Democrats Need to Play the Hate Card

Hello Bloggers! What did you find shocking about the right-wing demonstrations this past weekend? Was it the number of people? Was it the fact they were practically all white? Was it the crazy signage? Was it the outrageously propagandist Pravda-like media coverage by Glenn Beck on FOX?

To me it was the hatred, racism, bigotry and more. I know it's controversial, but I'm calling them out. I think it's past time to play the "hate card" people.

Playing the Hate Card

Yes, I said the "hate card." That means calling them out on a whole variety of hate-based intolerance. In my personal opinion, the protesters this weekend seemed to hate anything they cannot identify with, control or understand.

Let me be specific. They seem to hate change. They seem to hate anybody who spends money they covet, consider their own or don't control. They seem to hate people in power over them. They seem to hate anything they don't understand. I would even go so far as to say they even seem to hate people who don't look like them, based on their response to our current president.

There I said it. I think they're racists, bigots, homophobes/intolerants, and those who love the status quo so much they hate anybody who threatens it.

It's clear they try to dress it up as a 'call to arms' singing the constant Republican oppositional refrain when out-of-power: less government, less spending, less socialism, more justice, more freedom, more patriotism and more America. They spin everything using those same tired refrains and sadly a certain percentage of Americans always buy it, but this time it seems worse.

Glenn Beck and American Propaganda

They seem angrier than usual. They've found a rallying cry and a friend in Glenn Beck, one of the scariest people in media today. This is a man who has admitted to a willingness to say anything [on air] to whip his fans into a feeding frenzy. He's all about ratings, fame and power, and it's very scary. I think the man is capable of anything.

Beck is a major problem for our country. Like so many propagandists throughout history, he will destroy many lives and livelihoods before it's all over.

Did you see the visuals on FOX this Saturday? Beck was hosting all day while he narrated the protests along with a parade of propaganda featuring George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, the Statue of Liberty, the Declaration, the Constitution, war heroes and all the other iconic images of America.

Simply put, he was trying to say that we - Democrats - are destroying the real America. He practically accused us of pissing on the purple mountains majesty and the amber waves of grain. I was so repulsed by his abuse of our great American history and iconography that I wanted to puke.

He's the worst of the worst, using brilliant images of tolerance to sell lies, hate and deceit. It's clear that Beck must be destroyed.

Hating President Obama

Anyway, the radical throngs watching those images seem to possess a serious, unprovoked common-thread-of-craziness. In addition to hating any change (which is probably why most voted for John McCain), they also all seem to share an inexplicable, serious opposition to anything supported by or affiliated with our current president - President Barack Hussein Obama.

They seem to dislike or hate him, and certainly don't respect him. Most don't even consider him an American citizen.

Despite his likable nature, his diplomatic and statesman-like skills, they can't stand the man. What could it be? My guess is his skin color and/or his perceived ethnicity. In other words, he's not enough like them, or American enough for them. It's crazy, but it's true. I doubt anything we can say will change their warped minds.

Just ask yourself a few questions if you don't believe it.
1) What about past liberal presidents with so-called "far-reaching" agendas?

Bill Clinton was one who tried serious health care reform. Did they call him a "traitor," a "communist," or worst of all, a "terrorist?" They impeached him for fooling around with a chubby girl, but they never took to the streets and accused him of being a Hitler or a Nazi. They never accused him of being unAmerican or a threat of any kind. They still treated him as a legitimate president.

2) What about past presidents who actually passed expensive health care legislation that increased entitlement programs costing the federal government billions while adding to the deficit?

It's true, George W. Bush supported SCHIP, drug benefits and Medicare Part D. His health care reforms cost the government hundreds of billions each year, added to the deficit, did not exclude illegal aliens, and were supported by the vast majority of Republicans in both houses - including Joe - "You Lie" - Wilson from South Carolina. Where were the protesters then?

There is either a serious double-standard going on, or something's not quite right in the GOP.

Republican Political Hypocrisy

The truth is most Republicans don't care about government and spending unless Democrats are in power. Remember, let's all say it together, all money is Republican. Democrats can argue for reforms until they're blue in the face, but the Republicans (in knee-jerk opposition) will still reject them unless they control the money, the process, and get all the credit.

The Republicans spend trillions of taxpayer money benefiting multi-national private corporations (military-industrial, insurance, finance, health care, pharmaceutical and more) and nobody lifts a sign. The Democrats try to reform huge problems of economic waste, to make them more efficient and helpful to the American people, and the GOP rats come out of the woodwork with their chants and slogans.

Economic efficiencies be damned, as long as the Republicans can transfer American taxpayer wealth from ordinary Americans to their corrupt constituencies.

