Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie divorcing

By GottaLaff

UPDATE: Not true, say "multiple sources". (h/t: Natalie Walker)

Here's a Saturday night post if I ever saw one:

HOLLYWOOD golden pair Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have seen DIVORCE lawyers and signed a £205 million split deal, we can reveal.

The world's most famous couple legally agreed how to divide their fortune and who gets custody of their six kids.

The megastars have agreed to equally divide their vast fortune - and to SHARE their six children.

Should I make a "Their marriage is the Pitts" joke? No? Okay.

No more Brangelina. What's he gonna say now, "Just call me Br"?

LAFFY NOTE: There is some question about whether they were married or not.

LAFFY NOTE #2: Consensus, they're not married. Thanks all. And Natz, thanks for the info on the link. I'm removing it.

VIDEO: MSNBC's Griffin Memo To Keith and MoJo: Stop Fighting

By GottaLaff



Tsk, tsk. Boys, boys... Infighting forbidden. Smile, play nice, and everything will be better in the morning.

Via Mediaite:

MSNBC President Phil Griffin sent a memo to staff reminding them “we do not publicly criticize our colleagues,” in the wake of Joe Scarborough tweeting that Keith Olbermann’s recent Scott Brown rant was “reckless” and “sad.” Huffington Post has the full memo. [...]

Here’s part of Griffin’s memo:

We have many strong personalities with differing, passionate opinions, but it is important to remember that we are all on the same team. I want to reiterate my long-standing policy: We do not publicly criticize our colleagues. This kind of behavior is unprofessional and will not be tolerated.

Let me be clear: I encourage you to keep doing what you do best. Give the viewers your perspective and a vigorous debate on the issues they care about. But do not turn substantive differences into personal ones.

It got personal when Scarborough tweeted his thoughts and called out Olbermann by name ...

There is more at Mediaite, including updates.

Obama Called For Jury Duty

By GottaLaff

I'm imagining Prez O hanging out for hours in the waiting room, playing games on his Blackberry, impatiently fidgeting until he's finally called in, asked if he has any biases or preconceived notions about this or that during voire dire, being turned down by some smart ass lawyer... oh my little fantasy goes on and on. Via Lynn Sweet:

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed reported that Obama's jury duty summons was sent to his home on the South Side of Chicago asking him to report on Monday at the county courthouse in the suburb of Bridgeview. The White House said the court was told weeks ago - no surprise - that Obama could not make it.

H/t: Karoli

VIDEO- Levi Johnston: Sarah Palin tried to have me arrested

By GottaLaff

And now it's time for the next episode of...

As the Palin Spurns:

That's what Johnston told The Insider on Friday, where he appeared to give his response to Palin and Bristol's appearance on Oprah. He didn't say what the alleged charges were, but if we had to guess, we'd go with crimes of fashion...

Join us again as Barbie McLipSchmutz reveals that it was Levi who actually carried her baby Trig Paxson Van Palin... so that she could fit into her hip waders when a photo op arose... However...dun-dun-dunnn... as it turns out Levi's baby bump was nothing more than one of his hockey sticks gone wrong.

She had to carry her own baby! To term! But was it her own baby? And whose term was it... really?

Will Barbie take him to court? Will there be sue-age in Alaska? Or was that just Exxon doing its thing again?

And will First Dude let it slip that the real father was none other than.... John Edwards? Is Trig..... half philandering Democrat?!

Stay tuned for the answers to these questions and more on the next... As the Palin Spurns.

AUDIO: South Carolina Lt. Governor compares poor people to stray animals

By GottaLaff

From the Dep't. of What? What'd I say?

"My grandmother was not a highly educated woman, but she told me as a small child to quit feeding stray animals. You know why? Because they breed. You're facilitating the problem if you give an animal or a person ample food supply. They will reproduce, especially ones that don't think too much further than that. And so what you've got to do is you've got to curtail that type of behavior. They don't know any better."

-- South Carolina Lt. Governor Andre Bauer (R), quoted by the Greenville News, comparing poor people to stray animals.

Bauer the R from SC should be curtailed. Apparently he doesn't know any better either. Then again, he may just be a stray.

Let's recap: People who eat less than others don't "breed". So what does this genius make of Tori Spelling or Nicole Richie?

See the logic? Wow. No. Neither do I.

Who knew dieting and starvation were forms of birth control? Someone tell Aetna. They'll put eating on their list of pre-existing conditions.

Via Think Progress, we get more:

"You show me the school that has the highest free and reduced lunch, and I’ll show you the worst test scores, folks. It’s there, period." [...]

Bauer later insisted that he “wasn’t saying people on government assistance ‘were animals or anything else.’” (HT: Jamie Sanderson)

How do people like this get to hold office?

UPDATE (h/t: planetspinz):



If you thought that was bad, check out his Facebook page:

Rodney Solesbee

I would also say Andre that I wouldn't pay a lot of attention on here to the paid political bloggers of the Democratic Party.
Yea they deny that they get that check from old Obamie and Co but bet you they rush to the bank to cash it from them. [...]

