Romney's 47 Percent now being used to Argue for Voter ID

Forget (for the moment) about how utterly condescending Mitt Romney's comment was about the 47 percent of American's he doesn't give a rats ass about. Instead, keep an eye out for those crazy enough to capitalize on it, like Pennsylvania State Rep Daryl Metcalfe. From TPM :

Metcalfe: "I don’t believe any legitimate voter that actually wants to exercise that right and takes on the according responsiblity that goes with that right to secure their photo ID will be disenfranchised. As Mitt Romney said, 47% of the people that are living off the public dole, living off their neighbors’ hard work, and we have a lot of people out there that are too lazy to get up and get out there and get the ID they need. If individuals are too lazy, the state can’t fix that."

Walker, Republican Voters, believe in Tyranny of the Majority, and not the Constitution.

The state's constitutional teabillies, the whole Walker administration, are proving how bad "strict constructionists" are at interpreting out founding document. Justice Thomas and Scalia are members of that club too. Losing confidence yet? You should be. It's all part of the conservative activist takeover of our courts.

The best example yet is this recent reaction by Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, with Neil Cavuto, the other day on Fox News:

Kleefisch: "You're talking about the court taking on a whole extra branch of government, as part of its resume."

Amazing isn't it?


This was the story at Bradblog, who couldn't have said it any better:

WI s Walker Fellow Republicans Unclear on How Judiciary, Constitution Works

There was another interesting response to the ruling from Walker and his fellow partisans following the ruling on Friday, which seems to suggest they haven't a clue about how the court system works, how the U.S. Constitution is supposed to work, or even how representative democracy works. Either that, or they simply don't care and feel it's just more important to continue scamming their gullible constituencies then it is to be honest about what actually happened on Friday.

Making matters worse though, not only are they wrong about matters of how democracy and the court system works, they are also wrong on their facts as well, even if they hope nobody will notice...

"The people of Wisconsin clearly spoke on June 5th," Walker said at the top of his response to the ruling on Friday. "Now, they are ready to move on. Sadly, a liberal activist judge in Dane County wants to go backward and take away the lawmaking responsibilities of the Legislature and the governor."

In a similar vein, Republican state Rep. Robin Vos

"A judge living in the fantasy world of Dane County has decided they are going to substitute their singular opinion as opposed to the collective will of Wisconsin, through the Legislature and the recall process," Vos is quoted in Milwaukee's Journal-Sentinelas saying on Friday. "We have litigated, reviewed and elected people because of Act 10 [the Republican law which strips most collectively bargaining rights]. In each case, they say the law works. And it is," he said.

Of course, neither how "the people of Wisconsin...spoke on June 5th", as Walker argued, nor anything about the "recall process" or "collective will of Wisconsin" as the hypocritical Vos suggested, or even whether or not "the law works," have anything to do with whether it is legal under the state and U.S. Constitution.

Nonetheless, as expected, their partisan surrogates in the media have parroted the same disingenuous line.

"The list of people who support Wisconsin governor Scott Walker's law ... is fairly long," writes partisan Christian Schneider at the National Review Online, as well as at the Journal-Sentinel today. "Yet," Schneider adds deceptively, "the law was gutted on Friday by Dane County circuit court judge Juan Colas, who took it upon himself to save the citizens of Wisconsin from a law that they overwhelmingly support."

The Constitutionality of laws is not determined at the ballot box. In fact, the U.S. Constitution, at least, is specifically designed in order to help protect the minority against the tyranny of the majority. What is it that these Republicans don't understand about that?

For some reason, the partisan Republican supporters of the anti-union law who believe that Walker's supposed win on June 5th means the law is Constitutional, have conveniently forgotten that they also ended up losing control of the entire State Senate because of it.

But let's not let facts --- and the way government and the rule of law and the court system actually work --- get in the way of Republican activist partisans.

Selling Conservative Activist Judges! We've been hearing it for years.

