Not Above Reproach

WWKYD? Rand Paul: The Return of Strom or Jesse?!?

2010-05-21T10:20:00.000-07:00

So, it's been a while. I guess I've been trying to find more peace of mind rather than ranting and raving over the bastards in politics and punditry.

Funny, though, that this bastard in particular should bring me out of hiding. Rand Paul, self-proclaimed libertarian son of failed Republican presidential nominee Ron Paul of Texas, has just won (without Republican Party support) the Republican Party nomination for Senator from the State of Kentucky. The man has, somehow, tapped into all the energy and vitality of the ~~teabaggers~~ , ahem, excuse me Tea Party, to capture the nomination and now he has the chance of bringing his anti-big government mindset to the United States Senate, where obviously more obstruction to progress is needed. My question is this: Will modern-day Kentucky elect this nut job?

I guess I really want to ask the same question of modern-day North and South Carolina, where obviously racist Senators were re-elected over and over again. Those bastions of racism, Strom Thurmond and Jesse Helms:

This, obviously, was their much-lauded appearance on SNL, but my follow-up question is this: Could these blatantly racist bastards get elected TODAY?!? Here's the record for each of these lovely men. Strom Thurmond set the filibuster record for speaking AGAINST a civil rights bill back in 1957, but, yet ironically, was considered the "moderate" Southern voice towards desegregation issues. I mean, I understand that South Carolina is a deep-in-the-woods Sounthern State. I understand that they would elect, again and again, a racist Senator through much of the 20th Century; however, this racist bigot was reelected to the Senate a whopping 13 times, the last time (in 2002) right before he kicked the bucket. He was Governor of the State (1946), a successful write-in candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1954 after being the Segregatist Dixiecrate (States' Rights) Party Presidential Candidate in 1948, and switched parties in 1964, becoming a Republican. I mean, let's face it. His record would get him nowhere these days. The media would rip him apart: segregationist yet fathered a child with a black woman in the 1920s AND reported had a "long-standing, warm relationship" with his daughter. Whew! Think South Carolina would replace Lindsay Graham or Jim DeMint with him today if they could?

The viscious bastard Jesse Helms, on the other hand, managed to hang onto his U.S. Senate seat for only 5 terms, from 1973 until 2003, retiring in 2002.

Dying in 2008, Helms was the genius Republican Senator who filibustered making Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday a national holiday for SIXTEEN DAYS!!! This man is the ORIGINAL Senator NO, even embracing the name! His stances against homosexuality, feminism, abortion, atheism, vampires, civil rights, affirmative action, panda bears, modern art, tax increases, foriegn aid, disability rights, communism and purple people eaters were all vocally distributed in the halls of the Senate. Somehow, this fuck was reelected 5 times in North Carolina while his national approval ratings hovered around 15% in his last term in office. To give him his (slight) due, he eventually changed his tune about AIDS research, even helping Bono to raise funding at one point. However, the man had a serious chip on his shoulder for the gays. The "Homosexual Lobby" as he called it would seek to overthrow the "gubment and make us all weah ah wives' nightgowns and form daisy chains". (note: I made up the last bit, but it DOES seem like something he would have said).

My original question, now, What Will Kentucky Do? Will they put into office another Strom or Jesse? Is this man (Rand Paul) a racist or is he simply just an idiot who wants to enter the employ of the Federal Government simply to seek to undermine its power and influence? Either way, Rand Paul seems a big step backward to me, but what do I know? I'm a left-wing, liberal, progressive, socialism-embracing, light in the loafers Homosexual Lobbyist who Mr. Helms may have hired to carry his luggage if the man had EVER travelled to Europe. It is my hope that, in his great capacity to open mouth and insert foot, leg, etc., Mr. Paul will need no help in dissuading voters; however, this is KEN-fucking-TUCKY we are talking about, so. . .

Shameless Acts of Cuteness -- 02/11/10

2010-02-11T12:25:00.000-08:00

The New Face of Fascism: Contriving Control in the Information Age

2010-02-02T09:57:00.000-08:00

More and more I realize that our country is under seige. TeaBaggers would have us believe that a Socialist movement is underway and that Big Government is taking over. Needless to say, the Big Bush Government that actually DID take over didn't seem to concern them much. Of course, Republicans hate big government unless the big government is controlled by their party. The TeaBaggers like to quote Jefferson--"A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you have". Unfortunately, they don't realize that the Bush Administration basically did just that!

Now, in the aftermath of eight years of the Big Bush Government, the Obama Administration faces all of the hostility and the chore of clean up. In the midst of this economic collapse, unemployment disaster, and reform-era, the spectre of FASCISM has reared a new and uglier head. As Democrats and Independents teamed up to take a big risk on the promise of Change, the Republicans have begun a subtle and devisive campaign to regain power. At the heart of the Republican message, however, isn't a desire to "preserve Democracy" but a subtle and sometimes hidden striving towards a "marketable" form of Fascism.
To demonstrate this seemingly wild claim (though I do NOT feel it is nearly as wild as most of the claims by wingnuts on the right), I want to examine the basic principles of fascism as a political institution.

