Aka, slutty, scumsucking, bottom-feeding guttersnipes (oh yeah, and that guy on Fox who race-baited President Obama, then said he meant the President had a drinking problem for sharing a pint of Guinness with some Irish bar patrons in his Olde Ancestral Home) ...
This song is for you, ladies:
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Busted: The Best REPUBLICAN President We've Ever Had
Or why Bill Clinton is still known in authentic Democratic and progressive circles as 'Slick Willie':
Here's what Clinton should have said:
Here's what Clinton should have said:
That's what a REAL Democrat would have said."I'm glad we won NY-26. I hope you've learned your lesson and cooperate with Democrats to revert the tax rates to what they were during my presidency. Make the rich pay their fair share. Repeal subsidies for Big Oil. Strengthen the Affordable Health Care Act, which already contains BIG SAVINGS from Medicare without cutting services or quality of care. Negotiate in bulk for lower medication costs, just like we do for veterans' healthcare.
AND LEAVE SOCIAL SECURIY AND MEDICARE/MEDICAID ALONE."
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Spoiler Alert: Michael Steele Debuts As CNNBC "Analyst," Craps All Over The Joint
It's begun. Just as predicted.
First, this partisan hack is brought in to spin the GOP line after the most significant electoral victory for Democrats this entire year. A muzzled Big Eddie is reduced to playing on Steele's turf of half-truths, spin, talking points, absolute repulsive Republican BULLSHIT on the night of a Democratic turning point of momentous consequence for the 2012 election. And Big Eddie, because this HYPER-PARTISAN spinmeister is now "on the team," is restrained from ripping him a new one, as he did on Maher's show.
Get out your cell phones, folks: "Who would you rather watch discussing the stunning and momentous Democratic victory in NY-26, and what it means for the future of the country?"
(A) Democratic Party Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schulz or (B) GOP political hack and CNNBC "analyst" MICHAEL STEELE?!?
THE RESULTS ARE IN! — DEBBIE, 100000000 % ~ STEELE, A BIG FAT FUCKING ZERO!
Next, the tendentious, contentious, argumentative, OBNOXIOUS GOP partisan hack and spinmeister makes his appearance on Hardball and immediately gets into an argument with Matthews and David Corn. But now he's in CNNBC's employ instead of Corn. UN-FUCKING-BELIEVABLE!
What, are you bringing back Firing Line now?
Paging Ed Rollins for some SANE, HONEST, OBJECTIVE Republican perspective.
What's really aggravating to no end is that YOU insiders do this crap for a living: You scour and research the crazies, the wingnuts, the fascists, the racists, the hypocrites, the liars, the sexual deviants — Everyone and EVERYTHING from that repugnant, repulsive Dark Side. You may be inured to it, but the viewers aren't. We'll take the filtered stuff.
And you bring Michael Steele in to defend the INDEFENSIBLE?! How do you think he's going to react, Einsteins? (See adjectives above to BUY A FUCKING CLUE! Better yet, watch a replay of his shouting match with Big Eddie on the Maher show, and watch CAREFULLY the audience GROAN every time the guy opens his mouth. Then extrapolate that reaction to YOUR AUDIENCE.)
If we wanted to watch Republican spin and BULLSHIT rather than incisive commentary and a progressive perspective on the political news, we'd be watching Fox.
Go ahead, SPIT ON YOUR AUDIENCE. Bastards.
What a TRAIN WRECK.
First, this partisan hack is brought in to spin the GOP line after the most significant electoral victory for Democrats this entire year. A muzzled Big Eddie is reduced to playing on Steele's turf of half-truths, spin, talking points, absolute repulsive Republican BULLSHIT on the night of a Democratic turning point of momentous consequence for the 2012 election. And Big Eddie, because this HYPER-PARTISAN spinmeister is now "on the team," is restrained from ripping him a new one, as he did on Maher's show.
Get out your cell phones, folks: "Who would you rather watch discussing the stunning and momentous Democratic victory in NY-26, and what it means for the future of the country?"
(A) Democratic Party Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schulz or (B) GOP political hack and CNNBC "analyst" MICHAEL STEELE?!?
THE RESULTS ARE IN! — DEBBIE, 100000000 % ~ STEELE, A BIG FAT FUCKING ZERO!
Next, the tendentious, contentious, argumentative, OBNOXIOUS GOP partisan hack and spinmeister makes his appearance on Hardball and immediately gets into an argument with Matthews and David Corn. But now he's in CNNBC's employ instead of Corn. UN-FUCKING-BELIEVABLE!
What, are you bringing back Firing Line now?
Paging Ed Rollins for some SANE, HONEST, OBJECTIVE Republican perspective.
What's really aggravating to no end is that YOU insiders do this crap for a living: You scour and research the crazies, the wingnuts, the fascists, the racists, the hypocrites, the liars, the sexual deviants — Everyone and EVERYTHING from that repugnant, repulsive Dark Side. You may be inured to it, but the viewers aren't. We'll take the filtered stuff.
And you bring Michael Steele in to defend the INDEFENSIBLE?! How do you think he's going to react, Einsteins? (See adjectives above to BUY A FUCKING CLUE! Better yet, watch a replay of his shouting match with Big Eddie on the Maher show, and watch CAREFULLY the audience GROAN every time the guy opens his mouth. Then extrapolate that reaction to YOUR AUDIENCE.)
If we wanted to watch Republican spin and BULLSHIT rather than incisive commentary and a progressive perspective on the political news, we'd be watching Fox.
Go ahead, SPIT ON YOUR AUDIENCE. Bastards.
What a TRAIN WRECK.
JUDGMENT DAY HAS COME! DEMOCRATS CAPTURE NY-26! WOOHOO!!!
This is a turning point, the pushback we've all been waiting for against the overreach and extremism of the Republican/Tea Party, whose hubris in interpreting control of one of three branches of government as license to thrust radical right wing policies on the American people was finally, at long last, since the mid-term elections of 2010, chastened by the voice of the people in the deepest of deep purple Republican districts, New York's 26th. The election of Kathy Hogul, Democrat, by a solid plurality of five percentage points in a Republican district that had not gone Democratic in more than a century has sent an unmistakable message to the arrogant Tea Party Napoleons and extremists, within and without the House and Senate, that the American people reject the shredding of our traditional social safety net erected on the pillars of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid — the right wing "social engineering" that, at its core, is alien to the values of our Founding Fathers and deeply un-American.
The message from the voters of NY-26 was loud and clear: Hands off our Medicare. And to underscore this message, Michael Moore forcefully reminded Democrats that Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid are "off the table." The American people have always been there, by overwhelming numbers in every poll, upwards of 80 percent who say NO to cuts in these vastly popular programs. It is the Democratic Party that strayed from its traditional message, that has been playing catch-up to the people. Somehow Democrats had lost their voice in Washington, drowned out by the misplaced priorities of the narrative drivers in the Beltway Media.
No more excuses. The Democratic Party must step up to the plate and proudly lead the way on an issue that it owns by birthright, commitment, and authorship. Democrats should be singing to the heavens and the earth, into the winds of change, that we are the party and the guardians of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Do not be fooled by the forked tongue speech of Republicans, who have always hated these government programs and now aim to destroy them. The Democratic Party will always stand in opposition to these craven, anti-American schemes, because protecting the three pillars of our social safety net is our solemn compact with the American people — one that gave witness to succeeding generations lifted from poverty, sheltered from illness, and retiring in dignity. And also, because it's in our blood, in our DNA, in the grand tradition of the greatest political party on the face of the earth for whom the Common Good & General Welfare aren't merely words written in parchment. They are enshrined in our Constitution. They are the living, breathing embodiment of everything the Democratic Party stands for.
No more excuses. No more backing down to the forces of reaction and extremism. It's time to stand up and be counted as proud Democrats, and to remember why we became Democrats in the first place. Kathy Hogul said in her victory speech last night that public service is an honor and a privilege; that she will never forget the people she represents, and will not, ever, balance any budget "on the backs of our seniors."
Kathy Hogul is an authentic Democrat. Harry Truman would have been proud.
The message from the voters of NY-26 was loud and clear: Hands off our Medicare. And to underscore this message, Michael Moore forcefully reminded Democrats that Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid are "off the table." The American people have always been there, by overwhelming numbers in every poll, upwards of 80 percent who say NO to cuts in these vastly popular programs. It is the Democratic Party that strayed from its traditional message, that has been playing catch-up to the people. Somehow Democrats had lost their voice in Washington, drowned out by the misplaced priorities of the narrative drivers in the Beltway Media.
