The First Amendment -- Which Party is Walking to Mordor?

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievance."

Act I: Fox News Democrat Opining

Today, Kristin Powers of Fox News (a station I watch infrequently; I am a radio listener) wrote this: 

"Whether you are liberal or conservative, libertarian, moderate or politically agnostic, everyone should be concerned when leaders of our government believe they can intentionally try to delegitimize a news organization they don’t like. 

"In fact, if you are a liberal – as I am – you should be the most offended, as liberalism is founded on the idea of cherishing dissent and an inviolable right to freedom of expression. 

"That more liberals aren't calling out the White House for this outrageous behavior tells you something about the state of liberalism in America today.

"Sure, everyone understands how some of Fox's opinion programming would get under President Obama's skin, the same way MSNBC from 4pm until closing time is not the favorite stop for Republicans.  But it's not okay -- or presidential -- to continue smearing an entire network of hard working journalists because you are mad at Sean Hannity.

"During the initial launch of the war on Fox News in October 2009, then-White House Communications Director Anita Dunn told the New York Times of Fox News, “[W]e don’t need to pretend that this is the way that legitimate news organizations behave.” On CNN, she declared that Fox was a “wing of the Republican Party.” Then: “let's not pretend they're a news network the way CNN is."

"Gosh, this sounds so familiar. In fact, it’s exactly the line that Media Matters used in a 2010 memo to donors: “Fox News is not a news organization. It is the de facto leader of the GOP, and it is long past time that it is treated as such by the media, elected officials and the public.” 

"In fact, this is the signature line of Media Matters in discussing Fox News, which they say they exist to destroy. Their CEO, David Brock told Politico in 2011 that their strategy was a “war on Fox” that is executed by 90 staff members and a $10 million yearly budget, gratis liberal donors.

"Can someone explain to me how it’s “liberal” to try and shut down a media organization? What the Obama administration is doing, and what liberals are funding at MMFA is beyond chilling – it’s a deep freeze." 

There was a reason the Blues Brothers made us laugh at the Illinois Nasis -- yeah, we all hate The National Socialists [where the Government takes Everything they want, including your body to be recycled --  just what Victor Small wants.] (especially this Jew), but they, like every other American have a right to share their opinion.

Act II: Lefties Hating [NSFW language below]

So, why does Ms. Powers feel the Left does not support free speech?

 Let's jump on some Lefty Blogs and see the Truth:

Here are some general writings and comments from those blogs to prove my point.

---

From No More Mister Nice Blog:

This is Victor Small, (i.e. CUND Gulag) of Wappingers Falls, NY;  The most misogynistic, racist  anti-Israel commenter on the Left side of the web:

"So, a paranoid network, run by a paranoid executive, is paranoid about President Obama shutting them down.Color me, NOT surprised.

"As for Unibrow Hand-puppety, unless I'm mistaken, FOX is on the PUBLIC airwaves, and there are at least some rules that need to be followed.
"Informing the public is not, I'll grant you, your strong suit at FOX. Incendiary BS is.
...
"FOX has gone beyond any barriers recently, and is coming awfully close to screaming "FIRE!" in a crowded theatre. But, Obama knows, if he does anything to FOX, it will inflame the right to the point of explosion.
...
"Rupe and Rog don't have much longer, on this mortal coil - and I remind myself of that every single day. That, also helps to keep me sane."

(Mr. Small seems to have forgotten the hate generated during the Last Administration for doing the same policies the current Administration uses overseas and domestically)

Here is the Blogger karoli (and Victor Small, again!) at the aptly named Crooks and Liars Blog:


He ends with this: "While he's so busy bashing the first and second amendments of the constitution, sorry, 
Mr. President, we're going to continue on this program to do our part to save America from your radical agenda."
Gee, that's not divisive at all. Not even a little bit, right? The unbalanced rants of Sean Hannity are all the evidence anyone needs of who it is who divides, and who doesn't.
Update: Kirsten Powers whines about how the president is trying to undermine a "legitimate news organization". Let's be honest, Kirsten. Fox News is an opinion organization. Not news.

