Exhibit A In How Passion Can Cloud Logic

It is almost common knowledge that when tea partiers and the more nativist elements of the less intellectual talk radio world of conservatives talk about illegal immigration, it predominately refers to those migrating from Mexico.

But one prankster at a recent rally in Minnesota this weekend, actually tricked the tea partiers into railing against European immigration, for their ethnic cleansing, genocide, and economic injustices against Native Americans. All something they only belatedly realized.

A speaker at an anti-immigration rally in St. Paul, Minnesota, this past weekend got the crowd to support more than just the deportation of all illegal immigrants -- he got them cheering for the eviction of all European-descended immigrants to America who "stole this land through genocide and ethnic cleansing."

A crowd of some 40 people showed up to the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol on Saturday to protest proposed reform of US immigration law. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Friday that the Obama administration was pushing for immigration reform that would create a pathway for the legalization of undocumented immigrants.

Napolitano said she would like to see a "tough, fair" plan that would allow illegal migrants to gain legal status if they pay a fine, pass a criminal background check, pay all back taxes and learn English.

That idea brought 40 anti-immigration protesters to Saturday's protest, as well as 30 pro-immigration reform counter-protesters, according to FightBackNews in Minneapolis.

One of those protesters, going by the alias "Robert Erickson," got a speaking spot at the rally and used it to argue for the eviction of all descendants of European immigrants -- in other words, that contingent of white Americans who these days see themselves as "real" Americans.

Try and Wrap Your Head Around This One

The Wall Street Journal reports that some who attended the "9/12" rallies in Washington DC last weekend, protesting big government, now say the government didn't do enough to meet their needs when they rode on a publicly funded subway train to the protests against big government and excessive spending. I am sure I am not the only one who finds this ironic.

Protesters who attended Saturday’s Tea Party rally in Washington found a new reason to be upset: Apparently they are unhappy with the level of service provided by the subway system.

Rep. Kevin Brady asked for an explanation of why the government-run subway system didn’t, in his view, adequately prepare for this past weekend’s rally to protest government spending and government services.

Seriously.

The Texas Republican on Wednesday released a letter he sent to Washington’s Metro system complaining that the taxpayer-funded subway system was unable to properly transport protesters to the rally to protest government spending and expansion.

“These individuals came all the way from Southeast Texas to protest the excessive spending and growing government intrusion by the 111th Congress and the new Obama administration,” Brady wrote. “These participants, whose tax dollars were used to create and maintain this public transit system, were frustrated and disappointed that our nation’s capital did not make a great effort to simply provide a basic level of transit for them.”

The Political Dis of the Day

The contentious talk of health care reform has brought about many colorful and irrational characters and claims to the forefront. There are some legitimate questions in this often raucous dialogue (such as more specifics on just how the President hopes to pay for such reform), but the vitriol and personal hatred from those such as the "tea baggers", the non sense and stupid conspiracy theories of the "birthers", or Glenn Beck's "9/12" project, a conservative political group fronted as a post- 9/11 unity group. Its kind of like the Blair Witch Project, except the ghosts are whiter, older, and more monolithically far right.

Our politicians need to be held accountable and be transparent in thier actions and proposals to be sure. But if they are on grounds that are devoid of any sound evidence, then those who give voice to such overtly outlandish claims are fair game for ridicule.

Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA), owned a anti-health care reformer at a town hall meeting in his district. After a lengthy list of grievances and with out proof asserting that Obama will raise taxes to pay for health care and other claims dismissed by Obama in last week's speech before congress, the questioner said "Don't pee on my leg and tell me its raining."

Well it seems that the questioner had set himself up for a big slam down in terms of a comeback.

CNN:

First reported by the San Francisco Chronicle and confirmed by a YouTube clip of the event, the longtime congressman made the remark after the participant launched into a long, but calm, litany about government inefficiency when it comes to nation's health care system. The man concluded his remarks with warning Stark not to "pee on my leg and tell me it's raining."

As the audience cheered, a calm Stark responded: "Well, I wouldn't dignify you by peeing on your leg. It wouldn't be worth wasting the urine."

There was a mixture of laughter and boos as Stark motioned for the next question.

Birthers

In the wake of the surfacing of the bogus Obama Kenyan Birth Certificate, Josh Marshall found a way that you can get an artificial Kenyan birth certificate.

Buzz Aldrin Reacting to Conspiracy Theory

In the wake of the recent 40th anniversary of America landing the first man on the moon, here is an amusing video (H/T: Ben Smith) of Apollo 11 Astronaut Buzz Aldrin's reaction to the rantings of a conspiracy theorist who claims the moon landing was not real but staged. Now if only we could find someone like this to react to the birther nonsense.

Peter Griffin and Personal Finances

The world of personal finances according to the Family Guy's Peter Griffin. For example here is Peter Griffin on home loans:

Brian: Peter, did you read the fine print on this loan contract?
Peter: Um, if by “read” you mean imagined a naked lady, then, yes.

Image from Mint.com

The War on Centuer's, Mermnaids, and other Fantasy Creatures

Well that is what the Huffington Post reports via Senator Sam Brownback's own blog. Ardent pro-lifer Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) wants to ban scientists from being able to create human animal hybrid species. Brownback is set to retire from the Senate in 2010 and run for governor of Kansas, and obviously now wants part of his national political legacy to be killing any possibility of centaurs and Arielle the Little Mermaid becoming a reality. Given Senator Brownback's intense "pro-family agenda" one would think he would want to encourage the good natured wholesome family fun that is a Disney movie in becoming a reality (maybe a tax credit for owning a blue genie or an elephant that can fly. Or how about one for guys who dress in strange costumes in the middle of the night and take children off to a .... oh wait, I was referring to Peter Pan not Michael Jackson).

