Brooklyn Mutt

On Sunday, I walked around on edge, worked out extra hard, played with my babies and did everything I can to avoid coverage of Sunday’s vote on healthcare. Not because I didn’t care, but because I was too damn nervous. I didn’t want to see the measure voted down, and I didn’t want to hear the backward rhetoric of the far-right (which is more than I ever thought!) continue to muddle the debate with half-truths and outright lies. When I saw the vote take place late Sunday evening, I was thrilled beyond relief that the measure passed. I won’t pretend that it doesn’t have its faults, but not only is it a step in the right direction, this piece of legislation does one thing that has not been disputed by anyone: fewer people will die each year. It saves lives… it saves lives… it saves lives.

Now my big fear is that this piece of legislation will not only be used as bait to try and lure the “angry at nothing” voter to oust politicians who supported this legislation, but also try and muster the strength to repeal it. I want to scream… “Dudes give it a break… stop and come up for air”. Take a “Tea” break… just stop for two minutes and realize that you lost… reflect upon it and rethink your ideals. But then I remembered what happened in the 90’s. Clinton lost his healthcare battle, and then the Republicans came in and swooped in to take the House, and Senate, then we had to deal with the likes of Newt Gingrich’s short lived but destructive “Contract with America.”

Fact is, the group of Republicans who are currently at the beck and call of the Glenn Beck’s (no pun intended), and Rush Limbaugh’s of the world, won’t stop. They are filled with this blind hatred of anything that doesn’t resemble their version of America, whether it’s a person’s skin color, sex, ethnic background or income status. They already showed that in the 90’s, they will shut down Government, cause misery to countless lives, all to garner power. They are poised to do it again, and quite frankly, we can’t we afford what happened in the 90’s.

Now you may be thinking “it’s just another lib who is trying to use scare tactics”. Well for starters, whatever I am (it’s all perspective), does not change the fact that in the 90’s I was a diehard republican who stared at the TV in disbelief when then Presidential candidate Bob Dole said he didn’t believe cigarettes cause cancer. At that point I realized that special these people … these fucking people will stop at nothing to achieve their personal dreams. 

So for the sake of social progression, I say do not celebrate this victory. Not for one second. Hit the blogs, and start fighting. Fight with your father, mother, brother, sister, neighbor and stand your ground. Don’t leave it at “agree to disagree.” These fucking people still question the civil rights movement and social security because the passive progressives let them be. Shame them for their awful opinions, while appealing to their better angels. Let them know who this bill affects, don’t ask for their sympathy, but demand their empathy.

More importantly, support your local congressman or Senator who supports healthcare. President Obama’s inspiring campaign can’t be simply about 2008, but an ongoing commitment to make your voices heard. This is where the far right wins… their aging, out-of-touch constituency remains motivated every year during voting season. The progressives can no longer take the “Sunday News Liberal “ approach. In world where we have a 24/7 news cycle, and rapid information, everyday is Election Day!

And for those who still would advocate taking away care for those in need, who would gladly see people die so you can achieve glory, I say this… (Pay Attention… this is my Keith Olberman moment!)

Take your rightful place in history, for you are the very same person who opposed the end of slavery, FDR’s New Deal, a woman’s right to vote, a woman’s right to choose, civil rights, Medicare, and every social program that you probably benefitted directly from. Books will be written about you, stories will be told, movies will be made, and when history does judge you and all of your life’s work, they will laugh in disgust and ask ‘how could they”? To say that you are all fifth-rate Joe McCarthys would be an insult to his already deplorable legacy. The glaring difference is that you all know what is wrong from right, but refuse to acknowledge it. You all are on the wrong side of history.

by Brooklynmutt contributor Niko

Hey everyone, I have a question… Who are the three front running Presidential candidates for the Republican Party, and what do they all have in common? Well if you guessed any combination of Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin or Rudy Gulianni, I bet most of America would agree with that assessment. What do they all have in common? Like over 22.6 million people in the United States… THEY ARE ALL OUT OF WORK! (Sort of).

