GOP Health Care RX: Stay the Course

Sarah Palin is at it again, this time providing her sage insight on the health care debate. Her argument against health care reform boils down to be afraid of the Obama death panels and government can do little right. "Common sense tells us that the government's attempts to solve large problems more often create new ones," she says. Other than defeating the Nazi's, building an interstate highway system, putting a man on the moon, running the national parks, managing western reclamation projects, she may have a point.

It's sad though not surprising to see the GOP pushing a fix which calls for little more than limiting public access to legal remedies and undefined profit driven programs. Never mind that profit driven decisions helped create the current mess. Palin's bleating op-ed is basically a giant "so what, be afraid because government management will only make it worse."

America's health care system is flat lining and the best GOP solution is "stay the course." The definition of insanity is repeating the same behavior and expecting a different result. It sounds like Plain and the GOP could use a good psychiatrist.

Chillin with Alberto

Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales says any investigation into whether CIA interrogations after 9-11 crossed legal lines could have a chilling effect on U.S. anti-terrorism efforts.

Maybe. But one thing is for certain, it will put a chill any ongoing criminal anti-terrorism efforts.

Yet either way, one gets the impression Alberto is less concerned about a potential criminal investigation and its chilling effect on future anti-terrorism actions, and more worried about the real possibility it may lead to his own incarceration in the cooler.

Run don't walk

Rumors about Sarah Palin's pending divorce were circulating this weekend. A spokesperson for the ex-governor denied the Palin's marriage was on the rocks, assuring the public it's not like Sarah "to walk out on a commitment."

Putting aside that it may be Todd seeking to end the relationship, other than leaving several colleges, the Wasilla Mayor's office, the Alaska Oil and Gas Commission and the Governorship, we agree its not like Sarah to walk out. Rather, her record seems more like running.

Happy Days are Here Again!

The Dow is over 9,000, new housing sales are up, Sarah Palin no long holds any official reins of power and another republiCON Senator is retiring. Things are really looking up!

Palin: Alaskan for throwing in the towel?

Sarah Palin abandoned the people of Alaska over the weekend "stating I feel great." Since Ms. Palin no longer holds any official governmental authority, many share the feeling.

Michael Steele or Inspector Clouseau?

RepubliCON National Committee chair Michael Steele dropped another dozy today. Get this, Steele claims President Barack Obama was not properly investigated prior to assuming the White House.

Michael seems to have forgotten the near constant investigation of Obama's past during the campaign including the President's supposed terrorist ties, his questionable US citizenship or his liberal voting record.

Michael's claim that enough isn't known about Obama is a slap in the face to the majority of Americans who voted for the President. Obviously, these peopel believed they knew enough to cast a vote for commander in chief. Insulting millions of Americans is a funny way for Mr. Steele to endear the GOP with the public. It's no wonder the party's popularity continues to slide.

Grand Sorry Old Party

RepubliCONS just keep eating their own. RNC chairman Michael Steele recently stepped into another fiasco when he asserted that Mitt Romney lost the GOP nomination because of the intolerance of the party's base members toward Romeny's Mormon faith.




Highlighting this intolerance, Steele offered he regrets the way his comments have been interpreted. Really? Steele is sorry about how his comments were interpreted, rather than their offensive implications.

And the GOP wonders why a shrinking number of people identify themselves as part of the party. Good luck CONS.

GOP's Haunting Specter

The republiCON party lost another Senator today. Pennsylvania Senator Arlene Specter, who has represented this state for the GOP for five terms will now join the Democrats.

RepubliCON party Chairman Michael Steele basically said good riddens to the former loyal GOP foot solider stating the Senator Specter was likely to lose the GOP primary because of his voting record.

Others however point to the GOP's strident rhetoric and intolerance as forcing out of the party more moderate voices like Specter. Senator Specter's defection reveals the GOP big tent claims as less bigtop and more of pup tent.

It appears the GOP is now doing to itself what it did to the country for the last eight years. It couldn't happen to a more deserving party.

Sarah Failin Fast!

Back in January, the Progressive Post made a series of predictions for 2009. Our number 6 prediction is that the Con's love affair with Sarah Palin would sour. It seems this prediction is coming to pass. Must be hard for team Palin to see themselves pushed off the national stage by someone who hasn't held national office in nearly ten years. This latest gaffe says alot about Palin's stumbling attempts to grab the GOP mantle, as well as the continued lack of leadership in the republiCON party. teehee.

Fred Knows Failure

Former Senator Fred Thompson says he wants President Obama's policies to fail. Putting aside the fact that if his policies fail, it likely means additional tough economic times for the country, Fred's pronouncement has got to have President Obama worried.

Because if anyone knows about failed political efforts (see here and here), its Fred.

Poor ANNual Sales

Finally some good economic news!

