By his OWN description of what makes someone a racist, HE'S A RACIST!
March 19, 2007
RUSH: These people are racists. You know, the racists in our society, Ted, are these white liberals. They're the ones that notice your skin color before anything else, and they're the ones deciding whose skin color is dark enough and therefore who's authentic enough and who's been down for the struggle. It's those people doing this. It's not me. It's not "talk radio."
January 16, 2007
RUSH : And for Barack Obama, a -- well, he's a half-minority --
January 24, 2007
RUSH: Hey, Barack Obama has picked up another endorsement: Halfrican American actress Halle Berry. "As a Halfrican American, I am honored to have Ms. Berry's support, as well as the support of other Halfrican Americans," Obama said. He didn't say it, but -- anyway
September 22, 2008
RUSH: These polls on how one-third of blue-collar white Democrats won't vote for Obama because he's black, and -- but he's not black. Do you know he has not one shred of African-American blood? He doesn't have any African -- that's why when they asked whether he was authentic, whether he's down for the struggle. He's Arab. You know, he's from Africa. He's from Arab parts of Africa. He's not -- his father was -- he's not African-American. The last thing that he is is African-American.
Things are pretty dire. Have you noticed? The economy continues (totally) in the toilet, with respect to home values, jobs, banking, credit and just about everything else except gas prices and road repairs. We are doing nothing about the Peak Oil Problem we see coming at us like one of those old fashioned train wrecks. The world climate situation is huge, seemingly unavoidable and extremely unsettling. And what are we doing about all of that? We are watching television. And waiting. And then watching some more television. We are listening to the likes of self-described geniuses who are about as bright as those idiotic children behind the counter at Apple stores. Ben Stein, a flat-voiced and flat-brained comedian. Bill Bennett, fat-mouthed and flabby example of a Complete American Wastrel. Every once and awhile we get a paid-off and quieted Paul Krugman and whatever peaceful creature Maureen Dowd has become.
Our leadership seems lost amongst the chaos of Congress and the Courts. We are wandering around the world, blundering from one continent to another, one country after another without a mission.
Well, here is the mission. It is time.
1. We have to fund and then build the National Ignition Facility right now. Like yesterday. Only fusion power will be at the core of our resurgence. Only fusion power can give us the kind of control of the universe that we have to have to save ourselves and then get out there to begin our conquest of the galaxy. Sounds totally whacked, does it not? Especially in light of what is going on today. Forget trillions for defense, or for propping up banks or even health care. We are not going to need any of those things unless we get more control over this planet and ourselves. And fusion gives us the energy to do just that. It is the only thing that can do it. And we are ready to do it right this minute!
2. We have to go back to space. Right now. It is from out there that we must use the tools of observation and operations to impact the planet. Yes, the Moon and Mars and more space stations. A lot of them. We also need this for our spirit. We were never meant to survive without adventure. We thrive on it and we have nowhere to gain it anymore except in idiotic insane wars that tear us apart.
3. Tesla, yeah that whacked out genius of a hundred years ago, was right. About AC electricity, of course, but also about the provision of electricity. With our new fusion we make it free. That is right. All homes in this country (of reasonable size) get free electricity. That is heat in the winter and cooling in the summer. All. And we have plugs for our electric cars. We have already paid for the electricity many times over. We developed the damn stuff, then had it taken away. Tesla was right. Westinghouse was an asshole and a thief.
4. Along with that home comes a medical guarantee of care, as well as unemployment coverage (for like three years) and disability coverage. All Americans. We can do this if we simply turn on the thieves, butdon't forget we'll need them. We need them and a lot of our criminals (currently, and stupidly, contained in all of these prisons across the land) to build our missiles and spaceships. Yeah, everyone gets a job. We can leave our violent criminals inside and even maybe build some special care centers again for our mentally ill. And don't forget those guys and gals down in Dixie. We need them too. They build kick-ass space gear and we need people who know how to use guns, as well.
5. We build some real transportation. That nutty idiot Lyndon LaRouche only had two things right. Fusion (maybe his support of it in the sixties hurt us more than we know, because he was such a nut) and a Bridge or Tunnel across the Bering Straits into Russia. We need our Railroads back, big time, to carry all this gear. And we need the help of our brothers and sisters. The Mexicans and the Canadians. We need to get rid of all these stupid border restrictions. On both borders. We cross freely to work and live, if we care to. Americans get special privileges for living here as citizens (how about a house, electricity, et al?). We need these folks as this is going to be one prodigious effort to save the planet and become what we are meant to be. And those Russians too. They are a tremendous culture, if you get out of the dumb Moscow mindset group. Screw Putin. He's nothing, once we make our mind up. Lead, follow or get out of the way. Imagine high speed rail to anyplace in the world!
6. We build the eighth and ninth fleets. Whole fleets of combat carrier and support ships. But we do not arm them. We send them out to help people, fully staffed with medical, food, energy, all of it. We can call the carriers the Mother Theresa and the Albert Sweitzer instead of the bellicose leaders names we are currently stuck with. Think about how much good these two nuclear forces could do to help people. The tsunami situation. New Orleans. And we could staff it with all paid volunteers. Guys and gals back from Iraq or even Vietnam, in need of redemption or just a great feeling job! And this world would love us. And they'd be right to do so.
7. Forget about the current wars. There are none if we do not wage them. So we lost the war with Al-Quida, or whoever the hell they really are. Or we won it. You can't fight a war against an idea or concept unless you just want to stay at war forever. Forget it. Come home. Just let idiots who pull off stuff like 911 know that we are going to blow off the head of anyone we find doing junk like that. And this time we'll look for them instead of use them to do things our rotten leadership could not have done without them. Screw Iran and North Korea. We do not need them. If we hear from them again we'll glad blow them, continuously, into the stone age, nuclear or otherwise. Nobody is bringing a nuke into the U.S. Not anymore. But we are not telling anybody we can detect them. All of them. Why not? Because we are lost in our stupid set of secrecy rules that only keep things secret from the American Public! That keeps you, that public, from making any changes to the rules that need to be changed or we are all going to die awful deaths, or maybe just our children!!!
