;)
The Commentariat -- Feb. 20, 2015
Internal links & defunct video removed.
Jim Acosta of CNN: "In his scheduled speech to the Democratic National Committee's 2016 winter meeting on Friday, President Barack Obama is expected to reclaim some ownership over an issue that is suddenly a hot topic among top Republicans -- income inequality."
Peter Baker of the New York Times: "President Obama on Thursday called on nations around the world to expand human rights, religious tolerance and peaceful dialogue as they struggle to combat a spate of terrorism that has recently struck places as far afield as Australia, Canada and Europe":
... Laurie Goodstein of the New York Times: "Muslim leaders [in the U.S.] and elsewhere have already started organizing or expanding prevention programs and discussions on countering violent extremism, often with assistance from law enforcement officials and trained counter-recruiters who emphasize that the Internet's dangers for young Muslims now go far beyond pornography."
Dominic Rushe of the Guardian: "American and British spies hacked into the world's largest sim card manufacturer in a move that gave them unfettered access to billions of cellphones around the globe and looks set to spark another international row into overreach by espionage agencies. The National Security Agency (NSA) and its British equivalent GCHQ hacked into Gemalto, a Netherlands sim card manufacturer, stealing encryption keys that allowed them to secretly monitor both voice calls and data, according to documents newly released by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden." ...
... Jeremy Scahill & Josh Begley write the story for the Intercept.
... Dustin Volz of the National Journal: "Google is warning that the government's quiet plan to expand the FBI's authority to remotely access computer files amounts to a 'monumental' constitutional concern. The search giant submitted public comments earlier this week opposing a Justice Department proposal that would grant judges more leeway in how they can approve search warrants for electronic data."
Hiroko Tabuchi of the New York Times: "Buffeted by a tightening job market, high employee turnover and scrutiny of its labor practices, Walmart, the largest private employer in the country, said on Thursday that it would increase wages for a half-million employees. The retail giant, which for years has been the target of widespread criticism over its low pay structure and increasing reliance on part-time workers, said that all of its United States workers would earn at least $9 an hour by April." ...
... Laura Clawson of Daily Kos: "This means around 40 percent of Walmart workers will get a raise. It's a start. But only a start, and Walmart can afford to pay more, without raising prices. An infographic accompanying McMillon's letter also noted some improvements in scheduling practices, including that 'some associates' (no word on how many, so this may well be window dressing) will get fixed schedules rather than struggling with schedules and hours that fluctuate wildly week to week, that schedules will be set two and a half weeks in advance, and that 'associates who want more hours can view open shifts in their store.' But the company will not be changing its balance of full-time and part-time workers." ...
... Joe Pinsker of the Atlantic: "This isn't an isolated act of corporate social responsibility -- it's a response to the current realities of labor economics that will likely inform the behavior of other American employers.... First, the company is giving in to mounting criticisms about its pay practices.... Second..., the American economy's recovery in the past few years has led to an increase in the number of jobs and a decrease in the unemployment rate -- both of which mean that companies will have to start paying their employees more in order to get them to stick around." ...
... Hamilton Nolan of Gawker: "Walmart CEO Doug McMillon wrote that the company decided to give employees raises to $9 an hour this year, and $10 an hour next year, because of corporate conscience: 'We're always trying to do the right thing and build a stronger business. We frequently get it right but sometimes we don't. When we don't, we adjust... When we take a step back, it's clear to me that one of our highest priorities must be to invest more in our people this year.' Doug McMillon is lying.... In fact, Walmart is so committed to holding down the wages of its workers -- keeping them in poverty -- that it consistently fights any attempts of employees to organize, even as the company's owners have grown to become some of the richest people in the world. Dozens and dozens of current and former Walmart employees have explicitly described to us how Walmart is a bad place to work."
Jim Kuhnhenn of the AP: "State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki will become President Barack Obama's new communications director, filling a key slot as Obama embarks on the final two years of his presidency, White House officials said Thursday. She replaces veteran Democratic media strategist Jennifer Palmieri, who is leaving the White House to join Hillary Rodham Clinton's likely presidential campaign. Psaki will step into her new role April 1. In a statement, Obama embraced Palmieri as a 'good friend' and praised her as a 'brilliant and effective communications director and trusted adviser.'"
Peter Whoriskey of the Washington Post: "A new report by the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, which convenes every five years, says that ... the American diet is having devastating effects: about two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese. And maybe worse, about half of American adults - about 117 million people - have preventable chronic diseases related to poor diet and physical inactivity, the group said."
