I enjoy reading the section of comments that follows most news stories found on the internet. Sometimes, there is a poignant comment posted before the conversation degrades into a name calling session between “big government liberals” and “bible thumping bigots”. I stay out of the fray, reserving my comments for my own blog, but I delight at the fighting the same way the Romans must have felt watching gladiators kill each other for sport.
This morning, I was drinking my coffee and enjoying the online bickering when I realized I had begun to see a term that was growing in popularity. People were referring to the president as “Obammy”. I’m smart enough to understand this play on words between “Obama” and “mammy”, but not smart enough to understand what is meant by the word. So, I started researching the word to determine what was meant. Strangely, though I found dozens of examples of this word being used, I couldn’t find any resource that explained the origination or the meaning of this term.
It was then that I came across a very interesting web site that explained the origin of the fictional character “mammy”. The page was one of a collection of pages that discussed racism – particularly images of racism. And the more I read, the more fascinated I became. You see, this web site was created by a black man who had been collecting racist images since his childhood. And what was fascinating is that he hated his own collection. But somehow, he knew it was important to create it.
By the time he had reached adulthood and began raising his own children, his basement was full of these racist images and he sometimes found his children playing with them. It was then that he realized he needed to remove this collection from his home and put them on display in a museum, where people could come to learn how these racist stereotypes came to exist. And so, the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorobilia was created.
As I read, I began to wonder, if we could take a poll of all the people who freely used the term, “Obammy”, how many of them would say that they identified themselves closely with the Tea Party? Assuming that number is relatively high, why then, would anyone want to willingly associate themselves with a political party who would also welcome these people?
Read about the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorobilia
Friday, February 17, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Rick, please shut up. You sound like a moron!
The following is an exact transcript of Rick Santorum’s speech after winning the Republican primary in three states the other night. The remarks in red are the responses that my inner voice was screaming while I watched his speech.
Wow! Conservatism is alive and well in Missouri and Minnesota.
Conservatives? In Missouri? Wow! How surprising! I was pretty sure that the liberals would come out in droves to vote in the Republican primary. Oh, wait.
Thank you all so very, very much. It is great to be here. I just can't thank the people of Missouri; we doubled them up here and in Minnesota.
Um, you doubled them? Huh?
I want to also thank -- I have to always thank -- first off, let me just thank God for giving us the grace to be able to persevere through the -- through the dog days, and blessing us and blessing our family.
Perservere through the dog days? You mean the hottest days of the summer, when the Romans would typically sacrifice a brown dog to appease the rage of the god, Sirius? Those dog days? Isn’t this February? Does anyone know what the hell is he talking about?
My wife, Karen, here, what a rock. I mean, what a rock through these last few weeks. We have had -- we have had more drama than any family really needs. And -- and she has just been an amazing rock and a great blessing to me. And I just want to thank you in particular, my sweet, for all you've done. Thank you.
Frankly, your wife is not a rock, she’s a saint. I mean, she saw you there in that sexy sweater vest, and she slept with you anyway – more than once! Now that’s what I call taking one for the team! Millions of American women owe her a debt of gratitude. What’s the name of her web site? She’s the one who deserves the contributions.
I want to thank my kids, the two who are here, Elizabeth and John, and all the kids listening at home, I'll be home in a couple of days. It's been a while.
Why is he thanking the children? Did he make the kids lick envelopes? Is that legal? Oh well, thanks, kids!
And I just -- I just want a particular little note to my Bella, who I know is watching me and looking at her daddy. So I love you, sweetie. Thank you so much for getting healthy.
Aww.
Your votes today were not just heard loud and wide across the states of Missouri and Minnesota, but they were heard loud and louder all across this country, and particularly in a place that I suspect may be in Massachusetts.
Who is in Massachusetts? Mitt Romney is in Colorado tonight. What is he talking about?
They were heard particularly loud tonight. Tonight was not just a victory for us, but tonight was a victory for the voices of our party, conservatives and Tea Party people, who are out there every single day in the vineyards building the conservative movement in this country, building the base of the Republican Party, and building a voice for freedom in this land.
Vineyards? What vineyards? Why is the Tea Party in the vineyards? Are they chasing away illegal immigrants? I think all you Tea Party people should really get out of the vineyards now. This is not the appropriate place to build a voice for freedom in this land. Go back to writing letters to the editor and doing the crossword puzzle.
Thank you.
You are welcome.
There's probably another person who maybe -- maybe is listening to your cheers here tonight, also, and that might be at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. You better start listening to the voice of the people. But then again, I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't listening. Why would you think he would be listening now? Has he ever listened to the voice of America before?
He does listen. It is you who are not listening. According to the latest poll data, most Americans favor government involvement to help stop foreclosures, favor the legalization of marijuana use, favor the accelerated withdrawal of our troops from Afghanistan, etc., etc. You consistently side with the minority on almost every issue. Maybe it is you who need a hearing aid, to hear the voice of the American people.
He's someone who -- well, let's just go look at the record. If you look at when it came to the -- the Wall Street bailouts, did the president of the United States listen to you when it came to bailing out the big banks? Why? Because he thought he just knew better. He and his friends on Wall Street knew better than what was -- what was good for this country.
So, you would have instead opted for a complete meltdown of our banking system, sending our economy into another Great Depression? You are just a Monday morning quarterback. You had no better ideas then, and you have none now.
When it came to the problems that were being confronted on Obamacare, when the health care system in this country, did President Obama, when he was pushing forward his radical health care ideas, listen to the American people?
Yes, actually, he did listen. He wanted a single payer system, but the Republicans didn’t. So, he listened and he compromised, moving toward a government option that people could elect if they couldn’t afford or (or didn’t qualify for) a private health plan.
But the Republicans didn’t like that idea either. So again he listened and he compromised, moving to a system run entirely by the private market, using the idea (fostered by the Heritage Foundation) to implement a mandate that would force all Americans to be responsible and to purchase health insurance.
At the time, the Republicans agreed to this idea and a deal was struck based on fairness and compromise. And now after both sides agreed to the plan, and the law was enacted, it’s become a radical idea?
Why? Because he thinks he knows better how to run your lives and manage your health care.
