You say 'Apocalypse' like it's a bad thing...

What can I say about the failure of this Congress to raise the debt ceiling that hasn't already been said? I have been reading about this obsessively for months now. Had I started reading 'War and Peace' at about the same time, with the same intensity, I'd be half-way through that fucker by now. No, I can't add anything to the debate, but that won't stop me.

I guess my main point is this, This is the Republican's Fault. It is their show. They are completely and totally to blame for this. I can not stress this enough. And anyone that tries to play this as 'both sides' is either a delusional Blue Dog, a Lying Republican, or a reporter too afraid of being labeled 'Liberal' that he's forced to treat both sides 'equally'.

I say this because I've read so much of this shit that even I'm starting to waver. Are the Dems being unreasonable? They have tried to draw lines in the sand, but this issue is so important, is it worth drawing any lines, particularly when facing opponents that seem insatiable and hell-bent on getting their way? Is it worth default, and all the potential horrors that follow, merely to maintain some sense of dignity? Because, let's face it, at this point that's pretty much what Dems are fighting for... No, that's unfair, but only slightly.

But then I remember, this is ALL the REPUBLICANS' FUCKING FAULT.

And why is that? Because, this is a routine vote. Let me restate that... Never in the history of the existence of the debt ceiling has there ever been anything but the most token of debates over it WhatSoFUCKINGEver. I know, I know, Obama voted against it when he was a Senator. Allow me to retort, Fuck you. Just because one man made a symbolic vote a few years ago does not mean you get to hold the entire Republic Hostage. Hell, Ron Paul votes against this thing every fucking time. But that doesn't make him right, it just makes him consistent... and potentially crazy. But, allow me to restate my original point, THIS IS ALL THE REPUBLICANS' FUCKING FAULT.

If a clean vote on the debt ceiling were brought to the floor tomorrow nearly every House Democrat, and I'd wager nearly every Senator would vote for the thing. All of this wrangling and posturing is solely because too many over-zealous and over-caffinated (Tea is high in caffeine) House Republicans have decided that this is the perfect opportunity to hold the entire government and the US economy hostage to get some 'concessions' and, as a bonus, make Obama look completely ineffectual (which, regardless of the outcome is largely succeeding), and possibly most importantly, burn out the clock on Obama's presidency. And that is it, that is all.

It has become common knowledge that there HAS to be some sort of Debt Ceiling deal. And such Common Knowledge is just complete bullshit. If the Republicans want to have a fight over the fucking budget then Congress holds the purse strings. They own half of Congress. In another year, due to the magic of Democrazy, they'll probably own BOTH fucking Houses. If they are so goddamn serious about the deficit, well, Congress sets the fucking budget. Let them fucking debate it on their own time. Let them win it on their own time. Let them win their concessions on merits of their Arguments, not by scaring the hell out of people by threatening to force the US Government into Default.

Oh, but they aren't really serious about the Deficit, it really should be obvious, but it clearly isn't to half the electorate and nearly all of the goddamned media (despite, ahem, 2001 through 2006 which really wasn't that fucking long ago). But it's late, and that's a whole other thing.

Anyway...

Some people don't understand other people

Uhg. You know what pisses me off. Bill O'Reilly. Not his existence. Ok, a tiny bit his existence. But mainly that he gets paid for political commentary and I don't. Now, please do not misunderstand me. I do not think I am 'all that'. And, I do certainly do not think I am, as the kids might say, 'all that with a bag o' chips.'

Ok, that's just my intro. I'm fucking around. But seriously, let's ask a question, why is Bill O'Reilly being paid, By Anyone, for political commentary? But, as Levar Burton used to say, "Don't take my word for it," see for yourself:

There is something strange in the air when former President Clinton compliments Tea Party favorite Michele Bachmann. Speaking on CNN last week, Mr. Clinton said that he is not surprised the Congresswoman is rising in the polls because she is a "compelling public figure" and comes across as "real."

No, Bill, there is nothing fucking strange in the air. I'll cut you a little bit of a break here, because writing an intro to a column is hard (see above) and, well that's it. But let's pretend for a moment, just a moment, that Michele Bachmann is indeed a "compelling public figure," who does indeed come across as 'real." I assure you, Bill, from everything I've thus heard about Michelle Bachmann, I find her morally repugnant, and yet, as our former President acknowledges, I find her to be both of those things. Let's move on.

