Presidential Constitutional Crisis

No matter what political party you belong to you have to believe that your vote matters as an American citizen.  Your opinion on why you cast your vote matters.  The reason you vote for any candidate matters.  Voting is your right as an American citizen and every man and woman that served in our military for this country in war and peace time served to protect that right.  They swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America.  The President swore the same oath.

President Trump broke his oath of office seeking help against a political opponent in the 2020 election from a foreign nation.  Threatening and then withholding of funds that Congress approved for the Ukraine, and demanding investigations from a foreign nation on a potential political opponent.

This is the act of a sitting President of the United States of America committing treason and bribery, impeachable facts under our Constitution.  And the President has admitted to it in numerous interviews.  Various government agencies broke the law keeping the facts from Congress when the crime was committed.  Without law there is chaos and we can not have that in America. 

What does section 4 of the Constitution say about this sort of thing?     

The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors. The Constitution also allows for involuntary removal from office.

Your right to vote is gravely in danger in our current political system where the law and our Constitution no longer matters.  If a sitting president tries to manipulate your vote by any means via a foreign nation then that is treason.  If he threatens to withhold congressional approved foreign aid then that is bribery.

I don’t care what political parties you belong to, we are all Americans.  This action and crime by a sitting President will set a precedent if not prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  Your vote is a precious gift from our founding fathers, defended by and fought for by every man and woman that paid the ultimate price for freedom.

Call your Senators and Member of Congress.  Your vote, your children’s vote down the road, and your grand babies vote down the road matters.  Don’t let America be robbed by foreign countries manipulation.

Papamoka

Republican Push to End Overtime Pay

The man to the left is Eric Cantor.  He believes that you should not be paid for overtime work.  You should get time off when and if the company your work for wants to give it to you.  This man is bought and paid for by corporations to serve the state of Virginia in the US Congress.

When the Republican Party gives up common sense for political donations it is called good government.  That is what they think is good government.  Eric Cantor is going to propose legislation to please his political donors to end overtime pay in lieu of free time off that may be or may not be used at a later date.  He might not include that part in his legislation.  Ending overtime pay is the goal.  It makes fat rich guys that own companies that pay overtime happy so they can bring back the 16 hour work day.  And their checks always clear at the bank. 

This idea is idiotic and would turn the clocks back on working men and woman to pre 1938 when President Roosevelt signed into law that workers had a right to extra pay for extra hours worked.  Cantor would promise you time off at a later date.  But that time off is not guaranteed or promised to ever be honored.  Some unions or most unions might have a minor issue with this but that is another story for another day.

This is not the first time the Republican Party has tried to end the New Deal requirement for workers to be paid for one and one half pay for overtime hours worked.  Every few years, some idiot comes up with a brainstorm to please his corrupt political campaign donors to end overtime pay.  It's been happening since Roosevelt signed the overtime mandate from the federal government into law.

This is big government gone wrong on one side of the political aisle because the political campaign donation check cleared.  Believe it or not, our government and access to it is for sale.  Both political parties are guilty of it.  It’s just ironic that the GOP is so blatant about it.  Screwing over the hourly worker to benefit and put a few thousand more gallons of fuel in the CEO’s yacht works for the GOP.  To top it off we should also gut Medicare so they have to take grandma and grandpa to the doctor and go deeper in debt to the company store.

Cantor is working this under the pretext of "Family Time", or other context that leads you away from the screwing your families paycheck would get under it.  Nobody is against "Family Time" if you pop in some creative additional words that ring of the good old days.  He is trying to screw over the working man and woman and he is playing the game with words. He thinks you as a worker are an absolute idiot.  His red tie says so.  How many coal minors in Virginia get overtime?  Are you going to give that pay up because your Congressman Eric Cantor says the company store will promise you credit at a later date?

The only good thing we have going for us right now in this country is that we have a Democrat controlled Senate, and a Democrat President.  Cantor’s dream of ending overtime pay is a wet dream that he wipes himself clean with the people’s checks that are idiotic enough to donate money to his campaign.  And yet, people in his district will still re-elect him next year even though he tried to rob them.  Wake up Virginia!  When someone tries to wrong you, you right it.  You pay your household bills, Eric Cantor does not.

Eric Cantor is a time stamp of 15 minutes of fame and his political career is now tied to the extreme right.  His political career is dead.  Whoever is the next competitor for his seat should broadcast every comment he has made to screw over the working man and woman so that he can cash a check from another millionaire or billionaire.  Follow the money and you see who owns Erick Cantor.  Political donors are public records.

Thank you Daily Kos for the hat tip and up front detailed info on the workings of Eric Cantor to end overtime pay for all Americans.

Papamoka

Obama Debate Performance

I watched the presidential debate and found myself screaming at the President to fight back on all the outright lies Mitt Romney was saying.  He didn't and it pissed me off.

In hindsight it was a brilliant political move to fully expose Romney and his campaign.  Mitt could not resist opening his mouth and letting his natural ability to please the crowd and flip flop on all of his campaign promises that he has made over the last 18 months.  All that Obama had to do was take the punches on the ropes and finish the first round.  The press and the people will all get in the ring for the next two weeks and beat the crap out of Mitt Romney for flip flopping.  That is all free coverage for the Obama campaign.  He does not have to spend a dime in advertising when all over the media and the internet people will be exposing Mitt Romney and all of his lies for free.

