January 17, 2015

In Nazi Germany, the first to be exterminated were disabled Germans declared to be "unfit"

History tells us that unchecked power will destroy those without the means to defend themselves. The weak become convenient political scapegoats against the horrific self-serving policies of a corrupt ruling class.

The obsession with "fitness" and "superiority", common talking points of conservatives, reveals conservatives as true cowards. Conservatives are unable to challenge the absurd notion of their own superiority (an ironic weakness, for sure). Nothing scares them more than the simple falsehood of their delusion. And they will stop at nothing to protect their perceived entitlements, no matter how undeserved.

Today, real-life extremists are roaming the halls of Congress, lending a false dignity to the twisted visions driving our legislative priorities. We need to be vigilant and on guard against the radical views of supremacy. There is nothing more dangerous than a nation ruled by cowardly, delusional extremists.

So what are the attributes of extremists? Easy. They'll be the ones promoting abstract benefits that come from giving up environmental protections, civil liberties and human rights.

- We have to solve the problems of global warming by drilling for more oil.

- We have to increase levels of poverty before we can eliminate poverty.

- We have to torture people until we have peace.

- We have to cut taxes on the wealthy to increase wages for the poor.

- We have to eliminate marriage rights to protect marriage rights.

- We have to eliminate safe and legal abortion to protect women's health.

- We have to spy on your family to protect them.

- We must not prosecute Wall Street banks so they can help families crushed by their fraud.

- We have to outsource millions of jobs to Asia so that the money saved can create jobs in the US.

- The free market should determine who should be allowed regular access to health care

- We have to cut pay and benefits of teachers in the most impoverished school districts to ensure student test scores match those districts with the wealthiest families. And India.

- We have to slaughter thousands of innocent people with drones and bombs because there may be a terrorist among them.

The common recurring theme from the extremists is the notion that that you must exploit and punish the majority in order to preserve the power of a corrupt, self-serving minority.

And these days, when you hear conservative extremists lash out at the notion of a "populist" movement, they are simply afraid that the power of the corrupt, self-serving minority is being challenged.

From the tea baggers to 3rd way corporate shills - it isn't a matter of lesser evil. It is the same basic evil wrapped up in abstract notions of patriotism on the one hand, and a "free market" on the other.

January 10, 2015

Saudis Begin Public Caning to Punish a Blogger

Source: NY Times

BEIRUT, Lebanon — The authorities in Saudi Arabia on Friday began the public flogging of a blogger who was sentenced to 1,000 blows, 10 years in prison and a large fine for starting a website that featured content critical of the country’s religious establishment, the rights group Amnesty International reported.

The floggings are to be administered with a cane over a period of months.

The blogger, Raif Badawi, was arrested after starting a website called “Free Saudi Liberals,” and he was later convicted of charges that included cybercrime and parental disobedience.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/10/world/middleeast/saudis-begin-public-caning-of-blogger-first-50-of-1000-blows-are-administered.html?ref=world

---

Meanwhile - our friends the Saudis continue fomenting and financing the religious extremists causing chaos throughout the world.

January 10, 2015

Minnesota Cold (Part 12) Snowman Piñata

This series is quite good.

January 9, 2015

Christie using Citizen Surveillance to Intimidate Political Opponents

We warned you. Principals of citizen surveillance are incompatible with the Democratic Party. If you find yourself instinctively apologizing for NSA spying and our police state, you may be more comfortable acknowledging yourself as a Republican. The Democratic Party, too tolerant of conservatives, does not exist for you to seek refuge from your Republican guilt.

http://www.ibtimes.com/bridgegate-chris-christie-used-port-authority-political-weapon-1778062

January 7, 2015

NJ, & Philly, when you watched Chris Christie dance with Jerry Jones in the "owners" box...

how did you keep from projectile vomiting?

Besides the obvious ethics problem, what sort of douchebag Governor of NJ (or Philly or DC) dances around like a jackass (with another jackass) when Dallas wins?

Good news is, probably cost him tens of thousands of votes, in NJ, maybe 100,000+ across the NY to DC corridor.

Giants should put his face on the practice sled. What a fucker.

January 4, 2015

The Purity Test

Let's listen in as 3rd Way Al helps a young, naive Jimmy explore the strange and wonderful world of the New Democratic Party.

