And if I were Republicans, I would say to Issa, in the parlance of his old business, “Please step away from that car.”

– David Axelrod, Democratic strategist, asserting that Republicans are approaching overreach concerning the IRS. Axelrod was alluding to Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), who, prior to being in Congress, was charged with grand theft auto, investigated for arson, arrested on weapons charges, and convicted of carrying an unregistered and concealed firearm.

There is no question that Rep. Michele Bachmann (GOP/Tea – Minn.) is among the squirreliest of the squirrels in Congress. But as she announces her decision not to seek re-election next year, the web site capitolwords has ranked the words and phrases most used by the head of the tea party caucus. And the number [...]

Former Gov. Mark Sanford’s braying jackassiness shone through in his recent debate with opponent Elizabeth Colbert-Busch. Both are running from South Carolina for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. The election is Tuesday, May 7, and polls show Busch expanding her lead or tying with Sanford, depending on the political affiliations of [...]

The group that Congress is helping the most by lifting the FAA sequester isn’t business flyers. No, lawmakers are helping themselves. There is no more pampered class of air traveler than members of Congress… The point is, Congress’s decision to lift the sequester was even more self-serving than you probably imagined. After casting their votes on Friday, most members raced to the airport and went home.

— Joshua Green, noting in Businessweek that the decision to reverse the automatic cuts that were causing air-traffic controllers to be furloughed — delaying hundreds of flights — wasn’t about business air travelers.

Congressional leaders are meeting in Washington somewhere
For secret negotiations they don’t want to share.
In an ultimate cop-out
They are trying to opt out
Of procuring their health insurance through Obamacare.

The next time there’s a mass shooting and they’re asked what they did to prevent it, they’re going to have to say nothing.

Erica Lafferty, the daughter of the principal of Sandy Hook Elementary, who was shot and killed along with 20 first-graders and five teachers during five minutes in December of 2012. Lafferty was reacting to news that the Senate failed to pass a bill to close a loophole exempting gun shows and online gun sales from background checks. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) joined three other Democrats and all but four Republicans in voting against the measure, which polls show that 90 percent of Americans favor.

Many people who change their minds from being against marriage equality to being for it chalk up their “evolving” to knowing someone personally who is gay. Such was the case for Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), who recently revealed that a) his son is gay, and b) he thinks gay people should be able to marry [...]

44%

Registered voters who said they would vote for a generic Democratic Congressional candidate, were an election held today. Only 37% would pick the generic Republican, according to the conservative polling site, Rasmussen Reports, which is having a bad start to the week. The site’s own surveys show that 52% of likely voters approve of the job Pres. Obama is doing while 46% disapprove, and that, for the first time in five years, less than half of those questioned believe the economy is still in recession.

Tis the season, or at least the day, for a little fakery, so here are some headlines that are too good to be true, even though we wish they were. Dennis Rodman Promises to Stay Home and Never Visit Anywhere Again Sen. Marco Rubio Announces Immigration Reform Planning to Begin “Within His Lifetime” Media Sources [...]