The Conservative Base II

My friend, James Widgerson, continues to make fun of Barack Obama and his supposedly messianic tendencies, entirely and hysterically created by what one might call the conservative base.

Here at The Other Side, we continue our quest to expose the conservative base. Previously it was determined that beer swigging ignorant rednecks make up a part of the conservative base. Now comes proof that square Osmond clones make up a substantial portion of the conservative base. Not sure which group James belongs to ... though more samples are to follow.

Thanks to gnarlytrombone from whom this is stolen.

Obama Yard Sign

Well, just put up our Obama yard sign here in conservative Brookfied. I was back in the house no more than ten minutes when I spotted one of the neighborhood residents, who was walking up the street, spit at the sign.

I went out the door and asked what the issue was. He mumbled something about not liking Obama, then he apologized and continued walking up the street, quickly.

Now, admittedly, this person is just a bit "off". He's also the son of a very fundamentalist family that lives up the street. They've always been friendly though distant. This kid, I think he's 20 or so, has put up home-made and crudely drawn anti-gay marriage signs in his family's front yard in the past, so I guess I'm not entirely surprised by his reaction. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see if there will be other reactions from neighbors.

I would think not, everyone is fairly nice around here. I'll take a picture of the sign after I return from taking our 21-month old to her doctor appointment. I hope it will still be in place.

The Conservative Base

To those who think it's somehow funny to use Barack Obama's middle name, here is a short little video that demonstates your level of maturity. Since most of the conservative blogosphere does it -- well, here's looking at you.



Thanks to Patrick in the comment section who directed me to this video.

Peter DiGaudio

Everyone makes mistakes and everyone says things in anger they wish they could take back. While it's taken a while, Peter DiGaudio has admitted that his referring to a Hispanic family as "chattering chihuahuas" was dumb and tasteless.

I have said in the past that Peter is a talented writer and at times provides keen insight on current events and other issues. While I would like to see Peter move away from some of the namecalling he is famous for, we all, myself included could probably improve in that area as well. The vast electronic void that separates us on the Internet does seem to encourage mud throwing.

The lefty blogosphere, and a couple conservatives, were quick to jump all over Peter for that remark -- and rightly so. However, if we are going to be quick to criticize, we should be just as quick to applaud common sense and humility. While Peter was not apologizing to anyone in particular, his admission that he done wrong is welcome. Thank you, Peter.

Mind Boggling Stupid

h/t Illusory Tenant

From Gov. Sarah Palin's interview with Katie Couric.

"So health care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans."

Gagne Purchases 5,000 Tickets

MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Eric Gagne today purchased 5,000 tickets to be given away to Brewers fans for tonight’s game. The idea for the plan originated with Gagne, who approached Brewers officials late last night to discuss the logistics.

"Tonight we'll be playing one of the most important games in franchise history, and I can think of no better way to thank the fans than giving families an opportunity to pack Miller Park,” Gagne said. “No matter what happens over these next four games, I want everyone to know that I think the world of Brewers fans. Three million times they have walked through the gates this year and none of us on the field takes their support for granted. We're going to have some fun out here, and I know that the atmosphere will be electric."

Starting at 3:30, fans can go to Brewers.com to request up to four tickets. Simply click on the “Gagne Giveaway” graphic to go to the ticket request page and enter Gagne as the password when prompted. Fans requesting the complimentary tickets will be subject to a one-time $2.00 fee for printing their ticket order at home, or a $4.00 per order fee for picking at Miller Park will call.

The tickets are first come, first served, and the inventory of 5,000 available is expected to be exhausted quickly.

Gagne has also put in a special request for fans to support this weekend’s Drive for Charity along with Northwestern Mutual. Participating fans will have the opportunity to receive a J.J. Hardy collectible Brewers pin with the donation of new or gently used winter coats.. Donations will be accepted throughout the Chicago series from the gate opening through the second inning at the Left Field, Right Field, and Home Plate Gate entrances.

Racists in Christian Clothing

I received this email the other day from a fellow whom I will keep anonymous. He's nice enough, just kind of gullible and a very over-the-edge conservative. Anyway, as I always do when I receive chain emails from this guy, I did a little investigation and found the letter was written by Jim Bramlett, a former vice president of the Christian Broadcasting Network.

