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There is nothing 'silly and ridiculous' about Eric Massa's flameout departure from Congress. All the White House needs is Ramin Hedayati, the Daily Show's famous Fox News watcher, to know that Eric Massa is as serious as a case of flesh-eating bacteria.

It's foolish to be so dismissive of a man who just added a ton of proverbial coal to the conspiracy spewing powerplant that is Fox News. He had the full, shockingly bad hour on Beck Tuesday (update - and may have totally burned out at this point) and Hannity earnestly replayed a Massa radio interview -- full of conspiracies and accusations so base only a deviant mind could have thought them -- on Monday. That's more than a news cycle! And the message is clear:

"Rahm Emanuel is son of the devil's spawn..." who will stop at nothing to destroy America, which conveniently fits an existing Fox News message - nevermind the messenger. These are people that actually believe in devil spawn, that take a disgraced officeholder -- or maybe in the Fox News universe you're a hero for dropping your public office, like the too-cool-for-school former Governor of Alaska -- like Massa at their word because he ran a brilliant play taken from their tried-and-true "Sack the Democratic President Playbook". To hear them tell it, the (perpetual) final battle, features the evil-Dems not just shoving the health care bill 'down America's throat' (to quote a Republican Party/Fox News co-branded talking point) but to put a point on it, the vindictive devil-spawn himself, Rahm Emanuel, is prodding along the 'government takeover of your health care' with a burning hot skewer. This shit is Biblical, it's always Biblical.

This level of insanity is not 'silly', it is dangerous. What's 'ridiculous' to me is that the DOJ or Congress hasn't set up an investigation to let these guys know they have to check their rabblerousing revolution by any means necessary diatribes at the "On Air" door cause people are getting killed out here (see: IRS. See: Pentagon). Let's just call it what it is: it's hate speech (update: see comment below on actual legal defintion) that borders on inciting violence. It's hateful and it's aimed at the Commander-in-Chief (and shame on every Republican that dares to undermine that role in a time of war) and his top deputies.

And let me just help out with a talking point here for the Dems: if Health Care is a government takeover, then so is the FDIC. How many banks went under last year? Hundreds! How many Americans lost their bank savings: zero. Thank you, Federal Government, your REGULATION of the private banking industry saved Americans their bank savings. Now if you get Health Care Reform done, your regulation of the PRIVATE HEALTH CARE system will help save lives; many, many lives.

If that's a government takeover, I invite Republicans to demand a repeal of the FDIC.

Henhouse guard, Ramin Hedayati, revealed in the clip below.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Sean Hannity Apologizes to Jon
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Reform

 

Follow Gabriel London on Twitter: www.twitter.com/FoundObjectFilm

Comments

[JLRoberson]

Beck, handed what he thought was a perfect opportunity to throw crap that would stick to the Democrats, instead ended up like Attila in 1900 in the scene where the peasants, er, throw certain things that come from horses at him.

Beck, panicking, decides to go extra-paranoid, lauding McCarthy nonsensically, and then trying to sever Christians from the concept of compassion. The latter accomplishing something I've rarely seen: near-universal agreement between Christians of all stripes, except maybe whatever Fred Phelps is. In revulsion, at him. Including his own faith.

Beck is heading toward a wall right now and thinks if he speeds up he can go through it like the Flash.

[GoodBySweetAmerica]

Give me a break about Fox News and their "slanted" reporting. MSNBC and CNN are just as bad. Rachelle Maddow and Keith Olberman could be crowned king and queen of the vitriolic chatter that goes on nightly on cable news stations. I don't watch most of the shows becaus they're so biased one way or another I know I'm not getting the straight scoop. The only shows I can watch without feeling ill and uptight are Morning Joe, The Daily Run Down, and Chris Matthews. Otherwise, I read online papers.

[FTBUTAME]

"Rachelle Maddow and Keith Olberman could be crowned king and queen" - very drôle.
In addition, I believe that any grown man (I guess I'm being sexist) who professes to be a serious journalist with extensive experience on "the hill" informing a live audience that he gets a thrill up his leg when watching POTUS is deeply flawed. He certainly cannot hold himself out to be anything other than a glorified cheerleader for "the cause".
Do these people not realize that unlike print media (Today's News, Tomorrow's Fish Wrap) digital media will enshrine their histrionics permanently? It's a sad reflection of the Fourth Estate. Ed Morrow must be turning in his grave.

