A Few Brief Rants

Hello Bloggers! In case some of you still care, let me catch you up on what I've been feeling lately.

#1
American voters - especially in Massachusetts - have to be some of the dumbest on the planet. Sorry people, but to elect Republican Scott Brown in MA with almost 40% labor support just so he can go to the Senate and vote against labor, health care reform, financial reform, and everything else that matters to working Americans is downright Palinesque in its retardation. The fact that MA has a popular health care system is another sore spot. They voted for Scott Brown despite the fact that he would kill reform for the rest of us. To be blunt, thanks for nothing assholes.

#2
The Supreme Court decision to allow corporations (foreign or domestic) the right to donate as much as they want to political campaigns may be a free speech issue to some, but to those of us who care about real democracy it's the worse news since the Dred Scott decision. That horrible mistake declared people property. This latest horrible mistake declared property people - or at least more so. All Americans should be appalled. For God's sake, even the "Tea Baggers" are appalled. The only people to show their approval were leading Republicans who crave corporate money - more than most. No matter what, we need to pass a constitutional amendment to fix the damage. Unless the people do something, this nation is doomed to a future of competitive, corporate fascism and political greed.

#3
President Barack Obama has been doing a great job making Republicans look bad lately, but I don't know what the hell he's doing constantly trying to engage them in some kind of bi-partisan dance. They have no interest in passing any health or financial reform, yet he keeps trying to dance. He must know something I don't, but for now he just looks like he's going nowhere fast. In the meantime, I just received a 39% increase in my health insurance bill from a company that's posting billions in profits. They say it's due to health care cost increases. How stupid do they think we are? If people believe that, they're even dumber than Palin. Needless to say, I'm pissed off. Do something fast Obama or you've lost my vote too, and I was a very strong supporter.

I'm still celebrating the Saints victory - Michael

PS - I kind of agree with Chris Matthews lately. The abuse of the filibuster (the 60-vote threshold in the Senate) and Senatorial privledge suggests that our democracy doesn't seem to be working anymore. We can only hope this is not the beginning of worse things to come. It's getting scary.

Too Weird for Words

Good Morning Bloggers! I hope you all had a great Independence Day! I loved my vacation! Northern California is now one of my favorite parts of the country - I think I'll be visiting more often. I even think I could live there one day.

In addition to a great time in San Francisco, I loved Sonoma, the Russian River Valley, Green Valley, Bodega Bay (all the Coastal towns pretty much), and especially Tomales Bay and Point Reyes. They were all amazing!

Anyway, the only thing I would like to say today is that I think Sarah Palin is one FREAKY WACKO! That press conference announcing her resignation made the one by Mark Sanford look sane. I especially loved the quacking ducks in the background while she complained about being a lame duck. What an idiot!

What the hell is happening to the now laughable GOP leadership? Are they all on drugs? If not, they sure are acting like it. My guess is Crystal Meth. I hear it's popular in the red states.

The idea that she's trying to claim persecution by the press and the opposition is unbelievable. Doesn't she realize the press only mocks what it doesn't understand? Doesn't she realize that she's only "persecuted" because nobody understands what the hell she's doing or talking about most of the time? I'm sorry, but it's NOT because she's a woman. She/he/it is getting exactly what it deserves.

The woman is an embarrassment by all measures. The idea that some Republicans will continue to support this freak, or defend her actions, is crazy. She is hurting the party. You Republicans need to jettison her. Unless she gets a brain transplant - highly unlikely - it's clear she's going nowhere. I think she could hurt the GOP for years to come.

She is obviously an opportunist who's leveraging her I'm-the-victim-here-like fame to acquire even more fame and power. To me, she's clearly a narcissistic, ego-maniacal, crazy woman!

She's also confusing, strange, and (especially after he resignation) undeserving of anybodies political support. For me, she's too weird for words - so I'll just give up now. I welcome your own comments, but that's my gut reaction for now.

Monday's Political Rant - Michael

Who or What is Today's GOP?

