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You are here: Home / Union Thugs 1, Breitbart and the Clown Parade 0

Union Thugs 1, Breitbart and the Clown Parade 0

by John Cole|  July 13, 201111:29 am| 100 Comments

This post is in: Assholes, Blatant Liars and the Lies They Tell, Our Failed Media Experiment

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Remember this nonsense:

It took a St. Louis County jury less than 50 minutes to return a not guilty verdict in the assault trial featuring Kenneth Gladney and two union members who were charged with attacking him outside a two hall event during the tumultuous summer of 2009.

The altercation itself was regrettable and was over almost before it began: the type of heated scuffle that happens countless times everyday in this crowded country, and everyday people move on with their lives.

But because this particular clash was captured on tape, and because Tea Party members went bonkers hyping it, and because right-wing media carnival barkers like Dana Loesch and Andrew Breitbart operate with no moral compass, the Gladney story blew up overnight and became a (demented) cause celebre among hardcore conservatives who hatched a weird fantasy about run-away union violence in America, not withstanding what was captured on the Gladney tape.

It’s difficult to capture just how madly the right-wing media overreacted to this story, doing its best to blow it up into a seismic, Rodney King-type of event. Fox New aired at least 20 segments mentioning Gladney, according to Nexis. Glenn Beck obsessed over the story. Breitbart penned a “I Am Kenneth Gladney” column in solidarity for the Washington Times. And CNN’s Lou Dobbs played dumb on the massive scale while hosting Gladney.

In the end, all the right-wing press had to show for their efforts were not guilty verdicts stemming from misdemeanor charges.

Indeed, the glaring problem with the Gladney tale was that rather than being savagely beaten and kicked, which is how right-wing bloggers breathlessly relayed the “brutal” tale, if you watched the videotape, Gladney appeared unharmed from the one or two seconds he was on the ground. He quickly sprang to his feet and was seen calmly discussing the aftermath of the scuffle with a police officer. (It was actually one of the “union thugs” who suffered a fractured shoulder during the dust-up.)

Someone ready some thorazine for Dana Loesch and Jim Hoft.

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Reader Interactions

100Comments

  1. 1.

    Tom Hilton

    July 13, 2011 at 11:32 am

    Jim Hoft, who couldn’t pass a Turing Test with 6 months of Kaplan and a 50-point bonus, had a headline yesterday saying “SEIU thugs cleared”. Um…if they’ve been cleared, then doesn’t that kind of make them not thugs?

    Just asking…

  2. 2.

    Dave

    July 13, 2011 at 11:32 am

    It took the jury all of 40 minutes to return the verdict.

  3. 3.

    someguy

    July 13, 2011 at 11:37 am

    Somebody needs to hire those two guys and send them to some other tea party protests.

  4. 4.

    Chris

    July 13, 2011 at 11:40 am

    Wait… no, I actually don’t remember this, Wikipedia yields no clue on the subject, and Google mostly links to right wing websites talking about how union thugs beat and hospitalized a guy.

    If it’s not too much trouble… what happened?

  5. 5.

    gocart mozart

    July 13, 2011 at 11:41 am

    It took the jury all of 40 minutes to return the verdict.

    30 minutes for introductions and to pick a foreman and then a quick vote ;)

  6. 6.

    Han's Solo

    July 13, 2011 at 11:42 am

    This kind of thing is why I don’t worry about the Right’s reaction should the DOJ go after Fox.

    Will the Right poop its pants? Yes, of course they will. But look at them, they’ve had a loaded underwear hammock for decades. They’ve become the boy that cried wolf.

  7. 7.

    Dennis SGMM

    July 13, 2011 at 11:43 am

    I take it as a given that Gladney has given up his wheelchair. I further take it as a given that now that his usefulness as a prop is over it’s “Kenneth who?” with the wingers.

  8. 8.

    Chris

    July 13, 2011 at 11:47 am

    Okay, never mind. Found enough of the story that it seems the appropriate conclusion is this quote from Boondock Saints:

    “It was a fucking bar fight! You guys are fucking p***ies!”

    Will the Right poop its pants? Yes, of course they will. But look at them, they’ve had a loaded underwear hammock for decades. They’ve become the boy that cried wolf.

    The case hasn’t gotten as much attention as all that, and I suspect most wingnuts will simply conclude “liberal activist judges” and go on convinced that Gladney endured a savage crucifixion for his faith.

  9. 9.

    gocart mozart

    July 13, 2011 at 11:47 am

    If it’s not too much trouble… what happened?

    A brief scuffle followed by much rendering of garments and fake outrage or as they refer to it in winguttia, a typical news day.

  10. 10.

    Davis X. Machina

    July 13, 2011 at 11:50 am

    @Dave: Did they stay out just long enough to have the county buy lunch? I was on a jury once that did that….

