Jerkass is not enough.

Most every week I try to give out an award on this blog. It's a funny term that I made up and it works for most situations. Not this week. Not now. No. There is a certain guy who leads a group of guys who have taken it a step further the past few weeks and deserve special recognition.

Over the past few weeks the Republicans in the Senate MINORITY have held this nation hostage. They have decided they will not allow anything to go forward in this nation unless their billionaire pals can pay lower taxes and pass those billions of dollars on to their third wives and trust fund kids when they die.

In order to get this, they have been willing to do anything. Anything. Here's a little list I can think of off the top of my head.

- Cut off unemployment insurance for millions of out of work Americans.
- Held hostage tax cuts for 98% of Americans.
- Damaged the security of the United States by refusing to even hold a vote on START. Which, as far as I can tell, every sane person on either side of the aisle is for.
- Refused to allow gays and lesbians to serve in the military.

That's all bad. Really bad. But you know what? It's not bad enough for these guys. Watch this.

That's right. Republicans, led by Mitch McConnell, have denied funding for 9/11 first responders health care in order to get tax cuts for billionaires and their potential heirs. Well, you won, Mitch. Nice work. I hope it was worth it. Say hello to Hitler for me when you meet him in hell.

As I said, Jerkass is not enough for this guy. So, on behalf of any American that finds what you have done to this country beyond despicable, I would like to send out a big wet Memphis style Fuck You to you and your compadres. May Christmas bring you insight into what you have done in order to save the top 1% of this country. If that doesn't happen, may you get the clap.

Have a great weekend, folks. Big Grizz game tomorrow night in San Antonio. Go Grizz!!!!! Get Crunk!!!

Thank you, Fareed.

My boy Fareed is back with a nice read. Take a gander.

Mr. President, with all do respect, no deal.

I was going to write a big rant on this today, but Joe Scarbrough beat me to the bunch. That's right, former Republican Congressman Joe Scarbrough, beat me to the punch. Joe's right. This is a bad deal for Americans. We don't need more tax cuts for millionaires. We need to start acting like adults.

I understand that you feel like you have to compromise with Republicans, but here's the thing... you don't. Right now you still control the Presidency, the Senate and the House. In January, you will still control the Senate and the Presidency. They don't control the debate... unless you let them. Go out and tell the folks for Maine and Massachusetts what their Senators are doing. Tell Americans that the House has passed tax cuts for 98% of Americans (or, as I would argue, ALL AMERICANS!) and a majority of Senators have voted for it as well. The only thing holding things up is the Republican MINORITY is filibustering.

Now, I understand they are crazy. They may well filibuster until they take over the House. Well... so what. It still can't pass the Senate unless it's in the form that you want. The compromise position is your original position, Mr. President. Many Americans think the tax cuts should expire for everyone. Many Americans think it's time to stop acting like we can get things for nothing. The compromise position is keeping the tax rates the same for those under $250k and only going to Clinton rates on those over $250k. That is the compromise. Anything else is unaffordable.

Here's hoping Nancy Pelosi stands up and tells you how to be a Democrat... again.

House Republicans to poor kids: Drop dead!

I guess it is not bad enough that they are blocking unemployment benefits to two million Americans. Now, they want to cut off school lunches to poor kids.

I really try to see the other side of these arguments. I bend over backwards to do so. The thing is that we used to be able to agree on some things. Not a lot. But some. Things like the unemployed should be given some consideration, especially when there are no jobs. Another is that kids should be able to have a healthy lunch. I think we can all agree on that. I guess not.

It's a sad day in America when we can agree that poor kids should be able to get a healthy lunch in public schools. Very sad indeed.

Now about that START treaty...

Class Warfare!!!

So, this is what compromise looks like. Republicans are now holding unemployment benefits hostage for tax cuts for millionaires. Well, I am sick of it. I am not willing to negotiate with terrorist. Sorry.

This is what it has come to. The Democrats are willing to keep the Bush tax cuts in place for 98% of all Americans. Actually, that's not true. Every American who pays income tax would keep the same rate on their first $250,000. That's right!! Even billionaires get those rates. You see, that is how the income tax works. Everyone pays the same rate on their income in those brackets. It's just the folks that make over $250,000 get more in tax breaks.

