What they’re sayin’ over at Jesus General What’ they’re sayin’ over at Think Progress What they’re sayin’ over at Truth Out What they’re saying over at Gay News Watch What they’re sayin’ at CQ Politics
What Nick Kristof is Sayin’
Oh wait! That was the “Family Values Crowd” that was talking about that… I forgot!!
Hooray for the liberals in Massachusetts!! They’ve elected their first porn-star!!
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: David Vitter (R-LA) Hooker-Lover, Democratic Douchebags, Democratic Losers, GOP, GOP Disease, GOP Evangelicals, homophobia, idiots, Martha Coakley (D-MA Loser), Mitt Romney (R - Mormon), Republican Loosers, Rudy "The Drag Queen" Giuliani, Rush Limbaugh, Scott Brown (R-MA) | Leave a comment »
Nothing like heaping a scoop of sexism on top of a large dollop of racism. I’m guessing all those Cuban-American Republicans in Florida are loving all this racist stereotyping trash coming out of the GOP’s mouth. One can play the wild-card on the general Hispanic/ Latino voter in this country as voting either way – Democratic or Republican. But with this kind of gunk painting Sotomayor as a racist, as a sexist, and trash-talking with Ricky Ricardo impersonations, the Hispanic/Latino vote is pretty-much a solid win for the Dems.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: Cuban-Americans, Democratic Party, Florida, GOP, GOP Disease, Hispanic Voters, Latino Voters, racism, racist, Ricky Ricardo, Rush Limbaugh, sexism, vaccuum cleaners, women voters | Leave a comment »
Richard Cohen, of the Washington Post has decided that Michael Jackson’s tragic demise wasn’t a problem of political over-exposure for Governor Sanford. Within four weeks, two Republicans have been apologizing for failing to keeping their trousers zipped up in the sense of “Holy Sanctity of Marriage” and an additional Republican governor is stepping down with her own two-week notice complete with hip-waders and fish-nets. Thankfully, super-star King of Pop-Legend, Michael Jackson has croaked. This funeral has over-shadowed the entire train-wreck of a political party in less than a month.
But Dick Cohen is quite comfortable with the situation. He points to the recent “Quiting Becuase I’m Not a Quiter Governor Sara Palin (R-AK) resignation as trivial. Governor Mark Sanford: “Oh phhhhphphp…Big Deal… Get over it already!!
Almost as interesting as Palin is South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford. Never mind his affair. These things happen. Concentrate instead on how he hid his affair — by disappearing and calling attention to himself. Note also that even before he somehow took the Appalachian Trail to Buenos Aires, he was renowned for rejecting federal stimulus money. Before that, as a congressman, he claimed to have forsaken a housing allowance — and a cot — and said, “I sleep on the floor of my office.” Most of us would consider this weird behavior. In the GOP, it was seen as presidential timber.
Okay, can you guess what’s wrong with this picture?
If you’re AWOL from your post as Governor, and lie to the good folks of your state by telling them you’ve gone on a hiking trip, meanwhile you spend tax-payer dollars to fly to Argentina to boff your Argentinian Lolita…so what? These things happen. Additionally, if you sleep on a cot, and claim publicly that you really slept on the floor: Some folks might think you’re weird — But the GOP will think you’re Presidential Timber!
Insert a lame “I got a woodie” joke here.
Tim Graham, the director of media analysts over at the conservative Media Research Center is expressing relief over the recent tragic death of Michael Jackson on behalf of Governor Mark Sanford (R-SC).
You see, according to Graham; if it hadn’t been for the overwhelming media attention on Michael Jackson’s demise, poor Governor Sanford would have suffered a lot more needless media scrutiny than he already has received and doesn’t deserve at all, whatsoever.
How pedestrian can the GOP’s propaganda machine continue to be?
