Because he’ll get karate chopped by a Democrat:

The Hill:

The Republican congressman who shouted “you lie” at President Obama will sit with a Democrat at Tuesday’s address.

Sigh.

Talking Points Memo:

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) had an interesting take this weekend on America’s first European settlers, who she said “had different cultures, different backgrounds, different traditions.”

“How unique in all of the world, that one nation that was the resting point from people groups all across the world,” she said. “It didn’t matter the color of their skin, it didn’t matter their language, it didn’t matter their economic status.”

After the tragedy in Arizona this past weekend many immediately looked at Sarah Palin due to her actions in the last election cycle when she proudly displayed a map of Congress woman Gifford’s district with cross-hairs because she was on her “hit list.” Although most media outlets specified that obviously Sarah Palin didn’t want Giffords shot, she was part of the “rhetoric” that was amping up America. Sarah Palin decided to respond to that.

Republican governor Jan Brewer’s decision to cut all medicaid funding for organ transplant procedures in Arizona has created a de facto death panel that has taken the lives of two people so far.

States across the country are feeling the strain in this bad economy and are cutting funding for services, but Governor Brewer is the only governor in the nation who has decided to save money by letting poor people die

As we prepared ourselves for the ridiculousness that was proposed by the newly elected Republicans of the 112th congress–the reading of the Constitution in full–some were wondering how far they were willing to go? Although many conservatives and tea partiers look at the Constitution as an infallible piece of awesomeness, others remember a key section within it that was a little less than the spectacular rainbow laden orgasm that they pretend it was. Perhaps three fifth’s less.

‘Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.’

Oh dear. That’s awkward.  

My favorite undercover brother is one step closer to making history in the White House.

Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton, the child of a Black father and white mother, has a chance to become the White House’s first Black press secretary after the announcement today that Press Secretary Robert Gibbs will step down in February.

Monday’s debate between four candidates in the running for Republican National Committee chair (co-hosted by would-be executioner of dog killers, Tucker Carlson) showed that despite public approval for equality, the Republican party is still not cool with “the gay”.

Even when the RNC had a gay chair, he worked diligently to stop gays from legally being married in the United States.

I’m by no means a constitutional scholar but this take on the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment by Conservative Justice Antonin Scalia seems a bit off to me:

In 1868, when the 39th Congress was debating and ultimately proposing the 14th Amendment, I don’t think anybody would have thought that equal protection applied to sex discrimination, or certainly not to sexual orientation. So does that mean that we’ve gone off in error by applying the 14th Amendment to both?

Yes, yes. Sorry, to tell you that. … But, you know, if indeed the current society has come to different views, that’s fine. You do not need the Constitution to reflect the wishes of the current society. Certainly the Constitution does not require discrimination on the basis of sex. The only issue is whether it prohibits it. It doesn’t. Nobody ever thought that that’s what it meant. Nobody ever voted for that. If the current society wants to outlaw discrimination by sex, hey we have things called legislatures, and they enact things called laws. You don’t need a constitution to keep things up-to-date. All you need is a legislature and a ballot box. You don’t like the death penalty anymore, that’s fine. You want a right to abortion? There’s nothing in the Constitution about that. But that doesn’t mean you cannot prohibit it. Persuade your fellow citizens it’s a good idea and pass a law. That’s what democracy is all about. It’s not about nine superannuated judges who have been there too long, imposing these demands on society.

On Monday, Sports Illustrated columnist Peter King dropped this little pebble into the well of an otherwise politically newsless holiday:

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie was surprised to hear the president’s voice on the phone. Barack Obama had two things to discuss with Lurie: the redemption of Michael Vick and the alternative-energy plans Lurie unveiled this fall for Lincoln Financial Field.

Michael Vick has been the target of outrage since 2007 when his ‘Bad Newz’ dog kennel was found to be an illegal interstate dog fighting operation. Aware of that a potential wave of controversy was brewing, the White House moved quickly to clarify that the President condemns the crimes Vick committed.

Texas Rep. Leo Berman doesn’t think Obama should be President. Why? Because he’s not Whi…er…not AMERICAN. I know, you’re probably thinking “wait, people are still arguing about the validity of his birth certificate?” The answer: Yes, because some people are idiots. In the video at the bottom of this page Berman goes on to explain that he wants someone to “show him” the proof that Obama is an American.  Anderson Cooper points out there has been statements by government officials who have seen the letter of birth but Berman continues with the “I haven’t seen it” argument…

This Week In Blackness has signed on to be an official partner of RootsCamp NYC!

Keith Olbermann has been suspended indefinitely from MSNBC for political donations he made to 3 Democratic candidates.  The MSNBC policy is that all donations must be approved ahead of time and it appears that Olbermann did not do that.  It also appears that MSNBC is really overreacting here.  Joe Scarborough has also donated to Republican candidates in the past and it’s not exactly like Keith is impartial or hiding his biases.

Statement from MSNBC reads:

I became aware of Keith’s political contributions late last night. Mindful of NBC News policy and standards, I have suspended him indefinitely without pay,” MSNBC president Phil Griffin said in a statement.

If it is the policy that all donations need to be approved ahead of time and if Olbermann failed to do that he violated the rules.  That doesn’t mean he should be suspended indefinitely however.  From the little we know about the policy at this point it really doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense because I don’t know how you would implement it across the board.  That said suspended indefinitely sure sounds like fired but only time will tell.

I want the growing chorus of individuals, bloggers, and television pundits who are proclaiming that Obama is weak and wimpy to look at this picture:

After an earlier alert today about voter suppression in South Carolina another story pops up over at  DailyKos on Mizzum‘s Diary. We got in touch with her and wanted to share with our readers.

I just got back from my polling place in South Carolina – and I had to fight to cast my African American vote. This sweet little southern belle was the leader and she tried her cotton-pickin best to block me,

That is all. (h/t Joshua Trupin & WNYmedia)