I'm wondering what planet Lou Dobbs has been on for the past 18 months.
Apparently Dobbs missed the widely reported fact that Obama was playing both sides of the Park 51 issue, but it's expected that he would make comments about the suit against the Arizona immigration law because, after all, this is Lou Dobbs we're talking about.
But let's not forget that this isn't a new line of attack from the conservative movement.
I'm guessing that this will pick up a little more steam as the elections draw closer. Pretty soon we'll be treated to ads from conservative candidates that connect Obama to everything from the Monica Lewinsky affair all the way to Laura Ingraham's and Sarah Palin's Fox"News" programs being a complete disaster.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Expressionism And The Modern Conservative Movement
When art doesn't imitate life, you end up with something like this.
All the basic elements are there: scary music, a modern conservative pretending to know what former presidents and Founding Fathers would have to say to Obama, the Constitution, and narration that completely ignores the reality of the previous administration. But just for effect, let's frame this as an artist struggling with the grand desire to speak out against government with his craft but is hesitant for fear of retribution from those he disagrees with. Yeah, the melodrama is about as thick as county fair blackberry preserves.
But this part troubles me somewhat - the flag at half-staff on the White House. Doesn't that contradict the entire premise of this clip? After all, the symbolic nature of flying the flag at half staff is to show that this day marks a time of struggle and sorrow for the country. So, if the artist is saying that government - Barack Obama in particular - doesn't see their administration as being unconstitutional, tyrannical, or having taken away the liberties, rights, and freedoms from people, why would the flag on the White House be at half-staff?
You would think that with all this talk about knowing what is and what isn't Constitutional, what is equivalent to tyranny, and what is anti-American, that this painter would get even the tiniest detail like that right.
The reality of this painting is that it represents a lack of knowledge of things like The Constitution, the history of American Presidents, and how we got into this situation. I'm not even going to go into the fact that there would certainly be a few of the men in the painting wondering why Obama wasn't out harvesting their crops and pretending to be the President, but you know that Tea Baggers will never admit that some of the Founders owned slaves - you know, that whole "history" thing can be a pain sometimes.
I'm reminded of a similar video that Bob Cesca commented on yesterday.
It's the collective ignorance dressed up like intelligence and historical accuracy ( even recent history mind you ) that is the hallmark of the Tea Bagger collective. Then again, these are the same people that want to do away with the Dept. Of Education, defund educational programs across America, and all too often favor education from a religious perspective.
All the basic elements are there: scary music, a modern conservative pretending to know what former presidents and Founding Fathers would have to say to Obama, the Constitution, and narration that completely ignores the reality of the previous administration. But just for effect, let's frame this as an artist struggling with the grand desire to speak out against government with his craft but is hesitant for fear of retribution from those he disagrees with. Yeah, the melodrama is about as thick as county fair blackberry preserves.
But this part troubles me somewhat - the flag at half-staff on the White House. Doesn't that contradict the entire premise of this clip? After all, the symbolic nature of flying the flag at half staff is to show that this day marks a time of struggle and sorrow for the country. So, if the artist is saying that government - Barack Obama in particular - doesn't see their administration as being unconstitutional, tyrannical, or having taken away the liberties, rights, and freedoms from people, why would the flag on the White House be at half-staff?
You would think that with all this talk about knowing what is and what isn't Constitutional, what is equivalent to tyranny, and what is anti-American, that this painter would get even the tiniest detail like that right.
The reality of this painting is that it represents a lack of knowledge of things like The Constitution, the history of American Presidents, and how we got into this situation. I'm not even going to go into the fact that there would certainly be a few of the men in the painting wondering why Obama wasn't out harvesting their crops and pretending to be the President, but you know that Tea Baggers will never admit that some of the Founders owned slaves - you know, that whole "history" thing can be a pain sometimes.
I'm reminded of a similar video that Bob Cesca commented on yesterday.
First, there's no chance in hell the people who made this video actually voted for the "Democrat" president and the "Democrat" Congress.
Plus, TARP was passed by the previous administration.
The stimulus, which was actually $787 billion and not $1.2 trillion, created 3.3 million new jobs and averted a deeper recession.
