How bad has the Tea Party hurt the Republican Party brand? Conservative news aggregator Matt Drudge suggests Democrats will win back control of the House of Representatives next year. Talking Points Memo: Conservative news aggregator Matt Drudge seemed to suggest Wednesday that Democrats will win back control of the House of Representatives next year. In a message … [Read more...] about Matt Drudge: Get ready for Speaker Pelosi
Houston Chronicle Slams Ted Cruz: “Does Anyone Miss Kay Bailey Hutchison?”
The Houston Chronicle has yanked its endorsement of Sen. Ted Cruz, the Teahadist architect of the government shutdown aimed at defunding Obamacare, which led to nearly one million Americans losing their jobs. An op-ed in the Houston Chronicle asks, "does anyone miss Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison? It goes on to say, "One reason we particularly believe that Hutchison would make a … [Read more...] about Houston Chronicle Slams Ted Cruz: “Does Anyone Miss Kay Bailey Hutchison?”
In Poland and America, Religion Propels the Radical Right (Newsweek Polska, Poland)
One of the difficulties of putting the American right in global context, is that the U.S. right has so few analogues around the world. Conservatives in Britain, for example, look closer to communists than conservatives, compared to America's right. One exception might be Poland, which as I have said before, is one of the few countries where leaders and politicians publicly … [Read more...] about In Poland and America, Religion Propels the Radical Right (Newsweek Polska, Poland)
Showdown for Boehner and House-Breaker Cruz
Is he legislator or conspirator? During ten months in Washington, Ted Cruz has spent more time with House members than in his own chamber, culminating Monday night in being caught secretly huddling with a score of them at a DC night spot just before yesterday’s Tea Party refusal to reopen the government. In the face of five more such years, there are fringe petitions … [Read more...] about Showdown for Boehner and House-Breaker Cruz
Mr. President, Mr. Speaker–Take The Deal
After one last attempt in the House failed to even make it to the floor for a vote, we now find ourselves staring down the eleventh hour before the debt ceiling expires, and the nation risks defaulting on its debts for the first time in history. Thus, Senate leaders Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell have recommenced their own negotiations, the goal to force the House to … [Read more...] about Mr. President, Mr. Speaker–Take The Deal
Many Latinos Say: GOP Crimes against The People
Reckless disregard for human life in the USA, was the charge re the GOPers riding their horses backwards whilst bellowing something or other. Sequester and Shut Down: GOP engineered and delivered as vomit on a plate to those who wanted no part of the GOP regurgitations. Now with default looming, the charge against certain GOP-ers becomes abject and purposeful disregard for … [Read more...] about Many Latinos Say: GOP Crimes against The People
Boehner, Culberson & Cruz: Zombies
Zombies, corpses said to be brought back to life in full decay with maggots intact, to lurch around threatening the living, whilst bereft of consciousness and character, bereft of moral judgment, and under the control of the bokor, that is, those whose dastardly wishes the zombies carry out without care or regard for those they affect deleteriously. It is one thing to have … [Read more...] about Boehner, Culberson & Cruz: Zombies
The Tea Party is the Country’s ‘Phantom of the Opera’
Is politics imitating art? In "The Phantom of the Opera," opera singer Christine Daae is kidnapped by the deformed, masked Eric. The most dramatic scene is when Christine rips off Eric's mask, revealing underneath the horrifying face of a rotting corpse. And so it is in 2013: independents, moderates, centrists, Democrats, moderate Republicans, traditional conservative … [Read more...] about The Tea Party is the Country’s ‘Phantom of the Opera’
Republicans are unfit to govern
Josh Barro at the Business Insider makes the appropriate observation: House Republicans Show Themselves To Be Dangerously Incompetent, Again The only stunning thing is that anyone still looks at House Republicans and says: "You know what would be great? Giving these people more power over public policy." Roughly one-third of this caucus thinks hitting the debt ceiling … [Read more...] about Republicans are unfit to govern
Felix Salmon Knows More Than the Tea Party and It Isn’t Good News
Felix Salmon has a piece whose title is more accurate than anything any GOP House member will say. … [Read more...] about Felix Salmon Knows More Than the Tea Party and It Isn’t Good News
What Do They Know and Will They Ever Know What They Don’t Know?
