2000-2010: The Decade of the Internet(s) and George W. Bush

In 200 years or so, that's what will be written about the years from 2000-2010 in the history books.

It was the decade that Google dethroned Microsoft, for good, as the world's most powerful company, because of the Internet.

And it was the decade that started with George W. Bush stealing the US presidential election from Al Gore, then proceed to introduce 'pre-emptive warfare' into the American lexicon.

He also will also be remembered as the president who made America a country that practiced state sponsored torture. His presidency was disastrous, and unfortunately took up 80% of the decade--casting a dark pall over the entire world during this time.

Indeed, the entire decade is summed up pretty nicely in the below video...

White House Blasts Cheney

Wow. That didn't take long. Well done...

[I]t is telling that Vice President Cheney and others seem to be more focused on criticizing the Administration than condemning the attackers....

First, it’s important that the substantive context be clear: for seven years after 9/11, while our national security was overwhelmingly focused on Iraq – a country that had no al Qaeda presence before our invasion – Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda's leadership was able to set up camp in the border region of Pakistan and Afghanistan, where they continued to plot attacks against the United States. Meanwhile, al Qaeda also regenerated in places like Yemen and Somalia, establishing new safe-havens that have grown over a period of years....

To put it simply: this President is not interested in bellicose rhetoric, he is focused on action. Seven years of bellicose rhetoric failed to reduce the threat from al Qaeda and succeeded in dividing this country. And it seems strangely off-key now, at a time when our country is under attack, for the architect of those policies to be attacking the President....

President Obama doesn’t need to beat his chest to prove it, and – unlike the last Administration – we are not at war with a tactic (“terrorism”), we at war with something that is tangible: al Qaeda and its violent extremist allies.

FULL STATEMENT HERE

Celebrity Mug Shots of the Decade

can't argue with this shot of Nick Nolte as #1...List here

Cheney Thrilled with Airline Bombing Attempt

Someone puts a bomb in his underwear and tries to blow up an American airline and kill hundreds of innocent travelers?

Bingo!!! Political opportunity for the Republicans!!

Iowa GOP Heavyweight Predicts Palin Run in 2012

One of the quirks and idiosyncrasies of the American presidential election system is that a completely unrepresentative, tiny, rural, overwhelmingly white and otherwise insignificant state like Iowa carries an overwhelming importance due to its tradition of holding the first electing caucuses.

Therefore, guys like Iowa GOP House member Steve King carry astonishingly disproportionate importance--their support is frantically sought after by presidential aspirants and they have quite a bit of power in Washington.

If Steve King were from North Dakota, or even Nebraska--no one would care about what he thought about the 2012 presidential election....

Teabagger Activists Want GOP 2010 Candidates to Run on Repeal of Health Care Legislation

Newsflash guys, this is not a good idea.

Unless you're a wingnut loony-tune along the lines of Rush Limbaugh or Ann Coulter, that is. The types of folks who created the picture at the right...who believe Obama 'is not one of us...'

Most Americans, of course, are not Lily-white ideological freaks, and either did not have health care insurance, or thought they were paying way too much for it.

I mean, is this all the GOP has in their bag of tricks? "Repeal health care reform!!! Now!"

Somehow I just don't see that rallying the masses. I'm liking the Dems chances more and more in 2010--

2009 Political Winners and Losers

List here

Joe Wilson gets my vote for loser of the year for shouting "You Lie!" at President Obama during his speech.

What an impolite, poorly mannered asshole.

Video: The Daily Show in :60 Seconds - Barack Obama - Path to the Presidency

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
The Daily Show in :60 Seconds - Barack Obama - Path to the Presidency
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

Kentucky Tea Partiers Tell Sen. Bunning’s Staff Of Their Concerns About Fascism, Muslims, And Taxes

Merry Christmas from Minor Ripper!

Al Franken Loses his Cool in The Senate

I must admit I was a bit shocked that this guy was actually elected--I mean his former work was as a stand up comic, actor on Saturday Night Live, and author of a few incredibly partisan political books...

Minnesota basically elected a cleaner version of Michael Moore to the Senate. Which isn't necessarily bad, especially if he votes the right way.

But the danger is his temper, and the fact that if he keeps going in this direction he will surely alienate many of the moderate voters who elected him and be a one term Senator.

His two most successful books? "Lies and the Lying Liars who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right" and, "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot"

"Death Panels" Wins Political Lie of theYear Award

And very deservedly so, I might add.

