Sharron Angle Sings "God Bless the USA"

Former U.S. Senate candidate Sharron Angle steals a page out of Alan Keyes' playbook and bursts into song. Angle gave a speech at a tea party rally. At the end of the speech, Angle sang God Bless the U.S.A..

Conservative talk show host Joe Scarborough tweeted these words.

Left Specchless.

I doubt Scarborough was left speechless because of Angle's show of patriotism.

If Angle wants to sing in public or prove her patriotism then that is fine. It helps if she can actually sing. Her performance isn't going to change people's views that she is an unserious politician.

The Reality of Second Amendment Rememedies

I wonder how Tom Coburn and Sharron Angle feel about "Second Amendment rememedies" are justifiable expressions of voter anger against the federal government. Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has been shot in the head at a public event.

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was shot outside a grocery store in Tucson while holding a public event, Arizona Public Media reported Saturday.

Giffords, who was re-elected to her third term in November, was hosting her first "Congress on Your Corner" event at the Safeway in northwest Tucson when a gunman ran up and started shooting, according to Peter Michaels, news director of Arizona Public Media.

At least five other people, including members of her staff, were hurt. Giffords was transported to University Medical Center in Tucson. Her condition was not immediately known.

We do not know the shooter's motive or if the person was a Tea Party member. We shouldn't jump to conclusions. However, I can't help of thinking about Angle and Coburn endorsement violence against the federal government. Coburn is a U.S. Senator and Angle ran for the Senate. I doubt they want people shooting at them. What is more likely is Angle and Coburn engagement in demagoguery for political gain. Politicians that weak and debased should not serve in government.

ANGLE:

You know, our Founding Fathers, they puit that Second Amendment in there for a good reason and that was for the people to protect themselves against a tyrannical government. And in fact Thomas Jefferson said it's good for a country to have a revoltion every 20 years.

I hope that's not where we're going, but, you know, if this Congress keeps going the way it is, people are looking toward those Second Amendment rememedies and saying my goodness what can we do to turn this country around? I'll tell you the first thing we need to do is take Harry Reid out.

Coburn being interviewed by David Gregory on Meet the Press.

"Well, I’m, I’m troubled anytime when we, we stop having confidence in, in our government," Coburn said. "But we’ve earned it."

Coburn was asked about possible threats to Democrats. Coburn said the tea baggers "earned" their anger. Gregory had to stop Coburn.

"I am talking about violence against the government." Gregory said. "That’s what this is synonymous with."

Coburn justified the behavior of tea baggers.

"What, what is the genesis behind people going to such extreme statements?" asked Coburn. "We, we have lost the confidence."

Pathetic.

Update: Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and six other people are confirmed dead. This is horrible. I feel really sick in my stomach having to write this. The one small piece of solace is the alleged was captured at the scene fleeing.

Update: Giffords' Republican opponent Jesse Kelly had a "target" Giffords campaign event. A M-16 was part of the event.



Update: Gifford is alive and recovering.

Quote of the Day

"Sometimes dictators have good ideas."

Sharron Angle, on Augusto Pinochet's privatization of Chile's retirement system was a good idea.

I have noted before that Republicans have gotten their horrible idea to privatize Social Security from Pinochet's failed retirement plan. José Piñera was the architect of Chile's pension plan. A 2005 Wall Street Journal article on Piñera notes countries that have adopted Chile style

But some of the countries that have adopted individual accounts have performed poorly. In Argentina and Bolivia, for instance, as some payroll taxes started flowing into private accounts instead of government coffers, the government had less money to pay existing retirees. Argentina and Bolivia had to make up the difference by borrowing, which contributed to economic crises.

In 2006, Chile's private account system was in serious trouble. The World Bank did a study and found Chile's private accounts paid quarter and a third of workers'what put into the system. Social Security recepiants can get all the money they put in back if they live long enough.

Conservatives like Angle support private accounts not because there is any proof it would work. There isn't. But because Angle and other Republicans hate Roosevelt's New Deal programs. FDR's New Deal kept millions out of poverty. To want to dismantle Social Security suggests someone who has no empathy for her fellow human beings. Angle's comment that a murdering butcher like Pinochet had good ideas is proof.

Most Newsworthy Story of the Day

A Fox 5 television reporter in Nevada attempted to ask Sharron Angle a question. Angle "shushed" him. Angle has no business being a United States Senator. She would make a fantastic librarian with her shushing skills.

New Sharron Angle Attack Ad

Great political ad catching Sharron Angle lying about wanting to faze out Social Security and Medicare. Angle will truly say anything to get elected.

Sharron Angle's No Questions Press Conference

Nevada Republican Senate candidate Sharron Angle called a press conference and then refused to answer a question. Angle cancelled the press conference and ignored questions from reporters as she headed to a minivan.

The Las Vegas Sun describes the madness.

SPARKS — After more than a month dodging the press, Republican Senate nominee Sharron Angle on Wednesday invited reporters to an event intended to amplify her campaign message that lower taxes and less regulation are the only ways to spur economic recovery.

It was the first time since her primary victory that she had agreed to mingle with the media. Political observers speculated it might signal a shift in Angle’s post-primary strategy of using the media solely as fundraising mechanisms.

