It's Scary Where This Country Is Headed

When Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry are potentially legitimate candidates to become president of the United States, that is a frightening sign of where our country is headed.

But, this should be taken as a signal that the extremists are finding a place in our society as proven by the platform the tea party folks received at the pathetic debate aired on CNN. The extremists may not be winning ... yet ... but their voices are louder than the silent majority.

That is the scary part.

Bachmann Photo Can't Make Her Look Crazy Without Her Own Contribution

It has been interesting to listen to some of the commentary about the Michele Bachmann cover photo that Newsweek selected.

I watched CNN's Reliable Sources as panelists whined about how unflattering the photo is and even (brace yourself) how it was some continuing conspiracy on the part of Newsweek to make conservatives look bad. Cry me a river.

If people think Michele Bachmann has a crazed look in her eyes then I think one has to begin by investigating her words and her record. Perhaps that is more indicative of the interpretations people have of this photo than anything else.

Perhaps people should look at it from a journalistic perspective and ask if the photo is appropriate for the person and the story. Judge it that way.

Far-Right Nutty Racism On The Floor Of The House Of Representatives

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Rep. Steve King and Rep. Michele Bachmann advancing the perception of racism from the far right.

King talks about "drug addicts" and "reparations" and a very "urban" senator (talking about President Barack Obama's support of compensation for black farmers who were the victims of discrimination) and advances the stereotype of blacks being lazy and looking for a handout.

Do we need to draw a racial map here.

This is racial politics at its most despicable, but not unexpected with King and Bachmann - to classic right-wing bigots.

Bachmann Goes Nutty Again In Calling President Obama Worst President In U.S. History

Far-right congresswoman Michele Bachmann is back at it doing that dangerous thing she does far too often ... opening her mouth and allowing words to come out.

In a conversation with radio host Ben Shaprio, the credibility-challenged Bachmann absurdly claimed that Barack Obama is the worst president in U.S. history. Being criticized by someone like Bachmann has to be a badge of honor. Anyone that stands in contrast of her has to be a lot closer to having a head that is screwed on properly.

SHAPIRO: Is President Obama better or worse than Jimmy Carter?

BACHMANN: Worse. Easily worse.

SHAPIRO: I agree. So far, you’d have to say he’s the worst president in United States history …

BACHMANN: No question. No question.

Rick Santorum’s Comments Are Misguided And One Dimensional

Rick Santorum, a former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, was on Greta Van Susteren’s Fox News show doing what conservatives do: defending Sarah Palin and whining about the mainstream media. Santorum scoffed at the idea that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was roughed up the way so many conservatives feel that Palin has been roughed up. Rick, this is big-time Washington politics. If she can’t fight through it as governor of Alaska then how is she going to fight through it as president of the United States? Clinton fought through all of the attacks against her and her family and, arguably, endured much worse than Palin has had to deal with and she is still a pillar of strength to this day.

Santorum claimed that people rough up women and blacks who are conservatives and cited U.S. Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas as an example. The objection to Thomas is less about being a black conservative and more about his policies which many consider to be anti-black (policies that some people feel he benefited from and now wants to pull the ladder up with him since he has made it to the top). That is why some considered (and still consider) Clarence Thomas an “Uncle Tom.” As one counter example, many blacks still appreciated Gen. Colin Powell even as he voted for Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush (something many Republicans don’t talk about when they try to ridiculously portray him as a closet liberal who only supported Barack Obama for the presidency because he was black).

There are many women conservatives who have not been beat up as conservatives claim Sarah Palin is being beaten up.

Here is a list from the National Federation of Republican Women.

I see only two women who get negative media attention (as Santorum and other conservatives might see it): Palin and Rep. Michele Bachmann. Palin and Bachmann have provided (all well documented … especially Bachmann, who is the gift that keeps giving) their opponents with all kinds of ammunition. Hey, as off the wall as Bachmann can be, she somehow managed to get herself reelected in Minnesota. In other words, their criticism is self-created criticism.

Rep. Steve King, Of Iowa, Continues Whining About Hate Crime Legislation

Think Progress has a story quoting far-right extremist Rep. Steve King, of Iowa, who is crying about the hate crime legislation, known as the Matthew Shepard Act. Why did Iowans put this individual in office? Of course, the same could be said about some of the people in Minnesota who helped get Rep. Michele Bachmann, another right-wing nut, reelected. Check out the Think Progress story to see the fit that some on the far right are throwing and all the fear-mongering they’re creating.

KING: If they’re one of God’s children let’s protect them equally and when you go down the path of special protected status, then you end up with the sacred cows walking around the street that have another extra shield around them that actually would put the victimizer’s focus on someone else. I think it’s unequal protection of the law that results from it.

Rep. King seems to be worried that if penalties are too harsh in protecting some people (such as gays and ethnic minorities) then it will lead to attacks on white people. That seems to be his implication. But, if people are specially targeted then why shouldn’t they be specially protected?

Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/05/06/king-sacred-cows/