This past summer in American politics was freakishly weird. You had the hardened wingnut right--still unable to come to grips with a black man having been elected president, coming out of the woodwork, crazy from the heat, and literally melting down. With much of it being caught on YouTube.

Perhaps the most bizarre lie these weirdos were putting forth was that health care 'death panels' were going to be a part of the Obama health care reform plan.

You know, roving bands of government agents crawling around neighborhoods in black vans, looking to sweep up grandma and inject her with cyanide...

Utterly incredible, unfathomable, that people would actually believe this drivel....

But then again....

GOP Schism, Democratic Apathy: The Two Big 2010 Midterm Themes

The far left of the Democratic party is pretty pissed at Obama these days: from escalating the war in Afghanistan, to bailing on the public option for health care....to refusing to fully support gay marriage, lefties are looking for a reason to stay home next November.

The far more numerous 'casual', more moderate Democrats, the millions who gave Obama his plurality a year ago--these people were very likely to stay home anyway next November. Turnout for midterm elections is generally pathetic anyway.

Republicans, on the other hand, driven by their disgust and often outright hatred (he is not one of us) of Obama, are chomping at the bit to get to the polls in 2010...

As this article points out, however, Republicans have their own problems to deal with. A Civil War has broken out across the nation, being played out in primaries from Florida (Crist/Rubino) to California (Devore/Fiorino)--between the far right teabaggers, and the more moderate wing of the party.

If this intercinal warfare gets too bloody, it could have catastrophic consequences for a party still reeling from two consecutive electoral ass kickings...

So these are the two main political dynamics swirling around in America as we finish out 2009. Of course, quite a bit can and will happen, over the next 10 months.

Should be an interesting year.

YouTube--SENATOR: OPPONENTS OF HEALTH BILL ARE BIRTHERS, RIGHT-WING MILITIAS, ARYAN GROUPS

YouTube: CNBC's Harwood to Liberals: "Lay off the hallucinogenic drugs"

After covering the grueling marathon session to get this thing passed, this guy is probably exhausted. He's right, though. The far left wanted a perfect health care bill, which is unrealistic.

New Book to Rehash Monica and Bill Saga

Fifteen years later, it almost seems quaint and unimportant. But as this article states, it is of the utmost importance to Bill Clinton, who is looking to set the record straight for the ages. How many millions of taxpayer dollars and thousands of hours were spent in proving that President Clinton cheated on his wife? Of course at the very same time married then Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich was busy banging his secretary. Absurd, and the bitter, toxic legacy of cut throat partisanship still remains today in Washington...

YouTube: I Like Guns

This was passed on to me by a right wing friend. It is presented below without comment, except for the fact to note that this is the precise attitude of millions of Americans, who believe it is their God given right to own firearms.

Passage of Health Care Bill in Senate Ends in Ugly, Ugly Manner

We could have expected this. Politics in Washington D.C. has been completely poisonous for about 15 odd years now.

But for a sitting Senator to ask the American people to pray for the death or illness of a fellow Senator so that they would miss the critical health care vote?

That's sick. Especially coming from a 'doctor' like Senator Coburn.

Top 10 Political Stories of the Decade

Yes, it's that's time of the year... This one is put together by Marc Cooper of the USC Annenberg School.

Interesting that the Bush/Gore year 2000 election fraud in his eyes was a bigger story than the 9/11 attacks. Which, after thinking about it, I completely agree with.

'Avatar' is a Wildly Controversial, Overtly Political Film

Let's see you've got a wanton, 'shoot first, ask questions later', bloodthirsty, cruel, environment-destroying US military invading an ancient, indigenous, harmless culture to steal their natural resources in an act of 'pre-emptive' war...

Hmmmm. Remind you of anything??

You've got the natural environment on a far away planet--creatures, trees, animals, etc. rising up and uniting to fight off dumb, ignorant, Hummer driving humans who don't know the difference between a Wendy's Frosty and a rain forest, who are fighting millions of miles away from their now nearly lifeless, 'brown' earth....

Copenhagen, anyone?

Minor Ripper saw 'Avatar' last night and was floored--not so much by the incredible 3-D animation and special effects, but by the incredibly overt political message director James Cameron was sending. Which was about as subtle as an axe between the eyes:

In the year 2154 previous American wars are mentioned as having been fought in Venezuela and Nigeria, of all places. It should take you about 5 nanoseconds to connect those dots (oil).