Graham laments his grief for Sanford’s unfortunate zipper-problem:
“If you took a Democratic Sanford, a Democratic governor having one mistress, they would all yawn over that,” he contends. “They would really not find that very interesting at all, and yet these people will find Republican mayors cheating as an interesting national story.”
Mayors? There are Republican mayors out there skanking on their wives in addition to the boat loads of US Senators, Governors and Congress-Creatures?! There are mayors that we don’t know about, Mr. Graham?!?
Here’s the martyrdom line-up for the public consumption: “It’s those horrible infidels over on the Left who are so willing to crucify those of us Righteous Righties. If those Liberal Lefties are caught…Well, nobody would care! But if we’re caught.. “Oh horror…! Oh poor us! Why do you persecute us so?!!”
Graham continues (weeping bitterly):
“They know that people like you and me are disgusted by a Mark Sanford — and they know that that guy will be toast. And they know that adultery is not going to hurt a liberal,” he adds. “When we discuss how the media behaves, we understand that the same people who are all making an enormous, big deal out of Mark Sanford thought that there was absolutely nothing wrong with what Bill Clinton did [while in office].
Graham says; “It’s a clear double-standard.”
How much lying are these conservatives allowed to get away with before they’re called on it? Furthermore, how much stupidity can the American public take from these jack-asses.
Even Rush Limbaugh admitted that “Mark Sanford couldn’t keep his trousers zipped up because it was Obama’s fault!”
Now they’re weeping because Michael Jackson didn’t croak soon enough to protect Sanford’s “Great Trouser Snake Escape”?!
These Republicans are cheating around on their spouses (breaking God’s “Holy Sanctity of Marriage”), and the Conservatives will complain that it’s everybody else’s fault. Or, they’ll whip out with: “We’ve got a Double-Standard Here, people!” (They don’t want hate crimes legislation to protect the gays…But they’ll jump at the chance for a “don’t pick on a Republican” legislation in a New York Minute!
It’s pathetic!
It’s Weak!
Let’s try this one step at a time. Because Tim Graham is just out right lying to his readership with this whole “double-standard idea”.
Double Standard #1:
John Edwards (D) v. Sarah Palin (R)
When it was discovered that John Edwards had been having an affair on his wife, the entire GOP Propaganda Machine (a.k.a. Mainstream Media) gasped: “His career is over with! His career is finished!!! Oh, his dear poor wife!”
The story was originally spilled by none other than The National Enquirer.
Fox’s Hannity and Colmes did not hesitate to have Chris Kofinas, Edwards’ campaign manager on their show to drill him on the “horror”.
The GOP gasped in horror – but not at the fact that Palin’s career was as was apparently Edwards’. They gasped that the National Enquirer would even print such an alleged malicious lie!
In fact, the GOP threatened lawsuits against the Enquirer for even considering publishing the idea that they’re Political Lolita from Alaska would be a skank in the first place.
Governor Palin’s political career wasn’t over like Edwards’ career was “over”. Quite the contrary! The GOP loves Sarah Palin! We don’t know why, we think she’s dumber than a pail of nails! But, then that only means Sarah Palin’s Fan Club is grouped together by some very stupid pails.
Say, Mr. Graham! Is this one of those “double standards” you’re talking about?!
Double Standard #2:
Jim McGreevey (D-NJ) v Larry Craig (R-ID)
When Governor McGreevey came out of the closet, he came flying out. He came out flying with a closet-full of boas; admitted to having an affair with another man. Governor McGreevey was gay. He immediately resigned.
Republican Media gasped in horror: Not another Democrat with an infidelity problem?!
Yet, Senator Larry Craig was arrested for soliciting sex in the Mens Room restroom at the Twin Cities International Airport. Senator Craig bullied the police officer with his Senator ID badge, trying to intimidate the officer, but it didn’t work. A few months later, the Senator plead guilty to the charge.
But, what happened to the Senator for Not-Coming-Out?
