Category Archives: Ted Kennedy
Sarah Palin: Likely To Quit Again
The former ex-quitting Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin may be quitting again. Palin quit her job as Governor after only half a term and she has been a no-show at many speaking engagements both before and after, including the CPAC Conference in DC. She also recently quit the Republican National Committee after it sponsored a soiree at a lesbian/bondage strip club. Now, New York Magazine reports that the Queen of Quit may be abandoning her quest for the Presidency.
The reason? Simple. Sarah Palin cares most about money. The article suggests that she quit the governorship because “she was going broke”. She needed money and worried about it constantly. “You have to keep in mind,” Bill McAllister, her then–press secretary, told the magazine, “she and Todd were middle class. They’re rich now, but not then.” Indeed, even a John McCain adviser said, “Deep down, she wanted to make money.”
In fact, the magazine says that the single greatest influence on her quitting the governorship was that Alaska’s ethics rules might have prohibited her from profiting from a book tour or a political action committee or legal defense fund.
In March, she petitioned the Alaska attorney general’s office, which responded with a lengthy list of conditions. “There was no way she could go on a book tour while being governor” is how one member of her Alaska staff put it.
Hence, she quickly quit the governorship and quit on the people of Alaska that elected her.
Sarah Palin elected to pursue money and fame at the expense of her supporters and her stated ideals. She claims to represent the “everyman”, the “Sixpack Joes” and the “hockey moms”. Simultaneously however, she charges those very supporters exorbitant fees to see her or have a photo taken with her. Unlike the working class, she travels in Lear Jets at a cost of some $ 1,500.00 per hour and is building a new 6000 square foot manse. It is estimated that she has made some 12 million dollars since quitting last July. Indeed, Sarah Palin better resembles Richie Rich than Joe The Plumber.
The magazine article states that in 1996, a few weeks into her run for Wasilla mayor, Palin revealed to Laura Chase, her campaign manager at the time, the scope of her ambition. “We were sitting at my table one night and I said, ‘Sarah, one day you could be governor.’ She just looked at me and said, ‘I don’t want to be governor, I want to be president.’ ” Strangely, it is Sarah Palin’s quest for fame and fortune that will most likely dissuade her from seeking the presidency. Palin plans on selling another book and she continues to charge $ 100,000.00 per speaking engagement. At some point, the Tea-Baggers that idolize her will realize by witnessing her lavish lifestyle, that she is not one of them. They will recognize her as being a member of the celebrity class that they so despise. Consequently, their support for her will wane. Additionally, she has already alienated the more mainstream members of the Republican Party. New York Magazine writes,
While careful not to say anything that might make her rear her head, some in the GOP Establishment whisper that they hope Palin stays in Wasilla. She may be useful in raising funds and drawing crowds, but Palin’s unseriousness and carnival antics damage the brand. “There’s a big piece of the Republican Party that doesn’t want her to run,” said one national Republican strategist.
So, as Sarah Palin begins to amass tremendous wealth, she is losing support from her base. Palin however, loves the money and fame too much to abandon it for such a pedestrian and low paying position as the President of the United States. Sarah Palin is too selfish to ever accept the paycut. She will not run for President in 2012. In short, it’s all over now.
EXTRA
As mentioned yesterday, we had the opportunity to attend the Salem State College (Salem, MA) Speaker Series last evening featuring Ted Kennedy, Jr. as well as a private reception thereafter. Mr. Kennedy did not disappoint. As we all witnessed at his father’s funeral, young Kennedy has inherited his family’s style of oration. He spoke mostly about his work as an attorney for the disabled but he also dabbled on the subjects of health care reform and on things he learned about his family upon reading his father’s memoir, True Compass.
