Earls Place

Don't listen to the douchebags

2012-01-16T07:08:00.000-08:00

Love it. Sometimes you need to haul out the big guns and no matter how nasty the word use it. There is no other word to describe this guy.

Teens React to Rick Perry's Strong

2012-01-02T09:18:00.000-08:00

This is almost like beating a dead horse at this point given Rick Perry's irrelevance to the GOP race, but this video posted a few days ago is priceless:

But the traditional conservative base is dying off and it isn't coming back. These kids are all right.

OCCUPY Your City

2011-10-06T11:41:00.000-07:00

Brave New Films has produced a great video. Pass it on:

The growth of this movement is generating mounting concern within American ruling circles. This was expressed Tuesday in an article by New York Times financial columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin, who quoted a Wall Street CEO worried about his “personal safety” and warned that the protest constituted “a warning shot about the kind of civil unrest that may emerge—as we’ve seen in some European countries—if our economy continues to struggle.”

It is not the bankers who have to fear for their personal safety, but the demonstrators, who have been subjected repeatedly to police brutality and mass arrests for exercising their free speech rights.

Nonetheless, Sorkin’s warning about civil unrest is entirely justified. These are among the first prominent social protests in the United States in more than 30 years. Most of those involved in the occupations have never seen significant struggles for social change in their lifetimes. Coming on the heels of the mass demonstrations in Wisconsin last February, they signal the reemergence of open class struggle in the United States, the center of world capitalism.

Jimmy Kimmel unveils 'Michele Bachmann's story of America'

2011-06-30T09:31:00.000-07:00

ABC's Jimmy Kimmel announced Tuesday a new educational film by Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann.

The Minnesota Republican has recently mistaken John Wayne for John Wayne Gacy and insisted John Quincy Adams was a Founding Father.

"I like when politicians who screw up go find like a single sentence in the back of a high school history book and then use that as their defense, as if that's what they meant the whole time," Kimmel said. "And that's what she's doing. And not only is Michele Bachmann sticking to this Founding Father thing, she's working on -- I don't know if it's a documentary or some sort of educational film, but it's something to teach kids about American history."

"In 1775, Thomas Jefferson and John Quincy Adams set sail across the Delaware River to tell the King of England they had enough of his liberal agenda," an actor posing as Bachmann explained in the film. "King James called Napoleon and together they decided to kill America."

"They sent the Nina, the Piñata and the Santa Maria to fight. But then, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln gathered an army to turn back the big government dictators. They told Paul Revere to ride his horse to Frodo. But then, John Wilkes Booth showed up and killed Lincoln. But there was still hope, because Jesus appeared on the face of the Liberty Bell and he froze John Wilkes Booth in carbonite. And the liberal homosexuals sailed back to their gay country, while Americans claimed their land and drank beer. And that's how freedom was born."

Undeclared GOP candidates debate

2011-05-09T09:11:00.000-07:00

You can't tell the comedians from the real politicians anymore.

And that's NOT a joke!

"Michele Bachmann, when MSNBC wants to scare liberals . . .into caring about elections, they have you on as a guest."

The Word - Mutally Assured Coercion

2010-09-16T10:17:00.000-07:00

Can we put out a 'cease and desist' order on calling the site of the WTC 'sacred ground'? We don't have sacred ground in this country. That's one of the founding principles of the nation. Separation of chuch and state, and all that.

The World Trade Center was mostly a building dedicated to commerce, filled with a lot of Wall St. firms, among others. There was an Islamic prayer center there, and probably similar things for other faiths, but it's still not sacred ground. It's the site of a terrible tragedy, and not to diminish the lives that were lost, that makes it historic, not sacred.

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

The Word - Mutually Assured Coercion

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

2010 Election

Fox News

Strangelove is my all time favorite satirical movie...hard to imagine it ever being topped...but Colbert did a great job, uncanny actually. You can't fight in here! This is a War Room!

Tim Hawkins- Old Rock Star Songs

2010-08-21T21:32:00.000-07:00

Tim Hawkins sings songs that famous Rock Stars will be singing in their old age.

Back in Black: Glen Beck's Nazi Tourette's

2010-05-15T14:47:00.000-07:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Back in Black - Glenn Beck's Nazi Tourette's

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Tea Party

Black said it best - "This is a guy [Beck] who uses more swastika props and video of the Nuremberg rallies than the History Channel."

And didn't Glenn have himself depicted as an SS soldier on the cover his latest rag of a book? Surprised he didn't host a mass-burning of them as a publicity stunt.

And yes, Beck, the AZ law is what the Nazis started out with, you buffoon. And I thought Beck was a history buff, sheesh...

Movie Title: The Greatest Fake Oscar-Baiting Trailer Ever Made

2010-03-07T12:00:00.000-08:00

If you're planning to drink whenever you see an Oscar cliche today, you should, for your own safety, sidestep this brilliant Cracked.com Movie Title trailer, which points out nearly every cliche found in a typical Best Picture nominee trailer.

Grayson EXPLODES on GOP: "America doesn't CARE about your feelings" Man On Fire!

2009-10-09T11:20:00.000-07:00

Alan Grayson (BIG D-FL08) is my new hero, we need this guy in Congress for years to come!

But first, on to the show, and what a show it is!

Other than that, I have nothing else to say but this.

BEST. RANT. EVER.

Teddy would be proud.

"We're Number 37!"

2009-09-10T11:23:00.000-07:00

Here is a song celebrating our proud ranking in the World Health Organization's list of world health systems for all the obstructionist hecklers to sing as they continue down the road to total irrelevance. Enjoy!!

Catchy as hell! No 'Youth in Asia' LOL. Love the line about us being a Christian nation. Funny how the most God fearing/family values/protect marriage from the queers while I cheat on my wife/Conservative Christians are the main ones spreading lies, intimidation, carrying guns to town halls, and basically saying "I got mine so why should I care about anyone else". Not very Christian in my book.

Utah Phillips - There is Power In The Union

2009-09-07T16:23:00.000-07:00

Happy Labor Day,

Joe Hill's famous song.