8. Stop outsourcing. It did not work. We get no service at all and the products suck. We all know that, but have been conditioned to buy them. Walmart has to change or go away. Just the facts of life. And you have to make them. Or you can die poor in a poisoned environment. In source carefully from here on. The employers are the keys. They must be controlled by laws on who they can hire. We do not need national I.D. cards for citizens, but we need them for all outsiders visiting, and we need to know where those people are on a regular basis. This is not rocket science. It is just wisdom.
9. Get must educators back on television. Whatever we have to do we must do here with this television nightmare that is helping deaden and kill us. I know, I write for it. These idiot pundits must go. They need to be replaced by real historians and real credentialed people. The Rush Limbaughs, and former sportscasters, and other complete idiots need to be retired post haste. And we need to get control of the companies that control these network and cable outlets. It does not matter if this infringes on the press for a bit. We are all going to die miserably if we do not. What is the choice? We do not have freedom of the press anymore. We have freedom of corporate expression. So we change it. We go in and commit surgery. If we have to commit surgery on our morally destitute Congress and crypto-right Supreme Court, then we do it. Our life is at stake. Dangerous times, yes, as this system has gotten us this far. We do not need to lose it, but we need to modify what is going on within it.
10. We have lost all of our small information sources. And most of those were independent. We did have some freedom of the press. We still do, out here on the internet (which television is trying to change by using internet porn and child molesters as their straw enemies). But we have lost all our small newspapers across the country. They now only do ads. The ethnic papers are gone too. Here, on the internet, it is very very difficult to get a 'voice' no matter what you do. Maybe fifty people will read this blog and I have been blogging pretty consistently for almost three years. Big money sweeps in here too (like Drudge and Huffington) and just takes over viewership. And you can burn up all your time on the internet, just trying to build a following. Most of us have to make a living. We need to do something to bring back our information delivery systems. We have been deliberately denied any way to communicate with one another in meaningful ways. We can only build a movement to do something through the existent structure and look what happened in this last election! Nothing! And I like Obama! I am writing this blog (initially) on his site!
We can do all this if we will. If a message such as this can go out, be evaluated, and then acted upon. The ten things I list are very pro-active, very aggressive, and very timely and doable. If we will. We can do this. We have the mythology that will allow us to reach down and then do something stupendous. We are the only culture on the planet that can. Because this is America.
http://www.jamesstraussauthor.com
http://www.themastodosn.com
http://www.from-the-chateau-dif.blogspot.com
Update 9-5-09 Obama/Biden Administration is showing WEAKNESS and the right-wing predators have NOTICED!Obama/Biden accepts the resignation from Van Jones? Are you kidding me? WHAT… are we putting down people who happen to have the COURAGE (balls) to be honest and speak their minds? The Republicans ARE assholes! (but most people are AFRAID to say it)So Van Jones made comments and statements that the Conservatives don’t like… well boo #*~/’n hoo. I can’t think of a Bush/Cheney Administration official or appointee that DIDN’T say things that made me want to put my boot into a TV screen. How come they never had to walk on eggshells or resign? I’ve been to protest rallies/marches all over the nation and at every one of them I've met a communist or socialist somewhere in the crowd. DOES THAT MAKE ME A bad guy?
I got copies of The Militant, People’s Weekly World, The Grassroots Press and the War Crimes Times in my files. (I think history has shown quite clearly that those who use the uncomplimentary communist label to destroy others are the worst kind of CONTROL by AUTHORITY FASCISTS)Speaking of War Crimes, WHO on the Left hasn’t thought or considered that 9/11 wasn’t an inside job? (Anyone’s who watched the movie “Zeitgeist”) Look into George W. Bush‘s eyes as he was sitting in that class room on 9/11. COME ON! One has GOT TO ADMIT something stinks. Especially with guys like Cheney and Rumsfeld in power and all that super secret, black op, highly paid military contractor, Neo-Con bullshit going on…Anyway, the point I’m trying to make is that if Van Jones was a highly knowledgeable, right man for the job… WHY THE #*~/ SHOULD WE CARE WHAT THE MEDIA OR THE RIGHT-WING THINKS? Is this what Obama/Biden are all about… IMAGE rather than accomplishment?If Obama/Biden needs help with controlling BULLIES then I’m still open to an offer $… On the other hand maybe I should quit politics because I’m starting to dislike Democrats almost as much as the Republicans. if you don't have the ciones to fight... YOU SHOULD NOT BE IN POWER! (At the very least hire someone who does)
I’m going to give ONE more FREE example how hiring Conscious Man Consultants will solve the Conservative/Republican problem. We can put a specialized, personalized plan of action in motion that will keep the right-wing occupied attacking US instead of Obama/Biden Administration officials… (just in case you people actually want to do all those things Obama has been speaking about since 2007) PREMISE:Conservatives seemed to have LOST THEIR MINDS! From the local level to national spokespersons, even in the Halls of Congress, it’s nothing but FEAR and SMEAR. No new ideas, nothing good to say, nothing good to do. Only rabid hate and criticism of Obama/Biden, Democrats, Progressives and Liberals. Like a mad dog ready to attack anything that gets in it’s way.NOTE: This whole mad, hoo-hah paranoia Conservatives are making about Obama’s speech to elementary kids is the straw that broke the camels back. These people are f*~/'n INSANE!People in the age group have told me that when they were in school classes were stopped for the OJ trial verdict, aggghhhhhhagggg! AND YOU STUPID MOTHERFUCKERS ARE upset about President Obama addressing the children in the beginning of their school year, ENCOURAGING the youth to make the best of their education?Many of these Conservative nutcases are on the verge of violent acts against all us COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS IN THE TRENCHES doing all the organizing legwork for Obama/Biden and the Democrats. WE NEED YOUR PROTECTION AND LOVE! (or at least let us defend ourselves WITHOUT law enforcement interference and criminal prosecution)The Obama Justice Department needs to (GROW A PAIR) draw the line and INVESTIGATE! Barack Obama getting elected President was NOTHING SHORT OF A REVOLUTION and the Obama people BETTER START TO REALIZE IT! CHANGE is not just a word in a speech to us, IT’S OUR LIVES! If YOU Democrats can't provide IT, then there's going to be a for real revolution... AND IT WON'T BE PRETTY!
