American Politics

May 09, 2008

Polygamist Compounds Key to American World Domination

Breedon Needless to say I was worried as hell when Texas barrelled into its teeming Polygamist Youth compound in April and shut down one of the most productive reproductive cells America had to replenish our Military at this critical time.

I'm relieved to report other states are going on the offensive, assuring American's their States Polygamist cells are still protected and fully operational, producing offspring well above the numbers of the rest of a complacent American population.

You have to be a fool to think America can continue to force democracy on the world with violence without strong young men (and women!) to fill the ranks of our military forces. John McCain has advised we are talking 100 years of forced democratization on the barbarians abroad, and America needs flesh and blood kids growing now and in the future to man this critical task.

Polygamists working away in these protected cells remain our greatest American's, putting aside the materialism of society and focusing on the critical task of seeding and reseeding the American population for the war effort in record time, shortening the time from birth to reproduction in well documented time.

Let's give thanks that in America, still, we have these freedoms!

Gword Barney Moran
Grateful Word

February 20, 2008

Oratory Hunger

Mario_cuomo_2 Why is Obama beating Hillary?

Where did he come from? Why are people who've never voted before voting for him?

What's the deal?

Cut from an Obama victory speech to Bush talking about Fidel's resignation. Or bailing out the recession. Or anything. What's the difference? Bush cant speak.King

Americans are starving for the dream, for some hope, yes, for someone who can speak to them. Forget the politics. Its been years since we turned on the TV, radio, YouTube, or streamed from the Internet and heard a voice  speak to us.

We've had almost 8 years of broken, guttural meanderings, and meanwhile, America meanders. Hearing Obama, its like our ears have been turned off all these years, and something just turned them on.

Jfk I'm not taking sides here. Listening to Hillary explain why she voted for the war not knowing the outcome, but had she known..., listening to McCain say, 'My friend's in his aging voice, I am going to sleep again, meandering in my living room. America will always need a powerful, meaningful speaker, humanity does. Take this away for any length of years, and we will be back with a vengance.


Barneygword Barney Moran

Grateful Web

February 12, 2008

Grateful Web on TownHall

Logo4 Yes, I am fully aware Grateful Web's founder, Barney Moran, is quoted on the first page of TownHall's Letters to the editor. Yes I know its in their just released February 2008 Magazine version of their famous conservative blog community where Grateful Web has a voice.

I'm proud of it. Why?  There is something I dislike much more then someone's views disagreeing with mine: Censorship. Townhall has founded the perfect open forum vehicle for all voices to be heard. Sure its founded by conservatives who seek to find ideas and a common purpose for the movement. But, what is wrong with that, even if you disagree with their views?

Who's side am I on? The side that gets things done instead of yelling. It's in the big fat American middle, where every day people are trying to work hard and carve out a life for themselves and their families.

Liberal and Progressive movements can take a pointer from TownHall, and remember the American way is for all voices to be heard.

Barneygword Barney Moran
Grateful Word

January 31, 2008

Grateful Web Democratic Party Endorsement: Obama

SpydyeforobamaGrateful Web's choice of Obama for Democratic nominee to run for president of America is not an endorsement against a woman president.

Hillary is not a woman. Hillary has become a female old white boy. The years in politics have taken their toll on Hillary,  stripped away the woman. Hillary is a man, dressed as a woman. The victory of having a woman running America would remain hollow, for all a woman could bring to the presidency was taken from Hillary in her years of struggle against the formidable interests who truly run America. For this, we forgive Hillary.

Still, SpyDye understands for the old guard, War remains an option before last resort. Believing America can bully its way with no regard to our limited resources, remains an option to fuel the industrial/military complex pulling the strings behind America's status quo politics. Bully our way against science and reality to keep fueling crippled and incompetent  oil based transportation interests.

The option America and the world needs is forceful reason and intelligent design. Not by a deity, by us. Obama is young, and still believes in these things. Will Obama be crushed by the private interests who still run America? It is his and our destiny to find out.

January 10, 2008

EAR FARM's Presidential Campaign 2008 Mix

Sarahearfarmwithtext The first big event of the 2008 election season was held last night, the Iowa caucus. Given that I'm a bit of a politics nut, I decided to take a look around at all of the candidates last night to find out more about their taste in music. The search proved a bit fruitless, but then, as the results started to pour in, it struck me - perhaps EAR FARM could pick some songs for each of the candidates, based upon their Iowa caucus results. So that's exactly what we did. Is that stupid? Fine, go away! Does it sound like fun? Then click on through to the mix, brothers and sisters in politique.

