Who Hates the USA? Racist Republicans, That's Who

Isn't it wonderful to see the Republican Party's true views on issues of race and ethnicity being spread on CD, just in time for the holidays? With the distribution of a "parody" CD containing songs titled "Barack the Magic Negro" and "The Star Spanglish Banner" RNC Chair candidate Tennessee Republican John "Chip" Saltsman cheerfully tells the world that racism is not only funny, but demonstrates unapologetically that it is one of the core values supporting the Republican Party. The CD, ironically is entitled "We Hate the USA." Of course, the songs included clearly define the "We" to which the title refers: white Republicans who think that they can dismiss their obvious racism and religious extremism by calling it "political parody."

Chip's CD should come as no surprise. Chip was Mike Huckabee's campaign manager this past election, after first supporting Bill Frist. Frist, a physician, interfered publicly in Terry Schaivo's case. Against her husband Mike's wishes, Frist led attempts to prevent Mike from helping his wife Terry die with whatever dignity she had left after the freak show led by Frist.

Vulgar fantasy-based pandering apparently being to his liking, Saltsman later threw his support behind Huckabee (for a reported $15,000 per mo.). The jovial Huckabee wants to turn the US into a right-wing theocracy, in which the Bill of Rights is gutted by the christian falange's extremism and where the fantasy-based word of g#d, supplants the words of the founders.

Hey Chip--news flash--when the WSJ knows you've crossed the line, you should know you're busted. You've got to repent by lying like Bill Clinton and saying "sorry." Otherwise, take a lesson from Republican delegate Randy Gray, II from Midland, MI, who paraded on the streets in full KKK regalia while armed with a hand gun. Better hide that satin hood a little while longer Chip or you'll be a victim, punished for your beliefs just like him.

Or, you could be really honest and admit this isn't "political parody" we're dealing with here. It's your venal attempt to reactivate the "base", after getting hammered in November, by coming out of the closet in your KKK drag to remind the flock that g#d wants them to hate hard and hate long and keep those checks coming in to preserve the white-male-christian way of life.

Carl says, "DON'T BE DUMB. IT CAN AND WILL HAPPEN HERE IF WE LET IT. LET'S FEDERALIZE THE SOUTH AND TRY RECONSTRUCTION AGAIN, UNTIL WE GET 'ER DONE RIGHT."

UPDATE: Politico reports that Mike Duncan, RNC chair, has issued a statement repudiating Saltsman's efforts at "parody":

Duncan's statement, in full: "The 2008 election was a wake-up call for Republicans to reach out and bring more people into our party. I am shocked and appalled that anyone would think this is appropriate as it clearly does not move us in the right direction."

Hourly Wage of Goldman Sachs CEO in 2007? In 2.5 hrs. He Made More than the Average Household Earned in 1 Year.

In 2006, Nouriel Roubini, Professor of Economics at the Stern School of Business at NYU, predicted the current financial crisis. Now, after watching his prediction come true, Roubini has reviewed 42 similar banking crises that occurred since 1970. Roubini is not all "Yo!" about the federal giveaway. Unlike Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman, who holds his nose but say "OK" to swallowing the proposed $700 billion carnival of love for Wall Street, Roubini is all "Whoa Nellie, Wall Street bitches, that's $700 billion of public money you're washing your caviar down with!"

Giveaways are being demanded of the UAW and given by its members in exchange for the paltry $14 billion GM and Chrysler are asking for. These demands are a stick-up by union-busting redneck Senators whose states are occupied by foreign non-union car manufacturers.

Roubini comes to the not-so-startling conclusion that it would be fair to demand of Wall Street what Congress is demanding of the UAW. Private shareholders and creditors should have to ante-up and taxpayers ought to get a piece of the companies' good assets and future business, not their worthless assets.

[I]f the private sector had done its fair matching share only $350 billion of public money could have been used; and of this $350 billion half could have taken the form of purchase of bad assets and the other half should have taken the form of injection of public capital in these financial institutions. So instead of purchasing – most likely at an excessive price - $700 billion of toxic assets the government could have achieved the same result – or a better result of recapitalizing the banks – by spending only $175 billion in the direct purchase of toxic assets.

