This week's new #webcomic on BallpointAdventures.com is all about @SteveKingIA

Click here to see the full-size comic strip!

Sorry, no actual joke this week. I just couldn't find anything funny about Congressman Steve King's words.

Hey, download the first digital BALLPOINT ADVENTURES mini-comic right now!  For FREE! Just go here to get the 12-panel PDF: finetip.ballpointadventures.com!  Feel free to let me know what you think of it by commenting below or hit me up on Twitter (@thepete)!

ALSO: I have a Patreon you can support! AND: a long form comic for just $5! Go buy it! Thanks!

In this week's all-new #BallpointAdventures #webcomic, someone is running for #president. More: BallpointAdventures.com #Republicans #GOP #POTUS #art #comicstrips #webcomics #comics #ballpointpen

In this week's all-new #BallpointAdventures #webcomic, someone is running for #president. More: BallpointAdventures.com #Republicans #GOP #POTUS #art #comicstrips #webcomics #comics #ballpointpen
Posted on May 18, 2015 at 12:17PM
View the original on Instagram https://instagram.com/p/21GYCGSrhq/

One Republican Controls UnShuttingdown the Shutdown. No Checks, No Balances. Just GOP Abuse of Power. No, seriously.

It's apparently, true. Democrat House Rep, Chris Van Hollen, was on the House floor yesterday*, clarifying this for the American People:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Jd-iaYLO1A

What this means is that the USG is stymied utterly. Back on October 1, 2013 (just two weeks ago) at 1:10AM (!), the House voted on House Resolution 368. In it, there was something about amending the rules of the House so that the only person who could put forward a motion to open the United States Government is the House Majority Leader or one of his designees. The House Majority Leader, right now, is Republican, Eric Cantor.



Yep, the rules were changed in the middle of the night on the same day that the government shutdown began, giving a Republican ultimate power over whether the USG opens or not. This was a tactic by Republicans to make sure that their shutdown could not be undone by Democrats outvoting them. What this means is that one man has unchecked power to control the American government. Sure, he can't do that much with this power, just keep the governing body of one of the most powerful countries on the planet in a coma.

Republicans seem to be a little fuzzy on this whole "democracy" thing. But then, that's nothing new.

What kills me is this line coming from conservatives on how "if Obama would just negotiate" this government shutdown would end. Think of it this way, the Republicans "rendition" the government and hold it in an undisclosed location that only Eric Cantor knows the location of. They then turn to the President and say "let's do a deal." No one else in government can override this. No one else in government can vote this away. As House Rep Van Hollen says in the video above, "Democracy has been suspended."

The thing is, there is a legal mechanism for undoing laws that you don't think are just. This ain't it.

To me this thing feels like a legislative coup. No one in government has this kind of power normally. No one.

I just trolled Google News, searching through their "US" section and also doing a search for "House Resolution 368" and "Eric Cantor" and found no results from mainstream news sources. I did find a brief mention on today's edition of Democracy Now and one article about the Republican rule change at IBTTimes.com, but that was it, as far as real news sites goes.

Please pass the video at the top of this blog post or this blog post on to everyone you know. This is a big deal and it needs to go viral. The Republicans have done something that is truly unAmerican and their supporters need to understand this. Conservatives need to ask themselves if the Democrats had done this for the 2000 election, would they have supported it?

Every American needs to understand what has happened here.

Minor update 10/14/13 3:00PM: Apparently, Van Hollen spoke on the House floor on Saturday, not yesterday.

Republicans Up to Their Old Anti-Democracy Tricks Again...

The Republicans are at it again. In Texas, over 80,000 registered voters were taken off the rolls because they were believed dead by the state. The catch is that one official found a lot of evidence to suggest that most of those 80,000 people were NOT dead. Here's a cutting from the above-capped article from NPR.org:

Texas got the names off the Social Security Administration's death list. Social Security warned Texas that the list shouldn't be relied on, but to no avail. The state Legislature and Texas Gov. Rick Perry passed legislation last session mandating the change.

In Houston, after Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Don Sumners got hundreds of calls from elderly voters who'd gotten the death notice, he looked at the Social Security list that was being used.

"And then a quick check of some of the information on that database led us to believe that there was a big probability that even a majority of the names on the list were people that were still alive," he says.

Back in 2000 we saw some serious issues with the "election" of George W. Bush. Not only were there loads of evidence that the true will of the people was not represented by the ballot count, the final dispute of who should be president was not settled by Congress (as the US Constitution seems to suggest it should be), but instead was decided by the Supreme Court (the most dominant of judges at the time were all appointed by Republicans).

Then, in 2004, we saw more evidence that various election systems in place around the country weren't necessarily providing us with accurate results.

In both instances it was the Republicans who seemed to be "behind" efforts against accurate counting and making sure it was easy for everyone to vote. Just Google "Greg Palast" for the details.