Brooklynmutt posted this picture on their site once again picking on poor FOX News for their poor math. But that’s not what got me… what got me is how the GOP is pushing candidates that not only lost BADLY to the democrats, but candidates who are out of office, not offering anything new to their resume except multiple appearances on FOX News. Sarah Palin quit her job two-thirds into her first term… Gulianni’s 2008 Presidential run was at best embarrassing… Mitt Romney has been non-existent since his 2008 “religiolous” flop, and Huckabee left after his first term in 2007 prior to running for President.  What have they done for us lately? (On a side-note will anyone from the GOP admit that 9/11 happened under a Republican President… jeesh! )

But seriously, with Sarah Palin writing books and accepting a paid position from FOX News, Mike Huckabee who has had his own show for quite some time, along with Romney and Gulianni hitting the talk show circuits to talk about their political ambitions is completely symbolic of what has become the GOP. Pure and unadulterated laziness! They are not contributing anything to the on-going debate on healthcare, the environment, the economy, or even national security. All they are doing is critiquing the President for the sake of critiquing. Not one ounce of productivity is taking place on their part. They are literally TALKING a good game, but not taking part in it. Republicans should be looking to find that new candidate that can possibly restore order in the free market, while keeping it “free”, or a candidate that has ideas on how to better ourselves for a more secure future that does not feel the need to fear us with the same old tactics and superstitions. I know it may seem I am asking a lot, but right now… I want a working Republican to consider for the highest office… not out of work, egotistical glory seekers.

This is not a knock on Republicans, but a challenge. The only way the Democrats can deliver on their promises is when there are realistic challengers on the horizon. I’ll be frank… as in “Barney Frank”… if I was President Obama, I would easily cave on key issues knowing that the best and brightest of the Republican  Party are not the best or the brightest, but the laziest.

Until next time…

by Brooklynmutt contributor Niko

I am no Nate Silver, but I bet I can come close tell how many Americans have died as a result of international terrorist activities in each of the past 6 Presidential administrations.

President Carter          -           7

President Reagan        -           521

President Bush            -           2

President Clinton        -           54

President Bush            -           3030

President Obama         -           0

For Starters…

I don’t know about you, but Obama’s record is pretty good so far. Yes, we may have had a close call this past weekend. But let’s keep it in perspective, and actually try and learn from this. For starters, a man’s burning crotch does not equal to anarchy in the skies.  Secondly, I read something like 530,000 names have possible ties to terrorism with 4,000 on “no fly lists”. That’s a pretty big list. It nearly matches the population of an American City like Buffalo, Knoxville or Dayton.  It’s a system begging for re-evaluation.

I am no security expert, but this is a great opportunity to be smart about this rather than enforce useless policies. How about eliminating unrealistic names like Cat Stevens (Yusef Islam) or eliminating ‘cash only” purchases at the gate. Let’s limit the number of carry on to ONE hand sized bag (or reasonably sized) not suitcases… I have no issues with reasonable profiling, but can airlines make it a point to be understanding to the annoyed customer (like myself) who may have been searched way too many times. Random searches are useless… not one would be bomber has been caught. Again, I am no expert but let’s have a smart debate instead of dumber restrictions imposed on flyers that are positioned to us as “safety”. With that said, I prefer a qualified, well-paid pilot as opposed to pilots on welfare flying my airplane. Airline pilots can be paid as low as $16,000 dollars a year! Your local Taco Bell Assistant Manager is paid a higher salary! That’s far more a threat to passenger safety then any terrorist!

Secondly…

I didn’t count criminal activities by American citizens, (I.E. Oak City, Fort Hood). Now it may seem that I am being preferential to the Democrats…  I assure you I am not. When factoring the casualties of the botched Afghan and Iraq wars, President GW Bush’s numbers would swell to over 10,000. President Reagan’s would swell to the thousands (very kind estimate) to count for the acts of terror committed in Central America,  President HW Bush’s lifetime in the CIA would have to factored in, President Clinton’s inadvertent bombing  of a hospital in Bosnia would have to be counted.

Then we would also have to factor that “conservative” Americans committed terrorist acts when Scott Roeder assassinated abortionist Dr. Tiller (who Bill O’Reilly called the “baby Killer”), or when 3 Pittsburgh police officers were executed by a man who was literally afraid of President Obama’s nonexistent anti-gun policy (then we could literally argue that Glenn Beck is the mastermind of conservatism terror and thus should be arrested). Do we also want to point out the thousands of deaths each year committed by greedy corporations who take away a person’s healthcare? Cause frankly, that terrifies me more than anything else. So if you want to go there… I can.

Happy New Year!

by Brooklynmutt contributor Niko

That’s right, beneath my manly exterior not only exists a know-it-all blowhard who has strong opinions on politics, sports, and pop culture, I also happen to have a pretty good ear for music. And I would like to share my ear with all of you by acknowledging some pretty good releases over the course of the year, as well as some pretty bad ones…

Best CDs of 2009

Pearl Jam – “Backspacer” –   After not releasing a viable CD in over 10 years, Pearl Jam was in pretty dangerous ground of being irrelevant. Backspacer not only reversed their downward trend, but it was clearly their best CD since 1994’s “Vitalogy,” and in my opinion, the strongest CD this year. Eddie Vedder’s vocals are mesmerizing, the band sounds as tight as ever, and the production by Brendan Obrien is top notch. The CD’s strongest track, “The Fixer,” is a fun pop-rock head bobbing song, which is followed up nicely by soulful ballad’s “Just Breathe” and “Speed of Sound.” This CD reaffirmed their status as one of today’s top rock bands.

