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DEL.ICIO.USSorry guys, no video
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For a couple of weeks now, the right-wing blogosphere has been giddily anticipating release of a secret videotape said to feature Michelle Obama that would blow the Democrat’s campaign out of the water. It allegedly features Mrs. Obama ranting and raving in anger at “whitey,” and the story was that top Republicans were holding the tape back until after Obama had secured the nomination, when it would do the most damage.
It all sounded like nonsense, but it fed into the deep, heart-felt desire of some on the right to turn Michelle Obama into evil incarnate, an object of hate, just as they did with Hillary Clinton and to a lesser degree to Teresa Heinz, wife of John Kerry. It also reflected their desperate hope that something, anything, might save them from the disaster that seems to loom come November.
One poster on the freerepublic.com site got so carried away he even rewrote the lyrics of the Beatles’ song “Michelle,” coming up with this gem:
“Michelle bombshell She says words that won’t go over well That Michelle
Michelle, bombshell Once again the wife, she drops the bomb She drops the bomb,”
It gets worse from there.
Again, the story never made sense, and now Jim Geraghty of the National Review tries to kill the rumor by noting that in its narrative, the rumor rather closely matches the plot of a 2006 political thriller by Stephen Frey.
“Now. Either author Stephen Frey is clairvoyant, writing this book in 2006. Or this is one of the all time amazing coincidences. Or whoever started this rumor got the idea from a novel,” Geraghty writes, concluding that “those who prefer a president besides Obama should not go through the summer and fall convinced that a magic-bullet devastating tape is going to appear as an October surprise to save the day.”
Comments
By George Washington
June 7, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this
The neocons and their current boy McInsane (aka McBush) will tell any lie, betray any friend to ramain in power, and to above all bomb Iran. They never consider that Iran can and will fight back, anyway they can, and if you point out the ways Iran can fight back, the neocons accuse you of being a “Traitor.” Well, let me assure all the neocons out their that I indeed am a traitor to their cause, and I personally hold them responsible for the last eight diasterous years, for the murder and maiming of hundreds of thousands of people, both american, arab, and persian, and for the theft of hudreds of billions of american tax dollars. The neocons should pray that someone like me does not come to power in this country, because our justice will indeed be swift and terrible….
By Matthew
June 7, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this
Lets see, two individuals with numerous extremist connections who are members of an academic liberal community which focuses on the destruction of the economic status quo…yeah, the idea of such a video is completely unbelievable.
Also, it is hilarious that Jay, someone who is obsessed and filled with spite regarding Bush, is accusing the right of vitriol. I’ve been asking for weeks, but can someone please explain why Jay has a blog? He has no apparent political knowledge or experience, he simply regurgitates other stories and attaches his leftist whining to them without any practicality, insight or objectivity.
He’s the AJC’s own Keith Olbermann.
By Dusty
June 7, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this
Well, wouldn’t you know. Right off the bat we have a crackpot lib threatening anyone who does not agree with him. Isn’t that great? And he talks about bombing Iran. Maybe old Washout should read Obama declarations on Iran. He might end up having to vote for McCain or repudiate his own threats.
As to Michelle’s video, who cares. Nobody! She has already said enough to convince us she hates the USA. Yep, so now she wants her husband to run the country. Maybe, like old crackpot Washie, she too would like to have a little “swift and terrible” justice for her perceived ‘injustice’ from the country that gives her more freedom than she and the rest of us could possibly have anywhere else in the world. Personified anti-Americanism, Michelle Obama!!
By JAY BOOKMAN
June 7, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this
I have a blog because you keep coming back to it, Matthew.
Next question, please.
By George Washington
June 7, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this
Dirty ball, I am not a lib, I am a conservative who has not sold out to the neocons. That said, the liberals have many valid points, while you knee jerk repukes have only one: Kill arabs, muslims, and persians. Valid points in the liberals arguments include the mal distribution of income here in america that is heavily tilted to the top 1%, and on which they do not pay their fair share of taxes. I suggest a removal of the income limit for social security and medicare taxes, and a progressive scale to such taxes that will hike the rate for people making more than say 200K per year to 25%, and include all income for working people earning over 200K per year, interest, dividend, and capital gains. Of course we all know you are not in that category, so why exactly do you support the Repukes?
By Dusty
June 7, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
Matthew..Stop coming back…PLEASE..
