Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman recently wrote an article attacking California’s so-called Tax Revolt of 1978, California’s Proposition 13. He claims that if California is the trend setter, than the U.S. is in deep trouble. I agree, and have agreed for most of my politically aware life, especially since I am a product of California’s senseless butchering of the education system.

Nobody likes paying taxes. It’s about as fun as paying rent (or mortgage), bills and getting a colonoscopy. That being said, these are all the painful things we need to do to stay a float in life and there is little any of us can do about them.

California Republicans thought otherwise. They used an issue that was sure to win: telling California they could have lower taxes and everything would be all right. That’s like promising people they can lose weight and eat all that they want. Sadly people fall for that one too!

Ignoring reality, listening to the advice of hucksters like Ronald Reagan, Howard Jarvis and Paul Gann, California passed Proposition 13 in 1978. It cut taxes primarily for apartment building owners among other large …

We commonly refer to members of the Far-Right, here at Soapblox.com, as Right-Wing whack jobs or nut jobs or just plain idiots. It was true in its day, however no euphemism can describe how utterly loony-tunes the Republican fringe has become.

We all know that Rush Limbaugh is hoping for the U.S. to fail just to prove that Rush is right and Obama is wrong. I thought that was, perhaps, the stupidest political move that I had heard up to that point. Especially since the United States has historically bounced back from many a recession and even a few really bad depressions. I had no idea that things would only downward spiral into the realm of downright insanity.

When recently elected GOP Party Chairman Michael Steel began talking about Hip-Hop-ifying the Republican Party, that should have been my first clue that things would only get worse for a party so badly beaten, they don’t control a single plank of government and by a long-shot.

Then the Far-Right Fox News network’s key loudmouth lie machines began to cater …

A sign of how bad this recession is becoming, look no further than Motor City, USA. Detroit housing values are cheaper than some of the cars they are famous for producing and the economy is in such a state of disorder that they are printing their own currency called the Detroit Cheers.

Other cities too from North Carolina to Massachusetts are issuing their own currencies as well. It’s pitched as a way of keeping currency value local so value is not transferred to other regions. It was an excepted practice during the Great Depression.

It seems like an interesting idea, however to be honest it is the last thing I would have thought could happen in our supposedly advanced economic system. Just a few years ago, people talked about M2 Capital and that we were slowly becoming a ‘credit society’. The control of the currency system was clearly held by the Federal Reserve and any attempts to create duel currency would be under serious evaluation from the top bankers and media establishment.

Now, is seems with the news being as grim as it is, CBS ran this story in its ‘Silver Linings’ section, speaking …

I have spoken here at soapblox.com about a potential third party. I am not 100% behind this idea though I do believe it to be a possibility, especially when I hear prominent Republican figures like Newt the newt Gingrich talking of one.

Third parties, traditionally in American democracy, are avenues of complaint. The Populist “bull-moose” Party got a whole lot done as it lobbied the Democrat Administration of Wilson in the early 20th Century, as did the Know-Nothings did with the Republicans in the 1880s. The Peace and Freedom candidates leaned on the Dems in the 1960s and other third parties like the Free Silver Party have contributed significantly to the planks of the two major parties. The problem is that our current political system cannot support more than two parties. When the Whig Party collapsed in the 1850s, the Republican Party was born, devoted solely to the abolishment of slavery. The Whig Party too was born of the collapse of the Federalist Party.

So could the Republican Party collapse and a newer more Conservative Party be born? Or perhaps it’s the Pro-Business Elite that will break away and form the Business Party?

It is …

It seems a bit too uncomfortable to speak in post-Bush talk these days. Just a few months ago, we witnessed the death of the Bush Age of Republican politics. Ever since, I’ve had this funny feeling in the back of my mind that closely resembles hope. Yes, hope! It is the hope that the age of Far-Right Republicanism is over. This hope is fueled by evidence here and there that confirm the Age of Reagan is at a close.

You really know that the nail is in the coffin when Time Magazine runs an article titled “The End of Excess: Is this Crisis Good for America”. The head of the article contains two contrasting photos, a photo of Ronald Reagan in a cowboy hat and a profile shot of Barrack Obama with a serious look on his face.

