This is why Michael Savage is my very favorite RWNJ (right-wing nut job)

My husband and I have a habit of listening and/or watching all of the RWNJ on Fox and on talk radio.  We call in, we send emails and we harass them when they mislead.  We sincerely enjoy this activity and regularly wish we were writers for The Daily Show.

So, last night on the way home I caught Michael Savage (real name Michael Weiner) also known on the radio as "Doctor Savage."  He had seen the film "Too Big To Fail" and apparently for the first time he was beginning to understand what Credit Default Swaps are and how the whole economy fell apart because of widespread thievery on the part of Wall Street and Washington.  I have rarely heard him as exercised about anything.  For about five minutes, I agreed with every word he said.  The rage long buried began to boil...

I have said many times to the hubs that if people really understood the width and depth of their smugness, people would be out in the streets toting pitchforks.  For the record, when this happens, I prefer to be called Pitchfork Penny.  I have lots of yellin' to do.  Millions of us were hit in our 401k's or retirement funds...many older Americans will never recover.  Besides the tragedy that is our economy (14 million looking for work), the situation for the developing world is staggering.  And yet, only one guy went to jail.  And yet, they are whining about regulation and taxes.  The neck of it...

And then, he returned to type blaming George Soros for the collapse.  He then transitioned to bashing the women's movement and asked the question:  How come white men are stuck in adolescence?  Of course it is the fault of Feminism...which caused stunted growth in white men...which caused reckless side bets in the market.  Talk about a wobbly argument.  Take a look at this smarmy grin...



Every once in a while, you can catch Mr. Savage talking about his life or telling stories of when he was growing up in NYC.  If he doesn't talk about politics or religion, he is very likeable and entertaining.  The problem is that he will tell a touching story and the start screaming "Borders, Language, Culture" which is his battle cry against immigration.

He has been banned from England and has spent two years fighting his classification as too dangerous for Great Britain.  He is still banned.  And for the record, I don't think he should be.  Free speech is meant to protect that which is the most offensive...other speech is too easy to defend.  He doesn't belong on the list with terrorists.  Still standing with Justice Douglas on these issues--

Somebody has to monitor these propagandists...somebody has to call them on the bs.  This is one reason my marriage works--we share this hobby of being truth detectives and always have new things to talk about and confront.  We know we are throwing grains of sand in the ocean, but it at least makes us feel better. 

If you want to give him a listen...be prepared to be insulted very quickly.  However, when he talks about food or his dog--I'm a devoted listener.

The Psychology Matters: What Getting Osama Means to Americans...

I was on the porch when my husband came out and told me about the breaking news that really and truly was...*breaking news*...he said, "Obama got Osama."  We ran upstairs, booted up all the computers, put the tv on News Mix and began the hunt for details.  Each new piece of information revealed a deliberate, patient and thorough investigation that culminated in a brilliant action by the SEALS.  It hit me that more than any one death or accomplishment, what would be most impactful about this success would be the jolt of competence, pride and determination that Americans might begin to see again in the mirror after so many years of failures.

One of the great things about being an Educator is that you can learn about something, make connections to material that you use again and again and make it fresh.  I taught Critical Thinking last week and could not have created a better illustration of why these skills are so critical to success.  Getting my fellow Americans to associate this success with certain kinds of thinking and action is easy when you have such an example set by the CIA, the Armed Forces and the President and his team.  More than one person asked me what I thought it meant...for the country, for the President, for the wars...well, basically I think a win is a win is a win.  I also think the bolster to our own sense as Americans is difficult to measure, but ultimately will be the most powerful outcome.

When we traveled to Ireland in 2006, a man I became friends with asked me, "What happened to America?"  I asked him what he meant, as I was unsure which disaster he was referring to and he replied, "Well, you used to count on the Americans to be the ones who could get things done.  Everyone else might want to talk on and on about it, but the Americans were the ones with a good plan and superior execution.  It just seems like with Iraq and Katrina, your country is falling apart."  I couldn't exactly argue for the competence of our leaders.  But he wasn't just talking about our leaders...he was talking about all of us.  I could not honestly answer for what had happened--although I have lots of educated guesses as to why most of what we have taken on has remained unfinished or poorly constructed.

Here's what I learned about my country in the last seven days:

• We can do what we say we are going to do
• When we get it right, nobody does it better
• We really know how to make anything "Hollywood"
• When we focus on a goal, learn to share information and act in good faith with the full assets of our hearts and minds, things can change in an instant.
• Don't begin to mess with the SEALS
• We are not just overweight, loud, impatient and prone to braggadocio...we are also careful, smart, daring and nimble.
• The singing, dancing and relief was not to celebrate someones death, it was an exhale from a citizenry gripped by fears of its own irrelevance for too many years
• We picked the right man to be President and that man is like a duck on the water, placid on top and furiously paddling underneath--so very proud of all those involved.
• Don't count us out and don't underestimate us.

It is a clear shot across the bow and it is my hope that this event precedes our ability to solve budgetary decisions, withdrawal of troops and our economy.  Wouldn't it be something if all those who run businesses in this country felt a renewed sense of optimism and patriotism and starting hiring people?  Isn't it time to quit hoarding liquidity and invest in us?  Have we not proven our value?

Lesson learned

About the elections:

I'm glad the Republicans have some power...they can no longer just pout on the sidelines and refuse to govern.

I'm glad there is no Senator Angle, Senator Miller or Senator O'Donnell.

