Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Fox Pundit: Using Images from James Foley beheading video is ‘perfectly fair’ for GOP campaign ads

Conservative radio host Lars Larson told Fox News on Tuesday that it was “perfectly fair” for Republican candidates to use images from a video in which an American journalist was beheaded.

Larson went as far as to call Obama the 'Playboy president" because he plays golf, which is just like what other presidents have done before him..


New Mexican Republican Senate candidate Allen Weh released the apocalyptic-type video ad on Monday which includes a frame from the video of the ISIS member who beheaded James Foley.

The ad does not include an image of Foley when he met his gruesome death at the hands of a terrorist, but it does use the startling image of the masked killer holding a knife.

 The ad attacks Obama for playing golf, and tries to link Weh’s opponent, Democratic Sen. Tom Udall, to the administration’s foreign policy, according to the Raw Story.

Marjorie Clifton, a former Obama campaign consultant, said that the ad “creates a really distasteful environment in terms of negative campaigning.”

In contrast, Larson called the ad “perfectly fair.” “James Foley’s executioner, the image is very powerful,” he said “It reminds us of something important. A lot of Democrats don’t want to be tied to this president’s policies — although they are — because this president is playing while ISIS is out killing people.” “It isn’t September 10th any more,” Larson added. “It is past Sept. 11th, 2001. It’s a different era. And this president, back when he wanted this job, said, ‘I will give up vacations, I will give up time with my family.’ Well, he’s done anything but. He’s the playboy president.” “So of course, you’re going to see that image played.”

Just a guess here, but if Democrats started using images of the World Trade Center taken as bombs flew into the structures, in a campaign ad, we would never hear the end of it.

Watch:


Screen grab: Raw Story.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Fox News: Referring To Michael Brown As "Unarmed Teen" Might Be Misleading Because He Was Tall

Fox News contributor Linda Chavez appeared on "Fox & Friends" and discussed whether the "unarmed teen" description of Michael Brown is misleading. She argued that such a description enhances racial fears and is an attempt to play the "race card."

 Chavez and co-host Steve Doocy aired surveillance footage from the convenience store that Michael Brown allegedly robbed before his death, and used that footage to argue that describing Brown as an "unarmed teen" at the time of the shooting is misleading.


  Media Matters reports:
In an op-ed Chavez wrote for the New York Post, she argued that "The actual images of Brown on the video surely do not bring to mind a harmless teen." During the segment on Fox, on-screen text asked if the "unarmed teen" description of Michael Brown was misleading while Chavez argued that Brown was an adult male "who is six foot four and weighs almost three hundred pounds":
Chavez said, "I think that what is happening is really not calming racial fears but is actually enhancing them by acting as if, you know, this mantra of the unarmed black teenager shot by a white cop." She continued to say (unfortunately), "You know, that description in and of itself actually colors the way in which we look at this story. We're talking about an 18-year-old man who is six foot four and weighs almost three hundred pounds, who is videotaped just moments before the confrontation with a police officer strong arming an employee and robbing a convenience store."

That tape is not proven and the police were asked not to release it for a reason.

 So apparently it's acceptable to shoot tall people to death. On that note, I'm somewhat tall for a female, so fuck them very much for that. And if I wear heels, I'm a lethal weapon.

Watch:



Thursday, August 21, 2014

Guest To Sean Hannity: 'I don't need your kind of education' on police brutality in Ferguson

Fox News host Sean Hannity attempted to "educate" Democratic committeewoman Patricia Bynes on police brutality Wednesday night by pointing out that she was not present when Michael Brown was shot by a white police officer on Aug. 9th.

"You were not there. So you don't know if this case is about police brutality, do you?" Hannity asked.


 "No, I do know that this case is about police brutality," Bynes said. "We're talking about excessive force here. There is no way that a young man that is unarmed should have two shots in his head. That's a little excessive. That's what we mean when we say police brutality."

Hannity said, "Let me educate you, committeewoman,"

 "No, I don't need your kind of education," Bynes shot back.

 "Let me educate you about the legal system in America," the Fox host interrupted. "You can try to talk over me, but let me tell you in our system of justice a person is innocent until proven guilty."

TPM reports:

 The rest of their roughly four minute exchange followed the same pattern of interruptions, with Bynes complaining that Hannity had cut her microphone off at one point because she challenged him. She then rolled her eyes when Hannity insisted she can't be sure whether Brown's shooting constituted police brutality.

 "Legally let me educate you again," Hannity said. "If [Brown] was charging at the police officer, the police officer, by law, that would be defined as justifiable use of force. You're aware of that, right, committeewoman?"

 "I'm very much aware of that," Bynes said. "But there's no way an unarmed man should have two shots in his head and four in his body. So you keep wanting to talk over the facts, but I think you need the education here."

