Bikini Graph, the sequel

By GottaLaff

I adore visuals. They're so easy to understand, even for the GOP:


The Bikini Graph is one of my favorites (and Rachel Maddow's).

Think Progress points out that today's numbers refute GOP talking points claiming that the stimulus created government jobs, but the private sector? Not so much. Well, GOP, about that? Not so much:

[T]he GOP should be pleased to note that, of the 290,000 jobs created in April, 231,000 of them were in the private sector. The private sector has actually added 523,000 new jobs in 2010.

This includes 44,000 manufacturing jobs, which is the most manufacturing jobs added to the U.S. economy since August, 1998. Overall, April was the strongest month for jobs growth since March, 2006. For the sake of comparison, here’s the change in monthly job loss or gain since December, 2007.

Sorry to burst your bubble.

Psst! GOP... The stimulus is working. It takes time, just as it took years to screw up the economy, it will take years to turn it around. Just as it will take decades to deal with the Gulf oil volcano. Just as it will take years to improve what's left of our health care system.

And guess what? It all moves along faster when you don't obstruct at every turn. Just an observation.

No, Rachel Maddow Is Not Running for Senate

By GottaLaff

There have been rumors swirling around on Twitter that Rachel Maddow was maybe, possibly running for Senate. What a pile of wrong. Rumors like that should be ignored, but since they aren't, here is the story that you'll be hearing about on Rachel's show:

Scott Brown is telling supporters his opponent in 2012 is going to be Rachel Maddow.

Follow the link for the whole story. It's just one big stupid misunderstanding on Scotty's part:

What’s the sourcing at the blog, Universal Hub? A tweet from state Democratic Party chairman John Walsh, which looks like a botched direct message to Maddow and reads

Some are talking about you running vs Scott Brown in ‘12. I’m Chair of MA Dem Party. My email is johnewalsh@Comcast.net cell-617-650-9311

Based on that, Brown’s extremely savvy team warns supporters that Democrats want a “rubberstamp” for their policies. “I’m sure she’s a nice person,” says Brown in the fundraising email. “I just don’t think America can afford her liberal politics.”

Did I say stupid? I meant really stupid.

UPDATE: Rachel reminds us on her show, Scotty is using her to make money. Nice touch.

No Trial For KSM At All?

By GottaLaff

Sharp-eyed Lizz Winstead just alerted me to this piece by Adam Serwer, someone we both follow on Twitter. When she did, I was nearly speechless. For me, that's really something.

I went right over to read it, hoping I'd find something different than what she said to me. I'd hoped she misinterpreted it or read it wrong.

No such luck:

I've said before that if the administration chooses to retreat on trying Khalid Sheik Mohammed and the other September 11 conspirators in civilian court, he might not be brought to justice at all, given the constitutional vulnerability of the military commissions. Brookings' Ben Wittes and former Bush Office of Legal Counsel head Jack Goldsmith are recommending indefinite detention as a "solution" to the problem:

[...] [T]he politically draining fight about civilian vs. military trials is not worth the costs. It also distracts from more important questions in the legal war against terrorism.

"Not worth the costs"? We've already paid dearly for avoiding/ignoring our own system of justice. What could be more costly than trading our democracy for political expedience?

They write that "the political costs" of a trial "have become exorbitant" even "unaffordably high" and even a military commission "isn't worth the effort, cost and political fight it would take."

And who is driving up those political costs? Cowardly, self-serving fear mongers.

KSM and his cohorts are likely guilty of a terrible crime, and they should be brought to justice for it. Wittes and Goldsmith fail to properly consider the costs of holding KSM forever without trial -- the American people growing further acclimatized to a government whose definition of justice and commitment to the rule of law is increasingly capricious. That kind of long-term damage is immeasurable, and a far greater cost to the country than the short-term false outrage of McCarthyists and hypocrites.

Adam nailed it. This is unacceptable.

VIDEO- Rachel Maddow: "WRONG!"

By GottaLaff

I lerved this segment from last night's show. Lerved:

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

There is no way to counter Rachel on this stuff. She utterly demolished the right wing talking points.

Again.

Reid apologizes for Obama 'Negro dialect' comment

By GottaLaff

The future isn't looking too bright for ol' Harry these days:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid apologized Saturday following reports he had privately described then-candidate Barack Obama during the presidential campaign as a black candidate who could be successful thanks in part to his “light-skinned” appearance and speaking patterns "with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one."

