21
Kings For A Day
It’s Martin Luther King Day, and you know what that means: yes, it’s the day when conservatives all over the country get together and tell us that racism isn’t a problem anymore and that if MLK were alive today, he would certainly not countenance any black people talking about how they are treated unfairly.
No, what MLK was all about was color-blindness! Yes, he was only interested in a unified world where everyone behaved exactly like white people. He was not interested in nonsense like affirmative action or restitution for slavery, despite his many public statements to the contrary; even the fact that he wrote an entire book about it shouldn’t sway us into thinking that Dr. King supported anything as crazy as racial quotas or economic compensation in addition to legal equality.
This year, it falls to Paul Greenberg to write the definitive column on the legacy of Dr. King, who apparently, despite his opposition to the Vietnam War, support of democratic socialism, and economic bill of rights that called for a revolutionary change in the way that the government treated the problem of poverty, was a conservative!
Greenberg calls this lifelong liberal activist “the very definition of an American conservative,” and, after quoting the ‘not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character’ part of the ‘I have a dream’ speech (which is the only thing MLK ever said that conservatives seem to know anything about), he asks:
Is any passage more frequently cited against the quota system called Affirmative Action?
Well, not by right-wingers, that’s for sure. Anyway, let’s leave Greenberg, and his claims that a man who forty years ago was being denounced by people like him as a dangerous Communist insurrectionist is actually an icon of conservativism, and move on to Big Boy Jammies, where the appropriately-named Michael Weiss puts up another iteration of the argument that the last thing Martin Luther King would have wanted is for people to talk about racism. After approvingly quoting sections of the letter from Birmingham jail that distance King from radical black Muslims, Weiss says, in reference to Barack Obama’s campaign:
How’s that for self-criticism and telling people what they don’t want to hear? And when’s the last time you heard the moral conscience of any movement argue that the middle-class was a hindrance rather than an agent of social progress? Such candor came, moreover, from a man who really might have benefited in the short-term by selling his core principles to purchase a broader coalition of desegregationists. No candidate for high office, whatever the out-group he or she purports to represent, would ever get very far by striking such a “polarizing” chord.
All of which would be highly relevant if King had been running for President, or for any political office at all, which of course he wasn’t. But hey, who cares? It’s not like Obama is really black anyway! Weiss quotes with great admiration the ever-reliable Christopher Hitchens:
Above: actually a white man
We are trying to get over the hideous legacy of slavery and segregation. But Mr. Obama is not a part of this legacy. His father was a citizen of Kenya, an independent African country, and his mother was a “white” American. He is as distant from the real “plantation” as I am. How — unless one thinks obsessively about color while affecting not to do so — does this make him “black”?
Ha ha! Yeah, of course! Because we all know, racism and segregation in America have only to do with the legacy of slavery, and not at all one’s black skin! Most racists would not just look at a black person and decide to discriminate against them; they would first determine if he was an African-American, and thus part of the legacy of slavery, or an African,* in which case there would be no reason whatsoever to discriminate against them. Plus, he’s biracial, and no one has ever discriminated against mixed-race people in America! Thus, presto-change-o, Barack Obama is not black, and therefore has never experienced any racial discrimination, and any attempt by him to engage in ‘identity politics’ is itself shameful racism of the sort that Martin Luther King, were he alive today but thankfully he’s not, would totally condemn. How far we’ve come, Lord, how far!
* If it made even the slightest bit of difference, one might point out that Kenya was not an independent African country during the first 27 years of Barack Obama’s father’s life, and that he spent his entire childhood and teenage years in a British colony that was often brutally oppressed. In fact, Kenya was not even independent when Obama himself was born; it wouldn’t become so until he was 2 years old, and Obama’s father did not return to Kenya until many years after. One might even point out that when he married his white American wife, interracial marriage was still illegal in 22 states. But it’s Hitch we’re talking about, and he’s never been one to let facts get in the way of a nice bit of demagoguery.
Patkin said,
January 21, 2008 at 20:31
Because we all recall that J. Edgar Hoover was a liberal fascist who tapped King’s phones and demanded he commit suicide rather than be exposed as an adulterer by Hoover’s misuse of authority.
Well, they seem to recall it that way, if they ever bring it up.
Hoosier X said,
January 21, 2008 at 20:31
Hitchens really said that with a straight face?
Really?
That’s some mind-numbing idiocy that even Thomas Sowell would be proud of.
(Did he really say that? What a douche.)
handy said,
January 21, 2008 at 20:32
Obama, Osama…
Obama, Osama…
Barak Hussein
You make the connection.
bily2001 said,
January 21, 2008 at 20:41
hi, guys, nice discussion, I am Kily. A cute white girl with perfect sexy stature.
I am eager for a good man, All can view my crazy hot photos at multiraciallove.com by searching “Wildrose2008″. No matter who you are and where you come from…
Bitter Scribe said,
January 21, 2008 at 20:45
Paul Greenberg! Is he still around? I thought he exploded from Clinton-induced apoplexy years ago.
nick said,
January 21, 2008 at 20:47
Someone please make Hitchens read this Study:
Discrimination in Low-Wage Labor Markets:
Evidence from an Experimental Audit Study in New York City
… and then come talk to me about how racism is only about having directly survived slavery.
Hitchens is more infuriating than the next wanker because every once in a while I find myself agreeing with him, and then I find out that he has a fucking shoestore shoved up his gullet.
idahogie said,
January 21, 2008 at 20:49
Of course racism has been eliminated. Just look at the Republican field of candidates! It wasn’t that long ago that the idea of six old, rich, white guys running against a negro was totally unthinkable.
t4toby said,
January 21, 2008 at 20:50
If there is one thing I have learned about the right is that their penchant for revisionism is almost as acute as their need for projection.
Do I smell a pie a bakin’?
Jim said,
January 21, 2008 at 20:52
Is Hitchens claiming (as he gets close to implying) that the reason Walter Mondale never won is because his last name ended in a vowel?
Or indeed, does he now assert that James Monroe, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce and Calvin Coolidge (whose last names end, as you may note, with an “e”) never served as president?
(I say we spot him Kennedy - “y” is pretty dodgy.)
Jim said,
January 21, 2008 at 20:53
For that matter, could Kily never be president because her name ends with a “y”?
The implications are staggering!
Cangrejero said,
January 21, 2008 at 21:00
For that matter, could Kily never be president because her name ends with a “y”?
Fresh off her appearance in the swift boat ad of Harold Ford, she’s here at Sadly, No! to take down the conservative communism book.
Snorghagen said,
January 21, 2008 at 21:03
It’s because all that reality stuff is just so icky. It’s just so much nicer to escape to happy sunny delusionland, where conservatives are decent and humane and competent and liberals are fascist meanie poopyheads.
Calvin Coolidge was black, wasn’t he? That final vowel’s a giveaway.
actor212 said,
January 21, 2008 at 21:05
Naturally, if Obama *could* draw his heritage back to slaves in America, the conservatives would be all about how “See? Slaves have it good now! They don’t have to pick cotton and one of them is running for President!”
