I Don’t Hafta, But I Am

Tags

American Foreign policy, Bill O'Reilly, birthers, Congress, filibuster, Jon Stewart, Nazism, teabaggers

You know, there is no good way to denote whistling is there on paper? As to the actual thing, I can do it a bit, but did you know that if you can’t sing in tune, you can’t whistle in tune either? That just seems wrong.

Don’t know why I thought of that.

I wrote a piece over at Walking in the Shadows, so I’m not feeling extra wordy over here. That means I’ll write less than 1000 w o r d s here. Are you happy about that?

Yesterday, I mentioned that Jon Stewart had skewered Foxless Noise about Megan Kelly’s claim that they didn’t use the Nazi thing to denigrate people. He did that by simply using clips from their own shows–Beck, O’Reilly, and whoa, even Megan herself was present to two such over-the-top rhetoric.

Billo got all hot and bothered, and went about the nonsense of “justifying” his Nazi reference regards Huff Po. So Jon was forced to explain to BilboBuggins that that wasn’t the point. Explaining was not a defense to “we never do that!” And just to make it even clearer, Stewart threw in two more instances wherein the Bloviator had used Nazi references to put down people.

Billy, you can’t compete against the master. Stop trying! (Go the The Daily Show to see the video of last nights show!)

***

Speaking of which, I continue to wonder. When Foxy and all the other air-headed right-wing wonkos lie, where do they think that print and video goes? Do they really think it’s out of sight, out of existence? The fact that their ignoramus  listeners wouldn’t bother to check is one thing, but surely they should realize that the smarty left will look up the archives. Archives–add that word in your dictionary Foxy Morons.

***

Instead of fixing the problem, the Senate decided it was easier to be dysfunctional. No changes in the filibuster rules. I don’t get these fools. But then again, maybe I do: they are fools.

***

I guess it goes without saying that American foreign policy ain’t quite right, when you feel restricted from supporting democratic uprisings because it interferes with our “security” interests. Why is America so often supporting dictators in the name of security? Experts claim the US cannot afford to be on the wrong side again, supporting a repressive regime.

***

Don’t know about you, but I loves me some birthers. I mean, I wish they would have a convention, because it would be grand to go and view 13 crazy people in one room. Imagine the costuming? Imagine the signs? Imagine the scary makeup?

The Blaze, that scion of rag “reporting” has a piece on the subject, and Hawaii’s innovative way to garner a few bucks from the tried and true loonies who pester then   for copies of the President’s birth certificate.

The Blaze specializes in non-stories, (three paragraphs and 4 pictures) designed to catch the attention of the rabble on the extreme right, so they can rant about how their lives are being ruined by whatever annoys their beer-swilled minds. The comments of course are the point.

BMartin1776 had this to say:

 I hope at least half the states pass that eligibility law for 2012 b/c Barry Dunham, Soetoro, Obama or whatever his name is will be screwed.

Taguoshi added:

B.O. is going to be remembered as the bowing President without a birth certificate, Now, isn’t that just so special?

Peaceuntoyou suggests it all started with a plan from his “radical mom”:

what criminals. You know wish I could rember (sic)  it all. But I truely  (sic)remember there was something in the news years ago about his radical mom and how she said He was going to be the president of the United States. She was really mad I remember. Have to try to do old research unless someone remembers to.

SMYFP thinks its odd the paper boy doesn’t come forward:

It is convenient that no more than a handful of people have come forward remembering “good ole barry” Everybody else in america that was born a citizen here in 1961 will have literally hundreds of people that can remember their life. How is it that no one knew him before? Coincidence? enquiring minds want to know!

And this last from Greensicko who is very sure:

For 100 bucks you will find out Obama is not the first black president, he (sic) listed as WHITE.

There you have it from the ideologically and intellectually deformed.

The Country is safe when we know where they are.

Let’s hear it for Friday!

Related Articles

• Selective Editing? Bill O’Reilly ‘Corrects’ Jon Stewart Over Criticism Of Nazi Rhetoric (mediaite.com)

Sanity in a Sea of Chaotic Calumny

Tags

Austrailia, climate change, flooding, Glenn Beck, Jon Stewart, political rhetoric, postaday2011, Sarah Palin, Tom Delay, Tucson shooting

The rhetoric over the past two days has been simply stunning. Each side began its attack, almost before the blood was washed from the street.

