It’s all about the hate

As MediaMatters.org points out, the flap about President Obama’s birth certificate isn’t about facts or proof; it’s about fear, racism and paranoia:

“Birther” of a Nation?

This has gone well beyond stupid.

In 2009, the Party of Lincoln officially has become, 150 years later, the party of Racists, Hypocrites and Liars.

I’m talking about the so-called “Birther Bill” introduced by Rep. Bill Posey (R-Fla) earlier this year and co-sponsored by several prominent GOP lawmakers including Randy Neugebauer (R-Tex) and Dan Burton (R-Ind).  This bill, which frankly would not have been even conceived of had John McCain won the election last year, would require presidential campaigns to provide a “copy of the candidate’s birth certificate”.

President Obama has already done so, and for the record, of the two men in the race last year, he was the only one actually born on American soil, in an American state.  John McCain was born in Panama.  Both were born to American citizens, and since this country does not recognize dual citizenship, both are “natural born” citizens as required by the Constitution.  No other President’s birth records have been questioned so persistently, nor examined so thoroughly.  The only reason these “birthers” are objecting to Obama’s public release of his birth records is because they can’t handle the fact that a black man won.

Apparently they’re fine with black people being sports stars, singers, servants and sex objects, but leadership is a burden to be shouldered only by White Men.

These mindless racists are now demanding that President Obama release a copy of his “long form” birth certificate, a document I very much doubt any of them would be able to produce on demand.  And, as I’ve said before, it’s also something none of them would be demanding of John McCain if the election had gone the other way.  This has got to stop.  Even if he capitulates to their ludicrous demands and releases the long form, there’s little chance the “birthers” will accept it as proof.  Instead, they’ll no doubt go on believing it was “forged” or “faked” or otherwise falsified.

Not because there’s any proof of conspiracy, but because they’re idiots.  And racists.  And hypocrites.

This is what Revolution looks like

Iranians in Revolt

Who saw this coming?  In 1979 when the Ayatollahs took over Iran’s government by occupying the American embassy and holding our people hostage for 444 days, they ushered in an “Islamic Revolution”.  For those of us who were alive to witness that pivotal moment, the thought that the same crowd that started their government with violence, terrorism and hostage-taking may see it end with themselves in the same position is both satisfying and a bit ironic.

The people who once incited crowds to shout “Death to America” now hear the same phrase ending in their own names.  History is not without a sense of irony.

Over the weekend, the Ayatollah Khamenei said that the election was “ordained by God”.  Today in light of highly likely charges of vote fraud and election rigging, the spiritual leader of the Islamic Republic appears to have changed his mind.  An investigation has been ordered by Khamenei.

Is this really how Ahmadinejad thinks democracy works?  Rigging elections and suppressing dissent?  He’s got a lot to learn about reality.  The younger generation of Iran is fed up with him and the Ayatollahs’ tyranny.  It’s time the leaders of the so-called Revolution stepped aside.  REAL revolution is sweeping across Iran, whether they like it or not.

Change is coming.  They can get on the train or get run over.

Cleanin’ out my closet

It’s been a long time since my last post, and I haven’t commented on the election results.  You may chastise me at will.

Basically, I’m pretty tired of politics.  Watching and commenting on the quadrennial whack-a-mole game we call electoral politics has been exhausting, frustrating, and finally exhilarating.  I’m tired and I’m taking a break from it.  Gonna write a novel, which I’ve been trying to do for the past ten years.

But first, a few belated shout-outs:

Barack Obama:  Congratulations, dude!  You’ve won – now the hard part.  Cleaning up the shit-storm the Bush crowd has created will be no easy task.  But from watching your cabinet post selections over the past two weeks I think you’ll be up to the job.  As of January 20th, you’ll be my president and everyone else’s president as well, and you’ll have my support.  Of course, I reserve the right to unreservedly chastise you if I think you’re screwing up, so watch yourself.  Fortunately, your predecessor set the bar so fucking low that you can’t help but succeed by comparison.  You’d really have to work hard to fail that badly.  Good luck.

