Cartoons of the Day

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Sarah Palin Has Earned an Estimated $12 Million Since July

Jesus wept. Wonder how much of it was money to just go away...

Pundits can debate the political costs and benefits of Sarah Palin's decision to step down as Alaska governor, but the monetary advantages of leaving her $125,000-a-year public service post are beyond dispute.

Since leaving office at the end of July 2009, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee has brought in at least 100 times her old salary – a haul now estimated at more than $12 million -- through television and book deals and a heavy schedule of speaking appearances worth five and six figures.

That conservative estimate is based on publicly available records and news accounts. The actual number is probably much higher, but is hard to quantify because Palin does not publicize her earnings, and has managed to keep a lid on reliable figures for her earnings from a multi-year contract with Fox News and a second book deal with Harper Collins.

Democrats Consider the "Slaughter Solution" on health care reform

Ooooh, major undies in knots, I like very much.

The Daily Caller reports House Democrats might use "a highly unorthodox procedure," called the "Slaughter Solution," to pass a reconciliation bill for health care reform "that simply deemed the Senate bill passed, allowing hesitant lawmakers to circumvent actually casting a ballot in favor of a law they don't like."

Republicans coined the phrase after House Rules Chairman Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), who CongressDaily reported is "prepping to help usher the healthcare overhaul through the House and potentially avoid a direct vote on the Senate overhaul bill."

Washington Examiner: "Each bill that comes before the House for a vote on final passage must be given a rule that determines things like whether the minority would be able to offer amendments to it from the floor. In the Slaughter Solution, the rule would declare that the House 'deems' the Senate version of Obamacare to have been passed by the House. House members would still have to vote on whether to accept the rule, but they would then be able to say they only voted for a rule, not for the bill itself."

Oklahoma lawyers play games with President Obama's portrait

Bunch of frackin' 5 year olds. If I lived in OK, I'd be working on recalls this morning.

The portrait of President Barack Obama that hangs in the House chamber will be secured in its spot, Speaker Chris Benge said Thursday.

The statement came after debate over a health care measure was sidetracked by discussion over the photo’s location.

House Joint Resolution 1054, which would let Oklahomans decide whether to opt out of any proposed federal health care reform plan, overwhelmingly was approved by House members.

During debate on the measure, Rep. Mike Shelton protested that someone had switched the president’s portrait with a picture of Gov. Brad Henry along the back wall of the chamber.

Shelton, D-Oklahoma City, said it was the second time the Democratic president’s picture had been moved.

(snip)

Benge, R-Tulsa, said he thinks the portrait swap was based on differing views on policy. Reforming the national health care system is a key objective of the president.

VIDEO: Bunning still not answering questions

By GottaLaff



What? No "finger" action? What a gentleman:

CNN's Dana Bash and a CNN camera crew again tried to get Bunning to comment more extensively on the controversy but the senator emphatically declined.

He only shoots off his mouth on his terms.

To respond to those who have been wondering whether he represents the Senate's Grumpy Obstruction Party, and is not just a crazy old coot lone wolf, the answer I've been hearing is yes, he has their support. And the reason he is the designated loud mouth is because he's leaving, just as we've all been saying.

See how well he represents "the people"? America first!

Huckabee nails CPAC after dismal straw poll finish

Who would have thought that a fearmongering fundie like Huckabee would be on the outs with the Republican establishment.

Washington (CNN) - Following his disappointing sixth place finish in this weekend's Conservative Political Action Conference presidential straw poll, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee criticized the conference as increasingly irrelevant to the conservative movement and accused its organizers of conducting a "pay for play" event.

(snip)

Huckabee, who has never fared well in the poll, said the results did not surprise him. "CPAC has has become increasingly libertarian and less Republican over the last years, one of the reasons I didn't go this year," he said Saturday on Fox News, where is a paid contributor.

The 2008 GOP presidential candidate said the "truly grassroots" energy on the right lies in Tea Party movement.

"Where CPAC was historically the event, the Tea Parties now are having their own events all over the country and a lot more truly grassroots people are getting involved because of the Tea Parties," Huckabee argued.

He added: "Because of the way that [CPAC] solicits sponsors it has almost become a pay-for-play. It's almost like, who will pay money to be able to be a sponsor and get time on the program. It's one of the things that has hurt it's credibility in recent years."

Video- SUNDAY LOON WATCH: Republicans just want to say no (except to Sarah Palin)

Via Jed.

Video- GOP SOTU Response... No, Seriously

Tom over at 538 pointed this out. For some reason I started laughing the second this video started, it is so awkwardly staged. Maybe it's the "Asian male on one side, Asian female on the other, and what the hell, let's double up on the African Americans!"