Leonard Pierce said,
January 21, 2008 at 21:05
Italian. It’s pronounced “Koo-LEE-djee”
actor212 said,
January 21, 2008 at 21:06
Is Hitchens claiming (as he gets close to implying) that the reason Walter Mondale never won is because his last name ended in a vowel?
Silly people! E’s not a vowel! E’s a e!
ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said,
January 21, 2008 at 21:06
It’s Martin Luther King Day, and you know what that means:
Black Monday?
actor212 said,
January 21, 2008 at 21:07
A cute white girl with perfect sexy stature.
Oh? You own the Venus de Milo?
Galactic Dustbin said,
January 21, 2008 at 21:08
If there is one thing I have learned about the right is that their penchant for revisionism is almost as acute as their need for projection.
Lets not forget the rights famous sense of entitlement.
Jim said,
January 21, 2008 at 21:15
Remember, Tuesday Weld could be a groundbreaking candidate because no chief executive has ever had a surname that was an action verb …
Oh hell, except for Franklin Pierce again. Can’t we just call him an outlier and be done with it?
Tim (the other one) said,
January 21, 2008 at 21:20
Ronald Reagan was the first black president.
atheist said,
January 21, 2008 at 21:21
Christopher Hitchens is like some kind of psychological study in the perfect uselessness of mentality without character. He used to frustrate and confuse me with his apparent contradictions. Now I just think he’s a worthless piece of trash.
t4toby said,
January 21, 2008 at 21:24
What happened to the pie?
El Cid said,
January 21, 2008 at 21:24
Hitchens likes imitating the techniques and styles of Orwell’s while ignoring the basic sense of decency and common humanism Orwell so thoroughly tried to remind us of.
Snorghagen said,
January 21, 2008 at 21:25
Perhaps not, but Hairy True-man did have an excellent porn star name. And he was black.
angry conservative said,
January 21, 2008 at 21:26
Dr. King, who apparently, despite his opposition to the Vietnam War, support of democratic socialism, and economic bill of rights that called for a revolutionary change in the way that the government treated the problem of poverty, was a conservative!
Well, just so nobody tries to say that Cleopatra was black. I remembe Liz Taylor and she was nooooo negress! Damn liberals and their historical revisionisms. *swallows mouthful of bourbon*
I tells ya the US of A has NEVER lost a war and she never will!
Legalize said,
January 21, 2008 at 21:27
Conservatives have stopped railng against everything they hate about “teh left.” Instead they try to own what they hate in order to make it either meaningless, or simply lame. MLK = conservative is similar to the same sort of nonsense I read at the National Review about how all of our favorite rock songs are ACTUALLY conservative rock songs. Why? Because a line or 2 of those songs could be interpreted as meaning something other than what Marx would have taught.
They literally ruin everything.
atheist said,
January 21, 2008 at 21:31
They literally ruin everything.
‘Course, the thing is, you eventually are what you eat.
Patkin said,
January 21, 2008 at 21:34
atheist:
I dunno. A compost pile may eventually have plants grow out of them, but the pile is still full of trash and shit.
pedestrian said,
January 21, 2008 at 21:34
Remember, Tuesday Weld could be a groundbreaking candidate because no chief executive has ever had a surname that was an action verb …
Hey, he would still be the only president with a day of the week in his name! Oh, except for T.G.I. Friday.
Maybe Jeri Thompson and Elizabeth Kucinich should run together on the pledge that they will bring us the first Oval Office girl-on-girl kiss since the Kennedy administration. That’s the kind of history making that America really cares about come voting day.
White Male, Jew of Liberal Fascism said,
January 21, 2008 at 21:35
Yes, who could ever forget that immortal speech:
“Let tax freedom ring!
“And when this happens, and when we allow tax freedom to ring—when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children—black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics—will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:
“Tax freedom at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, tax freedom free at last!
Tara the anti-social social worker said,
January 21, 2008 at 21:38
It’s amusing to realize that in 40 years, they will not only be claiming Barack Obama as a conservaive icon, but Michael Moore and Cindy Sheehan as well.
Jim said,
January 21, 2008 at 21:40
Franklin Roosevelt was actually Eleanor Roosevelt, and the first female president - and a miserable failure!
Eleanor Roosevelt was actually William F. Buckley, Sr. All ur librulz are belong to us!!!!
Hoosier X said,
January 21, 2008 at 21:40
Come on. Hitchens didn’t say that.
And he certainly didn’t say:
This is more of a Dennis Prager statement.
Anyway, Rudy is running on his own merits! And look at how well it’s working for him! His whole campaign strategy is based on a belief that the people of Florida are stupid enough to fall for it and, if true, this will somehow make the rest of America stupid too.
It’s just crazy enough to work! Just like that surge thingy.
Jim said,
January 21, 2008 at 21:47
Sir!
Tuesday Weld was no man! She was the many loves of Dobie Gillis (and a conquest of Elvis).
Lesley said,
January 21, 2008 at 21:50
Is he having a laugh?
pedestrian said,
January 21, 2008 at 22:05
Don’t forget, if you want to tell black voters that MLK was a Republican, you better do it in
jiveeubonicsAAVWapo link if you don’t trust me:
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/politicalads/152/
Southern Beale said,
January 21, 2008 at 22:09
Ha, you think that’s great, check out the terrific Weekly Message from the Tennessee GOP! Comedy gold!
kingubu said,
January 21, 2008 at 22:10
I’ll never understand the credibility some give to Hitchens. I mean, I watched him argue to a draw against Dinesh D’Fucking D’Souza on atheism.
D’Souzaphone’s argument was basically, “surely in the wide universe there’s a place where gravity works in ways the current models don’t predict, and that’s an exception to the ‘law of gravity’, and exceptions to scientific laws are same thing as ‘miracles’ and therefore god exists”. Instead of swatting that nonsense down by pointing out that any scientist worthy of the name would simply set to work to update the models to reflect the new observations (you know “science”) Hitchens conceded the point and tried to get by on snarkiness and a shallow semantic attack.
Teh Luser.
Lesley said,
January 21, 2008 at 22:12
This year, it falls to Paul Greenberg to write the definitive column on the legacy of Dr. King, who apparently, despite his opposition to the Vietnam War, support of democratic socialism, and economic bill of rights that called for a revolutionary change in the way that the government treated the problem of poverty, was a conservative!
And yet, only five seconds ago liberals were fascists. It seems if you’re a widely respected liberal with the added bonus of being dead, you’re a conservative, and if you’re merely alive and liberal you’re a fascist.
J— said,
January 21, 2008 at 22:12
Weiss:
Obama yesterday at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta:
BJS said,
January 21, 2008 at 22:15
Is the black man the Jew of Conservative Communism?
nobody said,
January 21, 2008 at 22:18
i think we should mirror this tactic, along the lines of kindergarten society..
Reagan was a liberal!
Everything ever done well anywhere by anyone! Liberal!
The infinitude of the entire universe, they are all passionately liberal!
and you too. you are liberal.
Righteous Bubba said,
January 21, 2008 at 22:19
I’ll never understand the credibility some give to Hitchens. I mean, I watched him argue to a draw against Dinesh D’Fucking D’Souza
He didn’t do all that well against Al Sharpton on morning TV either.
actor212 said,
January 21, 2008 at 22:20
Oh hell, except for Franklin Pierce again. Can’t we just call him an outlier and be done with it?
Well, if you drop the first “n” in Clinton, you have a verb…OK, it’s a gerund, but who’s being fussy?
Paddy Mac said,
January 21, 2008 at 22:21
Is the black man the Jew of Conservative Communism?
Hitler said his invasion of Russia was to defeat Jewish Bolshevism, so obviously you, sir, are a irracial fascist. And although the word ‘irracial’ does not in fact exist, this makes it central to my point. A point which has never before been made with such care.
actor212 said,
January 21, 2008 at 22:21
Ronald Reagan was the first black president.
Please.
It was George Washington! I mean, come ON, just look at that name! That’s from the ‘hood if I ever heard a hood name!
Lesley said,
January 21, 2008 at 22:22
Hitchens has an upper crusty British accent and knows some big words. That’s all that’s required for some people (as long as he also agrees with their point of view.)
Nimrod Gently said,
January 21, 2008 at 22:34
How the fuck does anyone get PAID to type that shit?
Duros62 said,
January 21, 2008 at 22:37
Hitchens likes imitating the techniques and styles of Orwell’s while ignoring the basic sense of decency and common humanism Orwell so thoroughly tried to remind us of.
Hey, credit where it’s due; he does so while completely snot-flying drunk. Which is most of the time.
Duros62 said,
January 21, 2008 at 22:38
Wait, so Obama is …… British?
El Cid said,
January 21, 2008 at 22:38
My word! Perhaps Obama is a Manchurian candidate for the British imperial agents of the Kenya Colony!
He intends to bring us back into the Commonwealth with their socialized medicine and obsessions with cheese and dry wits!
White Male, Jew of Liberal Fascism said,
January 21, 2008 at 22:38
http://www.cofcc.org/
Inexplicably, the Council of Conservative Citizens website forgot to wish Martin Luther King a happy birthday today.
Yet strangely enough, they did remember to wish Robert E. Lee a happy birthday two days ago.
Hey, Jonah Goldberg, what’s going on?
How these guys call themselves “conservatives”? If they’re racists, doesn’t that automatically make them “liberals”?
Fromago-fascist said,
January 21, 2008 at 22:44
Brilliant! Pip pip! Cheerio! More cheese for me!
Zython said,
January 21, 2008 at 22:46
They literally ruin everything.
If they can ruin One Piece, they can ruin anything.
stryx said,
January 21, 2008 at 22:49
Ronald Reagan was the first black president.
True that. I totally remember that time he went to Pretoria and gave that speech to Botha.
Remember?
“That until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned: That until there are no longer first-class and second class citizens of any nation; That until the color of a man’s skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes; That until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race; That until that day, the dream of lasting peace and world citizenship and the rule of international morality will remain but a fleeting illusion, to be pursued but never attained; And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes that hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambique and in South Africa in subhuman bondage have been toppled and destroyed; Until bigotry and prejudice and malicious and inhuman self-interest have been replaced by understanding and tolerance and good-will; Until all Africans stand and speak as free beings, equal in the eyes of all men, as they are in the eyes of Heaven; Until that day, the African continent will not know peace.”
actor212 said,
January 21, 2008 at 23:01
Reagan was a dreadynaught?
Rasta Reagan?
cokane said,
January 21, 2008 at 23:02
great post. The wingers are forever trying to take historical icons from the 1960s as theirs while at the same time attacking liberal hippie fascists. How can any modern right winger claim Dr King as theirs when he claimed that state violence (like Vietnam, or modern day Iraq) was just as bad as segregation.
These same wingers who think pulling out of Viet Nam was the only mistake…
thank you
t4toby said,
January 21, 2008 at 23:03
Here’s a good take on Hitchens.
Tears of a Clown, indeed.
a different brad said,
January 21, 2008 at 23:04
Yet another thing by Hitchens that makes me want to spit in his face when I see him at my grad school, or the de-facto school bar around the corner where he holds court with a gaggle of young, wide-eyed female first years.
I love the emerging meme that Dems are racist if they don’t nominate Obama, because of Alan Keyes.
anangryoldbroad said,
January 21, 2008 at 23:05
The shitty Atlanta Journal Constitution(the print version,it may be online today I haven’t checked),referred to Obama as a “black man”in quotes,in the same sentence explaining to the stoopit readers that Romney is a Mormon,Huckabee a minister and Clinton is a woman.
Hand to God I wish I was making that up.
I really wish we could move the fuck out of here,jeebus.
histrogeek said,
January 21, 2008 at 23:05
Is Hitchens ever right about anything? God, even not-God, I find it so hard to believe that anyone would give money to that man. Along with Goldberg, he’s a perfect example of the aristocracy in this country. No talent, no morals, no relationship to reality, but apparently can never be removed from his cushy gig.
cokane said,
January 21, 2008 at 23:06
dear God that Hitchens column is atrocious
Righteous Bubba said,
January 21, 2008 at 23:10
Hitchens [...] de-facto school bar around the corner where he holds court
Buy him a diet Coke mixed with Bud and see what happens.
Johnny Coelacanth said,
January 21, 2008 at 23:11
“Well, just so nobody tries to say that Cleopatra was black. I remember Liz Taylor and she was nooooo negress!”
Indeed, Elizabeth Taylor has never been black. And before she was friends with Michael Jackson, he was black. Now he is white. Coincidence? I think not.
cokane said,
January 21, 2008 at 23:12
“Those of us who follow politics seriously rather than view it as a game show do not look at Hillary Clinton and simply think “first woman president.” We think — for example — “first ex-co-president” or “first wife of a disbarred lawyer and impeached former incumbent” or “first person to use her daughter as photo-op protection during her husband’s perjury rap.”"
This part is quite precious. Nowhere does he talk about the “serious” policy of Clinton that he might object to. No just jabs at her personality. The kind of analysis one might have for someone they hate on a reality TV show. And Hitchens considers himself a “serious” political analyst. Please.
El Cid said,
January 21, 2008 at 23:15
angryoldbroad: Here’s the paragraph as I saw it:
Now, as far as I could see, this was just the polite, newspaper-y way of explaining what should be obvious references to people who were reading the newspaper but were incapable of getting the references.
As for why they would put quotation marks around “black man”, I think it would be to reinforce unmistakably that they, the AJC, were NOT using the term, and were quoting it from Shirley Franklin — in case they should now get many letters that they should have said “African American”.
cokane said,
January 21, 2008 at 23:15
Can’t even get your little Giuliani joke some historical accuracy there Hitchens. Shut the fuck up and pay attention to your goddamn countries history, seriously I can’t believe this guy. He’s giving atheists a bad name.
Jim said,
January 21, 2008 at 23:18
Look guys, here’s what you’re losing sight of:
If John McCain is elected president, he will not brag about being the first white male Protestant elected to the position. That is fucking humility, right there.
J— said,
January 21, 2008 at 23:19
AJC link.
a different brad said,
January 21, 2008 at 23:25
I wish I hadn’t gone to read that Hitchens column. He could write a column about how George Carlin is the greatest living American and still make me disagree with him. I loathe identity politics, but Hitchens makes me want to scream about the limited contexts in which I think they still have a constructive role to play.
