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Showing posts from November, 2015

A Suggestion for Vladimir Putin

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So, not only is Russia involved in a major attempt to prevent Islamic lunatics from Syria and Iraq from attacking his own country, but he has a big debt to pay to Turkey.  Here's my suggestion of something that the whole world could do to deal with both problems. This is a map of the traditionally Kurdish areas, stretching from Turkey to Iran: Please note that, if you look online, you will find a number of similar maps, none of which quite agrees with the others about exactly which areas are predominantly Kurdish; this one is typical of them. I am proposing that it is time that a Kurdish state be recognized in this area (perhaps, for political reasons, excluding the territory in Iran.)  This would place a buffer state between Russia and ISIS, which would be highly opposed to any ISIS expansion, and at the same time finally penalizing the Turks for their century-long persecution of the Kurds. In return for international support for this action, which would be highly benefi

An Exercise in Futility

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I started this blog in the Spring of 2008.  That's somewhere about seven and a half years ago. This is my 4,000th post.  And the country is crazier and more filled with hatred than ever.  Maybe I should just switch to posting pictures of Corgis, like this one from The Daily Corgi: No point in linking to the site, because this photo, from a few days ago, is the last one that this blogger posted before suspending posting.  I guess maybe the Corgis didn't help bring people to their senses either. Now we have an out and out racist, promoting violence and oppression toward other groups, leading the Republican pack, and the more disgusting he acts, the stronger he seems to get.  And if, by some sick, cosmic joke he wins the Republican nomination, we will see billions of dollars spent smearing his Democratic opponent.  The people who support him are so past the point of being reached by reason, or any appeal to human decency, that it is foolish to even try.  They will go to th

You Can Tell

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This important information just in: "Jeb Bush: ‘You can tell when someone is a Christian’ Yeah, you sure can, Jeb.. And this is supposed to be the sane, non hate-filled Republican.

Vitter

So, in a stunning upset, a Democrat seems to have beaten prostitute diaper boy David Vitter in the Louisiana governor's race, by 647,000 votes to 505,000. I give it about three days before some Republican voting commissioner in an upstate parish finds a forgotten ballot box with about 150,000 votes for Vitter.

Why I Am a Democrat and Not a Republican- Part ten million

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The House vote today to deny entry to Syrian refugees: No comment needed, really.

Acceptable Behavior

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If you are a Republican, of course.  Senator Ted Cruz, demonstrating his skill as a leader, as recorded at Talking Points Memo: "Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) addressed President Obama directly while speaking to reporters Wednesday, telling him to "come back and insult me to my face."  Cruz was responding to Obama's recent criticism of Republicans suggesting there be a religious test for Syrian refugees seeking entrance to the country, a plan he called "shameful" and "not American" while in Turkey for the Group of 20 summit.  "If you want to insult me, you can do it overseas, you can do it in Turkey, you can do it in foreign countries. But I would encourage you, Mr. President, come back and insult me to my face," Cruz said, staring directly into the camera." Nothing but a playground bully, but I guess that's what things have come to in this country.  And we know that, like bullies everywhere, he says this knowing that Obam

Truth From the Humorists

...The only way we seem to get it these days.  The following is an absolutely unbelievable article published in the Onion in the year 2003.  I know I am violating any sense of fair usage by quoting the whole thing, but it is so important for us to realize that the truth about invading the Middle East was clear to anyone to see, if they only cared to face reality.  I hope they will forgive me.  Please read on: "This War Will Destabilize The Entire Mideast Region And Set Off A Global Shockwave Of Anti-Americanism   George W. Bush may think that a war against Iraq is the solution to our problems, but the reality is, it will only serve to create far more.   This war will not put an end to anti-Americanism; it will fan the flames of hatred even higher. It will not end the threat of weapons of mass destruction; it will make possible their further proliferation. And it will not lay the groundwork for the flourishing of democracy throughout the Mideast; it will harden the resolv

Well, This is Going to Be an Amusing Spectacle

All sorts of Republicans seem to now be demanding that the United States declare war on ISIS. I just can't wait to see what happens when the dreaded Obama appears before the Republican Congress asking them to place the military in his hands, by declaring war. Keep away from there- that's my advice.  The cognitive dissonance may be enough to blow the whole capitol building to smithereens.  Unless the Republicans can find a way to both demand that Obama act and totally prevent him from acting at the same time, so they can get some electoral mileage out of his "weakness." Well, at least this is something to keep in mind for the next few weeks, as we are sickened by the orgy of Republican jingoism to which we are about to be subjected. Funny, remember back in 2002, when all of the Republicans hated France?

