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While discussing his opinions on the Wisconsin recall elections and the Republicans hanging onto their one seat majority in the Senate, RNC Chair Reince Priebus said the elections presented a lesson for the whole nation. One as TPM noted was pretty well a "pocket-sized John Galt speech" -- Priebus Toasts Wis. Recalls: ‘We Need To Have A Country Of Makers, And Not A Country Of Takers’ (VIDEO):

MSNBC host Contessa Brewer asked Priebus what message could be 'extrapolated' from the recalls, which were launched by the Democrats and organized labor in a backlash against Gov. Scott Walker's new law eliminating most collective bargaining rights that public employee unions had previously enjoyed. Democrats picked up two seats, just short of the three that they needed in order to flip control of the chamber.

"Well, Contessa, I mean, I view it as a 100 percent, absolute victory for not only the people in Wisconsin, but for all Americans that want to make sure that their government is listening, and that they can start living within its means," said Priebus. "And so after $30 million of big-government union money coming in, and a manufactured outrage that they've tried to put together in Wisconsin, we remain red. We won the Prosser [state Supreme Court] race in Wisconsin, we won again yesterday, we may win one or two next week.

"I think for the country, it's the start of having a debate, and winning the debate, that we need to have a country of makers, and not a country of takers. And I think that's important in saving not only Wisconsin, but a lot of other states that are watching. And I think it's a good signal, and a good sign, and a good tell, for the rest of America as to where the electorate is moving, and they're moving to winning a battle of individual freedom for America."

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The US military is trying to "break" Pfc. Bradley Manning, the soldier accused of leaking secrets to WikiLeaks, but it is Defense Secretary Robert Gates that could end up with a blemish on his record, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) said Monday.

Manning attorney David Coombs revealed last week that for at least two nights in row, the Army private had been "stripped naked" for as long as seven hours at a time.

In the mornings, he was left without clothes and forced to stand at attention.

"Is this Quantico or Abu Ghraib?" Kucinich wrote recently. "Officials have confirmed the 'non-punitive' stripping of an American soldier who has not been found guilty of any crime. This 'non-punitive' action would be considered a violation of the Army Field Manual if used in an interrogation overseas."

"It appears they're trying to break him," Kucinich told MSNBC's Contessa Brewer during a Monday interview. "This is not defensible. There is no way, stretch of the imagination that this could be allowed, or that this should be happening in America."

The Ohio Democrat suggested that there could even be legal consequences for Secretary Gates if he allowed the harsh treatment of Manning to continue.

"I just want to say one thing if I had a chance to talk directly to Secretary Gates. He's at the end of his career, Secretary Gates. It would be a shame to have a blot on his record which suggests he suborned human rights violations," he said.

"There will be consequences under the law for Secretary Gates for continuing to be complicit in the way this soldier is being treated."

"I don't have any position on Mr. Manning's guilt or innocence, but the way he's being treated raises questions about the Pentagon and about Secretary Gates," Kucinich concluded.

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Who knew that Oklahoma had liberal judges, much less ones who might want to impose Muslim laws on the good Christian state of Oklahoma. MSNBC's Contessa Brewer asked Oklahoma Rep. Rex Duncan about his ballot measure to make sure that judges in his state do not follow international or Sharia law, because we all know that Oklahoma is just being over-run by Muslims these days. Or maybe not. Digby was kind enough to transcribe this madness and go read the rest of her post for her take on it and as she said, sadly, no, this is not a joke. Man how I wish it was. These wingers all love separation of church and state unless it means imposing their own brand of Christian fundamentalism on the rest of us.

Protecting The Country From Liberal Mullahs:

Duncan:Oklahoman's recognize that America was founded on Judeo Christian principles and we're unapologetically grateful that God has blessed America and blessed our state. State amendment 755, the Save Our State Amendment is a simple effort to insure our courts are not used to undermine those founding principles and turn Oklahoma into something our founding fathers and our great grandparents wouldn't recognize.

