Pelosi: BushCo Barred Officials From Briefing Congress Pre-'08 Financial Crisis

By GottaLaff

So far, when it comes to legal repercussions for their thuggery, BushCo has skated. Worms like John Yoo, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and Bush himself are free to write books and spew their toxic venom all over the Tee Vee Machine while America (and what's left of its Constitution) has suffered immensely.

There have been no consequences for holding and torturing hostages at Gitmo and elsewhere, for spying on Americans, for outing a CIA agent, etc., ad nauseam.

Will there be any for this?

Nearly two years after the Wall Street meltdown drove the U.S. economy to the brink of collapse, and forced the U.S. government to prop up major financial institutions with hundreds of billions of dollars, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi now claims that the Bush Administration prohibited its own top officials who were handling the emerging crisis from briefing Congress until a complete financial collapse was only hours away.

In little-noticed statements to reporters over the last few weeks, Pelosi has alleged that the Bush administration knew well in advance of its intervention that the financial crisis would hit, and that Congress would need to authorize a historic and unpopular bailout - but that top officials, including then-Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, told her that they had been barred from briefing Congress about true extent of the crisis.

If accurate, the allegation could constitute a major indictment of the Bush administration, which may have worsened the crisis and resulting economic fallout by delaying the call for congressional action.

IMHO, with the economy still slogging through a sluggish recovery, the national state of mind could very well default to blame mode and demand a full investigation. One can only hope. And of course, that's only if this story gets media attention.

Will BushCo be excused because it's difficult to prove intent, or because there is no appetite to go after them?

Nor is it clear if the Administration's alleged decision not to brief Congress earlier was a calculated strategy to avoid spooking the already shaky financial markets thus hastening the crisis or, as Pelosi suggests, a political calculation in advance of the 2008 presidential elections, or a combination of the two.

There's much more here. TPM did a great job reporting this.

UPDATE: Bush and Paulson spokesperson fire back.

H/t: hapkidogal

Lobbyists spent nearly $1 billion in first quarter of 2010

By GottaLaff

We the people can barely afford lunch:

The first quarter of 2010 marked another frenzy for Washington lobbyists as corporations, unions and other interest groups spent nearly $1 billion in their attempts to sway Congress and the Obama administration.

I wish I could see it put another way.

To look at it another way: Interest groups spent $19 million for every day that the House or Senate was in session.

Be careful what you wish for.

Guess who took the lead... The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other Big Biz. They spent $139 million. I'm sure they were looking out for interests. They're such softies.

Big Health, Big Energy, and Big Finance were the other Big Spenders.

For more details, go here.

Idaho candidate: "Keep the queens out of the Marines". Oh, it gets better (worse)

By GottaLaff

Look what my Twitter pal Techweenie found (click on images to enlarge so that you can read all that funsy wunsy fine print):


Yes, another extremist is running for office, this time for Idaho's 1st district. What a fine American.

They're easy to spot, because they demand President Obama's birth certificate, and what could be more patriotic than that:

The first thing that I’d like to do when elected and on behalf of the ½ million American citizens of my district, I promise to scream like a F-4 Jet fighter at full war emergency after burner take off power and demand he produce his birth certificate. If that doesn’t work, I’ll make louder noises and get a lot more aggressive. In fact this is “DO OR DIE” They will have to kill me to get me to shut up.

If it is proven Obama is not the legitimate president, then everything he has done while in office and all the people he has appointed and everything they have done will be nullified.

This would really dump hot coals into the shorts of those communist liberal progressive politicians.

It would be like Luke Skywalker dropping his bomb into the ventilation shaft of the Death Star in “Star Wars.

How mature.

Then again, birthers are like that.

Or, hey, maybe he's simply pulling an Andy Kaufman on us, because honestly, sometimes it's hard to believe crazies like this are real people.

Library of Congress will acquire all Twitter messages

By GottaLaff

"The Library of Congress will acquire all public tweets", the Library of Congress publicly tweeted :

A Library spokesman later expounded on the new archive in a blog post, writing that its primary function will be to assist researchers and educators.

Well, if it's going to assist researchers...

This is a learning opportunity, said the Library spokesman, who failed to tweet his thoughts:

"I'm no Ph.D., but it boggles my mind to think what we might be able to learn about ourselves and the world around us from this wealth of data," wrote the spokesman, Matt Raymond. "And I'm certain we'll learn things that none of us now can possibly conceive."

