Right Wing World's Response to Paris Attack: Impeach Obama!

Whenever something awful happens (except for the wide berth given the Bush Administration following September 11), things inevitably get political. And each side declares that the other is "politicizing" the tragedy, usually while simultaneously politicizing it themselves. Sadly, such is the case with Friday's terrorist attacks in Paris.

And right after this left-right thing (which frankly comes with far more volume and crassness from the right*), comes the inevitable blame game. Regardless of how they get there, it's a) the fault of Democrats in general, b) the fault of President Obama, c) the fault of John Kerry, or d) the fault of Hillary Clinton. They're also apt to pick any or all of the above, and the funny thing is, it doesn't have to make sense or have any basis in reality. It's the "Thanks, Obama" punchline, except they're for some reason, serious. And then, inevitably comes the calls for impeachment. The charge? No idea, outside of "presidentin' while black."

Here's a post from Right Wing World Ground Zero, FreeRepublic.com, and not just from the page, but from site creator Rim Job Jim Rob himself.

[Excerpted entirely due to short length]

Jim Robinson of Free Republic with succubus alien being demon seed
Ann Coulter, from source.

Impeach Obama NOW!! Before the Islamofascists attack US again!!

Posted on 11/13/2015, 10:04:58 PM by Jim Robinson

Obama's wanton lawlessness, criminal incompetence, willful neglect, refusal to enforce the law, refusal to secure the borders, refusal to even recognize the obvious enemy, refusal to take Islamic terrorism seriously, etc, leaves us wide open to terrorist attack. Our borders and nation must be secured! All Islamics here on temporary visas must be rounded up and deported now! Recent Islamic immigrants should be suspect. Obama's treasonous policies are inviting ISIS to attack us!!

Don't let it happen again.


And here are just a couple of responses, just to give you some flavor.


"This is just another reason of many for Obama to be impeached."

"I agree completely except it is too late. The radical left has taken over the country and are now consolidating their power.We will never give up and maybe we can take our country back but the only way I can see that happening is an act of God."

"I believe 45 percent of the country would support a democrat even if they were brain dead on a ventilator. We MUST win the presidency with either Trump/Cruz or both."


So much for hoping that a serious event might shake loose some sense on the right.

* If you don't believe me, check Michelle Malkin's or Ann Coulter's recent Twitter feeds.

ISIS Claims Credit for French Attacks

As an atheist, coming up with a response to religious extremism can be difficult. On one hand, I'm all for religious freedom (which entails freedom FROM religion), so I'm not about to come out assailing everyone of a particular religion. On the other hand, I find all religions to be at best a waste of time, and at worst (and provably) downright dangerous. So, I am simultaneously not Islamaphobic, but also pretty much anti-theistic.

Image from source, Huffington Post

That's not to say I don't condemn--across the board--violence in the name of religion. I'm against violence in general, actually. But in the name of religion, it is particularly vexing. If your religion calls you to violence, backs up your actions, and rewards you for it? It's clearly a fucking dangerous religion. Presently, Islam has more vocal and active adherents who wish do harm to random, innocent people (not that specific, less innocent people would be better), and as such, "Islamophobia" is an inevitable result in people who would not ordinarily harbor it.

Whenever Islamic extremists create mayhem somewhere in the world, many will decry "moderate Muslims" for not speaking up, and condemning the actions. This is somewhat unfair, as it isn't difficult to find prominent Muslims doing exactly that. But I'm ready to say that it isn't enough. However badly some Muslims feel--and I do feel for your average, ordinary Muslim who is now eyed suspiciously--there isn't enough outcry. I think they need a pope-like figure, or coalition of religious and state Islamic leaders, prominently decrying at top volume, and for a sustained period of time, any violence in the name of their religion. They need to forcefully excommunicate groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda, denounce them as heretics, shame them from the faith entirely. Divorce "radical Islam" from anything approaching the actual religion.

Short of that, it seems to me we should pull up stakes. Get the heck out of dodge. Can't we do that?

[Excerpt]

Islamic State Claims Responsibility For Deadly Paris Attacks

Islamic State claimed responsibility on Saturday for attacks that killed 127 people in Paris, saying it sent militants strapped with suicide bombing belts and carrying machine guns to various locations in the heart of the capital. The attacks, described by France's president as an act of war, were designed to show the country would remain in danger as long as it continued its current policies, Islamic State said in a statement. . .

Read more at: The World Post

Hillary Clinton Responds to Death of State Dept. Officer, Romney Takes Advantage

Mrs. Clinton doing her job. Image from TPM.

