LIVE AT FIVE: 01.22.13

Others who chronicled the event now have stains on their pants from the orgasmic gush. Chris Matthews emitted his usual effusion of idiocy, and over on the Third-Place Cable News Network With Lower Ratings Than MSNBC (The One That People Only Watch When They’re Stuck in Airports), Jim Acosta was trying to out-gush Matthews:

“You know, I feel like I should pinch myself right now, Wolf. I can’t believe I have this vantage point of history in the making . . . It’s good to be the President. It’s almost like being a rock star on every street corner of Washington on this day.”

Further mockery from The Lonely Conservative, American Power and Poor Richard’s News. This stuff does not amuse me. It depresses me.

Our nation is being destroyed, and the press corps is reduced to the role of partisan pom-pom girls for The Great Destroyer. Meanwhile, the alleged leaders of the opposition have no clue of how to rescue themselves from their current condition of helpless impotence. The search for any reason to smile amid this catastrophe — which I blame entirely on the gross ineptitude of the overpaid dimwit fratboys running the Republican Party — turns up precious few nuggets of encouragement:

Good news: @mccainblogette‘s 15 minutes of fame are pretty much over twitchy.com/2013/01/21/are… via @twitchyteam #tcot #RandomBeer

— Robert Stacy McCain (@rsmccain) January 22, 2013

The bimbo was a guest Monday on Anderson Cooper’s show on the Third-Place Cable News Network With Lower Ratings Than MSNBC (The One That People Only Watch When They’re Stuck in Airports). Her “brand” is even more irrelevant than her failed father, assuming that such complete irrelevance is even possible.

It’s going to be a long 1,460 days ahead.

Category: Barack Obama, CNN, Meghan McCain

Does Lynn Messina Grasp The Damage She’s Doing To Our Culture?

Posted on | January 21, 2013 | 17 Comments

by Smitty

Bottom line up front: “XX” != ” XY”.

Anybody who thinks that the moral fiber of the United States has been diminished since feminism and the sexual revolution disgraced our shores can find a contemporary example of the disease here, emphasis mine:

Start to complain about your preschooler adopting gentlemanly behavior and you quickly discover how out of step you are with the rest of the world. Almost everyone I mention it to thinks it’s lovely and sweet. What’s the harm in teaching little boys to respect little girls?
The implication, of course, is that I’m overreacting, and as a parent, I’ll admit to being prone to the occasional bout of hypersensitivity. For months, I grumbled that the inappropriately breathy tone of Cinderella on Emmett’s LeapFrog Princess laptop was warping a generation of impressionable young minds.
But I don’t think it’s an overreaction to resent the fact that your son is being given an extra set of rules to follow simply because he’s a boy. His behavior, already constrained by a series of societal norms, now has additional restrictions. Worse than that, he’s actively being taught to treat girls differently, something I thought we all agreed to stop doing, like, three decades ago. That the concept of selective privilege has been introduced in preschool of all places — the inner sanctum of fair play, the high temple of taking turns — is mind-boggling to me. How can you preach the ethos of sharing at the dramatic play center and ignore it 20 feet away at the toilet?
Yet as much as this double standard offends me as a mom, it’s nothing compared with how much it infuriates me as a feminist. Forty years after the tender, sweet, young thing in “Free to Be You and Me” gets eaten by a pack of hungry tigers after asserting that ladies should go first, we are still insisting on empty courtesies that instill in women a sense of entitlement for meaningless things. Many women see gallantry as one of the benefits of their sex; I see it as one of its consolations.

As we peer into the wreckage of our culture, wondering how we went from greatness to corruption, we need to point to the Lynn Messinas as the flies in the soup. Thanks to the internet, we can underscore just how false your ideas are Messina, and share some information about the origins of your jacked-up thinking.