Mark Halperin and John Heilemann's new book Game Change provided that little tidbit. Ouch.

That had no chance of ending well. Nor was there any way that it wouldn't make it into a book. Or the InterTubes. Or the Tee Vee Machine. Or this blog post.

“I deeply regret using such a poor choice of words,” Reid said in a statement to CNN.

“I sincerely apologize for offending any and all Americans, especially African Americans for my improper comments.

“I was a proud and enthusiastic supporter of Barack Obama during the campaign and have worked as hard as I can to advance President Obama’s legislative agenda.”

He probably should have had the foresight, then, to realize his poor choice of words would be, ahem, unhelpful... especially to his own career... which could now extend into a stint at KFC?

CNN wrong: White House Not Drafting Own Bill

By GottaLaff

Yesterday I made the mistake of relying on CNN for accurate news. What could I have been thinking?

Contrary to a yesterday's CNN report, a senior administration official tells Chuck Todd the White House is not drafting its own health-care bill.

"The White House is, however, contemplating using 'legislative language' in the president's speech on Wednesday, which pulls together the 80% they believe all of the four Congressional bills agree on. But even THAT hasn't been decided on yet. As one person said to me, anyone who is claiming we're writing our own health care bill is 'leaning over their ski tips.'"

Great. Now I'm relying on Chuck Todd.

Oh, and CNN? You're apparently "leaning over your ski tips."

'Obama fried chicken' joints ruffle feathers in New York

By GottaLaff

(Photo via)

Did the owners of these places really think they would be ignored? They're using the President of the United States' name commercially, for one. And second, um, racial stereotyping? Hello?

I wonder if they would have put up a McCain Fried Chicken sign if J Sid, heaven forbid, had been elected:

Two New York City fried chicken restaurants in predominantly black neighborhoods are under fire for putting President Obama's name on their signs.

City Councilman Charles Barron said Friday that he would organize a demonstration next week outside Obama Fried Chicken in his Brooklyn district. Organizers said they also may target Obama Fried Chicken & Pizza in Harlem.

"People from the community were calling me and saying they were outraged by this racist connection to Barack Obama and fried chicken," Barron said. "If you think that free speech gives you the right to insult and degrade us and stereotype us, then you've got a battle on your hands."

At Obama Fried Chicken & Pizza on Friday, the "O" and the "A" had been filled in so that the awning sign read "Bam" instead of the president's name. [...]

[T]he owner promised the sign would change on Sunday. If it doesn't, McCall and Barron say, they will rally on Monday.

The White House did not comment on the racial controversy over the New York restaurant names, but spokesman Ben LaBolt said the administration disapproves of using "the president's name and likeness for commercial purposes."

Premature condemnation

By GottaLaff

Via Ben Smith, we see discover that-- surprise!-- Rahm Emanuel is in the clear. But that won't matter. Rumors will fly, innuendo will reign, accusations will be flung, and news cycles will be dominated by speculation that suffers from premature condemnation:

George Stephanopolous explains why the Obama camp doesn't seem worried about Rahm Emanuel's dealings with the Blagojevich administration: According to the internal report, he only spoke to Blago once, didn't engage in any negotiations to get Jarrett the Senate seat, and was equally interested in the (fascinating, more standard) wheeling and dealing around his House seat:

The sources add that the report will show Emanuel also had four phone calls with Blagojevich Chief of Staff John Harris. During those conversations, the Senate seat was discussed. The pros and cons of various candidates were reviewed, and the sources say that Emanuel repeatedly reminded Harris that Blagojevich should focus on the message the pick would send about the governor and his administration.

Sources also confirm that Emanuel made the case for picking Obama confidante Valerie Jarrett during at least one of the conversations. In the course of that conversation, Harris asked if in return for picking Jarrett, 'all we get is appreciation, right?' 'Right,' Emanuel responded.

I can just see the Biased Browns of the world stomping their feet, turning on their heels, crossing their arms with a "hmmph!" and whining that it's not fair that all those weeks of eyebrow-raising suspicion have rendered them so journalistically impotent that even a mega-dose of Viagra would be ineffective.

