In a way, it’s like listening to a group of mental patients explain their delusions to us.

bravissimo Elliott!

I would only watch these shows if you put the guests in diapers or a prison uniform (Robert Redford being the only exception, as he is fighting for a sustainable world).

it’s like listening to a group of mental patients explain inflict their delusions to on us.

Paul Ryan as the Marquis de Sade – Darkblack, are you there?

I’m watching the eagle babies. It’s much more interesting and rewarding than the talking heads! The 3 eaglets just got breakfast, Dad was on feeding duty.

Decorah Eagle Cam

Good morning, pups. It’s Dowd and Kristof this morning. The Moustache of Wisdom is off today. MoDo is angry with Bob Dylan. In “Blowin’ in the Idiot Wind” she says you say you’re lookin’ for someone who won’t kowtow to an oppressive government? It ain’t he, babe. Mr. Kristof addresses “Our Cowardly Congress” and says incompetence and hypocrisy have been front and center during the budget bickering.

Here they are.

The coffee, tea and hot chocolate are ready, and I’ve got French toast made with challah and a bit of cinnamon. I’m running late this morning, so I’m hoping that the Claritin I’m about to go and gulp will kick in before choir. Have a good day.

From the CNN State of the Union description:

It all ends with Donald Trump.

LOL.

Something that the deficit hawks and talking heads probably won’t be talking about:
Roth IRAs: A real ‘fiscal Frankenstein’

In establishing Roth IRAs, Congress waived untold billions in future Treasury receipts. It’s time to retire them … For Roth holders, the accounts become a permanent, federally sanctioned tax shelter. For America, they’re a bit like toxic instruments on the nation’s books. Worse, Congress has them on steroids, and President Obama wants to up the dosage.

Chris Matthews.CNN’s State of the Union:

These are links to two separate shows, smooshed together. Someone backstage might want to fix that!

Plus, Robert Redford.

…for President!

I would love to see him announce his candidacy as an independent and watch the the beltway freak. And, I would add Bernie Sanders to that ticket.

I might watch MTP on the off chance that DG makes Ryan look like a fool. OTOH, if he treats his budget as something reasonable and pretends that Ryan’s fixing Medicare instead of abolishing it, I run the risk of throwing something at my tv.

What is he feeding them?

“Wastelaqnd” is a good word though I would apply it more broadly to the entire Sunday line up.

I expect at least two puny, feeble mentions of rolling back the Bush tax cuts for the rich.

Can’t tell. The nest has several things in it. Can’t tell what he was picking pieces off of to feed them, but it may be a fish carcass, already partly eaten. The nest is near a fish hatchery. But I’ve seen a rabbit, a bird, and something else brown and furry. One day last week I was watching when Dad dropped off a fish still breathing.

Optimistic, aren’t you?

Re: To the Contrary… I honestly didn’t know that Phyllis Schlafly was still alive.

Yikes! Okay, they just keep proving themselves to be huge Inferior Products. No need to watch any of them, especially not to see all the advertisers that show more on the screen than the pundits!

Why oh why do we need to hear from her? Don’t know.

Zombies don’t die.

That’s why they call it a Vast Wasteland.

Still alive and as wingnutty as ever.

Anyone read The Donald’s letter to the NY Times? He’s really after the limelight. I’m surprised he’s not doing one of the Sunday shows.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/08/opinion/lweb08trump.html

The networks are in full corporate mode — expect no commentary that doesn’t involve Republican talking points.

The NYT will publish anybody, as long as it’s a wingnutty point of view. They live in terror of Limbaugh calling them “liberal”.

Love the kitteh-n-flipper video.

The eagles too. So funny/sweet to see the grownup having to use that huge murderous beak so delicately, as a baby-spoon, lol!

Thx for these lovely alternatives to pointless human plutocratic babbling.

Can someone help me with this?

Where does the $78 billion dollar figure in cuts come from? I keep seeing 38 or 39 billion but Robert Casey said 78 billion and that’s what’s on he White House site.

I’m missing something.

What’s the real number?

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/04/09/details-bipartisan-budget-deal

This deal cuts spending by $78.5 billion from the President’s FY 2011 Budget request — the largest annual spending cut in our history. These are real cuts that will save taxpayers money and have a real impact. Many will be painful, and are to programs that we support, but the fiscal situation is such that we have to act

Okay–maybe that’s it–”budget request”. In other words–it’s a way to make the actual cuts seem even larger—because Obama is proud of that, I guess.

Maybe I answered my own question.

Signed,

Confused in Pennsylvania

Didn’t Obama give away a first tranche of some $40 billion as a good faith gift before he started to bargain? Remember, he always bargains with himself before he bargains with the Thugs.

At her age she’s prolly senile…. no. wait.

Each mention of rescinding tax cuts for millionaires will be batted down with these ubiquitous Ayn Rand Taking Points (they are now conventional wisdom):

Tax Cuts Create Jobs. (Where are the jobs already? Don’t ask.)

