Manic Radio

A few days ago Rush Limbaugh stated that Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s past court rulings were overturned 80 percent of the time.

Where does he get his information? Who undertakes his research or fact-checking? The poor soul burdened with the task should perhaps look for another job.

According to Fact Check.Org:

What percentage of Sonia Sotomayor's opinions have been overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court? Three of her appellate opinions have been overturned, which is 1.3 percent of all that she has written and 60 percent of those reviewed by the Supreme Court.

The "source" of Limbaugh's 80-percent observation must be located at the bottom of his manic bag of tricks, next to his supply of Oxycodone.

Right-Wing Kamikazes

This is a fairly straightforward article from Mark McKinnon at the Daily Beast:

The GOP's Suicide Mission
Memo to my party: Blasting targets like Sonia Sotomayor and Colin Powell is a surefire strategy to guarantee our extinction. If the GOP is ever to be resurgent, it has to pick its fights carefully. The tendency is, unfortunately, to shoot at everything that moves.

On a somewhat related note, I was busy yesterday and only half-listened to news reports coming from my television as I clanked away at the computer. I'm not sure who said it or from what program it came, but I heard mention of upcoming "scathing reviews" from attorneys who had cases before Judge Sotomayor in the past.

My first thought was: Perhaps the so-called attorneys lost their cases in front of Judge Sotomayor so therefore have a score to settle by speaking unfavorably about her. Grudges will out.

I never heard anymore about it, so I'm assuming the story was front and center at Fixed News. Does anyone have information about the topic? Care to share?

>POSTSCRIPT 05/29/09, 1:20 a.m.
Aha! Take a look at this:

Hannity: We Should Take Note of Only The Bad Things Anonymous Lawyers Have Said About Sotomayor

I knew the tripe was coming from Fixed News...

GOP Chorus Line

Republicans remind me of a dog with a bone. Correction, they are akin to a dozen beasts with many old bones that they refuse to relinquish even though none of them serves a realistic purpose.

• Tancredo: Sotomayor Appears To Be A Racist

In typical fashion the GOP has bashed their heads together behind the scenes in an attempt to effuse a somewhat consistent message, despite the fact that their little pearl has been taken entirely out of context.

And this is the pot calling the kettle black:

• Conservatives Blast Obama’s Hispanic SCOTUS Nominee As 'Not The Smartest' And An 'Intellectual Lightweight'

In right-wing minds, the definition of an intellectual lightweight must be a graduate of Princeton and Yale. Go figure.

With Karl Rove babbling at the head of the pack, the conservative judgments hold little or no merit. Perhaps his own dubious education has permanently muddied the waters for him. Besides, I don't find a coward who dodged the draft to be very credible.

Let's just say Rove is not the brightest bulb in the box, much like his many dimwitted counterparts.

Judicious Pick

I am tickled by President Obama's selection to replace Supreme Court Justice David Souter.

According to MSNBC:

A graduate of Princeton University and Yale Law School, a former prosecutor and private attorney, [Sonia] Sotomayor became a federal judge for the Southern District of New York in 1992. She became an appeals judge in 1998 for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, which covers New York, Vermont and Connecticut. (For more, click here).

It is appealing that she worked her way from very modest means to a Princeton scholarship and the position in which she finds herself today.

It is not so much that Sonia Sotomayor is a woman or Hispanic, but rather proof positive that anyone can accomplish their life goals if they put their mind, heart and soul into the process no matter their circumstances - much like our President.

In a perfect world, someone's race, gender or religious affiliation should not be a consideration during any point in their professional or personal lives.

Typical Spin

Because Republicans have no concrete plans to solve issues affecting their constituents, pathetic displays from the desperately out-of-touch Dick Cheney and faux outrage at Nancy Pelosi's claims that the CIA mislead her are simply more dodge tactics piled on several other media distractions (re: the idiotic GOP tea parties).

