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Trump/Palin 2012 bumper sticker: “You’re Fired! – I Quit 8 hours ago

If you travel often, by plane, or are older than 25, you’re probably familiar with having developed a personal set of ritual routines making for the most painless and least stressful airline-going experience.

I know I have.

I’ve learned that getting to the airport early with ample time allows for the unexpected while still preserving one’s peace of mind. Checklists help, after all, you are picking up in one place and contemplating having it all together in another.

With all that time on my hands at the airport–providing no unforeseen circumstances emerge–there are a limited set of activities from which to occupy oneself.

People watching: always fun at the airport. Random traveler rushing late running to the gate (of course confirming the infinite wisdom of diligent pre-planning, don’t we always like to be right?). Overheard banter shared between airport workers speeding the hourly clock along. Or, a mile tall flock of college b-ball players floating through the concourse.

One thing I do find myself repeatedly doing with my extra moments is a reconnoiter to the airport newsstand or gift & snack shop. I’m looking to survey the latest book offerings the limited shelf space allows: left and right politics, dominate in business and get rich, romance novels, a little fantasy and sci-fi thrown in for good measure.

There are always the ‘poll positions’ in a marketplace-premium product placement locations. One particular book caught my eye, “The Overton Window” by Glenn Beck. Hmmm. I picked it up and was surprised to learn it was a work of fiction; a novel.

The first thought that came to mind was, ‘there’s no way Glenn Beck has had the time to crank out a novel’. He’s daily on radio, on TV, doing public appearances and events, what gives?

Can anyone say ghostwriter?

Apparently, “The Overton Window” has a plot nearly identical to an earlier work by one of the novel’s “contributing authors”, Jack Henderson.

Chris Kelly, a writer for Bill Maher writes in Huff Post,

“So why — except for the completely inverted politics — does The Overton Window read so much like Circumference of Darkness? Because they were written by the same guy, a 52-year-old computer programmer named Jack Henderson. He gets sole credit on Circumference. (And why shouldn’t he? He published it himself.) On Overton, he gets thanked by Beck for “pouring his heart and soul into this project.” And, apparently, his leftover plot.”

My second thought at seeing Beck’s tome for sale at LAX, was he is shamelessly cashing-in, hoarding every buck he can get a hold of. He’s just a profiteering demagogue masquerading as populist prophet.

For example, at Beck’s Restoring Honor rally, to his credit he preached a message of inclusion and for the need to heed divine guidance. Only problem is, in most of Beck’s broadcasting he has been divisive, widening the chasm between constituencies of Americans. Such inconsistencies in other venues have been called hypocritical and obsequious. Money, power, fame seem to be the operative source code for Beck.

On one hand, the phrase ‘white privilege’ was actually sounded on the Restoring Honor stage (Alveda King said, “white privilege will become human privilege and that America will soon repent of the sin of racism and return itself to honor.”)– on the other hand, Beck has made his mark with Tea Party activists by stating such ridiculosities as President Obama having ‘hatred of white people’, or that America’s on the verge of a Marxist-Communist-Fascist takeover, at the same time waving swastikas and hammer-and-sickle flags.

Beck can only have it both ways here if the jokes are on us as he laughs all the way to the bank. Very Palin-esque, wouldn’t you say?

What we have in the form of Glenn Beck is a shill for top-down power structures under the disguise of his timely and convenient Libertarian limited government policies.

On Fox News, he recently stated, “I’m not anti-government. I’m anti-big government. Suddenly, now, I’m looking for a religious takeover of the government?”

The bottom line is, there is a form of tyranny and top-down power, but it’s not the false choice between government on one hand and multi-nationals on the other — it’s a bed shared by the unholy alliance between big business and their paid-for political operatives: lobbyists, politicians, appointed officials, public employees.

As I wrote in a Dobbs and Palin for President speculation,

“What’s an interesting dynamic in all this, are the right wing rabble-rousing cheerleaders like Limbaugh and Beck, et al. They don’t have to articulate a message that communicates an inclusive political mindset, in fact, most of their rhetoric sensationalizes — because its show biz — stereotypes — because its show biz — stokes fear — because its show biz, you get the point. Their model is entertainment parked in a political vehicle, ministering to a minority of folks verging on xenophobic affliction, deathly afraid their conception of “homeland” has been stolen away; they are losing their country, and are freaked out about it.”

And so the demagogues come out, play the people like a fiddle, and consequently, are getting very rich. If this behavior on the part of Beck and Palin is just explained away as a normal expression of the American way of life — quit and cash in, throw away propriety to make a buck — in some respects, rewards such as these have alot more in common with the Donner Party, than making an honest living.  

At a time like this, American democracy could sure use a better natured Angel, don’t you think?

I not sayin’, I’m just sayin’.

