Fixed Fodder

After yesterday, I think it's safe to say Fixed News has lived up to its sham reputation. I'd rather not mention them at all because I don't consider them a reliable or believable news source, but their hate-ridden tirades continue to appear in brief segment spurts on legitimate news channels and/or late night talk shows. Thankfully, the real news entities treat the segments with the humor and incredulity they deserve. What else can it be but entertainment?

From The Nation:

This fast recap of Fox News' Obama coverage is actually rather effective (100 Days of "Fair and Balanced"). Media Matters runs through one quote a day from the first 100 days, revealing Fox's early and abiding interest in tarring the new President as a socialist sell-out presiding over an "Obama bear market." There are also reports of a "Blame America vibe."

Some of the more interesting public comments following the video include:

When you're the party organ (in more ways than one) representing the views of Utah, Wyoming and the deep, deep South, with no ideas of your own, what else can you do?

That is an amazing video and shows just how bent and warped Fox "News" really is. One could speculate that there is some sort of horrible, horrible anger at the fact that the Republicans are now in the wilderness behind these demented tirades on Fox.

More goodies:

• Fox not granted a question at Obama's press conference

Why acknowledge a non-entity? Fixed News is not a legitimate news source, and in my view should be banned from the White House altogether. "Fair and balanced" is an appropriate misnomer for the worst possible channel on the airwaves. It has to be obvious to reasonable people by now that Fixed News is hate-driven, fanatical and ruled with the demented iron fist of Rupert Murdoch.

• Republicans struggle for direction in wake of Sen. Arlen Specter's defection

Republicans tried to downplay Specter’s defection by saying it was not a national issue but rather an issue for the voting public of Pennsylvania only. Good luck with that form of denial. Despite what they may think at this point, the GOP does not control the relevance of any news issues.

However, my favorite quote of the day has to be from RNC Chairman Michael Steele who said that it was "disingenuous for conservatives to blame Democrats for bailing out Wall Street, since the original bailouts were approved by President Bush."

As noted by Think Progress:

STEELE: Look, we can't go back out and start pointing fingers at Democrats and saying look how bad they're performing, look at what they're doing with the economy when we jump-started this thing. We were the ones that put the $700 billion on the table and said, all right, let's start nationalizing the banking system. So now, for us to stand back and go, oh, that's a bad thing to do is disingenuous. So let's own up, do the "my bad" and move forward.

I always begin my morning with a cup of coffee and a perusal of Think Progress. I just love starting the day with a smile on my face.

Red Kibosh

You have to love it:

• Local GOP cancel speech by Utah's Republican governor because he’s too moderate

Isn't Utah one of the few red states left in the country, other than the southern collection?

Un-Americans

It's hard to believe this type of garbage still exists:

• Rebranding Hate in the Age of Obama

Anyone who advocates or participates in such hateful pastimes cannot seriously consider themselves true Americans.

All forms of bigotry, racism and other hateful behavior are categorically un-American. Too bad we can’t ship all the miscreants to a deserted southern island somewhere, where they can clash over their definition of supremacy amongst themselves.

Day Be Blessed

I made the mistake of flipping into Fixed News tonight while the Hannity sideshow was airing. In my area, Fixed News follows MSNBC in the channel lineup so I am often the unfortunate but very quick recipient of their psycho-babble.

I hovered for about a minute, dumbstruck by his panel: Mark Fuhrman, a dark-haired lady who wouldn't let anyone else talk, and one lone man to the left of the screen who seemed to be the only voice of reason in the "discussion" lineup.

First of all, is it any surprise that former racist cop Fuhrman is dead-set against President Obama or that the dipstick Hannity welcomes him into the same airspace?

They were talking about the milestone of Obama’s first 100 days in office, and Hannity made a side remark along the lines of "you mean the first 100 days down the toilet."

Eh? Where do these people get their information? The country was already down the toilet when President Obama stepped into office, thanks to Bush and friends.

Here's the real news, folks:

• Poll: Obama gets high marks for first 100 days

Someday Fixed news will wake up and smell the coffee, or maybe – rather hopefully – go the way of their mealy-mouthed counterparts in the Senate minority.

