Makes Sense to Us!

A new poll by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life shows that churchgoers are more likely to favor torture.

Mitt, Unloved

By Zamboni

WaPo's Chris Cillizza recently posted a cliche-laden, poorly edited list of the "winners and losers" of President Obama's first 100 days.

We cats mention this not just to chide Mr. Cillizza for using tired old puns like "the son also rises" (referring to Andrew Cuomo), but to note that he listed former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney as a "winner." Romney, he says, "has done everything right in terms of positioning himself as the leading GOP contender against Obama in 2012."

Hmmm. We think that "The Fix" has not been spending a lot of time looking at right-wing websites. In fact, if he visits Free Republic today, he'll find a raging anti-Mittster conflagration, just blazing away.

The fire was started by none other than Free Republic's creator, Jim Robinson, who for some reason launched on Romney this afternoon. "I don't care who this socialist, abortionist, homosexualist, constitution trampling bastard picks for running mate," he screams. "If Romney's in I'm out! GOP, R.I.P!"

Around 250 comments follow: "Amen, Mr. Robinson, amen!" "Right on, Jim!" "[Romney] is the slimiest politician since Richard Daley, Sr." "Mitt Romney would spell the end of the GOP as a national party. He has no conservative values at all." "I agree... I’d like to see a Palin and Bachmann or Bachmann and Palin ticket."

Um, we think Governor Romney has a little work to do with his party's primary voters. And in the meantime, Mr. Cillizza, we suggest you wallow in the muck of the Republican base before you pronounce your GOP "winners."

(And you might want to do something about all those typos you make, too.)

UPDATE: It's Sunday and Jim Robinson is still launching against Romney. We cats can't figure out what's set him off this time, unless it's because the Mittster appeared on a talking-head show this morning. Anyway, he's pulling the circular firing squad a little tighter, in a way that we can't envision will win many elections for the Republicans.

"If there is anyone here who doesn't understand why we cannot support a slick socialist politician like Mitt Romney, God help you, but you're on the wrong website... FR is not for everyone!"

Whew, Jim — take a Xanax or something.

Michele Bachmann is Older than We Are...

...So officially, she has no excuse for not remembering this.

Republicans: Does anybody in your party have a brain, or are you all pathetic idiots? Just wondering.

It's About Frickin' Time

We cats just want it on the record that the Republicans obstructed this HHS appointment despite 50 million Americans' lack of health insurance, not to mention the fact that we may be well into a potential flu epidemic.

If you wonder why the GOP is shrinking to a marginalized, regional, irrelevant party.... well, look no further than this.

Michael Steele's First 100 Days

By Baxter

So, Michael Steele is coming up on the 100-day anniversary as Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Let's see how he's done so far — aside from his disastrous media gaffes, that is.

He's lost a special Congressional election in an upstate New York district that boasts 70,000 more registered Republicans than Democrats.

He hasn't been able to orchestrate any kind of groundswell of support for former Senator Norm Coleman's endless legal appeals. In fact, 64 percent of Minnesotans want Coleman to quit and Senator-elect Al Franken to be seated.

He's presided over one of the most high-profile Senate party switchings in recent political history.

Oh, and that alleged Craigslist murderer guy? He's a Republican, too.

Michael Steele, you're a FAILURE. And Michael Steele, we cats love you!

Specter Joins Party of Satan — Freepers Hope He Comes Down with Swine Flu

By Sniffles

Wow! We cats were all ready to settle down for our early-afternoon nap when the word came across the wires that Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania is switching parties.

So we guess that 10 years after his "not proven" vote against Bill Clinton's impeachment, Senator Specter's responsible support of the economic stimulus has so infuriated the nuts on the Republican right that they've driven him clean out of the GOP.

Our only comment — besides the fact that it's not nice to wish swine flu on anyone — is that we hope this gives Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe some food for thought.

Meanwhile, add Senator-elect Al Franken and we have a filbuster-proof majority! We cats PURR.

UPDATE: Somebody who calls himself "Right of Right Wing" over at Free Republic needs to check his Senate roster. "I say we clean house," he harumphs over the Specter news. "Take McCain, Snowe, S. Collins, G. Smith (Ore.) [sic], Lugar."

The Devil Made Him Do It

By Zamboni

Since our team is now out of the Stanley Cup playoffs, we cats understand being on the losing side of things. But still, we were curious to see how the far-right base of the Republican Party was reacting to the GOP loss in the 20th Congressional District of New York.

It seemed especially interesting because "the base" are folks who — unlike the majority of the country — are in no mood to get on the Obama recovery and renewal train, or even to cheerfully wave it on. No, they're bruised, battered, resentful and mad. And before the special election was held to fill now-Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's former House seat, they were rooting and hoping and praying for GOP candidate Jim Tedisco, whom they seemed to like.