Who is "he"? The president? Actually, the Affordable Health Care Act was enacted by the legislature, not the executive branch. Perhaps you need to take a class to understand how laws get passed.
When it comes to the environment, did the president of the United States listen to the American people, or did he push a radical cap- and-trade agenda that would crush the energy and manufacturing sector of the economy?
You mean the idea of telling industry that they cannot belch as much filth into the air it pleases is a radical idea? The idea of instituting a cap-and-trade plan, a plan originally created by one of Ronald Reagan's conservative White House lawyers, is radical?
Did he listen to you? No, because he thinks he knows better.
Yeah, he kind of does. But so did our last president. I think it goes along with the territory.
Ladies and gentlemen, we need a president who listens to the American people. When the majority of Americans oppose these radical ideas and they speak loudly against them, we need a president who listens to them.
This guy does not know how to read a poll. Here, Santorum…why don’t you do some reading before you run your mouth? You don’t seem to have any idea what the majority of Americans favor.
www.gallup.com
Here's the problem. The problem is, in this Republican field, you have been listening.
You think the problem is that the Republican primary voters have been listening? Huh?
Tonight, the voters of America, the voters here in Missouri, the voters in Minnesota -- and I'm hopeful the voters in Colorado, right?
Is there a verb in there somewhere? I can’t find it.
I hope you have been listening to our message, because if you've -- you listen to our message, and you found out that on those issues -- health care, the environment, cap-and-trade, and on the Wall Street bailouts, Mitt Romney has the same positions as Barack Obama and, in fact, would not be the best person to get up and fight for your voices for freedom in America.
I have to agree with you there. Mitt Romney is probably not the best choice to represent us. Though, he does look better in a sweater vest than you do. Gosh, Romney’s a handsome devil! I especially like his hair. Wait, what are we talking about?
Ladies and gentlemen, I don't stand here to claim to be the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney. I stand here to be the conservative alternative to Barack Obama.
Wow. I’m impressed!
Tonight -- tonight, we had -- tonight, we had an opportunity to see what a campaign looks like when one candidate isn't outspent 5 or 10 to 1 by negative ads impugning their integrity and distorting their record. This is a more accurate representation, frankly, of what the fall race will look like.
Governor Romney's greatest attribute is, well, I've got the most money and the best organization. Well, he's not going to have the most money and the best organization in the fall, is he?
It depends on whose Super Pac is more well-funded. My guess is that Romney’s will be.
No, we're going to have to have someone who has other attributes to commend himself to the people of America, someone -- someone who can get up and make sharp contrasts with President Obama, someone who can point to the failed record of this administration and say that Barack Obama needs to be replaced in the Oval Office.
People -- people have asked me, you know, what is -- what is the secret?
The secret? Yes, tell us please. What is the secret? I’m on pins and needles.
Why are you doing so well? Is it your jobs message? And, yes, we have a great jobs message, talking about everywhere we go
Yes, tell us oh Wise One. Is it your jobs message? Could it be your jobs message? Your jobs message is so impressive. Wait, what is your jobs message, again?
and particularly here in the industrial heartland of Missouri, where they still make things here in Missouri, by the way.
Things? Things are made here in Missouri? I was wondering where things are made. I thought things were made overseas, but now that I know that things are made in Missouri, I feel better. Perhaps I’ll take a road trip to Missouri. I was needing to pick up a few things, anyway.
It's a message of -- as the Wall Street Journal called our economic plan, supply-side economics for the working man,
Supply-side economics for the working man? You mean cut taxes for the rich and watch all those jobs open up? Didn’t we try that already? It didn't work out so great last time.
is resonating in Minnesota and here in Missouri and across this country. And you see that, when you have a Republican out there talking about growth -- talking about growth for everybody, right... ... that Americans respond, because I do care about not 99 percent or 95 percent. I care about the very rich and the very poor. I care about 100 percent of America.
Except the gay Americans, but the other 100%, yeah - them for sure.
The real message -- the message that we've been taking across this country and here in Missouri is a message of what's at stake in this election. This is the most important election in your lifetime.
The most important election in our lifetime? This is kind of presumptuous since most of your supporters have probably voted in at least a dozen other elections.
This is an election -- we've seen it so evident just here in the last week.
Why yes, oh Wise One. This is an election. Gosh, you are smart!
This is an election fundamentally about the kind of country you're going to hand off to your children and grandchildren, whether they are going to have the level of freedom and opportunity that you have. And we have a president of the United States, as I mentioned, who's someone who believes he knows better, that we need to accumulate more power in Washington, D.C., for the elite in our country, to be able to govern you because you are incapable of liberty, that you are incapable of freedom. That's what this president believes.
Huh? The president believes that I am incapable of liberty? The president believes that I am incapable of freedom? Are you high?
And I -- and Americans understand that there is a great, great deal at stake. If this president is re-elected and if we don't have a nominee that can make this case and not be compromised on the biggest issues of the day, but can make the case to the American public that this is about the founder's freedom, this is about a country that believes in God-given rights, and a Constitution that is limited to protect those rights.
You believe in a Constitution that is limited to protect God-given rights and you think this about the founder's freedom? Huh? You are high aren't you? C'mon, you can tell me.
The president does not believe that. The president over the last few years has tried to tell you that he, in fact, the government can give you rights, the government can take care of you and provide for you. They can give you the right to health care, like in Obamacare.
Wrong. The president believes that the government can ensure that we all have access to health care by requiring all Americans to become insured and by preventing insurance companies from picking and choosing who can and who cannot have access to health care.
But look what happens when the government gives you rights. When the government gives you rights, unlike when God gives you rights, the government can take them away. When government gives you rights, the government can tell you how to exercise those rights.
Yes. You are correct. This is the first thing you have said that makes any sense.
Let’s look at the right to free speech. The Constitution grants this right and the government both protects it and restricts it. For example, we all have the right to speak freely to express our opinion, but there is no right to free speech if your speech is intended to incite violence. This right is both granted and restricted by the government, all at the same time. That’s how it works. Do you understand now?
And we saw that just in the last week, with a group of people, a small group of
people, just Catholics in the United States of America who were told you have a right to health care, but you will have the health care that we tell you, you have to give your people, whether it is against the teachings of your church or not.
