years later, in June of 2004, there were just 131.4 million jobs.

BLEW UP THE DEFICIT:

  • During a 2001 address to Congress, Bush said, “At the end of those 10 years [in the 2001 budget], we will have paid down all the debt that is available to retire. That is more debt repaid more quickly than has ever been repaid by any nation at any time in history.”
  • However, thanks in large part to the Bush tax cuts, the debt ballooned under Bush, with debt held by the public increasing from $3.5 trillion to nearly $6 trillion and gross federal debt going from $5.6 trillion to nearly $10 trillion.

TODAY’S GOP DOUBLES-DOWN:

  • Republicans only agreed to last December’s tax deal because it extended the Bush tax cuts for the richest two percent of Americans.
  • Now, both the House Republican budget and the House Republican “jobs plan” released last week include further reductions in the top tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent.
  • In fact, the “jobs plan” document calls for tax cuts to “Increase American competitiveness to spur investment and create more American jobs.”

REALITY:

When [Pres. Obama] took office, the economy was in recession. He made it worse. And he made it last longer. -Mitt Romney


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“The U.S. fabrication industry could [not] put a project like this together.” Right… ANYMORE!

Or ever again…? Gah!

Depressing post from Balloon Juice:

The new Oakland Bay bridge is being pre-fabricated in China by workers earning $12 for a 16-hour day, working at times 7 days a week:

“I don’t think the U.S. fabrication industry could put a project like this together,” Brian A. Petersen, project director for the American Bridge/Fluor Enterprises joint venture, said in a telephone interview. “Most U.S. companies don’t have these types of warehouses, equipment or the cash flow. The Chinese load the ships, and it’s their ships that deliver to our piers.”

He’s absolutely right: As long as government—which, after all, builds all the bridges—can outsource major projects like this to the lowest-bidding, most exploitative employer in the entire world, we’re not going to have an local industry able to build new bridges. Such is the monumental, self-serving stupidity of our Galtian/governmental confluence.

Thanks, state government ‘patriots.’

From the comments of that post: MikeBoyScout – June 26, 2011 | 10:13 am · Link

Ambridge, Pennsylvania where today about 16.4% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line.

American Bridge attracted thousands of immigrants who came to fulfill their dreams of work, freedom, and peace. The steel mills became the focal point of the town. Most of the employees were relatives of relatives and the small town grew, with wards separating the town into ethnic sections.

With the growth of the steel mills, Ambridge became a worldwide leader in steel production.[citation needed] The borough became known for bridge building, metal molding, and the manufacture of tubes (large iron pipes). During World War II, the American Bridge Company fabricated steel for the building of LSTs (Landing Ship Tanks). The steel was then sent by rail to the adjacent American Bridge naval shipyard in Leetsdale, PA where the LSTs were built. The area was also home to several other steel mills like Armco, the pipe mill which manufactured oil piping, and A.M. Byers, a major iron and tool fabricator. Eventually competition by foreign steel producers began to cause the share of the steel market for U.S. manufacturers to dwindle. With the shift of steel production overseas, the Ambridge Bridge Company ended operations in Ambridge in 1983. The legacy of American Bridge can be seen today from coast to coast, from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco to the Brooklyn Bridge in New York.

But wait. Michele Bachmann has a solution!

You see? Americans, too, could proudly earn $12 a day for 16-hour workdays!

I’ll say it again: Watch The Company Men. The ending of this movie is really going to be the only solution for America.

Via @Markhalperin Who’s the dick now, Mark Halperin? MSNBC on Thursday suspended indefinitely Mark Halperin from his role as an analyst on the network, hours after the Time Editor-at-Large called President Obama “a dick” on live television. “Mark Halperin’s comments this morning were completely inappropriate and unacceptable. We apologize to the president, the White House and all of our viewers,” MSNBC said in a written statement. “We strive for a high level of discourse and comments like these have no place on our air. Therefore, Mark will be suspended indefinitely from his role as an analyst,” the MSNBC statement said.
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Via @Markhalperin

Who’s the dick now, Mark Halperin?


MSNBC on Thursday suspended indefinitely Mark Halperin from his role as an analyst on the network, hours after the Time Editor-at-Large called President Obama “a dick” on live television.

