Monthly Archives: July 2009

The Culture Wars’ New Front: U.S. History Classes in Texas – WSJ.com

The Wall Street Journal is a treasure trove of anti-Americanism today. I found this story concerning the potential re-writing (and whitewashing) of American history in Texas schoolbooks.

Amongst some historians, there are some Talibangelical asshats who want to lie to our children and push their own racist and political agenda. Some low points in the article that should likely be cause to send these idiots for a five year stint in Afghanistan just to save some our troops a tour.

Curriculum changes recommended by reviewers appointed by social conservatives on the Texas State Board of Education:

* Replace Thurgood Marshall with Harriet Tubman or Sam Houston.

In first grade, students are expected to study the contributions of Americans who have influenced the course of history. Rev. Peter Marshall, a reviewer, calls Thurgood Marshall — who as a lawyer argued Brown v. Board of Education and later became the first black justice on the U.S. Supreme Court — a weak example.

* Delete Anne Hutchinson from a list of colonial leaders

Students learn about colonial history in the fifth grade, and three reviewers suggested that the standards not include Anne Hutchinson, a 17th century figure, among a list of significant leaders. Ms. Hutchinson was exiled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for teaching religious views at odds with the officially sanctioned faith.

* Delete César Chávez from a list of figures who modeled active participation in the democratic process

Two reviewers objected to citing Mr. Chávez, who led a strike and boycott to improve working conditions for immigrant farmhands, as an example of citizenship for fifth-graders. “He’s hardly the kind of role model that ought to be held up to our children as someone worthy of emulation,” Rev. Marshall wrote.

* Include more study of religious revival movements

Evangelist Billy Graham should be included on a list of transformational leaders of the 20th century and students in fifth and eight grades should study the colonial-era religious revival known as the Great Awakening as a force “in shaping a national identity,” suggests reviewer Daniel Dreisbach, a professor of public affairs at American University.

* Replace references to America’s “democratic” values with “republican” values

Reviewer David Barton suggests swapping out “republican” for “democratic” in teaching materials. As he explains: “We don’t pledge allegiance to the flag and the democracy for which it stands.”

Utter bullshit. My child, if I can help it whatsoever, will NEVER spend one day in a classroom in State of Texas. I want him educated, not brainwashed with racial hatred and outright stupidity.

Political Irony › When Context is Everything

The only trick left to conservatives is to take anything out of context they can to make others look bad.

Why? Because these days there doesn’t seem to be any way to make themselves look good. If their future candidates for president aren’t cheating on their wives and staying in office, they are quitting their jobs and calling it experience.

But, as PI shows, a picture and a soundbite can look bad, until you put it in context, focusing on a recent incident involving the President, and a much-much-rehashed and misinterpreted quote by Sonia Sotomayor.

R.I.P.: Budget Woes Spell Doom for Roadside Rest Stops – WSJ.com

Another sign of the recession: rest stops are closing up across America.

Face it, when states can’t even afford to let visitors easily take a pee break, we’ve got some financial issues to fix in this country. And meanwhile, governors across America are trying to reject stimulus money and instead focus on cheating on their wives or just plain quitting their jobs to go fishing.

Genius!

Op-Ed Columnist – She Broke the G.O.P. and Now She Owns It – NYTimes.com

Frank Rich uses his pointed righteous indignation for good intent and correctly reams Palin for aiding in destroying what little prestige the GOP had left.

Look, because they coddle racists and have the platform of a pack of drunken frat boys, I have no desire to ever vote Republican. That said, this country needs at least two parties to not become led by complete asshats, so someone had better get rid of these racist, anti-American Talibangelicals and get their fiscal conservative asses back in the driver’s seat over there.

And Caribou Barbie ain’t what’s going to get you back on track folks.

LIFE Goes Inside Today’s KKK – Photo Gallery

The GOP would like you to believe that racism is dead. That the Klan is no more and there is no threat against those of a different color, creed, or religion in this country.

But your average Palinite rally last fall put the lie to that nonsense.

Check out these photos from LIFE on the lives of America’s racist, Nazi-loving, GOP-voting hardcore. A collection of similar pics from the photographer is here.

As ‘Tea Parties’ lose steam, fringe conspiracists step up to the fore | Crooks and Liars

Bent on screwing up the Fourth of July, crackpot separatists took over tea parties to espouse their hateful anti-American views.

As usually, they get help from FAUXNews, who just recently had a show host angrily fume on how we don’t keep the races “pure” here in the United States.

Here is more on how even fringe anti-American GOP pols get booed at Texas tea parties.

Genius! Thanks for stoking the anger of all those traitors. Let’s genuinely hope it doesn’t come back to bit us, even the Republican bastards.

How-to: E-mail

For some reason, I read random how-to articles. I’ve got a couple email related ones to share with you today.

For your consideration, here is one related to better email etiquette, which you have to admit is probably something we ALL need a refresher on.

The other is strictly tied to Google Mail, which I use a lot, and comes in a series of tips at increasing levels of difficulty.

Give them a look. You’ll probably learn a few things you can put to use right away.

How-to: Burgers and Beer

Guess I’ll make this how-to thing yet another trendline for the blog.

For the Fourth, NPR posted a handy article on making the perfect burger. Granted, opinions and tastes vary, but I found it a good article.

Less useful but more entertaining as a memory artifact is this article on how to open a beer bottle with a Bic lighter. Granted, I don’t smoke anymore and used a Zippo or matches when I did, but this is a skill that should not die in the modern era. Enjoy.

The Hill’s Blog Briefing Room » Bachmann, Poe introduce bill to curb yearly Census survey

I am a lifelong Republican. What can I do about the continued insanity? The GOP has absolutely fallen apart and I don’t know if we can salvage it or fix it? Who votes for people like this woman? She is simply irrational. I am tired of being the butt of jokes from the left. We must find intelligent people. We cannot continue to elect cretins like this and make any headway. Why are our leaders getting more stupid and less qualified every election year? I just don’t get it. Where are the Buckleys? Where are the reasonable people?

Comment by Christopher Carroll — July 13, 2009 @ 8:57 pm

I actually feel bad for the woman quoted above. She was posting on this story about Insane Sociopath Michelle Bachmann, Republican of course, who wants to kill the annual mini-census. Presumably this is in line with her desire to kill the census – and eventually democracy – altogether.

But seriously, Republicans, why do you vote for these idiots? There has to be someone, anyone better. Y’all need to step it up or quit the profession.

Obama Checking Out Lady? Judge for Yourself – ABC News

Even more context from the raw video itself.

I don’t know why this pisses me off as much as it does. I guess the GOP is scrambling to find anything it can against the President and they’ve now resorted to the “horny minority” option. You know…he’s “subhuman” and all.

Bastards. This guy has more loyalty to his wife – and there isn’t proof of anything else to date despite the wrath of a thousand Swift Boater types – than the entire GOP Senate delegation. Or GOP Governors. You name it.