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You are here: Home / Persecution Fail

Persecution Fail

by John Cole|  December 10, 200810:59 am| 85 Comments

This post is in: Clown Shoes, I Read These Morons So You Don't Have To

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Michelle Malkin, always the Republican victim:

Fitzgerald says President-elect Obama was not implicated in the plethora of charges against Democrats Blago and Harris. The national media went out of their way to absolve him, too. But declaring Team Obama’s hands clean — especially with Blago crony and indicted Obama donor Tony Rezko in the middle of it all — is premature. (And if you’re wondering why I keep putting “Democrat” in front of the accused corruptocrats, it’s because the mainstream newspapers can’t seem to remember to identify their party prominently the way they do when Republicans are nabbed.)

Really? The media is refusing to identify the party Blagojevich belongs to? Hrmm. Let’s check the front pages of some major news organizations. The hated NY Times:

In a sequence of events that neatly captures the contradictions of Barack Obama’s rise through Illinois politics, a phone call he made three months ago to urge passage of a state ethics bill indirectly contributed to the downfall of a fellow Democrat he twice supported, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich.

The LA Times:

Blagojevich, a Democrat who ran as a reformer eager to clean up corruption at the statehouse, spoke explicitly about the alleged bribes in profanity-laced conversations captured on FBI wiretaps in the governor’s home and campaign office, authorities said.

The WaPo:

Federal prosecutors charged Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) yesterday with engaging in a series of illegal schemes intended to enrich himself, including an attempt to sell the Senate seat recently vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

The WSJ:

The arrests of Mr. Blagojevich, a Democrat, and his chief of staff, John Harris, opened a new chapter in a state with a long history of wrongdoing by elected officials. Mr. Blagojevich (Blah-GOY-uh-vitch), 51 years old, and chief of staff John Harris, 46, were each charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery.

AJC:

At the same time, Blagojevich egged on investigators, saying he didn’t care whether his conversations were being recorded, a flash of the sort of antagonistic style the two-term Illinois Democrat has become known for.

The Christian Science Monitor:

The arrest makes Governor Blagojevich, a Democrat, the second Illinois chief executive in a row to face charges of pay-to-play politics, a dispiriting event for residents weary of the state’s reputation for seamy politics. His predecessor, Republican George Ryan, is serving a 6-1/2-year sentence for a corruption conviction two years ago.

The Boston Globe:

In conversations riddled with coarse language and blunt threats that the FBI recorded with telephone wiretaps and listening devices planted in his campaign office, the Democratic governor laid bare a “pay-for-play” culture that, according to prosecutors, began shortly after he took office in 2002 and continued until before sunrise yesterday, when FBI agents arrested him and John Harris, his chief of staff.

Let’s try the major television networks. ABC:

What the stunning charges leveled against Gov. Rod Blagojevich, D-Ill., mean for the heretofore flawless transition…

CBS:

Federal prosecutors said flatly that there is no evidence of involvement by the president-elect in allegations that Blagojevich (D) attempted to sell Obama’s vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder.

Fair enough. But I bet the dastardly cable networks are covering up Blagojevich’s political affiliation. CNN:

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich reportedly is planning to return to work Wednesday, a day after his indictment on federal corruption charges.

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, was arrested Tuesday on federal corruption charges.

The Democrat appeared in court Tuesday afternoon to hear federal corruption charges against him and was released on $4,500 bail.

Fox News:

The federal corruption allegations against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich cast an embarrassing glare on the world of Chicago politics he shares with President-elect Barack Obama, even though the two Democrats aren’t close and there is no suggestion Obama did anything inappropriate.

MSNBC:

Drama and suspicion have long surrounded Mr. Blagojevich, a 51-year-old Democrat known locally for his quirky love of Elvis and a big black signature hairstyle of his own. Though he ran for office as a reformer, he has been embroiled for years in a federal investigation into hiring fraud that included multiple departments under his purview.

Guess not. Maybe the international papers are not covering his political affiliation? The UK Guardian:

Blagojevich, a Democrat, also thought about making his own run for the White House in 2016.

The China Daily:

A 76-page FBI affidavit said the 51-year-old Democratic governor was intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps over the last month conspiring to sell or trade the vacant Senate seat for personal benefits for himself and his wife, Patti.

Die Welt:

Der Gouverneur des US-Bundesstaates Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, ist unter Korruptionsverdacht verhaftet worden. Ermittler werfen dem 51-jährigen Demokraten unter anderem vor, dass er den frei werdenden Senatssitz des künftigen US-Präsidenten Barack Obama verschachern wollte.

