tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81784122009-08-15T11:56:14.645-04:00Deconstructing the Rhetoric of the Right (and occasional other political musings)rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125This is an XML content feed. It is intended to be viewed in a newsreader or syndicated to another site.tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1125873619052499802008-08-29T17:29:00.000-04:002008-08-29T13:38:45.799-04:00

Photo: Pollutants swirl in waters that have flooded New Orleans.[Note: This diary is being re-published in honor of the pending anniversary of Katina as a new hurricane heads into the Gulf of Mexico. Also fixed links that had gone stale, and added some comments at the end about some of the "fixes" provided by corrupt republican contractors, who all seem to somehow be friends of Jeb Bush - the

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comhttp://mataliandy.blogspot.com/2005/09/welcome-to-lake-george.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-84817417640060244062007-02-23T14:58:00.000-05:002007-02-23T15:18:34.477-05:00

I finally got a bit of time to figure out what happened to the blog template. It's now fixed. The "click for more" is working again, so the site should be MUCH more readable. Yay! Plus I messed around with the style sheet to create magically self-resizing images, so they should no longer run over the right nav, even if they're big. Though the experiment to turn the DemocracyFest banner into a

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comhttp://mataliandy.blogspot.com/2007/02/broekn-template-fixed.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-58412746403643898632007-02-12T14:52:00.000-05:002007-02-23T13:41:10.809-05:00

Then I screamed at my daughter to get out of the house...... and leapt toward the fire extinguisher. The tiny bits of flaming foam insulation that had landed on me had gone out without any damage, but the fireball had also ignited the foam along the crack I had just filled, and the masking tape around it.Thus our experiment in low-carbon living has taken a short hiatus.We live a very strange

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comhttp://mataliandy.blogspot.com/2007/02/first-i-screamed-then-i-swore.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1169628438957808122007-01-24T02:29:00.000-05:002007-02-23T13:56:18.957-05:00

STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESSAs Prepared For a ParodyTO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:Thank you very much. Tonight, I have a high privilege and distinct honor of my own — as the first President to begin the State of the Union message with these words: Madam Speaker. Except that I didn't actually begin the speech with those words, I began it with "Thank you very much".In his day, the late

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comhttp://mataliandy.blogspot.com/2007/01/state-of-union-2007-parody.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1163045398444112602006-11-08T23:06:00.000-05:002006-11-08T23:52:07.200-05:00

Click the Play Button:Video showing why Nov 7, 2006 was only Day 1.Choreographed to the music of George Michael's "Freedom 90."

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comhttp://mataliandy.blogspot.com/2006/11/freedom-06.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1162667300198622722006-11-04T13:31:00.000-05:002007-02-23T13:57:45.985-05:00

Oops!Vermont's Republican Leuitenant Governor Douglas Dubie has been under pressure lately for doing part-time work for full-time pay during his term. The claim is that he has worked less than 30% of the time he has been in office. In reponse to the pressure, he finally this week released a "schedule" that tries to make him appear to have been busy while outside the office, soaking up taxpayer's

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comhttp://mataliandy.blogspot.com/2006/11/dubies-dubious-daybook.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1159420972296553502006-09-28T01:22:00.000-04:002007-02-23T13:59:22.554-05:00

The Torture Bill passed the House today, in the shiny wrapping paper of an immigrant-hate bill, literally adding insult to injury. Tomorrow it will likely be voted on in the Senate. Friday it will probably become law. Other administrations protected our basic constitutional rights in the face of whole nations, armed to the teeth with massive numbers of extraordinary weapons that threatened to

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comhttp://mataliandy.blogspot.com/2006/09/republicans-are-not-brave-enough-to.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1158941546374854982006-09-22T12:12:00.000-04:002007-02-23T14:02:17.855-05:00

Produce the BodyWhile we focus on the immoral "torture" part of the new torture bill, we're missing a more insidious little tid-bit: removing the right to a trial.In England, way back in 1679, it was made illegal to stuff people in prison without charges and leave them there to rot. This was done because imprisonment had become the government's favorite means of suppression. Parliament thought

