Another “3 dot” entry today, just to give you contributors something to munch on….
Oooooooo! All is not well in the Obama camp, perchance giddiness has given way to sober reality? Is it really possible that a remnant of America’s racist past still exists out there in some isolated holler? Let’s hear an opinion of an Obama presidency from chain smoking Johnny Telvor of Williamson, West Virginia:
‘We’ll end up slaves. We’ll be made slaves just like they was once slaves,’ he said. Telvor, a white Democrat who supported Hillary Clinton in West Virginia’s primary, said he planned to vote for Republican John McCain in November. ‘At least he’s an American,’ he added with a disarmingly friendly smile. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/08/barackobama.hillaryclinton)
Doubtless Telvor speaks for the teeming masses of slack-jawed yokels who are willing, once again, to sell out their own interest at the polls this November in exchange for unleashing the full twitch of their reptilian brains. As the Guardian article points out, “the chattering class” has largely ignored this possibility because (sniff, sniff) their transcendent Many Colors of Benneton world views don’t allow for such dirty little thoughts as racism or sexism or just plain hatred….
Speaking of red necks, San Diego’s political leaders continue to pretend that Robert Young and Jane Wyman still rule the roost, and that the world is still peopled with perfectly coiffed housewives serving savory casseroles to dads in smoking jackets and well-mannered kids with adorable cowlicks. S.D. County Supervisors are pushing forward with their lawsuit challenging California’s medical marijuana laws and are also now pursuing the dubious goal of politely and artfully opting out of the freshly minted same sex marriage law. Seems public officials will not have to subscribe to the new law if it offends their personal beliefs. Fair enough, but let’s take it a step further: any civil servant who is not willing to uphold state law should simply choose to work in the private sector, or better yet, move to West Virginia where they can consort with the Johnny Telvors of the world, sit around the ol’ cracker barrel and discuss the size of Jews’ noses or black ladies’ derrierres…
Johnny McCain has unvieled a new campaign ad where he manages to keep a straight face while telling America that he “hates war” ( http://weblogs.fox61.com/news/politics/blog/2008/06/john_mccain_i_hate_war.html), but fails to mention he only means those that last less than 100 years…
All three remaining candidates last week made their obligatory visit before AIPAC, the Israeli lobby and did the usual pandering, each claiming unified hatred of Islamic terrorists and ensuring that no matter who is elected, Israel will remain above criticism for the next 4 years. Oh yeah, and that Iran will be nuked back to the stone age if they so much as make eye contact with the Judeo-Christian world. Iran, for it’s part, reiterated its belief that Jews eat babies (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_libel). Johnny Telvor believes that too but he’s voting for McCain anyway.
Just an aside from last week in reference to the slippery slope called “conspiracy theories”:
a) History is chalk full of leaders being conspired against—therefore it is quite possible that a conspired assassination could have happened in the United States—especially given the corrupt pockets in. Some conspiracies as theories can carry the weight of plausibility
b) Theories about conspiracies are often inspired by outsiders who were not part of the inside job-—therefore it is often expected that some aspects or details of a given plot are wrong while the overall theory be correct.
c) Those that conspire with themselves or with others to not consider each theory on its individual merits defy the spirit of rational thought. True it may not be a rational investment of time to reconsider what has already been considered—-but that is a different matter. It is a right-wing policy to reject categories of thought outright with notions of sarcasm and gross generalizations.
d) People believe what they want to believe, or pretend to believe what the claim, for a variety of reasons. But some hold various theories as not only plausible but as likely, which is not altogether irrational-—given the truth about human nature and various investments in covert operations—-irrespective of which loosely organized group could have carried it out. Very few people have the time, energy, skill, knowledge, or intellect to really carry out an investigation that is not in some way affected by politics and posturing. Even experts disagree.
It may often some, perhaps a few, to reject the notion of conspiracy theorists outright–why is it any different that reading murder mysteries?
If one is not cynical in this culture then one suffers from a certain philosophical retardation.
Comment by Fauty Fred — Monday, June 9, 2008 @ 10:44 am
Again, just finished a comment and I must say quite profound only to have it disapear from the page, intense thought process waisted, all I can say I have lived in the hollows of North Carolina and came to many of the same conclusions as Taylor, ( WE could Be Fucked) They can’t read much and write much but somone showed them how to scratch their x on a ballot and the bigotry kicks in full first gear. My best friend is from Scotland and runs with a group of ex-pats and they can’t believe the thought process of the average American. Half through “The Prosecution of George W.Bush for Murder” ASTOUNDING Read
Comment by knifemaster — Monday, June 9, 2008 @ 12:18 pm
Johnny does sound charming in sort of a “shit-howdy” kind of way, but not every Hillaryhead who dislikes Obama is quite so simple-minded. They have their reasons and it will take a lot of hard work on his part to win their votes. Coupled with the incipient racism in our country today, he will have a hard climb to the White House. Racism in America is strong and is here to stay. Don’t even ask me for proof. Believe me, both chambers are loaded. But wouldn’t that make it all the more wonderful to elect a black president? Obama has the stuff that kings are made of. I’m willing to carry the standard into battle. This contest should be the most exciting since Nixon-Kennedy.