Just because a business, such as a hospital or university, affiliates itself with a religion, that does not give it the right to circumvent labor laws. What if the Catholic Church decided that it was a mortal sin for people to work past the age of 50? Does this mean that a hospital that is affiliated with a Catholic Church can now legally discriminate against workers over the age of 50? Nope.
If an organization chooses to do business, it must abide by the same laws all other businesses do. And if the law requires all businesses that provide health insurance to workers, including coverage for contraception, then all businesses must comply.
If the Catholic Church doesn’t want to comply, they can stop running hospitals and universities, and go back to being just a church, where no government agency will tell them what to do.
I never thought as a first-generation American, whose parents and grandparents loved freedom and came here because they didn't want the government telling them what to believe and how to believe it,
Aren’t your ancestors from Italy and Ireland? I’m pretty sure that these are democratic countries. Though admittedly, the Catholic Church does tell most of the citizens of these two countries what to believe and how to believe it. Oh, wait.
that we had a First Amendment that actually stood for freedom of conscience, that we'd have a president of the United States who would roll over that and impose his secular values on the people of this country.
Secular values espouse that religions have no place defining the role of government. Secular values have nothing to do with the First Amendment. By the way, the First Amendment has nothing to do with “freedom of conscience”. Now you are just making stuff up.
And it's worse than that.
Worse than that? Wow! Now I’m really frightened!
When one of the Catholic bishops tried to communicate that through Army chaplains, the Obama administration said, no, you can't do that, no, because your language is seditious, and they made them change the language of a letter from a bishop to his people.
Oh my, restricting the right of a specific religion to proselytize to members of a secular organization that is funded by taxpayer dollars? How terrible!
Ladies and gentlemen, freedom is at stake in this election. We need to be the voice for freedom.
All this talk of freedom is making me hungry for freedom fries.
And that founding document, the Declaration of Independence, at the end of that document, those founders signed their names.
They did? Wow! That changes everything! (As an aside, have you ever considered applying for a job at FNMA as a historian? You sure do seem to know alot about history!)
But the last clause of that document said we pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
Ladies and gentlemen, every generation of Americans doesn't create freedom
“Every generation of American’s doesn’t create freedom?” What the hell does this even mean? Listen, if you don't have enough for everyone in the room, don't even bring it with you.
, but they have, in many respects, a harder job. They have to maintain freedom.
Mmmmm, freedom fries. Wait, what did he say?
Your charge tonight -- your charge tonight here in Missouri -- because we're not done yet with you here in Missouri. You've got a caucus coming up next month -- is to go out and pledge, pledge -- no, not your lives. Maybe your fortune. RickSantorum.com is the website.
Yes, all Tea Party folks should run out and pledge their fortunes to Rick Santorum. That is if you haven't already pledged your fortunes to Pat Robertson.
But your honor, the honor that you stand on, on the backs and the shoulders of your ancestors.
You know, that’s not really very nice. Get down off your grandma’s shoulders. She's not as young as she used to be.
The people here in St. Louis, the people here in Missouri, the people across this country who sacrificed for this country, for the freedoms we have. America's honor, your honor is at stake.
Your honor is at stake, America! Pull down your skirts! You all look like hookers!
Go out and preserve the greatest country in the history of the world.
We’re number one! We’re number one! Wait, where’s my giant USA foam finger?
Thank you all, and God bless.
No, Rick, thank you for showing us all what a complete moron you are.
Wow! Conservatism is alive and well in Missouri and Minnesota.
Conservatives? In Missouri? Wow! How surprising! I was pretty sure that the liberals would come out in droves to vote in the Republican primary. Oh, wait.
Thank you all so very, very much. It is great to be here. I just can't thank the people of Missouri; we doubled them up here and in Minnesota.
Um, you doubled them? Huh?
I want to also thank -- I have to always thank -- first off, let me just thank God for giving us the grace to be able to persevere through the -- through the dog days, and blessing us and blessing our family.
Perservere through the dog days? You mean the hottest days of the summer, when the Romans would typically sacrifice a brown dog to appease the rage of the god, Sirius? Those dog days? Isn’t this February? Does anyone know what the hell is he talking about?
My wife, Karen, here, what a rock. I mean, what a rock through these last few weeks. We have had -- we have had more drama than any family really needs. And -- and she has just been an amazing rock and a great blessing to me. And I just want to thank you in particular, my sweet, for all you've done. Thank you.
Frankly, your wife is not a rock, she’s a saint. I mean, she saw you there in that sexy sweater vest, and she slept with you anyway – more than once! Now that’s what I call taking one for the team! Millions of American women owe her a debt of gratitude. What’s the name of her web site? She’s the one who deserves the contributions.
I want to thank my kids, the two who are here, Elizabeth and John, and all the kids listening at home, I'll be home in a couple of days. It's been a while.
Why is he thanking the children? Did he make the kids lick envelopes? Is that legal? Oh well, thanks, kids!
And I just -- I just want a particular little note to my Bella, who I know is watching me and looking at her daddy. So I love you, sweetie. Thank you so much for getting healthy.
Aww.
Your votes today were not just heard loud and wide across the states of Missouri and Minnesota, but they were heard loud and louder all across this country, and particularly in a place that I suspect may be in Massachusetts.
Who is in Massachusetts? Mitt Romney is in Colorado tonight. What is he talking about?
They were heard particularly loud tonight. Tonight was not just a victory for us, but tonight was a victory for the voices of our party, conservatives and Tea Party people, who are out there every single day in the vineyards building the conservative movement in this country, building the base of the Republican Party, and building a voice for freedom in this land.
Vineyards? What vineyards? Why is the Tea Party in the vineyards? Are they chasing away illegal immigrants? I think all you Tea Party people should really get out of the vineyards now. This is not the appropriate place to build a voice for freedom in this land. Go back to writing letters to the editor and doing the crossword puzzle.
Thank you.
You are welcome.
There's probably another person who maybe -- maybe is listening to your cheers here tonight, also, and that might be at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. You better start listening to the voice of the people. But then again, I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't listening. Why would you think he would be listening now? Has he ever listened to the voice of America before?
