Who's 'left?'

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Sunday March 02, 2014 · 2:55 PM PST

2014/03/02 · 14:55

With all the lamentation on this site about how 'the left' or 'liberals' or 'Progressives' have failed in various ways, I propose a "New Rule," because this is all getting very confusing to me.

If you are going to bash or call out these groups, either come up with a site wide definition of what these things mean, or cease with using any of these terms without explicitly saying who you are talking about.

whereisboblafollette

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Wednesday September 05, 2012 · 12:10 PM PDT

2012/09/05 · 12:10

Several commentors, tweeters, and various talking heads noted how the First Lady took down Romney without even mentioning him. But what Mrs. Obama did was not just take Mitt down. She stated the qualifications by which a presidential candidate should be assessed.

We learned about dignity and decency – that how hard you work matters more than how much you make…that helping others means more than just getting ahead yourself.
We learned about honesty and integrity – that the truth matters…that you don’t take shortcuts or play by your own set of rules…and success doesn’t count unless you earn it fair and square.

We learned about gratitude and humility – that so many people had a hand in our success, from the teachers who inspired us to the janitors who kept our school clean…and we were taught to value everyone’s contribution and treat everyone with respect.

Of course she went on to make the case that her husband has these values in abundance. Most of the moments in Mrs. Obama's speech played on the bread in this values sandwich, and for obvious reason. If this election were decided on dignity and decency and gratitude and humility, it would be a landslide of historic proportions. Indeed, those moments were quite memorable.

He’s the same man who started his career by turning down high paying jobs and instead working in struggling neighborhoods where a steel plant had shut down, fighting to rebuild those communities and get folks back to work…because for Barack, success isn’t about how much money you make, it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.

But when she spoke to honesty and integrity is when she was taking her jabs at Romney. And when she did so, she didn't so much suggest President Obama is better suited, but invite us into asking whether Mitt Romney has disqualified himself for the presidency. Read More

The Expectations Game

whereisboblafollette

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Monday September 03, 2012 · 2:40 PM PDT

2012/09/03 · 14:40

Rightful complaints about the media abound. From the predominance of corporate control to stenographic 'balance' substituting for telling the truth to the stenographers actually being wildly biased to reflexively creating false equivalents, it's truly absurd this 'liberal bias' nonsense persists.

But rarely does a better opportunity for an apples to apples comparison of media coverage present itself than when comparing coverage of the conventions. Besides specific incidents of idiocy warranting Kardashian-esque coverage, political conventions are generally about narrative. And since narratives are creations of the media themselves, it gives us a view into the twisted minds of the corporate driven media, particularly the Villagers.

whereisboblafollette

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Friday August 24, 2012 · 10:21 AM PDT

2012/08/24 · 10:21

In your Facebook exchanges with my wife/your sister, you made it clear you have made a fairly full transition to conservatism in your politics. As you know, I am liberal. But I hope over the years I have impressed upon you that I am knowledgeable, have the ability to understand the way policies and programs work and effect people, and would not bullshit you.

My intent in writing is not to argue about the merits of one political philosophy or another, or one set of politicians. My intent is to inform you about the real world consequences of following one set of policies, without the distortions of politicians and pundits spinning the facts to fit their viewpoint.

Specifically, I want to tell you about the impacts the Paul Ryan Budget would have on those close to you if it were implemented. I realize his budget plans won’t all become law, and that there may be some differences between his and Romney’s plans. But with the Republicans nearly unanimously voting for and supporting most of what is in his plan, I think it’s indicative of what Romney, Ryan, and the Republicans hope to accomplish.

whereisboblafollette

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Sunday August 12, 2012 · 12:41 PM PDT

2012/08/12 · 12:41

I believe the selection of Paul Ryan is an indication that the Republicans are giving up on the Presidential race in 2012. But I think all of us dismissing this as another act of romneyblunder is a mistake.

No matter what the situation, the Republicans kick our ass at one thing, each and every time. The long game. The Ryan Pick is about shoring up the conservative base, but it's so much more. This is 'rolling out a new product.' This is about turning the Patagonian toothfish into the Chilean Sea Bass.

With the Ryan pick, the Republican power brokers are signalling that they are just going to play the long game with this election. It will be up to Obama, Democrats on all levels of government, and us to finally start meeting them in that long game, or they'll just continue our tectonic movement to the right. The Republicans are satisfied with steadily moving along in the direction they want to go waiting for the next opportunity to take another significant jolt toward Randian nirvana.

whereisboblafollette

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Saturday July 21, 2012 · 10:29 AM PDT

2012/07/21 · 10:29

We have all enjoyed the media coverage the past few weeks, and how the Obama campaign has defined Rmoney over the past few weeks.

To sum up.....

