VIDEO: Rachel Maddow "Steins" Dan Stein... again

By GottaLaff

I posted the video of Dan Stein's little visit with Rachel Maddow here. It's gotten quite a response, including over at the Southern Poverty Law Center's site (Thank you SPLC, for acknowledging my new word "Steined").

For all those naysayers, for all those who blasted Rachel, and especially to Danny Boy himself, I dedicate this post. You've been Steined:

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

VIDEO: Rachel Maddow eviscerates FAIR president Dan Stein

By GottaLaff

The president of FAIR (Federation of American Immigration Reform), Dan Stein, was on the Rachel Maddow Show. It was brutal.

Because of this interview (read: tussle; read: battle; read: slaughter), we have a new word: "Steined"... as in, "You've been Steined by Rachel Maddow".

Witness the peerless Rachel "Stein" Stein:

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

I don't think ol' Dan thought Rachel was being... FAIR. Oh, the irony.

UPDATE: The Maddow Blog is already fact checking him here.

New RNC site: Obama v. Constitution, including ominous music!

By GottaLaff



You simply must link over to this ridiculous site just to hear the oooommminnous music:

If you run your mouse over the amendment in question it indicates an Obama judicial nominee and a decision that allegedly supports the claim [...]

“Please help the Republican Party stop President Obama’s judicial nominees from rewriting the Constitution. Donate today!” the site says, calling for contributions of up to $1,000.

And that's what it's really all about: Donations.

(click on image to enlarge)

Defacing the U.S. Constitution should be a real winner for them. Even better than the fake census forms!

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

Gravely Old Pathetic party.

Year to year MSNBC sees smallest decreases of any network in total viewers

Interesting. My guess would be that MSNBC has more loyal viewers.

MSNBC saw the smallest decreases of any network in total viewers. Year-to-year, MSNBC is down -6% in total viewers for both total day and primetime.

MSNBC was #3 in total day/demo viewers behind FNC and HLN. The channel was also #3 in total day/total viewers behind FNC and CNN. MSNBC topped CNN each hour between 6pm-12amET.

"Morning Joe" was the second most watched morning program in total viewers, but struggled in the demo averaging 115K, the fewest of the four.

(snip)

"The Ed Show" was one of the few cable news programs to grow in both total viewers (+25%) and demo viewers (+4%) year-to-year and was the number two program in its time slot. Also, the 5pmET "Hardball" topped "The Situation Room" for the first time in total viewers.

Both "Countdown" and "The Rachel Maddow Show" were down in the demo year-to-year, but Maddow's program did grow slightly (+2%) in total viewers. For the first time since 2000, MSNBC, which airs a replay of "Countdown," topped CNN at 10pmET in total viewers. MSNBC was also #2 in total viewers at 11pmET, which hasn't happened since Maddow's show premiered in 2008.

Though Olbermann's program saw year-to-year decreases (-13% total viewers/-30% demo), 8pmET "Countdown" moved back into the cable news top 10, finishing 10th among cable news programs in total viewers. "Maddow" was #11.

VIDEO- Rachel Maddow on Arizona: Assessing Immigration Status Through Shoes

By GottaLaff

Your papers, please:

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

Welcome to America's first police state.

Rep. Jerry Moran (R- KS): Allegations Of C Street Lower Rent Rates Are Attacks On My Faith

By GottaLaff

Rachel Maddow has done incredible investigative work on the C Streeters getting a big break on how much rent they pay:

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

Well! Someone has taken offense! Rep. Jerry Moran (Harrumph!-KS):

Rep. Jerry Moran (R- KS) is trying to turn charges that he's getting a break on his rent at C Street into attacks on his Christian faith. Seriously. [...]

[H]e told the Topeka Capitol-Journal that criticism of his cozy arrangement amounted to "a national effort to exclude matters of faith by public servants."

Moran continued: "I don't think that my interest in studying the Bible with other colleagues of mine in Congress ought to be seen as anything but good or at least personal -- whether you think it's good or bad it ought to be a decision I make as a member of Congress, as a human being."

Yes, that's right, it's all about discrimination against people of faith. Everyone is out to get them, poor little innocent things. Maybe the words "public servant" should be taken seriously by these guys.

Playing the victim card while you're paying a fraction of what you should be for renting upscale digs while sharing said space with a bunch of cheating, philandering "Christians" probably isn't the best way to go.

Especially when Rachel Maddow is watching.

Nope, not a good idea at all.

VIDEO- Rachel Maddow Show: ACORN pimp, UNedited

By GottaLaff

This was simply beauteous. Rachel turned the "ACORN pimp" story on its head. If you missed it, now's your chance:

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

VIDEO- Ex-Steele Adviser: "Change in leadership" would be good for the RNC

By GottaLaff

Michael Aluminuminum is in a pickle of his own doing:

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

On the one hand, there is Rachel Maddow who believes Michael Steele is not long for the RNC chair. On the other, there is Chris Hayes, who thinks he'll stick around.