Nevermind that his whole schtick is dependent on identity politics, as he needs those tribes and their divisions to have someone to sell his shite to. He’s all about inciting group a against group b, then setting group b back on group a. I wish I had had the chance to take a class with him and make his life hell for that brief period once a week.
Southern Beale said,
January 21, 2008 at 23:29
If John McCain is elected president, he will not brag about being the first white male Protestant elected to the position.
He’d be the first Vietnam veteran to be President, no? Also the oldest ever.
a different brad said,
January 21, 2008 at 23:31
George Bush, unlike John Kerry, is a genuine Vietnam vet.
Watch this, and learn something.
handy said,
January 21, 2008 at 23:34
He’s giving atheists a bad name.
And drunks, too.
El Cid said,
January 21, 2008 at 23:34
Yeah, if you think that 5 years in a tiger cage (with 2 years in solitary) makes you a ‘Vietnam veteran’. Good thing he didn’t do like a real man did, like Our Commander In Chief Bush Jr. Reagan the 2nd, and face the skies above Alabama, and by “the skies” I mean certain undisclosed locations probably involving bars.
nick said,
January 21, 2008 at 23:35
Hey, credit where it’s due; he does so while completely snot-flying drunk. Which is most of the time.
That might be the part I find myself agreeing with. Although I haven’t had a drink in 6 1/2 years, I was, in fact, snot-flying drunk for much of the 15 years or so prior to that, and extremely pretentious, judgmental, and all-around wankerific much of the time.
Arky - Chuthuhlusexual said,
January 21, 2008 at 23:43
These are the same turd munchers who sit around picking their noses and wondering why on Earth more African-Americans don’t vote Republican.
Bu-but, slavery and legal segregation and all that icky stuff was soooo long ago. Any one who complains about racism is just a big loud scary neeeegrooo!
I can’t bring myself to look, does he mention “his black friend”?
Paddy Mac, Atheist Drunkard, said,
January 21, 2008 at 23:44
How — unless one thinks obsessively about color while affecting not to do so — does this make him “black”?
Um, it’s kinda this combination of using one’s eyes, and the common meanings of words, to note that a person’s skin is of a darker-than-lily-white tone.
Glad I could help you out on this one, Hitch. Now shut the f— up, and stop giving folks like me a bad name.
Arky - Chuthuhlusexual said,
January 21, 2008 at 23:54
According to Itchens, these White Separatists are a figment of your imagination.
Pay not attention to that man behind the hood!
Southern Beale said,
January 21, 2008 at 23:54
George Bush, unlike John Kerry, is a genuine Vietnam vet.
At least get the lie right. Bush could never be a “Vietnam vet.” He never left the U.S. The most anyone could claim is that he’s a “Vietnam era vet.”
Arky - Chuthuhlusexual said,
January 21, 2008 at 23:54
NO attention.
Damn it.
Jim said,
January 21, 2008 at 23:58
In all seriousness, sometimes when I see Hitchens writing about Hillary Clinton, I have to remind myself : “The enemy of my enemy is not my friend.”
My new favorite line in his editorial is where he says, race is a made up construct but even if he were going to acknowledge that race existed he would refuse to call himself “Caucasian” because it’s even more made-up.
Terry C - Edwards 2008 said,
January 22, 2008 at 0:04
“a different brad said,
George Bush, unlike John Kerry, is a genuine Vietnam vet.”
I’m calling parody. NO one is THAT stupid.
ANYONE who STILL supports/defends/apologizes for Bush has to be braindead!
Terry C - Edwards 2008 said,
January 22, 2008 at 0:07
Hitchens had an article about Muslims in the UK a few months ago (I believe it was in Vanity Fair) that turned my stomach.
What an ignorant, racist, xenophobe he is.
Snorghagen said,
January 22, 2008 at 0:08
I haven’t paid much attention to Hitchens, but he’s evidently been declining into loathsomeness for a long time, increasingly corroded by ego and booze.
To give the devil his due, Hitchens did come up with a excellent line describing the post-9/11 era, spoken in disgust in the course of a private conversation three days after the attacks: “I think we’ve just entered the reign of piety and iron.”
Soon after that, he himself sold out to the ‘piety and iron’ crowd and became an enthusiastic pro-Bush, pro-Iraq War hack.
El Cid said,
January 22, 2008 at 0:11
You must not have followed the link.
jgmurphy said,
January 22, 2008 at 0:14
It is truly amazing to me that Hitchens even has a career left. I aw him on Politically Incorrect some years back when he was so drunk he could barely sit up in the chair. They say alcohol eats brain cells and judging from the stuff Hitch has come up with over the past 5 years or so, you would have to lend some credence to that.
Colleen said,
January 22, 2008 at 0:15
“But it’s Hitch we’re talking about, and he’s never been one to let facts get in the way of a nice bit of demagoguery.” You must have meant he’s never been one to let facts get in the way of his bottle of scotch. Another fucking asshole who needs to just go away.
Duros62 said,
January 22, 2008 at 0:17
snot-flying drunk
I just like saying that.
t4toby said,
January 22, 2008 at 0:20
Do you know that something like 30% of all Americans approve, if not flat out cheer on, the job Shrub Jr. is doing?
I know a different brad is not one of them, but there are quite a few people who are REALLY THAT FUCKING STUPID!!!1!!!11!!!111!
Do the math. We’re talking about tens of millions of people.
MileHi Hawkeye said,
January 22, 2008 at 0:25
“These are the same turd munchers who sit around picking their noses and wondering why on Earth more African-Americans don’t vote Republican.”
I just like reading that.
White Male, Jew of Liberal Fascism said,
January 22, 2008 at 0:29
http://www.cofcc.org/
Inexplicably, the Conservative Citizens’ Council website failed to recognize MLK’s birthday today, although they did manage to remember Robert E. Lee’s birthday two days ago.
WTF, Jonah, I thought by definition conservatives couldn’t be racists, only liberal fascist socialists?
White Male, Jew of Liberal Fascism said,
January 22, 2008 at 0:32
Inexplicably, the Conservative Citizens’ Coalition website failed to recognize MLK’s birthday or the national holiday in his honor today.
They did manage to remember Robert E. Lee’s birthday two days ago.
SamFromUtah said,
January 22, 2008 at 0:34
That negative-pic in the post is well-placed for that old optical illusion trick:
Stare at it for 30 seconds, blinking as little as possible. Then quickly glance at an all-white area on the page, and you’ll very briefly see the normal image.
Try it! It’s fun.
Jennifer said,
January 22, 2008 at 0:40
That asshole Paul Greenberg is the editor of our statewide daily.
Which is why I stopped subscribing to it, and then stopped reading it altogether, many years ago.
billy pilgrim said,
January 22, 2008 at 0:44
Booger gives up easy these days.
Those checks from Netvocates must not be clearing.
D.N. Nation said,
January 22, 2008 at 0:50
Not that I disagree with you, but AP style says to use “black,” not African-American. So if anyone had issues with that word usage, it’d be old hat by now.
a different brad said,
January 22, 2008 at 1:00
Thanks, El Cid.
