I will sleep walk no more

Because we sometimes need to hear perfect music:

Hip To Be Square

Checking out the news today I ran across this little item on NPR's website:

National Review: The Social Justice Code

When Glenn Beck urged Christians to leave churches that preach social justice, he allowed himself to be tripped up by conventional buzzwords of the campus Left. In plain English, "social justice" is a goal of all churches and refers to helping the poor and seeking equality. As a code word, it refers to a controversial package of goals including political redistribution of wealth, gay marriage, and a campaign against "institutional racism," "classism," "ableism," and "heterosexism."

Why is NPR reprinting an opinion article from the extreme right wing site National Review? If they are trying to broaden their base of contributors I have news for them, people who believe the hate spewed from the Nat'l Review are never going to donate money to NPR, and 'people like me' aren't going to in the future.

And guess who CNN just hired?

Meet Erick Erickson: CNN's newest political commentator

CNN announced that RedState.com editor Erick Erickson will join the channel as a political commentator, stating that he is "a perfect fit" for the new show John King, USA.

[...]
Erickson defends Beck's statement that Obama is "racist" and lashes out at "Obama Brownshirts."
[...]
Erickson calls Michelle Obama a "marxist harpy wife."
[...]
Erickson calls [Supreme Court Justice] Souter a "goat fucking child molester."
[...]
Erickson: "At what point do the people ... march down to their state legislator's house, pull him outside, and beat him to a bloody pulp?"
[...]
Erickson: Purpose of Bachmann rally is "to tell Nancy Pelosi and the Congress to send Obama to a death panel."
[...]
Erickson has made numerous sexist statements. After an anti-abortion ad during this year's Super Bowl, Erickson wrote, "that's it?!?! That's what the feminazis were enraged over? Seriously?!? Wow. That's what being too ugly to get a date does to your brain"; and "Thus ends the credibility of all pro-abortion groups. Thanks Mrs. Tebow for that. Ugly feminists return to their kitchens."

CNN, the most trusted name in hiring violent, misogynistic, homophobic, xenophobic neanderthals. (See Lou Dobbs, Glenn Beck et al.)

They could have hired a rational, logical conservative, (I swear they're out there, I can hear them breeding), but no, they had to go bat$hit crazy.

Can we finally be done with the 'liberal media' canard!?



Cross posted at VidiotSpeak

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

Maybe the revolution won't be, but the steps leading up to it are online:

C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web

Full disclosure: The headline is from an article in the NYT Television section, the link is to the actual archive.

Pop some popcorn and do some research, I recommend the Merlot to wash away accompany the hypocrisy that comes in all flavors.





Cross posted at VidiotSpeak

Some folks are born to wave the flag

Clarence Thomas, long a darling of the authoritarian right, has a new issue, and I think (& hope) that it gets really ugly really soon. From today's LATimes:

As Virginia Thomas tells it in her soft-spoken, Midwestern cadence, the story of her involvement in the "tea party" movement is the tale of an average citizen in action.

"I am an ordinary citizen from Omaha, Neb., who just may have the chance to preserve liberty along with you and other people like you," she said at a recent panel discussion with tea party leaders in Washington. Thomas went on to count herself among those energized into action by President Obama's "hard-left agenda."

But Thomas is no ordinary activist.

She is the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and she has launched a tea-party-linked group that could test the traditional notions of political impartiality for the court.

Aside from the idiocy and hypocrisy of another well-funded astroturf "grass-roots" group, there is a real ethical problem brewing. The close of the article states it best:

But it would be up to Justice Thomas to decide whether to recuse himself. He could not be reached for comment.

As a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, Liberty Central can raise unlimited amounts of corporate money and largely avoid disclosing its donors.

Because of a recent Supreme Court decision, Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission, the group may also spend corporate money freely to advocate for or against candidates for office.

Justice Thomas was part of the 5-4 majority in that case.

Of course he won't recuse himself. On ethical issues, his hypocrisy is legendary and consistent. Fully availing himself of Affirmative Action when it furthers his career, he now criticizes it as his Conservatarian posture demands. He will take any action that's in his best interest, with no regard to appearance, propriety, or ethics.

And please, don't bring up Ed Rendell & his wife, a Circuit Court judge who has sought ethics and recusal advice when it seemed warranted. No, Justice Thomas and his activist wife are entitled Conservatives. In her case, she seems honest in her beliefs, albeit misdirected. But in his case, as evidenced by his testimony during his confirmation hearings (see Anita Hill & Roe v. Wade), he does what is expedient and what fits his personal agenda best. Truth and justice are simply victims of his arrogance.

