It would appear that the more conservative and, dare we say it, more sensible wing of the Republican Party, has finally started to figure out that it might be time to put some much needed distance between them and their extreme right fringe. Apparently some can see that the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck are quickly pulling the GOP in a direction they don’t want to go… and if they don’t step up now, pretty soon there could be no turning back.
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham has become the first of what we would hope will be an ever-increasing number of legitimate Republican politicians who call out some of these vile and dangerous lunatics. Graham took a swipe at both Beck and the birthers when questioned at an event in Arlington, Virginia yesterday.
And lest you think that we’re being hyperbolic when we opine, as we often do, that Beck is certifiably crazy…check this out. What you’re about to hear is Beck losing his mind with a caller to his nationally syndicated radio show. The woman had the temerity to criticize him for being so virulently against comprehensive health care reform. We’re playing the entire call…no editing involved…just because. If you want to cut to the chase yourself, the fireworks start about 2:40 into the clip. Everything from about 3:35 to the end is just Beck and his producer trying to justify his melt down.
The most frightening thing is that Beck has a loyal following who believe everything he says, no matter how ludicrous. For all our sakes we’d better hope that listening to him is as far as it goes. Acting on what this crazy man says would be far, far worse…and after hearing that insane outburst, how long do you think it’ll be before he starts dragging the more extreme members of his cult over the edge with him?
Back in the real world the 2016 Summer Olympics were awarded to Rio de Janeiro today, so everyone who felt President Obama was wasting time better spent elsewhere trying to help Chicago win the bid will now have more fuel for their fires. For the most part, though, these would be the same people who so easily excused then President G. W. Bush for being four days late showing up to survey Hurricane Katrina damage in New Orleans and on the Mississippi Gulf Coast because he was clearing brush at his Texas ranch…or on a fishing trip. WTF?
If memory serves, W spent about half of his Presidency clearing brush at the ranch. This was an 18-hour trip the current President took to try and bolster his adopted home town’s Olympic bid…unsuccessfully as it turned out. And maybe that’s a good thing because it’s the opinion of this blog that the legacy left behind after staging an Olympics seldom if ever justifies the enormous cost and inconvenience of preparing for them.
That said, they are undeniably a great PR vehicle, and if Chicago wanted them badly enough to ask the President to help, good on him for making the effort. Lord knows, if Texas had been bidding for an Olympics during one of the Bush Presidencies, you can bet your tushie that either I or II would have been there to help with (cow)bells on.
And don’t give us that crap about America being in crisis right now. This country has been faced with one crisis or another at virtually every moment in our history. Sometimes, though, Presidents are asked to help with things that don’t involve a crisis. This was one such time…and lo and behold, the country didn’t suffer a complete melt down in the absence of our Commander In Chief.
Go Figure!
SC
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment