I wrote a piece the other day about how the ability of right-wing loudmouths like Rush Limbaugh and Matt Drudge to say the most abjectly horrible, unutterable stuff on behalf of the GOP was made possible by a group of facilitators willing to use their credibility to legitimize them as part of the process. Without them, these arguments would never enter the mainstream, and people like Rush and Drudge would be written off as extremist clowns.
So now Matt Lauer is doing the honors. According to Media Matters:
NBC Today co-host Matt Lauer suggested that when Rush Limbaugh "said perhaps Michael J. Fox was exaggerating or faking these effects of Parkinson's disease" in a recent campaign ad, Limbaugh was "just say[ing] what a lot of people were privately thinking."
Matt Drudge and Rush Limbaugh made the unspeakably vile assertion that the underage pages were at fault for luring poor Mark Foley into temptation. Most people are disgusted by that, but soon the fawning Mark Halperin and John Harris write, and completely without irony, that "Matt Drudge rules our world." Which may just be the horrible truth.
Drudge and Rush would not have the status and the credibility they do were not people like Halperin, Harris, Howie Kurtz, Brian Williams and Matt Lauer willing to go in there and reclaim them for saying the most base things imaginable to keep the Republicans in power. In doing so they are as guilty as if they uttered the very same things themselves.
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Jane!
Kobe!
Christy!
Parallel play!
If only there were some way to visit Parkinson’s upon Messrs. Drudge, Limpballs, Lauer, et al. so that they could report back to us, the real, the undeniable truth.
I await their karma with considerable interest.
FITZ!
Rootz!
Get the vote out–call and volunteer T O D A Y
In other words, ‘other people’ being an often used straw man, what he himself (Lauer) is thinking.
Agreeing with Limberger…what a ‘ditto’ tool.
Not surprising that Lauer is parroting Limbaugh, he’s always struck me as an aging fratboy type who would hear what he wanted to hear from LImbaugh.
CatStaff, I would never wish Parkinson’s on another human being for any reason.
My uncle has an advanced case now, and when I was young I watched my music teacher freeze and die by inches.
I hope we can fight people without thinking of them as subhuman. [Maybe Cheney…no, not even him.]
precisely. Depraved and unredeemable.
CatStaff @ 5
Well, there is a way. Ask one of the “Frozen Addicts”.
Ed Gillespi R-Idiot drowning on MSNBC trying to scare everyone with Webb’s novels. oddly, Tucker calls him on it. Interestingly, Ed sits in front of a window with a massive rainstorm lashing against it. Symbolism?
Well, now we know the answer to the question “where in the world is Matt Lauer?” He’s halfway up his own backside. Perhaps he can be encouraged to complete his journey and disappear altogether.
egregious @ 9
I agree with you, but I also understand what Catstaff is saying, especially after watching the big fat junkie pig actually physically mock MJ Fox.
I’m not the first one to say it, but if Limbaugh did have Parkinson’s, he’d be the loudest advocate for stem cell research in the country.
It doesn’t matter how awful they are, as long as we don’t turn into them during our fight against what they stand for. And no way will we give up fighting. Think of all the Americans before us who fought long, tough battles and succeeded.
Keep your eyes on the prize — hold on.
Jane Hamsher:
F*cken A! (uttered in Fred Wardian tones)
kristinejoy @ 11
Snowflake babies.
Cold-hearted bastards.
It’s a theme.
great post, Jane. I refuse to watch that freakin show so I missed Matt’s effed up comment.
but I have to admit, I’m not following the “redemption” title of this post. Maybe I’m too fried on this Friday afternoon…
I’m sure Matt et al would appreciate seeing their good deeds made better known among their “peers.” Spotlight anyone?
This is exactly analogous to the delight demonstrated by the media when Drudge or another internet site posts rumors about Clinton or other Democratic politicians. Cokie Roberts is particularly fond of saying that the media is forced to cover the story because it is “out there.” On the other had it is almost impossible to push stories about conservatives into the MSM. These efforts require hard copy (e.g. video or documents) before the MSM will consider the issue.
It would be great if, in a show of solidarity with Michael J. Fox, every actor in Hollywood refused to go on the Today show, until Lauer apologized for this hideous remark.
Do you know what makes it worse?
Michael J. Fox is a HUGE reason why NBC crawled out of the ratings sewer back in the 80s. You’d think there’d be some fucking gratitude for Michael J. Fox on NBC’s part, doncha? The network had been rock bottom for at least 6 years when Family Ties got matched with Cheers as a one-two sitcom knockout. The grownups loved Cheers, but the teenaged girls ADORED Michael J. Fox. It was the teenaged girls who got the tube set to NBC. The parents stuck with it after FT for Cheers. A brilliant setup.
BarbaraB @ 13
a spew moment!
Oh Friday—what’s the news dump gonna be?
Matt cheats on his wife while he traveling the world doing “Where’s Matt”. I am sure I am just say[ing] what a lot of people are privately thinking…you know what I mean?