I give up. I am swamped with work, and that is 15 minutes of my time I will not get back. Maybe there are a wealth of stories out there that are failing to identify his political affiliation, but every website I have in my bookmarks did. There is a distinct possibility that Michelle Malkin is utterly and completely full of shit.

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85Comments

  1. 1.

    Dave

    December 10, 2008 at 11:05 am

    She’s just bitter that Obama can’t be tied to this scandal. But there’s always that tape of Michelle saying "whitey" to fall back on, AMIRITE??

  2. 2.

    satby

    December 10, 2008 at 11:06 am

    There is a distinct possibility that Michelle Malkin is utterly full of shit

    And in other breaking news, the sun rises in the east.

  3. 3.

    Kit Smith

    December 10, 2008 at 11:07 am

    I remember Fox News pointing out that Mark Foley was a Democrat… they’re not afraid to point out corruption amongst Democrats even when they’re actually Republicans.

    Link!

  4. 4.

    Comrade Stuck

    December 10, 2008 at 11:07 am

    There is a distinct possibility that Michelle Malkin is utterly full of shit.

    How cruel of ye. Without her victimhood, Our Lady of Perpetual Outrage would just vanish in a puff of fail.

  5. 5.

    Face

    December 10, 2008 at 11:08 am

    There is a distinct possibility that Michelle Malkin is utterly full of shit.

    That’s unpossible.

  6. 6.

    ThymeZoneThePlumber

    December 10, 2008 at 11:12 am

    The movie "Being Michelle Malkovich Malkin" will be in theaters soon.

    I expect to see BJ in a cameo role, faithfully blogging her every brain fart ………..

  7. 7.

    focality

    December 10, 2008 at 11:13 am

    So Fitzgerald is a hero to the GOP and its noise machine? Bagged a D, he did! Good show, old boy!

    Where was all this praise when he was thrown under the bus for attempting to investigate and prosecute PlameGate? IOKIYAR

  8. 8.

    random asshole

    December 10, 2008 at 11:14 am

    John, she said "mainstream newspapers," not "liberal media." Obviously, you need to check the articles in the Washington Times and the NY Post to get that Malkin-esque mainstreaminess.

  9. 9.

    plus C

    December 10, 2008 at 11:14 am

    Well, I suppose she was right that most of them didn’t put ‘Democrat’ in front of their name. Obviously, nobody’s going to notice that the sentence doesn’t end after the name.

    If the mainstream media was truly unbiased, they’d underline all the juicy excerpts in crayon ahead of time.

  10. 10.

    McDevite

    December 10, 2008 at 11:15 am

    The stupid! It burns! The goggles do nothing!

    At least she’s not doing anything as neurotic as McCain’s Donut Lady.

  11. 11.

    Bubblegum Tate

    December 10, 2008 at 11:16 am

    Michelle Malkin is utterly and completely full of shit.

    Our Lady of Perpetual Outrage? Full of shit? Perish the thought!

  12. 12.

    BH-Buck

    December 10, 2008 at 11:17 am

    So, John, you’re telling us that Michelle Malkin can sometimes be WRONG, and/or MAKE SHIT UP? Really?

    You know, it would be interesting to find out why that is. Is it so she can keep her idiot audience mad and coming back for more, or is she just bat-shit insane?

    Maybe a combination of the two perhaps?

    Something to boast about: I have never visited Michelle Malkin’s site and, FSM-willing, never will. (Unless of course I accidentally click one of John’s many Malkin links and ride the hyper-transport straight through Hell’s gates.)

  13. 13.

    Comrade Stuck

    December 10, 2008 at 11:21 am

    @focality:

    Where was all this praise when he was thrown under the bus for attempting to investigate and prosecute PlameGate?

    That was different says Bay "Pat’s crazy sis" Buchanan

    BEGALA: Let’s see — look. I’m staking my flag again. I think he’s a professional prosecutor. Trying to do the right thing. I thought so when he was going after republicans and I think so when he is going after democrats. Let’s just watch it.

    BLITZER: I think Bay agrees with you on that point.

    BUCHANAN: I agree he’s a good prosecutor but I have to tell you this case is more serious than anything he ever thought he had on "Scooter" Libby.

  14. 14.

    Keith

    December 10, 2008 at 11:23 am

    The movie "Being Michelle Malkin" will be in theaters soon.

    I saw a preview where she went into her own mind, and there were 100 Michelle Malkins who could say nothing except for "UNHINGED!" (except for one who spelled it out cheerleader-style)

  15. 15.

    Jeff

    December 10, 2008 at 11:26 am

    Actually the Chicago Tribune, that liberal rag that makes the NY Times seem like the second coming of the National Review, did not state that Blago was a Democrat. Who would have thought a local paper could not assume that their readers would not know the party affiliation of their own governor.

  16. 16.

