Waging WAR on Ignorance, Intolerance & Injustice!
“I’ve learned it’s important not to limit yourself. You can do whatever you really love to do no matter what it is.” — Ryan Gosling
(Again, a very positive thought, from someone who is very successful at doing something that he loves. If he was on his 20+ something year of waiting tables he’d no doubt have a different outlook. Be well and do good, friends.) — YUR
If youse guys remember my: Sarah Palin (The Magilla from Wasilla!)- A Perspective (look it up!) you should get a kick out of this video. It’s not suitable for young children, but there’s no nudity or violence. Just some strong (rap-appropriate) language.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_rOCDG_btk
Watch it, and then maybe re-read the above referenced piece. The rovian puppet-masters really gave poor, old John no choice, whatsoever. Ol’ Karl’s string of victory plans might seem to be coming to an end, but that certainly does NOT mean we can afford to take this election for granted! If this thing is allowed to get anywhere near close then it will just be an open invitation for them to steal a 3rd presidential election. We all MUST make it to the polls on election day, come Hell or high water. And, we owe it to ourselves to make sure that (our) others make it as well.
If you want 4 more years of the Bush doctrine . . . just let the other guy go out and vote.
YUR
Like most of us, your Uncle Rave is getting older by the minute. And, with getting older generally comes getting crankier. I really don’t mind being cranky though, because I think it shows that I’m still thinking, and that I still care. Too many people nowadays seem to demonstrate that they’re either NOT thinking, or they just DON’T care. Maybe it’s a combination of the two. I don’t know, but I think that THAT is just plain sad.
Some of you regulars to these pages have read some of my rants on the hijacking and bastardization of the English language, by the right-wing conservafasciadorks. They go out of their way to take an ordinary word, or phrase, and turn it – through inflection and steady repetition – into some sort of insult/accusation. As in the case of the word: L-l-libereal. Turn on FOX (Faux) News, or attend a McCain or Palin rally, and you hear them spitting out the word liberal like Joe McCarthy used to spit out the word communist . . . or, like how a lazy/bad: parent, babysitter, or older sibling would talk about the bogeyman. Uh oh! He’s out there! And he’s coming to get YOU! (Keep the kiddies scared, and keep ’em in line.)
Well, another word they LOVE to play with – very often in conjunction with the word L-l-liberal – is the word “agenda”. They just love to rhetorically ask: What’s their agenda? By the way they use the word, apparently only Democrats/Liberals have agendas! Of course the Republicans/Conservatives actually DO have their own agendas, but when they speak of theirs they use words like “goals” and “objectives” in place of the word agenda. Those words, by default, have more positive connotations. Their goals and objectives are lofty aspirations! While the other guys have some kind of agenda. It’s an evil plan! It involves Godless, homosexual, communists, who want to drink the blood of aborted babies, and undermine the troops! And, why? Because they HATE America! That’s what they try to convey when they throw down the agenda accusation. Of course, they’re playing off the phrase hidden agenda, and everybody knows that only dishonest people have hidden agendas. So, why not just shorten it to agenda, and make people believe that those others – with agendas – are, at the very least, less honest than us “Real Americans“.
It’s all just part of the politics of fear. Instead of talking TO their constituents about, oh I don’t know, maybe about something like . . . the ISSUES, they would rather talk AT them, and appeal to their emotions rather than their intellect. Jingoistic, accusational catch phrases, that make great soundbites: You’re either with us, or you’re with the terrorists! They HAVE to make the other guy – who puts his pants on, has bills to pay, has dreams and aspirations, and loves his: parents, wife and children, AND country the same way we all do – seem somehow . . . different and scary.
How patronizing of these manipulators, to fill people’s heads with such nonsense! How petty! How pathetic! Well, at least now we’re clear on what THEIR agenda is.
