Like probably many here, I am on a bunch of political email and server lists, and from all across the political spectrum. I like keeping tabs on what is being said or reacted to at any given moment. Much of the time, I quickly delete. However, sometimes I save, and at other times, I give things a quick lookover. But when the source is something wingutty and a font of bullshit, such as Newsmax I generally give it a quick, smirky look, prepated to quickly see it as the other side's propaganda. This is, after all, the same outfit that strenuously peddled Vince Foster rumours in a character assassination attempt against the Clintons.
Unsurprisingly, Newsmax has chosen to side with Cheney in his propaganda war with the White House
However, something else occurred to me today, in glancing at Newsmax's list of headlines and advertising lines (which they routinely mix). Read by themselves, they are outright dadaist (perhaps even poetically so) in their sheer irrationality. Here is what they say today:
First the header, which actually made me laugh out loud:
Obama's Team Lashes Out at Dick Cheney; Lynne Cheney Rushed to Hospital
Okay, I suppose there is the possibility of a suggestion of cause and effect here. Even if not, the juxtaposition of these two headlines is bizarrely, incongruously, amusing.
Then, the header list:
Breaking from Newsmax.com
Obama White House Lashes Out at Dick Cheney
Lynne Cheney Faints, Rushed to Hospital
Cheney: Obama Has Made U.S. Less Safe
Cheney Praises Rush Limbaugh
Cheney: Libby Deserved Pardon
More Links:
Terror Chatter High, Get the Emergency Radio, Just Pay Shipping
Your Mind Might Go Before Your Body, Protect It
Sexual Health Matters for Men and Women, Doctor Says
Pope Wages War on Radical Islam
Your Natural Hormones May Cause Fatigue, Weight Gain
That Cheney, he is quite the card, is he not? I can't, though, help by be struck at the inherent image here - that while Dick was out being (a)Dick, poor ignored Lynne was being "rushed to the hospital" after a fainting spell; Who or what caused her to faint, I wonder? Was it from her having a moment of clarity for the first time in her life and realizing whom she is married to? Or, is this what enablers like Lynne Cheney do when they are suddenly out of power?
And as far as these 'more links,' the first of these is for a crappy little promotional device to try to entice paying subscribers for Newsmax.
Homeland Security has advised all Americans that every home needs an emergency radio, in the event of hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, electric power outages, and even terrorist attacks.
Be Prepared in Any Circumstance!
This Dynamo Emergency World Band Radio picks up the full AM/FM spectrum and worldwide shortwave bands.
Most importantly, the Dynamo Emergency World Band Radio includes:
Hand-crank generator (in case batteries fail)
Emergency Flashlight
Newsmax magazine's Incredible Offer
Newsmax magazine wants every American family to have this emergency radio and we'll send it to you for FREE! Just pay our standard shipping and handling charge of $5.95.
Plus you get a great $20 bonus — Newsmax magazine FREE for four months!
Imagine, wingnuts namechecking "Homeland Security" for crass commercial purposes; will wonders never cease?
Anyway, these links also link to ads for medical quackery, and some are targeted to aging males suffering from erectile dysfunction, but my point is that read as dada, this text appears to offers a multitude of potential postmodern signifieds - not to deny that this is also, of course, a gob of wingnut spewing and crass opportunism.
Anyway, I'd love to get Tristan Tzara's take on this comedic little text. Perhaps he would take the elements out and put them together differently; perhaps it would go something like this.
Radical Islam
Radical Cheney
Radical Pope
Limbaugh Radical
Pope Limbaugh Wages War
Limbaugh Sexual Faints
Cheney Lashes Out
Obama Deserves Praises
Libby Sexual Cheney Chatter
Limbaugh Radical Sexual Chatter
Newsmax.com Wages War
Limbaugh Praise May Cause Fatique, Weight Gain
Sexual Health Matters for Men and Women, Lynne Cheney Faints
Etc.
Or, put simply, as the band Trio once sang: Da Da Da!