The price is so staggering, I have a hard time understanding the immensity of the financial disaster brought to us from the neo-cons of egghead central.

As a way of comparison, let's take a look at the proposed base closings and compare.

According to this article, Rumsfeld proposes we close 33 "major bases" and downsize 29 others in order to save $48,000,000,000 over 20 years

Compare to the Supplementary Spending Bill after the fold.

As a matter of fact, I think it is rare that any political party ever has a mandate because I believe the American people are inherently "conservative".

I put "conservative" in quotes, because I am not suggesting Americans are Republican wingnut conservative, but I am suggesting that Americans typically and generally like nice, smooth evolutionary changes, regardless of who is in power. So, even if a party has a "mandate," I believe this term is relative. Mandate does not equal revolution.

I think this is what the Republicans are walking into right now. The Republicans are ready to burn the country to the ground and rebuild it in their own image, but many Americans, including many real conservatives judging by polls on Social Security, Schiavo, etc. are saying "Whooooooooooa there, partner. Too much, too fast, you're making me anxious." Admittedly, this is not the only reason behind the troubles with Social Security and Schiavo, but I do believe it is a significant undercurrent.

Consider the context. The Schiavo stunt was, without any doubt, a complete fiasco for the President, effectively negating all political capital derived from the election, and probably putting him into debt, based on his recent poll numbers.

Additionally, Bush's Social Security "plan" is seriously in trouble for a million and one reasons, the biggest reason probably being the lack of an actual *@$@% plan.

His party's house leader is succumbing to an ethical and political meltdown and his extremist base has just served notice that they will do everything in their power to make the Republicans look like wacko religious extremists who believe killing judges is understandable ...

Here is a snippet:

I am having all kinds of problems with this post.

More on the flip side.

In related news:

Michael Jackson declared himself "not guilty" today and walked out of the California court room.

"I am disappointed that the prosecutors have decided to intrude on my private life," he said. "Because of this attention paid to me, I find it no longer possible to molest children in public."

Leaving the courtroom in a Magic Mushroom chariot, pulled by the aging rock group Menudo, Jackson donned a sequined hazmat suit and threw free babies to a crowd of well-wishers.

America's economy is its Achilles Heel.

This is a work in progress, but here are my initial thoughts:

1. The DOW and NASDAQ is easily spooked.

2. The dollar is falling.

3. Rumors abound that groups and countries are considering switching to the Euro.

4. Ballooning budget deficits forces business and individuals to compete with the government for dollars (or Euros ;) )

Rumors continue to swirl, if they haven't been confirmed already, that Liebermannis looking to make a deal with the devil and give Bush his Social Security bipartisanship.

Already our blogs are rightfully filled with promises of retribution from a grassroots level. I am already fantasizing about a flood of cash into CT to unseat this unprincipled, finger in the wind, and power hungry politician.

However, there is a potential this could backfire. Will CT citizens be amused by a flood of cash from other states to unseat their popular senator? I am not so sure.

But there is another way to hit Liebermann where it hurts and it already reflects promises made by both Pelosi and Reid. More below the fold.

My cynicism on the flip side:

But there is a bigger picture here, beyond Jeff Gannon.

The GOP, laughably self-congratulated as the party of small government, is ALL ABOUT the government intruding into the personal lives of American citizens. Should I create a list?

(More on the flip-side)

Citizens Brave Cold, Bullshit at Bush Inaugural

by Dire Wolf Armageddon, political editor

WASHINGTON DC - Braving the bitter cold, thousands of Bush supporters flooded the capitol today to show support for Bush's first inaugural.

But hope quickly turned to despair when a soldier on leave from Iraq was hit by flying bullshit and was killed.

Specialist Buford Smiley, on leave from the United States Special Torture Unit and Cheerleading Squad, was hit by a flying piece of bullshit during Bush's opening remarks.

(more below the fold)

I thought this remark was rather well stated:

I think it is time to ask some really pointed, detailed questions about the DNC.

The framing question is this: "Why should I invest my hard earned money in the DNC?"

