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Romney’s a states-rights candidate?

Another hypocrite from the right has spun up his presidential campaign. Grand Old Tea Party (GOTP) presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has ridiculed President Barack Obama’s health care law — modeled closely after the one Mitt signed into law as the governor of Massachusetts — as a “misguided” and “egregious” effort to seize more power for Washington.

“Obamacare is bad law, bad policy, and it is bad for America’s families,” Romney declared, vowing to repeal it if he were ever in a position to do so.

That’s pretty bold talk from a political has been who will never be allowed to get any closer to the Republican nomination in 2012 than Hillary Clinton can.

Talking about his own Massachusetts health care law, Romney claimed the solution for the unique problems of one state isn’t the right prescription for the nation as a whole.

“Our experiment wasn’t perfect — some things worked, some didn’t, and some things I’d change,” Romney said.

Oh, so Romney’s health care law in Massachusetts was an experiment? That’s how he ran the state as governor? As a political laboratory trying things out in case he wanted to use them later?

“One thing I would never do is to usurp the constitutional power of states with a one-size-fits-all federal takeover.” Romney said: “The federal government isn’t the answer for running health care anymore than it’s the answer for running Amtrak or the post office.”

First, since when did Mitt Romney become a states-rights candidate? What’s next he’ll put a confederate flag license plate on his car? Second, what do you mean the federal government isn’t the answer for running the post office? I’ll have you know Mitt that the founding fathers set it up that way, and Benjamin Franklin was the first Post Master General. You wouldn’t be claiming to be smarter than the revered founders would you? I don’t think people in the GOTP cotton much to that kind of talk. Especially from a carpet bagger like yourself.

Romney’s Tea Party states-rights pitch is one GOTP primary voters are likely to hear over the next year as he tries to persuade them to overlook his flaws because – in his mind – he’s the strongest Republican to challenge Obama on the country’s top issue — the economy.

And what if the economy continues to improve? Holy cow, then what will he do? If the economy is his one thing he thinks he can challenge the President on good luck with that. What will Middle America think when he’s exposed as a big business, let’s export American jobs candidate that he is?

The challenge for Romney isn’t just the similarities between his 2006 health care law and the current federal law but that Romney’s universal coverage law has a more sweeping mandate for people to get insurance than exists in Obama’s law — and penalizes the uninsured more severely. Romney’s law requires individuals, with a few exceptions, to obtain health insurance, and those who fail to do so have a $219 tax exemption withheld from them.

The big albatross hanging around Romney’s neck though is all the praise Democrats are heaping on him for his efforts in Massachusetts.

The President praised the efforts in Massachusetts during a meeting with governors at the White House, saying: “I agree with Mitt Romney, who recently said he’s proud of what he accomplished on health care by giving states the power to determine their own health care solutions. He’s right.”

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, an Obama friend, said Romney deserves a lot of credit on health care. “One of the best things he did was to be the co-author of our health care reform, which has been a model for national health care reform,” he said.

Of course the amusing thing with the Democrat praise is that it provides plenty of fodder for his GOTP primary opponents; some of whom are already opening up with pre-emptive campaign salvos.

One presumptive candidate, and someone who understands hypocrisy all too well, Mike Huckabee says in his new book: “If our goal in health care reform is better care at lower cost, then we should take a lesson from RomneyCare, which shows that socialized medicine does not work.”

Another GOTP likely candidate, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, threw Romney under the bus with a late great liberal icon when he said, “Senator (Edward M.) Kennedy and Governor Romney and then Governor Patrick, if that’s what Massachusetts wants, we’re happy for them. We don’t want that. That’s not good for us.”

Healthcare aside, his candidacy isn’t likely to last any longer than it did in 2008 when it was torpedoed by Huckabee’s disparaging remarks about Romney being a Mormon. The GOTP is so heavily weighted by extreme right wing born again Christians that it isn’t going to back a Mormon anytime soon; and if they were ever to be honest most of them would probably say they’d rather see a “foreign born Muslim” in the White House than one of those Mormons.

 
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Posted by on March 5, 2011 in 2012 Election

 

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Huckabee Attacks Portman, Then Beats a Hasty Retreat?

