it really is embarassing to think about how much control the Republicans had over the government of this country the last 15 years.

how do you get elected to office when you are barely bright enough to remember to breathe or how to put socks on in the morning? in what sad kind of electorate is that even possible?

really - the fact that we often lose to people this flat-out freaking stupid is just shameful.

More joy:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/04/24/gore-gingrich-global/

it sounds like blackburn is saying that it is wrong for anyone to lobby the government on an issue in which they have a financial interest.

that's interesting coming from a republican.

do you suppose tonight's headline will be "republican blackburn calls for banning of lobbying"?

hahahahaha

So would she ask everyone who testifies and economically benefits from fossil fuels to divest themselves of all profits, or for that matter, anyone who testifies before Congress as an expert on any matter to have no financial interest in the outcome? What an absurd line of questioning.

This is not new. The "they're in it for the money" has long been the standard charge by the global warming deniers against any scientist studying the issue or any activist fighting for change.

Barton really does seem to display the intellectual capacity of a bag of rocks. I can't wait for the posting of his next tweet on how be bested Gore.

What a horrible day to do this. Did anyone see Colbert last night? He pointed out there was a rumor that Bill Posey's grandmother had her alligator baby out of wedlock. And the wedlock part is absolutely NOT true! He cleared the air for sure.

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/225628/april-23-2009/illegitimate-grandson-of-an-alligator

Could somebody post a link to Blackburn's grilling of Cheney about his ginormous financial interest in Halliburton, which got huge no-bid contracts to electrocute our troops? Cause somehow I can't find it.

After Barton's "grilling" of Chu yesterday, I was waiting for him to ask Gore where solar energy came from.

And so what if he is going to benefit from a partnership in alternative energy? Isn't that the argument? That the real economic future of this country is based on getting to market with real alternative energy before anyone else does -- and all Americans should be investing in it?

So who is paying Blackburn's bills, Coal Operators?

It's not just global warming, Disputo. Anti-vaxers are quick to play the "shilling for big pharma" card. I expect the tactic to be used in any anti-science effort.

Barton replied, "I have never talked to Bernie Madoff."

Holy crap. All of this time, I've been ceding the "Dumbest Member of Congress" award to James Inhofe, but Barton may give him a run for his money. I've always felt that GOP pols have been willfully stupid, repeating things they know, or at least strongly suspect is wrong, but figuring repeating it to the dittoheads will get them to believe it.

But most of them are just really, really dumb. There's no other way to explain it. How do voters elect these idiots? Maybe there should be an IQ test before being allowed to run for office.

I understand exactly what you're doing, Congresswoman. Everybody here does.

Apparently the people in NY-20th do, too. Tedisco just conceded the race to Murphy. Adios Michael Steele.

Republicans, before they can join the party, must read and memorize the by Sun Tzu.

This way we take our weakness, the obvious motivation of greed by our Exxon sponsors, and turn that into our offensive. Our blood enemies, who care for trite things like the avoidance of "global catastrophe", are left defending themselves, never having an opportunity to attack.

You all call it projection, I believe. Hahahaha.
It's just good 6th century BC strategy my friends. Nothing personal, but greed is our need.

Cheers,
Dickâ„¢

I don't understand the reasoning here: Wall St. moguls can make billions of dollars on speculation(gambling), but someone who is contributing to the health of the planet should not make a profit? Excuse me, but I thought that was the basis of capitalism: create a solution to a problem and take it to market. Does this Congressperson return its salary to me, the taxpayer, and serve for the good of the country? Country First?

I really don't know how this crap gets fed to us day in and day out, and no one rips these people a new one, every single day.

peace,
st john

One thing that should come out of this week, however, is a training DVD for all Democratic office holders and candidates on how to handle the mean-spirited-from-a-base-of-utter-ignorance from Republicans.