[lexingtonKY]

Who the hell is Mark Penn?

[JLRoberson]

A Democratic strategist who worked for Hillary Clinton who no one but Washington insiders gives a whoop about.

[GeorgeP922]

Massa has problems, sure.

But he is 100% right about Rahm Emanuel.

Rahm Emanuel is to Obama what Mark Penn was to Hillary Clinton.

End of story, we have to rid our party of these terrible Corporatist leaches.

[WestcoastSteve]

When did the right need someone like Massa to make up vicious lies about the Democrats and the President?

Remember 'palling around with terrorists', 'death panels' and 'no birth certificate'. All Massa-free.

Very soon you will stop seeing the GOP make roundabout attacks on Obama for 'palling around with terrorists' or pursuing 'evil progressive' ideas. They will cut to the chase and just say Obama is the Devil, and the Democrats ARE terrorists. I'm not exaggerating, the extreme right is almost there with their attacks.

[JLRoberson]

And they've already played all that out and everyone is sick of it. They might as be the Spice Girls for all the effectiveness their attacks have now. All they have is that and a propensity to bring the government to a halt. That can't get you very far. They've made a lot of noise, but don't buy into the illusion that it has ultimately made any real difference, except among people who were already on their side. This is "entertaining the children," and that's all it is. It's a sideshow. Nobody who matters gives a damn.

The Republicans are not scary. They want you to think that because they know the weakness in Democrats is their doubt reflex. They want you to think of this entirely within parameters they define. The truth is they have no real power, they are laughable, and all their attacks are based upon a fantasy world.

I repeat this: they are not scary and, like Cartman, you get one good strike back at them and they cave. Don't believe the hype. That's the only moment they do have any power. Go around them Go past them. Go over them. It's not actually that hard. Obama seems to finally be waking up to that.

They know if they lose this--the GOP--they're destroyed. It's THEM that are scared and panicking. Let them. If they're ignored, they will burn themselves out.

Stop being scared.

[ectoendomezo]

Well..Yes n' No!...

There is a very real "Danger" in the Republican Obstruction...

After Bush-II's First Year..he had 70 Appointees still wating for Confirmation...The Republican obstruction..now so...Fundamental to their 'SOP' that its the "norm"...has resulted in MORE than 200 "Obama Appointees" awaiting Confirmation...thats Dangerous..absolutely...

That the Neo-Republicans have turned to Eric-Eyebrow Tweezer-Cantor to "Run" Der Party..is..in and of itself.."Dangerous".

The Neo-Republicans have become "masters" of Bureaucratic Obstruction!...with "Blanket Holds".."Filibusters"..and "Secret Holds"...its amazing...the very Zenith of Disingenuous Politics...

Now..and this is an Objective statement..as in "The Record Will Show.."...now EVERY VOTE..requires "60 Yea's"..Every...Single...Vote..on Every...Single...Issue!

Now..even Including.."Policies" that were FIRST PROPOSED BY Bush-II and the Republicans...No kidding..seriously..they have actually "Obstructed" their OWN POLICIES..all thatw as "Required" to "Trigger The Insurgents"...was that the "Legislation" be proffered up by "Democrats"...its...THAT....BAD!

And that..has just got to be..."Dangerous"..

Bottom Line? We're in a NEW COLD WAR in America...a Cold CIVIL War...

They...HATE.."Progressives"..this is called "Misonism"...RABID Misonism...

At one point in the BEck massa Interview..Massa say's.."you can be a Progressive and a Fiscal Conservative.."(Which I am..) and Beck..before the sentance was even finished..is Shaking his head....it was his Kneejerk response..it was HATE!

[WestcoastSteve]

The "Democrats doubt reflex". That's a great phrase, lol.

[brrryce]

Well said sir! Absolutely spot on! I have signed onto this site, despite my policy of never signing in to such sites, to agree with you. The GOP IS NOT SCARY. If we have learned nothing from The Brady Bunch and 90210 it's that bullies are cowards who wilt when confronted. Now, if we can get Dems to follow the Prez' lead and get their heads out of the ... polls, we might be able to dig out from under this monumental mess perpetrated by those smiling bandits and their 8 years of legalized looting.

