VernonBlog

October 3, 2008

Why MoveOn.org sucks

It all began way back in 2004 when MoveOn first posted a couple videos that compared Bush to Hitler, then gasped and groveled and aplogized and pulled them. Why so cowardly? War crimes are war crimes, fascism is fascism, disappearance and torture is... ok you get my point. It was a disappointment that showed their true (limber-dick, pussy-ass) colors.

Then came the Democratic primaries, and they endorsed Barack Obama even while Kucinich was still in it. Kucinich, the candidate who can get his mouth around those big tough words like single payer and impeachment. Why? There is no excuse -- except possibly that they are good old neoliberals, and they suck.

Then I tried to get off their email list, and had to do the unsubscribe routine like five times. Very annoying. They send too damn many emails, as anyone who has been a subscriber or has read this piece in the Onion well knows.

Then, against our better judgement, my girlfriend and I decided to order like 20 Obama buttons from MoveOn. (Of course we support Obama now.) Four to six weeks for delivery, they say. Well, it's been several weeks and still no buttons. Fuxup with that, dudes? When are we gonna see these buttons, December?

I'm sorry MoveOn, but let's face facts: you suck.

Posted by Professor B at 4:30 PM | Comments (0)

September 10, 2008

A gmail ad re Palin: need we say more?

You know how gmail peeks at your email and pulls up ads targeted accordingly. Just now their ad-targeting algorithm came up with this gem for me:

Can Palin Lead America?
92% of America say Yes. Vote Now!
Get a DysonDC25 Vacuum with Email.
ThePopVote.com/Woman-President

Of course Sarah Palin is qualified, honey. Now here's your free vacuum cleaner. And please don't forget to iron my underwear and buy some more beer.

Posted by Professor B at 10:54 AM | Comments (0)

August 18, 2008

Fuckheads block my mail to my dad

My dad, a retired professor of musicology, is a DSL customer of the Ontario and Trumansburg Telephone Companies. We have carried on email correspondence for years, peppering our prose with F-bombs whenever the urge arises. One fine day he stopped receiving mail from my gmail account, so I suggested he contact his ISP to see if I was being blocked. It turns out that his provider had begun applying "decency filters" to his incoming mail without his knowledge or consent, and my messages had been quarantined. When he demanded that they stop inspecting his mail for "decency," they replied with boilerplate instructions on how to whitelist my address. He got on the phone and explained that what he wanted was not to whitelist his correspondents one by one, but to have the decency filter disabled outright. The drone with whom he spoke appeared not to understand. He is escalating his case up to the telco's CEO Paul Griswold, and copying his correspondence to the New York ACLU and the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Grouchy old bastard that he is, my dad has little patience with mindlessness and stubborn stupidity of this sort. So in his latest round of correspondence, he busted their balls thus:

What do you make of that? What are the odds that anyone will understand what he's saying and respond appropriately?

Posted by Professor B at 2:53 PM | Comments (0)

August 5, 2008

Obama, arugula-eating elitist

Now we're told that according to the latest desperate right-wing smear campaign, Obama is an arugula-eating elitist. A celebrity intellectual, not in touch with common folk.

Let's accept that for argument's sake. So much the better. I am a well-paid, educated super-liberal white male who reads books and speaks a second language: an America-hating elitist snob if ever there was one. Therefore, I like Obama better than McCain because I have more in common with Obama. What a happy irony! Who would have imagined forty years ago that a white guy like me would end up voting for the black guy because we were in the same social class.

By the way, my gratitude to The Daily Show for keeping me informed about politics.

Posted by Professor B at 3:05 PM | Comments (0)

July 3, 2008

Car buyer's dilemma

I have not owned a car since my aging Honda Civic was stolen eight years ago, when I banked the modest payout from the insurance company and never looked back. I had the use of my wife's car up until September 2006 when we separated, so I have truly been carless for not quite two years -- and loving it. I live two minutes from commuter trains that take me to downtown Manhattan in a matter of minutes, then it's about a 15 minute walk to my workplace. If I need to get somewhere that isn't reasonably accessible by public transportation or walking, then I take a taxi or someone gives me a ride. If the destination is not local, then I rent a car. You might be surprised how beautiful and liberating it is to live this way. No parking hassles, no insurance or maintenance expenses, no sitting in traffic wishing I were somewhere else.

Alas, my carless days are coming to an end, because my daughter and her mother are moving over 20 miles from where I live. I had long since decided that I wanted my next automobile to be a hybrid -- fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly. The fact that I need a car now, as gasoline is up to $4.00 a gallon, is an unfortunate coincidence. Gas prices have driven demand for hybrids to the point where dealers can get away with a little gouging. Perhaps six months ago you could have negotiated and paid $200 over the dealer invoice price for a Toyota Prius. Now you will likely pay at least $2000 over the so-called MSRP, and you will wait anywhere from several weeks to three months for the privilege. Moreover, you will be forced to pay for leather seats, GPS and other luxuries that you might not need or want, because the more economical "packages" are sold out till fuck knows when.

Now, suppose you aren't comfortable paying over $30,000 for a car equipped with stuff that you don't want? Further suppose that you do have the money to do it anyway, although it will be a sacrifice. Further suppose that you might well not drive the car enough for the fuel savings to pay for the expense of the Prius relative to a less expensive car -- in other words in pure financial terms you'd do better with something like a Honda Fit or Civic, Toyota Yaris or Corolla. That's a purely selfish economic calculus that does not factor in the environmental impact. What to do?

Here's what's disturbing: in order for Americans to begin to wake up to reality and look for fuel efficiency, they have had to be struck hard on the head with the large, heavy club of $4/gallon gas. Capitalist market dynamics being what they are, consumers are forced to pay a premium -- to put it politely -- to do the right thing by getting a responsible car. This is the inverse of what should be. Government should be forcing auto manufacturers to adhere to a timetable for phasing out 100% gas-powered cars entirely, levy a surcharge on buyers of gas-powered cars, and use the revenue to provide rebates to consumers who buy hybrids. Environmentally friendly behavior should be encouraged and rewarded -- but no. Instead they shove it up your ass so far your eyeballs pop out of your head.

Posted by Professor B at 2:49 PM | Comments (0)

April 3, 2008

MLK's Mountaintop Speech

There was a good piece on NPR this morning about Martin Luther King's last speech, in which he said he was not concerned about longevity because he had been to the mountaintop and looked over. Just the night before I had been pondering the koan from which the phrase "All is vast and boundless" is taken. While listening to King's speaking voice coming out of the radio in my kitchen 40 years after the fact, it occurred to me that King himself must have realized that all is vast and boundless. It doesn't matter what you call it.

Posted by Professor B at 5:33 PM | Comments (0)

January 3, 2008

Too Many Political TV Ads?