The movie can be construed as being an attack on religion: since when are creatures and animals and plants on equal par as human beings--God's chosen creatures? Not in my bible!

Perhaps most controversially, the movie lionizes and glorifies rank military insubordination and treason: a Marine fighter pilot not only openly disobeys orders but begins firing away at her commanders and fellow troops to save the non-humans.

Ummm. I got news for you folks, if that happened in real life with any kind of frequency we would have no functioning military. The fact that Cameron glorifies this to such an extent--for the benefit of non-humans mind you, I find nothing short of extraordinary and shocking.

I was not expecting this walking in to the theatre. I came away floored.

Great movie. And produced, ironically, by 20th Century Fox--owned by News Corp which is controlled, as you know, by none other than Rupert Murdoch.

Trust me when I tell you that Mr. Murdoch will be receiving thousands of nasty letters as a result of this movie. Many coming from US military personnel and their families.

Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity, surely, do not approve...

Controversy Swirls Around Texas Gubenatorial Race

One of the more intriguing elections next year pits two very popular Texas Republicans against one another--sitting Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison versus current Governor Rick Perry.

The race is truly unique and very rare because normally two such high profile, successful politicians from the same party make it their business to steer clear of one another.

This news might explain a few things....

Tom Coburn and Barack Obama: An Unlikely Friendship

These comments utterly shock me, and I can guarantee you that Senator Coburn is getting flooded with angry, hateful e-mails, phone calls, and letters from his wingnut constituency in Oklahoma.

Civility and kindness in today's American politics??

Towards Obama? ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!

We hope that man fails! We hope our country regresses under our president! He is not one of us.

You Know You're a Hardened Wingnut When Bill O'Reilly Calls You One

story here

Inhofe Shines in Copenhagen

If you are an independent voter and not aligned with either party, I strongly urge you to read this article.

Senator Jim Inhofe--widely regarded as the single dumbest member of either party currently serving in Congress, is amazingly currently the Republican point man on global climate change.

You've got thousands of leaders from all over the world battling to improve things for future generations, and you've got this rank moron representing the entire Republican party, coming up with quotes like this:

A reporter asked: “If there’s a hoax, then who’s putting on this hoax, and what’s the motive?”

“It started in the United Nations,” Inhofe said, “and the ones in the United States who really grab ahold of this is the Hollywood elite.”

Jim Inhofe, congratulations....You make George W. Bush look like Albert Einstein. You are an embarrassment not only to the Republican party, but to your country.

Tea Party hires a plane with 100-foot banner reading ‘OBAMA STOP DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY’ to fly over DC.

Yeah!! Woo-hoo!!! This stuff makes me want to get my shotgun out and kill some birds and shoot stuff!

Peel out baby!!! FAIL OBAMA FAIL!!

USA! USA! USA!!

Early 'Avatar' Movie Review

This comes from a friend and frequent contributor to Minor Ripper, based in NYC...

I saw a pre-release screening of this last night. While the plot was awful, many of the lines cliché, and the major scenes almost entirely predictable and formulaic, the movie, based on incredible special effects, cinematography, 3D, and the other-worldly factor still works and comes together. It is worth seeing this 2 hr 45 min film because this is indeed a prelude for more movies with effects like this to come.

Anyone who is an unwavering supporter of the military will not like this. The Marines of year 2154 are portrayed as unthinking, bloodthirsty, morons. The political undertones of anti-expansionist military policy, and total pro-green movement themes are not so subtle for intelligent viewers yet are Cameroon’s slick way to start brainwashing children. Right wingers will not like the themes, and liberals will.

Also sex sells. And although there is virtually no sexual content (it is PG-13), the main avatar girl is extremely attractive as she is skinny, lithe, graceful, athletic, and feminine. I developed a crush on her throughout the movie.

Health Care Legislation: Howard Dean Hates It, GOP Hates It: Must be a Decent Bill

Howard Dean represents what critics would call the liberal (loony?) left of the American political spectrum these days.

He is in the news today as being vociferously opposed to what will probably become the health care reform bill. You see, it isn't expensive enough or generous enough with its proposed benefits.

Today's GOP 'leadership', of course, consists largely of a gaggle of raving lunatics led by Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Michele Bachmann, Ann Coulter and Joe the Plumber. Any serious person doesn't give these people an ounce of credibility regarding anything remotely important. For what it's worth, they were vociferously opposed to any health care reform in America.

