Listening Post

I'm pretty sure I popped this up before quite awhile back, but it's one of those songs I always like being reminded how much I love.

Here's Sloan's If It Feels Good Do It.

Firestarters

The Washington Post's Dana Milbank catalogs in pretty vivid detail the insanity, rage, thuggery, and all-around shit-stirring that came from the tea baggers and their supporters among congressional Republicans during yesterday's final health care reform debate.

It's a must-read because it really highlights just how entirely the GOP has allowed itself to become the party of dangerous, unadulterated madness.

The Washington Post: Republican Lawmakers Stir Up the Tea Party Crowd/3.22.10

Reading, Writing and Revenue Redux

A quick reminder that we're in the middle of our Spring Pledge Drive.

If you're a fan of this site -- or at the very least somebody who enjoys killing a few minutes of your daily drudgery with it -- there are a couple of ways you can help keep it going strong.

One is to pick up a copy of my book, Dead Star Twilight. It's available as an e-book that can immediately be downloaded to your computer by clicking here. Just think -- you can get it tonight, finish it by morning (because who needs sleep?), and then your life will finally be complete.

The other way you can show some support is to donate money via the Paypal electronic tip jar in the right-hand sidebar of this screen. If you've got a few spare dollars to drop into the till, it'd certainly be appreciated.

We're off to a really good start so far this pledge week, and I can't express in effusive enough terms how much it means to me that so many of you are willing to step up and help keep Deus Ex Malcontent running. To those who haven't contributed yet, obviously if you can't I understand -- but if you feel like you can, hey, don't pull a Kitty Genovese and assume that just because somebody else might be helping, you don't have to. That's the kind of thinking that killed the dinosaurs.

Thanks again, folks.

American Idiot

I didn't even bother getting into American Idol last year because I couldn't have cared less about any of the contestants -- and yes, that includes the closeted all-American gay guy and the flamboyant queen-on-fire gay guy the whole competition came down to.

But this year I have to admit that I've been tuning in -- not religiously, mind you, but enough to have taken a very minor interest in the outcome.

That's why I kind of did a spit-take when I learned that Miley Cyrus will be appearing on the show tomorrow night as -- oh, this is rich -- a mentor to the remaining contestants. This of course begs the question: What do you do when three-quarters of the people being mentored to are infinitely more talented -- and a few years older -- than the one doling out the advice? It's always entertaining when Idol turns over the stage to an already established singer who you just know wouldn't even make it into the top 24 if he or she were actually competing on the show. (See last week's performance by pop music's current reigning waste of space, Ke$ha.) But the idea of a completely prepackaged star actually playing guru to and interacting with the contestants -- that's virgin territory.

The only thing I can think of is that Miley will basically tell the kids to become a Disney character and therefore a tween obsession, leak a few slutty cellphone pics to the internet, blow a Jonas Brother or two, and learn to accept that the whole singing thing doesn't matter because there's always auto-tune. Oh yeah, and it helps to have a father who's the world's biggest douchebag.

I can only hope these poor folks won't be forced to choose their songs for the night's performances from Miley's extensive musical catalog otherwise it's gonna be a really boring show. The little shit only has about four songs and she'll be performing two of them herself.

Oh well, it'll be fun to watch Crystal Bowersox try not to hit her over the head with a guitar.

March Madness

Proving the old adage that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a raving lunatic, Georgia Representative Paul Broun is once again bringing his special brand of redneck stupid to the House floor. For those keeping score -- this makes the second time in less than a week.

Hot off his declaration that the Democratic health care bill amounted to a replay of the "Great War of Yankee Aggression," Broun is now introducing a resolution to proclaim the first week of May "Ten Commandments Week." Sam Brownback tried the same thing a couple of years back, but, thankfully, sane, Constitutionally minded heads prevailed. I expect this latest attempt to circumvent the whole separation-of-church-and-state thing and essentially nationalize the Christian faith -- particularly above all others -- will meet the same fate.