BTW, based on 2005 figures, the average annual earnings of an investments and acquisitions manger was $2.75 million per year. This works out to $881.41 per hour for a 60 hour week. If you look at the CEO's, the figure goes up just a little.

Looking higher on the management food pyramid, Goldman Sach's 2008 proxy statement confirms that CEO Jon Winkleried was awarded $71,455,426.00 in compensation or $22,902.38 per hour for a 60 hour week. Lehman Brothers CEO R.F. Fuld, Jr., was paid a measly $34,382,036.00, in 2007, which works out to only $11,019.88 per hour. No wonder Lehman went broke; they couldn't afford good help. And, Steven J. Bensigner, former CFO of AIG, was paid a piddling $23,499,990.00, in 2007. At $7,532.05 per hour, Bensigner was dirt-cheap. No wonder AIG needed $150,000,000,000.00 of taxpayer money for its X-mas bonuses this year.

The median income for an American household for 2007 as reported by the Census Bureau: $50,740.00.

Carl says, "DON'T BE DUMB. If UAW members are going to have to clean up GM's and Chrysler's mess in order to pay for Christmas, Wall Street shareholders and creditors ought to be dropping their coins in the kettle, too. Otherwise, Johnny Wall Street should get a lump of coal, for the holiday, instead of that new BMW he thought he'd get from Santa Henry. Save the banks, but don't make the thieves who ruined them with Reagan's help richer. While you're at it, stop union-busting by Hillbilly Senators who want to keep the plantation alive and well on government money!"

Shinseki Appointment: Moving to the Center is Good for the Left

Naming Gen. Eric Shinseki Secretary of Veteran's Affairs gave the US a double dose of goodness. Rumsfeld insisted that Shinseki's estimate that hundreds of thousands of troops would be needed to invade and hold Iraq was wrong. Shinseki told Congress Rumsfeld was full it. Rumsfeld, who never served in combat, like his draft-dodging bosses Bush (AWOL during air national guard service) and Cheney (five draft deferments during Viet Nam), publicly "pilloried and humiliated" Shinseki, a combat wounded veteran, for his honesty, and forced him to resign after 38 years of service.

Now, rubbing Rummy's and Cheney's noses in their Iraq crime, by rehabilitating Shinseki, is satisfying. Like Obama's other centrist appointments, it's good for the Left.

Shinseki's appointment is not only pragmatic; it's highly symbolic and extremely political. Shinseki is Japanese American, from Hawaii. He and Obama are faces of the "other" America--the America outside Oklahoma.

Obama supporters continue to complain about appointments he's making as "more of the same."

They're missing the point: the middle has to move way back to the real center, and coalesce before the US can make any headway toward a progressive future. People have to calm a get a grip on reality, instead of the propaganda being spread everywhere. Obama's choices are confidence building center-strengthening strategies that will create an eddy for the Left to regroup and start moving us in "right" direction.

Carl says, "DON'T BE DUMB. We don't need people who will reinvent the car; we need some people who now how to drive. Then we can make the left turn we that's out there waiting for us."

Mia Farrow's Darfur Solution: Send in the Blackwater Thugs

ABC's Brian Ross reports that Mia Farrow recently had a friendly breakfast with Erik Prince, CEO of Blackwater Worldwide. What's Farrow doing talking with the Black Prince? She's convinced that his company has the right experience to provide "logistical support" for African Union forces in Darfur.

"Prince, meanwhile, has reportedly said that with about 250 professionals, Blackwater could transform roughly one thousand of the African Union soldiers into an elite and highly mobile force."

Prince's experience smuggling weapons certainly would come in handy. As would his employees' can-do attitude, once they're released from FBI custody. Mia apparently is not concerned by allegations that Blackwater's happy-go-lucky trigger men's favorite breakfast is a big bowl full of steroids?

Carl says, "DON'T BE DUMB MIA FARROW. Inviting Blackwater to get involved in Darfur is like asking Woody Allen to drive the baby sitter home."