That bar graph at 2:14 showing the year-by-year deficits ending with the large deficit of 2009? George W. Bush signed the 2009 budget, not President Obama.
And are the Republicans suggesting here that they're not going to negotiate deals with senators in exchange for votes -- a common practice in Congress since the day it first convened? That's rich.
It's the collective ignorance dressed up like intelligence and historical accuracy ( even recent history mind you ) that is the hallmark of the Tea Bagger collective. Then again, these are the same people that want to do away with the Dept. Of Education, defund educational programs across America, and all too often favor education from a religious perspective.
Pregame Jitters?
In which Angle claims she will be a "mainstream" Senator, immediately after she claimed she "doesn't know what that means" when asked if she'd be a "Tea Party" Senator.
And while the reporting on Angle's continued positions is - both controversial and downright idiotic - there is one thing that is missing from it all.
Sharon Angle, and all those that identify with her ideology, have somehow become a more extreme and mutated version of those they once decried as "unhinged" or suffering from some "derangement syndrome". This is their new mainstream; a gathering of people that skirt the very limits of sanity. Their new mainstream is openly attempting to rewrite history, to "re-educate" the easily lead masses into a mindset that the government has suddenly turned on it's own people.
But what if Angle is finally becoming aware of the fact that she is so far in that she has to keep up the facade until she gets into office. Then she will all bust disappear from the national conversation after he first few votes are not seen in line with the group that swept her into office. You know, like Scott Brown did.
And while the reporting on Angle's continued positions is - both controversial and downright idiotic - there is one thing that is missing from it all.
Sharon Angle, and all those that identify with her ideology, have somehow become a more extreme and mutated version of those they once decried as "unhinged" or suffering from some "derangement syndrome". This is their new mainstream; a gathering of people that skirt the very limits of sanity. Their new mainstream is openly attempting to rewrite history, to "re-educate" the easily lead masses into a mindset that the government has suddenly turned on it's own people.
But what if Angle is finally becoming aware of the fact that she is so far in that she has to keep up the facade until she gets into office. Then she will all bust disappear from the national conversation after he first few votes are not seen in line with the group that swept her into office. You know, like Scott Brown did.
Religious Fire
Talk about false equivalencies.
I'm not entirely sure what the caller's point ( if in fact he had one to begin with ) was regarding communications between members of the American military on active duty and "media", but it came off as yet another example of "be quite unless you are going to tell me something I actually want to hear".
And comparing Petraeus' valid concerns that the actions of the ironically named The Dove World Church would hamper efforts in Afghanistan to McCrystal's nurturing of an atmosphere of insubordination towards the Obama administration have nothing in common.
UPDATE
The Hill reports that NATO Sec. Gen. Rasmussen sides with Petraeus on this one:
And while The Constitution allows for freedom of speech, assembly, and religion, there is one thing that fringe conservative zealots like Terry Jones are all to eager to ignore is that those freedoms don't come without potential consequences.
I'm not entirely sure what the caller's point ( if in fact he had one to begin with ) was regarding communications between members of the American military on active duty and "media", but it came off as yet another example of "be quite unless you are going to tell me something I actually want to hear".
And comparing Petraeus' valid concerns that the actions of the ironically named The Dove World Church would hamper efforts in Afghanistan to McCrystal's nurturing of an atmosphere of insubordination towards the Obama administration have nothing in common.
UPDATE
The Hill reports that NATO Sec. Gen. Rasmussen sides with Petraeus on this one:
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Tuesday said he “strongly” condemns the planned burning of Qurans on Sept. 11 by a small Florida church.
Rasmussen said such actions could have a “negative impact" on the security of the NATO troops fighting in Afghanistan.
Terry Jones, the pastor of the 50-member Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla., has said he will burn copies of the Quran, Islam’s holy book, to mark the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
“I think it’s a disrespectful action and in general I really urge people to respect other people’s faith and behave respectfully,” Rasmussen told reporters in Washington, ahead of a meeting with President Obama. “I think such actions are in a strong contradiction of all the values we stand for and fight for.”