I warned you #*!~/s a year ago what would happen how you should come out of the starting gate STRONG… (READ MY OLD POSTS)
You should of held Bush/Cheney ACCOUNTABLE for their incompetent/criminal foreign, domestic and reckless economic polices from the start. BUT Noooooo… you pussies had to play NICE, all that bullshit about compromise and working with the Republicans. BAIL THEM OUT!Now look at the pitiful, mindless bullshit we have to deal with everyday. The very people who’s legacies Obama and the Democrats saved by voting for the Bush/Paulson Bailout are now using some of that money to work AGAINST the Obama administration. GETTING IN THE WAY OF OUR HOPES, OUR DREAMS, OUR CHANGE! motherfuckers! You cowards AVOIDED the FIGHT that would have made Obama/Biden GREAT!I can’t take this vile nonsense anymore. While Barack and Michele Obama are looking good for the media AND Ivory Tower crowd.. out here in the REAL WORLD the bullshit is almost unbearable and the economy REALLY SUCKS. It’s comes at me from all sides…EXAMPLE:I was doing some consulting work for a friend recently. While completing the job at the house of our customers, I noticed the dart board out on their back patio with a picture of Nancy Pelosi attached over the bulls eye. I asked the couple about it and they started on a rant about how much they despised Rep. Pelosi.Mind you this is NOT in California, so the couple knew only what the Conservative propagandists told them. No facts, no statistics, no legislative content, no legitimate cases or concrete examples… they just hated Nancy Pelosi and that was all there was to it. The lady of the house told me she just hates that stupid look on Nancy Pelosi’s face every time she talks to the media. (yea, stupid look) I was looking into the lady's smiling blank eyes… (it reminded me of Sarah Palin)Now these people are not some ignorant, southern state rubes. He was an engineer and she a retired teacher. They lived in a million dollar home on a hilltop with a priceless view and 5 expensive vehicles in the driveway… So I couldn’t UNDERSTAND their thought processes. When the woman said “Glenn Beck is god in this house”, it took my #*~/'n breath away.While we completed the final details of the job I was talking business but in the back of my mind I was screaming at the couple:“Why should I take ANYTHING you people say seriously? Glenn Beck is god? ARE YOU #*~/’n CRAZY? Beck/Limbaugh/Hannity/etc… are your way to justify the SHAMELESS HYPOCRISY and unrelenting guilt.(Or what the intelligence community calls “psychological warfare”)You morons voted for Bush/Cheney NOT ONCE but 2 TIMES… YEA, I’ll listen to what you suckers have to say when one, JUST ONE of your Republican leaders stands up and takes RESPONSIBILITY for 8 years of Bush/Cheney waste, fraud, abuse, incompetence, scandal, corruption, reckless economics, war profiteering, constitutional violations…”The man told me how the NEW and improved Republican Party had nothing to do with Bush/Cheney, whom he thought strayed from Conservative principles… (I didn't know they had any...)If it wasn’t that my friend had a lot of money riding on this deal, I would have grabbed the man of the house and tried to slap some sense into him.You can’t just separate yourselves from the elected officials YOU VOTED into power. Especially since your Republican Party isn’t offering ANYTHING different from the past mistakes and collusions. You brainwashed motherfuckers need to STOP, take a step BACK and re-think your situation. YOU CAN’T WIN! Right-wing assholes can shoot and blow up every Democrat/Liberal/Progressive you pious peons come across and WE’LL STILL BE THE MAJORITY! NO matter WHAT that asshole Glenn Beck tells you…“all politics is local politics” Tip O’Neil No one can save the Republican Party from itself… NOT the 20% of idiots that STILL support them, NOT the bought off media/news, NOT Radio Free Conservative or FOX News, NOT the police state, NOT the skinheads, NOT all the wealth YOUR LEADERS LET SLIP AWAY!Maybe Conservatives should just stick to local politics for now (get rid of your mayor or something small time like that. Remember what Frankie Sinatra said: “if you can make it there you make it anywhere”, lol) and stay the f*~/ out of national picture until the LEFT-WING (once again) FIXES THE MESS REPUBLICANS IRRESPONSIBLY LEFT FOR THEM!
as posted on blog: Comedy for Organizers, boatrockers....
jinnbad.blogspot.com
Have you finally had it with all of the absolutely unbelievable political maneuverings by the fringe right, the lies, the distortions, the twisting of facts, the outright hatred towards our President simply because a minority (yes it's a minority, remember they lost) of our society are unhappy he is our President?
If so, it's time to do something about it.
Remember, when we were "all one" working hard for the would-be-President, to get him elected because we felt for once we had an intelligent person who was running? Well, we were right. He was the best person running. He is the best President we've had in a long time and we're lucky such an honest, caring individual with vision for our future is in office. Given our world situation, we need him now more than ever. Our future depends on him.
But we are no longer supporting him with the fervor as we did, nor are the same numbers of people supporting him.
Can you believe, his poll numbers are dropping? Yes I understand, post the honeymoon period numbers drop. But to this degree and while he's saving our country, maybe our world? The man that inherited the worst our country has ever seen in terms of war, finance, enviornment and more, who is helping us drag ourselves out of this recession and fight two wars he didn't even want - his poll numbers are dropping? The man who has accomplished more in months than others before him accomplished in lifetimes, his poll numbers are dropping? It's ludicrous. It's like Lincoln's or Roosevelt's poll numbers dropping as they were saving our country. But I must remember, we live in a world where Lincoln was assassinated.
I wear my Obama hat and my wife at times tells me to "take it off Steve, you might anger people" Wow, what a world. I might anger people that I support our President. That is the times of our current times, little by little, it's less acceptable to support our President because the fringe right has made it seem so.
As we fall off in numbers, the extreme fringe right takes advantage by spreading hatred and lies. And there seems to be no limit to how crazy of a story that can be spewed and believed by those who want to believe it and spew it. If I wrote such stories in a screenplay, I'd be told to modify my words because it would be unrealistic that the public would believe such nonsense. But apparently, the public's benchmark for naivety knows no bounds when fueled by hatred.
