The Southern Avenger @ Taki’s Magazine
A great article by The Southern Avenger on the Fair Tax Movement
This blog is no longer active as of October 31, 2011

This is a follow up to a posting that I made a while back about the running feud between Charles Johnson against Robert Spencer, Pamela Geller and a few other players.
I realize that no matter how I phrase this posting; someone is going to be offended or is going to hate me to the point of wanting to see my death. I mean, in this sort of a damned thing, you cannot win. If you say anything that one of the parties dislikes, you will be smeared and forced to take a side in the argument. When I lost my other blog to a hacking job; by somebody who was angered about comment that I made about a person on another blog, which was a horrific misstep on my part, which I did and still do readily admit. I made a promise to myself, that I would never engage in Blog wars or any other sort of nonsense.
However, I believe it is important to be clear where I stand; and because of this, I am going to make my feelings clear…
I was contacted by Dr. Robert Spencer about my initial posting. We discussed what I wrote and how I phrased my posting. He did ask me some very pointed questions and I answered honestly, I commend him for writing and asking. Because of this I feel the important need to clear the air.
It appears that Charles Johnson is playing a little game; a deadly game, that hurts people, smears them and makes them into something that they are not. This, I am afraid is wrong. That game is called “guilt by association.” This is a game that liberals play, especially when they are trying to further their agenda of identity politics. It appears that Mr. Johnson is now trying to smear Pat Buchanan, he seems to believe, for whatever foolish reason; that Pat Buchanan is an Anti-Semite. This is nothing more than a classic liberal smear. That’s right, I question the very idea that Charles Johnson is even a Conservative.
For the record, I have zero against Israel, Jews or Judaism. I do however, reject the Zionist movement, on Biblical theological basis only. (See 2 Corinthians 6:14-18) I have Zero against those who choose to practice Islam. However, I reject Islam as a false religion, and those who practice it, as lost and in need of Salvation, that comes only by Jesus Christ. The same goes for those who reject Christ and follow strictly after of the Law of Moses. (See John 14:4-11 and John 10:22-38 and Galatians 3:6-18)
Now, I will be the first to admit that some of the postings over at Pamela Geller’s Blog are, at times, borderline hysteria and could be interpreted by some as Anti-Islamic. However, for Charles Johnson to simply smear someone, because they are associated with a particular group is, in my opinion, unfair and is borderline libelous. I suppose that someone like me would be labeled Anti-Semite by Johnson as well, because of my issues with the Zionist Movement and its influence on the foreign policy of United States. If that is the badge that Mr. Johnson wants to hang on me; fine, I will wear it, I make no apologies for thinking and believing that the Capital of the United States of America is Washington D.C. and not Tel Aviv, Israel. If the Neo-Conservative and Liberal thought police want to try and smear me on this one, fine.
While my initial posting might have sounded like I was praising Charles Johnson, I was not, at all. It was simply lamenting the fact that people, who are supposedly opposed to Islamic fascism, were engaging in a bitter feud. However, since that posting, it seems that Charles Johnson wants to go after people like Michelle Malkin and others, who are in support of the combating of Terrorism and Islamic Fascism. This is totally unacceptable, and I hereby reject Charles Johnson as an enemy to America and a Liberal.
Pamela Geller may not like me, because of my position on Zionism. However, I stand for Freedom of speech and against the Liberal thought police. Hopefully, she understands.
A pretty sad thing to wake up today. However, I am sorry to say this, but I knew it was coming. Chrysler never was able to get their act together; unlike G.M. and get a resolution together.
The Report comes via the Washington Post, I won’t quote the whole thing and I kindly ask that you go over and read the whole thing. But rather, I will give some my impressions from the interesting stuff.
My impressions:
The Obama administration last night planned to send Chrysler into bankruptcy, replace chief executive Robert L. Nardelli and pump billions of dollars more into the effort, all in hopes the company can emerge from court proceedings as a reenergized competitor in the global economy.
Government officials clung to 11th-hour hopes last night that bankruptcy could be averted, but talks broke down with Chrysler’s creditors. A bankruptcy filing could happen as soon as today.
The U.S. government’s attempt to save the automaker amounts to another extraordinary intervention in the economy and a landmark event in the history of the American auto industry.
Under the administration’s detailed court strategy, ownership of Chrysler would be dramatically reorganized, the leadership of Italian automaker Fiat would take over company management and the U.S. and Canadian governments would contribute more than $10 billion in additional funding.
Company and government officials had feared that a bankruptcy would stain the brand, shake customer confidence and erode sales, but the administration said it would seek to use the process to create a new Chrysler company. Its ownership would be divided, with the company’s union retiree health fund receiving a 55 percent stake, Fiat would claim as much as a 35 percent share and the United States would take 8 percent. The Canadian government would receive two percent.
Basically this is what General Motors did voluntarily. Minus the Fiat equation, of course. It is a tough break that the creditors, bond holders, and company management could not come together to an agreement. The main and good thing is, that the automaker, itself, will be saved, and that American jobs will be saved.
Now comes the part that will make people like Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Michelle Malkin, and the rest of the far right wing people howl at the moon:
The automaker’s current majority owner, the private-equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, would have its holdings wiped out.
Now, to be fair; I will report the truth about this holdings company. This company, from what I have read and have been told; is notorious for buying up struggling companies, like Chrysler and shutting them down and selling off the assets to make money. They have done this in past, from what I told. So, while I hate to see anyone lose their money. I actually am glad to see Chrysler being taken away from this company.
Let me also say this. As an Conservative, who believes in “America First”, and believes that business sometimes have to fail; I am not exactly jumping for joy, when it comes to fact that this auto company is having taxpayer dollars being pumped into it. Nor am I happy at the fact, that a US automaker is having a foreign auto company’s management taking over its operations. However, I believe we must be realistic about such matters. We are not living in the 1950’s any longer, we are in a economic recession of monumental proportions, and if we do not drastic measures quickly, we could see a total collapse of the American auto industry. I also know that there is a undeniable truth that “as Detroit goes, so goes America.” Pat Buchanan and I, have been saying this all along; if allow the big three or in this case, the big two to disappear our Nation’s economy would go into free fall. I shudder in absolute horror at the thought of the far reaching implications of such an event.
I will say, as a devout Paleo-Conservative; If we would have rejected the globalism of the Rockefeller-type conservative types and would have imposed strict trade restrictions on Japanese and other such foreign automotive products, these auto companies would not be in the position that they are today. It is because of the Rockefeller-type, Madison Avenue, Neo-Conservatives, whose mantra is “screw the American middle class”, is the reason we are in this position today. Further more, it is the reason that the world is also partaking in our recession as well. Perhaps President Obama will see the state of our globalist economy and will rethink his position on NAFTA and TAFTA and the rest of those toxic free trade agreements that are in place; and impose strict tariffs on imports that are bleeding our economy dry.