    Dork

    December 10, 2008 at 11:28 am

    Obviously, you need to check the articles in the Washington Times and the NY Post to get that Malkin-esque mainstreaminess.

    Because there’s good reason to suspect those newspapers would have a huge stake in getting readers to buy their rag by hiding the identity of the guilty (alleged) Democratic party.

  17. 17.

    Carnacki

    December 10, 2008 at 11:29 am

    There is a distinct possibility that Michelle Malkin is utterly full of shit.

    Being a rightwinger means you never have to worry about ever being right. Facts are not relevant to their credibility.

  18. 18.

    Paul L.

    December 10, 2008 at 11:32 am

    Can Michelle Malkin use the David Axelrod ""Misspoke" excuse?
    Asked what contact he’d had with the governor’s office about his replacement in the Senate, President-elect Obama today said "I had no contact with the governor or his office and so we were not, I was not aware of what was happening.
    But on November 23, 2008, his senior adviser David Axelrod appeared on Fox News Chicago and said something quite different.

    While insisting that the President-elect had not expressed a favorite to replace him, and his inclination was to avoid being a "kingmaker," Axelrod said, "I know he’s talked to the governor and there are a whole range of names many of which have surfaced, and I think he has a fondness for a lot of them."
    (UPDATE: An Obama Transition Team aide says that Axelrod misspoke on Fox News Chicago.)

    (UPDATE #2: Axelrod this evening issued a statement saying. "I was mistaken when I told an interviewer last month that the President-elect has spoken directly to Governor Blagojevich about the Senate vacancy. They did not then or at any time discuss the subject.")"

  19. 19.

    ThymeZoneThePlumber

    December 10, 2008 at 11:34 am

    Dear Friend,
    What a year. From MSNBC’s Chris Matthews wondering aloud, "Who would win in a street fight … Rudy Giuliani or President Ahmadinejad?" to Politico’s Roger Simon marveling that Mitt Romney has "shoulders you could land a 747 on," I know you’ll agree that the 2008 presidential election was rife with inane campaign punditry.
    Now it’s your turn to weigh in. Media Matters invites you to select the most inane example of campaign commentary from the 2008 election cycle.
    Candidates for the Most Inane Campaign Commentary include, but certainly aren’t limited to:
    Joe Scarborough on Barack Obama’s "dainty" bowling performance: "Americans want their president, if it’s a man, to be a real man."
    Fred Barnes: Obama not "strong on national security" because he opposed war "when the entire world believed" Saddam had WMD.
    Cokie Roberts on Obama’s vacation: "I know his grandmother lives in Hawaii and I know Hawaii is a state," but it looks "foreign, exotic."

    From my pals at Media Matters today, just thought I’d share the smiles and remind myself that pundit stupidity is a deep, rich gold mine. Just grab a beach bucket and shovel and start digging ………

    And, while you are at it, a plug to consider adding Media Matters to your daily read.

  20. 20.

    Napoleon

    December 10, 2008 at 11:35 am

    @Paul L.:

    Of course since the Gov. was being wiretapped that will mean that if Obama was lying about talking to him it will come out in trial, since the Feds should have the tape of him talking to the Gov, right?

  21. 21.

    Jeff

    December 10, 2008 at 11:36 am

    @Jeff: I guess I cannot read either.

    The allegations against Blagojevich provide a sharp contrast to a Democratic governor who campaigned for office promising reforms in the wake of disgraced, scandal-tainted Republican chief executive George Ryan.

  22. 22.

    Not My Fault

    December 10, 2008 at 11:38 am

    There you go again John…

    Living in your reality based world instead of recognizing that none of this applies in upper wingnuttia.

    I’m thinking your blog should be denounced as a hate crime against the reality-challenged.

  23. 23.

    Screamin' Demon

    December 10, 2008 at 11:40 am

    John, she’s upset because none of these stories have as the first words in their ledes "Democrat Party Governor…"

    For example: "Democrat Party Governor Rod Blagowhatever, D-Ill., and his Democrat chief of staff were arrested yesterday in connection with a federal probe alleging the two Democrats conspired to sell to the highest bidder the Democrat-held senate seat formerly occupied by Democrat Party President-elect Barack Obama, a Democrat."

    See how it works? Any news outlet that fails to adhere to these simple rules is a "Democrat" front organization.

  24. 24.

    Evolutionary

    December 10, 2008 at 11:42 am

    The NY Post has it half-way down the article. (approx Para 7)

    The Washingotn times it is in the last line of the article on the web site.
    WTF don’t they know how to fan the flames of outrage?

  25. 25.