One article I read yesterday pointed out 27 major lies that Romney spouted.  I'm sure there were many more and they will all be exposed.

Brilliant political strategy Mr. President.  Mitt took the bait and couldn't shut up.  Love it!

Papamoka

Picture courtesy of Facebook.

GOP to Cut Food Stamps

Our nation needs the money for tanks and war ships.  Jeff Sessions, (R) Alabama, is slightly hard of hearing when he proposed cutting food stamps for the poor.  The preacher said "Thanks and Worship".

One more reason to not vote for any Republican in the fall election.  They can not hear a single word you say if you are from the middle or lower class of Americans.

Papamoka

A Woman Has No Reproductive Rights

The Republican's are right on the money. All you woman that think you own your uterus and reproductive organs are nut jobs that need a lobotomy. Maybe you need that lobotomy to get some common sense into your head! No offense intended but the GOP thinks that all of you woman should be put in your place and know your place. Steppford Wives is not a bad thing if you will just do what you are told. Know your place woman and the world will be fine. There should be barbed wire around your reproductive organs to protect the world from nut jobs that think that woman have certain rights over their own bodies. What the hell are you whack job woman thinking? I think the GOP should bring back chastity belts too. And Berkas.

God only knows, the only woman that any good Republican man could ever trust and have faith in was his mother.

Rock on GOP...

This is the message of the GOP. God bless them. Everyone should vote for the GOP just because it is the right thing to do. For men. I think it's written in the bible or something but I could be wrong. Vote for them for congress, for the senate, and especially for president. We need to fix this nation and only a strong GOP government can do that by telling all of you woman how messed up you are in thinking that you own any part of your body. All you woman that have the right to vote now because of that bitch Susan B. Anthony should vote for the Democrat. What's his face... O something or other.

We got this covered. Men rule and babes drool. I mean babies drool. As God intended. So sayeth the GOP.

Papamoka

Rick Perry Third Rail

In politics there are several topics that are hot spots that can burn your ass. One such topic is Social Security. People like Social Security because it is a plan they have paid into all of their lives and it is supposed to be guaranteed. As much smoke and mirrors that is played into the funding of it the system is sound for decades. Most people never plan for retirement and that is going to be the only income they have in their retirement. For some people that is all they can afford and it is what it is. Not everyone is a business owner, some of us are the people doing the work to make that business thrive for meager wages.

Along comes the Tea Party and the folks that think that the government does not owe you a retirement even if you paid for it all you life. Then comes the politicians running on the extreme fringe like Rick Perry (R) Texas, that thinks that he can friend the extremist while he runs for President under the GOP ticket. NOT going to happen Ricky. Even hinting that Social Security needs to go the way of the dinosaurs is a third rail in politics. I should explain.

Social Security was enacted to protect the workers of America that could not save for retirement and ended up on the streets, no support, and eventually buried in poppers fields because they were the workers that worked for poor wages and lived in poverty all of their lives. The only ones profiting from their hard work were the business owners. President Roosevelt ended that cycle by passing Social Security to make people have a guaranteed income when they were in their declining years. FDR passed it to protect the lower classes and the elderly. And yes he screwed over business owners to make them take care of their workers. God bless his heart.

I should explain further that the Presidency of this country can only be won with the swing of the moderate vote of both parties. A larger portion of the political pie than people think. Be you Democrat or Republican, and if phasing out Social Security is a political candidates forum, would you vote for them? Hell NO! Stupid move on Governor Rick Perry's part.

Grab that third rail of politics Rick Perry and I guarantee that you will be the Governor from Texas that just ran for President and was blown out of the water by some old folks in their fifties to eighties that saw your threat on their wallet and voted no for you candidacy. You sir are a Double Dumb Ass winner. You sir need someone that has a clue as how to run a national campaign. You should call Mitt Romney or hitch a ride on Sara Palin's bus.

Just stupid.

Papamoka

Bachmann Passes Romney in Iowa Poll

There is a God. Thank you God. I'm going back to church and doing all the things I said I was going to do. Michele Bachmann has surpassed Mitt Romney in Iowa polling data according to one source. It doesn't matter who the source is, I just want to see a debate between President Obama and Michele Bachmann. Can we get a hell ya from the choir? Mind you, this is a source that is for Republicans only....

Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has surpassed former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney in a recent Iowa poll that was conducted by TheIowaRepublican.com. With Bachmann now leading in Iowa, Romney has fallen to second place, but he is still well ahead of third place finisher Tim Pawlenty, who has overtaken Herman Cain my a miniscule margin. - The Iowa Republican

For the record. I voted for Mitt Romney for Governor of Massachusetts. But that was only because we had a one party state. I wanted a check and balance government and not a runaway state government and Mitt was the man that stopped that as Governor. I voted for Bill Weld previously for Governor for the same reason. Checks and balances.

But to think that Michele Bachmann is Presidential material is totally nuts! God bless the GOP and go with GOD! Please go with GOD and move this nut job of a congresswoman to the front of your ticket. I would so love to see the embarrassment on national television as she tries her best to ramble through any tough questions with President Obama as her opponent.

