The Motley Moose - Recommended Diaries

Provocative Open Thread: Can Feminism be Right Wing?

Brit — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:00:09 GMT

Wake up, Moose! Come on. Stop sleeping. Summer's lease hath all too short a date. It'll be the mid terms soon. Time to shake that shaggy ass and get up off those dusty haunches. You'll be needed come November. Just leave that grass alone (not mentioning anyone by name) and get up onto your hoofs!

Where are they now? Ou sont les neiges d'antan? Where are the snows of yesterday? Bushy Blasky and Prickly Allen? Where battling feminists JJC and Michelle? Where imagistic Kysen and empathetic Sricki? Where hot-hob Hubie and down-under Shaun? Where Gadfly and Btchakir and all my friends beside?

Ou sont les neiges d'antan?

OK. I get it. You're tired. You're bushwhacked. You fought to elect a democratic president and congress... and waddya get? Trouble. Compromise. Legislation. Grey zones. More legislation. Imperfection. Sell outs. Corporatists. Pragmatists. Idealists on a stick. In other words.. Politics.

To use more ponsy French: plus ca change.

But how to goad the somnolent beast out its slumber? What woke it up before? What made the Moose strut, run, and use its horns like a Spanish bull in frenzy?

Hmmm. I know. I remember the most commented diaries. So here we go. This has got everything that gets you going my Moosey Friends. Feminism. Palin. Sexism. Liberalism. And even a bit of I/P in the mix like a Tequila slammer with nitro, triple sec and glycerine.

Follow me below the fold if you dare.
A diary and a newspaper piece have got me thinking: is Feminism always liberal? Is it, sui generis, progressive?

On Daily Kos, someone I don't usually read that much has written a brilliant impersonation of Sarah Palin as a reactionary feminist or Mama Grizzly. Here's a brief sample of this rather wonder spoof, or reactionary riff:

Throw the hockey sticks and kids into the back of the van, look in the mirror, and I am sooo ready
I must throw off the shackles, scream blue murder, who cares about facts, I'm a Mama grizzly and you are in deep doodo.
You want crazy, well I'm going to unleash Jaeger styled Frontier Woman mad!
I must gird my vagina with the holy scriptures and be piously loopy.
Perm my hair, break out the pearls and I'm ready to rock; photogenic you betcha, I've got the looks, now I want the power!
Republican sexy! You better fucking believe it buster!
Burn a bra, no way, I'm going ta wiggle into the tightest basque there is, I'm going to aim myself directly at those gonads!
I'm going to win! Come ta mama!
Wolf, shot one. Moose, skinned one. Man, dumped one, well he was a liberal!
Look at this blood red lipstick you lilly-livered republican men, you think driving around in a truck with a gun rack is going to scare anyone, just look at these lips and teeth babe, think sucked dry!
Mama's taking over, off to your room with no dinner! You want directions? Well I'm holding the map

Wow. Kind of nails a strange mixture of empowerment, misanthropy and right wing anger. Who'd have thought feminism could be reactionary? Except perhaps Camille Paglia. So question number one:

Why do we assume feminism is always progressive?

The second part of my timely provocation now takes us to Israel, where sexual politics now mingle with race (again): in this case the tension between Jews and Arabs.

In this case Saber Kushour has been convicted of "rape by deception" for having casual sex with a Jewish woman who thought he was Israeli. The Guardian explains some of the background to the case.

Last week the married father of two from east Jerusalem was sentenced to 18 months in jail for the "rape by deception" of a Jewish woman who claimed she would not have had sex with him had she known he was an Arab. What might have been a tawdry episode - casting neither Kushour nor the woman in a favourable light - exploded into a debate in Israel about racism, sexual mores and justice.
"I am paying the price for a mistake that she made," Kushour, 30, told the Observer. "I was shocked at the sentence - it shows a very vivid and clear racism." The message from the judge, he says, was that "because you are an Arab and you didn't make that clear, we are going to punish you".
In his verdict, Judge Zvi Segal conceded that it was not "a classical rape by force". He added: "If she hadn't thought the accused was a Jewish bachelor interested in a serious romantic relationship, she would not have co-operated. The court is obliged to protect the public interest from sophisticated, smooth-tongued criminals who can deceive innocent victims at an unbearable price - the sanctity of their bodies and souls."

Now deception I understand. Rape by deception, not so much. Surely, either party in consenting sexual congress agree to the physical interaction, economic, social or ethnic issues aside. It's yes/no to two bodies: if you don't like the guy/gal, that's experience. If you have been bamboozled by them, that's fraud. But rape?

In the UK, most rapes go unreported, and only a small percentage of those that make the courts are successfully prosecuted. The overwhelming power lies with male strength, and a mainly male justice system which belittles women and undermines their claims to justice.