Fascism requires that six fundamentals are in place to acquire political leverage: 1. A Corporatist Economic System. Need I remind you that the Bailout of our Banking System ("Too Big to Fail" corporate entities) happened at the moment of Obama's election--not as a result of ANY of his policies-- and the Supreme Court's repeal of corporate campaign regulation along conservative justice lines (5-4), summarily issuing to corporations the status of "personhood" with protections provided by the Constitution. A thriving "Corporatist" system is the petri dish for fascism. It provides the environment in which the rich and powerful can control a government unfettered by the pesky tenets of Democracy. 2. Fascism represents the "complete opposite of Socialism". Currently, the TeaBaggers are convinced that Obama is channeling Karl Marx to turn America into Europe, or even worse, Canada!! Horror of horrors! Why would we want a country that has a strong monetary unit, a more stable-minded constituency, a controlled financial market, and health care for everyone? The repercussions would be. . . great?!? 3. An anti-liberal agenda. Needless to say, this has been the goal of the Republican Party since the so-called "culture wars" began in the 80s and 90s. Fascism requires that Social Darwinism (if not an acceptance of all of Darwin's evolutionary theories) instill inequality throughout society. Of course, the rich have gotten richer while the poor and middle class have grown exponentially in our fading Democracy. This acceptance of inequality is crucial to the rise of Fascism. Civil Rights are trampled upon and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, while given to Corporations, are denied to individuals. 4. The constant message being repeated during the rise of Fascism is one that envisions a rebirth from decadence. As civil rights seem imminent for an entire class of people deemed "unholy", the message of fascism can find a foothold with an entire constituency of religious followers. While politicians rely on an electorate who has been taught to see the world in black and white, they can use a "culture war" talking point to rally the "base". 5. Nationalism.

Pride in one's country means also taking a step back and admitting that country's failures, missteps and misdeeds. Our democracy relies on a multitude of voices--not the propaganda of a political machine like Fox News. Currently, the message being touted by the Republican News Outlet is one of vitriol and hatred, fear and lies outright. Yet, somehow, the message of Nationalism--a dangerous issue of PRIDE--has won over the independent voting constituency. If you present a lie loudly and long enough, even the wise man starts to believe that everyone else believes it. 6. Indoctrination. Fox News is the Opinion News Network that promises a "fair and balanced" take on politics. Unfortunately, one ideology has been determined as the only "fair and balanced" one available. All opposing voices are quickly shut down on this network. The success of Big Business is praised over the success of government. This powerhouse of control has managed to influence other networks' approach to reporting. They have managed to send out messages that mislead the public. Take, for instance, the focus of all reporting on the Republican Party following the election of Barack Obama--the DEATH of the Republican Party. Then, the "splintering" of the Republican Party as the TeaBaggers were roused up. As the message in the last year has shifted to outrage at Wall Street and the Obama Administration, the Republican Party somehow, as splintered and broken as it "was", managed to rally voters in Massachuessets to obtain the Senate seat held by Teddy Kennedy since the 1960s. Two things have helped to promote voter apathy in the Democrats: 1. the message that the Republican Party was dead and 2. the failure of the Obama Administration to make good on promises of change. Obama's failures may be a result of a necessity for his administration to trend toward the middle in the midst of an economic collapse, but they are also a direct result of Corporatism within the Democratic Party itself. Blue-Dog Democrats stood in the way of Health Care Reform even when their ties to the Health Insurance Industry were made most clear.

I would argue that while this seems an OUTLANDISH claim (Fascism has taken hold at the core of the Republican Party in America) that there is also some validity. Our democracy IS at stake and IS under attack not only by a terrorist threat from without, but by specialized self-interest from within!

Who controls our information?

Who determines the message and its value? How can we trust these sources of information in an age where its proliferation can be either mass produced by our Corpocracy or fragmented into a thousand disparate parts on the internet? These six elements are tell-tale signs of fascism. So many Americans choose not to think for themselves, rather choosing to believe the predominant narrative of those around them. In urban areas, democratic ideals seem to flourish as diverse groups of Americans come together while in rural areas of the country people "become bitter and cling to guns or religion" as their fears grow. Luckily, for now, we have in the executive office of this great, and still "gangly youth" of a country, a man of exemplary intelligence with a spirit of human kindness who is making history. Hopefully, the undercurrent of hostility and fear, grounded in the roots of Fascism, will wither.

Let's Stop Kidding Ourselves: The Two-Party System is Just a Front

2010-01-26T10:57:00.000-08:00

Now, come on. Obviously there are more than two political ideologies at work in the United States. People like to claim that there are "two Americas":

But I would argue that the country isn't that polarized. There are AT LEAST four Americas, given the nature of the ideologies being batted around by several individual politicians, wignuts, and media whores.

#1 Fascist America: Oh yes, it does already exist.

These are the folks who like to teabag each other. They would love a homogenous America, where everyone looks, spends, and behaves the same way. Glenn Beck seems to think that the Fascists are controlling the government currently; however, it is much more likely his viewers who are drawn to the fascist rhetoric and imagery used on his program. Realizing that they were such a small segment of the Republican Party, these Tea Baggers decided to ramp up the negativity and rhetoric, favoring a massive expulsion from the Grand Old Party of those with more liberal social policy in mind. Suddenly the "Big Tent" has become a Concentration Camp for the small-minded and easily bamboozled. Hopefully, their political power will not grow although it appears they have built momentum recently by drawing upon the inherent racism and bigotry of many Americans. Michelle Bachmann, surprisingly from Minnesota, represents the political arm of the Tea Baggers who have recently installed a "litmus test" for conservative party members who want to receive funding from the Republican Party.

#2 The Fiscal Conservative (Socially Liberal) Republican--now known as the Independent

These guys have lots of political capital right now, given that the Democratic Party is such a splintered and divided group. They have distanced themselves from the rhetoric of the TeaBaggers, but many of them have been seduced to the message simply out of fear. The economic collapse, wall street bailouts, health care reform fiasco, etc. have driven many moderate Republicans back to the Fox News Network. When George W. was on a collision course with calamity, it seemed, to them, prudent to consider a strong message of change even from a young, black man who was called the most liberal Senator. When President Obama obviously abandoned his message of change in favor of a more moderate approach, basically continuing the failed Bush administrations tactics in many cases, these moderates began to abandon ship. If not for his own failed Presidential bid, Senator John McCain would be in this category. The "Maverick" was called thus due to his tendency to sometimes break with his party in favor of compromise. His entire family, for instance, has come out in support of Marriage Equality--something this Senator may still do before the issue is resolved.
#3 The Blue-Dog, Lying, Conniving, Money-Grubbing, Lobbyist-Loving Democrat:

They really just can't help it! They want to be Democrats. They want to work for the people, representing the needs of their consituents. It's just that pesky pay-off money they've taken from Lobbyists getting in the way. The Blue Dogs are a vile bunch--more like hyenas, laughing all the way to the bank. They have a very conservative social agenda and seem to have been bought and paid for before even elected. Ben Nelson, Blanche Lincoln and Mary Landrieu all come to mind. In ideology, they are much more like the Tea Bagger, representing corporate interests rather than personal freedoms and social improvements. Even when items like the Public Option are favored by their constituents in the Health Care Reform Bill, these "Democrats" would rather represent their employers--corporate entities that now have "personhood" according to the Supreme Court.