You can use your own computer to find out that she is one watt light of light bulb you could read a book by. Michele Bachmann is a lunatic frindge of the extreme right which puts her out of contention for all moderate votes be they Republican or Democrat. And yes I voted for Ronald Reagan TWICE!

Bachmann does not have a snow balls chance in hell of even visiting the White House never mind be the first woman President. Nuts you get from trees and she fell out of the tree years ago.

Papamoka

Beware of Political Sink Holes

If you’ve not been paying attention to politics lately because there are no real elections going on then you need a heads up. Apparently, the GOP is in self destruct mode and nobody in the entire political party has the abort code because they don’t believe in abortion. This is how the GOP feels about your Medicare benefit for when you retire? You know the plan that is supposed to take care of you if you get sick after you RETIRE. The same Medicare that you have paid for your entire working life… Same one.

The GOP continued its bloody walk into the Medicare buzzsaw Wednesday, when 40 out of 47 Senate Republicans voted in support of the House GOP budget, and its plan to phase out and privatize the popular entitlement program.

The test vote failed by a vote of 57-40. But the roll call illustrates that Medicare privatization -- along with deep cuts to Medicaid and other social services -- remains the consensus position of the GOP despite the growing political backlash against them. -TPM


Next up… Let’s move on over to all those poor folks that lost everything in the massive tornados that went through Joplin, Missouri. Did you know that those people are demanding some kind of federal help? NOT GOING TO HAPPEN if the GOP DID NOT get its way…

In a stunningly heartless move, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) put strings on emergency relief for the victims of the killer Joplin tornado, saying that other government services would have to be cut to offset aid spending. Yesterday afternoon, the House Appropriations Committee passed an amendment by Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) to add $1 billion in funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) disaster relief fund, offset by cutting $1.5 billion from the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program at the Department of Energy. - Think Progress

We are not done yet… What does the GOP think of your Social Security benefit? They think it is constitutionally illegal… Can’t make this stuff up…

This past January, the House GOP caucus insisted that the session of Congress be launched with a reading of the Constitution. The member of Congress who led this idea into fruition was Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and he was also the first reader.

But at a town hall meeting that took place last week and was captured on YouTube, Goodlatte showed his pre-20th century view of the Constitution. At one point during the town hall presentation, Goodlatte displayed a pie chart to the audience showing the various programs that consume the federal budget, with Social Security and Medicare consuming the biggest sections.

One constituent, referencing the pie chart, said that everything on the chart is unconstitutional. Goodlatte responded that he agrees, but that the courts keep ruling the opposite way. – Think Progress

And that is all that needs to be said about that when it comes time for the next election. One political party is blindly stepping into a sink hole because they think it’s the right thing to do to keep gaining political power. Its political suicide as every political science theorist will tell you. You don’t win national power by isolating all of the moderates of the opposing political party. But it is how you piss off the moderates of your own political party and have them vote for the other party come election day. The third rail of politics, Social Security, Medicare, and as George Bush AKA George Katrina Bush, you don’t act as if you are doing nothing for disaster victims in the United States.

Papamoka

Renewable Energy Job Creation

Republicans are proposing slashing the DOE budget by two billion, in areas where renewable energy breakthroughs are playing a huge roll in America’s energy independence. As we all know, the republican’s are very concerned with saving money at the federal level as long as it doesn’t touch their pockets or friends with campaign donations pockets. You know the players as big oil, big coal, and mega electric industries with their more than generous checkbook to the GOP political base.

The Continuing Resolution as it stands would slice over two billion dollars from the DOE's budget alone and would have detrimental impacts on the state of American energy innovation. The budget cuts would force the layoffs of scientists and engineers, shrink the capabilities of laboratories and universities to perform the most critical cutting-edge energy research projects, and, by cutting funds for highly-leveraged loan guarantee programs, steer private sector funds away from American entrepreneurs and small businesses looking to demonstrate and deploy their innovative energy technologies on American soil. – WattHead Energy

It’s going to be hard to stop the renewable energy industry now that it is rolling along and the dividends being paid are in long term good paying Green jobs. Jobs are about to pop up in Wyoming that were born from many of the same programs the Republican’s are slashing to the bone regardless.

Gestamp has partnered with Ohio-based Worthington Industries, Inc. to create a joint venture, Gestamp Worthington Wind Steel, LLC. Together, they will produce towers for wind turbines constructed in the North American market. The initial production facility will stand on 30 acres in Cheyenne, and could employ as many as 150 people when fully operational.

The proposed facility will produce utility-scale towers for 2 to 3-MW wind turbines. The partners plan to begin shipments of 80 to 100-ft long tower sections in early 2012. – Windpower Engineering

Holy crap, who’d of thunk that renewable energy funding would have created long term jobs? How can that be possible if it’s renewable energy? Isn’t that an oxymoron? Or as some on the right side of the aisle that don’t believe in science would suggest, it takes more energy to build a solar panel than it creates in its working lifetime. WRONG!

Could it be that the American economy is broken, busted, out of money because it plays favorites with far too many old industries such as oil, coal and electric? Where are the budget cuts for those industries in the Republican money saving plan? They don’t exist is where those cuts are? The DOE budget for administering fossil fuels is cut but the subsidies are not. You know why, I know why, it’s just more of the same pretentious and shamefulness of politics and our government at work.

