(We're fighting an old computer while buying a new one- the object of our recent fund raising drive. Until our new equipment's in place, we'll be blogging a little light).
There's a Fall teevee campaign to encourage volunteerism that's sponsored by the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a Hollywood charitable organization. They'll be running positive messages about community service and civic participation across 60 shows in plot lines, and teevee scripts.
It's something nice the industry is doing- arguably out of guilt for the harm they do to the taste and IQ of the general public- but other than that self-promotion, they're just trying to do good in that impersonal, corporate sort of way they always do.
But assuaging guilt for ruining the culture isn't sinister enough for Glenn Beck. He's claiming- let's see if we can follow this- that it's a conspiracy between the Maoist Obama administration and heathen Hollywood to turn us into a Communist nation while we're blithely watching Real Desperate Housewives of Cleveland. "It's almost like," he says, "we're living in Mao's China right now."Celebrities are coming together to make it cool to volunteer. Disney gives you a free day at the park. This is all fine, but doesn't it seem a little bit convenient that all of this comes out now at the same time the Obama administration is calling for it? Obama controls the message through the media he holds in his pocket. Or in his little hand. And soon if you disobey, he'll just go [Beck slaps his hands]. Now the message will be embedded in television shows. Isn't this great? Aren't you proud of what we're doing? Oh, this certainly is change."Next come tools like Dori Monson, (KIROFM 12-3p) to pronounce the campaign "creepy," then the dittoheads will weave this into the crazy quilt that is the Greater Maoist/Obama plot against our precious liberdee. (The right's meme is all about Obama's Maoism now, a refreshing change from the Summer's batshit Hitlerian references).
Oh. My. Fucking. God. One minute conservatives are about self sacrifice, the next minute it's "you should read some Marx, he'll help you on that!" Glenn Beck does democrats a big favor because we've always known conservatism is rooted in fear, but Beck really demonstrates it for all to witness.
"if Barack Obama has a BLT sandwich tomorrow for lunch they would try and ban bacon." - Alan Grayson
Obama needs to promote some blatantly conservative causes as it's obvious now that Beck and Limbaugh would cut their own leg off if Obama said something nice about it.
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | October 20, 2009 at 02:24 AM
It is a nice way to keep the youth busy. As Pelosi, Reid, Obama and the rest of the Democrat Congress have so destroyed the economy and the youth work environment, as well as adult employment that we need something to keep the little shits busy so they don't resort to crime.
We have no money to pay them, so con them in to working for free.
Brilliant scheme. The ones that are dumb enough or gullible enough will go with the program and bonus, they will be able to recognise future democrats.
And they don't have to pay them at all, let alone union scale.
Posted by: chucks | October 20, 2009 at 05:13 AM
I am at a conference in Seattle, so I decided on the drive up to listen to Dori..my God..how do you all listen to his sneering voice? A definite "nyaaaaaa" tone there. Also, when he says the word "dispicable" ( about 5 times for the 30 minutes I listened) he pronounces it "DithPICKable" and I was impressed at his impression of Daffy Duck!
Posted by: sparky | October 20, 2009 at 06:31 AM
Ah. You can take the boy out of the morning zoo, but you can't take the stunting out of the boy,...
Posted by: Lucas Foxx | October 20, 2009 at 09:50 AM
Remember Bush's "faith-based" attempt at gov't supported Christian volunteerism that was supposed to replace welfare?
Posted by: Sartooth | October 20, 2009 at 10:09 AM
I remember when republicans were loyal. Most everyone got behind FDR , those that didn't were dealt with such as Sewell Avery.
Posted by: Coiler | October 20, 2009 at 10:54 AM
Conservative Republicans are 100% about hating Obama and 0% about love of country, they are most certainly not the same thing, and that is the essence of disloyalty.
They are willing to sacrifice the well being of America if doing so will dethrone Obama and reinstall one of their own (i.e. Limbaugh hoping Obama fails). That's a treasonous tactic.