For instance (one tiny example) think about the outrage (yes outrage) regarding President Obama speaking to school children this Tuesday (as though that's a new idea).
President Obama is the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. He is the mentor of our country the image of our country to the world. He is doing what millions have done before him, speaking to school children. He was elected to lead our country. Get over it fringe right, he gets to lead. You lost.
The cynicism and hatred that drives those who dislike President Obama so much, so as to try to make speaking to school children seem as anything more than what it is, an attempt to inspire and lead our children, is beyond my understanding.
People say, is President Obama's speech to children "political?" Well, he is a politician, he is the President of the United States and yes he will weigh the pros and cons of his every action (as will the world), so I guess he'll weigh the politics of his actions, but that doesn't mean that everything he does, because it's weighed, is a sham or diabolical as some are actually seriously suggesting.
The fringe right who are the strategic architects of the nonsense we hear every day on so called "news" have lost all credibility to argue against anything. Even if they had a legitimate complaint, it's lost in the shuffle of their ludicrous positions and lies.
So, let's start writing, talking, doing - not taking this anymore.
And by the way, I hate to say, "I told you so", but my video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4srDYEPoqo
"Yes We Can (Change our Destiny), which I produced for the inaugural, was written because I feared that we'd lose the spirit of optimism, that phenomenon of involvement that occurred during the election. To some degree, we have. So be re-inspired. Pass the link on
and get others re-inspired.
Don't take this anymore, because as the famous phrase says,
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good people do nothing”
First, let me apologize for not writing sooner, as we all should. Yes my life has been very busy. The economy is picking up, and as a CPA consultant so has my work. The change has been very noticeable and profoundly encouraging. I know we're not out of the woods yet, but we seem to be heading in the right direction on the clear path we built out of this awful haze.
Secondly, I am very disappointed in Obama's apparent decision to concede the public option section of the health care plan. But I believe we've got to pick up the pieces quickly and realize that, since January 20th and before, this is the first time this administration has done anything I disagree with of significance. I'm sure President Obama is exhausted, and he's done amazing and superlative things to this point. I'm not ready to throw him under the bus because of this, and nor should anyone else in our camp, regardless of how strongly they feel about this event. He is our guy and our family. We should not simply forget how far we've come in just a few months, nor should we forget how much pressure and challenge Obama has had to endure to this point. The man is a study in seemingly superhuman endurance. We shouldn’t simply give up on him because he is a human being.
Another thing to consider is that to simply rail against the Obama administration now is to cause our own undoing. We need to take stock of what we have accomplished in this moment of frustration, because we will lose a lot of ground to break apart like a herd of cats. To do so emboldens the distortion makers and obstructionists. People like Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh. And like Dick Army.
Let's take a deep breath and catch our composure. Let's remember that we must stick together and stay together, even in tough times.
To President Obama, the only thing I would like to say, other than to express my continued support and respect, is that I believe it is better to go down fighting and lose the health care fight with dignity than to give in to the lying minority, even if they have touched a nerve in the general population. This time of emotionally charged criticism will pass, and when we are on the other side of these troubled economic times, people will see that we as Democrats are of integrity and strength. People respect that, even our detractors. That is what will carry us through 2010 and beyond as a governing majority. Please stay strong and resolute in your convictions and plans. I realize there is also the risk of becoming Bush/Chaney-like and completely disregarding new facts that come to light that indicate our direction is flat out wrong, but I strongly believe the decision to push to public option clause of the heath care plan overboard was premature.
Let's regroup and go forward as the team of which I have been so proud to be part. I know we can regain our momentum and strength of unity back again.
.NYT article LINK
The New York Times reported today that the White House is quietly conceding that they are losing control of the Health Care Reform debate. So......in response......? A march? Rapid Fire TV ads? Formal debates moderated by NPR, PBS, ABC, NBC? Nope....a website.........That's it....a website..
The WH released a myth busters website.......What Obama should do is concede he needs a little help from his friends.....Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Howard Dean, Mike Bloomberg, Warren Buffet and other Business Leaders and even the Kennedys to get the word out and deal with the fires.
To prove further my point made in my last blog that town hall rioters' actions are working, the public option for health care insurance is no longer in the Senate bill, but only in the House bill and it's likely that this option will never be in the final bill. Why? Its exceedingly simple to understand - insurance companies don't want more competition, especially less expensive competition. The public option one can think of as simply another form of medicare or medicaid, which most people consider a basic and important source of government help.
What is so amazing is that a good percentage of the very people who are rioting against healthcare reform more than likely have medicare or medicaid. Amazing, they don't even understand that this benefit they receive is a "social program" e.g. a form of socialism, because we are not simply a democracy, we are a hybrid socialized government and democracy. That is how the U.S. was designed. Of course we have social programs, that is all that "socialism" in it's "pop" use, means, that there are programs for the good of the people provided by the government.
One can nit pick all day about what socialism really means, what a "pure" socialistic society is, but that is a waste of one's time. The government is "of the people, for the people and by the people" and since WE are the people, we get government programs. Simple as that. To be against that is simply not understanding how our government works.
To be for insurance companies as the only option which leaves 48 million people uninsured is not understanding that uninsured individuals drain our society's resources. Imagine if there was no medicare or medicaid and what that would do to our society, not only financially, but how we would be viewed morally?
We must take care of our citizens. The public option must stay in the bill. Write the president, write your local representatives. Don't let uninformed rioters (who want nothing more than simply to hurt our president, that is their real agenda because they are so against him for a whole host of reasons including race) win against intelligence.
BENEATH THE SPIN • ERIC L. WATTREE
The Republican Vision for America - Divide and Conquer
The current situation in Iran is perfectly analogous to what's going on here in the United States. The vast majority of the people want a common-sense approach to domestic and world politics, while the old guard, stuck in the blind animosities of the past, are determined to promote and exploit those animosities for their own end, and at any cost - including the misery and death of their own people. In Iran the old guard is represented by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad; in the U.S., Dick Cheney and Rush Limbaugh. In Iran they are called jihadist, while in the U.S. we refer to them as the Republican Party.
