THE UNDISPUTED LEADER OF THE RETHUGLICAN PARTY?

Currently, the latest bru-ha-ha dominating the political talk shows focuses on the verbal war between radio comedienne Rush Limbaugh and the Republican National Committee (RNC), or as I prefer to call them: the Rethuglicans.

Rush Limbaugh is no newcomer to making the news. A self-inducing hypocrite (his personal drug addiction issues), a closet racist and self-loathing homophobe Limbaugh has been caught up in past controversies such as labeling President Obama a 'Magic negro", repeatedly calling for the failure of said president, encouraging fraudulent activity in last year's Ohio primaries, making racist comments about NFL players....the list is too long to detail here.

Now, Limbaugh is currently embroiled in a fight with the leadership of the Rethuglican Party.

I don't know EXACTLY what was the trigger issue between the Rethugs and Limbaugh (I tend to ignore irrational, irresponsible and delusional rants aka anything said lately by the Republican Party and its members), but one thing I DO know is that it is unacceptable for a media personality uncredited by time served in elected office to be declared the head of any major political American party.

Rush Limbaugh is all mouth and no action - only stroking his ego in compensation for his male short-comings. He has absolutely NO administrative experience of any kind, and is only inflammatory in his tirades for personal profit.

I am usually NOT one to rally behind the Rethugs BUT.........

In order for this country's continued success we NEED a strong, VIABLE AND CREDIBLE opposition. The RNC needs to get their act together and put this clown in his place or they will never be taken seriously for a long, LONG time. This leadership issue COULD prove detrimental to our country.

Rethugs, I know its hard to take advice from the opposition but do not be played by this clown. Limbaugh is only looking out for one thing and one thing only - his own personal success.

He doesn't give a shit about you, our country or his alleged conservative declarations.

Please - will someone stand up and take control of this situation AWAY from Limbaugh?

Do that and you WILL be the leader of the RNC.......

GIVE IT UP - JOHN McCAIN - YOU LOST!!!!

For crying out LOUD.......

John McCain is back to his 'doddering old grandpa' role in the senate, attacking the current Economic Stimulus Bill.

In a clip seen on TV today he's criticizing the bill saying [sic] "This is not a bi-partisan bill; I've worked on many bi- partisan bills and this is not one of them...!"

Um, Johnny-baby....the election's over MONTHS ago...GIVE IT UP!!!!

The reasons it's not bi-partisan is because THE GOP IS C-BLOCKING NEEDED CHANGE because of failed Rethuglican policies!!!!!

Sheesh.......

NOW I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY "PRESIDENT OBAMA"

Although I have been a strong advocate and supporter of Barack Obama, there were always a few doubts that kept lurking in the back of my mind: what if he was all talk and no action? Was I too caught up in the rhetoric to ignore possible weaknesses? Was I so blinded by my loathing of the Bush Administration and the Rethuglican Party that I welcomed ANY change - an even unproven one?

After the inauguration I couldn't shake a feeling that there was too much glitz, grandstanding and pandering by the media of the new White House executive and his staff: the immediate declaration of the closing of Guantanamo Bay, the vow to stop torture, the signing of the equal pay for women act - the press ate them up and clamored for more, MORE!

Doubts began to surface: rumors began to leak that the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' may not be implemented until after two years DESPITE the promise to repeal this horrific measure on record by White House press secretary Robert Gibbs. Then came the news that two candidates for cabinet positions were dropping from the appointment process because of back tax issues - amongst other things. And the stimulus package was NOT as eagerly embraced by both parties of Congress as we thought they would - was it a wrong move after all?

Did we - as they say in Jamaica - "swap black dog for monkey"? Was this movement of CHANGE too ideological after all - much like 'Dubya' and his doomed 'freedom and democracy in the Middle East' notions? Was he a re-incarnation of Michael Manley - a charming, handsome leader with great vision but implementation issues?

Maybe having too many doctorates and MBAs in the administration COULD BE redundant....

Then, yesterday evening, I saw what I had been waiting for - Obama confidently wearing the role of president of the United States.

In an interview with Brian Williams on last night's NBC network evening news Barack Obama addressed the issues of his beleaguered cabinet nominees and answered a question we have all been thinking - weren't these candidates properly vetted before being selected?

