So my wife's aunt's husband (aka, her uncle, of course) is a hard right-winger. And he's pretty well-to-do, although he came by it honestly. He's maybe 1%, maybe more like 2%, but up there, which has a lot to do with his right-wing political views... he's of the mistaken impression that everyone could do what he did (come up from nothing and become rich) and anyone who doesn't is obviously lazy. Anyway, he likes to talk about politics at every opportunity... and on the rare occasion that he see...

We already know that the Fed interest rates are near-zero, which means banks can borrow money from the government practically for free. And then they can (and do) turn around and purchase U.S. treasury bonds at a higher interest rate, making massive amounts of free money in a backdoor bailout, while at the same time refusing to lend to small businesses and consumers to help jumpstart the economy. If S&P makes good on its threat to downgrade the U.S.'s triple-A rating, it will not be because the...

I just had a conversation with a family I know who live in Pakistan (long story) and they told me a couple of interesting things. First of all, by local standards, it was definitely a mansion, and definitely was worth millions of dollars. Also, this guy told me years ago the most likely thing was that bin Laden was in a mansion in Islamabad. Well, he was close... just outside of Islamabad. He also said that the Pakistani intelligence agency was likely aware of and funding Osama bin Laden. See, ...

So I was transcribing a university class, no need to mention which one, and something happened that I think illustrates how lies and misinformation spread like a virus. As you probably already know, right-wingers like to fund very questionable studies to lend scientific "data" to their arguments. One example of this common activity is the attempt to link abortion to breast cancer. And in this case, because they had done those studies and because those studies were reported in the news and the li...

If the Democrats actually got together and threatened to let the tax cuts for the rich expire, what could we have gotten in return in addition to 13 months of unemployment benefits and a couple of things the Republicans actually support (middle-class tax cuts, payroll tax holiday)? If we were going to sell them a tax cut, shouldn't we have gotten more in return? Couldn't we have gotten, like... everything?

when he turned himself in? Isn't that wording a little too creative?

If you have a moment, say happy birthday to my lovely wife, Marisel. My horizons have been broadened substantially since meeting her online and moving to Argentina to be with her. And while the U.S.'s draconian income requirements for sponsoring an immigrant spouse have forced me to give up the place I used to call home, she has given me the kind of loving home I have never experienced before. So say happy birthday to her for me if you have a moment. And apologize to her for taking up so much o...

For example, freezing soldier pay. But don't worry, that will count as a cut to defense spending when it comes time to tell us proggies to keep our mouths shut.

Flags are flying at half mast in Argentina today after the sudden and unexpected death of former president Nestor Kirchner of a heart attack at the age of 60. Serving as president of a nation with an unfortunate history of unstable periods of democracy sandwiched between decades of brutal U.S.-backed military dictatorships and taking the baton immediately following a devastating economic collapse, Kirchner took on a challenge with remarkable similarities to the challenges Barack Obama f...

(Image) Can't go wrong with that message. He knows what this election is all about. Not offering an opinion one way or the other on this guy. Just showing you the campaign sign. Edit to add: Source: the Examiner's Facebook page. "Al is your pal" Alvin Greene Campaign, West Ashley area of Charleston, SC. 10.21.10. “Alvin Greene suggested he could up employment in SC by manufacturing action figures of himself. As the sign suggests, he has no money and no campaign strategy. Pretty much making S...

(Image)

I think the government has the right to tax only the minimum amount necessary to do all the things the government should be doing for the people. And that these funds should be taken in proportion to what people can afford to give, and therefore the rich should have a higher tax rate than the middle class, and anyone who is not earning enough to cover their cost of living should not pay taxes. The Republicans think nobody should be taxed and the government should do nothing. Well, OK, the gover...

(Image) (Image) (Image) "Hell no you can't!"

After all, that's the basis of their judgment, and they surely haven't read the rest. Just sayin'

If Joe Lieberman were running in this election as a Dem, primary challenge out of the hypothetical situation (ie, no challenge or he won), would you vote for Joe or would you stay home? Or would you support an organized voter boycott? Edit to add: And you lived in Joe's state, of course. Clarification: For Senate.

then you can't have a private option on Social Security. Hell no. And by the way, why are we even talking about making cuts when the Democrats hold the presidency and majority in both houses? Who gets to set the legislative agenda, the majority party or the fascist fringe?

Franklin Graham: I think the president's problem is he was born a Muslim. The seed is passed through the father. He was born a Muslim. His father was a Muslim, the seed of Muslim is passed through the father like the seed of Judaism is passed through the mother. He was born a Muslim, his father gave him an Islamic name. Well, you know, you can be born a Muslim. You can be born a Jew. But you can't be born a Christian. The only way you can become a Christian is by confessing your sins to God, as...

Rand Paul's using Sarah Palin talking points, and the Tea Party, while it may have been Ron Paul's idea, is sticking with the free market fundamentalist ideology without preserving any semblance of the anti-war, anti-torture stance Ron Paul is also famous for. Ron Paul takes a stand on the issues of foreign entanglement, the rule of law and due process, wiretapping and the right to privacy, and torture, but he also thinks public education is Communist and must be destroyed. This would be a t...

1. Enough bluedogs and Republicans after the 2010 election to achieve a simple majority on the issue. 2. The Democratic establishment becoming convinced (and trying to convince us) that even if Dems only lose one seat in 2010, it will have been because they failed to appeal to conservative independents, regardless of what any numbers, polling, or science indicate. And definitely not because of a despirited, disenfranchised base who fails to work/donate/vote for them. After "licking their wounds...

nt.

The 14th Amendment controversy. So the lunatic fringe of a marginal, irrelevant minority party is proposing amendments to the Constitution which, of course, require a Constitutional majority to pass... amendments which go against everything our nation stands for based on talking points that clearly originated with neo-Nazis. And there are people who take them seriously, give them air time, and who knows, maybe they'll even get it done. Discuss.

Let me start off by saying if we both have the same goals but slightly differing ideas on how to get there, I don't know why we focus on our differences instead of what we have in common. As a matter of fact, I think the elements we bring to the table, loyalty and hard work for the party and criticism and demanding excellence from the party, are both qualities we should ALL work to maintain within ourselves. But I digress. I have a question for you guys. If Obama were more forceful in fighting...

(Image) Bunch of f***in' amateurs.

2008 Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin’s political clout has failed another test in the Kansas Republican primary for Sam Brownback’s U.S. Senate seat. Attempting to wear two hats as the flag-bearer for both the Republican Party and the Tea Party, Sarah Palin’s endorsement may be more of a burden than a medal of honor. Representative Todd Tiahrt lost the Republican candidacy for the U.S. Senate to Representative Jerry Moran on August 4, on the heels of media scrutiny of Sarah P...