Campbell Brown is a Brittle Cardboard Whiner

Campbell Brown of CNN wants to make a BIG POINT about gender bias. Brown tears Hillary Clinton up because Hill forgave Jon Favreau, an Obama speech writer, for grabbing Hillary's right boob during the campaign. Not her actual boob, a virtual one on a cardboard cutout. Brown thinks Hill seriously compromised her "feminism" by forgiving Favreau after he apologized publicly for his "offense." Brown apparently fails to realize what kinds of compromises it takes to live under the same roof, more or less, with Bill.

Hillary long ago knew about his penchant for Arkansas trailer trash. Hillary is way too interested in advancing her own career to kick Bill and his political cronies to the curb. Hillary's feminism was a campaign tactic. Other than gender identity, what was she offering? Bombing Iran?

If we're talking about symbols, how money is spent styling Campbell to give her that sexy newsmodel look? Hammering critics of Hillary's cackle and cleavage is weird, given the way Brown's being presented. Could an overweight older woman be trained to read the teleprompter just as well? Maybe Brown should be advocating for these women? Or, these.


Carl says, "DON'T BE DUMB, CAMPBELL. Favreau's act was symbolic, like tearing up the pictures of the boys who've dumped you and burning them, or drawing a mustache on a campaign sign. Lighten up. If you want to go after Hillary for not being feminist enough, go after her for not dumping a guy who's grabbed real boobs and tails all over the world--her husband. If it weren't for Bill, Obama would be succeeding Al Gore."

The Big Three US Auto Companies Need $54 Billion: Here's Why

When the Big Three auto companies promised to pay the workers who built their companies $54 billion for retirees' health care, they must have had their fingers crossed. They got the UAW to agree to accept responsibility for administering the :"Voluntary Employee Benefit Association (VEBA)" plan, and got themselves off the hook as "fiduciaries" the highest responsibility imposed by law. Now, they want us to pay, while the UAW is holding the fiduciary bag. But the money hasn't been paid. Guess who gets sued if the money doesn't appear? The UAW!

Teresa Ghilarducci a member of the 11-person board overseeing the UAW-run health care trust and a professor of economic policy analysis at the New School for Social Research in New York explained the current crisis. "If we get the money [for the VEBA], we’ll be OK,” Ghilarducci says. “If the companies go bankrupt, then we’ll stand in line with all the other creditors.”

Carl says, "DON'T BE DUMB, BIG THREE. You can't pawn off your promise to pay health insurance benefits for the old timers on the taxpayers. Those old workers who built your shit should not be forced into medicare homes on the federal dime. Make some good cars and raise the prices. Hey UAW: pull your money out of Wall Street. While your at it, why not take a week off and see New York. Park your cars on Wall Street and leave 'em there. Maybe some of that $700 billion will come your way"

Red State Senators Helping Subsidize Foreign Car Companies Oppose Bailout for Detroit

Hillbilly Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said Thursday during a Senate Banking Committee hearing in Washington that he opposes helping the Detroit auto companies. Corker represents Nissan, Volkswagen, and Toyota.

Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., another cracker-state senator, also opposes guaranteeing loans to the Big 3. DeMint proudly represents BMW and Michelin.

Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., red-neck senator no. 3, representing Toyota, Daimler-Benz, Hyundai and Honda, also says "nyet" to loan guarantees for US automakers.

The resounding noise coming from these and other opponents is that they oppose loan guarantees because they are anti-competitive and that the Big 3 have to "compete."

But, all of these foreign companies got tax breaks, that is bribes, and the joy of "right-to-work", that is anti-union laws, from these Red states to locate there. Unlike the rust-belt states, Tennessee, South Carolina and Alabama gorge themselves at the federal tax trough, consuming vastly more federal money than they pay. So federal tax money gets spent in place of local tax money to help these Red states offer tax breaks to foreign companies. Where's the competition in that?

Carl says, "DON'T BE DUMB(ER) CONGRESS! Stop subsidizing Red State automobile manufacturers by underwriting state tax bribes with federal money. Force the cracker states and the companies that locate there to pay their share and then see how competitive they are."

Keep Your Government Hands Off My Glands

Reading David Rosen's article 9 Ways to Halt the Right Wing Culture Wars and Bring Sanity to Sexual Policy, made me cringe. Rosen argues that now is the time for liberals to control the culture battles on sexuality, gender and reproduction through government regulation.