Well, everything's different now. Here's why Mr. Tedisco lost, courtesy of the angry, frustrated posters over at Free Republic.

• Scott Murphy stole the election. ACORN helped him cheat.
• The election wasn't free and fair. What happened to Democrats saying "Count every vote"?
• This result was preordained, the same way Coleman vs. Franken was. (Hello? Would someone please send a note to Norm Coleman and Tim Pawlenty?)
• Redistricting has put this particular C.D. out of reach for GOP. (Never mind that registered Republicans there still outnumber registered Democrats by 70,000.)
• The "party elites" who ran the campaign didn't know what they were doing.
• Michael Steele should resign.
• Tedisco was a terrible candidate.
• Tedisco is a RINO.
• New York State is a hopeless cause for the Republicans. The party should just give up on the place.
• The Democratic Party is the party of Satan.

We cats love these people! Who would entertain us if it weren't for the fearless Freeps?

Norm — Take the Hint!

By Baxter

Republican Jim Tedisco has conceded to Democrat Scott Murphy in the special election to fill Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's former House seat (NY-20).

What a refreshing change — a Republican who recognizes reality.

Meanwhile, we're waiting with great anticipation to see how the party of "no" spins this. And of course, to see what Norm Coleman does. (Gee, let us guess....)

UPDATE: For further proof that the right-wing Republican base is marginalizing the party out of existence, the nutbags over at Free Republic barely got to comment #4 on the Murphy-Tedisco story before somebody said, "Curious that the Republican quit before every vote was counted in this race. He probably was a RINO like McCain."

In other words, at the same time that it's blazing away in a circular firing squad, the GOP base is shooting itself in the foot. We cats are in awe. What a feat of multitasking!

(Photo: "Let's Face the Music and Dance," from Follow the Fleet)

35 & 44

"The concept of a second coming of Camelot has already become a cliché, but it is true that Washington has not experienced such a collective change of attitude since that young PT-boat skipper named John F. Kennedy replaced the supreme allied commander of World War II, not quite seven months before Barack Obama was born."

—Todd S. Purdum, Politico, April 24, 2009

(Photo: Callie Shell/Aurora for TIME)

GOP: Zero Leadership

By Sniffles

Did you know that one of the nicknames that the right-wingers at Free Republic use for President Obama is "Zero"?

No, it's not a tribute to the late Broadway star, Mr. Mostel. Quite different. See, what they do is, they type the President's last name using the lowest numeral instead of an "O." Which then they shorten to just "Zero." Ha, ha, clever, yes?

Actually, we cats YAWN. But rather than post our favorite picture to illustrate our boredom, we've chosen instead to share the latest T.V. spot from the Democratic National Committee.

Because in just 60 seconds it vividly demonstrates who the real zeroes are.

"I Am Going to Be Face-to-Face with Jesus Now"

By Zamboni

So in the wake of the release of the Bush Administration torture memos, the Senate Armed Services Committee has issued a report that the Bushies started racing toward torture as an interrogation method as early as 2001 — well before they said they did.

Are we cats surprised that Bush officials would lie, and say they only turned to waterboarding, sleep deprivations, confinement and "walling" later, and as a last resort? Nah.

But we still find it chilling, for a lot of reasons. One of them is Karla Faye Tucker.

What, you say? Uncovering the secret abuses of Bush II — a process which, by the way, has only just begun — make us think of a woman executed for murder in Texas in 1998?

Sure. Because even though the Governor at the time — one George W. Bush — had received appeals to spare the life of Tucker, a model prisoner and born-again Christian, he openly mocked her in an interview with Talk magazine. "'Please,' Bush whimpers, his lips pursed in mock desperation, 'don't kill me,' " the magazine reported. This prompted even right wingers like Gary Bauer to say, "I think it is nothing short of unbelievable that the Governor of a major state... thought it was acceptable to mock a woman he... put to death."

Bush is clearly a psychopath — someone totally without empathy. So that's why we're not surprised that his Administration behaved the way it did.

And don't even get us started on his alleged Christianity.

Obama Shakes Chavez's Hand, World Spins Off Axis and Hurtles Into Sun

By Baxter

It's always a treat when the Republicans give us reason to use this picture.

Today, we have a number of Grand Old Party members to thank for the occasion, but we guess we'll single out the ethically challenged former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, for inspiring our collective yawn.

President Obama is making nice to the enemies of America! Mr. Gingrich groused on this morning's news shows.

You know what we cats have to say to all the Republican huffing and puffing over Chavez? BFD. (That means "big feline deal.") Get over it, guys. A new day has dawned — and even though the election was almost six months ago, you have yet to come to grips with it.

But we also send a big HISS to Mr. Gingrich for his gratuitous little swipe at former President Jimmy Carter. Mr. Gingrich wouldn't know a Nobel Prize if he tripped over it. And he apparently hasn't the remotest idea that the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt that President Carter brokered is still going strong after 30 years.

