Blog For Arizona

An Election Fraud Directive from the Inner Party

An amusing—and ironically accurate—tongue-in-cheek report on how the GOP is planning to steal the 2008 election, bird-dogged by my blog-buddy Brad Friedman of The Brad Blog:

Bush Brings US Change for the Better

No. No one has hijacked my blog. "Change for the Better" is a very humorous video that was pointed out by Slade Mead over at his blog, The Dry Heat:

Which Half Are You?

The title of this post won't make any sense until the end of this video:

A Modest Proposal to get the GOP to quit Congress

Link: GOP congressmen quit because of five-day work week.

So far, 9 GOP Congressmen have announced their intent to retire. Many are privately citing the rigors of the Democratic Congress' new 5 day a week work schedule as being a decisive factor in that decision not to seek re-election.

Said Ray LaHood (R - IL):

“I do think the schedule and the flying is a huge pain for people, particularly those who are from the Midwest or even further West,” adding that it’s “probably the worst part of the job. I think that has played into these retirement announcements.”

Obviously, what we have here is a labor - management dispute. Some Republican members have already resigned rather than meet the 'stringent' 5-day-a-week schedule. Now we need to make the conditions of work so onerous that the GOP will go out on strike, and we can replace them with scabs. Maybe they'll even quit outright and go looking for easier work.

The House already doesn't assign workspace on the floor of the chamber, perhaps we should institute the same 'first-come first-served' policy with offices. Or get rid of offices all together? We can just have a cube farm in the rotunda. Or let Congresscritters do their work perched at a Starbucks with a laptop like the rest of us. That should get rid of a herd representatives more concerned with prestige and perks than with public service.

Next, we have to cut salaries, bennies, travel benefits, per diem, and retirement benefits, and staff budgets - deeply. I see no reason why Congress should make more than their average constituent. We should peg the salary of Congress to the median family income in that Congresscritter's district. Health care benefits should likewise be 'normalized' to their constituents' level: they will spend the same percentage of the year without health insurance as the percentage of constituents without health care insurance in their district. Retirement should be not be the lush defined benefit package they now get, but instead a defined contribution tax-deferred plan like the rest of us peons get: and the President (as the government's CEO) will have to power to raid their pension plans to redecorate his White House. Congresscritters will no longer be allowed to travel by air; instead they will be required to commute home by hitchhiking or jumping freight cars. Finally, all office expenses come out of their pockets and they can try to deduct them on their taxes like the rest of us. Salaries for staff? Hah! Forget it, all those people in D.C. subsisting on 'workfare' can work for a Congresscritter instead of picking up trash in parks. In the district offices, we'll just rely on volunteers.

These modest proposals should take care of most of the GOP right there. Real Democrats will have a lock on Congress because no Republicans, and no DLC corporatist Democrats, will ever choose to run again.

Finally, just to be sure, every member of Congress should be audited yearly, and all financial records of the Congresscritters and their families will be made available to the media on a real time basis. That should finish off any motive Republicans might have for wanting to sit in Congress.

Onward! To a permanent liberal Democratic majority!

Leave Petraeus Alone!

Heh! This is a hoot. Some of you will be familiar with the media squall over an emo kid named Chris Crocker who bawled his eyes out on YouTube over the negative buzz on Britney's big come-back performance; for those of you who have a life, and haven't clue what I'm on about, click the Crocker link - you will quickly be sucked down a very silly media hole.

Crocker's performance begs to be parodied, and, indeed a number of parodies of Crocker's absurd tantrum have emerged among the more net-saavy entertainers. One of them is the following romp with an ersatz Bush pewlingly defending the clunker performance of his BFF, General David Petraeus:

via videosift.com

My Party

Harry Reid and the Sorcerer's Stonewall, featuring Rovamort

A humorous take on the GOP's obstructionist tactics, taking on a serious subject in a manner that even a political muggle can grasp:

Republican Heaven 2020

Link: Republican Heaven, The Year 2020

by Patrick McGann

Welcome back from your little nap. Here's America. How do you like it?

Having achieved a "Permanent Majority" under the architecture of Newt Gingrich and Karl Rove, Republicans have controlled both houses of Congress and the White House for two decades.

Economy booms!

