The Peasantville Blog

The Tea Party Cult - Don't Drink Their Kool Aid.

John Boehner is likely the single most impotent Speaker of the US House this nation has ever known.  He can't bring his caucus together to agree that Thursday is Thursday.  The Tea Party Problem won't permit a deal, he pulled back on his offer already made, the rush to the Fiscal Cliff continues and the Tea Party legislators, many on their way out, a few just entering, have neutered Boehner. 

Fidelity.com tells us, "Without congressional action, up to $600 billion of expiring tax cuts, new taxes, and automatic spending cuts are set to take effect at the end of 2012 or beginning of 2013. If they hit all at once, the impact could amount to as much as 4%-5% of GDP, according to our research, the equivalent of falling off a “fiscal cliff.” Some experts anticipate the economy would experience a significant slowdown and there would be major consequences for financial markets." 

The Tea Party is the equivalent of the Peoples' Temple of Jonestown fame,a cult, and Ron Paul is the Rev. Jim Jones encouraging fools to drink the tea flavored kool aid.  Ron Paul is chanting: "How very much I've tried my best to give you a good life. But in spite ..... All I think (inaudible) from the hands of the enemy. Hurry, my children. Hurry."  And when we look back at the Tea Party Downgrade II, the Tea Party Great Depression II -- and the weakness that is John Boehner, it's not really a blame game - it's the nation holding the Tea Party and those who are aligned with them responsible. Ron Paul, Rand Paul, Michele Bachman -- all of them are true believers - let them drink the tea flavored kool aid. 

 

Unfinished Business

The War in Iraq was the Blunder to End All Blunders (one would hope).  It's the inappropriate gift given to your toddler by some crazy aunt and you try to be polite as you accept it then try to hide it.  From Day One in March 2003 this nation skidded into an abyss, into a condition that can be likened to mental illness - 'bi-polarization' if you will.  Attempts to rationalize away the error, promote it as an asset or as progress or even as a "Good War" of liberation were used as bludgeons against those who didn't 'support the troops.' Those attempts are symptoms of that illness.

But the one constant in war is casualties, and casualties as a result of a Blunder like Iraq are seen (and should be) as a higher cost, one too high to pay.  That's why this story  about Sgt. Jacob Butler is offensive.  It's a step beyond accusing those who opposed the War in Iraq on various grounds, some because they are pacifists, others, like me, who recognized the mistake that Iraq is/was, of not 'supporting the troops' as a way to quiet the discussion.  It's a betrayal of those who served by those who lead them into that abyss.  It's using someone like Butler as a pawn and a prop to promote the lie. 

From Propublica:

"The day after Jim Butler learned his son had died in Iraq in 2003, a U.S. Army casualty officer showed up at the family's small ranch to explain what happened....

Part One

Lost to History: Missing War Records Complicate Benefit Claims by Iraq, Afghanistan Veterans

by Peter Sleeth, Special to ProPublica, and Hal Bernton, The Seattle Times, Nov. 9

So Butler made a simple request to the Army — for Jake's casualty report. Rules require one when soldiers are killed in a war zone. Unit commanders are supposed to create and maintain them, along with numerous other field records.

"They said, 'We'll have to see,'" Butler recalled, "because one should have been made."

Nine years later, Butler is still waiting for a report he may never get."

Resurrection of Peasantville.com!!!

This blog has been inactive for sometime as the blogger has been involved in a congressional campaign - his own.  That effort having not been successful, it's time to re-enter the fray and the best way is to resurrect Peasantville from the rubble.  First, let me say how absolutely pleased I am that Barack Obama was re-elected on 11/6/2012 -- he saved America from Romney/Ryan and the certain Great Depression II they would have wrapped in a pretty bow and delivered to the globe.  Second, the 332-206 Electoral College results should firmly push the right wingers back and it's only going to get better over the next few years. That Kentucky hasn't caught up with the rest of the nation is not truly a surprise, but despite Mark Twain's assessment, I think it will take only a few years for the Commonwealth to catch up to the 21st Century. 

I'm baaa-aaackk!

Mitch McConnell and the Republicans Fight to Raise Taxes on Workers and Real Job Creators!!

Michael Tomasky at The Daily Beast writes:  "...Democrats would have employers pay 3.1 percent (rather than the 6.2 percent they now pay) on the first $5 million of their payroll. Also, if employers add to their payrolls, they would pay no payroll tax on new hires. So the new bill is specifically aimed at helping the job creators. The total cost is $255 billion."  A real program aimed at increasing employment and putting more money in the pockets of labor and their employers - opposed by Republicans.  Not only that, they want to end the 2% payroll tax reduction enjoyed for the last year or so. 

This makes hollow all the Republican noise about helping America work.  It also reveals, in their vernacular, "job creators" as code for the spectacular multi-decade failure that is and was "trickle down."  Tomasky goes on to write, "Mitch McConnell unsurprisingly announced his opposition to it Monday. And yes, this is the same Mitch McConnell who said in January 2009 that a two-year suspension of the payroll tax “would put a lot of money back in the hands of businesses and in the hands of individuals,” and that “Republicans, generally speaking, from Maine to Mississippi, like tax relief.”"