Like teenagers filling us in on what they're about to eat? Like Jim Carrey splitting up with Jenny McCarthy?

Like Keith Olbermann yummily zapping Glenn Beck?




I guess there are some tweets that are educational.

Here comes the Big H. However:

The acquisition could pose concerns for privacy advocates, who could argue that too much private information will soon become part of the public domain.

If privacy becomes as optional as choosing to publicly tweet or Direct Message (a private, e-mailed tweet), Library, we have a problem.

Massa staffers talk: He "expressed a desire to have sex with the men in the office"

By GottaLaff

Tickle Me Massa is about to stop laughing:

Just three months after Eric Massa was elected to Congress, his young male employees on Capitol Hill began complaining to supervisors that the lawmaker was making aggressive, sexual overtures toward them, according to new interviews and internal documents.

The senior staff, one of whom said he heard Massa making lewd remarks to young staffers, tried to manage the problem internally. But reports of Massa's inappropriate behavior continued, leaving junior workers feeling helpless, according to victims, other staffers and sources close to an ongoing House ethics investigation.

To anyone who has ever suggested that Democrats don't report negative things about other Democrats... I rest my case. Two dozen interviews and many documents later, Married Massa appears to have engaged in even worse behavior than has been previously reported.

The man was a predator. Staffers were afraid to report him for fear of repercussions, and things "spiraled out of control." So sad, so wrong, and so good riddance:

Staff in the D.C. office felt they had nowhere to turn, she said. For months, according to numerous accounts, Massa's aides tolerated a frat house environment full of sex talk and lewd behavior. [...]

In one instance, a staffer said he alerted Joe Racalto, Massa's chief of staff, in March 2009 that Massa tried to fondle a young colleague in a hotel room during the 2008 campaign. Racalto told staffers he believed their complaints, because he had heard similar stories, according to staffers. Two sources said that Racalto told staffers he himself had been a victim of Massa's advances.

There are many more details here.

Sexual harassment is a sick power play. I've been on the receiving end of it myself, back when I was young, naive, and didn't know how to deal with it as I would today. Many of Massa's staffers apparently felt the same way. Nobody should have to.

I can tell you from first hand experience, you feel helpless, angry, embarrassed, intimidated, and scared. In my case, I publicly humiliated the guy, who was a respected [sic] game show producer, and it ended.

When you read the whole article, you'll see what these people felt they were up against... literally.

H/t: 42bkdodgr

Judge Who Vacationed With Massey CEO Now Running For Congress

By GottaLaff

Justice Elliott E. Maynard, left, and Don L. Blankenship, chief executive of Massey Energy in Monaco

See that photo? That's Massey Energy's Don Blankenship living it up on the French Riviera with his buddy, his pal, his good ol' boy "Spike".

And who is this Spike we speak of? Why, he's none other than former State Supreme Court judge Elliot "Spike" Maynard who is all about pallin' around with the coal industry. And now he's running for a seat in Congress against a Democrat.

Don'tcha just love when friends help friends? It's just so cozy and... cronyish:

These aren't the best of days for Don Blankenship, whose systematic downplaying of safety concerns as the CEO of Massey Energy helped lead to last week's deadly mining disaster, and got him named the "seventh scariest person in America." But by next January, things may be looking up for the hard-charging coal boss: He could have a very close friend in Congress.

Spike the Friend will be facing off against Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.V.). That would be in the very same district that one might refer to as "coal country". How convenient.

And just for good measure, Spike the Friend has accused Washington Democrats of "declaring war on the coal industry." That is some great friend... if you're not a Democrat. Or into coal. Or black lungs. Or lax oversight. Or mining disasters.

You can read the rest here.

Authorities report rise in threats against members of Congress

By GottaLaff

The Cleaver "spitting incident"

Disturbing, to say the least:

Federal law enforcement and Congressional authorities are reporting a large increase in threats against lawmakers, a law enforcement official tells CNN. The officials said the spike in threats began around the debate over health care reform.

Since October, 50 threats against members of Congress have been reported to the FBI, said the official, who spoke only on the condition of anonymity. In the previous year, less than 20 were reported to federal law enforcement authorities. When threats are received by lawmakers, the U.S. Capitol Police and in some cases, the FBI, investigate.

Members of the House and Senate reported nearly three times as many threats in the first three months of this year, compared to the last three months of 2009, Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Terrance Gainer told The Washington Post.

