Pushing Rope

Kevin Beckner Volunteer Party

2012-05-19T19:10:00.001-04:00

There will be a party for people interested in volunteering for Hillsborough County commissioner Kevin Beckner's re-election campaign. Beckner will speak about his platform. There will be food and refreshments.

VOLUNTEER PARTY, Free entry Collage, Ybor 1701 E. 8th Ave., Tampa, FL 33605
Food will be provided- so bring a friend!

Quote of the Day

2012-05-14T16:42:00.003-04:00

" White supremacy, in the sense of a society in which key decisions are made by white Europeans, is one of the better arrangements History has come up with. There have of course been some blots on the record, but I don’t see how it can be denied that net-net, white Europeans have made a better job of running fair and stable societies than has any other group."

John Derbyshire, still spouting racist nonsense.

Don't believe that Derbyshire is a racist.? Derbyshire proudly told Alan Colmes that he is a bigot.

"I am not very careful about what I say, having grown up in an era before Political Correctness, and never having interalized the necessary restraits. I am a homophobe, though a mild and tolerant one, and a racist, though an even more mild and tolerant one, and those things are going to be illegal pretty soon, the way we are going."

The National Review must be so proud of the years they spent publishing Derbyshire's punditry.

Connie Has 99 Problems

2012-05-14T15:58:00.000-04:00

The Connie Mack IV campaign has been a disaster. The stories of Mack's barroom brawls have generated more publicity than Mack's policy positions. It doesn't help matters that Mack's campaign is horrible at rapid response. Matters are made worse by Mack being a painfully boring candidate.

We now see Mack caught up in a campaign email scandal.

"I opine that the reimbursement constitutes a campaign contribution, and as such exceeds the maximum allowable by law," the complaint reads. "According to the FEC's candidate handbook: 'When a committee, group or individual pays for a communication that is coordinated with a campaign or candidate, the communication is either an inkind contribution or, in some limited cases, a coordinated party expenditure by a party committie."

Broward County resident Timothy "Chaz" Stevens filed the complaint. The FEC complaint points to several potential ethical problems for Mack. The snail mail was sent out on Mack's House of Representatives mailing list. According to Stevens, 64 percent of the mailers werpe sent outside of his House district. This has the appearance of Mack using House resources to further his U.S. Senate chances. The cost of the mailer was billed to the U.S. Treasury. Using Treasury dollars for campaign purposes is a serious no no. Vern Buchanan and Charles Rangel got into trouble for ethical violations like what Mack is accused of.

I thought George LeMieux didn't have a chance of getting out of the primary because of his past connections to Charlie Crist. LeMieux was fortunate to have Mack and not a tea party fire-breather be his opponent.

Quote of the Day

2012-05-13T11:16:00.000-04:00

“Call me cynical, but I wasn’t sure his views on marriage could get any gayer." Rand Paul, on President Barack Obama's decision to surport gay marriage. Way to keep it classy, Rand. Update: Apparently, I am not the oly one who thought Paul came off prickishly. Christian conservative Tony Perkins gives a verbal smackdown.

"I don't think this is something we should joke about," he continued. "We are talking about ndividuals who feel very strongly one way or the other, and I think we should be civil, respectful, allowing all sides to have the debate. I'm glad that's what you're doing here this morning. But I think this is not something to laugh about. It's not something to poke fun at other people about. This is a very serious issue."

Wild Things Assemble

2012-05-11T21:18:00.001-04:00

An artist painted a picture of the Avengers in the style of the late Maurice Sendak. The Hulk looks downright cuddly.

Write A Caption: Batman & Robin II

2012-05-10T16:49:00.000-04:00

"Robin, don't tell Commissioner Gordon about this."

Obama Hasn't Made Unemployment Worse

2012-05-06T22:34:00.000-04:00

Conservatives on blogs and Twitter keep running the meme that President Barack Obama made things worse than when President George W. Bush was in office. Except conservative activists rareky mention Bush's name. It tells you how big a failure Bush was when Republican activists have convenient amnesia of who was the previous president. This chart by Kevin Drum shows that there are more Americans employed now than the first official month of Obama's presidency. The job numbers are not as good as they could be. That is in part due to Republicans obstructing bills that could have helped job creation.

