Imperial Presidency, Imperial Treasury & It's Still the Stupidity, Stupid

Why You Should Hate the Treasury Bailout Proposal at naked capitalism (hat-tip to reader A.T.).

Quelle Surprise! Traders Say Dollar May Be "Crushed" By Bailout Plan

Also at Kos, Stirling Newberry's The Way Forward, against the bailout.

Arthur Silber, Now Don't Go Slashing Your Wrists Or Nothing.

Explaining the repeal of Glass-Steagall (and quite properly blaming it all on the Republicans), we have Back to 1929 With John McSame and the Greedheads (And a warm welcome to blogtopia to The Out of Joint Times!)

Obama opposes blank check for errant fat cats.

Scarecrow at FDL via Jesus' General.

Not to mention, courtesy of the Sydney Morning Herald, and more probably courtesy of the crash and bailout, Obama Surges Ahead of McCain.

For anti-bailout action, FEDUP USA.

They Want My Vote. And Yet: Just How Offensive Can They Get? Answer: Very

Are these people deliberately trying to be offensive? Or are they just working for Karl Rove?

How To Scam the Skanky Bitches into Voting for BO.

Feh.

(Spits.)

--
hat tip to VastLeft

More On the Palin-Dominionist Theocrat Connection

Must-read from dogemperor of DailyKos.

From Salon, an article called "Sarah Palin, Faith-Based Mayor," which details Palin's support of a very creepy Talibangelical social infiltration campaign, which includes teaching innocent Americans to submit unquestioningly to authorities. Sound familiar? It sure did to me. (And no, I'm not making this up. I don't have to. I never have to.)

Official No Blood for Hubris Mental Health Interlude

I THINK YOU'RE THE FATHER OF ONE OF MY KIDS

A guy goes to the supermarket and notices a very attractive woman waving at him. She says, "Hello!" He's rather taken aback because he can't place where he knows her from. So he says, "Do you know me?" To which she replies, "I think you're the father of one of my kids.'" Now his mind travels back to the one and only time he has ever been unfaithful to his wife and asks, "Are you the stripper from the bachelor party that I made love to on the pool table with all my buddies watching while your partner whipped my butt with wet celery???" She looks deep into his eyes and says calmly, "No, I'm your son's teacher."

Black Comic Introduces McCain

Jonathan Bines at the New York Observer.

Protect your keyboards!

Bushist Fascists Have Scaredy-Cat DNA

They just can't help it.

Vote with your fear: the politics of DNA

LOS ANGELES: Diehard liberals and conservatives aren't made; they're born. It's in their DNA.

That's the suggestion of a study by a group of researchers who wanted to see if there was a biological basis for people's political attitudes.

They found that opinions on contentious issues such as gun control, pacifism and capital punishment are strongly associated with physiological traits that are probably present at birth.

The key is the differing levels of fear that people naturally feel.

The researchers, whose findings were published yesterday in the journal Science, looked at 46 people who fell into two camps: liberals who supported foreign aid, immigration, pacifism and gun control; and conservatives who advocated defence spending, capital punishment, patriotism and the Iraq war.

Subjects were shown a series of images that included a bloody face, maggots in a wound and a spider on a frightened face. A device measured the electrical conductance of their skin, a physiological reaction that indicates fear.

In a second experiment, researchers measured blinks - another indicator of fear - as subjects responded to blasts of noise.

People with strongly conservative views were three times more fearful than staunch liberals.

Witch Hunter Who Prayed Paliin Into Office Returns to Wasilla

It's Pastor Muthee!

He's a real witch-hunter. No, really. He is.

He's a real witch-hunter and he's into theocracy! No, really. He is.

Story from Alaska Mudflats.

The official vision statement of Muthee’s church (taken directly from the website) is…are you ready? …

"Touching lives for total community transformation, thereby taking cities and nations."

Taking cities and nations? Most of us would like our cities and nation to stay just where they are, thankyouverymuch.

Haha.

Damn Furriners: Whats In a Name?

Probably John McCain could see Spain from his POW hut?

GOP Group Pushes Anti-Obama Push-Polling in Five Swing States

More and more deja vu all over again, again, this time in Michigan.

And the wider push-poll story.

We've all been plagued at home by calls from telemarketers. Worse, however, is when a research firm, working at the behest of an unidentified political organization, rings you up for the ostensible purpose of conducting a poll, but actually with the intention of circulating half-truths and rumors about a targeted candidate.