    Smith

    December 10, 2008 at 11:44 am

    Boy it’s an early Christmas for the wingnuts this year. No matter what Fitzgerald says the wingnut victim brigade will push this for the rest of Obama’s term. Here we go with the ’90s all over again….sigh.

    Malkin is full of shit obviously. The so-called "liberal" media is eating this up. All I have been hearing is how this will "hurt" Obama. They are already manufacturing scandals and the guy isn’t even in office yet.

  26. 26.

    Balconesfault

    December 10, 2008 at 11:46 am

    I had a bonehead on a political listserve I participate in whining because the AP story didn’t mention that Blogo was a Dem until the 3rd paragraph! Of course, as I calmly tried to tell him … that meant they mentioned his Democratic affiliation in the 4th sentence of the story … hardly "burying the lead".

    BTW – does anyone else believe Douglas Adams was thinking of the Serbs when he created the Vogons?

  27. 27.

    Catsy

    December 10, 2008 at 11:48 am

    There is a distinct possibility that Michelle Malkin is utterly and completely full of shit.

    The more you read through what she’s written, the closer the probability of this gets to 1.

  28. 28.

    Joshua Norton

    December 10, 2008 at 11:51 am

    you need to check the articles in the Washington Times and the NY Post to get that Malkin-esque mainstreaminess.

    Their idea of appropriate coverage would be endless columns of:

    Democrat bad!
    Democrat bad!
    Democrat bad!
    Democrat bad!
    Democrat bad!
    Democrat bad!
    Democrat bad!
    Democrat bad!
    Democrat bad!
    Democrat bad!
    Democrat bad!
    Democrat bad!
    Democrat bad!
    Democrat bad!
    Democrat bad!
    Democrat bad!
    Democrat bad!
    Democrat bad!
    Democrat bad!
    Democrat bad!

  29. 29.

    Tim Fuller

    December 10, 2008 at 11:56 am

    Off topic but had to share.

    Turns out that the only way to convert Euro to Dollars in Jackson Mississippi is Trustmark Bank, and then only if you have an account with them. I had my son try to deposit 120 euro into his Trustmark Account yesterday. They told him they couldn’t tell him how much it was worth at the time, but it would show up in his account around a week from THIS Friday. WTF??

    The Jackson ‘International" Airport has no money exchange service.

    Welcome to hickville.

    Enjoy.

  30. 30.

    Tsulagi

    December 10, 2008 at 11:57 am

    Okay, I see what you did. You purposefully left out the commie newspapers that have always been in solidarity with their Dem brothers and have had their backs.

    Well, shit, from China Daily…

    A 76-page FBI affidavit said the 51-year-old Democratic governor was intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps over the last month conspiring to sell or trade the vacant Senate seat for personal benefits for himself and his wife, Patti.

    Really, would you expect anything different from Malkin? The Sisters and Brothers of Perpetual Victimhood never ever pass up an opportunity to wail and shed tears at their continual victimization at the hands of the evildoer media. Always getting a guaranteed “Amen!” from the choir. It’s an uplifting ritual that fills their souls. Call it the Retard Mass.

  31. 31.

    Krista

    December 10, 2008 at 11:57 am

    Poor Michelle — it can’t be good for one’s health to be that chock-full-o’ hatred and delusion.

  32. 32.

    canuckistani

    December 10, 2008 at 11:59 am

    And in other breaking news, the sun rises in the east.

    Racist!

  33. 33.

    Screamin' Demon

    December 10, 2008 at 11:59 am

    Their idea of appropriate coverage would be endless columns of:

    Democrat bad!
    Democrat bad!
    Democrat bad!

    You left out an important element:

    Democrat bad! Republicans good!
    Democrat bad! Republicans good!

    And so on. It’s the Doughy Pantload Rule. Every column he’s ever written reads exactly like this.

  34. 34.

    Joshua Norton

    December 10, 2008 at 12:00 pm

    This is like the "the USA hating Dems don’t have any American flags displayed at their convention" meme.

    Reality is a crutch.

  35. 35.

    joe from Lowell

    December 10, 2008 at 12:08 pm

    Can Michelle Malkin use the David Axelrod ""Misspoke" excuse?
    Asked what contact he’d had with the governor’s office about his replacement in the Senate, President-elect Obama today said "I had no contact with the governor or his office and so we were not, I was not aware of what was happening.
    But on November 23, 2008, his senior adviser David Axelrod appeared on Fox News Chicago and said something quite different.

    Ohnoes! Barack Obama had even less involvement with Blagalphabet than his campaign flack originally said!

    Uhhhhhh………so?

    Sure is gonna be nice having an honest president for a change.

    For. A. CHANGE!

  36. 36.

    Punchy

    December 10, 2008 at 12:09 pm

    The Jackson ‘International" Airport has no money exchange service.