VIDEO: Palin defends group that wants to "convert gays into heterosexuals"

By GottaLaff


I wonder at what age Grandma Also chose to become hetero:

In September, an insert in the bulletin of the Wasilla Bible Church — where Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has worshipped for about six years — promoted an upcoming Love Won Out conference that sought to “convert gays into heterosexuals through the power of prayer.” In an interview with Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren last night about suspected arson at the church, Palin defended the promotion of the event, claiming that “people looked at that and wanted to spin that into something that it was not". [...]

Asked if gay men and women were “welcome” at her church, Palin responded by using nearly the same language she used to describe Love Won Out’s efforts to “help” gay people. The church is “quite open in terms of welcoming people into the church and assisting anyone who desires assistance or counseling or help,” said Palin.

Love Won Out denies that it aims to “cure” homosexuality, despite the fact that it claims “same-sex attractions can be overcome.”

Wrong.

But in reality, all major mainstream medical and mental health professional organizations have concluded otherwise.

Grandma Palin, go away. You are becoming an anachronism.

Coffin with Obama's photo displayed at early voting station

By GottaLaff

Crossing the line has become a habit with anti-Obama types. This is disgusting:

A former North Carolina County Commissioner displayed a coffin carrying the photograph of Sen. Barack Obama outside an early voting station Saturday, setting of a firestorm from the NAACP.

The National Association of Colored Persons wrote a letter today asking both political parties and its members to condemn the coffin. The NAACP's Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II says the symbol suggests a death threat as a way to demean a candidate, and possibly intimidate voters, or frighten them away from the polls.

The coffin was displayed by a former Craven County Commissioner, Bill Harper for several hours at the firestation used for early voting in Craven County.

Craven, indeed.

Election officials and polling staff were aware of the display and told Harper that he needed to stay behind the line where political supporters and political signs must stay.

[...]Harper was not fined or arrested as the coffin display did not violate any laws.

Harper said he displayed the coffin because it "symbolizes his belief that democrats will tax Americans to death if they are elected" and that he first displayed it in 1992 when Bill Clinton ran against George H. W. Bush.

What is happening to this country? Two more days.

National Security Experts Agree: Biden Was Right; Enemies Likely To ‘Test’ Next President

By GottaLaff

Remember when Gramm-pa McCain made such a big deal out of Biden's statement (the same one Joe Lieberman made) that if Obama is elected, there will be “an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy”? Wow, that meant that Obama was a weakling who would entice crises right to our doorstep! What a gaffey gaffe that was!

Via Think Progress:

“I’m gonna test them,” Republican John McCain said at a campaign rally in New Mexico this morning. “They’re not gonna test me.”

Increasingly, national security experts are disavowing McCain’s comments. They agree that an international crisis confronting the next president is not a sign of weakness, but rather a very likely occurrence no matter if Obama or McCain wins:

– “I think the enemy could well take advantage” of the transfer of power in Washington, said the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Michael Mullen, who launched preparations for the transition months ago

– Veteran Pentagon consultant Michael Bayer, chairman of the Defense Business Board, told his fellow panelists that the new president’s inner circle should “set aside time in transition to identify the planning, gravitas and interagency process necessary to respond to a likely first-270-day crisis.”

– Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff says the federal government is monitoring “dozens” of potential terrorists in the U.S. … Chertoff says there is a risk that some would see opportunity during the transition between administrations.

– In its Administration Transition Task Force Report issued early this year, DHS’s Homeland Security Advisory Council placed the peak threat period from 30 days prior to the change in administrations, to six months after.

[...] As all these experts pointed out, preventing such an attack from being catastrophic requires extensive planning and preparation. So far, McCain has dismissed talk of transition planning, and it doesn’t appear that he has prepared anything except tough rhetoric.

Gramm-pa might do well to just stop talking until November 5th.

IWRC* Palin: "You got to read the report, sir."

By GottaLaff

How folksy! IWRC* Palin is using the same clumsy grammar as W. (Once again, Bush III) "You got to"; how quaint. But what's even more Bushtastic is her lapsing right into denial and cherry-picking, resulting in a warped interpretation of events, just like her role model:

Sarah Palin on Saturday denied abusing her power or violating state law in the dismissal of Alaska’s Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan, putting her at odds with the findings of a state ethics report that determined she did abuse her power as governor.

As the Republican vice presidential nominee departed her Pittsburgh hotel on Saturday morning, a reporter asked Palin if she abused her power in firing Monegan, which was the conclusion of the state investigator's report released late Friday.

