This stuff really doesn't benefit the Republican Party.

It's painful to watch the grand old party these days.

Good for Matthews, pressing her like that.

This woman is not alright. She could be a danger to herself and others. All sharp and pointed objects should be kept out of her reach.

Oh, she's soooo 1952.

That was batshit crazy.

She's totally out of her mind. Anyone who would pull that stunt she pulled - grabbing the President of the United States and planting a big one on his lips on the floor of Congress in front of Jesus and Laura and everybody is totally out of her mind.

I just wish people would stop attacking John McCain's #2 pick for Vice President on this liberal-leftists-commie web site!!

Yeah, she's no good. She's also the one who, on the House floor, laid the blame of the economic crisis at the feet of urban minorities. Classy.

Give money to the man running against her, Elwyn Tinklenberg:

http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/18660

i just watched it for the second time, because i couldn't believe what i heard a couple hours ago, when hardball first ran.

that may be the most frightening interview i've ever heard. seriously, that is McCarthyism 2.0

i'm still stunned. kudos to matthews for drawing her out, and getting her to state clearly her (and presumably, the party's) view. this sort of shit needs to be exposed. it's a delicate dance, though: while it needs to be exposed, it's not going to help the hateful, violent crescendo to which the GOPers have been moving.

i wonder if mccain -- per his statement at the debate -- will repudiate bachmann's sentiments ... or if he will/would endorse them.

Wow...wait till she finds out about Todd Palin!

Wow, I watched it and I'm scared:
-- Scared of what our country is coming to. They are making the words 'Terrorist' and 'Anti-America' synonyms for 'Democrat'.
-- Scared that this stuff might actually scare others in a different way and give McCain the election.

Today a 6 year old boy stole the Obama sign from my yard because 'Obama wants to take [his] money and Christmas presents'.

I don't know what to say. Wow.

What a nutball.

It's my understanding she's in a pretty tight race fore re-election. Please, please, please let Obama have some very long coattails. That woman needs to lose her job.

Bachmann has been batshit crazy for years, even when she was a the Minny congress. She isn't one of those wingnuts working this as an angle, or who on occassion gets lost in their own punch of bullshit. She's is truly fucking nuts.

It's also a sign of how completely insane the GOP has gotten. That not only is she accepted with open arms, but the GOP is rushing money up to her to defend her seat. You've got to think that guys like Luger are just puking when they think of half their party. Or why guys like Warner just want to get the hell out of there.

What happened to the GOP of Howard Baker and Nancy Kassebaum? There always have been swine like Nixon, but there use to be a good number that you could hold some respect for. They just don't exist anymore.

John

I saw Bachmann. It was interesting because Katrina Vanden Heuvel came on not too long after and gave a very passionate reply which warned of the kind of dark and proto-facist forces Bachmann was stirring up. This was interesting to me mostly because I find characters like Bachmann to be mostly amusing. They don't really make me angry. But Vanden heuvel was visibly upset by her.

What interests me is that I suspect there is something of a generational difference here where I am not conditioned to take people like Bachmann seriously. She is just one of many absolute nutjobs, particularly ubiquitous in the House that I just don't imagine as having much influence over anything. But I may very well be wrong. Bachmann is too stupid and too crazy to achieve much of anything but she has a posse. The mood of this country can change very quickly. Katrina feels that in a way that maybe some of us who are bit younger than her probably do not. I didn't get a chill when I listened to Bachmann. I got it when I listened to Vanden Heuvel

You know, I've watched her and other right wingnuts closely in many interviews and it's weird that, in most cases, their eyes have a tendency to bulge slightly every so often as their mouths spew that rapid fired hate mongering. I'm pretty sure their aliens.

On another note, with apologies for the imagery and not to intimate any complacency whatsoever, it sure is fun watching these folks work so hard to try and put a spit shine on this turd of a campaign.

Sad! In some sense you got to feel for the republicans. Independents and undecideds are cool to their smears and on Nov 4, were going to get a democratic President, Senate and Congress.

Conservative monopoly on our country is slowly crumbling.

I called her office and demanded an apology. Call her office.

Her St. Cloud office number:
320-253-5931

DC Office:
202-225-2331

Wow! Is this the 50's over again? Who elected this nutcase?

Wow... that woman is mentally ill, seriously. Look at her eyes... wide-open throughout... she is such a whack she even doesn't blink (!) as she keeps vomiting crap. That's a psycho.

Crazy McCain rally lady must have voted for her.

Sad! In some sense you have to feel(sarcastically) for the republican party. Independents and undecideds are cool to their smears and on Nov 4, were going to get a democratic President, Senate and Congress.

Conservative monopoly in our country is slowly crumbling.