The far right can't stop their true faces from being seen time after time. They are locked into the same race baiting tactics they've been using forever. The tactic they tried to use during the Presidential campaign was to accuse the other side of racism to disguise their own racist attacks. So the new code word for bringing up race or gender is to accuse the other party or individual or racism or reverse racism or of ethnocentricity; although they probably don't know what "ethnocentricity" means.
However obvious these tactics are they are also dangerous and are being used to provoke the lunatic fringe and crazies everywhere. It is inciting to riot in an obvious fashion and should be dealt with much like "Hate Crimes" or other forms of provocations to do harm to individuals or groups. There are people out there who believe all the lies and distortions, who are violent and looking for an excuse to do harm.
Can you imagine what would have happened if an equivalent kind of vitriol had come from anyone during the Cheyney/Bush Presidency? First the cries of "Traitor," "Un-Patriotic," "Love it or Leave it," "Terrorists," then arrests and unlawful detention.
I really believe something needs to be done about people on the right who go around during a time of war and severe economic stress, spouting anti-American rhetoric. Perhaps an action committee of some kind could bring civil action against them since the Justice Department could be accused of doing it for political reasons.
Tea Parties Forever By PAUL KRUGMANPublished: April 12, 2009 This is a column about Republicans — and I’m not sure I should even be writing it. Today’s G.O.P. is, after all, very much a minority party. It retains some limited ability to obstruct the Democrats, but has no ability to make or even significantly shape policy.Beyond that, Republicans have become embarrassing to watch. And it doesn’t feel right to make fun of crazy people. Better, perhaps, to focus on the real policy debates, which are all among Democrats.But here’s the thing: the G.O.P. looked as crazy 10 or 15 years ago as it does now. That didn’t stop Republicans from taking control of both Congress and the White House. And they could return to power if the Democrats stumble. So it behooves us to look closely at the state of what is, after all, one of our nation’s two great political parties. One way to get a good sense of the current state of the G.O.P., and also to see how little has really changed, is to look at the “tea parties” that have been held in a number of places already, and will be held across the country on Wednesday. These parties — antitaxation demonstrations that are supposed to evoke the memory of the Boston Tea Party and the American Revolution — have been the subject of considerable mockery, and rightly so. But everything that critics mock about these parties has long been standard practice within the Republican Party. Thus, President Obama is being called a “socialist” who seeks to destroy capitalism. Why? Because he wants to raise the tax rate on the highest-income Americans back to, um, about 10 percentage points less than it was for most of the Reagan administration. Bizarre.But the charge of socialism is being thrown around only because “liberal” doesn’t seem to carry the punch it used to. And if you go back just a few years, you find top Republican figures making equally bizarre claims about what liberals were up to. Remember when Karl Rove declared that liberals wanted to offer “therapy and understanding” to the 9/11 terrorists?Then there are the claims made at some recent tea-party events that Mr. Obama wasn’t born in America, which follow on earlier claims that he is a secret Muslim. Crazy stuff — but nowhere near as crazy as the claims, during the last Democratic administration, that the Clintons were murderers, claims that were supported by a campaign of innuendo on the part of big-league conservative media outlets and figures, especially Rush Limbaugh.Speaking of Mr. Limbaugh: the most impressive thing about his role right now is the fealty he is able to demand from the rest of the right. The abject apologies he has extracted from Republican politicians who briefly dared to criticize him have been right out of Stalinist show trials. But while it’s new to have a talk-radio host in that role, ferocious party discipline has been the norm since the 1990s, when Tom DeLay, the House majority leader, became known as “The Hammer” in part because of the way he took political retribution on opponents.Going back to those tea parties, Mr. DeLay, a fierce opponent of the theory of evolution — he famously suggested that the teaching of evolution led to the Columbine school massacre — also foreshadowed the denunciations of evolution that have emerged at some of the parties. Last but not least: it turns out that the tea parties don’t represent a spontaneous outpouring of public sentiment. They’re AstroTurf (fake grass roots) events, manufactured by the usual suspects. In particular, a key role is being played by FreedomWorks, an organization run by Richard Armey, the former House majority leader, and supported by the usual group of right-wing billionaires. And the parties are, of course, being promoted heavily by Fox News.But that’s nothing new, and AstroTurf has worked well for Republicans in the past. The most notable example was the “spontaneous” riot back in 2000 — actually orchestrated by G.O.P. strategists — that shut down the presidential vote recount in Florida’s Miami-Dade County.So what’s the implication of the fact that Republicans are refusing to grow up, the fact that they are still behaving the same way they did when history seemed to be on their side? I’d say that it’s good for Democrats, at least in the short run — but it’s bad for the country.For now, the Obama administration gains a substantial advantage from the fact that it has no credible opposition, especially on economic policy, where the Republicans seem particularly clueless. But as I said, the G.O.P. remains one of America’s great parties, and events could still put that party back in power. We can only hope that Republicans have moved on by the time that happens.
Tea Parties Forever
By PAUL KRUGMANPublished: April 12, 2009
This is a column about Republicans — and I’m not sure I should even be writing it.
Today’s G.O.P. is, after all, very much a minority party. It retains some limited ability to obstruct the Democrats, but has no ability to make or even significantly shape policy.Beyond that, Republicans have become embarrassing to watch. And it doesn’t feel right to make fun of crazy people.
Better, perhaps, to focus on the real policy debates, which are all among Democrats.But here’s the thing: the G.O.P. looked as crazy 10 or 15 years ago as it does now. That didn’t stop Republicans from taking control of both Congress and the White House. And they could return to power if the Democrats stumble. So it behooves us to look closely at the state of what is, after all, one of our nation’s two great political parties. One way to get a good sense of the current state of the G.O.P., and also to see how little has really changed, is to look at the “tea parties” that have been held in a number of places already, and will be held across the country on Wednesday.
These parties — antitaxation demonstrations that are supposed to evoke the memory of the Boston Tea Party and the American Revolution — have been the subject of considerable mockery, and rightly so. But everything that critics mock about these parties has long been standard practice within the Republican Party. Thus, President Obama is being called a “socialist” who seeks to destroy capitalism. Why? Because he wants to raise the tax rate on the highest-income Americans back to, um, about 10 percentage points less than it was for most of the Reagan administration. Bizarre.But the charge of socialism is being thrown around only because “liberal” doesn’t seem to carry the punch it used to. And if you go back just a few years, you find top Republican figures making equally bizarre claims about what liberals were up to. Remember when Karl Rove declared that liberals wanted to offer “therapy and understanding” to the 9/11 terrorists?
