Too Progressive

Via Swampland:

First there were hundreds of calls. Now sources tell me that the House website has been crashing since yesterday afternoon as groups from the left and right have launched “write your rep” campaigns opposing the bill while business groups have started similar pushes to support the measure. Just in case there’s a member left with no inkling: there’re a lot of people upset by the bill and the vote.

Business groups writing Congress telling them to support the bailout package? Despite everything we’ve been told, that pretty much says it all when it comes to who this is REALLY about. Write your Rep. here and tell him or her to oppose the measure.

UPDATE: Actually, I’ve been getting the following message when I try to access that site all day:

The House of Representatives is currently experiencing an extraordinarily high amount of email traffic. The Write Your Representative function is therefore intermittently available. While we realize communicating to your Members of Congress is critical, we suggest attempting to do so at a later time, when demand is not so high. System engineers are working to resolve this issue and we appreciate your patience.

If you cannot get it to work visit your reps website and you can almost always contact them there.

UPDATE II: Awwww, the poor pathetic White House didn’t get it’s way (for once) and now they’re getting mad because people keep calling it a “bailout.”

Okay so I have a few questions here. First of all, if we’re in the midst of such an economic disaster why is Congress just up and taking the day off tomorrow? Yes I realize it’s a Jewish holiday which leads me to another whole host of questions. It’s not a recognized federal holiday and whatever happened to separation of church and state? And I don’t mean this as a swipe at the Jewish community at all (I’d be saying the same thing if it were any other religious holiday, and not totally because I’m more or less Agnostic). I mean, I guess I’d be taking the day off too if there really were no problems for me to be solving which Congress is inadvertently admitting by taking the day off tomorrow. I stand by what I said earlier today: the real problem here is that there is no problem.

After all, George Bush is leaving office in just a few months anyway, can’t we just take that and be thankful for it? Not try and give him $700 billion just to shut up over the holidays?

GOOD!

In a stunning vote that shocked the capital and worldwide markets, the House on Monday defeated a $700 billion emergency rescue for the nation’s financial system, ignoring urgent warnings from President Bush and congressional leaders of both parties that the economy could nosedive without it. The Dow Jones industrials plunged nearly 800 points, the most ever for a single day.

Democratic and Republican leaders alike pledged to try again, though the Democrats said GOP lawmakers needed to provide more votes. Bush huddled with his economic advisers about a next step. The House was to reconvene on Thursday instead of adjourning for the year as planned.

Bush and a host of leading congressional figures had implored the lawmakers to pass the legislation despite loud protest from their constituents back home. Not enough members were willing to take the political risk just five weeks before an election.

It’s nice to know I won’t be footing the bill for John McCain and George Bush’s failed economic policies of the past eight years.  Also, nice to see Congress finally stand up and tell the Bush administration NO MORE.  At least until someone in the House caves and changes his or her vote.

Ha ha too, at John McCain taking credit for the passage of the bill before it was even voted on, and then it didn’t pass!!

UPDATE: This is hilarious:

Here’s a bonus “afternoon funny” for you to laugh at and then tell all yr work friends: the last time Congress swiftly passed a major, bipartisan piece of legislation was to authorize an idiot to launch the worst foreign policy decision in modern American history. So maybe things aren’t so bad hmm?

Also is anyone else tired of hearing the commentators on the teevee rail on and on about how this means Washington is so broken?  Please. This is the first decent bi-partisan action these tards in the Imperial District have taken in quite some time.

UPDATE II: Oil prices plunged on news that the bailout package had been defeated. Remember last week when everyone thought it would surely pass and oil prices saw their biggest one day climb ever? Yeah, I stand by what I said about this whole bailout thing being a complete sham.

UPDATE III: Better call a waaaambulance, here is why Republicans say they scuttled the bailout package.  Totally NSFW!!