Southern Beale n Terry C- y’all ain’t so bright. Best to know what you’re responding to.
J— said,
January 22, 2008 at 1:21
Wait a minute. Was Bush in Vietnam from ‘75 to ‘81 or wasn’t he? I’m so confused!
Righteous Bubba said,
January 22, 2008 at 1:24
Yes he wasisn’t.
a different brad said,
January 22, 2008 at 1:25
If H. Jon Benjamin’s word isn’t sufficient authority for you to accept the truth, J–, then you’re permanently lost.
Jennifer said,
January 22, 2008 at 1:26
I couldn’t help but wonder why they left out the part about Bush’s miracle with the loaves and fishes.
SomeNYGuy said,
January 22, 2008 at 1:27
J— said,
Wait a minute. Was Bush in Vietnam from ‘75 to ‘81 or wasn’t he? I’m so confused!
Bush was in a bottle of Jack Daniels from ‘62 to ‘87. And he was even more confused.
Snorghagen said,
January 22, 2008 at 1:29
They’re not people.
They’re humanoid robots manufactured in a secret assembly plant on one of the moons of Jupiter and stored in a hollowed-out mountain in the Bighorn Range. They’re only activated to take polls, vote, stage Brooks Brothers riots, and buy books by Jonah Goldberg.
That’s my theory, anyway.
Jennifer said,
January 22, 2008 at 1:38
Do you know that something like 30% of all Americans approve, if not flat out cheer on, the job Shrub Jr. is doing?…We’re talking about tens of millions of people.
You can fool some of the people all of the time.
Though it’s depressing to contemplate that in this case, “some” = 90 million people, and at least half of them are old enough to know better.
Righteous Bubba said,
January 22, 2008 at 1:43
I couldn’t help but wonder why they left out the part about Bush’s miracle with the loaves and fishes.
Every fish and every loaf turned to pigshit right before my eyes. It was unbelievable, yet true, the very definition of a miracle.
BJS said,
January 22, 2008 at 1:48
obviously black Presidents:
George Washington
Thomas Jefferson
Calvin Coolidge
Woodrow Wilson
Andrew Jackson
Franklin Pierce
Grover Cleveland
BJS said,
January 22, 2008 at 1:48
Grover Cleveland (first term only)
tigrismus said,
January 22, 2008 at 1:51
And Franklin D. Roosevelt (Jones)
Bastion Booger said,
January 22, 2008 at 1:52
The truth is, affirmative action is rascist and reverse discrimination. The very fact that liberals promote affirmative action hiring proves Jonah Goldberg’s argument the the White Male is the Jew of liberal fascism.
Jennifer said,
January 22, 2008 at 1:53
Ok, Righteous Bubba, that just totally cracked my shit up.
I got this flashback to (of all things) Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie where Chong totally flubs the “magic” trick where a glass and a napkin are combined, folded, tied, etc into a phallic shape, and the punchline was “now ain’t that a peach?” Chong gets up on stage to do the trick and because he’s stoned, of course, he holds up the napkin and the glass, and says, “I’m gonna take this glass…and uh this napkin….and I’m gonna turn ‘em into a DICK!”
Which is pretty much how I imagine Bush would flub up the loaves and fishes business.
Bastion Booger said,
January 22, 2008 at 1:55
The truth is, Dr. Martin Luther King was a Conservative and a Registered Republican. He was strongly opposed to abortion, affirmative action and gay rights. Liberal race baiters such as Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson have hijacked Dr. King’s legacy in an attempt to divide this Nation along racial lines. Martin Luther King was clearly a Conservative!
El Cid said,
January 22, 2008 at 1:56
So now MLK Jr. was both a Communist subversive and a Registered Republican? Our thesis is proven!!!
kingubu said,
January 22, 2008 at 1:58
Do you know that something like 30% of all Americans approve, if not flat out cheer on, the job Shrub Jr. is doing?
I suspect the number is actually quite a bit lower if you factor out those who are disappointed in Der Fratboy’s performance but would rather die than give some Commie pinko pollster the satisfaction of admitting it.
stringonastick said,
January 22, 2008 at 2:02
Attack of the ‘bergs I tell ya; between the Pantload and this Greenish guy the revisionism is getting pretty thick. Will we reach a singularity where the historical revisionism becomes so complete that all historical knowledge collapses into a small shiny bit of intellectual antimatter?
Bastion Booger said,
January 22, 2008 at 2:08
The truth is, the only revisonist history is the one fed to impresionable young skulls full of mush that leftwing history professors promote as America’s heritage. The true American Heritage IS NOT ONE OF RASCISM, GENOCIDE AND CLASSISM! It is one of Godly Family Values, of a “City on a Hill”, of technological advances unlike the world has ever seen, of the first true form of Republican Government by the people, of the people and for the people, of rugged individualism, of glorious Military Victories and the Civilizing of a continent of backward hellbound savages. That my liberal friends is America’s true Heritage!
Caveat said,
January 22, 2008 at 2:09
You know who else was conservative? Abby Hoffman. So were Rosa Parks, Jane Fonda, John Lennon and the Panthers. And you know who else is conservative? Bono.
Righteous Bubba said,
January 22, 2008 at 2:11
Which is pretty much how I imagine Bush would flub up the loaves and fishes business.
He could turn lepers into effective fertilizer.
mikey said,
January 22, 2008 at 2:14
Until his supreme “whoops” moment, John McCain lived in a bright clean city, ate wonderful food, slept on clean sheets, shit in real toilets and occasionally drove a fast mover up north to drop bombs on some civilians.
I won’t denigrate his service, because after that he had it as tough for as long as anybody, but it’s not like he said “Oh! Infantry Grunt? Sleep in a hole, eat cold rations in the rain, shit behind an anthill and try not to get bitten by anything overly lethal? Well, hell, sign me up for a whole bunch of that shit right now!”
But then again, that’s part of the problem, ain’t it? I mean, I was over there for almost eleven months, never was a POW, never was tortured (at least in the narrowest interpretation of the word), and had some pretty good support around me. And I’m WAY to mentally unstable as a result to EVER be considered for the presidency.
I’m telling you, that dood has GOT to be full on looney tunes. And these idiots wanna give him the football?
Talk about not thinking it all the way through!!
mikey
stringonastick said,
January 22, 2008 at 2:14
“kingubu said,
January 22, 2008 at 1:58
Do you know that something like 30% of all Americans approve, if not flat out cheer on, the job Shrub Jr. is doing?
I suspect the number is actually quite a bit lower if you factor out those who are disappointed in Der Fratboy’s performance but would rather die than give some Commie pinko pollster the satisfaction of admitting it.”
We have a winner! I was able to witness exactly this at a dinner with my extremely wingnutty sister this past Thanksgiving. Even more delicious than the turkey was the lap-gazing embarassment after her hubby dissed the war, and it wasn’t about hubby saying it, it was totally about the realization that the boy king is a genocidal moron. But would she actually say that? Hell no. Big sis is never, ever wrong; Jebus wouldn’t allow it!
Jennifer said,
January 22, 2008 at 2:14
The true American Heritage IS NOT ONE OF RASCISM, GENOCIDE AND CLASSISM! It is one of Godly Family Values,
Uh, do you think he’d be crushed if we pointed out that racism, genocide and classism are all practiced and extolled in the bible, and that they are, in fact, “godly family values”?