It's true, that the religious falange want to repeal the Enlightenment. But, why is it that someone with progressive social views like Rosen's believes that our reproductive glands are ripe for government control? Why isn't it better that government, progressive or repressive, keep its hand off our reproductive systems?

Gay military service? Why would you want to join the military if you're queer? Why would put your life on the line for a country that treats you as second class and won't permit you the same privileges and rights as straight citizens. If you must, then you know what you're in for, Gomer.

Sex education? Do you think parents might be able to handle that?

And, as to Roe v. Wade, enough already. Let it go, and remove the last bogeyman of national significance out of the hands of the genitalia police. It's the most effective tool for their fundie hate campaigns. What would they rally around then? Women's suffrage? Let the US Department of Health require states receiving federal money to have places where women can have a safe abortion. Red states gorge at the federal trough at the expense of the blue states. Is it remotely likely that the cracker states will send the federal money back?

Gay marriage? Why license marriage at all? Let gay churches/temples/synagogues marry gays and sex-negative churches/temples/synagogues marry closeted gays and others. We don't need no stinking licenses!

Carl says, "DON'T BE DUMB DAVID ROSEN. Government has pretty much screwed up everything. It's bad enough that it's got its hands so deeply in our pockets. Let's keep them out of our pants."

Bush Dynasty News: Jeb Wants to Continue His Brother's Work

Now, from the family that profited by helping fund the Third Reich, looted Silverado Savings and Loan costing taxpayers about $1 billion, disdains the poor, ruined our economy (while our VP made investments to profit from the collapse) and destroyed any stature we had left as a positive voice in the world, this news: Jeb's gonna run for the seat Sen. Mel Martinez, of the extremist anti-Castro re-take Cuba guard, was keeping warm for him.

Carl says, "DONT' BE DUMB, Floridians. The 2000 election was bad enough. Don't inflict your political problems on the rest of us. If you love the Bushes so much, elect Jeb governor again; George, who raised over $700,000 there in one night, can be mayor of Palm Beach. Keep your crap in your own backyard. Noelle's probably got better connections at home, anyway."

Mulally Re-Thinks His Position During Flight Home on Private Jet

After flying home in his corporate jet after begging Congress for $25 billion in taxpayer guaranteed bailouts, Ford CEO Alan Mulally apparently had a change of heart regarding his salary. After making $27 million in 2007, a year in which Ford lost $2.72 billion, Mulally originally declined to consider working for $1 in annual salary, a whopping $2 million pay cut, in exchange for the taxpayer funded guarantees. Now, according to WSJ, he's had a change of heart and agreed to take a little cut. And, FLASH, he now has a bold plan to restructure to profitability.

Carl says, "DON'T BE DUMB, FORD. START THE AGGRESSIVE RESTRUCTURING AT THE TOP. GET RID OF MULALLY AND THE OTHER FINANCE GURUS WHO'VE DRIVEN FORD OVER THE CLIFF. HIRE THE MANAGERS FROM NINTENDO. THEY'LL WORK FOR LESS, BE MORE EFFICIENT AND BUILD CARS THAT PEOPLE WANT BECAUSE THEY'RE FUN TO DRIVE."

Hey, Mullaly, YOU ARE NOT OK!

Ford CEO Alan Mulally to Congress in response to questions about whether he'd cut his $2 million salary to $1, said: "I think I'm ok where I am." Mullaly's total compensation in 2007 was $21.67 million, according to Securities and Exchange Commission filings. In the same year, Ford posted a loss of $2.72 billion.

Carl says, "HEY, MULALLY, DON'T BE DUMB. YOU'RE ON YOUR KNEES BEGGING FOR $25 BILLION IN TAXPAYER GUARANTEED LOANS BECAUSE YOU HAVE RIDDEN YOUR GRAVY TRAIN ALL THE WAY TO THE GROUND. THAT THUD BEHIND YOU IS THE COMPANY YOU AND YOUR PREDECESSORS DESTROYED. YOUR FAILURE TO CREATE, ADAPT OR THINK STRATEGICALLY IS NUMBING. THE SHARE HOLDERS OUGHT TO GET THEIR MONEY BACK FROM YOU. THE CEO AND ENTIRE BOARD AT HONDA MAKE LESS THAN YOU DID LAST YEAR. AND GUESS WHAT? THEY MAKE MONEY, INNOVATE AND BUILD BETTER CARS. I'LL GIVE YOU A GUARANTEE MULALLY: YOU ARE NOT OK WHERE YOU ARE. "

Hey Joe, Where You Goin' With that Gun In Your Hand?

