From the GREAT STATE OF MAINE...
Chris Matthews Acts Conf'yoozed
The guy's been immersed in politics and the ways of the beltway media for years, yet he still (acts like he) doesn’t get it. From Thursday's Hardball:
Rep. Joe Barton clip: I‘m ashamed of what happened in the White House yesterday. ... participating in what amounts to a $20 billion slush fund. So I‘m only speaking for myself. I‘m not speaking for anybody else. But I apologize.
Chris Matthews: Wow! Well, that was Joe Barton, the congressman from Texas. ... Here‘s Rush Limbaugh, by the way. They‘re all singing from the same cards here. Here‘s Rush Limbaugh on the so-called "shakedown," "slush fund," whatever terms he is using now. Let‘s listen:
Limbaugh clip: If Obama‘s past is prologue, and it is, then this is going to be used as a little miniature slush fund. And that‘s why he‘s bragging about it being third party, independent, so forth and so on.
Matthews: [I]s there a little carrier pigeon that goes around from Mark Levin to Rush Limbaugh to Michelle Bachmann to Joe Barton? Who delivers these little pearls like "slush fund," you know, and "shakedown?" Where do these words come from?
Here's where they come from: right-wing radio passes the talking point to right-wing TV and newspapers, which pass the talking point to the right-wing politicians. Usually there's a generous assist from Drudge and Politico, and that's often all it takes to get the rest of the establishment media to pile on and parrot the talking point, lest they miss out on the kerfuffle du jour. (And let's not forget right-wing think tanks and corporate front groups, who help provide "studies" and "position papers" and "policy speeches" to add a dollop of fake gravitas to the right-wing talking point.) All one big happy echo chamber.
Once in a rare while, though, a bullshit right-wing talking point blows up in their faces and the whole apparatus gets re-exposed for what it is: a bunch of greedy bastards shilling for the corporations who line their pockets. And on that score Matthews made a good point later on in the same show:
Apparently, you can get run out of the Republican Party if you hug President Obama for bringing money to your state, as the Governor of Florida learned the hard way, but it's downright Republican to get down on your knees before BP.
Still, it's interesting that, having just produced a breathlessly-promoted documentary on the craziness of the right-wing fringe, Chris Matthews still has to ask, as if he's truly in the dark about it: "Where do these words come from?" Here's an idea: walk down the hall and ask Rachel. She'll give ya an earful.
Cheers and Jeers starts in There's Moreville... [Swoosh!!] RIGHTNOW! [Gong!!]
Cheers and Jeers for Monday, June 21, 2010
Note: I would be an awesome regulator. First thing I'd do is take all the oil companies' gulf relief plans and raise the font size, just so they'd sit up and wonder: what else is he gonna do to make our lives a living hell???
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By the Numbers:
Days 'til the start of the July 4th weekend: 11
Days `til Milwaukee Summerfest: 3
Number of motorists who still don’t buckle up, according to the Federal government: 45 million
Number of unbuckled people who die in traffic accidents daily: 38
(Source: AP via The Week)
Minimum number of times BP lamebrain Tony Hayward said "I don’t recall" or some variation of it during Thursday's testimony: 77
(Source: Rep. Anthony Weiner)
Number of movies from the entire first half of 2010 that are likely to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar: 1 (Toy Story 3)
Date on which I created my very first blockquote in C&J: 6/21/05
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Your Monday "Nevada Nugget"
Brought to you by the Netroots Nation convention in Las Vegas July 22-25. (The agenda has been posted here.)
Sin City, the adult fantasyland where almost anything goes, is taking pool parties to a new level---or new depths, depending on your point of view. [...]
Using the same strategies that have made its nightclubs tabloid-headline hotspots, resorts and club owners are focusing on what they call "daylife." It's not about swimming. Adult pools and pool parties are making a splash with reserved cabanas renting for hundreds or thousands daily, pricey bottle service and scantily clad servers awaiting beyond the velvet (or hemp) ropes at the entrance.
---USA Today.
Netroots convention? What netroots convention???
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Puppy Pic of the Day: Bo's got some competition in the cute department.
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CHEERS to the thawing season. It's here! It's here! The turnpike's aliiive...with the sound of Massholes! Forgive the irrational exuberance, but summer arrived about an hour and a half ago and we get a little excited about it up here in the frozen tundra. For Maine it means 60 glorious days of (hopefully not too much) heat and (hopefully not too little) sun. Oh, and the usual invasion of black flies and white RVs. If you're celebrating the summer solstice today, have fun...but play safely and drink plenty of fluids, Druids!
JEERS to Mother Nature's headgames. Today's the longest day of the year. Tomorrow isn't.
JEERS to gushers without end. Today is Day Onedaytoomany of the Oilpocalypse, and with the breaking dawn comes breaking news that---surprise!!!---the estimate may be revised upwards yet again:
A BP estimate made after the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon noted that as much as 100,000 barrels per day could leak into the ocean if the blowout preventer and wellhead were removed, a higher worst-case scenario than previously reported.
According to an internal BP document released Sunday by Rep. Edward Markey, D-Massachusetts, BP believed that the worst-case scenario could be as high as 100,000 barrels, or 4.2 million gallons of oil per day.
And there's also another big problem in the gulf. Scientists are pointing an accusing finger at BP because the hole is releasing massive amounts of methane. Said a representative for the world's cows: "Welcome to our world."
