Pushing Rope

• Grayson Against Afghanistan Surge

  Alan Grayson is breaking with President Barack Obama on Afghanistan.
  
  
  “Isn’t it more important to make sure 47 million Americans can go see a doctor when they need to, than it is send our young men and women across an ocean and across a continent to fight [...]
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  Posted: December 15, 2009, 2:35pm EST
  

• My sincere apologies to bestiality supporters in Florida

  
  
  The first time I ever heard about bestiality laws, or rather the lack of them, I was working at a small community newspaper outside of Phoenix, Ariz in the spring of 2006. I had just called a source and we were chatting on the [...]
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  Posted: December 13, 2009, 1:08pm EST
  

• St. Petersburg Homeless Image street newspaper debuts

  
  If you traveled downtown at all this weekend, you may have spotted folks hawking an unfamiliar newspaper.
  
  The St. Petersburg Homeless Image -- a forum for advocates, homeless and formerly homeless people, students and the general public -- made its debut this weekend on the [...]
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  Posted: December 13, 2009, 1:06pm EST
  

• The Poodle Bites, The Poodle Chews It.

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Lagniappe: In case you missed it, the CBC has a three part radio show about Zappa, I Am All Day and Night: The Music of Frank Zappa. Tip of the hat to DarkBlack.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: December 12, 2009, 1:59pm EST
  

• Quote of the Day

  
  
  "Plus there are the Republicans using procedures, parliamentary procedures, and offering all these amendments. Now the purpose -- I talked to Sen. McConnell about the purpose of the amendments. He said we're trying to flush out with these amendments, just who it is that really we have to'" [...]
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  Posted: December 12, 2009, 1:30pm EST
  

• Jim Greer is Not Making Friends

  Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer is not endearing himself to conservatives. There is a Facebook group called "Is Jim Greer an alien?" Being mocked by the party's base is not a good sign. At issue is Greer actively supporting Charlie Crist over Marco Rubio in the Republican [...]
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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 4:00pm EST
  

• Dodd Fact-Checks Republicans

  
  
  Sen. Chris Dodd blasts Republicans for false claims that they were not included in the health care bill writing process. Dodd proves this by noting Sen. Mike Enzi wrote 41 amendments to the Senate bill. He notes the irony of Republicans wanting to help write a a public [...]
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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 3:39pm EST
  

• Acoustic Habakookah

  
  
  
  Lagniappe: The return of a holiday classic: Zombie Woof Parts One and Two
  
  
  
  Comix, comics, comixx, comic strips, editorial cartoons, cartoons, comic books, underground comix, satire, parody, Republicans, political cartoons, John Poindexter, Ollie North, G. [...]
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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 1:40pm EST
  

• Write A Caption

  
  
  Boehner: Tiger, I like to introduce you to John Ensign. [...]
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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 12:48pm EST
  

• Metric Music Goodies

  I can't get enough of Metric. I just recently discovered the band. I haven't been excited about a band in awhile.
  
  Satellite Mind mp3
  
  
  
  Help Me Alive mp3
  
  
  
  Don't Think Twice It's Alright mp3
  
  ' [...]
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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 1:27am EST
  

• Quote of the Day

  
  
  "You know, look. The purpose of this [the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP)] was to stabilize the financial sector, which it did. And then, the intention was that any unspent monies or any money that was returned to the taxpayers would go to deficit reduction. Since President Obama" [...]
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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 12:28am EST
  

• Fox News Isn't Good At Math

  
  
  The graphics at Fox News News continues to be a source of humor. Fox News showed Rasmussen poll asking respondants if global warming scientists were rigging their research. Notice the poll numbers add up to 120 percent. Unsurprisingly, Media Matters reports Fox News [...]
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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 12:06am EST
  

• Alan Grayson on Hardball

  
  
  Rep. Alan Grayson goes on Hardball and says Dick Cheney should STFU. Literally. Grayson also talks about the changes in the health care bill. He wants all Americans to have access to the Medicare provider network.
  
