Wait, wait! Don’t tell me! Let me guess: it’s a brown christmas sweater.

Wow. Just…..Wow! It wxplains one thing though. Why the reviews aren’t good.

From TPM
Beck’s ‘Christmas Sweater’ flops in major cities, just 17 tickets sold in New York and Boston.
Last night, Fox News host Glenn Beck premiered his new live show based on his book The Christmas Sweater, which was simulcast to hundreds of movie theaters across the country. Sponsor Fathom Events called it a “once in a lifetime event,” during which “Glenn will tell you about the real life events that inspired him to write” the book, play clips from his 2008 national tour, and “share stories of the overwhelming response he received.” Despite heavy promotion on Beck’s radio and TV shows, and in-theater trailers, ticket sales were weak in major cities: Beck sold only 17 tickets in Boston, another 17 in New York, and just 30 in Washington, DC. Raw Story reports that, while sales were better in more conservative areas, even Seattle — which is near Beck’s hometown — couldn’t muster a strong crowd:

While it performed better in the south and in rural, more conservative areas, his ability to draw viewers in major US markets was a bust.

“The theater’s almost empty,” a representative at Regal Cinemas in Manhattan told Raw Story moments before it began.

The viewing in Lynnwood, WA — the closest one to Beck’s Mount Vernon hometown — sold out several hours before the show began. Ten miles south, 70 out of 415 seats had been snagged in Seattle, a better turnout than other cities.

Despite purporting to be a champion of the “little guy,” Beck set tickets prices at $20 — more than double the average ticket price. Blogger Joseph Childers reports that the production value looked “cheap,” and “the bulk of the evening consists solely of Glenn Beck acting out every role in his hokey story, with only his limited repertoire of accents and pantomime filling out the ‘cast’.”

I guess like Palin, he now knows that his brand of whatever it is he calls that only sells in smaller, conservative markets.

Tom Tancredo Will Not Run For Colorado GovernorBy Andrea Nill at 11:11 am Tom Tancredo Will Not Run For Colorado Governor
Despite never officially announcing a run for the Colorado governorship, former congressman and presidential candidate Tom Tancredo (R-CO) indicated in early November that he “fully intend[s] to run.” Earlier this week, former 2008 GOP delegate and Tom Tancredo supporter Crista Huff sent a message to the “Tom Tancredo for Governor” private Facebook group indicating that Tancredo will not be running for governor of Colorado and has instead launched a new project called the American Legacy Alliance:

When contacted by ThinkProgress, Huff stated, “I can’t divulge original sources, but I’m sure it’s also on google.” She declined giving an official statement confirming Tancredo’s decision.

A Google search did reveal that Tancredo quietly stepped down from his unofficial run for Colorado governor last week. Tancredo joined Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis, former governor Bill Owens and former gubernatorial Josh Penry in uniting behind a set of conservative Republican principles referred to as the “Platform for Prosperity.” The Grand Junction Journal more ambiguously reported that Tancredo “declined to endorse himself” as a candidate for Colorado government.

Tancredo now appears to be dedicating his efforts to the American Legacy Alliance, putting a gun question on 2010 Colorado ballots, and campaigning against the state’s hate crime laws.

In 2008, Huff proclaimed that her “dream ticket” for President would be Tom Tancredo and Jesus Christ.

Update The Denver Post reports that Tancredo filed a 2010 ballot proposal today that would force every Colorado business to verify the immigration status of new hires using the federal government’s currently voluntary online E-Verify Program. State Rep. Edward Casso (D) said the proposal “does nothing but inspire a racist agenda.”Comments84SharePermalink

Coburn and Vitter preventing Democrats from co-sponsoring public option amendment. (Updated)By Igor Volsky at 10:35 am Coburn and Vitter preventing Democrats from co-sponsoring public option amendment. (Updated)
The Hill reports that Sens. Tom Coburn (R-OK) and David Vitter (R-LA) are preventing Democrats from co-sponsoring an amendment to the Senate health bill that would “force members of Congress into any public option health plan that becomes law.” The amendment was conceived by Republicans as a political stunt. As Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) said, “If [the public option] is good enough for the American people — and they don’t think it is — then it ought to be good enough for Congress.” But Democrat Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has called them on their gimmick:

Sen. Sherrod Brown (Ohio) said he is trying to co-sponsor the amendment — but that Coburn and Vitter won’t let him. … “They’ve not said yes to allow me to be a co-sponsor,” Brown told The Hill on Thursday. “I’ve called their office four times. I’m proud of the public option, I think it would be great and we ought to join it and show the country how good it is. I think my interest may be more genuine than theirs, but I’d like to work with them if they’ll let me. If they just want to score partisan points, I still want to work with them.”

Democrats on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee accepted the amendment into their health care bill, but it did not make it into the final legislation. Instead, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) included a provision that required lawmakers to enroll in the Exchange, but did not force them into a public plan.

Update Sen. Brown told TPM that the public option should not be compromised any further than it already has been.
Update Moments ago, Sen. Brown asked to be added as a co-sponsor to the Coburn/Vitter amendment by unanimous consent. The motion was approved.
Update Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) has asked that he and Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) also be added as co-sponsors to the amendment.Comments63SharePermalink

Palin Sympathizes With Birthers But Hits Reporters For Pushing ‘Stupid Conspiracies’By Amanda Terkel at 9:30 am Palin Sympathizes With Birthers But Hits Reporters For Pushing ‘Stupid Conspiracies’
Yesterday while appearing on the right-wing radio show of Rusty Humphries, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin expressed her allegiance with the birther movement. She asserted that it was a “fair question” to ask whether President Obama was born in the U.S. “I think the public rightfully is still making it an issue,” she said. “I don’t have a problem with that.” Listen here (at approximately 9:00):

After the media picked up her comments, Palin went on her Facebook page at 1:16 a.m. and criticized reporters for calling her a birther and pushing “stupid conspiracies”:

Voters have every right to ask candidates for information if they so choose. I’ve pointed out that it was seemingly fair game during the 2008 election for many on the left to badger my doctor and lawyer for proof that Trig is in fact my child. Conspiracy-minded reporters and voters had a right to ask… which they have repeatedly. But at no point – not during the campaign, and not during recent interviews – have I asked the president to produce his birth certificate or suggested that he was not born in the United States.

Palin said that one of the reasons she resigned from office was because of “silly accusations” about ethics violations, flung by “political operatives” who were looking for “dirt.” An impassioned part of her resignation speech, in fact, was a tirade directed against “the politics of personal destruction”:

Every one — all 15 of the ethics complaints have been dismissed. We’ve won! But it hasn’t been cheap — the State has wasted THOUSANDS of hours of YOUR time and shelled out some two million of YOUR dollars to respond to “opposition research” — that’s money NOT going to fund teachers or troopers — or safer roads. And this political absurdity, the “politics of personal destruction” … Todd and I are looking at more than half a million dollars in legal bills in order to set the record straight. And what about the people who offer up these silly accusations? It doesn’t cost them a dime so they’re not going to stop draining public resources – spending other peoples’ money in their game.

It’s pretty insane — my staff and I spend most of our day dealing with THIS instead of progressing our state now. I know I promised no more “politics as usual,” but THIS isn’t what anyone had in mind for ALASKA.

So “the politics of personal destruction” is fine when lodged against Palin’s opponents — just not at Palin herself.
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ThinkFast: December 4, 2009By Think Progress at 9:00 am ThinkFast: December 4, 2009 »

A new Labor Department report released this morning shows the nation’s unemployment rate has fallen to 10 percent. Employers cut 11,000 jobs in November, the smallest decline since the recession began. Experts had predicted the unemployment rate would “hold steady at 10.2 percent.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is remaining burrowed in his office this week as the Senate debates health care on the floor. Reid is “looking past the daily political drama playing out and, as he said recently, ‘getting my deals done.’”

“Breaking a three-day stalemate,” the Senate voted 61 to 39 to approve “an amendment to its health care legislation that would require insurance companies to offer free mammograms and other preventive services to women.”

