The "Imbecility" Of It All

[BlogBox]

Hot off the blogs this week: blogger Arrests; a "good set" of GOP family values; remembering Steve Gilliard; BushCo goes all Trekkie; and FOX News Barbie gets "escorted" into orbit. All this, plus DUers IChing, OPERATIONMINDCRIME, and bklyncowgirl on the importance of being informed. Enjoy!

The Imbecility of The "Debates"

First of all, let's call them what they really are: Short Canned Speech Events. On the Dem front, John Nichols at The Nation Blog called Senator Clinton the hands-down winner against... CNNster Wolf Blitzer. Sure, you could follow the play-by-play action at Firedoglake, but blitzing Blitzer's bizarre behavior is a lot more fun.

Meanwhile, on the "Old White Farts/GrOPe 'Em If You Can" front, the winner this week was either God or a non-participant. P.M. Carpenter counted the "God" references in his blog post called, "Imbecility." The human victor, according to Carpenter:

The victor was, of course, candidate-in-waiting Fred Thompson. There's something about a man running for the nation's highest and most demanding office who advertises his stupendous incompetence right off the bat by avoiding any public test of his abilities. Now there's a man for this hapless century for you.

Which one was the biggest hater, guaranteed to stir up the 33 people left in the party? Maybe they should all line up with all of their wives (including all of the discarded ones) and let the rabid right hand out a trophy to the one sporting the best set of... er, family values. While we're on the subject of "sets"...

The "Imbecility" Of The Trophy Wife

From The Newshoggers' Libby, unashamed starter wife, comes the most honest assessment of Mrs. Fred Thompson's... um, assets:

I tried to imagine the photo-ops if Fred became president. The traditional family photo where the step-children look older than the wife. The state visits where the First Lady's blushing youth makes the other wife look like an old hag in comparison. I know it's not unprecedented; Grace Kelly and Queen Noor come to mind immediately, but nonetheless it struck me as awkward with the potential for some embarrassing moments.

Watch out, Libby. Cantankerous campaign staffers might set the cops on you, like...

The "Imbecility" Of Blogger Arrests

Altercation-famous blogger, Eric Alterman (lately of The Nation), got arrested by a Live Free Or Diehard man in blue (for asking why he had to leave a room) and chose Atrios for his "Here's What Happened" explanation. Let's just say there was confusion about a bar, a corridor, and a spin room. Alterman is a free man today and he believes that "CNN will correct some of the misimpressions created by their first story." Oh, right. Sure, Eric. Don't hold your breath.

Also arrested this week: Infowars.com's Matt Lepacek was roughed up and finally arrested by New Hampshire's finest (at the behest of campaign staffers) for asking a Rudolph Giuliani staff member a question. Yes, Lepacek had press credentials. Yes, they arrested him anyway. Jones Report has the details, but here's a snippet:

Lepacek, who was streaming a live report, asked a staff member about Giuliani's statement to Peter Jennings that he was told beforehand that the WTC buildings would collapse. Giuliani's press secretary then called over New Hampshire state police, fingering Lepacek.

If "Bloggers Beware" is the Repuke battle cry this week, it's only fitting that we all take time to remember Steve Gilliard. Steve would've posted a memorable reply to such utter nonsense.

In Memoriam


Steve Gilliard
(1966-2007)

It is with tremendous sadness that we must convey the news that Steve Gilliard, editor and publisher of The News Blog (www.thenewsblog.net), passed away early this morning. He was 41.

To those who have come to trust The News Blog and its insightful, brash and unapologetic editorial tone, we have Steve to thank from the bottom of our hearts. Steve helped lead many discussions that mattered to all of us, and he tackled subjects and interest categories where others feared to tread.

Thanks to Meteor Blades (at Daily Kos) for the thoughtful eulogy. To honor Steve this week, intrepid bloggers continued shining light on BushCo crimes, wasted resources, and other issues even...

Stranger Than Science Fiction

Insert snarky "imbecility" remark here, y'all. Last week, Wired's Sharon Weinberger reported that the Dept. of Homeland Security is shelling out $7 million big ones for "ideas" from sci-fi writers. Two updates to the original post later, it looks like the truth will get you slammed:

Update One: A Homeland Security officials says the $7 million referrred to in the article and here is "NOT for hi-impact "sci-fi" projects (as some may infer if they read this), but specifically for a list of projects that have been identified to answer some very critical needs. For instance: tunnel detection, levee strengthening/rapid repair (we have some cool video if you want to see it on this one!), and even some research into why we're losing our honeybees (think food chain security!), among others."

Update Two: Jason Sigger takes me to task for my "negative vibes." "Why don't we pour a few more billion into the Airborne Laser program?," he suggests sarcastically. Who me? Negative vibes? Well what do you expect from someone who writes about imaginary weapons? Seriously, I'm not against science fiction writers (particularly ones with a scientific background) contributing to the idea pool, but I'm dubious about funding far-fetched technology ideas just because they sound cool (some might even argue that science fiction is what led us to pour billions into the Airborne Laser, something that perhaps should have stayed in the lab a few more years/decades).

$7 million for a "list" of ideas? Now that's really stranger than fiction, y'all. Wait! There's more! More "Imbecility" meets "Imbecility," that is...

Nasty Fascist FOX News Barbie Escorted Into Free Orbit

News Hounds notes that one of Fox's stable of short-skirted (think fascist fundie version of Judy Jetson), Rachel Marsden, was "escorted" out of the FOX News building by security guards.