There is no inspiration for the benevolent Billionaires to create jobs without tax cuts. (Import Tariffs and ending offshore tax havens will inspire them bring home the jobs real quick.)

Tax Cuts Inspire Innovation, Competition, Productivity. (Mindless BS)

GE Brings Good Things to Life. (And also death)

there’s so much to get pissed about but one thing that really pisses me off is how what used to be many of the R’s guests talking points on these shows are now accepted by the dems and the hosts—-starting with the very premise, i.e. this is a crisis and we have to cut spending. and NOBODY calls bullsshit on the numbers Ryan tossees around

And before that he gave em the Bush tax cuts again, and before that he froze federal pay for two years just as a sweet lil’ unasked-for butt-kiss. I suppose I should be glad he didn’t call for us all to be summarily terminated.

NPR had a fairly long piece on rising prices (lots) and flat wages/no jobs. Sounded quite reliable.

She’s 81. But she’s been demented all her life, I think.

Can’t watch the morning drivel anymore. Better to look out the cabin window and make note of the new spring arrivals in my phenology journal. Swan mates flew overhead yesterday.

Worth reading [h/t Linkins] Profiles in Cowardice from Michael Grunwald at Time.

MTP today will be Gregory’s last stand — the PTB are polishing up Chuck Todd faster and faster. Dancin’ Dave’s on dicey grounds. How will that affect his questioning of Paul “Backwards Math” Ryan?

I got into the chat room on the Decorah eagles site this morning, and then bailed out when I realized how much it resembles the Sunday talkfests. Lots of people asking repetitive questions and making inane comments. Occasionally a mod responds. Better to just watch eagles and stay out of the chat. LOL.

without doubt. went out for breakfast. watching MTP on tape. why am i doing that? anybody? am i, like phyllis, demented?

For realz Gregory is leaving MTP? Chuck Todd is a Gregory clone. UGH.

Just a glutton for punishment, I guess.

what PTB ?

I hoped we’d get Krugman. Now that he’s called out Ryan I guess he’s proven himself to be a f@!king liberal on the professional left–no longer suitable for polite company. Is he ever on Rachel anymore? She still quotes him when it suites her purpose.

Cowardice word forms must be the buzzwords of the weekend!

He’d have to be dragged out kickin’ and screamin’ and kissin’ butt all the way, but I see him being overtaken by Todd because the network lacks the cojones to put in Maddow. Gregory’s had “placeholder” essential oil oozing all over him from the get-go.

My take is that Todd’s been the heir apparent to Russert all along…lacked the on-camera gravitas. So he’s had his training-wheels on. Meanwhile, Rachel aka “The Natural” swoops right by. She’s got the gravitas, and her fealty’s to the facts. But then facts have a well-known liberal bias, don’t they.

OT sorta: I was reading the comments over at FOK (Olbermann’s blog) the other day, and both KO and his commenters were waxing nostalgic and smarmy for Tim Russert. Blech.

Some here like to beat up on Rachel because she’s not perfect or doesn’t beat the progressive drum loudly enough, but IMHO she is the brightest spot in the MSNBC lineup, by far.

missed a call friday from a 202 area code. that’s DC isn’t it? shit. that’s probably Obama’s people

Warning Sunday Morning news talk shows are harmful to progressives health

Sunday Morning Cheer Leaders:
Tea Party Cheer Leaders
Obama ie Trojan Horse Cheer Leaders

no progressive Cheer Leaders allowed

In real world news

Gov. Walker Tea Party wonder boy does not work with Dems

Wisconsin Dems are recalling Republicans

No more mythical middle in the USA

In La La land news
Obama WH seeks votes from the mythical middle to screw the Middle Class

Rachel said it best, they will laugh at you

http://deathby1000papercuts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Obama_WTF_Election_Button.jpg

Yeah, we can’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good /s

That could be it—he is such a shrewd negotiator. He has the Republicans right where he wants them. He will get around to social security and medicare, of course—he’s just trying to do it in a way that he can cover his political backside.

There’s surely a lot more cuts on the way.

Good Morning, Everyone
I missed yesterday’s Book Salon. Saw it was pretty long. Was it wonderful? Does anyone here know?

When I’ve seen Donal Trump I took against NAFTA,and un fair trade and shipping jobs out of the USA.Trump wants to Build,Build,Build The USA.The Republicans and Democrats only want to Cut Taxes for the upper middle class and financial elites,Cut Social Safety nets.Obama a Cutter not a Builder we had 40 years of Democrats enableing Republicans.The USA has to focus on building the USA.Obama is the birther not the people from the show me state.Obama opperatives use the lack of a birth certificate so Democrats will blindly follow.

?

“Obama opperatives use the lack of a birth certificate so Democrats will blindly follow.”

Not!

Backchannel for Jay Rosen and Stuart Zechman tonight in IRC.

http://webchat.freenode.net/

Channel: #Vspeak

An impressive line up of Fascist propaganda. I won’t be watching any of it. How about you? Do you watch Fascist propaganda? Why?