I See Inside Myself and Know It's Painted Black

Media Matters has a great take down of Karl Rove's new work of fiction:

Going Rove: Courage and Consequence is full of falsehoods

1. Rove distorts Senate report to claim Bush didn't "lie us into the war"

2. Rove falsehood: Obama claims "Obamacare would not add to the deficit ... evidence shows just the opposite"

3. Rove revives tired smear that Gore wrongly said "that he had created the Internet"

4. Rove revives Gore-Love Story smear

5. Rove falsehood: Gore said he had "discovered the Love Canal chemical disaster"

6. Rove pals around with falsehood that Ayers was "Obama's great friend"

7. Rove wrong on number of presidents who left office by "assassination or resignation

And that's just the first page!
Seriously, check it out, they do the research and have the links to it. Thank the FSM they have more time than I do.
********************

The Quittah from Wasilla compares herself to god:

Palin: Writing on palms ‘was good enough for God’

Sarah Palin has a message for critics of her crib-notes during February's Tea Party keynote speech: God did it too.

At a fundraiser on Friday for the Ohio Right to Life group, Palin assailed the media for getting "all wigged out about that" and claimed they're attacking her because they "couldn't argue the content" of the words.

Referring the crowd to a Bible passage from Isiah 49:16, she assured them she's "in good company."

"If what was good enough for God, scribbling on the palm of his hand, it's good enough for me, for us," Palin said. "In that passage he says, I wrote your name on the palm of my hand to remember you. And I'm like okay, I'm in good company."

Actually, the chapter and verse is Isaiah saying The Lord (maybe it's my lack of indoctrination, but isn't 'the lord' Jesus!? I get so confused by the bible) told him "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me."

And I'm so totally, ya know, like, also, too, not okay, with the Bimbo from Limbo comparing god (or jesus) carving their hand, with this retard having to scribble on her hand of the 3 major talking points she (and every republican) has given in every speech! i.e. “energy,” “budget tax cuts,” and “lift American spirit"
*********************
Next up in the Race for the Loon:

Virginia AG orders colleges to stop protecting gays

Officials and student leaders at Virginia colleges are reacting mutedly, so far, to an order from state Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli that the schools stop protecting LGBT students.

In a letter (PDF) sent to the state's public colleges and universities and obtained by the Washington Post, Cuccinelli declared that the schools don't have the authority to uphold bans on discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation when the state itself has no such ban.

"It is my advice that the law and public policy of the Commonwealth of Virginia prohibit a college or university from including 'sexual orientation,' 'gender identity,' 'gender expression,' or like classification, as a protected class within its non-discrimination policy, absent specific authorization from the General Assembly," the letter stated.

Virginia has many fine colleges and universities, but I have a feeling they aren't going to get many applicants next year.
********************
Another contestant in the Race for the Loon:

GOP: Law banning child abuse in schools will lead to ‘government takeover’

A proposed law designed to prevent child abuse in schools has been lauded by children's protection advocates, and slammed by House Republicans as an unnecessary expansion of federal government power.
[...]
Though the bill was a bipartisan effort in reaction to a government report last year that found "hundreds of cases of alleged abuse and death" related to the practices, it was opposed by a vast majority of Republicans, who said the bill amounted to an intrusion on states' rights and the ability of local school districts to determine their own policies.

It really sucks that the Federal Government has to intervene, but if the local boards and the states can't protect the weakest among us it is past time. Torturing kids when the 'act up' is the job of the parents, not the states.
******************
We has another contender for Peak Loon:

'Operation Exodus': Louisiana Sheriff Taps Locals For Emergency Security Plan

A Louisiana sheriff plans to arm volunteers with shotguns, riot shields, batons, and a .50-caliber machine gun mounted on a "war wagon," as part of "Operation Exodus," a program to provide security in the event of a terrorist attack or civic unrest. "It's a calling," he says.

But wait! There's more:

The office of the Louisiana sheriff who's forming a citizen militia to defend the parish in the event of a terrorist attack says it has information about possible Islamic terrorist activity in its midst.

Srsly!? LOL! I mean OMG, terrorists live and train in BumFuk Lousiana?

Anyone else want to bet the sheriff & his pussie [sic] are 100% caucasian? (as far as they know;-)



Cross posted at VidiotSpeak

Ice, Ice, Baby

Note to self: This

Goes here (once the ice has receded!)

I'll Be Seeing You

If you look over to our right sidebar, down a little bit ... a little bit farther, there you go, you'll see a list of blogs we like and Link Exchange with. Jon Swift was one of the best.

He was so talented at satire of the reich wing that people would comment thinking he was serious. Some to castigate him, others (scary people) to congratulate him on his reasoned discourse, but mostly the folks who get it, got it, good.

He didn't post often, but when he did it was choice. But even I, the laziest of bloggers, noticed he hadn't updated for almost a year. I still checked in from time to time because he had one of those blogs that the comments keep coming and keep you coming back.

