Question from the GOP Debate: Would You Let Him Die?

By now, a lot of you have seen this viral video of the audience members at the Tea Party sponsored GOP Debate screaming “Yes” and cheering.

Tea Party Crowd Cheers Letting Uninsured Die
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Even though I like to write recaps from an obviously Spinny (snark-filled) point of view, that reaction really disturbed me. As did the one last week where people cheered at Perry’s execution record.

GOP Gladiators Cheer Perry Execution Record
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Of course, I know not all Tea Partiers or GOP members are cold hearted. Reactions like that are doing nothing for that stereotype, though.

Regarding the death penalty, my stance differs from many Liberals as I support it. It’s a sentence that should never be meted out lightly, though. There should be compelling evidence, preferably DNA. It’s obviously a serious matter – life and death – literally.

That’s why the cheering bothered me, especially with Perry saying he doesn’t lose sleep at night over the possibility that an innocent man has been executed. Cameron Todd Willingham was executed in Texas under Perry’s watch, and he could have very well been innocent. He was executed for the murder of his three daughters in a fire ruled as deliberately set. Days before his execution, a nationally recognized arson expert submitted a report that the conviction was based on erroneous forensic analysis. Perry said that the expert was wrong and that he wouldn’t listen to anti-death penalty “propoganda.” He refused to grant the stay, and Willingham was executed.

Since the execution, nine of the nation’s top fire scientists concluded that investigators relied on outdated theories to justify the conclusion of arson. If I were Perry, and I read that, I would lose more than a night’s sleep. And in an entirely different context, Governor Perry would answer the question, “Would you let him die” with “Yes, and I did.”

Where am I going with this? If the Tea Party and the GOP want people to believe there is Compassionate Conservatism, maybe they shouldn’t encourage the death of a guy without insurance or cheer the number of people who were executed. Especially when at least one of them could have been innocent.

The Tea Party: Not Winning Popularity Contests?

Survey’s Surprising Finding: Tea Party Less Popular than Atheists and Muslims

Interesting. The two groups that I’ve noticed the Tea Party having problems with are less popular than they are. Do I buy it?

I don’t know. I was skeptical because it was a follow-up to their to the study for their book, “American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us.” In the follow-up, they added Atheists and the Tea Party. I found that odd because the Tea Party is not a religion. Atheism isn’t either but is related (not believing in God).

 

They also found out from their original survey that those who became Tea Party supporters were:

• Highly partisan Republican
• Overwhelmingly white
• Low opinion of immigrants and blacks
• Seek out “deeply religious” elected officials

This I can buy.  It’s strange that they put the Tea Party in their survey because it’s not a religion. However, from that, you can definitely find out the demographics of those who support them. Their findings don’t surprise me.

But are they less popular than the Atheists and Muslims?  

Maybe to Atheists and Muslims. And to a lot of others, definitely.  I wouldn’t use this survey to “prove”  it, though.

 

 

Good Morning Asia! Sorry Your Markets Tanked

Asian Stock Markets Sink after US Credit Downgrade

What a lovely bit of news I ran into while surfing and watching the Real Housewives of New Jersey. 

“It’s not Armaggedon, but it feels like it,” said Hong Kong-based analyst Francis Lun, adding that he foresees the territory’s Hang Seng index to sink below 19,000 — a decline of a further 5 percent — before making any kind of comeback.

Um, sorry about that.  Our country was more interested in political theater. If we didn’t make such a big deal about the debt ceiling, global markets wouldn’t be reacting like this. Thanks Tea Party for holding it hostage to push your agenda. Thanks President Obama for not invoking the 14th amendment the minute they pulled this crap.

I’m going back to the Real Housewives. Entertain me, Joysey girls. Bread and circuses to keep my mind off of the empire burning, baby.  Bread and circuses.

Real Time with Bill Maher: New Rules 8/5

He totally nailed the Comments Sections! 😆 Enjoy!

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Real Time 8/5/11, posted with vodpod

My Congressman & Jon Stewart on the Debt Deal

Rep. Pete Stark is my Congressman and a member of the Progressive Caucus. He sent an e-mail explaining why he voted NO on this deal. This was his speech before the vote. I loved it and wanted to share it with you.

I also added Jon Stewart’s take on the Tea Party’s reaction to the deal, perfectly titled:

Dealageddon: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Compromise – Tea Party No-Win

I don’t understand it either. They “won.” All cuts no revenue. Anyway, it cracked me up, which was so needed.

Message to Tea Partiers: PLEASE, for the love of all that is holy, Quit. Your. Bitching.

The Honorable Pete Stark
Floor Remarks
August 1, 2011

I rise in opposition to this so-called debt limit compromise, S. 365. A compromise is when the two sides each make concessions. This bill fails to meet that definition because all concessions come from Democrats. This debt ceiling legislation protects special interests at the expense of America’s working families, children, senior citizens, people who’ve lost their jobs, and people with disabilities.

It punts the difficult decisions to a “super committee” of twelve Members of Congress who will be tasked with finding another $1.5 trillion in savings. Those twelve people will have the power to cut Social Security benefits, turn Medicare into a voucher, and gut the Medicaid program into oblivion. The rest of Congress will have only the right to vote yes or no on the entire proposal. Unlike the vast majority of legislation, no amendments will be allowed.

