The Political Carnival

Breitbart: ‘This Message is to Attorney General Holder,’ Investigate ACORN ‘Or Else’

noreply@blogger.com (GottaLaff) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:15:00 +0000

By GottaLaff

Right-wing activist Andrew Breitbart of BigGovernment.com and other conservative anti-Obama websites [issued] a direct threat, approaching blackmail, to the United States Attorney General, Eric Holder. Breitbart is angry that Attorney General Holder has not opened a federal investigation into ACORN and he issued a threat of releasing more tapes during the 2010 elections, unless Holder complies with his demands.

Blackmail. I'm sure Breitbart wishes it was whitemail, but when you put yourself in criminal jeopardy, beggars can't be choosers.

Breitbart together with conservative operatives James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles, released another heavily edited ACORN tape this week, which seems to show an ACORN employee assisting the two with an illegal prostitution scheme. [...]

“It was Hannah and James and me who were being investigated. That’s why we’ve been forced to offer this latest tape.”

Yes, that's right. Holder made him do it. Holder made him issue a threat, too. It's all the Attorney General's fault, because Breitbart is not in the least bit responsible.

Besides, he's probably just cranky because the paper he works for is shutting down.

“And this message is to Attorney General Holder: I want you to know we have more tapes–its not just ACORN. And we’re going to hold out until the next election cycle — or else, if you want to do a clean investigation, we will give you the rest of what we have. We will comply with you. We will give you the documentation we have from countless ACORN whistleblowers who want to come forward, but are fearful of this organization and the retribution — that they fear that this is a dangerous organization.”

“So if you will get into an investigation, we will give you the tapes, and if you don’t give us the tapes [sic], we will revisit these tapes come election time.”

ACORN is so dangerous, so lethal, such a threat to America that Breitfart, er -bart (typo) felt it necessary to issue a threat of his own... to the nation's head legal guy. Smart move.

Why would he take such a chance? Because he's mad, that's why! Because he and the secret videotapers are being sued, that's why! Because he's a fool, that's why!

There is also an investigation in California launched by Attorney General Jerry Brown at the request of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, which has infuriated Breitbart.

I don't know a whole lot about legal stuff, but IMHO, Breitbart's in a heap-o'-trouble.

H/t: muttlikemeblog

VIDEO: 1,500 uninsured Arkansans line up for a free health care clinic

noreply@blogger.com (GottaLaff) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:58:00 +0000

By GottaLaff

Thank you Keith Olbermann and Keith's producer. And thanks to everyone who donated. I did, and I couldn't be prouder:

C.A.R.E. free clinic, Statehouse Convention Center, Little Rock Nov. 21, 2009

FireDogLake has several interviews of people who came today to receive care.

[W]hile [Blanche] Lincoln considers voting against the bill, free clinics like the one today remain the only option for hundreds of thousands of people in her state. The next free clinic event is scheduled for December 9-10 in Kansas City, Mo.

We need to put the pressure on those members of Congress who feel the status quo is okay, and who are just fine with continuing to increase the profits for Big Insurance.

The video depicts just one result of caving to special interests. Here's another one:

We got our 60

noreply@blogger.com (GottaLaff) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:06:00 +0000

By GottaLaff

All Democrats voted Yes. All Republicans voted No. Final vote: 60-39.

Lieberman voted Yes.

The health care bill will move forward. It's debate time.

Details here.

Glenn Beck to announce ‘big plan' for 2010

noreply@blogger.com (GottaLaff) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:11:00 +0000

By GottaLaff

Maybe FreedomTCOT can tell his friends to blindly follow Blech's Big Plan!

At a rally Saturday at a massive retirement community in central Florida, Beck is planning to unveil what he has billed as a “big plan” for 2010, which is expected to involve the 9.12 Project [...]

Need a visual reminder about what the 9/12 Project looked like? Why, here's one now! And here's a handy quote from the same post:

"I'm sick of being called Hitler and unpatriotic".

Aww, we're sorry we misunderstood you and your unpatriotic Hitler signs!

Looks like Blech is planning on putting on his superduper XXXL activism hat. I hope it covers his face, but that's wish for another post.

