SNL is back!

I don't know if you got to see much SNL this year. It's been very good, just as funny as it was last year during the campaign.

More Bonusgate stuff

From PCN we get schadenfreude on demand:

http://pcntv.com/streaming/streaming.html?pages/bonusgateperpwalk_str.html

And here's a nice photo for your records:

We'll return to our regular programming again soon....

Altmire Feeling the Heat

A group of concerned constituents visited Rep. Jason Altmire's Aliquippa office yesterday to tell the congressman how disappointed they are in his weak-kneed vote on health care reform.

From the P-G:

Dozens of activists gathered at Rep. Jason Altmire's Aliquippa office yesterday to assail the Democrat for his vote against the House version of a bill to revamp the nation's health care system.

Reading from a copy of a letter she had sent to the second-term congressman, Charlene Gill said, "Your 'no' vote is the reason I will vote for whoever runs against you."

I wonder if a similar group will visit Rep. Holden soon?

More on Perzel

I read a great column this morning by John Baer in the Daily News concerning John Perzel's fall from grace.

I normally dislike Baer's columns, but this one is good and it's worth quoting from:

And while visiting an elementary school in Pittsburgh he was asked by a fourth-grade girl if he came in a limo. He said that he came in a car. A TV reporter - who was covering the event and saw him headed toward a black Lincoln Towne Car with limo plates and a driver - asked, "Why did you lie to that little girl?"

One of the comments left on the column's online edition said, "Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy." I agree.

John Perzel Has Been Indicted

PennLive.com -

Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett has charged 10 people in a second round of criminal charges in the "Bonusgate" investigation.

The Patriot-News/2007John PerzelThose charged Thursday include: former House Speaker John Perzel, R-Philadelphia, former Republican Rep. Brett Feese and eight current or former aides to Perzel and Feese.

The aides charged include Perzel's former chief of staff Brian Preski; current chief of staff Paul Towhey; Perzel's brother-in-law and former House employee Samual "Buzz" Stokes; Perzel legislative aide John Zimmerman; his campaign aide Don McClintock; as well as Feese aides Jill Seaman and Elmer Bowman and former GOP information technology deputy director Eric Ruth.

Moron Alert!

Marine Reservist and all-around nice guy, Jason Bruce was asked for directions by a Greek priest visiting the US of A whom he mistook for an Arab terrorist. A combination of poor English by the Greek priest and racism over-vigilance by Mr. Bruce caused the Greek priest, named Alexois Marakis, a few bumps on the noggin from Mr. Bruce's tire iron.

From the source article:

“During the chase, the suspect called 911 and claimed an Arabic male attempted to rob him and he was going to take him into custody,” a Tampa Police Department news release states. “When officers arrived, the suspect claimed the man was a terrorist.”

With a big H/T ThinkProgress

Bold Progressives are going after Stupak

I was enjoying my dinner when this little dandy popped up on the side of page:

Looks like those folks at Bold Progressives are targeting Rep. Stupak. I wonder why?

Also, and perhaps even more importantly, Joe Pitts has a great Democrat running against him.

You should make a donation to Lois Herr

More Veteran's Day stuff

I think I've seen this before, but it's still very powerful

It's a video montage of parents returning from war surprising their children at school.

Again, thank you to all of our veterans.

Happy Veteran's Day

Happy Veteran's Day!

Those of you who have the day off, please consider making a donation to one of the fine organizations linked to below.

Here's one of my favorite family photos, of my brother Michael (Iraq Vet) and my Grandpa, Harry (WWII Vet)

The USO

Operation Bedding

Help Hospitalized Veterans

O'Reilly can't kill ALL the Muslims....

Bill O'Reilly, in his own works (H/T TPM)

I know what he means, and I'm not trying to take him out of context, but it's like he doesn't think before he opens his mouth. Saying things like this create a presupposition that "killing all the Muslims" isn't a bad idea, just unattainable. That's what fans the flames of racism.

On Health care and "Voting my District" UPDATED

Saturday night the Pelosi-led congress did something truly remarkable. It passed the first meaningful health care reform bill since Medicare, and some say, finished the agenda of the New Deal.

This bill, while not perfect, contains a public insurance option which will help insure people like myself who work as independent contractors and normally can't afford decent insurance.

As passed, this bill contains an amendment from Reps. Stupack and Pitts (PA-16) that would prohibit the public insurance option (exchange) from providing reproductive health care for women. Among other objections, the constitutionality of this amendment is questionable.

This amendment seeks to supercede the Hyde amendment, which prohibits federal (HHS) monies from being spent on abortion or abortion related services. This amendment would prohibit private insurance companies who take part in the government exchange program (public option) from providing abortion and abortion related services to women.

That said, 64 Democrats voted for this amendement, many of whom would still vote against the final bill.

Two of those Democrats are from Pennsylvania: Jason Altmire, 4th CD and Tim Holden, 17th CD. These two voted for the Stupak-Pitts amendment but against the health care reform bill, which included the amendment they had just supported.

Altmire, now in his third term, has a record of wishy-washy votes, rarely standing with leadership, yet the DCCC continues to dump money and resources into his re-election. The money is paying off, in 2008 he faced the woman he unseated -- Melissa Brown -- in the '06 midterm, and did very well, riding a 12% margin to victory.

Holden hasn't had a serious challenge since 2002 when he won a tough election following redistricting. In fact, Holden won re-election in 2008 with a commanding 27% margin. Not only that, but Holden outperformed President Obama by 24 points!

These two will likely defend there vote using the time honored excuse of "voted my district." I call bullshit on that, since the public option has a 61% national approval rate and at least 10% of both of their constituents would benefit from the public option.

UPDATE:

And then there's this news: State Sen Dave Argall is considering running against Holden. Maybe if Holden had stood up for health care reform he'd be able to get some support from we the lunatic fringe.

Sending Scranton to the White House

I couldn't be happier.

God Bless NEPA, and God Bless the USA.

Oh, Grandpa...

Anyone who has spent any amount of time with a grandparent has had one of those embarrassing moments when your beloved old granddad refers to a person of color by a less than friendly name, not to demean or incite a race war, but because they're old, and unfortunately, that's "what they called 'em in my day" is usually the best apology he can muster. You, of course, are mortified and feel slimy, not only because you just witness racism in action, but because it came from the mouth of your dementia-addled loved one.

Have you ever imagined what it's like to hear a presidential candidate say something like that? Well imagine no more:

"I hate the gooks," McCain said yesterday in response to a question from reporters aboard his campaign bus. "I will hate them as long as I live."

This gem of 21st century thinking spewed forth from the presumptive Republican nominee John McCain during a campaign stop in February in South Carolina in 2000 when a then-young McCain was apparently trying to out-bigot Karl Rove and company.

"I will call right now, my interrogator that tortured me, a gook," McCain said. "(I can't believe that) anybody doesn't believe these interrogators and prison guards were cruel and sadistic people who deserve the worst appellations possible."
McCain said he does not consider the comment an epithet.
"Gook," he said, "is the kindest appellation I can give."

I wonder if this is why James Dobson has such a problem with John McCain?

Big H/T to The San Francisco Chronicle for this one

President Bush to Survey Damage Caused by President Bush

I love The Onion.