No matter what you think of Al Gore’s views (I suspect he’s more right than wrong, but prone to alarmist hyperbole), British journalist Mark Simpson nails the former veep’s biggest flaw:
It isn’t Gore’s vanity that is so impossible to stomach – it’s his total inability to own it. His vanity is the vanity of the ‘humble preacher’ – the deadliest vanity of all.
If you’re a straight man, a prude or at work, you probably shouldn’t watch this. To everyone else: you’re welcome.
Continuing today’s theme — bashing untrustworthy, pandering automatons — I return my attention to The Anchorman, whose new national security adviser is an enthusiastic supporter of torture.
In announcing the appointment of Marks, the Romney campaign put out a press release emphasizing his “more than three decades of experience in the intelligence field.” But according to CNN, Marks also is a teacher of “interrogation.
Romney’s calculation (every move The Anchorman makes is calculated): Christian conservatives support torture. I need Christian conservatives. Thus I’m going to be the standard bearer for torture, er, enhanced interrogation techniques.
Romney has already said he’d “double Guantanamo.” His spokesman said that while the former Massachusetts governor opposes torture, he supports the euphemism.
Even if it doesn’t really work, as his new national security adviser James “Spider” Marks has suggested. But that’s no reason not to use it:
FOREMAN: …So in your experience and in your view, torture as a policy should be against the law?
MARKS: True.
FOREMAN: And yet, we might still have to use it.
MARKS: True.
To summarize, Mitt Romney is for torture even though he’s against it.
Classic films, classic scenes:
Kim Jong-Il wonders why everyone is so fucking stupid, from "Team America: World Police." One day this movie will receive its just due.
*Bonus clip: "Everyone Has AIDS," satirizing a tremendously overrated piece of crap.
(For a more "conventional" gay view on musicals, check out Duane’s post: omigod, omigod you guys … )
If I’m Barack Obama, I go negative. Real negative. Because even when he’s merely challenging her record, the whiny Clinton campaign accuses him of “abandoning the politics of hope,” as if only Hillbot is above the fray. Yeah, and Mitt Romney is authentic.
Pointing out the flaws in someone’s resume shouldn’t count as a “personal attack.” I’m with The Plank, which suggests Obama resurrect the issue of Clinton 42′s shady pardons, including one of Hillbot’s slimeball brother, Hugh Rodham. If Hillary insists on using her husband’s administration to help catapult her into the White House, then that administration — and her role in it — deserves scrutiny.
For instance, I’d like to know what she thought about pardoning Marc Rich? (Cue awkward laugh, followed by standard complaint about the politics of personal destruction.) Then I’d ask her again. (Cue awkward laugh, followed by an even more awkward plea to move on.) Repeat. (Cue tranquilizer dart.)
Despite what her surrogates say, it is relevant. Highly relevant.
Particularly when their candidate (and her husband) have a history of dodgy ethics. Obama can’t make that case as starkly as some unknown blogger (er, undercover functionary of the vast right-wing conspiracy), but he can argue that a vote for him is a vote against politics as usual. Hillary casting herself as the candiate for change is akin to George W. bragging about being a “reformer with results” (circa South Carolina, 2000).
But hey, if you like influence peddling, sanctimony and deceit, then by all means, vote Hillary.
Want to know just how insane the partisan divide has become? Exhibit pi:
Air America radio host Randi Rhodes is temporarily off the air, but claims she was brutally attacked near her Manhattan apartment are bogus, her lawyer and a police source said today.
Fellow host Jon Elliott claimed on the liberal radio network that Rhodes had been mugged while walking her dog, Simon, on Sunday night. Elliot, who said Rhodes lost several teeth in the attack, waxed about a possible conspiracy.
"Is this an attempt by the right-wing, hate machine to silence one of our own?" he asked on the air, according to Talking Radio, a blog. "Are we threatening them? Are they afraid that we’re winning? Are they trying to silence intimidate us?"
A colleague is attacked (allegedly) and Elliott’s first instinct is to blame political opponents? I wouldn’t buy that even if I knew who Rhodes was — her Q Score likely ranks somewhere below the wacky neighbor on a show canceled by The WB two years ago.
Mitt Romney appears to be winning that battle; now he’s secured the endorsement of a top official at Greenville’s Bob Jones University. While Bob Jones III recently labeled Mormonism and Catholicism as “cults which call themselves Christian,” the dean of the university’s college of arts and sciences says Romney best represents the religious right’s anti-abortion, antigay marriage, pro-gun agenda.