 


 Sean Hannity advocated for the Bundy ranch militia and the welfare cowboy rancher in Nevada, in addition to supporting George Zimmerman so this is no surprise.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Missouri's Capt. Johnson Flashes Fraternity Sign, So Naturally, He Gets Called A 'Gang Member'

Missouri Highway Patrol Captain Ron Johnson, the highway patrol captain placed in charge of security in Ferguson Missouri, was photographed making hand signs that some quickly thought were gang signs, because we all know how gangstas and frat boys are so much alike.



.

Johnson was in a black fraternity called Kappa Alpha Psi. Warning to the black community: Please don't move your hands in public. Don't have them in your pockets either, and certainly never Openly Carry Skittles or Iced Tea.

  Talking Points Memo reports:
The Washington Post's Soraya Nadia McDonald in a post published early on Wednesday pointed out that the hand signs Johnson had been making in photographs some thought were gang signs were actually fraternity hand signs. Soraya wrote: To reiterate: Capt. Johnson is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, a black fraternity that was formed in 1911 at Indiana University in Bloomington, and the hand sign you see in the pictures below is a Kappa greeting. The Kappas are part of the Divine Nine or the National Pan-Hellenic Council, the nine historically black fraternities and sororities that include Delta Sigma Theta, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha Phi Alpha, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma, Zeta Phi Beta, Sigma Gamma Rho and Iota Phi Theta, none of which are gangs. The idea that Johnson was actually displaying gang signs seem to have been rooted in a CNN iReport post that, as the Post points out, seems to have been taken down. But the idea that Johnson was a member of the Bloods or some other gang still gained momentum on Twitter.

One Conservative site states,"The turning over of Ferguson security to Ron Johnson is nothing more than capitulation to negro mob rule." That's right, negroes are acting all uppity by flashing their fraternity signs.
A police officer in Ferguson pointed his assault rifle at journalists who were streaming the protests, saying "I will fucking kill you". When asked his name his reply is "Go fuck yourself". Someone has decided this deserves a Twitter account. Now read this: Ferguson Police Statement: If We Arrested A Journalist Then We've ‘Taken The Proper…

Meet Officer GoF*ckYourself

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Eric Holder Sends Message To Ferguson On Eve Of Visit

Evidence in the shooting of Michael Brown by a Ferguson police officer will be presented to a grand jury beginning Wednesday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.



 "We are going to attempt to start giving evidence to the grand jury (Wednesday), depending upon the ability to get the witnesses in and the witnesses showing up," sa Ed Magee, spokesman for St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch said.

"It will be handled by the attorney regularly assigned to the grand jury. It will not be by Mr. McCulloch."

According to the Dispatch,  The standing St. Louis County Circuit Court grand jury, not a special assembly, will hear the evidence.

I can't imagine what witnesses would step forward in a city that already distrusts law enforcement.

 On the eve of Eric Holder's visit, he wrote a message to the people of Ferguson.

 The Attorney General said that he has dedicated an extraordinary effort to investigate the shooting.

 "The Justice Department will defend the right of protesters to peacefully demonstrate and for the media to cover a story that must be told," Holder wrote. "But violence cannot be condoned. I urge the citizens of Ferguson who have been peacefully exercising their First Amendment right to join with law enforcement in condemning the actions of looters, vandals and others seeking to inflame tensions and sow discord."

Those witnesses had better step up because the police are all over this.
H/T: The amazing @CarlaAkins with thanks.

Ferguson Protester Blasts Fox Reporter: 'Say That Sh*t' (Video)

After a Fox News correspondent referred to the latest round of violence in Ferguson, Mo. as "child's play," he was confronted by a protester.

 Steve Harrigan made some jaw dropping statements in describing the scene to anchor Shepard Smith.


 "This is right now a media event, pure and simple. This is people running towards tear gas, running away from it," Harrigan said.

"The dignified protesters went home at dusk. This is just child’s play right now."

A  demonstrator confronted Harrigan on the air saying, "Say that shit! No, say that shit,!"

"I'm on TV right now," Harrigan responded

."I don't give a damn. Ya'll on TV. I don't care about that shit," the man shot back. 

"Uh oh, "Shep  Smith could be heard saying from the Fox studio.

TPM reports, " It continued from there. Harrigan tried to diffuse the situation, telling the man that he had no interest in arguing. But the man continued to berate the correspondent before walking away. "

Watch courtesy of Mediaite:

:

 Image: TPM

Video Footage Of Michael Brown Seen Paying For Cigarillos

When the Ferguson police released security camera video from a store near the area 18-year-old Michael Brown was gunned down by a police officer, they didn't show all of the footage. Just to be clear: Even if Brown did shoplift from the store, that crime does not carry a death penalty.



  Police called the incident a "strong armed" robbery, however, another angle shows a different story:
 

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Fox News Host: Robbery Video Suggests Ferguson 'Officer Was Justified' In Killing Mike Brown

On Sunday, Fox News host Juliet Huddy suggested that the Ferguson Police Department in Missouri was right to release video of a robbery, even though the Department of Justice asked them not to, because it could convince protesters that the "officer was justified" when he killed unarmed teenager Michael Brown.
Her co-host reacted to FBI agents investigating the shooting without noting the Ferguson police department's history of racism. While discussing whether the tape should have been released, the Fox talkers did not ackhowledget that that tape sparked anger in the community because the police chief attempted to blame the deceased teenager for his officer shooting him dead.

