Hey F.O.O., I was behind the 8 - ball in diary prep today because of a bat$hit busy day, so I'll include some "this day in history" & SPARK in comments and go right on into the meat (or tofu for the veggie F.O.O. among us) of tonight's show.
#5 "Tax Cut Battle" - As is pointed out in our fellow F.O.O.’s EricLewis0’s 24 – Hours – on – the – Rec – List diary, there will be 2 test votes on the tax cut extensions in the Senate tomorrow. The first one will be over the version that passed in the House yesterday; the second one will be over Senator Schumer’s idea to up the $250K cut off to $1 million. They both will probably fail. Keith said that; I didn’t! ;D One anonymous GOBPer has even blocked the vote by 1 day; that’s brave!
Senators Sherrod Brown & Diane Feinstein tried yet again to explain how unemployment benefits boost the economy way more than tax cuts for the super rich do. DiFi did that?! When’s she up for re – election? The Post & the Times are reporting that this administration is ready to settle for a 2 – 3 year extension of the cuts for everyone as long as unemployment benefit extension is part of the deal. Dan Bartlett thinks all this worry & angst is damn funny. Well, he worked for GWB, so the humor meter is a little "off" on those folks.
According to a poll from CBS, 53% of respondents want tax cut extensions along the lines of what the House passed yesterday, 26% want extensions for everyone, and 14% think all extensions should expire. The American people wanted a public option in a final HCR bill, too, but we didn’t get it. Not even a majority of GOBPers polled wanted the extensions to continue! $hit! And, holy crap; 2 GOBPers in 2 nights for the Keithster! What will the knuckle draggers over at FAUX News have to say about that? ;D David Stockman has been saying for awhile these extensions should go the way of the dodo. And, Mr. Stockman had some very warm & fuzzy comments about Dan Bartlett – HA! Damn! :D Uh – oh! Mr. Stockman said the current crop of GOBPers is abusing the legacy of St. President Reagan! Boss Limbaugh will be calling Mr. Stockman a phony GOBPer in 5...4...3...2... He thinks President Obama should use his veto pen if a tax cut extension bill gets to his desk with tax cuts for the super rich in it; now, THAT’S an idea! Damn! What would happen if he DID do that? Well, I guess the extensions would expire at the end of the year, and we’d open the new Congress with this lovely business over everyone’s head.
Eugene Robinson gets to talk taxes, too. He was quite flummoxed by the interview with Mr. Stockman! Wow! Did y’all see what Senator Tom Harkin said?! If President Obama caves on extending tax cuts for the super rich,
He would then just be hoping and praying that Sarah Palin gets the nomination.
HELLO??????!!!!!! Eugene thinks President Obama needs to look like he’s in charge of the debates going on over so many issues instead of being shoved around by the GOBP and/or other forces beyond his control.
#4 "Don’t Pass, Don’t Vote" - I again listened to most of the Senate Armed Services Committee DADT hearing today with the heads of the Marines, Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, and Army. Senator Racist Dick MORAN still doesn’t like Elena Kagen. And, my jaw literally dropped when Senator McCentury basically paraphrased that letter signed by the 42 GOBP Senators holding all legislation hostage until the tax cut shtick is resolved. I said out loud, "And this relates to DADT how?!" Oye...it...was...SOMETHING.
The Marine dude was just a hoot – and not a good hoot. Senator McCentury wants more hearings, and he wants the commanders just below the ones there today to show up, then the ones below those people, then the ones below THOSE people, and when he gets the thoughts of the youngest intern in DC working for any branch of the government, Senator McCentury will want to hear from someone else, too. I don’t know who to be angrier at – him or the BRILLIANT citizens of the "Show Me Your Papers" state that re – elected him.
Alexander Nicholson was discharged because of DADT; he’s not thrilled with Senator McCentury, either. Senators Susan Collins & Nude Cosmo have now said they’d support the DADT repeal. Golly, Senator Nude Cosmo’s gonna get tea bagged now! ;D Mr. Nicholson’s a little happier with President Obama’s leadership on this issue than he was the last time he was on the show.
** A Brazilian drug raid yielded a Justin Bieber mural; well, if you’re listening to Justin, you NEED lots of drugs. A Norwegian reporter kept right on with the show even though a nuckin’ futs dude decided to expose his gentleman’s region to God & everyone. Wait, I take that back. As cold as it looked, the region was probably a baby boy’s region! ;D A little boy did not appreciate getting books for Christmas? Holy cow, who knew that $aint $arah from Wasilla had ANOTHER kid hiding somewhere?! I’m sure she enjoys toys way more than books, too. **
#3 "GOP Death Panel" - OK, at the risk of some flames, Keith, you know I respect & love you for bringing the shameful legislation in the "Show Me Your Papers" state to light. The victims of that legislation who have appeared on your show are courageous & deserve all the respect and help they can muster. Having said that, a person in need of a lung transplant probably doesn’t have to do too much to tire herself out. Couldn’t you have found someone in which the act of talking was going to weaken them? Mini – rant over...we now return to our regularly – scheduled segment. Tiffany Tate is 27; she’s one of the 92 people who could die to save a buck. Countdown viewers have donated over $110K to the gentlemen on the show a few weeks back. Now, Tiffany needs our help! She’s led as active of a life as she’s capable of – a high school athlete & helps the high school girls basketball team now. Her lung capacity is now around 25%
WPITW* The Hess Oil Company fired a clerk who helped catch a robber. Senator Nude Cosmo blocked the vote for the extension of unemployment benefits after he said he WANTED to help the unemployed.
The Baseball HOF voters let Ron Santo die before getting him to Cooperstown; Chicago is a sad sad town today.
Fridays with Thurber "A Friend of the Earth"