RIP, Tony Blankley

I'm sorry to see anyone die of stomach cancer, and I will always remember Tony Blankley from the October 7, 2011 episode of KCRW's Left Right and Center on the topic of Occupy Wall Street, where he pushed the Occupy Wall Streeters being violent paid anarchists, and the President offering words of encouragement to attacks on police. Transcript from me:

Blankley: I was a little appalled if not surprised that the President seemed to speak words of encouragement to demonstrators that have attacked police, and are calling for, I think, unlawful activity against corporations...I find that wrong.

Host, Matt Miller: What unlawful activity? I hadn't heard that. What are they calling for?

Blankley: Haven't they said rude things about bankers? Suggestions that retribution is in order?

Robert Sheer: [scoffing] I've been saying rude things about bankers for years on this show, Tony!

Blankley: I've seen the news, they sound like they're shouting...

Sheer: That's not a calling for violence! It's an exercise of our democratic rights!

Blankley: [sighing] As long as they're not calling for any violence against people, then they're welcome to lawfully say whatever they want. I'm curious about the origins and the organization. I saw that there was a statement that some of them were paid. I don't think this is a spontaneous demonstration, but I don't know anything about it. We'll have to see how it further develops, but it was odd to hear the President speaking encouragingly about it.

Rest in peace.

Ep 109 The Professional Left Podcast

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Don't Anyone Say Newt Gingrich is a "Victim" of Citizens United

As a billion North Koreans go hysterical.

There aren't a billion North Koreans, they aren't hysterical, and "Any ad which quotes what I said is a falsehood."

By the way, on the unlimited funding of Mitt v. Newt, don't let anyone tell you Newt is a "victim" of Citizens United.

Citizens United is a producer of nearly every video Callista puts out.  They PAY her to make "documentaries" like 

TOTALLY NOT A PHOTOSHOP.

So if we go back to the original premise for the Newt Gingrich for President campaign, which is to increase the profile and sale-ability of Callista Gingrich books and videos,  the media assertion that Newt Gingrich is the "first victim" of the Citizens United decision is total bull.   That he can leave the race claiming to be a victim gives him even more of what he wanted, a claim to relevance.  The Citizens United decision just seals the deal on politics as a complete racket.

photo h/t Bildungblog, also totally not a photoshop.

Awesome New Year's Resolution!!!

Awesome Canadian Blogger RossK wrote us this morning:

Happy New Year Blue Gal et al.--

We just received our transnational ProLeftPod Notepad*** in the mail....

Inspired us to make our first New Year's Resolution.

It's what we all have to do, Ross!  Thanks very very much.  


*** We send notepads as thank yous to those who donate $15.00 or more at one time to the podcast.  

A David Brooks Photoshop for Driftglass

Because as much as I love Charlie Pierce (they are not the same person thanks for asking)  "The Husband" gets first dibs.  Apparently David Effin Brooks wrote something 800 words long about how neighbors taking care of neighbors is

is part of a communitarian conservative tradition that goes back to thinkers like Russell Kirk and Robert Nisbet. Forty years ago, Kirk led one of the two great poles of conservatism. It existed in creative tension with the other great pole, Milton Friedman’s free-market philosophy.

So tight communities are a form of the good conservatism we (we?) lost sight of in our pursuit of Milton Friedman profit margins.  Oooh kay.   Still not sure if DG is going to write this one up, but still.... Has Brooks taken a really CLOSE look at the co-stars of his drama?

CLICK FOR LARGER

Hillary for Vice President?

I call bullshit. This is to remind everyone, particularly middle-aged "independent" women, that Hillary is in Obama's cabinet. Vice-President would be a huge demotion for her. She's seriously changing the world on a daily basis in her current job. Plus, she really likes to travel.


It's not likely she wants to preside over the Senate.  I mean, would you?

"Naah."

  

Ep 108 The Professional Left Podcast

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Batocchio honors Jon Swift with the Blog Posts of the Year.

Andrew Sullivan searches for "the real bigot" in the GOP.

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OMG OMG OMG yer kidding!

CNN:  Newly released documents contradict Gingrich's version of first divorce.

And no, I don't expect anyone reading this blog needs to click on the link.  shrug.  

Professional Left Podcast Ep 107

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One more Callista Gingrich photoshop

A Question I Haven't Heard Asked of Newt Gingrich

His affair with Callista lasted six years; and he also cheated on Wife Number One with Wife Number Two.  He was in Congress from 1979 to 1999.  Divorced Wife Number One in 1981.   You can say the past is past, but Newt Gingrich lied to his own constituents during re-election campaigns regularly.

How many "family values" campaigns did Newt Gingrich run in the Sixth District in Georgia while bopping a mistress?

By my rough count, he lied to his own constituents in that manner during at least four campaigns, possibly as many as six.

If Republicans want to forgive his affairs because he's too old to have one now, oh well.  But people who vote for Newt Gingrich are proving they don't mind voting for proven liars one little bit.  

I don't think Gingrich supporters want to beat Obama, nor do they have any interest in governing.  They want to beat up Obama, with a stick, and Newt is the meanest stick on the stage, the end.

More photos of the global warming snowman cookies

Directions here.   I used something called "Duncan Hines Amazing Glazes", vanilla, instead of royal icing, and the cookies are break-n-bake, two cookies per snowman smooshed together on the cookie sheet.

Response to the queries about Callista's hair....

responded on Twitter last night, but here it is in living color:

Christopher Hitchens is greeted by Saint Peter

click for larger to see the look on 'is face, mate.

...who's been waiting for him for a looong time.

Professional Left Podcast Episode 106

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I can't watch "Meet The Press" anymore. Ever.

"Reporting Newt's Controversies" is not the same as reporting the truth.  I'm too appalled for words.


Oh, here. Thanks Jon Stewart. After the stoopid ad, fast forward to about 3:20.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
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My entry in the Perry "Strong" Meme

Ep 105 The Professional Left Podcast

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Mika Brezinski asks T. Boone Pickens to be honest about his tax burden. 

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Ep 104 The Professional Left Podcast

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Links for this episode:  Driftglass's Twelve Days of Zappadan.


And our audiobook review at the end of the show is this book:






Thanks again Marlene at ZMac Consulting and  Heather at Crooks and Liars Video Cafe for their help. And don't forget you can listen to our archives for free with no downloads or registration at Professional Left.

End Welfare for the Rich Except When It Is NOT Welfare.

A listener to the podcast writes:

Just found you guys two episodes ago. Love it! 


I need someone to drive trucks through this. 


End welfare for the wealthy by Tom Coburn 


 I hate this guy, but this seems to make some sense: I agree that we should end these ridiculous tax breaks for the wealthy, but if Coburn says it, I immediately become suspicious. 


Short-time listener, 


A.B. 

Dear A.B.:

Sounds good to slam the rich in every event, right? The razor in the apple of that article is needs-testing unemployment INSURANCE and PENSIONS. Those are items that even millionaires paid for and deserve.

 If you're a millionaire and lose your job, you are still entitled to collect on your unemployment insurance, because you paid into it and you have LOST that income due to job loss. That is INSURANCE that you paid for, not welfare.

 Newt Gingrich needs to be slapped with that two-by-four as well.  Sorry, Newt, it's not welfare to be on unemployment.  You are collecting on insurance, just as if you got rear-ended by another car.  You pay into unemployment insurance just in case the economy rear-ends your job.  You don't have to go work for it, jump through massive hoops (except prove you're looking for work) or feel as if you are a welfare case in order to get it.  You paid for insurance.   If you make it needs tested, no wealthy individual is going to agree to pay for insurance they are forbidden from collecting if they lose their job.

Also, I like the idea of hitting Newt with a figurative two-by-four, just on principle.  But I digress....

Retirement benefits are the same and moreso. It's BS to say that JUST because someone is rich, they shouldn't get the pension they worked for and are entitled to.

 This is also Coburn's slippery slope to needs-testing Social Security. Betcha betcha betcha.

Once those basic social safety-nets, (paid for by the recipients!),  are taken away from the upper classes, they CEASE to have a constituency that is worth one rat's ass in the Congress. Poor people do not have a lobbyist. And the big reason the New Deal included the upper classes was to make that program an absolute third rail in American Politics, and it has worked.

Thanks for writing!   -- BG