BJS said,
January 22, 2008 at 2:16
Re: And Franklin D. Roosevelt (Jones)
FDR was known as “Basketball” Jones among the various urban Democratic party machines. Someone set a pick for him at the free throw line of life and he took it strong to the rim and became the 32nd President. Very inspiring.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIbp5C-5WXM
Lesley said,
January 22, 2008 at 2:26
aaaaaaargh. In another comment thread, neconservatives are arguing that Canada’s human rights commission is on par with Russia under Stalin. OMGOdz…I have never been happier to be a baby boomer because it means I am this much closer to being dead and not having to endure the stupid stupid STUPID humans anymore.
Can’t take the stupid anymore, it’s killing me. I am increasingly tempted to find a cabin in the woods and co-exist with gophers and field mice.
Jeff Fecke said,
January 22, 2008 at 2:30
Martin Luther King, were he alive today but thankfully he’s not
This phrase is the most accurate summation of the conservative view of MLK that has ever been penned.
bob the hog said,
January 22, 2008 at 2:33
…a singularity where the historical revisionism becomes so complete that all historical knowledge collapses into a small shiny bit of intellectual antimatter
Is there no substance in the Universe immune to the conservativization of matter? Kucinich?
.
Jennifer said,
January 22, 2008 at 2:34
Lesley - damn if I don’t know exactly how you feel. I noticed that sometime around when I turned 40, I just decided I was tired of people in general and their bullshit in particular (including my own).
To the plus, I also noticed around the time I turned 40 that I just really don’t give a shit about too much of anything.
Brandi said,
January 22, 2008 at 2:40
Uh, do you think he’d be crushed if we pointed out that racism, genocide and classism are all practiced and extolled in the bible, and that they are, in fact, “godly family values”?
About the only thing that’d crush Booger is a monster truck. I’d be willing to add a few extra tire grinds to be sure.
Bastion Booger said,
January 22, 2008 at 2:41
The truth is, the Canadian human rights commision is fascist because of their persecution of Western Patriot Mark Steyn. The Conservative Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper is a good man and a defender of Western Civilization however the Conservative Party needs alot more members in the Parliment and Canadian government in general in order to more effectively participate in the defense of Western Civilization. My advice for Canada is to free Mark Steyn, vote in more Conservatives, fire the human rights commision and deport the muslim interlopers who don’t belong in Western Society.
Lesley said,
January 22, 2008 at 2:50
If Bastion had a blog he’d ban sadlynosians and/or screen their comments.
Susan of Texas said,
January 22, 2008 at 3:03
“Patriot Mark Steyn”
I didn’t know he played for an American football team.
pedestrian said,
January 22, 2008 at 3:10
The truth is, Dr. Martin Luther King was a Conservative and a Registered Republican. He was strongly opposed to abortion, affirmative action and gay rights.
Oh, he hated those gays so much! Especially his close friend, the organizer of the 1963 March on Washington (where he gave his “I Have a Dream” speech). It’s a well known fact that his wife and daughter only worked tirelessly for gay rights until they died to spite him.
You carry on that proud tradition and know that MLK would be proud. Watch out for zombie Reagan though, I hear he had several gay lovers.
g said,
January 22, 2008 at 3:13
Bastion, do you think anyone pays attention to what you say?
Arky - Cthulhusexual said,
January 22, 2008 at 3:17
Hey, hey, hey!
You forgot Malcolm X.
Kids today.
stringonastick said,
January 22, 2008 at 3:19
Word. I see ol’ Bastion’n name at the top of the post and just scroll on by. Same for the rest of our turd infestation.
Bastion Booger said,
January 22, 2008 at 3:20
Everyone pays attention to what I say because in your heart you know I’m Right!
g said,
January 22, 2008 at 3:21
When I want a laugh.
OTB said,
January 22, 2008 at 3:25
Sorry, Leonard, but it’s pronounced “Cooly G”, though sometimes he went by Notorious D.G.E., usually during press conferences.
His first wax cylinder, “Yo! Bum Rush The Wireless!” singlehandedly invented break-dancing. Look it up. He was black.
Me said,
January 22, 2008 at 3:41
Okay, here’s the deal–there are 11 federal holidays, 8 of which honor either the military/veterans, the USA, dead presidents or religious observance. The other three are New Year’s Day, MLK Day and Labor Day. You’d think the right would be satisfied with this ratio–only two lib-fascist holidays in the bunch!
(And for all the good “Labor Day” does for the cause of, you know, labor, it might as well not even be included.)
White Male, Jew of Liberal Fascism said,
January 22, 2008 at 3:46
My advice for Canada is to free Mark Steyn, vote in more Conservatives, fire the human rights commision and deport the muslim interlopers who don’t belong in Western Society.
Speaking on behalf of millions of Canadians, Boogers-for-Brains, I’d like to say this:
Why don’t you go fuck yourself?
It’s not enough for you and your GOP friends to have fucked up your own country— now you want to start fucking ours up, too?
If you are really anxious to spread your brand of ignorant Republicanism around the world, why don’t you sign up for a tour of duty in Iraq?
Tim (the other one) said,
January 22, 2008 at 3:47
“His first wax cylinder, “Yo! Bum Rush The Wireless!” singlehandedly invented break-dancing. Look it up. He was black.”
I like his second cylinder better: “Bitch Bettah Have Ma Depression !!”
Bastion Booger said,
January 22, 2008 at 4:03
The truth is my liberal Canadian friend, apparently you don’t speak for millions of your fellow Countrymen. They voted in Stephen Harper a pro-American Conservative who is pro-Iraq war, anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage, and pro-death penalty, as Prime Minister. Apparently many of your fellow Countrymen are Conservatives who wish to help America defend Western Civilization from islamo-fascism.
Me said,
January 22, 2008 at 4:21
racism and segregation in America have only to do with the legacy of slavery, and not at all one’s black skin!
In America, you are what you look like. Tiger Woods is about a half-dozen different things, but because of his appearance, he is universally thought of as “black”.
Hitchens should’ve kept smoking and dropped the other vice instead.
Jackson said,
January 22, 2008 at 4:25
If I Write with Capital Letters on Virtually Every Word like Bastion Booger, Does That Make my Arguments seem More Authoritative?
Or Do I Just Sound Like a Twelve Year old Girl?
TR said,
January 22, 2008 at 4:29
Bastion Booger isn’t really strong on logic.
By his reckoning, since Bush is polling in the low 30s these days, BB doesn’t speak for two-thirds of the American people.
Love it or leave it, loser.
Anne Laurie said,
January 22, 2008 at 5:06
I’m telling you, that dood has GOT to be full on looney tunes. And these idiots wanna give him the football?
Talk about not thinking it all the way through!!
Hell, Mikey — sometimes the only way I can sleep at night is by reminding myself that Nixon’s Secret Service detail had strict instructions not to let him play with Teh Attache Case. And while the ongoing government services have been degraded all to shite in the ensuing 30 years, the fact that there’s anything left of America besides crumpled sheets of obsidian glass convinces me that Commander Codpiece don’t get to play with *his* football, neither.