Rodney Solesbee

I would like enjoy seeing a debate with Birchfield son myself, probably be more entertaining to see how someone like her in stills such greatness... Yes it is okay to rob the system adn then you teach your child to do the same. He stated a FACT get over it because it is a fact. Teach a man to eat and he eats for a day teach him to fish and well you... know the rest.

Also if you have never taught in public schools then I suggest you shut your pie hole! I can tell you most the food goes in the trash and yes the kids will in deed SELL their free lunch for half price then turn around and go to the vending machines where they get candy and cokes.... Ha yea real nutrition there, then they get to come into class and bounce off the walls and we call it ADD or another of these wonderful excuses they dream up. FACT- Put your big girl panties and big boy underwear on and deal with this thing called LIFE!!!!

26 minutes ago · Report

Rodney Solesbee

The Bible also teaches us to be able to work and produce as we should, not laying around drinking beer on your fat twinkie behind waiting on the mail person with your check.

23 minutes ago · Report

Donna Bouknight Amick

AGREE with you Rodney.

16 minutes ago · Report

Chuck Floyd

LOL... funny but true Rodney!

8 minutes ago · Report

"Where were the Republicans...?" A Reader's Rant

By GottaLaff

Commenter Walt has graciously allowed me to share a comment he left under this post.

I wanted to put it up because he has made these points before under a number of different posts, but finally expressed them all in one Big Special Comment.

Anyone with this much feeling who consistently represents so many other TPC readers finally deserves to be heard right out loud.

Walt said...

The problem I have with these repubs that come in here spouting off about what is wrong with our government and they know how to fix it is, where were they during the Bush years?

How come it took the election of a Democratic president to unleash their anger? I mean what do you call Cheney's secret meetings with the fossil fuel companies early on before 9/11 and the wars they started?

Where were they when Bush was giving tax cuts to the rich without ever paying for the wars?

Where were the Repubs when the Republicans in power were turning our tax pay into an ATM machine for big corporations and private contractors?

Where were the Repubs when Bush was getting warned about an attack by terrorists and wouldn't even see his terrorist czar? 9/11 happened on his watch. Where was the anger then?

Where were the Repubs while the Bush administration was compiling the greatest debt this country has ever seen? They were listening to FAUX Noise playing the fear card daily or they were listening to Limbaugh, or Hannity, or Savage, or Levin, etc. demonize the liberals.

And now they want to say they are the independents and the wise ones when all I see is a bunch of marionettes still being controlled by their puppet masters who will lead them down the wrong road, yet again.

Yeah, our government is a mess and the Democrats are part of the blame.

But one year in power and they are to blame for this mess? That is hypocrisy on the highest level.

Government is not the problem. It is the money controlling the government that is the problem. And the ruling the other day by the Republican appointed Supreme Court Justices will only allow big corporate (including foreign) and the big Banks to control our government even more.

As Benito Mussolini, the fascist dictator said, “Fascism should rightly be called Corporatism, as it is the merger of corporate and government power”

So anytime you Repubs come in here trying to defend yourself you won't get any respect here until you atone for your sins. Only then can we come together and fight the real enemy.

And there you have it, all in one passionate, power-packed package.

Thank you, Walt.

LAFFY NOTE: Any time you want to have your opinions heard, please consider sending me a video for BLUNT. It's easy, and your voice does count.

VIDEO- Maddow on filibustering: "Republicans will never, ever, never, ever, ever, never, never, ever support [health care] reform. Ever. Never."

By GottaLaff

Rachel explains things like nobody else can. Clearly, rationally, factually, logically. Case in point:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Patri-idiots

By GottaLaff

Democracy in action, brought to you by some real live patri-idiots:

A group of nearly 200 "extremely concerned citizens" in a small Montana county are demanding that local leaders fill out a "questionnaire" pledging to form a local militia, prohibit mandatory vaccinations, boot the EPA out of town, allow citizens to bear any type of gun, and require federal government employees to get written approval before approaching "any Citizen." [...]

Reached today by TPMmuckraker, Gairing, who helped compose the questionnaire, said he decided to stop talking to media because "it's way too complicated to give justice to in an interview." He added that no elected offiicals have filled out the questionnaire yet.

Those complicated rulez 'n' stuff are just beyond peeplz comprehenshun. Thaz why the nooz and us wont geddit, and why offishuls wont ansser the kwestchuns.

Details here at TPM.

PhotOh! Our new flag

By GottaLaff


H/t: TexBetsy

Report: Plouffe to step up White House advisory role

By GottaLaff

From the Dep't. of We Knew This Was Coming:

Former Obama campaign adviser David Plouffe will step up his role as an outside adviser to the White House, the Washington Post's Chris Cillizza reports Saturday.

Back to the future.

See previous post.

Why Obama's Indefinite Detention Policy Hits Home

By GottaLaff

I'm not the only one who cares about Fayiz al-Kandari. The wonderful Andy Worthington has a must-read post up at Truthout.

