Horrible Teabaggers Act Horribly

It's comforting for some folks to think that this kind of openly racist jingoistic hate-mongering is something that happens in the deep south. This video was taken in Yorba Linda, California, home of the Nixon Library, curiously enough.

It's mostly audio for the first minute, but there is video after that.
Via Think Progress

Perhaps even more disturbingly, a number of GOP elected officials spoke at the rally. Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA) said to the raucous and hateful crowd, “I’m proud of you, I’m proud of what you’re doing.” Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) said that the multiculturalism “has paralyzed too many of our citizens to make the critical judgement we need to make to prosper as a society.” Most horrifying of all, Republican Villa Park Councilwoman Deborah Pauly, who spoke alongside the congressmen, said that the fundraiser represented “pure, unadulterated evil.” She continued, “I don’t even care if you think I’m crazy anymore. I have a beautiful daughter, I have a beautiful 19 year old son who is a United States marines. As a matter of fact, I know quite a few marines who will be willing to help these terrorists to an early meeting in paradise,” referring to the attendees of the fundraiser:

 

I Didn't See The Oscars

But I don't see why that should prevent me from commenting on them.



Why is Tiny Tim here with Ann Meara?

Oh, that's alleged comedian Russell Brand. Could someone please explain the appeal of this man? I mean, as dreadful as SNL has gotten lately, the episode he hosted had to be far abd away the worst episode ever. His monologue was painful to watch. I think someone told him that Americans don't often use the word "trousers" so if you say "trousers" a lot, Americans will find that hysterical. Um, yeah, not so much. I just felt embarrassed for everyone involved.
So I guess he brought his mum. She must be so proud. Why didn't he bring the other half of Hollywood's least talented couple?


Yes, apparently, this Brand fellow is married to Katy "hey, boys, get a load of these" Perry.

 

I kissed a girl, and I liked it. And I pretended that Jill Sobule didn't already do this song in 1995!

Seriously, how does this woman have a career?

How is it that after all these years THIS  

 

is still a feasible career path? They do know that you can walk into any shopping mall, grocery store or nightclub and see pretty ladies in low-cut outfits, right? How is it that the recording industry still thinks there's something unusually exciting about an attractive woman with lots of cleavage? It's been done to death. Why not get talented musicians?

Oh, speaking of talented musicians, and of people who are not them, Gwyneth Paltrow apparently fancies herself a country singer now?

I guess she's done with the looking down her nose at Americans phase?

And I think the fact that the country music community has embraced her says all you need to know about the sorry state of country music these days. Mother  Maybelle Carter must be rolling in her grave.

  

Country music has a rich heritage, filled with wonderful musicians and songwriters, from Jimmie Rodgers to Bill Monroe to the Louvin Brothers to Johnny Cash to Loretta Lynn  to Wanda Jackson to Waylon Jennings to Dolly Parton up to the present day artists like Lyle Lovett, Son Volt, Old 97's, Gillian Welch, the Dixie Chicks,etc. etc. etc.

But you'd never know it from turning on a "country" music station today. The dreck that you'll hear from "artists" like Shania Twain or Toby Keith, well it's just depressing.

And every song has lyrics that fit this basic template:

Oh, I still live in the same shithole one-horse town where I was born

I never had the immagination to get out

I still drive my beat-up pickup truck

And drink shitty beer in a can

And I love God and America

And I wave the flag of a country that declared war on the United States in order to preserve slavery

And I'm just a reg'lar down-home guy

And that makes me a better person than youuuuuuu. . . .

When the hell did this happen? When did country music go this far off the tracks? Country songs used to be about interesting things, like shooting a man in Reno just to watch him die, or Pancho being a bandit whose horse was fast as polished steel, or turning 21 in prison doing life without parole. Now it's just a contest to see who can be the most ordinary and rural and who loves America and Jesus the most.

In 1972  , Loretta Lynn wrote and recorded a song called "The Pill." It was a song about a woman who is putting her foot down about controlling her own reproductive system. I can't imagine any of today's country singers doing lyrics like this:

You wined me and dined me
When I was your girl
Promised if I'd be your wife
You'd show me the world
But all I've seen of this old world
Is a bed and a doctor bill
I'm tearin' down your brooder house
'Cause now I've got the pill

All these years I've stayed at home
While you had all your fun
And every year thats gone by
Another babys come
There's a gonna be some changes made
Right here on nursery hill
You've set this chicken your last time
'Cause now I've got the pill

This old maternity dress I've got
Is goin' in the garbage
The clothes I'm wearin' from now on
Won't take up so much yardage

Miniskirts, hot pants and a few little fancy frills
Yeah I'm makin' up for all those years
Since I've got the pill

I'm tired of all your crowin'
How you and your hens play
While holdin' a couple in my arms
Another's on the way
This chicken's done tore up her nest
And I'm ready to make a deal
And ya can't afford to turn it down
'Cause you know I've got the pill

This incubator is overused
Because you've kept it filled
The feelin' good comes easy now
Since I've got the pill

It's gettin' dark it's roostin' time
Tonight's too good to be real
Oh but daddy don't you worry none
'Cause mama's got the pill

Oh daddy don't you worry none
'Cause mama's got the pill

Or singing anything like Johnny Cash's "Man in Black" in which he said this about Vietnam:

I wear the black in mournin' for the lives that could have been,
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.