The Avett Brothers – “I and Love and You” – If not the best CD this year, certainly the prettiest. The Avett Brothers combine bluegrass, country, punk, pop melodies, folk, rock and roll, honky-tonk, and ragtime to produce a truly unique sound that is down-to-earth, soulful, with that ever so slight edge of punk. Their latest CD grabs you right from the opening title track, and it never needs to let go, because you simply don’t want to leave its hypnotic embrace.

Franz Nicolay – “Major General” -  The hardest working man in music never stops. Between playing non-stop for “The Hold Steady,” sitting in with bands like “the World Inferno Friendship Society,” and his involvement “Anti-Social Music,” Franz took time out from his busy schedule to record his own material. Quite frankly, this was the more surprisingly good CDs I have encountered this year. Despite his unassuming voice, and presence, Franz is unmistakably a fantastic songwriter, who draws directly from his personal experiences and vast knowledge of music that produced a raw yet slick CD that is totally original. Some of the year’s best pop songs that no one ever heard are on this disc. Because of Franz’s wide array of musical influences, the CD may be too uneven of a listen… but those with an eclectic ear would appreciate the effort.

Read more

In the midst of a pressing debate on healthcare or lack thereof, Iraq, Afghanistan, birth certificates, Tea Bags (Lipton or Nestea), the economy, and who David Letterman is f*cking… the one thing that has been completely ignored by even the most liberal of media agencies (along with Michael Moore’s brilliant movie) was the awful/unlawful behavior of the Pittsburgh Police department during the G20 summit.

Has anyone seen any of the footage? Our best and brightest of young Americans, some who were clearly not involved in any of the protests against world wide corporate greed, were mercilessly gassed, and beaten by the Pittsburgh Police department and the military for reasons that are still lost on me. (Unless of course they were just Steelers fans who were pissed that they lost to the Bengals… then I totally understand… but I don’t think that was the case).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNyV7UQJpyY

In this video you will see one way clashes with Police “cracking” down on civil protests, recklessly gassing law abiding citizens of Pittsburgh, and beating students who just happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. In one instance, a group of students were trying to flee gassed compartments only to be met with two cops, armed to the tee in the most ominous fashion. A film director couldn’t have fabricated a more chilling moment. Now I realize that sometimes the police need to be aggressive to maintain order, but in this case, they were clearly the aggressors.

But I can see why it’s tough to criticize the police in this country; even President Obama… the most powerful man in the free world had to apologize to everyone and their mother for calling the “stupid” actions of a New Hampshire police officer “stupid”.

Pardon the internet lingo but WHAT THE F*CK???

At what point has our society stopped questioning the practices of the police? A better question I guess is when did we ever start? How do we start? I have no idea!! My usual rants revolve around by somehow encouraging others to speak up on a subject… but in this case… no one will dare speak up… not even our own President.

I realize that there are many police officers who have a genuine interest in serving the public good, and the corrupt officers are a sliver of the overall police population. However, as someone who has many dear and close friends who are cops, I can honestly say that most of them don’t give a shit. If you don’t believe me… ask them.

I wish I could say that G20 was the only example of abuse… and I wish I had the space to list the more recent cases… or inform you of the history of police oppression around the world… or even the many stories of racial profiling, and excessive abuse confessed to me by some of my closest friends over a pint of Guinness. But instead I’ll ask you one question…

When was the last time that you had a good experience with a police officer?

I am not talking about a “cool” cop who gave you directions to the nearest bar, but an instance when you called upon them in a time of need, and them at the very least taking active steps to help solve your problem or help you receive justice. I think you would have a hard time answering this question.

In my experience, I honestly can not recall one instance. When I was in retail, cops were often rude and combative and generally unhelpful, despite he fact that my store was victim to shoplifters and robberies. For years, and mainly because I had friends in law enforcement, I always supported cops because of the difficult job they have. But now when I think about it, when did they ever support me? On top of that, relative to other professions, their job isn’t dangerous at all! Talk about good marketing!

Now I was often dismissive to those who complained of being stopped by officers, especially to those in high crime areas (mostly people of color). My attitude (as embarrassing as it is to confess) was like “hey, how else are they supposed to protect you”, and almost always rejected the notion of any resentment they would toward the NYPD because of the added “attention” their neighborhoods received. But its easy to forget, that even in the worst of neighborhoods, the overwhelming majority of the folks are victims of crime, not the cause of crime.

