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Friday, April 09, 2010

'Radical Christian' wants to balance 'radical Marxist'

I've been following a certain Christianist nut, apparently a high school football coach who says he "walked away from public education in 2000" but last year "started a varsity football program at a local Christian High School" in Ohio. I know this because of his inimitable rant "They Don't Even Look Like Men," which he posted halfway through the season, in which he criticized his own players for their lack of aggressive attitude:

Our football team is driving me nuts. They are great young men, obedient and mannerly, the kind of kid you could trust with your daughter. But as my own high school football coach often said they need a little "piss and vinegar." They take the "turn the other cheek" attitude with them onto the field. Our Christian-culture has taught them that being "gracious in defeat" is Christ-like. I tell them being "gracious in victory" is more fun.

Maybe it is just me. I want them to be MEN. Our Christian-culture teaches them to be doormats. ... Someone, somewhere, determined that trading the old man for the new man meant losing your backbone. Heck, you can't even pass gas at a "men's fellowship" without being looked at as if you had just pee-peed on the Decalogue. Pastors are the worst. Any whiff of "Christian testosterone" sends them to their Joyce Meyer collection of sermons in an attempt to "soften" your rough edges.

Well, not for me. My new birth made me more manly, more courageous, and more willing to live life on the edge. I like guys with rough edges.

I quote this dick at length just to give you an idea where he's coming from. In addition to being a monomaniac on the subject of "Christian testosterone" (whatever that is, he elaborates by saying "Jesus was studly"), he also considers himself a political commentator, and in fact, he is running for Congress this year in the Ohio 18th. (Even his website is "coachdaveforcongress.com".)

And yesterday he wrote something that really clarified for me the thinking of the Tea Partiers, birthers, Oath Keepers and other whack jobs. Daubenmire writes:

We have a radical Marxist in the White House. We need a radical Christian in "The People's House."

There it is -- simplicity itself. Because this man (and, no doubt, the many thousands of his ilk) believes that the President is a "radical Marxist," they seek to balance his supposed pernicious influence by being radical conservatives. Whatever their belief is based on -- probably just the endless repetitions of this phrase by right-wing radio and TV commentators -- it justifies their own radicalism. It's a perfect, self-reinforcing system.

Daubenmire goes on to offer himself as a party leader -- the Tea Party, that is, not understanding that the Tea Party is not an actual political party. "I want to lead a movement," he says, saying his comrades need "someone who will grab a flag and run up the hill... 'Come on boys; let's go take our country back.' I'll build a team, lead a charge, and build their courage."

Then, toward the bottom of the essay, in his impatience to get the show on the road, he urges (emphasis mine):

Make a pick, take a stand, and put all of that energy behind one candidate. This is war. Stop worrying about hurt feelings. Pick a horse and let the internet do its job.

Let the internet do its job! What a strange thing to say.

But we needn't treat this fellow Daubenmire as being off the scale, just because he is clearly a whack job. Today Newt Gingrich, who threatens to run for President every four years and probably will this time around, said that Obama is "the most radical President in American history" who runs "a machine... a secular, socialist machine."

Gingrich, of course, is just jealous. He wishes he were at the controls of such a machine, not Obama; he would do things just as radical, if not more, but call his actions Main Street American values. Because anyone who doesn't agree with right-wingers, even the most radical ones, even the ones like Daubenmire who admit they are radical, is of course "radical."

Here's the thing. At least Daubenmire believes what he says; clearly, he is a true believer who jaws with a supporter if asked to take off his "cross hat." Gingrich is nothing more than a cynical, well-connected politician trying to make a comeback; he'll say anything. He's like Bush with brains; he doesn't need a Cheney, he only needs Addingtons and Yoos. So he mouths the right-wing verbiage of the season: no more "family values," now we're fomenting against "socialism" and "radicals."