There was a soundbyte on NPR the other day in which an Iowa voter complained of being tired of so many political commercials on TV. The simplest solution -- much simpler than campaign finance reform -- apparently was beyond this person's imagination: stop watching TV.

Posted by Professor B at 9:54 AM | Comments (0)

October 31, 2007

Down By the Riverside

I ride the bus from New York to Washington
to protest the Iraq war

At the podium a woman sings a capella
Down By The Riverside
her smooth black voice
full of confidence and determination.

I look at my shoes and realize
these feet once stood
on this same ground
nearly thirty years ago
when I was child
brought here by mother.

The song was the same
but the singer was Pete Seeger
and the war was in Viet Nam.

Posted by Professor B at 5:19 PM | Comments (0)

October 22, 2007

Colbert for President

I am immensely grateful and relieved that Stephen Colbert is running for the highest office in the land. Now, at long last, I have a viable alternative to holding my nose, getting on my knees and acquiescing yet again to that most revolting of compromises, the Lesser Evil. I can go into the voting booth, have an enlightenment experience, jettison all that foolish left-wing progressive delusion, and suddenly become a conservative. Then I'll write in for Stephen Colbert.

Think I'm kidding? Yeah, I am kidding about the enlightenment part.

Posted by Professor B at 10:39 AM | Comments (0)

September 27, 2007

Is there something odd about this headline?

Blackwater Tops Firms in Iraq in Shooting Rate

Is it just me, or is there something a little weird and disturbing about that headline from today's NY Times?

Posted by Professor B at 4:47 PM | Comments (0)

June 6, 2007

Libby sentence: with friends like these...

This morning NPR reported on the Libby sentencing and said that he submitted letters of support from such luminaries as Paul Wolfowitz, Henry Kissinger, and Donald Rumsfeld. If it were me up there getting sentenced, I could do without the help of friends like these who themselves deserve to be locked up. I'd sooner accept a character reference from Vernon T. Bludgeon himself.

Posted by Professor B at 10:48 AM | Comments (0)

April 27, 2007

Viva Kucinich!

I am now a kucinichista.

I have had it with the same old Democratic bullshit. I heard on NPR about the "debate" among the eight Democratic contenders. Kucinich -- and this other guy I confess I had never even heard of, Mike Gravel -- were the only ones with the balls to point out that if you want to stop the war, cut off the funding. Stop re-authorizing it by continuing to give the Whitehouse the all money it wants, as these wimps in the Senate have just done. Sure, Bush will veto the latest bill because it tries to prevent the Whitehouse from staying in Iraq "until the end of time," as Jon Stewart puts it. But it still gives him the money because these lame-ass pols are way behind the American public and, apparently, are too timid to step up and make a sincere effort to stop the war.

Kucinich, on the other hand, not only advocates really stopping the war; he has now introduced articles of impeachment against Dick Cheney for falsifying the intelligence and getting us into this illegal and unjustified war.

Is Hillary in favor of impeachment? Hell no. Obama? Dream on. You know what? Fuck these wimps. I am going to write in for Kucinich, even if some of my centrist-liberal friends give me a great pile of shit for it.

Posted by Professor B at 2:11 PM | Comments (0)

April 20, 2007

Yo Alberto: Resign!

Come on, Alberto González. Clean out your desk and get the fuck out, won't you please? What's it gonna take? Does there have to be a mob encircling your house with pitchforks and torches, like on an old Frankenstein movie? At this point there might as well be.

Come now. You know what time it is. Show a modicum of honor and dignity, and respect for reality. Resign.

Posted by Professor B at 10:53 AM | Comments (0)

January 17, 2007

Time for a coup d'état in the USA?

I got an email from TheNation.com saying "in his address to the nation last week, President Bush accused Iran of 'providing material support for attacks on American troops,' and added 'we will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq.'" OK.

I also read in El Diario/La Prensa an AP story that stated that middlemen had acquired, on behalf of Iran, parts for the F-14 Tomcat fighter. That was illegal, so Customs agents seized the parts and returned them to the Pentagon. Which turned around and sold them off again, this time to another buyer who also turned out to be "suspected of" working on behalf of Iran. Close enough.

Therefore, the White House must be planning to seek out and destroy the Pentagon.

This is all fucked up, don't you think? Look at what's happening: the Bush administration is driving the country into the ditch as fast as it can. It launched an illegal and unjustified invasion of Iraq -- true, with the support of most of the cowards in Congress -- and now flatly refuses to listen to anyone about how to mitigate the horrible bloody clusterfuck it has created. Not the Congress, nor the Iraq Study Group, nor the generals on the proverbial ground. Fuck all a y'all, George is saying. I'm gonna escalate. But I ain't gonna call it an escalation, see. I'm gonna a call it a surge. Gonna do a surge.

Fuck that. It's time for the Pentagon to launch a pre-emptive strike on its own -- against the White House. Generals, call him on the phone and say, you have three hours to get the fuck out. Resign. Beat it. Step down. If he says no, negotiate a little. Give him four hours. Oh what the hell, make it five! Be reasonable. And if he still refuses, then let the tanks roll down Pennsylvania Avenue and set shit off. Coup d'état. We've tried democracy for over 200 years and it's been a partial success, but it is in grave danger now, so grave we have to destroy it in order to save it. Overthrow the Bush regime, establish a military government. Dissolve the Congress, govern for a few months until things stabilize, then hold free and fair elections and start over. Why not?

Posted by Professor B at 5:03 PM | Comments (0)

December 31, 2006

Celebrity death update!

Woa, excuse me! I spoke too soon about there being three celebrity deaths in this month of December. Now they've hung Saddam, that makes four.

Nice to know that his execution is such an important step towards establishing democracy in Iraq, according to Mr. Bush's handlers. Yeah right.

I heard some think tank wonk holding forth on NPR, telling us that some people oppose capital punishment on principle, but it is appropriate in "extraordinary circumstances" such as these. You know, like when there is incontrovertible proof that you're responsible for the death of thousands of innocents. If that's so, it would be only fitting to apply that same logic here at home. I oppose the death penalty, but I have to admit it might be kind of cool to watch the hangings of Cheney, Rumsfeld and Bush on Fox. Over and over again.

Posted by Professor B at 1:05 AM | Comments (0)

December 28, 2006

How to React to Three Celebrity Deaths in December

(1) Augusto Pinochet. You are dancing in the street. It's a pity that he died too comfortably, and that we did not get "closure" through the criminal process, but my, it's great that he's dead. Let the champagne corks fly.

(2) James Brown. You feel rather sad and wistful, especially if you grew up with that DC Sound in your ears. He had soul, and he was super bad. He may have had a fucked up personal life, but the man was one hell of a performer and his contribution was major. Let us raise our glasses and drink to his bad self.