Why did this not surprise me? Because I had heard of him before. He has claimed to have recordings of angels singing.

Really.

And he has authenticated letters from others who claim they heard the angels, too.

Really.

Anyway, I don't know about you, but anyone who claims to be hearing voices should probably have their meds increased.

Below is the text of the letter. Naturally (sadly) the writer shows his racist leanings right off the bat by his use of Barack Obama's middle name. For those who claim what's the big deal about including his middle name, my retort is why use it then if you don't do it regularly with other individuals' middle names.

Dear friends:

Barack Hussein Obama has taken the nation by storm. From obscurity, with zero executive experience, or much of any kind, he has vaulted into the position of Presidential frontrunner. It is stunning. On the surface, it appears attributable only to his eloquent oratory and his race. But an invisible factor may be a strong spiritual force behind him, causing some people to actually swoon in his presence.

I have been very concerned that he has publicly said that he does not believe Jesus is the only way to heaven. This makes both the Bible and Jesus a liar, and it means that Christ has died in vain. A person cannot be a true Christian who believes that there are other ways of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life with God. Only Jesus has paid the price for that.

Therefore, there is, indeed, another spirit involved. And this spirit has come into our national life like a flood. Last week at Obama's acceptance speech, that spirit exalted itself in front of a Greek temple-like stage, and to a huge audience like in a Roman arena. Omama was portrayed as god-like. His voice thundered as a god's voice.

At the end, Democratic sympathizer Pastor Joel Hunter gave the benediction and shockingly invited everyone to close the prayer to their own (false) gods. This was surely an abomination, but it was compatible with Obama's expressed theology, and Hunter's leftist leanings.

God was not pleased.

And God says, "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him" (Isaiah 59:19).

Enter Governor Sarah Palin. With incredible timing, the very next day, Sarah Palin also appeared out of nowhere. Her shocking selection as John McCain's running mate stunned the world and suddenly took all the wind out of Obama's sails.

We quickly learned that Sarah is a born-again, Spirit-filled Christian, attends church, and has been a ministry worker.

Sarah is that standard God has raised up to stop the flood. She has the anointing. You can tell by how the dogs are already viciously attacking her. But they will not be
successful.

She knows the One she serves and will not be intimidated.

Back in the 1980s, I sensed that Israel's little-known Benjamin Netanyahu was chosen by God for an important end-time role. I still believe that. I now have that same sense about Sarah Palin.

Today I did some checking and discovered that both her first and last names are biblical words, one in Hebrew the other in Greek:

Sarah. Wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac. In Hebrew, Sarah means "noble
woman" (Strong's 8283).

Palin. In Greek, the word means "renewal." (Strong's 3825).

A friend said he believes that Sarah Palin is a Deborah. Of Deborah, Smith's Bible Dictionary says, "A prophetess who judged Israel…. She was not so much a judge as one gifted with prophetic command…. and by virtue of her inspiration 'a mother in
Israel.'"

Only God knows the future and how she may be used by Him, but may this noble woman serve to bring renewal in the land, and inspiration.

Jim

Apparently God has a vicious sense of humor. Looks like he doesn't suffer liars or fools gladly. I won't go so far to say He's pissed, but McCain's numbers are slipping every day.

Must be an invisible force.

No Voter Fraud Here

The final game at Yankee Stadium was played Sunday night. Photos of earlier times were shown, including one of Babe Ruth and well wishers, including future presidential candidate, John McCain. Hmmm, are these guys eligible to vote?

Do we really want someone as president who is 132 years old?

Thanks to my sister, Kate.

Question for the Palins

Saw this in comment section at Media Matters:

I'm curious as to when the two love birds are going to get married. Why not get married before the child is born, so the child will not be born out of wedlock? Are they waiting first to see if the child is born?

What Was That About A Messiah?

Governor Palin Goes to School

In their continuing effort to make Gov. Sarah Palin appear “in the know” the GOP had the lovely governor meet with a number of world leaders and statesmen today in New York, which she correctly identified as being in the state of New York. Her first dignitary was Henry Kissinger, the aging former secretary of state. According to a pool report, the meeting got off to a rough start when, thinking Kissinger was a waiter, she asked him for a Perrier with a twist.

