THE IDIOCY OF PROFESSOR RUSH TO NONSENSE LIMBAUGH

…the Bleacherman has entered the stadium…

Once again the eminent professor of nonsense and gibberish, Rush Limbaugh, has vomited pure, hateful bullshit all over his lectern.  Once again, the hubba-bubba man mixed his ignorance and all loathing hatred of everything into a brew of science-denying, caustic, reality-denying stupidity. 

Now the fat man with the sewer mouth and non-functioning brain claims that the term “polar vortex,” used by meteorologists and other scientists as an explanation for the recent surge of cold weather, is a liberal conspiracy to “support their claim of global warming.”   

Absurd!  What more can I say?  How does a grown man fear a meteorological label?  

By definition, a polar vortex… is a circulation of strong, upper-level winds that normally surround the northern pole in a counterclockwise direction — a polar low-pressure system.  These winds tend to keep the bitter cold air locked in the Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It is not a single storm. On occasion, this vortex can become distorted and dip much farther south than you would normally find it, allowing cold air to spill southward. ¹

Global warming is not mentioned.  There is no reference to any liberal agenda.  There is nothing sinister or political about the term or its meaning. 

Bu the Godfather of hate cannot accept science because science is centered on facts while Rush’s world is a conflagration of lies, distortions and all-attacking hostility towards anything and everyone that does not bow down and concede his greatness and Godly omnipotence.

And the sad part of this commentary is an acknowledgement that the throngs of people who listen to Rush religiously will actually believe his word to be the equal to the word of God.

…the Beacherman has left the stadium…

¹ Frigid air from the North Pole: What’s this polar vortex? By Alan Duke, CNN

 

THE GOP TEMPER TANTRUM: INSULTING TO THE VERY ESSENCE OF A DEMOCRACY

…the Bleacherman has entered stadium…having just left the nursery where the GOP are crying like frustrated babies…

The election is over.  Obama has won, Romney has lost.  Obama won the Electoral College vote by a very large number and the popular vote by a slim margin yet a margin that represents support by a majority of those Americans who voted in the election.

In eyes of Republicans, this was not supposed to happen.  This was not the happy ending they expected.  This was not how the world is supposed to be.  Shell-shocked Republicans seem to believe that their Christian God has forsaken them.  They believe that their Angels of Prophecy, Dick Morris and Rush Limbaugh, have lied to them. They believe blasphemy has been committed.  The Angel of Hell is now riding the New York subway; hide the women, save the children.  Or is that hide the money and save the art collection? I get confused when the term “values” is brought into a conversation when Republicans are involved.  In their unique world, values somehow becomes a very fluid and moving target and difficult to define.

But I am compelled to address the political in-fighting and finger pointing that is evolving into a war right in front of me.  Romney lost when most in the Republican Party not only thought he would win but unequivocally knew that Romney would win and win big in a landslide. Less than a week since the election and the blame game goes nuclear.  Conventional wisdom demands that someone needs to be blamed and burned at the stake for a loss that everyone in the Republican Party claims never to have seen it coming.  And pundits and politicians don’t seem to be at a loss for whom to blame.

Fox News’ Bill O’ Reilly, a man of a lot of words and little wisdom, said it best.  He said that white, old man America is losing its power and prestige in this country.  The good old boys club is crumbling. People of color are taking over his America.  And Bill-O does not like that.

In this new order (which old white men like Bill-O fear), blacks can vote and on all levels of life operate on equal par with their former white masters, women can emancipate themselves from the kitchen and the bedroom to successfully run major corporations, Latinos are capable of achievements far beyond just knowing how to use a gas air blower and Asians do more than just make great sushi.  (I know I left out many cultures and I apologize to all but do acknowledge your contributions to an expanding and growing America.)

David Frum blames what he calls the conservative entertainment complex.  He claims that because of a small group of people who operate from an entirely different and self-serving agenda, the GOP had lost sight of reality and was drinking its own Kool Aid. Radio and television personalities spent years hovering over the periphery of American politics.  They focused on birth certificates, ideological labels, make-believe layoffs and a myriad of other inconsequential matters and in the end did nothing but offer up a menu of lies, distortions and pure unadulterated bull shit that took the focus away from real issues.  People like Dick Morris and Newt Gingrich made outrageous claims of landslide victories that were reinforced by talking heads and Fox blondes who sought to will an outcome rather than to report objectively on the election itself.  They chose to disbelief the ‘main street’ media because in the end they believed their own lies.