Nothing! He’s happily back at his office doing whatever it is that he does for his good citizens of Idaho! It’s embarrassing for them. But, there’s no consequences for his actions? He plead guilty for soliciting sex in a men’s restroom and there’s nothing wrong with that? What kind of GOPervert party is this anyway?
Say, Mr. Graham! Is this one of those “double standards” you’re talking about?!
Double Standard #3:
Eliot Spritzer (D-NY) v. David Vitter (R-LA)
Governor Spitzer (D-NY) was caught in a prostitution ring. He was kicked out of office immediately. Boom! Out of a job! Go away!
Senator David Vitter (R-LA) was caught in a prostitution ring and this is what he did.
He drags his wife Wendy out wearing a tight leopard-print dress and shouts into the microphone
I’M SORRY!!
…And he goes back to work. Not a care in the world… Nothing about the fact that he was getting wrapped in a diaper while tens of thousands of his fellow Louisianans were floating dead in the drink.
So, the Democrat bangs some prostitutes, he’s sent home with a report card full of F’s. But if a Republican bangs a brothel full of prostitutes, he drags his wench-looking wife in front of the cameras and apologizes and he gets to go back to work?!
Say, Mr. Graham! Is this one of those “double standards” you’re talking about?!
Double Standard #4:
Rod Blagojevich (D-IL) v. Ted Stevens (R-AK)
This Governor of Illinois was arrested and charged with a wide-variety of corruption charges, including an attempt to acution off the US Senate seat that was vacated by then President-Elect Barack Obama. Within weeks, the Illinois Legislature impeached the governor who went later to stand trial and eventually convicted.
Ted Stevens (R-AK) was charged and convicted on seven counts of corruptions charges. Stevens plead innocent of the charges, he was brought in front of a jury and he was convicted, unanimously on each count. What happened? He continued to run for US Senate. In December, following the election, what happened?
You got it, Baby! The United States Senate stood up and gave this convicted felon a standing ovation!
Governor Blagojevich didn’t get an applause. He didn’t even get a trial until after he was impeached! Both plead not-guilty but only the Republican got to go on and receive his homage while the Democrat was shunned and pulled out like a weed from an old lady’s garden.
Say, Mr. Graham! Is this one of those “double standards” you’re talking about?!
There’s no truth to back-up what these conservatives are saying these days. Their truth is their demise. Because each time a Democrat goes down for some unscrupulous practice, they step down and the party becomes more united to try harder. The Republicans, this isn’t the way they work. Although they “claim” those “Good American Family Values”, they are values you and I are expected to uphold. Their values are way off-base to the ones they preach. And that’s one of the many reasons the GOP is not going to make it in the end.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: Adultery, Alaska, Argentina, Chris Kofinas (D-Edwards), David Vitter (R-LA Adulterer), Eliot Spitzer (D-NY Adulterer), Fox News, GOP, GOP Disease, GOP Evangelicals, Hannity and Colmes, Holy Sanctity of Marriage, Idaho, Illinois, Jim McGreevey (D-NJ Gay), John Edwards (D-NC), Larry Craig (R-ID) Possibly Gay?, Mark Sanford (R-Adulterer), Mark Sanford (R-SC), Mens Restrooms, Michael Jackson, National Enquirer, Quitting, Republican Loosers, Richard "Dick" Cohen (WaPost), Rod Blagojevich (D-IL Crook), Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin (R-Caribou Barbie), skanking, Solicitation, Ted Stevens (R-AK), Tim Graham (R-MRC), whiners | Leave a comment »
Pat Stephens didn’t like my cartoon on Sarah Palin responsible for killing Bullwinkle. So, Stephens leaves a comment that says this:
Response to fruitfly:
I don’t know if you are really as nasty as you seem on paper or you just want to be noticed. But people, and I say that loosely, like you and Shannyn Moore, must really have a pathetic life with nothing to do but trash someone who is honest and above board with their politics.
It is a shock that someone as beautiful and smart as Sarah Palin has the guts to go against the mainstream media and bloggers as yourself, speak for the people of the United States and our well being.