While not wishing Parkinson’s upon one of these
unthinkinguncaring commentators (they certainly aren’t reporters), I’d like to hope that at least one person each one of them knows does have Parkinson’s or any one of the other degenerative diseases that stem cell therapy might help, or that genuine scientific reseach will find better treatments for.Of course, then they’d be in favor of it, but only if
someone elseinsurance pays for it.I have a friend with Parkinson’s. A young friend. It is a devastating thing. His life is completely and royally fucked.
But he trudges on, taking so many pills every day that it’s hard to believe he has time for anything else. He works when he can, and keeps on keeping on.
Shame on these people who want to talk about things they have no knowledge of, who insult Michael J. Fox with the same casual air they’d use to order a drink or discuss last night’s episode of “Desperate Housewives.”
They’re morally and ethically bankrupt, and they deserve to wonder why no one gives a damn when terrible things befall them in the future.
And the thing is, you know terrible things will happen in their lives. That’s the way life goes. So when those things happen, and life gets miserable for them for a day or a year or more, I hope they hear Nelson Muntz in their head and try to figure out why.
LJ/Aquaria @ 21
This is a wonderful idea. Let’s see what we can do to make it happen.
I await their karma with considerable interest.
If only there was a way to hurry it along.
Maybe a great idea, but it will never happen.
OK, OK, OK, Ed*ard, via Egregious’ ActBlue page…
$20 to Benson (plus tip).
Who will match me?
Less than a month ago lauer stood beside the Preznut and shaked in his little GE boots. W. freaked matt into believing that only he can protect him for the terrahrists and now a shakin’ off-his-meds Michael J. Fox. What a fcuking pussy matt lauer is.
TRex @ 28
Karma moseys.
bonzarella @ 27
But anyone who boycotts NBC will then be banned from all outlets in the NBC “family.” Another insidious side effect of media consolidation. With so few separate entities, everybody has to stay in line with the corporate story or risk losing their livelihood.
Oh, yeah, let freedom reign!
bonzarella @ 27
And not just refuse to go on the Today show but ANY NBC show including Leno. A clever name for the boycott would help – what say you amazing FDL punsters?
It will never happen, for the reason Linda stated above. Their livelihoods depend on shows being bought by NBC, the publicity outlets, etc. etc.
The repercussions would be horrible for many a career.
This it’s “what a lot of people were thinking” is the same excuse used when Howard Stern wondered why the Columbine killers hadn’t raped the girls first.
“Why, heck, it’s what a lot of people were thinking, but didn’t want to say.”
It’s transference, plain and simple. Nothing real.
newspaperbrat @ 34
NB See ya later.
Must Boycott TV
NBC/Universal Condemnation
I just “voted” some more with $25 each to WEED in VA, Kissel and Sharpe in NC, and Wulsin in OH. That is my small way of telling Limbaugh and all the other limpdicks to go to Hell! I have been watching a younger brother slowly overtaken with MS. Pissed off doesn’t even describe how I feel about Bush and his value voters.
NB See ya later.
Must Boycott TV
NBC/Universal Condemnation
From Josh Marshall:
This really is pretty unbelievable: NBC won’t run ads for the Dixie Chicks documentary because, in the words of the NBC’s commercial clearance department, “they are disparaging to President Bush.”
Networks usually at least go to the length of coming up with a phony ‘we don’t run ads with a political message’ excuse. But I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one say something like this. I would have thought that with the president’s popularity so low some of the network’s usual supineness and cowardice would be a little less evident.
I’m still watching Olbermann. Fuck ‘em.
arianna, alec, are you out there? Must Boycott TV is waiting.
The Lauer than low No Show.
Primordial Ooze. I matched you and put in $20 to Benson. Now how about someone else matching that plus throwing in 3 hours of phoning or canvassing or anything else for our candidates?
My grandmother had Parkinson’s and it was heartbreaking to see this once strong, independant woman reduced to a trembling mass as the disease progressed. I’ve never been too impressed by anyone on the Today show, especially since Lauer stood toe to toe with Shrub and bought into the lies that only republicans can protect you and your family from the “terrists”. What a complete tool! And for him to say people were wondering if Michael was faking it is one of the more despicable attempts by the goper’s to attack the messenger because they can’t attack the message.
uh, don’t forget that k.o. is on msnbc.. the gods giveth, and the gods taketh away….
…and this is Matt’s brain on limbaugh.
OT and EPU’ed:
Joe Lieberman Petty Cash Hive Mind Project is under way. I’ve contributed my data on other Senator’s petty cash expenditures to them. Help them out if you can.
