Wild-eyed Bachmann: Newsmax.com's perfected unflattering shots

Link to Slate.com blogger's view re Newsweek magazine's laughably unflattering cover photo of Michele Bachmann: (link, new window)  http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2011/08/08/is_newsweek_s_michele_bachmann_cover_sexist_.html?GT1=38001


To this WWW user, it seems like about every third web page or so has a 'Newsmax.com' advertisement prominently displayed on it. (I know I'm not alone with this...) The conservative website appears to try its level best to portray Democratic leaders (usually) in a harshly unfavorable manner -- via its largely unobjective/fake polls, questions, etc. (on such ads).

Just two recent examples:

Of course much is in the "eye" of the beholder......But I believe many would acknowledge that neither of the newsmax.com photos above are (anywhere near) flattering. 
This conservative "news" org. (which is widely read - if briefly) has been liberally distributing such web ads. for several years ....

None of the (photo) antics are constructive.

"Not one red cent of revenue": Nancy Pelosi's galvanizing speech

“Of course, we must all reduce the deficit. But is it our best to say we are going to use the debate to reduce the deficit to destroy the public space? Look at their Appropriations bills they’re bringing before us, destroying the public space of clean air, clean water, food safety, the education of our children, the health, financial security of our seniors through Medicare and Medicaid. That’s what they are doing...."

and,

"...but not one red cent of revenue while we are saying kids should pay more for their student loans." (re Boehner bill, which was defeated - as expected by Mr. Boehner himself.)

- Minority leader Nancy Pelosi, House of Representatives floor speech (excerpts), July 30, 2011

Per the linked website: It may have been Ms. Pelosi's "finest hour". Link to the site, which includes video and text of the hard-hitting speech. ((Which apparently was) time-limited via rules imposed by the Republican majority.) (Opens a new window:) http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/pelosi-speaks-on-debt-ceiling-bills-possibly-her-finest-hour-video/politics/2011/08/01/24712


Newly-minted deficit "hawks": Where were you from 2000 through 2008? Answer: Many were voting for/supporting deficit-increasing spending measures/tax-cuts-for-the-wealthy... throughout the Bush administration. (Including the expensive, charge-in-the-wrong-direction Iraq war.)

"This image is public domain."

 Most Americans (link) want common sense and real compromise in Washington.

 
Somebody needed to say it....Despite what is repeatedly broadcast from a strident minority, Ms. Pelosi speaks for many....

This is what oligarchy looks like: Koch-Tea Party war on workers

 Link to 2/23/11 Jason Linkins (Huffington Post) report about Wisconsin Tea Party dupe Scott Walker unwittingly revealing "his" strategies to undermine public employee unions, to Buffalo Beast editor Ian Murphy. Who successfully reached (call dodger) Walker by posing via a Skype call as "conservative" billionaire (read: Tea Party agenda major supporter/funder) David Koch.  (The Exec.VP of Koch Industries, second largest privately-held company in America.  No public shareholders to answer to...  "...(O)ver my dead body" (re ever offering public shares), one of the Koch brothers is attributed to have said.))


Link, including audio/partial transcript of The Beast's call (opens in a new window) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/23/scott-walker-buffalo-beast-phone-prank_n_827058.html 

If it wasn't already painfully clear before the call, make no mistake: Koch - and his brother Charles - are Scott Walker's bosses....bankrollers....prime constituents...masters....divine leaders.... -- you name it.

Thanks for that, Tea Party chumps/voters. The individuals mentioned above - and those like them - care about one exclusive group: Obscenely compensated CEO money men, and other privileged, wealthy clients .
Not you. Not me. Not most Americans....

(screen cap, also a link to the website ...."The World's Only Website")


 

New York Times Nobel-winning columnist Paul Krugman had just previously written about the same general subject here (link to 2/20/11 article):
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/21/opinion/21krugman.html?

Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine: "Governors and others in state houses across this country on the Republican side have decided what they want to do is wage a war against their own employees," Kaine said (Saturday night). "Against public employees who are teaching our kids, who are caring for our parents in nursing homes, who are patrolling our neighborhoods." 

(Read more: http://nation.foxnews.com/politics/2011/02/21/dnc-chairman-wisconsin-governor-waging-war-public-workers#ixzz1Ep5zwgEv)

Update: "America's Finest News Source" (the Onion) gets this story right (link to 2/24/11 article): http://www.theonion.com/articles/governor-walker-should-be-flogged-for-his-inabilit,19309/

(If needed:)

ol·i·gar·chy  –noun

1.
a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few.


2.
a state or organization so ruled.

 

oligarchy. Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/oligarchy (accessed: February 23, 2011).

"Can OPEC come to the rescue?" Pathetic...

Screen graphic recently seen on CNBC as their anchors push the panic button over Libya's oil disruptions:

"Can OPEC come to the rescue?"

Just go ahead and add (to that) : "So spoiled Americans (many) can still gas up their humongous SUVs and pickups, the vast majority of which are not regularly used for their (alleged) utilitarian purpose(s)." 

