America No. 45

Newt Gingrich: Scary movie ad nauseam.

      January 2012.  The reliably reprehensible Newt Gingrich has won the South Carolina primary thus exposing the Republican party and its hypocritical religious wing.  Too, Gingrich has provided a clue to the primary (No pun intended) reason why Congress is so loathed, but why nothing is almost never done to transform this corrupt body.
     Mr. Gingrich is a long time wheeler-dealer and holder of carcinogenic principles.  In a past life he served as Speaker of the House, but was essentially propelled out of said position by ethics violations and recidivistic shadiness.  But Newt lingers on, acting in a melodramatic and protracted death scene.  Newt Gingrich is like the evil character in a horror movie who, assumed dead, keeps popping up to make one last run at the good guys.
     Yes, despite his multiple marital infidelities; his ethics violations; his political dealings with Billy Bob Clinton (Remember NAFTA?); his hypocritical attack on the same Billy Bob Clinton as regards adultery; his tours with Nancy Pelosi and Al Sharpton; his Tiffany account; his history professorship at Freddie Mac U.; his being counted out on several occasions...well, he keeps popping up, hurling himself at the electorate with his maniacal grin.  And it is disheartening to listen to voters issue reasons why mad Newt should be allowed to slice and dice them.  Most recently, the religious phonies of South Carolina, who thump their bibles while ignoring basic morals and ethics...Let's see, marriage is sacred, except, of course for Gays...and Newt.
     Those who vote for mad Newt are under the false impression that he shall slay the Big Government dragon, but Newt is an inveterate Beltway insider, one who has been lining his pockets for years.  Newt has no problem with Big Daddy Government on a hospital bed (or wives), as long as he knows he is to get his cut of the inheritance.

In the twilight (strike) zone of American sport, the fan keeps getting rung up.

     January 2012.  Can you handle the blunt truth about the ASL?
     Whoa, blogger dude, ASL? What the Hell is the ASL, some new soccer league?
     No, dear reader, the ASL is the American Sport Leviathan, that entity which comprises the whole of our largely out-of-control sports spectrum.  Pro, college, high school and even rungs below, they are all in the ASL’s fiefdom.
     The ASL arose as it became more and more apparent there was much money and power to be had in America’s burgeoning sports leviathan.  I know, I know, in the ideal (Dare I say Pollyannish?) world, sport was meant to be a teaching too for how to behave in the real world, a tool to convey constructive values and an escape from the pressures of everyday life; a seasoning to real life, if you will.  Today, rarely is that the case.    
     Today, sport is just another component of society’s massive, cynical money-generating machine, a grinder churning out a largely tedious product, one packed with all manner of shallowness designed to fatten its base.  American sport has largely become a scam.  A three card monte shill.  A bright and relentlessly hawked come-on.  Yes, in many respects sport provides a generic metaphor for American society, that is, status quo power pulling the strings to hoodwink a pliable mass or in this case the Fan Fool base (Sorry about that, Fan Fool base).
     Who is this status quo? The ASL status quo comprises:
* The various money-soaked leagues and entities: NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, NCAA, MLS, BCS...].
* The corporate cartel.  This aspect of the ASL controls the media network and the moolah for the advertising, the purchase of sky boxes and pay for stadium naming rights.  The corporate cartel also includes the owners, who are essentially allowed to hatch any ruse to separate Da Fans! from their moolah.  You know, like PSLs (Personal Seat Licenses) and the myriad fees surrounding tickets, seating, parking...Too, this corporate entity rakes in moolah from the sale of licensing fees and the subsequent sale of sport-related merchandise.
* The media, who are an integral component of the above corporate cartel, and who busily hype the ruse masking the ASL
* Those fellows who are laughably described as commissioners, but who are in essence but overseers in the service of the ASL.
* The gambling concern, which milks the Da Fans! of their money.
* The player unions, and often their bombastic heads.
* The sports agents, many of whom wield much power.
* The players themselves, although some players are more equal than others.
* Da Fans! who provide are the bottom layer of the cynical ASL pyramid and who support same with their personal moolah, and who keep allowing themselves to be played for stooo-peed (You know, much like the American voter, who keeps being suckered by our non-stop electoral ruse.)  [WHOO-OO! WHOO-OO! Yeaaaa, TEAM! RAH, RAH, ASL! Rickety Rack! Rickety Rack! Kick us in the arse, we’ll keep coming back! (And we’ll pay even more!).].
     ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, NFL Network, MLB Network, TNT/NBA, Golf Channel...all put out the same stale platter of processed presentation: Over-hyped events; commercial and promo-jammed pre-game shows (which seemingly last longer than the actual game); drawn out starting times, all of which are as close to 9 p.m. as possible (to ensure millions shall not be able to watch); an endless supply of inane stats and inane Fantasy League drivel; TV screens jammed with icons, promos, pop-ups...; commercial blocs on top of commercial blocs on top of network promos upon network promos; constant stoppages of play (Upon further review...); announcers who spout ceaseless blather; camera fixations on celebs, nincompoop fans and furrow-browed family members; drawn out halftime shows, often featuring annoying, has-been celebs; commercial and promo-jammed postgame shows (which seemingly last longer than the actual game)...
     I shall make a plaintive plea, a novel idea: Dear Networks, SHOW US the #&%$#@*!!!#&^%$ GAME!
     Like that shall ever happen.  No, Fan Fool, don’t fret, as “We’ll be right back after an explanation of the NFLs new overtime rules.”  D’oh!
     For years I was conversant in a wide spectrum of sport, however, I cannot do it anymore, for the aforementioned reasons, and, oh, I often cannot stay up late enough to see these truncated spectacles, as I have to work.  And I am not alone.

