President Obama, as perceived by Far Right Wingers

The following are the perceptions widely perceived and re-translated by Far Right Wingers about what President Obama says and does:

What Obama actually does: Extends medical care to millions of uninsured Americans;

What the Far Right Wingers say: “Obama’s anti-American socialist agenda to cost insurance companies billions.’

What Obama actually does: Resuscitates the national economy;

What the Far Right Wingers say: ‘Obama’s economic policy not equal to Bush’s.’

What Obama actually does: Urges vigorous enforcement efforts to lower national crime levels;

What the Far Right Wingers say: ‘Nation’s prisons and jails woefully insufficient and understaffed under Obama’s plan.’

What Obama actually does: Pats child on head during public occasion.

What the Far Right Wingers say: ‘Authorities suspect Obama of pedophilia’.

What Obama actually does: Pins medal on military hero;

What the Far Right Wingers say: ‘Obama ignores millions of soldiers to reward favorite.’ 

What Obama actually does: Urges development of fuel efficient vehicles;

What the Far Right Wingers say: ‘Obama plots to destroy nation’s energy companies.’

What Obama actually does: Praises Catholic relief agency;

What the Far Right Wingers say: ‘Obama shows his scorn for protestant relief efforts.’

What Obama actually does: Urges remedial climate change legislation;

What the Far Right Wingers say: ‘Obama imperils planet with radical plan.’

What Obama actually does: Comes out of shower in morning;

What the Far Right Wingers say: ‘President said to walk around nude in the White House.’

What Obama actually does: Shakes hands with Russian Prime Minister;

What the Far Right Wingers say: ‘Obama obsequious and embarrassingly friendly with Communist leader.’

What Obama actually does: Golfs on Sunday;

What the Far Right Wingers say: ‘Obama ignores important national business in romp with friends.’

What Obama actually does: Visits VA hospital;

What the Far Right Wingers say: ‘Obama shows guilt for his policies now crippling American soldiers.’

What Obama actually does:  Suggests comprehensive legislation to settle immigration problems;

What the Far Right Wingers say: ‘Obama’s policies will put millions of farmers and small businesses in dire economic straits and imperil nation’s food sources.’

What Obama actually does: Furnishes long-form birth certificate;

What the Far Right Wingers say: ‘Obama sneaks in forged birth documents.’

What Obama actually does: Refuses to release gruesome picture of dead terrorist;

What the Far Right Wingers say: and, ‘Bin Laden death claim suspected Obama hoax.’

What Obama actually does: Kisses wife in public;

What the Far Right Wingers say: ‘Psychiatrists wonder if Obama is sexual deviant.’

What Obama actually does: States he is a Christian;

What the Far Right Wingers say: ‘Obama pretends christianity to hide his implacable Muslim faith.’

What Obama actually does: Meets with Republican leaders;

What the Far Right Wingers say: ‘Obama’s smarmy arm-twisting fails to sway honest Republicans.’

What Obama actually does: Attends Broadway play with his wife;

What the Far Right Wingers say: ‘Obama neglects his own children in wild night on the town.’

What Obama actually does: Has a drink at a cocktail party;

What the Far Right Wingers say: ‘Doctors suspect Obama of hiding alcoholism.’

What Obama actually does: Criticizes outrageous Tea Party claims;

What the Far Right Wingers say: ‘Obama attacks free speech rights of American patriots.’

What Obama actually does: Makes offhand joke about Sarah Palin;

What the Far Right Wingers say: ’Sarah Palin steadfast and unruffled by Obama lies.’

What Obama actually does: Says he believes in free markets;

What the Far Right Wingers say: ‘Obama unsuccessfully hides his anti-capitalist socialist program.’

What Obama actually does: Watches people walk down the street;

What the Far Right Wingers say: ‘Is President Obama a secret voyeur?’

What Obama actually does: Supports civil rights for gays;

What the Far Right Wingers say: ‘Obama now out of the closet!’

What Obama actually does: Believes in hope and change;

What the Far Right Wingers say: ‘Obama hopes to change everything we value in this country.’

What Obama actually does: Says money is not the most important thing in life;

What the Far Right Wingers say: ‘Obama’s shows his true anti-capitalist communist colors.’

