A platform over your grave

In addition to an abortion plank out of the 19th century (actually probably far worse) the GOP under Mitt's control has other nuggets to screw over the 99 percent:

Republican platform drafters refused to put their party on record for preserving the mortgage- interest deduction, giving Mitt Romney more flexibility to promote his plan to lower tax rates paid by corporations and the wealthiest Americans without increasing the federal debt.

Anybody in this area been out there?

The frustrations of being land-locked -- oh how I'd love to see a Blue Whale.

Tourists from around the world have been flocking to Monterey Bay to catch a glimpse of the massive marine mammals, including impressive numbers of blue whales, the largest animals on earth.

Longtime observers say they've seen a sharp increase in endangered blue and humpback whales feeding near California shores, where they spend the spring and summer before heading to their winter breeding grounds off Mexico and Central America.

It's a tough economy

But not for our nation's "legitimate" serious people. Niall Ferguson

So contrary to what Ferguson leads readers to believe, the CBO report does not state that the reduction is "unclear." What is "unclear" is whether the reduction will come through greater efficiencies in healthcare delivery or reduced access to care. So, one more time: The Oxford-trained, Harvard-employed, Newsweek contributor Niall Ferguson just edited the CBO report to change its meaning.

Mr. Ferguson, still employed by Harvard and Newsweek. Dave Cantanese, the Politico employee who covers Todd Akin, tweeted this:

Not too busy to tweet excuses for his buddy, too busy to google. Still Employed!! Todd Akin and Paul Ryan.

Akin: I was talking about forcible rape. I used the wrong word... Paul Ryan also co-sponsored HR 3, the "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion" bill in which Republicans tried to redefine rape so that it only applied to "forcible" rape

Again with trying to redefine and parse rape into a "forcible" kind and apparently the totally mutually consent kind of rape, which is still bad, because that is apparently unmarried sex -- and that's both today's "shamed" person de jour and the Ayn Rand fetishist.

Not only still employed, but seeking a promotion.But why should they stand out -- in comparison to an entire Party?

Draft language for the 2012 Republican Party platform includes support for a constitutional ban on abortion without specifying exclusions in the cases of rape or incest, according to CNN.

[cross-posted at Firedoglake]

And in tweets that actually involved more than Mark Halperin's feelings

Ah yes, blogging via someone else's tweets, clearly the blogger's best friend if he or she wants to not actually blog anything involving actual, you know, blogging.

Hey a worthwhile nugget

From one of the not-Sullys at Sully's place.

"I hope you don’t have friends who recommend Ayn Rand to you. The fiction of Ayn Rand is as low as you can get re fiction. I hope you picked it up off the floor of the subway and threw it in the nearest garbage pail. She makes Mickey Spillane look like Dostoevsky," - Flannery O'Connor, in a letter to Maryat Lee, May 1960.

And other than noting you are a jejune little asshole, your point is?

Behold what passes for "serious" punditry.

Have fun with this one boys

The Romney-Ryan campaign said they disagreed with Todd Akin (saying this shit in public, keep it private or on C-Span people), buuuuuutttttttt:

Last year, Akin joined with GOP vice presidential candidate Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) as two of the original co-sponsors of the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act,” a bill which, among other things, introduced the country to the bizarre term “forcible rape.”

And here's a picture just to emphasize it for no particular reason other than it looks like Akin is back there inhaling the byproduct of Ryan's lunchtime beef-a-roni.

Diplomacy

Whoopee!

The FBI probed a late-night swim in the Sea of Galilee that involved drinking, numerous GOP freshmen lawmakers, top leadership staff – and one nude member of Congress, according to more than a dozen sources, including eyewitnesses.

During a fact-finding congressional trip to the Holy Land last summer, Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-Kan.) took off his clothes and jumped into the sea, joining a number of members, their families and GOP staff during a night out in Israel, the sources told POLITICO. Other participants, including the daughter of another congressman, swam fully clothed while some lawmakers partially disrobed. More than 20 people took part in the late-night dip in the sea, according to sources who were participants in the trip.

He just wanted to show off his circumcision.

In spite of his single-handedly keeping the Dunkin Donuts booming

Chris Christie's policies are sinking New Jersey.

New Jersey’s unemployment rate jumped to a 35-year high of 9.8 percent in July, the state Labor Department said.

Your fierce advocate of not giving a damn

Oh dear, Todd Akin, this year's Christine O'Donnell, who was 2010's Sarah Palin, who was 2008's -- well we could keep doing this back to Theodore Bilbo and beyond -- where was I? Oh yes, Todd Akin made the mistake of saying what he actually believes.

Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) told a local television station on Sunday that “legitimate rape” rarely produces pregnancy because “the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”

He believes it because he's dumb and horrible -- just like his old buddy, Paul Ryan. Of course, once you say something patently stupid and offensive, the thing to do is to say you didn't mean it -- even though you totally believe it.

In reviewing my off-the-cuff remarks, it's clear that I misspoke in this interview and it does not reflect the deep empathy I hold for the thousands of women who are raped and abused every year. Those who perpetrate these crimes are the lowest of the low in our society and their victims will have no stronger advocate in the Senate to help ensure they have the justice they deserve.

Unless, of course, those women who are raped would choose to exercise their right not to have their rapist child, then we all know who Todd Akin will fiercely advocate for -- not them.

[cross-posted at Firedoglake]

Well, there are still four and a half months left

But I think we've found this year's dumbest politician...no small feat.

Missouri GOP Rep. Todd Akin: ‘Female Body Has Ways to Shut Down’ Pregnancy in Case of ‘Legitimate Rape’

So many logical and malevolent fallacies in one sentence. "Legitimate" rape? Women are magical beings that can expel the product of rape -- yet do not have the magical power to prevent rape -- including whatever the fuck "legitimate" ones mean.

Women do have one legitimate and non-magical power though (provided the are not poor or lack ID in some places), they can vote against giant (and ironic) douchebags.