One such revelation from the book was his grandmother, Rose Kennedy’s involvement in the Cuban Missile Crisis. Kennedy explained that she had a fondness for obtaining books authored and personally autographed by world leaders which she would dole out at as Christmas presents each year. At the height of the missile crisis in which nuclear war threatened to wipe out civilization as we know it, the KGB intercepted a handwritten letter from a Mrs. Rose Kennedy of Hyannisport, MA in which she requested a few autographed copies of Premier Nikita Khrushchev’s most recent book. The KGB apparently could not figure out what plan the CIA was up to or what they wanted and so they inquired. When Jack Kennedy got the news, he asked his mother what she was up to. Rose simply explained that Jack should know that she gifts out autographed books from world leaders each Christmas, and this year it was Khrushchev’s turn!
Inasmuch as his speech was being delivered in Salem, MA, Kennedy felt that he should mention that on his mother’s side, he was a descendant of one Mary Eastey who in 1692 was hanged in the city (along with many others) for the crime of being a witch. He thanked the present residents for being much more kind to him.
Most importantly however, when asked about newly elected nudist Republican US Senator Scott Brown, Kennedy kindly stated that he wished him luck but that he will be judged by constituents according to how he votes. He hinted that thus far the votes were not in conformity with the views of most Massachusetts citizens but inasmuch as Brown is up for re-election in 2012, there is time for somebody to announce their candidacy in the not too distant future. When a few members of the audience shouted out, “What about you, Ted”, he politely smiled and moved on to the next subject. Kennedy clearly left the door open for a run for his father’s old seat without providing any negative comment about Brown which could prematurely be used as ammunition against him. He showed the skill of a true politician. We certainly hope he runs for that seat.
Kennedy Jr. concluded by taking a number of unscreened questions from members of the audience. He handled them deftly without resort to palm written crib notes.
In honor of the troops, please remember to click on the song link below to familiarize yourselves with the tune and to have more fun singing along with today’s Sarah Palin song parody.
It’s All Over Now song link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbpU5vBYnfU&feature=related
IT’S ALL OVER NOW
(sung to the Rolling Stones version of the song “It’s All Over Now”)
Well, Palin was around way too long
She winked those eyes, went to Hong Kong
But her heart’s now broken, that’s no lie
Tables turn and now it’s her turn to cry
Some crackpots used to love her, but it’s all over now
Some crackpots used to love her, but it’s all over now
Well, she thought that she’d be crowned a queen in D.C. Town
She’d spend book deal money to buy herself some fame
She has no clout, that must be a blow to her pride
Tables turn and now it’s Sarah who cries
Some crackpots used to love her, but it’s all over now
Some crackpots used to love her, but it’s all over now
(musical interlude)
Well, on Meet The Press Sunday morning, did you hear what they said?
“Palin’s political future is all but dead”
Brooks, Dionne and Murphy really smacked Palin down
Now the whole world knows that she is just a clown
Some crackpots used to love her, but it’s all over now
Some crackpots used to love her, but it’s all over now
Some crackpots used to love her, but it’s all over now
Some crackpots used to love her, but it’s all over now
His Irish Eyes Are Now Smiling
Ted Kennedy's dream has been realized with the passage of Health Care Reform
America wins! Last night’s historic passage of health care reform legislation was the largest social program to become law in the last forty years. Many of the health insurance industry’s greatest anti-consumer transgressions will now be curtailed. The pre-existing condition disqualification? Gone! The cap on benefits to premium paying consumers? Gone! The Medicare doughnut hole? Gone! Although the bill was not as comprehensive as most of us would have liked, it is nonetheless, a giant step toward the ultimate goal of a single payer program. Furthermore, the Republicans have nothing to complain about. After all, wasn’t it their idea that health care reform legislation proceed incrementally? Well, we are now proceeding incrementally towards a public option and then single payer.
It is a bit sad that Ted Kennedy, the longtime champion of health care reform, did not live long enough to savor his victory. We can all be sure however, that wherever he may be, he is smiling and content. His dream has been realized. For those of us from Massachusetts, today is a day when we have exacted a little revenge against the Tea-Baggers and their centerfold child Scott Brown. When the Tea Party’s out of state money helped the nudist Republican capture Ted Kennedy’s vacant senate seat, he gloated that he would “not be the 60th vote for health care reform”, but “the 41st vote” against its passage. Unfortunately for Brown and the Tea-Baggers, his election galvanized the Democrats and he never even had an opportunity to cast a vote on the subject. In short, Brown had no effect and his election was a wake up call to the Democrats to fight even harder. As George W. Bush would say, “You’ve done a heck of a job, Brownie!”
