You Might Not Be A Member of the Public

I may have mentioned before that Neal Boortz is a world-class jackass.

If not, let me take this opportunity to point out that Neal Boortz is a world-class jackass. Also an impertinent gasbag. And a dick.

He's the main promoter of the "Fair Tax" scam, despite having no training or background in economics or finance. He wsas a real estate agent, I believe, before going into radio.

So Neal says a lot, a whole hell of a lot, of stupid stuff. But this one, printed in a recent edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, caught my eye:

Years ago I stopped using the ridiculous name “public schools.” These hideous institutions are owned, operated and staffed by government. They’re government schools, not public schools.

Yeah. Okay.
So, apparently, if you are employed by the public school system, you are "government" and not a member of the "public."

I have to assume that the same principle applies to police officers, firefighters, members of the military, postal employees, and transit workers. None of you are considered members of society, so relax! Societal obligations no longer apply to you!

Neal continues :

I bring this up because there is now a movement in Washington — a Democrat-driven movement, of course — to pass yet another bailout bill. This will be a bailout of the pension plans of what they’re calling “public sector unions.” These are government employee unions. The word “public” is being used because the average myrmidon will mutter to themselves: “Public! Why that’s us! They’re doing something for the public!” Nonsense, they’re doing something for themselves.

Yeah, I didn't know what the fuck a "Myrmidon" was either. According to Wikipedia,
The Myrmidons are people of ancient Greek mythology. They are very brave and skilled warriors as described in Homer's Iliad, and are commanded by Achilles. So I have no idea what sort of point he's trying to make other than maybe "look at me, I know big words!"

Does Neal really not understand what the term "public sector" means? I doubt it. I don't think he got to where he is by being that stupid. I think he's just purposely being misleading because he hates the idea of there being a public sector, and wants his readers to share his hate.

Public sector employees provide valuable services like law enforcement, parks maintenance, air traffic control, etc. etc. and they get paid with money that comes from the public in the form, mainly of taxes. Neal can't stand this. So to him, anyone employed by the public sector is some sort of government leech who is somehow not a member of our society. And if you can demonize public sector employees as being part of the hated government, then it's easy to say "fuck them, let their pensions disappear, what the hell have they ever done for us?" As though "they" and "us" are two separate groups.

Screw this guy, he's "Government!" Why should he get to retire comfortably?

To hell with this "government" guy. He's not one of us!

And people really listen to this guy. His radio garbage-fest is syndicated all over. Sometimes I just don't know whether to laugh or cry. Or punch that jackass Neal Boortz right in the weiner.

Did You Hear That?

Did you hear that sound? That's the sound of my last little ounce of respect for Elton John disappearing into the void.

Elton John performs at Rush Limbaugh's wedding for $1M

I didn't think he could sink any lower than when he dueted with notorious homophobe Eminem at some awards show a few years back.

Before that, I didn't think he could sink any lower than recording "That's What Friends Are For."

But this is just pathetic. Rush Limbaugh? Seriously, Rush Limbaugh? How can you possibly need the money that badly? I don't have anything close to your millions, and I'd starve before I took any of that cretin's money. Elton John, you are dead to me.

Glenn Beck Loves Nazis!

From Media Matters:

Beck: No apologies for promoting an anti-Semite Nazi sympathizer

June 07, 2010 11:20 am ET by Simon Maloy

This morning on his radio program, Glenn Beck responded to the general outcry over his approving comments last week for the work of Elizabeth Dilling, a virulent anti-Semite who actively supported Hitler and the Nazis during World War II.

BECK: But I'm also getting some amazing mail from the left that now says I'm a Nazi anti-Semite because I quoted a book on Friday -- it was the Red Book, or something like that. It was a who's who, who's in the communist party in 1935. Apparently, I don't know, apparently written by a Nazi sympathizer here in America. Part of the, I'm sure -- I don't know because I didn't look it up -- but I'm sure part of the Father Coughlin, social justice crowd, because this is the choice that progressives give you -- you're either a Nazi or a communist. No, I'm neither. But now -- so now I'm kind of stuck between the place where the left says that I'm a Nazi sympathizer and a Jew lover. So I guess the left can have it all, that I'm a Jew-loving Nazi sympathizer. It's a really interesting place that I don't know if anybody's ever been.