Driven by a robust demand for U.S. flag lapel pins (now mandatory by law), and by highly profitable private prisons, where the pins are made, Republicans are crowing this year! The nation's largest prison provider, Halliburton, announced its 20th consecutive year of record profits. And after a prolonged period of consolidation, book publishing is rebounding as Bible production ramps up to comply with the replacement of all school text books with the King James version. Most economists, still employed, credited tax cuts.

Final phase of tax reform completed!

The last phase of tax reform has been completed. Itemized deductions are now allowed on the national sales tax for qualified individuals who spend more than $100,000 on selected items, including jewelry, furs, German and Italian automobiles over $75,000, boats over 25 feet long, real estate, stocks and stock options, certificates of deposit, limited partnerships, oil paintings by the masters, and small, medium and large businesses. Going the way of the income tax, eliminated in 2012 -- in order to spur investment -- property taxes have been eliminated on first, second, third, fourth or more residences valued over $500,000 each. Said Senator Riley Stickem, R- Utah, "Now the tax burden is more fairly placed on those who cause the costs."

Pullen Your Leg

Randy Pullen, the Arizona State Chairman of the GOP, whom I dearly love and revere as a wise and powerful leader for the opposition party, recently published a very amusing opinion piece about what it means to him to be a Republican. I have taken the liberty of correcting (parenthetically) the many mistakes in Randy's word choice and usage, not to mention the things he forgot to mention:

by Randy Pullen

My fellow Arizonans, my fellow Americans, (my fellow Republicans,) (my fellow fascist right-wing nutters,) I believe our state and our nation stand today at a crossroads in history (at which the voters are going to turf us out of power here in Arizona). The rhetoric in the media (and your truly) of recent years describes us as a politically divided nation, almost equal in number of Republicans and Democrats (except with many, many more people self-identifying as supporting the Democrats), with our party nominees (and in fact our parties themselves) (<--- that's Randy's parenthetical there, not mine, FYI) competing for those few undecided voters remaining in the middle (those 'few' being 74% of new voter registrations in Arizona since 2006 who selected party affiliation of Independent or none).

Today I reject that notion because two very important things have happened (and because I would like to distract everyone from the GOP's record of utter failure and ruin in leading this country).

First, our next generation of Republican leadership from city halls to court houses to state houses to the White House has largely united in one voice behind our belief in both America and the American people (as opposed to our opponents, the damn Democrats, who don't have to believe in America, because they actually have proof it exists... damned empiricists). We have shown our faith (through faith-based governing) in the American dream for all (white males), and we are putting forth real (ly bad), common-sense (actually they are just easy to explain, they really don't make any sense) ideas on how to transform those dreams (nightmares are still dreams...) into reality.

Though our Democrat(ic) opponents and many of our liberal friends (of Satan) in the media often ballyhoo when Republicans disagree (and I, Randy Pullen, have grabbed the party chairmanship due to this effect), this much is true (well, truthy, anyhow): today’s Republican Party has refocused itself as the party of (bad) ideas and courage (of others, not our own.. Chickenhawks, remember?), and as the party of a bright future for (the really stinkin' wealthy people of) Arizona and for America ('s stinking rich, too).

Here in Arizona, our leaders (that would be yours truly) have said with unwavering resolve that it is no longer acceptable for our state’s brave veterans to suffer under a system of neglect and incompetence (that we Republicans built by repeatedly cutting veterans' benefits and failing to invest in stupid poor suckers who served our country in favor of tax cuts for the more deserving wealthy folks). We have not just exposed the wrongs of our government (well, actually, that's the Democratic Congress doing that, Republicans have had a more circumspect approach to government oversight - we don't do it unless there is a Democrat in the Presidency) but are busy crafting solutions to protect our veterans and honor their past service (we have a part-time volunteer staffer looking into it).

Our Republican leaders have identified the failings of our state’s bureaucracy charged with protecting our most vulnerable children (and done our best to cut their budgets). We have confronted an unwieldy and defensive bureaucracy and demanded accountability and change – which now seems clear will come because of the resolve of our Republican lawmakers here in Arizona (yeah, even I don't know what the hell I'm talking about here).

