This is what we have to look forward to for the next 4 years from the mainstream left, starting with Crooks and Liars, the perfect name for a Progressive blog

As we predicted before the election, Barack Obama’s victory has loosed a flood of hatefulness from the racist right in America. Digby yesterday had a detailed post laying out some of the cases that have erupted so far.

From the Christian Science Monitor:

In rural Georgia, a group of high-schoolers gets a visit from the Secret Service after posting “inappropriate” comments about President-elect Barack Obama on the Web. In Raleigh, N.C., four college students admit to spraying race-tinged graffiti in a pedestrian tunnel after the election. On Nov. 6, a cross burns on the lawn of a biracial couple in Apolacon Township, Pa.

The election of America’s first black president has triggered more than 200 hate-related incidents, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center – a record in modern presidential elections. Moreover, the white nationalist movement, bemoaning an election that confirmed voters’ comfort with a multiracial demography, expects Mr. Obama’s election to be a potent recruiting tool – one that watchdog groups warn could give new impetus to a mostly defanged fringe element.

Yes, there is not doubt that there are jerks out there on both sides. People who go too far in expressing their so called First Amendment Rights. People who just do not take in to consideration what the phrase “being an adult” means.

According to that AP piece, neo-Nazi Web entities like Stormfront have seen a serious spike in business.

C&L then mentions the little t-shirt experiment that Chicago teen Catherine Vogt engaged in, seeing what would happen if she wore a “McCain Girl” t-shirt to school one day, then a “Obama Girl” one the next. But, according to C&L, what has been happening on “the right” is much, much worse. Of course.

There is a massive difference, though: most of these people expressing the hatred are massively far right, are massively fringe players, and are people that we do not want. We want nothing to do with people from sites like Stormfront, and, remember, Ron Paul was flayed for taking money from neo-Nazi’s like Leo Metzger and for an ad on Stormfront. We do not tolerate these folks, and want them to all piss off.

On the other side of the aisle, we have had massive hate on a continuous basis since Bush was elected. Michelle Malkin wrote a book about it. She has a whole category specifically about the Left’s fantasies about assassinating President Bush. The Huff Post has taken to closing posts that are about some bad thing, some hospital visit, some medical problem, etc, that happens to people on the right, for fear that bloggers on the Right will pick up on the massive hate and wishes for death. I have tons of hate posts and comments from those on the Left in several categories, as does Right Wing News, Moonbattery, and others.

We had years of those on the Left thrilling at the proposition of posting higher and higher body counts from Iraq. The blogging leader on the Left, Markos Moulitos, had his famous “screw ‘em” post. And let’s not forget some of the comments by Democrat electa-critters, who compared G’itmo to a Soviet gulag, Abu Ghraid under the Coalition forces to Saddam’s thugs, and called our troops dumb, as well as cold blooded killers. The big difference here is that these are mostly the mainstream Left. Not fringe players. And those on the left rarely say “dude (or dudette), you are going way too far.” The typical behavior is to either ignore the issue, or cheer them on.

So, when it is the mainstream Right engaging in this type of behavior, then I’ll be concerned. Barking Moonbats on the left should clean their own house before casting aspersions. When commenters at Michele Malkin, Hot Air, Powerline forums, Ace of Spades, Free Republic, etc, start laughing at bad things that happen to Barry and his folks, then I’ll be worried. When Boortz, Hannity, or Rush start having assissination skits like the ones by Randy Rhodes (not that a comparison between the greats and a barely listened to hack are fair), then I’ll be concerned. Till then, keep your hysterical rhetorical BS to yourselves, Moonies!

Can’t ya feel the love?

Harvey Korman - Rec. this if you think it’s time for PELOSI and REID to be replaced.

Pelosi “warning” Obama to govern from the middle (read: capitulate to the right whenever possible)?

Reid “pondering” taking away Traitorman’s committee chairmanship?

These two are completely feckless at best and at worst they actually try to stifle progress. If President Obama is to get as much done as he can, it’s time for a change of leadership in Congress. These two have had their shot and gotten nothing done, and now they’re already preparing to help Obama get nothing done.

Enough!

A short lived marriage, eh? Lots and lots of kicks on this one. Most want the two gone. Here we go!

Our liberal friends claim there is no war on Christmas. Uh huh. Anyhow, I find it interesting that the issue brings together Christians, Jews, and Muslims against the forces of secular progressivism

Oxford city council confirmed the events in the city would be renamed ‘Winter Light Festival’ to make them more inclusive, provoking outrage among shoppers in the city who called for a return to tradition.

The idea has come from the charity Oxford Inspires, the cultural development agency for the county, which runs the celebrations.

Sabir Hussain Mirza, chairman of the Muslim Council of Oxford, said: “I am really upset about this. Christians, Muslims and other religions all look forward to Christmas.”

Fr Brian Van-Dungey, a priest in Garsington, Oxon, said: “I am a Christian and pleased to see my Muslim brothers joining in the condemnation of this stupid and dangerous idea; this sort of thinking creates racial problems and should be stopped in its tracks.”

Rabbi Eli Bracknell, who teaches at the Jewish Educational Centre in the city, said: “It is important to maintain a traditional British Christmas. Anything that waters down traditional culture and Christianity in the UK is not positive for the British identity.”

Christmas is not just about Christians celebrating and reflecting on the Birth Of Jesus. It actually brings people of different faiths together to reflect on the meaning of Christmas. I grew up in an area with many of the Jewish faith. They did not celebrate Christmas, but, would often take part in the meaning. The whole “peace on Earth, good will towards Men” saying. And here we have a city council saying “to hell with the people, we will do what we want.” I hope the voters make their own choice shortly on the city council’s jobs.

The Times Of London has a message for all the (typical) calls from Democrats/Liberals/Surrender Monkeys who question the timing of their story on Barack H. Obama’s (remember, using the “H” is racist) Aunti Zeituni

The trail that led to “Aunt Zeituni”, the relative of Barack Obama who was traced by The Times last week, started with Mr Obama’s memoir, one of the most widely read political autobiographies of all time. (Original story here)

The Democrat campaign has implied that the story might have come from Republican sources – “the American people are … pretty suspicious of things that are dumped in the marketplace 72 hours before a campaign,” said Mr Obama’s chief strategist David Axelrod yesterday.

In fact, the story came from a book that has been read by millions, including just about everyone connected to the Obama campaign.

A book that put Obama in a high tax bracket. Anyone think that bracket will be excluded from a tax rate increase and/or lots of breaks?

Anyhow, the Times of London did some research, something that most of the MSM here in the USA have failed to do, and found the whole deal on Aunti Zeinuni. Kudos for the journalistic integrity and doggedness. They even went so far as to visit the place where she lives.

It was not until Wednesday evening that The Times obtained a formal identification of Ms Onyango by George Hussein, Mr Obama’s half-brother who had known her throughout his childhood.

Whatever the Democrat campaign may imply, there is nothing suspicious about the story or its timing. The only mystery, perhaps, is how so many people read Mr Obama’s book in the US without wondering what might have happened to the mysterious relative, lost in America.

The MSM here doesn’t want to know how Mr. “I am my brothers keeper” has an Aunt that is an illegal immigrant living in a shoe and a brother who lives on virtually nothing. If Obama doesn’t care much about them, how will he govern?

Palin Derangement Syndrome strikes England

Townsfolk in England have delivered their explosive verdict on Sarah Palin, stuffing a giant effigy of the U.S. Republican vice presidential nominee with fireworks and blowing her up to raucous cheers.

The unusual display was the climax of an annual bonfire celebration Saturday in the southern town of Battle, where political figures are a favorite target of a local tradition that sees a different icon destroyed each year.

This year’s creation was a rather unflattering depiction of the self-declared “hockey mom,” a machine gun brandished in her muscular arms, bright red lipstick surrounding a grimacing smile and a moose at her side.

Imagine if that had been Barack H. Obama (yes, including the H is racist, in Liberal World). Imagine the outrage, the calls of racism, hatred, intolerance, etc. Liberals/progressives/surrender monkeys would be calling for a criminal hate crime investigation.

I’d ask “what is with the MSM,” but, we all know the answer: in da tank

Herewe have the McCain campaign’s execrable Michael Goldfarb slinging around accusations of anti-semitism–a favorite pastime, as we’ve seen this year, among Jewish neoconservatives. I’ve never met Rashid Khalidi, but he is (a) Palestinian and therefore (b) a semite, so the charge of anti-semitism is fatuous. Khalidi is also a respected academic, the sort of person who is involved in foundation work that John McCain, for one, was willing to support financially. I’d say that if we have a bigot here, it’s Mr. Goldfarb who, if he’s intent on calling people antisemitic–or any other epithet–should be required to provide chapter and verse, which he does not do on CNN. (I’d also like to know on what basis CNN’s Rick Sanchez can stipulate that Khalidi is antisemitic.)