By Dusty
June 7, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this
My goodness, Washie,11:38
For some reason I thought it was Islamic terrorists who wanted to kill Americans. I mean, with all their little misguided airplanes, beheadings, train & building & ship bombings etc. etc….all just “flukes” who really meant “well”. Yeah, Washie, you go find ‘em and shake hands with ‘em. (I’ll send flowers.)
Do that while you set up your communism tax and income system so everybody gets the same in & out no matter WHAT. Yeah, all those rich people taking YOUR money so they ought to be supporting YOU. After all, it isn’t your fault you can’t get a job or free healthcare or MORE food stamps.
By golly, you stick with the liberals who are liberal with other people’s money. If anybody ever needed care, it is YOU.
By George Washington
June 7, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this
You could not be more wrong Dirty ball, the tax would hit me, but not you. As for Akmed and Abdul, we stuck our noses into their part of the world first, they only came here to attack us after we had killed thousands of arabs and muslims. Not that I need convince you, reality is a far bette teacher than I will ever be….Git Ready for Grinding Poverty, Hag….
By Taxpayer
June 7, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this
“Matthew, stop coming back…”, says Dusty in response to Jay’s, “I have a blog because you keep coming back to it…”. You just gotta be amused. Oh, well, it’s not like I’m gonna get outside and work in the garden in this heat.
By MorningStar
June 7, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this
Great article Jay Bookman. I’m afraid the spewing and sputtering from the neocons is just getting started.
By Dusty
June 7, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
Well, I guess there’s not much point in me hanging around trying to explain to Washie that 9/11 (planes, fire, bomb bomb, etc) came before Afghanistan and Iraq. His timing is just a wee bit off on this (and everything else).
Yes, I better run. Bookman will say he’s here ‘cause I keep coming back. We can’t have that.
And you, Taxpayer, stay cool. We’ve got too many here who stayed out in the sun too long.
By Abomi Nation
June 7, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this
Its just mind boggling that people like Matthew can criticize Jay for speaking out against Bush, but their own candidate for President won’t even be seen in public with Bush at campaign events.
Republican candidate John McCain mentioned the word “change” 26 times during his speech the other night after Obama clinched the Democratic nomination, and represents himself as the “change agent.” Change from what Matthew?
Creating diversions is the only thing the Republicans have.
By GodHatesTrash
June 7, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this
The filthy idiotic rightwingnuts that pollute the blogosphere and the real world with their racist and misogynist hate spewing and whining hate Hillary because she’s a woman, Burak because he’s black, and Michelle because she’s both.
Worthless cowards all.
By Matthew
June 7, 2008 10:00 PM | Link to this
Jay, thanks for the response. Now if only you would dare to substantively respond to the many, many comments you receive.
Then again, you’re not the only liberal commentator shying away from argument. Business move, I understand.
By Matthew
June 7, 2008 10:05 PM | Link to this
Abomi,
My criticism of Jay is entirely premised on the double standard his blog presents (whining about the spite shown toward Obama, while spending much of his time exhibiting irrational hatred with regard to Pres. Bush).
I fail to see how this has anything to do with McCain…oh, because it doesn’t.
By Abomi Nation
June 8, 2008 12:04 AM | Link to this
Matthew “irrational hatred with regard to Pres. Bush.” ?????????
You are the one that is completely out of touch with reality Matthew. 71% of all Americans are dissatisfied with Bush. What separates Jay Bookman from most other columnists is that he was criticizing the President while the rest of the media were cheerleaders for the administration. For you to whine now about the treatment Bush is getting is absurd. His Presidency has been one disaster after another.
A top McCain aide said just today that Bush knows little about the economy. McCain won’t even be seen in public with Bush.
Its time for you to put up or shut up. Instead of whining about an incompetent President not getting the love you think he deserves, why don’t you tell us why Jay Bookman is wrong. You can start with Jays columns on the lead up to the war starting in 2003.
You want Jay to do what is intellectually impossible, pretend that there has been something good to have come out of this administration.
Then you start blabbering like a madman on this blog warning of the end of capitalism if Obama is elected President. You can’t say anything good about Obama can you? Talk about irrational hatred. He hasn’t even been elected. He hasn’t spent one day in office, yet in your mind we’re all doomed.
Get it through your thick skull. The vast majority of Americans have figured it out, President Bush is the worst President in American history. A sane, rational person can not defend him in any way, shape, or form.
His lies to go to war, his handling of the war, his manipulation of the media, his disregard for the constitution, his handling of the economy have all been total failures.