Michael Shear of the New York Times: "President Obama on Thursday offered a hearty White House embrace to his friend and former chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, who is running for re-election as mayor [of Chicago] and faces voters next week."
Richard Wolf of USA Today writes a straight report that suggests the plaintiffs in King v. Burwell have a weak -- or nonexistent -- case. Lovely to see this POV get coverage in a medium that gets to people not into Washington's weeds. ...
... Ian Millhiser of Think Progress: "Though the lawyers seeking to gut Obamacare are telling the justices that it will be no big deal if they support this effort [by ruling for the plaintiffs in King v. Burwell], because the states can step into the gap and restore what the justices took away, these lawyers' key allies are already making plans to ensure that the states will do nothing of the sort."
Eric Posner in Slate explains, in detail, why Judge Andrew "Hanen, in seeking to restrain the supposedly out-of-control executive branch, exceeded his own authority [re: possible (or probable) future actions of immigration officials]. The deeper problem with Judge Hanen's reasoning is that, as he explicitly acknowledges, the president really does have the constitutional authority to decide to go after violent felons and leave everyone else alone. That is what presidents have done for decades."
Tim Egan: "So long as judges do their dirty work, Republicans don't have a problem with politicizing the judiciary."
Monty Python Comes to Capitol Hill. Fernando Espuelas of Univision, in the Hill, takes down John Boehner. "... both maneuvers -- the attempt at mass deportations by national security crisis and killing ObamaCare by causing a global financial collapse -- share a basic similarity: Republicans have threatened with different versions of Armageddon if they can't get their way." Espuelas provides a lovely list of Boehner's screw-ups.
... Comedy & Consequences. CW: I have to admit that last fall, I did not predict that Republican "control" of Congress would turn out to be such a circus. I thought they would knuckle down & pass a bill a week for Obama to veto. Instead, it's all been slapstick, with consequences.
Rudy Denies Dogwhistles, Says Contempt Meant for Obama's Mother, Grandparents. Maggie Haberman of the New York Times: "Former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York on Thursday defended his assertion that President Obama did not love America, and said that his criticism of Mr. Obama's upbringing should not be considered racist because the president was raised by 'a white mother.'" Unfuckingbelievable. ...
... ** Paul Waldman: In a Fox "News" segment, Giuliani "clarified" his remarks of Wednesday night. "He's not questioning Obama's patriotism, he's just saying he doesn't love America. Got it -- thanks for clearing that up. I'm not saying Rudy is foolish and immoral, I'm just saying he's a cretinous dirtbag. So no offense." Read the whole post.
The Clown Car Continues Down the Road to Absurdity. Matthew Daly of the AP: Republican Congressmen are "outraged" that President Obama is designating three national monuments "under the 1906 Antiquities Act, which grants presidents broad authority to protect historic or ecologically significant sites without congressional approval.... Obama should 'cut it out,' said Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo. 'He is not king. No more acting like King Barack.' Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., said he was outraged by what he called 'a top-down, big-government land grab by the president that disenfranchises the concerned citizens in the Browns Canyon region' in central Colorado...." ...
... Charles Pierce republishes portions of Daly's report: "This has been a paid political announcement from the Committee To Stop Electing Morons."
Annals of "Journalism," Ctd.
Bull O'Reilly. David Corn & Daniel Schulman of Mother Jones: "Bill O'Reilly has his own Brian Williams problem.... For years, O'Reilly has recounted dramatic stories about his own war reporting that don't withstand scrutiny -- even claiming he acted heroically in a war zone that he apparently never set foot in.... Fox News and O'Reilly did not respond to multiple requests for comment." Corn & Schulman cite several instances of Bull O'Reilly's tall tales. CW: I'll bet you're shocked. ...
I was not on the Falkland Islands and I never said I was. I was in Buenos Aires... In Buenos Aires we were in a combat situation after the Argentines surrendered. -- Bill O'Reilly, Thursday
... Dylan Byers of Politico: "Bill O'Reilly says a new Mother Jones report alleging that the Fox News host made false claims about his Falklands War experience is 'a piece of garbage' and that its principal author, David Corn, is 'a liar.' In a telephone interview with the On Media blog, O'Reilly called Corn a 'despicable guttersnipe' who has been trying to take him down 'for years.' 'It's a hit piece,' O'Reilly said. 'Everything I said about what I reported in South and Central America is true. Everything.'" ...