And no, I wouldn't prefer Gingrich to Daubenmire, nor "Coach" to Newt. Both are abhorrent.

technorati: Obama,Gingrich, Tea Party

Labels: closet cases, cults, nuts, Obama, Republicans, Tea Party

Friday, May 29, 2009

Today's fake: Ersatz reporter/Catholic "priestess" carried from press area

A woman who said she was a reporter for an obscure Georgia monthly newspaper, and who was wearing a cassock and also identified herself as a Roman Catholic "preistess," was carried out bodily by Secret Service agents from a press corral yesterday as President Obama was about to arrive at LAX to depart for Washington on Air Force One. The woman wanted to give Obama a letter asking him to "take a stand for traditional marriage," she said. The Secret Service asked her to leave when she refused to give the letter to an Obama staffer, and when she refused to leave, they carried her out. (Courtesy MediaBistro's Daily Media News email.

Labels: fakes, journalism, Obama

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Chief Justice, new president get a do-over

"Out of an abundance of caution," and after several experts said it might be a good idea, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the new president met at the White House today for a do-over.

"Are you ready to take the oath?" Mr. Roberts said.

"I am," Mr. Obama replied. "And we're going to do it very slowly."

I think this whole "abundance of caution" thing could be a great idea. Imagine, if some people in the Bush administration had gone over some of their snap judgments and knee-jerk reactions "out of an abundance of caution," we might not be in the mess we're in today.

Labels: Constitution, Obama

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

If only the Chief Justice subscribed to the New York Post

Did you cringe when Chief Justice John Roberts murdered the Presidential oath of office when swearing in Barack Obama? If only he were a New York Post subscriber, he could have brought it as a cheat sheet:

Who says newspapers aren't important anymore?

technorati: inauguration, Obama, oath of office

Labels: media, newspapers, Obama, Republicans

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Focus on the Fundies: Congressman, two others 'anoint' Capitol doorway

As workers readied the inauguration stage in front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 7, a right-wing Georgia congressman and two evangelical ministers prayed over and anointed with oil the Capitol doorway that President-elect Barack Obama and other dignitaries will pass through on Inauguration Day.

Georgia Rep. Paul Broun, who introduced an anti-abortion bill days later after Congress convened for the first time, was accompanied by two far-right ministers: Rev. Rob Schenk, a long-time anti-abortion activist and head of something called Faith and Action in the Nation's Capital, and Rev. Patrick Mahoney, also an anti-abortion activist and director of something called the Christian Defense Coalition.

An aside: clearly, the thing to do if you're a right-wing Christianist "activist" and all-around media whore is not to have your own church, but to have your own non-profit foundation in Washington DC, so you can do things like anoint the Capitol and appear on Pat Robertson's CBN.

Don't invite Mahoney to any inaugration parties, as he is fasting until Inauguration Day in solidarity with poor people "as well as the 50 million innocent victims of abortion."

technorati: Congress, Schenk, Republicans

Labels: abortion, Focus on the Fundies, Obama, Republicans

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Et tu, Blago?

I would mercilessly go after this story if the accused were a Republican, so in the interest of balance and fairness, let me rip Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich a new one for exhibiting new lows in cynicism and corruption. The two-term governor, formerly a three-term congressman, was arrested today under an indictment courtesy well-known U.S. attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, previously famous for prosecuting Scooter Libby.

Among Blagojevich's alleged crimes, one stands out: he intended to offer an appointment to Barack Obama's seat in the Senate to the highest bidder. Fitzgerald said today he purposely arrested Blago to prevent this, among other things, from happening. Disgusting.

Details of the indictment include Blagojevich saying "I'm going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain. You hear what I'm saying? And if I don't get what I want and I'm not satisfied with it, then I'll just take the Senate seat myself... (A Senate seat) is a f---ing valuable thing; you just don't give it away for nothing."

technorati: Blagojevich

Labels: Bad Behavior, Obama, politics, prostitution

Friday, December 05, 2008

Today in politics: fearing hoax, Florida congresswoman twice hangs up on Obama

The hoaxing of Sarah Palin no doubt still fresh in her mind, a Florida congresswoman twice hung up on President-Elect Barack Obama when he called to ask her help on coming legislation.

technorati: hoaxes, fakes

Labels: fakes, hoaxes, Obama, radio

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Obama voters sinned: Roman Catholic priests

A Catholic priest in Modesto, Calif. has told parishioners that voting for Obama was a sin that must be confessed and forgiven before they receive church sacraments (courtesy Huffington Post). It's not the first time, according to the Modesto Bee story; a priest in South Carolina told his parishioners the same.