  Update: Wrong video earlier. My bad. [...]
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  Posted: December 09, 2009, 11:52pm EST
  

• Quote of the Day

  "How much is man really responsible for, how much happens naturally? It’s climate change – the climate has been changing for eons. It’s not global warming. It’s the climate. There are natural occurences that are taking place."
  
  Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Bronson
  
  Bronson also told reporter Josh Hafenbrack [...]
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  Posted: December 09, 2009, 8:14pm EST
  

• Obama's Welfare For the Health Care Industry

  A new CBS poll shows President Barack Obama has a better approval rating on Afghanistan and the economy than for health care.
  
  Obama Approval Poll Numbers
  
  Overall - 50 percent
  Afghanistan - 48 percent
  Economy - 47 percent
  Health care 42 percent
  
  59 percent of [...]
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  Posted: December 09, 2009, 7:40pm EST
  

• SunRail Funding

  According to Sen. Bill Nelson, the federal government has agreed to give SunRail $40 million in funding. The House and Senate still has to finalize the deal. The White House supports the SunRail project. [...]
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  Posted: December 09, 2009, 7:36pm EST
  

• Rachel Maddow Interviews Bernie Sanders

  Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

  
  
  Sen. Bernie Sanders tells Rachel Maddow the public option is dead. Sanders has reservations about the new proposal bering floated in the Senate. Unfortunately, no one is sure what is going to replace the [...]
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  Posted: December 09, 2009, 2:18am EST
  

• Superchunk - Cool

  
  
  This is Superchunk performing Cool at the Whiskey Go Go in 1992. [...]
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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 11:13pm EST
  

• Quote of the Day

  "They’d all walk to the front of the House and, laughingly and jokingly, put their arms around each other’s shoulder like it was some kind of clownish fun. And they did this over and over to make sure every vote took half an hour. That’s how low things have gotten." [...]
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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 10:33pm EST
  

• Attack of the Tomatoes

  I am not a Sarah Palin fan. That said, I do not condone people throwing tomatoes at political figures. It is an act of stupidity and could cause a violent situation. Palin wasn't hit. A police officer providing security was struck with a tomato.' [...]
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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 10:20pm EST
  

• Is the Public Option Dead?

  Josh Marshall reports the public option is dead.
  
  
  The AP is reporting that the Senate Dems have come to a tentative deal, which drops the Public Option from the senate health care bill. What is in its place, if anything, is not clear.
  
  
  [...]
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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 8:50pm EST
  

• Strangest Anti-Health Care Reform Ad Ever

  
  
  Rev. Jess Jackson said, "You can’t vote against healthcare and call yourself a black man." A strange anti-health care ad has people looking into the camera saying, "I guess I am racist." The filmmaker responsible for the ad is Ray Griggs. The target of Griggs ad [...]
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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 8:11pm EST
  

• Florida Nurses Association Health Care Forum

  The Florida Nurses Association will be hosting a health care forum for Florida House District 46 voters. The forum will be held on December 10, 2009.
  
  
  The Florida Nurses Association District 46 is proud to announce a very important community event. On December 10th, 2009 District 46 [...]
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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 6:58pm EST
  

• SunRail Deal Passes

  The Florida Senate passed the SunRail bill 27-10. The vote was not as close as expected. Gov. Charlie Crist did some rare lobbying on behalf of the bill. Sen. Bill Nelson and Sen. George Lemieux issued a joint letter expressing their support. A major surprise was Republican lawmakers [...]
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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 5:12pm EST
  

• Domestic Violence in Afghanistan

  
  
  This is a horrifying video of a Afghan woman whom had her face and ear cut off by her husband. This same abusive man poured hot water on his child. There is absolutely no excuse for a man to do this to his wife and child. The Afghanistan [...]
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  Posted: December 07, 2009, 5:18pm EST
  

• Rep. Michael Scionti Moves to Pentagon

  Florida House Rep. Michael Scionti has accepted the position of deputy assistant secretary of defense. His official job title is Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intergovernmental Affairs and Homeland Defense. Scionti will organize homeland security between the Defense Department and local governments.
  
