In case you missed it...

Here is Paul Krugman confronting Roger Ailes on ABC"s"This Week" about the misinformation that is constantly disseminated by Fox News.



I hate it when these jerks on Fox News pretend to defend the intelligence of the American people, when in fact they are using it as a smokescreen to hide the fact that they are actively trying to dumb down their audience.

In this clip from the same show Ailes defends Glenn Beck's crazy talk and avoids answering whether or not newest Fox news contributor Sarah Palin's is qualified to be president. (Here is a hint, she is NOT.)



God that guy is a pompous ass.

Well I think he rolled the dice one time too many when he hired Sarah Palin. She is the Typhoid Mary of politics, and she will surely infect Fox News as well.

Behold the new Republican party! Just like the old party only now with 80% more teabagging!

At least half a dozen leaders of the Republican Party have joined forces to create a new political group with the goal of organizing grass-roots support and raising funds ahead of the 2010 midterm elections, according to people familiar with the effort.

The organizational details of the group, expected to be called the American Action Network, are still being worked out, but it is expected to contain both a 501(c)3 and a 501(c)4 component. In simpler terms, a 501(c)3 can advocate on policy matters while a 501(c)4 is an election arm.

Republican leaders expected to be affiliated with the group include former Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, former Bush adviser Karl Rove, Republican strategist Ed Gillespie, and Republican donor Fred Malek.

A House leadership aide told Washington Wire today that Rob Collins, a political operative and senior aide to House Minority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia, is leaving Capitol Hill to be the executive director of the 501(c)4. (Read more of this article from the Wall Street Journal by clicking the title of this post.)

Did you see the rogue's gallery of GOP operatives who are going to be involved in this "new" political group?

Karl Rove? Jeb Bush? Fred Malek? Are these guys serious? Do they really think they can attract the "we hate government" crowd with this gang of Washington insiders?

I mean the teabaggers don't even trust EACH OTHER enough to get organized, there is NO way they are going to throw their lot in with these idiots. Not even if they manage to corral the support of the teabagging queen herself, Sarah Palin.

What do you think?

As the rats continue to flee the sinking ship that is the Tea Party Convention the organizers issue a long defensive e-mail.

Tea Party Nation organizers today issued a long defense of their unraveling convention, lambasting former members they say are trying to harm the movement and outlining for the first time in great detail their event's sponsorships and problems. (You can read the rest of TPM's article by clicking the title.)

Below is the e-mail sent out to the supporters of Tea Party nation.

A message to all members of Tea Party Nation Setting The Record Straight by Sherry Phillips

Judson and I have stayed silent in the face of intense media scrutiny and attacks by former members. As a wife and a mother, I have stood by my husband and family and stayed strong in the face of many baseless accusations and criticism. We have refrained from responding to many of the attacks that have been thrown at us from other "Tea Party" groups, in the belief we did not want to spread the divisions that are already hurting this movement even though that does not seem to be the consideration of some others involved in this movement.

Because of the many TPN members' requests and encouragement, I have decided to provide comment about Tea Party Nation and the National Tea Party Convention. We will stay silent no longer. I hope my comments and the issues I deal with in this note will provide some clarity.

American Liberty Alliance - Eric Odom's American Liberty Alliance is a for profit company that takes donations. We agreed to a sponsorship exchange where ALA would be a gold sponsor of the convention and we would be a gold sponsor of the Tax Day Tea Party. Shortly after agreeing to this exchange, Eric emailed Judson and me privately saying he was supportive of us and this convention and did not want to pull out, because he thinks this convention is going to be a huge success; however, some his "influential supporters" were not happy about ALA's participation in the convention and asked Eric to withdraw.

American Majority - After stating in the beginning they wanted to co-sponsor the convention, they never answered repeated emails sent asking them for confirmation of their attendance. They did not promote the convention and did not put the convention on their calendar. In fact Ned Ryun spent 5 minutes in an interview on Fox News talking about the Tea Party movement and did not mention the convention at all. Meanwhile, another training organization contacted us asking if they could become a sponsor and if they could do a breakout session. We gladly accepted and gave them American Majority's spots. On January 6, Ned's assistant sent an email stating she was making travel arrangements for them to come and participate in the convention and asked when did we have their breakouts scheduled. I told her because of their non-response, we gave American Majority's slots to this other organization. They then requested that their logo be removed from the Convention website. We complied with their request.

Tea Party Express - This group has been very supportive of us. They intended to do a small tour, culminating in an event Saturday afternoon prior to the banquet. Because of their efforts in the Scott Brown race and their intent to go after Harry Reid in Nevada, they simply cannot make the trip. We received a very nice email from them explaining their actions and restating their invitation to join them when they kick off their next tour in March. We will be there. We fully support their endeavors as they open their next tour in Nevada this spring.

Campaign for Liberty - We actively sought out Campaign for Liberty as a sponsor of this convention. We were contacted several weeks ago by the TN Director for CFL who wanted to co-sponsor the convention and I put him in touch with our Sponsorship Chair. We have not heard anything from them since.

Former Tea Party Nation Members - Several former members were unanimously banned from our site for reasons running the gamut from antagonism to passing on confidential information. These members have been blogging, as well as discussing their association with liberal media outlets and conspiring with each other to, "Take TPN and this convention down". In one of their more egregious statements a former member wrote that Judson stated, "I want to make a million dollars from this movement." Judson has never made this statement. He has stated on numerous occasions that he would like TPN to have a million members all fighting for the cause of conservatism!

Bill Hemrick - Mr. Hemrick made a business loan to Tea Party Nation at a commercial interest rate. This loan has been paid back in full. That is the full extent of any relationship we have had with Mr. Hemrick.

Congressmen Bachmann and Blackburn - Both Congresswomen have large targets on their backs and are rightfully concerned about backlash they will receive from the left-leaning Democrat controlled House Ethics Committee. Because of the complexity of the Ethics Code regarding House Representatives, we have no doubt the Democrats would have found something in that code to cause them problems once the convention was over. We were also informed by Rep. Bachmann that both were being told two different things by the House Ethics Committee in regard to their participation. This of course sent up red flags to everyone involved. We do not blame either Congressman for their decision to withdraw from the convention and maintain a strong relationship with them both.

Tea Party Nation - Last February after Judson held one of the first tea parties in the country in downtown Nashville, he came up with the idea for a social networking site for conservatives. Judson and I created Tea Party Nation. We formed the corporation. We financed the corporation. We bought the domain name teapartynation.com, we purchased the servers and we pay for the monthly expenses. We are a C-Corp and do not accept donations. Tea Party Nation charges nothing to be a member and is run entirely by volunteers. Recently, we have been able to start charging for advertising on the site to help defray the costs of running the site. As TPN has stated since its formation, we are not a non-profit. We prefer to offer free membership to conservative patriots so they may participate in the political process of restoring this nation to its founding principles without financial burdens, hardships or roadblocks to prevent their participation. Members are then able to choose their own way to spend their money without any involvement from TPN. PayPal Account - We are using a business PayPal account for the convention. An email address is required to notify a contact when payment is received and we are using my TPN email account at sherry@teapartynation.com as that notification email address. All money in that account is transferred directly into the TPN business bank account. We fully expect to break even during this event. We may even make a few thousand dollars to cover local operating costs of TPN. We have made the best of a tight budget and scaled back the price of attending this convention as much as we could without putting TPN into bankruptcy. The convention is sold out and we have a waiting list of over five hundred people. We never did this to make us rich or famous. Quite the contrary, we are patriots who love our country, our members and the people who are coming to Nashville to attend this great event.

For all of you who will be attending, we look forward to meeting you this upcoming week and we thank everyone for the support and patriotism in this fight against liberalism. God bless you all and I thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement.

Methinks thou dost protest too much.

I guess this e-mail was supposed to"clear up" or "explain" how the things that went wrong were not the fault of Tea Party Nation. However after reading through this e-mail it is pretty clear that the plans for this convention were poorly handled by almost EVERYBODY involved. And certainly Judson and Sherry Phillips must shoulder the lion's share of the blame.