This ‘notion of rules’ and sense of ‘treating girls differently’ does not end in a ‘sense of entitlement for meaningless things’, as events in Aurora tragically underscored. Without doing a thorough survey, how many of the recent spate of atrocities were undertaken by men who’d enjoyed a stable family life? How many featured a father who, understanding traditional values as pillars of strength rather than the bars of a prison, led the family in traditional roles of worship, character development, and masculine nurturing? I’d fall well short of connecting dots on anything here. I’m not making any correlation-equals-causation argument. Rather, I’m pointing out that the fundamentally good things Messina rejects are not, themselves, apparent drivers for evil at Newtown, Aurora, VA Tech, and so on.

Furthermore, if you ever want to develop the kind of men you need when the fertilizer truly hits the air circulator, you had better read every word Messina writes and proceed to do the opposite as parents. Denouncing the sort of idiocy she seems to encourage is among the minor reasons I blog at all. We, as a culture, need to stand up and oppose people that are throwing Western Civilization under the bus. They seem comfortable making room, not only for abortion, but for the kind of barbaric cultures that can genitally mutilate girls and then dress them in a bags when grown. If Messina was worthy of the attention, one should like to drop her somewhere in Asia for a year or so, as sort of a “homeland appreciation tour”.

As a case in point, we have the World’s Youngest Blogger.

As this blessing is on loan from the Good Lord Almighty, I can affirm that he will be raised with the utmost attention to all aspects of healthy moral, mental, and physical development. He may grow to frustrate his parents mightily, but I can guarantee it won’t be from exposure to the kind of falsehoods Messina peddles without being instructed as to their diabolical source.

via Insty

Category: Culture

Could Scarborough Be A Bigger Tool? And The Answer Is None. None More Big

Posted on | January 21, 2013 | 14 Comments

by Smitty

The former Republican Congressman sneered at the National Rifle Association, suggesting that the gun group is promoting the “big lie” that government will come after most guns.
Scarborough insisted the “the big lie has worked for years.” He added, “…If they take away your military-style assault weapons, take away the AR-15, they’re going to take your hunting rifle, they’re gonna take your handgun, which of course is a big lie.”

It’s like this, you schmuck: while the destruction of liberty continues ‘at a medium pace’, no rational observers doubt that this is what is going on. Scarborough, your Neville Chamberlain-esque reassurances excite no one, with the possible exception of Chris Matthews.

If you Godless Commies want to calm the narrative, suggest you calm the narrative, e.g. lay off the attacks on law-abiders.

via JBrown. Title ref.

Category: Uncategorized

How to Get Jennifer Schuessler to Give You a Puff Piece in the New York Times

Posted on | January 21, 2013 | 28 Comments

Obviously, it helps if you’re a Bolshevik:

When Bhaskar Sunkara was growing up in Westchester County, he likes to say, he dreamed of being a professional basketball player.
But the height gods, among others, didn’t smile in his favor. So in 2009, during a medical leave from his sophomore year at George Washington University, Mr. Sunkara turned to Plan B: creating a magazine dedicated to bringing jargon-free neo-Marxist thinking to the masses.
If that hardly seems less of a long shot at fame, let alone fortune, he’s the first to agree.
“I had no right to start a print publication when I was 21,” he said in an interview in a cafe near his apartment in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. “Looking back, I see it as a moment of creative ignorance. You have to have enough intelligence to execute something like this but be stupid enough to think it could be successful.”
The resulting magazine, Jacobin, whose ninth issue just landed, has certainly been an improbable hit, buoyed by the radical stirrings of the Occupy movement and a bitingly satirical but serious-minded style. Since its debut in September 2010 it has attracted nearly 2,000 print and digital subscribers, some 250,000 Web hits a month, regular name-checks from prominent bloggers, and book deals from two New York publishers.

When I saw the headline (“A Young Publisher Takes Marx Into the Mainstream“) at MediaGazer, it got my attention because, of course, Marxism is the deadliest idea in human history. Marxist-Leninist regimes killed 100 million of their own citizens in the 20th century but, hey, let’s assign a cheerful human-interest story about this young idiot who thinks it’s hip and cool to revive a discredited ideology.

