Napolitano offers regular meetings with critical House Republicans

By GottaLaff

This is reminiscent of going back to an abusive lover for more:

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is following President Barack Obama’s lead in reaching out to House Republicans.

Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, met privately with Napolitano Thursday morning and said he was encouraged by her promise during their discussion to meet with Republicans on the committee once a month.

Oh what the heck. Keep reaching out. It's never hurt us before, right, Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.)?

Wrong. He called for Napolitano's resignation. He's not reciprocating to her reachy outiness in the least:

“At this time, I don’t see anything that makes me more confident about the safety of our country, our lives, and our property while Napolitano is in charge,” he said in an e-mailed response. “Furthermore, last week President Obama made a big show surrounding his meeting with Republicans and then spent the following week mischaracterizing the discussions. I will not gamble away our nation’s security with more of the administration’s PR stunts.”

This from the party of PR stunts. Kettle? Pot on line one.

King would not discuss calls for Napolitano’s resignation within his conference and instead said he was impressed by her offer to meet one-on-one and continue appearing privately before Republicans once a month.

Peter King as the voice of reason. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

House Republicans accuse Muslim group of trying to plant spies

What? Bachmann too busy to join in the fun with her buds? At least it's easier to keep track of the loonies when they hang together.

Four House Republicans are accusing a Muslim advocacy group of trying to plant spies on Capitol Hill.

Republican members of the Congressional Anti-Terrorism Caucus said the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) have tried to plant “spies” within key national-security committees in order to shape legislative policy.

Reps. Sue Myrick (R-N.C.), John Shadegg (R-Ariz.), Paul Broun (R-Ga.) and Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), citing the book Muslim Mafia: Inside the Secret Underworld that's Conspiring to Islamize America, called for the House sergeant at arms to investigate whether CAIR had been successful in placing interns on key panels. The lawmakers are specifically focused on the House Homeland Security Committee, Intelligence Committee and Judiciary Committee.

“If an organization is connected to or supports terrorists [and] is running influence operations or planting spies in key national security-related offices, I think this needs to be made known,” said Broun, who sits on the Homeland Security Committee. “So I join my colleagues here today in calling for action.”

(snip)

A representative of CAIR called the accusations unfounded and worried that they would tarnish the improving relations between Muslim and non-Muslim Americans.

"God forbid American Muslims take part in the political process and exercise their rights,” said Ibrahim Hooper, a CAIR spokesman, in a telephone interview. “I suppose they’re going to investigate the Muslim Staffers Association next.

“If these people weren’t so hate-filled, it would be laughable, but unfortunately they have an audience and, given their positions, it’s going to get picked up by the hate blogs.”

While the Republicans said they did not know of specific legislation that CAIR had affected, Franks said he wouldn’t be surprised if it was trying to amend the Patriot Act.

I may not know of any specific incidents of Rep Franks having carnal knowledge of snapping turtles, but I wouldn't be surprised if he was contemplating it. Asswipes.

VIDEOS- Rep. Paul Broun to Man With Major Depressive Disorder: Go to E.R.

By GottaLaff

You can read more about the wonderful Paul Broun here. I love how he gets laughs when he suggests going to the ER:

Rep. Paul Broun [R-GA10] is asked a direct question from Athens, GA constituent Wyatt Strother concerning mental health treatment. Broun tells him everyone in America can get medical care by going to the ER. Video shot by Andy Rusk.
(September 29, 2009, VFW Post 2872, Athens, GA)

Add that to this one:

Rep. Paul Broun [R-GA10] is told about the plight of the uninsured by Athens, GA constituent Dr Suzanne Lester. Broun says tax breaks for doctors are the answer to the problem. Video shot by Andy Rusk.
(September 29, 2009, VFW Post 2872, Athens, GA)

H/t: Jon Lester

VIDEO: Rep. Broun (R-GA) walks away from constituent after question on healthcare

By GottaLaff



See how Rushpublic care about their constituents? Apparently, town hall meetings are for the sheeple, not the people:

For those not familiar with Rep. Broun, he has been a sore spot for Athens-area liberals since he took office in 2007. Many remember his proposal to make 2010 the “Year of the Bible,” his comparison last year of Obama to Hitler, and his insistance that global warming is a hoax.

My kinda guy.

But what could be the most talked about event at the town hall meeting is something that happened after Broun spoke, as he was talking with constituents who gathered around after the meeting. Ryan Lewis of Athens asked the Congressman, who is a doctor, directly what he was planning to do to make medical care affordable, telling him of his medical problems and how even with health insurance his provider won’t cover most of it. Broun’s response? He tells Lewis, “if you have a suggestion, send it to me” and walks away.

If that isn't being a caring, fair-minded representative, I don't know what is.

H/t: Jon Lester

VIDEOS: Dueling wingnuts

By GottaLaff

For plentiful details, go here. For jaw-dropping videos of the right wing nutcases in question, stay put, and then go here. An excerpt:

It's one thing to disagree with someone, it's another to strongly disagree with someone. But when you feel you need to evoke God's holy powers against your enemy, your moving into Bin Laden territory. But of course the traditional media only runs stories dealing with the "angry left".

Ladies and gentleman, TPC, in collaboration with Daily Kos, brings you Dueling Wingnuts: The Videos.

Our first contestant is Rep. Paul Broun in one of his best works, "Holy Water Against Obama":


Here he is again in an audio-only production of "Obama is a Marxist", coming soon to an asylum near you!


Not to be outdone, let's hear it for one of our favorite Rightie Bonkerettes in her now classic "We Need an Investigation of Congress". Rep. Michele Bachmann, folks:


And finally, the one, the only Senator James Inhofe, starring in "Global Warming Scam". I hear he didn't get so much as a nomination for Craziest Winger in a Short Film:

We have to work together to pull this country out of the hole Bush and his cadre of radical right-winger have dug these past eight years. But we must never kid ourselves about the complete hatred those on the far right feel towards progressives. It's complete and not rational. Stay vigilant.

Crawling out of the woodwork

By GottaLaff

It's time for another TPC department! From the Department of They're Already Crawling Out of the Woodwork. Josh Marshall:

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) says Obama is planning to create a American Gestapo.

"It may sound a bit crazy and off base, but the thing is, he's the one who proposed this national security force. I'm just trying to bring attention to the fact that we may -- may not, I hope not -- but we may have a problem with that type of philosophy of radical socialism or Marxism. That's exactly what Hitler did in Nazi Germany and it's exactly what the Soviet Union did. When he's proposing to have a national security force that's answering to him, that is as strong as the U.S. military, he's showing me signs of being Marxist."

"A bit crazy and off base"? More like rubber room material, Paul "screw loose" Broun. Forget "crawling out of the woodwork". More like, crawling out from under a rock.

Way to welcome the new prez.