 Now, the comments:

Yes, Unibrow, President Obama is such a Totalitarian @$$hole,

cund_gulag — 1/29/13 7:17am

that he continues to allow FUX Noise the use of the PUBLIC AIRWAVES, to spread their stupid, ignorant, racist, misogynistic, xenophobic, and/or homophobic, propaganda!
Just like Lenin, Stalin, Hitler, Mao, Castro, Pol Pot, and Saddam Hussein, did in their Totalitarian states!

sean, little sean-y, I hope you fee-fee's don't get hurt by...

surfjac — 1/29/13 7:22am

...what I'm about to say but, You're a flaming asshole. In fact, comparing you to a flaming asshole is an insult to flaming assholes everywhere. Too easy? You do have a right to free speech but don't you think that "speech" ought to be at the very least, um, what's the word, HONEST? When you lie regularly, inject personal bias into your reporting, express POV's that are sheer lunacy, maybe you should look in the mirror and go, "Wow,. I am a douchebag" instead of "DUH".

Shun Them

sandiegowoman — 1/29/13 8:00am

That is the proper course of action. No self respecting person should ever agree to go on any of their garbage shows. Things will be taken out of context, edited and misrepresented. That they have a front row seat, the Helen Thomas seat, in the WH press room is an abomination. I don't post what they say and do not forward links to them. They and their minions have done irreparable harm to this country that will not be undone for generations to come. If ever.

Now, let's go to the Washington Monthly, first Ed Kilgore's Post (which is very Stalinistic):

"I think we do indeed need a cone of tolerance within which Democrats and liberals can be critical of the president or other party leaders when they feel it necessary. But to be effective, this open atmosphere requires a degree of trust that the people taking advantage of it actually are Democrats, and not just faking it to make a living pretending to represent non-existent Democratic constituencies on Fox News. For that reason I no longer consider people like Pat Caddell or Doug Schoen or Kirsten Powers Democrats at all, since it’s been years and years and years since any of these people has said anything positive about “their” party. That doesn’t mean I want to revoke their free speech rights, but they need to just go ahead and switch parties and stop serving as props whereby Fox viewers are deceived into thinking they are watching and hearing “bipartisan” discussions.

"And before anyone says it, no, this is not what the Democratic Leadership Council used to do. Yes, DLC types often criticized Democrats, but always in terms, however wise or foolish, of how to help Democrats win elections and govern effectively. In my years there, I also wrote hundreds of thousands of words criticizing Republicans, often in fairly vitriolic terms."

c u n d gulag on January 29, 2013 12:12 PM:

Instead of a "cone of tolerance," how about we put the right under 'the cone of silence?'
...
FOX is, though, an equal oppportunity station.
It hires all manners of people willing to prostitute themselves for a buck.
Former Liberals, former old-school Conservatives, men, women, blacks, white, hispanics, young, old, etc.

Peter C on January 29, 2013 4:13 PM:

It is really funny to hear FOX News play their persecution card. "We really ARE a legitimate news organization, REALLY!"
Sorry, that train left the station yonks ago. They are irretreivably hacks. FOX has no liberals, only people who play them on TV. 
---------
And that, ladies and gentlemen is the modern Liberal.  

Not one word about free speech or speaking up against their President for the First Amendment.  As long as Victor Small hates, he is the prime example of the Modern Liberal the Republican faces. 

Act III: Walking towards Mordor for the First Amendment

No Modern Democratic Partisan will walk here for the Rights of Free Speech.

 
The greatest strength of someones Political character is not just defending your own sides Free Speech Rights, but for the opposite.  

I learned this when I was a Liberal Democrat from the members of the busted up wreckage of Tammany hall and the Queens County party machine in the 80's. 

Walking towards Mordor was suicide as was said in Council of Elrond:

  
America was founded on Free Speech and making our leaders, just simple men and women (Why are there no Cincinatius' among Democratic party leadership ranks?). 

Yes, we on the Right feel we only have Talk radio and Fox News, why begrudge that? The Left is not Liberal and will never sacrifice for a the greater good. 

(As a former leftie, I remember when they protested HW Bush over Gulf war I for not supporting Democracy Overseas; Then 12 years later, the Left did a turnaround for the son and stopped protesting when Obama did the same things -- Modern Democratic Partisans are hypocrites and haters)

Walking towards Mordor with the Ring means giving up power, and in terms of this post, that means defending Fox news and Talk radio, and as we saw above, no one on the Left can do it. I have heard Sean Hannitty defend every radio and TV talk show host attacked, Left or Right.  