Along with the finger pointers comes the sore losers.  Sean Hannity on Wednesday said Americans deserve the government they voted for.  The temper tantrum continued when the little boy proclaimed that “America now deserves Barack Obama – good luck with that.”  Sean then took his ball and ran home.  He didn’t want to play with the other boys and girls anymore.

Ted Nugent was not too happy when President Barack Obama was reelected, so he took to Twitter to denounce the “pimps,” “whores” and “welfare brats” who re-elected the President.

Ex-Judge and resident Fox News Intellectual Andrew P. Napolitan, sobbing uncontrollably, wrote an editorial where he said, “Only in America can a president who inherits a deep recession and whose policies have actually made the effects of that recession worse get re-elected. Only in America can a president who wants the bureaucrats who can’t run the Post Office to micromanage the administration of every American’s health care get re-elected. Only in America can a president who kills Americans overseas who has never been charged or convicted of a crime get re-elected. And only in America can a president who borrowed and spent more than $5 trillion in fewer than four years, plans to repay none of it and promises to borrow another $5 trillion in his second term get re-elected.”

In conclusion, he asks, “what’s going on here?”

Well I’ll tell you what is going on!  What is going on is that I, an informed voter, believed that Obama was better suited to run this country for the next four years.  I am neither a pimp, whore or welfare brat.  I have a Master’s Degree in Economics.  I am neither a communist nor a socialist.  I am white, a member of the Judeo-Christian cult and more or less main stream.  I am a veteran, fought for this country and I still love it.  So I ask all of you cry babies to stop having a temper tantrum and stop condemning me for how I voted.

We live in a democracy and I have the right to choose my elected officials.  So stop making America into your Christian, White man Fascist State.  Stop I ask you again to stop condemning and belittling me for how I voted.  You can disagree on ideological grounds but don’t demean me because I see the world differently than you do.  You have no license when it comes to being right, you have no special vision granted to you because Fox is stupid enough to grant you either your own show or air time on radio or television.  You are no better or smarter than I am.  Period.  So I ask you all to grow up and stop your little temper tantrum.  If you want to leave this country then go ahead, take you toys and hatred and leave the sandbox  – the sandbox your tax dollar built so all Americans, regardless of race, religion or color, can enjoy its utility.

…the Bleacherman has left the stadium…

 

 

THE ELECTION IS TURNING NASTY AND THE GOP IS COMPLAINING. HAVE THEY FORGOTTEN SWIFT BOATING AND RUSH LIMBAUGH?

…the Bleacherman has entered the stadium…

There is no question in anyone’s mind that the 2012 Presidential campaign’s overall tone has turned into a dialogue that is very nasty, offensive and just plain revolting.  What we are seeing and hearing sounds more like the tenor and theme of a Fox News broadcast filled with character assassinations instead of a debate that addresses the merits and specifics of the real issues that we face today.  It seems as if our country’s most critical challenges have been demoted to a AAA minor league level.

Extremely important issues like the economy, job creation, foreign policy and the national debt have been replaced by issues relevant but none-the-less of lesser importance.  Today the news headlines focus on Romney’s tenure (or lack thereof) at Bain Capital and his refusal to release tax returns and on Obama’s reported use of recreational drugs as a teenager, his asserted taking advantage of affirmative action to get into and advance through college, his ‘hatred’ of America, his inability to be an American and his place of birth.

Disgusting.  Just disgusting.

But what we must remember is politics is, has been and always will be nasty.  It is the nature of the beast.  In the 1800 campaign, the country’s first contested presidential election, supporters of Thomas Jefferson claimed incumbent John Adams wanted to marry off his son to the daughter of King George III, creating an American dynasty under British rule.  Almost sounds like right wing radio ranting.

In the 1884 race, Republicans accused the Democratic candidate, New York Gov. Grover Cleveland, of fathering an illegitimate child.  Almost sounds like the 2000 Republican primary campaign where a sinister rumor was leaked to the press alleging that John McCain fathered a bastard black child.