  11. 11.

    gocart mozart

    July 13, 2011 at 11:51 am

    Wasn’t Gladney pretending to be so injured because of the incident that he had to be in a wheelchair? What happened with that?

  12. 12.

    Davis X. Machina

    July 13, 2011 at 11:51 am

    loaded underwear hammock

    Band name. Three band names, actually: LW, UH, and LUH…..

    What do I know, though? It wasn’t until they broke up that I found out that Sleater-Kinney didn’t have guys in it named ‘Sleater’ and ‘Kinney’….

  13. 13.

    Dave

    July 13, 2011 at 11:52 am

    @ 10 – Davis X. Machina

    I don’t know. But if I had to listen to this B.S. case, I would have made sure to get a meal out of it.

  14. 14.

    gocart mozart

    July 13, 2011 at 11:54 am

    This kind of thing is why I don’t worry about the Right’s reaction should the DOJ go after Fox.

    How long before they start calling Rupert Murdock a liberal?

  15. 15.

    jwest

    July 13, 2011 at 12:01 pm

    Didn’t someone pass a law that said mobs shouldn’t beat black people?

  16. 16.

    El Cid

    July 13, 2011 at 12:04 pm

    Activist judges!

  17. 17.

    joeyess

    July 13, 2011 at 12:05 pm

    I had a little twitter-to-do with Dana last night.

    That her response to this tweet.

    Of course I had to respond. It was like catnip,again and again

  18. 18.

    gocart mozart

    July 13, 2011 at 12:06 pm

    Stay on topic jwest. We’re talking about Kenneth Gladney.

  19. 19.

    Han's Solo

    July 13, 2011 at 12:07 pm

    OT:

    Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) writes:

    I am writing to express my deep concern regarding allegations that News Corporation and its subsidiaries bribed foreign law enforcement officials for information to advance their business interests. If true, these allegations may be a violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977. […] Further investigation may reveal that current reports only scratch the surface of the problem at News Corporation. Accordingly, I am requesting that the DOJ and the SEC examine these circumstances and determine whether U.S. laws have been violated.

  20. 20.

    Chris

    July 13, 2011 at 12:07 pm

    Didn’t someone pass a law that said mobs shouldn’t beat black people?

    Yeah. And you guys called it government overreach.

  21. 21.

    Martin

    July 13, 2011 at 12:10 pm

    Activist juries! This and Anthony prove that the courts can’t be trusted, and all suspected criminals should face field executions.

    /wingnut

  22. 22.

    jwest

    July 13, 2011 at 12:11 pm

    Gocart Mozart,

    I’m sorry, isn’t the topic the fact that union thugs were found not guilty of beating a black man? I assume there are laws against that.

    There are laws against mothers killing their children and hiding their bodies, but juries also let them off too.

  23. 23.

    gene108

    July 13, 2011 at 12:11 pm

    Union Thugs 1, Breitbart and the Clown Parade 0 Breitbart and the Clown Parade 1, Union Thugs 0

    FTFY.

    Right-wing media got some mileage out of the incident. That’s all they needed from it.

    They just needed to get some guys, who might be sympathetic to factory workers and other blue collar types, to start thinking about them as “Union Thugs” and not working class Americans.

    It worked.

    It took the notion that people in Unions are lazy and have an entitlement mentality, when it comes to work and wages and kicked it up a notch by now sticking the thug label on them.

    Since we all know unions have a long history of working with the mafia, I think a lot of people weren’t surprised the “SEIU Union Thugs” were using mafia like tactics across America in townhall meeting after townhall meeting, in 2009.

    The facts on the ground, especially 2 years later, mean nothing.

    How frothy the right-wing nuts get whipped up, at this very moment, by the right-wing media wurlitzer is all that matters.

    They got their mileage out of it in 2009 and 2010 and 2011, with the union bashing bills floating around many states.

    What happens 2 years later is irrelevant.

  24. 24.

    Scott

    July 13, 2011 at 12:15 pm

    jwest: Crazy thing, but you don’t get to jail someone for something they didn’t do.

  25. 25.

    trollhattan

    July 13, 2011 at 12:16 pm

    It just goes to show, foot-on-head-on-curb is the prefered method for dealing with rabble, also, too.

    Has Rand Paul given that guy a staff position yet?

  26. 26.

    kay

    July 13, 2011 at 12:17 pm

    jwest

    Conservative bloggers and media personalities wasted two years of city resources on a trumped-up incident that ended with a misdemeanor charge, and an aquittal on even that.