Now it may seem that the G20 clashes may be an extreme case for me to cite as a “problem”. But this was a clear and sanctioned attack on our rights as free citizens in this country. I know the anarchist youth can be aggressive at times, but this is America, and the last time I checked, we had the right to walk down the street and not be attacked.

Where do we go from here? With more and more communities turning to PRIVATE security companies to police their communities, it will be infinitely more difficult to hold private companies accountable for their actions as opposed to civil servants who are already SUPPOSED to be accountable to its citizens. Now to some this may seem highly unlikely… but when you consider that our nation has turned to “Blackwater” for our military needs, why would this be any different? Your next “human rights” violation can literally be bought to you by Wal-Mart. Unfortunately we won’t be “spending less” or “living better” …

Until Next time…

Calif. Jail Entrepreneur Has Checkered Past NY Times

wiretapmag.org

Blackwaterbook,

When Bill Maher announced a few weeks back that he believed America to be a “stupid” country, America’s conservative pundits salivated over that remark, as they were able galvanize their super intellectual base and ask “Why is the far left saying America’s a dumb country?”

Ok, maybe they have a point. The left-wing has been riding the “America is dumb” thing for quite some time… I mean come on, we voted for Bush… TWICE, but haven’t we moved on? We elected Obama, and we got wiser and smarter… right? Plus this whole America is “dumb” thing is so passé. That whole mentality should be thrown in the attic. It’s as dead as disco and Michael Jackson… We have so moved on… Not really…

The fact that Obama was elected has changed very little… don’t get me wrong, we may now have a President that’s smarter, but when he was running for office, he said that in order for America to succeed, “WE” would have to be smarter. He wasn’t just talking about himself, he was challenging us to think harder about the decisions we were making in or lives. And sadly, the recent actions by the American people and local Governments all but assure that not only are we “dumb and stupid”, but the recent decisions we have made will continue to make us “dumb and stupid”… Here are a couple points…

Healthcare Debate
I’ll be generous and not factor in the “special people” who were so nice to attend recent town hall meetings. But what I will do is mention a recent NY Times article referring to recent polls;

“Majorities of respondents said that they were confused about the health care argument and that Mr. Obama had not done a good job in explaining what he was trying to accomplish.”

This is completely indicative on how DUMB we still are. Here is a plan that was meticulously explained to the American people. Now some say that Obama’s plan was “too complicated”. Too that I say GOOD… it’s supposed to be. The healthcare issue in America like many others is VASTLY complicated and simple solutions are no longer the answer. It’s tied into many other factors within our economy … its ok if you didn’t understand it or even better, you didn’t agree with it… but to not know what he was “trying to accomplish”. Are you f*cking kidding me?  That statement says right there that we as a nation are unable to comprehend issues that can’t be explained in five words or less… and that’s where the conservatives win… because they yell “Socialism”, (one word!) and the discussion is over.

Stay Classy Philadelphia
The economy does demand that local Governments reduce some of the services to the communities, I think we can all agree that sacrifice is needed in order to achieve our fiscal goals… but the fine folks at the city of brotherly love decided to close ALL LIBRARIES in the city. This is the 6^th largest library system in the country, the first in existence founded by the man, the myth, the legend, “Big” Ben Franklin himself. This is an institution for god sakes! Of all the dumb things for a city to do… (Besides signing cat lover Michael Vick to a multi-million dollar deal)

“Come October 2nd, all 53 library buildings throughout the city will close. Books and DVD’s will no longer be available for loan.  Free internet access will cease.  The community programs and meetings held in the libraries will have to find another venue, and the GED and English as Second Language educational programs will end.”

Now I know what some are you thinking? “Who the hell goes to libraries?”… well if you asked that question, then you are someone who does have easy access to internet, and have the means to pay your bills in order for it to keep running, thus likely to have some sort of job. But for millions who are out of work, who can’t afford what we now consider necessities of modern living, the local library is a valuable resource for poor children to go and study, and learn. Many have been flocking to the libraries seeking information on acquiring gainful employment. The local library was a big part of helping America get out of past depression/recessions, and can be again. Even the Wall Street Journal agrees that;

“Librarians are turning into job counselors — and even social workers — as they have to deal with a sometimes-desperate new class of patrons.”

So why in the hell does the city want to shut them ALL down? This is a dangerously short sighted decision. The importance of the public library is well established, and time honored. Compared to the cost of other city projects/divisions… the cost is at best prohibitive.

