Category: Propaganda

Political Crack, Propaganda, Stupid Republican Tricks, Television11 Comments

A Peek Inside The Smoke-Filled Room

If you haven’t heardKathleen 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, andeveryone at Fox News … Continue reading A Peek Inside The Smoke-Filled Room

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

Propaganda, Stupid Republican Tricks11 Comments

Your Hermetically Sealed Republican Party

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 Affairs, Law/Justice, Music, Propaganda12 Comments

Gently Weeping Guitars (And Republicans)

Nashville’s Gibson Guitars finally admitted itviolated 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) allegationthat got picked up by Fox and went around the wingnut wurlitzer, the kind of stuff Teanuts just want to believe is true. Apparently … Continue reading Gently Weeping Guitars (And Republicans)

Current Affairs, Propaganda5 Comments

Pay Attention, Please

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 likeTime 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 “controversial,” … Continue reading Pay Attention, Please

Adrastos, Music, Political Crack, Propaganda, Stupid Republican Tricks6 Comments

Stay classy, Montana GOP

Peter Adrastos Athas

Oh, those zany Big Sky state birthers: There was less laughter — although plenty of picture-taking — of an outhouse labeled “Obama Presidential Library” parked outside Missoula’s Hilton Garden Inn, where the convention took place. Nothing on the outhouse indicated who was responsible for it, although it made an appearance in the Memorial Day parade in Corvallis in Ravalli County. The outhouse was painted to look as though it had been riddled by bullets. Inside, a fake birth certificate for Barack Hussein Obama made reference to the disproven controversy over the president’s origins. It was stamped “Bull—-.” A graffito advised … Continue reading Stay classy, Montana GOP

Adrastos, Music, Political Crack, Propaganda, Stupid Republican Tricks6 Comments

Stay classy, Montana GOP

Oh, those zany Big Sky state birthers: There was less laughter — although plenty of picture-taking — of an outhouse labeled “Obama Presidential Library” parked outside Missoula’s Hilton Garden Inn, where the convention took place. Nothing on the outhouse indicated who was responsible for it, although it made an appearance in the Memorial Day parade in Corvallis in Ravalli County. The outhouse was painted to look as though it had been riddled by bullets. Inside, a fake birth certificate for Barack Hussein Obama made reference to the disproven controversy over the president’s origins. It was stamped “Bull—-.” A graffito advised … Continue reading Stay classy, Montana GOP

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

Political Crack, Propaganda, So Called Liberal Media18 Comments

And Now A Word From The Ivory Tower

Oh see, now I never would have thoughtthis 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 a … Continue reading And Now A Word From The Ivory Tower

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

Adrastos, Economy, Political Crack, Propaganda4 Comments

The Real Europeans

As a part of their endless campaign to “otherize” President Obama, Republicans are fond of talking about his radical Marxist Socialist “European” policies. They rarely let the facts get in the way of their propagandizing, European politics have been drifting rightward in the last decade and Center Left governments have been defeated and replaced by conservative governments that are well to the Right of previous ones. Jacques Chirac was smack dab in the middle of the political spectrum but Sarko is flapping mostly his right wing and rather woefully at that. Neo-Thatcherite economic policies are in place throughout the continent … Continue reading The Real Europeans

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

Congress, Current Affairs, Immoral Values, Political Crack, Pony, Bitches!, Propaganda, Religion, Stupid Republican Tricks, Television, Tommy T5 Comments

Jindal blows a gaping hole in Perry’s waterline even wider

All right – excuse me for getting out of my box, but I don’t see thisanywhere else on the interwebz. It made me choke on my ham, onion, and jalapeno omelette. The MTP bobbleheads had the surrogates for Romney and Perry on this morning, and the subject turned to the M-word: (Gregory) There’s this issue of”Governor Romney is a Mormon”, this has become an issue in the campaign, pastor Robery Jeffress introduced Rick Perry and said the following: (clip runs) (Jefferson) “So we want a candidate who s a good, moral person? Or do we want a candidate who is … Continue reading Jindal blows a gaping hole in Perry’s waterline even wider

