News Roundup for 3/14/12

Unhinged celebrity madman Rush Limbaugh

-Headline of the Day-
"Rush Limbaugh’s ‘Slut’ Comment Controversy Proves It Has Staying Power."

According the the report, "On his show Tuesday, Limbaugh declared the 'slut' controversy all-but-over, claiming victory against Democrats and the 'Obama media.' The Republican kingpin pointed to the latest CBS/New York Times poll that shows Obama’s approval rating at 41 percent, its lowest point in his presidency, as proof that the uproar over his comments had 'backfired' against the left."

The name "Baghdad Bob" just popped into my head for some reason.

Anyhoo, the poll Limbaugh cited is looking more like bullshit every day. And even if it were dead on, how would that mean his slut-shaming scandal was over? It's like saying, "A new poll shows Americans hate spinach. I hate spinach. Therefore, I am beloved."

Meanwhile, back in reality, the New York Times reports that "new evidence emerged" that the ad boycott was having a deep effect. The boycott is clearly "costing Premiere Radio Networks -- the show's syndicator -- money, though the total amounts are unclear."

Further, majority in a Bloomberg poll out today believe that Limbaugh should be fired.

In the words of another embattled celebrity lunatic; "Winning!" (ABC News)


-More 'Winning!'-



Big, intrusive government: it's only OK when Republicans do it. (McClatchy)


-Bonus HotD-
"Most Popular Wisconsin Governor Ever Scott Walker Now Kvetching About Measly Salary."

No, really. (Wonkette)

Stories to Watch: 1/22/12

I'm feeling lazy tonight, so spaghetti it is. Now here's the news...


Newt was crowned Prom Queen in South Carolina last night -- by a really wide margin.


Taegan Goddard points us to this quote from New York magazine's John Heilemann: "If Gingrich wins Florida, the Republican Establishment is going to have a meltdown that makes Three Mile Island look like a marshmallow roast." Go Newt!


And on that note, the Washington Post's resident wingnut blogger, Jennifer Rubin, is already hitting the panic button. Bill Kristol's already been hitting that button repeatedly, but he's pounding away at it like John Bonham now.


Meanwhile, The Hill's Justin Sink sees Gingrich's South Carolina strategy as a realistic winner in the Sunshine State. The White House has to be checking their calendars, because it seems like it's way too early for Christmas again.


Rattled and desperate for headlines, Mittens says he'll release 2010 tax return and 2011 tax estimate Tuesday. Two years won't be enough to satisfy his critics.


Finally, surprising no one, former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk becomes the first Democrat to announce her intention to run against Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker in a the recall election. I've pointed out before that once a candidate declares, labor and the Democratic Party can no longer coordinate. Falk is labor's candidate of choice, meaning that all the groundwork has been laid and ready -- a little faster than I thought it would be.

Related articles

• Newt Gingrich's Victory Speech - South Carolina Primary Win 1-21-12 (constitutionclub.org)

Stories to Watch: 10/15/11

I'm just kind of on cruise control here until tomorrow night, when Walking Dead comes back to AMC after a long, long zombie-free year. Nice of the network to immediately put up WD after the season finale of Breaking Bad, though. Doesn't mess with my schedule. Now here's the news...


Complaints that the 99-percenters are aimless and unfocused die as a detailed document regarding the future of the movement emerges from Zucotti Park.


Meanwhile, the 1% totally underestimate what they're facing.


The Occupy Wall Street movement goes global, making it a lot harder to argue that it's just a front for the Democratic Party.


How eager is Rush Limbaugh to oppose pretty much anything President Obama does? So eager that he'd side with a militarized cult with a record of human rights abuses including "the abduction, rape, maiming, and killing of civilians, including children." This puts him to the right of even Sen. James Inhofe -- which is quite an accomplishment. For the record, Rush Limbaugh is a freakin' awful person and a useless, useless hack.


Herman Cain says he's not as stupid about foreign policy as everyone thinks he is -- he's super-duper wonky-smart about it, but he's keeping that a secret. No, really.


On the subject of the unstoppable Cain Train; Steve Kornacki believes it could be a little as 48 hours before it ends in a trainwreck.


Finally,public support for the death penalty is still high, but moving in the right direction.

Related articles

• Rush Limbaugh, Defender of the Lord's Resistance Army (littlegreenfootballs.com)
• Rush Limbaugh Calls Woman 'Lucky' For Being 'Forced' By Police To Listen To...Rush Limbaugh (mediaite.com)
• In Case You Wondered If Republicans Are Still Crazy (oliverwillis.com)
• Occupy Wall St protests come to London (telegraph.co.uk)

Stories to Watch: 10/12/11

Looks like our autumn heat wave is finally over. I grilled burger in the drizzle last night, but damn it, I grilled burgers. Now here's the news...


Herman Cain opens up a strong lead over Mitt Romney in a Public Policy Polling poll, with Rick Perry falling behind -- yes, it's true -- Newt Gringrich. Bonus fun; the poll also finds that about 40% of GOP voters are still birthers. The crazy never ends with these people.


A Reuters/Ipsos poll contradicts PPP, with Mittens in the lead, while somebody called Evolving Strategies has Cain, Perry, and Romney leading Obama. Don't get too excited about any of this; recall that a recent Pew poll showed that more than half can't even name a GOP candidate off the top of their heads.


Matt Taibbi has some good advice for Occupy Wall Street. My favorite, demanding a round of good old-fashioned trust busting. Too big to fail = too big to exist.


The idea that Republicans are deliberately trying to sabotage the economy is beginning to look like the Democratic Party line.


President Obama's Jobs Bill is extremely popular, complete with raising taxes on the wealthy.


Chuck Schumer's not-so-awful plan to take on the GOP in '12; run against the Tea Party, who are becoming less popular every day.


More trouble in the UK for Rupert.


Warren Buffet puts his money where his mouth is.


Finally, New Hampshire ponders a December primary. How about we keep these things to the same year as the elections, OK? This is just getting stupid.

Related articles

• PPP: Cain soars to GOP lead, Romney treads water, Gingrich tops Perry (dailykos.com)
• Not So Fast: Romney And Cain Tied In Reuters National Poll (businessinsider.com)
• Obama team zeroes in on Romney (thehill.com)

Stories to Watch: 2/27/11

Short one today. It's Sunday, I'm lazy, and my usual sources are surprisingly dry. I'd check some of my less frequented feeds, but did I mention it's Sunday and I'm lazy? I probably should have. Now here's the news...


Welcome to your Democrat-free Sunday news talk shows. But don't worry, they make up for the oversight by booking union leaders to debate all the Republicans they've scheduled to talk about the burgeoning labor movement.

Oh wait, no they didn't.


Is top Fox News exec Roger Ailes about to be indicted for obstruction of justice? It's rumor at this point, so don't get your hopes up.


Low estimate for yesterday's rally in Wisconsin: 70,000. High estimate: 100,000. Which means that, if this were a Tea Party rally, then the turnout would be reported as... carry the five... 45 million people!


Finally, what do Gov. Scott Walker and disgraced former house speaker Tom DeLay have in common?