♻RetweetVideo: GOP Embraces Misogynistic Extremism

Politics | Thu, Aug 5, 2010 at 8:44:31 pm PDT

 ♻RetweetThe Sinister Pentagon Mosque Conspiracy

US News | Thu, Aug 5, 2010 at 5:08:38 pm PDT

 ♻RetweetAll Sing the Praises of Basil Marceaux

Politics | Thu, Aug 5, 2010 at 3:09:32 pm PDT

 ♻RetweetBreitbart's Racist Quack Anti-Sherrod Writer is Fired

Wingnuts | Thu, Aug 5, 2010 at 1:45:42 pm PDT

 ♻RetweetA Rotten Week for Wingnutville

Wingnuts | Thu, Aug 5, 2010 at 1:24:15 pm PDT

With Proposition 8 overturned, the New York Landmark Committee ruling that the Park51 community center can proceed, and now the confirmation of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court in a 63 to 37 vote, it’s been a hell of a rotten week for Wingnutville.

Must be a little confusing, trying to decide who to hate the most.

 ♻RetweetSharron Angle's Christian Supremacist Views Revealed

Wingnuts | Thu, Aug 5, 2010 at 12:50:09 pm PDT

Jon Ralston has quotes from an interview Tea Party candidate Sharron Angle did with a Christian radio station, revealing how shockingly extreme her views are: Angle: ‘What’s happening (in America)..is a violation of the 1st Commandment,’ entitlements ‘make government our God.’

She’s not simply a far right ideologue — she’s a fanatical fundamentalist who completely rejects the separation of church and state, and believes that the current federal government is “a violation of the First Commandment.”

“And these programs that you mentioned — that Obama has going with Reid and Pelosi pushing them forward — are all entitlement programs built to make government our God. And that’s really what’s happening in this country is a violation of the First Commandment. We have become a country entrenched in idolatry, and that idolatry is the dependency upon our government. We’re supposed to depend upon God for our protection and our provision and for our daily bread, not for our government.”

 ♻RetweetBreitbart's Sherrod Writer: A Racist Quack

Wingnuts | Thu, Aug 5, 2010 at 11:56:18 am PDT

Wow. Just … wow.

Dr. Kevin Pezzi is a new writer for Andrew Breitbart’s “Big Government” website, contributing two pieces yesterday that continue Breitbart’s smear campaign against Shirley Sherrod. He says Breitbart asked him to write for Big Government.

And you may not believe how completely bugeyed insane this guy is: Meet Breitbart’s Sherrod writer: Racist sexual ‘expert’ and inventor (who cured cancer).

In two posts on Andrew Breitbart’s BigGovernment website, Dr. Kevin Pezzi smears Shirley Sherrod as a racist, claiming that “if someone deserves to be put on a pedestal for overcoming racism, it isn’t Sherrod.” The racism criticism is ironic coming from Pezzi, who has repeatedly used racial epithets like “Japs” and “Chinks,” and claimed Native and African Americans should have been grateful for their subjugation by whites.  

Pezzi, who says that “Breitbart asked me to write for BigGovernment.com,” has a peculiar self-described history. Pezzi claims to be responsible for “over 850 inventions” and schemes such as a “magic bullet” for cancer, a “robotic chef,” and sexual inventions like “penile enlargement techniques” and “ways to tighten the vagina” (because “men like women with tight vaginas”). Pezzi has started multiple websites, from term paper helpers to a sexual help site that answers “your questions about sexual attraction, pleasure, performance, and libido” (Pezzi is qualified to do so because “No doctor in the world knows more about sexual pleasure than I do”).

Pezzi also claims to have “beaten Bill Gates” on a math aptitude test, turned down a blind date with Katie Couric, and says he’s “bigger than some porno stars.”

Read the whole thing. Unbelievable.

UPDATE at 8/5/10 12:04:02 pm:

But wait. You haven’t seen anything yet. Breitbart writer Kevin Pezzi’s sockpuppet MySpace harem.