What's the blow back now for never recognizing our State Supreme Court, as a conservative activist one under Justice David Prosser? We're now assuming their overtly partisan decisions are are fair, and necessary to overturn anything that doesn't agree with their ideology.

I'm going to make the case here. First, Scott Walker has no qualms about diminishing the court by calling the judge who overturned parts of Act 10, a liberal activist.



Walker didn't blink, and didn't hesitate. That's a very convincing attitude when it comes to convincing conservative voters that somethings not quite right. Republicans don't shy away from the desire to install "conservative judges," like they for some reason, have the legal high ground. I found this story from around 2005, when Harriet Meyers was nominated by Bush, that perfectly explains how "conservative judges" are encouraged publically without shame.

Walker on Ruling that Act 10 is Unconstitutional: "I Think most people, they're just happy to move on."

How phony is the term “constitutional conservative?”

HTRNews: The Republican governor visited Susie Altmayer School this morning to help teach fourth-graders about the ratification of the U.S. Constitution as part of a statewide education tour. 

A gutsy move after being accused of violating the constitution:

A Dane County judge ruled Friday that the controversial law, passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature in 2011, violates the schooland local employees’ constitutional rights to free speech, free association and equal representation.

For Walker, fighting to uphold constitutional rights has run its course:

“I think for most people, they’re just happy to move on,” Walker said this morning. “I think most people want to get back to stability.”

Madison Police and Sheriffs Association Challenge Capitol Chief Erwin to End Arrests, Respect Rights.

The unrest and growing protests at the Capitol are the result of one man, Chief David Erwin. Things were pretty quiet before his arrival. It seems a few other professionals noticed as well:

In February of 2011, tens of thousands of Wisconsinites travelled to our state Capitol in order to have their voices heard.  It was truly a remarkable time in Wisconsin's history, where people from all sides of a political issue came together in one place to peacefully demonstrate.  There was an exceptional relationship between the protesters and on-duty law enforcement officers during this time, and Madison saw none of the strife or violence that has touched other protest movements nationwide.  

They were professional and courteous, and performed their duties impartially in order to protect the free speech rights of all parties involved.  These officers, from countless jurisdictions across Wisconsin, set an example for the world to follow regarding the role of the police during peaceful citizen protests.  Part of the reason they were able to accomplish this was that the leaders of these agencies were extremely sensitive to the free speech rights of all participants, and as such, did not place their officers in positions that would infringe upon those rights.

It is within this context that we have been watching with alarm the recent developments at the Wisconsin State Capitol.  In recent weeks, the Department of Administration (DOA) and the leadership within the Capitol Police have commenced enforcement action against peaceful protesters coming to the Capitol. Officers have been ordered to arrest and cite protesters whose only offense is the silent carrying of a sign. Other protesters have been cited for gathering for the "Solidarity Sing-along," a non-violent group of citizens who sing every day over the noon hour.  The Solidarity Singers have been particularly cognizant of the needs of other groups who also want to utilize the Capitol, and frequently relocate outside the Capitol to be respectful of those needs.  They are now being cited for assembly at the Capitol without a permit.

The right to free speech and the right to peaceful assembly are two of the fundamental rights upon which our democracy is based. We believe that the recent policy change at the Capitol presents a substantial safety risk to the officers who are tasked with its implementation. Simply stated, these officers are being forced into emotionally-charged confrontations that are neither necessary nor advisable. We are asking the Department of Administration, the leadership of the Capitol Police, and the Governor's Office to respect the core values and freedoms upon which this great state and nation were founded, and cease their infringement upon these freedoms. 

Chief Erwin's predictable and clueless response is a frightening example of how quickly freedom can fade in the hands of the Walker Authority. Here's WKOW coverage:

“It’s unfortunate that these associations would issue a statement about Capitol Police actions without ever contacting us.  Our officers would never judge another police department’s enforcement without knowing the facts of the situation.