Realistically however, I highly doubt that President Obama will do any of that, because he is trying to run as a centrist, or as I like to call it; he is sucking up to the Neo-Conservative right, as they are his biggest supporters, strangely, after trying so very hard to defeat him in the election. Of course, we Paleo-Conservatives know why this is; because the only difference between a Neo-Conservative and a Democrat is the letter next to the name.
It appears that Liberals; emboldened by the win of President Obama’s of the White House, now have a new mission in life. That mission is to destroy Conservatism, The Republican Party and anyone else that happens to disagree with their political views.
The first example of this; is the ad-hominem, over the top, screechy attack of Michelle Malkin by Keith Olbermann; of whom I have totally stopped watching, since his baseless and hateful attack on the Tea Party protestors. This is a perfect example of desperate Liberals who are losing ground with the public discourse and are trying to marginalize the enemy.
The Video:
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
I’ve blogged for years about the spread of contagious diseases from around the world into the U.S. as a result of uncontrolled immigration. We’ve heard for years from reckless open-borders ideologues who continue to insist there’s nothing to worry about. And we’ve heard for years that calling any attention to the dangers of allowing untold numbers of people to pass across our borders and through our other ports of entry without proper medical screening — as required of every legal visitor/immigrant to this country — is RAAAACIST.9/11 didn’t convince the open-borders zealots to put down their race cards and confront reality.
Maybe the threat of their sons or daughters contracting a deadly virus spread from south of the border to their Manhattan prep schools will.
To be fair to Michelle, she does have a valid point. Out of control immigration does bring disease into this country. So does Illegal Immigration. Liberals; when confronted with facts, like this, always play the race card and also do the race baiting bit. Hence the attack on Michelle.
But wait, it gets better. Now, a liberal in Canada has basically posted, what could be construed as a veiled threat towards Michelle:

Who would write such screed? That is the twitter feed of none other than a liberal columnist from the Toronto Star named Antonia Zerbisias. Of course, now that she’s been caught; she is now playing the victim card.
Here’s the little snot-wad’s picture:

By the way, as Michelle notes, you can let your displeasure be known by contacting the following people; just remember, be nice and respectful:
Living/Fashion/Food
Living Editor: Alison Uncles
Phone: 416-869-4015
Fax: 416-869-4410
Email: living@thestar.caManaging Editor: Joe Hall
The main newsroom phone number is 416-869-4300; fax 416-869-4328; email city@thestar.ca
General inquiries can be sent to:
Editorial Department
Toronto Star
One Yonge Street, Fifth Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M5E 1E6
Michelle also notes that this woman has a history of accusing others of Hate Speech and she has also accused Michelle of it as well. The irony of all this is the following:
I will be honest with you all. I am not nearly to the far to the right as Michelle. (I like to think of myself as a bit more of a Moderate…) I’ve disagreed with her in the past. In fact, me and Michelle have had it out in the past. Back before I switched sides. But man, this stuff right here is nothing more than a coordinated attack against the Conservatives. I mean, the Liberals won. What the hell else do they want? I’ve said that before on my Blog. But it just seems like they are not happy with just winning the election, they want to destroy anything and anyone, who disagrees with their beliefs. I know, some of you might think, that I sound like Bill O’Reilly or something like that. But the man does have a point, when it comes to this.
I mean, I guess the MSNBC people are doing this because their rates are tanking. So, they feel the need to lash out. I mean, since the election, MSNBC’s ratings have been in the toilet. Fox News has beaten MSNBC and CNN. I mean, I thought the Tea Party coverage was just plain awful. As I said in my Video that I made, Keith Olbermann was, and I do mean, was, a valid voice of dissent, now he’s nothing more than a partisan hack. He has now proven that to me, beyond a shadow of a doubt. I mean, Michelle has said things that make me cringe, at times. But this sort of nonsense, like this nonsense on twitter, is just unbelievable.
Something tells me that the next four years are going to be long and hard for the Conservative minded folk in America. If we’re even still alive and have not be shipped off to camps to be killed by then.
Update: Greetings Free Republic Readers!
Yes, I am a moderate. (Well, somewhat…
) I used run a Blog that went by a number of different names. But, why should I tell what the name was? What’s in the past is over. I’m on the right side of things now, to coin a phrase.
Hardly a surprise, considering the fact that he was always a moderate Republican.
A source involved in the talks confirms that Senator Arlen Specter will switch to the Democratic Party, a dramatic move putting the Democrats within reach of two votes in the Senate.
The move stands to put the White House’s agenda on a fast-track, and to renew hopes among organized labor for the Employee Free Choice Act.
Vice President Joe Biden was, I’m told, deeply involved in the talks with Specter.
The move also raises the stakes for the resolution of the Minnesota Senate race, and may tempt Republicans to drag that fight on further.
via Ben Smith’s Blog: Specter switching parties – POLITICO.com.
The statement via PoliticsPA:
I have been a Republican since 1966. I have been working extremely hard for the Party, for its candidates and for the ideals of a Republican Party whose tent is big enough to welcome diverse points of view. While I have been comfortable being a Republican, my Party has not defined who I am. I have taken each issue one at a time and have exercised independent judgment to do what I thought was best for Pennsylvania and the nation.
Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans.
When I supported the stimulus package, I knew that it would not be popular with the Republican Party. But, I saw the stimulus as necessary to lessen the risk of a far more serious recession than we are now experiencing.
Since then, I have traveled the State, talked to Republican leaders and office-holders and my supporters and I have carefully examined public opinion. It has become clear to me that the stimulus vote caused a schism which makes our differences irreconcilable. On this state of the record, I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate. I have not represented the Republican Party. I have represented the people of Pennsylvania.
I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary.
I am ready, willing and anxious to take on all comers and have my candidacy for re-election determined in a general election.
I deeply regret that I will be disappointing many friends and supporters. I can understand their disappointment. I am also disappointed that so many in the Party I have worked for for more than four decades do not want me to be their candidate. It is very painful on both sides. I thank specially Senators McConnell and Cornyn for their forbearance.
I am not making this decision because there are no important and interesting opportunities outside the Senate. I take on this complicated run for re-election because I am deeply concerned about the future of our country and I believe I have a significant contribution to make on many of the key issues of the day, especially medical research. NIH funding has saved or lengthened thousands of lives, including mine, and much more needs to be done. And my seniority is very important to continue to bring important projects vital to Pennsylvania’s economy.
I am taking this action now because there are fewer than thirteen months to the 2010 Pennsylvania Primary and there is much to be done in preparation for that election. Upon request, I will return campaign contributions contributed during this cycle.
While each member of the Senate caucuses with his Party, what each of us hopes to accomplish is distinct from his party affiliation. The American people do not care which Party solves the problems confronting our nation. And no Senator, no matter how loyal he is to his Party, should or would put party loyalty above his duty to the state and nation.
My change in party affiliation does not mean that I will be a party-line voter any more for the Democrats that I have been for the Republicans. Unlike Senator Jeffords’ switch which changed party control, I will not be an automatic 60th vote for cloture. For example, my position on Employees Free Choice (Card Check) will not change.
Whatever my party affiliation, I will continue to be guided by President Kennedy’s statement that sometimes Party asks too much. When it does, I will continue my independent voting and follow my conscience on what I think is best for Pennsylvania and America.
Meanwhile, Michelle Malkin and the folks over at Human Events give him the classic Republican send off.
Again, to me, this is not a very big shock at all. Arlen Specter was always a moderate, someone who was against the Religious right. Someone who always fought against the Social Conservatives against their theocratic agenda.
How in praising the tea parties one week, then defending President Bush on torture and his “War on Terror” the next, conservatives negate their alleged anti-government message.
The New York Times Company also has a major problem with the Boston Globe, which Sulzberger bought back in 1993. That paper is on the verge of bankruptcy and recently told its employees that it will cut their pay and health benefits. Since the Times and the Globe are big on “universal” health care, that caused some giggling in anti-Times precincts.
Over the past few months, newspapers in Chicago, Seattle, Minneapolis and Denver have either folded or filed for bankruptcy. With the exception of The Rocky Mountain News, all the papers were committed left-wing enterprises. The truth is that most Americans are traditional-minded folks; they believe their country is noble, they want respectful discourse. Fanaticism of any kind is not the American way.
The New York Times is most definitely a committed left-wing concern that is openly contemptuous of the conservative, traditional point-of-view. That is the primary reason the paper may soon dissolve. And all the cash in Carlos Slim’s fat wallet is not going to change that.
*****
Rooted people love the things of the heart: God, country, family and faith. The weapons of the mind have been given to us, they believe, to defend the things of the heart.
Knowledge follows love; it does not precede it.
Most Americans have grown to love America long before they read the Constitution, or the Federalist Papers. There are heroes in Arlington who never learned to read. A true nation is an extended family. If fathers or sons do not defend it, it is their conduct that is indefensible.
Obama may be popular today, but he will lose the country and his presidency if he lets the perception take hold that he, the personification of American sovereignty, does not react as a normal patriot.
The Obamaites may not like Sarah Palin’s phraseology. But they need someone in their councils who is rooted in the Real America.
As many of you know, I am the son of a retired General Motors worker. Ironically, I am also a Conservative. No, I am not a Republican; or even a formal Libertarian. I am someone that believes that the less Governmental interference in my life, the better. However, there is a place, where my politics ends and a genuine concern for my family begins.
I see that General Motors is going to be taking more money from the Government, and is desperately trying to salvage what is left of that company:
Quote:
General Motors Corp. will get up to $5 billion and Chrysler LLC $500 million in short-term aid, according to a 250-page government report obtained Monday by The Detroit News.
The Detroit News reported Friday that GM would get about $5 billion and Chrysler $500 million, citing an Obama administration official, which prompted a denial from the White House.
The short-term aid figures are disclosed in the report from the Treasury Department’s Inspector General on the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program.
The report was obtained from a congressional source late Monday.
Meanwhile General Motors is is doing its damnedest to rid itself of waste:
General Motors Corp. has started notifying about 1,600 white-collar workers — most of whom work in southeast Michigan — that they will lose their jobs this week as the cash-strapped automaker cuts costs that could help the automaker qualify for up to $16.6 billion in additional federal aid.
The announcement was made by GM North American President Troy Clarke in an e-mail sent to employees today, spokesperson Tom Wilkinson said.
“This is part of really restructuring the company to a smaller, leaner company, one that can, as the (Obama) administration requested, be profitable on an ongoing basis,” Wilkinson said.
While this might be a good thing, there are those out there that believe that this is too little too late:
It’s ironic enough that Italy’s Fiat Auto could end up being the savior for Chrysler. After all, former Chrysler President Bob Lutz once likened Fiat to a dead bride when his old boss, Lee Iacocca, wanted the company to join up with the Italian carmaker. Now, Lutz is at General Motors until he retires in December, and Fiat may help his current employer.
Yes, the Italian carmaker is reportedly in talks with GM about forming a partnership with its European and South American businesses, says Automotive News. How ironic is that? Well, in 2000, GM bought 20% of Fiat Auto for $2.4 billion. Back then, GM was healthy and Fiat was in serious financial trouble. The Italian company was wracked by quality issues. It was so bad that GM actually paid another $2 billion a few years later just to avoid a put option that would have made GM the sole owner of Fiat. GM’s board didn’t want that kind of headache.
But now, after Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has fixed the company, he could help save Chrysler in the U.S. and GM in Europe. GM lost $1.5 billion in the Olde World last year, with its Opel and Vauxhaul brands suffering mightily with too many factories. GM is actually doing very well in Latin America, where the auto giant earned $1.3 billion last year. Fiat is pretty strong there, too, so they could make a powerful pair down there. The only catch is that Fiat doesn’t have any cash either. But the alliances will help be getting each company jointly-engineered vehicles and sharing parts.
The bottom line: Fiat is not a great carmaker by any stretch. But Chrysler and GM are in so much trouble that anyone could help at this point. Even Fiat.
Which brings me to my point; have any of you really looked at your Father? I have. I see worry in his eyes. I see worry in both my parents eyes. The questions my parents are facing, as they enter into their golden years are unfathomable, for someone my age. Will my parents lose everything that my father worked hard to obtain? We are talking 31 years worth of blood, sweat, and tears. My Father earned every damned last penny. I dare some idiot beltway type to say otherwise.
I have been a critic of the Obama Administration for much, as of late. However, I will give him credit for one thing. The President is looking out my Father. I just hope he does not throw my Father under the bus, as he has many others in his short time in the White House.
Some of you might look at this posting and call me some sort of a hypocrite. That is your right as an American.
However, if you could only see my Father’s eyes; you might just might be able to understand.
It appears that the Republican Party’s resident media whore is still writing stupid stuff on the internet….
Megan McCain on The Daily Beast:
Karl Rove follows me on Twitter. That’s creepy. I joined Twitter a few months ago; so far, it has been a liberating way to transition from political to personal blogging. It’s allowed me to share the less-serious aspects and humorously uncensored moments of my life. But there’s also been a downside: I am now being followed by Karl and my local sheriff, and God knows how many other political pundits. We need to take Twitter back from the creepy people.
Clueless Bitch of the Year!