  
  “I [...]
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  Posted: December 07, 2009, 5:08pm EST
  

• No Deadline For Afghanistan Withdrawal

  Sec. of Defense Robert Gates and Sec. of State Hillary Clinton told Bob Schieffer there is no absolute deadline to pull troops out of Afghanistan. Gates and Clinton do their best to spin. The fact is President Barack Obama said troops will start pulling out in July of [...]
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  Posted: December 07, 2009, 12:42am EST
  

• The Pixies - Hey

  
  
  The Pixies perform Hey on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. [...]
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  Posted: December 06, 2009, 11:44pm EST
  

• Joel Award: Charles Krauthammer

  It is time to give out the Joel Award. The award goes any celebrity, pundit, blogger or politician that purposely contradicts himself or herself.
  
  This 2004 comedy gem by Washington Post columnist Charles Krauthammer is worth revisiting. Krauthammer's neoconservative declares President Bush's Afghanistan invasion a resounding success.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: December 06, 2009, 9:12pm EST
  

• Is This Change?

  Treasury Sec. Tim Geithner has funneled repaid bailout through AIG to pay Goldman Sach's naked credit default swaps. Repaid bailout money was suppose to be given to community banks to loan out to small businesses.
  
  The President increased the Defense Department budget by 4 percent.
  [...]
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  Posted: December 06, 2009, 8:22pm EST
  

• Obama Talks to Senate Democrats

  President Barack Obama urged Senate Democrats to finish work on the health care bill. The President met with Democrats near the Senate floor. Obama did not address controversial issues, such as the House Stupak-Pitts anti-abortion amendment or using cloture. Obama's talk was a pep rally speech that [...]
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  Posted: December 06, 2009, 7:08pm EST
  

• A Spy in the House of Love

  
  
  
  
  
  
  Lagniappe:
  
  
  
  
  Comix, comics, comixx, comic strips, editorial cartoons, cartoons, comic books, underground comix, satire, parody, Republicans, political cartoons, John Poindexter, Ollie North, G. Gordon [...]
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  Posted: December 06, 2009, 7:05pm EST
  

• Orrin Hatch Doesn't Like Reading

  
  
  Orrin Hatch doesn't like the Senate health care bill because it is too long. Would Hatch be happier if CliffsNotes came out with their edition of the health care bill.
  
  
  HATCH: It's 2074 pages long! It's enough to make you barf!
  
  
  I feel the' [...]
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  Posted: December 06, 2009, 6:59pm EST
  

• Scott Rothstein: Self-Paid Man

  Scott Rothstein paid himself $35.7 million in 2008. Rothstein was recently indicted for running a Ponzi scheme. Included in the charges are mail fraud, wire fraud, and several charges to money laundering. Rothstein's associates were also rewarded hamesomely for their illegal activities.
  
  
  • Rothstein, CEO: $35.7 [...]
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  Posted: December 06, 2009, 5:18pm EST
  

• Zappadan 2009 Link Button

  
  
  
  
  Clicking on the cartoon should take you to Fried Green al-Qaedas, where Mr. Hoback is doing the Zappadan 2009 round-up. Feel free to swipe this cartoon for a link button at your own site.
  
  Comix, comics, comixx, comic strips, editorial cartoons, cartoons, comic books, [...]
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  Posted: December 05, 2009, 4:12pm EST
  

• Crossfire!

  
  
  
  
  The First Miracle of Zappadan here at the Zencomix Studio...I bought this Bic X-Fine 0.5 mm ballpoint pen at The National Bookstore in Baguio, Philippines 5 and 1/2 years ago for 19 pisos, or about 40 cents. [...]
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  Posted: December 04, 2009, 7:17pm EST
  

• Marco Rubio Sunrail Flip Flop

  Republican Senate candidate Marco Rubio used to be for Sunrail. That was before stimulus money was going to be used for Sunrail. Rubio couldn't resist an opportunity to bash President Barack Obama for political gain. Rubio released a statement announcing his stance against Sunrail.
  
