New Rule: Let's Call Stuff What it Is
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We're, what now? 6 to 8 generations away from the American Revolution. We're spoiled with always having had the Bill of Rights. These Republics, they've got nothing into it, so it's easy for them to exchange actual freedom for just the mere trappings of freedom.


Take this flag-burning beeyess that Congress had to put through instead of taking care of actual business. The Republics were all for it; they never once stopped to think that when a symbol of freedom is raised above freedom itself, then freedom itself becomes an unattainable dream.


In the republic-world, down is up, black is white, science is fantasy and fairy-tales are not to be questioned as a matter of "faith". Similarly, endless restrictions and punishments equate to "freedom". Yeah, you'd have to be as crazy as a shithouse rat to believe half the things they do; but that's another post. I've come to regard republicanism as a mental disorder the prevents people from considering the consequences of their actions, no matter how self-destructive those actions may be.


F'rinstance, if you throw away your first and fourth amendment rights and can no longer dissent with an obviously corrupt government, then add to that the notion that the government can spy on anyone at any time, how TF can any sane person regard that as being "freer".

Right.



A sane person can't, but a republic will argue you into the grave. They'll buy any marketing-schmooze from a republic official, but fact is anathema.


I'm all for de-mythologizing republic-speak. Let's have some new rules and start calling things what they really instead of some catchy, K Street marketing meme:

Values Voter - These are wedge issue voters. It is not a sense of national duty nor civic pride that brings them to the polls. The only thing that gets this bunch off their dead arses and into the polling booth is the joy of taking something they didn't appreciate in the first place away from someone else who desperately needs it. These are short-sighted and mean-spirited people who haven't the mental capacity to realize that they're voting their own sorry hides right down the river along with whatever group they're hating this week.


Protect America Act Bullshit. Call it what it is: The Protect Corporate Colluders in Criminal Activity Act. The only reason the repugs in Congress and the Oval are pitching such a bitch about it is that they know they broke the law and now they want retroactive forgiveness.


Patriotism Becoming an informed voter? Serving your country or community? Not in republic-world. In the republic-world "patriotism" is sticking a magnet on your gas-hog SUV while you send someone else's kids off to fight for oil. Patriotism is parroting party line (no matter how crazy) and (of course!) wearing a lapel pin. With more "patriots" like these, they'll have to call the Iraq occupation off for lack of interest.


Illegal Immigrant any person of color, regardless of whether or not they were born in the US; except for African-Americans who were brought here against their will. The Republics can't and don't care to figure who's who. Did you know that hate crimes against Hindus increased dramatically after 9/11? Think about that! That's our "mental giant" republics at work.


Defense of Marriage Yeah right. Just because a couple of guys across town want to live in peace and equality, the frantic sheeple republic's marriages are suddenly going to explode. Well, with a 54% divorce rate, I'd have to say they're doing a fine enough job ruining their own marriages. Let's call this bullshit what it is: Defense of Baby Bounty Tax Breaks for People too Irresponsible to Control Their own Procreation.

Flag Protection Yeahright.  This is one of my favorites.  This was a slick way to abridge the First Amendment and to get the full support of the republitards.  While, as a veteran, I object to the misuse of the flag, at the end of the day, it's just a hunk of cloth.  The freedom it symbolizes remains intact and unabridged -- only so long as we don't elevate this symbol of freedom above freedom itself.  When free speech becomes less than free, the flag doesn't mean a damn thing.  Let's call "Flag Protection" what it is:  A Catchy Slogan to Get Fools to Part with Their Liberties.

Clear Skies Initiative Let's Allow our Cronies to Spew Even More Mercury and Sulfur into the Air.  Godsakes, doesn't anyone else wonder why asthma and birth defects are at all-time highs?

Faith-Based Initiatives Money-Laundering Fronts for GOP Elected Officials Regardless of the fact that the biggest thing the faith-based boondoggle has produced is even-richer Republicans, the wackogelical right wholly buy into this program.  So long as it only pushes the wingnut version of Christianity and nothing else.

There's a million of these republic-speak words and phrases that need de-mythologizing. We're dealing with a group of people who read "New Lower Price" at the market and get all excited, never stopping to consider that what it really means is "New Smaller Bottle". The price per unit is of course higher, but the republic mentality will never take the extra 5 seconds to pencil that out. They're perfectly fine with getting f'ked so long as it's phrased prettily or can be turned into a slogan.


It's like George Orwell and P. T. Barnum had a nightmarish love-child and called it the republic party.


While they may be perfectly happy to throw their own rights away, they are absolutely not welcome to mine. If they want to live with a big-brother government that's more concerned with who's getting along in the bedroom than who's not eating in the kitchen; if they want forced religion in schools and to replace hard science with fairy-tales; if they want to live under a "justice" system that takes its cues from the maunderings of sun-baked prophets rather than well-thought-out system of fair justice, then I submit that they're heaven on earth has already been created and they can leave America alone. The place that they so idealize is called Iran.


I say let's pass the hat and send them on the way to their Beulahland they so much wish to impose on the rest of us.