What the Great Orange Satan

Says:

Romney won the Republican primaries by vastly outspending his opponents, and going overwhelmingly negative against them, which is what one does when one can't go overwhelmingly positive about oneself, because oneself is a petty, boorish ass. But Mitt isn't used to anyone being able to fight back. He isn't used to having to abide by accepted standards of behavior. This is all so painful and ugly. You people should just hand Mitt the keys to the White House. Since Versailles isn't available.

It's one thing to be stupid

It's another thing to be stupid at the exact same place the guy you say this about...

"We've got a Muslim president who hates farming, hates the military, hates the U.S. and we hate him!"

Had just had those traditional Islamic foods --- a beer and a pork chop. Hank Williams, Jr. yet another Republican who accomplished something because of his famous (and far far more talented) daddy.

Reaching out for the Kids

Hard to believe they couldn't just keep having Pat Boone cover Little Richard songs, that seems more Mitt's style.

...the GOP has lined up two (crappy) acts for its convention: the always annoying Kid Rock and the over-the-hill Lynyrd Skynrd.

via Digby

My face has run out of palms in which to rest

But...OF COURSE!

Larry Bailey — the former Navy SEAL who founded Special Operations Speaks (SOS), the PAC critical of the president’s treatment of the military... The interview noted that Bailey “says he has no problem admitting that he is against Obama’s politics, personality, and believes that America’s current president is lying about his origins.” On top of questioning the president’s birthplace, Bailey doesn’t believe the president is the son of Barack Obama, Sr., ascribing instead to the conspiracy theory that he is the love child of Ann Dunham and writer Frank Marshall Davis.

How does this guy not have a regular segment on Hannity

In other awesome "Russian" news

It's a banner day for non-Democracy in Russia...just like old times, and older times.

Moscow's top court has upheld a ban on gay pride marches in the Russian capital for the next 100 years.

Bingo!

Well then, I expect Tony Perkins to march on in the the police today

And plead guilty to being an accessory to murder for dozens of acts of violence, including murder, of gays, lesbians and abortion providers by the standards he is setting.

The Council's president, Tony Perkins, said the shooting was made possible by the SPLC's criticism of the FRC.

"Corkins was given a license to shoot an unarmed man by organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center that have been reckless in labeling organization hate groups because they disagree with them on public policy," Perkins said.

So remember boys and girls, hating on people is okay -- criticizing haters is terrible.

"I was telling the truth metaphorically!"

Nice try Ayn Ryan:

“I’m not one [of those] people who votes for something then writes to the government to ask them to send us money. I did not request any stimulus money,” the congressman answered.

Really?

Unleash the Kraken!
 

After repeated denials, Paul Ryan has admitted he requested stimulus cash even after sharply criticizing the program.

Ryan had denied doing so as recently as Wednesday, when he spoke to ABC’s Cincinnati affiliate, WCPO, in Ohio.

The internet can be awesome

Behold the tumbler for Mitt Romney's white-board.

Let the music play

Many of you have followed the story of the Russian trio "Pussy Riot" who earlier this year staged a protest concert in a Moscow cathedral when Putin decided he'd return to formal power, rather than just run things behind the scenes.

Now the women of "Pussy Riot" stand trial before a Russian tribunal trying to tie a protest against Putin by folding it into an argument about the sanctity of religion.

Prosecutors have asked the judge to jail the women for three years, arguing that they should be isolated from society after performing an anti-Putin punk prayer in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow in February. They are accused of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred.

Yeah, the charge is a real "through the looking glass" re-branding of Stalinism. A movement has been created in Russia behind them, and their plight has obtained broad support across the world. And to their credit, they are not backing down:

"I hold no spite," Nadezhda Tolokonnikova wrote in a letter to supporters (in Russian) passed to one of her lawyers. "I have no private spite. But I have political spite.

"Our being in jail is a clear and distinct sign that freedom is being taken away from the whole country," she wrote. "And this threat of destruction of the liberating, emancipatory forces of Russia is what makes me angry."

Within a few hours the women will learn their fate. The whole world is watching.

[cross-posted at Firedoglake]

Touché

It's okay if you're "us"

This is the sort of bullshit we decried Iran for in 1979 and feared the Soviets would do for years? So it's okay if Great Britain threatens to do so?

Britain on Wednesday warned Ecuador that it could raid its London embassy if Quito does not hand over WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been taking refuge at the mission since mid-June.

These threats have not worked and this morning Assange was granted asylum this morning, but that hasn't stopped the Cameron government from threatening to go full Revolutionary Guard:

Britain will carry out its "binding obligation" to extradite Assange to Sweden in spite of Ecuador's decision, a spokesperson for the FCO has said.

IOKIYAR

Especially if you call yourself non-partisan. But who is really surprised at this?

Thus several former U.S. intelligence and special operations personnel who have accused President Obama of leaking and “politicizing” national security information have themselves talked publicly about sensitive security matters.

Because who has a better track record of picking

Running mates than this guy?

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said today it would be "wise" for President Obama to take Vice President Joe Biden off the Democratic presidential ticket and replace him with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton .

"I think it might be wise to do that but it's not going to happen obviously, for a whole variety of reasons," McCain said in an interview this afternoon on Fox News, stopping just short of Sarah Palin's call last night for an all-out replacement of Biden on the ticket.

It's funny how the GOP continues to master the art of being in high dudgeon over whatever faux outrage they decide to have, but their snit fits become ever less potent.

All that and universal health care too

And also rare instances of spree killing:  

Only two per cent of Canadians who responded to a new opinion poll believe climate change is not occurring...

The findings are in a survey conducted by Insightrix Research, Inc. for IPAC-CO2 Research Inc., a Regina-based centre that studies carbon capture and storage.

The online poll of 1,550 people was done between May 29 and June 11. The results were to be released on Wednesday.

"Our survey indicates that Canadians from coast to coast overwhelmingly believe climate change is real and is occurring, at least in part due to human activity," said centre CEO Carmen Dybwad.

Granted the words "on-line poll" cause concern, but in comparison:

37% of Democrats believe global warming is the result primarily of human action, while only 14% of Republicans believe this. Conversely, 43% of Republicans believe global warming is the result of natural causes, up from 35% in 2010. Self-identified Tea Party members display still more certainty (49%) that global warming is caused by natural events.

