All posts by Headly Westerfield

About Headly Westerfield

Calling himself “A liberally progressive, sarcastically cynical, iconoclastic polymath,” Headly Westerfield has been a professional writer all his adult life.

Musical Appreciation ► Happy Birthday, Berry Gordy, Jr.

, , , , , , , , , , ,
The Motown Museum in 2010, taken by author.

Dateline November 28, 1929 – Berry Gordy, Jr. is born in Detroit, Michigan, the city he would later rename Motown.

The broad contours of Gordy’s life are well-known: He was the 7th of 8 children born to Berry Gordy II and Bertha Fuller Gordy, who had come up to Detroit in the early ’20s to work in the car business. Berry dropped out of school and opted for a career as a boxer, which he abandoned when he was drafted for service in Korea. When he returned from the service, he started writing songs. His first hit was “Reet Petite” for Jackie Wilson, which started Gordy off in show biz. After a few more songwriting credits, which include the smash “Lonely Teardrops,” he decided to try his hand at producing. He found a Detroit Doo Wop group called The Matadors, renamed The Miracles, which started Gordy’s roster of artists.

The street sign in front of the Motown Museum

In 1959 Gordy borrowed $800 from his family and started up his own record label, Tamla Records. The first record issued on Tamla was “Come To Me,” by The Miracles and written by Marv Johnson, who later wrote “You Got What It Takes.” It wasn’t until the 3rd release, “Bad Girl” by The Miracles, that Motown was officially launched as a record label.

New artists and new hits followed: Barrett Strong‘s “Money (That’s What I Want),” and The Miracles‘ “Shop Around,” The Marvelettes‘ “Please Mr. Postman,” Mary Wells, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Jimmy Ruffin, The Contours, The Four Tops, Gladys Knight & the Pips, The Commodores, The Velvelettes, Martha and the Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5, and many more.

Growing up in Detroit in the ’60s, it made one feel great to know the city had its own record label. When The Beatles started covering Motown tunes, we knew for sure that Motown had arrived worldwide.

However, the good times couldn’t last. In the early ’70s Gordy moved the Motown base of operations to Los Angeles, and things have never been the same since, for Detroit or the label.

However, it’s always been about the music. Here’s a Berry Gordy Jukebox for your listening pleasure. Get ready to sing and dance along, because you won’t be able to help yourself. And that, my friends, demonstrates the power of Motown.

Fox “News” Spin Cycle ► Episode 27

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Bizarro is owned by DC Comics

It’s been tough going lately for Fox “News.” No sooner had it lost the election for Mendacious Mitt, its whole Benghazi Conspiracy Theory started to fall apart. If that wasn’t bad enough, MSNBC started to smoke Fox in the ratings.

However, as the week began Fox “News” still thought it had the White House and the Nielson Ratings cornered. By week’s end, Senator John McCain was hilariously left twisting in the wind after repeating his Fox “News” created smears (he didn’t build that) of U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice. All he could do on the weekend talk shows was his best Jackie Gleason impression: “Humina humina humina.”

That’s why Fox “News” has to WHITEwash the record and why the Fox “News” Spin Cycle exists.

Morning Eric, but usually the Fox and Friends First cheesecake starts my week early Monday morning. What’s up with that?

Wretched Gretched must have a good agent because she had the whole Thanksgiving week off.

Here’s the lie Fox “News” was pushing when the week began.

Here’s a new lie Fox “News” tried to get away with early in the week, until it was revealed that this language has been included on this web site since 2007.

It would be more accurate to say: Senator smears Obama.

What does Fox “News” have against solar energy? If we were to spend 1/10th subsidizing solar as we do fossil fuel energy, we could solve the energy problem tomorrow.

Fox “News” keeps pushing the lie that the White House lied.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is the Republican that Republicans love to hate. It doesn’t pay to get too close to this President.
Truthfully, Bully Boy? I was just thinking you’ve not given me much material for my Chow Mein and Bolling series lately.

Get used to it, Loofah Lad. Mendacious Mitt is going to be a punchline for the rest of your life, especially after all the Bain Capital lawsuits are finally settled.

Now that it appears to have worked, it will be that much harder for Fox “News” to invent smears against Secretary of State Hilary Clinton. But . . . not impossible.

Sensible people everywhere rejoice when Allen West finally agrees with what has been obvious since the election.

The Fox “News” Phony War on Christmas starts earlier every year.
You can always tell when criticism has stung The Falafel King. It’s when Loofah Lad has to attack someone who has attacked him. Who is the obtuse one?

Short story: Bob Beckel played the buffoon all over again. Long story: He chug-a-lugged a Twinkie milkshake and, seconds later, ran off camera as if he was about to puke. Love that Bob.

Does Miller think there’s a link? What’s the new Petraeus Twinkie Conspiracy?
Believe it, or not, this article was not written by Brad Stine.

Because we all know how “Fair and Balanced” they are.
Because we all know what a crack police officer he is.

Because we all know what a ideal soldier he is.

Because we all know what an honest broker she is.

Because we all know how intelligent College Grads are.

Let’s see. Who was President when this language was added to the government web site in 2007? Oh yeah, that LAST guy, who is never blamed by Fox “News” for anything, even though he’s to blame for pretty much everything.

Why?

Fox “News” seems very concerned about the Twinkie.

It’s the Wussification of ‘Merka. Be afraid! Be very afraid!!!

Fox “News” is still trying to sell the lie. Even though the person responsible has now stepped out and admitted it, Kraut the Hammer and Bill the Loofah Lad aren’t “buying it.”
Secretary of State who???

Secretary of State who???

Wouldn’t be nice if we could all trample a White House flower bed for our Thanksgiving card?

Wouldn’t be nice if we could all afford such a cornucopia of food for our Thanksgiving holiday?

Will you be serving cheesecake for Thanksgiving?

Yes, you are a balloon elf. OH! You mean the picture. Never mind.
Bully Boy Bolling should be thankful he still has a job, considering how many times he’s been wrong.