Then there are the claims made at some recent tea-party events that Mr. Obama wasn’t born in America, which follow on earlier claims that he is a secret Muslim. Crazy stuff — but nowhere near as crazy as the claims, during the last Democratic administration, that the Clintons were murderers, claims that were supported by a campaign of innuendo on the part of big-league conservative media outlets and figures, especially Rush Limbaugh.
Speaking of Mr. Limbaugh: the most impressive thing about his role right now is the fealty he is able to demand from the rest of the right. The abject apologies he has extracted from Republican politicians who briefly dared to criticize him have been right out of Stalinist show trials. But while it’s new to have a talk-radio host in that role, ferocious party discipline has been the norm since the 1990s, when Tom DeLay, the House majority leader, became known as “The Hammer” in part because of the way he took political retribution on opponents.
Going back to those tea parties, Mr. DeLay, a fierce opponent of the theory of evolution — he famously suggested that the teaching of evolution led to the Columbine school massacre — also foreshadowed the denunciations of evolution that have emerged at some of the parties.
Last but not least: it turns out that the tea parties don’t represent a spontaneous outpouring of public sentiment. They’re AstroTurf (fake grass roots) events, manufactured by the usual suspects. In particular, a key role is being played by FreedomWorks, an organization run by Richard Armey, the former House majority leader, and supported by the usual group of right-wing billionaires. And the parties are, of course, being promoted heavily by Fox News.
But that’s nothing new, and AstroTurf has worked well for Republicans in the past. The most notable example was the “spontaneous” riot back in 2000 — actually orchestrated by G.O.P. strategists — that shut down the presidential vote recount in Florida’s Miami-Dade County.
So what’s the implication of the fact that Republicans are refusing to grow up, the fact that they are still behaving the same way they did when history seemed to be on their side? I’d say that it’s good for Democrats, at least in the short run — but it’s bad for the country.
For now, the Obama administration gains a substantial advantage from the fact that it has no credible opposition, especially on economic policy, where the Republicans seem particularly clueless.
But as I said, the G.O.P. remains one of America’s great parties, and events could still put that party back in power. We can only hope that Republicans have moved on by the time that happens.
Henry M
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/toby_harnden/blog/2009/03/24/the_truth_about_barack_obamas_irish_teleprompter_gaffe In the recording, Cowen begins speaking by ad libbing, saying: "Good evening everybody and welcome to St Patrick's Day at the White House. And I think it's particularly fitting that we gather tonight at the house that was, after all, designed and built by an Irish architect."
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/toby_harnden/blog/2009/03/24/the_truth_about_barack_obamas_irish_teleprompter_gaffe
In the recording, Cowen begins speaking by ad libbing, saying: "Good evening everybody and welcome to St Patrick's Day at the White House. And I think it's particularly fitting that we gather tonight at the house that was, after all, designed and built by an Irish architect."
Then he goes into Obama's speech, and realises his boob 18 words into it: "We have had a wonderful day that began by meeting with a strong friend of the United States...that's your speech."After Cowen got his act together - amid uproarious laughter - and completed his speech, Obama returned to the microphone for his little joke, as per the pool report. Somehow, somewhere this all got mixed up, inadvertently or otherwise. The Associated Press reported it this way. Accurate enough - though very sparse and including the slightly ambiguous line: "In doing so, President Obama thanked President Obama for inviting everyone over."This was transformed into Obama making a mistake, as in this account, in the Times, written in London by an online reporter for their website. "On this occasion, as a laughing Mr Obama returned to the podium, the script was belatedly switched over to the Taoiseach's text - leaving Mr Obama inadvertently thanking himself for inviting everyone, to further laughter," went the report. "'First, I'd like to say thank you to President Obama!' the President said."This misreporting fed into the prevailing anti-Obama theme that he cannot speak without a teleprompter.
Then he goes into Obama's speech, and realises his boob 18 words into it: "We have had a wonderful day that began by meeting with a strong friend of the United States...that's your speech."
After Cowen got his act together - amid uproarious laughter - and completed his speech, Obama returned to the microphone for his little joke, as per the pool report.
Somehow, somewhere this all got mixed up, inadvertently or otherwise. The Associated Press reported it this way. Accurate enough - though very sparse and including the slightly ambiguous line: "In doing so, President Obama thanked President Obama for inviting everyone over."
This was transformed into Obama making a mistake, as in this account, in the Times, written in London by an online reporter for their website. "On this occasion, as a laughing Mr Obama returned to the podium, the script was belatedly switched over to the Taoiseach's text - leaving Mr Obama inadvertently thanking himself for inviting everyone, to further laughter," went the report. "'First, I'd like to say thank you to President Obama!' the President said."
This misreporting fed into the prevailing anti-Obama theme that he cannot speak without a teleprompter.
KCUF, 128 Kb/s on Shoutcast Unlimited: http://tinyurl.com/kcuf-on-shoutcast-limited/ to play, http://www.urdomain.us/playing.html to see what's playing, and now available on RECIVA Internet-Radio receivers, http://tinyurl.com/kcuf-on-reciva
KCUF can now be listened to using a Windows Vista Sidebar Gadget:
http://gallery.live.com/results.aspx?bt=1&q=KCUF
It doesn’t surprise me that Rush Limbaugh says he wants President Obama to fail, or, more precisely, “I want Barack Obama to fail if his mission is to restructure and reform this country so that capitalism and individual liberty are not its foundation.” Limbaugh is self-absorbed, and makes money by being provocative. Unlike our elected leaders, he does not need to think about the greater good of our country’s prosperity. He is interested in his own prosperity. And good enough for him. That is the capitalist way. The American Way.
It also doesn’t surprise me that members of the Republican Party feel stuck between not wanting to offend Limbaugh and his followers and not wanting to sound like they bear our new president ill will in seeing his efforts fail. Which do you support – a bully who can hurt you if you stand up to him, or the people who elected you?
