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Potpourri May 2008
REGARDING THE CONTINUING BUSH MISREPRESENTATIONS
I continue to be amazed at both the willingness of the Bush Administration to deliberately lie to us and the assumption we are bone headed stupid.
Bush’s spokesmen now claim that the “Mission Accomplished” banner under which he declared victory in Iraq five years ago was not “his” banner. It is general knowledge they actually turned an entire carrier fleet around just so that the near shoreline would not be visible in tv shots. They staged a carrier jet landing with Bush strutting out in warrior costume. And, they chose precisely where the podium and all the photographers would be placed.
To suggest now that the horrendously wrong sign and its wording were not with their full participation defies credibility.
Of course, since one out of three people in this country apparently still believe those pathological liars in the White House who seem to lie even about things that would not harm them, well, maybe the Bush Administration is right on one thing. We do seem to be bone headed stupid.
COMMENT ON OBSERVING THE INVITEES TO TALK SHOWS DISCUSSING THE WAR ARE ALWAYS THE SAME OLD USUAL SUSPECTS
Why does the Main Stream Media only allow as guests and commentators regarding the Iraq War those who got it totally wrong from the very beginning?
COMMENT ON LISTENING TO HUCKABEE TELLING AN NRA AUDIENCE THAT OBAMA HITS THE FLOOR WHEN SOMEONE COMES AT HIM WITH A GUN
One of the many, many, many, many terrible things about McCain as President is that this very senior citizen is likely to pick a loose cannon (no pun intended) like Huckabee as Vice President and then die in office leaving the Jokster in charge.
By the way, about the only regulation I have heard Obama uggest so far regarding guns is a tougher background check so nutcases and terrorists would have a marginally harder time to buy them openly. Hasn’t anyone in the NRA, which sees itself as a supposed heroic bulwark against criminals and terrorists, stopped to think that might be a good idea to enact?
For that matter, wouldn’t also restricting the sales of armor piercing 50 caliber sniper rifles capable of bringing down jetliners be a good idea. As a multiple gun owner myself, it still strikes me that common sense and logic ought to govern these issues. Apparently, no one in the NRA has any.
ON READING THAT GERALDINE FERRARO PROCLAIMED SHE WOULD RATHER VOTE FOR MCCAIN THAN OBAMA
I would really like to see a woman in the White House. On the other hand, between Ms. Clinton and Ms. Ferraro, they are rapidly dispelling the myth that a woman would automatically be a better person in office. In fact, it is becoming increasingly obvious that we might even be thankful Ms. Ferraro was never elected as Vice President if that is how she acts. How juvenile. They are proving that idiocy is an equal opportunity inflictor.
UPON READING THAT THE NEW YORK TIMES PUBLISHED AN ARTICLE ALLEGING BUSH WON THE POPULAR VOTE IN FLORIDA IN 2000
The New York Times is the nation’s Paper of Record — Record of Errors, that is.
Cartoon
Created by Lawlessone after yet another oil spill in California
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Potpourri April 2008
OBSERVATION UPON WATCHING BOOS FOR BUSH WHEN THROWING OUT THE FIRST BASEBALL OF THE SEASON
Bush should count himself lucky that the crowd isn’t throwing bats at him instead of just booing. He deserves an indictment, not a photo op.
ON HEARING HOW THE RIGHT WING PUNDITS ATTACK OBAMA FOR BEING A POOR BOWLER AND RICH WHILE IGNORING THE REPUBLICANS WHO DO THE SAME
Maybe we ought to enact an impeachment process for journalists who can’t get anything right ever. Or, better yet, force them to disclose their bias. Or, better yet, force them to post their track record.
ON THE ETERNAL PREMISE OF THE PRESIDENT THAT HE IS DOING A GOOD JOB
If Voltaire were alive today, almost surely the title of his most famous book, the one about the incurable optimist who experiences an unending stream of disasters, would not be Candide. It’d be called Bush.
ON WHETHER YOO, THE AUTHOR OF WHITE HOUSE TORTURE MEMOS OUGHT TO BE FIRED FROM HIS LAW PROFESSOR JOB
File an ethical complaint with both the state that issued Yoo’s license to practice law and the bar association for the state where he now teaches. Seek to have him disbarred and see if the school still thinks he is fit to teach then. The grounds for disbarment? It is one thing to advise a client as to how to avoid prosecution for past crimes committed. It is quite another thing to actively assist in committing future crimes which is what Yoo did for Bush.
ON THE BIAS AND UNFAIRNESS OF THE PRESS REGARDING THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE
What did you expect? Journalism is not a “profession.” A profession is an activity that is a privilege, not a right. A profession is an activity in which the participants must pass tests to be licensed. A profession is an activity in which the participants are held to high ethical standards for which they can lose their license if they fail to obey. Ethics that required more concern for abstract principles than the bottom dollar. None of that is true for today’s reporters.