A new USA Today/Gallup poll found that 51 percent support President Obama’s new strategy in Afghanistan. However, the poll also found “broad concerns that the costs of the war will sap the government’s ability to address problems at home.”

To coincide with President Obama’s troop increase plan in Afghanistan, the White House has authorized an expansion of the CIA’s drone program into Pakistan’s tribal regions. Pakistani and U.S. officials are discussing “the possibility of striking in Baluchistan for the first time — a controversial move since it is outside the tribal areas — because that is where Afghan Taliban leaders are believed to hide.”

More »« Less
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Even After CBO Reports Stimulus Created Up To 1.6 Million Jobs, Conservatives Claim It ‘Failed’By Pat Garofalo on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 8:00 pm Even After CBO Reports Stimulus Created Up To 1.6 Million Jobs, Conservatives Claim It ‘Failed’
Today, the White House is hosting a jobs forum, “to sound out ideas for accelerating job growth during the worst labor market in a generation,” as Democrats in both houses of Congress are attempting to craft jobs legislation. Yesterday, the administration for the first time expressed support for new legislation, so long as it has a “relatively small deficit impact.”

This effort comes in the wake of a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report showing that the economic stimulus package is having its intended effect — creating or saving 600,000 to 1.6 million jobs — albeit in a weaker than anticipated economy.

Republicans, though, have said that additional jobs legislation “would meet resistance.” They’re justifying this position — aided by the conservative media — by claiming that the “failed economic stimulus” has not created jobs, despite the CBO reporting otherwise. Here’s a roundup of conservative statements that have occurred after the CBO released its report:

Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA): The 800-billion dollar stimulus bill that Washington passed has failed to create – or save – the jobs it promised…There is now talk of a second — or is it a third – stimulus bill…More government spending, more bailouts for states, more transfer payments to individuals, expanded government agencies.

RNC Chairman Michael Steele: [Obama's] failed economic stimulus has considerably added to our national debt, skyrocketing it to a record-breaking $1.42 trillion in 2009…This time using a “jobs summit” to distract from the 10.2 percent national unemployment rate as well as President Obama’s and Congressional Democrats’ plans to unleash a second wave of stimulus spending on the American public, known as Stimulus II.

Rep. John Boehner (R-OH): Washington Democrats staked their credibility on a nearly trillion-dollar ‘stimulus’ that was supposed to be about putting people back to work…Given the last 11 months of outrageous ‘stimulus’ claims, the American people are right to wonder whether Washington Democrats can be trusted to create jobs and cut the deficit.

Wall Street Journal Editorial Board: [T]he stimulus has been a manifest bust, much as the critics who appeared on our pages predicted. As the recovery continues, sooner or later the economy will begin to create new jobs, thank heaven. But the stimulus won’t have much do with it, except insofar as the higher taxes to finance the runaway spending further retard private investment and hiring.

For their part, Republicans have organized an economic roundtable for today, chock full of former Bush administration and McCain campaign staffers who, among other things, are responsible for the Bush tax cuts and Medicare Part D. Cantor also released a jobs plan yesterday, which Andrew Leonard characterized as a “magic pony jobs plan.” “Cut regulations. Freeze spending. Cut taxes. No new taxes. That’s the plan,” Leonard wrote.

Cross-posted on The Wonk Room. Read more about confronting the jobs dilemma in today’s Progress Report.
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After protests in Los Angeles, Salvation Army to stop checking Social Security numbers for toy drives.By Amanda Terkel on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 6:35 pm After protests in Los Angeles, Salvation Army to stop checking Social Security numbers for toy drives.
On Tuesday, the Houston Chronicle reported that a few charities in Houston — including the Salvation Army — were checking the immigration status of needy families before giving out gifts in its annual toy drive. The organization then disputed the report, claiming that it requires at least one family member to present a Social Security number to deter fraud, not to “discriminate.” Yesterday, however, the charity reversed course. After a few dozen immigrants protested outside of a Los Angeles Salvation Army branch, the charity said that it was changing its policy and will no longer be checking Social Security numbers. Watch it:

Comments120SharePermalink

Coburn Claims The U.S. Is ‘The Best Place To Get Sick’By Ben Armbruster on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 5:35 pm Coburn Claims The U.S. Is ‘The Best Place To Get Sick’
Last night, Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren interviewed Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) and asked him about his recent claim that seniors “are going to die soon” if the Senate health care bill passes. “You’re going to see services eliminated. It’s going to lower the life expectancy of a lot of seniors!” Colburn complained.