Disgust Barometer:

In the past 30 minutes, her opponent for her House seat has raised over $7,000 at ActBlue.

http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/18660

Talking about Rezko, I kind of remember that in the lawsuit in Illinois it came out that he and his group raised more money for Bush than for any democrat, and that they had connections with K. Rove. Anybody else remember anything about that?

Michele Bachmann, as has already been pointed out, never made a lick of sense when she was in the Minnesota legislature, either. When she was elevated to Congress, it was kind of like..."Mr. Smith Goes To Washington," if Mr. Smith hadn't been real smart. You kind of think, "Er...okay. How did THAT happen?"

Because she talks like this ALL THE TIME. Not in the sense of accusing members of Congress of being anti-American; I admit, I've never heard this. But she was obsessed with making sure gay people never got any rights to anything, she talked about how God spoke personally to her to order her to run for Congress, she claimed that she knew about a secret plan to divide up Iraq and give part of it to Iran, and holds the distinction of having introduced the Light Bulb Freedom Of Choice Act to keep the government from making you install compact fluorescents.

Here's what I'm saying: she's weird. She's always been really, fundamentally, utterly weird. When she did that thing with grabbing Bush's arm, nobody actually from the state was surprised, because...she's weird. That's the word I most associate with her. I mean, it's not that this isn't evil and horrible and frightening, but mostly she's just...a real, genuine weirdo.

To paraphrase the immortal words of Barney Fife about Ernest T. Bass:

She's a NUT!!!

The AP has picked this up. And the local MN teevee are running with the story. This thing might have some legs.

Is her district really that conservative? It's in the twin city burbs, right?

Chicago Tribune endorses Obama...

"This endorsement makes some history for the Chicago Tribune. This is the first time the newspaper has endorsed the Democratic Party's nominee for president."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-chicago-tribune-endorsement,0,1371034.story

Palin/Bachmann 2012, Raving Loony Party

Donate to her opponent. Even if it is only $10. That is how we will beat these crazies. It's Friday night and you're likely at home, not spending money on booze & food. Spend it on better guests for Chris Matthews!

DONATE:
http://www.tinklenberg08.com/

DONATE:
http://www.tinklenberg08.com/

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/10/gop-senator-sla.html

Well, whatever motivated her...

Let's ask any republicans we can find, are you proud of this? Are you>

According to Rachel Maddow, Bachmann's opponent, El Tinklenberg, has received $30,000 from all over the country since she was on Hardball.

It wasn't that long ago a group of prominent republicans bent on destroying a president personally, and then hoping a political would follow.

The players in the Clinton impeachment, Tom Delay, Newt Gingrich, Bob Barr et al all were rejected for their actions.

I hope their is another purging of these republicans who act as though their only agenda is to attack anyone with a d next to their name.

I guarantee that once Obama is elected the republicans will work day and night to manufacture some sort of scandal against him.

You guys really have to check out Tinklenberg's Act Blue page. That's where the Kossack's are flooding him with donations because his own site crashed with the traffic. He's up over $50k in just a few hours!
http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/18660
You can just hit refresh every few minutes and watch the totals grow. Nothing like taking back our democracy!

I think El Tinklenberg should send her a thank you card. Maybe even a dozen roses. This was an act of generosity towards his campaign that you rarely see from a political opponent in the midst of a highly contentious race. I wonder, was that her usual nuttiness or did she act extra nutty just to help bring in those donations?

Over $52,200 for Tinkleburg so far. Sweet. This is linked via here, Huffington, Salon, etc.

I wonder if this will scare any other Repub spokespeople that want to repeat this kind of crap in the future.

One can dream....

ActBlue is now at $52,732. I just made a contribution in memoriam of Ms. Bachmann.

G'Night all.

El should just use the Hardball quotes as an ad from here on out to the election. Bachmann is a national embarrassment, and Minnesotans in her district should get rid of her.

Just Donated my share $25 plus tip!

66,800 +

I keep pointing this out: every one of their flailings does more damage. Thankfully, the idiot fascist is not my congressperson. (Mine's Keith Ellison; Yay!) 50 grand? amazing. A good friend at work lives in her district (lake home and a looooong commute). His face turns grey every time her name comes up. This is going to make him very happy.

I think an alien parasite has penetrated Michelle Bachmann, depriving her brain of necessary nutrients, and has taken over. Please, TPM,
we need an investigation into what demonic spawn turned her into a wingnut drone. Oh, and don't look in her eyes. The spawn attacks the eyes first.

Three more newspaper endorsements (including the Denver Post!), which come after those surprising endorsements today by the Tribune and the LA Times.

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003875479

* And of course, as Obama dominates in this department, Fox is whining...

http://foxforum.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/10/17/rmiller_1017/

Just broke 70,000 against that cow!

Just threw $20 to Tinklenberg.

Then I did a big double-flip-off FUUUUUUUUCK (intake of breath) YYYOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUU!!!!!! to the shitstain unAmerican Bachmann. In my mind.