And sending out a defensive e-mail, essentially throwing everybody who criticized them under the bus, is certainly not going to put the minds of those who already purchased tickets at ease.

No wonder Michele Bachman and Marsha Blackburn ran for the exit door. Only a crazy person would continue to associate with this rapidly deteriorating convention.

Thank God they still have one, and it looks like she is stuck.

Personally I cannot think of a more deserving person to serve as the anchor for this sinking ship.

Bon Voyage, Sarah.

Moore Up North for January 30, 2010.

In the first segment we have Anchorage Assemblyman, Mike Gutierrez, who discusses fellow assemblyman, and Mayor Sullivan's lap dog, Bill Starr's incredibly partisan attacks on Senator Mark Begich.

Part One



In this next segment Shannyn welcomes Tom Brennan, author / columnist at the Anchorage Daily Planet, Bob Poe, a candidate for Governor of Alaska, and Steve Heimel, veteran Alaskan broadcaster.

Part Two



Part Three



Part Four



Part Five



I am becoming more and more (or is that Moore and Moore) impressed with this show each week.

We have NOTHING else like this in Alaska, and it clearly fills a need. Shannyn is becoming ever more comfortable in her role as the "hostess with the mostess", and the panel she picks are always very well informed and interesting.

My only bitch with the show is the production value, but everybody knows that it is not the best and they are hoping to improve it.

SarahPAC raises 2 million dollars in 2009 because the world is full of stupid people.

I am sorry was that headline too harsh?

How in the world can a woman who cannot find her ass with both hands and a glow in the dark compass and who lies every single time she opens her crooked, overly botoxed mouth, convince people to give her TWO MILLION dollars of their hard earned cash?

She makes multiple millions of dollars selling that crappy book, has a contract to spout stale talking points on Fox News, and gets paid over a hundred thousand dollars to stand in front of a crowd of people to demonstrate why cousins should never marry, and still the low hanging fruit believes she needs their money! Are these people even allowed to walk around without competent adult supervision?

And get this quote from Meg Stapletongue:

"We are thrilled,” said Meg Stapleton, a senior advisor and spokeswoman for Palin. “Common sense Americans know the direction we need to take this country and that Sarah Palin will be instrumental in taking us there this year. We look forward to the journey ahead!”

Okay I have decided that the term "common sense Americans" is really code for "severely brain damaged, barely ambulatory Americans". These "common sense Americans" can easily be identified by the fact they have to wear motorcycle helmets indoors and bought "Going Rogue" just for the pretty pictures.

At least when you send your money to a televangelist he promises to cure your goiter. What does giving your money to Sarah Palin get you? Less self esteem?

Here is the link to their 2009 disbursements.

Valley justice and Diana Palin.

From the back Diana Palin looked, well groomed and professional. Nothing like her appearance back in April of last year when she had first been arrested and charged with felony burglary, along with misdemeanor theft and criminal trespass.

She sat quietly beside her attorney, all alone with no family present to support her, as her drug addiction and criminal past were read allowed to the court room.

Diana Palin

And quiet she remained as the Acting Program Director from Akeela House, Dorothy (I kid you not) Pickles, described the emotionally distant woman with a sense of entitlement who had first come to their facility, and the impressive progress she had made during her treatment. Ms. Pickles made the observation that Diana Palin "has found herself" during her treatment, and had every confidence that, if given the chance, she would do well with her battle against drug addiction.

She again sat quietly, almost mouse like this time, as the prosecutor reminded the judge of the severity of Ms. Palin's crimes. He reminded the judge that she had burglarized several homes and, several times had even brought her daughter along. That her drug addiction was "not an excuse, but a condition". He felt that she should serve three years for the one burglary charge remaining and the maximum for the reckless endangerment of her four year old daughter.

I happened to be sitting next to Ted Turcott the man who had walked in on Diana Palin robbing his house, and he shook his head at that pronouncement and mumbled "That's not fair". When I asked him what his feelings were he said that the really felt for Ms. Palin, was most worried about her children, and wanted her to be back with them. (Right before the case began Ms. Palin's attorney handed Mr. Turcott a check for $2,600.00 in restitution for what Diana Palin had stolen from him. At first it was mentioned that this came from Diana's "family", but later that was corrected on the court record as coming from Diana herself. I don't know how she was able to scrape that much money together to pay her fee, but officially it was SHE who paid it. Since I WAS siting right there I did ask Mr. Turcott if I could see WHOSE name was on the check, but he just smiled and shook his head no. Hey, it was worth a shot!)

After Palin's attorney, Mr. Fannon, had argued his case and recommended a much lighter sentence than the one the prosecutor had asked for, including time already served, it was time for Diana Palin to face the man whose house she had broken into and provide her allocution.

Diana stood and nervously faced Mr. Turcott and with great emotion apologized for what she had done. She then went on to thank him for how kindly he had treated her daughter, who was with her that day. She thanked him again, and then, wiping away a tear, turned and sat back down. I watched her shoulders tremble as she fought to compose herself.

Like I said I was sitting right next to Mr. Turcott, and I could see him wiping away his tears, and clenching and unclenching his jaw in an attempt to hold back his emotions.

Ted Turcott right after Palin's allocution

Then the judge read the sentence.

Judge Vanessa White

She made a point of saying that Diana Palin's name had NOTHING to do with her decision on the kind of sentence to hand down. She then went on to say that Palin had a good family to support her (None that I noticed in the courtroom that day, by the way) and had a very good chance of rehabilitation. She mentioned how important it was that Diana Palin be able to work on her rehabilitation with the support of her family, and that part of that rehabilitation included getting a job, which she could not do while incarcerated. She also pointed out the seriousness of the crime, especially the fact that she had brought her four year old daughter along, and that her daughter had not only witnessed her committing a crime, but then had been forced to watch as her mother was placed under arrest.

Still the judge determined that Diana Palin be placed on SIS (Suspended Imposition of Sentence) for the remainder of her sentence. And that she continue to receive outpatient services at Akeela House as a condition of her parole as well.

As she was getting ready to leave the court room Mr. Turcott, who had regained control of his emotions, walked up to Diana Palin and shook her hand, before wishing her well. Ms. Palin appeared very moved by the gesture and whispered "thank you". Then Mr. Turcott quickly made his exit.

Dennis and I looked around, and made note that WE were the only media present. We both thought that at least the ADN or Valley paper would show, but if they did they must have been hidden from view.

I know that there is an urge to compare this sentence with the OTHER famous sentence that was just handed down in a Palmer court room. However, as much fun as that might be to do, it is not fair.

Diana Palin is a woman with a troubled past. I looked up her records and she has been in court twice as the victim of domestic abuse, once in 1999 and again in 2001. She has suffered for at least the last three years, because she sought treatment in 2007, with an addiction to Methamphetamine. In short she is a mess. And just the other day her husband filed for divorce, which included a protective order under the heading domestic abuse with children, which may or may not have to do with including her daughter on her crime spree.

After sitting in that courtroom I feel much the same compassion for Diana Palin that I felt for Sherry Johnston. However...

The difference of course is that Diana Palin is a REAL junkie, and Sherry is not. Diana Palin made the choices on her own without the help of a police informant setting her up, Sherry had such help. (By the way, for those who remember this post from back in June, I should let you know that I have done another interview with a different inside source and had every word confirmed, and have learned even MORE detail. And THIS source is even closer than my last source.) And Diana Palin was allowed to suffer the embarrassment of this sentencing with minimal media coverage, and once again, Sherry was not.

However having said that, I am going to close out this post by saying that I believe that Diana Plain has suffered sufficiently for her crimes. Unlike her prosecutor, I think her drug addiction had everything to do with the fact she placed her child in danger, and I have to wonder where this supportive family the judge spoke of was when she so desperately needed them. And I also hope that she does NOT get her children taken away, because I really believe that children need their mother, and I also believe that the hope of having them back in her life might be exactly the kind of motivation that Diana Palin needs to stay off of drugs.