The next interesting step will be the vote on the reconciliation package that will take place in the Senate this week. The reconciliation bill removes much of the pork that was included in the original Senate bill. Senate President Harry Reid has assured members of the House and the American people that he has the fifty votes (Vice President Joe Biden being the 51st) necessary to pass the reconciliation. Indeed, he can lose up to nine Democratic votes from the original bill and still succeed. The clothing challenged Scott Brown’s 41st vote will once again be of no consequence.
It should be particularly amusing to watch how the Republican senators vote on the reconciliation bill that will remove pork. If Republicans oppose reconciliation, the Democrats can campaign against them on the issue of their support for pork. If Republicans vote in favor of reconciliation so as to remove the pork, Democrats can campaign on the issue that Republicans ignored their base by means of voting in favor of health care reform. Oh, what a wicked web has been weaved! Can Tea-Baggers spell “dilemma”? Who cares? That is their problem.
Today, we can celebrate!
Please remember to click on the song link below to familiarize yourselves with the tune and to have more fun singing along with today’s song parody.
Good Day Sunshine song link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qelpxf2cGu8
GOOD DAY HEALTH CARE
(sung to the Beatles song “Good Day Sunshine”)
Good day healthcare
Good day healthcare
Good day healthcare
It’s fun to laugh when Republicans pout
We’ve got something we can laugh about
We feel good, in a special way
Health care’s here and now we’ve had our way
Good day healthcare
Good day healthcare
Good day healthcare
Go take a walk, you nudist Scottie Brown
Obstruction has been shot right down
Good day healthcare
Good day healthcare
Good day healthcare
Palin lied, and got caught didn’t she?
Death Panels were a fallacy
It feels good to watch Beck cry and whine
Let’s watch his ratings as they decline
Good day healthcare
Good day healthcare
Good day healthcare
Good day healthcare
Good day healthcare
Good day healthcare
Good day healthcare
Good day healthcare
Martha Coakley Senate Campaign Update
The Martha Coakley campaign revealed today that Republican opponent Scott brown is a tax cheat. He does not pay employment taxes or provide health care coverage (as is required by Massachusetts law) to his campaign employees. Watch this video and then read this great article from Crooksandliars.com.
We already know Scott Brown’s vision of taxes and public service. Brown’s on the side of the powerful and the wealthy and the big banks, but he doesn’t mind sticking it to the little guy, to the family struggling to cover their mortgage and save a little for their kids’ college education, the patriot who rushes to people in need.
We already knew Scott Brown was looking out for his fact cat backers. Now, as we learn how he treats his own employees, we see that he’s really just out for himself.
Scott Brown’s campaign wants you to believe they don’t have employees. According to his campaign finance reports, Brown pays his staff as if they were independent contractors. He doesn’t just pay his media and other consultants that way, he pays his lowest-level staff as if they weren’t really his employees.
Campaigns often use the services of people who are accurately classified as independent contractors. But it’s impossible for any major campaign to reach the final weekend of the race and, as the Brown campaign wants people to believe, not have employees. It may be true that the Federal Elections Commission doesn’t designate how campaigns designate their staffers. But the Internal Revenue Service does have specific rules on who can and cannot be classified an independent contractor. If a worker takes direct instructions on tasks, has hours mandated by the employer, uses facilities and tools supplied by the employer, or is working exclusively for that employer, they’re not an independent contractor, they’re an employee. [Look here;(pdf) for the kinds of questions the IRS asks to determine employee status.] By any reasonable standard, at this late point in the campaign, when workers are working exclusively for the campaign, are taking direct orders from the candidate or other staff, and where they are working in campaign headquarters, spending campaign money, using campaign equipment, and representing themselves as Brown’s campaign staff, they’re undoubtedly employees.
