Agitprop: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Propaganda

This-ism, That-ism

Socialism:

so·cial·ism  (ssh-lzm) n.

1. Any of various theories or systems of social organization in which the means of producing and distributing goods is owned collectively or by a centralized government that often plans and controls the economy.

2. The stage in Marxist-Leninist theory intermediate between capitalism and communism, in which collective ownership of the economy under the dictatorship of the proletariat has not yet been successfully achieved.

National Socialism:

Nazism, known officially in German as National Socialism (German: Nationalsozialismus), refers to the totalitarian ideology and practices of the Nazi Party or National Socialist German Workers’ Party under Adolf Hitler, and the policies adopted by the dictatorial government of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945.

Nazism is often considered by scholars to be a form of fascism. While it incorporated elements from both left and right-wing politics, the Nazis formed most of their alliances on the right. The Nazis were one of several historical groups that used the term National Socialism to describe themselves, and in the 1920s they became the largest such group.

The Nazi Party presented its program in the 25 point National Socialist Program in 1920. Among the key elements of Nazism were anti-parliamentarism, Pan-Germanism, racism, collectivism, eugenics, antisemitism, anti-communism, totalitarianism and opposition to economic liberalism and political liberalism.

No wonder the Nazi-Soviet pact only lasted for two years...

see also: It's Called Fascism, Asshole and Won't Hurt A Bit

The 2008 Republican Message Explained

Bush Predicts

Bush on Immigration Reform:  "I'll see you at the bill signing."

Bush on Middle East Peace: "There is going to be a signed peace treaty."

Why don't I trust him?

The Classics

Whatever happened to Tidmus?

And of course ...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

The Banned Bush Interview

Always worth watching ... I love it when foreign journalists don't sit there and let him regurgitate talking points.

DO. NOT. WANT.

The Ole Perfesser must be stopped.  Go vote for Lindsay (pictured) here.

And vote for Actor212 here - he desperately needs the attention.

It's Officially Blowvember (UPDATED)

Doesn't say whether he's a Republican but, given the events of Cocktober, one can make an educated guess:

Meet Paul Schum. The Kentucky man, a Catholic school principal, is facing a prostitution charge after Louisville police found him dressed like a woman and loitering in an alley Tuesday night.

According to a criminal citation, a copy of which you'll find here, Schum, 50, was wearing fishnet stockings, fake breasts, and "all black leather" when officers discovered him "loitering in high drug trafficking and prostitution area." The citation notes that Schum, who heads Bethlehem High School, had "no reason for why he was in alley ... dressed up in women's leather other than for prostitution." Schum, now on paid leave from his school post, is due in court on November 27 to answer a misdemeanor charge of loitering for the intent of prostitution.

He makes Bob Allen look like an amateur, you'll agree.  Smoking Gun has more here.

UPDATE:  It looks like it'll be a Blowvember to remember - we've got another Larry Craig toe-tapping incident:

DAYTONA BEACH -- A former Daytona Beach city commissioner and a local high school teacher arrested Thursday during a sex sting at a Volusia mall bathroom were released from the Volusia County Brach Jail today, authorities said.

Former commissioner and mayoral candidate Mike Shallow and David Behringer, an athletic trainer and teacher at Seabreeze High School, posted $1,000 bail today after midnight, a jail spokesman said.

(snip)

"Most everything that's occurring is nonverbal," said Sgt. Jeff Hoffman, supervisor of the criminal suppression team.

Offenders coughed or sneezed, tapped their feet, sometimes under the stall beside them, or made loud zipper noises to attract attention from others interested in engaging in sexual acts, Hoffman said.

Again, no evidence he's a Republican, but Paddy's post outs him as a conservative.

UPDATE 2: Melissa emailed me regarding Shallow's party affiliation:

Here, under "Friday, July 20th, 2007" - Shallow contributed to the campaign of Volusia County States Attorney John Tanner, who, according to here, is a Republican.  So, if he's not a registered Republican, he nonetheless contributes their campaigns!

