Showing posts with label gop propaganda. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gop propaganda. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Did Any Of Them Build This?
Aug 30th, 2012
For all of the mileage the GOP is getting from what is shaping up to be the all time gaffe of President Obama's career, they still just don't seem to have thought this thing through.
"We Built It."
Okay. It's glib but clever. Obama handed it to them. Here's the problem with this theme for the week; it's beginning to look like they didn't actually find anyone to speak at the convention who didn't benefit from public investment.
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| The Only Thing They Did Build |
Okay. It's glib but clever. Obama handed it to them. Here's the problem with this theme for the week; it's beginning to look like they didn't actually find anyone to speak at the convention who didn't benefit from public investment.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
It's Official. The GOP's New War Is Actually On Facts
Aug 28th, 2012
It's one thing to note for the umpteenth time that Team Romney lies regularly and without shame. Steve Benen has found that to be a full time job. It's quite another to see what has happened today; the "conservative" movement has actually rallied around a war on facts.
When GOP pollster Neil Newhouse declared earlier that Team Romney is "not going to let our campaign be dictated by fact-checkers," it was not some isolated gaffe. As far as the "conservatives" are concerned, it wasn't a gaffe at all. In fact, it seems to be part of a coordinated effort to discredit the provable.
There is a stunning piece of venom from the Weekly Standard. Mark Hemingway smarms:
They are not alone in this campaign against "fact-checking."
NRO's editors are carrying Romney's water as well:
Put aside the fact that Rachel Maddow's ongoing battle with PolitiFact puts the lie to arguments that they are some sort of shifty, leftist cabal.
It's one thing to note for the umpteenth time that Team Romney lies regularly and without shame. Steve Benen has found that to be a full time job. It's quite another to see what has happened today; the "conservative" movement has actually rallied around a war on facts.
When GOP pollster Neil Newhouse declared earlier that Team Romney is "not going to let our campaign be dictated by fact-checkers," it was not some isolated gaffe. As far as the "conservatives" are concerned, it wasn't a gaffe at all. In fact, it seems to be part of a coordinated effort to discredit the provable.
There is a stunning piece of venom from the Weekly Standard. Mark Hemingway smarms:
"Perhaps if we all ignore PolitiFact, they'll go away. But for the time being, the supposedly independent organization continues to crank out skewed and partisan work. There's no better example of this than the the current jihad the "fact checking" organization is waging against the Romney-Ryan health care plan." EMPHASIS OURSRoll that one over for a minute. Bill Kristol's magazine is likening the act of trying to determine the veracity of political pronouncements with irrational superstition and violence. Specifically, they are coding it with a term designed to evoke images of Islamic supremacists.
They are not alone in this campaign against "fact-checking."
NRO's editors are carrying Romney's water as well:
"The website PolitiFact is going to be truth-squadding the Republican convention speakers this week, delivering verdicts on which claims are “mostly true” and which deserve a "pants on fire" rating. Our advice: Pay no attention to those ratings. PolitiFact can’t be trusted to get the story right." EMPHASIS OURS
We are witnessing one of the only two major parties in America, the one with deeper pockets I might add, openly sneer at the truth.
Put aside the fact that Rachel Maddow's ongoing battle with PolitiFact puts the lie to arguments that they are some sort of shifty, leftist cabal.
That's not the point. The right is not suggesting that the electorate should take PolitFact or even "fact-checking" with a grain of salt or, perhaps, even do their own research.
Team Romney's mouthpieces, both official and unofficial, are signalling to the base that it is acceptable to dismiss facts altogether.
That's what they are counting on.
That's what they are counting on.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Mitt Watch - The Most Brazen Hypocrite In Presidential History
Aug 13th, 2012
Well, Team Romney today released the latest ad smearing the President and misinforming the electorate about new flexibility allowed to the states in the administration of their benefit programs. There is coverage HERE and HERE and the ad is at the bottom if you are interested.
What makes this lie more egregious than almost all of his others is the fact that Romney fought hard as governor of Massachusetts for states to have the very latitude that he now attacks. Below is a screengrab from the RGA document, bearing his signature, pleading with then President Bush to support "increased waiver authority" in America's welfare system.