The Posse Comitatus Act (“PCA”) is a United States federal law, 18 U.S.C.§ 1385 passed on June 16, 1878 after the end of Reconstruction. It prohibits most members of the federal uniformed services from performing traditional police functions within the United States, unless expressly authorized by the Constitution or Congress. Now, according to the Washington Post, the federal government is planning to have 20,000 uniformed troops inside the United States by 2011 "trained to help state and local officials respond to a nuclear terrorist attack or other domestic catastrophe, according to Pentagon officials." WaPo reports that the first 4,700 person unit, built around an active duty combat brigade based in Ft. Stewart Georgia was activated on October 1, 2008, assigned to the US Northern Command.

At hearings on the PCA in 1981, William H. Taft, Gen. Counsel, U.S. Dep't of Defense, hit the nail on the head stating:

The [PCA] expresses one of the clearest political traditions in Anglo-American history: that using military power to enforce the civilian law is harmful to both civilian and military interests. The authors of the [PCA] drew upon a melancholy history of military rule for evidence that even the best intentioned use of the Armed Forces to govern the civil population may lead to unfortunate consequences. They knew, moreover, that military involvement in civilian affairs consumed resources needed for national defense and drew the Armed Forces into political and legal quarrels that could only harm their ability to defend the country. Accordingly, they intended that the Armed Forces be used in law enforcement only in those serious cases to which the ordinary processes of civilian law were incapable of responding.

You know when the ACLU and the Cato Institute are rushing to each other's side to form a protective shield around what little liberties we have left, sumthin's up.

CARL says, "DON'T BE DUMB.  SAVE THE ARMY TO ADDRESS THE "DEAR LEADER'S" MISCHIEF WHEN HE RUNS OUT OF VODKA, OR SOME OTHER REAL CRISIS LIKE THE MADNESS IN DARFUR.  WE GRATEFULLY DECLINE YOUR HELP. THANK YOU."

Cuban Missle Crisis Redux?

For those too young to remember, shortly after a young relatively inexperienced John F. Kennedy was sworn in as president, he was faced with a serious crisis. Russians had begun placing tactical missiles in Cuba that would be capable of delivering nuclear warheads the size of the Hiroshima bomb into the US. The existence of these missiles was verified by U-2 reconnaissance planes.

The missiles were there for two reasons. One was a response to the invasion of Cuba by the US CIA shortly after Kennedy became president, in an incident known as the "Bay of Pigs" invasion. This was an attempt to use Cuban ex-patriots to retake the island and depose president Fidel Castro. Exploiting the moment, the Russians had allied with Cuba and Cuba, which had been non-aligned, became a client state. The missiles arguably were there to protect Cuba from further invasion.

More importantly, however, the US had stationed its own nukes in Turkey on Russia's doorstep. Naturally nervous about this, Russia was looking for leverage. Cuba was a natural parking lot for their nuclear junk.

Kennedy took a hard line and adopted a naval blockade of Cuba. As a result of the the US naval blockade, Russia agreed to remove its missiles. What is not as well known, however, was that the US secretly agreed to remove its missiles from Turkey. Premiere Khrushchev demanded this after getting Kennedy to agree to drop the blockade by agreeing to remove the Russian missiles from Cuba.

Why is this relevant now? Today, the largest ship in Russia's navy, cruiser Peter the Great and its supporting squadron, docked in Venezuela to a 21-gun salute. Venezuela now is run by President Hugo Chavez, who is not friendly to the current US regime. Venezuela showed off two Sukhoi fighter jets recently bought from Russia, during joint exercises, after buying $4bn worth of Russian weapons.

How does this parallel the missile crisis? Looking to Europe, Russia sees a direct security threat from Bush neocon plan to install US missiles and radar in Poland and the Czech Republic. Russian president-for-life Putin has said he will deploy missiles in Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave that borders Poland, Lithuania and the Czech Republic.