What’s different about Clayton Morris today? Did he get a haircut?
I am thankful Scammity is not compulsory viewing. At least not yet.

KKKarl Rove is another person lucky he still has a job after his disastrous predictions about the election.

I wonder if Father Jonathan found a way to smear President Obama in the process.
Last week Scammity was promoting books, this week he’s promoting documentaries.

Now the Fox “News” invented Conspiracy Theory really starts to fall apart.
Too! Many!! Jokes!!!

There were shootings and wild fights in the parking lots. Viva la Unbridled Capitalism!!!
Viva la Unbridled Capitalism!!!

Viva la Unbridled Capitalism!!!

Viva la Unbridled Capitalism!!!

Dennis Miller’s not green. Kermit the Frog is green.
Viva la Unbridled Capitalism!!!

Viva la Unbridled Capitalism!!!

Viva la Unbridled Capitalism!!!
Viva la Unbridled Capitalism!!!
The kind of joke comedians have made ever since there has been an income tax. However, now Fox “News” gets to use it to smear President Obama. See how that works?

Still promoting a new anti-Obama movie.
Viva la Unbridled Capitalism!!!

Viva la Unbridled Capitalism!!! “BOLDER & FRESHER” is the name given to Loofah Lad’s live appearances with the never-funny Dennis Miller, not to be confused with the “BOLD & FRESH” tour, which was with the never-funny Glenn Beck.

Yoga pants?
Viva la Unbridled Capitalism!!!

Viva la Unbridled Capitalism!!!

Viva la Unbridled Capitalism!!! Oh! Wait!!! Never mind.
Yoga pants? Again with the yoga pants? A day later and you’re still on about the yoga pants? Yeesh!
That doesn’t take too much these days. Just ask Glenn Beck.

I’m betting “Freedom” is the name of his dog.
I’m betting “Freedom” is also the name of his gun.
Here’s a picture of Freedom.

Mark Shields is no more a Liberal columnist than Bill “Loofah Lad” O’Reilly is a Christian Saint.

More on the Fox “News” Phony War on Christmas.
Wait!!! What???
If this lifts the veil on poverty in this country, this pastor is doing a good thing. If Fox “News” ignores this story a month from now, it’ll just be Fox “News” covering up poverty in this country . . .  as usual.

However, when Progressives from Occupy Wall Street are pummeled by over-zealous police, Fox “News” managed to ignore that, or make fun of the protestors. Conversely, if a Conservative anywhere is disrespected, Fox “News” jumps into action.

Fox “News” has been selling it’s bullshit since 1996, but it’s beginning to look as if its viewers realize they have been lied to all this time. The election really opened a lot of eyes. Fox “News” and its entire roster of pundits were not JUST wrong, but MONUMENTALLY wrong.

It couldn’t have happened to a nicer group of liars.

Unpacking The Aunty Em Ericann Blog ► Shit Just Got Real

, , , , , , , , ,
Pictures in the public domain stitched together by author

From time to time I like to unpeel the onion and reveal a bit of what it takes to put this blog together. I call the series “Unpacking The Aunty Em Ericann Blog,” Aunty Em being my nom de plume when I was writing at NewsHounds.

However, as I have explained to my faithful readers, this series has always been nothing more than an excuse to find clever ways to beg my readers to click on an advert or two (in the right-hand column) while they are here. When someone clicks on an advert, I get a few pennies . . . and I do mean “a few.” Finding clever ways to get my readers to click on the adverts has become more crucial than ever. Yesterday I learned two things simultaneously:

  1. Blogger has a limit for FREE data storage;
  2. I had JUST reached that upper limit.

I felt as if someone had just said to me, “Psst! Hey kid! The first one’s free! Now it’ll cost you.”

Faced with this dilemma there was only one practical thing to do: So that I can continue to bring to my vast reading audience all its favourite series, I’ll start to pay the monthly fee for the data storage.

All your favourites are here: Unpacking Coconut Grove, Unpacking My Detroit, Another Magical Tee Vee Moment, The Fox “News” Spin Cycle, Judge Not, Nostalgia Ain’t What It Used To Be, Fox “News” Snark, Music Reviews, Chow Mein and Bolling, and my other various looks at various topics, as varied as Watergate right up to Today in History.

Think of this series like a PBS Pledge Break: If you want to see your favourite EmTV series to continue, call the number at the bottom of your . . . Wait!!! What??? There’s no number? Then click on several ads while you’re here and keep this blog in data storage.

Pretty please with sugar on top?

You can also connect with me at facebook and Twitter. The more the merrier.

Judge Not 6 ► This Week’s Pop Quiz

, , , , , , , , , , , ,
“Give your tired, poor snark to the
huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

Each week, as my Judge Not series has grown in popularity, Judge Nap’s output has declined considerably.  I sure hope I have not been inhibiting him.

Judge Nap knows the only reason I spun him off into his own HIGH-LARRY-US sitcom/blog series was because he was so damned prolific. When compiling screen caps for The Fox “News” Spin Cycle, Judge Nap was the single most verbose Foxite, with more than 100 posts in one week, which was a third of the output of everyone else at the station combined. That’s why this Fox Snark Series™ seemed like a good idea. Comedy gold.

However, this week: just 22 measly captures, several of which were duplicates.

I’m warning you now, Judge Andy. If you won’t cooperate in matching the output of those earlier, happier, halcyon days of President Obama’s 1st term, EmTV will drop this series like a bad Glenn Beck Conspiracy Theory.

Yes. Next question.

How did they do that, Judge?

Secession is all the rage now that President Obama has been reelected. There are certainly a lot of sore losers.

President? Really?

Here’s the deal, Judge Nap: It’s not George Soro’s MoveOn and this is bullshit. Furthermore: you know it’s bullshit. Will you correct the record or are you content to leave the lie?

The lawmaker who wrote that bill says it was designed to do just the opposite.

Buy Judge Nap’s book and save ‘Merka.

Who cut the cheese? I’m surprised Judge Nap is still pushing this false narrative.