Obviously what is implied by such contrast is what we have talked about here at Soapblox.com for years: the end of 30 years of Republican domination in the United States Government. Some Soapblox readers may remember the story titled “The End of Reagan” written way back in 2007 (man how time flies). After months of …

Obama wrote an article, published in Time Magazine, on his purposed legislation to expand the role of public service organizations, such as Ameri-Corps, and increase the sector by a quarter of a million jobs.

First off, it is refreshing to have a President that can write an article worthy of getting published in Time. The only thing Bush seemed to write was his own signature. Aside from that, it is an effective argument to get our nation working again fixing the broken American infrastructure.

When my Grandfather talks of the Great Depression, he talks fondly of his times in the C.C.C. or Civilian Conservation Corps, one of the New Deal programs started by Franklin D. Roosevelt. Grandpa left his family farm in South Dakota to work in the state forest, doing useful jobs for more than useful pay. It helped put food on the table for his family and gave him food, shelter and a sense of purpose while he did it.

A hand up, not a hand out! This strategy worked well in the Depression and it can act again to rebuild our dilapidated …

About 4 months ago I ran a story on the emerging tent cities, or Hoovervilles, that are popping up all over the country. The Corporate-owned media took very little notice, perhaps, trying not to make a fuss on the eve of the Christmas shopping season.

NPR today released a story on these new tent cities, on one large one in particular located in Sacramento just off the American River. They did a heart-wrenching column and a photo essay that really drives home the point of where the U.S. Economy stands.

There is little good news these days on the economic front. Unemployment is at the highest levels since the early ‘80s and the downward spiral is only just beginning. Many of those who have jobs are taking pay-cuts. Dubbed “the walking wounded” they are spending less and clinging to their homes while they watch their neighbors abandon the American Dream. Wall Street is closing below 7,000 which is 50% lower than the record highs of 14,000 posted just a year and half ago. Corporate America is begging for billions from the Federal Government, blowing it on bonuses …

Franken won the Senatorial election in 2008, yet Republican strategists have signaled an endless lawsuit to further their losing Repub strategy at any cost. This of course makes sense for the weak and embattled Republican party.

At the height of Bush incompetence, Al Franken was the voice of reason. This nerdy guy may have looked like a wimp compared to the fake ass cattle rustling, urban cowboys of Republican myth-talk radio and yet, he had the balls to stand up to this very machine and tear it down every chance he could. His book “Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot…", nailed the tub of lard literally right in the title and assaulted O’Reilly as just another “all talk” Right Wing chicken hawk.

Franken didn’t stop there. After piloting Air America to a shaky, yet successful launch, he left the network for greater goals, namely, the U.S. Senate, representing the great state of Minnesota.

Some called it a longshot, and, perhaps it almost was. Minnesotans were fed up with celebrity leaders, tired of the Jessie Venturas. How could a former Saturday Night Live writer and star gain any …

Editor’s note:
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For my political junkies, I apologize, as this article is more of a cultural rant. Which leads me to an important point about the future of SoapBlox.com:

The new Soapblox.com, coming this Spring, will finally realize the news magazine concept conceived originally in the blueprints first drawn before the disastrous Bush reelection. There will be a place for politics, culture and art. Please bare with our progress and enjoy the article below.
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Well, well, the charges have finally been dropped on our beloved fish out of water, Mr. Michael Phelps.

I suspect that Michael Phelps himself would prefer not to be elevated to the Saint-hood status that has been bestowed upon him. I mean. The guy knows he’s a great swimmer, though I doubt that he ever fancied himself a roll model.

Somehow in this country, however, wining gold medals makes you a hero, which makes you a role model to children everywhere. I understand that this guy should not go downtown and buy crack from some gang bangin’ wanabe and start puffin away till his teeth fall out, I’m simply saying that since this guy has won …

The recent withdrawal of New Hampshire Republican Sen. Judd Gregg from Secretary of Commerce is a clear indication that the Grand Party of Old times is back to its old tricks.

Even after Obama made grand overtures to the Republican establishment, they seem to think that stonewalling the popular President will win them brownie points. Not even the Republicans that combated FDR’s New Deal had the nerve to attempt such a naïve endeavor.