The Left went on a rampage of blame of the right. Incendiary rhetoric, hate speech, demonizing of the Left.

The Right insisted the shooter was a lone actor, not tied to them, and that the Left was politicizing for its own benefit, this tragic event.

Some on the Left called for Palin’s arrest, along with perennial hate-mongers, Beck and Fox in total.

Those on the Right blamed Obama for “governing so badly that he created an extreme right-wing party.”  Beck “e-mails” Sarah, that “an attempt on your life, may well bring down the republic.” Get protection!

We have all gone quite mad. Sarah is now the victim, as she always paints herself, even though she scrubbed her website and tweets for offensive militaristic war words. Fox is on full-bore defense, cutting away from Tucson coverage when a witness starts to speak of Sarah’s complicity. The Tea Party uses the entire thing as an excuse to raise money.

Jon Stewart was right to call us all out. While I continue to believe that dangerously incendiary rhetoric needs to be stopped, he is right, that we get nowhere now by casting guilt. In doing so, we gin up the other side to do the same, and they are not shrinking violets.

We must surely stand up to lies and hate speech, but we need not point fingers. There is entirely enough blame to go around. We have failed to demand better. We have failed to lobby and pursue sane gun laws that regulate who gets guns and what kind they can get. We have allowed the incessant misinformation to stand unchallenged.

Jon Stewart, in his monologue last night told us what we should be taking from all this, and what we need be doing. It is so worth your watching. The Daily Show . I highly recommend you watch it. It’s the January 10, 2011 episode, aired last night.

***

One of the terrible points of misinformation being perpetrated upon the public (the ignorant public at least) is the notion that either climate change is non-existent, or that at best it is seriously debatable among scientists. This is simply not the case, as much as those in the hip pocket of polluters claim otherwise, and the religious right ignores because of their screwed personal interpretations of scripture.

The Northeast braces for the third onslaught of foot+ snow in as many weeks, the West has been beset by torrential rains, Europe was brought to its knees by severe snow. We remember the heat waves of last summer throughout Europe, the massive forest fires in and around Moscow.

Much as the snow and cold suggests to the stupid that “ha ha” guess that puts to rest “global warming”, such is actually proof of it. Part of what happens is that when the oceans are warmed over their norm, they put more water vapor into the atmosphere and this “rains, snows” out in bigger and more dangerous storms.

We remember that Australia is still in the grips of a HUGE flood, one that simply shocks the mind. Please drop by myfanwe’s blog Love and Light and Strength for the Journey, and give a kind word, and consider a donation to the flood relief there. We sometimes get lost in our own drama here, and forget the misery others are facing.

***

Da Hammer goes to the Slammer! Tom DeLay was sentenced to a minimum of 3 years yesterday. Unfortunately he’s been granted bond pending appeal. The National Review went apoplectic, blaming the evil prosecutor. You can read some more at Mo’s place. Sometimes justice is served.

***

I can’t decide whether Glenn Beck is a simple grifter or is batshit crazy. Should we do a poll?

***

What’s on the Stove? Pork Roast, mashed taters, gravy, roasted carrots and onions. And I need to get busy finishing it!

**Photo above from CD cover of Robin Lane.

Related Articles

• Beck claims ‘I don’t use [violent rhetoric] on or off the air’: Oh really? (crooksandliars.com)
• Sarah Palin Tells Glenn Beck: “I Hate Violence” (cbsnews.com)
• Sanitizing Extremism: Palin and Beck on Violence and War (themoderatevoice.com)

The Plague To America

Tags

corporate donations, Democrats, election 2010, GOP, Jon Stewart, Marbury v. Madison, October 30 Rally, Pledge to America, politcal funding, religious right, Stephen Colbert, Values Voter Summit

A new post at Walking in the Shadows today. Be there or be square as they say. It’s entitled: Who Do You Say I Am?

The Plague, instead of Pledge is not my invention, instead comes from a Twitter post yesterday. There is so much negative ink (literal or figurative) being spilt over the GOPer’s silly new manifesto that I shall not bore you. Heck some if it comes from the right-wing itself. It’s so much warmed over spit from the Contract with American foisted upon the US by Newt the Salamander. And they been working for months on it!

Dusty can point you to some actual facts about how insidiously stupid this thing is. Please do stop over and get the facts.