Which is precisely what happened earlier this week, when 750 Jewish voters in five key states - Florida, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio and Michigan - picked up their phones to discover that a firm called Research Strategies was on the line and eager to gauge the voters' feelings about Barack Obama. The first bunch of questions were fairly innocuous, but, as the minutes passed, some of the voters became so upset by the questions - and suspicious of the questioner - that they began to take careful notes. Unfortunately for Research Strategies, some of the note-takers shared their findings yesterday with journalists. Also unfortunately for Research Strategies, one of those note-takers happened to be Jonathan Cohn, a frequent contributor to The New Republic.

In other words, the firm got busted for doing something that was supposed to stay under the radar. And the firm's confidential client - whose identity will be revealed shortly - got busted as well. It's worth examining this episode, because this is how hardball is played, far away from the stump speeches and TV ads.

Here's Ben Smith of Politico on the GOP group behind anti-Obama push-polling.

Here's A Fun Story on How Bushist Fascism Brought Us Not Only Moral Bankruptcy But Fiscal Bankruptcy As Well

Tum-ti-tum-ti-tum.

Some call it deregulation.

Some call it lawlessness.

But hey, greed is good.

The Vicious Mrs. (Palin) On Hubris At No Blood for Hubris

Yes, one is so sorry, one can't currently figure out how to post this here, here, but here's the best one can currently do.

; )

Wilson Research Strategies, Fox News Link to Push Polls -- Plus More Push-Polling

Curiouser and curiouser.

Gregg Chadwick continues our little homespun push-poll story . . . . positing a link to the Republican-connected Wilson Research Strategies, and to Fox News political analyst Chris Wilson who is oh well, you know, what a surprise, also the founder and CEO of Wilson Research Strategies! Hmm.

Meanwhile, Ben Smith at Politico has been gathering more push-poll complaints, including that of surprised & careful note-taking push-poll-ee Jonathan Cohn of the New Republic.

They really do think we're stupid, do they not?

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P.S. I hear that my original source for the original push-poll story will appear on NBC News tomorrow (Thursday) night.
Well, "w00t!", blogtopia!! (Yup, Skippy coined it).

Clueless: Lying About Iraq, Lying About Troopergate

From the Irish Times, McCain Campaign Admits Palin Never Visited Iraq.

And here's the Troopergate guy saying that the vicious Mrs. Palin is lying about that, too.

And from Salon, a little about book-banning, which Palin said she didn't do but others say otherwise, oh and about her pro-government-forced-maternity activities and anti-gay and pro-creationism in public schools kinda stuff.

From the Sydney Morning Herald, Press Picks Over Litter of Lies on the Palin trail.

And here's the vicious Mrs. (Palin) admitting that she will not cooperate in the Troopergate ethics probe, although previously she had said that she would. Hmm.

Roveian Push-Poll Targets FL Voters to Smear Obama

It is deja vu all over again, again.

PT Key West resident Dr. Joelna Marcus received a phone call today. She was asked if she is Jewish, and she replied in the affirmative.

She was asked if she was religious.

She was then asked if her opinion of Barack Obama would change if she knew that Obama had given lots and lots of money to the PLO.


Sounds like liar John McCain's Smear-Talk Express, not unlike Ol' Man River, just keeps rollin' along.


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Update: Another FL voter (from Gainesville) has revealed he too received a similar push-poll call.
And here's a push-poll recipient from PA. (Scroll down).

Oh, lookee, it's us and our very own story re-told at HuffPo! But they don't say it's our story. ; ( Alas. Ah well. One must practice non-attachment, must one not? This is, after all, a buddhist blog! ; )

Clueless: Making Rape Survivors Pay --- For Their Rape Kits

The vicious Mrs. Palin strikes again.

Yeah, let's re-victimize rape victims. Why not?



Oh, and here's the vicious Mrs. Palin hiring unqualified friends for plum positions while firing her political opponents.

Hat tip to democommie, ALASKA WOMEN REJECT PALIN RALLY IS HUGE.

Here's Tina Fey as Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live.

Sex is McCain's Political Weapon.

Clueless: NO BLINKING

Yes, Trophy VEEP Sarah Palin, you've got that right.

The most important qualifications to be the leader of the free world are:

1. NO BLINKING

2. Repetition of meaningless catch phrases.

3. Shameless lying.



Someone at the Sydney Morning Herald thinks that the vicious Mrs. Palin will become our Fearless Leader.

Clueless

More fun stuff from Sarah Palin (who some have called "The Vicious Mrs." )

Someone who former GOP Senator Lincoln Chaffee dismisses as "a cocky whacko."