They are clearly lining up to create a wall on which hasn’t been seen since ol’ Stonewall Jackson stood up to the Yankees in the Civil War (which the South lost btw). They simply think that being who they are and ignoring the sane voices of reason from the Center can save them from political wilderness. Yet, they have never seen the amount of political force that the country has handed to the Democrats. They just don’t get that they are on an iceberg slowly drifting off to sea, yelling ever louder, while the world slowly begins to tune them out.

These guys simply do not get it! I firmly believe that this “Stonewall Jackson Strategy” is as antiquated …

The Republicans have gambled their political future on the success of the stimulus package, both in the long term and the immediate future. They thought that unification and the tired, boring tactics of calling the package an earmark ridden, “pork-u-pine” bill could derail the new President’s first major legislative effort. Fortunately for the good of the nation, they have utterly failed to stop the bill and therefore set the tone of the new Obama Administration as one of success.

The GOP rallied around bloated, big-mouth, Rush “the racist” Limbaugh, who urged Republicans to root for Obama’s failure. Easy for a fat, rich guy to say! Doesn’t this just prove that Rush is not looking out for the best interests of America and instead desires political power? The Republicans too, still bitter from their stinging defeat in 2008, decided to stand their ground, resisting Obama’s efforts to reach across party lines and put all their efforts in to defeating the bill and for about a minute, it looked as if they might have won. They claimed that the New Deal failed, complete and utter nonsense, even blamed the Depression on FDR! …

As the high of the election and inauguration is beginning to fade, it still hasn’t sunk in. BUSH IS GONE and we at long last have a smart and pragmatic President who represents the people. It’s created a residual buzz that just keeps on giving.

For the past 8 years we’ve had a President, but not a leader. 8 years of failed diplomacy (for God’s sake, he started a war!) failed economic policy, failed legislative policy (thankfully) and politics as usual, on amphetamine, that led to the most divisive period in this country since the Vietnam War era.

Now, at long last, we have someone we can look up to, a good family man, with good morals and a strong background. Obama embodies the American Dream. He’s a self-starter who came from a single mom and a mixed racial background. He excelled at and achieved his ambitions to become the most powerful person on the planet, starkly contrasting the rich, spoiled frat boy that inhabited the White House for the last 8 immensely tedious years….

One of the most enduring legacies of the Great Depression is the image of homeless families, huddled together in small shanty-town communities. Dubbed Hoovervilles, named for the seemingly apathetic President Hoover, these towns were a blight on the image of Capitalism, showing the collapse of a system that less than a decade earlier boasted of unparalleled material success. As World War II and the commercialized consumerization of the Boomer generation prevailed, the image of the Hooverville was relegated to something of the past, something that could never happen again, a past failure that has now been corrected. It could not happen in this day and age, right? Wrong!

The receding of the suburbs is turning major cities inside out. The unfortunate and the desperate are flocking to new gatherings. The 1930s townships made of scrap wood and metal have been replaced with 21st Century plastics and plywood. New communities of hundreds huddle around 6 porta-poties and very little running water. The recent rise of these tent cities, signifies the end of our outdated American Dream. They’re continually springing up all over the country in church …

I stumbled across this blog that lays out a fantastic argument in favor of Obama’s healthcare plan. It discusses the numbers and lays forth a rather important point: that the cost of Obama’s “socialized medicine” costs the same as 4 months of the Iraq War.

If Obama’s plan, which relies heavily on the private sector is socialized medicine, then the Iraq War is socialized war, which is far less productive. The amounts of money procured by companies like Blackwater (which was started by a very wealthy war nut) and Halliburton, serve very few people and ultimately redistribute our hard earned tax dollars to a class of rich war hawks. It also establishes a mercenary army, but I digress.

The fear of Socialism, originates with the rich. They have hijacked the American agenda and forced us to fear spending on social services and less income disparity because it is communist. They point to Stalin and scare the average Joe by using patriotic mumbo jumbo. “Free market capitalism is the American way, do you hate America? You do if you’re communist!” How does universal healthcare make the leap to Stalin? The Conservatives are masters …

Obama has done it! Can you believe it? It’s a day we’ve all been waiting for far too long. It still has barely sunk in yet. Now the real fight begins.

The Progressives have been waiting for a new champion since the demise of LBJ. Today we stand united with a new transformative President who has brought the Conservative faction to its knees. A man who will restore the Progressive order and stop the Republican regression with the greatest weapon we have, Progress!

