Poll-itics: The Tea Party Bigger Than You Think

By GottaLaff

The Tea Party may be bigger than we think, but it's also (often) more vile than we can imagine:

A new CNN/Opinion Research survey finds that roughly 11% of all Americans say they "have actively supported the Tea Party movement, either by donating money, attending a rally, or taking some other active step to support the movement."

Another 24% of the public generally favors the Tea Party movement but has not taken any actions such as donating money or attending a rally.

This tells me:

a) 11% of all Americans have more time and money than I do to throw around

b) Too many Americans have misplaced passion

c) Too many Americans need to read more

d) Too many Americans are easily swayed by three-cornered hats and Lipton commercials

e) The GOP is splitting, which is fine by us

... and

6) Too many Americans need to go to anger management classes.

Obama's Change.gov: 5 questions asked, 5 questions answered

By GottaLaff

Via Obama's team at Change.gov:
Below are some of the top questions, and the answers that our transition team members have put together as part of the Open for Questions feature:

Q: "Will you lift the ban on Stem Cell research in your first 100 days in office?" James_M, Nashville, TN

A: President-elect Obama is a strong supporter of Federal funding for responsible stem cell research and he has pledged to reverse President Bush's restrictions.

Q: "What will you do to establish transparency and safeguards against waste with the rest of the Wall Street bailout money?" Diane, New Jersey

A: President-elect Barack Obama does not believe an economic crisis is an excuse for wasteful and unnecessary spending. As our economic team works with congressional leadership to put together a plan, we will put in place reforms to ensure that your money in invested well. We will also bring Americans back into government by amending executive orders to ensure that communications about regulatory policymaking between persons outside government and all White House staff are disclosed to the public. In addition all appointees who lead the executive branch departments and rulemaking agencies will be required to conduct the significant business of the agency in public so that every citizen can see in person or watch on the Internet these debates.
Q: "What will you do to promote science and mathematics education to Elementary and Middle School students?" JasonWyatt, Raleigh, NC

A: Barack Obama and Joe Biden will put children first by investing in early childhood education, making sure our schools are adequately funded and led by high-quality teachers, and reforming No Child Left Behind. They will recruit math and science degree graduates to the teaching profession and will support efforts to help these teachers learn from professionals in the field. They will also work to ensure that all children have access to a strong science curriculum at all grade levels.

Q: "Will you consider legalizing marijuana so that the government can regulate it, tax it, put age limits on it, and create millions of new jobs and create a billion dollar industry right here in the U.S.?" S. Man, Denton

A: President-elect Obama is not in favor of the legalization of marijuana.

Q: "What will you do as President to restore the Constitutional protections that have been subverted by the Bush Administration and how will you ensure that our system of checks and balances is renewed?" Kari, Seattle

A: President-elect Obama is deeply committed to restoring the rule of law and respecting constitutional checks and balances.That is why he has pledged to review Bush Administration executive orders. President-elect Obama will also end the abuse of signing statements, and put an end to the politicization that has taken place within the Department of Justice and return that agency to its historic and apolitical mission of fair and impartial administration of justice.

Whether or not we agree with his answers, it's miraculous to get answers from our soon-to-be government officials after an 8-year drought. Go to the website to contribute to the discussion.