If you have more of these memes that can be de-mythologized, please comment and let me know.  I'm compiling a list. 



UPDATE


Way kewl. How about these (Thanks your suggestions!)



Activist Judge - Rules correctly according to the Constitution. Nothing pisses of the wingnut brigade like failing to bow to the minority and strip rights from the majority.

Strict Constructionist - Constitution destructionist. These are the most insidious of all "patriotic" right-wing groups. They yearn for the repeal of the 14th Amendment first, followed by the first ten. I have to ask WTF is "patriotic" about destroying the document that makes America "America"? Right. Not a damned thing.

Enhanced interrogation techniques - yeah, Davy got it right. "Torture". Says it all.

Ownership society Yeah, one in which nobody owns "nothin". Except for the wealthiest 10%. Y'know, the ones who used to run the plantations. Just sayin'.

Tax relief Wealth redistribution, republican style! Also known as "welfare for the rich" who own nearly everything, but are demanding that the rest be handed over at the point of a gun. Otherwise known as "highway robbery".

Exporting Democracy An attempt to excuse an illegal and ill-thought-out invasion of a sovereign country. The notion of one nation forcing democracy on another at the point of a gun is philosophically irreconcilable. Then again, our Republic Congress has managed to offshore everything else that isn't nailed down and we don't seem to be using democracy much at home.

Pro-Life Pro-Fetus. The same people who claim to be "pro-life" also claim to be pro-war and pro-death penalty. Again, the concepts are philosophically irreconcilable. In plain English, no sane person can be all three at the same time. QED, once a fetus is born and becomes a separate person, the wackogelical right have no use for it except as future cannon fodder. Unless, or course they're Republican.

Tax Relief - Draining social programs in order to give more money to the "ownership society" (see above)
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NB: I am a proud Democrat and I will be voting for Democrats in November!

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Keep 'em comin'! I'll keep compiling. Thanks, everyone for your excellent suggestions!

Reader Comments
  
Super Post!
By Retired Army Feb 25th 2008 at 4:49 pm EST
I loved it. Some may not but it says it like it is.

Thanks
  
Well, actually,
By HillWilliam Feb 25th 2008 at 4:55 pm EST
I was an Edwards guy until he suspended. Even though Sen Clinton was my original least favorite, I'd take her over McKook any day. Sen Obama was my second choice after Sen Edwards, so until it's all over, he's got my primary vote.

I am a Democrat and I will be voting for a Democrat in November.
Re: Well, actually,
By HillWilliam Feb 25th 2008 at 4:58 pm EST
(preview, Bill, preview!)

My handle's actually a play on the word hillbilly (which I am) and my given name :)
Disparaging comments will not be tolerated.
Re: Well, actually,
By Davidual Feb 25th 2008 at 5:01 pm EST
Spot on, as usual Bill!! Good reading you again. How goes the girls and the NC Dem party?
Re: Well, actually,
By HillWilliam Feb 25th 2008 at 7:05 pm EST
Heya Dave!! Good to "see" you again, brother. Dunno if you know about our latest addition to the girls. Check my Creekbend blog -- she's a cutie-patootie, half-collie, half Kuvasz. Smart, stubborn, willful and she just melts when you pet her. Yeah, I melt right back.

Drop me an email or a PM and let me know how everything is by you.
  
yes yes yes
By Vidya Feb 25th 2008 at 5:16 pm EST
Great post. you do sound like a Hillary supporter which is fine with me I think that is the best bet, I'll hope out the door and vote for a sure thing any day.

Just got home and saw this. Quite a brew ha ha. I live in Chicago, and have been disillusioned with him for the past 2 years. Watching the manic hysteria that this manipulative mastermind has meticulously assembled during the framework of his campaign, doesn't help.

Rezko is no dummy. He contributes heavily to anyone who has pocket he can reach. He is as smarmy as they come, and that is not the only skeleton in Obama' closet with flesh still causing a stench. There are several fresh ones to choose from.

Even still, Obama is not a bad guy, generally speaking. He has an oil man's touch when it comes to prospecting a gold mine (youth vote). He knew to get the book out, chose universities to speak at for commencement speeches. Obama laid out all the groundwork before he anyone conceived he would run for president, over 3 years ago. He has been working on this for a long time, Harvard can teach a person a lot, especially when they apply to the right subjects, viola!

On the other hand he is green. Obama has lost his shirt in several idiot earmarks for Illinois, reducing pollution restrictions for money, that pissed me off. He is not a savvy negotiator. As far as Rezko goes, he was trouble with a capitol T and Obama didn't see it coming. Obama couldn't avoid trouble in the form of a anvil falling on his head. But he is nice enough, has many talents and skill, just green, needs experience.

As the ice is cracking beneath his campaign, it is important to reiterate this, he is not a bad man, very likable, and with enough experience he will come to learn from his mistakes.

I think he would do well in the VP seat, get some experience, make some good political connection, maybe that was the plan all along...for Hillary to pave the way for him in 2016.

Wouldn't that be terrific 16 years of real democracy!

