BadFiction - a look at bad movies and worse politics

A Garden of Stupidity - Birther update

In the wake of the shootings at the Holocaust museums, the birthers have been trying to do damage control, or (surprise surprise), blame Obama for something one of THEIR supporters did.

11 June - Final judgement in the Keyes v Bowen case has been rendered.

(Scribed here)

End result:

"IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED:
1 . That the First Amended Petition for Writ of Mandate is dismissed;
2, That respondent Secretary of State Debra Bowen shall recover costs in the amount of $350.00 pursuant to Government Code section 6103.5;
3 . That respondent President Barack Obama shall recover costs in the amount of $520.00;
4. That respondent Vice-President Joe Biden shall recover costs in the amount of $520.00;
5. That respondent Joe Perez shall recover costs in the amount of $___."

Kreep and Taitz - fail.

Observations on Health Care

One of the hallmarks of the right wing in this country (okay, not just the right, as some Democrats are against the idea as well), is the screams about "socialized medicine" and "government-run health care"

This is a good attitude to take - for someone who GETS "government-run health care" and doesn't have to worry bout catastrophic health care loss or a medical emergency. But for those of us in the real world, it's a lot more dire.

Now I have a good job with a good plan for myself with a health co-op. I pay extra to have my daughter covered as well. So far I have not been unhappy with it. And I realize I'm in a minority, because health care in this country sucks. We pay more for less than any other industrialized nation, and the results are sickening.

When I was a young adult, I suffered 2nd and 3rd degree scalds on my hand and wrist. I suffered though the pain for three days before I was forced to go to the doctor, (and pay money I didn't have) and get treated for it. I didn't have insurance at the time, and was more worried about affording the health care than I was about the pain and risk of infection.

Observations on Health Care

(Crossposted to Yes to Democracy)

One of the hallmarks of the right wing in this country (okay, not just the right, as some Democrats are against the idea as well), is the screams about "socialized medicine" and "government-run health care"

This is a good attitude to take - for someone who GETS "government-run health care" and doesn't have to worry bout catastrophic health care loss or a medical emergency. But for those of us in the real world, it's a lot more dire.

Now I have a good job with a good plan for myself with a health co-op. I pay extra to have my daughter covered as well. So far I have not been unhappy with it. And I realize I'm in a minority, because health care in this country sucks. We pay more for less than any other industrialized nation, and the results are sickening.

Bad Movie Review - Barn of the Blood Llama

Considered to be the best movie to ever come out of Dripping Springs, Texas, "Barn" starts with a short by Clive Barker, describing the dreaded "Male Berserk Syndrome". Actually, it sounds more like he took a few hits off of what the writer was smoking when he wrote the script for this movie. 

It then cuts to a scene where a older man puts a record on a record player. It starts to play when a llama hoof comes over and knocks the play arm from the record. We then get the credits, with the comment that it's "dubbed in English". It was *filmed* in English mind you, and then re-dubbed so the speech doesn't sync with the lip movement. Trust me, it doesn't matter. 

Dr. Albert, the mad scientist in this movie, (who's been conducting research on llamas to try and create "day glow wool"), is conducting some.....errr.....ummm....breeding experiments with one of the llamas when his other wooly paramour, in a fit of jealousy, runs off. She promptly gets struck and killed by Toni, the hapless heroine of this movie. 

In the meantime, a couple of local girls just did a drive-by bonk-them-and-dump-them of some of the local talent, and end up picking up Bock, a washed up has-been/never-was rock star who's going to Dr. Albert's to find a cure for his writer's block.

Note to Mr. Walter Fitzpatrick

How can I explain this to you.....

You are a *civilian*. Not an officer any longer, and not bound by UCMJ for anything you have done as a civilian.

The chances that you will ever be recalled out of retirement are slim to none, particularly with your record.

So, your claim that you're going to be yanked from retirement simply to be court-martialed for your little nastygram you wrote on your alma mater's stationary is absurd. (though it shows rather well just how much you're STILL clinging to your identity as a serving Naval Officer.)

As for a civilian court arresting you over that little snit you threw in print, well, there is that whole "freedom of speech" thing in this country. And considering how many people screamed "traitor" or worse about Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon, etc., etc., etc., well, the only difference with your letter and those in the past is that your letter was published on the internet and that your alma mater might be annoyed over the fact you made it look like you were speaking for them or under their authority, rather than as a private citizen. Kinda tacky that really.