What Obama actually does: Says he believes in a woman’s right to choose what happens to her own body;

What the Far Right Wingers say: ‘Obama ardent supporter of abortion mills and murder of the unborn.’

What Obama actually does: Finds a cure for cancer and the common cold;

What the Far Right Wingers say: ‘Obama seeks to put thousands of doctors and nurses out of work.’

What Obama actually does: Hunts down and kills Osama bin Laden;

What the Far Right Wingers say: ‘Obama violates borders of sovereign nation to murder man.’ 

or, 

‘Obama's success is really based on George W. Bush’s actions.’

or, 

 ‘Obama had him in secret prison all along to await right moment to kill him.’

and/or,

(Pick one or more):

It was a staged death to insure Obama’s reelection;

It was a staged death to divert attention from a Miss USA being groped causing another backlash against the TSA; 

It was a staged death to divert attention from the collapse of the dollar and rising gas prices;

It was a staged death to divert attention from hyperinflation;

It was a staged death to divert attention from the release of the long form birth certificate and lack of a paper trail.

Most of the above are actual claims made by right wing nutters. Well OK, I threw in a few I made up like curing cancer and the common cold. But most are the claims and statements actually being made, or which might easily be made by the unhinged nut jobs on the far right now flying the Republican Party around in tight, bizarre circles.

I Dreamed I Went to Heaven

As an agnostic, I was very disturbed to dream about going to Heaven a few nights ago. After a traffic wreck I found myself at the Pearly Gates and wondered if maybe I was wrong about Christianity after all.

At the gates, I met a unkempt bunch of people, all male, from the Montana Militia, or possibly Posse Comitatas. They wore dirty, unpressed military fatigues and carried automatic weapons but were not very military in bearing. Being an ex-Marine I notice such things. These guys were about the sloppiest bunch of ‘troops’ I ever saw. They were unhappy with me, putting me in a holding cell to be interviewed by God’s lieutenant.

The lieutenant turned out to be Jerry Falwell, dressed in a flowing velvet robe and wearing expensive crocodile sandals, and at least a dozen heavy gold rings with expensive stones, a golden garland on his head, and carrying a golden scepter in his left hand. A sweet young alter boy accompanied him carrying a huge, gilt-edged bible. Falwell asked about my Christianity. I pride myself on being honest, so told Lieutenant Falwell the truth - I don’t believe in god, or christianity. 

“What if I can prove God exists, beyond any doubt?” he asked. “And, not only that, but that he is a Christian God, and part of the Holy Trinity and all that stuff?”

“Well, it sure would go a long way towards changing my mind if you can.” I admitted.

“OK, then, here we go.” he said.

“First, God knows and cares about everything that goes on, every person, every animal, every blade of grass, and the very sparrows in the air. His love is like loving hands which cup you and protect you from harm.”

“If that’s true,” I asked. “how come I’m here in the first place? If God loves me, how come I’m dead and standing here with you now?”

“God simply called you home. He could have easily protected you in that wreck and left you on Earth. It was just your time.”

“But, why me?” I wondered. “I’ve always lived honestly and was kind to others. I’ve loved, respected and protected my wife and kids. I ran a business which provided a living for many others, every one of whom I’ve always treated with dignity and respect, and always paid my taxes.”

“Yeah but, did you go to church and tithe?” he asked. “Are you Republican?”

“No.”

“Well, there you go!” said lieutenant Falwell. “There’s three good reasons right there. I’m not speaking for God, mind you, just saying that might be why.”

“What’s being Republican got to do with it?” I wondered.

“God loves Republicans. It’s easy to scare the bejesus out of them if you’ll pardon the expression. Republicans get spooked like sheep when somebody like me tells them anything. Only Republican politicians go straight to Hell, with no questions asked. And, if you ain’t Republican you get interviewed like you are now.”

“OK then,” I said. “If God protects all the innocents, how’s about an airplane crash which kills everybody on board, even if some are preachers, or innocent little children?”

“God works in mysterious ways and does not give a reason when he calls someone home, even little children. Besides, sometimes God lets an airplane crash and saves everyone on board. That’s an example of his miracles. You recall a crash that happened a couple years ago when a plane went down in the East River at New York City and not a single person died? That was God’s miracle, and proof right there of God’s love. They said people were saved because an experienced pilot named Sullenberger was driving that airplane and knew all the right things to do. But, just why do you think Sully was flying that day?”

