RNC Chairman Reince Priebus Is A Colossal Ass Hat

As if the GOP doesn't have enough problems, their fearless leader and RNC Chairman Reince Priebus joined the chorus of looney tunes from the Right. He said, "If the Democrats said we had a war on caterpillars and every mainstream media outlet talked about the fact that Republicans have a war on caterpillars, then we'd have problems with caterpillars," he told Bloomberg Television, in response to a question about the party's supposed "war on women." "It's a fiction."

Maybe he's confused, Dictionary.Com defines Fiction like this: something feigned, invented, or imagined; a made-up story. An imaginary thing or event, postulated for the purposes of argument or explanation. Seems pretty straight forward to me, but lets check the facts one more time.

The Republican controlled House has passed, 44 bills on Abortion, 99 on Religion, 105 on Family Relationships and Gay Marriage, 67 on Firearms/Gun Control, 552 on Taxation, and conducted 445 Government Investigations, mostly on subjects that were settled, but Republicans wanted to reanimate for political gain. Since the "War on Women" was noted in the context of his comment, I would simply refer you to the recent embarrassment by The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. When Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) held a hearing on contraception with no women at the hearing.



Those bills I note are just on the federal level. It doesn't count the hundreds of pieces of legislation taken up and passed by the states. Against women's rights, women's health care, abortion rights, are these all a fiction? Mitt Romney has a 19 point gender gap with women voters, that's not a fiction it's a fact. These proposals, all of which were generated by the Republicans are facts, not fiction. Republicans don't have a "War on Caterpillars", but they damn near have a war on everything else. Women's issues are just one of many "Wars" the right has engaged in. They attack gay rights, immigration, the poor, health care reform, voters, even the President himself.

This morning Romney's communications director Eric Fehrnstromon, on The Daily Rundown with Chuck Todd, Mr. Etch-A-Sketch himself, called all these "Wars", sideshows. He said President Obama has more sideshows than P.T. Barnum, Really? If RNC Chairman Priebus thinks he can wash away everything his party has done, and continues to do, as fiction, he's not only beyond reality, he's a liar too. My suggestion for Mr. Priebus would be a find psychiatrist, and start a healthy course of anti-psychotics. For the leader of the Republican National Committee to, in one broad stroke, try to wipe away years of Right wing efforts to undermine all the issues I list here, that my friends is the real FICTION.

Some Facts About Voter ID Laws

As I have stated in the past, leave it to Republicans to find a problem where one does not exist. Case in point, the surge in voter I.D. laws sweeping the country. The Right would have you believe these as necessary measures to protect against rampant voter fraud. The fact is there is no rampant voter fraud. It is just another smoke screen conservatives are using to suppress votes they generally don't profit from, i.e.: minorities, the elderly, the poor, and the young. They would also have you believe this is not just a Republican effort, but look at the chart below. (click to make larger)

Of the 31 states listed, the 15 states with the harshest voter I.D. laws, that's with a photo standard, or a photo exception, 14 of them have Republican Governors and both state legislatures controlled by Republicans. The number goes up to 20 states if you also count the non-photo I.D. laws. Only 5 states had Democratic Governors and both state legislatures controlled by Democrats. All but Hawaii, chose the non-photo I.D. option. Here is the breakdown: (Click to make larger)



DARK RED: Photo I.D Standard - Republican. Gov. - Republican State Legislatures

RED: Optional Photo I.D. Standard - Republican Gov. - Republican State Legislatures

PINK: Non-Photo I.D. Standard - Republican Gov. - Republican State Legislatures

BLUE: Non-Photo I.D. Standard - Democratic Governor - Democratic State Legislatures

(Except Hawaii which has an Optional Photo I.D. Standard)

LIGHT BLUE: Non Photo I.D. Standard - Democratic Gov. - Republican or Split State Legislatures

So you can see for yourself, when progressives talk about the Republican war on voters, they have the facts to back them up. As well as the efforts in New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Minnesota, where attempts by the Republican controlled legislatures were vetoed by their Democratic Governors. So as Ronald Reagan once said, "facts are funny things", and the intent here couldn't be more obvious. When your party becomes less inclusive, and driven by outdated ideological dogmas, that only appeal to the faithful few, these are the kind of things you try to do. If you can't scare them into voting for you, you try to disenfranchise your opponents most vulnerable supporters, under the guise of addressing voter fraud that doesn't exist. Yet another in a long line of Republican boogie men that have no teeth. So add it to the list, oil and gasoline prices, the attack on religious freedom, as an excuse to attack women's rights, the crusade against voter fraud, always remember... its all a lot of crap.