    Earlier, Gladney had complained that the delay in scheduling a trial was “political” and he pointed the blame at Reddington and fellow Democrat, County Executive Charlie Dooley. Reddington countered that the delay was caused soley by the defendant’s request for a jury trial. Her municipal court system has no jurors, so she had to work with he state courts to set up a court room and a jury, Reddington said

    She doesn’t have a jury set up or a courtroom. That’s because she’s a municipal prosecutor, and this is a minor charge. The defendants demanded a jury trial (which they’re entitled to if there’s any chance of incarceration) and she had to borrow the whole apparatus from the county.

    Conservative activists and media personalities owe the people who live there some money, and everyone who had anything to do with this in that town knows it. Two years.

    Stop wasting our time and money with your dumb-ass wholly political PR campaigns. That’s not what courts are for.

  27. 27.

    BGinCHI

    July 13, 2011 at 12:19 pm

    Hoft needs to just leave these poor people alone.

    After all, they don’t go to where he works and knock the dicks out of his mouth.

  28. 28.

    Svensker

    July 13, 2011 at 12:20 pm

    isn’t the topic the fact that union thugs were found not guilty of beating a black man

    Which fact? That the union people are thugs? This is a fact? You know this how?

    Do you think they were guilty? If so, why did the jury find them not guilty, in under an hour?

    If you have any facts, please present them. Assertions and smears, line up at the right.

  29. 29.

    jwest

    July 13, 2011 at 12:21 pm

    Gocart Mozart,

    Also, while trying desperately to stay on topic, I’m intrigued by the “brief scuffle” remark.

    What is the approximate time range that future mobs can beat on black people without fear of conviction? Is it a combination of time and intensity? If you just smack him around instead of pounding on him, can you get away with doing it longer?

    I don’t believe the argument you’ve made has been used since the early ‘60s, but it’s a safe bet that the Klan will be linking to you to help justify their actions.

  30. 30.

    BGinCHI

    July 13, 2011 at 12:23 pm

    Stop feeding the stupid troll.

  31. 31.

    WereBear

    July 13, 2011 at 12:23 pm

    This won’t be covered on Fox News. So it won’t happen.

    Anyone starting a petition drive or anything? Nudge the DOJ to investigate Fox? I’m in.

  32. 32.

    Scott

    July 13, 2011 at 12:24 pm

    Let us no longer feed the racist and morals-bereft troll, por favor.

  33. 33.

    Citizen_X

    July 13, 2011 at 12:25 pm

    Stop wasting our time and money with your dumb-ass wholly political PR campaigns.

    Oh what, kay, like the GOP would start all kinds of Major Drama over a routine act like raising the debt limit, then pass it anyway? Like they would campaign against lightbulb efficiency laws that they themselves passed and signed? Please be serious.

  34. 34.

    Ash Can

    July 13, 2011 at 12:29 pm

    @kay: It’s never a waste of public money when 1) it’s used to advance their ideology, and 2) it’s someone else’s tax money in the first place.

  35. 35.

    kay

    July 13, 2011 at 12:32 pm

    jwest

    The charge should have been a tipoff, jwest. Conservative bloggers and media personalities sold you a load of crap.

    Next time, read the newspaper yourself, it’ll save you two years.

    The two were charged with assaulting a person and interfering with police, both ordinance violations. The interfering with police charges were dropped and the trial was for assault charge, for which they could have each faced up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

    They charge is an “ordinance violation”. The only reason there was a trial at all was because there’s a (remote) possibility of incarceration. They went all the way to trial because they didn’t want to even give conservatives the satisfaction of a plea to disorderly and a fine.

  36. 36.

    joeyess

    July 13, 2011 at 12:33 pm

    @jwest:

    I’m not even going to bother with the acronym.

    Shut the fuck up, you asshole.

  37. 37.

    gocart mozart

    July 13, 2011 at 12:36 pm

    Also, while trying desperately to stay on topic,
    I’m intrigued by the “brief scuffle” remark.

    Given the fact that the video is inclusive, we can’t tell who or how the fight started, the only person injured was a union guy, and the entire incident took about two seconds, I’m intrigued as to why you insist on playing the race card. Why is it always blame whitey with you people?

    What is the approximate time range that future mobs can beat on black people without fear of conviction.

    See “King, Rodney, re: beating” for an important precedent.

  38. 38.

    jwest

    July 13, 2011 at 12:36 pm

    Kay,

    So the union thugs were beating on this guy in a “No Black Beating Zone”?

