Pres Hopeful Tim Pawlenty Says He’d Reinstate “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”

Former Minnesota governor and Republican presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty went on the virulently anti-gay Bryan Fischer program put out by the American Family Association. Among other areas where the two right-wingers saw eye-to-eye was the desire to reinstate the failed “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” military policy (via RightWingWatch).

Fischer: One last question, got about forty five seconds left, put you on the hot seat one more time: we just saw the ban on homosexual service in the military repealed, overturned. Conservatives will be working over the next couple of years to see that that ban is reinstated. If …

Democrats To Call GOP Repeal Efforts “The Patient’s Rights Repeal Act”

It’s about time Democrats did a little branding; and it’s good political action to brand the other side for them. This Democrats have agreed to call Republican attempts to do away with health care reform “The Patient’s Rights Repeal Act.”

Dems are gearing up for a major campaign against repeal, in hopes that it will give them another crack at selling the American public on the law by highlighting its most popular provisions and arguing that repeal would do away with them.

The effort by Dems to hit on a pithy phrase to brand the GOP’s repeal effort comes after …

Loughner Ex-Girlfriend Says He’s Faking Insanity; Often Ranted About “The Government”

Ashley Figueroa, a former girlfriend of Arizona shooter Jared Lee Loughner, paints a different picture of him than has thus far been presented. Appearing on FOX News, she said he often ranted against “the government” and is likely faking insanity to get a lighter sentence. (h/t Mediaite)

Ashley Figueroa spoke briefly about Loughner’s (Former? Current? Is it even a factor in his crime?) drug use, sharing that he had smoked marijuana and took hallucinogenic mushrooms. She also shared that he had a strained relationship with his parents, who evidently did not want her visiting their home. In fact, she …

Palm Springs Man Arrested For Threatening To Kill Congressman Jim McDermott

Charles Turner Habermann, a 32-year-old man from Palm Springs, is being charged with one count of threatening a federal official because of voicemails he left for Washington Congressman Jim McDermott (pictured).

Federal prosecutors said Habermann left threatening voicemails Dec. 9 at McDermott’s office regarding the then-pending tax cut extension and unemployment benefits bill.

In two voicemails, Habermann identified himself and gave his phone number, then left vulgarity-laced messages about liberal politics and tax cuts.

According to the transcript of one call, Habermann said, “He thinks he can steal money from people and give it away to losers and get away …

News Flash: Business Doesn’t Like Public Health Regulation

by Stuart Shapiro

Last week I posted about Rep. Darrell Issa’s asking business which rules they would rather not operate under.  We now know the response bfrom the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).

In response, the GOP-friendly National Association of Manufacturers has asked him to probe forthcoming regulations aimed at enhancing worker health, improving toxin standards, mitigating climate pollution and preventing another crisis on Wall Street.

Wow, they really didn’t leave much out did they?  Well, they didn’t complain about regulations designed to prevent oil spills.  That’s probably because, as a panel pointed out earlier this week, there really aren’t …

Two Addresses; Two Approaches; Which One Speaks To The Heart Of America?

Much is being written in the blogosphere about the difference between Sarah Palin’s reaction to the Arizona shootings and the approach taken by President Obama.  For Palin, it was an opportunity to define herself as able to handle a personal political crisis, and to display an understanding of nuance and tonality.  The qualities we seek in our leaders, after all, are undefinable. It is not just about promising legislative victories or  thrilling one’s base; it’s not about underscoring and exaggerating fears or justifying one’s status as victim. True leaders aren’t afraid to claim responsibility for their weaknesses, a touch of …

Texas Republican Louie Gohmert Drafting Legislation To Let Guns on House Floor

To Louie Gohmert, the answer to violence is more guns, and allowing members of congress to carry them on the House floor.

“It’d be a good thing for members of Congress who want to carry a weapon in the District,” he said. “I know friends that walk home from the Capitol. There’s no security for us,” he said, adding that the measure would deter people from attacking members. “There is some protection in having protection.”

He said there were times during the health care debate last year that he felt afraid, including when a stranger approached him on the …

Missing The Message

Those who look for any reason to bash President Obama seem to have missed the message of his speech in Tucson.

TPMDC reports:

Some conservatives are upset over t-shirts bearing the logo “Together We Thrive: Tucson & America” that were handed out to attendees at tonight’s memorial service in the McKale Center on the campus of the University Of Arizona here… The University Of Arizona did not immediately respond to requests for more information on the shirts, which are drawing fire in the conservative twitter- and blogosphere tonight.

The shirts, of course, reflect the theme of unity emphasized at …

On Wednesday’s Radio Show…

• Guest host Ellis Henican fills in for Alan.…

Hillary Clinton On Loughner: An Extremist Who Acted On His “Political Views”

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says Jared Lee Loughner is an extremist because it was his political views that drove his actions.

“Based on what I know, this is a criminal defendant who was in some ways motivated by his own political views, who had a particular animus toward the congresswoman,” Clinton said in an interview with CNN. “And I think when you cross the line from expressing opinions that are of conflicting differences in our political environment into taking action that’s violent action, that’s a hallmark of extremism, whether it comes from the right, the left, from Al Qaeda, …

ADL Condemns Sarah Palin For “Blood Libel” Comment

The Anti-Defamation League has condemned Sarah Palin’s use of the term “blood libel” to describe her opponents. Abraham Foxman sent the statement to Greg Sargent:

It is unfortunate that the tragedy in Tucson continues to stimulate a political blame game. Rather than step back and reflect on the lessons to be learned from this tragedy, both parties have reverted to political partisanship and finger-pointing at a time when the American people are looking for leadership, not more vitriol. In response to this tragedy we need to rise above partisanship, incivility, heated rhetoric, and the business-as-usual approaches that are corroding our …