Ok, these were just two examples on how Bill Maher’s statement that we are a “dumb” nation holds water. We can elect any leader we want to the pulpit; we can laugh at the outright hilarity of Glenn Beck and think better of ourselves. But if this nation thinks that NOT thinking our way out of our problems is acceptable, or allowing a generation of children not to have access to what is now considered the essential tools of education, this sh*t storm will not end any time soon. Even if things get better, we are leaving ourselves open for something far worse.

With that said, I just realized that I borrowed “Plato’s The Republic” from my local library in 1980, and never returned it… I hope the library detective doesn’t come after me!

Until next time…

by Brooklynmutt contributor Niko

It’s been about twenty-years since the release of “Roger and Me” Michael Moore finally released the movie he always wanted to make. In the past, he exposed the awful practices within the Capitalist system whether it was the ills corporate downsizing, violence in our culture, the Iraq war, or the issue of healthcare, but in this movie, he finally addresses the system in itself. That’s right… he spells it outright in the title. The system of Capitalism, in the manner that it is currently practiced, is at best deeply flawed, and its survival deeply relies on downright evil practices by some of the wealthiest and most powerful people on earth.

Despite your feelings about Michael Moore’s politics, his ability as a film maker are top-notch. His movies are well paced, his injection of humor are timely, his points are well established, and his subjects are powerfully compelling. There were some interviews in “Capitalism” that seemed out of place, and it may have been rushed, but the topic is timely which trumps any negatives that you can find.

The movie opens up with 9 cars of police cars entering a farm to evict a family of four out of their home. It was a heartbreaking opening to what we already know to be a heartbreaking moment in our nation’s history. The collapse of our banking institutions has bankrupted millions of people, leaving as many without jobs, and as a result they are losing their homes. Ok, we knew that already. But the movies main point addresses this simple notion; what some of us are willing to do for money.

Now, I am not easily surprised to see what people would do, but I tell ya, I was really surprised and outright sick to my stomach as to some of awful practices by some of the most profitable companies in the world. I’ll let the movie speak for itself in the regard, but in the event you never heard of “Dead Peasant” insurance… I insist that you take a moment to “Google” it. It may seem benign in nature, but it literally is a profit scheme that allows companies to BENEFIT from the death of its employees. Moore goes on to address other awful practices including going into more detail regarding how a Pennsylvania Judge was accepting bribes by sending children to “Privatized’ juvenile centers, in which the smallest and benign infractions resulted in nearly a year of imprisonment for children. I addressed this in an earlier post of “Nick of Time”. Maybe Michael Moore read my article…. (I can dream right?)…

The movie also provided a sliver of hope to its viewers, with minor if not moral victories by some of the subjects who fought the system. But what may be the most powerful moment in any of the films Moore has ever released, he managed to unearth footage of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s final State of the Union address from the White House. The address was conducted on radio, but he asked the film crew to enter as he introduced the “2^nd Bill of Rights”. The footage showed a leader like none other that we have truly seen in our lifetime or any other. This wasn’t pretty, FDR was dying, and he looked like he was dying. But his passion, dedication and most of all his understanding that a better life was predicated on a society that demanded that everyone in this country has a right to work… I can honestly say that any President since FDR was a mere child in comparison.

I left the theatre with a stunned disbelief at what I saw, and renewed sense of what is right and wrong. Though sadly, I have to conveniently block out the fact that I work for one of the biggest media companies in the world.

The movie is a must see…

by Brooklynmutt contributor Niko

How BIG is Glenn Beck Really?

I fall into a rather unique category for someone who follows politics as closely as I do. I ignore cable news! Why? Because the characters … and yes I do mean characters… are nothing but scripted ideologues (for the most part), who’s role is to dole out their opinions with little or no regard if what they are saying is fact, or at all open to changing their position on the subject they addressing. But what gets me even more is the over zealous amount of attention that is paid to the opinions and views of these cable talking heads as if their followers represent the majority of America… the biggest example is FOX News’s Glenn Beck, whose recent cover story on Time Magazine has somehow legitimized his “MASS” influence over the American political spectrum.

Really? Is he that influential?? I mean he has the #1 Book in the nation, he has the #1 Cable News program, he was responsible for the “9/12 movement” which has gotten tons of press, and in the last 12 months, “Glenn Beck” related material has yielded him over $20+ million dollars in revenue (according to Forbes). But when you break down the numbers, you will realize that…

Glenn Beck is simply not that big…

“Well how can that be? “You might say after all I just touted some pretty impressive figures… well let’s break it down some shall we?