I don't expect any comment from Romney or his team explaining the hypocrisy as the entire campaign has become a surreal exercise in the mendacious.
Forget for a moment that the Obama order comes at the request of desperate Republican governors grappling with the ongoing financial crisis. This was something Romney thought was good policy when the economy was comparably strong.
None of this matters to a campaign which has shown its willingness to rile their own base by any means necessary. If that means preying upon white fears and coding propaganda with classic, right wing imagery of shiftless, lazy poor people (psst, "blacks") then so be it.
Well, Team Romney today released the latest ad smearing the President and misinforming the electorate about new flexibility allowed to the states in the administration of their benefit programs. There is coverage HERE and HERE and the ad is at the bottom if you are interested.
What makes this lie more egregious than almost all of his others is the fact that Romney fought hard as governor of Massachusetts for states to have the very latitude that he now attacks. Below is a screengrab from the RGA document, bearing his signature, pleading with then President Bush to support "increased waiver authority" in America's welfare system.
Forget for a moment that the Obama order comes at the request of desperate Republican governors grappling with the ongoing financial crisis. This was something Romney thought was good policy when the economy was comparably strong.
None of this matters to a campaign which has shown its willingness to rile their own base by any means necessary. If that means preying upon white fears and coding propaganda with classic, right wing imagery of shiftless, lazy poor people (psst, "blacks") then so be it.
Monday, July 23, 2012
The Biggest Tax In History?
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Mitt Watch: The VP Chatter, cont...
July 10th, 2012
Of all the names that seem to be on the short list for Romney's VP slot, Rep. Paul Ryan's seems to elicit the most excitement from GOP loyalists. They would be wise to examine why he's on the short list of most progressives as well.
Overlooking the obvious baggage on budgets and Medicare in particular (reminders HERE, HERE and HERE), Jeffrey H. Anderson over at NRO indulges in nothing short of delusion as he writes:
Daniel Larison is stunned:
Of all the names that seem to be on the short list for Romney's VP slot, Rep. Paul Ryan's seems to elicit the most excitement from GOP loyalists. They would be wise to examine why he's on the short list of most progressives as well.
Overlooking the obvious baggage on budgets and Medicare in particular (reminders HERE, HERE and HERE), Jeffrey H. Anderson over at NRO indulges in nothing short of delusion as he writes:
"...picking Ryan would clearly connect Romney to the post-Bush era of Republicans. It would be awfully hard to talk constantly about Bush-Cheney when running against Romney-Ryan."You just read that right. GOP sympathizers are actually of the opinion that Ryan can be used to separate candidate Romney from the disastrous Bush legacy.
Daniel Larison is stunned:
"Bush was in the White House for most of Ryan’s thirteen years in the House. For six of those years, Ryan belonged to a Republican majority that was closely aligned with the Bush administration on both domestic and foreign policy issues, and Bush and Ryan’s careers overlapped for eight years. Ryan voted for every major piece of legislation that the Bush administration favored that came before the House. He voted for the PATRIOT Act, No Child Left Behind, the Iraq war,Medicare Part D, and the TARP. Ryan’s voting record is a perfect example of Republican support for the expansion of the size and role of government when their party is in power. His voting record is typical of a Bush-era Republican. He is a product of the Bush era. Nothing would be easier than to link Ryan to the Bush era, because he actively contributed to all of its greatest mistakes.
Let’s also think a bit more about Ryan’s “widespread appeal.” He is apparently not all that popular statewide in his own state. I have no idea why he would be very popular anywhere else in the Midwest. Portman probably wouldn’t move many votes in Ohio into the Republican column on his own, but he would presumably be more appealing to Ohio voters than a Congressman from Wisconsin. Ryanmaniacs consistently overestimate Ryan’s appeal because they find him extremely appealing. They never attempt to check their assumptions that a nationally obscure wonkish House member with a lot of Bush-era baggage is a major political sensation." EMPHASIS MINEPlease, Mitt. Pick Ryan. We're very eager to see that ticket.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
A Spectacular Falsehood
UPDATE July 4th, 2012 8:00am CST: At this time, there is still no correction nor has there been any response to our requests for one. Contact @KarlRove, @AndrewCMcCarthy, @NROCorner or @RichLowry and demand that they explain themselves.