My good friend, a conservative at heart, is constantly telling me that the government should stay out of business peoples business. I agree to a point. I don’t agree that the monopoly that is our archaic energy system in America should be given a free ride over new technology that is beneficial to our children’s health, energy independence, and future.

Papamoka

Memeorandum Goes Fox News

Is it just me or has the Google search engine equivalent for political news known as Memeorandum gone all right wing politics like Fox News? Granted the latest news cycle is all about things happening in the right side of the political aisle but my thoughts are that the news from Memeorandum has been hijacked. Spin is spin and it is what it is.

It almost seems that every post that they point you toward lately is and has been extremely right wing. Just saying. I’ll be looking for a new source for political news. I hear that Real Clear Politics is good. Checking them out and will keep you posted.

Papamoka

Blood Libel Meaning

Sarah Palin put out a Facebook statement regarding the horrific events in Arizona and the death of far too many innocent people at the hands of a madman at Congress woman Giffords gathering. Having actually read the whole speech from Sarah Palin I honestly have to say that I think she was actually right on message. And this opinion is from a true blue blood Democrat.

Vigorous and spirited public debates during elections are among our most cherished traditions. And after the election, we shake hands and get back to work, and often both sides find common ground back in D.C. and elsewhere. If you don’t like a person’s vision for the country, you’re free to debate that vision. If you don’t like their ideas, you’re free to propose better ideas. But, especially within hours of a tragedy unfolding, journalists and pundits should not manufacture a blood libel that serves only to incite the very hatred and violence they purport to condemn. That is reprehensible. – Facebook

We live in a time when politics and the debate of just life in America is very harsh and cold. Political pundits with a microphone or television show will spin it to blame an opposing political party for the actions of a madman simply because they can. The pay for such so called political valor is high. I have to say that I have followed Sarah Palin online to see what she has to say and she used the term “Blood Libel” appropriately to describe the idiots behind the microphones. I believe that would be a “bitch slap” to Rush Limbaugh from the former Vice President Candidate from Alaska. She wasn’t looking to hurt anyone with the statement other than tell the shock jocks to shut the hell up.

Even Alan Dershowitz, the Harvard Law Proffesor agrees with me...

The term “blood libel” has taken on a broad metaphorical meaning in public discourse. Although its historical origins were in theologically based false accusations against the Jews and the Jewish People,its current usage is far broader. I myself have used it to describe false accusations against the State of Israel by the Goldstone Report. There is nothing improper and certainly nothing anti-Semitic in Sarah Palin using the term to characterize what she reasonably believes are false accusations that her words or images may have caused a mentally disturbed individual to kill and maim. The fact that two of the victims are Jewish is utterly irrelevant to the propriety of using this widely used term. – Big Government

Sarah Palin said nothing that was offensive unless you speak a language that is lost to the ages. Now I have to go throw up for defending her speech. I hope that she never has a more clear and to the point speech ever again.

Papamoka

***Crooks and Liars linking in... Thank you Mike!

Obama a One Term President

News reports, although never realistic based on push polls, can not be trusted when you insert reality or simple common sense into the scenario. Polls are out asking if President Barack Obama will be a one term president. I’m just thinking that the President still has two years left to his term but I’m funny like that wondering how this can even be realistically polled or predicted?

Alzheimer’s is rampant in the electorate given the last election results! We all know people are fickle and will vote their wallet and this fact is true because everyone forgot how screwed we all were under the leadership of George W. Bush. That is why Obama won the White House over Republican candidate John McCain in the first place! One has to ask if the voting public are sheep that will run the first time someone screams wolf? This past elections proves that theory given the fear factor of the Tea Party candidates that actually won and all of the democrat’s that were tossed out of office. Common sense lost and fear won.

Even Congressman Alan Grayson in Florida’s 8th Congressional district, a die hard for the people candidate was ousted. There was no common sense fiscally to understand his ousting at the polls knowing that he was a closet conservative budget watch dog on spending that just happened to be a liberal democrat.

Politically, it will look amazing in the history books on all of the accomplishments that President Barack Obama has been able to do in just his first two years as president. Obama passed Health Care Reform and when you look at history, every president since Harry Truman has tried to pass some form of national health care reform and none have succeeded. Obama passed banking and investment reform of Wall Street that cleaned up the mess that was disguised as pure capitalism but really was a house of magic where accounting tricks and mirrors were only the beginning to undermine the investments of all Americans. A banking industry where anyone that was breathing could qualify for a mortgage and bingo the house of cards in the housing market collapsed.

President Obama passed credit card reform and dealt a blow to the unscrupulous banking industry that gouged consumers simply because they could. Turning the employment numbers around since his predecessor, George W. Bush, whom is apparently the “New Ronald Reagan”, from a constant loss to positive yet small growth in the private sector was not a simple thing to do and it took leadership.

I find it amazing that it is even suggested to think that Obama will be a one term president. Yes, he was dealt a severe loss with the recent election but his presidency is only two years old. The party of “NO!” now has the House of Congress but they do not have the Senate. And the only real loser’s in this past election is the gridlock and bull that the GOP will unleash to stop any progress to help the people of America to not get out of a recession.

