Mitt Romney preparing to drop out?

Looks like it's gonna be down to John McCain, Ron Paul and Huckles after tomorrow, assuming neither of the latter drop out too.

One of my friends here in DC just received a phone call from a friend in Iowa who has been working for the Romney campaign and she is "upset" and said she will hear tomorrow if (but really more like when) she'll be getting laid off." Also, our favorite Mormon who will never be President Mitt Romney has scheduled meetings for the entirety of the day tomorrow....

Ann Coulter will campaign for Hillary

...if John McCain is the Republican nominee.

We keep hearing the media and even the McCain campaign rail on and on about how John McCain is the only Republican who can beat a Democrat in November. However, I don't know how that's feasible given how Republicans have totally slimed John McCain over the past few years. Last night on Hannity & Colmes Ann Coulter even said she would campaign for, and vote for Hillary if McCain wins the Republican nomination!

Former Republican Congressman indicted for ties to Al-Qaeda

Former Republican Congressman Mark D. Siljander of Michigan has been indicted for his involvement in a terrorist fundraising ring which raised money for Al-Qaeda.

Developing...

UPDATE: Via CNN/AP:

A former congressman and delegate to the United Nations was indicted Wednesday as part of a terrorist fundraising ring that allegedly sent more than $130,000 to an al Qaeda and Taliban supporter who has threatened U.S. and international troops in Afghanistan.

The former Republican congressman from Michigan, Mark Deli Siljander, was charged with money laundering, conspiracy and obstructing justice for allegedly lying about lobbying senators on behalf of an Islamic charity that authorities said was secretly sending funds to terrorists.

A 42-count indictment, unsealed in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Missouri, accuses the Islamic American Relief Agency of paying Siljander $50,000 for the lobbying -- money that turned out to be stolen from the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Siljander, who served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, was appointed by President Reagan to serve as a U.S. delegate to the United Nations for one year in 1987.

Also, let's not forget that this isn't the first time Republicans have been linked to terrorist in the past year.

Mike Huckabee scores yet another endorsement no one cares about

Mike Huckabee has scored his second major endorsement this week! After losing 563 pounds, and being endorsed by Tom Delay, Chuck Norris, and now "wrestler" Rick Flair, will anyone be able to stop Mike Huckabee?

Now, Huckabee is getting ready to rumble: wrestler Ric Flair, a.k.a. The Nature Boy, is supporting the former Arkansas governor in his bid for the White House.

CNN has learned the WWE wrestler is on board with Huckabee, and will co-host a campaign tailgate with the candidate at the South Carolina vs. Clemson football game on Saturday afternoon in Columbia, South Carolina. More details are forthcoming.

EARLIER: Mike Huckabee picks up another uber important endorsement
UPDATE: DeLay gives Huckabee the kiss of death

Mike Huckabee picks up another uber important endorsement

First, Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee received an endorsement from Tom Delay (Fraud - TX), and now he's picked up another endorsement he should be so proud of:

Being endorsed by Tom Delay and Chuck Norris? Wow, we may as well cancel the elections now, this guy's definitely got it in the bag!!

Senator Larry "Bathroom stall" Craig's missed connection!

Senator Larry "Bathroom stall" Craig (R-ID) seems to have missed the connection with one possible suitor in the DC Union Station bathroom!

Sen. Larry Craig - missed connection - m4m
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reply to: [redacted]
Date: 2007-08-29, 2:16PM EDT

Hey, Larry, we exchanged glances in the men's bathroom in Union Station last year. Initially, I thought I was imagining that you were cruising me, but after recent "revelations" in the news of your bathroom cruising prowess, I *knew* it was you!

Too bad I didn't understand what you were doing when I was taking a crap in a bathroom stall while you nervously were pacing outside my stall door and periodically peeking inside.

I should've known you were cruising me when you then sat in the stall next to mine and kept moving your foot into my stall and tapping it. I just figured you were trying to squeeze a big poop out and were having trouble with it and you were squirming about ha ha.

And then when you reached under our stall divider and flailed your hand about a few times, I figured you were just having a momentary epileptic seizure.

