I know it is just a few of the selective low-lights of the last day or so, but what a collection of advertisements for the Grand Ol’ Party.

Raising taxes on working people is not the only winning political strategy the Republicans in Congress are giving the average American this holiday season.

Oligarchy is the Problem. We need a solution.

I guess sometimes dreams really do come true.

Usually it is the politicians who use euphemisms to try to conceal the impact of their policies. However, the Washington Post decided to help them along in a front page article when it twice referred to Social Security “changes” that could be part of the budget agreement.

Of course “changes” don’t reduce the deficit unless they are cuts. President Obama and the congressional leadership were discussing plans to cut Social Security. These cuts are likely to be very unpopular, so it is likely that they would rather have the public not realize that they were debating cuts to Social Security.

Both sides played one of their cards in the battle over the debt limit and a deal on the nation’s budget deficit today. First, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told National Journal that there will be no tax increases in any deal that results in an increase in the debt limit. He also spelled out what the deal would look like in his perfect world, and even managed to offer some political advice to the President.

The Kucinich Resolution (H.R. Con. Res. 251) aimed to direct the president, pursuant to the War Powers Act, to remove all troops from Libya within fifteen days after the resolution was adopted. It was an attempt to force Congress to exercise the authority that it has under the Constitution to decide when and where troops are deployed for wars and whether or not wars should be launched.

Boehner’s resolution, which asserts that the President failed to meet its Constitutional responsibilities under the War Powers Act and “provide… a compelling rationale based upon United States national security interests for current United States military activities regarding Libya,” but then says that the President must write a term paper answering various questions about the mission within 2-3 weeks, did pass by a count of 268-145.

Count among those disappointed in the budget deal that was forged oh-so-dramatically at the very last hour before government shutdown Michele Bachmann, chair of the House teabaggers.

The EPA’s power to enforce the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and regulation of climate change gases is one of the Tea-GOP’s favorite targets. Unfortunately, Debbie Stabenow and other Dems helping them.