I wanna say one quick optimistic thing about the ford/corker race. I voted yesterday at Belle Meade City Hall, smack dab in the midst of the wealthiest neighborhood in TN (Gore’s neighborhood in fact). Three cars with Ford stickers–and no one else’s–were in that lot with my car (also be-stickered). That seemed like a good omen to me. I dunno… I’m tryin’ to be hopeful…
Oh and here’s a great update on the sorry saga of Limp bough:
Rush Limbaugh Parkinson’s Free and Lovin’ It
My stepfather died of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)and the toll it took on my mom took years off of her life. It’s not as well known as other diseases but it is heartbreaking. I can’t tell you how angry I am with this whole stem cell deal and these idiots!
jayt @ 39
Absolutely – Olbermann could prove a great ally for he books guests too.
Rule 11 of Alinsky’s Rules for radicals:
Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, polarize it. Don’t try to attack abstract corporations or bureuaucracies. Identify a responsible individual. Ignore attempts to shift or spread the blame.
Our job is to bait Lauer into reacting. “The enemy properly goaded and guided in his reaction will be your major strength.”
egregious @ 9
I wish I was as nice as you. I am working on it, but………….. Stopped watching the morning shows and most other MSM so-called news long ago. What a waste of time. Mind-numbing. Lauer looks good without a shirt on, but that is about it. Once he opens his mouth, well…. I have to wonder whether the Couric interview with MJ Fox was an attempt at attonment for all the rightwingbats like Limballs she has had on her news show since joining CBS. Has to do something to pull her ratings out of the toilet.
Voted today and it felt incredibly good.
Halperin and Harris are clueless. Matt Drudge is nothing more than a dweeb that doesn’t get laid enough.
Looks like Lauer’s just smug that the L-Dopa isn’t working any better than the Rogaine.
newspaperbrat @ 50
Email them here: Today@NBC.com
Snail mail:
NBC News
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, N.Y. 10112
To encourage KO to bite the hand that feeds him: countdown@msnbc.com
OfT from HuffPo via MyDD Terry Nelson: John McCain’s aid fired from Walmart for producing racist TV ad
AZ Matt @ 38
2 TV stations to show Foxx-Sharpe debate
http://www.journalnow.com/serv…..&path=!localnews&s=1037645509099
Finally! ; )
I was telling someone the other day that I was one of those kids with a soft-hearted medical Mom who tended to “adopt” her patients (don’t ask how many times we took someone on vacation with us!), and made her kids volunteer at hospitals and nursing homes. So I spent a lot of my youth with sick and disabled people.
The Parkinson’s/MS/ALS/MD/parapalegic patients were some of the toughest to handle, not because they were so difficult, but because they were always so embarrassed and frustrated. Parkinson’s patients on their meds would constantly apologize for knocking something over or accidentally bumping you or falling off their chair. I can remember a lot of them crying from the frustration of it all.
As i told this person the other day, I think of all those lovely people, their frustration and embarrassment and tears, and to have someone like Rush Limbaugh mocking them and Matt Lauer saying the things he did…
There aren’t enough bad things that can happen to people like that.
Hey gang:
I jusdt got home and checked email, and got an email from Al Gore via the DCCC-They will 3 for 1 match any donation made today. I was planning on throwing $20 at Act Blue, but should I give instead to the evil Rahm if it can turn into $60?
Y’all are making me cry with your compassion and understanding of devastating disease. I am sorry for all of our experiences with beloved and special people.
May the horrid and demonic ones over there realize their cruelty and soon.
OfT: More Musgrave idiocy.
http://americablog.blogspot.co…..iavos.html
I spotlighted Jane’s post to Matt and his NBC colleagues, asking for an on-air TODAY show apology. I’m finding the phrase “my dad died of Parkinson’s disease” empowering and emboldening today. Thanks, Jane, for giving me a way to honor my father’s memory in this way.
Cozumel @56, thanks for the debate info. I will see if they stream it.
Obama’s email supporting Ned went out to 250 people in Connecticut.
250. 250?
WTF?
Lame, lame, lame.
rk @ 20
Which oddly enough, doesn’t seem to apply to George Allen’s divorce records, even though Josh Marshall says it’s all anyone who’s anyone in the Beltway is talking about.
Listen to Diane Benson addressing the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention live here:
http://www.publicbroadcasting……ndex.shtml
TeddySanFran @
60
Good for you, Teddy. This is just outrageous.
Jim @ 63
David Shuster just brought up the divorce records on Hardball! This is a first that I have heard on the CM…
We’ve seen WEEKS of attack ads, dirty tricks,millions and millions spent on the teevee industry- and we’re about where we were when the whole thing started.
The senate is a toss up and dems are gonna win 20-30 house seats.
If goopers are going to change the momentum- they need to do something much bigger and more effective that we’ve seen so far- so far it’s all having zero effect.
(By the way- here’s a positive thought, maybe americans are becoming immune to stupid political ads.)
Meanwhile that bitch Lynne Cheney is lying again and Leslie gives her a pass on it.
Even as I hit submit, I figured KO would bring up the divorce, and I bet he’ll show the Dixie Chicks commercial too. Here’s hopin’ he lays a smack on Lauer.
