The Teapublican Endgame has Already Begun.

So the budget bill passed the House and is heading to the Senate. It avoids a government shutdown, yay. It also:

* Makes it legal for retirees to have the benefits they paid for taken away by their erstwhile employers,
* Makes it legal for Wall Street to crash the world economy once again,
* Makes it even easier for rich motherf***ers to buy and sell elections.

The Prexy and most Dems are going along because in a few weeks, with more “republicans” in DC, any legislation passed will be even worse for us. Thus we approach the Randian Teapubbie Paradise: in which right-wing extremists call all the shots.

We are about to be robbed, abused, surveilled, and mocked by the 1% bastards for two years. To an even greater extent than hitherto. And as to anyone could have voted Dem in the last election but chose not to, it is at least partly their f***ing fault. Fuck them all with a sandy lubricant, the f***ing f***wits.

It’s gonna get even worse, peeps. America is going to get what we voted for. God help us, every one.

Mr. Blunt and Cranky

The Ultimate Lesson of Election 2014: “Nothing’s Free”.

Stripped down to its barest bones, that’s the takeaway. The “Republicans” won because they invested in things that could help them win, and the Dems lost because they didn’t invest thus. Not saying it’s fair, not saying it’s right, just saying that smart investing pays dividends, and un-smart investing loses shirts.

And what was the GOPee investment? Why, ’twas in propaganda media. 24/7, all across the TeeVee, radio, Internets, billboards, you name it, the Elephants paid millions upon millions to hammer their message home. And even though the bulk of said message was a pack of lies, the repetition of it over a period of years proved effective – lots of gullible nitwits believed it. The ‘Phants bought the media and used it to brainwash the masses. That was a huge investment, and it resulted in an enormous return.

In contrast, the Democrats invested in smart public policies (like the ACA), and then tried to pretend they hadn’t. They invested in the election of a truly historic President, and then tried to pretend he wasn’t there. Dems invested a lot in holding back the most cray of the Repubs’ cray-cray ideas, and then pretended they hadn’t done that either. Many Dems actually did a very good job in office, but got scared of seeming too, well, non-Republican. They invested and then tried to un-invest. Small wonder they got bupkis for a return, innit?

You can’t get ANYTHING for free. Even the air we breathe and water we drink requires investment to keep it clean enough to use. Hell, even love requires an emotional investment, does it not? Gravity isn’t free, for that matter – ask any physicist. NOTHING COMES FROM NOTHING. Ya gotta do something, pay something, sweat, speak, take some kind of action, if you want to get something in return.

The Democrats, Greens, and the Left in general need to treat this as a lesson in reality. If they want power, they won’t get it by being virtuous; by being right; by having a “D” by their name; kicking and braying; or any of the other stupid, lazy, disorganized, inconsistent methods they employed in 2014. And they can look to their own ranks for proof. Minnesota Dems invested in candidates, media, turnout, message, and did much better than the party as whole. They invested wisely and profited thereby. Something the rest of American Democrats did not do.

One phrase common during this writer’s youth was “the marketplace of ideas”: the notion that quality ideas would, like quality goods and services, rise to the top via free and vigorous debate. The willingness to invest time and effort in the debate was part of how well an idea succeeded in the “market”. The Repubs invested in control of the debate instead of quality policies, but have succeeded because, 9 times out of 10, the public hears only GOP talking points. Sadly, because of this unscrupulous (but competently executed) strategy, the GOP is winning the battle of ideas, at least when it comes to how it shakes out at the ballot box.

Non-Repubs needn’t opt for the criminal methods employed by the GOPee; but they DO have to invest in good ideas and policies, courage, consistency, and learn to aggressively promote themselves and their “products” if they are going to succeed. Based on this year’s election cycle, Democrats have a f*** of a lot of work to do.

Mr. Blunt and Cranky

“Republicans” Can Only Win with Democrats’ Help.