No more excuses. The Democratic Party must step up to the plate and proudly lead the way on an issue that it owns by birthright, commitment, and authorship. Democrats should be singing to the heavens and the earth, into the winds of change, that we are the party and the guardians of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Do not be fooled by the forked tongue speech of Republicans, who have always hated these government programs and now aim to destroy them. The Democratic Party will always stand in opposition to these craven, anti-American schemes, because protecting the three pillars of our social safety net is our solemn compact with the American people — one that gave witness to succeeding generations lifted from poverty, sheltered from illness, and retiring in dignity. And also, because it's in our blood, in our DNA, in the grand tradition of the greatest political party on the face of the earth for whom the Common Good & General Welfare aren't merely words written in parchment. They are enshrined in our Constitution. They are the living, breathing embodiment of everything the Democratic Party stands for.
No more excuses. No more backing down to the forces of reaction and extremism. It's time to stand up and be counted as proud Democrats, and to remember why we became Democrats in the first place. Kathy Hogul said in her victory speech last night that public service is an honor and a privilege; that she will never forget the people she represents, and will not, ever, balance any budget "on the backs of our seniors."
Kathy Hogul is an authentic Democrat. Harry Truman would have been proud.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
IP WATCH: Gingrich Exposes Gregory; Halperin Reveals IP's Candidate, Makes Hopeful Prediction
The D.C.-ubiquitous Idiot Punditocracy (IP) is making its presence felt on NBC-MSNBC, which is its network of choice, not Fox. On Cenk's show, for example, a dude from POLITICO said Paul Ryan is "a serious person." Really? Perhaps ... if the POLITICOs consider Newt Gingrich a "serious" politician, if that's their standard, then maybe. At least Gingrich is published — albeit as writer of shitty pulp fiction — and his enduring campaign legacy is to have coined the spot-on-target description of Ryan's Medicare-killing plan: "radical right wing social engineering." The TRUTH will out, even when it comes from a most unlikely source. (Sidebar: POLITICO is like Pravda — the old Soviet Communist Party organ — of the Idiot Punditocracy. When GOP Senator Scott Brown and IP darling wanted to distance himself from the GOP plan to kill Medicare, he did it in an Op-Ed on POLITICO.)
One-Man Wrecking Crew Newt Gingrich Exposes David Gregory's Bias
But what the POLITICO dude said to Cenk The Meek is illustrative of the IP's elitist herd thinking. Paul Ryan is in. Unbelievably, these ratbastards are still perpetuating the myth they created that Paul Ryan is the serious go-to guy for negotiations between the GOP and the White House. "Why," harrumphs the Idiot Punditocrat, "President Obama said so himself."
Morons. IDIOTS. Don't you get it? The President's been playing you like a Stradivarius violin. THINK. Why do you think (I know, it's hard, but try) the President would slip this into your bogus narrative? Because he was eager to contrast his pragmatic centrism with Ryan's ideological extremism. Only inside the Beltway could an extremist such as Paul Ryan, who distributed copies of Atlas Shrugged to his staff as required reading and crafted a budget-cause based on the neurotic Russian emigré's imbecilic and thoroughly discredited economic prescriptions, be considered a serious person. (Ayn Rand was no economist, much less a top-tier philosopher — just ask Alan Greenspan who, I must reiterate, would have done the nation a favor had he stuck to the Jazz clarinet.)
Where did this "serious person" end up? Okay, Cenk, here's your cue. One, two, three: OF COOOUUURRSE ... On Meet The Press! Exactly one week after the KING of BLING, Newt the GRINCH, made his record guest appearance on MTP, Paul Ryan took his turn. By this time, Republican schemes to kill Medicare were unraveling. Despite accounts to the contrary, the fact is David Gregory gave Gingrich every opportunity to flesh out the Right's talking points, specifically to reassure worried MTP viewers the GOP isn't out to destroy Medicare; when any rational person knows that's exactly what they intend to do.
Gregory tossed out right wing propaganda worthy of George Orwell and Frank Luntz — "Republicans ought to buck the public opposition and really move forward to completely change Medicare, turn it into a voucher program where you give seniors some premium support so that they can go out and buy private insurance" — but it wasn't enough to stop Gingrich from having a mind-melt and regurgitating the TRUTH.
Gregory tried. He used all the right language: "change Medicare" (even the Wall Street Journal said Ryan's plan will "END MEDICARE AS WE KNOW IT"), "voucher program" and "premium support" (!?), as if these GOP talking points have any basis in reality. What "PREMIUM SUPPORT" is Gregory talking about? Either seniors will have the financial means to purchase private insurance, or they won't. That is, except wealthy individuals like David Gregory, when he retires. Most seniors, MILLIONS OF THEM, will not be as fortunate. Some "premium support." David Gregory, like his comrades in the Idiot Punditocracy elites, is propagandist first and journalist (loosely defined) a distant second.
Thanks, Newt, ya right wing mole.
MSNBC Political "Analyst" Mark Halperin Comes Out As A Right Wing Tool On Hardball
Not that Halperin's political leanings are that much of a mystery. This dude has always been phobic about distancing himself from the so-called "Liberal Media" because, well, it's not about reporting FACTS and the TRUTH; it's about self-promotion and writing another kiss-and-tell gossipy political bestseller. You can read all about Halperin's anti-liberal bias here and here and here and here and here.
So why does Mark Halperin land a gig as MSNBC "political analyst"? GOOD QUESTION. It'd be quite the spin if the suits said he was to be the counterpoint to Michael Steele.
Although Chris Matthews, host of Hardball, is known in these parts as Dean of the Idiot Punditocracy, I tend to give him a HUGE pass. Lately, he's tried to be a good liberal. He's even had Eric Boehlert on his show, years after being skewered on Media Matters as one of the worst purveyors of false information. That's progress, or maybe he just wants to deflect further criticism. Still, I'm genuinely baffled at how clueless Matthews appears to be in sizing up his colleagues' political leanings. In truth, given his love of the movies, he just might be a really good amateur actor on the set of his show. But, as noted before, Chris has a good heart, which is his saving grace. He reminds me of Michael Corleone in the Godfather III: "Just when I thought I was out ... They pull me back in."
Here's what objective MSNBC political analyst Mark Halperin said on Hardball yesterday, assessing the Republican presidential field:
Indeed, any responsible journalist would know that to make such a bold prediction at this early date is tantamount to engaging in fictionalized wishful thinking. Not only is President Obama in a commanding position to win re-election — (a) no wartime president has ever been defeated; (b) he has all the advantages of incumbency; (c) he will most likely outspend and outorganize any Republican nominee, who will spend lots of money just getting past the primaries and gaining the nomination — but John Huntsman faces an uphill battle against the other two contenders (at least), Mitt Romney who's sitting on a healthy war chest, and Tim Pawlenty who is the not very credible apple of Lawrence O'Donnell's eye; but who can knock off Huntsman if he finishes ahead in the primaries. Finally, there's no way to predict so early in the game what conditions on the ground (the economy, unemployment, the wars, Medicare and Social Security) will be, come election day.
So what gives? Halperin wasn't speaking to us, the viewers. He was directly addressing the Huntsman campaign. There's no question but that the Idiot Punditocracy have chosen their next president, the Great White Hope of the Beltway Media — and his name is John Huntsman. Contrast them to Larry-O. Lawrence's obsessive promotion of Tim Pawlenty has a purpose, too. He knows, as well as we do, that Pawlenty has an ice cube's chance in Hell of beating President Obama. But if he becomes the GOP's default choice, the President cruises to victory. I can dig it. Larry-O is a good lib and he's firmly ensconced in the Obama camp.
The Idiot Punditocracy represented here by Halperin has made its choice of the anti-Obama candidate. John Huntsman has the "cosmetics" and the "optics" to be the next president. All he needs now is the narrative, the media build-up and hype for why Huntsman should be our next president. Halperin's absurd "analysis" of Huntsman's prospects is a start. There's nothing like a little over-the-top flattery to get the inside track on the Huntsman campaign. Maybe there's a feeling of power for the raconteur of the election of 2008 to select the next president. That's what these people do: They set the terms of the political debate, they believe they have the power to shift public opinion, and now evidently, to select the "next president of the United States."