I know Republicans will tell you that this is because they care about the economy growing and doing something about the unemployment situation in this country. Well, that's bullshit. Sorry, American corporations are making more money than ever. Seriously, more money than ever. Why aren't they hiring? Because the individual tax rates are too high? No. Because demand isn't there. Well, what is a really terrible thing to do if demand is low? Cut off unemployment benefits!!! Why? Because when poor people get money, they actually spend it. Why? Because they have to!!! What do millionaires do when they get a tax cut? Well, I don't know, but I know they haven't been hiring people.

To see this argument play out watch this...



Well, jerkass, I will explain it. It's called demand. If no one is able to buy products there is no demand. This job creators create jobs line is priceless. Well, what makes someone a job creator? And where are the job creators? Why do millionaires need tax cuts if they aren't creating jobs? Is Mike Conley a job creator just because he makes a lot of money? Of course not. Having a lot of money doesn't make you a job creator. Actually hiring people does! There are many ideas out there in how to give employers incentives to hire people. (A payroll tax holiday for example.) None of them have to do with the top marginal tax rates.

Also, Congressman, explain how the hell we added so many jobs in the 90's? Did people stop hiring when the top rate went up to.... exactly what it would go up to if Dems got their way? Of course not. Why? Because people don't hire based on what their taxes are. They hire people because they need to. If a business is making tons of money but doesn't need any help they won't hire anyone, no matter what their individual tax rate is. If they are making money and can't handle all the work they have, they will hire someone to handle the extra work. No matter what the top rate is. It's called demand. By cutting off unemployment benefits you hurt demand. By cutting top rates you just give millionaires more money and do nothing to actually encourage them to hire anyone.

Put simply, I doubt Mike Conley will hire anyone based on what you guys decide to do with the tax rates. Why? Because he doesn't need anyone. I bet a company that is turning down work because they don't have enough employees to handle the demand for their product will hire someone no matter what you do. Why? Because whether you tax it at 39.5% or 35%, people like to make more money. I promise you that. People like money and will not stop wanting more. Trust me.

Grizz Biz: Grizz Win!!!

The Grizzlies took on the two time defending champion L.A. Lakers at the Forum last night and won... behind Mike Conley. You read that right, Mike Conley sliced and diced the Lakers in route to a season high 28 points on 10-13 shooting. In comparison, Kobe Bryant had 29 on 9-25 shooting. In comparison to that, no Grizzly shot more than 15 shots. Oh, and 19 year old rookie Xavier Henry held his own against the best player in the world with a +8 on the +/- for the night.

This is the Grizz team we signed up for this year. Playing as a team. No one getting all the shots, everyone contributing. This is how this team can compete and even win a game in the playoffs. A couple of notes.

- This is why Xavier starts. He is physical. I was struck by how big he is when I first saw him at Grizz open practice. This 19 year old kid can physically compete with the Kobe Byants of the world on a nightly basis. OJ cannot.

- Marc Gasol is not healthy. His efficiency is way down and I have to think it's because he's still hurt. The Grizz need to get him healthy. If he's gotta miss a couple of games, then so be it. We've got to be full strength going forward.

- On that note, play Hasheem Thabeet!!! I know he sucks, but I went to the Detroit game last week and we blew them out. Did Lionel take this opportunity to get Hasheem extended minutes? Nope. He kept the starters in when we had the game in hand. He's not gonna get any better if he doesn't play. If an opportunity presents itself, play him.

- OJ has a huge opportunity tonight. Atlanta gives the Grizz a lot of problems. One of the bigger ones is their bench being more productive than ours. Jamal Crawford is one of the top sixth men in the NBA. Can OJ score with him? I sure hope so. OJ still needs to adjust to the role, but he seems to be getting more and more comfortable. He needs to be looking to score every time he touches the ball. That is a huge adjustment for him, but I think he'll like it once he does.

- Check out this blog on Rudy living up to his contract. On a side note, who knew the New York Times had an NBA blog? I'm in.

- John Hollinger was in town for the game last night. Check out his coverage over at ESPN.com and listen to his appearance on Chris Vernon on iTunes.

That's about it for now. Grizz face a tough one in the ATL tonight. Here's hoping they can keep this momentum up and X can make life difficult for Joe Johnson. If he can, Mike could have another big game against Bibby and we could sneak out of there with a W. Go Grizz!!!