Adrastos, Political Crack, Propaganda5 Comments

Oh, Please

Peter Adrastos Athas

Nancy Pelosi has a Republican opponent whose name I refuse to remember. He has no chance. It’s one of the safest and most Democratic seats in the country. But he’s posted a deeply obnoxious interweb ad depicting the Speaker as-surprise, surprise-the Wicked Witch of the West from theWizard Of Oz. The sub-text is that *those* people still worship Judy Garland and yadda, yadda, yadda. Yawn. Does anyone think people will give this bozo any money? Even in 2010, he’ll be lucky to get 30% of the vote. Oh well, at least he’s proving that he has his “man-pants” on. I … Continue reading Oh, Please

Adrastos, Current Affairs, Political Crack, Propaganda23 Comments

Not sure what I think about Burn Confederate Flag Day

Peter Adrastos Athas

A progressive blogger out in Washington State wants to transform the 9/12 Beckapalooza, Teabagger Day, into Burn Confederate Flag day. Part of me thinks it’s an interesting sideshow stunt since the Confederate flag is such a powerful symbol of hate and there are a whole lotta teabaggers who should be wearing white sheets and pointy hats. Having said that, burning anything at someone else’s rally seems to have great potential to backfire as well as incite violence. I’m a peacenik. I don’t like political violence. It’s dumbassery as well. In the end, I strongly lean towards considering it a counter … Continue reading Not sure what I think about Burn Confederate Flag Day

Adrastos, Malakatude, Propaganda, Religion8 Comments

Malaka Of The Week: Ron Ramsey

Peter Adrastos Athas

I’m an atheist but around religious people, I soften it to agnostic because for some reason they mind it less. I’m not sure why but, hey, I’m a tolerant person but one thing that I’m intolerant of is intolerance. That brings me to this week’s “honoree.” Ron Ramsey is running for Governor of Tennessee as a Republican. He’s the Lt. Gov and, apparently, his campaign was stuck in the mud. So, instead of spinning his wheels, he decided to take action and trot out a boogieman for the voters to beat on.Mr. Ramsey’s choice was Muslims: Tennessee Lt. Gov. Ron … Continue reading Malaka Of The Week: Ron Ramsey

Geek Cred, Propaganda, VirgoTex3 Comments

The Fourth of July in my mind

Yeah, this one’s a bit early but I only get the keys on Wednesdays. The tiny little place where I live really goes all out on Fourth of July (and also on Halloween, but that’s a different post). Everything shuts down and everyone goes down to the town square or as close as they can get to it. That is, everyone who isn’t in the parade. It’s a toss up whether there’s more people marching or watching from the sidelines but the important thing is, everyone goes: the old people, the high school Shakespeare troupe, hippies young and old, ranchers … Continue reading The Fourth of July in my mind

Athenae, Propaganda, So Called Liberal Media7 Comments

My Pulitzer Means I’m Never Wrong

Oh, God, put your dick away. We don’t need to see that: Risen’s piece quickly drew fire from online reporters and writers (including this one), who pointed out that many of the story’s purported revelations about Afghanistan’s mineral reserves had been previously reported. They also questioned the timing of the story, coming as it did on the heels of a series of troubling reports about the stability of the Karzai government and one day before Gen. David Petraeus was scheduled to testify before Congress about the war. […] Risen didn’t take kindly to the blogospheric criticism. “Bloggers should do their … Continue reading My Pulitzer Means I’m Never Wrong

Do Something, Immoral Values, Propaganda, VirgoTex8 Comments

Twitterbomb alert: Tell the children the truth!

If you are on Twitter, set an alarm for9 a.m. tomorrow. Go do it right now, we’ll wait.[Jeopardy music interstitial] Okay, now that you’re back, this is what you’re going to dotomorrow at 9 a.m., and why: Send the following to the Texas Education Agency (TEA): “.@teainfo Do right by TX kids& public school kids everywhere. Reject distorted Social Studies curriculum changes. #SaveHistory” Why? Because the usual suspects at the State Board of Education (SBOE), continuing their slash and burn pillage of state curriculum standards, have proposed a social studies curriculumso egregiously out of touch with actual historical fact and … Continue reading Twitterbomb alert: Tell the children the truth!