Republican Inconsistencies

If Republicans (the protesters) are so passionate about federal spending and government waste, why didn't they speak up more during the Bush years? Most of them whole-heartedly supported the Bush agenda, despite the outrageous costs, increases in entitlement and dept-spending, war-profiteering, lack of serious accounting practices, illegalities and questionable constitutional behavior, and much more.

Who were the patriots then? They were Democrats, and the hundreds of thousands and millions over the years who protested what is proven to be true corruption and waste. Unfortunately, we didn't have a 24/7 network to tout our message all day like the GOP. Sadly, most of America ignored our message at the time. Even the LA and NY Times ignored us, despite both displaying a huge picture and headlines about Saturday's political debacle.

To most observers it's clear that today's right-wing is not motivated by any passion for an honest government, but more about what government is in power. It's clear they're all about having their own people in power. Once in power, corruption and waste be damned.

Occam's Razor Proves It

Finally, for the ones who still doubt the Republicans and their media are playing the hate card, I suggest you try to think about it scientifically. Use what most scientists use: Occam's razor. The principle states, "when you have competing theories that make similar predictions, the simplest one is usually the right one." My theory is simple: we're witnessing the forces of hatred and/or intolerance motivated by fear and ignorance against something they don't understand - embodied by President Obama.

My theory (that hate and intolerance is at work) is far more likely than a large group of Americans angry about a bunch of issues they never seemed to understand before, ignored or were indifferent about during the dark days of the Bush Administration. Occam's Razor seems to support my conclusion. The other seems too far-fetched and unlikely.

Are the Republicans the New Klan?

Back to the protests. I was an eyewitness to one here in LA. I drove by our local federal building here to see what our local protesters were complaining about and was shocked to say the least. It was awful! A few wore swastika ribbons on their sleeves, and most were screaming horrible things about our president. The anger was palpable; the fear and loathing psychological.

I'm not kidding when I say that I felt like I was at a Klan rally. There were a few Obama supporters trying to protest the lies, but the "tea party" crowd was just getting more angry and screaming louder. They didn't seem to want to hear any debate. They just seemed angry and acted how I imagined Klansman would act. They seemed irrational to say the least.

I left before any fighting broke out, thanking God that I wasn't in DC witnessing the same political nightmare on a much larger scale.

I don't care what FOX "News" or any other media says, Saturday's right-wing "9/12" "tea party" protests had nothing to do with political policies, government waste or patriotism. That's pure BS! The crowd I witnessed, which I'm pretty sure was the same one marching in DC based on watching TV, were motivated by darker forces.

Even if they don't know it themselves, that crowd is angry because somebody they didn't vote for and don't identify with is sitting in their Oval Office spending what they consider to be their money, and it pisses them the hell off. That's how I see it at least.

Conclusion

We're obviously witnessing a serious case of blow-back after Obama's election victory. The protesters are making it clear they have no intention of working problems out with our team. Despite the fact that over a billion dollars of good American money was spent on a multi-year campaign and one man clearly won an overwhelming victory, the radical right is trying to annul the process. Well, that's BS!

There was an election. It's time for the radical right to stop their irrational and undemocratic interference in the legitimate political process. They are trying to 'delegitimize' our duly-elected president, and we cannot allow them to do it. The Republicans are rife with hatred, racism and intolerance these days. So much so that I question their legitimacy as a political party right now. Sadly, like so many, I see them more as a cult or a Klan these days.

Still, we cannot allow them to derail what is right and just. Their sea of bobbing placards and hand-lettered signs cannot be allowed to distract us from the truth. The truth is that most people should be angry about the legacy and incompetence of George W. Bush and the Republicans, and happy that a good and decent man like President Obama is trying to save our economy and America along with it.

Monday's Political Rant - Michael

PS - More feedback is available over at Papamoka Straight Talk. The Raw Story wrote a great overview piece (citing multiple stories) on the same subject. Enjoy!

Oh What a Tangled Web We Weave

Hello Bloggers! Most of us within the blogosphere have become familiar with the crazy lies being told by the far-right these days, so much so that "crazy" doesn't even seem to describe the situation anymore. "Alternate realities" or "psychotic episodes" may be more appropriate.

Still, we have one more "fun fact" of theirs to add to the list, and it's a whopper. I don't know about you, but I've been a BBC News fan for many years. I watched it on PBS along with the [McNeil Lehrer] NewsHour long before BBC America hit the airwaves. It's one of the most respected news organizations in the world.

The latest shot across the bow of truth was fired in Scotland this past Friday - at the Edinburgh International Television Festival - by James Murdoch (Rupert's 36-year old son and the person in charge of News Corps businesses in Europe and Asia - and probably the guy who will take over the empire one day) who called the British Broadcasting Corporation a "threat to independent journalism."

The BBC is now a threat to independent journalism!