This endorsement will be a big help to The Anchorman in the South Carolina Primary. He already leads in Iowa and New Hampshire, so a win in the Palmetto State — the most conservative of the three — might just secure the nomination for Romney.
The Anchorman vs. Hillbot — scared yet?
*UPDATE: Now Bob Jones III has endorsed Romney:
Terry Sullivan, Romney’s South Carolina campaign manager said, “We’re proud to have the support of Dr. Jones and look forward to his help in delivering Gov. Romney’s conservative message to the voters.”
Republicans demand Democrats denounce organizations like MoveOn.org yet they embrace fringe fundamentalists like Bob Jones, who until 2000 banned interracial dating on campus. Oh yeah, and he thinks Romney belongs to a cult. Yet another stunning display of integrity by The Anchorman.
Continuing today’s theme — bashing untrustworthy, pandering automatons — I return my attention to The Anchorman, whose new national security adviser is an enthusiastic supporter of torture.
In announcing the appointment of Marks, the Romney campaign put out a press release emphasizing his “more than three decades of experience in the intelligence field.” But according to CNN, Marks also is a teacher of “interrogation.
Romney’s calculation (every move The Anchorman makes is calculated): Christian conservatives support torture. I need Christian conservatives. Thus I’m going to be the standard bearer for torture, er, enhanced interrogation techniques.
Romney has already said he’d “double Guantanamo.” His spokesman said that while the former Massachusetts governor opposes torture, he supports the euphemism.
Even if it doesn’t really work, as his new national security adviser James “Spider” Marks has suggested. But that’s no reason not to use it:
FOREMAN: …So in your experience and in your view, torture as a policy should be against the law?
MARKS: True.
FOREMAN: And yet, we might still have to use it.
MARKS: True.
To summarize, Mitt Romney is for torture even though he’s against it.
If I’m Barack Obama, I go negative. Real negative. Because even when he’s merely challenging her record, the whiny Clinton campaign accuses him of "abandoning the politics of hope," as if only Hillbot is above the fray. Yeah, and Mitt Romney is authentic.
Pointing out the flaws in someone’s resume shouldn’t count as a "personal attack." I’m with The Plank, which suggests Obama resurrect the issue of Clinton 42′s shady pardons, including one of Hillbot’s slimeball brother, Hugh Rodham. If Hillary insists on using her husband’s administration to help catapult her into the White House, then that administration — and her role in it — deserves scrutiny.
For instance, I’d like to know what she thought about pardoning Marc Rich? (Cue awkward laugh, followed by standard complaint about the politics of personal destruction.) Then I’d ask her again. (Cue awkward laugh, followed by an even more awkward plea to move on.) Repeat. (Cue tranquilizer dart.)
Despite what her surrogates say, it is relevant. Highly relevant.
Particularly when their candidate (and her husband) have a history of dodgy ethics. Obama can’t make that case as starkly as some unknown blogger (er, undercover functionary of the vast right-wing conspiracy), but he can argue that a vote for him is a vote against politics as usual. Hillary casting herself as the candiate for change is akin to George W. bragging about being a "reformer with results" (circa South Carolina, 2000).
But hey, if you like influence peddling, sanctimony and deceit, then by all means, vote Hillary.
Mitt Romney appears to be winning that battle; now he’s secured the endorsement of a top official at Greenville’s Bob Jones University. While Bob Jones III recently labeled Mormonism and Catholicism as “cults which call themselves Christian," the dean of the university’s college of arts and sciences says Romney best represents the religious right’s anti-abortion, antigay marriage, pro-gun agenda.
This endorsement will be a big help to The Anchorman in the South Carolina Primary. He already leads in Iowa and New Hampshire, so a win in the Palmetto State — the most conservative of the three — might just secure the nomination for Romney.
The Anchorman vs. Hillbot — scared yet?
*UPDATE: Now Bob Jones III has endorsed Romney:
Terry Sullivan, Romney’s South Carolina campaign manager said, "We’re proud to have the support of Dr. Jones and look forward to his help in delivering Gov. Romney’s conservative message to the voters."
Republicans demand Democrats denounce organizations like MoveOn.org yet they embrace fringe fundamentalists like Bob Jones, who until 2000 banned interracial dating on campus. Oh yeah, and he thinks Romney belongs to a cult. Yet another stunning display of integrity by The Anchorman.