“Mark Halperin’s comments this morning were completely inappropriate and unacceptable. We apologize to the president, the White House and all of our viewers,” MSNBC said in a written statement.

“We strive for a high level of discourse and comments like these have no place on our air. Therefore, Mark will be suspended indefinitely from his role as an analyst,” the MSNBC statement said.

Oil swirled in a flooded gravel pit in Lockwood, Mont. after an ExxonMobil pipeline ruptured. Larry Mayer/The Billings Gazette, via Associated Press Want to bet the ExxonMobile CEOs will still get their bonuses this year? LAUREL, Mont. (AP) — An ExxonMobil pipeline that runs under the Yellowstone River in Montana ruptured Saturday and leaked hundreds of barrels of oil into the waterway, causing a 25-mile plume that fouled the riverbank and forced municipalities and irrigation districts downstream to close intakes. The break near Billings in south-central Montana led to temporary evacuations of hundreds of residents along a 20-mile stretch. And here’s what the governor of Montana has to say about it: […] “The parties responsible will restore the Yellowstone River,” Mont. Gov. Brian Schweitzer said. I guess if Schweitzer were a Republican, he’d probably say that ‘accidents happen‘ and tell everyone to man up and to not ‘demonize‘ ExxonMobile. ExxonMobil spokeswoman Pam Malek said the pipe leaked an estimated 750 to 1,000 barrels of oil for about a half-hour before it was shut down. Other Exxon officials had estimated up to 42,000 gallons of crude oil escaped. […] “The timing couldn’t be worse,” said Steve Knecht, chief of operations for Montana Disaster and Emergency Services, who added that the plume was measured at 25 miles near Pompeys Pillar National Monument. “With the Yellowstone running at flood stage and all the debris, it makes it dang tough to get out there to do anything.” Brent Peters, the fire chief for the city of Laurel about 12 miles west of Billings, said the rupture in the 12-inch diameter pipe occurred late Friday about a mile south of Laurel. He said about 140 people in the Laurel area were evacuated early Saturday due to concerns about possible explosions and the overpowering fumes. He said they were allowed to return at about 4 a.m. after fumes had decreased. Full story… The Republicans insist on continuing to subsidize oil companies — while some, like Rand Paul, wouldn’t even require them to be financially responsible for spills like this. Also, too, drill here, drill now! ExxonMobile oil spill in Yellowstone River, hundreds evacuated See all oil spill posts »
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Oil swirled in a flooded gravel pit in Lockwood, Mont. after an ExxonMobil pipeline ruptured. Larry Mayer/The Billings Gazette, via Associated Press

Want to bet the ExxonMobile CEOs will still get their bonuses this year?

LAUREL, Mont. (AP) — An ExxonMobil pipeline that runs under the Yellowstone River in Montana ruptured Saturday and leaked hundreds of barrels of oil into the waterway, causing a 25-mile plume that fouled the riverbank and forced municipalities and irrigation districts downstream to close intakes.

The break near Billings in south-central Montana led to temporary evacuations of hundreds of residents along a 20-mile stretch.

And here’s what the governor of Montana has to say about it:

[…] “The parties responsible will restore the Yellowstone River,” Mont. Gov. Brian Schweitzer said.

I guess if Schweitzer were a Republican, he’d probably say that ‘accidents happen‘ and tell everyone to man up and to not ‘demonize‘ ExxonMobile.

ExxonMobil spokeswoman Pam Malek said the pipe leaked an estimated 750 to 1,000 barrels of oil for about a half-hour before it was shut down. Other Exxon officials had estimated up to 42,000 gallons of crude oil escaped.

[…] “The timing couldn’t be worse,” said Steve Knecht, chief of operations for Montana Disaster and Emergency Services, who added that the plume was measured at 25 miles near Pompeys Pillar National Monument. “With the Yellowstone running at flood stage and all the debris, it makes it dang tough to get out there to do anything.”

Brent Peters, the fire chief for the city of Laurel about 12 miles west of Billings, said the rupture in the 12-inch diameter pipe occurred late Friday about a mile south of Laurel.

He said about 140 people in the Laurel area were evacuated early Saturday due to concerns about possible explosions and the overpowering fumes. He said they were allowed to return at about 4 a.m. after fumes had decreased.

