Thursday, April 16, 2009

Wow, What a Spectacle of Stupidity

Hello Readers! Did you happen to notice the crowd sizes at most of yesterday's "Tea Parties?" The largest crowd was supposedly in Denver, and it was under 5,000 people. They got smaller and smaller, with most having only a few dozen people. It was pretty embarrassing for the organizers.

Did you also happen to notice how FOX "News" seemed to forget their wide angle lenses yesterday? They kept shooting close-ups giving the illusion the crowds were massive. They had their mics turned way up giving the illusion the crowd noise was much louder too. It was media manipulation at its best.

To think, some people actually consider them a news network. Where were they when tens of thousands were protesting the war? Let's face it, they're a media joke.

There were technical glitches too. Neil Cavuto and Sean Hannity were caught estimating their crowds to be low, and later multiplying them on camera. It was very embarrassing for the "news" network that really can't afford to look any less fair and balanced. Every FOX correspondent was caught overstating their crowd sizes. Their estimates were overturned by local police at day's end.

Did you also happen to notice the composition of the crowds? It was incredible! The majority of the "Tea Baggers" were over 50 and all seemed to be very white. Yes, our senior citizens - the Medicare and Medicaid crowd - were out there holding signs calling President Obama and the Democrats socialists. It was all too much. Some of the events looked like senior citizen Klan rallies - quite anachronistic in the 21st century.

The whole day was embarrassing and outrageous for most of us who watched from the side lines. It showed us just how many Americans (thousands nationally) will actually respond to a call by extreme right-wing groups and media, no matter how wrong the message. It showed the thin edge of the Republican wedge - of people who like to vote against their own best interest. Yesterday was a sad day for American political intellect. It was a sad day in America for intelligent political protest and discourse.

Anyway, in the end the "Tea Parties" were the disaster, the spectacle of stupidity we all thought they would be. The ridiculous concept was ridiculous in the end. The idiots who organized them will hopefully slink away into the shadows where they came from. The weirdos and the wackos who attended will do the same.

The Republican party was the big loser. They now appear more marginalized, more radical, and more out-of-touch than ever. Joining the loser fest are the right-wing media die-hards: Cavuto, Hannity, Limbaugh, Beck and O'Reilly. They now look even more crazy. Do you think they regret it? I doubt it, since I'm sure they got their ratings. They're also all too insane to care.

Thursday's Political Rave - Michael

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I posted about you(Mike Boh) and your WWW/ piece artice on Ted Stevens the "small little nasty man", who will get a hot seat in hell, which was so right on. It was the best piece I saw on the WWW. 100% correct.
I posted on an ALaska site, called what I know,
Put in what I know Stevens and see the recent.
Thanks, thanks for telling the truth to America.
It is wonderful when some one writes the truth, and tells it with no sugar coasting.

Unknown said...

Boh if I were you I would stop demonizing the Repbulicans and start taking a closer look at the Nazi regime that we have in place they are more of a threat to you than Rush Limbaugh.

Anonymous said...

ASHINGTON – Civil liberties officials at the Homeland Security Department did not agree with some of the language in a controversial report on right-wing extremists, but the agency issued the report anyway.

The intelligence assessment issued to law enforcement last week said some military veterans could be susceptible to extremist recruiters or commit lone acts of violence. That prompted angry reactions from some lawmakers and veterans' groups.

Homeland Security spokeswoman Amy Kudwa said the report was issued before officials resolved problems raised by the agency's civil rights division. Kudwa would not specify what language raised the concerns.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano defended the report Thursday, but she said the definition of right-wing extremism that was included in a footnote should be changed.

In the report, right-wing extremism was defined as hate-motivated groups and movements, such as hatred of certain religions, racial or ethnic groups. "It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration," the report said.

"If there's one part of that report I would rewrite, in the word-smithing, Washington-ese that goes on after the fact, it would be that footnote," Napolitano said Thursday on Fox News.

The same definition was included in the agency's March 26 draft report on domestic extremism. Both reports were marked "For Official Use Only." The department said the draft has been recalled and is being edited before it is sent to state and local law enforcement officials.

The report on right-wing extremists cites the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing by military veteran Timothy McVeigh as one instance of a veteran becoming a domestic terrorist.

Several lawmakers, the American Legion and Vets for Freedom took offense to the intelligence review. The Veterans of Foreign Wars defended it as an assessment, not an accusation.

Napolitano said, "We do not mean to suggest that veterans as a whole are at risk of becoming violent extremists."

She also said: "I apologize for that offense. It was certainly not intended."

The top Republican on the House intelligence committee, Michigan's Pete Hoekstra, has asked the director of national intelligence's ombudsman to investigate the Homeland Security report for "unsubstantiated conclusions and political bias."

The senior Democrat of the House committee with oversight of the department said the report raises privacy and civil liberty issues. "This report appears to have blurred the line between violent belief, which is constitutionally protected, and violent action, which is not," Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., wrote in a letter to Napolitano.

The department's definition of left-wing extremism in the March 26 draft report includes a reference to violence, stating these groups that embrace anticapitalist, communist or socialist beliefs seek "to bring about change through violent revolution rather than through established political processes."

These reports are part of the department's routine analysis of intelligence information to give to law enforcement agencies guidance on possible security threats.

In February, the department issued a similar warning about possible cyber attacks from left wing extremists. In September, the agency reported that right-wing extremists over the past five years had used the immigration debate as a recruiting tool.

Since September, the agency issued several reports on individual foreign and domestic extremist groups such as al-Qaida and Hammerskin Nation, a skinhead organization. The Hammerskin assessment said many of the group's members received military training and fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The latest report has turned into a "political football," said Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif. Harman, who chairs a House subcommittee on intelligence and information sharing, said the report could have been written more artfully, but added that "it was a well-intended effort to describe to law enforcement what things to look for."

"If the result is to dumb down intelligence products that could prevent the next attack to the homeland, we will all lose," she said.

Anonymous said...

Get ready for the Obama regime to take back any tax cut that you may have got.

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said while the agency is prepared to move forward with regulations under the Clean Air Act, the Obama administration would prefer that Congress addressed the climate issue through "cap-and-trade" legislation limiting pollution that can contribute to global warming....the key word here is cap and trade

LeftyLadi said...

Michael - Great post. Did you happen to notice some of the really offensive signs those ignorant fools were sporting at this shameful event? Anyone who would hold signs that state Obama is Hitler and will fry people in his ovens has an entire brain full of screws. The Republican party is as dead as a doornail. They have NO solutions to real issues. They're pretty darn good at spewing hatred though.

Anonymous said...

"Anyone who would hold signs that state Obama is Hitler and will fry people in his ovens has an entire brain full of screws."

You fucking moron how many times over the past 8 years did we hear the same thing from you regarding the past President.

Anonymous said...

"They're pretty darn good at spewing hatred though."

Nancy I take it you never go over to the Huffington Post, the daily kos or move on. org, if you want to see hate be spewin as you put it take some time and check them out

LeftyLadi said...

To the person who called me a "f***ing moron." If calling me that isn't spewing hate I don't know what is. I personally have never compared anyone to Hitler. I never thought Bush was like Hitler so please take your hatred and ugly divisive comment elsewhere. Anyone who uses the language you do to someone you don't even know is an angry, immoral person and perfectly illustrates my distain for people holding those horrible sign. Apparently you approve of that kind of behavior. You're about as unpatriotic as they come.

Sue said...

Michael did you see Matthew Alexander, the former military investigator, on Keiths show last night? I would love to see you do a post about him here!!

Michael Boh said...

Wow, a guy goes away for a day and returns to a whole bunch of rants. Thanks for the kind words Anon #1. Ted Stevens is a corrupt, disgusting man who deserves public scorn. I stand by my words. I don't know what I can say about your remark JC except that I don't agree. I think your assertion that we have a "Nazi regime" today demonstrates a certain lack of knowlege about the Nazis. I suggest you look into it. I must admit, it still shocks me how some Republicans feel more threatened by President Obama than President Bush. Eight years of spying, suspension of Habeus Corpus and other abuses didn't bother them. Obama just bothers them. All of a sudden they're worried about the Constitution and civil rights. What a bunch of nuts! It must be a joke. Anon #2, you're just a rude idiot. You're a waste of time, and I don't think good people like Nancy and myself should bother reacting to your cursing, your stupidity, or your insults. Just like the GOP, you are becoming irrelevant. You, like the whole right-wing, are comic relief. Sorry Sue, I must have missed Matthew Alexander. I'll be happy to stay alert in case he appears again. MB

Anonymous said...

"suspension of Habeus Corpus"

Boh explain what this means to all of the idiots that read your blog, explain how Bush suspended it and how it affected you as a citizen, I would like to know.

Anonymous said...

Boh if it wasn't for me you might not even get a post. I make this fucking place rock not you. I will prove it to you.

Michael Boh said...

Anon - Look it up! I don't have time to explain just how much Bush screwed up the legal system on my day off. I also very much disagree with your assertion that you make this place "rock." I would opt for fewer comments and a less "colorful" blog in exchange for more intelligence and a healthier debate ANY DAY. No, Anon, like most Republicans, you pretty much enjoy annoying other people. Trust me, we wouldn't miss your crudeness, rudeness or ignorance. Those are the areas you excel. If you feel like moving on to another blog, I say good riddance. We'll get by just fine.