And, I wear it for the thousands who have died,
Believen' that the Lord was on their side,
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
Believen' that we all were on their side.

No, today's country music has gotten so bland, so unimaginative, that it has become a refuge for singewrs whose careers are fading and need to reinvent themselves like Jewel, Darius "Hootie" Rucker, and the egregious Kid Rock. Seriously, did we really need a new version of "Sweet Home Alabama?" Haven't we already heard the original about 10,000 times too often? And have you ever read the lyrics? This is one of the dumbest songs ever written. I only just recently found out what all the words are. For instance, I always thought that the line was "I miss my family once again," which makes sense, but no. According to the internet, the line is actually "I miss old Bammy Once again," which is kind of retarded. Mostly because no one abbreviates Alabam as "Bammy." It's often shortened to 'Bama, but never Bammy.

See?

But the worst part is the verse about Neil Young. It's set up like the singer is really going to zing Neil good.

"I heard Neil Young sing about her.

I heard ol' Neil run her down."

Okay, sounds like fighting words. . .

"Well I hope Neil Young will remember. . ."

Oh boy, here it comes. Get ready for the big Zinger!

"A southern man don't need him around anyhow."

What the fuck? That's all you got? You know, if that was just off the top of your head, then maybe I could accept that, but you had all the time in the world to come up with a stinging rebuke, and all you come up with is "don't need him around?" That's really pathetic.

Well this should accomplish, um, something?

via Wonkette:

SUA National Call to Action Event

Brief Description – Sarah Palin called the Obama Administration’s actions as the “Road to Ruin”! Like most of the USA now, we at Stand Up America think it is a great way to express yourself and learn what is really happening to our country, so what can we do?

Well, you could learn to write a coherent sentence, I guess. See, there's this thing called pronoun-antecedent agreement. When you use a word like "it" that word has to refer back to something. I'll give you an example: Stand Up America wrote a press release and it is totally retarded.  See, the word "it" refers back to the aforementioned press release. If I were referring back to Stand Up America, I would have to say "Stand Up America issued a press release, and they are totally retarded.

In your sentence, the "it" doesn't seem to refer back to anything. ". . .it is a great way to express yourself. . ." doesn't make sense. Are you saying that calling the administration's actions the "Road to Ruin" is a great way to express yourself? I could maybe buy that if the sentence didn't continue "express yourself and learn what is really happening. . ." Calling the administration's actions the "Road to Ruin" is not a way to learn anything.

I'm sorry, my mother was an English teacher.

so what can we do? Well, it seems the normal methods do not work because of entrenched political machinery, moneyed interests, power seeking for power’s sake, and a media that is just plan in the tank. In the past, petitions were signed, marches on Washington and elsewhere were held, Tea Parties were created, letters were written, calls were made, new representatives were elected, yet, the road to ruin is still there. . .

We've held rallies and signed petitions, and that black guy still insists on being president! It's crazy! How could anyone not give in to the demands of protesters? It's unheard of!

 So how do we make our voices known? How do we finally succeed? How do we send a clear message that cannot be twisted by the media, misinterpreted by politicians, or co-opted by Obama apologists? Well, we have come up with one interesting new way. Are you game? 

Am I!

It won’t cost you any money short of a gallon of gas. It won’t take much of your time, only about an hour. It won’t mean travel to distant cities. It won’t mean crowds to wade through, and it won’t interfere with your life too much.
What it will be is FUN, and a great way to vent your frustration, without being labeled, or maligned!

Fun? Why, I love fun! Especially in all caps!

Here is what is planned:
• Sunday, March 13th, 2011 – 4 PM Eastern, 3 PM Central, 2 PM Mountain, and 1 PM Pacific time;
• We want everyone to get into their cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, Semis, box trucks, and any other vehicle, and drive to your nearest highway or main route;
• Don’t go far, just enough to get in a safe position to pull over to the shoulder, and park, engine running, headlights and flashers on;

All right! Wait, what? How is that fun?

• Hook up a boat trailer, a snow mobile hauler, or anything to make the line look miles and miles long, bring your tractor-trailer;

Well, I do enjoy being deceptive.

• Get your car club involved to show off those great hot rods and collectibles;
• Imagine others driving by wondering “what the heck”? Wave to everyone;

Sitting in an idling car AND waving? Do I dare? Won't people wonder "what the heck?" (with the question mark inside the quotation marks)

• Get ten friends to do the same; or go to an over pass and hang temporary signs saying – “Time to stop!” Just imagine the imagery! But be SAFE!

Oh, the imagery! I'm imagining it right now! Mmmmmmmmmmmm. . .

• Once pulled over to the side, place calls or texts to your friends, take pictures, send tweets, flood Facebook with messages and photos, along with several million others on other highways across the land.

Several million?

 

Ahahahahaha!!! Several million! Ahahahahahaha!!!

