Last Person Found Who Can Still be Shocked

Tags

abortion rights, Alan Keyes, DOMA, el-Qaddafi, gay rights, Georgia, GOP, Iowa, Middle East, Obama, Paul Broun, right wing extremists, unions, Wisconsin

I do believe that 2011 will go down as the year when we, the human life contingent lost its ability to be shocked by anything happening in the world.

I mean, who would have thunk that the Middle East would have erupted into all this?

Who would have believed that the insipid Sarah Palin would still be uttering inanities?

Who would believe that Alan Keyes would write in WND that the end of DOMA is akin to reintroducing slavery into America? Don’t worry. You have to be as insane as Keyes is in order to even follow his argument.

Who would believe that some Georgia legislator (read escapee from a state hospital) would propose a bill that required any woman who suffered a miscarriage, prove by a preponderance of the evidence that she had not voluntarily aborted, or face prosecution?

You’re not shocked are you? No, we’ve realized that the extremists among us are capable of virtually anything, no matter how utterly Machiavellian or down right down home stupid it might be.

As we expected, the forces of right-wing intolerance are jumping up and down, waving their arms, drooling with spittle, slathering away in unison. They DEMAND that the GOP take up the flag of homophobic hatred known as DOMA and defend her ugly precepts. Strangely, the rank and file “GOP establishment” has remained fairly silent. They know what a sticky wicket they’ve been thrust in.

Ahab has more links to reactions as well.

Meanwhile rational human beings in Hawaii and Maryland move closer to respecting the rights of our LGBTQ friends.

Fun to watch doncha think?

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That abortion billboard we reported on earlier this week in Soho? It’s been taken down. Thanks to Al Sharpton. The mother of the girl pictured was incensed as well that her child’s stock photo was used in this way.

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One of the fascinating things that the uber right-wing does, is to put off on the left what it does itself. Namely, highly dangerous and inflammatory rhetoric. Perhaps the peaches in Georgia are rotten, but another infected individual there inquired of his Georgia lawmaker in an open forum:

“When will someone shoot Obama?”

The lawmaker, Paul Broun, didn’t do what we would expect. He was not horrified. He did not sputter and dress down such a sick suggestion. No. Rather, he commiserated with the “frustration” of the speaker. Need I say, that Broun is a Republican?  To be fair, this is not new to Broun, who called the President’s state of the union speech, filled with venom?, compared him to Hitler, said that  people would die from clean energy spending, and that the elderly would die from death panels. In other words, Broun is simply an ignorant hate monger.

Andrew Sullivan calls for his resignation. Witnesses claim that Broun laughed at the call for assassination of the President. By all accounts Broun is a bigoted sicko who has no place as a representative of any state.

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People are gathering in all 50 states to show their support for Wisconsin’s fight against union busters. If you want to find out where your rally is being held, follow the link.

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Don’t know as you heard how the Wisconsin Assembly managed to get the vote through on busting the union. During the midst of the filibuster, with no explanation, the Rethuglian speaker pro tempore simply cut off debate, called for the vote, the GOPer’s (all in on the ruse) hurriedly voted, and a few seconds later, the window to vote was closed. They declared victory and marched from the chamber. This literally occurred in a few seconds. Cheaters never win in the end. Sad and pathetic. Of course, in years past, the duplicitous governor has decried these late night sessions and called for their end. But of course when you are duplicitous, anything goes. Senate Democrats remain out of the state, continuing to block further movement of the bill.

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Remember that bill in South Dakota, that would make killing an abortion doctor justifiable homicide? It was tabled due to “public outcry”. Well apparently the deaf Rethuglians in Iowa didn’t hear. They have introduced their own law, co-signed by 29 other GOPer sickos. As we have said, this is all just a waste of time, since the Senate is in control of Democrats. And Kraig Paulsen continues to waste taxpayer money on bills that are doomed to failure.

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And the killing goes on in Libya. How do you deal with a madman? Qaddafi is insane, of that almost everyone agrees. Still I can’t come to wish him dead. Only out of power. I am enraged at his use of mercenaries willing to kill for pay. I know of no solution to end this. I pray for the people of Libya and hope that their misery soon ends. Sigh……

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Related Articles

• GOP Rep. Paul Broun Doesn’t Bat An Eye At Obama Assassination Question (oliverwillis.com)
• Republican Congressman Declines To Condemn Person Who Asks “Who’s Going to Shoot The President?” (outsidethebeltway.com)

Lil Bits of Rancor 8/29/08

Tags

Archaeology, bible, Election 2008, foeign policy, Georgia, Health care, Iowa, John McCain, psychology, Russia, Sarah Palin, Women's issues, Zoology

Our normal Friday wrap up of news is up today since I was blogging the convention last week. Hope you find something of interest this week.

