Quick Fact Digest: Boehner Claims President is Focused on Annihilation of the Republican Party, Maine Gov. Refuses to Talk to Democrats, Nevada Assemblyman Threatens Speaker-elect with a Gun and New Mexico Wants to Use Rape Victims' Babies as "Evidence"

1.   On Tuesday, John Boehner spoke at a private luncheon held by the Ripon Society, a Republican think tank.  In his remarks, he said that President Obama's inaugural speech on Monday clearly showed that the President's focus is to "annihilate the Republican Party".

Well, they've been doing a pretty good job of it themselves lately; but I would like to remind Mr. Boehner that it was his party, in the person of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, that said, "The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president".  Want to start a discussion on the semantics of annihilation, Mr. Boehner?


2.   In November, the Democrats won the majority of the seats in Maine's legislature. Since then, Governor Paul LePage, (R) has refused to talk to Democratic legislators because he is upset that they are using a "tracker" to record his speeches.  A Veteran's group invited a Democratic tracker to an event in December and, afterwards, Gov. LePage canceled all meetings with Democratic leaders, refusing to acknowledge their new majority.  This, despite the fact that his speeches are part of the public record no matter who does the recording.

and...Nevada State Assemblyman Steven Brooks (D), unhappy with his committee assignment, was arrested on Saturday for threatening to shoot Speaker-elect Marilyn Kilpatrick (D).  Mr. Brooks was quoted as saying that Ms. Kilpatrick's "first day as Speaker would be her last". At the time of his arrest he was carrying a loaded gun.

Gov. LePage's behavior is so childish it defies explanation; but Assemblyman Brooks behavior is just plain scary.  Doesn't anybody talk anymore? Since when do we, as Americans, refuse to discuss our differences?  More and more, I see the attitude of "Agree with me or I will shoot you" taking hold in our society.  How far have we fallen that our behavior echoes that of the Taliban?


3.   New Mexico State Representative Cathrynn Brown (R), has introduced a bill that would require a rape victim who becomes pregnant as a result of the rape to carry the pregnancy to term so the court could use the baby as evidence of sexual assault.  Under the terms of Ms. Brown's bill, if the rape victim got an abortion, she could be charged with a third-degree felony, punishable by three years in prison, for "tampering with evidence".

I have no words.