More Flintville 'Ketchup'. -And a few questions too.

Good Saturday Afternoon Everyone!

I am hoping you are all enjoying this beautiful weather?  At least it is beautiful here, though a bit warm for my tastes as you can tell by the pic... 

My own comfort zone being somewhere around 72.5° to about 76°; (with a nice breeze). 

It has been over 250 days since we have been so warm!

Any warmer- or with any ugly humidity, and I just can't breathe well. This is not from my emphysema, although I am sure that exacerbates the choking feeling- but I have always been like that; even as a small child.

Baling hay was absolutely the most hideous chore I can recall. 
Blowing the chopped hay and/or straw to the haymow was a very close second. 

I did all that all with no mask either. Ignorance was bliss when I was 12. hehehe

Question ...
As I was trolling around the internet the other day I found a few things that puzzle me still.

Why would my blog be referenced and linked in "opencongress.org"? Please click here.

I also 'found' it linked here, which redirects to here (CLICK)
There is also a 'flintville' on this blog, http://infinityrealm.wordpress.com/flintville/ which is written by a kid. I cannot access that part of his blog myself, but just found them all to be very strange.

But alright- I have digressed- how about I get back to Flintville here?  hehehe 
While Casey was out here last week, she cut Punks toenails. 

*I hate that job almost as much as Punk does, (probably even more). 

Punk was, at one time, just fine with having this done to her. Then I made a 'bad' and brought her to Petco for her bath- (Trimming the toenails is included in the price).
When I went back to pick her up, she was walking sort of gingerly. I noticed that her nails were very short.  There were also the telltale styptic pencil 'leave marks' on almost every single one of her toes! I was even more than horrified to think of what this pup had gone through- (She was only about a year and a half old). 

Not that I can blame her, but she now takes it most personally when she has to have her toenails cut.

No kidding, after her trimming, she lays like this for a few days; (especially if I leave the trimmer out where she can see it).   hehehe 

She has been sick- and being that she still has pain, she is still being treated for her ears- (that last dose of antibiotics really threw her system out of whack).  

And STINK!- OMG, those ears are stinky- too smelly by morning if I dare miss a night treatment. PEEEE-You!

Yes, she also gets plain old yogurt- and lots of it, every day. 

Doc Spires once told me that a quarter cup would do her well enough. I begged to differ; and so, she gets about a cup. (Aw heck, it can't hurt).

Come outside with me for a bit?

Aren't they lovely?! 

They always look to be so delicate; but thus far, all of my flowering plants have withstood much wind! 

Then the Orange Blossom- 



... or a white lilac perhaps? 

Who knows?

Oh, we SO need "E-Smell" for some of these pictures! 

On the east side of the house, and Randy's favorite bush to trim---
The double "Snowball Bush"

 ... Still thinking about that "E~Smell".


My lilacs are not yet quite open- 

I shouldn't say "my".   Rather the dark purple, my favorite, came from Mom, (via Ginny Ryan)- and the lighter lavender ones out by my old garden I stole from Kelli and Tim before they built the duplex. hehehe


Y'all remember this pic?

This is what they look like now...



hehehe

 ... A few weeks ago, Punk, Sput, and I were walking around when Punk spied my one and only 'tiger tulip' stand . One had opened to show off it's most beautiful colors...  

Before I could stop her she ran to it, and pulled the blooms right off! (What a sassy dog)!
At hearing my sharp intake of air, she opened her mouth- The petals fell out one by one as she just stood there with her jaw open looking at me.
Nothing I could have done then, so no hard feelings- (Just my shock)! hehehe

Over on the front lawn I have some more of the variegated columbine- A bird, or a mouse, or even Mother Nature, has dropped them in the grass by the front porch, and alongside some of my hostas...

Around to the back again- Randy has finally trimmed my half~dead plum tree.

Looking quite nice if I do say so myself.

Down at its base you can see a pretty bunch of baby trees taking root (and thriving too)- 

These have been growing since late 2010, and I am not yet sure if they are plum, or pear. The leaves of both so closely resemble the other-

Either will be fine by me. 


Speaking of the pear tree- (Was too...)-

I will either have to board it close, or chain it up, this year...

It seems to split a bit more every year- And once the new pears are on it I don't think it will be solid enough to support them without giving in to their weight.

What you cannot see from this angle is the baby pear tree that has taken root right next to it. It is about 4' tall now- about 4 years old.

So when the old one finally goes to the great nursery in the great beyond, a new pear tree should be ready to take its place!

Question # 2 now-
I have never heard of a fruit tree blooming twice in one year, have you?

Because my D'Anjou pear did just that this year! 

The 1st time was just after that hot spell we had in March- (about a week afterward).  Those blossoms were so sparse- few, and far between, I was saddened, thinking what a measly year it would be for my pears. 

Then it blossomed again, (showing off many many BIG and PLENTIFUL blossoms)!!! 

I couldn't believe my eyes! My mouth waters even as I write!



What does Sputnik do while we are all out walking?

Usually he will keep up, but there is a whole new batch of rabbits in the windbreak this year; and he lives most days just to keep an eye on the branch encampments we have built for them. 

I have 3 BIG piles of old wood, branches and sticks and some leaves too; (taken as we prune the trees). 

The 'wabbits' think we put that there just for them.  We do!

Mostly though, Sputty keeps his distance because he does not wish to tangle with Mama Rabbit! hehehe



After wandering- (I try to get a decent amount of walking in each day), I do still mow the lawns. 




I always leave the tailgate of the Buick open while I mow, using it to hold the phone and to have a place to rest my weary buns and back when I have to take a break..  The open tailgate seems to be Punk's personal invitation to recline in the front seat. Too funny she is!
And yes, Sputty had been right there with her as I drove up on the mower, stretched out on the dashboard; but he left before I could take the picture. 


Those of us that live in Wisconsin had to vote on the 8th- A primary election for governor. (Know that IMHO, our Scott Walker is an ass).

I made a special effort to vote early in the afternoon so I would miss the rush hours at the poll. In our little community- (⅓ of Suamico), I was already voter # 1119. I don't think I have ever seen such a high number on my slip. So that was very good to see!

Anyway, I vote about 3 or 4 miles up on County M- 

As luck would have it, "M" was under construction...

Before I tried to drive all the way there, I pulled over to ask one of the road crew if I could even get to Calavera Springs. 

He said 'yes, but take 'er slow, and with caution'.
I opted just to take the old Swamp Road, and then cut back to "M". (A longer route by a mile or two, but it would keep my car a bit cleaner). 

Finally getting to the park, there is a big old sign on the gate. "Voting has moved to Town Hall."
Grrrrrr............. 

I am not sure if this move is permanent, or if it was only like this because "M" was gettig a facelift. 

I hope it is permanent- Easier to get to; especially in November when an early season snowstorm could make getting to the park almost impossible.

I'd better close for now- Am going to go scrounge up some lunch- my tummy is angry now and is letting me know it too! (Better late than never). 

I hope everyone has a "wunnaful" weekend!


XOXO
Me

On WISCONSIN!!!!

VOTE TODAY!

We do NOT need anymore of what has transpired since last November.

Hi All;
I plan on trying to get dressed and heading to the polls very shortly.
From my wheelchair to that voting booth will be a trial of mammoth proportions for me.

If I can do it. So can YOU!

There are some of you who do not realize exactly what importance your vote holds today- (Far too many also, who do not even realize that there IS an election)!

At any rate, please take a moment to consider these few points.
Hopefully all of the enclosed links will work for you...

XOXO
Anne

PS
Special thanks to Laurie, Kris, and all who helped me put this together.

_____________________________

1. Remember Patrick Lucey, former governor?
Please read this as he has changed his own vote, AND he has also resigned as Co-Chairman of David Prosser's own campaign...
(Very very smart man)...

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Former Gov. Patrick Lucey is withdrawing his support for Justice David Prosser for Supreme Court and is throwing it to Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg.

