Daily Archives: March 13, 2009

Bastille Day

Are you like me in that it does pain you to watch someone else be embarrassed, humiliated and destroyed, even though you thoroughly agree with the person doing the embarrassing, humiliating and destroying? Even though you believe the person being embarrassed, humiliated and destroyed deserves it and more? To be honest, I have not watched the entire video of the Daily Show’s destruction of Jim Cramer’s career for precisely that reason. I suppose it is my conscience telling me I shouldn’t revel in the misfortune of others no matter how deserved.

Regardless, I did enjoy Andrew Sullivan’s take on the matter, and agree, the showdown last night was a cultural and historical moment:

I watched the Daily Show with growing shock last night. Did you expect that? I expected a jolly and ultimately congenial discussion, after some banter. What Cramer walked into was an ambush of anger. He crumbled from the beginning. From then on, with the almost cruel broadcasting of his earlier glorifying of financial high-jinks, you almost had to look away. This was, in my view, a real cultural moment. It was a storming of the Bastille. It was, as Fallows notes, journalism.
…

Now, I know Jim Cramer a little. The reason he crumbled last night, I think, is because deep down, he knows Stewart’s right. He isn’t that television clown all the way down. And deeper down, he knows it’s not all a game – not now they’ve run off with grandpa’s retirement money.

It’s not enough any more, guys, to make fantastic errors and then to carry on authoritatively as if nothing just happened. You will be called on it. In some ways, the blogosphere is to MSM punditry what Stewart is to Cramer: an insistent and vulgar demand for some responsibility, some moral and ethical accountabilty for previous decisions and pronouncements.

Braver, please. And louder.

The Beckian Nine Principles

Glenn Beck is a breathtakingly stupid ex-DJ, who thinks wingnut spree-killers are forced into killing by political correctness. But he is also a thought-leader of the Republican party, so I’m sure there are better versions of post like this around the liberal internet tubes – but I just had to take a look at Beck’s 9 principles to see what the wignuts are all sporting boners over.

Here it goes…

1. America is good.

Check. So far so good. If they are all this insightful I’ll gladly sign up for Hube’s teabagging. (I’ll ignore the fact that they probably mean waving the flag is good, and hope for the best.)

2. I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life.

I happen to love skydad. But I think this is phrase to be able to exclude people like me who don’t go around sticking in in every-one’s face.

3. I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.

While I can readily see why this would be something that lying low life Republicans would want to say to themselves – I don’t see them saying it being turned into any honesty.

4. The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government.

The family is sacred? If this read, “My third spouse  and I are the ultimate authority, until our offspring figure out how full of shit we are.” it would have been more honest.

5. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.

Hmmm… let’s say…Only rich, well-connected people are above the law. But that’s it..and I mean it.

6. I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.

I have a right to look down on poor people. Let’s face it, that’s what he is really saying here. A little honesty please wingnuts…remember #3.

7. I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.

Translation: I’m not paying no stinking death tax.

8. It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.

A little of number 8 would have been like a blast of fresh air when Bush was screwing things up – but this item only applies to trashing Democrats.

9. The government works for me. I do not answer to them, they answer to me.

Like item number 1, I have no problem with this sentiment.

Bottom line: What a bunch of cry baby sore loser bullshit. The idea that rich people are being abused by the government would be laughable if so many of these retards didn’t believe it.

For anyone who wants a dose of reality just take a look at the numbers. Unlike Beck – they don’t lie.

blog_cbo_income_inequality_2007

And last but not least…via kos


Pictured: Logo for ‘We Surround Them’ Day. Also international symbol for radioactive gonorrhea.

Around the Horn Friday

Kavips is now required reading. I hereby order you to read “Jump Starting America: The Kavipsian Plan to Fixing the Economy,” “The New Bad Assets Plan,” “Taxes and Balancing the State Budget,” “Scary Tea Leaves,” where he has the inside story on Valero and rising gas prices, and also predicts, based on the rise in the number of corporate jets landing at the NCCo Airport, a rise in corporate bankruptcies by the end of the month. That he is without a job in either the Obama or Markell Administrations is a travesty of untold and biblical proportions.