Right Ineptitude

I've been laughing all day over the current political news stories. It goes to show that incompetence cannot be hidden or blustered away forever:

• Radical Right Drives Specter Out Of The Republican Party
• Global Warming Denier Michele Bachmann Named To Energy Solutions Group
• Steele mad that Specter disrespected him: I know his mama didn’t raise him that way

And the day isn't even over yet.

What's Good for the Goose...

This was simply too rich to pass up:

• Bush Flashback: War Crimes Will Be Prosecuted - It Will Be No Defense To Say I Was Just Following Orders

I've always known Bush and his friends were blatant hypocrites. His beyond-the-pale reasoning and excuses to invade Iraq are not only archetypal but a sad commentary on one man's embroidered view of himself.

Thank God the menace known as Bush is now gone. It's too bad his self-serving party won't do the same.

Typical Day at Fixed News

Will this news organization ever join the ranks of the legitimate?

• Fox won’t air Obama’s 100 days press conference

However, ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC and CNN will be airing the press conference.

What is Fixed News afraid of now? That their viewers will finally see the light and make them even more irrelevant than they already are?

First Flush

As I've said before, I think President Obama has accomplished more in his first one hundred days in office than any other president in my recent memory.

• The first 100 days of the Obama economy

Of course, right-wingers view the first flush of the Obama Presidency much differently despite public record and despite the viable facts staring them in the face on a daily basis.

I am very happy with the job President Obama is doing, needless to say. It is refreshing to see a leader take charge for the good of the people rather than witnessing the good old boy from Texas working in secret and to the detriment of middle-class Americans.

Run Rudy Run

On what forms of public service and accomplishment does Rudy Giuliani hope to run for governor of New York State, aside from the brief time he was Mayor of NYC following 9/11?

• Sharpton Dares Rudy to Run for Guv

Giuliani mocked "community organizers" during the Republican National Convention last year, which to me indicates he has no idea how to relate to common people. If no one remembers, please let me remind you via the words of Obama Campaign Manager David Plouffe:

Both Rudy Giuliani and Sarah Palin specifically mocked Barack's experience as a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago more than two decades ago, where he worked with people who had lost jobs and been left behind when the local steel plants closed. Community organizing is how ordinary people respond to out-of-touch politicians and their failed policies. And it's no surprise that, after eight years of George Bush, millions of people have found that by coming together in their local communities they can change the course of history. Meanwhile, we still haven't gotten a single idea during the entire Republican convention about the economy and how to lift a middle class so harmed by the Bush-McCain policies.

It might be old news, but the concept certainly paints an accurate picture of Giuliani as unfit for public office, let alone as the sitting governor of New York.

Fear & White Men

Why is it that older, white men seem to hate strong women in the public eye? For example, every man I know over the age of fifty detests Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Walters, Judge Judy, Roseanne, and the like.

Are older men threatened by strong women who speak their mind?

What about "strong men" in the media? Why not hate them instead?

John McCain is a good example. The "Maverick" speaks his mind and no one thinks a thing about it. When he bleats in public it is no different than a woman doing the same, yet men seem to find the female version easy to despise and fear.

Hopefully as the population is replenished by males from the younger generation, such dichotomy will no longer exist.

The Party of No

Great page to keep an eye on:

• The Party of No

It's a suitable moniker for a political party that has no alternative solutions to the issues but loves to trash a President who is finally doing his job, unlike his predecessor.

Here are just a few examples from It's Your Times by Wise Merlin:

• Do Republicans like Obama’s budget? NO.
• Do Republicans have an alternative budget? NO.
• Do Republicans like Obama’s stimulus package? NO.
• Do Republicans have an alternative Stimulus package? NO.
• Do Republicans like Obama’s “bailout” package? NO.
• Do Republicans have an alternative “bailout” package? NO.
• Do Republicans like Obama’s “new” regulations for Wall Street? NO.
• Do Republicans have alternative “new” regulations? NO.
• Do Republicans like Obama’s Health Care plan? NO.
• Do Republicans have an alternative Health Care plan? NO.

And so on and so forth.