P.S. somebody asked in the comment section on the other thread if Diana Palin knew Mr. Trucott. I DID ask him that question and he said no. However she had been inside of his house before, because she had robbed him before.

P.P.S. I might be able to provide some video of Diana's allocution sometime next week. It depends on whether or not any other news outlet wants to buy it or not. If they do, I will link to their site.

Greta has the Sarah-Furby on to discuss the President's speech, the controversial Superbowl ad, and the Teabaggers convention.

Part One

How in the world does Greta ask the quitter what she would do in Obama's place without rolling her eyes or banging her head on the desk?

Doesn't she already know that Palin is going to spout the same barely understood talking points that she ALWAYS uses! I mean doesn't Greta watch her own damn show?

I think that Greta got a little fed up toward the end and tried to actually get Palin to give a substantive answer. I wonder how much longer it will be before she is on O'Reilly's show complaining about how dumb Sarah is like Beck did?

Now in Part Two Palin addresses the Focus on the family Super bowl ad. Oh this ought to be good.

Did this nasty woman just call Planned Parenthood a "pro-abortion" group? This is the group that tries desperately to educate young men and woman on how to practice safe sex to avoid unwanted pregnancies and the risk of contracting an STD. It sure as hell beats the Palin method of faking a pregnancy to cover for your daughter, than outing that same daughter to cover for your lie, and then convincing her to tell the world she has been "re-virginized".

Somehow just putting on a condom seems far less complicated and somewhat more cost effective, don'tcha think?

I am still confused at how Pam Tebow giving birth to Tim, "made the world a better place". I mean it is JUST football, right?

So according to Sarah herself she IS going to speak at the Teabagger convention in Nashville, "you betcha"! And by the way this "cause" she is donating her speakers fee to? Who else believes it will go right to Bristol's LLC?

I am still completely distracted by Palin's mouth. It looks like she is trying to make it appear natural but when she really gets into her argument she loses control of it ans it starts to skew sideways. Very difficult to concentrate on her words with that going on.

Of course, then again, maybe that is a good thing.

Is the Tim Tebow Superbowl abortion ad based on a lie? Well Sarah Palin endorsed it, so what do you think?

This from the Huffington Post.

The ad, which is expected to promote an anti-choice message, will be based on the theme "Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life." The Christian conservative group Focus on the Family has paid for the spot. James Dobson, the group's founder, has a history of inflammatory statements and once said that gay marriage will "destroy the earth."

Despite resistance from women's groups, the ad is expected to air during the Super Bowl. It is believed that the commercial will focus on Pam Tebow's 1987 pregnancy, during which time she fell ill in the Philippines. According to reports, doctors recommended that she abort the pregnancy, but she chose to go through with the birth of her son Tim.

Tebow grew up to be one of the most accomplished and celebrated stars in college football history, capturing two national championships and becoming the first sophomore to win the Heisman trophy.

Because abortion under any circumstance has been illegal in the Philippines since 1930 and is punishable by a six-year prison term, Allred says she finds it hard to believe that doctors would have recommended the procedure.

This not like a car company claiming that their car gets the best gas mileage without the facts to back it up, this is a very aggressive religious message aimed at young women that might be based on a total fabrication.

I believe that the people in charge of Superbowl advertising have a responsibility to make sure they are not presenting a potentially upsetting advertisement that is based on a complete lie. Even without the lie this is an insulting commercial, but with the possibility of the lie it is completely inappropriate.

Just yesterday NOW called Sarah Palin out on her disingenuous Facebook endorsement of this ad. In her ghostwritten post Palin essentially claimed that the women's groups were being hypocritical. This did not sit well with the National Organization for Women and NOW President Terry O’Neill had this to say about it.

“The goal of the Focus on the Family ad is not to empower women. It's to create a climate in which Roe v. Wade can be overturned,” O’Neill said. “There are always going to be women who need abortions. In this country, one in three women will have an abortion.”

“Focus on the Family has cynically set it up so they can say anyone who disagrees with airing this ad is disrespecting one woman and her choice. NOW respects every woman's right to plan her own family and insists our laws do the same,” said O’Neill.

Ms. O'Neill does an excellent job of pointing out the REAL hyocrisy at work here, and now with the added information that Pam Tebow may have made her story up, I think that the direction that CBS must take is clear.

Originally I was all for Focus on the Family wasting their 3 million dollars on this ineffectual advertisement, but now I think that CBS really needs to stand up and protect their brand against being associated with this religious fairy tale.

And if CBS is jsut looking to drum up some interest through controversy, then isn't this gay dating site ad a much better choice?

According to Bill O'Reilly's OWN poll 94% of Americans gave President Obama an "A" for his first year in office.

Go ahead Billo, let's see you spin THIS one!

For those who have not seen it here is your President literally in a den of wolves taking questions from Republicans.

Just watch how Obama handles this group.

He is standing before the politicians who have done nothing but insult him, lie about his policies, and absolutely refuse to help him to pass the legislation that Americans elected him to pass. And yet he remains calm, cool, and still seems to respect their point of view.

I have to say, if this had been me, my speech would have been one long stream of expletives, possibly followed by a fistfight. The Republicans have done NOTHING but attempt to sabotage this administration, and the fact that our President can stand before them and treat them like they are in fact adults is a testament to his patience and character.

He is a far better man than I.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Update: I was listening to this again, and I think the MOST important observation that Obama makes is around the 37:44 mark. Even if you don't have time to listen to the whole thing, listen to THAT portion. Obama says somethng very intelligent, very revelatory, and something that news programs should broadcast far and wide.

Diana Palin's sentencing.

For those who are interested, yes I went to Diana Palin's (Todd's sister) sentencing this morning in Palmer.

It was a pretty interesting court session and I will have much more detail later.

I can say that Palin received SIS (Suspended Imposition of Sentence) and therefore will serve no more jail time.

She WILL continue her substance abuse treatment at Akeela House, where she will receive services on an outpatient basis.

There was also a very emotional exchange between Palin and Ted Turcott, the guy who walked in on her robbing his house.

I will have photographs (and hopefully) video in my follow up post. As well as some things I learned from Mr. Turcott, who I sat next to during the sentencing.

(For those of you who may not be familiar with this case you can read about it here.)

It looks like Palin may be the last Teabagging speaker still standing.

As we've reported at TPMmuckraker, the tea party movement has been increasingly divided. Much of the friction has been over the national tea party convention to be held in Nashville. Critics say the convention, with its expensive tickets and for-profit organizer, doesn't jive with true tea party values. Yesterday, we reported that Reps. Michele Bachmann and Martha Blackburn have dropped out.

Palin, whose speaking fees are rumored to be around $100,000, told Van Susteren she is still on for the convention. "You betcha," she said.

On the divisiveness, she continued, "We need to ignore that and we need to forge ahead with a cohesive message. It's a common sense message. It, again, is, Government, limit yourself so that the private sector, our families, free individuals can grow and thrive and prosper and enjoy America's freedom!" (You can read TPM's entire article by clicking the title)

Okay so now we have Palin ON CAMERA promising to attend this rally in Nashville next week.

So what does she do? Does she stick to her guns and give a speech in front of an empty stadium? Or does she suddenly decide that she has a scheduling conflict/plastic surgery emergency/cold sore and cancel?

Well all I know is if she DOES show up it will be a lot more fun for us. There is no doubt there will be some interesting gaffes and strange occurrences at this convention.

Personally, I can hardly wait!

Dr. Tiller's killer convicted of 1st degree murder.

Scott Roeder has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Dr. George Tiller.

The jury deliberated for less than 40 minutes before reaching the verdict.

In addition, Roeder was found guilty of two counts of aggravated assault for pointing a gun at two men who tried to chase him down out in front of Reformation Lutheran Church after he shot and killed Tiller.

Sentencing has been set for March 9th, 2010 at 8:45 a.m.