    Yeah, but I’m guessing it’s got about 5 kiosks that sell white robes and hoods, odd sized pieces of wood, nails, and gasoline. And free maps of the "bad" neighborhood.

  37. 37.

    Zifnab

    December 10, 2008 at 12:13 pm

    @Napoleon:

    @Paul L.:Of course since the Gov. was being wiretapped that will mean that if Obama was lying about talking to him it will come out in trial, since the Feds should have the tape of him talking to the Gov, right?

    I’d just like to repost that in case Paul missed it.

    (UPDATE #2: Axelrod this evening issued a statement saying. "I was mistaken when I told an interviewer last month that the President-elect has spoken directly to Governor Blagojevich about the Senate vacancy. They did not then or at any time discuss the subject.")"

    It’s quite clear that Obama’s transition team had some degree of contact with Blagojevich because we have specific quotes from Blagojevich bitching that Obama wasn’t offering any more than sincere appreciation for [Senate Candidate 1]s pick to the office.

    Clearly, Obama communicated his preference to Blagojevich in some manner – personally or by proxy. Clearly, Blagojevich rejected the candidate because Obama refused to pony up a political favor in return. Therefore, its obvious that the real scandal is how David Axelrod portrayed Obama’s transmitted statement to Blagojevich. Because focusing on the fact that Obama explicitly refused to engage in quid pro quo politics might more highly illustrate how our new President-elect has maintained high ethical standards while staring a baldly corrupt fellow Democrat in the face.

    Honestly, how can you NOT be incredibly proud and confident in our incoming President? The man is a product of the Chicago political system, a state-wide office holder, and still manages to maintain strong ethics in the face of intra-party corruption. I’ve never been more confident in his election than I am today. The guy is the poster child for modern politicians.

  38. 38.

    jake 4 that 1

    December 10, 2008 at 12:15 pm

    Oh John, how naive. The articles didn’t mention Blahgobeotch’s party affiliation until The Mighty Reconquistadora cried foul. By the time you went to check the cowardly Democratic mouthpieces had reluctantly added his party.

  39. 39.

    Tsulagi

    December 10, 2008 at 12:19 pm

    @Punchy: Hey, don’t forget that new American Family Association crowd pleaser, the Original Christmas Cross yard decoration.

  40. 40.

    Napoleon

    December 10, 2008 at 12:22 pm

    @Zifnab:

    Clearly, Obama communicated his preference to Blagojevich in some manner – personally or by proxy.

    Of course, only an idiot would think that a senator that has resigned, not in disgrace, would not have some manner of contact with the Governor of his/her state and as part of it would, at least, put in a good word for someone. In fact I would be a little surprised if said senator didn’t do it as part of a courtesy call prior to announcing the resignation to the public. If Obama never made that call to the Gov I think that will tell you everything about how he tried to stay a million miles away from that guy (I saw reported yesterday that Gov B was the only Dem Gov of a major state not given a speaking slot at the convention).

  41. 41.

    Church Lady

    December 10, 2008 at 12:26 pm

    While hesitant to defend her at all, I believe that the initial report coming out in the NYT did not, in fact, identity Gov. Bloggy’s party. In subsequent updates, yes, he was identitfied as a Democrat. Didn’t you know that the Times IS the media? Pay attention.

  42. 42.

    Trollhattan

    December 10, 2008 at 12:31 pm

    Why did stalkin’ Malkin not shine her Light ‘o Truth ™ on the FACT that teh em ess em has not reported on the material from which the governor’s countertops are crafted, hmmm? I smell a coverup.

    On a related note, Doughy Pantload seems to have shot his estimable wad on the glory of this affair. I believe he might come down with a case of the vapors.

    http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/12/malkin-award-no.html

  43. 43.

    Punchy

    December 10, 2008 at 12:31 pm

    TPM has a photog of Jess Jax Jr.’s mug on its front page, and…holy crap….he’s Carl Lewis Redux.

  44. 44.

    Silver Owl

    December 10, 2008 at 12:37 pm

    Malkin is a mentally messed up lazy loser. Her constant and relentless over the top emotional break downs are tiresome and infantile. She’s an embarassment to people who have reached adulthood.

    I’d rather deal with 20 hormonal teenagers at the same time than Malkin’s immaturity and emotional rants about nothing.

  45. 45.

    Face

    December 10, 2008 at 12:38 pm

    Blagalphabet may be a Democrat, but his hairplug is clearly Independent. Independently all over his forehead, eyebrows, left eye, etc….

    Hell, even the Grand Canyon is jealous of that part he’s sporting on the side of his head.

  46. 46.

    Eric U.