Now, I’m obviously all for totally killing the $700 billion bailout deal, but this is their excuse?  Please. Cry me a god damn river.  Maybe Republicans should just man up and say they killed it because it is vaslty unpopular. Nobody would fault them for that. I do however, fault them for lying, and being in complete contradiction of themselves. Republicans are against the deal because it goes against most of what they stand for as far as free market, deregulation policies, yet they say they voted it down because Nancy Pelosi attacked THEIR PRESIDENT, the man who proposed this damn deal?  HAHA!!

First, we were told we needed to send a trillion dollars to Wall Street right away with pretty much no explanation as to why other than it was necessary to avoid a total collapse of world markets and to stabilize the economy.  Then, after it became evident how increasingly unpopular a bailout plan for Wall Street was, the Bush administration and Congress told us it was needed to “free up capital” in the “frozen credit markets” so small business owners could continue to take out lines of credit.  Well this morning I decided to call up both of my credit card companies and ask them to increase my line of credit. Of course  when I called, I was just shocked when both of them agreed to give me an increase, one by as much as $1,500. And here’s the really good part, the company that agreed to the large increase was none other than Washington Mutual! Obviously I’m no small business owner but a credit line increase is a credit line increase.

The real problem here is that there is no problem, and we’re basically sending $700 billion to Wall Street because obviously a couple million a month isn’t enough for the Bush administration’s BFF CEOs to live off of.  I wonder what lie they’ll come up with now?

By the way, the House is set to vote on this BS later today, I’ll be posting the names of all those who vote in favor this evening.

After watching George Bush warn that everyone will lose their homes, there will be no food and we’ll all die during his address tonight, I can’t help but think that this scandal is not only a Republican political stunt in order to boost Republican members of Congress during the November elections, but it’s also the 2008 version of the politics of fear tactic deployed by the Bush/Cheney campaign in 2004.  This time, instead of telling us a million planes will fly in to our buildings and Osama Bin Laden will eat us in our sleep and John Kerry is coming to steal our bibles and guns, they’re telling us we just won’t have any money or place to live if we don’t hand over $700 billion, no questions asked.

Just curious though, as silly as $700 billion for a bunch of greedy heroin addicts on Wall Street is, what on Earth took the Republicans so long to roll out their 2008 version of The Politics of Fear!?

Sickening.  I can’t wait to publish the names of those in Congress who voted in support of this piece of garbage.

UPDATE: David Letterman on another Republican political stunt - John McCain’s decision to “suspend” his campaign (and by “suspend” he clearly meant continuing to fund raise, do an interview with Katie Couric, meet with Bono, etc. etc.):

“What are you going to do if you’re elected and things get tough? Suspend being president? We’ve got a guy like that now!”

Perhaps John McCain can also figure out a way to offer the troops in Iraq a “time out” because of this financial fiasco?

This whole thing is nothing more than a political stunt to allow congressional Republicans to put some distance between themselves and the Bush administration before the November elections.  Republicans in Congress met with Dick Cheney yesterday on Capitol Hill for the first time since the build up to the Iraq war, only this time they basically told him to get lost.  Imagine that.  Republicans telling Cheney to take a hike?  That’s a first.  Not only that, but they went out of their way to make it known that they gave Cheney the cold shoulder.  Why?  Because now they can go back to their districts and make the argument to constituents that they are not in bed with the Bush administration.  They’re going to try and make the argument that it was the “tax and spend liberals” who spent $700 billion in tax payer money to bail out irresponsible gamblers on Wall Street.

And the Democrats are falling for it!!

UPDATE: This scandal is now providing John McCain with an excuse to skip out on Friday night’s debate so he can sit in Washington and do nothing.  If it’s such an “emergency” how come John McCain found time to speak in New York today?  How come Republican Senator Orren Hatch told Chris Matthews today that he’s seen John McCain in Washington exactly “…maybe a couple of times in the past few months.”

This is ridiculous.

Since Wall Street can unload billions in bad investments on U.S. tax payers, it’s only fair that the rule applies to everyone.  Check out buymyshitpile.com and list your bad investments for insanely high prices!!  Current items submitted to the government for purchase include a collection of gay gospel music for $350,000, a mini beagle rescue boat for $200,000,000 and the siren from The Drudge Report for a cool $1,000,000.  Let’s hope the government steps in quick to snap them up before the economy collapses.