Once again Mike Huckleberry opens mouth, inserts foot, and attempts to run away on one leg. During an interview with right wing conservative radio host Michael Medved, the former Arkansas governor, and quickly becoming non-potential 2012 presidential hopeful, slammed recent academy award winner Natalie Portman for supposedly “glamorizing unwed pregnancy.”

Portman is expecting her first child with her fiancé, Benjamin Millepied, a choreographer whom she met on the set of “Black Swan.” During her acceptance speech, Portman thanked Millepied for “the most wonderful gift,” their baby.

The FOX PAC talking face took issue with that statement, and the entire premise of her pregnancy, calling Portman’s pregnancy “troubling” and suggesting it might “glorify and glamorize” the idea of having children outside of marriage. He claimed, as only a southern white male right wing conservative Christian tool can, that most single mothers aren’t in the same position as Portman in terms of her lifestyle and resources.

“There aren’t really a lot of single moms out there who are making millions of dollars every year for being in a movie,” Huckabee said. “And I think it gives a distorted image … Most single moms are very poor, uneducated, can’t get a job, and if it weren’t for government assistance, their kids would be starving to death and never have health care. And that’s the story that we’re not seeing.”

Of course most single teenage moms aren’t the daughter of Alaska’s governor either, being able to have their baby on the state’s dime and all; but, Mr. Hucksabee never seemed to have a problem with that pregnancy.

The “reverend” continued his assault on Portman saying, “One of the things that’s troubling is that people see a Natalie Portman or some other Hollywood starlet who boasts of, ‘Hey look, you know, we’re having children, we’re not married, but we’re having these children, and they’re doing just fine.’ But there aren’t really a lot of single moms out there who are making millions of dollars every year for being in a movie. And I think it gives a distorted image that yes, not everybody hires nannies, and caretakers, and nurses. Most single moms are very poor, uneducated, can’t get a job, and if it weren’t for government assistance, their kids would be starving to death and never have health care. And that’s the story that we’re not seeing, and it’s unfortunate that we glorify and glamorize the idea of out of children wedlock,” Huckalee continued. “You know, right now, 75 percent of black kids in this country are born out of wedlock. 61 percent of Hispanic kids — across the board, 41 percent of all live births in America are out of wedlock births. And the cost of that is simply staggering.”

But wait people, this was all a big mistake! Just like he never meant to imply anything about President Obama’s citizenship by claiming he was raised in Kenya, Hucksbees is now defending his comments on Portman, insisting he wasn’t trying to “slam” or “attack” her.

“Natalie is an extraordinary actor, very deserving of her recent Oscar and I am glad she will marry her baby’s father,” he said. “My comments were about the statistical reality that most single moms are very poor, under-educated, can’t get a job, and if it weren’t for government assistance, their kids would be starving to death. That’s the story that we’re not seeing, and it’s unfortunate that society often glorifies and glamorizes the idea of having children out of wedlock.”

Yeah, that makes your “non-attack” on Portman ever so much better. Thanks for clarifying that you weren’t attacking her, just all those “other” unwed mothers.

Huckles said he was actually “glad” Portman was planning to marry Benjamin Millepied, the father of her child, and that his comments weren’t meant to be deprecating.

“However, contrary to what the Hollywood media reported, I did not ‘slam’ or ‘attack’ Natalie Portman, nor did I criticize the hardworking single mothers in our country,” he claimed. “My comments were about the statistical reality that most single moms are very poor, under-educated, can’t get a job, and if it weren’t for government assistance, their kids would be starving to death. That’s the story that we’re not seeing, and it’s unfortunate that society often glorifies and glamorizes the idea of having children out of wedlock.”

Ah yes, of course, the self-righteous diet expert was in no way attacking those hardworking single moms who get pregnant, just those slovenly non-working moms of color; you know the ones. The ones Huckleberry said were birthing the “75 percent of black kids … born out of wedlock” and the “61 percent of Hispanic kids.”