But having said that, can rape itself be reversed, and an allegation itself used as a weapon of oppression?

Flame away Mooses. Glad to have you back

Welcome to Nourishing the Planet's Diary

NourishingthePlanet — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:04:29 GMT

Welcome to the Nourishing the Planet project diary on Motley Moose. As world hunger numbers top 1 billion, we are reporting from on the ground in sub-Saharan Africa to both inform global efforts to eradicate hunger and raise the profile of these efforts. Meeting with farmers, farmers groups, NGO's, journalists, funders, and policy makers, the Nourishing the Planet is assessing the state of agricultural innovations-from cropping methods to irrigation technology to agricultural policy-and highlighting the all too often untold stories of hope and success. To read more, previous Motley Moose entries by Nourishing the Planet can be found here and to find out more about the project see our blog. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Questions? Comments? Please contact Worldwatch Senior Researcher Danielle Nierenberg at dnierenberg@worldwatch.org.

Friday July 23, 2010 The (it has been a while since the last) Day in Tubes

Hollede — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:56:17 GMT

It has been a while since I last posted a Day in Tubes. Monday December 21, 2009 was my final post, if I am not mistaken. Shortly after that tube diary, my CPU shut down and would not get up. I also experience a similar meltdown, and became what I have come to call (not affectionately): a Narcoleptic Zombie. My Nurse Practitioner thought it would be a great idea for me to go on a new medication last December. However, I now realize it was a terrible decision, as I basically lost six months of my life.

A life that was saved by an underpaid, but supremely dedicated employee of a local non-profit mental health care center. It was her job to help me. It is the job of lot of people to help me, as I really am bat shit crazy (yeah, I know, I shouldn't use that word. Too bad, 'cause I like it;~). But she actually believed me when I told her that something was terribly wrong. She understood that just because a person is crazy, it doesn't mean they are incompetent, stupid, and/or liars. Together, we went to see my NP and helped us figure out that the meds were killing me. Thank you Jennifer. I also thank all of my workers (all 17,539 of them;~), and thank Ani and me for moving to a county where the Social Workers actually do their jobs. More on this in a future diary...

So after a full three months off the gnasty meds, I have a new CPU (finally, I know what to call the bloody thing), and (I think) the old Hollede is back. I guess we shall see... Oh and my computer is now a big, bad, beautiful monster that will kick your computer's ass down the hall;~J

One thing that is now a bit disturbing to me is how much things have changed here in teh internets since my last real venture (not one on the horrid little phone!) into the virtual world. The Moose seems rather, uh...dead these days, and the funny is harder than ever to find at the YouTube (or anywhere else for that matter). For crying out soft, Headzup hasn't done a new tube since December! Where oh where have they gone? Sob...please come back to me Headzup...moan, please?

Is everyone that disheartened by the politics these days? Well buck up dudes, and get your butts out there and DO SOMETHING!!!!! Quit yer bitchin', get outta the kitchen, and start kickin' some pugs in the head! I know, not nice, but whoever said that President Obama could do this alone? He needs our help folks, as the alternative is intolerable. So on with the tubes and we shall see if I have lost my touch...

Although this is not exactly new, Versusplus.com made me smile with their release of "THE PARTY'S OVER-TURE - a sampler of versusplus.com econoparodies":

God, I love VersusPlus. My only complaint has been and still is, they don't produce often enough. Please take time to support them and encourage more activity on their part.

It would appear someone is making the republicans very nervous. And she is sending chills through all of the right (pun intended) Democratic spines. Check this out from Salon.com:

Elizabeth Warren has all the right enemies
Conservatives and bankers can't stand the woman who is trying "to change everything." Are you listening, Obama?
Now here's an example of some real crackerjack investigative reporting. Wall Street Journal reporter Damien Palleta has a scoop that will send bank reform Kremlinologists into a frenzy. On Tuesday night, Elizabeth Warren, the progressive choice to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, had dinner with Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan. And on Wednesday, right after attending the signing ceremony for the Dodd-Frank bill, Warren had lunch with Obama's trusted senior adviser, Valerie Jarrett.
What can it mean? Who wins in a Jarrett vs Geithner throw down? Is Elena Kagan offering tips on how to pass confirmation hearings with flying colors? Or is Warren operating a last-ditch lobbying effort to win over hearts and minds?
The chatter over Warren's prospects has grown into a full-on uproar in recent days, and now that bank reform is law, the clock is ticking.
I don't think Warren's chances are all that great -- too many Democratic senators have already expressed reservations. But I don't care. As far as I'm concerned, Warren has all the right enemies. Watch Alabama's Richard Shelby blast her, just this morning:

Uh oh. It would appear that Elizabeth Warren is shaking a few trees and some rotten apples are falling out onto the ground:~D

Barney Frank spoke of the need to appoint Ms. Warren to the Consumer Board with TPMtv earlier today.