The Dodd Abides

What a strange week.  First, Senator Christopher Dodd drew a line in the sand on telecom immunity.  Barack Obama, pretty sure that it was now safe to come out against immunity, said he was against the bill.  Now we have Obama going on a "gospel tour" with this guy:

Gospel singer Donnie McClurkin, who has detailed his struggle with gay tendencies and vowed to battle "the curse of homosexuality," ... [is of the] view that sexuality can be changed by religious intervention.

"I can't let off. I didn't call myself -- God called me to do what I do," McClurkin told The Post's Hamil R. Harris. The Grammy winner declared, "If this is a war, we are willing to fight. Not a war of violence, but a war of purpose."

Well that should alienate pretty much everybody Barack needs to win the primaries and the nomination.  Can we declare his campaign dead?

As for Mr. Dodd - show him some love.

Best Comment EVAR

With Bush fatigue setting in, I thought I'd just plagiarize today.  Remember when Cheney was in charge for a while?  Commenter Lionel Hutz at Wonkette penned a schedule for the Vice President that cheers me up whenever I read it.

Well, if I lived in Iran, I wouldn't be sleeping well.

Itinerary for the Cheney Presidency:

10:30 a.m. President Bush placed under anesthesia, Vice President Cheney assumes command of both the Executive Branch and the Fourth Branch of Government.

10:31 a.m. Cheney tastes ceremonial first infant.

10:35 a.m. Cheney fires Congress.

10:37 a.m. Cheney issues contract to Halliburton to be new Congress.

10:45 a.m. Cheney lines up several lawyers, shoots them all in the face.

11:01 a.m. Cheney bombs Iran.

11:07 a.m. Cheney goes to Halliburton/Congress to seek authority to bomb Iran.

11:09 a.m. Halliburton/Congress grants authority to bomb Iran.

11:10 a.m. Halliburton/Congress announces that decision to grant Cheney Authority to bomb Iran cost $4 billion, only 750% higher than the original estimate.

11:35 a.m. Cheney announces that his grandson, Samuel David Cheney, will now be considered his heir and will be worshiped as a God.

11:52 a.m. Cheney announces that he has declared Syria illegal, bombing will commence within the next half hour.

12:04 p.m. Cheney bombs Syria, sites secret provision of the Halliburton/Congressional approval of his bombing of Iran that gave him permission to do "what ever the hell he wants to."

12:32 p.m. Cheney announces that all televisions must be tuned to Fox News. Special listening devices that had been installed in every television under the Patriot Act will report any violations.

12:53 p.m. Cheney demands that all first born male children under two years old be brought to him, as he hungers.

1:13 p.m. Cheney launches surprise attack on Paris.

1:38 p.m. Cheney takes a break for the first annual "Rolling the Bones of the Dead" celebration on the front lawn of the White House.

1:53 p.m. Cheney goes up to the White House master bath, bathes in the blood of the innocent.

2:12 p.m. Cheney announces that he found secret clause of the Constitution that states that any person that has had a colonoscopy may not serve as President.

2:15 p.m. Cheney announces that former President George W. Bush will retire to Gitmo.

2:22 p.m. Cheney sends Federal Marshals to find Patrick Leahy and help him fuck himself.

2:35 p.m. Cheney bombs Moscow. States "We've wanted to get those fucks since I was with Ford in 1974."

2:45 p.m. Cheney asks Halliburton/Congress for law demanding that all bow down before him.

3:03 p.m. Cheney announces open casting call for the movie version of Lynne Cheney's book Sisters.

3:12 p.m. Cheney announces invasion of Canada. States he doesn't trust anyone that lets people speak French in their country, and that they had been holding out on us and had oil.

9/11 Changed Nothing (More)

Heard this yesterday - at least somebody's talking about it:

Warrantless surveillance of U.S. citizens is often defended as a necessary security measure in a post-Sept. 11 world. But NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr says the administration's push for expanded surveillance powers actually began months before the Sept. 11 attacks.

Haven't seen this on memeorandum yet (unless I missed it) ... what the hell is going on?  Anyone else seen coverage?