• Stay one hour if you can, get your friends to do the same, line up all your vehicles in a safe manner as far off the side as you can, and hit your horns.
• One hour gives the media a chance to react, a chance to get footage. Imagine the traffic reports!

Yes, I imagine they would go something like this:
"Tom, traffic seems to be slowing on I-85 as drivers are wondering why these three morons keep hitting their horns for no reason, and why they are all pulled over on the shoulder. Probably drunk. Back to you, Tom."

• Hang a sign inside your back window, or use temporary soap to write a message safely on the window;
• Be a part of millions of people saying: “Stop the madness, we are pulling over and just stopping!”
Imagine the image, when every news outlet in the USA must take notice.

Yes, there's no way the media could possibly ignore several cars pulling off to the side of the road. That's certainly something you don't see every day!

Helicopters recording the event, YouTube filling with videos from every spot in America, with one message: “Just Stop”! Imagine seeing 300 cars pulled over for miles in California, in Texas, in New Jersey…etc.

 Do the math. If a car is 17 feet long, and 10 feet is maintained between each vehicle, it takes only 195 cars to stretch one mile. Imagine 500 tractor trailers pulling over for one hour! That’s over seven miles!

Now imagine 500 blue whales swimming in a row, that's over 50,000 feet of whales!
 Or what if everyone rode an elephant and pulled the elephant over on the side of the road? They sure couldn't ignore that!
Who the hell came up with this hot mess of an idea?

Project Director

F. Lynn Vogel

Born and raised in central Iowa we now reside in the beautiful timbered countryside of the western region of the state.

If you want people to follow your lead, using the royal "we" is good start!

So are you sure that this sort of thing is legal?

Stand Up America does not condone breaking any laws, period! If its illegal, DO NOT DO IT!
 We have stated from the start, that if it is illegal do not do it, if you are uncomfortable with it, don’t do it, but it is not illegal to pull off to the shoulder of a highway to attend to any emergency you may have, or for any reason you feel you cannot continue to operate safely in a travel lane!
[emphasis in original]

So it sounds like, since there is no emergency, this action would in fact be illegal.

Ostensibly, you are not supposed to pull to the shoulder of a super highway for anything other than an emergency, a breakdown, or any other issue that prevents safe operation in the travel lanes. However, after consulting California Highway Patrol officers, they did say, if ordered to move along, you must obey or face arrest, but they are not going to arrest you for pulling over alone!

And everyone knows, if you don't get arrested, it's not illegal!

Its called ‘civil disobedience’ only after you fail to comply with a legal order from a police officer. Prior to that, it is just you pulling over for a reason you deem necessary.
[emphasis in original]

It's only illegal if a cop sees you do it?

Hmm, you know I'm starting to think this "Stand Up America" might be a bunch of kooks!

Paranoia Strikes Deep

I saw this story on Ravings of a Semi-Sane Madwoman.

Tennessee bill would jail Shariah followers

 A proposed Tennessee law would make following the Islamic code known as Shariah law a felony, punishable by 15 years in jail.

That's taking it to a new level! The law is not against forcing Sharia Law on someone. The law would forbid anyone from following Sharia Law themselves. Besides the fact that this is the most blatantly un-constitutional law since the Defense of Marriage Act, how exactly would you hope to enforce this? 

Hey, you! I saw you not committing adultery! You have the right to remain silent!

Say, I noticed you didn't steal anything from that store. You're not adhering to Sharia Law, are you? Oh, the 10 commandments? I guess that's okay, then. But I'm watching you!

 

State Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, and state Rep. Judd Matheny, R-Tullahoma, introduced the same bill in the Senate and House last week. It calls Shariah law a danger to homeland security and gives the attorney general authority to investigate complaints and decide who's practicing it.

Yes, the threat to Homeland Security is not people who want to blow things up and kill people, it's folks following their religious beliefs. And what sort of crazy beliefs are included in Sharia? Well, there's this:

Haraam behavior is explicitly forbidden. It is both sinful and criminal. It includes all actions expressly forbidden in both the Old Testament and the Qur'an. Violating any of the Ten Commandments is considered haraam. Certain Muslim dietary and clothing restrictions also fall into this category.

So not killing would be a felony. Not stealing, a felony. Honoring your parents? you're looking at hard time!

[The proposed law] exempts peaceful practice of Islam but labels any adherence to Shariah law — which includes religious practices such as feet washing and prayers — as treasonous. It claims Shariah adherents want to replace the Constitution with their religious law.

 So you're free to practice your religion peacefully, so long as I don't catch you washing your feet! That's just straight-up treason!

I'm not sure where these idiots got the idea that you can pass a law forbidding the practice of one's religion. Maybe they don't teach the Bill of Rights in Tennessee. (Except the second Ammendment, of course) 

 

This is How The Gays Recruit Our Young People

 

I've almost fallen for this so many times!

Joke's on them though, 'cuz they lose a lot of lesbians that way!

For the record: No, I don't believe that gay people "recruit" kids. And if they did, it wouldn't work, just like it doesn't work to try to "convert" gay people to breeders. Also, if someone did "turn gay" I wouldn't care.