I don’t know if you know this but Mauigirl is one astute thinker. She’s written a great post on the Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert rallies coming up on October 30. I’d love to attend, but I can’t, but tons of my friends are and she explains why it’s important for you too to go–either to Washington or to a satellite rally if you can find one.  What’s important here, is that this is not a rally of progressives. It’s a rally for all of us who are sick and tired of business as usual. Unlike the TeaBaggers, we have some political savvy, we understand that freedom for all comes at a price. But we are damn tired of supporting these political professionals in their life-time jobs.

Jill at Brilliant at Breakfast kinda sums up this November’s race as alternately, “we suck less” or “we suck but they are crazy.” Pretty much true wouldn’t you say? I know it’s not a lot of incentive, but crazy people are kinda unpredictable, and that should get you moving to the door and to the polls in and of itself.  

Ahab has Part V of his series on attending the Values Voter Summit last week. He has some great analysis of the speakers and one’s you need to be aware of. Two of the three I profiled on my post about the VVS last week. You need to read what these nut cases actually said.

What you get when your SCOTUS declares that corporations are people and are allowed to give and give and give to political campaigns is what we now are seeing–all kinds of bogus “organizations” who are funding negative ads all over the country, following their own private agenda. Fake interest groups now dominate money wise the political scene, stumping overwhelmingly for the GOP ( I heard something like 28 million to 4 million for the Democrats).

On a personal note, there is an anti-gay national group that is peppering our airways with ads to vote out the members of the Iowa Supreme Court for finding the marriage provision in Iowa law unconstitutional. They claim they “we” Iowans are dis-served by legislative judges who upset the will of the people. Of course the judges are doing what has been established since Marbury v. Madison, that is, passing on the constitutionality of legislation. No doubt you are getting such ads too regarding your hot button issues in your state.

Related Articles

• Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert to hold own D.C. rallies, play on Glenn Beck’s ‘Restoring Honor’ rally (nydailynews.com)

Downright Creepy Inside My Head

Tags

American underclass, Christine O'Donnell, DADT, Dawkins, John McCain, Johnny Depp, Jon Stewart, Politics

As long as I live, I’ll never understand storms. I try to reason with them, use every bit of logic my grey matter contains. I’ve tried prayers, I’ve tried entertainment (if you can dance to get rain you should be able to sit one out to end it), and I’ve tried humor.

Nothing works.

So, seeing as though I was in between two storms this morning, I sailed (actually drove) off to get some groceries before the next one arrived.  I succeeded.

The darkening sky is still about the same shade of dark and the storm occasionally burps a rumble or two and then I guess returns to a snooze. You see, according to the meteorologists (those fake weather experts we’ve talked about before), a storm is “parking” over Iowa.

Why it should do this is inexplicable. We are not noted for exceptional scenery. No ocean beaches, no high mountain peaks, no rippling desert sands. We are decidedly ordinary as states go in the viewing category. I don’t recall seeing a single “observation point” anywhere I’ve been here.

So no clue why any weather would choose to “park” here. I wish it wouldn’t, for I’m well stocked up on water, thank you so much. Mud, I’ve even got a reasonable amount of that from the last water giver. I have electricity, so no need for lightening, and I my hearing is fine so I don’t need thunder therapy.

But, given that I was told it would, I prepared (was a girl scout ya know and we also like to be “prepared”). I got some groceries, just in case. And besides, the Contrarian kept asking me, “are you sure we don’t have any brownies? I’m really in the mood for one.”

Course, I make brownies, but heck, we’ve been married eleven years now, and that’s about ten and a half past when I would jump up and go make some just cuz he exhibited a hankering for one. So I got him some store made ones. Yeah, it’s come to that. Same with pudding–“They got that in the dairy section, bud, look for it there.”

Which is not to say that I don’t feed my man properly. I mean I surely do. I made some wicked pasta with fresh parsley, fresh garlic, and Parmesan cheese that you use a grater with, not that you shake out of a cardboard container! I just yesterday made a delicious soup, all from scratch mind ya. Delicious, his word, not mine. *smirk*

So, let’s not be suggesting that I’m too lazy to bake. No, I’m not that.

Which just gave me an idea for a post tomorrow–on food. I also said I would post a piece on Billy Kristol (not the actor, but the neo-con). I don’t think I can combine the two, so you’ll have to see which side of my skull wins out for tomorrow.

Anyway.