I hope and pray, you along with people like Shannyn Moore get sued and loose everything you have for being so hurtful.
May God Bless You,
Pat Stephens
Nice, huh?
Stephens can’t decide if I’m really that nasty, but is hoping I get sued by Sarah Palin and lose everything I have for being so hurtful. …But, I”m the one who’s being nasty.
Sarah Palin is an elected official. When you put your name on the ballot, you’re open to anything and everything the people want to throw at you. The United States Constitution gives me the right to say anything I want about our elected officials! It’s guaranteed!
…Except if you’re that Republican Darling called Sarah Palin. Because then…By George…You’re being NASTY!
And check out that last line: “May God Bless You.” What kind of lie is that?!?!?
“I hope you’re cursed with lawsuits…and I hope God blesses you too!”
Sarah Palin is an idioit. And Pat Stephens is too! Welcome to the “Smart Kids” in Elementary School of Republican Party!
These Republicans have said the nastiest things about Bill and Hillary Clinton, Barack and Michelle Obama. Heinous, vile things like shouting “Kill Him” and “Hang Him” when John McCain (R-Candidate) was on the campaign trail and mentions Obama’s name. When Sarah Palin was campaigning, people were audiblly loud shouting calling Obama the “N-Word” and neither Palin or McCain put a stop to it.
See for yourself.
And yet… Pat Stephens is pissed off at me because I posted a cartoon.
Oh…the horror!
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: Bill O'Reilly (Blow-Hard), GOP, GOP Disease, GOP Evangelicals, Michael Savage (Asshole), Pat Stephens (R-Douche), Republican Loosers, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin (G-AK) Insane | 1 Comment »
From TwoPuttTommy over in that “Liberal Commy-zone” called the Minnesota Progressive Project:
The Republican Party: They’re the Gasoline and their audience is the Hand-Grenade. The rest of us are considered “ashes” of their hate.
It begs the question: What’s the difference between Rush Limbaugh’s hate-filled rhetoric and the anti-American rhetoric coming out of Iraq’s Moqtada al-Sadr? Nothing! Both of them peddle hate, and their poodles follow along as if they’re relevant.
Now you know more about the American Taliban than the average Ditto-Head. Wait for more assasinations, more killing and more hate-speech before these freaks start talking about “love” and “companionship” and “kindness towards others”.
They all love Jesus! …But they really…REALLY hate you!.
They’ll insist on fear! And while we sit back and watch them melt into a green-puddle of what was the Wicked Witch of the West, they’ll ramp up the volume and demand we pay more attention to their demands, and their nonsense.
They’re worthless, and they’re the American Taliban. Because “fear” isn’t enough!
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: American Taliban, fear mongers, Fox News, GOP, GOP Disease, GOP Evangelicals, Jesus, Minnesota Progressive Project, Rush Limbaugh, TwoPuttTommy | Leave a comment »
From Media Matters:
Does anybody remember when Glenn Beck said this about the recente Pittsburgh killing-spree?
It didn’t take long before they immediately started jumping on the bandwagon that it was — this guy was a conservative, and his outrage, the reason why he was shooting was because of me. Now, I haven’t followed this part of the story because quite honestly, you know, I know this stuff is coming.
The Right Wing Hate machine has been ginning up for violence in this country for a while now.
Now that they’ve got it – they’re furious the government would do its job and point it out.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: Glenn Beck (R-Idiot), GOP, GOP Disease, GOP Evangelicals, Republican Loosers, Rush Limbaugh | 1 Comment »
The Republicans never seem to run out of utter tomfoollery when it comes to Judge Sonia Sotomayor appointment to the US Suprme Court. When Rush Limbaugh began screaming about her affiliations with a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy group called “La Raza? (or, the National Council of La Raza). Rush called the group “a hate group” concluding that Sotomayo “brings a form of bigotry and racism to the court” akin to that of Louisiana’s favorite Grand Duke Wizard, David Duke.