How much does it cost to buy teevee time in the MN 6? Do they have to pay Twin Cities media prices? Anyone know?

There is one universal rules when politicians go on tv: DONT SHOVE YOUR FOOT UP YOUR BUTT.

This video is all over the web. She just nailed her own coffin shut. I cant wait to see how her campaign spokesperson spins this. Whats worst is that she stepped in it all on her own, Mathews basically just let her hang herself.

The U.S. Government vs. Living Word Christian Center in Brooklyn Park

October 6, 2008

On its face, the case of the U.S. government vs. Living Word Christian Center in Brooklyn Park seems like an esoteric argument over obscure issues in the tax code and the organizational chart of the Internal Revenue Service.

But attorneys for the church and its pastor, the Rev. Mac Hammond, argued in U.S. District Court on Thursday that the case is about the First Amendment, separation of church and state and the reach of the government into the actions of religious organizations.

Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Keyes took the issue seriously enough to ask for more information from both parties. "It's an issue I could see moving a long way through the courts," he said.

The IRS has filed a petition in U.S. District Court to force the church to answer a demand for detailed financial information. The church declined to comply with an IRS summons in March, arguing that the request was overly broad, and that the law states the request must come from a "high-ranking official" of the IRS. The U.S. attorney's office then sued to force compliance.

The IRS is interested in compensation for Hammond and the details of a relationship in which the church bought a jet for the pastor and founder of Living Word, which he then leased back to the church at a profit. The deal was questioned by a Washington watchdog group.

Hammond originally drew attention to himself by endorsing now-U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann for Congress from the pulpit, which violates rules for tax-exempt organizations. He later apologized.

Hammond is a proponent of the "prosperity Gospel," which teaches that a life dedicated to Christ will result in spiritual and material riches for its members. He owns homes and property worth millions of dollars.

Pickard said the church was concerned about the potential for misuse of information about donors and members, as well as the broad net cast by the IRS inquiry into Hammond's personal finances.

Amy Rotenberg, another attorney representing Living Word, said the church is fighting the case for all religious organizations, not just itself.

"Living Word's position is that it's an unlawful government intrusion into the church," Rotenberg said. "The impact on all faith communities is quite significant."

Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Voila I know your post are anti-Bachbitch---What's the bottom line?
In your own words!

Bachman will be known, as the greatest fundraiser for her opponent.

As a person who lives in an area of this country that Governor Palin would undoubtedly consider not "pro-American" enough, I have to register that I am sick of having my love of country questioned simply because of where I live or what my politics are. Representative Bachmann even takes it one step further, equating liberal politics with anti-Americanism. Excuse me? Liberal and conservative are each points of view that inform peoples opinions and worldview. Neither has a better claim on patriotism just as neither of our two main parties can claim to be the party that loves America more than the other. So let me say it loud and clear for all to hear: I am a liberal, Chardonnay sipping, New York Times reading, intellectual who embraces San Francisco values. But more than that: I am an American. Don't you dare question my dedication to my country. Ever.

This Tinklenberg fundraising story should be put up on the main page.

Maybe someone in the MSM will pick it up and send a message to would be Bachmann's out there of the kind of swift retribution they should expect to see.

Me thinks she shot herself in the tits,

This has gone "viral" I guess they say. Elwyn Tinklenberg (sp.?) has raised $84,275!

Here's that handy link again, http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/18660

I let my eyes roll a bit when somebody above said let's pump him up to 100K but I see that it is not as unrealistic as I thought! Now it's at 84,500!

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This feels like we're in the movie, "It's a Wonderful Life"! We get to stand up and do something in real time! He's at $87,325 and counting!

Here's a funny link from his site:

http://www.tinklenberg08.com/haveyouseenher.html

88,075...88,125...88,150...

She raised $21,800 since her appearance for her opponent Elwyn Tinklenberg -

http://www.actblue.com/page/nonewmccarthy

Palin's the star...she's a fluffer

Alright everybody!

It's coming on 6:30 am in the East! Now, kawika49 and those of us here on the friendly Eurasian land mass have been on this case for your all night! This morning brings you a chance to express your feelings to those of Minnesota's Hitler youth who are "concerned" that you and your candidate are "Anti-American." So how's it make you feel?

Here's where you can share your kind reaction,
http://www.actblue.com/page/nonewmccarthy

Bachman along with Palin's recent comments to a crowd about "Pro-American parts of the country" is confirmation that the Republican Party has always been adept and evily clever at pitting one segment of America society against the other in a "divide and conquer" rule. I am so glad they are being found out!

However it was a Wise and Judicious Barack Obama in 2004 who spoke these Uniting words in regards to America's oneness:

"Even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us, the spin masters and negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of anything goes. Well, I say to them tonight, there's not a liberal America and a conservative America; there's the United States of America. There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America. The pundits, the pundits like to slice and dice our country into red states and blue States: red states for Republicans, blue States for Democrats. But I've got news for them, too. We worship an awesome God in the blue states, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the red states. We coach little league in the blue states and, yes, we've got some gay friends in the red states." --Obama, 2004.