#4 The Milquetoast Democrat

I am sorry to say that President Obama has moved so slowly and cautiously that he has earned his place here with the ne'er-do-nothing Dems. It seems, everytime they obtain a piece of political capital that they hem and haw over the best way to do the right thing rather than just getting the right thing done. Caution is a commendable characteristic unless you are dealing with pressing and vital issues like health care reform or economic catastrophe or unemployment or the degradation of democracy at the hands of a single Supreme Court ruling. This is a historically proven ideology--the scaredy-cat Democrat. Jumping when the Blue Dogs bark and never advancing their own agenda beyond committee. Currently, Nancy Pelosi--the most powerful woman in the world and the most hated by the TeaBaggers--seems to be the only one two flex any political muscle, whipping the House of Representatives into shape with a viable Health Care Reform Bill that passed with even a few Republican votes. I am truly disappointed with the fumbling of the last 9 months--a time when power was at hand and a time when it could have been used for Americans to the most benefit. Now, Democrats, in true "deer-in-the-headlights" fashion, cannot seem to act at all. As the mid-term elections draw near, and as the political capital wanes, Democrats prove, yet again, that they are ineffectual and listless in government.

SCOTUS Scorn: Welcome to the Dawning of the Age of The Corpocracy--You must be assimilated!

2010-01-25T10:18:00.000-08:00

It's sad to think that corporate interests in our great (former?) Democracy could become so subversive to have infiltrated the United States Supreme Court. The (mostly) Bush(I & II)-appointed justices have tipped the scales in favor of special interests:

This ruling should come as no surprise, given that these special interests have no need for a conscious--Fascism is the rule of law in a corporation. As the religious right infiltrates, they too have an unchecked attitude about the policy changes they push for since, you know, "God" is on their side. It is, purely and simply, a very anti-democracy wave of power sweeping through our country, seeking to disenfranchise individuals who may be empowered by a stronger democracy that enacts health care reform.

It is a wake-up call to any American who hasn't been bamboozled by the TeaBaggers. We are heading down a path that cannot lead to any redemption for America. We are heading toward a nation of the money-grubbing by the money-grubbing for the money-grubbing.

I, for one, can see NOTHING good stemming from this ruling. The only thing obvious about it is the fact that corporate greed has purchased a majority in our Supreme Courts and will soon be able to purchase a majority in Congress and to secure their interests for years if not decades to come.

Shameless Acts of Cuteness -- 01/25/10

2010-01-25T09:01:00.000-08:00

Lip Service -- Friend of the Pres and the Pols

2010-01-18T11:50:00.000-08:00

I usually take a man by his word, or a woman for that matter. But lately, I have heard a lot of gesture with little follow through. Whether it was a grocery list of campaign promises from Barack Obama or a scrambling by current politicians to hide or deny their words, actions or even votes,

One year has passed since Barach Obama was inaugurated and I listed intently as he, again and again, paid lip service to promises he made on the campaign trail: ending DOMA, DADT, etc. I was taken in by such eloquence and promise. Luckily, this guy still has three more years to prove himself!
On the other hand, you have, all over the country, a group of political contests gearing up in which the politicians involved will say anything to appeal to the current viewpoint of their constituents. You have Harold Ford, Jr., once a promising representative from my home state of Tennessee, who lost his bid for the Senate to Bob Corker--another suspicious character when it comes to lip service and abortion. Now, Mr. Ford wants Hillary Clinton's NY state Senate seat, currently occupied by Kirsten Gillibrand, who has proven a fierce advocate for issues important to New Yorkers. All across the country, politicians are scrambling, like Ford, to change their former positions on issues in order to seem the more moderate candidate. Meanwhile, the Tea Bag Party (or the New Republicans) are calling for politicians to wear their hatred and bigotry on their chests like a badge. A big, honking badge of hate that they are proud of. According to the new Republican Litmus Test, many moderate republican candidates, such as Gov. Charlie Christ of Florida (running for the Senate), would not recieve any funding from the party, although a more conservative candidate may not pass muster for the electorate in Florida.

I cannot expect conservative politicians like Ford, Jr. or Mr. Crist to come around. They have proven to me without a doubt that they are snakes in the grass. These days, all the flip-flops seem to be on the other foot--the RIGHT one!

Our President, though, I will continue to hold at his word. I expect him to follow through and I expect that he has an agenda to do so, whether he feels it necessary to keep it to himself or not!

Shameless Acts of Cuteness -- 01/18/10

2010-01-18T10:43:00.000-08:00

Not sure which is cuter :)

SHAME on you Pat Robertson: 5 Reasons Why Christians Should Silence This Freak!

2010-01-14T11:18:00.000-08:00

Good ol' Pat. Clinging to an antiquated version of the world in which white men are always right, regardless.

Christians everywhere should loathe this man for continuing to spew forth vile hatred at every turn. Here, just to get your dander up, is a list of the top five things Pat has said that should make anyone wish he would take an early trip to the Hell he so firmly believes in:

1. " Feminism is a socialist, anti-family, political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians. " Pat is such a charmer, right? What lady WOULDN'T want him?!? Look at his sexy hooves, right? Wait, did Haiti make a pact with HIM?