At least The Catholics require an actual act before condemning people. You may recall the Alabama city administrator who told the NYT that people who aren't disappointed by Obama's victory "need to be at the altar" to ask forgiveness.

The Central Valley where Modesto is located is one of the most socially conservative areas of California. Churches in the region's Episcopal diocese left the national Episcopal church last year over the national body's endorsement of an openly gay bishop -- not in their diocese but in New Hampshire -- and voters in Stanislaus County, where Modesto is located, voted 68 to 32 percent in favor of anti-gay marriage Proposition 8 earlier this month.

technorati: Roman Catholics, Obama, Christian Right

Labels: 2008 president race, Focus on the Fundies, Obama, religious right

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Obama visits NC diner, gets mixed reception but lots of grub

Obama visited a diner in North Carolina and got a generally respectful reception except for one nutbag. Most reports are focusing on her, but note the last graf of the story (emphasis mine):

Obama ordered some food to go for himself and his aides. They ordered chicken, collards, baked beans, slaw and wings. The tab was $13.91.

Now that's value. And that's the white diner -- the one for black folks was down the block.

technorati: Obama, North Carolina, economy

Labels: 2008 president race, economics, Obama, politics

Monday, July 14, 2008

Well, I think it's funny

I just looked on Google News -- there were 1302 news articles returned by the words "Obama" and "cover." Satire is dead, pessimists say. Perhaps the people who are freaked out about this satirical illustration -- which is entitled "The Politics of Fear," get it?? -- believe that.

It's classic coastal elitism. Not the cover itself, but the belief that people will see this cover and say "See?! This proves my point exactly! Obama really is an Islammer!" Thinking that you are smart enough to understand a joke while the hoi polloi won't, and that this could be horribly damaging -- that's the elitist belief. And the New Yorker -- the epitome of what the ignorant flyover folk are supposed to fear -- has done a good thing in giving a full-frontal dismissal of it.

Courtesy Huffington Post: The artist, Barry Blitt, defends his work. And so does the New Yorker editor.

You want a real "Satire is Dead" headline? It was on Salon today:

My wife left me when the dolphins at Sea World gave me an erection.

My God! An insult to dolphins!

technorati: New Yorker, Obama cover

Labels: 2008 president race, Bad Behavior, New Yorker, Obama, Satire is dead

Sunday, February 03, 2008

More politics

Cris and I had a talk this morning about the candidates. She thinks Clinton would have a chance to do more in office. A pragmatist, she said a political machine, such as the one Clinton is connected to, is a valuable tool. I countered by saying she may be too beholden to certain people and institutions and may have too many favors to repay. I guess it's two sides of the same coin. Yes, she would put very experienced, well-connected people in her administration. But who's to say such people wouldn't also flock to an Obama administration. "Kind of like a Camelot thing," Cris said thoughtfully.

I also don't relish the thought of the Rush Limbaughs of the world being able to gnash their teeth on the Clintons for another eight years. If Obama wins the nomination, it would at least set them back on their heels for a time. Maybe not long.

Meanwhile, if you want to see what a race to the bottom looks like, take a look at this article from the Colorado Springs Gazette, depicting the one-term incumbent COngressman and two Republican challengers in a competition to prove who is more "conservative" than the others. One man, the aptly named Crank, wants to defund Amtrak, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Dept. of Education. "Those are not things the government needs to fund," he argues, contrasting them with Kevlar vests required by soldiers. Yes, let's be a nation known by our Kevlar.

technorati: Republicans, Colorado 5th district, Obama

Labels: 2008 president race, Colorado Springs, Hillary Clinton, Obama, religious right, Republicans

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Sic transit Edwards

I actually teared up when I saw the downcast expression on the face of John Edwards on today's New York Times story announcing his pullout from the presidential race -- and the lines:

...He said he had spoken to (Clinton and Obama) by phone and asked them both to continue drawing attention to the primary themes of his campaign.

