The Hollywood Liberal

Applying for food stamps: “Don’t you feel guilty?”
I’m currently reading a book called “The Holocaust,” and in one of its first chapters the author describes Adolph Hitler’s rise to power in Germany — wherein, in the early days of the National Socialist party, Hitler’s Brown-Shirts were thugs and bullies whose main policy was to pick only on vulnerable little guys. Apparently, Hitler’s […]

U.S. Senate Race in Nevada Still Very Close
A new Las Vegas Review Journal/Mason-Dixon poll shows Sen. Harry Reid (D) and challenger Sharron Angle (R) remain locked in a close race with Reid ahead, 46% to 44%.

“The question is whether nonpartisan voters will break Angle’s way based on their stronger support for her economic positions or whether Reid’s aggressive campaign will succeed in portraying the staunch conservative as too extreme on other issues and in her personal beliefs.”

Quote of the Day
“What if Obama is so outside our comprehension, that only if you understand Kenyan, anti-colonial behavior, can you begin to piece together his actions? That is the most accurate, predictive model for his behavior.”

— Newt Gingrich, quoted by the National Review, arguing that President Obama “is fundamentally out of touch with how the world works.”

‘Tolerance’
This morning it really hit me how strange it is to ask people whether they view Islam favorably or unfavorably. Popularity ratings for 1400-year old religious traditions? Really? As far as I know, Islam isn’t a proposition for the American…


Islam – Religion – Religion and Spirituality – United States – Invitation to Islam

Call Their Bluff
Kim Dixon at Reuters writes. Democrats in Congress are distancing themselves from President Barack Obama’s push to let taxes rise for the wealthiest Americans, fearing it will further harm them in November’s mid-term elections. Obama needs to say that he will veto any bill…


Barack Obama – United States – President of the United States – United States Congress – United States midterm election

Quran Destroyer Randall Terry Dismisses 9/11 Families? Concerns About Politicizing Terror Anniversary

While Rev. Terry Jones ultimately canceled his plans to burn Qurans at his Gainesville, FL church today, and said he will “not ever” attempt the stunt again, infamous Christian-right activist Randall Terry followed through on his scheme to destroy the Islamic holy book, tearing pages from an English copy this morning in front of the White House.

Jones’ plan sparked huge protests in Afghanistan and other Muslim countries, but Terry wasn’t fazed by military leaders’ warnings that burning the Quran could engager U.S. troops, explaining, “The only reason I will not burn it at the White House is because to burn anything on the Capitol grounds is a felony.” Terry said he stood “in solidarity” with others who planned to destroy Qurans today, including far-right Christian activists in Springfield, TN, Amarillo, TX, and Cheyenne, WY.

As ThinkProgress has noted, some families of 9/11 victims have condemned the politicization of the anniversary of the terror attacks, saying protests related to the proposed Islamic community center near ground zero today “disrespect the memories of our loved ones on this sacred day.” When asked about this by ThinkProgress, Terry dismissed the victims’ families concerns, offering an insincere “sorry” and adding that he wouldn’t “let the tail wag the dog:”

Tomorrow, tea party activists will rally on the National Mall for a “Taxpayer March on Washington.” Activist Andrew Beacham, who actually performed the Quran ripping while Terry explained which passages were being desecrated, told ThinkProgress that he has been actively affiliated with both the tea party and the related 9/12 movement:

When asked why he was desecrating Islam’s holiest book, Beacham said, “there is only one religion and that is Christianity.” Asked about ripping versus burning the Quran, Beacham casually replied, “same diff.” Beacham and Terry were joined by about four other protestors, who carried signs with messages such as, “9-11 = Koran + Sharia Law,” “Obama: Sharia or Constitution?,” and “Can violence be peaceful? Islam thinks so!”

Terry is veteran right-wing rabble rouser who is best known for his ugly anti-abortion demonstrations, but seems willing to exploit any cause de jour to garner attention for himself. He’s burned Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in effigy, launched a contest to encourage people to make videos burning House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) in effigy, and warned there would be “violent convulsions” if the Affordable Care Act doesn’t ban abortions.

In Chicago, it’s not Rahm’s for the asking
In Washington, the story of the upcoming Chicago mayor’s race has been all about Rahm Emanuel. In Chicago, the story is different. There it is far too early for ticker tape parades.


United States – Illinois – Rahm Emanuel – Chicago – chicagomayor

Worn fabric
Not that long ago, President Obama was more than a president wading through two wars and a bad economy. He was Superman, clutching a basketball in mid-air and about to slam-dunk, on a sparkly T-shirt available in Union Station for $14.99.



Fabric – Clothing – Shopping – Craft – Fiber Arts

Incumbents from Ohio go separate ways on same goal of reelection
COSHOCTON, OHIO – When President Obama took the stage at a campaign-style rally in Cleveland last week, sitting in the front row was Rep. John Boccieri, who drove more than 60 miles to get a presidential shout-out.


Ohio – United States – Business and Economy – Organizations – John Kasich

Beyond Mourning

Let’s Stop Playing Into Bin Laden’s Hands
Ted Koppel, Washington Post
The attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, succeeded far beyond anything Osama bin Laden could possibly have envisioned. This is not just because they resulted in nearly 3,000 deaths, nor only because they struck at the heart of American financial and military power. Those outcomes were only the bait; it would remain for the United States to spring the trap.The goal of any organized terrorist attack is to goad a vastly more powerful enemy into an excessive response. And over the past nine years, the United States has blundered into the 9/11 snare with one overreaction after another. Bin Laden deserves to…

Watch the Media Embarrass Themselves
Jason Linkins, Huffington Post
First Posted: 09-10-10 02:41 PM   |   Updated: 09-10-10 05:02 PM Yesterday afternoon, the leader of a microscopic cult of idiots who announced plans to stage an “international” day of Quran burning in Gainesville, Florida held a press conference, for a rapt media which decided that his moronic plans were the single most important thing going on in America. At that press conference, in front of “9/11 Truther” signs, this cult leader lied to everyone who was watching, telling them that he was…

Obama’s Attempt to Turn the Page Failed
Jed Babbin, RealClearPolitics
In a dizzying series of speeches and White House events last week, President Obama tried to raise foreign policy issues to the top of the political agenda. In part, the president's purpose was to relieve the growing sense of panic among congressional Democrats by giving them a campaign issue that doesn't require them to defend his economic policies. He didn't succeed because he didn't “turn the page” – even briefly – on the seemingly constant flow of bad economic news. But he did confuse our military and our allies about what he intends for the Middle East and…