2013 - Page 41 of 106

The Dead Can’t Vote, But They Can Contribute

August 5, 2013 Buck Banks

32

The number of people listed on federal campaign records as “deceased” who nonetheless have contributed more than $586,000 to congressional and presidential candidates and political parties since Jan. 1, 2009, according to USA Today.

Crappy States Debate

August 2, 2013 Buck Banks

As the feud carries on twixt Rand Paul and Chris Christie
The barbs just get dumber as the debaters grow testy.
But the level of discourse
Isn’t surprising, of course —
It’s about what you’d expect between Kentucky and New Jersey.

Chait: Boehner a ‘Trembling Child Monarch’

August 2, 2013 Buck Banks

Yesterday, the House of Representatives pulled a bill from the floor for lack of votes — the sort of scrambling chaos that occurs routinely in the chamber where John Boehner presides like a trembling child monarch. But this defeat was different. The bill concerned the funding of housing and transportation programs, though its failure represented more than just a programmatic setback, or even a setback for the Republican economic strategy writ large, but the potential ruin of its entire posture toward Obama. Since taking control of the House two and a half years ago, Republicans have fomented a series of crises that seemed to have no end in sight, explicitly refusing to negotiate with Obama and implicitly denying his legitimacy as president. The crumbling of that wall is far from certain, but yesterday a wide crack opened up.

— Jonathan Chait, writing in New York Magazine.

Why Christians Should Leave the Democratic Party

August 2, 2013 Buck Banks

Oh, Oh, oh I do believe it. I said it because I believe that the Democrat party has become an anti-God party, I think it’s an anti-life party, I think it’s an anti-family party. And these are all things I think Christians hold to very dearly.

— Virginia lieutenant governor nominee E.W. Jackson (R), asserting that the Democratic Party is “anti-God” and that Christians should leave it, Salon reports.

Congress’ Job Approval Remains Dismal

August 2, 2013 Buck Banks

19% to 73%

Job approval for congressional Republicans, which is worse even than the negative 31% to 61% score for congressional Democrats.

Palestinians Have Low Expectations of an Accord with Israel

August 1, 2013 Buck Banks

74%

Of Palestinians do not expect a permanent peace accord with Israel will ever be realized, and most have low expectations for the peace talks taking place in the coming weeks between the Palestinians and Israelis.

Palin’s PAC Supports … Palin’s PAC

August 1, 2013 Buck Banks

$5,000

Amount of the $496,505.68 spent by SarahPAC in the first six months of the year that actually went to political candidates, National Journal reports. Sarah Palin’s political action committee “brought in just over $460,000 during the first half of 2013, well short of its fundraising totals for the same period in previous years,” the Anchorage Daily News reports. SarahPAC ended June with about $1.1 million in cash available.

Prepare for the Economic Collapse — The End Is Nigh!

August 1, 2013 Buck Banks

We need to prepare for the inevitable collapse that is going to happen: You know it’s going to happen. That’s right, I am a politician and I am standing up here and saying that.

— Washington state Rep. Matt Shea (R), quoted by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, on the coming economic collapse.

Unusual Hamburger Toppings

August 1, 2013 Buck Banks

There once was a Chinaman named Li,
Who took his pet turtle on a spree.
He disguised the poor critter
As a KFC hamburger,
But could not get it past airport security.

Unhappy McCain Wishes He Were President

July 31, 2013 Buck Banks

32

The number of people listed on federal campaign records as “deceased” who nonetheless have contributed more than $586,000 to congressional and presidential candidates and political parties since Jan. 1, 2009, according to USA Today.

— Jonathan Chait, writing in New York Magazine.

Oh, Oh, oh I do believe it. I said it because I believe that the Democrat party has become an anti-God party, I think it’s an anti-life party, I think it’s an anti-family party. And these are all things I think Christians hold to very dearly.

— Virginia lieutenant governor nominee E.W. Jackson (R), asserting that the Democratic Party is “anti-God” and that Christians should leave it, Salon reports.

19% to 73%

Job approval for congressional Republicans, which is worse even than the negative 31% to 61% score for congressional Democrats.

74%

Of Palestinians do not expect a permanent peace accord with Israel will ever be realized, and most have low expectations for the peace talks taking place in the coming weeks between the Palestinians and Israelis.

$5,000

We need to prepare for the inevitable collapse that is going to happen: You know it’s going to happen. That’s right, I am a politician and I am standing up here and saying that.

— Washington state Rep. Matt Shea (R), quoted by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, on the coming economic collapse.

Am I happy? I’d like to be president of the United States.

— Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), in an interview with the New Republic.

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%

$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.