The Phony Baloney "War on Religion"

A certain segment of the American populace loves to pretend that they're put apon, marginalized and under attack. It isn't all religious people. It isn't even all Christians. It's the usual suspects: ultra-conservative, (usually) white, (outwardly) straight, (often) male evangelical Christians. There are others that ebb and flow in and out of this beleaguered lot, from Mormons to Catholics, but it's mostly those that I mentioned. They act as though they're outraged, but they're not really. They're thrilled to act the part of victim.

It's gotten so bad that Christians can't even pray in public.

This is obvious if you frequent right-wing blogs, right-wing talk radio, or FOX "News." The reactions are so over the top, the stories so tailored to the victimhood narrative. In the most recent case, with President Obama's plan for insurance contraception plans, the obviousness is glaring. Even after the Catholic Church itself was removed from any direct funding for contraception, right-wing world is still wobbly on its axis. But as one of my favorite writers, Eugene Robinson points out below, Christians are not under any sort of attack, or in any kind of danger that they're going to lose the right to practice their religion. It's preposterous. Don't believe me? Pay attention to your fellow humans between now and Easter. Any changes? Anything different? Didn't think so.

[Excerpt]

Drumming up a phony war on religion

At ease, Christian soldiers. There is no “war on religion,” no assault on the Catholic Church. A faith that has endured for thousands of years will survive even Nicki Minaj.

It never occurred to me to evaluate the Grammy Awards show on theological rectitude, but apparently we’re supposed to be outraged at the over-the-top “exorcism” Minaj performed Sunday night. The hip-hop diva, who writhed and cavorted amid a riot of religious iconography, is accused of anti-Catholic bigotry — and seen as an enemy combatant in an escalating “war on religion” being waged by “secular elites,” which seems to be used as a synonym for Democrats. . .

Read more at: Washington Post

Glenn Beck, Tea Party "Outsider," Urges Costume and Signage Restraint

Keith Olbermann and Eugene Robinson have a bit of fun at Glenn Beck's expense over his recent plea for the tea baggers to clean up their act.  No more costumes! No more signs! He should be careful what he wishes for. Without the goofy outfits and outrageous signs, they're going to be about as TV-ready as a gay pride parade with no floats, chaps or drag queens.  Also, I can't ignore Beck's ludicrous claim to be a tea party "outsider."  He's a freaking leader of the freaks. And he's asking them to get less freaky.  You first, Glenn.

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Eugene Robinson on the Spoiled Brat Electorate

Image from source, Washington Post

There is a reason that I'm just a hobbyist blogger, and that Eugene Robinson is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist.  I can speak my mind, sometimes with clarity, and sometimes with humor.  But what Robinson says in the piece excerpted below is something I've been struggling to articulate for a long time now. Yes, in mid-term elections, the party in power usually sustains losses. Yes, when the economy is bad, the electorate tends to turn to the other party.

But what if the other party is headed by increasingly daffy cartoon characters? What if the other party is even more unpopular than the one in power? What if the other party's policy plan is the very same one that got us into the pickle we're in?  For instance, we're told that extending the Bush tax cuts will allow corporations to hire people with all that extra money.  Even though those tax cuts were in place in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010. . .and they aren't hiring now!  In short, though the pendulum swing to the right makes sense historically, it doesn't make sense practically.  So why are people ready to vote the Republicans in anyway?  Does "Speaker Boner Boehner" sound good to you?

[Excerpt]

The spoiled-brat American electorate

According to polls, Americans are in a mood to hold their breath until they turn blue. Voters appear to be so fed up with the Democrats that they're ready to toss them out in favor of the Republicans -- for whom, according to those same polls, the nation has even greater contempt. This isn't an "electoral wave," it's a temper tantrum. . .

Read more at: Washington Post

Eugene Robinson's "Attack of the Palinites"

Image from source, The Washington Post

I really like The Washington Post's Eugene Robinson's writing style and his wry humor on Countdown with Keith Olbermann and The Rachel Maddow Show. So, when he writes a column titled "Attack of the Palinites," how could I resist posting it?

The editorial is a warning to moderate Republicans, or even seemingly moderate ones to spiff up their conservative cred, or face the wrath of the tea bagging Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin disciples. I'm sort of hoping they don't take his advice. Watching the crazies take power from the GOP folks who used to pander to them is scary. But it is also very entertaining.

[Excerpt]

Attack of the Palinites

Democrats have some thinking to do after Tuesday's elections, but Republicans don't have time to think. They're too busy trying to survive the party's internal purge and avoid being shipped off to political Siberia. . .

Read more at: The Washington Post

Eugene Robinson, Sarah Palin Slayer

Image from DayLife.com

Pulitzer Prize winner and frequent MSNBC guest Eugene Robinson recently wrote a terrific op-ed on Sarah Palin's puzzling resignation. It's good stuff.

[Excerpt]

A Starter, Not a Finisher

What can you say about a public official who ridicules those who would take the "quitter's way out" -- as she faces reporters to announce that she's quitting? A governor who claims that "the worthless, easy path" would be to serve out the remaining 18 months of her term? An ambitious politician who says that "life is too short" to worry about, you know, boring things such as responsibility or duty? . . .

Read more at: Washington Post

Sunday Roundup, Pt. 1

OK, first up, on Meet the Press with David Gregory we've got Dick Durbin for the Democratic side (in front of an incredibly fake-looking bookcase) and Kermit the Frog Newt Gingrich for the Republicans. Seriously. Newt.

Why is this man still being trotted out? Who is he any more? Why are his ideas relevant? For all of this stupid "pre-9/11 mentality" talk from the right, Gingrich has got an "immediately post-9/11 mentality." He still talks like people did right after, when they were still shell shocked. And he says stupid things like Guantanamo Bay should stay open for the duration of the "war." 'Til terrorism is gone. Well, that's just brilliant, Newt! And he still has delusions that he could ever be elected president in the United States.

And seriously, my assessment of Gregory still stands: he's got no depth. The bulk of his questions are along the lines of, "Speaker Pelosi on blah blah date said blah blah. Do you agree with that assessment? Does she owe blah blah an apology?" It's all so surfacey. Just chatter.

In the round table segment, there's still the distraction of Pelosi in this whole torture story, which as at least a week past when we should even be talking about it. I liked seeing Eugene Robinson, and Chuck Todd on the panel. There was a little more variety there from the usual faces. But in all, this week's show could have been broadcast last week. Not much there there.