Though the party is mostly keeping her safely muzzled, Sarah deigned to grant an interview to ABC News, trying to razzle-dazzle Charlie Gibson into thinking she has some sort of major grasp of foreign policy, whilst repeating pre-digested-cud buzzwords about pro-life/pro-war no blinking confidence ready I'm ready I'm ready pick me pick me pick me in a desperate attempt to appear the nuanced policy wonk she is so very not.

Over-confident much, Sarah?

O-kay, lil' lady. Go shoot a moose.

And we'll see about making our way through your blizzard of lies.

In the meantime, one finds oneself continuing to be amused by the self-professed pro-life (oh?) Mrs. Palin being so often photographed with dead things.

Hmm.




---
I also enjoyed reading this story in the the New York Times, where Palin was repeatedly referred to as "Ms. Palin." Throughout the primary campaign, the NY Times referred to Senator Hillary Clinton not as Ms. Clinton nor as Senator Clinton, but as "Mrs. Clinton," btw. While always reporting on her hair and makeup. But today's story doesn't mention "Ms. Palin's" hair or makeup, not once. Is this progress? Preferential treatment?

JOHN MCCAIN TOTALLY SUCKS UP TO NAMBLA

Not smart, Johnny-boy.

Just not smart.

Oh, and for those of you who are not yet au fait with McCain's recent and very ill-advised Obama-bashing ad?

Not to worry.

It's like waaay okay to pander to/suck up to organized pedophiles.

Such as, some say, NAMBLA.

THEY don't want anyone teaching kindergartners (and younger) the difference between "good touch" and "bad touch," either!!
Be-leeve you ME! I mean, it's not like pedophiles intentionally target really young children because besides being so fun it's way harder to get a really little kid to testify and be believed in court, is it not?

Not to mention not teaching little kids about body safety as in "Say No! Go! And Tell!"


I mean, why would pedophiles want that kinda stuff to be taught to little kids?

'Cuz, like, you know, then they'd get, like, you know, caught!

But McCain's way more of a relaxed, devil-may-care laissez-faire libertarian when it comes to pedophilia, apparently.

Hmm.

Say . . ..

Sucking up to pedophiles is sort of like so very harmonious with the vicious Mrs. Palin, who remains so very very enthralled with protecting a rapist's all -important right to breed! Wow!

"Bushist Fascist Family Values." Wow!

Breathtaking.

But not in a good way.



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(Oh, and pardon me if I'm a bit on the rag tonight, dears, I just got back from a compulsory community-organizer-ish event where I saw not for the first time of course, more actual pix of the actual effects of actual child sexual abuse including incestuous abuse of really really little children, and actual pix of actual child physical abuse, and actual pix of ultra-ongoing domestic violence including accounts of spousal murder, and you know all that bleeding heart librul jazz. So why should I not get all pissy about it, eh? )

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PS Hello, boys and girls!
Let's have a contest!
Who can identify the pedophile in the picture above?
Kudos to the winner! Lotsa kudos. A whole bowful of kudos!
------
And Omigod, here's a related link at Kos..

La Lutte Continue, Chris Matthews Edition

Not very instant karma for the mega-deserving Chris Matthews, but karma nonetheless.

Talibangelical Palin: A Dominionist for All Seasons?

Hat tip to reader A.T., here's a charming and fully-sourced article on just how Talibangelical Sarah Palin actually is.

Short answer?

Very.

More on McCain and The Vicious Mrs. (Palin)

Via democommie, Former POW: McCain Not Fit to Be President.
and "Sarah Palin's Big Sleazy Safari."

Here's a link that mentions the Ann Kilkenny email on Palin. And here's the actual email on the Vicious Mrs.

Ooh, and here's the Alaskan Mudflats blog, with some thoughts on The Vicious Mrs. (Palin) seeing things through jihad-colored glasses. Hmm.

Gloria Steinem in the LA Times, "Palin: Wrong Woman, Wrong Message."

From the Sydney Morning Herald, McCain Condemns the Bush Era.. (As if he hadn't helped to get Bush get into office not once but twice, and fully supported Dirty Bush's morally and fiscally bankrupt policies every step of the way?).

NYT's Frank Rich on Palin and McCain's Shotgun Marriage.

Via RawStory, how about Alaskans Speak (In a Frightened Whisper): Palin Is "Racist, Sexist, Vindictive and Mean."

And, last but not least, via Jesus' General, Miss Poppy Dixon on "Christians Pray for McCain's Death." Ah, imprecatory prayer! Don't knock it till you've tried it, people!