Whether its McCain or Obama, it doesn’t matter, the fact that Bush’s days are numbered is most certainly a great thing for this nation and the world. Bush is in way over his head, it makes you look stupid when you try and defend him.
By WhatWillLauraDo?
June 8, 2008 1:18 AM | Link to this
Obviously Bookman is checking the blog, yet again, Bookman ducks the question. Bookman complains about coverups in Washington, but is an active participant in covering up the discipline problems in Atlanta Public Schools. He shills about the “good school” his son goes to but says nothing about FALSIFIED DISCIPLINE DATA, and the deceit in covering it up.
The Dept. of Education cites APS for falsified discipline data that claimed 40 schools had ZERO discipline problems and Bookman says nothing. 40 schools with ZERO discipline problems? In APS? And the AJC lets Asst. Supt. Kathy Augustine spin it with “perhaps are reforms are working so well, there are no discipline problem to report” and Bookman lets that whopper go completely unchallenged?
Why won’t Bookman step up and address why he was completely silent on this?
And why was Bookman completely silent on the subsequent story of South Atlanta reporting no “major incidents” while the Atlanta Police Dept. records show over FIFTY calls to the school?
APS knew they were caught red handed, so they told the AJC “we need more time to study the data.”
And the AJC let them get away with it, because there was ZERO follow up (even though the original reporter did a half page spread with the superintendent, she refused-or was ordered-not to follow up her story) and Bookman did his part in the cover up by saying absolutely nothing yet again.
Where was YOUR voice, Mr. Bookman? How are you any better than the politicians you complain about in Washington, when you actively engage in coverups in your own backyard to suit your political agenda?
By Matthew
June 8, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this
Abomi,
You’re right, my skull is pretty thick. It has to be to resist illogical arguments like yours.
I’ve never debated that the state of public sentiment is what you asserted. You’re right. Where you’re painfully wrong, however, is in your assumption that the majority of Americans can’t be “irrational.” THe majority of Americans are influenced by dumb advertising and care what Britney Spears does. Simply pointing out that the masses hate Bush doesn’t make the hatred rational. I sincerely hope you’re already aware of this.
Regarding Bush as the worst President ever, I’d disagree. I don’t think he’ll ever be remembered fondly by people like you (who will surely instill your hatred in future generations), but I think history will look upon him somewhat more softly. The good aspects of his legacy, like great jurists, will obviously go unrecognized by individuals like yourself, as I suspect you may prefer justices with a much more compromising view of the constitution.
I think this about Bush because he was the first President to actively combat Islamic extremism. I certainly think he could have handled the war better, but there are strong indications that AQ is beginning to feel the results of American aggression. Of course, this news, and the success of our troops and the Iraqi forces, have been almost completely ignored by the media and the left. Nonetheless, the fact remains that we cannot adequately defend against terrorism when all their efforts can be used on THEIR tactics. But AQ made the huge error of trying to fight a somewhat conventional war with American forces in Iraq, and as the CIA noted last week, they can’t win that fight.
Regardless, when Europe begins to really pay the price for their appeasement philosophy concerning Islamic extremism, I believe Bush’s blundering aggression will look very attractive. I think this will be especially true if Obama is elected and continues to allow political correctness to interfere with even TALKING about the threats America faces.
By Dreamon
June 8, 2008 6:16 PM | Link to this
George Washington, as a fellow conservative, I have a hard time understanding your position on lifting the caps on Medicare and SS taxes. If richer people put more money into a system than poorer people, will they get more benefits or services when they need them? Heck no. Why should I have to pay FICA taxes beyond current caps, so that the government can irresponsibly spend it away as it has before. Sounds suspiciously like wealth redistribution under the threat of legal force to me——hardly a conservative position. Rather than relying on govt to provide a free handout, how about everyday people enhancing their skills/education/talents to entice your employer to pay you more. Just b/c you have a job, that doesn’t mean it should be guaranteed—they have a system for that—COMMUNISM, and it died in the 90’s
By Dreamon
June 8, 2008 9:55 PM | Link to this
As for the “sorry, no video..” It’s awfully early. Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched liberals. Why do you think Hillary has been so lukewarm in her Obama endorsement? Obama is a creation of the media, liberal elite, and the brain dead herd mentality of average Americans. It’ll be fun to watch him be chopped off at the knees when he stumbles or a “video” pops up
By Copyleft
June 9, 2008 8:04 AM | Link to this
Great name choice, Dreamon… because if you’re hoping for a Republican resurgence, much less a victory, this fall…
Well… Dream on!