And while The Constitution allows for freedom of speech, assembly, and religion, there is one thing that fringe conservative zealots like Terry Jones are all to eager to ignore is that those freedoms don't come without potential consequences.
The Pee-Wee Herman Defense : Pt. 648
Conservatives love to use the "I know you are, but what am I" approach to socio-political debate, so it's not a surprise to me to read a laughably predictable piece over at NewsBusters that insist that conservative talk radio isn't full of hate - it's liberal talk radio that's the real villain.
So places like Media Matters, Think Progress, and Crooks And Liars, or Daily Kos have no audio or video of conservatives being - well - conservatives? Apparently the fine folks at the Media Research Center don't know much about media or research.
Let's take a look at some of these 46 "hate-filled" examples.
1 - Ed Schultz
This is all too easy, as Fox"News" let one of their contributors openly and unblushingly wish that Obama be "taken out".
And while Trotta offered a pretty poor apology and clearly knew she had to offer some form of explanation in order to make it seem like Fox"News" was displeased with what she had said. It really wasn't an apology, outside the fact that she used the words "I'm sorry".
2 - Montel Williams
I'm reminded of the fact that conservatives fought tooth and nail against healthcare reform, and also the fact that they had no alternate plan that would remotely come close to what the remainder of Congressional members knew had to be done. And when you are an tasked with representing the people of America - many of whom don't have health insurance or can barely afford the coverage they do have - ignoring the issue is almost as bad as letting people die.
3 - Randi Rhodes
The continued documentation of how ill-informed and outright ignorant the Tea Baggers are is something that conservatives will deny until their last ounce of strength leaves them.
In all the examples listed at the MRC's website, you get the sense that this is more of a personal score to settle with Mike Malloy, as more than half the quotes are from him. But not only that, the MRC knew that they would ultimately have to defend the blatant racism of Rush Limbaugh, so they fall back on the tried and true "out of context" talking point. I noticed that they didn't bother to defend Micheal Savage at all.
But here's the exit question: why would conservatives, who continually espouse the preposterous notion that the higher your audience share the more factually accurate your show is, even be remotely worried about what liberal/progressive radio hosts have to say?
The so-called “news” media have spent much of the past two decades demonizing the rhetoric of conservative radio talk show hosts as mean-spirited, divisive or a menace to civil discourse. But these same journalists — who gleefully castigate Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin and other conservatives — are silent about the vile and vicious rhetoric that spews from the Left’s leading radio talk show hosts.
Since late 2007, the Media Research Center has collected numerous examples of the outrageousness of left-wing radio hosts. And, unlike the Left — which attempted to smear Rush Limbaugh with phony quotes — readers can find an audio or video of every one of these quotes (46 in all) posted at our Web site: www.MRC.org.
So places like Media Matters, Think Progress, and Crooks And Liars, or Daily Kos have no audio or video of conservatives being - well - conservatives? Apparently the fine folks at the Media Research Center don't know much about media or research.
Let's take a look at some of these 46 "hate-filled" examples.
1 - Ed Schultz
“I really think there are conservative broadcasters in this country who would love to see Obama taken out.” – August 11, 2009.
This is all too easy, as Fox"News" let one of their contributors openly and unblushingly wish that Obama be "taken out".
And while Trotta offered a pretty poor apology and clearly knew she had to offer some form of explanation in order to make it seem like Fox"News" was displeased with what she had said. It really wasn't an apology, outside the fact that she used the words "I'm sorry".
2 - Montel Williams
“If, in fact, the GOP doesn’t like any form of health care reform, what do we do with those 40 to 60 million uninsured?...When they show up in the emergency room, just shoot ‘em! Kill them!...Do we have enough body bags? I don’t know.” – July 21, 2009.
I'm reminded of the fact that conservatives fought tooth and nail against healthcare reform, and also the fact that they had no alternate plan that would remotely come close to what the remainder of Congressional members knew had to be done. And when you are an tasked with representing the people of America - many of whom don't have health insurance or can barely afford the coverage they do have - ignoring the issue is almost as bad as letting people die.
3 - Randi Rhodes
“They just come town to town, and they stand there with their stupid signs screaming and yelling about corporations need to be protected. It’s the sickest movement I’ve ever seen in my life!”