Why? 

Because its the American thing to do.

My question: Why does the Left disregard the Rights of their opposition? 

Update 1:28 PST: Welcome Mahablog readers! Here is a few questions for you Haters: 

 If the President tries to go to war on a TV station, doesn't that show the Government willingly acting against the First Amendment? At what point does the Lefty activists/Bloggers stand up to a Democratic President? Ever?

(If that doesn't help, picture Nixon doing what Obama is doing now -- wait! President Obama is following in Nixon's footsteps!) 

Good luck!

Weekend Movie -- No Man's Land (2001)

While I am at home researching for a post (the info came over email via a gov.com account -- I have to follow up), I want to at least give you a great movie to watch while I am away (till Sunday Evening). 

It is called No Man's Land (2001); It won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. The movie talks about the absurdity of....well I won't tell you watch the movie (add the subtitles to understand it; Unless you speak a multitude of European languages). 

It takes place during the height of the Yugoslav wars.  I don't want to ruin the movie. It's that good. 

My posts this week:

A) What I am researching, possibly by next weekend;
B) How the RLC Members can gain the support of the Old School Members of RPLAC;
C) Kevin James for Mayor of LA; and
D) The GOP's Two front War -- How to fight.

Now, turn on the subtitles and enjoy a great movie:

No Man's Land (2001)

My question:  Are there any organizations that provide absurdities? How and Why?

If President Obama Can't do BomFog on Inauguration Day....

If a President and his partisans cannot do Bomfog, they should expect a push back.  

And, what, you ask is Bomfog?

According to The Congress Dictionary by Paul Dickson & Paul Clancy (pub.1993):

Bomfog: Acronym for 'Brotherhood of man, fatherhood of G-d"  New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller's pompous and oft-used phrase during his campaign against Senator Barry Goldwater in the 1964 [NH] [GOP] Primary.The acronym coined by cynical reporters....for high sounding speeches.

Say what you will about the last two Administrations (Clinton and Bush fils), come Inauguration time, there was Bomfog all over their speeches. I will BOLD the Bomfog parts.

Let's take a look at Clinton's Second Inauguration speech:

And once again, we have resolved for our time a great debate over the role of government. Today we can declare: Government is not the problem, and government is not the solution. We,- the American people, we are the solution. Our founders understood that well and gave us a democracy strong enough to endure for centuries, flexible enough to face our common challenges and advance our common dreams in each new day.

As times change, so government must change. We need a new government for a new century - humble enough not to try to solve all our problems for us, but strong enough to give us the tools to solve our problems for ourselves; a government that is smaller, lives within its means, and does more with less. Yet where it can stand up for our values and interests in the world, and where it can give Americans the power to make a real difference in their everyday lives, government should do more, not less. The preeminent mission of our new government is to give all Americans an opportunity,- not a guarantee, but a real opportunity to build better lives.

Beyond that, my fellow citizens, the future is up to us. Our founders taught us that the preservation of our liberty and our union depends upon responsible citizenship. And we need a new sense of responsibility for a new century. There is work to do, work that government alone cannot do: teaching children to read; hiring people off welfare rolls; coming out from behind locked doors and shuttered windows to help reclaim our streets from drugs and gangs and crime; taking time out of our own lives to serve others.

Each and every one of us, in our own way, must assume personal responsibility, not only for ourselves and our families, but for our neighbors and our nation. Our greatest responsibility is to embrace a new spirit of community for a new century. For any one of us to succeed, we must succeed as one America.

The challenge of our past remains the challenge of our future, will we be one nation, one people, with one common destiny, or not? Will we all come together, or come apart?

-- President Clinton, Second Inaugural Address, 1/20/1997

Now, let's go to Bush fils Second Inaugural address (and a Foreign policy Objective as well -- but that's not the main point in this post), also sprinkled with Bomfog:


Today, I also speak anew to my fellow citizens:

From all of you, I have asked patience in the hard task of securing America, which you have granted in good measure. Our country has accepted obligations that are difficult to fulfill, and would be dishonorable to abandon. Yet because we have acted in the great liberating tradition of this nation, tens of millions have achieved their freedom. And as hope kindles hope, millions more will find it. By our efforts, we have lit a fire as well—a fire in the minds of men. It warms those who feel its power, it burns those who fight its progress, and one day this untamed fire of freedom will reach the darkest corners of our world.

A few Americans have accepted the hardest duties in this cause—in the quiet work of intelligence and diplomacy … the idealistic work of helping raise up free governments … the dangerous and necessary work of fighting our enemies. Some have shown their devotion to our country in deaths that honored their whole lives—and we will always honor their names and their sacrifice.

All Americans have witnessed this idealism, and some for the first time. I ask our youngest citizens to believe the evidence of your eyes. You have seen duty and allegiance in the determined faces of our soldiers. You have seen that life is fragile, and evil is real, and courage triumphs. Make the choice to serve in a cause larger than your wants, larger than yourself—and in your days you will add not just to the wealth of our country, but to its character.

America has need of idealism and courage, because we have essential work at home—the unfinished work of American freedom. In a world moving toward liberty, we are determined to show the meaning and promise of liberty.

In America’s ideal of freedom, citizens find the dignity and security of economic independence, instead of laboring on the edge of subsistence. This is the broader definition of liberty that motivated the Homestead Act, the Social Security Act, and the G.I. Bill of Rights. And now we will extend this vision by reforming great institutions to serve the needs of our time. To give every American a stake in the promise and future of our country, we will bring the highest standards to our schools, and build an ownership society. We will widen the ownership of homes and businesses, retirement savings and health insurance—preparing our people for the challenges of life in a free society. By making every citizen an agent of his or her own destiny, we will give our fellow Americans greater freedom from want and fear, and make our society more prosperous and just and equal.

In America’s ideal of freedom, the public interest depends on private character—on integrity, and tolerance toward others, and the rule of conscience in our own lives. Self-government relies, in the end, on the governing of the self. That edifice of character is built in families, supported by communities with standards, and sustained in our national life by the truths of Sinai, the Sermon on the Mount, the words of the Koran, and the varied faiths of our people. Americans move forward in every generation by reaffirming all that is good and true that came before—ideals of justice and conduct that are the same yesterday, today, and forever.

-- President George W. Bush, 1/20/05, Second Inaugural Address

And now, a speech with NO Bomfog, President Obama's second Inaugural address:

This generation of Americans has been tested by crises that steeled our resolve and proved our resilience. A decade of war is now ending. An economic recovery has begun. America's possibilities are limitless, for we possess all the qualities that this world without boundaries demands: youth and drive; diversity and openness; an endless capacity for risk and a gift for reinvention. My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment, and we will seize it — so long as we seize it together.

For we, the people, understand that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it. We believe that America's prosperity must rest upon the broad shoulders of a rising middle class. We know that America thrives when every person can find independence and pride in their work; when the wages of honest labor liberate families from the brink of hardship. We are true to our creed when a little girl born into the bleakest poverty knows that she has the same chance to succeed as anybody else, because she is an American, she is free, and she is equal, not just in the eyes of God but also in our own.

We understand that outworn programs are inadequate to the needs of our time. We must harness new ideas and technology to remake our government, revamp our tax code, reform our schools, and empower our citizens with the skills they need to work harder, learn more, and reach higher. But while the means will change, our purpose endures: a nation that rewards the effort and determination of every single American. That is what this moment requires. That is what will give real meaning to our creed.

We, the people, still believe that every citizen deserves a basic measure of security and dignity. We must make the hard choices to reduce the cost of health care and the size of our deficit. But we reject the belief that America must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build its future. For we remember the lessons of our past, when twilight years were spent in poverty, and parents of a child with a disability had nowhere to turn. We do not believe that in this country, freedom is reserved for the lucky, or happiness for the few. We recognize that no matter how responsibly we live our lives, any one of us, at any time, may face a job loss, or a sudden illness, or a home swept away in a terrible storm. The commitments we make to each other — through Medicare, and Medicaid, and Social Security — these things do not sap our initiative; they strengthen us. They do not make us a nation of takers; they free us to take the risks that make this country great.

