According to Ben Smith, “A Fox sales executive, Mike Mandelker, told the group’s ad buyer that the spot was too confusing.” What’s so confusing about the future consequences (and current ramifications) of a world power remaining dependent on a foreign nonrenewable energy source?
:: 
:: 
:: 
:: 
:: 
:: 
:: 
:: 
:: 
:: 
:: 
On Friday, President Obama debated Republicans in Congress on various issues during an intense Q & A session. During the debate, President Obama demonstrated reasonableness, which I appreciate—and it was the reason why he received my vote. In fact, this morning on “The Chris Matthews Show,”Andrew Sullivan described President Obama as a “reasonable centrist person” but used these words to describe former President George W. Bush: “spent, borrowed, and invaded.” There’s no doubt that Bush II wasn’t a reasonable prudent president. Furthermore, it’s no surprise that Fox News mostly ignored the debate between Obama and Congressional Republicans and even cut “away 20 minutes before [the] end of Obama’s Q&A with House Republicans.” More on the debate via the New York Daily News:
President Obama dove headfirst into the belly of the GOP beast Friday – and left the not-so-loyal opposition bleeding on a Baltimore ballroom floor.
He skewered Republicans for obstructionist tactics, dubious facts and a lack of civility in opposing his domestic agenda, especially health care reform.
“If you were to listen to the debate and, frankly, how some of you went after this bill, you’d think that this thing was some Bolshevik plot,” Obama told the GOP issues retreat after unveiling a proposal for $33 billion in small-business tax incentives.
House Republican leaders had tried to score political points by inviting Obama to their lair. Problem was, he showed up.
If you failed to catch the debate, here are some videos to browse through:
President Obama’s Speech at the House Republican retreat in Baltimore:
President Obama’s full Q&A at the House Republican retreat in Baltimore:
President Obama schools factually-challenged Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX05) on the budget:
Fact checking via CNN Political Ticker, The New York Times, and The Washington Post
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::
The tea baggers, the birthers, and the protestors at town hall meetings aren’t offering any remedies or solutions to our country’s woes. Mostly, they merely shout loudly and make outlandish and untruthful claims. The performance—nourished by corporations, Fox News, and other special interests—is embarrassing and alarming. More from Paul Krugman:
Sure enough, President Obama is now facing the same kind of opposition that President Bill Clinton had to deal with: an enraged right that denies the legitimacy of his presidency, that eagerly seizes on every wild rumor manufactured by the right-wing media complex.
This opposition cannot be appeased. Some pundits claim that Mr. Obama has polarized the country by following too liberal an agenda. But the truth is that the attacks on the president have no relationship to anything he is actually doing or proposing.
Right now, the charge that’s gaining the most traction is the claim that health care reform will create “death panels” (in Sarah Palin’s words) that will shuffle the elderly and others off to an early grave. It’s a complete fabrication, of course. The provision requiring that Medicare pay for voluntary end-of-life counseling was introduced by Senator Johnny Isakson, Republican — yes, Republican — of Georgia, who says that it’s “nuts” to claim that it has anything to do with euthanasia.
—
Photo source for attribution. The author or licensor of this image does not endorse my work or me and their image is protected under an attribution license.
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::
This video showing former professional wrestler and former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura in an exchange with Sean Hannity illustrates the typical nonsense some folks like Hannity babble when you try to debate politics with them.
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::
