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

The Money Shot

In fact, some of the most basic details, including the $700 billion figure Treasury would use to buy up bad debt, are fuzzy.

"It's not based on any particular data point," a Treasury spokeswoman told Forbes.com Tuesday. "We just wanted to choose a really large number."

Aim high, I guess.

Chairman Paulson knows what he's doing. The imperial stewards may have failed to agree on a plan today but the eCONomic overlords will return tomorrow even more determined to fill their baskets with taxpayer dollars. But in the end it won't be so bad. If a deal isn't reached tomorrow Barack Obama will be debating himself in Mississippi.

Man, this election season is just god damn strange.

The 2008 Republican Message Explained

How Do You Define Victory in an Occupation?

Dead bodies, of course.

[click to enlarge]

USA! USA! USA!

I spotted this last night during the Mac Attack's big speech. Boy, I loves me some Republicans. They're the train wreck that keeps on wreckin'.

UPDATE: Bonus lulz!

x-posted at Guys From Area 51

Desperately Seeking Sarah

Here's a rundown of what some right-wingers have been saying about our soon-to-be Vice President Sarah Palin.**

Thanks to Blue Gal for forwarding this information.

. . .

Freepers: The Unfortunate Palin Gamble

With competent and proven individuals waiting in the wings such as Governor Mitt Romney, the selection of Sarah Palin is a most unfortunate choice.

John McCain may have just lost the 2008 election…cue the hurricane.

NRO: She's not ready to be commander-in-chief

Pat Buchanan on MSNBC just now, about Sarah Palin. I'm liable to agree, but, how is she any less qualified than Barack Obama, who is the actual presidential candidate on the Democratic ticket?

NRO:  I'm Getting a Couple of These this Morning   [Kathryn Jean Lopez]

As much as I loathe Obama-Biden, I can't in good conscience vote for a McCain-Palin ticket.  Palin has absolutely no experience in foreign affairs.  Considering both McCain's advanced age and the state of the world today, it is essential that the veep be exceedingly qualified to assume the office of president.  I simply don't have any confidence in Palin's ability to deal effectively with Iran, Russia, China, etc.  I certainly will not cast a vote for Obama-Biden, but nor will I vote for McCain-Palin.  Looks like I'll either sit this one out or vote for Bob Barr.  Why, o, why, didn't McCain listen to Rove and just pick Romney?

Hot Air: We're handing the keys to a 72 year old

she doesn't have much time to show it, which is why every last mistake on the trail will be magnified to "prove" that she's a hick who's out of her depth. She'll have to be letter perfect, especially in the debate with Biden, to convince independents she's up to it. If she isn't, I think McCain's support in the center will collapse as people worry, as I did with Pawlenty and now with Palin herself, that we're handing the keys to the kingdom to a totally unknown quantity who's one 72-year-old heartbeat away from being commander-in-chief.

NRO: Cold Water on Palin

Palin has been governor for about two minutes. Thanks to McCain's decision, Palin could be commander-in-chief next year. That may strike people as a reckless choice; it strikes me that way. And McCain's age raised the stakes on this issue.

Scarborough: It sounds like Harriet Miers

That was Scarborough, a minute ago. (My MSNBC addiction rears its ugly head again.) Again, with Obama in the mix running for president, I don't think it's as fair a hit on Palin, who has more executive experience than Barack Obama. It certainly will be hard for the Democrats to make.

FL GOP: Palin gets mixed initial reaction among Florida GOPers

One top GOP advisor summed it up this way: "It's crazy.'' Palin's lack of experience in the hard-knocks world of presidential politics will be hard to overcome, the advisor said.

Powerline: A desperation move

If she really is the nominee, will it come across as a desperation move, a Hail Mary, as Mondale's choice of Ferraro did in 1984? I'm afraid so. Her experience just doesn't justify a place on the ticket.

**I say soon-to-be Vice President because McCain is going to win in November. That's right folks. Americans will do it again. United we suck.

Fear of a Black Dictator

What freedoms will next be targeted with that deadliest trademark of an Obamalander — moral superiority? What do we have when the sole purpose of the government as run by the chilling principles of Obamaland is to “use the political process” to remove freedoms large and small one by one by one?

Someone needs to speak it plainly.

The word is fascism.

- Former Reagan offensive line coach Jeffrey Lord

In the past 8 years no word has been thrown around more frequently than the F-word. According to Lord a political regime that engages in domestic spying, illegal pre-emptive war and prolonged military occupation, torture, extraordinary rendition, election fraud, mass media propaganda campaigns and flag worship is not fascist - it's freedomtastic.

