Say What You Mean
filed under politics
Standing By Obama
My fingers are crossed that tomorrow turns out well and that Mr. Barack Obama becomes our next US President. So in honor of his valor and great inspiration throughout an historic race, I want to share a wonderful uplifting video that a friend sent me. Street musicians all around world were brought together to create a killer version of Ben E. King’s Stand by Me. Some how this feels appropriate to me the evening before the election and with the passing of Obama’s grandmother.
Thomas Frank is My New Hero
The fawning letter I quickly wrote Thomas Frank after reading “Blessed Are the Persecuted: How Joe the Plumber Fits the GOP Narrative,” an opinion piece he wrote for today’s Wall Street Journal.
Dear Thomas,
Just a quick note to say that you hit the nail on the head in your opinion piece. My friends and I often discuss how the right is bound by—far more than any unifying political idea—the notion of being under seige (by blacks, by gays, by Mexicans, by feminists, by intellectual elitists, and so on and so on); they truly envision themselves as the victims of an ever encroaching culture created by those who seek to undermine, and perhaps even destroy, the American way of life itself. In such a brief article you manage to prove both the futility and idiocy of this way of thinking—plus, I love the idea that the need for such victimization to manifest itself in a tangible way results in things like the “B” hoax. Anyway, just dropping a line to applaud your summation of the truly frightening approach to the world that has, unfortunately, come to define the outlook of the Republican party.
Thanks,
Kali Holloway
Right Wing Still Full of Red-Baiters; Nutjobs
The golden rule in conservative politics is, when confronted with an opinion, a political philosophy, or school of thinking that you don’t like, just call it “commie” and call it a day. Continuing this illustrious tradition are a host of Republican politicos and hangers-on: John McCain and Sarah Palin have tacitly called for a return to the good ol’ days of McCarthyism; total nutjob Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) is essentially attempting to single-handedly resurrect HUAC; and Republican mascot (and tax evader) Joe the “Plumber” has been dropping words he doesn’t really understand—like “Socialist”—on the ears of anyone who will listen. Ironically, the people most offended by all these cheap political stunts? Real, live Socialists:
John Bachtell, the Illinois organizer for Communist Party USA, sees attempts by Sen. John McCain’s campaign to label Obama a socialist as both offensive to socialists and a desperate ploy to tap into fears of voters who haven’t forgotten their Cold War rhetoric.
“Red baiting is really the last refuge of scoundrels,” Bachtell said. “It has nothing to do with the issues that are confronting the American people right now. It’s just a big diversion.”
As if you didn’t already know that. Anyway, for more, have a look at this Chicago Tribune article, which attempts to explain Socialism to the sorts of people who see pinkos behind every rock and Socialists lurking around every corner.
Both Clever and Funny
A + B = TRUE
McCain Uses Foo Fighters Song
The rock band Foo Fighters are pretty annoyed at the Mcain-Palin campaign. They were unaware that the campaign had been parading around using their song “Hero” as a theme song. The band released a statement against the use of the song.
To have it appropriated without our knowledge and used in a manner that perverts the original sentiment of the lyrics just tarnishes the song.
While Dave Grohl certainly isn’t hurting for cash, between this and the infamous Courtney Love majority ownership of the Nirvana catalogue ordeal, he must be pretty bummed. Guess this is a reminder for musicians to be cautious about the fine print in their publishing contracts.
Last Political Post of the Day (I Promise)
I just found this too funny not to share: The Mavericks—the actual family from which the term is taken—really don’t like McCain or his maverick-y running mate, Sarah Palin. Go here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/weekinreview/05schwartz.html?no_interstitial
George Carlin Was Smart
I was just remembering one of my favorite Carlin truisms. I don’t need to editorialize about it; it pretty much sums it up on its own:
“Pro life conservatives are obsessed with the fetus from conception to nine months. After that, they don’t want to know about you. They don’t want to hear from you. No nothing. No neonatal care, no day care, no Head Start, no school lunch, no food stamps, no welfare, no nothing. If you’re pre-born—you’re fine. If you’re pre-school, you’re fucked. Conservatives don’t give a shit about you until you reach military age.”
McCain's Ties to Extremist Group
With McCain pulling the classic Republican bait-and-switch, win-at-all-costs, sink-to-the-murky-depths-of-morality style of campaigning, I found it interesting to learn that Sir Maverick was formerly a member of a group that kind of defines anti-Americanism. The U.S. Council for World Freedom (don’t you love how fringe organizations like this always have such terribly ambitious names?) was, apparently, a far right group dedicated to stamping out reds and commies, and in fact had ties to the World Anti-Communist League (again, note the self-important name)—a group that the Anti-Defamation League said “has increasingly become a gathering place, a forum, a point of contact for extremists, racists and anti-Semites.” Just something you might be interested in knowing. There’s lots more here. Please, please do check it out.
Sarah Palin Debate Flow Chart