President Obama stated: "I'm here on television saying I screwed up and that's part of the era of responsibility; is not never making mistakes; it's owning up to them and trying to make sure you never repeat them and that's what we intend to do."

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He told CNN's Anderson Cooper, "Look, ultimately, I campaigned on changing Washington and bottom-up politics. And I don't want to send a message to the American people that there are two sets of standards, one for powerful people, and one for ordinary folks who are working every day and paying their taxes."

He didn't pass the blame of the confirmation process on a junior staff member or a member of his administration.

He didn't act in a cowboy manner with an unwavering mantra of "you're either with me or against me".

He acknowledged an error in judgment and took responsibility (something the last administration saw as a weakness and refused to do, instead relying on hiding from the truth under the guise of patriotism and ideology).

THIS is what I had liked about Candidate Obama - he made mistakes, learned from them and used the experience of mistakes to make better decisions. Remember New Hampshire? He took the experience from that primary loss and used it to strengthen his presidential campaign.

FINALLY it seems we have someone who seems to really want to do what's best for the country - and NOT what's best for the party of their allegiance.

NOW I can say: WELCOME, President Obama.

DID I MENTION HOW MUCH I HATED THE RETHUGLICAN PARTY?

Did I?

Huh?

Did I?

Their recent grandstanding on the stimulus bill is loathsome. The president made it VERY CLEAR that he welcomed suggestions by the Rethugs on how to improve the bill; the Rethuglicans beat their empty pans and made a lot of noise about birth control (non-issue) and the improvement of the National Mall (which I agree was not needed) - but that was it.

They couldn't come up with any other suggestions to improve the bill. I'm not surprised - look at their handling of the economy for the past 15 year. YES, 15 YEARS - the Rethuglicans won control of both houses of Congress in 1992 and lost control as a result of the mid-term elections in 2006.

And two years is not enough time for Democrats to unscrew the mess the blindly ideological and hypocritical Rethuglicans left behind.

Even with that track record the White House and the House Democrats still asked the Rethugs for their input on changes to be made to the Stimulus Bill - and they came up with a few lame suggestions including more tax cuts - the mantra of their party.

But I digress.

In a gesture of bi-partisanship the White House and House Democrats made concessions as per the request of the Rethugs, and sent the revised bill to the floor to be voted on.

And what did the Rethugs do? IGNORE THE BILL and chose to vote against it.

NOW, they are going around bad-mouthing the bill, STILL NOT OFFERING SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT THEY WOULD THINK IS A BETTER AND MORE PRODUCTIVE BILL.

Continue on you current path, my dear Rethugs. You're pissing off a lot of people - NOT just the elected officials - but others who CAN make you pay for your past crimes of ideology.

Those persons you are pissing off sent a clear statement on November 4th on what they are willing to do.

And here's the hint: They are represented by a hallowed document that begins with, "WE THE PEOPLE....."

RETHUGLICANS UP TO THEIR USUAL TACTICS.....STILL.

Although they had nearly two months to raise questions and concerns regarding foreign contributors to the former President Clinton's FOUNDATION, Rethuglicans are still playing politics with the confirmation of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State.

So instead of having one of the highest and most important cabinet positions in place on Wednesday to get to work on serious foreign policy issues such as the current strife in Israel, a Texas Rethug is fondling his balls while stroking his Rethuglican ideology. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) claims he STILL has questions on foreign donors, even though most other Rethugs are moving beyond this issue.

Tomorrow, I predict more showboating by this "politics-as-usual" Rethug.

I really didn't think that my hatred for the (current) Rethuglican Party could grow any stronger.....

(Must.......channel......Obama.........work.....across.......party.........lines...........love.....your......fellow.....country....men..........EVEN RETHUGS....focus.........focus.........a......United......States.......of......America...........)

(See the article in full from the Baltimore Sun here.)

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Senate confirms 5 Cabinet secretaries, budget director, delays Clinton vote

By Janet Hook, Tribune staff reporter

5:10 PM EST, January 20, 2009

The Senate, acting within hours of President Obama's inauguration, confirmed six of his Cabinet secretaries and his budget director, but postponed for one day a vote on the nomination of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State.

GOP Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), had objected to approving Clinton's nomination by voice vote -- as the other nominees were today -- because he said he had continuing concerns about potential conflicts arising from foreign donations to the foundation of her husband, former President Bill Clinton.