Kilemeade: “If this catches on, I want to get paid in zinc.”

Chief among them: Are there really that many sore losers in ‘Merka?

Reclaim? I hadn’t realized my right to buy books had been taken away. God given rights? Are you one of those who say the Constitution was divinely inspired, Judge? I’m not sure how you can square rational Libertarianism with belief in a Sky God.

I’d take away the Fox “News” White House Press Pass entirely, but that’s just me.

HAW!!! HAW!!! HAW!!! HAW!!!

Get out your Number Two pencil and answer this one, Judge Nap. Which laws should rule supreme?
A. The various states which have relaxed marijuana laws?
B. The Feds, which classifies weed as a Class One Narcotic.
C. The United Nations, which has its own concerns about legalization?
D. None of the above?
E. All of the above?
Take your time.

The TSA is the agency everybody loves to hate. Get out your Number Two pencil and answer this one, Judge Nap. Essay question. What would you would replace it with? Take your time.

Get out your Number Two pencil and answer this one, Judge Nap. Explain in 25 words or less the difference between a police helicopter and a police drone. Take your time.

Get out your Number Two pencil and answer this one, Judge Nap. Is the Constitution divinely inspired? Bonus question: By which God?

HAW!!! HAW!!! HAW!!! HAW!!!

What do you think about the subsidies taxpayers give to Wal*Mart workers in things like Health Care and Food Stamps because working at Wal*Mart doesn’t pay a livable wage?

Who cut the cheese? Be afraid!!! Be very afraid!!! The extreme right and Libertarians want everyone to think social safety nets and Health Care reform is Socialism and the destruction of ‘Merka. Be afraid of the 47%!!! Be very afraid of the 47%!!!

The Fox “News” Spin Cycle ► Episode 26

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Bizarro is owned by CD Comics

For all the attention given to other news stories this week, Fox “News” could have just as easily re-branded itself “The Benghazi/Petraeus Terrific Hour,” although that doesn’t sound as officially deceptive as “Fair and Balanced.” 

However, the Fox “News” Brain Room interns spent most of the week trying to come up with a Grand Unifying Conspiracy Theory [G.U.C.T.], which would link the attack on Benghazi with David Petraeus’ infidelity, while folding in the Elmo sex scandal and ending, finally, with the bankruptcy at Hostess due to rapacious unionism. However, by week’s end, a G.U.C.T. seems to have eluded them. Let’s get right to the low-lights.

This is now a Meta Joke: Fox “News” posted a story about Bill Maher’s slip-of-the-tongue, in which it called him “Pig Maher” in the headline, as it always does. News Busters, that paragon of professional journalism, shared that story with its followers, copying the headline, which attracted the attention of Bill Maher. This tickled my funny bone. Your mileage may vary.
Now get out of my room, Bully Boy.

 

If there’s really a God, Huckleberry Mike will not be a part of a Republican road to 2016.
Be afraid!!! Be very afraid!!! This is the ultimate DOG WHISTLE. Hint: It ends with reparations.

 

Broadwell knew all about Hostess, but had never met Elmo. Jill Kelly knew Elmo, but doesn’t like snack cakes. You can’t force a Grand Unifying Conspiracy Theory; it has to happen organically. Back to the drawing board.
Now Kristol tells us it would be okay. However, since Bill Kristol is never right . . .
That’s quite the declarative headline. It’s not supported by the article, however.
Early in the week Fox “News” was still waiting to hear back on its Freedom of Information Request on Elmo’s emails. However, when Elmo’s accuser recanted, it was all moot.
I hope her “surgury” went well, Bully Boy.
Another headline that doesn’t match the story.
TRANSLATION: I’ll pretend I was right all along.
The only thing that’s unraveling is the Fox “News” invented scandal.

 

You’re asking us?
TRANSLATION: If Hostess knew that Elmo ate Twinkies, how does that hurt Petraeus? Wait!!! What??? Twinks, not Twinkies? Oh! That’s different. Never mind.

Some sore losers in Texas.
TRANSLATION: Mendacious Mitt lost the election because the Left are evil.
How fortunate that Fox “News” was able to find a Black guy that was willing to say what they are all thinking.

I am reminded of the Obama Reelection Office in Denver that was shot up by gunfire. There were any number of “vicious attacks” on people and property for supporting President Obama, but you never heard about those on Fox “News.” However, poor Melissa Joan Hart. Somebody called her mean names.
Was it an Italian Jeep built in China?

Lookie here: Just a few weeks after his own sex scandal, which came on the heels of his phony movie being thoroughly debunked, Fox “News” has taken to quoting Dinesh D’Souza as a credible source all over again. Nothing to see here.
Bully Boy Bolling invites people to the Fox “News” Conspiracy Central.
“A follow-up, if I may, Jay. Has the President stopped eating Twinkies in solidarity with Kevin Clash? And, why not?”
It’s a jungle out there. All week Fox “News” has been feeding people’s anger on the slow recovery efforts. Well played, Fox “News.”

STRATFOR on the Avon is a wonderful place to catch a play. “Room to Regroup” is a piece of experimental theater, in which a character named Petraeus encounters a set of identical twins named “Hostess One” and “Hostess Two” and they search for Big Bird only to find Elmo.

Law enforcement is probably right. In other news: My computer is virus free.
“The Petraeus Twist” is the dance that’s sweeping the ocean.

We’ll know as soon as you invent it, Bully Boy. BTW: The walrus was Paul.
“Even former-UN Ambassador and current Mustache-in-Waiting John Bolton said Clinton was right to attend these meetings in Australia, but that makes a horrible headline. Therefore, can we make it sound like she’s ducking out to go to a wine-tasting instead?”
As with all Fox “News” headlines, this is not what you’d think. Fox “News” producer Jesse Watters hassled the people in line waiting for “Pig” Bill Maher’s show to start by asking them stupid questions.

You mean White ‘Merka? Sorry, that ship has sailed, Kraut the Hammer.
Because no one appearing on Fox “News” has EVER been treated unfairly. EVER!