“No, and if you read the read the report you will see that there was nothing unlawful or unethical about replacing a cabinet member," Palin responded before boarding her campaign bus. "You got to read the report, sir."

Here's the thing, IWRC, you are allowed to "replace" someone as governor. But according to the report we "got to read", you are not allowed to do this:

"Gov. Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda," the report states.

IWRC, you got to go.

*"In What Respect, Charlie?"

Offended scientists blast Gramm-pa McCain

By GottaLaff

First of all, Gramm-pa, scientists are a whole lost smarter than you are. Second, you didn't do your homework... again. Third, isn't this right around the time that you might want to--What's the word? Oh yeah-- cultivate votes?

If there's one rule in election-year politics, it's this: Don't mess with the science crowd. [...]

[H]e punctuated his attack (twice) with this example:

"[Obama] voted for nearly a billion dollars in pork barrel earmark projects, including, by the way, $3 million for an overhead projector at a planetarium in Chicago, Illinois. My friends, do we need to spend that kind of money?"

Turns out, a lot of people think we do. This is no ordinary overhead projector from your 5th grade classroom. The blog Cosmic Variance sums it up:

"If you've ever had the pleasure of visiting the Adler Planetarium, you'd probably guess that the 'overhead projector' he's talking about is the spectacular 'Sky Theater' -- one of the most engrossing, gorgeous venues for displaying visuals about space."

The science community is notoriously tight-knit, especially when rallying to a cause, and boy are they are rallying to this one. Alan Boyle's Cosmic Log has a great summary of the uproar:

-"For McCain to use this as a political zinger is insulting..." (Bad Astronomy)

-"Planetariums are Bridges to the Future, and America would be a much better place if all the congressional earmarks went to projects like them." (The Perfect Silence)

-"The logo for Senator John McCain's campaign has a star in the middle. I wonder what his guide star is? It can't be the same one that ten million children have seen at the Adler Planetarium. Why should anyone want their star to dim?" (Discovery Space)

The Adler Planetarium even issued a statement, noting that the request, ironically, was not even funded:

"To clarify, the Adler Planetarium requested federal support -- which was not funded -- to replace the projector in its historic Sky Theater, the first planetarium theater in the Western Hemisphere.... To remain competitive and ensure national security, it is vital that we educate and inspire the next generation of explorers to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math."

[...]McCain probably shouldn't count on the "science vote" this year.

Here's a scientific fact: Gramm-pa McCain is one of the worst presidential candidates in memory.

H/t: One of our Anonymi

WTF?

NO SERIOUSLY, WHAT THE F? Reuters needs to explain this shit. I don't like freaking Palin, but that's just wrong.

The Iraq Victory Path to Nowhere

By GottaLaff

Via Think Progress:

A new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) reportedly “warns that unresolved ethnic and sectarian tensions in Iraq could unleash a new wave of violence, potentially reversing the major security and political gains achieved over the last year.” McClatchy notes that the NIE’s findings “cast doubts on McCain’s frequent assertions that the United States is ‘on a path to victory” and instead echo Gen. David Petraeus, who has objected to using the word “victory” for war in Iraq.

About all that foreign policy experience, Gramm-pa McCain, let me ask you this: Where did it get you? How's that surge working for you now?

"That One" got it right, "The Wrong One" got it wrong.

Obama not qualified to be president. IWRC* Palin says so.

By GottaLaff

Pot. Kettle. Black. Oy.

Sarah Palin said Friday several of Barack Obama's comments about the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have been "reckless" and disqualify the Illinois senator for consideration as the next commander-in-chief. [...]

"Some of his comments that he has made about the war…I think, in my world, disqualifies someone from consideration as the next commander-in-chief," Palin told Fox News Friday. "Some of the comments he's made about Afghanistan, what we are doing there, supposedly just air-raiding villages and killing civilians — that's reckless."

"In my world". "In my world"? IWRC World, or should I say "IRWC planet", is the only place in the universe in which that would even begin to make sense. This is one of a multitude of reasons this Winky Twinkie Downhome Hockey Mommin' Folksy-Talkin' TrooperGatin' note-reader shouldn't be anywhere near the White House.

Palin was referring to an answer Barack Obama gave at a August 2007 town hall meeting with New Hampshire voters, during which the Illinois senator was asked whether he had plans to shift U.S. troops out of Iraq to other terrorist hotspots like Afghanistan.