Oy. I'm no fan of any religion in particular, and find some reactionary Muslims' hyper-sensitivity to "blasphemy" to be utterly and completely ridiculous. I find the very notion of blasphemy ridiculous, Muslim or not. But to deliberately stoke this irrational beast? To provoke a reaction on purpose? That is insanity, and this "pastor" Terry Jones guy ought to be excommunicated, or shunned, or whatever his idiotic sect does to assholes.

That said, I of course find the use of violence--up to and including murder--to be utterly unacceptable, and unbecoming of this "religion of peace," to say the very least. It takes a couple of typical reactions of religious people--1) overreaction and 2) believing that people not of your faith must follow your faith's rules--and magnifies them to insane proportions.

As for our politicians and their reactions to this terrible turn of events, I find Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's response to be typically very good. I find the Embassy's response to be just fine, provided that it was before the attacks happened, as stated. Mitt Romney has jumped in, trying to burnish his lacking foreign policy credentials, and finger-wagged the White House for "apologizing" for. . .what. . .that we have a douchebag "pastor" inflaming crazy people? I don't know, and Romney really doesn't yet either.

For all the crap President Obama got for "politicizing" the killing of Osama bin Laden--something Bush/Cheney would've had as part of a re-election slogan--Romney politicizing this horrible event right after it freakin' happened shows a real lack of restraint, and I find that inappropriate.

[Excerpt]

State Dept. Confirms Death In Libya; Romney Attacks ‘Disgraceful’ White House

. . .Secretary of State Hillary Clinton confirmed the death at the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, according to the Associated Press. Angry mobs descended on the consulate in Libya and the embassy in Egypt to protest an online film by American pastor Terry Jones that denounces Islam. . .

Read more at: Talking Points Memo

FOX "News" Never Said Obama is a Muslim?

FOX "News" is splitting very fine hairs when they claim "no examples of a host saying President Obama is a Muslim." First, who said anything about it being a host? And secondly, even the hosts have fed the nutty tinfoil hat, conspiracy theorists big juicy slabs of red meat. There are dog whistles, and then there are just the plain as day regular whistles.



[Excerpt]


Bret Baier Ignores Fox News' Role In Fueling Obama Muslim Myth

Fox News anchor Bret Baier responded to a new book reporting that in 2010, President Obama criticized the network for pushing the myth that Obama "is a Muslim" by saying: "For the record, we found no examples of a host saying President Obama is a Muslim." In fact, Fox has repeatedly questioned and promoted falsehoods about Obama's faith, including pushing the false claim that Obama attended a "madrassa.. . ." 

Read more at: Media Matters

As a postscript, I'd like to say, I don't care what the President says his religion is, or even if it differs from what he really is (I'd prefer if he were agnostic or atheist, personall). But we don't question what people say their religion is. We don't ask if Bush was really a Christian. It's nobody's business but their own. And there's nothing wrong with being a Muslim, either. And finally, the people making these accusations (or believing them) are by-and-large Christians (allegedly?), and yet they have no problem judging or bearing false witness. Think about that.

6 Unconstitutional Laws the GOP Has Foisted Upon Us

Image from source, AlterNet

This is a partial list you understand. So much for the laser-like focus on "jobs, jobs, jobs." Instead we get legislation against Sharia Law! Abortion! Homosexuals! (Rant! Froth! Belch!) Sooooo predictable, but somehow every time the pendulum swings back to the right, the voting public seems to forget. This time, I think the pendulum hit one of those Angry Birds TNT crates, and is about to bo careening back to the left. But that's just a guess.

[Excerpt]

6 Crazy, Unconstitutional Laws Right-Wingers Are Blowing Your Money On

They rode into power on a wave of conservative populism, vowing to rein in spending, slash deficits (remember how the Tea Partiers swore they weren't focusing on those “wedge” social issues anymore?), and above all, restore our fealty to the Constitution, a document they claim to hold an almost religious reverence for. . .

Read (much) more at: AlterNet

Thanks to Stupid Monkey Planet for the link.

Iowa Republicans on FOX "News": Obama's a Muslim!

Yes, this is on FOX "News," is on Hannity, and features Republican pollster Frank Luntz, but still. This is just a paranoid, alternate reality. Right-wing world is a scary, scary place.

Conservatives Flip Out Over Innocuous Google Veteran's Day Graphic

It's official. Anything can be made into the latest right-wing faux outrage.  Especially if you throw in some supposedly veiled pro-Islamic sentiment. Honestly. If everything crescent shaped can be seen as a threat, these folks need to start railing about Pillsbury crescent rolls, New Orleans and the moon.

