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Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Hell hath no fury like a farmer bankrupted.

Republican also-rans: four mules fighting over a turnip.

If you still can’t see these things even now, maybe politics isn’t your forte and you should stop writing about it.

All hail the time of the bunny!

Celebrate the fucking wins.

Books are my comfort food!

It’s always darkest before the other shoe drops.

Anyone who bans teaching American history has no right to shape America’s future.

The low info voters probably won’t even notice or remember by their next lap around the goldfish bowl.

Not all heroes wear capes.

Peak wingnut was a lie.

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. keep building.

If rights aren’t universal, they are privilege, not rights.

Giving in to doom is how authoritarians win.

You can’t attract Republican voters. You can only out organize them.

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

This must be what justice looks like, not vengeful, just peaceful exuberance.

The press swings at every pitch, we don’t have to.

“Facilitate” is an active verb, not a weasel word.

SCOTUS: It’s not “bribery” unless it comes from the Bribery region of France. Otherwise, it’s merely “sparkling malfeasance”.

It’s pointless to bring up problems that can only be solved with a time machine.

Every reporter and pundit should have to declare if they ever vacationed with a billionaire.

Compromise? There is no middle ground between a firefighter and an arsonist.

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You are here: Home / Civil Rights / Racial Justice / Kiss My Black Ass / Rick Perry’s Jeremiah Wright: White People Gave Black People Rights; Civil Rights Leaders Deserve No Credit

Rick Perry’s Jeremiah Wright: White People Gave Black People Rights; Civil Rights Leaders Deserve No Credit

by Imani Gandy (ABL)|  August 30, 201112:09 pm| 152 Comments

This post is in: Kiss My Black Ass, Rick Perry Presents "Rick Perry"

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When my head stops exploding, I’ll let you know.

Rick Perry planned to skip last weekend’s celebration and unveiling of the new MLK memorial in Washington, D.C. (No surprise there.)

Instead, Perry headed to Fredericksburg, Texas to attend a “call to action” retreat/fundraiser, where he was slated to hobknob with religious nutbag and self-styled historian David Barton.

From Joy-Ann Reid at The Grio:

Barton was among a group of Texas conservatives who in 2010 sought to revise that state’s textbooks to promote their view that the notion of a constitutional separation of church and state is a myth, and that students should be taught a version of American history that blends theology with themes of a constant clash of civilizations between Christians and Muslims.

According to a Washington Monthly article in January 2010, Barton, the former head of the Texas Republican Party, and Peter Marshall, who the article described as “a Massachusetts-based preacher who has argued that California wildfires and Hurricane Katrina were God’s punishment for tolerating gays,” had even more ideas in mind when they testified before the Texas Education Assembly. Per the Washington Monthly:

Barton and Peter Marshall initially tried to purge the standards of key figures of the civil rights era, such as César Chávez and Thurgood Marshall, though they were forced to back down amid a deafening public uproar. They have since resorted to a more subtle tack; while they concede that people like Martin Luther King Jr. deserve a place in history, they argue that they shouldn’t be given credit for advancing the rights of minorities.

As Barton put it, “Only majorities can expand political rights in America’s constitutional society.” Ergo, any rights people of color have were handed to them by whites–in his view, mostly white Republican men.

(read the rest)

<blank stare>

I watched Joy Reid make an excellent point on Al Sharpton’s show, and that is (in my words): If right-wing nutbags are going to keep pounding the Jeremiah Wright/”Goddamn America!” drum (and you know they will, even though they can’t explain how Barack Obama is simultaneously a secret Muslim and an America-hating Christian), then Democrats need to make sure that Rick Perry is held accountable for the racist and utterly absurd views of his BFF, David Barton.

This is your Republican party, people.

Drink it in.  Let the crazy wash over you.

My head is still exploding.

[via The Grio]

[cross-posted at ABLC]

[Well gee whiz, gentlemen. This here black lady is somewhat touched by the “ZOMG! ABL COME BACK!” posts. And of course I can never resist the opportunity to PISS OFF the TROLLS with my OBNOXIOUS FORMATTING and ever-looming threat of closed threads AND BUTTHURT. So here’s a post on Rick Perry that seems to have gotten some traction at ABLC (and yer damn right I just created a new category, John Cole!) Yes, yes, I know… it’s an old post. “SEE?! SHE DOESN’T EVEN RESPECT THE JUICE TO WRITE SOMETHING ORIGINAL!” they cried. And ABL laughed because trolls are hilarious. She also to stopped talking about herself in the third person because frankly, it’s weird. Oh, and for the record, I’m not a lesbian (not that there’s anything wrong with it), I’m not bipolar (duh and/or hello! I have a fucking brain tumor in my head!) and I fracking love They Might Be Giants. Who said black people don’t have little birdhice in their souls? What are you, racist or somethin’? Dang! I trust everyone is doing swimmingly. As for me, I am cross-posting at the Grio, and I’m actually getting paid for my next post (on Maxine Waters’ Jobs Townhall in Crenshaw tomorrow) which is awesome because no one’s ever paid me to write anything before. So that gets a big fat “huzzah!” Um, what else. I guess that’s it. Eat your peas, people. -ABLxx]
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Previous Post: « HERE’S MY ENTRY IN THE AIN’T TOO PROUD TO BEG, COME BACK ABL CONTEST
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Reader Interactions

152Comments

  1. 1.

    Foxhunter

    August 30, 2011 at 12:10 pm

    Looks like the ABL rally was quite the success.

  2. 2.

    Big Baby DougJ

    August 30, 2011 at 12:12 pm

    Only somewhat touched?