 ♻RetweetKagan to Be Confirmed, Nuts Go Into Overdrive

Wingnuts | Thu, Aug 5, 2010 at 11:13:28 am PDT

Today’s the day Elena Kagan will probably be confirmed to the Supreme Court, and the loons’ heads are exploding all over the Internet.

The most absurd and bigoted piece I’ve found yet is at Andrew Breitbart’s “Big Peace” website, where anti-Muslim fanatic Christine Brim has a ludicrous article accusing Kagan of being “pro-sharia:” Shariah Comes to the Supreme Court.

This is what bigotry looks like when it reaches a terminal stage; Brim’s brain has completely rotted away, leaving a core of blind hatred that’s operating on automatic. Brim is also one of the biggest boosters in America of European fascist groups; she’s completely convinced that neo-Nazis and white supremacists are her friends in the battle against the evil Muslim horde. Deranged doesn’t even begin to describe her.

 ♻RetweetGOP Senate Candidate: No Abortion in Cases of Rape or Incest

Wingnuts | Thu, Aug 5, 2010 at 11:02:28 am PDT

Colorado Tea Party Senate candidate Ken Buck joins the completely insane and heartless anti-choice crowd, and says women who are raped or who are victims of incest should be forced to have the rapist’s child.

QUESTION: How do you feel about abortion? Are you for abortion, against abortion, are you for it? In what instances would you allow for abortion?

BUCK: I am pro-life, and I’ll answer the next question. I don’t believe in the exceptions of rape or incest. I believe that the only exception, I guess, is life of the mother. And that is only if it’s truly life of the mother.

To me, you can’t say you’re pro-life and say — if there is, and it’s a very rare situation where one life would have to cease for the other life to exist. But in that very rare situation, we may have to take the life of the child to save the life of the mother.

In that rare situation, I am in favor of that exception. But other than that I have no exceptions in my position.

 ♻Retweet9/11 Families Who Support Park51 Community Center

US News | Thu, Aug 5, 2010 at 9:57:04 am PDT

It’s time for the Bigot Brigade to stop claiming they speak for all the 9/11 families when they rant against the “Ground Zero mosque” (which is neither a mosque nor at Ground Zero), because there are victim’s families who see clearly that the opposition to Park51 is driven by sheer prejudice: 9/11 Victims’ Families Have Mixed Reactions to Ground Zero Muslim Center.

Herb Ouida, whose son Todd died in the attacks, says he supports the Cordoba Initiative’s project.

“To call it a mosque is not right. It’s a community center that includes a prayer center,” Ouida told AOL News today.

The 68-year-old father from River Edge, N.J., says he is deeply concerned about the tone of some of the opposition to the project.

“What we are doing [when we oppose the community center] is we are saying to the world that we are at war with Islam. And we can’t be. I want my grandchildren to live in a better world,” he said.

“To say that we’re going to condemn a religion and castigate a billion people in the world because they’re Muslims, to say that they shouldn’t have the ability to pray near the World Trade Center — I don’t think that’s going to bring people together and cross the divide.”

[…]

On 9/11, Marvin Bethea rushed to the World Trade Center to try to save lives, and has had trouble breathing ever since. The former Emergency Medical Services worker says he had to retire in 2004 when the breathing problems he acquired from toxic materials at the site made it too hard for him to work. But Bethea said he supports the Islamic center anyway.

“Even though my life has changed, I don’t hate the Muslims,” Bethea, 50, said. “Especially being a black man, I know what it’s like to be discriminated against. I’ve lived with that.”

Bethea believes racism is stoking the controversy.

“I understand the families are hurt and lost,” he said. But “how do you sit here and condemn all Muslims as being terrorists?” he said. “That’s just bigotry and hatred. We’re a better nation than that. The diversity that we have, this is what New York is about. But we have such prejudices, some of us. We have a long way to go.”