    December 10, 2008 at 12:39 pm

    simple case of projection, as usual. IIRC, Fox has substituted (D) when they should have put R multiple times, not just in Foley’s case.

    on edit: now I know how to make a (R)

  47. 47.

    Napoleon

    December 10, 2008 at 12:40 pm

    Well Obama is calling for Gov B to resign.

  48. 48.

    Church Lady

    December 10, 2008 at 12:44 pm

    @ Tim Fuller-

    Silly, that’s because the "International" in the name is just wishful thinking. You can’t catch a non-stop flight to any other country from Jackson. I’m not sure that you can catch a non-stop from Jackson to anywhere other than Memphis, Atlanta and New Orleans. Memphis finally got a direct flight to Amsterdam a while back and that, combined with a few random flights to Mexico, allows us to rightly have "International" in our airport name. :) I’m not sure, but I don’t think we have a foreign money exchange in our airport either.

    As far as money exchange goes at a bank, we’re in the same boat. It has to be done at a main branch, and they’ll tell you later what dollar amount actually got deposited into your account. We gave up years ago. When Church Husband returns from his trips to China and Hong Kong, bearing an excess of RMB and HKD, we just stick it in a drawer and he takes it with him on his next trip. It’s not worth the hassle to try to exchange it.

    While Jackson is, in fact, hicksville (welcome to my world!), so is every other place that is not New York, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, San Francisco, etc. Unless it is a major gateway city, exchanging foreign currency back into dollars is a problem.

  49. 49.

    The Grand Panjandrum

    December 10, 2008 at 12:46 pm

    More evidence that Obama is connected to this scandal:

    Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs says the president-elect agrees with other prominent politicians in Illinois and elsewhere that "under the current circumstances, it is difficult for the governor to effectively do his job and serve the people of Illinois."

  50. 50.

    Comrade Darkness

    December 10, 2008 at 12:48 pm

    I just found this sign obviously made by a Real American™ that Obama is a Muslin. Now I’m really excited for Jan 20, cuz I could use some new curtains.

  51. 51.

    Incertus

    December 10, 2008 at 12:50 pm

    OT, but ABC News has released the Wright attack ad that never ran. And man, is it a stinking heap of fail.

  52. 52.

    TheHatOnMyCat

    December 10, 2008 at 12:54 pm

    Sure, this looks good until Blago is found dead and they prove that Michelle Obama killed him.

    Look for that late 2009, early 2010 if the maroons are on schedule.

  53. 53.

    HyperIon

    December 10, 2008 at 1:04 pm

    never mind

  54. 54.

    Mr Furious

    December 10, 2008 at 1:07 pm

    This morning, Glenn Beck was lamenting the fact that the lefty blogosphere and elitist MSM wasn’t on Blago like they were on Palin. "Have you heard anyone call this guy stupid?"

    Glenn? Yes. Every goddamn blog I read said something to the effect of "what kind of a fucking moron is this guy?" or "how stupid do you have to be to do this when you know you are under investigation?"

    They then go on to point out how fucking corrupt the guy is and how glad they are to be rid of him.

    Actual media people said about as much minus the f-words.

  55. 55.

    The Grand Panjandrum

    December 10, 2008 at 1:09 pm

    @TheHatOnMyCat:

    Sure, this looks good until Blago is found dead and they prove that Michelle killed him.

    … and find the missing "Whitey" tape in his pocket.

  56. 56.

    Napoleon

    December 10, 2008 at 1:16 pm

    @The Grand Panjandrum:

    … and find the missing "Whitey" tape in his pocket.

    . . . and billing records that were missing from the lawfirm she once worked at.

  57. 57.

    AkaDad

    December 10, 2008 at 1:19 pm

    Until all the headlines say Democrats are worse, I can keep claiming the media has a Liberal bias.

  58. 58.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    December 10, 2008 at 1:22 pm

    Is this a good time to show an awesome music video from Carl Lewis?

    Of course it is!

  59. 59.

    Xecky Gilchrist

    December 10, 2008 at 1:33 pm

    So, Michelle et al, if liberals fail to behave like the rightard caricature of them, you can still play the victim by saying they did. Gotcha.

    Wotta buncha putzes.

  60. 60.

    Dr. Squid

    December 10, 2008 at 1:54 pm

    @Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse:

    You monster!

  61. 61.

    Jay C

    December 10, 2008 at 1:56 pm

    Rod Blagojevich, ist unter Korruptionsverdacht verhaftet worden.

    Sounds a lot more dire in German: those Teutons DO have a way with words…

  62. 62.

    Blue Girl

    December 10, 2008 at 2:18 pm

    There is a distinct possibility that Michelle Malkin is utterly and completely full of shit.

    Hrmmm. Where I hail from, they call that "a given."

  63. 63.

