MOMocrats™

Conservative Republican David Frum on conservative Republican Rush Limbaugh in this week's Newsweek [but will they listen?]

Rush Limbaugh has been in the news a lot lately, and frankly, I don't mind it. The more he talks, the worse off the Republicans are. The more he pontificates, the more he alienates the voters that the party desperately needs to reach, namely women and independents.

And that's not just my opinion, noted conservative David Frum wrote a scathing cover story on Loud-mouth Limbaugh in this week's Newsweek. My subscription paid for itself this week with that one article. It's a searing indictment which makes it all the more delicious to read, but at the same time, I kind of wish he'd kept his mouth shut.

Making an NSA Spy's Job That Much Easier

Former National Security Agency Analyst Russell Tice recently reported to MSNBC that, under intelligence directives issued during the Bush Administration, the NSA has been spying extensively on American citizens, and has specifically targeted American journalists:

Some journalists who have written critically about domestic spying programs have come forward to say they believe they have been placed under government surveillance in retaliation. New York Times reporter James Rise suspects he has been deliberately targeted, because Bush Administration officials recently revealed copies of James' Rise's phone records to a grand jury investigating government leaks.

And even government officials who have expressed doubt about the usefulness or constitutionality of government domestic spying programs, including Deputy Attorney General Comey and former Assistant Attorney General Jack Goldsmith, have also reported they were subsequently targeted with surveillance.

I've written about government spying programs that target American citizens. I'm not a journalist; I'm a blogger, but the difference is blurring these days. And heaven knows, certain Republican friends of mine have made it pretty clear to me that they consider MOMocrats to be a radical leftist organization. Have I been under government surveillance? If the Obama Administration has not yet shut these domestic spying programs down, could I still be?

"Did he love his country less because he was Muslim?"

The title of this post comes from the very astute Suebob who twittered it along with a link to the above photo.

Bronze star. Purple heart. For a soldier with a majestic name who lived 20 short years and who died in service to his country. He was Muslim. He was a hero. He was a patriot of the highest order.

Can we please get off of this Muslim=bad trip? Does Cpl. Khan not deserve our deepest thanks and gratitude? Imagine how his mother must feel hearing those racist whispers. Does smearing Muslims make it any easier for Cpl. Khan's mother to lift her head from his gravestone, stand up and return to her normal life? If I were her, I think I should like to stay there forever with my arms wrapped around his headstone, protecting his memory forever.

That hate reminds me of how Japanese-Americans were treated during World War II. I cannot imagine being stripped of my rights as an American, forced to live in a concentration camp far away from my home, then enlisting to just to prove one's patriotism. "Yes, Muslims, Blacks, Japanese, Any People Not Like Us—we will vilify you, smear you and lock you up, but we will happily accept you into our Armed Forces."

Patriotism doesn't have a race, religion, or color. Neither does bravery or heroism. There are people in this country who would do well to remember that, and if they can't, let's hope they do the next generation a favor and teach that lesson to their children and grandchildren. Enough is enough.

To more powerful photos from the New Yorker series, click here.

—Stefania Pomponi Butler

Proud member of the "liberal feminist agenda" here. How 'bout you?

Y'all catch this gem from Senator McCain this morning?

I just want to say one thing to you, Senator McCain, so listen in real close:

Sarah Palin is not the "best thing that could have happened to America." She is not "a role model for all women." She represents everything that I am against. I feel like holding up her photo to my two young daughters and saying, "See this, girls?  As a women, do not strive to be like this. Strive to be the opposite."

