Duck Speak

By Acey. Originally posted at Come on Pilgrims.

"It was not the man's brain that was speaking; it was his larynx. The stuff that was coming out of him consisted of words, but it was not speech in the true sense: it was a noise uttered in unconsciousness, like the quacking of a duck."--George Orwell 1984

President Bush was not the most eloquent of speakers. To those of us who love a gaffe he provided a collection of hilarious and awkward quotes that rival Steve Carrell's portrayal of Michael Scott on "The Office."

I'm certain that Jesus is Michael's favorite political philosopher too.

If there's a classic Bushism this is it... classic.For all his obvious struggles, I only occasionally doubted that President Bush had a stable, consistent and rational world view. Though I disagree with his perspective on most issues, there was what seemed to be a solid foundation for reasonable discussion and debate with the former President. Too gracious... maybe, but with the guy out of the White House I'm feeling charitable.

More than charity, perhaps it's nostalgia. Nostalgia for a GOP that I could wrap my head around. With the GOP in shambles after a disastrous Presidency and the loss of both houses of Congress--a new breed of Conservative has emerged from the toxic mess that is the Republican party. The breed is not the Neo-Cons informed and led by intelligent, but Faustian characters like Paul Wolfowitz, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld... rather it's a vitriolic movement led by a "Guy who cares enough to ask" and a Governor who so loved her people that she gave-up her one and only term, that she shall not perish at the hands of ethics probes and may make fat bank on a book tour. 1984. There is no more apt discussion of language and its misuse and abuse at the hands Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin than Orwell's, granted this is an anachronism, but that actually gives me comfort. It comforts me to know that clowns have performed the same sideshow for generations, and we're still here.

The central point Orwell makes in 1984, in regards to language, is that fools like Beck and Palin string together words, sentences and on occasion paragraphs that have no true meaning. They're but the unconscious syllabic chirps of their orthodoxy. They carry no meaning, express no truth--rather they are a comforting clamor for the indoctrinated. They speak in "Duck Speak."

The Duck Speak of Beck and Palin paints a world of conspiracy, bizarre correlations, and ire directed at a nebulous "They." The hatred of the "They" provides that emotional catharsis their disenfranchised and frightened followers crave. What exactly this New GOP is afraid of is difficult to pin down--at its core they seem to fear modernity itself. With modernity comes a more open and honest reality of the human experience in all its complexities. Beck, Palin and those like them want is a fictional past, a sort of throw back Disney Reality where the world fits neatly into Good/Bad, Black/White, Male/Female, Straight/Straighter (there was no Gay in this throwback world they envision) and whatever other absurd oversimplified dichotomy you can muster.

Their "Duck Speak" reflects this... they quack and quack occasionally throwing out keywords and phrases that the indoctrinated have been taught to respond to with venom, disgust and fear.

This Beck clip is a brilliant one--he uses keywords "Communism" and "Fascism" (scary/angry words for his aging Fox demographic) oftentimes using them almost interchangeably. If you can follow his argument you're more clever than I am...try to make it to his discussion of the chariot, it's particularly good.


The Duck Speak translation of this... and really you've got to listen to Beck solely in Duck Speak it loses so much in translation is, "Quack quack quack Communist. Quack, quack quack quuuuaack? Quack, NBC. Quack, Fascist. Quack quack I'm losing my mind."

Beck shows his audience how they should feel at each stage.
Audience you should feel:
Superior--that you and the others in the know have this special knowledge
Angry--at Communists
Angry--at Fascists
Afraid--of those who don't get it
Unstable/Crazy--this last emotional cue confused me... until I watched some Tea Party rallies and town hall meetings, the New GOP wants to come across as a unstable and crazy, because it's frightening. Most rational people don't want to deal with the angry and unhinged so it's a strange, yet effective way to empower your followers.In this nine minute clip he makes no salient point. Identifies no real issues. Illuminates nothing... but I know I'm supposed to be afraid, afraid and angry.
Palin is equally adept at Duck Speak. Check out the sound and fury signifying nothing in this instant classic.