We all sit impatiently to find out if the behind-the-times Senate will finally vote to outlaw DADT in the military. Dems have put GOPers in box here, by tagging it to an appropriations bill. But I don’t mind the chicanery given that the GOP has threatened filibuster on everything for more than a year. Time to take your medicine Turtle McConnell. [Sadly the Republicans went against the public’s desires, and blocked the entire legislation. Shame on them all.]

I’d say more mean things about Christine O’Donnell, but really it’s like clubbing baby seals.

A book you may want to take a look at by Joe Bageant, Rainbow Pie: A Redneck Memoir. He suggests that there is a white underclass numbering in the 60 millions who have been the bedrock of doing the countries dirty work for years–going back to the Civil War certainly. This explains in some part, how the GOP has managed to co-op this group and get them to do their bidding, voting for a GOP agenda that is diametrically against their own interests.

The Contrarian got under his truck about three hours ago, to do some manly thing to the clutch. Manly men, use clutches you see, women figure if God had wanted women to use a clutch, he would have provided a third foot. Anyway, it’s just barely starting to rain outside. And I hear this: “I coulda got caught out in it babe–I mean lying on my back and all, I coulda drowned.” You see what I contend with here? You doubt my sanity?

Would someone please tell me why the other day was “talk like a pirate” day? I stared at pictures of Johnny Depp in his gear as a substitute. I figured it was fair.

I read today that there are 100,000 confirmed to attend the Rally to Restore Sanity already on Facebook. There is a fine article from the folks at Big Think on Stewart’s increasing political punch as well as comedy’s impact in general.  

In closing, let me say this. John McCain once said that as far as DADT was concerned he thought it should be left up to the generals. They have spoken, the Sect’y of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and two former Chairmen. McCain now of course does everything in his power to block it. Why? Because he is a mean-hearted poor loser who always tries to destroy those who legitimately beat him. What a sad and utterly dishonorable old man.

Related Articles

• Joe Bageant has a new book: Rainbow Pie, a Redneck Memoir (iflizwerequeen.com)

Front Row Seats At the Circus

Tags

Christine O'Donnell, Colin Powell, election 2010, Glenn Beck, GOP, John Boehner, Jon Stewart, Mitch McConnell, Politics, teabaggers

I’m tellin’ ya kiddies, the three-ring circus that these days passes as the GOP is ampin’ it up and promising to give us a real show. I for one am pleased as punch (now what exactly does that mean?).

What looked to be a dull, sad affair dominated by two-year-olds posing as voters, suffering from the need for instant gratification (translation: fix the economy in 60 days and let me get back to my Mimosa or I’m switching sides), has turned into the jackass tumble that we had hoped. They are killin’ and eatin’ their own–finding that it all tastes just fine with a sip o’ tea.

If ya hadn’t heard, a 41-year-old virgin, orthodoxy Catholic woman, who hates masturbation and considers porn to be adultery, and thinks evolution is a crock, beat a sane and sensible GOPer for the right to face off against the Dems in Delaware. (In case you forgot, Delaware is an actual state of the union, located out east, and you basically wave at it as you pass from New Jersey to Maryland, sorta.)

Carl Rove wet his pants immediately and called her “crazy” and then Rushy said, crazy or not, we gotta elect her, cuz Obama is sellin’ off Merika to Kenyans in weekly raffles, and NewtyPatooti, nodded and said he’s still channelling daddy, and next to that Christine makes perfecto sense. So, well, you know it must be true.

Meanwhile back at the ranch (well not really–actually DC), Mitch (the neck) McConnell, withdrew into his shell, whispering to aides to look for a hare and send a message to John B. to take over. He was just too upset.

Meanwhile (see above) Johnny Boehner was issuing orders at lighting speed. “Sell my stock in Agent Orange Tanning Co.,” he screamed, and “get me a two-page memo pronto on all things NASCAR! And get me a case or two of that Bud Light stuff, or maybe it’s called ‘This Bud’s for You.’ I’m not sure. Oh and cancel my next golf game–in fact cancel all my golf games. I’m one of the people!”

Colin Powell was caught as he rushed getting into his car. “I never knew her!” he bellowed three times before the light changed twice. He looked ashen, and those present saw fear in his eyes. His destination was unknown.

Meanwhile (see above again) Glenn Beck was wandering around Fox (we only lie because it’s good for you) Noise, muttering, “where’s my spotlight? I am the savior of the world. Who is this McDonnell chick? I want Sarah. Get Sarah on the phone!”

