ProgressivePeach

Learn To Speak Teabag

 

Language class is open, courtesy of Mark Fiore.

We Let These People Run Our Country???

How funny. The GOPers are screaming to keep abortion out of healthcare bills they're not going to vote for anyway, and then we find out their own health insurance plan pays for it. Any wonder after eight years of Republican control our country was in the dumper?

Joe Lieberman is Elaine Bennis

Bob Cesca: Joe Lieberman is Elaine Bennis -- stopping for jujufruits while 3,600 Americans die every month.

Be Jealous Of Me

Check out my new bumper sticker that came in the mail today. You can score your own too if you want.

For How Much Did Tom Price, Nathan Deal & Phil Gingrey Sell You Out?

We all know Tom Price, Phil Gingrey and Nathan Deal are Republican weasels. They're party hacks that would endorse eating children's livers if it was what Rush said they should do, and they felt it increased their own chances of regaining political power.

But it has seemed during this healthcare debate that their opposition crossed over from a disagreement on issues or philosophy to just plain crazy rage. And when someone starts arguing from a position of stupid, they're either stupid or they have a more cynical agenda. I can't speak so much for Deal, but neither Price nor Gingrey is stupid. So what's their angle?

It's this: They've been bought off. Open Secrets has tracked the cash that has flowed into congressmen's pockets during this health care debate. And surprise of surprise, the man who made an ass of himself on the House floor two nights ago is the Number 3 Republican recipient of healthcare industry payoffs donations behind only Joe Barton and Roy Blunt. With close to one in 6 Georgians without healthcare, how much did Tom Price take to sell you out? How about $2,397,977.00. You heard right. Two-point-three million dollars! If I got two point three mil from the Hershey chocolate people, I'd be on the floor and at townhalls telling you candy bars cured cancer.

And should you think Gingrey and Deal are pikers, they're among the top 8 Republican hookers lawmakers, with Gingrey selling out his constituents -- and brainwashing them into think the President is trying to kill them -- for a piddling $1,867,943.00. Deal wheeled and dealed himself into $1,503,955.00 in cash from the very people who are telling you they'll go bankrupt if healthcare reform passes.

Wanna know why your health insurance premiums are going up? Because buying off whore-congressmen like Price, Gingrey and Deal isn't cheap.

And since the debate will move this coming week to the Senate, don't bother calling Saxby Chambliss or Johnny Isakson and asking them to vote for you to get a public insurance option. They've already sold their vote for $1.6 million and $965,000, respectively.

Thanks For Healthcare Reform, Wingnuts!

Markos has a great observation over at Daily Kos. To wit: By handing over two special election House seats to the Democrats Tuesday, the wingnuts basically gave the healthcare reform vote to Speaker Pelosi. 

Yep, two votes. That was the net margin of the final vote: 220-215. Remember, you need 218 votes to pass. Without the two "Yea" votes of Owens and Garamendi, the lone Republican vote from Joseph Cao likely doesn't happen. This bill would not have passed without the votes of Bill Owens and John Garamendi, the two newest members of Congress. Without them, the "Yeas" drop to 217. Defeat.

So thank you Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin, Dick Armey and the rest. You did our work for us.

Obama's Waterloo? Try Obama's Anzio Beach

Paul Krugman's post-mini-midterm-election-that-doesn't-mean-much analysis includes a very insightful analogy.

Proof Republicans Can't Do Economics

Republicans don't understand economics. The fact that with just eight years in power they totally wrecked our economy proves that. But their latest jingoistic mantra -- dividing stimulus dollars into jobs produced -- proves they don't understand that dollars flow through an economy over and over and over again through additional purchases made by workers and by the cost of goods used by those workers when they do their jobs.

Why would we trust these people with anything involving our government?

Who Better To Hold Pro-Rape Republican Senators Accountable?

It's time to keep asking pro-rape GOP Senators who sided with Halliburton instead of rape victims why they did so. And who better to confront that hooker-lovin' Republican from Louisiana to the flame than an actual rape victim?

Vitter does a pretty wimpy job of trying to deflect his actions to President Obama (the defense department is unhappy with the Franken Amendment, but the White House says it wants to try and make the restriction against doing business with contractors who use odious arbitration clauses work).

"I'm asking you Senator. What if it was your daughter who was raped? Would you tell her to be quiet and take it? Would you tell your daughter to be silent?

Anybody confronted Johnny Isakson or Saxby Chambliss on this yet? How about Lamar Alexander or Bob Corker? DeMint?

What's Wrong With The South?

OK sports fans, what's wrong with this picture?

Daily Kos Weekly State of the Nation Poll (Oct. 26-28, 2009) Margin of Error 2%

President Barack Obama

• Northeast: 84% favorable 5% unfavorable 11% no opinion
• Midwest:   62% favorable 30% unfavorable 8% no opinion
• The West: 60% favorable, 31% unfavorable, 9% no opinion
• Rest of USA: 68% favorable, 23% unfavorable, 9% no opinion
• THE SOUTH: 28% favorable, 67% unfavorable, 5% no opinion

Why is the South so out of whack with the rest of the country's sentiments about our current president? I mean, it couldn't be like racism or anything, right?

Krugman: Time For Naysayers To Look In Mirror

It's go time on healthcare reform. Liberals are going to sigh and accept what's been written, although they want universal healthcare and didn't get it. Conservatives are going to oppose and obstruct, because frankly that's all they know. And the Blue Dogs and other naysayers need to take a long hard look in the mirror, because a majority of their constituents want a public option.

