The opinions expressed on this blog are the personal opinions of our bloggers, and in no way reflect the opinions of Comedy Central, MTV Networks or Viacom.
Warning
Some blogs or websites linked from this site may contain objectionable or uncensored content. Comedy Central is not affiliated with these websites and makes no representations or warranties as to their content.
Michele Bachmann's "Super Bowl of Freedom" pitted several busloads of teabaggers vs. everybody else in a rousing round of the Angry Game, but I'd be hard-pressed to tell you who "won." (Cardboard manufacturers, maybe?)
So, good news, it looks like we're getting a few extra innings. Rep. Bachmann may have violated a number of Congressional ethics rules in organizing the anti-health care reform rally, prompting a watchdog group to call for investigation…
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington contends that Rep. Bachmann misused her official congressional website by urging people to come to the Capitol to protest the legislation despite House rules restricting members from using their websites to engage in "grassroots lobbying or solicit support for a Member’s position."
CREW also asked the Office of Congressional Ethics to determine if Rep. Bachmann and other members violated House rules by failing to acquire a permit for the Nov. 5 rally and by falsely calling the event a "press conference," though no questions were asked by the media.
To be fair, questions were asked by the news media a few days later.
As you know, House Democrats recently passed a health care reform bill, despite fierce opposition from the GOP. Honestly, I don't know how they pulled it off when the Republicans were pulling out the big guns: Leis and babies. After all, who can forget that famous proverb, "If you spout non sequiturs about flower necklaces and awkwardly exploit your grandchildren by the river long enough, eventually you'll see the body of your enemy float by"?
Congratulations, America, your House of Representatives stopped dithering and passed a health care reform bill — final tally, 220-215. Yay/boo. Now the focus shifts to the Senate, but they'll have a tough time surpassing the amount of crazy that went down in the House during Saturday's interminable debate.
Here is a child's treasury of health care debate hijinks, starting with an actual childcourtesy of Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ). See, Maddie wants patient choice. Maddie does not want her mom's taxes to go up. Maddie/Trig '44!
I'm starting to feel sorry for the grass-roots conservatives. They keep getting saddled with embarrassing names. First they were Teabaggers, now they're Guy Fawkers. Everyone's so busy laughing at the ridiculous monikers, they're not taking the time to actually listen to what the protesters have to say and laugh at that.
A series of spot interviews suggests that the protesters have come to Washington from all across the country – Texas, Ohio, Oregon and the greater Washington area. It’s a generally older crowd, many in their 50s and 60s, predominantly, white, and many self-identified as Christians. They are fiercely conservative and deeply skeptical of the government, many of them adamantly opposed to abortion rights.
Whoa! They got white conservative Christians and Christian conservative whites! That's a broad coalition they've got there.
Many of the demonstrators, like Judith Garloch of Newark, Ohio, said they were opposed to an increasing government role in the health care. Many said they feared cuts to the Medicare program for Americans 65 and over… But Ms. Garloch, like many in the crowd who while visibly angry could not articulate the main problems in the health care system or how they should be solved.
To be fair, being informed and knowing what you're angry about are not requirements for The Angry Game.
To the gridiron, patriots, and by gridiron I mean Capitol Hill! It is time to tackle the socialist problem of health care reform, and by tackle I mean tackle! Your starting quarterback for this game will be the one and only Michele Bachmann, bantamweight from Minnesota, the woman who kicked off the puck on Fox News the other day with a call for "freedom-loving Americans" to attend her "Super Bowl of Freedom" and help her cry foul in the offices of Congress at noon today. Goooooaaaaaaal!
Rep. Michele Bachmann's message for conservatives traveling to Washington to attend her Capitol Hill House Call event Thursday is simple: "Go into the Capitol and find members of Congress," she told activists Wednesday night. "Don't bring your pitchforks, bring your video cameras. And get them on record saying how they're going to vote and why. And tell them, 'Take your hands off my health care!'"
Of course, if you do have a spare pitchfork lying around, couldn't hurt to bring it along. Just in case you happen to catch Nancy Pelosi trying to slam dunk a public option over the last wicket when the umpire isn't looking.
p.s.: Everybody, please be nice to Dennis today. Some group called the Yankees did something bad last night — caved to anti-choice Blue Dogs on abortion provisions, maybe? — and I know he's upset.