Republicans: an embarrassment to TN

The Tennessee GOP makes the state look "barefoot and bucktoothed."

NASHVILLE CITY PAPER:

A Democratic legislative leader said Thursday Republicans made Tennessee look to the rest of the country like a “barefoot and bucktoothed” state with their social conservative agenda in the just-finished session.

“A bunch of the radical extreme stuff passed,” House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner of Old Hickory said.

“It hurts business. It’s embarrassing for me to talk to people in other parts of the country. It hurts our image down here. We had an image of everybody being barefoot and bucktoothed with cow licks on the sides of their head. [In the past], we came a long way to try to diminish some of that. We might have stepped back in the pack in the South.”

Turner named two Republican proposals: the “don’t say gay” bill by Sen. Stacey Campfield of Knoxville to ban any mention of homosexuality in schools, and the bill by Rep. Glen Casada, R-Franklin, to overturn Nashville’s anti-gay bias ordinance. Campfield’s bill passed the Senate in a watered-down form but did not advance in the House. Casada’s bill became law when Gov. Bill Haslam signed it on Monday.

“On the social issues, the John Birch Society issues, Tennessee maybe led the way in that,” Turner told reporters. “We stood out. We made the paper a whole lot more. A lot of people around the country might think Sen. Campfield is a typical legislator here in Tennessee, which is unfortunate.

The writing is on the wall: the GOP is floundering

Give them enough rope and they hang themselves.

NY 26 - special election (to replace Republican Congressman Chris Lee who resigned after publicly trying to solicit women on Craigslist) goes to Democrat Kathy Hochul in a solidly Republican district that is seen as a referendum on Paul Ryan's plan to ditch Medicare.

Obama's rating has been inching higher ever since the Bin Laden killing. Now at +10, Fox News has him at +14.

The hate merchants Limbaugh and Hannity have lost a third of their audience in the past 6 months.

A number of potential GOP presidential candidates have bowed out.

Recent media has given bad new for Palin and Pawlenty.

Teabagger FL Gov. Rick Scott is now down below 30% in the polls.

Gingrich starts his campaign for president and gets smacked down.

In Wisconsin recall matchup, both Feingold [D] and Barrett [D] lead Gov. Walker [R] by 7 to 10 points.

The GOP digs themselves even deeper with the Senate GOP voting to trash Medicare.

GAME OVER GOP

Obama will get 4 more years, the Dems will take back the House. 2012!

President Obama's speech to school children: Republican extremists are racists - confirmed

Statement by Jim Greer, former chair of the Florida Republican Party:

"In the year since I issued a prepared statement regarding President Obama speaking to the nation's schoolchildren, I have learned a great deal about the party I so deeply loved and served. Unfortunately, I found that many within the GOP have racist views and I apologize to the president for my opposition to his speech last year and my efforts to placate the extremists who dominate our party today. My children and I look forward to the president's speech."

Even when GW Bush had approval ratings below 30%, we never heard this level of disrespect for a president directed at kids as aptly noted by Ed Schultz:

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A stunning moment of clarity from an unlikely source: conservative Phil Valentine on the Mosque controversies

I was absolutely stunned when I heard this live. With all the drivel I've heard coming out of this guy's mouth, I can't believe what I hear in this video.

Two-faced hypocritical Republicans prove they have no consistent message

Once again, Dr. Maddow and her crack research staff shows the blatent hypocrisy of Republicans. Issues like: individual mandates for healthcare, campaign finance regulations, tax cuts and loans for small business, cap and trade ... all issues Republicans pushed vehemently, then soon as Obama becomes president, they are suddenly against all these things.

Watch Republicans "who were for it before they were against it"

The TN GOP - laughing stock of America

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Republican Gubernatorial Primary Battle Watch '010 - Tennessee
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Ron Ramsey calls Islam a cult, Basil Marceaux takes a bold stance against slavery at traffic stops, Zach Wamp's discusses secession, Zelenik incites teabagger Islamophobes, and Rep. Mike Bell (R-TN) suggested paying for healthcare by bartering vegetables.

This is not a joke. These are actual TN Republicans... the party that is destined to control the state legislature and governorship for the near future.

Rand Paul defends BP - the perpetrator of the worst environmental disaster in US history

Rand Paul defends BP - calls Obama "un-American" for criticizing BP.

Republican Tea Party candidate Rand Paul defends the perpetrator of the worst environmental disaster in US history.

"What I don't like from the president's administration is this sort of, 'I'll put my boot heel on the throat of BP. I think that sounds really un-American in his criticism of business. ... this sort of blame-game society in the sense that it's always got to be somebody's fault instead of the fact that maybe sometimes accidents happen"

--- Rand Paul on Good Morning America.

Bill Maher had the best take on Rand's statement about BP...