... Dylan Byers: "David Corn, the lead author of a new report alleging that Bill O'Reilly lied about his Falklands War experience, says the Fox News anchor is hiding behind name calling and refusing to account for legitimate discrepancies in his statements." ...
... It's an MSNBC Plot! Lisa de Moraes of Deadspin: "The bigger picture is this political outfit Mother Jones,' O'Reilly said. '[post author] David Corn works for MSNBC,' he said of Corn, who is a contributor for that cable news network. 'We're killing them in the ratings. We're taking millions of dollars away from them; any damage they can do to me damages the Fox News Channel. Damage the tentpole, damage the main guy -- everybody knows this.'" ...
... This is super-enjoyable (but please read Corn & Schulman's article, because there's plenty more where this comes from):
... Digby explains O'Reilly's confusion. She is just not taking this seriously.
Ahiza Garcia of TPM: "Fox host Lisa 'Kennedy' Montgomery suggested getting rid of the nation's public schools during a discussion on Thursday's 'Outnumbered.' 'There really shouldn't be public schools, should there?' Kennedy said. 'I mean we should really go to a system where parents of every stripe have a choice, have a say in the kind of education their kids get because, when we have centralized, bureaucratic education doctrines and dogmas like [AP US history], that's exactly what happens.'" (See also Beyond the Beltway below.)
Brendan James of TPM: "Tucker Carlson, the editor-in-chief of the conservative news site The Daily Caller, told TPM on Thursday that a 'hungover' editor was to blame for a headline on the site's 'Guns and Gear' section that included the phrase 'Kill All The Jews.' The post, originally headlined, 'Kill All The Jews And When That Is Done Kill Those That Refused To Defend Them,' was published on Tuesday."
Margaret Sullivan, the New York Times' public editor backs Times reporter James Risen's "epic rant" (via Twitter) against the Obama administration & Eric Holder in particular. ...
... CW: I'd like to see Risen go into an "epic rant" against the guy whose reporting ruined the life of Wen Ho Lee. Oh, wait, that was Risen.
Presidential Race
Paul Krugman: "Scott Walker ... on Wednesday, he did what, these days, any ambitious Republican must, and pledged allegiance to charlatans and cranks.... [An economic] doctrine that even Republican economists consider dangerous nonsense has become party orthodoxy.... Across the board, the modern American right seems to have abandoned the idea that there is an objective reality out there.... Along with this denial of reality comes an absence of personal accountability."
Maggie Haberman & Nicholas Confessore of the New York Times: "As a half-dozen other candidates aggressively raise money and chase endorsements in Iowa and New Hampshire, friends and detractors alike say [New Jersey Gov. Chris] Christie's view of his status and pre-eminence within the Republican field is increasingly at odds with the picture outside his inner circle.... Friends say Mr. Christie is both understaffed and too controlling. They also say he is convinced that his raw talent and charisma can overcome the political obstacles in his way.... The governor and his advisers have dismissed some defections with an air of almost imperious unconcern.... Mr. Christie has also alienated onetime supporters by seeming to take them for granted, [former New Jersey Gov. Tom] Kean said...." ...
... CW: I believe the New York Times just implied Chris Christie is insane. ...
... Matea Gold & Robert Costa of the Washington Post focus on the big donor shift from Christie to Jeb, & don't hint Christie is insane, as do the Times reporters.
Gene Robinson: "Jeb Bush's highly anticipated speech on foreign policy reminded me of the joke in which two senior citizens complain about a restaurant. 'Terrible food at that place,' says one. 'Yes,' says the other, 'and such small portions!'"
Catherine Thompson of TPM: "Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) said on Thursday he won't comment on whether President Barack Obama 'loves America,' but he'll certainly tell you that he loves America. CNBC's Becky Quick asked Walker on Thursday morning to respond to a report that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) dissed the President at a private dinner, which the governor also attended." ...
... Ben Brody of Bloomberg Politics: "Scott Walker's new specialty: punting." ...
... Hunter of Daily Kos: "As with each of the questions Walker valiantly hurls himself off balconies to avoid, this isn't a particularly challenging one. Asking someone if they think the president of the United States loves America is a throwaway question." ...
... Scottie Finds Another Kook to Hang With. James Hohmann of Politico: "Scott Walker met with Donald Trump in Trump Tower for 45 minutes on Thursday. Trump told Politico that Wisconsin's Republican governor requested the meeting, and that it was an 'enjoyable' discussion...." ...