#1 Book

Glenn Beck’s book, “Common Sense” though still ranks #1 among the non-fiction category, it is though however a category that sells an abysmally small number of books. Case in point, FREAKENOMICS was published in 2005, and still is #5 on the list. But with that said, a million copies sold are pretty impressive, but who are the ones buying his book? The same folks who are watching his show, and browsing his website… he is simply profiting off an already established base, while taking advantage of the cultural climate which has existed way before he arrived… Are his writings and opinions any different than Anne Coulter, Michelle Malkin, or even Rush Limbaugh? Hardly… He is just in the right place at the right time…

#1 Cable News Show (just one week!)

Probably the most overly used statistic to justify one’s popularity… For the calendar ye ar 2009, Glenn Beck averages about 2.2 million viewers per telecast. That’s about one-third of any of the broadcast nets (ABC, CBS, NBC) viewership… in which they all nearly triple Glenn Beck’s audience… so by that measure, would you consider Katie Couric three times more influential then Beck? Let’s look at it another way… for the week of 9/7/09, Glenn Beck’s 2.7 million viewers didn’t even crack the Top 20 among cable telecasts… among the few notable to out-draw America’s “wildest and crazy news guy” are; “College Football” telecasts on ESPN, “I-Carly”, “Scooby Doo Mysteries” and “WWE Wrestling”… so are we to say the Scooby-Doo still has it after all those years, or that Vince McMahon should run for office because of his popularity?

A big deal was made that Glenn Beck beat out O’Reilly in the M25-54 demo few days back… ok, I’d say that was impressive if it wasn’t for the fact that 75% of Glenn Beck’s audience is above the age of 55+, in fact the average Glenn Beck viewer is 64 years old… only Hannity and O’Reilly are older… and to put his supposed highly coveted M25-54 success into perspective… it doesn’t even rank within the top 70 programs in cable. For fuck sakes… “Real Housewives Atlanta” delivers a larger audience than Glenn Beck in that demo! This isn’t just an indictment on Glenn Beck’s popularity, but the overall credence we give to the cable news talking heads in general.

The 9/12 March on Washington

Time Magazine credited Glenn Beck as one of the key influences regarding the 9/12 march on Washington that included thousands of fat old white people who like to think they were “one” with New York on the day us New Yorkers were attacked… (I still stand by my sentiment that WE were attacked and not them, and for them to use OUR grief for their agenda is abysmal!) Well guess what folks, this movement” generated about 75,000 protesters… a decent amount I guess… but let’s put this “movement” into perspective… a typical NFL game attracts a larger audience. A Bruce Springsteen concert attracts 75,000 people on a daily basis… U2, last night at Giants Stadium (which I attended) attracted a larger audience than the “9/12 March”. Sorry folks… but the Tea Baggers are no movement… unless you are counting the bowel movements of thousand of elderly overweight people in one location!

So how is Glenn Beck so damned successful, if he isn’t all that popular? Well for one thing, he is smart… REALLY fucking smart. Not his views on US policy, but as an entrepreneur, he is brilliant.  No one knows if his “crying” shtick is for real or not, but as a business man, he clearly identified the needs of his niche audience, and provides a product that provides or better yet, reinforces many of the fears that they are already being highly pre-disposed to, whether it is Socialism, Marxism, Fascism, Immigration, fearing persons of color, Lions, Tigers and Bears OH MY!

There is an old saying is the media business which I believe many still subscribe to today… and that is “perception is reality”. I can’t think of a better phrase that sums up Glenn Beck’s perceived popularity. Glenn Beck needs to be treated like the weird family member that everyone of us have. You know, the hot tempered jerk who we try to avoid. Because as long as he is treated like he is popular, he will be considered so.

Until next time…

by Brooklynmutt contributor Niko

White Trash” America seemingly lost their collective shit when President Obama announced his speech to the school children of America. It seemed that every “Cleatus Slackjaw Yokel” had bizarre feelings regarding Obama’s speech, fearing how it was indoctrinating their children to socialism, communism, and god forbid, education. Ok, it’s pretty easy to dismiss their concerns as ludicrous because well… they are. But a lot of other folks (myself included) often throw out the term “white trash”. Now to me, I reserved the term “white trash” for those regardless of their economic status, who harbor racist, homophobic, and a backward mindset that smacks the face of anything deemed progressive, and of course… white. However; historically, the term refers to “groups of lower social class Caucasian people that the speaker considers to lack social status. It is most frequently used as a slur to describe financially, economically or culturally disadvantaged Caucasians”. Other people call them “hillbillies”, “rednecks” and other fine names… But remember one things folks…

One Person’s White Trash is Another Person’s White Treasure…

After I brazenly threw out the term “White Trash” in a passing remark, someone was kind enough to point out how my generalization, though innocent in my eyes, was a terrible insult, and down right wrong. (To say she was kind was an overstatement considering she said “kindly go f*ck yourself”… but I digress) Why? Well for starters, people who are deemed “poor white trash” had an enormous impact on our society from every level.

