Oakland

As many of you are no doubt aware, the Republicans last week unveiled their “Road to Recovery.” Originally billed as their detailed response to President Obama’s proposed budget (after having been called out publicly by Obama for attacking him while not having an alternative proposal of their own– and in direct accordance with Josh Marshall’s “Bitch-Slap” theory of politics), it was quickly revealed to be (literally) nothing more than a vague 19-page outline of the same Republican talking points we’ve been hearing week in and week out. Each section in the magnum opus is set up thusly: 1) “Why Democrats Suck” 2) “We’ll Cut Taxes. Also, There Might Be Ponies Involved.”

(Actual important and meaningful chart from the “Road to Recovery”)

The “budget” has been roundly, and rightly, panned by nearly every observer since it was put forth, mainly on the grounds that it contains basically no actual “numbers” or “plans” or “substance” or anything beyond tired aphorisms, though the Republicans insist that they will reveal their actual budget with all the numbers and stuff on… ahem… April Fool’s Day. (For reals. As for the pre-release party, Boehner went ahead and made the excuse that “Obama did it first,” and apparently there was quite a bit of infighting about whether or not they should even come out with such a weak document, though obviously the right people won that battle.) What I haven’t seen anyone pointing out is how wantonly political the piece is, hammering over and over on the same points that Republicans like to make on every Sunday morning talk show– Blaming Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for the economic crisis (not to mention [gasp!] Jimmy Carter), name-dropping George Soros, and even referring dozens of times to the “Democrat” budget or the “Democrat” plan (as opposed to the “Democratic” budget… get it? It’s cause “Democrat” ends in “rat.” Heh heh. Or because it’s not a “Democratic” plan at all, it’s, like, all Socialist and stuff. Sigh. Children.)

The video of the Republicans unveiling this masterpiece is widely available, but the Agenda has obtained exclusive footage of the post-press conference, where the Republican leadership keeps reporters around while continuing to insist that this is, totally, really, a budget and stuff:

Who else can’t wait until April 1st?