Finally, in 2008, there was a candidate that was voted for overwhelmingly, so even major problems with ballot counting wouldn't ultimately matter. In 2000 and 2004, the margins were tight, so it took only a bit of inaccuracy to change results (yes, I believe that in 2004, Kerry probably won and, in 2000, I am sure Gore should have won).

Now, in 2012, during a race for president that everyone thinks is incredibly close, I am reminded of all the problems we had with close elections in 2000 and 2004. This NPR article provides evidence that the Republicans are once again pulling this same crap.

How any true conservative can continue to call themselves a Republican is beyond me. The very definition of the word "conservative" suggests a Conservative would want to make sure everyone who is legally allowed to vote should be able to do so AND have their vote counted. Yet, here we go again.

I am reminded of the many times during the regime of George W. Bush how any dissenting opinions were called, by Republicans, "anti-American."  Yet, it was the Republicans behaving in the most anti-American way of all--fighting against a fair and accurate election.

America is a pretty scary place, in this long-time-observer's opinion.

Republicans will balance the budget...by privatizing Medicare!

Republicans will balance the budget...by privatizing Medicare!

motherjones:

The plan is so crazy, it just might…um…drive the country off a fricking cliff and screw the GOP’s reelection chances in perpetuity.

I think we need to build a reeeeally big mental home and lock up every GOPer there. THEN we force every Dem to leave office and work as nurses at said mental home.

ONLY THEN will America be truly great once more.

PLEASE NOTE: I don’t like Obamacare. But Medicare and Medicade are (reasonably) fine the way they are (though I’d really prefer a UK-style NHS thing). Let’s cut the fucking defense budget, goddamn it!!  We’re spending more now, while fighting a tiny group of terrorists, than we were when we were fighting the evil Soviet Empire!  Come ON, USG!!  FUCKING FIGURE IT OUT!

You know what? I’m all for a strong defense.  HOWEVER, short of ALIENS, there are simply no more threats of note.  No matter how scary the press and the politicians make them sound, Al Qaeda (or any other group/country that hates us) comes close to us.  SO CHILL WITH THE DEFENSE SPENDING, ALREADY.

I think my good friend Jay ThePal had it right when he said the USG just hates people in general: http://www.twitvid.com/4I13X

Democracy Now! Headlines for October 25, 2010: Texan GOP Candidate: Violent Revolution Might Be Needed in US

Democracy Now! Headlines for October 25, 2010: Texan GOP Candidate: Violent Revolution Might Be Needed in US

Texan GOP Candidate: Violent Revolution Might Be Needed in US

In news from Texas, a Republican congressional candidate has told a local TV station that a violent revolution might be needed if Republicans do not win control of Congress in next month’s election. Stephen Broden, a Christian minister, made the remark in an interview with WFAA in Dallas.

Stephen Broden: “Our nation was founded on violence.”

More on this.

NY Gubernatorial Candidate Carl P. Paladino Attacks Gays in Brooklyn Speech

NY Gubernatorial Candidate Carl P. Paladino Attacks Gays in Brooklyn Speech

Republican candidate for governor of New York, Carl P. Paladino, spoke to a gathering in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, that included Orthodox Jewish leaders as reported by the NYT:

“That’s not how God created us,” he said, reading from a prepared address.

“I just think my children and your children would be much better off and much more successful getting married and raising a family, and I don’t want them brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option — it isn’t.”

And then, to applause at Congregation Shaarei Chaim, he said: “I didn’t march in the gay parade this year — the gay pride parade this year. My opponent did, and that’s not the example we should be showing our children.” Newsday.com reported that Mr. Paladino’s prepared text had included the sentence: “There is nothing to be proud of in being a dysfunctional homosexual.” But Mr. Paladino omitted the sentence in his speech.

Ah, well, that’s one Democratic win guaranteed!

Thanks, Carl!

EFFYOU.org says: EFFYOU REPUBLICANS!

Yesterday, I posted this over on effyouorg:

Grand Old Party, INDEED.

What a bunch of whining, obstructionist, hypocritical, anti-American, intolerant assholes. The qualities that make the Republicans worthy of the EFFYOU for this week were detailed in last week’s EFFYOU (that one was aimed at the Democrats) so there’s no need to go over those again.  However, on top of all of the other stuff the Republicans are guilty of, they added a couple new items to their list of anti-American obstructionist bullshit recently.  Check it out:

GOP Halts Repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
By NAFTALI BENDAVID, JULIAN E. BARNES and ADAM ENTOUS

Republicans blocked a Democratic effort to repeal the ban on gays serving openly in the military, likely pushing back any attempt to overturn the controversial “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law until after the November election.

Most of these idiots who blocked this from happening haven’t even served and McCain said years ago that he would repeal DADT in a second if generals told him to—which they did—from WaPo, back in February of 2010:

A former war hero, McCain said he would support ending the ban once the military’s top brass told him that they agreed with the change.