I wonder what evidence those resisting this belief are relying upon? [cross-posted at Firedoglake]

The Twilight Zone for real

Naturally:

As a rising star in Hungary's far-right Jobbik Party, Csanad Szegedi was notorious for his incendiary comments on Jews: He accused them of "buying up" the country, railed about the "Jewishness" of the political elite and claimed Jews were desecrating national symbols. Then came a revelation that knocked him off his perch as ultra-nationalist standard-bearer: Szegedi himself is a Jew.

But like all cults, the intrusion of reality is less important than the underlying unsupported by facts or logic belief:

Since then, the 30-year-old has become a pariah in Jobbik and his political career is on the brink of collapse. He declined to be interviewed for this story.

In regard to these assholes and their anti-semitism all you have to know is this:

...from an original population of 861,000 people considered Jewish inside the borders of 1941–44, about 255,000 survived.

Nearly three-quarters of Hungary's Jews were murdered, the nation went from more than five percent Jewish in 1941 to 0.49% today -- Jobbik's only apparently regret is it was not 100% and 0%. Assholes is too gentle a word.

More evidence of being "secret Muslim"

In addition to eating pork and drinking beer, more evidence of President Obama's secret Muslimity being so well-disguised that even he is unaware of it:

Today comes word that our homebrewer-in-chief, the POTUS, stocks his campaign bus with bottles of the White House's DIY ale. See, he's not an out-of-touch crony capitalist! He's just like us! What does that tell us about the president's reelection effort? Probably not much, except maybe this: he's gotten cozy in the White House. Who knows, he may even have a man cave.

You know who doesn't drink beer?* Mitt Romney.  


*not that there's anything wrong with not drinking or Islam, but stupid theories deserve broadsides.

Hark,

I detect an idiot.

I am boggled!

We have officially lost our innocence:

One of America's top young Scrabble players has been caught cheating at the country's national championship and kicked out of the tournament. The player was spotted concealing blank tiles from a previous game and attempting to use them in the next round, according to organisers at the event in Florida. The player was confronted by game officials - and admitted he had cheated.

Give it a medal

Humpback whale shows that one German diver how to do a flop into the water.

Hmmm, seems to be a continuing theme

While the polls have demonstrated that America is just not taken with Romney's choice of a youngish gentleman with both Reagan and Rand fetish, that doesn't mean it is worthless. For one thing, it will make the coffers fill up again from a cadre of deep-pocketed yet shallow donors.

As of Tuesday morning, reporters would not be permitted to cover Ryan's fundraiser with billionaire mega-donor Sheldon Adelson at The Venetian in Las Vegas tonight. The campaign's agreement with the press is that events not at private residences are to be open to reporters.

Sounds familiar, because it is:

Some of Romney’s Jewish donors are flying here from the United States to attend the Jerusalem fundraiser on Monday morning, including Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, who has pledged to personally give tens of millions of dollars to a pro-Romney super PAC...

But Romney’s campaign announced Saturday that it would block the news media from covering the event, which will be held at the King David Hotel. The campaign’s decision to close the fundraiser to the press violates the ground rules it negotiated with news organizations in April

That Sheldon Adelson must be as shy, because breaking his word is so rare for Mitt Romney -- because here is Mitt's explanation for this latest ban of the media.

A Romney aide told reporters that the event in Las Vegas is not a fundraiser but a "finance event," and therefore closed to reporters. The aide would not say what the distinction is between the two, declining to say whether the campaign is collecting checks at the event.

[cross-posted at Firedoglake]

The Plagiarism thing

I pretty much agree with Atrios on this re: Zakarias.

The thing is, on this blog for eight years (EIGHT FUCKING YEARS, OY!) I make a lot of snide little asides and plays on words.   It is a style, but it is a style that I'm convinced at least several million people share -- probably far far more.  It isn't a great and unique gift, being moderately witty, so I imagine dozens of people say similar things on their twitter account, blog, facebook etc.

It doesn't mean we copied someone else, it just means someone else thought the same thing you did at the same time, because it was a rather obvious thing to type. 

Now, when it starts to get more elaborate and complicated is when it becomes a bit more dubious.  Lots of people may think the same things you do, but do they write the same paragraphs that you do?

Confirming once again

He must be a Muslim! He had a beer and a pork chop.

...oh wait.

Obama wrapped up his state fair visit with a swing by the Bud Tent, where a large crowd chanted, "Four more years." He told them with a smile, "Everyone who's over 21, you gotta buy a beer," prompting someone in the crowd to yell, "Is it on you?" The president looked into his wallet as some people in the crowd started chanting, "Four more beers!" Obama told them, "I'll tell you what, except for the Romney sign, I'll buy beers for ten people."

He walked over to the crowd, but it wasn't clear whether he bought the beers or not, any transaction occurring out of the sight of reporters. But it was clear that Obama ended up with a plate with two pork chops, handed to him by Greg Lear, the president-elect of the Iowa Pork Producers. Taking a beer in a plastic cup, the president thanked the bartender and ate a quick dinner with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the state's former governor. "It's going to go well with my pork chop," Obama said.

Profiles in not Courage

Romney giving more evidence he's a bit of a wimp and afraid to do even mildly tough things (as he's never had to) unless it is to him an abstraction (like mass layoffs of people he'll never have to meet).

Unlike in 2008, Pawlenty did not get a pre-announcement call directly from the presidential candidate. Instead, he was in contact with Romney’s oldest son, Tagg.

He couldn't even call those he wouldn't name his running mate. If you are afraid of hurting T-Paw's feelings, well good luck with Pooty-Poot.

Shrewed judge of character, of course

I was skimming through Vanity Fair and saw they had a "Where are they now?" section on former Olympic icons.

The one on Nadia Comăneci was particularly interesting, she of the first "Perfect 10" had this in her bio:

in 2008, Comăneci appeared alongside Stephen Baldwin and Joey Fatone on Celebrity Apprentice, only to have Donald Trump fire her because he claimed that the nine-time Olympic medalist lacked competitive spirit.

