Monthly Archives: June 2009

Amid Ignorance And Fear, Anti-Semitism Thrives : NPR

I heard this when running Mono to the groomer on Saturday. Basically, Scott Simon calls out what our media talking heads and politicians refuse to mention: namely, that we still have a LOT of very angry racists in this country.

Paul Krugman momentarily makes sense and discusses the same problem and takes it a step further: calling out the conservatives for fueling said angry terrorism.

Frank Rich follows in a similar vein.

NPR takes a look at the issue, as does Alternet and Media Matters.

The problem, however, is that you can look at it all you want, but until something is done about this brand of hate, nothing will change. I know the President wants to hear all sides, and that the media slows to a crawl without showing debate shows, but some voices are just plain wrong.

Killing someone you don’t agree with in a house of worship has been wrong in just about every culture.

Assassination as a debate strategy is wrong.

Racism, for whatever reason, but particularly as a motivation to kill, is wrong.

Why do THESE asshats get to have a say? Why do we condone this kind of thinking? Because we do. Every time you do not round up these pricks and imprison them for being treasonous anti-Americans, you are quietly endorsing them. Every time some Bill O’Reilly or Hannity or Limbaugh or Savage-type cretin lets these people on their shows or doesn’t call them out, they feel supported. Every one of these animals who got positive reinforcement from a Sarah Palin rally thinks that they hate they believe in is okay.

And yes, it is the GOP giving the most aid and comfort to these terrorists, but many a spineless Democrat is just as guilty.

Call hate what it is, tell those who believe it that THEY are WRONG, and you get us further down the road to that “more perfect union” we should be striving for.

CIA chief believes Cheney almost wants US attacked | U.S. | Reuters

It is nice to now that *someone* in the government has the balls to call out Cheney, even if it was a tad wishy-washy.

That said, the old bastard HAS been running around preaching we should torture brown people and lustfully wishing some terrorists (non-white, of course) would blow up something under Obama’s watch so he can yell “I told you so!”.

In short, what an asshole.

Listening to women’s voices

I’ve noticed some real good advice and some real honest opinions from women in the media lately.

On Rachel Maddow awhile back, she interviewed Jennifer Boulanger, Executive Director for the Allentown, PA Women’s Center, who gave some chilling descriptions of the “compassionate conservative” scumbags who assault her staff, her clinic’s patients, and herself. Even if you do not approve of abortion (and, really, who does?), I would like to think you’d be appalled at the level of hate so-called Christians have on this issue.

At one point, she tried to appeal to our nation’s better nature. Unfortunately, there isn’t much of that around anymore.

On the same subject is Rozalyn Farmer Love, a third year medical student who plans to practice in women’s health. She explains how and why she came to the conclusion that should she be confronted to have to perform an abortion, she will do her job. Yes, she grew up in a religious family, but dogma will not overcome he need to act in her patient’s best interests. It is a pretty powerful read from someone about to be thrown into the front lines of a very touchy subject.

Lastly, some VERY no-nonsense economic advise from 93-year old Dr. Anna Schwartz. This was a delight to listen to, even though it was harsh medicine to swallow.

We need to stop listening to the misogynists in the GOP who hate women except when they can use a random beauty pageant winner as a prop to spread hate and fear and actually listen to the female voices in our society.

Unemployment | Marketplace from American Public Media

Marketplace had a great series recently on the subject of unemployment and how it is handled from state to state.

You’d be surprised on how valued it is in progressive states and how ignored in the southern, anti-union, anti-worker states. I mean, you would expect certain trends, but not the true disparity that exists between, say, Oregon and South Carolina.

In short, conservative “red” states suck.

Ensign acknowledges extramarital affair – Las Vegas Sun

Ultra-tanned scumbag (and, regretably, our Senator) John Ensign admitted today that he had an affair with a married staff member last year.

Presumably, this now makes him the GOP “Family Values” frontrunner for 2012. Seriously, do they ALL run under a combination of 1984 and some random Ayn Rand wet dream?

In any case, I’m sure this doesn’t really change my impression of him as that was pretty low to begin with, and I am equally sure he will learn no humility and try to blame this on the President somehow as that’s all Republicans know how to do these days.

Either way, a filthy piece of crap stays just as dirty today.

Neo-Nazis are in the Army now | Salon News

Apparently just recruiting felons and drug addicts wasn’t enough. Now the military is allowing white supremacists into the ranks. Hitler tats and all.

But hey, they apparently are not as threatening as gays.

Sheesh.

Fresh Air did a couple of good stories concerning gays in the military today. It should illustrate the choice between allowing hatemongers in and kicking talented Americans out.

Clintonite Politics Redux

I know it has been about a year and your memory might be fuzzy on this, but we had immense delight this weekend watching Hillary Clinton get rolled out in front of the media to comment on the Iranian elections.

To listen to her have to remark on things like “respecting the will of the people” and to let “the voters decide” just made me laugh. Hell, I probably actually chortled. I mean, a year ago, this lady was officially out of the running for the Democratic nomination and was insisting on not conceding until the superdelegates could pull a backdoor stunt to give the brass ring to her. Or, as she so delicately stated, until someone assassinated Barack Obama.

Here, take a look:

In another fun bit of Clintonian failure, vulgar Clinton Mouthpiece Terry McAuliffe lost his carpetbagger stunt at being the Democratic nominee for the governor’s race in Virginia.

Let us hope that this streak continues and the Clintons and their followers are continually forced to a) eat their words, and b) fail when trying to gain leadership roles in this nation. Their advise is of use and they do not require constant shunning, but their brand of self-serving “leadership” is something we need to move on from.

altmuslim – Terrorism: The unequal treatment of two religiously motivated crimes

A psychotic white right winger violates the sanctity of a church and kills a doctor.

A hardcore black Muslim convert shoots at two recruiters and kills one.

Only one of them gets charged with terrorism. If you guessed the black Muslim, you’d be correct.

I’m not saying the recruiter shooter shouldn’t have the book thrown at him – he should – but so should the assassin who actually knew the name of his target.

Read this for more on the injustice between the two scumbags.

I imagine Old van Brunn the Nazi Lover will be treated with kid gloves too, even though he, too, is another right wing terrorist. You know, because of the color of his skin.

It may not be overt racism, but it IS there. And it is playing out – once again – in courtrooms across America.