I’m not one of those who considers the bible as historical authority in all respects. Depending on which book you are talking about, some are more reliable than others. Here’s an archaeological find that substantiates the Prophet Jeremiah’s book, in regards King Zedekiah. For those who don’t recall, King Zedekiah was the last Jewish ruler before the Babylonian destruction of the first Temple. It was claimed that one of his minister’s was named Ben Pashur. A clay seal found recently outside the Old City near the “Dung gate” confirms this. This is in keeping with a 2005 find which found the name of another assistant also mentioned in Jeremiah. The link is direct but I thank N.S. Gill’s Ancient History Blog for the heads up.

In Spain, the Parliament there has decided to give some rights to our cousins the apes. It seems they are persuaded that said creatures are sentient to a degree that should accord them certain rights in the world, among these are: the right not to be used in circuses, commercials, and movies without their consent, and the right to be protected for harmful or painful laboratory experimentation. As we learn more about the brains and abilities of creatures who are not human, it seems we are learning that it is just plain wrong to use them as machines. Those of us who own pets probably knew that already. It’s an interesting article, and I’m sure not all will agree.

I don’t have much to say other than . . . go read this. You will not be sorry. None of us knows what another goes through behind the scenes, beyond the blog. If you believe in sisterhood, or humanhood, then relate, comment, and support.

Distributor Cap NY does a fine job in explaining the Georgia/Russia mess. He did his research and you will definitely benefit by a trip over his way to read his analysis. He’s top notch in my book, and my book is carefully constructed to bring you only the best around the bloggosphere.

In Iowa news, the race between (D) Ron Hubler and perennial idiot Steven King in the fifth district, must be going well for Hubler. King is pouting and claiming that apparently the entire liberal world is attacking him. He says not only is MoveOn.org against him, but so is Soros, Michael Moore, Keith Olbermann and Rolling Stone. My my Stevie, aren’t we getting just a tad full our ourselves to think we are THAT important? We are loving to hear of your troubles Stevie. Got a job lined up for next year?

Many folks are starting to weigh in with on McCain’s relentless droning on about his POW status. If you can believe it, he used it again on Leno Tuesday night when asked about his monumental gaffe regarding ownership of his seven houses. “I didn’t have a house at the Hanoi Hilton, I didn’t have a kitchen table, I didn’t have a table, I didn’t have a chair.” Blah blah blah. Jesus John Sidney get off it will ya? So says Maureen Dowd as well. His cred it running thin these days. It is not the answer to all criticism! As she points out, his continual return to this subject for EVERY response, might well suggest that he is stuck in the past with no ability to see any way but fight, bomb, and search and destroy.

The Contrarian and I have had an ongoing “discussion” about what the Dems need to do to offset the vicious character attack lodged by Johnny Mac and his band of ruffians against Obama. The Contrarian favors sticking to the issues, and I favor cutting out his nuts, thankyouverymuch. I think Paul Krugman tends to favor the Contrarian’s approach to a point. Tarnish McCain yes, destroy him? Not necessary says Krugman. Just make it about the Dems versus the Repubs and things will go fine.

Steve Benen pulls no punches when he suggests that the McCain campaign has set the bar “exceedingly” high for lying and misrepresenting the truth. He looks at the “tiny” ad and weighs in with the actual facts of what Obama said. It’s a pattern as far as I’m concerned. I can easily now assume that McCain lies about everything. He really wants to be President you see, no matter the truth, no matter the facts, he just wants it, and he’ll steal it if that is his only option. Read the report and get pissed.

Happy to see that some in the media are finally recognizing the truth of McCain and his changling status from “good guy” to all-around deceitful wretch. The Times, Joe Klein claims he was “wrong to believe that McCain was an honorable man,” and Newsweek’s Jonathan Alter, admits he “misread McCain,” and “he may not be ready to lead.” Real finally somebody gets it! The second article in particular is really good. Also read the comments which are very telling, many from previous McCain backers.

Politfact says that McCain’s claim that Obama wants to increase government by 23%is so false as to be what they call, liar liar pants on fire WRONG. But Joe Biden was totally true in claiming that McCain in 2005 said, “On the most important issues of our day, I’ve been in total agreement and support with President Bush.”

The Art of the Possible does a pretty good analysis of the Ugly American abroad and claims that the Bush Administration and now McCain are among the ugliest of the ugly. Read a good report on McCain’s foreign policy and see why he does virtually nothing to repair our standing in the world. He would on the other hand make it worse.

Of course we all know McCain has picked virtual novice politician Sarah Palin, 24-month Governor of Alaska as his running mate. The Huffington Post gives the reactions of several prominent Democrats and media to this turn of affairs. This is without question a desperation move on McCain’s part. Apparently his caretakers told him the truth, that there was no possible way to win with any conventional choice.