Trump may be an even bigger moron than I thought, and I've thought him a "Perfect 10" on the moron scale.

Maybe somebody should do something?

But we all know the story now don't we?

A Facebook page belonging to Caffall features several photos of assault rifles, including a Czech-made version of the AK-47. On the page, Caffall identified himself as divorced, with “Christian” religious beliefs. He lists a series of snipers, including Carlos Hathcock and Vasily Zaytsev, as "inspirational people." “I am pulling a cross between Forrest Gump and Jack Kerouac (without the drugs),” Caffall wrote on the site. “I'm on the road, permanently.” Caffall commented on Facebook about several recent gun purchases, including a vintage Russian rifle. “I just got a new toy,” he wrote in May 2011. “I’ll be at the gun range as much as I can.” ... In an interview with KPRC, a local television station, Caffall’s stepfather, Richard Weaver, said Caffall was a “ticking time bomb” who quit his job nine months ago and vowed never to work again. "He was crazy as hell," Weaver said. "At one point, we were afraid that he was going to come up here and do something to his mother and me."

Well thank goodness a ticking time bomb who LOVED snipers was able to get an AK-47. Thanks insane and highly dubious interpretation of the Second Amendment. Again, maybe somebody should do something? ...NAAAH!

Aiyeee!

In addition to his other, uh, non-positives we are now receiving information on how foreign policy novice, Paul Ryan, is having his empty Eddie Munsteresque-vessel filled.

Because nothing succeeds like perpetually proclaiming success. Next up, Ryan gets his military training by watching Stars Earn Stripes.*  



*(Surely the winner of the Emmy for Most Offensive Program, sorry Honey Boo Boo)


[cross-posted at Firedoglake]

Well, that's a new one

I don't recall this "excuse" ever being used before -- because it is a really really really bad one:

Presumptive Republican Presidential Nominee Mitt Romney will be touring the state of Florida today, but he is no longer visiting Orlando, his campaign announced late Sunday night. 

Romney is said to be exhausted after 48 hours of promoting his new vice presidential pick, Paul Ryan, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

"Exhausted"? Let's just assume the real reason is what they say it is, saying you are "exhausted" as a Presidential Candidate is the kind of admission that sort of gets you disqualified from being president.

 ...I'm sorry about the imminent threat of nuclear war, but I really need to catch some sleep...is NOT a great scenario to ponder.

Let's assume it is a lie and they don't want to campaign too much in Florida because of the Ryan nomination and the widespread and accurate presumption he would like to sink social security and medicare, Romney couldn't come up with a better lie than "I'm exhausted"?

But saying "I'm tired" does give me a reason to put this up:

Mitt's kind of guy

No wonder he's embraced him AND his budget plan:

Ryan’s budget would almost zero our Mitt Romney’s tax liability. “Don’t believe it? Romney himself said so, just a few months ago. The Ryan plan..’promotes saving by eliminating taxes on interest, capital gains, and dividends; also eliminates the death tax.’ Mitt Romney’s income — more than $20 million each of the past two years — comes almost entirely from capital gains on his investments, or from ‘carried interest…if the capital gains was eliminated altogether? Well, let’s let Romney explain the result in his own words, as he did at an NBC primary debate in January…’Under that plan, I’d have paid no taxes in the last two years,’ Romney said, alluding to the fact that all his income is from investments.” Alec MacGillis in The New Republic.

Paul Ryan in a nutshell

As the video says...

In one incident, a gentleman in his seventies stood to confront Ryan about his stance on "entitlements" and was grabbed by police. He was then wrestled to the ground while Ryan joked, "Hope he took his blood-pressure medication."

Truly, the PERFECT symbiotic complement to Mitt Romney.

Touche

By AzureGhost but found at BooMan:

These guys have no effing clue

How this looks, it is really pathetic, laughable really:

Ryan told 60 Minutes Sunday that he gave Romney’s campaign “several” years of tax returns during the vetting process, but promised only to release two publicly, in keeping with the number Romney has promised to release...

Stay tuned

In a bid to do what a civilian government SHOULD do, the elected President of Egypt is trying to get control of the military:

President Mohamed Morsi of Egypt forced the retirement on Sunday of his powerful defense minister, the army chief of staff and several senior generals, in a stunning purge that seemed for the moment to reclaim for civilian leaders much of the political power the Egyptian military had seized since the fall of Hosni Mubarak last year. 

Mr. Morsi also nullified a constitutional declaration, issued by the military before he was elected, that eviscerated the powers of the presidency and arrogated to the military the right to enact laws. It was not immediately clear whether he had the constitutional authority to cancel that decree.

We'll see how this works out.

The Metaphor is a "Floater"

Having obtained several years of tax returns for each prospective running mate -- while not allowing Americans to inspect his own, Mitt Romney set the scenefor his announcement.

“I selected this man to be running mate because I want to change Washington,” Romney said. “I don’t want to be like Europe; I want to be like America.”

Said the man who left America to get to France so as to avoid going to Vietnam on an American battleship as he chose another man who not only did not serve in the military  (which also went to Europe instead of Vietnam) but who also wants America to go the full-austerity route of Europe.

Or to put it another way, a man who proudly proclaims the government doesn't help build anything appointed a guy who is an adherent to Ayn Rand on a gigantic symbol of things only a government can get built.

Somehow they could not have picked a more fitting representation of all that Mitt Romney is as a person and candidate.

[cross-posted at Firedoglake]

But of course...

How could it be any other way?

Mitt Romney's presidential campaign requested "several" years of tax returns from potential vice presidential picks, senior adviser Beth Myers, who ran the search, told reporters Saturday.

Myers said vetting documents were stored in safes in a secure room at campaign headquarters for review by attorneys. 

Asked what was inside the safes, Myers replied "tax documents, everything we used.”
And how many years? "Several" she said, declining to provide a more specific number.

Good point

Over at the Great Orange Satan, minion Wheever, undoubtedly typing in the tangerine-colored unitard that Kos issues his minions in orders from his island lair makes a fine and pithy point.

