Rant of the Week: Repubs Suddenly Concerned About Fiscal Responsibility

On tax day, thousands of "teabaggers" held rallies all over the country to express faux outrage over President Obama's economic policies. On the capitol steps in Sacramento, a predominately white and Republican crowd chanted, "No More Bail Outs! No More Stimulus! No More Taxes!" On the other side of the country, protesters held signs in Washington, DC that read "Commander in Thief" and "Party like it's 1773."

Grassroots movement it was not. The turnout across the nation was far from expected. Major cities like Chicago and Cincinnati, which were expecting crowds in the hundreds of thousands, only registered four or five thousand people. What's more, NYT columnist Paul Krugman has questioned the validity of this "movement" by revealing that the tea parties have been funded by Republican-led think tanks as FreedomWorks and Americans for Prosperity. No one saw that coming.

Now, I love the First Amendment just as much as the next American but these right-wing rebels did not seem to make any fuss when Bush was spending their hard-earned mulah willy-nilly over the past eight years. During his administration, Bush presided over the largest increase in inflation-adjusted federal spending since Lyndon B. Johnson. Even after excluding defense-related spending, Bush is the biggest-spending president in about 30 years. Within his first term in office, total government spending grew by 33 percent. Ouch.

Despite Republicans' sudden interest in cutting government spending, recent polls suggest that more than half of Americans agree with the way President Barack Obama has handled the economy thus far. In response to the teabaggery, Obama said that he is providing 95% of families with a tax break and that the issue of taxes has been used "to scare people into supporting policies that increased the burden on working people instead of helping them live their dreams."

So why are Republicans pulling the libertarian card out now? The majority of those huffing and puffing will receive some form of a tax break from the federal government. Hmm.. I have a sneaking suspicion that this has very little to do with taxes after all. Then again, coming up with a legitimate dispute has never been the Republicans' cup of tea. Badum tish.

Get Out the Popcorn

Word on the street (aka Huffpost) is that HBO is set to adapt a film on the 2008 election. The film would be based on a book, "Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime," that is to be published early next year.

HBO has hired Charles Leavitt, "Blood Diamond" scribe, to adapt the behind-the-scenes look from the perspective of the candidates and their campaign strategists. Co-Author Mark Halperin will be a consultant for the film and is editor-at-large at Time magazine. Halperin remarked:

Focusing on those characters went to the essence of why this was the campaign of a lifetime, not just for the candidates, but for the country.

Even though I know that this film has a happy ending, the idea of having to relive lipstick on pigs, Cindy McCain's clothing choices, election maps and the Obama-Clinton(s) drama kinda makes me want to burst into tears. Too soon, HBO. Too soon. If they don't cast Tina Fey as Sarah Palin, I'm boycotting. Check out who I would cast in the movie here.

Obama Lifts Restrictions on Cuba

From Huffingtonpost.com:

WASHINGTON — In a measured break with a half-century of U.S. policy toward communist Cuba, the Obama administration lifted restrictions Monday on Cuban-Americans who want to travel and send money to their island homeland.

In a further gesture of openness, U.S. telecommunications firms were freed to seek business there, too. But the broader U.S. trade embargo remained in place.

The White House portrayed its changes, which fulfilled one of President Barack Obama's campaign promises, as a path to promoting personal freedom in one of the few remaining communist nations. They also marked another major step away from the foreign policy priorities of the Bush administration.

But the moves fell far short of the more drastic policy adjustments that some _ including Republican Sen. Richard Lugar _ have argued are required to promote U.S. interests in Latin America and to bring about change in Cuba. For most Americans, Cuba remains the only country in the world their government prohibits them from visiting _ a barrier to potential travelers as well as to the Cuban tourist industry that would like to see them.

Read rest of article here. Ahhhhh. Isn't it refreshing to have a President committed to promoting democracy and human rights in other countries?

Monthly Top Ten: 10 Women Empowerment Songs

So I recently came upon an old cd I made for a girls night in with my chicas a couple of years ago. It’s a great cd for those times you need an empowerment lift to make it through the day.

I added a few songs so check out the vids and download the tunes. It also makes for a great gift for your girlfriends.