The continued documentation of how ill-informed and outright ignorant the Tea Baggers are is something that conservatives will deny until their last ounce of strength leaves them.
In all the examples listed at the MRC's website, you get the sense that this is more of a personal score to settle with Mike Malloy, as more than half the quotes are from him. But not only that, the MRC knew that they would ultimately have to defend the blatant racism of Rush Limbaugh, so they fall back on the tried and true "out of context" talking point. I noticed that they didn't bother to defend Micheal Savage at all.
But here's the exit question: why would conservatives, who continually espouse the preposterous notion that the higher your audience share the more factually accurate your show is, even be remotely worried about what liberal/progressive radio hosts have to say?
Friday, September 3, 2010
Who's Really Afraid
Skip ahead to right around the 4:00 mark for Palin's description of how she and other conservatives feel they are treated.
I can't help but hear the average conservative responding to this had Obama said it; that's he's "whining". But the irony of Palin's statements of people being "limp" and "impotent" isn't lost on many of us, considering the fact that she almost refuses to leave the carefully orchestrated confines of Fox"News" unless she's getting paid to make some meandering speech for an exclusively conservative audience.
And isn't it reflective of what the modern conservative movement stands for that Palin would opt to use rhetoric that creates the picture that conservatives are "more of a man than you are". Seriously, the school-yard taunts from Palin and her easily lead followers has just about hit rock bottom.
As an aside, there a part of me that really wants Palin to run for President. Not because I know that Fox"News" will be there holding her hand the whole way, but to see if conservatives really are so blinded by their own ignorance to actually vote for her. It would certainly be a very interesting campaign to watch - seeing which conservatives have the "cojones" to stick with Palin all the way to the voting booth.
I can't help but hear the average conservative responding to this had Obama said it; that's he's "whining". But the irony of Palin's statements of people being "limp" and "impotent" isn't lost on many of us, considering the fact that she almost refuses to leave the carefully orchestrated confines of Fox"News" unless she's getting paid to make some meandering speech for an exclusively conservative audience.
And isn't it reflective of what the modern conservative movement stands for that Palin would opt to use rhetoric that creates the picture that conservatives are "more of a man than you are". Seriously, the school-yard taunts from Palin and her easily lead followers has just about hit rock bottom.
As an aside, there a part of me that really wants Palin to run for President. Not because I know that Fox"News" will be there holding her hand the whole way, but to see if conservatives really are so blinded by their own ignorance to actually vote for her. It would certainly be a very interesting campaign to watch - seeing which conservatives have the "cojones" to stick with Palin all the way to the voting booth.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Fumble And Off-Side Recovery
While Think Progress has an effective write-up of Jan Brewer's debate performance and subsequent "deer in the headlights" moment with the press afterwards, There's something brewing here ( yes, I made a coffee pun ) that I think some may be missing.
First up, her struggle to define exactly what she's accomplished - made all the more hilarious considering the fact that she and her mouth-agape conservative fan base continually sputter on about her accomplishments.
The not-ready-for-prime time Governor is either clearly tickled with the position she is in or is honestly at a loss for how to describe what she and her administration have accomplished.
But wait, the Calvary is assembling.
The initial bugle call comes from none other than Hot Air:
Because we all know that since George W. burst onto the scene as a Presidential candidate that conservatives have always had a soft-spot for bumbling politicos. It came to a rolling boil with Palin and continues to more than simmer now that the midterms approach.
And with that in mind, I get the sense that Brewer may be considering "Pulling A Palin" after what happened just moments from the debates conclusion.
Can we say "over her head"?
That aside, I'm betting on conservative bloggers to cry "reporter plants" once they realize that they can't defend the governor's inability to defend her false claims.
So, are we about to see the next fringe-conservative resign from her elected office in order to heed the call ( skip to 3:20 for the relevant - or irrelevant - quote ) of "real Americans"?
We shall see......
First up, her struggle to define exactly what she's accomplished - made all the more hilarious considering the fact that she and her mouth-agape conservative fan base continually sputter on about her accomplishments.
