News Roundup for 5/10/12

Rep. Michele Bachmann

-Headline of the Day-
"Bachmann Withdraws Dual Swiss Citizenship."

After news that Rep. Bachmann had switched sides in the war between 'Murka and Yurp, Shelly beat a hasty retreat from her allegiance with the Schweizer Menace.

"I took this action because I want to make it perfectly clear," she said, "I was born in America and I am a proud American citizen." And it had nothing to do with the fact that her family would've been covered by that commie Swiss healthcare and the freedom-hating social safety net.

How do we know that? Well, because if Shelly's the only one pulling out, her family will still be covered by that commie Swiss healthcare and the freedom-hating social safety net, since they decided to go get their official Swiss Army knives "as a family."

So nice try, Comrade Bachmann. But no one's buying it. Your story has more holes in it than a certain type of cheese. (Talking Points Memo)


-Cartoon time with Mark Fiore-
Hey kids, have you heard about all this austerity stuff in Europe? Yeah, that didn't work out so well. Here's Uncle Mark to explain everything.


Click for animation

I guess it's true all over the world. When something's not working, a conservative thinks that just means you need to do more of it. (MarkFiore.com)


-Bonus HotD-
"Bristol Palin Slams Obama For Listening To His Daughters On Gay Marriage."

Because no one brings the sanctity of marriage to mind like Bristol Freakin' Palin. (Business Insider)

Stories to Watch: 7/5/11

Hope everyone had a good Fourth. I know I enjoyed it. Now here's the news...


I mentioned earlier today that Richard Cohen compared the GOP to a cult and now it turns out that Republicans have gotten too crazy for David Brooks as well. All of which causes Steve Benen to wonder if the party has lost the punditry. Man, you sure hope so.


Of course, Brooks' column was the worst thing ever.


As Republicans bash Democrats as being weak in defense of Israel, it pays to point out that this strategy isn't working.


Rep. Tammy Baldwin still has eyes for Herb Kohl's senate seat. Hope for this one to pan out, because it'd be like having a second Bernie Sanders in the Senate -- only younger.


The crazy people's candidate of choice; Rick Perry.


Newt's campaign is pretty much flat busted broke.


Bristol Palin says her mom isn't dumb. I've got to say, her mom hides that fact well.


Finally, Michele Bachmann wants to smite the wicked... Or something.

Related articles

• Tammy Baldwin "Very Likely" Running For Senate (lezgetreal.com)
• Quote of the Day: If the GOP Was a Normal Party It'd Accept Victories In Economic Debate (But Noooooo) UPDATED (themoderatevoice.com)
• Bristol Palin: Michele Bachmann Totally Stole My Mom's Look! (mediaite.com)
• One of the best speeches EVER!!: U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (Vermont) (madonna-and-child.com)

Stories to Watch: 4/5/11

Voted today, which is always awesome. Big crowd at the polling place, everyone cheerful, got me my sticker. The last number I heard from my ward was voter #1,054 -- which means turnout is almost certain to reach 50% or higher. Good news for democracy and good news for JoAnne Kloppenburg. Keep your fingers crossed. Now here's the news...


Middle class, playng by the rules, and paying taxes, expecting to get something in return? Then you're a greedy welfare queen who should be ashamed of yourself. The next time you hear a Republican say they're looking out for you, go ahead and laugh long and laugh bitterly.


In related news: Paul Ryan's plan to gut Medicaid hits a little hitch when it's revealed that the program is a lot more popular than anyone had thought.


Debbie Wasserman Schultz is the new DNC chair, a sign that Democrats have no interest in moving further to the right. The old DNC chair, Tim Kaine, will be running for the Virginia senate seat vacated by the retiring Jim Webb.


For someone who sucks at abstinence, Bristol Palin sure made a bundle as a spokesperson for it.


Here's a fun headline: "Michele Bachmann Lies About Her Own Family History To Sound More Iowan."


Finally, the lunatic factory that is Liberty University -- founded by the late, unlamented Jerry Falwell -- received more federal funding last year than NPR. Tell us again how terrible it is for taxpayer money going to support opinions some of us don't agree with, Republicans.

Stories to Watch: 3/4/11

Right-leaning pollster Rasmussen has more bad news for Wisconsin Republicans -- Gov. Walker's approvals are dropping like a stone. This has the rightwing blogosphere in a despair worthy of Goethe. It's quite a feat to strike them spinless.


Mike Huckabee criticizes Natalie Portman for being pregnant and single, realizes this sounds a lot like Bristol Palin, and tries to jam the words back in his mouth. Mike's been trying to play to the GOP base, while at the same time trying not to sound completely insane. Turns out, it can't be done.


The US added 192,000 jobs last month, making it the best jobs report in three years. Of course Republicans, who haven't actually gotten much of anything passed, take all the credit.


Meanwhile, Krugman points out that Republicans are doing everything in their power to choke off job growth and kill economic recovery.


Scott Walker isn't Hitler... But Hitler is very disappointed in Scott Walker.


Speaking of Hitler, Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown says something that's undeniably true -- that Hitler oppressed unions. So, of course, it's the worst thing ever! Breitbart's Big Government claims that Hitler was a big fan of unions -- which might be believable, if it weren't so famously untrue.


Finally, the Obama administration rolls up its sleeves and joins in on the growing labor fight in the states -- behind the scenes, of course. I can understand them wanting to test the waters first, but you really wish someone would just shove them in.

News Roundup for 1/28/11

Bristol Palin, abstinence hero

-Headline of the day-
"Furor at Washington U. nixes Bristol Palin appearance."

Dancing with the Stars celebrity Bristol Palin was scheduled to speak at Washington University is St. Louis on the subject of abstinence, but things went awry as her appearance was "overshadowed by controversy," in the words of the school. It may surprise you to know that Palin became a teenage mother by not practicing abstinence.

So, it seems students weren't too happy that some of their tuition money was going to a talk on abstinence by someone who wasn't very good at abstinence. "It's not necessarily in opposition to the ideas that are being presented," said Philip Thomas, a Washington U. student launched an online petition against the gig. "People are getting so angry because of the opposition to Palin's lack of expertise and the high cost she is charging." The whole thing cost $20,000 -- while the school was making budget cuts.

Seems to me Bristol Palin is famous for something other than sucking at dancing and abstinence. I'm sure it'll come to me eventually. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)


-Factor this-
Ok, so Rep. Steve Cohen compared Republican lies to Nazi lies and that was the worst thing ever! So Megyn Kelly then took offense to the idea, put forth by a guest on her show, that Fox News calls people Nazis like once every 4 and a half minutes. So then, Jon Stewart put together clip showing that, yes, Fox News calls people Nazis like once every 4 and a half minutes and Megyn could stop whining about it. So then Bill O'Reilly gets all butt-hurt and...

You know what? It's all this big, long, crazy thing. Just watch the clip:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Bill O'Reilly Defends His Nazi Analogies
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog</a> The Daily Show on Facebook

See that? That's called "logic." (Comedy Central)


-Bonus HotD-
"GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter: The Federal Government Can't Legislate Bike Paths Because They’re Unconstitutional."

And that's why you never see portraits of the founders on ten-speeds. (ThinkProgress)