It's going to be a long fight

Fox News reports there is a fight brewing within the GOP over the soul of the party. This battle will likely take some time since they first will have to find it.

This makes it unanimous!

Cheney furious with Bush.

CONS to Obama: Talk to the Hand

President Obama and the Democrats are trying to work with the republiCONS why? Funny one would think the CONs believe they won the last election. During his inaugural address Obama mentioned his administration willingness to work with various interest.

The question before the Obama administration now is what does it do when the extended hand is met with a fist?

Limbaugh: He protests too much!

According to Rush Limbaugh President Barack Obama is "afraid" of him. Really? Why should Obama be afraid of the right wing, pill popping blowhard. Limbaugh wasn't able to derail the Obama campaign. Although, he tried to do so over and over and over. Its likely Barack Obama, now President with the legal authority to exercise his vision for America, worries little about Limbaugh's attempts to keep himself relevant and in the spotlight.

What stimulates Brit? Obviously Not History

Fake News Anchor Brit Hume was all a lather on inauguration day. Hardly after the cheering crowd of millions had dissipated, Brit was harping on President Obama's plan to stimulate the economy with new federal spending. He goes so far as to ask whether federal investment has ever worked to benefit the economy.



Other than federal appropriations for programs like the Louisiana Purchase, the Homestead settlements, the West's reclamation, the interstate highway system, the GI Bill, Space exploration and development of the Internet (just to name a few off the top the the head), Brit may have a point.

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Bush Legacy? Barack Obama!

President Bush isn't even out of the White House yet and the rewritting of history is already in full swing. Take this pap from Tara Wall deputy editor of the Washington Times and Bush apologist. It seems Tara believes the rejection of Bush and all things RepubliCON these past several months is just whining of a few crazy liberals. Funny the "crazy liberal" demographic now makes up 65 percent of the country.

The "crazy liberal" demographic aside, Tara quotes Secretary Rice who believes Bush's Presidency will be vindicated by history. Secretary Rice points to the President's keeping the homeland safe. In fact, President Bush himself summed up his adminstration thus, "President Bush was the president at a time when our nation was attacked, he clearly saw the dangers, he pursued the enemy, he put tools in place so the professionals could better protect the people, and the homeland was not attacked." However, the President is asking the American public to forget that he clearly didn't see or didn't care about the pending threat posed by Al Queda prior to 9/11!

It's also interesting that Rice, Wall and Bush's definition of safe is limited to preventing a repeat attack. However, the Bush administration's action facilitated the worst economic crisis since the great depression, sunk the nation into an unnecessary quagmire war, worsened the Katrina disaster and on and on and on. These actions have hardly made the nation "safer." In fact, it could be argued the country is in its worst position since the Civil War.

In the long run, Bush might get credit for creating the conditions that made the election of Barack Obama possible. A small silver lining in an otherwise dark cloud of a presidency. Good on you Bush!

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Minority Blues

Ohio republiCON Senator George Voinovich announced his decision to not seek a third term. Voinovich joins three other CON senators (Mel Martinez of Florida, Kit Bond of Missouri and Sam Brownback of Kansas) who won't seek relection in 2010. Rumors are that others like Kay Bailey Hutichson of Texas may leave the Senate as well.

Voinovich said in a statement that the demands of fundraising for relection and focusing on the needs of the country is too diffcult.

However, its more likely a combination of CONS' sinking approval ratings and the reality of being a longterm minority are really causing the good Senators to seek greener pastures.

TPP 2009 Predictions

Pat Robertson is making his annual predictions. I guess he has forgotten about the Bible's admonition against sooth saying and fortune telling.

However following Rev. Robertson lead and risking eternal damnation here are The Progressive Posts 2009 predictions:

1. RepubliCONS will strongly profess new faith in bi-partisan congressional action.
2. Despite their new faith in cooperation, CONS will obstruct (filibuster) many significant and needed bills throughout the year.
3. CONS will unceasingly question/undermine President Obama's policy in Iraq, Afghanistan in particular and the war on Terror in general. Least we forget, during the Bush administration this questioning of war aims was called treasonous unAmerican behavior.
4. CONS will push little more than union busting and tax cuts for the rich as "solutions" to the current economic crisis.
5. The RepubliCON party will continue to wallow throughout the year without real national leadership.
6. Despite an ongoing leadership vacuum, the CON base's love affair with Sarah Palin will sour.
7. Lacking a positive foreign policy vision, CONS will try to turn a minor international event into a major foreign policy crisis for the Obama administration.
8. The current Blogo scandal will have been forgotten long before this time next year.
9. Cons will scream that Roland Burris (a person who has been appointed) should be seated in the Senate, while opposing Al Franken's (a person elected to the chamber) joining the upper House.
10. Most of Pat Robertson's 2009 predictions will not come to pass.

Looking forward to the New Year!