Buzzfeed: Ukraine Paid Right Wing Bloggers to Post Talking Points

Autocratic payola
Wingnuts • Views: 22,474

If you noticed quite a few right wing blogs and media sites that seemed to be rather, uh, uncritical of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in the past few weeks, it’s not necessarily because they were really that sympathetic to the kleptocratic ruler.

They might have been getting paid: Exclusive: How Ukraine Wooed Conservative Websites.

WASHINGTON — Several conservative bloggers repeated talking points given to them by a proxy group for the Ukrainian government — and at least one writer was paid by a representative of the Ukrainian group, according to documents and emails obtained by BuzzFeed.

The Ukrainian campaign began in the run-up to high-stakes Ukrainian parliamentary elections last year, and sought to convince skeptical American conservatives that the pro-Russian Party of Regions, led by President Viktor Yanukovych, deserved American support. During that period, articles echoing Ukrainian government talking points appeared on leading conservative online outlets, including RedState, Breitbart, and Pajamas Media.

The emails and documents, which include prepackaged quotes from election officials and talking points that some writers copied nearly word-for-word, offer a glimpse into how foreign governments dodge tight Justice Department regulations on foreign propaganda to covertly lobby in the United States: The payments were routed through a front group in Belgium to an American consultant, who has urged writers not to cooperate with a reporter investigating the campaign.

Buzzfeed’s Rosie Gray identifies some of the people involved in this 2013 propaganda campaign:

One of the writers who participated in the campaign, who spoke on the condition of anonymity and because of lingering qualms about the arrangement, they said, described being offered $500 for a blog post praising Ukraine’s ruling Party of Regions. The payment was arranged by George Scoville, a libertarian media strategist, and Scoville’s name was on the check, the source said.

[…]

Other writers who were producing incongruous pro-Party of Regions stories at the time include Ben Shapiro of Breitbart and Seton Motley, a conservative blogger.

One of Shapiro’s Ukraine posts, “Hillary Sides With Anti-Semitic Ukrainian Opposition,” is nearly identical to a post that appeared four days later in a different publication under [Warner Todd] Huston’s byline: “Clinton Dept. of State Backing the Anti-Semitism Party in Ukraine?

Shapiro said he hadn’t been paid by anyone other than his employers to do the posts. Scoville “was not the one pitching me as far as I recall,” Shapiro said.

Motley wrote a post for Human Events about Ukraine’s gas dealings with Russia on October 15, and one for Pajamas Media on October 5 titled “Ukraine is Leading West — Not Bowing East” that cites most of the statistics about Ukraine’s economy contained in the talking points provided by Scoville.

Read the whole sordid story.

Jump to bottom

234 comments
1 Testy Toad T  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 11:35:42am

Next you’ll tell me that Putin paid RedState $100 every time they ran his shirtless bear-wrestling selfie.

2 Charles Johnson  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 11:38:00am

I’m really disgusted but unfortunately not surprised to see Pajamas Media involved in this.

3 chadu  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 11:41:57am

Semi-related, reposted from downstairs, in the context of the Polish cover of Newsweek vs. the American cover of Time:

re: #431 Killgore Trout

This is why we’re stupid

re: #432 Killgore Trout

it’s unfair to blame the press for this. They are just trying to do business and this is what sells because it’s what we’ll buy.

Well, I have some whiplash from that.

Pray tell, where doth the particles of blame reside?

4 ramex  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 11:42:43am

It’s odd how conservatives are so dang worried about US sovereignty and how the UN will strip the US of that sovereignty, yet they get on board with crap like this and the Citizens United ruling.

5 jaunte  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 11:46:56am
The payments were routed through a front group in Belgium to an American consultant, who has urged writers not to cooperate with a reporter investigating the campaign.

“My political and policy observations have been cited and/or featured in The Atlantic, POLITICO, The Daily Caller, Instapundit, Hot Air, Think Progress, Crooks and Liars, and techPresident, among other places…”
georgescoville.com

6 allegro  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 11:47:05am

re: #4 ramex

It’s odd how conservatives are so dang worried about US sovereignty and how the UN will strip the US of that sovereignty, yet they get on board with crap like this and the Citizens United ruling.