Good Morning Readers! I want to talk about the strange goings-on in the GOP today, using Senator Arlen Specter and Rush Limbaugh as tools for our discussion. Let's just assume Specter is really a Republican. :)

I think they are very good examples of two very different, yet equally retarded, approaches to an evolving GOP electorate. Both represent a certain inertia within the party - neither seems to understand how to handle the changes going on around them.

Let's start with Rush Limbaugh, who we all know is known for his rude, insane remarks. It seems poignant he was caught this week being particularly insane while speaking to the Heritage Foundation. He joined the GOP leadership - and Justice Clarence Thomas - to JOKE about the recession. He spoke about how there is no recession if you want to work and make money - like him. He was more insensitive and insane than ever.

Incredibly, Limbaugh joked about the recession despite knowing that his fat paycheck is a big reason why his distribution partner Clear Channel - who pays almost all of his $400 million plus contract - had to layoff over 12% of its workforce. That's about 12,000 ditto-fed Americans. Most of the people in that audience knew it too, yet they still laughed and applauded. This type of GOP arrogance is outrageous! Limbaugh and his Heritage Foundation audience deserve scorn from the American people. Let's be honest, they are SCUM!

So, I want to use Limbaugh to represent one large segment of today's GOP. To me, he represents today's DEAF and DUMB Republicans. They may be numerous and vocal, but they are deaf and dumb by and large. They ignore the problems of today. They disregard claims that Americans are suffering. Take for example how Congressman Eric Cantor had to rename his "listening tour" this week a "teaching tour" after Limbaugh demanded it. Despite years of damage in their wake, this group of Republicans look to teach, or propagandize, not listen.

They also have many eccentricities. This is the crazy right that picks and chooses scientific evidence the way they pick and choose morality from the bible. This is part that says America is center-right, when all evidence suggests America is center-left. This is the part that sees tea-bagging as a movement, Sarah Palin as intelligent, hate speech as tough speech, dogs as cats and up as down. There's another way to describe this group, and that is the ends always justify the means. They are DEAF and DUMB, and capable of great damage. Oh yea, and Rush Limbaugh is their leader.

Now on to Arlen Specter. This week proves the man is a Republican. He may now be a Democrat, but he's still a Republican. So, what group does Specter represent? To me, they are the GREEDY SHEEP. They stay silent and avoid morality fights, while quietly fighting for power and wealth. George Bush disguised himself as a DEAF and DUMB Republican, but in reality he was a GREEDY SHEEP - or maybe a weird mixture.

They're the low-tax, leave-me-alone Republicans. They only want money and power, and morality is just a tool to manipulate the masses. In truth, this group doesn't give a rat's ass about the American people, or America. Gays, abortion, flag lapel pins and the like are nothing but wedge issues, to be used as blunt instruments to create division. They play chess with their power, and the American people are simply pawns in their game.

Interestingly, I think Barack Obama understands this group, and may beat them at their own game, but we'll have to wait and see.

They are "sheep" because they enjoy following a strong leader, or despot, as long as he or she leads them to money and power. As long as the Party waves the flag, keeps taxes low and projects power they're happy. Arlen Specter fits perfectly in this mode. His principles are all about money and power. He's a great example of a fiscally conservative, non-empathetic Republican. They're the your-on-your-own Republicans. Individualism and power at ALL COST!

The GREEDY SHEEP are also having trouble adapting to the changing electorate. I think Specter underestimated the importance of change in America today. I think the voters of Pennsylvania are more interested in new ideas and solutions than one old greedy sheep dog. Arlen Specter-like Republicans may be adapting slightly faster than Rush Limbaugh-like Republicans, but it's hard to see the difference. You might as well watch the grass grow.

Thursday's Political Rant - Michael

The Incurious Case of George W. Bush

Good Morning Bloggers - They call us Bush Haters and Bush Bashers, among many other insulting things, but the truth is WE are the MAJORITY OF AMERICANS who refuse to dismiss what happened over the past eight years as simply "bad luck."