Hey, I'm no cheerleader for Obama - but let's call a spade and spade. Fascist America started way before he was even born.

x-posted at Guys from Area 51

Even though it's off the table

At least someone had the cojones to do it. Remember - he was the guy who was right the first time. I actually feel compelled to write him a letter just to say "thanks".

Well, maybe not.

Carol Shepp McCain

(H/T Jolly Roger of Reconstruction 2.0) Source material here & here.

Done.

Maybe we should just have the general election next weekend and get it over with. Is next weekend good for you? I’m kind of starting to feel bad about watching the Republicans suffer.

Haha.  Not.

-Dude just showed up to a knife fight with a salad fork.

The History of Fox News

Piggy-backing on Frederick's post on the state of journalism yesterday, here's a two-part faux documentary on Faux News from The Daily Show.

Ice cream, Mandrake. Children's ice cream!

I interrupt your regularly-scheduled blogramming for this brief news update from Orange County, CA:

Corona del Mar resident Blythe Fair has consulted Jehovah's Witnesses, practiced a Japanese form of holistic healing and armed herself with a salad spinner, all in a desperate attempt to evade her arch-nemesis – fluoride.

Concerned that the icon of dental hygiene is actually a menace to public health, Fair is among a small but resolute band of local residents going to great lengths to avoid the extra dose of fluoride added last month to about half of Orange County's water supply.

Here in the OC (don't call it that) we are still battling the international Communist conspiracy to sap and impurify all of our precious bodily fluids. Silly me, I thought Reagan won the Cold War 'cos he told that bald guy with the raspberry jelly stain on his forehead to tear down that wall. Nevermind.

OC residents have taken extreme measures to combat fluoridation such as taking quick infrequent showers, purchasing home water-purification equipment and sitting in bathtubs for newspaper photographers. Sure, I scoff at the anti-fluoride resistance, but at least they are making the General proud...

Nineteen hundred and forty-six. Nineteen forty-six, Mandrake. How does that coincide with your post-war Commie conspiracy, huh? It's incredibly obvious, isn't it? A foreign substance is introduced into our precious bodily fluids without the knowledge of the individual. Certainly without any choice. That's the way your hard-core Commie works.

Happy Zappadan!

Today begins the holy feast of Zappadan, which lasts from December 4 to 21. It's a celebration of the life and work of Frank Zappa. To kick things off, here is a clip you've probably all watched before, but is worth watching again.  Zappa's defense of freedom of speech on CNN's Crossfire in 1986 is a classic. It takes on a new resonance after our recent war of the words in blogtopia.

Twenty years later and Bob Novak is the same evil bloodsucker. Some things never change. In his opening monologue Tom Braden asks: "Do we want the government to ban the sale of records with lyrics the government doesn't like?" Replace "government" with "high and mighty blog censors" and you've just described the last 30 days at Area 51.

Preznit Give Me Turkee!

That's right, it's turkey time again. Blowvember is drawing to a close and we will be soon fighting in the war on Christmas.

Remember to keep the thanks in Thanksgiving and please steer clear of the Turducken. Failed science experiments are not food!

In other interwebs news... Conservapedia, "the Trustworthy Encyclopedia", is celebrating their first anniversary. Ever wonder what conservatives search for in this encyclopedia? Well, 9 out of the 10 most viewed pages on their site concern homosexuality. I'm not sure what conclusion to draw from this strange  fact so I'll leave that to you, dear reader.

Have a happy Thanksgiving! Don't get too high on the L-tryptophan...

Victory is Ours, err, Mine!

[Comandante Agí here, in for Blogenfreude who's still out with the flu. Check me out at my new group blog Guys From Area 51 - yes that was a blatant shameless plug. Sorry...]

Look who crawled out of his cave to offer an astute observation:

“I’m proud to say that the tide has turned in Iraq and we’re winning that war,” Lieberman said. “And if we don’t let down our troops, they’re going to bring home a victory that will protect us here at home from today’s threat — totalitarian terrorist Islamism that’s trying to take our liberty from us.”

Yeah, that war. 'Cos we got to get ready for the next war, right N-Pod?

That war is going so well that Baghdad is now a top tourist destination. Just ask Fred Kagan, he's been there!

Now, just for fun, try saying "totalitarian terrorist Islamism" ten times fast!

Political Theater

Lambchop: "Mr. President, why are we still in Iraq?"

Bush: "If we don't build $600 million government buildings that get bombed over there, then we can't build  ones that get bombed over here!"

Lambchop: "Wha?"

Bush: "September the Eleventh"

Funny Guys

Georgie "The Gent": Karl, did you take care of dat thing?

Consigliere Rove: What thing?

Georgie "The Gent": That thing with the e-mails over at the RNC.

"Abu" Gonzales: It's very important, Karl, that this be handled delicately.