 

Newtered Gingrich Comes Out Against Child Labor Laws - Apparently He Wants to Emulate Asian Sweatshops.

File this under "You can't make this sh*t up!" Newtered Gingrich thinks child labor laws are 'stupid." http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-gingrich-child-labor-20111121,0,6466282.story Think of the opportunities for children to manufacture tennis shoes and soccer balls in sweat shops ala Vietnam. This is the kind of klown who would take America back -- to the 19th century.

Right Wing AM Radio onThe Cain Train Wreck -"Move Along - Nothing to See Here."



Herman Cain - a right wing Atlanta radio talk show host and Tea Party promoter (but aren't they all Tea Party promoters?) is on the downhill slide into political obscurity.  Never a serious candidate, Cain's gaffeability is the gift that keeps on giving not only to his opponents but to Democrats.  Geographically challenged, foreign policy ignorant, confused about military strategy, and how about that 'Cuban language?'

But Rush has stood by him, played the race and gender cards, in the face of evidence to the contrary even denied the multiple charges of sexual harrassment.  Local radio hosts have followed along after receiving the memo from Limbaugh.  Herman Cain the victim - but are AM radio talking heads turning on or just walking away from the Cain Train Wreck?

And now they're flailing about looking for another front man.  Laura Ingraham is now touting Gnewt the Nigerian Prince Spammer Gingrich.

"...Newt Gingrich go. He is a Nigerian prince e-mail, send-me-your-bank-details guy. He does e-mail spam, fax spam, direct mail, sucker list, bottom-feeding, prey-on-the-gullible financial scams.”"

Rachel Maddow compares Gnewt Gingrich's business dealings to those of a Nigerian prince spamming email.  And what if Gnewt were to take it seriously?

“This is the ka-ching that makes Newt Gingrich go. He is a Nigerian prince e-mail, send-me-your-bank-details guy. He does e-mail spam, fax spam, direct mail, sucker list, bottom-feeding, prey-on-the-gullible financial scams.”

Washington, D.C..
Attention: The President/CEO

Dear Sir,

Confidential Business Proposal

Having consulted with my colleagues and based on the information gathered from the Gnewt Gingrich Department at the KochFreedomWorksTeaFoundation, I have the privilege to request your assistance to transfer the sum of $37,000,000.00 (thirty seven million United States dollars) into your accounts. The above sum resulted from an over-invoiced contract, executed, commissioned and paid for about five years (5) ago by Freddie Mac. This action was however intentional and since then the fund has been in the subject of American News reports embarrassing to me, a GOP presidential candidate.

We are now ready to transfer the fund to Gnewt and that is where you come in. It is important to inform you that as a Republican presidential candidate, it is embarrassing to be caught up in such blatant hypocrisy; that is why Gnewt requires your assistance. The total sum will be shared as follows: 70% to Gnewt, 25% to Gnewt and 5% for local and international expenses incidental to the transfer made payable to Gnewt.

The transfer is risk free onto Gnewt. I am a former speaker of the US House and for references you can call my ex-wife.  If you find this proposal acceptable, we shall require the following documents:

(a) your banker's name, telephone, account and fax numbers.

(b) your private telephone and fax numbers —for confidentiality and easy communication.

(c) your letter-headed paper stamped and signed.

Alternatively we will furnish you with the text of what to type into your letter-headed paper, along with a breakdown explaining, comprehensively what we require of you. The business will take us thirty (30) working days to accomplish.

Please reply urgently.

Best regards

Gnewt Gningrich

---

Newt Gets Newtered!!!

Newt Gingrich and his group received $37 million from healthcare industry entities over a 8 year period.  Almost $5 million per year.  What does Newt offer in return?  Whatever he might offer, let us hope he doesn't get the chance to sell it from the Oval Office.   And those entities are the very entities the Republicans have fought tooth and nail to maintain their status.

From the Washington Post:  "A think tank founded by GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich collected at least $37 million over the past eight years from major health-care companies and industry groups, offering special access to the former House speaker and other perks, according to records and interviews."

The GOP Clown Car Visited Orlando Last NIght -- and It Was a HOOOWWWLL!!

Rick Perry fast fades and Michele Bachmann is kicked to the curb. The GOP is going to go with this year's runner up, Mitt Romney, so he can be next year's runner up.

Warren Buffett Calls Out Standard & Poor, Instead of Downgrade It Should Have Been A Promotion!!

_{Bloomberg / Getty Images}

 Warren Buffett disagrees with S&P.  Bloomberg News Reports, "The U.S., which was cut Aug. 5 to AA+ from AAA at S&P, merits a “quadruple A” rating, Buffett, 80, said yesterday in an interview with Betty Liu at Bloomberg Television."

But remember, S&P has downgraded. Fitch and Moody's have not.  S&P seems driven by Tea Party logic which means, quite simply, no logic applied at all.  The goal seems to be anything to negatively effect Barack Obama's re-election prospects.