In other Orwelllian news, it turns out Verizon caved in to the Bushies and gave them whatever phone records they wanted:

Verizon Communications, the nation's second-largest telecom company, told congressional investigators that it has provided customers' telephone records to federal authorities in emergency cases without court orders hundreds of times since 2005.

The company said it does not determine the requests' legality or necessity because to do so would slow efforts to save lives in criminal investigations.

Can we impeach them now?

UPDATE:  Warren Olney is going to discuss this issue on To The Point at about 2:45 EST (820 AM in New York City).

9/11 Changed Nothing

Why aren't more people talking about this?

Former chief executive Joseph P. Nacchio, convicted in April of 19 counts of insider trading, said the NSA approached Qwest more than six months before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, according to court documents unsealed in Denver this week.

...Nacchio's account, which places the NSA proposal at a meeting on Feb. 27, 2001, suggests that the Bush administration was seeking to enlist telecommunications firms in programs without court oversight before the terrorist attacks on New York and the Pentagon. The Sept. 11 attacks have been cited by the government as the main impetus for its warrantless surveillance efforts.

...In a statement released after the story was published, Nacchio attorney Herbert Stern said that in fall 2001, Qwest was approached to give the government access to the private phone records of Qwest customers. At the time, Nacchio was chairman of the president's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee.

"Mr. Nacchio made inquiry as to whether a warrant or other legal process had been secured in support of that request," Stern said. "When he learned that no such authority had been granted and that there was a disinclination on the part of the authorities to use any legal process, including the Special Court which had been established to handle such matters, Mr. Nacchio concluded that these requests violated the privacy requirements of the Telecommunications Act."

Let's put on our tinfoil hats for a moment, shall we?  Do you think the criminal gang that's been spying on us basically since the moment they took office will leave quietly?  Do you think they'll let Hillary take over?  Or do you think it's just a matter of time before they fill the camps with foul-mouthed lefty bloggers?

Obscure GOP Pervert of the Day

Christian Clown Busted With Kiddie Porn Cache

UPDATE 2  - Department of Corrections - turns out the busted clown is a) a Christian clown; b) a pervert, and c) not Jerry Kautz, who is also Klutzo the Clown.  A genuine heartfelt apology to Mr. Kautz. 

UPDATE - Department of Corrections:  turns out the pervert clown is not the Christian clown.  At least that Christian clown ... maybe a different Christian clown.  More updates tomorrow.

At first it was obscure GOP pervert of the week, but we've had to change it to a daily feature:

An Illinois man who worked as a "Christian clown" named Klutzo was arrested yesterday on child pornography charges for allegedly taking naked photographs of young boys at a Philippines orphanage. According to a federal criminal complaint, Amon Paul Carlock took the illicit photos during a "clowning" trip to the House of Joy orphanage earlier this year.

[snip]

On his web site, Carlock (who has worked with his wife, a fellow clown) describes himself as a Christian clown who performs at parties, picnics, vacation Bible school, children's church. Carlock told investigators that he previously traveled to the House of Joy in 2004 and visited a Mexican orphanage in 2002. He also reported being an ordained minister who has been involved in pastoral ministry, Christian education and camping, and evangelism since 1967. In one Internet posting on a missionary outreach site, Carlock sought to volunteer at an overseas orphanage "doing any tasks that I am capable of doing. Wife cannot come due to work."

Sure, it's possibile that an "ordained minister" and evangelist isn't a Republican, but do you think it's a pretty safe bet he is?

Handicapping the Right

Former counselor to the Dear Leader Dan Bartlett (on the right in this AP photo) tells us why the Republicans seeking the White House are toast:

Huckabee:  just say "President Huckabee" a few times - you'll get it;

McCain:  poor confused old man likely to go down in flames (again);

Romney:  adherent of a scary religion and insufficient hatred of brown people;

Rudy!:  liberal, abortion-loving, gun-hating, thrice-married, atheist former mayor of Mantattan, Queens, Sodom, Gomorrha, and the Bronx will be torn to shreds by the fundies once they figure out he's a liberal, abortion-loving ....

Thompson:  poor confused old man, also incoherent.

Should be fun.  Pass the popcorn.

