Avoid the Rush…

by Gabe Berman

Gabe is a freelance writer for the Miami Herald and author of Live Like a Fruit Fly

(Gabe’s opinions are his own and do not necessarily represent those of other posters on this site.)

As Seen in the Bookstore…

Limbaugh’s inner demons explode from his mouth in the form of immature and often laughable assaults on the left.  The new book about him isn’t worth the paper it was printed on and therefore, unworthy of discussion.

But I do adore the back cover of An Army of One.  Rush quotes Reagan as a seal of approval, …

They Came First For Helen Thomas

Joan Vennochi’s Boston Globe column, “Will Beck and Limbaugh be next?” perfectly resonates with me as someone who talks for a living, and is always a slip-of-the-tongue away from a career-ending gaffe.  Pastor Martin Niemoeller, a German former U-boat commander who was put on trial and convicted when he began to speak out against Hitler from the pulpit has the famous quote, although debated as to origin and exact wording, that resonates as well with anyone who cherishes the right to speak out.

“In Germany, they came first for the Communists, And I didn’t speak up …

Between Barack And A Hard Place

My column at AOL is about the president’s inability to please some, no matter what he does.…

In U.S., It’s Open Season For Racism Toward Muslims, Or Even The Muslim-ish

By William K. Wolfrum

In the aftermath of 9/11, it was still considered racist to be hateful toward Muslims. In 2010, however, after a monumental and relentless campaign to dehumanize the Arab world, we have reached a stage where being racist toward anyone even Muslim-ish is considered acceptable public discourse.

Take, for example, two recent statements: Reporter Helen Thomas says Jews should leave Israel and go to Germany, Poland. The Right shrieks in as good a showing of faux outrage you’ll see this side of Broadway. If she could be publicly executed, 10,000 conservative blog posts would rush to …

Keep It Simple And Corral The Oil

By The River Wanders

Day 60 of BP’s Gulf oil spill approaches with no conclusive end in sight. Top kill, top hat, and toxic dispersant are about the sum total of BP’s efforts to deal with this disaster. Relief wells – months away from completion – may be the only real end to this man-made environmental nightmare.

True clean-up can’t really begin until the free flow of oil into the Gulf is stopped: it complicates permanent repair of the Deepwater well, it interferes with clean-up of the spilled oil, and it continues to make this bad situation worse. Controlling the …

Former Minuteman Leader Gets Restraining Order To Stay Away From His Family

Chris Simcox, the former leader of the Minuteman movement, and hailed as a hero by conservatives because of his vigilante efforts to guard the border against illegal immigrants, was hit with a restraining order that prevents him from seeing his wife and his children.  He is alleged to have threatened his family several times and was asked to surrender all his weapons.

Simcox was ordered to stay 200 yards away from Alena Simcox, their two children, and his wife’s child from a previous marriage, after she was granted an order of protection by the Maricopa County court commissioner on April …

Why Open Primaries Are A Really Bad Idea

By James Frye

Pundits and commentators were “stunned” that South Carolina’s Democrats nominated Alvin Greene to run against Senator Jim DeMint in November, a man who never raised a penny for his campaign or even campaigned at all in Tuesday’s state primary.  Seemingly, they passed on a former judge and four-term state legislator for the unemployed Greene.

Now it appears that the South Carolina Democratic Party is having buyer’s regret:

The head of the South Carolina Democratic Party has asked Alvin Greene, the party’s new nominee to challenge Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) in November, to withdraw from the race following …

Congressman Louis Gohmert Suggests Obama Would Condone Stabbing TSA Workers

Texas Congressman Louis Gohmert took to the floor of the House to defend Israel’s behavior against the peace flotilla.  He compared the IDF to how the TSA officials might react if they were attacked, and indicates he beleives that the administration might condone such an attack.
(via Think Progress)

How would we react in America if people who decided to “peacefully” overwhelm security at our airports to get on an airplane — for benevolent causes — and they stab or beat security agents at our airports. We don’t put up with that. Well, I don’t know. Maybe this administration …

On Wednesday’s Radio Show…

• Former talk show host Montel Williams tells Alan about his painfully personal reasons for endorsing medical marijuana.

• Alan questions the twisted logic of Obama-bashing Congressman Louie Gohmert.

• Think you can survive the cut? It’s Sudden Death Radio!…

Wait Until They Get A Load Of Sharron Angle

The Nevada GOP’s tea party candidate, now nominated to go up against Harry Reid in November, will have some answering to do for some extreme views. Since she’d be representing Las Vegas, her position that alcohol should be illegal won’t go over well. In discussing her opposition to medical marijuana (“it’s illegal,” she explained) she has also mentioned opposition to alcohol, even though it is legal.

“I would tell you that I have the same feelings about legalizing marijuana, not medical marijuana, but just legalizing marijuana,” Angle offered. “I feel the same about legalizing alcohol.

“The effect on society is …

Tea Are The World

by Sinfonian

In case you missed it last weekend – and if you have a life, or if you didn’t read any right-wing blogs or see the picture (right – FAR right) buried near the back of one section of Sunday’s Orlando Sentinel, you probably did – literally hundreds dozens a handful of wingnut musicians gathered in Deltona, Fla., to record a project called, without apparent irony, “Tea Are The World.” As described by organizer Lloyd Marcus of Deltona, the project was intended to feature “the diversity, unity and ‘We The People’ aspect of our incredible Tea Party Movement” …