Alas, Angle’s more media-friendly moment was over almost as soon as it began.

In the warehouse of a family-owned clean diesel manufacturer in Sparks, Angle delivered a three-minute speech on her desire to permanently repeal the estate tax. When invited by the final speaker to stay and answer a few questions, she turned on her heel and rushed out a back door with a small cadre of staff members.

Angle (almost) makes Katherine Harris look like a polished candidate.

Hat tip to Joy-Ann Reid.

Sharron Angle's Distorted View of the Constitution

Sharron Angle is the gift that keeps on giving. According to Angle, the First Amendment does not have a separation of church and state.

Ralston: The Separation of Church and State arises in the Constitution.

Angle: No, it doesn't...

Ralston: Oh, it doesn't?

Angle: No, it doesn't.

If what Angle says is true then the federal government can make laws mandating school children must read the Qur'ān and practice Buddhism. Thomas Jefferson foresaw this problem and believed there should be a "wall of separation" between organized religion and the government. Below is an excerpt of Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptists.

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State.

Jefferson and Thomas Paine didn't sign the Constitution, but had great influence in drafting what would now be our nation's laws. Angle's ignorance of the Constitution matters. As a Senator, she will have a vote for future Supreme Court Justices and federal judges. Senator Angle will help draft laws that will affect the Constitution. It is painfully obvious Angle doesn't have the intellectual capacity to be a United States Senator.

Sharron Angle: No Exceptions on Abortion

Sharron Angle did an interview with conservative talk show host David Manders. Angle told Manders would not allow a woman to have an abortion; including in cases of rape and incest. Angle believes rape and incest is part of God's plan.

MANDERS: Is there any reason at all for an abortion?

ANGLE: Not in my book.

MANDERS: So, in other words, rape and incest would not be something?

ANGLE: You know, I’m a Christian, and I believe that God has a plan and a purpose for each one of our lives and that he can intercede in all kinds of situations and we need to have a little faith in many things.

Angle called the unemployed "spoiled." She supports deregulation of the oil industry. Angle also floated the idea that voters will use "Second Amendment remedies" if Congress doesn't change.

Angle reffered to Social Security as "welfare."



Calling Angle's views out of the mainstream would be a massive understatement.

Update: Rachel Maddow has a rundown of Angle's crazy policy positions. Maddow lists that Angle wants to abolish the EPA, the Department of Education, the Department of Energy and eliminate Medicare. I encourage Angle to tell voters of her opposition to Medicare. Let's see how well that goes over.

Compassionate Conservatism Sharron Angle Says Unemployed Spoiled

Much like Rand Paul, Sharron Angle believes people want to be unemployed. A mash-up Youtube clip shows Angle saying people are getting spoiled on unemployment. The second part of the clip is Angle telling a public forum that it isn't her job as Senator to bring jobs to Nevada. I really wonder what planet people like Angle and Paul live on.

Sharron Angle Not Ready For Prime Time

Republican candidate finally faced a reporter. Angle was asked about her campaign web site positions of eliminating Social Security and the EPA. Another question of about Angle's infamous "Second Amendment rememedies" against the government. Angle attempted to deny her positions. She eventually walked out of the interview.

Wingnut of the Day

Why is it okay for Republicans to call for violence against the government. Do they think that the GOP base is made of fans of Timothy McVeigh? The latest sample is Nevada Republican Sharron Angle. The Senate candidate Sharron gave an interview on a right-wing talk show in January. Angle suggested it is good for the country to have a revoltion every 20 years.

You know, our Founding Fathers, they puit that Second Amendment in there for a good reason and that was for the people to protect themselves against a tyrannical government. And in fact Thomas Jefferson said it's good for a country to have a revoltion every 20 years.

I hope that's not where we're going, but, you know, if this Congress keeps going the way it is, people are looking toward those Second Amendment rememedies and saying my goodness what can we do to turn this country around? I'll tell you the first thing we need to do is take Harry Reid out.

I'm not sure how Angle wants to take Reid out. I hope it is by the ballot box. Angle isn't the first Republican to suggest violence against the government. On Meet the Press Sen. Tom Coburn defended conservatives wanting to use violence.

"What, what is the genesis behind people going to such extreme statements," asked Coburn. "We have lost the confidence."

I wonder if Coburn, a member of the federal goverment, would feel comfortable if militia members wanted to use violence against him. I highly doubt it. I am amazed that Republicans urge violence against an institution they worked so hard to be a part of. There are a lot more Republicans thzat want to serve in the Senate then be employed as prison guards.

Michele Bachmann has urged for armed revoltion so many times that I have lost track.

"I want people in Minnesota armed and dangerous on this issue of the energy tax because we need to fight back. Thomas Jefferson told us 'having a revoltion every now and then is a good thing,' and the people -- we are the people -- are going to have to fight back hard if we're not going to lose our country. And I think this has the potential of changing the dynamic of freedom forever in the United States.

Anyone urging violence over a failed energy proposal truly doesn't have faith in the democratic process. Nicaragua and El Salvador haved armed revolutions "now and then." Those countries can hardly be called a beacan for democracy.