As the elephants filed out and we waited in the stands for the clowns to arrive (that would be Sarah, Michele and Michelle, and well, DeMint, and King, and oh it just gets tiresome, you know who they are), we had a moment to turn to the Internet Tubes and discovered this:

If you haven’t heard of him well then you need to be sure to bookmark this one. Andy Borowitz and his Report is hysterical. I found it on Twitter, and now receive him in my e-mail. Here’s a sentence from his last post, just to make it clear you want to read this:

Galvanized by Republican senatorial nominee Christine O’Donnell’s anti-masturbation stance, masturbators from across the state converged on Wilmington today in what some are calling the largest pro-wanking protest in American history.

Now you may be concluding, but you would be wrong, that Merika has gone quite bonkers. I’m here to tell you that that is not the case. If you still doubt, then read this: The New York Magazine, in a cover piece recently pointed out that Jon Stewart is the most trusted newsman in the country! That is surely sane isn’t it? And, and, well, AND he ain’t even a news person! Ain’t that a corker as my grandma used to say. (NO I don’t know what a corker is either–sigh.)

And oh, goodie, you just knew this was coming. Stewart and Colbert are leading a “bring back sanity to America” rally at the Mall in DC on October 30. Technically Colbert is leading a counter rally called “Keep Fear Alive”  but only the crazy people don’t get it. I mean this country is hysterical. It is fall off your chair, spin in place ala the Exorcist wacko, sock-um bumper-car madness, and we got the front row!

Barnum and Bailey, or what’s left of em, are surely pissed they missed getting in on this roadshow for sure. Hell, Europeans are reserving their tickets,  not wanting to wait for the time delay on election night as pundit and all the punditos from East and West, North and South, will be spouting and guffawing, slitting their throats, barfing, snorting white powder, or soda up their noses in one grand insane (Nero never topped this) event.

Meanwhile (yes, I’m oh so predictable) I hear a whole bunch of them tea-sippers are hanging out together at something called the Values Voters Summit. All manner of every hate position in all the land is being represented. Just for a sneak, to show you how much you can learn, Michele (crazy-eyes) Bachmann, is lecturing on “how government works.” Heady stuff, right?  And then Inhofe came forth and warned about rampant open gay sex in the military! Oh, just gives ya gooseybumps, all the love being offered up!

Now, I’m not advocate of violence of ANY kind mind you. Just sayin’ they all ARE together, ya know in one place, and well, you know. Not that I advocate any wrongdoing. Just makin’ that real clear. Just sayin.’

Okay, seriously. These two links are worth your time. They are about the GOP and the teabagger hell they have created. Or, remember why your mother told you not to touch a hot stove!

Republicans serve the devil his tea, from This Week, and

Tea Party mocking needs to end, from The Daily Beast.

See ya tomorrow!

Related Articles

• Andy Ostroy: Sarah & the GOPettes: Assessing the O’Donnell Victory (huffingtonpost.com)
• Tea Party Notches Huge Upset With O’Donnell Senate Victory in Delaware (politicsdaily.com)
• Comedians Stewart and Colbert plan Oct. 30 rally on the mall (thehill.com)
• Rush Limbaugh Joins Sarah Palin In Condemning Karl Rove’s Critique Of Christine O’Donnell (mediaite.com)

What She Said

Tags

"just say no", Franken, GOP, John McCain, Jon Stewart, net neutrality, peace, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, Susie Essman, UN, War

The GOP has been using some version of “just say no” for some time now. One is tempted to ask, “how’s that workin’ for ya?”

From Pumas on, they’ve been banking on the “nope, no way” constituency to materialize into a real force. So far, it’s been a wash. The Pumas as you recall, were all those women who were Hillary supporters who were supposed to flock to the GOP once McCain chose that woman for all seasons, Sarah Palin as his running liar.

The Pumas of course never materialized, and Sarah soon grew wearisome to a thinking public.

Since the election last year, it has been the unmitigated decision of the Rethug leadership to simply oppose everything. And it seems, like Nancy Reagan’s anti drug program, not to be making much difference, other than to make them look clearly what they are: crybabies and bad sports who trade public welfare for being contrary.