He does listen. It is you who are not listening. According to the latest poll data, most Americans favor government involvement to help stop foreclosures, favor the legalization of marijuana use, favor the accelerated withdrawal of our troops from Afghanistan, etc., etc. You consistently side with the minority on almost every issue. Maybe it is you who need a hearing aid, to hear the voice of the American people.
He's someone who -- well, let's just go look at the record. If you look at when it came to the -- the Wall Street bailouts, did the president of the United States listen to you when it came to bailing out the big banks? Why? Because he thought he just knew better. He and his friends on Wall Street knew better than what was -- what was good for this country.
So, you would have instead opted for a complete meltdown of our banking system, sending our economy into another Great Depression? You are just a Monday morning quarterback. You had no better ideas then, and you have none now.
When it came to the problems that were being confronted on Obamacare, when the health care system in this country, did President Obama, when he was pushing forward his radical health care ideas, listen to the American people?
Yes, actually, he did listen. He wanted a single payer system, but the Republicans didn’t. So, he listened and he compromised, moving toward a government option that people could elect if they couldn’t afford or (or didn’t qualify for) a private health plan.
But the Republicans didn’t like that idea either. So again he listened and he compromised, moving to a system run entirely by the private market, using the idea (fostered by the Heritage Foundation) to implement a mandate that would force all Americans to be responsible and to purchase health insurance.
At the time, the Republicans agreed to this idea and a deal was struck based on fairness and compromise. And now after both sides agreed to the plan, and the law was enacted, it’s become a radical idea?
Why? Because he thinks he knows better how to run your lives and manage your health care.
Who is "he"? The president? Actually, the Affordable Health Care Act was enacted by the legislature, not the executive branch. Perhaps you need to take a class to understand how laws get passed.
When it comes to the environment, did the president of the United States listen to the American people, or did he push a radical cap- and-trade agenda that would crush the energy and manufacturing sector of the economy?
You mean the idea of telling industry that they cannot belch as much filth into the air it pleases is a radical idea? The idea of instituting a cap-and-trade plan, a plan originally created by one of Ronald Reagan's conservative White House lawyers, is radical?
Did he listen to you? No, because he thinks he knows better.
Yeah, he kind of does. But so did our last president. I think it goes along with the territory.
Ladies and gentlemen, we need a president who listens to the American people. When the majority of Americans oppose these radical ideas and they speak loudly against them, we need a president who listens to them.
This guy does not know how to read a poll. Here, Santorum…why don’t you do some reading before you run your mouth? You don’t seem to have any idea what the majority of Americans favor.
www.gallup.com
Here's the problem. The problem is, in this Republican field, you have been listening.
You think the problem is that the Republican primary voters have been listening? Huh?
Tonight, the voters of America, the voters here in Missouri, the voters in Minnesota -- and I'm hopeful the voters in Colorado, right?
Is there a verb in there somewhere? I can’t find it.
I hope you have been listening to our message, because if you've -- you listen to our message, and you found out that on those issues -- health care, the environment, cap-and-trade, and on the Wall Street bailouts, Mitt Romney has the same positions as Barack Obama and, in fact, would not be the best person to get up and fight for your voices for freedom in America.
I have to agree with you there. Mitt Romney is probably not the best choice to represent us. Though, he does look better in a sweater vest than you do. Gosh, Romney’s a handsome devil! I especially like his hair. Wait, what are we talking about?
Ladies and gentlemen, I don't stand here to claim to be the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney. I stand here to be the conservative alternative to Barack Obama.
Wow. I’m impressed!
Tonight -- tonight, we had -- tonight, we had an opportunity to see what a campaign looks like when one candidate isn't outspent 5 or 10 to 1 by negative ads impugning their integrity and distorting their record. This is a more accurate representation, frankly, of what the fall race will look like.
Governor Romney's greatest attribute is, well, I've got the most money and the best organization. Well, he's not going to have the most money and the best organization in the fall, is he?
It depends on whose Super Pac is more well-funded. My guess is that Romney’s will be.
No, we're going to have to have someone who has other attributes to commend himself to the people of America, someone -- someone who can get up and make sharp contrasts with President Obama, someone who can point to the failed record of this administration and say that Barack Obama needs to be replaced in the Oval Office.
People -- people have asked me, you know, what is -- what is the secret?
The secret? Yes, tell us please. What is the secret? I’m on pins and needles.
Why are you doing so well? Is it your jobs message? And, yes, we have a great jobs message, talking about everywhere we go
Yes, tell us oh Wise One. Is it your jobs message? Could it be your jobs message? Your jobs message is so impressive. Wait, what is your jobs message, again?
and particularly here in the industrial heartland of Missouri, where they still make things here in Missouri, by the way.
Things? Things are made here in Missouri? I was wondering where things are made. I thought things were made overseas, but now that I know that things are made in Missouri, I feel better. Perhaps I’ll take a road trip to Missouri. I was needing to pick up a few things, anyway.
It's a message of -- as the Wall Street Journal called our economic plan, supply-side economics for the working man,
Supply-side economics for the working man? You mean cut taxes for the rich and watch all those jobs open up? Didn’t we try that already? It didn't work out so great last time.
is resonating in Minnesota and here in Missouri and across this country. And you see that, when you have a Republican out there talking about growth -- talking about growth for everybody, right... ... that Americans respond, because I do care about not 99 percent or 95 percent. I care about the very rich and the very poor. I care about 100 percent of America.
Except the gay Americans, but the other 100%, yeah - them for sure.
The real message -- the message that we've been taking across this country and here in Missouri is a message of what's at stake in this election. This is the most important election in your lifetime.
The most important election in our lifetime? This is kind of presumptuous since most of your supporters have probably voted in at least a dozen other elections.
This is an election -- we've seen it so evident just here in the last week.
Why yes, oh Wise One. This is an election. Gosh, you are smart!
This is an election fundamentally about the kind of country you're going to hand off to your children and grandchildren, whether they are going to have the level of freedom and opportunity that you have. And we have a president of the United States, as I mentioned, who's someone who believes he knows better, that we need to accumulate more power in Washington, D.C., for the elite in our country, to be able to govern you because you are incapable of liberty, that you are incapable of freedom. That's what this president believes.