“And, never forget, John McCain was smart enough to tap me for his VP pick, which is why I won’t go away.”

“And, never forget, I was smart enough to tap Sarah Palin as my VP pick, which is why she won’t go away.”
Kevin Clash is my nominee.

Maybe we should start a pool about how much longer KKKarl Rove will appear on Fox as a pundit. No matter who the GOP is officially blaming for the loss this week, everybody is in agreement: It’s all KKKarl Rove’s fault.

More sore losers.

Wait!!! What??? Who set the trap? What was it baited with?

Here’s a Jon Stewart segment in which he excoriated Fox “News” for saying the exact same thing that Mendacious Mitt said. However, you’ll never know about it by watching Fox “News.”
Buh bye! Don’t let the screen door hit you where the good Lord split . . . Oh! Wait!!! Are you one of those Atheist Libertarians or Religious Orthodox Libertarians?

Fox “News” suddenly remembered Israel. Now looking for a way to blame it on President Obama.
“QUICK! How can we blame this on President Obama?”

“QUICK! How can we blame this on President Obama?”

Because it was a ridiculous question, one which a man would never be asked.

DOG WHISTLE!!!

Now Scammity is promoting books by Jake Tapper? WTF?
Easily the stupidest thing a Republican said all week. However, Fox “News” WHITEwashed the racist implications away.

She didn’t “crash” The View; she was invited on The View. She didn’t get “lip” from Behar; she engaged in a conversation.

Does this mean Scammity found a way to blame attacks in Israel and Gaza on President Obama?

That fits the Fox “News” narrative.
That also fits the Fox “News” narrative, Bully Boy.

That also fits the Fox “News” narrative, Loofah Lad.

Now Fox “News” is claiming to know what Petraeus will say before the fact.

The only reason Mendacious Mitt lost the election was because he simply didn’t know how to market his bullshit.
So what? Greg Gutfeld ridicules everything and everybody.

So what? Greg Gutfeld ridicules everything and everybody.
Fox “News” is still looking for a way to blame President Obama.

 

Fox “News” is still looking for a way to blame President Obama.
Fox “News” is still looking for a way to blame President Obama.

Fox “News” is still looking for a way to blame President Obama.

More class warfare from Fox “News.”

Fox “News” is still looking for a way to blame President Obama.

Fox “News” is still looking for a way to blame President Obama.
Fox “News” is still looking for a way to blame President Obama.
Fox “News” is still looking for a way to blame President Obama.

Fox “News” is still looking for a way to blame President Obama.

Fox “News” is still looking for a way to blame President Obama.

Fox “News” is still looking for a way to blame President Obama.
Fox “News” is still looking for a way to blame President Obama.

Fox “News” is still looking for a way to blame President Obama.

Fox “News” is still looking for a way to blame President Obama.

Wait!!! What???
Fox “News” is still looking for a way to blame President Obama.
Fox “News” is still looking for a way to blame President Obama.

Fox “News” is still looking for a way to blame President Obama.

Fox “News” is still looking for a way to blame President Obama.

Apologies if I came off as a little repetitious this week. That’s only because Fox “News” was a little repetitious this week, like every week. Hopefully, next week the so-called “news” channel will find a new Grand Unifying Conspiracy Theory. Awww . . . who the hell am I kidding? It’ll be all Benghazi-gate, all the time.

See you next week for The Fox “News” Spin Cycle #27!

Nostalgia Ain’t What It Used To Be ► Steamboat Willie

, , , , , , , ,

Dateline November 18, 1928 – Mickey Mouse appears in “Steamboat Willie,” the first all-singing, all-talking, all-musical cartoon.

What made “Steamboat Willie” such a revelation to movie-goers in 1928 was that the cartoon was entirely synchronized with the music and sound effects. While we take that entirely for granted today, this was a giant advance in the technology of the day. Walt Disney’s tour de force came less than a year after the release of “The Jazz Singer,” the first full-length “talkie.”

The technological advances of The Jazz Singer and Steamboat Willie helped put a nail in the coffin of the Silent Movie Era. In the case of Steamboat Willie, this is ironic because it was paying homage to the classic Buster Keaton silent film “Steamboat Bill, Jr.” Within a decade silent movies were as dead as wax cylinders.

It cost Walt Disney $4,986 to produce Steamboat Willie.

Judge Not 5 ► The Book Promotion Edition

, , , , , , , , , , ,
Judge Nap 4 prominently featured ‘above the fold’
on the “Lost Liberty & Freedom Today” e-zine

I am both amazed and gratified at how quickly the Judge Not series is growing in popularity. I picked up a number of new visitors this week in particular, after Judge Not 4 was featured on “Lost Liberty & Freedom Today,” an e-zine that seems to exist only to lionize Judge Andrew Napolitano. I couldn’t be more proud. 

However, ironically, as this series grows in popularity, Judge Nap has really slacked off sending out those witty bon mots that set up the comedy gold of my series. This week I only found 34 meager set-ups for my HIGH-LARRY-US punchlines. Maybe it’s because he’s too busy promoting his new book this week. Or, maybe he’s still licking his wounds that the Libertarian did not win the Oval Office. Or, maybe he’s just gotten lazy.

Heya, Judge Nap: I spun off this entire series just for you. Don’t make me sorry I did so.

Who indeed?

Is Fundamental Christianity the modern day Berlin Air Lift?

It’s all about the balance sheet, right Judge? Did you remember to factor in the 32 people killed, and the 480 people made seriously ill, from meningitis due to a lack of regulations in Massachusetts that govern compounding pharmacies???
When having a mistress is outlawed, only outlaws will have a mistress.

A phony headline, from a Conspiracy-A-Day web site, and Judge Nap thinks it’s worth making a fuss, despite knowing it’s a lie. There have been NO STATES that have petitioned the White House. Anyone can post a petition at the White House web site and several idiotic sore losers have submitted secessionist petitions. There had even been one petition that Grover Norquist be punched in the balls, but the White House actually had the nerve to deleted that petition.
WHAT ABOUT MY RIGHT TO PUNCH NORQUIST IN THE NUTS?