By paying his staff as contractors instead of employees, Scott Brown avoids any responsibility to be a good employer and provide them health insurance. That alone should be enough to disqualify him in the minds of many voters. But by paying his staff as contractors, Brown has also managed to avoid his responsibility to pay their payroll taxes. Brown has pushed his tax obligation off on to his employees, which is not only selfish, it’s also probably a violation of federal law.
It’s no surprise that Brown evaded questions about paying his staff as contractors, directing people to speak to his attorneys. And it’s no surprise his attorneys wouldn’t comment on the issue, because Scott Brown is almost certainly in violation of federal tax laws.
Scott Brown: champion of bankers and special interests, and tax cheat who pushes his obligations off on to his employees.
Sunday Morning Coffee (or Tea) – 25 (and a Plea For Help)
Just a few noteworthy political meteorites and comments thereon that have been careening around the galaxy this past week.
BREAKING NEWS: It was announced on Friday that Republican, John Shadegg of Arizona will retire from the U.S. House of Representatives. Shadegg is the latest in a string of representatives and senators to announce that they plan to vacate their seats. It is yet to be seen whether the media will characterize Shadegg’s retirement as a severe blow to Republican election efforts in 2010. That is precisely what they said about Democrats earlier in the month however, when two Democratic senators announced their retirement. It would appear that Republicans are in the most trouble because fifteen of their House members are retiring (compared to eleven Democrats) along with six of their senators (compared to two Democrats). Final score: Republican vacancies = 21, Democratic party vacancies = 13.
THIS JUST IN: The lunatic accused of plotting to kill then Senator Barack Obama (along with several other Black Americans) in September 2008, has pleaded guilty and faces a ten year prison sentence. Paul Schlesselman of Arkansas entered a guilty plea agreement with federal prosecutors on Thursday. This serves as a reminder that racism is still alive and well in this country.
BREAKING NEWS: This week’s edition of “And If You Believe That One, I’ve Got Some Florida Swampland I’d Like To Sell” features a Republican candidate for Governor of Ohio who has announced that he is a Tea-Bagger. In fact, John Kaisch claims to have been the very first Tea-Bagger. Last week he said,
I’ve been all over the state, including with our friends in the Tea Party movement. I think I was in the Tea Party before there was a Tea Party.
Yikes! He is willing to admit to that? Upon closer inspection however, it appears that Kaisch is simply pulling the wool over the eyes of the ever-ignorant Tea-Baggers. Indeed, he is a former Lehman Brothers investment banker and the investment bankers are a target of the Tea-Baggers because of the bank bailouts. Looks like we have a real match made in Heaven.
THIS JUST IN: Republican Newt “The Beaute” Gingrich has announced that he might seek the presidency in 2012. He said, “I think I’m probably on a list of seven or eight possible candidates at this stage”. CNN reports,
Gingrich’s comments come days after organizers of The Southern Republican Leadership Conference – a high-profile gathering of party activists considered to be an initial venue for potential GOP presidential candidates – announced the former House Speaker will be among the list of Republican speakers. Palin and Pawlenty are also expected to attend the event.
Gingrich also recently filed government paperwork to form a political action committee, named American Solutions PAC, according to Federal Election Commission records. The forming of a political action committee will allow Gingrich to raise cash and donate the money to federal and state candidates across the country. It could also be a sign that Gingrich is serious about running for the White House in 2012.
The last time we heard from the disgraced former House Speaker was when he announced last December that he would launch a Spanish language conservative web magazine to bring Latinos within the conservative Republican fold. So far, that stunt has not been successful for obvious reasons. Gingrich is a wife-cheating, anti-immigration racist. Let’s hope his presidential bid is just as unsuccessful.
