The SmackDog Chronicles (Ver. 2.6)

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  The continuing rantings of a Black middle-aged political Leftist and sex-radical progressive. (Charter member of the Sex-Pox Brigade since 2005)

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Latest Posts

A Very Belated Tribute to Sex Worker Awareness Day by Anthony on December 21st, 2008
Now, I have to right a grievous wrong on my behalf.

Attention, Prospective Models!! Be On Alert For Major Scam!! by Anthony on December 20th, 2008
I know that there aren't many prospective models who read here (Oh, but I can dream, can't I??).

A Lesser Evil Is Still Evil...But That Doesn't Mean That Greater Evil Doesn't Suck Like Hell by Anthony on December 20th, 2008
For all the well deserved razzing that Obama should get for inviting Rick Warren into his coming in party, we should be reminded that while Obama may yet become the nightmare for the Left that Bubba Clinton was during the 90's, he's still a major improvement as compared to the sleazeballs and war criminals that make up the departing Bush Crime Family.

Barack Obama, Rick Warren, And The Same Old Punking of the Left By The Dimocrats by Anthony on December 18th, 2008
Image from sinkers.org, via Open Left Goodness. You'd think that liberals and social progressives would get it by now. You'd think that they would understand the basic fact that they are simply rubes. Disposable. To be used by the Democratic Party at election time ....and then to be flushed away like used toilet tissue. So much liberal/progressive space was dedicated to the dawn of the Second New Deal that was coming with the inauguration of Barack Obama as President of these United States; not to mention the death of the New Right. Well...turns out that the Christian Right might not be so dead after all....and guess who's lending them a helping hand? The recent selection of Christian Right activist Rick Warren to give the invocation at the Obama inauguration has stirred deep anger and fury amongst certain progressive sectors of the blogosphere; in particular, it has cast a deep and cold shoulder on GLBT activists still smarting from Obama's "Rope-a-dope" strategy on Prop (H)8 and his open courting of conservative Black evangelical celebrities (including outright gay baiters like Donnie McClurken). Unfortunately, it is only the latest in the string of Obama "betrayals" of progressive principles: from his votes for telecom "immunity" and the de-toothing of FISA, to his votes for the bank bailout, to his Clintonesque selections for his Cabinet (the latest being Arne Duncan, administrator of Dubya's widely hated "No Child Left Behind" policy, to become Secretary of Education and Blue Dog Senator Ken Salazar of Colorado to become Interior Secretary). But, I have a question for all those liberals feeling "betrayed": how in the hell can you say that when Obama has been announcing loud and clear that he was no "liberal" to begin with?? It's not as if he was talking all along like he was that much a social progressive (other than the usual boilerplate about "women's rights", that is); he was ALWAYS pandering to the hard social right...like most Democrats running for high office ultimately do to please the pundits and the "Villagers" and get elected. (And once again, for all you Hillary Clinton fans watching this, please spare me the BS; she would have been no better; she was a worse panderer in the primaries than Obama, having had her husband's experiences.) "But, but, 'Dog," you say, "What about that HUGE stimulus package he's set to pass?? And didn't you just say that he is still superior to Dubya??" Yes, Obama will still be far, far superior to Bush: actually, a potted plant sitting at the Oval Office would be superior to Dubya these days. Problem is, though, that those who were hoping for actual change, even a REVERSAL of the politics of the past 8 years (let alone, the past 30 years), are going to get a real shock of disappointment if you are expecting Obama to fulfill your fantasies. Take away the stimulus package, which is really meant to prime the economy enough to get back to business as usual, not to fundamentally change anything), and you have a typical center-right Democrat using progressive rhetoric to get elected, then presto-changeo, he becomes a typical Democrat once again. After all, if Barack Obama is good enough for Al From of the old Democratic Leadership Council, that's reason enough to worry. More importantly, though....what does that say about the Black evangelicals who make up the base of Obama's most passionate support? Are they really the building block of the Next New Left....or simply a Trojan horse for the populist wing of the New Right?? Are we seeing simply a switching of the "faith-based" strategy from the White evangelicals of the Bush regime to the Black fundies?? Will T.J. T. D. Jakes and Rick Warren be replacing Jim Dobson and Jerry Falwell as the new Christian Right political kingpins?? And what will this bring for social progressive groups (read that to mean GLBT's, feminists, radical sexual dissidents, and other socially liberal folk who will be increasingly be left to their own devices if Obama really does follow this trend and moves hard towards the social conservatives?? Be careful of what you ask for, friends....because you just might get it. And have it run right over you. Oh....and the fact that Joe Lowery is giving the benediction doesn't change anything...this was an absolutely atrotious political move, and one that will haunt Obama for the rest of his presidency. If he is anything worthy of a progressive, that is. UPDATE: This comment (scroll down to sixth comment) by Jill Bains in Digby's blog Hullabaloo says what needs to be said about the Democrats and their treatment of not only sexual dissidents, but all progressives: "It doesn't leave much room for liberals, but perhaps that's a good thing. They are nothing but trouble, defending women's civil liberties, agitating for gay rights and hectoring the government about not torturing and starting wars and all that." –(Digby) –You got it. That's the plan. A fine posting and one you can assuredly count on being grimly prophetic. This accurate reading of the motivations behind the most recent exemplar of the reactionary trend in American politics has a psychological acuity and prescience. At this late date it never fails to be shocking that so many haven't known this all along; these hidebound Democratic party loyalists denounce those who point it out, refuse to disaffect and sever themselves from the stench, and will continue to vote Democratic come hell or high water. Stewing forever in the defeats of bad faith, the Democratic party voter, looks in the mirror, sees a fool– and pretends it is a chimera. Being used reapeatedly a punching bag for so long, progressives go meekly or they don't go at all. Awash in the unsightly certainty of their capitulation, forever gluttons for punishment, they fail to see that political masochism is no longer chic. When will the day dawn that the days of reforming the Democratic party from within are so far off in dim memory as to never have actually existed at all. The Obama reaction is only...