But then G. Gordon Liddy jumped on the Hate Wagon by going out on his radio show and saying:
I understand that they found out today that Miss Sotomayor is a member of La Raza, which means in illegal alien, “the race.” And that should not surprise anyone because she’s already on record with a number of racist comments.
One would have ask these crazy hate-mongers: “Would they call the NAACP a racist group?”
My favorite is when Liddy continues on:
Let’s hope that the key conferences aren’t when she’s menstruating or something, or just before she’s going to menstruate. That would really be bad. Lord knows what we would get then.
So, not only is G. Gordon Liddy a racist slob, he’s doing a bang-up job attracting new women-voters to the GOP by being a sexist pig, too!
Walk out on the stage… “The National Review Online” (via Kos):
Are we to assume that the Republicans don’t know the difference between a Puerto Rican person and a person from Asia?
We need an updated cartoon from Mike Luckovich:
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: David Duke (KKK), G. Gordon Liddy (Racist Sexist Pig), GOP, GOP Disease, Mike Luckovich (Atlanta Constitution Journal), NAACP, National Council or La Raza, racists, Republican Loosers, Rush Limbaugh, Sonia Sotomayor (Judge) | Leave a comment »
Attracting the attention of that half of the bloggosphere who’d rather read other people’s blogs than maintain one of their own, requires a little bit of skill. Flies to sugar-water, bees to honey, if you will. Step one is to come up with a decent-sounding title for the blog-entry by duping the Blog-Reader to actually pay attention to what you have to say.
Confused? You might say:
“Fruit! Oh Snap, Girlfriend!! …What the Hell are you talking about?!”
…And I would have to point to those Communists over at Red State who’s titled a blog entry with this piece:
Sounds ominous, no?! It’s like: “Uh oh… Who jumped “Team Obama”?!” …and you’re thinking the worst!
Phhh…. Sucker! We’re talking about Redstate, silly! These are “con-servatives”! These people have nothing left but hope (that they can get you to believe their bullshit)!
Who was it that “Obama and the DNC Chair” lost from their backyards?!? From the conservative Jim Geraghty over at National Review:
Boy, how long has it been since I’ve been able to report good news on an election night for Republicans? With results from 26 out of 26 precincts, and absentees included, Republican Frank Fannon and GOP-endorsed independent Alicia Hughes appear to have won seats on the Alexandria City Council. The Democrats will still control a majority of four out of six seats, but this is
a couple rippes of red in a deep blue community in a purple state – the best news for local Republicans in a long time.
Wow! Really? This is the **BEST** news for local Republicans in a long time?!
The GOP has won two seats on the city council of Alexandria, Virginia and this is the best news for the Republican party in a long time? This equals a blog title that says:
WOW! How far as the GOP fallen?!
Moe Lane, author of the Redstate blog entry “hits a home-run and wins the pie-eating contest at the county fair” with the follow-up:
But the implications are bigger. Barack Obama won this county 72-27. Senator Mark Warner is from Alexandria. Democratic National Committee Chair Tim Kaine is the Governor of Virginia.
Barack Obama lost today. The Democratic National Committee lost today.
Oh snap! Color me fuschia and watch me quiva..!
Did they “lose” a 25-year well established US Senator from Pennsylvania today?! Did they “lose” another major set-back in a run-off race in Minnesota?
It gets way better.
Mike DeVine, a proud member of Redstate leaves a comment that reads this title:
Is the NCNA listening? Obama is vulnerable now! Let’s
lead NOW from a position of strength rather than go searching for what we stand for on a wussie tour
The NCNA he references is the brand-new organization old-GOP goats have tried to cobble together and effort to re-brand the GOP into something coherent to the American public. Mike “Gamecock” DeVine is pulling for the “National Council for a New America“; a group of Republican clowns that met just last weekend at a pizza joint in Arlington, Virginia.