I heard McCain spit-take about hating war several weeks ago. Apparently, one of his PR guys picked up on it and decided to make it part of the campaign. I’m sure it will work for all the stupid republican christians who have had moral qualms about killing and destroying. Because if you haven’t noticed, that’s all we have been doing in Iraq. Just kill enough of the right guys and everything will be peachy. Even if it does take a hundred years.
So even KUSI news now characterizes the war as unpopular. I can’t believe it used to be popular. Well we had to do something. It was the best thing that could have happened. Now our nation is on a firm war footing. War is popular with the assholes that make money off of it. Instead of hating war we need someone who loves peace. This can be a combat-tried veteran. The true soldier. Yitzhaak Rabin loved peace enough to put his own life in danger to defend it. I think with McCain, it is more of a love-hate relationship. Else, how could he “cherish the sacrifice.”
Comment by Flying Junior — Monday, June 9, 2008 @ 2:30 pm
In reference to complaints about parlor games:
Even good teachers know that students learn better when humor is interspersed within the agenda.
People need “balance” in their lives—especially when it comes to confronting the ugly realities of politics. People who can handle the ugly realities and still maintain a sense of perspective “need” humor and lightness in their daily perspective.
Who wants to live in a constant state of sourness over the pessimistic realities of life? But this does mean, like many pseudo-spiritual pursuits, that one should avoid becoming aware of political realities altogether and rather esteeming ignorance as enlightenment which is sooooo Southern Californian.
Go to any “serious” film about politics in San Diego that truly reveals the ugly realities and you are likely to see at most 30 or 40 people (in America’s 10th biggest city)! The fact is that here in San Diego people avoid true political commentary by the masses.
Also Einstein was not consider a model student as a kid—so perhaps with his emphasis on the imagination he too found escape from rigid expectations.
But also the Stacy Taylor Show could venture further away from mainstream media ’s dominance on what are the important issues and equally mainstream internet sight commentary.
Comment by Parlor Patty — Monday, June 9, 2008 @ 3:05 pm
No talk of Dennis Kucinich’s impeachment articles? Are we awake here?
How about a listener party slash impeachment drive?
Comment by Greg in Bonita — Tuesday, June 10, 2008 @ 9:22 am
People! thank whatever you thank that someone appears to read this web site and am thrilled that my comments on the state of what has being written and said on stacy’s site. Positive thoughts and writings generally don’t get the response that any negetive ones do. thanks, Stacy for at least reading my thoughts and again having Scooter on the phone, shaking the status quo tree. I’m almost through reading Bugliosi’s last book and was taken by what documentation he gathered to be almost exactly what was written in the second white paper on the deceptions and lies that were told to get us into this war. This morning,listening to Dennis Kucinch impeachment proposals before Congress I find the same conclusions he had come to to make his case for impeachment were overwhelmingly the same as all the others, we knew it long ago but now guns are smoking all over. Again, who is going to have the guts to follow through and do somthing about it?
Comment by knifemaster — Tuesday, June 10, 2008 @ 11:31 am
Link to support impeachment:
This is from PEN they will send an e-mail requesting impeachment of George W. Bush to your newspapers, two senators, and congressman.
http://www.usalone.com/impeach_both.php
Comment by Jesse east county — Tuesday, June 10, 2008 @ 7:44 pm
Wow - Great to hear Scooter again. Wish Craig could come on now and then too.
The “whitey” tape was absolutely hilarious. Any chance you could resurrect the old Blackwater Lagoon bit?
Comment by goodguy — Wednesday, June 11, 2008 @ 11:40 am
Nancy Pelosi will not do a god dam thing you can take the democratic big tent and shove it up a republican ass that is the only place a tent that size will fit.
I had a very disturbing time today realizing that the democratic leadership is just as corrupt as Bush’s crew. That is the only reason that Nancy Pelosi will not pursue impeachment the democratic leadership is as guilty as hell by their non-action. These corrupt sons of bitches bought into Bush’s scheme.