Should you do anything to break the law in the future, you will be tried in a civilian court as a civilian. This should make you happy, considering how much you hate the UCMJ system.

Oh, and I will point out the president when you were court-martialed was not President Obama. You were court-martialed in 1990, while President George HW Bush was in office. You were retired as an Lt. Commander in 1994.

Which means you have been claiming this deep dark conspiracy for 15 YEARS now. Why are you suddenly trying to hitch your star to the birther wagon train, when you've had 15 years to try and get your court-martial reversed??

In any case, I will remind you again. You are a civilian. You will rise or fall based on your actions as a civilian. Should you find yourself in a courtroom having broken the law, you will be in a civilian courtroom confronting the real US legal system, and not your friends with their pretend super-duper fantasy grand juries' idea of a legal system either.

A civilian courtroom. As is proper, due to the fact you are a civilian.

Welcome.....

Welcome to "Bad Fiction", an outgrowth of two of my writing interests - bad movies and questionable politics.

I'm Patrick McKinnion, a guest writer at Yes To Democracy and general gadfly.    Over time I'll copy my YtD writings here as well, and intend to remain a writer there as long as Christina (thanks!) is willing to let me ramble.

So sit back, get some popcorn, and enjoy.....

Walter Francis Fitzpatrick III - Oathbreaker

(Update - 21 June - Well, Mr. Fitzpatrick responded to my offer by further attacks and lies. His choice, but it leads me to suspect I may have hit too close to the mark. Though his comparison of his critics with the British commanders at the Battle of Cowpens speaks more for his ego than anything else. And I have to thank him for introducing me to a couple more blogs I didn't know about.

I don't think "offering someone a place to air their side of something" is somehow self-doubt. And I suspect it's more than he would offer on his blog either.

And it does say a lot about Mr. Fitzpatrick that he has to sign off with "United States Navy Retired" and "United States Naval Academy Class of 1975". It confirms my theory that a lot of his sense of self-worth and self-identity is still tied up in something that is no longer his.)

(Update - 20 June - A note to Mr. Fitzpatrick's friend "Tim". If you wish to comment and present your side of things, you are welcome to do so.

On the other hand, sending me email along the lines of "Looks like he wants to play................stupid man. His pals are not going to like what this will come to." doesn't do your side any favours.)

(Update - 19 June - I just got an email from Mr. Fitzpatrick. All he did was repost my bio in the YtD writers section.

In the interest of being fair, I welcome any further information from Mr. Fitzpatrick as to his behaviour and his side of the story. He is also welcome to comment here as well, as YtD does not censor comments.)

One of the "rising stars" in the fantasy tiddlywinks league is Walter Fitzpatrick. A Naval Acadamy graduate who became popular with the birthers and the pretend grand "jury" sect for a nasty letter sent to Obama claiming treason, Mr. Fitizpatrick is now a hero and "patriot" among the birther tribes.

I wonder how many of them know who he really is though? Some seem to think he's still a serving officer, others believe he's retired, but subject to recall.

It would be a cold day in hell before he was recalled though. Why? Well, what he doesn't talk about is why he's not in the Navy - or why his blog is called "JAG hunters". Seems Mr. Fitzpatrick doesn't have a very squeaky clean record. From all indications, Mr. Fitzpatrick's naval career was a good one, with rumours of the fast track to Admiral's stars. Executive Officer of a ship is usually seen as the last step before being placed in Command of a ship.

And all that was sunk by Mr. Fitzpatrick's own hands. You see, he was relieved of his position and court-martialed.

"Fitzpatrick is struggling to clear his name of a court-martial conviction that left a career-destroying letter of reprimand in his personnel record.

Navy records state that Fitzpatrick failed to properly supervise the spending of his ship's ``morale, welfare and recreation" money - nongovernmental money raised for the crew's use through proceeds from the ship's retail store - and while he did not personally gain from the money, his decisions violated Navy policies.

The money is usually used by the crew to pay for items such as TV and audio equipment, recreational supplies and other nonmilitary gear."

Court to Berg - No you can't have sealed case, not yours.

