An Empty Resume

Why does Condoleeza Rice get so much respect? As far as I can tell, her two big achievements during her time in the Bush administration were not preventing 9-11 and helping to sell the completely unnecessary invasion of Iraq.

Liar

It's amazing how some people can talk one minute about what a big part religion plays in their lives and the next minute start spewing out lie after lie after lie.

http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/08/30/772921/6-worst-lies-in-paul-ryans-speech/

Burn, Baby Burn

I'd love to hear a Republican say where we're all supposed to go when it turns out they were wrong about climate change.

http://www.salon.com/2012/08/29/a_gop_platform_for_disaster/

The Republican Version of Affirmative Action

The RNC's list of convention speakers seems pretty disconnected from the reality of who's voting Republican this year.

http://swampland.time.com/2012/08/29/the-rncs-diversity-pageant/

The Men's Club

Some days I can't tell if it's 2012 or 1952. As a matter of fact, I would say Republicans were actually MORE sensitive about rape sixty years ago.

Mitt History

A pretty funny piece by moderate Republican David Brooks. I'm sort of surprised he wrote it this close to the election.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/28/opinion/brooks-the-real-romney.html?_r=1&hp

What's the Difference?

It's been fun watching all the Republicans condemning Todd Akin the past few days. Of course, it seems pretty hypocritical considering their party platform next week will also advocate banning abortions even in cases of rape or incest. Akin just went one small step further and explained why he(and many other pro-lifers)suspect pretty much any woman who claims she ended up being impregnated by a rapist is a LIAR.

Not Fair, Not Balanced, Not Substantiated

The following video illustrates how much importance Fox News places on rumors and gossip. They don't even bother trying to figure out how many people believe this stuff, they just fire up the cameras and go for it.

http://www.upworthy.com/want-to-see-fox-news-lose-all-its-credibility-in-93-seconds?c=ufb1

Ryanomics

It's a lot harder to take Paul Ryan seriously once you start looking at the details he offers (and won't offer until after the election).

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/20/opinion/krugman-an-unserious-man.html?_r=1

They Just Can't Help Themselves

Todd Akin is like the poster child for all those new extreme GOP candidates who could probably coast to a victory in November but just can't resist the temptation to release all those ideological flying monkeys they've had caged in their minds all these years.

http://www.salon.com/2012/08/19/todd_akin_legitimate_rape_stops_pregnancy/

The Nasty Months

Like this writer, I'd rather see a nasty, honest campaign than a puffy, polite one that's hiding what the candidates really want to do.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/yes-this-campaign-is-negative-and-nasty--and-thats-a-good-thing/2012/08/17/37b671fc-e873-11e1-9739-eef99c5fb285_blog.html

Clueless

Paul Ryan says his favorite band is Rage Against the Machine. Sorry, Paul...your side doesn't get to enjoy the cool bands. You're stuck with Ted Nugent and Kid Rock.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/tom-morello-paul-ryan-is-the-embodiment-of-the-machine-our-music-rages-against-20120816

Some Good Climate Change News For Once

Natural gas isn't perfect but it's so much better than coal.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/08/in-a-surprise-co2-emissions-hit-20-year-low/1

Such a Nice Looking Young Sociopath

Romney's getting his poll bump currently. I think those numbers will change when people outside the GOP base start to understand how extreme Ryan's views are.

http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_21319974/maureen-dowd-paul-ryan-is-cutest-package-that

Sure, Ryan Talks a Good Game...

I was watching that idiot GOP economist Art Laffer today on CNBC. He called Paul Ryan a staunch advocate for financial restraint (paraphrasing here). Turns out that really wasn't true during the Bush years.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/79688.html

He Only Buys the Money Part

Funny how Paul Ryan and other conservatives forget that Aynd Rand wanted government out of both people's business AND personal lives.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/15/opinion/ayn-rand-wouldnt-approve-of-paul-ryan.html?_r=1&hp

Can This Marriage Be Saved?