Huh? The president believes that I am incapable of liberty? The president believes that I am incapable of freedom? Are you high?
And I -- and Americans understand that there is a great, great deal at stake. If this president is re-elected and if we don't have a nominee that can make this case and not be compromised on the biggest issues of the day, but can make the case to the American public that this is about the founder's freedom, this is about a country that believes in God-given rights, and a Constitution that is limited to protect those rights.
You believe in a Constitution that is limited to protect God-given rights and you think this about the founder's freedom? Huh? You are high aren't you? C'mon, you can tell me.
The president does not believe that. The president over the last few years has tried to tell you that he, in fact, the government can give you rights, the government can take care of you and provide for you. They can give you the right to health care, like in Obamacare.
Wrong. The president believes that the government can ensure that we all have access to health care by requiring all Americans to become insured and by preventing insurance companies from picking and choosing who can and who cannot have access to health care.
But look what happens when the government gives you rights. When the government gives you rights, unlike when God gives you rights, the government can take them away. When government gives you rights, the government can tell you how to exercise those rights.
Yes. You are correct. This is the first thing you have said that makes any sense.
Let’s look at the right to free speech. The Constitution grants this right and the government both protects it and restricts it. For example, we all have the right to speak freely to express our opinion, but there is no right to free speech if your speech is intended to incite violence. This right is both granted and restricted by the government, all at the same time. That’s how it works. Do you understand now?
And we saw that just in the last week, with a group of people, a small group of
people, just Catholics in the United States of America who were told you have a right to health care, but you will have the health care that we tell you, you have to give your people, whether it is against the teachings of your church or not.
Just because a business, such as a hospital or university, affiliates itself with a religion, that does not give it the right to circumvent labor laws. What if the Catholic Church decided that it was a mortal sin for people to work past the age of 50? Does this mean that a hospital that is affiliated with a Catholic Church can now legally discriminate against workers over the age of 50? Nope.
If an organization chooses to do business, it must abide by the same laws all other businesses do. And if the law requires all businesses that provide health insurance to workers, including coverage for contraception, then all businesses must comply.
If the Catholic Church doesn’t want to comply, they can stop running hospitals and universities, and go back to being just a church, where no government agency will tell them what to do.
I never thought as a first-generation American, whose parents and grandparents loved freedom and came here because they didn't want the government telling them what to believe and how to believe it,
Aren’t your ancestors from Italy and Ireland? I’m pretty sure that these are democratic countries. Though admittedly, the Catholic Church does tell most of the citizens of these two countries what to believe and how to believe it. Oh, wait.
that we had a First Amendment that actually stood for freedom of conscience, that we'd have a president of the United States who would roll over that and impose his secular values on the people of this country.
Secular values espouse that religions have no place defining the role of government. Secular values have nothing to do with the First Amendment. By the way, the First Amendment has nothing to do with “freedom of conscience”. Now you are just making stuff up.
And it's worse than that.
Worse than that? Wow! Now I’m really frightened!
When one of the Catholic bishops tried to communicate that through Army chaplains, the Obama administration said, no, you can't do that, no, because your language is seditious, and they made them change the language of a letter from a bishop to his people.
Oh my, restricting the right of a specific religion to proselytize to members of a secular organization that is funded by taxpayer dollars? How terrible!
Ladies and gentlemen, freedom is at stake in this election. We need to be the voice for freedom.
All this talk of freedom is making me hungry for freedom fries.
And that founding document, the Declaration of Independence, at the end of that document, those founders signed their names.
They did? Wow! That changes everything! (As an aside, have you ever considered applying for a job at FNMA as a historian? You sure do seem to know alot about history!)
But the last clause of that document said we pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
Ladies and gentlemen, every generation of Americans doesn't create freedom
“Every generation of American’s doesn’t create freedom?” What the hell does this even mean? Listen, if you don't have enough for everyone in the room, don't even bring it with you.
, but they have, in many respects, a harder job. They have to maintain freedom.
Mmmmm, freedom fries. Wait, what did he say?
Your charge tonight -- your charge tonight here in Missouri -- because we're not done yet with you here in Missouri. You've got a caucus coming up next month -- is to go out and pledge, pledge -- no, not your lives. Maybe your fortune. RickSantorum.com is the website.
Yes, all Tea Party folks should run out and pledge their fortunes to Rick Santorum. That is if you haven't already pledged your fortunes to Pat Robertson.
But your honor, the honor that you stand on, on the backs and the shoulders of your ancestors.
You know, that’s not really very nice. Get down off your grandma’s shoulders. She's not as young as she used to be.
The people here in St. Louis, the people here in Missouri, the people across this country who sacrificed for this country, for the freedoms we have. America's honor, your honor is at stake.
Your honor is at stake, America! Pull down your skirts! You all look like hookers!
Go out and preserve the greatest country in the history of the world.
We’re number one! We’re number one! Wait, where’s my giant USA foam finger?
Thank you all, and God bless.
No, Rick, thank you for showing us all what a complete moron you are.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Newt Gingrich has just clinched Obama’s re-election in 2012
On Saturday, South Carolina Republican Primary voters cast their votes for the candidate that they most believe represents their views. Though Iowa and New Hampshire delegates went to Mitt Romney, South Carolina cast its delegates to Newt Gingrich – and by a stunning margin. So with three primary races behind us, what’s different about South Carolina? The Tea Party.
South Carolina is as red as any red state in the Union. Its State Senate is made up of 27 Republicans and 19 Democrats. Its legislature is made up of 76 Republicans and 48 Democrats. It has a Republican governor. And the Tea Party is strong there, as it is in other states where the Confederate flag once flew.
So who is the Tea Party? According to exit polls it consists mainly of anti-abortion voters who lack any post-secondary education. (I’m not making this up.) In my mind, I picture a parking lot full of vinyl-topped Mercury Grand Marquis’ and assorted mini vans outside of Tea Party stronghold polling places, most of which sport some sort of sort of religious article on the back, like a chrome fish or a bumper sticker commemorating their most recent trip to vacation bible school. Some of the extra witty folks will have a bumper sticker that reads, "Nobama" or "I'll keep my guns. You can keep the change". (This part, I am making up.)