They oppose the extension of hate crimes legislation,  although we have had it for decades now without the world coming to an end. Some Rethugs found themselves opposing legislation proposed by Franken which would eliminate a contractual prohibition to sue rapists who worked for the company. I mean do you really want to be publicly on the wrong side of that one? “NO, I think Haliburton should be able to keep women from suing Haliburton employees who rape them. After all, profits must prevail!”

Similarly, when you look at net neutrality legislation, what do you find? Yep, you guessed it, the Rethugs are against it. As someone said, all you need do is look who subsidizes the Republican by way of contributions to know whose side he or she is on. I mean who doesn’t want the Internet free of priority speeds for certain companies?

And then there is my favorite of all, posts on Facebook. One of our less than stellar brains posted a report on how many wars and deaths had occurred since the United Nations had been instituted. The lead headline for the piece was something like “How’s that peace doing for ya?” Well, first of all, dumbed down, the UN has not started any wars and has not aggressively set out to kill anyone. They try to STOP wars and aggression. Not exactly their fault that they are not internationally supported by the member nations in peacekeeping. I mean, seriously, are you not for peace? I thought that was kinda a Christian thing as well as a mature human thing. Maybe I’m wrong.

Then we have the utter slimy behavior of the right wing pundits. I mean, the rank and file, the middle of the road, read SANE Republicans can’t even complain about the insulting load of bull that is barfed out upon the great illiterate uneducated tiny tots of the electorate. Lindsay Graham, who admittedly seldom comes up for air by pulling his head out of McCain’s backside, tried to complain about Beck, only to be booed off the floor at the next town hall meeting he attended. The crazy minority, most of which are holding up their bibles as pitchforks, won’t allow any criticism of the idiot brigade.

So, of course they feed them the swill they wish and damned be the facts. This has been demonstrated again and again with Hannity. He cuts comments and re-pastes them to say what he wants, even though the speaker clearly meant otherwise and said so DIRECTLY. Now we have Rush, quoting from a “paper” allegedly written by Barack Obama in college. The paper was critical of the constitution and was leaning toward socialism. Of course Rush was near orgasmic in his outrage. When a sycophant whispered in his ear that the paper was a hoax, he refused to apologize, but merely said, “well, we know he really believes this stuff anyway.” And the folks who listen to Rush, not being educated or even mentally average, lap it up in their unknowing bewildered world.

Finally we were watching Jon Stewart last night, hands down the best actual pundit in the business these days. He had on Susie Essman, of Curb your Enthusiasm. Susie suggested, and I had said the same, that Sarah Palin and folks like her, who continue to insist that dinosaurs and man walked hand in hand in our not so distant past, against ALL the evidence, should be prevented from using technology.

I agree wholeheartedly. Now I know that the illogical nut case can’t understand the hypocrisy of being okay with some science and vilifying other science, sometimes even when they overlap, as in medicine (which they like) and evolutionary biology (which they don’t) but the rest of us can. You can’t pick science as “good” when it transports you across town, allows you to call other countries, lets you surf the net, and cook dinner in minutes instead of hours, but then claim that science is some monstrous behemoth of atheistic mumbo jumbo designed to hate God and his Word. We know you are being disingenuous, but at least we do admit, you don’t get it, because you don’t have the smarts to get it.

All this being said, it’s not really a complaint. It’s really a  big thank you Republicans. You continue to satisfy your extraordinarily weird collection of misfit followers, but you totally turn off the middle and the left. Having five percent of the electorate in your pocket doesn’t win elections. So keep up the usual swill. I hear Bachmann and King and others of the “crazier than any loon” brigade has introduced legislation to commend and honor all those who marched against taxes. Good luck. Those two are good for another ten votes every time they open their mouths.

And so it goes. Just sayin.’

Bring in the Clowns

Tags

Bill Kristol, Edward Kennedy, GOP, Health care, Jon Stewart, Michael Steele, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, Tom Pawlenty, Zack Wamp

Just a little photo of the big players in the latest CPAC meeting. Can you pick out Rush?

With all due respect to Frank Sinatra and his wonderful song, it correctly represents the state of the GOP these days.

Other images come to mind of course. How about a circle of rethugs with Elephant guns all shooting the GOP emblem standing in the middle of their circle. Bad shots don’t count of course, since they are sure to hit someone.

I think the clown metaphor is apt though. Most of us enjoyed the circus as kids and the GOP certainly represents a circus these days, with all three rings going at the same time.