What does surprise me is that no one is defining what failure means. Has anyone asked if “wanting Obama to fail” means 10% unemployment? 15%?
Does failure mean more foreclosures? How about a Dow at 5000?
I wonder if Obama failing means another trillion or so dollars paid to banks. Or is it buying auto companies, Or letting them go bankrupt and adding even more to the unemployed?
I wonder if those who listen to and agree with Rush Limbaugh think this kind of failure is ok, if it proves that conservative ideology is superior to other views.
Of course, I am one of the lucky ones who still has a job, so I can afford to think about these things.
Those who are not so lucky may also wonder: With all the crises we face as a country, why would you want any president to fail?
That's our answer to Rush. And we'll put it on a billboard right in his home town, so he can't miss it.
Americans know that when President Obama succeeds, we all do. It's time to leave behind partisan attack politics and stand behind the policies that will strengthen and renew America's economy.
Make your online: https://www.democrats.org/page/contribute/billboardwinner
How low can Limgbaugh go?
If you don't know what Limbaugh said at CPAC, check it out and be an informed political participant, rather than taking the easy, "I hate Rush," approach: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qtvtBGWgBc Know what you're talking about. Don't be one of the uninformed Liberals so effectively skewered by Limbaugh.
It is unbelievable that the Republican Party would allow Rush Limbaugh to "represent" on their behalf. It is downright irresponsible and even unpatriotic that they would cower to his rhetoric. And as for those Republican governors who are rejecting stimulus funds that could help their citizens because party loyalty is more important to them than the well-being of their people, I ask what happened to compassionate conservatism? I guess that was just an empty campaign slogan.
When President Obama was elected he said that the historic November 4 victory was not about him, it was about us -- the American people. And he pledged to be the president of all the people, including those who did not vote for him. So when I hear Limbaugh and other so-called conservatives say they want the President to fail, what they're really saying is that they want the American people to suffer more unemployment, more foreclosures, more drop-outs and failing schools, more levee breaks and bridge collapses, more resource depletion and oil-dependency that compromises our national security, more international mistrust and hatred, and more of their failed policies. If the policies of the last 8 years had worked, the American people would have made a different choice in November 2008. They did not work -- not for regular workers, families, students, and retirees. "Compassionate conservatism" never happened.
Maybe if you have a multi-million dollar job shooting off your mouth, and you have full health care coverage, and your children aren't sitting in schools that have to stop classes when freight trains rumble by five to six times a day, and your parent isn't doing yet another extended tour in Iraq, and your sister or brother isn't suffering because they can't get treatment for PTSD or find a job when they get home, and your retirement is secure, and you aren't still waiting to move from a formaldehyde trailer that is making your whole family sick and putting them at risk for terminal cancer, maybe it doesn't matter that you want President Obama to fail. However, for the majority of Americans whose lives are dependent on the government turning away from policies that make people like Mr. Limbaugh richer at our expense, whose children's futures are dependent on government making investments in jobs, infrastructure, education, health care, and energy, failure is not an option.
Rush "I hope Obama fails" Limbaugh has risen to new heights of laughable stupidity.
As reported at http://mediamatters.org/items/200902130016 - which apparently has video of Rush making the comments I'm about to tell you about (though I haven't watched the video myself) - Limbaugh recently attacked Democrats for electronically formatting the text of the stimulus bill as a "pdf" file.
What's wrong with a pdf file? According to Limbaugh - and this is serious; stick with me now - pdf files are unsearchable. Therefore, said Limbaugh, it became impossible to search the bill text to see specific spending provisions.
Media Matters themselves says it best in their headline:
"Memo to Limbaugh: Try CTRL+F !"
If you have read my post on the Auto Industry, then the following couple of paragraphs about Mitt will not surprise you. ( Here is an actual quote from his father that he said in 1963: "The Big Four Automakers don't have to worry about giving the Unions what they want, as long as the benefits will not be due for decades. By that time the labor plants will be outside the U.S.")Not surprising to hear Mitt Romney, son of George Romney, and his states version of mandatory medical insurance. Mitt's approach goes pretty much like - You'll get only what you can pay for, and move to another state if you undeserving poor don't like it. Massachusetts has worked long and hard to become one of the wealthiest per capita states and does not want the burden of 'lower income individuals’. Best to wash our hands of them by financially crowding them out. If you are ‘in’ with the wealthy, you will find that "financially crowding them out" is a favorite. This is not a direct quote of Mitt; but, after rubbing elbows with enough aristocratic politicians in private you would be aghast to hear how dehumanizing they speak of those below their ‘class’, or as they prefer to call it ‘standing in the community’.Incidentally, it’s interesting how George and Mitt Romney amassed tremendous wealth, $80 billion or so privately held now by Mitt et al. And how did they originally do that; they did it by becoming suppliers to the Big 3 from the Romney parts plants in Mexico; true leaders in forging the path to Mexico and overseas. It's also interesting to view the ancestral history of the Romney family and Mexico, as to why they originally moved there and still have strong ties there, all on Wikipedia. A common theme that shows in multiple generations of Romneys is disregard for fundamental American laws and ways they sneak around them. Also, shown at corporate websites, are interesting ties between Mitt Romney and the fanatical right wing radio talk shows that he owns for propaganda purposes. For the spread of propaganda Mitt Romney owns 'Clear Channel Communications' with 1,100 stations including all the 'Premiere Radio Channel' programs with Limbaugh, Beck, Noory, Hannity, .… All are talk radio shows that use propaganda to sway the masses. It is so much more than the false wrapping of throwing it up against the wall and seeing what sticks. They actually use highly professional underlying tactics of sophistication, complexity, planning, and decisiveness that the average Joe the plumber would never catch on to, nor George the political 'sideline hobbyist?'. It's not all the fun and silly games that they wrap it up in, for simple entertainment, all for ‘free’ delivery to you. Give yourself a quick introduction to propaganda tactics by reading a bit of what's written in Wikipedia under ‘Propaganda’, look at ‘Techniques’ as a first preview. You will begin to recognize the rightwing tactics used on their talk shows, lots of trickery and deception, far beyond the wrappings of bias. You will easily see the professional use of propaganda if you become knowledgeable of the methods of propaganda. Fox cable television News is closely associated. Talk about greed of control, influence, ideology, and knowledge. Whether Mitt Romney returns to again run for higher office or remains behind the scenes driving GOP political directions, he will continue, and continue with greed. (Has anyone looked to see how much of Bush's original $700 billion dollars has gone to the web of companies that Romney has woven? I really don't know, but wonder if the good old boys network continues?) Also, see my other posts about Libertarianism, a driving force at the top of the Republican Party. I have focused my education of Libertarianism to come directly from what they have written themselves, such as their own websites, rather than what others have said about it. I am finding Libertarianism to be immoral; I believe most Americans will find it offensive when looked at in depth. As it is thought through, there are hard-nosed uncaring consequences for those not in control and for those who don’t have power. A game to Libertarians, Survival of the Greediest.