I guess it somehow makes them feel better if they call us "haters," because it casts us as unreasonable malcontents who never gave Bush a chance. The truth is harder for them to swallow. It's easier for them to say "he kept us safe" while they ask us to ignore everything else. Republicans, or at least Bush supporters, seem to enjoy pixellating the Bush presidency, thus avoiding the whole picture.

Bush's farewell address, much like his last press conference, was nothing more than a farce. His supporters agree with his assertions of success, but when you pick them apart, and look at the facts, they are just as absurd as his presidency.

Last night he pointed to three areas where he feels the most pride: education, drug benefits and veterans health. The truth is many observers feel that all three areas are considered worse off today because of his actions.

No Child Left Behind is condemned by educators who feel it is a disaster, and will fail in Congress next time. The drug benefits passed by Bush and Congressional Republicans are considered a windfall for big pharmaceutical, adding billions in cost to America's heath care system, and are doomed to be scrapped in favor or true reform under Obama and the Democrats.

His final claim of success is nothing but a lie. Bush has some of the lowest approval ratings of any president according to the majority of Veteran's rights groups. Visit Project Vote Smart if you want to see for yourself. He has been considered a roadblock to improving the lives of veterans. That claim is a boldfaced lie, and is unsupportable like all the others.

Bush claimed "moral clarity" last night as one of the hallmarks of his presidency. Perhaps he believes it, but most people don't see it that way. History is strewn with the bodies and debris that resulted from leaders who claimed moral clarity.

Despots throughout time, including Hitler, believed they had moral clarity or a moral obligation to make the tough decisions. It's the nature of the decisions that disturb most observers. Stalin, Franco, Mussolini, and Pol Pot all claimed moral clarity. Their followers, even some alive today, believe they were right, and acted in the best interest of their nation.

Stalin is still revered by conservative Russians as their country's greatest leader. They think of him as their own George Washington. Moral clarity is a smoke-screen. Only fools believe in it, and Bush is a fool to claim it.

Equally disturbing was his claim about his willingness to make the "tough decisions." Again, it's absurd. It's impossible to become president without the ability to make tough decisions. The ability itself mean nothing. It's about making the RIGHT DECISIONS! We didn't hire him to simply make decisions; we hired him to make the right decisions. Again, he is being absurd.

That brings us to his claim of "safe-guarding the economy." It is another HUGE and DISTURBING LIE.

Bush FAILED THE ECONOMY by allowing the financial markets to run wild, crash and burn. I'll admit the fool finally reacted when confronted with a disaster scenario by Paulson, but the truth is they were warned months before and did nothing. I don't care what his supporters say, he was in charge over the past eight years, and his actions caused a catastrophic failure. His administration failed to enforce regulations that could have prevented the crisis. It's simply another lie. BUSH FAILED THE ECONOMY.

Finally, last but not least, I would like to refute the most annoying claim Bush and his supporters use over and over. The one about how HE KEPT US SAFE over the past seven years. It is a joke. Without real evidence of actual thwarted attacks, and that his decisions made us safer, I believe the terrorists are simply long-term planners. It's just too vague and unsupportable.

I could just as easily argue that he made us less safe because he tortured people, setting us up for an attack in the future. There is real evidence that we are threatened more now by jihadists because of the way they handled people at Abu Graib and Guantanamo.

Extremists take years to plan their attacks, especially since it takes a long time to plan and execute large-scale terror attacks. It is reasonable to assume that an attack could occur at anytime. I do not buy their assertion he kept us safe. It is my equally valid assertion HE HAS MADE US LESS SAFE!

I also want to point out that Bush deserves scorn for allowing 9/11 to happen on his watch. Real evidence, no matter what his supporters say, suggests that he, his Secretary of State, and his national security team, dismissed Clinton Administration warnings, and intelligence reports, about a pending attack by civilian aircraft. THEY DID NOTHING! It's plain and simple, George Bush was the president who allowed 9/11 to happen by not doing a better job as president.

The past eight years was not simply bad luck. It was much worse. It will be remembered as the American epitome of ineptitude and incompetence. Practically everything his administration has touched has become a disaster.