10. Natasha Bedingfield, Unwritten: Great song for finding your inner-strength.

9. TLC, No Scrubs: An oldie but a goody. Perfect for cruisin with your gals.

8. Mary J. Blige, No More Drama: Letting go of the drama. Nuff' said.

7. Indie Arie, I’m Not Your Average Girl: Love thyself. Embrace the faults.

6. Carrie Underwood, Before He Cheats: Oh yes. The vent song.

5. Beyonce Knowles, Single Ladies: Wohohoho...

4. Jill Scott, Golden: Puts a smile on your face and a spring in your step.

3. Alicia Keys, A Woman’s Worth: Classic. Used to play this one over n' over.

2. Chaka Kahn, I’m Every Woman: What's women empowerment without some Chaka Kahn.

1. Desiree, Ya Gotta Be Stronger: Keeps you goin as you conquer the world. Woot!


Cross-posted on http://www.toptentopten.com/

Rant of the Week: Television Families Don’t Reflect Modern Day Families

Back in the day, a husband could moderately support his family on a middle-management salary while the wife stayed at home with the children, as seen in the television shows of the 50s and 60s. Today, with wages not having kept pace with increased housing, healthcare, food and tuition costs, this scenario has become more of the exception than the rule. And yet, modern day television sitcoms just don’t seem to get it.

Unless the show is about a working class or minority family, shows like the Simpsons, According to Jim, Til’ Death and Family Guy continue to portray middle-class families that are solely dependent on one income. If the Simpsons were a real-life family today, they would be homeless. They would be on the street. Period. There’s no way that their basic needs would be met on Homer’s job at a power plant. He probably would have been laid off and eventually their house would have been foreclosed upon.

Even before the recession of the last few years, only upper-income families really had the luxury to experience stay-at-home-mom-dom. For the average middle class family, even if the mother wanted to stay at home with the kids, she found herself eventually having to go back to work or work on a part-time basis to supplement the husband’s salary. In 1950 about one in three women participated in the US labor force. By 1998, nearly three of every five women of working age were in the US labor force. A few recent shows, such as Cashmere Mafia and Lipstick Jungle, seem to wrestle with the double-income phenomenon although they appear to present an idealized image of the “woman who can do it all” – be fashionable, gorgeous, a wife, a mother and a successful career woman on the move. Television does not have to completely mirror our world but it would be nice if it were close.

Maybe television shows are trying to hearken back to another time - a simpler time - when families didn’t have to juggle work schedules, the search for affordable and quality child care, exorbitant housing and healthcare costs, tuition bills and the gender roles were clearly defined. Or maybe, like deserving salaries, they’re still stuck in the 1950s.

OMG, the Prez is Like Totally My BFF

The CW has announced the premiere of the new "reality" series Blonde Charity Mafia starring young Washington, D.C. socialites. The show was originally set to appear on the Lifetime network before Project Runway, but that deal fell through.

According to the CW network, it will feature DC's most influential "20-something Alpha Girls" who "run the D.C. social circuit from charity events to society parties."

Hated it. But - alas - like any other faux reality series, I’ll find myself watching it, screaming at the television for the entirety of the show and then making a point to watch it the next week. That’s how I got sucked into The Hills and the Real Housewives of Orange County series - and now watch both shows religiously (Le sigh). What is it about these shows that the more I loathe them, the more I am actually attracted to them? I'm convinced that the reality television phenomenon is simply a social experiment in how to dumb down seemingly intelligent people.

Blonde Charity Mafia will premiere on Tuesday, July 7 at 9pm ET and run through August 4.

NUTZO ALERT: Michelle Bachmann Strikes Again

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, best known for her call for an investigation of Barack Obama and members of Congress perceived anti-American bias during the 2008 elections, has provided us with another little gem of insight.

On a Minnesota radio station this past weekend, Bachmann referred to the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act as an attempt by the administration to promote a “philosophical agenda.” The Act, which was approved by the Senate on March 26, 2009, aims to expand national community service programs in the areas of education, clean energy, health care and veterans. In her comments, she warned that the bill could lead to … wait for it…. “re-education camps for young people.” Check out the comments in full:

I believe that there is a very strong chance that we will see that young people will be put into mandatory service. And the real concerns is that there are provisions for what I would call re-education camps for young people, where young people have to go and get trained in a philosophy that the government puts forward and then they have to go to work in some of these politically-correct forums.