So it begins! Obama’s very satisfying and sweeping victory over Republican John McCain is the birth of a new era in American politics. It’s not just a Democratic landslide, it’s a political realignment so great, the Republican pundits are having to claim it’s not a major strategic shift in America.

We Progressives know better. Republicans are the masters of deceit and spin. They defeat the truth by changing the story, never acknowledging a loss, that is, until it’s unavoidable. Then they begin tearing it down with talking points. This time, they are claiming the anti-gay marriage initiatives are a message to Obama that his mandate is strictly economic. Well, you Republicans just suffered …

The Washington Post ran a story today on the splintering and divided Republican Party that sums up what we here on the rational Left have seen coming for almost 20 years.

The Republican Party is a bastardization of Social Conservatives, War Hawk Neo-Cons, Anti-Communists, small government enthusiasts and the pro-corporate order elite who wish to unite the nation under the banner of capital with extensive privatized law and order. The Cold War or the War on Terror were the only things that held the fabric of the party together.

As the article describes, now that Social Conservatives are becoming increasingly irrelevant (abortion and gay rights are faltering as issues), now that Bush spent more money than anyone in history fighting an unprofitable war and nationalizing our country’s failing bank system, now that the whole “trickle-down” theory has been utterly disproved, the party is spinning out of control. Even the War on Terror seems irrelevant and far from people’s minds. With Bush scoring the highest disapproval rating of any President in the history of polling the Party has lost its direction.

The Party of Reagan is in shambles. All philosophies have been rebuked by …

It’s funny how there is a myth that Liberals are femi-nazi, (to quote Rash Limbaugh) tree hugging, Frazier watching, latte drinking, elitist, limousine, out-of-touch and any other wussie mythological talking point falsities. There is virtually not one point in that entire array that is true, with the occasional latte, which is enjoyed by so many Americans that Starbucks became a global empire over night in Red and Blue States alike (uh oh! There’s another myth, we better stay on point). Point being is that from what I can tell, Republicans and especially those who call themselves “Conservative Republicans” are whinny little bullies with clammy pink hands, smoke big fat cigars (likely a phallic complex) and complain about everything! Everything from their taxes, to other complainers, all day long that is all they ever do is bitch and moan and whine and cry and always turn their poor wealthy, elite, powerful, out-of-touch, clammy-handed, whinny little agenda into their own personal victim list.

There is of course the rank & file. They are often poor, non-Anglo-Saxon White who have been suckered into an Elite White game. They “identify” with the …

“Fumbled the ball”, “slipped on ice”, “dropped the soap”, any of these statements accurately describe the McCain Campaign’s latest tactical & potential strategic blunder.

He has “suspended his campaign” so he can address the issue of the economy in Washington. He is calling for a suspension of the debates until a decision can be reached. On the surface, it sounds kinda nice. Our gray-haired, war vet is hoping on a plane to help to ‘get to the bottom’ of the worst economic crisis in 80 years. However, much like Chess, Poker and Go-Fish, any good move cannot be evaluated till his or her opponent has a chance to strike back (that is, as long as it is not checkmate, four of a kind, etc.), and in this case, Obama’s cards look pretty good.

The Line in the Sand

The old man drew a line in the sand, which I suppose, he thought it was the same old Democrats who would go “me too” and sit down and let McCain lead. Well, Obama is not from the ranks of the old guard. The Illinois Senator called his …

As the Bush Administration prepares for the largest and unprecedented bailout of the banking system in History, the major economic players are no longer pushing the idea of laziez-faire Capitalism. This is because it doesn’t work.

Much like the collapse of Authoritarian Communism, the U.S. has proven that letting the market make up it’s own rules is as idiotic as trying to control every aspect of the market as well. While we gloated and celebrated the collapse of the U.S.S.R., we dropped our guard and rejoiced over our economic superiority. Regan’s philosophy of trickle-down economics became heralded as the end all solution and Bush, Clinton and Bush II began forcing this system on anyone they could. Banks and investors alike became riskier and riskier making more and more money with greedier and riskier methods.