“The day that the leadership of the military comes to me and says, ‘Senator, we ought to change the policy,’ then I think we ought to consider seriously changing it,” McCain said in October 2006 to an audience of Iowa State University students.

That day arrived Tuesday, with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen testifying to senators after President Obama’s announcement that he would seek a congressional repeal of the 15-year-old policy.

But now he helps block it. So much for free speech and being able to live in a free country!  (Not if you want to serve in the military, queers!!) >_<

OH and there’s this:

Republicans Filibuster ‘Dream Act’ for Children of Illegal Immigrants
By Craig Wall, FOX Chicago News

Immigration reform supporters suffered a setback in Washington on Tuesday as Senate Republicans blocked a bill called the “Dream Act.”

It would have given undocumented immigrants who were brought to America as children a path toward legal status, as long as they served in the military or went to college.

Democrats say the Defense Department supports the plan as a way of getting good recruits, but Republicans unanimously opposed the bill. They filibustered it, and kept it from coming up for a vote.

Yeeeeah, so they block a new route for illegal immigrant kids to stay in the US permanently AND make them immediately useful to America in the process.  What the fuck ever happened to “give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses,” anyway???

So for all this crap and a whole lot more, this week’s EFFYOU goes to the Republican party.

May you all be outed as the gay, greedy-as-sin, racist, homophobic, atheists you must really be on the inside (because if you weren’t all those things, why would you behave like you do?).

Got any suggestions for the EFFYOU for next week?

Underpaid Genius - Every Man For Himself

Underpaid Genius - Every Man For Himself

Another great little piece of commentary from Stowe Boyd about how the powers that be have it upside-down and backwards when it comes to getting the economy going again.

My favorite part is the Krugman quote:

But we’re talking about voodoo economics here, so perhaps it’s not surprising that belief in the magical powers of tax cuts is a zombie doctrine: no matter how many times you kill it with facts, it just keeps coming back. And despite repeated failure in practice, it is, more than ever, the official view of the G.O.P.

Yeah, that sounds like the USG to me!

Click the title above to check out the rest of Boyd’s post.

Republicans Celebrate Bobby Jindal's Coming Out Party--Apparently, the GOP Likes Gays Now

The headline of that CNN.com article cracked me up when I first saw it late last night. Turns out the GOP actually used the phrase "coming out party" to describe Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal's turn at responding to President Barry's Mini-State of the Empire address tonight. Jindal's appearance on national TV (people still watch that?) is seen as a big deal for the 37 year-old Indian-American who was a US Congressman before taking office in January 2008 (I read his Wikipedia article!). But is this married minority coming out of the closet?

Of course not. It just goes to show you how effing clueless the Republicans still are.

They think they can "put a fresh face on the party" by making sure that "face" isn't white.

As if that somehow changes the bad ideas the party embraces. As if it means the Republicans suddenly like minorities and think women should get paid the same amount as men. As if "GOP" now stands for the "Gay Old Party."

That IS something to remember--the Republicans still don't like gays.

They still believe that a "pro-abortion movement" actually exists.

They still favor businesses and bankers over American citizens, think that Al Qeada and the Taleban are two mighty armies that threaten our way of life (instead of being two loose-knit bands of extremist losers) and most of all don't seem to mind when the American government commits domestic and international crimes (too late to impeach Bush, but he can still be indicted, can't he?).

Then again, the Democrats believe those things, too.

In the end, it doesn't really matter what color skin the face on which ever party has. It's all the (corrupt) business as usual.

Posted via email from thepete's posterous

Republican Sez Path to Disaster Ahead if Stimulus Bill Passes, Cute How He Tries, Isn't It?

As if the Republicans have ANY credibility with America left at all, some Republitard called Shelby has announced that the current stimulus bill will send us down "a road to financial disaster."

...as opposed to the last two bailout bills, passed under Republicans, that have led us to happyfunplayland with money trees and loli-pops for everyone!

Do these Republifools know how stupid they sound just opening their gobs?  

These idiots have become the Jar-Jar Binks of modern political discourse--and, as with The Phantom Menace, all We, The People, can do is yell "SHUT UP!" at the screen because the Democrats are still too polite to just call their "opponents" in Washington what they are.

Sure, one of Obama's guys did call out the Shelby-Unit's comment, but, as you can see in the screencap above, he did it with such absurd politeness that it pretty much doesn't count.  Lawrence Summer said that the Republicans "don't seem to me in a strong position to lecture about the lessons of history,"

OOOOOO! WHAT A CUT!

OUCH.

Wait, the Democrats were riding that pony to war and economic disaster, too.  Where were they for the last eight years?

Once again, I return to my earlier point: the government doesn't really give a crap about We, The People .  The Dems are OK at pretending, but even they don't really care.  If they had cared, they would have stood up to the Bushites and done what the Constitution asks of them.

Read the whole article I capped above at CNN.com here: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/08/congress.economy/index.html 

Posted via email from thepete's posterous