"He said 'sometimes accidents happen'....which is not really what you want to hear from the guy doing your Lasik surgery." (Rand Paul is an ophthalmologist)

So we know he is for the right to racially discriminate and now for the rights of oil companies not to be blamed for committing world changing environmental catastrophes.

Great leadership from the head of the Tea Klux Klan...

The trouble with Dr. Paul is that despite his independent thinking, much of what he stands for is repulsive to people in the mainstream. For instance, he holds an unacceptable view of civil rights, saying that while the federal government can enforce integration of government jobs and facilities, private business people should be able to decide whether they want to serve black people, or gays, or any other minority group. -- Louisville Courier Journal

Tea Bagger Rand Paul celebrates at historically all-white country club

The Bowling Green Country Club where Tea Bagger Rand Paul celebrated his primary victory last night was historically an exclusive all-white institution, segregated as recently as the late 60's/early 70's.

RS:

According to a history of Western Kentucky University, "In 1967 the golf team, which had no practice course, was invited to use the facilities of the Bowling Green Country Club. Then it was discovered that the team might have a black member. The Country Club was not integrated, and the invitation came under question." The university team wound up going elsewhere for its practices.

To further drive the racist point home, Paul remarked on Good Morning America, since Tiger Woods, golf country clubs are no longer ‘exclusive.’

UPDATE:
The Louisville Courier Journal also helps pull the sheet off of Rand Paul:

The trouble with Dr. Paul is that despite his independent thinking, much of what he stands for is repulsive to people in the mainstream. For instance, he holds an unacceptable view of civil rights, saying that while the federal government can enforce integration of government jobs and facilities, private business people should be able to decide whether they want to serve black people, or gays, or any other minority group.

Maddow grills Paul on civil rights ... see video.

More...
And...

Republican front-runner for Governor of CA oversaw growth of Ebay porn sales

The "family values party" strikes again.

Leading Republican candidate for Governor over saw the growth of Ebay's porn industry as CEO.

SF Weekly:

Whitman oversaw the creation of an eBay section, Adult Only, dedicated exclusively to the sale of pornography, rather than simply including porn items in auctions for more mainstream movies, magazines, or toys.

Whitman herself revealed in a February 2008 sworn declaration... that porn was indeed on her managerial radar. "Certain proposals concerning eBay's mature audiences policies were presented to me," she wrote.

Of course we know conservatives are biggest consumers of porn ... so Whitman does have business savvy. But,but, but... the party of family values!!!

Laura Bush supports gay marriage and abortion rights

If only she were more assertive with her husband.... I had heard the rumor they were effectively separated, Laura in Dallas, GW - on the ranch. Their apparent dysfunctional marriage shows why conservatives get divorced so much. Conservative Christian husbands often subjugate their wives, ignore their opinions, and worse.

Laura Bush on Larry King 5/11 --

Gay marriage:

On gay marriage, she told CNN show host Larry King: "When couples are committed to each other and love each other, then they ought to have, I think, the same sort of rights that everyone has."

"I think we could" accept gay marriage, she continued. "I also think it's a generational thing.... That will come."

"I understand totally what George thinks and what other people think about marriage being between a man and a woman," she said. "I guess that would be an area that we disagree" on.

Abortion:

"I think it's important that it remain legal," she said about abortion. "Because I think it's important for people -- for medical reasons and for other reasons."

Republican candidate for FL Governor Bill McCollum paid $60,000 for anti-gay testimony by Christian leader who hired a male prostitute

If I had a nickel for every 'holier than thou' Republican hypocrite....

This guy, George Rekers, is a evangelical southern Baptist minister, a Christian leader, co-founder of the conservative rabid anti-gay group - "Family Research Council." He has a long history of anti-gay activism. Rekers is a 61 yr old married man with 3 kids, was found to have hired a 20 yr old male prostitute through a website called "rentboy.com." Rekers has testified in court that he believes the Bible is the infallible word of God, and that homosexuality is a sin. He is also a counselor involved in "gay conversion therapy."

Republican Attorney General and candidate for Florida Governor, Bill McCollum, paid Reker $60,900 for his anti-gay testimony in an adoption case.

Nice...

It appears that this was not Reker's first rodeo.

Now, the Christian conservative organizations that Rekers is involved with (like the Family Research Council, NARTH) are issuing disingenuous statements to the tune of, "George, we hardly knew thee."

Yea, right.

BTW...

Not one word of this story on the Fox News website.

Republicans: The Party of White

"If Democratic majorities survive the backlash against big government in this election cycle, it will be because Republicans, the party of the right, became the 'Party of White.' .... A party that alienates racial minorities will justly be made a political minority, so the Republican response to what’s happening in Arizona will be a defining moment."