Comment by Jesse east county — Wednesday, June 11, 2008 @ 8:23 pm
Playing too puritanical and “fair” to win an election in the U.S. doesn’t seem to work. When you have one side that is often willing to use any style of tactic to win—-irrespective of its ethical considerations—-how can an opposing side expect to win by playing a high-minded road? It is foolish to wish that things “ought be” what they are not.
This country simply does not have an informed electorate. The fact is that Americans, on average, are ignorant and profoundly manipulable. To expect the majority to simply know better so as to realize the prejudices employed is sheer stupidity.
When the stakes are as high as the currently are-—what matters is winning. If you were forced to fight a criminal who was willing to use any form of force against you—-would you resign to fight fair? Further is such a restrictive policy truly wise and just? Justice is about getting justice–not just hoping it will evolve on its own.
In a world in which elections are stolen and the Congress does nothing to change that status quo-—let alone acknowledge its reality is equally serious negligence. In a world in which the media decides who will be the candidates and who will be ignored where is there fair play?
The mere act of trivializing Obama’s win, as the democratic party’s candidate, with comments about fist bumps and terrorism shows how desperate the mainstream media is to frame him as a terrorist supporter. This was clearly a case of racism against blacks and racism against Muslims.
Obama would do well to have his own swift boaters working to engage the war that he is now up against—-calling out his opponents on “every” form of deception, while he engages his own visceral combat against the evil forces of stupidity and greed.
Comment by DarrellNorthPark@yhoo.com — Wednesday, June 11, 2008 @ 10:21 pm
Dirty tricks really aren’t part of our quiver. The retard vote is getting smaller every election cycle. If Obama wins, he will win clean and shining. Anything less would make us as small as the opposition.
Regarding impeachment, it was interesting to hear Stacy talking to an expert attorney this week. She certainly convinced me, but what struck me was this. I think the gist of her argument was that the entire Bush presidency has been rife with criminally fascist acts which are truly an abomination to the peoples of the world, the environment and really all that we hold dear. It’s as if Franco himself had risen from the grave. But technically noen of these things are illegal in the eyes of a federal court. It was all done perfectly above-board through existing and brand-new channels of power. Hell, even congress was right beside Bush during the preparation for the war.
I believe that an investigation should focus solely on the issue of torture, which has always been, (since WWII,) clearly illegal under the UCMJ. This is a provable and prosecutable abuse of power which satisfies any standard for a high crime.
Comment by Flying Junior — Friday, June 13, 2008 @ 7:47 pm
The funny thing is you don’t have to fight dirty to beat a clown like McCain. You would think his campaign would self-destruct with a little push. There is certainly no foul in naming a few of his top campaign co-chairs and advisers. This amusing post courtesy of Southern Beale.
http://sobeale.blogspot.com/2008/06/let-double-standard-begin.html
Comment by Flying Junior — Friday, June 13, 2008 @ 8:34 pm
I just stumbled on this, and think it’s great…
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/fightthesmearshome/
I sure don’t envy the folks who run this site, since they’re going to have to work lots of overtime to keep up!!
Comment by goodguy — Tuesday, June 17, 2008 @ 11:35 am
Stacy:
Tim Russert is a big deal to the journalist world because there are so few journalists and editors today who even pretend to have honorable motives. So it is because the U.S. main stream media has been relatively bankrupt in their ethics and methods (for example ignoring important stories) that even a Tim Russert can seem to have heroic proportions.
People who have little in the way of noble instincts are those most prone to adore and worship figures of mythic stature. What America needs is a robust watchdog industry rather than so many lapdog lackeys who have a psychological need for the occasional self-congratulatory ritual—-which is not to say Mr. Russert did not earn merit worthy of mention. It is more that the industry itself has fewer figures on which to honor of any stature.
Comment by Darrell North Park — Wednesday, June 18, 2008 @ 2:59 pm
Although George W is more than willing to exploit peoples’ perceptions, prejudices, and financial stress, this “pattern” of exploitation is indicative of backers of a significant school of economics explained in Naomi Klein’s: “The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Catastrophe Capitalism”. One main theme of her book is people are more willing to make changes, they normally would not make, if they feel some sort of shock psychology-—for example exorbitant gas prices—-and only then would they more likely consider policies that are not ecologically sound of even disastrous.
George Bush is a puppet of much larger problems-—for example some of the real power brokers and financiers behind the scenes—-that get little media attention. Whereas excessive attention and name calling about the “chimp” and his down falls, without equal scrutiny of the larger problems, may feel good—-but such adjurations does not really address issues and sectors of society that need to be confronted-—including spoiled presumptions of the average American who wants his cheap gas and energy but who does not want to face the human rights issues that are violated by corporations and agents of empire, and who work in, too often, non-democratic ways to secure these resources and their profits.