 Watch:


  Aside from that, when has it ever been OK to shoot someone down for stealing a pack of cigars? Cliven Bundy owes $1.2 million and he's alive and well, with militia members at his side. None of the militia members who aimed rifles at federal agents were shot down but Mike Brown is dead.

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Watch Live: Second Night Of Ferguson Curfew To Begin At Midnight

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon imposed a curfew in Ferguson set for midnight, making dissent illegal in a city devastated after an unarmed black teenager was shot to death by a police officer. The curfew is set to take place, starting at midnight to 5:00 a.m.


 Watch live:

Friday, August 15, 2014

This Republican Senator Isn't Exactly A Fan Of Fox News

Republican Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn called out some shows on Fox News, deeming them as “totally not fair and totally not balanced."

He continued to say, “The truth is somewhere in between the three," in reference to
 MSNBC, CNN, and Fox News.


“There are certain shows on Fox I can’t watch,” Coburn said. “Because they’re totally not fair and totally not balanced. I want all the information in which I can make the best decision.”

Buzzfeed reports, "Coburn was speaking as part of his farewell town hall tour Wednesday at the southeast campus of Tulsa Community College. The senator is retiring this year; he is currently being treated for a recurrence of prostate cancer. Coburn was responding to a question about how he would “fix” media to focus on less superficial things if he was in charge of it. He said he also reads the New York Times and Wall Street Journal saying “the real problem is we’ve lost the professionalism of journalism.”"

Watch courtesy of Crooks and Liars:

Edward Murrow is spinning in his grave.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Ann Coulter:Just Vote For Any 'Crap-Ass' Republican

The Coultergeist stuck up for the Republican Party in a bizarre fashion on Tuesday by telling Sean Hannity that voters need to support any "crap-ass" GOPer over the Democrats.

That sort of leaves the field wide open really.



Just abandon the field right now, you have to vote Republican even if it’s for a crap-ass Republican," Coulter remarked on Hannity's radio show. "And I would name them but I’m not going to,” she added. Hannity began naming names starting with House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), and declared that "he’s a horrible speaker.”

 TPM reports, "The two descended into a squabble over how far to take criticism of Boehner and the GOP more broadly, until Coulter got the last word." 

"He's bad on amnesty but look, who cares — there are a lot of bad Republicans, there are no good Democrats," she said. "The country is in the balance. You have to vote Republican right now.”

Watch via Politico:

Monday, August 11, 2014

Tucker Carlson Slams Fox For Gun Safety Report, Because Kids Die In Bathtubs

By: Anomaly

Fox host Tucker Carlson wasn't happy with his own network's report on gun safety which instructed parents to be sure to ask if guns were secure while visiting other people's homes with their children.

“The point of that package was, guns are scary, gun owners are a threat to you and your children,” Carlson said. “And the truth is, while a child’s death is the worst tragedy imaginable, far more children died last year drowning in their bathtubs than were killed accidentally by guns.”



“So, I would like to see a package on, do you have a bathtub at home? Because I need to know that before I send my child over to your house,” he said. “A little perspective might be helpful.”


Co-host Clayton Morris noted that Fox & Friends had covered swimming pool safety, but Carlson was focused on bathtubs.

“How about bathtub safety?” Carlson asked

“Well, that’s a great question too,” Morris responded.

“Take a look at the places with the highest levels of gun ownership, they're also the safest places,” Carlson declared.

“You’re not going to get hurt in Maine or Wyoming or Vermont, right?”

“If somebody asked me — the fact that 93 percent of people don’t mind if you ask them if they have a firearm at home — I find that a very private question,” Carlson said. “It’s something the government wants to know because they would like to disarm you. Because it’s something that I’m not comfortable talking about with other people. And I would be offended by that question.”

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Nicholas Negroponte: A 30-year history of the future - Ted Talk



" MIT Media Lab founder Nicholas Negroponte takes you on a journey through the last 30 years of tech. The consummate predictor highlights interfaces and innovations he foresaw in the 1970s and 1980s that were scoffed at then but are ubiquitous today. And he leaves you with one last (absurd? brilliant?) prediction for the coming 30 years. " -- http://www.ted.com/talks/nicholas_negroponte_a_30_year_history_of_the_future

Nicholas Negroponte: http://www.ted.com/speakers/nicholas_negroponte

MIT Media Lab: http://www.media.mit.edu

Aisoy1.jpg
"Aisoy1" by Zorian - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Watch: DREAMers Erika Andiola & Cesar Vargas confront Steve King and Rand Paul runs away




" At a fundraiser with Rand Paul in Okoboji, Iowa, DREAMers Erika Andiola & Cesar Vargas confront Steve King for trying to end DACA. Rand Paul runs away when Erika says she's a DREAMer. "