Back on 13 November 2008, I wrote about Philip Berg's Whistleblower case, in which he demanded that Obama pay back his US Senate monies due to Berg's belief that Obama wasn't a US citizen. The case was supposed to be filed under seal, but Berg didn't bother doing that until 17 November 2008, and since then has mentioned his "super-secret sealed case" repeatedly in press releases and on the air.

Well, on 10 June the seals were broken. And out came the Four Horsemen of Birtherdom - Ignorance, Bigotry, Insanity, and Fail.

And Fail said "step aside, this one is mine". An lo, did the super-secret sealed case was marked with words aflame by Judge Roberts.

Those words were Dismissed with Prejudice.

And did the Berg wax wroth, (wroth wasn't very happy about it) and let loose the Press Release of Righteous Anger, squeaking in his loudest voice and stomping with the Tiny Feet of Fury :

"Berg said, “What a miscarriage of justice! At a closed door hearing on June 9, 2009 because of the status of the “sealed case,” sealed because of the nature of the case, that being a “Qui Tam” or FCA [False Claims Action] case, the Attorney General through his representatives refused to proceed with the prosecution of Obama for fraudulently serving as a U.S. Senator from Illinois for 3 ½ years. [FCA cases are usually used in Medicare/Medicaid fraud cases]”

Berg continued, “I presented overwhelming evidence that Obama was ineligible to be a U.S. Senator and therefore, Obama fraudulently received a salary and benefits of nearly $1 Million Dollars.

Since the case was ‘Dismissed with Prejudice’ it is now ‘Unsealed’ and the record is open for review. The case, Berg vs. Obama, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, No. 08-cv-1933 and is available on Pacer or our website, obamacrimes.com. I, Phil Berg, will be Appealing this case !”

Berg said, “During oral argument, I raised the issue of a ‘Conflict of Interest’ as Attorney General Holder’s boss is the President Barack H. Obama, so how could they properly review this case? I suggested the appointment of a Special Prosecutor. I also raised the issue that any Discovery used in the Government’s decision to have the case dismissed, which was secured by the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney General’s Office should be turned over to me as the Relator, however, no Discovery was turned over.”

And so did the Berg did rant and rave, though anyone with three brain cells to rub together knew that the Super Secret Sealed Suit was a Super-Sized Satchel of Shit. Smarting from his latest failure to overturn an election and the will of the people, the Berg did vow to appeal, though it seems anymore the only lawsuit he has a chance of winning is against the Nitrous-addled one.

Raged Birther opens fire at D.C Holocaust Museum.

Note to Philip Berg and Orly Taitz -

There is an old saying, "lie down with dogs, wake up with fleas".

In your jihad against President Obama, both of you have courted white supremacists. Your paranoid rantings have found fertile ground in the fetid swamps of the racist mind. Which is highly ironic, because both of you, being Jewish, have more than likely experienced such bigotry and hatred directed towards yourselves. And that many of your newfound best friends are quite willing and able to hate you simply due to your faith.

Case in point, one James W. Von Brunn. You might recognize him, because today he opened fire at the US National Holocaust Museum, wounding two people, one critically. (on edit, and later died from their wounds)

Why does this concern you? Because take a look at what he posted on Free Republic: before the thread was pulled: (Google cache here)

Paddle Faster, I hear banjos - Birther Update

4 June - Haven't heard from John D. Hemenway lately.

With good reason it seems. Because, as this open letter shows, he's quite the broken record.

"1) Will you acknowledge that Obama has expended hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees to seal ALL records, birth, academic and his passport file, which would prove his eligibility to hold the office of President? Why would Obama pay this enormous legal bill if there is nothing to hide and his records are all genuine?"

Will you acknowledge that there's been no evidence to support this claim?

"2) Will you explain why the public should accept an online COLB for a birth record, which would not be acceptable to obtain a drivers' license in most states in America (or play little league as Rep. Bill Posey has pointed out in introducing legislation to require proof of citizenship for future Presidential contenders), instead of an actual hard copy birth certificate (with hospital name and doctors signature that are NOT on a COLB), which the President could order at any time for a filing fee of approximately $12? "

Will you explain why the birthers seem to think that Obama showed a JPEG file as proof of his citizenship, instead of, oh, THE ACTUAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE THAT THE IMAGE WAS SCANNED FROM??

Will you explain why the COLB is a legally recognized birth document that can be used to get a drivers license, enlist in the military, get a passport, etc., and that it meets state and federal guidelines for establishing citizenship??