There are also some quotes from people who’ve given in to the fear-mongering and blind hatred, but you already know what they have to say so I won’t bother quoting them.

 ♻RetweetOvernight Open Thread

Open | Wed, Aug 4, 2010 at 10:21:29 pm PDT

Quiet please. I am analyzing.

— Robby the Robot, “Forbidden Planet”

 ♻RetweetGlenn Beck: Obama = Lucifer (w/ Flames)

Wingnuts | Wed, Aug 4, 2010 at 5:04:21 pm PDT

The last time Glenn Beck played the Satan card he called President Obama a “Satan worshipper.”

Where can he go after that? Well, in Beck’s loonyverse, our President has now graduated from mere worshipper to the Prince of Darkness himself: Yes, Beck did just compare President Obama to Lucifer.

Good grief. I don’t watch Beck’s show regularly, because he evokes my gag reflex. So I was struck by how crazy he’s gotten since the last time I saw him rant. He seems to be carrying on a conversation/argument with three or four inner voices in this segment.

 ♻RetweetBreaking: Prop 8 Overturned

US News | Wed, Aug 4, 2010 at 1:49:38 pm PDT

Breaking news: Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker of the US district court in California has ruled that Proposition 8, outlawing gay marriage, is unconstitutional.

UPDATE at 8/4/10 2:26:22 pm:

LGF reader Gus 802 points out that Judge Walker was originally nominated to the court by Ronald Reagan, but not confirmed — because he was, ironically, seen as insensitive to gay issues. He was nominated again by George H. W. Bush, and this time confirmed: Vaughn R. Walker.

Assumed office: 1989
Nominated by: George H.W. Bush

… Walker’s original nomination to the bench by Ronald Reagan in 1987 stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee because of controversy over his representation of the United States Olympic Committee in a lawsuit that prohibited the use of the title “Gay Olympics”. Two dozen House Democrats, led by Rep. Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, opposed his nomination because of his alleged “insensitivity” to gays and the poor.

 ♻RetweetThe Sinister United Nations Bicycle Sharing Takeover Plot

Wingnuts | Wed, Aug 4, 2010 at 1:41:46 pm PDT

OK, we have a winner in today’s Crazy Dumb Fear-Mongering Sweepstakes: Colorado GOP gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes, who’s convinced that the Mayor of Denver’s bike-sharing program is only the first step on a slippery slope leading inevitably to a United Nations invasion of Denver.

They may look harmless, resting there on their kickstands with their cute white baskets, but these red bicycles are only the first wave of a diabolical UN takeover of Denver, Colorado.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes is warning voters that Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper’s policies, particularly his efforts to boost bike riding, are “converting Denver into a United Nations community.”

“This is all very well-disguised, but it will be exposed,” Maes told about 50 supporters who showed up at a campaign rally last week in Centennial.

Maes said in a later interview that he once thought the mayor’s efforts to promote cycling and other environmental initiatives were harmless and well-meaning. Now he realizes “that’s exactly the attitude they want you to have.”

“This is bigger than it looks like on the surface, and it could threaten our personal freedoms,” Maes said.

He added: “These aren’t just warm, fuzzy ideas from the mayor. These are very specific strategies that are dictated to us by this United Nations program that mayors have signed on to.”

 ♻RetweetADL 'Won't Fight' Park51 Community Center

US News | Wed, Aug 4, 2010 at 11:18:45 am PDT

The Anti-Defamation League’s Abe Foxman now says the ADL won’t fight the Park51 project.

The Anti-Defamation League will not fight the building of a controversial Islamic center and mosque planned near the site of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks in New York, the group’s leader told CNN Wednesday.

The Jewish organization sparked debate last week by opposing what’s come to be known as the “ground zero mosque” on the grounds that the controversy over it was “counterproductive to the healing process.”

