Truth Spoken about Republicans and African-Americans

You always hear talk in the Right punditry that Republican racism is a mere construct, used by Democrats who are actually the racists because they follow what George W. Bush famously called the "soft bigotry of low expectations." That Republican meme is one of the most deceitful that is out there: but the good news is, it consistently fails to persuade substantial numbers of voters not already on board with the GOP agenda. That in mind, This is one of the best political blog posts Harrogate has ever seen. Too good for a snippet. Gotta read the whole thing.

Tea-Bagging

Sen. David Vitter will tea-bag. Fox News will cover your tea-bag.... Do you tea-bag?

Fun With The Intersection Between Pop Art, Race, & Partisanship: Michael Steele Raps

The embarrassment to politics that is Michael Steele continues to render gold for the comedy sectors, at any rate.

Regarding the Rush Limbaugh Bruhaha

As everyone knows Rush Limbaugh has been much in the news recently--particularly following his appearance at CPAC this past Saturday. Television and print newspeople as well as boggers have bee intensely arguing ever since, over the merits of Rush, and even over whether or not he is currently the true leader of the Republican Party.


Certainly Rush's galvanizing impact opens myriad issues for consideration. Just recently Harrogate went to the Townhall bloggers to see just how deep up Rush's ass they have crawled at this point. The answer: pretty far.

Here is a clip one of the bloggers showed, wherein CNN's Bill Schneider lampoons Rush's tactics. But what Harrogate most wants to draw your attention to here, Readers, is less the clip, or even Townhall's Green-Blooded Bloggers. Nay. What Harrogate wants ye to see is this comment by one who calls herself (?) "lilly":

It is About Anger
I notice that the most popular Republican speakers on the right are those most gifted at turning a crowd into an angry mob. They get the most appreciation from the crowd by ridiculing, mocking, sneering, jeering, exaggerating, and misrepresenting. I heard Rush Limbaugh the other day pretending to lisp as he mimicked a certain person on the left; try to translate that fake lisp into words and see what the message is and answer the question, Why did the crowd love this? What is there about mocking that so delights them?

I remember at the Republican Convention 2004, Band-Aids were handed out that mocked John Kerry's Purple Heart. Sarah Palin mocked community organizers and all Americans who don't live in small towns or the countryside (not "the Real America"). Last week a Republican mayor entertained his friends by sending out an email showing the White House lawn planted as a watermelon patch. There seems to be something about Republicans that they can't get enough of mocking and sneering---they love it. And sneery mocking doesn't come from love, but from anger.

Are conservatives angry? Judging from what they say on townhall, I would say so: shoot Democrats, stockpile guns, go armed all the time, get ready for armed insurrection, hanging a noose isn't racist, send your kids to a school where they get beaten, load immigrants into trucks and dump them at the border, don't permit foreign languages to be spoken, pass laws to marginalize those you disapprove of. And be sure to make fun of those different from yourself.

This is one of the cleanest, most poignant articulations of what has happened to this nation's Republican Party, that Harrogate has ever seen. And so Harrogate wanted y'all to see it too.

Look, up in the sky, it's a stupid man

While out walking The Woof Almighty (aka Harley Reads / aka The Harlequin / aka The Brown Double / aka Montana Slim), she and I, I am pretty sure, saw Marine One stroke by on the way to campus.

I fu
[Editpost motivated by Thinkpol]

Yay! America achieved!

Friday Afternoon Sublime: GOP Now Starring in Remake of Evil Dead II

Correct Harrogate if he is wrong here, Roof. But for Harrogate's money this right here represents Raimi and Campbell at their best.

And, as the Balloon Juice bloggers now show us, this clip also serves as a wonderful analogue for what is currently happening to the GOP.

"Dress You Up" Now Counts as Political Music!!!

This was always one of Harrogate's favorite songs by Madge, anyway. Go ahead and make fun of him for it & see if he cares. It's a damned good song, and certainly merits consideration as the new GOP theme song.

You've got style, that's what all the girls say
Satin sheets and luxuries so fine
All your suits are custom made in London
But I've got something that you'll really like

GOP to Voters: We Will Either Rule the World or Destroy It

And so winds down the end of a big blog spree from Harrogate. But Harrogate needed to pass this along, a must-read for all Americans.