JEERS to the tack heard 'round the world. BP CEO Tony Hayward, who was sent home to Britain without supper by his Swedish overlord (The U.S. guy will take over for him), decided to kick back on his yacht---well, not so much a yacht as a massively huge million-dollar sailboat with 18 bedrooms, solid-gold commodes, caviar fountains and live strippers---and sail in the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Race around the Isle of Wight. From a personal standpoint he had every right to let his curly locks down. From a PR standpoint, that's just wong.
P.S. While Hayward went richboating, Obama and Biden went golfing. Well. [ahem] This is awkward.
CHEERS to the crooked, delusional voice of, um, reason. Last week Jon Stewart pointed out that one of the champions of environmental stewardship was, in fact, one of the crazier members of the noble opposition:
Jon Stewart: He created the Environmental Protection Agency. He signed the Clean Water Act of 1972 [and] the Marine Mammal Protection Act. When the Cuyahoga River was on fire in 1969, he put it out with his own urine! But even Nixon couldn’t get us off oil. Couldn’t get it done! Because, you see, it turns out that Nixon had one major flaw. No, not delusional paranoia coupled with living in an ethical netherworld. You know why Nixon couldn’t get this done?
Nixon, 1974 State of the Union: We will establish a new system that makes high-quality health care available to every American in a dignified manner and at a price he can afford.
Stewart: Because Richard Nixon...was a communist.
He even bowed to Mao. Goddam hippie.
CHEERS a walk on the wild side. If god hates fags, she sure has a funny way of showin' it. Saturday's weather was sunny and 80 with a pleasant breeze as a record crowd---meaning thousands---turned out for the 2010 Southern Maine Pride Parade. Among the sights: two female city cops holding hands as they rode along the parade route with our new chief of police, who was Grand Marshal; a truly mainstream feel, with businesses, churches, progressive politicians, civic groups, and lots of straight families showing up to support us; and Queer Eye guy Carson Kressley, wearing pants that looked like they were made from his grandma's drapes, rode right behind us (we marched with PFLAG) and stared at m'butt the whole time. At least that's what I'm puttin' on my tombstone. Try and stop me.
CHEERS to a day at the beach. Pebble Beach was the site of exciting U.S. Open golf action yesterday, and C&J was there (meaning our living room couch) for live-twittering action:
US Open Update: These guys are stone drunk today.
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Interesting. Phil Mickelson doesn't use a putter anymore. He just picks the ball up and drops it in the cup. He's now leading by 40.
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Ernie Els just gave his ball a dirty look. Penalty: 1 stroke.
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Tiger just duck-hooked a tee shot into a briar patch. Wow---I can do that too!!
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NBC's U.S. Open theme music: Bum bum BUM bum bum BUM bum BUM BUM!!! I keep standing up thinking the queen's gonna walk in the room.
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What does a pirate say when he gets the recommended number of shots on a golf hole? "Parrrrrrrrrrrr....!"
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Next U.S. Open will be at The Congressional Course. Instead of sand traps they have pork traps.
The winner: Graeme McDowell from Northern Ireland---the first European to win in 40 years. And before we forget: our undying thanks to the gallery for leaving their vuvuzelas at home.
CHEERS to Butterball. 223 years ago today, Congress approved the bald eagle over the turkey as the U.S. symbol. It just didn't taste as good with cranberry sauce.
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Five years ago in C&J: June 21, 2005
JEERS to one bamboozle attempt too many. In his Saturday radio address, George W. Bush dusted off his Big Lie and said we went to war with Iraq because "we were attacked" on 9/11. America's response (via the latest USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll)? "Mr. President, you're an idiot." Can't wait to see how he townhallmeetings his way out of that.
CHEERS or JEERS to throwing a tattered hat into the ring. Joe Biden says he'll probably enter the '08 presidential race. C&J shall carefully weigh his pros and cons...but not for a couple years. For now, though, here's your Early Bird prize Senator: we're upping the interest on your credit cards.
P.S. Did you know Biden's not allowed to be with families when their relatives come home from Iraq in coffins? "I'm allowed in the military base. I'm not allowed to go to the mortuary. I'm not allowed to be there when the flag-draped casket comes in." Rumsfeld: Resign.
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And just one more...
CHEERS to brevity that makes tweeters blush. The 14th annual Webby Awards were recently handed out and, according to the rules, acceptance speeches are limited to five words. Here are a few:
"You ain't seen nothin' yet."
---Internet co-inventor Vinton Cerf:
"Wall Street: What fuckin' thieves."
---Robert Scheer
"Fight for net neutrality now!"
--- OK Go!
"Humanity. Colonization. Phobos. Monolith. Mars!"
--- Buzz Aldrin:
"Holy fucking shit---Buzz Aldrin!"
---Jake from CollegeHumor's Jake and Amir
"Five words? OK. Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious."
--- P.S. 22 Chorus
"I say, plug the hole."
---Isabella Rossellini
Short and pithy. Well done.
Have a nice Monday. Keep your head down and we might all make it out alive. Floor's open...What are you cheering and jeering about today?
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Today's Shameless C&J Testimonial:
When it comes to Cheers and Jeers, we're not living in the age of Too Much so much as the age of Not Quite Enough.
---Newsweek
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