From his tortuous pursuit of his war on terror, to the millions who died in Iraq in pursuit of one dictator, to the drug lords who now run Afghanistan, to the multiple wars in the Middle East under his watch, to the people who died due to his delay in helping the victims of Katrina and the loss of a great American city, to the collapse of American justice and moral leadership, to the incredible debt, to his disastrous mismanagement of the economy, the list goes on and on, and it proves that George Bush will be remembered as possibly the WORST PRESIDENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

They call us Bush Haters. I'll counter by calling them Bush Sycophants, Toadies, Serfs, and Fools. They fail to see him for the true failures he represents. They look at one issue, or one small success, and refuse to see the whole picture. Their ostrich-like deniability offends the majority of us who have suffered through this idiot.

They elected an over-confident, incompetent, moral simpleton to be President of the United States. They need to learn from their mistake, and shun the Sarah Palins in favor of more well-rounded leaders. Their vote needs to be based on more than one issue. They need to be more careful next time.

Friday's Political Rant #1 - Michael

Joe the Plumber Scares the Hell Out of Me

Good Morning Bloggers - The latest gossip out of the recent election is AWESOME! Didn't you hear? The Raw Story is reporting this morning on a Glenn - "wow, the man is nuts" - Beck interview where "Joe the Plumber" supposedly said that John McCain made him "feel dirty" and that Sarah Palin was "the real thing."

I'm sorry, but this is both hilarious and frightening! The random guy that John McCain and the Republican Party made their mascot - Joe "the Plumber" Wurzelbacher - said that he felt “dirty” after “being on the campaign trail and seeing some of the things that take place.” The really funny/sad part is what he said after he had a one-on-one meeting with McCain.

"I asked him some pretty direct questions...they appalled me, absolutely. I was angry. In fact, I wanted to get off the bus after I talked to him.” Asked why he stuck by McCain's side despite being "appalled" by the candidate, he said, “honestly, because the thought of Barack Obama as president scares me even more.” Unfreakinbelieveable!!!!! Is this guy for real?

“Sarah Palin is absolutely the real deal,” he said. "With Sarah Palin, I don't want to say I felt a presence but she definitely had energy and she definitely went to work for [the] American people, and it disgusts me on how often they try to bash her just for her sincerity. It's just, you know, she really wants to work for America and I mean, I wish people would listen to her and let them, and let her work for us. You know, she wants to serve us. She's not looking for power."

Excuse me Joe, but we did LISTEN. We tried to LISTEN more, but the campaign wouldn't let us. In the end, WE DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING! Did you listen? Something tells me that your judgement was clouded by something. Joe, we weren't looking for a simple public "servant," we were looking for a president.

I hate to sound like a blue state snob, but COME ON PEOPLE! This is NUTS! Sensible, responsible citizens can only tolerate so much from these idiots. Yes Joe, that judgement of yours makes me think you're an IDIOT! People like you constantly VOTE AGAINST YOUR OWN BEST INTEREST! Not to mention you ruin it for the rest of us.

So, my only conclusion is that Joe is a typical, ill-informed, irrational voter? He was appalled by his candidate but still refused to vote for a good man like Obama because he "scared" him. What the HELL! Why didn't he just go talk to Obama more and GET OVER HIS IRRATIONAL FEAR? I'm sure Barack would have given him an interview if he wanted one. There's got to be more to the story. Oh yea, how about CLOSED MINDEDNESS and RACISM!

We're up against irrational people that buy into "presence" and "morality" and "energy" over actual knowledge, experience and substance. Didn't we hear the same crap from these fools when they voted for George - "the idiot" Fredo of the Family" - Bush? I don't get it. They actually scare me now. They have too much power. They should not be the swing vote for the future.

How many ignorant blue collar racists are out there? Why do they like Sarah Palin so much? Why can't they see that voting based on irrational emotions gave us Bush? Why don't they see the danger in thinking that way? Why don't they see the damage they've already done? Okay, that's enough ranting. Now, what do we do about them? We need to make sure they don't cause any more damage.