  
  In a statement' [...]
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  Posted: December 04, 2009, 4:29pm EST
  

• Friday Cat Blogging

  
  
  A young girl petting her pet lynx. If you listen carefully you cat hear the cat purring. [...]
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  Posted: December 04, 2009, 2:08pm EST
  

• New NARAL Ad

  
  
  NARAL has launched an 30 second ad urging voters to voice their dissent against the anti-abortion Stupak-Pitts amendment in the House health care bill. There is a petition pro-choice voters can sign. The signatures will be delivered to Democratic Senators. [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 5:39pm EST
  

• X - See How We Are

  
  See How We Are (LP Version) - X
  
  A remember absolutely being blown away the first time I heard this song. Joe Doe wrote the song Bruce Springsteen has spent his whole [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 11:26pm EST
  

• Phone Sex With Charlie Crist

  Post On Politics reports a Charlie Crist answering machine voice message refers calls to a phone sex chat line. The refered numbers was suppose to be for Kidcare. Parents were greeted with this exciting message.
  
  
  “Hey there, sexy guy. Welcome to an exciting new way to go [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 11:05pm EST
  

• Jane Hamsher On Health Care Bill

  
  
  The Young Turks interviews Jane Hamsher about the difficulties getting the health care bill through the Senate. Senators Joe Lieberman, Ben Nelson and Blanche Lincoln have promised to filibuster. Rahm Emanuel has pressured Harry Reid to dump the public option for the trigger. Republicans don't habve the power' [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 10:50pm EST
  

• Obama Firm On Afghanistan Deadline

  CBS News' Chip Reid reports President Barack Obama is going to stay firm on the July 2011 for troop withdrawal in Afghanistan.
  
  
  I asked White House spokesman Robert Gibbs if senators were incorrect calling the date a "target."
  
  After the briefing, Gibbs went to the' [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 8:26pm EST
  

• Republicans Heart Nuclear Waste

  I don't know whether to laugh or cry. 111 House Republicans voted against The Radioactive Import Deterrence Act. The bill bans the Nuclear Regulatory Commission from granting licences to corporations to import nuclear waste into America. House Republican firmly support using American soil as the nuclear waste dumping' [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 7:24pm EST
  

• Heat On Blanche Lincoln

  
  
  Howard Dean floats the idea of Democrats running a primary opponent against Sen. Blanche Lincoln. She loudly said she plans on filibustering the health care bill. Another good reason for Democrats to run a primary opponent is to keep the seat. Lincoln's polling numbers are [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 6:37pm EST
  

• Democratic Governors Association v. Bill McCollum

  Post On Politics reports the Democratic Governors Association will spend $1 million against Republican Bill McCollum. Translation: the DGA sees Alex Sink as a strong candidate and McCollum as beatable. [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 6:19pm EST
  

• Harlem Gospel Choir Pulls Out of Glenn Beck Performance

  The Harlem Gospel Choir pulled out of appearing in a simulcast film rendition of Glenn Beck's book The Christmas Sweater - A Return to Redemption. The Choir said they the decision was made for financial reasons. James Rucker, executive director of Color for Change told the New York Daily [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2009, 5:53pm EST
  

• Scott Rothstein Indicted

  
  
  Lawyer and lobbyist Scott Rothstein donated $175,000 to the Republican Party of Florida. Rothstein lived a jet set livestyle financed from a Ponzi scheme he was running. Rothstein has been indicted by federal authorities for wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering.
  [...]
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  Posted: December 01, 2009, 7:08pm EST
  

• Maurice Clemmons Shot Dead

  
  
  Maurice Clemmons was suspected of murdering four police officers in Washington. Clemmons was shot fleeing a stolen car.
  
  Thoughts: there isn't any word about Clemmons firing shots at the officer that killed him. Clemmons was running away. There was no way in hell, I thought local' [...]
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  Posted: December 01, 2009, 5:04pm EST
  

• Emergency Abortion Funding For Florida Women

  Many poor women lack the access to a safe abortion and can not financially support a child. I decided to make a list of Florida organizations that help economiccally disadvantage women gain access to abortions. Women outside of Florida can check the National Network For Abortion Funds web site.
  [...]
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  Posted: December 01, 2009, 4:40pm EST