Why Doesn't Romney Have to Denounce Far Right?

A graphic from this blog's early days.

This (rather lengthy) clip from The Rachel Maddow Show covers a couple of topics I've long talked about on the blog. One of them is the false equivalence in all stories about the left or right: they all do it, they're all the same, yadda , yadda. The other is the fact that the far fringe right-wing has become so mainstream, you can't separate it from Mitt Romney or any of the Republicans. And there is no equivalent on the left.

Remember the primaries? The clown show that included Michele Bachmann (and the fabulous Marcus), Herman Cain and his lady troubles, Rick (don't Google me) Santorum, and the always nutty Ron Paul (who is currently busy hoovering up delegates behind Romney's back). These were extremists, and yet they each (except Paul) had a time at the top of the litter. They're still around, they're still crazy, and they're on team Mitt now. And they're just the grand marshals in the crazy town parade, which includes birthers, Birchers, survivalists, FOX Fans, hockey moms, right-wing radio hacks and Glenn Beck fans. In the days of Morton Downey, Jr. (and even Rush's earlier days), these folks could be pandered to, and safely ignored. Now they're on stage. There is no left-wing equivalent.

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James O'Keefe's Newest Bogus Video

This guy really likes to play dress up. Image from RawStory

I'm beginning to think that James O'Keefe is actually a performance artist. His right-wing "hooks" are just to get FOX "News" and right-wing sites to display his "art." Given that a) all of his big "exposés" are either more or less than they appear, that b) the big giant douche, Andrew Breitbart is his biggest supporter, and c) that O'Keefe is so fricking skeevy, I just wonder how the hell he's managed such fame/infamy. I mean kudos dude, you brought down the evil ACORN, even though you proved nothing. That's magic, man. But what else have you done, except look like an idiot while getting "FOX fans" to notice you?

[Excerpt]

James O'Keefe's Latest 'Terrorist' Medicaid Sting Goes After Woman For Following Law

Stop me if you've heard this one. A man goes into a public assistance office in Charleston, South Carolina in a kilt, tells them he's a member of the Irish Republican Army and asks for help for 25 fellow Irishmen in a hospital who need Medicaid. . . 

Read more at: RawStory

FOX "News" Fans Still Berating Shepard Smith

Photo from source, Huffington Post

Yipes. I've already said that I'm blogging a little lighter lately to recharge my blogging batteries. But I still intended to put a few posts up this evening. Problem is, I've been tremendously uninspired by today's happenings.

Of course, the happenings in Iran are the biggest newsworthy event, but I'm hardly an expert on the Middle East, and have very little to add there that would be new, or noteworthy. The train crash in DC was alarming, but I don't know what to do with that. Perez Hilton was attacked by Will.i.am., but he probably deserved it. So, what else? Sotomayer? Meh. President Obama still sneaks an occasional smoke? Who cares. But wait, there's FOX "News" news? OK!

I'm not at all surprised that FOX "News" watchers tend toward the crazy. Are you?

[Excerpt]

Fox News Anchor Draws Ratings, and Ire of Conservative Critics

At various points on his Fox News program, the anchor Shepard Smith irritated Rush Limbaugh, teased Glenn Beck and grilled Samuel J. Wurzelbacher (a k a Joe the Plumber) over his attacks on President Obama. But it was not until he forcefully confronted the topic of hateful e-mail — some from Fox’s own viewers — that he drew fire over his approach. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post