But I never wanted to see this comment:

I don't know how else to tell you all who love this blog. I am Jon Swift's Mom and I guess I'm going to OUT him. He was Al Weisel, my beloved son. Al was on his way to his father's funeral in VA when he suffered 2 aortic aneurysms, a leaky aortic valve and an aortic artery dissection from his heart to his pelvis. He had 3 major surgeries within 24 hours and sometime during those surgeries also suffered a severe stroke. We, his 2 sisters, his brother, his partner and his best friend since he was 9 years old were with him as he took his last breath. We have all lost a shining start who warmed our hearts, tormented us and made us laugh as he giggled at our pulling something over on us. He passed away on February 27, 2010. My beloved child will live on in so many hearts. I miss him more than I can say. If you are on Facebook, go to organizations and join "Friends of Al Weisel, Unite!" It will give you just a taste of how special he was. Farewell, Jon (Al)

I became acquainted with Jon Swift thru his brilliant writing, and then thru Blogroll Amnesty Day.

Check out his blog, check out his last post, and check out Al Weisel.

If there is a blogger's heaven, a place where one's thoughts in the purest form, (but with all the painstaking revisions magically included), are transformed into images and words then electrons and photons, Al is there.

My sincere condolences go out to his survivors.

Hic depositum est Corpus
IONATHAN SWIFT S.T.D.
Hujus Ecclesiæ Cathedralis
Decani,
Ubi sæva Indignatio
Ulterius
Cor lacerare nequit,
Abi Viator
Et imitare, si poteris,
Strenuum pro virili
Libertatis Vindicatorem.

Obiit 19º Die Mensis Octobris
A.D. 1745 Anno Ætatis 78º.

And I decree that from now until the end of time every day is Blogroll Amnesty Day.

I completely stole this image from skippy's place.

Heartless Heart

The Department of Transportation furloughed nearly 2,000 employees without pay Monday as the government began to feel the impact of Republican Sen. Jim Bunning's one-man blockage of legislation that would keep a host of federal programs operating.

Bunning's "hold" also affects jobless benefits for thousands of unemployed workers, rural television customers, doctors receiving Medicare payments and others.
[...]
1.2 million unemployed workers, including 14,000 in Kentucky, would lose federal jobless benefits this month if Congress doesn't extend them, and they all said that Bunning is an a$$hole

OK, I made the last sentence of the last paragraph up.

Pardon my outrage when one f**king republican is once again holding our nation hostage. Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY jelly) claimed he was acting on principle, or maybe it was the interest on the principle he gets from 'campaign contributors.'

Bunny is retiring with a pension that we Americans pay for, and he and his family will have government health care for the rest of their lives that we Americans pay for.

Why doesn't he cry Socialism! about that?
***************

GOP Sen. Kyl: Unemployment Benefits Make People Not Want To Get A Job

[...]
Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona [R - Ustupid], the Republican whip, argued that unemployment benefits dissuade people from job-hunting "because people are being paid even though they're not working."

Unemployment insurance "doesn't create new jobs. In fact, if anything, continuing to pay people unemployment compensation is a disincentive for them to seek new work," Kyl said during debate over whether unemployment insurance and other benefits that expired amid GOP objections Sunday should be extended.

where to start, where to start ... OK, how about here:
1) It's called Unemployment Insurance for a reason, these people have been paying insurance, mandated by the gov't, in case they are unemployed. Guess what, it's time to collect.
2) Max payout in most states is 55% of what they were earning. Try living on 1/2 of what you're making now and most folks have a difficult time of it. Heck, even the banksters complain when their multi-million dollar salaries/bonuses are cut, imagine what it's like for real people! That sounds like an incentive to find work to me ... if there were any jobs.
3) Maybe it doesn't create new jobs, but it sure allows a lot of people to keep their jobs. From grocery stores to landlords to everyone else in the community, the basic fabric breaks down if millions of people have zero income.

And while the 2 above examples seem about as heartless as republicans can be, here comes the corker:

Pawlenty: Let ER's turn away patients to cut costs

Emergency rooms should be able to turn patients away to cut costs, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-Minn.) said last night

Appearing on Fox News's "On the Record with Greta Van Sustren" last night, Pawlenty said the federal law that mandates ER treatment should be repealed.

"Well, for one thing you could do is change the federal law so that not every ER is required to treat everybody who comes in the door, even if they have a minor condition," Pawlenty said.

First the repubes claim that everyone has access to health care because they can always go to the ER.

That's always been a specious argument because while you might be able to go to the ER for an emergency, they do nothing about post trauma care or even tests if you don't have the $$. And now these heartless bastards want to limit access to the ER!

Taken together the arguments the republicans espouse are 'lose your job? Tough.' 'Lose your unemployment insurance benefits that you paid into? Tough shit.' 'Lose your health? Die.'

Grayson was right. "the Republican plan is don't get sick. And if you do get sick, die quickly."

Now for some head banging brain bleach:




Cross posted at VidiotSpeak

Senators Only, Take The Stairs

No one knows what it's like to be the bad man

Is it just me, or is Eric Cantor (R-VA7) dumb as a bag of rocks?