Today, and in the weeks to come, the pews of Baptist churches, the stands of Nascar races, and the checkout aisles of the local Piggly Wiggly will be abuzz with newfound enthusiasm from Tea Party voters. “We can win this thing!” they’ll say. “We can finally kick that Muslim out of office and take our country back!” The candidacy of Newt Gingrich has whipped the angry and divisive Tea Party into an overheated frothy foam. But like all frothy foams, they just dissappear back into a milky background when all the hot air dissipates.
What the Tea Party doesn’t seem to understand is that they have effectively split the Republican Party in half, leaving it weak. There are two kinds of Republicans now – moderate Republicans and Tea Party Republicans. Moderate Republicans bristle at the thought of being identified with the Tea Party. Moderate Republicans are more apt to be educated, critical thinkers who do not march in lock step. They lean just to the right of center, politically speaking, and while they may have different ideas from their left leaning counterparts, they are reasonable people who despise the Tea Party’s claim of dominance over the Republican Party. Moderate Republicans will not vote for Newt Gingrich.
The Republican Primary schedule does not return to the Deep South, stronghold of the Tea Party, until March 6th. And even then, most of the states casting their votes will be ones in which moderate Republicans are much better represented, leaving Tea Party voters largely without a voice until it's too late.
Here are my predictions:
1) By the time all the shouting is over on March 6th, Mitt Romney will be the Republican nominee for 2012 (or extremely close to being the nominee by a wide margin).
2) Voter turnout for the Alabama and Mississippi primaries, held on March 16th will be remarkably low, because the Tea Party voters will be feeling much less enthusiastic.
3) In November, Democrats, feeling angry and frustrated over the way their interests have been represented in Congress for the last two years, will come out in force to re-elect President Obama.
4) In November, moderate Republicans, feeling enthusiastic about the chance to win the White House will come out in force to vote for Mitt Romney.
5) In November, Tea Party Republicans, will have a tepid showing at the polls. Some will hold their noses and vote for Mitt Romney, because after all, voting for a white Mormon is better than having a black Muslim for president. But many Tea Party voters will not be coaxed from their deer blinds and VFW barstools to pull a lever on Election Day.
6) Finally, thanks to the candidacy of Newt Gingrich, who has given the Tea Party a temporary home for its anger, and left the Republican Party splintered, President Obama will win re-election in 2012.
Thanks Newt!
South Carolina is as red as any red state in the Union. Its State Senate is made up of 27 Republicans and 19 Democrats. Its legislature is made up of 76 Republicans and 48 Democrats. It has a Republican governor. And the Tea Party is strong there, as it is in other states where the Confederate flag once flew.
So who is the Tea Party? According to exit polls it consists mainly of anti-abortion voters who lack any post-secondary education. (I’m not making this up.) In my mind, I picture a parking lot full of vinyl-topped Mercury Grand Marquis’ and assorted mini vans outside of Tea Party stronghold polling places, most of which sport some sort of sort of religious article on the back, like a chrome fish or a bumper sticker commemorating their most recent trip to vacation bible school. Some of the extra witty folks will have a bumper sticker that reads, "Nobama" or "I'll keep my guns. You can keep the change". (This part, I am making up.)
Today, and in the weeks to come, the pews of Baptist churches, the stands of Nascar races, and the checkout aisles of the local Piggly Wiggly will be abuzz with newfound enthusiasm from Tea Party voters. “We can win this thing!” they’ll say. “We can finally kick that Muslim out of office and take our country back!” The candidacy of Newt Gingrich has whipped the angry and divisive Tea Party into an overheated frothy foam. But like all frothy foams, they just dissappear back into a milky background when all the hot air dissipates.
What the Tea Party doesn’t seem to understand is that they have effectively split the Republican Party in half, leaving it weak. There are two kinds of Republicans now – moderate Republicans and Tea Party Republicans. Moderate Republicans bristle at the thought of being identified with the Tea Party. Moderate Republicans are more apt to be educated, critical thinkers who do not march in lock step. They lean just to the right of center, politically speaking, and while they may have different ideas from their left leaning counterparts, they are reasonable people who despise the Tea Party’s claim of dominance over the Republican Party. Moderate Republicans will not vote for Newt Gingrich.
The Republican Primary schedule does not return to the Deep South, stronghold of the Tea Party, until March 6th. And even then, most of the states casting their votes will be ones in which moderate Republicans are much better represented, leaving Tea Party voters largely without a voice until it's too late.
Here are my predictions:
1) By the time all the shouting is over on March 6th, Mitt Romney will be the Republican nominee for 2012 (or extremely close to being the nominee by a wide margin).
2) Voter turnout for the Alabama and Mississippi primaries, held on March 16th will be remarkably low, because the Tea Party voters will be feeling much less enthusiastic.
3) In November, Democrats, feeling angry and frustrated over the way their interests have been represented in Congress for the last two years, will come out in force to re-elect President Obama.
4) In November, moderate Republicans, feeling enthusiastic about the chance to win the White House will come out in force to vote for Mitt Romney.
5) In November, Tea Party Republicans, will have a tepid showing at the polls. Some will hold their noses and vote for Mitt Romney, because after all, voting for a white Mormon is better than having a black Muslim for president. But many Tea Party voters will not be coaxed from their deer blinds and VFW barstools to pull a lever on Election Day.
6) Finally, thanks to the candidacy of Newt Gingrich, who has given the Tea Party a temporary home for its anger, and left the Republican Party splintered, President Obama will win re-election in 2012.
Thanks Newt!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
I just know something is wrong, and nobody will tell me
I believe that the best way to form an opinion is to listen to both sides of an argument. Instead of hunkering down in the liberal television foxhole that is MSNBC, I flip the channels to listen, even stopping on Fox News for a while to find out what those sneaky Iranians are up to. On Sunday, I read all of the newspaper editorials – not just the ones from that liberal lefty editor, but even the ones from the old folks who write to say we should pass a law forbidding baggy pants. When nobody is watching me, I’ll turn on the religious channel and listen to the preacher tell me about the many reasons I will surely burn in hell (unless I send a love gift). I wonder what I am missing when I only listen to NPR and MSNBC and I feel like I need to see how the other side thinks. And so I listen, I read, and I think.