Besides, this country is already a dictatorship in all but name. The Neocons have successfully converted every single branch of government into purely partisan agencies of Neocon interests from the so-called Justice Department to the Supreme Court. The entire military establishment seems only to serve the Neocon greed, callousness, hatred, paranoia and destructiveness. Those few government entities they don’t dominate or re-purpose have been reduced to drooling ineffectiveness. What made you believe that the media was not a Neocon target for takeover as well?
The news media has long been owned lock, stock and barrel by the campaign contributors to and fellow travelers with the Neocon leadership squatting in the White House, an occupancy seized under false pretenses. Those media owners, eager to share in the Neocon spoils, have been squeezing out opposition employees with varying degrees of speed. Nothing like the power of the paycheck to control what is said by reporters and pundits.
Some news operations, like Fox News, are open about their status as PR departments for the Neocon theocracy. Others seem somewhat less proud of the coup against democracy and freedom, but are almost as overt in their bias against anyone or anything still actively fighting the new dictatorship we are in.
The only mystery is why the Neocons and their stooges like the press seem so dedicated to destroying every single thing America once stood for and why they are so willing to cripple its military, its economy and its future to serve their short term greed. They have even been attacking everything the Republican Party once stood for back when Tom McCalls and Nelson Rockefellers and Teddy Roosevelts and Abraham Lincolns were permitted to be members. It is almost as if the Neocons are in league with our loudly declared enemies like Osama bin Laden.
Think about it. Everything that Osama wanted to accomplish in harming this country is being unrelentingly carried out by the Neocon junta. Do you suppose the reason Osama cannot be found is that he shaved his beard and is working in the West Wing?
HILLARY’S FUTURE ON FOX NEWS
Hillary has a great future as a right wing pundit on Rupert Murdoch station, spewing forth attacks on Obama and all things liberal or progressive. Perhaps it could be the Limbaugh-O’Reilly-Clinton “Hour of Glower.” Oh wait, those boys hate women. Merely because Hillary successfully throws the election to the Republicans does not mean they would welcome her into their ranks. They’ll just delight in how stupid she was to act like them.
COMMENT ON THE MEDIOCRITY OF THE ABC MODERATORS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE DEBATE FOCUSING ON QUESTIONS LIKE THE FLAG LAPEL PINS
Candidates should be allowed to quiz “moderators” and reporters about their own finances, elitism, conflicts of interest, biases, and whether they themselves were an American flag pin in the shower. The peccadilloes of moderators, reporters and pundits can also adversely effect the future of America and the public deserves to know what master the questioners of candidates are serving. It is perfectly fair to investigate the investigators. Too bad there is no such thing as real journalism ethics requirements, ones with teeth that call for the revocation of a journalist’s “license” to practice when they are violated.
COMMENT ON CLINTON’S PHYRRIC PENNSYLVANIA VICTORY
I am not an enthusiastic supporter of Obama. (To disclose my bias, John Edwards, or better yet, Bill Moyer, was who I wanted.) BUT, I am thoroughly disgusted with Clinton for damaging the Democrats chances to win in the Fall.
The horrendous, biblical proportion, disaster that has been visited upon the US over the past seven years is because Bush and his zealots forgot entirely their oath of office which was to defend the Constitution and the interests of all its citizens — not just their own narrow partisan lusts.
Clinton, in her short sighted lust for office, seems to have forgotten she is a Democrat. Her victory over Obama may turn out to be a Pyhrric one which turns the White House over “born again” McCain and more of the Republican malevolence. If that happens, Clinton deserves to go down in history as big a traitor to what this country should be as Benedict Arnold was.
I will hold my nose and vote for her come November if she is the nominee. Of course, that doesn’t mean much. I would vote for someone chosen at random out of the phone book if the only other choice is another Neocon Republican like McCain apparently is proving to be.
Doesn’t Clinton realize it was bad enough that Bush put in place judges and decisions that will continue damaging us for decades? For Clinton to give them the ammunition to let yet another of those maniacs add more judges and destruction for another four years minimum is too horrible to contemplate.
It is probably already too late to undo the damage she has done, but someone needs to tell her to stop now openly denigrating Obama. If not and if the national election is lost to McCain, then perhaps an opponent ought to be found by the Democratic Party itself to oppose Clinton the next time she tries for a new Senate term.
COMMENT ON HEALTH CARE
Everyone in Congress believes wholeheartedly in Socialized Medicine. Yep,. . . . for themselves. Regardless of how obscenely rich they happen to be individually, they help themselves to taxpayer money to give themselves the finest medical care available and all for free out of the US Treasury. If taxes are used for that, shouldn’t the American taxpayer also be provided at least the something approaching the health care coverage that our selfish Senators and Representatives give themselves?
REGARDING THE REVELATION THAT ALL THE TOP WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS OFFICIALLY PLANNED TORTURE OF VICTIMS
We apparently are watching a new reality TV series: “Lawless and Disorder”
WONDERING WHY OBAMA RETURNED TO FOX NEWS
Why would he legitimize the Republican PR department otherwise known as “Fox Eschews News”? Democrats ought to universally refuse to appear on that network. For Obama going there is like him agreeing to appear at a KKK convention to defend himself for having a lot of melanin in his skin than them. Obama is campaigning on hope which obviously offends the hell out of those like the Fox Pundits, their boss Rupert Murdock, and all the Neocons who insist on campaigning solely for more hate.
