NEA Funding of the Arts

Pandagon

Comment by Tehehehe 2-28-07

So…Then you would advocate that I try to blackball or otherwise protest and harass someone who contributes to that National Foundation for the Arts that displays religious symbols that have great significance to me, in a jar of piss? Or protesting outside art gallaries (sic) that display art projects made of dung that are titled for the Madonna with child? We can harass the people that donate to these private organizations and Harras those who manage the facilities?

This opens up a whole new line of social conflict! We can require everyone to publically (sic) list their private donations, and if an individual takes offense to what one of his neighbors donated to, he can take action through the use of “free speech”. Just declare a “Day of Political Correctness” when everyone has to announce publically (sic) their charities.

The Piss Christ referenced by TeHe2 is a perfect example of how anti-NEA conservatives rally those that have never set foot in an art museum to protest something about which they know absolutely nothing. They care only that a crucifix was submerged in a jar of piss and nothing about the artist's intent. With Piss Christ, Serrano, a Catholic himself, was making a statement about the crass commercialization of the Divinity.

"The saturated, half-educated bourgeois wants no shocks or enlightenment from art, merely entertainment and a way of passing the time."
Arnold Hauser, The Social History of Art

Cheney/Bush Iraq Strategy

Christianity in Action in S. Carolina Schools

John Edwards caught hell from conservatives for hiring an outspoken (aka uppity woman) blogger to manage his Internet site. In a shallow, self-righteous sop to the fundies, GOP presidential candidate Duncan Hunter named South Carolina Board of Education member and card-carrying Christofascist, Henry Jordan as co-chair of his campaign. When questioned on protecting the rights of religious minorities in South Caroline, Mr. Jordan, speaking as a member of the SC Board of Education, responded, “Screw the Buddhists and kill the Muslims. And put that in the minutes."

In an interview with the Associated Press last year, Mr. Jordan said that he doesn't believe man evolved from monkeys as proposed in Darwin’s theory. He also said that students should be taught Intelligent Design along with Darwinian Evolution. "I mean you've got to be stupid to believe in evolution, I mean really," replied Mr. Jordan.

No Mr. Jordan, to be really stupid, I mean bag of hammers dumb, you’ve got to believe dinosaurs wore western saddles as depicted in Petersburg Kentucky’s Creation Museum.

Madness in the Oval Office

Cheney wants an air assault on Iran (Duyba along for the ride)

The London Times, Sunday Feb 25, 2007

SOME of America’s most senior military commanders are prepared to resign if the White House orders a military strike against Iran, according to highly placed defence and intelligence sources.

Tension in the Gulf region has raised fears that an attack on Iran is becoming increasingly likely before President George Bush leaves office. The Sunday Times has learnt that up to five generals and admirals are willing to resign rather than approve what they consider would be a reckless attack.

“There are four or five generals and admirals we know of who would resign if Bush ordered an attack on Iran,” a source with close ties to British intelligence said. “There is simply no stomach for it in the Pentagon, and a lot of people question whether such an attack would be effective or even possible.”

While our country faces a constitutional threat of historic proportions, the media runs Anna Nicole Smith and Brittany Spears coverage 24/7. And listening to the conservatives, the only dangers to our democracy are same-sex marriage and the HPV vaccine. Are there any politicians left with balls enough to confront Cheney?

Rape: An Act of Violence

As a man, I’m not able to understand how the fear of rape shapes the way a woman relates to her social environment, but I hope we can agree that not every man has been subjected to the level of psychological abuse that would predispose him to commit rape. Many would argue that it’s either the media’s overt sexuality or the Internet’s readily available hard-core pornography that somehow triggers a Jeckle/Hyde metamorphosis in the average male’s libido – Nonsense. Rape is not an act of the uncontrolled libido but a carefully planned act of violence committed on a target of opportunity. When viewed as such, it becomes clear that our efforts to reduce rape should focus on the primary locus of psychological abuse – the family. That Senator Clinton’s aphorism, “it takes a village to raise a child,” drew such strong condemnation from the right confirms its uncomfortable truth. What amount of parental malpractice is required to transform a young boy into a predator and how many more victims are we willing to sacrifice before addressing the abnormally high level of violence in our society?