According to a recent poll, Ohio’s GOPee Guv John Kasich has a large number of Democrats voting for him. The percentage of such idiot voters is sufficient to provide a comfortable margin of victory. Thousands of Dems have said that they will vote for a thieving, lying, union-busting, woman-hating Wall Street motherf***ing “Republican”.

By so doing, those Dems will enable thievery, lying, starvation, forced births, pollution, contract violations, voter suppression, and income inequality to not only continue, but become even more prevalent. Think about that for a second, Gentle Reader. These are Teapublican values and policies, being supported by alleged Dem Voters.

This is the story of the 2014 midterms, friends: in spite of every evil deed, every crime against humanity, GOP candidates are projected to win. Why? Because a s***load of voters who should know better will make some truly stupid choices.

Stupid choices like voting for Teapubbies, casting protest votes in close races, or just not voting at all. That is how “Republicans” win. It ain’t just vote-rigging, corruption and bribery that enables the Repub Reign of Error: some Democrats are partially culpable.

Please do your part: vote smart. If enough people do so, we can pull off an upset. Smart rarely triumphs over stupid, but it can happen, if enough smart people take the time to vote smart.

Mr. Blunt and Cranky

Uh, You DO Know that Obama’s Not on the Ballot, Right?

Just checking, because lots and LOTS of people are yammering on about him during this year’s campaign. Which is pretty f***ing stupid, because OBAMA CAN’T BE F***ING RE-ELECTED. The pundits and “news” types are all ratchet-jawing about the man, but in truth he matters not one bit for next Tuesday’s contests.

The Senatorial candidates matter. The Gubernatorial candidates matter. The House candidates matter. So too do the other state and local ballot options. They matter, and they matter a LOT. (For example, McConnell, Boehner, and a host of other politicos are up for re-election or de-election.)

By your actions you can help turn this country into a Red Hell or a Purple Patchwork (It’ll take a Helluva lot more than one election to turn America Blue). You can take away our rights, or give them back to us. You can enable us to: feed the kids or starve them; fight or cower; fix or ignore; pay or go broke; function or fall apart; all of these vitally important matters are in the hands of voters on November 4th, 2014.

But Obama is NOT on the ballot. We kinda need to ignore him when we hit the voting booth, because the people for whom we DO cast ballots can actually make our lives better or worse.At the very least, we need to focus on the people and issues that are on the table this coming Tuesday.

The media moguls and bribe artists would love nothing better than to have us focus on a lame-duck President: that enables them to play their sleazy shell games via distraction and misdirection, f***ing us over royally in the process. We The People need to see past the sleight of hand and focus on the task at hand.

Like Obama or loathe him, as you choose: but you can’t vote for him this year. Concentrate on the people you CAN vote for instead.

Mr. Blunt and Cranky

THIS is how Dems can Win. Easily.

Everybody assumes that Dem turnout will suck out loud this election. And it looks like that could well be true. If so, Democrats have no one but themselves to blame for the succeeeding years of Teapublican rape, pillage and plunder.

But there IS a way for Dems to win. An easy way. A way that can work, and requires less than half an hour’s time from each Dem voter. Here it is:

VOTE. That’s it. If Dems vote in numbers that exceed the current dismal expectations, they will win races. Lots of races.

This is because Repubs are assuming Dems WON’T vote. So their plans are based on crap Dem turnout. Increasing our turnout messes up their plans.

Plus, voting machine hacks are programmed in advance, and are based on projected turnout. If Dems exceed turnout, the hacks fail and Dems can win.

The biggest problem in making this happen? Disengaged, apathetic Dem voters. For example: Ohioans as a rule pretty f***ing pathetic when it comes to doing anything other than bitching and moaning about our government. So Repubs are projected to keep 100% of power in the state for another four years.

Now, ask yourself, “what would happen if just a few thousand extra Dem votes were cast in the Buckeye State?”. Answer: Some of those motherf***ing Repubs would be cast out of office, replaced by Democrats. That, Gentle Reader, would be a very good thing indeed. In Ohio, and across the nation. Add more votes, win more victories.

