LIBERADIO(!)

Ouch. Bob Clement’s recent comparison of his “40 Days and 40 Nights” runoff campaign to Jesus’ ordeal in the desert is one extraordinarily painful stretch:

“You know, it’s called 40 days and 40 nights. I remember reading in the Bible there’s another fellow who did that once upon a time, Jesus Christ, and he was tempted by the devil three times. But it’s an interesting experience, and we’re going night and day and weekends and reaching out particularly to the other political camps. We’re getting a great response.”

For the moment let us ignore the obvious irritation of yet another politician whipping out references to the ol’ Prince of Peace on the campaign trail. Instead, let’s genureflect on the analogy.

“40 Days and 40 Nights:” This, literally, is the time available to campaign between the August 2 election and the September 11 runoff. But it’s also so much more! Noah – 40 days and 40 nights of rain. Moses – with God on the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights. Jesus, part 1 – tempted in the desert for 40 days and nights. Jesus, part 2 – acends to heaven 40 days after the Resurrection. All these stories have one thing in common, the forty days is a period of struggle with a reward waiting at the end. So what the he’s saying here is that the campaign will be difficult but the reward will be great. If he wins. If he loses, he’ll be left to wander the political desert for 40 years. Which begs the question, “Hey, Congressman, what’s with the runoff anyway? If you and Jesus are so tight, why didn’t you just kick Dean’s ass?”

“I remember reading in the Bible…:” Five bucks if he can tell me which chapter. And no Googling!

“The Devil:” Just who the devil is tempting Bob?!?! Is it his rival, Karl Dean, dangling his coded “old Nashville” smear too close to resist taking the bait? Or is it that wily Bill Fletcher, Nashville’s very own Prince of Darkness, urging him to follow that negative campaign low road? What about his old friend, Larry Woods? Is he the third point in the devil’s pitchfork? 40 days and nights is a long time to resist the evils of a political campaign, also known as the “7 Deadly Sins of the Stump” – Ambition, Exploitation, Sanctimony, Mendacity, Narcissim, Pandering and Making Stupid Analogies.

“Three times:” An obvious shout out to triangulation.

“We’re getting a great response:” Yes, Clement’s people are reaching out to the losers but the response is, uh, not really so great. Bupkus from Briley, a goose egg from Gentry, and hell, even Jesus himself can’t wrestle an endorsement out of Buck Dozier.

PS: Hilarity ensues at the Scene.

Yesterday, that horrid little radio and TV host John Gibson did a segment of his radio show on the topic of 9/11 in which he ridiculed Jon Stewart for showing emotion during his first show back after the tragedy while inviting his callers to answer the question, “Do we need another 9-11?”

Listen in as the Liberadio(!) Players present “What it Would Sound Like on our Show if We Asked the Question ‘Do we need another 9-11?’”

Listen.

That’s right. You get bupkus. Know why? Because “Do we need another 9-11″ is a stupid, thoughtless, and un-american question with an obvious and emphatic answer. If this is the kind of infantile and corrosive content they want on a commercial radio show then god, commercial radio show, I don’t even want to know you.

On Liberadio(!) yesterday morning, our Media Matters for America Smackdown with Elbert Ventura segment focused on Chris Matthews’ affinity for holding the features, fashion, and forms of the presidential candidates in higher esteem than their intellect, ideas, or policy positions.

But we forgot to mention that he’s also an unprofessional and childish old goat of a letch. He recently told CNBC anchor Erin Burnett that she’s “beautiful” and “a knockout” and that it’s “all right getting bad news” from her. Ew.

Is this really how “journalists” are supposed to perform? Is this the service they provide to the electorate?

I was really put off when Bear Creek Ledger blamed the “ignorant,” cruel,” “infantile,” and “blood-thirsty” “anti-war left” for an intolerant and hateful incident involving a young woman and the memorial she displays for her fiancée who died in Iraq. Assuming the person who did this horrible thing leans ideologically to the left, Ledger calls all of us “miserable dregs of society,” instead of denigrating the actual perpetrator. First, how does she know what the man’s ideological preference is? Just by looking? If so, then just by looking I’d say he leans just to the left of crazy. Second, does she really believe that all of us who are against the war would behave in such a way? If so, then I guess turnabout is fair play.

Early this morning KPFT radio in Houston, whose motto is “Radio for Peace,” was riddled with bullets in a drive by shooting. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Boy, I just don’t understand the homicidal, cretinous, brutish, and imbecilic actions of the right-wing, pro-war, pro-death movement. Each and every one of you should be ashamed of yourselves. Even if you weren’t there. Come on, take responsibility for you actions.

Summary: It’s the first day of school. Don’t forget your uniforms! Today’s lesson is, if you’re a Democrat please do not attack other Democrats with Republican talking points. Mr. Ford? Mr. Ford? HAROLD! Turn around and pay attention!