We have, and continue to, reach out to (the right sort of) community leaders and (big) business organizations (who can afford to sponsor nice junkets) to seek real-world (as opposed to our usual faith-based) ideas and innovative means (meaning no-bid contracts for our cronies) with which to further spur Arizona’s (Richistani) economy to create new jobs (for peon wages), new opportunities (for wealthy investors) and new futures for (stinking rich) families in every county and corner of our state (but mainly Snottsdale). We confront head-on (in the tradition of the ostrich, by placing said head in the sand) the environmental challenges of water (i.e., using more of it), effective land use (you know, for golf courses, malls, and tract homes for the hoi poloi), and responsible growth (and limits are not responsible, you know) to protect the natural wonders of our state (so long as they don't get all endangered on us and start making demands) and the quality of life of (just) our neighbors and friends (who are the right sort of folks belonging to my country club, church, and Rotary Club).

And our Republican elected officials at the local and state level are leaders in (privatizing) education, seeking to transform our schools to places of true (profit, and even some) learning (if it doesn't adversely affect the bottom line, and) where the hopes and dreams of (corporate contributors can come true, and incidentally some) children may be nurtured (if their parents can afford the tuition). Arizona is a leader in (private) education innovation with charter schools, performance testing, and tax credits (raking off public funding from public education into corporate coffers); all (purely) Republican ideas. Each step we take for (private) education reform promises a brighter future not just for (the educational corporations of) our state, but for (the profitability of) each individual child whom we are determined to serve (for lunch to Mamon) as if he or she were our own (to dispose of as we see fit).

Our Republican leaders today do these things not simply because of the jobs they have been elected to (according to Diebold's Board of Directors), or the oaths of office they have taken (to serve and protect George W. Bush and the Reverend Sun Yung Moon), but because (they love fucking over the little people and because) of the tremendous dedication they have for (abusing the power of) the positions they have been elected to hold (as proxies for the ultra-wealthy who are themselves to busy schtuping super-models to bother with this dreck) and the commitment they share to the (very important wealthy) people they serve. They are men and women with ideas (and an eye on their main chance) working closely with doctors and teachers, parents and small businesspeople, senior citizens, veterans, families and individuals from every walk of life (to pull the wool over these regular folks' eyes) in a great partnership (with the ultra-wealthy) toward a stronger (class system in) Arizona.

Second, I reject the equally divided notion put forth because of the direction taken by today’s Democrat(ic) Party. Special interests and 15-second sound bytes now take precedent over governing (for us Republicans), where (the Democratic Party's) politics impedes (Republican) progress (toward a plutocratic state) at almost every turn (Republicans must do their best to muddy the waters for voters who should rationally decided to vote) for Democrats.

A recent Gallup Poll showed the Democrat majority in Congress has now driven public confidence in Congress to an all-time low of just 14-percent (because they have refused to impeach a deeply unpopular criminal who inhabits the White House) – lower than before Republicans wrested Congress from the Democrats in 1994 and lower than during the Watergate era (when they did the right thing and tossed a war criminal out of office). One would have to go back to the Continental Congress in 1780 to find a lower confidence level (or a more out-of-control Executive, i.e. King George).

Today, the Democrats in Congress have no charismatic president to lead them off on quixotic journeys into misguided domestic policy (as opposed to our charismatic president who led us off on quixotic journeys into misguided foreign policy). Today, they have achieved their 14-percent approval rating all by themselves (by failing to stand up to Republican intransigence, criminality and corruption). Democrat(ic) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi proudly negotiates with (the same nations as do Republican Congressional delegations which have been designated as) state-sponsors of terrorism (but we try to act like it makes her a terrorist because that sort of political smear is our stock in trade), placing in jeopardy (of having to talk to their enemies) not only Israel (our closest democratic ally in the region) (<-- his parenthetical, not mine), but undermining nearly single handedly America’s diplomatic efforts (although how her visit does this I don't understand, it's just in the talking points I've been given) in the Middle East in our crusade (God, I love pissing off the Muslims by using that word, and such attitudes have nothing to do with Republicans' utter failure) to stamp our terror. Democrat(ic) Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid routinely declares that America has lost it’s war against terror in Iraq (because he insists on operating in the reality-based universe), giving aid and comfort to the enemy (who in this case are Republican war-mongers who will use Reid's simple truth as some sort of smear) while our brave men and women in uniform fight (an endless, grinding civil war that is not their own, among people who constantly want to kill them, on an ever creeping mission with a never-ending deployment) to protect a fledgling democracy (er, I mean, theocracy) from brutal Islamic fascists (I know they're fascists because I have fascist radar, sort of like some folks have gaydar) and keep their reach from extending to America’s shores once again (by attracting them to Iraq for training and combat experience in a lawless land which we don't control, with unprotected borders and an refugee population in the millions from which to recruit new fanatics... wait, how does that fighting them there thing work again?).