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | October 20, 2009 at 11:01 AM
It's true that conservatives are more charitable than liberals statistically speaking, but 45,000,000 Americans are without health insurance and many others have other needs they can't meet for legitimate reasons. Charity alone simply isn't good enough.
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | October 20, 2009 at 11:06 AM
Why do republicans favor rape?
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | October 20, 2009 at 11:42 AM
Idiotic. Another waste of time.
Posted by: KS | October 20, 2009 at 12:13 PM
That's a good point, my guess is they are pasty, old white dudes who haven't gotten any since the Reagan days, except Ensign.
Posted by: Coiler | October 20, 2009 at 12:17 PM
15 to 20 million of those are illegal. Screw them. They want health insurance, go home and get it or pay retail.
10 to 15 million of the rest are youthful types that are invincible and do not see the need. They would rather drive a BMW etc then waste their precious money on insurance.
That leaves 15 million or so that need our help. Why not just find a way to help them out without fucking up the rest?
This is a contrived "emergency" that we don't have the cash to pay for.
Posted by: chucks | October 20, 2009 at 12:19 PM
Where did we 'get the cash' for Iraq? Afghanistan?
Posted by: Coiler | October 20, 2009 at 12:32 PM
I have health insurance through my employer but it's sketchy and I worry about being dropped at any moment for any reason, perhaps our human resource lady didn't spell my name correctly on the forms or whatever. And if I'm in the hospital for more than three days, I suspect I pay out of pocket past 100k. I don't feel secure.
I know you conservatives are in the same boat as I am but you choose the private option because you're laissez faire zealots who'd sooner waste away in a gutter than side with a Democrat. You're knee jerk anti-governement nut cases. I understand.
Government is a wonderful thing because it's controlled by people we are free to elect. From 2000-2006 conservatives had their shot at control and blew it, so now it's the other side's turn. It's a wonderful system. America is beautiful.
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | October 20, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Yes, the latest ABC, WA Po poll says 20% of americans identify themselves as republicans.
Posted by: Coiler | October 20, 2009 at 01:07 PM
What great social program have the democrats come up with that is financially healthy with a bright future?
And WTF are you talking about? I have said here numerous times that I support Oblahblah in his efforts thus far in Iraq and Shitholeistan.
Come on, 1.4 trillion dollar debt in just 8 months? This guy spends more money faster than my first ex-wife. More debt than GWB and all other Presidents before him combined. I thought Bush spent money like a moron. This guy is way worse.
Posted by: chucks | October 20, 2009 at 01:10 PM
You weren't critical of Reagan tripling the deficit?
Posted by: Coiler | October 20, 2009 at 01:15 PM
Social programs are not for-profit so by definition they're not "financialy healthy", and are judged on their ability to help people, not by whether or not they turn a profit. If a social program isn't financialy stable it's probably because some Republican law makers have tried to cut its funding.
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | October 20, 2009 at 01:25 PM
Reagan inspired confidence in the economy by lighting a fire under the private sector. Reagan even inspired the likes of Tip O'Neil to work with him to fix the Carter fucked up economy. Reagan invested in all of our futures by allowing us to keep and invest our own money.
So no, I admit that I was grateful to Reagan.
Obama has done nothing to improve business. Nothing.
Posted by: chucks | October 20, 2009 at 01:28 PM
A public option WILL light a fire under the health care industry.
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | October 20, 2009 at 02:02 PM
Or destroy it. Do you suppose the government will discontinue taxing the insurance company's to even the playing field?
Will the states regulate the feds the same way they regulate business?
Posted by: chucks | October 20, 2009 at 02:11 PM
UPS and FedEx and USPS all coexist just fine. You're a frightened little man.
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | October 20, 2009 at 03:15 PM
I understand that they are selling tee-shirts like hot cakes in China that have a picture of the Barack and caption below says "Oba-Mao". Not surprising that
they are more perceptive, because they know the experience too well.