Some examples from Think Progress:

• Boehner Echoes Hoekstra and Gingrich: Only Republicans Are Allowed To Dispute The CIA
• Santorum: Conservatives believe in the stewardship of patrimony

THE GOP still seems to assume that the majority of Americans are incapable of seeing through the bullshyte they spew, or that the average "joe" does not follow political issues with more than just a passing interest these days.

Perhaps hardcore and brainwashed Republicans are incapable of accepting reality, but the election last November clearly indicated that people are informed about troublesome issues.

Rational citizens are fed up with GOP spin and a continuation of the propaganda that consumed much of the previous presidency. People want answers, and they want action. In essence, they want to see legislators dig in and do their jobs rather than harkening back to their dubiously glorious past or over-whining about their dissatisfaction with the current administration.

Blog Break

I'm having company from out-of-town for the next few days, so I won't be posting entries here or at my other blogs Irish Eyes and Appetizing Muse for the duration.

Until next time…

Noxious Avarice

Finally, a bit of tangible proof that health insurance companies care more about their own financial bottom line that they do about actual policy holders (re: patients):

• Insurance Lobby Reverses Course, Prepares To Smear Key Element Of Obama's Health Reform

On a related note, this story at Think Progress caught my eye:

• GOP Senator Leading Attacks Against Health Care Reform Admits Gitmo Detainees Get Better Care Than Americans

It boils my blood. People pay out extraordinarily high insurance premiums to secure health care. Many millions of people, including children and the elderly, have no health coverage at all.

Most health insurance companies and certain legislators seem to view the American people as a herd of faceless cattle. As long as someone is making money hand over fist, who gives a rat's ass if countless numbers of people go without healthcare, ignore their own health issues because they cannot afford treatment, or go broke trying to save their own lives?

I'd rather have a socialized system of medicine than the poor excuse for healthcare we have now. In essence, health insurance companies are lining their pockets while Americans receive inadequate care, are denied coverage for various reasons or have to pay astronomical premiums for very little in return.

These greed-ridden companies need to be taken down and shown the door, preferably sooner than later.

Obama Notes

The following is a good article about President Obama by Slate Magazine's Jacob Weisberg:

• What we've learned so far about the president

The four topic summaries include: he sees the middle ground as high ground; he's the decider for real; he likes it hot; and he's ruthless.

The article is well worth the read.

Petty Girlies

Leave it to the Republicans to personally attack Nancy Pelosi like bitchy high school girls rather than comport themselves as adults:

• Media figures respond to a Pelosi controversy with attacks on her looks

Basically, the GOP has nothing else to offer.

Freedom for All

This is a reasonable reaction to the abortion debate, unlike anything formulated by the former president now residing in Texas:

• Obama calls for 'fair-minded' abortion debate

Why can't those who claim to be pro-life accept the fact that not everyone agrees with them? Why try to force their views on the rest of us?

Frankly, if you don't believe in pro-choice then just stay away from the abortion clinics and let other people conduct their lives without interference.

The term "pro-life" is so very deceptive because it implies anyone who thinks differently is a "baby killer." Wrong!

I realize pro-lifers think they are righteous in their beliefs, but people on the other side are just as strong in their convictions.

Unfortunately, the emotional debate will continue from here to eternity.

Mongering

For those easily led by right-wing fear tactics to believe President Obama is going to take away their guns, please read this:

He [Obama] does support reinstatement of the expired "assault weapons ban" but isn't calling for a wider ban on all semi-automatic weapons. He said repeatedly during the campaign: "I am not going to take your guns away."

To read more, visit Fact Check.

Beehive to China

Smart move:

• Obama names GOP governor as China envoy

Utah Governor Jon Huntsman appears to be unlike his fanatically unhinged Republican counterparts, thankfully.

From MSNBC:

He [Huntsman] has made a name for himself advocating a moderate agenda in one of the nation's most conservative states. He made headlines recently for encouraging the Republican Party to swing in a more moderate direction if it wanted to bounce back from the 2008 elections, angering some conservatives. Obama's 2008 campaign manager, David Plouffe, said Huntsman is a Republican who "seems to understand the party has to adjust — not stubbornly believe that everything is OK and it is the country that has to change."