Between H. Clinton and Gore, it has been a long time since there were such good examples of Democrats who come off as intelligent, civil adults while in no way coddling and in fact pointing out the inanity of their would-be tormentors. Seriously, those two put on a clinic on how to stand up to these thugs by shining light on their tactics without stooping to their level. Bravo. Too bad the party couldn't figure out how to do this oh, about 8 years ago.

I don't understand--when did Republicans start thinking profits are bad? Isn't Gore investing in a speculative venture exactly the sort of signal that makes the market work? Why would he commit to not profiting on his investment?

As Gore put it, "They ordered the [censored] of the censoring and removal of the scientific review that they themselves conducted, and like Bernie Madoff, they lied to the people who trusted them in order to make money."

"...Barton replied, "I have never talked to Bernie Madoff.".."

Are Texans too ignorant to to be embarrassed by this guy...I don't think so. Hope they get a good look and do something about it. Barton is a "that tire is only flat on the bottom" kind of guy.

Too bad Al Gore didn't exhibit this kind of confidence in confronting his critics in 2000. Oh, I'm not blaming him. I think most people would have been taken aback by the media favoritism he was the victim of in 2000, and he's clearly learned from that and from what's transpired in the media since.

But, it's sad.

Gore really made Blackburn make herself look ridiculous by continuing her line of questioning. Everyone here knows what you're doing...except Blackburn herself.

How much more can Barton do to make Texas the laughing stock of the nation? First his stupid question to Dr. Chu and now this in only two days. God, what did we ever do to be smitten with dorks like this? Deliver us from deceitful and unjust men.

And I saw the video of Blackburn. What a vicious cat she is!!! Women like her are a stereotype here in the South, but she takes the art in whole different directions. At least most practitioners of the art are a lot less obvious and more professional than she is. She just comes across as pure nasty.

"...It's just good 6th century BC strategy my friends. Nothing personal, but greed is our need...."Posted by: dick cheney on April 24, 2009 at 4:26 PM

Once identified and bragged about...it no longer works. Republicans can't seem to understand that concept. You can't tell us it's raining while pissing down our necks then tell us you've been pissing down our necks and how stupid we were for believing you and then try to piss down our necks again and say it's raining. It don't
work.

Stetson Kennedy: Have you ever been to some of the places that elect these clowns? Frighteningly, they represent their constituents pretty accurately.

And congratulations to Scott Murphy!! As slimy as Tedisco is, at least he didn't pull a Coleman. I guess it wasn't worth it for one congressional seat in a lopsided House.

Barton replied, "I have never talked to Bernie Madoff."

Hmmm. I wonder if he has talked to Bernie Madoff---?

Al Gore is the classic American businessman, absolutely convinced of the righteousness of his business plan. He is a true believer in Global Warming, and in the product that he sells to delay or prevent it. He is the only busnessman to have won an Oscar and a Nobel prize for his marketing products.

Of course he is no more dishonest than any other businessman. He is a True Believer.

I was at the gas station earlier than usual this morning, watching the pickup trucks fill up with gasoline and diesel, at the start of their work day, and it occurred to me: the people at Political Animal are environmentally aware, respectful of true entrepreneurs (like Al Gore, and unlike the poseur Joe Wurzelbacher), and dedicated to working people. You folks could help out the working people, become entrepreneurs, and help out the environment by starting biodiesel companies. The level of expertise required is about the same as is necessary to achieve at least a B in high school chemistry; companies to supply the hardware and chemicals already exist; most waste vegetable oil is still dumped in landfills as toxic waste.

Don't leave it all up to someone else, like BP. Go to it!

A friend of mine who now resides in Tennessee describes Blackburn as "what happens when your real estate lady reads too much Ayn Rand."

@marketeer:

There is the oh-so-clever and precious ad hominem, to wit:

"He is a True Believer."

And there is the unsophisticated version, as in:

"You are a poopy-head."

Neither advances the debate in any meaningful manner, although the latter contains more truth than the former (in its entirety).