John McCain:  Congratulations, dude!  You’ve lost – now the easy part.  You don’t have to eat the shit sandwich served up by your buddy George W.  Selecting Sarah Palin as your running mate was a feat of genius – it allowed you to throw the election without looking like you were throwing it.  And your last-minute appearance on SNL was brilliant.  Loved it – your wife never looked better.  Too bad I cant afford any of the McCain Fine Gold, though.  Would have made a nice gift.  Now you’ve got a choice to make – which home to retire to?  Eeenie, meenie, miney, moe… Good luck.

George Bush: Congratulations, dude!  Your epic disaster of a Presidency is almost over.  You managed to do more damage to the country and American presige, power and credibility in your eight too-long years than any previous leader in history.  Despite your best efforts, you did it without completely dismantling the Constitution, the rule of law, civil rights, morality and common decency.  Your incompetence, ineptitude, corruption and moral degeneracy will be remembered throughout history.  You will be forever remembered as the worst President in American history.  But take heart – you still have 60 days to really fuck things up royally.  I’m sure you won’t waste them.  After January 20th, the only decision you’ll have to make will be which books to include in your Presidential LIbrary.  I’m sure you can finish coloring them before then.  Good luck!  Now go to hell.

Sarah Palin: Congratulations, babe!  You managed to turn a sure Democratic victory into a Democratic landslide – thanks!  All I have to say now is “Palin 2012!”  Run, baby run!  Every time you open your mouth you remind us why we voted for Obama in the first place.  The thought of you in the White House sends cold chills down the spine of every thinking, intelligent person in the country.  So keep up the good work – we could use another landslide in 4 years.

America: Congratulations, my country!  We finally proved we’re ready to lead the world.  Good luck.

Peace out.  I don’t know when I’ll return again.

I’m John McCain and I approve this lie

You’d think the steady barrage of criticism would have gotten McCain’s attention by now, what with everyone from the New York Times to the ladies of The View calling him out daily on it.  But thus far he shows no sign of either repentance nor self awareness, shamelessly insisting his “attack ads” are factual and correct.

But alas, you can’t turn lies into truth simply by repeating them ad nauseam.  And now a new critic of McCain’s spaghetti strategy has emerged from the slime pits:

That’s right.  Karl Rove, the man who twice ran campaigns so sleazy and dishonest they set new standards for perfidy, the man who betrayed the country and sold it out to the Bush/Cheney crowd, the man whose own lies are legendary, thinks McCain has gone too far.

Holy shit.

Sarah Palin is nothing but a stuffed moose

After watching Sarah Palin’s interview with Charles Gibson last night, I’ve come to the conclusion that that woman shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near the White House unless she’s part of a tour group.  I’ve never seen a less prepared, less qualified, and more dangerous choice for Vice President.  She and Mr. Gibson discussed a lot of topics, but for me the most disheartening part of the interview was when he asked about her “foreign policy credentials.” She responded by repeating the line that because Alaska is close to Russia, that makes her experienced in foreign affairs:

PALIN: We have to keep our eyes on Russia. Under the leadership there.

GIBSON: What insight into Russian actions does the proximity of the state give you?

PALIN: They’re our next door neighbors. And you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska.

Ridiculous, as I have said previously.  If these are the standards McCain is setting for his administration (have the last eight years really lowered our expectations that much?), then God help us.  By this abysmally low requisite, any military person who’s been stationed in South Korea and visited the DMZ is qualified to be at least an ambassador.  I’ve actually stepped across the line in the negotiations room in Pyongyang!  That means I’ve been to North Korea; could I have a spot at the table?

Earlier, she was unable to define the Bush Doctrine of preemptive self-defense (hit them before they hit you), and Gibson had to explain it to her:

“The Bush Doctrine is we have the right to self-defense, pre-emptive strike against any country we think is going to attack us,” he noted. “Do you agree with it?”

“Charlie, if there is enough intelligent and legitimate evidence that tells us that a strike is imminent against American people, we have every right to defend our country,” [Palin] said.

Strangely enough, this was actually an improvement on the Bush doctrine.  At least she would rely on legitimate information before bombing another country.  Though I’m not sure what “intelligent evidence” is.  Perhaps she was referring to intelligence.  But that’s being a bit optomistic.