Primordial Ooze @
30
That ET sure is a persistent feller, ain’t he? Glad to see you got your match. My daily dose went to Goldmark as promised last night.
$190 is all that’s needed to put us over $6,000 raised for Diane Benson at Egregious’ Act Blue page.
Who’s got the next $20?
whoops, that was Shuster on Hardball, not KO– sorry Jim.
More to come surely with KO.
Ed*ard Teller @ 64
I thought you were at rehearsal.
rwcole @ 4:03 pm (#67)
We can only hope. I tend to tune out all commercials, and the average political ad sounds pretty much like all the others these days. There’s almost no information content in most, and what little there is seems to be primarily aimed at mischaracterizing or sliming the candidate’s opponent.
The Dixie Chicks were on Matthews’ show (MSNBC) last night advertising their documentary. They told Chris some corporation (Cox?) told its “independent” stations not to play the Chicks’ music. Matthews pressed them on this a time or two. I wonder if he knew what was coming from the “bringers of good things to life.”
What’s up with Felix Macaca’s divorce records? Link?
Here’s the latest way the cable news networks are “covering” the election- showing the stupid ads and having talking heads “evaluate” them.
Here’s how the cable news networks are NOT covering the election: allowing political analysts to share the fact that dems are poised to take over twenty to forty seats. Why? Cause the goopers biggest problem right now is the threat of a runaway election- where more and more voters decide to get on the train that’s gathering momentum. Thus we ignore the truth.
RBG @
70
RBG,
I just read your comment to the dozen and a half volunteers at DBHQ in Anchorage and they’re shouting “OK & Alright, RBG!! Woooo!”
Sorry I couldn’t link up to Diane’s speech earlier, because the floor fight to allow her to speak wasn’t aired. Of course she was great.
Thanks, pups! As we say up here, “MUSH you Huskies!” or is it HUSH, you Muskies!”?
TRex @
28
I was always loathe to get involved in someone else’s karma…but I found a solution. I prayed that God would give the person what they needed…and then I asked if I could watch.
Balrog @ 75
They are sealed and his former wife denied he ever used the n-word when that blew up. Either it’s part of the agreement not to speak or she does not want to admit to knowing or realizing that she was married to low-life racist scum.
She was a peach and a beauty and really far too good for him, btw.
Ed*ard Teller @ 77
Mush, Malamutt! Klondike Kat
Is the little tagalese girl comming to her senses ? What the heck is going on here, I don’t even know which Fox is running.
Balrog @ 75
http://politicalwire.com/archi…..ginia.html
here ya go
Thanks Jim and Angie.
More on the Macaca split,from TPM
(October 27, 2006 — 02:55 PM EDT)
The Allen campaign refuses to return our calls asking whether Sen. Allen will release his sealed divorce records. We’re not the only news outlet asking, just the only one telling you how the Allen campaign is responding. Heck, one major national daily had a reporter out in LA for at least week trying to nail down the story. It’s what every Washington insider is talking about: what’s inside those sealed records down in Albemarle County. Now that the Allen campaign is about to go on the airwaves about sex scenes in Jim Webb’s books, maybe you should know about this too.
EPU’d:
Pachacutec @ 127
well said…that brings ayes to my tiers
Almost without exception, every statement the right-wing makes is the precise opposite of the truth, including their assertions regarding liberal bias in the MSM.
Balrog @ 62
Notice that the article is another totally biased piece of garbage with a Miga byline. Watch that Miga guy, he is real snake.
Best way to shake out the divorce records is to get someone to say that they’ve seen em and describe a bunch of things that are much worse than what’s really in em.
A clue might be in Ryan Lizza’s recent piece on Mark Warner that cites a story that had been “making the rounds” about a 2008 presidential contender who “once spit on his wife.” That rumor was also about Allen.
http://politicalwire.com/archi…..ginia.html
rwcole @ 88
Anyone slimy enough to do that already wants Macaca to win.
Wait, maybe Joe Lieb… Never mind.
Doesn’t the great interview he did with Brittany Spears cut any ice with this crowd?
well, we already have plenty of evidence that G Felix Macaca is a mean-spirited bully–I’m guessing the divorce records don’t make his wife look bad
It’ll take something stronger than allegations of spitting on his ex to shake Allen fists loose of the records.
raybear @ 91
well, being a fair-minded kind of guy, I’ll admit that Matt Lauer is every bit the journamalist that Tucker Carlson is–though I think a lot of Tucker’s stuff is harder on Republicans
Cozumel @ 89
Anyone have a TNR subscription? In contrast to Salon, the only way you can view TNR articles is by subscription.
I’m just curious if there’s anything more than what’s in the Political Wire quote.
Jim @ 92
I’ll bet you a million that you are right.
Anne Rubel was a very, very nice lady.
Someone’s gotta know the details of the divorce- and some of em have got to be friends with the ex. She probably took a bunch of money to keep her mouth shut- but not her friends!