It’s “an improbable hit” with “250,000 Web hits a month”? Guess that makes me “an improbable hit,” too, but I haven’t had any interview requests from Jenny Schuessler yet. Ace of Spades HQ has had more than 190 million visitors to date and, last time I checked, they were averaging something like 300,000 Web hits daily. However, for some reason Ace doesn’t get glowing coverage in the New York Times Sunday Magazine, and if New York publishers have been eagerly thrusting book contracts at him, Ace has been suspiciously quiet about it.

Almost like there’s a bias or something, y’know?

@jennyschuessler <- a journalist in the historic New York Times tradition of Walter Duranty!

— Robert Stacy McCain (@rsmccain) January 21, 2013

UPDATE: Ask yourself, “How does a magazine with less Web traffic than this blog merit a gushy 1,100-word puff piece in the New York Times?”

Well, left-wing journalists like Jenny Schuessler read left-wing magazines, and they watch MSNBC and it turns out MSNBC host/Nation writer Chris Hayes is a big fan of Jacobin. So it’s a “friend-of-a-friend” kind of phenomenon. Donald Douglas at American Power quotes Jacobin’s interview with Chris Hayes:

I do think there is a potential for a radicalized upper-middle class. We already see that, it’s just a question of how that gets channeled. Everything about the Netroots, the anti-war, anti-Bush sentiment … One of the interesting things about the way our certain kind of fractal inequality has manifested, the people who see it the most, have the closest proximity to it, say, the top 2 to the top 20 percent: ‘I went to law school with Joe and I have some job at a firm and I’m doing alright, but he went into a hedge fund and is making $10 million.’

Only the elite can afford to be Bolsheviks nowadays.

UPDATE II: Da Tech Guy does the math and figures to kill 100 million people in 100 years, you’d have to kill 2,739 people a day.

Eggs, omelets.

Category: Media Bias, New York Times

Scientology Continues Its Unwelcome Encounter With the ‘Streisand Effect’

Posted on | January 21, 2013 | 12 Comments

A week ago, the secretive Scientology cult accidentally invited closer media scrutiny by paying The Atlantic to publish a “sponsored content” article so over the top that it generated a massive backlash. It wasn’t difficult for journalists to figure out why the creepy sci-fi “religion” was trying to buy good publicity: Award-winning reporter Lawrence Wright was about to publish a new book, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief. On Sunday, the Washington Post published a review of Wright’s book on the front page of its “Outlook” section:

Newfangled religions, outre theology, secret rituals — these are threatening and titillating in equal measure; the more a religion’s leaders block or deflect reporters’ probes, the more the public wants to know (and the more sinister the faith can seem). . . .
[Scientology founder L. Ron] Hubbard was a voluble, charismatic, imaginative man, a writer who liked to spin fantastical stories. He was also a liar, according to Wright. The author builds a case that Hubbard lied about his health, his age and his military service . . .
He was married thrice and had innumerable extramarital liaisons; his second wife, Sara Northrup, accused him in divorce papers of “systematic torture” including “sleep deprivation, beatings, strangulations, and ‘scientific torture experiments.’?” . . .
Hubbard’s famously paranoid worldview is extensively documented here as well. When a negative reputation began to taint Scientology worldwide, he launched what was perhaps his most grandiose and outrageous scheme. He called it the Snow White Program. Starting in 1973, Wright asserts, Hubbard placed as many as 5,000 Scientologists as spies in government agencies all over the world, charging them with unearthing official files on the church, “generating lawsuits to intimidate opponents, and waging an unremitting campaign against mental health professionals.”
In the United States, Wright says, the spies penetrated the IRS; the Justice, Treasury and Labor Departments; the Federal Trade Commission; and the Drug Enforcement Administration. . . .

You can read the whole 1,600-word article by the Post’s religion editor, Lisa Miller. Obviously, Miller would have reviewed the book anyway, but would it have been featured at the top left on the front page of the “Outlook” section if it hadn’t been for that stupid Atlantic “advertorial”?