Delaware Libertarian reminds us of a central rule of recipients of government spending: “if you don’t spend it all, you won’t get as much next time.” The Markell Administration is not immune.

Does Steve Newton really think the Second Great Depression will be less devastating just because it is being broadcast in color?

Steve also has a reaction to our battle with the Glenn Beckers this week here at DL. He makes some good points, and is off base on other points. Pandora has a good response here.

Tyler has problems with Wilmington’s vacant property fine program. I would like to know his solution to blighted properties. Like what Mayor Nutter said this week in embarrassing a delinquent lawyer who has to pay over $300,000 in back taxes: Pay them and there will be no problem.

Steve did not like the Watchmen. Question, am I the only over 30 year old on Earth who has no idea or memory of the Watchmen comics? Another Question, I hear that this Watchman character is completely and visibly naked throughout the entire film, save for a coat of blue paint. True? How can he be a superhero with his junk exposed? Isn’t that a massive Achilles’s heel for a supposed Superhero? All you have to do is kick him in the family jewels.

Shirley has information on an Eminent Domain Forum being held in two weeks at Widener School of Law.

John Brady for State Auditor?

Paul Clark is at it again.

And Nancy, it is time for the Delaware Way to redesign. I cannot tell what is your thoughts and work, and what is quotes from another press release or article. Sometimes there is great stuff there, but it is hard to follow.

Tommywonk offers his opinions on the State Energy Plan.

Allan Loudell discusses a National Journal article about Vice President Biden being unlike all recent prior Vice Presidents.

Mat Marshall offers the best description of DWA that I have seen written:

When I feel like being an asshole or otherwise cannot categorize myself properly, I’ll post here [at DWA].

LOL. I kid.

Mike Matthews liveblogs the Red Clay School Board meeting. I love his liveblogs.

And he then takes on the racist WGMD host Bill Colley.

You have read our take on the KWS’ latest idiocy. Read his take.

Kilroy is once again a must read on education, especially his posts about violence in our schools.

Mike Mahaffie has a report from the Delaware Education Workshop.

Hube has a problem with diversity programs at the University of Delaware. Shocking, I know.

Credit Where Credit Is Not Due

Steve Newton of Delaware Libertarian has written two recent posts (more on his latest posts at the bottom) on the Glenn Beck organization We Surround Them. In the first post Steve appears far more concerned with those who take Beck and Norris seriously, claiming that it’s those (read:us) attempting “to stereotype everybody who disagrees with them is a danger to society.”  And it’s this cherry-picking of what’s dangerous that bothers me.  Why aren’t both dangerous?  Why aren’t both a joke?  It’s this break in consistency that keeps eating at me.  Now, I suppose I could view Steve’s words as a backhanded compliment, as in he expects more from us than he expects from the likes of Beck and Norris.  But after reading the post several times I keep reaching the same conclusion:  We are wrong (and over-reacting) for being concerned and criticizing these groups.

We are also, according to the post, late to the game.  There’s a reason for that, and it’s not that we just suddenly discovered these secession groups.  It’s that while we’ve been quite aware, for years, of these groups, they’ve resided on the fringe of our minds – just like they resided on the fringe of society.  What has brought them to the forefront of our minds is their sudden resurgence and growing voice.  Hence, our concern.

The second post attempts to legitimize these groups by citing Civil Rights and Civil Liberty concerns.  In my opinion, Steve is giving the new members of these groups too much credit, simply because if they weren’t part of these organizations during Bush’s Presidency then they lose the legitimacy argument.  Let’s be honest, the sudden growth and popularity of these groups has nothing to do with Civil Rights or Liberties, and everything to do with President Obama.