Here are the excerpts that stung me personally because of my vast knowledge of Fayiz's situation, which goes beyond what I can share here on TPC:

[T]he Obama administration's justification for holding 50 men indefinitely without charge or trial reinforces the Bush administration's false claim that there is a category of wartime prisoner who can be held indefinitely (as opposed to being held as a prisoner of war until the end of hostilities). What makes this conclusion even more unnerving is that the justification for holding these men indefinitely is evidence that, by President Obama's own admission, is "tainted" by the use of torture. [...]

No indication has yet been provided as to the identities of the 50 men that the Task Force advocates holding indefinitely, but it is a safe bet that one is Fayiz al-Kandari, a Kuwaiti (profiled on Truthout last October), who has always maintained that he was a humanitarian aid worker, caught up in the post-invasion chaos of Afghanistan.

Noticeably, al-Kandari has been persistently uncooperative with the interrogators in Guantánamo, and has refused to implicate himself in any terrorist-related activities.

But according to the authorities, in a version of reality concocted almost exclusively from multiple levels of hearsay provided by other prisoners, while in Afghanistan, between August and December 2001 he managed not only to visit the al-Farouq training camp (the main training camp for Arabs in the years before 9/11), but also provided instruction to al-Qaeda members and trainees, to serve as an adviser to Osama bin Laden, and to produce recruitment audio and videotapes which encouraged membership in al-Qaeda and participation in jihad.

Al-Kandari is one of the men whose only hope now is that a District Court judge will see through the authorities' flimsy case against him, but for those seeking justice for genuine terrorists (or those, at least, against whom something resembling real evidence exists), the news from the Task Force is at least more encouraging. As the Post explained, the Task Force has recommended that "about 35 prisoners should be prosecuted in federal or military courts." [...]

[O]f the 779 men held, just under 5 percent are to face trials. If anything demonstrates that doing away with establishing safeguards in wartime and establishing guilt through arrogant presumption is a disastrous idea, it should be this statistic.

*****

All my previous posts on this subject matter can be found here; That link includes one specific to only Fayiz al-Kandari's story here. Here are audio and video interviews with Lt. Col. Wingard, one by David Shuster, one by Ana Marie Cox, and more. My guest commentary at BuzzFlash is here.

Lt. Col. Barry Wingard is a military attorney who represents Fayiz Al-Kandari in the Military Commission process and in no way represents the opinions of his home state. When not on active duty, Colonel Wingard is a public defender in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

If you are inclined to help rectify these injustices: Twitterers, use the hashtag #FreeFayiz. We have organized a team to get these stories out. If you are interested in helping Fayiz out, e-mail me at The Political Carnival, address in sidebar to the right; or tweet me at @GottaLaff.

If you'd like to see other ways you can take action, go here and scroll down to the end of the article.

Then read Jane Mayer's book The Dark Side. You'll have a much greater understanding of why I post endlessly about this, and why I'm all over the CIA deception issues, too.

More of Fayiz's story here, at Answers.com.

Two Supreme Court GOP Coups Bracket a Decade

By GottaLaff

Your Daily Dose of BuzzFlash, via the always interesting Mark Karlin:

From the presidential election stolen in December of 2000 by a 5-4 vote to the 5-4 vote in January of 2010, the decade is bracketed with a partisan Republican High Court that twice shoved the basic underpinnings of democracy -- government of the people, by the people and for the people -- into a garbage compactor and crushed our electoral rights. [...]

BuzzFlash was one of the few progressive sites on the Internet -- and perhaps the loudest and most in your face -- when Antonin "the Fixer" Scalia stopped the 2000 recount in Florida because Al Gore would have overtaken Bush and become president. [...]

I was talking on the phone this morning with Thom [Hartmann], and he brought up the irony that may be prophetic that the infamous Dredd Scott decision that declared slaves to be property led to the Civil War. Now, we have a Supreme Court decision that affirmed that corporations have, according to the GOP 5-4 vote, the same election rights as people. [...]

The Dredd Scott decision, as Hartmann points out, resulted in the Civil War. [...]

It might not be time for a Civil War, but it is time for a non-violent populist revolt to restore our Constitutional rights as people and to protect ourselves from the predatory corporations that now will transparently buy their politicians in D.C.

Please read the whole thing here.

KristolFail

By GottaLaff



Think Progress has a piece up about a possible neocon resurgence, but this passage stood out like a throbbingly sore thumb:

According to Newsweek, neocons, other Republicans, and even his own late father have criticized him:

“He would rather take an interesting wrong position than a dull correct one,” says a longtime neocon who did not want to be named because the two are friendly. Several people who know Kristol describe his Palin boosterism—his very public campaign to persuade John McCain to put her on the Republican ticket—as a schoolboy-like infatuation, sparked when a Weekly Standard cruise docked in Juneau. [...] “Bill’s a very close friend of mine, but he does an awful lot of things just to get publicity,” says one prominent Republican who also did not want to be named for fear of offending Kristol. [...]

Even his father had his qualms. “My poor son has got it wrong again,” he sometimes lamented to an old family friend.

And again... and again... and again.

