So, why would a dyed in the wool liberal extol the virtues of Michele Bachmann? Read on...
Over the past few years, I have expressed my "love" for Michele Bachmann a number of times; and as in the past I refer to the "love" a liberal has for this unusual lady...politically.
Now, recent events have inspired me to revisit and rekindle my (political) love for Bachmann, especially as she preps for the November election. So let me explain why a dyed in the wool liberal would extol such a woman.
Just last week, Michele (may I call you Michele?) hit the headlines again with her unbridled exuberance when she noted on the Laura Ingraham Show for the Beck "God" event; said Michele, "The crowds were overwhelming. If you saw the aerials on the Drudge Report this weekend, there was an aerial photo.... Unofficially, off-the-record we talked we talked to one of the guys from the National Park Police who told us he thought it was 1.6 million. There had to be over a million people there. People were packed in from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial." Of course, other professional estimates called the crowd 87,000 – so while Michele overestimated only by a factor of 18 times...who’s counting and who cares? It just highlights her high spirits and enthusiasm.
Also, as the election approaches, we now have the advantage of seeing what legislation our Michele has had passed this last session. Well, actually it is an easy exercise: It is zero! Pretty much the same as her entire congressional career. And that is probably a good thing. After all, as Michele reminds us constantly, we need LESS legislation, not more. After all, why would we want to regulate such things as the financial industry...or mine safety...or those terrific oil companies...or even food safety (like that silly egg recall)? I am certain Michele thinks they are over regulated now. In fact, I’ll bet if Michele gets any regulation passed it would be to stop consumer abuse of big business. For example, she would likely repeal that health care act which would (she hopes) greatly increase health insurance company profits; and we know she attacked the Obama administration for mistreating BP Oil when they accidently spilled a little oil. Yes, if less regulation is your thing...Michele is your gal! Who needs any of them stinkin’ regulations anyway?
But enough of that, let’s take a little journey back into the past with a retrospective of Michele’s political life. My first recollections of Michele are pictures of her hiding behind some bushes scoping out a gay pride gathering. Her bright blue eyes twinkling at the sight of the gay men and lesbians enjoying the rally whilst Michele closely observes the entire "sordid" scene. What’s not to love about that – a woman thoroughly enjoying her prurient interests? As you may quickly surmise, Michele comes from a hard right born again Christian religious background. To her (and I quote): "...the gay community was specifically targeting children; and our children are the prize for this community". Bachmann has said that people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender suffer from "sexual dysfunction" and "sexual identity disorders."
Is she wrong? Well, not according to God. You see, according to Michele, God himself (herself?) directed her to go to law school...get into politics...and run for Congress (a fact overlooked by Will). Now I ask you, if God himself (herself?) endorses her beliefs, how could she be wrong? Love that lady!
That’s not all. God also directed her into other religious discussions, like intelligent design. You see, Bachmann supports the teaching of intelligent design in public school science classes. In her term in the State Senate, she co-authored a bill that would require public schools to include alternative explanations for the origin of life as part of the state's public school science curricula. In October 2006, Bachmann told a debate audience in St. Cloud, Minnesota, that "there is a controversy among scientists about whether evolution is a fact or not. There are hundreds and hundreds of scientists, many of them holding Nobel Prizes, who believe in intelligent design." This woman has incredible insight – I never knew that! Hundreds of scientists and Nobel Prize winners, huh? What’s not to love?
But let’s jump to some of her most "unusual" pronouncements in the House. All are worthy of comment. When the bill to encourage young people to get involved in government service (AmeriCorps) was recently expanded, Michele fought tooth and nail to protect our kids. She clearly pointed out: AmeriCorps is really "mandatory re-education camps for young people - to get trained in a philosophy that the government puts forward." She continued, "It is a dream come true for people who want to transform our country from a free-market economy to a centralized government planned economy...". The bill passed easily, and that pinko Orrin Hatch had the nerve to put our Michele down with the comment: "...this bill is probably the most bipartisan bill we will see on the Senate floor this year. Nothing in the legislation was mandatory". Damn lefties! And as a further affront to poor Michele, her son recently joined AmeriCorps.
And speaking of "lefties" in Congress, what about her courageous stand on weeding out "unpatriotic" legislators, when she offered: saying, "let's examine all congressmen to see who is pro-America, and who is not pro-America." What a grand idea. I am certain she will want to start with those congressmen who cheat on their wives, or who approved sole-source sweetheart contracts to their friends (like Halliburton), and call the president of the United States a "liar" right in the chambers, etc. Yes, Michele is right on – these folks truly are "unpatriotic" and unworthy – she has the right idea, just the wrong people.
Lest I forget, regarding health care, Michele made the following comment while the reform bill was being debated, "...let’s make a covenant, slit our wrists, and be blood brothers in fighting against any Democratic efforts to reform health care." Please Michele, do not ever do such a dastardly act – we liberals need to keep you around!
But wait, there’s even more to love about the multi talented lady. She, and her family, are adept entrepreneurs. Yes! She certainly knows how to work the system. The watchdog group Americans United for Separation of Church and State says it’s opening an investigation into taxpayer funds going to Bachmann and Associates, Inc., a Christian mental health counseling clinic owned by Rep. Michele Bachmann and her husband, Marcus. The Minnesota Independent first reported on the clinic’s receipt of public funds, totaling nearly $30,000, back in June of this year.
Better yet, data compiled from federal records by Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit watchdog that tracks the recipients of agricultural subsidies in the United States, shows that Bachmann’s family farm received $251,973 in federal subsidies between 1995 and 2006. Records also show that she has been earning income from the farm business, and that the income grew in just a few years from $2,000 to as much as $50,000 for 2008. This has provided her with a second government-subsidized income to go with her job as a government-paid congresswoman who makes $174,000 per year. You cannot deny it...this lady is smart!
So, why would a flaming liberal "love" Michele Bachmann? Here are five good reasons I have noted before. First, she adds "color" to the political scene (red meat for the talk shows). Secondly, she is a strong voice for the Republican Party’s right wing – the one that now seems to control the party – and that represents volume and clarity for the out-of-touch GOP positions. Third, she is a coalescing factor for the Dems – uniting them in their quest for reform of past practices. Fourth, she brings us news from the "Bizarro World" – how else would you know what is happening down there, I ask you? And finally, as was stated once in the Huffington Post: "Michele Bachmann is the gift that keeps on giving". Expertise in theology, science, chemistry, finance, world affairs, even sexual dysfunction and an entrepreneur to boot; Michele is truly one-of-a-kind. All in all...you just gotta "love" that lady!