Rmoney has three prongs on his resume' that he can use to make the case that he is the best suited candidate to be President:

1. His accomplishments as Governor of Massachusetts
2. His economic experience at Bain
3. His 'turn around' of the 2002 Olympics.

Ignoring that Chief Justice Roberts probably has something sinister up his sleeve, he threw an anchor on the Rmoney campaign when it comes to prong 1. The Obama campaign threw him an anchor on prong 2 with Bain. And thankfully Rmoney opened his arms and caught that anchor right on the face rather than sidestep it.

It's time for the trifecta. Time to throw and anchor on prong 3. And it just so happens, the timing is perfect for it. It's up to the Obama campaign and allied entities (including us) to complete the definition of Rmoney.

whereisboblafollette

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Thursday July 05, 2012 · 10:59 AM PDT

2012/07/05 · 10:59

A few of you may remember my riff on the connections between a Koch-like figure and my local propagandapaper shortly after we all became far too familiar with the name Scott Walker. In that diary I detailed how my local propagandapaper foreshadowed Walker's war on public workers.

A couple weeks after I posted that diary, my local propagandapaper changed the rules for who can post comments on their website in an attempt to prevent anonymity. Whether my diary had anything to do with that I don't know, but let me have my moment, will ya? Of course it was a double edged sword, because living in the heart of Teabaggeropolous does intimidate me from being upfront about my political views.

So I haven't been posting comments there anymore. Or going to their website at all for that matter. But a recent story got me curious about what the Northwest Herald has been up to. Leap over the Elitist Squiggle of Death as I regale you with tales of Teabag Joe; with an additional foray into Obamacare.

whereisboblafollette

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Sunday March 04, 2012 · 12:36 AM PST

2012/03/04 · 00:36

There's been tons of great community action forcing change by those who stuff dollar bills into Rush Limbaugh's g-string (ewwwww). I just thought I would cast a little light on one that hasn't gotten much attention.

I imagine one reason Mission Pharmacal isn't a big target is because we aren't bombarded with the name constantly like many of the gasbag's other sponsors. Everybody receives a slew of AutoZone impressions every week. Nobody need inquire as to what a "Cleveland Cavalier" is. Mission Pharmacal? Not such a household item.

So let's dig a little deeper. Ready to throw up in your mouth a little bit?

whereisboblafollette

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Friday January 13, 2012 · 10:15 AM PST

2012/01/13 · 10:15

Voice support for a handful of Ron Paul's policy positions, and you are touting Ron Paul.

Voice disappointment in a handful of Obama's governmental actions, and you are anti-Obama.

Got it.

whereisboblafollette

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Monday August 22, 2011 · 7:21 PM PDT

2011/08/22 · 19:21

I woke Saturday to Tara the Antisocial Social Worker's rant of the fantastically righteous variety. I love this stuff. Giving context to the claims of the Republicans and conservatives is vitally important. As is pointing out the dishonesty in the way this talking point is framed.

At the very moment I found Tara's diary, the Front Page had Laura's piece about the Heritage Foundation misusing statistics in their claim about how great life is when you live in poverty.

And it occurred to me...this '50 percent' thing has never passed my smell test. Could conservatives and Republicans be repeating a false reading of a statistic and the zombie media uncritically repeating the falsehood? Do baby's make poopy diapers? Yes, of course the claim is factually deficient at best and more likely a deliberate misrepresentation, and of course the zombie media is not taking a critical look.

The problem with both lines of defense that we tend to make in this argument is they both accept what Republicans and conservatives say as having a modicum of truth. What's good about both is they try to lend some context, but they don't give the complete context or put numbers to that context.

Please follow along as I blow up that '50 percent' myth, smack down the media while doing their jobs for them, and put some numbers to the points Tara was making.

Update: Thanks for the rec list folks. If you dig this diary, please do what I implored in my immediate previous diary and pay Robert Greenwald some attention.

whereisboblafollette

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Saturday August 20, 2011 · 11:50 PM PDT

2011/08/20 · 23:50

Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price?

Iraq For Sale: The War Profiteers?

Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism?

I was just checking out the diary list and noticed a name we should all be familiar with, and all pay attention to. Our presence has been graced by a very important media figure, and we're not even paying attention.

whereisboblafollette

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Thursday March 10, 2011 · 8:12 AM PST

2011/03/10 · 08:12

So let's at least get the facts straight before we run around in this circle again.

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Who's 'left?'

Michelle's Character & Fitness Review. And Mitt's Taxes

The Expectations Game

Dear Brother-In-Law

We have gotten WAAAAAY too cocky.

Media Pivot - Moving on to the next narrative.

Does Joe Walsh control YOUR local media? NW Herald Reprise

Call your doctor or pharmacist? Hurting one of Rush's holdouts.

So here's the equation.

Breaking Down the 'Half Pay No Taxes' Myth

Do we not know who Robert Greenwald and Brave New Films are?

Pie Fights Need Facts Too.