47 Seconds in poor Bill is actually so dazed by Palin's incomprehensible answer he nearly passes out.
Come on now she's making it too easy... The stuff that was coming out of HER consisted of words, but it was not speech in the true sense: it was a noise uttered in unconsciousness, like the quacking of a duck.Just because your speech takes up time, is audible and made up of individually recognizable words doesn't mean it's an answer.

I've heard pundits on the Right claim that the reason the Left hates Palin is because they're afraid of her... the inevitable response from the Left is the playground, "Am not!" I'm a political independent so maybe I can be honest and say, "Am so!" I'm totally afraid of Sarah Palin. I think she and Beck represent real dangers. They're dangerous because they're so phenomenally unstable and irrational--yet they still draw huge followings of equally rabid and irrational acolytes. Sarah Palin totally frightens me. Her mind is a mob of one. She encapsulates the aggression, blind stupidity and irrationality of a mob of people--frighteningly, she manages to do this without the social pressures of an actual mob.

In a twist only the Universe knows the answer to, she has come to command an actual frightening mob as she and Beck are becoming the De Facto philosophical leaders of the Tea Party Movement. How can people whose only philosophy is crazy talk, man-crying and incomprehensible Duck Speak be the philosophical touchstones for millions of Americans? Imagine the mental gymnastics it would take to glean any clear mission statement from either Beck or Palin. I know Beck has his Principles and Rules or whatever, but they're so vague and broad that I'd wager he picked them up from his kid's kindergarten class at parent-teacher conferences.

And Palin... yes she's "Gone Rogue." But Sarah, how do standard, albeit poorly articulated, GOP talking points equate with your self-appointed Tom Clancy title? Don't you have to do something novel, unique, or interesting to be a rebel/rogue/rabble rouser/rapscallion or any other naughty "r" word you care to come up with?

One need look no further than her insane resignation speech for proof that she and Beck are the unholy mother and father of the New GOP.

Irrefutable proof that Palin practices "Duck Speak" note the quacking at 5:38.

Here's a break down of her speech and its key points.
Support the troops, the troops have sacrficed for our national ideals. "God Bless our Military"... so I'm quiting.
My administration is doing so well... so I'm quitting.
Media victim...so I'm quitting.
Obama bad...so I'm quitting.
Big Brother/Federal Government Bad... so I'm quitting.
Being right is better than being popular... so I'm quitting.
Liberal courts bad... so I'm quitting.
Media victim part 2... so I'm quitting.
My ethics law and ethics standards are applying to me... so I'm quitting.
This job is harder than I thought... so I'm quitting.
Tearing things is down bad, building them up is good... so I'm quitting.
The quitter's way out is bad (5:47)... so I'm quitting (My personal favorite)
Fighting for our state and country good... so I'm quitting.
GOP Talking Points Good... so I'm quitting.
Lame Duck isn't fun... so I'm quitting.
Sarah is a Cyborg who isn't wired to be a Duck (7:46)... so I'm quitting.

The body of evidence on this woman so thoroughly demonstrates that she is unable to rationally or logically deal with any issue that I'm stunned she's taken serious by anyone. The doublethink required to write that speech is second only to the double think that would be required for someone to watch that and think, "Man, she's totally right. What a brave move she's making for her country, state and family by quitting. What a patriot! She's right the quitter's way out is for quitters, that's why she's... ummm--two legs good, four legs bad, two legs good, four legs bad."

The only comfort I have in the phenomenon that is Beck, Palin, Tea Parties and all the associated nonsense is that their hatred for rationality, logic and their inability to do anything other than evoke fear and anger in their followers can't be the foundation for viable longterm movement. Beck is not a patriot. He's a vapid blow hard posing as a reporter on a network that poses as a news outlet. It's infotainment which has its place, provided the viewers are savvy enough to know the difference. Palin is not a rogue. The last "Rogue" I knew was Han Solo and he earned his title with a howling Wookie and Death Star debris. I knew Han Solo, Han Solo was a friend of mine and you Sarah Palin are no Han Solo.

Now that's "Going Rogue."

2012 GOP poll.

Take a poll on the 2012 GOP ticket- here. Will you vote GOP in 2012? Me - it's doubtful I'll ever vote GOP nationally..but hey, things change rapidly...