When Wingnuts Attack

Today Instaputz asks whether the wingnuts who frothed at the mouth over General Betrayus will do the same when a conservative rag attacks Bush's puppet.  Agitprop, never content to leave well enough alone, encourages you to leave the Instaputz link in every wingnut blog you can find.  Let's see if we can start a shitstorm.  Agitprop threw out the first ball by leaving the link in at Cap'n Ed's, but he hasn't approved the comment yet. 

And Ed now has to decide whether to delete our trackback.

Smoking Gun

Doesn't this add to your overall feeling of security?

In the October issue of Conde Nast Portfolio, Contributing editor Christopher S. Stewart goes inside the growing gun empire of Justin Moon, the C.E.O. of Kahr Arms, who’s also the son of Reverend Sun Myung Moon, the leader of the Unification Church. Kahr Arms is facing a landmark lawsuit for negligence that has other gunmakers watching the case with trepidation.

We also learn from the interview that Justin's dad Reverend Moon is gunning (sorry) for a pardon from George W. Bush, possibly the last president stupid enough to do it:

While it’s true Moon has sought a pardon since the latter years of Ronald Reagan’s administration, Moon also has counted on powerful political connections to shield his business activities from renewed federal investigation that otherwise might have pried into criminal offenses ranging from money laundering to evading the U.S. embargo on the rogue state of North Korea.

Um, paging Patrick Fitzgerald?  Eliot Spitzer?

Little Georgie Bush, Age 8

Little Georgie Bush doesn't want Mahmoud at his party:

White House officials did not expect the two presidents to cross paths in the U.N. building.

Ahmadinejad also would not be attending the president's reception and dinner for fellow world leaders at his hotel in the evening.

"Lost in the mail," [press secretary] Perino said of Ahmadinejad's invitation.

Of course, ignoring a problem always works. 

Weekend Wingnut Roundup

Osama made another tape, and the wingnuts are in high dudgeon.  As always, one is a direct quote:

Astute Bloggers - Osama moved his right hand in the video, so the end is nigh.
Atlas Shrugs - another wingnut says Osama made a nuclear threat against New York City ... who am I to argue?
Blue Crab Boulevard - look!  I photoshopped Osama's head onto a Che Guevara t-shirt to make a point even I can't articulate.
bRight and Early - Osama says convert to Islam or die, so we have to stay in Iraq for an infinite number of Friedmans.
Captain's Quarters - I am delusional enough to believe the surge has pushed al Qaeda all the way to the Syrian border.
Cold Fury - Osama is quite shrill, yet he offers no real policy alternatives.
Don Surber - Osama equals Noam Chomsky equals Michael Moore equals ... where was I going with this?
Gay Patriot - I can see the bumper stickers now! Osama/Obama ‘08.   Hillary/Bin Laden — Bill Misses You.  Edwards/Osama - Delivering Both Americas To Islamism.
Little Green Footballs - the new Osama video has convinced me he's dead.
Redstate - Osama sounds more and more like a Daily Kos Kontributer every day.
Right Wing Nuthouse - Osama has Bush Derangement Syndrome ... just like the leftards!
Sister Toldjah - OBL hates capitalism, slams neocons, trashes Donald Rumsfeld, praises Noam Chomsky - see, I told you that's where the Democrats get their talking points!
Weasel Zippers - geeze, Osama looks like shit.

graphic: Comandante Agi

Outrage Grab Bag

Various outrages of the day include:

Waxman confirms existence of Rove's "politicization teams.'

Fellow blogger Crackpot Press was screwed by his health insurance (not good when you're a Type 1 diabetic) and needs suggestions.

Predictably, the right wing nut-o-sphere yearns for a president-for-life as the Dear Leader's exit approaches.

The Bush administration thinks lead in your kids' toys is just fine thank you.

China sending us used unsterilized chopsticks.

No energy to visit wingnut blogs today - you're on your own.

Weekend Wingnut Roundup (v. 2.0)

Yes, one's a direct quote - figure it out in the comments.  No peeking.