Big Yawn

If the reason Dick Cheney continues to spout is to preserve his legacy, I truly don't understand why.

• Cheney now unapologetic and unrestrained

Who does he think will read his memoirs? The people who didn't vote for Barack Obama? The fanatic and bigoted right-wingers who are hanging on by their fingernails?

I would not waste my time and money on anything Cheney has a hand in. He certainly won't shed the light of truth on the current torture swirl, and I still can’t fathom what if anything he contributed overall to the United States in the first place.

Rants & Chuckles

Janeane Garofalo is right on the money when it comes to identifying the hypocrisy of the Republican Party and its self-righteous members.

Therefore, I had a long chuckle over the following:

• Fixed News Guest Smears Garofalo With His Own Rant

The so-called television news organization and it's moronic guests are obviously uncomfortable with Ms. Garafalo. Is her truth hitting a little too close to home?

Toxic Burn

While any form of human or animal torture is deplorable, and investigation and or subsequent punishment should be conducted thereof, opening up this particular can of worms might color Barack Obama's presidency if he is not careful.

The President has been on the right path since he walked into the White House. He has made decisions based on what will benefit the American people and not a political party, and he has accomplished more in the three months he has been in office than any other President in my recent memory. I would hate to see his first or second terms consumed in the media by the investigation of insidious mistakes made by his predecessor and his sidekick.

• Holder declassifies timeline of actions by top Bush officials on interrogation

However, those who ordered torture of prisoners in the first place should be held accountable. Heads should roll from the top. No one is above the law, contrary to what Bush and his friends once thought or continue to think. Securing the safety of our country is extremely important, but the fact that we were not attacked after 9/11 during the remainder of Bush’s term was in my view just his dumb luck, not the result of excessive torture methods or secret memos now coming to light.

I am of the firm opinion that Bush will go down in history as one of our nation's worst presidents. I just wish his toxic overflow would roll away instead of getting in the way of the good works of our current President.

Covering Thine Arse

Dick Cheney's recent round of public interviews are nothing more than lame attempts to cover his ass, and that of his former boss. If the former veep had any sense, he would fade into the woodwork because he is not doing the Republican party any favors.

• Gruesome origins of torture tactics overlooked: Officials failed to probe the history, efficacy of brutal interrogation methods

The entire right-wing broadcast display is as obvious as the sun in the sky, but in typical Republican fashion Cheney and friends (namely Fixed News) view the general public as a horde of complete idiots who will buy into anything they have to spew. Maybe the Stepford-wife-type viewers of Fox Noise buy into it because they still cannot accept Obama as President and will try anything to detract from the work he is doing, but those of us with a brain in our head know which way the wind blows.

On the other hand, it is a good thing if the likes of Cheney, Limbaugh and Fixed News continue to scream into the airwaves. It makes them, and their affiliated party, look more idiotic and irrelevant by the day.

Keep up the good work, boys!

On a totally unrelated note, has anyone else noticed that Fixed News refers to the President as "Obama" rather than "President Obama" in their news headlines? Their not-so-transparent hostility and denial is laughable and paints that particular news agency as far from "fair and balanced."

Frat Chuckles

What did they expect?

• Cable Anchors, Guests Use Tea Parties as Platform for Frat House Humor

Objective people know a good joke when they see one.

Pro Choice

I was born and raised Catholic, but I refuse to let a priest, Pope or government tell me what to do with my body or any other part of my life. It's none of their damned business. Those who are pro-life can go ahead and do what they think is morally just, but they have no right to shove their beliefs down my throat in the process. If pro-lifers are peeved with people who disagree with them, they can simply stay away from the machinations and quit forcing their views on the rest of us. People can make up their own minds, obviously, which is the point of being pro-choice.

And how do I reconcile the Catholic edicts with my views? I've always felt a great peace after Catholic Mass and will continue to attend whether I receive communion or not, but I separate the church's perception on what people should do in their personal lives as opposed to what we do while in the pew.

Pro-choice has always been my stance and I cannot envision any argument that would make me feel otherwise.