When you have someone like Barbie McCrossHairs inciting a frenzied crowd, using rifle sites on maps, bellowing buzz words like "reload", this is bound to happen.

When you have Tea Tantrumers packing heat, flailing about with hostile, hate-filled signage, and shouting slurs/spitting on Congress members, this is bound to happen.

When you have an entire network, ClusterFox, filled with hate-spewing hosts who preach lies, hostility, and encourage violence, this is bound to happen.

Here's an idea: The GOP should get in front of the cameras every single day in a sincere attempt to talk these loons down, demand that they cease and desist, demand that they halt the threats and terrorism, and then :: gasp!:: set an example by you know, doing.

Then maybe... maybe... we might see a glimmer of safe.

VIDEO: Hate Obama? There's a sign for that. Plus, death threats for Congress members.

By GottaLaff



Rather than do several posts on the level of hate in this country these days, one will be enough. A veritable combo plate of vile spew and threatening words.

Have yourself a heaping pot of hostility stew (click on image to enlarge):

An anonymous conservative group has set up a website where, for $2,500 to $3,500, Obama haters can grab a billboard adorned with a cartoon image of Obama’s face and a vitriolic message.

How nice of them to share their "personal" feelings.

So far, the nameless head of the group says their Web site has received more than 1,800 hits and that contributions that go toward paying for the billboards.

Add a dash of death threats to the hostility stew:

U.S. Rep. John Dingell (D-Dearborn) says in the aftermath of passing health care reform, he and members of his staff have been getting death threats so serious, he has contacted the FBI.

“They’ve been very nasty," the 83-year-old congressman tells The Monroe Evening News.

Not sure I've ever heard of a death threat that isn't nasty. Hence, stir carefully.

And now, add an extra splash of extremist nutcase letters:

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter is among state leaders across the country receiving threatening letters from an extremist group. [...]

As of Wednesday, more than 30 governors had received letters saying if they don't leave office within three days they will be removed, according to an internal intelligence note by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.

Threats beget more threats. Threats beget violence. Violence begets more violence:

The FBI is warning police across the country that an anti-government group's call to remove governors from office could provoke violence by others.

Allowing to simmer for several days, weeks, or months calls for a warning: Do not bring to a boil.

That could end in a disaster.

Congressman Blames His Own Spending on President Obama

Um, I think you need to blame the members of your own party that have been spreading lies to the stupid segment of the population, not the President. Sheep bleat the loudest when they're scared. Via Taegan-

Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS), who the Witchita Eagle reports dramatically increased spending in his taxpayer-funded Congressional office, blames the 22% hike on President Obama, CQ Politics reports.

Said a spokesman: "We saw that spike with the election of President Obama. We had to employ a number of people to answer phone calls."

Tiahrt's office claims they fielded about 50 to 60 calls a day during the Bush administration but is now up to 200.

Michele Bachmann accuses African American lawmakers of lying despite VIDEO proof

By GottaLaff

Please go read Steve Benen's post. It's perfect. I'll give you a couple of excerpts, but please pop over and see how he takes apart her idiocy so beautifully that I have little to add:

Oh, Michele Bachmann, is there anything you won't say out loud? [...]

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) told a crowd at a Duluth, Minn., rally over the weekend that there is no evidence that several black lawmakers were harassed by conservative protesters on Capitol Hill in the days leading up to the health care reform vote. [...]

She went on, "There's a $10,000 reward right now for anyone who can produce a video or an audio. Don't you think we would have seen a video or an audio by now if there was something out there?"

It's easy to expect garden-variety stupidity from Michele Bachmann, but these remarks question the integrity of her colleagues, who've been harassed by Bachmann's unhinged friends. The sooner she apologizes, the better.

Benen has much more for you to savor at this link.

Here's the video, via the Huffington Post, that Bachmann will likely ignore, deny, mock, and/or call phony, but is apparently worth 10 grand:

If you go to the comments under my original post of the video, you'll notice the skepticism there. It's mind-boggling.

Then again, it's mind-boggling that any civilized human being would spit like that to begin with, as is the utter disregard and lack of respect for anyone but their own Tea Tantruming clan.

Poll: Healthcare somewhat helps Dems

Not bad, but as Taegan points out, Congressional disapproval is at 1994 levels. Could lead to an interesting November.

WASHINGTON, March 29 (UPI) -- The Democratic Party may be on the mend after passage of healthcare reform, but it hasn't gotten a booster shot from the U.S. public, a new poll indicates.