But following a ruling Tuesday that clears the way for the mosque to be built, “we’re not continuing to fight it. We raised an issue … but once the community board ruled, we move on,” Abraham Foxman told CNN’s “American Morning.”

 ♻RetweetCNN Poll Shows the GOP Birther Problem

Wingnuts | Wed, Aug 4, 2010 at 10:47:00 am PDT

The Nirther craziness is getting worse, like almost everything else about the right wing. A new poll by CNN and Opinion Research Corporation shows that 41 percent of Republicans believe President Obama was either probably not born in the US, or definitely not born in the US.

Forty-two percent of those questioned say they have absolutely no doubts that the president was born in the U.S., while 29-percent say he “probably” was.

“Not surprisingly, there are big partisan differences, although a majority of Republicans thinks Obama was definitely or probably born here,” says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. “Eighty-five percent of Democrats say that Obama was definitely or probably born in the U.S., compared to 68 percent of independents and 57 percent of Republicans. Twenty-seven percent of Republicans say he was probably not born here, and another 14 percent of Republicans say he was definitely not born in the U.S.”

 ♻RetweetGlenn Beck Deletes All Twitter Favorites to Hide White Nationalist Pick

Wingnuts | Wed, Aug 4, 2010 at 9:51:16 am PDT

After it was pointed out that Glenn Beck had marked a Twitter post by a raving white supremacist as a “favorite,” Beck (or someone who runs his Twitter account) simply deleted all his favorite posts. They’re all gone now.

But here’s the screenshot:

 ♻RetweetGlenn Beck's Newest Favorite Tweeter: A White Nationalist

Wingnuts | Tue, Aug 3, 2010 at 6:32:29 pm PDT

Fox News talk show star Glenn Beck’s latest “favorite” on Twitter is a white nationalist.

(Hat tip: Killgore Trout, who links to this Google cache of Malevolent Freedom.)

 ♻RetweetX-Men #1, September 1963

Arts | Tue, Aug 3, 2010 at 6:14:45 pm PDT

Tonight’s image from the Lizard Collection is not the most valuable book in our collection, but it’s probably the rarest. Published in September 1963, here’s the first issue of one of Marvel’s most successful titles: The X-Men.

I bought this used at a small locally owned bookstore on King Street in Honolulu in the mid-60s, in pretty much the condition you see here. Little did I know.

In mint condition, copies of this comic book can sell for $30,000, believe it or not. Unfortunately, this copy isn’t that good (sob), and we expected this relatively low rating when we sent it to the CGC for grading.

But even with a rating of 2.5 (with “White Pages”), it’s still a very valuable book ($1K+). And it’s just very cool, all done up in its sealed plastic CGC case.

Click to embiggen

The back cover is an ad for Wallace Brown Christmas Cards, one of the most reliable Marvel advertisers.

Click to embiggen

 ♻RetweetVideo: Monkeynomics

Science | Tue, Aug 3, 2010 at 2:58:25 pm PDT

For today’s break from the political meatgrinder, here’s a fascinating talk by Yale primate psychologist Laurie Santos on her research into whether humans are wired to make bad decisions in some circumstances. Warning: this video features monkeys who learn to use money.

(Hat tip: Slumbering Behemoth.)

 ♻RetweetVideo: Israel and Lebanon Battle Over a Tree

Middle East | Tue, Aug 3, 2010 at 1:20:58 pm PDT

Here’s an Associated Press video report on today’s clash between Lebanese and Israeli soldiers that resulted in four dead:

UPDATE at 8/3/10 1:55:10 pm:

UNIFIL says IDF activity did not warrant Lebanese fire:

UNIFIL forces who toured the site of Tuesday’s deadly exchanges of fire on the northern border said the IDF’s activity did not warrant the attack launched by Lebanese Army soldiers, Israeli army officials who spoke to UNIFIL representatives said.

According to the IDF, soldiers were performing routine operations in a border-area enclave within Israeli territory when they were ambushed by Lebanese troops.

