Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Nearly 8 years after 9/11, Rush tells NY to 'drop dead'

Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, who has been treated like a GOP leader since Obama's election, didn't mince words when it came to pontificating on a new New York tax plan which reportedly aims at the state's highest earners.

"Drop dead," the self-proclaimed "El Rushbo" wrote on Monday.


What a pig!

World's largest laser built in California

The U.S. Department of Energy says the National Nuclear Security Administration has certified the completion of the world's largest laser.

Located at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's National Ignition Facility in California, the laser is expected to allow scientists to achieve fusion ignition in the laboratory, obtaining more energy from the target than is provided by the laser.

"Completion of the National Ignition Facility is a true milestone that will make America safer and more energy independent by opening new avenues of scientific advancement and discovery," said NNSA Administrator Thomas D'Agostino. "NIF will be a cornerstone of a critical national security mission, ensuring the continuing reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile without underground nuclear testing, while also providing a path to explore the frontiers of basic science and potential technologies for energy independence."


Cool!

Karen, I was wrong and you were right.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Sarah Palin Adviser's Secret Scientology Plot to Take Over Washington

John Coale, currently advising Sarah Palin on running for president in 2012, is a Scientologist. And according to a memo obtained by Gawker, Coale once plotted to use friendly politicians to advance the power-hungry cult's agenda.

Coale is a prominent Washington power broker and husband to Fox News' Greta Van Susteren. According to the Washington Post, he is running Palin's political action committee behind the scenes and "guiding [her] political image in Washington."

In 1986, he masterminded a plan—which was never executed—for Scientology to get into the "MONEY and VOTES game" in order to "create power" for Scientology and win influence Washington, D.C.


This is hilarious!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Teleprompter Vs. No Teleprompter: Letterman Takes On Obama Critics (VIDEO)

Critics say Obama relies too heavily on his teleprompter. As Politico notes:

"Obama's reliance on the teleprompter is unusual -- not only because he is famous for his oratory, but because no other president has used one so consistently and at so many events, large and small."

They make an interesting point, why would a president want to be prepared and careful about what he says? The guy who had the job for the last eight years didn't need no stinkin' teleprompter!

Well, David Letterman addressed the outrage last night with his segment 'Teleprompter Vs. No Teleprompter.' It was enlightening to say the least.


This was great! I hope he makes this a regular segment.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Go back into hiding, GOP begs Dick Cheney

Congressional Republicans are telling Dick Cheney to go back to his undisclosed location and leave them alone to rebuild the Republican Party without his input.

Displeased with the former vice-president's recent media appearances, Republican lawmakers say he's hurting GOP efforts to reinvent itself after back-to-back electoral drubbings.

The veep, who showed a penchant for secrecy during eight years in the White House,has popped up in media interviews to defend the Bush-Cheney record while suggesting that the country is not as safe under President Obama.

Rep. John Duncan Jr. (R-Tenn.) said, “He became so unpopular while he was in the White House that it would probably be better for us politically if he wouldn’t be so public...But he has the right to speak out since he’s a private citizen.”


NO! I say. Keep making an ass of yourself and your party!

China proposes replacing the US dollar

China’s central bank governor has issued a bold proposal to overhaul the global monetary system and one day replace the dollar as the world’s main reserve currency with the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Special Drawing Right

Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of the People’s Bank of China, argued that what he called a super-sovereign reserve currency would not only eliminate the risks inherent in currencies such as the dollar, which are backed only by the credit of the issuing country and not by gold or silver, but would also make it possible to manage global liquidity.


Sooner than later, they'll be calling in our debts...

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Moran's On The Right Manufacturing Outrage

UPDATE: Stephanie Miller poked at this blog post on her show Thursday: "NewsBusters, as you recall, Chris, they are the right wing dopes that got me all the publicity on my [execute-Rush] comment on Larry King....So the test of the Moron Alert System is going splendidly."


Read the comments: they're funnier than the original skit!

Do idiots like this actually exist???

How the Fed Failed to Tell Obama About The Bonuses

Federal Reserve officials knew for months about bonuses at American International Group but failed to tell the Obama administration, according to government and company officials, exposing problems in a relationship that is vital to addressing the financial crisis.


It's time for Geithner to go. I say replace him with Paul Krugman (if he'll take it).

That might be change I'll believe in.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Fox Noise Making Stuff Up?

Yesterday, ThinkProgress noted that Fox News spliced a six-month old clip of Vice President Biden to misleadingly imply that he recently said the “fundamentals of the economy are strong.” Today, Fox News’s Martha MacCallum apologized to viewers and said it was an “inadvertent” error:


Who'd ever expect this???

Congress looking at huge taxes on AIG bonuses

Congressional Democrats vowed Tuesday to all but strip AIG executives of their $165 million in bonuses as expressions of outrage swelled in Congress over eye-catching extra income for employees of a firm that has received billions in taxpayer bailout funds.

"Recipients of these bonuses will not be able to keep all of their money," declared Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, in an unusually strong threat delivered on the Senate floor.

"If you don't return it on your own we will do it for you," said Chuck Schumer of New York.

The bonuses were paid legally, part of a program that had been disclosed in advance in filings that American International Group Inc. made with the government.

House and Senate Democrats were crafting separate bills to tax up to 100 percent of generous bonuses awarded by companies rescued by taxpayer money. Republicans said President Barack Obama's administration should have done more to stop the bonuses.