Out with the Rip Tide

The former Mayor of New York City is living in another world:

• Rudy Blasts Paterson's Gay-Marriage Push

According to the article, Rudy Giuliani "predicts it [legalized gay marriage] would spark a revolt that would help Republicans get back into office in 2010."

What planet is he living on? The antiquated and similarly bigoted views of most of the members of the Republican Party did not hold much sway during the Presidential election, and they promise little progression or solutions now.

I find it to be similar to marginalization because of race. If you aren't white, a religious fanatic bordering on skin-head fervor, or morally presentable despite much personal hypocrisy, then you must be anti-American, subversive and perverted.

What a load of codswallop.

What are conservatives afraid of? Are they filled with panic from the far-flung idea that everyone might actually be equal in our society? That race, gender, religion or sexual orientation should have no part in any political process? Do they assume gay people are demented perverts that are after their children?

What about the seemingly normal and moral next door neighbor who is heterosexual and a raging pedophile to boot? I'd be much more worried about that prospect that the presence of a gay couple in my vicinity.

What is wrong with these people? Are they so deep-seated by bigotry and self-righteousness that they can't function in the real world? Crying foul seems to be the only thing they are capable of these days, even when their panic buttons are created from their own self-indulgent delusions.

The far-right wingers need to go out with the rip tide, and die a politically peaceful and semi-dignified death.

Right Wing Nuts

How much more ridiculous can the right-wing get?

• Anti-tax "tea parties" being held across U.S.

Why weren't the wing nuts out in full force when Bush was on a drunken eight-year spending spree? Money being injected into the economy at present is to clean up the fiscal mess left by Bush and his friends, but of course right-wingers don't see it that way.

Granted, some people may have been protesting today about excessive government spending, but they need to camp outside Bush's plush front door in Texas rather than make national spectacles of themselves.

Frankly, I believe today's upheaval was more about Republicans in denial about President Barack Obama than any form of government spending.

And it's no surprise that Fixed News is behind another showcase of Republican idiocy.

• As Fox Host Denies Tea Parties Are "A Right-Wing Conspiracy," Fox Chyron Touts American Solutions.Com
• Pelosi: Tea parties are part of an "astroturf" campaign by some of the wealthiest people in America.

The right-wing nuts' liberal use of the term "grassroots" in the media was a day-long dead giveaway.

Friday Roundup

I found a wonderful source for current news in the political spectrum. My wrap-up for the week includes headlines from Think Progress.

More proof that Fixed Noise (Fox News) reports are biased, corrupt and inaccurate...

• Ignoring Fox News polling, Fox News' Neil Cavuto claims radical anti-Obama tea party protests are a popular wave.
• Fox seeks to profit off recession, plans new reality show exhibiting company layoffs.

And further proof, as if we needed it, that Republicans are increasingly irrelevant and mainly comprised of Southern extremists that have no place on the National Stage:

• Right Wing Hysterical Over Obama's 'Not At War With Islam' Remarks.
• Perino: Where is the proof that Bush alienated people around the world?
• Republican Members of Congress Embrace Radical Anti-Obama Tea Party Protests.

With the South, we all know it's not about taxes but rather that a man of color is sitting in the White House.

I don't know how they can label themselves as legitimate Americans.

I wrote this on my Twitter page yesterday:

I have a question: What have Republican members of Congress accomplished since the election, besides gripe about every move President Obama makes and wave a spurious alternative budget in the faces of the country?

During a report on MSNBC the other day, I heard one commentator (Robert Shrum), state in so many words that the Republicans are trying to scramble to get their face back in time for the next elections.

Isn't their purpose in Washington to serve their constituents back home rather than furthering their own political agendas?

Dignity Recurs

Does anyone in their right mind recall a time when former president Bush went abroad and we all gleamed with pride? I didn't think so.

Being represented to the world by a sneaky, dishonest and dishonorable divider was a continual embarrassment for the excruciatingly painful eight years the man occupied the White House.

At last, times have thankfully changed.

• Busy agenda fuels Obama's first trip to Europe

In President Obama we now have a true leader, a man who has the best interests of the American people at heart rather than the awry good ole boy spectacle that preceded him.

It's a refreshing, pleasant change to feel pride as the President goes forth as our envoy to the world.