The new Democrat(ic) Congress has already called for the largest tax hike in American history (because Bush's tax cuts were the largest in history and the vast majority went to our deserving wealthy clients, er, constituents), has broken it’s promise on ending the secrecy behind the practice of spending billions of dollars on “earmarked” pork-barrel projects (but that has nothing to do with the deep freeze of real secrecy that the Administration hides its dirty political laundry behind), is set to repeal the Bush tax cuts (that have spurred strong economic growth (among mainly our wealthiest constituents and big government contractors) for six years) (<--- again, original parenthetical his), have broken their promise to address skyrocketing gas prices (because we filibustered it), and are set to introduce massive new tax hikes that will reduce investment and cost thousands upon thousands of jobs across America (if you believe Mr. Laffer, whom even Mr. Laffer doesn't believe).

While Republicans have learned the lessons of mistakes made in the majority (mainly, don't get caught) (and, mind you, there were many, many victories and achievements to be proud of, as well) (<-- his), Democrats have reaffirmed their allegiance to the Liberal Left (I wanted to say International Leftist Conspiracy, but my Communications Director wouldn't let me...). Not only in matters of Iraq and the war on terror, but in domestic and economic policy, as well. Those who bought and paid for their campaigns and election efforts in 2006 are being handsomely rewarded – only it isn’t (just) the American people (who will benefit of Democratic leadership), it’s the liberal special interests, which will ultimately reap the benefits (though we're still working on what their angle is... don't these people believe in making a profit? What are they after? Good government?).

The Democrat(ic) leaders in Congress are banking their entire political fortunes on the defeat of their own nation (much like we Republican banked on making our own nation a Banana Republic), and the Democrat candidates for President have become pessimistic naysayers with poll-tested scripts and no original ideas (as opposed to our gaggle of optimistic Pollyannas who wing it and have great new ideas like "privatize it," "cut taxes," and "stay the course"). Republicans, on the other hand, continue to show why we are the party of (bad) ideas and (profitable) principles. We offer better choices to a greater number of (very wealthy) voters – a majority of whom we believe will find a home within our ranks (for a very low one-time membership fee of $1 million and a low, low monthly maintenance fee of only $5K a month).

Incarcerex

Boy, if there's one thing the Libertarians are good for, it's having the guts (and lack of electoral exposure) to advocate for fundamental reform of our out-of-control drug policy. This spoof ad is a real gem:

Dim Bulb

Question: How many members of the Bush Administration does it take to change a light bulb?

If Steve Jobs Ran Apple like Bush

Spot on the money satire. MadTV rules!

The Minutemen's Next Move

GOP Narrows Its Focus Still Further

The Onion: GOP Throws All Financial Support Behind One Candidate.

Our own J.D. Hayworth (if you want to claim him) is the great white hope of the GOP.

BOO!!!! Two More Years, Motherfuckers!

I can't think of anything more frightening. Have a creepy Halloween.

Bill Maher Puts America In Its Place

Why are comedians recently the only ones who seem to be telling the whole, unvarnished truth about politics? I think it may be because the truth is so bad, that it's either going to make you laugh, or it's going to make you cry. Nobody wants to listen to the version that comes with tears, so we'll take our truth with a dose of laughter, thanks.

Is America still #1? Bill says:

The Latest Wonder Drug

Listen to the ad

Good for what ails ya!

Ricky Gervais Reads Genesis

Ricky Gervais, creator of The Office, gives his humorous take on the creator of The Universe. Made me laugh...

       

The Heterosexual Agenda

Thought provoking study of the damage done by the hetero lifestyle: The Heterosexual Agenda: Exposing The Myths.

American Comedy Network Presents: Mexican Tourism Ad

Link: American Comedy Network Presents: Mexican Tourism Ad.

Wow. I've been sitting here for five minutes trying to think of something to say. It's funny, but not. Dang, you just have to watch it...