"Let's prove that we have more than just the brains to govern -- that we have the guts to govern"

By GottaLaff

From the Dep't. of Feeling the Heat:

What Democrats Must Do for November

David Plouffe: "The Democratic Party got a resounding wake-up call from the voters of Massachusetts on Tuesday. But it's long been clear that 2010 would be a challenging election year for our party... Instead of fearing what may happen, let's prove that we have more than just the brains to govern -- that we have the guts to govern. Let's fight like hell, not because we want to preserve our status, but because we sincerely believe too many everyday Americans will continue to lose if Republicans and special interests win."

This should have been the attitude of the ObamAdministration months ago.

But better late than never, right? Yeah... right. Right!

VIDEO: Fox to air special feature on Obama presidency

By GottaLaff



Aww, how fair and balanced! ClusterFox is giving Prez O some air time... their way:

Fox News will air a special segment titled "President Obama: In His Own Words" this weekend in which the network analyzes the first year of Obama's presidency.

The feature will air clips of Obama speaking both on the campaign trail and as president and will be anchored by Brett Baier, who helms the network's night "Special Report" program.

And what would any ClusterFox special be without a reference to 9/11 and "BowGate"? Why, both of those are even in the promo video!

With the new Supreme Court ruling, think of how many more such "specials" will get air time. Welcome to the new normal.

"Fear. It is eating the world alive, and we are leading the way once again."

By GottaLaff

If you're already experience nausea from SCROTUS's United Corporations of America decision, grab some Compazine, because I'm about to induce more:

Yes, Fear. It is eating the world alive, and we are leading the way once again.

This week the Supreme Court of the United States, the last hope for the people, shocked us, no stunned us, writing that not only are corporations “people” but also that they have a right to “free speech” as guaranteed under the Constitution. It appears that the majority of Justices – all placed in their high-backed leather chairs by men of greed – forgot that corporations are “fictitious” persons giving them rights in civil law, not some constitutional protection to engage in wholesale deceit and propaganda.

Remember the right to free speech carries with it the potential to lie. [...]

This decision will spread its ugliness throughout the land, perhaps enveloping the earth like a disease, and deny freedom of information to the people of the world. This may be more terrifying than the loss of free speech itself, for the loss of free information here is defined as the loss the truth.

That is a message that dovetails with one I've posted about often: Loss of truth, the spread of misinformation and lies, the dumbing down and "brainwashing" of America, all contribute to the increasing erosion of a real democracy.

The fewer people who understand the issues, the more uneducated voters will prevail at the ballot box.

H/t: 1Kecko

Biden: US to appeal dismissal of Blackwater charges

By GottaLaff

Paddy's computer is being eaten alive by evil intruders, and I'm still under the weather, so please bear with us.

That said, let's talk Blackwater. They never cease to provide us with mounds of controversy. Allow me to quote myself:

I previously posted about how much an Iraqi life is worth to Blackwater. And prior to that, I posted about charges being dismissed against them in the deadly 2007 shooting.

In fact, every post I write about Blackwater is jam packed with death and destruction, ethics vacuums, and overall creepiness. And yet the U.S. government still has them on their payroll.

Veep Biden made noises about an appeal, and whaddya know! He kept his noisy promise:

Speaking at a joint appearance with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani in Baghdad, Biden said he was "disappointed" with the ruling, and that the Justice Department would file the appeal next week.

The September 2007 shootout in Baghdad's Nusoor Square left 17 Iraqis dead and two dozen wounded.

I hope they get somewhere with this. I'd love to write up a post with a happy ending for a change.

Notice

I'm getting hit again with tons of alerts. I'll be back when I can after doing a thousand more sweeps.

Cartoon of the Day

Click to enlarge, via.

Video- President's Weekly Address

VIDEO: BLUNT, The Pilot Webisode

By GottaLaff

(Click on images to enlarge)

I've been working on this new project for several weeks, something that has excited the very few who knew about it enough to participate in the pilot webisode. It's a little like video Twitter, only more in-depth.

All future contributors should offer up a blunt assessment/opinion/statement/irreverent quips/report on whatever you choose. You can break news, you can opine, be funny, even do a tiny song parody, whatever makes your point.

We may start suggesting topics, we'll see. For now, anything goes.

The idea is to get you, the readers, to send videos that will be integrated into each webisode, so that you have an outlet. Not every video will get on. This is in the experimental stage.

You all know how you feel when you get passionate enough about the news-o'-the-day to scream, applaud, or snark at the Tee Vee Machine (or your significant other)? Now you can do it for public consumption, sharing your point of view with others.

And we can put a face to your comments.

The hardest part is speed. I need videos, and then must edit them together quickly to keep the content current. We'll see how that goes.

If you decide to participate, please give us a name you'd like to use, and a "title", if any, in your e-mail, as you'll see I did in the video graphics.

The rest is explained above, and in the video itself.

Below is the pilot webisode of Blunt, a prototype, and if it goes well, we'll do more.

This initial video is a little longer than I expected, because I got responses from more contributors than I thought I would. Now it's your turn.