Cornyn wanted more debate on the issue and a recorded vote, which was scheduled for Wednesday. She is expected to be confirmed by a wide margin.

Senate leaders have been trying to follow a tradition of putting a new president's Cabinet in place as quickly as possible. Those confirmed today by voice vote, without any debate, were:

• Steven Chu, a Nobel Prize winning physicist, as Energy Secretary.

• Arne Duncan, Chicago Public Schools chief, as Education Secretary

• Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano as Homeland Security Secretary.

• Peter Orszag as head of the Office of Management and Budget

• Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) as Interior Secretary

• Retired Gen. Eric K. Shinseki as Veterans Affairs Secretary

• Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack as Agriculture Secretary.

Other major Cabinet nominations that are still pending, but are expected to be confirmed soon, include Eric Holder to be Attorney General. He faces questions from Republicans about his role in controversial pardons at the end of Bill Clinton's presidency.

Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle's nomination to be Health and Human Services Secretary has been delayed because Republicans want to examine his tax records.

Treasury Secretary-designate Timothy Geithner's confirmation hearing was postponed until Wednesday amid questions about his failure to pay payroll taxes for several years.

Obama's choice for Labor Secretary, Rep. Hilda Solis, is facing opposition from some Republicans because of concern about her lackluster performance in her confirmation hearing and her support for legislation to make it easier for unions to organize workers. It is likely not enough trouble to derail the nomination, but it may slow her confirmation.

Responding to earlier controversy about its foreign donors, the Clinton foundation released a list of contributors and agreed to report annually on any new donations. But Cornyn is calling for increased disclosure of foreign donors, fearing that foreign entities will try to curry favor with the Secretary of State by contributing to her husband's foundation.

WHY THE MATTHEW SHEPARD ACT IS NEEDED

Too many times in the past I have heard from ig'nant Rethuglicans and others who think that the Matthew Shepard Act is an unnecessary bill - part of the so-called 'gay agenda'.

The Matthew Shepard Act (officially, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 or LLEHCPA), H.R. 1592 was a proposed federal bill that would expand the 1969 United States federal hate-crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.

An ugly incident two weeks ago in New York only under-scored the need for such an act.

Two brothers from Ecuador who reside in New York City were walking home arm-in-arm on the evening of December 7 when they were attacked by four black men shouting anti-gay and racial slurs. One of the brothers - Jose Sucuzhanay - suffered severe head trauma and subsequently died as a result of his injuries. The other brother also suffered major injuries but survived the attack. (For full report on story go to CNN.com here.)

These men - heterosexual men ONLY SHOWING BROTHERLY LOVE TO EACH OTHER - were attacked because a bunch of ignorant bigots (yes, black people can be bigots too) - who thought they were FAGGOTS because they were walking arm-in-arm.

I've said it again and again, you do not have to be gay to be discriminated against, and this incident is a sad example.

Can we spell this out any clearer for you?

The Matthew Shepard Act was blocked from passing last year by 'Dubya' and conservative groups.

Thankfully, the passing of the Matthew Shepard Act is a top priority for the incoming Obama Administration.

My sympathies to the family of Jose Sucuzhanay; you are in my thoughts and prayers.

SUNDAY MUSINGS

This is going to be one HELL of a winter if the past weather pattern is any indication; we're now bracing for an ice storm here in Chi-Town. To all of those of us who live in the norther-American region: good luck and may Yahweh/Allah/Buddha/Krishna has mercy on us.......

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Methinks the Rethuglicans in the senate chose the wrong time to kill the auto industry bailout bill for strictly ideological and political reasons (isn't it oddly coincidental that Sen. Shelby, Sen. McConnell and Sen. Corker represent states where foreign auto plants are located and headquartered?). What do Rethugs have against labor unions? This is going to bite them in the ass down the road.

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Word in the media that estranged Illinois Gov Rod Blagojavich may either step aside or resign this week in wake of last week's corruption scandal. My take? Don't hold your breath......

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Will the Obama administration go ahead and seek to prosecute members of the Bush administration for wrong-doings with regards to the Iraqi War and torture allegations? Depends on how bad the economy is next year. However, I STRONGLY FEEL that they should, someone besides the American people should be made to pay a price for devaluation the American brand to the rest of the world.

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Keep a close eye on (of all states) Iowa: a landmark case for same-sex marriage is being presented to the state's supreme court for a ruling in favor of gay marriages.

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