Shooting Doves on 9/11

Occasionally, something comes to represent and reveal far more that was ever intended by it's authors. I believe that this is one of those things.

How could you possibly summarize everything that is wrong about the Republican Party more poetically than a GOP candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction who invites supporters to go dove hunting (for the symbolically impaired, doves are the symbol of peace) on 9/11 for 1000 bucks a head?

Via BoingBoing.net

Steve Huffman, Arizona Minuteman

So I was watching Stevie Huffman's immigration-centric ad, and one image in particular struck me:

We have Stevie, on his knees, in the dark (maybe near a lonely freeway rest stop somewhere), delicately holding a big, hard, shiny phallic object, and looking quite winsome. Then it struck me: Stevie really has become Jim Kolbe.

Oh, I know the thought is unworthy, but humor so often is. Props to the guys; you know who you are...

Clinton Got a Blowjob

A very funny diddy about the crimes of Clinton and Bush compared: ClintonBJ.mp3 (audio/mpeg Object).

Curious George Raps

His beats are the bomb, yo!

Ambassadorial Suicide Initiative

Via: CommonDreams.org

STATE DEPARTMENT TELEGRAM - SECRET

TO: All Ambassadors

FROM: Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs -- Karen Hughes

THROUGH: The White House -- Mr. Karl Rove

SUBJECT: Ambassadorial Suicide Initiative: Follow-up to Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Colleen Graffy’s New Initiative on Suicide as a Good PR Move

REFERENCE: DAS Graffy interview with BBC, June, 2006

SUMMARY: You are instructed to commit suicide soonest. End Summary.

BACKGROUND

Because of relentless jihadist propaganda, the respect of the world toward the United States -- that is, the number of Americans that will vote Republican in the November Congressional elections -- has diminished immensely in recent months. Al Qaeda operatives, using venues ranging from Mosques to the internet, have damaged the honor of our country throughout the world -- that is, Republicans’ electability among American voters. The terrorists’ latest tactic has been for their infiltrators to commit suicide in the U.S. government facility in Guantanamo, Cuba, where they are housed, fed, and protected, in the best Christian/American traditions, from the Geneva Conventions. So, in order to win the struggle against violent extremism, we have no choice but to use Bin Laden’s own methods, just as we did against the Soviets’ propaganda during the Cold War.

SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS

Your suicide must be carefully planned. We strongly recommend the following steps, reluctantly recognizing that local conditions may require minor variations in these instructions. If you feel you must introduce changes to these orders, please obtain the appropriate authorization from the Department’s Special Task Force for Ambassadorial Suicide (STFAS). Do not call (even through a secure line) or e-mail; send a cable through official channels, as you survivors’ benefits may depend on the extent to which you have followed the Department’s obligatory recommendations. Do not, repeat do not, expect to outlive your suicide. NOTE: Your funeral expenses will not be covered by the Department at this time of budgetary constraints.

1. On Monday 9:00 am sharp next week, you -- American Ambassadors worldwide -- must meet with your Country Team (CT), the heads of sections of the Embassy under your supervision: political, economic, consular, administrative, public diplomacy. ALLOWED EXCEPTION: If a Republican fund-raiser wishes to have breakfast with you, you are permitted to delay your CT meeting.

2. During the meeting, describe to the CT STFAS’s priorities in detail (a document on these priorities is forthcoming in the diplomatic pouch and might not reach you in time; but you must state what it says). Insist that no leaks about the STFAS program are permitted, citing presidential adviser Karl Rove as an example of how the illegal dissemination of classified information can be prevented. Provide STFAS initiative details as described below.

3. Once you have made it clear to your staff why your ambassadorial suicide is a must in the propaganda war, take steps for the implementation of the program.

PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

1. After the CT meeting, the Public Affairs (PA) Section of your Embassy should immediately get in touch with all embassy contacts -- in government, NGOs, media, academe -- and inform them that the American Ambassador is going to commit suicide to show his undying support for U.S. principles and values as incarnated by President George W. Bush. NOTE: The White House will contact the American media directly about the STFAS initiative.

2. The site for this suicide should be where America is best known and respected in local communities, such as McDonald’s or movie theaters that show Hollywood blockbusters. Do not, repeat do not, implement STFAS at a “cultural” venue (e.g., art gallery, concert hall), as this could divert from the straight policy -- that is, PR -- message of your initiative.