  3. 3.

    Dennis G.

    August 30, 2011 at 12:13 pm

    Perry is running for Jeff Davis’ old seat.

    Good to see the post ABL.

    Cheers

  4. 4.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    August 30, 2011 at 12:14 pm

    Hi ABL>
    ooo ooo I been missin you. . .

  5. 5.

    Tonybrown74

    August 30, 2011 at 12:14 pm

    Yay!!! Good to see you back!

    As for the topic, I, too, never understood how people could rationalize the Obama is a Radical Muslim/Hateful Black-christian-preacher-listening-to fundamentalist …

  6. 6.

    Jewish Steel

    August 30, 2011 at 12:14 pm

    Dude! You saw DougJ’s Angry Black Signal projected across the scudding clouds of Gotham.

    Excellent.

  7. 7.

    ruemara

    August 30, 2011 at 12:14 pm

    Hey beautiful! Being a uniter not a divider, again? Good to see you back. And with regard to the topic, bloody fuck. I can’t hate white people, most of them are decent folk, but I do wish they would tell some the non-decent ones to just shush it.

    edited to reflect that by “tell” I mean punch them in the nuts repeatedly.

  8. 8.

    handy

    August 30, 2011 at 12:14 pm

    I’m just bummed to find out the host of my favorite childhood game show Hollywood Squares is a fundie teatard.

  9. 9.

    reflectionephemeral

    August 30, 2011 at 12:15 pm

    Well, first off, welcome back, glad to see you here.

    Second off, you asked, “even though they can’t explain how Barack Obama is simultaneously a secret Muslim and an America-hating Christian”.

    Um, because he’s part of the atheist jihad, duh. Haven’t you been paying attention to Newt Gingrich? It makes a lot of sense if you think about it.

  10. 10.

    Svensker

    August 30, 2011 at 12:15 pm

    You just cheered me the hell up.

  11. 11.

    Scott

    August 30, 2011 at 12:15 pm

    HUZZAH!

    (And also, yes, it’s way, way past time for Republican candidates to be asked to explain the bizarre beliefs of their supporters and mentors.)

  12. 12.

    superluminar

    August 30, 2011 at 12:15 pm

    Dammit! I was hoping you’d close the comments on this post, just for the reaction. It would have been beautiful.

  13. 13.

    The Snarxist Formerly Known as Kryptik

    August 30, 2011 at 12:16 pm

    Ahhhh, yes, the majority granted those rights out of the goodness of their hearts, and not because their hand was forced by a vocal movement with said civil rights leaders…

  14. 14.

    Michael D.

    August 30, 2011 at 12:17 pm

    @Big Baby DougJ: I think in order to get past “somewhat touched” ABL would appreciate being actually physically touched.

  15. 15.

    danimal

    August 30, 2011 at 12:17 pm

    Cole needs to take the keys away from ABL, she posts too much and has CRAZY formatting. What an annoying blogger. I’m going to read everything she says, then whine about what a waste of time ABL’s posts are. Nitpick argle bargle.
    /fake troll

    Welcome back.

  16. 16.

    Cheryl from Maryland

    August 30, 2011 at 12:17 pm

    Welcome back.

  17. 17.

    Brian S

    August 30, 2011 at 12:18 pm

    Hurrah!

    It would be nice if so much of the Republican party didn’t see the Barton argument as, you know, accurate. But they do, and there we are. So we have to hope that the low-information voters who tend to decide elections don’t buy it.

  18. 18.

    Brian S

    August 30, 2011 at 12:18 pm

    Hurrah!

    It would be nice if so much of the Republican party didn’t see the Barton argument as, you know, accurate. But they do, and there we are. So we have to hope that the low-information voters who tend to decide elections don’t buy it.

  19. 19.

    ABL

    August 30, 2011 at 12:19 pm

    @Big Baby DougJ: i was a lot touched, but it doesn’t jive with my ANGRY and BLACK image, y’know.

    @Jewish Steel: yes! i was a little taken aback last night when i saw a bright light in the sky — it was in the shape of an afro with a pick in it.

    thank you people. y’all are very kind.

    (DID SHE JUST SAY “YOU PEOPLE!!??”)

    :)

  20. 20.

    Captain Goto

    August 30, 2011 at 12:19 pm

    Hey, girl, nice to see ya again!!

  21. 21.

    Big Baby DougJ

    August 30, 2011 at 12:20 pm

    @handy:

    Who hosted it? All I remember is Paul Lynne.

  22. 22.

    Scott

    August 30, 2011 at 12:22 pm

    @Big Baby DougJ: That was Peter Marshall, who was probably not the same person mentioned in the article…

  23. 23.

    rlrr

    August 30, 2011 at 12:23 pm

    Jeremiah Wright – White fundy preachers say far worse things on a regular basis, yet Republicans are never asked to disassociate themselves from them…

  24. 24.

    James K. Polk, Esq.

    August 30, 2011 at 12:23 pm

    <3 ABL.

    Moar rants plox.

  25. 25.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    August 30, 2011 at 12:24 pm

    @Big Baby DougJ:

    Lynde, he died 19 years ago.

  26. 26.

    rlrr

    August 30, 2011 at 12:25 pm

    Ergo, any rights people of color have were handed to them by whites—in his view, mostly white Republican men

    Can Barton produce a list of these white Republican men?

  27. 27.

    Paul in KY

    August 30, 2011 at 12:25 pm

    As John Oliver said in his review of ‘The Help’: ‘White people, we’re just that special.’

    Glad to have you back, ABL.

  28. 28.

