The Tea Party Versus Reality

by Sally Kohn
Sally Kohn is a community organizer and progressive political commentator. She is the Founder and Chief Education Officer of the Movement Vision Lab

In a transition memo shortly after the November 2010 elections, incoming House Majority Leader Eric Cantor virtually bragged that two-thirds of Republican voters think Congress can balance the budget without cutting defense spending, Social Security or Medicare. Never mind that they’re, um, wrong. For the new Tea-Party-ified Republican Party, reality — like a Vice Presidential candidate’s utter lack of policy knowledge — is not a barrier but merely an obstacle to be overcome. Why …

Tax Deal Passes First Senate Test

On a procedural vote, 83 senators voted for the new tax framework, with first seven “no” votes belonging to Democrats.

Many Democrats argue that it makes too many concessions to Republicans, including lowering taxes on inherited income – the estate tax – and could add billions to the deficit.

“Extending tax cuts for the wealthy is one of the least effective ways to create jobs and build the economy,” said Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said in a statement that she opposed the bill because “extending Bush tax cuts for the very wealthy will saddle our …

On Monday’s Radio Show…

• Ralph Nader tells Alan why he’s looking for a liberal to run against Obama in 2012.

• American University’s Christopher Simpson explains why he believes federal agencies are ignoring illegal efforts to shut down WikiLeaks.

• Unconstitutional? Alan analyzes today’s court ruling on health care reform.…

Sharron Angle Launches New Group; Bloggers Rejoice!

by Stuart Shapiro

Politico is reporting that failed Nevada Senate candidate Sharron Angle is headlining an attempt to bring the Tea Party under a national group.

Angle over the weekend unveiled the Patriot Caucus, a PAC that she says has the support of tea party organizers in 15 states and which will “organize a ground game across most battleground states for the 2012 election cycle.” The group plans to open offices in Iowa, New Hampshire, Florida and Nevada – states with early presidential primaries and caucuses – in early 2011.

This is exciting news for several reasons.  First of all, …

Federal Judge Finds Part Of Health Care Law Unconstitutional

U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson, a Bush 43 appointee, has struck down the “individual mandate” part of the health care law that requires Americans to buy health insurance by 2014.

Hudson’s opinion contradicts other court rulings finding the mandate constitutionally permissible.

“An individual’s personal decision to purchase — or decline purchase — (of) health insurance from a private provider is beyond the historical reach” of the U.S. Constitution,” Hudson wrote. “No specifically constitutional authority exists to mandate the purchase of health insurance.”

A federal judge in Virginia earlier this month had ruled in favor of the administration over the purchase …

President To Sign School Nutrition Bill Opposed By Sarah Palin

President Obama will sign legislation providing healthy lunches and dinners to needy children, a measure with wide bipartisan suppor — with the exception of tea partiers and Sarah Palin, who previously falsely claimed this bill would mean the government will ban sweets.  Paranoids think this bill will lead to the government banning bake sales, even though Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has stated in writing there is no intention to do so.

Palin mocked the efforts last month by bringing a plate of cookies to a school speech in Pennsylvania. Rep. John Kline of Minnesota, the senior Republican on the …

More Iraq War Fail: Christians Fleeing Because Of Violence

There can be no doubt that the Iraq war was one of our biggest foreign policy disasters. Amid fears that security forces in Iraq can’t contain violence against Christians, many are fleeing. (The accompanying picture is from 2004, showing that things haven’t improved much in seven years.)

The flight — involving thousands of residents from Baghdad and Mosul, in particular — followed an Oct. 31 siege at a church in Baghdad that killed 51 worshipers and 2 priests and a subsequent series of bombings and assassinations singling out Christians. This new exodus, which is not the first, highlights the …

John Boehner Has Never Been To A Tanning Salon; So Much For Orange Alerts

Incoming House Speaker John Boehner told 60 Minutes he’s never been to a tanning salon or used a tanning product (h/t Political Wire).

“I’ve never been in a tanning salon in my life, I’ve never used a tanning product in my life.”

…

Nassau County, Led by Tea Party Executive, In Fiscal Crisis

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangaro, elected on tea party ideals, cut taxes and added $40 million to the deficit. The county’s bonds have been downgraded and a state oversight agency is about to step in on the verge of a fiscal crisis. Mangaro cut taxes, but not services, while handing out patronage jobs.

Mr. Mangano is pleading for more time, publicly saying he was personally negotiating with the unions for significant savings. Privately, he has been lobbying state lawmakers to let him raise the county’s sales tax by a quarter of a percent, which would generate about $60 …

John Boehner Says Obama Disrespectful To Him

Interviewed on 60 Minutes, incoming House Speaker John Boehner says President Obama showed  him “disrespect” by using the term “hostage-taker.”

“Excuse me, Mr. President I thought the election was over,” Boehner said, according to a transcript obtained by POLITICO. “You know, you get a lot of that heated rhetoric during an election. But now it’s time to govern.”

Boehner did have some positive adjectives for the president.

“I think he’s engaging,” Boehner said in the taped piece. “Certainly smart. Brilliant. But — you know, we come from different backgrounds. And I think our view of the economy— is also …

Michael Steele To Announce Monday If He’ll Seek Second Term Heading RNC

Embattled head of the Republican National Committee Michael Steele says he’ll announce Monday if he’ll seek to retain his job.

Challengers for his job include Wisconsin Republican Chair Reince Priebus; Ann Wagner of Missouri, a former co-chair of the RNC; Maria Cino, a longtime Republican official who is backed by former RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie and former Vice President Dick Cheney; Saul Anuzis, former Michigan Republican chairman; and Gentry Collins, who was RNC political director until last month.

Insiders are predicting Steele won’t run again.…