This was a cold blooded murder, and despite your religious or ethical beliefs it was indefensible.

Today justice was done. I hope that Dr. Tiller's family will take some solace from this.

This should surprise no one. White Supremacists and Militia groups looking to recruit Teabaggers.

Tea parties are proving very attractive to both white supremacists and the militia movement. At 11:15 on Friday, in an online Patriot Caucus discussion forum, David E. Parsons wrote a post called "Militia Training Videos," with links to videos by Mark Koernke, a leading figure in the American militia movement, and his followers.

Militants such as Koernke have referred to their cause as the Patriot Movement for years. Meanwhile, multiple tea party groups are springing up which refer to themselves as "militias." Eric Odom, executive director of American Liberty Alliance, created the Patriot Caucus website on which the militia recruitment post was made. He has yet to respond to a January 22 email informing him of the post. At time of publication, the post was still up.

Even as the teabaggers themselves attempt to argue against being labeled racists and lunatics, groups like Council of Conservative Citizens and Stormfront have found kindred spirits within their ranks.

The White Supremacist connection to the tea parties seems to be growing stronger.

“What I’m fighting for primarily at this point is the survival of the white race,” says Ready, who announced he was a member of the National Alliance after Obama won the election, according to the video. Ready also says he supports what he calls a “racial holy war.”

The National Alliance recently organized an anti-immigration protest in Phoenix, where chants of “No niggers! No Jews! The Mexicans must go too!” were yelled for a few minutes before protest leaders decided to go with “USA! USA!” instead. Ready was a keynote speaker at the event.

On top of white supremacy ties to anti-immigration activists, there are also connections to some conservative Tea Party groups.

“For years the anti-immigration movement was the vehicle of choice for white nationalists looking for an impact on public policy,” says the unknown narrator in the 22-minute newscast. But Tea Party rallies are what “White Nationalists see as their best chance in decades to cross over into mainstream American politics.”

The Council of Conservative Citizens, which has organized Tea Party protests according to the news report, is an organization that a variety of watchdog groups have defined as being white supremacist. The Council gets its roots from “a coalition of white-supremacist groups formed throughout the South to defend school segregation after the Supreme Court outlawed it in Brown vs. Board of Education,” according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

And where there are fearful white racists can the militia groups be far behind?

However before everybody gets too concerned about heavily armed militias attempting to take over this country, it may be informative to see a video of these knuckle draggers in action.



There is some stiff competition but I have to say that my favorite militia name has to be Mississippi River Rats. That kind of just says it all doesn't it?

I don't know about you but watching these severely out of shape overgrown children playing GI Joe while stumbling through the woods, with the crappy hard rock sound track playing, does not exactly fill me with dread.

And since they are not using blanks in their guns I kind of think their real contribution to humanity will be to prove, once and for all, that Darwin was right.

Andrew Breitbart gives the worst interview EVER!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Wow! have you ever seen anybody as defensive as this guy?

Yeah, MSNBC and other media sources did kind of jump the gun about wiretapping, but when you have two guys dressed like phone company repairmen, and they have a guy with a recording device sitting outside in the car, it is a fairly easy mistake to make.

I think this guy is a joke and he is terrified that the conviction of O'Keefe will reveal that he is a partisan hack who was so desperate to find some dirt on the Democrats that he was willing to hire a little weasel whose only claim to journalistic ability was a completely manufactured ACORN expose.

And this is the kind of "journalism" practiced by Fox News and its affiliates. No wonder the teabaggers are so ignorant.

Did Sarah's plastic surgeon give her the Greta Van Susteren treatment? Update!

You know sometimes when I am watching a video, while deciding what to post about it, I miss things. I am a little embarrassed to admit that I did not pick up on Sarah's spanking new addition to our American vocabulary, "mandation", until others pointed it out. Oops.

I also did not pick up on another odd thing about Sarah's interview, until I received an e-mail from a plastic surgeon. Now watch this video again, with the sound off this time, and focus on Palin's mouth.



This e-mail essentially says they may have pulled too far on the left side of her face. If this is in fact true, it WILL slowly get worse. Much, much worse!

Now just for comparison watch an older Sarah Palin interview conducted by Greta Van Susteren. You can see two things here. First, how different Palin's mouth appeared back then, and also how MUCH it now resembles Greta's. (Leave the sound off for better concentration.)



Well? What do you think? Do you agree with the plastic surgeon?

Update: I just received another e-mail form the plastic surgeon. Here are the highlights.

It looks like "damage to the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve" is possible. "It's truly impossible to tell from a video but it looks like that is probably what happened. Usually nerve damage is temporary and will return to normal within 6 months to a year, although sometimes it can take 2 to 3 years for complete regeneration. Weakness or paralysis of certain muscles is possible if a nerve related to muscle movement is impaired. It can be treated with reconstructive surgery."

He also added that "stress is to be avoided at all costs." Well good luck with THAT Sarah.

You know what might help to relieve your stress? Choosing NOT to fight Levi for custody of his son. Just imagine how relaxing it would be to not worry about how that will play out in the media.

Troubled Teabagger convention has scheduled speakers making mad dash for the exit door. Update!

The much-maligned National Tea Party Convention may be unraveling, as one of its scheduled GOP speakers backs out, and another mulls doing likewise.

The convention, planned for next month in Nashville, grabbed headlines by announcing that Sarah Palin and Republican Congresswomen Michele Bachmann and Marsha Blackburn would speak.

But lately, the convention has come under fire from some Tea Partiers who view it as inauthentic, and believe organizer Judson Phillips and his outfit, Tea Party Nation, are out to make a profit. And now, Blackburn, of Tennessee, has changed her mind about appearing, citing just such fears.

Meanwhile, conservative darling Bachmann, of Minnesota, has said she too is considering backing out, because of concerns over violating ethics rules -- though its not clear which ones.

And Mother Jones reports that Palin, too, is coming under pressure from Tea Party activists to back out, though she has given no indication that she will. Her speaking fee has been reported to be as high as $100,000.

I understand that Sarah Palin is absolutely fuming that she was not the FIRST to quit (after all it is her schtick). Right now she is just trying to figure out a way to quit and still collect her $115,000.

Update: Michele Bachmann has now officially canceled as well. Better hurry up and cancel Sarah, you might miss the last bus out of "Teabag-ville".

Wouldn't it be funny if this was the ONE thing that Palin could not bring herself to quit?

Both Jon and Stephen poked fun at the potentially felonious ACORN pimp.

First up Jon Stewart.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
This Is Spiteful Tap
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

And then Stephen Colbert.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Fox News Puts James O'Keefe Into Context
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Economy

Hopefully these two very funny clips will make up for what I exposed you to in my earlier post. I am truly sorry, but sadly, it is kind of my job.

Have you eaten? Okay get your antacids ready. Here is Sarah Palin spouting empty talking points about Obama's SOTU speech.

Not inspiring enough?

Not empowering the American people?

Even with Hannity carefully feeding her information, and setting her up to look like she knows what she is talking about, she still cannot say anything substantial.

I actually doubt she even watched the speech.

Maybe she was too busy trying to figure out which fright wig to put on this evening.

(H/T to Shannyn Moore.)

Hey do you remember how that poll determined that Fox News is the most trusted source of news? Yeah not so much.

Fox's pole position on the PPP poll rests solely on one thing: the fact that conservatives are evidently petrified at the thought of having their worldview challenged in any way, shape or form. Therefore, they trust Fox. And only Fox.

Look at the very telling way in which conservatives responded on the issue of trust and American media outlets:

Conservative Trust Of Media Outlets (Yes/No)--PPP Poll 1/26/10

FOX NEWS: 75/13
CNN: 22/60
ABC NEWS: 16/67
NBC NEWS: 15/66
CBS NEWS: 14/68

Contrast those results with those among liberal voters, who seem to lack the near-universal faith in the infallibility of any media outlet that conservatives clearly have for the Fox News brand:

Liberal Trust of Media Outlets (Yes/No)--PPP Poll 1/26/10

NBC NEWS: 64/22
CNN: 63/21
CBS NEWS: 56/29
ABC NEWS: 50/31
FOX NEWS: 26/66

Generally speaking, liberals have more trust than mistrust of media outlets, but nowhere near the lopsided fealty that we see from conservatives. They also, not surprisingly, find Fox News to be the least trusted news source, and by a landslide.