Statement from Patrick J. Lucey
March 31, 2011

“As a former Governor who appointed to Wisconsin's Supreme Court two quite different but equally principled Justices – Shirley Abrahamson and Roland Day – and who has over the years endorsed several more Justices, I have followed with increasing dismay and now alarm the campaign of Justice David Prosser, whom I endorsed at the outset of his campaign and in whose campaign I serve as the Honorary Co-Chairman."

“I can no longer in good conscience lend my name and support to Justice Prosser's candidacy. Too much has come to light that Justice Prosser has lost that most crucial of characteristics for a Supreme Court Justice – as for any judge – even-handed impartiality. Along with that failing has come a disturbing distemper and lack of civility that does not bode well for the High Court in the face of demands that are sure to be placed on it in these times of great political and legal volatility."

“At the very same time that my confidence in Justice Prosser has waned, I admire and have continued to be impressed with Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg. She has adhered throughout the campaign to even-handedness and non-partisanship and has exhibited both promising judicial temperament and good grace even in the heat of a fierce campaign."

For these reasons I have today resigned as Honorary Co-Chairman of Justice Prosser's campaign, and I endorse Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg for the Wisconsin Supreme Court on April 5, 2011.”

_____________________________

2. Walker; (& his Buddy'$ young son)...
Walker administration questioned about hiring of lobbyist's son
CLICK HERE, or simply do your own search.
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20110404/OSH0101/110404169/Walker-administration-questioned-about-hiring-lobbyist-s-son

Tue Apr 05, 2011 at 01:53 AM EDT
Walker hires uneducated, inexperienced, 2 time drunk driver, son of lobbyist for $80k+ job

One thought posted in that story... "Walker gets his undies all bunched up about those damn educated teachers making $35k and yet he gives this two time drunk dropout a job paying $81,500!?!?  Walker is a criminal."
******** I am thinking I quite HEARTILY agree with those words...

For more on THAT story: CLICK HERE:   or simply do your own search.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/04/04/963311/-Scott-Walkers-administration-gave-a-state-job-and-a-26-raise-to-the-son-of-a-major-supporter

From JS Online:
"Wisconsin Republicans claim that their state is broke, and have used that claim to justify stripping state workers of their collective bargaining rights. And yet, even though they claim to be broke, Scott Walker's administration just gave a state job, and a 26% raise, to the son of a major supporter who has no college degree, no relevant experience, and two drunk driving convictions." 
http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/noquarter/119159584.html

_____________________________

3. Wisconsin SUPREME COURT JUSTICE

Tuesday, April 5, 2011 6:07 AM

From: "Daniel Mintz, MoveOn.org Political Action"
<moveon-help@list.moveon.org>

This sender is DomainKeys verified

Dear Anne;

VOTE JOANNE KLOPPENBURG TODAY

Today is Election Day for the State Supreme Court. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Many progressives don't know about today's election or how it's our first chance to fight back against Governor Walker, so please forward this email widely. Click here to find your polling place: Find your polling place

Dear Wisconsin MoveOn member,

Today is Election Day. We want to make sure you, and all your friends, are planning to get out and vote for JoAnne Kloppenburg for Wisconsin Supreme Court today.

In an off-year election like this one, turnout will make the difference, but many of your friends and family may not even realize there's an election. 

Progressives in Wisconsin are incredibly energized. MoveOn members helped collect more than 22,000 signatures to force a recall vote of State Senator Dan Kapanke in record time, and recall petitions for seven other Republican senators are doing really well.

Much of the fight over Governor Walker's anti-worker laws will likely end up in court, and electing Kloppenburg would tip the balance of the Supreme Court toward progressives. So it's up to all of us to make sure that all our progressive friends, family, and co-workers in Wisconsin know they need to go and vote for JoAnne Kloppenburg TODAY. 

Please forward this email far and wide.
Thanks for all you do.
–Daniel, Eli, Milan, Carrie, and the rest of the team

_____________________________

4. SOLIDARITY

Brothers and Sisters, The day is TODAY and the time is NOW. If you haven’t already, please be sure to vote for working family candidates including JoAnne Kloppenburg. Wisconsin has stood united against political attacks by Scott Walker’s cronies for months. We cannot let another Walker ally, David Prosser, be voted into office. Prosser has voted with Walker 95% of the time. He is not on the side of Wisconsin’s union members and Wisconsin’s middle class. Prosser is simply another rubber stamp, ready to do Scott Walker’s bidding. JoAnne Kloppenburg is the best candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court. She will bring the needed impartiality, level-headed judgment and judicial demeanor that our courts deserve. Be sure to spread the word at work and around your neighborhood that today is the day to vote. It is crucial that everyone take the time to go to the polls today. In November, many of us were silent and we are now paying the price. Thankfully, today we have the opportunity to change the shape of Wisconsin’s future for the better. Vote and help rock the vote for working families by clicking here for a list of times, ways and location to spread the word. We have been united in the streets for months and we now must be united at the ballot box! Click here for a list of GOTV activities. In Solidarity, Phil Neuenfeldt, Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale, Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer

To find out more about the AFL-CIO, please visit our website at www.aflcio.org.

_____________________________

5.  Healthcare
Save for adding to it, to change any part of healthcare plan is a death knell for too many Americans; -
 - including my daughter and myself.
This is exactly what most, if not ALL Republicans, GOP,  and Tea Party people, wish to do...

_____________________________

6.  This YouTube WILL make up your mind-
(As if there could be any questions remaining)?

This is one of the best ads I've seen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g7DALO8uP0

Most people will not see it unless it's distributed person to person. So please send it to your contacts, post it on your Facebook page, do whatever you can to make it go viral.

 

I've been told more than $2 million has been spent this week alone attacking JoAnne, so we need everyone to help spread this. 

_____________________________

New Hope and Change Continue

        ~ Will this cloture garbage end now? Do ya think???


Good Morning!
There are many of us let down by the obvious fact that America's young people thought their vote did not count yesterday.
A sickening attitude of "why should I?' that many bought into lock stock and barrel.
Uninformed and misled by many advertisements, and "news" programs - or sick to death of them, even the middle~agers were not there to stake their claim on their responsibility to vote.
The golden~agers, (possibly percentage-wise the largest segment that did vote), cast their vote accordingly based on the fearsome lies we have all heard.

The times change. "We must change with them, or..."

Whatever the reason does not really matter, (or does it)? 
I have heard, and still am hearing, many concession speeches that I would rather not hear.
Be that as it may, I can now choose to *cry in my beer* OR get a move on toward 2012.

The people who think to cheer will not be cheering to learn that the largest side effect of 'winning' is the fact that all the people outed will still be receiving their pay... We have all seen the radical emails about how unfair it is that these representatives of ours continue to collect their pay after retiring... So no whining about that later.
Don't like it? It won't be ratified soon.

For the rest of us, (ie: those of us that are still around after health care gets changed), we too will be working toward ratifying the results of 2010 by voting again in 2012.

HealthCare?

1. First, the entire thing may be repealed.
2. Second, it may be turned into something completely unrecognizable. Hats off to the insurance companies on this one; you have probably been granted quite a reprieve- for a time). My youngest daughter will be once again fighting for every bit of insurance she can get...
3. The third, may just be that The Public Option be once again in the offing- But this time, let's let these Republicans think it was their idea... (Among many other things).

I believe that in his concession speech to Reid Ribble, our unseated Senator/Dr. Steve Kagen said it best.

Know that this is quoted from memory; not verbatim.  "The battle for the future has not ended. - There are still many of us still standing up for the families on Main Street, and believing that they have more value that the corporations on Wall Street."
 - The corporations have no constitutional rights, "We, the people" do."

Yes, Senator Kagen, "We the people" do.
I also believe that 98% of "We the people" also believe in people before profits.
Thank you Senators Kagen and Feingold

I further believe that as soon as we can all get past the cheering and the jeering we can work on what comes next.
It is all part of the rollercoaster ride of life (again not verbatim):
"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting...
'Holy Mary Mother of God! What a Ride!!!"

I do look forward to the next 2/20/200 political years.
As always, they promise to be nothing, if not more of the same- just with the shoe on the wrong foot.  Perhaps we need only to learn how to dress?