-- President Obama Second Inaugural, 1/21/13

When President Bush left the last Inauguration, this happened:

This is what happened in this Inauguration:

And you expect the Republicans to work with you?!?!

Bomfog and Churchill's quote must last for all winners of the American polity:

 

“In war, resolution; in defeat, defiance; in victory, magnanimity”

My question: Why can't modern Democrats do Bomfog? Or follow Churchill's dictum above?

President Obama's Day

Today is President Obama's inauguration -- I will not criticize until tomorrow.

Every President, Republican or Democrat, deserves his or her day.  

As a tribute, I will talk of three policies I like from the current Administration and three policies from the last Administration I support.

Why do I do this?

The answer will show up in the next post.

Now then, my favorite President Obama policies:

President Obama at LAX in 2009

1) Ratified three Trade Agreements (Colombia, Panama and South Korea);
2) Made sure that there was Funding and Support for the Intelligence Agencies after OBL; and
3) Repealed "DADT"

Now, MY favorite President, President George W. Bush:

Leaving Nevada

Here are my favorite policies:

A) Supporting Wilsonianism (and Israel) Overseas;
B)  NO INTERNET TAX!; and
C)  The Unemployment rate under President Bush was never more then 6.5%! (See chart below)

OK, see you in the Blogosphere tomorrow!

My question: What did I do here?

Martin Luther King Day 2013

Before I make any mention of the Inauguration, let us remember the words of a Great American, Martin Luther King, Jr.

Here are a few of his many speeches:

"How Long? Not Long"

"Drum Major Instinct"

 

"I have been to the Mountaintop,"

Missing the Point About Guns and Mental Illness'

I thought I would hold off posting until the Inauguration (with a 'Partisan Trick')

Wrong.

The President's proves some points that I have written in the Valley earlier.

Follow along.

Let's start with the Executive "actions" i.e. Orders planned by President Obama if his vision is not passed through Congress:

1. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal agencies to make relevant data available to the federal background check system.
2. Address unnecessary legal barriers, particularly relating to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, that may prevent states from making information available to the background check system.
3. Improve incentives for states to share information with the background check system.
4. Direct the Attorney General to review categories of individuals prohibited from having a gun to make sure dangerous people are not slipping through the cracks.
5. Propose rulemaking to give law enforcement the ability to run a full background check on an individual before returning a seized gun.
6. Publish a letter from ATF to federally licensed gun dealers providing guidance on how to run background checks for private sellers.
7. Launch a national safe and responsible gun ownership campaign.
8. Review safety standards for gun locks and gun safes (Consumer Product Safety Commission).
9. Issue a Presidential Memorandum to require federal law enforcement to trace guns recovered in criminal investigations.
10. Release a DOJ report analyzing information on lost and stolen guns and make it widely available to law enforcement.
11. Nominate an ATF director.
12. Provide law enforcement, first responders, and school officials with proper training for active shooter situations.
13. Maximize enforcement efforts to prevent gun violence and prosecute gun crime.
14. Issue a Presidential Memorandum directing the Centers for Disease Control to research the causes and prevention of gun violence.
15. Direct the Attorney General to issue a report on the availability and most effective use of new gun safety technologies and challenge the private sector to develop innovative technologies.
16. Clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes.
17. Release a letter to health care providers clarifying that no federal law prohibits them from reporting threats of violence to law enforcement authorities.
18. Provide incentives for schools to hire school resource officers.
19. Develop model emergency response plans for schools, houses of worship and institutions of higher education.
20. Release a letter to state health officials clarifying the scope of mental health services that Medicaid plans must cover.
21. Finalize regulations clarifying essential health benefits and parity requirements within ACA exchanges.
22. Commit to finalizing mental health parity regulations.
23. Launch a national dialogue led by Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan on mental health.

 (H/t Malkin)

And if you are a reader of the Valley, you already know of my fights with BiPolar, Aspergers and Government Run Health Care.

The pieces are almost all set; Ride with me in the TARDIS back to my first "Trial by Fire,"  in politics.

Current map of SUNY-Stonybrook. Quick! Find the LIRR!