Arky - Cthulhusexual said,
January 22, 2008 at 5:06
The truth is, if Bastion Booger wasn’t in here bothering Sadly Knowser, he’d be somewhere out there, bothering barnyard animals.
Jennifer said,
January 22, 2008 at 5:11
…the fact that there’s anything left of America besides crumpled sheets of obsidian glass convinces me that Commander Codpiece don’t get to play with *his* football, neither.
I’m pretty sure they just gave him one of those vibrating football games from the 60s/70s and convinced him that was what was meant by “the football”. And he plays with it happily each afternoon before naptime.
Jennifer said,
January 22, 2008 at 5:13
BTW, if you haven’t seen this yet, check out Mitt Romney, a man so white he shits albino turds.
Caveat said,
January 22, 2008 at 5:20
“The truth is my liberal Canadian friend, apparently you don’t speak for millions of your fellow Countrymen. They voted in Stephen Harper a pro-American Conservative who is pro-Iraq war, anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage, and pro-death penalty”
The truth is, this shining example of anal stenosis couldn’t find his pubic appendage at a circle jerk.
Harper is not anti-abortion, anti-gay or pro-GOP. He’s not pro-war or pro-death penalty. And yes, we tend to like Americans in Canada, big bloody surprise there.
Check your facts, moron, because obviously the nuances of Canadian politics (much like American politics) are way over your pointy little head.
I’m a Canuck progressive conservative which means Democrat to you, by the way. Public healthcare, lots of social programs, grants, inclusiveness, good fiscal management, tax cuts for poor people and lots more - that’s what we right-wing Canadians like.
So fuck off and go read some books instead of cluttering up the bandwidth that’s meant for your betters.
ignobility said,
January 22, 2008 at 5:21
He is as distant from the real “plantation” as I am. How — unless one thinks obsessively about color while affecting not to do so — does this make him “black”?
If he’s not really black, would Hitchens would be willing to swap skin with him? I think not.
Jim said,
January 22, 2008 at 5:36
Dear sirs,
Please don’t respond to poor Bastion. It renders him overexcited - he spends all day typing fecklessly at a keyboard until someone comes along and transcribes his near-incoherent rants for him.
It has been scientifically proven that, left to their own devices, such poor creatures consistently end their days chewing away at their own tails. Your kind interventions can have no effect, and his brain is no more than a rocky place where your intellectual seed can find no purchase.
Leave him be, the poor creature.
Snorghagen said,
January 22, 2008 at 5:39
Whew, Romney’s crackerjack campaign staff was on that article’s comments section like stink on shit: credentials and leadership experience… confidence-building… poised optimism… appeal as a top Presidential candidate… integrity, fortitude… leadership skills… great guy… impressive resume…
Somehow, those aren’t the phrases that pop into my mind when I think of good ol’ Mitt.
Caveat said,
January 22, 2008 at 5:41
One more thing. Mark Stain is an embarrassment - almost, but not quite, as bad as Goldberg.
That said, he’s free to blather in his column because I believe in freedom of expression, likely because I’m liberal in outlook, which makes me a fascist but vote conservative because I am a commie.
Lesley said,
January 22, 2008 at 5:42
If you are really anxious to spread your brand of ignorant Republicanism around the world, why don’t you sign up for a tour of duty in Iraq?
Yeah, Bastion, and if fortune is on our side, you’ll be shot by a member of Blackwater. Given your politics, I’m sure you won’t mind at all.
Righteous Bubba said,
January 22, 2008 at 5:49
Please, fish that Bastion has hooked, consider this:
New script:
http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/13541
the_millionaire_lebowski said,
January 22, 2008 at 5:53
I’m quoting the above because it’s worth posting again; Dr. MLK Jr. day and Labor Day are the only two progessive holidays in the US. I’d also bet that they’re the two days that least have accompanying time off form private-secot jobs.
Labor Day in the US always kills me. I mean, why don’t we celebrate it when the rest of the world does (May 1st)? Oh yeah, it’s because we’re busy celebrating the National Day of Prayer, a national observance enacted by president Fight-the-Commies-on-the-Calendar-so-We-Don’t-Have-to-Fight-Them-Here of course. Gah.
Caveat said,
January 22, 2008 at 5:56
If we celebrated Labor Day on May Day, that would make it another Conservative holiday.
Lesley said,
January 22, 2008 at 5:57
Harper is not anti-abortion, anti-gay or pro-GOP. He’s not pro-war or pro-death penalty. And yes, we tend to like Americans in Canada, big bloody surprise there.
Well actually, Caveat, Harper is emphatically not pro-gay or pro-choice, but he’s being awfully quiet about his religious convictions right now because he has a minority government and can’t afford to lose the few moderate Conservatives who voted for him. He’s doing his damndest to make himself seem a reasonable man. I work for the feds. I’m seeing the damage he’s doing on a daily basis.
Early in his tenure he wanted to revisit the gay marriage act and that didn’t pan out, he was all for the Iraq war and Bush in 2003, urging Canada to participate and condemning the Prime Minister of the day for criticizing Bush’s foreign policy. He continued with that stance until shortly before the election when Bush’s popularity reached an all time low at home and abroad. I’m sure he’d love to bring back the death penalty, since he’s very keen on punishment and not so keen on rehab or preventive measures to resolve crime, but that’s another can of worms he won’t risk opening now. (How do we know his position on the death penalty? In an unprecedented move, he refused to intervene in the case of a Canadian on death row in the United States. Harper’s willing to let that man be executed rather than bring him home to serve a life sentence.)
Harper keeps close tabs on his cabinet ministers lest they open their uninformed ignorant mouths and embarrass him….like the time Stockwell Day admitted believing dinosaurs and humans roamed the earth together.
Harper may be more articulate than Bush but he’s a liar, a back stabber, and a con artist who will sell Canada’s natural resources to the US private sector the minute he has a majority government. All part of the secret negotiations Canadians aren’t privy too.
His biggest backer? Brian Mulroney who “negotiated” the free trade agreement. Enough said.
Dagoril said,
January 22, 2008 at 5:57
God bless you Righteous Bubba.
The only way it could be a better script, is if it replaced their messages instead with random pr0n :)
pedestrian said,
January 22, 2008 at 6:04
Labor Day in the US always kills me. I mean, why don’t we celebrate it when the rest of the world does (May 1st)?
It’s ok, I’m starting to enjoy May Day’s new incarnation as Mexofascist Open Borders Hate America Day. With current demographic trends and a pinch of luck, we should christening it “Immigration Day” right around the time they put Hillary on the $10 bill.
[grinchy smile spreads slowly over face]
Me said,
January 22, 2008 at 6:05
Labor Day in the US always kills me.
Seriously, is there another holiday that’s been more removed from its original inspiration? Christmas perhaps, although even there we have the occasional “War on Christmas” non-controversy to remind us of “the reason for the season”.
Labor Day was started by labor unions, but nowadays it’s merely an excuse to get a Monday off. Not that I’m complaining, mind you.
Mo's Bike Shop said,
January 22, 2008 at 6:11
I’m telling you, that dood has GOT to be full on looney tunes. And these idiots wanna give him the football?