Putin announced yesterday that he'll abandon this plan if the US changes course and does not go forward with the missile and radar installations in Poland and the Czech Republic. Medvedev has said that he thinks President-elect Obama will abandon the plan. The parallels are striking. Obama, the new kid on the block, will not want to look like he's being pushed around. He'll have to show that he's smarter, not just tough, if he wants to calm this shit down. I hope he's got the courage to stare down the hawks who like to stir up unnecessary and unproductive conflict.

Carl says, "DON'T BE DUMB! WWIII IS A BAD IDEA. YOU LIKE TO START SOMETHING? WHY NOT KICK ROBERT MUGABE IN THE ASS BEFORE HIS ENTIRE COUNTRY STARVES?"

Ry Cooder: Soundtrack for Working Life

Ry Cooder was recently profiled in the NYT Travel section. Writer Lawrence Downes had the great good fortune to spend some time with Cooder and Mister Jalopy of "Hooptyrides" fame, exploring past and present aspects of L.A. on a guided tour of back roads and faraway places. From the Mojave flats to the Saints and Sinners Bar to the Halfway House Cafe and to Chavez Ravine, they explore the seldom seen, neglected treasure trove of the L.A. no one thinks much about--the working class, shot-and-a-beer, thrift store, machine-head and Latino parts of town.

Cooder's songs express a deep appreciation for the hardship many SoCal folk who inhabited these parts of town faced, chasing their dreams in the sunny dry wasteland of L.A. Boozy, gritty, melancholy, narrative driven, Cooder's music reflects these pilgrims' experiences in ways that are profound, lonesome and often funny.

His knowledge of where he is in musical history guides Cooder when he taps the roots of other musical cultures, as well. From Gabby Pahihui to Flaco Jimenez to the Buena Vista Social Club Cooder has made connections with working class roots musicians throughout the world and has an undeniably sharp ear for what's good.

After reading the NYT piece, in which Cooder leads Downes to the desert and other forgotten corners of the area (wishing I had been there drinking beer and listening to music with them) it occurs to me that Cooder is more that just the curator of modern guitar music. Listen to Cooder's "My Name is Buddy" the musical story of a homeless tabby, Buddy Red Cat or any of his other records. You'll discover that Cooder is one of the last working men who make their living with popular music grounded in everyday experiences.

Like his stories of people who work hard and play harder (along with the occasional space alien), Cooder's music is both raw and sophisticated. Playing like John Steinbeck writes, with a calloused hand that knows the struggle of the working man, often living on the margin, filled with dreams that don't turn out, Cooder brings his songs to life. It's living music, not a marketing strategy, and satisfies like a cold beer and wet kiss after a day of hard work in the hot sun. It's beyond genres and categories, and it rocks deeply.

Carl says, "DON'T BE DUMB!" Check out Ry Cooder playing life's soundtrack for the working man (and woman).

Thanksgiving for Sarah Palin: You betcha!

As we move closer to the only truly American holiday, let us give thanks for the gift of Sarah Palin. She's back in Ted Stevens-Land now, continuing to prove (to anyone who can stomach watching innocent turkeys slaughtered) that the perky governor is a wonderful gift served up by the lunatic fringe of the right-wing. It wasn't just the al-qaeda element of the Repubs that vaulted Governor Palin to center stage, though. Sarah courted the East Coast neo-cons hosting them for prayer and dinner when they took expensive cruises on the inner passage of Alaska's southern coast.

Sarah's a gift keeps on giving. Americans of every persuasion can all be thankful for this holiday gift beyond measure--a political turkey that needs no basting. We should all breathe a sigh of relief, that election season is over and Sarah Will be doing her holiday shopping at the consignment stores again, not Neiman Marcus on the government dime. Of course the factory workers, miners and farmers who supported her in, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and elsewhere will be getting layoff slips, not bonuses like the Wall Street crowd--who are the real Gucci-wearing, latte-swilling, caviar eating, hogs.

I'm just thakful she's here to keep those workers' minds off reality. Live, from Wassila, it's Sarah-The-Nut Live!


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Carl says, 'DON'T BE DUMB. SEND SARAH HOME FOR THANKSGIVING--AND KEEP HER THERE."