Her family values:

• Extreme, fundamentalist Christian
• Lack of importance placed on education (two kids so far are high school dropouts with no immediate plans to go to college)
• Lack of curiosity about the world
• Has no moral problem with spreading racist smears even though she is "Christian"
• Ignorance
• Anti-choice
• "Drill, baby, drill."
• Allows herself to be as a pawn in the GOP's political agenda (and yes, this includes her cringe-worthy appearance on SNL)

My family values liberal feminist agenda:

• Religious/spiritual acceptance
• High priority placed on education (my girls are being raised to go to college, no if's and's or but's about it)
• Love of travel, meeting new people, experiencing new cultures; we are citizens of the world
• Bigotry and racism is wrong
• Tolerance
• Pro-choice
• "Green, baby, green!"
• Critical thinking

With each passing day McCain is showing us how much he hates women. I mean, he just seems to harbor so much disdain for anyone with a uterus. From air quotes about "women's health" to his callous treatment of his first wife to calling Cindy a "cunt" in public to picking a complete douche to be his running mate he has shown how little he thinks of women. How Cindy can continue showering Gramps with her money after that is beyond me. Cindy seems like a sensible woman. Let's hope she comes to her senses and divorces his ass after this campaign is over. She certainly doesn't need him to support her.

The fact that McCain thinks she is a role model to all women again highlights the abject cynicism with which he views our gender. If that's the case, count me as a proud liberal feminist raising two more liberal feminists to follow my agenda. McCain, if I were your wife (shudder) and you called me a cunt in public your stumpy little ass would have been knocked out. I know I could take you, because I'm two inches taller than you, Short Stuff. Liberal feminists unite!

—Stefania Pomponi Butler

Another one for the pie-in-the-face campaign: Michele Bachmann

By now you've heard this shockingly McCarthyist vitriol spewed by Congresswoman Michele Bachmann? Let's investigate the (democratic, liberal) anti-American members of congress?!?! Let's continue to spread untruths about Obama because the McCain campaign doesn't have any real solutions for this country. BTDT, Michele. She deserves a whipped cream pie right to kisser, but until then, censure will just have to do.

Where are the smart Republican women? I am so tired of the dumb ones.

UPDATE:  Over $120,000 in donations have poured in for Bachmann's congressional opponent El Tinklenberg (D) in the 24 hours since she made her assinine statements. He is in a tight but winnable race. If you'd like to take a stand against stupidity and donate to Tinklenberg's campaign, click here.

McCain Lies About His "Support" for the New GI Bill

  The DAV recently sent a number of questions to both Senators McCain and Obama regarding their plans for the Veterans Administration, privatizing the VA, the treatment and classification of patients, creating predictable VA funding, and disability compensation. You can read the full text on the DAV website.

I have to admit I haven't gotten through both candidates' answers to all of the questions yet, but one thing jumped right out at me in Senator McCain's responses.

DAV Question:

What are your plans for improving the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), veterans programs and the lives of disabled veterans, and how would you ensure that these plans remain a top priority for your Administration?

In Senator McCain's response, he includes a section on Education and states:

● Education – Until recently, we were long overdue for an increase in veterans’ education benefits. The enactment of the “GI Bill for the 21st Century,” legislation which I proudly supported in its final form, dramatically increases education benefits for a broad spectrum of veterans, including members of our National Guard and Reserves. It also addresses the top concern of career servicemembers regarding education - the freedom to transfer their benefits to a spouse or their children. This important “transferability” feature, which I fought hard to see included in the legislation, will not only reward career Servicemembers and their families for extended service, but will also help retain the highquality young leaders who are essential to our allvolunteer force.

(Emphasis added.)

I'm afraid I'm going to have to call BS, Senator McCain.

Andy Martin's "Obama Research Team" seeking the "Lost Obama" in Honolulu [File under: Acts of sheer and utter desperation]

My mother, Obama Mama of the highest order, political activist, and Hawaii resident, alerted me yesterday to the fact that that bigot Andy Martin and his team of dirt diggers are about to touch down in Honolulu. Their mission? To try and dig up dirt on Obama's teen years in Hawaii.  From PR-inside.com:

(NEW YORK)(September 23, 2008) Andy Martin has an invitation for those who want to join in the effort to research and investigate the "Lost Obama." "Join me in Hawaii." Martin will lead a research team in Hawaii October 15-22.

"We have a plethora of leads for Obama in Hawaii, and we have numerous stories with a Hawaii angle," says Martin. "We have been forced to do the job the mainstream media refuse to do. The Internet rules!