Apparently, he's also actively raising money off of all his followers' grassrootsiness:

Beck's Saturday rally, which is set for 3 p.m., is timed to coincide with the kickoff of a tour promoting his new book, “Arguing with Idiots.”

Speaking of idiots...

The 2010 march — called the “We the People Restore Our Constitution March, Rally and 9/11 Memorial” — is planned for Washington’s National Mall. Its other co-sponsor is an online activism group called ResistNet.com.

ResistNet’s Darla Dawald credited Beck with setting in motion the march, but said he’s not involved in its planning. “Glenn doesn’t want it to be about him – always about the people,” Dawald, who is leading march planning for ResistNet, wrote in an email.

That Glenn, he's so selfless, isn't he? What a shrinking violet.

Here's a list of ResistNet's "partners".

Now see if this rings a bell (Hint: Read the first sentence of this post):

Though Drawdy stressed that Beck “is not the leader of” the 912 movement, she added “all he has to do is say something, and they’ll jump.”

No dictators for them, nosirreebob!

The 912 Project website, which is maintained by Mercury Radio Arts, Beck’s production company but hosted by Fox News, lists the march among many other upcoming 912 events, and provides a link for subscribers to sign up.

The FoxNews.com logo adorns the lower right hand corner of the 912 Project homepage, which indicates it is “Brought to you by FOXNews.com” and links to the network’s website.

Big plan, indeed. One might even say corporate.

H/t: Mark Karlin, editor/publisher of BuzzFlash

"I can't wait to follow EXACTLY what Beck tells us"

noreply@blogger.com (GottaLaff) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:33:00 +0000

By GottaLaff

Via where else? Twitter:

There's nothing like authoritarianism and blind followers to ruin a perfectly good country.

Come to think of it, isn't it rather contradictory to follow "EXACTLY" what Blech tells one to do... to avoid impending dictatorship?

Why, I do believe FreedomTCOT's thoughts and actions are being ::dun-dun-dun-n-n:: controlled! Let's not tell him.

H/t: TQNEWS

Not Joe the Not Plumber hopes Palin not running in 2012

noreply@blogger.com (GottaLaff) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:43:00 +0000

By GottaLaff

Not Joe is not hoping for Not Author to not stay out of the 2012 race:

"I hope she doesn't (run) because I think she could do a lot for America outside of office," Wurzelbacher said. "And I think she could rally Americans to get together and make some changes from the grassroots level. I think she could be an incredible rallying point, and I think that's where she could serve America best."

She could do a lot for America outside of America.

"Mainstream media really painted me as a fool," he said. "They did their best to discredit me as a tax cheat, a wife beater, a racist. You know, they said a lot of nasty things about me, and all of them untrue."

I seem to have misjudged the corporate media. There's more accuracy in their reporting than I realized.

Not Joe looks to me to be a future Lou Dobbs voter:

"Do I think McCain was the answer?" he asked. "Absolutely not, especially with the bill he tried to pass with legalizing all the illegal immigrants. He was just pandering to the Hispanic vote, period."

Not Joe is not good with facts... and not inclusive. And that's not American.

VIDEOS: Sen. Al Franken's Remarks on Health Care Reform

noreply@blogger.com (GottaLaff) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:11:00 +0000

By GottaLaff

Have I mentioned lately how happy I am that Al Franken is a U.S. Senator, and how proud I am of the job he's doing?

No?

Well then, I am so happy that Al Franken is a U.S. Senator, and I am so proud of the job he's doing!

Thank you, Firedoglake, for getting these up so quickly.

Is Harry Reid Planning To Sell Out The Public Option?

noreply@blogger.com (GottaLaff) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:53:00 +0000

By GottaLaff

Glass half empty? Or glass completely empty?

It looks like Harry Reid is getting ready to sell out the labor unions, the progressive community, the Democratic base, and the majority of the American people. [...]

There is only two possible conclusions:

Reid thinks Joe Lieberman, Mary Landrieu, and Blanche Lincoln are bluffing. He believes that in the end when he stand up to them they will fold. (Given Reid’s track record I would not be holding my breath for that)
Reid is planning to sell out the American people who overwhelming support the public option. He is planning cripple the public option with a trigger or remove it all together. [...] They will be given not only veto power over health care reform, but over every issue the progressive community cares about.

If this is accurate, and he's planning to sell us out, then he just ensured his being voted out of office in 2010.

As the voice of the L.A. Lakers, Chick Hearn, used to say, the outcome of the game is "in the refrigerator: the door is closed, the lights are out, the eggs are cooling, the butter's getting hard, and the Jell-O's jigglin'."

Let's hope the author of that Firedoglake post is wrong, and that the fridge door is still ajar.

VIDEO-- Harry Potter: The Sequel- Democratic health care debate talking point

noreply@blogger.com (GottaLaff) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:42:00 +0000

By GottaLaff

I've heard a number of Dems use this one. Hey, if it works, go for it. Maybe some of the magic will rub off on them.

Poof! A robust public option!

First Oprah, now Bill Moyers

noreply@blogger.com (GottaLaff) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:51:00 +0000

By GottaLaff

Oprah gave us two years' notice. Bill? Only a few months, and I'm way more upset about this one:

Veteran PBS journalist Bill Moyers has announced that he will be ending his Friday night public affairs show “Bill Moyers Journal” as well as “Now on PBS” on April 30, 2010:
Mr. Moyers said he had been planning for some time to retire the program on Dec. 25, but was asked by PBS to raise the funds to continue through April, which he did.

“I am 75 years old,” he said of the decision to end the series, which began in April 2007. The program has recently been having a “good run of it,” he added in a telephone interview on Friday, “so I feel it’s time.” He said he was not quitting television work, although he has no new projects planned.

He's one of the most engaging, well-informed journalists on the Tee Vee Machine. Maybe he'll do specials? Please?

PhotOh! Sarah Palin plays the Blame Game

noreply@blogger.com (GottaLaff) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:21:00 +0000

By GottaLaff

Via our pals at The Mudflats, a masterpiece:

She updates Blogger McGhostWriter's book here.

BREAKING: Blanche Lincoln votes to move health care bill forward

noreply@blogger.com (GottaLaff) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:18:00 +0000

By GottaLaff

I'm watching CSPAN2, and Blanche Lincoln (D-Arkansas) just announced that she will vote to move the bill forward, allowing a debate on health care reform.

How can anyone move against debating a bill? Debating. That's what Congress is supposed to do. Share ideas. Discuss. Exchange arguments. Decide. Vote.

Kinda like democracy.

60. Finally.

UPDATE: Lincoln says more votes to come, and she told Reid she will oppose any procedural vote in future if public option still on table. (via Greg Mitchell on Twitter)

AUDIO: Dennis Miller calls Newsweek Palin cover "sexist", then slams Hillary Clinton

noreply@blogger.com (GottaLaff) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:47:00 +0000

By GottaLaff

Remember when Dennis Miller was funny?

Miller said it was 9/11 that changed him. Did it make him sexist too?

But Miller’s hypocritical comments and Palin’s lack of concern with them, give weight to those who argue that Palin and her conservative followers have a selective perception of social bias.

And the media will give them both a pass on this.

Hyp. O. Crites.

Joe Lieberman, "You lie!"

noreply@blogger.com (GottaLaff) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:23:00 +0000

By GottaLaff

Here's what Joe Lieberman, accusing President Obama of pulling a bait and switch, said:

"It’s classic politics of our time that if you look at the campaign last year, presidential, you can’t find a mention of public option," Lieberman said. "It was added after the election as a part of what we normally consider health insurance reform — insurance market reforms, cover people, cover people who are not covered." [...]
President Obama backed the public option during the campaign. For example, the Obama-Biden health care plan proposed a new public plan.

I just know you're a step ahead of me here. Let's say it together:

Traitor Joe is a big fat dog-faced liar.

For that quaint little thing called the truth, go here.

H/t: Glenn Greenwald

VIDEO- Countdown: What Senate holdouts get for moving health care bill forward

noreply@blogger.com (GottaLaff) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:55:00 +0000

By GottaLaff

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Last night Lawrence O'Donnell ticked off what the holdouts would get in exchange for letting the debate move forward.

Keep in mind, this is just to let debate begin... not voting for a bill. How generous of them. How democratic.

Sen. Mary Landrieu just announced she'll vote "yes" to move the bill forward, but is now speaking critically of the public option as I type this.