Consigliere Rove: Those documents wont see the light of day...

The Mav

Who is the tall, dark stranger there?

Maverick is the name.

Ridin' the trail to who knows where,

Luck is his companion, Gamblin' is his game.

The Official Sponsor of DNC2008!

from the makers of Republicanade:

After a hard day's work nothing refreshes better than Democraticade!

Same as it Ever Was

Home	Away
Divided Democrats Back Down on Iraq NPR Divided Congress Prepares to Debate Financing and Strategy for Iraq War The New York Times Democrats Split Over Iraq Plan Details ABC News Dems Split On War Power Limit Plan Time Democrats Back Away From Iraq Plan CBS News	Democrats To Attach Add-ons To Iraq Bill Guardian Unlimited UK Congress aims to shift war's course International Herald Tribune, France US Democratic leaders revamp anti-war plan Zee News, India U.S. Democrats Not to Turn Their Backs on Troops Kommersant, Russia

...thank you for playing, "we still control the narrative..."
Dinosaur Media
xxxooo

Material Support

Scott Lemieux:

I UNDERSTAND THAT TRYING TO INFER LOGIC FROM INSTAPUNDITRY IS FUTILE, BUT...   Glenn Reynolds asserts that Iran has been at war with the United States "since 1979." My question: when does he start calling for Michael Ledeen to be put on trial for high treason for helping to sell arms to a country the U.S. is at war with?

Traitors to the Nation (according to Perfesser Corncob):

Dick Cheney, Robert Gates, John Negroponte, Oliver North, Michael Leedeen and the whole Iran-Contra crew. What would we do without Instahackery's comic relief?

Rehab Revolution

If you gotta problem yo I'll solve it!

Me wonders if the following mofos would have ever considered "rehab" as an option if their trials and tribulations did not become public knowledge.

1. Mel Gibson - attended rehab after a drunken anti-Semitic and misogynistic outburst toward Malibu police in an attempt to salvage his image prior to the release of Apocalypto. Apparently, it worked.
2. Ted Haggard - received spiritual restoration to "cure" his meth addiction and homosexuality. Praise Jebus, teh gay be gone!
3. Michael Richards - began psychiatric counseling to manage anger and try to understand why he hates African Americans.
4. Isaiah Washington - attended psychological counseling to try to understand why he hates homosexuals.
5. Lindsay Lohan - attending rehab for alcohol, drugs and bulimia while indulging in alcohol, drugs and  stomach purging  on the weekends.
6. Gavin Newsom - will attend alcohol counseling after admitting to banging his campaign adviser's wife. What an idiot - as if there aren't enough hot, young single women in SF for him to chase.
7. Paris Hilton - will probably attend rehab to understand why she hates African Americans and homosexuals. One can only hope she experiences some swift aversion therapy. Hell, it worked for Alex de Large.

So, whether you suffer from homophobia, racism or adultery, just blame it on alcohol and admit that rehab is the solution for you! Unfortunately, one has yet to develop a rehab center for war-addicted neocons...

~ Comandante Agí

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

All We Are Saying...

...is give war a chance!

I skipped out on last night's speech. I caught about 30 seconds on the radio, during which amount of time the emporer-in-chief said "September 11" and "terrorists" at least twice.

If anyone listened or watched the speech, do chime in.

Or check out Jim Webb's response.

New From Rove-a-Cola Inc.

[Comandante Agí here, helping out the b-man today]

       

Need proof that Republicanade works? Look no further than our number one customer George W. Bush.  He drinks at least 3 to 5 servings per day. His recent 60 Minutes interview was completely inspired by Republicanade's magical formula...

The whiny defeatocrats in Congress can't stop the surge. According to unitary executive theory it is the president's God-given duty to send 21,000 more troops to Iraq.

George W. Bush is a self-proclaimed cowboy war president with a "thick hide". He sometimes wears cowboy boots. Yee-haw!

Don't listen to the "Bush lied" crowd. The Bush administration has always been "straight" with the American people.

After all the United States has done for the Iraqi people they remain ungrateful. Hell, they should be down on their knees thanking President Bush for his many gifts: intermittent running water and electricity, a rampantly evolving civil war and over 50,000 civilians deaths, just to name a few.

By eliminating Saddam, who was a "source of instability in Iraq", President Bush has allowed the country to blossom from tyranny into a Jeffersonian democracy.

. . .

So, don't be a nattering nabob of negativism. Drink your Republicanade daily!

[cross-posted at the pime]

Who Is Keyser Söze?

...it's Jamil Hussein!

Looks like darling Michelle isn't heading to Iraq after all.

Check out the comments at TBogg's place. The Democrats have controlled Congress for less than 24 hours and the wingnuts' heads are already exploding.

via Roxanne