Marlon Barkley  
marlon@thedeathofanation.com 

There has been a significant development for the privatization industry this past week. The United States Postal Service reported a quarterly loss of $2 Billion, despite higher prices and an increase in operating revenue. 

Publications like the New York Times perfectly assist the illustration of how another government run business is a candidate for privatization. Using this headline, "Postal Service Quarterly Loss Was $2 Billion, Despite Higher Prices", is an intentional attempt to mislead. They further the assist by adding in the first sentence, despite an increase in revenue on  almost every product the US Postal service is "mired in debt". When you dig deeper elsewhere, for even 10 seconds, you see the information necessary.

Those people with an ounce of curiosity and 10 seconds of time might wonder how this could possibly happen. USPS.gov has an explanation of this situation and cause posted right on their web site.  

Let's parse what the USPS is saying. The Republican controlled congress and Senate in 2006 passed a law to force the U.S. Postal service to pre-fund their health and retirement benefits to cover those expenses for 75 years. 

This makes total sense when you think about it. John Smith who might be born tomorrow and work for the post office starting August 1, 2035 will need retirement benefits in the year 2079. Good thing his retirement plan will be funded this year! 

Republicans manufactured a crisis for ideology or is it just to make a profit for their friends? You could easily argue the latter. Remember President George Bush's bank bailout? Republicans were unanimously behind it*. 

When Republicans finally privatize the postal service, will that make them eligible for a Republican bailout? Not only would they support it, they would probably promote it with some populist patriotism bull shit one could see through if one looked. Wouldn't it be nice if Republicans were this financially responsible on a day-to-day basis?

Prepare to pay ten times what you do now for mailing a letter, if you even get service. On second thought, you probably will not have to worry about it since delivery will not be available in any rural area thanks to privatization.

*Fox News watchers may find this FACT a complete surprise. Look at the date it occurred.

Marlon Barkley 
marlon@thedeathofanation.com

I thought Republicans were supposed to be "Pro-Life"? The message is beat into our heads by the media and consistently used as a Republican campaign message* that's won elections. Here's an astounding story about the reality of the Republican party platform.

Tennessee Representative Scott DesJarlais (R), an incumbent Republican looks to be sailing successfully through the primary, even though he appears to have some "family values" contradictory to the Republican mantra. DesJarlais is a Teabagger, thus given special permissions.  

DesJarlais is a doctor. Doctor's take an oath. In the 1990's DesJarlais decides to get it on with a few of his patients and one of them became pregnant. Dr. Desjarlais decides the best course of action would naturally be an abortion. We all understand we are going to make mistakes in our life and will regret the consequences of bad choices. The problem with this, is Desjarlais is pretending he is anti-abortion, he is lying about what he stands for and no one cares. 

If the Republican party actually stood for anything they say they do, then answer these questions.

• Why isn't the Westboro Baptist Church protesting Desjarlais as a baby killer like they do soldiers returning from a tour? 
  
• Why aren't there calls to remove Desjarlais and strip him of campaign funding like were done to Planned Parenthood?
  
• Why did the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) give Desjarlais a 100% score? Yes, a perfect score for someone who wanted a patient he fucked to have an abortion.
  
• Where are the death threats from the anti-abortion nut jobs who think killing a doctor who performs abortion is just? He's a doctor, doesn't he fit in to your parameters?

Not only should DesJarlais be stripped of he medical license, he has no business being a leader for any political party. How he is still even a viable candidate tells an amazing story of the Republican party. Deterioration.

*Although people with a brain or non-Fox News watchers understand the opposite. See study after study after study.

I've spent some time in Minnesota in a past life and it has always been very hard for me to understand how Representative Michele Bachmann (R) can get a single vote. 

It is rare that a congressperson spews imaginary "facts" so provably wrong, even the uninformed (or a Fox News viewer), doesn't need to waste time verifying its wrongness. 


Based on her lengthy track record, most of what she says can be immediately dismissed as irrelevant. This fits the formula for the perfect Republican or Tea Bagger candidate, however, she is so beyond ridiculous it is detrimental to the entire political process for both sides. Let's examine a few gems.

Bachmann said this on Sunday, June 26th, 2011 in an interview on Fox News. Why would Bachmann say this when it takes seconds to prove she is lying? Here, here, here, here and here. That literally took five seconds to find out she is wrong. Stupidly, she keeps repeating that quote while continuing to claim income from the farm on her financials.

Bachmann said this on Wednesday, July 30th, 2014 in an interview on the radio show "WallBuilders Live". She is clearly suggesting hospitals could do that research on undocumented children. Any other person saying something this psychotic would be in an institution. If you don't believe this, here is direct link to the audio. 

Bachmann said this to a group of local Republicans, while in campaigning in New Hampshire. The shot heard around the world, the beginning of the Revolutionary War were fired in Massachusetts. 

Bachmann said this while campaigning in 2011. This is not only irresponsible, but a dangerous and completely, provable false statement. Is she really that dim witted or is she lying? How often does the American Academy of Pediatrics have to release a statement contradicting a presidential candidate?

“The American Academy of Pediatrics would like to correct false statements made in the Republican presidential campaign that HPV vaccine is dangerous and can cause mental retardation,” O. Marion Burton, the academy’s president, said in a statement. “There is absolutely no scientific validity to this statement.”

Bachmann said this while appearing on Minnesota radio station KTLK-AM in 2011. How are those re-education camps progressing? 

Bachmann said this during an interview on the Republican radio show called Faith & Liberty. She offered no evidence whatsoever. Since Republicans against science, I guess that doesn't matter. Why is she still in congress?

Instances like these are endless with Michele "Welfare Queen" Bachmann. It is like a gift raining down on the American people every time she opens her mouth. What is really sad about this whole issue, is people voted for her. People believe what she has to say. 

A sad state of affairs.

Aiden Brennan 
aiden@thedeathofanation.com

I had a Republican friend call Vice President Joe Biden (D) the quintessential politician, then she voted for Paul Ryan (R) for Vice President, whose ONLY private sector business experience was a wiener mobile driver.  More on that another time. To me at least, the definition of a quintessential politician is someone who is completely bought and paid for, doesn't spend much time in the state they work and has completely been ineffective for their state. Unfortunately, that doesn't stop them from getting elected.

Senator Mitch "Welfare Queen" McConnell (R) who has approved of the two greatest government spending sprees in the history of our country (Reagan and Bush), but rails against spending when given the opportunity, has created one of the biggest socialist, welfare states in the country, Kentucky. When researching this, I actually found this to be overwhelmingly a characteristic of Republican states. By welfare state, I mean states that take in way more federal money than they contribute to the general fund. Red states lead the way with this tactic.

Let's recap some of Senator Welfare Queen McConnell's major accomplishments, shall we?

• McConnell has guided the state of Kentucky to 7.5% unemployment, while the national average is around 6.3%. 
  
• McConnell successfully plunged the state of Kentucky's poverty level to one of the worst in the country. 
  
• When you type in Mitch McConnell in Google, the word "turtle" shows up in the list of suggestions.
  
• McConnell voted against the Violence Against Women Act and then lied about how he voted.
  
• McConnell lies about the success of the Affordable Healthcare Act to use it for political gain. He is called out by Representative John Yarmuth (D) in a four page letter illustrating his numerous inaccuracies.
  
• McConnell pretended to be concerned with the debt ceiling, costing tax payers tens of millions of dollars in extra interest. He had no problem increasing the debt ceiling 19 times during the Bush years of extravagance. 
• McConnell created one of the biggest welfare states in the country.
  

That's quite a list of accomplishments for Senator "Welfare Queen" McConnell. How does someone who has such a long list of tremendous failures get automatically elected every year? Kentucky is a very beautiful state with friendly people*, it is a terrible shame they are duped every election by a Welfare Queen.

*Except for the Hatfields and McCoys.

Marlon Barkley 
marlon@thedeathofanation.com

I wasn't going to write anything today, but I think this warrants a comment as Republicans are in a full sprint, the opposite direction of Republican Hero Cliven Bundy (R).

It is comical how seriously confused Republicans are lately not only with policy, but with the Republican Hero marketing campaign.

Anyone who follows Rand Paul (R) understands that he is one of the greatest pretenders in politics today. He claims he is against big government and the lazy people who benefit from it. Even to the point where he thinks poor women who have children should be punished. 

How do you think Rand Paul (R) responds to Cliven Bundy?  Let's recap, Cliven Bundy (R) is grazing his cattle on government land and he is supposed to pay a fee to tax payers for the use of public land. Let's re-state that, Bundy is using government government land and getting free feed for his cattle, which essentially means he is receiving food stamps for his cattle. 

Senator Paul (R) says, “...arbitrarily in recent years the federal government thought that they were going to override the county lease and they were going to assume control of it but they never asked for permission from the rancher.” Which is completely false. This is a typical from Paul, spewing provably fake "facts". This consistently happens to him unless he has the time to plagiarize. Analyze one of his interviews with on-the-fly questions, those he can't prepare an answer for and doesn't have the chance to plagiarize*. 