Source (and don't forget to read the comments) at: Joe.My.God.

Islamophobia Goes Around the Bend: It's in the Numbers!

We've seen a disturbing rise in anti-Islamic sentiment lately, in the far-right's quest to get us afraid of and/or hating just about everybody (Latinos, immigrants, gays, "radical" blacks, the list goes on). That's not news. But when the outrage-du-jour escalates to "hidden codes," numerology and other conspiracy nut territory, it has either played out, or it is about to get even worse.  I'm not taking bets. 

Just check out the article excerpted below.  After the (not at) Ground Zero (not exactly a) mosque, named Cordoba House changed its name to Park 51--to head off other conspiracy rumors about the name "Cordoba"--you'd think they'd be in the clear, at least as far as the name goes. But no.  Somebody has hit the Qu'ran, assigning meaning not only to the "51" part, but the actual address of the property as well.  And wouldn't you know it?  They cobbled together the translations that suited their purpose, and have concluded that it's an evil Islamic plot, just as they've been saying!  Of course! 

Image from source, Infidel Blogger's* Alliance
(*This is hard for me to type, with the apostrophe in the wrong place)

[Excerpt]

Why Did Cordoba Project Change It's Name To Park 51, When It's Address is 45 47 Park?

Cordoba House changed its name to Park 51 which is odd since the address of the location is 45 47 Park Place.



Look to the Koran-the book of islamic conquest Qur'an CHAPTER 51, Verses 45-47 explains all. . .

Have a shot of bourbon, and read on at: Infidel Blogger's Alliance


But wait, there's more!  Once one of these conspiracy theories gets rolling, people of like mind tend to pile on, to make it even better.  Here are just a few quotes in the comments section on FreeRepublic, where I found the above excerpt in the first place. . .

"This is bone-chilling."

"Fascinating article, thanks for posting. Islam must be destroyed."


"4+5 = 9

4+7 = 11
So 4547 = FU America."

"Finally, some math I can understand!"

Idiots.  Much more here: FreeRepublic

Moron Burns Koran at Ground Zero

I'm not posting this out of outrage, or in any attempt to give this idiot fame or infamy.  I just want to point and laugh at what a jerk he is.  This says a whole lot more about knuckle-dragging mouth-breathers than it does about Muslims, or any kind of political point.  What a maroon.

A Good Old-Fashioned Book Burning!

On my Facebook page, I asked this simple question:

"Question for everybody: When is a book burning EVER a good idea?"

I got a variety of answers I hadn't considered.  One of them inspired me to create the image seen here, which warms my heart a little!  The story behind the creation of the image forms the basis of my next post, detailing my experiences with learning PhotoShop on the Mac platform.

The Young Turks: Obama is a Christian Muslim?

Want to see logic tortured right before your eyes? This is cognitive dissonance in action. . .

Conservatives Believe President Obama is All Kinds of Muslim

Image from RandiRhodes'
Daily Newsletter

Sigh. Recently, I wrote a piece about the paranoia of conservative anti-gay people who believe that gays set out--as an ultimate goal--the complete destruction of marriage and the family.  They don't just wanna get married, the gays want to destroy society.  It's so ridiculous, and yet it is pervasive in certain circles. Something very similar is going on with the anti-Islamic faction of the Republican Party (as though those are different people). They think that President Obama may not only be a Muslim, but that he wants world-wide Islamic Law.  Paranoia barely covers it.

[Excerpt]

Poll: Majority Of GOP Believes Obama Sympathizes With Islamic Fundamentalism, Wants Worldwide Islamic Law

A majority of Republicans believe that President Barack Obama "sympathizes with the goals of Islamic fundamentalists who want to impose Islamic law around the world," according to a survey released on Monday. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

Hat tip to Randi Rhodes for the link.

Crazy Things A Lot of Americans Believe and Do

One in five Americans believe in Alien Abduction
(Image from Huffington Post)

So, one of the big stories of the week ties into one of the ginned-up FOX "News" controversies of the week. In the heat of the nontroversy about the (not) Ground Zero (not) mosque, there was a poll that said over 1 in 5 Americans believe that President Barack Obama is a Muslim.  Forget the fact that these same people (c'mon, you know they're the same ones) bemoaned the radical Christian church that Obama went to for 20 years. And forget the fact that the President is allowed to be any religion (or none) that he wants to be. 