As of 2 p.m. today, Wright’s book was No. 9 on the Amazon bestsellers list. I’ve sold several copies via Amazon Associates, as well as copies of Janet Reitman’s 2011 book Inside Scientology: The Story of America’s Most Secretive Religion. And readers can also make advance purchases of the soon-to-be-released Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape, by Jenna Miscavige Hill, niece of Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige.

When truth is cheap, secrecy becomes expensive, and Scientology simply cannot afford the price of protecting its esoteric nonsense. Thus, 2013 may become known as the year that finally bankrupted Scientology. Another victory for “The Streisand Effect.”

PREVIOUSLY:

Category: Books, Conspiracy Theories, Religion

Show Some Civility, You Nazi Racists!

Posted on | January 21, 2013 | 25 Comments

Steve McCann on the divisiveness of the Obama Age:

This past week, Bob Sheiffer of CBS compared defeating the NRA to defeating the Nazis in World War II. Not to be outdone Martin Bashir of NBC said the NRA “…deserved to be compared to Hitler.” Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA) claimed: “…they [NRA] cannot get over the fact that Obama is black.” And the ever reasonable Charlie Rangel (D-NY) in discussing gun control said: “..the Southern states have cultures that we have to overcome.” These are but a few of the many references to either Hitler, the Nazis, racism or backwoods gun-totting hicks in fly-over country since the debate spawned by Obama’s determination to impose more stringent gun control measures began. . . .
Since Barack Obama was inaugurated in January of 2009, the use of the race card has reached epidemic proportions. Anyone who disagrees with his policies is branded a racist — a term filled with negative and ominous connotations. Its use is solely intended to demonize and intimidate the political opposition and is succeeding only in creating the most polarized society since the 1960’s.

Actually, America is much more polarized than we were 50 years ago. In 1963, pro-Castro Marxists were relatively few. “Lone nuts,” we called ’em. Even as late as 1968, pro-Palestinian radicals were so rare in America that nobody could comprehend their sentiments. I remember one day in June 1968, my mother crying, “Why? Why?”

Now those people are in charge of the country and, if you disagree with them, you’re the radical . . .

Category: Barack Obama, Progressivism, Racism

LIVE AT FIVE: 01.21.13

Posted on | January 21, 2013 | 8 Comments

— compiled by Wombat-socho

TOP NEWS
Eric Schmidt, Daughter Sophie Open Up About North Korea Visit

Bill Richardson and Eric Schmidt

Schmidt talked a lot about opening North Korea to the internet, but were Great Successor’s minions actually listening?
Related: Sophie in North Korea

Rahul Gandhi Takes #2 Post In Congress Party
Congress Party leader’s son condemns elitism, vows to decentralize political power

Death Toll At Algerian Gas Plant Rises To 81
Many bodies so badly disfigured after Saturday’s attack, security forces can’t tell if they’re jihadis or hostages

POLITICS
President Obama Sworn In For Second Term

The Capitol

Obama: Inauguration isn’t just about me (yeah suuuuure)

Thousands Turn Out For “Gun Appreciation Day” Rallies

Journal News Takes Down Map Of Gun Owners

Biden Thanks Latinos For Support In Obama Re-Election

Dallas Church, Gun Enthusiasts Compete For Weapons

Pennsylvania Kindergartner Suspended For Threatening To Shoot Friend With Bubble Gun

Obama Campaign Organization Relaunches As PAC

“Safety First” Helps Avoid “Accidental” Shootings

Nebraska Farm Bureau Rejects Governor’s Tax Plan

Minnesota Public Employee Pensions Short $16 Billion

THE ECONOMY, STUPID
Oil Prices Mixed On Unclear PRC, US Demand; NYMEX $95.56, Brent $111.89
US Widens Dreamliner Probe After Battery Finding
Asian Stocks Rise In Choppy Trade As Nikkei Slides
Huawei Sales Jump 8% On Smartphones, Probably Topping Ericsson
Solar Power Installations Set Record In Massachusetts
Sony’s Sexy Xperia Z Could Be Thinnest Tablet Ever
Google Research Paper: Passwords No Longer Enough For Online Security
Java Security Warnings: Cut Through The Confusion
Reality Check: Instagram Just Fine With Over 90 Million Monthly Active Users
How Would You Change Nokia’s Lumia 610?
Microsoft’s ARM Blunder: Seven Reasons Why Windows RT Was DOA
Major Layoffs At Wild Man Dev

