deadbeats
Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. Is Hanging Out at Bars While Under 'Doctor's Care'
John Cook · 10/15/12 09:10AMWhen Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. emerged from last summer's disappearance—he had, his family said, been seeking treatment for bipolar disorder at the Mayo Clinic—his chief of staff told reporters that he was "convalescing with his wife and children at home in Washington." But last week, he was seen convalescing in a D.C. bar with two different women on two consecutive nights.
Do Democrats Have a Plan for the Next Hostage Crisis?
Jim Newell · 08/04/11 02:24PMCongressional Republicans have become quite talented at taking legislative "hostages" at crucial junctures, making extreme demands, unifying behind them, and ultimately rolling Democrats into embracing horrible pieces of legislation. Maybe it's time for Democrats to come up with a plan for this sort of thing. So are they? Sorta.
Gabby Giffords Returns to Washington to Vote for Debt Ceiling Bill
Max Read · 08/01/11 06:09PMRep. Gabrielle Giffords returned to the House of Representatives on Monday, receiving a standing ovation and enthusiastically greeting her colleagues after casting her vote (her first since being shot in January) for the debt ceiling bill, which passed 269-161.
Joe Biden Says Absolutely Correct Thing About House Republicans
Jim Newell · 08/01/11 04:45PMWhat Is This Delightful Sound John Boehner Makes?
Jim Newell · 08/01/11 01:13PMSome TV camera people caught Speaker John Boehner fleeing to his escape elevator in Capitol Hill last night, after everyone finally reached a debt ceiling deal that no one understands but should pass Congress today anyway. Think he wasn't tired? This guy, Boehner, not tired? Get out of here. Just listen to this noise he makes. A pure sigh of relief, or the desperate wail of an aging farter? You decide, America. For now it is merely John Boehner's "sound."
All Hail the 'Sugar-Coated Satan Sandwich' Debt Deal
Jim Newell · 08/01/11 11:13AMHouse Passes Boehner Bill After a Good Hollerin' Match
Jim Newell · 07/29/11 05:43PMThe House has just passed Speaker John Boehner's debt ceiling bill — the third version, of course, after Boehner had to throw in a modest constitutional amendment today to get a few more Tea Party members on board. It doesn't really matter, because the Senate will still instantly kill it, and then... well, something will get through by the Tuesday deadline. Right? Ha ha, probably not.
The Trillion Dollar Coins That Could Save America
Jim Newell · 07/29/11 12:03PMLooking across the vast debt ceiling hellscape today, it appears that Speaker John Boehner will finally, finally get House Republicans to pass his two-tiered debt limit hike by tossing in modest balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution. Let's just say that that doesn't improve the chances of getting out of this pickle with a bipartisan solution, with only four days remaining. What is to be done, instead? Just have Timmy Geithner mint a trillion dollar coin, obviously.
This Is How Republicans Twist Arms Before a Vote
Jim Newell · 07/28/11 04:18PMWhen Rep. John Boehner assumed the speakership, he said he didn't want to be an arm-twister for votes, and that he wanted the people's voice to be heard clearly. A nice sentiment! But now he that needs votes for his debt ceiling plan today, that's all over. How will he screw over dissidents? Let's look at the case of fellow Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan.
It's John Boehner's Big Day
Jim Newell · 07/28/11 11:42AMJohn McCain Mocks the Tea Party, Media Worships Him Again
Jim Newell · 07/27/11 01:25PMCrabby old rust sandwich John McCain took to the Senate floor today to lambast the dead-ender Tea Partiers in his own political party's House wing, who have been meeting Speaker Boehner's final debt ceiling offer with some resistance. What a saint! Let's just forget the last couple of years of McCain, now that he has criticized the extremely criticizable House Republicans.
House Republicans Now Just Watching Ben Affleck Movies
Jim Newell · 07/27/11 11:31AMCounselors at the youth summer camp that we know more commonly as the "House Republican Caucus of the 112th Congress" penciled in time for a movie yesterday! All of the campers were so excited to relax a little bit after pretending to be members of Congress for so long. And better yet, they got to watch an R-rated movie — without their parents' permission! Is that even legal?
Threat of Default Doesn't Scare Constantly Bankrupt Donald Trump
Jim Newell · 07/26/11 03:23PMWhy had no one thought to ask death-soaked bubonic replicant Donald Trump, America's foremost lover of declaring bankruptcy, about the debt ceiling until now? In retrospect, it was irresponsible to form a single opinion about the issue of raising America's borrowing limit before soliciting the advice of this prominent capitalist cartoon character, from television. What is to be done, Mr. Trump?
Everyone in Congress Just Writing Their Own Debt Ceiling Plans
Jim Newell · 07/25/11 11:44AMAre Obama and Boehner Nearing a Debt Deal?
Jim Newell · 07/21/11 03:22PMWord has been trickling in from a variety of sources all day about the basic outline of a deficit-reduction deal that President Obama and Speaker John Boehner are nearing. While both sides are denying it in their preferred arenas — the White House through its spokesperson at a press conference, John Boehner with a telephone call to Rush Limbaugh — it still seems like we've got our hands on the latest trial balloon! Summary: It sucks for Democrats.
Future of Nation Depends on Grover Norquist's Definition of 'Tax Increase'
Jim Newell · 07/21/11 11:19AMGrover Norquist, head of Americans for Tax Reform, is the guy who makes most Republican members of Congress sign a pledge never to raise taxes, making him one of the more powerful people in Washington. But today he's confirmed that there's a loophole in his pledge — one that's potentially worth $4 trillion in new tax revenue! Washington is too weird.
Senate's 'Gang of Six' Reemerges to Solve All of America's Problems
Jim Newell · 07/19/11 01:39PMA couple of months ago, the Senate's bipartisan "Gang of Six" that was formed to broker a passable deficit-reduction deal broke apart, after some members realized that six senators cannot simply craft their own deal in private and expect everyone in Congress to pass it. But as of today, the Gang has reformed, with President Obama's blessing! And they have a plan, which still may or may not pass the House of Representatives.
The Anti-Climactic Debt Ceiling Endgame Is Coming Into Focus
Jim Newell · 07/18/11 11:29AMWhat will be the final budget-cuttin' number Congress agrees on before raising the debt ceiling, assuming they don't go with "the apocalypse option" instead? Two trillion? Four trillion? Nine trillion bajillion dollars? Let's go with "zero trillion but something that lets Republicans pretend to look tough anyway" as the probable end to this farce of a government negotiating process.
Republicans Turn to Incoherent Blog Post for Debt Ceiling Advice
Jim Newell · 07/15/11 02:11PMThe world is tuning in with disbelief at House Republicans, who are still preparing to blow up everyone's precious global economy. House Republicans, meanwhile, are passing around a dumb blog post from RedState's Erick Erickson outlining supposedly good reasons for causing a Depression! Good heavens.