He would be more known, accepted, experienced, liked and prepared for the job. Moderation has a way of making lasting changes much more effectively than drastic and abrupt. Let's jump in with our feet not our heads.
Re: yes yes yes
By Mike Barack Hussein Feb 25th 2008 at 9:46 pm EST
You can't very well talk about anything negative with Obama as compared to Billary or McCain.

He's the best candidate and will be the best president. I am positive he's going to win the primary and general elections as long as some nut case doesn't kill him first. (Remember Bobby, JFK, MLK, Abraham Lincoln, etc.)
really is this girl a friend of yours'
By Vidya Feb 26th 2008 at 3:18 am EST
By FreedomOfSpeech

"You are such a retard. I can't wait till that fat , old witch conceds and drops out and takes those stupid skittle colored pantsuits with her. Cut and patse that one ya bed sore.

Ha Ha Ha

It's going to be real funny after March 4th when the fat Maggot and the idiots supporting her campaign finally concede to Change."

And no, I am no racist

The hottest basketball player at Rich South Highschool was Greg.. was his name Peterson no Greg Stevenson, he was black, and he was my boyfriend still have picture.

My best friend and roomate in college was black, we still are friends, her name is Kelly, lots of pictures.

I attend the most racially diverse University in the entire United States, for real, honey.

So no I am no racist.
  
good post, here's a few more that bother me
By D. Tree Feb 25th 2008 at 6:00 pm EST
the use of the term "harsh techniques" or "enhanced interrogation techniques," even "waterboarding."

how about we all make a pact to simply refer to these terms for what they are: "torture"

----

here's some more i'm looking for better terms to use... any suggestions welcome:

"Strict Constructionist"

"Activist Judge"

"ownership society"

"tax relief"
definitely
By Vidya Feb 25th 2008 at 6:06 pm EST
makes my skin crawl...
Re: good post, here's a few more that bother me
By Private Joker Feb 25th 2008 at 10:37 pm EST
Ownership Society - The "owners" of society seize more assets from the poor and middle class.

Strict Constructionist - Construct their arguments to abridge the rights guaranteed to the people in the constitution.

Activist Judges - Judges who actually rule on behalf of the people, you know, kind of like how the declaration says the government is "of the people".

Tax Relief - Draining social spending programs in order to give more money to the "ownership society".
  
Re: good post, here's a few more that bother me
By JC Feb 25th 2008 at 6:37 pm EST
Good post all the way around!
Re: good post, here's a few more that bother me
By D. Tree Feb 25th 2008 at 7:09 pm EST
LOL, that's pretty funny - Bill for Rights.

that sounds about right....

Dems '08!
  
Nice to see..
By Wayzom Feb 25th 2008 at 11:45 pm EST
Someone who remembers who the opposition is. Nice post.
  
I call it "window dressing"
By Democrat in Round Rock, TX Feb 26th 2008 at 2:48 am EST
Wasn't the "clear skies initiatives" just another way to clear the businesses from their public obligation to stop polluting our air, water and land and repeal the Clinton agenda to make them clean up their act?

There are many more I have heard on Jon Stewart Show but you brought out some I had not heard.

I must say you have a beautiful way of writing and it is entertaining and witty. You have a real talent. Would love to hear you deliver these lines in some sort of animated audio presentation like those guys who write those crazy election songs.
Re: I call it "window dressing"
By HillWilliam Feb 26th 2008 at 8:27 am EST
Heh!

If you could imagine a hillbilly version of a cranky old Andy Rooney, yup, that'd be me. Hmm, I can make vids with my cell phone. We ought to collaborate on a YouTube. I'm game if y'all are.
  
Strict Constructionist
By Arius Feb 26th 2008 at 11:24 am EST
"They yearn for the repeal of the 14th Amendment first, followed by the first ten."

I really don't see what the big deal is. The first ten amendments were not intended to protect individual liberties.
Disparaging comments will not be tolerated.
Use of "Strict Constructionist" in contracts
By D. Tree Feb 26th 2008 at 12:47 pm EST
I think I've posted on this before, but what I find so interesting about the use of the term "strict constructionist" is not the debate over whether the constitution is living or static; no, what fascinates me is that i see this term all the time in contracts (i deal with a lot of performance contracts in my job):

In these contracts, there is a typical clause titled "No Strict Construction," which means: one shall not strictly construe the words of the document to mean something other than their intent.

By that definition, a "strict constructionist" can make a sentence mean almost anything they want.

So i find it really strange that when people ask president Bush if he has a "litmus test" for a Supreme court justice he says "Strict constructionist" as if that's supposed to make us feel good?

In reality, the term is codespeak for "we'll interpret the constitution to mean what we want it to mean" - not the way it was intended.

as with other orwellian language used by this president, the term "strict constructionist" means the opposite of what he claims.
Disparaging comments will not be tolerated.
Re: Use of "Strict Constructionist" in contracts
By Vidya Feb 26th 2008 at 6:59 pm EST
yes, then due process ensues as to the interpretation, by laws are birthed, and attorneys get wealthy, as the real people responsible for fighting terminology are milked by their lawyers.