Sorry about that whole 40 hour work week thing. Oh, and I must apologize for minimum wage and keeping children out of the mines. I know you must hate getting a fair pay for a fair days work, but most of us go to bed every night thanking those who fought and sometimes died for the world's working people. Union men and women.

Why We Need Government-Run Universal Socialized Health Insurance

2009-08-29T19:50:00.000-07:00

Every time I read about a Teabagger ranting about how socialized medicine will destroy this country I think of the VA system. There it is, a huge and vastly important universal healthcare system—government run, single payer and therefore socialist—right here in the brave and privatized United States: The Veterans Affairs hospitals. If you've served in the military, you can go to the VA. If it's within five years of your last active duty service, or you have injuries related to your service, you can go and get healthcare pretty much for free.

Objectively, our present system is a complete and abject failure. Compared to every other industrialized nation, we spend more and get less from our healthcare system. Even for those who claim that the US is exceptional, the VA provides an example of another (and better) way to do things.

Let's recap: the United States spends about twice as much on healthcare as any other developed nation in the world and in return receives just about the worst care. Can someone remind me again why there's even a debate about whether we should put up with this?

Tell It To The Indians

2009-08-14T07:42:00.000-07:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Reform Madness - White Minority

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Spinal Tap Performance

The right-wing fury at town hall meetings over health care and the Republican obstruction of any serious reform in Washington are not just symptoms of a complex debate on an issue packed with powerful special interests; it is a test of whether reality matters in the United States.

The overriding question has become whether the United States – as a representative democracy – is on the verge of losing its sanity.

Health Care Opponent Plays Hardball

2009-08-12T20:13:00.000-07:00

This woman is a leader in the permanent underclass...one accident or illness away from the street and she doesn't even know it! I bet she could tell you who won each season on American Idol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

I wish Lawrence O'Donnell had asked this willfully ignorant moron if she favored repeal of her own right to vote too. After all, the Founding Fathers thought she should have no voice in the political system.

Awesome Wedding Dance Video

2009-07-24T16:15:00.000-07:00

If there's one thing we need to end the week, it's a feel-good wedding stunt! And this viral church-aisle dance party should do the trick.

Even the normally hateful YouTube viewership was all over this, and a naysayer was shot down with, "Don't hate just because you can't get someone to look at you let alone marry you." Aww! The happy couple's already appeared on the Today show to contribute a little human interest, which isn't that unusual. But bringing the whole wedding party back tomorrow to do their "routine?" I'm guessing it won't capture the magic.

Little Crop of Horrors

2009-06-17T11:47:00.000-07:00

Sam Bee warns that Michelle Obama's elitist organic garden could simultaneously cause starvation, obesity and cancer.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Little Crop of Horrors

thedailyshow.com

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Full Episodes

Political Humor

Jason Jones in Iran

The war against organic and backyard gardens wages on by big agra who think it's simply irresponsible to not use chemicals and pesticides when growing food for your family. People will simultaneously grow obese and starve to death!

STEWART RIPS INTO CNBC.

2009-03-05T09:58:00.000-08:00

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

CNBC Gives Financial Advice

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things With Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Joke of the Day

The Latin root "san" means cure, heal and take care of while "telli" is how the Brits refer to the electric living room lie box...So the proper name, 'Santelli", actually seems to mean 'person who will heal television'...Rick, a grateful nation would salute you but our hands are occupied performing dangerous, repetitive and low paid non union factory work.

Is it any wonder that Daily show viewers are more informed than those who get their news from mainstream media?

This land is your land. This land is my land. Again. Finally.

2009-01-18T19:36:00.000-08:00

Bruce, Pete Seeger and Seeger's grandson sang one of the classics at the Lincoln Memorial today. Everyone sang along, including Obama:

Pete Seeger has been a courageous, tireless fighter for civil rights and peace all of his life. He was at Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech in that place.

Just look at his 89 year old SMILE. It tells the tale.

Phil Ochs - Crucifixion

2008-12-27T10:36:00.000-08:00

The song has alot of layers, the superficial outer layer is a tribute to RFK, JFK and MLK. The other layers are about hero killing, Phil Ochs and hypocrisy. Every piece of artwork has lots of layers especially poetry/music.

I think in large part it's about society and how it seems to be human nature to create and build up heros from other humans in our midst - only to revel in their ultimate downfall. "But you know, I predicted it. I knew he had to fall. How did it happen? Hope his suffering was small. Tell me every detail, for I've got to know it all. And do you have a picture of the pain?" But teach us to be true. Cause we love you.

Project for Awesome: Heifer International

2008-12-24T18:08:00.000-08:00

Heifer International:
Heifer International

Its so easy to give! They do such awesome stuff, at least check out the website. :-) It's fun to look at all of the great projects they are working on!

Santa Claus Bailout Hearings

2008-12-24T17:59:00.000-08:00

C-SPAN coverage of Santa Claus asking Congress for a financial bailout of the North Pole - Present Giving Industry. If they dont approve his aid package, Christmas may be ruined.

"Prop 8 - The Musical"

2008-12-03T19:01:00.000-08:00

judge us by leviticus... and let US judge YOU by it as well.

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

3rd Race at The Honeymoon Is Over Downs

2008-12-02T08:26:00.000-08:00

LOL, too funny....Funny too how straight right wing religious freaks want to prevent gay people from experiencing these wonderful aspects of marriage....

Christian the Lion - the full story

2008-11-09T13:14:00.000-08:00

That's it. I'm getting a lion. And now some people think animals don't have any feelings..

Another "Yes We Can" video

2008-11-02T17:34:00.000-08:00

YES!!!!!!! Get ready for President Obama.

"The Vet Who Did Not Vet" A Very Suess-esque Tale

2008-10-25T12:42:00.000-07:00

Gov. Sarah Palin's signature accomplishment _ a contract to build a 1,715-mile pipeline to bring natural gas from Alaska to the Lower 48 _ emerged from a flawed bidding process that narrowed the field to a company with ties to her administration, an Associated Press investigation shows.

A fake pipeline to go along with a fake plumber and a fake mugging victim. But what do you expect from a campaign of phonies?

THE END OF MAVERICK

2008-10-05T14:08:00.000-07:00

At this point, I think Tina Fey is probably the fifth or sixth most influential person in the presidential election:

"Maverick" was already losing its charge through overuse, but after this skit, I think the term is officially a joke.