I'm sorry I was so dense and unaware of the ways and signals of bathroom cruising. If I had realized you were cruising me, we could've had some HOT sex. You could've spanked me while you told me that I was a "naughty, naughty bad boy" (just like you said Bill Clinton was in 1999 on "Meet the Press").

SIDEBAR --> On January 24, 1999, during the Clinton impeachment, Senator Craig told Tim Russert on Meet the Press: "The American people already know that Bill Clinton is a bad boy, a naughty boy. I'm going to speak out for the citizens of my state, who in the majority think that Bill Clinton is probably even a nasty, bad, naughty boy."

But since we had a missed connection, I guess I can only leave such thoughts as fantasy, only to hopefully be realized as reality someday :)

[Craigslist -- Sen. Larry Craig - missed connection - m4m]

Oh hey, Senator Craig thinks Bill Clinton is a "bad, bad, naughty boy!"

I also think, after watching this video, that this man is definitely a child molester:

Federal government uses 80,000 of your tax dollars to protect Bush from a T-shirt

So this story about a couple in West Virginia being arrested for wearing anti-Bush T-shirts at a political rally where President Bush gave a speech is pretty funny in and of itself. The fact that they then sued the federal government, and eventually settled for $80,000 is kinda funny too.

No surprise though that the media has failed to report on the real story here, which is that the federal government took $80,000 from U.S. taxpayers to protect George Bush from having to face any kind of dissent, even when it was something as simple as a fucking T-shirt.

It also won't surprise anyone to find out that the Bush administration is adamantly denying any "wrong doing." But of course! Because I'd just hand out $80,000 too, especially if I knew I hadn't done anything wrong, and especially when it wasn't my own fucking money I was giving away.

"This settlement is a real victory not only for our clients but for the First Amendment," said Andrew Schneider, executive director of the ACLU of West Virginia. "As a result of the Ranks' courageous stand, public officials will think twice before they eject peaceful protesters from public events for exercising their right to dissent."

White House spokesman Blair Jones said the settlement was not an admission of wrongdoing.

"The parties understand that this settlement is a compromise of disputed claims to avoid the expenses and risks of litigation and is not an admission of fault, liability, or wrongful conduct," Jones said.

Ha ha, they even sent out a manual stating that George Bush isn't allowed to face dissent, ever! It even comes complete with an action plan to deal with the "terrorists" who dare oppose the grand dragon supreme ruler!

The ACLU said in a statement that a presidential advance manual makes it clear that the government tries to exclude dissenters from the president's appearances. "As a last resort," the manual says, "security should remove the demonstrators from the event."

Bush and his self-loathing minions are so scared of facing reality that they're even willing to call on local athletic teams, college/young Republican organizations, and even fraternities/sororities to beat down anyone who opposes!

The first step to keeping demonstrators out of events, the manual tells the president's event staff, is to encourage the Secret Service to "ask the local police department to designate a protest area...preferably not in view of the event site or the motorcade route."

Inside the event space, the manual advises, White House advance personnel should preposition "rally squads" that can swarm any protesters at the event and "use their signs and banners as shields between the demonstrators and the main press platform." The rally squads can be formed using "college/young republican organizations, local athletic teams, and fraternities/sororities," the manual notes.

All over a fucking T-shirt.

[cross posted at Daily Kos, and Raising Kaine]

Republicans to sweat it out at YouTube debates after all

Mitt Romney, who is too popular to participate in the debates, is the only hold out at this point. From the Washington Post:

This just in: The Republican CNN/YouTube debate, in limbo for the past few weeks, is on again.

But Mitt Romney, who won Saturday's Iowa straw poll and has criticized the debate format, has yet to commit to the Nov. 28 event.

Romney, the lone GOP holdout, has posted more videos on his YouTube channel (283 as of Sunday afternoon) than any other presidential candidate, Republican or Democrat. But he has resisted the debate, in which videotaped questions are submitted through YouTube. In an interview with Manchester Union Leader, Romney said, "I think the presidency ought to be held at a higher level than having to answer questions from a snowman."