Since Mrs. Bachmann pretty much opposes everything Bill Clinton believes in, the question becomes exactly why does he think she's compelling. It can't be her ardently pro-life views. Or her lower taxes, smaller government beliefs. Or even her call to abolish national health care. Bill Clinton can't find those things attractive at all. And the Congresswoman absolutely loves the Tea Party. Is the former president down with that?

Umm... No. Bill Clinton is not "down with that". What the fuck you talking 'bout, Billus? This should not be a difficult point to grasp, but apparently Bill O doesn't quite get it, there is such a thing as acknowledging a person's skill at a particular profession, say Banking, or Assassin, or Politician, and at the same time Not appreciating what that person is Actually Doing.

Can't be.

Oh, I stand corrected. People of differing political views can not appreciate the skills of one another. Do go on, Bill. Enlighten me.

So, I sense some gamesmanship in the air, and I suspect it has to do with Sarah Palin. Most Democrats loathe Governor Palin so much that they are happy to see a candidate who is taking up some of her air time. Both Bachmann and Palin appeal to the same audience: traditional, conservative working folks. Their views are almost identical on many subjects, but Mrs. Bachmann, for some reason, seems to be easier for the Democrats to accept.

Umm... Really? This might be the stupidest thing ever said by a major political commentator. Are you Serious, Bill? I agree, Palin may actually run for President in her fashion. She'll probably be the first person in history to run for President AND manage to keep her highly paid and high profile job as a political commentator for a high profile network. If anyone can pull off that sort of business savvy coup de grace it's our girl Sarah. But only fucking morons think that A) she is a legitimate threat to democrats at this point, and that b) anyone except for her die-hard supporters care if she actually runs or not. Here's a clue, Bill. Democrats WANT Sarah to run. Jesus, you're a fucking moron. But let's see what other kernels of wisdom you have to share.

This might come down to personality. Sarah Palin has a harder edge than Michele Bachmann. A new Granite State Poll in New Hampshire puts Palin's unfavorable opinion rating among registered Republicans at a whopping 52%, with 41% approving of her. On the other hand, 52% like Congressman Bachmann; just 23% do not.

So you would think that Democrats would want to promote a Republican who has high negatives instead of one who is gaining momentum. Not in this case.

It seems that Sarah Palin has replaced George W. Bush has the person many liberal Americans love to hate. That has benefited Michele Bachmann, who is getting compliments aimed at bolstering her candidacy at Palin's expense. Democrats well understand that the GOP does not have room for both women in the primary fray. They would split the Tea Party vote.

Jesus Christ. I guess I could break this all down line-by-line, but it's all so fucking dumb, what's the point (aside from immense personal satisfaction). Again, this is just jumbled garbage based on one two bullshit premises; A) that Sarah Palin has anything but the slightest outside chance at winning the Republican Primary; and B) that Bachmann, in the highly unlikely event that she wins the Primary, is able to win the General Election.

Bill O, Yes, Obama is vulnerable, but Democrats, if the are boosting Michelle at all, they are boosting her because the are afraid of Mitt Romney, not that fucking psycho. Jesus. This is basic. This is easy. Someone paid to break down politics should not get their analysis wrong on so many levels; indeed, Every Single Level. It's fucking embarrassing, man.

This is not hard to understand.

If unemployment hits 10% Obama could be beaten by, if you'll forgive me, a Rhino wearing a tutu of monkey skins. SO, chances are that Democrats, who are not fucking morons, (i.e. do not have paid commentary jobs for Fox News) understand this. So, yes, they will likely promote and acknowledge weaker candidates in the hope that one of these weaker candidates goes on to win the primary granting Obama a better chance to maintain his position another 4 years. BUT, this does not mean that one politician (Bill Clinton) cannot appreciate another politician (Michelle Bachman) for her singular skill at livelying up the base, in a way that, if you'll forgive me, Sarah Palin, with all her back-woodsey bullshit, just can not touch. If there was ever an expert in back-woodsy bull-shit, it's Clinton. And, maybe, you should pay a bit of legitimate attention to the former President's analysis, Bill. Because, you know, yours' fucking blows.

Anyway...