(Ya know, I love the game of politics...the poll is really just an excuse to post my current hunches for the 2012 GOP ticket)

Sotomayor 2

One has to wonder if the GOP wants to commit suicide. A week ago I wrote that the reports of the GOP's death were wildly overstated. I suppose that is still true. But a party that can't take a punch when it is thrown and then respond without melting into its worst elements is on the quick road to oblivion.

So about that Sotomayor nomination...last night the post was an overview of my basic thoughts

- as far as I could tell, she was worthy of the nomination. No giant. No slouch.

- I made a statement about identity politics that, if read as written - was not very kind to either Right or Left.

- I looked forward to learning more and hoped the battle for and against her was tough and fair.

All that still stands. I think all SCOTUS nomination battles should be tough and fair. So this post is NOT about Ms. Sotomayor's qualifications. I can only guess and my guess is she is every bit as capable as David Souter.

This post is about the politics surrounding her nomination. All SCOTUS nominations are political to some degree. Politicians have to decide on nominees. Politicians with constituencies.

Here are some facts about political life in America:
- Hispanics are the largest minority.
- Hispanics are rightly proud that a Latina has been nominated.
- Some of those concerned about the progress of women in the America's power structures are happy to see a third woman nominated to SCOTUS.

The last 2 "facts" above are both "identity politics" at work - like it or not - and the results of historical discrimination. I make no judgement here about it except to say I wish gender and ethnicity never mattered. We are not there yet. Things are what they are.

Having said that as foreground let me get to the point: W.T.F. IS THE FAR RIGHT BLOVIATE-O-SPHERE THINKING?

Speaking purely politically: Barack Obama threw hard left at the Right by nominating Sotomayor. It was a fair punch. He chose a qualified person who he also knew would have symbolic value with a large portion of the population. This is politics. Obama set a trap for the GOP - and the GOP is falling for it. The chatter floating about is that she is "emotional" and "stupid".

Fascinating. Parts of the GOP can't seem to stop its self destructive bent.

The GOP is in danger of falling into the identity politics counter trap: inciting their base by falling back on stereotypes, enraging the opposition, and making Sotomayor a defacto martyr for a huge portion of the population.

Dumb.

Unless she flubs big time in the Senate or has a dark secret that is revealed - she will sail through. Coded insults from the Right won't stop anything and will, along the way, solidify Hispanics as a Democratic core constituency.

Interestingly, the best critique and criticism of Sotomayor I've seen so far is from liberal law professor Jonathan Turley. He does go after her intellectual depth but there is no sense whatsoever that his criticism has anything to do with her gender or ethnicity.

Right wingers - listen up - That's how it is done.

Lunch Break - Now about that Grey Poupon....

FOTO: Pic today comes from Will Rogers Beach. North of Santa Monica, south of Malibu. Pointless tidbit: Part of this state beach is a gathering place/ hang out for gay beach goers and gay beach volleyball pick up leagues...this section is called - affectionately - Ginger Rogers beach....hahahaha...now ya know....

Before we move onto the Make Them Accountable Headlines I feel the need to interject here that I really like Grey Poupon....it has a nice kick. - JSOM

Politics and Media Headlines 5/8/09

Obama Orders Burger With Elitist European Condiment (by Pareene at Gawker)
When Barack Obama made headlines by eating a hamburger this week, we were disappointed that he ruined his by ordering it medium-well. Sean Hannity, though, found something far worse....

Ingraham on Obama: "What kind of man orders a cheeseburger without ketchup, but Dijon mustard?" (video at County Fair, Media Matters for America)

Limbaugh fill-in Steyn on Obama using Dijon mustard: "John Kerry couldn't get away with that stuff but he makes it seem like just like a regular thing to do" (video at County Fair, Media Matters for America)

Silly? Yes. Ridiculous? Yes. Effective? Judge for yourself:
Pew Research Center

How to fight the ridiculousness-by showing how ridiculous it is:
Dan Rather, Daily Show Correspondent (by Ryan Tate at Gawker)
Right-wing ideologues were apparently allowed inside CBS to help drive Dan Rather from his job. So maybe it's no surprise he helped the Daily Show mock Fox News conservatives [Thursday night]. Rather's segment, a mock report about Richard Nixon eating a burrito in 1973 (clip below), keyed off Sean Hannity's slam of Barack Obama for requesting "spicy mustard...or a Dijon mustard" on his cheeseburger the other day.

