+5

Change in the GOP’s unfavorability ratings, according to a new CNN poll in which 59% of respondents said they have an unfavorable opinion of the Republican party, while 35% were still favorable. The numbers were more even for Democrats, with 52% of those polled saying they view the party favorably and 43% seeing it unfavorably. The response to the tea party movement was, as would be expected, the strangest, with 37% seeing it favorably, 45% unfavorably, an astounding 7% reporting that they never heard of it, and 11% withholding any opinion.

It seemed to come as a great shock when it was recently revealed that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) examines some taxpayers more closely than others. Really? Because no one has ever objected to the IRS targeting some tax returns for audit. Among them: Millionaires (in fiscal 2011, the IRS audited 12.5% of them) People [...]

The California Republican Party is bankrupt, both intellectually and financially. Its voter registration has dropped to just 30 percent of the electorate. And last year Republicans lost so many seats in the Legislature that Democrats achieved super-majority status in both houses. “Granted, the percentage of pregnancies due to rape is small because it’s an act [...]

$11,000

Annual income for a family of three that tea party Gov. Rick Scott of Florida considers too high to receive Medicaid assistance. In addition, single people of any income level are automatically excluded.

Seventies’ rock ‘n roll has-been Ted Nugent — a notorious Vietnam War draft dodger — will be the special guest of a Texas Republican congressman for the State of the Union speech tomorrow night: “I am excited to have a patriot like Ted Nugent joining me in the House Chamber to hear from President Obama,” [...]

But the small amount of information I received is that [Obama] criticized what Sen. Rubio and some of his colleagues did, because he said they had all these enforcement provisions, and the president doesn’t want that. He basically wants to move in to legalization and citizenship immediately. That’s not something that I would support. It’s also not something that I think we can afford. Because once you’re a legal American citizen, you’re going to have access to the new health care subsidies, you’re going to have access to the welfare state.

– U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis (GOP/Tea), one of Florida’s new Congress members, explaining to constituents at a town hall meeting how he differs with the president on immigration. DeSantis seems to assume that people want to become Americans for the easy money.

We’re surprised he didn’t throw in a promise of dark chocolate, red wine and foot massages.

– Orlando Sentinel editorial writers, noting the amazing about-face by Florida Gov. Rick Scott (GOP/Tea), who announced this week a $2,500 across the board bonus for teachers. The editorial, titled, “Teacher Pay Proposal Smacks of Political Bribe,” reminds readers that Scott slashed teacher pay and school funding when he came to office, and is only increasing it now because that move and others have lead to his record low popularity. Scott will seek re-election in 2014, with what stands now at a 36% positive approval rating.

5

Number of shootings during Gun Appreciation Day, all by “responsible gun owners.” The highest toll was at a gun show in North Carolina, where three people were shot when a man removed his 12-gauge shotgun from its case. In Ohio, a man was shot by a 9-mm semi-automatic handgun held by his business partner, and another in Indiana shot himself as he loaded his .45-caliber semi-automatic. There were no shootings reported that day from music, food, or cultural festivals, reinforcing the notion that the very presence of guns makes people less safe.

NRA: “The only way to reduce the kinds of casualties seen at gun shows across the country today is more guns” #GunAppreciationDay

– @TheDailyEdge, a humor site, tweeting about the rash of negligent accidental shootings by “responsible gun owners” as they bought and sold guns on a day dreamed up by the gun lobby and rightwing extremists.

A couple of days ago, BuzzFeed’s Andrew Kaczynski (@BuzzFeedAndrew) tweeted this: Is this the most racist White House petition ever created? https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/stop-white-genocide-halt-massive-third-world-immigration-and-forced-assimilation-white-countries/WVyzm59F And here’s the petition: WE PETITION THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO: STOP WHITE GENOCIDE: Halt MASSIVE third world immigration and FORCED assimilation in White countries! Africa for Africans, Asia for Asians, White countries for [...]