Senator Jon Kyl Jokes About Obama Drowning

By GottaLaff

Some things just aren't funny, Jon Kyl:

Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ) "got a big laugh on Saturday at a National Republican Senatorial Committee retreat, but his joke definitely wouldn't be funny to some people," The Hill reports.

His joke: "So Obama, Pelosi and Reid are in a row boat, and it springs a leak and starts to sink. Who gets saved?" Answer: "The American people."

I can just picture the chortling and rib jabbing now. I wonder if they'd be chortling and rib jabbing if they had the good sense to realize how they might be influencing the more violent among us.

Of course, had a Democrat made the same tasteless joke about a Republican leadership, all hell would have broken loose, there would have been demands for hearings, 24/7 media coverage, condemnation in loud, indignant voices, and calls for impeachment/resignation/prison time/firing squads.

That Family Values party has some sense of humor... and don't get me started on their outstanding judgment.

VIDEO- Jon Kyl: GOP Willing To Filibuster Obama’s Yet-To-Be-Named SCOTUS Nominee

By GottaLaff

As I posted yesterday, Justice Stevens is saying that he will make a decision soon about retiring.

Today on Fox News Sunday, Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) already held open the possibility that the person President Obama nominates may face a filibuster

Well that didn't take long. Kyl went from cooperation to hypocrisy in only 4 posts:

As Wallace noted, in 2005 — when Republicans were in the majority — Kyl had a very different opinion of the filibuster.

Oh, and it's all the Dems' fault for filibustering Miguel Estrada. You may remember how they threw his name around a whole lot during now-Judge Sotomayor's confirmation hearings.

I wonder how he feels about being used so much.

So. This should be another fun process, don'tcha think?

Kyl Says Republicans Ready to Cooperate on Financial Reform

By GottaLaff

Wait, what? Why, I had my eyes opened today! It turns out the GOP actually does know the word "cooperate". Who tutored them while we weren't looking? All that surreptitious home schooling may have actually paid off:

Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) on Sunday said Republicans are eager to cooperate with Democrats on financial regulatory reform legislation, the next major item on the Senate agenda.

Apparently, they also learned the words "poll numbers", "consequences", "elections", and "fail".

They have yet, however, to fully comprehend the meaning of the words "hypocrite" and "disingenuous".

VIDEO- Fox's Neil Cavuto: "Polls Are Increasingly Looking Worse." Wrong.

By GottaLaff

I posted this yesterday:

Apparently Neil Cavuto didn't see it:

After examining the data, polling expert Mark Blumenthal concluded that “any way you slice it, there does appear to be a real tightening of opinion on health reform although as always, these results are snapshots and subject to change.”

Facts schmacts.

As usual, ClusterFoxers continue to say whatever they want, then quote and requote themselves and each other until they create their very own news cycle. Result: A new meme.

I'm guessing they've all had rhinoplasties.

Not sure why the guy on the right looks so surprised. Lying is a regular feature of Faux News.

Think Progress has more details here.

VIDEO: Entire Face the Nation, with Schumer, Kyl on health care reform

By GottaLaff


Watch CBS News Videos Online

Here is today's Face the Nation in its entirety in case you missed it. The next few months are going to be really irritating.

Sen. Jon Kyl Holds Up Unemployment Extension. Thanks to Him, 100s Of 1000s Fall Off Rolls

By GottaLaff

Via Crooks and Liars, we see what douchebaggery can do to a guy:

If your unemployment ran out this week, you can thank Sen. Jon Kyl. Yes, the Republican whip objected to a quick vote that would have helped all those people. You can contact him here and thank him for his compassion:

Washington -- Key Senate Democrats tried unsuccessfully today to quickly pass legislation to give jobless workers in Michigan and other hard-hit states an additional 20 weeks of unemployment benefits.

That delays action on the high-stakes issue until at least next week. [...]

Today's failed effort to quickly pass a bill followed the unveiling of a compromise bill by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and key allies. The bill would give all states an extra 14 weeks of jobless benefits, plus an extra six weeks for states with unemployment rates of 8.5 percent or greater.

[...] Reid introduced the bill after reaching a deal with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, who had balked at the House-passed bill, which only gives extra benefits to the hardest-hit states.

[...] But when Reid asked senators to quickly pass the bill under a speedy procedure, Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., objected. That's enough to prevent a quick vote.

[...] While objecting to quick passage, Kyl said he expects "at the appropriate time," Republicans will "be able to work out some kind of agreement."

I snipped some out of the post. Please go read the rest. Then feel free to write to Senator WhoCares (No-AZ) and congratulate him for achieving a new level of wrong.

Angry Arizona Mothers: Senator Kyl, GOP Sexist

By GottaLaff

Remember when Jon Vile said that he didn't need maternity care? Wasn't that sensitive of him? Yeah, Arizona mothers didn't think so either:

Dozens of local mothers descended on the office of Republican Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona Wednesday to denounce what they say are sexist attitudes held by Kyl and the Republican Party in general. The demonstration was organized by Phoenix area mothers in response to Kyl's recent quip during a Senate committee meeting that he doesn't "need maternity care."