It's awesome that Rather went along with this...
Click through to watch the video.-Caro

How NOT to fight the ridiculousness:
The Republican Death Spiral (Political Wire)
Time magazine's cover story on how the Republican party-with no new ideas and a lack of leadership-has lost its way.
Don’t assume the Republican Party is dead now, because exactly the same kinds of stories were being written about Democrats only four years ago.Caro

And this is the most dangerous policy move Democrats can make:
Hoyer Says Social Security "Reform" Possible This Year (by Chris Bowers at Open Left)
In case there was any doubt Social Security "reform" is on the table under the Democratic trifecta, Majorty Leader Steny Hoyer should have erased it. "House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Wednesday he's 'hopeful' that Congress will reform Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid later this year, after lawmakers deal with contentious healthcare reform and energy bills..."

Taking comfort in easy solutions (writer not identified, Free Exchange, The Economist, U.K., thanks to Economist's View)
I wonder if not privatising Social Security a few years ago turned out to be a missed opportunity. Imagine, some fraction of that 12.6% (including employee and employer contributions) of your income buying shares (though the plan was not necessarily to invest in the stockmarket) right now instead of being ploughed into a government programme that will probably cut your benefits. The return on your tax dollar toward Social Security is less than 2% and will most certainly fall further. You might be saying, "But if we privatised my portfolio would be down 30% now!" Keep in mind, if you have many years before retirement there's a good chance your portfolio will recover.
My comment: Social Security is an insurance plan, not an investment vehicle. Name one other insurance program that is required to show a "return on investment". But if you insist on showing a "return", it should include the money I DIDN'T have to pay to support my parents in THEIR retirement, in addition to what I receive in mine. How does a stock market investment stack up against that?-Caro

O'Reilly, Stossel agree that Medicare is a "ponzi scheme" (video at County Fair, Media Matters for America)
Click here for more politics and media news headlines.

Carolyn Kay
MakeThemAccountable.com

MUSIC: I'm in a mood:

On Astroturfing

The most damaging addiction of those on the Left is not taxing and spending - it is condescension.

I must admit, the Tea Parties set for this week have not been of much interest to me until Krugman weirdly joined up with the condescension class bent of looking down their snouts at them. He also misreads the impulse behind the movement. It saddens me to see him participate in what Kunstler calls media "auditing" . The meme in the "liberal" media is that the Tea Parties are either meaningless or sponsored by the DARK SIDE - read: Fox News and ultra Right wingers who live in gated enclaves watching CSPAN while steam comes out of their ears, all the while writing checks to hatchet men. These criticisms from the Maddows of the Media are leveled without the slightest question as to where Chicago Slim's millions came from. A mystery, indeed.

Creating a "movement" with Astroturfing ( public relations campaigns seeking to create the impression of being spontaneous "grassroots" behavior,) works if the movement wants to be created. That is - it has a ready audience. At the end of the day people need to show up to the "astroturfed movement". If enough do, it is a success. At that point, there is no contradiction between "astroturfing" and "grass roots" eruptions. If 20,000 show up to the Tea Party on Wednesday in NY it is because they chose to, not because Fox News made them.

My sense is that there is a large audience very willing to hear that American tax dollars are being flushed away and/or spent on saving the fraud class. This is hardly revelatory. Condemning taxes is one of our driving narratives in the United States. The financial fiasco has given this storyline a new life.

I see no difference between what Rogers Ailes and his allies are allegedly doing with the tea parties and what Huffington, MSNBC and David Axelrod did last year with Obama. Creating, then tapping into an audience is what movements are. Leaders tell people what they ought to think - all the time. People then- for the most part - either incorporate or reject the information fed to them. This is not devious in and of itself. Those doing the astroturfing may have devious ends in mind to be sure. The astroturfing rules of the Obama Pods were devious by nature.