American jihadis: Talk radio and cable TV demagogues.

     January 2012.  I have written several times on media demagogues, and I never fail to be struck by how many Americans continue to allow themselves to be scammed by these exploiters of patriotism and religion, these self-promoting demagogues on talk radio, FOX, MSNBC...  True, there exist many ignorant and gullible (and just plain stupid) among the citizenry, but still...
     I began thinking of similarities between the media demagogues of talk radio and cable TV and the jihadis who serve as a threat to America’s (and the West’s) political and social cohesiveness.  So, what might be some of the similarities between jihadis and the media demagogues who pollute talk radio and cable TV?
Never-ending outrage.  America’s media demagogues, as with jihadis, are always angry, always outraged over this and that.  However, the demagogues often make use of feigned anger, as they are playing to their audiences and realize they must be angry over a wide array of issues so as to milk said audiences.
False piety.  Both the demagogues and jihadis make big deals of their faith, their religion, but in fact are religious frauds, as they exploit religion.  For the demagogues, religion is but a hook to make more money.
Self-righteousness and omniscience.  Both the demagogues and the jihadis view themselves as self-righteous instruments of a higher calling, and both view themselves as imbued with omniscience, which allows them to issue their self-righteous pronouncements.  But let us consider the demagogues of talk radio Right and of the FOX agitprop channel, and let us consider just how omniscient they are.
     Rush Limbaugh is today’s most successful demagogue by a wide margin, thus let us consider how successful Limbaugh, as well as his Radio Right colleagues and the demagogues of FOX non-news are as regards their political influence:
* Limbaugh et al railed non-stop at the Clintons [Result? Clinton served two terms and Hillary is still prominent in government.].
* Limbaugh et al railed non-stop at Nancy Pelosi [Result? She was a long-standing Speaker of the House.].
* Limbaugh et al campaigned non-stop to have the Democrats defeated in 2006 [Result? The Democrats swept to power].
* Limbaugh et al sought to prevent John McCain from getting the Republican presidential nod [Result? McCain was nominated; Obama won.].
* Limbaugh et al virulently attacked Obama during his 2008 campaign [Result? Obama was handily elected.].
* NOW, 2011/2012, Limbaugh et al are none too pleased with Willard Romney (”He is not a conservative,” railed Limbaugh.), and actively seek to undermine him; replace him with some Super Neocon [The upcoming result? Romney shall be Obama’s opponent in 2012.].
* Limbaugh et al daily rail against the mainstream media, claiming said media undermine and control the thought process of their (the demagogues) audience.  For example, on 6 January Limbaugh told listeners the mainstream media sways the thought process as regards how the citizenry regard the Republican candidates,  [Question(s): BUT does not Limbaugh’s audience watch FOX and listen to talk radio in general and Limbaugh in particular? So how are they swayed?].  
The destruction of reason.  After centuries of humankind striving to become, well, more civilized, we now have media demagogue jihadis who are actively striving to derail the journey by appealing to humankind’s baser instincts. 
The destruction of language.  Both the demagogues and the jihadis debase and destroy language in an attempt to recruit true believer followers.  The more they can strip down communication to a utilitarian chassis, the greater chance they will have of using language as a verbal IED, if you will, to both attract disgruntled followers and then to help destroy society.
Hate as a by-product.  When all is said and done and blown up, hate is the only realized by-product of both the media demagogues and the jihadis.
Demagogues and jihadis are all base, bottom-feeding slugs.  Need I say more?
    

