August 19, 2012

Breaking: Tea Baggers Steeped (Naked? OMG!) in the Sea of Galilee

August 19, 2012August 19, 2012 Trish

This story is too great to believe — but it’s the sometimes right-leaning Politico breaking it, so we must.

Hooo-weee.

The FBI probed a late-night swim in the Sea of Galilee that involved drinking, numerous GOP freshmen lawmakers, top leadership staff – and one nude member of Congress, according to more than a dozen sources, including eyewitnesses…

During a fact-finding congressional trip to the Holy Land last summer, Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-Kan.) took off his clothes and jumped into the sea…

These GOP sources confirmed the following freshmen lawmakers also went swimming that night: Rep. Steve Southerland (R-Fla.) and his daughter; Rep. Tom Reed (R-N.Y.) and his wife; Reps. Ben Quayle (R-Ariz.), Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) and Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.). Many of the lawmakers who ventured into the ocean said they did so because of the religious significance of the waters. Others said they were simply cooling off after a long day. Several privately admitted that alcohol may have played a role in why some of those present decided to jump in.

The Sea of Galilee, a Christian holy site, is where Jesus is said in the Bible to have walked on water.

The story is well reported by Jake Sherman and John Bresnahan, so please read it from the source.

Rep. Todd Akin: Rape Won’t Make You Pregnant

August 19, 2012August 19, 2012 Trish

Meet the man running for U.S. Senate from Missouri against Sen. Claire McCaskill (D). You’ve heard he’s very far right. You’ve heard he’s backed by the tea party. But have you heard that Rep. Todd Akin is nuts? You have now.

Akin’s bizarre theory that the female body has a way of guarding against pregnancy in cases of “legitimate” rape is just wacko. What way might that be, Todd? Does it secrete natural spermicides? Does the uterus jump out of the way of the incoming sperm? Does the female brain send a signal to the uterine wall to sneeze? Break it down for us.

In fact, about 5 percent of rapes of women of childbearing age and ability in the United States annually leave the victim pregnant. Notice I just said, “rape,” not “forcible rape,” or “legitimate rape,” or as Akin might put it, “real rape.”

Why are some men trying to pass laws about what women can and can’t do when they have no more understanding of women than a 12-year-old?

h/t to TPM

Fast Forward

August 19, 2012 Trish

Can’t we just skip to the part where Obama’s halfway through his second term and Paul Ryan’s on Dancing With the Stars?

@TheDailyEdge, on Twitter

Paul Ryan Was a Vocal Advocate for Bush’s Stimulus Bills: ‘You Have to Spend a Little to Grow a Little,’ He Said in 2002

August 19, 2012August 19, 2012 Jon Ponder

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Last week Congressman Paul Ryan was caught lying about the fact that after he voted against the stimulus bill he requested at least $25 million in stimulus funding for his district. Now, via Huffington Post, we learn that in 2002 he was a strong advocate of Republican efforts to pass George Bush’s stimulus bills:

[…]

Day: August 19, 2012

Breaking: Tea Baggers Steeped (Naked? OMG!) in the Sea of Galilee

Rep. Todd Akin: Rape Won’t Make You Pregnant

Fast Forward

Can’t we just skip to the part where Obama’s halfway through his second term and Paul Ryan’s on Dancing With the Stars?

@TheDailyEdge, on Twitter

Paul Ryan Was a Vocal Advocate for Bush’s Stimulus Bills: ‘You Have to Spend a Little to Grow a Little,’ He Said in 2002

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“The man is afraid of the voice of the people and that the people understand and know what he’s doing. He’s trying to stifle the ability of journalists to let the people of America know what’s really going on with their government.”

— “Kamala Harris called President Donald Trump’s ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House ‘absolutely abhorrent,’” The Wrap reports.

“Not one of them is trained in technical skills. Not one research PhD, as opposed to China, where half the cabinet is science and technology PhDs. We’re led by grifters and fools.”

— Columbia professor Jeffrey Sachs, on X, on President Trump’s 35-person cabinet.

“Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far… The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today.”

— Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), breaking with President Trump in a direct-to-camera video.

Numerati

1,000

10%

“The unprecedented spate of mid-decade redistricting for the U.S. House has changed the congressional districts for one-tenth of Americans and significantly altered the makeup of at least one-fifth of districts, according to a new study,” the Associated Press reports.

71%

A new Fox News Poll finds 71% of voters think the Trump administration lacks a clear strategy for ending the Iran War, including 95% of Democrats, 83% of independents, and 43% of Republicans. Sixty percent say U.S. military action against Iran was the wrong decision, while just 37% say it was right.

$9.5 billion

“The Trump administration last year spent $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave for federal workers as part of its plan to shrink the government and save taxpayers money, according to a new estimate by a congressional watchdog,” CNN reports.

470

Reuters has documented at least 470 targets of retribution under Trump’s leadership – from federal employees and prosecutors to universities and media outlets. The list illuminates the sweeping effort by the president and his administration to punish dissent and reshape the government.