Good stuff no matter how annoying you find Justin Timberlake’s glasses…

Alli, thank you.

BREAKING (9/29 at 3:45 pm EDT): Nancy Pelosi has just announced that neither the House or Senate will vote for Obama’s tax cuts for the middle class before the midterms.

_____________________________________________________________________

Stick with me here. This is my first wordy blog posting in a long, long, long time.

5 days ago I emailed a buddy predicting that the republicans will spin the Democrats delay in voting on tax cuts for the middle class until after the midterms by saying…

“The Dems are afraid to vote for Obama’s tax increase before the midterms.”

Well, 5 minutes ago, I saw john boehner say – “It’s a true shame Democrats won’t take a vote on ANY tax cuts until after the midterms.” That’s basically the same thing I predicted 5 days ago (but boehner could have been even more effective by saying what I mentioned).

Regardless, boehner’s recent comment was said at a presser. Like, a big presser. The sound bite will be made into a commercial/Fox News talking point and looped over and over and over again between now and November 2nd. I hate that the Democratic Party leadership has absolutely NO vision as to what the republicans will spin/sell.

That said…

_____________________________________________________________________

Dear Tim Kaine, Barack Obama, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden, Robert Gibbs, Bill Burton, Rahm Emanuel, David Axelrod, etc, etc, etc…

If you want to do well in November and beyond, you need to start growing some proverbial balls!

For one of many examples, the House is ready to vote and pass Obama’s middle class tax cuts. As you know, a vote is getting held up in the Senate because Harry Reid doesn’t have 60 votes – enough to pass a bill. This is a true shame. But, I don’t care if Harry Reid has 60 votes. That doesn’t matter to a single American. Again, to reiterate, we don’t care if Harry Reid has 60 votes. That’s not the reason we voted you into office.

Let there be a vote. If only 59 Democrats in the Senate vote for Obama’s middle class tax cut while letting bush’s costly tax cuts for the rich expire and there are no republican votes, you can then gladly take your stockpiles of cash and advertise the heck out of the fact republicans are against tax cuts for the middle class. Meaning, you need to start owning the message. If republicans can do anything well, it’s spin and own the message. For example, the republicans are going to run ad after ad after ad between now and November 2 saying something to the effect of: The Dems were afraid to vote for Obama’s tax increase before the midterms.

On that note of owning the message, the Democratic Party will do very well in the midterms by doing only one thing between now and November 2nd. Yes, you only need to do one thing. Starting today, take that stockpile of cash and advertise that not a single republican voted yesterday to offer incentives for US based companies that bring outsourced jobs back to the US. If you don’t want to dumb the messaging down – as you’re so “good”/horrible at doing – you can even say more US jobs equals more US tax revenue equals a stronger US economy. But, don’t get caught up in the messaging…start a campaign calling out the republicans on their no vote for the Creating American Jobs and Ending Offshoring Act.

IT’S NOT THAT HARD!

In summation, the Dems have been afraid of not having 60 votes since the healthcare debate. Instead of passing a glorified patient’s bill of rights, the Democrats should have at least tried to pass a real healthcare reform via the public option (or single payer). Can’t get 60 votes, Harry Reid? Great! Advertise exactly what a public option (or single payer) is and then mention how NO republicans would vote for it. After those ads run, you could have then cut your backroom deals and get 3 republicans senators to cross over in order to pass health care reformish.

UPDATE (as I’m typing this posting at 1 pm EDT on 9/29): boehner just effectively called out the Dems on the House floor. I don’t really care what boehner says or thinks politically. I do care that whatever he says will shamefully end up being what 52% of Americans think in a few weeks and right before the midterm vote.

Most people asked to return to the parking lot have forgotten to turn off their lights but that’s likely not the reason for MAR K Z’s page…

Ok, my reply actually went to his campaign’s black hole inbox but that didn’t sound as cool.

From: c__________@hotmail.com
To: harryreid@giveemhellharry.com
Subject: RE: Thank you
Date: Fri, 24 Sep 2010

You’re welcome.

Now stop saying stupid stuff like calling a fellow senate candidate your pet. Also, you’ve said there isn’t going to be a vote before the midterm for Obama’s tax cut for the middle class while at the same time ending Bush’s tax cuts for the rich. Are you kidding? This is a slum dunk issue for the dems. SLAM DUNK. The democratic party is going to further regret listening to the blue dogs on this issue.

Regardless, Angle’s autism remarks were repulsive enough for me to donate to you.

Best of luck and start being more progressive,

C________

> Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010
> To: c_______@hotmail.com
> From: harryreid@giveemhellharry.com
> Subject: Thank you
>
> Dear C________,
>
> Thank you for your generous contribution of $______.
>
> With your support, I will build a strong re-election campaign and continue fighting for the values we share – energy independence, affordable health care and strengthening our economy.
>
> Thanks again,
>
> -Harry
>
>

Note: Just before Stephen Colbert’s opening statement on Capitol Hill, John Conyers surly being asks Colbert to leave the chambers. Ugh…

Well, below is Tea Party/Republican poster child Sharron Angle not only making NO sense at all but also mocking those with autism and their healthcare needs with “bunny ears.” Congrats, Harry Reid – you’ve somehow won another Senate race.

As my wife and I have done tonight, you can contribute to Harry Reid’s campaign – I never thought I’d be saying that – by visiting his site here:

https://secure.harryreid.com/ee/index.php/contribute

Excellent (partial) piece from Countdown on September 22, 2010. I’m shocked Olbermann hasn’t won a Pulitzer/Emmy yet…

I love mascots. I think this move by Rufus trumps when Minnesota’s Goldy Gopher taunted a praying Penn State player. Speaking of praying, it’s great that the fight carries over into the OSU circle jerk/prayer session in the endzone. Awesome…

Shawn, thank you.

The comments “YouTube, YouTube!” and “That was awesome!” made me laugh a lot.

For example, this Ray Lewis hit on Dustin Keller…

Not for example, this Simon Dwyer hit on Waerea-Hargreaves…

Reference: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/14/AR2010071405960.html

Does big business sitting on trillions of dollars of profits made possible by the stimulus plan but at the same time not hiring have anything to do with the upcoming midterms? The thought being…

Higher unemployment = GOP gains in November 2010 = less corporate taxes = more profits to shareholders.

Big business is sitting on a record amount of money that was meant to stimulate the entire economy but they are slow to hire. Why? Thoughts?

Update: I’m so behind the times. Here’s a Daily Kos entry from JULY 2010 – ouch!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/7/15/884730/-Blame-Businesses-For-Not-Hiring

As originally seen here…

https://bcclist.com/2010/08/17/ebay-mens-adidas-lycra-bikini-navy-sexy/

The item is relisted here…

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320588290275

Gordon, thank you.

Update: This guy (ebay handle: jimmiegspeedo) is awesome. Here’s another one…

http://cgi.ebay.com/MENS-POLO-SPORT-White-Bikini-Sm-ExCond-HOT-SEXY-/320588289346?pt=US_CSA_MC_Swimwear&hash=item4aa48d1542

Brooke, thank you.