Darrell Issa Goes Postal!

From Open Secrets blog:

The fate of the U.S. Postal Service, now $9.2 billion in debt, lies with a handful of lawmakers its workers’ unions hope will enact the serious reform needed to save the federal agency.

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), chairman of the committee that oversees the Postal Service, was once one of those lawmakers. But now, after pushing his Postal Reform Act through a House subcommittee, postal unions consider Issa their greatest foe.

Original DVD cover

Call Me Un-American

From Andrew Schenkel at mother nature network:

Thursday morning in Washington began with what has become a yearly ritual. The executives from the big five oil companies got to answer questions about their government subsidies in the wake of huge quarterly profits.

Senate Finance Committee Chariman Max Baucus wanted to know exactly why the “Big Five” felt they should continue to get $4 billion in taxpayer subsidies while enjoying profits of $31 billion during the first quarter of 2011 alone.

…snip…

While many reports will make note of the hearing’s circus atmosphere that included Sen. Orrin Hatch’s unveiling of a picture of a dog sitting on a pony after saying he didn’t want the hearing to be about cheap political stunts, there was some actual tension in the room that didn’t require any stunts to feel.

Original DVD cover

A Run For the Money

From The CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR:

Newt Gingrich on Thursday announced that he’s going to explore running for president. He has set up a website, NewtExplore2012.com, where donors can give him money to fund this effort.

“We will try very methodically to lay out the framework for what we do next,” said Mr. Gingrich, speaking to reporters at the Georgia state Capitol.

Allow me to translate: This is yet another scam to sucker money out of idiots who can still be convinced that I could beat Barack Obama (or anyone else, for that matter).

Original movie poster

Wally Whirled

Over at the Big Orange, smileycreek asked me if I ever made posters for political campaigns and asked specifically about her congresscritter, Wally Herger.  I didn’t recognize the name until I googled.  Of course, I remembered Ol’ Wally when I read this at the Mt. Shasta News (August 21, 2009):

Redding, Calif. —

Republican Congressman Wally Herger held a health care town hall meeting Aug. 18 at Simpson University in Redding, where a partisan crowd of over 2,000 people loudly cheered Herger’s position that a public option was “unacceptable.”
Although Herger called several times for the audience to “respect each other’s opinions,” those opposed to president Obama’s health care were greeted with cheers while the few in favor were interrupted with catcalls.

…snip…

“Our democracy has never been threatened as much as it is today,” Herger said to a loud standing ovation.

…snip…

One speaker said he could trace his ancestors back to the Mayflower and said “they did not arrive holding their hands out for help.”
“I am a proud right wing terrorist,” he declared to cheers.
Herger praised the man’s attitude.
“Amen, God bless you,” Herger said with a broad smile. “There is a great American.”

You remember Ol’ Wally now, too, dontcha, kids?

According to wiki:

The audience member clarified that he meant to say “right wing extremist”

That makes it so much better, doesn’t it?  Anyhoo, that’s all I needed to want to make a poster about Ol’ Wally.

Original DVD cover
(Click on image and then on that for a larger version)

Traitor Joe

From Dewayne Wickham at TRIBLIVE|Opinion:

Last year was the year of the unlikely hero. It was dominated by the ascendancy of Barack Obama, a slender black guy with a hip gait and a finely tuned political mind, into this nation’s highest office.

But 2009 has turned out to be the year of the anti-hero. It is the year in which Joe Lieberman gets my nod — cynical though it is — as “American of the Year.”

A Democrat of convenience, Lieberman has succeeded in doing what Benedict Arnold couldn’t. In a masterful act of treachery, he retains a position of trust among the very people he betrayed.

Original DVD cover

If you’re stupid, and you know it, flap your lips!

From MEDIA MATTERS:

Today, in a long speech on the House floor, Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) laid out his case against health care reform. On top of the usual talk about a “government takeover” and “socialized medicine,” Gingrey stressed his belief that, in the midst of a recession, improving the nation’s ailing health care system shouldn’t be President Obama’s top priority. Gingrey acknowledged that 14,000 Americans are losing their health insurance every day, but literally laughed off the notion that this constitutes a health care crisis. Rather, he said, “14,000 people are losing their health insurance every day NOT because of the cost of health insurance [laughs], they’re losing it because they lost their job!”

Yeah, Phil, that’s just hilarious!!

Original movie poster

Rudeness, Rebuttal, and Royalty

From Babylon Dictionary:

magpie
Noun
1. long-tailed black-and-white bird that utters a chattering call
…snip…
3. an obnoxious and foolish and loquacious talker
(synonym) chatterer, babbler, prater, chatterbox, spouter

From Sex-Lexis:

schmekel:
1. A penis , diminutive for of the Yiddish schmuck . See penis for synonyms.

2. A stupid person.

Original cover

What an Operation!

From Ezra Klein at The Washington Post:

There’s been a lot of anxiety over leaks outlining the compromises being made in the Senate Finance Committee’s health-care plan. Among these compromises is a rejection of the public option and the absence of an employer mandate. Disappointing stuff. But, at this point, completely predictable.

Look at this picture. Study it. This is who is in the room helping Baucus put together his bill. Olympia Snowe, Mike Enzi, Chuck Grassley, Jeff Bingaman and Kent Conrad. In a Senate of 60 Democrats and 40 Republicans, the health-care reform bill is being written by three centrist Democrats, one centrist Republicans, and two conservative Republicans. And until last week, Orrin Hatch was in the room, too.

Original game

(l to r:  Mike Enzi, Chuck Grassley, Max Baucus, Olympia Snowe)