Truthers or Birthers? Which are Worse?

We have had all sorts of ‘ers’ this summer.  We have had lots  of different birthers, including Lou Dobbs.   They continue to beat the drum that President Obama is not an American citizen.  Ridiculous!

Then we dealt with a truther, Van Jones, who somehow managed to get his name on a petition suggesting the Bush administration had some prior knowledge of the attacks on the Pentagon and the twin towers.  Ridiculous!

So what’s worse?  Truther or birther?  Which takes the greatest fugue from reality?

Van Jones used potty mouthy directed at Republicans before he was brought into the administration.  Oh well–so did President Bush when he thought the mic was off.  So did Vice President Cheney when he dropped the F bomb on the Senate Floor.  I didn’t want their heads though.  So what. 

Van Jones had some associations most of us would prefer not to be part of our government.  It was time for him to go because of these associations and because of the truther petition.  He was over the top and was causing too much negative attention regardless of any positive qualifications he might have brought to this administraton. 

And finally, when are the right wingers going to quit?  Never.  Not until the last person in the Obama administration has been brought down, if they have their way.  Jones was just the appetizer. 

 

Carne más roja, por favor.

 

 

Shep Smith: DHS Report Was A Warning To Us All, But The Right Went Absolutely Bonkers

 

Many Fox News hosts, journalists and commentators fanned the flames when DHS put out its report on domestic terrorism.  For example, Sean Hannity had the following to say on April 15:

 “if you disagree with that liberal path that President Obama’s taken the country down, you may soon catch the attention of the Department of Homeland Security. Now the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis has issued an intel assessment that warns of a rise of what they’re calling right-wing extremism. But critics of the report say their definition of a right-wing extremist sounds awfully close to somebody who might simply just disagree with the Obama administration.”

However, Shep Smith, of “We don’t *expletive deleted* torture” fame on Fox News broke from the pack. 

 


 

 

Once again, Shep Smith commands respect.  I am fairly rough of Fox News.  Generally speaking, I do not think they are fair and balanced.  I believe they filter our news for us more than other stations.  However, in Shep’ case, it is time for some kudos!  He definitely gets the “Did the Right Thing Award.” 

Neutering Immigration Law Enforcement?

Sheriff Joe has accused Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon of attempting to neuter his immigration law enforcement.  Now where have we heard that?

It seems that Mayor Gordon has called on Sheriff Joe to denounce neo-Nazis.  Sheriff Joe countered that he has no associations with neo-nazis or far right extremists.  Mayor Gordon has concerns over people allegedly seen giving the Nazi salute to Sheriff Joe. 

Additionally, Sheriff Joe allegedly has been seen  and photographed at Anti-immigration rallies with neo-Nazis, according to KTAR 92.3 FM.  A recent Phoenix New Times story  supposedly showed the sheriff posing with some of  these characters. 

Sheriff Joe’s retort is:

 [that] Gordon wants to neuter his enforcement of immigration laws.

“I do not support any neo-Nazi hate groups. He knows it,” Arpaio told KTAR and other media outlets. “I don’t have to apologize because I never have been connected with any of these associations, and the people know that.”

I suppose I would question the wisdom of an elected offical going to an anti-immigration rally.  I am not sure that the Phoenix New Times  is top-notch journalism either, at first glance.  There are pictures, but each case could be coincidental. I get the distinct impression, at first glance, that Phoenix New Times has no love affair with Sheriff Joe. There is an entire Arpaio Archive in the paper dedicated to him.

Perhaps if Sheriff Joe stuck to law enforcement rather than trying to whip up the masses at anti-immigration rallies, he wouldn’t have to deal with this kind of insinuation. 

Don’t shoot me. I am a mere messenger. I come in peace.   Neither Anti-Bvbl or I have accused Sheriff Joe of anything, much less being a neo-Nazi sympathizer or a far right extremist.   I do not think he is either of those.  I find the scrapping and sparring between him and the mayor ironic as well as the choice of words.  Does anyone get a sense of YING and YANG?

 

 

 

Corn Calls Rush Limbaugh a Fool

Apparently Rush Limbaugh has made the claim that James von Brunn is a leftist. David Corn (Bureau Chief at Mother Jones) was in his glory calling him a fool on TV. Rush’s case is weak and illogical. But why do we have to put this guy on any political spectrum? David Corn makes the case for placing von Brunn squarely in the extreme right.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Since the folks on this blog have bantered back and forth about pigeon-holing and labeling, this video seems to shed some light on some of the very questions we have all been debating.
Grab some popcorn and enjoy the show, captured from Mother Jones.

Shots Fired at DC Holocaust Museum

Initial Report:

A security guard has been shot at the Holocaust Museum by a gunman. Information is still coming in that at least 2 people have been shot, one is law enforcement.

That area of DC has been sealed off. Rumors are circulating that the gunman is in custody.

Is there any end to hate crimes? A doctor, a soldier, who else will be mowed down because some people feel they have the right to take matters into their own hands.

More information as the story unfolds…

Update:  According to DC police, 2 people have been transported to Georgetown Hospital in serious condition.

Update 2: The alleged shooter has been identified as James Von Brunn. He is an anti-Semite and has been convicted of crimes related to his white supremist beliefs. There some confusion about his age at this point. If he is who police believe him to be, he is a WWII veteran and is quite elderly.

The gunman is in critical condition. The security guard is in grave condition.

This act seems to be terrorism and a hate crime at this point.