It appears to me that money trumps integrity and ideology with this particular segment of conservatives. Pay ‘em and they’ll say anything. Their readers don’t much notice because logic and consistency isn’t the point.

7 Testy Toad T  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 11:48:08am

re: #4 ramex

It’s odd how conservatives are so dang worried about US sovereignty and how the UN will strip the US of that sovereignty, yet they get on board with crap like this and the Citizens United ruling.

The far-right version of sovereignty is different from yours and mine. It means the strong are legally protected from the weak, and their status in life is enshrined in law and convention as far as is possible.

Much like their fear of poor people, and of blah people, I assume they fear the UN because the United States has been, ah…. less than discerning, let’s say, with our interactions with other nations, and the right fears repercussions.

Backing a strongman autocrat against the rising rabble of the masses is exactly in line with their thought processes and tendencies, and it does not surprise me in the least.

8 William Barnett-Lewis  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 11:48:25am

re: #3 chadu

Semi-related, reposted from downstairs, in the context of the Polish cover of Newsweek vs. the American cover of Time:

Well, I have some whiplash from that.

Pray tell, where doth the particles of blame reside?

He likes right wing autocrats but he likes to pretend otherwise. That’s the easiest way to understand KT ever since OWS scared him.

9 jaunte  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 11:48:35am
Other writers who were producing incongruous pro-Party of Regions stories at the time include Ben Shapiro of Breitbart and Seton Motley, a conservative blogger.

One of Shapiro’s Ukraine posts, “Hillary Sides With Anti-Semitic Ukrainian Opposition,” is nearly identical to a post that appeared four days later in a different publication under Huston’s byline: “Clinton Dept. of State Backing the Anti-Semitism Party in Ukraine?”

Truly a tool.

10 chadu  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 11:52:04am

re: #8 William Barnett-Lewis

He likes right wing autocrats but he likes to pretend otherwise. That’s the easiest way to understand KT ever since OWS scared him.

M’kay.

It’s just putting those two statements together:

This ([the press is] just trying to do business and this is what sells because it’s what we’ll buy) is why we’re stupid [and] it’s unfair to blame the press for this.

So, we’re stupid because we’re stupid, but that shouldn’t stop people promulgating more stupid and making a buck off of it?

Cynical, with a capital SIN.

11 Ming  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 11:54:01am

I wouldn’t be surprised if some of today’s conservatives, when they receive bribes from Ukraine’s former dictators, actually think this is an example of capitalism, of “free minds and free markets”.

With a strange similarity to their “opposites”, Snowden and Greenwald, right wingers seem to think that if something isn’t coerced or engineered by the Obama Administration, well it can’t be all that bad. So, for example, Glenn Beck can own part of a gold company, then preach doom and gloom on TV, and the right wing has no problem with that. Putin pays thugs to beat up protesters… no problem. But when one of Obama’s daughters gets some extra security in her high school, the sky is falling!

12 Gus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 11:56:21am

Puzzling. Especially if you consider Yanukovych’s affiliation with the former Soviet Union. Do some conservatives hate the EU so much they would support a Putin puppet? Is this a case of the “enemy of enemy is my friend?” Is it social issues?

13 Testy Toad T  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 11:57:29am

re: #12 Gus

Puzzling. Especially if you consider Yanukovych’s affiliation with the former Soviet Union. Do some conservatives hate the EU so much they would support a Putin puppet? Is this a case of the “enemy of enemy is my friend?” Is it social issues?

The only morals come from the Bible (that’s why you can’t trust those eeeeeeeevil atheists, don’tcha know), and the Bible is curiously silent on the matter of Ukranian politics.

14 Gus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 11:59:02am

re: #13 Testy Toad T

The only morals come from the Bible (that’s why you can’t trust those eeeeeeeevil atheists, don’tcha know), and the Bible is curiously silent on the matter of Ukranian politics.

“Whatever Obama’s for, I’m against.”

15 wrenchwench  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:01:29pm
An email from October 26, 2012 shows Scoville inviting writers to join a conference with Mikhail Okhendovskyy of Ukraine’s Central Election Commission. The call was organized by the European Centre for a Modern Ukraine, a Brussels-based group headed by Leonid Khazara, a former senior member of parliament from the pro-Russian Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych’s Party of Regions.