The not-ready-for-prime time Governor is either clearly tickled with the position she is in or is honestly at a loss for how to describe what she and her administration have accomplished.
But wait, the Calvary is assembling.
The initial bugle call comes from none other than Hot Air:
it’s well and truly painful — but endearing too. Reminds me a little of that “singing candidate” from Rhode Island, in fact, minus the nuttiness: As much as you might cringe, we can all relate to the goofy humanity of the moment. Alternate headline: “Jan Brewer to win reelection by 15 points now instead of 20.”
Because we all know that since George W. burst onto the scene as a Presidential candidate that conservatives have always had a soft-spot for bumbling politicos. It came to a rolling boil with Palin and continues to more than simmer now that the midterms approach.
And with that in mind, I get the sense that Brewer may be considering "Pulling A Palin" after what happened just moments from the debates conclusion.
Can we say "over her head"?
That aside, I'm betting on conservative bloggers to cry "reporter plants" once they realize that they can't defend the governor's inability to defend her false claims.
So, are we about to see the next fringe-conservative resign from her elected office in order to heed the call ( skip to 3:20 for the relevant - or irrelevant - quote ) of "real Americans"?
We shall see......
Grammar Choices
And the typical conservative response continued on Hannity last night.
And while Obama obviously didn't use the phrases "sorry we fucked this one up", or "better luck next time guys", Hannity and the two "pretty girls" from the Fox"News" prop closet had to point out that the word "victorious" wasn't used, one has to ask the question - what do conservatives consider to be a victory?
Think about it; they have all sorts of ways to define a loss, a failure, a disaster, or even a pointless and futile exercise - but not once will you hear them define what a victory is. But we do get the sense that Hannity thinks what is going on now is a "victory" for America and Iraq.
So continued violence, suicide bombings, unease and displeasure with what America has done to their country by many Iraqis, a literally fractured government, waste of billions of American taxpayer dollars, and the loss of thousands of American lives is a victory?
And while Obama obviously didn't use the phrases "sorry we fucked this one up", or "better luck next time guys", Hannity and the two "pretty girls" from the Fox"News" prop closet had to point out that the word "victorious" wasn't used, one has to ask the question - what do conservatives consider to be a victory?
Think about it; they have all sorts of ways to define a loss, a failure, a disaster, or even a pointless and futile exercise - but not once will you hear them define what a victory is. But we do get the sense that Hannity thinks what is going on now is a "victory" for America and Iraq.
So continued violence, suicide bombings, unease and displeasure with what America has done to their country by many Iraqis, a literally fractured government, waste of billions of American taxpayer dollars, and the loss of thousands of American lives is a victory?
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Chase To The Rally
In which Chase Whiteside shows what's really going on.
Before I go into this, let's take an inventory:
1 - Al Sharpton runs the Black Panthers who had scheduled a conflict with Beck's supporters
2 - Most Beck fans that were asked had not seen the widely circulated clip of him openly calling Obama a racist nor heard Beck walk back his accusation just days before the rally they all attended.
3 - Barack Obama is responsible for whites and blacks fighting one another
4 - Barack Obama doesn't believe in America so much that he fought long and hard to be her leader
5 - Conservatives still don't know the difference between a Mosque and what is the Muslim equivalent of a YMCA
6 - Ben Franklin uses a cell-phone
And while Chase Whiteside and New Left's piece didn't show any racists, neo-nazis, or completely unglued right-wingers hell-bent on blowing something up, it did show us that people within the conservative movement are more than willing to ignore the truth and believe any fringe meme that is spoon-fed to them by Beck and his ilk.
And while Beck framed this as a "non-political event", it appeared that there were plenty of those interviewed that were there for overtly political reasons. Why do you think that was?
I'm sure you already know the answer.
Before I go into this, let's take an inventory:
1 - Al Sharpton runs the Black Panthers who had scheduled a conflict with Beck's supporters
2 - Most Beck fans that were asked had not seen the widely circulated clip of him openly calling Obama a racist nor heard Beck walk back his accusation just days before the rally they all attended.