Watch the video below and hear him in his own words. What does this really shows about Rand Paul (R)? He has no problem giving cattle food stamps, but if you are poor? Rand Paul (R) has a clear message for you. Take personal responsibility and fuck off.

*NOTE: He even admitted he plagiarized, and in typical Republican fashion, said he was a victim of "haters." He also stole lines from a Wikipedia entry from the movie Gattica. There are many examples of this behavior. How can anyone take this guy seriously?

De-evolution.

UPDATE
Today there is some new evidence about what kind of a person Rand Paul is. We know he is guilty of frequently plagiarizing and he is a practicing hypocrite on almost every issue. Read this quote from President Obama in his speech after the Newtown shootings...

“In the coming weeks, I’ll use whatever power this office holds to engage my fellow citizens, from law enforcement, to mental health professionals, to parents and educators, in an effort aimed at preventing more tragedies like this, because what choice do we have? We can’t accept events like this as routine.” - President Obama

If your Rand Paul (R) what do you do?  Well, you send out a fundraising letter filled with complete bullshit and get your buddies at the National Association for Gun Rights to lie about the presidents words. 

The people of Kentucky should insist that Rand Paul (R) have a psychological evaluation. His behavioral patterns clearly indicate there is a mental issue. It's a good thing Rand Paul (R) made sure he has the Cadillac of all insurance, that exam would probably be free, something Rand Paul (R) doesn't think you deserve.

Aiden Brennan   
aiden@thedeathofanation.com

God's biggest failure, James Dobson founder of the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family, decided to show his intellectual ineptitude at a National Day of Prayer ceremony with members of Congress. He destroyed a non-partisan day of prayer by calling President Obama, "The abortion president". 

I am completely serious, he said this. I know this sounds almost Onion-like. Dobson is either way dumber that anyone imagined, he is intentionally trying to obfuscate reality or he misplaced his copy of the ten commandments. 


I don't think the religious right would need any reminders about such an important document and I will give him the benefit of the doubt on his intelligence, so that leave only one reason. Dobson must be lying. Let's examine some Dobson history. 

• Dobson opposes any science, unless it fits his argument with his crusade on gays. Believe it or not, he knows why people are gay, he has "clinical proof". 
• When the horrible Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting happened, what was the response of the religious right? Dobson explained how the murder of children at Sandy Hook was God's punishment. "I think we have turned our back on the Scripture and on God Almighty and I think he has allowed judgment to fall upon us.  I think that’s what’s going on." says Dobson.
• Dobson equates gays with Nazi's. I realize this is part of the theme for Republicans, but alienating members of your own party? Yes, there are gay Republicans, ask Senator Larry Craig (R).
• My personal favorite, Dobson thinks Spongebob Squarepants is guilty of "Homosexual Advocacy". This was so ridiculous, the religious right had a counter campaign to explain that he didn't say that. Dobson's response was, "My comments were intended to express concern not about SpongeBob...but about the way in which those childhood symbols are apparently being hijacked to promote an agenda that involves teaching homosexual propaganda to children." Sorry Dobson, that's just as fucking stupid.

The religious right portray's Dobson as a man of the cloth, like he has some moral authority over all of us. He tries to to manipulate with statements like, "I mean millions of people have decided that God doesn’t exist, or he’s irrelevant to me and we have killed fifty-four million babies and the institution of marriage is right on the verge of a complete redefinition.  Believe me, that is going to have consequences too."  

He tries to convince you how concerned he is for America, not only with hatred for liberals, women and gays, but he has to lie to make his point. Now let's go to an actual statistic, since Dobson is apparently against both science and math.

Now we know Dobson has a history of lying, let's look at his claim about President Obama and abortion.

I encourage you to read more. There are hundreds of sources that analyzed the numbers. CNN has a report that shows abortions at a 40 year low. 

If you look carefully, you will notice the increase in abortion rates directly affected by Bush administrations. If Dobson labels President Obama with a ludicrous term in public, what does he say about the Bush's? Dobson and the religious right lie to continue this farce. They need money to keep the charade going, so what else can they do? 


I wonder how many people left religion because of God's biggest failure, James Dobson.

Hey Dobson, "Love your neighbor as yourself."  -Mark 12:31

 Marlon Barkley 
marlon@thedeathofanation.com

In our ongoing "Republican Hero" series, we take a look at one of the most well known "heroes" aligned with the Republican party, Ted "Shitpants" Nugent (R).

When we talk about Republican heroes, we should all keep in the back of our heads the mantra of the party; family values, personal responsibility, privacy, liberty and fiscal responsibility. 

