(Given that we’re likely to get a bunch of ridiculous “analysis” in coming weeks about how Bob McDonnell was a pretty good governor, other than the corruption, I thought I’d remind everyone of McDonnell’s damaging austerity policies. Of course, they weren’t austerity for wealthy people, only for everyone else in Virginia. Thanks a lot, Bob! – promoted by lowkell)

The “independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit” Commonwealth Institute just released a new study analyzing the impact of Bob McDonnell’s budget on Virginia’s economy. It’s not pretty.

An estimated 37,000 job losses and reduced economic activity of over $2 billion will likely result from cuts to state spending in health care and education under the budget approved recently by the General Assembly according to a new, comprehensive study released today by the Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis.

In addition, the analysis estimates that the cuts will result in over $2.2 billion in lost gross domestic product over the biennium and over $1.5 billion in lost personal income.

“We are not just talking about a few jobs here,” says Michael Cassidy, Institute Executive Director. “We’re talking about causing the layoffs of more people than are currently employed with Northrop Grumman’s Newport News Shipbuilding. That’s never okay.”

Using nationally recognized REMI economic modeling, The Commonwealth Institute estimates that 37,000 jobs would be eliminated under the General Assembly’s compromise budget, which now awaits the Governor’s signature.

As always, heckuva job by the Republicans.

This is amazing, I strongly recommend that everyone read it. Here’s the beginning:

Dear Conservative Americans,

The years have not been kind to you. I grew up in a profoundly Republican home, so I can remember when you wore a very different face than the one we see now.  You’ve lost me and you’ve lost most of America.  Because I believe having responsible choices is important to democracy, I’d like to give you some advice and an invitation.

First, the invitation:  Come back to us.

Now the advice. You’re going to have to come up with a platform that isn’t built on a foundation of cowardice: fear of people with colors, religions, cultures and sex lives that differ from your own; fear of reform in banking, health care, energy; fantasy fears of America being transformed into an Islamic nation, into social/commun/fasc-ism, into a disarmed populace put in internment camps; and more.  But you have work to do even before you take on that task.

Your party — the GOP — and the conservative end of the American political spectrum has become irresponsible and irrational.  Worse, it’s tolerating, promoting and celebrating prejudice and hatred.  Let me provide some expamples — by no means an exhaustive list — of where the Right as gotten itself stuck in a swamp of hypocrisy, hyperbole, historical inaccuracy and hatred.

If you’re going to regain your stature as a party of rational, responsible people, you’ll have to start by draining this swamp:

What follows is an exhaustive list, duly cited and linked, of conservative “hypocrisy,” “hyperbole,” misunderstanding of “history,” and of course “hatred.”  As my friend Josh says, “Quite possibly the greatest takedown of conservative hypocricy, hyperbole, and hatred in history.” Check it out.

Thanks to Tom Whipple for the Wednesday “Clips.”

1. CUCCINELLI SUES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STOP HEALTH-CARE REFORM LAW

3. WHITE HOUSE, EXPERTS: HEALTH CARE SUIT WILL FAIL

7. PROTESTERS GREET CUCCINELLI AT GMU SPEECH

8. ENGLIN STARTS CAMPAIGN TO STOP CUCCINELLI’S LAWSUIT CHALLENGING HEALTH-CARE BILL

11. PERRIELLO: MEDICARE REDUCTION WON’T HURT SENIOR CITIZENS

12. MCDONNELL TO HEADLINE HIGH-DOLLAR GOP FUNDRAISER NEXT MONTH

15. WASHINGTON AREA POPULATION RISES FASTER THAN OTHER REGIONS

17. TRANSIT OPTIONS MAKE DISTRICT MORE AFFORDABLE THAN SUBURBS

18. VIRGINIA ENERGY-EFFICIENCY REBATES AVAILABLE

19. VIRGINIA COLLEGES PREPARING FOR STUDENT-LOAN OVERHAUL

25. BESIDES THE BUDGET, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SIDESHOW LEFT VIRGINIANS WAITING FOR SOLUTIONS

43. TEA PARTY MEMBERS POST PERRIELLO’S BROTHER’S ADDRESS

Ken Cuccinelli is arguing that a “mandate” by government for citizens to purchase health insurance is unconstitutional. Is it? Let’s ask George Washington.

The truth, however, is that the Second Militia Act of 1792, required a significant percentage of the U.S. civilian population to purchase a long list of military equipment:

[E]very citizen, so enrolled and notified, shall, within six months thereafter, provide himself with a good musket or firelock, a sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare flints, and a knapsack, a pouch, with a box therein, to contain not less than twenty four cartridges, suited to the bore of his musket or firelock, each cartridge to contain a proper quantity of powder and ball; or with a good rifle, knapsack, shot-pouch, and powder-horn, twenty balls suited to the bore of his rifle, and a quarter of a pound of powder; and shall appear so armed, accoutred and provided…

This Act became law only a few years after the Constitution was ratified, in President George Washington’s first term. Many of the Members of Congress who voted for the Act also were members of the Philadelphia Convention that wrote the Constitution. In other words, they probably knew a little bit more about the Constitution than Ken Cuccinelli.

Yes, they certainly did know more than our (not-so) esteemed Attorney General. But then again, so does anyone, their uncle, their pet hamster, their goldfish, etc. Ken Cuccinelli: lowering the collective IQ of Virginia government since 2002!

UPDATE: According to Washington and Lee University law professor Timothy Stoltzfus “Health bill lawsuits are going nowhere”. Total demolition of Cooch; case dismissed!

Watch this speech, then if you agree with me that Tom Perriello is exactly the kind of person we want and (badly) need in Congress, please let him know we’ve “got his back” by giving generously to Tom’s reelection campaign. Thanks.