It’s been difficult to read the news lately ( the world seems crazier than usual lately ), but here at US Democrazy, it’s our job – so we’ve stuck it out to bring you some gems from the kooky world of American media and politics.

From the “It Must Be still Halloween” department:

Death Panels are Back! Republican Senate candidate Sharron Angle from Nevada is hurling the same lies about the so-called “death panels” in the health care reform bill that were settled months ago. What gives?

Check out the flier-clipping for yourself here. Pre-election tactic obviously, but should there be some sort of regulation on the spread of blatant misinformation? Or is this really what makes America the great place it is?

The Attack of The Governator

“WHAT WIMPS. NO GUTS,” is exactly what California Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger said of Washington politicians on Wednesday. This bold words speak of the frustration that many have with the lack of response to the BP oil spill. He went on to say:

I said, that’s disgusting. You promised the people you’d represent them. You didn’t promise the people you’d represent the oil companies and the special interests.

Man, oh man. We like the bold move on the Governor’s part. Now, only if politicians would take it seriously and ensure healthier environmental policy for the country and world alike. Read more and catch the video here.

It’s the Environment, Stupid!

Speaking of BP, reports are trickling in of people getting really sick from the dispersants used in the water to try and break up the oil on the surface after the spill. “Brown vomit, brown urine, copious diarrhea, skin rashes, sore throats and even internal hemorrhaging” are among the symptoms. This is really tragic, but can we say we’re surprised?

Obama still has Hope?

Now for some optimism – Obama seems ready to take a powerful stand on gay marriage. We just don’t know when. He made a comment to liberal bloggers last week in which he talked about his evolving opinions. Many are predicting an embrace of gay rights in his 2012 campaign, something that would be huge for the political capacity of the movement. Do you think he’ll actually do it? Or are the politically pressures too high otherwise?

What’s the opposite of Progress?  (HINT: it rhymes with kongress)

Okay… you may not be smiling, but the Democratic party is smiling less than you right now.

Due to a number of factors, the Democrats have a slim chance of holding onto the House of Representatives in next Tuesday’s Midterm elections.  How slim you ask?

Chris Bowers of the Daily Kos provides:

common things that are less likely than Democrats winning the House in 2010:

First, it’s less likely that your birthday is in either August or September (18%) than it is for Democrats to keep control of the House. However, we all know lots of people born in either August or September.

Not everyone is worried by who wins the elections.  After all does a new Congress actually mean noticeable change?  Democracy in America depressingly remarks

that policy doesn’t swing very wildly when government changes hands. Parties do what they can to reward supporters, but they can’t do too much…Military suppliers, big Wall Street interests, and the economic middle-class may do better or worse, but they always do pretty well.

If that’s the case then why should we care who wins?

Well, if nothing else campaigning is good for the economy.  For Yahoo Finance, Daniel Gross crunches some numbers and finds

sound macroeconomic reasons to get behind quantitative electioneering. Campaign cash is spent quickly, and with a sense of urgency. And it pretty much all has to be spent domestically. The goods and services you buy when you’re running for offices — real estate, yard signs, mailers, consultants, advertisements — are all produced locally.

Of course maybe there is a purpose to our elections beyond providing a campaign cash stimulus program.    Anyone care to offer some good suggestions of the benefit of this upcoming election?

Bing.com

Aren’t puzzles puzzling?

Out of the box their pieces are tiny, oddly shaped and maddeningly indistinguishable (like a pea, a marble and our editor’s brain). But when you look at the cover of the box, the pieces are mysteriously assembled to paint a clear picture.

A clear picture is being painted right now in Washington DC. As these pieces come together, this political picture is not looking good… for the Democrats.

Here are some of the pieces…

Fund Raising: A new Supreme Court ruling, Citizens United v Federal Election Commission, frees corporations to write unlimited blank checks to political campaigns (Open the Floodgates!).

Web Surfing: The Republicans are getting more savvy as to how to use The Internet for political gain. The recent election of Massachusetts Senator Senator Scott Brown has been attributed to a rigorous use of the internet. Elsewhere,  California conservative Carly Fiorina have taken to running attack adds through the web. Seen below is the “Demon Sheep” add run against her primary challenger Tom Campbell.

Hell Raising: The Republicans are out maneuvering the Democrats. An excellent analysis by TPM details Democrat’s political liabilities and tactical weaknesses that are hurting them in regards to the mid-terms (think economy and health care).

It seems all these new campaign bucks and web stuff is scaring even the most powerful of Democrats.

Take Sen. Chuck Schumer (D, NY) (please…). He has amassed an epic $19.4 million dollar political war chest .

Even Schumer, a popular senator in a blue state is worried.  CNBC host Larry Kudlow is considering a senate bid against him, and he is courting Wall St. for help. (get your bathing suits, the floodgates are now officially open).

But not all is lost for the hapless Democrats.

A big vote set for Monday on an important JOBS BILL… and Senate Republicans are considering a filibuster.

This gives Democrats a chance to leave egg on GOP faces. But are the Democrats ready for a tussle?

The pieces of the puzzle are coming together but the picture is still unclear. 2010 presents a modernizing political war machine, swelling war chests, and new political maneuvering. Who do you think will win the day?

Now that you’ve grown to appreciate USDemocrazy’s thoughtful and insightful predictions for 2010 (what, you don’t agree?!), we hope you’re looking forward to the elections coming up this year.

All of the recent banter over health care and President Obama’s performance in office is raising a question… which party will be victorious in 2010?

Some such people spoke out on The McLaughlin Group on Sunday.  ’Political oblivion’ is discussed in no uncertain terms in the video above.

You can find what the panelists thought on other topics of yearly importance, including the most original thinker and the worst politician of 2009, here.

The McLaughlin Group, for those of you not always tuned into PBS (we saw it while waiting for Sesame Street to come on this week) is a public affairs round-table show with big-mouthed panelists and some fun debates. Not everyone is enthralled with their styling of arguing debating, as shown in this video below:

And speaking of elections and debates and all that, a certain bespectacled brunette who used to run Alaska got a little smiley when someone asked if she’d find herself on a ticket with Glenn Beck, beloved by some, hated by many others, in the next presidential election:

And to sample Mr. Beck, here’s what he wants Americans to demand from their Congresspeople come election-time 2010:

Are we ready for all this electoral madness?! It’s never too soon to be thinking about it!