Sudden impact.

     I think it's quite interesting how when some famous people die folks are always quick to say what a good person they were, and how influential and important they were in their chosen field, regardless of how hurtful and offensive their actions were to some people while they were alive. "You might not agree with his positions, but you can't deny that he was a giant in his field and a scholar and a gentleman".

Muammar Gaddafi was a heck of a dictator; you might not agree with his methods, but you can't deny his results. He was a giant among dictators.

I think you all know where I was going. Antonin Scalia passed away in his sleep Friday night, and it has left the American political world  in turmoil. Wingnuts are losing their collective minds and they drew a line in the sand before the man's body was on the coroner's slab.

To them, this means war. No way will this bi-racial Socialist get to choose yet another Supreme Court Justice.

This is all compounded by the fact that the court has five* so called "liberal" Justices and five*so called "conservative' Justices. This next appointment will shift the balance of power on the highest court in the land for years to come.

I am still not sure where republicans are coming from when they declare that the president should not even appoint someone to replace Scalia. "He needs to wait until after the elections and let the next president decide", is what almost all the republican candidates for president are saying.

I must be missing something.  Is the president supposed to stop being president with almost 11 months left to go in his presidency? He would be failing to live up to his constitutional responsibility by not appointing a new Supreme Court Justice. Why should Americans have to live with a divided court for the next year and maybe more? That is not the American way.

Republicans are saying that this matter should be decided by "the people" and not this president because of his ideological leanings. But there is one problem with this argument: This same president was elected TWICE by "the people", so what is the problem here? Rhetorical question. We know what the problem is, this is politics as usual, and it is compounded by the particular individual who is sitting in the White House at this particular time in our history.

Still, I am glad to hear that the president is going to be moving forward with his appointment. It would have been very disappointing if he allowed himself to be bullied by these demagogues and political agitators on the right.  Now, at least, there will be a fight, and it is one that he should be relishing.

To use a sports metaphor; scoreboards don't lie, and the scoreboard says that President Obama is winning this battle. 

"..these are responsibilities that I take seriously as should everyone" that are "bigger than any one party." "They are about our democracy, and they are about the institution to which Justice Scalia dedicated his professional life in making sure it continues to function as the beacon of justice that our Founders envisioned..."

Swish.

 
*(There are nine justices on the court, and there is currently a 4/4 ideological split;not 5/5 as the post incorrectly stated. Not sure where mind was.
 Getting ready for the NBA All-Star game,maybe)

 

"Extremism in the defense of liberty.."?

Given the nature of my job I could have my license to carry in Philly in no time. I have this friend who is a gun nut, and he is always telling me that he can get me one of those sweet Korth semi-automatic pistols for a good price. "Come on Field, you can afford it, suck it up and spring for a nice piece." Still, I am resisting the urge to arm myself. I am protected by some fine officers during the day, and I have people -on both sides of the law- who would be all too willing to put in some work for the kid. So, for now, I am good. Hear that wingnuts? Limit your numerous threats to the Internet.

But seriously, the way these wingnuts have been acting lately, I don't know, I might have to reconsider protecting myself when I step out the door.

Ever since his O ness got health care reform to pass, these people have been losing their minds. Spurred on by their leaders such as the crazy Queen from Alaska, they have been doing things like threatening congressmen, and throwing bricks through windows. And, they went as far as to cut the gas lines at the home of the brother of a congressman who voted for health care reform. (Hmmm, I guess Virginia isn't for lovers after all.) Poor James Clayburn, I saw my man on CNN this evening and he still looked scared. He told Wolf Blitzer that he was having flashbacks to those civil rights days. He said that he looked in the eyes of the tea baggers and saw the same hatred he saw back then. Yeah, that kind of hate just doesn't happen overnight with the passing of a bill, Jim. No sir, that hate has been there all along. It's just been hiding under the surface and

waiting to come out.

One wingnut, who is the former leader of some Alabama militia, (good luck on that run for Governor, Artur) left this little gem of a message on his web site:

"So, if you wish to send a message that Pelosi and her party cannot fail to hear, break their windows.
Break them NOW.
Break them and run to break again. Break them under cover of night. Break them in broad daylight. Break them and await arrest in willful, principled civil disobedience. Break them with rocks. Break them with slingshots. Break them with baseball bats.
But BREAK THEM.
The time has come to take your life, your liberty and that of your children and grandchildren into your own two hands and ACT.
It is, after all, more humane than shooting them in self defense."