When I see articles like this I am reminded that the overwhelming majority of people in America know absolutely nothing about how financial markets work. In addition there is a mentality that just doesn't want to learn. It's the kind of mindset that insists that all of those climatologists can't be right about global warming because it just can't be true. … [Read more...] about What Do They Know and Will They Ever Know What They Don’t Know?
Could the tea party split from the GOP? (Guest Voice)
Could the tea party split from the GOP? by Dick Polman Could the tea party split from the GOP? (via NewsWorks) If Congress somehow pulls back from the brink of lunacy (as was rumored yesterday), if it forges a deal to reopen the government and keep paying Uncle Sam's bills (as rumored today), lots of tea party conservatives are likely to scream betrayal and … [Read more...] about Could the tea party split from the GOP? (Guest Voice)
OVER THE FALLS IN A BARREL
The “Telenovela” (soap opera) in Washington DC has gone from lousy to terrible over the past few days. Perhaps many of our leaders in politics, business, economics and both political parties really want to see what happens when the debt ceiling is not raised and we continue the government shutdown for perhaps a month or two. The well-being and sanity of more than 80% of … [Read more...] about OVER THE FALLS IN A BARREL
Fitch Downgrades U.S. Debt
Just like last time we went through this travesty we don't have to wait for the post debt ceiling failure cliff before we pay the price. Fitch has just put the U.S. credit rating on a negative watch. Those who claim to be fiscally responsible are on the edge of costing the government a fortune because of increased interest costs. … [Read more...] about Fitch Downgrades U.S. Debt
Budget rift pushes Washington to the brink
Budget rift pushes Washington to the brink (via AFP) Washington's risky game of political brinkmanship neared crisis point Tuesday, with no deal yet nailed down to avoid a catastrophic US debt default, just 36 hours before a crucial deadline. Despite global fears that the US government could run out of… … [Read more...] about Budget rift pushes Washington to the brink
White House rejects House debt plan
White House rejects House debt plan (via AFP) The White House on Tuesday rejected a new plan by Republican House leaders to avoid a disastrous debt default, branding it a "ransom" demand. Amy Brundage, a White House spokeswoman, said the plan was a "partisan attempt to appease a small group of… … [Read more...] about White House rejects House debt plan
Enter the Vandals
Another GOP Vandal The Vandals were a Germanic tribe whose mindless penchant for destruction gives the term "vandalism" its name. Maybe we can replace it with "Teapartiers." House Conservatives Revolt Robert Costa / National Review Later this morning, House Republicans will meet in the Capitol's basement. The chief topic of conversation: the emerging Senate deal. But … [Read more...] about Enter the Vandals
Democrats raise their ante
WASHINGTON -- A crazy thing is happening in shuttered, dysfunctional Washington: Democrats are pushing back. This phenomenon is so novel and disorienting that many Republicans in Congress, especially the tea party bullies, seem unable to grasp what's going on. They keep expecting President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to fold like a cheap suit because, … [Read more...] about Democrats raise their ante
Cruz already working against any Senate bipartisan shutdown debt default deal
It sounds as if Texas Sen. Tex Cruz, now the de facto leader of Tea Partiers in Congress and in the House, is already working to scuttle the Senate bipartisan deal that has not been hammered out or announced yet. This story suggests that unless House Speaker John Boehner allows a Senate proposal to the floor to a vote where Democrats can vote with more moderate Republicans the … [Read more...] about Cruz already working against any Senate bipartisan shutdown debt default deal
USPS to Destroy ‘Let’s Move’ Campaign Stamp Collection Over Kids Depicted Doing ‘Unsafe’ Things
LET'S MOVE CAMPAIGN STAMP COLLECTION: The United States Postal Service, USPS, which $4 billion in the red this year, is set to destroy a series of stamps as part of First Lady Michelle Obama's 'Let's Move' campaign because some of the stamps depict kids doing some 'unsafe' things. Three of the 15 stamps, show kids engaging in behavior the White House allegedly deems … [Read more...] about USPS to Destroy ‘Let’s Move’ Campaign Stamp Collection Over Kids Depicted Doing ‘Unsafe’ Things