On the surface, Karl Rove’s Twitter feed intrigues me. Here’s a guy who for years has been perceived as some kind of inaccessible man-behind-the-curtain figure. And now he Tweets numerous times a day. I’ve never met him in person, which only makes our Twitter relationship even weirder. And to be honest, I find Rove’s Tweets boring. Sometimes he takes questions; other times he talks about his appearances on cable news and other shows. But he doesn’t say anything substantive. If I had to guess, I’d say Rove has a “ghost Twitterer” (as in a ghost writer) or an assistant updating his feed for him.
Oddly enough, Rove’s Tweets seem to reveal a softer side to him. Call it savvy marketing, but I find it disingenuous. And it’s a bit weird to think his people—not even Rove himself—are following me. I’d like to think it’s because they find what I’m saying entertaining, but I can’t help thinking they’re just trying to seem connected to young people.
The Twitter creeps gets stranger. My local Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio (who, as the author of America’s Toughest Sheriff, is notorious in his own right) recently sent me a Tweet about an answer I gave a fellow Twitter follower. He tried to tell me to go easy on them. It’s really scary when the guy who houses his inmates in tents in the summer and whose most visible public-relations success involves pink underwear, boxers, and handcuffs tells you to tone it down. The sheriff also inexplicably Tweeted me to say my mother owes him $10. Say what?
This all coming from the same woman, who blocked ME on twitter, because I dared to tell the little clueless little moronic twit that she was about as Republican, that I was a damned communist. Then she bitches about it! Just like her stupid father, she has no real Conservative political convictions. She just follows what is trendy at the time. Just another boat with no direction, at all. Seriously, I really seriously think, that this little feckless bitch would go back to Arizona and seriously look into shutting the FUCK UP and leave the political to those who actually know anything about it! She even went on that Bull Dyke Rachel Maddow’s show and admitted to all of the ten people that watch that show, that she was freakin’ CLUELESS, when it comes it the economy.
This broad is nothing more than a spoiled rotten RICH KID, who is about as goofy as she is rich. Please, for the love of gott, go back to your hole and stay there and stop embarrassing the Republican Party and more importantly, your own damn father! 🙄
I mean, it must run in the family… Is Cindy this much of a moron too??!?!?! If so, Poor John, I mean, holy hell. Gives new meaning to the words, “Shut up and suck!”
Update: I’m sure some of you might have read this and thought, “I thought this guy was a Paleo-Conservative and didn’t like Rove and Co?” You’re right, I don’t. My bitch with McCain is that she’s trashing Rove because he’s a Conservative; and Megan McCain isn’t. She’s quite the liberal. So, while I am definitely not a Neo-Con Rove fan boy; I find Megan McCain’s trashing of the Republican Party, which basically made her Father to be just asinine. She should be ashamed of herself and should be shamed from the public square. If she was not John McCain’s daughter, she’d be ignored, like anyone else.
Oh, the jokes just continue to write themselves:
President Obama endured a 50-minute diatribe from socialist Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega that lashed out at a century of what he called terroristic U.S. aggression in Central America and included a rambling denunciation of the U.S.-imposed isolation of Cuba’s Communist government.
Obama sat mostly unmoved during the speech but at times jotted notes. The speech was part of the opening ceremonies at the fifth Summit of the Americas here.
Later, at a photo opportunity with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Obama held his tongue when asked what he thought about Ortega’s speech.
“It was 50 minutes long. That’s what I thought.”
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ignored two questions about Ortega’s speech, instead offering lengthy praise of a cultural performance of dance and song opening the summit.
“I thought the cultural performance was fascinating,” Clinton said. Asked again about the Ortega speech, Clinton said: “To have those first class Caribbean entertainers on all on one stage and to see how much was done in such a small amount of space, I was overwhelmed.”
via Obama Endures Ortega Diatribe – First 100 Days of Presidency – Politics FOXNews.com.
Is that the best that President Bambi Teleprompter can do? Seriously. Can he not form a thought of his own, without his speech writer doing it for him? The Neo-NeoCon basically said that the best position that Obama is suited for is the U.N. ambassador. Actually, I think he would be better suited as a White House shoe shine boy myself. But that’s just me. I mean, considering that the fact he has the political weight of a Harlem globetrotter. Considering what Chavez, Gordon Brown and others have said, what little credibility we do have left is being squandered by political neophyte.
Of course, when a white Conservative like me, makes little comments like that, we’re slandered as racist bigots. To be fair, the G.O.P is not much better, they also installed a Harlem Globetrotter as well; as their party’s new President. I said it before, and I’ll say it again. We lost to “That one” why put “One of those” in, as the Party leader? Just did not make any sense to me. Considering his performance here as of late, I believe the Republican Party is about thoroughly screwed for the next four to eight years. However to be fair, you cannot blame at all on President Bush, the Republican Party has been trending more Progressive since the 1960’s. The proverbial “Chickens” came home to roost after Bush won, that’s all.
Worst thing that ever happened to the Republican Party, was when they starting sucking up to the “Religious right.” This caused topics like Homosexuality and Abortion to become “Hot Button” topics, which was one of the worst mistakes they ever made. How a party can espouse the tenants of limited Government out of one corner of their mouths and then preach a doctrine of control over a woman’s and a man’s body out of the other, is very much beyond me. Which is why I will never join the Republican Party. You cannot have it both ways, you either believe in limited government or you believe in overreaching Government control, which is a byproduct of a Statist doctrine.
Further more, another horrible tragedy that occurred in the Republican Party, is the whole “Go along to get along” mentality and the whole embracing of diversity; which took place after the Neo-Conservative Jews took control of the Republican Party in the mid 1960’s away from the Old Right, which held it for years. The sad part was they used underhanded tricks and baseless lies to fulfill their agenda. By smearing great American institutions like the John Birch Society and sidelining them, they were able to pursue their Zionist agenda uninterrupted. The sick part was, they did it using one of the oldest liberal tricks in the book; by playing the race card. But their many years of control is now starting to slip away from them, because of the inane stupidity of the George W. Bush Administration, their influence and power has been greatly diminished in the Republican Party. I predict within the next four years, that the influence of the that section of the Republican Party is going to be all but irrelevant by 2012. There will be a more moderate and possibly even more Paleo-Conservative leader than will rise up and take the Republican Party back from the former fascist liberals that controlled it for so long.
I just hope, for the sake the Republican Party and for the sake of the spirit of the old right, that I am not mistaken.
Further Discussion: William A. Jacobson / Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion: Obama Needs To Stop Hiding From The Presidency
How the nationwide tea party protests on Tax Day 2009 could be the start of a new grassroots, anti-government, anti-state – and hopefully radicalized – conservative movement.
You know there has been times, when I have criticized Sarah Palin, there have been times when I have voiced my disgust with this woman.