Please governor, whatever you do, don’t shut your pie hole. Every time you open it you’re just making it clearer and clearer how you’ve no business thinking you’d ever be a good fit in the Oval Office, and you’re continually giving us all a clear look into the hypocrisy which is the GOTP. No doubt you will always unflinchingly attack the “liberal” Hollywood hoes for being unwed mothers, while always giving the good right wing unwed mothers, like Bristol Palin, a pass.  It makes you wonder though how Huckabee would’ve treated a pregnant unwed, unemployed, betrothed mother from Galilee doesn’t it?

 

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Boehner rejects WWI veteran ceremony at Capitol?

The country’s last surviving World War I veteran, Frank Woodruff Buckles passed away Sunday; he was 110. Thousands of people, from across the country want the Congress to honor him by allowing his body to lie in state inside the Capitol Rotunda.

The resolution to honor Buckles at the Capitol was introduced by U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-WV, and it was expected to pass the Senate this week, except for one big orange hurdle, Grand Old Tea Party (GOTP) House Speaker David Boehner. The Speaker’s office said Thursday he thinks a ceremony for Buckles should take place at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., and not at the Capitol.

“This is a big disappointment and a surprising decision by the Speaker,” said Rockefeller in a statement issued Thursday evening. “My resolution is simple. It would have provided a fitting tribute to Frank Buckles – the nation’s last Doughboy. … I hope that the Speaker will reconsider his refusal to honor Mr. Buckles in this way.”

Rockefeller was joined by U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-WV, in opposing Boehner’s decision.

“It is unconscionable that Speaker Boehner would deny this honor to the last living American veteran of World War I,” Manchin said in a statement. “Frank Buckles was the standard-bearer of a great cause, and spent the last years of his long life fighting to make sure that our country pays proper tribute to all World War I veterans. Now it is our turn to fight to make sure our country honors him and all the World War I veterans for whom he fought with the highest degree of respect.

“I urge Speaker Boehner to reconsider this ill-advised decision.”

Wow, once more a member of the GOTP proves how little they – the GOTP – truly care about America’s veterans. What could be more fitting in honoring all the soldiers who fought and died in the mud of France than to allow the last soldier of that war to be honored by lying in state in the Capitol? Perhaps the Speaker doesn’t want to be inconvenienced? No, he just doesn’t care about honoring American’s Vets.

 
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Posted by on March 3, 2011 in Politics, Tea Party, Veteran's

 

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The Newt prepares for likely White House bid?

Newt Gingrich is preparing to launch his bid for the GOTP nomination in 2012; the problem? Well? He’s the Newt.

Gingrich, who is a twice-divorced former U.S. House speaker, who has admitted an affair with a former congressional aide, who is now his third wife; whose career in Congress is remembered as much for his dramatic fall — two federal government shutdowns, his censure and the loss of Republican seats in the House — as his rise, and whose polarizing style quite frequently leaves voters not just cold, but ice cold, has a problem.

What’s the problem you ask? He appears – as do many Republican leaders – to lack a moral compass, even though he claims to be a god-fearing Christian, and to support the far right conservative mantra of “family values”, and that’s going to be very problematic as he runs for the office he once tried to remove President Clinton from for doing exactly what he was doing, cheating on his wife.

While President Clinton’s affair was bad enough, Newt’s was not just an affair; it was an affair while leading the effort to impeach a President, for well, having an affair. But whereas President Clinton’s affair was seen as a slight at the American people, having had a sexual encounter with an intern in the Oval Office, Newt’s affair is much more nefarious, having occurred while his wife was fighting for her life in a battle with cancer. Same sort of “honoring” of marriage vows which sank former Democratic Presidential aspirant John Edwards.

The biggest obstacle in his way, the biggest issue – or problem – with his affair is going to be the fringe of the GOTP – the self-righteous, white bread, Christian Tea Party folks – who any Vegas bookie will tell you probably are not going to be willing to overlook adultery any time soon. After all, adultery is not just some little sin. It’s not just an indiscretion. It’s a pretty big deal.

For those who think the likelihood of Newt’s past following him into any run for the White House is little to non-existent, look no further than last week, when during a speech at the University of Pennsylvania a student confronted him about the affair.