The problem that I have with organized religions, political parties, and cable news channels is that they only tell one side of an argument, leaving the listener to either agree with them or to feel ostracized. Oh, they may pretend to be “fair and balanced”, but the liberal-leaning lefty always sits alone at the afternoon round table discussion, defending his arguments against the four other ferocious righties. He sits there like a silent lump, probably because he’s afraid to take a 5-inch heel in the eye from one of the patriotic prostitutes that sit closest to the camera, showing off their freshly shaved legs and American flag lapel pins. But I listen anyway, because it gives me the opportunity to think about what is being said and to hear the other side of an argument that I might not have heard before.
Lately, I have watched several of the Republican presidential debates in an effort to understand their side of the arguments. Occasionally, there is a small glimmer of truth in there surrounded by all that fire and brimstone. For example, during a recent Republican presidential debate, one of the candidates actually suggested that we bring our troops home to defend our own borders and stop running our deficit up trying to be the world’s police force. I was heartened a bit by his comments until one of the other candidates went on to say that we should legislate that all the married gay people be forced to get divorced, or some such fear-based nonsense.
Regardless of whether it is a conservative presidential debate, a conservative news channel round table, or an editorial written by a conservative senior citizen, it seems like I have heard it all before. I began to think about why every conservative conversation is starting to sound so familiar, regardless of the topic. It suddenly dawned on me that the single tie that binds the conservative platform is fear.
Conservatives are frightened. They are frightened of communists, of the Chinese and the Iranians, that gasoline prices will go up, that gay people will get married, that illegal immigrants will take their jobs, that the deficit will bankrupt our country, that the Socialists will take over the legislature, that the European Union or the Federal Reserve will try to create a one world currency, that the United Nations will try to impose its will on them. Conservatives are afraid that someone or something will take their stuff or their money or to try to change their minds about something. There is no shortage of boogeymen to keep them locked inside their homes watching Fox News, pulling their blankets further over their heads, and waiting for the Mayan calendar to end or for the middle-eastern flavor of the month to nuke us.
Conservatives are comforted only by the status quo – a lack of change. They like it when people look the same and dress the same. They flock to homogeneous suburban neighborhoods with houses painted in earth tones and surround themselves with plenty of weapons to defend themselves against anyone who wants to take their stuff or speak a different language.
But I am not frightened because I have begun to come to terms with the fact that change is inevitable. Although progress can be slowed, the world will keep changing. No matter who gets voted into office and no matter how long we try to maintain the status quo, in the end, nothing will stop the world around us from changing. We can hunker down inside our beige suburban houses, trying to shut out the changing world around us while we listen to the music of our youth. We can vote for geriatric Presidents to help us lead our legislature to victory over the evils of today’s changing world. Or we can simply accept that change is a part of life. And that’s what I have decided to do. And that is why I am not a conservative.
Most members of my family have a problem with anxiety, including me. We are a worried and nervous clan who have never slept soundly. Anxiety must be a genetic trait because one of our family stories is about the day my grandmother looked particularly worried. When asked what was bothering her, she replied anxiously, “I just know something is wrong and nobody will tell me.” People in my family actually worry that they have nothing to worry about! They thrive on worry and anxiety, conjuring up boogeymen where none exist.
I wonder if that’s why so many of them vote for Republicans.
p.s. - If you are a conservative and you are feeling particularly secure and calm today, you can find something to help whip up that comfortable old feeling of fear and anxiety that you thrive on by clicking here: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/index.html
The problem that I have with organized religions, political parties, and cable news channels is that they only tell one side of an argument, leaving the listener to either agree with them or to feel ostracized. Oh, they may pretend to be “fair and balanced”, but the liberal-leaning lefty always sits alone at the afternoon round table discussion, defending his arguments against the four other ferocious righties. He sits there like a silent lump, probably because he’s afraid to take a 5-inch heel in the eye from one of the patriotic prostitutes that sit closest to the camera, showing off their freshly shaved legs and American flag lapel pins. But I listen anyway, because it gives me the opportunity to think about what is being said and to hear the other side of an argument that I might not have heard before.
Lately, I have watched several of the Republican presidential debates in an effort to understand their side of the arguments. Occasionally, there is a small glimmer of truth in there surrounded by all that fire and brimstone. For example, during a recent Republican presidential debate, one of the candidates actually suggested that we bring our troops home to defend our own borders and stop running our deficit up trying to be the world’s police force. I was heartened a bit by his comments until one of the other candidates went on to say that we should legislate that all the married gay people be forced to get divorced, or some such fear-based nonsense.
Regardless of whether it is a conservative presidential debate, a conservative news channel round table, or an editorial written by a conservative senior citizen, it seems like I have heard it all before. I began to think about why every conservative conversation is starting to sound so familiar, regardless of the topic. It suddenly dawned on me that the single tie that binds the conservative platform is fear.
Conservatives are frightened. They are frightened of communists, of the Chinese and the Iranians, that gasoline prices will go up, that gay people will get married, that illegal immigrants will take their jobs, that the deficit will bankrupt our country, that the Socialists will take over the legislature, that the European Union or the Federal Reserve will try to create a one world currency, that the United Nations will try to impose its will on them. Conservatives are afraid that someone or something will take their stuff or their money or to try to change their minds about something. There is no shortage of boogeymen to keep them locked inside their homes watching Fox News, pulling their blankets further over their heads, and waiting for the Mayan calendar to end or for the middle-eastern flavor of the month to nuke us.
Conservatives are comforted only by the status quo – a lack of change. They like it when people look the same and dress the same. They flock to homogeneous suburban neighborhoods with houses painted in earth tones and surround themselves with plenty of weapons to defend themselves against anyone who wants to take their stuff or speak a different language.
But I am not frightened because I have begun to come to terms with the fact that change is inevitable. Although progress can be slowed, the world will keep changing. No matter who gets voted into office and no matter how long we try to maintain the status quo, in the end, nothing will stop the world around us from changing. We can hunker down inside our beige suburban houses, trying to shut out the changing world around us while we listen to the music of our youth. We can vote for geriatric Presidents to help us lead our legislature to victory over the evils of today’s changing world. Or we can simply accept that change is a part of life. And that’s what I have decided to do. And that is why I am not a conservative.