The multi-billion dollar government bailout of several irresponsible companies is already having a negative impact on average Americans in the form of high oil prices and a weakening Dollar.

NEW YORK - Oil prices spiked more than $25 a barrel Monday — the biggest one-day price jump ever — as anxiety over the government’s $700 billion bailout plan, a weak dollar and an expiring crude contract ignited a dramatic rally.

Still, the rally, which shattered crude’s previous one-day price jump of $10.75, set June 6, showed the intensity of emotion in the market. The Nymex temporarily halted electronic crude oil trading after prices breached the $10 daily trading limit. Trading resumed seconds later after the daily limit was increased.

In addition to spiking oil prices, the U.S. Dollar weakened even further on news of the bail out.

The 15-nation euro rose to $1.4807 in afternoon trading, up from the $1.4470 on Friday. A weak greenback was a catalyst for the commodities boom of the past year, and analysts said large investment funds were expected to pour money back into the sector.

Like I said last week, the U.S. should be ashamed.

Spending billions to bailout irresponsible corporations?  That’s capitalism.  Spending billions to ensure that every American has access to affordable health care and education?  That’s socialism.  Here’s a look back at last week’s major news events:

• The DNC launched CountTheLies.org to keep a live tally on John McCain’s outright lies to the American people.
• Chris Matthews decimated McCain’s senior policy advisor Nancy Pfotenhauer and Republican Congressman/pretend foreign policy expert Eric Cantor (VA-07) for trying to run away from failed Republican policies of the past eight years.
• McCain spokesman/sad puppy dog Tucker Bounds was told off on all cable news networks.
• Mark Warner received endorsements from a bi-artisan group of sheriffs from across Virginia. This was a huge relief to me too as I was growing increasingly worried Warner would only beat Gilmore by 20 points.
• Still waiting to hear whether or not the government plans to bail me out of student loan debt.
• MSNBC shocked the nation Wednesday night when it broke this exclusive story.
• What does this say about voters who don’t like football?

Is this the “who would you rather have a beer with” of 2008?

Obama was the pick over McCain by a narrow 50 percent to 47 percent, according to an Associated Press-Yahoo News poll released Friday that generally mirrored each presidential candidate’s strengths and weaknesses with voters. Women, minorities, younger and unmarried people were likelier to prefer catching a game with Obama while men, whites, older and married people would rather watch with McCain.

Last night Republican Congressman and pretend foreign policy expert Eric Cantor (VA-07) appeared on Hardball with Chris Matthews on MSNBC. Cantor became visibly uncomfortable when Matthews began drilling him for attempting to run away from the failed Republican policies of the past eight years. Unfortunately, the MSNBC video code would not work properly when I tried to post it, but here it is via YouTube:

Earlier this week Matthews took McCain’s senior policy advisor Nancy Pfotenhauer to task when she also attempted to run away from the Republican party.

[h/t The Richmond Democrat]

Snapped these last night during Countdown on MSNBC.  LOL!!

Ha ha, via Wonkette:

Thank you to tipster “Terry” for sending us this picture of his teevee displaying the latest sophomoric hijinks from liberal MSNBC. It’s downright immoral the way they keep insulting Hillary Clinton like this.

This has got me really steamed.  I wonder if the government will be there to bail me out of the immense amount of student loan debt I will have accrued when I’m done with college?  I wonder if the government will be there to bail out everyone who has or will be forced to file bankruptcy because of medical bills they can’t afford to pay because they have no health insurance?  Absolutely ridiculous and the U.S. should be ASHAMED of itself today.

The Warner campaign announced today that it has received endorsements from a bi-artisan group of sheriffs from across Virginia who expressed their support for Warner’s superb record in protecting the needs of the law enforcement community.

