Sunday Funnies

Back to posting text in short order.

Your Sunday Talking Heads lineup is here.

After a few months of intensive market research and focus grouping, Republicans concluded that their message, not their policies, was responsible for the party's losses in the November elections, and decided to undertake a major rebranding campaign.

Leading these efforts are hip-hop savior Marco Rubio, top Jew Eric Cantor, and Karl Rove—whose new scam, the Conservative Victory Project, aims to function like the female body by shutting that whole "rape" thing down.

Although it's too soon to tell whether they will ultimately be successful, the early signs are not exactly encouraging.

Luckily for them, über-pundit Dick Morris is sitting on the sidelines, ready to lend a helping hand (or foot).

Droning on, and on...

(Light posting ahead as a family celebration rises on the calendar.)

Neil has written the most concise, cogent response on the topic.

It is wrong for the President to have the power to use drones to kill American citizens without accountability to Congress and without judicial review. President Obama is asserting that he has this right.

It will be just a matter of time until the range of Americans we target with drones will expand. We will widen the definition of who poses a threat to American interests.

At the same time here at home, surveillance drones will watch and follow domestic political dissenters and evermore militarized police will be called upon to intimidate and repress lawful protests. Large defense contractors will gain from these actions abroad, and corporate interests will play a big part in defining our domestic “security” objectives.

These things will happen with the support of elected Republicans & Democrats.

These things will happen–as they are already starting to happen– unless we realize and understand the fact that the work of freedom is up to each of us.

One more thought as the confirmation hearings for the new CIA chief open today. What we, the public, are learning this week about drones, drone bases, drone assassinations, and the legal rationalizations behind the targeted killings is news that many of our corporate media outlets have known for a couple of years.

Annise Parker and payday lending

I have been rough on Madam Mayor for many things, but she gets this one right.

Houston officials laid out proposed restrictions on payday and auto title lenders Tuesday, drawing tepid support from the industry and disappointment from advocates who say the rules would not stop the spiral of debt for many low-income borrowers.

The Texas Legislature discussed regulating payday lending in 2011, but met stiff industry resistance and made little progress. Since then, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and El Paso have adopted regulations. Dallas and Austin have been sued over their restrictions.

Houston leaders say they will wait to see whether the Legislature acts during its current session before voting on their proposal. Mayor Annise Parker has said the industry "cries out for regulation" and called the state's failure to do so "disgraceful."

Kuff has written extensively about the payday lending topic, including this most recent, so I'll just chime in to say that the Lege is unlikely to take Parker's scolding seriously enough to actually do something about it.That's primarily because these swindle merchants have bought the Austin politicos off. Included among the ranks of legislative loansharks is Houston's very own Gary Elkins, owner of 12 payday lending stores himself.

The usual suspects lead the list of contributions from this unsavory crew and their PACs: Rick Perry ($35,500), Greg Abbott ($58,500), and Speaker Joe Straus ($131,800). And if you wanted to know more about how disgusting these shylocks are, just read about Irving's Trevor Ahlberg; payday lender, Republican contributor, and elephant hunter.

It's also noteworthy that consumer activists aren't completely fond of Houston's effort in this regard.

Consumer groups said the proposal is focused on what the industry could stomach, not what is best for the community.

They prefer the ordinance adopted by Dallas and other cities, which sets lower caps than the Houston proposal on the amount consumers can borrow, allows the plans to be refinanced fewer times, caps the number of installments that can be offered in multiple-payment deals, and requires the principal loan amount to be reduced by 25 percent with each refinancing or, on a multiple-payment deal, with each installment.

But while the mayor got it mostly right, I'm not so sure about her consigliere, David Feldman.

"On the other hand, it needs to be recognized that payday loans are often the only source of credit that these very same consumers have access to. Overly restrictive regulations can reduce the availability of the source of credit for those who need it the most."

Just looking out for the little guy. How thoughtful of the city attorney. Feldman obviously missed the memo regarding the reason payday swindlers have become the lending source of last resort for so many: banks are swimming in cash and don't really want to lend it out to anybody, creditworthy or not. This has been the case since the bank bailout in the fall of 2008, and one of the main reasons the national economy remains sluggish. By the way, you heard that the banks got even more money in undisclosed, unregulated loans from the Fed -- a total of $7.77 trillion -- than they did via TARP ($700 billion) , right? The same goes for community banks as well as the Big Six, of course; they are making more money playing the stock market than they are making loans.

