Why the FUCK Didn't You, Madame Speaker?

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By Carl

(ed. note: Please pardon the colorful language, but in context, it's appropriate and really about the only way to truly express my outrage)

"I could have arrested Karl Rove on any given day," Nancy Pelosi said to laughter, during a sit-down with reporters. "I'm not kidding. There's a prison here in the Capitol ... If we had spotted him in the Capitol, we could have arrested him."

You mean like so many on the left asked? Begged? Pleaded? Why not?

"It doesn't serve our country, and it undermines the true purpose of contempt of Congress."

Get the fuck out of here. No, seriously, GTFO! When are the Democrats going to get it through their thick skulls that the only way they're ever going to right the ship of state and get to a place where Republicans are willing to be flexible and negotiate is to smack the fucks on the snout with a 2x4?

If the Teabagger movement tells us anything, it's that Republicans are not only perfectly willing and capable, but seem to enjoy sinking into the gutter in order to stop this nation from doing, well, anything except a war that Republicans themselves declare (else why the argument over Libya?)

The Democrats are the human in the middle of a pack of rampaging junkyard dogs and you know how you beat down a pack of junkyard dogs? You don't try to soothe them or bribe them: you take the lead dog, and crack him across the nose to show him who is boss.

Arresting, even just arresting, Karl Rove would have gone a long way to making the GOP realize you're serious and to be taken seriously.

My God, woman, these are the thieves and crooks who stole elections, raped our nation, destroyed her good name and credit both domestically and internationally, Murdered thousands of our young men and women for wars that had no point and no end, and plundered the values of our homes! Fuck "contempt of Congress," they are traitorous, murderous slimy bastards who if we had a Bastille and guillotine would be lined up at La Barrière!!

Arresting Karl Rove would have been, as they say, a nice first step.

How much different would the first four years of the Obama administration have been if, say, you had on January 1, 2007, slammed your gavel down and said "I will entertain a bill from Congressman Kucinich authorizing an investigation into a bill of war crime charges against officials of this Administration"? Or criminal negligence for ignoring the urgent warnings surrounding 9-11? Or hell, any number of things including charges of voter caging in 2004 or rigged elections in 2000?

I can tell you this much: Karl Rove would have spent the last six years running and hiding and spending money on lawyers and not building a superPAC war chest (after persuading five SCOTUS justices to pervert the First Amendment) to try to get the HNIC out of the White House. The Republicans would have thought twice before raising the birther issue, or banning abortions, or passing "Stand Your Ground" laws.

They would have respected you. Yes, they would have worked overtime to get rid of you, to take Congress over anyway, but guess what? It happened, despite your gestures of conciliation. You know who else reconciled with a tyrant hell-bent on destroying nations?

"Peace in our time," my lily-white ass!

(crossposted to Simply Left Behind)

Bristol Palin proves that self-righteous, self-indulgent idiocy is hereditary

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By Michael J.W. Stickings

Sex? Er... what's that?

Take this for what it's worth:

Bristol Palin says being a young mother is "hard", and now she has vowed no more sex until she and her pipeline worker boyfriend are married.

Palin, 21, tells In Touch that she is determined to walk down the aisle with Giacinto "Gino" Paoletti before they think about having another child. "Gino and I are going to wait until marriage," she tells the magazine.

"I’m doing what's best for me. It's between me and God, and I know it's right."

Bristol, the oldest daughter of Sarah Palin and now the star of a new Lifetime reality show "Life's a Tripp", became a single mother at 18, giving birth to son Tripp in 2009.

Reached for comment, God -- or, if you prefer, "God" -- said, "Whoa, keep me out of it. I can't stand the hypocrisy of these moronic right-wing theocrats either," adding: "Now excuse me, I have to get going. Karl R--... uh... Beelzebub's got some nasty business planned in Park City, Utah this weekend, and I need to prepare."

"Husky and Starch": The best GOP ticket and Obama's worst nightmare

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By Richard K. Barry

Husky & Starch

My co-blogger Michael Stickings and I were recently having a chat about who Mitt Romney's running mate should be. We went through the usual names, wondering if he would need a "game changer" or play it safe. After going 'round and 'round for a while, we came to the same conclusion: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie would be Romney's best option for VP.
In a sense, it would be both a game changer and a safe call.

We reasoned that Romney should make the announcement the usual time, about a week before the convention. By then the polls will have been so close for so long that conservatives everywhere will be salivating at the thought of beating Obama, so they won't make trouble about the fact that Christie is another Northeastern governor who isn't perfect from a radical right-wing perspective. The base will stay in line and swing voters, particularly white middle-aged guys, will love the choice.

In many ways, Christie is everything Romney is not. He comes across as genuine, a natural performer. He's combative as hell and would be able to do what Romney will never be able to do: act tough. Conservatives want that more than anything.

I'm no great fan of Christie myself, but I do think he would be a formidable running mate and would make things close. Would he overshadow Romney? Uh, yes. But that's a chance Mitt would have to take.

