F.O.O. & FOKRs, y'all should know by now that I'm capable of being a tad ornery; if I had money to burn, I'd be even more "dangerous." Allow me to share a story that demonstrates that fact. ;D
I was driving home from work today, and a big 'ol black gas - guzzling' pick - up truck ended up in front of me about a mile or so from Casa de CityLightsLover. A bumper sticker on the back of said gas guzzler said,"1/20/13...the End of an Error." If I had money to burn, I would've rear - ended him, written him a check, told him "We just settled out of court," and I'd go buy a new car. I am all for free expression of ideas & constructive discussion of political differences, but I simply cannot abide even the notion that some yay - hoo thinks this country was better off when GWB was in charge. Hence, it's a damn good thing I don't have money to burn!
Only 1 "this day in history" item floated my proverbial boat. The comedian that Lenny Bruce said made him "laugh his a$$ off" is celebrating a birthday today - happy 84th birthday to Mort Sahl!
It's SPARKy time! :D Here's yet another reason why a whole mess of Southerners will spend the next few years really celebrating high on the hog losing the Civil War. I bet this poor sap in RI was thinking, "Mama said there'd be days like this!" ;D It would appear that Adam West, Michael Keaton, George Clooney, Val Kilmer, and Christian Bale have some competition in the Batman realm. I'll end tonight's SPARK with a couple of "AAAaaaWWWwww" stories from the animal kingdom. :D
On with The Rachel Maddow Show!
"Social Studies" - All right - we get to revisit that lovely soap opera As the Ensign Turns! ;D All of his previous Senate gigs were divided up among the GOBP in the Senate. Senator Ensign's farewell speech - the day we got OBL - was delivered to an empty house. Rachel thinks his scandal didn't more national media attention because "the beltway media" couldn't use his scandal to chat up any other big picture subjects. Makes sense - sort of...but, I've never known the media to turn their noses up at scandal. "Family values" just don't have the umph they used to. Oh goody, here's my Governator - the dude who just put the kibosh on state funding for Planned Parenthood.
Too bad that social issues truce has gone the way of New Coke! Newtie Gingrich didn't get that social truce memo. Gay socialist secular facism is taking over the country? $HIT! I thought it was radical Islamic terrorists that were after us; I wish he'd make up his damn mind. ;D Newtie also wants to turn back the clock on Roe VS. Wade & go back to the days of back - alley abortions & blood poisoning because of rusty coat hangers. Bat$hit Bachmann is a "social issues" candidate? What social issue is she bat$hit about - other than being generally bat$hit. Governor Tim Paw...zzzzz.... OOPS! Sorry! Nodded off there. But, he's getting on the social issue bandwagon, too. ;D Mittens Romney is spouting that memo, too. And, here's what my Governator's been up to. *&^%$#@!
570 draconian anti - abortion bills in 48 states have been introduced. Taxes are being raised to curtail access to a protected legal medical service. E.J. Dionne's in da' house; I lurve him! :D Tea baggers at first blush didn't seem to care too much about social issues, but a whole mess of said baggers identify themselves as social conservatives. If you're a pro - choice GOBPer, don't even THINK about running for POTUS. You need to be a climate change denier, too.
Of course, all the early GOBP primaries are in socially conservative areas - IA & SC. Oh E.J., not - my - man Mitch didn't have to sign that Planned Parenthood bill. He doesn't have to worry about running for Governor again, and no matter what he decided to do about that bill, he was going to win with 1 side or the other of the GOBP. If he'd vetoed it, he would've looked like a steady non - bat$hit fiscal conservative worried about deficits. Since he did sign it, he's now a hero to the socially bat$hit crowd. He was in a win - win situation.
"You Know the Drill" - F.O.O. & FOKRs paid way more taxes last year than nearly any big oil company - specifically Exxon Mobile. We paid more than G.E., too. Big oil avoids taxes, and we help them do just that because they get big 'ol tax breaks & subsidies. Holy crap! Rachel!! What kind of vehicle do you drive that $75 doesn't fill the mother? You don't drive a gas guzzler, do you?! Senator Chuck Schumer's this segment's guest about the welfare queens known as big oil. He gets to sit in a room with oil execs tomorrow to ask them about their welfare queen status; I hope he delouses afterwards!
Senator McCentury might be agreeing with Senator Schumer on this issue? OK, who's this dude, and what's he done with the real Senator McCentury?!
Senator Schumer insisted that discussion of the GWB tax cut extensions will be the next issue on deck; I ain't holding my breath on that.
"Uganda Be Kidding Me" - The "kill the gays" bill has been delayed until Friday when it could be signed by that country's new old dictator. President Obama has expressed his non - support for that bill, and Rep. Barney Frank wants aid to that country stopped if that bill becomes law.
"Here's How You Know It's Working" - Freshmen GOBP members of Congress asked for President Obama's help in not trashing that whole killing Medicare $hit. Wow...really?! HA!
Dems are not letting up - GOOD! In the past, I think they would have at the risk of looking too mean or something. Phil Fairbanks writes for The Buffalo News; he's got a real good vantage point for that special election in the former Rep. Shirtless Craigslist's district. A tea bagger candidate may even end up as some sort of GOBP spoiler! The establishment GOBP candidate in that district has boldly said that she would've voted in the "yes" column for Rep. Ryan's "Kill Medicare" bill. BRILLIANT!
"I'm Going to be Going Over to Do Some Missions" - Senator Nude Cosmo announced during all the OBL dying coverage that he wanted to do his National Guard service in Afghanistan. Okee - dokee! Let's leave him there, too!! :D The jury's still out on whether he's a "high value target." ;D If he was planning to single - handedly take out OBL,, he done missed that boat; an elite Navy SEAL beat him to it! HOWEVER, it turns out that his possible Dem opponent for that Senate seat's an actual - honest - to - goodness Iraq war vet & intelligence officer - type dude. OOPS!
"TRMS Best Thing in the World Today" - Rare audio has been catalogued in the Library of Congress, and you can listen to the stuff for free now. OK...could give a $hit about old whisteling, but I may check out what else is there! :D