When I hear the crack heads in the GOP wanting to touch the third rail of Social Security, reducing benefits, cutting or even eliminating benefits for some, I’m reminded of my own advancing age. That brings up the “Get Out of my Pension” factor. AKA the GOP. That third rail burns anyone that touches it and that will be the reason President Obama will see a second term. When rich politicians touch seniors that vote in larger than life numbers based on the only income they have coming in then the third rail candidates always lose! Go GOP and crack heads.

As a political writer, the GOP taking the House of Representatives is a godsend. I’m wondering where all of these fiscally conservative people were when our nation went to war on two fronts and saw no problem with no bid contracts? Same folks want grandma and grandpa’s pension to bail out the deficit but see no problem with war profiteering? Go GOP!!!

Papamoka

Tea Party Rabid Pitt Bull

No offense to Pitt Bull’s but the Tea Party is the rabid beast of the Republican Party. In the post election of President Obama, Republican’s have reached out for the passion of the Tea Party activists to try and win back as much of the political spin that they need to win control back of the house or senate. Unfortunately, they did not check to see if the Tea Party had its rabies shots. They pretty much hugged that puppy, fed it, and set it free among the party.

I’ve been trying to sum up in my own head what the Tea Party actually stands for and it is no better than extremist that come from the left side of the aisle if you overlook the spelling problem that most Tea Party folks have. The Tea Party is tantamount to a three year old throwing a tantrum till the Republican party people listen to them and then they decide to throw several other tantrums just because they can. And as long as the Republican’s play favorite child with the loony right, then they deserve to have a rabid dog in their living room.

What is more ironic and idiotic is that nobody is really in charge of the Tea Party nationally and thus it never will have one unified message. That pretty much makes the whole Tea Party movement impotent politically and according to some reports the GOP is trying to distance itself from the so called Tea Party grass root followers.

If you think about it, only Palin, Beck, and Limbaugh think the movement is worth their time but if you really look and think about their actions then you see a different picture. Palin is dreaming that she will actually be a contender candidate for President in two years time but her own political party is moving away from her self defined controversy. Nobody that extreme will ever have a chance at the White House because you need the middle of both political parties to get elected and frankly she is bat shit nuts! Beck and Limbaugh are money making machine entertainers so realistically they would raise Ronald Reagan from the dead if they could make a buck off of him. And they both have admitted to being entertainers and NOT political figures. I can understand that because I’m a blogger and not a political leader. But I’m no where near the pay grade of Beck and Limbaugh.

What does all of this mean for the November elections when it comes to the Tea Party movement? For Republicans it is a self inflicted shot in the ass simply because the people that actually vote will never buy bullshit and extreme right or left political badgering. Voters know what a rabid dog looks like. You don’t give that puppy a hug and kiss, and you certainly do not feed it and the GOP is facing that problem in November. Extremism works at rallies but just doesn’t seem to fit in the voting booth.

Papamoka

Coffee Party Politics

I’ve heard some sound bites about the “Coffee Party” but mostly I’ve assumed it was the exact opposite of the “Tea Party” folks. I’m a middle of the road politics kind of person and that doesn’t make me comfortable with Tea Baggers and I’m certainly not ready for a double latte espresso light on the cream political group. Either way, I’m thinking that too much caffeine can’t be good for you. Anywho, I was looking into what the Coffee Party is all about and to be honest with you, they actually seem to be the Ying and Yang to the Tea Party. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Here is their blurb on the who or what the Coffee Party is all about…

About Us
Tue, 2010-02-23 17:43 — pcoughlin

We are diverse — ethnically, geographically, politically, in age and in experience.

We are 100% grassroots. No lobbyists here. No pundits. And no hyper-partisan strategists calling the shots in this movement. We are a spontaneous and collective expression of our desire to forge a culture of civic engagement that is solution-oriented, not blame-oriented.

We demand a government that responds to the needs of the majority of its citizens as expressed by our votes and by our voices; NOT corporate interests as expressed by misleading advertisements and campaign contributions.

We want a society in which democracy is treated as sacrosanct and ordinary citizens participate out of a sense of civic duty, civic pride, and a desire to contribute to society. The Coffee Party is a call to action. Our Founding Fathers and Mothers gave us an enduring gift — Democracy — and we must use it to meet the challenges that we face as a nation. - Coffee Party USA

It turns out that the Coffee Party people actually are the opposing force to the Tea Party folks but I’m hoping they aren’t as loony and destructive to the nice folks on the left as the Tea Party members are to the folks on the right.

Now I’m wondering if I should start another opposing party to the Tea Party and Coffee Party folks for all of us moderate middle of the road kind of people. How about the Milk and Cereal Party?

That might not fly seeing how so many of us moderates are fed up with both the left and right political parties and are now lactose intolerant. Worst case scenario, I just might end up checking out the Coffee Party just a wee little bit more.