When things get better economically in this country, and the American people are once more swayed by fear and divisiveness, then people like Joe will matter again. As Democrats we need to reach out to the "Joes" of this country. We need to sit down with them before the next election to see if we can change some minds - or mindsets. We need to figure out what motivates them beyond fear and hate. We need to agree with them that cuts are important, but that lower taxes often means mortgaging our children's future. We need to become their friends. We need to educate, not intimidate. So, who's with me? Let's DO IT!

Wednesday's Political Rant and Opinion #1 - Michael

Political Rave: It's Kinda Funny and Sad

Hello Bloggers - In what I could only describe as Leave It To Beaver meets Father Knows Best, something that resembles Republican naivety out of the fifties, a political action committee is thanking Governor Sarah Palin for her "conservative values and service to America" in ads timed for release around Thanksgiving.

I must admit, it has me laughing my ass off. It is kinda funny and sad. I wonder what's going to happen next? Are we all going to be asked to vote for Ike? I wonder why they didn't get Beaver or Wally to narrate? The whole thing is a joke. They think we're out of touch. My God!

The oh-so-comically named Our Country Deserves Better Committee, a political action committee that supported Palin during her vice presidential candidacy (and NOT McCain), will begin airing the ads today.

A male figure appears in front of a smiling image of Palin and says, "We thank you for your passionate, hopeful and articulate advocacy of common sense conservative values." The ad ends with a cheesy Republican chorus exclaiming: "Thank You, Sarah Palin!"

Okay, yea, thank you Sarah Palin, thank you for being moronic enough to LOSE THE ELECTION! This has to be one of the best examples of conservative evangelical BS I've seen in a long time.

Why are they are so enamored with this retard? She is wholly unqualified to run for national office! Why are they going out of their way to THANK HER for being a "service to America?" Why do you people really want this woman as a leader? What are you thinking?

I'm serious, please tell me here. I'm confused. Pray tell, what "service" are you talking about? I'm asking you people who think our country deserves better? (Btw, I agree with you, when you think about the past eight years.)

Was it how she wasted hundreds of thousands in Republican Party money? Was it the way she insisted on handling those national television interviews with little preparation, thus flubbing them and making a mockery of McCain's campaign?

Perhaps it was the way she insisted on taking spontaneous questions on camera answering in rambling sentences that would embarrass most politicians? Perhaps it was just the way she seemed like such a FOOL?

The woman was a political menace! She was a political JOKE! John McCain is too polite, or political, to admit it, but the woman needed be thrown back after the Republican Convention. She was a nightmare! She was a liability!

Oh well, if you guys want to look like fools, then who am I to dissuade you. Go right ahead! It kind of reminds me of the fool who screams at you despite your best efforts to help them. They are the fools screaming into the wind. They are the idiots who will always vote AGAINST THEIR OWN BEST INTERESTS. Sarah Palin in 2012!

You can call me elitist all you want, but that won't stop me from calling her a JOKE! Thank God she didn't win!

Tuesday's Political Rave #1 - Michael

PS- I know that my attitude will piss off some people. Believe it or not I'm not a "blue state elitist." I'm a VERY laid back, down-to-earth person. I'm just sick and tired of listening to, and being led by, those sorts of morons. I'm at my wits end with them. Instincts are not enough. Intelligence is also important. They need to let the adults run things for a while.

Political Rant: McCain, Palin, and the Nation's First Campaign Klan Rallies

Good Morning Bloggers - I would like to talk about McCain's latest campaign tactic. While watching Hardball yesterday I was struck how the pundits agreed - Pat Robertson and the more moderate ones - that the current tactic of stirring up the base will only lead to putting off the independents and moderate Republicans. I agree completely. This tactic has to hurt McCain, not help him.

Over the past few days we've listened to McCain and Palin spew garbage at their "rallies," while their audiences shout "terrorist," "Nobama," "traitor" and "socialist" at the mention of the Democratic Senator. The audiences have been filled with boos and rude gestures. One rally supposedly featured a large number of middle fingers, along with shouts of "treason," "kill him," and one actual report of a "lynch him." The really incredible thing is that the corporate media isn't making a big deal out of it. They're talking about the candidates, but they're not talking about the wackos in the audience very much at all. It's bizarre.

