Socialism brings about collapse

Yup. "Socialism" means financial collapse, according to the Viscount Monckton of Brenchley, Christopher Monckton.

Well, maybe not. Sweden, Norway, and other nations are among the most stable and most advanced countries in the world and operate on a "socialistic" financial system.

Maybe Viscount Monckton doesn't know what the hell he's talking about. For example, he says of his beloved England:

"Every Labor government there has ever been from 1926 to the present day has always ended in exactly the same way because they essentially try to run a communist financial system."

Huh? Someone please explain to the Viscount the difference between apples and oranges. Communism and democracy are political systems. Socialism and capitalism are economic systems.

Thus, a democracy like Sweden may operate very well under a socialistic economic system. In the United States we have had a partially socialist system for years. Public schools are socialistic. The U.S. Post Office is socialistic. Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid might be termed socialistic.

Socialism is not necessarily bad, nor is capitalism necessarily good. In fact, recently we have seen just how bad free-market, unregulated capitalism can be! Thus, the government has had to step in and enact "socialistic" measures to keep the economy from collapsing. And, the funny thing, good ol' not-so-conservative George W. Bush is the one who did it!


To people like Viscount Monckton, however, reality, reason and truth seldom make an impression. Thus, he pontificates that the United States will surely collapse if it falls prey to "socialism."

Monckton is worried about Obama. He's afraid Obama is going to "redistribute the wealth," and the poor folks might get a chunk of it. My God, dontcha know "redistribution of the wealth" only works when it's redistributed into the greedy hands of the rich?


Been there, done that. We're in a terrible mess right now, not because of socialism, but because of unfettered, free-market capitalism and an insane redistribution of the country's wealth to the very rich through a system of misguided tax cuts by the Bush administration!

Mr. Monckton is a gasbag who ought to head back to his estate and contemplate chasing the foxes instead long-deceased conservative fantasies about the evils of socialism.

(Monckton is also a "journalist," a failed politician, a Roman Catholic, an amateur scientiest, and a global-warming denier. He is very rich. No wonder he doesn't like socialism. If there's wealth to be redistributed, he wants it!)

Update on Paul Broun, the baffled bozo from Georgia

[Image from Citizen Sugar]

We've written about Rep. Paul Broun, the wingnut from Georgia on a couple of occasions. You may recall he introduced a bill in Congress that would prohibit the sale of "pornography" (e.g. Playboy and Penthouse) on military bases in order to protect the minds and morals of our young fighting men and women.

Broun, a typical Repugnican sleazebag, also voted against SCHIP (providing health care for children).

You'll also remember that he's one of the three morons who went to the Capitol the other day to anoint the doorway through which Obama will pass on his inauguration, during which time he prayed that God would "stir the heart of our new president that President Obama will listen and will heed God's direction."

And who better to tell us what God's "direction" is than Paul Broun.


Here's a couple of things from digby that I hadn't known:

1. About a week after Obama's election, Broun commented that by calling for a national civilian security force, the President-elect had shown the world that he was a "radical Marxist Nazi socialist comparable to Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin."

Broun told the AP, "It may sound a bit crazy and offbase, but the thing is, he's the one who proposed this national security force. I'm just trying to bring attention to the fact that we may--may not, I hope not--but we may have a problem with that type of philosophy of radical socialism or Marxism. That's exactly what Hitler did in Nazi Germany and it's exactly what the Soviet Union did. When he's proposing to have a national security force that's answering to him, that is as strong as the U.S. military, he's showing me signs of being Marxist."

The man is certifiable! Do we not provide help for Congresspeople who are crazy?

2. While I am aware that Broun is a christianist wingnut, I didn't know how he became one. He "attributes his conservative transformation to the wonder working power of Jesus. Broun's born-again moment arrived in 1986, during the height of the Reagan Revolution, while he toiled as a doctor in rural Georgia, struggling to keep afloat during the first year of his marriage. He has suffered through several 'broken marriages and episodes of broken relationships and financial problems,' Broun recalled during a November 2007 speech on the House floor. While watching an NFL game, Broun became entranced by a 'gentleman with this big type of hair wig on' holding a 'John 3:16' sign. 'As I sat there in my office that fall trying to figure out life, I picked up the Bible and read John 3:16,' Broun said. He suddenly transformed into a true believer, a cadre of the Christian right."

(The guy with the wig was Rollen Stewart, "an evangelical fanatic" who found his way to numerous sporting events with his John 3:16 sign. At the present time, Stewart is "serving three consecutive sentences in jail on kidnapping charges as well as minor sentences for stink bomb attacks.")


Does Rollen Stewart bring to mind Tim Tebow? It should. And it should show us just how dangerous it is for football players like Tebow to paint Bible verses on their cheeks. A moron like Broun might be tempted to look up the verse and become an even bigger moron and get elected to Congress, and holy crap, what a mess that would be!


Check out digby's article here.

Palin avoids reality

Sarah Palin, speaking at a fundraiser in North Carolina, told those assembled that her staff tries to distract her from reading campaign stories in the media. They warn her, "Oh, my gosh, don't watch. You're going to, you know, you're going to get depressed."