YUR
This just in . . . from the dearest of friends. I think it’s an appropriate way to end THE worst week in Wall Street history, at least that yer ol’ uncle can remember. It totally sucks (Wall Street), but life goes on. And as long as you’re living . . . you might as well be laughing. YUR
The Post Turtle
While suturing a cut on the hand of a 75-year old Texas rancher whose hand was caught in a gate while working cattle, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old man. Eventually the topic got around to Sarah Palin and her bid to be a heartbeat away from being President .
The old rancher said, ‘Well, ya know, Sarah Palin is a post turtle.’
Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him what a post turtle was.
The old rancher said, ‘When you’re driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that’s a post turtle.’
The old rancher saw a puzzled look on the doctor’s face, so he continued to explain.
‘You know she didn’t get up there by herself,
she doesn’t belong up there,
she doesn’t know what to do while she is up there, and
you just wonder what kind of dumb ass put her up there to begin with.’
This week is done. It’s passed. Don’t bother looking back. Let’s just focus on family, friends, and the future. Have a great weekend, folks!
YUR
Of course, this is far from being current, but this is one of the photos that I found to be particularly representative of the cross-section of Alaskans who KNOW that Sarah Palin is NOT ready, NOR qualified, to be John McCain’s running mate. Men, women, a little old, a little young . . . and even a guy who could – kinda sorta – pass for your dear old Uncle Rave!
The similarities between those who actually (want to?) believe that Sarah Palin is qualified to be a heartbeat from the Presidency, and those who willingly (mainly) drank the grape Kool-Aid (technically, it was “Flavor Aid”) in Jonestown Guyana, back in 1978, are more than a little scary. Both involve(d) a level of brainwashing that boggles the mind! The folks in the “Peoples Temple Agricultural Project” were made to believe that Jim Jones was the Messiah, and that he was leading them to the promised land. The people who support Ms. Palin do so with the same kind of religious fervor, and a general lack of rationality. The people in Jonestown were willing to sacrifice their lives, and the lives of their children, in order to reach their brand of Nirvana. I don’t think that most of the Palin-ites have seriously thought through where She might take them. Saradise? But, I do hope that they have considered their children.
Like with cyanide, and most other poisons, there is an antidote for the Palin-ites. You really can’t afford to wait too long to take it. But, first you have to realize that you’ve been poisoned.
YUR
Related link:
http://progressivealaska.blogspot.com/2008/09/saradise-lost-chapter-eighty-nine.html
I get SO much great stuff in my e-mail! This isn’t Sarah Palin related, but it certainly IS topical. I have no idea who actually wrote it, but it deserves *publishing*. If I find out the author, and they don’t mind taking credit, I’ll give them their due. YUR
I call this: Paulson’s Phishing Expedition
“Dear American:
I need to ask you to support an urgent secret business relationship with a transfer of funds of great magnitude.
I am Ministry of the Treasury of the Republic of America. My country has had crisis that has caused the need for large transfer of funds of $800,000,000,000 US. If you would assist me in this transfer, it would be most profitable to you.
I am working with Mr. Phil Gramm, vice-chairman for UBS investment bank, who will be my replacement as Ministry of the Treasury in January. As Senator, you may know Mr. Gramm as the gracious leader of the American banking deregulation movement in the 1990s and the great creator of the Enron loophole in 2000, which deregulated energy resources. Understand that Mr. Gramm is an honorable man and this transaction you make is 100% safe.
This is a matter of great urgency. We need a blank check. We need the funds as quickly as possible. We cannot directly transfer these funds in the names of our close friends because we are constantly under surveillance. My family lawyer advised me that I should look for a reliable and trustworthy person who will act as a next of kin so the funds can be transferred.
Please reply with all of your bank account, IRA and college fund account numbers and those of your children and grandchildren to wallstreetbailout@ustreas.gov so that we may transfer your commission for this transaction. After I receive that information, I will respond with detailed information about safeguards that will be used to protect the funds.
