BadFiction - a look at bad movies and worse politics

Dispatches from Birtherstan - 12 January 2011

In today's dispatches, Dr. Kate is on the move. In "yes the sky is blue" news, the Pest and eFail is lying again. We have a new(ish) birtherstani lawsuit that World Nut Daily is flogging, but seems like the same old birther barf. The Pest and eFail continues to jones for a military coup and are lying again. And we have a conspiracy-laden "White Hat Report" that's less White Hat and more Brown Underpants.

10 January - Dr. Kate is on the move

"drkate
January 11, 2011 at 6:18 am
Note to Users:

This blog has been attacked and I am in the process of changing servers, removing viruses, and protecting everyone here. My apologies.

In the meantime,I have changed search engines to ‘startpage.com’ which does not grab IP’s or your history of searching. I would recommend everyone do the same!"

I suspect the movie is either to a cheaper site, or off-shore. I don't buy her "viruses" claim.

The Triumph of the Narrative

Took a day to digest the results of the midterms.

Now, historically speaking, the results aren't very surprising. And for all the claims of a "enthusiasm gap" the percentages weren't very much.

What did strike me as odd as that, even as voters were electing GOP and Tea Party candidates, polls were also saying that the majority of voters didn't much LIKE the GOP, and that the policies of the Bush II administration are still seen as much of the reason for the state of the economy. If there's a message here, it's "Okay, fine, you want to try and fix it, go ahead. We still don't like or trust you."

The GOP may have a problem though. The party of no has to show they can govern now - and Clinton-era stalling and partisan witch hunts may backfire on them.

However, something that kept running though my mind yesterday was "The triumph of the narrative". All during the election cycle, the GOP candidates and Tea Party talkers kept saying things like "reduce the size of government". "cut spending". "go back to the Constitution". And "restore freedom".

What they didn't say was what any of those things mean - or how they were going to do it. They promised rainbow sparkle ponies and glitter, without mentioning how they were going to get those ponies. (And certain types in the Democratic party were pouting and staying home because THEY thought they were going to get rainbow sparkle ponies in 2008, and are upset because those ponies haven't shown up yet)

At the same time, the Tea Party types are going to want their pound of flesh as soon as possible. At the very least, they want all the bad things they believe Obama has been doing to be reversed yesterday, thank you. At the most, they want impeachment and Obama gone by the end of the year if not sooner. And you have some members of Congress (Issa, Bachmann), who have stated that the only thing the next Congress should do is investigate EVERYTHING Obama has ever done and rehash long dead and long debunked claims and conspiracy myths.

And that's not counting the GOP leadership who have openly stated that the goal of the next Congress is to make sure Obama is a single term president. Add all that together, and you know very well we're looking at a return to the Whitewater witch hunts of the 1990's, then they spent millions of taxpayers dollars looking for anything they could pin on Bill Clinton.

The reason it's the triumph of the narrative is that most of the things they believe Obama has done have been the precise opposite of what Obama has actually done. They scream "socialist", but many of his policies wouldn't have been out of place in the Reagan administration - and in any other country, "socialist" Obama would be seen as hopelessly conservative. But that's not what the narrative says. The narrative screams "death panels" and "he's raising your taxes" and "government takeover" and "he's not protecting our borders!"

But none of that is true.

Dispatches from Birtherstan - for 8 October 2010

In today's dispatches, the Post and eFail goes from content-free blank pages back to their standard content-free racist lies. They pre-claim election fraud for November 2010, finally figures out the middle class has been systematically ruined for years now (though they seem to overlook the parts that took place before Obama took office), joins the pleas for St. Moosekiller to join their cause, and spins a story about Fitzpatrick's hearing that only loosely is based in reality. Plus David Axelrod goes "j'accuse!" at Fox News and Squeeky is either a performance artist or completely mad.

7 October - Looks like the Pest and eFail managed to pull itself together. Here's an article pre-claiming election fraud for the 2010 general election.

"if We-the-People are to have any chance of taking back our country we must vote in such overwhelming numbers that we cannot and must not be denied. We must scare the current totalitarian rulers into submission to us–not the other way around. It’s time to begin cleaning out the House and Senate of all Marxists and RINOs. But, be prepared for a fight as corruption and evil never leave willingly…or quietly."

The gist of the article is basically racist blather about the so-called "New Black Panthers" (you know, the ones accused of "voter intimidation" that the Bush Justice Department investigated and found no evidence to support that claim??) and how Obama and Holder are covering for them.