This Gives New Meaning To The Term "Lame DUCK!!!!!" by Anthony on December 14th, 2008
Oh, yeah...the Iraqis really, really do love George W. Bush, do they??? So much so, that some are literally tossing aside their shoes at the sight of him. I guess that this is what the neo-CONS were saying when they said that we would be welcomed with flowers and anthems when we toppled Saddam, right?? Talking Points Memo tape (from MSNBC originally) of Dubya getting both shoes tossed at him by an angry Iraqi jousnalist at a press conference in Baghdad (via YouTube) I'm sure that there are a couple of million of Americans who wouldn't mind dreaming of doing the same as Mr. al-Zaidi. If they could survive afterwards, that is. And to think we still have to put up with this fool for 35 more days...grrrrrrrrr ...

Latest Comments

On Barack Obama, Rick Warren, And The Same Old Punking of the Left By The Dimocrats by Aspasia on December 21st, 2008
nHere's another thing to think about: why is this Inauguration so extravagant at a time when even middle-class Americans are skipping meals to save money? I'm trying to remember which incoming President (I think FDR) who had an extremely casual and de-glammed, somber Inauguration with respect to the financial crisis the country was in at the time.

On Barack Obama, Rick Warren, And The Same Old Punking of the Left By The Dimocrats by Aspasia on December 21st, 2008
nHere's another thing to think about: why is this Inauguration so extravagant at a time when even middle-class Americans are skipping meals to save money? I'm trying to remember which incoming President (I think FDR) who had an extremely casual and de-glammed, somber Inauguration with respect to the financial crisis the country was in at the time.

On A Lesser Evil Is Still Evil...But That Doesn't Mean That Greater Evil Doesn't Suck Like Hell by Aspasia on December 21st, 2008
n"You want our forgiveness for Rick Warren, Mr.

On A Lesser Evil Is Still Evil...But That Doesn't Mean That Greater Evil Doesn't Suck Like Hell by Aspasia on December 21st, 2008
n"You want our forgiveness for Rick Warren, Mr.

On Barack Obama, Rick Warren, And The Same Old Punking of the Left By The Dimocrats by Aspasia on December 21st, 2008
nOh Anthony...you are definitely my brother from another mother. We have GOT to talk on the phone one of these days.n n"actually, a potted plant sitting at the Oval Office would be superior to Dubya these days"n nWhich is why I nominate this here Snake Plant for Prez in 2012. Green Party ticket, of course. :-P Running mate? A cotton ball or perhaps a box of air.n nGlenn Greenwald has an excellent piece on the crock of caca that is "bipartisanship" as the Democraps do it. That man just frakin' GETS IT! And the reason why liberals and social progressives are stupid to this fact? Apologetics! It's not just for Christian Church Fathers anymore! It also harkens back to the conversation we had about (especially) white liberals not understanding how conservative and fundamentalists African-Americans and Latinos can be, even when it works against their own interests.n nObamabots. Gotta love 'em.nPS. VERY happy I can finally comment on your blog, cherie. :) ...

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