Marsden writes this on her blog: "... I will no longer be appearing on the show, as I have been told that it is heading in a 'different direction' from its inception, and I am the 'first casualty'. As a political and news commentator, being a panelist on what had become a totally off-the-wall-and-into-orbit show was an interesting experience. It was also the first time that I was ever considered the 'sane one' on any program, so I am grateful for that unique opportunity and wish the boys the very best of luck." Bye, bye, Rachel. You won't be missed!

Sane? Did she say, "Sane?" More like Mudd's wife (ask a Trekkie to explain). In other obscure allusion news...

Surge! Huh! Good Gawd, Y'all!

What is it good for? You know the rest, but did you know it "hasn't even started" yet? Think Progress has the goods on General Betrayus Petraeus' ridiculous explanation for the surging successful attacks on... our troops. Psst! It's an ugly explanation, full of revisionist BushCo do-over nonsense. And there's video, too. Don't miss it, or you'll fall way behind in BushCo excuse mongering. Hey, before you click away from Think Progress, be sure to check out the Republican master-debaters' opinions on pardoning Scooter Libby. Giuliani, of course, was willing to follow the rabid righties off the "no underlying crime was committed" cliff. While we're on the subject of Libby...

Where Are The "Save Scooter!" T-Shirts?

Hey, it could happen. Haven't seen any here in DC (the Repuke "Imbecility" capitol)... yet. Of course, there are zillions of "Scooter's Off To Prison" blog posts this week, but Thought Theater has both great content and art:


Meanwhile, Fred Thompson (R-Raising $$$ I Get To Keep, Even If I Don't Really Run For Prez) reportedly plans to stake his political future on defending Scooter Libby. How do we know this? Why, Katherine Q. Seeyle tells us so in her blog post (yes, Kathy's byline has been dumped into NYT blogland, called The Caucus, boys & girls):

Thompson Favors Libby Pardon
By Katharine Q. Seelye

The 30-month sentence handed down today for I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby could become a rallying cry for Fred D. Thompson, the all-but declared Republican presidential candidate.

(snip)

Championing the Libby cause could further endear Mr. Thompson to some conservatives. It would also carry obvious political risks, but Mr. Thompson has said he doesn't care. A spokesman for Mr. Thompson could not be reached today.

Endear? Is that what they're calling it now? Obvious political risks? Like utter humiliation? On that obvious promissory note, we should all take time out to...

Thank A DUer!

Thanks to IChing for posting And The Horse You Rode In On's "The Periodic Table of Criminal Elements."

Thanks a million to OPERATIONMINDCRIME for a thoughtful post on the true value of DemocraticUnderground.Com.

I think what makes DU valuable is the fact that in any given hour, you can be made aware of almost every noteworthy topic to be made aware of. That's the value of DU to me. And it doesn't matter what the topic is, what position one takes on the topic, or how much one agrees with it. The value lies in being aware that the topic even existed for discussion or debate to begin with. I didn't know about the old Blackwater incident because I hadn't been on DU. Had I have been, I would've known for certain.

So I guess my point is that no matter how frustrating things can seem here, no matter how much bickering, arguing, nonsensical rambling, anger, dissent, differing points of view, provocation, personal attacks, or distasteful interactions there are at times, we are still informed and aware of every possible topic we should be aware of, and to a degree a brazillion times higher than if we just relied on the media like others do.

And many thanks to bklyncowgirl for the great Repuke debate roundup. Here are a few highlights:

Most improved debater: John McCain
Most Consistently Good Debater: Ron Paul
Most Consistently Bad Debater: Tommy Thompson
Most Likely to Set Off Armageddon: Rudy Giuliani

Read the rest. It's a keeper.

What a week of true BushCo "imbecility." Three quarters of the country has turned on the RepubliCONS with a vengeance, yet the corporate-owned media continues to equate the two major parties in terms of popularity and 2008 chances. And judging by the sudden push to have bloggers arrested for asking inconvenient questions, the rancid Repuke playbook pages yet unturned will surely signal more mayhem ahead for truth seekers.

Obviously, we're making a sizable dent, y'all. Keep fighting the tightie righties, and keep blogging! Our freedom and our very lives may just depend on it. And the more they squirm, the more mistakes they make.

-- Delilah Boyd

[emilyg]

1. Excellent. R

[PATRICK]

2. We used to have

a lot more serious complaints about the "debate system" and have given up like a reform with no legs. The situation for both parties who never have allowed the LWV or anyone else spoil the tinkering and rules runs something like this.

Suppose the baseball players got to change the rules and the settings. the outfield would be moved in and the walls lowered. The pitcher's mound would move ten feet closer to home plate. The strike zone would vary according to the clout of the pitcher or batter during negotiations. The umpires would submit all their judgments to the team and- let's not forget the media. Because of the smaller stadium the closeups
and filming would be easier, the action more "dramatic" with zinging pitches and easy home runs. the fewer spectators would not know what hit them. The lighting and the rules would be adjusted by the media
for reasons of their own and depending on which teams and athletes they liked.

Now you have some idea of the intrinsic farce and failed mess that debates can become. It almost seems we need legislation and a Commissioner just to keep the process from further degenerating.

[BurtWorm]

3. "Nasty Fascist FOX News Barbie"

:rofl: :thumbsup: