Previously: Schadenfreude, schoener Goetterfunken, Tochter aus Elysium… (November 11, 2012)

Success! Already getting over three thousand paranoid temper tantrum signatures, at the White House “We the People” petition site:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Peacefully grant the State of Missouri to withdraw from the United States of America and create its own NEW government.

As the founding fathers of the United States of America made clear in the Declaration of Independence in 1776:

“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”

“…Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and institute new Government…”

Created: Nov 10, 2012

Signatures from other states:

Troy G

Corinth, TX

November 12, 2012

Signature # 3,632

CAROL i

Painesville, OH

November 12, 2012

Signature # 3,631

Michael B

Trinity, AL

November 12, 2012

Signature # 3,630

Michael M

Roseville, CA

November 12, 2012

Signature # 3,628

Dallas T

Mesa, AZ

November 12, 2012

Signature # 3,625

[….]

Roxanne L

Quitman, AR

November 12, 2012

Signature # 3,484

Ryan J

Kent, WA

November 12, 2012

Signature # 3,483

Kevin A

Brewton, AL

November 12, 2012

Signature # 3,481

Tiffiney C

Cottonwood, AL

November 12, 2012

Signature # 3,480

Michael I

Ocala, FL

November 12, 2012

Signature # 3,479

A N

Lansing, KS

November 12, 2012

Signature # 3,478

Lee C

Halifax, NC

November 12, 2012

Signature # 3,477

robert s

Reading, PA

November 12, 2012

Signature # 3,476

Jim W

Hardesty, OK

November 12, 2012

Signature # 3,474

Jessica L

Little Rock, AR

November 12, 2012

Signature # 3,475

Tyler D

Poland, ME

November 12, 2012

Signature # 3,472

Roy R

Oak Grove, LA

November 12, 2012

Signature # 3,467

Eric F

Stafford, VA

November 12, 2012

Signature # 3,466

Jon S

Pittsburgh, PA

November 12, 2012

Signature # 3,465

Rachel H

Christiansburg, VA

November 12, 2012

Signature # 3,464

Michele B

Allentown, PA

November 12, 2012

Signature # 3,463

[emphasis added]

And on and on…

Quitman? Really? Heh.

So, do the out of state signers get to vote in Missouri if this gets on the ballot here? Think about that for a minute.

…down.

The price of gas this morning in west central Missouri:

If gas prices go down, does President Obama (D) get the credit? Just asking.

Previously:

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): wait, wait, don’t tell me (November 8, 2012)

Vicky Hartzler (r): it’s so quiet when the price keeps dropping (October 31, 2012)

Vicky Hartzler (r): What’s that? Did you say something? Apparently not. (October 29, 2012)

Vicky Hartzler (r): the sound of silence (October 23, 2012)

The past, the gas, and isms (September 24, 2012)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): let’s pass the gas – part 2 (June 6, 2012)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): let’s pass the gas (May 27, 2012)

And how. In small town west central Missouri:

The right wingnut cult of the lost cause. The signs are still up in empty lots and in the right of way all over town.

Previously:

Schadenfreude, schoener Goetterfunken, Tochter aus Elysium… (November 11, 2012)

Morning in America (November 8, 2012)

It’s still out there, on a cold and rainy day. It’s gonna stay out there until it gets much colder.

Yeah, right:

Liberal Schadenfreude Is Out of Control

Why gloating after the election is nastier than ever.

By Katherine Goldstein|Posted Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, at 8:04 PM ET

….I had just turned 21. My vote for Kerry was the first I’d ever cast, and boy did losing hurt.  But there was no one to around to rub my face in my own misery. In order to do that, someone would have had to call or email me or come up to my red-rimmed eyes and laugh in my face. Given that my immediate family is liberal, modern social media was in its infancy, and I went to a strongly left-leaning college, nothing like this happened. My friends and I consoled each other and moved on, and I never had the experience of anyone reveling in my despair….

Seriously? Obviously a viewpoint stemming from a wealth of experience. 2004 was the writer’s first election. I remember 1968, and 1972, and 1980, and 1984, and 1988, and 2000, and 2002, and 2004, and 2010.

Especially 2000.

Concern trolling coming from the sort of establishment. Please, Flying Spaghetti Monster, make the stoopid stop.

