From our The More Things Change Etc. Department comes this cartoon by Pat Oliphant, circa 1976. This is not the first time the swine have sought revenge upon the long pigs for turning them into chops, bacon and green chile stew, and it won’t be the last.
In other news, the prez met the press again last night, and once again I was struck by how pleasant it is to hear an occupant of the Oval Office speaking in complete sentences free of pointless rancor, no matter how idiotic the question.
Speaking of idiots, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Bizarro World) seems to be out to take the title of Most Crazed Legislator from the Colorado delegation, renowned for heavyweight nutjobs like Tom Tancredo and Marilyn Musgrave. Notes Steve Benen at Political Animal in recounting Bachmann’s latest vacation from reality:
The economy under Coolidge was worse than the Great Depression? That’s pretty nutty. The New Deal created the Great Depression? That’s certainly yahooism at its finest.
But of particular interest is Bachmann’s belief that FDR passed “the Hoot-Smalley Act” and that “took a recession and blew it into a full-scale depression.” First, the name of the law was “Smoot-Hawley.” Second, it’s a real stretch to argue that it was responsible for the Great Depression. And third, the Smoot-Hawley bill was championed by Republicans and signed by Herbert Hoover, FDR’s Republican predecessor.
Bachmann is blaming FDR for a law sponsored by Republicans, which was implemented three years before he took office.
Perhaps Bachmann is thinking of the Hoot-Smalley Act, drafted by Hoot Gibson and Stuart Smalley, which created the Daily Affirmations 12 Step Program for Those Addicted to 12 Step Programs.
Mad Blog Media 
I think on future voting ballots, the IQ of those running for orifice should be posted. Single digits, such as Michelle’s, would be a tip-off to most people.
In the Internet Age it doesn’t take much to fact-check one’s statements. One would think that people like Rep. Bachman would be able to get it right the first time. Is she stupid, or just so full of herself that she didn’t think anyone would notice?
Patrick: I believe that Ms Bachmann is a member of the Minnesota delegation, not our own. We must look to our state legislators to find those worth mentioning in the same graph w/Ms. Beeee(atshit).
There’s facts, and there’s misinformation, and then there’s outright lieing. and the line between the last two is very fine and blurry.
Me and mein fraulein always marvel at Obama’s uncanny ability to speak in complete sentences and communicate whole ideas. Also, he’s learning real fast, and starting to grow a little of the ol’ Reagan Teflon, methinks.
A Teflon President who is uncommonly smart is a scary idea.
Patrick,
It is indeed a pleasure to know what you heard is actually what the President meant. So much less stressful.
As the GOP continues its decent into freeper heaven I have one worrying thought. If they become a niche regional party of ideological purist it seems inevitable human nature and history that the Democratic party, if it continues to draw in those pushed out, will eventually schism. I really do not see a situation like Mexico’s PRI holding power for decades.
We are a two party system not a parliamentarian system so coalition building happens within a party not across party lines. So then, first I’m giving the Dems 5-10 years of basically unchallenged governance followed by some realignment of groups/demographics. But what I don’t see is does the GOP get replaced by another party (like they replaced the Whigs)? Do multiple groups spring up, weakening the Dems, but not strengthening the GOP, by not combining into a new party? Or does the GOP do what both parties have done before and redefine themselves to regrow?
Will internet voting and social software based marketing favor the growth on smaller niche parties.
Fun, fun, fun. I can’t wait to se how this all works out.
How to become a famous politician:
1) Say the dumbest thing you can think of.
2) Wait for folks to attack you.
3) If the left attacks, claim they’re only attacking you because of your strong conservative values. Or vice versa. Doesn’t matter which, because you don’t even need any values.
4) The extremists from the side you just picked will now flock to your rescue, and woop, there’s your new base.
The scariest thing is, this is one of the least scary things she’s said this year.
Politicians are like some cyclists: they ‘see’ the STOP sign but don’t think it applies to them. And then when they end up riding the pavement (I was going to say something about riding hoods but the images from Apeldoorn are too sickening) it is the automobile driver’s fault.
“Personal responsibility be damned I am going to do what I please and screw you!” seems to be the current mantra…of the idiots.
I agree with SteveO. I don’t think we’re giving Bachmann enough credit here. She may or may not know who was president when the Great Depression hit, or even what the Smoot-Hawley act was or when it was passed. It doesn’t matter. She’s not addressing those of us concerned about facts and reality, she’s simply, and effectively, pandering to the far right wing of the Republican Party, which as we all have noticed may soon be all that is left of the Republican Party. The people who populate the far right aren’t concerned whether or not what she says is true or factual, they just want to hear someone attacking those they hate (namely Democrats in general and Obama in particular), even if they don’t know why they hate them.
Bachmann’s found a good gig for herself. The more we laugh at her the higher her credibility with her base. We all used to laugh at George W. Bush, and look where that got us.