I side with the New York Times' Paul Krugman: the legislation isn't perfect, but it's certainly progress, and a tangible product of the Obama administration's good leadership.

Prince Charles Takes Private Jet to Copenhagen Global Warming Summit

Look--Charles I know it would have been a pain in the ass with security and scheduling and what not, but there has got to be a better way as this is totally, patently absurd.

Talk about the textbook definition of hypocrisy.

Video: Colbert on Right Wing Gold Rush

Its really funny to see all of these wealth 'experts'--who don't know the difference between a stock and a bond, mind you, come out of the woodwork lately to tell us how awesome gold is as an investment. Gold is every bit as risky and dangerous as any other asset class--arguably much more so. You can't eat gold. Gold doesn't shelter you. Industry wise, gold is relatively insignificant in the manufacturing of anything. Gold appeals to right wingers, naturally, because it is a simple concept to understand. Gold is good! Gold is not the dollar! Gold holds its value!! Gold good grunt grunt tax bad, government bad. Dollar bad gold good!

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Prescott Financial Sells Gold, Women & Sheep
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor U.S. Speedskating

Senator Schumer Calls Flight Attendant "Bitch" After She Orders Him to Turn off His Cell Phone

Chuck, this was really really stupid and impolite of you....

And what are you doing taking a shuttle from DC to New York and not the train, Mr. Global Warming??

Is there anything more annoying than the jackasses who chatter away loudly next to you on a crowded plane, train, or bus??

Rude.

Nader Considers Taking on Dodd for CT Senate Seat

Nader, to his credit, refuses to go away quietly.

Disgruntled, poorly informed Democrats blame him for Al Gore's loss in 2000. Never mind the minor fact that any American citizen of a certain age is entitled to run for president. Let alone a titan for the people like Ralph Nader, who has worked tirelessly for the poor and disenfranchised his entire life.

Chris Dodd is perhaps the most vulnerable incumbent Senator up for re-election last year after a disastrous presidential run in 2008 and a personal home mortgage corruption scandal.

YouTube: Inside the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner

The plane looks really cool. Colleen's nice and easy on the eyes as well--

Spitzer Whore Gets a New Gig

Let's hear it for the Spitzer Whore, aka 'Ashley Dupre' for scoring a brand spanking new gig as a part time sex/relationship columnist for Rupert Murdoch's New York Post. Story here.

Of course as with Sarah Palin and her new book, it's highly highly unlikely that TSW actually authors any of these words herself--Shakespearean English language experts these two broads are clearly not....And let's just say Ashley's debut column this past Sunday was....well....a little on the light side.

But good for the Spitzer Whore to find honest, steady work--this is New York City, baby, move that ass! Check out TSW in the video below..

George H.W. Bush 'deeply offended' by Wilson outburst

The difference between the breed of Republican that George H.W. Bush and his era were, and what the current Glenn Beck/Rush Limbaugh/Sean Hannity party has become...

Is the difference between a well mannered, tailored gentleman and a wild, frothing at the mouth, rabid baboon.

In other words stark. Very, very stark.

Old school Republicans like George Bush Sr. were well read. They championed the arts. They were compassionate. They thought about complex issues. They dressed well. They were patient. They lived by the notion of Noblesse oblige.

They didn't like high taxes because well run large enterprises--like the federal government or a major corporation, should be lean with as little waste as possible.

Not because "all government bad" grunt grunt, crotch scratch "all taxes bad".

That attitude would be stupid and reactionary. The two very tenants, it seems, of the modern Republican party, represented, unfortunately not by George Bush Sr., but by Sarah Palin, Joe Wilson, Joe the Plumber and Rush Limbaugh...

Ann Coulter Suggests Meghan McCain was one of Tiger Woods Mistresses

This is actually pretty funny, because there is a relatively strong resemblance.

But make no mistake about it...Ann Coulter is one nasty, nasty bitch.

Be sure to check out the video at the bottom of the page.....

YouTube: GOP House Whip Eric Cantor Refuses to Say that Sarah Palin is Qualified to be President

In retrospect its astonishing that 50 odd million American voters actually did think Palin was qualified to be president one short year ago...

Palin, unbelievably, astonishingly...unfathomably. Is currently the most popular politician of what can only be labeled as the loony-tune, nutball...wingnut wing of the American electorate: the tea bag freaks we all saw on TV over the summer holding racist signs and carrying loaded guns to Obama rallies.