“I’ve had a life which, on occasion, has had problems,” Gingrich replied. “I believe in a forgiving God, and the American people will have to decide whether that’s their primary concern.”

I’m quite certain the voters will decide Newter. They will decide not just loudly but also clearly. Don’t think so? Well listen to this quote.

“Newt Gingrich’s election would send a terrible signal to anyone who’s working to live a morally upright life,” said Jerry Luquire, head of the Georgia Christian Coalition. “I would find it very hard to vote for him.”

That’s not just any voter Mr. Speaker, that’s a right wing Christian from your own state. From your own state Newty!

But, let’s not be too hasty turning Newt over to the voters, first he’ll have to survive the primary process against his fellow GOTP rivals. Huckleberry isn’t about to pass up an opportunity to skewer him with his past sins, and we already know how Queen Sarah feels about him, not to mention Mitt, and whomever else thinks now is the ideal time to run.

Political fact is, Newt’s political career was over when he resigned as Speaker under a cloud of scandal and failure; it’s time to fade away Newt, time to fade away. Oh, and please, don’t talk about family values, Americans – as a whole – will only support hypocrisy just so far, and you crossed that line a long time ago.

 

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Huckleberry claims Obama grew up in Kenya?

So, it appears former Arkansas Governor, and FOX PAC hack, Mike Huckabee said in a radio interview that President Barack Obama’s childhood in Kenya shaped his worldview?

Does Huckleberry understand the President didn’t visit Kenya until he was in his 20s? Or has he simply taken a long draft of birther Kool-aid?

Apparently during an interview with New York radio station WOR on Monday the “self promoting” potential Republican – or Grand Old Tea Party (GOTP) – presidential candidate told his interviewer that the President’s youth led him to resent the West, which he said explains why, in Huckabee’s view, Obama’s foreign policy differs so greatly from that of his predecessors.

“One thing that I do know is his having grown up in Kenya, his view of the Brits, for example, (is) very different than the average American,” Huckabee said, pointing to Obama’s decision in 2009 to remove a bust of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill from the Oval Office.

Of course the “Huckster” failed to note that President Obama replaced the Oval Office fixture with a bust of one of his American heroes, President Abraham Lincoln, and moved the Churchill bust to the White House residence.

“The bust of Winston Churchill, a great insult to the British,” Huckabee said. “But then if you think about it, his perspective as growing up in Kenya with a Kenyan father and grandfather. He probably grew up hearing that the British were a bunch of imperialists who persecuted his grandfather.”

We’re really going to keep bringing up the Churchill bust? Huckles let me help you with something. This isn’t World War II.  Great Britain wasn’t offended by the President’s actions; in fact, the only people offended by this were the uber right talking heads of FOX PAC and talk radio.

Regarding his Kenya comments, in true GOTP staff style, the executive director of Huckabee’s political action committee said the former governor simply misspoke about the President’s upbringing.

“When the governor mentioned he wanted to know more about the president, he wasn’t talking about the president’s place of birth — the governor believes the president was born in Hawaii,” Hogan Gidley said. “The governor would, however, like to know more about where President Obama’s liberal policies come from and what else the president plans to do to this country — as do most Americans.”

Ah yes, of course that’s what he meant. Excuse me?

Apparently GOTP candidates and staffers really do believe voters are stupid and will buy whatever they claim. Mr. Gidley, what do you take us all for? Unfortunately for you, and your boss, we don’t all watch FOX PAC, and we don’t all spend our days having our minds turned to pabulum listening to Rush, Hannity et al. Huckleberry meant to say Kenya. He meant to make the connection of “foreigner” in the White House; “African” in the White House; “Muslim” in the White House. He meant to pander to the Tea Party/Birther types on the fringe, and this is just one more example of why he’s not ready for the prime time and why he’s not presidential.

 

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Posted by on February 27, 2011 in Humor

 

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Lawmaker condemns question about shooting the President, Sort Of?

Georgia Representative Paul Broun, yes a Republican, was asked by a constituent at a town hall meeting on Tuesday, “Who’s going to shoot Obama?”