Now Alex Castellanos thinks he should go. This from the man who helped shape Steele's public image. This is not a good sign:

Alex Castellanos, who was hired late last year by the RNC to help reform Chairman Michael Steele's image, said on CNN moments ago that he thinks "a change in leadership" would be good for the RNC.

I may go with Rachel on this one. The rats, they are leaving the ship.

Home sales UP: Americans took advantage of a tax credit for home buyers

By GottaLaff

First we had the Amazing Bikini Graph, and now this new report. What will the Rushpublics have left to lie about?

The wobbly housing market is showing a rare sign of strength: pending home sales were up significantly in February, a report released Monday said, suggesting that Americans took advantage of a tax credit for home buyers.

Sales rose 8.2 percent in February, the National Association of Realtors said. Analysts had expected sales to stay flat.

Economists said Monday’s data suggested buyers were re-entering the market as the April 30 deadline approached for a government tax credit of up to $8,000. The tax credit drove up sales rapidly in the fall, when it was originally set to expire, but it has been slow to propel the market this spring.

Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the association, said Monday’s report “may signal the early stages of a second surge of home sales.”

Too bad George Bush still isn't in charge. Things would obviously be so much better.

Dear Rushpublic Party of No, Please do continue those obstructionist tactics in light of this news. It's working so well for you.

Love, Laffy

ACORN: Our national organization is alive and well

By GottaLaff

Earlier I posted a segment from The Rachel Maddow Show in which she blasts the GOP for out and out lying about James O'Keefe's Big Pimpy ACORN Moment. She also slammed the media for perpetuating those and other lies, and went on to report the real news, correcting the misinformation about the organization (and other topics).

Good for her. She deserves a damn medal for that and all the other work she does to expose all the "bull pucky", as she put it.

Here is some more truth for you. It's a rarity, so enjoy it while you can:

After months of budget problems and criticism from the right, the community organizing group Acorn plans to release a letter next week clarifying its path forward and stating that its local chapters may be closed, but the national organization is alive and well.

“You will continue to hear from Acorn — in the mail, on the Web, and in the media,” says the letter, a draft of which was provided to The New York Times. “And we need your continued support to counter the vicious antifamily, antiminority, anti-immigrant attacks of the Republican right.”

Ding!

That's really what this is all about, isn't it? The Rushpublics feel threatened by the possibility of a white minority, and by a diverse electorate that tends to vote Democratic.

Their remedy? Lie, turn voters against an effective group, a grassroots organization, that gives people who might not otherwise have one, a voice... or at least the means to muster one up.

The letter, which will be sent to the 120,000 or so members on Acorn’s e-mail list and to tens of thousands of dues-paying members, says that in many of the states where Acorn’s local chapters closed, 16 new, independent but allied organizations have been formed to continue grass-roots organizing.

Know what else? California Representative Darryl Issa is bellowing and kvetching about how this new team is not severing ties with Old ACORN. Wrong.

They're not using ACORN money, and the lawyers and accountants they are using have not been involved with ACORN previously. Plus, their boards of directors are nearly all non-Acorn members.

And that's the truth:

VIDEO: Rachel Maddow and her Amazing Bikini Graph

By GottaLaff

Lerve, lerve, lerve this segment:

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

Itsy bitsy teenie weenie economic graph bikini....

VIDEO- Maddow calls b.s. on GOP: Attacks on ACORN, "Climate-Gate" were "bull pucky"

By GottaLaff

Once again, Rachel Maddow nails it:

"Let's have the great debate about the role of government... only you can't threaten to shoot people. And you have to stop making stuff up."

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

Those are awfully important revelations, aren't they? The ones Rachel covered in the video? They're stories one might expect MSNBC to go out of their way to report hourly, right?

Apparently not.

All morning, MSNBC concentrated on those other "big" stories, the ones about iPad and Tiger Woods.

Meanwhile, ACORN is no more, and voters believe that Climate-Gate was real. They continue to believe lies that the corporate media drive, repeat, perpetuate incessantly, lies that affect our elections and the well-being of the entire planet.

That is not news. That is propaganda. And it is not only unacceptable, it is toxic.

VIDEO- Rachel Maddow: "Senator Brown, you're lying!"

By GottaLaff

What does it take? Rachel is magnificent as always, but SenatorFold Scotty "Pink Leather Shorts" Brown refuses to listen. It's hard to make it clearer than this: SCOTT BROWN IS A LIAR.

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

"Senator Brown, you're lying!"... and making money off those whoppers about Rachel Maddow, who has asked you to stop every which way she can.

As Rachel noted, he's been in office for about 7 weeks, and has already lied repeatedly.