Ooh, look, down in Richmond, seat of the Confederacy: A 10-minute speech by Gov. Bob McDonnell--delivered in about the same time it took him just to enter the chamber (what, no litter available?)--with a lovely rainbow coalition of Virginians of all ages, races and both genders arrayed behind him, applauding.

Those folks must be a microcosm--a veritable random sampling--of the GOP's state legislative caucuses in the House and Senate in Richmond!

Um, not quite.

Headline of the Day

Scott Brown Wins Mass. Race, Giving GOP 41-59 Majority in the Senate

Sad but true. Via Ben.

Video- Rep Foxx Lies About Civil Rights & Democrats

Sounds like North Carolina has "revised" their textbooks like Texas has tried to. She is such a piece of work.
Thanks to FDL for the vid.

A Texas House Democrat leaves the party, citing Obama

By GottaLaff

When in doubt, and when you can't win a Democratic election, blame Obama:

Rep. Chuck Hopson, D-Jacksonville, will seek reelection, but as a Republican — a move that might save his neck while wrecking the party's chances at winning a majority in the House. [...]

"President Obama and the Democrats in Congress just don't reflect the values of this district," he said.

Cartoon Time: Shouting ire in a crowded town hall

By GottaLaff

(click on image to enlarge)

(via Mark Streeter, Georgia, The Savannah Morning News)

Gov Sanford Shed Security Detail 39 Times This Year

Oh oh. Not good. Who would have thunk this guy was such a philanderer?

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R) left the Governor's Mansion "without a security escort, 38 times in 2008. In the first six months of this year, he left the mansion without security, 39 times," according to The State.

"The frequency with which the governor shed his security detail has fallen under scrutiny after his secret trip earlier this month to Argentina."

Countdown- The Real Republicans Candidates Of 2012

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

Hannity And Steyn Attack Colin Powell Over Criticisms Of Limbaugh

As proof that Limbaugh is mainstream Republican, Steyn said, “Take Rush Limbaugh's listeners away from the Republican Party base and there isn't a lot left.”

I think that's the whole point. Via Newshounds.

Gingrich insult rankles RNC members

Oh, the schadenfruedey goodness.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Several members of the Republican National Committee are miffed at Newt Gingrich for claiming that they’re a small bunch of egomaniacs who need to be coddled by the party chairman.

“Newt needs to take a breath,” New Jersey committeeman David Norcross told CNN.

Gingrich made the assertion on C-SPAN Thursday when asked about a new resolution put forth by some veteran members — including Norcross and RNC Treasurer Randy Pullen of Arizona — that would limit chairman Michael Steele’s ability to control how the committee spends its money.

(snip)

Defending Steele’s tumultuous start, Gingrich said the chairman might be under fire from some in the committee because he “probably has not yet learned the art of massaging the egos of RNC members.”

Tennessee GOP chairwoman Robin Smith objected to that suggestion, saying that “RNC members, on the whole, are committed individuals who sincerely work for the best of our party.”

“Forming circular firing squads only gives aid to the Democrats who are doing quite nicely in undercutting the public trust in our government,” Smith said.

Ada Fisher, committeewoman from North Carolina, said RNC members are not “as ego driven as some professional politicians and pundits would like to believe.”

RNC ad raises Wright, Acorn to attack 'arrogant' Obama

You've got to give them credit, they'd rather die than put forward any new ideas. Do they not have polls in Republican world, or do they only see the ones they want to? It would be comical if it weren't so depressing. Maybe if they wish hard enough, Hillary can still win? Via Ben.

Fox News legal analyst tells Coleman to "give it up"

Maybe the kool aid has been diluted?

Republicans Still Wrangling Over Alternative Budget

I heard Ryan when he just proposed the budget (no vid yet), and as expected it was just the same old crap repackaged with a bow.

"Republican leaders in the Senate are clashing with John McCain, their party's 2008 presidential nominee. He wants to offer an alternative to the Democratic budget and they don't," CQ Politics reports.

"The behind-the-scenes battle is part of a larger split in the Republican Party. Some in the GOP believe their best strategy is to resist President Obama's agenda and take carefully chosen shots through amendments they all agree on; others want the party to do more to demonstrate how a Republican imprint would be different.

Meanwhile, First Read notes that a week after House Republicans "held a press conference to unveil a budget alternative that had no hard numbers in it, they take another crack at it when Rep. Paul Ryan, the ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee, formally unveils the alternative at 10:30 am ET."

Michael Steele: Rush Goof Was Part of My Strategy

I'm thinking a Palin/Steele ticket is in order, especially since Steele doesn't rule out running for president. Via TPM.