Additionally, I do feel bad for our President. 
Unfailingly Mr. Obama has worked for "We the people"-
He has been stilted, jilted, mocked, and stymied, at almost every turn. (And yet, with enough class, elegance, and intelligence, he has never been over that proverbial barrel).
Mr Obama, your job just got a little rougher.   * "Difficult, but not impossible."

We need only to restore our Faith in our president-
As like Mr. Kristof said, click here,  "Give him a chance"

Hmmm... How about we also give "We, the people" a chance too?

"We will battle on. The first day of the next campaign cycle starts tomorrow."
Senator Steve Kagen

My many personal and sincere thanks to our Senators Feingold and Kagen for representing Wisconsin in the most honorable of manner for so many years.

XOXO
Me

It is now almost 5AM- My dumpsters have been brought out to the end of the driveway and I am heading to bed.

graph from here

Varmints. Infusions. And Cheerios

    Punk- Bothered by the wind last week-


Good Morning All
Please vote today? Even if you think it won't matter, do it anyway. It's way too important not to. Personally I am happy that it is finally sinking into peoples heads that their votes can change the world in which we live. Your vote DOES count, no matter what you believe right now.
Undecided? Take the image of Casey to the polls with you, and vote according to your conscience. Know that a Republican vote has the potential to kill many people that wear her shoes, and fight her fight against a chronic, debilitating disease.

Lots going on today for us- Casey has another infusion, and I have a bit more shopping to do while I am in town- Happy I do not have to vote today. Those lines- around here anyway, promise to be long...


With November comes the advent of snow- Wish it were not so, but there is always the possibility of it- and lots of it. Of course no one knows how each season will differ from the last, but many are getting ready. I have seen many plows attached to trucks already, and many sights like this at area shops-


I still have to get mine out.

Casey brought me in yesterday for my darn head. My head feels better, but I still feel nasty- Could not fall back to sleep, worried that I would not wake in time to bring her in for that infusion. hehehe Talk about a vicious cycle.

These guys seem to cycle too-



A little mole thinking he might have liked some of that peanut butter.

These varmints are not in the house-
Thanks to an ever vigilant Sputnik, and Punk too. (Well, she tries). hehehe

In Spring and In Fall I always catch a bunch out in the attached garage. And every now and then, Sput does get one on the inside.
And it all has to do with the weather-


As does this... from last weeks windstorm.




The weathermen have told us that the mb's pressure from that storm was comparable to a Category 3 hurricane. Happy I am that I do not live down south, my headache had begun with that drop in pressure...

Punk would go outside, and within seconds was completely bothered by the fact that she could smell something, and not be able to figure out which way it was coming from. She would walk across the yard with her head swinging back and forth- Casey said she looked like she was at a tennis match! hehehe

Punk would gather up her toys, in whatever room she was, and just wait.




And wait...


Yes. Sponge-Bob now has a tail. Had to sew him up twice already. hehehe
So finally I just combined the two toys- Punk watches my every stitch...


Sputty?



He could care less ~as long as he gets fed.



After all that wind, Punk now chooses my old jacket to grab and go lie on.




She has also taken to lying under my little table... Cute




Sputty- Cleaning up after dinner. hehehe



Casey had moved her infusion from Tues to Thurs last week because of that wind.




Nick taking Casey's blood pressure- 105/58





I brought along some Cheerios for her to munch on.
She was still hungry so I ran to Tony Roma's to get her a sandwich!




I think she liked it! (I got the Claussen)! Mmmmm


I'd better close if I am to get in the shower before I leave- Perhaps even to turn the heat on before I do that...  It's about 30° outside as I type, and about 64° inside.

My love to all.

XOXO
Me

Uncle Sam. How Scared are You?

Uncle Sam is right.
Vote wisely kids.

XOXO
Me

Stolen from SpaceStevie

Polling Places Removed From Native Reservation

Tribe deprived of rights

By Rob Capriccioso

If this doesn't scream discrimination, what does?
Special recognition and thanks to Tammi and Care2.






From here:
http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/home/content/Tribe-deprived-of-rights-105034464.html



DEVILS LAKE, N.D. –
Tribal citizens are no stranger to having their rights trampled on. Now, members of the Spirit Lake Reservation say their right to vote is also being taken away – to the alarm of some state and federal policymakers.

The Benson County Board of Commissioners, which oversees the county that includes reservation lands, decided this election season to close three polling places in the tribe’s three-precinct vicinity.

Commissioners rationalized their decision, saying there is a high cost to operating the polling places, including training and paying staff.

In response, tribal leaders offered to provide funds to recruit and train workers, and said the county could use facilities that would be rent-free.

The commission refused the tribe’s offer, saying that costs would still be too high, and that mailed ballots would be cheaper.

Many tribal members would therefore have to travel longer distances to cast a vote in person, as only one polling location would be available in the county. Almost half of the total votes cast in the county in the 2008 presidential election were cast by Native American citizens.

In early October, the tribe filed suit against the board’s decision.

Benson County State Attorney Jim Wang said in a local radio interview that the lawsuit would have to be resolved within three weeks. At the time of his interview, Election Day was three weeks away.

“Whether this is intentional discrimination or not, the bottom line is that closing polling locations located within the Spirit Lake Nation will disenfranchise American Indian voters on the reservation, and this injustice cannot stand,” said Myra Pearson, Spirit Lake Nation chairperson.

Tribal officials have noted that the county has previously tried to hamper Indian voter participation, pointing to statistics from the 2000 election.

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., had asked that the county keep the polls open, and he now feels disenfranchisement is possible.

As a result of his concern, Dorgan has asked U.S. Attorney Tim Purdon to review the decision. His office noted that all other Indian reservations in North Dakota will have polling locations during Election Day.

“I think this decision by Benson County officials will disenfranchise American Indians,” Dorgan said in a statement. “I want the U.S. attorney to review with the Justice Department the decision and determine whether there are actions that can be taken to compel the county to have a polling place on the reservation where people can cast their votes.

“In addition, there are other areas of the state where people will find fewer opportunities to cast their votes with fewer polling places. I believe the state should reverse course on these election law changes and find ways to make it easier to vote rather than harder to vote.”

Some state officials are also concerned, with the chairman of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party urging the Benson County Commission to open an Election Day polling place in Fort Totten, N.D., to make voting easier for residents of the Spirit Lake Reservation.


****
Also from Care2 website comes this story-
Link http://www.care2.com/causes/civil-rights/blog/polling-places-removed-from-native-reservation/


Residents of Spirit Lake Reservation in North Dakota are protesting the county's decision to remove three polling places from the tribe's three precinct vicinity.

The Benson County Board of Commissioners cited the high costs of running the polls and training staff as reasons for their decision. Spirit Lake leaders offered to front the costs for recruiting and training poll workers as well as provide rent-free facilities, but the board declined, saying the costs would still be too high and that mail-in ballots are cheaper.

In a county where Natives account for 50 percent of all voters, this move will most certainly disenfranchise them. With only one poll location in the entire county, they will have to travel further and have a longer waiting time to cast their vote. While mail-in ballots may be cheaper, every voter should have the same methods available to cast their vote as every other voter in the U.S.

The tribe filed a lawsuit against the board earlier this month, but the judicial system will have to act quickly considering Election Day is near.

Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) has publicly condemned the Benson County Board's decision, commenting, "I want the U.S. attorney to review with the Justice Department the decision and determine whether there are actions that can be taken to compel the county to have a polling place on the reservation where people can cast their votes...I believe the state should reverse course on these election law changes and find ways to make it easier to vote rather than harder to vote.”

****


Are you angered and sad yet? If not, what's it going to take?

Is this a pathetic attempt to rig the election?

How about a deep criminal investigation into this, and other antics of the Benson County Board? (Why would it not surprise me to see a very high percentage of Republican, white men on that board)?

This screams to get the attention of The BIA, and The White House.

XOXO
Me

PLEASE SHARE THIS!  On your website and in your email.

Do Your Homework please. Then VOTE!

The List:
101 Examples of Why Republicans Should Not Be Allowed to Regain Control of Congress

If you have any questions about this upcoming election, this will answer them all.