  39. 39.

    joeyess

    July 13, 2011 at 12:36 pm

    @Werebear: ayup

  40. 40.

    gbear

    July 13, 2011 at 12:37 pm

    OT: MillerCoors bites the dust in MN:

    The state’s government shutdown, now in its 13th day, will soon force MillerCoors to pull all of its beer from Minnesota liquor stores, bars and restaurants. A state official says the mass exodus of products like Coors Light, Miller Lite and Blue Moon will begin imminently.
    MillerCoors must remove the product because they did not renew their brand label registration with the state before the shutdown began, Neville said. By law, brewers must renew those registrations — which show the label on each brand of beer — every three years.
    The company tried to renew in mid-June, but the process got delayed when they wrote a check for too much money.
    Neville said his agency has asked MillerCoors to develop a plan to remove the product from shelves and cease their distribution. He added that Anheuser-Busch will face a similar problem if the shutdown extends to October.

  41. 41.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    July 13, 2011 at 12:38 pm

    ACTIVIST JURY!!

    Did we elect that jury? NO!!!

    You know who else relied on the courts to acquit his thugs?

    HITLER!

  42. 42.

    jwest

    July 13, 2011 at 12:39 pm

    Svensker,

    “Do you think they were guilty? If so, why did the jury find them not guilty, in under an hour?”

    There are hundreds of examples of juries acquitting thugs for violence against blacks. I feel like Atticus Finch explaining how things are to Scout.

  43. 43.

    kay

    July 13, 2011 at 12:40 pm

    Oh what, kay, like the GOP would start all kinds of Major Drama over a routine act like raising the debt limit, then pass it anyway?

    I love the dramatic language on the Right wing sites. This was the trial of the century, apparently.

    They’re idiots. It’s exactly the same as the insane dentist-lawyer in California. Now courts are just one more Right wing media newsroom, “on remote”. They don’t just cover trials, conservative media, they create them. There’s no line between creating news and reporting news. They do both.

  44. 44.

    kay

    July 13, 2011 at 12:46 pm

    Kay,So the union thugs were beating on this guy in a “No Black Beating Zone”?

    jwest, you got played. Next time, just look at the charge and ignore conservative media personalities. The “beating” you are insisting occurred isn’t a violation of an ordinance, it’s a felony, so that means you’re way off. Again, you could have saved a lot of time and anguish, had you just read the newspaper.

  45. 45.

    Linda Featheringill

    July 13, 2011 at 12:48 pm

    From TPM:

    http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/07/murray-to-gop-threatening-seniors-social-security-checks-is-frightening.php?ref=fpb

    Recalling the warnings the Obama administration sent to the military and “non-essential” government employees earlier this year when talks broke down over imposing new cuts to this year’s spending bills, Cornyn said the Obama administration could use the resources of the executive branch to send letters to Social Security and Medicare recipients, federal employees and the military in the days ahead warning them they might not receive their salaries or benefits.

    I hadn’t thought of doing that. Thanks for the idea, Cornyn!

    It probably won’t happen but the very idea of it brought a smile to my lips.

  46. 46.

    jwest

    July 13, 2011 at 12:49 pm

    Gocart Mozart,

    “…we can’t tell who or how the fight started…”

    How many times do you think juries in 1960 Mississippi heard this line? As you apparently believe, it’s perfectly understandable that the lone black man would attack the group of large white men.

    Why, you know how they just can’t control themselves.

  47. 47.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    July 13, 2011 at 12:50 pm

    jwest @

    There are hundreds of examples of juries acquitting thugs for violence against blacks. I feel like Atticus Finch explaining how things are to Scout.

    Maybe the conservatives should take it to the streets and demand NO PEACE IF NO JUSTICE like they famously did with Rodney King.

    Meanwhile at what income level does blackman become a REAL American?

  48. 48.

    Bubblegum Tate

    July 13, 2011 at 12:55 pm

    @ Tom Hilton:

    Um…if they’ve been cleared, then doesn’t that kind of make them not thugs?

    Well, yes, if you’re sticking to the actual definition of the word “thug.” But that’s not what wingnuts mean when they use the word; it’s just a necessary term for them. All union members are thugs in WIngnuttia because being in a union by definition means you are thuggish. It’s like how the WWE calls its wrestlers “superstars” regardless of their actual superstar status (or lack thereof).

  49. 49.

    Gustopher

    July 13, 2011 at 12:57 pm

    Someday, when we turn the real Union Thugs out, the right wing will look at this incident with fondness and nostalgia for their own naivete.

    Live in fear, right wing! Live in fear! The Union Thugs are coming!

  50. 50.

    tbogg

    July 13, 2011 at 12:57 pm

    As you apparently believe, it’s perfectly understandable that the lone black man would attack the group of large white men

    One of the “attackers” of Gladney was a black man, a minister at that.

    Do try to keep up. Moron.

  51. 51.

    Chris

    July 13, 2011 at 1:00 pm

    Since we all know unions have a long history of working with the mafia, I think a lot of people weren’t surprised the “SEIU Union Thugs” were using mafia like tactics across America in townhall meeting after townhall meeting, in 2009.