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comhttp://mataliandy.blogspot.com/2006/09/what-did-they-fight-for_22.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1158729281248873592006-09-20T00:10:00.000-04:002007-02-23T14:06:05.025-05:00

"Pardon Me"It's the new game in town, brought to us by none other than the Deciderer, grand Inquisitor of the new crusade. See, the President has spent the last 5 years promoting and ordering torture. Torture is immoral. That's why 194 countries, led by the United States (back in the days when we actually held the moral high ground in the world), cobbled together the Geneva Conventions. The

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comhttp://mataliandy.blogspot.com/2006/09/beggingyour-pardon.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1157734008654172882006-09-08T12:41:00.000-04:002007-02-23T14:06:51.353-05:00

To survive people conformed. They kept silent. And the continuous propaganda worked. (from Propaganda in the Propaganda State)In the USSR, Lenin and Stalin cultivated their power with the aid of the media. Sure, media was less sophisticated in those days: radio, newspapers, and the movies were pretty much it. But with willing propagandists at the media helm, tyranny was certainly an easier ride -

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comhttp://mataliandy.blogspot.com/2006/09/indotru-cation-leave-no-truth-behind.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1157169676698184012006-09-02T00:01:00.000-04:002006-09-02T00:01:17.566-04:00

[crossposted on DailyKos and GreenMountainDaily]A few days ago, nyceve wrote an excellent diary on the sad fact that it's now economically more feasible for a person in the US to travel thousands of miles to a foreign country for medical care than to receive that care in this country.We all know that this is because of a simple lack of leadership from those who feel none of the consequences from

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comhttp://mataliandy.blogspot.com/2006/07/health-care-equity-act-of-2006.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1150584419956109252006-06-17T18:44:00.000-04:002006-06-17T18:46:59.966-04:00

The time has come to thank those who have worked so hard to protect the powder. For those who don't know, powder is a special legislative element, and must be kept as dry as possible. Wet powder can be a very unstable and hard to work with.Now, the fruits of carefully tended powder are ripening into big, juicy delicacies for us all.Let' take a look at a particularly luscious piece of low hanging

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comhttp://mataliandy.blogspot.com/2006/06/thanks-for-keeping-powder-dry.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1144399652741622092006-04-07T04:36:00.000-04:002007-02-23T14:10:32.707-05:00

This diary speaks for itself. Anyone who is still on the fence about impeachment, or against it, must read. [Cross-posted Wholesale From: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/4/6/194043/7323]Fitzgerald Has Proof That Bush and Cheney Were At Center of NIE-Plamegate Leaks (Poll)! by HoundDogThu Apr 06, 2006 at 06:40:43 PM ESJason Leopold has just published an article at TruthOut entitled, Bush

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comhttp://mataliandy.blogspot.com/2006/04/there-is-no-question-impeach.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1143682295163468272006-03-29T20:27:00.000-05:002007-02-23T14:11:41.808-05:00

[Cross-posted a bunch of places]I've been involved in the Rutland Resolution portion of the impeachment process in Vermont and thought it would be a good time to share what we've learned over the last 6 weeks or so, for any of you who might want to give it a "go" in your own states.While all of us have been relatively politically active the last couple of years (a couple of us have even managed

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comhttp://mataliandy.blogspot.com/2006/03/do-it-yourself-impeachement-part-ii.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1141749315360908132006-03-07T11:32:00.000-05:002007-02-23T14:13:29.050-05:00

[Crossposted on DailyKos and My Left Wing]There was a thread lat night on yesterday's Conyers hearing re: Impeachment over on that Orange site. It had lots and lots of people saying hopeless things like "We need action NOW" and "People just don't know the truth" and "How do we get around the fact that the media won't cover [x]?" and "We'll never get public support if..."Well there is a way. It IS

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comhttp://mataliandy.blogspot.com/2006/03/do-it-yourself-impeachment-guide.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1139844864590426612006-02-13T10:32:00.000-05:002006-02-13T10:35:23.350-05:00

Today, in Burlington, VT, Democracy for America endorsed Representative Bernie Sanders for US Senate and VT Senator Peter Welch for US Congress.Great choices!