(Hint: Jeb Bush (R-FL), Eric Cantor (R-Who Cares?) and Mitt Romney (R-Gay Marriage) showed up for pepperoni-pie and then begged Sarah Palin (R-Moose Killer) to join after Boss Limbaugh (R-Pigboy) demanded it from them.)
Is Obama really “volnerable” now?!
Is it really “time to pounce”?!
Hoping to avoid that “Wussie-Tour”?!
It’s a train-wreck of a political party. When I was a child, I was responsible for weeding the garden. Pulling weeds from between the carrots, potatoes, the corn and the strawberry plants was my responsibility. Each subsequent summer season, I felt more and more sympathy for the invading weeds:
They’re just struggling along with the rest of us… Now where is my PB and J Sandwich?!
But that was when I was a child
It’s sad watching a national political party die, seriously. They had their fame – their glory. They had their “Big Hey Day!”. It’s bittersweet watching them fall-off their bicycles without their helmets. For sixteen-odd years, this is the same political party was thrilled to jump in my face to remind me that their God, and Lord Jesus Christ hated me because I’m gay. I didn’t support that Iraq War and they claimed that I was being “un-patriotic”. I didn’t support Bush’s policies towards torture and I was “un-American”.
Today, it’s like having a shoe in your left hand and a can of Raid in your right and taking the time out seconds before you decide the demise of the ominous arachnid crawling on the cement block-wall of your unfinished basement…. The spider stops just for a moment, hiding behind a broom handle and the vaccuum cleaner – and you simply can’t decide how the insect’s life should end:
Shoe? Raid? They’re just strugglign along with the rest of us… Chemicals or squish?!?
[WHACK!!]
Now where’s my PB and J Sandwich?!
Hey! This is easy..! I just need to work on my blog titles and I could be more popular than Redstate!!
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: Alicia Hughes (R-Alexandria VA), DNC, Frank Fannon (R-Alexandria VA), GOP, GOP Disease, GOP Evangelicals, Jim Geraghty (R-National Review), Moe Lane (R-Redstate), National Council for a New America (Dumb Asses), National Review, Redstate, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin (G-AK) Insane, Sarah Palin (R-Caribou Barbie), Team Obama | Leave a comment »
I had lunch with my Dad the other day. I like having lunch with him because he gives me an insight as to what the “Joe Turnip” Republican conservative is talking about politically these days, and he’s able to maintain his cool even when I’m telling him things that he doesn’t want to hear. Well, most of the time he keeps his cool. It’s all part of a healthy dialog between differences of opinion! Face it, if you can’t have an intelligent and rational conversation with someone of your political-opposite – you’re probably the “crazy political” person that nobody wants to be around.
Calm, rational and intelligent political conversation is challenging! Keeping your cool is difficult!
Of course, my Dad repeats Republican “talking points”; Rush Limbaugh’s (ridiculous) ideas and whatever Fox News is currently pushing out on their noise-maker, which is helpful to know what the “average Joe Turnip” from their camp is thinking. It’s partly why I love Keith Olbermann so much: He’s running stories that clarifies the GOP/Fox Noise Talking Points and throws their views under the proverbial bus by explaining the history of the subject, the back-drop surrounding the subject with a wrap-up on why the GOP is wrong in every aspect of the subject.
At one point in time, between finishing our chips and salsa and our fish tacos arriving, Dad’s kinda stressing out on the topic of Republicans’ views towards this whole Turture thing – thanks to Team Obama. My Dad’s pretty ticked off: Obama smeared Bush and was enacting revenge by releasing these torture memos – blah blah blah. After years of these “political power-lunches”, it’s more like meditation with an organic “ohmmmmmmmmm” and holding it as long as necessary. You just let them scream – while you hum: “ohmmmmmmmm”
But then my Dad obliquely said this:
“And you know… This waterboarding was not torture! It wasn’t! Look, no soft-body tissue was damaged and they were not killed. In fact, they had a doctor standing by to make sure that the prisoner was safe! If no soft-body tissue damage occured, and there’s a doctor standing-by – then it wasn’t torture!!”