Nice people these wingnuts. They take losing so well. Where the hell is homeland security when you need them? And why aren't we sending their enablers to Gitmo? Isn't that what we would do with al-Qaeda? I am just saying.

Anywhoo, I am going to stay away from rural areas for awhile until these folks calm down. Sorry Mrs. Field, there will be no trips to the mountains this spring. I don't care how nice the shopping outlets are up there. No sir, I will take my chances with the "street pirates" right here in Philly. Flash mobs and all.

Wingnuts Gone Wild.

*

So let me see if I have this right: Spurred on by their racist puppet masters, a bunch of protesters show up at B. Bernice Young Elementary School, disrupt the poor children's classes, and cause a major disruption in the day of the lives of the poor people of Burlington Township. All this because they think that the same children who they happen to be traumatizing with their protest were allegedly being indoctrinated with black militant and Communist propaganda by the evil one, AKA President Obama. Honestly, if there weren't children involved this would almost be funny. So children can't celebrate the first African American president by singing a song about it during black history month? Wingnuts you really have to chill just a little bit.

"The protesters, who were not permitted on school property, assembled across the street on the sidewalk about 10 a.m. for about 45 minutes of singing songs such as 'Bless America' and chanting slogans including, 'No politics in the classroom,' 'Reassign the principal" and 'Liar, liar pants on fire.' About 10 township police officers kept an eye on the protest.
'We want to keep this day as normal as possible for the children in school, which is what this is all about," Lt. Wayne Maver said. '"

Too late Lt. Maver, I would say that there is nothing "normal" in A-merry-ca anymore. But this is what happens when folks listening to Radio Rwanda act on their passions: they disrupt what should be a normal day for our children.

"We thought that the school would be closed on Columbus Day. Unfortunately it's not," Haney said. "We're protesting politicization of children. It's about politics. It's about an agenda. We think that is not fair. You should not use children for that purpose. Whoever organized this is trying to force their views on the children."

You are a liar! You knew school would be open. Why would you want to stage a protest outside of a closed school building? I swear these wingnuts must think that everyone in this country is as dumb as they are.

But the wingnuts weren't done there. Oh no, it seems that they made a statement up in Massachusetts as well.* Nothing like defacing a little golf course to make a political point. The swastika next to Obama's name? How original.

Anyway, back to the school protesters: Fortunately, the people of Burlington Township weren't falling for the Okey-Doke. They know outside agitators when they see them, and they acted as I hoped they would have.

"Dana Williams, the parent of a 7-year-old at the school and an employee in the Trenton School District, said he believes there was an ulterior motive behind the protesters' message.
'They shouldn't be doing it in front of the school,' Williams said. 'I'm sure many of the townships they come from have no diversity. Some of them are coming with racist attitudes, racist views, and they're trying to cover it up with politics.'

Linda Hoffman, whose daughter attended the school last year when she was in second grade, agreed. 'I absolutely believe this is racially motivated,' Hoffman said. 'I don't believe this has anything to do with politics. Do you see any black individuals down here in their group? Not one. These kids were so proud of themselves for what they did. They did this play; it was beautiful. There's no politics involved in this. They're second-graders. I just think the whole thing is ridiculous.'"

Ms. Hoffman, you obviously don't love A-merry-ca.

That's the way to give that Obamacare supporter your finger.

Hey do fries go with that finger? See wingnuts, this is what you get when you try to give his O ness your finger, you lose it. Yep seems that these health care debates are getting rather heated. Those damn Obamaholics are finally coming out to stand by their man. What were you wingnuts thinking? Did you really think that you were the only ones who were going to come out swinging...or should I say biting at these debates? There is passion on both sides.

But it's nice to see that you wingnuts are fighting back . -There is nothing like a vibrant political debate- I bet poor Luis Perrero didn't know what hit him.

