Tag: Republicans

Bill Maher: Republicans ‘Have to Tell Us What Exactly It Is They’re Good At’

Jon Ponder

photo-maher-real-timeQuick. Name one thing George Bush accomplished during the eight years he was president — one successful endeavor that benefited the citizens of the United States that did not blow up the deficit or utterly fail later on.

Now name one thing that Republicans in Congress have done since Bush left office that could be called an unvarnished success and that, in some way or other, improved the lot of the people they represent, rather than their corporate masters.

On Bill Maher’s HBO show “Real Time,” last Friday, he asked, in the wake of the killing of bin Laden and the ongoing financial crisis caused by the Bush recession, what is it Republicans are actually good at.

The obvious answer is that Republicans are excellent at propaganda, lying, cheating and stealing elections, both outright, as they did in Florida in 2000, and by creating wedge issues based on hatred and fear, as they did in Ohio in 2004. No one can beat them at manipulating the news in order to, as Karl Rove once put it, create their own reality.

A better question would be, what is it Republicans are good for? Other than handing the goods, resources and treasury of the United States over to their big-money sponsors as fast and as efficiently as they can, it’s hard to say why the GOP even exists.

Here is a partial transcript of Maher’s take down of the GOP:

[…]

Bush Team Sour Grapes Leaving Us Bitter

Trish

The Bush team claiming credit for getting Osama bin Laden is like the Jacksonville Jaguars taking credit for the Green Bay Packers winning the Super Bowl. Yes, the Jaguars played a role (by losing in the playoffs) but that’s not the same as scoring the winning touchdown in the big event.

— Pensito Review editor Trish, disgusted by the appearances on news shows and statements by Condoleeaza Rice, Andrew Card and other Bush administration officials

Why Did Gov. Rick Scott Attend Washington Insider Event?

Trish

Much has been made of how the White House Correspondents’ annual dinner has become a celebrity fest. Everyone from Cee Lo Green to Bristol Palin to Paula Abdul attended, along with journalists. But can someone please explain to me why Tea Party Republican Gov. Rick Scott felt he needed to leave Florida to be there? Scott can be clearly seen checking to see if it’s O.K. with Donald to laugh at the Trump jokes, at about 1:40 on the right of the screen. Is this what Florida hired Scott to do?

As a side note, while Trump and Scott certainly share the crazy, their hairstyles offer an interesting contrast. Who says the GOP isn’t full of diversity?

Verbatim

Trish

What House Republicans propose is that the government simply push the problem of rising health care costs on to seniors; that is, that we replace Medicare with vouchers that can be applied to private insurance, and that we count on seniors and insurance companies to work it out somehow.

Paul Krugman, Nobel-prize winning economist, New York Times columnist, and loyal opposition leader

Hey Paul Ryan, How’s That Ax-y Medicare-y Thing Workin’ Out for Ya?

Trish

Wisconsin Republican Rep. Paul Ryan’s constituents showed they are much smarter than he thinks they are. They aren’t buying the latest iteration of trickle-down, voodoo economics. And when he persisted in trying to get them to see it his way, they booed him. Let this be a warning to other tea bag Republicans who underestimate us. You need to throw out new red meat. We aren’t swallowing the old stuff.

Another Tea Party Birther Republican Exposed as Racist

Trish

racistemail

It’s deju vu all over again during the Obama years, as yet another Republican party official has been caught sending blatantly racist emails about the president. Marilyn Davenport, a tea party activist and member of the central committee of the Orange County, Calif. Republican Party, sent the image shown with the caption, “Now you know why no birth certificate.”

Davenport defended the email, as have all her predecessors that we know of, by saying it’s not really racist, it wasn’t meant to be seen by you, and it’s the fault of the press for blowing up a minor matter into something bigger.

I actually kind of agree with Davenport on that last point. The only reason these stories continue to be publicized is because so many members of the media deny that the tea party Republican movement is racist at its core. If we could all just acknowledge that and move on, there would be no need to keep proving it by showing direct evidence.