Moderate Trust of Media Outlets (Yes/No)--PPP Poll 1/26/10

CNN: 47/31
NBC NEWS: 44/33
CBS NEWS: 41/33
ABC NEWS: 39/34
FOX NEWS: 33/48

Imagine that.

Let's be clear: with 61% of Americans (liberals made up 14% of the poll, and moderates made up 47%), Fox News is the least trusted name in news. And they are the least trusted outlet by a decisive margin. (Click the title to read the whole report from Daily Kos)

So to break it down, conservatives watch Fox News almost exclusively because they are scared shitless to see what the reality based news outlets might report about the issues. For instance they might accidentally learn that President Obama is not really a Socialist Muslim and that would really harsh their mellow.

However the moderates and liberals look for information from a variety of sources. Because, apparently, their attention span is too short to lap up the mental tapioca pouring out of the Fox cable news network 24 hours a day.

Could the liberals open minded curiosity be considered a deficit in this brave new world of message control and political purity? I mean when the conservatives need to know what to think they go to Fox News to receive their marching orders in seconds. But the liberals and moderates have to STOP and LEARN about the issues, before carefully DECIDING what position to take, and then whether they should carefully CONSIDER doing something in response.

By the time liberals have done all of that the teabaggers have already burned the President in effigy, had six poorly organized protests, and got a guy driving a truck elected to the Senate in a state considered a bastion of liberalism.

President's State of the Union Speech.

One thing that cannot be said about this President is that he does not think big.

The man laid out a plan that seemed to contain everything, for everybody, as if he has not spent the last year trying to circumvent a Republican wall that threatens to stop him at every turn.

Here is the full speech so you can read along. (Hat tip to Daily Kos)

Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans:

Our Constitution declares that from time to time, the President shall give to Congress information about the state of our union. For two hundred and twenty years, our leaders have fulfilled this duty. They have done so during periods of prosperity and tranquility. And they have done so in the midst of war and depression; at moments of great strife and great struggle.

It’s tempting to look back on these moments and assume that our progress was inevitable – that America was always destined to succeed. But when the Union was turned back at Bull Run and the Allies first landed at Omaha Beach, victory was very much in doubt. When the market crashed on Black Tuesday and civil rights marchers were beaten on Bloody Sunday, the future was anything but certain. These were times that tested the courage of our convictions, and the strength of our union. And despite all our divisions and disagreements; our hesitations and our fears; America prevailed because we chose to move forward as one nation, and one people.

Again, we are tested. And again, we must answer history’s call.

One year ago, I took office amid two wars, an economy rocked by severe recession, a financial system on the verge of collapse, and a government deeply in debt. Experts from across the political spectrum warned that if we did not act, we might face a second depression. So we acted – immediately and aggressively. And one year later, the worst of the storm has passed.

But the devastation remains. One in ten Americans still cannot find work. Many businesses have shuttered. Home values have declined. Small towns and rural communities have been hit especially hard. For those who had already known poverty, life has become that much harder.

This recession has also compounded the burdens that America’s families have been dealing with for decades – the burden of working harder and longer for less; of being unable to save enough to retire or help kids with college.

So I know the anxieties that are out there right now. They’re not new. These struggles are the reason I ran for President. These struggles are what I’ve witnessed for years in places like Elkhart, Indiana and Galesburg, Illinois. I hear about them in the letters that I read each night. The toughest to read are those written by children – asking why they have to move from their home, or when their mom or dad will be able to go back to work.

For these Americans and so many others, change has not come fast enough. Some are frustrated; some are angry. They don’t understand why it seems like bad behavior on Wall Street is rewarded but hard work on Main Street isn’t; or why Washington has been unable or unwilling to solve any of our problems. They are tired of the partisanship and the shouting and the pettiness. They know we can’t afford it. Not now.

So we face big and difficult challenges. And what the American people hope – what they deserve – is for all of us, Democrats and Republicans, to work through our differences; to overcome the numbing weight of our politics. For while the people who sent us here have different backgrounds, different stories and different beliefs, the anxieties they face are the same. The aspirations they hold are shared. A job that pays the bills. A chance to get ahead. Most of all, the ability to give their children a better life.

You know what else they share? They share a stubborn resilience in the face of adversity. After one of the most difficult years in our history, they remain busy building cars and teaching kids; starting businesses and going back to school. They’re coaching little league and helping their neighbors. As one woman wrote me, “We are strained but hopeful, struggling but encouraged.”

It is because of this spirit – this great decency and great strength – that I have never been more hopeful about America’s future than I am tonight. Despite our hardships, our union is strong. We do not give up. We do not quit. We do not allow fear or division to break our spirit. In this new decade, it’s time the American people get a government that matches their decency; that embodies their strength.

And tonight, I’d like to talk about how together, we can deliver on that promise.

It begins with our economy.

Our most urgent task upon taking office was to shore up the same banks that helped cause this crisis. It was not easy to do. And if there’s one thing that has unified Democrats and Republicans, it’s that we all hated the bank bailout. I hated it. You hated it. It was about as popular as a root canal.

But when I ran for President, I promised I wouldn’t just do what was popular – I would do what was necessary. And if we had allowed the meltdown of the financial system, unemployment might be double what it is today. More businesses would certainly have closed. More homes would have surely been lost.

So I supported the last administration’s efforts to create the financial rescue program. And when we took the program over, we made it more transparent and accountable. As a result, the markets are now stabilized, and we have recovered most of the money we spent on the banks.

To recover the rest, I have proposed a fee on the biggest banks. I know Wall Street isn’t keen on this idea, but if these firms can afford to hand out big bonuses again, they can afford a modest fee to pay back the taxpayers who rescued them in their time of need.

As we stabilized the financial system, we also took steps to get our economy growing again, save as many jobs as possible, and help Americans who had become unemployed.

That’s why we extended or increased unemployment benefits for more than 18 million Americans; made health insurance 65% cheaper for families who get their coverage through COBRA; and passed 25 different tax cuts.

Let me repeat: we cut taxes. We cut taxes for 95% of working families. We cut taxes for small businesses. We cut taxes for first-time homebuyers. We cut taxes for parents trying to care for their children. We cut taxes for 8 million Americans paying for college. As a result, millions of Americans had more to spend on gas, and food, and other necessities, all of which helped businesses keep more workers. And we haven’t raised income taxes by a single dime on a single person. Not a single dime.

Because of the steps we took, there are about two million Americans working right now who would otherwise be unemployed. 200,000 work in construction and clean energy. 300,000 are teachers and other education workers. Tens of thousands are cops, firefighters, correctional officers, and first responders. And we are on track to add another one and a half million jobs to this total by the end of the year.

The plan that has made all of this possible, from the tax cuts to the jobs, is the Recovery Act. That’s right – the Recovery Act, also known as the Stimulus Bill. Economists on the left and the right say that this bill has helped saved jobs and avert disaster. But you don’t have to take their word for it.

Talk to the small business in Phoenix that will triple its workforce because of the Recovery Act.

Talk to the window manufacturer in Philadelphia who said he used to be skeptical about the Recovery Act, until he had to add two more work shifts just because of the business it created.

Talk to the single teacher raising two kids who was told by her principal in the last week of school that because of the Recovery Act, she wouldn’t be laid off after all.

There are stories like this all across America. And after two years of recession, the economy is growing again. Retirement funds have started to gain back some of their value. Businesses are beginning to invest again, and slowly some are starting to hire again.