Pre-election Special Edition
 

Starting back in early August, and every week since then, I’ve concluded each Op/Ed with a list of examples of why Republicans should not be allowed to regain control of Congress this mid-term election. Beside just being generally nuts, they have made it clear what they intend to do should that happen: go back to all the Bush-era policies that nearly brought this country to its knees less than two short years ago, launch endless, pointless investigations like they did against Bill Clinton to ensure nothing gets done, shut down the government (see list for numerous links), give enormous, budget-busting tax breaks to the richest 2% of Americans already awash in cash in some inexplicable belief that giving them still MORE money will convince them to create jobs for which there is no demand, and, of course, privatize Medicare & Social Security (also, see list for multiple links). Are you tired of the Wild West, free-wheeling and reckless financial practices of Wall Street? The Republican Party isn’t. And they’re hoping you won’t remember that’s how we got here. They want to privatize everything, then deregulate it till there’s no government oversight.

*(A brief comment: Please notice that I back EVERY accusation up with a confirming link.
My inbox receives a steady stream of junkmail chain letters from Right-wingers recanting political horror stories of “FEMA Death camps” or how “Democrats are out to destroy America”… all with one thing in common: NO LINKS to back them up. Easiest way to tell if that political chain-letter is crap or not is whether or not it contains any links to back up their accusations.)

The Tea Party, a fundamentalist wing of the Republican Party, differs from the GOP only in their level of fanatical extremism. The Tea Party is in lockstep with the GOP on every economic issue. Where they differ is on social issues… you know… questioning whether President Obama was even born in the United States or whether or not the minimum wage is Constitutional. One of the most amazing things about this extensive list of “Top 101 Reasons” is it only goes back six weeks to last August, and without padding from dozens of Wingnutty “Sharron Angle” and “Christine O’Donnell” quotes. The list doesn’t even go back as recently as Rep. Joe Barton’s (R-TX) apology to BP three months ago, upset that BP… and not the U.S. taxpayer… must pay to cleanup the oil spill in the Gulf. This week, Barton echoed Party leaders Mitch McConnell and John Boehner that the GOP has been “short or specifics” on just how exactly they’ll fix all these problems they’re attacking Democrats for not fixing. They don’t have any answers (that you’d like). They’re just hoping you won’t ask them any questions before election day.

In past weeks, we’ve met “The God Warriors“, Joe “Everything is unconstitutional” Miller (R-AK), and Rob “privatize everything” Portman (R-OH). Sharron “black is the color of evil” Angle and Christine “dabbled in witchcraft” O’Donnell require entire websites to track their history of nutty comments.

There’s former Hewlett-Packard CEO, Carly Fiorina, who was fired from HP for nearly bankrupting the company, and now running for the Senate in California, who defended her record of “outsourcing” thousands of jobs. How much of her $21 million dollar golden parachute will go to buy your vote?

In Connecticut, Linda McMahon, the multi-millionaire wife of pro-wrestling mogul Vince McMahon, struck a blow for feminism defending scenes like this from their WWE programming:
 

Vince orders Trish Stratus to “Bark like a dog”.

 

We’ve got Dr. Rand Paul (R-KY), the ophthalmologist son of Texas Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX), who… like his Libertarian father… wants to cut government spending across the board… except when it comes to Medicare payments to doctors like him. Rolling Stone reporter Matt Taibbi put it best:

This candidate, a man ostensibly so against government power in all its forms that he wants to gut the Americans With Disabilities Act and abolish the departments of Education and Energy, was unwilling to reduce his own government compensation, for a very logical reason. “Physicians,” he said, “should be allowed to make a comfortable living.”

You might remember Rand best for calling the Civil Rights Act of 1964 an abridgment of “freedom of speech”. Or maybe for suggesting we should do away with the “Americans With Disabilities Act”? Those free-loading cripples have had it too cushy for far too long.

The one thing Republicans, Conservatives and Teabaggers all agree upon: Extending the budget-busting Bush Tax Cuts to the “Top 2%” in the absurd belief that it will create jobs. As I’ve pointed out repeatedly, THE “TOP 2%” HAS BEEN RECEIVING THE BUSH TAX CUT SINCE 2002. So where are all the jobs? Not only did it not create jobs, they doubled the National Debt and created the worst job creation record since Herbert Hoover. They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result each time. These people ARE insane.

So you see, despite all their hypocrisy, idiocy and easily disprovable statements of “fact”, the Teanuts are… in Matt’s words… “full of shit”. They slept through the Bush Administration, when he doubled the National Debt and failed to prevent the worst terrorist attack in American history, then yawned as that same Administration violated eight of the first ten Amendments in the Bill of Rights, launched a war based on lies, and outed an undercover CIA agent because her husband dared expose their lies in the New York Times, all while presiding over the worst economy and ensuing economic meltdown since The Great Depression. But put a black man in the White House and suddenly we have “a lying, Socialist Marxist Muslim that pals around with terrorists” for president.

Of course, voters need more than just reasons to NOT vote for “the other guy”, they need a reason to get their butt off the couch and give Democrats more than just two years to fix what took Republicans eight years to destroy. A good place to start might be this list of 244 Accomplishments of President Obama, which is already slightly out of date.

Now, anyone that knows me or reads this blog regularly can tell you I’m not exactly “thrilled” with the Obama Administration… mostly for all its kowtowing to the Republican minority and allowing them to set the agenda for economic reform… stressing tax cuts over government investment in infrastructure, and a lack of urgency with regards to Climate Change and a Green Jobs Program. But I also know all these things fair a FAR better chance with a Democratic Congress than if Republicans regain control.

Since President Obama entered office, despite unprecedented obstructionism by the Republican minority, he passed the “2009 Recovery and Reinvestment Act” that gave a payroll tax CUT to 98% of all working Americans; he is keeping his promise to end the war in Iraq (remember McCain was prepared to keep troops in Iraq “for 100 years“); forced health insurance companies to offer coverage to EVERYONE by eliminating the “preexisting conditions” loophole (yes, Republicans vow to do away with that too); eliminated the infamous “prescription drug ‘donut hole’” of the Republican Prescription Drug Program that stuck hundreds of thousands of seniors paying thousands of dollars out of pocket for their medications; signed the “Lilly Ledbetter Equal Pay Act” for women that Bush said he’d veto if Democrats passed it; appointed two women to the Supreme Court (including the first Hispanic); and most recently, is creating the first “Financial Products Protection Agency” that will crackdown on deceptive contracts (like the kind that led to the mortgage crisis) and outrageous credit card fees & interest rates (a law restricting changes in credit card interest rates was already passed by Obama in 2009.) None of these things would have passed under a Republican Congress, who are now promising to repeal ALL of these reforms if you put them back in charge.

So without further ado, our “(In)Complete List of Examples Showing Why Republicans/Conservatives/Teabaggers should not be allowed to regain control of Congress (Six weeks. These are all in just the past six weeks):

