Neil Cavuto Vs. Michele Bachmann

Is says something when even Neil Cavuto can't buy Michele Bachmann's bullshit.

Quote of the Day

"But to be honest with you, Neil, it goes back to there’s a lot of ill will towards Senator Hagel because when he was a Republican, he attacked President Bush mercilessly and say he was the worst President since Herbert Hoover and said the surge was the worst blunder since the Vietnam War, which was nonsense. He was anti-his own party and people — people don’t forget that. You can disagree but if you’re disagreeable, then people don’t forget that."

Sen. John McCain

There you have it. John McCain and his fellow Republican filibustered the first Defense Secretary nomination in history for merely payback. Republicans have gave up pretending they have serious policy differences with the Obama administration.

Wingnut of the Day: Joe Miller

It is hard to keep tabs on the amount of crazy coming from the Joe Miller campaign. Miller's security team detained and handcuffed Tony Hopfinger, the founder and editor of online news site the Alaska Dispatch. Miller tells justifies this nonsense by spouting a conspiracy theory to Neil Cavuto.

"We think it was probably planned," Miller said. "I mean, following the candidate into the restroom? I mean, come on now."

Miller claims Hopfinger pushed one of his security staff. The security company DropZone hires former military veterans. I am seriously skeptical that Miller was in danger from a blogger.

In other news: Miller wants to make our border like East Germany during the Cold War.

"The first thing that has to be done is secure the border. . . East Germany was very, very able to reduce the flow. Now, obviously, other things were involved. We have the capacity to, as a great nation, secure the border. If East Germany could, we could."

East Germany kept their citizens from crossing over into West Germany by using land mines and snipers. Communist countries often detain journalists or people wishing to voice their opinions. The America Joe Miller wants to create is a very scary place. Miller is the sort of politician George Orwell warned his readers about.

More Marco Rubio Economoc Nonsense: Social Security Edition

Alex Burgos of the Marco Rubio campaign went way off the message by telling blogger and Miami Herald columnist Joy-Ann Reid that Rubio supports privatization of Social Security. Rubio would later run away from supporting privatization of Social Security. Read copies of the emails below and click to enlarge.



Reid explains that Rubio hasn't been honest about his position on Social Security.

Here was my inquiry on February 3rd of this year, regarding Marco Rubio’s view on Social Security privatization, and Mr. Burgos’ on the record response. I was asking Burgos to respond to Texas Rep. Jeb Hensarling’s call to turn Social Security over to the private sector and cutting benefits, so again, the question was specifically about privatizing the program:

Rubio told Neil Cavuto he does not support privatization of Social Security.

RUBIO: Anyone telling you that we shouldn’t touch [Social Security], they are going to play tricky political games, they’re going to go around saying that I’m in favor of privatizing it, or raising the retirement age on current beneficiaries —

CAVUTO: But you are open to privatizing it, sir?

RUBIO: No, I think for that — no I’m not. That time has come and gone.

CAVUTO: What about for young guys like you who could take some of the money and put it in the market?

RUBIO: The problem is that it takes money — it makes it more difficult to balance the system in the long term.

CAVUTO: Do you’d be against it?

RUBIO: Yeah, I don’t think that’s the solution.

Allowing future retirees to invest Social Security taxes into the stock and bond market does nothing to address the funding needs for current or future retirees who wish to stay in the government Social Security Trust Fund. An AARP study found changing over the current Social Security system to private accounts would cost $600 billion - $3 trillion. Recipients of private account would either get less or a negative return. The Wall Street meltdown of 2008 shows how asinine an idea private accounts are.

There are a few factors for conservatives push to privatization. Conservatives hate the successful programs of the New Deal. Interest groups in the financial sector would greatly benefit from the influx of Social Security money into the stock and bond market. Conservatives needed an expert to tell them what they hear They found an unlikely ally in José Piñera.

Piñera was the architect of Chile's private pension plan under the government of Augusto Pinochet. The lattter is noted for abusing the human rights of Chileans. The New York Times reported "3,200 people were executed or disappeared, and scores of thousands more were detained and tortured or exiled." Chile's private pension system was filled with corruption and underfunded by younger workers wisely choosing not to enter the system. To make matters worse, Chile's private retirement system is expensive.