Apparently, John McCain sees the Democratic presidential candidate as not worth addressing by name. While McCain downgraded Obama's status to the subhuman "other" in the second debate, he refused to even acknowledge Obama's presence in their first meeting. This should strike viewers as quite disturbing, considering that the whole point of a debate is for each candidate to directly engage the other's issues and stances.

and

Increasingly, right-wing conservatives and Republican political leaders are issuing dire warnings to the American public that they – and only they – are the legitimate rulers of the United States and the world. This basic contempt for anything but one-party rule is manifested in a number of dire threats repeated by the party, with its members promising the end of Western civilization as we know it if they lose their dominant status in government.

And then for all you Nader sympathizers out there: Harrogate Truly Madly Deeply symathizes with ye. But hearken to these words before ye go splooge yer inviolable principles all over the voting booth:

The Democratic Party today may be morally bankrupt, spineless, and bland, but none of those are anywhere near as dangerous as the Republican Party's fundamentalist contempt for multi-party elections and bi-partisan politics.

"I'm Voting Republican Because"

This video has been floating around for months, but it seems to be picking up serious steam once again.

Board Members here, it would seem, have gotten so caught up in the minor aspects of Republicanism, we have forgotten the GOP's major accomplishments over the last 8 years, and the Profound aspect of their vision

(M, Harrogate is especially wagging a finger at you, here. You don't give Republicans nearly enough respect. [In what respect, Charley?])

Because remember. Not voting Republican this November, amounts to serious business.

Random thoughts....

We believe in communities [but not community organizers... The people can't stand up for themselves....]

I can't even comment on this speech. I can't even take it seriously. His arguments are just not even believable. It's better than Romney's (What we need to get rid of is liberal toast and replace it with conservative English Muffins) but this speech is just not realistic.

Drill Baby Drill. Choice in Education but not for Women. Blah, Blah, Blah. I was a POW so elect me president. I don't know anything but I will act with determination and from the gut. That is what this country needs, right?

Preview of McCain's Speech....

There is a bear in the woods...Wait, wrong script.

Tonight will be one long non-sequitur:
The 2008 election is the most important in our lifetime because of the dangers in the world. I was a POW. Vote for me. Also, I believe in tax cuts, well now I do. And to social conservatives; see my VP. Reform, reform, reform.

Just don't ask me about the issues such as the economy, the nuances in the war on terror, abortion, and a host of other issues I know nothing about. Just focus on my character because character, not knowledge or judgment is the most important characteristic in this election. See character is part of characteristic.

George Who?

Tell me if I am wrong, the NFL began tonight. The game between the Giants and Washington Ethnic Slurs will be as intellectually stimulating. Oooooooh Commercials.

Sigh

Police State 101: Amy Goodman at the RNC

From Talk Left: Police Arrested Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now, at the RNC. She was charged with "conspiracy to riot."

There is video of the footage.


This is what democracy looks like.

What's Next for G-dub?

According to Dave-TV (not to be confused with Dave TV), the best post-presidential job for George W. Bush is that of a Motivational Speaker. Here's why:

The president understands what it takes to get somewhere in life. For him, every day is a mission accomplished, and he can swiftly sum up his winning philosophy in a few words. "I hope the ambitious realise they are more likely to succeed with success as opposed to failure."

That, and his ability to shoulder responsibility ("My job is a decision-making job. As a result, I make a lot of decisions"), make him ideally suited to a career as a life coach. We expect he'll be in great demand as a motivational speaker. And let's not forget his wide understanding of how industry works. As he once said: "The fact that they purchased the machine meant somebody had to make the machine. And when somebody makes a machine, it means there's jobs at the machine-making place."

What are the Republican voters thinking?

And I don't mean that sarcastically at all! I am truly flummoxed by the recent caucus and primaries. First Huckabee, then McCain, and now Romney. If Thompson wins the next one and then Guiliani after that, where does that leave the Republicans? I find it oddly gratifying that the Republicans are, for once, as indecisive the Democrats.