VP Debate In Song and Dance

2008-10-03T12:50:00.000-07:00

I would never have believed they could be made entertaining. I believe we have now found her true calling.

Tina Fey on "SNL": Umm, wow

2008-09-15T15:04:00.000-07:00

The two — appearing as Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton — delivered a message about sexism, an issue, Poehler/Clinton noted, "I'm surprised to hear people suddenly care about." Not surprisingly, the sketch, seen above, was both funny and painful because the things coming out of Fey's mouth were not so dissimilar to the boneheaded things that have emerged from the real Palin's maw.

If only...

Tina Fey were running for office and whatsername was a TV sports reporter again.

Ugh.

Biden: The silence is Deafening

2008-09-06T12:28:00.000-07:00

I think Joe Biden’s attack with the best one possible–he pointed out how condescending she was, and he did it in a gender-neutral way (i.e., he didn’t say, “Wow, what a bitch.”).

With all those caveats in place, here’s my take: Her speech isn’t going to age well, and it IS going to age, because they’re going to keep her out of the spotlight as much as possible, so we’re going to see clips of it over and over again. A trash-talking ex-beauty-queen may seem hip at first, but it’s going to get really old really fast, especially when people hear Joe Biden reminding them that they all know a Sarah Palin in their lives, and the memories aren’t likely to be fond ones.

John McCain Picks a Running Mate

2008-08-31T10:10:00.000-07:00

"The Love Pita." LOL. Samantha Bee is a funny, funny lady.

The Palin pick says much more about McCain than it does about Palin (all it says about her is that she didn't have the good sense to turn it down). What it says about McCain is that he is more interested in politics than policy, more interested in campaigning than governing, tactical when he should be strategic, and reckless when he should be considered.

He is as big a gamble as president as Palin is as vice-president. This decision was about gut, about politics, about cynicism, and about vanity. It's Bushism metastasized.

Will Ferrell as George Bush

2008-08-20T15:51:00.000-07:00

Will Ferrell impersonates George Bush doing a global warming commercial.

McCain agrees that we won't get Bin Laden "if we don't reenact the draft"

2008-08-20T13:35:00.000-07:00

Anyone of draft age should watch this video. Anyone with kids who are draft age -- or approaching draft age -- should watch this video. As John wrote last night, McCain's instinct is to go to war. Today, McCain exposed how he'll have the forces to do it. The draft is part of his equation. Watch the entire video:

I am going to teach my grandsons how to walk in heels in preparation for the military exam. I know If McCain becomes prez....there will still be a Don't Ask Don't Tell.

"Hands"

2008-08-08T10:42:00.000-07:00

The Obama campaign has just released the ad they'll be playing across the Olympics:

This ad succeeds. The driving music, the announcer's quick speech, the fast cuts, the futuristic looking technologies and products, all of them get at what's powerful about a youthful candidate without bring age up explicitly. This is an ad that wouldn't work with shots of McCain interwoven through the end. It does work with Obama.

Bush Tours America To Survey Damage Caused By His Presidency

2008-08-03T10:11:00.001-07:00

One would be surprised how many people actually believe what the Onion prints as "tongue-in-cheek." to be true. I remember something from the Onion, being repeated as news on the FOX Noise Channel once. It seems the republicans and their ditto-head minions have no sense of humor, let alone irony and believe everything FOX regurgitates from the White House talking points as well.

10 Ways John McCain Is Like Paris Hilton & Britney Spears

2008-07-31T12:06:00.000-07:00

If you haven't yet seen John McCain's new anti-Obama advertisement, it handily splices in photos of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton in between statements on Obama's opposition to further offshore oil-drilling and support for taxing electrical companies.

What's the connection between two celebrities and those two issues? None that we can see (and we looked hard), but apparently Britney and Paris are famous-for-no-reason (other than, oh, a musical career, a television show and a couple of forgettable movie roles between them) and Obama is popular-for-no-reason and that's bad. Well, McCain might not have the popularity of Obama, Britney or Paris, but we've counted the things he does have in common with the latter two.

John McCain was held in the Hanoi Hilton.

John McCain was held in a camp, The Simple Life was held in a camp.

John McCain's wife, elder daughter, Paris and Britney all use the same shade of hair dye.

John McCain and Britney both left their first spouses high and dry and then slept around for a while.

Kevin Federline left Britney a single parent with weekend visitation; John McCain left Cindy in Arizona to parent singly and only came home on the weekends.

Paris Hilton has her stock pose of putting her hand on her hip, John McCain has his stock pose of giving a thumb's up. (Both are terribly out of date.)

Paris wants to be seen embracing the Bible but does nothing overtly religious or compassionate; John McCain wants to be seen embracing the Bible-thumpers but does nothing overtly religious or compassionate.

Paris uses the "n" word, and some suspect John McCain does, too. (McCain did call his wife a cunt, though. It's close!)

All of them travel with extensive entourages of gay men.

None of them would draw a crowd of 200,000 people for a speech about America's relationship with Germany.

All have dead eyes and all three can get really confused. And are often photographed while in said state.

Hat Tip to Jezebel

Supporting The Troops is Different Than Being A Veteran

2008-07-29T10:34:00.000-07:00

Watching the Olberman video, only confirmed an old political reality. Americans don't necessarily care for the facts. That McCain repeatedly votes against funding for veterans will not factor in the vote decision for most Americans. This is because most Americans do not pay attention to the minutia of policy making. They care about the big picture and the "narrative." By voting record, McCain is clearly one of the most conservative members of the Senate, but his narrative is one of independence.

The Video Professor Helps McCain

2008-07-14T07:41:00.000-07:00

It's true! John McCain is "aware of the Internet" and is actually "learning to get online myself."

But how did he accomplish this feat? The truth can now be revealed:

He needs to order that lesson on Economics next!

Flip-flop he's got covered. WMD detection is a bit late. Disaster Recovery and Peanuckle (Pinochle?) can wait until after November.

The Power of Song, Pete Seeger

2008-07-05T09:20:00.000-07:00

This is a program from PBS, focusing on Pete Seeger's music and message.