Here's a quick James Brown/LSD anecdote. Once upon a time a buddy and I were doing acid. As the drug's effects were coming on, we listened to the Greatist Hits CD on which the second track is Sex Machine (Get Up). It begins with James Brown proudly proclaiming how he intends to do his thing. Then the music kicks in, -- a-pampampampampampampam Get Up, Get On Up -- and suddenly you're in this exquisitely transparent and open texture, a perfect balance between the instrumental parts, with just enough space between the notes, and a bad-ass groove that defies description. Then come the self-referential lyrics about taking it to the bridge, threatening to take it to the bridge, building up an immense tension... it is music that celebrates itself, boasts and braggs about itself, revels in itself. I remember listening, incredulous, astonished at the genius of this achievement. I decided then and there that this was one of the greatest songs in the history of recorded music.

This is, by the way, an example of the Acidmaster's Paradox. It often happens that tripping on LSD takes you not farther from but closer to the true nature of reality. You may be fucked up beyond reason, yet you are seeing things revealed as they are. I knew Get Up was great, but I didn't fully appreciate its magnificence until I heard it while tripping.

But I digress.

(3) Gerald Ford. You don't really give a shit one way or the other. You dismiss the mainstream media bullshit about how heroically he healed the Watergate-traumatized nation by letting Trickie Dick slide. There was a deal, so he dealt. He played the game. Now we are hearing about how he told Bob Woodward -- gasp! -- that the Iraq invasion was a mistake! Oh, what genuis, what vision! By the way, it was no "mistake." It was a major crime against humanity for which its authors deserve to hang, not unlike the above-mentioned General, come to think of it.

If you went three for three above, high five.

Posted by Professor B at 9:47 AM | Comments (0)

December 11, 2006

Pinochet: que en paz no descance

Posted by Professor B at 11:06 PM | Comments (0)

July 19, 2006

overseeing the what?

I heard a snippet on NPR this morning in which they were saying something about "increasing the oversight of the [Bush administration's] warrantless wiretapping program." You have to wonder if the whoever wrote that sentence intended it as ironic. I thought oversight was the whole point of the seeking of warrants from the judicial branch.

Posted by Professor B at 11:06 PM | Comments (0)

June 9, 2006

Media circle-jerk around the corpse of al-Zarqawi

So the US has wacked Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Big deal. Judging from the media circle-jerk around his corpse, you would think this meant peace, democracy and stability were at hand. Let's wait and see whether the bloodbath continues. My money is on the carnage.

Posted by Professor B at 3:30 PM | Comments (0)

March 2, 2006

Bill of Rights now sounds like anarchy

Now that the Bush administration's illegal domestic surveillance program has been eclipsed by the false issue of the Dubai ports deal, I thought I'd try to refocus our attention for a second or two by sharing this audaciously radical, subversive, revolutionary little snippet. The most disturbing thing is that in today's environment, that's what the Fourth Amendment sounds like. Are you ready? OK, here it is:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Pretty cheeky, don't you think?

Posted by Professor B at 9:04 AM | Comments (0)

January 18, 2006

Chile, ¡te felicito! ¡Brava Michelle!

Posted by Professor B at 4:33 PM | Comments (0)

December 4, 2005

Open letter to my Congressman Bob Menéndez

Yesterday I ordered fifty bucks worth of impeach bush gear from impeachbush.org, but I still felt that I hadn't done my civic duty. So today I fired up OpenOffice Writer and got busy on a letter to my Congressperson. Thought I'd open-source it; please feel free to borrow, modify, and follow suit.

---

December 5, 2005

Hon. Robert Menéndez
2238 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman Menéndez:

I write as your constituent, and as a citizen of these United States, to implore you to take immediate action to commence impeachment proceedings against George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld so that they are removed from office and held accountable for their crimes. The evidence of criminal incompetence, greed, corruption, torture, and unnecessary wars of conquest based on lies is more than sufficient to warrant this drastic action. Indeed, it is nothing less than the patriotic duty of everyone who cares about this country's future – both citizens and elected officials – to act now to remove the Bush administration if we are to avert further murderous misadventures like the Iraq war. Bush and his cronies are undermining the security of this country on every level – economic, social, environmental, and military. They have also done immeasurable damage to the United States' relationships abroad, having earned the well-deserved fear and hatred of much of the rest of the world.

Bush has got to go.

For a legal case in favor of impeachment I refer you to http://www.tomdispatch.com/index.mhtml?pid=32550 and to http://pepib.convio.net/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5054

I very much look forward to your response on this vitally important issue.

Very truly yours,

Professor B

Posted by Professor B at 3:54 PM | Comments (0)

October 2, 2005

New Slogan for the anti-Drug War

The other day I came up with a good slogan for the drug decriminalization movement. Ready? OK here it is:

There's no criminal solution to a public health problem.

Posted by Professor B at 10:23 PM | Comments (0)

September 22, 2005

Donate to Iraq reconstruction?

I hear that USAID is asking private citizens to pony up donations for Iraq reconstruction in addition to all the tax dollars we are spending on trying to rebuild it in addition to all the tax dollars we spent destroying it. Can you believe the chutzpah? Jeez, suppose we had simply not destroyed the place in a criminal war of invasion and occupation in the first place -- think of the savings!

I am glad I bought my bus ticket to the anti-Bush demo in D.C. on Saturday.

Posted by Professor B at 4:02 PM | Comments (0)

July 20, 2005

Want to stop Judge Roberts?

I have two really great suggestions for stopping Bush's Supreme Court Nominee:

1. Impeach Bush.
2. If that doesn't work, hire Karl Rove to set Roberts up with a thirteen-year-old boy! That is, if a public servant of Mr. Rove's ethical stature and integrity can be persuaded to stoop so low, and if he moonlights. Hell, if he gets fired he won't have to moonlight and can work on our project full time. How will we raise the money for Karl's fee, you ask? Easy. Get those MoveOn.org boys and girls on the job and have them send ten emails a day to their loyal base.

Posted by Professor B at 7:40 PM | Comments (0)

June 21, 2005

Bush/Cheney Impeachment unimaginable? Not for me

In a recent Nation editorial they say something like, whereas a few months ago it was "unimaginable," a successful impeachment movement is now merely "improbable." Dudes:  improbable shit happens! Don't be defeatist.

From the Downing Street memo and WMD lies to Abu Ghraib to Guantánamo, the justification for impeachment of Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld is now more than sufficiently documented. And knowingly leading your country into an illegal war based on lies has got to be more serious than lying about what you did with your dick, don't you think? They need to be impeached, removed from office, and tried for war crimes. Why is this so unthinkable? How can we not think it and still pretend to care about democracy?