Has he lost weight? He is looking fit these days;~J Oh and right on target as usual...

Breaking news from the Onion News Network! Hide your children from...well, let the Onion explain...

An Onion a day helps keep the CNN away.
Cenk Uygur of the Young Turks was on Dylan Ratigan Wednesday and made this interesting point about tax rates:

I did get a bit annoyed that Mr. Uygur was getting credit for this genius idea, as I have been trying to make this point for years. Was Mr. Uygur reading the Moose last September when we had a discussion regarding tax rates in my diary on Michael Moore's movie, Capitalism: A Love Story? The megalomaniac in me would like to think so, but then I settle down and realize I am not the only person with brilliant thoughts;~J

Here is my comment from that diary on September 26, 2009.

I am not good with posting charts (2.00 / 2)
or pic's (I really need to learn how to post these things;~)
However looking at historical tax rates is very interesting. From this chart it would appear that the 1940's through the early 60's, we had a tax rate of 81% to 91% on top earners. Talk about socialism. And yet these years are some of the very best for "average Jo's and Josephine's". I don't think the wealthy were hurting much either. I would need to delve deeper but it has been my impression that these were some of the best economic times for this country.
Income disparity is another issue I find interesting. The divide has increase tremendously over the past 50 or so years.
Gotta go to the dump now, but will be back later.
"If you're going to tell people the truth, you better make them laugh; otherwise they'll kill You." ~ George Bernard Shaw
by: Hollede @ Sat Sep 26, 2009 at 17:16:02 PM EDT
[ Parent | Reply ]

Sigh...better days on the Moose...

In case any of you missed this earlier this week, here is a snippet from Tamron Hall's interview with Tea Bagger Mark Williams. Courtesy of TPMtv.

LOL! He is blaming the NAACP for the the racist, anti-Obama signs at Tea Bagging events. What a douche bag. Too bad he had to resign, I really liked him;~J

Ok, so this is just funny. I noticed it on MSNBC earlier this week and decided to share.

The best parody of the Old Spice campaign I have seen so far.

Well, I hope you enjoyed the diary and I hope that I can continue to create them. If you find any particularly funny tubes, please let me know and I will include them in future diaries.

Just one final note, we really need to stop crying in our beers, and support or make the President do what needs to be done for our country. That goes for Congress as well. Criticism with a point, constructive ideas, and activism are much more productive than bitching and moaning about the shitty state of affairs we find ourselves in these days. So again I say, QUIT COMPLAINING AND DO SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE!!!

All The Unemployed Are Lazy Slobs...Except Me.

DTOzone — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 04:42:00 GMT

I've been told I make pretty convincing arguments for stuff. I got most of my PUMA friends to vote for Obama, even if some of them went the teabagging route since.

I was captain of the debate team and wrote the speech that won my ex-girlfriend Student Council President in Senior year of High School.

So I take it upon myself to real hammer home the liberal/progressive messaging. I've found it tough as you've no doubt heard. Today, I tried taking on unemployment...it ended in a disaster. I thought invoking myself would work. My friends like me. They know I'm not a lazy slob. They know how hard it was for me to find a job after I lost mine at ABC. They know my experience. I would be the perfect reason why unemployment benefits should be extended.
I spent the better part of last year on unemployment, from March through November. I sometimes came to near nervous breakdowns over my inability to find a job. I felt like a failure and even contemplated suicide. It was the most demeaning, embarassing experience of my life.

Today, I posted on my Facebook status "Has anyone who believes receiving unemployment makes a person not want to look for a job, actually been on unemployment themselves?" I thought I had the argument. If you haven't been there, like I had, you couldn't say what a person feels in that situation.

The response I got was 10 "Yes, I've been on unemployment and I think that" because, you know, they weren't lazy, but everyone else still is (I my mind I think secretly these friends of mine were lazy slobs on unemployment, won't admit it, but say others are like that) and a few "I know someone on unemployment who won't find a job until they run out" to "Maybe you weren't like that, but most are"

The fact is there are a lot of sick twisted selfish careless people in this country, and I mean a lot. They think the unemployed are lazy and should just go get a job. I got it too, my conservative "friends" were willing to insult me if it meant defending their point of view.

I've thrown in the towel on climate change, as it's probably too late anyway.

They believe what they want to believe and nothing you, I, the President or the Democratic Party says will change that.

I've given up.

Huffpo Sherroded Me

linfar — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:23:52 GMT

I was asked by the Huffinton Post during the Primary Campaign to follow Hillary Clinton on the west coast--using my own dime--since this is when Huffpo was promoting 'citizen journalism'-- and write stories demonstrating she was a liar by writing that in different places she slanted her message to the audience.