    To be more precise, unions have a history of turning to the only available people when they’re getting shot by their bosses and the authorities supposedly there to enforce the law either join in or look the other way. Thus joining a long line of people who sought help outside the law because the law itself wasn’t doing its job.

    Once they got a fair hearing from the government (1930s and after), a lot of unions got out from under the mob’s wings fairly quickly. As I recall, Republicans were desperately investigating Walter Reuther in the 1950s for even a hint of corruption or malfeasance, and couldn’t find a damn thing anywhere.

    (No doubt that’s just proof that the thug was REALLY Mafia tied, because if you can’t find any evidence that’s just further proof of the conspiracy. Or something).

    Oh, and fuck the Mafia, and all other organized criminals, but to be fair, not all of them can be licensed criminals like the Pinkertons.

  52. 52.

    Bubblegum Tate

    July 13, 2011 at 1:00 pm

    I have to admit, I do find it funny when wingnuts pretend to care about Black people.

  53. 53.

    kay

    July 13, 2011 at 1:01 pm

    jwest

    It was the prosecutors first and only jury trial. Ahem. Any of this starting to come clear to you yet? Just an inkling that perhaps the extent of this crime was dishonestly portrayed by Glenn Beck?

  54. 54.

    Chris

    July 13, 2011 at 1:01 pm

    @ Gustopher,

    Someday, when we turn the real Union Thugs out, the right wing will look at this incident with fondness and nostalgia for their own naivete.

    It’s always entertained me how they manage to simultaneously believe that we’re dainty, faggy pansies who’ve never had the balls to throw a punch in our lives, and terrifying hardened “thugs” who would rape and kill them all if we had even the slightest chance.

  55. 55.

    Svensker

    July 13, 2011 at 1:06 pm

    “Do you think they were guilty? If so, why did the jury find them not guilty, in under an hour?”
    There are hundreds of examples of juries acquitting thugs for violence against blacks. I feel like Atticus Finch explaining how things are to Scout.

    Odd, you don’t look like Atticus.

    So you think the union guys were definitely guilty? Based on what? And that the jury was prejudiced against blacks? Based on what?

  56. 56.

    13th Generation

    July 13, 2011 at 1:08 pm

    @Kay

    Kay, you can’t reason with someone when they have their fingers in their ears going NAH NAH NAH NAH I can’t hear you!

    Good effort, though.

  57. 57.

    Chris

    July 13, 2011 at 1:14 pm

    One of the “attackers” of Gladney was a black man, a minister at that.

    Good LORD. That’s certainly something the Glenn Beck types were careful to omit when describing the whole scene as a racist union lynch mob.

    So to recapitulate, “a large crowd” means two people, “a white crowd” means half of it was black, “a beating” means a fight in which the only person seriously injured was one of the alleged beaters. Am I going to need a Newspeak-to-English dictionary every time one of those trolls opens his mouth?

  58. 58.

    kay

    July 13, 2011 at 1:17 pm

    Kay, you can’t reason with someone when they have their fingers in their ears going NAH NAH NAH NAH I can’t hear you! Good effort, though.

    Oh, thank you. I’m just playing around with him. I (personally) think they’re all rattled and nervous over the spectacular Murdoch implosion plus their complete and utter capitulation on fiscal conservatism, so I’m enjoying that on my lunch hour :)

  59. 59.

    jwest

    July 13, 2011 at 1:17 pm

    Tbogg,

    “One of the “attackers” of Gladney was a black man…”

    That explains it. Gladney, a small businessman who was advocating for smaller government, lower taxes and less regulation was perceived as being a traitor to his race by the black union thug.

    How could anyone fault him for delivering the beating Gladney so richly deserved?

  60. 60.

    Ash Can

    July 13, 2011 at 1:19 pm

    @Bubblegum Tate:

    I have to admit, I do find it funny when wingnuts pretend to care about Black people.

    I know. Isn’t it precious?

    Shorter jwest: LOOKIT ME EVERYBODY IM NOT A RACIST IM NOT A RACIST IM NOT A RACIST AND ALL OF YOU ARE BECAUSE I SAY SO HAHAHAHAHA

  61. 61.

    quannlace

    July 13, 2011 at 1:21 pm

    I don’t know. But if I had to listen to this B.S. case, I would have made sure to get a meal out of it.

    Damn, at least a sandwich!

  62. 62.

    Chyron HR

    July 13, 2011 at 1:22 pm

    Total time for j “Atticus Finch” west to start ranting about “black thugs”: 68 minutes.

  63. 63.

    Dennis SGMM

    July 13, 2011 at 1:22 pm

    jwest – July 13, 2011 | 1:17 pm · Link
    It may look like I talk about pies a lot, but I’m actually restraining myself from bringing them up more often. They’re that good!