By the way, now's the time to once again remind these doofs that only two of the Ten Commandments are actually United States law -- and they were kind of a given, since murdering and stealing are wrong no matter what you believe.

Still, can't wait to see what Broun's gonna do for the trifecta -- maybe dance around the Capitol rotunda in overalls to try to raise Junior Samples from the dead.

H.R. 1175: Introduced by Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA)

Much Respect

I wanted to take a minute and say publicly something I said last night privately.

I've been lucky enough to accomplish quite a bit during my career; there have been a couple of milestones of which I think I really have the right to be proud. But I can't say that I had a hands-on role in helping to make history -- to change things for the better in a way that will likely be remembered for generations.

As of last night, Jacki Schechner can.

For months now she's toiled away tirelessly as the communications director for Health Care for America Now -- the largest non-profit healthcare campaign in the country -- working long, often thankless hours trying to make affordable medical care for all a reality. I've watched on the sidelines as she's taken up a fight and often beat her head against a wall repeatedly in the name of a cause she wholeheartedly believes in. It's because of this kind of dedication on the part of her and others like her that comprehensive health care reform -- while by no means perfect legislation -- is now a reality in this country.

It's astonishing when you think about it: Jacki played a pivotal grass-roots role in helping to bring to fruition an idea that's eluded America for decades.

She has every reason to be proud, and to be honest I kind of stand in awe of her this morning.

Congrats, Jax. Not bad for an ex-CNN employee.

Enjoy the glory.

Fear and Loathing

Just a few of the comments currently being posted over at Breitbart's "Big Government" site. I read them so you don't have to. No need to thank me.

"the passage of this bill is a declaration of war on the American people!
They are saying 'We know our way is best and you are so stupid you don't deserve any input into the mater.'"

-- Matt

"God help us. We must DEMAND a full repeal---and hopefully it'll get done before we have a full-on revolution, complete with guns."

-- rls

"Healthcare bitches we're coming for your old grandmas to turn them into lampshades."

-- GrammatheLamp

"I can't put into words on this screen to adequately describe the darkness and anger which overwhelms me at this exact moment. This anger will not go unfocused or be wasted and shall be returned a hundred fold to its source."

-- WeWeedUp

"The elected officials have refused to listen to the people and for that reason a second revolution is required! I hope that it be peaceful in November but fear it will not! At least 219 people will need jobs come November I hope they can find them IN CUBA!"

-- Dave in OK

"it's a small sign but maybe a message !!!!! 219 was the vote - turn it around and what to you get? 912 !!!"

-- Sister Mary

"It's time to take back this country folks. Saddle up...the Tea Party Posse is called into action, and the 912 Political Militia is ready to fire the first political salvos of this battle. Brothers and sisters, it is time to save our nation."

-- Goo

"I'm spitin' mad now so I'll just say a big fat FUCK YOU! to Obama and all the other evil asshat progressives trying to take down this nation! We will fight you at the ballot box and in the streets if we have too. You will live to regret this treason!"

-- RobCdA

"PALIN/BOLTON 2012"

-- jeaneeinabottle

"Lock and load, don't wait for November. Liberals are now in season permanently!"

-- nobama

"Time to buy another couple of thousand rounds of ammo."

-- Cardinal Fang

"I know this will probably not get posted, but at least it's being said. Calling every patriotic citizen to form a militia and on April 15th converge on D.C. and take back our government, the buildings and our nation."

-- geezer

"Aaron Burr is a good example of what needs to be done to Pelosi."

-- Roundup Logan

Now we are all slaves in the cotton fields of government. Guess now they will change 'We the People' to 'We the Government'. Welcome to tyranny. I smell gunpowder."

-- Rod

"Do not be dicouraged, fight on. My spouse has left me tonight because I am joining efforts and my heart herts bad, I have posted many times here. We have a fundamental disagreement, and when I spent my saturday protesting the healthcare bill. I was given a divorce notice."

-- SJCTeaParty