John Goodman? No not Roseanne’s TV hubby. John Goodman is Johnny McCain’s health care expert and the one who crafted his healthcare “plan.” Seems Mr. Goodman thinks that contrary to popular belief, there “are not uninsured” in America, because “everyone has access to an ER.” Doctors of course are somewhat shocked at this revelation. McCain has disassociated himself from the statement. That makes two now, since he disassociated himself away from Gramm, his economic expert a few weeks ago. Moreover, Goodman also claimed that way to remove the entire subject from the table was to “remove the question about insured, uninsured from the next Census.” Neat huh?

I Think I Might Smell a Rat

Tags

Cold war, Election 2008, Georgia, John McCain, Randy Scheunemann, Russia

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not one of those conspiracy theorists. I generally don’t assume that most of our buffoonish clowns in Washingtonand surrounding environs have the ummm, smarts shall we say, to pull off such grandiose schemes. Yet, when I read this article, well, I was at least intrigued by the possibilities. And I certainly don’t put it past the folks in question to well, push such an agenda in the hopes it might bear pickable fruit.

Okay, here it is: We know for instance that McBush’s chief foreign policy advisor is one Randy Scheunemann. Mr. S up until only March or so of this year was an avid lobbyist for who? None other than the independent state of Georgia (the one over there near Russia, the big bear). In fact, Mr. S. was working for the Georgians even though he was working for Senator McShame. That of course, caused the usual ruckus and Mr. S. quit his lobbying and old fart claimed that everybody had been purged who were still actively engaged in lobbying.

Following so far? Okay. So also, we know, because Mr. McDope said it, that he favored admitting the Georgian State into the NATO alliance. Isn’t that interesting? And Mac also at least toyed with the idea of kicking Russia out of the G8 remember?

Now Mr. S worked for the Georgians for 4 years. And he has also worked on McCain’s 2000 bid for president, so we can assume that the Georgians (read President Mikhail Saakashvili) knew him well, and certainly McCain knew him well as well. Now I am not suggesting that Mr. S. is responsible for the Georgian action against the non-independent province, South Ossetia. But listen the evidence is certainly there to draw from.

McCain and Mr. S. on the Campaign trail

Mr. S. accompanied McCain to Georgia where Mac met Pres. Saakashvili. In a speech there McCain, declared Georgia to be America’s “best friend” and declared Russian peacekeepers should be “thrown out.” Mr. S. helped draft the congressional resolution calling for Georgia’s entrance into NATO.  McCain has been quite vocal about his distrust of Putin and company. (Oh, in case you weren’t aware: There is a rumor that there is a good year of McCain’s captivity in North Vietnam that is unaccounted for. There has always been talk that McCain was turned over to the Russians for some serious torture to get him to divulge whatever they thought he knew. So there is some reason to understand McCain’s fairly abiding hatred of all things Russian.)

Then you add in that Mr. S. was a big supporter of the Iraq invasion in 2003. He was President of the club called “Committee for the Liberation of Iraq.” He was one of those calling for it, and pushing for it. (You wonder why McCain would have such an idiot as his Chief foreign affairs advisor given that everybody on the planet pretty much knows that decision was a freaking disaster? Yes, sane people would ask that question. Worse yet, as if it could be worse, S. worked for Rumsfeld as an advisor on the Iraq war. ) So Mr. S. certainly is of that ilk of neo-con that would be likely to ummmm, push war should he have the ear of Pres. Saakashvili perhaps?

It gets dirtier than this however. Mr. S. also worked for badboy and recently discarded Bush supporter Stephen Payne, owner of Caspian Alliance Oil, which—you got it— runs a pipeline through Georgia!

Of course Johnny boy went slightly bizzerk at the evasion, calling for NATO to convene immediately and to “stabilize this situation.” Of course no such thing occurred. Now add the apparent surprise of the Georgian government that the US has done absolutely zero to help them in this recent debacle and as we just said, neither did NATO. Could it be that Mr. Saakashvili was led to believe otherwise? By none other than Mr. S? if not McCain himself?

It is clear that McCain wishes to demonize Putin in the extreme. It is clear that a cooling of relations with the Russians plays into his hands as the “foreign affairs expert” we can trust in dangerous times. Is it possible that all this fits together?

Robert Sheer lays this out in a post in The Nation. You should take a look at it. It seems the pieces seem to fit together. It is an ugly little idea, certainly, but we have a candidate who makes it pretty clear that winning is the only option.

For a historical prospective of the region, read Margarita Akhvlediani’s report here.

Trying to understand McCain’s mixed up calls for action is Mark Ames, here. That McCain has lost his marbles is apparent. He called for the UN security council to meet, AFTER Russia had already done so. Bush neo-cons don’t support Russia’s call for “renouncing force.” When you couple this with his NATOization attempt, it seems clear McCain wants some kind of war here.

So, far be it from me to connect the dots and claim that McCain’s dirty little paws, along with his bizarre foreign affairs advisor’s, is smack dab in the middle of this mess. But knowing how the gutter politics of John and others work, it certainly wouldn’t surprise me. You didn’t read it here first, but well, you can at least say you heard it here. It might be a rat, but then again, it could just be bad cologne.