Furious Indifference.

Sarah Palin is being panned for not knowing the member countries of NAFTA by the snide "gotcha" assholes in the media. The thing is, Canada, the US, and Mexico aren't the only signatories. And I'll bet my life's savings that, unaided (of course, no Googling!) none of you reading this could, actually, name all of the countries in "North America." I'm not defending Sarah Palin , the Moose-Murdering, religious- nutbag , and God knows what else crazy woman who'll be with us for some time to come... I am just pointing out, as many progressives and conservatives alike often do, laziness in the media, and the accompanying snarky condescension that turn most people who would otherwise perhaps choose public service to think twice about running for office. But honestly, if you do want to be a public servant, you should be warned that an education and intellect along with civic knowledge is pretty much a basic requirement. But, with an electorate like ...

The idea that "small town" America is somehow more patriotic and more deserving of praise for sacrifices and hard work is just so ridiculous, so stupid, and yet so very dangerous that it deserves full and unrestrained mocking. Sarah Palin complains that God has been mocked in this campaign to CBN ("Christian" Broadcasting Network); while she simultaneously mocks her fellow citizens and the beatitudes of Jesus Christ. Pitting brother against brother. Shame on the McCain campaign, the GOP, Sarah Palin, and their detestable and sleazy and frankly dangerous strategy. Keith Olbermann nails it on the head with this "special comment." Keith is a partisan for sure, but so was Edward R. Murrow... because we needed him then against the McCarthyites, and we need people like Keith now against this disturbing meme that Obama is somehow alien and those who support him are un-American. Perhaps as victims of some future's history we are doomed to repeat, but I will no...

In about 30 minutes, I'm going to plop my butt down in a soda-stained (and, pardon the snark, God-knows what else) movie theater seat to watch Religulous , Bill Maher's lampooning documentary of our silly world's major religions. I'm especially looking forward to anything to do with Scientology of course, because that religion is HI-Larry-US!! Thetens begone! (sorry Tom Cruise!) LOL! I'm just hoping some Bible-thumper from Focus on the Family (affectionately known as Poke-Us-In-The-Fanny among irreligious friends here in the Mecca of Christian Fundamentalism, Colorado Springs) is there to tell me I'm going to "H" "E" double hockey-sticks (Hi Sarah!) for contributing to this atheist/comedian/Jew's bank account! Of course if the Fundie is a hot young thing, I might decide to make it my mission to deprogram her instead of seeing Bill's movie. But hey, since I've already bought the ticket, I'm sure Bill being his sexist self woul...