Between this and Congresswoman Michelle Bachman (R- her own state of mind), seeking years back to ban the movie Aladdin in local Minnesota schools; one has to wonder what acid these lawmakers have been trippin on. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) is also a co-sponsor. The legislation now has 20 co-sponsors, but hey with the economy having recovered, us being out of Iraq and Afghanistan, Iran and North Korea disarmed, global climate change halted, health care legislation passed, and the budget deficit under control; I guess we now have time for more pressing concerns such as this! That's what we pay lawmakers for, and get those the Seven little bearded guys while you are at it.

This Date in History- July 12

Today is the birthday of Cheech Marin, one half of the classic pot smoking screwball duo Cheech and Chong.

Mexican Americans from CheechAndChong

The Constitution Came BEFORE Communism

Everybody's favorite fictional and daft instrument of conservative populist platitudes Sam Wurzelbacher ( the so-called 'Joe the Plumber') has resurfaced again, according to Wonkette.

At a conference where Obama was once again compared to Stalin (how cliche), and "Joe"called for Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT)to be "Strung up" He also said the following:

Wurzelbacher has a reputation for being a blunt, politically incorrect speaker. Referring to Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., more than once, Wurzelbacher asked, "Why hasn't he been strung up?"

And he glosses over facts. Referring to the Constitution as "almost like the Bible," Wurzelbacher said of the Founding Fathers: "They knew socialism doesn't work.

Yeah Sam, inspirational point except that Marxism/ Communism was born in the 1840s. The Communist Manifesto in fact wasn't published until 1848; far after the crusade of our founding father's as laid out in the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence in 1776, and the foundation of our principles were laid when they were enshrined in the Constitution in 1787.

Screw Money will have sex for Fritos

One Oklahoma woman and a Fritos Lays employee were arrested after he picked her up and she furnished him with her "services" in exchange for a case of Fritos chips. Makes you wonder how much sex you could get for a case of Doritos.

An Oklahoma City woman was arrested for prostitution after agreeing to have sex with a man in exchange for a $30 box of Frito-Lays chips. Lahoma Sue Smith, dubbed the Frito Lays prostitute, pleaded no contest to the charges.

Smith and the man were found partially clothed in her car. She told police her client didn’t have any money. He was a Frito-Lays employee and offered her a case of chips for sexual favors.

Smith, 36, was ordered to pay a $1,142 fine. The man, who has not been identified, was not charged.

Ah the old barter system is making a comeback. Now if only I would have thought of that I would be buying Fritos in bulk.

Jesus, Teen Idols, and Your Record Player

Some guy makes the case for the Devil being in Rock music, in teen idols, and why Jesus is the true lord and savior. Not quite sure if this guy is an 80s style televangelists or just a bad comedian. You decide.


H/T: Everything is Terrible

Coleman Doesn't Know He Has Lost

Its been nearly seven months since the 2008 elections and while most races are over the Minnesota race between then incumbent Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Comedian and presumed winner (but yet to be seated) Senator Al Franken (D-MN)has still not ended. The two remain locked in a contentious legal battle, though a few hundred votes and a number of rulings and legal opinions favor Franken.

Nevertheless today Coleman released this statement regarding President Obama's selection of Appeals Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor to fill the vacancy on the U.S Supreme Court left by the retirement of Justice David Souter.

ST. PAUL – Senator Norm Coleman today released the following statement in response to President Obama’s nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the United States Supreme Court.

"When debating judges, I was firm that I would use the same standard to evaluate judges under a Democrat President as I would a Republican President. Are they intellectually competent, do they have a record of integrity, and most importantly, are they committed to following the Constitution rather than creating new law and policy. When I am re-elected, I intend to review Judge Sotomayor's record using this process. Certainly, the nomination of a Hispanic woman to the nation's highest court is something all Americans should applaud."

Someone needs to tell this guy he stands no chance of prevailing in his quest to retain his senate seat. These past months Coleman has been engaged in what is merely a holding action to thwart a 60 seat majority by the Democrats and delay the inevitable. The only thing that has transpired to alter the situation of Coleman is more rulings against his claims that he won the election, the rage of the citizens of Minnesota, and the destruction of a once promising political career that given his intransigence is now likely beyond repair.

Kubrick and Kringle

Hilarious mash-up of the classic holiday special "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" with "Full Metal Jacket".

"Dead Heads"

H/T: Tommy Devine

The Clownter Culture

Hippie icon and 60s clown Wavy Gravy speaks at an Oregon fair in 2007 about his infamous "Nobody for President Campaign", telling the story as only he can.

Jay Bybees "Legal" Memos Put to Music

H/T- Andrew Sullivan:

This Day in History: "Tiny Tim"

Bizarre singer and musician "Tiny Tim" with the high pitched voice was born on this day in 1930.

Obama Agrees to High Times Interview

Well actually this was just an April Fools Day Joke by the marijuana magazine. But it would be interesting if he actually did have an interview with High Times. Jimmy Carter did the same with Playboy. Always fascinating when politicians, especially Presidents and Presidential candidates grant interviews to unconventional, controversial, and sometimes risque media outlets.

Vintage Condom Commercial

Even for Sinbad this has to be humiliating.



HT: Everything is Terrible

Larry Kudlow Burning Dead Presidents.

Between Jim Cramer, Rick Santelli, and this bit of off-beat craziness from former Reagan adviser and Free Market madman Larry Kudlow; CNBC is looking a lot less like a financial cable network these days and more like a circus.

(H/T: Think Progress)


Looks Like Kudlow was channeling his inner YIPPIE. Unfortunately he forgot that the burning of 'Dead Presidents' (money) is a crime.

Note: The last link was also referenced by think progress.org.