Have you heard the one about the President planning to spend Independence Day at a fundraiser in France? The rumor is all over the fringes of the right. Wedged in between hyperventilations over the President's "Kenyan birthplace" and "Agenda 21," the comments sections of our country's "anyone-but-Obama" blogs are full of it.
The story is, of course, as baseless as it is absurd. It is the kind of nonsense which has become so commonplace in the rumor-sphere that it would ordinarily not merit much discussion.
But this one is different. It's not just the web-rabble and the knuckle-draggers who are pushing it.
Over at the National Review, Andy McCarthy picked it up on Saturday morning. He ran with it. It's still there as I go to post, 72 hours later, without correction.
Even better, good old Karl Rove picked up the McCarthy link and tweeted it a short time later to his 353,000 followers. His post is also still up. He also hasn't issued any correction. In fact, he hasn't tweeted since.
Steve Benen writes:
"The reality is simple: neither the president nor his family are going to Paris for the 4th of July. They will, of course, be in the United States, celebrating the holiday at the White House, hosting an event for military families. Republican media outlets reporting otherwise are lying."
"The reality is simple: neither the president nor his family are going to Paris for the 4th of July. They will, of course, be in the United States, celebrating the holiday at the White House, hosting an event for military families. Republican media outlets reporting otherwise are lying."
Benen is too kind. After three days, it seems clear that this is not cynical carelessness. This is coordinated propaganda.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
The GOP's Phony Bin Laden Outrage, cont...
May 2nd, 2012
My, my. The GOP sure has its collective panties in a bunch over Obama actually making political hay from his successful operation to get Bin Laden last year. There are so many reasons their hypocrisy on this represents a new achievement in willful, collective self-delusion that its hard to know where to begin. That said, let's start with Jon Stewart's take.
My, my. The GOP sure has its collective panties in a bunch over Obama actually making political hay from his successful operation to get Bin Laden last year. There are so many reasons their hypocrisy on this represents a new achievement in willful, collective self-delusion that its hard to know where to begin. That said, let's start with Jon Stewart's take.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
How Drudge Operates
April 17th, 2012
Matt Drudge is an ass. Here's a screencap showing today's alarmist edition of his so-called "Report." Scary stuff. Very scary!
Yeah? Well? It's also some serious bullshit.
The story that inspired this is an actual report on "almost 1,800 people" who are, for the most part, wealthy enough to live off of domestic investments abroad.
1,800 people.
Out of well over 300 million.
So, what's the real story? It's overwhelmingly one of avaricious greed:
In other Drudge propaganda today, an ongoing, anti-terrorism urban-readiness exercise was framed this way...
Blackhawk choppers... over Chicago
"Black helicopters"
In Obama's hometown.
Get it?
Matt Drudge is an ass. Here's a screencap showing today's alarmist edition of his so-called "Report." Scary stuff. Very scary!
Yeah? Well? It's also some serious bullshit.
1,800 people.
Out of well over 300 million.
So, what's the real story? It's overwhelmingly one of avaricious greed:
"The decision by the IRS to publish the names is referred to by lawyers as "name and shame." That's because those who renounce are seen as willing to give up their citizenship primarily for financial reasons.
There's also an "exit tax" for the very rich who choose to leave. During the last 25 years, a number of millionaires and billionaires have renounced their citizenship. Among them: Ted Arison, the late founder of Carnival Cruises, and Michael Dingman, a former Ford Motor Co. director."You read that right. 1,800 (mostly) rich people are vexed that the most powerful nation in the world thinks they should pony up for continued access to the toughest consulates and protection from the most heavily armed embassies on Earth while they make a plaything of exploitable economies and simultaneously maintain substantial holdings at home.
In other Drudge propaganda today, an ongoing, anti-terrorism urban-readiness exercise was framed this way...
"Black helicopters"
In Obama's hometown.
Get it?
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
When You Got Nothin'
March 20th, 2012
The Republicans really have nothing to offer. No legitimate economic policies, no sensible military strategies and dwindling chances come November. Since late last year, every week has brought new lows and ever diminishing returns in the GOP's presidential blood-feud. What does this mean? It's time for more phony tax cut/program slashing!