At the moment, the government pays about 5 percent of gross domestic product, or more than it spends for either health or education, on pensions for the poor, payments into a separate military retirement plan and so-called transition and administrative costs. Supporters of the privatized system argue that the state's burden will diminish as older retirees enrolled in the pay-as-you-go system that prevailed here before 1981 gradually die off.

But skeptics point to another developing problem: many young people, who should be enrolling in the system early to accrue maximum benefit, are staying out or paying in very little. Some cannot afford to contribute beyond the obligatory minimum payment, which is 10 percent of wages, while others are either self-employed or have been hired by companies as low-paid independent contract workers and therefore do not have to contribute at all.

"The bottom line is that this system does not work with this labor market," said Andras Uthoff, an economist who is director of the social development division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America here. If trends continue, he added, "only a small percentage of people are going to be able to finance meaningful pensions. What happens then to the rest?"

The Social Security Trust Fund is projected to run out in 2041. Social Security is much more stable than the faulty accounting that is the Department of Defense budget. Conservatives want to trade a retirement fund that has lifted million of Americans out of poverty for a failed banana Republic system. From a fiscal policy standpoint it makes no sense. From a purely cynical profit and greed motive it becomes easier to understand why conservatives want the Chile system.

Side note: the AARP study and reports on Chile's private accounts debunk Milton Friedman's claim that movement Socail Security accounts to private accounts is a "myth."

Douchebag of the Day: Neil Cavuto

Michelle Obama was giving a moving speech on the passengers of United 93. Obama was about to tell the audience about the moment the passengers took action against the hijackers. Fox News was not about to allow Michelle Obama have a momerable television moment on their network. Neil Cavuto cut in during the crucial moment of Obama's speech. Cavuto described Obama's husband as "a nobody" when the 9-11 attacks occurred. Fox News never fails to disgust me.

Michael Steele Hammered on Fox News

You know things are bad for RNC Chairman Michael Steele when Neil Cavuto rakes him over the coals. My favorite part of the interview is Steele telling Cavuto he isn't part of the Republican Party establishment. Really? Then who is running the RNC?

Quote of the Day

"So now you're looking at this oil slick approaching the Louisiana shore, according to... NOAA and other places. If the winds are right, it will go up the East Coast. This is exactly what they want. Now (Obama) can pander to the environmentalists and say, 'I'm gonna shut it down. It's too dangerous.'"

Michael Brown, disgraced former head of FEMA.

Brown told Fox News host Neil Cavuto that FEMA was in New Orleans the day after the storm hit. On August 29, 2005, Brown sent a request the Homeland Security director Michael Chertoff for 1,000 FEMA employees to be sent to the disaster areas. On August 31, FEMA employees warned Brown's office that the lives of people trapped in the Superdome were at risk. Brown and his press secretary were more concerned where to have lunch.

“He needs much more that (sic) 20 or 30 minutes. We now have traffic to encounter to go to and from a location of his choise (sic), followed by wait service from the restaurant staff, eating, etc. Thank you.”

Brown was such at utter failure that he was forced to resign as head of FEMA.

I watched Brown's interview and wonder at what point does a conservative become so disgraced that he is laughed out of the building. The fact that Cavuto would bring Brown on as an expert on disaster relief shows just how desperate right-wing media is to paint the BP disaster as some secret Obama conspiracy. Brown offers no proof that Obama actually wanted the BP oil spill. His statements have as much credibility as 9-11 Truthers or people waiting for the UFOs to arrive at Area 51.

I seriously wonder why Fox News brings on G. Gordon Liddy, Oliver North and Dick Morris and they are granted a seal of impeccable integrity. No Governor in the United States would hire Brown to manage disaster relief. Liddy and Morris will never get near the White House again. North will never serve in another administration. Yet Fox News holds these men up, as if they are the Gods of Olympus.

Bernie Sanders Not Voting For Current Health Care Bill

Sen. Bernie Sanders told Fox News' Neil Cavuto he cann not vote for the current Senate health care bill.

Cavuto: So they gain Joe Lieberman and lose you. That sounds like a wash.

That is exactly what it is.