... Jonathan Chait: "When Rudy Giuliani, speaking at a Scott Walker event last night, declared, 'I do not believe that the president loves America,' it might have been mildly uncomfortable for Walker, who may or may not want his campaign message to be defined by xenophobic racist dog whistles.... The figure most discomfited by this turn of events was not Walker but Bobby Jindal, a rival candidate. Racially tinged dog whistles are Jindal’s thing.... So Jindal released a statement to the media that he would not condemn Giuliani's statement. Nobody even asked him...."
Jennifer Epstein of Bloomberg Politics: "Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will address a major United Nations gathering on women's rights next month, just as the Clinton Foundation releases a major report on women and girls more than a year in the making. Clinton is scheduled to be the keynote speaker on March 10 at the Women's Empowerment Principles gathering in New York."
Nate Cohn of the New York Times: "... there is no equivalence between Mrs. Clinton's strength [in 2008] and now. She was never inevitable eight years ago. If a candidate has ever been inevitable -- for the nomination -- it is Mrs. Clinton today.... No candidate, excluding incumbent presidents, has ever fared so well in the early primary polls as Mrs. Clinton. She holds about 60 percent of the vote of Democratic voters, a tally dwarfing the 40 percent she held this time in the last election cycle." ...
... Ron Fornier of the National Journal: "This is sleazy and stupid. Just as Hillary Clinton is getting ready to run for president again, her family's charitable foundation secretly lifted a ban on accepting money from foreign governments. The Wall Street Journal discovered the ethical breach during a search of donations of more than $50,000 posted on the foundation's online database. 'Recent donors include the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Australia, Germany, and a Canadian government agency promoting the Keystone XL Pipline,' reported James V. Grimaldi and Rebecca Ballhaus." ...
... CW: Fornier is stupid & sleazy himself, but I think he's right on this. ...
... Update. Gabriel Debenedetti of Politico: "The Clinton Foundation will reconsider its policy of accepting new donations from foreign governments if Hillary Clinton runs for president as expected, the organization said on Thursday after two days of controversy over its funding from international sources."
Beyond the Beltway
Mark Berman of the Washington Post: Under a judge's order, "a clerk in Texas issued a marriage license to a same-sex couple from Austin on Thursday, granting what is thought to be the first such legal license issued in the state since voters banned gay marriage a decade ago. In response, the state's attorney general asked the Texas Supreme Court to halt any same-sex marriage activity, and the court issued an emergency stay on Thursday afternoon. The Texas attorney general also declared the historic marriage license void on Thursday." ...
... Update: Eva Moravec & Paul Weber of the AP: "Defying Texas' longstanding ban on gay marriage, a lesbian couple wed in Austin after being granted a marriage license on Thursday under a special court order because one of the women has cancer."
There is now 1 same-sex married couple in Texas for every 6.4 million uninsured Texans. Guess which "problem" the GOP is trying to solve.
— LOLGOP (@LOLGOP) February 19, 2015
Tresa Baldas of the Detroit Free Press: A Detroit-area pediatrician refused to treat the daughter of a gay couple. "After 'much prayer,' [the doctor] decided that she couldn't treat their baby because they are lesbians.... Currently, 22 states have laws that prohibit doctors from discriminating against someone based on their sexual orientation. Michigan is not one of these states.... Attorney Dana Nessel, who is handling the Michigan same-sex marriage case that's about to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, believes the laws need to change. If not, she said, more families ... will be mistreated by the medical profession."
Tulsa World Editors: "Members of the Oklahoma Legislature shouldn't try to write school curriculum. It politicizes the classroom and leaves their own ignorance on the table. That's certainly what happened earlier this week when a state House committee OK'd a bill that would bar the use of state money to pay for Advance Placement U.S. history courses. Rep. Dan Fisher, R-Yukon, an ordained minister and a member of the Black Robe Regiment, says AP history should be kicked out of Oklahoma schools because it emphasizes 'what is bad about America' and omits 'American exceptionalism.' False and false. Rep. Fisher fails today's exam and so does the Common Education Committee, which approved his House Bill 1380 on a 11-4 vote." ...
... Via Charles Pierce: "Rep. Fisher is a preacher, and a member of something called the Black Robe Regiment, a gathering of hooting theocratic loons concerned about the increasing disinclination of our nation's youth to believe that the Constitution was written in golden ink by Jesus."
