After Chris Matthews destroyed radio host Kevin James (Not the guy from King Of Queens) for not knowing what "appeasement" he was talking about when he said Neville Chamberlin appeased Adolf Hitler, the MSNBC video hit the internet and spread like wild fire.
The right immediately got on the phony offensive. Newsbusters.com reported that Matthews, in the same segment, said the USS Cole was bombed under President Bush.
Nevermind Matthews asked James for a good two minutes, "What did Chamberlin do" to appease Hitler. "Neville Chamberlin was an appeaser," James screamed. But Matthews was obviously joking when he said the USS Cole was bombed under President Bush, a sarcastic remark directed at impersonating James, who knew no history. When James tried to defend himself, he was told by the liberal counterpoint Mark Green of Air America radio: "When you're in a hole, stop digging."
The right has become a caricature of itself, and this guy Kevin James, who will obviously never be heard from on live television again, is a shining example of what they're all about. On right wing radio, of which he is a part, all you have to do is equate two buzzwords. You take "France," you add "surrender." You take "Chamberlin," you add "appeasement." You take "Carter," you add "Worst president."
No reasons are needed because no questions are asked.
This week the right has been on the run from their own statements and has used phony outrage and the rewriting of history as a platform that only the LCD of society will buy, like the commenters on Newsbusters.com.
First, after Barack Obama referred to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a constant wound, a reasonable metaphor, Rep. Boehner said, "Israel is a critical American ally and a beacon of democracy in the Middle East, not a 'constant sore' as Barack Obama claims."
Boehner thinks we are all idiots.
And so do the editors at Little Green Footballs. Their headline on Monday read "Obama: Israel is a 'Constant Sore'". The LGF editor, Charles, even says in the comment thread that, "The context of the quote doesn't even matter."
It's not just that these people are all wrong, it's that they disdain their audience.
Bush, of course, lied again this week when he used the 60th anniversary of Israel's birth to criticize his domestic political opponents, a statement Joe Biden correctly called "Bullsh*t."
Meanwhile, John McCain decided this week he supports a timetable for Iraq. Not to be outdone by his colleague Joe Biden, McCain once said he can get Sunnis and Shi'ites to get along by sitting "Shiites and the Sunnis down and [tell them to], 'Stop the bullsh*t.'"
It's a question of our own morality. I am under no fantasitic impression that Barack Obama and congressional Democrats are going to save the world overnight in 2009. But these Republicans are the biggest bunch of bloodsuckers to wage war on a country since the 28 Days Later zombies took London.
It's not that they're wholly wrong, it's that they disrespect the public to the point of lies that would be funny if people didn't die because of them – and others didn't take them seriously. Why did McCain vote against the G.I. Bill? What is the point of Bush trying to scare Israelis over an American politician? Why did Bush tell Politico.com he gave up golf for the troops when historical evidence says the opposite is true?
They think we're brain dead. Still. And the real question we've got to ask ourselves, while McCain and Obama are actually tied for the nomination is, are we?
Randy LoBasso is 24 years old, from Philadelphia, PA. Throughout his time writing for Opednews.com, he feels he grew as a writer and has a deep respect for the alternative media of which Op Ed News is a part. Because of the clips he created on this site, he recently landed a job in the political arena. However, he has been prohibited by his employer from publicly writing on politics for fear that it will be taken the wrong way, and used by the opposing side. He thanks Rob Kall and all of Op Ed News' editors for encouraging him to speak his mind and wishes the best for this young site.
Thanks.
That young people are finally getting involved in politics in a way that they haven't since the 1960s.
It's going to be very tough for McCain in the general election, even with the corporate media pundits spinning the news until it no longer resembles reality.
by
John R Moffett (79 articles, 14 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 591 comments)
on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 7:05:04 AM
Republican party is banking on stupidity in this election.
Randy:
They do think we are brain dead. They are hoping that our fears will win out.
What I find insulting is watching a president go to Israel and compare a United States political campaign to those that agreed to let Nazi Germany storm into Eastern Europe (something that I'm not sure Bush, himself, completely knows or comprehends).
Why does every foreign policy idea that Bush disagrees with have to be described as Nazi sympathy?
A MUCH better question: How can the worst president in recent American history, the man that orchestrated the worst foreign policy blunder in United States history...to the tune of two trillion dollars lost and thousands of American lives lost needlessly, the one that took his eye off of Afghanistan long enough for Al Qaeda to return stronger than ever, find the arrogance to counsel Barack Obama on "how to do things right" in foreign affairs?
