Randi Rhodes: Spoil the Rich to (barely) Feed the Poor

Well, we seem to be a step closer to stepping in something pretty unpleasant. The outline of a deal on tax cuts is taking shape. This outline is like of one of those chalk outlines at a crime scene. And I think this crime scene is the one where the Democrats got run over by a truck. This tax cut deal has the potential to be the most distasteful deal since Monty Hall retired. We should have gone for the display case that Carol Merrill was standing beside. The compromise being discussed would extend the Bush tax cuts for the rich in exchange for an extension of unemployment benefits. There’s a great deal—hundreds of billions for the rich in exchange for crumbs for the middle class. It’s like they want us to buy all the rich people another Rolls Royce, and then maybe they’ll be willing to give us enough unemployment to buy a bus pass for another month. Great deal. An extension of unemployment benefits in exchange for billions in tax cuts for the rich… the Republicans will agree to do what any sane government would do during a recession, as long as we’re willing to also do the absolute stupidest thing we could possibly do during a recession.

Don’t these people know there’s a war on Christmas going on? Fox News’ Chris Wallace got annoyed when a radio host asked him to talk about the so-called War on Christmas. Chris felt that was beneath him. Chris, you work for Fox News—nothing is beneath you. Besides, Chris, Fox News is America’s number one source of information on the War on Christmas. Or should I say source of disinformation on the War on Christmas? It’s the only war that Fox News shows any interest in. Fox News is to the War on Christmas what George Bush was to the War in Iraq—it’s something they dreamed up and made into a reality all on their own.

Speaking of Fox News, FCC Commissioner Michael Copps says “I think American media has a bad case of substance abuse right now.” It might be more accurate to say American media has bad case of “lack-of-substance abuse.” Copps said “We are not producing the body of news and information that democracy needs to conduct its civic dialogue.” Not exactly… we are if you want to conduct our civic dialogue by yelling at the top of your voice.

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Bill Maher talks Obama, Dem wussiness, and uninformed independents with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria…