The ultimate "We Suck But They're Crazy" political race

Is there a more odious, disgusting political contest going on in this country than the one between Harry Reid and Sharron Angle in Nevada? Is there a better example of "We Suck Less" than one between the craven, gutless sellout Harry Reid, who led the Great Democratic Cave today in deciding that there will be no votes on retaining or rescinding tax cuts for the wealthiest 1% until after the election, and the cruel, vicious, Make-Them-Have-Their-Father's-Baby Christian Dominionist Sharron Angle?

Let me tell you about my friend Beth. Beth is the most talented web designer I know, and a talented writer. I've known Beth for over a decade, even though we've never met in person. (That will have to change sometime, Beth!) We used to brainstorm and write fiction together, until we both kind of had other things in our lives that required that energy and attention. Beth got married and, as she says, has been "managing life on the autism roller coaster since 2005." Beth covers the challenges of parents of autistic children for Examiner Philadelphia.

Sharron Angle doesn't believe in autism, and she doesn't think that she should have to have her insurance premiums go to pay for any kind of help for Beth's child or for parents like Beth. In case you're inclined to agree, you should also know that she resents having to pay insurance premiums to companies that provide coverage for pregnancy and newborn care:

Perhaps that's why Sharron Angle is running for Senate. Perhaps it's the only way she'll be able to afford her own health care -- after she sets it up so that health care, like everything else in the Republican playbook, becomes a question of "I Got Mine And Fuck You."

If you're in Nevada, and you vote for this woman, you deserve her. I just wish you wouldn't inflict her on the rest of us. Do you really mean there is no one in Nevada who would be better than either of these two?

Friday Big Blue Smurf Blogging: What They Said

For about five minutes today I found myself wishing I were going to Netroots Nation. After all, Melina and I had a great time when we went in 2007, snarking about self-important people like the Big Blue Smurf himself and sitting around eating margarethe pizza and blogging. Then I remembered that it's in Las Vegas, and a quick look at the Weather Channel site revealed that at 8 PM Eastern Time (5 PM in Vegas) it was 110 degrees out there, which puts our mid-90's to shame. I don't care how much air conditioning you have; I am going to be hot as hell in that kind of weather. Sorry, but not even Alan Grayson is enough to get me to spend a bunch of money to shvitz like that.

Especially when the Kossacks are all excited about being able to ask Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid questions.

So along comes today's honoree, who perhaps gets honored more than anyone else, largely because in times like these, sometimes the niceties have to be dispensed with. And no one spills bile (or curses more than I do) better than Bustednuckles.

Money quotes:

Jesus Christ, some people just don't get it..
Oh My God!! Nancy Pelosi is coming to the Net Roots National Convention!! Piss my fucking pants and eleventy eleven, Whoo Hoo!
Bonus, Harry Fucking Reid is too!!

Oh My Fucking God, where is my Sharpie..

[snip]

Oh, we don't have enough votes, the Republicans are going to Fillibuster, yadda fucking yadda.

You pussy mother fucker. Ram your fucking agenda down their fucking throats and if they want to fillibuster, make damn sure they have a few cots and some fucking hot tea.

Now ya have some crazy fucking bitch taking you on and you can't even handle that shit.

[snip]

If that crazy bitch Angle whips yer ass in the Primary, it will go a long way to rehabilitate the Electoral process..
Just think, Michelle Bachmann won't be the craziest fucking moron in Congress any more and you and old Bitch McConnell can have a nice honeymoon. After ya just fucked over the millions of folks who were counting on some fucking unenjoyment, gave billions to the cunt fucking bastards in the banking industry and let BP get away with killing three fucking states and a few hundred thousand former tax payers, it's time for you to retire. Take Joe Fucking Lieberman with ya.

I just wish he'd lay off the "c" word.

Honorable mention: Driftglass, who is the perfect antidote to David Brooks.

Meanwhile, on an unrelated note, our esteemed co-blogger and friend Melina, who is so far ahead of the zeitgeist that she was doing the backyard chicken thing before it was cool, was on the local news this evening. I have a 15" pot on a table on my front walkway with 2 pepper plants, basil, and a cucumber plant that can't decide whether it's a vegetable plant or a flowering one. I'm starting to think I need a hen to go with it. I'm sure my neighbors would be thrilled.

This is why I resent Harry Reid putting us in a position where we have to get his back

Dispatch from the Closing the Barn Door After the Horse Escapes file:

Hindsight's 20-20, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid now thinks he and leading Democrats, at the behest of the White House, flushed months down the toilet courting Sen. Olympia Snowe's (R-ME) support for health care reform.

"As I look back it was a waste of time dealing with [Snowe]," Reid is quoted as saying about the White House in a forthcoming New York Times Magazine piece, "because she had no intention of ever working anything out."

And more thickheadedness from the Senate Majority Non-Leader:

Did Joe Lieberman betray Harry Reid?
Reid says so in a soon-to-be published story in The New York Times Sunday magazine — accusing the Connecticut independent of blindsiding him last month when he went on “Face the Nation” and declared he’d have “a hard time” backing a Reid-brokered Medicare compromise in the health care bill.