Ignorance may be blissful but eventually ignorance catches up to the plump chickens in the coop when the wolves come home to satisfy their perpetual hunger using their latest strategies. This latest oil shock crisis is another reason to plug Naomi Klein’s book: “The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Catastrophe Capitalism”, which can be found at democracy’s greatest institution-—the community library–which has been yet currupted by special interests.
Comment by Darrell North Park — Wednesday, June 18, 2008 @ 4:30 pm
Perhaps it is close to the full moon, or perhaps its the way the planets have so aligned themselves-—but George Will in his syndicated opinion piece “Questions for McCain in court ruling”, via Tuesday’s Union-Tribune, sounded almost like a bleeding heart liberal?
He took the senior senator to task for his blatant comment regarding the recent Supreme Court ruling on detainees at Gitmo in which McCain responded: “…one of the worst decisions in the history of this country”. Nothing hyperbolic there.
Apparently there is no litmus test when it comes to appreciating judicial history and justice here in the U.S. for those running for important federal office? Pity that even the likes of George Will, who seem to care about some traditional values of law, would equally have to endure the aftermath of a John McCain.
Equally in respect to Bush’ response to “redoing” the laws in this country to make his decisions legal-—we should not forget the Natural Law principles that were adapted at the Nurenberg trials-—because the Nazis too changed their laws to allow them to do what they did.
According to lecture notes by Father Joseph Korterski on Natural Law and Human Nature (see The Teaching Company.com):
“…postwar courts in the Federal Republic of Germany recognized the need for consideration of the higher law … [these provisions] were and are by reason of their unjust content and their violation of the basic demands of any legal order null and void; this law could not, even at and during the time of the Nazi regime, produce any legitimate legal effect …” (Judgment rendered on February 28, 1955).
Historically there is recognition of a higher order of law that relates to the conscious pursuit of justice than what any particular wayward government might choose to ordain as technically legal. Apparently some people are more morally blind than are others, and in a culture like the U.S., that can be, and frankly is, a very serious problem.
Comment by Darrell North Park — Wednesday, June 18, 2008 @ 7:37 pm
Time Out!
When? Are? Straight Johns going to get some quality attention?!
Nothing personal but I’m kind of tired of hearing about gay issues and marriage issues. What about single heterosexual people who just want to have sexual pleasure, but are not currently involved in an active relationship-—id est—-what about just legalizing prostitution?
And let’s face a truth here—-legalizing gay marriage is the equivalent of sanctioning forms of sexuality that traditional, judgmental and puritanical religions condemn. This culture, like it or not, within its context of its sanctimonious self-righteousness and anti-intellectualism, is stuck on maintaining rigid demarcations of sexual identity and behavior.
The is issue is really not about ruining marriages it is about explaining what are considered appropriate norms—which some can not leave their comfort zone. You can dance around the implications all you want but important subjects usually involves issues that people are not willing to articulate.
Why do not so called liberals spent an equal amount of time advocating for the right of sexual pleasure—-as opposed to procreation—-which is what Judeo-Christian religions have espoused to get their market share of the nation states? Why can not erotic pleasure be considered a value in this culture? Why is sex only considered legitimate if it is within the context of a marriage?
Granted promiscuity can have its negative effects, that responsible people need to respect, but why can not a single guy or gal not have a legal right to get laid in this culture without the law wanting to get involved? Maybe liberals should work on this front for a while—just getting some respect for sexual pleasure?
Comment by Darrell North Park — Thursday, June 19, 2008 @ 3:38 pm
PLEASE!!! SPARE ME “liberals” (Or the ghastly spawn that escaped from thier basement, “progressives” )deciding to , um, help the ignorant masses enjoy sex. Please- cant they find something else to screw up/make more expensive/drain the joy out of??
golly.
well, Im back after being away for 3 weeks. I seeStacy isstill tardy w/ blog updates.
Peering at the world the the murky lens of an occaisional Billings Gazette, NPR morning news, & the occaisional short wave wingnut fest, Id say I know as much as if I were home at Media Central.
The war is NOT popular in Back of Beyond, Montana, THATS for sure, & if you think the $ of gas is cramping your stylehere, try Montana where the corner store is 50 miles away.
Price of gas went up 75 cents/gal as soon as I crossed into Ca.
And Darrell- good luck, pard……..
Comment by mutt — Saturday, June 28, 2008 @ 4:58 pm