EAR FARM's Presidential Campaign 2008 Mix
1. "The Underdog" by Spoon for Mike Huckabee (34%) - the Jared Fogle of candidates did much better than expected. This song would fit very nicely within his campaign, right next to Chuck Norris.
2. "Fake As Fuck" by Del Tha Funkee Homosapien for Mitt Romney (25%) - seems to me, he's kinda fake... seems Iowa Republicans agree.
3. "Act Naturally" by The Beatles for Fred Thompson (13%) - "Fred Thompson?! The actor?!" Sure, I'll buy that for a dollar. And hey, he was pretty great in Die Hard 2.
4. "Tough Guy" by The Beastie Boys for John McCain (13%) - disappointing finish for America's nicest tough guy, or is he just starting to heat up? Either way, I'd hate to make him mad.
5. "Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)" by The Offspring for Ron Paul (13%) - he is pretty fly, isn't he? Nice caucus turnout for this little-known straight shooter.
6. "Mr. Mayor" by Ladybug Mecca for Rudy Giuliani (4%) - unsurprisingly, "America's mayor" didn't play too well in the heartland.  This song's for him.
7. "Friend of The Devil" by Grateful Dead for Duncan Hunter (1%) - endorsed by Ann Coulter, 'nuff said.
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8. "Something to Believe In" by Poison for Barack Obama (38%) - why is Barack Obama so popular? Because he offers Americans what they've always wanted in a leader: something to believe in.
9. "Sweet Talkin' Guy" by The Chiffons for John Edwards (30%) - Iowa Democrats couldn't resist his charm? Shoot, I'm actually from North Carolina and I find myself being wooed by this sweet talkin' Southern man's honest down-home approach.
10. "I'm Sick of You" by Iggy & The Stooges for Hillary Clinton (29%) - an extremely disappointing Iowa caucus for Hillary means what? Clinton family saturation point? Or just simply that Iowa Dems wanted to tell her "I'm sick of you"? I'm guessing a little of both...
11. "The Potsmoker Song" by Neil Diamond for Bill Richardson (2%) - voted to legalize marijuana in New Mexico in March, campaign damage be damned. Oops!
12. "Aneuryism" by Nirvana for Joe Biden (1%) - enough Joementum to survive two brain aneuryisms, not enough to survive the Iowa caucuses.
13. "I Wish" by Bell (originally by Skee-Lo) for Dennis Kucinich (0%) - his wife's tall, he's tiny.
14. "Here Comes The Grump" by Adam Ant for Mike Gravel (0%) - I submit, based upon watching him perform in two debates, that this is the grumpiest man in all of America.
15. "Mr. Irrelevant" by Cal Leonard and His Orchestra for Chris Dodd (0%) - who? Oh, he's already withdrawn from the race. Bye bye Dodd!

Download the entire mix, hear other great music and unique reviews on Ear Farm

January 04, 2008

What's in a Name? Maybe Everything.

Cheshire_cat

What’s conservative hatred of Hillary to do now she’s UnderDog? Her name on many conservative blogs is a curse word, have you noticed?

Hillary's loss in Iowa yesterday by a large margin makes her, for the first time, Underdog. How will this translate in conservative attacks on her? There are many posts today in the political arena on Iowa, too many to digest or summarize so soon. If Hillary stays a strong 2nd or 3rd up until the final selection of the Democratic nominee, and the Right sticks with just pulverizing Hillary, the Right may  lay the groundwork for a shining, untouched Obama or Edwards for the undecided middle electorate of American voters.

How will the conservative movement take on Obama? Very tricky stuff. The safe track is attack Obama's short resume, his naiveté. But Obama uses his newness to the political scene as a badge, and if this type of attack by the Right does not work, things will get nasty. Remember with blogging now a large force in politics, there is NO CONTROL OVER MESSAGE. This has been up to now conservative’s big advantage. Keep to message. Short and powerful. The Left never stuck to any message. The American Left is a hodgepodge of many interests; the American Right’s interests can be listed on one hand.

Then finally, John Edwards. Like Kennedy, and unlike. Good looking, rich and articulate, yet Edwards is focused on the plight of the middle class and poor. Kennedy spoke to us in broad strokes and did not play the division card. Kennedy spoke to every American, Edwards is decidedly the enemy of the rich and powerful. Class struggle it seems in Iowa, is still more interesting then Hillary Clinton, by 1%. Attacking Edwards will be much easier, old school politics for the Right.

And then there’s Huckabee. What a wonderful last name. Makes your tongue and lips jump around. And Obama. These last names are not for lazy tongues. Both more snazzy then “Bush” or "Biden." Whatever the name, add ‘Recession’ to the 2008 political stew and the Republican Party is sunk. China warns us not to lower interest rates. Wall Street and the White House demand it. Greenspan is looking like the Cheshire Cat about right now, isn't he?

