Politico Quickdraw: ObamaBowsOMFG-PalinsLegs-PatDissesIslam

Politico Quickdraw is for those busy news addicts who only have four-fifths of a second to get caught up on the most recent political controversies. Eh, maybe the article isn't that short, but it'll get you caught up while you tie your shoes before heading to work.

Was Obama's bow too low? Yes. Is it embarrassing. A little. Does it really matter. Absolutely not. This is really faux-controversy cooked up by the GOP. I often hear the argument that Obama is being overconcilliatory towards the international community. But let's be honest; thanks to G-Dub, our country has a lot to atone for. So, until foreign detractors start throwing shoes at our current President, I say we give the guy a break.

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Why I won't be crashing Sarah Palin's book signing

You got lucky this time.It doesn't take much to make Oklahomans star-struck. Most residents go apeshit whenever Trace Adkins comes to town. So when I heard Sarah Palin would be signing her new book, Going Rogue, at the Hastings in Norman, I knew the event would be big. Oklahoma Republicans' colossus of a voting block dwarfs our poor Democratic sand castle. Nevertheless, with such a polarizing figure coming to town, Oklahoma's small yet steadfast liberal contingent will undoubtedly make an appearance; they'll either have the book signed for the novelty, picket, drool from a distance or just watch the sheep in disgust. But I won't be there. Why? Because it's times like these that we "dangerous" liberals get a chance to show why we're better than the opposition -- we mind our manners.

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Lou Dobbs Leaves CNN

Y estamos de acuerdo.  ¡Váyase de aquí! (And we agree.  Get out of here!)

It seems that the "limp-minded, lily-livered lefties" have done it again.  For months, many on the left – including myself – and several Hispanic groups have been calling for the resignation of Lou Dobbs from the CNN Network. 

Mr. Dobbs, who joined the cable news network when it first began in 1980, has long been said to be the network's most outspoken anchor and is no stranger to controversy.  Well known for his anti-immigration rhetoric, which has been decried by many as xenophobic, Mr. Dobbs has also drawn a substantial amount of criticism for comments that he has made concerning the issue of race as well as comments made during the course of last year's presidential election concerning the citizenship of President Obama -- this was, of course, after the network disproved the rumors surrounding the apparent controversy.

Months ago, in light of such remarks, the president of CNN/U.S., Jonathan Klein, gave Mr. Dobbs a choice:  he could either voice his opinions on radio and conduct an objective newscast on television, or leave the network.  And it seems that Mr. Dobbs has finally chosen the latter.

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Terms For Removal #1: "Too big to fail" & "Government run healthcare"

Stephen Colbert has "The Word." Bill Mauer has "New Rules." Here at Ant.Lion we have "Terms For Removal." It's a fairly simple concept. The English lexicon is fraught with useless, idiotic, and self-contradictory terms. If such words had mass, they'd fill every basin of every toilet in this linguistically bloated country of ours. Every term has a job -- a service it provides. And when we no longer require a term's services, it should be removed. This is "Terms For Removal."

Congratulations. Your job just got a hell-of-a-lot simpler.1) "Too big to fail"

It's been a little over a year since the big Wall Street bailout passed through Congress under then President Bush. Politicians fed the American people some unfamiliar rhetoric. Here was the gist of it: Such-and-such company's power and influence is so tied to the U.S. economy that, if the company failed, it would spell certain doom for the financial system. Corporations like Citigroup and Bank of America were "too big to fail," so the American taxpayer bailed them out. In doing so, we were assured the country's cumulative wealth and assets wouldn't vanish overnight. I'm not against the bailout. I think it was necessary -- a tough pill to swallow. But now it's time to remove this term, and thus any opportunity for another bailout, forever.

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Bishop slams Patrick Kennedy's faith over abortion in healthcare reform

Something, something, darkside...Bishop Thomas Tobin publicly condemned Rep. Patrick Kennedy's (D-R.I.) for voting against the pro-life amendment to the recently passed healthcare bill. Kennedy, along with 50 other Catholic congressmen and women, voted against the amendment that eventually passed in a 240-194 vote. The amendment prohibits federal funds from being used to pay for health insurance that covers abortions.

Bishop Tobin said the following regarding Kennedy's vote in an interview Tuesday:

“Obviously we’re very disappointed that Congressman Kennedy did not support the pro-life amendment, especially when a majority of his colleagues did. We were hoping that [Kennedy] would support the pro-life emphasis on health care, but he chose not to. So, as I’ve expressed rather clearly, I’m disappointed in Congressman Kennedy’s rather clear and consistent support of abortion throughout his career.”

Kennedy replied with a letter to Tobin. "While I greatly respect the Catholic Church and its leaders, like many Rhode Islanders, the fact that I disagree with the hierarchy of the church on some issues does not make me any less of a Catholic," Kennedy wrote. "I embrace my faith which acknowledges the existence of an imperfect humanity."

Tobin not only refuted Kennedy's statement, but took the conflict a step farther by questioning Kennedy's faith.

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