Because he thought he was going to win by a landslide. Karl Rove and Dick Morris told him so.

They weren’t. However, Judge Nap wants you to be afraid of Big Brother. I wonder what he’s got to worry about.

Judge Nap wants you to be afraid of Big Brother.

He quit, he wasn’t fired. He still has a Constitutional Right to cheat on his wife.

“Ayn” Rand Paul doesn’t have to run for election until 2016. If he’s reelected then, one MIGHT call it an evolution. Hell, one might even call it a REVOLUTION. Until then I will develop a “wait and see” attitude.

Would you be surprised to learn it’s the two presidents he wrote about in his latest book that he’s promoting this week?

This is the Fox “News” slogan and what Judge “Andy” counts on.

Which only proves there are so many sore losers in the Right Wing of this country.

Now Fox “News” is going to have to invent new lies because General Petraeus will testify truthfully, destroying all the speculative fiction the station has been building up until now.

Wait!!! What???

What about your Fox “News” Conspiracy Theory that Petraeus is being silenced? 60 seconds is not nearly enough to do that Conspiracy Theory justice, Judge Andy.

HAW! HAW! HAW! HAW!
Wait! Didn’t you post the same picture last week?

Buh bye!!!

I don’t believe you. I’m gonna Google it.

Is Judge Andy playing a game of “Pop Cultural Reference” with the Chicago Mayor and former Obama Chief of Staff?

C’mon, Ron Paul. Don’t be defeatist. Where’s that ‘Merkin ‘Ceptionalism I’ve heard so much about?

He wasn’t silenced. He resigned, Judge.

♪ ♫ ♪ If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. Here’s to you my CEE EYE EH!!! ♫ ♪ ♫

A Single Payer System, or Universal Health Care, solves every problem you can name with Obamacare. However, it’s a Socialist/Communist/Fascist system, so forget it!!!

And, when States start to secede, there is no Federal Government to nullify.

When one has a book to promote, they’ll appear anywhere. Here Judge Nap appears with a fake news host that delights in trashing the so-called “news” station he works for on an almost daily basis.

And promotes his book.

And promotes his book.

Are you kidding me, Judge Nap??? You work for Fox “News,” fer fuck’s sake!!!

Thomas Jefferson also said, “Honesty is the first chapter of the book wisdom.” That’s why Fox “News” and Judge Nap will not even be footnotes in the Book of Wisdom.

The Fox “News” Spin Cycle ► Episode 25

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Bizarro is owned by DC Comics

Nothing better demonstrates how Fox “News” is exactly like Bizarro World than this week’s, post-election edition of The Fox “News” Spin Cycle, the 25th in our popular ongoing series. 

Keep in mind: This was the week in which, before the election, the Fox “News” Paid & Preferred Pundits™
were declaring Mendacious Mitt would win in a landslide. It was the same week in which the Fox “News” Paid & Preferred Politician™ Mendacious Mitt Romney lost the Presidential Election in a landslide.

Welcome to the lobby of Bizarro World. Will you be staying here long? The next four years, you say? Certainly, we can accommodate you, providing you stop thinking now. Watch your step as you enter the Fun Way, which is already in progress.

Bully Boy Bolling has no idea how his side is going to be sandbagged by KKKarl Rove tomorrow night.
Wait!!! What??? Wasn’t Fox “News” trying to gin up a controversy over those U.N. election monitors?

TRANSLATION: Media are reprehensible for waiting for the investigations.to play out and not making shit up now.
Hooray! Shameless cynicism didn’t win. Isn’t that a good thing, Fox “News”?

TRANSLATION: There are only a few hours left in which I can pretend that Mendacious Mitt will win in a landslide and where the estimated $300,000,000.00 I am spending on the election will matter. Let me keep up the fiction as long as I can.

TRANSLATION: This will be the last day in which we can pretend that KKKarl Rove’s massive $300,000,000 conflict of interest doesn’t exist, so we won’t mention it . . . once again.

DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN!

I’ve always maintained it’s more important to know what a station IS NOT reporting than what it IS reporting. A case in point: Some anonymous bozo brags into somebody’s cell phone camera that he’s voted 4 times and Fox “News” decides it’s a national “news” story. Is it true? Who knows? Who cares? Fox “News” certainly doesn’t. Conversely, there has been a lot of reporting (everywhere but on Fox “News”) about the alleged Republican-tied, alleged voter fraud cases in Virginia, and several other alleged locales across ‘Merka — that all seem to be allegedly intertwined — and that all allegedly involve Nathan Sproul, who has alleged connections to KKKarl “Alleged” Rove. Has Fox “News” ever reported on Sproul and his gang? No, because this cell phone video is more important.

It gave me the chills, too. It is a propaganda video that would make Leni Riefenstahl proud.
Tweety went off on one of his rants about GOP Dog Whistles. A little slice and dice — taking comments out of context — and one can justify this headline from Real Clear Politics, which Fox “News” also thinks is a national “news” story.

“Kneecaps” is just another one of those action verbs Fox “News” is fond of. It wasn’t really like that. However, Fox “News” will elevate any story to national “news” if one of its competitors is criticized, even mildly. Action verbs will cover that.

Using his silly quiz to further propagandize is just another one of Loofah Lad’s excesses.

Remember this guy? He used to be on Fox “News” and now he isn’t. That doesn’t mean he’s any less funny now.

I think Mendacious Mitt’s internal polls are lying to him.

The GOP were hoping for counting chaos. Too bad it didn’t happen because then it was harder to say the election was stolen.

There were Swing State newspapers that flipped to President Obama, but Fox “News” will never tell you about them.

The Falafel King started his “people want free stuff so that’s why they reelected President Obama” rant almost immediately after the polls closed. He hasn’t let up since, except to spout racist bullshit about the White Race now being a minority in ‘Merka.

Is this one of those skewed polls? Because it sure was wrong!!!

