Author: southernbeale2014

Uncategorized4 Comments

Same Stuff, Different Package

southernbeale2014

Everything I need to know about Marco Rubio’s rebuttal to tonight’s State of the Union address was broadcast this afternoon when he voted “No” on the Violence Against Women Act. As Steve Benen pointed out: As for the final vote on VAWA, all 22 votes against the proposal were Republican men. Indeed, it’s worth noting that there are only 45 Senate Republicans total, so just about half of the GOP caucus opposed reauthorizing a bipartisan bill intended to help combat domestic violence.These Republicans — including Sen. Marco Rubio and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell — knew VAWA would pass the … Continue reading Same Stuff, Different Package

Current Affairs, Stupid Republican Tricks10 Comments

Hippie Punching

southernbeale2014

I know this is childish of me, and probably beneath the standards of this estimable establishment, but in case you haven’t heard, Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez has died. And while unlike my fellow liberals I was never one to fawn over Chavez, actually knowing some Venezuelans who suffered under his regime, I find the right-wing’s opportunistic hippie-punching a little too much to bear: Seriously? That’s the best you can do? Take a pot shot at Sean Penn and Oliver Stone? Conservatives never cease to amaze me in their pettiness. Continue reading Hippie Punching

Current Affairs, Immoral Values, Propaganda, Stupid Republican Tricks12 Comments

Dirty Deeds

southernbeale2014

Tucker Carlson’s Internet Kavalcade of Krayzeee seems poised to take over Breitbart’s Propaganda & Donut Den for this year’s Crimes Against Journalism Award. But really, there are so many nominees this year, how can one choose? The conservative media’s latest liberal-smearing scoop that ended up being an exploding cigar was the Daily Caller’s career-killing revelation — with video! — that Sen. Robert Menendez had sex with prostitutes in the Dominican Republic. Sadly for Tucker Carlson, it all appears to be a big, fat lie: An escort who appeared on a video claiming Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) paid her for sex … Continue reading Dirty Deeds

Law/Justice4 Comments

There Are No Do-Overs In Supreme Court Decisions

southernbeale2014

Jayzus effin’ whatever, lady. I guess we should be glad she at least sees the error of her ways but for crying out loud, this makes me want to fucking throw something: Now she tells us. More than 12 years after the fact, retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor said it was probably a mistake for the Supreme Court to hear Bush v. Gore and anoint George W. Bush as president of the United States. “It took the case and decided it at a time when it was still a big election issue,” Justice O’Connor told the Chicago Tribune editorial board … Continue reading There Are No Do-Overs In Supreme Court Decisions

Current Affairs, Fuck The Mommy Wars, Propaganda, Television2 Comments

Blind Fox News Squirrel Finds Nut

southernbeale2014

God, can we please stop treating Fox News’ Megyn Kelly like she’s some kind of goddamned hero or something? So this is where we are? A female Fox News anchor calls her misogynist colleagues’ views about gender roles a bunch of sexist bullshit — which they are — and we’re supposed to cheer for her? Give me a fucking break. Megyn Kelly is your typical Fox News hack. Like every other conservative out there, she only manages to find her spine (and voice) when something personally affects her. Jon Stewart called her out on this BS the last time she … Continue reading Blind Fox News Squirrel Finds Nut

Television, War in Iraq12 Comments

The Way We Were

southernbeale2014

I never watch “Morning Joe” but Mr. Beale does and I happened to be in the bedroom long enough this morning to catch a truly horrible “both sides did it,” context-free, Iraq War dodge. It featured clips of prominent Democrats (John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, Carl Levin) calling Saddam Hussein a “brutal, murderous dictator” who needed to be disarmed, followed by clips of those same individuals criticizing Bush’s war later. As if that proved something. As if that meant anything. As if saying Saddam was a dangerous asshole also meant you wanted to invade his country and kill his people. As … Continue reading The Way We Were

Congress, Current Affairs, Immoral Values, Stupid Republican Tricks7 Comments

The Ryan Plan, Now With Electrolytes

southernbeale2014

Paul Ryan released his new budget which, from all I’ve read thus far, is remarkably similar to the one Americans resoundly rejected last year as being mathematically impossible and morally depraved. The “new” plan includes VoucherCare, screws people under age 54 out of Medicare (as a 51-year-old, let me repeat:FUCK YOU, PAUL RYAN), cuts taxes on the wealthiest and corporations, increases defense spending by $500 billion over the next 10 years, and magically cuts the deficit by such amazing feats as repealing Obamacare. In other words, this isn’t anything close to a serious attempt to deal with “fiscal issues.” So … Continue reading The Ryan Plan, Now With Electrolytes