And one cannot overlook the 2004 swift boat attack on John Kerry.  Most of what was portrayed against Kerry was pure fiction and absolute slander but there was no way for Kerry to fight back the tidal wave of a well-financed, well executed political attack.

The truth of the matter is that we, the American constituency, gave birth to this environment and every election cycle reinforce the use of such negativity.  Everyone loves to complain about negative ads but the truth, undeniable and unavoidable, is that negative ads work.  It is a fact of life and until they do not work, until voters rally against and ignore negative ads, political campaigns will continue to use these tactics because they work.  Political election managers  may spit out the taste of this tactic at the end of the day but none-the-less will not hesitate to use a negative ad tactically and strategically to win an election.  So let us be honest; blame who is at fault and we, the voting constituency of this country, are at fault.

We must also put blame on talk radio and the super PACS who seem to believe they exist in some alien, existential environment and can say and do what they want yet insulate their candidates from assuming any responsibility for the PAC’s insulting, vile and vicious commentaries.

Mitt Romney has no right to call a foul on Obama after what Romney’s super PAC did to Newt Gingrich and his other primary opponents.  I still can see Romney standing at a podium pleading innocence over the negative advertising being blasted by super PACs aligned to his campaign.  “Blame them, not me,” was the mantra he offered Gingrich.  “I’m nice so blame them. I have no control over their activities and the content of their message.”

Yeah, and Santa Claus is a left handed fast ball pitcher who will bring a World Series to Wrigley Field.

So in closing here is my question to Mitt Romney:  If you want to get back to talking about the economy then when are you going to release all the specifics of your proposed new and job stimulating tax plan?  We’re still waiting for where you’re spending cuts are going to take place and where you’re new tax brackets fall.

So, if you want civil discourse; shut the likes of Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh up and bring forth the specifics and details of your economic game plan.  Then and only then do you and your wife have the right to complain about the tone of the political discourse.

…the Bleacherman has left the stadium…

NEEDED: CIVILITY NOT APOLIGIES; TRUTH NOT LIES

…The Bleacherman has entered the stadium…

This is for Rush Limbaugh, Bill Maher, Mark Levin, Michelle Malkin and every comedian, pundit, talk show host and anyone who has access to television or radio airwaves:  apologies for just plain insulting, demeaning, disparaging and offending personal attacks are not accepted.  There is no place in America for “shock-value” politics.  All of you are well educated, have an outstanding command of the English language and can find more rationale, intelligent and effective ways of commenting on American political policies and social values.

There is no excuse for calling Ms. Flute a slut or is there any excuse for calling Sarah Palin a cunt.  There is no excuse for such slander and defamatory commentary and therefore no apology, no matter how well worded or how sincere in its origin is acceptable.

I know shock-talk laced with obscenities, biting vulgarity and outlandish accusations sells tickets and increases television and radio ratings.  And I’m not sure if that in itself is not in need of further commentary.  What I do know is that for this country to continue to excel and evolve, it needs the ability for its constituency to enter into meaningful, truthful and detailed discussions over the many issues that need to be addressed over the coming years.

These issues that we face are not simple ones and cannot be resolved with one line zingers or a simple burst of caustic sarcasm spewed by satirists, comedians and talks show hosts.  These issues demand critical and serious dialogue and the time has come for the GOP and for the Democrats to get serious about putting into perspective their proclivity to engage in divisive partisan politics.  They need to understand slander and character assassination resolves nothing. What IS needed is a collective and bipartisan focus on what should and can be done by the Federal Government to guarantee that the future of this great country of ours is enjoyed by all Americans regardless of race, gender, social and financial standing and religious or secular affiliations.

We have a society that needs answers to compelling questions.  But what we get from our politicians and media leaders is pure bullshit.  Mitt Romney reveals (a part) of his great rescue fiscal plan but says it cannot be scored since all the details have not been worked out as of yet.  What!  No, WTF!  It’s like someone claiming to have a get rich scheme, asks for investments and when questioned on details, the huckster says those are being worked out.