So let's all pony up our dollars and contribute to http://www.votetoimpeach.org/ (as I just did) and start thinking ahead to September 24, when there is going to be one kick-ass demonstration in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere. Let's not just be pissed as hell. Let's do something about it.

Posted by Professor B at 11:10 PM | Comments (0)

May 27, 2005

Flushing the Koran

The recent flap about alleged Koran-flushing is such a load of crap, no double-entendre intended. Everyone knows that our noble fighting forces would never be so irresponsible as to flush a book down a toilet, because doing so would surely choke the toilet.

Posted by Professor B at 12:08 PM | Comments (0)

May 9, 2005

Open letter to Bill Maher

Hey Bill. Bill! You listening? Good. Just a few seconds of your time, please.

The show is great and I love it. Now, here's my suggestion. If you want some other smart witty progressive women on your show, I would suggest:

• Katha Pollitt
• Barbara Ehrenreich
• Naomi Klein

Imagine how they would crush that mendacious, venomous facsist friend of yours Ann Coulter. Bwa ha ha ha!

OK that's it bro. Didn't I promise I'd keep it short?

Posted by Professor B at 2:57 PM | Comments (0)

May 8, 2005

Grasping the full meaning of cards

You had to be there. But you would never be, unless you were a member of small elite that has been playing cards together for some 25 years. In our world, Cards is more than just cards. It is the rarest of delicacies; a fine wine that keeps improving with age; a profoundly gratifying, almost ritualistic event. We are a group of 40-something middle class white males that likes to get together once or twice a year and stay up late talking shit, getting fucked up, and... yes, playing some cards. Anybody who has a problem with that can kiss our ass.

Posted by Professor B at 10:58 AM | Comments (0)

April 8, 2005

Pope Shmope

I can't see why so many people are falling all over themselves to praise the Pope. So he preached love and peace -- so what? He was the Pope, right? Espousing basic Christian values is his job; doing his job is hardly above and beyond the call.

Let's see, what else? Lacking the balls and/or the wisdom to break with centuries of fucked up dogma and continuing to discourage condom use among tens of millions of people in impoverished, AIDs-ravaged regions like Africa. Way to go fuckhead.

I say good riddance.

Posted by Professor B at 11:33 AM | Comments (0)

February 7, 2005

Condi Rice sees silver lining in tsunami

Condoleezza Rice:  "I do agree that the tsunami was a wonderful opportunity to show not just the US government, but the heart of the American people, and I think it has paid great dividends for us." [Source: Dr. Rice's senate confirmation hearing, according to Agence France Presse, Tuesday, January 18, 2005.]

Maybe that helps explain His mysterious ways. See, He decided to blow away all those impoverished dark-skinned masses (and a couple thousand westerners who were in the wrong place at the wrong time) so that these United States would have a "wonderful opportunity" to display our benevolence and generosity.

Posted by Professor B at 3:51 PM | Comments (0)

February 2, 2005

Pray for the Pope? I think not

Millions of people are praying for the Pope's recovery, NPR informs us this morning.

As a hardline atheist, I have a problem with the prayer part, but leaving that aside: why would anybody who cares about the human race pray for someone who intentionally discourages millions of people from practicing safe sex and birth control? It just doesn't make any sense.

Posted by Professor B at 9:35 AM | Comments (1)

December 3, 2004

A Stunning Coincidence

A friend of mine emails:

So Kerik will now head Homeland. I'm sure it's pure coincidence that [newspapers report that]:

"Mr Kerik ... worked as a guard for the the Saudi royal family before joining the NYPD in 1985."

Posted by Professor B at 11:42 AM | Comments (0)

November 19, 2004

Protesta apoteósica

Quote of the day:

"Protestamos no contra el pueblo norteamericano, sino contra el asesino principal del planeta"

-- Marcos Riquelme, a leader of protests against the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum being held in Santiago, Chile.

I am proud of the way you guys are setting shit off down there. ¡Viva Chile!

Posted by Professor B at 5:45 PM | Comments (0)

November 11, 2004

who's bullshit?

I've just about had it with the likes of the NYTimes and other so-called liberal media (SCLM) outlets like NPR. GO check out sites like english.aljazeera.net and counterpunch.org and you will see what I mean. It's like they're watching a different ballgame.

Speaking of games, atrocities are happening in Fallujah while most Americans sit around watching football. And that is just plain fucked up.

Posted by Professor B at 11:01 PM | Comments (0)

November 3, 2004

A Sad Day

OK, I'm a sushi-nibbling, cabernet sauvignon-sipping Northeastern opinionated arrogant elitist snob who likes looking at pictures of Christ submerged in urine. And I say to all of you who voted for Bush:

You are fools at best. Either you don't know your own interests, or your interest is self-destruction (and other-destruction). You voted for what is almost certainly the most corrupt, dangerous, arrogant, mendacious, incompetent administration of your lifetime. You've shown the world that American voters, albeit by a slim majority, chose this prick and have given your approval to his greedy, demented imperialist policies. You fucked up. Shame on you.

Sore loser? Damn right I am. This is no joke, it really sucks big time.

One of the few bright spots I can think of is that Kerry got the African American vote by a margin of ten to one. At least black folks, collectively, have something of a clue. Another bright spot is that the pesto, marinara and meat balls that I served my friends last night made a big hit.

Posted by Professor B at 8:52 PM | Comments (0)

November 2, 2004

This is it

Have you ever seen more tension and anxiety around an election in the United States in your lifetime?

Even my own dad, normally a man of relentless logic and reason, sounded a little strange on the phone last night when he said that if the Red Sox can win the World Series, Kerry can win the presidency. Huh?

This is it folks, the day of reckoning. So get out there and do the right thing.

I've been resigned to pulling the lever for Kerry for several months. It's a no-brainer. You would have to be insane or disinformed to do otherwise.

I read somewhere that 70+ percent of Bush supporters still think Saddam's connection to Al Qaeda has been established and that he had WMD. There's a fundamental disconnect with reality, a sort of cognitive disorder. The right wing Republican propaganda apparatus is a thing of awesome power, to be sure, but even so, there's no excuse for being too lazy to get off the couch and make a modicum of effort to find out what is really going on.

Someone was saying on Air America last night that if the Republicans attempt to steal it again, watch out. You might see all shit break loose in the streets of this country like we haven't seen in a century. We need Kerry to take it and take it by a comfortable margin.

I was up late prepping food for the election night dinner we are holding today: made a nice marinara, meatballs, a pesto. Gonna have some quality wine and food, huddle together with some dear friends, and we will either celebrate that we have averted catastrophe, or try to turn our backs to the abyss and enjoy a good meal anyway.

no
more
Bush

Here's why — a little much-needed levity courtesy of our beloved friend Lisa.