"So, why do you want to join the Democratic Party?"

"Well, I guess I don't agree with the Republican view that corporations matter more than people, the military is..."

"You don't like corporations?"

"I just think they have too much power over government"

"Don't you think the government needs expertise of corporate CEOs to help formulate policy"

"But their expertise is building personal wealth for a small closed group of private investors not in soc..."

"Don't you believe in the free market?"

"Umm... I guess but there needs to be limits and regulation..."

"That sounds like communism, besides, Wall Street takes the risks, they should reap the rewards"

"But their risks are backed by money taken out of our pay chec..."

"Let's move on, what were you going to say about the military?"

"Well, it's crazy, the wars, the spying, police, tortu..."

"Don't you think we should defend ourselves?"

"Yes, but I don't believe having NSA reading my families email makes us saf..."

"You have something to hide?"

"No, but having access to all that information is inviting abuse and corr..."

"It's just metadata. So, what don't you like about torture?"

"It is clearly a primal method of revenge, there are so many better ways to..."

"If your 12 yr old daughter was about to be attacked by terrorists and you had to torture someone to stop it, wouldn't you do it?"

"But that's a silly, cartoonish fantasy, something you see on a TV show, it isn't reality..."

"Maybe your daughter isn't being attacked by terrorists right now because our patriots at CIA use torture to extract vital information."

"Really?"

"Maybe you're too radical to be a real Democrat."

"Look, I'm not applying for a job... don't you want my vote?"

"All I'm saying is, get rid of the looney left purity and you'll get along much better around here."

"WTF!"

"Just listen to yourself, you sound like some 60's hippie..."

"And you sound like a douchebag..."

"Calm down, you people need to get over it. This is the new reality."

"You people...?"

"Ever hear the President use the L word? Hillary? You're not some FDR socialist are you?"

"What's wrong with FDR, I thought he was a Democrat?"

"And Lincoln and Reagan were Republicans"

"Wait, Reagan?"

"Reagan is a good image to associate with. Lets people know we are serious. Besides, trickle down gets a bad rap."

"So, to be a New Democrat, I have to
- embrace corporate power over the legislative process
- support citizen surveillance
- accept Wall Street deregulation, torture and trickle down economics?
- admire Reagan for his positive association

You learn quick, but there's more than that
- appreciate the beauty of corporate run prisons and schools,
- understand how sending jobs to Asia builds a robust middle class,
- believe in the importance of taxes breaks for the oil and insurance industries
- adopt self-regulation as a means to protect the environment

"That sounds like a purity test"

"It's worth it in the end"

"How?"

"We win elections"

"But you got blown out..."

"Tell that to President Obama, with a capital D. And, according to the National Committee, the mid term loses were vindication that our strategy is working"

"It was pretty close considering Romney made such an ass out of... well I guess I'm misinformed"

"There's a lot you seem to be misinformed about.

"But how is this different than Republican philosophy..."

"You don't think a woman should have the right to choose?"

"Yes, she should but..."

"You want Republicans to win?"

"No, but, um, I think I have to go now. Thanks for your help."

"Anytime, can you give me some cash to help the cause?

"Uh, sorry, I'm broke."

"You get a sticker with a D on it..."

"Sorry, no money"

"OK, don't forget to vote."

January 2, 2015

Dear President Obama, Please shut the f' up about TPP rainbows and unicorns...

The Democratic Party has become obsessed with polishing the asses of Wall Street billionaire CEOs. These charismatic/celebrity CEOs are rich from exploiting slave labor in Asia. Now Obama is determined to set the stage for the next big step function increase in poverty and wealth disparity with TPP.

The critics are correct, just like we were about NAFTA and banking deregulation. TPP is a job killing, wealth sucking device to move wages and benefits from American workers into the pockets of Wall Street CEOs.

That isn't a pot of gold waiting for American workers at the end of the TPP rainbow. It is a giant pile of shit comprised of endless lay-offs, underemployment, lost wages and benefits.

You can smell it from here to Vietnam.

Jesus Christ, I cannot believe how hostile the Democratic Party has become to workers and their families.

TPP is literally punishing the American worker for expecting more than a cardboard shack to live in.