Nature is Scary12 Comments

Reality Calling

southernbeale2014

Yesterday I went to my Wingnut Dentist to get a crown. I don’t know why I haven’t switched dentists; this guy is so conservative, he actually has dead-tree editions of Newsmax in his waiting room. (Did you even know there IS a dead tree edition of Newsmax? I should leave a copy of Mother Jones in there just to fuck with him.) But I really don’t want to find a new dentist, I’ve been going there for over 20 years, and I’ve got pretty healthy teeth, so 90% of the time it’s just pop in for 15 minutes twice a … Continue reading Reality Calling

Food and Drink24 Comments

Capitalism Has Failed

southernbeale2014

Here’s how you know capitalism has failed: when they start creating products for which there is no demand, then spend tons of money on advertising and marketing campaigns in the hopes of creating a demand. I call it the New Coke Syndrome. Nobody had a problem with old Coke but nooooo, some MBA type decided they needed to switch things around because market share and synergy and value-added-thinking-outside-the-box and blahbeddy blah. Voila! You have a product nobody wants. I’m not sure when this phenomenon started — probably when people decided getting an MBA was more worthwhile than being a doctor … Continue reading Capitalism Has Failed

Congress, Current Affairs10 Comments

Happy Blue Year

southernbeale2014

It’s mourning in America, peeps! Last night we went over the so-called “fiscal cliff,” actually more like a bungee jump because apparently the House is going to vote on the Senate’s bill this morning and (hopefully) pull us back. Oh, goodie. I’m sitting here enjoying my first cup of coffee of the day and haven’t yet read up on all the details, but it sounds like it’s what they were talking about yesterday: raising taxes on incomes over $400,000 for single filers, $450,000 for families. On hearing the news that $400,000 is now “middle class,” Mr. Beale enthusiastically quipped, “Great! … Continue reading Happy Blue Year

So Called Liberal Media7 Comments

CNN: End Of An Error

southernbeale2014

Hey gang, CNN might be getting palatable again! I say “might” because you never know what fuckery the bean counters have in mind, but it’s hard not to see the exit of Erick Erickson, Mary Matalin, and James Carville as a good sign. I gave up on CNN a long, long time ago. Shit like this would piss me off to no end. I’d check back with them on occasion, but they always seemed to be working hard at fashioning themselves as a Fox News Lite, down to the revolving door that saw CNN anchors and hosts leave for Fox: … Continue reading CNN: End Of An Error

Current Affairs, Immoral Values18 Comments

North Dakota’s Anti-Woman Dystopian Horror Show

southernbeale2014

Yo, North Dakota. You’ve got a problem. Abig one. You’re a state full of bohunk, testosterone-fueled oil workers desperate for some female companionship. And your state legislature is treating women like slaves. Like objects. So, how’s that working for you, North Dakota? Let’s discuss. First of all, t wo bills banning abortion await the Governor of North Dakota’s signature today [UPDATE:they were signed into law by the governor today]. One bans abortion for all fetal abnormalities… … such as anencephaly in which parts of the brain and skull don’t form, or Tay-Sachs disease, a degenerative condition that paralyzes babies and … Continue reading North Dakota’s Anti-Woman Dystopian Horror Show

Current Affairs, Do Something9 Comments

Fuck The NRA

southernbeale2014

Okay, I spent an hour composing a nice thoughtful post with a much more polite title and fucking TypePad ate it and it’s nowhere to be found, so that’s an hour of my day gone and I’m now inclined to be crabby and brief. Here goes: 1 – TypePad sucks. 2- Fuck the NRA. Let’s just stop pretending they’re anything other than a political lobbying arm of the Republican Party operating on behalf of gun manufacturers. Whatever they started out as, they are no longer that. They do not represent gun owners or sportsmen. They are not a grassroots organization.Their … Continue reading Fuck The NRA

Current Affairs6 Comments

Arthur Laffer Must Be Crying

southernbeale2014

Seems like just last spring faux economist Arthur Laffer was telling Tennessee’s House-Senate Fiscal Review Committee that Fred Smith was going to pack up his Memphis-based Federal Express in a gigantic purple and white box and head for someplace without an inheritance tax: “I spent about two hours with Fred Smith three days ago up in Memphis, and he said he’s gettin’ out of this state if it doesn’t happen.And now we don’t want to lose FedEx. Fred Smith’s a couple of classes behind me at Yale and he’s a good friend.” Ah, the memories. Smith told Laffer to shut … Continue reading Arthur Laffer Must Be Crying