Posted by Professor B at 10:51 AM | Comments (0)

October 30, 2004

¡Viva Chile!

If you don't read Spanish, here's a synopsis (yeah, synopsis. What do I look like? A translator?): some left-wing pro-human rights groups in Chile are attempting a legal maneuver to have Bush subpoenaed for questioning by a judge when Bush shows up for an economic summit in Chile in a few weeks. They allege that Bush, Rumsfeld, etc., are criminally liable for torture and murder in Iraq, citing a legal principle of universal jurisdiction under international treaties to which both Chile and the U.S are signatories.

Interesting, isn't it, that on the one hand you have a country where people are serious about trying to lock up this criminal for his crimes, while in the U.S., as we speak, the criminal has a very good shot at being re-elected President.

[de El Diario/La Prensa, New York, 27 octubre de 2004:]

Posted by Professor B at 7:53 PM | Comments (0)

October 25, 2004

Bush looks like a chimpanzee, but....

Q. What's the difference between George W. Bush and a chimpanzee?

A. The chimp is more human.

Check this out: http://www.toddbreer.com/p_070702_bushchimps.shtml

Posted by Professor B at 4:07 PM | Comments (0)

October 15, 2004

Support the Commander-in-Chief

From now on, in deference to our Commander-in-Chief, we should follow his example and adopt his way of referring to what we used to called the Internet. From now on it should be plural: the Internets.

Posted by Professor B at 6:11 PM | Comments (0)

October 8, 2004

NY Times competes with The Onion again

And I quote:

"Report on Day Care Death Finds Flaws in System

By ROBERT D. McFADDEN
New York's Health Department called its oversight of day care centers a bureaucratic maze riddled with problems that spell potential dangers for children...."

And here I was expecting, Report on Day Care Death Finds System Flawless

Posted by Professor B at 9:31 AM | Comments (0)

September 27, 2004

Why Kerry is doing poorly

I got into a stimulating email exchange with some friends and e-acquaintances who live on the Left Coast the other day. We made lots of insightful observations. l take the liberty of paraphrasing myself:

Speaking of the grand right-wing propaganda apparatus and its roots back in the Goldwater days, an excellent article about it appeared in the September 2004 Harper's (don't have it handy for reference, sorry). It's by Lewis Lapham, and we know his biases; but he states that this essay was inspired by a matter-of-fact and (jaw-dropping) presentation he saw given by some dude who was anything but a lefty, some kind of finance industry guy. It is an extraordinary and important article.

I haven't read Thomas Frank's book The Trouble with Kansas but I read his Harper's article based on the book, and heard some radio interview snippets. His ideas have been the topic du jour in left/liberal scholar/activist circles, it seems. A very important read. The main criticism it seems is that he condescends to them Kansas rabble -- too dumb to know their own interests. He says it ain't so. Well, bullshit. You gotta be at least a bit of a dumbass to think Bush is a good christian man who's gonna care about working class you.

The big question is: why, why, why is Kerry at best even with W. in the polls, given how thoroughly the lies arrogance incompetence etc of W.'s admin have been documented and exposed? IMHO the answer, judging from all the lefty magazine articles I've had time to read (combined with maybe just a pinch of independent thought on my part) is something like this:

(0) The question itself suggests the answer: because it doesn't matter how unbelievably horrible Bush is, because:

(1) See Thomas Frank.

(2) See Lewis Lapham.

(3) Kerry totally blows. Who's genuinely excited about Kerry? Nobody, and rightly so.

(4) When you effectively exploit the mob's anger and fear (see 1 and 2 above), mobs turn to the right whether it's in their real interest or not. See 1920's Germany (and some piece in a recent Nation that reminded us of this). And these guys have done a masterful job of exploiting the fear. (See Michael Moore, or check the current Terror Level)

(5) The polls are rigged (see Gore Vidal). When they ask a question like "who do you think would be more effective in prosecuting the War on Terror, Kerry or Bush?", what the FUCK is that supposed to mean? It means you're supposed to accept the premise that the War on Terror is not a fraud but a Good Thing. Poll questions like that are part of the problem, or maybe a symptom of it.

I am pessimistic about Kerry's chances. Somebody please persuade me otherwise. Maybe that absurd spectacle they call a presidential debate will less vacuous than usual, and Kerry will slap that bitch's head around in front of millions. We're told he's been "ramping it up" and "picking up the pace." One can always hope....

Posted by Professor B at 10:49 AM | Comments (0)

September 6, 2004

Bill Clinton? He'll be fine.

I hear on today's news that 26,000 people have wished Bill a speedy recovery.

Folks, don't worry:  he'll be fine. Unlike so many millions of his fellow citizens, Bill enjoys access to the finest available medical care as part of the benefits package that came with his old job (President). I bet it's all covered 100%. I bet he won't even have to see a so-called Explanation of Benefits. As my dad pointed out the other day, he surely doesn't have to share a room — with some random moribund loser crapping into his colostomy bag. In fact I wouldn' t be surprised if the hospital comps his phone.

Don't get me wrong, I don't begrudge Bill his quality health care. I just wish we had universal health care in this country, as they do in every other country that is considered a modern, developed democracy.

Posted by Professor B at 9:44 AM | Comments (0)

September 4, 2004

One Helluva anti-RNC Protest

Mordant wit and creativity showed up along with those 200,000 or so protesters at the demo against the Republican National Convention last Sunday. I took quite a few pictures, such as this one, and this one, and this one (insolent skanky-ass New York hoes! I love you!).

Arrogant scumbags, don't come back.

Posted by Professor B at 3:30 PM | Comments (0)

August 27, 2004

Who's Up for Some anti-RNC Protest?

I know I sure as hell am. See you there.

Posted by Professor B at 12:21 PM | Comments (2)

August 18, 2004

¡Bravo Hugo Chávez! Fuck the Wall Street Journal

Yeah you heard me.

The editors of the Journal apparently think the outcome of the referendum in Venezuela reflects the sorry state of Venezuelan democracy. Right. When the guy who's in power cares more about the plight of the impoverished masses than about the oligarchy, and the oligarchy can't get rid of him, then that isn't democracy. Thank you George Orwell.

Posted by Professor B at 3:01 PM | Comments (0)

August 6, 2004

Nixon's Anniversary and the Lost Art of Resigning

The 30 year anniversary of old Trickie Dick's resignation got me thinking about this. Politicians and hotshot corporate executives just don't know how to resign in this country any more. Oh sure you still get some resignations, like Governor what's-its up in Connecticut who recently threw in the towel, at long last, when there was an angry mob circling his house with torches and clubs. For the most part the art of resigning is practiced more in Europe and in Japan nowadays. People in the USA, in general, just don't seem to know when to say, "ok, I fucked up, give me an hour to clean out my desk and I'm gone."