    Jules

    August 30, 2011 at 12:25 pm

    @ruemara: . And with regard to the topic, bloody fuck. I can’t hate white people, most of them are decent folk, but I do wish they would tell some the non-decent ones to just shush it.

    I’m white and I hate white people.
    They just get on my last fucking nerve now days.

    and YEA!, ABL is back!

  29. 29.

    Svensker

    August 30, 2011 at 12:26 pm

    @rlrr:

    To quote Sarah, all of them.

  30. 30.

    Baud

    August 30, 2011 at 12:26 pm

    It’s nobody’s business but the Turks…

    Welcome back, ABL.

  31. 31.

    Tom Levenson

    August 30, 2011 at 12:26 pm

    Damn! And I didn’t even get to post my “come-back” song.

    Which I’ll do anyway, sometime later today, so there.

    Welcome back ABL. Don’t leave us hanging so long.

    And, why yes, Rick Perry is the detonator for skulls all over the metaverse.

  32. 32.

    fasteddie9318

    August 30, 2011 at 12:27 pm

    @superluminar:

    Dammit! I was hoping you’d close the comments on this post, just for the reaction. It would have been beautiful.

    Yes, this.

  33. 33.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    August 30, 2011 at 12:28 pm

    @Jules: Fuckin Mr Chuck-ass, t-shirt, ofay motherfuckers.

  34. 34.

    dpCap

    August 30, 2011 at 12:28 pm

    AND BUTTHURT

    You had me at hello.

  35. 35.

    jibeaux

    August 30, 2011 at 12:28 pm

    I have a soft spot for ABL because she reminds me of a friend who just passed who was really more of a FBL (f=friendly), but she could be an A&FBL in the right circumstances. A story that her brother told at the service (which was five, FIVE, hours long, that’s how awesome she was) was of a guy trying to pick her up at a bar who told her that she just really seemed like what he needed in his life. She smiled and said, “that’s too bad, because the [FBL’s full name] Remedial School For Brothers With Potential has just closed.” FBL went to the doctor six years ago find out why she was having trouble getting pregnant, and found out that she shouldn’t be trying to get pregnant — because she had breast cancer. She beat breast cancer, she beat some other kind of cancer I don’t even remember, she beat brain tumors TWICE, and in the end a ratfucking bastard called lepto-menengeal disease got her, but goddam did she make the most of it while she was here.

  36. 36.

    mistermix

    August 30, 2011 at 12:29 pm

    I fracking love They Might Be Giants. Who said black people don’t have little birdhice in their souls? What are you, racist or somethin’?

    I knew it! Welcome back.

  37. 37.

    megamahan

    August 30, 2011 at 12:29 pm

    Yay, ABL! I’ll have to head over to the Grio now as well!

  38. 38.

    eemom

    August 30, 2011 at 12:29 pm

    hey-la, hey-la, my girlfriend is back…!

    yo Cornered Stone/Uncle Dipshit: If I were you I’d take a permanent vacation.

    tee hee

  39. 39.

    aisce

    August 30, 2011 at 12:29 pm

    and once again, another balloon juice “crisis” is resolved with the maximum amount of drama possible.

    how long was abl gone? a whole three weeks?

  40. 40.

    Wiesman

    August 30, 2011 at 12:31 pm

    I’m so happy you’re back. I have nothing to add to this discussion. Just happy.

  41. 41.

    rlrr

    August 30, 2011 at 12:31 pm

    Interesting, considering the Republican party welcomed segregationist Democrats with open arms…

  42. 42.

    JPL

    August 30, 2011 at 12:31 pm

    Welcome back and great post. If the economy doesn’t improve, Perry could be the next President of the former United States of America. Perry already thinks we are the States of America, anyway.

  43. 43.

    Loneoak

    August 30, 2011 at 12:32 pm

    I guess the OED will need to change the meaning of “inalienable” to “granted by men with pasty jowls.”

  44. 44.

    Ben Cisco

    August 30, 2011 at 12:32 pm

    All right! ABL back in the house!
    __
    Good to see ya, and great post.
    __
    The following should be mandatory at any Perry rally:

    Perry: “And that’s why I’m running for President.”
    __
    Audience: “OF WHICH COUNTRY?”

  45. 45.

    Villago Delenda Est

    August 30, 2011 at 12:32 pm

    Good to see you back, ABL.

    Confederates should hang. All of them. Fuck them. With a rusty, unlubed chainsaw.

  46. 46.

    opie_jeanne

    August 30, 2011 at 12:32 pm

    ABL! Good to see you back. You’re one of my favorites, and I’ve been missing you this summer when I wasn’t too busy slacking off.

  47. 47.

    artem1s

    August 30, 2011 at 12:32 pm

    “Only majorities can expand political rights in America’s constitutional society.”

    Blasphemy anyone? Aren’t those right endowed by the Creator? Is Governor Perry suggesting that all white men are Gods?

    that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

    Now THAT’s crazy talk.

  48. 48.

    rlrr

    August 30, 2011 at 12:33 pm

    Speaking of which, a wingnut troll in a newsgroup I used to participate in claimed Jerry Falwell was a civil rights leader.

  49. 49.

    Pliny

    August 30, 2011 at 12:34 pm

    Man if Perry gets the nomination it sure will be exciting to decide whether to vote for him or the other power-hungry right wing murderer.

    Just kidding, it won’t be exciting, it will be depressing, and I will vote for neither.

  50. 50.

    nancydarling

    August 30, 2011 at 12:35 pm

    The air was never that stale around here, but it just got fresher! Luv that you’re back.