Ryan Parker & John Glionna of the Los Angeles Times: "The man suspected of fatally shooting a Las Vegas[, Nevada] woman after an apparent road rage incident last week has been taken into custody, police said." CW: Read the rest of the story. Both sides had guns & there was a shootout. It's the Wild West, coming to a neighborhood near you. See also Gail Collins' column, linked yesterday.
News Lede
New York Times: "European leaders agreed on Friday to extend Greece's bailout for four months after weeks of tense negotiations. The deal, reached at an emergency meeting of eurozone finance ministers here, paves the way for Greece to unlock further financial aid from a 240 billion euro, or $273 billion, bailout deal -- provided the country meets certain commitments laid out by its creditors."
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Reader Comments (16)
I'm shocked, really shocked. According to Mother Jones Bill O'Reilly Has His Own Brian Williams Problem where he apparently made things up years ago (and continues to do so?) about his exposure being in the thick of things in a war zone in the Falkland Islands and other places.
This kind of goes hand-in-hand with a remark Barbarossa made reference to last week about some kind of conflict between BO and Al Franken. Not knowing what he was referring to I found this video from 2003 where the late, great Molly Ivins, BO and now Sen. Franken appeared together for a book and author panel discussion lead by Pat Schroeder. Interesting and humorous.
It just confirms my impression that BO has been a long-term dick. We can only hope that at last he has to fade some heat for his own mendacity.
I hope Marvin comments on the MI doctor's refusal to treat the child. I know the principle of fighting such discrimination is of utmost importance - but were I half of that couple, I sure as hell wouldn't want that doctor anywhere near my kid. On the other hand, what if the doc staffed an emergency room?
Damn homophones and phalanges,
"led", not "lead."
Well O'Reilly certainly won't be fired for lying. I mean doesn't he get paid to lie?
Oh, and what happened to 'first do no harm'?
Let me guess, the pediatrician's god doesn't believe in that crap.
People are so wonderful.
Haley, if the doctor story happened in the ER it could cost a license to practice. While her behavior is considered unethical, it would be unlikely to cause any such problem since there is no damage. And remember, the 'doctor's' problem is in contact with the parents. Hmmm.
"Friends say Mr. Christie is both understaffed and too controlling. They also say he is convinced that his raw talent and charisma can overcome the political obstacles in his way.." Like I said previously, a classic example of NPD, narcissistic personality disorder. But to be fair, it seems that there is a major attraction for people with NPD to become politicians.
Re; I'd stake my reputation on it,
"I was not on the Falkland Islands and I never said I was. I was in Buenos Aires... In Buenos Aires we were in a combat situation after the Argentines surrendered." -- Bill O'Reilly, Thursday
There I was, this is no shit, there was a little light, not much, almost like candle light, in fact it was candle light. I was hunkered down so close to a couple of Limey bastards I could hear them talking. If I understood the language I could have interrupted their conversation,I was that close. But I had my own skin to save. No more than a foot away from me was the biggest goddamn sirloin steak I had ever seen.staring at me, daring me to eat another bite. I signaled my local compadre, the one called "Juan one" and whispered if there was a side dish, a potato, a leaf of green, something to help me conquer the mound of meat I had been going hand to hand with for the last half hour. Juan one said, "no" in his native tongue. Being the worldly reporter I am I knew "no" meant no. I resigned myself to knowing I was alone in battle without even a little green salad for help. I called out to Juan two, my second faithful retainer, "water, for god's sake water!" Juan two came out from behind the bar he had taken up positon and offered more red wine, a rich deep red, the red of bloody combat. "No water, wine." Juan spoke. " jefe, to live you must do as I say. "
Lucky for me the Brits finished their dirty business and left the field of operation. Alone, I sat, knowing that it was just a matter of time before I ate the big one.
That's the life of a combat correspondent. I've survived it and I lived to talk about it.
A few days ago, I emailed Senator Isakson re: Net Neutrality.
This is part of his response:
"I have consistently been opposed to attempts by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to regulate the Internet, because I believe that the competition created by the free market will better ensure that the Internet remains open and free. I also believe that unnecessary regulations have the potential to stifle innovation and be harmful to consumers. In the past, I have supported several legislative measures in this regard, including an amendment to prohibit the FCC from using any appropriated funds "to adopt, implement, or otherwise litigate any network neutrality based rules, protocols, or standards."