BREAKING NEWS: This past week’s blockbuster television moment did not appear on the season premiere of the Republican pornshow known as Jack Bauer’s 24. It happened on the Glenn Beck Show and should have been titled, Couric: The Sequel. It was riveting television when guest Sarah Palin was asked by Glenn Beck who her favorite founding father was and Palin drew a blank just as she had when Couric asked her what newspapers she read. It was just as obvious on Beck’s show as it was with Couric, that Palin simply had no idea what to answer. She could not name a newspaper or magazine for Couric and she could not name a founding father for Beck. After much stammering, she finally came up with George Washington (probably only because Beck had mentioned him 1 minute earlier) although he had little to no effect on the formation of our nation’s principles or system of government. here is a transcript of the embarrassing conversation:
PALIN: That is because we have a fallen world. And mankind is fallen and we can never put — I don’t believe that we were created to be able to put our faith wholly, solely except for our spouse in another person. Certainly not in a politician. I don’t believe that except, you know, looking back on our founding fathers and seeing the sincerity there and the genuine love that they had of the country, I don’t think in recent days we can find too many of those politicians.
BECK: That’s why we got to stop looking and start taking from the barrel and start picking from the tree. Who is your favorite founder?
PALIN: You know, well, all of them (editor’s note: Gee, sound familiar?) because they came collectively together with so much diverse .
BECK: Bull crap. Who is your favorite?
PALIN: So much diverse opinion and so much diversity in terms of belief, but collectively they came together to form this union.
(CROSSTALK)
PALIN: No, and they were led by, of course, George Washington, so he’s got to rise to the top. Washington was the consummate statesman. He serves, he returned power to the people. He didn’t want to be a king. He returned power to the people. Then he went back to Mount Vernon, he went back to his farm. He was almost reluctant to serve as president, too. And that is who you need to find to serve in government, in a bureaucracy.
Those who you know will serve for the right reasons because they’re reluctant to get out there and seek a limelight and seek power. They’re doing it for people. That was George Washington.
Quite simply, Sarah Palin is an uneducated buffoon.
THIS JUST IN: This week’s edition of “Right-Wing Conservatives Who Deserve To Burn In Hell” features Pat Robertson and c0-stars Rush Limbaugh. Robertson said that Haiti was struck by an earthquake that killed thousands and left millions to clinging to existence because the victims’ forefathers had made a pact with the Devil. Rush Limbaugh in turn, actually discouraged his listeners from contributing to relief for Haiti and pounded Obama for exploiting the tragedy in order to present himself as a humanitarian. Nuff said.
BREAKING NEWS: This week’s edition of “Absolutely, Unbelievably Stupid Blog Reader Comments” comes courtesy of The Political Carnival. In response to a post about the Haitian earthquake tragedy, a reader said this,
Anonymous said… I pay taxes to run my government, not to “AID” other countries. And I don’t recall when a poor country actually provided the U.S with anything when disaster struck the U.S
THIS JUST IN: This week’s edition of “The Lying Liar That Keeps On Lying” features Sarah Palin. While continuing to make the rounds as a Fox News guest host last week, she appeared on Hannity and defended her “death panels” lie to the point of stating that they still exist in health care reform legislation. here is the transcript:
Hannity: You stand by those comments because you think it still exists in the bill.
Palin: I do. It’s a commission, it’s bureaucracy, it’s bureaucrats who will ration care if the bill goes through as Obama wants it to go through. Yes — it’s modeled, in essence, after a British system that does have people to decide whether, based on your quality of life, your age, whether you’re gonna deserve health-care coverage or not — that’s what’s gonna happen in America if this health-care bill isn’t stopped, and it needs to be stopped soon, and that’s why the people of this land can’t give up in demanding that their voice be heard, demanding that the White House understand that this is a representative form of government, we do expect that the will of the people is listened to and adhered to and implemented via our representatives, who we elect.
Stupid is as stupid does.
BREAKING NEWS: This week’s edition of “Matches Made In Heaven” features Sarah Palin and the NASCAR crowd. Conservatives4Palin announced yesterday that plans are in the works for the former ex-quitting governor of Alaska to appear in some unspecified capacity at the Daytona 500 in February. Palin has already purchased her supply of chewing tobacco and Busch beer. Perhaps she will be baring her breasts while filming one of those Danica Patrick GoDaddy.com ads.