Easy point to argue?
Here’s me:
“Dad; Dr. Mengele was standing by while Jews were turtured in Germany. It was still torture! I highly doubt that since a doctor was on-hand while these people were waterboarding poses a credible smell-test.”
My Dad was NOT pleased with the analogy. But, that’s his problem, not mine. Chalk two gold stars for me.
Last Friday Olbermann discussed the issue of “water boarding” in a historical sense –
Huh?! Huh?! You see what I mean? I like Olbermann because he educates me instead of telling me what my opnion should be.
I repeated these points to my Dad, and by noting that torture via waterboarding isn’t something new!
It’s gone on a long time, and the information collected from torture is completely useless: Just ask John McCain!
Dad didn’t agree – He wanted to get technical by pointing back at the face that “soft tissue” of the body wasn’t harmed – so it doesn’t equate to the technicality of “torture”. (In other words – we didn’t cut, pierce or gouge skin, limbs or flesh. Since we didn’t cut off their ears, for example, this couldn’t be considered, techincally “torture”.) Again, he’s stuck on the issue of “soft-tissue damage” as if it’s something…anything…that prevents his beloved Republican President from being accused of War Crimes.
He lost the argument, again. Two more gold stars for me.
Me:
“Dad: You don’t get to the priviledge all-of-a-sudden to simply redefine what constitutes “torture” because it’s politically convenient! US Law, International Law, the UCMJ and the Geneva Convention has clearly defined what constitutes “torture”, and the subject of “soft-tissue damage” isn’t included! If you want to re-define what constitutes “torture”, based on a technicalities – you’re going to have a lot more work ahead of you than simply dismissing the topic because it’s politically convenient!”
Later that night, Keith Olbermann had Maj Gen John Batiste on his show and he had a rather lengthy conversation on the subject of Torture. Batiste noted that we should examine the Geneva Convention’s “Common Article 3” and look at the photos of Abu Ghraib to decide for ourselves about the topic of Torture.
At the 5:48 time-stamp, Batiste says:
Batiste: Morally, I think most Americans would agree now, that what had happened was torture, pure and simple. If you don’t believe it, Google “common article three of the Geneva Conventions”, read about it and reconcile that with the pictures you’ve seen of Abu Ghraib, and make your own decision.”
An interesting idea, No?!!
From the NY Times and Anti-War.com, let’s look at the Geneva Convention’s “Common Article 3” and align it along with photos taken directly from Abu Gharaib:
In the case of armed conflict not of an international character occurring in the territory of one of the High Contracting Parties, each Party to the conflict shall be bound to apply, as a minimum, the following provisions:
(1) Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed ‘hors de combat’ by sickness, wounds, detention, .
or any other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse distinction founded on race, colour, religion or faith, sex, birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria
To this end, the following acts are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever with respect to the above-mentioned persons:
(a) violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture;
(b) taking of hostages;
(c) outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment;
(d) the passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court affording all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples.
(2) The wounded and sick shall be collected and cared for.
An impartial humanitarian body, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, may offer its services to the Parties to the conflict.
The Parties to the conflict should further endeavor to bring into force, by means of special agreements, all or part of the other provisions of the present Convention.
The application of the preceding provisions shall not affect the legal status of the Parties to the conflict.
The GOP is furious with President Barack Obama for releasing the Bush Administration’s memos related to torture. And yet, Maj Gen. Janet Karpinsky makes a great point: Where were these Bushies when these photos being released to the public sector years ago? They should have been proud of themselves by noting all of the “good information” they obtained from this torture!
But they’re not saying that now. Today, they’re saying that since there wasn’t any “soft-tissue damage”, then it doesn’t equate to the technical word — the clinical word that defines: “Torture”.