SPORTS
Flacco Leads Ravens To The Super Bowl

Ray Lewis retirement party in two weeks; y’all invited

Ravens defense makes Tom Brady look ordinary in 28-13 win

49ers Bring Down Falcons 28-24, Advance To Super Bowl

Nuggets Snap Thunder’s Streak With OT Victory

Uninspired Rangers Not Looking Like Beasts Of The East

Fields Scores 18 As Raptors Beat Struggling Lakers

Penguins Far From Perfect, But Off To Perfect Start

Kings Owners Reach Agreement With Seattle Group

Hoosiers Hold Off Pesky Northwestern

Nationals Avoid Arbitration With Tyler Clippard, Announce Deals With Five Others

FAMOUS FOR BEING FAMOUS
Selena Gomez: It Helps To Have Friends Like Taylor And Vanessa

Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, and Vanessa Hudgens

Justin who?

Olympic Medalist Skater Michelle Kwan Gets Married

Why Manti Te’o And His Family Are Talking To Katie Couric

Lindsay Says Take Your Plea Deal And Shove It!

Arnold, Mark Wahlberg And Russell Crowe Terminated By “Mama”, “Oh Dark Thirty”

Octomom: Oops, I’m Stripping Again

Daniel Radcliffe Seen Kissing Costar Erin Drake At Sundance

J.J. Abrams, Paramount Developing Lance Armstrong Movie

Carrie Underwood: Don’t Call My Husband “Mr. Underwood”

“Glee” Star Mark Salling Sued For Pulling An Assange

FOREIGNERS
German Opposition Narrowly Wins Lower Saxony
PRC Income Gap Narrows, Still At Levels Risking Unrest
French, Malian Troops Advance Cautiously Against Jihadis
Taliban Suicide Bombers Attack Traffic Police HQ In Kabul
Syrian Opposition Attempts To Pick PM-In-Exile
Netanyahu: This Election Won’t Be My Last
Cameron To Give Key Speech On EU Ties
Venezuela’s Oil Tied To Chavez’ Fate
Inept Assassin Fails To Kill Bulgarian Politician At Point-Blank Range

BLOGS & STUFF
Weasel Zippers: Democratic State Assemblyman Arrested After Allegedly Threatening State Speaker In Vegas
Jawa Report: Joe Morrissey – A History Of Violence
NRO Corner: Bill Clinton’s Bounce On Those “Bitter Clingers”
Hot Air: Axelrod – Obama’s Second Term Priorities Include More Than Just Fiscal Crises
Bob Owens: Two Injured In Negligent Discharge At Raleigh Gun Show
Legal Insurrection: When Concerts Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Have Concerts
Doug Powers: Obama, Biden Sworn In For Second Term; Now Officially Inheriting Problems From Themselves
Joanne Jacobs: Another Day Older And Deeper In Debt
Washington Free Beacon: Democrat Group Airs Ad Blasting Hagel As “Anti-Gay, Anti-Woman, Anti-Israel”

Category: Live at Five

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The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

LIVE AT FIVE: 01.22.13

Our Long National Nightmare Is Over

Does Lynn Messina Grasp The Damage She’s Doing To Our Culture?

Could Scarborough Be A Bigger Tool? And The Answer Is None. None More Big

How to Get Jennifer Schuessler to Give You a Puff Piece in the New York Times

Scientology Continues Its Unwelcome Encounter With the ‘Streisand Effect’

Show Some Civility, You Nazi Racists!

LIVE AT FIVE: 01.21.13

THE FULL METAL JACKET REACH-AROUND AWARD

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