The protest was organized by local mothers, but a few fathers and children also attended. They carried signs saying, "Maternity Care Is Not a Joke" and "Women Are Your Constituents Too."

Nah, women aren't really constituents. They should know their place, just like Nancy Pelosi.

The protest comes at the same time Democrats across the country are denouncing Republican leaders for holding what they see as outdated views of women.

And Al Franken is right out in front. Could it be that the Dems are finding their... voices?

A Democratic Party spokesperson said today, "These are not isolated incidents. This is a view and an attitude that the Republican Party has toward women," adding, "Kyl is the second highest ranking Republican in the Senate."

Representative Kyrsten Sinema, Democrat of Arizona, said at the Phoenix protest, "This is just outrageous. When Senator Kyl scoffs at the importance of maternity care, it begs the question, who does he represent?"

Um, men?

"Women all over Arizona are paying for health insurance policies that do not include maternity care," she said. "Senator Kyl and Republicans seem to be against everything these days, including something as basic as medical care after a woman gives birth."

How ironic. Here the Rushpublics are, lovin' their women folk barefoot and pregnant, yet they won't support legislation to cover the costs.

Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) said, "I think they have an outdated view, sometimes an extreme view, and a lack of understanding of what women's lives are like today."

Here's a hint about what women's lives are like today: A whole heckuva lot like men's, only with lower pay, fewer rights, and oh yeah, we're the ones who actually, you know, give birth.

H/t: Ellen

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dawn-teo/arizona-mothers-storm-kyl_b_313458.html

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dawn-teo/arizona-mothers-storm-kyl_b_313458.html

VIDEO- Kyl: ‘I Don’t Need Maternity Care’ In Health Policy; Stabenow: ‘Your Mom Probably Did’

By GottaLaff

Oh-h, suh-nap!



If Kyl needed maternity care, he'd be the first man who ever did. But I digress.

My maternity care was 100% covered between the Writers Guild and S.A.G. plans, and it was a good thing. The minute it was determined I was carrying twins, I was considered "high risk" and I was visiting doctors and labs every two minutes. Between all that and the actual delivery, it would have cost me a fortune.

Maternity care, in fact, is a perfect example of why Kyl’s amendment is so bad. Most individual health insurance markets don’t cover maternity care. [...] Anthem Blue Cross — which has been actively fighting health care reform — considers pregnancy optional and therefore not necessary to insure:

“The point of insurance is to insure against catastrophic care costs. That’s what you’re trying to aggregate and pool for such things as heart attacks and cancer,” said an Anthem Blue Cross spokesman. “Having a child is a matter of choice. Dealing with an adult onset illness, such as diabetes, heart disease breast or prostate cancer, is not a matter of choice.”

“A well defined minimum benefits package would compel health insurers to provide basic services to all Americans,” adds Volsky. “The Kyl amendment, which ultimately failed, would have allowed the industry to continue profiting from discriminatory practices.”

I think the Senate needs a Kylectomy. I wonder if that's covered.

Video- GOP Senator Kyl loses his cool, screams during health care markup

Hehehe. Via Jed.

Video- Kyl & McCain say Stimulus money failed, but how dare they attempt not to give it to us!

Kyl said it wasn't working, so Ray LaHood graciously offered to let them forfeit the money. Watch McCain try to rationalize the their situation.

**Oops, forgot to mention that the Senator is proud enough of this performance to put it up on his personal YouTube channel. h/t John.

Video- Sunday Loon Watch: GOP defends Cheney, Kyl opposes Medicare, and McCain’s praising Palin

Thanks to Jed for the vid.

VIDEO-- Jon Kyl: "Big deal...[Europe] didn’t like the fact that we invaded Iraq & replaced Saddam Hussein either"

By GottaLaff



Us, us, us, it's all about us. Who cares about anyone else? Boy Georgie taught us that, right? It looks like Kranky Kyl's a devoted student:

Considering that the decision to invade Iraq ultimately “made the American people less secure,” Kyl shouldn’t be so dismissive of those who said from the start that it was a mistake. Likewise with Guantanamo Bay. Kyl dismisses the negative symbolic power of Guantanamo, but as the Center for Strategic & International Studies concluded in September 2008, “the United States has been damaged by Guantánamo beyond any immediate security benefits. Our enemies have achieved a propaganda windfall that enables recruitment to violence, while our friends have found it more difficult to cooperate with us.”

Let's try this instead: Big deal. Who cares what Jon Kyl thinks?

Yep. That's better.

Kyl Threatens GOP Boycott of Sotomayor Hearing

By GottaLaff

How productive. What are they, like five years old?

Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ) told Roll Call yesterday that he and his Republican colleagues on the Judiciary Committee may boycott Judge Sotomayor’s hearings if Judiciary Chair Patrick Leahy (D-VT) does not cave to right-wing demands to delay the hearings:

“As the hearing time approaches we will evaluate whether we can make that deadline,” Kyl said, explaining that if Republicans do not feel they can adequately question Sotomayor they will try to meet with Leahy to make a plea for more time.

However, Kyl, who serves on the Judiciary Committee, did not explicitly rule out the use of delay tactics, including a Republican boycott of the confirmation hearings, if an accommodation cannot be made.

But Kyl is not entitled to any more accommodations than what he has already received. Far from expediting Sotomayor’s confirmation process, Leahy set a schedule which is virtually identical to that enjoyed by Bush appointee John Roberts [...]

Earlier this week, all seven GOP members of the Judiciary Committee signed a letter demanding that Sotomayor complete a series of irrelevant or even impossible tasks before her nomination may be considered.

And then they took a milk-and-cookies break, had nap time, and learned how to tie the laces on their big boy shoes.

Senator Kyl (R-AZ): Don’t blame us for deficit

Whatever they're drinking these days, it's alot stronger than kool aid.

Sen. Jon Kyl’s earmarks aren’t really earmarks, and Republicans aren’t really to blame for spending patterns during the Bush presidency.

That was Kyl’s message in a “Fox News Sunday” interview in which he defended his $118 million in earmark requests.

(snip)

“I can defend everything that I have recommended in the budget, and I would suggest that they’re not earmarks under the definition, because we have a specific definition,” said the Arizona Republican, whom the National Journal recently ranked as one of the most conservative senators.

And the soaring deficit — which got going when Bush was president and the GOP still controlled Congress? Kyl says you can’t put that on the Republicans since they’ve been out of power since 2007.

“I don’t think you can contend anymore ... that Republicans should be slapped on the hand for spending,” Kyl said. “I don’t think you can put that spending on Republicans.”

ADDED- Now with video via Think Progress!

Obama's Very Inclusive Super Bowl Sunday

By GottaLaff

President Obama is a saint. I wonder if Rush Limbaugh was invited:

Steelers are represented by Arlen Specter (R) and Bob Casey (D).
-- Casey: invited and accepted. His office says he's bring "terrible towels" and something called Eat'n Park Cookies' (a Pittsburgh thing we're told)
-- haven't heard back from Specter's office *** UPDATE *** Specter's office confirms he has been invited, but staff is trying to sort his day's schedule

Cardinals are represented by Republicans John McCain and Jon Kyl.
-- McCain has been invited but will not attend
-- Kyl's office can't confirm he's been invited, but Kyl was planning on watching the game with his family

So the only definite "yes" was from a Democrat. Another Republican rebuff. Perhaps if he'd invited them to go hunting...

They can have him

By GottaLaff

Tuesday can't come soon enough:

Arizona Sen. John Kyl, also appearing on Fox News Sunday, said the GOP would “welcome [Lieberman] with open arms… Joe is a very open-minded person. People in both caucuses love Joe because he is a great American. He’d be welcome in our conference, we’d love to have him there. And since he was of such great assistance to John McCain in this election, it would be good to have him with us.”

These two won't stand in Kyl's way:

On Friday, both Vermont senators — Judiciary Committee Chairman Pat Leahy and Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats — both said Lieberman’s actions during the campaign should cost him his chairmanship.

Maybe Joe and Rudy can run as a team in 2012. They can call themselves the In Our Dreams Team. The Over the Hill Gang? The Delusional Has-Been Duo-overs?

I salivate just thinking of the possibilities.

Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl not so sure Gramm-pa McCain can win

By GottaLaff

That's some vote of confidence for your homey, there, Jon:

Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona expressed some doubt in a recent interview that his seatmate, John McCain, will be elected president.

In an interview last week with the Arizona Daily Star editorial board, Kyl wondered if McCain would join Republican Barry Goldwater and Democrats Mo Udall and Bruce Babbitt as Arizonans who tried and failed to win the White House.

"Unfortunately, I think John McCain might be added to that long list of Arizonans who ran for president but were never elected," Kyl said. "Maybe, we'll be able to say Arizona's the only state where your child can't grow up to be president. Let's hope that doesn't happen."

As for whether IWRC* Palin, is ready and qualified to be president, Kyl said :

"She doesn't have to be ready on day one, because John McCain is, let's assume, going to be in office for a while," Kyl said.

But in time, Palin would be ready, he said.

How reassuring. Never mind those age and cancer issues. There's plenty of time to pull off those training wheels later. That's procrastination we can believe in.

"God forbid something should happen to John McCain," Kyl said, "By the time she is required to be president, my answer to the question is: Yes, I think she will be ready to be president if she's called upon to be president."

Actually, there would be oodles of time to learn the ropes. Being in charge of the Senate doesn't require all that much time.

*"In What Respect, Charlie?"