Way to start off, Sparky. Nobody could ask for a more credible representative than you.

"Do you think your members are really at risk?" Hoyer: "Yes."

By GottaLaff

(click on image to enlarge)

I caught the tail end of some Q and A with Steny Hoyer about the latest violence against Congress members.

Here is the most recent example:

The FBI, along with Albemarle County's Fire Marshal, are investigating a cut gas line in the Peacock Hills section of Ivy. The home is owned by the brother of Congressman Tom Perriello (D).

According to NBC news, 10 have been targeted so far.

Reporter:

Do you think your members are really at risk?

Hoyer:

Yes.

Other snippets:

We'll try to determine if crimes were committed.... Members targeted are getting proper attention.

We have spoken to Republican leaders. Republicans have agreed that what I just said "was appropriate". A joint statement may be issued.

Hoyer also referred to targets with cross hairs being placed over images of states of members of Congress (who are up for re-election)... which is exactly what was on Sarah Palin's Facebook page.

Inciting violence again, Reload McFacebook? Bullseye.

As usual, Rachel Maddow has the most substantive reporting on this topic:

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

VIDEO- Rachel Maddow: Hell No v. Yes We Can

By GottaLaff

As usual, Rachel delivers:

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

Oppose v. propose.

Dutch furious at U.S. general for blaming gay soldiers

By GottaLaff

Remember this from yesterday's Rachel Maddow Show?

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

So does the Dutch Prime Minister:

Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende attacked on Friday claims by a retired U.S. general that Dutch forces were overrun in Srebrenica in 1995 because of the presence of gay soldiers. [...]

"The remarks were outrageous, wrong and beneath contempt," Balkenende told a news conference.

Yes, in fact they were.

Oh, it gets worse:

The Dutch Defense Ministry called Sheehan's claims "absolute nonsense" and added that gay Dutch soldiers routinely cooperate with the U.S. military in the NATO mission in Afghanistan.

Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen called the claim "the bizarre private opinion of someone without an official function".

Renee Jones-Bos, the Dutch ambassador to the United States, said in a statement, "I couldn't disagree more" with Sheehan, adding there was no evidence of his claims in the extensive record of research on Srebrenica.

Military unions were equally angry. Dutch news agency ANP quoted the head of the military union AFMP as saying Sheehan's comments were "out of the realm of fiction", while the head of the gay soldiers' group SHK called his comments "the ridiculous convulsion of a loner".

You might say a few well placed people were a tad offended, mightn't you?

Somebody alert Donald Rumsfeld. It looks like "old Europe" is more evolved than some of our commanders on the ground.

VIDEO: Rachel Maddow's Excellent Health Care Timeline

By GottaLaff

Rachel clarifies a lot with this one:

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

This is worth two looks.

VIDEO: Rachel Maddow owns J.D. Hayworth

By GottaLaff

I liveblogged it here. And here is the post about Hayworth's despicable comments comparing same-sex marriage to bestiality.

Now the video... enoy:

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

Liveblog: J.D. Hayworth on the Rachel Maddow Show

By GottaLaff

J.D. Hayworth is on The Rachel Maddow Show.

She just asked him about receiving money from Jack Abramoff. He denies getting much money, and that it was awhile ago. He had trouble remembering the name CREW, see, and it's their misinformation that's the problem, he says. Abramoff never "lobbied me directly".

He talked over Rachel. She would have none of that.

Rachel: "You're known as an Abramoff guy."

"Rachel.. Rachel... your researchers should have done a better job." Now he's attacking McCain. He's "correcting" Rachel. And attacking McCain: "He's unfit for service in the U.S. Senate."

Rachel: You had a bunch of fundraisers in Abramoff's sky boxes... starting in 1999. For free.

Ha! Now J.D. says she has a capable staff. Which is it?

J.D.: Once it was brought to my attention, we cleared it up. No charges were brought by the F.E.C.

Random quotes:

Rachel: So McCain's earmarks were bad and your earmarks were good?

J.D. is rambling on and on and on.

Rachel is now bringing up the bestiality quote. Audio is at that link. He compares same-sex marriage to marrying horses.

Rachel: Where does it say "establishment of intimacy" in Supreme Court ruling? It's just not there, let alone the horse thing. I don't think it's true, sir.

J.D.: We have a disagreement.

Rachel: It's either true or it isn't.

J.D.: I appreciate you're having me on.

Yeah, I bet he did.

Aaaand, he was outta there... and he never stopped smiling. Not once.

Rachel Maddow Among GLAAD Award Recipients

By GottaLaff

Here's a little good news to perk up our Sunday. GLAAD held their Media Awards event. Guess who won a little something:

MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show" won the Outstanding TV Journalism - Newsmagazine award for the "Uganda Be Kidding Me series.

As she should have. That reporting was superb.

Rachel deserves every award anyone can come up with. She is a standout, period.