- This man is the answer to your frustrations.
- You may not question anything about this man. If you do you are the enemy.
- Anyone opposed to this man is stupid and probably evil.

By those rules the tea party "astroturfing" is positively ethical. Regardless, the proof will be in the pudding. If they are successful it is because they hit a nerve not because they created one to hit.

The alternative to this - dismissing and silencing all such top down organizing - is far worse. I would rather have people acting as if they still believe we live in a republic than sinking and seething into a realization that they may not. Then pitchforks, and later rocket launchers, come into play.

The fact is real grassroots movements rarely erupt in this country. When they do the distance between the eruption and violence is short. I lived through a spontaneous "grassroots" movement in Los Angeles after the Rodney King verdict. No one astroturfed those 4 days. And let's be clear - it started as a race riot - but within 12 hours it was a class riot. In most major cities we are closer to this happening now than anytime in the last 70 years.

If people believe we are being trashed, lied to, ripped off and conned by those taxing us I say: protest. Do it. Imaginatively and peacefully.

What Maddow and the rest really can't abide it not the impulse - it is that conservatives are behind it. I'm quite sure I would not agree with most of the "tea partiers" politics- but I support the fundamental right to protest.

2012: The Obama Cult vs. the Wing Nuts?

A few posts ago I said I' be blogging my political evolution right here on the WWW. 2 mornings in a row I did. So here is the third post in that trifecta.

My entire theory about the need for a "3rd way" rests on 2 assumptions.

1. The economy is not going to recover in the usual manner.

2. Obama will slip below 50% approval by years end and stay there. He will not get what he wanted* on the big liberal issues and will be seen by more and more of his base as a disappointment. This will devolve into outright anger in many quarters. The natural size of Obama's "base" is about 20-25% of the population. If the economy continues to falter his "base" will shrink to its natural size - then shrink further as the disappointment sinks in.

* This is predicated on believing that Obama ever truly wanted what he sold last year.

If I am wrong in my "guesses" then this post is nullified. Maybe I am. We will all see.

Projecting forward: I believe a viable 3rd option will become more important than ever in the next few years. The economic "recovery", when it comes, will not look like the ones we are accustomed to. We are in for a long haul readjustment of our expectations. Neither party is prepared for this. However, the far right is positioned to take advantage of large scale social displacement. The far left will try - but fail - as their energies have been subsumed by the President's misdirection. Therefore the GOP is likely to present an uncomfortable but viable option in 2010 and 2012. The moderating influences in the GOP are weak and likely to become weaker as Obama weakens. The Glen Beck boys do not ignore blood in the water. Since my theory assumes Obama will, in essence, fail, any alternative voice within the Democratic party will be tainted and - largely - useless.

This leaves one section of one party standing. The reactionary impulses will be vast as people grapple with a changed landscape . Loud portions of the Democratic party will attempt to take the megaphone. But they will have no choice but to defend Obama in the end. When Obama becomes unpopular anyone remotely connected to him will be on the losing end of any argument. BHO's employees are every bit as tainted as W's. Please read the link. Summers is, for lack of more precise words, a panhandling crook.

So where does this leave "democrats in exile"? Here's where now: The Democratic Party or the GOP. 2008 should be the last time this constricted choice is forced on people.

There is another possibility. Obama will fail on such a catastrophic scale that his own party will dismiss him in 2012. A meteor striking the heartland tomorrow has approximately the same probability.

A "third party" does not top my list of things I'd like to see happen. It is my guess - though its not yet a conviction - that economic malaise will open the door WIDE for a slew of unsavory characters on the far left and more probably on the far right. Without an alternative to the soon to be tainted Democrats and the Glen Beck conservatives the energies of the population will have to choose between these unfortunate camps.

"Democrats in exile" (I am avoiding the acronym "P.U.M.A.") are a logical base - to start. As for the comments that insist I should get off my ass and start a third party all I can say is Thanks for the compliment. Even in my most grandiose moments this feels like an absurdity.

However, I will evolve some ideas about what a "third way" might look like in the next week or so. And state without equivocation that I will help should the energies of the immediate aftermath of last May's Obama coup be reignited.

The time to start thinking about stopping the coming right wing backlash is NOW.

Fannie and Freddie: Who is at fault?