[JLRoberson]

Also, think about this: if they really believed passing this would hurt the Democrats? They'd let them do it.

Don't be tricked.

[brrryce]

Absolutely spot on JLRoberson. If we have learned nothing from The Brady Bunch and 90210, it's that bullies are essentially cowards when confronted. The GOP IS NOT SCARY. And, to paraphrase, a people should never fear a party, a party should fear its people. So, once again, well said, sir!

Now, if we can get Dems to follow the Prez' lead and get their heads out of their ... polls, we might get some reconstruction done on this monumental mess left by those grinning bandits who occupied the office for 8 years.

[beingthebest]

I think this will put Republicans in a awkward situation. They would love Massa to be their new hero, a Democrat turning on his brothers (which is the only reason Fox and Beck gave him more than a second of their time). On the other hand, he made such a mess of the interview they have to say he's nuts so as not to harm their precious Beck.

What to do, what to do

[JLRoberson]

What Beck did is spend his next show extolling Joe McCarthy and pretending it never happened. We have also always been at war with Eastasia.

[Fight4Freedom2008]

I can see why your a Strategist, thanks for your concern.

[gfs5541]

That thing with Ramin Hedayati? That reminded me of the DC comic book hero "Immortal Man in Darkness". He's this pilot in the PAAF, and he had to fly this plane that had alien technology and the technology took away one year of his life every time he flew a mission on this plane. I guess watching Hannity or Beck can cause the same effect! (LOL)

[Aurelius]

From the article: "Let's just call it what it is: it's hate speech...." No it's not. Fox News is a sewer, but this is NOT an example of "hate speech." See, e.g., Doe v. Michigan (1989), UWM Post v. Board of Regents of University of Wisconsin (1991), Dambrot v. Central Michigan University (1995), Corry v. Stanford (1995).

[GabrielLondon]

Thank you, you're right. "Hate Speech" has a legal definition and therefore should be respected. I don't want to suggest the Dems adopt McArthyite tactics, only something more aggressive than passive acceptance of this kind of thuggish use of the media - it's having terrible effects in the real world.

[dfranz]

I will say that Beck was almost apoplectic during the interview. He was begging for dirt and all he could get was that we need campaign finance reform.

Beck was wrong about something. That wasn't the only time he has wasted his audiences time. He does that on a daily basis

[ynp7]

It should be possible to think Massa is a complete clown for his behavior and hate Rahm Emanuel for selling us for no reason.

[StillweRise]

"HEY"....

we were tickling each other...


(what?)

[abbienormal]

Granted, most of the people that watch Fox news are one foot in the grave. But, according to a NYT article today, only 70% of American high school students graduate. That is what I worry about. Fox has a ready new audience with no intellectual curiosity.

[Niris]

excellent post.

[estabon23]

I respectfully disagree... I am a H.S. dropout, & I can see through the Fauxnews BS.
You don't need a diploma to have intellectual curiosity... Students don't simply dropout, the education system fails to serve some types of students, & their situation...
I am confident that today's dropouts are much smarter than Beck's target demographic...

[Ladywolf55]

High school dropout does not equal Faux News watcher. Your logic is flawed. In the USA, even the graduates of high school AND college are not always intellectually curious. They just managed to have enough money to get a piece of paper which says they are. I've met many a college graduate and wondered how they ever got a diploma with their lack of intelligence. USA public schools are cesspools of failed bureaucracy.

[JLRoberson]

Oooh, scary Fox. It's so much fun to fear them, isn't it?

[MrBluebird]

Face it folks... when you shop Wal.Mart you undermine the American people. When you watch Fox News you undermine America.

[jan4insight]

Fanned!

[Heath2740]

If you actually watched any of the Glen Beck show, I think it showed the Massa fella to be very noncredible. If any beleives a word that came of out of Massa's mouth, they must be nuts. I am a Republican say that.

[JLRoberson]

Good thing that Beck staked his own credibility on what Massa, who has already been utterly alienated from the Democrats, would say on his show then.

How'd that crow taste?