BUSH IS WRIGHT’S WHITE MIRROR IMAGE
Regarding wacko delusions, there are only three significant differences between the wacko delusional Reverend Wright and the equally wacko delusional President Bush. They are (1) the subject matter of their insane delusions divorced from reality, (2) the fact that Wright is black and (3) Wright’s ability to express his delusions in a complete sentence with the words pronounced correctly. Guess which one is the only one voters will really focus on?
REGARDING THE MEDIA’S SINGLING OUT WRIGHT’S WACKO WORDS
If Obama must be held “responsible” for placidly listening to delusional Reverend Wright for several years, then shouldn’t we be held responsible for allowing equally delusional Prez Bush to continue spouting utter nonsense for years?
Potpourri March 2008
RESPONDING TO DAILY SHOW PIECE ABOUT THE UNINTENTIONAL COMEDY OF BUSH TRYING TO ANSWER PRESS QUESTIONS
Bush has always been funny, but he is about the most expensive cartoon that ever existed.
AN OBSERVATION ON THE OREGON REPUBLICANS USING WILLIAM KRYSTAL FOR A KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT THEIR ANNUAL DORSHIRE CONVENTION
Why would the Republicans want neocon pundit William Krystal to offer them advice? He may be a Right Wing plodder and say what they want to hear, but what has he ever actually been proven right about starting with every single prediction he made about Iraq over the past several years? Could anyone except Bush have been more wrong?
ON REPUBLICANS CALLING FOR IMPEACHMENT OF THE NEW YORK GOVERNOR
Why is it that only victimless sex crimes get the Republicans interested in impeachment, when wars without declaration, deliberate lies, conflicts of interest, searches without warrants and torturing does not? Which are the higher crimes and misdemeanors which is the Constitutional test? Could it be that they are jealous or just that they are angry because those who get caught make it too dangerous for the rest of them to do the same immoralities themselves with sex partners behind closed doors?
ON CLINTON’S FERRARO DISSING OBAMA
I fear in the future histories to be written that they will say of the Democrats in 2008 what Lincoln once said about incompetent General Burnside, “Only he could snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.” Unless the candidates stop trashing each other or, more accurately, granting by silence or weak admonishment tacit permission for their subordinates to trash the other side, we will once again have a Republican in the White House for another 4 years of unmitigaged disaster, ever growing death tolls, degradation of the economy and environment, and emasculation of the Constitution. Why don’t the candidates care more about the country than getting the job?
ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE IRAQ WAR
McCain says we may have to be in Iraq another 100 years. At the rate we are getting our kids killed there, 800 a year on average, that extrapolates to 80,000 just for our own dead. We didn’t do that much wasteful damage to ourselves in Vietnam. As to the wounded, maimed and mentally injured of our finest young men and women, at the present rate, the number shoots up to a million or so if we are there that long. And the monetary price tag could approach a Sixty to Hundred Trillion our kids and grandkids will have to pay. Why don’t we make Bush and Cheney and their cohorts of eager chickenhawks pay for their crimes of dragging us there? Why don’t we recognize McCain for the unthinking wastrel he really is?
IF THE SURGE WERE REALLY A SUCCESS…
If the surge is such a phenomenal success, then why can’t we take the troops out? Actually, there is a pretty easy way to determine the number of troops needed to truly insure no further violence in Iraq. Simply multiply the number of Iraq and Afghan residents times three. That way, there will be armed soldiers on 8 hour shifts guarding every individual in those countries 24 hours a day. Of course, you might need some extras on top of that to feed, supply, house, transport and administer such troops plus some more to allow then a little vacation time, but since when did concern for our troops interfere with Republican goals. That proposal makes at least as much sense as Bush’s failed policies or McCain’s vow to leave troops there a hundred years.
AN OBSERVATION ON BUSH’S LATEST JUSTIFICATION OF INVASION WITHOUT PROVOCATION
Have you ever noticed that every argument Bush has ever used to justify attacking tyrants abroad sound equally applicable to him if you simply substitute Bush’s name for the villain du jour? It almost makes you wonder if he suffers from what psychology textbooks refer to as “projection.” Yet, after all his “speechifying” about the wonders of and need for “democracy” abroad, he insists on doing the exact opposite here. With his so-called signing statements negating bills clear meaning, his illegal wiretapping and searches without warrants, his executive privilege usurpations and violations of established laws and treaties, not to mention his end run of the electoral process that snuck him into office, attack the very principal of democracy at every opportunity. If Bush were held accountable in the way he demands of foreign governments and leaders, he would be waterboarded so often, his skin would look like a prune.
ON THE COLLAPSING ECONOMY
Bush should focus on jobs, not war. After all, without good paying jobs, how will we get money to invest in the stock market so his former CEO buddies can steal it? How will we be able to afford the artificially high gas tank and utility bills his oil partners manipulated? How will we be able to pay the taxes he wants to transfer to his fellow rich? He better wise up or his campaign contributors who bought his office for him might get disappointed.