THIS JUST IN: The camaigning for the Massachusetts special election to fill Ted Kennedy’s senate seat is coming down to the wire. Yesterday, former President Bill Clinton came first to Boston and then to the central part of the state to stump for the Democratic Party candidate, Martha Coakley. He also recorded a robo-call for wide distribution which goes like this:
Hello, this is Bill Clinton.
I’m calling to urge you to get out and vote for Martha Coakley on Tuesday January 19.
This election is critical, not just for Massachusetts but for our entire country. The Republicans are spending millions of dollars to win Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat and they’re telling you that they’ve got a better economic plan, when all they want is to bring back President Bush’s economic policies. They’re telling you they’ve got a health care plan, when all they want is to leave the health insurance companies in control of America’s health care and bankrupt the country.
So please, get out and vote for Martha Coakley on Tuesday Jan 19. I know her, she’s a good person, she’ll be a good senator.
The caring and concerned citizens of Massachusetts thank you, Mr. Clinton. Today is a lso a big campaign day however, as President Barack Obama comes to Boston for the same purpose.
BREAKING NEWS: Martha Coakley exposed the fact that her Republican opponent for Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat fails to provide health insurance for his staff workers while the Democrat does provide those benefits. The Boston Globe reports that Coakley is saying the following in recent campaign stops:
We already knew that Scott Brown didn’t want to make health insurance more affordable for Massachusetts families and businesses. Now we learn that he won’t even make health insurance available for his own staff. If he won’t stand up for the people he employs, how could we ever trust him to stand up for us?
Tell it like it is, Martha. Tell it like it is.
THIS JUST IN: Watch Massachusetts Republican Senatorial candidate Scott Brown suggest that President Barack Obama was born out of wedlock.
Scott Brown is just another Birther-like conspiracy theorist that appears to have confused the Obamas with the Palins.
BREAKING NEWS: This week’s edition of “Guys That Belong In The Senate” features Massachusetts Republican Senatorial candidate Scott Brown. Yes folks, this is the guy that is running against Democrat Martha Coakley for the Ted Kennedy seat. He posed for this photo some years ago in Cosmopolitan magazine. Honestly, would he ever be taken seriously? I wonder why Sarah Palin does not characterize this photo as “porn”? Clearly, this is an example of, the emperor wears no clothes.
I can see my clothes from my house!
IMPORTANT MESSAGE AND PLEA FOR HELP !!!
As many of you know, this Tuesday January 19th is the date of the special election to fill Ted Kennedy’s Massachusetts Senate Seat. There has not been a Republican elected to a Massachusetts seat since 1972, but the G.O.P. has gone “All In” on this race and it is presently a toss up. The Democratic Party candidate, Martha Coakley (currently the Massachusetts Attorney General) is clinging to a razor thin lead in the polls but the momentum has swung to the Republican. I cannot overemphasize the importance of this race. Health care reform hangs in the balance. If Martha Coakley does not capture the Senate seat, the Democrats will lose their filibuster-proof 60 votes and the health care reform bill will not survive the Senate vote after reconciliation. Let me repeat, if Martha Coakley does not capture the Senate seat, the Democrats will lose their filibuster-proof 60 votes and the health care reform bill will not survive the Senate vote after reconciliation.
Lynnrockets’ Blast-Off has never asked any of you fellow Rocketeers to make a financial donation of any kind to any cause in the past and we hope that we will never feel the need to do so again. That being said, we are begging you to make a contribution (no matter how small it may be or what state you might be from) to the Martha Coakley campaign immediately. The well funded Republican national interest groups are flooding the Brown campaign with contributions to get out the vote. We owe it to our nation to match their efforts. Please, please, please, please make a contribution today to:
Martha Coakley
Democrat For U.S. Senate
We thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation,
Lynnrockets
Ok, so on to today’s song parody. This is one of our favorite scathing Republican bashing tunes and explains why this blog exists. Please remember to click on the song link below to familiarize yourselves with the tune and to have more fun singing along with the song parody.