More specific questions are below the fold.

This article is based on a National Association of Home Builders news release which has this little bit of fun:

Bobby Rayburn, in case you are wondering, is the NAHB President.

Additionally, and you will love this part, Rayburn is from the amazingly desirable state of ...

Mississippi.

More below the fold.

Many of us probably support the assertion that lying is wrong. But why is it wrong? Why should we be outraged by the daily incantation of falsehoods perpetuated by this adminstration -- socially, morally, ethically, and politically?

I have come up with a list.

1. Anthropology. Lying breaks the social contract. Humans are social animals and our communities are based on commonly held truths and beliefs. If our communities are to remain strong and safe, we need to rely upon a dissemination of truth. If our leaders tell us there are no tigers, and there are tigers, our community will end up in the belly of a tiger, making the celebration of Christmas difficult.

More below the fold.

- By Dire Wolf Armageddon, political editor

WASHINGTON, DC - Tired of fucking up the English language, Bush announced a plan today to privatize the English language.

"For too long we have lecturned under the axis of words," said Bush. "The dictionary, the taurus, and the lego are tyrannis. The American people love freedom. We must eat breakfast and strong."

Under his new plan, school children will no longer be required to learn grammar, spelling, or "the soft tyranny of thinking good." Instead, they will be allowed to tear up the dictionary and use whatever words they want.

But, you know, we have had a rather long string of Presidents who are, according to the base metric of everyday man, pretty bizarre.

Dubya - A drunk coke user who found God, gave his heart to Jesus, and then embraced torture and illegal war.

Clinton - A brilliant political savant and womanizer who threw away his presidency for a blow job. (Yes, yes, the Monica Lewinsky thing was complete and utter bullshit, but damn. What were you thinking, Big Dog?).

Bush, Sr. - LOL.

Reagan - Monkey crazy B movie star whose wife consulted astrologists. He out Matlocked Matlock on a daily basis: "Ah, gee willikers, awww, shoot, well, gee, awww, damn, ->witty rejoinder from Reader's Digest<-."

Carter - Probably the closest to being a normal every day guy, he is on record for reporting a UFO sighting. Has big ass teeth.

Ford - Lacked basic motor skills, too similar to Homer Simpson for my general comfort.

The Kos Flap

I believe this helps us. I say, let the wingers prolong the Armstrong Williams story with their really, really weak KOS / Armstrong "expose".

In the long term, they have a weak ass talking point. In the long term, we have Armstrong Williams, FCC investigations, possible criminal investigations, a flood of FOIA requests and the smell of wingnut sweat in the air.

I feel good about it.

Social Security and FDR

Point: Bring on the FDR commercials, ya freaks. Bush has a powerful and adept propaganda machine at his disposal, but the Republicans are nervous. I won't predict that Bush will fail, because he has fooled me too often in the past, but his push for privatization could very well accelerate his lame duck status by several months.

Counterpoint: On the other hand, I still feel pretty skeptical about the Democratic Leadership. I see promising signs, what with budding war rooms and all, but it's hard to pray for a homerun, when we can't even get a base hit. Someone please, please, please prove me wrong. I want to believe.

Since Valentine's Day is only a month away, I thought I would take this time to highlight Buy Blue's entry on Hallmark cards.

The full entry may be found here.

Hallmark has its own political action committee called Hallmark Political Action Committee and according to Buy Blue, the committee's 2004 contributions break down into 23% Democrat and 77% Republican.

More details below the fold.

We found out recently that the Board of Supervisors appointed her for a term of 3 years and she attended her first orientation meeting last night.

First, I am so happy and proud, I could just plotz, whatever that means. It is an amazing thing watching someone you love being successful and working for change in a substantial, selfless way.

Second, I have been a political junkie since I knew politics was a concept. The first paper I had to write in school was about capital punishment and I still have copies of the editorial cartoons I drew for our Junior High School paper, taking Reagan to task for a ballooning federal deficit. So, for me, having a County Commissioner in the family is something like f***ing a rock star. I can't wait to see how all this works from the inside.