ON WATCHING THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE DEBATE WHERE THE QUIZZERS ASKED INANE QUESTIONS
Stooges, one and all. If there had been a third “journalist” in the interview, they could have poked each other in the eye, yelled “Woop, Woop, Woop” and made a movie. Would Carlson be Moe in the movie? He always was the nasty one?
ON AUTHORIZING TORTURE IN THE LATEST VERSION OF THE INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT
“Intelligence Authorization Act.” What an oxymoron. If only it were possible to have the torture advocates experience it themselves. They seem to forget that their sons and daughters venturing abroad in war, work or tourism may be in increased danger of being subjected to it if we set torture as the new acceptable standard for “civilized” nations of the world.
ON BAILING OUT THE PRIVATELY HELD BEAR STEARNS INVESTMENT BANK
Shouldn’t some portion of the massive bailout taxpayers are handing the rich, but recklessly self indulgent, investment bankers be used instead to hire more bank regulators to insure we don’t keeping throwing Treasury money away?
Cartoon
All cartoons here and at http://www.resistence-is-possible.blogspot.com/ are original to this author, lawlessone. They were created using the free software and clipart available at http://www.funnytimes.com/playground/.
Create some yourself.
Potpourri February 2008
COMMENT AFTER SEEING ANN COULTER HAD ANOTHER ARTICLE PUBLISHED
Ann Coulter has a right of free speech. But, I wish the Mainstream Media would please stop giving her inanities a national platform? It legitimizes her obsessions and perverts the Press Corps’ own legitimacy. Does the entire journalistic community really want to be like the Fox so called “News” channel?
Moreover, quoting Ann Coulter on any political question is like seeking serious political advice from the Three Stooges. At least the Three Stooges were occasionally funny and their proposals for gratuitous violence could not actually harm anyone who hadn’t volunteered and been paid as an actor to receive it.
If you feel the Mainstream Media “has to” give her nonsense space for some reason, then they should at least stop showing her photo. Her words become even more offensive and rendered absurd when they are not juxtapositioned with a visual of her as an iconic cute blond type.
Or, if the Mainstream Media insists upon a photo, they tell her she does not get space unless she poses nude with a cash register. Then, the viewers will both know what Coulters really is and might get some mild entertainment value out of it.
REACTION TO A REPORT THAT MOVEON ANNOUNCED A SURVEY OF ITS MEMBERS SUPPORTED OBAMA
I am a Moveon.org member. It should be noted that we were not allowed to vote except for Obama and Hillary. We were not allowed a NONE OF THE ABOVE option.
Nor were we allowed to submit our opinion on the second question unless we answered the first question pertaining to the limited choice between a black gutless ineffective establishment owing all the Tweedeldee lobbyists and a female gutless ineffective establishment owing all the Tweedeldum lobbiests.
It’s true that come the general election, after the disastrous Republican reign, I would vote against any one holding themselves out as Republican no matter who that increasing dangerous and demented party selects for any office. I have come to the conclusion Republicans, with their current insanities, should not be allowed to hold the position of dogcatcher, let alone state or national offices. Frankly, I would vote against the Bush/Reagan/Cheney/Gingrich legacy even if Democrats picked someone out of the phone book to run.
Nevertheless, that is a far cry from saying I affirmatively support any of the embarrassingly limited list of non-Republican choices left. Being a liberal and progressive and proud of it, I am appalled that there are no other viable options available. While I will ultimately pull the lever for whichever one makes it to the top of the ballot so long as they are not Republican, I’ll be holding my nose at the time.
Why can’t we ever have someone like Bill Moyer run or the deceased Molly Ivins?
POLL-UTION – AN OBSERVATION ON THE FACT THAT MANY POLLS ARE NOW, NOT JUST WRONG IN REPORTING THE RESULTS, BUT OFTEN REALLY JUST SNEAKY CAMPAIGN ADS
We have pretty much banned Polish jokes in polite conversation. Since the credibility of polls have finally become a joke, maybe society would be better off if we banned them too.
After all, they had little use to begin with except as clues that electronic voting machines had been tampered with by the Republican owned Dybold company which makes such machines. Moreover, polls have caused active harm to the democratic process in the past by persuading voters in western states to not bother. Not to mention, they were often dead wrong in either the fairness of the statistical gathering or skewed the result by the way the question was asked.
Lately, they have become a means to lie to voters. Consequently, perhaps it is time to “poll” the plug on them, so to speak. Hang up when any call. Or, better yet, tell them you have someone on the other line and would they please wait. Then, set the phone down and make a game out of how long you can tie up the line with pollsters wasting their time and money as they have wasted yours.
THE LATEST AND HOPEFULLY LAST REPUBLICAN “BUDGET”
Perhaps it is time to either re-institute the 90% income tax for the portion of incomes over, say, $100,000 per year. Or, declare that those who want to fight wars hereafter have to pay for them out of their own pocket, not everybody else’s.