Be afraid!!! Be very afraid!!!
Be afraid!!! Be very afraid!!!
Be afraid!!! Be very afraid!!! If you see someone on Fox “News” that doesn’t seem right, record and report it.

Thank goodness we dodged that bullet.

Be afraid!!! Be very afraid!!! One Black guy, who poll workers said was “relatively pleasant to speak with,” showed up at one polling station, and Fox “News” tried to turn it into this year’s voter intimidation story. It didn’t work.

Who are you voting for, KKKarl?

By the beginning of the week Fox “News” had figured out a way to blame President Obama for Hurricane Sandy.

Be afraid!!! Be very afraid!!!

There are just a few hours left before KKKarl Rove’s head is going to explode. Until then he can pretend his massive $300,000,000.00 conflict of interest is still going to matter.

I can’t wait until we can do Slo-Mo, freeze-frames of the EXACT moment when KKKarl Rove’s head explodes!!!. Until then we can let him pretend a few hours longer that his massive $300,000,000.00 conflict of interest is still going to matter.

Oddly enough, there were longer lines in Democratic precincts, but Fox “News” will never tell you that.

Five hours later KKKarl Rove’s head is going to explode live on air in one of the greatest public meltdowns ever. However, there is still some time to pretend his massive $300,000,000.00 conflict of interest is still going to matter.

There was a tribute to President Obama painting on the wall of a schoolroom being used as a polling place. Be afraid!!! Be very afraid!!!

It won’t be pretty when KKKarl Rove’s head explodes.

How long do you think it should take, Clayton? After Hurricane Wilma we were without power for 14 days. Hurricane Sandy was much bigger, moved slower, and left far more destruction. Down here after Wilma the difficult thing for Transportation Departments to find were new, in-the-box traffic lights just sitting on shelves waiting to be installed. They had to be fabricated. There were many intersections that reverted to 4-way stops during the several weeks it took to find enough replacements. However, to listen to Fox “News,” it’s all President Obama’s fault that the number of broken
telephone polls exceeds the supply of telephone polls waiting to be
installed.
The Flop Sweat begins now!

Even Jeb Bush was delusional. He must have drunk the KKKarl Rove Kool-Aid served on Bizarro World.

The closer the ‘Merkin public gets to electoral reality, the closer KKKarl Rove gets to Bizarro World.

HAW! HAW! HAW! HAW!
This will be one of the last times Mendacious Mitt is ahead all evening.

The beginning of the excuse-making. No one seemed to say, “Mendacious Mitt was a lousy candidate.”

This is how Woeful Wednesday began, with a whimper and no Fox and Friends First cheesecake.

Bully Boy Bolling thinks Mendacious Mitt was too moderate. Yeah, that’s why he lost because he was not Conservative enough.

Bully Boy Bolling needs to rethink his party. They’re big losers and behave like sore losers.

Who is crazier: KKKarl Rove, who denied reality for so long, or Fox “News,” which actually brought on the wrongest person on earth to give his post-election analysis? It’s a trick question because it’s a tie! And the brain-dead Fox “News” audience are the ultimate losers because neither Fox “News,” nor KKKarl Rove ever admitted on Fox “News” that his 2 SuperPACs were spending a whopping $300,000,000.00 to influence the 2012 election. There’s only two ways to look at it: Fox “News” either knew the scam, or were duped by KKKarl Rove’s scam. Either way the so-called “news” network allowed itself to be used to raise money to buy a Mendacious Mitt presidency: “Lookie here, I appear on Fox “News” alla time. Gimme my SuperPACs money and we’ll have a puppet in November.” Fox “News” won’t ever admit either side of that coin, so it will gladly turn to KKKarl Rove for post-election analysis.

Oddly enough, Fox “News” really kept telling its brain-dead audience all the reasons why President Obama should NOT have won the election. It never really looked into why Mendacious Mitt lost. Funny that.
HAW! HAW! HAW! HAW!
Hey, didja hear? Fox “News” is considering a new show to run on both the Fox “News” and the Fox “Business” networks: At first the Head Honchos were going to call it “Mea Culpa with KKKarl Rove,” but then remembered that Fox “News” never admits to its mistakes. That’s why “CYA with KKKarl Rove” won out. Check your local listings.

Here’s a lesson in how Fox “News” pushes news down the memory hole: Donald Trump eventually deleted his tweet which called for a revolution, but not before NBC’s Brian Williams called him out on it. Now, skip ahead to Monday, November 12, 2012: Those Foxy Friends on Fox and Friends hosted The Donald for his regular Monday morning phone call. While The Donald was asked about his Twitter War with Brian Williams, never did anyone mention it was because The Donald called for revolution after Mendacious Mitt lost the election. That part of the kerfuffle is gone down the memory hole and the brain-dead Fox “News” viewers need never know about it.

That’s just one of the nicer thing he said. I wrote about Ted Nugent’s racist attack on Detroit almost two weeks ago. Oddly enough, The Ghost of Gilchrist recycled some of his Detroit attacks and applied them to the nation as a whole. That makes his racial enmity against Detroit so much less special than it seemed just 2 weeks ago.

Maybe Ted Nugent and Loofah Lad are merely trying to label Fox “News” as the Racist Channel.

There is no better place than to run this video again because it’s a keeper:

Maybe if you just throw more money at it, KKKarl. Think of it as your own personal stimulus package.

“QUICK! How can we blame this on President Obama’s reelection.?”

Because we all know how “Fair and Balanced” Ann Coulter and Pat Buchanan are. And, poor Bob Woodward, of Watergate fame, has been acting as Scammity’s stooge.

This has been the Fox “News” mantra since President Obama was reelected.

The entire country has shifted Progressive, but Bully Boy Bolling won’t let that dissuade him from feeling like a winner, even when his most closely-held beliefs were resoundly rejected by the voters. Now that’s what I call “cockeyed optimism.”

Another example of Fox “News” shitting on the competition.

TRANSLATION: We’ll find someone to blame.

“QUICK! How can we blame this on President Obama’s reelection?”

Now that really sounds like sour grapes to me.