I say more power to him. Huntsman seems to be one of the few serving members of the GOP who considers the needs of his own constituents and the nation in general before his own personal agenda.

I've had the misfortune of living in Utah. The state itself is physically beautiful apart from the desert areas (I dislike deserts no matter where the location), but the self-righteousness and dishonesty of some of its residents leaves much to be desired.

To make a long story short, I worked for a banking institution in Salt Lake City for seven years more two decades ago, and no where since have I seen such blatantly dishonest business dealings or religious inequity. Near the end of my time there, all but myself and another fellow-Catholic had been phased out to make room for the onslaught of "friends of friends" or those attending the politically correct church at the time.

For a group of people who like to present themselves as charitable and God-fearing, I was surprised by frequent racial bigotry and religious discrimination amongst the majority of the citizenry. They are not what they seem. However, there is now a growing percentage of the population that is no longer bound by subtle restrictions imposed by religious influences. This is probably due to the influx of "outsiders" moving into the state.

Whatever the case, I believe President Obama's ambassadorial appointment of Jon Huntsman to be a very clever move.

Clear Codswallop

Their extreme and faux-indignant reaction to almost every political issue has made the GOP's state of denial and inner discord as transparent as bottled water.

• Gingrich lashes out at Pelosi: She is trivial, vicious, despicable, and dishonors the Congress

If one of their own beloved – such as Hatch or Boehner – had made the same claims as Nancy Pelosi in the same situation, none of the current media codswallop would be center-stage. And since when does Gingrich's opinion hold any merit? In my mind, he is as easily dismissed as Limbaugh, Cheney and the entire cast of characters at Fixed News.

All of the recent Republican grumbles are basically dodge tactics. Anything to deflect their inactivity, their unwillingness to come up with alternate solutions, and their self-indulgent determination to block the progress of President Obama even before they know the content of specific legislation.

Snapshot Issues

The decision by the President not to release additional torture photos is right on the money. On the advice of his top military personnel, what else could he possibly do? Ironically, John McCain agrees with him.

President Obama's campaign promise of being transparent has not been besmirched by the reversal. Considering the sensational nature of the images, which would likely incite further hatred from people who already loathe America in the first place, keeping them from publication is perhaps the only reasonable conclusion at this point.

Those who argue that the release of the photos is critical for helping the public understand the scope and scale of prisoner abuse as well as for holding senior officials accountable for authorizing or permitting such abuse don’t seem to be getting the whole picture. Public viewing of such pictures is certainly far less important than the safety of the American people. Vigorous prosecution of the torture-approving offenders can come at a later date.

Administrative transparency is still the standard of President Obama's White House. He has never hidden his agenda, or his aims for helping people who are in dire need in the current economy.

Captain Mendacity

The former vice president is becoming as much a spectacle as his good buddy Limbaugh:

• As Cheney seizes spotlight, many in GOP wince

From the Washington Post's Dan Balz via MSNBC:

As vice president, Richard B. Cheney famously spent much of the past eight years in "undisclosed locations" and offering private advice to George W. Bush. Today Cheney is the most visible and controversial critic of President Obama's national security policies and, to the alarm of many people in the Republican Party, the most forceful and uncompromising defender of the Bush administration's record.

But there is a potential political price that his party may pay in having one of the highest officials in an administration repudiated in the last election continue to argue his case long after the voters have rendered their decision.

In addition, Cheney’s daughter Liz is a by-rote mouthpiece and has as much credibility as the infamous Sarah Palin.

I can understand why the White House is perfectly content to have Dick out in the forefront of the Republican party. If possible, he makes the GOP appear more inept than they already are.

Right Wing Nuts Part II

This is simply incredulous:

• Dropping Pretext of a Grassroots Movement, GOP Governors Launch Tea Party 2.0

And I thought the first one made them look like frothing and bigoted simpletons. It just goes to show you Republicans can outdo their own self-inflicted absurdities.

