JABbering Stooge

I believe I said that I owed a few posts or so. I would like to make a brief segue to my previous post by noting that I cast my vote the very first day that early voting began here in Texas - if I recall correctly, a couple of weeks ago, or thereabouts.

So to begin this series, I would like to add a few of my own comments to Keith Olbermann’s most excellent series of special comments, from his blasting of Donald Rumsfeld back in late August to the special comment last night about today’s election.

Special Comment #1: “The man who sees absolutes where all other men see nuances and shades of meaning is either a prophet or a quack.” (08/30/06)

Keith hits the nail on the head, and does so more eloquently than I could ever hope to do. One thing that Olbermann does not note, and that I will, is that Rumsfeld chose to make his speech demonizing dissent at the annual convention of the American Legion. As you all know, the Legion is supposed to represent the veterans who bravely fought and died; sacrificed limb or psyche so that you and I might enjoy the freedoms we take for granted every day. These days however, it seems to exist solely for the purpose of advocating theocracy and issuing terrorist threats to anti-war protesters. I’d like to say that these recent outrages are isolated incidents, but unfortunately, the Legion seems to have a history of anti-democratic (small-d democratic), anti-American activity dating all the way back to the Business Plot to overthrow FDR and institute a fascist government. Thus, Rummy’s complaint that critics of Bush Administration policy vis a vis Iraq are “intellectually and morally confused” about the “new kind of fascist threat” supposedly represented by Al-Qaeda is all the more ironic (and that may or may not be in the Alanis Morisette sense of the word).

Special Comment #2: “This president and others have often attacked freedom of speech and freedom of dissent and freedom of the press.” (09/05/06)

Amen. Ab-sa-fraggin-loutely. And you wouldn’t believe how bad it’s gotten if I told you.

Special Comment #3: “We have not forgotten, Mr. President. You have. May this country forgive you.” (09/11/06)

No comment necessary.

Special Comment #4: “The President of the United States owes this country an apology.” (09/18/06)

Because apparently, it is unacceptable to think that Bush’s policies might just possibly have negative consequences for this country; that those policies make us look like fucking hypocrites when we criticize China for its human rights abuses; or that allowing torture in the name of security might come back to bite our troops in the posterior should they fall into enemy hands. Tell me, who is it exactly that hates the troops?

Special Comment #5: “A textbook definition of cowardice” (09/25/06)

I’ll have my own comments on the state of the media later.

Special Comment #6: “It is not the Democrats whose inaction in the face of the enemy you fear.” (10/05/06)

(Part 1)

(Part 2)

Sadly, the straw man argument is not just President Bush’s favorite rhetorical tool, but is standard operating procedure for the GOP.

Special Comment #7: “Your words are lies, sir.” (10/18/06)

Arrgh…either YouTube or my computer (or both) are screwing up at the moment. I’ll just have to use the Crooks and Liars links for now.

See it here. Then weep for the future of our country.

Special Comment #8: “By this definition, the leading terrorist group in this world right now is al Qaeda, but the leading terrorist group in this country right now is the Republican Party.” (10/23/06)

Crooks and Liars video here.

So, tell me again how only the Rethuglicans can save us from “dhimmitude?”

Special Comment #9: “There is no line this President has not crossed — nor will not cross — to keep one political party, in power.” (11/01/06)

Crooks and Liars video available here.

Pay attention to the mention of the death threat against Stephanie Miller here. While Olbermann doesn’t mention it, this sort of thing has been going on for quite a while now. David Neiwert over at Orcinus coined a phrase for it: “eliminationism.”

Special Comment #10: “Vote.” (11/06/06)

Again, Crooks and Liars video here. Says all that needs saying.

And that’s all I feel needs saying as we come to the end of the road in this electoral season. I will have more later, when I can get my hands on a more stable computer.