News

Help for Haiti – President Barack Obama asks for others to give

This email was sent out on behalf of President Obama to his campaign supporters:

On Tuesday, a catastrophic earthquake struck near Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but the death toll — already in the thousands — is climbing fast.

This is the worst earthquake to hit the area in more than 200 years. Entire communities have been ripped apart and as many as 3 million people have been directly affected, including tens of thousands of American citizens who are in Haiti.

Our neighbors in Haiti are racing to confront the enormous devastation — and the OFA community can help.

Click here for more information about essential relief efforts and ways you can help today.

Footage is pouring in of homes collapsing, Haitians carrying injured family members, and hospitals being overrun in what was already the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.

I have directed my administration to respond with a swift, coordinated, and aggressive effort to save lives. Personnel from the United States and our partners in the international community are on the ground in damaged areas right now, working side by side with the Haitian people. They’re providing much-needed food, water, and sanitation supplies, saving lives and helping local communities start to rebuild.

Despite the fact that we are experiencing tough times here at home, I encourage those who can to reach out and help. It’s in times like these that we must show the kind of compassion and humanity that has defined the best of our national character for generations.

Click here to find out what you can do:

http://my.barackobama.com/Haiti

As this story continues to unfold, I hope you will continue to keep the people of Haiti in your thoughts and prayers, as well as the many Haitian-Americans who have done so much to enrich our country and who are worried about friends and loved ones in this time of need.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

Further Reading: Politico – President Obama: Haiti efforts a top priority

• Bookmark :
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Stumbleupon
• Redit it

Republicans unite behind Democrats after Haiti earthquake…just kidding they say Satan did it and Obama responded too fast

A massive earthquake hits one of the America’s poorest countries and it’s still politics as usual over here in the states.

From Media Matters – Politicizing Haitian Tragedy

Robertson, host of the Christian Broadcasting Networks’ The 700 Club, claimed that Haiti “swore a pact to the devil” to get “free from the French” and “ever since they have been cursed.” Meanwhile, Limbaugh used his nationally-syndicated radio show to make a number of questionable comments about the tragedy, claiming that Obama would use the Haiti crisis to boost his credibility with the “light-skinned and dark-skinned black community in this country.” Both Limbaugh and the Fox Nation noted that Obama discussed the earthquake sooner than the attempted Christmas bombing, with Limbaugh asking, “Did he apologize for America?”

NPR has the video and transcript of Pat Robertson’s comments:

PAT ROBERTSON: And, you know, Kristi, something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it. They were under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon III and whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, “We will serve you if you will get us free from the French.” True story. And so, the devil said, “OK, it’s a deal.”
And they kicked the French out. You know, the Haitians revolted and got themselves free. But ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after the other. Desperately poor. That island of Hispaniola is one island. It’s cut down the middle. On the one side is Haiti; on the other side is the Dominican Republic. Dominican Republic is prosperous, healthy, full of resorts, et cetera. Haiti is in desperate poverty. Same island. They need to have and we need to pray for them a great turning to God. And out of this tragedy, I’m optimistic something good may come. But right now, we’re helping the suffering people, and the suffering is unimaginable.
KRISTI WATTS (co-host): Absolutely, Pat.

• Bookmark :
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Stumbleupon
• Redit it

Meghan Moo Moo McCain says eat more chicken, go easy on Michael Steele

In between takes from filming her latest Chick-fil-A commercial, Meghan McCain penned a piece on RNC Chairman Michael Steele’s recent spat amongst conservatives.

The RNC chairman is indecisive and at times immature, but there is plenty to respect, including his call yesterday for Harry Reid to step down.

Steele’s had his role for only one year, and, like the rest of the party, is still adjusting and struggling to find his identity.

So he gets a year to ease himself in while Barack Obama got what? A day? Two days? Also I’d love to hear her opinion on how Steele’s ‘injun’ comment is any different from Harry Reid’s ‘negro’ comment. The thing is, there is no difference. They were both comments of poor taste and dated disrespectful nomenclature.

Give Michael Steele More Time by Meghan McCain

Disclaimer: For the record, we here at Self Deprecate.com love healthy women.

• Bookmark :
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Stumbleupon
• Redit it

Chris Mathews breaks GOP strategist’s mental teleprompter by asking for one good thing from GOP in 20 years

Say what you want about the guy but Chris Mathews is the fucking man. I love watching him do what he does. This reminds me of the time he allowed Radio Host Kevin James to dig himself into a hilarious talking point hole.

This time he throws that ‘gotcha journalism’, as the right calls it, at Republican strategist Todd Harris by asking the tough question: Name one thing the Republican party has done for this country in the last 20 years?