-- Keven Hassett, economic adviser to the George W. Bush 2004 presidential campaign, Senator John McCain's chief economic adviser during the 2000 presidential primaries, and senior economic adviser to the McCain 2008 presidential campaign

via: Bloomberg

"...it's not true, that Republicans, all Republicans are racist. That would be silly and wrong. But nowadays, if you are racist, you're probably a Republican. "
- Bill Maher on ABC

Is it any surprise the Tea Party movement is notoriously 99.8% white in an America that is 65% white? I was just looking at a Facebook group of "Conservative Musicians" .... 100% white. Could it be anymore obvious?

UPDATE: Could it be anymore obvious?

Arizona bill targeting ethnic studies signed into law

The bill was written to target the Chicano, or Mexican American, studies program in the Tucson school system, said state Supt. of Public Instruction Tom Horne.

AND....

Drill Baby Drill

5000 barrels of oil a day spilling into the Gulf of Mexico. The slick is expected to hit the coast tomorrow.

Spill Baby Spill....

The spill occurred on Earth Day.

AP: A new oil leak was discovered at the site in the Gulf of Mexico where a drilling rig exploded and sank, and experts now estimate that five times more has been spilling into the water a day than previously believed, the Coast Guard said late Wednesday. Eleven workers are missing and presumed dead.

Hope this serves as a lesson to those mindless idiots who chant "Drill Baby Drill" .... but then again, you wouldn't expect people like that to give a shit about the environment.

Tennessee Politics

TN Republicans say we don't need $30 Billion in Federal Funding.


Like many ignorant "Teabaggers" ... Tennesseans need to remember that we receive more in federal funding than we pay in taxes.

Southern Republicans - falling further from the mainstream

The GOP: a regional party of the poor, white, and less educated

Question for Republicans: how does it feel to be on the political side of the least educated among us, the political party that has now fallen so far from the mainstream of America that it is now essentially a regional party of white people?

NYT:

Southern counties that voted more heavily Republican this year than in 2004 tended to be poorer, less educated and whiter, a statistical analysis by The New York Times shows. Mr. Obama won in only 44 counties in the Appalachian belt, a stretch of 410 counties that runs from New York to Mississippi. Many of those counties, rural and isolated, have been less exposed to the diversity, educational achievement and economic progress experienced by more prosperous areas. ... The Republicans, meanwhile, have “become a Southernized party,” said Thomas Schaller, a political scientist who teaches at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. “They have completely marginalized themselves to a mostly regional party,” he said, pointing out that nearly half of the current Republican House delegation is now Southern... Less than a third of Southern whites voted for Mr. Obama, compared with 43 percent of whites nationally.

The south remains racist

The GOP has lived up to it's reputation here in the south. Race DID matter in this election, particularly in southern states like Alabama:

“Race continues to play a major role in the state,” said Glenn Feldman, a historian at the University of Alabama, Birmingham. “Alabama, unfortunately, continues to remain shackled to the bonds of yesterday.” David Bositis, senior political analyst at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, pointed out that the 18 percent share of whites that voted for Senator John Kerry in 2004 was almost cut in half for Mr. Obama. “There’s no other explanation than race,” he said. more...

Something to be proud of?

22-year veteran Rep. Chris Shays [R-CT] was ousted giving Democrats every House seat from New England. Democrats also took control of all of New York City's delegation in Washington for the first time in 35 years.

Redneck Obama bashing

Obama bashing is what you’d expect from ignorant losers who were dumb enough to support a failed incompetent president with the most consistently low approval ratings in modern history. Naturally they’re envious of a well liked president elect, one that received a unanimous international vote from 22 countries in 3 separate polls (BBC, Pew, and Gallup). One whose popularity provided coat tails for large Democratic majorities in both Houses of Congress.

Nice for a change - a bright young respected president filled with positive and constructive energy. The move from incompetence to competence, I can see why they’re jealous.

Gallup Poll: Lowest approval for Republican Party ever measured

Where is the Republican Party going? Answer: into the shitter.

GOP image goes from bad to worse

WASHINGTON (CNN) – The Republican Party has hit a new low.

Just 34 percent of Americans in a Gallup Poll released Thursday say they have a favorable view of the party, down from 40 percent from a month ago, before the election.

What’s worse: 61 percent of Americans have an unfavorable view of the Republican Party.

According to Gallup, that unfavorable rating is the highest the polling organization has recorded for the GOP since the measure was established in 1992.

55% currently hold a favorable view of the Democratic Party and only 39% an unfavorable view

Remember this the next time you hear someone refer to Democrats as the "liberal fringe." We can see who the 'fringe' is now.

Conservatives finally admit it: religion is KILLING the GOP

Conservatives are finally admitting the obvious: Howard Dean was right... it's the "white KKKristian party." The GOP is becoming obsolete.