Results suggest U.S. President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may have benefited from the bill's passage, but the public's overall opinion of the Democratic Party hasn't changed and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid may have slid in popularity, The Washington Post poll released Monday indicated.

The poll indicated approval of Obama's handling of healthcare reform rose 5 percentage points to 48 percent after the bill's passage.

Could Winger Fear of Census Cost Republicans Congressional Seats?

Oh the shadenfreudey goodness streaming thru my bones right now. h/t First Read.

WASHINGTON — Texas is counting on the 2010 Census to deliver four new congressional districts, four new Electoral College votes in presidential elections, and millions of dollars in additional federal aid. But, as some elected officials are starting to worry, Uncle Sam can't deliver anything to the rapidly growing Sun Belt state unless Texas residents deliver their forms back to the government.

As of Friday afternoon, only 27 percent of Texas households had filled in and returned their census forms — well below the national average of 34 percent — according to computer data from the U.S. Census Bureau. In Harris County, the response rate is 23 percent. Houston's returns are running at 21 percent.

Contrary to historical trends, some of the toughest challenges facing the agency responsible for measuring the nation's population are not from counting the traditionally undercounted groups such as African-Americans and Latinos. Instead, a new and growing threat to an accurate national head count is coming from anti-government conservatives who may not fill out their forms to protest against “Big Brother” in Washington.

(snip)

Polling by the Pew Research Center finds Democrats are more likely than other Americans to view the census as “very important” to the country. Seventy-six percent of Democrats call this year's count very important, compared with 61 percent of Republicans and independents.

In Texas, some of the counties with the lowest census return rates are among the state's most Republican, including Briscoe County in the Panhandle, 8 percent; King County, near Lubbock, 5 percent; Culberson County, near El Paso, 11 percent; and Newton County, in deep East Texas, 18 percent. Most other counties near the bottom of the list are heavily Hispanic counties along the Texas-Mexico border.

There is a reason for the enthusiasm gap on the census: A number of prominent conservative and libertarian Republicans have been blasting the census for months.

The elusive VIDEO: Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver gets spat on

By GottaLaff

Here's video, via the Huffington Post, that sure appears to show Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver getting spat on by a Tea Tantrumer.

Looks like Andrew Breitbart and Sean Hannity were wrong about the Big Liberal Commie Marxist Kenyan Conspiracy:

Fox News personality Sean Hannity asked if there was any evidence proving that it had actually happened, and Tea Party groups offered a cash reward for proof.

There's your proof. Now where's our apology? Oh, and the cash?

Big hat tip to the Gawker.

RNC says "no" to joint statement calling for civility

By GottaLaff

Greg Sargent has two interesting tidbits to share with us.

Tidbit numero uno:

Has anyone else noticed that the Dem efforts to demand that Republican leaders condemn the threats and intimidation have suddenly gone silent today? I’m told Dems made a concerted decision to dial down the noise.

IMHO, they weren't noisy enough. But what do I know?

Tidbit numero dos:

Speaking of threats and intimidation, DNC spokesman Brad Woodhouse emails that the DNC sent a letter to RNC chair Michael Steele today asking him to issue a joint statement calling for civility. The RNC declined, Woodhouse says, which makes sense, since GOPers wouldn’t want Dems to set the agenda on this story.

But of course they declined. Politics are much more important than the health and welfare of the country. Better to maintain the boiling hot tone than to show any sign of unity. Benefiting one's party is the priority, not benefiting the nation.

Well, at least the Party of No is consistent...ly wrong.

Liveblog: Majority Whip James Clyburn: "It was Cantor's member who yelled Baby killer"

By GottaLaff

Andrea Mitchell is discussing Eric Cantor's comments with James Clyburn on MSNBC right now, specifically Cantor's accusing Democrats of politicizing threats to Congress members:

James Clyburn [some minor paraphrasing]:

The whole world saw what happened Saturday [slurs being shouted to Congress members], and on CSPAN, they saw members of the chamber rise to their feet and cheer those who were disrupting the proceedings in the House of Representatives. And they saw members leaning out the window at the balcony, which I think is illegal. None of those people were Democrats.

Repkublican leaders should join Democratic leaders to do things not superficially, but get serious about tamping this stuff down.

Re: The You Lie incident: I said back then it would grow into something more serious, and it looks like it has.