Interestingly, it seems Halperin and the Idiot Punditocracy have rejected Jeb Bush, perhaps because that's who the Fox-Limbaugh-National Review axis is pining for. As long as it's (a) a white guy; and (b) a Republican non-Tea Party type, the right wing intelligentsia will be happy.
So the question remains: Why is Mark Halperin an MSNBC "analyst"? Have any NBC-MSNBC execs been over for dinner at the Roger Ailes compound recently? As for MSNBC viewers, maybe it's time to tune out. Have you checked your cable bills lately? We pay part of their salaries with our patronage. And I'm kind of pissed to see a self-promoting poseur playing fake "political analyst" on my dime.
This is for Mark Halperin and his new-found love John Huntsman (with apologies to Bryan Adams):
One-Man Wrecking Crew Newt Gingrich Exposes David Gregory's Bias
But what the POLITICO dude said to Cenk The Meek is illustrative of the IP's elitist herd thinking. Paul Ryan is in. Unbelievably, these ratbastards are still perpetuating the myth they created that Paul Ryan is the serious go-to guy for negotiations between the GOP and the White House. "Why," harrumphs the Idiot Punditocrat, "President Obama said so himself."
Morons. IDIOTS. Don't you get it? The President's been playing you like a Stradivarius violin. THINK. Why do you think (I know, it's hard, but try) the President would slip this into your bogus narrative? Because he was eager to contrast his pragmatic centrism with Ryan's ideological extremism. Only inside the Beltway could an extremist such as Paul Ryan, who distributed copies of Atlas Shrugged to his staff as required reading and crafted a budget-cause based on the neurotic Russian emigré's imbecilic and thoroughly discredited economic prescriptions, be considered a serious person. (Ayn Rand was no economist, much less a top-tier philosopher — just ask Alan Greenspan who, I must reiterate, would have done the nation a favor had he stuck to the Jazz clarinet.)
Where did this "serious person" end up? Okay, Cenk, here's your cue. One, two, three: OF COOOUUURRSE ... On Meet The Press! Exactly one week after the KING of BLING, Newt the GRINCH, made his record guest appearance on MTP, Paul Ryan took his turn. By this time, Republican schemes to kill Medicare were unraveling. Despite accounts to the contrary, the fact is David Gregory gave Gingrich every opportunity to flesh out the Right's talking points, specifically to reassure worried MTP viewers the GOP isn't out to destroy Medicare; when any rational person knows that's exactly what they intend to do.
Gregory tossed out right wing propaganda worthy of George Orwell and Frank Luntz — "Republicans ought to buck the public opposition and really move forward to completely change Medicare, turn it into a voucher program where you give seniors some premium support so that they can go out and buy private insurance" — but it wasn't enough to stop Gingrich from having a mind-melt and regurgitating the TRUTH.
Gregory tried. He used all the right language: "change Medicare" (even the Wall Street Journal said Ryan's plan will "END MEDICARE AS WE KNOW IT"), "voucher program" and "premium support" (!?), as if these GOP talking points have any basis in reality. What "PREMIUM SUPPORT" is Gregory talking about? Either seniors will have the financial means to purchase private insurance, or they won't. That is, except wealthy individuals like David Gregory, when he retires. Most seniors, MILLIONS OF THEM, will not be as fortunate. Some "premium support." David Gregory, like his comrades in the Idiot Punditocracy elites, is propagandist first and journalist (loosely defined) a distant second.
Thanks, Newt, ya right wing mole.
MSNBC Political "Analyst" Mark Halperin Comes Out As A Right Wing Tool On Hardball
Not that Halperin's political leanings are that much of a mystery. This dude has always been phobic about distancing himself from the so-called "Liberal Media" because, well, it's not about reporting FACTS and the TRUTH; it's about self-promotion and writing another kiss-and-tell gossipy political bestseller. You can read all about Halperin's anti-liberal bias here and here and here and here and here.
So why does Mark Halperin land a gig as MSNBC "political analyst"? GOOD QUESTION. It'd be quite the spin if the suits said he was to be the counterpoint to Michael Steele.
Although Chris Matthews, host of Hardball, is known in these parts as Dean of the Idiot Punditocracy, I tend to give him a HUGE pass. Lately, he's tried to be a good liberal. He's even had Eric Boehlert on his show, years after being skewered on Media Matters as one of the worst purveyors of false information. That's progress, or maybe he just wants to deflect further criticism. Still, I'm genuinely baffled at how clueless Matthews appears to be in sizing up his colleagues' political leanings. In truth, given his love of the movies, he just might be a really good amateur actor on the set of his show. But, as noted before, Chris has a good heart, which is his saving grace. He reminds me of Michael Corleone in the Godfather III: "Just when I thought I was out ... They pull me back in."
Here's what objective MSNBC political analyst Mark Halperin said on Hardball yesterday, assessing the Republican presidential field:
Wow. Is this an overstatement or what, even for a "political analyst" on MSNBC, ya think? Any responsible journalist would qualify such a statement greatly. Let's analyze it, because, what Halperin says, how he uses his free and open platform on MSNBC, has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH IMPARTING INFORMATION AND OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS TO THE VIEWERS. Let's get one thing straight, in case you haven't figured this out yet: The Idiot Punditocracy has absolute contempt for MSNBC viewers in general, and liberals and progressives in particular."Chris, I spent Saturday and Sunday covering (John) Huntsman up in New Hampshire, and I will say on that issue (working for President Obama) and on his general discussion of China, I don't think there's any doubt on both the merits and the politics that those will be pluses for him in this contest.
He has the ability to talk about one of our greatest challenges, currently and for the next hundred years, unlike any presidential candidate I've heard, with the exception maybe of a Bill Clinton. And he showed potential this weekend on a range of issues, that if he lives up to it, I think he'll be the next president of the United States."
Indeed, any responsible journalist would know that to make such a bold prediction at this early date is tantamount to engaging in fictionalized wishful thinking. Not only is President Obama in a commanding position to win re-election — (a) no wartime president has ever been defeated; (b) he has all the advantages of incumbency; (c) he will most likely outspend and outorganize any Republican nominee, who will spend lots of money just getting past the primaries and gaining the nomination — but John Huntsman faces an uphill battle against the other two contenders (at least), Mitt Romney who's sitting on a healthy war chest, and Tim Pawlenty who is the not very credible apple of Lawrence O'Donnell's eye; but who can knock off Huntsman if he finishes ahead in the primaries. Finally, there's no way to predict so early in the game what conditions on the ground (the economy, unemployment, the wars, Medicare and Social Security) will be, come election day.
So what gives? Halperin wasn't speaking to us, the viewers. He was directly addressing the Huntsman campaign. There's no question but that the Idiot Punditocracy have chosen their next president, the Great White Hope of the Beltway Media — and his name is John Huntsman. Contrast them to Larry-O. Lawrence's obsessive promotion of Tim Pawlenty has a purpose, too. He knows, as well as we do, that Pawlenty has an ice cube's chance in Hell of beating President Obama. But if he becomes the GOP's default choice, the President cruises to victory. I can dig it. Larry-O is a good lib and he's firmly ensconced in the Obama camp.
The Idiot Punditocracy represented here by Halperin has made its choice of the anti-Obama candidate. John Huntsman has the "cosmetics" and the "optics" to be the next president. All he needs now is the narrative, the media build-up and hype for why Huntsman should be our next president. Halperin's absurd "analysis" of Huntsman's prospects is a start. There's nothing like a little over-the-top flattery to get the inside track on the Huntsman campaign. Maybe there's a feeling of power for the raconteur of the election of 2008 to select the next president. That's what these people do: They set the terms of the political debate, they believe they have the power to shift public opinion, and now evidently, to select the "next president of the United States."
Interestingly, it seems Halperin and the Idiot Punditocracy have rejected Jeb Bush, perhaps because that's who the Fox-Limbaugh-National Review axis is pining for. As long as it's (a) a white guy; and (b) a Republican non-Tea Party type, the right wing intelligentsia will be happy.
So the question remains: Why is Mark Halperin an MSNBC "analyst"? Have any NBC-MSNBC execs been over for dinner at the Roger Ailes compound recently? As for MSNBC viewers, maybe it's time to tune out. Have you checked your cable bills lately? We pay part of their salaries with our patronage. And I'm kind of pissed to see a self-promoting poseur playing fake "political analyst" on my dime.