It really was two-faced, because there is no such thing as unbridled Capitalism. Adam Smith’s Capitalist Manifesto, “The Wealth of Nations” is vastly outdated as the U.S. Government pushes and pulls the invisible hand with interest rates, controls monetary values, negotiates trade arrangements and uses the Departments of Agriculture and Commerce to manipulate supply and demand. …

I wanted to avoid writing on this stupid “lipstick on a pig” flap. However as I found myself posting comments on blogs and news articles, I became ensnared in the diversion and decided to cleanse myself from the mud by reporting on a good old fashioned case of muck-raking: the growing scandal within the Department of the Interior which involves loads of sex, drugs and bribes. They don’t get any hotter than this! And here you thought I was going to be wholesome! Bare with me though, as this is no Lewinski-Gate (or whatever they call that pointless scandal), this cuts right through to a den of power and corruption that is costing the taxpayers billions, while the Bush Administration indulges in drugs and orgies! You couldn’t make this stuff up because, no one would believe you!

First, the Lipstick Diversion, see, it even diverts this article!

I’m sure you’ve been tuned into this whole diversion which kicked off when Obama described McCain’s economic plans as being the same policies as Bush. He referred to it with the classic “you can put lipstick on a pig, it’s still a pig” bit, you know, the same one John McCain used to describe Hillary …

John “P.O.W.” McCain is in trouble. Fresh off the heals of McCain’s Vice-Presidential pick, Sarah Palin’s highly mediocre speech, I thought it would be best to take a gander at the tactical and strategic value of this inexperienced hard-core Conservative.

John McCain’s choice of Vice Presidential nominee is either being praised or trashed, now trending negative. Praised mostly by Right-Wing whackos from notable rags as The Weekly Standard, or the National Review all praised Palin as if McCain had displayed pure genius. Of course, many on the Right did not agree, but the “Liberal Media” doesn’t want you to know that because they want to come into your homes and hold open your eyelids, like in Clockwork Orange, and force you to digest Commie-Pinko propaganda that will smear the poor, poor, poor, gentle great grandfather, John McCain.

While the Right is quietly divided (despite their staged unity), former Hillary supporters, from feminists to moderate housewives, have not been fooled. Polls suggest that it is not helping McCain with women voters and Obama’s bump continues to rise.

More alarming for McCain is that polls suggest independents are alienated by Palin’s whacko Right-Wing social agenda. If Palin has …

It is both funny and sad how fast a Presidential race these days moves. It lives in the moment to such a degree that one day can bring about a complete change in headlines. One day it’s all about Obama, the next it’s all about McCain’s surprise, gamble of a VP pick, Sarah Palin. If I didn’t no better, and paid very little attention to the reality of politics, I might think that McCain suddenly got a burst of momentum, which is exactly what McCain wants you to think.

Unfortunately for John McCain, his move is like watching the prime-time TV show the networks always plug after the Super Bowl. It may be on in the room, and some are paying attention, yet most are still talking about the game. The Media may think people care so much about their headlines but the harsh truth of this, is that most people don’t. Only hardcore lovers of politic like us give a rat’s ass (I’m guessing you must love politics to be reading this).

Most Watched Convention Ever

This year’s DNC was a grand slam, fast-break-slam-dunk, touchdown w/ 2-point conversion extravaganza. The final night, with …

Yes folks, it’s going to be ugly. Even though the Democrats, honestly, could put a large indianite object, even a large 16” black spring loaded toy of lewd sexual usage, in place of Obama and still win (although that wouldn’t go down with the “Christians” too well).
All signs of honesty point to an Obama blowout. All signs point to McCain being a tired old man with nothing to offer. Things change in politics, and Obama could blow it, although, I wouldn’t count on it. This man is a natural born politician destined to become one of our nation’s greatest leaders, I believe anyway.

You never know in politics. The tired old “maverick” could pull something out that is fresh and new, but not likely. This is a change election and the old, white, career politician has little to offer once the realities of his tired and old, white Republican base become the source of his power. None of his staff are current, their all old time Repubs still reeling from the success of Bush Part II.

Aside from that, McCain looks weak, tired, I almost feel sorry for him. He isn’t up to …

(Before I begin, a quick note. This is a Rated R edition of Soapblox, no kids allowed, must be 17 or accompanied by a parent.