“‘Cause he was on the duty roster?” I asked hopefully.

“Well, just why do you think he was on the duty roster?” Falwell quickly retorted.

I could see just where this was going, so changed course. “OK, what about other crashes including airplanes, cars, boats, bicycles, motorcycles and whatnot happening all over the world the very same day?”

“God works in mysterious ways I said. We mortals may not question God who always has his reasons and doesn’t explain them to anyone.”

“Seems like he’s mighty highhanded to me, and that God’s disasters outnumber his miracles about a hundred to one.” I observed.

“I’m beginning to think you’re not good heavenly material.” sniffed Falwell.

“Well actually, I might not be.” I admitted.”What’s Heaven like anyhow?”

“Oh, it’s wonderful!” gushed Falwell. “We visit around with other Christians, play a lot of golf, watch a lot of TV - just religious channels you understand, and sports, and no fornicating, swearing or drinking. We don't allow queers or lesbians either.”

“Doesn’t sound like any fun at all to me.” I mused.

“Well, you can smoke, men can at least. But of course, women aren’t allowed to smoke.”

“Why not?” I asked.

“Well that doesn’t deserve an answer if you don’t know that.”

“I guess I don’t.” I said. “I thought ‘all were equal in His sight’.”

“Well, obviously some are more equal than others.” said Falwell. “Women are lucky to be in Heaven at all, and if they won’t submit to menfolk, they can’t be. God doesn’t take any sass or back talk. It’s in the Good Book. And another thing, no Jews or Muslims, or any other of those so-called other religions are allowed. We let in some Catholics and Mexican Christians, but wall them off in their own sections. Everybody’s happier that way.

“Doesn’t God like diversity?” I asked.

“Not particularly, and especially not if it bothers real Christians, which actually means white, American, Republicans.”

“No black people? Lot’s of them are Christians I’ve heard.”

“Nope. Got their own section next to the wetbacks.” he said. “But right now, I’m nearly convinced we need to go ahead and transfer your ass straight to Hell. So before I decide, just one more question: Do you claim to be white?”

“Well, I am Norwegian.”

“Well, by God that clinches it!” he snorted. “Off you go! Even if the devil is raising hell about sending any more damned Norwegians down there. Says they actually like the place.”

“Suits the ever-loving Hell out of me!” I said happily.

Political Verse Nonsense

POLITICS

Republicans just blather and blather.

While Democrats just get in a lather,

Though the rest of us,

We never much fuss,

Still hoping common sense they could gather

John Boehner is certainly not crazy,

Even if you think his man tan may be.

Nonetheless his crying,

Is quite stupefying,

And, puts to shame all other cry babies.

Limbaugh says Health Care is just fine as is,

And needs no new laws, taxes or patches,

“What’s a few million uninsured?”

“Hell, they can be faith cured,”

“And save money by dying in batches!”

Conservative, WASP, evangelical or Anglican

Republicans can be so downright unAmerican,

“To Hell with all the rest,

Let’s feather our own nest!”

Could be the the epithet of the last Republican.

Republicans say their tent is big and inclusive,

Declaring they wish not to be reclusive,

Yet tolerate no homos nor lesbians,

No Atheists, Progressives nor Haitians,

All those and Republicans are mutually exclusive!

"All those whiners!" declared Phil Gramm,

"We've got ours so we don't give a damn.

John 'n me and most of our friends,

Got more money than we can spend.

Let the poor eat cake and marmalade jam."

Too much education is a bad thing,”

Said Karl Rove of the Right Wing.

“It’s really quite pathetic,

Letting people vote Democratic,

Could well cut short a Republican swing.”

The Roadblock and Train Wreck party held a meeting,

“There’s absolutely no doubt we’re in for a beating.”

Said national Chairman Michael Steele,

“And, I must make a last ditch appeal,”

“To return to our core values of lying and cheating.”

An old Republican queer named Mitch,

Swore to run health care straight in the ditch,

Wearing a shirt of bright pink,

He minced as he winked,

“Screw health care, I’m still a stone bitch!”

A Democrat out driving a Toyota,

Ran over a Republican Voter.

‘Thank goodness!’ he cried,

“He was on the wrong side,”

“And I don’t blame myself one iota!”