    Balconesfault

    December 10, 2008 at 2:33 pm

    @Mr Furious:

    This morning, Glenn Beck was lamenting the fact that the lefty blogosphere and elitist MSM wasn’t on Blago like they were on Palin. "Have you heard anyone call this guy stupid?"

    I suspect that for his own peace of mind, Glenn Beck has already created a filter that prevents him from hearing or seeing the word stupid when spoken or written by anyone to the left of Red State/Fox News.

  64. 64.

    scarshapedstar

    December 10, 2008 at 2:57 pm

    She doesn’t give a shit, nor do her readers. They just like to smear and sneer at every non-wingnut under the sun. No one will call Malkin out in her blog’s closed-registration cheerleading team echo chamber circle jerk comments because there is no one to do it. She won’t acknowledge your post or anyone else’s calling her out on her BS, she won’t answer emails, she’ll just move on to the next lie as if nothing has happened. Thus, in the wingnuts’ minds, she’s gotten away with it.

    They’ve moved from bitch-slap politics to horse-blinder politics.

  65. 65.

    jake 4 that 1

    December 10, 2008 at 3:26 pm

    @Napoleon: And the fReichtards will call him an arrogant fascist bully in 5…4…3…

  66. 66.

    Tom Hilton

    December 10, 2008 at 3:36 pm

    I’m not sure ‘clown shoes’ is an appropriate tag for this. Maybe you could create a ‘dogshit on the bottom of the clown shoes’ for this and any other Malkin-related posts.

  67. 67.

    VJBinCT

    December 10, 2008 at 3:44 pm

    It surely is time we started to evaluate the legacy of the failed Obama presidency.

  68. 68.

    tomjones

    December 10, 2008 at 3:49 pm

    This probably doesn’t shock anyone, but she’s also challenged by basic facts:

    especially with Blago crony and indicted Obama donor Tony Rezko in the middle of it all

    Rezko has of course been convicted, which is a far cry worse than merely being indicted. And he donated to many, many candidates of both parties, as we were so merrily reminded during the primaries when pictures surfaced of Rezko with the Clintons.

  69. 69.

    Chuck White

    December 10, 2008 at 4:14 pm

    How dare you impugn Michelle MAL-kin! She is the poster-child for accuracy in journalism. You show a "few" stories that contradict her sweeping generalization, then conclude that she’s a stupid fraud. You should be ashamed. Stupid is "in"! Don’t you get it?

    /end snark

  70. 70.

    Kate Henry

    December 10, 2008 at 4:16 pm

    BUCHANAN: I agree he’s a good prosecutor but I have to tell you this case is more serious than anything he ever thought he had on "Scooter" Libby.

    Yessiree. Bribery is a much more serious crime than treason.

  71. 71.

    Mark Shapiro

    December 10, 2008 at 4:30 pm

    Mr. Cole –

    You are showing one of two photos that Fox displayed during the Foley scandal with the "erroneous" caption "Mark Foley, D-FL".

    The other photo showed a black man standing beside Foley (IIRC), while your photo above shows a black man in the background.

    Fox went for the smear trifecta: gay, Democrat, likes black people.

    Once might have been a coincidence, twice looks less coincidental.

  72. 72.

    chodor

    December 10, 2008 at 5:00 pm

    @Smith: There were issues that were ignored due to the media’s obsession with Lewinskygate. But there is too much at stake in the world for us to let the media — and that includes this website — become bogged down in this mess. Unless it comes out the the President-elect is implicated, let Illinois take care of things and get back to what the incoming Administration is going to do about various wars, our economic meltdown, health-care and education reform, global warming and a host of other issues that may not be as juicy and easy to cover because they don’t involve a politician engaging in outrageous, delusional behavior. Please let’s not have the news media lose track of what is really important this time.

  73. 73.

    dalancroft

    December 10, 2008 at 5:32 pm

    About the only thing Malkin has going for her is that she’s cute, and most guys would probably hit on her in a bar if given the chance, regardless of their politics.

  74. 74.

    OniHanzo

    December 10, 2008 at 5:59 pm

    @dalancroft: Up until she opened her mouth.

    No amount of pom-pom shaking can take the edge off of that.

  75. 75.

    Chris Andersen

    December 10, 2008 at 6:10 pm

    Can I just say that I am in awe. I’ve been trying to build a blog for several years now and I just can’t understand how anyone could put together a post this comprehensive in only 15 minutes. It would probably take me half a day. I think that’s one reason I can never keep the blog posting at a steady volume.

    How do you do it?

  76. 76.

    Conservatively Liberal

    December 10, 2008 at 11:39 pm

    John, she said "mainstream newspapers," not "liberal media." Obviously, you need to check the articles in the Washington Times and the NY Post to get that Malkin-esque mainstreaminess.