Not only did non-veteran Mitt Romney announce his running mate as non-veteran Paul Ryan from the retired battleship USS Wisconsin, "Mr. I BUILT THAT" announced his Randian running mate from a capital ship that could only have been built via the funding of the FEDERAL government.

Of course they are not necessary...that is why they are necessary

As any rational person could have anticipated:

A new nationwide analysis of 2,068 alleged election-fraud cases since 2000 shows that while fraud has occurred, the rate is infinitesimal, and in-person voter impersonation on Election Day, which prompted 37 state legislatures to enact or consider tough voter ID laws, is virtually non-existent.

But it will make it that much more difficult for "the poors"; "the blacks"; "the hispanics" and the other traditionally Democratic voters to vote -- so for Republicans, the no longer Party of Lincoln, they are necessary.

It is so very very much in the tradition of "freedom" and "democracy".

I think the "brilliant" plan

Is to convince Sean Hannity and Glen Beck that Ryan doesn't just look like Ronald Reagan at a knock-off drag-show, but actually IS Ronald Reagan.

And if they can convince Peggy Noonan of this, no stair railing in New York is safe from the Noonan groin.

"This ticket is unbalanced!"

Needs more "white guy!"

Reports: Romney picks Paul Ryan as VP running mate

Romney admits he's a robot

Today's latest Romney excuse for not releasing his tax returns:

When pressed on why he’s not releasing more tax returns in an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek, Mitt Romney justified it by saying: “I’m not a business.”

But Romney believes "Corporations are people".

Therefore we can logically deduce.

People = Corporation

Corporation Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney  People

So soon?

Well the Summer games are coming to an end. Soon I will again forget it is "badminton" not "badmitton"; that there is a "team handball"; and cheering on those from the "Independent Olympic Athletes".

Well still four months and three weeks left

But I believe our parent of the year has a strong contender:

The 11-year-old daughter of a Georgetown, Delaware pediatrician accused him this week of using a form of torture similar to waterboarding in order to punish her on at least four separate occasions over the course of two years.

Maybe he'll hire Sean Hannity as his expert witness?

Biblical

You stay classy thumpers:

Police in Grand Rapids, Michigan say that there was nothing they could do after Bible-preaching protesters threatened to rape and murder pro-LGBT activists at a "Gay Day" event over the weekend.

Thanks Title IX

For years conservatives have been bemoaning that classic "liberal" piece of legislation intruding on their lives, Title IX, as a soul-sucking piece of legislation that harms American sporting culture and society.

Sports columnist Furman Bisher of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution expressed much of the conventional wisdom of the sports page when he wrote, “What are we after, a race of Amazons? Do you want a companion or a broad that chews tobacco? What do you want for the darling daughter, a boudoir or a locker room full of cussing and bruises? A mother for your grandchildren or a hysterectomy?”

That was stupid then, but stupid always sells for a while. Forty years on, the evidence is in and as always -- "thank goodness we passed this blessed piece of socialism", it's golden.

As of this moment the United States has won 39 gold medals -- and women account for 25 of them. From shooter Kim Rhode to tracks Allyson Felix to soccer's Alex Morgan; from gymnast Gabby Douglas to water polo player Maggie Stevens America's women are dominating -- thank goodness the men get to count dolphin hybrid Michael Phelps.

Particularly noteworthy is the dominance of women's team sports, sports that gained ground especially because of Title IX. The Women's basketball team, unlike the "dream team" of NBA stars has not lost an Olympic games in forever; the Women's soccer team has played in the gold-medal game every time it has been played and won the last 3 gold medals; the women's water polo team won it's first gold after being silver medalists the last two Olympics. [cross-posted at Firedoglake]

How very Mormonesque

It's only fitting -- in so many modern Republican ways:

Rafalca, the Olympic horse co-owned by Ann Romney, will compete for one or two more years before possibly becoming a broodmare, according to rider Jan Ebeling. "Since she's very sound, we're going to probably see her for another year or two and there are some thoughts about breeding her. I think she'd make a very good broodmare," he said. –New York Times

Sounds creepily like dinner-table chat at the Palins.

Good job

The 21st Century "New Coke" (or maybe lesser Romanovs works better?) continues to work it's magic.

In a move that many called too little — and way too late — the founder and CEO of the nonprofit Susan G. Komen for the Cure refused to step down Wednesday but announced she would leave her post as chief executive to focus on fundraising and that the president of the organization will resign, the New York Times reported...

Participation in the 5K runs and walks that account for most of the charity's fundraising have since declined by as much as 30 percent, according to a report by the Associated Press published in Thursday's Chicago Tribune.

Good luck with that

The advice of political strategist to Mitt Romney in regard to picking a GOP keynote speaker...

Pick someone who will make not "out charisma" you.

Wow, that's gonna be tough.

I thought it would just be Chris Christie ordering delivery by ordering via reading the menu of the local Asian-fusion restaurant "Mo' Pho". That should kill 20 minutes, then talking about how much he loves steamed dumplings should kill another 10.

But he'd still out-charisma Willard.

Naturally

Mitt Romney started up Bain Capital by using Latin American death squad leaders as his seed money.

I tell ya' this guy has actually engaged in most of the paranoid delusions the right-wing nutters accuse Obama of.  Where's his birth certificate?

But of course...

Par for the course:

GOP Convention to Feature America’s Most Disliked Politicians

Self-Reflection is for the weak

The other day one of the many FoxNews talking heads went after a fifteen-year old African-American gymnast (it's always an African-American, of any age, with them) for being insufficiently patriotic because the corporate leotard she was given was just not emblazened with an American flag the way God and Barbara Bush intended.

Following Gabby Douglas' gold medal performance in the women's gymnastics individual all-around competition in London, Camerota and her guest David Webb wondered why the athlete chose to wear a hot pink leotard instead of one donning stars, stripes, red, white, and/or blue.

Again, these idiots seem to think Gabby Douglas goes down to Dick's Sporting Goods and asks for the "Anarchist's Special" in an effort to make Lee Greenwood cry, as opposed to wearing the outfits the team gives them.

