Things to Know - 24 August

David Horsey / Los Angeles Times (August 20, 2012)

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1.  Back to the Akin fallout.  This article concentrates on the propensity of the GeeOpee (now called the Republican Party) to incubate and breed the politicians like Akin, Palin, Angle, O'Donnell, etc).  I like the way the article ends - "pandering to stupid is the shortest path to power:

http://www.nationalmemo.com/foot-in-mouth-syndrome-why-the-gop-breeds-politicians-like-todd-akin/?utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=website

2.  The GOP kerfuffle on Akin revealed that questionably sane goofy politicians can run around within the Republican Party and subvert or expose the party line to embarrassing proportions.  Akin put the spotlight and debate on something that the GOP was not prepared for.  The leadership responded by trying to shove Akin of the stage, and we would not budge.  Mitt Romney, as the presumptive leader of the Republican Party, played out his presumptive role in the wimpiest of mousy style.  Inadvertently exposing his lack of command and leadership, Todd Akin has reinforced our perception of our Captain of Industry - WIMP!  Rush Limbaugh could crush Akin in this situation.  All Akin does is hang up the phone:

http://www.nationalmemo.com/tough-versus-timid-if-mitt-romney-cant-stand-up-to-todd-akin/?utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=website

3.  Rachel Maddow - get used to her, she's my go-to person for lots of stuff - is so articulate and full of reason, that the GOP would like her to disappear or go away.   She's an embarrassment to the Republicans in that she lays out indisputable evidence and facts about the craven bull shit that comes out of the mouths of GOP leaders.   Watch her here as she pillories the hypocrisy of the GOP:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show/?__utma=5875948.1629934384.1343942658.1345216288.1345705802.7&__utmb=5875948.1.10.1345705802&__utmc=5875948&__utmx=-&__utmz=5875948.1345705802.7.7.utmcsr=reddit.com|utmccn=(referral)|utmcmd=referral|utmcct=/&__utmv=5875948.|8=Earned%20By=cable%7Cmsnbc%20tv%7Crachel%20maddow%20show%7Crachel%20maddow%20show=1^12=Landing%20Content=Original=1^13=Landing%20Hostname=maddowblog.msnbc.com=1^30=Visit%20Type%20to%20Content=Earned%20to%20Original=1&__utmk=246733312#48746377

4.  For those of you who might be interested, and more for those who can understand complex off-shore investments mixed with Delaware-corporation investments, have at it.  These are SOME of the documents that have been leaked to Gawker in the matter of Willard Mitt Romney's finances.  Needless to say the Akin news will probably have to share the limelight with all of the speculation on the leaked financials.  Romney will probably want to stay in bed the next few days::

http://gawker.com/5936394/the-bain-files-inside-mitt-romneys-tax+dodging-cayman-schemes

http://gawker.com/5933641

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/23/bain-documents-released-_n_1825231.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bain-documents-reveal-tax-and-offshore-details/2012/08/23/a724c5d8-ed6a-11e1-a80b-9f898562d010_story.html

5.  EJ Dionne had a conversation with Elizabeth Warren (running for Senate in Massachusetts).   She thinks that there should be more discussion on selling the Affordable Care Act, and pointing to its greatness in laws that have been passed.  Presently, the only Obama speaks about it is telling people about the stuff they would lose if Romney is elected.   Further conversation is on how the GOP thinks that plain old market forces will save our medical care system.  She ends on a touch of a religious sharing:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/elizabeth-warren-on-health-care-and-religion/2012/08/23/5c509058-ed6c-11e1-9ddc-340d5efb1e9c_blog.html?hpid=z3

6.  Thom Hartmann and some interesting and scary news:

http://truth-out.org/news/item/11084-on-the-news-with-thom-hartmann-court-upholds-gov-perrys-decision-to-deny-medicaid-funding-to-planned-parenthood-and-more

7.  David Brooks is trying to redeem himself from turning into a total dick, and only a semi-dick now.  He's chastising Ryan for chasing a fantasy at the expense of bi-partisan efforts after he voted no on the Simpson-Bowles presentation.   For some reason, Brooks has bought into Ryan's plan on Medicare reform and the voucher system, so it is difficult to understand where Brooks is coming from these days:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/24/opinion/brooks-ryans-biggest-mistake.html?ref=opinion&pagewanted=print

8.  Paul Krugman steps in and analyzes the presumptive VP nominee.   He looks at the infatuation with Ayn Rand, and the subsequent cooling.  The Nobel Professor grades him on his economic theory, and his disdain for anyone who is poor and needs assistance.  Mr. Ryan does not receive a passing grade:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/24/opinion/krugman-galt-gold-and-god.html?ref=opinion&pagewanted=print 

9.  Timothy Egan writes about the element within the Republican Party that is commonly known as the "crazies".  Yes, there are enough of them to have their own caucus.  Joe Scarborough calls the Republicans the "stupid party".  Funny...ya think?.   Well they are dangerous - they vote on laws that make policy:

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/23/the-crackpot-caucus/?ref=opinion&pagewanted=print

--
Juan

"Do not do unto others as you would that they should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same." 
       -- George Bernard Shaw

"The height of cleverness is to be able to conceal it." 
       -- Francois de La Rochefoucauld

"I think on-stage nudity is disgusting, shameful and damaging to all things American. But if I were 22 with a great body, it would be artistic, tasteful, patriotic and a progressive religious experience." 
       -- Shelley Winters

"It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend." 
       -- William Blake