Come on reporters- get out there and collect the dirt- that’s your job!
Odds are strongly in favor of physical violence I’d wager.
I’m feeling some acute sadness ‘n’ rage tonight, fellow fdl’ers. Just watched katie couric’s interview with michael j. fox. How again did we come to live in a country with someone who can have serious airplay doubting the credibilty of an ill person? I’m just baffled by this stem-cell stuff, friends. Especially given the fact that the arguments against fucking SCIENCE and RESEARCH for prolonging LIFE come from supposed pro-lifers. help me understand. just a lot of sadness here tonight.
“Halperin, Harris, Howie Kurtz, Brian Williams and Matt Lauer…” and others like them. I don’t care what makes them ‘tick’. I simply don’t watch or listen to them. For guys like these, and Rove, Cheney, Bush, Laura, Babs Bush and a host of others, I believe in almost nothing of which they profess to. But one thing I really do agree with them on, at least they say that they believe in it, is that there will come a Judgment Day.
Why is this in bold?
Wrt the Senate, the Idaho Governor’s race is now rated as a toss-up at My DD.
Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) has been outed on the tubez, so it’s “out there,” Cokie Roberts, if you’re reading.
bonzarella @
27
They are no better than the Taliban, fundamentalists are fundamentalists IMHO.
bonzarella @
99
OT, big props to Tweety and Olbermann for blasting Bob Corker’s ads against Harold Ford. As European-Americans, they have leverage against Corker that non-whites don’t. Tweety and Olbermann reinforced that we are all Americans first.
Wrote today show yesterday about this.
Allen’s sister book is also revealing !
bonzarella @ 4:32 pm (#99)
I think it’s ignorant, superstitious people trying to deal with change, but that may be an oversimplification. We’ve had to re-evaluate what it means to be human and ethical with a great many advances, particularly in medicine. People felt the same way about test-tube babies, blood transfusions, antibiotics, and some feel that way about medicine in general.
The problem is that these particular ignoramuses have votes, and seem inclined to use them. Since there are quite a few of them, there are politicians willing to pander to them.
RBG @ 70
Well, I just gave $175, so it’s pretty damn close…
A Surprise Gift From A Complete Stranger!
The screenshots arrived this morning…
http://teocawki.blogspot.com
kristinejoy @ 32
The Wheel of Karma grinds slowly, but it grinds exceedingly fine.
Maybe Today’s Meredith will weigh in on the stem-cell debate. Her husband might be helped with that research.
I’d say that the gloves are off in Tennessee and Virginia- anything goes- all candidates have an opposition research file- that they’ve held back- waiting to see if they should use it. At this point- everyone’s gonna empty the file. The candidates themselves won’t make the charges- they’ll come from other uarters- but they’re comin- and he dirties and nastiest of all will come on election eve when there’s no time to combat them.
Welcome to american politics.
ASurvivorInUtah @ 48
An excerpt:
He’s still lying about that one, I see. I have it on good authority that, according to the official paperwork, it was actually the cyst that got the deferment for being on Rush Limbaugh’s ass.
EvilDrPuma @ 113
it got a cease and de-cyst order.
(CBS) NEW YORK CBS 2 has learned that a suspicious white powder was delivered to President Bill Clinton’s office in Harlem on Friday afternoon.
Sources said the incident happened at approximately 3:45 p.m. when an aide to the former president discovered a white powder in an envelope that had already been X-rayed. The NYPD is currently at Clinton’s office, located on 125th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, and investigators in hazardous materials suits are on the scene.
snip
http://wcbstv.com/topstories/l…..80154.html
Bustednuckles @ 115
Did it have A.Coulter on the return address?
It was an awful thing for him to say. And with Katie’s interview of Michael J. Fox, I wonder if some sour grapes pucker his pallete before speaking?
KO should play the Dixie Chicks ad in its entirety on his show. That would make up for the censorship in the ad department.
Maybe even once a week.
RBG @ 70
Diane Benson’s total is over 6,000 now at egregious’ page. Congratulations, ET/egregious!
Maydaze – We’re jumping up and down for ya!!!
MayDaze- Wow, awesome!
Benson at $6035.74 through egregious now.
Bustednuckles @ 115
Forty people get to spend the evening being examined, questioned, and isolated from the rest of the world. And somewhere some really pathetic human being is proud of himself..
via TPM:
BREAKING: Hastert Office Blocked Corruption Probe
By Justin Rood – October 27, 2006, 7:37 PM
Primordial Ooze @ 121
OK, now we need $964.26? How’d that happen ;-)
Matthews on hardball asks former Sen. Bob Kerry, a supporter of the Iraq invasion, if at the time, Kerry didn’t realize that a small country like Iraq would resist being occupied by a huge country like the U.S.? Kerry responds “no”. The incredulity of Bob Kerry’s response is incredible! All these “big-brains”, many still with us in Washington DC, didn’t think that the Iraqi’s would try their best to kill the invaders? Welcomed as liberators indeed.