It should be a crime against the American Public and a Betrayal of the Public Trust for McCain and Republicans to be able to get away with obvious lies and distortions by false and misleading Robocalls which try to link an 8 year old Barack Obama with acts committed by Ayers over 30 years ago. It is down right dishonest, dishonorable and misleading. There should be laws against this type of unethical behavior to knowing lie and mislead for gain. This is like one lying on their Resume when applying for a job. It is moraly wrong and unethical!

As for Joe the Plumber who lied to Barack when he falsely said, "I'm getting ready to buy a company that makes $250,000 to $280,000 a year," "Your new tax plan is going to tax me more, isn't it?" when it has been reported that Joe makes $45,000 a year and owes back taxes! This is the very middle-class person Barack Obama's tax status would help! And Joe the Plumber belies the fact that if one has $250,000.00 dollars to invest in a business, and because he has to pay his fair share of taxes, he is unable to Purchase that business, he is just plain greedy because middle-class people deserve a break now after 8 years of paying more than their fair share while the rich got away scott free!

Thank you. Thank you we are at 99,899 someone, please give him $101!

http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/18660

Sign the censure petition...only 3K+ so far...

Bachman Burner Overdrive

Digby has picked up the torch as well as the first folks at KOS .

Now we all know how vain "Tweety" is , and we all know he does a feature called the "Big Number" on his show at the bottom of the hour. Soo let's give him a real big number for Monday.

Spread out, ask other sites to post on this , it's not like it's starting from Zero, we got a $ 100,000 head start.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/dutton_peabody/2008/10/bachman-burner-overdrive.php

How the fuck she (b-augh-maan) is even allowed on teevee ? Is tweety, an effing wimp ? He should have hung her then & there, instead all the bs about long rope. He's pathetic. This is pathetic.

I am not in a bubble like you guys since I am not an american, but to me, this is the lowest form of campaigning.

Sorry for the double post. This new system really hangs...

She doesn't even know who Saul Alinsky is, and neither do the idiots on right wing radio. I hear it all the time from the nuts, Saul Alinsky, ACORN.. blah blah blah, they all sound like lunatics.

I just showed the video to my wife (a strong believer in reincarnation). She said, "She'd better watch her mouth. She's gonna come back as a cockroach, or one of those flies that hangs around pit toilets at public campsites."

I think Bachmann has already accomplished the cockroach part.

Sickening robocalls hilariously predicted here:

From:

Head of State

http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/10/impulsively-unreflective-duo-inmccain.html

The Impulsively Unreflective Duo In..."McCain Goes Negative"

In our last episode, we saw the indomitable, impulsive duo suspend the campaign to take on the Crisis on Wall Street! Now, watch, as, in our next episode...McCain Goes Negative!



McCain paces the floor in the Fortress of Irritability. He is cracking walnuts.

A walnut slips to the floor.

McCain: Damn nutcracker!

Sarah Palin is sitting in a chair at a desk. She is writing on a piece of paper: "J.M + S.P." This is then crossed out and replaced by "S.P. + J.M.". These alternating versions , the one before it always crossed out, continues down the page.

McCain: Well, the first plan didn't work. We tried to put them in a trance with the folksy ray, but they had their deflectors halfway raised. If only you hadn't called the commander in Afghanistan "McClellan"

Palin: But...didn't you say they were fighting a civil war, Sir?

McCain stops pacing, looks at Palin silently. He is smiling through tight lips but he is holding back anger.

McCain: "I think the time has come. We have to call in...Dr. Negative."

He pushes a large black button, which is the only button on a red phone on his desk.

Dr. Negative immediately bursts through the door. He is carrying flyers, masking tape; telephone wires are wrapped around his arms hanging in every way; a tattered copy of the book "Accusations of Fascism, Communism, Terrorism, Drug Use, Pedophilia, Islamism, Adultery, Pandeism, Cannibalism, Cubism, Miscegenation, and Spousal Abuse...for Dummies!" is rolled and stuffed in his left pocket, filled with bookmarks; he is dragging a Robocaller behind him, leashed to a chain.

Dr. Negative (quickly, eagerly): Did you hear? Obama was born in Bin Laden's subterranean bomb making factory, outside of U.S. lines. He was born on a pile of cocaine and dynamite--and the midwife was a Trotskyite!

McCain: Not yet, Dr. Negative. I want you to meet Sarah.

Sarah: Oh, we've already met.

Dr. Negative: That trooper went down! He poisoned the salmon milk at the Wasilla Bible school! With drugs made at a Leftist Satan worshiping collective! That you could see from Russia!

Sarah: You betcha'!