Brewer: Do you believe that there's imminent danger of judges using Sharia law when deciding cases?

Duncan: It's not just a danger, it's a reality. Every day, liberals and uh, just ...

Brewer: Ok, and the reality has it happened in your state of Oklahoma that judges have...

Duncan: it has not. This is a pre-emptive strike to make sure that liberal judges don't take the bench in an effort to use their position to undermine those founding principles that are international or Sharia law. the other part of the question is to prohibit all state courts from considering international or Sharia law when considering cases, even cases of first impression.

Brewer: I'm sorry, but Mr Duncan, less than 1% of your state is Muslim. So where would that threat come from?

Duncan: It's a growing threat frankly. This again is a pre-emptive strike. They understand that this is a war for the survival of America, it's a cultural war it's a social war. It's a war for the survival of our country. And other states have looked away and kow towed to political correctness, have lost the chance perhaps to save their state. I believe Oklahoma voters at a margin greater than 90% will approve this state amendment and when we do, other red states and maybe even some lesser blue states will decide their states are worth saving too.

Brewer: Are you worried about other kinds of religious fundamentalism creeping into the decisions judges make when it really should be based on secular law?

Duncan: It ought to be based on federal and state law, and any effort to do anything else --- it's frankly the face of the enemy and we need to call it what it is. Oklahomans are going to do that and they're going to show other states what it looks like to take a leadership role in saving their own future and saving the sanctity of their own court system.

As Digby said "Somebody's got to stop all those liberal judges from imposing ultra-conservative Sharia Law and stoning gays and women who stray from God's path. Oh wait...what are we talking about again?"

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It looks like John McCain is in some serious trouble with his reelection battle in Arizona which was pretty much the theme that ran through a good deal of MSNBC's coverage of Sarah Palin out stumping for him in Arizona. Apparently Pat Buchanan doesn't think his opponent J.D. Hayworth's birther problem are going to be an issue for him if he wins. When asked why he liked Hayworth even though he's in the middle of this whole birther controversy, Buchanan's response was "So what!".

Well Pat, that might be much of a problem for him in the primary but I would hope that issue and his Jack Abramoff problems will come back to haunt him in the general election if he gets past McCain. This was about as pitiful as watching Buchanan fawn all over his girlfriend Sarah Palin for the morning.

So how bad was the press coverage for McCain today? Norah O'Donnell was interviewing the crowd there and a great deal of them were not there because they support McCain, but to see Palin instead. They felt McCain is going to have to bring her back in several more times before the primary race is over. And Norah O'Donnell mentioned something about him not even having enough signatures to get on the ballot yet and that he needs Palin stumping for him to help with that.

Rasmussen Reports shows Hayworth closing in on McCain. Election 2010: Arizona Republican Primary for Senate:

Longtime incumbent John McCain now leads conservative challenger J.D. Hayworth by just seven points in Arizona’s hotly contested Republican Senate Primary race.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely Arizona GOP Primary voters shows McCain ahead 48% to 41%. Three percent (3%) favor another candidate, and eight percent (8%) are undecided.

Following the announcement that Sarah Palin would campaign for his reelection, McCain opened up a 53% to 31% lead over Hayworth in January. The two men were in a near tie in November. Read on...

I don't see how Palin stumping for McCain is going to help him with the tea baggers. They hate McCain and I don't see how her appearances with him are going to change that. It's not bringing him any support from the likes of Buchanan either who apparently thinks a candidate in a Republican primary being seen as bat-shit crazy is not an issue. Given the fact that there's nothing left of them but the extreme right wing of the party, I'd say he's probably right.

