Health Care Watch: The anti-negotiator

By GottaLaff

Via TPM:

Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY), a member of the Gang of Six purportedly negotiating a bipartisan health deal, today embraced the 'death panel' canard, though he didn't use the phrase itself. Good to know he's got a veto on any reform legislation.

Dear U.S. Senate,

Time to change the approach.

Urgently,

Laffy

VIDEO: Dylan Ratigan, Arianna Huffington use dolls to explain health care

By GottaLaff

It's come to this:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

I cannot watch Ratigan. I've been driven to switch to CNN until he and "Dr. Nancy" hand off the baton to Carlos Watson or even ::shudder:: Andrea Mitchell.

TN Republican Staffer Caught Forwarding Racist Picture

By GottaLaff

Look at the bottom right corner of this graphic ^

This is so blatant, so despicable, so utterly egregious, I honestly cannot fathom why this person is employed by a U.S. Senator, even one like Rushpublic Diane Black:

Further adding to the tragicomedy that is Tennessee politics, we are forced to deal with some of the most vicious racism you'll ever see without a white hood. [...]

Earlier today, a legislative staffer forwarded well-known West Tennessee blogger Newscoma a picture they had been sent from another staffer. It's supposed to be an "historical keepsake photo" of the Presidents. But no picture of President Obama--instead, just a "spook."

Because, haha, in addition to being another word for a ghost, "spook" is also a racial slur against African-Americans! [...]

The staffer who originally sent around the picture has now been revealed to be Sherri Goforth, an executive assistant for Republican State Senator Diane Black of Gallatin (a suburb of Nashville). When contacted by Nashville Is Talking/WKRN Channel 2 (our ABC affiliate) blogger Christian Grantham, not only did Goforth refuse to apologize, all she could do was claim that she had simply sent it "from the wrong email address. In other words, not sorry that she sent out a blatantly racist email, only sorry that she got caught. [...]

For those of you not familiar with her boss, Senator Diane Black, she's a Republican who was the main Senate sponsor of S.J.R. 127, a trigger amendment passed this year that, if passed in one more legislative vote and by a ballot initiative, will allow abortion to quickly be banned in Tennessee should Roe v. Wade ever be overturned. She also rudely cancelled a meeting with GLBT activists from her own district (you know, people she was elected to represent) at the last second by saying that they "wouldn't change her mind" and therefore she didn't even need to hear from them. [...]

If you're in Tennessee and want Senator Black to know exactly what you think of what her office is doing on your dime, consider dropping her a line:

5 Legislative Plaza.
Nashville, TN 37243-0218
Phone (615) 741-1999
sen.diane.black@capitol.tn.gov

UPDATE: Tennessee Democratic Party chairman Chip Forrester calls on Diane Black to fire Goforth. Also, you might consider dropping the TNDP a few dollars for the training sessions they're about to conduct around Tennessee to Save Our State from the GOP.

Feel free to dial in. Goforth needs to GoAway.

Michael Steele hits the Republican G-Spot

By GottaLaff

Equality starts with an E. That clearly disqualifies it from the rightie vocablulary. First Guns, now Gays. Seems Steele thinks he's hit the Rushpublic G-spot:

Republicans can reach a broader base by recasting gay marriage as an issue that could dent pocketbooks as small businesses spend more on health care and other benefits, GOP Chairman Michael Steele said Saturday.

[...] Steele said he used the argument weeks ago while chatting on a flight with a college student who described herself as fiscally conservative but socially liberal on issues like gay marriage.

"Now all of a sudden I've got someone who wasn't a spouse before, that I had no responsibility for, who is now getting claimed as a spouse that I now have financial responsibility for," Steele told Republicans at the state convention in traditionally conservative Georgia. "So how do I pay for that? Who pays for that? You just cost me money."

As Steele talked about ways the party could position itself, he also poked fun at his previous pledge to give the GOP a "hip-hop makeover."

"You don't have to wear your pants cut down here or the big bling," he said.

Vermont and Iowa have legalized gay marriage in recent weeks, and a Quinnipiac University poll released in April found that 57 percent of people questioned support civil unions that provide marriage-like rights. Although 55 percent said they opposed gay marriage, the poll indicated a shift toward more acceptance.

The last thing I want to think about is Michael Steele's pants.