This sounds like an interesting book, may have to pick it up. It does seem often that we're never going to solve our big problems with one culture dominating the North and another dominating the South.

http://www.salon.com/2012/08/12/should_the_south_secede/

Nun of Their Business

I was watching the local Seattle news yesterday and they had a story about a march supporting nuns. They're under fire from the Vatican and US bishops for spending too much time advocating for the poor and not enough focusing on homosexuality and abortion (two subjects Jesus never mentioned). Give me a frickin' break, you old pedophile enablers!!

So Much For That Crisis...

Thought I'd back off the Romney-Ryan story for a minute and check the status on an older story. Has the repeal of DADT destroyed the military yet?

http://freethoughtblogs.com/rockbeyondbelief/2012/08/12/first-openly-gay-general-in-the-us-military/

Ayn Rand's Fickle Lover

Looks like we have another flip flopper on our hands.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/79597.html

Please, Please, Please Pick Paul Ryan

There's a buzz currently that Paul Ryan is seriously being considered to be Mitt's running mate. Nothing would make me happier...this is a guy who won't be vague about the GOP's plan to decimate the social safety net.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/08/08/paul-ryan-is-a-great-choice.html

New Priorities

Here's an interesting piece talking about how many young conservatives have little interest in continuing the culture wars. The picture is of Meagan McCain, somebody I associate with this growing segment of the Republican Party.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/09/us/politics/young-republicans-erase-lines-on-social-issues.html?_r=2&hp

One of the Worst Jobs in the World

You have to feel sorry for the Romney spokespeople. How in the hell are you suppose to go out and represent the views of a guy who can flip-flop at 90 mph?

http://www.salon.com/2012/08/08/the_romneycare_freak_out/

Swamp Brains

Maybe this is just Louisiana's way of preventing kids from ever leaving the state...

http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2012/07/photos-evangelical-curricula-louisiana-tax-dollars

Cold, Heartless and Legal

CEOs might be able to make deals that end up destroying people's lives. But that definitely isn't something that should go on your resume if you want to be president of the country.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dana-milbank-romneys-bain-games/2012/08/07/92aae1dc-e0c7-11e1-a19c-fcfa365396c8_story.html?hpid=z2

You Built It (and the Rest of Us Helped)

David Brooks on the different stages of life and how our understanding of success evolves over time.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/03/opinion/brooks-the-credit-illusion.html

Myths and Manipulation

I thought this was an interesting article. The past we're sentimental about was never completely real and the future we hope for may never really happen.

http://www.salon.com/2012/08/04/total_recall_and_americas_false_memory_syndrome/

A Fight to the Finish

It seems like as the country has become more polarized, the presidential elections have gotten simpler. There are only maybe a few "swing" states and that's where you need to spend most of your ad money. Since the president is now leading in New Mexico, Colorado,New Hampshire, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Florida it looks like it's getting tougher and tougher for Mitt to get to 270. Of course, November is still a long time from now and you never know what might happen between now and then.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/08/04/michael-tomasky-on-the-possible-coming-obama-landslide.html?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews

The Future Looks Sunny

I look forward to the day when electricity generated by a solar panel powers my next car (some type of plug-in vehicle with a gas backup).

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-05/solar-energy-costs-may-already-rival-coal-spurring-installation-boom.html

This Plan is a Turd Wrapped in Gold Paper

I've said it before and I'll say it again...I can understand if somebody is proposing everybody's taxes go up to tackle the deficit. But raising them on the middle class and giving the rich a tax cut? No way. And I don't want to hear any more bullshit about the "job creators" and the magical theory that helping them will solve all our financial problems. That ship has sailed.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/01/us-usa-taxes-romney-idUSBRE8700PC20120801

Time To Pay Up

Republicans made the sequestration deal to end the debt ceiling crisis. Now some of them want to whine and point fingers at the president. Grow up already.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/01/opinion/the-truth-about-military-cuts.html?_r=1&hp