Now I think the yard sign stays up quite a while longer. And I have plenty of replacements.

I don’t think The Onion was able to hack the White House web site. Maybe.

At the White House “We the People” petition site, the usual suspects are upset about the outcome of the election:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

The State of South Carolina to Secede from the Union and form it’s own Government as a Sovereign State

A petition for the State of South Carolina to Absolve its Allegiance to the Union and Declare its Independence as sovereign nation state.

“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”

“…Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any Form of Government

Created: Nov 10, 2012

The funny part? There are a number of signatures from people from other states:

Rachel D

Montgomery, AL

November 11, 2012

Signature # 566

Ryan P

San Antonio, TX

November 11, 2012

Signature # 565

Derrick S

Zachary, LA

November 11, 2012

Signature # 564

George P

Kissimmee, FL

November 11, 2012

Signature # 563

Scott B

Salisbury, NC

November 11, 2012

Signature # 562

Rhonda E

Jacksonville, FL

November 11, 2012

Signature # 559

[emphasis added]

And on and on.

Are they trying to tell South Carolina something? Just asking.

There are petitions for other states, too:

Peacefully grant the State of Michigan to withdraw from the United States of America and create its own NEW government.

Peacefully grant the State of New York to withdraw from the United States of America and create its own NEW government.

Peacefully grant the State of Colorado to withdraw from the United States of America and create its own NEW government.

Allow Oregon to vote on and leave the Union peacefully and remain an ally to the Nation.

Peacefully grant the State of New Jersey to withdraw from the United States of America and create its own NEW government.

Peacefully grant the State of North Dakota to withdraw from the USA and create its own NEW government.

Peacefully grant the State of Montana to withdraw from the United States of America and create its own NEW government.

Peacefully grant the State of Indiana to withdraw from the United States of America and create its own NEW government.

Peacefully grant the State of Mississippi to withdraw from the United States of America and create its own NEW governmen [sic]

Peacefully grant the State of georgia [sic] to withdraw from the United States of America and create its own NEW government.

Peacefully grant the State of Kentucky to withdraw from the United States of America and create its own NEW government.

Peacefully grant the State of Florida to withdraw from the United States of America and create its own NEW government.

Peacefully grant the State of North Carolina to withdraw from the United States and create its own NEW government

Peacefully grant the State of Alabama to withdraw from the United States of America and create its own NEW government.

Peacefully grant the State of Texas to withdraw from the United States of America and create its own NEW government.

Picture New Jersey and New York without FEMA.

North Dakota just elected a new United States Senator. And they want to give that up?

Ditto, Indiana.

georgia is special:

Peacefully grant the State of georgia to withdraw from the United States of America and create its own NEW government.

just like in 1860 the south secede from the union. 2012 the state of georgia would like to withdraw from the USA

Created: Nov 10, 2012

And it already has 1409 signatures.

Someone in Mississippi needs to work on their cut and paste skills.

Isn’t Kentucky a commonwealth? Just asking.

As if anyone wouldn’t understand what “new” means if it isn’t all caps.

Maybe if the rest of us quietly tip toe away and take our federal dollars with us they won’t notice. Nah.

Is this a great country, or what?

Previously: Election 2012: 51st Legislative District (November 6, 2011)

Via the Missouri Secretary of State:

State Representative – District 51 (22 of 22 Precincts Reported)

Gary L. Grigsby Democrat 6,236 46.4%

Dean A. Dohrman Republican 6,706 49.9%

Bill Wayne Libertarian 504 3.7%

Total Votes 13,446

It wasn’t exactly a landslide. Looking at the county results makes it appear even less so, via the Missouri Secretary of State:

State Representative – District 51 – County

Johnson

Gary L. Grigsby DEM – 2,459

Dean A. Dohrman REP – 2,610

Bill Wayne LIB – 242

Pettis

Gary L. Grigsby DEM – 360

Dean A. Dohrman REP – 1,190

Bill Wayne LIB – 53

Saline

Gary L. Grigsby DEM – 3,417

Dean A. Dohrman REP – 2,906

Bill Wayne LIB – 209

Saline County didn’t go very well for Dean Dohrman (r), did it? As for the others, what would help the margin? Money.