I don't even know where to begin with a comment like that. It's just so insane and stupid and just nonsensical. Where does this "you're either a Nazi or a Communist" crap come from? I don't even get it. People are criticizing you for promoting a Nazi sympathizer's book (and I'm guessing those complaints are not coming only from the "Left") and you come up with "either a Nazi or a communist?"

you can read the text of the book Beck was pimping here, but here are a couple of excerpts from Media Matters:

...few years, under the opportunities of the American government and the inspiration of Christianity, the American Negroes have acquired professions, property, banks, homes, and produced a rising class of refined, home loving people. This is far more remarkable than that many Negroes are still backward. The Reds play upon the Negroes' love of their own people and represent them as persecuted in order to inflame them against the very white people who have in reality given the colored race far greater opportunities than their fellow negroes would give them in Africa today. [page 36]

It is interesting to note in Communist literature that criminal violence is always promoted and excused under a cloak of supposed martyrdom. Negroes are urged to fight their white "oppressors," who actually have freed them and given them better jobs and opportunities than exist in Africa. [page 55]

Speakers for the debasing and degrading Hindu, Mohammedan, Pagan, and Agnostic Cults are placed in "fellowship" and on an equal footing with speakers for Jesus Christ. The audiences chant a mixture of prayers and ritual from all of these. The savage Mohammedan call of the muezzin as heard in darkest Asia is mingled with the propaganda of the Hindu, Jew and agnostic. Negro choirs and performers give an interracial touch to the meetings. [page 152]

This is the book Beck was promoting on his show, nad he takes umbrage at the criticisms sent his way? Where the hell does he get the balls? It will be interesting to see what FOX's reaction will be. One would think that openly supporting a Nazi apologist would be beyond the pale even for FOX, but I wouldn't bet on it.

I Hate Computers! And Arizona.

Having more trouble with the computer/internet thingie. Now that I finally got it working, I'm too tired to do an actual post. So here's a story from Princess Sparkle Pony about why Arizona is such a fuckawful place:

Public Depiction Of Negro A Little Too Edgy For Prescott, Arizona

(Matt Hinshaw/The [Prescott] Daily Courier)

This is a depressing story, and its resolution is even more so. A group of artists in Prescott, AZ, likes to put murals on every available surface, which is cute, and they recently unveiled a new one at an elementary school. In the center of one part of the artwork is an African American child. Uh oh:

[Mural project director R.E. Wall] attributes the start of the racial controversy to recent comments that Prescott City Councilman Steve Blair made on his KYCA radio talk show about the mural.

On his May 21 show, for instance, Blair said, "I am not a racist individual, but** I will tell you depicting a black guy in the middle of that mural, based upon who's president of the United States today and based upon the history of this community when I grew up, we had four black families - who I have been very good friends with for years - to depict the biggest picture on that building as a black person, I would have to ask the question, 'Why?'"

On Wednesday, Blair again emphasized that "I'm not a racist by any stretch of the imagination, but** whenever people start talking about diversity, it's a word I can't stand."

Blair questions whether the mural is representative of Prescott, noting, "The focus doesn't need to be on what's different; the focus doesn't need to be on the minority all the time."

Blair said he has received a number of calls from long-time Prescott residents who ask, "Who authorized that graffiti on the wall?" He added: "What these people don't like is somebody forcing diversity down their throats."

Yes, well, clearly this is not a racist person. He just dislikes the concept of "diversity."

What came next is astonishing: school officials asked for changes to the mural, coming up with a... whitewashed... reason for why the children's faces should be lightened, not so that they looked less "ethnic," but so that they looked more "radiant and happy."

And then the muralists went ahead and did it! Now, as you can see above, the child basically looks like an Italian with a buzz-cut. Diversity!

