Tidbits and Cat Treats, 2.0

By Baxter

We cats go on sensory overload every time we check the headlines these days. There's way too much going on, but we'll try to share a few quick observations.

We think it's so special that Politico posts RNC press releases without editing them. That, at least, was our reaction to the fantastic (i.e., "existing in the imagination") story about how the latest Senate retirements could be good for the GOP. Like most of today's so-called journalists, Politico has very little institutional memory. What, no discussion of the Republicans' inability over the last several elections to recruit top-tier candidates? Heck, they've even forgotten that Jeb Bush isn't running in Florida.

We agree with Max Baucus that Timothy Geithner is going to get confirmed as Treasury Secretary. The nation's problems are too big, and there's no time to lose. But, financial crisis or no financial crisis, we can't help thinking that — as a guy — Geithner's getting off a little more easily on the whole housekeeper question than, say, Zoe Baird or Kimba Wood did.

Good thing President-elect Obama has the most famous pair of pecs in the world, because Ricardo ("The Wrath of Khan") Montalban died today. The torch has indeed been passed — in more ways than we thought.

And finally, Gene Robinson. Ahh, Gene Robinson. Some of our good friends on the left are fussing that inviting the openly gay bishop to pray at the opening Inaugural event on Sunday is insufficient payback for Rick Warren's invocation at the swearing-in itself. Fair 'nuff. We agree that Rick Warren has no place on that Inaugural podium on Tuesday. But think of it this way. President-elect Obama has already put Warren in a bit of a box with the original invitation — because Warren's presence could be seen by his followers, most of whom supported McCain, as an endorsement of Obama. But wait, there's more. Now, Warren will be part of a national celebration that will be kicked off by a homosexual. We cats wonder how the folks at Saddleback feel about that.

P.S. "Saddleback" still sounds awfully gay to us.

Cat Fight! Freepers Go After the RNC

By Sniffles

We cats know that we simply have to tear ourselves away from the Free Republic, but it's so darn hard. After all, they make for such fine entertainment that they literally write our posts for us.

So, okay. We promise that unless we find some delicious, garment-rending, anti-Mike-Huckabee railings in the next few days, this will be the last series of quotes for awhile. But we just couldn't resist sharing the Freepers' disgust with the Republican National Committee and its endless solicitations for cash. (Wow. Don't think we'd want to be making Republican fundraising calls in this political climate, no, sir.)

Anyway, here are the best Freeper frothings, grammatical warts and all. Fun stuff!

"I have gotten several calls... I simply say, 'When there is an RNC again, call me back.'”

"I can’t even think of the RNC without lots of vulgarities."

"I have beaten up different RNC folks asking me for money... I told the last one that, [sic] until the Republicans return to their conservative roots and stop acting like liberals, they won’t get another penny from me."

"We get calls from RNC almost daily, but they won’t talk to me. They apparently can only speak with my husband."

"I have worked at RNC headquarters. You have NO idea how amazingly arrogant they are there. We hardly have the right to tread the earth, much less shake hands with such as they."

"I will not support the RNC or the Minnesota GOP in any way, shape or form until the Republican Party, at all it's [sic] levels, repents of it [sic] deviance from the Party's sacred principles and it's [sic] abandonment of the Party's Platform."

"The RNC had zero influence on me. I could care less [sic] who they were for."

Cat Fight! Huckabee Goes After Palin

"Now, I must say I did not think that either the Charlie Gibson interview or the Katie Couric interviews [of Sarah Palin] were unfair. In fact, if anything, Katie Couric was extraordinarily gentle, even helpful. [Palin] just... I don't know what happened. I can't explain it. It was not a good interview. I'm being charitable."

—Mike Huckabee, in Esquire magazine

Cat Fight! Freepers Go After Meghan

By Zamboni

Goodness, but news travels fast. Megan McCain's non-comment about Sarah Palin was barely out of her mouth before indignant postings started lighting up the message boards over at Free Republic. Ahhh, Republican unity...

Here are a few choice nuggets.

"I see the apple doesn't rot far from the tree!"

"I have a feeling the McCain's [sic] get together and blame Sarah for their loss."

"The entire [McCain] family is made up of LOSERS. Thank our Good Lord McLame didn’t win... McLame would’ve forever tainted what’s left of the Republican name and the conservative movement."

"Looks like the McCains are just without class."

"Who cares what mini-me Cindy [sic] thinks about Palin."

"At the very least, these McCains are rude."

Falling Like Flies

By Baxter

Just one week till the Inauguration, and we cats are stocking up on Pounces and catnip for a long, satisfying day in front of the telly.

Meanwhile, things are, um, not so good in Republican World.

Their wildly unpopular President, who can't seem to take a hint, keeps popping up with farewell after farewell. The one he held yesterday was worthy of Captain Queeg. (George W., we'll let you in on a little secret: You didn't keep America safe in the first place.)

As if that weren't bad enough... With George Voinovich's admission that he won't be able to weather a 2010 re-election campaign in Ohio — lots of people out of work in Ohio, you know — the Republicans, heading into the next election cycle, are already down four Senators: Mr. Voinovich, Missouri's Kit Bond, that nutty Sam Brownback from Kansas, and the ever-ineffectual Mel Martinez of Florida. (They've got 20 seats to defend next year, compared to the Democrats' 17.)