Such a deal. When reality impedes on your internal truth, avoid reality!


The reality is Sarah has good reason to be depressed. Unfortunately, for her, avoiding news reports about the sinking McCain campaign will not cure her depression.

One of the most important facts that Sarah may have missed by neglecting campaign reporting is the fact that a number of large newspapers across the country have endorsed Senator Obama for president. The latest of these include the Washington Post, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and most significantly, The Chicago Tribune, which has never before endorsed a Democratic nominee for president in its 161-year history.

All of these newspapers provide powerful editorials justifying their choice of Obama. Palin ought to read those, at least. She might learn something; about McCain and more importantly, about herself.

She would learn, for example, that the Rove's and the Eskew's were wrong. She would learn that slinging mud tends to get one dirty. She would learn that the American people are a lot smarter than she thinks they are. She would learn that the fact she is an empty-headed tart, chosen for her looks and her religion, has come through loud and clear. She would learn that loving Jesus is not warrant for racist attacks against the Democratic nominee. She would learn that her jingoist rhetoric is false--that pro-Americans are not necessarily Republicans and that they live in all areas of the country, not just small towns. She would learn that, in fact, most of those men and women fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan came, not from small towns, but from large urban areas.

She would learn that in almost every area, she is full or horse-hockey.

It's official - it's now the Christian Republican Party!

The Christian right dictates to the Republican Party the planks in their platform, and tells the Republican presidential nominee which person to choose as his vice presidential running mate. The Republican presidential nominee bows to their orders because he knows he cannot possibly win without the wingnuts on his side.

Thus, ever so gradually, but surely, over the past 25-30 years, the party known formerly as the Republican Party has become the Christian Republican Party.

And the Christian fundamentalists who control things are gloating.


The problem for the nation is this: The Christian Republican Party does not put "Country First," in spite of all the banners waving over the heads of the delegates at the RNC. In fact, the Christian Republican Party doesn't really care about much of anything except maintaining the status quo for the rich and powerful and ensuring that their very specific credos are front and center.

Front and center and the most important issue for the Christian Republican Party is abortion. Next comes homosexuality, especially same-sex marriage. Then there's abstinence education. Then creationism. Then maintaining the sanctity of the Pledge of Allegiance, i.e., keeping the words, "under God." Next is the extreme importance of posting copies of the Ten Commandments in courthouses and schools. Then there is the issue of vouchers so parents can use taxpayer dollars to send their kiddos to private (religious) schools where they won't be subjected to satanism and other perversions. Then there's the matter of public prayer--in schools, military institutions and government agencies...

I probably forgot a couple of things.

But the headliner, the banner issue is abortion. That is absolutely all that matters. And that's why the Christian Republican Party is crazy for Sarah Palin. They don't give a damn whether she's qualified or not to be vice president or president! They make that clear over and over again. What makes her "perfect" for the job is that she is "pro-life."


From the president of the Susan B. Anthony List, a right-wing, pro-life group, dedicated to electing pro-life candidates all across the country.

"John McCain has cemented his role as the one true, authentically pro-life choice for President. ... His words, on the heels of his choice of pro-life heroine Sarah Palin for VP, are exactly what the pro-life voters needed to hear. The enthusiasm of values voters shown this week for the McCain-Palin ticket drives home the saliency of the abortion issue in this election."

Heroine?

Oh, and Ms. Marjorie Dannenfelser, the Susan B. Anthony prez, a damn liar, went on to say that Senator Obama "thinks babies that survive abortions should be left on the table to die." It's incredible that such a person would claim to have any "values" at all!


From the editor of Charisma magazine. This gentleman, a self-professed Christian, is also a damn liar! One reason Charisma won't support Obama, he says, is "his lack of experience. He does not have one major accomplishment to his name in his life as a public servant."

How does a so-called follower of Jesus justify such bullshit?

But then we come to the real problem - Obama's views on the "sanctity of life." Obama is pro-abortion, he says. Another lie!

Thirdly, and almost as important as abortion is Obama's "sympathy toward those who are attempting to legitimize homosexuality."

The final big lie is this: "McCain is for limited government, and Obama sees government as the solution to all major problems in society."

Simplistic and stupid.

There's much more. If you have a strong stomach, you can read it here.


From CBN News: The reaction of the evangelical community to John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate has been "EXTREMELY POSITIVE."

Tony Perkins of the right-wing Family Research Council says that "Sarah Palin clearly addresses the issues so many conservatives are concerned about."

Matt Staver, of the right-wing Liberty Counsel, says Palin was an "Absolutely brilliant choice. ... She [Palin] is attractive, articulate, conservative, pro-family, pro-life, and pro-marriage. John McCain hit this one out of the ballpark."

Dr. Richard Land, the Southern Baptist flake: "Governor Palin will delight the Republican base. She is pro-life. She is an avid hunter and member of The National Rifle Association ..."