Later, when asked what message he wanted to get “to the American people,” Coburn celebrated the current health care system in the U.S.:

VAN SUSTEREN: If you could get one message out to the American people tonight about this health care bill, what’s the bullet point message?

COBURN: We need to start over. We need to fix what’s really wrong in health care and we need to protect what’s really great. What’s really great is if you’re really sick anywhere in the world, this is the best place to be sick, it just costs too much.

Watch it:

Health care costing “too much” explains why the U.S. is not the best place to be when you’re sick. The U.S. has the most costly health care system in the world, spending just over 15.2 percent of GDP (the United Kingdom, which relies mainly on the single payer model, pays 8.3 percent).

A 2007 Commonwealth Fund study concluded that, “[c]ompared with five other nations — Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, the United Kingdom — the U.S. health care system ranks last or next-to-last on five dimensions of a high performance health system: quality, access, efficiency, equity, and healthy lives.” In 2000, the World Health Organization ranked the U.S. health care system 37th, behind countries such as Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, the UK, Oman, and France.

In fact many retirees who don’t yet qualify for Medicare are choosing to get sick in Mexico. USA Today reported in September that tens of thousands of American retirees are moving south of the border because health care is too expensive in the U.S.:

It sounds almost too good to be true: a health care plan with no limits, no deductibles, free medicines, tests, X-rays, eyeglasses, even dental work — all for a flat fee of $250 or less a year. …It’s unclear how many Americans use IMSS, but with between 40,000 and 80,000 U.S. retirees living in Mexico, the number probably runs “well into the thousands,” said David Warner, a public policy professor at the University of Texas.

“They take very good care of us,” said Jessica Moyal, 59, of Hollywood, Fla., who now lives in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, a popular retirement enclave for Americans.

Mexico’s health care system “was one of the primary reasons I moved here,” said another retiree, adding, “I couldn’t afford health care in the United States.”
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Gohmert opposes estate tax extension because ‘Jesus never advocated the government go steal.’By Pat Garofalo on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 4:50 pm Gohmert opposes estate tax extension because ‘Jesus never advocated the government go steal.’
Today, the House voted 225-200 to permanently extend the estate tax at its 2009 level, which is 45 percent for estates valued at more than $3.5 million ($7 million for a couple). Due to a Bush-era accounting gimmick, the estate tax was set to disappear in 2010, and come back in 2011 at a 55 percent rate on estates of $1 million. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), however, took to the floor to oppose the extension, complaining that his his great aunt once had to pay the 55 percent rate. Gohmert continued by arguing Jesus wouldn’t have wanted an estate tax:

Now, after someone dies and someone comes in and steals from them, we consider that in most society reprehensible. … But when the government comes in, because we have the power to pass laws and legalize theft that otherwise would be considered reprehensible, it’s okay. But it is not okay. … Jesus never advocated the government go steal. He said ‘you do it. Do it with your own money, don’t steal it from somebody else.’ And that is why this should not pass.

Watch it:

Apparently, Gohmert either doesn’t adhere to or hasn’t heard of Jesus’ admonition: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” An estate tax at the 2009 level exempts 99.8 percent of estates and affects about 100 small businesses and farms, almost all of which will be able to pay the tax without selling assets. The estate tax debate now moves to the Senate, where Sens. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Jon Kyl (R-AZ) want to enact a cut that would cost $250 billion over ten years and overwhelmingly benefit wealthy families.
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Sweden cutting aid to Uganda over ‘appalling’ Anti-Homosexuality Bill.By Amanda Terkel on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 4:00 pm Sweden cutting aid to Uganda over ‘appalling’ Anti-Homosexuality Bill.
The Ugandan parliament is currently considering an “Anti-Homosexuality Bill,” under which any person “convicted of gay sex is liable to life imprisonment.” If that person is HIV positive or has sex with a minor or a person with a disability, he or she would be found guilty of “aggravated homosexuality” and face the death penalty. Although the U.S. has not yet taken an official position on the bill, other countries are speaking out. Both UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper have called the legislation unacceptable, and now Sweden is adding its voice:

According to comments attributed to Gunilla Carlsson, Sweden’s development assistance minister, the Swedish government says it would cut aid to Uganda over an anti-gay law they find “appalling”.