Gibson also questioned her on her recent (July ‘08) words in the Wasilla Assemblies of God church.  She said that she would “never presume to know the mind of God.”  For the record, her actual words from that service in July were

“Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God,” she said. “That’s what we have to make sure that we’re praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God’s plan.”

The interview was both frightening and disheartening.  Her answers, on the rare occasions when she managed to spit them out, were evasive and simplistic, entirely unworthy of a person who could reasonably be expected to one day command the largest military force in the world.  I cannot believe a man of McCain’s experience and knowledge would ask us to trust the future security of the nation to this untested, ignorant, inexperienced person.  This has nothing to do with her gender – there are many competent and eminently more qualified women McCain could should have chosen.  Instead he chose a complete unknown who didn’t even own a passport until a few weeks ago.  Either he’s not taking this election seriously, he’s not taking the future of the nation seriously, or he’s not taking the American people seriously.

I cannot begin to describe how angry I am at this.  The McCain campaign expects us to believe that this woman is actually qualified to be President.  For all their talk earlier this year about issues and substance, they’ve been running a campaign that could be described as Seinfeld-esque.  It’s about nothing.  Every day there’s a new attack ad focusing on yet another source of manufactured outrage.  They know if they focus on the issues they will lose, because there is no substance to their campaign.  And the choice of Sarah Palin proves it.

I hate to say it, but Matt Damon is right.  The whole thing reads like the plot to a really bad “Lifetime Original Movie”.  Only this is real life, and if Palin becomes President there won’t be a happy ending.  Does anyone seriously think Putin or Ahmadinejad are going to be impressed or, less likely deferential, to this so-called “hockey mom?”  Are they really going to buy the “I live close to Russia so I have foreign experience” line?  If you do, you’re an idiot.

Wake up, America.  This thing is more important than this.  Men and women are dying overseas, people are losing their homes, their jobs and their health at home, and the McCainiacs think non-issues like lipstick comments are of earthshaking importance.  It’s all bullshit.  They’re liars and frauds and they know it.  Wake up, America.  The future of our nation is far to important to be trusted to POW Jack and his plucky sidekick PolarGirl.

Wake up, America.  Before it’s too late.

Who was a community organizer?

The Republicans should have a lot more respect for community organizers than they showed on Wednesday evening.  After all, C.O.’s throughout history have been far more politically effective acting as change agents than governors have.

Community Organizers get things done when their local and state governments fail to do them, or insist on ignoring the problems.  I made this bumper sticker after reading the quote on Mudflats, one of the best Democrat blogs around.

The wonderful thing about it is, you can make it fit with any combination you want!  For example, if you want to push the civil rights angle, use Martin Luther King and George Wallace.

This is getting fun!

Sarah Palin, jihadist?

Well, that’s what we call it when Muslims send young men to die and claim it’s “God’s will” – jihad.  Watch this video of GOP Veep candidate Sarah Palin speaking at the Wasilla Assemblies of God church in Alaska and decide for yourself:

That’s right, the war in Iraq is part of “God’s plan”. If your son or daughter died in Iraq, be not afraid for (s)he was doing God’s Holy Work.

Jihad, in other words.

And these people were afraid of a Catholic being elected president?  These are the same people who think we should be afraid of Barack Obama’s religious upbringing?  People who, like George W. Bush, start wars and claim it’s part of “God’s Plan”?  This is truly dangerous stuff, folks.

The rest of the video is available at the church’s website.  Or, if you’re having trouble getting through, at the Huffington Post.

A Hero Will Rise.

Last night on The Daily Show, John Stewart unmasked the Master Chief, hero of the Halo series. The moment comes at about 5:15 so be patient:

I always knew there was a connection.

Maverick McCain exploits legal loophole to use wife’s private jet

As revealed a week ago in the New York Times, presidential candidate and political “maverick” John McCain made expeditious use of a loophole in a campaign-finance law that he himself championed last sumer, in order to use his wife’s personal corporate jet for campaign purposes:

McCain frequently used wife’s jet for little cost

What kind of a man has such foresight as to draft a law that contains a loophole that he himself can exploit later on?  Is this the kind of person we want in the White House?

Maverick, my ass.  He’s just another crass, craven, self-serving, corrupt politician.  He’s no different from the rest of them.