2. "I would warn Orlando that you're right in the way of some serious hurricanes, and I don't think I'd be waving those flags in God's face if I were you, This is not a message of hate -- this is a message of redemption. But a condition like this will bring about the destruction of your nation. It'll bring about terrorist bombs; it'll bring earthquakes, tornadoes, and possibly a meteor." –Pat Robertson, on "gay days" at Disneyworld. I just hope that Pat lives long enough to see equality given to the gays just so I can see the look of pain and anguish on his face as the knife of justice is twisted into his dark depraved heart (if he even has one!!!)

3. "I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: If there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God, you just rejected him from your city. And don't wonder why he hasn't helped you when problems begin, if they begin. I'm not saying they will, but if they do, just remember, you just voted God out of your city. And if that's the case, don't ask for his help because he might not be there." --Pat Robertson, after the city of Dover, Pennsylvania voted to boot the current school board, which instituted an intelligent design policy that led to a federal trial. Wow, now that is a message of redemption!

4. "Lord, give us righteous judges who will not try to legislate and dominate this society. Take control, Lord! We ask for additional vacancies on the court." –Pat Robertson on hoping his God will help him kill off or give debilitating illness to liberal Supreme Court justices. Whatta good Christian he is, right?

5. "It may be a blessing in disguise. ... Something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it. Haitians were originally under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon the third, or whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, we will serve you if you will get us free from the French. True story. And so, the devil said, okay it's a deal. Ever since they have been cursed by one thing after the other." –Pat Robertson, on the earthquake in Haiti that destroyed the capital and killed tens of thousands of people, Jan. 13, 2010--what a guy!

* Quotes exerpted from "Stupid Pat Robertson Quotes" by Daniel Kurtzman
Can't anyone shut this guy up?

Shameless Acts of Cuteness -- 01/06/10

2010-01-06T17:06:00.000-08:00

Sweet Love

Why Scorn a Non-Believer? : A Faith of Another Kind

2010-01-05T13:37:00.000-08:00

Recently, Mayor Bloomberg, for the first time invited the group NYC Athiests to his annual Interfaith Breakfast. Prior to that, and earlier last year, President Obama mentioned non-believers for the first time in an inaugural address.

I mean, if you really think about it, there are a lot of us! We are a silent group of people, usually trying to avoid any scorn or derision from the religious who are, also usually, quick to condemn anyone who isn't a member of their sect or demonination, much less a non-believer. Most of the time, non-believers aren't called out or acknowleded favorably or at all by politicians. However, lately, as religion looks more and more like the "retarted stepchild of philosophy"--and that's from UFC fighter Frank Mir--we non-believers are becoming more and more the voice of reason! "If there is a God, atheism must seem to Him as less of an insult than religion.”--Edmond De Goncourt (here's your quote from an elitist 19th Century French writer :)

Athiests, Agnostics and Non-Believers aren't all a group of morally-maligned heathen! We are actually a very diverse group, and, I warrant, that most of us, if studied, would probably prove to have a much more active moral center than the passive flock of believers.

Notice here that the chart acknowledges only 5% of Americans who are non-believers. The number these days is more like 16 or 17%, but I imagine that the self-identification depicted here may still hold true. "Nothing in Particular"--now that's something to believe in!!! Remember that these designations imply some very important differences. An atheist actively pursues and reasserts the belief that God does not exist--that the assertion of His existence is, in fact, destructive to society. An agnostic, on the other hand, does not presume to know whether a higher power exists or not. This designation is the most humble of non-believers. ;)

I guess these guys don't know the wise old saying "Shit or get off the pot!"

Here is an even more interesting chart showing the breakdown of belief (or non-belief) around the world. Unfortunately, most of the 33% of Christians believe it is their duty to convert the rest of the world. I wonder how long it will take before I can start charging anyone who tries to proselytize. "Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day; Give him a religion, and he'll starve to death while praying for a fish" --unknown

What it all boils down to is that we have a "freedom of religion" in this country that also guarantees a freedom FROM religion! Religion and politics are so bound together at this point that it might be safer to ONLY elect non-believers for a few decades! Let something other than the rapture-inspired, end-times agenda of almost EVERY politician (from either side of the aisle) pave the way for progressive legislation and objective thought in politics. Personal/Individual spiritual relationships or community-based outreach programs aside, religion should have NO OTHER BASIS IN REALITY!!!!!

I know, I know. As I make a plea to believers to withhold judgement and to consider the rationale of the non-believer, I also take the opportunity to heap scorn upon religion. I know it seems counterproductive, but maybe it is a necessary evil ;)

BeautifulPeople.com Scorns Fatties--Deletes Their Accounts

2010-01-04T09:45:00.000-08:00

Until this a.m., I had never heard of BeautifulPeople.com, though I can't imagine why not! However, over 5,000 of its vainglorious members were nixed this week due to self-purported, or through newly uploaded photos depicting, weight gain.

I continue, as my friend here, to purport that I am simply big-boned! I'm sure it stands to reason that a website such as beautifulpeople.com must uphold a set of standards no matter how subjective, but I also wonder what the proportion of women deleted to men might be as well as the set of standards used to determine said deletion given that current members get to rank other members to prompt accounts for deletion. What if I promise to wear my man-spanks? Needless to say, I find it quite unlikely that a for-pay site such as this (although it offers a limited "free" membership) would delete the accounts of paying members, no matter how much weight they gain.

Says founder Robert Hintze, "Letting fatties roam the site is a direct threat to our business model and the very concept for which BeautifulPeople.com was founded."

Maybe this fattie will attempt to infiltrate :)

Shameless Acts of Cuteness -- 12/30/09

2009-12-30T14:01:00.000-08:00

Scorn for Obstructionists: Who Will Clear a Path?

2009-12-22T10:32:00.000-08:00

What, you may ask, is an Obstructionist? Does it suffice as a word that encapsulates all those upon whom I wish to heap my scorn? Yes. They stand in the way of progress for the sake of tradition or the dollar out of just pure stubborness. The Obstructionist comes in two forms: the End-Times Believer, convinced that a planet and it's people are in "God's" hands and so therefore have no need to be responsible to one another, and the Profiteer: Lobbyists and the political machine that prop them up and the Media who cannot see the forest for the trees.