The Democrats are having a fine time encouraging the fun. It’s become a game of “whose in charge” and as we predicted, they are eating their own once again.

It would appear that straw poll notwithstanding, the moderates (read somewhat rational beings) are in retreat. The Reactionary Right Evangelical Politicos ( read stark raving mad beings) are in seeming control. But the field is fluid, or muddy as you choose, so things may change. We of course are hoping, fingers crossed, toes crossed, eyes crossed, legs crossed, and all, that the latter group retains its wicked death grip on said Party.

Come to think of it, they do in fact resemble that oft told joke of blind men trying to describe an elephant. Each grasps a different part, and concludes something different. It seems the Grand Old Poopypants can’t figure out what it is today.

Whatever it is, it’s dropping like the proverbial rock in the polls. Each one spells more doom as people don’t trust ’em, don’t like ’em, and won’t vote for ’em. The moderates weep in shame, and even poor Billy, nobody is more neo-con than me, Kristol says old Rush is wrong.

Rush in the meantime rocks with laughter and continues to wow ’em in trailer-town America. You know the kind, folks with guns in the rack of their trucks, and waving the old Confederate colors in defiance. No matter that Rush’s numbers are in the 20’s and his negatives approach 50%. As long as 10 folks in Tennessee applaud, what’s to worry?

Some of Rush’s more intemperate remarks center around his desire to see Obama and his attempts to fix the economy fail. Course Rush covers this up with nice rhetoric that suggests that success for Obama means death to America. Oh sorry, that’s a radical Muslim chant, can’t use that.

Fine upstanding Rethugs to the likes of Michelle Malkin, Tom Delay, Rick Santorum, Rep. Mike Pense, and Rep. David Vitter nod in agreement. Michael Steele sorta tried to object.

Michael actually said that Rush was not the voice of the GOP, but an entertainer who was sometimes “ugly” in his rhetoric.  Michael, “da man” is a case all to himself, as he clamors for the party to be more user friendly to the hip hop community.

This has caused one third of the national committee to ask him to resign. His bling bling rhetoric is offensive to horror of all horrors, black members, who find it unhelpful and a big turnoff. Although Mike had admonished Rush, this was quickly turned into an apology. The apology was bizarro too. Seems Michael is himself astounded at what comes out of his mouth, given as he says, that it is not at all what his brain is thinking.

And, he is not the only one. Seems that Rep. Phil Gingrey, and Gov. Mark Sanford, all found it better not to try to cross the Rush.

Meanwhile Rush rolls along his merry way. Jon Stewart, in commenting on Rush’s speech before CPAC, noted his  black wardrobe choice. “Rush just wanted to color co-ordinate with his soul,” Stewart chortled. And indeed, it would seem so.

Just recently, the Limbaugh cheese turned his sites on Edward Kennedy. Commenting on the health care initiative Obama has pushed forward, Rushie, ever the compassionate one, said that “before it is over it will be called the Kennedy memorial bill.” No doubt a reference to Rush’s insensitive assumption that Kennedy will be dead before it passes into law.

Not to be outdone, Rep. Zack Wamp, (R. Tenn) added that health care is, oh shudder, just socialism and “class warfare.” He also added that health care was a privilege and not a right.  MSNBC anchor, Tamron Hall, clearly taken aback, asked, ” So if you have cancer, it’s a privilege to get treatment?” He explained that half of the uninsured are so by choice, so for them it’s not a right.

There is so much wrong with such crap as this, one hardly knows where to start. Is it rational to think that ANYBODY chooses not the be covered? No they choose to eat, send their kids to college, pay off school loans, the car they need for transportation, and a million other things. They are forced to take the risk that they don’t get sick or injured while devoting funds to places that at this moment have to take precedence.

It’s all led Minnesota Gov. Tom Pawlenty to suggest that the party many not yet have bottomed out. But fixing it they are not as Matt Littman, writing for the Huffington Post, so aptly puts it. They are in fact trying to emulate the Democrats, not realizing that the Democrats have moved on to new strategies and ideas.

Meanwhile, the queen of the north, Sarah Palin is now being vilified by her “unfaithful right” because her Alaska supreme court nominee once sat the board of, gracious me, Planned Parenthood. I cannot begin to tell you how hated that organization is, by the way out of the world religious right.

Come to think of it, the GOP is running about five rings in this circus. It’s giving me whiplash just trying to keep up with the clowns.