    Malkin only gets her information via the demons she hears whispering in her ears at night. I heard that she likes to put on a pair of headphones and pipe Rush directly into her empty brain so she is full (of shit) and ready to go in the morning.

    Our Lady of Perpetual Outrage? Full of shit? Perish the thought!

    I bet her eyes are brown. ;)

    Malkin is a mentally messed up lazy loser.

    Her job is to take absolutely nothing and make something out of it. Problem is, it is usually a pile of shit. Well, it would be a problem if her fans didn’t thrive on eating shit. Problem for us is that everyone else has has to endure the odor of shit wafting throughout public discourse afterward. I guess her fans don’t brush their teeth after chowing down on some Malkin because it probably wouldn’t help.

    For some reason, that last sentence made me feel ill.

    It surely is time we started to evaluate the legacy of the failed Obama presidency.

    It would be irresponsible not to speculate! ;)

    But there is too much at stake in the world for us to let the media—and that includes this website—become bogged down in this mess.

    I have to disagree, people like John are doing a service calling this shit out for what it is; something about absolutely nothing. Sound and fury, signifying nothing. John knows this stuff from the inside-out, he is a voice of sanity who escaped the mess the right has become. People Creatures like Malkin, Hannity, Rush and the other crazy nuts out there are not in this for the Republican party, they are in this for themselves. They are not doing the Republican party any favors because they are hateful, divisive and deliberately misleading (read: liars) their constituents.

    Call them out, every single lying wingnut that pulls this shit, call them out. Play whack-a-mole because it is entertaining and points out the liars in the noisy room of public political discourse.

    Granted, John will probably not be able to cover every bit of wingnuttery, that would take SuperBlogger! But he can put a sizable dent in them and I can live with that.

    About the only thing Malkin has going for her is that she’s cute…

    I love brunettes (married one!) and I don’t find Malkin attractive at all. She is not ugly or plain, but she is not attractive either (IMO). If anything, she has a ‘meanness’ that is etched into her face, a kind of bitterness that she expresses without saying a word.

    People who live to disapprove of what others do start to take on characteristics like that. It shows in older, bitter people who have thin lips that are turned down at the corners. Constantly frowning and pressing your lips in consternation will do that to you, over time it burns itself into your face and personality.

    Nice people have happy faces, Michelle ain’t nice.

  77. 77.

    Original Lee

    December 10, 2008 at 11:39 pm

    @Church Lady:

    No, the "International" in the Jackson International Airport is because Mississippi recognizes the sovereignity of Texas. Whoever was governor at the time probably got a suitcase full of oil futures as part of the deal. Also.

  78. 78.

    Daniel

    December 11, 2008 at 1:16 am

    Maybe the WSJ should have written "Mr. Blagojevich (Blah-GOY-uh-vitch), a Democrat (Dee-mock-RAT)".

  79. 79.

    geemoney

    December 11, 2008 at 4:32 am

    Malkin just wishes she was Tila Tequila.

  80. 80.

    Wick

    December 11, 2008 at 7:43 am

    Scalzi had the last word, when he noted that Malkin is "about as familiar with logical thinking as a rainbow trout is with knitting."

    Ya just can’t improve on that.

    John linked to this contemporaneously, but it can’t be enjoyed too often.

  81. 81.

    Grog in Ohio

    December 11, 2008 at 11:18 am

    Another possibility…. Malkin is a complete moron. Just sayin’…

    40 days till the end of the Bush administration.

Comments are closed.

Trackbacks

  1. Balloon Juice » Blog Archive » Fun With Google News says:
    December 10, 2008 at 1:45 pm

    […] A comment in an earlier thread: […]

  2. Rumproast says:
    December 10, 2008 at 2:10 pm

    Time for another Dipshit Alert…

    John Cole’s got the goods on Michelle Malkin’s latest dipshittery.

    MORE: I guess it should come as no surprise that The Effluence’s myiq1/2u, who references Malkin and appropriates her graphics, was spinning the same bullshit yesterd…

  3. Continuous Republican hackery. | Iowa Liberal says:
    December 11, 2008 at 2:57 pm

    […] John Cole, who has my snark but better research and copy-paster skillz, debunks this so hard every Republican who has echoed this meme should be issued a tampon for their bleeding rectum. The only question left is, “What can make the stupid stop?” […]

  4. Brief Essays With Pictures » Blog Archive » Don’t Argue With The Tide says:
    December 12, 2008 at 3:00 am

    […] you can imagine, he found absolutely the opposite of Malkin’s claim; every publication was identifying Blagojevich as a Democrat. Every single one. In fact, if pressed […]

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