Papamoka

Senator Jim Bunning Holds Breath

Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) is throwing yet another tantrum in the US Senate. In the last few days he has literally told his colleagues in the Senate “Tough Shit” on his blocking of extensions for unemployment and COBRA payments, chucked the bird at the media when they asked to speak to him about it, and kicked people off of an elevator claiming it was for Senators only. (See the previous post here) His latest stunt is to hold his breath even when the Senate President, Harry Reid, agreed to his demands. The man is acting like a two year old throwing a tantrum to get his way and not even remotely close to what should be the behavior of a United States Senate member.

Again, I can’t make this stuff up…

Bunning is still insisting that the 30-day extension be paid for from stimulus funds before he allows a quick vote on the House-passed measure. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has offered to hold a vote on a Bunning amendment to offset the bill, but Bunning refused on the basis that his proposal would likely fail. – Roll Call 3/02/2010

Can I hear a chorus from everyone of “WTF”? He got what he wants but he still isn’t going to let the vote take place to extend benefits for thirty days? Once more from the chorus, “WTF”.

Even his fellow Republican Senate members can not manage to talk any sense into Jim Bunning. Senators Collins and McConnell have both given it their best shot and good old Jimmy Bunning is still holding his breath simply because he can.

I find myself shaking my head in utter disbelief thinking that this one Senator has the ultimate power to hold up unemployment insurance benefit extensions for over one million people just because he wants to be an ass. Forget about COBRA and all the federal projects and layoffs that started Monday of this week thanks to Bunning holding his breath. Even forget about the Medicaid payments to doctors because Bunning is holding his breath. That of course leads me to wondering why the hell the Senate President hasn’t grown a pair and found a way to go around the idiot Jim Bunning? Republicans in times past have never had a problem with ramming bills through so what is up with Harry Reid? If Harry Reid doesn’t know how to put Senator Bunning out to pasture or ram the legislation through then what the hell is he doing in the Senate President chair? Especially, at a time when many Republicans actually agree that Senator Jim Bunning is being an ASS with his filibuster tactics! Or could this actually be more of the same old politics in Washington where everyone is pointing the finger at the other political party to win bonus points in some mythical popularity contest?

Right now, Jim Bunning is a blessing in disguise to the Democrats and the evil troll brother that Republicans don’t want to admit to being related too. Either way, we the people still get the worst of both parties no matter who wins the idiot of the week contest.

Papamoka

***Picked up by Opinion Editorial... Thanks!

Rep Trent Franks wants Slavery BACK

Again, I can’t make this stuff up but here we go with yet another Republican making an idiotic comment. Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ) actually thinks that African Americans were better off without the 13th amendment to the United States Constitution. President Abraham Lincoln was wrong, and slavery was a good thing for African Americans if you listen to this bone head! And Franks is probably thinking that this is all President Obama’s (African American) fault because abortion is legal in the United States. But all of the Republican Presidents since the Roe v. Wade decision by SCOTUS in 1973 get a free pass?

I'm going to go way out on a limb and call Franks an IDIOT! Did I also mention that Franks is an IDIOT. Just to be clear, Franks picture is right there in the dictionary when you look up IDIOT! And to sum up just briefly, Trent Franks (R-AZ) is an IDIOT!

FRANKS: In this country, we had slavery for God knows how long. And now we look back on it and we say “How brave were they? What was the matter with them? You know, I can’t believe, you know, four million slaves. This is incredible.” And we’re right, we’re right. We should look back on that with criticism. It is a crushing mark on America’s soul. And yet today, half of all black children are aborted. Half of all black children are aborted. Far more of the African-American community is being devastated by the policies of today than were being devastated by policies of slavery. And I think, What does it take to get us to wake up? – Think Progress

Think Progress has the video of the Congressman discussing his opinion on what he believes is best for African Americans. I’ve taken the liberty (Hope they don’t mind) of posting some of the comments from this article over at Think Progress:

“May I recommend a month in shackles, crossing the Atlantic in the hold of a wooden cargo ship, with no latrines. Drink your own urine, congressman, and enjoy.”

“If you have to delineate the merits of slavery to bash a woman’s choice, then you don’t have an argument anymore.”

“In most societies, “crazy” people are kept on the fringes. In America, they get elected as Republican politicians. The fact that this man “represents” a group of people who put him in office is shameful.”

“. . . waiting for the non-apology “my comments were taken out of context” apology in 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . .”

”After twenty-five years, it’s clear that conservatism only works for the benefit of the rich and powerful. Conservatism has damaged our economy and shoved America down the road to plutocracy. The racist anti-science stances that modern conservatives take doesn’t help with their image either.”

“When barbarians want to discuss the economic success of slavery, it’s time to bar the gates and boil the oil.”

Just adding my own two cents to the topic I’m wondering what Michael Steele (African American) the current Chairman of the GOP, thinks about Representative Trent Franks thoughts on slavery? For the record I would like to be very clear that I do not think that Trent Franks opinion is that of the majority of opinion of the Republican Party. Franks is just an IDIOT and all political parties have plenty of those.

Somebody over at the GOP needs to have a talk with Mr. Franks or just whack him upside the head for being an IDIOT.

Papamoka

*** Post Tribune has picked up this post... Thanks!

Bunning to Distribute Unemployed Laxatives

Major players in the GOP are trying hard to get past the nickname “Party of No” and Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky isn’t helping matters with his latest remarks on the Senate floor. Political pundits on the left side of the aisle are going to have a field day with Bunning and his comment to Democrats regarding his stalling tactics that will kill unemployment and Cobra benefits for millions of Americans.