We'll take peace over warmongering, any time!

Latin America Rocks!

And our President, for the first time ever, fits in really well. What a group — so multicultural and many-hued. (Not pictured here, unfortunately: Michelle Bachelet of Chile.)

UPDATE: We're so embarrassed. We forgot to mention the other female President from Latin America: Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina. Sorry, Madam President!

Clearly, although we cats have no desire to share the politics of an elephant, we could definitely use the memory of one.

"I Didn't Know There Were So Many Racists Left"

By Sniffles

We cats thought that Janeane Garofalo's appearance on "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" the other night was pretty hard-hitting — and satisfying.

But we didn't know how hard-hitting and satisfying until we saw how the wingnuts over at Free Republic reacted.

Janeane dared to (excuse us) call a spade a spade — declaring that the very-mixed-message "tea party" demonstrators had one thing in common: hating the black man in the White House. And the Freepers have — in teabag parlance — boiled over.

"I would say I am surprised that MSNBC would put such a stupid Bull Dyke [sic] on their show but I would be not telling the truth," said one charming commenter. "Go back in the closet idiot [sic] where you belong."

"Garafolo [sic] is so unattractive (inside and out) that even neediest of lesbians wouldn’t want anything to do with her," stated another. (Do we cats detect a theme here?)

"This blight on Humanity [sic] and ENEMY of Americans gets away with it because She [sic] is not shouted down and made fun of. The Republicans BETTER STOP playing nice with these filthy vermin and say what is needed every time." (Wow — did this person post drunk?)

Here's what we cats think. We see in the postings at Free Republic glimmers of what the recent DHS report was warning about. And we think Janeane Garofalo is the cat's meow.

If Texas Secedes: The Bright Side

By Zamboni

We cats aren't big fans of the state of Texas, except maybe for the city of San Antonio and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee.

So we had mixed emotions to Governor Rick Perry's behavior at a "tea party" this week — first because like his national political party, the Governor has so clearly jumped the shark. But second, if the Lone Star State follows Perry's advice and tries to leave the union, we see some unexpected benefits.

If Texas secedes, its 34 electoral votes will go with it. Which means that the GOP couldn't win the Presidency again for at least two more generations. The red states with the next biggest number of electoral votes are Georgia (15) and Tennessee (11).

Losing Texas would balloon the current Democratic majorities in Congress. The Republicans would be stripped of 19 House seats and, of course, two Senators — letting Al Franken make the Senate veto-proof without a single Republican vote.

A Texas secession would mean that the United States of America could forever wipe any trace of either President Bush from its historical record. Or, at least, relegate them to the same historical dustbin that holds people like Jefferson Davis. The Obamas could put the Bush White House portraits (Mr. and Mrs., both sets) out with the trash.

We also wonder if a Texas departure would throw any Bush-appointed federal judge immediately off the bench — with subsequent vacancies filled by our current President, under the advice and consent of the Senate (minus John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison).

And think of all the Freepers, gun nuts, Apocalypse 2012 believers, polygamists and child-bride enthusiasts who would move out of places like Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana and make a beeline for Texas. Places like Waco would be teeming with them in no time, which would probably help turn another three or four reliably red states purple, if not outright blue.

We like this plan! We just have one question: After Texas secedes, can San Antonio secede from Texas and rejoin America?

UPDATE: Yesss! A quick visit to Free Republic has yielded almost immediate results: a query from a right winger in Illinois who is asking about relocating to Lone Star World. It only took till post #16 before the ol' secesh spirit revealed itself. "Settlers are still welcome here," said a Freeper named Texas Fossil. "We might need you to defend her."

"Ward, I'm Worried About the Beaver"

Freeper revelation: "Tax Day... for CNN, MSNBC and other media outlets... was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to use the word 'teabagging' in a sentence. Teabagging... refers to a sexual act involving part of the male genitalia and a second person's face or mouth."

Freeper reaction: "These people are disgusting! What our culture has come to! My parents would never have believed that this could happen in this country! I find I am having difficulty believing it as well!"

God Bless the "U.S.S.A."

By Baxter

So thanks to that nutbag Governor Rick Perry (R-TX), the crazy right-wingers over at Free Republic are engaged in a serious discussion as to whether the Lone Star State should secede from the Union.

Attending a "tea party" yesterday, the politically embattled Governor implied that his state could, indeed, return to the glory days of the Texas Republic.

We're not clear whether the teabaggers who yelled "Secede!" to the Governor expected other Southern states to follow, should Texas — a huge recipient of federal stimulus money, by the way — actually act on this preposterous notion. And now, Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis has warned Governor Perry to back off this incendiary rhetoric.