Be concise. Be smart. Be irreverent. Be civil. Be Blunt.



Now that you've seen it, please let me know in Comments if you'd like to be a part of a future webisode.

R.I.P. Jean Simmons

By GottaLaff

Via an L.A. Times e-mail alert, R.I.P.:

Actress Jean Simmons, 80, dies

Jean Simmons, a radiant British actress who as a teenager appeared opposite Laurence Olivier in "Hamlet" and emerged a star whose career flourished in the 1950s and 1960s in such films as "Guys and Dolls," "Elmer Gantry" and "Spartacus," has died. She was 80.

Shallow Thoughts: Where's Fox? edition

By GottaLaff

Today's Shallow Thought:

ClusterFox is the only network-- besides the Cartoon Network-- that is not broadcasting the Hope for Haiti Now Telethon. Actually, Fox is the Cartoon Network, so they alone are shunning this event. (thank you MADNews101)

ClusterFox: Home of the tearful Glenn Beck; the always genuine Sean Hannity; the compassionate-to-a-fault Bill O'Reilly; and the oh-so-maternal Sarah Palin. It's obvious from their roster of on-air talent that Fox is a passionate, caring network.

Yet there not an ounce of time or effort was devoted to helping people in dire need. ClusterFox apparently needed the money more than the Haitians do.

That was today's Shallow Thought. Thank you for wading in.

Florida GOP Rep. Miller is throwing a SOTU tea party

By GottaLaff

This fits the Rushpublics to a tea:

(click on image to enlarge)

The State of the Union as seen by the GOP: Just another "You lie!" opportunity.

H/t: Dave Weigel

Sarah the Journalister

By GottaLaff

Via Gryphen, we get wind of one of the most blatant lies that ever fell out of Barbie McLipSchmutz's lipschmutzed up mouth:

Here is what I found posted on Oprah.com. (I have not seen the show yet.)

"When I studied journalism, we learned all about the who, what, when, where and why of reporting. Just stating the facts," she says. "I'll engage in that, kind of ratcheting back down to the simplicity of what journalism should be about: just the basics and letting the people decide what their opinion will be."

Of course, the "basics" part is true, because she can only handle basics. No, on second thought, she can't.

As for being a simplistic journalist, she got that right. So she can tell the truth! But only this once.

That whole "stating the facts" thing? Ain't gonna happen. Never. Not ever. No how. No way.

VIDEO: Chris Matthews tells Rep. Alan Grayson: You don't represent the "real world of Congress"

By GottaLaff



Tweety needs to take a breath:

[U]nlike Chris Matthews, Grayson is also a member of Congress and has a vote.

"We are faced with Bush beating Swift Boated Kerry times a few billion"

By GottaLaff

The wonderful Ken Morris* is at it again, jangling our nerves by speaking the scary truth.

Previously, I posted about his rebuffed attempts to get Barbie McLipSchmutz to dine with him via an eBay auction. He did that in order to get her to speak frankly and honestly with him about policy issues.

You can stop laughing now.

This time he ties in the latest SCROTUS decision to a possible 2012 Palin run. ::shudder::

Hint: It's no longer amusing to daydream about her candidacy. More like a nightmare-in-waiting.

The Mudflats has the whole thing (a must-read), but here are a couple of excerpts to tantalize you:

With the Supreme Court positioned to overturn campaign finance laws in the Citizens United vs. Federal Elections Commission case now before it, corporate contributions to federal elections will be unfettered. In other words, Sarah Palin with the help of an unlimited dose of corporate funds might one day be president. Already she has what appears to be a heady stable of influential supporters: Fox News, Rupert Murdoch, Bill Kristol, Lawrence Kudlow, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. In other words, I take her prospects seriously. And, as she has chosen to be a spokesperson for, as she says, “American Main Street,” it is vital that she come out from behind her handlers and speak on the record in unscripted fashion. [...]

Strap her face and image in front of nefarious handlers (can you say, “Dick Cheney?”), record a few easy to remember sound bites (“Pallin’ around with terrorists” or “Joe the Plumber” or “Drill, Baby, Drill”), prop up her fictional Main Street Cred, and keep her off the Katie Couric show. That’s it. [...] In other words, we are faced with George Bush beating Swift Boated John Kerry times a few billion. No restrictions, no limits, no need to bother telling the truth, even less incentive to discuss political philosophy (assuming a candidate has one). Main Stream Media will follow the scent and report on the rumors because they know issues don’t sell ads (especially since advertisers are the ones paying for the production of all those salacious stories).

Now go read all of it. Bring the Pepto.

*Ken Morris, a former Wall Street Executive turned novelist (financial thrillers Man in the Middle and The Deadly Trade), founded Morgan Stanley’s International Equity Department in the mid-1980’s. As a senior capital markets executive, he traveled the world and managed operations in New York, Toronto, London, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, and Sydney. His third novel, Evil Shall Break, is currently being shopped to New York publishers. Ken’s offer goes out to Ms. Palin sincerely and in the hopesdialogue might begin to replace rancor and name-calling.