Romney Can't Deliver The Knockout Blow

Despite sweeping last nights 3 primaries, Mitt Romney just can't seem to put Rick Santorum away. Romney won with 49% of the vote in Maryland, and 70% in the District of Columbia. However, in Wisconsin where the Massachusetts Governor was polling 5 to 10 points in front of Santorum, he only pulled out a 4 point victory, falling within the margin of error. Wisconsin, which many thought of as Santorum's Waterloo, once again failed to deliver the knockout blow the Romney camp was hoping for. Having won with such a weak performance in Wisconsin, can father Rick live to fight another day?

The media, as well as, the Republican establishment, have been saying a Santorum loss in Wisconsin would be his death knell. I'm sure the Romney people want to promote that view, but Santorum refuses to go away. He has pledged to remain in the primary process until Romney gets the 1,144 delegates needed to capture the nomination. So what are the major questions going forward? 1) Can Santorum resist the pressure to get out of the race, so Romney can begin to consolidate his position against the President? 2) Can Santorum survive the 3 week barrage of negative ads that Romney is sure to send his way? 3) The next five primaries on April 24th heavily favor Governor Romney, with the exception of Pennsylvania, which is Santorum's home state. Current polling has the former Senator up by 6 points over Romney. 4) Can Santorum pull off a win in Pennsylvania, and survive into May where the contests shift dramatically in his favor.

Wisconsin is just another in a string of missed opportunities, that have plagued the Romney campaign since January. If he had pulled off the decisive 12 point win he got in Illinois, then yes, I would say Santorum is effectively out. The problem is he didn't, and it is hard to consolidate your nomination with narrow victories and luke warm endorsements. The key for Santorum now is Pennsylvania. The other 4 primaries April 24th are lost causes, he shouldn't even waste his time with them. He needs to hit Pennsylvania hard for the next 3 weeks, and he must win his home state. If he fails, the May contests might fall apart in favor of Romney, who will have beaten Father Rick on his home turf.

If Santorum can make it to May, he has a great chance to give Romney a black eye all month long. Which would look really bad if you are the presumed nominee. The fact is in those states whose populations identify as over 50% evangelical, typically go to Santorum. In those states where evangelicals are less than 50%, Romney wins. So I would submit Pennsylvania, not Wisconsin is Father Rick's Waterloo. If he pulls out a big win at home he lives to fight another day, and continues to be that ever present thorn in Mitt Romney's side. Santorum's biggest problem is time, 3 weeks is a political eternity. One that Romney will utilize to the fullest, but if he can find a way to survive, May will prove to be much greener pastures, and bad news for Romney. One more thing, this isn't about Santorum winning the nomination anymore, it's about giving a voice to all those social conservatives who can't stand Romney, and know in their hearts he's going to get the nomination. It's about showing the American electorate we may have to take Romney, but we don't have to like it, and that is good for just one man, President Obama.

What Does The Paul Ryan Budget Mean To You?

Last Thursday the House of Representatives approved a $3.5 trillion budget plan proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) on a 228 to 191 vote, largely along party lines. The House vote breakdown was 228 Republicans in favor, 181 Democrats and 10 Republicans opposed. The plan will fail to pass the Democratically controlled Senate, but what is behind this vision for America the GOP affectionately calls "The Path To Prosperity"? Lets look at three keys provisions.

Health Care: Repeal the Affordable Health Care Act of 2010, or as the GOP likes to call it Obamacare. They raise $725 Billion dollars that would otherwise go to help people get, or keep, health insurance. Beginning in 2023 Medicare eligibility would rise from 65 to 67. Instead of the government reimbursing doctors and hospitals for certain medical services, seniors would purchase a private health care plan among numerous options on an exchange. The government would then pay the private insurer in the form of a subsidy up to a specified amount. Seniors would be given government assistance to purchase private health-insurance plans, or could continue to take part in the current fee-for-service model. However, spending would be capped, meaning risks and costs could shift to seniors as health-care costs rise. Changes to Medicare in the plan would not affect those currently age 55 and over. As for Medicaid, House Republicans would overhaul Medicaid by changing the way the federal government finances the program. Today, it is a matching program which means if a state adds more Medicaid recipients to the rolls in the case of a recession, the federal government helps with that cost by matching a certain percentage. The GOP plan would change the program by block granting it - which means giving a set number of funds to the states. Proponents of this plan say it will give governors the flexibility to administer the Medicaid program as they see fit while giving the federal government some control over the cost, but if your grant money dries up your S.O.L.