Pennsylvania campaign goin way over the top too- but no one cares- Ricky is toast.
More dirty tricks from Doolittle:
Who keeps calling?
hey Pach – congrats for getting front-paged at DKos:
Oklahoma kiddo @ 125
Yeah, and he needs 10 yrs to decide if it was the “right thing to do”! ???wtf???
As*hat, and woe to the poor New School students– so sorry for you.
We’ve got a week and a weekend to go- then it’s “show us your cards time”. Can’t wait. It’s only gonna get worse between now and then.
punaise @ 128
WHOOOOHOOOOO PACH !
For some reason- the other critical senate campaign- Mo.- is not rollin in the dirt- continues to be mostly civil.
Damned midwesterners don’t understand politics.
newspaperbrat @ 131
congrats.
(tell the master he dropped an important “a”!)
good for you.
punaise @ 123
A little too baroque for Joe Sixpack, perhaps; but it will make a nice footnote to the bit about PROTECTING A CHILD MOLESTOR.
punaise @ 128
Wow, Pach! (We are not worthy, we are not worthy…)
rwcole @ 126
The trends don’t look good for Santorum, although the pollster chart is a little cluttered for the PA-SEN race. The trend seems to be that Casey is opening up a lead. I’m still doubtful about this one, but if Casey doesn’t screw up bigtime and the Diebold machines can count then I don’t think Man On Dog will be back.
In the words of Howard Fineman, not a liberal, if the Republicans have to resort to sliming Democrats to win, they have nothing to run on.
Pollster.com has a story up from some university professors who are projecting a 32 seat gain for dems in the house- if ya wanna see their charts and graphs and calculations–well it’s better than watchin grass grow.
EvilDrPuma @ 134
wow, the Friday news dump is now after dark!
kewl.
I’m still stunned that Kos downplayed the importance of the general election outcome in CT last night:
rwcole @ 132
They seem to have mostly confined themselves to distorting each other’s records. That’s so 20th Century.
angie @ 139
“after midnight, we gonna let it hang down”
A message to Republicans from Barbra Streisand:
http://www.myspace.com/revolucian
punaise @
142
good one!
In the end- most campaigns would rather win by being positive- but if it gets close- they have to go negative.
Why? Well if you take three positive positions on the “issues”- even fairly popular ones- you will offend some voters with each- and not the same voters- so you’ve likely pissed off a majority by taking three positions.
On the other hand, calling your opponent a liar and a thief costs YOU nothing and damages him badly if you do it well–so–INCOMING! SPLAT!!!
punaise @ 140
If you’re faced with a dangerous creature, the two best things to do are either kill it or avoid it. Poking it in the ribs with a stick is one of the least useful things to do. If Lamont loses, it means we’ll have just poked Joe in the ribs. I don’t think he has the mental qualities that will allow him to reflect on how he might have erred in treating his constituents or their concerns. I think it will all be about how the Democrats mistreated him.
OT
Condi Rice said today that Hezbollah must disarm. Well, if she says so . . . I guess they’ll have to, right? I find these toothless demands of a non-policy really annoying. The only reason that I’m mentioning this here is that Bush and Rice backed the destruction of Lebanon because it was all supposed to lead to a long term solution. Instead when the shooting stopped and the UN forces deployed, Lebanon disappeared from the headlines. And the Administration? It did nothing, nada, zip, zero.
It’s important to remember though that none of the issues that led to the conflict have been solved or even addressed. Condi’s big mouth does an inadvertent service by reminding us of this. The Israeli soldiers have not been returned, Hezbollah has not been disarmed, Israel continues to violate Lebanese sovereignty with overflights, it has also taken the Shaba Farms off the table. In other words, all the conditions for a shooting war to break out are still there and it well could in a few years. For the time being, it’s not policy that’s keeping the peace. It’s just that Lebanese and Israelis alike are too busy licking their wounds.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/w…..htm?csp=24
Oh yeah, he only says what other people were thinking. Now he’s got supernatural powers. How many would have thought of that if he had not thought of that first? Now he is not even responsible for his own comments, because if he hadn’t said them, somebody else would.
It’s how those who control the market claim not to be in control. He should try exercising a little more self control. Unethical Pig.
“Bush: U.S. doesn’t torture prisoners”
Damn. I fell so much better.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200…..r_boarding
Hugh @ 147
This is a sideways threat to Iran.
Expect more of this in the next three to five days. I think something is coming. Probably a blockade.
Turley on Obermann on Torture
This is a sideways threat to Iran.
just say no to mullah merlot
OT since it sorta fits now:
http://www.democracynow.org/ar…..27/1341203
montag #150,
I think you would have to ask yourself a blockade of what and at what cost? Any such action would freak other Gulf nations, especially the Saudis, send oil prices skyrocketing, and destroy the diplomatic process led by the Europeans.