Dubya's Tragic Iraq Policy

Baghdad Burning Blog

The Rape of Sabrine ...

Let me clear it up for any moron with lingering doubts: It’s worse. It’s over. You lost. You lost the day your tanks rolled into Baghdad to the cheers of your imported, American-trained monkeys. You lost every single family whose home your soldiers violated. You lost every sane, red-blooded Iraqi when the Abu Ghraib pictures came out and verified your atrocities behind prison walls as well as the ones we see in our streets. You lost when you brought murderers, looters, gangsters and militia heads to power and hailed them as Iraq’s first democratic government. You lost when a gruesome execution was dubbed your biggest accomplishment. You lost the respect and reputation you once had. You lost more than 3000 troops. That is what you lost America. I hope the oil, at least, made it worthwhile. Continue reading ...

Our current Iraq policy positions us as protectors of the Shiia as they brutalize the Sunni minority. And the immorality of this war is also brutalizing our fighting men and women. Whatever our original goals, we've created a bloody mess that has a majority of Iraqi people demanding our immediate withdrawal.

Lansing Politicians Piss Away Michigan's Future

Stone Soup Musings
The naysayers are determined to ruin our state. Senate Republican leaders said they will turn down Granholm's budget-balancing plan because they oppose a tax hike she proposed. How do they propose dealing with Michigan's $800 million-plus deficit? That can be entirely closed by making cuts according to Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester. Naturally, he wasn't specific on where the cuts would be made, although he was clear school aid reductions are on the table. The tax they're objecting to is the 2% tax on services that will cost the average family $65 a year - or 18 cents a day.

Our highway bridges are falling down, our water systems leak as much as they deliver, and our community college system is failing to train our youth for today's job skills. Wake up people - the state is in deep shit.

Bigshot GOP Contributor Charged With Funding Al Qaeda

Wonkette.com

Republican campaigns have relied on Al Qaeda terrorism for five long and miserable years, so it’s no real surprise to learn top White House contributors are also top Al Qaeda contributors.

GOP moneybag Abdul Tawala Ibn Ali Alishtari was indicted Friday for trying to send $152,000 to terror-training camps in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Alishtari is a member of the White House Business Advisory Committee and a “U.S. National Republican Senate Inner Circle Member for Life.” He’s a DoD/Homeland Security contractor, obviously, and he claims to be best buddies with Dick Cheney!

America, what a country!

Robertson's Tough-Love Christianity

NORFOLK, Va. – One of Hampton Roads' highest-profile Christians stands accused of a not-so-Christian act.

A plaintiff in a federal lawsuit against Pat Robertson says the televangelist threatened his life and that of his family at a legal proceeding Wednesday in the Norfolk federal courthouse.

According to a complaint Busch filed with the Norfolk police, Robertson entered a room in the courthouse Wednesday afternoon to be questioned for a deposition – an out-of-court form of testimony – and told Busch: "I am going to kill you and your family." Dallas Morning News

WWJD? Kill the whole family, burn down their house, and salt the property so nothing grows for generations. Patrick, you're so old testament.

Shaped Charges: Simple and Effective

A new type of IED consists of "shaped charge", located under the road surface or at the side of the road.

In these explosive devices, a cone (also known as concave) made of copper is covering an explosive charge creating a hollow space in front of and along the axis of the charge.

When the explosive is activated, the copper transforms into a forceful jet stream of molten metal also known as "plasma". This plasma jet easily perforates an unprotected steel armor, hitting the surface at a speed of 8,000 meters per second and extremely high pressure. If the plasma is not obstructed by a target within few meters, it solidifies into a kinetic slug which is less effective against heavy armor but is still devastating against softer targets.

In both cases, the effect inside the target interior can be catastrophic, especially if it ignites unprotected ammunition stores, causing secondary explosions. Anti-tank shaped charges must be employed with utmost accuracy (activation distance, and design accuracy). Therefore, they are used primarily with buried mines, and lightweight anti-tank weapons.