(Most are poseur-mobiles, in other words....)


OPEC/terrorist oil-dependent America is weak and vulnerable. And even if the U.S. extracts more of its own oil, it will still be subject to repeated shocks/cartel whims in the global oil market.

Author: IFCAR
"I, the copyright holder of this work, release this work into the public domain. This applies worldwide."


I didn't say this, the former director of the CIA did: "I have a bumper sticker on the back of my Prius that reads, 'Bin Laden hates this car.'"

If we want to beat Bin Laden and oil-owning regimes (generally) hostile to the U.S., it's our patriotic duty to drive fuel-efficient vehicles. To better insulate, and wean (convert) our houses from heating oil....ETC.

Read: BP's oil is not gone from the Gulf

The giant oil company would like you to think otherwise (link), but...

Link to 2/19/11 AP story by Seth Borenstein: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110220/ap_on_sc/us_sci_oil_spill_lingers

Deepwater Horizon oil spill at Chandeleur Islands LA
Author: Jeffrey Warren, Grass Roots Mapping project.
Source:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffreywarren/4590976462/sizes/l/in/set-72157623910039211/

Video: Who's the 'idiot'?? (Ohio governor motivates and inspires)

Current YouTube video of Ohio Republican governor - that's right, he actually got elected - John Kasich:


(YT link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KF0_Qe4zNrE )

Part of a subsequent statement from the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police: 

"Police officers in Ohio already do difficult and dangerous work, so it doesn't help when the governor calls an officer doing his job and protecting the public an 'idiot,' " said Ohio Fraternal Order of Police president Jay McDonald.

There's more via this link to a 2/16/11 story by Reginald Fields of The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer: http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/02/ohio_gov_john_kasich_calls_pol.html
 This guy (Kasich) wants to end collective bargaining in Ohio (for state employees, I believe).

Another state worker-hatin', union hatin' Republican, it appears. And he launched his weird tirade in front of a group of Ohio state agency employees. (The Ohio EPA -- I'm sure Kasich just loves them, also...) 

This is leadership?? It's like he's lecturing a bunch of wayward first-graders or something (per the video segment) -- and then Mr. Governor careens straight off the deep end. All by himself...

Not being from that state, I'll bet teachers are in the cross-hairs, too. We'll be watching this guy. From this video he appears a bit unhinged. (At this point Kasich has not apologized. His response just belittled and badgered state employees a little more....) 
 2/17/11 update: Gov. Kasich has apologized, in person. But this (linked) article doesn't make the meeting (with the officer) sound very "friendly". Will further note that the traffic stop was for - I'll call it - a slightly "technical" reason. Plus, as the officer is speaking with Kasich in the included (police) video (article), several cars pass by via the lane closest to the stopped vehicles. I.e., they did not 'move over'. Apparently the reason Kasich was stopped. 


Glenn Beck should love him.



(Here's another view of Mr. Kasich: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmilAJEOdLM )

Exhibit A: Super Bowl XLV. America's no-culture pop culture

First off, unless you're a corporate sponsor, steroid-abusing celebrity athlete, lobbyist, oil baron (or their favorite former president) -- you probably weren't at the actual event. (Though many at Cowboys Stadium watched on TV screens, too... when they bothered to interrupt their drinking and/or smoozing....(If some got to their seats at all....))
As The Onion reminds us (link, new window): Regular football fans? Barely tolerated. (Oh, BTW: The real bottom-line: (link) "Super Bowl sets viewership record". (No-culture pop culture entryway exhibit ; pls. see below for more...))

From yesterday's (2/6/11) New York Times article, "Singing, Aguilera Trips O'er Ramparts", take a look at some of the reader comments below the article. Many cogent ones, but I'll re-copy this one, which sums it up well for me and those who watched the spectacle with me:

"What so proudly we watched at the twilight’s last... REAMING???”

For anyone who would argue that our popular culture isn't completely, utterly unsalvageable, I rest my case."

- from Stretch Ledford, Richmond, VA

No-culture pop culture exhibit #1: For those brave/crazy enough to view it (again), embedding Christina Aguilera's TRAIN WRECK of a national anthem (at Super Bowl XLV, via YouTube, below). A disgrace, and dishonor to America and all Americans. 

As many have pointed out, it was hardly just the messing up of the words, but her painfully drawn out, caterwauling attempt at turning the anthem into some kind of five-minute, R and B "soul" effort.....Just sing the (damn) song properly, as it was intended! The national anthem is not some kind of "showcase" for marginal talent. It ain't about YOU, Christina Whoever-You-Think-You-Are. One thing that you are certainly not: A professional singer...That was made very clear to just about everyone witnessing last night's ordeal. 
(Apologizing afterward does nothing to undo the affront. If the bungled singing was some kind of bizarre "publicity stunt" (or cry for help?) in some way, few are sympathetic.)