This goes beyond the base, my friends (spoken annoyingly), this is more akin to a KLAN RALLY! The only thing missing is the burning cross. What do they think they're doing? This is insane. It's DANGEROUS to stir up those kinds of people. They could KILL somebody. They might even turn against us, the average Obama supporters, like dogs ready to tear at red meat. Trust me, I've almost been bashed for my beliefs, so I know how dangerous fanatics can get.

McCain and Palin need to switch gears. Somehow I think it's a long shot since they seem to be running out of ideas. After the Rev. Wright and Bill Ayers attacks they will find other ways to stir the base over the weeks ahead, while sticking to what works. Let's see, what pisses rednecks off? They'll probably move on to his "conflicted heritage," his father's muslim roots, how annoyingly smart he is, the way he's too elegant, how classy and cultured he is, the way he's too dapper and statesman-like, and finally end by criticizing his big ears. Oh yea, and he's an "elitist." Oh my God, what idiots.

To be very blunt, the people at those rallies are nuts, and they don't read much either. They're blaming the Democrats for the financial crisis, and they want McCain to "throw all the Democrats in jail" when he "wins" in November. In Wisconsin yesterday one fan said, "I can't stand to look at him, I don't trust him. I don't like the circle of friends he keeps, and I don't like his policies. I'm pissed off by it. I'm beyond mad. How is he climbing up in the polls?" I'll tell you how, he's the better candidate.

McCain's supporters are showing the same hatred for the media. Palin is even encouraging them to hate the media. She criticizes the press at most of the rallies. "It's dangerous territory whenever I suggest the mainstream media isn't asking all the questions." The crowds then go wild, shouting and cursing at the media in attendance. McCain's advisers are saying that their crowds are "spirited" and "frustrated" instead of "hate-filled" and "crazy" like any good psychotherapist would tell you. They dismiss the crowd's angry tone as "unrepresentative" of their campaign." Yea, right.

I can't believe we have another month of this crap. We've moved from a legitimate, dirty campaign, to a bloody cock fight in the deepest, darkest, foulest backwoods. When is the next rally boys? Do I bring a sheet? McCain, Palin and the Republicans are inciting anger they may not be able to control. Somebody is going to get hurt. If it isn't the Senator himself (God forbid), then it's going to one one his supporters. The people attending their rallies are crazy, and they shouldn't be stirred up. I am scared something ugly is going to happen. I hate to predict it, but somebody is going to get seriously injured or killed, and probably soon.

Friday's Political Rant #1 - Michael

Political Rant: Do You Really Want Another Incurious Boob in the White House?

Hello Bloggers - In recent interviews Sarah Palin has been unable to say whether she reads the news. She repeatedly failed to cite a newspaper or magazine when asked what she had read regularly before John McCain picked her as his running mate, saying only that she had read "most of them."

In an interview aired Tuesday on The CBS Evening News, Katie Couric asked Palin what publications she had read to stay informed and to understand the world. "I've read most of them, again with a great appreciation for the press, for the media," Palin replied. Asked for examples, she said, "Um, all of them, any of them that have been in front of me all these years."

Asked again for an example, Palin told Couric: "I have a vast variety of sources where we get our news, too. Alaska isn't a foreign country, where it's kind of suggested, 'Wow, how could you keep in touch with what the rest of Washington, D.C., may be thinking when you live up there in Alaska?' Believe me, Alaska is like a microcosm of America."

If you're voting for McCain/Palin, I would like to say COME ON PEOPLE! Do we really need four more years - and possibly eight - of this crap. I am so sick of people voting for people who remind them of themselves, or who they think is a "good person" despite their lack of experience and qualifications. We're talking the vice presidency of the US here. Do you really want another ill-informed, ignorant, incurious, shoot-from-the-hip moron in the White House? This isn't high school or a popularity contest. We need smart people to find smart solutions to very difficult problems. PLEASE TAKE THIS MORE SERIOUSLY!

Wednesday's Political Rant #2 - Michael