That’s the same organization one of Mitt Romney’s top foreign-policy advisers worked for.

According to forms filed in May under the Lobbying Disclosure Act, Vin Weber, a former Minnesota Congressman and special adviser to Romney, is a registered lobbyist for a Brussels-based group known as the European Centre for a Modern Ukraine. The group’s mission, according to its website, is to push for a comprehensive trade agreement between the European Union and to strengthen ties with the United States. Its founding president was Leonid Kozhara, a senior member of parliament for Ukraine’s ruling Party of Regions.

I wonder where in the State Department Mr. Weber might have worked if Romney had won.

16 Charles Johnson  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:02:55pm

re: #15 wrenchwench

That’s the same organization one of Mitt Romney’s top foreign-policy advisers worked for.

I wonder where in the State Department Mr. Weber might have worked if Romney had won.

Wow, good catch.

17 Archangelus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:02:57pm

Can we call them Commie-loving Stalinist traitors yet? /
Gotta say, after years of hearing many in the Right Wing accuse the left of supporting communism due to their lacking understanding of social issues and ideology, seeing this all-embracing RW support for the ex-KGB Autucrat/Supreme Leader Putin is mind numbing…

18 Romantic Heretic  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:03:14pm

The surprising thing isn’t that everyone has a price but how low that price usually is. - Mark Twain

19 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:04:54pm

re: #15 wrenchwench

That’s the same organization one of Mitt Romney’s top foreign-policy advisers worked for.

I wonder where in the State Department Mr. Weber might have worked if Romney had won.

I still wonder what was the real reason behind Tagg Romney’s visit to Moscow, a week before the elections in 2012.

20 Romantic Heretic  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:05:18pm

re: #17 Archangelus

Can we call them Commie-loving Stalinist traitors yet? /
Gotta say, after years of hearing many in the Right Wing accuse the left of supporting communism due to their lacking understanding of social issues and ideology, seeing this all-embracing RW support for the ex-KGB man Putin is mind numbing…

Their only problem with the Soviet Union was that it was, supposedly, Communist.

The methods that the Soviet Union used to get and maintain power they were cool with. As their support for people like Pinochet demonstrated.

21 Dr Lizardo  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:08:00pm

re: #12 Gus

If you look at the comments of the anti-EU types, they frequently refer to the EU as “fascist” or “tyrannical”.

Which is odd; I live in an EU member state, and never once in all my time here (13 years this June) have I felt oppressed or tyrannized. Not once.

I enjoy more freedom here - I can smoke in a pub if I want to; smoking in bars and restaurants, at least in the Czech Republic is not illegal. Were I so inclined, I can walk down the street, quite openly drinking a beer right out of the bottle. No paper bag.

When I rent an apartment, there’s no background checks, no credit checks, etc. I pay the first/last/security deposit and move right the hell in. Next day if I want to.

If this is tyranny, well, then someone’s doing it wrong. Why am I not in a concentration camp? Or digging my own grave in front of a firing squad?

These anti-EU types are laughable. The Czech Republic has a democratically-elected government, and it sends democratically-elected MEP’s to Brussels. The anti-EU complainers are mostly full of hyperbolic shit.

22 Killgore Trout  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:13:46pm

re: #3 chadu

Semi-related, reposted from downstairs, in the context of the Polish cover of Newsweek vs. the American cover of Time:

Well, I have some whiplash from that.

Pray tell, where doth the particles of blame reside?

Americans aren’t very informed about international events because we aren’t very interested in international events. The media is just giving us what we want and we become less informed. It becomes a feedback loop.

23 Justanotherhuman  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:15:47pm

‘Golden’ residence of a former Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Viktor Pshonka

(Translation)
“Pshonka Treasures - A photo of the house bloody Attorney General

Friends, to your attention exclusive: photo of the house in the village Pshonka Gorenichi (Kiev Svyatoshinsky district). Ancient icons and paintings stolen Gospel, Holy Relics in the office, Faberge eggs around the house, a collection of knives, numerous awards, portraits Pshonka and Yanukovych, and much more. Then, without comment, will do it later.”