Dean Dohrman (r) (left) with Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r) (center) at the Governor’s Ham Breakfast at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia on July 16, 2012. Gee, you think Dean Dohrman (r) regretted wearing that Akin (r) sticker three days later?

As for ideology, Dean Dohrman (r) found himself in familiar right wingnut company (from his campaign web site):

Right to Life

I believe that life should be protected from conception to natural end.

That’s all of it. No word on what Dean Dohrman (r) thinks about Todd Akin’s (r) or Richard Mourdock’s (r) opinions on the subject.

We’ll look forward to reporting on those future votes against war and to repeal the death penalty.

Gun Rights

My thoughts on a man or woman’s right to bear arms.

Does this foreshadow a future vote in favor of the Equal Rights Amendment?

Role of States

Our Founders established a system of separation of powers and checks and balances.  In Federalist 45, James Madison stated that the primary function of the federal government is national defense and the bulk of other government falls upon the states.  Obviously, this has been lost over the years, and we need to return to the original concept of Madison.  The government closest to the people is the best government.

Ah, a tenther. As if the Constitution and over two hundred years of precedent and stare decisis don’t matter.

Let’s look at the money, starting with a lot of late money for direct mail coming from the Missouri republican party (via the Missouri Ethics Commission):

DIRECT EXPENDITURE REPORT

MO REPUBLICAN PARTY [pdf] 11/2/2012

Dean Dohrman P.O. Box 234 La Monte MO 65337-0234 Representative 51 11/1/2012 $10,654.29

[emphasis added]

On the same report:

ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM

MO REPUBLICAN PARTY 11/2/2012

King Strategic Communications 4605 Morse Road Suite 201 Columbus OH 43230 11/1/2012 IE direct mail Dohrman $10,654.29

[emphasis added]

It’s the same expenditure, it has to be reported under both categories (who they gave the money to for the mailing and the candidate on who’s behalf they directed that mail).

But, wait, there’s more:

CONTRIBUTION OF MORE THAN $5,000.00 RECEIVED BY ANY COMMITTEE FROM ANY SINGLE DONOR – TO BE FILED WITHIN 48 HOURS OF RECEIVING THE CONTRIBUTION

C111221 COMMITTEE TO ELECT DEAN DOHRMAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE [pdf] 10/29/2012

House Republican House [sic] Committee Inc PO Box 1313 Jefferson City, MO 65102 10/29/2012 $13,080.50

[emphasis added]

And what did the HRCC spend all that money on?:

ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM

HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE INC [pdf] 10/30/2012

Victory Enterprises 5200 30th Street SW Suite 7 Davenport IA 52802-3039 10/29/2012 Radio Buy-D. Dohrman $13,080.50

[emphasis added]

Over $13,000.00 on radio in a really small media market? That doesn’t even leave room for regular programming.

So, big money from outside the district floods in from republican campaign committees funded by big dollar donors and the beneficiary manages to lose in county with the largest population in the district? And the candidate barely manages to eke out a win overall against a severely underfunded opponent? Hallelujah! That’d be a considered a mandate for a right wingnut.

Wait, there’s even more, via the Missouri Ethics Commission:

Committee Expenditures for Candidates

Report Year: 2012 Last Name: Dohrman

Dean Dohrman PO Box 234 La Monte MO 65337 House 51 Support 07/18/2012 $17.70 MO RIGHT TO LIFE PAC 8 Day Before Primary Election-8/7/2012

Dean Dohrman PO Box 234 La Monte MO 65337 House 51 Support 10/10/2012 $11.81 MO RIGHT TO LIFE PAC 8 Day Before General Election-11/6/2012

Dean Dohrman PO Box 234 La Monte MO 65337 House 51 Support 10/18/2012 $25.35 MO RIGHT TO LIFE PAC 8 Day Before General Election-11/6/2012

Dean Dohrman PO Box 234 La Monte MO 65337 House 51 Support 10/29/2012 $23.39 MO RIGHT TO LIFE PAC 24 Hour Expenditure Report-11/6/2012 General

[emphasis added]

What? Mail lists? Phones?

This Missouri Right to Life:

Missouri Right to Life president writes impassioned plea for support for Akin

By Rudi Keller

Posted August 25, 2012 at 11:18 a.m.