Heaven forbid, young people are taught how to serve their communities! And just to up the nutzo factor – media outlets have revealed that Rep. Bachmann’s 6th district of Minnesota has experienced the most foreclosures of any of Minnesota’s eight congressional districts. Bachmann has consistently voted against foreclosure relief and has not sponsored any legislation to help struggling homeowners facing foreclosure. Clearly, if anyone needs re-education, it’s this woman.

What’s Your First Lady Style?

Because I was once obsessed with Seventeen magazine quizzes during my high school years, I created my own quiz inspired by fab First Lady fashion.

Yes, I know that these quizzes never reveal any earth-shattering revelations or aha-moments about your inner-psyche but let’s face it; they are just plain fun to do. So enjoy!

1. Your favorite shopping store is…
a. Ann Taylor
b. White House Black Market
c. Thrift Store
d. Vera Wang

2. Your old college roommate invites you to her evening wedding. You wear…
a. A silk cream-colored dress with faux wrap
b. An elegant suit
c. A colorful dress paired with a statement necklace or broach
d. A classic warm-colored dress with pearls

3. Your favorite thing to do in your free time is…
a. Spend QT with family and friends
b. Read a book
c. Go to a museum or a play at the local theatre
d. Free time? What’s that?

4. You overslept and need to rush to make it to work. You…
a. Forget about any primping and high-tail it to the nearest starbucks
b. Quickly dab on some lipgloss and keep it moving
c. Take a few minutes to inspect your do and apply on your mascara and foundation
d. Forget about making it on time! The most important part of your day is deciding what color eye shadow goes best with your outfit.

5. Your favorite colors to wear are…
a. Neutrals
b. Bright colors like purple and turquoise
c. Warm colors like red and burnt orange
d. Anything pastel

17-20 Michelle Obama: Fashion Trendsetter. You are a First-Lady of Fashion who loves trying out new colors and accessories with beautiful basics. When you step into a room, people are immediately enamored with your personable smile and flawless fashion sense.


13-16 Jackie Kennedy: Radiantly Retro. You’re an artsy mama who is a 60’s girl at heart. You are living proof that old school poise and glam never dies out!


9-12 Laura Bush: Classic Beauty. You are a simply elegant chica who loves a classically chic style and has a great appreciation for the simple things in life.


5-8 Hillary Clinton: Pretty in a Pantsuit. You’re a low-maintenance Betty who always looks well put together. You’re admired for your commitment to accomplish your goals and get the job done!


Add it up!: 1) a-1, b-4, c-3, d-2; 2) a-3, b-1, c-4, d-2; 3) a-4, b-2, c-3, d-1; 4) a-1, b-2, c-4, d-3; 5) a-1, b-4, c-2, d-3

The Sunday Funnies

HOT or NOT: The Week-In-Review

HOT: Al Franken's Senate seat race finally reaches the finish line because he's good enough, smart enough, and gosh darn it people love him. After months of legal battles, the state Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday with Franken and rejected Coleman's call to count up to 1,400 absentee ballots that he claimed had been incorrectly rejected. Not lookin good, Coley.

NOT: Michelle Touches Queen Frenzy. The British press could barely keep it together on Thursday after it was revealed that First Lady Michelle Obama had the audacity to give Queen Elizabeth a side hug. Gasp! But, according to Buckingham Palace staff, the Queen was digging the unthinkable gesture and they denied there are rules about touching the Queen.

HOT: Colin Powell on GOP. In yet another sign that Colin Powell is a rational thinker, Powell recently shared that he thinks the Republican counterbudget is just not practical. Powell noted that the Republican provisions to freeze government have "gone too far."

NOT: Al Sharpton didn’t pay taxes 2002-07. Seriously, does no one pay taxes anymore? According to the NYP, Reverend Al Sharpton owed at least $1.8 million in back taxes and penalities. Last summer, he was able to cut a deal with federal prosecutors in Brooklyn to end criminal probe of his finances.

HOT: Mexico Drug War Death Toll Declines. On Thursday, Attorney General Eduardo Medina Mora stated that the death toll connected to Mexico's drug war has dropped by about 25 percent in the first three months of this year from the last quarter of 2008. College spring breakers everywhere are shouting with joy.

And here's Our Fabulous Political Video of the Week:

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