Years ago, I heard a story about the Germans who lived during the World War II Nazi Germany Days. Long after the Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunals had finished, Germans who were alive and active in supporting the Nazi’s never understood exactly what made the rest of the world so horrified by what they had done. For decades, Hitler’s Youth grew up, had children – eventually grandchildren and all the while, they never really grasped exactly what made everybody around the world view their actions as being so heinous, so vile.
They became an oddity from within their own society and they never fully understood why all the attention.
Perhaps that’s the lesson I have to learn when I have lunch with my Dad the next time. He’s never going to understand anyway. Along with what remains of the GOP, he’ll never understand exactly why it was wrong what we did, and all of the miscellaneous details that identified these men to be tortured this way under our watch, will be a legacy that will be left to the rest of us.
We tortured these people. And for once, instead of adding to a long history of indigenous peoples quarrantined on Native American reservations, POW’s given blankets infested with tuberculosis and small-pox, Japanese-Americans being thrown into prisons, and another President Bill Clinton deciding to ignoring the Iran-Contra crimes…We need to stop this train-wreck once and for all. We should bite the bullet, and let the Bush Administration face the War Crimes Tribunals and let the Republican Party find a way to work around the situation on their own. They stood-by and did nothing when they had the chance when those photos first appeared back then — so their inaction has to have consequences.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: Abu Ghraib, Don Pablos, fish tacos, Fox News, GOP, GOP Disease, John McCain (Senator), Josef Mengele - Nazi Freak, Keith Olbermann (MSNBC), Nazi Germany, Nuremberg Trials, Rush Limbaugh, torture | 1 Comment »
From Think Progress:
Unemployment in South Carolina reached 11 percent in February, a “dramatic increase from January’s 10.3 percent.” Five counties in the state face more than 20 percent unemployment, with the highest, Allendale County, at 23.4 percent. Even as he is being warned about enusing “chaos,” Gov. Mark Sanford (R-SC) continues his efforts to block $700 million in federal stimulus aid to the state, a move that could result in at least 4,700 teachers and prison guards being laid off.
The governor of South Carolina would prefer voters in his great state to remain destitute and without jobs in exchange of super-funds from the Federal Government. Do I understand that thought correctly?!
American (South Carolina families) have garnished enough value that they have collectively become financially worthy of Republican political gain.
and..
American labor (in South Carolina) has become available (sold / auctioned-off) for the highest prostitution political bidder.
Because if I’m tracking – and I just have to ask: What’s the difference between this kind of brute force dictatorship here in the USA and that of other dictatorships like President Charles Ghankay Taylor, Mobutu (Sese Seko) of Congo or Robert Mugabe?
To repeat :
“Even as he is being warned about enusing “chaos,” Gov. Mark Sanford (R-SC) continues his efforts to block $700 million in federal stimulus aid to the state, a move that could result in at least 4,700 teachers and prison guards being laid off.”
I beg your pardon, but these are Americans living in South Carolina – and their Governor (Mark Sanford) would happily throw his citizenry into despot poverty in exchange for political prosperity?
At 11% unemployment, this political dictator Governor Mark Sanford would happily ignore financial assistance in exchange for the deft approval from the Rush Limbaugh Fan Club.
Pray tell: What happened to the alleged “Compassionate Republican?”
Did he get voted out of office?!?
The Republican Party is a social disease – They don’t care about your job, they don’t care about your coupon-clippings. And they certainly don’t care about that knock-off label clothing allowance that you’re currently spending at Myrvins and Kohls!
For God’s Sakes – Please: Don’t kiss the Republicans!
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: Charles Taylor (R-Dictaor), Compassionate Conservative, George W Bush (Idiot), GOP, GOP Disease, Mark Sanford (R-SC Dictator), Michele Bachmann (R-Minn Congresswoman - Insane), Mobutu Seko (R-Murderer), Robert Mugabe (R-Dictator), Rush Limbaugh, Think Progress | Leave a comment »
The Fruit Fly 