Of the US Congress, who can say?

Why they plot, sellout, stall and delay?

All we absolutely know for sure,

Their results resemble horse manure,

With the public always the ones who pay.

ALASKANS

MILLEROSCOPY

Joe Miller ran for public office.

Alaska voters held a caucus.

Decided he was a nut case,

Wearing a thug’s beard on his face,

Who made everyone too nauseous.

Joe Miller went all wacky and nervous,

The election became a huge circus,

And, when the recount at last came in,

Poor ol’ Joe took it smack on the chin;

For, voters learned Joe Miller was worthless!

PALINOLOGY

Due to her total refudiation,  

Of all the entire Obama nation,

Sarah Palin drew a bead,

Never mind the need,

On all health care laws and legislation.

WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH SARAH PALIN?

Whatever could be the matter with Sarah Palin?

Disturbing all with her sad weeping and wailing.

Insisting the media spawned her political derailing,

Whining by Facebook, Twittering, and secret emailing,

Insinuating so much with insufficient detailing,

Blaming all but herself for her career's curtailing,

Hopefully now her political coffin has its last nail in.

THE DANCER

There once was a dancer named Bristol;

Who was ever so ignorantly blissful.

Like her mom, a mental midget,

She extended her middle digit,

And used her finger as her pistol.

"THE DIM-WITTED TWEETER" 

There was once a dim witted twit who twittered,

Who quitted her governor's job with all its glitter.

And, promised to never, ever leave Twitter.

But soon did so with nary a back-look nor titter.

Then, later behold! About-faced and unquitted Twitter!

Yes, this dim-witted twit recanted and re-twittered,

She twittered about this and that and the other,

Death panels, Russia and Obama's mother.

Hoping everyone forgot the job so blithely quittered.

On, she twittered, and twittered and twittered,

On subjects she hardly knew quit from quinolla,

She expounded on Levi, McCain, Trig and Angola.

On Sesame, governments, church and pipefitters.

She shamefully twittered and twittered and twittered,

While the country grew quite weary and so jittered,

All tired of her nonsense and now sadly embittered,

While the sheen on her star dimmed and quite flittered.

Nonetheless, she persistently, mindlessly twittered,

Ignoring all pleas, imprecations and screams,

Plugging always her twisted, evangelical dreams,

Even husband Todd too, wanted to jump up and hit her.

May we never see again all those perfidious twitters,

Playing so to fears, paranoia, religion and bitters,

Plainly,  insanely, chasing her own lost fame and glitters,

Yes, next time give us at least a rational bullshitter!

THE QUITTER

Sarah Palin thinks everyone's out to get her,

Which makes her mad and so awfully bitter,

She's resorting to politically incorrect twitters.

The public is greatly amazed, and all in a titter,

Her constituents never agreed to permit her,

To abandon her state nor to submit her,

To ridicule, amazement and rude side-splitters,

Being a lipsticked mom from a pit bull's litter,

Didn't qualify Sarah nor make her one bit fitter,

To govern a state nor be a political outwitter.

Turns out, Sarah's only an inept, low-octane quitter!

Tweet!

Tweet!

Tweet!

America's Neros: Money Can Surely Buy You Political Love

Remember the story about Nero fiddling while Rome burned? Tragically, we now have our own versions of Nero’s fiddling (or worse) while our world’s climate degrades as a result of mankind’s pollution. Our Neros are political ‘Deniers’ of climate change. They are the ones we've elected, who choose to disregard over 95% of expert scientific opinion to tout the dissenting 5%. And many, if not all of those 5% are under the financial influence of big energy corporations or others who stand to lose if remedial legislation is enacted. There’s little hope of that now with control of the House of Representatives passing to the deniers.

Such is the power of money in politics. Now there are essentially no limits on political campaign money, the people, the man in the street so to speak, have been disenfranchised and are now at the mercy of well-heeled corporations. Under the recent ruling from the right-wing controlled Supreme Court, corporations may now use their virtually unlimited funds to buy any legislator - and legislation - they choose. And, they have done just that.