1. Gingrich Suggests Taking Out The Remaining ‘Axis Of Evil’ Members: ‘We’re One Out Of Three’. Are you tired of these budget-breaking, costly & bloody wars? The GOP isn’t.
2. Department of Defense can’t account for 96 percent of money administered in Iraq reconstruction fund (between 2003-2007, $9.1 Billion just vanished).
3. Deficit fraud Shadegg (R-WI) can’t name a single program he’d cut to reduce the deficit.
4. The GOP has become the “Let Them Eat Want Ads” Caucus: A look at all the Conservatives claiming people on unemployment are “lazy” and are simply “putting off looking for work”.
5. Speaking of which: TN Congressman running for governor, Zach Wamp (R-TN) Suggests Unemployed Are ‘Just Sitting Back Waiting’.
6. Sharon Angle – The Tea Party’s pick to replace Nevada Senator Harry Reid is too BSC even for Fox News with all her talk of “armed insurrection” and “Second Amendment remedies” if voters don’t return Conservatives to power in Congress.
7. House minority whip Eric Cantor Admits Extending Bush Tax Cuts Would ‘Dig The Hole Deeper’ on the Deficit — and can’t name a single program he’d cut to pay for it (continue reading the list and you’ll find he’s not the only Deficit Hawk that can’t name a single thing he’d cut.)
8. But that’s not the first time a Republican admits the truth about the effect of tax cuts on the Deficit: GOP Lawmaker Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) Slips Up, Admits Tax Cuts Will ‘Increase The Debt’.
9. Not convinced yet? Contradicting His Earlier Denial, Marco Rubio (R-FL) Admits ‘Tax Cuts Don’t Pay For Themselves’.
10. Don’t ask these guys how they’ll pay for extending the Bush Tax Cuts. Either they don’t know or won’t say before the election because they know you won’t like it (can you say “Social Security & Medicare” after they spent all of last Summer vowing to protect it?)
11. The man in charge of rewriting history on the Bush Administration, Rove Invents Fantasy World In Which The Bush Tax Cuts Led To The Most Government Revenue Ever. (So how did they double the National Debt in six years with “all that revenue” coming in?)
12. Tea Party Senate candidate Rand Paul (R-TN) claims mine safety regulations are unnecessary because ‘no one will apply’ for jobs at dangerous mines. – So, mines will simply go out of business after 100% of them deregulate and workers choose to starve rather than work for them? (They can just live off their Trust Funds until a better job comes along, right Rand?)
13. Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) Can’t Think Of Any GOP Ideas That Are Different From Bush. Says Simply: We Are ‘Pro-Growth’. (whatever that means.)
14. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Filibusters DISCLOSE Act After Decades Of Demanding Campaign Finance Reform – As recently as 2007, McConnell was still defending his 23 year effort to require candidates disclose who was donating to their campaigns. Now, suddenly, he’s filibustering something he has fought for for years. Why? Because Democrats want it too. It’s all part of “the Party of Record Obstructionism simply to deny Democrats of any achievements prior to the election. Will you reward them for it in November?)
15. MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow takes note of McConnell’s flip-flop, producing video proof“Cap & Trade” McCain, Palin, Fiorina?) of numerous Republicans now vehemently opposed to programs & policies THEY themselves invented. (Can you say
16. And WHY would Republicans now obstruct their own programs? Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) says the answer is obvious: Republicans ‘Don’t Want People To Get Jobs Before The Election’ . I think he’s right.
17. People that think like this have no business being in charge of ANYTHING: Carnival offers shoot-the-president game.
18. On Sunday’s (Aug 7) Meet the Press, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) called for more deregulation to jumpstart the economy, then IN THE SAME BREATH, blamed a lack of regulation for the crisis on Wall Street and the oil disaster in the Gulf:
19. GOP Repeats Balanced Budget Amendment Farce – Why is this bad? Because they are still insisting on extending the $700B budget-busting Bush Tax cut for the wealthiest 2% while (almost comically) steadfastly refusing to explain how they’ll pay for it. (Can you say “Draconian spending cuts on the Poor & Middle Class”?)
20. Back in college, Tennessee Senatorial candidate Rand Paul reportedly kidnapped a female student and forced her to worship the ‘AQUA BUDDHA’ (a bong) as part of a secret society. (Update: Paul denies the kidnapping, but not the ‘bong worship’ part.)
21. Serial adulterer and potential 2012 presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, who spends an inordinate amount of time preaching “Family Values”, dismissed his hypocrisy in a discussion with ex-wife #2 with a ‘Do as I say, not as I do’ defense.
22. McCain Promises He Won’t Work With Democrats On Immigration If He Is Re-Elected. – Do you get it yet? They don’t WANT to fix their made-up “problems” (ie: “campaign fundraising issues”). That’s why they never challenged Roe v WadeThere’s gold in them thar race-baiting issues! the six years they controlled all three branches of government.
23. “Terror Babies!” – Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert went on Fox Business Channel to make the wild claim that pregnant Middle Eastern women are traveling to the U.S. to have babies who will automatically become U.S. citizens upon birth and later return when they are older to “blow us up.” – The FBI debunked him, but he continues to insist it’s true. These people are delusional paranoids, and they are hoping you’ll put them back in charge.
24. Florida Senate candidate Marco Rubio thinks the way to balance the budget is simply to ban earmarks (which make up 1% of the budget) and putting every government expenditure OTHER than Defense) up for reapproval by Congress every ten years (are you ready to risk a Republican Congress reapproving Medicare and Social Security every ten years?) Oh, BTW: Every dollar of discretionary spending already has to be reappropriated every year.
25. A recent CNN poll finds that 27% of Americans and 41% of Republicans overall… still believe President Obama was either “probably” or “definitely” born in another country.
26. The Tea Party came out AGAINST ‘Net Neutrality’ on the grounds that ”Net neutrality” (what we have NOW) would result in “GREATER government control” and “MORE government regulation” over the Internet. (Corporations oppose “Net Neutrality”, wanting instead to regulate the flow of traffic, providing optimal bandwidth only to those willing to pay for it.) I think this speaks VOLUMES about just how misinformed and easily manipulated the “Tea Party” is by its corporate sponsors.)
27. Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) thinks Social Security… which just celebrated its 75th anniversary… is “unconstitutional” (read further for like-minded candidate Joe Miller.) Of course, if he had actually READ the Constitution… say Article 1, Section 8… he’d know otherwise. Despite spending the Summer of ’09 accusing Democrats of wanting to “destroy Medicare”, never doubt for a moment that these people want to privatize Social Security, Medicare, and every social safety net there is. Remember, these guys even blocked extending unemployment benefits last July.
28. Republican Senate candidate for Washington State Dino Rossi believes that 1/3 of his state is in the Top 2% making over $250,000 a year.
29. 19 of the 22 states suing ObamaCare are receiving money appropriated by the new Obamacare law.
30. GOP House candidate Allen West (R-FL) believes people calling for peace and religious tolerance via ‘Coexist’ Bumper Stickers on their cars Want To ‘Give Away Our Country’.
31. Indiana’s Republican Senate candidate Dan Coats admits that he has no idea how much his “job creation plan”, which slashes taxes on corporations and the rich, will cost. They rant & rave over the size of the Deficit, then propose budgets that slash tax revenue without any investigation into what effect those policies will have on the deficit.
32. Rep. Marsha Blackburn: If The GOP Takes Back Congress, Our Priority Will Be To Repeal Health Reform – Blackburn isn’t alone. She’s referring to a petition circulated by NY Rep Peter King. To date, all but seven House Republicans have signed the pledge.
33. Every single Republican running for the U.S. Senate seat from New Hampshire is a global warming denier. – And they’re not too sure about Gravity either.
34. For the fourth week in a row, Sunday talk hosts pushed Republicans to explain how they intend to pay for making the Bush Tax Cut on the Top 2% permanent while screaming about the Deficit. This week, it was “Meet the Press” host David Gregory’s turn, pushing Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell on how they intend to pay the cut, with Mitchy asking “Why” all of a sudden are tax cuts “something we have to pay for?” Because you made the Deficit an issue, asshat.
35. NY’s Tea-bagger candidate for governor, Carl Paladino, believes we should convert “underused” State prisons into “Welfare Camps” for the homeless and people on public assistance, saying, “Instead of handing out the welfare checks, we’ll teach people how to earn their check. We’ll teach them personal hygiene…”. Could these guys BE any more insulting? If you lose your job and can’t get another one, you must be a bum, lacking in personal hygiene & social skills. Interesting suggestion coming from the crowd that decries the “Nanny state” and “government intrusion in personal lives”. Remember their paranoia over “FEMA Concentration Camps”?
36. GOP candidate for TX-17, Bill Flores, repeatedly refused to say if he’d support House Minority Leader John Boehner to be reappointed to his leadership role if he (Flores) is elected. But before anyone praise Flores for his disapproval of Boehner, know it is only because Flores… an anti-government Tea Party favorite… thinks Boehner isn’t wingnutty enough. Only Republicans would elect “anti-government” people to run the government. That’s like electing an arsonist to be the Fire Chief.
37. One week it was New Hampshire. The following week we learned all four GOP candidates in New Mexico are Global Warming deniers, believing instead that it is “scientists engaged in a conspiracy to ruin our economy” (those evil anti-economy scientists!) Have I mentioned lately these people are nuts?
38. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) tells a Town Hall attendee that if the GOP retakes the House, all they will do for the next two years is “frame the 2012 election”. Not fix unemployment, the housing crisis, Wall Street or health care reform; they’ll simply use that time to focus on the next big election. Remember Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) said all they should do if they win “is issue subpoenas” for the next two years, while Peter King (R-NY) refuses to say anything at all prior to the election about what they will do, for fear of making it “a campaign issue”.