Yours Faithfully,
This one is pretty self-explanatory, folks:
“Subj: PBS Poll on Palin – Please Vote
This is dated September 13, but I just received this, via e-mail, this afternoon. Your uncle thinks it’s highly relevant and worthwhile! Also, this Tim Wise guy (not “wise guy”) may be the only the only guy who’s both whiter and angrier than your uncle! Enjoy! YUR
“September 13, 2008, 2:01 pm
This is Your Nation on White Privilege
By Tim Wise
For those who still can’t grasp the concept of white privilege, or who are constantly looking for some easy-to-understand examples of it, perhaps this list will help.
White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palin and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents, because “every family has challenges,” even as black and Latino families with similar “challenges” are regularly typified as irresponsible, pathological and arbiters of social decay.
White privilege is when you can call yourself a “fuckin’ redneck,” like Bristol Palin’s boyfriend does, and talk about how if anyone messes with you, you’ll “kick their fuckin’ ass,” and talk about how you like to “shoot shit” for fun, and still be viewed as a responsible, all-American boy (and a great son-in-law to be) rather than a thug.
White privilege is when you can attend four different colleges in six years like Sarah Palin did (one of which you basically failed out of, then returned to after making up some coursework at a community college), and no one questions your intelligence or commitment to achievement, whereas a person of color who did this would be viewed as unfit for college, and probably someone who only got in in the first place because of affirmative action.
White privilege is when you can claim that being mayor of a town smaller than most medium-sized colleges, and then Governor of a state with about the same number of people as the lower fifth of the island of Manhattan, makes you ready to potentially be president, and people don’t all piss on themselves with laughter, while being a black U.S. Senator, two-term state Senator, and constitutional law scholar, means you’re “untested.”
White privilege is being able to say that you support the words “under God” in the pledge of allegiance because “if it was good enough for the founding fathers, it’s good enough for me,” and not be immediately disqualified from holding office–since, after all, the pledge was written in the late 1800s and the “under God” part wasn’t added until the 1950s–while believing that reading accused criminals and terrorists their rights (because, ya know, the Constitution, which you used to teach at a prestigious law school requires it), is a dangerous and silly idea only supported by mushy liberals.
White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make people immediately scared of you.
White privilege is being able to have a husband who was a member of an extremist political party that wants your state to secede from the Union, and whose motto was “Alaska first,” and no one questions your patriotism or that of your family, while if you’re black and your spouse merely fails to come to a 9/11 memorial so she can be home with her kids on the first day of school, people immediately think she’s being disrespectful.
White privilege is being able to make fun of community organizers and the work they do–like, among other things, fight for the right of women to vote, or for civil rights, or the 8-hour workday, or an end to child labor–and people think you’re being pithy and tough, but if you merely question the experience of a small town mayor and 18-month governor with no foreign policy expertise beyond a class she took in college–you’re somehow being mean, or even sexist.
White privilege is being able to convince white women who don’t even agree with you on any substantive issue to vote for you and your running mate anyway, because all of a sudden your presence on the ticket has inspired confidence in these same white women, and made them give your party a “second look.”
White privilege is being able to fire people who didn’t support your political campaigns and not be accused of abusing your power or being a typical politician who engages in favoritism, while being black and merely knowing some folks from the old-line political machines in Chicago means you must be corrupt.
White privilege is being able to attend churches over the years whose pastors say that people who voted for John Kerry or merely criticize George W. Bush are going to hell, and that the U.S. is an explicitly Christian nation and the job of Christians is to bring Christian theological principles into government, and who bring in speakers who say the conflict in the Middle East is God’s punishment on Jews for rejecting Jesus, and everyone can still think you’re just a good church-going Christian, but if you’re black and friends with a black pastor who has noted (as have Colin Powell and the U.S. Department of Defense) that terrorist attacks are often the result of U.S. foreign policy and who talks about the history of racism and its effect on black people, you’re an extremist who probably hates America.