As Robert Reich writes:
"All that matters is the headlines.
"House Republican Budget to Propose Lower Income Tax Rates," says Bloomberg Businessweek. "Republican Budget Plan Seeks to Play Up Tax Reform," says Reuters. "GOP's Budget Targets Taxes," blares the Wall Street Journal.
Presto. Republicans have gotten what they wanted on the basis of saying absolutely nothing."
Indeed.
The Republicans really have nothing to offer. No legitimate economic policies, no sensible military strategies and dwindling chances come November. Since late last year, every week has brought new lows and ever diminishing returns in the GOP's presidential blood-feud. What does this mean? It's time for more phony tax cut/program slashing!
As Robert Reich writes:
"All that matters is the headlines.
"House Republican Budget to Propose Lower Income Tax Rates," says Bloomberg Businessweek. "Republican Budget Plan Seeks to Play Up Tax Reform," says Reuters. "GOP's Budget Targets Taxes," blares the Wall Street Journal.
Presto. Republicans have gotten what they wanted on the basis of saying absolutely nothing."
Indeed.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Not Good Enough, Rush. Not Good Enough At All
March 5th, 2012
Again, one of my conservative heroes steps up to the plate. He also hits it out of the park.
Regarding Rush's phony "apology," David Frum gives what may be the most dignified smackdown in recent political history.
He has four points over at CNN regarding the Limbaugh/Fluke spectacle that all ring true:
"Point 1: Even by the rough standards of cable/talk radio/digital talk, Limbaugh's verbal abuse of Sandra Fluke set a new kind of low. I can't recall anything as brutal, ugly and deliberate ever being said by such a prominent person and so emphatically repeated. This was not a case of a bad "word choice." It was a brutally sexualized accusation, against a specific person, prolonged over three days.
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| Frum's Bullshit-Detector is pinned |
Regarding Rush's phony "apology," David Frum gives what may be the most dignified smackdown in recent political history.
He has four points over at CNN regarding the Limbaugh/Fluke spectacle that all ring true:
"Point 1: Even by the rough standards of cable/talk radio/digital talk, Limbaugh's verbal abuse of Sandra Fluke set a new kind of low. I can't recall anything as brutal, ugly and deliberate ever being said by such a prominent person and so emphatically repeated. This was not a case of a bad "word choice." It was a brutally sexualized accusation, against a specific person, prolonged over three days.
George Will, Rush Limbaugh And Trump, Oh My
March 5th, 2012
George Will made quite a few waves yesterday.
Via TPM:
"Conservative columnist George Will on Sunday tore into top Republicans for their tepid response to Rush Limbaugh's smear of Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke, declaring that the GOP is "afraid" of the right-wing radio host.
"It would've been nice if they had shared that with the larger public, the Republican leaders," Will said on ABC's This Week. "Instead, Mr. Boehner comes out and says, Rush's language was inappropriate. Using a salad fork for your entree, that's inappropriate. Not this stuff. I mean, and Rick Santorum says well, what he says was absurd, but an entertainer is allowed to be absurd. No. It is the responsibility of conservatives to police the right in its excesses, just as the liberals unfailingly fail to police the excesses in their own side. And it was depressing, because what it indicates is that the Republican leaders are afraid of Rush Limbaugh. They want to bomb Iran, but they're afraid of Rush Limbaugh." EMPHASES MINE
This statement, coming on the heels of Will's message to the GOP that they really ought to just give up on retaking the White House, prompted a predictably ridiculous response from Fox and Friends this morning. In a piece of stagecraft worthy of Mel Brooks, the Fox stooges gave Donald Trump the chance to attack the conservative stalwart.
Nando Di Fino writes for Mediaite:
"I think he’s a totally overrated fool," Trump said. "I think this guy is so overrated. I don’t think he’s very smart. He looks smart with the little glasses and the hair slicked to the side."
"You’ve criticized him before on this show," host Gretchen Carlson said, "You’re not holding back on what you think about him today."
"He’s a hack," Trump said. "He’s a hack. And how he can say that is just incredible."