But Leiberman is pushing back hard — and to make his case, he’s provided POLITICO with a private letter he wrote setting out his concerns before he aired them on national TV.

In a preview of magazine profile of Reid posted on the paper’s website Wednesday, reporter Adam Nagourney writes that Reid was infuriated by Lieberman’s Dec. 13, 2009, appearance on CBS's “Face the Nation.” Reid felt betrayed, Nagourney reports, because Lieberman had reportedly given him the impression he would back leadership during a closed-door meeting two days earlier.

After Lieberman’s bombshell interview, an incensed Reid fumed to unnamed associates, “He double-crossed me. ... Let’s not do what he wants. Let the bill just go down,” according to Nagourney.

I would remind Mr. Reid:

Harry Reid, translated:

Mr. President...Senator Reid.....Happy now?

It's really too bad that everyone in America is going to have to suffer along with you, just because you were too enamored of the hackocracy of incumbency to realize that Joe Lieberman was not your friend and was not going to be on your side when it counted.

Mr. President, remember this blast from the past, from 2006?

The inattentiveness — as well as the scattered boos amid the supportive calls of "Joe" that welcomed Mr. Lieberman to the podium — convinced some that the three-term senator, criticized for months because of his continued support for the war in Iraq, may be vulnerable in the primary challenge he faces.

"What I was struck by was that not many people were paying attention to him," said Leo Canty, chairman of the Democratic town committee in Windsor, which passed a resolution in February opposing Senator Lieberman's support for the war. "It used to be that he would be more of a presence when he came in."

A few minutes later, however, the audience was riveted as Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, the guest speaker at the $175-a-plate dinner, stood on the podium and began the customary round of recognition of candidates and incumbents in the room. When he got to Mr. Lieberman, who is his mentor in the Senate and who helped recruit him to speak at the event, the applause again was muted.

"I know that some in the party have differences with Joe," Senator Obama said, all but silencing the crowd. "I'm going to go ahead and say it. It's the elephant in the room. And Joe and I don't agree on everything. But what I know is, Joe Lieberman's a man with a good heart, with a keen intellect, who cares about the working families of America."

Then, with applause beginning to build, he finished the thought: "I am absolutely certain that Connecticut's going to have the good sense to send Joe Lieberman back to the United States Senate."

Yes, Joe Lieberman cares so much about working people that he is willing to filibuster with Republicans to keep them from getting health coverage from a plan that isn't a protection racket.

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) told reporters today that he would in fact filibuster any health care bill he doesn't agree with--and right now, he doesn't agree with the public option proposal making its way through the Senate.

"I told Senator Reid that I'm strongly inclined--i haven't totally decided, but I'm strongly inclined--to vote to proceed to the health care debate, even though I don't support the bill that he's bringing together because it's important that we start the debate on health care reform because I want to vote for health care reform this year. But I also told him that if the bill remains what it is now, I will not be able to support a cloture motion before final passage. Therefore I will try to stop the passage of the bill."

Joe Lieberman cares about working people so much that he's perfectly willing to let this continue to happen:

Sheila Wessenberg died rather than impoverish her family. But Joe Lieberman is willing to join ranks with people like Eric Cantor who would tell Sheila Wessenberg to beg for help from charity.

That's how much Joe Lieberman cares about working people.

Barack Obama, you were a fool. You were a fool to support Joe Lieberman. You were a fool to take him as your mentor. You still are a fool, with your worship at the altar of Mount Olympia Snowe and your administration's leaks that you won't fight for a public option.

We didn't elect you for this. We didn't elect you to settle for a big wet kiss on the collective buttocks of the insurance industry. And we sure as hell didn't elect Joe Lieberman president.

As for you, Senator Reid, well, we expect you to be a wuss and a hack, because you are one. I don't believe for one minute that you ever were going to push a strong public option. I think you knew damn well that Lieberman would filibuster and that gave you cover to throw a temporary bone at the base -- a base that is ready to work hard to see to it that you lose your job because we want you to be like the rest of us -- to have to actually PRODUCE in order to stay employed.

Remember this, Senator?

Rather than remove Lieberman from a post leading the homeland security committee, which gives him wide leeway to oversee the new Obama administration, Democratic senators opted to strip him of a less significant seat on the environment committee.

"I don't apologize to anyone for what we did today," Harry Reid, the Democratic Senate leader, told reporters after Lieberman received a slap on the wrist in a 42-13 secret-ballot vote.

"We're moving forward, recognising that there is a period of time that in Joe Lieberman's political career that I will never understand or approve," Reid added. "But I also recognize that he's been in public office for four decades [and is] one of the most progressive members to come from the state of Connecticut. That says a lot."

You're a schmuck, Harry Reid. And so is every Democrat who voted with you that day. You know who isn't a schmuck? This guy:

Word. Except that Grayson is wrong about their being one party that's in favor of reform. There are some human beings who are Democrats only because they still have souls, because God knows the Republicans have become the living embodiment of evil on earth. Just because you have a "D" after your name doesn't make you a champion of the working man.