Since we are entering the 8^th anniversary of the September 11^th attacks, I want to take this opportunity to get something off of my chest since September 12^th of 2001. It would be redundant to try and recreate the day for many since the memory is seared into our brains as if it happened yesterday. It would also be ludicrous to say that the out pouring support that was given by other parts of the country and world for New York was bothersome, but what did bother me was the over use of the word “WE” throughout the events that followed. People all over the United States were reiterating how “WE were attacked on this day”, and how “WE can’t let another 9/11 happen” and etc. Now this may seem rather petty, but as a New Yorker, the use of “WE” in my opinion was pretty offensive.

For starters… I am a die hard proud New York / Brooklyn dude… I am very proud of where I come from and couldn’t be delighted to grow up and live in a city that is so culturally diverse and allows me to buy haggen daz ice cream and calzones in the middle of the night. Oh we have our space issues, class issues, race issues, crime issues, money issues (its so f*cking expensive!) just like anyone else. But at the end of the day, we have a “live and let live” attitude (if you don’t like it you can go f*ck yourself!).

Now prior to the attacks of 9/11, I don’t recall so much attention or love from representatives from other states. In fact, “red state” America had enormous hatred for New York. I understand why… we represent everything that they despise.  We respect a women’s right to choose, we respect people of other ethnicities or color (or we at least try), we respect the separation between church and state, we respect other religions other than Christianity, and we even respect the fact that you don’t have to worship anything at all. And guess what else we have that they hate… THE NEW YORK YANKEES…

Then the events of 9/11 took place. New York was attacked as well as Washington DC. All of the sudden, it was all about the word “WE”. Specifically by right wing ideologues who would say “WE were attacked on 9/11” “WE need to fight back”. All of the sudden, their hatred for blacks, gays, communists, the limousine liberals, and east coast elite all evaporated when the planes struck the towers? Well not really, as Pat Robertson eloquently stated; “I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU …you helped this happen.” And of course Sarah Palin’s description of “Real America” exists only in “pockets” in “small towns”. These sentiments have been clearly expressed over and over again.

So my question to the “right” minded folks out there who hold such contempt for New Yorkers…

Where in the hell do you get “WE” from?

Fact is, New York was attacked on that day, not Alaska, not Virginia, not South Carolina, not Vermont (they are sooo smug!). I am not being ungrateful to those who showed genuine concern for us New Yorkers, but to those who would trash the “values” of us city folk, then turn to their own flock and somehow how morph the loss that WE felt on that day as if it were their own, just so they can advance their agenda. Whether it be to intensify religious recruitment, or advance the cause of needless military spending, those ‘folks” all of the sudden are “one” with the people of New York as if they were attacked that day as well.

I realize that New York is a symbol of America, and that some of you feel as if America was attacked (and we were), I get it… but don’t pretend as if you really cared about us at all. When Tim McVeigh committed a terrorist attack on a Government facility in Oak City, New Yorkers were sympathetic, but we never said “WE” were attacked despite the fact that it was an attack on the Government. The fine people of Oak City were, and WE witnessed their amazing grit and determination to come back from such an event.

So for all you fine right minded folks out there, who care so much about New Yorkers, here, are some of the things “WE” want.  “WE” want the Iraq war to end. “WE” want our children to learn about the historical events in its proper context, not self-serving religious prophecies. “WE” want some sort of universal healthcare. “WE” respect the fact that consenting adults can choose their own partners. “WE” have our issues, but “WE” don’t want “YOU” getting involved. “WE” want to protect the environment. “WE” didn’t elect a President who failed to protect us that day. “WE” belong to the night… oh wait… that’s a Pat Benatar song… (Darn internet radio playing 80’s music!!). But most of all, “WE” don’t need a “9/12” project to remind us how unified we were that day, because unlike you, “WE” still are!

Until next time…

by Brooklynmutt contributor Niko

*Correction: via ohhleary Psst: here’s a memo: Virginia was attacked on that day. That’s where the Pentagon is.

The town hall meetings are continuing across the country with America’s best and brightest discussing healthcare, the economy, death camps, birth certificates, and guns… LOTS of guns… Of course we have the geniuses who like to call Obama “Hitler!”, somehow trying to morph healthcare into the holocaust. But just to be balanced on this one, I thought it was just as funny as thousands of liberals took to the streets protesting the Iraq war and referring to President Bush as “Hitler!”. It seems whenever we get mad at someone, we call him “Hitler”. (I never witnessed a woman being called Hitler so until the day arrives… I’ll just assume it’s a term used for men).