"ContrarianCommentary.com is making available free participation in this research expedition. We are not collecting a penny from anyone. People who want to join us and share the research effort can make their own travel arrangements and hotel accomodations in Hawaii.

"We will link up on October 15th, and break up on the 22nd. We will have a full week to do in-depth investigation and reporting.

"It is strange that the media have ignored Obama's Hawaii years. How many stories have you seen on his formative period? Virtually none. Obama was not shaped by Chicago; he pitched up there as an adult. 'Barry O' was shaped by his unconventional family in Hawaii.

I don't know about you but I am already laughing.

Go read it: Angry, fed-up, and pissed off that McCain and Palin are spreading racist smears? So are these people. [Now with more pies to the face!]

Go read it:

Dear McCainiacs, Racism should not be an accepted American attribute

God has something to say to you, Gov. Palin

McCain's desperate smears signal his failure as a leader

Buy that man a beer. Keith Olbermann on hockey moms in glass houses.

And if I might add, where is that pie in the face jokester when you need him? If anyone deserves a face full of whipped cream, it's these two racist fucktards. I'll donate my entire next paycheck directly to the Obama campaign if someone makes that happen. Not that I'm inciting violence or anything. That would be wrong.

Stefania Pomponi Butler

P.S. She can have a pie in the face, too.

P.P.S She deserves a whipped cream facial as well.

Open letter to that asshat John McCain and his bitch Sarah Palin

Dear John McCain,

If you are going to play guilt by association, you had better be prepared to take what you dish out. If you are going to have your yappy little attack dog (and I think it's safe to say that if you are going to spread exaggerated, racially-tinged smears, Sarah Palin, we can finally call you a bitch) try to link Barack Obama to crimes that another man committed when Obama was eight-years-old, then you'd better be able to withstand the shitstorm that is coming your way. Nice try, but we all know this is a sad attempt at a diversion because your campaign has no real solutions when it comes to fixing this country.

Which number of the Keating Five were you, huh, McCain? Was it 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5?

"Gloves off?" I gotchyer gloves off right here.

Does this mean we can finally talk about your callous treatment of your first wife? You were living with her and your three children when you met cheated on with Cindy then forced Wife #1 to divorce you so you could then use Cindy's money to back your future presidential bids?

Does it also mean we can talk about the rumor that Palin's thug son enlisted in the army to avoid jail time or that Bristol Palin is being forced to marry a self-professed "redneck" who didn't "want kids"? Could one of Obama's daughters have gotten away with marrying a loser like that? Oh hell to the naw. (Hey kids in Wasilla! Raise your hand if you've had to scrub your MySpace pages of drunken Bristol Palin photos!) Can we talk about Troopergate or ask why Todd Palin is copied on official government emails or learn more about Palin's own "witch-hunting" pastor problem whom she credits with helping her get elected governor?

See what a dangerous game this is? Two can play at this game, and while one person (our next president) will maintain his calm, even-temper while fighting the smears when he has to, I will be the one not being calm and even-tempered. I will be the one calling you an asshole. To your unevenly-Botoxed face.

A piece of advice for you, Senator Grumpy McComb-Over: stick to the issues. That's what Americans like me care about.

Watch the documentary, folks. Watch it carefully. Good-bye, McCain. You've just been swatted like the annoying gnat you are.

Yes We Can,
Stefania

Note: The views expressed in this post are those of MOMocrats co-founder Stefania Pomponi Butler only and do not reflect those of the MOMocrats contributors unless they say so in the comments.

Go Read It: Canadian Blogger Can't Hold It In Any Longer

Blogger Karen Rani has bitten her tongue long enough and has finally found the strength to confront a very troubled friend. Let's hope she listens.

I have this friend.  She’s beautiful, but she’s confused and abusing herself.

My friend doesn’t take very good care of herself.  Despite her beauty, the love within her, she continuously overeats, eating all the wrong things and her weight is out of control.  Her children eat even worse than her and they are at risk for serious heart disease and complications if she doesn’t turn things around.

To find out who this friend is—and trust me, it's someone you know—go read the rest of her powerful post here.