Michael Steele's Dance of Death

RNC Chairman Michael Steele tells Neil Cavuto health care reform will create death panels. This is a Republican myth backed with zero factual evidence.

CAVUTO: Now obviously in this environment a lot of vitriol comes forth. Michael, I just wanted to get your reaction to some of your co-party members, former Alaska governor Palin, who calls these panels that are essentially going to be dispensing care or deciding it, death panels. That sort of thing — is that proper? Is that right?

STEELE: Well, I think it’s, I think it’s proper because its within the context of what people are seeing in some of the legislation that’s floating around out there. When you’re talking about panels that are going to be imposed, that will be making life and death decisions, that will be making decisions about whether or not you get health care or don’t receive health care. I think that’s perfectly appropriate.

Fair and Balanced My Ass

"If we weren’t fair and balanced, we wouldn’t have the number one network in news — by a very wide margin. People believe we’re fair and balanced, and they love us."

News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch, on Neil Cavuto's show.

Cavuto falsely reported Fox News covered the Million Man March. A hard task to do considering Fox News wasn't on-the-air until almost a year after the Louis Farrakhan march. Apparently, Fox News staffers are experiencing the same time travel problems as season 5 of Lost.

The Mark Foley sex scandal became a huge problem for the Republican Party. Fox News ran a picture of Foley labeling the Congressman a Democrat.



There are the emails from John Moody to Fox News staffers. Moody sets a clear mandate on his version of fair and balanced.

We have good perp walk video of Eric Rudolph which we should use. We should NOT assume that anyone who supported or helped Eric Rudolph is a racist. No one's in favor of murder or bombing of public places. But feelings in North Carolina may just be more complicated than the NY Times can conceive. Two style notes: Rudolph is charged with bombing an abortion clinic, not a "health clinic." and TODAY'S HEARING IS NOT AN ARRAIGNMENT. IT IS AN INITIAL HEARING.

Moody makes it clear supporting the Bush administration's position on Iraq is more important than mourning soldiers.

From: John Moody
Date: 4/6/2004

The events in Iraq Tuesday are going to be the top story, unless and until something else (or worse) happens. Err on the side of doing too much Iraq rather than not enough. Do not fall into the easy trap of mourning the loss of US lives and asking out loud why are we there? The US is in Iraq to help a country brutalized for 30 years protect the gains made by Operation Iraqi Freedom and set it on the path to democracy. Some people in Iraq don't want that to happen. That is why American GIs are dying. And what we should remind our viewers.

Moody's fair and balanced journalistic ethics informs him the Left want to see Iraq continue to be under a brutal dictatorship. Exactly who are these people? Moody again tells his worker bees not to mourn the loss of American military personal.

If, as promised, the coalition decides to take Fallujah back by force, it will not be for lack of opportunities for the terrorists holed up there to negotiate. Let's not get lost in breast-beating about the sadness of the loss of life. They had a chance.

Moody's fair and balanced coverage of President George. W. Bush.

"His political courage and tactical cunning ar[e] [wo]rth noting in our reporting through the day"

Fox News hysterically attempted to pass off a Senate Republican Communications Center press release as their own research. If Fox News actually bothered to fact-check the press release the SRCC typo wouldn't have been in the on-screen graphics.

Steve Benen covered Sean Hannity taking a quote from President Barack Obama's speech out of context.

Last night, for example, whining incessantly about President Obama's speech in Cairo, Hannity told Fox News viewers that the president "decided to give 9/11 sympathizers a voice on the world stage." He then showed Obama saying, "I am aware that there are still some that would question or even justify the events of 9/11."

Here is what Obama actually said.

"The first issue that we have to confront is violent extremism in all of its forms.

"In Ankara, I made clear that America is not -- and never will be -- at war with Islam. (Applause.) We will, however, relentlessly confront violent extremists who pose a grave threat to our security -- because we reject the same thing that people of all faiths reject: the killing of innocent men, women, and children. And it is my first duty as President to protect the American people.

"The situation in Afghanistan demonstrates America's goals, and our need to work together. Over seven years ago, the United States pursued al Qaeda and the Taliban with broad international support. We did not go by choice; we went because of necessity. I'm aware that there's still some who would question or even justify the events of 9/11. But let us be clear: Al Qaeda killed nearly 3,000 people on that day. The victims were innocent men, women and children from America and many other nations who had done nothing to harm anybody. And yet al Qaeda chose to ruthlessly murder these people, claimed credit for the attack, and even now states their determination to kill on a massive scale. They have affiliates in many countries and are trying to expand their reach. These are not opinions to be debated; these are facts to be dealt with."

Even conservative David Horowitz admitted "Obama gave a great speech." Obama's speech was well-received in American and the Middle East. Fox News won't report that.

How Fox News Changes Facts

Neil Cavuto is lashing out at the media for not covering the Tea Bagging protests. Cavuto repeatedly reminds his viewers that Fox News covered Louis Farrakhan's Million Man March. Apparently, Fox News knows the secrets to time travel. The Million Man March occurred on October 16, 1995. Fox News made it's debut October 7, 1996. Amanda Terkel compiled Cavuto's repeated claims that Fox News covered the Million Man March.

– Apparently, these populist protests don’t count much for them. Millions concerned they’re being taxed and feed to death counts even less for them. But a Million March March that turns out to be well shy of a million men — even half a million men — does count for them. We covered the follow-up marches to that Million Man March, because no matter the number, it was a big deal. [Fox News, 4/9/09]

– We do not pick and choose these rallies and protests. We were there for the Million Man March, even though, as I pointed out, it turned out to be well shy of a million men. [Fox Business, 4/11/09]

– Because like in the Million Man March, it didn’t turn out to be a million men, but it got covered. [Fox Business, 4/11/09]

– You seem to pick and choose what events and protests were worthy. Million Man March, worthy, even though it wasn’t a million men, it was half a million. We covered that because we thought it had a worthy message too. [Fox News, 4/8/09]

– But a Million March March that turns out to be well shy of a million men — even half a million men — does count for them. We covered the follow-up marches to that Million Man March, because no matter the number, it was a big deal. [Fox Business, 4/9/09]

Fox News: fair and balanced time traveling coverage.

Side note: it really say something when Charles Johnson thinks the Tea Baggers are saying "deranged stuff."

Pay to Play

The Pay For Performance Act passed in the House of Representatives. The bill only covers companies that have received TARP money. Fox News Neil Cavuto went nuts trying to get Alan Grayson to define how much a bonus would be unjust. Cavato asked if a secretary could be denied a bonus. Grayson doesn't say what amount would be deemed inappropriate. The bill states any employee is subject to the Pay For Performance Act.

‘(1) PROHIBITION- No financial institution that has received or receives a direct capital investment under the Troubled Assets Relief Program under this title, or with respect to the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Montrtgage Corporation, or a Federal home loan bank, under the amendments made by section 1117 of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, may, while that capital investment remains outstanding, make a compensation payment, other than a longevity bonus or a payment in the form of restricted stock, to any executive or employee under any pre-existing compensation arrangement, or enter into a new compensation payment arrangement, if such compensation payment or compensation payment arrangement--

Sec. of Treasury Tim Geithner will decide what bonuses are excessive.

‘(B) PERFORMANCE-BASED STANDARDS- Standards for performance-based measures that a financial institution must apply when determining whether it may provide a bonus or retention payment under paragraph (1)(B). Such performance measures shall include--

‘(i) the stability of the financial institution and its ability to repay or begin repaying the United States for any capital investment received under this title;

‘(ii) the performance of the individual executive or employee to whom the payment relates;

‘(iii) adherence by executives and employees to appropriate risk management requirements; and

‘(iv) other standards which provide greater accountability to shareholders and taxpayers.

Geithner admitted the Treasury Department had conversations with Chris Dodd's about the bonus loophole. Dodd said the Treasury Department wanted a bonus loophole for TARP recipient. Geithner claims ignorance to these conversations.

"I would have preferred that we kept my language, as it left the Senate unanimously," Dodd added. "In fact there were objections when I wrote the language even before it left the Senate. ... The administration expressed reservations with the amendment. They came to us and asked for modifications in the amendment. The alternative was, of course, losing the amendment entirely, which was a possibility. I didn't want to see that happen. I suspect we would be having a conversation tonight why we didn't include some language in here to deal with bonuses, golden parachutes and the like. ... I don't believe anyone had any idea, I certainly didn't, that a month and a half later from February we would be talking about AIG and the bonuses they are receiving for their retentions, these $165 million. So that was never a part of the consideration."