Nixon held on as long as he could, too long no doubt. But let's remember -- guys were dropping like flies all through the Watergate scandal, mostly resigning in disgrace, some in protest. Not like these arrogant, shameless shits you have in DC nowadays, like Rumsfeld, you should have hit the road long ago over the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal.

Posted by Professor B at 1:01 PM | Comments (0)

June 11, 2004

Reagan Day -- What To Wear?

In the midst of this revolting media deification of the Old Gipper, I rise this morning and face the big question: what shall I wear today? See, I'm a public sector employee so I get the National Day of Mourning off at your expense; I don't have to wear my usual suite-and-tie costume. Of all the miserable garments in my pathetic wardrobe, which is worthy of so momentous an occasion? What T-shirt do I own that best expresses an attitude, an ideology, a worldview that one might consider the opposite of Reaganism?

Ah, here we go:  my tired old Che Guevara T-shirt, yes I think that will do just fine.

Posted by Professor B at 11:30 PM | Comments (0)

June 6, 2004

Good riddance Ronald Reagan

I'm glad that evil fuck is dead.

Posted by Professor B at 7:22 PM | Comments (0)

June 4, 2004

Setting Shit Off

I saw a note yesterday in the New York Spanish language daily El Diario that said that some miners set off two explosions outside the building in La Paz that houses the Confederación de Mineros de Bolivia. They were protesting the loss of jobs, and they evidently had the skills, the equipment and the balls to set shit off and let motherfuckers know what time it was. I admire their style.

Posted by Professor B at 12:41 PM | Comments (0)

May 13, 2004

Prisoner abuse scandal: This is getting kinky and surreal

Our Senators have been looking at revolting sado-porn images of US military and mercenary personnel abusing Iraqi prisonerss, and they are telling us how disturbing this is.

What, and we don't get to see? Come on. We like to look at sick shit too, ya know. Can I get a little democracy and transparency in this fucking place?

Posted by Professor B at 9:22 AM | Comments (0)

April 27, 2004

unspeakable

The good Professor's observation that we, with some shame, hope for the US invading forces to get slaughtered to somehow prove or comment on, the immorality of the current administrations foolish enterprise, is well taken.

It was very disappointing when it became clear that the Iraqis didn't have some weapon - a smallish thermonuclear device or the plague - that they could unleash and not only take out the invading forces but with strong prevailing winds, take out a big chunk of humanity. That would have been grand entertainment. News at eleven!! Stay tuned!! The idea of rooting for the other team creates a bit of cognitive dissonance.

But our "team" - the cheney/rummy/dubya,etc. cocksuckers - well; they aren't our team, now are they? And I'm not so sure about the spineless democrats either. They have caved in to the simple minded school-yard trick of using generally accepted platitudes to be defeated and silenced. Aren't you a good patriot? Don't you love the good ole USA? Why are you sitting on the visitors side of the gym? Where is your flag and why isn't it on display? You must not support our troops!

We watch car races in hopes of a really good crash and when it happens, it is on the news, in slo-mo, over and over again. I watch and any cocksucker who says they don't, is a pile of fermented horse shit lyin jack-off. It is our nature. We are curious about such things. (a brief aside: if you want to indulge your curiousity about the look of human carnage, accidents, self-inflicted gun shot wounds, etc, go to rotten.com - this is a Vernon T. Bludgeon approved site)

Back to the subject at hand - Iraq. People are getting killed. You read it here first. Why should I feel more remorse at the loss of an american as opposed to an Iraqi? And why the fuck should we give huge coverage to the death of an ex-football player who gave up his multi-mil contract to play soldier. Why him? I want to know about the poor child who found a bit of hope by joining the army to get a step up. The press seems enamored of the fact that he gave up the money as if that makes him an even bigger hero. He chose his way to die; his right and privledge. If he had given up the money and then committed suicide would we still think highly of him? Oh yes - he died for a good cause. Bullshit. He died for a stupid ridiculous invasion of another country by our nascent dictatorship. If he thought that he was fighting for the "homeland" (why didn't they just call it the fatherland?) or to bring democracy to a region that couldn't give a shit about democracy, then he did committ suicide. Or was monumentally stupid or read too many G.I Joe comics as a child. I read a lot of Dr. Squirm Finger the Proctologist comics when I was young but you don't see me signing up to exam sphincters do you?

We don't want anyone to die and we certainly don't want to belong to a club that sends children off to kill people and get killed just for the club leadership's amusement. Hussein gassed his "own" people. Yeah? So we are noble and order the deaths of our own people by invading another country? And when things are going badly and it is obvious that we shouldn't have ever done this, we send more kids off to the machine? Rather than admitting our folly and withdrawing?

rant, rant, rant. I need to relax so I'm going to a calming, inspirational movie - the one where they beat the shit out of jesus. Now that is what it is all about. A good wholesome sense of what the world should aspire to. Violence with a message?

Posted by dark-eye at 10:03 PM | Comments (2)

April 19, 2004

speaking the unspeakable about US casualties

I remember reading somewhere in Howard Zinn's history of the US that in the run-up to the Mexican war, a shameless imperial land grab if ever there was one, there was ferocious opposition to the war. An American newspaper editorial of the time said, in substance, we deplore bloodshed and violence, but this is inexcusable, and if someone's blood has to be shed, let it be the blood of the invading American forces. Let them be defeated and turned back in complete disgrace. Can you believe they actually published this? Nowadays everyone who thinks this way keeps his mouth shut about it.

Everyone except your servant Professor B, that is. Whenever US soldier or private sector mercenary comes home from Iraq in a body bag, I feel immense sympathy for the families and friends of these people. But on an a purely, heartlessly military and political level, I don't feel a bit sorry for the invaders, nor for the employees of profiteering corporations, who end up getting wacked. In fact I route for the resistance. The US has no business there, and never did, and should get the hell out now, and beg the UN on hands and knees to step in, and offer to pay the bills. Cut military spending in half and use some of the savings to rebuild the place and pay reparations.

Posted by Professor B at 9:54 AM | Comments (3)

April 14, 2004

"presidential" press conference

Well well well. Can't think of any mistakes you made in the so-called War on Terror, George? Need a little help? OK, how about the criminal invasion and occupation of Iraq? Under the false pretext of the WMD you now can't find, not even under the desk in your office? Remember that?

Seriously, though. You otherwise acquitted yourself brilliantly. You laid out all those distortions, lies and rabble-rousing button-pushing jingoistic propaganda just like Karl R. and your other handlers trained you. I bet you'll get a nice little bump in the poll numbers (which don't concern you, of course).

Oh by the way:  fuck you.