Ace of Spades - Tip O'Neil's famous 'all politics is local' dictum spells victory in Iraq merely because the Dear Leader invoked it.
American Thinker - if we're going to have a serial adulterer as the Republican nominee, why not Newt?
Atlas Shrugs - don't you just hate the fucking Belgians?
Blogs for Bush - look, we found another Democrat stupid enough to believe the surge is working!
Blue Crab Boulevard - ammo prices are way up, but it has nothing to do with the fact that Bush's wars are sucking up all the bullets.
Captain's Quarters - naked people cause far more global warming than the rest of us.
Confederate Yankee - if I beat this dead Beauchamp horse long enough we'll win in Iraq.
GOP Bloggers - look, Mitt Romney bought enough votes to win another meaningless straw poll!
Hot Air - sure the Republican party is the worst thing to happen to women's rights in generations, but I'd like to point out that the Qur'an does similar damage if you focus on the right parts.
Hugh Hewitt - when the White House lies to you in September about the 'progress' in Iraq, remember that you will be hearing a lie carefully tailored to your demographic.
Instapundit - when the Dem-controlled Congress passes legislation they don't understand and gives Bush more powers I'll complain about it, but when Republicans do that it's fine.
Little Green Footballs - the extreme viciousness of the left is clearly demonstrated by their admission that they're nowhere near as vicious as us wingnuts.
Macsmind - you think al Qaeda is a Saudi Arabian phenomenon, but in fact the group was founded in Bosnia by one Bill Clinton.
Michelle Malkin - Brussels is a caliphate, in fact there's a violent Muslim under every fucking rock in Belgium.
NRO (Jonah Goldberg) - although I'm not sure of the Muslim view of Jesus, I'm certainly willing to post a shitload of emails claiming Muslims deny he's the Christ.
NRO (Michael Ledeen) - if I link to enough wingnuts who claim we're at war with Iran, Bush will go to war with Iran.
NRO (Rich Lowry) - Hillary was impressive and polished as always; Obama seemed strong too; everyone else faded into the background. But I can't say who won until the focus-group results are in!
Patterico's Pontifications - my rosy view of the Iraq war comes, in part, from shit I read in Popular Mechanics.
Riehl World View - I'm stupid enough to believe that Bush wouldn't have sold the Saudi's a bunch of weapons unless he needed to placate them because the Sunnis are getting screwed in Iraq ... which they are.

Another week, another crop of wingnuts.

graphic: Comandante Agi

Wave Bye Bye

Off to Belgium for a wedding, so someone else will have to keep an eye on L'Affaire Vitter.  By the time I get back I expect you shrill libtard bloggers will have gotten him to resign in disgrace.

The usual crew will put up the odd post, so stay tuned.  As for me, it's beer, bicycles, and chocolate.

Separated at Birth?

On the left, Wendy Cortez.  On the right (appropriately enough), Wendy Vitter.

I think the senator has a bigger problem than his diaper fetish.

hat tip: Blue Gal for doing the graphic.

Vittered

Wisconsin Lobbyist on D.C. Madam's Phone List.

Don't you hate it when that happens?

Weekend Wingnut Roundup - Monday Edition

In a week filled with wankers, whatever do you suppose is up with the wingnuts?