This, is not one of those times…. first the quote:
In front of an audience of nearly 3,000 anti-abortion rights advocates in Evansville, Ind., Palin described in detail how she struggled with her fifth pregnancy last year and choked up when she spoke about Trig’s birth.
“It was a time when I had to ask myself was I gonna walk the walk or I was gonna talk the talk,” Palin said.
She said she learned she was pregnant with Trig while she was out of the state at an oil and gas conference.
“There, just for a fleeting moment, I thought, I knew, nobody knows me here. Nobody would ever know. I thought, wow, it is easy. It could be easy to think maybe of trying to change the circumstances. No one would know. No one would ever know.”
Ultimately, Palin said she realized she had to stay true to what she’d been saying for years — that “life is valuable because it is ordained.”
“I had just enough faith to know that trying to change the circumstances wasn’t any answer,” Palin said.
Let me be the first to say, that I publicly applaud Sarah Palin for sticking to the morals and values that she believes in. I may have criticized her in the past. But this is one thing that I will not say anything negative about. There is nothing; at all, wrong with sticking to one’s convictions, despite the cost. Our country was founded by men that did this, The King James Bible was written by men, that did this. The protestant movement itself was started by men who did this.
In a day and age were loyalty and principles are considered a pleasant afterthought and by some, to be quaint, old hat, and outright outmoded. I say it is extremely wonderful of this fine woman to stand for her principles and convictions. Sarah Palin is one hell of a woman for this, and she deserves all the praise and accolades for it. I have often said on this blog, that I believed that Abortion was a moral issue, now legislatively, that’s another matter; but the point is, Sarah Palin stuck to her morals, and that my friends, is a good thing.
Now, if we could just work on that image just a little bit more, she’d be ready for 2012, maybe.
One more here, before I saunter off to bed.
William N. Grigg has a very interesting article of what our Republic is becoming.
Money Quote:
Transfixed by the demonic evil of Islamic terrorism, intoxicated by a sense of vindictive righteousness, the Republican Right eagerly collaborated in the effort to mow down legal protections for those designated enemies of the state. With the frustrated puzzlement of dimwitted children they now find themselves naked and shivering in the ill winds so memorably described by More.
For a long time, conservatives have extracted much undeserved pleasure from the aphorism that “A law-and-order conservative is a liberal who’s been mugged.” Now they’re given an opportunity to learn the truth of its counterpart: “A civil libertarian is a law-and-order conservative who suffered an ass-beating at the hands of the police.” Perhaps this lesson could be learned — but, given the propensity of conservatives to miss the obvious and resist admissions of error, I’m not optimistic.
Man is he ever right. It’s a sad state of affairs here in America. 🙁
Even so, Come, Lord Jesus.
(H/T to Freedom’s Phoenix)
Can I tell it like it is? Our Christian leaders are not fighters, they are authors. Osteen, Dobson, and Warren are more famous for what they have written, than for what they have done. They are more concerned with how they will be perceived by the enemy than they are with defending the Truth. While the enemies of God kill, steal, and destroy our children, our leaders are worried about the “tone” with which our message is delivered. They are more concerned with looking Christian than being Christian.
Compassion– a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.
Compassionate conservativism shows more sympathy for those they are fighting than for those they are supposed to be defending.
So, has the Republican Party advanced Christianity or has Christianity advanced the Republican Party?
No King but King Jesus! Long live the King!
It is time to let conservatism die.
As most of you know by now, there are a great number of “Tea-Party” Protests around the Country. Well, count this writer among those who will not be attending. I will explain to as why. The first reason why I will not be wasting my money, gas, and personal time is this; these tea parties are the Neo-Conservative and Media establishment cashing in on a sacred Libertarian Principle. That principle is low or no taxes.
Now while I believe it is commendable that the Conservative movement is slowly moving away from the big Government nonsense of the Neo-Conservative stupor of the George W. Bush Administration. I cannot help but think that possibly the Conservative establishment and the Conservative media establishment is simply cashing in on the supposed populist outrage of the Obama Administration’s devaluing the dollar by the massive bailouts.
Another reason is that I just have an overwhelming feeling of “Why Bother?” I mean, the Democrats are in the majority, in fact, eventually they will be seating their last senator and will have a super majority. The Obama Administration, it seems, is not interested in what we Conservatives or Libertarians think about what he is doing. So, why waste one’s breath, time and gas assembling? I mean, the Liberal Establishment already takes a morbid pleasure in painting people like you and me as a bunch of fringe element extremists, my question is, why give them more ammo? It just does not make any sense to me. Perhaps I am a tad bit cynical, but it seems to me that our time would be better spend rebuilding our movement from the ground up, rather than going out and demonstrating over something that we cannot honestly stop.
Again, I believe the idea of the American people speaking out against what they feel is wrong, is great. I feel that our time could be better spent doing something more productive and substantive, than cashing in on base and animal-like instincts. While some might think that, I am overly cynical and to an extent, I am. However, I prefer to see myself as a realist.
I post this with a little bit of a note. While I agree with Jack on the subject of Iraq. I disagree on Afghanistan. I believe that the war there can be won, if it is one properly. The problem is, President Obama will most likely not want to fight it properly; and because of the stupidity of the Bush Administration, we have most likely squandered our chances of winning that war without the possibility of large amounts of American Deaths.
Having said that, here’s the Video:
Man, I sure did pick the wrong day to sleep till noon. What? I was up late. 😛 We freelance writers can do stuff like that. 😀
Anyways, the NHS has released a report about far right wing extremism in the country. It is supposed to be over at the Washington Times, but it looks like their website is down, at the moment, because of all the traffic. The report, from what I have been able to surmise by reading other Blogs is that, the DHS has basically given some non-specific warnings about extremist Right-Wing causes. Of course, this has people like Michelle Makin up in a tizzy about it. I can see their concern, but I highly doubt that the report is referring to your average Conservative.
A blog that has given a very good breakdown of the report and tries to refute the screech of some of the far right is AJStrata over at The Strata-sphere. AjStrata reminds us that back in the 1990’s there was some far right wing extremism that did go on. I do remember the Oklahoma City Bombing.
Nevertheless, there are some on the far right who are up in arms about this; and while I can see the points of contention, I believe it might just much ado, over nothing.
Update: I did finally get to see this thing. Go here to read it, you decide if it’s a horrible thing or just a document with factual information.
Others: Washington Monthly, Matthew Yglesias, Alan Colmes’ Liberaland, WorldNetDaily, Big Hollywood, Atlas Shrugs, ATTACKERMAN, The Liberty Papers, The Other McCain, Flopping Aces, FP Passport, Reason, CNN, Neptunus Lex, Think Progress, Hot Air, The Washington Independent, The Daily Dish, The Liberty Papers, Fox News, Townhall.com, Mudville Gazette, NO QUARTER, Wake up America, This ain’t Hell …, And So it Goes in Shreveport, The Strata-Sphere, Right Wing Nut House, NewsBusters.org, Riehl World View, The Rhetorican, Sadly, No!, American Power, Bob Cesca’s Awesome Blog!, Clayton Cramer’s BLOG, PoliBlog, Don Surber, The Liberty Papers, This ain’t Hell …, , Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion
As you all know, I am a proud Paleo-Conservative. But I do read HotAir.com, to get a feel about what is being talked about. I happen to notice that they created a new “sub-Blog” for the some of the more ass kissing preferred commentator’s over there.
