Republicans

Top 10 Wild And Wacky Political Voices -- For Whom We're All Very Thankful

Eric Kleefeld | November 25, 2009, 6:04PM

Former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK), Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Rush Limbaugh

Here at TPM, we definitely have an eye for the weird -- and speaking for myself, I particularly enjoy the crazy stuff that right-wingers often say.

The American right often uses the rhetoric of a persecuted minority, even when they're actually in power. So having a Democrat in the White House, let alone a progressive black Democrat from Chicago named Barack Hussein Obama, has driven them to whole new heights (or lows, depending on how you count it) of rhetoric.

So let's take a look at some real stars of our current political rhetorical wars. The list is mostly Republican -- and you betchya that it was an obvious choice for the top spot -- plus one Democratic "Congressman With Guts" who gives the opposition a taste of their own medicine. We've got politicians, talk show hosts, and people who seem to be both at the same time. So sit back, and enjoy the crazy.

I'm certainly thankful to them -- for making my job a lot more interesting. If they weren't around, what would there be for me to write about?

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Joe Wilson

Joe Wilson A Hit At Capitol Hill Tea Party

Eric Kleefeld | November 5, 2009, 1:34PM

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC)

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), who famously yelled out "You lie!" during a speech to Congress by President Obama, just spoke to the Capitol Hill Tea Party, receiving massive applause immediately as he came to the podium.

"Speaker Pelosi didn't mean for you to be here," said Wilson. "In fact, back in July, Speaker Pelosi meant for the takeover bill to be passed, it was supposed to be over in July. But fortunately the American people found out, they found out that senior citizens were under attack, by squeezing senior citizens half a trillion dollars. Small businesses found out about the taxes that would virtually eliminate small businesses in the United States."

He also credited this past Tuesday's election in Virginia and New Jersey as a sign of the people making a difference already -- and talked about his own experience in New Jersey.

"And then, I know firsthand of the success of the people of New Jersey. On Sunday, I had the privilege to speak at the Morristown Tea Party," said Wilson. "Here I was, a friendly member of Congress from South Carolina, I was simply urging people to vote, to participate in the election to change the incumbent governor. It was sort of shocking, but later that day the incumbent governor asked me, and said I shouldn't have been in that state. But hey, I'm grateful, the voters of New Jersey acted, they produced change. Thank you for being here, we can make more change next year."

Joe Wilson

Rep. Joe Wilson Blames Obama For Vaccine Shortage -- After Voting Against Vaccine Funding

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 2, 2009, 11:24AM

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC)

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) says President Obama has endangered American lives by not doing more to alleviate the nation's short supply of H1N1 vaccine. In a new interview with the conservative-leaning CNSNews.com, Wilson says Obama's administration is "solely responsible" for the vaccine shortage, which he said are related to promises America made to donate vaccine to some foreign allies.

From the interview:

"The current administration is solely responsible. They can't blame this on any prior administration," said Wilson. "This is the responsibility of the current administration. They've put the lives of Americans at risk."

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