Ace of Spades - Amanda Marcotte is merely collateral damage in our fight to kill off John Edwards.
All Things Beautiful - Bush's poll numbers will rebound once everyone realizes he's too stubborn to change his mind about the surge.
American Thinker - now that Bush is talking to the command in Iraq we'll get that pony we want so much!
Ankle Biting Pundits - if the Democrats would simply take a position on Iraq we could hang the entire war around their fucking necks where it belongs.
Atlas Shrugs - Islam is the religion of spousal abuse and ... what?  Jews beat their wives too?  Oy.
Blogs For Bush - all you atheist liberals better understand that your rights come from God so if you don't believe in God you don't have rights that we conservatives have to respect because you don't believe ... where was I?
Blue Crab Boulevard - contrary to all appearance, the Democrats were not returned to power to end the war in Iraq but to shut up and let Bush walk all over them.
Captain's Quarters - a bloodbath in Iraq?  Well there's gonna be an even bigger one if Hillary keeps getting less hawkish.
Confederate Yankee - I think I found one day where there were fewer than 40 or 50 bodies found in Baghdad, so that means we're winning and Bush was right and you liberals have to shut the fuck up.
GOP Bloggers - I demand a circular firing squad for those House Republicans who voted to condemn the Iraq war.
Hugh Hewitt - if you're not for the war and the associated body count, you're silly.  I demand more dead people.
IMAO - I'll finally admit it ... I hate the Democrats - every last traitorous one of them.
Instapundit - Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona went to Baghdad and found weapons stamped "MADE IN IRAN" - that's enough for me!
Little Green Footballs - but of course photos of U.S. weapons in Iran must be Photoshopped.
Michelle Malkin - lookit here!  I found a liberal who agrees with me on a completely insignificant point!
NRO (Jonah Goldberg) - although I have been trained since birth to hate The Washington Post, there might be something to this Walter Reed story - someone should get Geraldo on it right away.
NRO (K-Lo) - Michelle Malkin did an Anna Nicole segment on Fox ... it's the end of the world as we know it.
Patterico's Pontifications - President Hillary will spank the terrorists and send them to bed without their dinner.
Riehl World View - guns don't kill people, Islamic terrorists with political agendas who happen to be armed kill people.
Sister Toldjah - after careful consideration, I've concluded that McCain's brand of repression is better than Mitt Romney's thank you very much.

graphic: Comandante Agi

Pammy Get Yer Gun

Marita presents the Atlas Photoshop Challenge! Now is your chance to photographically tweak everyone's favorite busty wingnut. Here's my offering:

The Intelligently Designed Banana: Atlas Juggs vs. Ray Comfort

                     

Pam deserves the tribute. I mean, what would the right-wing blogosphere be without Pamela shaking her lovely lady lumps for John Bolton?!

A boring place, indeed.

Malkin's Mercenaries

mer·ce·nar·y
Pronunciation (mûrs-nr) adj.

1. Motivated solely by a desire for monetary or material gain.
2. Hired for service in a foreign army.

Dearest Michelle,

I would be just as deeply offended as you, Confederate Yankee, HindRocket, and all the rest, at William Arken's insinuation that today's soldiers are mercenaries--if it weren't for this:

A Military Path to Citizenship

             The Washington Post, October 19, 2006

   Michael E. O'Hanlon, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies
  Max Boot, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations

Now is the time to consider a new chapter in the annals of American immigration. By inviting foreigners to join the U.S. armed forces in exchange for a promise of citizenship after a four-year tour of duty, we could continue to attract some of the world's most enterprising, selfless and talented individuals. We could provide a new path toward assimilation for undocumented immigrants who are already here but lack the prerequisite for enlistment -- a green card. And we could solve the No. 1 problem facing the Army and Marine Corps: the fact that these services need to grow to meet current commitments yet cannot easily do so (absent a draft) given the current recruiting environment.

...And I'm not even going to go into the subject of bonuses.

I've found that the vast majority of my fellow soldiers couldn't care less about ideological politics. The sin Arkin committed was to transpose neocon idea's onto the thought processes of those in the military:

I said I was bothered by the notion that "the troops" were somehow becoming hallowed beings above society, that they had an attitude that only they had the means - or the right - to judge the worthiness of the Iraq endeavor.

I was dead wrong in using the word mercenary to describe the American soldier today.

These men and women are not fighting for money with little regard for the nation. The situation might be much worse than that: Evidently, far too many in uniform believe that they are the one true nation. They hide behind the constitution and the flag and then spew an anti-Democrat, anti-liberal, anti-journalism, anti-dissent, and anti-citizen message that reflects a certain contempt for the American people.

He was wrong in saying this, however, if he'd said far too many on the Ideological Right believe that they are the one true nation, that they hide behind those who serve in the military and the flag and then spew an anti-Democrat, anti-liberal, anti-journalism, anti-dissent, and anti-citizen message that reflects a certain contempt for the American people, he'd have been right on the mark.

Yours Truly,

Frederick