It's Difficult to Believe This is Where We Are with These People

But this is, in fact, who they are and this is where we are with them, America. God help us.

The 2016 election

I'll be glad when we have a white president again, so people can just die and there won't be automatic conclusions that every death is some conspiracy by the guy in the White House.



Well, unless Hillary wins, in which case she'll be the new "Conspirator in Chief."

For once and for all, could we kill the whole "FEMA Camps" notion?

Thank goodness.

Popular Mechanics, of all organizations, finally did what I was hoping someone, anyone would. They put together a seemingly complete list of claims and actual facts on what people say are "FEMA Camps" this President and his administration are creating, in which they can put us, the American people:

The Evidence: Debunking FEMA Camp Myths

Earlier this week, PM editor-in-chief James Meigs appeared on Glenn Beck's FOX news program twice to debunk conspiracy theories regarding supposed "concentration camps" being built by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. But PM's research went beyond what could fit in the short segments. Below are more details regarding some of the most prevalent claims, and facts, uncovered through PM's independent investigation.

I get so tired of hearing people claim these are being built.

Thank you, Popular Mechanics, for doing what so desperately needed to be done here.

Not that the "true believers" will believe the facts, mind you, but at least you tried and in the meantime, now we have some facts and information to go against this nonsense.

Read and see more (please) at these links: http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military/news/4312850

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,513024,00.html

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,513257,00.html

Quote of the day

If a political party does not have its foundation in the determination to advance a cause that is right and that is moral, then it is not a political party; it is merely a conspiracy to seize power." ~Dwight D Eisenhower, Remarks at the forth annual Republican Women's National Conference (6 March 1956)

Since when did celebrities become authorities?

Two headlines out this afternoon: "Singer Pat Boone insists Obama born in Kenya" and "Tony Bennett Tells Howard Strern the U.S. 'Caused' 9/11." You know what, celebrities? SHUT THE HECK UP, how's that? Links: http://news.yahoo.com/singer-pat-boone-insists-obama-born-kenya-141751702.html;_ylt=AiI3hWf4TqzR4QFooxjNO4.r9HQA;_ylu=X3oDMTRoOWVpN2dhBGNjb2RlA2dtcHRvcDIwMHBvb2xyZXN0BG1pdANOZXdzIGZvciB5b3UEcGtnA2FmZThlY2VmLTIxZDctM2FjZi04NGZhLTRmZTMyNjk0M2E1MwRwb3MDNARzZWMDbmV3c19mb3JfeW91BHZlcgM0M2JmYjYzYy1lM2QwLTExZTAtODZmMy03OGU3ZDE1ZDJlMzA-;_ylg=X3oDMTM2MXZ2bjE0BGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDYjY4OGEzY2MtNmU1OS0zNDMzLWI1NzYtYmU2ZTc1MjViYzRhBHBzdGNhdANlbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50BHB0A3N0b3J5cGFnZQR0ZXN0Aw--;_ylv=3; http://news.yahoo.com/tony-bennett-tells-howard-strern-u-caused-9-164810192.html;_ylt=Aqb.a2phdgTn46jQOOKLwfUSscB_;_ylu=X3oDMTRoZTNmOGM1BGNjb2RlA2dtcHRvcDIwMHBvb2xyZXN0BG1pdANOZXdzIGZvciB5b3UEcGtnA2I2ODhhM2NjLTZlNTktMzQzMy1iNTc2LWJlNmU3NTI1YmM0YQRwb3MDNgRzZWMDbmV3c19mb3JfeW91BHZlcgNhMzk2MWRkMC1lM2E4LTExZTAtYjdkOS0xZGZkMTZhNTMwNTI-;_ylg=X3oDMTJwb2lqczZtBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNDk1MDRjY2YtOWJkYy0zNWY1LTk4ODAtZTg1NWM0MmE5MWNiBHBzdGNhdAMEcHQDc3RvcnlwYWdlBHRlc3QD;_ylv=3

Update on gunman at the Pentagon

Reportedly (and with documentation, thank you), the "Pentagon shooter" yesterday was apparently a Right-wing, anti-government terrorist.

First, let me just say, this isn't my claim so don't attack me.

Second, I think it's important to point out that he was clearly anti-government if, again, the person who shot the security guards and then died is the same guy who had the blog with the same name. That guy railed against the government.

Third, I don't think calling him a terrorist is a big stretch since he did, in fact, shoot the guards.

The only thing left open to question, then, is the "Right-wing" accusation and that seems well documented here.

If this is true--and it seems as though it is--then "Right-wing gun nut" seems justified.

This should make Fox "News", with all their absurd, irresponsible reporting, vitriole and hyperbole quite proud. They're getting more and more results for their work at pumping people up and dividing the American people.

Question/proposal/challenge for Fox "News": No chance you guys will quit all that stupid ugliness and just truly report unbiased news, is there?

Nah, I thought not.

More on the gunman here:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-03-05/the-crazy-gunman-who-attacked-the-pentagon/

A report on right-wing hate groups here:
http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2010/spring/rage-on-the-right

Are we getting smarter--or dumber?

While driving home this evening, I heard a report on NPR about a very sincere elderly woman who was at President Obama's town hall meeting who asked him a question.

This very nice woman asked the President, with what seemed to be fear in her voice if the rumor she heard about the possibility of there being a clause in his health care reform that required a government agent--of some kind--that was to come around and ask each senior citizen how they wanted to die.

I was nearly stunned.

Think about this.

If for no other reason but the sheer numbers of people it would take to accomplish that, you would think everyone would know this is nonsense.

But the woman had heard it, her friend no doubt "swore it was true", and so she believed it. Or believed that it was possible.

And that's all it took.

What is it about us?

It seems like, even with computers--maybe even because of them--we're as superstitious or just out and out foolish as we've ever been.

Consider:

--It seems we all get those superstitious emails we get, telling us if we only say some prayer and pass on that same email to 7 or 20 or whatever friends, something wonderful we've wnated to happen (maybe you have to make a wish) will happen "tonight at 11 O'clock" or some such;

--Then there's "glurge": "Glurge (a term which can be used to describe one story or applied to the genre as a whole) is the body of inspirational tales which conceal much darker meanings than the uplifting moral lessons they purport to offer, and which undermine their messages by fabricating and distorting historical fact in the guise of offering "true stories." Glurge often contains such heart-tugging elements as sad-eyed puppies, sweet-faced children, angels, dying mothers, or miraculous rescues brought about by prayer." Needless to say, glurge is disgusting and yet it bounces around our computers again and again;

--The increase, so it seems of really ugly and dangerous racism on the internet;

--A new wrinkle--and a clear outgrowth from the racism mentioned above--in our ignorance is the existence and increasing growth and proliferation of "birthers", who keep questioning the legitimacy of Barack Obama's Presidency because they just don't think he is a natural-born citizen of the US, for various, ridiculous, already repeatedly disproven reasons;

--Finally, there's all the conspiracy theories that fly 'round the internet involving everything from 9/11 to our "fake moon landing" in 1969 and who knows what all. It is a very long, tired, frustrating, confusing and nearly maddening list.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs seemed to hit on a very simple, poignant truth the other day when he said “Because for $15, you can get an Internet address and say whatever you want.”

And, sadly, lots of people will want to believe you.

We've given up intelligent, calm discourse for passionate heresay backed up by, frequently, not much more than intense sincerity.

Shouldn't we all be much smarter than this by now?

Link to story:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/07/27/gibbs-birther/