Stay tuned,

Barneygword Barney Moran
Grateful Word

December 04, 2007

World Aids Day - And The Beat Goes On

Bono_aids_victim This is my post from last year on World AIDS day with a few changes. This will be the 20th World AIDS day, come Dec 1 2007. It seems fitting to deja vu a post on AIDS as more things seem to stay the same. As long as we moralize the disease and monetize the cure and treatment, this will never end. The only thing that might save us is if people of faith start acting like their Gods, rather than playing them.

December 1st is World AIDS day. As a Gen X'er I have pretty much grown up under the specter of this disease. No free love, or swinging, or love the one your with (or whoever keys you fish out of the bowl) for my peers and myself. I remember hearing about AIDS for the first time as "GRID." Dan Rather looked somber and they had one of the medical charts that shows a heart rate. The tie in on that was always a bit hazy for me, since the end all, be all, do all result of this disease seemed to be NO heart beat. I remember the gay bashing and the bigotry that came with it. I remember the hysteria over things like drinking fountains.

I remember Ryan White, I remember Rock Hudson, I remember Bobby Campbell. I remember the sick feeling I had watching people protesting with signs saying they were "dying of red tape." I remember being very proud of the people in Act Up for the Wall Street demonstrations. I remember a rather unpleasant dinner conversation with an uncle who worked for Burroughs Welcome.

And I remember the faces of the people I took care of who were dying of AIDS.

From 1989-1991 I worked in an inner city hospital on the medical floor as a CNA. The hospital was located in a trendy area popular with Gen X'ers, artists, young families with children looking for a more urban lifestyle, and the gay and lesbian community. It also had a large housebound geriatric population and a growing homeless population. I was 20 when I started working there. You could say it had a profound affect on me.

In 17 months, I saw faces from each of these groups die of AIDS. The drag queens, the artists, the elderly, and the children were all represented. I remember the grandmother who beat cancer but died a year later at 83 from the blood transfusions she received. I remember the street people who died. At times, we didn't even know their real names. I remember the hemophiliac kids who were still fighting the disease when I left. I remember the street kids - teenagers- and their combative attitudes when given their diagnosis. It seemed impossible to them that they were 16 and would probably die before they reached legal drinking age. Can you blame them?

I remember Tony, who's family would have nothing to do with him. In their minds, AIDS was gods punishments for gays. Tony was a sweetheart. He was a stylist. His last words to me were some heartfelt advice on my hair and it's complete lack of style. Had he been able to give me the "do" he had in mind, I am sure I would have conquered the world. We were the same age. He was 22 when he died. **Update - Kidlet just found me a picture of his quilt in the Names Project online. It has been nearly 20 years since he died and not enough has changed. But the numbers keep going up, and the tears keep falling, don't they?

I remember Ollie and his love of Haagen Daz blueberry and cream swirl ice cream. I remember his love of papaya. I remember nearly falling over when he came back to visit us before his final relapse. He was back from Hawaii with papayas in hand. He was gorgeous. The last time I saw him he weighed a bit over 90 pounds while standing over 6 feet tall. I could carry him like I did my daughter. When she was two.

I remember Robert and the amazing bead work he did despite the fact that AIDS left him blind. He made the most intricate Indian moccasins. I remember walking in the AIDS walk the year he died. It was dedicated to his memory.

Most of all I remember Neal. And his cigarettes and how he nearly burned his bed down trying to smoke one. I remember the bags of Hershey's kisses he'd have his SO bring me every time I was scheduled to work. I remember his love of clear high heel pumps with the goldfish in the heels. That man could make me laugh like no one else. I miss you, Neal.

I remember the 20+ funerals I attended. I remember holding the hands of men with no families present. I remember both comforting and being comforted by life partners when death finally came. I remember the kind woman who was volunteering at the Names Project who was there with a hug and a box of tissues when I found the quilts of three of my patients and burst into tears looking at the ordinary reminders of lives that were gone and people who were no more.

I remember when the AIDS death total finally exceeded that of the Vietnam War. Over 58,000 dead from the virus. That was then.

Today, AIDS has killed over 25 million people and there are over 33 million living with it. In developing nations people are dying for lack of medicines that cost less than the average candy bar. TWIX or death?

Our politicians are only as good as we make them be. Hold them accountable. If enough people stand up and demand they do something about AIDS and all the stupid poverty related deaths that could be avoided, they will. Remind them that it's not about charity, it's about justice.