Congress doesn't get it. It isn't so much about the $165 million, it's more about the principle of the matter.

Realistically, the bonuses are a small pittance of the actual bailout. What is truly outrageous is that these idiots are rewarding themselves for fucking up the system.

No, don't take back the bonuses: take back the entire bailout.

Downballot: What happens next?

"Lawyers for Democrat Al Franken and Republican Norm Coleman delivered their closing arguments in the case Friday, but nobody knows when the judges will issue a ruling, which could come down in multiple parts. From there, further court action could keep the case going for weeks or months."


Good God, when will this end?

Friday, March 13, 2009

Jon Stewart and Jim Cramer: The Extended Daily Show Interview

Jim Cramer and Jon Stewart went toe-to-toe last night. It was just like Ali-Foreman, only with more head trauma. But you didn't see everything. Much of the interview had to be cut for time. But this is the internet, where all we have is time. So, here now, is the exclusive, uncensored, complete three-part interview.


Wow!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Steele In Serious Hot Water With Social Conservatives

Michael's Steele statement of support for an "individual choice" on abortion has provoked deep concern among social conservatives and spurred further speculation that his tenure at the RNC will be brief.

On Wednesday, the RNC Chair walked back a remark he made in an interview with GQ Magazine, declaring unequivocally: "I am pro-life, always have been, always will be." But even with the quick clarification, the damage was done.


Wow! This party is a mess!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

GOP senator flips out at airline, sets off security alarm

The Republican senator who found himself on a DC madam's client list is drawing new attention over "impulse control."

After missing a flight last Thursday from Washington to New Orleans,
Louisiana Sen. David Vitter opened an armed security door and went off on a United Airlines employee, according to a report filed Wednesday by (paid-restricted) Roll Call.

The door sounded a security alarm.

Vitter had arrived at the gate for a flight from Dulles Airport, only to find that the door had been closed twenty minutes prior to departure.

After setting off the security alarm, the Louisiana senator proceeded to dress down an airline employee who told him entering the restricted area was forbidden. He invoked his standing as a senator, delivering a "do-you-know-who-I-am" tirade, the paper said.


You can't make this stuff up!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Employee Free Choice Act Goes To Congress Today

To amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes.


Yay!

Only On Fox

Mediamatters has a new site dedicated to Fox Noise. They should have done this a long time ago!

Dow ends up nearly 380 on Citigroup profit news

Wall Street has had its best day of the year, storming higher after some good news from Citigroup. Citigroup Inc. says it operated at a profit during the first two months of the year. That energized financial stocks and in turn, the entire market. Surprised investors drove the major indexes up more than 5.5 percent to their biggest one-day rally of the year. The Dow Jones industrials shot up nearly 380 points.


Good news! But I don't think we're done yet...

Thursday, March 05, 2009

FDIC chief fears fund insolvency

The head of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has warned that the fund insuring Americans’ bank deposits could be wiped out this year without the money the agency is seeking in new fees from U.S. banks and thrifts.

FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair acknowledged, in a letter this week to bank CEOs, that the new increased fees and hefty emergency premium the agency voted to levy last week will bring a “significant expense” to banks. But given the accelerating bank failures that have been depleting the deposit insurance fund, she said, it “could become insolvent this year.”


That's not good...

GOP senator would support probe of 'shocking' anti-terror memos

"Rather than prosecuting Bush officials, the Democrat has proposed the creation of a 'truth commission' to investigate alleged wrongdoings in the waging of the war on terror. Leahy’s proposed commission would have subpoena power, but would not press criminal charges against former White House officials."

"Now, interestingly enough, some of the Republicans, in their arguments this morning, were saying, maybe prosecution is the only way you‘re going to really find out," Leahy said. "Something has been done wrong and you should have prosecution. My feeling is, be careful what you wish for. That may be what you get."


Perfect.

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Conservatives back Limbaugh over Steele

Newly minted GOP chair Michael Steele may have apologized for calling Rush Limbaugh an "entertainer" (What? He's not entertaining?) and "incendiary," but he's still getting pounded. Not only from the left, but from his fellow conservatives.

The early verdict: Conservatives are backing Rush over Mike. The National Journal's Blogometer says "the most common complaint in the conservative blogosphere is that Steele's 'biggest asset' was supposed to be his communication skills, yet his TV appearances are precisely what have gotten him in trouble."


Grab some popcorn. This is fun!

Dems create 'I'm sorry, Rush' site for GOP officials

HAHAHA!!!

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Recent poll showed Bush with higher favorable rating than Limbaugh

In fact, polls by Gallup in February show that Limbaugh has less favorable ratings from the mainstream public than former President George W. Bush. But while members of Congress and presidential aspirants spent most of the last two years trying to run away from Bush, Limbaugh's power seems to be expanding.

"In a February Gallup poll, 45 percent of respondents said they had an unfavorable view of Limbaugh, to 28 percent with a favorable opinion. The partisan divide was steep, with Republicans favoring Rush 60-23, while Democrats disapproved 63-6," Howard Kurtz writes in Tuesday's Washington Post.


How to know when it's time to shut the fuck up...

A new memo shows just how far the Bush administration considered going in fighting the war on terror.

In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the Justice Department secretly gave the green light for the U.S. military to attack apartment buildings and office complexes inside the United States, deploy high-tech surveillance against U.S. citizens and potentially suspend First Amendment freedom-of-the-press rights in order to combat the terror threat, according to a memo released Monday.


Jesus...