The obstruction by Republicans had little to do with policy. The current batch of Republicans are ignorant about the legislation lobbyists write for Robert Draper's book "Do Not Ask What Good We Do: Inside the U.S. House of Representatives" details how Republicans plotted to obstruct Obama the ay he has sworn into office.

"If you act like you're the minority, you're going to stay in the minority," Draper quotes McCarthy as saying. "We've gotta challenge them on every single bill and challenge them on every single campaign."

People should ask themselves which party is really hurting the country.

Rupert Murdoch Protests Too Much

2012-05-05T20:54:00.000-04:00

British news anchor John Snow gave Rupert Murdoch a great retort on Twitter. Murdoch complained that it is impossible to have a civil conversation on Twitter. In case Murdoch hasn't noticed, Fox News is known for shouting down guests and calling peiple who disagrees with the Republican Party socialists.

Write A Caption: Batman and Robin

2012-05-05T20:19:00.000-04:00

Batman and Robin had to keep their love hidden in the conservative superhero community.

Quote of the Day

2012-05-05T19:17:00.001-04:00

“If you don't have a sense of humor, you’re not allowed in Ted’s world. I don't objectify women. I'd like to think that I'm optimizing their hardware.” Ted Nugent, on women that object to the sexism in his lyrics. I am gonna go out on a limb and say that many women are happy to not be part if Ted's world. People will look back on the 2012 campaign and wonder what the hell Team Romney was thinking w when they embraced the Nugent endorsement.

Friday Cat Blogging

2012-05-03T20:29:00.001-04:00

This Florida panther cub is now 5 years-old. There are very few panthers left in the state. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has the Florida panther listed as an endangered species.

Marco Rubio: Hip to Be Square

2012-04-26T12:21:00.000-04:00

This is painfully embarrassing. Not embarrassing enough that I won't post it. Sen. Marco Rubio was in an Osmonds singing group.

5. He loved the Osmonds ... "The absolute scariest aspect of Marco Rubio's biography," says Peter Schorsch at SaintPetersBlog, "is his fondness for [the] Osmonds." It came with the territory when the family lived in Nevada. The Osmonds were the most visible Mormons in the country at the time, and Rubio and his cousins were wild about them. In elementary school, Marco formed a tribute singing group with his sister and cousin to entertain relatives. "It was just the same Osmonds song at every family function," Michelle Denis said.

Hat tip to Peter Schorsch for the greatest blogging find ever.

Judge Strikes Down Florida Drug Testing Law

2012-04-26T10:14:00.000-04:00

Alex Leary reports Gov. Rick Scott struck out in court again.

Miami judge rules that Gov. Rick Scott's drug testing for state workers is unconstitutional, violates 4th Amendment.

I challenge a reporter to ask Scott does he know what the Fourth amendment is? Does Scott even care. I will post the Fourth amendment to help our governor out.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Doggy Driver

2012-04-25T20:55:00.001-04:00

A 9 month old puppy rides in a remote-controlled car in Japan.

Ross Douthat's Performance Problem

2012-04-25T16:43:00.000-04:00

Ladies, you can read about a nookie session New York Times conservative columnist Ross Douthat had during his college years. The passage comes from Douthat's book "Privilege."

One successful foray ended on the guest bed of a high school friend's parents, with a girl who resembled a chunkier Reese Witherspoon drunkenly masticating my neck and cheeks. It had taken some time to reach this point--"Do most Harvard guys take so long to get what they want?" she had asked, pushing her tongue into my mouth. I wasn't sure what to say, but then I wasn't sure this was what I wanted. My throat was dry from too much vodka, and her breasts, spilling out of pink pajamas, threatened my ability to. I was supposed to be excited, but I was bored and somewhat disgusted with myself, with her, with the whole business... and then whatever residual enthusiasm I felt for the venture dissipated, with shocking speed, as she nibbled at my ear and whispered--"You know, I'm on the pill..."