Sarah and Dr. Negative give each other a high five. Dr. Negative's telephone wires rattle on his arm as he does so, triggering the Robocaller, which starts playing "...illegitimate babies made in test tube factories in North Korea and sent to Chicago by Bill Ayers..."

Dr. Negative shuts off the Robocaller with an embarassed smile.

Dr. Negative: Just practicing.

There is a pause.

McCain: That's fine, Dr. Negative. That's fine. Because, now, I have a special job for you. An important one.

Dr. Negative leaps into the air with excited glee. As he does, detritus falls to the floor--buttons reading "Election Day: Remember, the 3rd Tuesday in November!"; business cards, reading "Push Polls Anonymous--We Call, They Fall" and "Mongers On Call-No Rumor Too Far fetched"; Bandaids with purple hearts; mangled and dirty chads.

Dr. Negative: A new job! A special job! Oh, Mr. McCain! I'm ready! I'm ready!

Sarah watches from her chair, filing her nails.

McCain: Now, Dr. Negative. You have to make him seem radical...

Dr. Negative quickly pulls a can out of his right pocket, emblazoned with the word "Radical" He opens the top. Red and Black snakes fly out.

Dr. Negative: (eagerly, expectantly, hungrily) Yes...Yes...

McCain: You'll have to start rumors that are so inflammatory that they will spread like wildfire, and that will be started too late to stop them with the actual truth...

Dr. Negative pulls a gigantic grinder out of his left pocket. It is labeled "Rumor Mill". He turns the crank a few times. Hamsters, syringes, and Peace symbols fly out.

Dr. Negative: Yes...Yes...

He is salivating.

McCain: They will have to be so incredible, so over-the-top, based on such tawdry and poorly sourced evidence, yet riddled with tempting minutia--bullet gauges, Google maps of supposed meetings and the like, that the right will eat them up, and start analyzing the minutia with adolescent glee.

Dr. Negative (Very calmly, matter of fact): Oh, that's easy. They'll eat anything.

Dr. Negative reaches into his back pocket, pulls out a manila envelope labeled "Minutia: So-called "Proof" for the Right". He empties it to the floor. Bullet gauge measures, outdated copies of Photoshop, paperbacks entitled "How to Use the Insane as Competent Witnesses", "The Faked Moon Landings! Roswell! And Other Believable Phenomena!" and "You TOO Can Be A Warrior--From Your Own Couch!" fall to the floor.

Sarah plucks out the "Faked Moon Landings" book. She starts reading.

McCain: We know how our girl loves to read.

Sarah stops, and begins fixing her hair in a hand mirror.

McCain: Now, Dr. Negative, there is one final task.

Dr. Negative: Yes, Mr. McCain?

McCain: It is very difficult. Very...dark.

Dr. Negative: (Leaning forward expectantly, his voice quivering with excitement): Yes, Mr. McCain, Yes?

McCain: You will have to play the card that they played against me. Do you understand?

The room becomes silent. Sarah stops looking at herself, and looks towards the center of the room where McCain and Dr. Negative are staring at each other.

Dr. Negative: You mean...(eyes widened with disbelief. His telephone wires are quietly shaking as he shivers).

McCain (nodding): Yes.

Dr. Negative slowly removes from his jacket pocket what seems to be an ordinary pack of playing cards. They are labeled "Joker" brand. He takes a penknife from his pocket, and slowly slices the covering cellophane. There is a slight and distant roar. He looks at McCain.

McCain nods.

Dr. Negative then slowly removes the red ribbon encircling the cellophane at the top of the pack. He inserts the penknife--holding it from it very farthest end--and flips open the top of the pack.

Smoke begins to pour from the top of the pack, thick, acrid smoke. It quickly fills the room, covering all that is in sight.

McCain (shouting amidst the sound of smoke rushing into the room): And remember--no fingerprints!

Next episode: The smoke is cleared.

Cite:

Head of State

http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/10/impulsively-unreflective-duo-inmccain.html

Things like this are where the internet really shows its strength - the vid is posted and by the time everyone had seen it or her yesterday, the money to Tinklenberg was already starting to add up.

This is how we get rid of them -

I am absolutely concerned that people in Michelle Bachman is representing idiots in Minnesota, although it does make sense, does Gayle Quinnel come from that part of Minnesota???

That "viral" word is a good descriptor. Our man is going to hit $115,000 in less than five minutes.

HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS FOLKS!Michele Bachman is a graduate of Oral Roberts University Law School- the SAME law school that spawned MONICA GOODLING-Remember her? Central figure in the UNLAWFUL firing of those DOJ lawyers, including David Iglesias ,becausue the attorneys REFUSED to pursue baseless cases of voter fraud that GOP was pushing-so Democrats would lose tight election races? Oral Roberts University has MANY legal issues and lawsuits againstt it. Bachmann is also a tax attorney. There is a CONNECTION here. HER church is currntly under a second IRS investigation for dubious tax issues AND her pastor openly endorsed Bachmann from the pulpit.