  64. 64.

    Chris

    July 13, 2011 at 1:23 pm

    Shorter jwest: LOOKIT ME EVERYBODY IM NOT A RACIST IM NOT A RACIST IM NOT A RACIST AND ALL OF YOU ARE BECAUSE I SAY SO HAHAHAHAHA

    You have to admit, “HAH! You people are racist TOO!!!” is a much easier trick than actually trying to convince the public that your side isn’t racist.

    Someone’s mommy never taught them that “other people do it too” isn’t a defense even when it’s true.

  65. 65.

    Svensker

    July 13, 2011 at 1:32 pm

    That explains it. Gladney, a small businessman who was advocating for smaller government, lower taxes and less regulation was perceived as being a traitor to his race by the black union thug.

    OK, that tears it. Jwest = DougJ. Spoof troll! (If you’re not a spoof troll/DougJ and are serious, then you need to be careful anytime you walk by someone holding a graham cracker and some chocolate because they’ll be making S’mores out of your brain in a NY minit.)

  66. 66.

    Ash Can

    July 13, 2011 at 1:34 pm

    @Chris: I’d love to see this fine Champion of Black People’s Causes show up in the comment thread of one of ABL’s posts on racism. It’d be like watching a matchup between Tunch and a sardine.

    ETA @Svensker: This crossed my mind too, if only because of the sheer over-the-top hilarity of that last comment. I know troll-feeding is frowned upon, but I can’t help it; this one is making me laugh.

  67. 67.

    ThatLeftTurnInABQ

    July 13, 2011 at 1:36 pm

    @Chris #63:

    You have to admit, “HAH! You people are racist TOO” is a much easier trick than actually trying to convince the public that your side isn’t racist.

    With the added bonus of making it harder for real victims of actual racism to obtain justice by clouding the air with chaff.

    I’m Brian of Nazareth, and so is my wife!

  68. 68.

    bemused

    July 13, 2011 at 1:46 pm

    gbear@39

    Thanks for the heads up. I don’t drink any of those but I will send this on to people who do.

    I’m thinking there will be a lot of people calling their legislators when they can’t buy their favorite brew, people that have never called one in their whole lives.

  69. 69.

    The Moar You Know

    July 13, 2011 at 1:49 pm

    I know that jwest’s side has never considered the following, but they really should: if they push the good working class of this nation any further into the abyss, they may actually get to experience real union thugs. You think this was an act of violence?

    I’d submit if that’s the case you don’t know what an act of violence is.

  70. 70.

    Chris

    July 13, 2011 at 1:56 pm

    I’d submit if that’s the case you don’t know what an act of violence is.

    You just uncovered one of the central truths about the average conservative voter. One that largely explains why their rhetoric is so over-the-top and completely divorced from reality.

  71. 71.

    Dennis SGMM

    July 13, 2011 at 1:56 pm

    @The Moar You Know

    Haymarket, Pullman, Rouge River…

  72. 72.

    Bubblegum Tate

    July 13, 2011 at 1:58 pm

    It’s always entertained me how they manage to simultaneously believe that we’re dainty, faggy pansies who’ve never had the balls to throw a punch in our lives, and terrifying hardened “thugs” who would rape and kill them all if we had even the slightest chance.

    It’s like how they simultaneously believe that Obama is a empty-suit/puppet as well as a brutal, tyrannical dictator.

  73. 73.

    General Stuck

    July 13, 2011 at 2:06 pm

    Everybody relax. Bloody Bill has this and makes some lemonade sweetened with today’s delivery of wingnut Zen.

    But even if it created a bad news day yesterday for Republicans, the good news is that it’s already yesterday’s news.

    Man, that is deep. So the good news is it is today, instead of yesterday. They say time heals all wounds and turns morons into geniuses. Well, not really, that last part. But one day is kind of short notice for the wounds to scab over.

    Especially, when today and tomorrow will be run by these folks according to Kristol.

    it’s House Republicans—not Senate minority leader McConnell—who will control tomorrow’s news.

    Whew! Finally, shit will be back in the protective bosom of wizards like Michelle Bachmann, and the rest of the tea tard gang, to rescue republicans from doing stupid shit.

    There is more to the deep well of Bloody Bill’s wisdomery.

    Then they have three paths (which aren’t mutually exclusive, and could be approached all at once or sequentially).

    That will be like giving the Three Stooges their own hospital to perform brane surgery without a license. What could possibly go wrong.