“Everyone has access to the Capitol.  Wisconsin has a rich history of freedom of speech, which is a fundamental right that we uphold.  There are more than five million citizens in the state, and all should have the same opportunity to voice their views and opinions at our state’s Capitol.  This is not an issue about saying what you want – it’s about sharing the space at the Capitol and there is a process to do it.

“Last year was an unprecedented time in our state’s history and the officers of these departments assisted Capitol Police in keeping the environment safe for everyone involved.  We know that the officers understand that the crowds are no longer in the thousands, but a small group who we continue to work with to follow the process to reserve space for their protests.

“We are sworn to protect and serve the citizens of our state – as all other police departments in Wisconsin – and we will continue to do so.”

Baldwin Leads the Nowhere-to-be-found Thompson.

With her sane serious and ad campaign message, helped by a blustery opponent who all but thought he could lay low and win, Tammy Baldwin has taken the lead away from Tommy Thompson.

Tammy makes safe landing in surprise vehicle!

The Hill: Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) has completely wiped away Tommy Thompson’s lead in the Wisconsin Senate race, according to two polls released Wednesday. A Marquette University Law School poll shows a 20-point swing from last month, with Baldwin leading by 9 percentage points, 50 to 41. Those numbers were reversed in the same poll last month.

A New York Times/CBS/Quinnipiac University poll also showed Thompson’s lead had been erased, but found both candidates tied in the race at 47 percent, with 6 percent undecided. Much of the shift in the Marquette poll came from independents. Baldwin captured 50 percent of independents compared to 37 percent last month. Thompson’s numbers with the group lowered from 47 percent last month to 38 percent. 

According to the DPW, Tommy is "broke;"

Thompson, a multimillionaire Washington, D.C. insider, told WISN, “I think the fact that we're broke and they've got $4 million is a pretty good position to be in. I feel pretty good where I'm at."

But don't worry, Karl Rove is pledging $1.4 million in attack ads to help Thompson out. As for Obama:

TPM: The Marquette University Law School poll released Wednesday shows Obama leading Romney among likely Wisconsin voters, 54 percent to 40 percent.

If that result is to incredible to believe, try this one:

Wispolitics: According to the new Quinnipiac University/CBS News/New York Times survey. It also had the U.S. Senate race dead even. The poll found Obama led his Republican opponent 51 percent to 45 percent among likely voters.

Liberal Madison has second highest average credit rating in nation.

Anti-business, tax and spend liberals? Not quite.

WSJ: A credit-score study released by credit bureau Experian shows Madison has the second-highest average credit score (786) in the nation, with three other Wisconsin cities making the top 10 — Wausau at No. 3, Green Bay at No. 7 and La Crosse at No. 8 on a list of 143 cities. The top spot went to Minneapolis.

I’m still not sure why the conservative paradise we call Waukesha didn’t trounce Madison this time around, but you can bet Obama and George Soros had something to do with it.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce says: "America Needs More Jobs," Even if it Kills You!

Did you see the recent television ad demanding tort reform, showing a closed down factory and the devastated workers?  Blame those frivolous lawsuits. If we don't let business off the hook for injuring or killing consumers, then we may see the end of manufacturing in America.

Lawsuits are job killers. Take a look at why we need to stop picking on these poor innocent companies:



Here's the real story from Protect Consumer Justice. Wanna know just how far corporate America is willing to go to push their deadly for profit agenda:

Blame the lawsuits for shutting down Blitz USA…or blame Blitz USA’s products for causing the lawsuits?: From an article by Steve Miller, National Editor, Let America Know-

Blitz USA, America’s largest plastic gas-can maker, recently closed its manufacturing plant in Miami, Okla., after nearly 50 years of operation, laid off 117 employees in the process, and put the blame on product liability lawsuits against the company. “We have been operating under extremely litigious environment [sic],” company officials said in a 2011 letter to customers .

The “increased litigation” stemmed from more than 75 known incidents of people severely burned or killed when a Blitz gas can exploded. Fourteen people were burned to death, six of them children. And with millions of these gas cans still in use around the country, the injuries and deaths will continue.