McCain Debates Himself, and Loses

2008-06-15T10:54:00.000-07:00

Robert F. Kennedy speech ~ Mindless Menace of Violence

2008-06-08T11:33:00.001-07:00

This speech by Robert F. Kennedy was given on April 5, 1968 at the City Club of Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio. The soundtrack is from the movie "Bobby", if you haven't watched it, rent it today.

RFK was not perfect, but man he had a vision! And for this vision he is still loved by many! His words touch almost everyone, because we know deep inside that what he says is real and true!

The Official Response: NO YOU CAN'T!

2008-05-13T11:49:00.000-07:00

Status quo is Latin for scandal, recession, Bush, McCain, global warming, children without healthcare, young men and women dying in Iraq for 100 years, and tax cuts for the super-rich while we rack up trillion dollar deficits. If you prefer more of the same, please stick with the Grand Ol' Party. If you want hope and change, there's that other guy running for president...

The Empire Strikes Barack

2008-05-05T18:01:00.000-07:00

If I Were A Terrorist

2008-04-26T11:18:00.000-07:00

From the Hillbilly Report.

John Oliver does a Fox "documentary."

2008-04-11T12:09:00.000-07:00

George W. Bush, Running Out the Clock

and "Leaving a Mess for the Next Guy"

Magic Ponies

2008-03-24T16:03:00.000-07:00

Rev Wright's "faith footnote" on 9/11 attacks

2008-03-21T15:27:00.000-07:00

Meet the man who inspired Reverend Jeremiah Wright's now famous tirade about America's foreign policy inciting the terrorist attacks of September 11.

His name is Ambassador Edward Peck. And he is a retired, white, career U.S. diplomat who served 32-years in the U.S. Foreign Service and was chief of the U.S. mission to Iraq under Jimmy Carter -- hardly the black-rage image with which Wright has been stigmatized.

In fact, when Wright took the pulpit to give his post-9/11 address -- which has since become boiled down to a five second sound bite about "America's chickens coming home to roost" -- he prefaced his remarks as a "faith footnote," an indication that he was deviating from his sermon.

"I heard Ambassador Peck on an interview yesterday," Wright declared. "He was on Fox News. This is a white man and he was upsetting the Fox News commentators to no end. He pointed out, a white man, an ambassador, that what Malcolm X said when he got silenced by Elijah Muhammad was in fact true: America's chickens are coming home to roost."

Wright then went on to list more than a few U.S. foreign policy endeavors that, by the tone of his voice and manner of his expression, he viewed as more or less deplorable. This included, as has been demonstrated in the endless loop of clips from his sermon, bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki and nuking "far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon and we never batted an eye."

"Violence begets violence," Wright said, "hatred begets hatred, and terrorism begets terrorism."

And then he concluded by putting the comments on Peck's shoulders: "A white ambassador said that yall, not a black militant, not a reverend who preaches about racism, an ambassador whose eyes are wide open and is trying to get us to wake up and move away from this dangerous precipice... the ambassador said that the people we have wounded don't have the military capability we have, but they do have individuals who are willing to die and take thousands with them... let me stop my faith footnote right there."

I am so glad Obama called out the media in his speech. Why were Wright's controversial statements placed in a loop over and over and replayed endlessly on all channels? Why were the context of his sermons not discussed at all? If the "journalists" were too busy pontificating, could they not at least send their interns to do a little research?

Solidarity Forever

2008-03-14T17:35:00.000-07:00

Solidarity Forever sung by Pete Seeger & The Weavers, with old photographs of the labor movement in US History.This is a tribute to all the workers who sacrificed to make a better world for their children and grand children.

This song was originally sing by Federal troops marching to war during the civil war and known as, "John Brown's Body." It was later changed to, "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." in 1915, I.W.W. ornganizer and prominant labor activist Ralph Chaplin changed the words again to "Solidarity Forever."

CHICAGO 10 - OFFICIAL TRAILER

2008-03-02T13:15:00.000-08:00

Mixing animation with archival footage, CHICAGO 10 explores the build-up to and unraveling of the Chicago Conspiracy Trial of 8 activists set up as scapegoats by The Government of the 1968 Democratic Convention demonstration against the Vietnam War.

CHICAGO 10 is a parable of hope, courage and ultimate victory, the story of young Americans speaking out and taking a stand in the face of an oppressive and armed government.

Dr. Randy Pausch - from Oprah

2008-02-26T09:14:00.000-08:00

Dying professor, Dr. Randy Pausch knows he is dying. This video will leave you thinking when it's over. Take 10 minutes of your time to watch it. It would do us all some good.

That comes from an inner spirit, a spirit that comes to us through the heart not our mind, given to us by something greater than ourselves, regardless of what religion you believe or don't believe in . . . .

VIVA OBAMA.

2008-02-22T12:44:00.000-08:00

And Viva Obama is a home run. That's good enough to swing even the Anglo vote around here.

Translation:

To the candidate who is Barack Obama
I sing this corrido with all my soul
He was born humble without pretension
He began in the streets of Chicago
Working to achieve a vision
To protect the working people
And bring us all together in this great nation
Viva Obama! Viva Obama!
Families united and safe and even with a health care plan
Viva Obama! Viva Obama!
A candidate fighting for our nation
It doesn't matter if you're from San Antonio
It doesn't matter if you're from Corpus Christi
From Dallas, from the Valley, from Houston or from El Paso
What matters is that we vote for Obama
Because his struggle is also our struggle, and today we urgently need a change
Let's unite with our great friend
Viva Obama! Viva Obama!
Families united and safe and even with a health care plan

Viva Obama! Viva Obama!
A candidate fighting for our nation

The Greatest Illusion ever.

2008-02-14T12:11:00.000-08:00

So What Are You Going To Do About It?

Brett Dennen - Ain't No Reason

2008-02-14T11:45:00.000-08:00

h/t to supergirlest

A brief description of the video from Brett himself:

"It is our routines and our comforts that allow us to ignore social issues. For some of us, it is our privilege to be ignorant. This video tells the story of social issues challenging our privileges and entering our routines making them impossible to ignore. Social injustice cannot be ignored when you are forced to deal with them. That is the idea behind this video.