White privilege is not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is when asked by a reporter, and then people get angry at the reporter for asking you such a “trick question,” while being black and merely refusing to give one-word answers to the queries of Bill O’Reilly means you’re dodging the question, or trying to seem overly intellectual and nuanced.
White privilege is being able to claim your experience as a POW has anything at all to do with your fitness for president, while being black and experiencing racism is, as Sarah Palin has referred to it a “light” burden.
And finally, white privilege is the only thing that could possibly allow someone to become president when he has voted with George W. Bush 90 percent of the time, even as unemployment is skyrocketing, people are losing their homes, inflation is rising, and the U.S. is increasingly isolated from world opinion, just because white voters aren’t sure about that whole “change” thing. Ya know, it’s just too vague and ill-defined, unlike, say, four more years of the same, which is very concrete and certain…
White privilege is, in short, the problem.”
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Sarah Palin 2012!
Published November 14, 2008 Commentary , Current Events , Politics 2 CommentsTags: Election 2012, Karl Rove, Palin, Palin GOP, Republicans, Sarah Palin
Are the Republicans already conceding the NEXT Presidential election???
Sarah Palin 2012 scares . . . no one. Just as she didn’t scare anyone in this year’s election. She’s an attractive, lightweight, ex-mayor of Wasilla and first-term governor of Alaska, who appealed only to the extreme right-wing faction of the Republican Party . . . and Republican frat-boys. She got her 15 minutes of fame . . . and then some, but what of it?! Just because she was heavily produced – and I mean heavily produced – doesn’t mean that she brought an actual story, that could really resonate with the American voters. No doubt she sent some moderate Republicans to Obama.
She was hand picked by Karl Rove – despite the denials – to bring in that loyal (& gullible) Republican base, the evangelicals. Karl’s thinking: Hey! She’s white, she’s Christian, she’s pro-traditional family values (No Gay marriage), she’s Pro-Life, and . . . she loves to shoot AND skin critters! She’s one of us! Hoo-boy. Her gender and her Mom-ness was partly to woo the moderates – both Republican and Democrat – who had been in the Hillary camp (and grumpy that she wasn’t offered the #2 slot), and to show those elitist Democrats that Republicans were the more inclusive and fairer party. First born going to Iraq. Ding! Last born having Down syndrome. Ding, Ding!! 17 year old daughter being pregos (Karl knew). Ding, Ding, Ding!!! And, her political inexperience only served to play up the perception of Obama’s inexperience. Fortunately, and wisely, Barack and Joe refused to take that bait. She played the bad cop to McCain’s good cop. John would be more statesman-like, and chastise a woman for calling Obama a “terrorist”, then Sarah would turn around and infer that Barack was a “terrorist” – because of an association – and question his patriotism and American-ness. She would get all folksy and wink, play the outsider role, say maverick a LOT, and hoped that her youth would counter-balance John’s . . . lack of youthfulness. But, ultimately, her lack of gravity on the issues, her Alaskan baggage, her $150,000.00 wardrobe and makeup (hard to be common-folk when yer wearin’ Saks/Neiman’s suits), and her overall negativity were her undoing. It might have taken a while, but enough people wised up.
In 2012 the Republicans won’t have anybody with the qualifications of a Chuck Hagel, a Dick Lugar, a Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, or some rising star??? Is Sarah Palin really their best hope? She should be more experienced in 4 years, but she’ll, undoubtedly, be less perky. (Sorry, frat-boys!) Folksy might not be in fashion in ’12. The Rovian negativity might be an unpleasant, distant memory, like McCarthyism, by then. (Hopefully) No. Sarah Palin 2012 is much more amusing, than scary. She’ll likely be the answer to some political trivia questions, and a subject of Where Are They Now. As long as she doesn’t carpetbag down to one of the lower 48, between now and 2012, I don’t think anyone has anything to fear from Sarah Palin.
YUR