According to one account, which was confirmed by Broun’s office, the congressman didn’t criticize the man for asking the question, instead attempting to deflect with a quip that he understood their frustration with Obama and reminded them that they would have the chance to help elect a new president next year.

Excuse me? A member of the United States House of Representatives, little more than a month since the horrendous murders and attempted assassination of a fellow member of Congress in Tucson, AZ didn’t criticize the man for asking the question? What is wrong with TPGOP members of Congress? How do you not immediately criticize and condemn the man for suggesting such a thing? Or is it just the way they do things in Georgia? It’s just the way they talk about uppity black folks down there?

The Congressman claims he didn’t immediately say anything to the man because he was too stunned by the question and didn’t want to dignify it with a response. Well, at least not until word leaked out to the Athens Banner-Herald that he lacked sufficient manhood – or back bone – to stand up for the President in his home district.

But, why should Congressman Broun have said anything? After all he’s only harshly criticized almost everything the President has done; routinely calling him a socialist and claiming that he feared the President would establish a Gestapo-like security force to impose a Marxist dictatorship.

After the exchange was reported by the paper, Broun quickly issued a statement Friday calling the question “abhorrent.”

“I deeply regret that this incident happened,” he said in his statement. “I condemn all statements — made in sincerity or jest — that threaten or suggest the use of violence against the President of the United States or any other public official. Such rhetoric cannot and will not be tolerated.”

What he really wanted to add was, “Unless it’s said about that uppity Black Muslim socialist who will soon be establishing a Marxist dictatorship with a Gestapo-like security police force throwing good God fearing white men like you and me sir into camps.”

Broun’s office also said he later alerted the Secret Service.

Later, as in days after it happened, because he was just too speechless to comment on a threat to the President of the United States; and, besides, what’s the harm of someone joking about killing that boy anyhow? Eh Doc Broun? It’s all just a little joke.

You, Congressman Broun – if you can be called by the title of “man” – are a disgrace to your office. You’re just another example of the gutless line of TPGOP politicians suckling off their tax payers.

You didn’t say anything Mr. Broun because you’re a spineless little weasel who didn’t want his  white Georgian constituents to see him stick up for the Black President.

You’re the worse kind of racist sir, the kind who stands in the crowd and watches while the others put the noose around the victim’s neck, later claiming you were sickened by the whole affair. You didn’t say anything sir because you didn’t want to.

 
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Posted by on February 25, 2011 in Politics, Racism, Right Wing Crazies, Tea Party

 

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Repeal the 26th Amendment, or Ann Coulter Thinks 18-25 Year Olds Are Too Stupid to Vote?

The Banshee of the Right – Ann Coulter – has come out of her cave once again, bellowing that because young people between the ages of 18-25 voted overwhelmingly for President Obama they should be punished and the Congress should repeal the 26th Amendment to do so.

The 26th Amendment was adopted on 1 Jul 1971, limiting the minimum voting age in America to no more than 18, in response to young Americans being drafted into military service during the Vietnam War. It was widely felt that if young men were old enough to fight and die for their country, they were old enough to vote in its elections. And who was the first American President to put forth this socialistic idea of allowing the young to vote? President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

During his 7 Jan 1954 State of the Union address President Eisenhower said, “For years our citizens between the ages of 18 and 21 have, in time of peril, been summoned to fight for America. They should participate in the political process that produces this fateful summons. I urge Congress to propose to the States a constitutional amendment permitting citizens to vote when they reach the age of 18.” – Read more: State of the Union Address: Dwight D. Eisenhower (January 7, 1954) — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/t/hist/state-of-the-union/166.html#ixzz155JtcX4S

So, almost 40 years after its adoption Coulter now puts forth the idea that young Americans are too stupid to vote, simply because they’re not rushing in droves to vote for the likes of John McCain and Sarah Palin?

Coulter says, “Adopted in 1971 at the tail end of the Worst Generation’s anti-war protests, the argument for allowing children to vote was that 18-year-olds could drink and be conscripted into the military, so they ought to be allowed to vote.

“But 18-year-olds aren’t allowed to drink anymore. We no longer have a draft.”