….”Over the course of this past week, Missouri Right to Life has been inundated with requests for interviews regarding Todd Akin. We responded by issuing a statement in support of Cong. Akin’s defense of the life of an unborn child conceived in rape. Nothing has changed with the MRL PAC endorsement of Cong. Akin for the U.S. Senate.

“Cong. Akin’s statement defending the lives of unborn children conceived in rape has been misinterpreted and attacked by the media, anti-life extremists, and many squeamish Republicans who lack the intestinal fortitude to defend their own platform which states: ‘we assert the sanctity of human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed.’

“While Cong. Akin stumbled in making the point that there is a difference between a rape assault and statutory rape, and the incidence of pregnancy resulting from rape is low, his statement to not punish an innocent child for the crime of the father and defending the life of that child is what really has the anti-life extremists so exorcised….

Nah, Dean Dohrman (r) probably wasn’t concerned about wearing that Todd Akin (r) sticker at the State Fair.

Wait, there’s even more. Who are some of those big dollar contributors?:

24 HOUR NOTICE OF LATE CONTRIBUTIONS / LOANS RECEIVED C111221 [pdf]

COMMITTEE TO ELECT DEAN DOHRMAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE

Friends of Todd Richardson PO Box 1226 Poplar Bluff, MO 63902 10/30/2012 [$]500.00

[emphasis added]

24 HOUR NOTICE OF LATE CONTRIBUTIONS / LOANS RECEIVED C111221 [pdf]

COMMITTEE TO ELECT DEAN DOHRMAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE

Parson For State Senate 940 N Redel Place Bolivar, MO 65613 11/1/2012 [$]1,000.00

Citizens For Hoskins PO Box 118 Warrensburg, MO 64093 11/1/2012 [$]500.00

[emphasis added]

There’s more, from the “8 Day Before General Election” report:

CONTRIBUTIONS AND LOANS RECEIVED

COMMITTEE TO ELECT DEAN DOHRMAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE [pdf] 10/29/2012

Friends of Diehl 2404 White Stable Rd Town and Country MO 63131 10/9/2012 $1,000.00

Citizens For Hinson PO Box 67 St Clair MO 63077 10/15/2012 $250.00

Friends of Caleb Jones PO Box 5 California MO 65018 10/19/2012 $250.00

[emphasis added]

Gee, that’s a chunk of republican politicians from outside the district kicking in.

What have we here, a “wink, wink, nod, nod” shell game? (from the same 8 day report):

EXPENDITURES AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE

COMMITTEE TO ELECT DEAN DOHRMAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE [pdf] 10/29/2012

C. Contributions Made (Regardless of Amount)

HRCC PO Box 1313 Jefferson City MO 65101 10/10/2012 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

Why, yes, that’s the same [sic] republican committee that dropped $13,080.50 in radio in the district on behalf of Dean Dohrman (r).

From Dean Dohrman’s (r) campaign web site, a quick mention of education:

Job Growth

The government cannot grow the economy.  There are certain public services and works that must be paid for, police, education, roads and bridges, but these functions do not provide the growth needed for a healthy economy.  The best way to reach prosperity is for the government to provide an environment where entrepreneurs and workers can thrive.  Individual motivation, innovation, and competition are the keys to Missouri’s future.

We look forward to covering Dean Dohrman’s (r) constituent town halls. Especially in the three counties with higher education institutions.

Joplin, Missouri (in red) in Jasper and Newton Counties. Image via Creative Commons License.

The presidential vote in Jasper and Newton Counties (including the City of Joplin) in 2012, via the Missouri Secretary of State:

JASPER [County]

President, Vice President (49 of 49 Precincts Reported)

Barack Obama, Joe Biden Democrat 12,808 28.3%

Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan Republican 31,345 69.3%

Gary Johnson, James P. Gray Libertarian 919 2.0%

Virgil Goode, Jim Clymer Constitution 141 0.3%

Total Votes 45,213

NEWTON [County]

President, Vice President (25 of 25 Precincts Reported)

Barack Obama, Joe Biden Democrat 6,425 25.6%

Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan Republican 18,179 72.5%

Gary Johnson, James P. Gray Libertarian 397 1.6%

Virgil Goode, Jim Clymer Constitution 79 0.3%

Total Votes 25,080

[emphasis added]

The gubernatorial vote in 2012:

JASPER [County]

Governor (49 of 49 Precincts Reported)

Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon Democrat 19,455 43.2%

David (Dave) Spence Republican 24,215 53.8%

Jim Higgins Libertarian 1,356 3.0%

Leonard Steinman Write-in 0 0.0%

Ronald E. Levy Write-in 0 0.0%

Total Votes 45,026

NEWTON [County]

Governor (25 of 25 Precincts Reported)

Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon Democrat 9,879 39.5%

David (Dave) Spence Republican 14,481 57.9%

Jim Higgins Libertarian 661 2.6%

Leonard Steinman Write-in 0 0.0%

Ronald E. Levy Write-in 0 0.0%

Total Votes 25,021

And in 2008?:

JASPER [County]

U.S. President And Vice President Precincts Reporting 46 of 46

John McCain, Sarah Palin REP 31,667 65.9%

Barack Obama, Joe Biden DEM 15,730 32.8%

Bob Barr, Wayne A. Root LIB 194 .4%

Chuck Baldwin, Darrell Castle CST 123 .3%

Ralph Nader, Matt Gonzalez IND 311 .6%

Cynthia McKinney, Rosa Clemente WI 0 .0%

Total Votes   48,025

NEWTON [County]

U.S. President And Vice President Precincts Reporting 25 of 25

John McCain, Sarah Palin REP 17,637 69.4%

Barack Obama, Joe Biden DEM 7,450 29.3%

Bob Barr, Wayne A. Root LIB 87 .3%

Chuck Baldwin, Darrell Castle CST 74 .3%

Ralph Nader, Matt Gonzalez IND 158 .6%

Cynthia McKinney, Rosa Clemente WI 0 .0%

Total Votes   25,406

[emphasis added]

The vote for Governor in 2008:

JASPER [County]

Governor Precincts Reporting 46 of 46

Hulshof, Kenny REP 27,764 58.6%

Nixon, Jeremiah W. (Jay) DEM 18,676 39.4%

Finkenstadt, Andrew W. LIB 507 1.1%

Thompson, Gregory E. CST 425 .9%

Brown, Sr., Theodis (Ted) WI 0 .0%

Serati, Mark WI2 0 .0%

Total Votes   47,372

NEWTON [County]

Governor Precincts Reporting 25 of 25

Hulshof, Kenny REP 15,570 61.9% % Yes Votes Graph

Nixon, Jeremiah W. (Jay) DEM 9,134 36.3%

Finkenstadt, Andrew W. LIB 246 1.0%

Thompson, Gregory E. CST 222 .9%

Brown, Sr., Theodis (Ted) WI 0 .0%

Serati, Mark WI2 0 .0%

Total Votes   25,172

President Obama in Joplin, Missouri on May 29, 2011.

Evidently, if you’re President of the United States visiting an area twice within the last year and a half will lose you votes. The numbers for Governor Jay Nixon did go up, but the overall percentages weren’t that great, either.

Previously:

President Obama in Joplin – May 21, 2012 – commencement speech (May 22, 2012)

Some thoughts on Joplin (June 2, 2011)

FEMA declares Eric Cantor a Disaster Area (May 31, 2011)

President Obama in Joplin – photos and remarks (May 29, 2011)

The GOP and Joplin: No compassion, only gamesmanship (May 25, 2011)

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) on the floor of the Senate: calling out Rep. Eric Cantor (r) (May 25, 2011)

Government is not the enemy (May 23, 2011)

“…I refuse to accept any approach that isn’t balanced. I am not going to ask students and seniors and middle class families to pay down the entire deficit while people like me, making over two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, aren’t asked to pay a dime more in taxes. [applause] I’m not going to do that…”

President Obama on growing the economy and reducing the deficit, November 9, 2012:

President Obama (D): Thank you, everybody. Thank you. [applause, cheers]  Thank you very much. Thank you so much. Thank you. [applause] Thank you very much, everybody.  Everybody, please have a seat. [applause] Thank you.

Well, good afternoon, everybody. [voices: “Good afternoon.”][laughter] Now that, uh, those of us on the campaign trail have had a chance to get a little sleep [laughter], uh, it’s time to get back to work. And there is plenty of work to do.

As I said on Tuesday night, the American people voted for action, not politics as usual. You elected us to focus on your jobs, not ours. And in that spirit, I’ve invited leaders of both parties to the White House next week so we can start to build consensus around the challenges that we can only solve together. And I also intend to bring in business and labor and civic leaders from all across the country here to Washington, uh, to get their ideas and input as well.    