3 - Barack Obama is responsible for whites and blacks fighting one another
4 - Barack Obama doesn't believe in America so much that he fought long and hard to be her leader
5 - Conservatives still don't know the difference between a Mosque and what is the Muslim equivalent of a YMCA
6 - Ben Franklin uses a cell-phone
And while Chase Whiteside and New Left's piece didn't show any racists, neo-nazis, or completely unglued right-wingers hell-bent on blowing something up, it did show us that people within the conservative movement are more than willing to ignore the truth and believe any fringe meme that is spoon-fed to them by Beck and his ilk.
And while Beck framed this as a "non-political event", it appeared that there were plenty of those interviewed that were there for overtly political reasons. Why do you think that was?
I'm sure you already know the answer.
Hype And Hysteria
In which we see Beck and his "I'm so happy to be here Mr. Beck can I wash your undercarriage" side-kick drone on like a bad comedy duo about something that Palin and Beck are going to be doing on - wait for it...................Sept. 11th.
And we are to believe that this is the same man that said "oh, it's just a coincidence that my rally at DC is on the anniversary of the famous speech by Martin Luther King Jr. at the same location"?
Also, this from the man who is one of the figure-heads of the movement that proclaims with shrieking tones that no one should co-opt Sept. 11th 2001.
And while there is the theory pushed ( and then immediately denounced within the same piece ) by prominent conservative blog Hot Air that this will finally be the day that Palin will tell the world the horrific news that she is going to run for President, I find it quite odd that they would even postulate this.
Sure, the back-peddle within the same piece says precisely what most sane people would also say - that a conservative co-opting Sept. 11th to make an announcement like this would be even greater than what Glenn Beck just did last weekend; or even equal to the press release that Park 51 was going to be built in Manhattan. There are certainly more comparisons, but are we really to believe that conservatives would become enraged even if the "Mother Teresa" of their movement decided she wanted to build her own personal bathroom on the epicenter where Towers 1 and 2 fell?
But is this nothing more than Part II of the Beck/Palin "Let's Use The Anniversary Of Something Important To Make A Rambling Speech About Something That Will Do Nothing But Boost Our Q-Score" Tour? If so, I'm guessing the next date will be in Hawaii on December 7th, only the two will be a few miles away from the USS Arizona - but only if Jan Brewer declines to show up.
What is this all about really? The rallies, the hype, the hysteria, the constant media attacks that don't seems to make much sense the further we get away from Jan. 20th 2009. Are people like Beck and Palin so enamoured with image, fear, and a distorted view of history that they have completely lost the plot?
The answer, I'm guessing, is yes.
And we are to believe that this is the same man that said "oh, it's just a coincidence that my rally at DC is on the anniversary of the famous speech by Martin Luther King Jr. at the same location"?
Also, this from the man who is one of the figure-heads of the movement that proclaims with shrieking tones that no one should co-opt Sept. 11th 2001.
And while there is the theory pushed ( and then immediately denounced within the same piece ) by prominent conservative blog Hot Air that this will finally be the day that Palin will tell the world the horrific news that she is going to run for President, I find it quite odd that they would even postulate this.
Sure, the back-peddle within the same piece says precisely what most sane people would also say - that a conservative co-opting Sept. 11th to make an announcement like this would be even greater than what Glenn Beck just did last weekend; or even equal to the press release that Park 51 was going to be built in Manhattan. There are certainly more comparisons, but are we really to believe that conservatives would become enraged even if the "Mother Teresa" of their movement decided she wanted to build her own personal bathroom on the epicenter where Towers 1 and 2 fell?
But is this nothing more than Part II of the Beck/Palin "Let's Use The Anniversary Of Something Important To Make A Rambling Speech About Something That Will Do Nothing But Boost Our Q-Score" Tour? If so, I'm guessing the next date will be in Hawaii on December 7th, only the two will be a few miles away from the USS Arizona - but only if Jan Brewer declines to show up.
What is this all about really? The rallies, the hype, the hysteria, the constant media attacks that don't seems to make much sense the further we get away from Jan. 20th 2009. Are people like Beck and Palin so enamoured with image, fear, and a distorted view of history that they have completely lost the plot?
The answer, I'm guessing, is yes.
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