Turley on KO re: waterboarding:
They can deny that Cheney meant “waterboarding”, which is a war crime, but they have no credible alternative as to what Cheney *did* mean. (by “dunking in water”) The *only* interrogation techniques involving water is – waterboarding.
We have embraced torture as a practice, which is one of the most despicable changes in this country’s history.
jayt @ 155
Yeah, right up there with napalming civilians in southeast Asia.
A lethal combination
By Ze’ev Sternhell
“Democracy is capable of overcoming all hardships: wars, economic crises, unemployment and distress. But there is one obstacle that it will not overcome for long: the loss of its citizens’ confidence. The source of the crisis in which Israeli society now finds itself is not really the failure in the Lebanon war, but government leaders’ refusal to admit that the defeat was their own handiwork. It is not the regime that is to blame, but the petty people into whose hands the reins of government have fallen.”
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/780068.html
Hugh @ 154
And when would any of those things be more important than winning an election? :)
In fact, those “other Gulf nations” are at this moment participating in blockade of Iranian ports exercises with amphibious assault ships and troops from the U.S. (the USS Iwo Jima and USS Boxer). Who exactly would they be blockading (for real) in the region given those exercises?
Oil prices would not go up sufficiently quickly to influence gasoline and heating oil prices if some provocation were created just a few days before the election. What happens afterwards is all to the good of their political supporters….
angie,
The Israelis have engaged in a brutal occupation for nearly 40 years. Almost all of it violates international law and international norms. How many times have we heard of an Israeli atrocity, the subsequent reports that Israeli authorities “are looking into it”, and then silence or a brief finding that the perpetrators did nothing wrong? How many times have we heard of an Israeli being either tried or convicted of anything?
They just redefine it away much like Cheney and waterboarding. The next American who gets kidnapped, captured, or emprisoned somewhere in the world and who gets “dunked” will have Dick Cheney to thank for it. After all, if it’s a no-brainer for us, just think what it is for future captors of Americans.
sadly, it will be a “no-brainer” for the eventual dunkee who spends too much time underwater and goes into a coma
Matt Lauer is a candyass punk. If confronted by someone of superior intellect, he will revert to glib pseudo not-Witty Repartee. He is a mental midget with a fratboy make-over. A monkey in a Man Suit if you will. His performance with Bushit just about poking him in the chest after he asked a mildly intelligent question was priceless. He looked like he thought the Decider was gonna pull out a Big Greek paddle and spank him on national TV, pure terror in his eyes.Pleaseee, don’t hurt me Mr W sir! I’ll never challenge you again, I promise!
He’s on the payroll folks, just another Armstrong Williams in white-face.
Lauer the Liar lives in Mortal Dread of not being Cool.
Imagine if the truly Kool=Kids of Show-Biz gave him an atomic wedgie by dumping on him in his own show.
LJ/Aquaria @
21
Hugh @ 159
Hugh, you are right. Clusterbombs and phosphorus weapons and who knows what else. Shrug, and turn and blind eye.
What Geneva Conventions? What International Law? Who cares about the United Nations unless it applies to others?
so pitifully wrong. ;(
We all have to remember that Lauer and Keith Olbermann work for one of the largest corporations in the world and one of the largest US defense contractors. GE is now also one of the largest media conglomerates as well.
Matt Lauer may only be saying what his bosses are thinking. And I worry that Olbermann may get fired at some point, as Phil Donahue did, because he’s not saying what his bosses are thinking.
NBC also refused to run the Dixie Chicks documentary ads because they were “disparaging” of President Bush. MY GOD!!!
The next company the conglomerate may buy might well be Diebold, the voting machine company. Talk about “corporate synergy.”
Gentleman Jim @ 161
shorter version: Lauer cowers
Gentleman Jim @ 161
montag,
I have to return to the idea of what would be blockaded. If it is Iranian oil, that would be an unambiguous act of war. Even if it’s something else, say like missile parts, etc., it would be very tricky. What if the ship is North Korean? What are the possible repercussions? New wars on two fronts? Did I mention that our supply line to our troops in Iraq runs through the same area where we would be trying to enforce this blockade, along with a substantial amount of the world’s oil?
angie @
96
I spent some time on Google looking up “Anne Rubel”, and one of the entries implied that she was Jewish and that Allen left the marriage about the same time he entered politics.
Anybody know the full story?
not surprised by this at all. the press is so cozy with bush. a transcript of a meeting between bush and journalists was released… it shows the journalists openly supporting the iraq war and recommending ways for bush to make it seem more successful leading up to the election. also interesting that bush dismisses (or doesn’t know) facts which are inconvenient to him. with the press this supportive of the president it’s very hard to compete
http://www.miserywatch.com/200….._rele.html
Hugh @ 166
Again, do you think they care? First, there’s an election to influence. Second, when did strategic concerns or issues of international law stop them? (See: Iraq invasion.)
Most Iranian oil goes to Europe, India and Asia. It is they who are trying to prevent a meltdown over Iran, not the U.S. The administration is, if anything, trying to instigate something because they have regime change firmly fixed in mind.