"They have both pledged to me -- and more importantly, through me to America -- that they will make ending poverty central to their campaign for the presidency... Our Democratic Party will make history. We will be strong, we will be unified, and with a little backbone, we will take back the White House."

"Why hasn't he gotten more attention?" Cris moaned last weekend when the returns came in from South Carolina, Edwards' last best chance. "Aren't people listening to what he's saying?"

No, not enough people listened as Edwards excoriated corporate profiteering and made his Kennedyesque pledges to uplift the poor. People are, I think, excited -- and understandably so -- by the prospect of a female or black president. No matter what Edwards said, he could never top the novelty and attractiveness of Obama nor the organization and fundraising ability of Clinton.

For those who did listen, I suspect almost all their votes will go to Obama -- as will mine.

Meanwhile, Giuliani will quit and is expected to support John McCain. I so wanted him to announce something totally wacky, such as an endorsement of Ron Paul.

technorati: John Edwards, Barack Obama, campaign, Democratic

Labels: 2008 president race, Edwards, Obama

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Too bad she isn't the one running

Whatever you think of presidential candidate John Edwards, you have to admire his wife. Facing a cancer death sentence, she's making her beliefs perfectly clear. Appearing with "other top candidates or their surrogates" at a Planned Parenthood event today, speaking to a gay rights group over the weekend. She's interviewed on Salon today.

As for her husband, he benefits by association, without actually having to come out and support the positions these groups support. If you agree with them, then he hopes you think he does too. If you don't, you're not going to vote for him anyway, so it's a no-lose situation for him.

I am kind of liking Edwards; I've been sending him small amounts of money. He's less divisive than Hilary -- if you thought there was partisan polarization during Bill's administration, just wait til she gets elected -- and more experienced than Obama.

Nevertheless, I think the absolutely perfect ticket would be Obama for president, Hilary for VP. She'd never settle for that, though.

Labels: Clinton, Edwards, Obama, presidential campaign

Friday, November 03, 2006

It's Bad Behavior Friday™ -- Deep Sixed edition

'Major scientific study': Most sea life will be gone in 42 years.

Meanwhile, Whole Foods has just resumed selling "Chilean Sea Bass". Could there be a connection? Wouldn't it be ironic if yuppies were the cause of the collapse of the global economy and tens of millions of deaths? (Of course, after that happens: all the more for us!)

In a case that slams the door on one of the more arrogant zillionaires from the millennium, former Computer Associates head Sanjay Kumar has been sentences to 12 years in prison for orchestrating a huge accounting fraud. Kumar's attorney has requested the former bigwig do his time at Fairton Prison in New Jersey where, according to this page, the inmates manufacture "electronic connectors."

I always wanted to know where the tubes that make up the internet come from -- now I know.

This article has more on the Fairton prison, where:

... inmates are expected to work jobs ranging from cleaning floors to doing plumbing work, said Thomas Jones, public information officer for the prison. Wages, he said, start at 12 cents an hour and can be used to purchase goodies from the commissary.

Now let's check in with rabble-rousing columnist Stanley Crouch, who says Barack Obama "isn't black" enough, according to Crouch, who cites Obama's parentage of a white mother and a Kenyan father: "Other than color, Obama ... does not share a heritage with the majority of black Americans, who are descendants of plantation slaves.... So when black Americans refer to Obama as 'one of us,' I do not know what they are talking about."

Oh, great. We're going to have a fight over whether Barack Obama is black enough. The way some gay people do not consider bisexuals queer enough, or some fundamentalists consider mainstream Protestants Christian enough. As someone once said, can't we all just get along?

Labels: Bad Behavior, Obama