Having settled who was on the wait staff, Ms. Palin and Mr. Kissinger sat on blue couches, separated by an end table with photographs of President Nixon and President Reagan on it. As photographers were led in, Mr. Kissinger could be heard saying something to the effect that he had given someone “a lot of money for a hooker in Georgia.” According to a reporter who was allowed to watch, Kissinger then fell asleep.

“Good, good,’’ Ms. Palin was heard to say as she left. “And you’ll give me more insight on that, also, huh? Good.”














Ms. Palin's next stop was with President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan. Again from a pool report, their discussion apparently centered around the birth of his first child and electrical power, the latter considered a safe conversation because of her status as an energy expert. The President said his first child's name was “Mirwais,” which means “The Light of the House.” Palin responded by noting that in the United States many homes had more than one light. She added that she hoped more lights could be added with expanded drilling.

At this point the pool of journalists was escorted out.

Ms. Palin's final stop was with a Hispanic representative. Ms. Palin insisted on this meeting because she wanted to show she was aware of the border issues with Mexico despite the fact that Mexico cannot be seen from Alaska. As she left her meeting she offered words of encouragement: “Go Diego, Go."













Inspiration and photos from article "Palin in the City" by Michael Cooper.

Big Fat Gas Balloon

Did you know that Rush Limbaugh is not actually human? In fact he's an illegal immigrant from the outer atmosphere of Jupiter. The residents of that area resemble big fat gas balloons, having evolved to be able to survive in the turbulent and noxious winds.

Limbaugh is sensitive to not being called a human. It causes a severe self-loathing to express itself in saying stupid things like this:

"Do you know he has not one shred of African-American blood?" Limbaugh continued: "He's Arab. You know, he's from Africa. He's from Arab parts of Africa. ... [H]e's not African-American. The last thing that he is is African -American."

Oh, did I note that Limbaugh is also a racist. More self-loathing.

Q: What is a Liberal?

A: A conservative who has been ripped off by Wall Street.


h/t and deserving of a read: Glenn Greenwald.

Campaigning for Re-Election on the Backs of the Poor

I don't claim to be an expert about the current economic crisis, but this piece, taken from the comment section at Media Matters does explain the situation well.

Flashback: In 2004 Bush Campaigned For Re-Election On The Backs Of Subprime Mortgages

During the 2004 campaign, President Bush declared his pride in making America what he called “an ownership society.” He promoted expanding home-ownership as the best way to ensure a strong economy, campaigning constantly on the idea:

5/6/04: “Thanks to being the most productive workforce in America, and I might say, thanks to good policies, this economy is strong and it’s getting stronger. … Home sales were the highest ever recently. That’s exciting news for the country.”

8/28/04: See, I love an ownership society. It’s a hopeful society. It’s a society that provides stability in times of change.

8/9/04: If you own your own home, and building equity in your own home, and you’re changing from job to job, it provides great security and relief.

8/6/04: Home ownership is at an all-time high now in America. That’s fantastic news. Isn’t it wonderful to have somebody for the first time be able to say: welcome to my home; I’m glad you’re here at my piece of property.

Of course, what the current enormous crisis — rooted in subprime mortgages — proves is that promoting home ownership without regulatory safeguards is inherently risky. As economist Paul Krugman explained, “[B]orrowing to buy a home is like buying stocks on margin: if the market value of the house falls, the buyer can easily lose his or her entire stake.” And that’s just what happened: More homeowners now owe more money than their homes are actually worth, while foreclosure filings in August rose 12 percent from July — and represented a 27 percent increase from Aug. 2007.

Further, the quest for an all-encompassing ownership society led to the policies that have created the crisis. From dramatically low interest rates to ignoring the warnings about predatory lending to quashing state regulations that would have helped prevent such massive Wall Street investment in subprime loans, Bush and his allies built an economy on a house of cards that was bound to collapse.

Today, Bush declared, “There will be ample opportunity to debate the origins of this problem.” That debate will need to focus on his own failed promise of an “ownership society” as an economic panacea.