I'm not sure how they are going to top this one. Perhaps they can have Chuck Norris or Ted Nugent attack Thomas Sowell the next time he writes something reasonable.
Here's the video
George Will made quite a few waves yesterday.
Via TPM:
"Conservative columnist George Will on Sunday tore into top Republicans for their tepid response to Rush Limbaugh's smear of Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke, declaring that the GOP is "afraid" of the right-wing radio host.
"It would've been nice if they had shared that with the larger public, the Republican leaders," Will said on ABC's This Week. "Instead, Mr. Boehner comes out and says, Rush's language was inappropriate. Using a salad fork for your entree, that's inappropriate. Not this stuff. I mean, and Rick Santorum says well, what he says was absurd, but an entertainer is allowed to be absurd. No. It is the responsibility of conservatives to police the right in its excesses, just as the liberals unfailingly fail to police the excesses in their own side. And it was depressing, because what it indicates is that the Republican leaders are afraid of Rush Limbaugh. They want to bomb Iran, but they're afraid of Rush Limbaugh." EMPHASES MINE
This statement, coming on the heels of Will's message to the GOP that they really ought to just give up on retaking the White House, prompted a predictably ridiculous response from Fox and Friends this morning. In a piece of stagecraft worthy of Mel Brooks, the Fox stooges gave Donald Trump the chance to attack the conservative stalwart.
Nando Di Fino writes for Mediaite:
"I think he’s a totally overrated fool," Trump said. "I think this guy is so overrated. I don’t think he’s very smart. He looks smart with the little glasses and the hair slicked to the side."
"You’ve criticized him before on this show," host Gretchen Carlson said, "You’re not holding back on what you think about him today."
"He’s a hack," Trump said. "He’s a hack. And how he can say that is just incredible."
I'm not sure how they are going to top this one. Perhaps they can have Chuck Norris or Ted Nugent attack Thomas Sowell the next time he writes something reasonable.
Here's the video
The Truth About Gas Prices, cont...
March 5th, 2012
Today, the NY Times editors state it plainly:
"There are lots of reasons for the rise in gas prices, but the lack of American production is not one of them. Domestic crude oil production is actually up from 5.4 million barrels a day in 2004 to 5.59 million now; imports have dropped by more than 10 percent in the same period. Despite a temporary slowdown in exploration in the Gulf of Mexico after the BP oil disaster, the number of rigs in American oil fields has quadrupled over three years. There have been new discoveries and the administration has promised to open up more offshore reserves. To say that Mr. Obama has denied industry access is nonsense.
Equally nonsensical is the Republican claim that Mr. Obama’s proposed repeal of $4 billion in annual tax breaks for the oil and gas industry — whose five biggest players posted $137 billion in profits last year — would drive prices upward. As is Newt Gingrich’s claim that a proposal now taking shape in the Environmental Protection Agency, and fiercely opposed by refiners, to lower the sulfur content in gasoline would add 25 cents to the cost of a gallon. Agency experts say it would add about a penny.
The truth is that oil prices are set on world markets by forces largely beyond America’s control."
As the "conservative" media continues to push last month's RNC talking points, rational actors keep pushing back by stating what are commonly known as facts. I harped on this HERE recently.
Today, the NY Times editors state it plainly:
"There are lots of reasons for the rise in gas prices, but the lack of American production is not one of them. Domestic crude oil production is actually up from 5.4 million barrels a day in 2004 to 5.59 million now; imports have dropped by more than 10 percent in the same period. Despite a temporary slowdown in exploration in the Gulf of Mexico after the BP oil disaster, the number of rigs in American oil fields has quadrupled over three years. There have been new discoveries and the administration has promised to open up more offshore reserves. To say that Mr. Obama has denied industry access is nonsense.
Equally nonsensical is the Republican claim that Mr. Obama’s proposed repeal of $4 billion in annual tax breaks for the oil and gas industry — whose five biggest players posted $137 billion in profits last year — would drive prices upward. As is Newt Gingrich’s claim that a proposal now taking shape in the Environmental Protection Agency, and fiercely opposed by refiners, to lower the sulfur content in gasoline would add 25 cents to the cost of a gallon. Agency experts say it would add about a penny.