This is a breakdown by industry of the ratio of contributions during the 2010 election:

Energy companies: 2 to 1 to Republicans over Democrats;

Agriculture Industries: 2 to 1 to Republicans over Democrats;

Health Care Industries: 4 to 3 to Republicans over Democrats

And here are some remarks and details about the incoming people who will be in control of the House of Representatives:

John Boehner, (Ohio), Incoming House Majority leader: Beohner says, ‘The idea that carbon dioxide is a carcinogen, that is harmful to our environment, is almost comical’; Biggest campaign donors are: Drug and cigarette makers, banks, health insurers, oil companies, military contractors. (Boehner once handed out lobbyist checks from cigarette makers to other representatives on the house floor)

Darrel Issa, (California), Incoming Chair of the House Oversight Committee: Issa says he won’t use his new clout to ‘have corporate America live in fear’. Instead, Issa says his first moves will be to investigate the very climate researchers and scientists who are ringing the alarm bell loud and clear.

Issa’s top contributors: Pharmaceuticals/Health Products

John Shimkus, (Illinois), one of four running for chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce: Shimkus quotes Genesis 8:22 from the Christian bible: “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” and says, “I believe in the infallible word of God, and that’s the way it’s going to be for His creation;

Shimkus’ top contributors: Health Professionals, Pharmaceuticals& Drugs; Health products, Electric Utilities, Oil & Gas

Joe Barton, (Texas), is also running for the same chair: Barton says, “When it’s hot, we get shade. When it’s cold, we find a warm place to stay.” Barton is the same guy who demanded Obama apologize to BP for demanding they take more effective action during their gulf oil spill;

Barton’s top contributors: Electric Utilities, Oil & Gas, Pharmaceuticals & Health Products, Health professionals, Mining.

And, even before the recent election congressional Republicans schemed to eliminate the House Select Committee on Energy Independence.

Who says money can’t buy you love? (Or, at least favorable legislation). We should never forget Nero ultimately had his own mother (and step-brother) murdered back then in ancient Rome either.

Sources: Follow The Money

              Open Secrets

Why I Think My Wife May Be a conservative Republican

Oh, my wife talks a good game all right. Oh yes,she claims to be ‘for the people’ and a champion of the little guy. She claims she’s never voted for a conservative Republican in her life.  But, now I’m not too sure. In fact, after today I now have a strong suspicion she might actually BE one. A conservative Republican that is.

Why do I think this?  Well, it’s pretty simple really. It’s like this: Last December someone gave my wife a nice bird feeder for Christmas. If you’ll recall, Christmas last year came shortly after the entire country got a nice present in the election of a genuine people person in the form of Barrack Obama. Are you following so far?

OK. Then early this year my wife nagged me to hang the bird feeder. Sort of like the Republicans started right in making heavy demands on Obama. You know, demands like, “Well, when are you going to start fixing things?” and, “What’s all that hopey, changy stuff you’re talking about?”. Never mind that they were responsible for most of the things needing fixing to begin with and the main reason so many people voted for ‘hope and change’. So, I was sort of in the same position Obama was in at that time. I inherited a responsibility not my own, and was expected by the other side to act on it - to ‘fix it’  - immediately.  The big difference was Obama asked for it and I did not.

So, I hung that consarned bird feeder - in consultation with my wife of course, as to where and how high. I hung it from a tree limb in the back yard.  High enough to be out of the way, but low enough to reach to fill it. The birds loved it and flocked to it all Winter and early Spring. We both enjoyed watching the little critters flitting around and competing for the bird seeds. Somehow, it was also became my responsibility to buy the bird seed and to replenish the feeder as needed. No problem, I enjoyed that. As the weather warmed and natural feed became available I ceased adding seed to the feeder, but left it hanging from its limb.

As the weather warmed our lawn grass began growing again. My wife asked me to buy and distribute lawn fertilizer, which I did. I didn’t mind. In fact I have absolutely no complaints about the lawn at all. That’s because my wife is very jealous of how it looks, and is secretly competitive with our neighbors all around us.  She doesn’t even allow me to cut the grass and other than my paying for things, she does it all, except only occasionally for grunge work like distributing fertilizer. I bought her a fancy riding lawn tractor with all the bells and whistles and  at least once a week she’s out on that thing keeping the grass mown just so.  She’s almost OCD about it in fact. For example, she went away for a few days late last year and I decided to cut the grass while she was away. And that’s the very first thing she noticed when she got home, only the way she expressed it was, “Oh my God! Just look at that!  You’ve just ruined all my work!  You’ve scalped the lawn!  Oh! I could just cry!”  and, “Don’t you ever, under any circumstances, for any reason, ever, ever cut my grass again!”