If the super committee fails, there will be automatic cuts to Medicare and additional draconian cuts on top of the draconian cuts that will be made when this bill is signed into law.

Default is a dangerous proposition. But there is only one reason that our country has been pushed to the brink of default: the Republican Tea Party fringe. We are in the midst of a completely manufactured crisis that was orchestrated by this extreme faction of the Republican Party. They are a minority in Congress and in our nation, yet they are holding our nation’s economy hostage because Republican leadership continues to pander to them at the detriment of our country and its future.

Democrats and Republicans alike have lifted the debt ceiling some 75 times in our history. Paying our bills is a necessary part of responsible governing.

This year, I’ve voted twice to raise the debt limit ceiling. I first did so on May 31, 2011 when Republicans brought a clean debt ceiling bill to the floor. Because of uniform Republican opposition, that vote failed.

I next voted this past Saturday to raise the debt ceiling in conjunction with significant spending cuts when the House considered Senator Reid’s compromise package. It was far from perfect, but it was much more balanced than the package before us today.

Today, the radical wing of the Republican Party has forced a no-win situation. Vote yes on today’s “debt-limit compromise,” and we limit our ability to grow our economy, create jobs, and protect the most vulnerable members of our society. Vote no and we risk an unprecedented default that would further deteriorate our sputtering economy.

We should never have gotten to this point and it is up to those to who got us into this mess to get the votes to end this crisis. However, I will not allow my vehement opposition to this deal to put our country into default. If my vote is needed to prevent default, I will hold my nose and change my vote to yes. I will do that because governing requires tough choices. If Tea Party Republicans refuse to govern, it is up to the rest of us to do so for them.

The Daily Show Clip:

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Daily Show: Boehner Creaming in His Trousers?, posted with vodpod

A Debt Ceiling Deal? Don’t Break out the Moët Yet.

White House, Congressional Leaders Reach Debt Deal

The “leaders” – Boehner, McConnell, and Reid told Obama they have a deal. Of course, Obama jumps up and down and tells the world, “We have a deal!” And the Asian Markets jump up and down too. The Nikkei and Hang Seng opened strong on the news. Hell, I even got excited for a second.

Is this really our cue to cheer? It still has to pass Congress. So basically, no. Or not yet. Michelle Bachmann already says she’s going to vote no. I don’t understand why the hell not? This deal is all cuts, no revenue. Nancy Pelosi says she has to look it over with her caucus first. I understand why. This deal is all cuts, no revenue.

There is a deal, but in no way is it done. The Tea Party wants way more cuts. The Democrats would like to see some revenue too. But all that shouldn’t be tied to the debt ceiling.

The whole point is that we can’t default on our obligations. We have to raise that debt ceiling. It’s not about being able to spend more, but pay for the stuff we already bought. The Tea Party doesn’t see it like that. They see it as an opportunity to use it as leverage to get what they want. I guess that’s one way to do it. Being ready to slit your country’s throat to get your way.

So, when should we break out the champagne? August 3. Either to celebrate or cry into our flutes.

Rep. Jeff Landry Says, “I’m Not Going!”

GOP Lawmaker Rejects White House Trip, ‘Lecture’ from Obama

Who?

He’s a Freshman Tea Party Respresentative from Louisiana. He’s making such a big deal about skipping “class.” I think he just wants to make a name for himself. Until you read the article, did you know who he was? Me neither.

He even prepared a formal statement saying why he didn’t want go. Drilling, future generations saddled with debt, grandstanding, no spending cuts = no higher debt ceiling, blah, blah, blah.

Message to Landry: Aren’t Representatives supposed to represent? Well, you probably would have blended in with the furniture, anyway. By publicly declining the invitation, you actually exist now. Just for a bit, though. To get lasting fame/infamy, you need a sex scandal. Preferably a gay one. For now, enjoy!

Totally Twisted Quote Tuesday 4/19/11

The Daily Show: Countdown to the Next Countdown – I Can’t Believe It’s Not Shuttered!

Haha Sucksylvania. I (and other Dems I know) totally agree. Enjoy! 🙂

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Countdown to the Next Countdown – I Can’t Belie…, posted with vodpod

Speaker Boehner, Will You Stop with the Stopgaps?

House GOP Plans 3rd Stopgap Bill to avoid Shutdown

God, this sucks. Is the United States government going to avoid shutdown by Continuing Resolution yet again? How long is this going to go on like this?

This is ridiculous. Boehner has to get through to his Tea Party legislators. He is their leader, and he needs to start acting like it. He should ask Nancy how it’s done. She could get every Democrat to vote in unison against the GOP. How? She scared the living hell out of them, threatening not to back their projects. She is the pitbull in Armani.

Boehner needs to borrow her balls. Or at the very least, her bark.

Harry Reid summed it up:

Tea party Republicans, the Nevada Democrat said, “stomp their feet and call ‘compromise’ a dirty word and insist on a budget that will hurt America rather than help it.”

Whether the Tea Party Republicans like it or not, they control only one leg of a tripod. They have to come up with something both the Senate and the POTUS will sign. That is going to take compromise.

Like the three-year-olds they are impersonating, they are holding their collective breath until they get their way. Is Boehner going to give them their way? Hello shutdown, then. Is he going to stand up? They’ll be pissed, but they might actually get something accomplished.

What’s it going to be, dad?