Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Why Is This Man Smiling?


For some reason, conservative Republicans in Congress have taken great solace in their "ability" to remain united against the recovery package. In fact, it seems to be a point of pride, as if they have actually accomplished something positive. But as Ruth Marcus points out, the Obama Administration is about to win an unprecedented vistory...

John Dickerson seems to think that addressing the American people and the press as if they could think and parse complex topics might be a mistake: "If the president's job is to persuade, can it be done through patient instruction with only a few hints of harangue?"

What Dickerson found collegial, Rush Limbaugh described as "rambling incoherence." Oddly, Limbaugh has adopted John Edwards' rhetorical device of two Americas, in this case -- presumably -- the informed America and the uninformed America (i.e., his listenership)... 

However you heard him, Obama is bigger than American Idol...


Don't miss the rest Tawnee Lynne's Krewe du Vieux photos here...

For the record, Limbaugh is a college dropout. (According to his mother, "he flunked everything", even a modern ballroom dancing class)... 

Angels and people: A photographic record of life in New Orleans...

The $15,000 mortgage credit is great for people who don't need it
Low-income people will not benefit, said Linda Couch, deputy director of the National Low Income Housing Coalition."The bill is focusing a lot more of its resources on higher-income households and home ownership than it is on the lowest-income people and people really teetering on the edge of homelessness"...


Foxessa writes of the potentially disastrous impact of flooding on our knowledge of our own past:
The people of New Orleans and the history of the city contain vital information and clues to our past, and our present got to be what it is, in so many, many areas. Those who work in these fields are terrified that everything will disappear before we've re-learned what was lost or never noticed or deliberately suspressed in the first place...

Can you spot the difference in these two pictures? Look closely...

16 comments:

Unknown said...

College drop-out, hypocrite (see addiction issues & his statements on same reagrding anyone else), blowhard, etc. It's nothing short of frightening that Limbaugh has any audience. That's the sort of thing that keeps me from feeling real sanguine about change-- there are so many folks out there ready to fan the flames of bitterness. But I'm happy with much of what Obama's done so far & am actually proud of a president for the first time in ages. The comparison pic you linked to is very telling-- you don't need to look closely!

Rachel said...

Rush Limbaugh was the boogeyman that I imagined as a child. It was not a hairy, spiky, ghoulish creature hiding in my closet, waiting ever so patiently for the lights to go out so that he could murder me in my sleep. It was actually a balding, middle-aged, college flunk out conservative radio host.

He never did get me!

K. said...

I read recently that Limbaugh's approval rating among the general public is 21%. The political problem conservatives have is that they need that 21%. But the more vocal that crew, the more they turn off the mainstream. They seem to believe that all they need do is repeat the same obstructionism they pulled on Clinton. The difference is that Clinton took office with 37% of the vote, whereas Obama the most popular votes of any presidential candidate at any time. That is a huge difference in terms of the political climate.

Unknown said...

K:

That's interesting: no doubt living in the state of ID gives me a skewed perspective-- I know folks who listen to Limbaugh because they agree with him. I don't hate these folks-- some I like quite well. But it's sad & frustrating to see the manipulation.

K. said...

Rachel: Whew! Talk about a narrow escape! And welcome to Citizen K.

John: You are exactly living in the heart of blue America! I live on the Eastside of Seattle, When I moved here in 1990, it was solidly Republican, although not socially conservative. The growth of Microsoft and the drift of the Republican party to the far right has changed the Eastside into a solid blue. Where once Democrats had no elected official from the Eastside in the Washington State legislature, all but one now are.

Congressman Dave Reichert holds on by the skin of his teeth because of his margins in the small part of Pierce County that is in his district. He's constantly forced to defend his questionable moderate bona fides. Obama ran well ahead of him in the 8th District; if Obama succeeds and Reichert continues to vote against him, ol' Dave will have some 'splainin' to do.

Unknown said...

K:

It could happen, tho Idaho tends to attract a lot of Orange County Republicans, who (making a huge generalization) are a scary lot. But I came from VT, so I know things can change. Thru the first G Bush, VT voted for every Republican presidential candidate since Lincoln. Now look at 'em. FWIW, I lived in Burlington when Bernie Sanders was mayor: once upon a time I had a "People's Republic of Burlingto" t-shirt.

Dorothy said...

What is truly sad, millions of people believe every word he utters on his radio show as gospel. There is no pretense of uniting us as one people. It has been said that Bush was a war monger. I would say Rush is right up there. His battlefield in just a lot closer to home. His goal is to have a them and a us. If it is all about Rush and his followers then I don't want to apart of them. Living in Utah there are a lot of them.

K. I have to say I really enjoy your blog. Keep up the good work.

Roy said...

The problem for the Republicans is that they got too used to ruling the roost for so long. I think it still hasn't penetrated that they no longer have a mandate; they're still acting as if they do.

As for Rush - 21% huh? I'm surprised it's that high!

K. said...

Dorothy: Thanks! I hope to see you again!

Roy: Limbaugh's approval rating is about what Bush's was when he left office. Remember "I'm a uniter, not a divider"? People actually fell for that. Well, as Abraham Lincoln said, you can't fool all of the people all if the time.

Anonymous said...

Why is this man smiling?
Morphine suppositories?
Editilla

Anonymous said...

Oh and btw most excellent post! That girl Tawnee took the photos of my puppy, Mazy. She is named "Sandy" on Tawnee's flicker site. I have sicked her on Barkus, due to roll this Sunday the 15th...on Editilla's birfday!
Hahahahahaha

Molly The Dog said...

That's a f___ing GREAT photo comparison. It made me laugh. Glad those days are over. Rush L. is just an embarrassment to himself.

Anonymous said...

What's the difference between the Hindenburg and Rush Limbaugh?

One's a flaming Nazi gas bag and the other is a zeppelin.

Oldie but goodie.

Patrice said...

Congratulations to your commentators...

They are nearly as interesting and entertaining a read as are you.

Unknown said...

LOVE the Lily Ledbetter Act signing pic!!!

K. said...

It's telling, isn't it?

I honestly don't know how a woman could vote Republican. Maybe some day someone will explain it to me.