Where did the Tea Party come from? MSNBC answers

I'm listening to MSNBC.  The vote in the House just passed Boehner's plan (+BBA amendment), putting the ball in the Senate's court.  There is so much to talk about that's coming up, but what are they talking about?  That damn Tea Party.  If it weren't for those meddling kids...

Al Sharpton (I think that's Sharpton... he's looks different to me right now) is saying, regarding the Tea Party: "Here we are.  The monster is alive.  The Squeaker, I mean Speaker Boehner has no way to control it."

Joining him is an investigative reporter from -- get this -- Think Progress.  Yep.  (And they dare call out Fox's credibility?)

Can you hear the sound of one party negotiating?

"As of this writing, the president has pulled off a great political trick, with the help of some kamikaze Republicans. He has refused to offer a deficit-reduction plan, or submit a budget, or allow the Senate Democrats to do either—and has the public persuaded that he is the man who is seeking a bipartisan solution to the deficit problem."

Yes, We Spam!

While Congress debates the bill, Obama fearmongers and spams Twitter.  Isn't he dreamy?

image via Michelle Malkin

Note: to report the Prez for spam, go to his Twitter page.  Click on the drop down menu, and the option to report him should be listed. 

Debt Speech Bingo

THIS is amazing.

"Arrest the Tea Party for treason"

I'm seeing that phrase all over twitter.  To borrow a phrase from Wisconsin... THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE....  Elected representatives sworn to defend the Constitution while acting on behalf of their constituents.

I'm not currently going to comment on what may or may not happen on August 2nd.  I am commenting on the absolutely tyrannical meme that the Tea Party is tanking America.  The TP representatives were elected just like the Rs and Ds.  Why are their election promises politics any less legitimate than anyone elses?  Why is it okay for the majority party to trash a group of idealistic freshman?  Either side bullying this group should be viewed as unacceptable, regardless of party.

The Tea Party prevented a vote from passing in the House yesterday -- on a bill that the Democrats did not like. An amended bill is being put before the House today, thus the Tea Party should be arrested for treason?  I could only understand that leap in logic if I dropped acid.

The meme is ridiculous.  The only sense I can make of it is the Dems are freaking out about how to handle the bill when it goes to the Senate.  Not to mention Obama's approval dropping to 40%.  I guess if my "chosen one" was sinking, I'd feel like kicking the under dog, too.

That's what the Tea Party is: the under dog.  They have the lowest numbers in Congress.  That they stand firm in their principles and have managed to find a way to use their minority-minority status to wield some power is not treason.  It's called politics.

Obama approval drops to 41%

...according to Gallup.  But how does Gallup frame these stunningly low presidential approval numbers?  Obama Rates Higher Than Boehner, Reid on Debt Situation.


To be fair, their headline is true.  Boehner's approval is at 31; however, Harry "The ONLY compromise that there is is MINE" Reid's approval is at a whopping 23.

The Gallup headline makes it look like people support the Dems' plan more than the Republicans' plan.  With Reid's support at 23, that seems highly unlikely.  In fact, if you combine Obama and Reid's numbers, it comes at pretty damn close to Boehner.

Conclusions:
1. The only way to discern public support for different plans is to ask about those actual plans.
2. Gallup wants to contrast public opinion of Boehner vs. Obama, as if the power and perception of the president and the speaker of the house were comparably important.
3. The most important contrast here is Boehner vs. Reid, but Gallup chose not to highlight that in their headline.  Hmm.  I wonder why.
4.  The second most important contrast here is Obama's current approval rating compared to his previous (higher) approval rating, but Gallup chose not to highlight that in their headline.  Hmm.  I wonder why.

ADDED: Obama Approval Drops to New Low of 40%

Obama on the Debt, circa 2006

The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies.

Over the past 5 years, our federal debt has increased by $3.5 trillion to $8.6 trillion.That is “trillion” with a “T.” That is money that we have borrowed from the Social Security trust fund, borrowed from China and Japan, borrowed from American taxpayers. And over the next 5 years, between now and 2011, the President’s budget will increase the debt by almost another $3.5 trillion.

Numbers that large are sometimes hard to understand. Some people may wonder why they matter. Here is why: This year, the Federal Government will spend $220 billion on interest. That is more money to pay interest on our national debt than we’ll spend on Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. That is more money to pay interest on our debt this year than we will spend on education, homeland security, transportation, and veterans benefits combined. It is more money in one year than we are likely to spend to rebuild the devastated gulf coast in a way that honors the best of America.

And the cost of our debt is one of the fastest growing expenses in the Federal budget. This rising debt is a hidden domestic enemy, robbing our cities and States of critical investments in infrastructure like bridges, ports, and levees; robbing our families and our children of critical investments in education and health care reform; robbing our seniors of the retirement and health security they have counted on.

Every dollar we pay in interest is a dollar that is not going to investment in America’s priorities.

Senator Barack Obama
Senate Floor Speech on Public Debt
March 16, 2006