Landrieu to back Dems on healthcare vote

noreply@blogger.com (GottaLaff) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:45:00 +0000

By GottaLaff

Yes, good, now vote for the bill:

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), one of two Democratic centrists previosuly not committed to supporting a crucial test vote on healthcare reform Saturday night, will back her party, according to the Democratic leadership.

VIDEO: If Sarah Palin's book could talk

noreply@blogger.com (GottaLaff) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:30:00 +0000

By GottaLaff

Now if only walls had ears...

Coming Attractions: Roadmap to Health Care Reform

noreply@blogger.com (GottaLaff) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:05:00 +0000

By GottaLaff

Via the L.A. Times, an outline of what we will see in the coming weeks:

CLOTURE ON MOTION TO PROCEED
Required to end a Republican filibuster and begin debate on the healthcare legislation

When expected: Today

Votes required: 60

AMENDMENTS
Once debate begins, lawmakers from both parties will be allowed to offer amendments

When expected: Starting Nov. 30 through Christmas or beyond

Votes required: Subject to negotiation, with 60 likely for more contentious amendments

CLOTURE TO END DEBATE ON THE BILL
Required to end a Republican filibuster and move to a vote on the bill

When expected: Just before Christmas, though possibly later

Votes required: 60

ADOPTION OF THE BILL
Would send the Senate bill to a conference committee, where it would be reconciled with the House healthcare bill that passed two weeks ago

When expected: Just before Christmas, though possibly later

Votes required: 51

CLOTURE TO END DEBATE ON CONFERENCE REPORT
Would end GOP filibuster of the conference report that combines the House and Senate healthcare bills

When expected: Sometime in January

Votes required: 60

FINAL PASSAGE
Assuming House approval, would send the legislation to President Obama for his signature

When expected: Sometime in January

Votes required: 51

The article can be found here. I only gave you the accompanying primer.

Mid Day Distraction

noreply@blogger.com (Paddy) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:30:00 +0000

Slight NSFW.

Vermont church to sell Tiffany window to help homeless

noreply@blogger.com (Paddy) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:40:00 +0000

Imagine the good that could be done with all the treasures stored in the Vatican?

BRATTLEBORO, Vt.—Here's a twist on the old saying, "When a door closes, a window opens." A Brattleboro, Vt., a church is removing a historic stained glass window, so it can open its doors to the homeless.

The First Baptist Church is selling a stained glass window that was installed in 1896. It depicts St. John the Divine and was created and signed by Tiffany Studios.

Proceeds from the sale will be used to repair the church's leaking roof so it can continue to host a winter shelter for people who need a place to sleep and a warm meal.

An antique dealer who specializes in stained glass windows told the Brattleboro Reformer the window could fetch anywhere between $40,000 and $60,000 at auction.

Video- O'Reilly to Palin on why no one questioned Biden's experience during campaign: "Well, he's got a lot of experience"

noreply@blogger.com (Paddy) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Oh Sarah, Sarah, Sarah.

Saturday Linkage

noreply@blogger.com (Paddy) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:31:00 +0000

First time this year waking up with the temp under 32. Brrr.

It's Barbie in a burkha: World-famous doll gets a makeover to go under the hammer for 50th anniversary (Cue Michelle Malkin head explosion)

Liberty, Equality, Gastronomy: Paris via a 19th-Century Guide

Wikipedia founder creates help site for homeless

Oak Park's phallic blog follies

A Peruvian Black Market in Human Fat?

Dolphins, sea lions to guard Navy subs

Quick Restart Of Big Bang Machine Stuns Scientists

Cigar Churchill smoked as he planned D-Day is discovered after being hidden for 66 years

Pic via Cat of course.

Cartoon of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Paddy) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Click to enlarge, via.

Video- Presidents Weekly Address: Traveling Abroad for Our Economy at Home

noreply@blogger.com (Paddy) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:55:00 +0000

VIDEO: Sarah Palin's interview with Bill O'Reilly in 200 seconds

noreply@blogger.com (GottaLaff) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:26:00 +0000

By GottaLaff

Thank you TPM!

Great. I can't get it to play. But when I finally do, I'll join you in group snarkage.