To obstruct progress out of fear or, as I see it, due to one's religious beliefs, seems horribly irrational. A tradition tied to the past is doomed to repeat itself. How's that for hyperbole?!? Religion should only be viewed as a success when it empowers everyone who comes into contact with it--not when it is a destructive force obviously presided over by an all-too-human enterprise rather than an all-powerful God. Fear-mongering has convinced the political right to stand firm against progress of any kind. As they throw out empty threats, the political right in America has reduced itself to its own epithet. Self-aggrandizement, as far as I know, has never been the most noble of Christian values! Every right-wing obstructionist on the scene has no platform upon which to stand other than a tradition of bigotry and isolation. Compassion for fellow humans (i.e. health care coverage) and the earth (global warming) should be the Christian values of the day! The "I'm gonna look out for me and mine" mentality can only take a religion so far unless it is willing to diversify and not be a tribe of racists! But, then again, I'm just a heathen, so what do I know :)

The money-driven Obstructionist comes in several forms. You have your everyday Lobbyist, selling out to the corporate entity, stepping on the heads of the masses to climb to the upper eschelons of the political world to offer funding and perks to politicians in order to help sway policy. And then you have your Media with something to sell to those stupid masses, be it information or entertainment. . . or infotainment. You also have the corporate entities themselves, but of course it is obvious that money drives a corporation or an industry.

Lobbyists are currently spending outrageous amounts of money during our worst economic recession in several decades to obstruct health care reform. Simple research can provide us with examples of lawmakers accepting campaign contributions or otherwise from lobbyist groups. The Obama administration, in the attempt to be more transparent, has banned lobbyists from federal positions and influence, but lawmakers continue to roll around in their money.

Meanwhile, the news media has such a knack for obstruction. You can always rely on them for objective reporting of the latest up-to-the-minute Tiger Wood's scandal news. Who needs the facts about corrupt politicians, bankers, and the economy when something like a sex scandal is just lying around. The stupid masses don't want real reporting; they want something they can sink their teeth into. Give em a juicy adultery or a peek-a-boo snapshot from the paparazzi of a teen idol's naughty bits. That's what they want! It's about ratings and advertising dollars, not about real reporting or uncovering the background story of health care reform. It is almost as if they assume everyone of our lawmakers are corrupt or corruptible and so, therefore, that isn't newsworthy.

Who will clear a path through all of this rubbish? Jesus or Santa Claus? Obama? Maybe Tiger Woods will save us; he seems to have enough to go around!:)

Shameless Acts of Cuteness -- 12/17/09

2009-12-17T16:48:00.000-08:00

Have you EVER seen a sweeter face?
Nope; never in a million years :)

Five Reasons Why Senator Joseph Lieberman is the Most Evil Person of the Decade

2009-12-17T15:51:00.000-08:00

Good ol' Joseph Isadore Lieberman!

Just when you think he's decided to become a rational voice for the poeple of Connecticut rather than a raving lunatic, there he is to prove you wrong! In fact, it is my opinion that Droopy Dog Lieberman, a.k.a. Senator Palpatine, has been a turncoat for whichever enemy exists since at least the 2000 presidential election. Here's why:

1. Joe Isn't Very Confident In Himself: He refused to give up his Senate seat during the 2000 election. Rather than focusing on winning the Vice Presidency, Joey decided to ensure some victory on election night. If he had let go of the Senate seat, another Democrat could have easily won. What "was Joe Lieberman trying to tell us"? Was he trying to say that he KNEW something we didn't?

2. Joe Isn't Very Confident in Democrats Like Al Gore: Lieberman dropped the ball in the days after the 2000 presidential election by helping Bush win. At least that is how his commentary appeared when the DNC was contesting illegal ballots from the military and he argued that they should be counted regardless. When he decided to go his own way rather than following the legal strategy of his own party then, the rift in his loyalties became obvious.
3. Joe Was NEVER a Democrat: When his constituents decided in 2006 to vote for an anti-war Democratic candidate for Joe's Senate seat in the primary, Joe decided that he would run on an independent ticket as his growing love for the Bush administration policies and his continuing swing to the right, socially as well as fiscally, brought him closer to the man he is today.

4. Joe Is a Sore Winner and Cries So That He Can Keep His Senate Chairmanship Position: After his win as an Independent, Lieberman bellyached and whined and promised to caucus with the Democrats so that the Democratic majority would allow him to keep his coveted chairmanships: Lieberman chairs the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the subcommittee on Private Sector and Consumer Solutions to Global Warming and Wildlife Protection, and the Subcommittee on AirLand Forces.
5. Joe Hates the American People Enough to Keep 50 million of them from Health Care: Somebody beat me to the punch by labelling him the Douche of the Decade, but Joe really, seriously needs to go away! Now!

5 Things to Scorn From the First Decade of the New Millenium

2009-12-11T19:43:00.000-08:00

#5. The Many Wars of George W. Bush

Bush the Second, among his myriad of faults and deficiencies, somehow managed to "win" two terms in office. His presidency will be forever marred by a politics based on the "end-times" theory: it's the end-times folks, so who gives a rat's ass about the (i.e., economy, foriegn relations, infrastructure, planet, sinners, blue states, voters, truth, etc.). Not only did GW start two wars, neither of which are popular now and one of which never should have been started apparently, but he also propelled forward the culture wars begun by the lovely Reagan's. The Drug War, being the most popular, my favorite though is the less known War against the Gays. This war actually won over voters for Bush II in 2004's election. So-called "values" voters came out, supposedly, in force to help propel the War against the Gays forward and keep GW in office. Needless to say, I could go on, but because I hate the man so much, I won't.