“My number two at the ministry, who has direct contact with the Ugandan government, has brought it up,” Ms Carlsson recently told Swedish Radio News. “We’ve talked about it in Uganda, and I’ve also tried to speak to the kind of organisations in Uganda that are the target of the legislation.” Uganda receives about $50 million in development aid from Sweden annually.

Reuters reports that the legislation will “likely” pass the Ugandan parliament. Last night, MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow highlighted three “anti-gay American activists” who inspired the bill, and tonight, she’ll profile Americans who have the power to stop the “Kill the Gays” bill. Watch it:

(HT: Towleroad)
Comments49SharePermalink

Anti-Immigrant Group Withdraws Support For Lou Dobbs: He Has ‘Deeply Offended His Base’By Andrea Nill on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 3:15 pm Anti-Immigrant Group Withdraws Support For Lou Dobbs: He Has ‘Deeply Offended His Base’
The anti-immigrant group Americans for Legal Immigration PAC (ALIPAC) announced today that it’s dropping its support for former CNN anchor and xenophobe champion Lou Dobbs. The group is also disabling its website, http://www.LouDobbsforPresident.org and its Facebook page, “Draft Lou Dobbs for President or US Senate.” In a statement released by ALIPAC, president William Gheen said:

While Mr. Dobbs claims his positions have not changed, however, that is not the perception of many of our mutual supporters. His recent comments on Telemundo and his national radio show supporting some kind of path to citizenship for illegal immigrants is inconsistent with positions of ALIPAC. … Dobbs created shock waves last week when news broke about his pro-Amnesty comments on Telemundo that appear to be a departure from his prior support for existing immigration laws. [...]

Lou Dobbs has deeply offended his base of supporters and ALIPAC is going to remain loyal to those Americans who support our existing immigration laws instead of Amnesty disguised as reform.

Gheen is referring to Dobbs’ interview with Telemundo’s Maria Celeste in late November, during which he proclaimed that he is a “great friend” of the Latino community who supports a path to legalization for undocumented immigrants “under certain conditions.” On his radio show this Monday, Dobbs repeatedly insisted that his Telemundo interview was not a flip-flop, but rather the re-articulation of the same views he has always expressed. However, Gheen and his nativist friends aren’t the only ones challenging Dobbs’ integrity. Latinos aren’t buying it, and Dobbs would probably still have his job at CNN if that were the case.

Before leaving CNN, Dobbs accused President Obama of “pandering to the pro-amnesty open-borders lobby,” despite the fact that Obama indicated that there cannot be immigration reform with a path to legalization until the government shows that it is capable of enforcing the laws which are currently in place. Now that Dobbs is considering running for President himself, he’s onboard with legalizing undocumented immigrants under similar conditions.
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Hundreds of New Yorkers rally in Times Square for marriage equality.By Amanda Terkel on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 2:43 pm Hundreds of New Yorkers rally in Times Square for marriage equality.
Progressives were outraged and dismayed by yesterday’s defeat of same-sex marriage legislation in the New York State Senate. Bill sponsor Sen. Tom Duane (D) said he felt “betrayed” by the lawmakers who had promised to vote for marriage equality but then backed down, and Gov. David Paterson (D) promised to “redouble our efforts.” Yesterday night, hundreds of marriage equality supporters gathered in Times Square to protest the defeat of the bill. Blabbeando reports, “Most of the anger seemed directed at the 8 Democrats who voted against the bill with the crowd chanting ‘Vote them out! Vote them out!’” Some photos of the event:

There’s another rally scheduled for 6:00 p.m. tonight in Union Square in New York. (Top two photos by Andrés Duque, bottom two by Joe.My.God)
Comments186SharePermalink

FLASHBACK: In 2006, Sen. Gregg Was Repulsed By ‘Obstruction For The Purpose Of Obstruction’By Lee Fang on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 1:45 pm FLASHBACK: In 2006, Sen. Gregg Was Repulsed By ‘Obstruction For The Purpose Of Obstruction’
Yesterday, Politico’s Chris Frates obtained a copy of a memo authored by Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) outlining exactly how Senate Republicans can kill health reform using various parliamentary tactics. Some of the tactics include: demanding a new legislative day, forcing “hard” quorum calls, and compelling GOP Senators to offer an “unlimited number of amendments — germane or non-germane — on any subject” to the health bill. Gregg’s colleagues attempted a similar obstruction strategy to kill health reform in committee, offering dozens of frivolous amendments to bog down the debate.

But in 2006, Gregg sang a very different tune about appropriate Senate procedure. At the time, Gregg wanted to form an Entitlement Commission to recommend cuts to Medicare and Social Security. Facing opposition, Gregg blasted Democrats for what he perceived as “obstruction for the purpose of obtaining power”:

Obstruction has become the only thing which the other side of the aisle appears to be able to do, obstruction for the purpose of obstruction for the purpose of obtaining power around here.

Watch it:

Given Gregg’s previous comments deploring Senate obstruction, his current obstruction memo reveals how disingenuous he is willing to be in order to stop health reform. Rather than argue the merits of the legislation, Gregg is resorting to parliamentary gimmicks to kill the bill. As ThinkProgress has documented, obstruction has been the prime strategy for Republicans hoping to stop reform.
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The Best Blogs In Life Aren’t FreeBy Faiz Shakir on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 1:00 pm The Best Blogs In Life Aren’t Free
2009 has been a great year for ThinkProgress. Politico recently wrote, “Judged by the standard of influencing the conversation, Think Progress is flourishing.” We’ve compiled a video to commemorate some of our most noteworthy moments over the past year:

In 2008, we introduced one ad spot to the site (located on the sidebar). The additional revenue from the ad has in part helped us expand our staff, commit more resources to travel to town halls and other events, and produce more unique and exclusive content.

But ThinkProgress isn’t anxious to have our site overrun by more ads. Therefore, we need to rely on your financial support as we continue to expand our operation. Please consider donating by clicking here.

Because ThinkProgress does not operate as a for-profit entity, we don’t have to chase stories that might generate greater traffic or revenue. We can focus on the stories that matter to you. Less Tiger Woods, White House “crashers,” and Michael Jackson; more space for policy debates, media accountability, and fact-checking powerful officials and entities. And we need your help to keep it that way.

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Gingrich Dupes Press By Recycling ‘Jobs First’ Plan Full Of Same Tax Breaks For The Rich He Always PushesBy Matt Corley on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 12:00 pm Gingrich Dupes Press By Recycling ‘Jobs First’ Plan Full Of Same Tax Breaks For The Rich He Always Pushes
This afternoon, the White House is hosting a jobs summit aimed at finding ways to “jumpstart the hiring that typically lags behind economic growth.” But former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is attempting to steal President Obama’s thunder, hosting what his own “real jobs summit” in Ohio and Mississippi. Gingrich’s effort has received coverage from CBS News, CNN, Fox News and the AP.

Though Gingrich is dismissing the White House summit as “political theater,” his “real solutions for job creation and economic growth” are really just another effort to repackage ideas he has already promoted. In fact, Gingrich is even recycling his old “Drill Here. Drill Now” slogan…

…but, this time, with a slight twist:

The main difference between the proposal Gingrich debuted yesterday and the “Jobs Here. Jobs Now. Jobs First” plan he produced in July is that he is now calling for allowing “small businesses to expense 100% of new equipment purchases each year.” In an analysis of the July plan, the Wonk Room’s Pat Garofalo found that the tax changes would add trillions to the deficit over the next decade while “throwing money to mainly the well-off and hoping that it will have some positive effects.”