Here’s a hint: NewsMax did not blame Mendacious Mitt or the GOP. It’s all the voter’s fault.

Just when you thought he’d be slitting his wrists, KKKarl Rove bounces back to pretend he still has some worth to Fox “News.” And, Fox “News” still has to pretend he does, because the alternative is unthinkable. The truth of the matter is that KKKarl Rove stunk up the entire joint for the entire election cycle. If you want to know why Fox “News” blundered so badly in all of its projections, all you have to do is look at KKKarl Rove. Since Fox “News” never reported on Rove’s MASSIVE $300,000,000.00 conflict of interest, it promptly forgot all about Rove’s MASSIVE $300,000,000.00 conflict of interest. The putative “news” network allowed KKKarl Rove to sell it a phony bill of goods as well.

So, it’s all the fault of Mendacious Mitt’s guy, who isn’t as smart as David Axelrod. You’d think Mittens could afford the smartest in the world . . . like KKKarl Rove, f’rinstance.

Let’s file this away and check on it in a few years. Bully Boy Bolling is predicting what commodities will be good buys and which commodities will tank during President Obama’s second term. Don’t forget: Bully Boy Bolling is a former-commodities trader.

Oh, fer fuck’s sake. Bully Boy Bolling’s started a new countdown.

Just not enough to compromise. However, you could be forgiven if you get the opposite impression from this.

“QUICK! How can we blame this on President Obama’s reelection? Oh! Wait! We just have.”

If Eric Holder leaves the administration, Fox “News” will lose one of its favourite strawmen.

Be afraid!!! Be very afraid!!!

Let’s clear up one thing right now: THIS IS NOT MORNING CHEESCAKE!!!

In discussing legalization of marijuana on The Five, Bully Boy Bolling forgot his Libertarian roots and came out soundly against legalization and referenced his son as a reason. Some people jumped on his hypocrisy. Imagine that. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to find Bully Boy Bolling’s Boy’s Bong. Statistically, he’s got to be a doper.

CHEESECAKE!!!

Cheesecake???

PLEASE! No cheesecake!!!

Oh, jeez. Bully Boy Bolling couldn’t even stick to his 4-year countdown 2 days in a row.

Because we know how “Fair and Balanced” Liz Cheney is.

Shorter Petraeus: It’s all Obama’s fault.

That’s all you got, Bully Boy? When you thought Mendacious Mitt Romney was going to win inn a landslide, you woke up so much more chipper. It’s sad to see you take it so hard.

Already spreading conspiracy theories and it’s only Saturday morning.

And more conspiracies.

And more conspiracies.

Even crossword puzzles are places to push propaganda.

“QUICK! How can we get these people to blame President Obama?”
“QUICK! How can we blame this on President Obama?”

And more conspiracies.

No, Loofah Lad. The lowest race card was right after the election when you said the only reason President Obama won was because, QUOTE, “The white establishment is now the minority.” Nice going, Whitey!

TRANSLATION: Still more conspiracy theories.

And even more conspiracies. By the end of the weekend Fox “News” personalities were creaming their collective jeans because the giant Benghazi Conspiracy Theory newsfront was about to interact with tracking weather patterns as a new front moves in from CIA headquarters. While there’s still a lot of time before these conspiracies coalese and make landfall, Fox “News” is predicting this could become a biggest shitstorm than Hurricane Sandy. At least if it has any say about it.

Personally I never thought Veep Joe Biden would run for the presidency in ’16. And, I’d rather not be proven wrong.

Oh, lookie here: KKKarl Rove wants to change the subject. Let’s change it back.

This Simpson’s clip from just last night, after the election:

By the end of the weekend, Fox “News” found a new conspiracy that involves Attorney General Eric Holder, abortion clinics and his wife. I’m sure there’s far less to this than Fox “News” is making out. There always is.

So, the question must be asked of the GOP and Teabaggers everywhere: Are you better off than you were 4 years ago, before you spent all that money trying to get Mendacious Mitt elected?

What have been learned? On this reality-based world a reasonable assessment would be that FOUR years of Fox “News” lies was not enough to scare enough people into voting against the Black guy. One would have to conclude that the Fox “News” brand of propaganda is no longer working.

What did they learn on Bizarro World? Nothing. As soon as the election was over Fox “News,” along with its sycophantic echo chamber of GOP operatives and Teabagging professionals, were already doubling-down on the lying conspiracy hysteria that allowed the once proud GOP to nominate, and then back, a proven liar like Mendacious Mitt Romney.

Welcome to Bizarro World. The WHITEwash zone is for loading and unloading, which is why The Fox “News” Spin Cycle exists in the first place. You’re welcome..

Judge Not 4 ►

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Unretouched photo of Judge Nap taken from author’s tee vee

Maybe Judge Nap was still licking his wounds after Tuesday’s election, in which Mendacious Mitt had his ass handed to him.

Or maybe it was simply because Judge Judy still won’t return his tweets. [It’s a long, complicated story. Sunday night The Judge and I were killing time and a bottle of tequila when he got a crazy idea and took out his smartphone. I warned him not to send Judge Judy that! Have you ever tried to tell The Judge what to do when he gets a snoot-full?]

Whatever the cause, Judge “Andy” Napolitano, the Fox “News” Senior Judicial Libertarian, barely sent out anything out this week, especially when compared to his high of 2 weeks ago. It’s the second week in a row that Judge Not  (soon to be a major motion picture starring Matt Damon or Steve Carell. I always get those two confused.) showed a marked decline. Since I had only 41 messages to choose from, as you can imagine, I had to use the good and the bad, starting with a Libertarian cause very close to The Judge’s heart:

Most people do not realize that Judge Nap runs a string of Animal Mills across the country. The Judge Nap Animal Mill™ sells dogs and cats and, yes, even rabbits. However, much closer to the Judge’s heart are the wolves and hyenas he loves to breed. If LA can close down his Animal Mills, then where next?
Like a lot of people who had power and hot and cold running water, Judge Nap joined the outrage against NYC Mayor Bloomberg after he endorsed President Obama.