Right-wing Saudi dynasty endorses Fox News dynasty

By GottaLaff

Think Progress has this little tidbit regarding the relationship between the Murdoch clan and Prince Alwaleed bin Talal al-Saud of Saudi Arabia, who happens to be the largest shareholder of News Corp... if you don't count Rupert's family:

The prince met with Murdoch last week to discuss a “future potential alliance with News Corp,” and he told Charlie Rose Wednesday about his respect for the Murdoch dynasty:

ALWALEED: I met with Mr. Rupert Murdoch and Mr. James Murdoch. We are always in tough. I’m second biggest shareholder there. And no doubt that News Corp is moving on all the fronts. You’ve seen how FOX rating is skyrocketing. … James is now managing Europe and Asia. … I’ll be the first one to nominate him to be the successor of Mr. Rupert Murdoch, god forbid if something happens to him. … I have full confidence in [James], full trust in him, and he’s capable. He’s really Rupert Murdoch in the making, and he’s almost there now.

How fun! Now we can see what's in store for the next election! Saudi Arabia can donate, News Corp can donate! It will be raining money!

Maybe the Dems can enlist some of their pals too! Haiti and Air America, and... ! Oh, wait...

Supreme Court goes for ‘One dollar, one vote’

By GottaLaff

This is a scary truth:

Another way of looking at it: A very rough estimate puts total union income at about $10 billion per year. Most of that goes to pay staff and officer salaries, rent, utilities, arbitrators' fees and other necessary expenses. That might leave $1 billion left over for "discretionary" spending -- organizing, member education, political action. (*See note below.)

Corporate profits are in the neighborhood of $1,300 billion per year. This corporate discretionary money pool is 1,300 times as large as labor's. This is the pool each side can dip into for political campaigns. When you hear about the political influence of "big corporations" and "big labor", the real story is that of the corporate shark and the union sardine.

Please go read the whole thing. He qualifies his estimates.

There is much more to the piece, but he makes a great point that, forgetting all other arguments for the moment, there is such an imbalance here. If corporations and unions are now people, then Mr. Corporation is Mr. Moneybags, and Mr. Union is Mr. Peanut.

Well, not exactly people.

Do not pass go, do not collect, well, much of anything.

VIDEO: Balls Beer for Health Care Reform, the Full Version

By GottaLaff



This is all over Twitter, so it's about time I share it with you, if you've missed it. Grow some, Dems, as opposed to this:

It takes Balls to get things done, and passing American health care reform is going to take lots of Balls. A Liam Show/Drama34 production. Starring Matt Corboy, Kenn Michael, David Fickas, Pam Cook, William Harris, Mickey Meyer, Brice Beckham, Ilana Sullivan, Liam Sullivan, Ross Bautsch, Stephanie Barnes, and Devin Kelley. director of photography Kenn Michael. music by Dan Wistrom and Toby Semain. edited by Liam Sullivan and Brice Beckham, directed by Liam Sullivan and David Fickas.
http://liamshow.com and http://drama34.com

The Brainwashing of America, SCOTUS edition: Special Comment by my 72-year-old friend

By GottaLaff


My very caring, impassioned 72-year-old Twitter pal, who goes by the name 42bkdodgr, would like to share his feelings about the Supreme Court's latest jaw-dropping decision. I am more than happy to oblige.

But first, a personal note from 42bkdodgr:

Many of you may wonder why I chose to use the “ 72 year old friend” as the introduction to my Special Comments. I selected the moniker so readers could see that from my age and life experiences I give a different perspective to the issues of today.

Now for his Special Comment:

Brainwashing of America Part II

In my previous comment, I wrote about how the Conservative Republicans were trying to brainwash Americans by saying the 9/11 terrorist attacks didn’t happen on President George W. Bush’s watch.

Well, this fall you are possibly going to see the Brainwashing of Americans Part II, unless action is taken by Congress. I say this because yesterday the United States Supreme Court ruled that the government may not place any financial restrictions on corporations for spending on candidates in elections. In effect the Court is treating corporate speech the same as that of a human being.

Shareholders of a corporation are made up of individuals who maybe Democrats, Republicans, Independents and in some cases of people who may not be eligible to vote in an election. Yet the Supreme Court ruling will allow a corporation to use corporate general funds on a campaign even if their views may be contrary to the views of its shareholders.

Therefore I think its important for Congress to enact a law that would prohibit the use of corporate general funds on a campaign without first receiving shareholder approval.

In addition, Federal election laws limits the contributions an individual may make to a candidate; but the Court ruling places no limits on what a corporation may spend (not directly to a candidate) in campaigning for a candidate.

Now, who do you think will have greater influence on the election of candidate via its media ads in determining an election? Without a doubt, a corporation. This ruling makes corporate money more powerful than an individual’s vote. The old slogan ‘ the power of the people’ will have little or no meaning in future elections.

In addition, there has to be some accountability, with severe penalties, on corporations for what they say in campaign ads. Any information stated, such as in a 30 second corporate sound bites, must be truthful and verifiable or it will only lead to the brainwashing of Americans as the misinformation ad is repeated over and over.