Next, the contest for chair of the Republican Party is shaping up to be a cranky exercise with lackluster candidates — most of whom will, if chosen, continue the Party's damaging obeisance to its narrow, right-wing, Southern base.

And the piece de resistance? Meghan McCain's recent statement to the blogosphere, reflecting the unity and comity (NOT!) that currently rule the Republican Party. "Sarah Palin is the only part of the [McCain] campaign that I won't comment on publicly," she sniffed.

Meow! We Democratic cats PURR.

23/6 Presents the Ultimate George W. Bush Retospective (Warning: Take Your Blood Pressure Medication First)

Get the latest news satire and funny videos at 236.com.

(Source: 23/6: Some of the News, Most of the Time)

...And They Can't Spell or Punctuate, Either

"Any state that would send Al Franken to the senate is to [sic] stupid to be a state."

"Any state that would send Al Franken, Diane [sic] Feinstein, Barbara Boxer, Ted Kennedy, (oh heck, there just isn't enough time to type all of em in)..etc,etc,etc to the senate is to [sic] stupid to be a state."

—Comments posted at Free Republic, Saturday, January 10

Freepers, Abandoned by God, Refuse to Pray

By Sniffles

After so many years of the Christian Right trying to push their God stuff on the rest of us mind-our-own-business Americans, it's particularly satisfying to see them embroiled in a religious controversy of their own.

They've been orgasmically praying for George W. Bush for so long now that suddenly it's a shock when one of their own posted a "Pray for Our Nation and President-elect Obama" thread over at Free Republic.

Well! You can just imagine how up in arms they were about that. Never mind that the original poster was worried about "homosexual activists" and what the Obama Administration will "do" to national defense. Plenty o' Freepers were just apoplectic over the idea of praying for Barack Obama at all.

"No. Obamanation doesn’t need prayers," said one. "This forum doesn't have to 'fair' (as in Fairness Doctrine)," huffed another. "These people don't need to be prayed for — they need to be stopped. Really! I'm offended by this." "As am I," a third concurred. "Coming up next: a prayer thread for Charles Manson!"

Finally, the head Freeper (or whoever) had to chime in a couple of times with a stern reminder. "Free Republic rules prohibit debate on threads in the religion forum marked 'Prayer.' Please respect these rules."

How grimly amusing. Hey, Freeps, you're the guys who profess to follow the fella who said you have to love your enemies, turn the other cheek, and judge not lest you be judged (Luke 6:27-37). Pretty tough, isn't it?

We cats — who HISS at your tediously predictable intolerance — think that President-elect Obama is a way nicer person than you Freepers are. Here's proof.

GOP: Al Franken is So Mean to Us!

By Zamboni

More Cheshire cat smiles for us this morning as we read comments by frustrated Republicans about what an awful person Al Franken is.

"It’s one thing to lose to an honorable opponent, but Al Franken is not considered an honorable opponent by Minnesota Republicans," said State Party Chair (and sore loser) Ron Carey. "He's been so nasty!" wailed the top Republican in the Minnesota House.

Aw, gee. The way the Republicans are whining, you'd think Al Franken was cackling "I'll get you!" and trying to steal their ruby slippers. When, actually, we've met Mr. Franken several times (he's held special fundraisers just for cats). And he's always struck us as anything but mean. Instead, he's bright, informed, concerned, funny (yes, funny) and — here's what the Republicans are probably afraid of — angry about the abuses of the Bush Administration and eager to set things right.

Never mind the fact that complaining about someone being "callous and partisan and beyond the pale" doesn't really wash when it comes from a Party that started all the callous and partisan and beyond-the-pale stuff in the first place. Gosh, you Republicans sure can dish it out, can't you?

These elephantine hypocrites are comforting themselves with one thought: that Senator Franken will be a great "fundraising tool" for them.

You mean the way Senator Clinton has been? Gosh, that's worked out really great for you guys the last couple of election cycles, hasn't it?

Pawlenty to Normie: Pack It In?

By Baxter

Now that polls are starting to show Minnesota voters' desire to accept Senator-elect Al Franken and move on, our thoughts are turning to someone whose name is not frequently mentioned in the whole Franken-Coleman fracas.

But it's a name that, politically, should be front and center. Because aside from former Senator Coleman — who never deserved Paul Wellstone's Senate seat in the first place — the Republican whose dilemma we must cackle over with glee is Governor Tim Pawlenty.

"T Paw," the titular head of his state party and someone who surely harbors 2012 aspirations, is in a no-win situation. If former Senator Coleman refuses to withdraw his legal challenges and Minnesota is left with one Senator for months, Pawlenty — a cheery champion of bipartisanship and getting stuff done — will be under enormous political pressure to urge Normie to drop out.

So either the Governor angers his constituents by allowing the Coleman charade to continue, or he completely enrages his party's wing-nut base.

We cats almost feel sorry for the guy — except, of course, since he's a Republican, we don't.