Yost Relieved of Managerial Post

Copy of actual press release from my real source at the Milwaukee Brewers.

MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Brewers today announced that Ned Yost has been dismissed from his position as manager of the Club. The announcement was made by Brewers Executive Vice President and General Manager, Doug Melvin.

“This was a very difficult move to make, and we appreciate all of the work that Ned has done to develop this team into a contender,” Melvin said. “In the end, this was a collaborative decision made to put our Club in the best position for the final two weeks of the season.”

Dale Sveum, the Brewers third base coach, will take over in an interim role as manager for the remainder of the season. Bench Coach Ted Simmons has been reassigned to an advisory role.
Any other coaching changes will be announced later.

NOTE: The Brewers will host a press conference at 6:30 p.m. this evening at the Westin Hotel's Mayfair Room in Chicago (999 North Michigan Avenue). Melvin will also be available to media on a conference call at 7:15 p.m. CT. Participants should call 877-581-8149 and use passcode 274809#.

I Can See Clearly Now

Those Wacky Republicans

The Associated Press reports that the leader of a statewide group of Pennsylvania College Republicans was forced to resign because he made fun of Barack Obama's lips.

Adam LaDuca, 21, the former executive director of the Pennsylvania Federation of College Republicans, wrote on his Facebook page in late July that Obama has "a pair of lips so large he could float half of Cuba to the shores of Miami (and probably would.)"

LaDuca, who previously had called Martin Luther King Jr. a "pariah" and a "fraud," also wrote: "And man, if sayin' someone has large lips is a racial slur, then we're ALL in trouble."

LaDuca later said that his mistake was making a statement like that public. Spoken like a true racist. Wouldn't it have been interesting to have had hidden mikes at those GOP parties during their convention, or to hide a few at a Drinking Right night?

More Silliness

Bruce Redenz of Badger Blogger wonders whether presidential candidate Barack Obama knew he was having his picture taken with Wisconsin Congresswoman Gwen Moore's son, Sowande A. Omokunde, on September 9, 2006. Redenz (referring to himself as Badger Blogger) writes this:

BadgerBlogger is inclined to wonder whether Mr. Obama was made aware of exactly whom he was standing next to when that photograph was taken. We tried to ask the question, but representatives of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and Wisconsin for Obama didn’t respond to repeated phone calls and e-mails inquiring about Obama’s presence in the photo.

Redenz' inference being whether Obama would still have had his picture taken with an individual who had been convicted of tire slashing (Redenz links to an article that reports the “tire slashers” have merely been charged, not convicted – such journalistic skills).

I don't know about you, but if I had been contacted by someone named Badger Blogger, Bruce Redenz of Badger Blogger, or even Bruce Redenz on behalf of Badger Blogger, and asked this obviously silly question, my inclination would be to ignore the noise and wonder, as we at The Other Side of My Mouth have speculated previously – Mr. Redenz really needs to get a life.

Land Ho!

When asked by Charlie Gibson of ABC News why her being governor of Alaska gave her insight into Russian motives and made her an expert on Russia, Sarah Palin said this:

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

There you have it. I feel safer already. Though I'd feel even better if we moved the governor's mansion to the eastern edge of the Bering Strait. Then Sarah could be vigilant 24/7.

Stupid People and Their Distractions

Thanks as always to the genius of Tom Tomorrow.

More Outrage?

Is it the media or is it conservatism that promotes faux outrage as a way of garnering attention? Is it the fault of a media so desperate for attention, relevance and advertising dollars? Or is it the fault of conservatism, which is so devoid of merit its attempts at attention are naturally base and meaningless. It's sometimes hard to say. Today Barack Obama condemned the “phony outrage” perpetrated by Republicans regarding the use of lipstick on pigs. Obama said this today (courtesy of the New York Times):

“What their campaign has done this morning is the same game that has made people sick and tired of politics in this country. They seize on an innocent remark, try to take it out of context, throw out an outrageous ad because they know it’s catnip for the news media,” Mr. Obama said. “I’m assuming you guys heard this watching the news. I’m talking about John McCain’s economic policies and I said here’s more of the same, ‘You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig. Suddenly, they say, Oh you must be talking about the governor of Alaska!’”