In 2014, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the FCC's Open Internet Order which barred Internet Service Providers (ISP's) from blocking websites or from any unreasonable discrimination against Internet traffic. This ruling has caused many to call for the FCC to classify broadband Internet services as telecommunications services subject to Title II of the Communications Act of 1934. This classification would give the FCC regulatory authority over the Internet and access to its content. I do not support this reclassification of the Internet."
His reply sounds suspiciously like a corporate lobbyist wrote it. As far as the part about competion is concerned, what a crock!
The big telecoms don't want competition; their first instinct is to eliminate it. The recent history of AT&T is a good example. In Georgia, first we had Bell South Mobility, which got swallowed by Cingular, which got swallowed by AT&T.
The main concern I have is with "fast lanes" and "slow lanes" where if a website/service wants fast access, the owners have to pay extra, all others, such as our beloved RC, will have to wait.
Thanks to Unwashed I was still in my robe and unwashed at 10.00 this morning after watching the Ivins/ O'Reilly/ Franken discussion. I remember that it caused quite a bit of kerfuffle between O'Reilly and Franken and lit up the airwaves for weeks to come. I was taken aback by the strong resemblance of Bill to Bob Odenkirk, the shady lawyer in "Breaking Bad" who now has his own series called "Better Call Saul" and couldn't help thinking how Bill and Bob (as Saul) resembled each other more than just looks. I was also reminded that things haven't changed that much from then, 2003, to now, except that we don't have Molly to help unload all the bullshit.
That excerpt from Digby who quotes O'Reilly's book is so very comical––the azure blue eyes and glistening white skin of the hero is, of course, Bill, himself, the preening cock of the walk who saves the day in combat and helps himself to whomever might be taking a shower––strong hands across the borders and bosoms.
Rudy G. needs someone he holds in high esteem to tell him that he has embarrassed himself, degraded himself, and soiled himself to such an extent that he no longer has any purchase for anything.
And I find it interesting that Rudy was at a Scott Walker get together because I was under the impression that he was all for Christi.
Some back of the envelop numbers to go with Walmart's cascade of generosity:
(They may be a bit off because I couldn't disentangle world-wide corporate profit from U.S. profit but they provide a general idea of how tossing a few table scraps to the masses fits into the bigger picture.)
2014 profit $129,000,000,000
(revenue minus cost of goods)
# of American employees 1,400,000
profit/employee $92,140
average yearly employee salary $20,000
(Note: Multiplying $8/hr x 40 x 50 weeks yields $16,000/year, but since most employees are part time and since store managers are very well paid, I've guesstimated the average yearly salary to be around $20,000.)
Then dividing salary by profit, we see that Walmart's employees receive about 22% of the corporation's profit.
Wonder where the rest goes?
Did this to illustrate how right Laura Clawson of the Kos is and because I like to keep up with cliches like "deconstruct" and "unpack."
This was my early Friday morning unpacking. Those Waltons are great Americans!
What actually happened:
I was out in the freezing cold shoveling the driveway so I could run out and pick up bread and milk and the paper when I got hit in the back by a snowball thrown by a four year old. Afterwards, we went back in the house and had hot chocolate and watched a movie.
After the movie, I tried finding Bill Moyers' show on PBS but remembered that it's been canceled.
The Bill O'Reilly version:
I was working in dangerous arctic temperatures operating advanced path clearing equipment in order to procure life saving supplies and important communiqués from behind the lines, when suddenly, and without warning, I was ambushed by hostiles who tried to take me out by firing projectiles directly at my six. Realizing that such situations require coolness under pressure and an ability to think quickly, I took immediate action in order to protect myself and my colleagues and, after finding shelter, took care of everyone and made sure all were safe and their needs tended to, after which I restored vital communications necessary for our survival.
I looked for Bill Moyers but he was nowhere to be seen.
PD,
Rudy is all for Rudy. Always has been. Whatever works for him is the best. If Chris Christie's stock is down, Rudy will look for someone who can makle him look good by association. When he needed a place to crash during his marital problems, a gay man and his partner gave Giuliani a room in their house. Giuliani promised that he would marry the couple when it became legal in New York. It did. He didn't. He didn't want wingers to think he was cool with same sex marriage, so fuck those guys.
Giuliani has always said and done only things that serve his own ego and ambition.
"The president hates America!"
Well, ho-leeeee shit. No one really says why, at least nothing that makes any sense.