The point Coulter misses on the draft was made by President Eisenhower, “For years our citizens between the ages of 18 and 21 have, in time of peril, been summoned to fight for America.”

Did you catch that Ann? “… have, in time of peril, been summoned to fight for America.” That would mean during a draft. Your statement that we no longer have a draft is either a deliberate lie or you’re just too stupid to know that every young man in America is required – by law – to register for selective service. That would of course be for moments when “… in time of peril” to be “… summoned to fight for America.”

Coulter continues her reasons for repeal, “Eighteen- to 26-year-olds don’t have property, spouses, children or massive tax bills. Most of them don’t even have jobs because the president they felt so good about themselves for supporting wrecked the economy.”

Just one more lie from the Banshee, “…the president they felt so good about themselves for supporting wrecked the economy.” I’m sorry? Did they vote for President Bush? The economy was already well off the road and in the ditch before President Obama was sworn into office. But, when you’re a right wing banshee who cares about trifling little facts like that?

 
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Posted by on February 20, 2011 in Right Wing Radio

 

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Not Patriotic?


This picture was taken on the 6th of January. Notice anything? Neither Cantor nor Boehner are wearing US Flag lapel pins. Doesn’t that signify a lack of patriotism? Not any more. But in 2008, then candidate Obama, was raked over the goals for not wearing a US Flag lapel pin.

 
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Posted by on February 20, 2011 in 2012 Election

 

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Attack in Arizona Result of Glib Political Speech?

This is what happens when candidates like Sharon Angle glibly talk about using “2nd Amendment remedies”, or Sarah Palin speaks about “taking aim at Democratic Members of Congress”, or “reloading”. Words have consequences, and candidates, and talk show personalities, need to remember that.

Oh look, Congresswoman Giffords has a gun site on her in this Sarah Palin poster … go figure why these kind of people pull guns and shoot members of Congress.

“Republicans don’t retreat, they reload,” Palin glibly spews at countless TPGOP rallies.

“Americans (Republicans) are going to have to start using 2nd Amendment remedies if the voters don’t get it right,” former TPGOP senate candidate Sharron Angle told a crowd at a campaign stop last fall.

This kind of speech breeds violent acts …

The attack on Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and those who were with her last month might be the work of “a single nut,” said Democratic Rep. Raul Grijalva, whose Arizona district shares Tucson with Giffords’ district. But he said the nation must assess the fallout of “an atmosphere where the political discourse is about hate, anger and bitterness.”

People like former TPGOP Congressional candidate  Jesse Kelly among them. During his campaign effort to unseat Giffords in November, Kelly held fundraisers where he urged supporters to help remove Giffords from office by joining him to shoot a fully loaded M-16 rifle. Kelly is a Marine who served in Iraq and was pictured on his website in military gear holding his automatic weapon and promoting the event. But of course Jessie Kelly doesn’t want to accept that “targeting” your opponents plays into people like this. His “honor code” as a Marine only goes so far.

Sadly one of the victims killed in the attack refused to press charges people who had threatened his life.  In 2009, Judge Roll ruled that the case Vicente v. Barnett could go forward. The $32 million lawsuit brought by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) against Arizona rancher Roger Barnett (one of those good old white, god fearing christian fellas) on behalf of 16 Mexican plaintiffs charged that the plaintiffs were assaulted, threatened, and held at gunpoint by Barnett and members of his family. After Roll’s ruling – and prompted by several talk-radio programs – he was the subject of hundreds of complaining phone calls and death threats and he and his family were under the protection of the U.S. Marshals Service for a month. Roll declined to press charges when some of those who made threats were identified.

Funny how people like Sarah Palin think its just savey political speech to “target” opponents, and to portray them as “enemies” of freedom and democracy, but those who are “targeted” as a result, men like Judge Roll, choose the higher ground and don’t press charges, and then ultimately pay for it in the end.

‎It was Giffords father, 75-year-old Spencer Giffords, who wept when asked if his 40-year-old daughter had any enemies, and answered, “Yeah,” to The New York Post, “The whole tea party.”

 
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Posted by on February 20, 2011 in Lunatics, Politics, Right Wing Radio, Tea Party

 

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