In his newest “Jobs First” proposal, Gingrich also recycles his long-standing calls for more drilling and cutting federal spending. Recycling ideas is nothing new for Gingrich. Though he originally proposed it in 1997, Gingrich claimed last February that eliminating the capital gains tax was “a new, bold idea.”
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GOP congressman opposes timeline because Afghanistan extremists ‘wait centuries to get even.’By Zaid Jilani on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 11:14 am GOP congressman opposes timeline because Afghanistan extremists ‘wait centuries to get even.’
Earlier this week, President Obama announced that he will be sending an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan. While many on the right praised him for deciding on a troop surge in the central Asian country, others attacked him for suggesting that American troops will begin drawing down from the country within 18 months. The Orlando Sentinel reports that one GOP congressman, Rep. John Mica (R-FL), had a particularly absurd attack on the the idea of a timetable, claiming that setting a withdrawal timeline would be a mistake because militants in Afghanistan patiently “wait centuries to get even“:

“I’m taken aback by his deadline,” said U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park. “These guys wait centuries to get even. Eighteen months is nothing for them.”

Mica apparently feels comfortable signaling to the Afghans that we may be in their country for centuries. But as Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) — who first proposed a timetable for withdrawal back in August — has said, “Showing the people there and here that we have a sense about when it is time to leave is one of the best things we can do.”
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Even After CBO Reports Stimulus Created Up To 1.6 Million Jobs, Conservatives Claim It ‘Failed’
Sweden cutting aid to Uganda over ‘appalling’ Anti-Homosexuality Bill.
Coburn Claims The U.S. Is ‘The Best Place To Get Sick’
Palin quits before finishing the 5K Turkey Trot race.Washington Times Runs Anti-Obama Birther Ad Featuring Racial UndertonesHouston toy drives check the immigration status of families before handing out gifts.Family Reserach Council Claims Obama Has A ‘Plan’ To ‘Impose Homosexuality’
GOP Gone Wild: Unruly Republicans Silence Women Lawmakers With Screams, Shouts, And Delay TacticsRight-wing protesters at GOP rally display prominent sign tying health care to the Holocaust.Palin quits before finishing the 5K Turkey Trot race.New Missouri billboard tells Americans to ‘prepare for war’ against the government.Last 24 HoursThis WeekThis MonthCoburn Claims The U.S. Is ‘The Best Place To Get Sick’Gohmert opposes estate tax extension because ‘Jesus never advocated the government go steal.’Beck’s ‘Christmas Sweater’ flops in major cities, just 17 tickets sold in New York and Boston.Even After CBO Reports Stimulus Created Up To 1.6 Million Jobs, Conservatives Claim It ‘Failed’Washington Times Runs Anti-Obama Birther Ad Featuring Racial UndertonesPastor Rick Warren Refuses To Condemn Ugandan Law Making Homosexual Acts Punishable By DeathHouston toy drives check the immigration status of families before handing out gifts.Rep. Shuster Bashes The Stimulus As A Failure While Taking Credit For Its SuccessRepublicans Are Shocked The Public Is Mad At Them For Voting Against Franken’s Anti-Rape AmendmentNew Missouri billboard tells Americans to ‘prepare for war’ against the government.New Right-Wing Craze Prays That Obama’s ‘Days Be Few’Marine reservist chases, assaults Greek Orthodox priest whom he mistook for an Arab terrorist.
Last 24 HoursThis WeekThis MonthEven After CBO Reports Stimulus Created Up To 1.6 Million Jobs, Conservatives Claim It ‘Failed’Palin Sympathizes With Birthers But Hits Reporters For Pushing ‘Stupid Conspiracies’Beck’s ‘Christmas Sweater’ flops in major cities, just 17 tickets sold in New York and Boston.Gohmert opposes estate tax extension because ‘Jesus never advocated the government go steal.’Palin quits before finishing the 5K Turkey Trot race.Glenn Beck-Inspired Tea Party Candidates Step Up To Oust Veteran GOP LawmakersEven After CBO Reports Stimulus Created Up To 1.6 Million Jobs, Conservatives Claim It ‘Failed’Obama Rebuts ‘Dithering’ Charges: None Of The Options Called For Troop Deployments Before 2010Palin quits before finishing the 5K Turkey Trot race.Marine reservist chases, assaults Greek Orthodox priest whom he mistook for an Arab terrorist.Report: In her memoir, Palin says she doesn’t believe in evolution.New Missouri billboard tells Americans to ‘prepare for war’ against the government.
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Sorry for the crazy post but, my laptop froze!