Apparently, Senator Bunning has a potty mouth…

Senate Democrats spent Thursday night hammering away at Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) for single-handedly holding up action in the upper chamber – but he blurted out a message to one of them on the Senate floor: “Tough s—t.”

In an unusual display in the normally sleepy chamber, Bunning – without the support of GOP leadership – has blocked efforts to quickly approve a series of extensions to measures that would otherwise expire Sunday, including unemployment insurance and the Cobra program that allows people who lose their health benefits to continue getting coverage.

And that has led to a furious exchange on the floor, with Democrats attacking the senator, who has refused to relent on his objection, in unusually harsh terms.
In a colloquy with Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Sen. Jeff Merkley, a freshman Democrat from Oregon, was pleading for Bunning to drop his objection, when the Kentucky Republican got fed up.

“Tough s—t,” Bunning said as he was seated in the back row, overheard by the floor staff and others in attendance.

A spokesman for Bunning did not immediately respond to a request for comment. – Politico

I would like to be the first to rename the GOP from the political party of “NO” to the new and improved name of “Tough Shit”. Republican Senator Jim Bunning is a gift from God to the Democrats and they should all get down on one knee to say a quick thank you prayer. I can see the jingles and campaign signs that will sprout in the spring thanks to the laxative comment from Senator Bunning. If he chooses to run for re-election then I would like to offer this free campaign slogan “Listen to your Momma and Bunning and eat your vegetables”.

This is either going to be a great bonus to the makers of Ex-Lax and Metamucil or its going to be a nightmare. Profits may rise considerably as hooligans empty the stores shelves of their product to paste the maker’s labels over every Bunning campaign sign. One could easily picture a left leaning out of work plumber putting a “Bunning for Senate” sign in a toilet out on his or her front lawn with a nice floral pattern of empty Metamucil jars elegantly landscaped around it.

I couldn’t make this sh!t up if I wanted too. I will however be watching all of the blogs and news agencies for any reports regarding the Republican Minority Leader in the Senate purchasing a bar of soap to wash a certain person’s mouth out with.

Papamoka

***UPDATE 3/01/2010***
Washington (CNN) - An angry Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Kentucky, refused to answer questions from CNN and ABC News Monday afternoon about his decision to block a bill that would extend unemployment benefits to millions of jobless Americans. An ABC News producer who was there says Bunning gave him the middle finger in response to a question.

And there is more...

By David Lightman and Halimah Abdullah | McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON — The Department of Transportation furloughed nearly 2,000 employees without pay Monday as the government began to feel the impact of Republican Sen. Jim Bunning's one-man blockage of legislation that would keep a host of federal programs operating.

Bunning's "hold" also affects jobless benefits for thousands of unemployed workers, rural television customers, doctors receiving Medicare payments and others.

Is John McCain Done

Senator John McCain of Arizona might be looking at his last election to the United States Senate if the buzz coming from the Republican Party is on target. Die hard Conservatives are not to happy with their former GOP candidate for the Presidency and the rumor mill around Arizona is leaning towards the thought that Johnny isn’t conservative enough for their liking. McCain’s opponent in the next election is none other than the Jack Abramoff (jailed lobbyist & corruption guru) sweetheart former Congressman J.D. Hayworth who lost his last election bid to the Democrats in 2006. The question to be asked is if Hayworth can unseat the 73 year old Senator in the primary election if McCain holds the Tea Bagger revolt faction and Sarah Palin’s (Fox News Opinion contributor) political support?

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Sipping beer in a noisy bar outside Phoenix, John "Buck" Hayes and his friend Kermit Thompson represent the rift that has made the Republican primary facing Sen. John McCain one of the country's most watched Senate races.

Hayes, 52, speaks reverentially of the four-term senator, describing him as a "steady fighter" who has the clout in Washington to call things as he sees them. Thompson, 70, a former McCain supporter, counters with this: "He's gotten too liberal for me."

Two years after he beat a crowded field to lead the GOP presidential ticket, the 73-year-old McCain is up against what some say is his toughest re-election battle in years as voters in his home state decide whether they want an experienced maverick or a diehard conservative. - USA Today

One of the talking points on McCain’s re-election viability is the immigration issue where his views are not in line with many of the folks in his states political party. J.D. Hayworth is playing up his difference of opinion with McCain on immigration with every political speech. In a state that has an ongoing issue dealing with illegal immigrants and border patrol, immigration may end up being the issue of this campaign for the Senate that sends John McCain home from Washington.

Political experts in Arizona say the immigration issue, not an intraparty feud, is central to any struggles McCain may face. McCain's support for comprehensive immigration reform, including a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrations already in the country, has hurt him politically in the past, including nearly derailing his presidential bid. Hayworth has derided such reform as amnesty for illegal immigrants.

"It's not a secret that Senator McCain has different feelings on immigration than Hayworth," said Matt Roberts, a spokesman for the Arizona Republican Party. "That's the issue garnering the most amount of attention and people feel strongly on both sides." - Fox News

On the flip side of the coin are the Democrats who seem to favor the candidacy of Air Force Reservist Rodney Glassman for McCain’s seat with a grass roots effort that features a $20 maximum political donation. Glassman is from the Tucson area where he is a city council member and very active in the local community. Questions abound if Glassman the Democrat can beat Hayworth the Republican in a predominate red state election campaign. That is if of course John McCain is done.