There probably isn't going to be any progress in this regard either, as the banks own all the Congress critters. Obama's appointee-designate for SEC chair, Mary Jo White, was praised by none other than Jamie Dimon as being "a perfect choice" for the job.

Shouldn't that automatically disqualify her?

Update: "So God made a banker".

And on the eighth day God looked down on his planned paradise and said, “I need someone who can flip this for a quick buck.” 

So God made a banker. 

God said, “I need someone who doesn’t grow anything or make anything but who will borrow money from the public at 0% interest and then lend it back to the public at 2% or 5% or 10% and pay himself a bonus for doing so.” 

So God made a banker. 

God said, “I need someone who will take money from the people who work and save, and use that money to create a dotcom bubble and a housing bubble and a stock bubble and an oil bubble and a commodities bubble and a bond bubble and another stock bubble, and then sell it to people in Poughkeepsie and Spokane and Bakersfield, and pay himself another bonus.” 

So God made a banker.

Piers Morgan, Greg Abbott, Dan Patrick, and Ted Nugent

-- All at a gun store in Katy. No, I don't want to excerpt any of it. I'm sorry I even read it myself.

-- The pathetic PTSD-stricken vet who shot the alleged "hero" sniper/author at the gun range is as fucked up as you can imagine. But by all means, let's start a few more wars.

Remember: it's not a gun issue, it's a mental health issue.

As if Republicans since Reagan have had some greater concern for mental health issues...

-- Then again, the 21st century field of battle is precisely what drones the size and weight of a finch are for. (Lockheed Martin must be shitting bricks as they are forced to make plans for a pilotless aircraft future.)

After all, it makes so much more sense to just assassinate suspected terrorists on the battlefield -- or in the middle of the desert, or while they are at a wedding -- rather than capture them and torture them. The CIA may be a little put out over the loss of influence, but they will find another reason to be soon enough.

Please be reminded here that we have a Democratic president -- despite what he himself has said -- who taught constitutional law, and who has violated American citizens' rights to due process (among others) via his kill lists. Update: No less than Joe Scarborough makes the salient point.

Things fortunately get a little messier every day with the drones, though...

On Thursday, John Brennan has his confirmation hearing where the Senate will decide whether or not he's fit to run the Central Intelligence Agency. Since he's more or less the architect of America's drone war, we're sure the Senators will have a question or two about this memo and, we hope, some other documents that we haven't seen yet — such as the full 50-page version of the memo, of which this latest leak merely contains a white-paper sketch. Because at least 11 Senators from both parties are already asking for more.

If you needed additional reminding that even the Democrats in California need competition from their left, then read this. Sure does make all of the pining about turning Texas blue seem quaintly ironic, doesn't it?

-- Okay, that was a bit of a digression. Back on the topic of guns, gun nuts, and gun control...

Wayne LaPierre: They're coming for our guns no matter what they say

LaPierre again: Ban assault weapons and you 'limit the ability to survive' 

Chris Wallace to LaPierre: "That's ridiculous and you know it, sir!"

I agree with Krugman; Wayne's gone bad. Some gun nut really ought to take it upon himself and, for the sake of all reasonable and logical gun owners in the Unites States, put him down. Humanely, of course. But if the NRA membership were to force his resignation from any influence with or on behalf of the organization, that would be fine also.

-- Any suggestions -- short of more guns, please -- about what to do about Texas?

The Weekly Wrangle

The Texas Progressive Alliance congratulates the Baltimore Ravens on their Super Bowl win as it brings you this week's roundup.

Off the Kuff reports on yet another study that shows the benefits of expanding Medicaid in Texas that will be ignored by our leaders.  

BossKitty at TruthHugger needs a break from writing about neglected matters in Texas, America, and the world, so she will take a sabbatical. Since we elect leaders to represent corporate interests that live on another planet, we must do our best individually and locally.

The roster of progressive blogs in Texas got a little thinner this past week. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs laments the state of the blogosphere but reminds his friends and enemies that they are not likely to see him go away any time soon.

We can't fix what's broke until we know what's wrong. WCNews at Eye on Williamson says Here is what's the matter with Texas.  

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme is just disgusted with Ted Cruz and rapist-enabler John Cornyn.

Neil at Texas Liberal says Martin Luther King would have been sad to see young people marching off as if to war at a parade in his name.

At TexasKaos, Libby Shaw talks about turning a vast crony capitalist red wasteland a nice shade of blue. Is it possible we can transform Rickland into a modern progressive state? Check it out.