Posted by Professor B at 12:33 PM | Comments (3)

April 1, 2004

Spanish election

The socialists would have won the Spanish election without the boost given them by the government's mishandling of the Madrid train bombings. The Madrid correspondent of the respected German weekly Die Zeit reported that while polls may be taken in Spain at any time up to an election, the results may not be made public in the two weeks prior to an election. Polls taken in Spain during those crucial two weeks, she wrote, showed that the socialists were steadily gaining on the government. While they undoubtedly got a push from the aftermath of the bombings, they would have taken over the government without it.

Professor B's note: The point being that you'd be unlikely to know this if you relied solely on the USA's corporate media. They have generally failed to report that the Spanish people were going to kick out Aznar's party anyway, for disregarding the popular will by supporting the US invasion of Iraq; they would have us think that the catastrophe and its scandalous mishandling were the sole causes of a stunning upset victory, which is just plain false. Good thing my dad reads German.

Posted by FMB_fan at 10:36 AM | Comments (0)

March 25, 2004

Real Family Values

Family values were out in full force on Saturday, March 20, 2004 at the anti-war demonstration in New York City, as you can see if you click the thumbnail to display a JPEG of my 10-month old daughter, my wife Marie, and Professor B himself observing the one-year anniversary of the Bush administration's criminal invasion of Iraq.

Posted by Professor B at 2:18 PM | Comments (2)

March 19, 2004

Iraq invasion anniversary

As the one year anniversary of the invasion comes around, and Ministry of Truth a/k/a the Whitehouse loudly congratulates itself for its heroic deeds on behalf of freedom and democracy in Iraq, I thought it a good time to resurrect this little gem that circulated on the Internet around this time last year.

IMMEDIATE ATTENTION NEEDED :
HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL

FROM: GEORGE WALKER BUSH
202.456.1414 / 202.456.1111
FAX: 202.456.2461

DEAR SIR / MADAM,

I AM GEORGE WALKER BUSH, SON OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH, AND CURRENTLY SERVING AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THIS LETTER MIGHT SURPRISE YOU BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT MET NEITHER IN PERSON NOR BY CORRESPONDENCE. I CAME TO KNOW OF YOU IN MY SEARCH FOR A RELIABLE AND REPUTABLE PERSON TO HANDLE A VERY CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS TRANSACTION, WHICH INVOLVES THE TRANSFER OF A HUGE SUM OF MONEY TO AN ACCOUNT REQUIRING MAXIMUM CONFIDENCE.

I AM WRITING YOU IN ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE PRIMARILY TO SEEK YOUR ASSISTANCE IN ACQUIRING OIL FUNDS THAT ARE PRESENTLY TRAPPED IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRAQ. MY PARTNERS AND I SOLICIT YOUR ASSISTANCE IN COMPLETING A TRANSACTION BEGUN BY MY FATHER, WHO HAS LONG BEEN ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE EXTRACTION OF PETROLEUM IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND BRAVELY SERVED HIS COUNTRY AS DIRECTOR OF THE UNITED STATES CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY.

IN THE DECADE OF THE NINETEEN-EIGHTIES, MY FATHER, THEN VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, SOUGHT TO WORK WITH THE GOOD OFFICES OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF IRAQ TO REGAIN LOST OIL REVENUE SOURCES IN THE NEIGHBORING ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN. THIS UNSUCCESSFUL VENTURE WAS SOON FOLLOWED BY A FALLING OUT WITH HIS IRAQI PARTNER, WHO SOUGHT TO ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL OIL REVENUE SOURCES IN THE NEIGHBORING EMIRATE OF KUWAIT, A WHOLLY-OWNED U.S.-BRITISH SUBSIDIARY.

MY FATHER RE-SECURED THE PETROLEUM ASSETS OF KUWAIT IN 1991 AT A COST OF SIXTY-ONE BILLION U.S. DOLLARS ($61,000,000,000). OUT OF THAT COST, THIRTY-SIX BILLION DOLLARS ($36,000,000,000) WERE SUPPLIED BY HIS PARTNERS IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA AND OTHER PERSIAN GULF MONARCHIES, AND SIXTEEN BILLION DOLLARS ($16,000,000,000) BY GERMAN AND JAPANESE PARTNERS. BUT MY FATHER'S FORMER IRAQI BUSINESS PARTNER REMAINED IN CONTROL OF THE REPUBLIC OF IRAQ AND ITS PETROLEUM RESERVES.

MY FAMILY IS CALLING FOR YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE IN FUNDING THE REMOVAL OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF IRAQ AND ACQUIRING THE PETROLEUM ASSETS OF HIS COUNTRY, AS COMPENSATION FOR THE COSTS OF REMOVING HIM FROM POWER. UNFORTUNATELY, OUR PARTNERS FROM 1991 ARE NOT WILLING TO SHOULDER THE BURDEN OF THIS NEW VENTURE, WHICH IN ITS UPCOMING PHASE MAY COST THE SUM OF 100 BILLION TO 200 BILLION DOLLARS ($100,000,000,000 - $200,000,000,000), BOTH IN THE INITIAL ACQUISITION AND IN LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT.

WITHOUT THE FUNDS FROM OUR 1991 PARTNERS, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ACQUIRE THE OIL REVENUE TRAPPED WITHIN IRAQ. THAT IS WHY MY FAMILY AND OUR COLLEAGUES ARE URGENTLY SEEKING YOUR GRACIOUS ASSISTANCE. OUR DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUES IN THIS BUSINESS TRANSACTION INCLUDE THE SITTING VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, RICHARD CHENEY, WHO IS AN ORIGINAL PARTNER IN THE IRAQ VENTURE AND FORMER HEAD OF THE HALLIBURTON OIL COMPANY, AND CONDOLEEZA RICE, WHOSE PROFESSIONAL DEDICATION TO THE VENTURE WAS DEMONSTRATED IN THE NAMING OF A CHEVRON OIL TANKER AFTER HER.

I WOULD BESEECH YOU TO TRANSFER A SUM EQUALING TEN TO TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT (10-25 %) OF YOUR YEARLY INCOME TO OUR ACCOUNT TO AID IN THIS IMPORTANT VENTURE. THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL FUNCTION AS OUR TRUSTED INTERMEDIARY. I PROPOSE THAT YOU MAKE THIS TRANSFER BEFORE THE FIFTEENTH (15TH) OF THE MONTH OF APRIL.

I KNOW THAT A TRANSACTION OF THIS MAGNITUDE WOULD MAKE ANYONE APPREHENSIVE AND WORRIED. BUT I AM ASSURING YOU THAT ALL WILL BE WELL AT THE END OF THE DAY. A BOLD STEP TAKEN SHALL NOT BE REGRETTED, I ASSURE YOU. PLEASE DO BE INFORMED THAT THIS BUSINESS TRANSACTION IS 100% LEGAL. IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO CO-OPERATE IN THIS TRANSACTION, PLEASE CONTACT OUR INTERMEDIARY REPRESENTATIVES TO FURTHER DISCUSS THE MATTER.