Of Interest14 Comments

It’s Never Time For The Blame Game

southernbeale2014

My Twitter feed is all over this New York Times op-ed, in which journalist Kurt Eichenwald reveals the numerous warnings of an Al Qaeda attack in the months leading up to 9/11. Not just the infamous Aug. 6 PDB, “Bin Laden Determined To Strike In U.S.,” but CIA reports from May 1, June 22, June 29, July 9, and July 24. And then there were the FBI reports of Al Qaeda-connected terrorists training to fly (but not land) airplanes at U.S. flight schools. And on, and on. All ignored. Why? Eichenwald writes: […] An intelligence official and a member of … Continue reading It’s Never Time For The Blame Game

Current Affairs, Immoral Values12 Comments

Crazy People Cannot Be Bought

southernbeale2014

Dear, sweet Democrats. When will you ever learn? The conventional wisdom over the Affordable Care Act’s expansion of Medicaid, which SCOTUS ruled could not be compulsory, was always: no worries! Look how generous the Feds are being with the states! No state, even the reddest of the red states, would turn this deal down! Or, as Matthew Yglesias put it, [..] Congress’ approach was essentially to make Red America an offer it couldn’t refuse—expansion could be done on very generous terms with the federal government picking up over 90 percent of the tab, but failure to expand would come with … Continue reading Crazy People Cannot Be Bought

Current Affairs, Stupid Republican Tricks6 Comments

It’s Always Good News For Republicans

southernbeale2014

Pardon my kvetch but Jesus, the media’s hand-wringing over the demise of the Republican Party is starting to annoy the shit out of me. Yes, it was amusing the first four days, but enough already. I’m really tired of every single news channel and cable program trotting out this or that Republican to discuss what’s wrong with their party, why they lost, how they can make a comeback, what they need to do, etc. You know what? I sure don’t remember Democrats dominating every news program when they lost the 2010 midterms, or when they lost in 2004. I really … Continue reading It’s Always Good News For Republicans

Current Affairs5 Comments

Goodbye

southernbeale2014

Hey, not all of the elites were swilling champagne for Romney last weekend.Some have given up on the country entirely: July 9 (Reuters) – Denise Rich, the wealthy socialite and former wife of pardoned billionaire trader Marc Rich, has given up her U.S. citizenship – and, with it, much of her U.S. tax bill. Rich, 68, a Grammy-nominated songwriter and glossy figure in Democratic and European royalty circles, renounced her American passport in November, according to her lawyer. Her maiden name, Denise Eisenberg, appeared in the Federal Register on April 30 in a quarterly list of Americans who renounced their … Continue reading Goodbye

Current Affairs23 Comments

A Debate For Idiots

southernbeale2014

Okay kids are we ready for the second debate tonight? I know we’re all supposed to be super-excited about it because of the town hall format and the fact that the questions will be asked entirely by that chupacabra of politics, the undecided voter. Or, as the rest of America calls them: those idiots who still haven’t made up their mind three weeks before the election. If there is anyone in network news reading this post I would just like to tell you folks that the absolute last people we want to hear from right now are undecided voters. These … Continue reading A Debate For Idiots

Economy, Immoral Values14 Comments

Please Just Go Galt & Leave Us The Fuck Alone

southernbeale2014

I know it’s been said before like a thousand times but the overwhelming butthurt coming from our multimillionaire class has gotten way old. I’m tired of it, I really am. I would like you people to take a steaming cup of STFU and please, go Galt or go to your island in the Caribbean or the south of France or whatever better place you think exists for people like you and just leave the rest of us alone. We’ll clean up your mess, just like we always do. We’re used to it by now. Today we learn that timeshare kingpin … Continue reading Please Just Go Galt & Leave Us The Fuck Alone

Propaganda, Stupid Republican Tricks12 Comments

Your Hermetically Sealed Republican Party

southernbeale2014

Have you heard the latest? Republicans have decided that the LAMEstream LIEberal media is in the tank for NObama because there’s no way those polls showing the Kenyan usurper in the lead could possibly be right, so they’ve developed their own polls which — shocker! — show Mitt Romney with an insurmountable lead. I know, what are the odds, right? Isn’t that just typical? Whenever reality contradicts conservative ideology, it’s always the reality that’s wrong, and the conservative solution is always to create their own version of whatever so-called “liberal” thing vexes them at the moment. It must be exhausting … Continue reading Your Hermetically Sealed Republican Party

Current Affairs, Law/Justice, Music, Propaganda12 Comments

Gently Weeping Guitars (And Republicans)

southernbeale2014

Nashville’s Gibson Guitars finally admitted it violated the Lacey Act when it imported endangered wood. They will pay $350,000 in fines and penalties, forfeit their claim to endangered wood seized by the Feds, and hopefully go and sin no more. What I really want is for Republicans to be held accountable for their baseless claim that CEO Henry Juszkiewicz was targeted by the Obama Administration because he donated to Republicans. It was a completely crazy (and baseless) allegation that got picked up by Fox and went around the wingnut wurlitzer, the kind of stuff Teanuts just want to believe is … Continue reading Gently Weeping Guitars (And Republicans)