Transcription as provided by Crooks & Liars:

MATTHEWS: I just wanted to get the Republican bragging points straight here. So the Republican Party has kept us safe, except for 9/11. Is that the argument? No, really, because you had the worst attack on the American homeland in history, but you`re bragging about your ability to defend the country because you say — you defended America, except for 9/11. That`s your defense, right?

HARRIS: Look, Chris…

MATTHEWS: That`s the bragging point of the Republican Party for the last — I asked you to name one thing they`ve done for this country in 15 to 20 years. I`ll keep going back further. And you`re having a hard time giving me an answer. What has the Republican Party…

HARRIS: No, no. I`m…

MATTHEWS: … done for the country?

HARRIS: I`m not…

MATTHEWS: I`m just — it`s a good question.

HARRIS: Chris, I`m not having…

MCMAHON: Squandered the surplus.

HARRIS: … a hard time giving you an answer.

MCMAHON: Don`t forget, squandered the surplus.

HARRIS: When I decide to write a book about the history of the last 20 years of the Republican Party, I`ll be happy to talk to you about that.

MATTHEWS: No, just give me one…

HARRIS: My job is to win elections — my job is to…

MATTHEWS: Just give me one.

HARRIS: … win elections in 2010.

MATTHEWS: OK.

HARRIS: And I`m going to keep my eye on the ball.

MCMAHON: He doesn`t have one. He doesn`t have one!

MATTHEWS: Steve McMahon — Steve McMahon, YouTube is watching. You`re the Republican consultant, one of the best in the country. Tell me what the Republican Party has done for this country in the last 10 to 20 years? Thank you, Steve McMahon.

(LAUGHTER)

MATTHEWS: Thank you, Todd Harris. You got plenty of time, `64 — we`ll have you back with the answer.

• Bookmark :
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Stumbleupon
• Redit it

Picture of Teaparty.org founder surfaces of when he was removed from protest for ‘N’ word on sign

This photo was taken in Feb ‘09 of tea party organizer Dale Robertson with a sign reading: “Congress = Slaveowner, Taxpayer = Niggar.”

It was at a Houston, Texas Tea Party rally. He was asked to leave the protest that day but after going home to beat his wife he vowed to continue his agenda. This photo has surfaced recently since Mr. Robertson’s Teaparty.org was a sponsor for “Liberty Concerts” or some white trash shit like that.

Link: The Washington Independent – ‘N-Word’ Sign Dogs Would-Be Tea Party Leader

• Bookmark :
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Stumbleupon
• Redit it

Rush Limbaugh’s heart 3 sizes too small but otherwise ok according to doctors

Might want to gather the kids and family in the room as I'm sure this has weighed heavy on their minds the past couple of days:  Conservative radio personality Rush Limbaugh's reported hospital visit has ended with doctors finding 'nothing wrong' his his heart.   Lucky for the GOP, their fearless leader will live another day to spread FUD across the airwaves to listeners ages 65 and up.

CNN – Tests find 'nothing wrong' with Limbaugh's heart

Tests that were performed on Rush Limbaugh after he was admitted to a Hawaii hospital for chest pains "found absolutely nothing wrong," the conservative talk show host said Friday.

"It was a blessing," Limbaugh, 58, said at the Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu, where he was admitted Wednesday.

Doctors gave Limbaugh a coronary angiogram Thursday that revealed no evidence of arterial or coronary disease, he said.

• Bookmark :
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Stumbleupon
• Redit it

Cheney, in a bid to remain relevant, criticizes White House response to recent terrorist attempt

File this one under “No Shit”. Like flies to honey, in the past week we’ve seen more and more GOP current and former lawmakers speak out against Barack Obama and the White House for not signaling Batman sooner to save us from Yemen evil.

Not to be left out former Vice President Dick Cheney fired up AOL and sent this piece into Politico: Dick Cheney: Barack Obama ‘trying to pretend’ - ‘Trying2Pretend’ would make a great name for a pop song.

In response Maddow jerked Dick by the neck on the issue in this MSNBC clip:

Yes, remember how no terrorist attacks happened when Bush and Cheney were in office? Remember when the nation inherited 9/11 from that incompetent Democratic administration that was in place in September in 2001 — in the Bush administration’s own minds?

…

We’re supposed to take national security advice from you guys? Really?

• Bookmark :
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Stumbleupon
• Redit it

Rove and wife attend family values conference – just kidding, he’s divorcing the bitch

GOP strategery-extraordinaire Karl Rove is so disgusted by Washington DC’s gay marriage approval he is divorcing his wife in protest. Now this is a guy dedicated to his base and his doctrine. Either that or a fucking hypocrite but I just copy/paste bullshit and call it a political humor site so what the hell do I know.

CNN – Karl Rove, wife Darby divorce

• Bookmark :
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Stumbleupon
• Redit it