Christie would give the convention a boost and liven things up considerably. He may also loosen Romney up a bit. I can almost see them play-boxing on stage (Oooh, almost made myself sick there).

I don't have a great argument for thinking this ticket would work, but I do feel it somehow.

It's not my idea of a good time, though in the interests of objective political analysis, there it is -- "Husky and Starch." (I wonder if I can copyright that.)

(Cross-posted at Lippmann's Ghost.)

The He-Man Woman Haters Club

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By Mustang Bobby
The Romney campaign is apparently making its VP search estrogen-free:

But in leaking few details about their search, the Romney campaign also loses out on an opportunity to show they've at least made an effort to seek out various candidates whose mere consideration might be needed to placate certain corners of the party.

In particular, few women except for New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte – a freshman lawmaker from New England with only scant federal experience – are thought to be under consideration by Romney.

"I think unfortunately, Palin poisoned the well on that," said one informal Romney adviser, fretting that any woman selected as VP would draw inevitable comparisons to the former Alaska governor. "I would guess if I were inside the Romney mind that they're worried that any woman chosen will be subjected to a higher level of scrutiny."

So Sarah Palin was a disaster as a vice presidential candidate and she was a woman. Therefore, the logic goes, women make lousy candidates.
Oy. This is the kind of thinking that got us Sarah Palin in the first place; choosing a candidate for the office based on trying to win the election, not govern the country. This is why they're looking at Marco Rubio; the Republicans need to win a demographic base and they don't really care if the candidate has the experience and a clean enough background -- both are problematic in his case -- to actually take on the duties of the presidency should the need arise.

The problem with Sarah Palin was that she was woefully unqualified for the job. That had nothing to do with her gender. On the other hand, the people who chose her were all men. That would seem to indicate that they're the ones who should be subjected to a higher level of scrutiny, not the just the candidate.

(h/t to Melissa) 
(Cross-posted at Bark Bark Woof Woof.)

Behind the Ad: Obama highlights Romney's integrity issues

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By Richard K. Barry
(Another installment in our "Behind the Ad" series.)
Who: The Obama/Biden Campaign.
Where: Nine key states (Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia).

What's going on: The Obama Campaign is running two spots in key states. The first one criticizes Romney for his failure to cut taxes or create jobs. The strategy is to highlight promises Romney made and failed to keep.

As RealClearPolitics describes it:

"Mitt Romney did cut taxes -- on millionaires like himself," says the narrator in one ad, titled "Mosaic." "But he raised taxes and fees on everyone else." The spot cites fee hikes on health care, school bus rides, nursing homes and other services.

The Obama camp had been hitting Romney's private-equity career, but that approach came under fire, even from some prominent Democrats. Last month, the re-election team shifted its focus to Romney's record as governor. The strategy now is to highlight promises they say Romney didn't keep, suggesting that he won't deliver on presidential campaign pledges either.

The second ad, called "Come and Go," touches on Romney's time at Bain Capital and as governor of Massachusetts.

"As a corporate raider, he shipped jobs to China and Mexico. As governor, he did the same thing -- outsourcing state jobs to India," the narrator says. "Now he is making the same pitch." Both spots end with the tagline: "Romney economics: didn't work then; won't work now."

Part of the difficulty with following politics closely is that after hearing the same thing over and over you get numb. It's important to remember that over the next several months a lot of people are going to start paying attention to Mitt Romney for the first time. If the general theme of the Obama campaign is that Romney has said a lot of things over his career, made a lot of promises, but changes positions whenever he feels the need, they may get that from these ads.

If that's the point, I guess they do the job. As for myself, I'm already getting bored.


(Cross-posted at Lippmann's Ghost.)

The Commander In Beef Strikes Again

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The 'Dinner with Barack IV' lunch menu revealed: President Obama dines on a cheeseburger and fries...
When President Obama had lunch last week at DC's Lincoln Restaurant with the winners of the 'Dinner with Barack IV' contest, the press was ushered out after a quick photo op, before the food was served. And as usual, the White House declined to release menu details. But newly released photos from Obama for America show the President being served an impressive cheeseburger. The Lincoln Burger is made with Meyer Farms Beef, watercress, Firefly goat cheese, and roasted tomatoes ($16), though it looks like the President swapped cheddar as his cheese. (Above: Winner Wyndi Austin, right, seems pretty surprised at the President's burger)

"I'm a medium-well guy," the President announced in 2009. He also enjoyed a side of French Fries at the luncheon. Or Fundraising Fries, as it were. Iced Tea was the President's beverage of choice. (Above: The President enjoys his fries)

In this post, ObFo predicted the President would select the cheeseburger for lunch. Sure, predicting a cheeseburger for someone who considers cheeseburgers one of the four food groups isn't that much of a stretch, especially when he's the most beef loving President in modern times.