It ends with the same fake "Thomas Jefferson" quotation they've been fond of for a while. Because why not end a pack of lies with another lie?

And in comments, someone wants a one-party state.

"Harry H says:
Friday, October 8, 2010 at 9:28 AM
The Democratic Party must pay the price for foisting an internationalist-minded, foreign-fathered, Marxist-reared, fraudulently elected faux president upon America. Not one of its members should survive politically, and the party itself should be outlawed for subversion."

I suspect Harry H thinks the GOP is too liberal.

"Ann says:
Friday, October 8, 2010 at 3:22 AM
Trust me the Black Panthers won’t come down South and try that crap. The good ‘ole boys are locked and loaded and just looking for an excuse. lol"

Yeah, I'm sure the crosses are just waiting to be lit.

Dispatches from Birtherstan - for 11 - 12 August 2010

Apologies for a day-long delay. Spending a day with my family was more important than what the birthers were blathering about. *smile*

Anyway, Berg appeals the appeal in Berg v Obama II, playing the race card while at it. Dr. Orly is really wanting her military coup. Justice Alito refers Dr. Orly's sanctions appeal to the entire court. Dr. Orly is trying to get her minions to cough up $20,000 worth of paypal. And she appeals Keyes/Barnett v Obama, and oh wow does she pull the stops out on this one. Not to be outdone, Berg ups the crazy on this PR releases, claiming that Obama will be quitting "...soon". Huffington Post writes about our friends the Sovereign Citizens groups. Dr. Orly has a defeatist attitude about the Supreme Court, and more lien fun.

8 August - Philip Berg appeals the decision in the "Whistleblower" Berg v Obama case, asking for an en banc decision.

And he plays the race card to boot. (bold face mine)

"Philip J. Berg, Esquire, the first Attorney who filed suit against Barack H. Obama challenging Senator Obama’s lack of “Constitutional qualifications” to serve as President of the United States. The Policy of United States Attorney General Eric Holder not to prosecute “blacks” in voting rights cases should be no surprise as A.G. Holder has refused to prosecute Barack Hussein Obama in the False Claims Act [Qui Tam] case of Berg as Relator vs. Obama."

So it's not the fact that Berg v Obama II was a rehashed steaming pile of crap from Berg v Obama I, it's because Eric Holder is *gasp*, black!

Berg has, in the past, trumpeted his NAACP membership. Which hasn't stopped him from getting cozy with neo-confederates and anti-semetics, as long as they hated Obama as well. And it didn't stop him from allowing racist and hate speech on the first couple of incarnations of his site, (Obama supporters were quick to be banned, but the racists seemed to be given a free pass.) It's not usual for him to play it this bluntly.

"In the case against Obama, I set forth that Obama is not “natural born” or “naturalized” but an “illegal alien” and therefore, his term as a United States Senator from Illinois was fraud and the salary and benefits Obama received must be returned to the United States Treasury, an amount in excess of One [$1] Million Dollars. "

And so far the courts have disagreed with you.

"I base my claim on the fact that Obama was adopted/acknowledged by his step-father, Lolo Soetoro, in Indonesia and Obama’s legal name became “Barry Soetoro.” At age ten [10] when he returned to Hawaii, I allege that he did not go through U.S. Immigration on a U.S. Passport, but did so on his Indonesia Passport, therefore, an “illegal alien.” Also, I allege that “Barry Soetoro” [former Barrack Hussein Obama] has never legally changed his name and therefore, he has committed ongoing fraud by using Barrack Hussein Obama."

And you have NEVER provided any evidence to back up any of these claims, and ignored any evidence - much less US AND Indonesian law - that disproves these claims.

Maybe THAT'S why the courts keep telling you "No".

"For this reason, Berg has filed a Petition for Rehearing En Banc with the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. When a case is brought to the United States Appellate Court, the matter or a three-Judge panel hears matters complained of. When you request a rehearing En Banc, you are asking for the majority of active Circuit Judges to rehear the case En Banc."

And the answer will more than likely STILL be "No", if past history is any indication.

"Berg concluded, “If we are denied a rehearing En Banc, then I will take this Case to the U.S. Supreme Court as the issues presented are far too important not to address.”

Oh what a surprise.

The definition of "insanity" is doing something over and over again in hopes the results are different. Since the courts - and supreme court - has rejected the very same argument Berg is making several times over, it's insane to think the appeals court - and supreme court - will rule any differently. In his own way, Berg is as insane, hatefilled, and unwilling to listen to facts, as Dr. Orly is. They're two peas in a pod - which may be why they hate each other so.