What would happen if you were forced to deal with something that you may think has nothing to do with you? If suddenly the world's problems came into your own home? You would have to realize that you are connected to everything and everyone one earth."

You saw the Obama video, now watch the McCain one

2008-02-11T08:57:00.000-08:00

"McCain: Less jobs, more war...not just a slogan!" No we McCain't.

Please watch this. It's from Andy Cobb and his brilliant cast of insane comedians and actors out in Hollywood. (For anyone who hasn't seen the Obama video, you can watch it here below to get a flavor of the parody.) I laughed out loud.

That's funny. Painfully funny ... but funny. Probably the best parody I've seen online.

Clip From Michael Moore's Film "Sicko...

2008-02-10T12:08:00.000-08:00

"If you can find money to kill people, you can find money to help people."
Former British MP Tony Benn talks about power and democracy in this excerpt from "Sicko."

Please watch and spread it, especially to the disenfranchised and those who feel powerless.

Benn is one of the top politicans of all time: A man of conviction and wisdom, why socialist like him get such a bad name is beyond me, thier some of the most moral people going. Just shows hows selfish and greedy people are.

BY THEIR MUSIC VIDEOS YOU SHALL KNOW THEM.

2008-02-03T14:39:00.000-08:00

You can really see the change in the Democratic electorate's mood by comparing the music videos that capture their imaginations, Remember Eminem's 2004 video, "Mosh?"

The dark colors, the thundering rain, the threatening militancy, the barely-suppressed rage. There was fear in that video, and anger. And it mattered. It captured a particular instant of frustration and fury. Compare that to "Yes, We Can":

Yes We Can

2008-02-02T20:59:00.000-08:00

Without positing any electoral impact or too closely analyzing its politics, this music video, transforming Obama's already lyrical speeches into actual music, sung and played by actual musicians, is beautiful and affecting.

The highest quality version is here. For those who don't like clicking on links, though, here's the YouTube:

Between Iraq and a Hard Place

2008-02-02T17:19:00.000-08:00

Brilliant. But the sad thing about this video is that the comedy is based on facts. Everything mentioned within has at some stage happened. Our military has become one big long running joke.

Iraq And It's Oil

2008-02-02T17:10:00.000-08:00

How come, with our free press in the USA (and God bless her), we are hearing about the terms of the oil deal and the five permanent military bases from British television? Bush's genius is getting quite a boost from our lazy journalists content to print/broadcast the Administration press releases and knock off for the day.

George Bush is a Genius?

How The Market Works!

2008-01-23T15:25:00.000-08:00

A few clever comedians explain issues such as "market sentiment", subprime lending, SIVs and government bailouts. This was recorded back in October, a few months after Northern Rock experienced a run on the bank in the UK. Watch until the end where they deliver the classic line that will surely be dragged out as the Fed continues to press the panic button.

Bill Gates Last Day At Microsoft

2008-01-13T22:30:00.000-08:00

Bill Gates and friends in a skit from his 2008 CES Keynotes speech (apologies for the low sound quality - big room, small camera!)

windows vista still sucks...it has screwed everything up. LMFAO best microsoft production ever

Partisan Bickering

2008-01-06T18:27:00.000-08:00

It was inevitable --- as soon as the Republicans lost power, I knew the gasbags would insist that it's time to let bygones be bygones and meet the Republicans halfway in the spirit of a new beginning. GOP politicians have driven the debt sky-high and altered the government so as to be nearly unrecognizable, so logically the Democrats need to extend the hand of conciliation and move to meet them in the middle --- the middle now being so far right, it isn't even fully visible anymore.

Isn't it funny that these people were nowhere to be found when George W. Bush seized office under the most dubious terms in history, having been appointed by a partisan supreme court majority and losing the popular vote? If there was ever a time for a bunch of dried up, irrelevant windbags to demand a bipartisan government you'd think it would have been then, wouldn't you? (How about after 9/11, when Republicans were running ads saying Dems were in cahoots with Saddam and bin Laden?) But it isn't all that surprising. They always assert themselves when the Democrats become a majority; it's their duty to save the country from the DamnFuc*ingHippie's who are far more dangerous than Dick Cheney could ever be.

Here's how one of the greatest Democratic Presidents got a little partisan, and I say that, cause partisanship - "it's a good thing."

Campaign Video of the Day -- January 2, 2007

2008-01-02T16:33:00.000-08:00

Hillary has put up a very good closing argument. You owe it to yourself to watch it. Today's Campaign Video, however, is Barack Obama's latest. In One Voice the greatest orator of his age delivers highlights from his most famous speech. It doesn't just close the deal. It is inspiring.

The Envelope, Please: 2007 Golden Duke Award Winners

2008-01-01T21:10:00.000-08:00

Politics Video Blog: Okay, the wait is over. You sent in your nominations. The judges pored over each candidate's dossier. And now the winners are ready to be announced. The winner for Best Scandal -- General Interest -- the Dukes' version of Best Picture genuinely surprised me. And one winner and one winner alone was the unanimous choice of all five judges, that was the winner for Outstanding Achievement in Corruption-based Chutzpah. We are pleased to bring you this year's Golden Duke Awards winners... (less)

Sinner Man -- "SOMEONE'S GOTTA SAY SOMETHING"

2007-12-10T16:55:00.000-08:00

THE WEAVERS STILL HAVE IT! "The spirit of Lee Hays would want to dedicate this song to the man who brought the bible to the White House"

The Weaver's records and concerts helped popularize many of the songs now considered standards in the folk repertoire, including "On Top of Old Smokey," "Follow the Drinking Gourd," "Kisses Sweeter than Wine," "The Wreck of the John B (aka "Sloop John B")," "Rock Island Line," "The Midnight Special," "Pay Me My Money Down," and "Darling Corey." The Weavers encouraged sing-alongs in their concerts, and Seeger would sometimes shout out the lyrics in advance of each line.