Three-year-old Landon Beadore knocked over a Blitz gas can while putting away his sister’s tricycle  and the vapors were ignited by a water heater, then flashed back into the can, causing an explosion that severely burned nearly half Landon’s body. A flame arrestor would have prevented the explosion. Firefighter Chad Funchess was filling up his chain saw  when his Blitz gas can exploded. He spent more than four months in a coma. William Melvin, a member of a Porsche racing team pit crew who certainly knew how to handle gasoline, was filling up his lawnmower  when the Blitz gas can exploded and threw him through his barn. None of these sound like examples of Yosemite Sam or the Three Stooges.

The company ignored overwhelming test results – including their own tests – that their gas cans are exploding because of a manufacturing defect, transforming them into flamethrowers that are torching innocent people ... the company knew about the problem but chose to save money rather than install a simple fix ... with a 50-cent fix.

The consumer gas cans manufactured by Blitz USA are lacking something called a “flame arrestor.” It’s a simple thing: just a piece of mesh that goes over the nozzle and contains the fumes in the can while the gasoline pours. Professional-grade gas cans have them. Flame arrestors , which are used on everything from charcoal lighter fluid bottles to motor boats to metal gas cans to bottles of Bacardi 151-proof rum, were removed by Blitz when they began making cheap plastic cans. But Blitz and other makers have not been installing them on the plastic gas cans they sell to consumers. That’s the real story.

And yet apologists for the business lobby in the media would paint those seeking justice from Blitz USA as the ones to blame for the company’s demise. Ultimately, Blitz was sanctioned by a federal court in Texas for abusing the civil justice process by destroying documents and providing inaccurate testimony. Television reporter Dan Rather did two special reports on exploding gas cans, one in 2008 and another in 2011. 

Romney now Right Wing Hero for Dumping on 47 percent of Americans. Says a lot about Conservatives!!!

With the help of a little messaging from Fox News, which I watched today, it appears conservative voters just love the idea that 47 percent of Americans should be ignored.

We're living in strange times. Take a look at the map showing the concentrations of Americans who don't pay federal taxes. Looks like the teabillies are in for a surprise.

Here's where you can find Romney's "takers"

Click to enlarge

Here's the Obama campaign answer video:

WaPo: Take this simple breakdown from the Tax Policy Center of what households paid in taxes in 2011: Here’s what we have:

— 53.6 percent of households pay the federal income tax. Presumably Romney is okay with these folks.

— 28.3 percent of households pay no federal income tax, but they do pay the payroll taxes for Social Security and Medicare. That means they don’t need Mitt Romney to convince them to “take personal responsibility and care for their lives.” They already have jobs.

Most of the households in this group don’t pay any federal income tax because they qualify for enough deductions that their income tax liability has shrunk to zero … “a couple with two children earning less than $26,400. They get an $11,600 standard deduction and four exemptions of $3,700, and that takes their liability to zero.” Indeed, it’s worth noting that many of these deductions and credits were part of the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts, which Romney wants to extend.

— 10.3 percent of households pay no federal income tax because they’re retired and elderly. Mitt Romney thinks that these households are all irresponsible freeloaders.

— That leaves 6.9 percent of households which are non-elderly and have incomes less than $20,000 per year and aren’t paying the payroll tax. These poorer households pay neither income taxes nor payroll taxes. Meanwhile, just as a reminder, the vast majority of Americans still pay state and local taxes — in fact, these taxes tend to be more regressive. 

There's more at their fact checker:

Yes, as of 2011, about 46 percent of American households paid no income tax … “Income taxes” are just one type of tax that people pay, and for most working Americans —about three-quarters — payroll taxes for Social Security and Medicare far exceed what they pay in income taxes.

In other words, substitute the phrase “federal taxes” for “income taxes,” and then the picture changes dramatically. Indeed, when all federal taxes are included, the percentage of people who pay no taxes drops to 10 percent or lower, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Moreover, if some people do not pay income taxes, it is because of policies often advocated by Republicans, such as child tax credits and tax benefits for the working poor. President Richard M. Nixon offered an early version of the earned income tax credit, and it was enacted under Gerald Ford and expanded under Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) pushed for the child tax credit — signed into law by Democrat Bill Clinton in 1997 and later expanded by George W. Bush in 2004.

