Salem-News.com published a commentary on Rep. Michele Bachmann by Dorsett Bennett, a self-described “moderate to liberal Republican” from 1971 until 2004 who “now considers himself an Independent/Libertarian.”

With Politicians Like Michele Bachmann …

By Dorsett Bennett
Salem-News.com
February 27, 2009

Excerpts

[…] My very smart and lovely 26-year old college-educated, and recently married daughter, resides with her husband in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Periodically she refers to a Republican United States Congresswoman elected from the Minneapolis/St. Paul suburbs. […]

When Rep. Bachmann’s name came up in the news again today because of her reportedly yelling out at to black Republican party chairperson Michael Steele at a conservative organization’s function something along the lines, “You be the man! Michael, you be the man,” I decided to do a little bit of checking about Rep. Bachmann.

[…] for sheer spectacle, no one goes over the cliff without so much as a skid mark quite like Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN). The saucer-eyed Congresswoman, you may recall, made national waves by recommending a return to the days of Joseph McCarthy. She then compounded the problem with a seriously weird Politico piece, and then proceeded to blame Chris Matthews for tricking her in an appearance on his show.

Apparently, voters in Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District don’t have much use for national reputation or competent representation, because Bachmann somehow managed to be re-elected. […]

Frau Bachmann’s latest trip from her alternate-reality bunker happened last weekend. In a radio interview with KTLK conservative talker Chris Baker, Bachmann was responsible for the following utterances.

• ACORN is “under federal indictment for voter fraud,” but the stimulus bill nevertheless gives ACORN “$5 billion.” (If you have followed the theme of this post so far, you will not be surprised to learn that ACORN is not under federal indictment and isn’t mentioned in the stimulus bill at all.)

• Many members of Congress have “a real aversion to capitalism.”

• The stimulus bill includes a measure to create a “rationing board” for health care, and after the bill becomes law, “your doctor will no longer be able to make your healthcare decisions with you.”

• Republicans are “too nice” and won’t fight back.

• The recovery package is part of a Democratic conspiracy to “direct” funding away from Republican districts, so Democratic districts can “suck up” all federal funds. Bachmann doesn’t think this will work because, as she put it, “We’re running out of rich people in this country.”

• The “Community-Organizer-in-Chief” (yes, that’s verbatim) is also orchestrating a conspiracy involving the Census Bureau, which the president will use to redraw congressional lines to keep Democrats in power for up to “40 years.” When the host said he was confused, noting that congressional district lines are drawn at the state level, Bachmann said Obama’s non-existent plan is an “anti-constitutional move.”

No, I am not making any of this up. Yes, these are all taken straight from the interview. Yes, you should listen to the whole thing. No, you cannot sue me for damages. Frankly, if you listened to the interview before reading this, you may, in fact, qualify as a true medical miracle for surviving the brain damage caused by trying to logically process Bachmannese.

There is a slim silver lining in Bachmann’s cloudy return to Washington. It was only a matter of time before the nation would once again be treated to watching Bachmann’s mind roam wild and free in that gigantic space which it occupies??? […]

Please Republicans! Please make her stop. It hurts!

A friend was able to listen to more of [the interview] than most people could, and says:

“There’s no point in trying to fact-check such unhinged stupidity, but I should note that none of this is in any way grounded in reality. I should also note that we’re not talking about some strange nut screaming on a street corner; this is all coming from an elected member of Congress.” At one point, Bachmann told the host, “We are literally losing our country.”

Congresswoman, you’ve literally lost something, but I don’t think it’s your country. […]

Minnesota, when will you wake up already? […] Get rid of this person or risk becoming a laughingstock of the nation.

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Cross-posted on “Bachmann Watch” at St. Cloud Times Online.