UPON LEARNING THAT AN FBI AGENT HAD TURNED WHISTLE BLOWER AFTER DISCOVERING US OFFICIALS COMMITTED TREASON, BUT NO US MEDIA WOULD CARRY THE STORY
Unfortunately, for the story to get out, it requires that the media remove its head from Britney Spears nether regions. Sadly, the story only concerns critical life and death issues and not whether Britney is wearing panties or back in rehab.
COMMENT UPON DISCOVERING THE (FASHION) POLICE OF VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. ARRESTED THE STORE MANAGER FOR OBSCENITY AND REMOVED AN ABERCROMBIE & FITCH PHOTO AD WHICH MERELY HAD A PROTO-ADONISES STRIPPED TO THE WAIST GAMBOLING TOGETHER WITH A SCANTILY CLAD FEMALE
Do you suppose they could be convinced to remove Bush/Cheney as obscene?
LETTER SENT TO SEVERAL GENUINE NEWS SOURCES AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HQ UPON LEARNING THAT FOX NEWS IS HIRING KARL ROVE
Why is Fox News apparently planning to hire certainly unethical and probably unindited felon Karl Rove as a “journalist” to appear on the Chris Matthews program? Good God, how low can the phrase “journalist” sink? Speaking of that, why shouldn’t Fox News be required to register as a lobbyist for the Republican Party? More importantly, why on earth has Hillary Clinton agreed to appear in a debate on Fox News? Demand the Democratic Party continue the boycott!
ON LEARNING THE 796 UNELECTED UNPLEDGED SO-CALLED SUPERDELEGATES MAY DETERMINE THE DEMOCRAT NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT
The “democratic” party. Hah! What a joke.
ON LEANING THAT CHRISTIANS ARE SENDING FAKE TERRORISTS TO COLLEGES TO PROMOTE DEMONIZATION OF MUSLIMS
The primary problem with most Christians is that they don’t really believe in or regularly practice the “Golden Rule” Christ advocated when he was alive. To their shame, all they adopted is his name.
UPON READING THAT TASERINGS PEACEFUL PROTESTERS AND SUSPECTS IS THE FIRST RESPONSE OF CHOICE BY POLICE
The Bush Administration has never once resorted to talking or other peaceful means when violence was available. Since the White House has always been a role model, why wouldn’t the other authoritarian agencies, like the police, follow the prominent Bush lead even if people die as a result?
THOUGHTS ON LISTENING TO THE NEWS REPORTS EACH MORNING
Question: Is there a clinically objective test to determine the likelihood a person is suffering from either mental retardation or a sociopathology such as delusional tendencies, criminal predisposition, aggression, intolerance or utter lack of human compassion?
Answer: Yes. Check the patient’s voting records to see if they are still registered as Republican.
ON THE TORTURED LANGUAGE BUSHITES USE TO JUSTIFY WATERBOARDING
There is nothing wrong with Bush and his dungeon masters that a good impeachment boarding wouldn’t cure.
ON THE JUSTIFICATIONS GIVEN BY REPUBLICANS TO JUSTIFY SPYING ON ALL AMERICANS
The Republican election strategy so far this century has primarily been an attempt to frighten us. They’ve succeeded with me. I’m totally frightened they’ll ever gain power again. I’m terrified about what they lust after, how they’ll grab it and what else they’ll wreck getting it.
ON THE THEORIES OF REPUBLICANS REGARDING WHY TELEPHONE COMPANIES SUPPOSEDLY SHOULD BE GIVEN IMMUNITY FOR CRIMES THEY COMMITTED AGAINST AMERICANS IN CO-CONSPIRACY WITH THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION
Republicans in Congress and the Executive Branch seem to lie for exercise. They must lie to warm up in the morning. They lie to every person they meet or talk to. They apparently lie for entertainment. They seem to equate lying with breathing. So, why should we believe them on anything at all they say attempting to retroactively justify their party’s criminality and that of the big telephone company executives who aided them in violating the Constitution and breaking laws?
REFLECTING ON THE TORTURERS R’ US SHOPS SET UP BY THIS ADMINISTRATION
Where does Bush find all the sociopaths to do the torturing; i.e. those who admit they would never want to be subject to “enhanced interrogation” themselves, but seek opportunities to inflict torture others? Does the scum of the earth simply tend to gravitate toward him like the Nazis did toward Hitler or does he have an in-Human Resources manager who actively recruits them? Are the Torquemadas he hires formally taught to be that way or are they born depraved? Are they mostly self described Christians or atheists? What went wrong in their upbringing and how were they unable to develop or unable to keep a moral code? Are they sickos who relish the sense of power that bringing pain to others apparently can supply or is it the addictive oxytocins or dorphamines or other brain jollies they get out of it? Are they paranoid schizophrenias assuming everyone they torture must deserve it? Are they closet sadists? Or, are they just utterly delusional, thinking what they are doing is actually somehow saving Civilization?