Whew! You’d have thought I’d have farted at her sister’s wedding or something. I mean she was hostile! But no problem, really, except for the temporary hostile reaction. I was happy to abdicate the lawn care to her. All of it. You see, I’ve never enjoyed anything to do with lawn care work. In fact, if were left to me, I’d pave the goddamned lot and paint it green. So, I’m perfectly happy for my wife to cut our grass while I sit inside having a nice rum toddy. Um, um, good!

So, my wife ALWAYS cuts the grass and I’m not allowed to. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it? Well, not quite as it turns out. Today, I arrived home from somewhere to find my wife in our driveway with a stern glare. Like all husbands, stern glares from the wife are always met with some trepidation. So, I asked tentatively, “What’s wrong Sweetheart?”

“Your @#$%&*$@# bird feeder almost killed me, that’s what! I was zipping around the yard on the mower and didn’t see it. Your #$%&@# bird thingy almost knocked me off the tractor! I was lucky I didn’t black out and fall off and get run over! ”

“MY bird feeder!” exclaimed. “Last I knew that thing was a Christmas present to YOU!”

“I don’t care!” she shouted angrily. “You HUNG the goddamned thing!  And you hung it too low!”

“Too low?” I said. “It was right there where you told me to hang it, and right there in plain sight where you knew it was - couldn’t you see it?”

“Oh, Hell No!  I had my sun hat on and didn't see it and just ran right into it. And, it’s all your goddamned fault!”

It did not matter the bird feeder was hers, and I had tried to help her by hanging it for her.  It did not matter one bit my wife had already mowed several times this year with no problem, and knew exactly right where the feeder hung.  The only thing that did matter was that I had had my hands on it, on her behalf and had 'fixed it' as per her instructions and input, and that she had driven into it herself.  Therefore, it was all my goddamned fault!

And that right there was when I began to suspect my wife at her core, might actually be a conservative Republican. She sure has a lot of the earmarks today all right.

I'm sure gonna be keeping a closer eye on her now.  I've already started hearing about how 'my' fertilizer was making the weeds grow.

A Cynical Moderate in a Right Wing World

These days sometimes I feel like an alien dropped onto a strange planet.  A surrealistic planet where very little is as it is purported to be and labels are opposite to realities.

I have always considered myself conservative, particularly on monetary matters.   In fact, I KNOW I am financially moderate.  Maybe even ‘penurious’ as my wife sometimes claims.  I am a child of a child of the Great Depression after all.  The lessons and fears of that time were drummed into me and my siblings during our childhoods.

I have mostly lived in what are now called ‘Red States’, meaning Republican or at least Republican leaning.  But, many were not always Republican, although they were always what is now considered ‘conservative’ and right-wing.  The current Republicans in the Old South where I now live were once solidly Democratic in the past.  Rabidly so, in fact.  I’ll always remember my Georgia grandmother telling me as a child, “Don’t you dare tell anyone, but we just found out your Uncle Sammy is a ‘REPUBLICAN’!”, suggesting that was equal to being a child molester or equally vile.

I lived in North Carolina during the early ‘eighties during the so-called ‘Reagan Revolution’ when a great transition took place in the south.  Local politicians who were once solid ’Democrats’ began switching parties, but usually only after they were securely in office.  Their politics did not change one iota, only their political label.  I remember a neighbor lady who ran for mayor of our town, who once elected, changed political affiliations the very next day.  At the time I wondered about her sincerity and apparent lack of honesty, but excused it since I considered myself a ‘Republican’ at the time, though I was never a party member.  I did not realize my brand of moderate republicanism would soon be vanishing.

At the time most Republicans were moderate in outlook particularly in the northeast .  But their new southern brothers decidedly were not.  They were the remnants of the old hard line Southern Democrats, who transitioned through being ‘Dixiecrats’ before finally hanging their shields on the ‘New Republicans’ tent as *'neo-Conservatives'.  Basically, the parties switched sides, and platforms.  Democrats became moderates, while retaining their liberal constituencies.  The old hard-line Southern Democrats became ‘Republicans’ and eventually captured the party, driving most moderates, away from the republican camp.  Along the way they captured the term ’conservative’ and redefined it to mean something not conservative at all, but rabidly reactionary in concept.  And yes, they claim financial conservatism, and on the surface it is.  But, underneath it is actually radically pro-corporate and ‘people-be-damned’.