    The problem the wingnuts have, is a failure to understand they only control 1/3 of the legislative three legged stool. and wonder why they keep falling over. If they had the senate, then they could do these power politics with Obama and have some chance of more success, though limited by their limitless stupidity. But as it is, leading with their chin, and a planetary size sense of entitlement, pretty much melts into irrelevance with the cold hard numbers of the sausage maker. It doesn’t know that Obama is black and stealing the white man’s country. And it doesn’t care about republican butthurt. It just is, and has certain requirements to be used successfully by one party or another, and hissy fits will get you nowhere. But that is proportional to how much of it they control. With the WH, and its veto power mostly ruling the roost.

  74. 74.

    Svensker

    July 13, 2011 at 2:15 pm

    It’s like how they simultaneously believe that Obama is a empty-suit/puppet as well as a brutal, tyrannical dictator.

    As well as, the U.S. DOES NOT torture! How dare you say that! Besides those damn Mooslins deserve to be tortured because otherwise we’ll all die, so damn right we torture!

    I really should get to work, shouldn’t I? Where’s the Caribbean beach when I need it?

  75. 75.

    Joel

    July 13, 2011 at 2:21 pm

    @troll:

    Gladney’s race is basically irrelevant. The guy is pure clownshoes. Frankly, the only people who should be delivering his beatings are Larry and Moe. Of course he is emblematic of the entire clownshoes conservative movement, right up to this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezUrzdTWsDY

  76. 76.

    EconWatcher

    July 13, 2011 at 2:21 pm

    Kay, I say this will all respect: as a front-pager, you especially should not be feeding the troll. I know troll-feeding is a tradition around here and all, but we need some leadership on the issue.

  77. 77.

    ArchPundit

    July 13, 2011 at 2:25 pm

    ==That explains it. Gladney, a small businessman who was advocating for smaller government, lower taxes and less regulation was perceived as being a traitor to his race by the black union thug.

    Is small businessman the name we use for guy hired to sell buttons by con artist who turned into his lawyer later? Gladney was hired by a clown who sells buttons and other political trinkets to both conservatives and liberals. The clown then took Gladney for a ride trying to make the incident into a money making opportunity for both.

    Now, the jury that saw the evidence didn’t say that there wasn’t a fight, it said that McCowan and Molens were not guilty of the charge. Given some accounts claimed Gladney slapped McCowan first, this seems to be a reasonable decision.

  78. 78.

    Ben Cisco

    July 13, 2011 at 2:26 pm

    @General Stuck: Damn, that is some stupid shit. How does this man not fall down every flight of stairs he approaches?

  79. 79.

    ArchPundit

    July 13, 2011 at 2:30 pm

    ==Gladney’s race is basically irrelevant. The guy is pure clownshoes.

    This is pretty much right. Gladney showed up to the ‘rally’ in front of the SEIU HQ after this in a wheelchair. There was nothing to suggest he was hurt that bad. However, now he is walking around in a neck brace which he didn’t have after the incident a couple years ago almost now.

  80. 80.

    Thoughtful Black Co-Citizen

    July 13, 2011 at 2:30 pm

    Clearly this and the verdict in Flordia v. Anthony are all the proof we need that American justice system is completely corrupt!1

    /fReichtard.

    $50 says at least one wingnut attempts to conduct counter-intelligence on the jury members.

  81. 81.

    burnspbesq

    July 13, 2011 at 2:32 pm

    Juries have a tendency to get it right.

  82. 82.

    Bender

    July 13, 2011 at 2:42 pm

    Finally! Balloon Juice stands up for the rights of 6’4″ 250-lbs. Union Goons to beat down 5′ 6″ black people selling flag pins!

    Standing up for The Little Guy!

  83. 83.

    Bender

    July 13, 2011 at 2:42 pm

    Juries have a tendency to get it right.

    You got that right!

    Love,
    Orenthal

  84. 84.

    jwest

    July 13, 2011 at 2:47 pm

    Bender,

    Let’s not be unfair here.

    Balloon Juice supports violence against anyone who doesn’t think as they do, regardless of race, religion or national origin.

    That’s the American Way.

  85. 85.

    Davis X. Machina

    July 13, 2011 at 2:47 pm

    @The Moar You Know: It’s a long list. Just this week, Lawyers, Guns and Money has had commemorations for the confrontations at Bisbee, Arizona in 1917, and Homestead PA in 1892.

  86. 86.

    ArchPundit

    July 13, 2011 at 2:49 pm

    ==Finally! Balloon Juice stands up for the rights of 6’4” 250-lbs. Union Goons to beat down 5’ 6” black people selling flag pins!

    You forgot elderly and disabled for McCowan, but that might be inconvenient for you.

  87. 87.

    Tony J

    July 13, 2011 at 3:02 pm

    You know the butt is hurt unto bleeding and flaky scabs when the trolls turn up.

    Oh, they do not like the way this looks. Not a little bit. Time for some TV-trained wingninja to carve an O on Gladney’s face and give the brethren an excuse to scream “Reprisal!” at the top of their lungs.