#4. The Collapse of Civilization: CROCS

Okay, folks. Maybe they are comfortable. Maybe they are functional. Maybe they make you feel like you're wearing nothing at all, but COME ON!!! They are UGLY as SIN and not nearly as much fun! Here's an experiment you should try:
1. Take your pair of Crocs
2. Use a shoestring to link them together
3. Throw them over the nearest telephone wire
4. Leave them there
5. Rinse (because you touched those nasty crocs)
6. Repeat (because you probably have another pair!)

#3. Further Proof of the Collapse of Civilization: UGGS

It's in the NAME people UGGLY UGGS!!!Maybe, again, they are comfortable. Maybe they keep your feet warm. Maybe they are your favorite pair of boot-type foot wear. But that DOESN'T make it right. I would suggest trying the same experiment as above; however, an even better thing to do is this: Since they are SO expensive and since you may have waited months to get your ugly-ass pair of boots, donate them to the local Salvation Army or Goodwill and let them profit from your mistake. Better yet, if you need your money back, call the company and complain about how ugly they are. The worst that could happen is they give you a free second pair---UGH, I mean UGG!

#2. "Truthiness" in News Broadcasting: The Rise of Faux News

The word 'truthiness', first coined by Stephen Colbert (pictured) on his conservative news program on Comedy Central--a bastion of hard-hitting journalism--is what he defines as a gut-feeling that he gets about the world, much in the way that GW Bush knew things "in his gut" rather than up there in his wishy-washy, elitist head. Unfortunately, truthiness in news broadcasting has become a dangerous proponent of opinion-based "news" 60% of all the programs on Fox News Channel are NOT news programs, but opinion programs. Further, the 40% of news programs tend to then "report" on the hearsay and conjecture that their sister opinion programs throw out into the void of media. Truthiness in the way Colbert imparts it is heart-warming, poking fun at those idiots at Fox who either dumb themselves down to appeal to the audience of yokels watching or who use emotional outbursts and machismo to, hmmmmmm. . . appeal to the audience of yokels watching. If I could have truthiness from Colbert and some semblence of truth from what passes as news, rather than continuous reporting on Michael Jackson's trial or Tiger Wood's affairs or some other bullsh*t, that would be aight.

#1. Republicans: The Party of NO

Need I say more?

Shameless Acts of Cuteness -- 12/10/09

2009-12-10T13:40:00.000-08:00

What? You don't like my sweater? It's cold outside, dude!

"Fair" and "Balanced" "News" Coverage: Or Why Fox News Cannot Add

2009-12-09T11:17:00.000-08:00

Did Fox News falsify the numbers on a recent Rasmussen poll to support their own theories on Global Warming? Looks like it. Otherwise, Fox News is so good that it comes with its own extra, added 20%! Just like shampoo or cereal. Fox News, now with 20% more BULLSH*T! I thought it couldn't be done ;)

Shameless Acts of Cuteness -- 12/6/09

2009-12-06T13:37:00.000-08:00

Bigots, Bigots Everwhere. . .Especially in the NYS Senate

2009-12-03T09:01:00.000-08:00

The dictionary definition of a bigot breaks down the component parts that hold back progress in the U.S. "A person who regards his own faith and views in matters of religion as unquestionably right, and any belief or opinion opposed to or differing from them as unreasonable or wicked. In an extended sense, a person who is intolerant of opinions which conflict with his own, as in politics or morals; one obstinately and blindly devoted to his own church, party, belief, or opinion.[1913 Webster]"

Many of the New York State Senators yesterday noted that the civil rights of marriage should be extended to every citizen, regardless of whom they love. Any rational human being should be able to agree that establishing equal rights is the RIGHT thing for a state senator to accomplish; however, when put to the test, bigotry and hatred won out. It is my opinion (and possibly a fact) that the reason this issue has stalled so often in so many states, whether through referendum or in the legislature, has more to do with the misgivings most of us have about marriage. For years, many gays that I knew didn't even care about this issue because marriage was for the straights. It reinforced monogamy upon the polyamorphously perverse. Most gays I knew WANTED to be sexually free and not tied down to "the one". Mr. Right was always Mr. Right-Now. It's not only the gays that have misgivings about marriage! Ask the 50% of straight people who have gone through divorce how they feel about marriage. Almost anyone will acknowledge that everyone deserves the same rights and protections under the law, until something as controversial as Gays or Marriage comes up. Then, for some reason, they hide behind the bigotry of so-called morality. Legislators everywhere acknowledge that gay marriage will happen eventually. "It is inevitable", they say. "Maybe not today, but some day". In the meantime, how about some reparations? If those out there who are seeking equal marriage rights cannot get them, how about they stop paying taxes until they do? How about they stop supporting a government that would oppress them and make them second-class citizens. Why wouldn't that be appropriate?

But bigots are everywhere. Not just in politics. They sway public opinion and the tyranny of the majority makes rash decisions that harm others knowingly.

I've always warned against the dangers of tacit agreement. As a non-believer, it is much easier for me to see the rational side of a controversial issue. Having so many close friends who still identify as Christian, they always stop me with "Hey, not all Christians hate the gays!" My point isn't that all Christians are bad, but that when you attend a church you are tacitly accepting that churches' ideology. Churches are political machines more and more these days and their tax-exempt status is protected by the First Amendment regardless of this dangerous intermingling of Church and State. I'm not sure many Christians would be happy if the moral underpinnings of the Islamic faith were influencing policy and politics in America!

Christian friends must realize that while they may have a personal relationship with God the money they are tithing to the church can be working against their own individual beliefs. Actively question the motives of your church! If you find yourself at odds, do not be a part of the machine. Do not enable hypocrasy and bigotry!

Bad Michelle Bachmann! Repug Dream Ticket: Palin/Bachmann 2012

2009-12-01T10:37:00.000-08:00

This<--- is crazy Michelle Bachmann, U.S. Representative from the 6th Congressional District of Minnesota and the runner up for this year' first annual Tea Party Queen (Of course, Sarah is the winner this year). Ms. Bachmann, a staunch opponent of any federal stimulus funds to help her constituents, now has the distinction of being the congressperson whose "district has the highest number of foreclosures".