Come 2010, it sho' would be nice if the Democrats could find a way exploit the rift between the sane and batshit crazy segments of the GOP...

Tinkenberg hasn't run any tv ads up til now because he was cash poor. So this new infusion of money ($123,270 as of now) combined with the fact the DEM party on the 16th decided to put some of its national resources behind him might mean a victory here.

Incidentally, Tena. Weimar folded in 33--and if the idiot conservatives had waited, there would have been no need to give the Democracy away.

Of such impulsive decisions--one can give away the store. Like Palin--in such cases and their very recent repetitions, helps to think before talking.

From:

Head of State

http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/10/fear-and-loathing-in-town-hall.html

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Fear and Loathing in the Town Hall: A Predictive Fantasy

(The camera looks at the hall from above, into the hall, from the POV of the stage. Red meat has been hung from the walls and rafters, along with dollar bills which, upon closer inspection, are prop money.

The crowd is seated. They are strangely quiet. Their manner is that between those who are waiting for their instructions, post-op surgical recoverees, and post-war survivors. They are slightly slumped, in the same posture.

The candidates enter from opposite sides of the rear of the stage and walk to their podiums. The crowd rises as one and cheers with a loud, aggressive fervor reflective of their desperation.
Obama is standing tall in stride, looking a bit overcome by the experience, although genuine. McCain is smiling--his cheerful public grimace, although there is some genuine pleasure. His eyes have the slightest glaze of a gradually oncoming fog.)

MODERATOR: Tonight is a different format--one where you, the public, can ask your questions directly to the candidates. None of the questions have been screened in advance, and the candidates have been given no advance notice of what the questions, or who the questioners, might be. And with that, we begin. Our first question:

CITIZEN 1: My name is Jan, I'm from Murfreesboro? I've been watching the news, and I'm scared. I can't say that I've listened much about the stock market before? But I know that it's going down, and that's bad. I don't know what's going to happen to my job, or my house, or my kids. My question is for Mr. McCain? What will you do to help us understand what is going on, and to make it clear just what you will do about it?

(Crowd applauds vigorously as Jan sits down with a bit of embarrassment).

MCCAIN: (Holding the top of the rostrum with both hands and smiling): Well, first, I want to welcome each of you here tonight. You know, I know what each of you are feeling. I think that each of you must be scared--as I am, of not verifying myself in my father's and my grandfather's eyes. But, that's not so important today--or, at least saying it isn't. What is most important is to appear that I understand an economy that just months ago I said that I had little understanding of at all. I want to win. I need it, frankly, as a way of overcoming my own personal horrors and demons, of overcoming the anger that was bestowed and thrust, unwillingly, upon me. And that's why I'm still willing, even as the sharpest edges of mental function fade, to propel myself through this mass of insult. I understand how to respond to insult. With anger. And impulse. And that's what I'll bring to the White House, come January of 2009.

(Crowd applauds vigorously)

MODERATOR: The next question is for Senator Obama.

CITIZEN 2: Thanks. My name is Ross, from Shreveport. First-time caller, long-time listener. My question is: Senator Obama, it's not an error that you were given the middle name "Barack". We know that that is the same name of the murderous. Communist leader of Iran--and that's no accident. (A slight murmur from the crowd. The moderator looks vaguely stunned, but does not interrupt). Now, when you were going to Russia, with Bill Ayers, and dodging the draft--just like William Jefferson Clinton--(speaking more quickly now, more aggressively, turning to the crowd)--why weren't you here at home, saving our banks from the Liberals and the Socialists who want to take our money away from us and just give it to the terrorists?

SARAH PALIN: (Poking her head out from the wings, with a big smile): You betcha'!

(She withdraws).

OBAMA: Well. First of all, I also want to welcome you all here tonight. You know, I know that this is a difficult time. Many of you are worried about your jobs, your families, your homes. There are times that test a man's soul, and every woman's as well. And I know that this may be one of those times. I can understand why you would be frightened, even angry at what this nation has done. But we are a nation that has risen up in adversity even in the best of times, we found our strength, and honor, and courage, our ability to work as one, when faced with the most difficult situations. And I want to call on each of you, in that spirit of patriotic sacrifice, to join with me in that effort in the days ahead.

(Silence. Then applause, as the recognition of actual thought begins to spread through the crowd. It swells, and finally, subsides).

MODERATOR: The next question is for Senator McCain.