Listen to: Dear Harold Ford, Love Markos Moulitsas (30:50 28.2MB)

Summary: Our guest is John Geer, Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Vanderbilt University, Editor of The Journal of Politics, and author of In Defense of Negativity: Attack Ads in Presidential Campaigns. How fortuitous to have a Political Scientist on the show on the day Turd Blossom resigns! Geer recently penned a piece in the Tennessean entitled, “Negative’ Campaigns help lay bare facts that voters need” in which he wrote that it was “no surprise that negativity was not part of this last election” but we should most likely expect it in the runoff. Geer also claims that negativity can be good for democracy so bring it on, Bob!

Listen to: Interview with Dr. John Geer, Super Political Scientist! (21:19 19.5MB)

Summary: It’s bad enough when liberals and Democrats are demonized by the opposition. But when they’re horribly misrepresented by someone professing to be on the same side, it’s much, much worse. Thanks for nothing, Pastor Tim Alexander of Antioch, TN. Plus, it’s the Media Matters for America Smackdown with research fellow Elbert Ventura. Today Elbert asks, why is Chris Matthews such a tool?

Listen to: They Grow DINOS in Antioch, Don’t They? (23:32 21.6MB)

Summary: In the first half hour of today’s show Karl Rove resigns; Mary has an anxiety dream starring Stephen Colbert; Surprise! there’s another election in September; Bob Clement panders; and Hell No! Howard Gentry won’t endorse.

Listen to: August 13, 2007 Part 1 (26:59 24.7MB)

Just minutes ago, former mayoral candidate David Briley confirmed that after spending “considerable time talking with both Bob and Karl about their visions for the city, especially as it relates to the environment and sustainability,” he has decided “not to formally endorse either candidate in the race.”

Briley also declared his willingness to help either candidate, if asked, with “issues that are important to the city.” He also felt certain that with or without his endorsement his supporters would choose whichever candidate they felt would move the city of Nashville forward.

UPDATE: Briley Issues Statement on Run-Off (Press Release)

(Nashville) Metro Councilman At-Large David Briley today issued a statement on the run-off election.

“After meeting with both of the candidates, I have made the decision not to formally endorse either candidate in the race.

I spent considerable time talking with both Bob and Karl about their visions for the city, especially as it relates to the environment and sustainability. I was particularly encouraged with Bob’s willingness to have an Office of Sustainability that reports directly to the Mayor. In the end, I came to the conclusion that both of the candidates intend to pursue some elements of the platform I spoke out about throughout this campaign and that Nashville will see progress on the environment soon.

“Today, I’m offering my assistance to both campaigns as they confront issues that are important to the city. If I can be of assistance to either candidate, I hope they will let me know.”

“Over the next few weeks, I will encourage my supporters to choose a candidate based upon their expertise, vision, and plans for moving Nashville forward. I am extremely proud the issue-based campaign we ran. I know that my supporters will all use their independent judgment when choosing the next Mayor on September 11.”

KARL ROVE RESIGNS!

“It’s the vision, stupid: How Democrats could blow 2008 presidential election,” by Tim Alexander, Antioch, TN, a pastor and lifelong “conservative Democrat.” It’s bad enough when liberals and Democrats are horribly misrepresented by the opposition. But when the misrepresentation comes from someone professing to be on the same side, it’s much much worse. With friends like Tim Alexander, who need enemies?

Tennessee Voices: “‘Negative’ Campaigns help lay bare facts that voters need,” by John Geer (Tennessean)
We hope his differentiating between truthful campaigning and less than truthful campaigning.

“Immigrant Says He Was Wrongly Detained in Raid,” by Colby Sledge (Tennessean)

“Guantanamo Man’s Family Releases ‘Torture’ Dossier,” By Vikram Dodd (The Guardian UK)
If the men held in Guantanamo are a threat then they should be charged with a crime and advanced through the criminal court system. Why are they being held without being charged?

“US Sends Mixed Messages on Climate,”
See, this is why you can’t believe anything this administration says, reads, writes, or promises. ” Just weeks after President Bush repeated his calls for developing nations to curb their emissions of greenhouse gases, “the U.S. government had pledged to help finance one of the world’s most advanced oil refineries, taking shape in Jamnagar, India. The facility, to be completed by December 2008, will not only produce petroleum products, it will annually emit nearly 9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide — the major contributor to global warming — into the atmosphere.”

“Howard Gentry Tells Channel 5 He Won’t Endorse,” by Liz GARRIGAN! (PithInTheWind.com, Nashville Scene’s Blog)

“Our Chance to Capture the Center,” By Martin O’Malley and Harold Ford Jr. (Washington Post) Too much policy, not enough feeling.

“Baptists reach out to gays, to make them ‘ex-gays’,” by Jennifer Brooks, (Tennessean) Front Page News, Above the Fold, in Saturday’s Tennessean.