  51. 51.

    ABL

    August 30, 2011 at 12:37 pm

    @jibeaux: i’m honored and so sorry for your loss. sounds like she was one hell of a woman. Cancer is an asshole. I lost a friend to liver cancer a couple years back; she was 27 and never smoked, drank or did a single drug.

  52. 52.

    jwest

    August 30, 2011 at 12:38 pm

    Although it seems ABL is a bit tentative about supporting Perry, when faced with the option of either voting for him or the Stuttering Clusterfuck of a Miserable Failure, I’m certain she will make the right decision.

  53. 53.

    The Other Bob

    August 30, 2011 at 12:40 pm

    Barton said:

    “Only majorities can expand political rights in America’s constitutional society.”

    He missed out on the history lesson where they taught the concept of the constitutional democracy, where the rights of minorities are protected from the tyranny of the majority through a written constitution.

  54. 54.

    Chris

    August 30, 2011 at 12:40 pm

    As Barton put it, “Only majorities can expand political rights in America’s constitutional society.” Ergo, any rights people of color have were handed to them by whites—in his view, mostly white Republican men.

    One of the biggest pieces of cognitive dissonance for, well, a lot of white America is the notion that minorities owe them a lifelong debt because of the absolute, mind-bending awesomeness “they” demonstrated (notice how Lincoln and LBJ redeemed every single white man in America with Emancipation and the CRA) by agreeing to abolition and then civil rights. They see it as an extraordinary gesture of magnanimity on their part for which minorities should be thanking them on bended knee, rather than them finally, at long last, giving people what had always been their due as human beings and American citizens.

    It’s a mind-bendingly racist statement the guy made, but he’s very far from alone in this delusion, and it’s not even close to being limited to conservatives.

  55. 55.

    Villago Delenda Est

    August 30, 2011 at 12:40 pm

    @jwest:

    voting for him or the Stuttering Clusterfuck of a Miserable Failure

    The deserting fratboy coward can’t run again, he already held the office for two terms.

  56. 56.

    boss bitch

    August 30, 2011 at 12:40 pm

    Can;t wait to read your Maxine Waters post.

  57. 57.

    jibeaux

    August 30, 2011 at 12:41 pm

    @jwest: Oh, I’m sure she can’t vote in the primaries. You usually have to be a registered Republican to do that.

  58. 58.

    The Other Bob

    August 30, 2011 at 12:41 pm

    @jwest:

    Although it seems ABL is a bit tentative about supporting Perry, when faced with the option of either voting for him or the Stuttering Clusterfuck of a Miserable Failure, I’m certain she will make the right decision.

    No, I am betting she will just avoid the entire Republican primary.

  59. 59.

    Kay

    August 30, 2011 at 12:45 pm

    Welcome back, ABL. I didn’t serenade because I don’t feel we know each other well enough for love songs, just yet.

    But I am glad to see you :)

  60. 60.

    jibeaux

    August 30, 2011 at 12:45 pm

    @The Other Bob:
    It’s just too easy, innit? At some point, I figure they will either evolve a less primordial satire gene, or maybe just spend the rest of their lives wondering in frustration why there is no conservative version of Colbert, Stewart, Maher, etc.

  61. 61.

    TheWorstPersonInTheWorld

    August 30, 2011 at 12:46 pm

    As for me, I am cross-posting at the Grio, and I’m actually getting paid for my next post

    Grifters gonna grift?

  62. 62.

    Marshal T

    August 30, 2011 at 12:47 pm

    I’ll never pass up the opportunity to troll an ABL post, so here goes:

    I don’t like peas.

  63. 63.

    gogol's wife

    August 30, 2011 at 12:48 pm

    Don’t have time to read it yet, but welcome back, ABL! It’s great to see you.

  64. 64.

    Violet

    August 30, 2011 at 12:48 pm

    Good to see you back, ABL!

    Racism is a feature not a bug in the GOP.

  65. 65.

    Redshift

    August 30, 2011 at 12:49 pm

    @The Snarxist Formerly Known as Kryptik:

    Ahhhh, yes, the majority granted those rights out of the goodness of their hearts, and not because their hand was forced by a vocal movement with said civil rights leaders…

    Not to mention the subtext that political groups must always equate to racial groups, so it can only be Us against Them, so there can’t possibly be a majority composed of racial minorities and some of the white people. Kind of an evil genius in the blurring of the word “minority” — they’re a minority group in the country, so they must therefore be a political minority. Reminiscent of the classic wingnut trope “if it wasn’t for the black vote, Democrats would never win elections.”

  66. 66.

    nancydarling

    August 30, 2011 at 12:49 pm

    Three minority names that are etched in my heart—Chaney, Goodman, Schwerner. They need to be tattooed somewhere on asshole Barton’s skin.

  67. 67.

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    August 30, 2011 at 12:54 pm

    Welcome back, beautiful!

  68. 68.

    gnomedad

    August 30, 2011 at 12:59 pm

    Welcome back, ABL!

    California wildfires and Hurricane Katrina were God’s punishment for tolerating gays

    I love the conceit that God communicates in tantrums that only wingers can interpret. Use your words there, Divine Dude.

  69. 69.

    John Weiss

    August 30, 2011 at 1:02 pm

    Ha!

  70. 70.

    Linda Featheringill

    August 30, 2011 at 1:03 pm

    ABL:

    Welcome back. It’s nice to be wanted, isn’t it?

  71. 71.

    pamelabrown

    August 30, 2011 at 1:04 pm

    @rlrr: case in point:re white fundy preachers. Just take a look at the group of crazies featured at Perry’s pray-a-thon. Where’s the 24/7 media loop to their extreme “sermons”?