There's a lot more in the must-read article linked above which will sadden and infuriate you. Even more depressing are some of the comments left about the paper's earlier article about the mural's unveiling (note that they are just as offended by "environmentalism" as they are by "diversity"):

• The subject matter "green bikes" is virtually the most NON-REPRESENTATIVE, UN-PRESCOTT theme anyone could possibly choose. It is a minority agenda bent on shoving this bike thing "in our face".
• I went to Miller Valley School back in the '50s and this, IMHO, is a disgrace. In San Diego there is an area called Chicano Park and it looks just like this. Welcome to Calizona. Ugh!
• Welcome to the ghetto intersection of Prescott, Az.
• Now that "Mother Earth" has once again been shoved down children's throats how about it being time for someone to paint the Ten Commandments on some of these brick walls? Bring our Creator back to class in the form of art so our kids can have a choice as to what/ whom they desire to worship -the creation or the Creator?!?
• How's you and me searching out a school building and paint the 10 Commandments? Showing kids the story of creation. They can decide what's truth and what belongs in a zoo.

How Many Ways Is This Wrong?

Way this is wrong #1: "Extreme Greenies." Seriously? People who would like to not have large swaths of the planet ruined by crude oil are "extreme?" Really? The ELF is extreme, in as much as they are a real organization. They set shit on fire. That's extreme. Wanting to find an alternative to our national oil addiction, not so much.

Way this is wrong #2: "Greenies" are amphetamine pills. Environmentalists, no matter how extreme, are "Greens." Also known as "responsible adults," "people who give a damn," or "the non-retarded."

Way this is wrong #3: "safe onshore places" No. No, that is not what you said. You said "Drill Baby, Drill," and "Drill Here, Drill Now," you never ever ever said anything about not drilling offshore. You are just lying. Show me where you said "Drill in safe onshore places, Baby, Drill in safe onshore places!" When did you ever say "Drill here, drill now, don't drill over there in the water, that would be unsafe!"

Way this is wrong #4: "safe onshore places" Drilling for oil is never safe anywhere. Oil & Gas Driller is currently ranked the 14th most dangerous job in America,
right after police officer and firefighter. And it's not like spills don't happen with onshore oil drilling, have you seen today's Juneau Empire? Here's a quick excerpt:

ANCHORAGE - Alaska and Alyeska officials say the crude oil spill at a pipeline station near Delta Junction apparently was held within a lined, bermed containment area.

The Department of Environmental Conservation says about 56,000 gallons of pooled oil from the estimated 210,000 gallon spill has been removed.

Way this is wrong #5: Sarah Palin saying that this oil spill/gusher/fuckstorm/whatever proves that she was right is just so absurd. It's like if someone found a knife with OJ's fingerprints on the handle and Nicole's blood on the blade and OJ said "see, I told you I didn't do it." This doesn't support your position, Sarah. You have it entirely backwards. This is exhibit A in the "Sarah Palin was dead wrong in public about drilling for oil" case.

Way this is wrong #6: "Now do you see?" You know, I don't mind being condescended to by someone smarter than me. If Steven Hawking wants to come by and talk down to me about science, I wouldn't feel bad at all. But when someone so obviously, demonstrably, laughably stupid as Sarah Palin takes that tone, it makes my head want to explode. That was my biggest complaint about George Dubya, too. If you're going to be condescending, you could at least be right. Remember when he said something about "People who disassemble," then smirkingly added "that means they don't tell the truth!" wanted to grab him by the lapels, shake him and scream NO IT DOESN"T!!! DISASSEMBLE MEANS TO TAKE APART! DISSEMBLE MEANS TO MISLEAD OR DECEIVE!" It's one thing to get the wrong word, that could happen to anyone, but to stand there smirking, acting like you're going to help us out with the big words when you got the word wrong is just unforgivable.

So that's six. Six ways that I can think of off the top of my head in which Sarah Palin is wrong within a two-sentence missive. That's really kind of impressive. It can't be easy to be that many kinds of wrong in under 30 words.