This is for Mark Halperin and his new-found love John Huntsman (with apologies to Bryan Adams):
Monday, May 23, 2011
Michael Steele, MSNBC Political Analyst?!?
I don't understand what Rachel's so excited about. I think hiring this GOP political hack as an "analyst" is a really reaLLY REALLY BAD MOVE for MSNBC. Having him show up at TRMS — speaking of "dynamic"— has been a mini-train wreck, and I've not said anything about it because of Rachel's well-publicized troubles booking people from the Dark Side to speak to related issues. You've got to be a GOP ass-kissing show like MTP to bring them on. As a liberal, it's a trade-off I'm willing to accept for good progressive (rare and getting rarer) programming.
Michael Steele is a turn-off for this liberal. Nothing personal. I sort of like him, really. It's just that he's got nothing interesting to say. To this typical TRMS viewer, Mr. Steele represents DEAD AIR TIME because I can anticipate EVERYTHING he's going to say. And no matter how cheery and giggly Rachel gets, she can't get that elephant airborne. The "analysts" I listen to, because they impart real information, insight, and expertise, are regulars like Chris Hayes and Ezra Klein, as well as other interesting outside-the-Beltway guests Rachel brings on. Michael Steele represents a distressing trend at MSNBC to creep in the direction of corporatism and embrace everything that is extreme and despicable about Republican politics (you know my term for it; it's historically and definitionally accurate) which Mr. Steele must defend, quite ably and nauseatingly so, now on a regular basis at MSNBC!
Imagine how the suits who decide these things think: The vaunted shouting match between Steele and Ed Schulz on the Bill Maher show made for "good" and "compelling" television. But the fact is, Steele QUICKLY overstayed his welcome with the liberal, hip Maher audience — RACHEL'S AUDIENCE, DAMMIT! — simply by being who he is: an exceedingly annoying political hack. Big Eddie took him to task for his bullshit. But Rachel won't. Inexplicably, she giggles a lot around him. Now that Steele is part of the "team," or should we say, "the best political team on television," I predict MSNBC's ratings among liberals and progressives (us folks who love Bill Maher and have a REALLY LOW TOLERANCE FOR BULLSHIT) will decline. But you'll get a lot of wingnuts to make up the difference, I'm sure.
Michael Steele brings very little to the political conversation on the positive side, and something very unseemly on the negative side: the homogeneization and validation of extremist right wing politics. I do not care to listen to Mr. Steele's skillfull rationalizations and Rachel's giggly retorts. TRMS meet MTP; it's like oil and water, it don't mix. I don't watch MTP, and to the extent MSNBC tries to be more like CNN they will be down the road to perdition. There's always John King on CNN and that weasely Brit as counterpoints to Dana Milbank on Cenk and Michael Steele on Rachel.
As Harry Truman famously said, "Given the choice between a real Republican and a fake Democrat, the people will choose the real thing every time." The same goes for homogenized CNN-style political analysis and fake, creepy, corporatist progressive analysis. Given the choice, progressive viewers might as well tune in to CNN. Better yet, pick up a good book and get off the damned GE-COMCAST-AOL creepy crawly fake progressive news grid once and for all.
Michael Steele is a turn-off for this liberal. Nothing personal. I sort of like him, really. It's just that he's got nothing interesting to say. To this typical TRMS viewer, Mr. Steele represents DEAD AIR TIME because I can anticipate EVERYTHING he's going to say. And no matter how cheery and giggly Rachel gets, she can't get that elephant airborne. The "analysts" I listen to, because they impart real information, insight, and expertise, are regulars like Chris Hayes and Ezra Klein, as well as other interesting outside-the-Beltway guests Rachel brings on. Michael Steele represents a distressing trend at MSNBC to creep in the direction of corporatism and embrace everything that is extreme and despicable about Republican politics (you know my term for it; it's historically and definitionally accurate) which Mr. Steele must defend, quite ably and nauseatingly so, now on a regular basis at MSNBC!
Imagine how the suits who decide these things think: The vaunted shouting match between Steele and Ed Schulz on the Bill Maher show made for "good" and "compelling" television. But the fact is, Steele QUICKLY overstayed his welcome with the liberal, hip Maher audience — RACHEL'S AUDIENCE, DAMMIT! — simply by being who he is: an exceedingly annoying political hack. Big Eddie took him to task for his bullshit. But Rachel won't. Inexplicably, she giggles a lot around him. Now that Steele is part of the "team," or should we say, "the best political team on television," I predict MSNBC's ratings among liberals and progressives (us folks who love Bill Maher and have a REALLY LOW TOLERANCE FOR BULLSHIT) will decline. But you'll get a lot of wingnuts to make up the difference, I'm sure.
Michael Steele brings very little to the political conversation on the positive side, and something very unseemly on the negative side: the homogeneization and validation of extremist right wing politics. I do not care to listen to Mr. Steele's skillfull rationalizations and Rachel's giggly retorts. TRMS meet MTP; it's like oil and water, it don't mix. I don't watch MTP, and to the extent MSNBC tries to be more like CNN they will be down the road to perdition. There's always John King on CNN and that weasely Brit as counterpoints to Dana Milbank on Cenk and Michael Steele on Rachel.
As Harry Truman famously said, "Given the choice between a real Republican and a fake Democrat, the people will choose the real thing every time." The same goes for homogenized CNN-style political analysis and fake, creepy, corporatist progressive analysis. Given the choice, progressive viewers might as well tune in to CNN. Better yet, pick up a good book and get off the damned GE-COMCAST-AOL creepy crawly fake progressive news grid once and for all.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
It's The End Of The World — Preakness RAPTURE Edition
In case you haven't heard, an octogenarian evangelist and Christian radio personality has predicted the End of The World, also known as The Rapture, for this Saturday. Aside from it placing a crimp on most people's weekend plans ... there's a little matter of the 136th running of the Preakness Stakes that just happens to coincide with the RAPTURE.
According to evangelical preacher Harold Camping, the end of the world BEGINS today at around 6 p.m. (is that Eastern, Central, Mountain or Pacific?) with some earthquakes. BUT — and this is really good self-promotion for Camping — the total end of the world will not actually occur until October 21. C'mon, Pastor Camping. That's a whole lotta latitude. You cannot respectably handicap the APOCALYPSE and say, "Well ... it's between now and the next six months ..."
Is it only coincidence that the Rapture kicks off at roughly the same time the Preakness does? And is this a sign the Apocalypse is at hand? Behold, KEGASUS, the half-man half-beast holding court AT THE SITE OF THE GREAT RACE!
And now, for the apocalyptic moment our readers have awaited, THE THINKER's Preakness selections. Can lightning strike twice? All I can say is, I've given this race careful thought and consideration to give you the very best of my handicapping skills. So let's proceed and LET IT RIDE:
1. #11 - ANIMAL KINGDOM. Naturally. No self-respecting handicapper of the Triple Crown would get off his inspired pick after it roared home to win the Kerntucky Derby at 20-1. But even if he weren't my pick for the Derby, THE PRINCE would be IT today. ANIMAL KINGDOM is the class of this field. Curiously, the naysayers whose pockets are lighter because of him, still do not give him his due respect even though he looks every bit his daddy's son — "he looks like a KING out there," said one analyst. LEROIDESANIMAUX never got the respect he deserved in his day, as a super-horse, either, probably because he's got that "(BRZ)" after his name. ANIMAL KINGDOM is the best horse in this race. In my opinion, he will prove to be a great one when the dust settles. But even the greatest of them all, SECRETARIAT, lost to a horse named ONION ... Which proved the inspiration for the satirical political publication of the same name. (I made that part up, but it sounds plausible.)
2.#9 - MUCHO MACHO MAN. This horse is a warrior, as are all stakes horses who carry the HOLY BULL bloodline. Some analysts argue he's on a downward glide, form-wise. I would argue the opposite, that the really good horses only get better under trials by fire. He's clipped heels, been hard bumped, blocked and forced wide in past races, and he always seems to get there. Kathy Ritvo, like Graham Motion, the classy and unassuming Brit who trains ANIMAL KINGDOM, is one trainer with a compelling personal story coming back from a heart transplant, who steers clear of the trash talking and imperious orbit of Zito-Pletcher-Baffert-Assmussen. It's time for some other good guys to bask in the spotlight of training a great horse. I think this race may develop as an exciting grudge match between ANIMAL KINGDOM and hard-luck 3rd place finisher MUCHO MACHO MAN.