39. Texas Governor Rick “secede from the Union” Perry, now wants the Federal Government to rescue his state from growing violence just across the border in Mexico’s drug war. After capitalizing on bad-mouthing the Federal Government for the past year, as soon as reality sets in, this hypocrite is first in line to beg it for help.
40. When asked to name something… anything… besides “tax cuts” that Republicans can do to improve the economy, the only thing Mike Pence (R-IN) can come up with is more tax cuts for the rich.
41. Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) assures fill-in host Laura Ingraham that if Republicans retake control of Congress, “Absolutely” he pledges “to repeal ObamaCare”… which prevents insurers from denying people coverage based upon preexisting conditions and stops lifetime caps on how much coverage insurers will pay if you get sick.
42. Texas Senator John Cornyn thinks people are starting “to look back on the Bush Administration’s economic principles ‘with a little more fondness’”. Do you NEED any more evidence these people, not only live in their own little dream-world, but wouldn’t hesitate to re-implement the same economic policies that got us here?
43. Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman reminds us what happened the lastmisused its Christmas card mailing list.” time a Republican Congress took control under a Democratic President: A six year non-stop partisan witch hunt that spent millions investigating the President – “they subjected the Clinton administration to unrelenting harassment — at one point taking 140 hours of sworn testimony over accusations that the White House had
44. Alaska GOP Senate Candidate Joe Miller suggests Medicare And Social Security Are Unconstitutional. (Note: On Fox “news” Sunday Aug. 28, John McCain claimed Democrats were out to “destroy Medicare and Social Security”, suggesting Republicans were the TRUE stewards you should trust to protect those programs.)
45. Steve King (R-IA), when asked by his Democratic opponent why he won’t debate him, true to his name, “King” tells his opponent he “hasn’t earned the right to debate him”. In his eight years in office, his majesty has not once agreed to debate an opponent.
46. Former health care executive Rick Scott, who is now the GOP nominee for governor of Florida, is campaigning on issues he’d have NO power to affect (eg: extending the Bush tax cuts) if elected.
47. The Taliban revealed that they are using Conservative protests against “the Ground Zero Mosque” as a recruiting tool.
48. Is anyone surprised by this? Another “Family Values” teabag candidate is arrested, this time for “unlawful conduct” with a minor.
49. Delaware’s Tea Party backed candidate for Senate, Christine O’Donnell, who claimed to have graduated from college in 1993, in fact, just received her diploma in July.
50. Scott Tipton, the Republican candidate for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, rather than join his fellow Republicans in vowing to “repeal & replace” the Democrats health care reform, instead is vowing to “choke off funding” for health care reform and replace it with nothing.
51. When asked, “What NEW ideas will Republicans bring with them if they regain control of Congress next November?”, disgraced/indicted former Congressman Tom Delay advises his fellow Republicans to campaign on the idea that “healthcare reform is destroying the economy and it will destroy it even more if it is allowed to go into effect“. So let me get this straight. It’s not even in effect yet AND it is “destroying the economy”? Really? This is all they got folks.
52. Both John McCain on Fox “news” Sunday, and his buddy Lindsey Graham on “Meet the Press”, both argued that we must extend the Bush Tax cuts “to protect small businesses and family farms”. One, “family farms” are already exempt from the Estate Tax (what they call the “Death” tax because it sounds more sinister), and two, can you really call yourself a “small business” if it is raking in more than a quarter-million dollars in net profit each year? And as MSNBC’s Keith Olbemann uncovered last month, the global conglomerate Bechtel, which raked in $31-BILLION DOLLARS last year, qualifies as a “small business”.
53. The Iowa GOP is pushing to make it illegal for undocumented children of undocumented immigrants to attend public school. – This is one of the best examples I can think of that demonstrates Conservatives inability to foresee possible repercussions from their actions (see: Iraq). They think they will save money? Think about all those delinquent children roaming the streets all day, joining gangs and growing up with no education and no job skills that leads to a life of crime. The pittance they save today will cost them a fortune tomorrow, compounding lost employment tax revenue with an inevitable explosion in welfare and/or crime.
54. Top Republicans were totally silent on “Burn a Kor’an Day”. From GWB on down, though they have suggested it “shouldn’t be done”, not one single Republican leader condemned the vile and provocative event planned for the anniversary of September 11th. (update: Sarah Palin did eventually come out and “condemned” the planned book burning.)
55. Summed up in one sentence: GOP Claims $50 Billion For Infrastructure Is Too Pricey, While Pushing $800 Billion Tax Cut For The Rich.
56. You can always count on Republicans to put partisan politics ahead of the needs of their constituents: Lawmakers From States With Deteriorating Infrastructure Oppose Obama’s Infrastructure Investment. Bridges, roads and schools are crumbling around them, but Paris Hilton needs a tax cut first.
57. More signs a GOP-led Congress will try to shutdown the government (even the V.A.)may” if they gain control, they way they did when Gingrich took control in 1994. (Gingrich repeated the possibility during his appearance on “Fox news Sunday” yesterday, suggesting Boehner “shutdown the government the same way he did in 1995, should Republicans regain control of the House, but thought it “unlikely” – translation: “a sure thing”.)
58. Rep. Mike Crapo (R-ID) praises a health care clinic paid for with Stimulus funds he opposed. “[O]ne of the core pieces of the solution that we need in America today”, says Crapo.
59. After weeks of being unable to justify extending the Bush Tax Cuts to the rich while deriding the size of the Deficit, Deficit-hawk David “diaper” Vitter (R-LA) simply says, “I don’t think we have to quote/unquote Pay For” the Bush Tax Cut for the rich.
60. Mike Pence (R-IN) says, that the GOP’s new website, America Speaking Out, proves “the Democrat [sic] majority isn’t listening, but House Republicans will.” Pence might want to check that website out, because the second most popular thread on it is a request to “deny tax breaks for corporations that outsource jobs overseas”… a popular business practice supported (and defended) by the GOP. (Fox’s latest hire, John Stossel, ran a segment on ABC defending “outsourcing” last year.)
61. Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) Promised a ‘God’s Covenant With Moses Signed ‘In Blood’ To Extend the Bush Tax Cuts For The Wealthy. Because God said we should threaten with violence anyone that stands in the way of tax cuts for the rich. I read that somewhere in The Book of Bubba. Chapter Two.
62. The day “Stark County” Ohio became “Stark Raving Mad” County, Ohio. Meet Phil Davidson (R-OH). Davidson ran for and lost the race for the Stark County Republican Party Treasurer, following a blustery wild-eyed speech, running back to his notes after every line while touting his Masters in Communication. Can you hear me now, Ohio?
63. Just who’s more BSC^*? Newly appointed Republican nominee for the Senate from Delaware, Teanut favorite Christine O’Donnell is well on her way to giving another Teanut favorite Sharron Angle (R-NV) a run her money with statements like ‘Too Many People Are Blindly Accepting Evolution As Fact’ and equating masturbation with adultery. Another thing O’Donnell and Angle have in common? Both immediately scrubbed their entire websites of all information the moment they won their nominations. (^*Bat Shit Crazy)
64. I haven’t dared track every Wingnutty thing to come out of the mouth of Sharron Angle (R-NV), and thanks to the folks at ThinkProgress, I don’t have to.
65. Here’s TP’s already huge (and growing) list of Wingnuttery for the latest Tea Party star, Christine O’Donnell.
66. Every week produces more evidence that if the GOP regains control of Congress, they’ll shut down the government. This week: Teresa Collett (R-MN).
67. Fox Business Channel gets Rep. Paul Ryan to support their own version of Ryan’s own “Contract with America” entitled “The Scorecard”. Among its pledges: “No New Taxes, No New Bureaucrats, Cut Spending, Repeal Obamacare.” Translation: Tax cuts for billionaires, more deregulation, repeal the Stimulus, and allow Health Insurance companies to return to their despicable ways.
68. For some clarity on the above, a research report from Wall Street’s Moody’s Analytics Inc proves conclusively what we’ve all known: that tax cuts for the rich are NOT stimulative. They just put their savings in the bank (Thanks to Donklephant for the heads-up). Reminder: Obama’s payroll tax cut for 98% of Americans is paid for by the Stimulus that Republicans want to repeal, ensuring that the only people that will get a tax cut under a Republican Congress is that Top 2%. Yes, believe it or not, if you vote those “tax cutting Republicans” back in power, 98% of you will see your taxes go UP.
69. In the “sky is blue” department, the former chair of the Florida GOP admits “many within the GOP have racist views” and worries “there is no place for moderates in the Republican Party”. Mr. Obvious: Line 2.
70. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell not only wants to extend the Bush Tax Cuts for the Top 2% at a cost of $800B, he now wants to repeal the Estate Tax for the Top 0.25% of households at a cost of $3.9 TRILLION over the next decade, which would also add nearly $1 TRILLION IN INTEREST to the Debt EACH YEAR. And just how does he propose we pay for this astronomical hole he plans to blow in the budget? By “freezing $300B in spending over the next ten years.” Folks, I’m sorry, but these people just aren’t playing with a full deck.
71. Uber-Libertarian Rand “Civil Right Act was unnecessary” Paul (R-KY), who once threatened to filibuster any Budget that wasn’t balanced, now says he supports extending the Bush Tax Cuts for the top 2% without proffering any spending offsets to pay for it. Conservative “principles” stop at the door of Congress.
72. Nearly every single GOP Senate candidate is a Global Warming denier. Not surprisingly, all of them Tea Party favorites.
73. Scott Walker (R-WI), Wisconsin candidate for governor, proudly announced his “68 page economic plan” printed in:
    