Too bad Norah didn’t show up and grill people on Beck’s politics.

They couldn’t afford the $20 dollars anyway.

Oh No! I have to shut down for tech support guy. I know you’re all just bummed about it.

…and stuff that ugly sweater down his throat to shut him up for ten freaking minutes…

Why are you idiots bitching if you don’t like him? Berries, you didn’t have to watch the video & don’t have to watch his show. Roxsteady thanks for one of the most worthless copy/paste “comments” *cough* I’ve ever seen. If Beck is such an idiot and irrelevent, why do you guys bother?

But to Rox’s point; if he didn’t sell well in “major” US cities, it just goes to show why the left doesn’t get it about REAL Americans. And it’s also further proof as to why the dems are losing – you guys dismiss fly-over country, but it’s fly-over country that makes up the majority of this country. You underestimate those crowds and those people at your own peril. I was at an Atlanta screening last night (a city that’s not had a Republican Mayor for decades) and I had to sit on the aisle steps.

By the way… how do those sour grapes taste?

Frankly I think the whole bit is hilarious and even more so when numb nuts like MsUnderestimated buy into this con job. You tea baggers wouldn’t know a real American if it bit you in your large dumb asses.

Yeah! Tech Guy Rules! Now, “Real America” as you put it does not make up the majority. For instance, did you know that McCain’s state of Arizona is just 2% of the population? I use Arizona to point out that while it’s not considered “fly over country” it’s clearly a bigger state than those where Beck’s movie did bette including, Atlanta. And let’s face it, $20 bucks isn’t cheap in this economy. But, to someone as cash whoring as Beck, his followers don’t seem to notice. And if he was so influential, what happen to Hoffman? It’s not exactly metropolitan central in Upstate, NY? No, what you’ve seen is that he’s not as popular as you thought. Just like the Republican party. As for the Dems losing, we haven’t lost in 2 election cycles. By the way, apparently those sour grapes are yours!

rmbltmbl says:
December 4, 2009 at 4:34 pm

One of Beck’s most important points is how people can’t look past their predispositions and prejudice to seek common sense. This is a text book case.

get mad at your own problems not society.

roxsteady says:
December 4, 2009 at 6:39 pm

And if he was so influential, what happen to Hoffman?

Hoffman, who went from being a 3rd party candidate, to potential winner in the course of ONE WEEK?
Hoffman, who recently had to un-concede because the votes were “counted incorrectly,” and now have him even closer?
Hoffman, whose candidacy caused the nominated “Republican” to drop out?

I know what you’re trying to say (although, next time you should try copying and pasting it… it might be more well informed), but when you look at the situation, the fact that Hoffman was able to muster any support… let alone come so close to winning, in such a short amount of time… is nothing YOU should be happy about.

Who the hell is Hoffman?

HA! Loser.

just a taste of things to come for the.. ‘intellects’

Hoffman is completely forgotten by now. Why are we even wasting time with him? He’s a huge loser.

Nothing like a Mormon Android talking their version of Christmas. Only been a few years since they were strapping electrodes to gay BYU students to “…cure them of their homosexuality.” Yup.

@roxsteady: As for the Dems losing, we haven’t lost in 2 election cycles.

Which explains the horrendous shape the U.S economy is in. Thanks Dem congress!

Beck’s bank account grows fatter every day. His clothing line will feature everything from “Christmas sweaters” to 3 pointy hats. A fool and his money……

A story on Glenns Christmas show?

I’m starting to believe the Glenns critics are getting personal. Thats often the case when we can’t discredit the majority of the content of those we oppose…. we attack the person.