Naturally this became a topic that caused FoxNews to be derided and laughed at slightly more than usual, so obviously even they noticed.  So Ms. Camerota fled to lobotomized Brian Kilmeade (the one that isn't Steve Doocy on Fox & Friends) for solace after the Daily Show and the Colbert Report pointed and laughed:

"By the way, they would not have a show if it there was no Fox News. Between 'The Daily Show' and 'Colbert Report,' they don't even write anything. They just watch TV up until 3 o'clock," Kilmeade said.

And Kilmeade thought this was a defense of the quality of he and his network -- that comedians can just present their work without embellishment for laughs.

(pic from here)

[cross-posted at Firedoglake]

This is wrong!

How dare there be an Olympic sport that is so traditionally dominated by the Chinese like Table Tennis, it just gives them gold medals.

Go USA Basketball!!!!

Ironically there's no "bottom"

For homophobe Bryan Fischer and how low he'll sink:

Bryan Fischer: Children Of Same-Sex Couples Must Be Saved Through ‘Underground Railroad’ Kidnapping

Sure I'll give this blatent attempt at viral advertisement

What it wants. It is after all, the most shocking moment of childhood...if you are lucky.

As one who enjoys a good slap fight

This Harry Reid vs. Mitt Romney thing is much hotter Mormon on Mormon action than I've seen on Sister Wives.

WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!

Well great, another super-volcano found.

A "supervolcano" might sound like something out of a sci-fi fantasy film, but one supervolcano lies hidden near Pompeii, Italy, where thousands were killed in 79 A.D., and it could potentially kill millions. 

"These areas can give rise to the only eruptions that can have global catastrophic effects comparable to major meteorite impacts," Giuseppe De Natale, head of a drilling project to monitor the molten "caldera" in the area west of Naples known as Campi Flegrei, told Reuters.

Ooh, let's battle it out with Italy and Indonesia (Toba) over who's potential super volcano is worse...

Or we can have the battle of mega annihilation between "Super Volcano"; Giant Meteorite; Nearby Super Nova.

Personally, I'm betting on giant space shark.

I just hope we manage to poison the environment enough to kill us all before any of these events happen.

What, there are non-Americans?

You have at laugh at the irony of an article that discusses how the athlete who finished fourth in the women's 100 meter hurdles, Lolo Jones, gets all the media attention at the expense of the American silver and bronze medalists (Americans Dawn Harper and Kellie Wells).

And then does not once mention the name of the person who actually won the race (Australian Sally Pearson).

Good luck, Buddy

American Decathlete and gold medal favorite Ashton Eaton has started off his pursuit of a medal with a 100-meter time that sets a World Record for decathletes 10.35.

 I wish him good luck, of course, on his medal pursuit. But also because a certain family is looking to replace their old American Decathlete with a new model.

Hey, congrats Texas

Hope you feel good about yourselves:

Marvin Wilson, 54, was pronounced dead at 6:27 p.m., 14 minutes after his lethal injection began at the state prison in Huntsville. Wilson's attorneys had argued that he should have been ineligible for capital punishment because of his low IQ.

In their appeal to the high court, his attorneys pointed to a psychological test conducted in 2004 that pegged Wilson's IQ at 61, below the generally accepted minimum competency standard of 70

You would think Rick Perry would at least be interested in self-preservation.

Hmmm, following regulations isn't your strong suit

Some attention has been paid to this declaration of pizza assembler and manufacturer -- and like so many in his industry arch-conservative -- John Schnatter:

Papa John's CEO John Schnatter says that Obamacare will result in a $0.11 to $0.14 price increase per pizza, or $0.15 to $0.20 cents per order, Pizza Marketplace, a trade publication, reports

Oh poor you  -- and your soon to be slightly less unfortunate employees.
Imagine, Mr. Schnatter how much you would have to pretend you had to raise prices if you followed the law across the board?

In mid-September, 2011, a federal court in Missouri granted conditional class certification in a lawsuit brought on behalf of all delivery drivers who have been employed by Papa John's Pizza in the past three years. The suit alleges that Papa John's did not pay its delivery drivers in accordance with federal and state minimum wage laws.

But then again, these folks had nothing to do with your success in your mind, or Mitt Romney's -- so why should they get paid like they are supposed to or health care coverage?

[cross-posted at Firedoglake]

Guess who just won "Syria's Got Talent"?

It's good to be a dictator within a limited field when it comes to some things.

Syria Bashar al-Assad makes rare TV appearance

In addition to his other short-comings the guy has a chin only Mitch McConnell could envy.

Probably not a good sign

When your Prime Minister doesn't just resign, but leaves the country:

Syrian forces pressed on with their offensive against rebels in the largest city Aleppo after the prime minister fled the country, denouncing the "terrorist regime" of Bashar al-Assad...

 "I announce today my defection from the killing and terrorist regime and I announce that I have joined the ranks of the freedom and dignity revolution," Hijab said in a statement read by a spokesman on Al Jazeera television on Monday. He declared himself "a soldier in this blessed revolution".

Well, I guess he won't be getting a favorable letter of reference from his former employer. Although, I bet some letters of resignation from Trump's employment are similar in tone.

Meanwhile, in other stories of intolerance

Wade Michael Page has now had bestowed upon him the traditional all three-names moniker for mass murdering  infamy, while our press ponders what motive a racist skin-head with a 9-11 complex could have for shooting at people that don't look like him?

Yeah, go figure.

While all this was going on, other instances of 'Murican tolerance have kept on keeping on.

The Interfaith Coalition on Mosques (ICOM) today called for a comprehensive investigation of the suspicious fire that destroyed a mosque in Joplin, Missouri in the early morning hours of August 6 during the holy month of Ramadan.  The Islamic Society of Joplin mosque was previously a target of arson, and the most recent attack took place just one day after an alleged white supremacist gunman killed six Sikhs and wounded three others, including a police officer, near Milwaukee.

I'm sure this is somehow the fault of atheists, or fifteen year old girls not being patriotic enough for the likes of sociopaths.

Cue Lee Greenwood.