The changes we need may not happen tomorrow, or next month, or next year. But if we keep making noise, they will happen, and maybe today's kids will not have to live in a world where a child dies every three seconds from AIDS and poverty. Make noise for these people. Make noise for my kid and her friends. Make noise for your kids or the children in your family.

Please visit
One.org and sign the declaration.

HIV: Key Facts and Dates

1981 First documented case of AIDS (then referred to as GRID)
1982 AIDS first used as a term and is detected on five continents
1985 Rock Hudson first public figure to be known to have died of AIDS
1986 Needle exchanges first piloted in the UK
1987 Don’t Die of Ignorance campaign
1987 Photographs of Princess Diana holding the hand of an AIDS patient broadcast around the world
1987 First form of anti-retro viral treatment available (AZT) in the US
1987 National AIDS Trust founded
1987 First successful form of HIV ‘anti-body’ tests widely available in the UK
1988 First World AIDS Day held
1989 First HIV awareness materials targeted at gay men produced by Health Education Authority
1990 Mark Fowler diagnosed HIV positive on Eastenders
1991 Half of the 500,000 people living with HIV in the West had died
1991 Freddie Mercury died
1991 Red ribbon becomes the international symbol of HIV
1991 Princess Diana becomes patron of the National AIDS Trust
1991 Number of people infected with HIV worldwide reaches 10 million
1995 The film Philadelphia screened
1995 First combination therapy treatment available in the US dramatically improving the life chances of people living with HIV
1996 UNAIDS established
1999 90% of all people living with HIV are in the developing world
2001 Pharmaceutical companies abandon court case against South Africa’s Treatment Access Campaign, allowing generic production of anti-retrovirals for the first time
2002 Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria set up to increase funding to fight the world’s biggest killer diseases. As of 2007 Only 28% of people with AIDS in developing countries are getting the medicines they need

Today 33.2 million people with AIDS worldwide. 25 million have died. There are 12 million AIDS orphans.

After 20 months, (RED) Products have funnelled over 50 million dollars into the Global Fund. Shop Smart.
Shop RED Smart.

by Starrlight via Here Comes A Storm

--We Missed December 1 World Aids Day and are as guilty as many American's who have filed away AID's as last Centuries minor setback, no longer on our radar. Thanks to Starrlight and her Here Comes a Storm blog for this.-- Grateful Web Editors

November 05, 2007

We hate the bad guys more than we respect our law.

Pakistan_ap As Musharraf closes his book deal, rounds up Political Foes and gets a check for a few more billion from the United States Treasury  to keep things lubricated, it’s time again to admit to our American Selves the truth: We hate the bad guys more then we respect our own laws.

This is a simple honest step. The bad guys have so shaken our judicial resolve. Though repugnant, we can’t really decide if water boarding is illegal. We can’t really decide anything, and as Bush Senor advised, we must work with the repugnant to fight the repugnant. And on Sunday, we can again be comforted we are not, ourselves, repugnant.

It is the same argument repeated the same way, for the same tug at our heartstrings, for the same results. And they will be the same, and the enemy will continue to exist and prosper, as is the real plan, as we sow these seeds of discontent and injustice to ‘protect’ ourselves.

When we destroy justice to protect ourselves, we promise our children a continuum of discourse and fighting.  Maybe, this is what we really want. “Small, little lies” as the Dali Lama recently said, to just keep the embers of hate alive enough to generate profit and status quo.

Barneygword Barney Moran
Grateful Word





Image: Associated Press

October 05, 2007

Political Grind: Smashing through rhetoric

Pgrind Amidst almost deafening chorus of hate and taking sides, simply for the sake of taking sides, a rare few political blogs grind past partisan ideology with one simple goal: forge solutions.

Stop complaining. Stop waving signs about the enemy. If you want solutions, get on the solution train. Political Grind is Grand Central for the solution train. Ride it.


Related Link(s): Grateful Word

October 04, 2007

Rob Walker on Blackwater

"How best to brand a murky, weaponized, extragovernmental organization?

Let’s say, just for the sake of argument, that you’re starting a business that happens to be more or less an extragovernmental army. Your employees will be weaponized, trained to kill, and available for hire. Your accountability will be murky at best. In fact the whole organization would be kind of secretive and vague. It sounds a little scary. A little sinister. A little dystopian sci-fi.

What would you call your organization? Wouldn’t you want to go for something reassuring? Sort of the way that lobbying organizations adopt innocuous, feel-good names? Maybe you’d go with something like Blue Sky, or Sunshine, or Tranquility. Something that would suggest to anyone who heard about your organization in passing: 'That sounds pleasant. Nothing to worry about there!' "

Read the full post by Rob Walker on his Murketing Blog 9/28