    P.S. Welcome back, ABL.

  72. 72.

    KSH

    August 30, 2011 at 1:06 pm

    Hi, I’m mostly a lurker but I’m quite glad you’re back ABL!!

  73. 73.

    Lex

    August 30, 2011 at 1:10 pm

    W00t! Welcome back!

  74. 74.

    PurpleGirl

    August 30, 2011 at 1:13 pm

    @Tonybrown74: It’s easy — He’s a Muslim but upon moving back to the US and going to college, he realized that he had to hide that and make a show of being a Christian. Being the evil Muslim that he is and hating America, he chose the church of a minister who also hates America.

    (No, I don’t believe this. But this probably how the RW nutjobs see it. The stupid burns.)

    And, ABL, thanks for a great post.

  75. 75.

    Bruce S

    August 30, 2011 at 1:14 pm

    Oh good lord – just write the post. The drama is boring…

  76. 76.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    August 30, 2011 at 1:15 pm

    If memory serves, the end of segregation was delivered by nine white guys, not a majority.

  77. 77.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    August 30, 2011 at 1:16 pm

    @gnomedad: yet the drought in Texas is not any punishment from God.

  78. 78.

    Montysano

    August 30, 2011 at 1:18 pm

    “Only majorities can expand political rights in America’s constitutional society.”

    So…. it would follow that, in addition to expanding rights, a majority can also take away rights?

    Let’s just get it over with and move to governance by text message. It’ll be awesome, just like Dancing With The Stars.

    Welcome back, ABL!

  79. 79.

    ruemara

    August 30, 2011 at 1:18 pm

    @Bruce S:

    Yes, your drama is boring. So go fuck yourself.

  80. 80.

    Kane

    August 30, 2011 at 1:19 pm

    Hi ABL! Good to see that you haven’t forgotten us little people. :)

    Give peas a chance.

  81. 81.

    kc

    August 30, 2011 at 1:21 pm

    Welcome back!

  82. 82.

    West of the Cascades

    August 30, 2011 at 1:21 pm

    Yay, she’s back!!!!!

  83. 83.

    Jax6655

    August 30, 2011 at 1:23 pm

    @ABL

    Woo-hoo! Welcome back.

    I see the h8ters are out as usual. They really don’t know you do they? Republican? Lesbian?

    REPUBLICAN???

    SMH

  84. 84.

    Villago Delenda Est

    August 30, 2011 at 1:24 pm

    ever-looming threat of closed threads AND BUTTHURT.

    Butthurt. It’s what’s for lunch!

  85. 85.

    MazeDancer

    August 30, 2011 at 1:26 pm

    For the very strong of stomach, and those with no heavy objects within throwing distance of their computer screen, David Barton on The Daily Show.

    Multi-part extended interview. Starts with Barton talking about 300 decided court cases proving US is a Christian Nation. And what the “true” definition of that label is.

    Warning if you’ve never seen him: He’s a nitty, nasty, little chirp of a monster masquerading as a hard-working “amateur” historian who only wants the facts, when he’s set on destroying all freedoms for everyone not approved by him. And argues with that don’t-interrupt-my-proven-righteousness, pseduo country boy absolute confidence and endless litany of lies cited as documented universal truths that make you want to abandon all your pacifist ways. Immediately.

  86. 86.

    cintibud

    August 30, 2011 at 1:26 pm

    Welcome back!

  87. 87.

    ABL

    August 30, 2011 at 1:28 pm

    @jwest: ::rubs eyes::

    huh?

  88. 88.

    SiubhanDuinne

    August 30, 2011 at 1:32 pm

    @Dennis G.:

    Hey, Dengre. I think there’s also a move afoot to get you to post more frequently.

    I would sign on to that.

    Come baaaaaack, Dengre, come BAAAAAAAAAAACK!

  89. 89.

    The Other Bob

    August 30, 2011 at 1:32 pm

    @jibeaux:

    Great minds…

  90. 90.

    Jane2

    August 30, 2011 at 1:33 pm

    The campaign worked! Welcome back, ABL FORMATTING and all.

  91. 91.

    cg

    August 30, 2011 at 1:36 pm

    It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brushfires in peoples’s minds.

    “Samuel Adams said that.” “Pretty deep for a guy who makes beer for a living.”

    This is from a Boondocks comic (by Aaron MGruder) that’s been on my refrigerator for a few years.

    Keep setting brushfires ABL. Welcome back.

  92. 92.

    catclub

    August 30, 2011 at 1:37 pm

    @Belafon (formerly anonevent): It is also totally not related to global climate change.

  93. 93.

    Yutsano

    August 30, 2011 at 1:38 pm

    @ABL: Don’t overthink it hon. It’ll jut agitate the little friend in your head.

  94. 94.

    Keith G

    August 30, 2011 at 1:42 pm

    Very cool!!

    The emotional response to your comeback after a prolonged absence is so satisfying, that it should happen more often.

    Cheers!

  95. 95.

    Ben Cisco

    August 30, 2011 at 1:43 pm

    @Chris:

    One of the biggest pieces of cognitive dissonance for, well, a lot of white America is the notion that minorities owe them a lifelong debt because of the absolute, mind-bending awesomeness “they” demonstrated (notice how Lincoln and LBJ redeemed every single white man in America with Emancipation and the CRA) by agreeing to abolition and then civil rights. They see it as an extraordinary gesture of magnanimity on their part for which minorities should be thanking them on bended knee, rather than them finally, at long last, giving people what had always been their due as human beings and American citizens.

