Reality Obliterates Grandstanding

Yeah Rick Perry, its fun to talk shit about the stimulus bill at a tea party isn't it? Not so fun when you actually need those funds to run your state though, huh?

Earlier this year, Texas Governor Rick Perry was one of a handful of Republican governors who refused some federal stimulus funds from President Obama's economic recovery package on the grounds that there were too many strings attached to the money.

Now that the state is dire straits, however, Perry is asking the federal government for a loan to cover the very expenses the rejected stimulus money would have paid for.

While Perry accepted most of the roughly $17 billion in stimulus funds allocated for Texas, the governor in March rejected $555 million that would have covered state unemployment benefits. Perry said he was not accepting the money because the state would have been obligated to expand its unemployment coverage, creating too much of a long term tax burden.

snip

Democratic legislators in Texas are speaking out against the governor's actions.

"That $555 million would that would have come with the stimulus money wouldn't have to be paid back to the federal government, and that would have saved business taxpayers money for the next 20 years," said Democratic State Rep. Mark Strama, according to News 8 Austin.

As I have said before, conservatism is good for sloganeering, bumperstickers, and selling books. As for actually governing, not so much.

Arrrrrrgh, I Give Up!

In my opinion Sarah Palin is the most overhyped politician of our time. Her ineptitude and loose relationship with the truth,however, has been rewarded time and time again since she was named John McCain's nominee for Vice President last summer. It is for that reason that I typically try to avoid giving her too much of my time.

I put up obligatory posts this week on the Vanity Fair hit piece on her and an accompanying GOPolitico story where Steve Schmidt and Bill Kristol aired each other over he VF article.

Now I was going to leave it at that but there was another report from CBSNews about some emails that documented a back and forth between Palin herself and Schmidt. Honestly I couldn't help but at least post the back and forth without the commentary and let it speak for itself.

Enjoy.

First the Peon

"Pls get in front of that ridiculous issue that's cropped up all day today - two reporters, a protestor's sign, and many shout-outs all claiming Todd's involvement in an anti-American political party," Palin wrote. "It's bull, and I don't want to have to keep reacting to it ... Pls have statement given on this so it's put to bed."

Then Schmidt

Schmidt hit "reply to all" less than five minutes after Palin's e-mail was sent. "Ignore it," he wrote. "He was a member of the aip? My understanding is yes. That is part of their platform. Do not engage the protestors. If a reporter asks say it is ridiculous. Todd loves america."

Undeterred Peon

"That's not part of their platform and he was only a 'member' bc independent alaskans too often check that 'Alaska Independent' box on voter registrations thinking it just means non partisan," Palin wrote. "He caught his error when changing our address and checked the right box. I still want it fixed."

Schmidt comes with the haymaker

"Secession," he wrote. "It is their entire reason for existence. A cursory examination of the website shows that the party exists for the purpose of seceding from the union. That is the stated goal on the front page of the web site. Our records indicate that todd was a member for seven years. If this is incorrect then we need to understand the discrepancy. The statement you are suggesting be released would be innaccurate. The innaccuracy would bring greater media attention to this matter and be a distraction. According to your staff there have been no media inquiries into this and you received no questions about it during your interviews. If you are asked about it you should smile and say many alaskans who love their country join the party because it speeks to a tradition of political independence. Todd loves his country

We will not put out a statement and inflame this and create a situation where john has to adress this."

Game Over.

Obviously at that point even Schmidt was done with her. When will the Mainstream Media follow suit?

Texas Absurdity

Tweety makes an excellent point at about 10 minutes into the clip. You can't claim some kind of special level of patriotism for Texans on the one hand then defend calls for secession fromm the country on the other.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

As Nutty As Squirrel Shit

Tom DeLay puts on his clown shoes to try to defend Texas Governer Rick Perry but Tweety ain't having it.