[cross-posted at Firedoglake]

Dear Media

While pointing out that true assholes attack Sikhs instead of Muslims because they are well, morons as well as assholes, could you please also point out that EVEN if said assholes actually attacked Muslims that would still be JUST AS WRONG!?

It's not much to ask, but one would hope you could at least point that out.

Some assumptions more accurate than others

For those of you who assumed the asshole who engaged in spree-killing against Sikhs congregants  outside Milwaukee would be a racist white guy.

You assumed correctly.

Curiosity lands on Mars

FoxNews immediately demands it start looking for Obama's real long-form birth certificate.

But, of course

Guess which Presidential Candidate just had a fund-raiser with the head of the NRA?

I have a feeling you'll guess right.

It's the ONLY Amendment that matters

Silly Digby not noticing that the Second Amendment -- as interpreted by the right -- trumps all other Amendments, but especially the First.

It really ties the Campaign together

Just to reinforce the post below:

The Adelsons are the largest donors to the Romney PAC. They have providing just over 12 percent of the $82.2 million Restore Our Future has raised so far. Romney’s personal wealth is an estimated $250 million, but the former governor is determined not to self-finance his quest for the presidency...

 The source of Adelson’s huge campaign contributions would appear to create a conflict with Romney’s Mormon convictions. The official website of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints states: “The Church opposes gambling in any form, including government-sponsored lotteries.”

For those keeping score, it's same-sex marriage no, gambling OH YES!

Yet again...blast from the not too distant past

This is the guy to whom Willard Bot 3000 has turned over foreign affairs:

Las Vegas Sands Corp, controlled by billionaire Republican donor Sheldon Adelson, is the target of a federal investigation into possible violations of U.S. money-laundering laws, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday. The Los Angeles U.S. attorney's office is looking into the casino company's handling of the receipt of millions of dollars from a Mexican businessman, later indicted in the United States for drug trafficking, and a former California businessman, later convicted of taking illegal kickbacks, the Journal said, citing lawyers and others involved in the matter.

Via the Political Carnival.

As I was saying

Exactly Two Weeks ago:

And what we also have is another mass slaughter from a gun. And we all know what will come of it, no matter how logical and non-violative of the Second Amendment new restrictions would be…nothing will come of it.

And one year from now we are almost certain to have at least one additional incident of mass murder by gun.

Since 1982, there have been at least 36 mass murders* carried out with firearms across the United States.

And all we will have accomplished is the interregnum before the next one.

Make that a fortnight, not a year.

But of course, we are told NOW is not the time to discuss whether we need some rationality in the proliferation of weapons that are handy for spree-killers.  So we do not.  Instead, I'm sure some right-wing genius will ponder why the Sikhs don't exchange their ceremonial daggers for an AK-47 the way Jesus intended, because then somehow this would have been prevented.  And for that he will not receive scorn, but a bunch of heh indeeds.

Blather, rinse, repeat.

[cross-posted at Firedoglake]

Once again

The most balanced and informative Meet the Press episodes of the year occur when Meet the Press is not on.

Also, I am not a tennis expert -- but has any woman played better over the last month than Serena Williams -- including Navratilova or Graf?

For that matter how many sporting lives do the Williams' sisters have, their careers have each been metaphorically buried at least two or three times?

That's an interesting technique

One would think, now that he's going to be the nominee, that Mitt Romney would not campaign like an internet troll.

But apparently that's just his style.

Next up, praising the science of Jesus-horses.

Another big bit of bullshit

False bromides have become so intertwined with the military -- like my personal favorite "thank you for protecting our freedoms", as if those were protected by invading and occupying ANOTHER country that had nothing to do with us, our freedoms, or well, anything but in the words of the Doughy Pantload giving us a country's "ass to kick".

But even on those gutter-based logically debased proportions the Romney claim of depriving military early voting rights, by NOT depriving military voting rights is disgusting in ts dishonesty.

Especially considering Romney's been silently approving of the mass deprivation of voting rights of millions of people through Voter ID plans to fix non-existent but right-depriving programs.

Whaaa?

A quite mature sprinter from St Kitts and Nevis (both a country AND a resort) was booted from the Olympics for ...

...sleeping with his wife.

 Apparently that kind of libertine behavior is not allowed.

Oh projection

At least it gives Republicans something to do that is a lesser psychological problem. Right Herman Cain?

“This is simply an attempt on the part of the gay community to try and leverage their beliefs on another institution, a private company, since they can’t seem to get enough attention. That is what this is all about”

Because Herman Cain is a modest man that never goes about getting in front of a camera. If Palin said this about the gay community too, then with Cain they'd have the irony "bi-fecta"

I do love this Romneysque bit of logic

Telling Harry Reid to prove that Mitt cheated on his taxes, while not actually provided said taxes with the words "Put up or shut up!"

Mitt Romney says Mitt Romney-like things

Of course he did:

In 2004, then-Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney defended President George W. Bush, who was facing attacks on his economic record by Democratic candidate John Kerry.

The people of America recognize that the slowdown in jobs that occurred during the early years of the Bush administration were the result of a perfect storm. And an effort by one candidate to somehow say "Oh, this recession and the slowdown in jobs was the result of somehow this president magically being elected..." people in America just dismiss that as being poppycock. And they recognize it as that.

Sentient bags of hammers

Thanks for the brain activity:

The American Enterprise Institute, a conservative-leaning think tank, has some data out indicating that cutting government spending may be off-setting private sector growth. That's notable, especially when coming from an organization with the motto "Freedom. Opportunity. Enterprise."

I wonder what tipped them off, other than all of history and the current world economy?

Eggs-actly

What Atrios says: Romney has been running for President at least since he authorized those wretched narcissistic Olympic pins in early 2002 -- almost surely even longer in his animotronic mind. He then went out over the next decade and felt just fine about squeezing every last dubious penny out of his taxes and using every foreign tax shelter to the point he is embarrassed to release his returns. That is the damning thing.

By the way

For those who had money on Rafalca (besides the Romneys), no medal. Meaning he's a perfect representation of all things Romney. A product of expensive breeding who comes up short when it counts.