And that’s the point, unless… you can honestly say that the same thing would be happening under a McCain/Palin Administration.  And, if you agree with me that it wouldn’t (other than what has always existed on the fringe) then the legitimacy argument doesn’t hold water.  Which isn’t to say that I’m dismissing Civil Rights and Civil Liberty concerns, nor am I dismissing Steve’s arguments in relation to them.  I’m not.  In fact, my bet is that Steve Newton has given more thought to these issues than 95% of the We Surround Them members.  What I’m dismissing is this groups attempt to wrap themselves in the cloak of these rights and liberties and claim validation for an agenda whose sole purpose is ridding the country of Obama.

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One Can Only Hope


New Calls for Assault-Gun Ban

Gun-control activists have renewed calls for the federal government to reinstate a ban on so-called assault weapons in the wake of Tuesday’s deadly shooting rampage in Alabama.

Stricter national gun-control laws face dim prospects in Washington, however, despite Democratic control of Congress and the White House.

Gun-control advocates say Tuesday’s bloody spree, in which 28-year-old Michael McLendon killed 10 people in southeastern Alabama before committing suicide, offers strong evidence of the need for an assault-weapons ban. Mr. McLendon used two assault rifles—an SKS and a Bushmaster—along with a shotgun and a .38-caliber handgun to fell his victims, according to the Alabama Department of Public Safety. He appeared to overwhelm police in an area where many citizens also own guns, for hunting or self-defense.

The weapons used in the Alabama shootings “are military-bred firearms developed for the specific purpose of killing human beings quickly and efficiently,” wrote a coalition of groups, including the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, in a joint release on Wednesday. “Today we call on the U.S. Congress to pass a federal assault weapons ban.”

get ready for the gun to spoon analogies and the oldie but goodie “pools kill more people”

Also, my personal favorite “projectile launcher”

Ahhhhh, guns that shoot 200 bullets in like 15 seconds…but, don’t get me wrong, they weren’t made to kill….

Switzerland to Loosen Bank Secrecy Laws

That collective gasp emanating from the Vicmead Hunt Club can now be explained.

According to the BBC, Switzerland has agreed to loosen its bank secrecy laws after facing pressure from Washington and other international capitals.

The Swiss government confirmed that in line with OECD rules, it would now respond to overseas requests for information in cases of suspected tax evasion, and not just tax fraud.The main difference between tax evasion and tax fraud, is that the former is the deliberate concealing of assets, while the later also involves lying on official documentation.Unlike most countries, tax evasion is only a civil offence in Switzerland, and not a criminal matter.

Switzerland reportedly took this action to avoid being placed on a global blacklist of uncooperative governments, a list that is currently comprised of Andorra, Liechtenstein, and Monaco.

The article further states that this will clearly strengthen leverage against UBS, which has provided information on only 300 of an estimated 52,000 accounts UBS has steered out of the US.

‘Bulo wonders how many ‘patriots’ from Delaware have squirreled their money over there. He looks forward to finding out.

Burris to Leave GOP.

From Delaware Politics:

If Michael Steele gets forced out of his role as GOP Chairman by the pro-life movement as a result of his remarks, which, I’ll remind people, were pro-life remarks, then I’m leaving the party. And I’m pro life.

I am not sure how they were pro-life remarks. Steele himself may be pro-life, but his remarks definitely offered quarter to those who think abortion is a choice. An individual choice that only women can make. The Pro-Life movement, and the Republican Party, has long sought to give no quarter to those on the pro-choice side. Indeed, if you were pro-choice, you were a murderer. You were killing babies. That has been the mantra of the Pro-Life movement, and Republicans seeking the votes of the Pro-Life movement, since at least 1980. It did not matter that Roe v. Wade was the law of the land and that women did in fact have the ability to make the choice. According to the Pro-Life movement, they shouldn’t be allowed to make that choice, even in cases of rape and incest, and even in cases where the woman’s life was in danger. For if a woman chooses abortion, she and all involved in the decision, including the doctors and nurses, were immoral.

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