Full story…

The Republicans insist on continuing to subsidize oil companies — while some, like Rand Paul, wouldn’t even require them to be financially responsible for spills like this.

Also, too, drill here, drill now!

ExxonMobile oil spill in Yellowstone River, hundreds evacuated

See all oil spill posts »


… Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) regrets he chose ‘tar baby’ instead of the word ‘quagmire’ “Lamborn was attempting to tell a radio audience last week that the President’s policies have created an economic quagmire for the nation and are responsible for the dismal economic conditions our country faces. He regrets that he chose the phrase ‘tar baby,’ rather than the word ‘quagmire.’ The Congressman is confident that the President will accept his heartfelt apology.” — statement from Rep. Doug Lamborn’s office (R-CO). How many of us have told someone we’re sorry by saying, “Look, you suck in these ways but hey, sorry I said / did that. I’m confident you’ll accept my apology.”  Done and done! Earlier: A Republican House Rep. compares being associated with Obama to “touching a tar baby” “I don’t even want to be associated with [Obama], it’s like touching a, a tar baby and you get it…you know you’re stuck and you’re part of the problem and you can’t get away.” — Colorado GOP Rep. Doug Lamborn
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Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) regrets he chose ‘tar baby’ instead of the word ‘quagmire’

“Lamborn was attempting to tell a radio audience last week that the President’s policies have created an economic quagmire for the nation and are responsible for the dismal economic conditions our country faces. He regrets that he chose the phrase ‘tar baby,’ rather than the word ‘quagmire.’ The Congressman is confident that the President will accept his heartfelt apology.” — statement from Rep. Doug Lamborn’s office (R-CO).

How many of us have told someone we’re sorry by saying, “Look, you suck in these ways but hey, sorry I said / did that. I’m confident you’ll accept my apology.”  Done and done!

Earlier:

A Republican House Rep. compares being associated with Obama to “touching a tar baby”

“I don’t even want to be associated with [Obama], it’s like touching a, a tar baby and you get it…you know you’re stuck and you’re part of the problem and you can’t get away.” — Colorado GOP Rep. Doug Lamborn

(via: Alan Colmes)

Video: Wisconsin Teapartyers CHEER when blamed for the USA’s credit downgrade

Patriots, plain and simple. (And THAT’S called sarcasm.)

I see ONE HEAD without gray hair in this crowd of idiots — and you and I both know that probably means the majority are drawing government assistance (Social Security / Medicare):

They really are  childish, aggressively stupid, resentful, angry fools who lash out like crabs in a bucket.

(Source: youtube.com)

31 months in office: compare 180 to 112 to 61 to 28 (to quitting)

From Americablog: CNN reports that Palin thinks Obama is ‘tone deaf’ for going on holiday.

CBS’s Mark Knoller demonstrates a technique CNN might care to learn called ‘journalism’. Knoller has been keeping records of Presidential vacations for many years now:

So far, President Obama has taken 61 vacation days after 31 months in office. At this point in their presidencies, George W. Bush had spent 180 days at his ranch where his staff often joined him for meetings. And Ronald Reagan had taken 112 vacation days at his ranch.

Among recent presidents, Bill Clinton took the least time off — 28 days.

If a statement made by a politician is important enough to make it into a headline it is important enough to fact check and compare against previous presidents.

Good for Mark Knoller!

Does it seem at all ‘tone deaf’ that a woman who QUIT HER JOB HALFWAY THROUGH is complaining about someone taking well-earned vacation time? Why doesn’t the mainstream media comment about that?

This is why Palin and other tea party crazies get so much media attention. They’re reliably crazy and that’s always good filler.

(Via: TexasWatch) … Rick Perry’s Texas: It’s a miracle more Texans aren’t complaining Related: The Texas Miracle: #1 in adults lacking diplomas, tied #1 for low-wages, #1 for medically uninsured, #4 for poverty Did you know one major factor in Rick Perry’s ‘Texas Miracle’ was government jobs? Rick Perry’s “stupid, nonempirical, corrosive mindset” regarding people who pay no federal income tax
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(Via: TexasWatch)

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Rick Perry’s Texas: It’s a miracle more Texans aren’t complaining

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