Talk about not thinking it all the way through!!
I’d suggest that you’re underestimating their sense of nihilism.
Lesley said,
January 22, 2008 at 6:15
God bless you Righteous Bubba.
The only way it could be a better script, is if it replaced their messages instead with random pr0n :)
if pr0n=liberal/lefty comments.
Tehanu said,
January 22, 2008 at 6:22
Most racists would not just look at a black person and decide to discriminate against them; they would first determine if he was an African-American, and thus part of the legacy of slavery, or an African,* in which case there would be no reason whatsoever to discriminate against them. Plus, he’s biracial, and no one has ever discriminated against mixed-race people in America! Thus, presto-change-o, Barack Obama is not black, and therefore has never experienced any racial discrimination, and any attempt by him to engage in ‘identity politics’ is itself shameful racism of the sort that Martin Luther King, were he alive today but thankfully he’s not, would totally condemn. How far we’ve come, Lord, how far!
I’d just like to see Hitchens doing a “Black Like Me” thing and finding out that being a descendant of British drunks is no defense against being arrested for Driving While Black.
Caveat said,
January 22, 2008 at 6:34
“Harper may be more articulate than Bush but he’s a liar, a back stabber, and a con artist who will sell Canada’s natural resources to the US private sector the minute he has a majority government. All part of the secret negotiations Canadians aren’t privy too. ”
I get where you’re coming from, Lesley and believe me, because of Steve’s Alliance background I was a bit trepidatious myself when he was elected. I actually didn’t vote conservative in the last fed election because I wasn’t keen on our local candidate. I voted Green, even more right-wing - er, commie :>)
Harper recently set aside 10 million acres in the McKenzie river basin, declaring it off limits to industry in perpetuity. It is the largest parcel of land set aside by Federal decree in many decades.
He held a free vote on the gay marriage issue because he knew it wouldn’t pass and wanted to put it to bed once and for all. In fact, as many Liberals voted against gay marriage as Conservatives.
He shut Quebec up in about 15 minutes and now he’s got the Libranos by the short and curlies. I can’t help admiring the guy
As for the fellow on death row, I’m afraid that if one plans to gun people down in cold blood, get caught and convicted, I won’t be shedding too many tears over it.
Unfortunately, the media in Canada, with a few exceptions, insidiously colours most people’s opinion against the current government.
I find Steve to be a breath of fresh air. I like the way he gets things done. I, like many Canadians, got sick of Liberal hypocrisy, the constant promises that never seemed to materialize and most of all the corruption, ripoffs and lies.
The beauty of our system, unlike the US system, is that it is a constitutional democracy. The Prime Minister may hold personal beliefs with which we agree or disagree but the parliamentary system keeps those in check. In other words, the PM doesn’t have the power of a US president to push his own agenda.
As much as I like Harper, and I am pleasantly surprised, nay, mpressed by his strategic ability, I am also a big fan of minority governments, which are almost guaranteed as long as the Bloc, which is basically a provincial party, holds a good chunk of seats in the House.
Which way the wind is blowing in the next election will determine how I vote, ie, I’ll be hoping for another minority government.
Pax.
the_millionaire_lebowski said,
January 22, 2008 at 7:00
Technicially, that’s how it’s supposed to be here (in the US) too. Just sayin’.. it can happen there too.
Bastion Booger said,
January 22, 2008 at 7:08
The truth is, the Conservative Party in Canada is a pretty good party. It will be even better if Stephen Harper and his Conservatives of the same rightwing philosophy gain the majority government where they can actually implement Conservative policies such as outlawing abortion, banning gay marriage, reestablishing the death penalty, restoring the right to private gunownership, lowering taxes, reducing the size of the Federal government and abolishing the welfare state. Then Canada will become prosperous once again and be closer ideologically to America.
g said,
January 22, 2008 at 7:10
Hey, Bastion, have you ever been right about anything?
Bastion Booger said,
January 22, 2008 at 7:14
I am right now, if Canada enacts those Conservative principles into law they will be all the better and more economically, militarily, socially and culturally prosperous. With those Conservative policies in place how could any Western Nation go wrong?
Lesley said,
January 22, 2008 at 7:14
The air of politicians usually always smells faintly (or strongly) of sewer to me, caveat. It’s never fresh.
I’m kinda stunned you think Harper’s a supporter of the environment given his appalling record so far, and if he’s saved a few million acres more than other Prime Ministers I expect it’s because the lobby to do so was strong enough to force his hand.
Re the death penalty: you might want to remember that many of the inmates on death row in the US are poor blacks who can’t afford lawyers, been assigned legal aid and rushed through the system. They’re not all guilty. You may be comfortable taking that risk. I’m not, especially after the high profile cases we’ve seen here (Milgaard, Truscott, Guy Paul Morin, and Donald Marshall). Granted, I wouldn’t shed a tear if Clifford Olson or Paul Bernardo took one between the ribs but for everyone of those (and they are rare), there are people serving time for crimes they did not commit. We’ve seen this time and again. I wouldn’t want their deaths on my conscience.
Majority governments have proven to be problematic when they go on for too long (with no changes at the top), but if you’re assuming your “breath of fresh air” is trustworthy only if he’s in a minority position, I’d suggest to you there’s not much trust there and perhaps just a tinge of unpleasant odor on that breeze. :)
Lesley said,
January 22, 2008 at 7:15
g, bastion is most emphatically Right about everything. That’s what makes him so wrong.
Bastion Booger said,
January 22, 2008 at 7:19
I’m serious though. With Conservative policies in place such as the banning of abortion, the banning of gay marriage, the death penalty, the right to private gunownership, increased military spending, lower taxes, limited government and the free market how could any Western Nation go wrong or fail?
Bastion Booger said,
January 22, 2008 at 7:21
Any Western Nation that enacts and remains faithful to those Conservative Principles will be superior economically, militarily, culturally and morally.
pedestrian said,
January 22, 2008 at 7:28
Well, I could do without gay marriage if we can also ban the death penalty, gun ownership, military spending, and tax cuts for the rich. On balance, bb may be onto something.
Can we ban straight marriage too though? Just to be fair.
joeyess said,
January 22, 2008 at 7:29
I demand another thread. This one is beginning to smell and I need to be entertained!!!!
Arky - Cthulhusexual said,
January 22, 2008 at 7:34
I’m serious too. You don’t want to know what Basted Booger used to do to helpless goats before the internons gave him another outlet for his er … tensions.
Bastion Booger said,
January 22, 2008 at 7:40
Before we move on to another thread someone answer my question about a Western Nation enacting those Conservative Principles which of course would make that Nation prosperous.
Jennifer said,
January 22, 2008 at 7:47
I don’t know about a western nation that embodies conservative principles, but the state of Arkansas does. Low taxes, low public spending, low wages, the poor have zero power, the wealthy call all the shots…basically you’re saying that the country would be better off if it looked more like Arkansas with its pitiful infrastructure, education, poverty, teen pregnancy, infant mortality etc.
Not exactly the model of prosperity most of us would strive for.
pedestrian said,
January 22, 2008 at 8:01
It’s ok Jennifer, they’ll be glad they chose as t