You know, at a time when our economy is still recovering from the great recession our top priority has to be jobs and growth. That’s the focus [applause] of the plan I talked about during the campaign. It’s a plan to reward small businesses and manufacturers that create jobs here not overseas. It’s a plan to give people the chance to get the education and training that businesses are looking for right now. It’s a plan to make sure this country is a global leader in research and technology and clean energy, which will attract new companies and high wage jobs to America. It’s a plan to put folks back to work, including our veterans, rebuilding our roads and our bridges, and other infrastructure. And it’s a plan to reduce our deficit in a balanced and responsible way.

Our work is made that much more urgent because at the end of this year we face a series of deadlines that require us to make major decisions about how to pay our deficit down, decisions that will have a huge impact on the economy and the middle class, both now and in the future. Last year, I worked with Democrats and Republicans to cut a trillion dollars worth of spending that we just couldn’t afford. I intend to work with both parties to do more, and that includes making reforms that will bring down the cost of health care so we can strengthen programs like Medicaid and Medicare for the long haul.

But as I’ve said before, we can’t just cut our way to prosperity. If we’re serious about reducing the deficit we have to combine spending cuts with revenue, and that means asking the wealthiest Americans to pay a little more in taxes.[applause] That’s how we did it. That’s how we did it in the nineteen-nineties when Bill Clinton was President. That’s how we can reduce the deficit while still making the investments we need to build a strong middle class and a strong economy. That’s the only way we can still afford to train our workers, or help our kids pay for college, or make sure that good jobs in clean energy or high tech manufacturing don’t end up in countries like China.

Now, already, I’ve put forward a detailed plan that allows us to make these investments while reducing our deficit by four trillion dollars over the next decade. I want to be clear, I’m not wedded to every detail of my plan. I’m open to compromise. I’m open to new ideas. I’m committed to solving our fiscal challenges. But I refuse to accept any approach that isn’t balanced. I am not going to ask students and seniors and middle class families to pay down the entire deficit while people like me, making over two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, aren’t asked to pay a dime more in taxes. [applause] I’m not going to do that.

And I just want to point out this was a central question during the election. It was debated over and over again. And on Tuesday night we found out that the majority of Americans agree with my approach and that includes Democrats, independents, and a lot of Republicans across the country, as well as independent economists and budget experts. That’s how you reduce the deficit, with a balanced approach.  

So our job now is to get a majority in Congress to reflect the will of the American people. And I believe we can get that majority. I was encouraged to hear Speaker Boehner agree that tax revenue has to be part of this equation, so I look forward to hearing his ideas when I see him next week.

And let me make one final point that every American needs to hear. Right now, if Congress fails to come to an agreement on an overall deficit reduction package by the end of the year, everybody’s taxes will automatically go up on January first, everybody’s, including the ninety-eight percent of Americans who make less than two hundred and fifty thousand dollars a year. And that makes no sense. It would be bad for the economy and would hit families that are already struggling to make ends meet.

Now, fortunately, we shouldn’t need long negotiations or drama to solve that part of the problem. While there may be disagreement in Congress over whether or not to raise taxes on folks making over two hundred and fifty thousand dollars a year, nobody, not Republicans, not Democrats, want taxes to go up for folks making under two hundred and fifty thousand dollars a year. So let’s not wait. Even as we’re negotiating a broader deficit reduction package let’s extend the middle class tax cuts right now. [applause] Let’s do that right now.

That one step, that one step, would give millions of families, ninety-eight percent of Americans and ninety-seven percent of small businesses, the certainty that they need going into the new year. It would immediately take a huge chunk of the economic uncertainty off the table,and that will lead to new jobs and faster growth. Business will know that consumers, they’re not going to see a big tax increase. They’ll know that most small businesses won’t see a tax increase. And so, a lot of the uncertainty that you’re reading about, that will be removed. In fact, the Senate has already passed a bill doing exactly this, so all we need is action from the House. And I’ve got the pen ready to sign the bill right away. [applause] I’m ready to do it. I’m ready to do it.    