Hey. Does Talibangelical Pitbull Sarah Palin Make Dick Cheney Look Like the 14th Dalai Lama?

And remember - - Sarah Palin thinks herself "Pro-Life"!


So yes, in answer to your unasked question, I had lots of fun listening to the RNC's evening of unbelievably offensive speakers, and I emerged unbelievably offended. Mrs. Palin seems to be not merely a Trophy VEEP, but a rabid krypto-Dominionist, a stealth candidate who in her hidden heart of hearts would very much like to replace our separation-of-church-and-state Democracy with an authoritarian fundamentalist theocracy because well God told her to.

I particularly enjoyed her speech trashing the rule of law and constitutional rights. Very amusing, Sarah. Haha

McCain/Palin = even worse than Bush/Cheney -- if you can wrap your mind around that. Gakk.


------
Via RawStory, from Reuters Can Palin Also Galvanize the US Left?
Here's a story on keeping Palin muzzled for the entire campaign (lol), "No Questions, Please," apparently the key Republican strategy to prevent their vicious Mrs. from imprudently revealing her ultra-mega-rightwing looniness (as in "Shut up, bitch!").
Hat tip to Jesus' General, from Blue Oregon: On Sarah Palin, Family Values, and me
And from Slate, "Bristol's Body, Sarah's Choice."

Talibangelical Palin: Dobson's Choice

Well, guess what?

The Republican party is now being run by James Dobson.

You remember Dr. Dobson.

James Dobson, the guy who (himself an adult survivor of childhood physical abuse) advocates the whipping of infants with real whips, the belt-beating of one's "beloved" (sic) Dachshund Siggie, and advocates having grown men shower naked with little boys to compare penis sizes so the little boy won't grow up to be homosexual.*

No, I'm not making this up. I don't have to. I never have to.

So, it seems that war hero POW John McCain, a manly man if ever there was one, was not man enough to stand strong on his choice for Vice-President of the United States. Seems McCain wanted Joe Lieberman or Tom Ridge. But the Talibangelicals, led by James "Dogbeater" Dobson, wouldn't let him.

So McCain caved.

That's not very manly.

The Talibangelicals wouldn't back either Lieberman or Ridge because both of them oppose government-forced maternity. And that's the cutting edge this year, and that's why Mrs. Sarah Palin is Dobson's choice. (Oh, and in case you were wondering, Mrs. Palin's chosen church is scrubbing its website so no one can do a Rev. Wright thing on her and find out about all her Talibangelical views. Um, can you say 'consciousness of guilt'? I can.)

How Talibangelical is Mrs. Palin?

Very.

Talibangelical enough to fire the Wasilla town librarian for resisting her efforts to ban books that she, Mrs. Palin, found morally or socially objectionable.

Which behavior happens to be morally and socially objectionable to me.

How about you?


P.S. Is Mrs. Palin a Dominionist? Just askin'.

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The original link appears to have been scrubbed, but here's a little clip: -- 'James Dobson even wrote a treatise on how fathers can cure their children of homosexuality, including the following tips: "He can teach him to pound a square wooden peg into a square hole in a pegboard. He can even take his son with him into the shower, where the boy cannot help but notice that Dad has a penis, just like his, only bigger."'

The GOP Trophy-VEEP Pick: Defending the Indefensible

A little befuddled, that GOP spokesman.

Maybe he's just seen this story from the Sydney Morning Herald about Sarah Palin's controversial church. There's a link to a video clip that's well worth a watch, too.

Oh, and you might enjoy the Sarah Palin Sexism Watch. I certainly do!

Oh, and because unplanned pregnancy leading to a shotgun wedding is just a family matter, I won't discuss it here, not even the context of the Trophy VEEP's opposition to programs for teen mothers and to non-abstinence-only sex education for teens. Oh, and I won't mention how selecting a life partner on the basis of accidental fertility leading to random parenthood especially when one of the partners doesn't actually want children, is a pretty random approach to, um, you know, marriage.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the (Vanna) White House

Well, first off, one will not be discussing the safety or effectiveness of the Abstinence-Only approach to sex non-education.

Nor will one be discussing the continuing drowning of polar bears, because there are still so many of them.

But one might enjoy this piece on Sarah Palin, from the Sydney Morning Herald.

(I loved the dead moose picture best.)

Oh, and here's Scarborough, Buchanan et al., on Sarah Palin:



And here's Pat Buchanan lying through his teeth about the Palin pick, and denying he ever said all the things that he said in the above clip. Republicans must be so irked about YouTube.