Current Affairs, Doc, Propaganda16 Comments

The Penis has the Floor

The irritation with the Dodge commercial from the Super Bowl has been one of those things that I can both sides of the coin. From the perspective that A laid out earlier in the week, this makes complete sense. I can’t imagine it being OK to have a commercial with a bunch of black guys saying, “I will shuffle and grin when you tell an N joke. I will not mention my penis is three times larger than yours. I will speak ghetto when you ask me to. Because of this…” and then fill in something horribly racist afterward. So … Continue reading The Penis has the Floor

Propaganda, Stupid Republican Tricks, VirgoTex8 Comments

Boy Thinking, or Rich Inner Lives

The photo’s not the best, I just thought “hostage event parking” was sort of funny. The institution where I work is home to a well-known center that trains hostage negotiators, SWAT personnel, law enforcement first responders, and their ilk. Said center is hosting a big conference right now. So big it took me a lot longer than usual to find parking amidst all the police vehicles and rent-a-cars. I thought to myself, damn I hope there aren’t any real life hostage situations or shootings anywhere because all the people who know what to do in a situation like that seem … Continue reading Boy Thinking, or Rich Inner Lives

Athenae, Political Crack, Propaganda, So Called Liberal Media, Stupid Republican Tricks11 Comments

It’s Always The Left’s Fault

If only we’d be nicer: Obama can’t pass anything that doesn’t have unanimous support in the Democratic caucus because of the ruthless obstruction and opposition of the Republican Party. This forces him to govern to the center and make all his compromises with centrist Democrats and/or the two still-existing centrist Republicans in the Senate. The Republican obstruction empowers people like Joe Lieberman. It actually gives veto power to every single senator, but the only way to make up for a defecting Democrat is to win over Olympia Snowe or Susan Collins. So, if Bernie Sanders or Roland Burris revolt, he … Continue reading It’s Always The Left’s Fault

Do Something, Propaganda, Religion, Science3 Comments

Two sides to the fight

The Texas State Board of Education enjoyed its fair share of bad press lately, and rightly so. Strike 1: In Friday night’sWorst Person in the World segment, Keith gave the finger to Goodhair for considering Cynthia Dunbar as a leading candidate to head up the SBOE. Not just any old run-of-the mill religious conservative, Dunbar is in the Obama-is-Hitler cult and also thinks (when she thinks at all) that public school is a “tool of perversion,” “unconstitutional,” and “tyrannical,” choosing to homeschool her own offspring rather than subject them to actual education. So naturally, our august governor thought she’d be … Continue reading Two sides to the fight

Propaganda9 Comments

Yankee Stadium Uber Alles

If you love baseball and you aren’t a tool, chances are you hate the Yankees. If you are from New York or you are a front-runner, chances are you love the Yankees. In either case, you have a choice as to whether to cheer for them because America is all about choices. You can read this post or skip to the Friday Ferretblogging because you have a choice. You can thank God for this right or you can thank the framers of the Constitution because you have a choice. You can choose to choose, or you can choose to have … Continue reading Yankee Stadium Uber Alles

Propaganda11 Comments

I just need you to tell me how to get to the time machine…

ah, I know, this is popping up everywhere this morning, so maybe you’ve seen it. But..but…I justcannot pass it by. People always wonder what the hell happened to the brilliantly off-kilter Victoria Jackson between Saturday Night Live (she wasToonces‘ mom, ferchrissakes!) in the late 80’s and now. Kidnapped by a cult? Psychiatric hospitalization? Gone Galt? Head trauma? I choose Attacked by Zombies. They ate most of her brain, leaving just the amygdala. She’s just a series of autonomic fear-based tics now but I have to give her credit for the timing. Coming on the heels of the Michael Jackson Death … Continue reading I just need you to tell me how to get to the time machine…