Huffpo is screaming NoNoNo this morning at Jim VandeHai of Politico who yesterday asserted that the HuffingtonPost trained Andrew Bretibart, the guy who recently slimed Shirley Sherrod and suckered the Obama Adminstration into firing her from her job.

So Politico's VandeHai is asserting that the Huffington Post uses Breitbart methods of distorting and slanting the news.

Is there anyone who things otherwise? Fox is the conservative shoutfest, Huffpo the liberal fog machine. And both slant, distort and sensationalize the shortcomings of those they oppose

News? It is Gone With The Wind.

Take the facts and distort them to fit the agenda is what is passing for news today and the blogosphere is no exception. During the primary campaign Huffpo offered me the job of covering Hillary Clinton on the west coast. I was to travel around, on my own dime--this was when Huffpo was promoting "citizen journalism"--and write up her campaign appearances. But there was an agenda: I was to catch her lying, i.e. giving different messages according to the different locations.

I supported Hillary, part of a small band of liberal bloggers who did, and I refused the agenda. And Huffpo no longer cared for my services.

So I wrote for dKos until I was thrown off for being a "racist" which is to say that I talked about Obama's shortcomings. During the primary campaign anyone who blogged for Hillary was ipso facto a racist on most of the liberal blogs.

It wasn't a fair fight. And much like Journolist, the liberal blogging forces schemed to put their guy over. Part of this effort was to brand as racist anyone effective enough to make a dent in Obama's pristine reputation.
Peter Daou may be the only prominent Hillary blogger who escaped unscathed, and I am not even sure that is true.

What the Shirley Sherrod "moment" offers is a peek into a shoddy and corrupt practice of smears and innuendo passed off as news by nearly everyone in today's media. No one is exempt. Fox does it brilliantly. And the liberal organizations are playing catch up as fast as they can.

Hold onto your critical faculties. Take nothing at face value or should I say first read. And look for the agenda in Everything. It is always there.

"How we ended the Great Recession?" (Open Thread)

louisprandtl — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:55:28 GMT

The article written by Princeton Economics Professor Blinder and Moody Analytics Economist Dr. Mark Zandi lays out the case how effective the stimulus (ARRA) and TARP programs had been in ending the recession and putting this country back on the path of economic recovery. The alternative scenarios proposed by the authors using their models are scary indeed..

The U.S. government's response to the financial crisis and ensuing Great Recession included some of the most aggressive fiscal and monetary policies in history. The response was multifaceted and bipartisan, involving the Federal Reserve, Congress, and two administrations. Yet almost every one of these policy initiatives remain controversial to this day, with critics calling them misguided, ineffective or both. The debate over these policies is crucial because, with the economy still weak, more government support may be needed, as seen recently in both the extension of unemployment benefits and the Fed's consideration of further easing.
In this paper, we use the Moody's Analytics model of the U.S. economy-adjusted to accommodate some recent financial-market policies-to simulate the macroeconomic effects of the government's total policy response. We find that its effects on real GDP, jobs, and inflation are huge, and probably averted what could have been called Great Depression 2.0. For example, we estimate that, without the government's response, GDP in 2010 would be about 11.5% lower, payroll employment would be less by some 8½ million jobs, and the nation would now be experiencing deflation.
When we divide these effects into two components-one attributable to the fiscal stimulus and the other attributable to financial-market policies such as the TARP, the bank stress tests and the Fed's quantitative easing-we estimate that the latter was substantially more powerful than the former. Nonetheless, the effects of the fiscal stimulus alone appear very substantial, raising 2010 real GDP by about 3.4%, holding the unemployment rate about 1½ percentage points lower, and adding almost 2.7 million jobs to U.S. payrolls. These estimates of the fiscal impact are broadly consistent with those made by the CBO and the Obama administration. To our knowledge, however, our comprehensive estimates of the effects of the financial-market policies are the first of their kind. We welcome other efforts to estimate these effects.

http://www.economy.com/mark-za...

Professor Alan Blinder was a member of the Clinton's Council of Economics Advisors Team. Here's the link to his website

http://www.princeton.edu/~blin...

I remember him for his pioneering work on offshoring and outsourcing.

http://www.princeton.edu/~blin...

And for the extremely successful Cash for Clunkers program of last year.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07...

Dr. Mark Zandi was McCain's Economic Policy Advisor and is currently the Chief Economist at Moody's Analytics.

http://www.economy.com/dismal/...

A tidbit about the last name Zandi. It is actually from the Zand family, once the ruling class from Persia in 1700s...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z...

Anyway so you've heard all the naysayers, the negativism from the Tea Party Republicans and the despair from the left wing (read DKos and you'll find at least one diary on the reclist claiming the disaster this economic policy had been). What do you think?

ARRA website:
http://www.recovery.gov/Pages/...