Socialism: An intolerable state of affairs where right-wingers are no longer in a position to call the shots, generally on the heels of a decision by the electorate. See Popular Sovereignty.

The inestimable Steve Benen quotes the line-up for this week's Fox News Sunday:

A familiar face leads the charge against President Obama: In an exclusive interview, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., joins 'Fox News Sunday' to discuss his opposition to the potential use of a Value Added Tax.

The strangest thing about these economists is the assumption that if we just ignore this problem, things will be fine and dandy socially speaking -- rather than the far more logical outcome that things won't be pretty in America (to say the least). You screw people over long enough and they're bound to strike back in very unpleasant ways.

Why is this so difficult? The Teabaggers are nothing but the GOP base. They come out and vote GOP most if not all the time. They've been around for a 100 years. They are not a new phenomena -- to claim so, as the MSM does in cahoots with a bunch of GOP operatives, is to perpetuate a sham.

Matt Yglesias on the 'giant failure' of the conservative movement (1964-2009):

In the 45 years since that fateful campaign, the conservative movement managed to gain total control over the Republican Party and to sporadically govern the country. But it’s only very partially rolled back one aspect of the Johnson administration’s domestic policy.

This is how Greg Sargent put the successful passage of HCR in his 'Morning Plum' for today:

A new era in American politics dawns this morning, in the wake of the House's successful passage of the reconciliation fix last night. The first major progressive legislative achievement of the 21st Century has now been achieved.

I like the sound of that!

It couldn't have come at a better moment. David Leonhardt:

For all the political and economic uncertainties about health reform, at least one thing seems clear: The bill that President Obama signed on Tuesday is the federal government’s biggest attack on economic inequality since inequality began rising more than three decades ago.

... But I Know A Change Gonna Come

Blast from the past:

"We will go through the gate. If the gate is closed, we will go over the fence. If the fence is too high, we will pole vault in. If that doesn’t work, we will parachute in. But we are going to get health care reform passed." (1/28/2010)

(As quoted in the NYTimes.)

Orly Taitz for California Secretary of State

(Courtesy of the Rachel Maddow Show - Complete Segment here...)