Great. Another Neo-Conservative Blog that’s nothing more than a Neo-Conservative echo chamber. 🙄
I say this, because I only see people, that tow the line of the Neo-Conservative message; nobody from the “Old Right” school, like Daniel Larison, Robert Stacy McCain (Correction: He is there! 😮 ) or any of the writers from Taki’s Magazine or from @TAC. Just the same old echo chamber group. So, while there might be a new paint job and a slight addition, it is the just same ol’, same ol’ with a new paint job.
On related note; I was once again tossed out of the chat-room over there. For daring.. DARING… to ask a moderator to actually do his job. You see, there’s this idiot over there; that shows his face, now and again, who is, quite frankly, an idiot liberal troll. Well, he’s got some sort of gay crush on me or something and likes to Private Message me. Well, I essentially told the tool to fuck off and leave me alone. I then, asked to the moderator, in some not so nice tones, in the chat-room to try doing his job. Well, that was not to be allowed, and I was kicked, and I guess banned from the chat-room.
Am I angry? Nah! I guess I really was not very well liked anyhow. Partially, because I am not some sort of Sarah Palin worshipping idiot and because I happen to think Zionism is about a fucking joke; as is the Republican Party, at the moment. So, while I was a bit disappointed that I was tossed, as I enjoyed some of the banter in there; it was more of a time waster and the content of my blog was suffering for it. My time would be better served actually creating content for my blog, rather than sitting and listening to a bunch of Neo-Con yowl about limited Government out of one corner of thier mouths and how the Government should tell women, what they can and cannot do with thier bodies, out of the other corner.
Now, before anyone nails me or jumps me on the subject of abortion. I believe Abortion is a MORAL issue, it should never be a legislative issue. Period. End of story.
So, while it was fun, while it lasted, again. It is really no big loss on my part. 😀
Over at The American Conservative, Daniel Larison writes regarding Jeff Goldberg‘s latest attempt at Conservative punditry:
The way to tell an ideologue from a realist, and the reason realists are not simply ideologues posing as something else, is that the ideologue will persist in a course of action long after it has failed and long after everyone knows it has failed because he thinks that his “values” demand it. Instead of “let justice be done, though the heavens fall,” the ideologue says, “I am right, and the world can go to hell if it doesn’t agree.” The ideologue is terrified of having to make adjustments and adapt to the world as it really is, because these adjustments reveal to the ideologue just how far removed from that reality he has become. The ideologue keeps redefining the justification for the policy, he keeps rewriting history to suit his own purposes, and he never accepts responsibility for the failure of his ideas, because he believes they have never been faithfully followed. For the realist, cutting one’s losses and reassessing the merits of a policy are always supposed to be possibilities, but for the ideologue the former is equivalent to surrender and the latter is inconceivable. In his greatest confusion of all, Goldberg manages to mix up realists with their opposites.
Gosh is he ever right. I have never quite understood the whole “Defend Israel to the death!” mantra that emanates from those Neo-Conservative cesspools. Only thing further I can add to that, is what was described above is basically what the George W. Bush Administration was for the last 8 years. Ideology that was out of touch with the rest of the World. Believe me when I say this; I am no fan of Islam or the Islamification of America. But Iraq was a unneeded diversion from the REAL war on terror that was in Afghanistan; even now, there are signs that we might just have squandered that opportunity.
The thing that I detest so greatly about the Neo-Conservatives is the whole, “You’re either with us or your an Anti-American” bit that was put on those of us, who felt Iraq was just wrong; that and the whole playing of the race card towards anyone that spoke out against the Iraq war or the Neo-Conservatives foreign policy stance. A foreign policy; that while it may have kept us safe in the short term, in the long term, it makes more hated, and more vulnerable to attack, both here and abroad.
This is why I go out of my way to identify myself with the Paleo-Conservative right, and not your “Weekly Standard” Neo-Conservative right. Because I disagree with the Bush Doctrine, the Iraq War and the whole idea of Christians aligning themselves with unbelievers; otherwise known as Jews, to support a Country that Christians, that is if they’re even truly Saved will somehow occupy once Christ returns for his Church. Which is pretty funny, considering the Bible says he will create a New Heaven and New Earth.
Just my two cents. 😀
I wrote about this before. Looks like ASU is just like the rest of them, caves to Political pressure when the heats turned up by the media.
The Politico reports:
Michael M. Crow, president of Arizona State University, tells POLITICO that the school is reconsidering its widely mocked plans not to give President Barack Obama an honorary degree when he speaks at commencement on May 13 and will “honor him in every way possible.”
“There was no intended slight,” Crow said by telephone from his office in Tempe. “We had not yet talked about what honors we might give him as our commencement speaker, and we still have a month to work all that out. We don’t want anyone to think we do not recognize what he has achieved and what he means in America.”
A formal decision has not been made, but it was clear from Crow’s comments that the university is headed in that direction. ASU risked becoming a national punch line if it did not quickly retreat from its policy against conferring honorary degrees on a sitting politician.
At first blush one would expect me to basically call them cowards; however, if you really think about it. I can see their position. Being elected Americas first black President, is a feat unto itself. So, while I can agree with my fellow Conservatives who say that President Barack Obama has no resume, there is something to be said about being elected President and being black. Accuse me of being a turncoat, or a secret liberal if you wish; but history was made in 2008, A black man was elected President, that has never happened in America before. Sean Hannity can rip on the guy all he likes, and I can understand why, He doesn’t like his politics. Admittedly; neither do I, but I am not going to sit here and act like having a black President is not a sea change of the standard in America.
So, while I think sticking to principles is a good and honorable thing, I think in this case, it is better to gave the honorable degree and move on. Rather than to face the onslaught. If people had listened to Senator Barry Goldwater, we could not be in this postion, but we’re stuck with it now. So, might as well just do the right thing.
Others: Hot Air,
Seeing this is the big Meme at the moment, I thought I would post it and share my comments.
The Video:
The Money Quote:
Woman: [Shouts] “Burn the books!” [applause]
Man: “I don’t think you were serious about that, were you?”
Woman: “I am too.”
Man: “Burn all the books?!”
Woman: “The ones in college, those, those brainwashing books.”
Man: “[laughs] Brainwashing books?”
Woman: “Yes.”