Defense Update Magazine © 2002-2005 All Rights Reserved

And the lies continue

Fables of the reconstruction
My source on this is none other than a real soldier, who really served in Iraq, and - of all things - was in a real intelligence unit looking at real evidence about EFPs:

About two years ago, in Iraq, we saw what we called then "platter charges"---a tube of explosive, with a bronze plate, concave or convex (I can never remember which is which) welded at the business end. The technique was Syrian, and at least thirty years old. They were devastatingly effective. With detonation the brass plate melted into a projectile which destroyed any and all armor, either vehicular or the personal type, worm on the bodies of soldiers. It reduced Kevlar helmets to shreds. Within two months we saw more and more of them. There was no talk of blaming Iran then. The president wasn't trying to forget one unsuccessful war by starting another.

Now I watched CBS news and saw them highlighting these bombs. They're blaming Iran, and acting as if they are new weapons.

Be afraid. Be very afraid. Not of our enemies: of our government, for the fights they desire cannot be fought with weapons.

The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades)

REVEALED, at long last: the whole "politically incorrect" truth about Islam's violent teachings, bloody history, backward culture, and morally depraved founder.

PLUS: Why the Crusades were justified wars of Christian self-defense against centuries of Muslim aggression.

What's happening America? Our sons and daughters are dying in a war between religious fanatics locked in a death match. Islam in one corner and Christianity in the other. And Pat Robertson and Rush Limbaugh are the cut men.

Christians Respond to Amanda Marcotte

Catholics are concerned about killing unborn children, you stupid bitch. Chop away if it suits you, but we don't have to accept that as moral. That's why it's called a religion. Look into it. Anonymous.

After reading your vile screed against Catholics and the Holy Spirit, I just had to see what you looked like. (I envisioned you eyebrow-less, with no visible pupils, and a blank, dead stare.) I see I was correct about the blank, dead stare, but other than that you're not too bad. I then thought maybe you were mad at God (and by proxy Catholics) for making you ugly, but now I'm figuring you're just mad at him for making you a woman. Anonymous

Problem with women like you, you just need a good fucking from a real man! Living in Texas myself, I know you haven't found that real Texan yet. But once your liberal pro feminist ass gets a real good fucking, you might see the light. Until then, enjoy your battery operated toys b/c most real men wouldn't want to give you the fucking you deserve b/c the shit that would come out of you ears. Andy Driggers from Dallas, TX

i like the way you trash talk i don't particularly want to have sex with you but i would like a blow job. Paul Bernard from Scottsdale, AZ:

It's just too bad your mother didn't abort you. You are nothing more than a filthy mouth slut. I bet a couple of years in Iraq being raped and beaten daily would help you appreciate America a little. Need a plane ticket ? Bud Phelps

YOU RACIST WHORE. FAT UGLY BITCH. SUCK MY LONG COCK ASSHOLE I HOPE YOU KIDS NEVER LIVE AND YOUR PARENTS DIE A TRAGIC DEATH YOU ASSHOLE BITCH! I HOPE YOUR WOMB IS BARREN AND YOUR CAREER PLUMMETS TO HELL YOU BITCH. Romanco De Leone

Be My Valentine

Dr. S
After 35 years the passion still burns.

I love you

3,123 American men and women have sacrificed their tomorrows in Iraq

Does Bill Donohue Speak for all Catholics?

"Hollywood is controlled by secular Jews who hate Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular. It's not a secret, OK? And I'm not afraid to say it. Hollywood likes anal sex. That's why they hate [The Passion of the Christ] movie."

"I'm talking about the movies that come out of Hollywood, and the predominant ones -- you got [director Martin] Scorsese. He's not Jewish. It's the people in Hollywood. There's a mindset about this, and I think you should talk to The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times, which have said that the Hollywood studios are dominated by Jews."

Bill "Anally Fixated" Donohue's cilice must be interfering with the blood flow to his brain. The man is an embarrassment to all Catholics.