     Finally, one difference: As reprehensible as the jihadis are, at least they are honest about their goal.  America’s talk radio and cable TV demagogues, however, desire publicity and wealth, and disguise their avarice behind false fronts of reason, patriotism and faith.
     Allow me to close with a quote from the poet, Dryden, and one which encompasses both demagogues and jihadis:

“I curse thee not! For who can better curse the plague or devil than to be what they are: that curse be thine.” -From Encyclopaedia of Quotations, Sixth Edition, David McKay, Publisher, Philadelphia, 1893.

Oy vey, Mitt "Quiet Rooms" Romney, another Bush!

[Note: The rampant factionalism of America’s political landscape impels me to include the following disclaimer in all my opinion posts: I am not a Republican.  I am not a Democrat.  I am not of the neocon persuasion, who are but false conservatives.  I am not of the progressive persuasion, who are but false liberals.  I am not of the so-called Tea Party movement.  I do not belong to any organized religion.  I loathe all demagogues, thus disdain talk radio and realize our leviathan-dominated media are corrupted by self-interest, profit and all manner of ideology.].

     January 2012.  In his 14 October 2011 column in the New York Post the inveterate neocon shill, John Podhoretz, quoted the inveterate demagogue/shill Rush Limbaugh.  In his “Dance of the UN-Mitts,” Podhoretz quoted Limbaugh on Mitt Romney: “Romney is not a conservative.  He’s not, folks.”
     Mr. Limbaugh is correct, as Mitt Romney is not a conservative, but, then, neither are Limbaugh and Podhoretz conservatives.  Mr. Limbaugh is a base-albeit successful and committed-demagogue, while Mr. Podhoretz is a base and committed neocon [Mr. Podhoretz’s father, Norman, was a pillar of neoconservatism, as he was the editor of Commentary magazine.  The son has followed in his fathers ideological footsteps.].
     Thus, Willard “Mitt” Romney. 
     Our alleged media and its alleged political hands spent months and countless hours of blather pretending (At least, I hope they were pretending.) that someone else other than the Mittster was going to gain the Republican nomination to run against the hated Obama.  They wasted hours talking about Palin; Bachmann; Pawlenty; Paul; Trump (!!!); Uncle Newty; Bloomberg; Huntsman; Rudy G.; Perry; Santorum...when it was apparent to anyone with the slightest bit of political sense that absolutely none of them would ever be nominated, let alone elected.
     So, now we have Willard Romney, cardboard cutout of the status quo.  He is, to be truthful, Dubya Bush in another guise.  Consider:
* Bush had a facile commitment to attaining power by making cynical use of patriotic and religious iconography; so too does Romney.
* Bush is of the patrician class; so is Romney.  Consider Romney’s recent admonition that certain issues should be discussed in “quiet rooms.”
* Bush made much moolah from serving the inner circle of business predation; so has Romney.
* Bush is a shallow fellow as regards history and foreign affairs (hence Iraq); so is Romney (What war of alleged national security shall we get with Romney? Shall we brace for shock and awe in Teheran?)
* Bush was run as a puppet of the neocons; so, too, I suspect, shall Romney fall under the neocon spell (Who shall be Romney’s brain? Rush Limbaugh? Donald Trump?).
* Bush was stiff around real people; so is Romney.
* Bush was dismissive; so is Romney.
* Bush had a shallow tinny “Heh-heh” laugh; so does Romney.
     Well, you get the idea: America does not need another Bush...or another Clinton...or another Obama...or even one Romney.
     Now, please retire to your quiet rooms and think on this...and no talking...