I would curse here regularly if I didn’t have more class. LOL, my momma taught me better. However, since this article contains clips of the late George Carlin, not using the word Fuck seems kind of silly, especially since this rant is one of massive anger. I mean, our #1 American beer company was sold off to a country that puts a picture of a pissing statue on its own brew. So, in the spirit of Mr. Carlin, Fuck it, just this once. Now please proceed, let me tear your ticket and enjoy the show.)
This week has been an awful week for America. On the eve of celebrating our 232nd Anniversary, the time since the 4th of July has been plagued with trouble in the stock market, the near collapse of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, numerous banks on the chopping block, the bankruptcy word thrown around in the same sentence with GM (remember, “what’s good for GM is what’s good for America”) and now, the selling off …

So Iraq calls for an American timetable for withdrawal. They essentially want us gone. American’s overwhelmingly want an end to the war in Iraq, so that means we want to leave. Why are we still there? Why are Bush and McCain REJECTING the demands of a sovereign nation’s government to tell us to get the hell out of their country?

Good Question!

Well the easy answer is exactly what you probably think it is, one word that can be read in every language: money. It’s not just oil, it’s all those no-bid Halliburton contracts, all those private security contracts, all those steel penetrating M855 bullet rounds (recently accused of being ineffective), Poorly armored HumVees, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, defective body armor, supersonic harriers, aka Joint-Strike Fighters, to fight a guerilla war / occupation, and more military gear that soaks up 50% of America’s yearly Discretionary Budget. Don’t forget as well, all the long term construction contracts that we will surely get if we maintain a longer term presence in Iraq. Plus permanent Military Bases means KBR contracts for food services, base repair and of course, all the …

Soapblox has turned 3. After a 9 month incubation period, we launched Soapblox on July 4th as I claim, because it is a very appropriate time for a 21st Century Pamphleteering Operation devoted to the progress of it’s beloved nation to begin, however, also, it was to ensure that I could remember the anniversary date, as I am terrible about remembering dates, and, let’s face it, Soapblox after 3 years still does not have a full staff of investigative reporters, nor does it have a fully catered office or a girl to get us coffee.

This operation is done the way it should be, guerrilla and under the radar. Which is probably for the best, as some of the things said on this site could land a one way ticket to Bush’s Dungeons of Doom, if broadcast on a wide scale. Which it is not. We are comparable to the truth-crazed pamphleteer on the streets before the Revolution. We simply want a better life, we simply want progress to occur, we simply want the nation to prosper and grow, to sustain it’s power and stability without damaging its own interests, which are …

When I wrote before the Iowa Caucus that nominating either an African-American man or a White Woman could backfire because the country wasn’t ready for it I was hoping to be wrong, I wasn’t. Recent actions by embittered Clinton supporters carry political rifts that reverberate across the media every hour. The sinking Hillary ship pulled the nuclear option and used race and gender to their advantage, now it’s all you hear race, gender, blah, blah, blah. It continues to play out even though Hillary lost. Especially now that some fringe feminists are threatening to vote for McCain. Enough already!

All the excitement in the base generated in the democratic party in the beginning has now dissipated. You had all these rank and file Dems rallying around Obama and Hillary simply because of what they were, not who they were, an African-American, a woman, I found that somewhat alarming before Iowa. I thought we were supposed to be gender and color blind I thought. I worried about the working class White Male voters as being key. Here we had a chance to reach out to the blue collar crowd and prove that the Democratic party …

You gotta love the Right’s pathetic attempt to make Obama look like an elitist. Here, you have extraordinarily wealthy, spoiled, fat, cigar smoking,, West Palm Beach pundits like Rush Windbag combined with well salaried, latte drinking, ivy league educated, insolated and out of touch “journalists” , and don’t get me started on the politicians (like Bush) who come from a long line of well-to-do political dynasties, trying to tell the average Joe what is elite. It simply doesn’t wash.

As Colbert satirized, conservative NY Times ignoramus, David Brooks, said “Obama is not the kind of guy you’d see eating at an Applebee’s salad bar”. As the brilliant Colbert pointed out, Applebee’s DOESN’T HAVE A SALAD BAR! This $1000 sporty tie wearing NY Times wacko Rightie pundit likely doesn’t know his Popcorn Shrimp Platter from his Red Hot Jalapeño Poppers. Of all people I can’t see eating at an Anytown U.S.A. corporate eatery, it’s political pundits like David Brooks, and while I CAN see Rush stuffing his fat face with Awesome Blossom grease puddles, it is highly unlikely that any of these spoiled brats have ever gotten a callous on their …