    58 point type

    15 words per page, containing such ground-breaking ideas as “I am for things that are good. Not bad.” Seriously.

74. Another week, another Republican demanding their Party shutdown the governmentSteve King (R-IA). if they regain control of Congress. This week, it’s
75. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) said that, if the Republicans regain control over Congress, they “will reopen the broad Wall Street reform law and overhaul the newly created consumer protection bureau.” This is Obama’s new agency to protect consumers from deceptive contracts and the kind of questionable financial practices that led to the meltdown on Wall Street.
76. Despite the fact 73% of Americans oppose DADT (“Don’t Ask. Don’t Tell), and the fact that both the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates both agree it is time to end the oppressive practice, AND Sen. John McCain saying in 2006 that, “[t]he day that the leadership of the military comes to me and says, ‘Senator, we ought to change the policy,’ then I think we ought to consider seriously changing it,” every single Republican plus two Blu-dog “Democrats” filibustered the Defense Funding Authorization Bill this year because it included the repeal of DADT. When George W Bush was President, if Democrats had blocked a Defense spending bill, the Right would of HOWLED, called Democrats “unpatriotic”, and ask why they “hate the troops?”
77. Once a person like Sharron Angle has made her 12th Wingnutty comment (such as suggesting rape victims “turn lemons into lemonade”), continuing to point out her latest ludicrous, outrageous and/or offensive remark seems like overkill. But every once in a while, these people say/do something SO despicable, you can’t let it pass. Last week at a campaign rally, Clearly unclear on the concept of “insurance”, Angle openly mocked the idea of being forced to pay health insurance premiums that go to cover children with “Autism”… “finger-quotes” in the air… suggesting autism is not a “real” illness (she has probably been listening to Conservative hate-radio host Michael Savage, who called Autism “a fraud. A racket. [...] In 99 percent of the cases, it’s a brat who hasn’t been told to cut the act out”. Angle’s argument is not unlike those of Conservatives with no school-aged children complaining of having to pay “school taxes”. They never consider the benefits of having an educated workforce. Are these REALLY the kind of people you want in charge of… well… anything?
78. As mentioned previously, The GOP wants to replace Obama’s ‘Affordable Care Act’ with provisions from… wait for it… Obama’s ‘Affordable Care Act’. Those Republican reforms? They’re in there.
79. As Rachel Maddow pointed out on her show Thursday, while Republicans constantly deny they are out to “privatize Social Security”, plenty of Republicans are now proudly campaigning on that very idea, and the Conservative Think Tank “Club for Growth” is advising Republicans to be proud of it with an Op/Ed entitled “Privatize Social Security? Hell Yeah!“ Social Security currently operates on a “0.9% overhead”, is incredibly efficient and hasn’t missed a check in the 70+ years of the program. When Bush went around the country in 2005 trying to sell the idea of privatization, his own report estimated a “5% overhead”… a more than 500% increase in cost to administer the program… money that wouldn’t go back to those who paid in, but instead going to CEO’s to administer the program, investing your money in a stock market that the same Republican president tanked by mid-2007. “Hell yeah”? I don’t think so.
80. Residents of Portage, WI had to be evacuated when it was discovered that failure of the river levee was imminent. This nations infrastructure is crumbling. Failure of the levees killed 1,600 in New Orleans in 2005. And the collapse of a bridge on the way to the Republican National Convention in Minnesota killed thirteen people in 2007. And the GOP wants to cut the taxes that would pay for these repairs.
81. Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) said on “Meet the Press” yesterday (9/26) that one of the ways he’d “create jobs” is by improving the economy. And how would he improve the economy? By reducing the deficit. And how would he reduce the deficit? By slashing tens of thousands of government jobs (“reduce government employment to 2008 levels”). Yes, he did.
82. Nearly 100 church pastors participated in “Pulpit Freedom Sunday” and endorsed political candidates before their Congregations yesterday HOPING to prompt a legal challenge over the “Separation of Church & State”, claiming NOT being able to endorse candidates while on the job violates the pastors “freedom of speech”. The “event” (read: “stunt”) was organized by the Alliance Defense Fund, a conservative Christian nonprofit organization. My guess is they weren’t endorsing many evil nasty Democrats.
83. In “the ‘potatoe’ doesn’t fall far from the tree” department: Last week, Ben Quayle (R-AZ), son of former VP Dan “Potatoe” Quayle and candidate for Congress, posted a video on YouTube claiming that the Federal “government share of GDP in America is 44 percent” and “is today spending well over $14.5 trillion dollars a year.” This is a popular bit of Tea Party hyperbole, citing the government “takeover” of everything from “healthcare” to “the auto industry”. Problem is, it’s absolute nonsense. Last year’s Federal Budget was just $3.5Trillion. Nearly 50% of all American businesses are NOT government owned; And the entire National Debt is just over $13Trillion dollars. Someone at the Quayle campaign must have more brains than an actual quail because the ad was quickly yanked less than an hour later.
84. In November, Oklahoma residents will be voting on a “constitutional amendment that would prohibit state courts from considering Islamic Sharia Law in making rulings”. Is this REALLY a problem in Oklahoma? Too many judges wanting to impose Sharia Law upon the residents of Cedar Creek? When asked to defend their xenophobia, Rep. Lewis Moore (R-Arcadia) argued the law is necessary because “we are at war with ‘them‘.”
85. The streak continues for a fourth week. Another Republican promises that if they regain control, they will attempt to Privatize Social Security: Pat Toomey Tells Ted Koppel He Wants To Phase In Private Accounts For Younger Americans To Replace Social Security. Folks, they are telling us what their plans are. Time to start taking them seriously.
86. And again, another week, another Republican promising to “shutdown the government” if Republicans regain control of Congress. Do we have your attention yet folks? This was an utter disaster when the Republican Congress under Newt Gingrich tried it in 1995. But if Republicans learned from past mistakes, they wouldn’t be Republicans, now would they?
87. ThinkProgress is reporting that in January of this year, Ron Johnson (R-WI), the GOP candidate for the Senate opposite Russ Feingold, testified before the Wisconsin state legislature in opposition to the bipartisan Wisconsin Child Victims Act to eliminate the statute of limitations on civil suits for child abuse. Johnson opposed the Act because of it’s potential impact on business. Because I know when I hear about child abuse, my first concern is how it might affect business. Isn’t it yours?
88. While most Republicans are going around demanding we “extend the Bush Tax Cuts for the Top 2%” regardless of what it would do to the Deficit they are so concerned about… even threatening to hold tax cuts for the remaining 98% hostage unless they get their way, richest House member Darrell Issa (R-CA) wants to CUT taxes on the rich to EVEN MORE than the Bush Tax Cut Rate. As I’ve pointed out repeatedly, the Bush Tax Cuts have been in effect since 2002 and still are to this day. If lower taxes on the Rich create jobs, how come we’ve just seen the worst job creation since Herbert Hoover? And those cuts STILL aren’t creating jobs to this day.
89. One day after California Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman calls for a “crackdown on those who hire undocumented workers”, she admitted that she herself (knowingly?) employed an undocumented housekeeper. Conservatives get so swept up in their own hysteria, they aren’t even aware when they are slitting their own throats.
90. New York’s Republican candidate for governor and Tea Party favorite, multimillionaire Carl Paladino spoke to NBC Nightly News reporter Kate Snowhad a YouTube message claiming, “I’m being called a racist” for sending racist, sexist and obscene emails, told Snow, “I [only] sent it around to a select group of friends. All of them treated it privately, except for obviously one.” So apparently, it is okay to be a racist pig so long as you only do it in private. (In addition to Paldino’s racist/sexist/homophobic emails and threatening reporters, Carl also decided that just hours after the death of his son in a car crash was the time to reveal to his hospitalized wife that he had fathered a child out of wedlock ten years earlier. Stay classy, Carl.) Wednesday evening (9/29). Paladino, who
91. First, Nevada Senate candidate Sharron Angle called defeating Harry Reid, “a calling from God“. Now, fellow God Warrior Christine O’Donnell (R-DE) says “God is guiding [her] campaign” and wants her elected so she can “filibuster” the coming “lame duck session” (where she would finish out Biden’s former Senate term.)
92. And speaking of record Republican obstructionism: A report by the Center for American Progress finds that the Senate has yet to vote on HUNDREDS of bills passed by the House since Democrats took control in January of 2007. By their estimate, it would require over 1,200 DAYS of legislating in the Senate just to vote on all the unaddressed bills passed by the House. Consider that the House typically is only in session for 548 days in a FOUR YEAR presidential term. And voters wonder why nothing seems to be getting done since Obama was elected.
93. And as mentioned above, despite all the talk on the Right of Democrats and their “economy-destroying” policies, the DOW (stock market) just reported its best September in 71 years. This also dispels the Republican myth that success on Wall Street directly translates into economic growth on Main Street. The rich are awash in cash. So where are all the jobs?