You know, the American people understand that we’re going to have differences and disagreements in the months to come. They get that. But on Tuesday they said loud and clear that they won’t tolerate dysfunction, they won’t tolerate politicians who view compromise as a dirty word, not when so many Americans are still out of work, not when so many families and small business owners are still struggling to pay the bills. What the American people are looking for is cooperation, they’re looking for consensus, they’re looking for common sense, most of all, they want action.  I intend to deliver for them in my second term, and I expect to find willing partners in both parties to make that happen. So let’s get to work.

Thank you very much, everybody.  Thank you.  [applause]

Speaker John Boehner’s (r) idea is to implement Mitt Romney’s plan (as vague as that was/is). Oh, wait, elections have consequences you say?

Via the Federal Election Commission, a contribution right before the election:

11/04/2012 15 : 13

Image# 12961241274 [pdf]

48 HOUR NOTICE OF CONTRIBUTIONS/LOANS RECEIVED

To be used to report all contributions (including loans) of $1000 or more, received within 20 days of the election.

[….]

Family Research Council Action PAC 801 G St NW Washington DC 20001-3729 Transaction ID : 21104.C11133 11/03/2012 [$]1000.00

[….]

[emphasis added]

From the Southern Poverty Law Center:

Family Research Council

Founded: 1983

Location: Washington, D.C.

Ideology: Anti-Gay

The Family Research Council (FRC) bills itself as “the leading voice for the family in our nation’s halls of power,” but its real specialty is defaming gays and lesbians. The FRC often makes false claims about the LGBT community based on discredited research and junk science. The intention is to denigrate LGBT people in its battles against same-sex marriage, hate crimes laws, anti-bullying programs and the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

To make the case that the LGBT community is a threat to American society, the FRC employs a number of “policy experts” whose “research” has allowed the FRC to be extremely active politically in shaping public debate. Its research fellows and leaders often testify before Congress and appear in the mainstream media. It also works at the grassroots level, conducting outreach to pastors in an effort to “transform the culture….”

And the money in 2012? (via Open Secrets):

Family Research Council Contributions to Federal Candidates

House

Total to Democrats: $0

Total to Republicans: $85,000

Adams, Sandy (R-FL) $1,000

Bachmann, Michele (R-MN) $6,000

Benishek, Dan (R-MI) $2,500

Black, Diane (R-TN) $1,000

Buerkle, Ann Marie (R-NY) $2,500

Chabot, Steve (R-OH) $1,000

Crawford, Rick (R-AR) $1,000

Duffy, Sean P (R-WI) $1,000

Duncan, Jeff (R-SC) $1,000

Faught, George E (R-OK) $1,000

Fortenberry, Jeff (R-NE) $3,000

Gardner, Cory (R-CO) $1,000

Graves, Tom (R-GA) $1,000

Griffith, Morgan (R-VA) $1,000

Guinta, Frank (R-NH) $1,000

Harris, Andy (R-MD) $1,000

Hartzler, Vicky (R-MO) $5,000

Hasner, Adam (R-FL) $2,500

Heck, Joe (R-NV) $1,000

Herrera Beutler, Jaime (R-WA) $1,000

Huey, Craig (R-CA) $2,000

Huizenga, Bill (R-MI) $2,000

Kelly, Jesse (R-AZ) $5,000

King, Steven A (R-IA) $10,000

Labrador, Raul (R-ID) $1,000

Landry, Jeff (R-LA) $1,000

Latham, Tom (R-IA) $1,000

Long, Billy (R-MO) $1,000

Lungren, Dan (R-CA) $1,000

Manzullo, Don (R-IL) $2,000

McIntosh, David M (R-IN) $1,000

Meadows, Mark R (R-NC) $5,000

Mercer, Gabriela Saucedo (R-AZ) $1,000

Mulvaney, Mick (R-SC) $1,000

Palazzo, Steven (R-MS) $1,000

Quayle, Ben (R-AZ) $1,000

Rigell, Scott (R-VA) $1,000

Roskam, Peter (R-IL) $1,000

Schweikert, David (R-AZ) $1,000

Scott, Tim (R-SC) $1,000

Southerland, Steve (R-FL) $1,000

Stutzman, Marlin (R-IN) $1,000

Tipton, Scott (R-CO) $1,000

Walberg, Tim (R-MI) $1,000

Walsh, Joe (R-IL) $1,000

Webster, Daniel (R-FL) $1,000

Wimmer, Carl (R-UT) $2,500

Young, Todd (R-IN) $1,000

Senate

Total to Democrats: $0

Total to Republicans: $21,000

Akin, Todd (R-MO) $5,000

Berg, Rick (R-ND) $1,000

Cruz, Ted (R-TX) $7,500

Mandel, Josh (R-OH) $2,500

Mourdock, Richard E (R-IN) $2,500

Neumann, Mark W (R-WI) $2,500

[emphasis added]