Come on, let’s give the bastards one in the eye. Let’s confound the pundits and give the Elephants an atomic wedgie. Let’s all vote. The occupants of the House O’ Cranky mailed in our ballots today. Who’s next?

Mr. Blunt and Cranky

“Republicans” are VERY different from Democrats, Day One: Repubs Hate Women. Dems Do Not.

Wingnuts are in high gear of late, proclaiming their usual canard about there “being little or no difference between the parties”. Bull-f***ing-s***. Today’s debunking: women’s rights.

Huge differences abound: look at the current Teapubbie and Democratic platforms:

Number A: Repubs think women should allowed to die rather than allow them to have a life-saving abortion. Dems do NOT believe this.

Letter 2: Repubs think women should not be allowed to use birth control, or at least be deprived of insurance coverage if they need it. Oh, and that applies even if the pills are being used for other medical reasons than birth control. Dems do NOT believe this, either.

Thirdly: Repubs believe women should be made to work harder and be paid less. Once again: Democrats do NOT share this belief.

Ignore the lunatics of the fringe: the parties are VERY different. A vote for a Dem IS a vote against Repubs. Get on out and vote Dem.

Unless, of course, you hates you some women. If so, sit out the election or vote Republican. If not, get out and vote AGAINST the party that hates your mothers, sisters, and every woman on Earth. Any electoral action  OTHER  than a vote for a Dem is an attack on women. Period.

“No difference”, my Cranky A**. Tomorrow: Repubs’ love affair with terrorists.

Mr. Blunt and Cranky

It’s Corrupt. It’s Extremist. It’s anti-American. It’s the Teapublican Party.

The “Republican” establishment is pretending that they are not like the Teabaggers, that they are at odds with them, that Baggers are troublesome, that they do not “represent the views of the Republcian party”, and that they were a problem. Bull-F***ing-Shit. They are all part of the Repub caucus, share bank accounts, and work together in offices across the country. There is no difference between the Baggers and the Repubs.

For example: Elected “Republican” Brian Berger was found stoned on drugs, passed out in his car, and busted for OMVI. For the fourth time. He’s also a psycho who has a restraining order against him for abusing an ex. He is still in office. Corrupt? Hellz yeah.

Elected “Republican” Ted Yahooo Yoho is holding a pro-gun event on Saturday. The anniversary of the Sandy Hook massacre. He claims it’s a coincidence. Suuuuuuure, Teddy Boy. Extremist? Oh, Hellz Yeah.

“Republican” party official Dave Agema recently went on an anti-gay tirade full of lies and discriminatory rhetoric. He has a few critics, but is largely supported by his state party, and will be Michigan’s representative at national committee meetings. Evidently he thinks the Founders didn’t really mean that “all men are created equal” language. Anti-American? Oh, HELLZ YEAH.

People, these scumbuckets ARE the “Republican” party. They are mainstream. They’re not fringe wackos living in shanties, they are public officials: elected by Repubs, funded by Repubs, supported by Repubs, and that makes them mainstream Repubs. They are also corrupt, gun nutty, hateful, homophobic psycho cases.

And if you vote for or support a “Republican”, then you also show your support for corrupt, extremist haters of the Constitution. Squirm all you like, but that’s the reality. The Dems will stick a shiv in the back of any of their members if they step out of line, but the Elephants support and enable the crooks and crazies in their ranks. So, voting for a Dem doesn’t make you a supporter of crimes and misdemeanors, because they’ll throw one of their own under the bus without so much as a honk of the horn. The GOP ignores the misdeeds of its officials and members.

Not that this is a new thing that came in wtih the Teabaggers: Former Ohio Governor (and “Republican:) Bob Taft was convicted of crimes in office, and STILL served out the remainder of his term, even though he was, well, convicted of crimes in office. The first Ohio Governor convicted of crimes in office, and his fellow ‘Phants shrugged it off. That’s the “Republican” party, folks.

Corrupt? Extremist? Anti-American? Hellz Yeah.
Deserving of your vote? Oh, Hellz No.

