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17 May 2010 10:18

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Politics: Did the mass media fly over the Nashville floods?

  • You get Tennessee pride and the feeling that if there was looting here, the national media would be all over it. I think that’s unfair, but that’s the way some people view it.
  • Tennessean editor Mark Silverman • Regarding the way that the mainstream media mostly glossed over a huge story – a massive flood in Nashville that killed 30 people. But why? The simple answer is that there were seemingly bigger, more nuanced stories happening that week, and a major flood seems old hat. It’s absolutely the worst way to think about it, but it seemingly couldn’t compete with terrorism (the failed Times Square bombing, where nobody died) or a slightly-more-epic disaster (the BP oil spill). The truth is, though, the story got underplayed by the usual suspects, to the point where Anderson Cooper took his crew down there later in the week and apologized for not getting down there sooner. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

16 May 2010 23:59

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Politics: Max Headroom: Godwin’s Law broken again and again


  • Glenn Beck: Nazi-obsessed The fact of the matter is, there are dozens of clips that feature the Fox News talker bringing up Nazi Germany. We’re going to use this one because he cries in the clip. If this were an isolated incident that’d be one thing, but he regularly does this song and dance.

  • Lewis Black: Stop it, Glen With this bevy of ammo, “The Daily Show’s” most gleefully annoyed commentator went on the attack, noting how Beck is the guy who regularly brings up Nazis. Inspired even for a “Daily Show” rant, Black makes a totally convincing argument in his spiel.

  • Newt: Full steam ahead Just days after Black’s deafening rant, Newt Gingrich compared the Obama administration to Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia (something he says in his new book). You’d think Black’s rant would perhaps quiet the Nazi comparison racket. Nope. Not so much.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

16 May 2010 12:11

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Politics: Sarah Palin assumes everyone agrees with Arizona’s immigration law

  • It’s time for Americans across this great country to stand up and say ‘We’re all Arizonans now and, in clear unity, we say Mr. President, do your job, secure our border.’
  • Sarah Palin • In a speech stumping with Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer designed to defend the state’s anti-illegal-immigration law. OK, let’s analyze this statement and how dumbheaded it is. The phrase “we’re all Arizonans now” suggests that nearly everyone agrees with this law. While many people favor it, there are lots of people that don’t, including many in the Latino community. Yet, she’s treating a law many are criticizing for reasons of racial profiling as if it’s a major populist statement. Populism doesn’t work with laws that divide the country, Sarah. Try this with abortion or gay rights and you’ll see what we’re getting at. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 12 Comments • Permalink

16 May 2010 11:33

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Politics: Sen. Jim DeMint is ruining the GOP’s well-established plans

  • The South Carolina senator, who on the ideological scale is far right to counterpart Lindsey Graham’s moderate conservative, has been sticking his nose in congressional and senate races across the country, pushing the GOP to the right and causing headaches for folks like Mitch McConnell, whose own candidate in Kentucky has been undermined by DeMint’s support of shorts-wearing bizarro hippie favorite Rand Paul. (Photo by Gage Skidmore) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

16 May 2010 11:20

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Politics: What the GOP wants from Elena Kagan: A tight interpretation

  • I think we’ll be looking at her testimony because she has so little other record, it’s going to be a big deal. It’s so important how she testifies.
  • Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions • Discussing why Elena Kagan’s upcoming testimony will be key in building a lot of opinions of her. Regarding what he’s looking for, he says Republicans would like to know “whether her philosophy of law is so broad in her interpretation of the Constitution that you are not faithful to the Constitution and laws.” This isn’t something to be taken lightly. The last nominee who didn’t have judicial experience, Bush-selected Harriet Meiers, was withdrawn due in part to lack of experience. Kagan has a better record than Meiers did, but the lack of judicial experience could be a deal-breaker for some if she doesn’t answer questions to their liking. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

15 May 2010 23:27

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Politics: Bill Maher makes an astute point about Obama and Apple

  • Barack Obama got all fuddie duddie, and Bill Maher put it into perspective. Simply put, Obama’s point from last week’s Hampton University commencement undercuts his status as the “cool” president, and Apple would probably run the country more efficiently than our current leadership (see the clogged drain that is the Senate). Great clip. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 May 2010 11:19

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Politics: Some bizarro hippie has been ripping on Roger Ebert’s cancer

Ebert has long been a critic of the bizarro hippies who gives as hard as he gets, but let’s face it guys, making fun of his condition (as Caleb Howe did) is below the belt. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink
 

13 May 2010 10:12

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Politics: Eric Cantor’s YouCut program: If nothing else, innovative

  • It feels like a Republican take on an Obama campaign tactic. The House Minority Whip has made the YouCut program a participatory way of getting involved in an activity everyone loves: Cutting wasteful spending in the federal government. Concerned citizens vote by text message, and the winner gets put up for a vote in the House. The top line item? Cutting the Presidential Election Fund, which John McCain took advantage of in 2008 but Obama didn’t. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

12 May 2010 10:12

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Politics: Elena Kagan’s big public problem? People don’t know her yet

  • 40% of people have a positive or fair opinion of Kagan
  • 36% have a fair or negative opinion of the Supreme Court nominee
  • 24% are wondering who the heck you’re talking about source
  • » How does this compare? Not very well, actually. People’s positive opinions of Kagan are lower than any of the other four nominees since 2005, including a full seven points below Sonia Sotomayor. The reason for this, mostly, is the high number of “no opinions” – most of Bush’s choices scored around 15 percent there.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 May 2010 10:11

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Politics: Some on the left are all grumbley about Elena Kagan

  • Why do the conservatives always get the conservatives, but we don’t get to get the liberals? What the hell is that all about?
  • Sen. Tom Harkin • Speaking before Kagan’s nomination, when it merely seemed likely she’d get the nod. Harkin isn’t alone on this stance. Many on the left were hoping that someone as liberal as Thurgood Marshall would get nominated. He’s the last outspoken liberal the court has had, and he was nominated in 1967. Instead, they’re all like, she’s not as liberal as Antonin Scalia is conservative! Gah! *GRUMBLE!* source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink
 
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