Like a lot of polls, this one is largely pointless. The people believe a lot of wacky stuff.  And when they watch FOX "News," they believe a lot more of it. As for me, part of being agnostic is being open to believing odd things, though only if some sort of evidence is available for it. For instance, my mom's old house sure seemed to be haunted.  We even jokingly called the "ghost" Thomas. That doesn't mean that I actually believed that a dead person named Thomas was really haunting the house. But how would I put that down on a poll?  That's the problem with polls, they limit your responses.  Still, it can be interesting to see what sorts of things people are willing to state that they believe in.

[Excerpt]

The Craziest Beliefs Shared By 'One-In-Five' Americans

Poor President Obama. Even after attending a Christian church for most of his life and sometimes even getting in trouble for it, he's constantly been haunted by rumors that he is, in fact, a Muslim. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

FOX "News" Financial Backer Also Backs "Ground Zero Mosque"

Image from Raw Story

What are the chances that the FOX "News" viewers are going to find out this little nugget of information?  If Sean Hannity were capable of thought, his pretty little head might explode at this news.

[Excerpt]

Fox News co-owner funded ‘Ground Zero mosque’ imam: report

The second largest shareholder in News Corp. -- the parent company of Fox News -- has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to causes linked to the imam planning to build a Muslim community center and mosque near Ground Zero in Manhattan, says a report from Yahoo!News. . .

Read more at: Raw Story

Keith Olbermann Investigates: Is Barack Obama a Secret Muslim?

I started out writing my take on this video, and it morphed into its own post (see here), so I split this post off on its own. My post was serious, this video is mock serious, but is in reality quite funny--at the expense of the dingbats who believe that President Barack Obama is a secret muslim, or "aren't sure." From Friday's episode of Countdown with Keith Olbermann.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Jon Stewart Skewers FOX "News" on "Ground Zero Mosque"

The (not at) Ground Zero (not a) mosque, and the right-wing (read: FOX "News") reaction to it is ably skewered by The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, with a cameo by former NRA president, Charlton Heston. Good stuff!

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Extremist Makeover - Homeland Edition
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

Politics of Fear: The Drudge Report

Oh, come on!  This is just naked fear mongering. Screenshot taken at 5:40 edst, from DrudgeReport.com.

Captain Obvious: Faux Outrage is Actually a Delight for GOP

Think back over the last two years to the big, controversial stories in the news. Excepting "Balloon Boy" (which is only related by also being a hoax), almost all of them have been ginned up by the usual right-wing sources, be it the right-wing blogs, talk radio, FOX "News" or a combination of those.  There may be a nugget of truth at the center of the story, but more likely not.  Even if there is, there are so many layers of supposition, exaggeration and invention, it's like an outrage lasagna.  These stories burst out of the blogosphere, out of the right-wing media, and are birthed into mainstream America, as big mutant hideous beasts.

Soon, even people you thought were rational will be seriously advocating excising rights from the Constitution.  It starts heated arguments, so it must be real outrage, not faux outrage, right?  Wrong.  It's called faux outrage because the outrage is based on a stack of half-truths and lies.  Or sometimes just a profound misunderstanding about the facts.  Such is the case with this so-called "Ground Zero mosque."  As I've already posted, it isn't a mosque, it isn't at Ground Zero, it has every right to be there, and there is already an actual mosque in the neighborhood that predates 9/11 and the World Trade Center.  There is also a mosque in the Pentagon.  But oooh, people are angry!  They're just sure them un-'Merrkan Mulsins are up to no good, spitting in our faces. . .forget the fact that many of the people who'd go to this community center are Americans, and that many Americans are Muslim. 

Trying to knock down these built-up brouhahas is almost impossible. People believe what they want to believe, and convincing people they are wrong is a bitch.  But here is something I can declare that I think most people agree with.  The people whose interests are served by most of these stories--the Republican Party at election time--are not outraged. They're delighted that the latest flames have been fanned into a brush fire.  And each time one of these all-consuming, nationwide poutrages is made out of what should be a local issue of minor contention, they're thrilled.

Chris Hayes on the Muslim Community Center Controversy

Okay, this is my last post on this issue. Right. Maybe not.  But it's the last one in a row.  These video clips from The Rachel Maddow Show with guest host Chris Hayes are very instructive on the issue of the so-called "Ground Zero mosque."  If you pay attention to who is driving this story, what some of their other positions are, and feel like just maybe you're being played. . .watch these clips.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Keith Olbermann's Special Comment Ground Zero Mosque

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