Rachel is a warmonger. She regurgitates most of the stupid GWOT meme. She is also a D Party Apologist.

Before David Plouffe’s ‘This Week’, he was on CBS being asked about Weiner’s “not happy with budget deal” – he dismissed concern with a sneer saying he had no – need? I forget the exact word – to talk about anything Weiner said.

My take away was that the left remains only 10% of the vote and “has no place else to go”. Corporate rule seems secure.

CBS continues to be an unmitigated wasteland. Do they not know what an embarrassment they are?

Um, no, and I’m sure they don’t care. Their corporatist fuhrers just give their orders to the front line flunkies to promote their self centered agenda. They abandoned integrity long ago in their obsessive lust for greed and shareholder return and to be a GOP propaganda arm. The truth became the first casualty. The old Soviet era Pravda could have only wished they had as many resources at their disposal to deceive the public.

Try BBC or Al Jazeera if you want something closer to reality.

Donna Brazile…again? She deserves to be banished to the outer darkness for all time as punishment for her (successful) advocacy of putting Joe Lieberman on the national ticket in 2000.

She’s also an atrocious debater, even by the low standards of Beltway Democrats.

Don’t want to boast, but I have a real eagle to watch, osprey up on a powerpole platform lo these many years. Can’t see what’s going on in the next (sometimes it is better that way) but there’s been a pair there for the last ten years or so, and you get to see the chicks once they are big enough to start craning their necks.

And I bet I have more interesting info than the talking heads on the political front: Last night our local NM state representative (represents three counties) passed away. I only know her by name, a Republican who has been in office for eons. She was challenged by a very interesting young teacher last time around, whose husband actually came knocking on doors so I voted for her. And she almost won.

But the Republican lady was 77 when she died, according to the newsflash – and all they could find about her after all the years she served was a photo – she hadn’t given any filmed interviews. 77. And she won? Give me a break. Anyway, the seat’s empty and we have an Arizona-style Texas born lady governor who can do no wrong according to the newswonks. Fireworks in my little neck of the New Mexico woods? I hardly think so. And I don’t think we’ll get Robert Redford. Would be nice.

I watched mtp and was flabbergasted at the citizens against government waste add. Racist and fear mongering! It invoked the fear of the ” yellow peril”. Truly, we have returned to the end of the 19th century.

I work with someone who noticed that commercial and I pointed out that China doesn’t even own most of our debt–we do, I said.

Not yet, was his reply–but they will.

That fear works. So this propaganda combined with the congress and White House make it easy to push through painful cut after painful cut. And of course there’s no mention in the add of revenue. They don’t want anyone looking at that sort of thing.

It’s shameful–and it works.

Apart from my birdfeeders, I have a plastic storage container for the birdseed that I keep covered in sunflower seeds, so the birds gather right outside my window about 4 ft from my desk. Lately a pair of cardinals have been showing up. The male cardinal shells the seeds and feeds the female he’s courting. Watching the birds helps keep my blood pressure down as I read the news on FDL.

You don’t want that. Trust me.

;>)

The Democratic and Republican Party no longer serve the interests of the American people. To begin to take the country back, some politician needs to run on these (beyond left vs. right) ideas and WIN.

1. End Political Corruption – enact the Fair Elections Now Act. Strictly voluntary. Matching funds. $100.00 maximum donation. Ban politicians from becoming lobbyists

2. End The Wars – (another form of corporate welfare). Immediately pull out of Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen

3. Put Millions Back To Work – Federal government invest $2 trillion over 10 years through a national infrastruc­ture bank (run by engineers, not politician­s) to create jobs now and increase productivi­­­­ty later. Fund with a millionair­­­­e’s tax

4. Balance The Budget – over time by cutting the defense budget, end agricultur­­­­al subsidies, stop corporate welfare, raise taxes on the super-rich­­­­, contain the explosion of health-car­­­­e costs by adding the public option, allow Medicare to purchase drugs, give MEDPAC wider authority and allow drug re-importa­­­­tion

5. End National Addiction To Oil – begin with a carbon tax to reduce consumptio­­n, increase energy efficiency and make alternativ­­e energy more cost-compe­­titive. Revenues generated should go to reducing payroll taxes to stimulate employment

6. Keep Social Security Solvent For Generations – raise the ceiling on income subject to the Social Security tax to $180,000. Congress could gradually slow the growth of benefits for middle and high earners while still allowing these benefits to rise in terms of absolute dollars and purchasing power. Lower-wage earners would receive everything they are now promised. Eliminate $4.8 trillion long-term deficit

7. End Bank Monopoly – break up the big banks, strengthen the Volker Rule, end the foreclosur­­e crisis by giving bankruptcy judges the power to order reductions in mortgage principal owed

8. Encourage Upward Mobility In Society – make higher education free to families that can’t afford it. Fund with a financial transactio­­­ns and bank tax