Mr. James Brown, the hardest working man in show business.
I guess James Brown was a superstar, and as difficult as a war criminal to usher off the stage. Less special than James' performances are the daily appeals from various political outfits. I only read the subject lines--that's enough information for me when it comes to party politics these days. I notice a couple of patterns. The most significant is the puffed-up, fantasyland claims, such as Truthout having Monsanto on the run. "Help us put Dick Cheney behind bars" sort of a thing. How about, "You did it, [insert name of previous donor here]. You helped us reach our goal!" When has anyone here felt exhilarated by a significant political victory? "Yay, we won, fewer troops are in Afghanistan than when we sent those extra troops in." "Help us put the big bankers on the run by signing this petition". Fantasyland. Liberal mutual masturbation.
That's the end of the essay. What I'm going to do is copy and post the subject lines of a few appeals. It could go on and on. I find them endlessly fascinating, not sure why. The following are all verbatim subject lines from emails for political candidates, political parties, liberal internet publishers, MoveOn, etc. ad nauseum.
This could have been published as a discussion, because "Whaddya think?"
They don't want you to vote
Horrors, disenfranchisement. I can't imagine what that could possibly lead to. Perhaps even war and torture, in a worst case scenario.
Backman doubles down
Bachman = evil, double down = even more evil for being committed to evil. It's all her fault. If we could only get rid of Michelle Bachman, politics would work great and the media would stop showing more people like her.
Let's make sure UNC-TV asks the $64,000 question tonight!
Make sure? Wow, that feels good, so certain, almost cocky. A little more around the . . . [Sorry, just keeping the metaphor consistent.]
2 Minutes to Protect Lady Parts
Good one. From MsRepresentation. Most of theirs are good.
You are wonderful
Oooh, this is one of my favorites. I read it over and over and over again.
You are going to want to see this ad
Must see ad. Want to see ad. Want to see ad very badly.
Amazing!
Or possibly merely of mild interest.
We’re Back On The Air – Thanks To You
And no thanks to my millions, which are earmarked for other pursuits than being back on the air.
Elizabeth Warren needs you
Oh baby.
The reason why
Hallelujah, at long last.
Today is your last day to help us continue to the fight.
But only if you die tonight, and that's a promise.
blown away
I'm so stunned.
Best. Week. Ever.
I'm so happy.
Amazing
So very very high on all this.
Only One More Day to Join Us
All of a sudden, I feel so lonely.
play nice?
Not on your life, not against THOSE hateful people. Who doesn't like a good fight?
NEWSROOM UPDATE: Wilton Goes Off The Rails
WHAT????? I CAN'T HEAR YOU?????? DID SOMETHING IMPORTANT JUST HAPPEN??????
thought you should see this ad...
(and send us money), which we're saying in lower case because we're just like a close friend who cares about what happens to you and knows you well enough to offer information of personal interest (not that we really care who you are--we'll accept donations from child molesters, bankers, really anyone).
Etc.
Etc.
Etc.
Comments
You've been owned!
~Demand Progress. This is kinda fun.
Beat Paul Ryan, Get Cosmic...
surely I can get cosmic without resorting to violence? That one's from PDA.
Good one.
.
Are billionaires throwing the Tea Party a life raft?
You would think they could afford a yacht....Credo Action.
You're on a roll
.
Given that Nixon was way to the left of any third way Democrat..
on domestic policy I forgive James Brown for that though I always separate the art from the artist. Thank you, geomoo.
Am I crazy for thinking that Watergate doesn't look so bad
now compared to what's happened and what is happening?
No you're not.
There's a book called Worse than Watergate by John Dean about the Bush administration so tangentially it's about the Obama administration, too.
Vote, like your life depends on it
Saw that commercial yesterday on a BET channel a number of times. Whenever the celebrities do those things, they don't say who to vote for, they just say vote. I just can't wrap my head around that.
Vote, like your life depends on it. What are they talking about, if everyone votes, but for Romney, that will save their lives? Evidently, as long as they vote, that's all that matters. I'm all for everyone having a voice, a say in the matter, but everyone exercising their right to vote solves nothing in and of itself.
Yep, and it has an ironic kickback effect
which is that it makes voting into the be all and end all, as though voting is the way to create change. I get that voting is crucial, but not necessarily co-opted voting in a co-opted democracy.
I think if everyone, or actually a majority of people voted
for None of the Above, it might begin to solve a lot of things.
I know... wishful thinking.
Or third party. I think I saw an article headline
today that said more are considering third party after the debate debacle. Who knows. But something has to give, either viable alternative third parties to counter the two oligarchy parties, or making a mockery of our so called democracy by voting for Big Bird. I don't see any signs on the horizon that the democratic party, barely able to get half the votes in this country, can in anyway turn things around.
There is a lot of apathy and it is likely
that there will be a low turnout. If people stay home it will be an embarrassment for ruling elite. There is little or no difference between the two candidates on important issues and so little enthusiasm among most for either.
Chris Floyd sums it up well in his latest piece about the recent debate on his blog Empire Burlesque.
Holy saffire.
That pretty much sums it up. wow.
double post - someone please delte if possible
n/t
Elizabeth Warren needs me? Awwww...........
They love me, they really love me! I've never donated to a politician and I cannot see that policy ever changing. I have given money to a few political organizations (of a socialist nature), but never specifically to a politician. They want my money more than they want my vote. Seriously, they take my money and my vote for granted, but mostly, they just want my money. Welcome to the land of Kizmiaz.
My first ever political donation was to Howard Dean.
And I don't regret that for a minute.
I had the wonderful opportunity to be in a small room of maybe 50 people to hear him speak very early on. I loved everything he said, I agreed with him. And it's gone downhill ever since.
That would be a great topic for a Saturday night, I think, to talk about political contributions, if and who and why and when. Thanks for the idea. I'll pass it on to Poli.