Arizona: George W. Bush

Posted by azBlueMeanie:

I read this week that former president George W. Bush has found a speaking gig at an Oct. 26 "Get Motivated!" business seminar in Fort Worth, TX, where the former president will be the "special guest speaker." Bush Headlining 'Motivational Mega Show' With 'Inspirational Firepower'

This would be the same George W. Bush who was at war with the English language and added Bushisms to the American lexicon?

Today is October 25th, Saint Crispin's Day, the disfavored and long forgotten feast day of Saints Crispin and Crispinian. October 25th is also the date of the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, at which Henry V of England rallied his much smaller forces to victory over the superior French forces of Charles VI with this motivational speech -- recounted in the words of William Shakespeare in his play Henry V.

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The right-wing has exhibited a disturbing trend towards a new era of McCarthyism in recent years. But their latest craziness is religious bigotry and fear mongering against Muslim American citizens.

In the mind of right-wing conspiracy theory loving religious bigots, Muslim Americans are all spies for Islamo-fascism (a term fabricated by the right-wing and of no actual significance) and Islamic sleeper-cell terrorists who are conspiring to "Islamize" a "Christian" America. Seriously. I kid you not.

A quartet of Republican Congressmen, including Arizona's own Reps. Trent Franks and John Shadegg, convened a press conference this week to demand that the House Sergeant at Arms investigate the organization Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), because this advocacy organization does what every other advocacy organization does, but they do it while being Muslim.

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Remember how the American right seized upon the "Miracle on Ice" in 1980 when a ragtag U.S. hockey team defeated the World Champion Soviet Union team and went on to win the gold medal at the Lake Placid, N.Y. Winter Olympics? Fans waved American flags and chanted "USA! USA! USA!" America was back baby, and flag waving patriotism was in fashion.

Ever since, the American right has been wrapping itself in the flag and chanting "USA! USA! USA!" not just at Olympic sporting events, but in support of the Gulf War (1991), post 9/11 and the war in Afghanistan (2001-), and the Iraq War (2003-).

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Republican plan for health care reform has nothing at all to do with health care per se. Republicans, including our own Senator McNasty, have trotted out the GOP Trojan Horse of "tort reform" - it's those "junk lawsuits" driving up medical costs! - as a panacea for reducing the cost of medical care. "Yeah, that's the ticket!" as SNL's Tommy Flanagan, the Pathological Liar would say. "Yeah, its all those patients faking dying and those damn trial lawyers!"

The Republican Party always claims to be the party of "personal responsibility" - unless, of course, you happen to be in the medical profession (a special interest that tends to make substantial campaign contributions to Republicans).