The two of you: Lead, follow, or get out of the way. But stop selling me turd sandwiches like Joe Lieberman and telling me they're progressives.

Why do I know more than Harry Reid does?

I knew there was no massive program of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, but Harry Reid didn't -- and voted to authorize our invasion of that country. I knew that John Roberts was an extreme right-wing conservative, but Harry Reid didn't. And now he's bemoaning the fact that we're stuck with him:

enate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Friday that John Roberts misled the Senate during his confirmation hearings by pretending to be a moderate — and that the United States is now “stuck” with him as chief justice.

“Roberts didn’t tell us the truth. At least Alito told us who he was,” Reid said, referring to Samuel Alito, the second Supreme Court justice nominated by President George W. Bush. “But we’re stuck with those two young men, and we’ll try to change by having some moderates in the federal courts system as time goes on — I think that will happen.”

Reid’s comments, which came during a wide-ranging discussion hosted by the Christian Science Monitor, reflect Democratic concerns that Roberts presented himself as a neutral arbiter of the law but has wielded a relentlessly conservative agenda. Republicans reject the attacks, saying Roberts has been a fair judge and has been consistent in his opinions.

Perhaps Sen. Reid should read something other than the crap written by the Beltway press corps that slavishly serves the interests of the GOP. Then perhaps he might not also be saying in the same article that he hopes the Republicans don't filibuster all of Barack Obama's judicial nominees.

I already know they will do just that. Why doesn't Harry Reid?

Harry, you're not pledging the Omegas. Enough with "Thank you sir may I have another"

Jeez, Harry, would you PLEASE grow a pair already?

Harry, the man spoke at the Republican National Convention and he said that this country would be in danger if Barack Obama were elected. What the hell does he have to do to make you realize what an unreliable turncoat bastard he is?

So what do we have to do to get Harry Reid to quit Joe Lieberman?

Mild-mannered Harry may have had quite enough of John McCain, but he's still an old softie for Holy Joe:

The Senate Majority Leader, Democrat Harry Reid of Nevada, was chatting with the folks over at the Las Vegas Review-Journal the other day. Reid's not up for reelection until 2010, but it never hurts to schmooze with journalists as if they matter.

Naturally, Reid was asked about the ongoing presidential race that will send only the third sitting senator in American history to the White House. Reid's son was a big booster of Sen. Hillary Clinton. So he hoped to get something out of that. Oops, hitched to the wrong star.

And now all the polls seem to be tightening between Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama. Reid can be a little testy. He's the one who once told a group of visiting high school students that President Bush was "a loser."

Now if McCain pulls off yet another comeback and wins the White House, it looks like he'll have a similar relationship as Bush with Reid.

In his newspaper chat Reid didn't call McCain a loser, but he made clear that he doesn't have much use for the senator from next-door Arizona.

Reid was describing a recent conversation he had with Sen. Joe Lieberman, the former Connecticut Democrat who got dumped by his party in 2006 and got elected as an independent but caucuses with Democrats to protect their slim majority while hanging around a lot with Republicans like McCain anyway.

Lieberman, who was also the Democrats' VP nominee in 2000 with what's-his-name who invented the Internet and global warming, is even going to have a prominent speaking role at the GOP convention in St. Paul in 11 days. As a courtesy, Lieberman called the Democratic caucus boss in advance to alert him about the speech.

Reid explained: "He has a close personal relationship with John McCain. I don't fully understand why he does."

Reid added: "I told him last night, 'You know, Joe, I can't stand John McCain.' He said, 'I know you feel that way.' "

In the Las Vegas News-Journal story by Molly Ball, Reid said McCain was wrong on the issues and has the wrong temperament for a president.

All of which goes against what the Congressional Record recorded Reid saying about McCain on Sept. 20 last year: "I respect the senior Senator from Arizona because he doesn't hide what he stands for. I admire him. He stands for what he thinks is the right thing to do.”

Then asked about his benevolent treatment of Lieberman despite the former Democrat's traitorous political activities, Reid said: "All my close votes, he's always with me...Why would I want to throw away a good vote?"

Uh....because he's going to speak at the REPUBLICAN National Convention, Harry?

I've really had quite enough of Harry the Wuss, thank you very much. I'm thinking that Senate Majority Leader might be a good consolation prize for the junior Senator from New York next January.

Joe Lieberman is as much a danger to us as the Bush Administration

When will Harry Reid finally find his balls and kick this whiny little martinet out of the Democratic Party? Has there ever been a Democrat, even one who fancies himself an "independent Democrat", who has been more of a Republican? When Joe Lieberman isn't holding fundraisers for Republican Senators or taking a page from the Republican playbook by demonizing George Soros as a traitor for the crime of disagreeing with Joe Lieberman, he's off trying to stir up an attack on Iran so he can watch it on the evening news, pump his tiny fist and shout "Yeah! All right!" at the screen.

Until 2008, the committee leadership will not change. There are no consequences to kicking this little egomaniac who cares only for his own ego and what HE fancies to be Israel's interests out of the party. This party has enough trouble, it doesn't need Joe Lieberman too.