We've lost most of our allies. Even Britain has, unofficially, divorced themselves from us until another president is elected. We've lost all of our standing in the world (it will take a miracle to get it back).
You have to understand how difficult it was for anyone to destroy United States influence in the world before this administration took over. Bush did it in under six years.
So, there is the real question: How can a president that has destroyed American credibility in the world counsel anyone on anything?
by
John Martin (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 5 comments)
on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 7:14:17 AM
George Bu$h with Ronald Reagan and Bu$h Sr. following a close 2nd & 3rd.
Jimmy Carter was a president with a future energy policy that would have kept the US from the current dilemma it finds itself in with $125 barrel oil today.
by
Stanimal (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 10 diaries, 334 comments)
on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 8:59:41 AM
There are a few contenders for this title, such as Ulysses Grant and Warren Harding. I read a serious historical argument a few years back for why W. is the worst ever. I am confident that after he is out of office a few years and more people can look back objectively, his record will stand.
by
Maxwell (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 140 comments)
on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 4:05:38 PM
I was watching Hardball when Kevin James was on, and while I am not a Chris Matthews fan, that was one of the best and funniest smackdowns I have ever seen on cable news. MSNBC just keeps getting better and better. Olberman had a special comment the night before that will probably get him put on a Bush hit list, so we probably ought to start congratulating these guys for finally taking off the gloves and doing their jobs. If anyone hasn't seen the Hardball segment, by all means, do so.
As to the worst president, there is no need to wait on history for this one. No president before George W. has completely dismantled our form of government, the Bill of Rights, the election process, the system of checks and balances, our standing in the world community, our military, our regulatory systems, and our sense of security and freedom, while at the same time stealing two elections and causing the opposition to legitimately fear a declaration of martial law and a postponement of any future elections. Who in history could possibly top that?
by
W.M.L. (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 259 comments)
on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 4:48:52 PM
Young people are less inclined to be bigoted (a sickness that appears to disappear generation by generation), AND yes, Republicans and DLC Democrats really do think the population is stupid (buying into their own propaganda).
I think that this is one of Clinton’s failings – she used Rovian tactics, believing that Democrats were as susceptible to them as Republicans. This is a critical flaw in the DLC mentality, and one they adopted from Republicans.
The reality is that people really are smarter than they think, and many have already contextualized the corporate media.
The end is near for the fascist right, and when Obama says they have a lot to answer for I really hope that his Justice Department goes after the Bush-Cheney-Rice-Rumsfeld crime family! Republicans are always harping on how we need to make sure justice is done – well I want to see it!!
by
Houston Radical (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 71 comments)
on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 5:39:30 PM
It has been said that imitation is the highest form of compliment...
George Lakoff's suggestions that progressives could 'best' the conservatives by adopting their "framing" strategies and techniques and making them their own was easy and sexy, therefore appealing though extremely naive and lazy. Hillary's camp bit. Lakoff was brillant at disassembling Rove's 'message' strategy and laying it before us. The mistake Hillary's staff made was thinking it was a template to success - the style was OK, it just needed her words. If her campaign at times seems managed by the ghost of Rove, it shouldn't be a too great a surprise. Plagarism of the best or worst of ideas or ideals, is still just imitation...so nothing new here in Hillary's campaign, really. Every speech I watch her give at this point evokes a negative response. I feel like I'm watching the 2004 and 2006 GOP campaigns greatest hits.
I have deep respect for Hillary Clinton, and know she works very hard. Throughout her professional and political life, she has opted for the 'template' as opposed to the 'original.' She and John McCain share this common 'default' mode. Obama does not, as yet.
by
Amanda Lang (21 articles, 13017 quicklinks, 417 diaries, 507 comments)
on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 9:26:21 PM
Prescott Bush ...with his father in law Walker and Averill Harriman were big time money launderers for the Nazi regime! You can find the information about their bank on any source engine. This was the foundation for the Bush family fortune.
by
paulocurry (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 9 comments)
on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 6:58:20 PM
Georgie Boy Bush look and acted like the idiot he truely is in his speech the other day. this nincommpoop is the shining example of the dummest president in american history. he talks about Hitler going to war. what did this idiot do going into Iraq?? a country that had nothing to do with attacking america. he is a DICTATOR, and worst then Hitler.
by
vincent passiatore (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 141 comments)
on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 10:37:58 PM