Reply here if you are a member, or anyone is welcome to email me at: Alex.Karoub@gmail.com
Stephen Views the News 12/26/08
http://stephenviewsthenews.blogspot.com/
If I were Santa Claus I would have delivered the following stocking stuffers:
* A brain for Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. While appearing on Face the Nation he said of the economic meltdown: "Unfortunately, it was allowed to be portrayed that this was a result of deregulation, when in fact it was a result of overregulation."
* A jar of jalapeño Vaseline for the SEC employees who watched porn rather than "protecting investors and maintaining fair, orderly, and efficient markets," as is their mission. * A rasher of humility for Stephen Views the News to embrace reader comments such as, “You sir are masterfully demonstrating your own ignorance.”
* An imported deluxe kerosene heater for Wal-Mart’s heart. On Tuesday the company said it would pay between $352 million and $640 million to settle lawsuits across the country claiming that it forced employees to work off the clock.
* The 2009 Sarah Palin Calendar for John McCain, even though he is setting land speed records running from his former running mate.
* A shiny house-arrest ankle bracelet for Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich for auctioning the senate seat vacated by Barack Obama.
* A bar of mouth soap and truck driver’s license for Mrs. Blagojevich for her picante comments recorded during a federal wiretap investigation of her husband the governor.
* A yuletide apology to truck drivers for associating them with the First Lady of Illinois.
* A basket of experience for Caroline Kennedy seeking to inherit Hillary Clinton’s senate seat in New York.
* A ride on Santa’s sleigh for the auto executives embarrassed into abandoning their private jets.
* A sleigh full of Pepcid for president-elect Barack Obama as he embarks on the journey of leading a country beset with a multitude of serious challenges.
* A duly elected Senator for the citizens of Minnesota and preferably not the candidate under federal investigation.
* A time-out for the Obama administration before deciding to commit tens of thousands of U.S. troops to Afghanistan. The complexity of that country’s politics and the corruption of its leadership demand extreme caution.
* Harvey the imaginary rabbit for Malia and Sasha Obama as they seek solitude from the harsh world of celebrity they will encounter over at least the next four years.
* Fifty billion days of homelessness on the streets of New York City for Bernard “Bernie” Madoff. He is one of the all-time goniffs (crooks) of the investment world. His soulless greed wreaked economic havoc and, in some cases destruction, on schools, charities, pension funds and so much more.
* A punch bowl of common sense for Madoff’s Ponzied investors who believed that Madoff was Santa Claus.
* A wake up call for the inhabitants of planet Earth to not be misled by low gasoline prices. Santa cannot reverse limited oil reserves or a debilitated environment that is ignored.
* A revised mission statement for the IRS whose audits of large companies declined for the third year in a row. Santa’s trust of business and government also declined for the third year in a row.
* A slightly used and toxic post-Katrina mobile home to transport departing Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff to a lucrative book signing deal. In America incompetence has its rewards.
* A mega-warehouse for the U.S. Department of the Navy to store $7.5 billion in UNNEEDED parts. One of the factors contributing to the unnecessary purchases was “inefficiency in the Navy's inventory management.” No surprise to Santa who understands “overstocked” with a North Pole laden with unsafe toys outsourced from Asia.
* Light-blocking window drapes for American banks accepting billions of dollars of bailout money sans accountability. Santa does not blame the banks – at least on this account. He does have queries for the little elves on Ritalin running the Bush administration and running around the halls of Congress.
* A cruise on the Titanic for the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). This conservative “think” tank spawned much of the neocon nonsense and “free” market malarkey that dominated Bush administration strategy.
* A set of barbells to put more muscle into credit card reform regulations scheduled to go into effect in 2010.
* A chapel for the gay citizens that Pastor Rick Warren suddenly “loves” but is not likely to welcome to his church.
* Public financing of elections legislation to improve an electoral process that has become the antithesis of democratic principles.
* A frontal lobotomy for Rush Limbaugh for positing his conspiracy theory that the economic crisis was created by Democrats to generate a financial panic and ensure the election of Obama.
* Thorazine prescriptions for Bill O’Reilly and Karl Rove. They have suggested the conspiracy theory that journalists deliberately manufactured the financial crisis so that Obama would be elected.
* A lump of coal for the energy interests spending millions of dollars to convince the American public that there is such a thing as “clean coal.” Perhaps they can donate some of this money to residents in Tennessee to recover from the flood of sludge that broke through a dike at TVA's Kingston coal-fired plant Monday. This could prove to be an environmental disaster of very significant proportions. Al Gore’s Alliance for Climate Protection and the “Reality” coalition have a new ad about the myth of “clean coal.”
* For those that can, websites to help those in need:
~ Feeding America is a network of over 200 food banks covering all 50 states.
~ Operation USO Care Package provides care packages of needed and requested items for our troops overseas
These websites are noted in Michelle Obama’s Holiday Greetings.
* Peace, goodwill and wisdom for a world on multiple brinks.
* 2009 hugs and best wishes for the New Year to readers of Stephen Views the News.
* “I don't make jokes... I just watch the government and report the facts.”
Will Rogers (1879 – 1935) Cherokee-American cowboy, comedian, humorist, social commentator, vaudeville performer and actor.