Never mind that 140 years ago, more than 600,000 Americans died to settle the secession question. Despite the fact that the Civil War turned "the United States" from a plural to a singular noun, the Texas mental-cases-slash-teabaggers are armed (no doubt) and ready to re-fight all those battles — from Fort Sumter to Appamattox Court House.

"[I]f Texas seceded and all of us conservatives left the U.S.S.A., what would we care?" asks one Freeper today. (We can only assume that his abbreviation stands for "United Socialist States of America.") "While the U.S.S.A. goes straight to hell under the tyranny of Comrade Barack Obama, we conservatives in Texas would be living in prosperity and freedom."

Fear not, faithful readers: Just a few comments later, the Freepers betrayed their true stripes, dismissing State Senator Ellis thusly:

"Black politician. Nothing more has to be said."

Does this qualify as hate speech? We cats would vote yes.

"We Have Been Through a Dark and Painful Chapter in Our History"

By Sniffles

This sign, held by a protester at yesterday's "tea party" in Philadelphia, would always be stupid. But it's particularly stupid today.

This afternoon, President Obama released four previously classified memos from the Bush White House that detail (and attempt to justify) the torture methods used by the CIA on terror suspects.

The descriptions in these memos — which have been released almost entirely without censorship — are enough to make us cats hack up a hairball. Years ago, we visited castles in Europe with dungeons featuring the very torture techniques our nation is guilty of now. A queasy feeling, to say the least.

But back to the photo of our little Philadelphia teabagger. One of the problems with yesterday's demonstrations is that the participants lacked a clear, cohesive message. Some were anti-tax or protesting the deficit — but many others were fringe people, including "birthers," gun nuts, homophobes, Eric Rudolph fans, Palin supporters, Ayn Rand devotees, and white supremacists who put away their Nazi armbands for the day.

Ergo, this guy. Clearly he's one of those morons who believes that President Obama is a Muslim — despite the fact that Mr. Obama's campaign was nearly derailed last year by his Christian minister, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright. How that translated into the President being a Muslim, we have no freaking idea.

And now, the Bush torture memos. Written in the Administration of the guy who said his favorite political philosopher was Jesus Christ.

So we have to ask this teabagger: Which President is the real Christian?

The guy who tortured — or the guy who put a stop to it?

To Bag or Not to Bag

By Zamboni

Thanks, Talking Points Memo, for sharing some truly bizarre pictures of yesterday's "tea parties."

But does this photo from the Philadelphia shindig mean that the protesters understand what "teabagging" means? Or that they don't?

You be the judge! Our phones are open.

Hating the Heroes of United 93

By Baxter

We cats weren't going to post this early in the day, but we've been so revolted by a right-wing "tea party" attendee quoted over at Salon that we simply have to register our disgust.

"I don't like what's going on," this moronic teabagger said. "Government — to be honest with you, and this will probably be misquoted, but on 9/11, I think they hit the wrong building. They should have gone into the Capitol building, hit out [sic], knocked out both sides of the aisle, we'd start from scratch, we'd be better off today."

When the reporter pointed out that the 9/11 terrorists did try to hit the Capitol, this jerk was unmoved. "Yeah, I know, they missed," he said. "The wrong sequence. If someone had to go, it should have been the Capitol building."

We guess that this person — if, indeed, he is a person — believes that the brave passengers and crew of United 93 gave their lives for nothing. That is, if he thinks about them at all.

We not only HISS at him. We hope someone cuts his teabags off.

We Blame Palin

By Sniffles

So.... the Department of Homeland Security has released a report stating that the current rise of right-wing extremist activity is comparable to the climate that existed prior to the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City in 1995.

(You remember that attack — 168 people killed by the, um, right-wing extremist Timothy McVeigh?)

We cats find it very interesting that the DHS report cautions that no violence has yet been explicitly threatened. However, the report also cites general concern in the right wing last year regarding the potential election of America's first African-American President.

"Most statements by right-wing extremists have been rhetorical...," the report says. "[But in] two instances in the run-up to the election, extremists appeared to be in the early planning stages of some threatening activity targeting the Democratic nominee, but law enforcement interceded."

Gee. We cats wonder when those "two instances" occurred. We would bet money that they happened right after a couple of Sarah Palin campaign rallies, during which she riled up her crowds to such a frenzy that attendees were yelling "Kill him!" We're waiting for someone to prove us wrong (which, by the way, we'd be happy if they do).

We cats don't worry about a lot in life — we generally believe that there's nothing that can't be solved by a good nap — but we do tend to worry about this. To our way of thinking, a liberal democracy cannot tolerate violence. We don't care if it's right-wing nutbags or Emma Goldman carrying it out. It's wrong either way.

That's why we found those Palin rallies last year so disturbing. And why we call upon Governor Palin to repudiate them, even now.

Reason over passion.

Why do we think that Sarah Palin doesn't believe in it?

"The Art of the Possible vs. The Art of the Impossible"