And speaking of liars...

Tommy Thompson drops out of the 2008 presidential race after finishing sixth out of eleven in an Iowa straw poll.

"I have no regrets about running," he said in a statement released Sunday evening by his campaign.

"I felt my record as Governor of Wisconsin and Secretary of Health and Human Services gave me the experience I needed to serve as president, but I respect the decision of the voters. I am leaving the campaign trail today, but I will not leave the challenges of improving health care and welfare in America."

I have very much enjoyed my years in public service and I am comforted by the fact that I think I made a difference for people during that time," Thompson said in the campaign announcement. "I hope to continue working to serve others over the next few years."

Look who voted against ethics reform!!

The U.S. Senate passed the "Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007," by a vote of 83-14 today. The bill is a key ethics reform measure which now goes to George Bush for approval. No surprise though that all 14 "no votes" came from Republicans!!!! Who were they? Bennett (R-UT), Burr (R-NC), Coburn (R-OK), Cochran (R-MS), Cornyn (R-TX), Craig (R-ID), Crapo (R-ID), DeMint (R-SC), Ensign (R-NV), Graham (R-SC), Inhofe (R-OK), Kyl (R-AZ), Lott (R-MS), and McCain (R-AZ).

So Presidential hopeful John McCain doesn't think Congress is in desperate need of ethics reform? Interesting. Let's review the key provisions of the measure via Politico:

Requires disclosure on the Internet of lobbyist fundraising for lawmakers, including the amount of direct campaign contributions and bundled contributions and who raised them, as well as which lobbyists hosted fundraising events and how much was raised. Lawmakers must disclose the names of those lobbyists who have raised $15,000 or more for them within a six-month period by "bundling" donations from a pool of contributors.

Bars members of Congress from attending parties sponsored by lobbyists at national party conventions.

Requires lobbyists to report their lobbying activities every three months in an electronic format available on the Internet. The results will be posted immediately on the Internet.

Bans all gifts from lobbyists or their clients to lawmakers and their staffs.

Bans nearly all extended travel by members of Congress sponsored by nongovernmental entities. It does so by (a) barring any organization that employs a lobbyist from sponsoring trips for members longer than one day, (b) requiring pre-approval of all trips by the relevant congressional ethics committee, (c) requiring disclosure of all trips on the Internet and (d) barring lobbyists from going along on any of these trips. Senators, as well as candidates for the Senate and for the White House, are required to pay full charter rates for trips on private planes. House members and House candidates are barred from accepting trips on private planes.

Requires disclosure of the names of the sponsor and recipient of congressional earmarks “if technically feasible” to be posted on the Internet 48 hours before final approval of appropriations and tax bills. The relevant committee chairman, the majority leader or someone designated by the majority leader must certify that earmarks have been disclosed. Senators must certify the earmarks would not directly benefit them financially.

Permits any senator to remove an earmark by raising a point-of-order challenge on an earmark slipped into a conference report.

Extends the "cooling-off" period for senators before they are eligible to join a lobbying firm from the current one year to two years. Former House members would have to wait one year. Both House and Senate members are required to disclose publicly any job negotiations they engage in while serving in Congress. Lawmakers are forbidden from attempting to influence hiring decisions among lobbying firms.

Bans secret "holds" on pending legislation.

So what exactly is John McCain and the rest of these Republican wackjobs so afraid of? Being honest?

George Bush requires a personal oath of loyalty?

BURN!
Patrick Leahy: And then you said, I took an oath to the President, and I take that oath very seriously. Did you mean, perhaps, you took an oath to the Constitution?

Sara Taylor: Uh, I, uh, yes, you're correct, I took an oath to the Constitution. Uh, but, what--

Leahy: Did you take a second oath to the President?

Taylor: I did not. I--

Leahy: So the answer was incorrect.

Taylor: The answer was incorrect. What I should have said is that, I took an oath, I took that oath seriously. And I believe that taking that oath means that I need to respect, and do respect, my service to the President.

