FOX and the Town Halls

This morning I was waiting in the BMW-Mini dealership for service and the TV in the waiting area was tuned to FOXLite News. I was amazed that during the 2 hours of waiting, FOX dwelled on the town hall meetings every few minutes, pushing home the GOP stance that everyone in the country is fed up with the Obama healthcare plan. They continuously played scenes of the violence and childlike actions of the GOP plants in these meetings. All the while the anchors, smirked and at times openly laughed, while pushing the GOP agenda.

In an interview a Republican Congressman was asked if the GOP was planting these mobs. Guess what his answer was? He did not give one. He simply said that during the Bush Administration Moveon and others planted people to disrupt meetings. In so many words, then, his answer was yes. Did the FOX anchor ask him a follow up to try to get a real answer? Of course not, he simply continued to feed the Congressman questions that allowed him to complete his false statements about the plan. And they call it "fair and balanced."

Today, in Douglas County, GA a town hall meeting was held to discuss federal highway plans with some neighborhoods in that area with Rep. David Scott. The meeting was set up by the local city manager. A Republican talk radio host and former candidate for senator had his listeners attend to disrupt the meeting. It wasn't about health care. It was about a highway. Needless to say, Sen. Scott was a bit upset.

This is not going away and the Republicans are doing their best to become the party that kills health care reform once again. The voters need to take note. One of Dubya's advisers has told Republicans that they are treading on thin ice. Republican polls have indicated that an overwhelming percentage of voters want reform. The GOP stands to lose even more ground with their mob tactics. Let us hope the door does not hit them on the way out.

Say What?

After three years as Gov. of Alaska, Sarah Palin is resigning. I cannot imagine how this egotistical bimbo will survive without that bully pulpit. How will she keep her name in the news without another scandal for her to downplay? Comedians will not make jokes about her that she can milk to the last drop. How will she continue to exploit her unwed daughter's motherhood? Come to think of it, Palin has been so maligned lately by the Republican leaderhip, she may be leaving to get her name out of the news. Maybe she figures it will be better to not be seen and heard for a couple of years.

There is speculation that the resignation is tied to a run for something in 2012, but I wonder... Has she signed a contract with FALSE News? All the other losers ended up there: Karl Rove, Mike Huckabee, Ollie North, Geraldo Rivera. After all, her close adviser's wife, Greta, works there. Or...no...it could not be. You do not suppose she has been to Argentina lately? Could it be that she is Sanford's "soul mate?" Have they been making hankey-pankey at the Governor's meetings?

If Ms Palin actually believes that she has a chance to be a viable candidate for the presidency, and I think she does believe such, it could be the greatest election landslide for her opponent that this country has ever seen. Actually, I do not think that she would get past the primaries. If the GOP continues to be the almost ineffective party that it currently is, she would set it back so far it would never recover. Only the die hard Republican base believes in Palin, mainly because of her religious beliefs. Unfortunately for the GOP, religion is the only qualification that these people see in a candidate.

Sarah, we will miss you, but thanks for the memories. We had some great laughs at your expense. We saw some great examples of Republican hypocrisy come from your brief stay on the national stage. We learned about the AIP and your husband's involvement in this very anti-American group. We learned that religious talk alone does not prevent pregnancies in teenagers. Good parenting works better. We learned that a woman can have a baby and no one can know about the pregnancy beforehand. We learned that a person can be elected Governor of Alaska and be a candidate for VP of the United States and know little about the world outside Alaska. Gosh, I could go on and on...but I will not.

Another Republican Racist Hits the Fan

This time it is Tennessee. Sherri Goforth, an executive assistant for Tennessee State Rep. Diane Black (R-Gallatin), sent this picture, titled "Historic Keepsake Photo," in an email to other TN legislative staff. When she got caught, her "apology" was: "I went on the wrong email and I inadvertently hit the wrong button. I'm very sick about it, and it's one of those things I can't change or take back." In other words she is not sorry that she sent the picture, just that she sent it to the wrong people.

Ms Goforth, like the idiot in SC who made a stupid racist statement on Facebook this week, you are a racist Republican, who makes racist jokes about the President, and you do it publicly.

The Republican Party, More Marginalized Every Day

Daily, it seems, the Republican Party becomes more marginalized. It's rabid base has turned against anything but the most extremist, anti-American element. Colin Powell is ridiculed for being weak and supporting a Democrat against McCain. In Nassau County, New York this week a Republican-turned Democrat was heckled and insulted by a Republican crowd, which threw tea bags at her. The county Republican chairman actually endorsed the crowd's behavior:

"They think they can come with impunity into our house and cause trouble. They can't walk all over us... We'd never pull that kinds of stunt. They come to us, they're going to have to take their risks. They got what they deserved today. They tried to make light of what we stand for in the Republican Party, and we gave it back to them."

This kind of uncivilized behavior is becoming the norm for many, if not the majority of, Republicans. Today, a man insulted us at the Memorial Day parade, because the truck which pulled our float had an Obama sticker on it. Our float included distinguished veterans from every branch of the services. They were professional soldiers, who put their lives on the line for their country and are more patriotically American than any of these extremist, self styled "patriots."

Last week a poll revealed that only about 23 percent of Americans call themselves Republicans. It is exactly the rabid, extremist, anti-American behavior of these Neanderthals that is breaking the Republican Party. This country needs at least two parties, but they need to be representative of true American values, not the right-wing fanatical minority that has ruined this Grand Old Party.

I do not know if the Republican Party will survive. It might be best if it does not. It is not the party of Lincoln anymore. In fact it stands for the direct opposite of what Lincoln stood for, and it is primarily a southern party. This article chronicles the GOP's failing strength everywhere but in the South. The GOP is racist, secessionist, and anti-American. Lincoln has probably turned over in his grave many times over the last eight years, as his party has deteriorated into a tattered rabble of right wing fanaticism.