Poopy-head.

jupiter wrote" Too bad Al Gore didn't exhibit this kind of confidence in confronting his critics in 2000. Oh, I'm not blaming him. I think most people would have been taken aback by the media favoritism he was the victim of in 2000, and he's clearly learned from that and from what's transpired in the media since.

Al Gore was the victim of the Bob Shrum school of political campaigning where one never responds to attacks, acts weak and actually believed and acted on what the Washington press corps said in some ridiculous effort to appeal 'mainstream'. He made the mistake of listening to 'political consultants' instead of his own instincts. A sad fate that dragged down many otherwise good and intelligent candidates.

Don't forget why Gore lost.

RNC imported thugs to dress up and demonstrate and intimidate the county officials, who stopped the recount.

http://www.google.com/search?q=Gore+florida+recount+demonstration

That time they wore suits.

Other times, it's been brown shirts, or they've been wrapped in flags, or white sheets.

Same tactic. Watch for it again.

I listen to right-wing radio as a hobby. The right-- specifically Limbaugh, Hannity and Beck lovers-- have a deeply held belief that global warming and climate change is biggest hoax ever perpetrated on the world, in the history of the planet. (Not even an exaggeration, I've heard Rush say this many times.) The truly ironic thing is that they accuse people like Gore of doing it all just to make money, that it's all a HUGE get-rich scheme between environmentalists and scientists, that they're just trying to scare people so they can make a lot of money off of their fears.

Project much?

So why do they believe that the government (Obama, dems, etc.) believe it? Naturally, to exercise socialist/totalitarain control over businesses and to punish rich people.

Between Gore owning Blackburn, Barton bumbling in front of Chu and Pence and Rohrbacher getting their asses handed to them by Hillary, it has not been a good week for House Republicans.

If I didn't know any better, I'd think they were having a contest to see who could look like the biggest idiot in committee hearings.

Molly Ivins, you left us too soon. I smile just to imagine what sport you would have made of this.

how do you get elected to office when you are barely bright enough to remember to breathe or how to put socks on in the morning? ...

Posted by: zeitgeist on April 24, 2009

Definitely quotable!

Everybody in this room knows what you're trying to do. Heh.

Economic Stimulus. H.R. 5140, the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, passed 385-35 on January 29, 2008 (Roll Call 25). It would provide about $150 billion in economic stimulus, including $101.1 billion in direct payments of rebate checks (typically $600) to most taxpayers in 2008 and temporary tax breaks for businesses. Creating money out of thin air and then spending the newly created money cannot improve the economy, at least not in the long term. (If it could, why not create even more money for rebates and make every American a millionaire?) The stimulus has no offset and thus increases the federal deficit by the amount of the stimulus because the government must borrow the rebate money. A realistic long-term stimulus can only be achieved by lowering taxes through less government and by reducing regulatory burdens. Marsha Blackburn voted FOR this bill.(Source: The New American – July 21, 2008)

Marsha Blackburn is my Congressman.
She is no conservative.
See her unconstitutional votes at :
http://bluecollarrepublican.com/blog/?p=614
Mickey

OMG!! I just watched the video clip... did you hear it? Al Gore sighed!! Several times!

Game over man, game over!!

Where was all the outrage when the Clinton administration sent terrorists, excuse me, man made disaster bringers to Egypt to be tortured. Was that okay because we let someone else do our dirty work?

I must say, the man made disaster bringers were quicker at giving up information and I suspect they were in no condition to cause man made disasters after their torture in Egypt.

I wish the Bush administration had done the same...our hands would be clean, our conscious clear, and many man made disaster bringers would be out of commission. Are we all in agreement on the Clinton policy then (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)? Great!

Well, dang...I posted on the wrong board...but after reading all the "Democrats are great" comments...I suppose it doesn't matter. BTW, all (at least MOST)politicians are out for themselves...you delude yourselves if you think different.