Sarah Palin, spawned on an unsuspecting Republican party from deep deep...deep left field by an aging John McCain 18 months ago, has now become a smoldering train wreck of a problem that the party establishment like Cantor clearly wishes would just go away.

STORY HERE

A Cut Through the Bullshit Update on the 2010 Midterm Elections

These days Republicans are breathlessly announcing to the world how they will sweep the Democrats out of office next year, regain control of Congress, then put the cherry on top of the cake by defeating Obama in November of 2012....

Veteran Republican propagandist and the ex-functioning portion of George W. Bush's cerebellum Karl Rove is flat out giddy about the GOP's prospects in 2010....

As they say, the Republicans are busy measuring the drapes of their new majority offices in Washington--

Not so fast guys.

Here is a piece on the markets where people are actually wagering their hard earned money on the outcome of the 2010 Congressional elections. The markets show there is an approximately best case 33% chance of the GOP regaining control of the House of Representatives, and a whopping 6% chance the GOP takes the Senate.

I've found that of all the cliches available to the human race these days, one stands out for it's undying, never ending truthfulness:

"Money talks. Bullshit walks."

John McCain, Wingnut

One of the more puzzling and unfortunate things that we've seen happen over the past couple of years on the American political landscape has been the transformation from John McCain the moderate, GOP stand alone of years past; to today's John McCain, the extreme right wingnut Republican party Apparatchik, as discussed in this recent Politico story.

Why would McCain go from embracing the wide political middle, to embracing the soft, rotund girth of Rush Limbaugh??

One theory is that McCain is suffering from the early effects of dementia or Alzheimer's.

Although unpleasant to think about and certainly not politically correct, we must keep in mind that this man made the sober (we presume, anyway) decision to pick Sarah Palin as his running mate 18 short months ago.

I am here to argue that that is not the action of a sane man.

Another theory for McCain's sudden morphing into Glenn Beck is that he might have a real primary threat for his Senate seat in Arizona this coming election cycle. Wingnut teabaggers, as we know, currently dominate the GOP at the grassroots level, forcing McCain to sprint as far and as fast as possible to the radical right...

Whatever it is, let's hope this formerly respectable man gets his mind back--as he's clearly lost it, and weather he realizes it or not he is in the process of destroying his political legacy.

GOP lawmaker’s response to tea party activist who says government is ‘gang-raping’ the country: ‘Good point.’

What a great analogy! How very thoughtful! What a great Congressman! What great constituents!!

All in all a really nice, positive snapshot of politics in today's America...

These tea party folks give me the warm and fuzzies!

Coming: The Gore/Palin Debate on Global Warming?

One thing for sure, if this were to ever happen IT WOULD BE MUST SEE TV!

Who could ever forget the command performance Palin gave in her interview with Katie Couric last year? Or the tremendous follow up effort she gave in the VP debate with Joe Biden?

By all accounts, Sarah Palin seems like a cerebral, serious, disciplined person.

One could expect her to freeze Gore (pun intended) with her absolute mastering of the scientific minutiae regarding man made climate change, her superlative vocabulary.....and her overall awesomeness.

Don't be surprised if Gore dodges this.

Along with 'first dude' Todd, sons Track and Trig, and daughters Bristol and Willow....the Palins' are one formidable American political family. Not to be messed with.

Especially on something like global warming dude! Anyone see the snow outside today?!? It's a big sham bro--Gore's a crook/scumbag!

Its been friggin' cold outside!

The John Edwards Book

This should be a really interesting read.

Of course, in light of the recent Tiger Woods sexcapades, John Edwards' cheating on his wife with a single woman and impregnating her almost seems prude and normal.

But it's not.

Edwards had an army of supporters who believed genuinelly that he would be the next great Democratic president. None were closer than his former aide and right hand man Andrew Young--the author of this book.

He has been quoted as saying that he would have 'taken a bullet' for Edwards when he was running for president....

To Young, the publishing of this book is no doubt very bittersweet.

Ron Paul: Right Wing Liberal

This is a really good story describing what Ron Paul's been up to lately.

Like him or not, he is arguably the most interesting/intriguing member of Congress these days.

When you've got legislative support coming from Jim DeMint and Barney Frank these days in DC--politicians who normally can't agree that the sky is blue. You're doing something right.

Paul's supporters tend to hero worship him, as if the guy shits ice cream or something--which I've always found a bit odd. I mean the guy is a Republican politician from Texas--that's it.

Not Jesus. Not Ceasar. Not Churchill....