 ♻RetweetMayor Bloomberg's Speech on Park51

US News | Tue, Aug 3, 2010 at 12:17:55 pm PDT

At New York’s Governors Island this morning, Mayor Michael Bloomberg gave an impassioned speech about Park51, the planned Muslim community center two blocks from Ground Zero, and its importance as a test of religious freedom and the separation of church and state. Bloomberg even apparently choked up at one point; Justin Elliott has the full text at Salon: Mayor Bloomberg delivers stirring affirmation of religious freedom.

“Let us not forget that Muslims were among those murdered on 9/11, and that our Muslim neighbors grieved with us as New Yorkers and as Americans. We would betray our values and play into our enemies’ hands if we were to treat Muslims differently than anyone else. In fact, to cave to popular sentiment would be to hand a victory to the terrorists, and we should not stand for that.

“For that reason, I believe that this is an important test of the separation of church and state as we may see in our lifetimes, as important a test. And it is critically important that we get it right.

“On Sept. 11, 2001, thousands of first responders heroically rushed to the scene and saved tens of thousands of lives. More than 400 of those first responders did not make it out alive. In rushing into those burning buildings, not one of them asked, ‘What God do you pray to?’ (Bloomberg’s voice cracks here a little as he gets choked up.) ‘What beliefs do you hold?’”

 ♻RetweetWhy I Left the Right, Exhibit X for Xenophobia

Politics | Tue, Aug 3, 2010 at 11:14:13 am PDT

The latest really bad idea to move from the fringe to the Republican mainstream at light speed: repealing the “birthright citizenship” granted by the 14th amendment to the US Constitution.

That’s right — the people who publicly make a fetish out of the Constitution, declaring their unconditional love for every word in it, are the same ones who want to ignore it (in the case of the Park51 project) or cut out the parts that grant protections to minorities: McCain, Coburn Support Review of 14th Amendment.

Add Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) to the list of Republican senators who have said they would support a review of “birthright citizenship.”

There’s a growing chorus, led by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), saying that Congress should hold hearings on removing the Constitutional provision that grants automatic citizenship to anyone born in America. Talking Points Memo reports that when McCain and Coburn were asked whether they support that push, McCain said he supports “the idea of having hearings,” but brushed off questions about whether he would support an amendment. Coburn was more open, telling TPM: “I’m not sure I’m going to embrace it but might.”

Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) also recently voiced support for hearings, while Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he plans to introduce a constitutional amendment to change the 14th Amendment.

Pure insanity, of the xenophobic kind.

 ♻RetweetBeck and Limbaugh Incite More Hatred Against Park51

Wingnuts | Tue, Aug 3, 2010 at 10:09:04 am PDT

In today’s news about the Park51 project in lower Manhattan, the right wing hate machine is running amok. The two most popular right wing talk radio ranters, Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh, were both spewing hatred and irrationality this morning to their angry hordes of listeners.

Beck labeled the Park51 project an “Allah tells me to blow up America mosque.”

And Limbaugh, not to be outdone, mocked the idea of “Muslim outreach” and said the Park51 builders are “planting the flag of victory,” so they can say “we won.”

At this point, the right wingers opposed to Park51 have dropped all attempts to hide the bigotry; their only argument against Park51 seems to be that they have a right to be bigoted, a right that trumps even the US Constitution. It’s a gigantic tantrum of prejudice.

And Jeffrey Goldberg is exactly right: If He Could, Bin Laden Would Bomb the Cordoba Initiative.

 ♻RetweetConservapedia: Is Richard Dawkins a Girlyman?

Wingnuts | Mon, Aug 2, 2010 at 9:09:18 pm PDT

At the Conservapedia website, run by Phyllis Schlafly’s son, you’re not going to believe this: Essay: Does Richard Dawkins have machismo?

Is the atheist Richard Dawkins a man filled with courage, truth, and conviction or a man who is a cowardly pseudo intellectual pantywaist?