Truth in labeling for the former half term governor…

Unintentional irony in the cult of the lost cause?

Maybe not.

Kingsville, Missouri: “Move over, slow down.”

This morning in downtown Warrensburg.

Also, too.

….Sarah Palin urged her supporters to “stop” cars with Obama stickers and confront them with her sarcastic cutsey catchphrase, “How’s that hopey-changey thing working out for you?”….

The Obama/Biden bumper stickers will stay on our vehicles until we stop seeing these.

No, we didn’t stage the photo. It is what it is.

It all makes perfect sense – the campaign would revolve around highlighting their gubernatorial accomplishments.

Sarah Palin (r) on July 3, 2009:

Palin Announces No Second Term

No Lame Duck Session Either

…And we are doing well! My administration’s accomplishments speak for themselves. We work tirelessly for Alaskans…

…With this announcement that I am not seeking re-election… I’ve determined it’s best to transfer the authority of governor to Lieutenant Governor Parnell; and I am willing to do so, so that this administration – with its positive agenda, its accomplishments, and its successful road to an incredible future – can continue without interruption and with great administrative and legislative success…

Matt Blunt (r) on January 22, 2008:

Gov. Matt Blunt won’t run for re-election

…”The habit of politicians is to remain in office, and the desire to prove oneself in the next election is strong,” Blunt said. “After a great deal of thought and prayer, and with the knowledge that we have achieved virtually everything I set out to accomplish, and more, I will not seek a second term in the upcoming election,” he said.

“Because I feel we have changed what I wanted to change in the first term, there is not the same sense of mission for a second…”

And their administration could include South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford (r) as Secretary of State. After all, it’s the international experience that counts.

Missouri State Senator Jeff Smith (D) succinctly summed up the republican presidential field for 2012 in a Twitter post:

Potential Republican 2012 presidential field: Vitter, Ensign, Sanford, Gingrich and Palin. Who says they’re not the party of family values? 29 minutes ago from txt

I wish I had thought that one up.

Today:

…In a strange and meandering press conference, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R) explained this afternoon that he’d been “unfaithful” to his wife, after developing a “relationship” with a woman in Argentina…

Recently:

Sen. John Ensign today acknowledged an extramarital affair with a member of his campaign staff…

In the not so distant past:

Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) apologized last night after his telephone number appeared in the phone records of the woman dubbed the “D.C. Madam,” making him the first member of Congress to become ensnared in the high-profile case…

Setting the stage for his entry into the presidential race, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., gave a radio interview to be broadcast today with Focus on the Family’s James Dobson, in which Gingrich for the first time publicly acknowledged cheating on his first and second wives…

Family values?

Brett Penrose on cold weather politics:

According to Brett Penrose no writing utensils were injured during the production of this ‘toon.

Both states have a large number of people with smart mouths, a patriotic attitude, and a certain fondness for a particular turn of phrase…

Yep, that’s The one and only genuine original Show Me Progress McSame bumper sticker.

And in Anchorage, Alaska, our good friend Mudflats reports on two very interesting rallies held on the same day.

The first was with and for Sarah Palin (r):

Infiltrating the Palin Rally in Anchorage.

…I walked in to the large “Eklutna Room” where the rally was to be held. More TV cameras than I have ever seen in my life were set up on risers all around the room. The room itself, when filled to capacity, holds 5000 people. I tried to eyeball it, and I’d guess there were 1000 or so there. Everyone was pushed into the center of the room where the podium was set up….

Go. Read the whole thing. The photos are priceless.

Do people in Anchorage, Alaska read Show Me Progress? Heh.:

Photo by Mudflats

The second rally was not “for” Sarah Palin (r):

‘Alaska Women Reject Palin’ Rally is HUGE!

…It’s a good thing I wasn’t tailgating when I saw the crowd in front of the library or I would have ended up in somebody’s trunk.  When I got there, about 20 minutes early, the line of sign wavers stretched the full length of the library grounds, along the edge of the road, 6 or 7 people deep!  I could hardly find a place to park.  I nabbed one of the last spots in the library lot, and as I got out of the car and started walking, people seemed to join in from every direction, carrying signs.

Never, have I seen anything like it in my 17 and a half years living in Anchorage.  The organizers had someone walk the rally with a counter, and they clicked off well over 1400 people (not including the 90 counter-demonstrators).  This was the biggest political rally ever, in the history of the state.  I was absolutely stunned.  The second most amazing thing is how many people honked and gave the thumbs up as they drove by.  And even those that didn’t honk looked wide-eyed and awe-struck at the huge crowd that was growing by the minute.  This just doesn’t happen here…

[emphasis in original]

Go. Read the whole thing. The photos are amazing.

I’m proud of those good folks in Anchorage Alaska. This native-born Alaskan isn’t voting for McCain/Palin, either.