 
And this weeks list of reasons to keep Republicans from regaining power:

94. Talking Points Memo has discovered that Republican millionaire businessman Rich Iott who is running in Ohio’s ninth district for Congress, spends his free time as a Nazi Reenactor.
95. Pennsylvania candidate for the U.S. Senate, Pat Toomey (R-PA), is just the latest Wingnut to claim Global Warming “is very much disputed”. No. It’s not… except by the oil & coal industry and the Conservative think tanks doing their bidding.
96. Further proof the Tea Party is to the Right of the Far Right: former Colorado DA turned Senate candidate, and Tea Party favorite Ken Buck on abortion: ‘I don’t believe in the exceptions of rape or incest.’
97. In 2005, Buck refused to prosecute a rape case because the victim had previously had an abortion while in a relationship with the same man. Buck justified not prosecuting the case because he felt the woman had a “motivation for revenge” against her rapist because he believed she was “resentful” over having an abortion (that she chose to have). Make sense to you? Me neither.
98. John Raese of West Virginia, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Linda McMahon of Connecticut, Joe Miller of Alaska, and Dino Rossi of Washington, along with Minnesota GOP gubernatorial nominee Tom Emmer, have all expressed support for lowering or eliminating the federal minimum wage… an amount that GOP Chairman Michael Steele and Linda McMahon can’t even name… they just know it needs to be lower (and yours right along with it).
99. Despite being an outspoken critic of the Federal Stimulus Program, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is using the Stimulus’ Bond Program to raise nearly $1Billion dollars for infrastructure programs in his state. These hypocrites have no problem taking advantage of programs they never would have passed and even seek to repeal, as long as they can use them to make themselves look good.
100. Expected 2012 GOP Presidential candidate, former Speaker of the House Newt “left his cancer-stricken wife for his mistress” Gingrich spammed thousands of doctors with a letter promising, “Send me $5000 and receive a ‘prestigious award’.” The ‘prestigious award’? A cheap framed paper certificate from “American Solutions”. Gingrich is a fan of cheesy fake awards, who was embarrassed last year for sending a “2009 Entrepreneur of the Year” award to a Dallas topless club.
101. In an interview with the far Right “Heritage Foundation”, Texas Governor Rick “Governor Good-Hair” Perry bragged about rejecting Federal education funds for Texas schools because it came with a stipulation that he actually spend the money on education, and not redirect those funds to shore up the state budget. (Note, after Texas was accused of stressing sports over education, Texas became the ONLY state in the country to count LIBRARIANS as teachers.)

Republicans have obstructed EVERYTHING for the past two years, all to prevent Democrats from enacting reforms just so you will put them back in charge. And the Teanuts are hoping to ride that wave into Congress, defeating “moderate” Republicans to push their extremist agendas. The only question left is whether or not you will fall for it and either vote to put the people that created this mess back in charge, or you will stay home on Election Day so they win by default. Get out and vote, folks.

E-Mail this list on to everyone you know.

(ADDEMDUM: 10/16: Last Thursday (10/14) during his radio show, host Glenn Beck came out in defense of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which is under scrutiny by the Obama Administration for refusing to reveal whether or not massive amounts of cash from foreign corporations is going into their multi-million dollar fund to pay for attack ads against Democrats. Beck urged his listeners to donate “$100 dollars each” to them. Confusing small-town “Chambers of Commerce” with the National “U.S. Chamber of Commerce” (“Businesses with fewer than 100 employees?” asked Beck on-air), Beck convinced thousands of his idiot, anti-TARP, anti-Stimulus, anti-outsourcing minions to give tens (hundreds?) of thousands of their hard-to-come-by dollars to a multi-million dollar pro-TARP, pro-Stimulus organization that spends tens of millions publicly defending outsourcing as vital and necessary to Corporate America. While small-town “Chambers of Commerce” typically represent the interests of small businesses within towns, the U.S. Chamber typically represents massive multi-national conglomerates.)

ADDENDUM #2: In reflection of #12 above… where Rand Paul believes “mine safety regulations are unnecessary because people would simply refuse to work in unsafe mines”… there are currently 16 trapped miners in China following an underground explosion that killed another 21. China is pleased that the numbers of miners killed in that country have fallen to just 2,600 miners, down from over 7,000 miners killed in 2002, making China the most dangerous country in the world for mining. Funny that the people there continue to work in the mines because according to Paul, people will simply refuse to work in an unsafe mine. – And to any NeoCon stalwarts out there still defending the indefensible: “No”, today’s China no longer “forces people into preselected jobs against their will.”

Original list from here

Special thanks to Space Stevie who called my attention to this phenomenal list! As stated on his own blog,
"And there are people seriously talking about putting the Republics back into power? Give me a break. I invite everyone to go through this list, click on all the links and get the facts about the Republican agenda. If these guys get into power, we will all be paying the price.
Remember - Vote Democratic - The Ass you save might be your own."

Imagine the homework this "Mugsy" has done to complete this.
A very thought-out and all-inclusive list.

With links!  A wise and educated voter after my own heart.

XOXO
Me