CITIZEN 3 (He is a man who appears to be in his early 40's wearing blue jeans that are stiff and obviously brand-new. They are perfectly creased. He is wearing a tight fitting, also obviously new T-Shirt that says "Average American...And Black With Rage!" beneath which is an American flag. He is wearing black wing-tip shoes. ). Senator McCain, I'm just an average American, just an average Joe, just your Average Joe-Sixpack (Blackberry begins ringing)...Oh...
excuse me...just...a...sec...my boss's phone...(whispering tensely into phone:) "No...I said sell. Sell. Yes, the entire portfolio. No, not Ghanan timber, for god's sake, gold, the lot of it. Jesus H....(tucks Blackberry back into pants pocket and then readjusts his stance to that of average Joe, slumping to one side again and changing his voice back to it's original tenor). Like I said, just an average Joe Sixpack. And I'm wonderin'. I heard what Mr. Hussein just said about "rising up", and I'm wonderin' if that's exactly what he wants to do! Oh, sure, he wants us to band together to rise up--where have we heard that before? Socialists! That's what they do! (crowd begins to murmur, and in the rising heat, the smell of the fresh meat begins to waft faintly through the hall). Rise up! That's what he wants to do! Well, we need to rise up! Against those kind of Socialist, Communist, Fascist, Atheist, Marxist policies! (the crowd is talking, some nodding their heads). And so what I want to ask you, Sen. McCain (crowd quiets), as an average everyday American, is this: What is it like, being a fighter pilot and all, when you know that Barack Hussein was out there, palling around with his Communist friends?

MCCAIN: Well, my friend--and by that, I mean that all of you are my friends--I'm glad you asked. Not everyone has had the luxury of gaining an education merely on the basis of their own talent, or the opportunity to travel the world learning how to be separate from important family members without their having significant pull, or to be able to experience the variety of foods that one has the chance to consume when they are paid for by the State. And, I can say that, in that way, I haven't been quiet as lucky. But I will say this--I will not look such fortune in the face and say: 'Fine, I'll work on education with the Bill Ayers of this world', "I'll be at the top of my class at Harvard", when I can be down, down there with you at the bottom! I know what it's like to be at the bottom when I've had all the opportunities--and I want to share that experience with those of you who have had none. You're angry. I'm angry. We have that in common. Let's be angry together, satisfied that, for another for four years, we've put those who have the arrogance to think for extended periods in their place, content in knowing that we're right--even if we're wrong.

CITIZEN 4: Hiya. My name is George, from Midland, altho' some would say Kennebunkport, heh, heh. I have a question for ya, John, and it's this. Listen: I'm goin' to be out of a job soon. Oil futures aren't lookin' that good, and I've got to tell ya', I didn't have too much luck there in the first place. So I'd like to ask ya, one flyin' man to another--what do you think I oughta do?

PALIN: (emerges from wings with purposeful strides to McCain's podium): I've got to take this one, John. Mr. Bush, if you can't figure out what you want to do after you leave and we move in, take a little time off, and then you come right up to Alaska. They love hunting just like you--and you can fly, you can learn to do it from a plane! The pipeline's big enough for any number of mistakes. So you come up here when you're finished--we've got plenty of bars with plenty of bowls of nuts and plenty of televisions right on Wasilla Main street--we'll take care of you right!

(Bush smiles and sits, crowd applauds, Palin, smiling and waving, exits).

CITIZEN 5: Well, look. This is a serious question. I'm John, from Carpenter. It's for both of you. I've got two kids, 4 and 6, a boy and a girl--so sweet. You know. My wife, she was working for the WaMu branch, center of town. It's closing next week. She's been looking in the ads, the newspapers, online--nothing. It's all she can do to keep a smile on her face for the kids. Myself, I built a commerical trucking business from the ground up. Sixteen years. Sweat everyday, grease on my hands, I can never get it out. We were never rich, but I made a good living. I didn't know about investing--who does, you're not born with it! Anyway, I went to an investment advisor, it seemed like the safe thing to do, protect the kids, plan for the future, not use my own dumb head (smiles). Well, he was so smart, and he was so sure, and he had it all planned out. And it looked so impressive on paper. Now--all of a sudden--it's gone. Everything is changing. It's changing so quickly. It seems like nobody--nobody knew. Not even the people who were supposed to! Everybody was talkin', makin noise, thinkin' of one thing: Themselves, themselves, themselves. Never worrying to think about someone else, about the future, about the next moment.

Well, now the next moment is here. And I wanna know--what are the two of you really going to do about it?

(The room is quiet as his last word echoes in the hall. The raw meat is rocking, slowly in the air, and the paper bills are gently fluttering). You can see Palin in profile, standing in the wings, holding her chin in her hand. The two candidates stare straight ahead, holding the podium. They are silent).

Cite:

Head of State

http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/10/fear-and-loathing-in-town-hall.html

Now I get it. Every single Democrat who takes the time, spends the money, and makes the personal sacrifices to run for office and serve as an elected representative is simply part of a Commie plot to sap and impurify our precious bodily fluids.

Ripper/Turgidson '08!

RH: I say ban it! Ban it now!