Dispatches from Birtherstan - for 15 April 2010

In today's dispatch, "July4thPatriot" is found not guilty on possession of a grenade launcher, but is still in jail on the other, uglier charges. Fitzpatrick goes off about Obama AND the UCMJ system. The vice chair for the California GOP is the latest to try and get the stink of birther off of their skin. MilBlogs don't seem to be happy with Lakin, while the military itself starts to crack down on the racists in their ranks. The Oath Keepers shy away from a Tea Bag rally, other rallies tell Dr. Orly to "play nice or go to time out." Dr. Orly tries to horn in on the HCR case in Florida ANYWAY, and Tea Baggers in Boston are a wee bit hypocritical.

I'd like to comment on the "crashtheteaparty.org" groups for a minute.

WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING AND/OR SMOKING???

From now on, any fringe wacko, birther, or racist nutcase at one of those rallies is going to be dismissed as "that's not US, that's the anti-tea party people trying to stir up problems!"

Way to go. Asshats.

Also, I'd like to comment a bit more on some things regarding Lakin that don't pass the sniff test.

His website is very professionally done and a lot of work was done before Lakin made his announcement. The materials and talking points, while quite old and debunked to our eyes, are right up front and obvious.

In addition, the evidence provided by Lakin (other than his COLB "birth certificate", which still makes me laugh), shows he went though his chain of command to get his questions answered - and didn't like the answer he got. Which may be why he got outside legal counsel.

Finally, his claims are very much a subset of Berg's claims. He's focused on the birth certificate issue, and also cites the edited Sarah Obama interview and claims of forgery, both of which were in the Berg-originated lawsuit that John. D. Hemenway filed in Hollister v 'Soetoro'. For the time being, Lakin seems to be shying away from the Indonesian citizenship issue that Berg seems to have fixated on.

Margaret Hemenway has ties and previous connections to various far-right and neo-con groups and politicians, and can be seen by some as a "in the beltway" insider with a past history of being a GOP operative. And she's been, in the press, a defender of her father in law's involvement in Hollister v 'Soetoro'.

What I suspect is that there are some deep pockets bankrolling Lakin's website and the publicity for it. I suspect John D. Hemenway is the civilian legal counsel Lakin has been consulting, and I think Hemenway plans to use Lakin's court-martial or dismissal from service to re-argue Hollister v 'Soetoro', this time with an active-duty (or dismissed due to the birther claims) service member. The courts ruled in Hollister v 'Soetoro' that Hollister didn't have standing due to (among other things) that he hadn't be recalled. With Lakin, they can argue standing due to Lakin being active duty.

I also think that's why Lakin hasn't been seen nosing around Dr. Orly, Berg, or Apuzzo like many of the birthers have wanted him to do - because he's already GOT his civilian attorney ready.

Oh, and speaking of Margaret Hemenway, check out this 19 December 2009 article at the "Lez Get Real" blog.

"Now we are wondering… would this be Margaret Calhoun Hemenway we are looking for? … A 15-year veteran of Capitol Hill and a former Bush White House appointee, who served at the DoD in the capacity of a White House liaison for former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfield?

Is this also the same Margaret Calhoun Hemenway who is a contributing editor for Family Security Matters.org, a regular Muslim basher, Birther extraordinary and daughter-in-law to the Birther lawyer John D. Hemenway who was recently reprimanded by a federal judge for his part in the preparation, filing, and prosecution of a legally frivolous suits involving President Obama’s birth certificate?

Is this too, the same Ms. Hemenway who also seems to have had a long-standing relationship with the Karl Rove creation, Swift Vets and POWs for Truth, the group that added the term “Swiftboating” to our political lexicon and gave new meaning to shady smear campaigns forever?"

So let's see. Former Bushie. Muslim basher. Connected to and supportive of birther claims and attorneys. Past association with the Swift Boat liars and smear campaigns.

At this point, the idea that someone is supporting and/or bankrolling Lakin's website and his claims is pretty much 85% and rising. Lakin is looking more and more like a stalking horse in an attempt to get standing and credibility.

Hope they're paying him well for the loss of his career.

Dispatches from Birtherstan - for 9 April 2010

In today's dispatches, Dr. Orly is told no, then promply tries to turn a lose into win by deliberately misstating a judge's order. The Pest and eFail fails on reading comprehension. We hear from anti-semite Andy Martin. Lakin gains a new supporter, namely Lame Cherry. The military isn't as right-wing as some people think, and the people at Hillbuzz have me going "WTF??"

