Republicans Start Whitewashing Kennedy's Record

Before Ted Kennedy was even in the ground, the Republicans started whitewashing his record. Most ridiculous is there sadness that he died without being able to work on a health care bill. If Teddy was around, then all of this would be okay! It would have bipartisan support! Only Teddy could get us through this!

But he did offer a bill. And McCain, Gregg, and Hatch all voted no on it. Earlier this week, Rachel Maddow blasts all three of them for their phoniness:

In other words: "If only Ted Kennedy were still here." If only he had a health care bill those Republicans say they would have voted for that. You know, uh, Ted Kennedy DID have a health care bill. Senator Kennedy was chair of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which approved a health care reform package in July. It's called the Kennedy Bill. And Senator Kennedy helped write that bill. Senators Hatch, and McCain and Gregg all voted against it. But the revisionist history goes even deeper. They aren't just saying they would have voted for a Kennedy health care bill, even though they had the chance and they didn't.

They're saying they would have voted for a Kennedy health care bill because Ted Kennedy would have compromised with them, because Ted Kennedy was all about making concessions to Republicans.

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And Republicans are getting all up in arms over the politicization of his death, and they are warning Democrats not to make this another Paul Wellstone.

That's why conservatives are fools.

Remember back when Reagan died? The Bush campaign set up a page on their website dedicated to the greatness that was Ronald Reagan, complete with the little "Donate Here" button to help get Bush elected. Limbaugh, Kristol, and his ilk were encouraging Republicans to politicize his death and use it draw support for everything from the Iraq War to additional tax cuts.

They had no problems emphasizing how liberals hated many of Reagan's policies. But with Ted Kennedy? The man they used to personify and vilify the Democratic Party, they act like it was all hugs and kisses.

Kennedy was a proud liberal, and the Republicans hated him for it.

Lying Republicans at Town Hall Meetings

Rachel Maddow was on fire this week! Below she highlights the story of one of the vocal opponents of health care reform at one of the town halls that are being held nationwide during the summer recess. The concerned citizen who claims she is "just a mom" and "not with any political party" forgot to mention that she was the Internet Marketing Strategist for the Republican candidate who was defeated by the congressman holding the town hall.

Journalism lives!!

GOP Riling Up the Crazies

Great segment on The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC last week with Frank Schaeffer about the tone of the Republican side of the health care debate, and how the right wing seems to be agitating their crazies just like they did during the 2008 presidential campaign...

Someone Saw This Economic Crisis Coming...

Rachel Maddow points out that contrary to claims from many politicians, the current state of the economy was actually predicted by those who have an appreciation of history:

Rachel Maddow and Meghan McCain

Rachel Maddow's interview this evening with Meghan McCain wasn't particularly exciting, but was definitely a change of pace from what you normally see from these discussion shows.  Both Maddow and McCaing were exceptionally sensible!  

I especially love that Meghan McCain admitted that she doesn't know anything about the economy, and that Maddow accepted that response without being at all condescending!  Nice change of pace.

I do, however, take issue with the fact that while McCain admitted on Maddow's show that she doesn't know anything about the economy, it doesn't stop her from saying "a second stimulus doesn't make sense." 

If she's just saying she doesn't know anything about the economy as an excuse to not justify her views, my respect for Meghan will dwindle.

Part 1:

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Part 2:

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Stimulate Without the Stimulation, Please.

While her jokes are more often miss than they are hit, I believe that Rachel Maddow is likely the most informed political pundit on television.  Whether you agree or disagree with her conclusions, Rachel provides solid data and examples explaining her position.  Her response to the debate in the Senate tonight over Obama's stimulus package is no exception.  While it runs a bit long at 8 minutes, it's definitely worth the time:

Rachel does a wonderful job of illustrating the cost/benefit analysis of something like infrastructure spending compared to the Republican idea of tax rebates.  While rebates are barely stimulative at all (at roughly $1.02 put back into the economy for every $1 the government spends), infrastructure spending yields $1.59 for every  buck the government throws at it.  That is precisely what we are trying to accomplish with this package.  To STIMULATE the economy.

The Republicans, however, are being entirely foolish.  

Even though food stamps are the single most effective way the federal government can stimulate the economy, they pouted and threw tantrums until it was removed.  

Even though there is a mountain of evidence suggesting that the impact of tax cuts on stimulating the economy is negligible, Republicans were able to get a whopping 42% of the bill to be dedicated to them.  While Karl Rove claims no Republicans wanted nothing but tax cuts, 36 of the 41 Senate Republicans voted for just that.

Republicans are putting their party loyalty over their desire to actually address the problems facing America.  

Therefore, they are boneheads.