More power to the Tea Party if they can get the Republican party to discover fiscal conservatism.  Reagan and both Bushes ran huge deficits and grew government under their watch.  They haven't been the "small government" party as long as I've been living.  Only Bill Clinton left office with a surplus.

I'm beyond disappointment in the Democratic party...they are what they are...mostly cowards.   The Republican party is also full of cowardice, but I don't want them telling me what to believe.  At least the Dems are earnest in their efforts.  I don't trust a political party that talks on and on about ideas they never actually do anything about (deficits, cutting spending, less taxes, etc).  Whether you agree or not, the Democratic Congress that just got smacked did a hell of a job tackling big issues.

I wish that people who are anti-Government would explain what they would realistically cut. 

The 2012 race will start now and so much money (most of it from unknown origin) will be wasted and will make me sick every time I check my bank balance.

I am not mad or sad or even surprised by the results.  All signs (historical, economic and political) pointed to this outcome.  No day is darker than the day George W. Bush was given a 2nd term.

I just want adults to step forward and figure out how to solve our problems.  We simply cannot go on as is.  Either we will choose to deal with it all or the choice will be forced upon us.

I am sick of all the stereotypes we have of people of different political persuasions...they are generally inaccurate and always unfair.  They prevent us from getting things done.  I am proud that I have Conservative friends, Libertarian friends, Liberal friends and friends who don't know who Nancy Pelosi is...it takes all kinds.

I don't entirely trust the Government and never have...but I recognize that there are times when the only institution able to intervene is the Government.  I trust the Media and Corporate interests even less.  I don't think that Government can or should solve all our problems...but, it has its place.  Government cannot create jobs and yet this is what we expect.  The truth is that both political parties sold the middle class and the working people down the river a long time ago for their own short-term gain.  The reasons for the economic collapse and the recession are many and I've spent years educating myself about markets & economics.  No one entity can be blamed...but anyone who spent more than they earned played a part.  Pink!'s song "Sober" is actually a great metaphor for how everyone in this country went crazy with credit. 

I am thrilled that I have a job that I love and a way to provide a modest life for my family.  I don't want it to be taxed away anymore than my Conservative neighbor...but, I also don't want my elderly neighbor eating ramen noodles every day and skipping on medicine.  Yes, private charity is important--but the religious institutions cannot cover all the need.  I do feel as if I am my brother's keeper, my sister's keeper.  This is the essence of my ethics and I don't want to see us become an "I got mine" society.  I don't want my children to be in that world or inherit it.

I don't feel hopeful, but I haven't for a long time.  I just pray we have enough time to get our act together.  I'm still proud to have worked so hard to elect President Obama and believe he is doing an amazing job considering the disaster he had to work with...he still has my support and respect.  I don't agree with every policy or every approach--but I think he is the most sensible politician we have had in a long time.  There are many things to be disappointed about...but, I am thankful that some leaders did the right things to prevent thirty percent unemployment even if it cost them control of the House. 

I really enjoy trying to explain Americans and their political system to my Irish husband.  He thinks we are a mostly insane giant 2 yr old w/nukes that wants our cake and ice cream w/out having to pay for it.  I can't really disagree with him but like to remind him that Irish politicians and bankers screwed their populace too.

Can we all get back to work now?

just for clarification: I said I hate "most cheerleaders"

One of my pet peeves is this notion that if you get fired or backlash or in trouble for something you say or write--this is somehow a chilling of your First Amendment rights.  Here is the thing people...the First Amendment says, "Congress shall make no law."  It does not say that you have a right to say or do whatever you want and expect everyone to like it.  Dr. Laura or Don Imus or Rick Sanchez or Helen Thomas or Juan Williams...they were all canned because they said dumb things.  The Constitution does not protect you from your own stupidity.  This has nothing to do with freedom of speech.

Yes, everyone is a bit sensitive about which words are used and how they are used...and I agree with many reasonable people that "political correctness" has long ago served its usefulness.  However, I think that you have to stand by your own biases--especially when you express them publicly.  When I heard the Juan Williams offending clip, the first thing I thought was that if he had given his fear some context, he would not have sounded so bigoted.  The truth is that all people have biases...the least we can do is be up front about them and start from the assumption that being unbiased is an unrealistic expectation.  What do we do with our biases?  If we can acknowledge them and resist their comfortable pull, we give them less oxygen in our lives. 

Are many rational Americans fearful of people who "look Muslim" if they are boarding a plane?  Yes--this is an honest report.  But given the context of Islamophobia that has infected our country since 9/11--it is understandable that NPR didn't want to appear to go along with the mob on this one and I respect that.  Juan and FOX got want they wanted--Juan got 2 million bucks and FOX got to whinge on and on about liberals.  Would it have been ok if Juan said that he was afraid of black men in saggy jeans late at night?  Would that have got him canned?  It seems that rampant Muslim-bashing is so common (as is bashing of Hispanics) in the media and in public discourse that someone needs to say "Enough." 

I didn't think much of Juan Williams anyway, nor any of the other media personalities that have bitten the dust recently...the only one worth anything is Helen Thomas--if only because she is as old as Methuselah, a tough broad (in the best sense) and Republicans hate her.  I have many biases.  I don't like most cheerleaders, old people behind the wheel, rich people or most Republicans.  But, everytime I get righteous and start to enjoy looking down on anyone--I remind myself that all stereotypes result in pseudospeciation (thanks Erik Erikson) and that is unhelpful in the least and destructive at worst.