Man: “Which ones are those?”
Woman: “Like, the evolution crap, and, yeah…”
The part about burn the books comes at about 5:00 or so.
Okay here’s my take. No, I do not personally believe that Obama is a some sort of Pseudo-Commie. I think he is a socialist, his polices have proven this. But, no I do not believe he is a communist. However, there is this:
What is the difference between Communism and Socialism?
All Communists are for socialism, seeing it as a transition stage to communism, a higher stage of economic, political, and social development. All socialists aren’t for communism; some see Communists as too radical.
Socialism is social ownership of the main means of production (factories, transportation) and the commanding heights of an economy (banks and other financial institutions) and runs them in the interests of the working people, using part of the value that workers produce to build up the social institutions and benefits for the whole people.
Communism, as we see it, is a more advanced stage that comes after socialism. Communism, a stage of development never reached anywhere yet, reduces the state apparatus to minimal administrative functions, since people and society will have advanced past the need for coercive functions like armies, and will directly and indirectly provide people with the full benefits of the labor they engage in.
We see communism as a later stage of development. A stage when the production of the necessities of life has become plentiful, when there will no longer be shortages of food, housing, jobs, health care and education.
We see communism as a stage when governments can “wither away” to mere administrative agencies rather than maintain coercive control on behalf of exploiting classes through armies, police forces, court systems, tax agencies.
Socialism, which we are advocates of, is a transitional stage between capitalism and communism, a stage where a change in production relations, social relations, and individual outlooks become solidified.
When people have gone through a prolonged period of living in a society not based on scarcity, exploitation, and oppression, and when production for use rather than profit is a well-established economic system, and when the productive forces have advanced to be able to provide for the needs of all people, then society will be able to advance to communism. Communists are advocates of both socialism and communism.
In a socialist country, there is still a struggle that goes on between the ruling working class and the dispossessed capitalist class inside the country, and between the working class in power in one country and the capitalist class in power in other countries. The stage of socialism, as we have learned from experience, is not irreversible, and there is not a short, quick march to communism. – Source US Communist Party F.A.Q. Section
So, the truth is, Obama is one step away from Communism. Obama is at the beginning stages of Communism. I mean, I know the Liberals do not like to hear it, but it is true. Big Government or socialism is the beginning stages of Communism. It’s just a simple fact. But Liberals do not want to hear that. What gets me, is Charles Johnson, of little green footballs, is the one who initially posted this. That’s because he’s a Neo-Conservative. Neo-Conservatives are mainly former Democrats. Neo-Cons are not bothered by big Government; unlike we true Conservatives, or Paleo-Cons. So, I am not shocked he would post this in such a mocking tone.
…and before anyone says, “Well, you’re a former Democrat!” Wrong. Why? For one, I never joined the party and Because I rejected and still do reject the Wilsonian Foreign policy of the Neo-Cons. I just do not support of idea of a Interventionist Foreign Policy.
Others, on all sides: Balloon Juice, The Daily Dish, Oliver Willis, The Moderate Voice, No More Mister Nice Blog, The Impolitic, American Power, Founding Bloggers and Riehl World View
Full Disclosure: I am a Christian, if you’ll read my “about me” section on here, you will see here I stand doctrinally. To be clear, I am not active in a Church anywhere at the moment. But I still believe.
An Interesting quote from the Christian Newswire, by a Robert Peters who the President of Morality in Media, commenting on passage on the Gay Marriage Iowa and the shootings in New York:
“Having lived in New York City for more than 30 years, I am all too aware of the harm that firearms in the hands of criminals can cause. Having grown up in a small town in Illinois, where citizens owned guns without misusing them, I am also aware that guns aren’t the underlying problem. I am not an opponent of gun regulation; I am an opponent of making guns the scapegoat for mass murder.
“The underlying problem is that increasingly we live in a ‘post-Christian’ society, where Judeo-Christian faith and values have less and less influence. Among other things, Judaism and Christianity taught that murder was wrong and that included murder motivated by anger, hatred and revenge. Both religions also taught that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves and to forgive others.
“For many citizens, what has replaced Judeo-Christian faith and values is the secular value system that is reflected in films, rap/music lyrics, and videogames and on TV and now the Internet, where the taking of human life for just about any reason is commonplace and is often portrayed in an appealing manner and in realistic detail. Murder motivated by hatred and revenge is also justified.
“This secular value system is also reflected in the ‘sexual revolution,’ which is the driving force behind the push for ‘gay marriage;’ and the Iowa Supreme Court decision is another indication that despite all the damage this revolution has caused to children, adults, family life and society (think abortion, divorce, pornography, rape, sexual abuse of children, sexually transmitted diseases, trafficking in women and children, unwed teen mothers and more), it continues to advance relentlessly.
“It most certainly is not my intention to blame the epidemic of mass murders on the gay rights movement! It is my intention to point out that the success of the sexual revolution is inversely proportional to the decline in morality; and it is the decline of morality (and the faith that so often under girds it) that is the underlying cause of our modern day epidemic of mass murders.
“I would add that if conservative media’s irresponsible talk of revolution can ‘poison weak minds,’ the liberal entertainment media’s irresponsible portrayal of mayhem can also poison weak minds.”
Also, Pastor Eric Schumacher comments over at Baptist Press also comments as to how Christians should handle the situation as well; and I must admit, I agree with his way of doing things as well. Let me just say that these arguments may work in the realm of Christianity and in the Church World, these arguments, unfortunately, fall flat in the secular society that we live in today. Donald Douglas over at American power weighs in on this:
While I agree with the main points of the religious morality angle, I don’t think that argument will prevail amid the growing hegemony of secularism Peters decries. A powerful secular case can be made against same-sex marriage, based in the logic of biological reproduction and the regeneration of societies. The gay marriage extremists can do little to change the logic of social reproduction and the facts of biological procreation. To win the argument, gay radicals have to argue in denial of the fact that social institutions are normatively substantiated in such terms. The left has yet to do so, of course, which is why the notion of “same-sex marriage” remains a fantastic radical progressive ideological construct.
I hate to say it, but I do agree. (Mark your calendars, this does not happen often at all.) The reason all this is happening is because the Religious right made the gay marriage thing a “Hot button” topic years ago. One of the worst things, I believe, that happened was the melting together of Religion and Conservative politics, this happened in the 1980’s with the whole “God and Country” movement. I remember it well, as I was a young lad that grew up in that era. Before this, Christianity and Conservative politics were two very different worlds. President Ronald Reagan and his whole “Reagan Revolution” changed all that, some say for the worse.