According to a map published by the Tax Foundation, eight of the top 10 states with the lowest income-tax liability are the heart of Romney country — the Deep South. Meanwhile, most of the states with the lowest levels of nonpayers are Obama states.

Romney trashes Dream Act in front of Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Obama's temporary but long awaited plan to help the children of illegal immigrants staying in this country and raised American, was just a hollow effort according to Mitt Romney. Doing nothing and waiting for some imaginary day in the future when Republicans would finally decide what to do would have been a much better plan.

But Romney went even further, by ignoring the emotional plight these children, and morphed it into  something that met the needs of employers. They're the important ones. Mitt said as much in front of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce:

Gas Prices a Mother's Issue? Romney Campaign thinks so...

Despite a very public full frontal attack on women's health, pay and choice, Republicans are still able to find a few low information one issue women to do their dirty work. And to work against their own best interests.

WEAU: Some women in the area met up Monday night to support the Romney/Ryan ticket … It is called the "Wisconsin Mother's Drive the Economy Phone Bank" … from the Eau Claire County Republican Headquarters. They say in Eau Claire every Monday night is women's night, meaning they have female callers and emphasize issues important to women.

And what would be an important women’s...I mean, mother's issue? Choice, equal pay, mandated ultrasounds, contraception, access to health care?

One volunteer told us why she believes Romney is the right choice for her family. "It appeals to me that he is going to free up energy development to lower the price of gas that is really hurting not just our gas bill every month, but our grocery bill every month," said Emily Power.

Yup, drill baby drill. It’s not even a real issue. Prices at the pump are set by the world market.

This phone bank campaign effort by Romney, should dispel the silliness of a supposed “war on women,” right?

Republicans have been making a strong pro-mother, pro-women push on the campaign trail, trying to reject the democratic notion that Republicans are waging a war on women.

Here are a few of the posted comments:

-These women made me laugh right out loud... they don't even know what they are voting for.... and why not put it out there how ignorant women can be. Keep listening to the "man" in your life ... I hope someday you all get a voice of your own. This isn't even really funny... I feel sad for them. It's. Too bad.. I know so many women that just go with what the man says.. come on...I know you all know better....

-Unfortunately this is exactly what republicans bank on, the ignorance of the common person. They hope we vote out of emotion or feelings and remain uninformed. Sounds like these women meet the profile.

-I so agreed -- especially after watching the one-on-one interview -- she had absolutely no clue other than the garbage she's been fed -- really disappointing to see women so uninformed!

Ripon's Alliance Laundry adds 270 new jobs, thanks demand, not Walker's streamline regulations or elimination of frivolous lawsuits.

The government doesn’t create jobs? Wrong.

fdlreporter: Almost 300 new jobs are on their way to Ripon, as the result of a manufacturing expansion aided by state tax credits and county loans.

That sounds very much like government did play a huge role in job creation...in the private sector of all places.

Alliance Laundry Systems expansion will be assisted by $1.5 million in tax credits from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and a $500,000 performance-based loan from the Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation’s revolving loan fund.

Gov. Scott Walker attributed lowering the tax burden on manufacturers, streamlining the regulatory process and eliminating “frivolous and out of control lawsuits in the state for manufacturers” to the high level of confidence in this year’s survey.

Really, that's your final answer? Sadly, not everyone is reading from the same script:

Michael Schoeb, president and CEO of Alliance Laundry, said the expansion “absolutely” would not have been possible without the assistance of the state and local government, and it would not have been a wise decision for the company to move forward without those tax credits and loans.

Thank god Walker streamlined regulation, frivolous lawsuits and lowered the business tax burden…no, that wasn't it...consumer DEMAND?