But though Mr. Obama enjoyed a cheeseburger at his first 'Dinner with Barack' event at DC's Scion restaurant, for the second contest dinner he ate "Harpoon Caught Swordfish" at The Liberty Tavern in Arlington, VA. It was served "Portuguese style," accompanied by white beans, sweet peppers, lamb sausage escarole, and Littleneck clam sauce ($22). (Above: POTUS, cheeseburger in hand, at the first contest dinner)

At the third dinner, at DC's Boundary Road restaurant, the President returned to beef, though he chose the Grilled Hanger Steak, made with chestnut puree, and served over spicy kale, with a "sauce charon," similar to a Bearnaise ($22). The President started with the Quark and Black Pepper Pierogi ($10).

While the President has shown plenty of love for America's hardworking cattle ranchers, the first beef recipe from one of the White House chefs was just issued this month. It was created by Assistant Chef Sam Kass, who is charged with cooking dinner for the First Family each night they are at home. Thus Kass is well acquainted with beef. Check out his Grilled Skirt Steak with Poblano Sauce. It's a Presidential fave, according to Kass, and is served over sauteed spinach.

The President's luncheon guests at Lincoln were Janet Jones, 64, a grandmother from Accokeek, Maryland;; Paula Matyas, a retired GM auto worker from Milford, Michigan; Jim Heath, a firefighter from Aurora, Ohio; and Wyndi Austin, a realtor from Gilbert, Arizona. (Above: Obama for America posted this photo of the President's lunch plate)

The President had a second beefy luncheon last week, too. He enjoyed beef ribs, collard greens, black eyed peas, rice and a corn muffin, washed down with bottled water, during an early Father's Day lunch at Kenny's BBQ Smokehouse, also located in the District.

The 'Dinner with Barack V' contest is now open for entries.

Info: Lincoln Restaurant is at 1110 Vermont Avenue, Washington, DC, 2005. Phone: 202-386-9200. Kenny's BBQ Smokehouse is located at 732 Maryland Avenue Northeast, Washington, DC, 2002. Phone: 202-547-4553.

*Photos by Christopher Dilts/Obama for America

First Lady's Book 'American Grown' Lands On US Bestseller Lists

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A memoir, a gardening guide, and a compendium of White House recipes...
Exactly three weeks after it was released by Crown Publishing Group on May 29, First Lady Michelle Obama's book American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America is on the top of bestseller lists for gardening titles. In her personal memoir about becoming the nation's most high-profile child health advocate and foremost gardening promoter, Mrs. Obama also celebrates community food access efforts across America. (Above: A photo from the book, with First Dog Bo)

Documented with lavish photographs, the book is divided by the seasons as Mrs. Obama tells the story of her 1,500 square-foot Kitchen Garden, and includes tips for starting gardens of all sizes and recipes from the White House chefs. The book is an elegant wake-up call for the paradigm shift that is needed to change the nation's food culture to one that is far better for the next generation. CLICK HERE for a book excerpt.

As of today, American Grown is #1 on Amazon.com's list of Bestsellers in Gardening & Horticulture, where it sells for $17.85. In the company's Health, Fitness & Dieting category, it is #35. The book sits at #80 on Amazon's overall Top 100 Best Sellers List, where it has been on the list for 22 days. (Above: The book jacket)

American Grown is also #1 among gardening titles at the online outlet ABEbooks.com,where it sells for $18.37. Both Amazon and ABE update their rankings hourly.

American Grown this week is #106 on USA Today's Best-Selling Books list, which ranks up to 150. It is down from #68 last week. The book entered the Top 150 on June 7th.

Mrs. Obama held an autograph session for the book at DC's downtown Barnes & Nobles store last week, when the book was #62 on the B&N Top 100: Book Bestsellers list, another list that gets updated hourly. This week it is not on the list. American Grown was #29 on the list on Monday, June 4, a week after it was released.

American Grown has also been released as a very good E-Book, but it has yet to land on any of the bestseller lists that are in the current issue (dated June 24) of The New York Times Book Review for any categories: Hardcover Nonfiction, Combined Print & E Book Nonfiction, and E-Books.

Publisher's Weekly is not currently releasing weekly bestseller lists.

The First Lady has promoted American Grown with visits to TV shows, interviews on radio shows, and in interviews with wire service news outlets as well as with outreach to Mommybloggers. The book has not been the subject of many reviews, but The New York Times, in a round-up review of gardening titles, hailed American Grown as "a warm and personable record" with "an impassioned message."

Mrs. Obama accepted no advance for the book, and author proceeds will be donated to the National Park Foundation for programs that promote gardening and healthy eating, and to fund the ongoing maintenance of the White House Kitchen Garden. The cover price is $30.

CLICK HERE for recipes from the book.

*Photos by Quentin Bacon, reprinted from American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America by Michelle Obama. Copyright © 2012 by the National Park Foundation. Published by Crown, a division of Random House, Inc.