But I realize that for every success story, there are other stories, of men and women who wake up with the anguish of not knowing where their next paycheck will come from; who send out resumes week after week and hear nothing in response. That is why jobs must be our number one focus in 2010, and that is why I am calling for a new jobs bill tonight.

Now, the true engine of job creation in this country will always be America’s businesses. But government can create the conditions necessary for businesses to expand and hire more workers.

We should start where most new jobs do – in small businesses, companies that begin when an entrepreneur takes a chance on a dream, or a worker decides its time she became her own boss.

Through sheer grit and determination, these companies have weathered the recession and are ready to grow. But when you talk to small business owners in places like Allentown, Pennsylvania or Elyria, Ohio, you find out that even though banks on Wall Street are lending again, they are mostly lending to bigger companies. But financing remains difficult for small business owners across the country.

So tonight, I’m proposing that we take $30 billion of the money Wall Street banks have repaid and use it to help community banks give small businesses the credit they need to stay afloat. I am also proposing a new small business tax credit – one that will go to over one million small businesses who hire new workers or raise wages. While we’re at it, let’s also eliminate all capital gains taxes on small business investment; and provide a tax incentive for all businesses, large and small, to invest in new plants and equipment.

Next, we can put Americans to work today building the infrastructure of tomorrow. From the first railroads to the interstate highway system, our nation has always been built to compete. There’s no reason Europe or China should have the fastest trains, or the new factories that manufacture clean energy products.

Tomorrow, I’ll visit Tampa, Florida, where workers will soon break ground on a new high-speed railroad funded by the Recovery Act. There are projects like that all across this country that will create jobs and help our nation move goods, services, and information. We should put more Americans to work building clean energy facilities, and give rebates to Americans who make their homes more energy efficient, which supports clean energy jobs. And to encourage these and other businesses to stay within our borders, it’s time to finally slash the tax breaks for companies that ship our jobs overseas and give those tax breaks to companies that create jobs in the United States of America.

The House has passed a jobs bill that includes some of these steps. As the first order of business this year, I urge the Senate to do the same. People are out of work. They are hurting. They need our help. And I want a jobs bill on my desk without delay.

But the truth is, these steps still won’t make up for the seven million jobs we’ve lost over the last two years. The only way to move to full employment is to lay a new foundation for long-term economic growth, and finally address the problems that America’s families have confronted for years.

We cannot afford another so-called economic “expansion” like the one from last decade – what some call the “lost decade” – where jobs grew more slowly than during any prior expansion; where the income of the average American household declined while the cost of health care and tuition reached record highs; where prosperity was built on a housing bubble and financial speculation.

From the day I took office, I have been told that addressing our larger challenges is too ambitious – that such efforts would be too contentious, that our political system is too gridlocked, and that we should just put things on hold for awhile.

For those who make these claims, I have one simple question:

How long should we wait? How long should America put its future on hold?

You see, Washington has been telling us to wait for decades, even as the problems have grown worse. Meanwhile, China’s not waiting to revamp its economy. Germany’s not waiting. India’s not waiting. These nations aren’t standing still. These nations aren’t playing for second place. They’re putting more emphasis on math and science. They’re rebuilding their infrastructure. They are making serious investments in clean energy because they want those jobs.

Well I do not accept second-place for the United States of America. As hard as it may be, as uncomfortable and contentious as the debates may be, it’s time to get serious about fixing the problems that are hampering our growth.

One place to start is serious financial reform. Look, I am not interested in punishing banks, I’m interested in protecting our economy. A strong, healthy financial market makes it possible for businesses to access credit and create new jobs. It channels the savings of families into investments that raise incomes. But that can only happen if we guard against the same recklessness that nearly brought down our entire economy.

We need to make sure consumers and middle-class families have the information they need to make financial decisions. We can’t allow financial institutions, including those that take your deposits, to take risks that threaten the whole economy.

The House has already passed financial reform with many of these changes. And the lobbyists are already trying to kill it. Well, we cannot let them win this fight. And if the bill that ends up on my desk does not meet the test of real reform, I will send it back.

Next, we need to encourage American innovation. Last year, we made the largest investment in basic research funding in history – an investment that could lead to the world’s cheapest solar cells or treatment that kills cancer cells but leaves healthy ones untouched. And no area is more ripe for such innovation than energy. You can see the results of last year’s investment in clean energy – in the North Carolina company that will create 1200 jobs nationwide helping to make advanced batteries; or in the California business that will put 1,000 people to work making solar panels.

But to create more of these clean energy jobs, we need more production, more efficiency, more incentives. That means building a new generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants in this country. It means making tough decisions about opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development. It means continued investment in advanced biofuels and clean coal technologies. And yes, it means passing a comprehensive energy and climate bill with incentives that will finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy in America.

I am grateful to the House for passing such a bill last year. This year, I am eager to help advance the bipartisan effort in the Senate. I know there have been questions about whether we can afford such changes in a tough economy; and I know that there are those who disagree with the overwhelming scientific evidence on climate change. But even if you doubt the evidence, providing incentives for energy efficiency and clean energy are the right thing to do for our future – because the nation that leads the clean energy economy will be the nation that leads the global economy. And America must be that nation.

Third, we need to export more of our goods. Because the more products we make and sell to other countries, the more jobs we support right here in America. So tonight, we set a new goal: We will double our exports over the next five years, an increase that will support two million jobs in America. To help meet this goal, we’re launching a National Export Initiative that will help farmers and small businesses increase their exports, and reform export controls consistent with national security.

We have to seek new markets aggressively, just as our competitors are. If America sits on the sidelines while other nations sign trade deals, we will lose the chance to create jobs on our shores. But realizing those benefits also means enforcing those agreements so our trading partners play by the rules. And that’s why we will continue to shape a Doha trade agreement that opens global markets, and why we will strengthen our trade relations in Asia and with key partners like South Korea, Panama, and Colombia.

Fourth, we need to invest in the skills and education of our people.

This year, we have broken through the stalemate between left and right by launching a national competition to improve our schools. The idea here is simple: instead of rewarding failure, we only reward success. Instead of funding the status quo, we only invest in reform – reform that raises student achievement, inspires students to excel in math and science, and turns around failing schools that steal the future of too many young Americans, from rural communities to inner-cities. In the 21st century, one of the best anti-poverty programs is a world-class education. In this country, the success of our children cannot depend more on where they live than their potential.

When we renew the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, we will work with Congress to expand these reforms to all fifty states. Still, in this economy, a high school diploma no longer guarantees a good job. I urge the Senate to follow the House and pass a bill that will revitalize our community colleges, which are a career pathway to the children of so many working families. To make college more affordable, this bill will finally end the unwarranted taxpayer-subsidies that go to banks for student loans. Instead, let’s take that money and give families a $10,000 tax credit for four years of college and increase Pell Grants. And let’s tell another one million students that when they graduate, they will be required to pay only ten percent of their income on student loans, and all of their debt will be forgiven after twenty years – and forgiven after ten years if they choose a career in public service. Because in the United States of America, no one should go broke because they chose to go to college. And it’s time for colleges and universities to get serious about cutting their own costs – because they too have a responsibility to help solve this problem.

Now, the price of college tuition is just one of the burdens facing the middle-class. That’s why last year I asked Vice President Biden to chair a task force on Middle-Class Families. That’s why we’re nearly doubling the child care tax credit, and making it easier to save for retirement by giving every worker access to a retirement account and expanding the tax credit for those who start a nest egg. That’s why we’re working to lift the value of a family’s single largest investment – their home. The steps we took last year to shore up the housing market have allowed millions of Americans to take out new loans and save an average of $1,500 on mortgage payments. This year, we will step up re-financing so that homeowners can move into more affordable mortgages. And it is precisely to relieve the burden on middle-class families that we still need health insurance reform.

Now let’s be clear – I did not choose to tackle this issue to get some legislative victory under my belt. And by now it should be fairly obvious that I didn’t take on health care because it was good politics.