Fire burning on Fire Pelosi site: If you play with fire you're bound to get burned. If they don't tamp this down, they will feel the heat for it.

Re: Cantor saying it was reckless to use incidents for political gain, accusing Van Hollen and DNC chair Tim Kaine of fanning the flames:

Democrats haven't overplayed this at all. It was his member who yelled Baby killer to Stupak, who next day sent out a fundraising letter using that. Fundraising was done using the You Lie incident. I challenge him to show me a Democrat doing the same thing.

We have learned the message of history, and have done what we can to maintain a civil discussion, make our children proud. That's how Democrats conduct themselves.

All this is poppycock compared to what we faced in the sixties, so none of this is a concern to me at all.

And that's the way it is.

Grassley 2010: "If [a mandate] was unconstitutional in 1993.. well, nobody gave it much thought."

By GottaLaff

We just had a giant scoop of hypocrisy from Eric Cantor.

Now Chuck Grassley is on MSNBC with Andrea Mitchell taking credit for all the work he did on the health care bill. Yes, that health care bill.

There are "a lot of things in this bill" he likes. Suddenly there's a "consensus" for these things. But it increases taxes and destroys Medicare, see.

"The bad outweighs the good, it's just that simple," says he.

He's pretty simple himself, says I.

You came up with the individual mandate back when, says Andrea.

Grassley (paraphrased slightly):

"The difference between 1993 and the year Now [yes, he said "the year now"]... if it was unconstitutional then.. well, nobody gave it much thought. Lawyers didn't look at it until it became an issue, which it did just lately.

Besides, I came back to the P.O.V. Obama had during the campaign, when he said a mandate was wrong, and Hillary was for it.... Now the information is out that it will take a lot to enforce the mandate that we NOW think is unconstitutional."

Well then, that clarifies that.

Re: violent threats to House members:

"That is not what should be going on in America. We should have respect, get involved in the political process. Speak up, but no violence. Nothing illegal. We should all set an example of civility."

I guess he thinks it's civil to encourage volatility at town hall meetings, not to mention lie about death panels and killing grandma.

Grassley Face One, let me introduce you to Grassley Face Two.

Hyp. O. Crite.

Eric Cantor blames Democrats for threats to Congress members

By GottaLaff

So much hypocrisy, so little time (Note: This is a liveblog of a press conference Cantor just held):

Eric Cantor swearstogod he doesn't condone violence. But he gets threats because he's Jewish. So any suggestion that any leader is inciting threats is "akin to saying" he'd incite threats to his own family.

A bullet was shot through his own campaign office this week, but he won't release details, because that encourages threats. They should be treated as security issues dealt by law enforcement.

[Laffy Note: Did he file a police report?]

They shouldn't be used for political gain. He has deep concerns that van Hollen and Kaine are fanning the flames, because they use these incidents as a political weapon.

Using threats that way is reprehensible.

Letters and press releases won't stop violence, but they can easily fan the flames.

Enough is enough, it has to stop. We need to move forward.

Paddy just called. She could barely speak.

Democrats are politicizing this? Democrats??

Move forward? The GOP wants to "move forward"? Since when?

Let's ask Cantor: Who exactly is using incitement for political gain? Joe "You LIE!" Wilson for example? "Baby killer!" for example? A campaign to send Nancy Pelosi a birthday bomb? Palin's Hate Map? Egging on unruly crowds, Michele Bachmann?

Using violent imagery, war imagery? The Boehner's own attitude defies Cantor's Big Proclamation. Where was Boehner all summer?

As for Palin, remember the 2008 election rallies? Those would be the same ones at which she accused Obama of being a terrorist and made no attempt to calm her increasingly hostile crowds.

So Cantor's kidding, right? He is, right? Please say he is.

VIDEO: Ed Schultz: "Tell me a Democrat who's thrown a brick through a window"

By GottaLaff

I tweeted Ed a thank you for this earlier:

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

Ed had no patience for Heritage Foundation Guy's being evasive and in denial:

"You are the problem, Ernest.... It's not happening on both sides... This is how the righties operate. They can't even give good commentary without attacking."

Compare & Contrast: Map-O'-Vandalized Congress Members v. Palin's Map-O'-Hate

By GottaLaff

TPM has a running update of the attacks on Democrats. A picture's worth a thousand threats. Let's compare maps:


It's always good to have reference points, isn't it?

ShootFirst McAskLater's map can be seen in full here.

H/t: Joeyess

"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