The Trial by Fire: SUNY-Stonybrook, 1993

I was a University Senator (appointed, which is usually how it begins), representing the students among the Faculty and Staff in the University Senate. (This was a couple of years before I transferred down to AU)

The issue of the moment was, should the Campus Police have guns?

SUNY-Stonybrook was right off the LIRR and a few years back was a random shooting aboard one of the trains.  The Faculty and Staff treated the concept as a theoretical; Howeversince I lived on lived on campus, I asked everyone and anyone where they stood (as an Undergraduate Student University Senator, my representation number was 20,000 students).

I asked students, staff, teachers, grad students, medical students, anyone and everyone --

Did you feel safe on campus after Sunset?
What could the Campus Police or Suffolk County Police do to make you feel safe?
Are we protected from the crime from Suffolk County or New York City?
Do you support guns on campus? 
Or would you rather wait the 20 minutes for Suffolk Police to get on campus? 

Students wanted protection; But when it came time to put it to a vote (I requested that motion), the University Senate called for Adjournment before anyone (Other then the Student Grad and non-grad alike) were willing to go on the record for their votes.  

Its not about Guns, but the Mouses.

Now, let us ride back to today.

With a lot of these shootings, three factors are coming into play:

1) Mental health (and lack of support system for said people);
2) Distrust between Federal Government and the legal gun owners; and finally
3) The old debate between the City Mice and Country Mice.

The Country Mice exist outside of the Spawl and, here in LA, above the 14 and in the Antelope Valley.  Points west to the Inland Empire as well.

I grew up a city mouse.  Supermarkets have food and cops stop crime. I have grown up since then.

Farms from the (unprotected) country brings food to the supermarkets and cops are not necessarily legally allowed to stop crime (according to the DC Court of Appeals).  Here is where my belief Human nature kicks in, of course they will -- I've met enough cops to see the good proven daily by the LAPD. 

Executive Actions and Moving Ideology Forward

Now, look at those 23 Executive "actions"

If a President cannot bring people of his own party (The Senate) and convince the OTHER Party (The GOP in the House, just like Bush I and Reagan did with Dems holding the House during their time), don't claim to be the guy who wants to get along with everybody.

Being President is work.  Convince the legislators of your vision! Use the phone! Some legislators require a carrot, others a stick.  Why is President Obama afraid to do this? 

If you move the Legislature (and both parties) forward with your vision -- it becomes enshrined in the American mythos.  (See LBJ and "The Great Society" and Ronald Reagan and Tax Reform)

Actions 16, 20 - 22 also puts the Mental Health community at risk.

How?

If those suffering with mental health issues cannot go into their Doctor's office and feel safe (especially Government Doctors offices), then where can they go.  It should have been expressed (quietly) in a bill, not in  a press conference.  It can now be blocked because of the Rights of mental health patients (from the Left).

Solutions

Here is a suggestion on all fronts:

For the Gun side, City people depend on their police.  The time between the 911 call and the arrival matters.  People can get hurt or worse.  Citizens with no criminal (or mental health) records should be able to get a Gun and be trained if they so choose. 

I don't know the difference between all the Guns out there (Sorry, as I said, I'm a city kid) -- but you do not need Military style guns to defend (in the city).

My solution in Stonybrook was to have the Guns in a lock box.  if a situation occurred on campus, sign them out and get them to the campus police so they can at least enter the area and be ready when the police arrive.  Who knows? Their quick arrival and readiness might force the attacker to drop their guns.

For the Mental Health Side:

Simple.

These people need safe havens to express their worries, woe and issues.  Let the Doctors contact the Police and FBI etc. anonymously if there are any issues (i.e.the mental health issues are related to violence).

(This was a hard post to write due to dropping over many issues that concern "the real me," so, that's why it took forever to write -- sorry.  More speed after 1/21/13) 

My questions: How would handle the Gun issue between the City and Country folk? 
                       Why is President Obama afraid to sell his programs one-on-one to the Legislators?
                      How about Mental Health issues between Doctors and Government? 

Best Posts of 2012

OK, we are almost ready to tackle 2013 (joke).

Last year, my group of Goths lost our "Second Home," and I studied my disease a little more.  Oh, and there was a Presidential campaign.  But this Presidential campaign screwed our locals (RPLAC and CAGOP) financially and in other ways.  Not cool. 