Schoeb said the company is investing in expansion now because it has confidence in the demand for the products that will be made in the new facility. 

Mitt's 47 percent Slap down of Americans, his press Response, David Corn and Critics.

I just heard on Fox News this incident will win Romney votes. If that is true, how sad for those in the conservative middle class and working poor.

Here's how Mitt Romney's 47 percent comment is unwinding; first the offending clip:



Here's Rachel Maddow with David Corn, his exclusive story and the details behind the video, with a promise of more to come:



And here's Romney's hastily held press conference trying desperately to clear things up.

Romney: "It's not elegantly stated, let me put it that way, I'm speaking off the cuff...I'm sure I could state it more clearly."

...along with Lawrence O'Donnell's biting critique and guests.

 NY Times: Conservative David Brooks wrote: Romney, who criticizes President Obama for dividing the nation, divided the nation into two groups: the makers and the moochers. Forty-seven percent of the country, he said, are people:

who are dependent upon government, who believe they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to take care of them, who believe they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you name it

This comment suggests… he really doesn’t know much about the country he inhabits. Who are these freeloaders? Is it the Iraq war veteran who goes to the V.A.? Is it the student getting a loan to go to college? Is it the retiree on Social Security or Medicare? It suggests that Romney doesn’t know much about the culture of America…. America remains one of the hardest-working nations on earth

[A]s a description of America today, Romney’s comment is a country-club fantasy. It’s what self-satisfied millionaires say to each other. It reinforces every negative view people have about Romney….

Wisconsin Small Business Owners for Obama speak out!!!

Conservative don't have a lock on job creation and business, believe it or not.

Why it's taken this long for business owners to come out for a Democratic candidate is a mystery, but  it has happened....welcome Wisconsin Small Business Owners for Obama.

Love the message, and the truth of the stimulus package working, saving their businesses.

Workbench Tool Company, owner Rich Bechen says the President's streamlining of the Small Business Administration loan process, saved his business at time when no banks would loan him money. "I honestly am telling you, Workbench Tool would not be here today without that," said Bechen.

The owners of Cascade Asset Management of Madison tell a similar story.

WKOW's Greg Neumann also interviewed business owner John Kavanaugh, of Kavanaugh's Esquire Club, who says those business owners are an exception to the rule. Oh sure they are. He whines

Kavanaugh: "Obamacare could wipe out our business." 

He says if he expands at all, he'll go over the 50 employee mark, and be forced to buy health insurance, something he can't afford.

Typical conservative business owner, no curiosity and wrong about Obamacare's 50 employee rule:

Employers with 50 or more employees that do not offer health insurance coverage will pay an assessment of $2,000 per full-time worker if any of their employees obtain premium tax credits through the Health Insurance Exchange.

However, to avoid disincentives to hire an additional employee above 49 employees, the bill subtracts the first 30 employees from this payment calculation.

Media Discovers Romney's Donor Speech, where he trashes Americans and Admires China's Factory Dorms.

It never hurts to rediscover a  missed story, and Mitt Romney deserves the added coverage. Here, Mitt dismisses 47 percent of the public (liberals?), as dependent freeloaders. Ezra Klein made a pie chart that tell the whole story, and will maybe shut the Fox News pundits up about those who "don't pay any taxes:"

Click to enlarge

Buzzfeed Politics: Obama campaign manager Jim Messina says in an emailed statement: “It's shocking that a candidate for President of the United States would go behind closed doors and declare to a group of wealthy donors that half the American people view themselves as ‘victims,’ entitled to handouts, and are unwilling to take ‘personal responsibility’ for their lives. It’s hard to serve as president for all Americans when you’ve disdainfully written off half the nation.”

Romney campaign communications director Gail Gitcho issued the following statement e-mailed to reporters: "Mitt Romney wants to help all Americans struggling in the Obama economy. 

Back on August 27, I posted this story about what is now the second rediscovered video, from the same closed door meeting with wealthy donors. Mitt reflects on how nice it is to work in China: 

Does Mitt Romney envision an American Version of the Chinese factory dorms?