I Write The Songs song link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-fev20voMc
I WRITE THE SONGS
(sung to the Barry Manilow song “I Write The Songs”)
I sling the jive whenever,
I sit down and scribble a song
I put the words and Republicans together
I love music,
And I love these songs
I write the songs that I hope you folks sing
I write the songs to dethrone G.O.P. kings
I write the songs that expose all their lies
I write the songs, I write the songs
I’m from a state that’s deep blue,
And we make a damned good lobster roll
No, there aren’t many right wing guys
There’s some but then, all of them are very old
I write the songs that attack the right wing
I write the songs that I hope linger and sting
I write the songs that prompt Glenn Beck to cry
I write the songs, I write the songs
Oh, I’ll take a hostile stance
When Limbaugh begins to rave and rant
And I’ll lead you to a poll, he can’t disprove
Palin has no heart,
So, I will tear her life apart
Hannity, Coulter too,
Also, too, O’Reilly
None of them can hide from me !!!
I write the songs about Mark Sanford’s flings
I write the songs about Larry Craig’s stings
I write the songs about Mark Foley’s guys
I write the songs, I write the songs
I write the songs about Joe Wilson’s slings
I write the songs of Vitter’s diapery things
I write the songs about all of those guys
I write the songs, I write the songs
I love music, so I write these songs
Sunday Morning Coffee (or Tea) – 7
Hello, fellow Rocketeers. Here is this weeks edition of Breaking News and This Just In.
BREAKING NEWS: The G.O.P. is out there spreading false rumors about health care reform once again. Here is the latest bit of absurdity. Voter registration forms, they claim, will be used to identify members of the Republican Party and to then severely ration or outright deny medical services to them. Come on folks, the ranks of the G.O.P. are dwindling quickly enough as the result of natural causes. No further means are required at this time.
THIS JUST IN: The reich wing’s politics of hate continue to flow like (Holy?) water. Pastor Steven Anderson of the Faithful Word Babtist Church in Tempe, Arizona, said the following of President Barack Obama in a recent sermon, “Nope. I’m not gonna pray for his good. I’m going to pray that he dies and goes to hell. When I go to bed tonight, that’s what I’m going to pray. And you say, ‘Are you just saying that?’ No. When I go to bed tonight, Steven L. Anderson is going to pray for Barack Obama to die and go to hell.” And they say that it is the liberals who practice politics of hate.
BREAKING NEWS: Nice gesture of the day. While traveling on the Southeast Expressway in Boston Friday evening I noticed that all of the overhead electronic signs said the following, “Thanks, Ted – From the People of Massachusetts.”
THIS JUST IN: The number of advertisers that have elected to pull all advertising from the Glenn Beck program on Fox News as the result of the host saying that President Barack Obama “is a racist” and, “has a deep seated hatred of white people” has grown. This week, approximately ten more sponsors have joined the exodus including, Applebee’s, Bank of America, Bell & Howell, Direct TV, General Mills, Kraft, Travelers Insurance and Vonage. In total, some forty-six sponsors have fled the show. It is nice to see some corporate responsibility for a change.
BREAKING NEWS: Republican congresswoman, Lynn (no relation, thank you) Jenkins of Kansas, this week told a gathering in her district that the G.O.P. was still searching for “a great white hope” to stop President Barack Obama’s political agenda. You heard correctly, “great white hope.” More racism from the right.
THIS JUST IN: Nice gesture of the day, Part 2. While at the Red Sox game tonight, it was nice to see the sleeve patch worn by all Toronto Blue Jays players which said, “TED”.
BREAKING NEWS: This is not really news, but I am thinking of attending Sarah Palin’s first public appearance after emerging from the nervous hospital, if for no other reason than to throw a shoe at her. Anyone with me?
In honor of the troops, please click on the song link below to not only familiarize yourselves with the tune, but to have more fun singing along to the song parody. This particular parody points out most, if not all, of the shortcomings of the Republican Party. Please enjoy.