"We've got to get the job done there and that requires us to have enough troops so that we're not just air-raiding villages and killing civilians, which is causing enormous pressure over there," Obama said of the U.S.'s mission in Afghanistan.

Those comments were immediately seized by GOP critics. The Republican National Committee sent out a press release shortly after calling them "offensive," and demanding he apologize. The McCain campaign has also highlighted the comments several times this campaign season. An AP Fact Check later reported Western forces had been killing civilians at a higher rate than insurgents.

So Gramm-pa McCain and his granddaughter IWRC were wrong. Again. Surprise!

*"In What Respect, Charlie?"

TrooperGate: When did the McCain campaign take over the governor's office?

By GottaLaff

This is not healthy for our democracy:

Gov. Sarah Palin has surrendered important gubernatorial duties to the Republican presidential campaign. McCain staff are handling public and press questions about actions she has taken as governor. The governor who said, "Hold me accountable," is hiding behind the hired guns of the McCain campaign to avoid accountability.

Did I say "not healthy"? I meant "not ethical".

Is it too much to ask that Alaska's governor speak for herself, directly to Alaskans, about her actions as Alaska's governor?

A press conference Thursday showed how skewed Alaska's relationship with its own governor has become.

McCain-Palin campaign spokesman Ed O'Callaghan announced that Todd Palin will not comply with a subpoena to testify about his role in Troopergate...

O'Callaghan also announced that Alaska's governor is "unlikely" to cooperate with the investigation by the Alaska Legislature about questionable conduct by Alaska's chief executive.

Monday, he and campaign sidekick Meg Stapleton stood before Alaskans and defended the official personnel decision by Alaska's governor to fire Alaska's public safety commissioner. ABC News reported that Gov. Palin's official press secretary, Bill McAllister, paid by the state of Alaska, didn't even know the McCain staffers were meeting the press to defend his boss.

Did I say "not ethical"? I meant "insane".

Is the McCain campaign telling Alaskans that Alaska's governor can't handle her own defense in front of her own Alaska constituents? [...]

Now she won't utter a peep about it to Alaskans. Nor will her husband, Todd, who definitely needs to explain his role in Troopergate.

Instead, Alaskans have to sit back and listen to John McCain's campaign operatives handling inquiries about what Alaska's governor did while governing Alaska. [...]

She is the governor of Alaska, not John McCain or Ed O'Callaghan.

BOTTOM LINE: Official state business -- like Troopergate -- should be handled by the governor of the state, not by McCain presidential campaign operatives.

Bottom line: Did I say "insane"? I meant unelectable.

But... but... John Sidney McCain said Maliki wouldn't do this

By GottaLaff


Will J Sid eat his words? Yeah, that'll happen:

Iraqi and U.S. negotiators have completed a draft security agreement that would see American troops leave Iraqi cities as soon as June 30, Iraqi and American officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday. [...]

In addition to spelling out that U.S. troops would move out of Iraqi cities by next summer, the Iraqi government has pushed for a specific date -- most likely the end of 2011 -- by which all U.S. forces would depart the country.

"The Iraqi government pushed for a specific date." J Sid sure knows Maliki well, doesn't he? How do we trust anything the "experienced" candidate says if he was so wrong on this (yes, yes, and on everything else)?

BLITZER: What if Maliki persists? You're president and he says he wants US troops out and he wants them out, let's say in a year or two years or 16 months or whatever. What do you do? Do you listen to the prime minister?

MCCAIN: He won't. He won't. He won't. Because it has to be condition-based.

BLITZER: How do you know?

MCCAIN: Because I know him. And I know him very well. And I know the other leaders. And I know -- I've been there eight times, as you know. I know them very, very well.

Oops.

Mark "Mr Stupid Man" Halperin

By Paddy


Just overheard Mark "All The Wins Belong To McCain" Halperin say on "Morning Joe" that Obama better get into the townhall groove with McCain because, "If he goes into a debate this fall and makes one mistake about Iraq or Iran his campaign is over"**.

This from the man that declared that McCain "won" last week. Do they even bother to listen to the crap that comes out of their mouths?

Oh and how many mistakes is McCain allowed to make about Iran and Iraq before his campaign is over Mark?

The video is here- for some reason Howard Fineman has a YouTube channel, but you can't embed. MISSING THE POINT THERE HOWARD!!!!!!!!! Howard fixed it.




**Paraphrased.