Hating NYC Mayor Bloomberg became the GOP’s national sport as soon as he endorsed President Obama. The marathon merely gave those haters a focus for their hate. Don’t say that Judge Nap isn’t willing to jump on a bandwagon once it’s already going.
That’s not the question I want answered. I’d prefer to ask, “Are the Supremes Individual?” Not the Supreme Court, either! Diana Ross and The Supremes! I hear a symphony.
I’ve already written about this in my blog post “Bully Boy Bolling Believes Bullshit Baffles Brains.” What does this prove? Even Judge Nap likes a good fight and is willing to jump on  a bandwagon.
Judge Nap thinks nothing of passing along a thoroughly debunked piece of crap, long after it had already been debunked. That’s why Judge Nap fits in so well on Fox “News,” because it’s a network that doesn’t care about truth either.
Judge Nap jumped on the Libertarian bandwagon that argued the position that Free Markets should rule after a natural disaster like Hurricane Sandy and that jacking up the cost is not really price gouging, it’s simply the laws of supply and demand coming in to play.
It didn’t take long before Fox “News” figured out a way to blame Democrats for the aftermath of a once-in-a-lifetime natural disaster.
After an unprecedented hurricane, people became angry that it was taking as long as it was to repair a massively broken infrastructure. Judge Nap was happy to jump on that bandwagon and fan the flames of anger and resentment. That’s why Judge Nap would leave it to the private sector.
TRANSLATION: “Then we’ll just have to find something else to blame NYC Mayor Bloomberg for . . .
“. . . FOUND IT!!! Proven to be a quote taken out of context and not true at all? Too late!!!”

Be afraid!!! Be very afraid!!! We are just moments away from total anarchy.

Be afraid!!! Be very afraid!!! We are just moments away from total anarchy.
Be afraid!!! Be very afraid!!! We are just moments away from total anarchy.

Be afraid!!! Be very afraid!!! We are just moments away from total anarchy.
It really doesn’t seem as if Judge Nap is terribly optimistic about the human race.

That’s how a Republic works. Get over it.
Be afraid!!! Be very afraid!!! We are just moments away from total anarchy.

Be afraid!!! Be very afraid!!! We are just moments away from Kid Rock being right about something.

Several Republicans are arriving in Washington to pick up Ron Paul’s Losing Banner. Hooray!!!

This will be a battle between State Rights and Fed Rights. Pass the popcorn. And the Cheetos. Did you bring the M&Ms?

Right after the election, Republicans started to play The Blame Game to avoid the Pink Elephant in the room. This is what DeMint should have said: “If Republicans don’t understand the important aspects of what THE AMERICAN PUBLIC is saying, we won’t be able to exist as a party, certainly not a majority party.”

Why doesn’t Judge Nap believe that Mendacious Mitt wouldn’t also crush personal freedoms? Because, silly, those are personal freedoms that Judge Nap doesn’t believe that those with a uterus deserve.
Yes, they are. Next question.
Here is Judge Nap fanning the flames of anger and resentment some more. The election’s over, but The Judge is prepared to start fighting it again RIGHT NOW!

There’s a lot of silly Monday Morning Quarterbacking going on following the election, but the Libertarian position seems the silliest. One could make the argument that Ron Paul supporters threw the GOP under the bus.

More Monday Morning Quarterbacking merely to fan the flames of anger and resentment. Heya, Judge Nap! Over here! When does the GOP or Libertarian Party say, “Even with the lies we made up against President Obama — even with the hundreds of millions of dollars we spent propagandizing those lies — the people still preferred the President’s message. Imagine how much of a drubbing we would have taken had if Mendacious Mitt actually told the truth — about anything at all.”

Empty slogans cannot make man richer, but it can make him poorer.
HAW! HAW! HAW! HAW! HAW! HAW! HAW! HAW! HAW! HAW!
Far gone, man.
What was Judge Nap saying when Dubya was talking about Regime Change in Iraq?

“QUICK! How can we blame this on President Obama?”
“QUICK! How can we blame this on President Obama?”
Don’t Libertarians just say the darndest things?

Judge Nap sided with the GOP before the election and sided with the GOP after the election. He’s a LINO: Libertarian In Name Only. However, far worse is his lack of self-awareness. There’s no shame. No stock-taking. No introspection. No mea culpa. There will be no apology tours. None of that hand-wringing, self-analysis for Judge Nap. It’s all the Progressive’s fault, all of the time.

Judge Not, lest you be judged. Which, using my convoluted logic, is why Westerfield Data Room called this series Judge Not. And, if any further proof was needed, here’s a song followed by some classic British comedy. Judge Not, ‘Merka.


Happy Magazine Day ► Nostalgia Ain’t What It Used To Be

, , , , , , , , ,
First issue of Rolling Stone
First issue of The Atlantic

DATELINE November 9 – On this date in 1967, Rolling Stone published its first issue in San Francisco. On this date in 1857, The Atlantic Monthly was founded in Boston, Massachusetts.

A lot of magazines have folded in the 155 years since the first issue of The Atlantic Monthly, or the 45 years since Rolling Stone first came out. Yet both magazines are still essential reading and important cultural touchstones.

We know tend to know about the founding of Rolling Stone by Jann Wenner and Ralph J. Gleason of Rolling Stone Magazine. While Wenner came out of nowhere, almost, Gleason had already carved a reputation. By contrast, most of the founders of The Atlantic are names you would still recognize: Harriet Beecher Stowe, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., John Greenleaf Whittier and James Russell Lowell.

Current front page of Rolling Stone
Current front page of The Atlantic

In 1977 Jann Wenner moved Rolling Stone to New York City. The Atlantic Monthly published, err, monthly until 2001. After a year in which The Atlantic published 11 issues, it settled down to producing 10 issues a year and dropped the word “Monthly” from its name.

Both magazines remain important and vibrant today, and both currently have a strong electronic presence. However, with Newsweek already deciding to kill its analog version, how much longer will magazines be around?