However, at least they have forsaken the unbelievable "grass roots" premise of their little gatherings.

Double Talk

The ultimate hypocrites doing some of their best work:

• Fox Condemns Sykes's Act: If A Talk Radio Host Compared Obama To A Terrorist, He Would Be Fired

Oh good grief. Who accused Barack Obama of "palling around with terrorists" during the Presidential campaign? Who still refers to his "suspect" friendships in the present because they have nothing legitimate to really gripe about?

Comic Tracks

I was reading comments on the Facebook page for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and the following remark by Ollie Nanyes caught my eye:

Republican public statements ought to be issued with a laugh track.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Weekend Telly

I thought I could take a weekend break from blogging, but I had to mention how much I enjoyed watching the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on C-SPAN.

I wasn't interested in the "red carpet" portion of the program (re: stars arriving at the Washington Hilton), but the televised speechifying was worth watching.

• Obama jabs at himself, D.C. establishment

The President was very funny and seemed relaxed, while I thought Wanda Sykes was a hoot. In particular, I had a good laugh over the remarks she made about the Blob:

[Rush Limbaugh] said he just wants the country to fail. To me that's treason. He's not saying anything different than what Osama Bin Laden is saying. You might want to look into this, sir, because I think Rush Limbaugh was the 20th hijacker but he was just so strung out on Oxycontin he missed his flight. Rush Limbaugh, I hope the country fails, I hope his kidneys fail, how about that? He needs a good waterboarding, that's what he needs.

Once or twice the camera moved to the meagerly populated Fox News table. Is it any surprise they looked like they had just bitten into a batch of fresh lemons?

Free Will

I'm Catholic, but I completely disagree with this:

• Archbishop Burke: President Obama advances anti-life agenda

First of all, President Obama is not anti-life. He is pro-choice. There is a big difference between the two.

In addition, the term "pro-life" is misleading. It infers that anyone who doesn’t label themselves as "pro-life" must be anti-life. I notice most members of the GOP try to blur that line to suit their own agendas when the topic surfaces.

Being "pro-life" is fine, as long as those supporting the tag allow others to opt for "pro-choice" instead. If we permit radical right-wing forces to eliminate our right to choose, where does it end?

As I stated in my blog entry of 22 April 2009 (Pro Choice):

If pro-lifers are peeved with people who disagree with them, they can simply stay away from the machinations [of the process] and quit forcing their views on the rest of us. People can make up their own minds, obviously, which is the point of being pro-choice.

Amen.

Take a Pew

Religion is a personal choice. People can worship in anyplace and in anyway they desire, as long as it doesn't break the law.

Just because previous Presidents held "formal events" at the White House to mark the National Day of Prayer doesn't mean it’s a tradition that has to continue. It's not an edict cast in stone.

From Think Progress:

• Christian Right: Obama Is A Heretic For Observing Day Of Prayer In Private Just Like Most Other Presidents

And I have to quote the imprudent Elizabeth Hasselbeck from the same article to make a point:

We should be able to gather and pray as we see fit.

Exactly. Everyone can pray as they see fit, I agree. They can go to church, they can kneel at their bedsides, they can go fishing and meditate by a stream, and so on and so forth. However, being at the White House for the National Day of Prayer is not mandatory or a prerequisite for being Christian.

Besides, President Obama has already issued a National Day of Prayer Proclamation. So what is the purpose of faux outrage from right-wing fanatics? If one does into fall into their definition of Christian then they must be pagan or a heretic? Please.

This is America. We don't have to tolerate having the religious beliefs of other people shoved down our throats. Again, we can worship as we see fit.

Just Say No Because

If I was a constituent, either Republican or Democrat, in any of the areas represented by a member of the GOP, I would be royally infuriated:

• Senate GOP plans attack on Obama health care

The first paragraph of the article just about sums it up:

The Obama administration's health care legislation doesn't exist yet, but Senate Republicans are already seeking and getting detailed advice on the best way to attack it.