Leahy: No, the oath says that you take an oath to uphold and protect the Constitution of the United States. That is your paramount duty. I know that the President refers to the government being his government -- it's not. It's the government of the people of America. Your oath is not to uphold the President, nor is mine to uphold the Senate. My oath, like your oath, is to uphold the Constitution.

Hey voters of America: Screw you!!

Love always,
The Democrats

and Co-signed,
The Republicans

Anyway, so we elect them (the Democrats) to Congress and what do they do? Exactly what we told them not to, of course!!!! In case you're wondering, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both voted against the measure, but only after it was already assured that it would pass. Hm, I wonder if Walnuts! McCain actually voted this time.

Bowing to President Bush, the Democratic-controlled Congress grudgingly approved fresh billions for the Iraq war Thursday night, minus the troop withdrawal timeline that drew his earlier veto.

"The Iraqi government needs to show real progress in return for America's continued support and sacrifice," said the commander in chief, and he warned that August could prove to be a bloody month for U.S. troops in Baghdad's murderous neighborhoods.

Five months in power on Capitol Hill, Democrats in both houses coupled their concession to the president with pledges to challenge his policies anew. "This debate will go on," vowed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and if anything, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record) of Nevada was more emphatic.

"Senate Democrats will not stop our efforts to change the course of this war until either enough Republicans join with us to reject President Bush's failed policy or we get a new president," he said.

Earlier: Keith Olbermann slams Bush, and the Democratic leaders

UPDATE: Looks like crazy McCain did vote, voting "yea" of course. I'll post the full roll call when it becomes available.

Keith Olbermann slams Bush, and the Democratic leaders

Keith Olbermann's special comment regarding the "compromise" between George Bush and Democratic party leaders to continue funding the war in Iraq entirely on George Bush's terms:

Enough said.

Tommy Thompson pulls the 'deaf' card!

Good news! Tommy Thompson doesn't hate gay people, he just can't afford a hearing aid that works!

Republican presidential candidate Tommy Thompson continued to defend himself Wednesday for an answer he gave during a debate last week — saying employers should have the right to fire gay workers — and said the misunderstanding could be attributed to his hearing problem.

The former Wisconsin governor said he thought he had been asked whether enough laws are on the books to protect gays, but his hearing aid went out during the debate.

So, if that's true, here's how it looks on paper:

Question: Are enough laws on the books to protect gays?
Thompson: I think that should be left up to individual employers.

Ha ha! Tommy Thompson, you don't have a broken hearing aid, you just suck at spin jobs, and your shit show staff needs to learn better damage control.

AS PROMISED: More proof that racism, and bigotry is perfectly acceptable in the Republican Party

Yesterday I promised details would be forthcoming regarding a staffer for a Republican Congressman from Ohio holding racists beliefs. So here we go, last week while browsing Craigslist ads for apartment listings in the Washington, DC metro area, I received the following email (click the image to enlarge if the font appears too small to read in your browser window):

I scanned the email rather hastily, since I was about to head out the door, and sent a reply saying that I would be interested. I responded using the email address I setup for my old blog, which contains the name for my (old) blog in it (ie: "myname"@capitoltalk.com).

After two days I still hadn't received a response, so I began to get a little suspicious -- mainly that this was perhaps a Republican staffer who, upon receiving my reply, visited my old blog, and realized I was a Democrat, thus he (may have been) no longer interested in rooming together.

This "suspicion" grew even more when I checked my old blog's visitor log for the past week, and noticed I had received several hits from the domain name "senate.gov." I then went back to reread the email and noticed the sender had specified he preferred a white roommate. After that, I began to get really curious as to who this might be, so (with some assistance) I did a little "investigating." Turns out this Mr. James Molina is the Legislative Correspondent for Representative Mike Turner (R-OH), who represents the third district in Ohio.

So I'm just curious, since there's absolutely no reason that Mr. Molina would only be interested in white roommates other than being a bigot, does his employer Representative Mike Turner from Ohio also condone racism? Given his voting record, it wouldn't surprise me.

[Cross posted at Daily Kos]

UPDATE: Buckeye State Blog is now covering as well.