Grayson's bill is too vague and counts on Geithner to due diligent oversight over bonuses. Geithner already had one chance to curb excessive bonuses and passed. This bill is so bad that I find myself agreeing with Cavuto.

Side note: I doubt much arm twisting was needed to have Dodd write the loophole.

Politically, Democrats can say they went after greedy companies and label Republicans out of touch. From a policy perspective: the bill won't make much of a difference.

Bad Experience

John McCain brags that he know how to lead. His exchange with June 11, 2003 interview with Neil Cavuto questions the Maverick's claims.

NEIL CAVUTO (host): Senator -- after a conflict means after the conflict, and many argue the conflict isn't over.

McCAIN: Well, then why was there a banner that said mission accomplished on the aircraft carrier?

Look, the -- I have said a long time that reconstruction of Iraq would be a long, long, difficult process, but the conflict -- the major conflict is over, the regime change has been accomplished, and it's very appropriate. In two weeks, General Franks is going to come before the Senate Armed Services Committee, and we're going to have his overall assessment of the conflict. I think that's entirely appropriate because we'll be -- we'll be taking up the needs of the Defense Department and the men and women in the military on the Armed Services Committee.

Republican Senator Chuck Hagel has not endorsed a presidential candidate. That and Hagel's accompanying Obama on an international trip says much about what Hagel thinks about McCain's foreign policy skills. Hagel told CNN that experience is not the deciding factor.

“Each candidate has strengths and weaknesses, and experience does matter,” Hagel said. “But what matters more in my opinion is character and judgment. And judgment meaning who is it that you bring around, who is it that you listen to? Can you make the right decisions for the right reasons on behalf of your country and the world?”

Hagel went on to say, "I think John is treading on some very thin ground here when he impugns motives and when we start to get into, 'You're less patriotic than me. I'm more patriotic.'"

McCain recently denounced Obama's 16 month timetable and endorsed Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki's 16 month timetable. This is the same timetable that Nouri al-Maliki and Obama agreed upon. McCain then denied he endorsed al-Maliki's timetable. In the same interview, McCain told Wolf Blitzer that al-Maliki doesn't want a timetable. I'm not making this up.

BLITZER: Why do you think (al-Makiki) said 16 months is basically a pretty good timetable?

MCCAIN: He said it's a pretty good timetable based on conditions on-the-ground. I think it's a pretty good timetable.

Blitzer asked what if al-Maliki asked President McCain to withdraw troops.

MCCAIN: He won't.

BLITZER: How do you know?

MCCAIN: He won't.

McCain was positive about "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED." Now he knows what goes on in the mind of the Iraqi Prime Minister.



Update: Hagel has another comment pointed at McCain.

"Quit talking about, 'Did the surge work or not work,' or, 'Did you vote for this or support this,'" Hagel said Thursday on a conference call with reporters.

"Get out of that. We're done with that. How are we going to project forward?" the Nebraska senator said. "What are we going to do for the next four years to protect the interest of America and our allies and restructure a new order in the world. ... That's what America needs to hear from these two candidates. And that's where I am."

Year 4 In Iraq

Think Progress points to a BBC poll that shows only 22 percent of Iraqis think the invasion was right. That is some gratitude.

Think Progress also has a CNN video of CNN’s Ed Henry talking about an exchange he had with Tony Snow. The latter called the Democrats plan for withdrawal a "recipe for defeat." Henry asked him for the President's recipe for success in Iraq. Snow quickly tried to change the subject and ask Henry what was his recipe for success. I'm wondering why a White House official is soliciting from a news correspondent. When Henry tried to make Snow answer the question he was told to "zip it."

This is the kind of questioning reporters should ask the White House. These people have no plan for success in Iraq. They are just holding on to the end of their term and leaving the problem for the next administration. Their egos are too big to admit that they made mistakes. Which is why they are so fucking utterly incompetent.