I PRAY THAT YOU UNDERSTAND OUR PLIGHT. MY FAMILY AND OUR COLLEAGUES WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL. PLEASE REPLY IN STRICT CONFIDENCE TO THE CONTACT NUMBERS BELOW.

SINCERELY WITH WARM REGARDS,

GEORGE WALKER BUSH

Posted by Professor B at 10:28 AM | Comments (1)

March 12, 2004

Todos somos españoles: un mensaje solidario

Posted by Professor B at 11:09 AM | Comments (0)

February 9, 2004

coming not so soon: WMD Whitewash

To hear the punditry chatter about it, you could be forgiven for thinking that the WMD/intelligence investigation is a whitewash whose script is already written. They keep referring to investigation into intelligence "failures." The premise, implicitly, is that intelligence "failures" are at fault for the US' illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq. Excuse me, but what about the possibility -- for which there is ample evidence -- that our fearless leaders knew what time it was and lied about it to the public?

Remember last February and again in April when a hundred thousand of my closest friends and I demonstrated in the streets of New York (and elsewhere around the world) shouting at the top of our lungs that the adminstration's justifications were bullshit? I guess that's gone down the memory hole.

Didn't Paul Wolfowitz acknowledge in an interview with Vanity Fair, essentially, that the administration adopted the WMD angle because they knew it would sell? "It was the one reason everyone could agree on." That it was a lie is incidental.

Didn't Paul O'Neill say publicly (in a CBS news interview, January 11, 2004) that the Bushites began planning the invasion in January of 2001? Why would he make that up?

Granted, it is hard to overestimate the incompetence of our intelligence services. But here's the problem I'm having. When you assert a negative, and you turn out to be wrong, that's one thing. Example: "We don't think the dude has WMD because we have searched systematically for a long time and found no evidence that he does." Then suppose you're mistaken and he does have WMD. "Oops, my bad. Sorry." But when you assert a positive and you're wrong, you better explain yourself. Example: "we are certain the dude has WMD." Why? "Because." Because what? "Can't tell ya. It's a secret." OK, now we fast forward to today: no WMD. What's the story? "Well, ya see, intelligence is never 100% right or 100% wrong." Yeah right. The director of the CIA will fall on his sword -- sort of -- and the "bilateral" panel chosen by dubya will take until after the election to complete its whitewash.

Get the fuck outa here.

Posted by Professor B at 10:12 AM | Comments (1)

February 8, 2004

tim & georgie

I almost got out of bed this morning to watch dubya talk with tim russert. But I thought better of it and went back to dreamland. I am very religious and every Sunday attend the church of Our Lady of the Holy Mattress. I saw excerpts of the interview on the news and as I figured, it just made me shout at the tube. After the bay of pigs debacle JFK simply said - sorry, my fault - and then made sure he didn't do that again. Got rid of the advisors who had led him astray and picked people he could trust to be honest. Unfortunately, dubya doesn't think for himself and therefore can't follow that example. I am heartened by the recent polls but I still don't think anybody can survive the massive corporate propaganda, donation driven machine of the dubya. I despair.

A great statesman of recent history said (I paraphrase, sorry) "It is the great fortune for government that the people don't think" How true, how true. As it was then, it is now.

The people who wave the flag the hardest and cheer the tax cuts are the least able to survive. They are the lottery ticket buyers who routinely throw away $50 to a $100 dollars every week. Even more aggravating when they slow the line at the boozeteria. I'm all for gambling; the more casinos the better - put slot machines on street corners. Make all of it legal but let the government take charge! Can't we all be indians?? I'm a member of the Slipskabonerupdepoopshute's tribe. Here in CT they invent tribes all the time. It has become a cottage industry.

Then we can cut taxes to the bone and sit back and watch the anti-tax folks throw their money into the governments coffers. And they will do it without realizing what is happening. William Bennet can urge them on.

Back to the people interfering with my purchase of a nice Vernaccia from San Gimignano - I often want to ask them to give me the money if they don't really want it but they just get all testy. OK, I can see the reaction coming about how manipulative this concept is - the lets get rid of gambling period folks who protest the exploitation of the masses. I agree. But when you consider that these masses are the same people who want to get rid of all taxation so they can spend their money as they choose?

So the great statesman, much admired in certain circles and considered one the most influential leaders of the 20th century that I quoted?? Adolph Hitler.

Posted by dark-eye at 11:39 PM | Comments (3)

February 6, 2004

Open Letter to My Fox-Viewing Friends

I've got a couple of friends who watch a lot of Fox News. One person in particular, a good friend who lives across the street from me. When I go into his house more often than not he's got good old Fair and Balanced oozing from his vegbox. Remarkably, this is a person of considerable intelligence and whose judgement and opinions I otherwise generally respect. This one goes out to youse all:

My Dear Friends,

Why do you watch that shit? Haven't I told you time and again it's full of lies, distortions and propaganda? Well here's some more evidence for that proposition, quoted from AlterNet.org. You can read the study itself here.



Yeah I added the yellow highlighting and the italics. Fox viewers, don't worry, you can wipe it off your monitor with a soft, clean, damp cloth.

Posted by Professor B at 11:52 AM | Comments (8)

January 28, 2004

How do I pray like bush?

There was a picture, black and white, in some publication recently that showed the dear leader with his cabinet before the festivities had begun and they were all praying. I was entranced by the image - they were perfectly composed - all in a row. Their heads were bowed at the same angle; hands held in a posture signifying their humbleness; eyes squinched tightly closed. They all wore the same uniform but because it was in B&W I couldn't make out the color of the ties. I'm sure they were the same. Look - I can't join in praying like the leader of the free world if my tie isn't the correct color; don't you agree? Sometimes it is red, sometimes blue. If anyone can help me with my problem or has a thought/guess about the correct color I would be more than grateful for the help. Oh! I almost forgot - what the fuck are they praying for?

Posted by dark-eye at 1:13 AM | Comments (1)

January 27, 2004

If the shoe fits, then for fuck's sake, wear it!

I realize it's now passé, but really. Those MoveOn folks are starting to disappoint with their wussiness. The winning ad, chosen by the MoveOn voters, that CBS is nixing is too tame for my taste. The Hitler ones are actually good -- not to mention powerful.

Hitler had to defend Germany against Polish aggression, right?

Thanks to theMemoryHole.org for posting the ads that MoveOn pulled.

Posted by Professor B at 10:33 PM | Comments (0)