Wingnut Wrapup

As I mentioned, I have just suffered from a fairly spectacular computer collapse, which turned out to be nothing but corroded contacts on some ram, so here I am again.  The material in this Wingnut Wrapup was gathered before last night's Paris attacks, so I won't have anything about that here.  I am, however, announcing that two competitions are now open: 1.  The grand Green Eagle award for excellence in blaming this attack on President Obama:  Note to potential entrants:  This will involve points both for introducing the most right wing talking points, and for sheer piggishness, so without these essential elements, don't even bother entering- the competition is going to be stiff enough with just those who follow the rules 2.  The tiny little Yasir Arafat memorial cup, for the most creativity in blaming it all on Israel.  This too is expected to be hotly contested, as you would expect. Well, on we go... Today's Wingnut Wrapup absolutely has to be dedicated to Ji

Lying

I get so impatient with having to say the same thing over and over again.  Unfortunately, the current state of our political life is just that- one specimen of Republican jackassery after another, on and on ad infinitum.  So I thought I would take a chance to write briefly about one of my most fundamental beliefs, which I think is directly related to the ability of Republicans to keep up their idiocy for ever. Here's the thing about lies:  People, in general, do not believe lies because they are plausible; they believe them because it suits their interest to do so.  And the funny thing is that, for the vast majority of people, it is a short journey to actually believing whatever is convenient. Well, it is a clear result of this fact that there is no one easier to lie to than yourself, because there is no one on earth that has as much interest in believing your lies as you do. Don't want to pay taxes?  Just tell yourself that cutting taxes increases government revenue.  Do

Looking For A Lucrative Retail Franchise Opportunity?

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And who says the Palestinians have no commercial sense?  I can see branches of this store in Gaza opening up all over the place: To quote the article, from the International Business Times: "A clothing store in Gaza City named Hitler 2 is displaying mannequins with knives strapped to their hands as an homage to the upsurge in stabbing attacks on Israelis by Palestinians.   Hijaz Abu Shanab, a 20-year-old shopper, said: "The name of the shop is 'Hitler' and I like him because he was the the most anti-Jewish person...I like the clothes and the name, it is fantastic." Young enterpreneurs, there is a real opportunity waiting here for you.

The Madness of Ben Carson is Beyond Comprehension

And yet he leads the pack of Republican Presidential contenders.   Case in point, uncovered by Talking Points Memo: an address this man delivered to a Seventh Day Adventist college several years ago, in which he discussed the Pyramids: “My own personal theory is that Joseph built the pyramids to store grain...when you look at the way that the pyramids are made, with many chambers that are hermetically sealed, they’d have to be that way for various reasons," Carson said. "And various of scientists have said, ‘well, you know there were alien beings that came down and they have special knowledge and that’s how-’ you know, it doesn’t require an alien being when God is with you.” The purpose of the Pyramids, and their development over a thousand years from earlier Mastaba tomb types, is an irrefutable fact.  The fact that they are 95% solid rock should make even the most gullible person know that they were not built to store grain, or anything else except the bodies and poss

Just Another Wacko Wingnut from Mississippi, I Guess

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Here's a story you may have missed.  This comes from USA Today, although it did receive fairly wide coverage: "JACKSON, Miss. — A man is charged after allegedly setting off an explosive at a Mississippi Walmart Sunday morning. Marshall W. Leonard, 61, of Tupelo, will be charged with placing an explosive device.  A supporter of the Mississippi flag, Leonard railed against anyone who wanted it removed because it contained the Confederate battle flag. He spoke out against Walmart when the retail giant stop selling items that contained the Confederate battle flag. Last Wednesday, Leonard posted threats on the Daily Journal Facebook page. “Journal corporate, you are on final warning,” he wrote Oct. 28. “You are part of the problem. As a result of this, y’all are going down, along with Walmart, WTVA, Reeds department store, and all the rest of the anti-American crooks. I’m not kidding. No messing around anymore!” And here he is, just in case you were wondering:

Wingnut Wrapup

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Wingnuts have been so concerned lately with trying to pretend that the Benghazi hearings were not an incredible Republican humiliation, and claiming that it's a tremendous victory to have debates where no one is allowed to ask questions, that things are a little thin on the ground today.  Oh well, here we go: Bob Owens, Bearing Arms:  "We do not want a civil war against the radical left wing of the Democrat Party, but let it be made abundantly clear that if they start one, they will be utterly destroyed by armed free citizens, as the Founders intended." Armed free citizens.  You mean like this guy? I think I'll take my chances with the liberals.  P.S.- you don't actually need to worry about the particular loon I've shown above.  Named J.T. Ready, he was a very high profile militia idiot in Arizona until he couldn't wait anymore for the shooting to start, and killed four of his family members before removing himself from the gene pool.  Oh well.

Whoopee For the Al Zazas

The following wonderful news has reached us from Gaza: "GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — The al-Zazas have much to celebrate these days, after returning a few weeks ago to their neighborhood in the Gaza Strip — the first Palestinian family to move back into a completely rebuilt home since last year's war between Israel and the Islamic militant group Hamas. It was a much-anticipated homecoming. Their house was one of thousands of dwellings that were reduced to rubble in the war. A push to reconstruct the battered coastal territory has been sluggish, relying on international funding pledges that have only partially been fulfilled." Hip hip hooray! Over a year later, and several billions of aid down the line, and one family has a new home.  At this rate, all of the destroyed Palestinian homes in Gaza will be rebuilt by about the year 12,000.  I can hardly wait. And I love the phrase "partially been fulfilled."  If one in ten thousand constitutes partial fulfi