He's correct, of course. But I couldn't help be concerned by the last few lines of the article.

Brian Rogers, a spokesman for the McCain-Palin campaign, chastised Mr. Obama for trying to blame the media for reporting the lipstick remark, rather than taking responsibility himself.

“Barack Obama can’t campaign with schoolyard insults and then try to claim outrage at the tone of the campaign,” Mr. Rogers said in a statement. “His talk of new politics is as empty as his campaign trail promises.”

Employing an animal reference of his own, he added: “Apparently, the buck never stops with Barack Obama.”

I want to know whether it was actually the McCain hack who thought the reference was an animal one, or it was the reporter who inserted his own prejudice.

All racial and ethnic groups have been victimized by racial slurs; however, no American group has suffered as many racial epithets as have blacks: coon, tom,
savage, picanniny, mammy, buck, sambo, jigaboo, and buckwheat are typical.

I do know this, if it had been a Republican/conservative on the receiving end, their special response faux outrage creation squad would have circulated the fact that some hack had used a racially-offensive word (buck), even though the meaning was obviously a reference to the famous sign on Harry Truman's desk.

Right?

Mmmm, Pork.

And earmarks, too.

h/t Freaking News.

Who Knew? Republicans Suck!

A very very tiny part of me hopes they win because of this ad. If we lose the presidency but gain 100 seats in Congress and 25 in the Senate because of this, I wouldn't be unhappy. Of course, the thought of McCain dying prematurely and the liar Palin becoming president is frightening.

Liberal Bias My Ass

I can't watch any of the news programs anymore. They're either running scared from the righties, or they've swallowed their talking points.

So please, drop the liberal bias schtick. It's so unbecoming and such a lie. Glenn Greenwald, as usual, is right on with this post.

"... this episode demonstrates what Eric Alterman documented several years ago: that the greatest and most transparent myth in American politics is that the U.S. has a "liberal media." That is a myth that is maintained, first and foremost, by defining anyone who isn't Rush Limbaugh as a "liberal." Hence, people such as the wife of Bush official Dan Senor (Campbell Brown) is a "liberal," as is Alan Greenspan's wife (Andrea Mitchell), along with establishment-worshipers such as Rush-Limbaugh-admirer Brian Williams, right-wing-talking-points-spouting Charlie Gibson, and anyone who writes for the war-enabling New York Times and Washington Post. "

All Very Logical

Thanks to Tom Tomorrow.

Boycott Faux News Now

Democrats should just boycott Faux News. It is not a legitimate news station -- its people are not legitimate journalists. Watch this video in which the Faux News host threatens to turn off the microphone of the Obama advisor. The McCain advisor just sits there and arrogantly eats it up in the smug knowledge that her views will be supported.

It's pathetic. This is exactly the sort of "real debate" that conservatives rely on to spread their disingenuous views.

We're So Mean

I've been in a discussion with a fellow over at Wigderson Library & Pub who claims the left is horrible for their sexist and unfair attacks on Ms. Sarah Palin. I have said here that we should not go there regarding attacks on her family, though the rest is fair game. However, my comment to this fellow was the right set the table for unfair attacks and that basically, “What comes around goes around.”

Well, he disagrees and asked for specific instances of the right being guilty of anything – a silly retort if there ever was considering one would have to be completely blind, deaf and dumb to think the right was guiltless. All right, that's a legitimate description of most conservatives during an election cycle, including my friend, James Wigderson, a decent guy who catches the bug with the best of them. But here is a short little clip that helps to the clarify the hypocrisy that is modern conservatism and Republicans.



h/t Pundit Nation

Conspiring to Commit Democracy

Glenn Greenwald said this a few days ago about the police raids in St. Paul, done at the behest of the Republican Party.

There is clearly an intent on the part of law enforcement authorities here to engage in extreme and highly intimidating raids against those who are planning to protest the Convention. The DNC in Denver was the site of several where law enforcement acted on behalf of Democratic Party officials and the corporate elite that funded the Convention to keep the media and protesters from doing anything remotely off-script. But the massive and plainly excessive preemptive police raids in Minnesota are of a different order altogether. Targeting people with automatic-weapons-carrying SWAT teams and mass raids in their homes, who are suspected of nothing more than planning dissident political protests at a political convention and who have engaged in no illegal activity whatsoever, is about as redolent of the worst tactics of a police state as can be imagined.