We Didn’t Start The Fire song link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKu2QaytmrM
WE DIDN’T START THE LYING
(sung to the Billy Joel song “We Didn’t Start The Fire””)
Ronald Reagan, Larry Craig, Mark Sanford, Tom Delay
Michelle Malkin, Michele Bachmann, “Goin’ with the flow”
Joe McCarthy, Richard Nixon, Howard Baker, lack of vision
Spreading Fear, Acting queer, and ole Sixpack Joe
No icebergs, H-Bomb, “Pay for play”, “Hockey Mom”
Landrieu, Hamid Karzai, and that Michael Savage guy
Ivy tower, Van Flein, Tea-bagger party scene
Party of “No”, Tim Pawlenty, Let’s watch Glenn Beck cry
These are G.O.P. liars
Shy away from learning
Keep our stomachs turning
Burning their cross of fire
We watched them light it
And they can’t deny it
Vitter’s fallin’, Ginny Foxx, Boehner and Inhofe
Mitch McConnell, small umbrella, Talking the talk
Spin Zone, Rent to own, Straight martini, Bank loan
Russian view and Pastor Haggard’s flock
Sex crimes, Grassley, John McCain is “Mavericky”
Lining pockets, health care plan, Giuliani, Limbaugh Land
Barrasso, Fake protest, Tom “The Hammer”, Chambliss
Senate race, Lack of grace, and Melvin Martinez
These are G.O.P. liars
Shy away from learning
Keep our stomachs turning
Burning their cross of fire
We watched them light it
And they can’t deny it
Loaded Glock, SarahPAC, Sam Alito, Johnny Mack
Jindal, Right to die, Tripp’s father is Levi
Pentagon, Border wall, We must deport them all
Bed-wetters, genocide, No assisted suicide
Bush’s folly, Torture, Dick Cheney, Blackwater
Hate groups, Castro, John Ensign and his ‘ho
First Dude, Hannity, Mann Coulter and O’Reilly
Scooter Libby, Karl Rove, Sarah Palin’s “Sixpack Joes”
These are G.O.P. liars
Shy away from learning
Keep our stomachs turning
Burning their cross of fire
We watched them light it
And they can’t deny it
Kay Bailey, Muslims, K Street is full of bums
Villains, Pearlman, Iraqi Invasion
Health reform hysteria, Sarah Palin mania
Shameless G-Men, War in Afghanistan
Ron Paul, Airport sex, They don’t want no litmus test
Kneel and pray, Always “nay”, Can’t get married if you’re gay
These are G.O.P. liars
Shy away from learning
Keep our stomachs turning
Burning their cross of fire
We watched them light it
And they can’t deny it
Birth control, Lives of sin, They like folks that have white skin
Buckshot, Dow stock, Loud mouthed chicken-hawks
Takin’ Bacon, Palestine, Palin is no friend of mine
Now they have nukes in Iran, Couldn’t stop the Taliban
Makin’ fortunes, Soldiers die, Did we mention Glenn Beck cried?
Foreign debts, Homeless vets, Exposed by three jets
We voted them out the door, Now they’re just a mouse that roars
Spider holes and unjust wars, I can’t take them anymore.
These are G.O.P. liars
Shy away from learning
Keep our stomachs turning
Burning their cross of fire
We watched them light it
And they can’t deny it
(repeat chorus to fade)
Godspeed, Mr. Kennedy
Let's pass Health Care Reform for Ted
Camelot is no more. Its last shining Knight of the Round Table, Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts passed last night. If his lengthy political career stood for only one thing however, it was the passage of sweeping health care reform. Please do what you can to influence your legislators to keep that dream alive. Do it for Ted. In lieu of flowers, contact them and show support for passage of meaningful reform. Should it become reality, that will be Ted Kennedy’s epitaph.
On a more personal note, I only truly socialized with the good senator on one occasion some twenty-odd years ago. I will spare you the details at this time, but it did involve a Jameson drinking contest. I lost. Godspeed, Mr. Kennedy.
For obvious reasons there is no song parody to accompany this post. Instead, please watch the film clip below while thinking of Ted, Jack and Bobby’s happily ever after days of Camelot.
Lynnrockets' Blast-Off 