REGARDING THE ANTI-HILLARY TIRADES OF CHRIS MATTHEWS
Dear MSNBC:
I am a 62 year old male in a rural community and grew up in a culture that was biased against women. Nevertheless, I hopefully overcame my heritage’s indoctrination. Why hasn’t your company? It does not appear to even be trying.
I have grown increasing uncomfortable with the open hostility and shocking outbursts regarding women, especially those with power or influence, by some of your company’s on camera spokesmen like Chris Matthews and Chuck Scarborough. They seem to be getting as bad as some of your professional provocateurs like Ann Coulter and Karl Rove. They certainly seem to increasingly reveal their bias, insensitivity and even venom against women’s equality in what they often say.
At least when the Coulters and Roves infest your airtime, they do not pretend to reporters or journalists. Unfortunately, guys like Matthews do. Nevertheless, they no longer can claim that right unless those terms have been perverted from their original meaning and distorted out of all recognition.
Why hasn’t they been punished, demoted, publicly reprimanded or fired in light of their recent indiscretions? Surely their denials ring hollow to your own ears unless you personally share those male chauvinist tendencies. As a career lawyer whose career has been spent listening to liars, deniers, and self-deluders, their defensiveness smacks of non-apology apologies to me. Let them go to Fox News or elsewhere where they will no longer harm your company’s attempt to remain a genuinely fair and balanced news reporting organization.
I switched from Fox several years ago to you once I realized that channel had abandoned any thought of fully reporting real news in favor of spreading propaganda for one particular party and philosophy. Consequently, if Matthews in particular gets to keep his big salary, then I am no longer going to grant your company any more credibility than Fox gets. Hereafter, I will get my news elsewhere and distrust anything with the MSNBC logo appearing on it.
You know, it’s gotten to be embarrassing to be an American in the 21st Century for many reasons, but to listen to antediluvian outbursts demonstrating outright bias by public figures pretending to adhere to journalism ethics is a major part of that. Isn’t it embarrassing to you?
I realize that as a corporation you believe the almighty buck is most important to you and that having “entertainment” is what will generate the most of it. BUT, as at least theoretically a professional news reporting source, remember there are higher responsibilities than money and pandering to ratings. Frankly, an ethical press and media was our last chance to defend the Constitution. If you no longer care about that, the two parties certainly don’t. Where are we then? Please fill your necessary role.
ANSWER TO MOVEON.ORG POLL OF VETS ABOUT THE WAR IN IRAQ
I voluntarily enlisted in the Army in 1968, back before there was the lottery. Upon completing advanced infantry training, I signed up for a program that guaranteed me going to Vietnam. I wasn’t gung ho or anxious to go, but I didn’t see any realistic way to avoid it given my age and health and decided to get it over with. Besides, I wanted to get back to law school as quickly as possible. I arrived in spring of 1969 and served with the 101st Division up North. My battalion was known for the “Hamburger Hill” fiasco which took place a couple of months before I arrived.
Once in Vietnam, it was quickly apparent that there was little to distinguish the two sides in the conflict. While I could admire individual Vietnamese I met, frankly I had equal admiration for the gutsiness and ingenuity of the opposition. They no doubt committed atrocities, but so did our allies. While the other side was a communist dictatorship, South Vietnam was a corrupt dictatorship. Hard to chose which is worse. It certainly was not worth any American lives. So, my primary goal became to get myself and as many men out alive as I could.
My other observations were that the quality of the officer corp, particularly those who were Major and above in rank left a lot to be desired. They seemed to be fighting an entirely different war from those getting their boots wet. The view is very different from helicopter height at 1000 in height or in a bunkered radio room.
The waste, stupidities and outright insanities were obvious and reprehensible. A disconnect from reality was the standard situation. Neither the reasons for going in nor the reasons for staying were worth the cost and in fact turned out to be largely deliberate lies and distortions.
Looking back, the episode was an extremely costly debacle in every sense, economically, militarily, diplomatically, reputationally, morally, you name it, not to mention in terms of human life and suffering. No dominos fell. And, given that the warhawks now in the White House also fought to get favored nation trading status for Communist Vietnam and went there on State Visits recently, it looks even stupider than at the time.
It should be noted I am not a pacifist. Nor am I an isolationalist. I am not naive or trusting of other countries. And, I firmly believe in a strong defense, a strong military and close interaction with other nations.
Nevertheless, speaking as a combat veteran who earned his Combat Infantry Badge as well as being a long devoted student of history, a widely read follower of current affairs and a fiscal conservative, I think that all our Middle Eastern invasions and entanglements were possibly clinically insane or even criminal from just about every perspective or analysis. I believe they will go down in history as the greatest follies we have undertaken, probably more costly than Vietnam. The dictionary ought to have a new definition for the word “dumb” with Bush, Cheney and their moronic minions being synonyms for the term.
Our troops need to be supported by bringing them home before it is too late. Our leaders should be impeached, removed and possibly jailed. If we don’t, frankly, I fear for our survival as a democratic society.
Cartoon
(Click on cartoon for larger view)
This cartoon was initially written back in Summer of 2007.