So, this is the "Best of," for an ehhhhhh year. 

And some music to begin:

Now, the Best of 2012 (Valley Posts)! (** I will be going from Jan - Dec 2012 semi-Chronologically since there were many posts)

15. Predictive post: The Establishmenterian War

14.  They should have listened: The Don Surber Rule for Election 2012

13.  More "They should have listened!": Romney's Mistakes in the Southland

12.  The IOKIYAD Posts: 1 (Presidential Enemies lists, Drones and Misogyny) and 2 (Democrats = Orwell's INGSOC)

11. KPFK and Anti-semitism (continuing story in the Valley): 1 (Dog Whistles by Ian Masters), 2 (Again, Ian Masters) and 3 (Why is The Jewish Journal scared of RPLAC and not KPFK?)

10. Paulbots, Paul Supporters and the Libertarian movement within the GOP: 1 (Paul Uber Allies [and attacking Jews] by Paulbots), and 2 (The Libertarian movement should not depend on One Old Man and His Son.) 

9: Breaking Democratic Party Mythos: 1 (Democrats are NOT the Party of Youth or non-Ivies), 2 (Stopping the Zombie Apocalypse with Voter ID's), and 3(Democrats are not comfortable being among the "people,")

8.More Democratic party Mythos: 1 (No Truth to Power by Media when Democrats are in office), 2 (Democrats and the "Nixon Mistake,") and 3 (Winning a Pyrrhic Victory)

7. Build a Political Coalition! Follow the Jews! (who have strength in BOTH Parties) and how Gay Rights supporters can make friends with the GOP.  [Coalitions win Elections and Legislation!]

6. Senator Harry Reid is really....a Lovecraftian Creature?  And the Alternate History of the Obama Administration (with a course in Negotiation).

5. SCOTUS and Health Care: 1 (Prepping the battle space) and 2 (CJ Roberts allows the Public to fight it out)

4. The Dancers in the Dark posts: 1 (Building a Political Coalition), 2 (Supporting Club Monte Cristo), 3 (Missing my friend Janeen), and 4 (Pictures of Happy Goths)

3. Those who work in the Dark: 1 (Where was the backup?), 2 (Missing in the Sinai)  3 (CIA as Whipping Post among Democrats) and 4 (How Obama's Foreign Policy Failed).

2. Speaker Boehner followed this post: Sun Tzu and the Fiscal Cliff.  

1. The most Newsworthy post in the Valley in 2012 (that is still in discussion today in LA):

Where does Henry Waxman live? 

I have a couple of posts about last year that still needs to be written. 

However, 2013 in the Valley begins NOW!

My question: What are your favorite posts?

January 2013 Tip Jar (And Gothy Muse!)

I hope all you're hangovers have gone away. 

But it is that time in the Valley.

Please donate.  

I am trying to raise $500 this month, so please hit the Tip Jar.

[If you have trouble with the post links, go to the Sidebar --->]

And as always, you are not here for my banter and wit at the beginning of the month, but for the beautiful Goth Muse who highlight these pages in Cyberspace.  I would tell you visit the Goth clubs I go to, you will see many Gothic beauties dancing in the Dark, but here in the light of the computer screen, I give you:

 

Elana Vladi, creator of the band, Demona Mortiss!

 

She came from Russia and moved to Hollywood. Now, she is She is building up her Metal Band,  Demona Mortiss (help them here).

 

 First, some music from Demona Mortiss! 

Now, Elena Vladi! 

See Demona Mortiss at the famous Whisky 

Tattooed and Beautiful

On Stage

Locally Known, soon to be known throughout the World

Please hit the Tip jar.

And follow Demona Mortiss! 

They will be in your town soon!

Happy 2013!

The Valley wants to wish all our readers (and friends and family), a great, successful and happy 2013!

We survived 2012; Now we have a new year to look forward too and dreams to achieve. 

I have a simple one:

Help RPLAC and CAGOP get up to speed in the New media (and get paid), then meet a nice Gothy Muse to join me while I politic and dance in the dark.  

And, oh yes, I hope this is the year that Club Monte Cristo returns to the Goths.

Now enjoy some video of the New year around the world!