Wow! I guess when you are a teabagger, your constituents really are ONLY gonna get a bag in the face!
My question is this: How did this woman win a second term? Did she help issue these faulty home loans in her first term as a way to win over voters? Maybe she should go back to the pageant circuit with Sarah and stick to it!

Religious Hypocrisy: Bad Rick Warren

2009-11-30T08:34:00.000-08:00

Intolerance can get ugly. As "Pastor" Warren makes the rounds again, for some odd reason (he must have a book coming out), he has decided to keep mum on a very important issue in Ugandan politics. "Why", you make ask, "why is Rick Warren, the super-church wonder boy, involved in Ugandan politics?" Well, as you may remember, his "ministry" does work in Africa, helping them to burn condoms and conduct witch hunts. I guess it would be easier to overlook this blustering blowhard if his congregation weren't 20,000 strong in California. And to top it all off, he made the baby Jesus cry! It is the ultimate in hypocrisy to call abortion a "genocide" but to not condemn proposed Ugandan laws to exterminate homosexuals. Bad Rick Warren!

Shameless Acts of Cuteness -- 11/24/09

2009-11-24T08:53:00.000-08:00

why you leaving me out here? Huh?

Today's Object of Scrutiny: Palin Supporters

2009-11-23T08:55:00.000-08:00

Basically, in this clip taken from a book-signing in Columbus, Ohio, they can speak for themselves. I just want to add one point: Idiocy should NOT be considered an American value!

Bad Catholic Bishop Thomas Tobin: Weekend Scorn Edition

2009-11-22T13:04:00.000-08:00

Catholic Bishop Thomas Tobin, under direction from the former Cardinal Ratzinger in 2004 (now he's a pope or something like that), has given the order to refuse Democratic Representative Patrick Kennedy the rites of holy communion. Wow! Without committing the "sin" of abortion himself, Rep. Kennedy has somehow now been denied the body of Christ. Isn't it interesting though, that back in 2004, Cardinal Ratzinger was kind enough to let Catholics know, however, that "if a Catholic thinks a candidate's positions on other issues outweigh the difference on abortion, a vote for that candidate would not be considered sinful." So Catholics, go ahead and vote for the last remaining Kennedy in politics--just know that in doing so, he cannot get into heaven because of his "obstinate persistence" to give women the rights to their own bodies! Well, obviously, this personal vendetta violates every intention of the separation of church and state and Bishop Tobin should be ashamed of himself! Just another reason for the Federal Government to deny churches who practice political manipulation from the pulpit tax exempt status! Let them pay for Universal Health Care coverage!

Shameless Acts of Cuteness -- 11/20/09

2009-11-20T16:55:00.000-08:00

Boo Boo
Ball Ball

Even Later Why-So-Serious Midday Comedy Break

2009-11-20T16:51:00.000-08:00

Buffy the Edward Cullen Slayer

Late-In-The-Day Scorn--A Helpful Heaping

2009-11-20T14:55:00.000-08:00

BULLIES!

Bullies, it seems, are everywhere. They are in the schools, sometimes even disguised as teachers. Sometimes they are on the sport's field. Sometimes, they are groups of holier-than-though holy men. Sometimes the bullying just goes too far. Unfortunately, all of these four instances of bullying happened within the last several days.

Shameless Acts of Cuteness

2009-11-19T13:41:00.001-08:00

Me and My BooBoo

Why-So-Serious Midday Comedy Break

2009-11-19T13:34:00.001-08:00

Funny Movies

Facebook Friend Fave Post of the Day

2009-11-19T09:23:00.000-08:00

have you ever noticed that after Monday and Tuesday even the calendar says WTF?

-courtesy of the lovely and talented MJ Newman

Bad Ben Nelson (D)-Nebraska

2009-11-19T09:06:00.000-08:00

So, unfortunately, a Democrat will be the first individual I heap my scorn upon. Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska, a gentleman with much more power than he should have, given that he represents less than 1% of the people in the United States yet holds a powerful Senate seat, has been one of the holdouts in the Democratic majority fighting against health care reform.
HMMM. . . wonder why? Could it be that he has ties to the health insurance industry? Could it be that he, and several other Senators are "top recipients of campaign contributions from the health insurance industry and have former staffers working for the industry"?

Well, that just makes him today's turkey! Even though his constituents overwhelmingly support the public option, Nelson continues to hem and haw and threaten to "derail reform". So my question for Senator Nelson is this: whom do you represent? Is it the less than 2 million residents of the great state of Nebraska or the three major health insurance providers with whom you have ties? Contributions from the industry in the last campaign cycle to Senator Nelson totalled over $91,000, so it seems a bit suspicious to me that he, along with two other Democratic holdouts (Mary Landrieu (D)-Louisiana and Blanche Lincoln(D)-Arkansas) should be vocal opponents of reform while their consituents call for it overwhelmingly! Luckily, the Senate version of health care reform includes an abortion compromise and seems to be the most viable yet, and should move through the Senate vote easily if not for the threats of one Mr. Nelson. Get your priorities straight Mr. Nelson! Maybe we should threaten to take away his health care plan!

Shameless Acts of Cuteness

2009-11-18T20:01:00.000-08:00

Facebook Friend Fave Post of the Day

2009-11-18T11:45:00.000-08:00

Revjen Miller wants a cage match against Elizabeth Hasselbeck.

--courtesy of Reverend Jen Miller

Why-So-Serious Midday Comedy Break

2009-11-18T11:38:00.000-08:00

Stupak-Pitts -- It Really is the Pitts!

2009-11-18T08:31:00.000-08:00

The historic health care bill recently passed in the House is a great first step toward health coverage for every American. However, the Stupak-Pitts amendment to the bill will "produce industry-wide effects, leading to the elimination of health plan coverage for nearly all medically indicated abortions."