Look at what a leading conservative writer says about it -

Townhall.com:

WASHINGTON -- As Republicans sort out the reasons for their defeat, they likely will overlook or dismiss the gorilla in the pulpit.

Three little letters, great big problem: G-O-D. Simply put: Armband religion is killing the Republican Party.

Here's the deal, 'pubbies: Howard Dean was right.

Suffice it to say, the Republican Party is largely comprised of white, married Christians. Anyone watching the two conventions last summer can't have missed the stark differences: One party was brimming with energy, youth and diversity; the other felt like an annual Depends sales meeting.

But, like it or not, we are a diverse nation, no longer predominantly white and Christian. The change Barack Obama promised has already occurred, which is why he won.

The young will get older, of course. Most eventually will marry, and some will become their parents. But nonwhites won't get whiter. And the nonreligious won't get religion through external conversion. It doesn't work that way.

Given those facts, the future of the GOP looks dim and dimmer if it stays the present course. Either the Republican Party needs a new base -- or the nation may need a new party.

Told ya

The way the racist Republican party does business

How does the white kkkristian party inspire fear of an opposition candidate? They make him look darker.

Aswin Madia is involved in one of the most hotly contested races in the country in the third district of Minnesota. Ashwin is a veteran of the Marine Corps, the Iraq war, and the JAG corps. He is an Indian/American and graduate of NY Law School. He is a Democratic candidate for congress.

KARE11 - MN:

A Republican attack ad invites viewers to "meet the real Ashwin Madia," but the still photos featured in the spot present a noticeably darker version of the 3rd District DFL congressional candidate.

WATCH the report

The NRCC's statement:

Reached by phone in Washington Wednesday, NRCC spokesman Ken Spain replayed the ad on YouTube and told KARE, "We stand by the ad."

Divided, demoralized, and desperate - bend over GOP

Instead of touting their candidate, they're trying to spread fear. Instead of trying win votes in battleground states, they're defending states Bush had won in '04. Instead of sending a cohesive message, they are infighting... McCain aides calling Palin a "whack-job" that has "gone rogue" while Republican operatives are assuming an Obama win and forming a circular firing squad to sort out the blame. Leaving one McCain aide utterly speechless, Palin is so full of herself she's talking about 2012.

Your pre-election GOP corruption and hypocrisy UPDATE:

• McCain and his surrogates have attempted to paint Obama as holding anti-Israel views because of his relationship with Palestinian-American Professor Rashid Kahlidi. McCain served as chairman of the board of the International Republican Institute that distributed several grants to Khalidi’s Center for Palestine Research and Studies - a Palestinian research center co-founded by Khalidi.
  

• Palin has been calling Obama a socialist - "Barack the wealth spreader;" yet Palin boasted to a reporter, "Alaskans own the resources. So we share in the wealth."
  

• Palin has received another ethics complaint. Palin used her official position for personal gain by securing unwarranted reimbursements for her daughters travel expenses - often uninvited extended stays at posh hotels.


• The Navy is covering up for McCain and refusing FOI requests for info on an auto accident McCain was involved in where someone died.... McCain's Chappaquiddick.

• McCain is now having to defend his home state of AZ where some polls have shown the race to be as close as 2 points. Solid Bush states of GA, MT, NC, IN, and ND are now tossup states.


• Reported in the Washington Times: Obama win is inevitable according to an analysis by th AP.


• The GOP hate manifested itself in the type of thing I've been warning about and saying that these assholes must be beaten down. I'm talking about the skinheads - you know what side they're on, and the ATF does as well.


• The desperate Sen. Elizabeth Dole [R-NC] - losing to Kay Hagen in NC - played the jesus card in her ridiculous new ad calling Kay Hagen "godless." Hagan is an elder at the First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, NC, has taught Sunday School and accompanied youth mission trips.

• The Republican's most senior Senator - from the GOP Vice Presidential nominee's state has been convicted of 7 felonies. Yet Palin has not called for him to resign.

The NEW YORKER: sums it up:

Sometimes, when a political campaign has run out of ideas and senses that the prize is slipping through its fingers, it rolls up a sleeve and plunges an arm, shoulder deep, right down to the bottom of the barrel. The problem for John McCain, Sarah Palin, and the Republican Party is that the bottom was scraped clean long before it dropped out.

Bend over Republicans, you're about to get your well deserved ass kicking.

Poll: Bush has inspired widespread hostility toward America among allies, unanimous support for Obama

Guardian UK:

Yet another poll shows America's closest allies unanimously choose Obama. The poll also shows how America's reputation has been severely damaged by the Bush Administration.

Yet another indication of the abject failure of the Bush Administration and the unanimous international support of Obama. Thanks again Bushies, your support for the worst president in history has ruined the Republican brand.