A lot people saw hypocrisy in Douthat having no problem getting a girl in bed and then passing judgment on her for being on the pill. I have no disagreement with this assessment. What struck me is Douthat had performance problems making out with a Reese Witherspoon lookalike. I would be thanking my lucky stars to be making out with someone that looked like Reese Witherspoon when I was 20. Douthat's well-known Christian conservatism not with-standing; I don't buy for a second that Douthat's lack of enthusiasm was because of the pill.

Quote of the Day

2012-04-24T21:20:00.000-04:00

"The Supreme Court of the United States has really wrecked the American political process in allowing corporations and unions to have unlimited anonymous expenditures. And if you fund the tea party, all hell breaks loose."

Arlen Specter, on the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling.

Rick Scott Storyteller

2012-04-24T19:26:00.000-04:00

Who knew Gov. Rick Scott was a master children's storyteller.

Then the governor decided he would explain to the children the importance of reducing fraud in Florida's no-fault car insurance program.
"There's money that's wasted in auto accident mistakes. Fraud," Scott told the kids. "So we passed a bill — personal injury protection — that hopefully will reduce the growth rate and the cost of auto accident fraud."

Dr. Seuss eat your heart out.

Steve Bousquet's column details how Team Scott micro-managed the photo-op. There hasn't been this level of bad stagecraft since President George W. Bush was in office. The problem that Team Scott will never understand is the media will see the insincerity.

A man truly interested in children wouldn't be droning on about PIP reform. Scott came to Cunningham Creek Elementary in an attempt to draw attention from his prior K-12 and college education cuts. To see a politician actually engaging children watch President Barack Obama read "Where The Wild Things Are."

Rubio's Slip

2012-04-24T13:38:00.001-04:00

Marco Rubio had this hysterical Freudian slip when he was campaigning with Mitt Romney in Pennsylvania.

"I'm not talking about that process any more," Rubio told reporters in Aston, near Philadelphia, with a smile that seemed a playful reference to a forum last week, when he mistakenly said "if I do a good job as vice president" then corrected himself to say, "as a senator."

The last two losing presidential campaigns picked John Edwards and Sarah Palin as running mates. Picking a telegenic younger politician as a game changer is a sign of a desperate campaign. We now know about Edwards' and Palin's baggage. Just wait until the national media investigates Rubio's foreclosed home, David Rivera connections, and outlandiish expenses on a Republican Party of Florida credit card. What is interesting about Rubio's verbal slip is how he couldn't hide his ambition to the media. It will be interesting to see how Rubio handles being grilled about his lack of policy knowledge. The early signs aren't good.

R.E.M. - Exhuming McCarthy

2012-04-23T23:27:00.001-04:00

I thought this song was timely since Allen West is accusing members of Congress of being communists. This is from a 1987 R.E.M. show in Holland.

Kevin Beckner USF College Democrats Meeting

2012-04-23T23:16:00.000-04:00

The Kevin Beckner campaign will meet with the USF College Democrats. This event is to get college students involved with reelecting Beckner to his Hillsborough County Commission seat.

Side note: do not expect Beckner at the meeting.

Thursday, April 26, 2012 - Thu 26 Time: TBD USF College Democrats

Event Location: USF Campus - Fowler

Event Description: Campaign speaking to the USF College Democrats about being active in campaigns and volunteer opportunities.

Allen West Uninvited From NAACP Event

2012-04-23T22:29:00.000-04:00

The Martin County NAACP has rescheduled a fundraiser. The keynote speaker was to be Rep. Allen West. The NAACP informed West he will not speak at the rescheduled event. The reason being West accusing members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus of being communists.

There's a certain statement he made about Communists," Jerry Gore, president of the Martin County NAACP, told Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers. "That statement alone ... we do not represent that type of atmosphere."

Let's face it. Allen West isn't going to bring in the dollars at a NAACP fundraiser. I can see why the NAACP would rather not have him there. There is free speech. There is also the right for people to disagree with your opinion.

