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A "target-rich environment" is Navy-speak for "a lot of shit to shoot at." In the political front, the Republican Party, them what is laser-focused on the Economy, Stupid, seem to have provided a plethora.
First, of course, is Republican candidate for US Senate, Todd Akin, who thinks that no true victim of rape gets pregnant. Err, no, and do you really want somebody that dumb working as dog-catcher, let alone Senator? Second, we hear that Republican Representative Kevin Yoder, visiting Israel on Your Tax Dollars, got liquored up and decided to go skinny-dipping in the Sea of Galilee. Video at 10! (Or maybe not.)
More profound thoughts come from Charles P. Pierce, who notes that the Morrill Act is 150 years old this year. This act gave Federal money to the states to build state colleges, like my alma maters, the University of Illinois and Southern Illinois University. It, like the Homestead Act (free Western land) and the creation of the Union Pacific railroad as well as the founding of the first national park ever, all happened during the Civil War.
This was no accident, Pierce writes. During the Civil War, all the Southerners were gone from Congress, allowing the progressive north to pass laws for the public good. Once the South was fully back in the Union, this first burst of progressiveness ended, not to come back until an assassin killed William McKinley.
Now we're in the early stages of another progressive spurt, with the Affordable Care Act and other regulations. People like Paul Ryan are busily trying, with laser-like focus, to kill that. You see, Ryan, along with Todd "no true rape" Akins, sponsored a bill in this congress whose goal was seemingly to empower Congress and/or the states to outlaw abortion in all cases, including cases of rape or incest.
The Republicans may wish this election was only about The Economy, Stupid. It's not.
First, of course, is Republican candidate for US Senate, Todd Akin, who thinks that no true victim of rape gets pregnant. Err, no, and do you really want somebody that dumb working as dog-catcher, let alone Senator? Second, we hear that Republican Representative Kevin Yoder, visiting Israel on Your Tax Dollars, got liquored up and decided to go skinny-dipping in the Sea of Galilee. Video at 10! (Or maybe not.)
More profound thoughts come from Charles P. Pierce, who notes that the Morrill Act is 150 years old this year. This act gave Federal money to the states to build state colleges, like my alma maters, the University of Illinois and Southern Illinois University. It, like the Homestead Act (free Western land) and the creation of the Union Pacific railroad as well as the founding of the first national park ever, all happened during the Civil War.
This was no accident, Pierce writes. During the Civil War, all the Southerners were gone from Congress, allowing the progressive north to pass laws for the public good. Once the South was fully back in the Union, this first burst of progressiveness ended, not to come back until an assassin killed William McKinley.
Now we're in the early stages of another progressive spurt, with the Affordable Care Act and other regulations. People like Paul Ryan are busily trying, with laser-like focus, to kill that. You see, Ryan, along with Todd "no true rape" Akins, sponsored a bill in this congress whose goal was seemingly to empower Congress and/or the states to outlaw abortion in all cases, including cases of rape or incest.
The Republicans may wish this election was only about The Economy, Stupid. It's not.
