GOP big shots looking out for themselves, blocking Obama, and putting the country LAST.

For the past 8 years, the Republican Party got just about everything they ever wanted — and now are desperately trying to avoid taking the blame for it. Diplomatic, economic, and ethical disasters should fall soundly on those who caused them — yet rather than reform their party, they continue to turn to the same old "look out for Number One" agenda.

Here is the recap and related links to all things firmly rooted in the NOT HELPFUL category. Clockwise from the top left...

1. House Minority Leader John Boehner and other Republican leaders are attacking the stimulus package with while promoting their own version featuring their favorite fix all — tax-cuts. Maybe further stock market deregulation would help to!

Do these people still believe they have ANY expertise at fixing the economy? — READ AT Huffington Post.

2. Ken Blackwell, former Ohio Secretary of State (The one who helped Karl Rove steal the 2004 election results in Ohio) bluntly stated that conservatives should vote against the stimulus package, because the plans success would mean more people vote Democrat, thus making it harder for Republicans to retake the White House. — READ at Think Progress.

3. Rush Limbaugh decides to put country last and oppose the stimulus plan out of fear it's success will prevent GOP wins in future elections. — READ AT Think Progress.

4. Karl Rove, unable to admit defeat, takes his magical misery tour to a Miami university lecture hall and tells attendees that Obama won't be able to close Gitmo. But at least he did wish Obama success. — READ AT the Miami Hurricane website

5. John McCain, along with the other GOP leadership, has threatened to vote against it unless major changes are made (like adding those tax cuts the GOP loves). This is probably because the fundamentals of the economy are STILL strong. Senator I thought you were better than this... then I remember your presidential campaign. — READ AT Huffington Post.

6. Kathie Olsen,once at the forefront of Bush's systematic denial of the human causes of global warming, has "borrowed-in" to a protected job within the Obama government. And Obama may not be able to do much about it. Many such former Bushies have done so in recent weeks, but she is one of the more higher profile cases. — READ AT talkingpointsmemo.com.

TIP OF THE HAT: Jon Stewart interviews John McCain

There's all kinds of statistics out there about people who are watching Comedy Central's The Daily Show for their news fix. While Jon Stewart himself regards his show as something closer to a political cartoon, I think many of his viewers know better. People know something isn't right with network and cable news. It's little more than compressed "tell it in two minutes" fluff, flying 3D graphics titles, and a banal obsession with all things superficial and/or tragic. As Don Henley's incensed insight from Dirty Laundry claimed: "It's interesting when people die." It's trite and phony.

In the age of corporate news acting as little more than political machinery, Stewart's earnest approach to the insanity of the day rings true.

At times, his Buster Keaton act fails him and the jokes are off the desk, as they did last Wednesday when John McCain tried to answer questions with talking points.

Stewart: All I'm saying is you cannot look a soldier in the eye and say questioning the president is less supportive to you than extending your tour for three months when you should be coming home to your family.

McCain: Every American..

Stewart: And that's not fair to put on people that criticize…

McCain: Jon…

Stewart: And you know I love you and respect your service and would never question any of that—this is not about questioning the troops and their ability to fight and their ability to be supported. And that is what the administration does and that is almost criminal.

As someone who used to like McCain (I even voted for him in the 2000 primary, albeit in order to use my vote to undermine Bush) I have found it sad and disappointing to see his slow eight year decent from "The Straight Talk Express" to... well... something that smells political... in the most pitiful sense of the word.

I'm grateful Jon was able to call him on it. He's one of the few journalists to do so, even if that's the last thing he'd want to be tagged as. As for McCain, time to get real again. Either way I doubt he'll be back on Comedy Central any time soon.

Haven't found it on YouTube, but you can catch the interview HERE.