The Case Against Giuliani

Andrew Sullivan
The Daily Dish, Feb 13, 2007

A New Yorker writes:

If you thought Bush was bad with cronyism, wait till this one gets in power. Remember the one protege of his he got into a high government office? Bernie Kerick? That's just the tip of the iceberg. Rudy runs a multimillion-dollar consulting firm whose essential mission is to profit off of 9/11. He's got his finger in a lot of military-industrial pies. If he gets in, watch for a DoD and a DoJ stuffed full of lackeys and yes-men.

Get Your Religion Into Politics, And Politics Will Get Into Your Religion

Fables of the reconstruction blog

When you start using religious doctrine as the basis for policy arguments, then I am perfectly entitled to make fun of your religion. If you argue, for example, that same-sex couples should be denied the right to marry because God says homosexuality is a sin, then I'm entitled to call you a fucking idiot.

Photo of the Day

Ranting is Safer than Enlisting

San Francisco State University (SFSU) is investigating its College Republicans for hosting an anti-terrorism rally on campus in which participants stepped on makeshift Hezbollah and Hamas flags. The College Republicans’ “offense” took place on October 17, 2006, when they held an anti-terrorism protest in SFSU’s Malcolm X Plaza. During the protest, several members of the group stepped on butcher paper they had painted to resemble the flags of Hamas and Hezbollah. Unbeknownst to the protestors, the flags they had copied contain the word “Allah” written in Arabic script.

With written authorization from their parents, these brave SFSU Young Republibrats risked mild ankle bruising in a display of reckless bravado. "We needed to show support for our brave troops," said the group's leader, "and flag stomping received more votes than leaving a bag of dog shit on the Dean's desk." The protest ended abruptly when bystanders suggested the Republibrats should consider volunteering for military service if they really want to fight terrorism.

Before and Beyond Harlem

O, yes,

I say it plain,

America never was America to me,

And yet I swear this oath--

America will be!

Langston Hughes (1902-1967)

The Edwards' Blogger Dis Opus Dei

Edwards's Blogger Problem

Most presidential campaigns have now embraced the new media world of blogging, video on demand and other technology with open arms. But, an ongoing controversy swirling around the campaign of former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) highlights the potential perils of this new world. Continue ...

Taken out of context, blog comments made by Amanda Marcotte and Melissa McEwan do express what appear a strong anti-Catholic bias; however, you must understand these comments were made in response to extremely hateful attacks by Catholics like John Horvat II. Both sides were looking to find each other's vulnerable sensitivities. Don't judge until you read the comment chain.

Camille on Foucault

The Passion of Mary Cheney

Posted by DAN SAVAGE

In today’s New York Times Mary Cheney defends her decision to get her lezbo self knocked the fuck up. Like her father, Mary Cheney believes she shouldn't’t have to answer for her party’s attacks on same-sex parents. Continue reading ...

The Cheneys' belong to a wealthy class not bound by the restrictive moral code they insist is necessary for proper behavior of the lower orders.

ExxonMobil willing to pay for right results

The Guardian Unlimited
Scientists and economists have been offered $10,000 each by a lobby group funded by one of the world's largest oil companies to undermine a major climate change report due to be published today.

Letters sent by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), an ExxonMobil-funded thinktank with close links to the Bush administration, offered the payments for articles that emphasise the shortcomings of a report from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Continue reading ...

I don't know what all the fuss is about. With the Rapture just around the corner, who cares what happens in 20 years.

Remembering Molly Ivins

Molly's column was always my first read when looking for the truth spiced with her homespun Texas humor. The world has lost a remarkable woman.

Remembering Molly
On a Sunday in September, Molly Ivins caught an early-morning flight from Austin to Flagstaff, Arizona. She had just concluded yet another six-week regimen of chemotherapy aimed at checking the metastasizing disease that had started as breast cancer in 1999.

From Flagstaff she traveled to Lee's Ferry to begin a twelve-day rafting trip on the Grand Canyon with her longtime river-running friend Dave Richards, a Texas labor and civil rights lawyer. She wasn't dying. She was living. Read more in The Nation Magazine.