When you look for the perfect "hero" of your party, then the at the top of the list must be Ted "Shitpants" Nugent. As the kids say these days, "Wait...what???" 


Come on, he is perfect, he loves guns, he threatened a sitting presidents life, he's all about personal responsibility and owning as many guns as you can, so that must mean he's a patriot and served honorably...Wait for it...

In an interview with High Times in 1977, Ted Nugent said, "Do you think I was gonna lay down my guitar and go play army? Give me a break!"  The honorable patriot continues, "I got my physical notice 30 days prior to. Well, on that day I ceased cleansing my body. No more brushing my teeth, no more washing my hair, no baths, no soap, no water. Thirty days of debris build...Then a week before, I stopped going to the bathroom. I did it in my pants. poop, piss the whole shot. My pants got crusted up." These are the his own words and it's an astonishing look inside the mind of a Republican Hero.

Remember the family values party? In 1978, 'Merican Hero Nugent fell in love with a minor Pele Massa. She was 17. Since she couldn't get married because of age, then the next step is naturally getting her parents to sign documents to make Ted "Shitpants" Nugent her legal guardian. You read that right. Legal guardian so he can fuck a minor. Then, our Hero continues to have 8 children with two different women, is married twice and then we find out he had a love child. Wang dang sweet poon tang, that's what I call "family values".
  
There you have it. Republican Hero Ted "Shitpants" Nugent.  Deterioration. 

Marlon Barkley
marlon@thedeathofanation.com

I guess if you have a lot of money, there are apparently different rules you can follow, which seems to be a continuing story.  If you are I faced 45 felony charges for hitting and kicking your girlfriend 117 times in a half hour, one of us would be in prison. RadiumOne CEO Gurbaksh "G" Chahal has enough money to avoid getting an ass pounding like he truly deserves. 

Personally, I'd like to see women band together and take donations to hire a guy named, "Bubba" to pay this coward a visit every night for a week until he apologizes. Deterioration.

Remember when George Bush committed insider trading and his daddy prevented his prosecution? Or what about all the Wall Street fraudsters who belong in jail? Not going to happen. There is a different set of rules and Republicans have a beautiful marketing program that's been in progress for 40 years, convincing the uninformed that you can't put Gurbaksh "Girl Beater" Chahal in jail because he's a "JOB CREATOR". 

Marlon Barkley
marlon@thedeathofanation.com

The perpetually corrupt and annual lock for one of most corrupt congressman in the country, Darrel Issa (R) continues to try to manufacture some scandal, any scandal, seriously ANY scandal. 

He deserves enormous credit for literally wasting millions of tax payer dollars desperately trying to pin something on the current administration. You would think Republicans who claim to be fiscally responsible would have some issue wasting millions on findings that continuously prove the opposite of what Mr. Issa claims. The word in my head at the moment is "buffoon".

The next step in the Republican script is to give the scandal a catchy name and a fake purpose to rally the less informed, like this "The IRS is restricting freedom of speech".  This leads to emails asking you to signing petitions and Limbaugh, Beck and Hannity spewing every lie they can possibly invent. All this, ends with Darrel Issa's investigation proving his own talking points wrong. Here is HIS OWN REPORT WRITTEN BY HIS COMMITTEE. 

In addition, here is a chart that illustrates who the IRS really targeted. Click read it below for the original article and context.

When you see this chart and actually read the report, one has to wonder how Issa can be elected six straight terms. 

A Republican leader who is wrong on almost everything he has said, in a position to waste millions on bull shit.  Deterioration.

UPDATE
I just realized that all those Republicans feverishly sending out emails to all their friends with the petition to stop the IRS from limiting freedom of speech, actually is requesting the IRS stop targeting progressive groups. How ironic.

Marlon Barkley
marlon@thedeathofanation.com

In our ongoing "Republican Hero" series, we take a look at the latest "Hero", Cliven Bundy.

Cliven is a guy who illegally grazes animals on public land and puts together a group of armed men to threaten government employees to prevent paying what he owes taxpayers.

He quickly replaces Ted Nugent and Joe the Douche Bag Plumber* as the latest Republican Hero. As if it was scripted, at his first opportunity he starts to enlighten America on his thoughts about African Americans being better off as slaves. 

When we talk about the deterioration of society, not only is this guy the poster child of this death of morality, but Hannity and Limbaugh make him a hero. I try to rationalize this, but all I can think about it what the fuck are Republicans thinking? Hannity did later apologize and make a statement against Cliven's comments, but anyone with a brain knows he was forced. 

*Note: For those of you who forgot, here is Joe the Plumber in his racial slur glory.