Susie Sampson asks a couple of congressmen what they think of little tykes with guns.

Absurdity Today for CrooksandLiars.com : the independent news parody series hosted by political satirist Julianna Forlano.

This Week's Top Stories Include:

The FCC Working to Change Longstanding Anti-Consolidation Legislation; The Federal Reserve Bank may now read your emails; Barack Obama Wins an Oscar and much more.

Well lookit you, progressives. Ain't you just absolutely the shit?

What a week, what a time to be on the planet. I won't inundate you with all the many, many ways to experience inspiration and schadenfreude there are right now...there are just too many to count.

But buried in President Obama's victory speech was an important detail and a challenge:

I want to thank every American who participated in this election, whether you voted for the very first time or waited in line for a very long time. By the way, we have to fix that.

Um, yup. Let us be clear: the most vile elements of the GOP didn't steal this election, but it wasn't for lack of trying. We went to Ohio to see for ourselves what was going on in that crucible of democracy--and what we found was disturbing, galling, and surprisingly inspiring.

And there was dancing! Jon Husted ain't messing with my Dougie.

As any Crooks And Liars reader can tell you, Paul Ryan recently had a photo shoot! He really went all out, showing a side of himself we always suspected was there but had lacked visual confirmation.

Up till now unseen is the behind-the-scenes video--video that to the casual observer might just be a Very Serious Policy Wonk getting ripped. But close study suggests the true constituency of this candidate. Hint: it begins with a "brrrrrrrrr" and ends with an "OH!"

Look, addiction is a serious medical condition. It affects the lives of millions, causing untold suffering to both addicts and the people who love them.

Also: corruption and money in government is a serious issue. It affects the lives of millions, and in California we're facing a new assault from those who would use their money to buy our government.

But, which is which?

The proposition system in California is a ridiculous, bought-and-sold, labyrinthine bureaucracy that does far more to obscure real issues than to clarify. This video does nothing to solve that--if you want to know more about the scandalously dumb Prop 32, there are actual resources available rather than a comic with a mic.

The problem, of course, is that most folks lead real lives with real obligations--few folks have the time to parse all the language of each of these deliberately confusing documents. Bits like these hopefully serve to introduce people to the broad outlines of a debate, leaving the obligation for discerning particulars to audience members themselves.

So, just feeling out the C&L audience--is this an effective form of activism? There are more substantive ads out there, are we progressives better off sticking to nitty-gritty policy details and staying away from snarky bits?

I dunno, I hear "sticking to nitty-gritty policy details" and I think "John Kerry 2004," but I'd love to hear your thoughts about this video I did for the fine folks at Courage Campaign. If you like the video, please feel free to share it. Either way, let me know your thoughts in the comments.

And if you live in California, please add "no on 32" to the sudoku puzzle of democracy you'll need to fill in this November.

There are a lot of variables at hand in a serious discussion of tax policy.

The Romney/Ryan team have been widely criticized for a lack of specificity in their tax proposal. To be honest, they just haven't had time. The distractions of the campaign are seemingly infinite--the plane rides, the rallies, sleeping, eating.

Finally, they've broken down the specifics of the plan in an easy-to-understand way. Give it a listen. Do the fundamentals serve the immediate jobs crisis rather than just pay lip service to a short term deficit problem? Will homeowners, donors to charity, and workers be protected?

Hear them out. Our nation is like a car, we're all barreling down this highway together. What might it be like if we hop in Mitt's handy roof-top carrier and hang on for a ride?

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Oh, my. It seems Paul Ryan has gone rogue even earlier than Sarah Palin did, if Roger Simon is to be believed. In all honesty, his article at The Politico almost reads like satire, right down to the detailed explanation of PowerPoint hate:

That was Friday, and that was the end of Ryan following the game plan. At a certain point, all running mates on failing campaigns feel they must break free from the manacles placed on them by the top of the ticket. Sarah Palin began pursuing her own path once she learned that John McCain was having strategy sessions with his morning bowl of Farina.

Dan Senor, one of Romney’s closest advisers, has kept a tight grip on Ryan, traveling with him everywhere and making sure he hews to the directions of the Romney “brain trust” in Boston. (A brain trust, rumor has it, that refers to Ryan as “Gilligan.”)

Aw, Gilligan. Really? Gilligan was dumb but lovable. Not exactly Ryan traits. But wait, there's more.

Though Ryan had already decided to distance himself from the floundering Romney campaign, he now feels totally uninhibited. Reportedly, he has been marching around his campaign bus, saying things like, “If Stench calls, take a message” and “Tell Stench I’m having finger sandwiches with Peggy Noonan and will text him later.”

The term "The Stench" comes from a remark made by Craig Robinson, a former Iowa Republican Party political director, who said Ryan would have to wash the stench of this campaign off of him before running for national office again.

Ryan also was reported to have said "Let Ryan be Ryan and let the Stench be the Stench."

I'd be tempted to say the gloves are off, but then the stench would be on his hands. Way to go, little buddy.

Update: Roger Simon thought his description of PowerPoint presentations would tip us all off to the satire. For many of us, corporate PowerPoint nightmares still haunt our nights, Roger.

So perfect. And big congrats to Bill Hader for his Emmy nomination for "Stefon."

Open thread below....

In this week's episode:

• Romney's potential presidency is already causing suffering.
• NBC glorifies war and death with the addition of boobs. (And we are not just talking about Todd Palin and Nick Lachey).
• Paul Ryan, Paul Ryan, Paul Ryan, and more on Absurdity Today, your weekly political satire hosted by satirist, professor, and social critic and Final Cut Pro lover/hater, Julianna Forlano

Alternative titles for this week's episode:

"Mexico: It's Not Just the Water That Will Make You Crap Your Pants."

"Debby Does Florida and Rick Scott Undoes it."

ENJOY! And leave a comment!!!