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The DNC's Brad Woodhouse makes the same point as Jed over at Daily KOS -- Party of Vitter, Ensign, and Sanford wants Massa investigation Hotlist:

Never mind that within Republican ranks sit the following incumbents:

1. David "Diapers" Vitter

2. John "I screwed my top aide's wife (and she was also a staffer!)" Ensign

3. Mark "Hiking the Appalachian Argentine Trail" Sanford

Never mind that just 48 hours ago Republican House Leader John Boehner's leadership office was embracing Eric Massa's conspiracy theory and telling people to watch Glenn Beck to find out all about it.

Forget all that, because Republicans are now positioning themselves as the voices of truth and righteous indignation on all matters sexual -- as long as they have to do with former members of Congress...from the Democratic Party:

GOP wants Massa ethics probe reopened

WASHINGTON — House Minority Leader John Boehner wants the House ethics panel probe of former Rep. Eric Massa to be reopened.

The Ohio Republican said Thursday there are many unanswered questions surrounding the sexual harassment allegations that were made against the New York Democrat. Boehner (BAY'nur) said he plans to file a House resolution on the matter later Thursday.

As Woodhouse stated in this interview, some of those stones are going to come back at them. Sadly as Steve Benen noted, the media is more than happy to help the Republicans along.

WHERE'S OUR ENSIGN FRENZY?.... Matt Yglesias highlights an important double standard: "sex scandals aren't interesting when they involve Republicans."

Interestingly John Ensign, like David Vitter but unlike Elliot Spitzer or Eric Massa, hasn't yet been driven from public life.

I continue to find the trend fascinating. Sen. John Ensign (R) of Nevada is caught in a truly humiliating sex scandal -- and remember, the media generally loves political sex scandals -- involving a shameless hypocrite, who ran on a "family-values" platform, committing adultery with one of his own aides, who happens to be married to another aide. The scandal involves the immediate affair, plus alleged ethics violations, hush money, and official corruption.

And yet, no media frenzy. No reporters staked out in front of Ensign's home. No op-eds speculating about the need for Ensign to resign in disgrace.

Woodhouse made all the right points here. Sadly they're falling on deaf ears. As the Republicans are howling about Eric Massa with the media's help, it appears John Ensign's troubles are getting worse -- Emails Shed New Light On Ensign's Efforts On Hampton's Behalf.

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Contessa Brewer talks to Rep. Dianna DeGette about what the House will agree to with compromises on abortion language in the health care bill. The abortion language still could be a deal breaker with the House and those who refuse to see the Hyde language weakened further.

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John Harwood in typical Villager fashion takes a shot at liberals who are not happy with the health care bill or how Harry Reid or the Obama administration have handled it.

Brewer: So in the end, how does this deal get done John?

Harwood: Contessa it was really hand to hand combat and hand to hand diplomacy one vote at a time, finally securing that vote of Joe Lieberman by ditching that Medicare buy in that he was against and Ben Nelson with the abortion language; but I gotta’ say Contessa, just because so much of the commentary I've heard has been really idiotic. Liberals who want universal health care ought to be thanking Harry Reid for getting this thing done rather than talking about what's inadequate in the bill. I'm not saying the bill's a good bill, but if you're a liberal, and you want universal coverage in this country and think that you could do better than Harry Reid, can do better than what he's done, or the White House can do better, they ought to lay off the hallucinogenic drugs because we have had a vivid demonstration of the limits of political possibilities on this issue.

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Contessa Brewer takes the NRCC to task for their remarks about putting Nancy Pelosi "in her place". I don't think I've ever seen her quite this pissed off. Give 'em hell gal.

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Contessa Brewer finally gets fed up with John Ziegler attacking MSNBC and refusing to answer questions during this interview and cuts his mic. Why Brewer expected anything else from a bully like Ziegler is beyond me.

From Media Matters...apparently Rush Limbaugh noticed the exchange and decided to hurl a few insults at Brewer in response.

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Peter King is back at it again trashing the ACLU. This time he blames the ACLU for the delay in the release of the detainees at Guantanamo Bay. If that nasty ACLU had not brought all those lawsuits forward we'd have already wrapped up those kangaroo court military tribunals.