Santorum believes that bring God and family values will resolve all issues and make America some kind of Biblical Disneyland where white, God fearing people live in reality-land and the rest of us caged in some fantasy-land where hope is all we get to eat.  We are provided a lot of expectation but nothing of substance to digest.

And I can’t go on without commenting on the lying, propanganda machine known as Fox News.  I would be praising them if I went out and called them dumb.  They are beyond dumb.  They are prevaricators.  They live and breathe deceit with a single purpose: to unseat a black President.  Sorry, I am playing the race card because what else motivates what we would think of as decent people to fabricate stories that are so false and so filled with distortions, misrepresentations and an almost cartoonish logic.

Need proof:  Just yesterday, a minion of Fox News hosts and supporting cast members lambasted Obama over the high price of gas.  They labeled his energy policies as the sole cause that gas prices have gone up this year.

But wait a minute.  Just wait one minute.  Let’s get the truth police here to tell it like it should be told.  Gas prices are a direct result of free market capital forces.  They are products of a form of capitalism that encourages speculation and enormous profit taking.  So how does Fox blame Obama?  They can because they just lie.

Fact:  American oil production is the highest it’s been in decades.

Fact:  Oil imports have dropped over the past two years.

Fact:  In July of 2008 the average price of Gas was $4.21 per gallon; today it is $3.79 per gallon.

Fact:  In July of 2008, George Bush, a Republican was President.

Fact:  In the last month or so, America has actually been exporting excess oil.  Exporting

Fact:  Best summed up by Fox commentator Bill O’Reilly when defending George Bush from criticism over 2008 gas prices:  “ The next time you hear a politician say that he or she will bring down oil prices, understand it’s complete BS…We need a strong leader who’s honest, smart, courageous, and willing to explain dubious associations.”

Fact:  Fox News is anything but fair and balanced:  It lies!  It lies!  It lies!

And what America does not need is lies; regardless of its genesis, left or right, America needs civil talk, honest talk and candid and straightforward discussions on how to resolve the many problems that we face as a nation.

…the Bleacherman has left the stadium…

 

 

 

KEEP YOUR GOD OFF OF MY PORCH

…the Bleacherman has entered the stadium…

Sometimes I feel as if I am tied to a chair and forced to listen to an eight track tape that keeps going around and around and around.  There is never a beginning and never an end.  Same old noise, over and over again.  Ugh.

All that I hear lately is a constant and bellowing lamenting on the absence of God in politics, the war on religion and the degradation of the American moral soul.  It seems as if God has been called in from the bullpen to save the game although I’m not sure what game really needs saving and whether God can really, at this point in our quest for absolute insanity, save us from ourselves.

Somewhere in the minds of those politicians who are out there every day whoring themselves out to get votes or radio and television personalities who seek to further their influence over their flock by stoking the fires of hatred and distrust; the need to reinsert Christian values into the political discussion and elevate it to a one size fits all standard savior of our society has become a dominant theme in voiced opinion.

The more I listen to this never ending cacophony of religious dogma the more I fear.  At times I feel as if what is spoken reflects a path towards the Inquisitions rather than a furtherance of democracy and social ethics.

When I was growing up, I was led to believe that God and the word and philosophy of God was all about compassion and empathy.  Kindness was an implied commandment. Benevolence and the love and respect for humanity axiomatic.  But then come the vulgarities of the Conservative Christian right and my whole belief system comes tumbling down like Chicago Cub pitching staff in June.

The Christian right cheers when they hear of a policy that condemns the poor to die because they do not have money for healthcare.  They cheer like the Romans cheered the lions when they devoured their ancestral Christians in the Coliseum.  They condemn those that receive food stamps because it helps people survive a downturn in the economy which they helped create and foster.  They talk of a war on religion to support their own crusade against those that don’t believe as they do.

Who in the hell is this God they are talking about.  Surely it is not the God that I believe in.

Rush Limbaugh calls a young college student a slut and a prostitute simply because she seeks help in paying for her contraceptives.  He does this while applauding those who commit adultery…like Senator Vitter and twice convicted Newt Gingrich.  Has their God revoked the anti-adultery amendment?