3. #4 - FLASHPOINT. Of the new arrivals to the Triple Crown wars this lightly raced and freshened Wesley Ward trainee looms as one of the most dangerous to the top choices. In a race which promises a hot pace, this horse will be a pressing pace factor with lots of upside and pure speed. Look out.
4. #10 - DIALED IN. A lukewarm choice. This Nick Zito trainee has a $6 MILLION BONUS incentive for its connections to win the race. Still, it's ultimately up to the horse, whose best chance is to close into a hot pace with his late kick and pick up the pieces of an ANIMAL KINGDOM duel with MUCHO MACHO MAN or FLASHPOINT. One GOOD outcome if the RAPTURE is at hand is we won't have to put up with Zito's God-speak about his horses, as he'll surely be one of the chosen 200 million (how did they aarrive at that figure ... polling?) to take that RAPTURE escalator to HEAVEN.
Also consider for your exactas and trifectas, MR. COMMONS (#14), a 40-1 bomb who ships in from California as a true contender and pace factor; ASTROLOGY (#1), another upset possibility from the 1-hole, royally bred and fit for Steve Asmussen; and SWAY AWAY (#6), another dangerous closer from the Seattle Slew line, with speed that belongs and plenty of upside.
FINALLY, make sure to keep an eye out for this guy, Pastor Camping's FIRST AND ONLY choice:
According to evangelical preacher Harold Camping, the end of the world BEGINS today at around 6 p.m. (is that Eastern, Central, Mountain or Pacific?) with some earthquakes. BUT — and this is really good self-promotion for Camping — the total end of the world will not actually occur until October 21. C'mon, Pastor Camping. That's a whole lotta latitude. You cannot respectably handicap the APOCALYPSE and say, "Well ... it's between now and the next six months ..."
Is it only coincidence that the Rapture kicks off at roughly the same time the Preakness does? And is this a sign the Apocalypse is at hand? Behold, KEGASUS, the half-man half-beast holding court AT THE SITE OF THE GREAT RACE!
And now, for the apocalyptic moment our readers have awaited, THE THINKER's Preakness selections. Can lightning strike twice? All I can say is, I've given this race careful thought and consideration to give you the very best of my handicapping skills. So let's proceed and LET IT RIDE:
1. #11 - ANIMAL KINGDOM. Naturally. No self-respecting handicapper of the Triple Crown would get off his inspired pick after it roared home to win the Kerntucky Derby at 20-1. But even if he weren't my pick for the Derby, THE PRINCE would be IT today. ANIMAL KINGDOM is the class of this field. Curiously, the naysayers whose pockets are lighter because of him, still do not give him his due respect even though he looks every bit his daddy's son — "he looks like a KING out there," said one analyst. LEROIDESANIMAUX never got the respect he deserved in his day, as a super-horse, either, probably because he's got that "(BRZ)" after his name. ANIMAL KINGDOM is the best horse in this race. In my opinion, he will prove to be a great one when the dust settles. But even the greatest of them all, SECRETARIAT, lost to a horse named ONION ... Which proved the inspiration for the satirical political publication of the same name. (I made that part up, but it sounds plausible.)
2.#9 - MUCHO MACHO MAN. This horse is a warrior, as are all stakes horses who carry the HOLY BULL bloodline. Some analysts argue he's on a downward glide, form-wise. I would argue the opposite, that the really good horses only get better under trials by fire. He's clipped heels, been hard bumped, blocked and forced wide in past races, and he always seems to get there. Kathy Ritvo, like Graham Motion, the classy and unassuming Brit who trains ANIMAL KINGDOM, is one trainer with a compelling personal story coming back from a heart transplant, who steers clear of the trash talking and imperious orbit of Zito-Pletcher-Baffert-Assmussen. It's time for some other good guys to bask in the spotlight of training a great horse. I think this race may develop as an exciting grudge match between ANIMAL KINGDOM and hard-luck 3rd place finisher MUCHO MACHO MAN.
3. #4 - FLASHPOINT. Of the new arrivals to the Triple Crown wars this lightly raced and freshened Wesley Ward trainee looms as one of the most dangerous to the top choices. In a race which promises a hot pace, this horse will be a pressing pace factor with lots of upside and pure speed. Look out.
4. #10 - DIALED IN. A lukewarm choice. This Nick Zito trainee has a $6 MILLION BONUS incentive for its connections to win the race. Still, it's ultimately up to the horse, whose best chance is to close into a hot pace with his late kick and pick up the pieces of an ANIMAL KINGDOM duel with MUCHO MACHO MAN or FLASHPOINT. One GOOD outcome if the RAPTURE is at hand is we won't have to put up with Zito's God-speak about his horses, as he'll surely be one of the chosen 200 million (how did they aarrive at that figure ... polling?) to take that RAPTURE escalator to HEAVEN.
Also consider for your exactas and trifectas, MR. COMMONS (#14), a 40-1 bomb who ships in from California as a true contender and pace factor; ASTROLOGY (#1), another upset possibility from the 1-hole, royally bred and fit for Steve Asmussen; and SWAY AWAY (#6), another dangerous closer from the Seattle Slew line, with speed that belongs and plenty of upside.
FINALLY, make sure to keep an eye out for this guy, Pastor Camping's FIRST AND ONLY choice:
Friday, May 20, 2011
HANDS OFF MY MEDICA-a-a-re ... Paul Ryan Takes Granny For A Stroll
Apparently, this ad is too harsh even for the sensibilities of most MSNBC hosts. (Except for Big Eddie, but he's a radio guy.) But it's an apt and truthful metaphor. Remember when Republicans were saying that the Democrats' Affordable Health Act was going to "pull the plug on Grandma" when it actually strengthened Medicare over the long term? That was a Republican LIE concocted as a talking point by Frank Luntz. Now Paul Ryan is spreading more Orwellian doublespeak LIES with his "radical social engineering" to end Medicare and turn it into a voucher plan. As if the voucher could ever pay for hip replacements, cancer treatments, chronic illnesses, and nursing home care for Alzheimer's patients; the universe of serious health issues afflicting the elderly.
Ryan, the Objectivist ideologue, who went to college on the government's largesse — Social Security survivor benefits — and has never had to care for an elderly relative, says he wants to "empower" seniors. As if our seniors, who worked their entire lives, contributing to their guaranteed retirement under Social Security and Medicare, rather than living out their golden years in secure and dignified retirement, many no longer ambulatory, many suffering from serious illnesses, are now "empowered" to go searching the private market for healthcare from the same shysters who currently rob them of their Social Security checks.
The consequence of Republican cuts to Medicare and the social safety net this nation has ALWAYS honored through Democratic and Republican administrations since the DEMOCRATIC PARTY enacted Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid is that PEOPLE WILL DIE AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THESE DRACONIAN MEASURES.
Meanwhile, in New York's 26th district, a special election is being held for the seat of that shirtless congressman (was he Paul Ryan's workout buddy? Seems like the type ...) cruising Craigslist for transsexuals to satisfy his repressed Republican sexual appetites. As it turns out, this is one of the MOST REPUBLICAN districts in the nation, and the Democratic candidate is running even with the Republican. Guess what the ONLY issue is: Paul Ryan's plan to kill Medicare. Guess who they've brought in to do robo-calls on the Republican candidate's behalf. This guy (see below). The GOP's disdain for the voters' intelligence is boundless. Watch:
Ryan, the Objectivist ideologue, who went to college on the government's largesse — Social Security survivor benefits — and has never had to care for an elderly relative, says he wants to "empower" seniors. As if our seniors, who worked their entire lives, contributing to their guaranteed retirement under Social Security and Medicare, rather than living out their golden years in secure and dignified retirement, many no longer ambulatory, many suffering from serious illnesses, are now "empowered" to go searching the private market for healthcare from the same shysters who currently rob them of their Social Security checks.
The consequence of Republican cuts to Medicare and the social safety net this nation has ALWAYS honored through Democratic and Republican administrations since the DEMOCRATIC PARTY enacted Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid is that PEOPLE WILL DIE AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THESE DRACONIAN MEASURES.