Mitt Romney doesn't appear shaken by or willing to reject China's template for factory employment.

I've been saying it for some time now; the new elite, "the job creators," are hoping to continue to keep employment and wages low for one good reason, they want a desperate citizen employee pool. A desperate pool consisting of families who'll do anything to feed their families. We pretty much have that now, but Republicans have only just started to hand everything over to business, so expect things to get even more dire in the future.

The country with the best business model? Dumb Ron Johnson and others have been praising China for years, so we need to be more like them. In the video clip below, Mitt finds the factory dorms and the public desperation for employment fascinating enough to pass along to a room full of donors. This is the future folks. Transcript below:

Just what did the Stimulus do?

The New York Times wrote this nice piece Sunday about the Obama stimulus, which surprisingly, doesn't look anything like Republican version. I'm posting this part of the article because it's short:

The reputation of the stimulus is meticulously restored from shabby to skillful in Michael Grunwald’s important new book, “The New New Deal.” On the most basic level, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is responsible for saving and creating 2.5 million jobs. The majority of economists agree that it helped the economy grow by as much as 3.8 percent, and kept the unemployment rate from reaching 12 percent.

The stimulus is the reason, in fact, that most Americans are better off than they were four years ago ... But the stimulus did far more than stimulate: it protected the most vulnerable from the recession’s heavy winds. Of the act’s $840 billion final cost, $1.5 billion went to rent subsidies and emergency housing that kept 1.2 million people under roofs. (That’s why the recession didn’t produce rampant homelessness.) It increased spending on food stamps, unemployment benefits and Medicaid, keeping at least seven million Americans from falling below the poverty line.

And as Mr. Grunwald shows, it made crucial investments in neglected economic sectors that are likely to pay off for decades. It jump-started the switch to electronic medical records, which will largely end the use of paper records by 2015. It poured more than $1 billion into comparative-effectiveness research on pharmaceuticals. It extended broadband Internet to thousands of rural communities. And it spent $90 billion on a huge variety of wind, solar and other clean energy projects that revived the industry. Republicans, of course, only want to talk about Solyndra, but most of the green investments have been quite successful, and renewable power output has doubled.

Americans don’t know most of this, and not just because Mitt Romney and his party denigrate the law as a boondoggle every five minutes. Democrats, so battered by the transformation of “stimulus” into a synonym for waste and fraud (of which there was little), have stopped using the word. Only four speakers at the Democratic convention even mentioned the recovery act, none using the word stimulus.

Anti-Muslim Film Maker Found, Conservatives say he's the victim for making laughable movie.

After the anti-Muslim film maker was found, conservative media started to defend themselves, with "can't you take a joke," or "hey, what's the big deal?"

The conservative trash news site Hot Air, posted this bizarre “don’t blame us, blame Muslim’s who can’t deal with criticism” screed by Ed Morrissey. The filmmaker is the real victim here?

Controversial Cover?

Over the last couple of days, I wonder whether the American media may get someone killed — and perhaps more than a few people — with their irresponsible stakeout of “Sam Bacile.” If anyone interested in taking revenge on Nakoula Besseley Nakoula wanted to know where to find him, it wouldn’t take long in Cerritos, California, especially with some media reports noting Nakoula’s distinctive front door. This media swarm puts that entire neighborhood at risk, now and probably for a very long time. And for what?  Is Nakoula a serial killer? A child molester?  No, he’s a man with poor taste who made a video that insulted some people who can’t deal with criticism, even the laughably inane and inept criticism of this 14-minute cheesefest that makes Plan 9 From Outer Space look like Citizen Kane.  

Real laughable stuff, resulting in people dying and anti-American demonstrations? What is it about a conservatives inability to take responsibility, ever? I don't even want to get into their weird, twisted, sick sense of humor. 