But there's a lot of this going around now. I suppose there have always been nationalist zealots who believe American can not do and never has done anything wrong. Evah.
AP history in Oklahoma is now on the 'merica lover's griddle. It teaches about mistakes made and genocide and other stuff that makes 'merica look bad. According the 'merica lovers there, all kids need to do is memorize speeches by Ronald Reagan and The Decider, and read passages about religion and the Bible, and that's all they need to know. Anyone else is suspect, I suppose. The larger complaint is that these AP classes don't provide a base of 'merica loving. First, I'm guessing that most of these idiots don't know what AP means. They probably think it refers to the Associated Press. If they knew what it meant, they'd know that these are advanced courses for kids who have already gotten the basics. And since, I'm guessing, that most history textbooks purchased by winger states don't include much about anything that isn't Awesome about America, a little balance might be in order.
So I'd like to know what constitutes loving America? Does Scott Walker, union busting, lying, cheating, scam artist, who kow tows to wealthy billionaires in lieu of actually doing anything to help his constituents love America? And if so, is that what loving America is these days? Loving the Kochs?
Well, then. Put me down as a non lover.
For the ultimate Rudy slapdown, see Wayne Barrett in the NY Daily News. It should be a must-read for every one of those clowns who sit, smile & applaud Rudy's vitriol.
Jeanne B. sent it along to me. I'll try to remember to post a link in tomorrow's Commentariat.
Marie
The way to rebut charges of lying in Right Wing World:
Name calling.
No attempt to prove your case or demonstrate your point in any logical manner, or to challenge each piece in the chain of evidence with counter examples or documentary evidence showing that your initial claims, which are now being questioned, are true.
Nope.
The charge: Mr. O'Reilly, your claims of having been in combat zones, especially in the Falkland Islands, and having acted with great courage while under fire do not hold up to documented evidence. What is your response?
Rebuttal: Assholes!
So mature. So.....Fox.
My favorite part is how O'Reilly is now trying to say that he never said what he said. These idiots just don't realize that just saying so doesn't make it true. He HAS said he was in a combat area in the Falklands. He said "the army was chasing us". On the Falkland Islands.
But he'll skate as he always does. He will pay no penalties because normal people already know him to be an unreliable, egotistical liar and the Fox watchers don't care what anyone else says.
But I have a feeling that we won't be hearing much of the Loofah Boy at War stories any time soon. Although I could be wrong about that.
Also, what the hell is that claptrap bedtime story he was spinning when ripping Brian Williams for lying about his wartime experiences? That stuff about how the Founders gave us a free press and told us to be honest in return? Did I miss an entire part of the Constitution? Or an entire chapter of our history? O'Reilly states that John Adams tried to shut down the press but the "balance of powers" wouldn't let him.
Sorry, Loofah, not true at all.
I'm guessing he's referring to the Alien and Sedition Acts, passed in 1798 in reaction to the XYZ Affair, a contretemps with the French who tried to elicit bribes from the US.
Adams and the Federalists in Congress did indeed shut down the press, or at least seriously intimidate them, that is, any that were critical of their position on the issue of France.
And no "balance of powers" settled the score. We were still a few years from Marbury v Madison, which provided the initial prompting for the Supreme Court to consider reviewing laws that might be unconstitutional. Clearly the A&S Laws were, but it wasn't until Jefferson was elected in 1800 that these laws began to abate in influence. In fact, Jefferson (aided by Madison), in trying to combat the Alien and Sedition Laws, laid the groundwork for nullification, suggesting that states should and could ignore the law. Thirty years later, John C. Calhoun was thinking that nullification was a grand idea. Republicans STILL think it's a grand idea. The power of unintended consequences.
But, as usual, when talking about "founders" O'Reilly, like all wingnuts, prefers the Boys' Own Patriots bedtime version of history.
I guess if you base your belief system on half cocked stories and half-truths, why would you ever think that truth mattered?
As for the founders admonishing the press to be honest....well....what can you say about that? Clearly Bill doesn't believe that. Or if he does, his reverence for the "founders" only goes so far.
Too bad nullification won't work on Loofah Boy. Love to John C. Calhoun his ass.
And by the by, thanks, Marie, for the link to the NY Daily News smackdown of Giuliani's bullshit. How I had never heard about his family's gangster, and duty-as-Americans eluding past, I'll never know. I guess we don't have much of a liberal media after all.