Ok I get it… we all hate Hitler and the Nazi’s so much… we would hate anyone associated with anything that resembles Hitler, including his mustache, and anything to do with the Nazi party. But my fear is not the childish rhetoric from adults, but the ignorance that follows.

Do these people even know what a Nazi is?

“The Nazi’s were a fascist movement, which in 1933, under Adolf Hitler, seized political control of the country, suppressing all opposition and establishing a dictatorship over all cultural, economic, and political activities of the people, and promulgated belief in the supremacy of Hitler as Führer, aggressive anti-Semitism, the natural supremacy of the German people, and the establishment of Germany by superior force as a dominant world power.”

Thank you internet!

I am pretty sure none of this was in Obama’s healthcare outline… I know the darn bill is 1,000 pages… but I digress!!

So now we know neither Obama nor Bush was a Nazi… it presents a problem… who are we going to call Nazis? Companies like Ford, Coke, and IBM did business with Nazis, but they weren’t really Nazis. People like Prescott Bush, Joseph Kennedy disliked the Jews, but they weren’t Nazis. Heck, even members of America’s religious clergy admired Hitler, and aided Nazi officials from facing justice for the war crimes they committed… but even they weren’t Nazi’s.

Well, why don’t we follow the money… no Presidential candidate has gained as much support from Neo-Nazi groups, and white supremacists than congressmen Ron Paul.

Pretty ironic considering a big portion, if not the majority, of the town hall protesters are fanatic vocal supporters of Ron Paul, yet he is the one who manages to receive the support of those who openly discriminate against Blacks and Jews, those who deny the holocaust, and those who advocate for the dismantling laws that protect minorities. I am not saying Ron Paul is a Nazi… but if people continue to compare Bush and Obama to Hitler and the Nazi party, then why does the Nazi party not seem to agree?

Until next time…

by Brooklynmutt contributor Niko

As I child of the 80’s I grew up in a very contradictory setting. Me and my family were devout Republicans, but I adored rock music and the spirit of Woodstock. For many years, I almost always said, “I wish Woodstock happened in my life time” … seriously… how cool would have it been to see The Who, Janis Joplin, Joe Cocker, The Band… yeah I might have had to deal with likes of Sha-Na-Na but the payoff is Jimi Hendrix.. c’mon… fucking Jimmy Hendrix!!

For as much as I loved the music, I never embraced what inspired the event. A pro-peace / anti-war movement, coupled with civil rights, sexual revolution, drugs in our society, or whatever else pissed the pants off your parents… I like to think I have evolved over time, as I did away with the dated notion that being pro-peace meant that you were weak, or that your love of sex is a sin, pot is an “evil seed” or in Brooklyn, acknowledging the racial discrimination of African Americans made you a “N*gger lover”. Don’t even ask what I thought of gay men… I am too embarrassed to say…

Like I said, I feel like over the years, I have evolved… but my question is…

What the fuck happened to the Woodstock Generation that perpetuated one of the most exciting periods in our nations history?

As we celebrate the 40 year mark of the Woodstock concert in August of 1969, I’d like to examine some interesting facts.

• • In 1969, the typical Woodstock concert attendee was between the ages 18-24 (22 on average).
  • That means today, the average person who attended the event is between the ages of 58-64 (62 on average)

In 1969, the “young vote” was overwhelmingly pro-democrat, anti-war, pro-choice, and embodied virtually all that was associated and still celebrated by liberals today. Since then that voting block went on to support Reagan, Bush, both Clinton Presidency’s, Bush 2x, and McCain in 2009.

But the curious thing about this age demographic is not the fact that they revised their political thought, but virtually abandoned all they stood for as young adults. They supported civil rights but now oppose affirmative action, they lived a sexually free lifestyle yet they now oppose equal rights for gays, they smoked pot but refuse to have it legalized. For god sakes, they opposed war in virtually every form, but they continue to perpetuate the support of a failing “war on terror” killing hundreds of thousands of innocent lives.

Seeing the recent town hall meetings has really made me curious about this answer more than ever. Older folks who are fighting tooth and nail to stop the less fortunate, less privileged from getting healthcare. Not to mention the gross manner in which they are conducting themselves. I find it remarkable that this once great generation of folks who I once wanted to be part of, who I envied for the exciting times in which they have lived have now resorted to shouting down to those who still hold true to what they once believed.

I am looking for answers here… is it because they feel as if they grew up, is it religion, is it because now that they have some money its ok to not pay their fair share of taxes…

Or is it because today’s music  sucks…

Till next time…

by Brooklynmutt contributor Niko