Papamoka

Health Care Debate Violence

It doesn’t surprise me that this simple discussion about healthcare for all Americans has become violence prone. All sides of the debate are getting pissed, miffed, angry, and riotous and it makes no sense. Is it not fair to say that the argument on the right is being fed misinformation from organizations that just don’t want healthcare for everyone? There isn’t a Republican I know that would walk away from someone that was injured or bleeding on the street. Same goes for any Democrat, Green, or Independent that I know. Democrats are not being told the whole truth either given the White House’s recent backing off of a deal with the pharmaceutical companies that would have negotiated prescription drug pricing for people on Medicare.

I find it stupefying when you see people estimate healthcare for all Americans at one trillion dollars but leave out the fact that that is a Washington budgetary term that is in fact spread out over ten years. So the discussion should move to what can be cut in the federal budget to pay for health care for everyone? Can we cut tax subsidies for oil companies that are basically having a freebie on oil leases on public land and seas? Or can we even go so far as to cut the spending for maintaining a military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan and bring our troops all home and hopefully in one piece?

One thing is certain, America needs to fix its health care system and it will not get fixed when everyone is yelling and screaming at one another. It certainly won’t fix itself or even remotely heal with violence breaking out at Town Hall meetings to discuss health care. It’s one thing to discuss an issue, it is entirely another when violence becomes the high point of any political reporting on what the changes of our health care system are or can be.

When you really look at America, we have a diverse culture and collection of people. We can be best of friends on Facebook or Myspace and yet not recognize one another and become violent with one another over healthcare? Does that make sense to you? In the end, if the violence wins the day and kills healthcare for all Americans, what has the political movement on the right really won? David Frum has his opinion on that…

Makes me wonder if outside influences and special interests on both sides are pushing the buttons to force matters and discussions regarding healthcare into a violent end. Otherwise, I think we can all agree that Kate Smith had it right with her inspirational rendition of God Bless America. At the end of the day, we are all still Americans and we can not and should not ever forget that.

Video Link



Papamoka

Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor

President Obama made his pick for the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) today and can I give myself props for knowing the pick on May 6, 2009 and posting on it? Not the name but the sex, ethnicity, personality, and credentials. Judge Sonia Sotomayor is a very qualified moderate with liberal leanings and I happen to like the fact that her credentials are beyond question. I don’t think I need to mention the fact that her Hispanic aka minority heritage is a bonus to the President and everyone on the left side of the political aisle.

Republicans are furious and don’t have a clue as to how they are going to go after a first in her class law student from Princeton nominated to SCOTUS. A woman with better credentials then the highest court in the land has seen in over one hundred years. How are they going to attack someone they confirmed to the federal bench under Republican rule? How are they going to smear this woman before America when Michael Steele is trying to sell the GOP to the Hispanic and African American community of voters? Republicans want minority votes, they just don’t want minorities in public lifetime appointments. I certainly wouldn't want to work on commission under those circumstances for the GOP as a salesman!

President Obama just cleaned the GOP clock for 2010 and possibly the 2012 elections. It gets better, Rush Limbaugh and other Republican thugs are calling it “Reverse Racism”? How the hell does it get any better than that? We can have a black Justice on SCOTUS but only if he is a Republican nominee? All you Hispanics, nice try, work hard, get an education, excel in law, but your credentials just are not good enough for the Republican Party to accept you as a Supreme Court Justice. Screw you Limbaugh and John Yoo. Speaking of Yoo…

President Obama’s nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor shows that empathy has won out over excellence in the White House. Sotomayor has sterling credentials: Princeton, Yale Law School, former prosecutor, and federal trial and appellate judge. But credentials do not an excellent justice make. Justice Souter, whom Sotomayor would replace, had an equally fine c.v., but turned out to be a weak force on the high court.

Obama had some truly outstanding legal intellectuals and judges to choose from—Cass Sunstein, Elena Kagan, and Diane Wood come immediately to mind. The White House chose a judge distinguished from the other members of that list only by her race. Obama may say he wants to put someone on the Court with a rags-to-riches background, but locking in the political support of Hispanics must sit higher in his priorities. - Memeorandum Link

John Yoo, if you didn't recall, he is the guy that wrote the legal memo under President Bush defining torture and why it was legal. Just a factoid there for ya. Something we wrote about here as well about water boarding. How it just might be torture. Note to self: Don't let John Yoo ever babysit the kids.

Where was I? Oh ya, the Supreme Court!

I think that we can all pretty much assume that if President Obama appointed God to the SCOTUS then the GOP would rail and scream that God was not qualified and just might be biased. This is politics at its worst and I hope that Judge Sotomayor has the guts and toughness to get through it all. Congratulation to you Sonia Sotomayor, you earned this distinguished appointment.

Personal thoughts, I’m glad President Obama chose a woman and a Hispanic, and I’m thinking that he has this site, Papamoka Straight Talk, bookmarked on his Blackberry! Maybe, it could happen ya know!

Papamoka