Sherrod Brown: Unemployment Benefits Stimulate the Economy Because People Can Use Those Crumbs to Pay For Necessities...Like Property Taxes

Gee, Sherrod Brown really knows how to sell the sizzle, doesn't he?

But his hypothetical example here is preposterous.

As if anyone could pay their property tax bill with a measly unemployment check!

"The other reason to maintain unemployment benefits is all economics. Senator McCain, when he was candidate for President, his chief economic advisor said the best way to grow the economy - the best stimulus dollar you can spend - is unemployment insurance. Because when you put a dollar in a laid-off worker's pocket from Lima, Ohio or Zanesville, Ohio she will spend it at the local grocery store, the local shoe store, pay her property tax, pay her gas bill, whatever. That money is recycled in the economy."

Why the unemployment rate has risen to and remains stuck near 10% - despite the fact that unemployment benefits have been extended to a ridonkulous 99 weeks - is a question Sen. Brown never gets around to answering.

Via The Right Scoop. Cross-posted.

Senate Dem: Tea Party is John Birch Society Faux Populism or Something

With 29 days to go before the midterm annihilation, angry Democrats keep whistling past the graveyard, pissing people off by the day, clueless to realize this childish rhetoric is only alienating more people.

Progressives are an impatient bunch. We fight for people who have waited too long already — for health care, for educational opportunity, for jobs to keep them in the middle class.

But for generations, conservatives have appealed to fear to protect the privileged and preserve the status quo — fear of immigrants, fear of diversity, fear of big government. For conservatives in 2010, it's easy:

"Stop."

"No."

"Repeal."

Meanwhile, for more than a century — in churches and temples, in union halls and neighborhood centers, in the streets and at the ballot box — progressives have moved the country forward. Progressives brought us minimum wage and Social Security in the 1930s, civil rights and Medicare in the 1960s, and health care and Wall Street reform in 2010.

Opponents of these accomplishments — some of society's most privileged and well-entrenched interest groups — have not changed much. The John Birch Society of 1965 has bequeathed its fervor and extremism to the Tea Party of 2010.

I like the part about churches and temples. Funny how Democrats use them when convenient. What about the sanctity of the separation of church and state?

Tea Party populism is driven by anger at our government and at our country. Real populism fights for all Americans, while Tea Party populism divides us.

Republicans have always been good at coming up with catch phrases and slogans that traffic in fear and misinformation.

But impatient progressives, like generations before us, have the truth on our side. And this time we have the perfect bumper sticker.

"Bring back pre-existing conditions. Vote Republican."

How clever.

The fear and anger have spread to Brown's state, apparently. Yet their senator would prefer to insult independents and conservatives and accuse them of faux populism. After that pathetic showing of faux populism in DC Saturday, Brown may indeed be fearful of what's in store come November 2.

The Democrat Informercial

The McCain people are having fun.

What a stooge.

Via Hot Air, which notes another stooge.