As noted: Just all-around AWFUL:

(YT link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqjpesiIoFA&fmt=18 )

For any defenders of this singer and/or that pathetic rendition: Human beings can and do make mistakes. But this is an extremely well-paid, (alleged) professional singer stepping onto the world stage to sing a nation's anthem. I.e., to do (part of) her "job". That sorry attempt wasn't merely a "mistake"....Train wreck. Disaster. A garish one. A professional must perform better than that at such a moment.
(Perhaps she was having a medical problem....Or a possibly a little too much 'medicine' beforehand...??)

Any defenders of that performance and/or the performer, a quotation for you:

"Beware the lollipop of mediocrity; lick it once and you'll suck forever. "
-- Brian Wilson

(Actually it's being much too charitable to refer to Christina's rendition as "mediocre", in any way.... Can anyone imagine a top-notch, professional singer like, for example; Barbra Streisand. Ray Charles, or Aretha Franklin messing up (the national anthem, at a major event) like this woman did..?? ) 

Update: Yes, Christina is entitled to a chance at redemption (she'll get many, link to current story). However, for those indoctrinated via the best - like Aretha - it's not difficult to predict that Christina may do better, but will likely fall short IF she attempts to cover a song by that acclaimed singer. We will see - those who watch the Grammy's anymore. P.S. Barbra Streisand will also perform at them. Perhaps I will watch....  

2/13/11 - Grammy awards show update: (Before starting...Why is the feed for this post disabled at the moment??) The five singers who paid tribute to Aretha Franklin at the show's start did pretty well, we thought. Especially Jennifer Hudson who came closest to sounding a bit like the lady herself. Ms. Aguilera performed better this time out, with songs closer to what she apparently tries to (often) imitate. But there was still too much yelling and drawn-out embellishment in her performance. (An interesting article to read (link): "...The Hideous Cult of Oversouling", by John Eskow.)
Here are links to two early takes that include comments re the Grammy show effort: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110214/ap_en_tv/us_grammys_review
and, http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/gossip/2011/02/aretha-franklin-grammy-awards-christina-aguilera.html 

Christina deserves some credit for promptly getting back out on a big-time stage....(Though she apparently almost fell off of it.)


(Continuing with the previously posted entry here):  No-culture pop culture exhibit 1a: Whoever this LA Times fashion blog writer is decides floundering Christina's outfit is praiseworthy, but bashes the singer who properly performed (though still a bit over-embellished) "America the Beautiful"... about her pants.)


No-culture pop culture exhibit #2: I'll just link to this 2/6/11 NYT article: "The Twitterverse Responds to the Black Eyed Peas' Halftime Show" (No-culture pop culture exhibit 2a: "Twitterverse"....)

Whatever that halftime show was, it wasn't music, nor was it entertaining. (Unless you crave being yelled at/pointed at repeatedly, etc.) Enjoy the various comments reprinted in the linked article. No-culture pop culture exhibit #3: It figures that convicted felon Martha Stewart was the Twitter-er who liked it.....


No-culture pop culture exhibit #4 through infinity: Almost every aired TV commercial last night. (And every night...) Not that this fan of actual football cares one bit. Other than they help destroy any continuity to the actual game....


P.S. As just one retro-example and for a welcome change, try a listen to this former pop star's sweet voice (link). 'Old school': Someone who can actually sing. (She even had nice blonde hair too...)

Armed Tucson hero almost shot the wrong person

Link to 1/11/11 Slate story 'Friendly Firearms', by William Saletan:

(link, opens new window) http://www.slate.com/id/2280794/  


In a chaotic scene (Giffords mass killing/wounding in Tucson), this armed citizen - without formal training - was able to very quickly make the correct decisions. But even he notes that he was "very lucky". Gun safety off, he came close to drawing his (concealed) weapon on the wrong individual:  A heroic person who had wrestled the gun away from the actual assailant.

As pointed out in the article (and in this previous post here): An all-to-easy - and tragic - mistake to make in a wild, fast-unfolding situation such as the one in Tucson..


Arming more civilians is not the answer. Unless society "desires" more shootings, killings, and regression backward to routinely violent times, centuries ago.

1/22/11 update: Timothy Egan has written a more expansive opinion article for The New York Times on essentially this same subject, linked here: "Myth of the Hero Gunslinger". (1/20/11.)
Well worth a read, especially those who think an "answer" is to permit (almost) every American to be  "packin"....



The Second Amendment (U.S. Constitution) was adopted in 1791. The (mainly-agrarian) U.S. estimated population at that time was approx. four million people. (Some of whom were still regularly hunting for food.) Our visionary founding fathers could in no way accurately predict or envision semi-automatic Glocks, deadly AK-47s, etc. etc. -- in the hands of millions of civilians....270 million guns (of all kinds), spread throughout a nation of 300+ million. This could NOT have been the intent/intended outcome of the amendment.
It is a perverting of it.


P.S. Link to a worthwhile, 1/12/11 opinion article by Nicholas D. Kristof, "Why Not Regulate Guns as Seriously as Toys?" (New York Times): (link) http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/13/opinion/13kristof.html?