Most members of my family have a problem with anxiety, including me. We are a worried and nervous clan who have never slept soundly. Anxiety must be a genetic trait because one of our family stories is about the day my grandmother looked particularly worried. When asked what was bothering her, she replied anxiously, “I just know something is wrong and nobody will tell me.” People in my family actually worry that they have nothing to worry about! They thrive on worry and anxiety, conjuring up boogeymen where none exist.
I wonder if that’s why so many of them vote for Republicans.
p.s. - If you are a conservative and you are feeling particularly secure and calm today, you can find something to help whip up that comfortable old feeling of fear and anxiety that you thrive on by clicking here: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/index.html
Monday, January 2, 2012
Dear Jesus, please help the Broncos win
When you think of Denver, what do you think of? The Rocky Mountains, right? But Denver isn’t in the mountains; it’s only near them. Without the mountains, the city itself would arguably be like most any other Midwestern city. There is a river running through it and there are some train tracks that long ago established it as a transportation hub. Aside from that, it has malls, restaurants, a few decent museums and such, but most all of it is merely mediocre in scope and scale – like dozens of other cities of the same size and climate.
But Denver joins a smaller more “elite” group of cities when judged by the number and popularity of its professional sports teams that play here. We have professional baseball, hockey, basketball, and football. (We probably have professional hacky sack, snowmobiling, and pumpkin chunkin’ teams as well, but really, outside of the big four, nobody cares.) And folks in Denver, like in other cities, love their sports teams – especially the Broncos. I suspect it’s because for a few moments it makes people feel almost as good as their friends who choose to live on one of the coasts or in some truly cosmopolitan place with actual culture.
Basically what we are talking about here is the fact that the people in Denver love the Broncos for the same reason middle-aged men buy expensive sports cars. It makes them feel important, virile, and relevant – if only temporarily. Some people here remember when the Broncos were more than a barely mediocre football team and they miss feeling relevant and virile, the same way a middle-aged man misses the hair that used to grow on the crown of his head.
And they’ll do anything to recapture that feeling of glory – even pray. Yep. Every week, Tim Tebow (the second-rate quarterback who replaced the Bronco’s third-rate quarterback some weeks ago) kneels on the sidelines and prays so hard it looks as if he’s about to sprain his eyelid muscles by squeezing them shut too hard. There he is every week, dressed in all that spandex, invoking Jesus’ name and losing game after game in full 60-inch high definition. Meanwhile, Jesus is either too busy to listen or just doesn’t care about football because the Broncos have lost their last three games, including the one just played against the quarterback Tebow replaced.
If you detect a little snarkiness here it’s for a couple of reasons: 1) I’m a little snarky, and 2) I’m embarrassed that the only way we can hope to win a few football games is to pray for help from a deity. I’d much rather the Broncos just tried to win games by practicing and improving, like other teams. But that doesn’t mean I want the Broncos to lose as they move on to their completely undeserved spot in the playoffs next week. In fact, I want them to win badly!
You see, when the Broncos play football, all of the middle-aged men with expensive sports cars are too busy kneeling on their living room floors praying for a win in front of their televisions to be out on the roads. Meanwhile, their wives and girlfriends are presumably too busy heating up another batch of Velveeta and Ro-tel dip to be out shopping. For a few short hours every Sunday, traffic in Denver clears like Moses parting the Red Sea. The zoo empties out, the restaurants are accessible, the need to buy movie tickets in advance is gone, and parking abounds at the mall – a real miracle. So Jesus, I don’t know if you are listening but can you please help the Broncos win a few more games? I need to go to Wal-Mart next weekend. In Tebow's name, amen.
But Denver joins a smaller more “elite” group of cities when judged by the number and popularity of its professional sports teams that play here. We have professional baseball, hockey, basketball, and football. (We probably have professional hacky sack, snowmobiling, and pumpkin chunkin’ teams as well, but really, outside of the big four, nobody cares.) And folks in Denver, like in other cities, love their sports teams – especially the Broncos. I suspect it’s because for a few moments it makes people feel almost as good as their friends who choose to live on one of the coasts or in some truly cosmopolitan place with actual culture.
Basically what we are talking about here is the fact that the people in Denver love the Broncos for the same reason middle-aged men buy expensive sports cars. It makes them feel important, virile, and relevant – if only temporarily. Some people here remember when the Broncos were more than a barely mediocre football team and they miss feeling relevant and virile, the same way a middle-aged man misses the hair that used to grow on the crown of his head.
And they’ll do anything to recapture that feeling of glory – even pray. Yep. Every week, Tim Tebow (the second-rate quarterback who replaced the Bronco’s third-rate quarterback some weeks ago) kneels on the sidelines and prays so hard it looks as if he’s about to sprain his eyelid muscles by squeezing them shut too hard. There he is every week, dressed in all that spandex, invoking Jesus’ name and losing game after game in full 60-inch high definition. Meanwhile, Jesus is either too busy to listen or just doesn’t care about football because the Broncos have lost their last three games, including the one just played against the quarterback Tebow replaced.
If you detect a little snarkiness here it’s for a couple of reasons: 1) I’m a little snarky, and 2) I’m embarrassed that the only way we can hope to win a few football games is to pray for help from a deity. I’d much rather the Broncos just tried to win games by practicing and improving, like other teams. But that doesn’t mean I want the Broncos to lose as they move on to their completely undeserved spot in the playoffs next week. In fact, I want them to win badly!
You see, when the Broncos play football, all of the middle-aged men with expensive sports cars are too busy kneeling on their living room floors praying for a win in front of their televisions to be out on the roads. Meanwhile, their wives and girlfriends are presumably too busy heating up another batch of Velveeta and Ro-tel dip to be out shopping. For a few short hours every Sunday, traffic in Denver clears like Moses parting the Red Sea. The zoo empties out, the restaurants are accessible, the need to buy movie tickets in advance is gone, and parking abounds at the mall – a real miracle. So Jesus, I don’t know if you are listening but can you please help the Broncos win a few more games? I need to go to Wal-Mart next weekend. In Tebow's name, amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
