Mira
Mira's Journal"A competition of idiocy and ignorance" - Fidel Castro returns some "love" to the Candidates
from:
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2012/01/fidel-castro-calls-gop-race-greatest-competition-idiocy/47862/
Eric Randall
Jan 25, 2012
Cuba's former president, Fidel Castro, wrote an op-ed in the state-run media today with some very harsh words about the field of American Republican candidates.
“The selection of a Republican candidate for the presidency of this globalized and expansive empire is — and I mean this seriously — the greatest competition of idiocy and ignorance that has ever been," he writes, according to the New York Times. (Count this as the first time in recent memory a Fidel Castro op-ed has reminded us of a Bret Stephens op-ed.)
Of course, he doesn't sound any harsher than the candidates do when they talk about Castro, alternately advocating the regime's overthrow or reassuring us he's headed to Hell when he dies.
Needless to say, Castro's "critique" couldn't really hurt anyone's chances in the Florida primary, home to many Castro opponents. Nor is it likely to show up in President Obama's campaign literature anytime soon, but ... there you have it.
... And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there?
Now we know: 58 000 dollars a day. Passive income from the money we are looking at. No work of any kind involved at this point. Sitting in off shore banks, creating neither trickle down goop nor jobs.
Good new talking points in our daily interaction.
Sprinkle it into the conversations. Raise some consciousness around you.
It's our job.
It's outrageous: "Obama Risks Alienating Republicans By Using Facts" Andy Borowitz' opionion
Obama Risks Alienating Republicans By Using Facts
Radical Tactic Sparks Outrage
WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report) – In what some critics are calling the most radial tactic ever employed in a State of the Union Address, President Barack Obama risked alienating congressional Republicans last night by repeatedly using facts.
Mr. Obama stirred controversy throughout the speech with his relentless references to facts, data, and things that have actually happened, all long considered the third rail of American politics.
As the President made reference to tax rates and unemployment numbers, as well as sixteen separate mentions of Osama bin Laden, congressional Republicans’ blood began to boil.
After the speech, a furious Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters, “It’s been a longstanding tradition in our politics not to use facts in a State of the Union Address, a tradition the President chose to ignore in an outrageous way tonight. I won’t stand for it and the American people won’t stand for it.”
“We want to work with the President for the good of the American people,” added House Speaker John Boehner. “But he’s going to have to take facts off the table. That’s a deal-breaker for us.”
The President did not mention any of his GOP presidential rivals by name in his speech, but at one point said that government should be “leaner,” a blatant jab at former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
www.borowitzreport.com
There's still time to prepare for the : "2012 State of the Union Drinking Game"
Will Durst
2012 State of the Union Drinking Game
By Will Durst | January 23rd, 2012
What you need to play:
Four taxpayers: One white, Wall Street type in full suit and yellow power tie (MBA Guy); two ordinary folks sporting jeans, one in blue work shirt, other in white shirt (the Jeans); and one person wearing clothes that look like they were used for floor covering at a tire-changing shop for a minimum of three months, with belt, shoelaces, socks and underwear confiscated (Rags). Except for MBA Guy, game is non-gender or race specific.
One large screen HDTV tuned to speech. 42-inch or larger. Game played behind coffee table three feet away.
One regulation shot glass per person. Everybody brings own, placing it on coffee table. MBA Guy gets first choice among assembled. White shirt picks next, then blue shirt. MBA Guy takes last shot glass as well, and Rags either rents it from him, finds a replacement or drinks out of own cupped hands.
Everybody antes up 20 bucks. Cash. Except MBA Guy, who tosses in hand-made voucher. Preferably crayon.
Two packages Lit’l Smokies in bowl with favorite BBQ sauce.
One package round toothpicks.
One bottle small-batch Kentucky bourbon.
Two six-packs beer apiece. Rags gets whatever is on sale, i.e. Heileman’s Old Style Ice Dry Light. MBA Guy gets choice of import. The Jeans get domestic, and must go to store to purchase and carry provisions.
Rules of the game:
2. Every time Barack H. Obama says “compromise,” first person to stop laughing is exempt from drinking two shot glasses of beer.
3. If either Vice President Biden or House Speaker Boehner gets caught napping on camera, last person to sing “Wake Up, Little Susie” drinks four shots of beer.
4. Whenever Mr. Obama says word “jobs,” everybody drinks shot of beer. If he hits 10, throw used toothpicks at TV and first to stick one within outline of his face doesn’t have to drink two shots of bourbon.
5. If Chief Executive winks and/or points at Michelle, all four players blow kisses. Drink shot of beer for every general’s star sitting within two seats of First Lady.
6. When Obama speaks about sacrifices made by our brave troops, last one to leap to attention and salute must drink shots of beer for entire duration of standing ovation.
7. Every time Barack uses phrase “offshore banking accounts,” clasp a Lit’l Smokie between the teeth and swordfight others. Losers drink 3 shots of beer and eat sausages. Winner can spit his out.
8. Whenever Obama makes reference to faith getting him through tough times, last person to fall to knees and shout “Hallelujah!” drinks shot of bourbon.
9. If president relates touching heartfelt story of somebody denied health care, Rags gets to kick everybody else once. Twice, if subject of anecdote is in audience. Three times, if he/she is sitting next to astronaut.
10. When Barack H. Obama mentions bipartisanship, last person to pretend to faint drinks three shots of beer.
Extras:
Before speech, everyone writes down who they think is giving Republican response. Anybody who correctly identifies person doesn’t have to watch.
MBA Guy takes home all the money and the Jeans pay off voucher.
Leftover bourbon, beer and Lit’l Smokies go home with Rags after he/she washes dishes in front of TV.
—–
The New York Times says Emmy-nominated comedian and writer Will Durst “is quite possibly the best political satirist working in the country today.” Check out the website: Redroom.com to buy his book or find out more about upcoming stand-up performances. Or willdurst.com. Or don’t.
Concerned White House Aides Say Obama Has Not Stopped Laughing Since Saturday Night/Borowitz reports
January 23, 2012
Concerned White House Aides Say Obama Has Not Stopped Laughing Since Saturday Night
Staff Mystified by Uncharacteristic Giddiness
WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report) – White House aides are alarmed by uncharacteristic behavior on the part of President Obama, who they say has been laughing uncontrollably since 7 PM Saturday night.
The aides, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that they heard “unusual howls” coming from the Oval Office just after the seven o’clock hour on Saturday evening, causing them to rush to the President to ascertain the cause of the uproar.
“It was weird,” one aide said. “He was just watching cable news.”
The staff members thought little of the normally reserved President’s giggle attack until it continued throughout the weekend, which saw Mr. Obama laughing uncontrollably and stopping only to gasp for air.
Ever since Saturday, Mr. Obama has been oddly giddy throughout White House staff meetings, the aide said, and has been seen doodling the initials “N.G.” in the margins of memos “like a love-struck schoolgirl.”
“The only thing we can think of that N.G. might stand for is Not Good,” the aide said. “But why would he be so happy about something that’s not good?”
Mr. Obama’s high spirits were on evidence today in a brief White House appearance, in which the President made the following statement about the administration’s energy policies: “Going forward, the United States of America will bwahahahahahahahahahahahaha.”
www.borowitzreport.com
A heart warming photo and some words about our President. A nice reminder.
Someone just sent this to me, and should it have been shown already I apologize.
These Guests will get us back in the Bill Maher habit / the Season is back on...
Senator Bernie Sanders
Jennifer Granholm
Buddy Roehmner
Matt Lewis
10pm EST / HBO
repeat at 11pm
A letter from Mitt Romney: "About my finances" / ghost written by Andy Borowitz
SOUTH CAROLINA – Republican presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney has released the following letter to the American people:Dear American People:
Over the past several days, my personal finances have been distorted into a grotesque caricature by the mainstream media, pundits, and other people who can count. I am writing to you to set the record straight by explaining my finances in terms the American people can relate to.
Let’s say you bought a bottle of Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1982 for $5,000. A couple of years later, what do you know, you sell that same bottle for $10,000. So you just made a profit of $5,000 through your own hard work. How much of that should you pay to the government? I’d say fifteen percent.
Now let’s say you have a fellow mowing the lawn at your 7,000 square foot home in La Jolla, and he turns out to be an illegal. You say, “No way, Jose” (Jose is actually his real name) and send him packing. He doesn’t deserve his full paycheck, since he lied to you in Spanish, but it wouldn’t be fair to give him nothing, either. So you pay him fifteen percent.
Now let’s pretend the United States of America is like one big restaurant. Not a fancy restaurant, mind you, but one that only gets two Michelin stars. And let’s say that you order a meal of Beluga caviar, white truffles and gold shavings, washing it down with your favorite beverage, Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1982. The bill arrives and it’s quite a hefty one for a working stiff who only made $375,000 last year in speaking fees. (That’s right: minimum wage.) So when it comes to toting up the bill, how much should I tip the waiter, who in case you’re having trouble following this metaphor is the IRS? You got it: fifteen percent.
I think I’ve now shown, using these real-life examples that everyone can relate to, that no one should ever pay more than fifteen percent on their taxes. If you have been paying more than that, you should get rid of your loser accountant pronto. That’s another thing I have in common with regular Americans: we like firing people.
So – now that I’ve laid it out in simple terms that even you can understand, do you agree that you and Mitt Romney have a whale of a lot more in common than you thought? I’ll bet you ten grand you do.
Au revoir,
Mitt
www.borowitzreport.com
Oblivious I signed on to DU this am and it was NOT THERE: my first thought
on assessing the situation, after nodding in agreement with the solidarity action was this:
"I hope that Skinner gets to play with his children all day long".
Then with a new appreciation I thought about the night and day / year round availability of DU, and smiled a lot when I missed DU today and sent good thoughts hoping it worked out well for the Administrators to have a really strange day,
but now I noticed bookmarks have appeared, so the work goes on.
(Thanks for the bookmarks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Profile Information
Gender: Do not displayMember since: Thu Oct 21, 2004, 05:06 PM
Number of posts: 22,482