George Bush and Laissez Faire, not so much

It always interesting to see conservatives ditch their principles when economic reality smacks their ideology in the face. So much for free market capitalism.

George Bush: We'll Miss You

A new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll found that 18 percent of the American public will miss George Bush when he leaves office on January 20th.

Who knew America has that many political comedians?

NRA: Shooting blanks

On its way out the door, the Bush administration is gutting public safeguards like fish. Most recently, Bush and company killed the Park Service's common sense rule that requires all firearms transported in national parks to be stowed and unloaded. The Reagan era rule was enacted in part to prevent poaching. However, the NRA appears to have reached into the White House and used its supposed political power to ram through a rule change that would allow loaded and concealed weapons.

For years the NRA has thrown its weight around in Washington D.C. killing just about every needed gun control measure over the past few decades. It did this in part by scaring legislators and administrative officials alike with its perceived political power. Yet, does the NRA have that much political weight?

During the public comment period on the Park Service proposed rule, it was believed the NRA would flood the Park Service with millions of letters calling for the change. This didn't happen. In fact, the NRA was only able to muster about 40,000 letters. By comparison, conservation and law enforcement groups which opposed the changes, produced more than twice as many comments.

Furthermore, the NRA saw its power on Capitol hill take a significant hit this past November. Of the 18 NRA endorsed Senate races, NRA candidates won roughly half those contests. More troubling for the NRA, their endorsements in tight races in states like Colorado, North Carolina and Alaska went 0-6. Ouch!

However, what probably most reveals the NRA's waning influence is that it choose not to endorse candidates in 16 other Senate races. This despite the fact that in many of these contests such as that in Massachusetts, the Democratic incumbent was given an F on their gun voting record. This should have been a no brainer for the NRA, yet it chose to punt on this race.

Does the NRA deserve its political deference? Hardly. In fact, its quite clear the organization is running low on political ammo.

GOP to America: No You Can't

Recently, right wing blow hard Glen Beck interviewed republiCON Senator Saxby Chamblis. Glen asked Saxby if Georgia voters understand what's at stake in today's run off election. Saxby said republiCONS' goal in Congress is "to stop bad legislation or shape bad legislation." Wow! Stopping or shaping bad legislation is the new republiCON vision. It appears liberal America has "Yes we can!" while conservatives are reduced to "No we can't!"

This from the party that just a few short years ago was dreaming of a permanent legislative majority. My how they have fallen!

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House RepubliCONs meet your new boss. . .

RepubliCON candidates took it in the shorts this past November 4th across the country. They lost the White House in an electoral landslide and saw the Democrats increase their overwhelming majorities in both the House (nearly 20 seats) and the Senate (8 seats).

So, what do House RepubliCONS do as one of their first orders of business after such a crushing defeat, according to CQ reelect John Boehner as their leader. It appears Mr. Boehner has convinced House CONS that his driving the republiCON party off a cliff is actually flying.

Good on you CONs!


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Taking the Week off

The Progressive Post is taking the next week off to recoup from the glorious electoral victory. See you after the 17th!

In the meantime, be sure to check out the latest Obama stuff!

Pardon Us

Now that the election is over, much of the media attention will rightly focus on the Obama transition. Who will fill this Cabinet position? What's President-elect Obama's take on Russian missile deployment? However, George Bush is still president for roughly 3 more months. And with a decreased media scrutiny it will allow the him to slip many bad things past a distracted public and press.

Not the least of which is there may be a slew of pardons, basically condoning the culture of corruption that gripped GOP rule the last eight years. GOP felons like Ted Stevens, Scooter Libby, Steven Griles, Randy Cunningham, Jack Abramoff, or indicted CONS such as Tom Delay and law benders such as Karl Rove, Monica Goodling and Dick Cheney are likely licking the president's boots for a get out of jail free card.

The only real question left is: Will Bush give a card to himself?

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