Not only is this the worst case of the pot calling the kettle black since George W. Bush successfully tarnished John Kerry's war record, but it's one more disgusting lie propagated by one of the worst and most disgraceful journalistic empires ever to sew ruin on the social fabric of mankind. In my opinion, the Murdochs are rich and powerful pond scum.

Most respectable journalists consider the Murdochs the worst yellow journalists in modern history, and that includes the past 150 years or so. Why? They're worse because media is now global, and the stakes much higher. You may consider me hyperbolic, but unchecked their lies may doom individuals, governments, and possibly all of mankind.

Yellow Journalism

Yellow journalism is considered biased opinion masquerading as objective fact. The practice of yellow journalism involves "sensationalism, distorted stories, and misleading images for the sole purpose of boosting sales and exciting public opinion."

It is an evil practice that has led to much pain and misfortune. It should be illegal, but it can't be legislated. Unfortunately, it is allowed to exist, despite leading to false wars (Spanish American and Iraq to name just two), death and much misery. It grows within a news organization like FOX "News" like a parasite, feeding on those within who seek money and power.

The most famous examples historically in the US involved two papers in the late 19th century- The New York World, run by Joseph Pulitzer and The New York Journal, run by William Randolph Hearst. They are now considered responsible for numerous tragedies at the time. They may be historically famous, or infamous, but they were also disgraceful.

The ethics embodied in the Pulitzer Prize have often seemed like a case of too little, too late for some. Still, like Carnegie's libraries, museums and halls, it helped heal some wounds. The same cannot be said for Hearst's legacy.

Who knows, perhaps the Murdochs will try to buy off history one day, but I doubt it. Besides, it won't matter much if the world is falling apart due to News Corp lies. The damage may be too great by that time. The way I see it, the Murdochs are human parasites, and we need to find a cure.

Murdoch and his progeny are carrying the torch, promoting the dark and destructive forces of yellow journalism. The only reason the Murdoch empire has competition in the US is due to laws that were enacted after the time of Hearst and Pulitzer. Sadly, almost instinctively, the Republicans are doing their best to weaken those protections - in their own quest for money and power.

If they have their way, FOX "News" will be our only source of information. God help us.

Murdoch Jr. Warns of BBC Monopoly
Calls "Threat" Chilling

It is so ironic, not to mention rich with corporate greed and unbelievable personal hypocrisy, that James Murdoch actually evoked the name of Orwell in his speech to warn about "a near-monopoly of information [by the state] is to guarantee manipulation and distortion."

He also said the prospect of BBC expansion is "chilling" and "a threat to independent journalism." All I can say is who spiked his drink or meds.

James, unless you just fell off the proverbial turnip truck, and know absolutely nothing about media today (wink wink, nod nod), nobody would ever suggest that a "near-monopoly" of information exists anywhere in the Western world, at least when it comes to public entities like the BBC.

Sadly, the BBC is probably the greatest asset to independent journalism, since it's one of the few organizations left practicing real journalism - or investigative, confrontational journalism to be more precise. It shouldn't be that way, but it's true. It's also true that most of us are terrified by the Murdoch family's near-global monopoly. That is what "chills" the rest of us. The only Orwellian indicators we see today are from FOX.

For those who may not know, the BBC is not a monopoly, especially when it comes to the news. If anything, the BBC is a guarantor against private news bias, like PBS in the US. It protects against manipulation and distortion.

It's true the BBC is different, since it operates as a pseudo-government agency with a right to charge access, but that was a political decision made long ago. History and truth now prove that it was a good decision. Let's hope the Brits keep it that way for all of us.

Lying further, of course, Murdoch went on to suggest that public entities like the BBC harm private companies by siphoning off needed advertising revenues. In terms of international news programming, the BBC is a minor player when it comes to advertising dollars. Murdoch's point is both absurd and deceitful, like the rest of his company.

Like most power-hungry people these days Murdoch is clearly projecting. It seems to be a common psychological trait of the greedy-power-hungry-far-right these days.

A "Psycho" Right-wing Production

The right often says we do it, but most evidence suggests that projection is more of a right-wing tool. What is it? I'm glad you asked. It's one of many human defense mechanisms, such as being in denial.

"Psychological projection (or projection bias) is the unconscious act of denial of a person's own attributes, thoughts, and/or emotions, while ascribing them to the outside world, or another person or people. It is the fundamental mechanism by which we keep our selves uninformed about ourselves."

You see, our defense mechanisms help us cope with bad behavior. Think Eric Cartman on South Park. He's a perfect example of somebody who projects a lot of horrible things. I'm sure the Murdochs and Eric Cartman have a lot in common. Maybe they actually inspired South Park founders Trey Parker and Matt Stone? Now that makes a lot of sense.