The Weavers eventually came under political pressure because of their history of singing protest songs and folk songs favoring labor unions, as well as for the leftist political beliefs of the individuals in the group. They avoided recording the more controversial songs in their repertoire, and refrained from performing at controversial venues and events. The leftwing press derided them as having sold out their beliefs in exchange for popular success. Despite their caution, however, they were placed under FBI surveillance and blacklisted by parts of the entertainment industry during the McCarthy era, from 1950. Right-wing and anti-Communist groups protested at their performances and harassed promoters. As a result of the blacklisting, the Weavers lost radio airplay and the group's popularity diminished rapidly. Decca terminated their recording contract.

As Long As The Grass Shall Grow - Johnny & June Carter (Pete Seeger)

2007-12-07T20:04:00.000-08:00

This is a part of history. these were the exact words in the treaty, "As long as the grass shall grow, as long as the river flows, as long as the sun shall shine." It is a shame that the legacy of the white man and the Indians has been so dishonored.

Who Will Answer - Ed Ames

2007-12-07T19:35:00.000-08:00

Countdown: Special Comment 12-06-07

2007-12-06T23:51:00.001-08:00

Christmas In Fallujah

2007-12-06T23:44:00.000-08:00

It's a gas, gas , gas...

2007-11-21T21:19:00.000-08:00

For those of you planning on enjoying the holidays...

"Your Women Are Ugly!" is not a political argument

2007-10-25T22:54:00.000-07:00

Even if it were remotely true, "our women are better-looking!" is not an argument. The idea that discussing the attractiveness of women's bodies as a point in favor of or against a specific set of political beliefs is just disgusting. And the implied possession -- as in, our things are pretty and yours are ugly -- is also revoltingly sexist.

I love how the Repubs are mostly professional headshots or publicity shots and the Dems are all the worst possible candids.

Girls sure are purdy when they want to take away other women's right to choose! (This is reminiscent of anti-choicers' tendency to compare the attractiveness of women on either side of the issue. Isn't patriarchy awesome?)

Vincent - Don McLean

2007-10-25T16:58:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Song
"Now i understand,
what you tried to say to me,
how you suffered for your sanity,
how you tried to set them free,
they would not listen they did not know how, perhaps they'll listen now"

"Where words fail, music speaks." ---Hans Christian Andersen

Self-Esteen and School Health Services

2007-10-18T15:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, a Maine school board decided to allow a Portland middle school to open confidential health clinic within the school. The clinic will provide basic health services (like immunizations) as well as sexual health counseling and birth control. Kids will not need their parents' permission to obtain birth control, though they will need their parents' permission to be treated at the health center in the first place.

Amazingly, all but two members of the 12 member board voted to approve the center.

And while the sane were represented at the hearing, so were the (wing)nuts:

“It has been shown, over and over again, that this does not increase sexual activity,” said Pat Patterson, the medical director of School-Based Health Centers.

Reaction was mixed.

“This is really a violation of parents’ rights,” Peter Doyle, a Portland resident, told the committee. “If there were a constitutional challenge, you guys would be at risk of a lawsuit.”

Pat Patterson is right, and I'm so glad to see her or him shooting down the right wing argument (advanced by foes of BC and EC) that the availability of birth control makes kids crazy sex animals. Regarding Peter Doyle's argument, it's not so clear whether he's right or wrong. Parents definitely have a constitutionally protected interest to raise and educate their kids in the way they want to (within limits). But as kids grow up they too develop their own competing privacy rights. Some states already allow minors to access birth control without parental permission. If middle school kids can be sentenced to life in prison, there's nothing incongruous about giving them (all teens) the tools to lead healthy lives.

Just for fun, let's stipulate (against the evidence) that access to birth control will cause some young girls to have self-esteem reducing sex in middle school. What's more likely to cause problems and limit opportunities later in life--slightly reduced self esteem at age 14, or a baby at age 14?

NEOCON GOLD

2007-10-11T20:31:00.000-07:00

Our Coalition Partners

2007-10-10T13:37:00.000-07:00

The Lapel Flag Pin Patriots.

2007-10-08T12:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, in response to a question from a reporter suspicious of why he wasn’t wearing an American flag pin on his lapel, Barack Obama explained his belief that for some, the pins became a substitute for “true patriotism.” The senator said he would instead “try to tell the American people what I believe will make this country great, and hopefully that will be a testimony to my patriotism.”

I didn’t expect leading conservative voices to understand, but I was a little surprised at the ferocity of the response. Jonah Goldberg described Obama’s perspective as “staggeringly stupid,” and “the single dumbest thing I’ve ever heard of him doing.” Another prominent far-right blogger responded this way:

“Seriously, you want this for President of these great United States.This is how he catches the attention of a media aligned with the terror force? This useful tool won’t wear an American flag pin? Talk about pandering to the radical base, he ought to run against Ahmadinejad.

“He is scoring points with Georgie Soros, won’t be waiting long for his on his Soros stipend, I’m sure. What’s Obama Hussein’s new campaign slogan, “America Sucks!”

Higher-profile conservative voices were only slightly less unhinged.

“But talk radio and cable news quickly pounced on the issue. “It just shows you he’s not ready for the big time,” conservative Laura Ingram opined on Fox News. Said Sean Hannity: “Why do we wear pins? Because our country is under attack!”

Hannity, a voice of reason in these trying times. Perhaps he believes lapel pins are some kind of protection against terrorist attacks? And if so, why doesn’t he wear one more often?

So the role model for true-blue, America-loving, super-duper-patriotic conservatives is...

...Abbie Hoffman?

(historical note from old geezer to young whippersnappers: Abbie Hoffman, 1970's radical, was arrested for wearing a shirt made from an American flag. Also arrested other times, for other charges -- see "Chicago Seven" -- but the shirt incident was one of the most famous.)

The Value of Torture Depends On the Goal

2007-10-08T09:02:00.000-07:00

Torture in Iraq and Gitmo also cows the population here. If they are willing to torture Padilla, then we will damn well give up privacy in phone calls, habeas corpus, freedom to fly on domestic airplanes without taking our friggin shoes off in dirty airports. It means that Bushco means business when it comes to keeping people, all people, in line.

An article that’s making the rounds again about the way the Allies effectively broke down Nazi resistance to testifying after WWII through kindness and playing games of wit with them. It’s very interesting and more evidence against the use of routine torture to “get information”, which is the official excuse for torturing from the Bush administration and all their defenders. It helps to watch lots of “24″ to convince yourself that there’s just oodles of people out there who are one electroshock to the genitals away from spilling all sorts of life-saving information. The article is good—all a refutation of the idea that torture is an effective way of obtaining information.