Junius was correct.

“One precedent creates another.  They soon accumulate, and constitute law.  What yesterday was fact, today is doctrine.  Examples are supposed to justify the most dangerous measures; and where they do not suit exactly, the defect is supplied by analogy.” - Junius.

     January 2012.  Junius was the pseudonym used by a writer to England’s Public Advertiser, 1769-1772.  The above quote was culled from one of his writings.  I have used it, as it serves to reflect the manner in which governments work, and, yes, our government is included.  Governments are created, shaped and run by humans, and we all should know by now the nature of humans is such that if not reasonably checked may lead to all manner of abuses and atrocities.  Do not protest, you know it is true.
     Government is ultimately about its own self-interest, not the interests of its citizenry, and to that end government shall always seek ways and means to get over on its citizenry while making itself bigger and more powerful in the process.
     Consider America’s centralized government leviathan.  In certain circles merely questioning the size and intentions of our massively layered leviathan is enough to have you labelled as a paranoid, a Tea Party type, a conspiracy theorist (I am neither, by the way.).  I concede fringe groups and generic loons make it more difficult for reasoned and responsible critics to criticize government and its ever-growing, insidious tyranny.
     Ever-growing, insidious tyranny? I say, Isn’t that a bit much, old fellow? Well, no, as tyranny can appear in many forms, including a form which appears to many to be palatable and sanitized.  After all, are not soggy asparagus tips all in the presentation?  Does one present them in a simple dish and soaked in tepid milk? Or, inspired, does one slip them on the plate among the sizzling filet mignon, the crisp cole slaw and the steaming red skin potatoes?
     There a lot of soggy asparagus tips out there, and mixed among all levels of American society, but most especially in the government and the corporate worlds.  And We New American Proles are daily enticed to slither said soggy tips down our esophagi, enticed by a myriad of arguments and dandy-appearing arguments and presentations, many of which are self-serving or specious.
     Politicians, lawyers, corporatists, ideologues and demagogues all crave to establish precedents, but only if they serve their particular ends.  But what are those particular ends and do they serve the Republic

America going GAGA over 1.- Just being, and 2.- Nothingness.

     January 2012.  The Durant’s, Will and Ariel (both dead), wrote the magnificent “The Story of Civilization” series, one of which was “The Age of Reason Begins.”  The world and America have seen many ages, and now the world is witness to America’s Age of Just Being and Nothingness,  which, sadly, is not an extension of the Age of Reason.  And after considering this Age of Just Being and Nothingness one must ask: Is that all there is? Is America’s Age of Just Being and Nothingness the final stamp on over 200 years of American history? After all, Rome had its last act before the barbarians came on stage.  Is our Age of Just Being and Nothingness our final act?
     But what precisely is this Age of Just Being and Nothingness?
     Recently I read a piece about a new start-up called Klout (You know, Clout with a “K.”  Klever, yes?).  This Klout measures one’s appeal derived from one’s popularity based on social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter.  At any rate, we are told that Lady Gaga has one of the highest, if not the highest, Klout rating.  Gaga has a 93 or so, and her Klout is higher than the President.  Of course! After all, why follow substance when one can follow a celebrity? Consider New York City’s annoying mayor, Emperor Bonaparte Bloomberg.  On New Year’s Eve last Emperor Bonberg chose the annoying Lady Nuisance to push the button to drop the ball.  In New York City, with all its accomplished individuals, Bloomy chose an annoying celeb.  Such is the Age of Just Being and Nothingness-worship the shallow.
     America’s Age of Just Being and Nothingness is an age driven largely by celebrity, by gadgets, and by social media.  It is an age which places a high premium on being seen.  Being seen on some screen or other.  Being seen and going viral.  Klout.  Nothing but just being; just nothingness and more nothingness...