So, projection helps us cope with the awful things we do to survive. The problem is that one person's survival is another person's nightmare, or a nation's nightmare. Oh yes, another side-effect of projection involves never taking the blame, or any responsibility. Sound familiar?

Untangling the Web
Slowing the Machine

Today's Republican "machine," politically perfected recently by Lee Atwater and Karl Rove, now led by FOX "News" and the Murdochs, needs to be slowed. If not, it will just keep lying its way into our future.

It runs on very strong and easy-to-find fuel - greed, money and power. So, based on my theory, the Murdochs and their ilk will continue to run amok unless we can slow them or stop them. We need to fight hard to shut down their access to greed, money and power. Slowing access to the fuel that feeds is always a good solution.

Until somebody proves me wrong, it's my best guess. Rupert and James Murdoch, along with FOX "News" and a lot of today's far-right fringe, will do their best to lie, cheat and steal until we stop them. They will also continue to soak us in their own crap. When you think about it, it's the only way they can live with themselves.

Sunday's Political Rant - Michael

Life and Death Personal, Moral Responsibility

Good Morning Bloggers! I would just like to say how profoundly sorry I am about the murder of Dr. George Tiller as he attended church services in Kansas yesterday morning. I realize that we have a contentious debate about abortion in the US, but when religious zealots murder in the name of God it makes me realize just how dark and scary our nation can be at times.

Just like President Obama I do not believe in abortion, and I would like to dramatically lower the number of abortions in the country, but I do believe in a woman's right to choose. Unlike the religious right, I do not want to see abortions return to back allies where innocent woman die at the hands of black-market abortion practitioners.

This is not about whether abortion is right or wrong. It never has been. That's just the way the "pro-life" crowd likes to spin it. In the same way sex is inevitable, and impossible to legislate, abortions are inevitable. They always have been, and they always will be. To say otherwise is simply to be in denial. The only way to protect innocent women is to allow for abortion rights, strict privacy, and personal choice when it comes to their own bodies. Dr. Tiller believed in that right, and died for that reason. It's a tragic loss.

If they care so much about LIFE, instead of constantly fighting to make abortion illegal, why don't the "pro-lifers" spend more time focusing on birth control (except for the Pope - he can be the lone voice in the wilderness) and family planning? If not, then why? Could it be their next, great moral battleground wedge issue? If they really care about saving lives - born or unborn - and preventing abortions - legal or illegal, there's no better solution than family planning. It's proven to prevent abortions and save lives!

They should also personally adopt more unwanted babies. That's right, that would save lives too. They should put their money where their mouths are, don't you think? I do! It's obvious to me there are alternatives to this fight, but THE ZEALOTS MUST FREE THEMSELVES OF THEIR OWN SMALL-MINDED, SELF-RIGHTEOUS MORALITY PLAY. It also helps when we ignore the zealots - I think they like the attention.

A woman has a right to be in control of her own body, and to believe otherwise - or to fight for the rights of an unborn fetus over a functioning human being - is nothing but a sociological and/or religious attempt to control something that is - in reality - uncontrollable. You may as well try to control birth control, or premarital sex. Admit it, it's impossible. The real debate is about control, not religion.

Until a man is willing to give the state, or even religion, control over his penis, the whole discussion is about invading a woman's right to privacy. Think about it, why don't we also discuss making "casual intercourse" without birth control illegal? It too would serve to protect any potential unborn fetus? I'm sorry, but it must remain a personal and private decision by the impregnated woman herself.

It's her body, and she's the one who must live with the consequences of her decision.

Dr. Tiller's murder is just one more indication that we must evolve in this country. The zealots have too much influence, and they continue to generate the kind of fanaticism that leads to both murder and assassination. It's also a clear indication that we need more education. Once again, America gets a "D" in debate, and an "F" in maintaining an evolved, moral perspective.

I'm left to wonder who will be next. To be blunt, I worry a lot about President Obama - there are too many right-wing nuts out there right now.

In the same way I believe the over-heated, right-wing rhetoric coming out of FOX "News" and similar media have led to actual murders (there is plenty of evidence supporting that position), I believe the so-called "pro-life" movement needs to consider the serious consequences of their influence.

My personal condolences to the family of Dr. Tiller. Many of us realize he was only trying to save the lives of woman. We can only hope that his death is not in vain. Rest in peace Dr. Tiller.

Monday's Political Rant - Michael

PS - As talked about over on Infidel's blog, murdering an abortion doctor is domestic terrorism (as well as a hate crime). If the GOP is so concerned about terrorism, they should be more willing to look inside their own ranks at the people who are terrorizing and murdering in the name of religion and other extremist causes.

Like the Taliban, there is no doubt in my mind the right-wing is the violent wing within our own political/religious system.