  88. 88.

    Chris

    July 13, 2011 at 3:04 pm

    You know the butt is hurt unto bleeding and flaky scabs when the trolls turn up.

    And you know it’s REALLY hurt when they start calling in sock puppets for reinforcements.

  89. 89.

    Bubblegum Tate

    July 13, 2011 at 3:11 pm

    Is it just me, or is everybody who willingly gives themselves the title of “pundit” a total fucking idiot?

  90. 90.

    Tony J

    July 13, 2011 at 3:17 pm

    Chris,

    I know, it’s like “Taking one for the team” is all they can hope for out of life.

    “We held that hill. And though it fell, in our hearts we hold it still. Inviolate. Unchanged. Truthy.”

    Mummy should have held them more, Daddy somewhat less. But that’s not where they are.

  91. 91.

    Tony J

    July 13, 2011 at 3:21 pm

    Bubblegum Tate,

    All the people in that self-selecting group certainly seem to qualify, so no, it’s not just you.

  92. 92.

    Nom de Plume

    July 13, 2011 at 3:23 pm

    It’s difficult to capture just how madly the right-wing media overreacted to this story

    Not difficult at all, given some of the reactions we’re seeing in this very thread. Lots of “A black man was beaten!” nonsense, which is in direct contradiction to what can clearly be seen on the tape, which is why the jury probably rolled their eyes at each other and played charades for 39 minutes before they got around to voting.

    What’s difficult to overstate is just how accomplished wingnuts are at ignoring evidence that is right in front of their faces.

  93. 93.

    ArchPundit

    July 13, 2011 at 3:29 pm

    ===Is it just me, or is everybody who willingly gives themselves the title of “pundit” a total fucking idiot?

    Did I do something to piss you off?

  94. 94.

    Chet

    July 13, 2011 at 3:30 pm

    @ Chris (#53):

    It’s always entertained me how they manage to simultaneously believe that we’re dainty, faggy pansies who’ve never had the balls to throw a punch in our lives, and terrifying hardened “thugs” who would rape and kill them all if we had even the slightest chance.

    In the wingnut mind, the Dems are an hourglass coalition with latte-sipping metrosexual elitists (and/or Jews) on top and scary black/brown/poor people below. Clearly, the idea is that the fomer outsource their dirty work to the latter.

  95. 95.

    Rathskeller

    July 13, 2011 at 4:11 pm

    Chet::

    In the wingnut mind, the Dems are an hourglass coalition with latte-sipping metrosexual elitists (and/or Jews) on top and scary black/brown/poor people below.

    Actually, that’s explicitly part of the Turner Diaries. Evil, semitic thugs are the brains and black men are the brawn as they tear away guns and rights from the righteous white men. It’s like all the racist caricatures at once.

  96. 96.

    Chris

    July 13, 2011 at 4:19 pm

    In the wingnut mind, the Dems are an hourglass coalition with latte-sipping metrosexual elitists (and/or Jews) on top and scary black/brown/poor people below. Clearly, the idea is that the fomer outsource their dirty work to the latter.

    But then, which is Obama? He’s a latte-sipping metrosexual elitist, clearly…

    … but… but… but… but… HE’S BLECK!!

  97. 97.

    Chris

    July 13, 2011 at 4:21 pm

    Actually, that’s explicitly part of the Turner Diaries. Evil, semitic thugs are the brains and black men are the brawn as they tear away guns and rights from the righteous white men. It’s like all the racist caricatures at once.

    Alternate Eighties movie reference;

    “White men! White women! The swastika is calling you. The sacred and ancient symbol of your race, since the beginning of time. The Jew is using The Black as muscle against you. And you are left there helpless. Well, what are you going to do about it, Whitey? Just sit there? Of course not! You are going to join with us. The members of the American Soçialist White Peoples’ Party. An organization of decent, law abiding white folk. Just like you!”
    “Illinois Nazis. I hate Illinois Nazis.”

  98. 98.

    Bubblegum Tate

    July 13, 2011 at 7:56 pm

    @ Arch Pundit:

    You know what? My bad, and my apologies. I didn’t realize that you were quoting a troll with the line about “the rights of union goons to beat down people selling flag pins,” and I thought you were in the Gateway Pundit/Instapundit vein.

  99. 99.

    ArchPundit

    July 13, 2011 at 8:11 pm

    LOL–I actually chose pundit years ago–I’ve been blogging for 10 years and it was sort of ironic at the time. Now, you aren’t so wrong. I was just confused what I’d done to piss people off.

  100. 100.

    Royston Vasey

    July 14, 2011 at 1:13 am

    @chris 97.

    Yay! Blues Brothers!

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