Oooh, we have the fun “neoconservative” word crop up, something I doubt the majority of Lefties can even define, and don’t you love the “accusations of anti-semitism?” We have been treated to a constant call of racism charges ever since Obama broke his promise about running for president to run for president. First they were against Camp Hillary and her supporters, now they are against Camp McCain and his supporters. Remember

• If Obama Loses: Racism is the only reason McCain might beat him.
• Veiled racism seen in new attacks on Obama
• Even if you vote for Obama, you’re still probably a racist, according to Harvard law professor Charles Ogletree

And those are just a few of the hits. When Palin was hung in effigy, not a peep. If Barry is hung in effigy, Racism! If you bring up Bill Ayers? Racism. Bring up Jeremiah Wright? Racism. Pflagher? Racism. Call Barry a socialist? Racism. Everything is racistunless you prostrate yourself at the feet of Obama. I’m surprised Joe Klein didn’t deem that bringing up Khalidi was racist. But, it was “bigoted.”

Anyhow, Klein could have at least taken the 5 minutes it takes on the Internet to research Khalidi himself. According to Discover the Network

• Former PLO operative
• Has justified as legitimate Palestinian “resistance” that results in death of armed Israelis
• Rejects the possibility of a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Well, as a former member of the PLO, Khalidi certainly can’t be an anti-semite, right? Does that answer a bit of your question of how Rick Sanchez can stipulate that Khalidi is antisemitic, Joe? Why do Liberals members of the Credentialed Media have such a tough time doing research nowadays?

PS: Khalidi also fits right in to the mold of trotting out the “racism!” charge like other Leftists, as he did over the illegal immigration battle.

When Surrendie first heard this story late Thursday, he said “Mine! Mine! Mine!” And, since I usually avoid arguments with poo flingers, I said, “sure.” Raleigh N&O

Kay Hagan has filed a lawsuit against Sen. Elizabeth Dole.

The Democratic Senate candidate announced this afternoon that she will sue her Republican opponent and the Elizabeth Dole Committee over a television ad that criticizes her for attending a fundraiser hosted by the founder of an atheist group.

“In filing this suit, we’ve made clear that these kind of despicable tactics will not be tolerated, and our campaign is moving forward with the most important task at hand: defeating Elizabeth Dole, and giving North Carolina’s families a voice in the U.S. Senate that they’ve been sorely missing,” said Hagan spokeswoman Colleen Flanagan.

Surrendie is thrilled by how cool that is. Hagan has surrendered to the Barry way of doing things. Smear your opponents, lie about your own positions, then, if someone fights back, let your visceral response to be to investigate the lights out of them, and, file a lawsuit.

Now, to be clear, I do not think much of the Dole ad (below the fold), which, whether it is factual, stretches the truth, is false, is a waste of time and money, in my opinion. The whole atheism thing shouldn’t cause any contretemps for Hagan. People can be atheists, and shouldn’t be denigrated for that. It is their choice in our land of freedom. On the flip side, this has exposed not only this tremulous, friable Democrat candidate for high office, but, is a continuation of the Democrat playbook, and should give a big heads up over what the Obama presidency years will look like. And they will also be listening to the atheists would will force their agenda on others, rather then just live and let live.

Anyhow, Dole and her campaign say the ad is truthful. You decide.

Gotta love the double standard. The Halloween display of Sarah Palin hung in effigy was A-OK, almost no one on the Left complained. But, now, horror!!!!! Obama Effigies Strung Up in Kentucky and Indiana

Barack Obama effigies turned up Wednesday on the University of Kentucky campus and in a front yard in Indiana, as federal authorities said they weren’t investigating a Sarah Palin hanging-from-a-noose Halloween display in California as a hate crime.

Kentucky school officials in Lexington were trying to determine who hung a mannequin lookalike of Obama from a tree on campus, school spokesman Carl Nathe told The Associated Press. Police took the effigy down immediately.

In Clarksville, Ind., Kirk Deddo strung an Obama doll up by a noose from a tree on his lawn and called it a Halloween decoration, saying it was the most frightening one he could find, WNDA-TV in Indiana reported.

Deddo said the effigy had nothing to do with race, and he put it up because he doesn’t like Obama’s stance toward the military.

“Electing Obama as president would be the scariest thing in the world,” he told the station.

And Liberals are freaking out

University of Kentucky President Lee Todd told the AP that he will apologize to the Obama family on the university’s behalf because he is “personally offended and deeply embarrassed by this disgusting episode.”

Students and leaders at the U. of Kentucky are outraged, as was the writer of the article, who seems hysterical, and not the funny type. It has been called a “despicable act.” Apologies are flying. And the LA Times plays moral relativism

Everybody take a deep breath. Some critics of the display seem unclear on a couple of concepts: the difference between political speech and hate speech, and the symbolic resonance that nooses hold for African Americans.

Ah. That would be a ……. double standard. It is OK to hang Palin in effigy, but…..ah, you know how this goes. Will the FBI investigate? Will Mr. Deddo be charged with a hate crime?

Photo below the fold

To follow up on the story where several Ohio agencies did investigations into the background of Joe The Plumber, we get

Ohio’s inspector general is investigating why a state agency director approved checking the state child-support computer system for information on “Joe the Plumber.”

Helen Jones-Kelly, director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, confirmed today that she OK’d the check on Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher following the Oct. 15 presidential debate.

She said there were no political reasons for the check on the sudden presidential campaign fixture though the Support Enforcement Tracking System.

Amid questions from the media and others about “Joe the Plumber,” Jones-Kelley said she approved a check to determine if he was current on any ordered child-support payments.

Such information was not and cannot be publicly shared, she said. It is unclear if Wurzelbacher is involved in a child-support case. Reports state that he lives alone with a 13-year-old son.

“Our practice is when someone is thrust quickly into the public spotlight, we often take a look” at them, Jones-Kelley said, citing a case where a lottery winner was found to owe past-due child support. “Our practice is to basically look at what is coming our way.”

Ah. So they just do that on anyone who gets famous. Is she serious? Joe should file a lawsuit against her and the department for violating his civil rights and privacy. Maybe the ACLU of Ohio, or even the national office, would care to help? Interesting how it also seems to be Democrats who use government offices to check people out for the hell of it, eh?

Democrat Gov. Ted Strickland [who appointed Jones-Kelly this past January] is satisfied that there are no political overtures to the check on Wurzelbacher, a spokesman said.

Did I forget to mention that Jones-Kelly is a maxed out Obama donor? Ace has the scoop on that. Nothing political in the investigation, though. Are Democrats taught to lie like that, or is it just natural?

The Surrender Monkey is really ready to get his groove on today. Surrendie loves all things surrender, but, he particularly enjoys when a supposedly conservative pundit goes catty moonbat, especially at a conservative website

My husband called it first. Then, a brilliant, 75-year-old scholar and raconteur confessed to me over wine: “I’m sexually attracted to her. I don’t care that she knows nothing.”

Finally, writer Robert Draper closed the file on the Sarah Palin mystery with a devastating article in this Sunday’s New York Times Magazine: “The Making (and Remaking) of McCain.”

McCain didn’t know her. He didn’t vet her. His campaign team had barely an impression. In a bar one night, Draper asked one of McCain’s senior advisers: “Leaving aside her actual experience, do you know how informed Governor Palin is about the issues of the day?”

The adviser thought a moment and replied: “No, I don’t know.”

Thanks, Kathy. I could swear I was reading something on the Huffington Post, Daily Kos, or Think Progress. Of course, she is certainly entitled to her opinion, but, like several other of the “elite” conservatives, she seems to have a bit of Palin Derangement Syndrome going on, and seems to expect some sort of Messiah like Conservative to spring forth and save the Party, rather then backing our own candidates.

Now, yes, there are some things about Palin and McCain’s policies I do not care for, such as their illegal immigration stances. But, those are policy disagreements. Conservative “elites” are more interestedin making it personal. Jack M at Ace of Spades HQ paraphrase the gist of the article as “John McCain picked Sarah Palin with his dick,” and he is correct.

Does she have to agree with other conservatives? No. But, it would be a nice if she could stop tearing down the conservative movement and becoming the latest Excitable Andy clone. Particularly considering her columns have been blasted by the readers and given poor marks since Sept. 19. She seems to delight more in attacks on Palin and McCain, rather then the guy who would like to silence her, raise her taxes, surrender to Islamic extremists, etc, and so on. You know the deal.