But you've got to give the guy credit for getting along with both ends of the political spectrum to drive legislation that he believes in....and this quote from him, contained in the article, I find particularly thought provoking:

“All empires end through a flawed foreign policy."

Romney and Pawlenty Spar Over Health Care

One of the more interesting things currently playing out among candidates for the Republican nomination for president in 2012 is the flak former Massachussetts governor Mitt Romney is taking for implementing a universal health care system in that state that happens to be working.

I mean, God forbid!

Don't these other Republican candidates realize that the American government is completely useless and can do nothing right, ever!!

What did they forget to listen to Rush Limbaugh on the radio or watch Glenn Beck on TV today??!!

Grunt grunt. Government bad. Always. Government not good. Grunt grunt. No government health care because government bad.

Saudi Arabia Endorses Climategate: ‘There Is No Relationship Whatsoever Between Human Activities And Climate Change’

This would be funny, if it weren't so sad...

As the article mentions, the Saudi position on human caused global warming now dovetails with that of Oklahoma wingnut Senator Jim Inhofe--widely regarded as the dumbest current sitting member of Congress, and, of course, Sarah Palin.

Whether or not Palin has any earthly clue what 'a climate change' is a subject for a different blog post--

Do Inhofe and Palin support public beheadings and stonings as the Saudi's do, as well??

Probably.

GOP Civil War? Glenn Beck-Inspired Tea Party Candidates Step Up To Oust Veteran GOP Lawmakers

Story here.

A prescription for retaking the Congress?

Or a circular firing squad aiming at ideological purity...

What say you?

The Gambler who Blew $127 Million in Vegas.....In One Year

This story is nothing short of unbelievable....as we approach the end of 2009 it could very well be the most incredible story of the year.

Mr. Watanabe alleges that during this period Harrah's not only didn't make him leave when he was drunk, but it plied him with alcohol and prescription drugs to encourage him to stay and gamble.

Several Caesars employees say there was no policy to keep Mr. Watanabe drugged or drunk. But, they say, staff knew the company wanted to keep one of the Strip's most lucrative customers, and so looked the other way. A picture of him was hung in employee back rooms, they say.

The saying goes that 'a fool and his money are soon parted...' And one way to quickly expedite this process is to get drunk in a Las Vegas Casino.

Unbelievable...

Jon Stewart on Climategate

White House Press Secretery Gets Grilled over Party Crashers--Insults Reporter

This is in relation to this story about two people--from all accounts cheesy, flaky b-level TV personalities, wound up in at the White House with the Obamas during a White House state dinner. I believe the person responsible for having let this happen should be fired, no questions asked, for putting the president's life in danger.

Coming: Tea Party, The Documentary

This isn't an SNL skit, it's an actual attempt to be a serious documentary....I love how they show the black guy about 10 times--never mind that blacks make up probably .00001% of the freaks who actually attended these things. Reminds me of George W. Bush's first presidential run in 2000 where Rove surrounded him by blacks as a propaganda stunt...which unfortunately worked.

Mike Huckabee Officially has No Chance to be the GOP Nominee in 2012

And the reason why--in case you haven't heard, is this recent, horrific development.

Put bluntly, Republican candidates for president fry criminals, they don't grant them clemency. Being 'tough on crime' is the absolute hallmark badge for any major GOP figure--and without it they are toast.

Basically, you lock the people up, throw away the key or give them maximum sentences (or, fry them in murder cases) until the courts tell you otherwise.

And if you happen to fry an innocent man? Well that's just how the cookie crumbles sometimes...

And God forbid (Willie Horton, anyone) you exercise a little judgement and a pardoned criminal does something like this. Your political career is officially over.

Video: NYC Building Dedication Ceremony Devolves into Nasty Shouting Match

Black and Jewish political leaders in New York City have traditionally had a very, very tenuous relationship. Both groups jealously guard their 'victimization' status, and they often compete for power and therefore clash. A perfect snapshot of this dynamic is seen yesterday at a dedication ceremony for a building damaged during the 9/11 attacks, where a perceived slight turned into a vicious shouting match between black City Councilman Charles Barron, and Jewish politician/businessman Jeffrey Wiesenfeld. Full story here....

Coburn tells seniors: ‘You’re going to die soon’ if the Senate health care bill passes.

Story here. Oklahoma's other Senator is Jim Inhofe--regarded by many as the single dumbest legislator from either party currently serving in Congress.