I took on health care because of the stories I’ve heard from Americans with pre-existing conditions whose lives depend on getting coverage; patients who’ve been denied coverage; and families – even those with insurance – who are just one illness away from financial ruin.

After nearly a century of trying, we are closer than ever to bringing more security to the lives of so many Americans. The approach we’ve taken would protect every American from the worst practices of the insurance industry. It would give small businesses and uninsured Americans a chance to choose an affordable health care plan in a competitive market. It would require every insurance plan to cover preventive care. And by the way, I want to acknowledge our First Lady, Michelle Obama, who this year is creating a national movement to tackle the epidemic of childhood obesity and make our kids healthier.

Our approach would preserve the right of Americans who have insurance to keep their doctor and their plan. It would reduce costs and premiums for millions of families and businesses. And according to the Congressional Budget Office – the independent organization that both parties have cited as the official scorekeeper for Congress – our approach would bring down the deficit by as much as $1 trillion over the next two decades.

Still, this is a complex issue, and the longer it was debated, the more skeptical people became. I take my share of the blame for not explaining it more clearly to the American people. And I know that with all the lobbying and horse-trading, this process left most Americans wondering what’s in it for them.

But I also know this problem is not going away. By the time I’m finished speaking tonight, more Americans will have lost their health insurance. Millions will lose it this year. Our deficit will grow. Premiums will go up. Patients will be denied the care they need. Small business owners will continue to drop coverage altogether. I will not walk away from these Americans, and neither should the people in this chamber.

As temperatures cool, I want everyone to take another look at the plan we’ve proposed. There’s a reason why many doctors, nurses, and health care experts who know our system best consider this approach a vast improvement over the status quo. But if anyone from either party has a better approach that will bring down premiums, bring down the deficit, cover the uninsured, strengthen Medicare for seniors, and stop insurance company abuses, let me know. Here’s what I ask of Congress, though: Do not walk away from reform. Not now. Not when we are so close. Let us find a way to come together and finish the job for the American people.

Now, even as health care reform would reduce our deficit, it’s not enough to dig us out of a massive fiscal hole in which we find ourselves. It’s a challenge that makes all others that much harder to solve, and one that’s been subject to a lot of political posturing.

So let me start the discussion of government spending by setting the record straight. At the beginning of the last decade, America had a budget surplus of over $200 billion. By the time I took office, we had a one year deficit of over $1 trillion and projected deficits of $8 trillion over the next decade. Most of this was the result of not paying for two wars, two tax cuts, and an expensive prescription drug program. On top of that, the effects of the recession put a $3 trillion hole in our budget. That was before I walked in the door.

Now if we had taken office in ordinary times, I would have liked nothing more than to start bringing down the deficit. But we took office amid a crisis, and our efforts to prevent a second Depression have added another $1 trillion to our national debt.

I am absolutely convinced that was the right thing to do. But families across the country are tightening their belts and making tough decisions. The federal government should do the same. So tonight, I’m proposing specific steps to pay for the $1 trillion that it took to rescue the economy last year.

Starting in 2011, we are prepared to freeze government spending for three years. Spending related to our national security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security will not be affected. But all other discretionary government programs will. Like any cash-strapped family, we will work within a budget to invest in what we need and sacrifice what we don’t. And if I have to enforce this discipline by veto, I will.

We will continue to go through the budget line by line to eliminate programs that we can’t afford and don’t work. We’ve already identified $20 billion in savings for next year. To help working families, we will extend our middle-class tax cuts. But at a time of record deficits, we will not continue tax cuts for oil companies, investment fund managers, and those making over $250,000 a year. We just can’t afford it.

Now, even after paying for what we spent on my watch, we will still face the massive deficit we had when I took office. More importantly, the cost of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security will continue to skyrocket. That’s why I’ve called for a bipartisan, Fiscal Commission, modeled on a proposal by Republican Judd Gregg and Democrat Kent Conrad. This can’t be one of those Washington gimmicks that lets us pretend we solved a problem. The Commission will have to provide a specific set of solutions by a certain deadline. Yesterday, the Senate blocked a bill that would have created this commission. So I will issue an executive order that will allow us to go forward, because I refuse to pass this problem on to another generation of Americans. And when the vote comes tomorrow, the Senate should restore the pay-as-you-go law that was a big reason why we had record surpluses in the 1990s.

I know that some in my own party will argue that we cannot address the deficit or freeze government spending when so many are still hurting. I agree, which is why this freeze will not take effect until next year, when the economy is stronger. But understand – if we do not take meaningful steps to rein in our debt, it could damage our markets, increase the cost of borrowing, and jeopardize our recovery – all of which could have an even worse effect on our job growth and family incomes.

From some on the right, I expect we’ll hear a different argument – that if we just make fewer investments in our people, extend tax cuts for wealthier Americans, eliminate more regulations, and maintain the status quo on health care, our deficits will go away. The problem is, that’s what we did for eight years. That’s what helped lead us into this crisis. It’s what helped lead to these deficits. And we cannot do it again.

Rather than fight the same tired battles that have dominated Washington for decades, it’s time to try something new. Let’s invest in our people without leaving them a mountain of debt. Let’s meet our responsibility to the citizens who sent us here. Let’s try common sense.

To do that, we have to recognize that we face more than a deficit of dollars right now. We face a deficit of trust – deep and corrosive doubts about how Washington works that have been growing for years. To close that credibility gap we must take action on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue to end the outsized influence of lobbyists; to do our work openly; and to give our people the government they deserve.

That’s what I came to Washington to do. That’s why – for the first time in history – my Administration posts our White House visitors online. And that’s why we’ve excluded lobbyists from policy-making jobs or seats on federal boards and commissions.

But we can’t stop there. It’s time to require lobbyists to disclose each contact they make on behalf of a client with my Administration or Congress. And it’s time to put strict limits on the contributions that lobbyists give to candidates for federal office. Last week, the Supreme Court reversed a century of law to open the floodgates for special interests – including foreign corporations – to spend without limit in our elections. Well I don’t think American elections should be bankrolled by America’s most powerful interests, or worse, by foreign entities. They should be decided by the American people, and that’s why I’m urging Democrats and Republicans to pass a bill that helps to right this wrong.

I’m also calling on Congress to continue down the path of earmark reform. You have trimmed some of this spending and embraced some meaningful change. But restoring the public trust demands more. For example, some members of Congress post some earmark requests online. Tonight, I’m calling on Congress to publish all earmark requests on a single website before there’s a vote so that the American people can see how their money is being spent.

Of course, none of these reforms will even happen if we don’t also reform how we work with one another.

Now, I am not naïve. I never thought the mere fact of my election would usher in peace, harmony, and some post-partisan era. I knew that both parties have fed divisions that are deeply entrenched. And on some issues, there are simply philosophical differences that will always cause us to part ways. These disagreements, about the role of government in our lives, about our national priorities and our national security, have been taking place for over two hundred years. They are the very essence of our democracy.

But what frustrates the American people is a Washington where every day is Election Day. We cannot wage a perpetual campaign where the only goal is to see who can get the most embarrassing headlines about their opponent – a belief that if you lose, I win. Neither party should delay or obstruct every single bill just because they can. The confirmation of well-qualified public servants should not be held hostage to the pet projects or grudges of a few individual Senators. Washington may think that saying anything about the other side, no matter how false, is just part of the game. But it is precisely such politics that has stopped either party from helping the American people. Worse yet, it is sowing further division among our citizens and further distrust in our government.

So no, I will not give up on changing the tone of our politics. I know it’s an election year. And after last week, it is clear that campaign fever has come even earlier than usual. But we still need to govern. To Democrats, I would remind you that we still have the largest majority in decades, and the people expect us to solve some problems, not run for the hills. And if the Republican leadership is going to insist that sixty votes in the Senate are required to do any business at all in this town, then the responsibility to govern is now yours as well. Just saying no to everything may be good short-term politics, but it’s not leadership. We were sent here to serve our citizens, not our ambitions. So let’s show the American people that we can do it together. This week, I’ll be addressing a meeting of the House Republicans. And I would like to begin monthly meetings with both the Democratic and Republican leadership. I know you can’t wait.