Meanwhile, in New York's 26th district, a special election is being held for the seat of that shirtless congressman (was he Paul Ryan's workout buddy? Seems like the type ...) cruising Craigslist for transsexuals to satisfy his repressed Republican sexual appetites. As it turns out, this is one of the MOST REPUBLICAN districts in the nation, and the Democratic candidate is running even with the Republican. Guess what the ONLY issue is: Paul Ryan's plan to kill Medicare. Guess who they've brought in to do robo-calls on the Republican candidate's behalf. This guy (see below). The GOP's disdain for the voters' intelligence is boundless. Watch:
Yep. This radical Ryanite (a new definition for fascist) is one of the Republicans tapped to make robo-calls to NY-26 voters with fake assurances the GOP will not kill Medicare.WEST: I don’t think it destroys Medicare.
[Audience groans]
CONSTITUENTS: Hands off Medicare! Hands off Medicare! Hands off Medicare!
WEST: I will take my hands off Medicare and when there is no Medicare, then I will come see you sir. Next slide.
CONSTITUENTS: Hands off Medicare!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
LIFTOFF — WOW !!!
A New Jersey woman shot this AMAZING iPhone photo of the shuttle liftoff from an airliner. WOW.
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Rachel has the perfect follow-up in her really cool series, "Best New Thing In The World":
From Rep. Gabbie Giffords, a thumbs-up and, "GOOD DEAL."
I'm already getting Shuttle-space-liftoff-some kind of awesome withdrawal ... How 'bout you?
I'm already getting Shuttle-space-liftoff-some kind of awesome withdrawal ... How 'bout you?
What's Wrong With This Picture?
By all accounts, David Gregory is a good guy. But he's not a very good journalist. Set aside the over-the-top superlatives from his colleagues for his cheshire cat grin gotcha of Newt's slipup in supporting the "Obamacare" mandate. Any half-connected journalism student would have gotten that one. So what's wrong with this picture?
Oh sure, the good MSNBC political shows were all over it the next day. But the "echo chamber" concept works both ways. The fact is, the viewer demographic for Meet The Press includes a broader, less political audience, those "independents" the pundits say decide elections. Why is David Gregory holding out on his audience?
There is a reason Newt Gingrich was the most popular guest on Meet The Press in 2009 (a little-known fact); perhaps not in 2010, after Gregory was busted. That reason is not that David Gregory is the "adversarial" interviewer claimed by Gingrich — in full damage control the next day.
It's the same reason the right wing Beltway darlings are lining up to be on Gregory's show: David Gregory is a right wing propaganda "policy" enabler. The show is structured such that these people are provided an open platform to spout their propaganda, uncontested except in a very tea-parlor-raised-pinky kind of way. Even if the questions aren't vetted in advance, you've got to be a "profoundly stupid" politician (Mama Grizzly) not to know what the ever polite and obsequious Gregory is going to ask you.
David Gregory isn't an idiot, but he's a card-carrying member of the Idiot Punditocracy. They're not idiots, but they think we, the audience, are. With good reason. The MTP demographic is easily fooled, steered, influenced, in the direction of the corporatist, elitist, conservative Beltway Media narrative; not toward the truth. Why? Figure it out.
David Gregory, Marbles Mouth's annointed one, is a Beltway Media luminary. But he's not a very good journalist. Here's how a REAL JOURNALIST would have followed up —
GREGORY [Interrupting FILIBUSTER FILLER]: "But you also said this regarding an article on President Obama by Dinesh D'Souza:"
Here it is:
There are two rules for good journalistic interviews: First, be prepared; ask the right questions. Gregory is always very well prepared. The second, and most important rule for me (and any informed consumer of news) is, ask the FUCKING FOLLOW-UP QUESTION!GINGRICH: I have never said anything about President Obama which is racist.
GREGORY: But what did you mean?
GINGRICH: [FILIBUSTER FILLER]
GREGORY: *CRICKETS*
Oh sure, the good MSNBC political shows were all over it the next day. But the "echo chamber" concept works both ways. The fact is, the viewer demographic for Meet The Press includes a broader, less political audience, those "independents" the pundits say decide elections. Why is David Gregory holding out on his audience?
There is a reason Newt Gingrich was the most popular guest on Meet The Press in 2009 (a little-known fact); perhaps not in 2010, after Gregory was busted. That reason is not that David Gregory is the "adversarial" interviewer claimed by Gingrich — in full damage control the next day.
It's the same reason the right wing Beltway darlings are lining up to be on Gregory's show: David Gregory is a right wing propaganda "policy" enabler. The show is structured such that these people are provided an open platform to spout their propaganda, uncontested except in a very tea-parlor-raised-pinky kind of way. Even if the questions aren't vetted in advance, you've got to be a "profoundly stupid" politician (Mama Grizzly) not to know what the ever polite and obsequious Gregory is going to ask you.
David Gregory isn't an idiot, but he's a card-carrying member of the Idiot Punditocracy. They're not idiots, but they think we, the audience, are. With good reason. The MTP demographic is easily fooled, steered, influenced, in the direction of the corporatist, elitist, conservative Beltway Media narrative; not toward the truth. Why? Figure it out.
David Gregory, Marbles Mouth's annointed one, is a Beltway Media luminary. But he's not a very good journalist. Here's how a REAL JOURNALIST would have followed up —
GREGORY [Interrupting FILIBUSTER FILLER]: "But you also said this regarding an article on President Obama by Dinesh D'Souza:"
You said D’Souza made a “stunning insight” into Obama’s behavior — the “most profound insight I have read in the last six years about Barack Obama.”
“What if [Obama] is so outside our comprehension, that only if you understand Kenyan, anti-colonial behavior, can you begin to piece [his actions]?” You ask. “That is the most accurate, predicative model for his behavior.”
And then you said, “This is a person who is fundamentally out of touch with how the world works, who happened to have played a wonderful con, as a result of which he is now president.” What about that, Mr. Gingrich ... isn't that racist?"
What about that, David Gregory ... Hmmm?
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Premature Crowing Over The "End" Of Newt's Political Career
In the often hilarious two-day flameout of Newt Gingrich's presidential campaign, in which we learn the "king of bling:" owes Tiffany's between $250,000 and ONE and ONE HALF MILLION DOLLARS (gee, here I thought it was Trump's wife, not Callista Gingrich's mother of all shopping sprees ... they must be rounding off the bill to the nearest dollar); supports President Obama's healthcare mandate, i.e., "Obamacare;" and considers Paul Ryan's Medicare privatization plan "radical right wing social engineering"— why should progressives be so eager to "dance on his political grave"?
Amid all the political chatter surrounding the Gingrich Grand Mal faux pas (plural?), Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post managed the most prescient observation above all the excited din: We forget that Newt Gingrich — in slamming Paul Ryan and the entire GOP Congress, violating Reagan's "11th Comandment"— has taken a popular position. Gingrich has already done incalculable damage to Republican electoral prospects and GOP political schemes to destroy Medicare. So why turn off the spigot? Kudos to Gene Robinson, who gave David Gregory a lesson in journalism with much, much less material to work with. And, of course, Rachel's context was right on target.
Amid all the political chatter surrounding the Gingrich Grand Mal faux pas (plural?), Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post managed the most prescient observation above all the excited din: We forget that Newt Gingrich — in slamming Paul Ryan and the entire GOP Congress, violating Reagan's "11th Comandment"— has taken a popular position. Gingrich has already done incalculable damage to Republican electoral prospects and GOP political schemes to destroy Medicare. So why turn off the spigot? Kudos to Gene Robinson, who gave David Gregory a lesson in journalism with much, much less material to work with. And, of course, Rachel's context was right on target.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Quotable: Britt Hume On Newt Gingrich ... If Britt Weren't A Wingnut
"Newt Gingrich is a provocative PROMISCUOUS thinker, but a promiscuous PROVOCATIVE talker."
Preakness Notes: Animal Kingdom Was No Fluke
It's all in the pedigree.
There's no doubt that the top choice ANIMAL KINGDOM is the one to beat this Saturday in the second leg of the Triple Crown. He may be our best chance at breaking the Triple Crown drought since AFFIRMED last won it in 1978. I'll post my Preakness picks on Friday, for whoever is most likely to finish behind ANIMAL KINGDOM. There are some new characters in the mix all aiming to beat him, the distance is shorter — one mile and one-eight — and the track is faster, speed-favoring. ANIMAL KINGDOM will be tested to the limits of his class, but I have faith.
