Let's forget party affiliation for a minute.

If I were a woman (50% of the population) I could not vote for any of the current Republican presidential hopefuls. If I were Hispanic (16.3%), African American (12.6%), Asian ( 4.8%) I cannot imagine voting for any of them. If I were gay (3.5%) I certainly could not vote for any of them. If I were under 40 (50%) I would not vote for any of them. If I made less than $100,000/year (84%), there is no way I could vote for any of them.

Who is left that could possibly think that the Republicans are looking out for them? White, straight, males, over 40, making over $100,000/year.

What is the draw that the Republican party has figured out and how have they conned so many Americans?

Newt Gingrich's campaign has repeatedly insisted his first wife, Jackie Battley Gingrich, and not he, sought the breakup. But Carroll County, Ga., court documents cited Monday by CNN indicate it was Newt Gingrich who filed for divorce.

Time to backpedal.

Gingrich campaign spokesman R.C. Hammond told CNN in an e-mail "Carroll County Georgia court documents accurately show Newt Gingrich filed for a divorce from his wife Jackie Battley, but it was Jackie Battley who requested the divorce,"

But what about the facts?

Battley's wrote to a judge asking the court to block the action because she, the defendant, "does not admit that this marriage is irretrievably broken. Her petition further includes "Defendant shows that she has adequate and ample grounds for divorce, but that she does not desire one at this time."

and...

Gingrich has admitted he made unspecified personal judgment errors in his life and has sought God's forgiveness.

So what does this have to do with his qualifications for being President? he is allowed to be married multiple times, he is allowed to have multiple affairs, he is allowed to make himself feel better by seeking "god's forgiveness." What is unacceptable, at least to me, is his then claiming moral superiority and claiming knowledge of what everyone else should be required to do (or not be allowed to do.)

Hey Newt, I don't need your help in choosing my own moral compass. Thanks anyway,

Let's go local for once.

<State> "Senator Michael McLachlan endorses Linda McMahon for Senate."

Anyone in CT knows who these 2 dimwits are. For those of you outside CT, McLachman and McMachon are our local versions of the Republican presidential candidates.

McLachlan still believes that Obama was not born in the US, he is rabidly anti choice and anti-immigrant. McMahon wants to make it easier to drill for oil in Alaska/the Gulf etc. She wants to cut taxes on the rich because she believes that "investors and entrepreneurs are holding onto their money" because "They can’t plan ahead because nobody knows how many more taxes, mandates, rules or liabilities the federal government is going to lay on them."

Ay yi yi, think global act local. Lets get rid of McLachlan and make sure Linda stays right where she belongs, running professional wrestling.

Several people have called my recent FB statuses "rants" against Republicans. 

They are NOT rants against Republicans, they are rants against stupidity and bigotry. 

If a Democratic presidential candidate calls for the end of all abortions including abortions that might save a woman's life, I'll rant against that stupidity. 

If a Democratic presidential candidate raises his hand and says he only believes in creationism, I'll rant against that stupidity.

If a Democratic presidential candidate says there is no such thing as global warming, I'll rant against that stupidity.

If a Democratic presidential candidate issues threat after threat of shutting down the Government to achieve petty selfish goals, I'll rant against that stupidity.

If a Democratic presidential candidate uses vulgarities and throws himself on the bible for justification of bias against gays, I'll rant against that stupidity.

If a Democratic presidential candidate is a habitual womanizer but still claims to be the leader in pushing for moral causes, I'll rant against that stupidity.

If a Democratic presidential candidate claims that if elected, he can and will just shut down Federal Courts and fire judges he disagrees with, I'll rant against that stupidity.

If a Democratic presidential candidate thinks that just cutting taxes for the wealthiest will cut our federal deficit, I'll rant against that stupidity.

I could go on and on, but the current group of presidential candidates from the Republican party deserve all the scorn and "rants" I can come up with. It ain't because they are Republicans, it is because what the claim to believe in is diametrically opposed to everything I hope for for the future of this country and for the well being and safety of my children.

Maybe things are looking up.

Since his inauguration, President Obama has been a huge disappointment. Perhaps this is only due to his lack of experience with the hardball politics of Washington and the extreme lengths that the radical right is willing to go to damage him, but his lack of leadership and his incredible lack of skills as Negotiator in Chief have badly damaged the country and hurt his chances of reelection.

Hopefully the last couple of days will mark a turning point. For once Obama stood toe to toe with the right and did not allow their disruptive abuse of the system to win. Republican petty threats and gamesmanship over extending the Payroll Tax cuts were just another attempt by them to abuse the real needs of the people in an attempt to further their personal political goals. There is no way to negotiate with Boehner or the rest of the fringe right other than to just say no. Not backing down and not allowing the Republicans to play their games should give Obama well earned momentum.

The NY Times style is to include a complete summary of a story in the first paragraph and today's story about extending the payroll tax cut is (unfortunately) no exception.

Unfortunately, because the story is more about the right wing devastation of the entire political system than it is about the tax cut.

"Bowing under intense pressure from members of their own party to end the politically damaging impasse over a payroll tax holiday, House Republican leaders agreed Thursday to accept a temporary extension of the tax cut, beating a hasty retreat from a showdown that Republicans increasingly saw as a threat to their election opportunities next year."

Couldn't have said it better. All the Republican party seems to care about is getting themselves reelected, their alleged desire to serve the people is just a hoax.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/23/us/politics/senate-republican-leader-suggests-a-payroll-tax-deal.html?_r=1&hp

Senate Republican Leader Suggests a Payroll Tax Deal

www.nytimes.com

Senator Mitch McConnell proposed that the House pass an extension while Senate Democrats commit to forming a negotiating committee to reach a long-term agreement.

I guess that compassion thing was all a mistake.

For years the Republican party has touted itself as being the party of compassion. Reading today's NY Times one might think this was, at best, only true for "real Americans." Below is a link to an article about illegal immigrants being denied kidney transplants based on their immigration status. According to the article, it was estimated that non-citizens donated 2.5% of organs and received fewer than 1%. Pragmatically, a one time transplant costs much less than year after year of dialysis, which is available to illegal immigrants. It was disgusting to read a quote regarding illegal aliens and organ donation from Republican Representative Dana Roharbacher, "If they're dead, I don't have an objection to their organs being used, if they're alive, they shouldn't be here no matter what." Nice compassion, Mr. R. you win the ugly American of the day prize.

We need comprehensive policy changes in immigration, this is yet another area with which I disagree with the Republicans about but I would have hoped that some modicum of humanity would have prevailed over bigotry. Nah.....

Just one more example of the biased, bigoted radical right.

Tell your friend, keep hope alive.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/21/nyregion/illegal-immigrants-transplant-cheaper-over-life-isnt-covered.html?_r=1

Illegal Immigrant’s Transplant, Cheaper Over Life, Isn’t Covered

www.nytimes.com

Two brothers’ journey to make a kidney transplant happen has taken them to the core of the national impasse between health care and immigration policies.