Whether Rush Limbaugh’s apology was a sincere reflection of his conscience or contrived and constructed to placate a host of fleeing advertisers, what needs to be learned from this episode of vulgarity is the need to keep political debate focused on the issues and not turn rhetoric into vitriolic character assassinations.

Such lessons need to be learned on both the left and right side of the political spectrum.  Calling Ms. Fluke a slut is no more becoming of American morality than Bill Maher calling Sarah Palin a cunt.  Neither discourse belongs in our culture. Neither is funny, neither is appropriate and neither adds value to any offered opinion.

America faces some real issues and needs real people to engage in real debate.  People aren’t snobs because they want children to seek advanced education and possible a college education.  John F. Kennedy’s speech on the separation of church and state, if read correctly, should not make even the most religious vomit.

It is not an act of opportunity for a President to call a constituent and offer moral support for being viciously attacked by idiots for expressing political views.  It is an act of compassion…something we need a hell of a lot more of in this country.

If Republicans really advocate small, less intrusive government then let’s debate exactly what that means.  If they want government out of their fiscal matters then why do they advocate such a prominent role in defining morality and social conduct?  Let’s discuss this…civilly.  It is important.

Santorum should stop being a hypocrite.  I wonder how many wives of current members of congress are taking some form of contraceptives which, I may add, are being paid for by taxpayers.  So why doesn’t Rick of God propose eliminating contraceptive coverage from today’s Congress’ health care coverage?

Santorum needs to stop blaming media for committing fraud because it reports on his constant and endless demand for religious and moral engineering in our society.  He demands that there should be less children born out of wedlock but denies women access to contraceptives.  He opines that all of the world’s problems emanate from the fact that there is marked erosion in community and family infrastructures.  Yeah, that is the reason.  Sex.  There my friends is the root evil of all that is wrong with the world.

We need to stop this out of control proclivity to force feed Rick Santorum’s God and his morality on the rest of us.  He needs to stop planting HIS God on our front lawn like some KKK cross threatening that if we do not believe as he does harm will come to us.

Why have these false prophets stored civility and godliness in a Tupperware container and hidden it in the freezer behind my grandmother’s chicken soup?

In a recent tweet, Professor Caroline Heldman, of Occidental College, reminded me of a biblical tenent that I had long forgotten.  I thought it had been repealed by the Christian Right.  Judge not lest you be judged.

…the Bleacherman has left the stadium…

 

 

A VIOLENT STALEMATE: AMERICAN POLITICS AND THE WAR ON MS. FLUTE

…the Bleacherman has entered the stadium…

“It’s dysfunctional and the political paralysis has overtaken the environment to the detriment of the good of this country.  It’s very, very difficult to resolve major issues.”

So says now retiring Maine Senator Olympia Snowe and so offers a unique commentary on the effects of “hatred politics.”

Politics has become very personal in this country.  It is no longer about disagreements over ideology or policy.  It – the very act of governing – has devolved into nothing short of warfare.  Like children playing in a sandbox, political debates – once filled with the best of what the English language could offer – is now a diatribe of name calling and character assassinations.  The Limbaugh’s of the world call women sluts because they are concerned about the cost of birth control.  Santorum wants to vomit because he read JFK’s speech on the separation of government and religion.  Gingrich labels President Obama dangerous.  Senator McConnell proclaims that the Republicans in the Senate want only to make sure that Obama is a one term President and care little about the state of the Union they represent.

Sick people should die if they cannot afford to pay for their own health care costs, soldiers, defending America in Iraq are booed because they are gay and women should submit to all sorts of personal indignities because their beliefs are different than those of the cabal of white old men who run the American congress.

And today the insanity became even more lethal and demeaning than ever before.  Just look at the latest vile and vicious rant by Rush Limbaugh.  Calling a young lady a slut because she wants assistance in paying for birth control crosses every known line of decency and yet the GOP candidates say nothing which proves that they at best are vote-seeking whores.  They will bend over for anyone who can help them get votes.

America will never regain its former glory because its former glory was a reflection of the civility that served as the backbone of our wonderful democracy.  America is returning to the era where the likes of Father Coughlin ruled the airwaves.  And the American political right is filling the stands to cheer on such rhetoric.