A: But I thought you were for enforcing the constitutional liberties that the Bush Administration had stripped away...the First Amendment as well as State and Federal laws supporting freedom of speech

RH: That's restriction of speech by the Government! Not in our own dialogue in comment sections.

John Stuart Mill: But what about "On Liberty", where I declared it as a basic human right?

A: But it breaks up our ironic flow...

European Convention on Civil and Political Rights: But we also enshrine it as a basic human right in Article 19...

Z: Well, it's not what we're talking about---even though it is about the topic...But he's a motherfucker! That should do it!

American Convention on Human Rights: Very on topic, Z. Though a bit less than his...and we also enshrine free speech as a basic, beyond Governmental human right...

T: Well, it's long...and not part of what we're saying..so I'll send a post saying we'll "kill" him (actual quote). I have the right to say that, right?

African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights: Sure, article 3 also supports yours and his rights.

JSM: "It always so interesting how people who care so much about rights want to quickly declare others wrongs."

Perhaps it's more powerful if you follow it with a "motherfucker."

I've noted that Obama has not gotten a bounce from his last debate with McCain, even though he's almost universally credited with having won it. So what accounts for the sag in his poll numbers, even though in addition to winning the debate he's outspending McCain four to one? My sense is that all this negative sewage is slowly working its way into the political water table. Give the crap two more weeks to seep in, and I honestly believe we'll see a critical percentage of independent voters growing mysteriously "sick" on Obama. I don't buy the idea that this time around poisonous lies won't work. Of course they'll work. Poison doesn't have on and off years.

Happiness is when:

A motorcade of Ryder trucks line Pennsylvania Avenue and this army of incompetent Bushies exit the buildings.

Arrogance is expelled from Washington

Palin returns to Alaska

Competence is not considered elitism

Banks understand how to count

The news isn't frightening

People speak in full sentences

When Joe Six-Pack goes back to get his GED and learns that we all need to support the Constitution

It is said that when Fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross. To any here who are serious about learning how this culture of institutionalized intolerance has been allowed to take control of our government,PLEASE read "Expose: Christiam Mafia",by Wayne Madsen,a former CIA operative. You will NEVER look at DC or the right wing Christian fundamentalists in the same light again. Folks, this is real. And the likes of Sarah Palin, John Hagee, and Bachmann are just tools of a far more entrenched hierarchy in our government.Here's the closing pararaph of the article:

Sunday, January 22nd, 2006
Expose: The “Christian” Mafia, Parts 1 & 2
By Wayne Madsen

Journalist, columnist, and television commentator Bill Moyers recently wrote that “for the first time in our history, ideology and theology hold a monopoly of power in Washington.” Ever since Abraham Vereide, a misguided immigrant to this country who brought very un-American ideas of Nazism and Fascism with him in his steamer trunk, the so-called “Christian” Right has long waited to take the biggest prize of all – the White House. Moyers correctly sees the Dominionists or “End Timers” as being behind the invasion of Iraq. Moyers also rightly sees fundamentalist thought behind Bush’s “faith-based initiatives” and the rolling back of environmental regulations.

Hundreds of millions of people around the world no longer feel the United States is a country that can be trusted. They feel the people who run the affairs of state are out of control and dangerous. Considering the hold the Fellowship and their like-minded ilk have on the United States (and some of its allies) they are correct in their fears.

The political and religious dynasties who have embraced the Fellowship, Vereide, Fascism, Moon, Buchman, Moral Rearmament and all of their current and past manifestations, hatreds, and phobias show no sign of ceding power any time soon. There are many such father-son dynasties that hope to ensure a continuation of their shameful racketeering and political chicanery under the corporate “logo” of Jesus: George H. W. Bush to George W. Bush; Douglas Coe to David Coe; Billy Graham to Franklin Graham; Oral Roberts to Richard Roberts, Pat Robertson to Gordon Robertson; Jerry Falwell to Jonathan Falwell; Jeb Bush to George P. Bush; Robert Schuller Sr. to Robert Schuller, Jr., and Sun Myung Moon to at least nine sons (who are known about).

For them and their followers, they should keep in mind something Jesus said, “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.”

Amen.

This, along with McCain's new tack that Obama's tax plan is socialist, is a resurrection of McCarthyism. While they are at it, they have also resurrected the sentiments of George Wallace with their "scary black man" remarks. They've also added a whole new twist, now that we've all lived through 9/11, equating their rival to terrorism. The McCain campaign and the RNC have managed to combine the most vile sentiments of McCarthy and Wallace into divisive rhetoric goes lower than any other in American history. They have defined a new bottom in politics that will, in future, be described as McCainism, Palinism or maybe McPalinism. Let's just hope that this is the LAST time that a new divisive term is defined by a political campaign, AND that this kind of thinking NEVER assumes power and control of ANY country, especially the USA. The first word of our country is UNITED.