H/t: Ellen

Report: Blago's contribution list included Senate hopefuls

By GottaLaff

Blagoeouqalfjopqiujvich makes the news again:

A list of people targeted for contributions by former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's campaign committee included four possible candidates for appointment to President Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat, according to a published newspaper report. [...]

It's dated Dec. 3 — six days before Blagojevich's arrest on federal charges of scheming to sell or trade the Senate appointment, among other misdeeds. [...]

The list published by the Sun-Times contains the names of J.B. Pritzker, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Rep. Luis Gutierrez and Roland Burris. All were reported to be under consideration and Burris ultimately won the governor's appointment to the Senate.

None is reported to have contributed. About 150 names are on the list, some with dollar amounts as goals and adding up to more than $2 million.

"They may have had him on the list," said Pritzker spokesman Dave Lundy. "But they had a lot of quirky ideas that didn't have a basis in reality." Pritzker was being targeted for $100,000, according to the list.

Schakowsky said she never was asked for a donation. "The empty space next to my name speaks volumes and shows that Blagojevich knew better than to approach me," Schakowsky said.

Gutierrez had taken himself out of the running for the seat in late November. Burris, a former Illinois attorney general, has acknowledged he attempted to raise money for Blagojevich, but has denied wrongdoing.

Also listed are at least six Blagojevich appointees to state boards or other jobs.

Can we just be rid of him now? Please?

CPAC: Not Even Conservatives Want To See Joe the Plumber

By GottaLaff



Then what is he, a seat-filler? Via Wonkette:

Joe-he-Plumber spoke to 1/4 full room. It was pathetic. I got video of how fucking empty the room was. I tried to make an echo off the walls but I got yelled at. Video to come.

If I get a Tweet alert about the video, I'll grab and post it.

No kiss for Obama from Michele Bachman, with bonus video of the Bush smooch!

By GottaLaff



Michele will have to find herself a whole new crush:

At the 2007 State of the Union address, she famously gripped onto President Bush’s shoulder until he leaned in and gave her a kiss. But when asked if she would also kiss President-elect Obama, she replied, “Will I be sitting in the well? Probably not.”

Count Obama lucky.

Here's a video of her on Hardball in all her glory.

VIDEO: Palin pardons a turkey, but ignores veterans

By GottaLaff

Pitiful Palin does it again. She completely embarrasses herself while simultaneously reminding us of what a horrendous, tin-eared candidate she was and would be for any office at any time.

Via Celtic Diva:

Governor Palin was too busy to make sure her daughter got schooling while they were on the campaign trail.

She was too busy courting the media (and earning another complaint with the Personnel Board) to recognize veterans on the day that we recognize veterans. She seemed to suddenly remember a week later--AFTER that fact hit the radiowaves and the blogosphere. But, so far, there has been no proof (media or otherwise) that there was ANY real recognition given of the award allegedly presented to veteran John Edward Wilkins, Jr.

However...the Governor's Office was right on top of it when they sent out a press release TODAY talking about this VERY IMPORTANT ceremony tomorrow:

What: Turkey Pardon

When: November 20, 2008, 1 p.m.

Where: Triple D Farm and Hatchery, Wasilla

Gee...at least she's got her priorities straight.

UPDATE: Here's the video...

H/t: Chris

Joe Lieberchair

By GottaLaff

Chairman Schmo has Obama and Reid on his side:

Tomorrow, Senate Democrats gather to decide if Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-D) should keep his position as chairman of Homeland Security Committee, and it looks like he just may. [...]

According to sources familiar with negotiations, Democrats are expected to vote in favor of letting the Connecticut senator keep his chairmanship and seniority, but give up the gavel on a subcommittee he chairs. The vote happens tomorrow morning by secret ballot.

The tide turned in Lieberman's favor, sources say, after two events in recent weeks. First, President-elect Obama told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that he wanted Lieberman to stay in the Democratic caucus. Later, in a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Lieberman told him it would be "unacceptable" for him to give up his gavel. That was considered by some as a veiled threat that Lieberman would jump to caucus with Republicans if he was forced to give up the gavel.

And that would be a bad thing?

Obama tipped the scales in Lieberman's favor, one source said. The source essentially explained it like this: If the wrath was directed at Obama and got over it, shouldn't the Democratic caucus do the same?

No.