The accolades continue in this same vein. Notice there is nothing about the great issues that we face as a nation. Nothing about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nothing about nuclear proliferation. Nothing about peace between Israel and Palestine. Nothing about a failing economy, stinking lousy health care, the growing number of poor among us, the lack of medical treatment for our returning wounded veterans, our decaying infrastructure, the tax burden that has been shifted from the wealthy to the middle class, the corporate ownership of the political process, the intense lobbying that so often negates legislation beneficial to the people of the country, the need to improve our educational system, the decaying inner cities, the flight of jobs overseas...well, we could go on and on.

Amazingly, these lovers of Jesus don't give a rat's ass about any of those critical issues. They've turned an entire political party into an ultra-right, Christian fundamentalist institution.


Maybe there really is a hell!

Senator James Inhofe questions Obama's patriotism

James Inhofe, U.S. Senator from Oklahoma, has long been know for making extraordinarily stupid comments. Inhofe refuses to believe (along with Sarah Palin) that climate change is caused by human beings. In fact, Inhofe said that he has "compelling evidence that catastrophic global warming is a hoax."

Inhofe is a fundamentalist Christian. He has compared the environmentalist movement to the Third Reich. Environmentalist is all a "big lie." Not so long ago he "compared the United States Environmental Protection Agency to the Gestapo." He said that then EPA administrator, Carol Browner was like Tokyo Rose, and that the Weather Channel was behind the hoax of global warming.

In fact, said Inhofe, global warming is "the second-largest hoax ever played on the American people, after the separation of church and state."

What does it say about the people of Oklahoma who voted this neanderthal into office?


The Tulsa World reported yesterday that Inhofe, while attending a breakfast for his state's delegation at the Republican National Convention, challenged Senator Barack Obama's patriotism.

Inhofe told the group that voters need to ask this question when they get into the polling booth on election day:

"Do you really want to have a guy as commander in chief of this country when you can question whether or not he really loves his country?

"That's the big question," he said.


When confronted later, Inhofe tried to "clarify" his comments. "I am not questioning Sen. Obama's patriotism, but you have to question why at times he seems so obviously opposed to public displays of patriotism and national pride, like wearing an American flag lapel pin."


And he said that with a straight face, proving clearly that he is an idiot and a dangerous lunatic.

John McCain - MIA

Our thanks for Pam's House Blend and Open Left for the following:

John McCain has missed 63.8% of the votes in the 110th Congress. John McCain was not only a POW, he was MIA.

What follows is from Daniel de Groot at Open Left.

"I've looked through all the rejected cloture votes of the 110th Senate where the cloture motion got a majority. So this is where a bill would have passed, if not for the Republican minority blocking it. Here's a representative chunk of them:

* McCain skips a vote on a bill to create energy independence. Which he just promised to achieve in his Nomination Acceptance speech. McCain's vote would have been decisive as the measure failed cloture 59-40. But McCain hates partisanship. Obama voted yea.

* McCain skipped the vote on cloture for the economic stimulus package. Cloture failed 58-41. If McCain had voted yea, Reid would also have and cloture would be invoked. Obama voted yea.

* McCain skipped the vote on cloture for the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Cloture failed 56-42. Obama voted yea.

* McCain skipped the vote on the Medicare Improvements Act. Cloture failed again 58-40, with McCain's potential "yea" being decisive. Obama voted yea.

* McCain skipped the vote on the bill to increase the minimum wage. It failed cloture 54-43. Obama voted yea.

* McCain skips a vote on cloture for a sense of the Senate on Iraq. It fails 49-47. I thought McCain had strong opinions on Iraq? Obama voted yea.

* McCain skips another vote on cloture for a sense of the Senate on Iraq. Cloture fails 56-34. Obama voted yea.

* McCain skips a vote on cloture for a bill to fund the Iraq war and compel redeployment. It fails 53-45. Obama voted yea.

* McCain skips a vote on cloture for an energy conservation bill. No opinion on the energy crisis I guess. Cloture fails 50-44. Obama missed this one.

* McCain skips a bill on cloture for an energy bill. Fortunately energy is not an issue the American people care about. It fails 57-36. Obama missed this one.

* McCain skips a vote on another Energy cloture vote. It fails 53-42. Obama voted yea.

* McCain skips a vote on cloture for the Intelligence Authorization spending bill. Fails 50-45. Obama missed this one.

* McCain skips a vote on cloture for a bill to allow the government to negotiate over drug prices. Cloture fails 55-42. Obama voted yea.

* McCain skips a vote on cloture for the motion of non-confidence in AG Gonzales. It fails 53-38. Obama missed this one.

* McCain skips a vote on the Farm bill. Cloture fails 55-42. Obama voted yea.

* McCain skips vote on cloture for an Immigration reform bill. I'm sure the nativist base is glad to know McCain didn't have their back. Luckily 44 of his colleagues were able to block the Hispanic Horde. Obama voted yea.


Pam continues: "Daniel notes that it's even more egregious that McCain did show up to vote 'nay' on many cloture votes -- thus not facilitating working across the aisle in a bipartisan manner -- the Arizona Senator reveled in blocking legislation."


'Nuff said!