Mr. Blunt and Cranky

For “Republicans”, It’s All About the Party, and to H*** With the People

Mr. Blunt and Cranky has been watching the fiscal “cliff” drama unfold, and has been struck by the remarkable consistency of the Repubs in the face of catastrophe: said catastrophe created by said Elephants over the past years.  And they are willing (perhaps eager) to see families starving in the streets, seniors dying in droves, and the middle class squeezed until they finally burst; so long as their party can keep on raking in the dough.

Remember: most of our deficit was run up by the Congress during the reign of Bush The Dumber. It wasn’t until a Democrat  occupied the Oval Office that the Repubs suddenly cared about the red ink that blots our national ledger: http://www.davemanuel.com/history-of-deficits-and-surpluses-in-the-united-states.php

The “fiscal cliff” itself was created by “Republican” majorities over a year ago, and now they want us to believe all this is the fault of the Democrats. Sorry, boys, but we have the Internet and can read the history of what actually went down: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_fiscal_cliff

Repubs created most of our red ink; they created the current crisis; they are refusing to act like our constitutional system requires them to; and they are doing all of this for their own selfish, craven, crass, and greedy purposes.

This writer has no love for Dems, Lord knows, but they are at least trying to make a deal. They are listen to their constituents, at least give the Jackasses that much credit. The Repubs are listening to no one but their paymasters and party leaders.

Where’s President Washington when we need him? http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/history-purpose/2012/mar/9/george-washington-warns-against-political-parties/

Mr. B & C

One in the Eye for Those Who Want to Steal Your Right to Vote

http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/02/14182503-judge-blocks-pennsylvania-voter-id-law?lite

After a key Keystone State Legislator came out and said that their new Voter ID law would allow “Mitt Romney to win Pennsylvania”, one would have thought that any sane judge would have squashed the law out of hand; obviously, it was politically motivated and a bold-faced attempt to rig an election. But noooooooo.

Instead, there have been expensive and time-consuming hearings, rulings and counter-rulings, media circuses and so on. Finally, yesterday morning, a judge put a stay on part of the PA Voter ID Law. Half a loaf for those who believe in free, fair, and un-rigged elections, but you know what they say about half a loaf.

As an Independent, Mr. Blunt and Cranky really dislikes parties. A lot. He thinks, in fact, that they should be outlawed, because they have turned out to be just as insidious an infection as President Washington warned us about (“However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion”).

In this case, one of the parties (“Republicans”) have spent most of the past two years working on behalf of their party’s interest, to the detriment of the nation.The modern “Republican” party bears no resemblance to the party we once knew. The party of fiscal discipline has become the party of Voodoo Economics. The party of minding our own business has become the party of foreign wars of choice. And the party that trumpeted the rule of law has become the party of lawlessness, influence selling, election rigging and voter suppression.

The right to vote is one of the foundational rights of our nation. When one weakens the foundation of a structure, how long can the structure stand? Read President Washington’s words once again, and ask yourself if you really want to vote for people who would take away your rights; using the law of the land to weaken the nation for the benefit of a few corrupt politicos and those who buy them.

Again: “Republicans” don’t want you to vote. They want to take away your right to vote. If you care about your rights, you cannot afford to vote for these crooks.

Mr. B & C

What the H*** is Wall Street Smoking?

Mr. Blunt and Cranky is far beyond befuddlement; consternation rules the roost this day. Why, you ask? Because Wall Street is once again loading up on “Republicans” this election cycle.  This makes NO effing sense at all, because over the past few decades, Dems have actually been the party that adds  huge numbers to the stock indices:

Clinton more than tripled the value of all three exchanges. Dubya cost them dearly. Obama has pumped them back up to Clintonesque-or-Better numbers. Anybody who do basic mathematics can see that modern Dems are better for the stock market than modern Reps. Just look up there and try to prove otherwise.

So, when Wall Street makes more money under the Donkeys, why are their heads up the arses of the Elephants?

Mr. B  & C