3. The hour of your suicide on Tuesday next week -- 8:30 AM -- has been chosen so your dying action will be covered live by many of the early-morning news shows in the U.S. NOTE: Sponsors of these infotorment programs will be funeral houses that contribute to the campaigns of Republican congressional candidates.

4. Method of suicide: While seated in a prominent area of your chosen death venue and surrounded by media as well as by Embassy staff wearing Bush/Cheney buttons and American flag pins, you should read out loud President Bush’s speeches since he has been elected president. This will cause your passing to occur in a time span ranging from 30 seconds to one minute. No cyanide pill will be necessary. Embassy staff should display utmost decorum -- i.e., chew gum more rapidly -- during your last gasps. When you die, staff should leap up, clap and cheer loudly, “Bush/Cheney forever, Bush/Cheney forever, Bush/Cheney forever.” NOTE: This cheer can also be uttered in the host-country language through interpreters, to assure widespread dissemination of our message.

5. Your corpse will be removed by Embassy Marine Security Guards. It will be flown to the United States on the very day of your last day on earth by a U.S. Air Force jet. NOTE: Due to budgetary constraints, do not expect that your coffin, once stateside, will be transported by a USG vehicle to its final destination. That is the responsibility of your immediate relatives and/or friends. If they elect not to pick up your remains, your body will be disposed of in an appropriate manner. NOTE: We are in communications with the FBI in how to use unclaimed ambassadorial bodies for forensic research on the effects that the president’s announcements on Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) have had on the human brain.

ONWARD ASSIGNMENT

1. For your next assignment, and as a reward for your loyalty and your commitment to Bush ideals, you have a choice to represent the administration in one of two extraterrestrial assignments: heaven (non-hardship) or hell (hardship). Please inform personnel of your decision through the Extrasensory Perception Channel (EPC).

2. We look forward to working with you in the future in our joint efforts to improve America’s image everywhere.   

3.  This message is sent under Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s signature.

##RICE

Drafted by: JBrown

John Brown is a former diplomat who compiles the Public Diplomacy Press Review, available free upon request at the site http://www.uscpublicdiplomacy.org/pdpr/ or by emailing johnhbrown30@hotmail.com.

How to Raise CAFE standards without Congress

Some SUV drivers are taking matters into their own hands. They are torching their gas-guzzling road hogs and not looking back. While insurance fraud is a 'bad thing', ultimately, maybe it is less costly overall than using of a fleet of personal vehicles that are less fuel efficient than 20 years ago.

Maybe instead of burning American flags, real patriots will take to torching SUVs as the ultimate symbolic protest. Now, if we can just get the Supremes to recognize SUV burning as protected symbolic speech...

A Modern Poll Test

Via RickBoston's Daily Kos Dairy:

The rationale for poll tests have always been to ensure that the voters understood the principles that animate our system of government. If a voter hasn't a clue what it means to be an American, or any appreciation of our system of government or laws, he or she cannot be entrusted with the franchise. So here's a little test designed to disenfranchise those voters who are driving our democracy to ruin.

VOTER QUALIFICATION EXAM

Multiple Choice:

1. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution places the following limitations on protections against search and seizure:

a. Warrants are required, and can be be issued by any qualified executive branch officer
b. Warrants are required and must be based on probable cause
c. Warrants are nice, but the President may unilaterally authorize search and seizures in questions of national security

2. The Second Amendment guarantee of the right to bear arms was included by the founders to ensure that citizens would:

a. Be free to hunt, both for food and as a sport
b. Have the wherewithal to collectively defend themselves against disturbances to the peace
c. Be able to protect themselves against robbers, inconsiderate neighbors and invasive rodents

3. When a President disagrees with a law passed by Congress, he or she may:

a. Sign it with a stipulation that s/he will ignore certain parts; if Congress objects, they must submit a new law to override this so called signing statement.
b. Sign the law, and then ensure enforcement by the executive branch of controversial provisions, pending review of Constitutionality by the courts
c. Veto the entire bill, which Congress may subsequently override with a two-thirds majority.
d. Either B or C.

4. The founding fathers granted Congress the ability to impeach a President:

a. To ensure the survival of  a vibrant and profitable media industry.
b. Out of a concern that a future President might place himself above the law to the detriment of the national interests and the system of democracy.
c. To give the nation a form of redress should the President engage in extramarital sexual escapades while in office (this despite the fact that fornication was completely unknown among the founders).