I know that the small people will have a problem trying to explain your way about this one - gee, let me take a wild guess - you'll attack the messenger instead. In that event, good riddance. A civil discourse would be a welcome change...ya sure ya betcha.
Posted by: KS | October 20, 2009 at 09:04 PM
I wish the republicans for rape would change their mind.
Posted by: Coiler | October 20, 2009 at 09:09 PM
KS saves a lot of time by posting something, then telling us what our response will be. Very efficient!
Posted by: sparky | October 20, 2009 at 09:22 PM
Yup, efficient it is.
Posted by: KS | October 20, 2009 at 09:55 PM
"I wish the republicans for rape would change their mind."
That website is maintained by NAMBLA, you know the progressives for young boy rape. Are you defending them now ?
Posted by: KS | October 20, 2009 at 10:01 PM
"That website is maintained by NAMBLA" - "KS"
You are batshit crazy.
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | October 20, 2009 at 11:00 PM
It's true that conservatives are more charitable than liberals statistically speaking,
I don't agree. Seems to me liberals who support taxes for consistent and reliable support for the needy are far more charitable than the "sandwiches on sunday" conservatives. I don't care how much tithing or holiday checks they write.
Why does anybody try to reason with the Fixed-News Idiot of this blog called chux? Every sentence he posts is provably wrong. I think, chux, everyone knows you'll just disappear if asked to prove your ridiculous statements.
You are an embarrassment. Like all the teeny-tiny numbers of people who watch fixed news.
Now, I'm in a fighting mood. Did anyone else catch Malloy? Powerful words tonight. Really powerful. He was riveting.
Posted by: joanie | October 20, 2009 at 11:14 PM
That's why I said statisticly speaking. I think anyone who is willing to see their own taxes raised is inherently charitable.
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | October 20, 2009 at 11:58 PM
KS can't bring himself to admit 30 republicans think it's ok for KBR to rape females in the military.
"Franken's amendment is intended to address the type of Kafka-esque treatment Jamie Leigh Jones received from the U.S. justice system after she was gang-raped by fellow KBR workers. The defense contractor argued that her employment contract required that her claim be heard in private arbitration rather than in open court."
Posted by: Coiler | October 21, 2009 at 12:45 AM
It's not that they're in favor of rape per se, they think private businesses should be free to dictate the terms of rape should it occur.
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | October 21, 2009 at 12:50 AM
Nice knee jerking there, KS.
Over 30 repugs voted against Franken's amendment. That is the basis for that website.
Andrew, just how does one "dictate the terms of rape should it occur"?
Posted by: sparky | October 21, 2009 at 05:56 AM
War contractors want rape cases to be handled by their own arbitration instead of through the courts. The amendment would have put a stop to that.
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | October 21, 2009 at 11:17 AM
The validity of the R-Rape website needs to be questioned. It seems to be an inherent characteristic of the Lib Progs here (Ph(J)oanie, Sparky, AA, coiler, drew, et al) to accept as gospel any slime about non-Progressives from serial liars. It makes whoever brings these up look like idiots after probing questions are asked and the left-wing media and it is discovered that they lied to discredit their perceived opposition. Directly from Saul Alinsky's playbook - OK, but they are nothing more than cheap shot half-truths and never tell the true story.
In the spirit of fairness, the far right does it too on World Net Daily and other websites, but not to the extent that the left does.
Posted by: KS | October 21, 2009 at 04:12 PM
30 Repuglican senators voted against an amendment assuring that rapists are tried in court. The facts speak for themselves.
I can't recall a more blatant example of latent sexism in modern politics. This is much worse than the treatment of Hillary Clinton.
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | October 21, 2009 at 04:33 PM
...and that can't be wished away as being "suspect".
Posted by: sparky | October 21, 2009 at 04:59 PM
KS is hoping, assuming that the 30 gop senators didn't vote the way they did.