Question to Rick Santorum:  If your God is one of compassion and kindness then why are you not vomiting over Limbaugh’s words?  Or are you just a whore as well whose only knowledge of decency is hidden by your hypocrisy?

Question to Mitt Romney:  You say you are one of us, the common folk, but where is your outrage over Limbaugh’s comments?  Or since Rush is super rich and part of your 1% family of friends, you simply choose to hide in the shadows of your own eagerness to be his whore?

Question to Newt Gingrich:  Do you have any decency left in you?  You claim to be a man of God, a God that has forgiven you for your past transgressions.  If so, why do you not defend Ms. Fluke who did not deserve such character assassination?  Or are character assassinations only off limits when you are the character being assassinated by Romney’s hit men?  Or are you too, Rush’s whore?

It is written (and I am using something I found on Wikipedia) …compassion is a virtue — one in which the emotional capacities of empathy and sympathy (for the suffering of others) are regarded as a part of love itself, and a cornerstone of greater social interconnection and humanism — foundational to the highest principles in philosophy, society, and personhood.

So to all of you who wear your belief in God as if it actually had any real meaning other than pandering for votes…why the silence?  Why do you run and hide?  If Ms. Fluke is a slut…then you men are surely man whores for pandering your soul to Rush Limbaugh.

…the Bleacherman has left the stadium…knowing that for those who speak the loudest in proclaiming the greatness of God are those who know not the meaning of being Godly…

WE ARE NO LONGER A CLASS ACT…

…the Bleacherman has entered the stadium…

Where is the dignity?  Where is the civility? 

They’re gone.  They have been replaced by a prevailing gutter politics where the crass and cruel rule.

Rush Limbaugh and the ignorant, evil and vicious “right” are taking their shots at Michelle Obama and her weight.  With a country fighting battles over budgets and jobs and unions, Rush Limbaugh, no lightweight himself, thinks criticizing the first lady’s weight is fun.  And relevant.  And important. 

I wonder what Rush would have said about President Franklin Roosevelt’s handicap if Rush would fall through a time hole or some other manifestation of alternate and alternative dimensions and wind up reporting during the 1930’s and 1940’s.  After all, FDR was a liberal.  Would he call the president a cripple?  Would his fans cheer him on?   Would we flush dignity and civility down the toilet?

I have said this over and over again but the decline and ultimate destruction of the great American lifestyle has begun.  When a first responder refuses to respond to the Giffords shooting because he didn’t like the Representative’s politics; what’s next?  Do we face the day when a surgeon will refuse to operate on a patient because of political ideology?

What is this Nation coming to?  Or are we already there?

…the Bleacherman has left the stadium…

THE TWILIGHT OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE

The battle over health care reform has become a battle.  Even though the bill is now law, people are still taking their anger to the streets of America.  Since they could not stop the bill, their only recourse is to punish those Members of Congress who voted for the much hated legislation.

In a democracy, where civility and the rule of law truly matters, most Americans would take out their anger by helping to defeat offending Senators and Congressmen in the next cycle of elections. 

But we do not live in democratic America anymore.  We live in Rush Limbaugh’s, Glen Beck and Michele Bachman’s fascist world.  In their minds, and I am really being kind here by assuming any one of them have a mind, America should only have one political philosophy: theirs.  In their minds ideologies like liberalism and progressivism should be banned and destroyed.

In their minds and the minds of their followers, democracy and the process of democracy no longer matters.  When you can’t win at the ballot box you surely can win with dirty tricks, slander, lies and intimidation.  And violence.  Just ask Sarah Palin, the High Queen of Wickedness.

So now, in America, it is fashionable to call up congressmen and curse on the phone and leave messages that are as vile and toxic as one can imagine.  It is fashionable to congregate in front of the homes of congressmen and try to intimidate not just the congressmen but his wife and children as well.  And these walking, talking, breathing piles of horse shit dare call themselves Christian. 

And this will continue.  Can you imagine that if in November the Democrats do better than expected and maintain control of congress, what will these idiots do then?  What will they do if President Obama is re-elected in 2012?

If someone does not have the balls to stand up and stop Rush, Glen and Michelle and the rest of those fascists, we will see the twilight of our great democracy fade into the darkness of night and violence.