This is the Sarah Palin view of America: celebrating the arrest of fellow citizens for no reason whatsoever other than they may dress differently and hold a different political view, and standing around and pointing and guffawing as young people are dragged away. Happily ignorant hockey moms.

This is truly repugnant, extreme police behavior designed to intimidate protesters, police critics and others, and it ought to infuriate anyone and everyone who cares about basic liberties.

It ought to, but it won't. At least not those who partied at the RNC last night, or local conservative bloggers who would blithely dismiss those hauled away as dirty hippies.

Played for a Fool

by Marge Rock

Well, my son Tim said that I may make a post and write for myself what has been on my mind since Gov. Sarah Palin was asked to be the Vice Presidential nominee. I was puzzled when I heard that Sarah Palin was to be the Republican/Conservative nominee and many thoughts accompanied that puzzlement - until my mind cleared and I realized that the Republican strategists were "playing her for a fool." "Aha" said I, "Karl Rove is behind this!!!"

Well, the next day I had brunch with an influential very conservative friend, and she announced "This was Karl Rove's idea!" - confirming my free-floating belief. "I thought so" I said "I'll bet he's laughing his ass off!" She chuckled and said that they wanted to WIN!

I then added that McCain is such a lackluster candidate - that they needed a "Miss Congeniality" to perk things up. The horror of this is that she doesnt' seem to realize that she is being played for a fool. It appears that she believes that she is up to playing with the BIG BOYS ...and has no clue that under any other circumstances, with a more worthy candidate, there is no way she would have ever been chosen for this position. As a woman of 71 years, I am saddened (a mild word) to see our electoral process jerked around like this. Two years of this has been too much in the first place - and now to hold our election process up to ridicule, in the world, is too much.

Throughout this debacle, Barack Obama has maintained a steady hand - he has run a good campaign, not run up huge debts that will need to be covered by the rest of us. About all we get out of the pundits are jokes and one-sided comments that contradict each other - and they are mostly all on the same side.

Our country is divided - and NO country divided can stand. We deserve whatever comes from all of this.

We Should Not Go There

I'm not sure what the big deal is whether Sarah Palin was vetted comprehensively or even as much as the male contenders for the vice presidential nod. Who cares? Ultimately, in this case, it was McCain's decision. He could have selected a moose if he had wanted, though I think questions of his sanity would have been appropriate (still are).

It does appear the media is taking on a bit more of a role than necessary. Questions of her ability to lead, her belief system, etc -- these are legitimate. This other stuff, including the wild speculations about her family, her daughter's pregnancy -- all should be off limits.

The left need not follow the lead of the right in this case. The country is beginning to recognize the right's only motivation is power and they will let nothing stand in their way, even decency. We should not go there and frankly, I think this is all a setup to rile the Republican herd anyway.

How to Spin Like a Pro

How does Bill Kristol sleep at night? From his September 1 column in the New York Times, Kristol writes:

There are Republicans who are unhappy about John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin. Many are insiders who highly value -- who overly value -- "experience."

Well, she is close to Russia. But really, experience is not that important, right Bill?

From his August 25 column in the New York Times, Kristol writes:

The two leading G.O.P. prospects have been Tim Pawlenty, the Minnesota governor, and Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor. But with Biden's foreign policy experience as a contrast, could McCain assure voters that the young Pawlenty is ready to take over, if need be, as commander in chief? Also, Biden is a strong and experienced debater. Pawlenty is unproven.

[...]

It's awfully tempting for the McCain camp to revisit the possibility of tapping Meg Whitman, the former eBay C.E.O., Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, or Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska. But the first two have never run for office, and Palin has been governor for less than two years.

h/t Media Matters

But is She Experienced?

You bet she is, she's close to Russia.

Silly us, why haven't we just been bringing down Alaskan politicians to ruin run the country.

h/t Pandagon