Before the clip at the bottom I have a few thoughts. If you are not in the mood to read - Please skip the thoughts and view the clip.

A. Pelosi is a disaster as Speaker of the House. I would say she is the Worst Speaker Ever - but I don't know the history of the House well enough.

Suffice it to say:Pelosi sucks.

Remarkably she used her time on the floor BEFORE the vote to hammer at and blame the entire financial mess on Bush and the GOP. I don't care about the content of what she said in this case. I heard it and did not disagree entirely. That's not the point. To throw this verbal bomb BEFORE the vote was:

1. Proof she's a moron.
2. An attempt to make sure the bill failed.
3. Both

Any GOPs that may have been on the fence voted No after her eruption. So much for a new era in politics.

B. The clip below exemplifies my disgust and sadness about the Democrats. From what I can tell so far most of the blame for the Freddie/Fannie debacle belongs to the Dems. They are the "something for nothing" Party now (with the perfect nominee to carry this banner forward.)

C. Since many of the DEMs defending Fannie/Freddie corruption in the clip are Black I expect to called a racist. Whatever. blah blah blah. The word has been rendered meaningless by the Obama campaign. These Reps are idiots. Idiots come in all colors.

D. I resent 700 billion (or whatever it is now) of tax payer money being spent to salvage the damage idiots on all levels did to the system. Saving this monster from eating its own is not worth our money or effort. Let the chips fall. We need to start living within in our means.

I guess you could say that today I am glad Pelosi is so bad at her job.

Damning clip. Please watch.

Movie Trailer for Hype, The Obama Effect.

Movie Trailer for Hype, The Obama Effect. - It makes me sad as hell that only conservatives are doing the heavy lifting on Barry Soetoro. It is a blot of shame on progressives that so many have gulped this craven creep's kool aid.

After you get past the annoying footage of Senator Dork dancing on Ellen it gets good. I really don't need to see that footage again for my next ten lifetimes. The "no nukes, no missile defense" clip of Obama is going to be used to great effect by the GOP in the Fall. It is a sort of "whitey tape" for security voters.

A Letter from a Republican

Hi John and Lynne,

I am a Republican. I voted for Bush twice, and I know we disagree on many things. However, that is not the purpose of this email. Instead, I wanted to extend the olive branch of sorts.

In 2007, many of us conservatives held an irrational fear of Hillary. From the start, we looked for a face in the crowd of democratic nominees that could potentially knock her out of the race. Following the Iowa primary, we assumed that Obama would be our guy - until we looked into his past. Obama is a Marxist to the core. His strain is of the same diluted, twisted form that permeates our schools and colleges, propagated by people like Bill Ayers - and Obama. Add to that mix his deeply flawed, cowardly character, and general ineptitude and you have an Obama presidency.

That changed everything.

We came to realize, more slowly than I would have liked, that Hillary was not our enemy. No one would ever accuse her of rampant honesty, but she is to her core an American, and her sheer tenacity is admirable. I'm not a huge fan of either John McCain or Hillary, but both look about as messianic as Obama's supporters imagine Obama to be, when compared to him. Obama is every bit the uniter he claims to be - he's uniting the country against him. Indeed, that is why you are receiving this email.

Hillary supporters, Republicans - we may disagree on many things, but we understand what the problems are. We just reach different solutions. And we can have this conversation civilly, without name-calling and insults. That's the difference between genuine patriots (not to mention decent human beings) and Obama supporters. Bill said it best:



The far left has divided us Americans for too long. They have traditionally sent their vitriol in our direction, but now they seek to devour the very party that took them in. The democrat(ic) leadership tolerated them because of their money. And they have simultaneously caused the reactionary right to, well, react. (I'd like to apologize for Ann Coulter.) The end result has been terrible division. It must end.

This country needs both conservatives and liberals today just as it was founded by conservatives and liberals. When one group fails, the whole country suffers. There is great unity in intelligent, mutually respectful disagreement.

I have left my day job to work for 527's. I will be putting ads on television to spread the truth about Obama. You and I have many disagreements but we have found some important common ground, we are both fighting to protect our country from a madman.

Sincerely,

Fred