Gore's a fascist and so is benen. As for Blackburn you go girl.

Al is pulling a fast one here.

Sure, he donates "ALL" his earnings and what-not to the Alliance for Climate Change.

But... And this is a BIG BUT...

The Alliance invests and gives money to companies that ... well,... PAY AL GORE!

So, he can stand there and tell the gullible that he donates everything to this non-profit. That's technically true. But that company then turns the money over to 'worthy causes' which include companies that AL GORE is on the Board or Executive Committe of. And he's PAID by these companies. Duh.

It's the classic banker two-step.

So, he doesn't get to keep all that money, but he DOES get a TON of it back. :0) See how it works?

If you didn't, you need to take the blinders off.

He DOES keep the money. Just not all of it... and gets to claim he keeps NONE of it.

Scam artist.

Steve: "The poor guy doesn't understand metaphors, either."

This is the problem with the Bible thumpers - not understanding that the creation story in Genesis, Jonah and the whale and so so much more of what is in the Bible are metaphors, not to be taken literally. They just don't get it.

And what the heck is the matter with Blackburn? She's a Republican who is anti-business? (Not to mention a douchebag for continuing to ask Gore questions he'd already answered.)

Karen Marie: "do you suppose tonight's headline will be "republican blackburn calls for banning of lobbying"? hahahahaha"

We have a winner.

Of course he is no more dishonest than any other businessman. He is a True Believer.

does anybody doubt that he is a True Believer? Having decided to make money backing his true beliefs, some might suspect him of "post-decision dissonance reduction" (as the social psychologists call it) has led to his casting away all doubt.

Some of you don't appreciate the fact that he got awards for his advertising. He's gotten really wealthy off his business. He's probably the only really wealthy and successful businessman not routinely excoriated by the readers here at Political Animal.

Gingrich told the Congressional committee that the Waxman-Markey clean energy economy legislation would:

"punish the American people with high energy costs and lost jobs"

Hmmmmmm. Back in 1993, when the Clinton administration's budget & tax legislation was passing through the Congress, Gingrich said:

"The tax increase will kill jobs and lead to a recession, and the recession will force people off of work and onto unemployment and will actually increase the deficit"

Gingrich was wrong on all four counts in 1993, and he is still wrong today.

So it's o.k. to pound on Cheney for Halliburton, but not o.k. to even question Gore?

You libs are something else.

Listening to Gore talk about environmentalism is like asking a 600 lb fat ass how to lose weight. All you fakers should talk to a real environmentalist.

Where to start...

Okay - when one of Gore's companies is accused of war profiteering, I will be first in line to start demanding accountability. Until then, ya got nuthin.

And as to talking to a real environmentalist...I'm here. Whadya wanna know?
Pissing and moaning and insulting the source doesn't make what he says any less true. Even the hydrocarbon industry knows it. They chopped that information out of internal reports prepared by their own scientists for business reasons. The oil and coal industries have been playing fools like you for chumps for years. Wake the fuck up.

In all the ho-hah, has anyone noticed that the planet's been cooling for 4 years?

Gore is lying about the money. You are a bunch of teabaggers. Funny, now those who challenge power are called teabaggers, and those who lovingly swallow anything call the names!

Gore's not a profiteer? Two words: Carbon Offsets.

What a bunch of smug self righteous arrogant jerks you are. Gore is making money by getting legislation passed which will cost the average American family three to four thousand dollars per year while he lives in a huge mansion and uses ten or twenty times as much energy as any one else. Meantime, real scientists who actually know something are not allowed to testify. I wouldn't mind you guys ruining your country, but its my country too.

Oh, the hypocrisy! Questioning one's motives (as opposed to debating the merits of their position) have long been a staple of the Left. It's called Character Assassination; once you destroy the individual's reputation, their opinions/arguments become irrelevant.

The Left started it with Bork's supreme court nomination and have never looked back.