Author: southernbeale2014

Political Crack, Propaganda, So Called Liberal Media18 Comments

And Now A Word From The Ivory Tower

southernbeale2014

Oh see, now I never would have thought this was our exact problem, but David Brooks schools me otherwise: Maybe before we can build great monuments to leaders we have to relearn the art of following. Democratic followership is also built on a series of paradoxes: that we are all created equal but that we also elevate those who are extraordinary; that we choose our leaders but also have to defer to them and trust their discretion; that we’re proud individuals but only really thrive as a group, organized and led by just authority. I don’t know if America has … Continue reading And Now A Word From The Ivory Tower

Music, Of Interest, Travel5 Comments

Interesting Times

southernbeale2014

As I posted over at my place this morning, Mr. Beale and I have just returned from a long weekend in New York City. New York is both America’s cultural and financial center, so the stuff I see there always resonates on a bigger level with me. It’s a place that always makes me think about where this country is and where it’s going. And sometimes what I think is, WTF? For instance, this, seen somewhere around West 53rd and 7th Avenue: I couldn’t see that and not think of Andrew Breitbart ranting, “stop raaaping people … stop raaaping people … Continue reading Interesting Times

Current Affairs1 Comment

What’s The Matter With Tennessee?

southernbeale2014

There was much rejoicing in the liberal blogosphere over the weekend when a Vanderbilt University poll showed President Obama in a statistical dead-heat with Mitt Romney in my home state of Tennessee. Oh, my! Those of us who actually live here got a good laugh because if you read past the headline and got into the actual story, you realized that while Obama fared well in a poll of adults, among those who are registered voters Romney maintains a comfortable lead. And of course we all know our state Republicans have done a masterful job ensuring people of the Democratic … Continue reading What’s The Matter With Tennessee?

Current Affairs, Stupid Republican Tricks6 Comments

And I Thought Missouri Was The Show Me State

southernbeale2014

Missouri’s House Republicans held a super-secret ceremony yesterday to unveil the bust of Famous Missourian Rush Limbaugh, in which armed police (at taxpayer expense, one would assume) guarded locked House chamber doors to keep out the riff-raff Democrats: The unveiling of Limbaugh’s bust was kept secret from all but invited guests until less than an hour before the ceremony. While Republican lawmakers were invited, Democrats were not and visitors were blocked from entering. All but one of the doors to the House chamber were locked with armed Highway Patrol and Capitol Police patrolling the hallways outside the chamber. House Speaker … Continue reading And I Thought Missouri Was The Show Me State

Current Affairs, On Wisconsin11 Comments

This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things

southernbeale2014

I don’t mean to step on anyone’s turf over here, since the Wisconsin recall isn’t my beat. But dammitall, I read this and just wanted to throw up my hands: blockquote> According to the Wisconsin Dem, the party has asked the DNC for $500,000 to help with its massive field operation. While the DNC has made generally supportive noises, the money has not been forthcoming, the official says — with less than a month until the June 5th recall election. The DNC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. […] Polls suggest that very few Wisconsin voters are … Continue reading This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things

Political Crack, Propaganda, Stupid Republican Tricks, Television11 Comments

A Peek Inside The Smoke-Filled Room

southernbeale2014

If you haven’t heard Kathleen McFarland’s conversation last year with Gen. Petraeus, you simply must. I’m serious, stop what you’re doing and give it a listen. Here’s the Clif’s Notes edition: a recording of a conversation last year between Fox News national security analyst Kathleen T. McFarland and Gen. Petraeus has surfaced. In it, McFarland passes on an important message to Petraeus from NewsCorp Chairman Rupert Murdoch and Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes: run, Petraeus, run! Run for the Republican nomination for president! Ailes would quit Fox to be his campaign manager, Murdoch would bankroll the campaign, and everyone at … Continue reading A Peek Inside The Smoke-Filled Room

Current Affairs4 Comments

Move On Dot Everyone?

southernbeale2014

A friend, deeply frustrated after talking to clueless Republicans, wonders why Democrats can’t get their message out. She says: What’s so darn hard about spreading the word, and repeating it and repeating it and repeating it, like Republicans do? Indeed, it should be the easiest thing in the world. And yet it’s not, for all the reasons we already know: the media is not liberal, the left doesn’t have the “talking-point-factories-disguised-as-think-tanks” infrastructure, Democrats by nature are not authoritarian and aren’t in the habit of falling in line, etc. etc. As a result we get narratives like this: This is elitist … Continue reading Move On Dot Everyone?

Current Affairs, Propaganda5 Comments

Pay Attention, Please

southernbeale2014

Okay, Newsweek? Y’all are doing it wrong. Michael Tomasky, you are doing it wrong. This, right here, is doing it wrong: Okay, look, I get the whole “we’re trying to create a buzz” thing. I get that when you put President Obama on the cover with a rainbow halo and call him our “first gay president” or choose the photo of Michele Bachmann where her eyes look super-crazy you’re doing it for the shock value. Just like Time put the lady with the titty-sucking 12 year old or whatever he was on the cover. Let’s “start a conversation,” let’s be … Continue reading Pay Attention, Please