5. The role of the press at the time of the nation's founding was:

a. To vigorously defend the President against foreign agents and scurrilous rumor-mongering by his political enemies.
b. To act as a vehicle for vigorous debates on issues of national and local issues, and to provide a voice to those who held minority opinions.
c. To provide a means to inform the public of dangers to public security (be it terrorism or the disappearance of a white woman).

True or False Questions:

6. The founding fathers gave all states equal number of senators--irrespective of population--to better guard against the "tyranny of the majority over the minority."

7. The founding fathers were concerned with the U.S. becoming encumbered by the opinion of foreign powers, and granted the President the authority to ignore international law and treaties ratified by the U.S. Senate.

8. The founding fathers granted Congress the responsibility to provide oversight of the executive branch only when they disagreed with the party platform of the President.

9. When the founding fathers granted the Senate the duty to "advise and consent" to executive branch appointments, they expected there would always be a yea or nay vote on all nominees.

Essay Question:

10. Please explain what is meant by the concept of Checks and Balances between the three branches of government.

*Bonus question:

What role did Saddam Hussein play in the 9/11 attacks?

The Minuteman Drill Team

Arizona's Minutemen

See the real Minutemen (and their panting pack of pols) saving the Union without even bothering to stand up...

Our Immigration Policy

Idiot with a microwave

Top 10 Rejected Campaign Slogans for the Don Goldwater for Governor Campaign

10. Don't call me Barry.

9. AuH2 Who?

8. Goldwater?  I thought he was dead.

7. Barry called.  He'd like his name back after you're done dragging it through the mud.  Thanks.

6. Don Goldwater.  Campaigning Like It's 1964.

5. Goldwater.  From District Chairman to Failed Office Seeker in 6.2 Seconds.

4. Like Len Munsil.  But Without The Crazy.

3. Just Like Barry.  But Without The Charisma.

2. Goldwater. He Feels Strongly Both Ways.

1. Goldwater.  We Are So Screwed.

Hat tip to Stuart Dollar of Drinking Liberally Phoenix

Bush Outsources One More American Job to India

Bush is passionate about the benefits of outsourcing and globalization in general... on corporate profits and investor returns. In a bold, much more than symbolic move, Bush has decided to outsource his own job and become what he ws always best qualified to be - a manual laborer on an Indian farm.

Bush can be seen on the left congratulating Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh as Dr. Singh takes over the Presidential podium and assumes his new duties doing the work of the President of the United States (though for constitutional reasons Bush retains the office - and 90% of the pay). Likewise, Bush can be seen on the right taking up his new duties under the supervision of the Indian peasant women whose family owns the farm on which Bush will now labor mindlessly 12 hours a day, 6 days a week for a bowl of gruel and and a place to sleep. Bush said of his new gig, "I never felt more at home than I do on this farm, up to my knees in Yak shit."

Bush says he's elated about his new position in the world, and hopes that all Americans can also soon experience the wonderful benefits of outsourcing for themselves. Bush's only lament was that he was heard to say, "Hey, ain't ya got any brush needs clearin' 'round here?"

Join the GOP! Here's how!

10 Reasons Why Gay Marriage is Wrong

F.O.I:

01) Being gay is not natural. Real Americans always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, and air conditioning.

02) Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall.

03) Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage contract.

04) Straight marriage has been around a long time and hasn't changed at all; women are still property, blacks still can't marry whites, and divorce is still illegal.

05) Straight marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage were allowed; the sanctity of Britany Spears' 55-hour just-for-fun marriage would be destroyed.

06) Straight marriages are valid because they produce children. Gay couples, infertile couples, and old people shouldn't be allowed to marry because our orphanages aren't full yet, and the world needs more children.

07) Obviously gay parents will raise gay children, since straight parents only raise straight children.

08) Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country. That's why we have only one religion in America.

09) Children can never succeed without a male and a female role model at home. That's why we as a society expressly forbid single parents to raise children.

10) Gay marriage will change the foundation of society; we could never adapt to new social norms. Just like we haven't adapted to cars, the service-sector economy, or longer life spans.

Re-post this if you believe love makes a marriage.