As for North Korea, we are at this moment tracking a North Korean ship which the government has helpfully described as “suspicious.” (Remember the last time that happened? A ship bound for Yemen from North Korea was raided on the high seas at U.S. instructions. The Chicken Littles in the press came apart at the seams over that and it turned out to be a quite legal shipment.)
Troops and supply lines? Great way to get air bases back into Saudi Arabia–and to justify a follow-on contract for C-17s–a big parade of transports in the skies like the Berlin Airlift… very impressive, but only necessary if the U.S. pushes the envelope.
Call me cynical, but I don’t think these people give a shit about reality. They do what they want and assume that there’s always a fix available later. That’s their modus operandi. Would they provoke a conflict a few days before an election, to inspire a sudden wave of jingoism and nationalism, if they thought it would pull their flabby asses out of the fire?
That’s like asking if a bear shits in the woods.
The U.S. starts wars with anyone it pleases. There’s always a way.
Cheers.
EPUd, but this doesn’t belong on a Blue America page, IMO:
The GOP’s higher-ups (and quite a few of the lower-downs) are lacking in empathy. If something good happens to them, it’s because of how wonderful (or conservative or God-fearing) they are, and if something bad happens to them, it’s the fault of Evil Libruls (or Bill or Hillary or the evil monster of the moment). They look at the same things happening to others, and react quite differently: bad things are the fault of the victim, and good things are not seen (or they credit Bush, God, and the GOP, not necessarily in that order). They’ll only admit responsibility when they’re forced to do it, and they seem to think this is perfectly normal. I wish there was an easy way to fix this, but I doubt there is one.
They remind me of one of Piet Hein’s grooks:
I see and I hear and I speak no evil;
I carry no malice within my breast;
But quite without wishing a man to the devil,
One may be permitted to hope for the best.
Bye bye , a lurker
Hi Carmen– please don’t leave. Lots of people never get a response. Thank you for helping all of us and Diane Benson.
You rock!
There’s this on Allen:
“Update II: A clue might be in Ryan Lizza’s recent piece on Mark Warner that cites a story that had been “making the rounds” about a 2008 presidential contender who “once spit on his wife.” That rumor was also about Allen.”
http://politicalwire.com/archi…..ginia.html
I wondered about Fox’s medications when I saw the ad. Not in the way that’s being discussed here, not as a deliberate manipulation, but wondered if he had side effects and was unable to take them. He was just so much more afflicted than when I last saw him [actor’s studio]. The answer has turned out to be that he is, indeed, more afflicted. Katie Couric asked him if it were hard for him to appear on t.v. If you think about it, it’s an absurd question. He’s like that all the time. What she was saying, I think, is that this is hard for us to see. It was for me, even being in a profession where I’ve seen it many times before.
It is a show-stopping disease. He is completely correct in what he says. We have no idea if stem cell research will lead to a treatment, or a cure. What we do know is that stem cell research holds promise. To block it because a bunch of thoughtless people don’t approve based on ancient mythology is beyond all understanding.
And for Rush Limbaugh to mock him, accuse him of acting, is the lowest of blows, even for Limbaugh. I hope this particular piece of insensitivity haunts Rush Limbaugh until the end of his days.
ornella @ 168
Ahhh, Larry “Kuds” Kudlow, supply-side hack and Jim Kraemer sidekick reappears. I was wondering what happened to him. I used to watch his business show pre-9/11 until he started pimping for the Iraq war as good for the economy, blowing it out his ass like he knew what the fuck he was talking about.
I thought we were rid of him,… but what do you know, he turns up in private sessions with the idiot. Read him in the link, turns out he’s not the pimp, but provides special service for the idiot. “Shouldn’t we subvert Syria for sending those Islamists across the border?”
Somebody shoot me.
Meredith Viera should take that candy-assed Lauer over her knee and whupp some sense into him. I always knew he was a panty-waist (albeit a nice looking one); didn’t know he was so mean-spirited. As much as I like and admire Viera, I quit you Today show.
Lauer & Couric: Rot in Hell
How fucking low can this country sink?
Let’s see… stage managing a disease to manipulate public opinion on an issue,isn’t that everybody’s first thought when they see the effects of said disease. No, that’s how conniving, evil motherfuckers like Rush Limbaugh think though. What’s your excuse Matt?
carmen @ 7:14 pm (#171)
Sorry we ignored you. It happens to me all the time, pay it no mind, so to speak.
This ended up being a pretty successful day, thanks to you and all the other folks who contributed. Egregious’ page has now raised over $6K for Diane Benson, which is a lot of money for a congressional campaign in Alaska, I’m told.
Well, you probably won’t read this, but just in case.
lauer is one of those individuals who qualify as prime, grade A1 ball suckers. Stuck in his Today gig with nowhere to go except Faux…a book should be wriiten about his eventual demise…Death of a Fuckhead