I’d like to start by apologizing to the fine people of Minnesota… but really how could you send this woman to Washington?

First up, Michelle Bachmann, congresswoman from Minnesota, about 50 seconds in.

And now Barney Frank, congressman from Massachusetts

[youtube width=”320″ height=”265″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAzReB_KTeA[/youtube]

I’m sorry. It’s no contest. Not even close.

No one saw this coming, especially the Republicans. From the Washington Post:

Specter’s decision would give Democrats a 60 seat filibuster proof majority in the Senate assuming Democrat Al Franken is eventually sworn in as the next senator from Minnesota. (Former senator Norm Coleman is appealing Franken’s victory in the state Supreme Court.)

“I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary,” said Specter in a statement. “I am ready, willing and anxious to take on all comers and have my candidacy for re-election determined in a general election.”

He added: “Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans.”

Senate Republicans have since called an emergency meeting, as their ability to block Democratic legislation is now razor thin. RNC head Michael Steele and Senator Olympia Snow of Maine provided contrasting viewpoints in the NY Times.

[Spectre] didn’t leave the G.O.P. based on principles of any kind. He left to further his personal political interests because he knew that he was going to lose a Republican primary due to his left-wing voting record. Republicans look forward to beating Senator Specter in 2010, assuming the Democrats don’t do it first.”

But Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine, who also supported the Obama administration’s economic stimulus legislation, said Mr. Specter’s decision reflected the increasingly inhospitable climate in the Republican party for moderates.

“On the national level of the Republican Party, we haven’t certainly heard warm, encouraging words about how they view moderates, either you are with us or against us,” Ms. Snowe said. She said national Republican leaders were not grasping that “political diversity makes a party stronger and ultimately we are heading to having the smallest political tent in history for any political party the way things are unfolding.”

Welcome to the party Arlen. Now come on Al, you’re holding up the majority. 🙂

In what many consider the liberal capital of the United States, 400 plus individuals gathered to protest increased taxation and government spending at San Francisco City Hall and outside House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office. While the Tea Party movement proclaims to be party agnostic, the anti-Obama sentiment was palpable. If BOTH parties got us into this mess, as they purport, where were the anti-Republican signs and speeches?

The crowd was made up primarily of  white males, definitely skewing older, with white women a distance second. People of color were rare and hard to find. There were the typical memes about the inexorable march toward socialism, the ills of more government and  Obama’s administration taxing us all to the grave. There was also a subtle current of militancy (perhaps it was the Ron Paul supporters mingled in with the crowd) with cries for revolution, particularly among the middle-aged and younger. Those who were older perhaps more interested in holding on to their money than “taking the country back.”

There was also a notable lack of tea, despite the movement’s name. Probably for the best. The original meaning and motives behind the original Boston Tea Party have been lost in today’s events, which have been co-opted by special interest, Fox News and oddly enough, a host of Republicans.  The original Boston Tea Party wasn’t about raising taxes, in fact the Tea Act of 1773 lowered taxes. Instead, colonists objected because they believed it violated their constitutional right to be taxed only by their own elected representatives. It had nothing to do with raising taxes. It had nothing to do with overspending.

But today’s events did present a wonderful opportunity to discuss ideas and solutions that might address our economic plight, but such discussions were woefully absent, constructive debate replaced with whining and complaining. The only solution gently hinted at was to take the country back by way of revolution.

And as for the teabaggery, thankfully there was none. At least not in the literal since. Which is a very good thing indeed.

Additional photos from the protest and a video below…

Previous liveblog from earlier today…

Former CEO of eBay Meg Whitman launched her bid today seeking the Republican nomination for California governor.

During the presidential race, Whitman worked in both the Mitt Romney and John McCain campaigns, and was viewed as a possible Secretary of the Treasury pick. Whitman also came out in favor of Proposition 8 as reported in the Sacramento Bee…

“Because she is not yet a candidate for governor, we are respectfully declining to participate,” said Whitman political adviser Mitch Zak. Whitman has not previously made a broad public announcement about supporting Proposition 8, but she has told GOP groups in the last week she supports the measure.

Geoff Kors, Exceutive Director of Equality California had this to say about the announcement…

“Republican and Democratic voters alike know that the only way to win statewide elections in California is to nominate candidates who will work for all Californians and bring people together, not politicians who pit one group against another in an attempt to divide us.

“As our country and our State move forward, Meg Whitman is stuck in the past, practicing the politics of divisiveness by publicly supporting Prop 8. Whitman is wrong for LGBT people and wrong for California.”

Looks like we may have our work cut out for us in 2010. A possible gay marriage proposition to undue the damage of Prop 8 and the defeat of this wingnut, who made her 1.3 billion off the backs of the thousands of LGBT eBay users.