    Good point. Heard a similar theme from conservatives, white and black alike, immediately after the 2008 election, too.

  96. 96.

    Jinxtigr

    August 30, 2011 at 1:44 pm

    @Ben Cisco: “OF WHICH COUNTRY?”

    YES! Yes yes yes! :D I love it!

  97. 97.

    Elie

    August 30, 2011 at 1:46 pm

    @ruemara:

    I hear that! Hard in the nuts, over and over. I’d be willing to help with that. Also.

    BTW — Welcome back ABL! Missed you!

  98. 98.

    ABL

    August 30, 2011 at 1:47 pm

    They see it as an extraordinary gesture of magnanimity on their part for which minorities should be thanking them on bended knee, rather than them finally, at long last, giving people what had always been their due as human beings and American citizens.

    Spot on. We should be thanking them for giving black folks rights that they should have had in the first damn place.

  99. 99.

    Trinity

    August 30, 2011 at 1:49 pm

    Yay!

    That is all.

  100. 100.

    ABL

    August 30, 2011 at 1:49 pm

    @Dennis G.: thanks, dennis. :)

  101. 101.

    Elie

    August 30, 2011 at 1:54 pm

    @Ben Cisco:

    The freedom of black people was not the possession of any human to give us… Whites could only impair it, interfere with it, but the freedom was always ours and beyond their ability to “play God”. If one is a Christian, one typically has some introspection and self reflection around what one has done in this life. A whole lot of these white folks that have appointed themselves as in charge of other white people as well as blacks, need to be praying that redemption and forgiveness are still operating and that God has a short memory.

  102. 102.

    licensed to kill time

    August 30, 2011 at 1:57 pm

    I think we should all give whirled peas a chance.

    I like ABL’s posts for the weird comments they elicit.

  103. 103.

    PhoenixRising

    August 30, 2011 at 2:02 pm

    @ABL: a bright light in the sky—it was in the shape of an afro with a pick in it.

    I was gonna ask if that signal was 3 raised fists on the Olympic risers…or a red black and green jumpsuit that you had been saving for just the proper occasion…

    I missed you! Don’t stop thinking about Rick Perry, until you can feel the heat of your brain boiling over on the back of your Afro. Because the man, say what you will, is an EXCELLENT source of material. A muse, even.

  104. 104.

    jonas

    August 30, 2011 at 2:03 pm

    I don’t get it — people like Barton like to continually harp on the fact that we are a “Christian” nation because our Constitution affirms that basic human rights are inalienable and granted by God, not men. Oh, except white men, apparently. Who act in God’s stead. And can bestow them on black people when they are moved to do so.

    Ok, makes perfect sense now that I think about it.

  105. 105.

    BillinGlendaleCA (aka 10amla)

    August 30, 2011 at 2:11 pm

    @Montysano:

    So…. it would follow that, in addition to expanding rights, a majority can also take away rights?

    That seems to be the way it works here in CA (Prop H8), however if you want to raise taxes a simple majority won’t do.

    WB ABL :)

  106. 106.

    Calouste

    August 30, 2011 at 2:11 pm

    version of American history that blends theology with themes of a constant clash of civilizations between Christians and Muslims.

    A 5 minute numerical analysis would show that the last 500 years in Europe and America has almost exclusively been a clash between Christians and Christians.

  107. 107.

    burnspbesq

    August 30, 2011 at 2:11 pm

    @ABL:

    Welcome home, kid.

    P.S. This statement is probably inaccurate, unless 100 percent of your time in your prior life was spent on pro bono projects. But that’s OK; we know what you meant to say.

    no one’s ever paid me to write anything before

  108. 108.

    RSA

    August 30, 2011 at 2:12 pm

    White people gave black people rights; civil rights leaders deserve no credit

    Two can play at this game: The North eliminated slavery; the South deserves no credit. (The North had twice the population of the South at the time of the Civil War.) Also, Great Britain gave America freedom; the founding fathers deserve no credit. (Similarly, Britain had over twice the population of the colonies at the time.)

  109. 109.

    burnspbesq

    August 30, 2011 at 2:13 pm

    @Calouste:

    A 5 minute numerical analysis

    Which is six minutes more than the entire Tea Party has ever spent on empirical analysis of any kind. Data are a commie Islamofascist plot, dontcha know.

  110. 110.

    O Possum

    August 30, 2011 at 2:17 pm

    Welcome back!

  111. 111.

    60th Street

    August 30, 2011 at 2:25 pm

    Would it be too much to ask to get video of Cole and ABL doing a Cruisin’ duet drunk and in their underwear?

  112. 112.

    Shade Tail

    August 30, 2011 at 2:26 pm

    Ah, this is what I like to see: an ABL post where the butthurt-troll-to-decent-person ratio is *very* small. By my count, we’re at less than 1% right now.

    Always liked your posts. Write more of them, please!

  113. 113.

    Dee Loralei

    August 30, 2011 at 2:28 pm

    WB ABL! And YAY!

  114. 114.

    Laertes

    August 30, 2011 at 2:32 pm

    “Birdhice” as the plural of “birdhouse” made my day.

  115. 115.

    R-Jud

    August 30, 2011 at 2:36 pm

    @Montysano:

    Let’s just get it over with and move to governance by text message. It’ll be awesome, just like Dancing With The Stars.

    I was a social director at a resort in the Poconos one summer, between my junior and senior year of college (shut up, I made $2K a week in tips). This was during the summer of 2000, while the presidential campaign was heating up.

    I remember sitting one night at the bar with some ladies who were really heatedly discussing the latest episode of “Survivor”, and one of them complained that “We, the viewers” should have a say in who gets voted off the island. These same women later laughed off the idea of voting: “It only encourages them.”

    I think this country has been “We, the viewers” rather than “we, the people” for at least two generations now.

    PS: Nice to see you, ABL.

  116. 116.

    Dr. Psycho

    August 30, 2011 at 2:37 pm

    The Allied troops who landed at Normandy on June 6th, 1944, were a tiny minority compared with the population of occupied Europe. Clearly the armed forces of the United States deserve no credit for their liberation, either.

  117. 117.

    Lee

    August 30, 2011 at 2:39 pm

    I’m sure that it will get lost on the 100+ post count…but everyone in my family loves They Might Be Giants.

    Even my surly 14 year old teenager will sing along with Birdhouse. And “The Sun is a Mass” (or whatever the name) has been a staple of our house since the teenager was in 1st grade.

  118. 118.

    Commenting at Balloon Juice since 1937

    August 30, 2011 at 2:48 pm


    Papa died Sunday and I understood
    All dead white boys say, “God is good”
    White tongues hang out, “God is good”

  119. 119.

    pragmatism

    August 30, 2011 at 2:48 pm

    brightened up my annoying day to see you back ABL.

  120. 120.

    daryljfontaine

    August 30, 2011 at 2:53 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est: Butthurt: the other whine meat.

    I, for one, welcome the return of our Angry Black Overlordslady.

    D

  121. 121.

    Gretchen

    August 30, 2011 at 2:56 pm

    I’m so glad you’re back! I’ve been missing you and trying to figure out where else I can read your stuff!

  122. 122.

    opie_jeanne

    August 30, 2011 at 2:57 pm

    @Belafon (formerly anonevent): They don’t understand their own religion when they ascribe blame for natural events to God. Turning a blind eye to disastrous events in places like Texas and Oklahoma is more evidence that they are more political opportunists than anything else.

    Way back in Sunday School when I was a lot younger (high school age), we had a big discussion about Mother Nature and God. Stuff that was science-y was attributed to Her, like floods and storms and droughts and dying in childbirth. In other words: really nobody’s fault, and certainly not because of God’s direct involvement, just the way nature worked. God got credit for thinking it all up, Old Ma Nature got blame and credit for the day-to-day operation, physics and stuff, almost as a joke: Mother Nature is a bitch.

    The reason we had this discussion was because it was an Old Testament idea (and earlier) to think that the normal calamities like floods, famine, losing a war were proof that God was not pleased with the Israelites, and the New Testament was supposed to do away with this whole “God is punishing us!” idea, (an interesting look at how people were changing their concept of who God is as society changed, creating God in their own image as it were, and yes, Methodist Sunday School did explore that very idea back in the 60s) but some of these self-described Christians seem not to have understood this very basic idea, that the New Testament changed everything.

  123. 123.

    Ben Cisco

    August 30, 2011 at 3:01 pm

    @Elie: Amen.

  124. 124.

    pete

    August 30, 2011 at 3:09 pm

    Good to see ya, ABL.

    You know who Prick Error reminds me of? Rock Hudson. Not necessarily the closeted bit per se (dont know, dont care) but the phoniness, all the pretendin’ to be a tuff mutha, I don’t buy it for a moment. Bully, yes, probably, but tough? Nah, he’s just trying to hide his inner wimp.

  125. 125.

    ABL

    August 30, 2011 at 3:11 pm

    @burnspbesq: ha! good point. but i meant as a Writer (with a capital W), as opposed to a cog in the legal brief machine.

  126. 126.

    ABL

    August 30, 2011 at 3:13 pm

    @Gretchen: you can always find my special brand of ranty crazy at http://www.angryblacklady.com.

    :D

  127. 127.

    Alex S.

    August 30, 2011 at 3:15 pm

    John Thune starting to position himself as a possible VP for Perry.

    Welcome back, ABL, I like you.

  128. 128.

    opie_jeanne

    August 30, 2011 at 3:43 pm

    @BillinGlendaleCA (aka 10amla): A majority from out of state, funding the whole shebang.

  129. 129.

    someguy

    August 30, 2011 at 3:44 pm

    Now who can argue with that? I think we’re all indebted to ABL for stating what needed to be said. I am particularly glad that these lovely children are here today to hear that speech. Not only was it authentic ABL gibberish, it expressed the courage little seen in this day and age.

  130. 130.

    MazeDancer

    August 30, 2011 at 3:47 pm

    @Lee:

    I’m sure that it will get lost on the 100+ post count…but everyone in my family loves They Might Be Giants.

    Passed by a marquee and saw they’re on tour soon. Looks like they’re covering the country.

  131. 131.

    hamletta

    August 30, 2011 at 3:59 pm

    Welcome back, ABL! Never mind the twatwaffles, full speed ahead!

  132. 132.

    Samara Morgan

    August 30, 2011 at 4:06 pm

    Why are you dissing Rev. Wright by comparing him to that ofay scumbag?
    He was “right”.
    the chickens are coming home to roost.

  133. 133.

    rikryah

    August 30, 2011 at 4:10 pm

    YEAH ABL!!!!

    YOU’RE BACK!!

  134. 134.

    Elie

    August 30, 2011 at 4:15 pm

    @pete:

    You watch now…if he is the nominee, Obama is going to show him the definition of “real man” . Oh, there will be a lot of gnashing of teeth and angry reactive racism and aggressive pissing on hydrants, but they will all know what is what. Perry is a fake, a male Palin. He will be revealed for what he is. More importantly, the whole motley crew of Republican candidates will just highlight their weakness, loss of meaningful coherence or relation to real life… just like 2008. That Parry is even running at all is complete evidence of their dying party.

    It will be interesting to see if there are others who will step up and how. To me, I don’t see anything ahead for them except humiliation and irrelevance. Oh I know, I know, many on our side will wring their hands and foretell of Obama and Democratic doom at the hands of these Klowns, but its not going to happen.

  135. 135.

    mick

    August 30, 2011 at 4:36 pm

    welcome back cute angry black lady.

  136. 136.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    August 30, 2011 at 5:45 pm

    I hate peas but I luvs me that ABL! :)

    Now if it was corn…

  137. 137.

    CAfan

    August 30, 2011 at 7:02 pm

    Green Beans, corn and green beans…

    Welcome back ABL. You’re LIVELY FORMATTING cheers me up. And PISSING OFF TROLLS is always fun.

  138. 138.

    priscianusjr

    August 30, 2011 at 7:45 pm

    White people did not GIVE black people their civil rights. They RECOGNIZED the civil rights black people already had under the Constitution. And the only reason they finally did this was because the civil rights movement forced them to.

  139. 139.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    August 30, 2011 at 7:58 pm

    @Kane:

    No way! There’s something evil about that green peaness that they exude.

    Don’t turn your back on them!

  140. 140.

    Blue man in a Gray state

    August 30, 2011 at 8:11 pm

    Nice to see you back, Abee!
    I’ve only got a minute, so I had to just scan thru the comments, but as a By-birth-but-nonpracticing redneck, I’m thinking that that people like Perry are eagerly awaited by the Aggrieved White Suthunnuhs so that they can finally go back to saying “N_grs” instead of “blacks.” My poor old mother never quite got over it– after my sister and I made it clear that “that word” wasn’t welcome around us anymore, she started referring to “Ni….blacks.” I think Perry appeals to a lot of people who want to let out their Inner Klansman. Also (too): my sister, who works for the Alabama Department of Education (now if that’s not an oxymoron, I don’t know what is) reminds me that the only way Alabama would consent to MKL day as a school holiday was to demand Confederate Memorial Day as the price.
    Why bother with dog whistles when you can just holler “Niiblack!”

  141. 141.

    Mack Lyons

    August 30, 2011 at 8:20 pm

    @rlrr: He’ll produce a list of white Republicans with dubious or otherwise non-existent connections to the Civil Rights movement.

    Along those lines, J. Edgar Hoover was just looking out for the best interests of MLK, Jr. *rolleyes*

  142. 142.

    brad

    August 30, 2011 at 9:04 pm

    You’re a They Might Be Giants fan!! Damn woman, you are smoking hot! ‘Join Us’ all.

  143. 143.

    SiubhanDuinne

    August 30, 2011 at 10:01 pm

    @Lee:

    I’m sure that it will get lost on the 100+ post count…but everyone in my family loves They Might Be Giants.

    No, it won’t get lost. We’re only at #142, it’s only 10:00 pm, and I’m just now reading your comment.

  144. 144.

    SiubhanDuinne

    August 30, 2011 at 10:13 pm

    @Alex S.:

    So we have a Thune-Rubio fight for the silver to look forward to? Popcorn, pass it, plzthxbai.*

    *Because the Bobo-Chunky Bobo columns will be EPIC. You know I’m right about this.

  145. 145.

    SiubhanDuinne

    August 30, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    @rikryah:

    YEAH ABL! YOU’RE BACK!!

    It’s probably just the +2 talking, but I kept reading that as “YOU’RE BLACK!!” and kept thinking, Yeah, we know that, why is rikryah belaboring the obvious?

    +2 (oh, I said that, didn’t I?)

  146. 146.

    stickler

    August 30, 2011 at 11:49 pm

    I, for one, would like to welcome our Angry Black Lady overlords.

    Heh.

    Too bad that the righteous outrage of her post is so damned … what’s the word? Justified? Necessary?

    White people “gave” civil rights to black people not quite two hundred years after having enshrined the idea that “all men are created equal…” with a big asterisk attached. Yay, us. Doing the right thing after first having explored all the other options.

    GO, ABL!

  147. 147.

    ABL

    August 31, 2011 at 1:50 am

    @SiubhanDuinne: ha! now that’s funny!

  148. 148.

    Anne Laurie

    August 31, 2011 at 3:22 am

    For the record: Welcome back!

  149. 149.

    flamingRedDingo

    August 31, 2011 at 9:59 am

    yay. wb, ABL!

    I missed you. Hell, you were fully 2/3 of the reason I visit balloon juice (no offense to the other contributors)

    not new (just changed my nick to be more consistent with my posts on other boards)

  150. 150.

    A Humble Lurker

    August 31, 2011 at 10:46 am

    and I fracking love They Might Be Giants.

    Virtual high five for good taste! And welcome back.

    Also, I second the request for Cole and ABL singing karaoke in their underwear.

  151. 151.

    Marginalized for stating documented facts

    August 31, 2011 at 8:29 pm

    Three words:

    Holy.

    Fucking.

    Shit.

    How is this TX rodeo clown even able to get anyone to take his presidential bid seriously?

Comments are closed.

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  1. Crops without plowing | slacktivist says:
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    […] what is good."HomeAboutCrops without plowing By Fred Clark, August 31, 2011 5:18 am TweetVia ABL on Balloon Juice, this quote from loathesome con-man “historian” David Barton in a Sept. 2009 Texas […]

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