It’s important to say that torture doesn’t work for obtaining information, but immediately follow it up with, “So if we’re not using torture for information, then what are we using torture for?” And the answer is that we’re torturing in order to cow into submission an unconsenting population we’re ruling over, something that torture is very good at. Information is irrelevant. The government barely had anything to charge Jose Padilla with, and they knew it—they didn’t charge him for years because they were waiting for him to cough up information. They tortured him so badly he lost his mind; if they cared what he knew, they wouldn’t have systematically destroyed his mind and the mysterious information in it. Padilla was a testing ground for the Bush administration to see if they could get away with disappearing people, a la some South American junta, so they could quell the loyal dissent at home with the threat that you could be locked away in prison and have your mind slowly dismantled with no hope for a trial.

What if the military had to run disclaimers in their recruiting ads like the Pharmaceutical Co's?

2007-10-08T08:53:00.000-07:00

Great Moments In Presidential Speeches

2007-10-08T08:28:00.000-07:00

Really Senator Craig?

2007-10-08T07:23:00.000-07:00

White House Retaliates Against UK For Withdrawal

2007-10-03T21:01:00.000-07:00

The USA it appears is determined to rid itself of any and every potential ally as quickly and as thoroughly as possible. In response to the withdrawal announcement, the White House has decided to slander Britain. The Daily Telegraph reports today that a senior White House official has revoked Britain’s status of being “the closest Bush ally“:

“There’s concern about Brown,” a senior White House foreign policy official told The Daily Telegraph. “But this is compensated by the fact that Paris and Berlin are much less of a headache. The need to hinge everything on London as the guarantor of European security has gone.”

The White House official added that Britain would always be “the cornerstone” of US policy towards Europe but there was “a lot of unhappiness” about how British forces had performed in Basra and an acceptance that Mr Brown would pull the remaining 4,500 troops out of Iraq next year.

“Operationally, British forces have performed poorly in Basra,” said the official. “Maybe it’s best that they leave. Now we will have a clear field in southern Iraq.”

Translation: This is a job for Blackwater. We will soon be surging soldiers of fortune into Basra to shoot everything that moves.

No worries. After the "quick surgical strikes" into Iran, the south of Iraq will be like a resort spa.

Bush,For Once In Your Life - THINK!

2007-09-27T12:30:00.000-07:00

Some things Bush should contemplate before attacking Iran, but won't:

1. It will be far worse than Iraq which hasn't turned out well at all.

2. You will demonstrate to the world the US is no longer a super power.

3. Such an attack will ruin what little respect any country has for the US.

4. Iran will attack world-wide on a scale you won't believe.

5. You can't destroy all of Iran's offensive capabilities fast enough to prevent retaliation.

6. Ten dollar per gallon oil? Oh yeah, that's not a bad thing. I forgot.

7. Obviously Israel, Syria, Lebanon and others will join in.

8. You will wreck what's left of the US military.

9. Even Iranians deserve to live. You will kill civilians in obscene numbers.

10. You will be personally responsible for the deaths of millions of people throughout the Mid-East.

11. People around the world will revile you until the day you die and probably long after. What a great fucking legacy.

12. Your father may finally disown you. Oh, I forgot, you don't really care.

13. Everyone will finally realize just how psychotic you actually are.

14. Your balls will shrivel up and most likely fall off.

15. No doubt almost everyone will see your foreign policy was shit.

16. Paraguay may be too close to the US for you.

17. Because Iran can retaliate, Lebanon is viable, the PA is viable, Syria is viable, you may well trigger the destruction of Israel.

18. You will no longer be able to vacation in the Persian Gulf.

19. Quite possibly you'll see the sinking of one or more US warships.

20. Most likely many of the US's allies will lose thousands of people.

21. You will postpone and guarantee Iran's having nuclear weapons.

22. Its probable Iran won't be the last to develop nuclear weapons as that's the only way to keep you from attacking them.

23. You will prove beyond a doubt you are the most stupid fucker to ever lead a country...period.

24. The 23% approval rate you have may fall down to just members of the US Congress.

25. You will single handedly destroy what's left of the GOP. OK, that could be a good thing.

26. If you're lucky (we're all lucky?) this won't incite a world war.

27. Can you say military coup d’état? They've happened for lesser reasons.

28. You will crush the US economy which you've already decimated.

29. Billions of dollars in military aircraft will be lost. You don't think the Iranians won't fight back, do you?

30. Russia and China are nearby. They may decide its in their best interests to stop you. And China doesn't even have to intervene militarily. It could just call in its US debt. Huge fucking oops!

31. Then there are the American lives to be lost. Can't have enough of those can you, Bush?

This is a partial list. But its a start. Feel free to add to it in comments.

Who Would Have Known?

2007-08-16T07:59:00.001-07:00

Job Opening

2007-08-14T19:25:00.001-07:00

PROTEST = TERRORISM...(????)

2007-08-11T21:18:00.001-07:00

Are you worried yet? Here's the latest from our overseas partners in the war on terror:

Armed police will use anti-terrorism powers to "deal robustly" with climate change protesters at Heathrow next week, as confrontations threaten to bring major delays to the already overstretched airport.

...."Should individuals or small groups seek to take action outside of lawful protest they will be dealt with robustly using terrorism powers. This is because the presence of large numbers of protesters at or near the airport will reduce our ability to proactively counter the terrorist act [threat]," the document says.

Note the clever excuse. No one seems to seriously believe that these protesters are either terrorists or plan to engage in terrorism, and normally any lawbreaking would be dealt with using ordinary police powers. However, the terrorism laws are said to apply here because the protesters — who object to a proposed expansion of the airport — "might reduce our ability to proactively counter" real terrorism. This is, needless to say, an excuse that could be trotted out for nearly anything more vigorous than sending a letter to the editor.

This is happening in Britain, not America, and it's not Armageddon. Which is a country where the top elected official can state that his predecessor's invasion of Iraq was a stupid idea, and still get elected. Rather unlike America.