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comhttp://mataliandy.blogspot.com/2006/02/dfa-endorsements-today.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1138667850657237902006-01-30T19:08:00.000-05:002006-01-30T19:37:30.703-05:00

It took 56 Years but the United States Finally Lost World War IIThat's a quote from a songwriter regarding today's Alito filibuster vote.Very apt.

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comhttp://mataliandy.blogspot.com/2006/01/on-alito.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1133362362415016292005-11-30T09:09:00.000-05:002007-02-23T14:15:41.346-05:00

Electronic voting machines installed all over the country are proving to be extremely unreliable, with problems including easy vote tampering, miscounting votes, machines that simply break down, and most importantly, no way to run a recount if an election is close. An in-depth General Accounting Office investigation found this to be a very serious issue (Full General accounting Office Report -

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comhttp://mataliandy.blogspot.com/2005/11/will-your-vote-count.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1133240183752335642005-11-28T21:48:00.000-05:002005-12-13T21:51:54.756-05:00

And thus I clothe my naked villainyWith old odd ends, stol'n forth of holy writ;And seem a saint, when most I play the devil. - William ShakespeareFlexibility - moral flexibility, that is has allowed the crew in office to start their very own chain of Rent-a-Gulags in our name, recycling the evil prisons of torture created by Stalin, Tito, and other Soviet dictators.Their moral relativism

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comhttp://mataliandy.blogspot.com/2005/11/bad-guys.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1128212742445573652005-10-01T20:10:00.000-04:002005-12-13T21:56:53.226-05:00

No one ever gave their heart to a number. That's why the pictures aren't allowed. It's too dangerous. People might start to feel this war.But we are talking about poeople. Or not. More often not. This war lurks in the background, a silent reality, a faint feeling.Many, many people. Dying in an unjust war, against innocent families in a country that posed no threat.Maybe someday, we'll learn. 

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comhttp://mataliandy.blogspot.com/2005/10/faint-feeling.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1127242074072500992005-09-20T14:40:00.000-04:002005-12-13T22:01:10.546-05:00

We are a group of writers who are passionately committed to supporting women's basic freedom as citizens of the United States. We are appealing to you as free citizens dedicated to political growth, fairness and the spirit of Liberty guaranteed in the US Constitution.We are not paid pundits or political operatives. We are concerned citizens who represent the diversity of the United States: women

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comhttp://mataliandy.blogspot.com/2005/09/to-members-of-judiciary-committee-and.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1126657949491171932005-09-13T19:43:00.000-04:002005-09-13T20:32:29.536-04:00

Tens of thousands of Americans were abandoned on a rainy day in August of 2005. Parents, children, aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters were left to suffer and die. People who could not escape - due to money or illness or age - had their lives stolen by a merciless storm of wind, water, and human failure, some quickly, some only after agonizing hours or days.We cannot abandon these families again.

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comhttp://mataliandy.blogspot.com/2005/09/drifting-lessons.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1125174602663336592005-08-27T16:24:00.000-04:002005-08-27T18:55:07.286-04:00

On the home front, progress is afoot. We have a pop-up tent, a kitchen tent, a shower tent, an outhouse, a well, solar panels, a bio-diesel generator, and a great big hole in the ground. (Shower tent and outhouse aren't shown in this shot)The solar panels power our light bulb. It's, um, overkill! The generator runs the well pump and any power tools we're using for construction.By the way,

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.comhttp://mataliandy.blogspot.com/2005/08/home-sweet-home.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8178412.post-1123534367016488482005-08-08T16:46:00.000-04:002005-08-08T17:12:09.356-04:00

[copied wholesale from Renee in Ohio's diary on DailyKos, because it's so important.]Last night, I turned on The Laura Flanders Show on Air America Radio just in time to hear that Cindy Sheehan would be interviewed after the break. I recorded most of the show--only missed about the first half minute. Below the fold you can see what Cindy had to say (if you missed it last night) and how you can

rhetoreticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183890240386307360noreply@blogger.com0http://mataliandy.blogspot.com/2005/08/gold-star-mom-visits-crawford-tx.html