Current Affairs9 Comments

Voter Fraud Nonsense

southernbeale2014

This item about the complete lack of in-person voter fraud in Pennsylvania reminded me of a conversation I had recently. I’m taking a beginning Spanish class offered by the wonderful Tennessee Foreign Languages Institute. I should clarify: it’s a very beginning Spanish class, as in, the most rudimentary basics. For instance, did you know that both the adjectives and the nouns have to agree in regards to gender and singular or plural? Like, there’s a masculine and feminine “blue”? That’s so weird to me. But I digress. Our Spanish teacher is a very nice older lady from Chile who has … Continue reading Voter Fraud Nonsense

LOL, Stupid Republican Tricks9 Comments

Conservative Blogger FAIL

southernbeale2014

Connie Schultz is a Pulitzer Prize-winning syndicated columnist at the Cleveland Plain Dealer. On her Facebook page she posted the following: blockquote> Email from conservative blogger, dated July 9, 2012: Dear Ms. Shultz, We are doing an expose on journalists in the elite media who socialize with elected officials they are assigned to cover. We have found numerous photos of you with Sen. Sherrod Brown. In one of them, you appear to be hugging him. Care to comment? ———————– Response, dated July 10, 2012: Dear Mr. [Name Deleted]: I am surprised you did not find a photo of me kissing … Continue reading Conservative Blogger FAIL

Uncategorized6 Comments

If Hillary Were President

southernbeale2014

Forget “The Newsroom” — well, don’t forget it. We’re enjoying it immensely at our house. But if you want something else to watch on Sunday nights at 10/9C, I’d also like to recommend USA’s “Political Animals.” It stars Sigourney Weaver as the former First Lady who runs for president, loses, then ditches her philandering husband — the beloved former president who talks in a thick Southern drawl — and becomes Secretary of State in the new administration. Sound familiar? Yeah, I know but it’s actually really good! It’s sort of a feminist West Wing, and for those wrestling with Aaron … Continue reading If Hillary Were President

Stupid Republican Tricks6 Comments

Angry White Men

southernbeale2014

Sen. Lindsey Graham told us everything we need to know about the Republican Party when he made this statement during the RNC: “We’re not generating enough angry white guys to stay in business for the long term.” Indeed, that is your modern Republican Party in a nutshell: angry white men. I realize this is no great revelation, but I’ve never heard anyone in the GOP actually cop to it. You’d think there’d be some backlash from the unhinged right at being characterized this way, but let’s get real: those folks don’t read the Washington Post, anyway. Still, Graham’s quote explains … Continue reading Angry White Men

Current Affairs, LOL2 Comments

The Many Moods Of Richard Mourdock

southernbeale2014

Oh fer fuck’s sake. I’ve tried twice to post over here today and both times my post got eated. Once it was a really lovely piece about the SCOTUS health care ruling and it just *poof* went away. I’m not even going to bother anymore. Here’s a video from last night’s Colbert Report, wherein he mocks Indiana Republican Senate candidate Richard Mourdock, who pre-taped his different responses to the SCOTUS health care decision and then accidentally published them on YouTube last week. Woopsies. Needless to say, Mourdock’s pre-taped responses, absent anything factual like, y’know, why SCOTUS would have ruled the … Continue reading The Many Moods Of Richard Mourdock

Economy, Immoral Values19 Comments

The Country We Deserve

southernbeale2014

Stories like this one fill me with so many conflicting emotions. Let’s just start at the beginning, shall we? SEWANEE, Tenn. – As Robin Layman, a mother of two who has major health troubles but no insurance, arrived at a free clinic here, she had a big personal stake in the Supreme Court’s imminent decision on the new national health care law. Not that she realized that.“What new law?” she said. “I’ve not heard anything about that.” […] Layman was hardly the only patient unaware that the law aims to help people like her, by expanding health insurance beginning in … Continue reading The Country We Deserve

Current Affairs, Law/Justice7 Comments

Fools & Their Money

southernbeale2014

Well, this is an interesting development in the case of Trayvon Martin shooter George Zimmerman: Four days before she testified to having no knowledge of the funds, the affidavit says, Shellie Zimmerman began a series of transfers into her account — totaling $74,000 between April 16 and April 19. The affidavit says about $47,000 more was transferred from George Zimmerman’s account to his sister’s. Shellie Zimmerman withdrew about $18,000 more cash, prosecutors say. Prosecutors say the Zimmermans used a rudimentary “code” to discuss the money in recorded jailhouse phone calls — referring to $100,000, for example, as “$100.” At least … Continue reading Fools & Their Money