Seems to deflate all the balloons at what otherwise would have been a great party, huh? To appease those socially conservative Democrats in the South and Midwest and to acquire their votes,Stupak-Pitts was intended to prohibit ANY federal funds being used to cover the expense of abortion. Welcome, everyone, to the Great State of Mississippi! I want to use Mississippi as a shining example of women's rights, and come back to the implications of Stupak-Pitts. Mississippi, where the age of legal sexual consent is 16, with a small stipulation: "If the female is over 12, the status[of 16] applies only to virgins." Previous sexual exposure brings the age of consent down to 12!!! Nowhere in this law does it say "consensual" sexual exposure, mind you. Now on to the abortion laws in Mississippi. Without BOTH parent's consent (in writing from the mother) no woman under the age of 18 may acquire an abortion. Currently, in the state of Mississippi, there is ONE abortion clinic! The fact that the state has the highest teen birth rate (68.4 per 1000) comes as no surprise.

The state of Mississippi has been lauded by the nation's oldest pro-life organization, Americans United for Life (AUL) as an example for the nation, where over 10 laws limiting abortion access have been passed in the last decade. The number of teen births in a state seems to be directly connected to the proportion of legal barriers in place in a state barring women from acquiring abortion. In the poorest of states, such as Mississippi, health care coverage that does not allow access to abortion to poor teens and women in the state will perpetuate this trend. As health care coverage becomes more and more realistic, federal restriction against women's rights to abortion, even if only a financial restraint, represents another tedious and treacherous hurdle for Health Care Reform. The bill will now most likely falter in the Senate. Day Two: Bad House of Representatives!

Late-Nite Video

2009-11-17T21:36:00.001-08:00

Shameless Acts of Cuteness

2009-11-17T15:23:00.000-08:00

Wanna kiss?

Facebook Friend Fave Post of the Day

2009-11-17T13:26:00.000-08:00

:| Oh boy, the Serkis just rolled into town (a.k.a. the guy who looks like Gollum).

-Courtesy of the lovely Deana Z.

Why-So-Serious Midday Comedy Break

2009-11-17T10:19:00.000-08:00

Here at NAR, we (the royal 'we' as in me and the mouse in my pocket) strive to provide you with cutting-edge commentary from our lofty post high above the experience of common, everyday mendacity.
With that in mind, here is your first, daily sampling of funny:

For Starters. . .

2009-11-17T08:43:00.001-08:00

Hmmm. Where to begin. . .

With so many individuals and organizations to choose from, it seems a bit difficult to lock onto one deserving enough of my ridicule and scorn. I could start with the obvious gang of regulars. You know, your O'Reilly's, Beck's, or Limbaugh's of the world. I even hear that Sarah Palin has a new work of fiction about to hit the bargain bins just in time for the holiday season (ahem. . . I mean X-mas for you purists).
I think, though, that I should start big. Maybe I should go after an entire body of politicians who cannot seem to "do the right thing". Congress.

I could single out a group of legislators, like the Blue-Dog Democrats, who just cannot seem to shake loose from the shackles of those pesky Health Industry Lobbyists, pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into re-election campaigns or writing (for them) talking points about Health Care Reform, but it seems too small a target. I could go after just the Republicans who cannot seem to grasp reality at all, even when it smacks them in the face. I could simply deride Minority Leader Bohner's orange hue, but that just seems petty and like something the politically-charged version of Perez Hilton would do (yuck!).

Rather, I think I will take on the entire lot of them! Why not, cause when it comes to reform, this legislative body could start at home:

Dozens in Congress Under Ethics Inquiry. It's a very sad state of affairs when the greatest legislative body in the United States cannot monitor its own ethics when it comes to Lobbyists.

It's a real possibility that Lobbying might just be a major deterent to progress--don't ya think (thanks Sarah!)? To whom do our congresspeople answer? Constituents or the groups that offer them gifts as they try to buy votes? When members of the Ethics Committee in Congress themselves come under fire, will real Lobby Reform happen? Bloody unlikely!

I would definitely appreciate a congressional body that did the responsible thing for once, rather than the thing that had the money backing it all the time. (Ahem. . . health care please!)

Anyway, why would the Obama administration take issue with these Lobbyists? Isn't it interesting that upon assuming office Obama Bars Lobbyists from His Administration. In fact, the Obama Administration has continued its "No Lobbyist" ban through even last week as reported: White House/ Lobbyists Still At Odds

Could it be that our new president sees the ethical challenges faced in Congress presented by these Lobbyists? Could it be that he wants to avoid exactly these types of scandals, everpresent in our current legislative system? It may appear that I am after the Lobbyists here in my first post; however, self-interest will never die. Companies and organizations will ALWAYS be in the business of self-preservation. It's the way they are allowed to influence our lawmakers that is being called into question. Lawmakers, especially those elected to the offices of the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate, need to understand exactly why they have been put into office. Not because it is God's will (don't get me started), but because they have an ethical responsibility to make life better for their constituents.

As bailed-out banks are being blamed for our current 10% unemployment and as their CEOs continue to take multi-million dollar bonuses, the right thing for our lawmakers to do is start at home: Reform Lobbying! It's the Responsible thing to do.

What's the Freakin' Point?

2009-11-17T08:34:00.000-08:00

Hi all. For years, I've imagined that my superhero ability or mutant power should be the capacity to put the right people in their place. I would fly around the world, waiting for the moment that someone deserved his or her comeuppance. My sharp tongue and rapier-like wit would rip them to shreds before large groups of people.

Needless to say, as such a hero, I would, eventually, need my own comeuppance, but the honor of being the Put-You-In-Your-Place Man would definitely be worth it!
Every day, pundits and politicians everywhere deserve to be put in their place. Every moment, corporations and organizations violate the planet and its inhabitants. Vengeance, though (as they say), is Sleeping.
I say, Wake the Monster!
So, in my small way, I will try to cast a net of sanity into the sea of punditry, greed and corruption and pull out a "catch of the day" for everyone to feast upon.
Metaphor machine working--all systems go :)