According to the media:

A man purported to be a filmmaker involved with the anti-Islam video sparking violent unrest in the Middle East and North Africa was escorted by deputies from his Cerritos, Calif., home shortly after midnight Saturday morning, NBCLosAngeles.com reported. Nakoula emerged wearing a coat, hat, scarf and glasses. L.A. County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Steve Whitmore confirmed to NBCLA that Nakoula, 55, was taken to the Cerritos sheriff’s station for interviewing by federal probation officers aimed at determining whether he violated the terms of his 5-year probation by uploading a video to the Internet.

Here’s KTLA’s coverage:

Sen. Glenn Grothman Goes Banana's (republic) over Act 10 Decision

Sen. Glenn Grothman is an unfiltered conservative voice, who honestly reflects his party’s position. In the press release below, not only is Grothman undermining our judicial system by bashing a decision he disagrees with, but he also thinks we should end our educational system so we can stop breeding “left-wing extremism” (the real reason for vouchers). Listen to Sly in the Mornings interview with Glenn here!! It'll blow your mind.

It can’t be overstated; we’re seeing a winner take all move toward an authoritarian one party system, discussed openly by politicians, and rabidly supported by Republican voters. There’s nothing to “decoded” anymore.

“The decision reached today by Dane County Judge Colas is further evidence of the complete abandonment of the rule of law in this state and country … Some judges today are rendering decisions one would expect from a banana republic dictatorship or newly independent country in which respect for the law has not been established. I also hope this serves as a clarion call to policymakers that we must no longer allow our education system to be a breeding ground for left-wing extremism.  It should be a particular embarrassment that Judge Colas is a product of the UW Law School, so is Judge Sumi who earlier tried to overturn Act 10.  Rather than wasting money on current diversity bureaucrats, we must guarantee intellectual diversity at the University of Wisconsin in general and the Law School in particular, so that some of their graduates have a respect for the separation of powers and the rule of law.”  

Despite the Republican use of the courts pursuing cases like Citizens United and Obamacare, a few Democratic challenges will not be tolerated. Again, Grothman’s isn’t alone in pursuing a no-holds-barred hostile one party takeover of government.  Read the list of comments below in reaction to Judge Colas’ ruling, posted on radio talker Vicki Mckenna’s Facebook site. Scary stuff.

This shows how little respect they have for the Constitution, and how little they understand it. 

Protester at Capitol Faints during arrest, and Chief Erwin explains he's not a big fan of Political Free Speech.

The apparent randomness of arrests being made at the Capitol may have resulted in an unintended medical emergency of a "protesters" arrest on Friday.

WTDY: A chaotic scene at the Capitol on Friday as police rushed to remove handcuffs from an unconscious protester. According to witnesses, the woman has a heart condition and passed out as police were arresting her. She was one of two protesters arrested shortly after the Solidarity Sing-Along.

Victor Forberger with the National Lawyers Guild says he received multiple calls about the incident. He says the two protesters were reportedly prevented from leaving the building by Capitol Police. "They were walking through the Capitol, speaking with each other rather loudly, and they had the song books that were used during the rally," he said. "The Police surrounded them and then arrested them." 

Trying to prevent "chaos all the time," Capitol Police Chief David Erwin thought he could make a case for ignoring the First Amendment and state constitution on WKOW's Capitol City Sunday with Greg Neumann. With comments like "I don't know if they were protesting anything, I think they were just trying to be disruptive," who can blame the Chief for tossing freedom in the trash bin. Neumann asked all the right questions:

Why we protest.

This passage from a Daily Kos post summed things up for me, again:

People are just pissed off. Yes, believe it or not, when the government strips basic rights from large classes of people, when they "drop the bomb" on public workers, when they admit they advocate the use of violence to break up peaceful protests, when they pass laws suppressing voting rights in a democracy, and when they openly mock and dehumanize 48% of the people or refuse to even have a conversation with legislators in the minority party, citizens don't like it. Shocking, isn't it? The Capitol rotunda was designed as a public forum, so when citizens in Wisconsin have an urge to petition their government, that's where they go, just like they go to the playground when they have the urge to play basketball.