"I'm amazed at the way this has become such a politicized issue,'' Perrero said as he sat on the ground holding his jaw. ``It shows that people who are against the public option will resort to anything -- including battery on a senior citizen -- to prevent healthcare reform.''

Oh come on Luis; man up. You took one for the home team. I know you are 65 but we need every able bodied man and woman out there fighting these wingnuts.

Still, in spite of Luis doing like Sony Liston, this round goes to the Obamacare folks.

"The Obamacare supporter, who was on the side of the street with other supporters, came across the street toward the anti-Obamacare crowd and singled out an elderly man and proceeded to “get in his face” about his views. The Obamacare supporter then pulled the old man out into the street, unprovoked I might add, and then bit the old guys finger off while the old guy was just trying to get away. The old man then shuffled off toward a hospital.
I then went out into the street and found the old man’s finger. We called 911 and the dispatcher gave them the location to the nearest hospital which she said would be their best bet for finding the man. They rushed over and were able to find the old man and provide him with his finger. I went back to the scene to wait for police and gave the police the entire account and they tried to find the attacker amongst the Obamacare supports, but he had fled by then." [From Beetle Blogger]

Boy wingnuts really are dumb. If someone went Mike Tyson on my finger I guarantee you that I wouldn't be "shuffling" to the hospital. Nope, I would be doing my best Usain Bolt imitation. And here is the irony: seems the old wingnut is covered by Medicare. So, in essence, the very kind of program that he is protesting against is what paid for his medical treatment in the first place. But don't worry for the old guy. All is well that ends well, because it seems that they were able to find his finger. I sure hope they can reattach it for him. He is going to need that finger to give the Socialist president in the beige house a proper salute.

Why should we give that Negro our money? You know they like to just spend it.

I have to admit that like most A-murder-cans I don't like paying taxes, and as April 15th approaches I am reminded of just how much I dislike the entire process. I dislike it,but I understand that as a citizen I have an obligation to the country I live in to pay my fair share. (Which the last time I checked is a hell of a share, but who is complaining?)

I enjoy driving on the nice roads my tax dollars help to fund. I enjoy the security that my tax dollars help to provide for me. I enjoy the protections from poisons and other deadly products that could harm me. I enjoy the fact that veterans who serve my country can be taken care of. I like the fact that when I put my money in the bank it is insured. And I like the fact that most children who cannot afford it can get a free education. I could go on but you get the point: Taxes are painful for some of us, but they are necessary.

Which is why I don't understand this "Tea Party Protest" that the FAKE NEWS people and conservatives have been planning for a little over a month now. Yes folks, on tax day conservatives will be getting out their pitch forks and walking shoes, and if FAKE NEWS has their way they will be storming the White House. Ironically, the man who called for a "Tea Party" style revolt against the government and all their bailouts, is distancing himself from the very movement he seemed to have started. (Leave it to conservatives and FAKE NEWS to get an accidental idea and treat it like it's some kind of righteous cause.) But the clowns on the right are having none of it, the troops have been foaming at the mouth ever since his O ness took office and they need to vent.

I sense that history is repeating itself here. I mean back in the day the colonist didn't think it was fair to pay taxes to a government who they didn't believe represented them. They weren't being taxed by their government, they were being taxed by the British. These conservatives are no different, his O ness does not represent them, just look at the guy; he is the total opposite of everything they represent, so why pay taxes to his government? Funny, they didn't seem to mind paying their taxes to fund the two wars that the frat boy started. But hey, the frat boy didn't have a funny name and a.....well, tan.

So wingnut bloggers, reich wing talk radio and the FAKE NEWS people are organizing. They expect to have "Tax Day Tea Parties" in over 300 cities, and according to them the number is growing. Nothing like a little good old fashion revolution against the man to get that red state blood pumping.

I wish them luck, I really do. I hope they get a million people out there on April 15th to stick it to the man. I guess they will be flooding public parks and driving on public roads to get there. Not to mention all those public officials who will be out in force to protect them and make sure that everything goes as planned. I guess Rupert, Rush, Glen and Sean, are going to write checks to cover the costs of all that stuff. Oh wait, they can't do that, they are conservatives, they are supposed to keep their money. Whoops, looks like our tax dollars will be paying for that as well.

What a country.