Lauren Stich, the Racing Form's undisputed pedigree expert, also picked ANIMAL KINGDOM to win the Derby, based on the strength of his sire, LEROIDESANIMAUX. Amazingly, this horse was overlooked as a sire despite having broken three track records (two in America and one in Canada) during his relatively brief racing career. Here he is, shattering the Atto Mile at Woobbine, Canada, in 2005. Note of interest — Johnny V. Was aboard for this win, so he has ridden father and son to stakes victories:
And here is LEROIDESANIMAUX as a totally adorable baby foal in Brazil, his great days still ahead but already with the bearing of a champion:
There's no doubt that the top choice ANIMAL KINGDOM is the one to beat this Saturday in the second leg of the Triple Crown. He may be our best chance at breaking the Triple Crown drought since AFFIRMED last won it in 1978. I'll post my Preakness picks on Friday, for whoever is most likely to finish behind ANIMAL KINGDOM. There are some new characters in the mix all aiming to beat him, the distance is shorter — one mile and one-eight — and the track is faster, speed-favoring. ANIMAL KINGDOM will be tested to the limits of his class, but I have faith.
Lauren Stich, the Racing Form's undisputed pedigree expert, also picked ANIMAL KINGDOM to win the Derby, based on the strength of his sire, LEROIDESANIMAUX. Amazingly, this horse was overlooked as a sire despite having broken three track records (two in America and one in Canada) during his relatively brief racing career. Here he is, shattering the Atto Mile at Woobbine, Canada, in 2005. Note of interest — Johnny V. Was aboard for this win, so he has ridden father and son to stakes victories:
And here is LEROIDESANIMAUX as a totally adorable baby foal in Brazil, his great days still ahead but already with the bearing of a champion:
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Okay, I'm Taking A Stand Against Lawrence ...
AND conservative/wingnut pundit George Will. Neither Tim Pawlenti NOR Mitch Daniels will be the Republican nominees for president. PERIOD.
Lawrence is banking on the premise that early polls are to be ignored to keep up his Pawlenti drumbeat. True. At least in part ... the only poll/cliché that counts, as the politicians say, is the one on election day, etc, etc. And when that day comes, Pawlenti and Daniels will be nowhere. Because the election, like the race, must still be held!
Just a hunch. But my informed political hunches are as good as my Derby-selecting skills. See you at the finish line, Lawrence. Hopefully, sans that odious Dana Milbank, the singular and inexplicable MSNBC "pundit" who is a categorical channelchanger. Only the toe-sucker at Fox surpasses him in the slime-creep factor.
I don't get it, unless MSNBC has a booking office infested with wingnuts, libertarians, and assorted progressive and liberal haters.
Lawrence is banking on the premise that early polls are to be ignored to keep up his Pawlenti drumbeat. True. At least in part ... the only poll/cliché that counts, as the politicians say, is the one on election day, etc, etc. And when that day comes, Pawlenti and Daniels will be nowhere. Because the election, like the race, must still be held!
Just a hunch. But my informed political hunches are as good as my Derby-selecting skills. See you at the finish line, Lawrence. Hopefully, sans that odious Dana Milbank, the singular and inexplicable MSNBC "pundit" who is a categorical channelchanger. Only the toe-sucker at Fox surpasses him in the slime-creep factor.
I don't get it, unless MSNBC has a booking office infested with wingnuts, libertarians, and assorted progressive and liberal haters.
Couldn't Stand The Heat: The Donald And The History Huckster Drop Out
I, for one, am sad to see Donald Trump pull a reality check on his fake presidential campaign and quit the race before he is further humiliated and drops in the polls lower than Michele Bachmann and, more importantly, his show continues sliding in the ratings. NBC's president is already envisioning a "Celebrity Apprentice" without Trump, which must have terrified him. After his humiliating sendup on the White House Correspondents Dinner — a double-whammy from President Obama and SNL's Seth Meyers — which even made me wince (empathetically, I am loathe to admit) for Trump, his pretensions were over.
Then the final nail in the coffin was President Obama cutting into the grand finale of "Celebrity Apprentice" to announce the killing of bin Laden, also satirized by SNL — it was not bin Laden's but Trump's political grave they were dancing on. Donald Trump was completely humiliated, mocked and shown to be out of his depth. He may never recover from it in whatever he does going forward. Once exposed as a fraud and a clown, it's hard to recover, no matter how many fake millions Trump has.
Good riddance. It serves Trump right for glomming onto racism and birtherism. Didn't he say something about Karma? Bad Karma eventually catches up with you. Now he knows. Jason Linkins of the Huff Post gives him a fine sendoff. And Lawrence is sharpening his knives in the wings ... stay tuned.
In related news, Mike Huckabee the History Huckster announced he would not be running for president, even though he was leading in every early poll and was probably a cinch to win Iowa, with its social conservative religious caucus voters on the Right. Instead, Huckabee turned into a self-styled American history huckster, unveiling a bizarre fake history wingnut cartoon view of American history, in which Jimmy Carter, a Democrat, presided over an America whose values were sliding (hmm ... a mere 12 years after Democratic President Johnson signed the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, extending the full benefits of citizenship to our African American residents) and scary black urban dwellers wearing "DISCO" T-shirts mugged you.
Then along comes Ronald Reagan and we have an enduring nightmare that has crippled our greatness and economy — a nightmare called "morning in America." Along the way, he talks about American exceptionalism when we defeated the Germans and the Japanese in World War II, without once mentioning the salient omission that it was under a Democratic president and administration that we vanquished not only the Great Depression but nazism and fascism.
But here's the good part; the silver lining. All those morons in the Huckster's employ who put together this crude, cartoonish revisionism/propaganda phony history of America failed to notice they had been PUNKED BIG-TIME by the hero cartoonist. If anything, this artist is the anti-Leni Riefenstahl. I was particularly taken with the grotesque depiction of their hero, nay GOD, Ronald Reagan as a cross between a toothless hillbilly and Frankenstein.
Your move, Huckster.
Then the final nail in the coffin was President Obama cutting into the grand finale of "Celebrity Apprentice" to announce the killing of bin Laden, also satirized by SNL — it was not bin Laden's but Trump's political grave they were dancing on. Donald Trump was completely humiliated, mocked and shown to be out of his depth. He may never recover from it in whatever he does going forward. Once exposed as a fraud and a clown, it's hard to recover, no matter how many fake millions Trump has.
Good riddance. It serves Trump right for glomming onto racism and birtherism. Didn't he say something about Karma? Bad Karma eventually catches up with you. Now he knows. Jason Linkins of the Huff Post gives him a fine sendoff. And Lawrence is sharpening his knives in the wings ... stay tuned.
In related news, Mike Huckabee the History Huckster announced he would not be running for president, even though he was leading in every early poll and was probably a cinch to win Iowa, with its social conservative religious caucus voters on the Right. Instead, Huckabee turned into a self-styled American history huckster, unveiling a bizarre fake history wingnut cartoon view of American history, in which Jimmy Carter, a Democrat, presided over an America whose values were sliding (hmm ... a mere 12 years after Democratic President Johnson signed the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, extending the full benefits of citizenship to our African American residents) and scary black urban dwellers wearing "DISCO" T-shirts mugged you.
Then along comes Ronald Reagan and we have an enduring nightmare that has crippled our greatness and economy — a nightmare called "morning in America." Along the way, he talks about American exceptionalism when we defeated the Germans and the Japanese in World War II, without once mentioning the salient omission that it was under a Democratic president and administration that we vanquished not only the Great Depression but nazism and fascism.
But here's the good part; the silver lining. All those morons in the Huckster's employ who put together this crude, cartoonish revisionism/propaganda phony history of America failed to notice they had been PUNKED BIG-TIME by the hero cartoonist. If anything, this artist is the anti-Leni Riefenstahl. I was particularly taken with the grotesque depiction of their hero, nay GOD, Ronald Reagan as a cross between a toothless hillbilly and Frankenstein.
Your move, Huckster.
Rhambo Storms Chi-Town: A Musical Tribute
Mayor Rham "Rhambo" Emanuel was sworn in today as Chicago's new mayor replacing our irreplaceable legend, Richie Daley, the ONE AND ONLY TRUE AMERICA'S MAYOR! So, to commemorate Rhambo's new kickass post, where the four-letter F- and S- words are just Chicago figures of speech, here's a musical tribute to Mayor Rahm FUCKING Emanuel:
The Emanuel HOPE song:
And as the CHICAGO BULLS crushed the lukewarm Miami Heat in GAME ONE of the playoffs, here's HOPING Mayor Rahm FUCKING Emanuel can be a LUCKY talisman ...