So yes, it is rather Orwellian (especially the reason proffered), on a scale just as Orwellian as fenced-in Free Speech Zones (NY Repub Convention, LA Dem Convention) far from the political speech-making venues.

Still, when civil libertarian types start warning about slippery slopes, this is what they're talking about. Anyone who can't imagine how this stuff can be misused just isn't exercising their imagination.

Giuliani: I misspoke about ground zero

2007-08-11T20:36:00.000-07:00

I love the way New Yorkers take no prisoners:

Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani said Friday that he misspoke when he said he spent as much time, if not more, at ground zero exposed to the same health risks as workers combing the site after the Sept. 11 attacks.

"I think I could have said it better," he told nationally syndicated radio host Mike Gallagher. "You know, what I was saying was, 'I'm there with you.'"
The former New York mayor upset some firefighters and police officers when he said Thursday in Cincinnati that he was at ground zero "as often, if not more, than most of the workers."

"I was there working with them. I was exposed to exactly the same things they were exposed to. So in that sense, I'm one of them," he told reporters at a Los Angeles Dodgers-Cincinnati Reds baseball game.

Fire and police officials responded angrily, saying Giuliani did not do the same work as those involved in the rescue, recovery and cleanup from the 2001 terrorist attacks, which left many workers sick and injured.

[...]

"There were people there less than me, people on my staff, who already have had serious health consequences, and they weren't there as often as I was," Giuliani said, "but I wasn't trying to suggest a competition of any kind, which is the way it come across."

Giuliani's explanation further angered his ground zero critics, prompting several to issue a statement demanding an apology.

"He is such a liar, because the only time he was down there was for photo ops with celebrities, with politicians, with diplomats," said deputy fire chief Jimmy Riches, who spent months digging for his firefighter son.

"On 9/11 all he did was run. He got that soot on him, and I don't think he's taken a shower since."

Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, a union that fiercely opposes Giuliani, said he doubted Giuliani misspoke.

"I think he was simply showing what his true character is — a self-absorbed, self-deluded promoter who got caught and is now just simply trying to backtrack," Schaitberger said.

Every time Rudy tries to hype his manly ground zero bonafides these guys are going to be out there smacking him down. This stuff didn't happen on the Mekong Delta 35 years ago. This happened very recently in the media capital of the world. His movements were well documented. You have to be a truly grandiose psychopath not to think comments like this will not come back to haunt you. Of course, that's exactly what he is.

And speaking of Giuliani, you have to check out the article on his Five Big Lies, in the Village Voice. Someone pointed out to me this little tidbit that would be particularly worth noting if the tabloid political press held the GOP candidates to the same standards as Democrats:

But Hauer says Denny Young, the mayor's alter ego, who has worked at his side for nearly three decades, eventually "made it very clear" that Giuliani wanted "to be able to walk to this facility quickly." That meant the bunker had to be in lower Manhattan. Since the City Hall area is below the floodplain, the command center—which was built with a hurricane-curtain wall—had to be above ground. The formal city document approving the site said that it "was selected due to its proximity to City Hall," a standard set by Giuliani and Giuliani alone...

The mayor was so personally focused on the siting and construction of the bunker that the city administrator who oversaw it testified in a subsequent lawsuit that "very senior officials," specifically including Giuliani, "were involved," which he said was a major difference between this and other projects. Giuliani's office had a humidor for cigars and mementos from City Hall, including a fire horn, police hats and fire hats, as well as monogrammed towels in his bathroom. His suite was bulletproofed and he visited it often, even on weekends, bringing his girlfriend Judi Nathan there long before the relationship surfaced. He had his own elevator.

Seriously, this indicates that Giuliani personally made what everyone considers his biggest blunder --- placing that command center where he did --- because he was actually building a convenient love nest.

The love nest with the monogrammed towels masquerading as a media center, I mean, bunker, are the least of it. It's no coincidence that B. Kerik was his best buddy, since they are birds of a feather: autocratic, self-glorifying, greedy profiteers, hacks, and above all thugs. It's absolutely appalling about the free ride he's getting from the corporate media, just as Bush Jr. did in '00.

Kinda puts Kerik's exploits in the "Ground Zero" apartment that was donated for rescue workers that he ganked for his extramarital exploits in context.

Saturday Cartoons

2007-08-11T20:28:00.001-07:00

Iraqi PM May Ask Washington To Withdraw Petreaus

2007-07-29T13:44:00.000-07:00

This, along with the story concerning the Iraqi Government dropping the construction projects, was the main news on all the evening newscasts tonight.

Iraq will be in governmental meltdown by September.

Bush should have used the life preserver the Iraq Study Group threw him.

A key aide says Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's relations with Gen. David Petraeus are so poor the Iraqi leader may ask Washington to withdraw the overall U.S. commander from his Baghdad post.

Iraq's foreign minister calls the relationship "difficult." Petraeus, who says their ties are "very good," acknowledges expressing his "full range of emotions" at times with al-Maliki. U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker, who meets with both at least weekly, concedes "sometimes there are sporty exchanges."

Oh well, 4,000 American lives, 50,000 wounded, hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives lost or destroyed, more than $1 trillion spent, and an explosion in the National Debt, international trust and respect of America trashed, The Constituion shreaded...

and poor Georgie doesn't even get to tell his daddy "I told you so." But Barbara is still proud as hell of her boy.

Can you, um, like, withdraw your OTHER 160,000 troops along with Petraeus?

Brilliant!

2007-07-29T13:32:00.001-07:00

Does It Rhyme with Loner

2007-07-27T21:45:00.000-07:00

So, who is the latest to be rumored as a client of the DC Madam? He’s in Congress, a Republican, and he’s from Ohio.
The Buckeye State Blog has revealed that the next member of Congress who will be revealed as a client of the DC Madam's, the way David Diapers Vitter (R-LA) was, will be a Republican member of the Ohio congressional delegation.

I’m not usually the one to throw down the rumors and all, but when your name starts with a “B” and it rhymes with “Loner,” and the rumor is that you’ve been frequenting call girls. . . . Sorry, I can’t resist. OK, ok, I didn’t start the rumor. I just heard it over at Howie Klein’s place.