Super Sunday Funnies

"Harris County Republicans in trouble in 2014?"

Big Jolly is nervous.

Excessive comma splicing and too many Bill Murray impersonations aside, David is sending an SOS that the local Dems -- meeting this afternoon for a roundtable discussion -- would be well to take note of. Like this...

Sen. John Cornyn is a good conservative senator but at this point, I don’t see anyone rushing out to vote for him. Abbott in the governor slot will draw a few people out but Harris County isn’t his base and remember that the Dem won Harris County in 2010. Who knows with Lt. Gov., but again, I don’t see any excitement.

Cornyn is likely to get primaried, as everyone knows. Because of who votes in GOP primaries, Cornyn is afraid he could be beaten. As a result, the senior senator from Texas is forced to follow the junior senator's lead. Both men were two of three votes total against John Kerry's confirmation for secretary of state, and Cornyn did so simply to deny said challenger some campaign fodder.

So drop down to county races. Once again, it will be up to Harris County Judge Ed Emmett to carry the load and pull a terrible field with him. Problem is, there is a large faction (let’s call them the SD7 bunch for now) that are begging people to run against him in a primary. And frankly, if they get the right candidate, Ed’s in trouble. As we saw this year when Mike Anderson damaged the party by defeating Pat Lykos, it is difficult to recover from a nasty primary at the top of the ticket. If Ed survives the primary, he’ll be fine in November but not able to carry the field with him. If he doesn’t survive the primary, say hello to County Judge Democrat.

Well, that would certainly be nice if it were even close to accurate, but at this point Don Large, former Republican, is the only person apparently running and his Facebook page hasn't a fresh post for seven months that isn't spam. I don't think Hunker Down has much to worry about.

County Clerk Stan Stanart has had problems running the office and the people he’s hired are suspect. I’ve heard rumors that former District Clerk Charles Bacarisse will challenge him in the primary – if so, that would certainly make for a stronger ticket but those are just rumors. Personally, I’d like to see former candidate for State Rep 149 candidate Jack Lee take a crack at it. If Stan is on the ballot again, he’ll go down.

Here I agree with Jennings. Stanart should be the most endangered incumbent on the ballot, primary challenger or no.

District Clerk Chris Daniel has done a good job and is out in the county every day talking up the office. That hasn’t stopped people talking about challenging him in a primary. The most prominent name I’ve heard is former HCRP Executive Director, now some sort of communications guy for Commissioner Steve Radack, and miracle survivor of a plane crash, Court Koenning. Regardless of the candidate, this office will probably switch to the D’s.

Chris Daniel is a joke. He has ridden the coattails of predecessor Loren Jackson's effort and should be turned out, just like Stanart. 

Then, you have a problem with some gosh awful incumbent judges (who will cost some very good incumbent judges their bench). I, and many of us in the party, will not push a “Vote Straight R” message unless these judges are upset via the primary, which is a very difficult thing to do. The Straight R campaign has been the bedrock of the last two campaigns – without it, we’re going to lose a few points and certainly increase the down ballot undervotes. Imagine a Harris County judicial system 75% in the control of Democrats because that is what it will look like after 2014.

This news, again, would be good if it were true. Charles Kuffner has demonstrated the false premise of the straight ticket vote several times, but of course he uses a reality-based system called math, which Republicans don't believe in. It's not in the Bible or the Constitution, you see.

(In fact, Kuffner's take on 2014 is much closer than Jolly's to being accurate, but you once again have to ignore his tendency to place money above all other considerations.)

Another thing BJ seems to overlook is that Democrats have a long and storied history of staying home when elections are held and the president of the United States isn't on the ballot. Or when elections are held at special times on odd days. The fact is that in Harris County, suburban and exurban voters drive by the library or the high school or the church every week and go in to ask if there's an election that they forgot to vote in.

And that base of voters just isn't dying off fast enough to get the kind of progress we need in this county (and this state). But it's also true that when a political party is forcing itself to go through re-indoctrination to avoid extinction, you know there are bigger problems than just a lack of enthusiasm.

So Jolly's wake-up call to the HCRP, while more amusing than revealing, is plenty early enough for them to get out of bed, pop in their dentures, take hydrocodone for their arthritis, and get moving.

It's far too soon to be handicapping the mid-term elections. Four years ago people were just beginning to hear about the Tea Baggers, and nobody but them expected that to account for much, all the way up to November of 2010. Ginning up fear and outrage is the only thing about politics conservatives are really good at. And they can do it at the drop of a hat.