Obama: Fox is GOP Arm; Fox: Obama is Stalin

Jon Stewart brings out the point the mainstream media won't apparently tackle: Obama's right. Fox News isn't news, it's opinion masquerading as news. Enjoy 11 minutes of pure comedy:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
For Fox Sake!
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

Conservatives Gnashing Teeth At Healthcare Bill

Try this out, guys:

Blue Cross Raises Rates 11%, Then Asks Its Customers To Help Fight Public Option!

It doesn't get any more obvious than this. Blue Cross Blue Shield just raised its rates for North Carolina members 11% last week. So what did Blue Cross customers get in the mail? A slick flyer from BCBS urging them to write their Senator, Kay Hagan, and say they opposed the public option!

Fortunately, many have figured it out, and are marking through the pre-printed letter to let Hagan know they support the public option -- as do most Americans.

How long until the rest of the country -- and bought-off senators like Joe Lieberman -- figure out that the best thing for the American people is a vibrant public option to drive down costs?

How loud do the alarm bells have to be before everyone hears them?

Birthers Get Rickrolled. Comedy Gold Ensues

From DailyKos:

Oh man, someone deserves a Nobel Prize for this one. Orly and the wingnuts run with the news their cause's legal slapdown got overturned, and then get Rickrolled!

Mac vs. PC Parody

I love the "I'm a Mac/I'm a PC" ads. Here's a takeoff on them from the DSCC. Enjoy:

Georgia's Dumbest Congressman Gets Pwned By Rising Star Alan Grayson

This is the kind of bitch-slapping that Dems should have been doing all along. When is the rest of the party going to toughen up and start calling the stupid for what it is?

What Dems Need To Pass Healthcare Reform

Slightly NSFW.

DFACS, Give Sean Jerguson's House A Visit

You know, if you're a Republican, by rights you're required to kowtow to the gun lobby. To get elected, you've got to lick boot and agree with whatever the most ridiculous of the gun nuts wants. Guns in restaurants? Yep. Airports? Double yep. Guns in church? Check. Guns in bars where drunk arguments often escalate? Hell yes.

That Sean Jerguson (R-Holly Springs) -- one of the Georgia General Assembly's youngest, most inexperienced and most ineffective reps -- is kissing the butt of a group like Georgiacarry.org isn't surprising. But the level of toadying and bootlicking Sean-o went to crossed over from being a political butt-boy to being just plain scary:

"One of the participants was state Rep. Sean Jerguson (R-Holly Springs), a Georgiacarry member, who said he believes so strongly in gun ownership that, when his daughter turned 4 years old, he gave her a “pink .22.” His son was about to turn the same age, and would get a blue one, the lawmaker said."

Arming a four-year-old? I hope my kid doesn't get into an argument in preschool over sharing crayons with Sean's little girl. Seriously, Sean, a .22 for a four-year-old? Sounds like the folks at DFACS need to pay a visit to the Jerguson household.

Al Franken: America's Senator

Holy crap. Those who thought Al Franken would be the 'class clown' of the Senate when he joined this year are certainly getting an awakening. He's the most powerful, effective questioner on Senate committees I've seen since Sam Ervin and Howard Baker took witnesses apart on the Senate Watergate Committee.

On the heels of his evisceration of the head of Halliburton for their pro-rape arbitration actions, here's Sen. Franken ripping Diana Furchtgott-Roth, a tool from the right-wing Hudson Institute, when she tries to intimate that a public option would lead to an increase in bankruptcies.

The hearing was part of a broader investigation into medical bankruptcies in America, and told the heart-wrenching case of Kerry Burns, whose son died of cystic fibrosis as she sank deeper and deeper into debt. (Hat tip: FDL)

Building Momentum For The Public Option

On top of the WashPo poll showing a majority of Americans want a public option comes news that including a strong public option lowers the cost of the healthcare reform bill. Call your favorite Blue Dog Dem who preaches fiscal conservatism today and force them to endorse the public option. (We're talking to you, Bill Cooper and David Scott!)  Bob Cesca runs down the checklist:

• Covers more Americans. Check.
• Reduces the deficit. Check.
• Reduces the cost of reform. Check.
• Offers choice and competition. Check.
• Popular with a clear majority

So what's the problem, senators?

Majority of Americans Want A Public Option

Poll after poll tells us this, and yet the Blue Dogs keep acting like a Public Option is anathema to healthcare reform. The truth is there is no healthcare reform without a viable public option.

Today's Washington Post reports that 57% of Americans favor a public option, up from 52% in mid-August, in the midst of the townhall astroturfing. So momentum is clearly moving toward having a viable competitor to the private insurance companies. Call your senator today and let him know you're among them.

Another interesting question asked in the poll:

"Which of these would you prefer –- (a plan that includes some form of government-sponsored health insurance for people who can’t get affordable private insurance, but is approved without support from Republicans in Congress); or (a plan that is approved with support from Republicans in Congress, but does not include any form of government-sponsored health insurance for people who can’t get affordable private insurance)?"

In other words, which do you want -- bipartisanship or a public option? 51% percent said screw the Republicans, give me a public option.

Also: ThinkProgress has an excellent report on how the healthcare industry -- working hand in hand with their lackeys, the Republicans -- are organizing to kill reform in the cradle.

 

When Will Media Admit What They Know -- That Fox Isn't Real News

 
Jacob Weisberg in Newsweek asks the tough question: Why won't other media admit what they know -- that Fox News isn't a real news network?  

"There's A Rep For That" -- Awesome