Let me give you an example of why I believe this is so very wrong. You see, years ago, Christians did not want to be have a voice in Government. This quote is from a book called “The Trail of Blood”, which was written by Dr. James Milton Carroll, in 1931; it is taken from the fifth lecture in the book:
24. Some serious questions have many times been asked concerning the Baptists: Would they, as a denomination, have accepted from any nation or state an offer of “establishment” if such nation or state had freely made them such an offer? And would they in case they had accepted such an offer, have become persecutors of others like Catholics or Episcopals, or Lutherans or Presbyterians, or Congregationalists? Probably a little consideration of such questions now would not be amiss. Have the Baptists, as a fact, ever had such an opportunity?
Is it not recorded in history, that on one occasion, the King of the Netherlands (the Netherlands at that time embracing Norway and Sweden, Belgium, Holland, and Denmark) had under serious consideration the question of having an established religion? Their kingdom at that period was surrounded on almost all sides by nations or governments with established religions, religions supported by the Civil Government.
It is stated that the King of Holland appointed a committee to examine into the claims of all existing churches or denominations to see which had the best claim to be the New Testament Church. The committee reported back that the Baptists were the best representatives of New Testament teachings. Then the King offered to make the Baptist “the established” church or denomination of his kingdom. The Baptists kindly thanked him but declined, stating that it was contrary to their fundamental convictions and principles.
But this was not the only opportunity they ever had of having their denomination the established religion of a people. They certainly had that opportunity when Rhode Island Colony was founded. And to have persecuted others, that would have been an impossibility if they were to continue being Baptists. They were the original advocates of “Religious Liberty.” That really is one of the fundamental articles of their religious faith. They believed in the absolute separation of church and state.
This is what Christians should believe in. Christians never should have ever attempted to meddle in the affairs of the Government, as Christians are supposed to be about “The Father’s Business”. (Luke 2:49, 1 Thess 4:11) While I believe it is important to be aware of what is happening in our Government, the idea that Baptists and Christians alike are to try and sway Government into a theocracy is totally wrong, and goes against what Christians and yes, even Baptists of old practiced.
I hate to say, but the Christianity community seriously messed up in the 1980’s with the whole Reagan revolution, and we are going to pay a dreadful price for it. The sick and sad part is, George W. Bush and his Neo-Conservative friends, harvested and took full advantage of that crop during his tenure in the White House, and because of this, the Republican Party and Conservatism as a whole will pay for that.
It is going to be a bleak, long four years in a America. 🙁
Now this article is not going to be one of those a-typical Conservative “Rub in their faces” kind of entries. Because in this case, I can understand how these people feel. I’ll explain after the quote.
The Story comes via The Plum Line:
Some of the leading liberal bloggers are privately furious with the major progressive groups — and in some cases, the Democratic Party committees — for failing to spend money advertising on their sites, even as these groups constantly ask the bloggers for free assistance in driving their message.
It’s a development that’s creating tensions on the left and raises questions about the future role of the blogosphere at a time when a Dem is in the White House and liberalism could be headed for a period of sustained ascendancy.
A number of these top bloggers agreed to come on record with me after privately arguing to these groups that they deserved a share in the ad wealth and couldn’t be taken for granted any longer.
I can understand these peoples feelings. I have been blogging almost continually since February of 2006. You want to know how much money I have made on Blogging? A rough estimate off the top of my head; about $147.00, of $100.00 that I have been paid. Seriously. Why do you think that I have so many freaking ads on my Blog? To try and raise a little funds! It has helped a little, But I am not getting wealthy, that is for sure. In fact, I run BlogAds, you want to know how many I’ve gotten paid to run? All of two. I run the other two, because I happen to love those sites. They’re freebies, and the one is a half serious, half cruel joke. (The Anti-Al Sharpton Ad) I blog, simply because I love it. Seriously. I love to write, it’s a way of getting my feelings about things off my chest, and it keeps me out of trouble. Hell, Because of the wonderful fuck ups of Bush, along with the Wonderful fuck ups of the Democrats here in Michigan, I haven’t had a job since 2005 and the company I worked for, is gone. Went out of Business. It’s crazy, the economy here in Michigan, is THAT bad. This was BEFORE the said stock market bottom out thing.
Some of the big players quoted here:
“They come to us, expecting us to give them free publicity, and we do, but it’s not a two way street,” “They won’t do anything in return. They’re not advertising with us. They’re not offering fellowships. They’re not doing anything to help financially, and people are growing increasingly resentful.” — Jane Hamsher, the founder of FiredogLake
“Most want the easy way — having a big blogger promote their agenda,” “Then they turn around and spend $50K for a one-page ad in the New York Times or whatever.”- Markos Moulitsas, the founder of DailyKos
I know the feeling, I don’t know how many little “Plug” pieces that I’ve written, first as a “Left of Center” Blogger and also since switching sides; and then getting nothing in return. Now, I will admit, I have not always gotten the hits on my Blog. I have just recently started getting to some respectable hits on my site. But still, I can understand where these guys are coming from. Of course, some of my following, “Right Wingers” (Gah! I hate that term….) are of course gaffawing about this, but I’m not, I understand the feeling of working one’s rear end off and not getting anything in return. I know the feeling. Guess it’s because I am not on of those so-called “Out of touch wealthy Conservatives” that I keep hearing about. I wish I was man, I wouldn’t be in this living situtation, that’s for sure.
However there is one little quote, that did tweak me just a little:
“We don’t invest in the future, and Republicans do,” says John Aravosis, the founder of AMERICAblog. “The party committees really get that we can be effective as their partners and that we’re happy to help, and they take advantage of that. But even so, very little ad money comes from them. It’s more than just wanting to share in the spoils. We are small business-people who are fighting to survive economically in a really bad year.”
I just talked to John in an e-mail conversation today, so I am going to not go the baseball bat route here. But I will agree with AllahPundit here; We Conservatives in the same boat man. I don’t get any magical fund from some rich Conservative here, at all. I do not know the true business model of HotAir L.L.C. okay? For all I know they’re getting donations from The Heritage Foundation or The Project for the New American Century, or even Neil & John Podhartz for all I know. (…and considering thier political stance, it would not surprise me in the least….) But me? Nope! Only monies I get off this little rinky dink Blog, is from Advertising or if someone well off sap decides to have momentary lapse of reason and hits my tip jar. Which for the record, has yet to happen. (Hint, Hint!)
Others in the discussion from all sides: Right Wing Nut House, AMERICAblog News, Politics and Critical Thinking, Right Wing News, The Volokh Conspiracy, Ben Smith’s Blog, Sister Toldjah, The Gun Toting Liberal, JammieWearingFool, The Democratic Daily, Jules Crittenden, Don Surber, Kausfiles and Moe Lane
Update: John over at AmericaBlog does a follow up and links to me in the process. I might not agree with John on everything politically, but he was very kind to me in a email, so, I’m returning the favor. Welcome to all the liberal suckbag moronic commies AmericaBlog readers! 😉 😛 😀