And then there is this:

Is Rafalca stealing jobs from American workers?

Well, now that you mention it: The horse's rider, hired by the Romneys, is a German immigrant in his first Olympic competition. "He came over here with two empty hands," a US equestrian official told the New York Times. "He had a lucky break to get to know the Romneys."

Rider Jan Ebeling also got a six-figure loan from the Romneys to open up The Acres, a small horse ranch outside L.A. where Ann Romney first rode horses for therapy and where "the Romneys use a Mediterranean-style guesthouse as a getaway." Ebeling's wife, Amy, is co-owner of Rafalca with the Romneys. (A third co-owner, Beth Meyer, is a longtime Romney friend.)

"When I was nearly incapacitated with my MS, Jan was one of the people who helped me the most," Ann Romney told dressage-news.com. But as close as Ann Romney and the Ebelings are—they've even been sued together—it's not always smooth sailing. Asked in a legal deposition whether she ever chafed at Jan Ebeling's riding instructions, she answered: "I think that is not a fair question because we all get upset at certain times with anybody that is—you know, especially a German."

"You People"

Between the two Romney's the level of ethnic jokes, stereotypes and slurs must be immense.

Big day for the Romney Camp in London

Rafalca will trot about the show-ring and then cap off the day by trodding down under hoof some British Occupy Protesters like a Cossack at a Pogrom.

Hey Edwin Starr, it's clearly good for something

So there!

The Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency warned its employees and contractors last week to stop using their government computers to surf the Internet for pornographic sites, according to the agency’s executive director. 

In a one-page memo, Executive Director John James Jr. wrote that in recent months government employees and contractors were detected “engaging in inappropriate use of the MDA network.”
“Specifically, there have been instances of employees and contractors accessing websites, or transmitting messages, containing pornographic or sexually explicit images,” James wrote in the July 27 memo obtained by Bloomberg News.

I guess they'll have to change their launch codes.

Perhaps he should take Occam's Razor to his wrists?

The only bigger offensive idiot in the world is the offensive idiot who votes for this offensive idiot:

STEVE KING: We went down into the Library of Congress and we found a microfiche there of two newspapers in Hawaii each of which had published the birth of Barack Obama. It would have been awfully hard to fraudulently file the birth notice of Barack Obama being born in Hawaii and get that into our public libraries and that microfiche they keep of all the newspapers published. That doesn’t mean there aren’t some other explanations on how they might’ve announced that by telegram from Kenya.

Yeah, that's undoubtedly the MOST likely scenario, Jackass.

There is only one thing left to say...

Yep,

James Franco Is Playing a Meth Dealer Named 'Gator' in a Jason Statham Movie Written by Sylvester Stallone

And that thing is this.

"Skipped a Generation"

I'm just going to speculate for the hell of it, that the guy who once had the guts and foresight to say this:

On August 31, 1967, in a taped interview with locally influential talk show host Lou Gordon of WKBD-TV in Detroit, Romney stated: "When I came back from Viet Nam [in November 1965], I'd just had the greatest brainwashing that anybody can get." He then shifted to opposing the war: "I no longer believe that it was necessary for us to get involved in South Vietnam to stop Communist aggression in Southeast Asia." Decrying the "tragic" conflict, he urged "a sound peace in South Vietnam at an early time." Thus Romney disavowed the war and reversed himself from his earlier stated belief that the war was "morally right and necessary".

Would be quite shocked and ashamed that his son is going to say this tomorrow in Poland:

The speech on the "values of liberty" at Warsaw University on Tuesday is expected to seek to rekindle the flames of US cold war righteousness by featuring a strong attack on Russia and President Vladimir Putin's rollback of democratic gains, while also criticising the US president, Barack Obama, for allegedly sacrificing the interests and security of central European democracy in favour of realpolitik with the Kremlin.

Red baiting?

I'd thought even in conservative circles we had moved on from that. Muslim baiting, liberal baiting, race-baiting, gay-baiting sure, masturbating ab-so-freaking-lutely, but red baiting?

But why not, it's been one embarrassment after another for Willard, why not revisit the good ol' days of nuclear war.

I imagine that when Romney arrives back on American soil the first thing he'll do is praise NBC's Olympic coverage -- after all he's on a roll [and one that it should be noted isn't hurting him much in the polls].

[cross-posted at Firedoglake]

An assortment of awesome quotes

From Gore Vidal:

"It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail."

"A narcissist is someone better looking than you are."

"Fifty percent of people won't vote, and fifty percent don't read newspapers. I hope it's the same fifty percent."

"The genius of our ruling class is that it has kept a majority of the people from ever questioning the inequity of a system where most people drudge along, paying heavy taxes for which they get nothing in return"

"The more money an American accumulates, the less interesting he becomes."

"The four most beautiful words in our common language: I told you so."

"Congress no longer declares war or makes budgets. So that's the end of the constitution as a working machine." "

We should stop going around babbling about how we're the greatest democracy on earth, when we're not even a democracy. We are a sort of militarised republic."

"There is no human problem which could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise."

With relish

It sure seems that ESPN takes special delight in giving away the live results of the Olympics.

Three position switches in one day

Even for Romney that's a lot of flip-flopping. Fitting that during the Olympics he'd set a new personal best.

I give his routine a 15.333, though the degree of difficulty was not terribly high.

RIP, Gore Vidal

There are three definite things you could say about Gore Vidal.  First, he was a tremendous writer; second, he was brilliant; third, and most importantly perhaps, he was interesting.

Author, playwright, politician and commentator Gore Vidal, whose vast and sharpened range of published works and public remarks were stamped by his immodest wit and unconventional wisdom, died Tuesday at age 86 in Los Angeles.

He was also a voice well-ahead of this time -- which would have been well suited for this one:

Vidal made his living — a very good living — from challenging power, not holding it. He was wealthy and famous and committed to exposing a system often led by men he knew firsthand. During the days of Franklin Roosevelt, one of the few leaders whom Vidal admired, he might have been called a "traitor to his class." The real traitors, Vidal would respond, were the upholders of his class.

And then there was this.

[cross-posted at Firedoglake]