Throughout our history, no issue has united this country more than our security. Sadly, some of the unity we felt after 9/11 has dissipated. We can argue all we want about who’s to blame for this, but I am not interested in re-litigating the past. I know that all of us love this country. All of us are committed to its defense. So let’s put aside the schoolyard taunts about who is tough. Let’s reject the false choice between protecting our people and upholding our values. Let’s leave behind the fear and division, and do what it takes to defend our nation and forge a more hopeful future – for America and the world.

That is the work we began last year. Since the day I took office, we have renewed our focus on the terrorists who threaten our nation. We have made substantial investments in our homeland security and disrupted plots that threatened to take American lives. We are filling unacceptable gaps revealed by the failed Christmas attack, with better airline security, and swifter action on our intelligence. We have prohibited torture and strengthened partnerships from the Pacific to South Asia to the Arabian Peninsula. And in the last year, hundreds of Al Qaeda’s fighters and affiliates, including many senior leaders, have been captured or killed – far more than in 2008.

In Afghanistan, we are increasing our troops and training Afghan Security Forces so they can begin to take the lead in July of 2011, and our troops can begin to come home. We will reward good governance, reduce corruption, and support the rights of all Afghans – men and women alike. We are joined by allies and partners who have increased their own commitment, and who will come together tomorrow in London to reaffirm our common purpose. There will be difficult days ahead. But I am confident we will succeed.

As we take the fight to al Qaeda, we are responsibly leaving Iraq to its people. As a candidate, I promised that I would end this war, and that is what I am doing as President. We will have all of our combat troops out of Iraq by the end of this August. We will support the Iraqi government as they hold elections, and continue to partner with the Iraqi people to promote regional peace and prosperity. But make no mistake: this war is ending, and all of our troops are coming home.

Tonight, all of our men and women in uniform -- in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world – must know that they have our respect, our gratitude, and our full support. And just as they must have the resources they need in war, we all have a responsibility to support them when they come home. That is why we made the largest increase in investments for veterans in decades. That is why we are building a 21st century VA. And that is why Michelle has joined with Jill Biden to forge a national commitment to support military families.

Even as we prosecute two wars, we are also confronting perhaps the greatest danger to the American people – the threat of nuclear weapons. I have embraced the vision of John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan through a strategy that reverses the spread of these weapons, and seeks a world without them. To reduce our stockpiles and launchers, while ensuring our deterrent, the United States and Russia are completing negotiations on the farthest-reaching arms control treaty in nearly two decades. And at April’s Nuclear Security Summit, we will bring forty-four nations together behind a clear goal: securing all vulnerable nuclear materials around the world in four years, so that they never fall into the hands of terrorists.

These diplomatic efforts have also strengthened our hand in dealing with those nations that insist on violating international agreements in pursuit of these weapons. That is why North Korea now faces increased isolation, and stronger sanctions – sanctions that are being vigorously enforced. That is why the international community is more united, and the Islamic Republic of Iran is more isolated. And as Iran’s leaders continue to ignore their obligations, there should be no doubt: they, too, will face growing consequences.

That is the leadership that we are providing – engagement that advances the common security and prosperity of all people. We are working through the G-20 to sustain a lasting global recovery. We are working with Muslim communities around the world to promote science, education and innovation. We have gone from a bystander to a leader in the fight against climate change. We are helping developing countries to feed themselves, and continuing the fight against HIV/AIDS. And we are launching a new initiative that will give us the capacity to respond faster and more effectively to bio-terrorism or an infectious disease – a plan that will counter threats at home, and strengthen public health abroad.

As we have for over sixty years, America takes these actions because our destiny is connected to those beyond our shores. But we also do it because it is right. That is why, as we meet here tonight, over 10,000 Americans are working with many nations to help the people of Haiti recover and rebuild. That is why we stand with the girl who yearns to go to school in Afghanistan; we support the human rights of the women marching through the streets of Iran; and we advocate for the young man denied a job by corruption in Guinea. For America must always stand on the side of freedom and human dignity.

Abroad, America’s greatest source of strength has always been our ideals. The same is true at home. We find unity in our incredible diversity, drawing on the promise enshrined in our Constitution: the notion that we are all created equal, that no matter who you are or what you look like, if you abide by the law you should be protected by it; that if you adhere to our common values you should be treated no different than anyone else.

We must continually renew this promise. My Administration has a Civil Rights Division that is once again prosecuting civil rights violations and employment discrimination. We finally strengthened our laws to protect against crimes driven by hate. This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are. We are going to crack down on violations of equal pay laws – so that women get equal pay for an equal day’s work. And we should continue the work of fixing our broken immigration system – to secure our borders, enforce our laws, and ensure that everyone who plays by the rules can contribute to our economy and enrich our nations.

In the end, it is our ideals, our values, that built America – values that allowed us to forge a nation made up of immigrants from every corner of the globe; values that drive our citizens still. Every day, Americans meet their responsibilities to their families and their employers. Time and again, they lend a hand to their neighbors and give back to their country. They take pride in their labor, and are generous in spirit. These aren’t Republican values or Democratic values they’re living by; business values or labor values. They are American values.

Unfortunately, too many of our citizens have lost faith that our biggest institutions – our corporations, our media, and yes, our government – still reflect these same values. Each of these institutions are full of honorable men and women doing important work that helps our country prosper. But each time a CEO rewards himself for failure, or a banker puts the rest of us at risk for his own selfish gain, people’s doubts grow. Each time lobbyists game the system or politicians tear each other down instead of lifting this country up, we lose faith. The more that TV pundits reduce serious debates into silly arguments, and big issues into sound bites, our citizens turn away.

No wonder there’s so much cynicism out there.

No wonder there’s so much disappointment.

I campaigned on the promise of change – change we can believe in, the slogan went. And right now, I know there are many Americans who aren’t sure if they still believe we can change – or at least, that I can deliver it.

But remember this – I never suggested that change would be easy, or that I can do it alone. Democracy in a nation of three hundred million people can be noisy and messy and complicated. And when you try to do big things and make big changes, it stirs passions and controversy. That’s just how it is.

Those of us in public office can respond to this reality by playing it safe and avoid telling hard truths. We can do what’s necessary to keep our poll numbers high, and get through the next election instead of doing what’s best for the next generation.

But I also know this: if people had made that decision fifty years ago or one hundred years ago or two hundred years ago, we wouldn’t be here tonight. The only reason we are is because generations of Americans were unafraid to do what was hard; to do what was needed even when success was uncertain; to do what it took to keep the dream of this nation alive for their children and grandchildren.

Our administration has had some political setbacks this year, and some of them were deserved. But I wake up every day knowing that they are nothing compared to the setbacks that families all across this country have faced this year. And what keeps me going – what keeps me fighting – is that despite all these setbacks, that spirit of determination and optimism – that fundamental decency that has always been at the core of the American people – lives on.

It lives on in the struggling small business owner who wrote to me of his company, “None of us,” he said, “…are willing to consider, even slightly, that we might fail.”

It lives on in the woman who said that even though she and her neighbors have felt the pain of recession, “We are strong. We are resilient. We are American.”

It lives on in the 8-year old boy in Louisiana, who just sent me his allowance and asked if I would give it to the people of Haiti. And it lives on in all the Americans who’ve dropped everything to go some place they’ve never been and pull people they’ve never known from rubble, prompting chants of “U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A!” when another life was saved.

The spirit that has sustained this nation for more than two centuries lives on in you, its people.

We have finished a difficult year. We have come through a difficult decade. But a new year has come. A new decade stretches before us. We don’t quit. I don’t quit. Let’s seize this moment – to start anew, to carry the dream forward, and to strengthen our union once more.

Thank you. God Bless You. And God Bless the United States of America.

Update: For those who missed it, or just really love them some speechifying, here is the SOTU in full.

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