Posted by: Coiler | October 21, 2009 at 05:27 PM
Those GOP senators gave the women of America the middle finger because they had some "technicalities" and "concerns". Funny how conservatives are the party of "right" and "wrong" until you get to something like RAPE and then all of the sudden they discover moral relativism.
What is truely fascinating is how this is at least the second supreme example of the modern GOP excersizing thought straight out of 1950. First there was the "Negroes can't be president" business and now they're trying to undo Women's Lib in a not so subtle way.
Hard to believe that anyone would want to resurect such ancient history but then it occurs to me many of those senators were in college in the 1950s, the formative years, and they're conservative, which of course means defensive and scared. We experiencing a strange delay effect where things that thappend fifty years ago are only having consequences now. Freaky!!!
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | October 21, 2009 at 06:38 PM
You all are banking on that assertion being gospel. How about showing what the entire bill had in it ?
Then let's discuss, because sure as shit - you are only paying attention to part of the story and that website cherry picked and they are probably a branch of Media Matters and Moveon.org - two websites run by serial liars/ David Brock and funded by George Soros.. So this fits your mindset of GOP or Fox News = bad and evil and Democratics/CNN and MSNBC -good and truthful..
This is on a par with being a "birther" if you buy this bullshit.
Sorry, partisanship like this shows how simplistic you are. Independents outnumber both Republicans and Democrats and are the fastest growing affiliation or non-affiliation in America.
Posted by: KS | October 21, 2009 at 06:41 PM
They are protecting their corporate elite. The GOP of today would not be recognized by Rockefeller or Goldwater. I don't think there is such a thing as 'conservative' in politics. More like racist or radical claiming a new title when the old one was revealed.
Posted by: Coiler | October 21, 2009 at 06:44 PM
The 30 gop votes stand KS, admit it.
Posted by: Coiler | October 21, 2009 at 06:46 PM
A conservative accusing others people of partisan politics? That's a laugh. My, how the tables have turned.
When Limbaugh said he was tired of "carrying the water" for Republicans he sealed his fate history and revealed something profound about the inner workings of conservatives that they will never live down; partisanship is more important than country. Conservatives aren't to be trusted.
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | October 21, 2009 at 07:14 PM
This women was raped, when she filed a complaint she was held in a container by armed guards and only after pleading with one,was she able to make a phone call to her dad who then called a congressman for her release. They wanted her to settle "arbitration' with the company, KBR, rather than file criminal charges. This is what KBR doesn't want.
Posted by: Coiler | October 21, 2009 at 07:21 PM
But its more important to protect corporations than bring justice to a woman who was raped,coiler!
Posted by: sparky | October 21, 2009 at 07:26 PM
I’m sure if this was on a t-shirt in china, KS would approve of it.
Posted by: Tea bags | October 21, 2009 at 07:47 PM
That poorly worded amendment also included harrassment, assault and battery, infliction of emotional distress, negligent hiring, supervision or retention.
It also would have withheld funding for services already performed.
I think that I would have sought compromise on the wording and then probably voted for it.
It did get solid bipartisan support, but I guess it would not suit any of your agendas to mention the 10 Republicans that did vote for it.
Posted by: chucks | October 21, 2009 at 08:53 PM
Poorly worded because it included emotional distress, assault and battery? Are you pro violence in addition to pro rape?
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | October 21, 2009 at 09:06 PM
Wait Chunks, if you had come across ‘harassment, assault and battery, infliction of emotional distress, negligent hiring, supervision, retention or services already performed’, all of which you found questionable. You would ask the organization which preformed these abuses for redress? Do you have kids? Do you have a wife? What would you do if this happen to them? Do any of them work for the government?
Posted by: WallFlower | October 21, 2009 at 09:09 PM
"The 30 gop votes stand KS, admit it."
Admit what ? Show me the bill - what are you afraid of ? otherwise I have no other choice to believe that you are liars.. Until I see any evidence besides a bullshit web site. talk to the hand.
Posted by: KS | October 21, 2009 at 10:02 PM