The smearing of politicians is a time-honored thing, as ancient as mankind. But sometimes the lies and the falsehoods go beyond belief.
A cult cottage industry is being built by the "Birthers," an anonymous bunch of (white) people who reject all documentation and all evidence* that President Obama is an American and, thus, are perpetuating the myth that Obama is illegally in office. They seem to be outraged that a black man can become president in the United States. And now they have their own Web site, spewing more venom than a rattlesnake.
They are being helped along by the right wingers of a dying, out-of-touch political party that is desperate to find anybody, even nutjobs, to support their failing cause and by the Wingnut Network Controlled By A Billionaire Buffoon.
But who would have thought that CNN _ "The Most Trusted Name in News" _ would help the Birthers get a national platform? Their patron saint is Lou Dobbs, CNN's version of Howard Beale in "Network." The smug, xenophobic Dobbs plays to the same crowd as the Birthers, who are scared of people who don't look like themselves or share their same beliefs.
Who are the Birthers? Who is sponsoring them? What are their motives? Inquiring minds would love to know! Come out, come out, wherever you are.
It is clear that the financiers behind these conspiracy theorists are trying to damage the president and his credibility and legitimacy, and they certainly are trying to undermine the Democratic Party. They have the same motives as the Swift Boat crowd.
The Birthers have gone too far. They cannot believe the facts. They are becoming a danger to democracy in America.
*
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/born_in_the_usa.html
Friday, July 31, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Doublespeak
The verbal assault and battery on Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor continues, but her confirmation by the Senate is all but certain. Finally, the nation's high court will get its first-ever Hispanic justice.
At long last. And in a country that looks more like the judge than the 100 members of the Senate.
It is absurd having to listen to all the blather and bluster from the conservatives over Sotomayor's "wise Latina" remark. Why did that upset the old white men, the likes of whom have dominated the Senate since the nation's founding in 1776? Have any of them met a Latino person other than someone who takes care of their children and their lawns?
Or is this the last, desperate act of fear at the changing face of America? Probably, since the U.S. Senate is one of the most exclusive clubs in the world and largely insulated from the real world. The Senate is where 83 men and 17 women lord over a nation of more than 300 million people. Since our nation's founding, the Senate has been the domain of white men. Only 37 women have graced the hallowed chambers, and 13 of those were appointed to the job.
Such partisan crap spews from the mouths of desperate old white men.
Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Alabama, said he is opposed the Sotomayor nomination because of the judge’s “liberal, pro-government ideology.”
Sessions, in an Op-Ed piece in USA Today, wrote: “I don’t believe that Judge Sotomayor has the deep-rooted convictions necessary to resist the siren call of judicial activism. She has evoked its mantra too often. As someone who cares deeply about our great heritage of law, I must withhold my consent.”
Hockey pucks!
Sessions, of course, expressed none of that sentiment toward Judge John G. Roberts Jr. when he was nominated _ and confirmed _ as chief justice. Could it be that Justice Roberts was on the same ideology page as Sen. Sessions? Naturally. I guess it is OK if the judicial activism has a conservative bent.
At long last. And in a country that looks more like the judge than the 100 members of the Senate.
It is absurd having to listen to all the blather and bluster from the conservatives over Sotomayor's "wise Latina" remark. Why did that upset the old white men, the likes of whom have dominated the Senate since the nation's founding in 1776? Have any of them met a Latino person other than someone who takes care of their children and their lawns?
Or is this the last, desperate act of fear at the changing face of America? Probably, since the U.S. Senate is one of the most exclusive clubs in the world and largely insulated from the real world. The Senate is where 83 men and 17 women lord over a nation of more than 300 million people. Since our nation's founding, the Senate has been the domain of white men. Only 37 women have graced the hallowed chambers, and 13 of those were appointed to the job.
Such partisan crap spews from the mouths of desperate old white men.
Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Alabama, said he is opposed the Sotomayor nomination because of the judge’s “liberal, pro-government ideology.”
Sessions, in an Op-Ed piece in USA Today, wrote: “I don’t believe that Judge Sotomayor has the deep-rooted convictions necessary to resist the siren call of judicial activism. She has evoked its mantra too often. As someone who cares deeply about our great heritage of law, I must withhold my consent.”
Hockey pucks!
Sessions, of course, expressed none of that sentiment toward Judge John G. Roberts Jr. when he was nominated _ and confirmed _ as chief justice. Could it be that Justice Roberts was on the same ideology page as Sen. Sessions? Naturally. I guess it is OK if the judicial activism has a conservative bent.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Orwellian to the max
Big Business sells certain e-books to Kindle owners. Then Big Business sneaks into Kindles and mysteriously DELETES certain purchases without warning. Like a thief in the night.
George Orwell must be smirking in the afterlife. "Told you so."
The delicious irony here is that Amazon.com had mysteriously deleted all of Orwell's books, first the MobileReference edition of the classic "1984", purchased for that pricey Kindle, then all those other Orwell novels offered for sale online. Talk about Big Business acting like Big Brother!
After the news leaked, it took days of widespread criticism and buckets of irony before Amazon issued a mea culpa. All that corporate tap dancing is almost amusing to watch.
George Orwell must be smirking in the afterlife. "Told you so."
The delicious irony here is that Amazon.com had mysteriously deleted all of Orwell's books, first the MobileReference edition of the classic "1984", purchased for that pricey Kindle, then all those other Orwell novels offered for sale online. Talk about Big Business acting like Big Brother!
After the news leaked, it took days of widespread criticism and buckets of irony before Amazon issued a mea culpa. All that corporate tap dancing is almost amusing to watch.
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