Standing before a group of over 20 sheriffs – Democrats, Republicans and Independents – at a press conference during the Virginia Sheriff’s Association conference in Roanoke today, Governor Warner said:

It’s been an interesting journey in this campaign, but I can’t think of a day that I’m prouder than today to have a number of sheriffs from across the state, of different party affiliations… publicly supporting my candidacy. … Public safety is one of the core services of government. Lots of politicians talk about supporting public safety, but the way you’re judged is not by your words but by your actions. These men and women put their lives on the line each and every day on behalf of Virginians. To have their public support today is a banner day for me and for the campaign.

“I am proud to be a Republican, and I also am honored to stand with Governor Warner and announce my support for his candidacy for the U.S. Senate,” said Floyd County Sheriff Shannon Zeeman. “This election isn’t about party affiliation: it’s about picking the right person for the job. Mark Warner has demonstrated through his words and his actions that he is the best candidate to represent Virginians in the U.S. Senate.”

The Warner campaign also announced it has picked up the endorsement of the Police Benevolent Association.

The Virginia PBA, part of the Southern States Police Benevolent Association, Inc., is a professional association comprised of more than 20,000 law enforcement officers employed by federal, state, county and municipal governments. The PBA represents sworn law enforcement officers and support personnel by providing legal services and advocating changes to improve the quality of work life for people employed in all aspects of criminal justice.

“The Virginia Police Benevolent Association proudly endorses Governor Mark Warner for U.S. Senate,” said Jason Knorowski, President of the Virginia Police Benevolent Association. “Through good times and bad, Governor Warner has always been a strong supporter of law enforcement professionals and their families, ensuring that we had the resources we needed to protect the public. We look forward to his continued support and leadership as he serves us in Washington in the U.S. Senate.”

Warner continues to hold a wide lead in the polls over Republican opponent Jim “fiscal disaster” Gilmore.  That having been said, I still find it slightly hilarious that even the Republican establishment has recognized Gilmore as one of the worst governors in U.S. history as evidenced by their total lack of support for his campaign.

[h/t Vivian J. Paige]

[Cross posted on Daily Kos and Raising Kaine]

Watching Chris Matthews take McCain senior policy advisor Nancy Pfotenhauer to task during Hardball yesterday was fun, but McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds being told off on all three cable news networks is even better!

When I watched this during the 5pm airing I thought for sure Pfotenhauer was going to walk off the set. Matthews really stuck it to her and she simply had no answers.

The DNC has launched a new website today titled Count The Lies.  The site features a live tally of McCain’s lies.  The total, so far, stands at 51.

John McCain may be trying to sell himself as a “maverick” and a “straight talker” who will tell the truth no matter the consequences, but independent, non-partisan watchdog groups aren’t buying it. But, since he wrapped up his party’s nomination, John McCain has offered more of the same false attacks and smears. To date, independent, nonpartisan fact checkers have published more than 50 fact checks debunking John McCain’s lies and distortions.

To hold John McCain accountable to his own standard, the Democratic National Committee will count and chronicle the lies here on the McCainPedia’s “Count the Lies” page.

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler were on point during last night’s opening sketch of the Saturday Night Live season premier.

While this was obviously meant for entertainment purposes, it’s alarming how close to the truth some of the Palin “jokes” really are.  Read also: “Palin knows about foreign policy because Russia is right next door to Alaska” (hence Fey stating “I can see Russia from my house”) and Sarah Palin’s creationist point of view (hence the dinosaurs joke).

Good morning.

Republican VP nominee and liar extraordinaire Sarah Palin continued to dominate the national and Virginia blogosphere this past week.  While it’s still a little unclear how the Obama campaign will handle Palin, one thing is certain: When it comes to deceit and flat out lying to the faces of Americans, Republicans have hit an all time low.

• Comedian Bill O’Reilly trips over his own hypocrisy and blames the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
• VoteVets begins running ads showing video clips of John McCain voicing support for a military draft as recently as last week.
• The Republican sponsored culture war has a new face leading the march of ignorance, here’s a brief (yet brilliant) summary.

Also, earlier this week the Warner campaign released a new ad titled “Preposterous” which responds to inaccurate and misleading attacks in a campaign ad authorized by Jim Gilmore and funded by the Republican Party of Virginia.