All cartoons here and at http://www.resistence-is-possible.blogspot.com/ are original to this author, lawlessone. They were created using the free software and clipart available at http://www.funnytimes.com/playground/.
Create some yourself.
Potpourri January 2008
THINKING ABOUT THE 7 YEARS OF BUSH
In the Bible there were seven plagues. We need to add an eighth – Bush.
RESPONSE TO MCGOVERN CALL FOR IMPEACHMENT OF THE PREZ
Yes, the US may have survived a lot of blunders, but I am starting to believe the country may not survive disastrous wholesale re-fabrication of the country by Bush/Cheney, certainly not as the country it once was.
REGARDING THE EMBEDDED US SOLIDERS KILLED BY AN IRAQI SOLDIER AS THEY INTERROGATED A WOMAN
Ever notice how ever since Custer, those most responsible for our military stupidities are least likely to suffer any harm?
MAY 25, 2003 – THE DAY BUSH PARADED ON A CARRIER IN HIS PLAY WARRIOR SUIT AND THE BANNER PROCLAIMED “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED”
It is approaching five years since that day. Since so little of value seems to have actually been accomplished, isn’t it about time we finally started to ask, what was the REAL mission?
COMMENT ON WHETHER WE SHOULD TRUST A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO IS A FUNDAMENTALIST/LITERALIST
We already have had a President who seems to think a multi millennium old collection of conjectures scribed by men is the immutable “truth,” more trustworthy than any subsequent facts to the contrary, and who believes he is one of a select few privileged to exclusive conversations with the Creator.
Of course, it easy to see how Bush has managed to delude himself into believing he is not only on a Mission From God, but actually much better than Jesus himself. After all, Bush wasn’t forced to be born in a stable and was never punished for any of his sins. He had one of the rich self proclaimed Magis for a father. While others were selected to die in the crucifix of war, Bush got to guard a county club. Instead of starting as a lowly carpenter, he was handed large companies to play with where he promptly turned huge piles of proverbial loaves and fishes into small stinking messes for the shareholders. He was promoted to the White House by chicanery and never thereafter had to listen to anyone or forgive anyone. Instead of chasing money lenders out of the temple, he gets a large share of the gold they take from the poor. Instead of turning water into wine, he turns clean water and air into polluted mud. He did consume a lot of wine earlier, but now he just whines constantly. Whereas Jesus turned the other cheek, Bush says “bring ‘em on.” In essence, all the temptations that Jesus turned down when offered by a Devil, Bush greedily grasped and, from his perspective, got away with it. That would delude anyone, especially anyone weak minded or lacking a conscience.
So, do we really need a new advocate in the Oval Office who recites that the Christianity must be obeyed, but who refuses to do any of the things the person the religion was named after actually wanted accomplished?
REFLECTING ON THE ONE SIDED REPORTING ABOUT THE IRANIAN “PROVOCATIONS” IN THE GULF
One of the greatest tragedies of the past several years for our democracy is that a large percentage of the public, with good reason, now not only believes almost everyone running the government is a purposeful liar, but that the professional journalists who were supposed to be reporting and revealing it turn out to be liars too. Or perhaps worse, utterly incompetent and ineffectual.
ON THE NH POLLING PREDICTIONS AND THE ACTUAL RESULTS
It is becoming increasingly clear that the only thing less competent than reporters and the Bush Administration officials is pollsters.
ON BILL O’REILLY’S PHYSICAL BELLIGERENCE
Have pity on O’Reilly. He is a bitter, apparently mentally ill, old man who has never proven to be right (or, more accurately, “accurate”) on any subject in his entire life. He is becoming increasingly irrelevant and can’t help the fact he is a total idiot and a symbol of all that is wrong with the America “Right” today.
ON THE ROLE RELIGION IS PLAYING IN THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS
Ever notice that the language the Christian Conservatives use to trumpet their current crusade against Muslims is almost identical to their crusades in earlier decades against Russia, China, North Vietnam, North Korea, Cuba, etc. (except of course for the single word “godless” which isn’t used quite as much). It’s the same ol’ never ending “us versus them” rhetoric.
Yet, they never actually conquered or even much reformed any of those countries. More interesting yet, today (with the exception of Cuba) the same loud mouthed war mongers are happily giving those former (and future) adversaries favored nation status so that they can personally pocket huge profits wheeling and dealing with them. Even as to Cuba, all the Christian Capitalists outside of South Florida seem to eagerly want to open the door.
Say, do you suppose those Evangelists will ever learn that those they hated most tend to make them the most money? Nah, probably not. Any history lesson that contradicts whatever their preachers are saying at the moment doesn’t seem to be noticed.
ON THE BUSH “LEGACY”
Maybe if John Edwards doesn’t make the cut at the Democratic Convention, we can persuade him to go back and be a successful trial lawyer suing Bush and his buddies for a few trillion in malpractice damages to recover what they have cost us and our great grandchildren. What a shame politicians can’t really be held financially liable for their thefts and utter incompetence.
