When comic critique informs what "legitimate news" distorts - it's timeto be afraid - be very afraid...

On Nov.9,  Glenn Beck accomplished what fake news on Comedy Central could not.   His obsessive ravings regarding his nemesis George Soros were aired in a three-part expose.  In this series, Beck succeeded in connecting  a delusional string of random "facts"  under the guise of serious "news."

According to Beck, the now 80-year-old Soros was behind several violent coups - and is now bent on adding the good 'ole US of A to his list of conquests.  The implication being that Soros is the puppet-master with Obama and his minions cast in the role of the puppets.  And if you believe that, I've got a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell you.

To the republican leadership - the 11th Commandment - Thou ShaltRESPECT the Office of the President of the United States.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T  - It's a simple concept. Last week the Republican leadership snubbed President Obama by turning down his invitation to the White House.
Uh.....what exactly is wrong with this picture?  During the Bush administration, an event the slightest hint of disrespect towards the President was likely to inspire rumblings of treason on the part of the far- right.  But now that a Democrat is in the Oval Office - and one of African descent no less - all bets are off.

When Is It OK To Snub the President?

So now I have to ask the question: WHEN Is it OK to snub the president of the United States?

The answer is very simple - Never.  You heard me - Never.  It's not about the person in the office - it's about the office. And when the President of the United States invites you to the White House - you go.   Finally, whether  Mitch McConnell or John  Boehner like it or not we do have an African American that was duly elected to that high office.  He IS our President and that office deserves a level of consideration and respect.

In America - "We Are 'They'" ~ Nan Garcia Hicks c.1975

A Political Geek From Day One:

A friend of mine asked me the other night about what motivates me.  At first, I didn't understand - we were sharing a nice glass of wine and perhaps I was feeling a buzz.   But the question was posed as an issue of bravery.  If I see a political or community issue about which I am knowledgeable, I am not afraid to speak out.  It has caused me more than a small amount to trouble over the years -because there are those who would prefer that I remain silent.   My friend asked me what gave me the "courage to speak."

Ok - so I wasn't totally sober - but  I did know the answer. To me it was never about "courage" - it was more about doing the right thing.  And the compulsion to act in certain situations came from something my late mother instilled in me - and it can be summed up in two words - civic duty.

Yes, MSNBCs Keith Olbermann was right - It was all a carefullyorchestrated plot...

Countdown was not the same in the absence of  Keith Olbermann. When he returned to his rightful place on the show the other night, we were reminded of just how good he can be.

And Keith is correct...the plot to put Barack Hussein Obama in the White House was carefully orchestrated and planned years ago.  The clip was a monumental piece of scholarship and first-rate journalism at work.  Bob Woodward - stand aside!

Trouble is I had my own plot...admittedly, I had not taken the time lay it out for public scrutiny - it differs somewhat in substance from Olbermann's but undoubtedly - the two could be blended.... Here's my humble version:

The Long Knives are already out for Elizabeth Warren & the ConsumerFinancial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

It didn't take long - not that I expected it to. Once the tea party and the republicans with their deregulatory, free-markets fix everything zeal won big in the mid-term election - they took aim at anything and everything that smacks of "unnecessary" constraint on business recovery.   So Elizabeth Warren and the newly formed CFPB was certain to end up in the cross-hairs almost immediately.

The Banking Fiasco & Elizabeth Warren:

After the banking fiasco of 2008 - you know - that little crisis that sent the American and world economies to the edge of a new Great Depression - everyone was hoping that business as usual in D.C. would change.   I know it was rank hubris - or perhaps just faint hope springing eternal - for the American public to actually believe that they might start to matter.  Nevertheless - miracle of miracles the public did make one big score.  The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was born and the President assigned Elizabeth Warren to the task of setting it up.

John Maynard Keynes vs Friedrich Hayek - the century long battlecontinues

Two kings of economics...two different philosophies.  Since we have been going back and forth between stimulus and austerity - I figured that some people might be a tad confused....I know I was.  I am no economist - but was trying to wrap my arms around two diametrically opposed ideas.  I had been toying with a simple blog - but I saw no way to put one together.  This stuff just doesn't lend itself to sound bites or my usual sardonic humor.    Then I bumped into the two videos below.  The first is a rap video and the second helps put the video into perspective.

Concession speech don'ts - lessons from the 2010 elections

The silly season lived up to its name right up to the bitter end - even the concession speeches were "special."  This held true particularly for the 2010 Senate elections as well as a couple of races for Governor.  For the benefit of those thinking of running for office, I have compiled a list of no-nos for the concession speech. Sadly, it was all too easy to supply my audience with examples.  I found the selections on-line - they were probably just too good not to upload!

BOO!! The Silly Season of Politics Becomes the Scary Season

This year started out as the "silly season" of politics. The crazies on the right set the stage with such candidates as a far-right whacko Sharron Angle who wants to obliterate the department of education, social security, medicare, along with the department of weights and measures.  Yeah - that makes sense. When everyone has a mixed idea of what a pound actually is and your house collapses because the cement in the foundation wasn't dense enough, or if a 2 by 4 ends up being a 1 by 3 so the rafters of your roof cave in  - you'll know who to blame. But I digress.