Their planned attack phrases are completely false. Re: "The plan put forward by the Democrats will deny people treatments they need and make them wait to get the treatments they are allowed to receive." Or: "A committee of Washington bureaucrats will establish the standard of care for all Americans."

Did I miss something? Weren't senators and congress people elected to do a job in Washington DC? I don't think any voter in their right mind would approve of their representative spending time devising ways to block every legislative move initiated by President Obama, most especially if the particulars are not yet known or if the GOP cannot offer an alternative.

Creepy Numbers

This just gives me the creeps:

• Obama's mother posthumously baptized into LDS Church

No wonder the Mormon Church claims to have so many members: they baptize the dead whether they like it or not!

Manic Thrash

Although I find Rush Limbaugh distasteful and useless in any setting, I have to mention two stories posted on Think Progress yesterday:

• Limbaugh Mocks Recession During Speech To Wealthy Right-Wing Donors

…Limbaugh bragged about his $400 million contract….He is no stranger to belittling the poor and dismissing the economic troubles of others. In March, Limbaugh scoffed at a question on homeless children, asking: "Would somebody tell me the last time you saw a kid sleeping under a bridge?"

• Limbaugh Endorses GOP 'Listening Tour' After Pence Placates Him

Rush Limbaugh slammed the GOP's "listening tour" re-branding effort, saying that the conservative movement does not need to listen to the American people. Rather, Limbaugh declared: "We need a teaching tour."

Why does anyone listen to this blight on humanity? Something is seriously wrong with anyone who pays attention to him or gives him credence. His venom is specifically for the remaining group still in denial over the election last November.

If he is indicative of the "core values" of the Republican party, then the GOP has truly lost touch with the American people. The truth will out. They don't give a damn about financially middle or lower class citizens, and all their talk about helping working families is a load of codswallop. The fact that none of them has a plan or solution for any of the issues facing Americans is proof positive that they still hope to win elections by blindsiding people with lies.

It's a good thing for Democrats because I believe the majority of the population is comprised of sensible people. They can see right through to the rhetoric that is simply a shroud over bigotry, racism and elitism.

Tax Duck

Naturally, the GOP would be against something that might upset their core constituency:

• Obama cracks down on overseas tax loopholes

The wealthy have received more than their fair share of breaks in the last eight years. Its time to give up the ghost and allow the poor working slobs to catch some relief by creating more jobs in America rather than abroad.

Broken Record

What else is new?

• Weekly Republican address criticizes stimulus, budget

Members of the Republican party still don't want to acknowledge that is was Bush who started the drunken spending spree. The financial calamity we find ourselves in was created over an eight-year period in which Bush was at the helm of the country.

The money being spent now is to clean up the Republican mess. Their current public responses have little merit and are full of empty whining that has yet to produce any alternative solutions.

Jindal Ding

I've never thought much of Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, especially after his response to President Obama's address to Congress last February. Jindal came off as an awkward public speaker, and frankly gave the vibe of a fussy pantywaist. That was my impression of him, but I cannot claim to know what other people might think about him.

His opposition to the 2009 stimulus money is also rather baffling. He was elected to serve the people of Louisiana, not to impose his party-motivated blockage to federal assistance. After all, the money was supposed to be used for increasing unemployment insurance for people in Louisiana. I would like to think if Jindal had just lost his job and had no income he might see things a bit differently, but I suppose we'll never know.

Therefore, one of the latest headlines from Think Progress caught my eye this morning:

• Jindal spares money for New Orleans Saints while slashing health care and education funding

One comment left by a Think Progress reader hit it right on the money:

The GOP: Football is more important than education and health care.

When, if ever, will Republican "lawmakers" they get their priorities straight? They are elected by the people to carry out the will of the people. When does that responsibility fade into the woodwork to make room for antiquated and fanatical ideals that very few are interested in anymore?