As the Court set no such accountability standards, it's important that Congress provide penalties for untruthful ads, otherwise instead of these ads educating the electorate, they will be brainwashing the electorate.

Many thanks again for another important, relevant piece, 42bkdodgr. You often say what many of us are thinking and feeling, and we thank you for your unique perspective.

This doesn't bode well for health care reform

By GottaLaff



Debbie Downer:

Reports that health care reform talks are breaking down were apparently true.

Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT) now says Democrats "should take a break of up to six weeks in the health care debate to allow the caucus to regroup and refocus on how to move a bill forward," reports CQ Politics.

Dodd said it will be up to President Obama to get health care legislation back on track, perhaps by taking "a breather for a month, six weeks, and quietly go back and say the door's open again."

Yeah, good idea. Everyone in Congress will be refreshed and jump right in... and health care reform will pass in record time.

Right along with immigration reform.

Will Foreign Companies Now Influence U.S. Elections?

By GottaLaff

Dear Supreme Court Gang of 5,

You pretty much suck.

Sincerely,

Laffy

I could have been more eloquent, but why bother? I am furious, TPC readers are furious, Twitterers are furious, Keith Olbermann is furious, Erwin Chemerinsky is furious, and we're all very, very concerned about our democracy slipping away:

Newsweek reports that foreign businesses might be the real winners in yesterday's Supreme Court decision on campaign finance that now "allows corporations and unions to spend limitless amounts of money on presidential and congressional political campaigns. A majority of large businesses are now owned by foreign entities, and this means international corporations could pour tons of money into the United States political scene, potentially swaying the political climate."

Liveblog: Obama talks jobs and economy in Ohio

By GottaLaff

Liveblogging:

"There are some nice people in Washington, but they can drive you crazy."

People are yelling out "I love you" to Obama. He loves them back.

[He's explaining the mess that Bush left him and that some of his policies were not popular.]
Stabilizing banks was a tough pill to swallow.

If you can take tough steps, we're willing to invest in your future.

The Recovery Act has been misunderstood. It wasn't the bank bailout. It was cutting taxes for 95% of working families. Increasing unemployment insurance, extending COBRA, giving aid to states... And the largest investment in infrastructure....

The worst of the economic storm has past, but families are still reeling...

Plants close, businesses shut down, jobs disappear....

This all comes after one of the toughest decades our middle class has faced in generations. Some folks made tons of money, but so many others were just pedaling faster and faster, but slipping behind. Average income over last decade flat lined, or went down, and that was BEFORE the crisis.

And costs have gone up! Including health care needs.

I didn't run for president to run from these challenges. [huge applause] I ran to rebuild our economy for EVERYone who's willing to work hard, not just a few. To create jobs... to improve schools... to make higher education affordable, and yes, to deal with runaway hc costs [huge applause]!

I had no illusions that this would be hard. 7 presidents have tried it. ... And all failed... and I had a bunch of advisors tell me this may not be smartest thing to do, you have a lot on your plate... you may not get cooperation, get push back from Big Inusrance, etc. Don't do it!

Let me tell you why I did it. I knew insurance premiums doubled in last decade. ... lists other economic reasons...

When you lose jobs, you lose insurance... I took it up because I wanted to ease burdens on families/businesses who can't afford rates... [huge applause] that Big Insurance charges [paraphrased]

Dispel notion that we were focused on that, not economy. All I think about is how to create jobs, get banks lending again. I've done that entire year. But hc is part of the drag on our economy...

So, the good news: We've gotten pretty far.. but we had a little bit of a buzz saw this week. [laughter]. Part of reason is it was so long, drawn on. That's what happens in Congress, it's a long process, partisan, exploit fears, ads that scare BeJeezus out of everybody.

I understand why, after MA election, people in DC were all in a tizzy.. what does it mean for Obama? Is he weakened? Ohhh, how's he gonna survive this? But THIS IS NOT ABOUT ME [applause] This is about YOU! I didn't take this up to boost my poll numbers. To boost poll numbers, you don't do anything. All of Wash. would be saying, "What a genius!"

Some say, if Obama loses we win. But I think that if I win, YOU win. So if I wanted to take path of least resistance, I'd have done something a lot easier. We'll keep on working to get this done. With Dems, I HOPE with R's, with anyone who will step up. I won't watch more people get squashed by insurance companies...

There's no control on what they do, their stocks skyrocket. So long as I have breath in me I won't stop fighting for you, I'll take my lumps. [huge applause]. I won't stop fighting to make sure there's accountability in our financial system, till we have jobs for everybody... [huge applause]

That's why I'm asking Congress to pass Jobs Bill...

So long as I'm president, I won't stop fighting... for restoring home values... [sorry, missed some]... for giving our kids the best education... to give every American a fair shake, which is why I signed ... Lily Ledbetter Act. [lots of applause] ... credit card bill of rights... fighting for tough consumer protection agency...