A REFLECTION AFTER WATCHING BUSH’S LATEST INTERVIEW
Maybe Bush is a clone. He certainly seems to have the combined DNA of Harding, Nixon, Reagan, Clinton. In that order – contemptible, criminal, clueless, and too cowardly to brave bullets in wartime.
A PERSONAL COMMENT ATTACHED TO A PETITION TO HELP PREVENT BUSH FROM SIGNING AN AGREEMENT TO KEEP OUR TROOPS IN IRAQ INDEFINITELY
As a former staff sergeant with the 101st Airborne who volunteered for the Army and service in Vietnam, I continue to be horrified at what Bush has done and continues to do in harming our military. The very best thing I can conceive of to actually support our troops would be to impeach the SOB before he can do still more lasting damage.
A PETITION TO REPORTERS TO ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS OF CANDIDATES
Survival of democracy depends on the existence of an intelligent, well researched, ethical, aggressive, aggressive and dogged, press, independent of both parties and big business as well and more interested in serving the public than in ratings, perks, or access. The rapacious, greedy, power hungry politicians have always let us down, but in the past we have been able to rely on the press to save us. The biggest tragedy of the last three decades has been the disappearance of the press as a vital force for democracy. With good cause, the few remaining reporters are now perceived as untrustworthy, fearful, lazy, self serving, indifferent, biased, and more interested in preserving their perks and star status or, for the lower echelons, preserving their jobs. Worse, they seem to be active participants in dismantling the Constitution and emboldening Presidential tyranny. They no longer deserve respect and need to dig themselves out of this hole before all is lost.
RESPONSE TO PRESS RELEASE BY SENATOR FEINGOLD ON HIS INABILITY TO PERSUADE REPUBLICANS TO MAKE FISA LESS NASTY
Dear Senator Feingold: You blame the Republicans for not allowing you to remove some portions of FISA. As far as I am concerned, it is actually the current Democrat leadership that is the problem with FISA. Because, it should NEVER have been passed in the first place and yet you keep extending it.
Don’t you understand that no amount of fiddling with it will make it acceptable? Your proposals to “fix” it are the equivalent of attempting to polish a pile of defecation. It is not needed. It was never needed. It has not proved worthy of the cost to our civil rights. Worse, it is an unconscionable, probably unrestrainable, assault on the Constitution and everything this country once stood for.
All you would have to do is do nothing and this terrible abomination automatically dies of old age and no adverse consequences to your re-election. Your fear that you will be perceived “weak” on terror if you don’t cave in is absurd.
And, it if it did make you lose the perks of power, What happened to your courage and your promise to serve the public? Have you forgotten your oath of office to defend the Constitution? Did that become irrelevant or quaint? Did Bush in his illegal spying somehow manage to find some useful blackmail to use on you?
Frankly, you had better start worrying more about us, the growing majority of liberal and progressive voters because I promise you something. If you and the other present Democrats in Congress allow any version of FISA to continue, I will work as hard to remove you as I am already doing to remove Bush and his cadre of criminals.
Think about it. If you are so incompetent as to be unable to stop that FISA bill when all you have to do is to refuse to bring it to a vote, then we have no confidence in your abilities. You should resign in embarrassment due to gross incompetence.
RESPONSE TO BANGOR DAILY NEWS REMINDER TO BUSH ABOUT RICHARD NIXON’S 1973 SPEECH IN WHICH HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD END ONE OF THE GREAT BLUNDERS OF THE 20TH CENTURY
You are wasting your time sending anything to W given his unfortunate birth defects and other afflictions.
His ears stopped functioning long ago, possibly from alcohol abuse and rampant cronyism. His eyes certainly have no peripheral vision, especially when he is focusing on his current misperceptions. His nose is incapable of detecting stench. Plus whatever conscience he may have had either arrived stillborn or has long since metastasized into a sociopathology.
OBSERVATION ON DISCOVERING IT IS THE DEMOCRATS WHO ARE STALLING ON MOVING FORWARD WITH WHITE HOUSE CONTEMPT SUBPOENAS
The current Democrat leadership is extraordinarily lucky that there is someone around more visibly incompetent than they are. But for bumbling Bush, scary Cheney and their cohort of crooks, the mediocre Democratic Party functionaries squatting in the halls of Congress for the moment would quite rightly be thrown out of office exposed as unworthy of the public trust. It is only in comparison that they survive. What a sad, sorry state of affairs for the voters to be relegated once again to voting for the less of two evils. What is even more tragic is that the titular Democrats would actually be worth following if they would merely follow their own party’s tenets and the wishes of the majority of their membership.
RESPONSE TO AN OBSERVATION IN THE HUFFINGTON POST THAT DEMOCRAT CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS SHOULD BE HELD IN CONTEMPT FOR NOT BRING BUSH TO TASK
I don’t think it is possible for me to hold the Democrat leaders of Congress in greater contempt than I already hold them. They are entirely deserving of contempt. The only people I hold in greater contempt are the Republicans, Independents who still vote for Republican, everyone ever appointed to office by the Bush Administration and the timid, lazy, incompetent,self serving journalists who have allowed it to come to this sorry state of affairs.