Aside from Michele Bachmann (r) and Steven King (r), Vicky Hartzler (r) is the favored recipient of money in the House from the right wingnut Family Research Council.

Gee, that’s quite a list of republican Senate losers. We could probably count Akin (r) and Mourdock (r) as a twofer.

A press release from the Family Research Council concerning news in Missouri this past August, via Reuters:

* Reuters is not responsible for the content in this press release.

Mon Aug 20, 2012 1:49pm EDT

FRC Action PAC Calls Attacks on Todd Akin ‘Gotcha Politics’

TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 20, 2012 PRNewswire-USNewswire — FRC Action PAC President Connie Mackey released the following statement today regarding Rep. Todd Akin’s (R-Missouri) recent statements about abortion:

“This is another case of ‘gotcha politics’ against a conservative leader. Todd Akin has a long and distinguished record of defending women, children and families. He has fought against forcing taxpayers to subsidize abortion giant Planned Parenthood, which is the bedrock of Claire McCaskill’s base of support. When speaking about the issue of rape, let’s not forget the cover-up of statutory rape by Planned Parenthood, which to my knowledge has not been addressed by Senator McCaskill.

“Throughout his twelve years in Congress, Todd Akin has supported legislation that honors all human life. He has opposed the commodification of women in contrast to his opponent, Claire McCaskill, who has a long record of promoting the abortion industry while ignoring how abortion harms women. We know Todd Akin, and FRC Action PAC enthusiastically endorses his candidacy,” Mackey concluded.

FRC Action PAC is the political action committee connected to FRC Action, a 501(c)(4) membership organization. FRC Action is the legislative advocacy arm of the Family Research Council, a 501(c)(3) organization.

Paid for by Family Research Council Action PAC (www.frcactionpac.org) and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

The company we keep.

Previously:

Are teh gay really so icky, Vicky? (March 24, 2011)

Representative Vicky Hartzler (r) on DADT: it’s all about the plumbing (April 1, 2011)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): teh gay are so icky (June 5, 2011)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): Oops, who let those gay people into my town hall? (June 30, 2011)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): frankly, it’s all about wedge issues (November 22, 2011)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): one issue, and one issue only (January 23, 2012)

Vicky Hartzler’s 10 Gay Marriage Analogies (August 23, 2012)

Clowns to the right of me, jokers to the far right…

One of my favorite sequence of photos from the 2012 campaign – Senator Claire McCaskill (D) going

door to door in her old neighborhood in Kansas City on November 2, 2012.

Here’s the thing. There are now fifty-five Senators (if you count Angus King, the Independent from Maine) in the Democratic Party caucus in the United States Senate. Elizabeth Warren (D), representing Masschusetts, and Tammy Baldwin (D), representing Wisconsin, are formidable individuals, both in intellect and political acumen. Now that the Overton Window has moved slightly away from the insane right wing do you think it might be a good time to make pragmatic compromises with the left rather than just give the store away to the obstructionist right? Just asking.

You did do better than Jeff Flake (r), John Tester (D), Dean Heller (r), Martin Heinrich (D), and Sherrod Brown (D) – just to name a few. Take the gig for a spin and see what it can do.

And, if our math is correct, being number fifty in the United States Senate puts you somewhere within your party and not to the far right edge of it. 1,484,683 Missouri voters weren’t exactly enamored with Todd Akin (r), so there might not be a need to cater to the whims of the 39.2% in Missouri and their kindred spirits in the United States Senate who were.

Besides, you should know by now that we’ve got your back.

Previously:

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D): door to door in Kansas City – November 2, 2012 (November 2, 2012)

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D): anyone in Missouri who is not Todd Akin (r) is a radical leftist… (September 8, 2012)

High Broderism (February 24, 2012)