The truth is that oil prices are set on world markets by forces largely beyond America’s control."
Sen Sanders is leading the fight against unbridled speculation HERE.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Fox News - Proud Member Of The RNC
Feb 29th, 2012
It should come as a surprise to no one that Fox News shapes and crafts their programming to fit RNC bullet points. However, it isn't often that one of their personalities actually reads them on the air.
It should come as a surprise to no one that Fox News shapes and crafts their programming to fit RNC bullet points. However, it isn't often that one of their personalities actually reads them on the air.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
"They Are Running Against A Fictional President"
Feb 28th, 2012
Bill Maher sums up the contemporary GOP:
"This is the bubble they live in. It's hard to get actual facts into this impermeable membrane. They are running against a fictional president. A president who has slashed defense, who has raised taxes, who goes around the world apologizing to different countries, who coddles terrorists, all of which, of course, never happened. But that's who they think the president is."
Bill Maher sums up the contemporary GOP:
"This is the bubble they live in. It's hard to get actual facts into this impermeable membrane. They are running against a fictional president. A president who has slashed defense, who has raised taxes, who goes around the world apologizing to different countries, who coddles terrorists, all of which, of course, never happened. But that's who they think the president is."
Monday, February 27, 2012
Quote Of The Day - Here and Now Edition
Feb 27th, 2012
"A party of birthers, creationists, theocrats, climate-change deniers, nativists, gay-bashers, antiabortionists, media paranoids, anti-intellectuals and out-of-touch country clubbers cannot govern America."
--Robert Reich
"A party of birthers, creationists, theocrats, climate-change deniers, nativists, gay-bashers, antiabortionists, media paranoids, anti-intellectuals and out-of-touch country clubbers cannot govern America."
--Robert Reich
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Quote Of The Day - Here and Now Edition
Feb 23rd, 2012
"Folks, I have often warned you that President Obama is an anti-religious zealot, which is surprising since he is also a devout secret Muslim."
-- Stephen Colbert
-- Stephen Colbert
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Regarding Alice Stewart
Feb 21st, 2012
Of course she didn't mean to call President Obama's positions on environmental issues "radical Islamic" policies.
So fucking what?
That she slipped so casually in her role as Santorum's National Press Secretary speaks volumes regarding what is acceptable when that camp is behind closed doors.
Of course she didn't mean to call President Obama's positions on environmental issues "radical Islamic" policies.
So fucking what?
That she slipped so casually in her role as Santorum's National Press Secretary speaks volumes regarding what is acceptable when that camp is behind closed doors.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
It's A Bad Day For Labor In Indiana
Jan 4th, 2011
Call Gov. Mitch Daniels at 317-232-4567
UPDATE 12:00pm CST 01/04/12: Indiana has backed down on the new rules limiting free assembly at the State House
"Where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost." -- Ronald Reagan
Today, Gov Mitch Daniels (R-IN) is joining the GOP's nationwide war on labor, quality of life and the ability to collectively bargain.
Reuters reports:
"Indiana begins what is expected to be a raucous debate on Wednesday as a bill is introduced in the state legislature that could make it the first "right-to-work" state in the nation's traditional manufacturing belt.
The legislation is expected to pass the Republican-majority Indiana assembly with the support of Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels, who said it is "all about new job opportunities."
Indeed. The opportunity for longer hours, less money, no security, no benefits and the dreary desperation of living less and less like Americans and more and more like the residents of a banana republic. Sounds great, doesn't it?
Call Gov. Mitch Daniels at 317-232-4567
UPDATE 12:00pm CST 01/04/12: Indiana has backed down on the new rules limiting free assembly at the State House
"Where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost." -- Ronald Reagan
Reuters reports:
"Indiana begins what is expected to be a raucous debate on Wednesday as a bill is introduced in the state legislature that could make it the first "right-to-work" state in the nation's traditional manufacturing belt.
The legislation is expected to pass the Republican-majority Indiana assembly with the support of Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels, who said it is "all about new job opportunities."
Indeed. The opportunity for longer hours, less money, no security, no benefits and the dreary desperation of living less and less like Americans and more and more like the residents of a banana republic. Sounds great, doesn't it?
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