Social Security: "In the event that the Social Security Program is not sustainable" the GOP budget plan would require the president and the House and Senate to all come up with ideas to ensure the program's solvency. But Ryan does not offer his own plan on how to ensure Social Security's long-term viability. The buzz word here has been "Individual Health Savings Accounts" meaning, dismantle the government program in favor of individual responsibility. It's like telling an 18 year old to start saving for your retirement, here's how, "good luck with that." Pretty much the same battle we have raging in the Supreme Court with freedom vs. freeloaders. The problem is the same, and the results just as disastrous should such a system go in place. Would you like to be part of the generation that has to provide for your own retirement, if you live check to check, and consistently struggle to make ends meet?

Taxes: Details are still murky -- The "Path to Prosperity" does propose collapsing the six individual tax brackets into just two brackets, taxed at 10 and 25 percent. This would cut taxes on the rich from 25% to 35%, he also suggests closing loopholes and ending subsidies, but doesn't give specifics. To make up for that revenue they propose closing tax loopholes, eliminating special carve outs, and tax credits. They also argue that allowing individuals and businesses that can keep more money will help grow the economy at a faster rate. But the report does not get into specific tax credits, and carve outs, that would be eliminated? Some analyses suggest the only way to generate that kind of revenue would mean raising the tax burden on middle-income earners to pay for the lowered tax rate for the wealthy. Republicans insist wealthy taxpayers benefit disproportionately from loopholes, (even though they can't tell us which ones they'll eliminate?), and they are committed to a progressive code with lower rates for the rich. Ryan’s budget would cut $5.3 trillion from deficits over the next decade, bringing deficits down from more than 8 percent of gross domestic product to 1.2 percent by 2022. It would not balance the budget, however, until 2040. Once again the majority of his plan hinges on budget cuts, and a bigger burden on the poor, and middle class.

Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney endorses this plan, but why wouldn't he? It helps the rich at the expense of the middle class. The man has houses with car elevators to build. Democrats critical of the plan said it would cut deficits by hitting programs relied on by the poor and vulnerable, like Medicaid, food stamps, education and other programs. “Because our Republican colleagues refuse to ask millionaires to contribute one cent to deficit reduction, they hit everyone and everything else,” said Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) during House debate. White House spokesman Jay Carney said Thursday that the Ryan plan would create “a segmented replacement for Medicare that would burden seniors and end the program as we know it.”


So there you have it, an unyielding assault from the "Haves" on the "Have Nots". A hard nosed, often vague vision of what Republicans want their America to look like. I don't know about you, but for me, it doesn't paint a pretty picture.

Mitt Romney The Train Wreck That Keeps On Giving

Mitt Romney picked up several luke warm endorsements last week. Namely from former President George H.W. Bush, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI), author of the famed draconian Republican legislation that bears his name. Romney showed his support for the "Ryan Budget" which would destroy Medicare and Social Security as we know it. The plan would cost seniors an extra $6000 dollars a year, replace Medicare with a voucher program, slash Medicaid programs potentially kicking 14 Million people out of the system, dismantle the foundations of Social Security, as it currently exists, and give a $187,000 tax break to the rich. In addition to his support for Ryan, he voiced support for embattled Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who is facing a recall election in the coming months.

Romney was on the campaign trail in Wisconsin, which holds its primary this coming Tuesday. The latest polling has Romney leading in the badger state, anywhere from 5 to 10 points, against his closest rival Rick Santorum. Many believe the state is a must win for Santorum, but despite that, win or lose, the former Pennsylvania Senator has vowed to stay in the race until Romney gets the 1,144 delegates needed to win the nomination. So it is distinctly possible the Republican nominating fight will continue well into the final primaries in June.

Let's not forget Governor Romney's gaff of the week. The latest came last Thursday when he unprompted, decided to share an anecdote he described as "humorous." For those who missed the episode and can't watch clips online, the gist of the story is that Romney's father shut down an auto factory in Michigan, and moved production to Wisconsin. The "humorous" part came later, when George Romney's political strategists didn't want a marching band playing "On, Wisconsin" during a Michigan gubernatorial campaign because it might remind voters of the closed factory. Because nothings funnier than joking about shutting down production at a Michigan auto plant and laying off its workers.

The former Massachusetts Governor has a 34% overall approval rating, has a double digit gap against him with women voters, and in the ever growing Hispanic community, has a 70% disapproval rating. He continues to flounder in his attempts to connect on any level, has captured a universal persona of being disingenuous, out of touch, and an out write liar. As long as Rick Santorum continues to nip at his heals, he can't close the deal until he does reach that magic number of 1,144. So with Santorum in for the long haul, even if Romney sweeps the 3 contests on Tuesday, the battle goes on. I'm not sure it's possible to run for President and keep your mouth shut, but if ever there was a candidate that needs to do it, it's Mitt Romney.