* ("Our "neoconservatives" are neither new nor conservative, but old as Babylon and evil as Hell."
     ~Edward Abbey)

And, to my amazement they have succeeded in persuading millions of Americans to support them against their own personal interests.  Their supporters in the main do not realize this, since they buy into the propaganda and disinformation purchased and disseminated wholesale by corporate special interests, who created a vast PR and propaganda apparatus for this express purpose.  The other amazing part to me is much of the wealth behind this ‘conservative’ push is foreign money - our very own fifth column in you will.

How can this happen?  Why are so many Americans so easily misled?  I am convinced it is part of a decades long campaign by cynical ‘money-masters’ to capture our electorate, and thereby our economy and wealth.  Voters have been ‘dumbed-down’ for years.  We are subjected to a constant barrage of misinformation, disinformation, deception, deceit and outright lies - all piously asserted to be ‘facts’.  I get emails almost every day from someone outraged over some ‘fact’ or the other sent to them by email, and then spread like a virus. And most of us are too busy, or lazy to check for ourselves, simply believing what we want to believe.  As voters, we don’t bother to turn over the rocks. 

But, thankfully today it is very easy to turn over rocks to check for yourself - but only if you are motivated to do so.  Most people do not bother.  I do.  I’m too conservative to simply take someone’s word for something on faith alone.  As a responsible voter, I feel the duty to check things out for myself.  I highly recommend the practice.

Whenever you are presented with a political assertion - you should check for yourself, even if the ‘fact’ fits your political view and you want to believe it.  Often you will be surprised, even by things from your own end of the political spectrum.  This practice will open your eyes and provide you with an entirely new perspective on the political process.

Here are some illustrations: 

"Families for Walmart"

Using Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt as a political tool.

Spreading the news about 'Cap and trade'.

How Obama used the Stimulus fund to help his brother-in-law

Never forget:  "Freedom begins between the ears"  ~ Edward Abbey

Sarah Palin Gives Herself a Hand Job on National TV

Sarah Palin proudly demonstrated she is a woman of the people in her speech at the Tea Party convention the other day. To make a political point, she rejected the use of a teleprompter as a speech aid and joked about Obama’s use of the device.  Instead Palin used her own left hand as her personal mnemonic device and employed it rather conspicuously, though perhaps not wishing to seem so deliberate about it. Or, maybe her hand job display was her way of emphasizing her rejection of the ‘new’ and all that ‘hope-y change-y’ stuff.

Palin’s supporters love her for her anti-intellectualism and her folksy, red-necky style. Many conservative Republicans, never known for their intellectual rigor or academic savvy in the first place, seem to prefer the proudly ignorant ‘common sense’ candidates - and, apparently, the denser and commoner the better. Else, how can you possibly explain phenomenons like GW Bush, or Sarah Palin? I probably shouldn’t even mention Dan Quayle, as that tends to rile up conservative Republicans too much.

Sarah seems to passionately embrace being proudly ignorant, even though she does admit to reading newspapers - ‘all of ‘em’. And, Sarah shows little desire or motivation to remedy her hopeless ignorance. Like so many conservatives, she seems to prefer things ‘exactly as they are right now’.  In fact, we’re told her advisors are working hard on a new Palin slogan to go something like: “With me, you can  count on no change at all, ever - unless I quit again of course.”  Or, perhaps, “I may be a quitter, but I’m certainly not very literate”. Or, “Rationality is just not my thing.”

The phenomenon of Sarah Palin illuminates a stark political fact:People can and will completely overlook, excuse and forgive behavior and deficiencies in someone they agree with, when the very same things in someone they disagree with will make them go postal. There is no arguing with that kind of conviction because facts and reality are rendered beside the point and simply are not allowed to be part of the equation.Literally anything can be justified with enough conviction.

Maybe it often seems bizarre, but at least Sarah Palin always provides everyone with an entertaining spectacle, complete with the occasional hand job.