From One “Nice Guy” To Another: The Wingnut “Problem” With Women
Bill-O The Clown’s pro forma scolding of Glenn Beck for Beck’s repulsive mockery of Meghan McCain on his radio show is like watching a PSA by IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn on how to treat female subordinates and the hired help. In yet another of his desperate attention-seeking gutter antics, Beck verbally and visually assaulted Meghan McCain for her faux nude appearance on a PSA aimed at alerting young people — about the age of Beck’s daughters — to the dangers of skin cancer.
Meghan’s mother, Cindy, fired off this classy tweet at the guttersnipe Beck:
And her father reverting back to the old John McCain for the second time in as many days said, “I now think I can relate more closely to Harry Truman who took some umbrage at a critic that criticized his daughter’s singing … I don’t think I should dignify that kind of behavior with a comment.” He was referring to a 1950 Truman letter to Washington Post critic Paul Hume who had caustically criticized Truman’s daughter for her singing. Truman wrote:
But it was Meghan herself who slammed the scumbag good in her column for the Daily Beast, in which she said:
Wingnuts have a problem dealing with women as regular human beings. In my observation of these freakazoids, they were social outcasts incapable of connecting with women (must have something to do with their early upbringing), and frequently joined fraternities where they learned to conform and to reinforce antisocial behavior that objectifies women — because they're terrified of them.
You can see a window into the sick wingnut mind in our favorite wingnut rag, The Daily Caller. (I pity the wingnut women who must endure psychological bondage in order to fit in with this weird fraternity of sexual deviants.) The depravity starts right at the top. Tucker Swanson Carlson (who's funding your little operation, Swannie?) whom Rachel Maddow recently called a "friend" had no problem allowing his wanking subordinates to dredge up an old high school picture of Rachel — published eons ago by the Huff Post — and gratuitously posting before and after photos of Rachel to make some weird, specious wingnut point about her appearance: What, she's no longer blonde? ... Oh, the humanity!
I suspect it all comes down to an undersized equipment malfunction. Here's a prime example of the grandiose, overcompensating wingnut, the lecherous "manly man" who seems to think being Irish and a sexual predator are one and the same:
Meghan’s mother, Cindy, fired off this classy tweet at the guttersnipe Beck:
Unlike the wingnut chickenshit chickenhawks, John McCain served in combat and endured years of torture from his North Vietnamese captors. I’d pay to see him rearrange Beck’s face, wouldn't you? Although I suspect McCain's makeover of Beck's face would undoubtedly improve the sicko's evil Piglet appearance.“Some day, I hope to meet you. When that happens, you will need a new nose, a lot of beefsteak for black eyes and perhaps a supporter below.”
But it was Meghan herself who slammed the scumbag good in her column for the Daily Beast, in which she said:
Have you noticed how Rightwingville's problem with women isn't (obviously) just confined to Glenn Beck, but more broadly, seems amazingly homogeneous? The pitiful sexual pathology of the wingnut male is drawn to vapid, unthreatening, leggy women, with skirts pulled up to their tailbones (is that a Fox "News" dress code?), and to a queen bee of sorts, their blonde fraulein dominatrix goddess, Megyn Kelly, with her eager beaver "I'm an anchor!" posture.While we’re on the subject of you vomiting on air, maybe we should have a little talk. Clearly you have a problem with me, and possibly women in general, but the truth is, it’s 2011 and I heard your show on Fox was canceled. Isn’t that an indication that the era of the shock-jock pundit is over? Don’t you think that’s a sign you should be pulling it back a little? I mean, if you’re too conservative and outrageous for Fox, that should tell you something. There really is no need to make something like my participation in a skin-cancer PSA into a sexist rant about my weight and physical appearance, because I’m going to let you in on a little secret, Glenn: you are the only one who looks bad in this scenario, and at the end of the day you have helped me generate publicity for my skin-cancer PSA, a cause that I feel quite passionate about.
You’re a full-grown man with teenage daughters who are probably dealing with the sexist, body-obsessed media environment that is difficult for all women. Is this really the legacy you want to be leaving for yourself?
As a personwho is known for his hot body, you must find it easy to judge the weight fluctuations of others, especially young women. [Don't you love her sarcasm here ...] If any of your daughters are ever faced with some kind of criticism of their physical appearance or weight, they should call me, because women’s body image is another issue I feel passionate about, and have become accustomed to dealing with and speaking with young women about on my college tours. [More urgently, encourage them to call social services if they are being mentally or physically abused by their psychopath father.]
So thanks for spreading the word, Glenn. And next time, instead of jumping straight to the “Meghan McCain fat jokes,” maybe try out some new material. Because the fat-joke thing, it’s been done so many times, I know acreative intellect such as yourself can do better than that. [Edit: ... a sick, psychotic scumsucker such as yourself can do nothing else. Good riddance at Fox and with your incredibly shrinking radio audience/market and advertiser flight. We're keeping a running list of your commercial advertisers.] (Comments, edits mine.)
Wingnuts have a problem dealing with women as regular human beings. In my observation of these freakazoids, they were social outcasts incapable of connecting with women (must have something to do with their early upbringing), and frequently joined fraternities where they learned to conform and to reinforce antisocial behavior that objectifies women — because they're terrified of them.
You can see a window into the sick wingnut mind in our favorite wingnut rag, The Daily Caller. (I pity the wingnut women who must endure psychological bondage in order to fit in with this weird fraternity of sexual deviants.) The depravity starts right at the top. Tucker Swanson Carlson (who's funding your little operation, Swannie?) whom Rachel Maddow recently called a "friend" had no problem allowing his wanking subordinates to dredge up an old high school picture of Rachel — published eons ago by the Huff Post — and gratuitously posting before and after photos of Rachel to make some weird, specious wingnut point about her appearance: What, she's no longer blonde? ... Oh, the humanity!
I suspect it all comes down to an undersized equipment malfunction. Here's a prime example of the grandiose, overcompensating wingnut, the lecherous "manly man" who seems to think being Irish and a sexual predator are one and the same:
Friday, May 13, 2011
Big Brother Google Housekeeping
This blog, and every other one on the Google Machine apparently, has been down since Wednesday. In addition The Big Google Brother swallowed up my last post, you know, the one with the commie Karl Marx graphic, and I'm still waiting for them to restore it, if they can, since I may not have a backup. They say nothing you post on the Internets Machine is ever lost. OK, PROVE IT, Big Google Brother!
Well, back to my subversive rants. Where to begin; I've got a backlog, and a headache ...
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Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Cuba Libre Ain't Just Rum And Coke?
Looks like another communist paradise is about to wave the white flag at Das Kapital. The MSM has made much of little brother Raul Castro lifting travel restrictions for Cubans to venture abroad as "tourists" — so long as he can hold a gun to their relatives' heads and discourage defections — overlooking the sweeping reforms by the Cuban strongman that begin to inject a sort of creeping capitalism into its stagnant economy.
The model isn't the U.S. so much as it's post-Maoist China, which is poised to become the world's #1 economy by 2016. What would our Cinco de Mayo birthday boy, Karl Marx, think of all this? He'd probably recognize those idiots in the three-corner hats as the "petty" bourgeoisie that brings the entire capitalist system crashing to its knees by threatening to "primary" Republicans who dare raise the debt ceiling, leaving the old communist nations — Russia, China, Cuba — standing to pick up the pieces. The fifth Marx brother might just get the last laugh after all ... and if he were around to see it go down, he might be celebrating with a Cuban cigar and Jamaican Rum mixed with Mexican Coca-Cola — you know, the good stuff that's still made with real cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup. Or host a Tea Party with Chinese green tea.
The model isn't the U.S. so much as it's post-Maoist China, which is poised to become the world's #1 economy by 2016. What would our Cinco de Mayo birthday boy, Karl Marx, think of all this? He'd probably recognize those idiots in the three-corner hats as the "petty" bourgeoisie that brings the entire capitalist system crashing to its knees by threatening to "primary" Republicans who dare raise the debt ceiling, leaving the old communist nations — Russia, China, Cuba — standing to pick up the pieces. The fifth Marx brother might just get the last laugh after all ... and if he were around to see it go down, he might be celebrating with a Cuban cigar and Jamaican Rum mixed with Mexican Coca-Cola — you know, the good stuff that's still made with real cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup. Or host a Tea Party with Chinese green tea.
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