Something I want to discuss first though. Many of the birthers are starting to pin their hopes on verification bills like the one being discussed in Arizona. Many have stated that these bills will keep Obama off the ballot because of their belief that Obama can't provide said documentation. (Remember, many are still convinced the COLB posted was a forgery).

Ignoring the fact that even the birthers can't agree on what's acceptable proof, they seem to overlook the entire "Full Faith and Credit Clause" of the US Constitution.

Consider this:

Say Texas, Arizona, Washington, California, etc., pass bills requiring proof of non-naturalized citizenship, say in the form of a Birth Certificate or Certificate of Overseas Birth issued by the US State Department.

Under the Full Faith and Credit Clause, a state cannot demand more proof than another state provides in their records. Nor would it possible to demand more proof than the Federal Government. They have to accept certified records from another state (or Federal sources) as prima facie evidence and verification.

Dispatches from Birtherstan - for 31 March 2010

In today's dispatches, looks like Lakin has a very familar name running his PR. More of the Fantasy Tiddlywinks League banging the treason drums, while warning their followers away from other wingbats. A questionable analysis from a "therapist", and Dr. Orly continues to beat the ex-equine known as Cook v Good, while getting a response in her quo warranto case. Finally, the Rude Pundit has something to say about Lakin's "patriotism"

30 March - The site "MOMocrats" has more about LCol Terry Lakin and the "American Patriot Foundation". And look, a familar name shows up:

"The contact on the press release, is Margaret Hemenway, one of Smith's former staffers who also worked for NASA and the Department of Defense."

Yep, John Hemenway's daughter, Margaret, who is believed to be the one who introduced Berg to Mr. Hemenway and convinced him to sponsor Berg's "Hollister v "Soetoro" lawsuit.

No WONDER much of Lakin's claims look like warmed over Berg droppings!!!

It also points out:

"American Patriot Foundation was founded by former New Hampshire Senator Bob Smith, who resurfaced last year as Project912's candidate for the Florida Senate seat against Marco Rubio and Charlie Crist. Last Friday, he announced his intention to withdraw from that race."

(Snip)

"It seems suspicious to me that Smith would drop out of the race on Friday, revive his dormant non-profit on Monday, and launch a fund-raising drive to defend a treasonous birther on Tuesday."

There's something that smells really fishy about this one. The website supporting Lakin is a very polished, professional site. Furthermore, one of the "sources" he sites is the WND-ran "Western Journalism Center", and is currently led by "Willie Horton" ad genius Floyd Brown.

Which tells me that this is as planned as Cook's volunteering was. Lakin has made it clear he wasn't going to accept any answer other than "yes" to his claims, and I see his now open defiance as an attempt to use a supposed court martial to play the discovery game.

It's time the military comes down on these bozos. They let Easterling slide. Cook lost his security clearance due to his filing as a CO, but nothing else was done. Rhodes realized that her lawyer was a wackadoodle and bailed before Dr. Orly could do any more harm to the remainder of her military career.

Lakin did the 138 route. He didn't like the answers he got. He's openly attacked both the CinC and the Army Chief of Staff.

At this point, the Army should say "look, you can resign your commission now, keep whatever benefits you've earned, go into civilian practice. Or you can play this reindeer game, get court martialed, lose your benefits, lose your ability to practice medicine, and get a free transfer to a military prison, The choice is yours".

Dispatches from Birtherstan - for 26 March 2010

Things have been quiet in Birtherstan of late. Which is not to say all's quiet elsewhere.

You have Joseph Farah pushing for a two-state solution for the United States, because trying to work out common ground is harder than secession. Tea Bagger tactics, calls for revolution, and political hatred are right out on display at Fox News. Dr. Orly tries to hang on the coat tails of the state Attorney Generals, while the Fantasy Tiddlywinks League tries to expand their scope to include fake grand juries against other targets as well. "Conservative Monster" shows their true racist colors, while Apuzzo serves up the same de Vattelist drivel. And some scary road rage to boot.

25 March - Joseph Farah of World Nut Daily thinks secession is a pretty good idea.

"But this idea of a two-state solution is growing on me.

Not for the Middle East, mind you – but for the United States of America.

America has not been more divided and polarized by fundamentally conflicting worldviews since the War Between the States."

And largely due to the efforts of people like Joseph Farah too.

"We didn't always have this problem in America, because the nation was founded on the principle of self-government, with strict limits on the power of Washington.

But, just like the Muslims in the Middle East, who don't care about playing by the rules and don't mind using force to get their way, neither do those in America who are statists. "

Nice little ethic slur there.

"The problem, of course, is that statists know their country wouldn't last a month without all the productive people who make up non-statist America. Statism only works by bleeding people, preying on them, leeching off them, coercing them, taxing them and oppressing them. The statists know very well that non-statists have nowhere else to go – and that's the way the statists like it. That's the way they need it.

Still, unless we non-statists can take our country back in the near term, we may be forced to adopt my two-state solution without asking permission. After all, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are on our side on this matter. It's the statists who are breaking the rules."

I see a couple glaring holes in Farah's logic there.

The first is the assumption that people who believe like him are the "productive people". I've encountered this before from the far right - the idea that those who don't believe as they do don't work, don't pay taxes, etc. Which is news to a lot of people like, oh, myself.

The second is the fact that most of the so-called "red states" where many of Farah's supporters come from take more money from the federal government than they pay in taxes. (Alaska is particularly good at sucking on the federal government's teat like this, getting $1.81 back for each dollar paid in taxes, all the while cutting those big oil revenue checks to their residents.) In any case, it seems like if those states were full of the "productive people", wouldn't that be reversed, and the taxes in those states going towards the "blue state parasites" instead??

It's not so much that these people want a "second American Revolution".

They want a second Confederacy.

Dispatches from Birtherstan - for 22 March 2010

Recovering from the project that ate my brain, and a busy weekend of family time. Because family is far more important to me than what a group of paranoid conspiracy nutters are doing other than walking upright and flinging poo.

In birtherstan, Mr. Manning tells us his real witnesses for his fake trial. Rachel Maddow helps Dr. Orly (chuckle). The Pest and eFail finds a new internet "expert". Dr. Orly files an amended complaint that states (among other things) she's her own worst enemy. Off Shore Jobs Bob goes on a jihad against health care, verdict and sanctions are upheld in Hollister v "Soetoro", and William Connerat doesn't understand the word "dismissed"

16 March - Well, Mr. Manning sure seems to be optimistic about their pretend trial at Columbia. even going so far as to give a list of "witnesses" to be "subpoena".

He gives the names of what he considers will be "hostile witnesses", (by which I suspect he means won't show or respond to his pretend "subpoena". Marcus Brauchli, Condoleezza Rice, Dr Zbigniew Brzezinski, George Stephanopoulos, Phil Boerner, Michael Ira Sovern, Wayne Allyn Root, Sohale Siddiqui, Douglas A Chalmers, Andrew Nathan, James W Mortley, Richard Pious, and Flora S Davidson are on that list. He's also got a list of "secret" witnesses who supposedly won't be released until closer to the trial.

Of course, if those "subpoenas" look real, then Mr. Manning is going to be in Very Big Trouble indeed. Quite illegal, that is....

19 March - Rachel Maddow is nice enough to come up with a campaign ad for Dr. Orly.

Heath Care Obscenity

In any civilized Industrial nation, these would be considered by what they are.

An obscenity.

For example, you've heard some people say the key to health care reform is to tie it to the employer. But what happens when the employer stops paying the insurance company without telling the employer AND continuing to make the deductions from payroll?

You have the insurance company revoking insurance retroactively back to October is what you have.

"TAD stopped paying toward its Capital BlueCross group plan in October. TAD employees said they didn't know that. For five months, their believed coverage remained in effect. Or so it seemed, since their insurance cards remained valid.

In March, Capital sent TAD employees letters saying their coverage had been canceled retroactively to Oct. 9. Now some TAD employees face five months' worth of medical bills. Some have bills totaling $10,000 or more. State agencies are investigating.

"I have collectors calling here pretty much on a daily basis," said Jason Beachler, 39, of McAlisterville. He said he has $3,000 in bills from incidents including an emergency room visit after his wife got glass in her eye.

Gary Murdock of Monroe Township has $12,000 in bills stemming from medical care for this two children. "I was paying for family coverage ... $200 plus per month. Where is the money at?," said Murdock, 33."

These people THOUGHT they had insurance. The deductions were there, their cards were still accepted, they acted properly. But their employer didn't, and there's some debate if the insurance company acted properly as well.

But if that doesn't make your blood boil, check out this bit of news from the California Nurse's Association on patient denial rates in that state.