I won't stop fighting to open up government. This is hard because we don't control every branch. We've put in toughest laws, ethics rules of any admin. in history. Opened up our logs, first time... Cut waste, abuse in Wash.

And I'm gonna keep on fighting for real, meaningful hcr. We got SCHIP, but we will fight to hold Big Insur. accountable... fight for providing insurance for everyone. There will be more fights ahead. I won't win every round.

We're having fight right now...we want our money back (re: banks). We want our money back! [cheers] But it's gonna be a fight, you watch.

I guarantee you, when we start trying to change regulatory reform they'll say, "Why is he meddling in financial industry?" No, I want rules in place so when they make dumb decisions, they'll be rules in place. I don't mind having a fight!

Q and A:

Q: Will you support continued Pell Grants?

A: Yes. We made, with help of Congress, enormous investment in higher education. We increased the level of each Pell Grant, and put in more money. We want to continue to do this. A lot of banks still serve as middle men, take out several billion in profits. But loans can go directly to students, so you save billions that can be put back in system.

But... even as we put more $ in, we are also trying to reach out to Universities to reduce inflation in higher education.

That's it for now...

Filibuster reform bill headed for Senate floor facing uphill battle

By GottaLaff

First of all, everything is an uphill battle these days. Second of all, well, I have no second of all. How's that for pithy? Yep, this flu hasn't affected my brain cells at all....

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) intends in the next few weeks to introduce legislation that would take away the minority’s power to filibuster legislation. [...]

Harkin believes senators in recent years have abused the procedural move.

Harkin’s bill would still allow senators to delay legislation, but ultimately would give the majority the power to move past a filibuster with a simple majority vote.

His staff said the bill would be introduced sometime before the Senate’s current work period ends on Feb. 13.

It takes 67 votes to change Senate rules, so, good luck Tom.

Several liberal activists as well as Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) this week have called for filibuster reform to make it easier for legislation to pass.

So how exactly would Tom's idea work again?

Under Harkin's bill, which is co-sponsored by Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), 60 votes would still be necessary to cut off debate on an initial procedural motion. If senators failed to reach 60 votes, a second vote would be possible two days later that would require only 57 votes to cut off debate. If that also failed, a third vote two days after that would require 54 votes to end debate. A fourth vote after two more days would require just 51 votes.

Well, as long as Traitor Joe's behind it, how could it lose?

Who are the judicial activists now?

By GottaLaff

I'm trying my best to push through my Nyquil hangover and debilitating coughing fits to get back to posting again.

I'll start with a shorty but pithy one, via the L.A. Times, by Erwin Chemerinsky. It's about that little, insignificant, minor ruling by SCROTUS (<--- courtesy of Elvis Dingeldein), er, SCOTUS:

The conservative majority, which in recent years has dramatically limited free speech in other areas -- such as for government employees and for students -- was willing to expand the free speech of corporations. There is no way to see this other than as the conservative justices using judicial review to advance the traditional conservative ideological agenda.

Almost 10 years ago, in Bush vs. Gore, the five conservative justices for the first time decided a presidential election. One would have thought that decision would have laid to rest the notion that judicial activism is a tool of liberal judges and revealed that the real judicial activism today is from the right. Perhaps Thursday's decision will finally reveal the truth.

Please read the whole thing. That was just a snippet.

Mid Day Distraction

Video- Glenn Beck And The Fox News Shrink Psychoanalyze Obama – With Racial Overtones

Via NewsHounds.

Republican Brand Still Badly Damaged

Honestly, the only way we're still in the running is because the R's just plain screwed this country over the past 8 years. Mightily. Via Taegan-

A new Public Policy Polling poll found that only 19% of voters nationally are happy with the direction of the Republican Party, compared to 56% who are unhappy with it. Even GOP voters are displeased with where the party's going: Just 38% say they are unhappy with the current direction to 35% who support it.

Analysis: "This much seems clear: if the Republicans keep winning even with a heavily damaged national brand it's an indication voters are choosing much more by what they're against right now than what they're for. I think a GOP controlled Congress for next year is still unlikely but it could be the best thing that ever happened to Barack Obama's reelection hopes."

In a related piece, Politico notes that "it is indisputable that the GOP has surged, especially in the past several months" but that it is "also indisputable that the rise has little to do with the voters' view of Republicans writ large -- and that the very concerns that got them booted from power persist today."

Video- Jon Stewart mocks media overreaction to ‘President-elect’ Brown’s victory

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Jay Leno to headline White House Correspondents' dinner

Man, talk about dialing down the edgy! Perfect progression- Wanda Sykes, Stephen Colbert and Jay Leno...

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Comedian Jay Leno will headline the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in May, the group said Friday. Leno agreed earlier this month to appear at the event, before NBC announced his return to hosting "The Tonight Show," the group said. The network's move was prompted by affiliates protesting the poor ratings of Leno's prime-time show.

The comedian will share the stage with President Barack Obama at the correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton. By tradition, presidents fire jokes at the news corps, political opponents and even themselves at the event, where politicians, journalists and celebrities rub elbows.