I actually want to see West speak loud and often. West's crazy talk will drive people away from the Republican Party. I see Republican activists on Twitter praise West and the late Andrew Breitbart. I say let the GOP activists champion these polarizing figures. The truth is their heroes aren't so brave. West caves when asked to name Congressional Democrats that are communists.

O'BRIEN: So name names for me. Which? Start naming the 78 to 81.
WEST: Oh we don't have to do that...
O'BRIEN :No, no we do, I'm dying to know.
WEST: You can go look up the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
O'BRIEN: I've got them right here.
WEST: Well then you've got the names.
O'BRIEN: So [Minnesota Democratic Rep.] Keith Ellison is a communist?
Soledad, Soledad you know something...
O'BRIEN: [Arizona Democratic Rep.] Raul Grijalva is a communist? [California Democratic Rep.] Judy Chu is a communist?
WEST: You can call it whatever you want. Call it whatever you want. I'm talking about their beliefs.

I call it a lack of courage on West's part. People who throw out accusations and then won't back them up are bullies.

Joe Biden: Great Orator

2012-04-23T10:07:00.000-04:00

Jodi Kantor's book "The Obamas" contains this funny moment.

Initially, Barack had tuned out the presidential talk, too. But he was just as disappointed with the U.S. Senate as he had been with the state senate – he had gone to Washington to do big things, but he was a junior member of a slow, rule-bound, Republican-controlled body. “Shoot. Me. Now.” he wrote to an aide, in the middle of a particularly long-winded oration. (The speaker was Senator Joe Biden.)

Why did Obama pick Biden to be his Vice-President?

Bob Dylan - It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)

2012-04-22T21:55:00.000-04:00

No songwriter could compete with Dylan when he was at the peak of his powers. If you say Bruce Springsteen then you need to be smacked in the back of the head.

The Romney and Rubio Etch A Sketch

2012-04-22T21:14:00.002-04:00

"You can legalize someone's status in this country with a significant amount of certainty about their future, without placing them on a path toward citizenship."

Marco Rubio, on his dubious immigration reform proposal.

Rubio is a potential running mate for Romney. Like Romney, Rubio is attempting to reset the Etch A Sketch with Hispanic voters.

By last week, he trailed Obama among Hispanic voters 67-27 in a new Pew Research Center survey. That's worse for Romney than the 67-31 margin Obama took in 2008 against McCain.
Romney appealed to Hispanics during a visit to Arizona Friday, hoping their concern about the economy will trump other issues.
There are other possible routes, many of them applauded by Republican officials meeting in Arizona who signaled the party grew too harsh in its approach in recent years.
Some mentioned the appeal of Romney naming a running mate such as Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., a Cuban American, or Gov. Susana Martinez of New Mexico, a Mexican American.
Several said they'd support a plan by Rubio to propose a conservative version of the DREAM Act that would allow children of illegal immigrants to stay in the United States, albeit without a path to citizenship.
"We need to make it comfortable to be in the country. Not citizenship, but if they've been productive members of society, they should stay," said Glen McCall, a representative to the Republican National Committee from South Carolina.

This proposal does nothing to make a path to citizenship or give Hispanics an incentive not to enter America illegally. This is cynical politics at its worse.

Earth Day: Who Wants to Eat Mutant Shrimp?

2012-04-22T17:55:00.001-04:00

It be be years before we will know the full extent of the damage of the Gulf Coast oil spill. Republicans in the House of Representatives and Obama administration appointee Ken Feinberg have done nothing to speed up the payment process BP fines being used for clean-up. We are now finding mutant fish (pictured above) and eyeless fish in the Gulf. Oil is still washing up on the Louisiana coast. This travesty is allowed to continue because BP America contributes to the campaigns of both political parties.

Daily Kos is running a petition with the mutant shrimp photo. The petition will be sent to Speaker John Boehner's office.

To Speaker John Boehner:
It is time for the House of Representatives to join the Senate in passing legislation mandating that fines paid by BP go toward clean up and restoration of the Gulf Coast.

Amen.