4ubuk.blogspot.se

24 jaunte  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:16:07pm

Documents at Ukraine leader’s home detail spending

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Cash: $12 million. Decoration of a dining hall and tea room: $2.3 million. Statue of a wild boar: $115,000. “A bribe”: $4,000.

25 Randall Gross  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:17:47pm

re: #2 Charles Johnson

I’m really disgusted but unfortunately not surprised to see Pajamas Media involved in this.

Things have flipped so much - remember when it was the left that was more aligned and allied with Russia?

26 jaunte  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:19:26pm

re: #23 Justanotherhuman

Stupefyingly ugly.

27 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:21:25pm

Just how short is Yanuk?

28 Archangelus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:21:33pm

re: #25 Randall Gross

Things have flipped so much - remember when it was the left that was more aligned and allied with Russia?

This and more, as my previous post tried to state - I don’t recall the left ever being so much in support ofa Russian leader as the RWNJs are in support of Putin nowadays on account of their anti-Obama mindframe…

29 Justanotherhuman  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:22:57pm

re: #26 jaunte

[Embedded image]

Stupefyingly ugly.

Most of it is pretty tacky. Like someone with no taste’s idea of “rich”.

30 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:23:51pm
31 Archangelus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:24:30pm

re: #26 jaunte

[Embedded image]

Stupefyingly ugly.

Yup. Also, am I alone in thinking that there really should be a means of distinguishing more clearly between an upvote for the expressed sentiment (‘ugly’) and not the linked content ‘(photo of ugly’)? Just a notion.

32 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:24:38pm

I have little doubt that the opposition contains a lot of antisemitic elements. I am sure as shit the establishment also contains a lot of antisemitic elements. There’s just a metric assload of antisemtism over there. The question is the best way to reduce that, and having the Ukraine allied with the propaganda-restricted, more closed society of Russia vs. the more open one of the EU is obviously not the best way to reduce antisemitism.

In other news, it’s been two days since I’ve had a migraine and I’m trying not to be too optimistic.

33 Kragar  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:25:27pm

re: #32 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

I have little doubt that the opposition contains a lot of antisemitic elements. I am sure as shit the establishment also contains a lot of antisemitic elements. There’s just a metric assload of antisemtism over there. The question is the best way to reduce that, and having the Ukraine allied with the propaganda-restricted, more closed society of Russia vs. the more open one of the EU is obviously not the best way to reduce antisemitism.

In other news, it’s been two days since I’ve had a migraine and I’m trying not to be too optimistic.

Hang in there

34 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:25:59pm
35 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:26:14pm

re: #28 Archangelus

This and more, as my previous post tried to state - I don’t recall the left ever being so much in support ofa Russian leader as the RWNJs are in support of Putin nowadays on account of their anti-Obama mindframe…

Long, long ago, the left aligned with the Soviet Union, to a large extent duped by propaganda. So these right-wingers are now repeating a mistake made by American communists nearly a hundred years ago. Even their mistakes are tired and old.

36 Dr Lizardo  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:27:12pm

re: #35 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Long, long ago, the left aligned with the Soviet Union, to a large extent duped by propaganda. So these right-wingers are now repeating a mistake made by American communists nearly a hundred years ago. Even their mistakes are tired and old.

And unoriginal.

37 Kragar  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:30:43pm
38 Testy Toad T  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:33:45pm

re: #28 Archangelus

This and more, as my previous post tried to state - I don’t recall the left ever being so much in support ofa Russian leader as the RWNJs are in support of Putin nowadays on account of their anti-Obama mindframe…

I mean, factions of the left certainly were, but the mainstream left either ignored them or shouted them down and denounced them. Certainly there was no equivalent of Romney talking up Putin a few months ago.

39 blueraven  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:34:25pm

Russia recalls ambassador in Ukraine for consultations

“Due to the deteriorating situation in Ukraine and the need for a comprehensive analysis of the situation, the decision was made to recall the Russian ambassador to Ukraine for consultations in Moscow,” the ministry said in a statement.

40 Archangelus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:34:52pm

re: #35 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Long, long ago, the left aligned with the Soviet Union, to a large extent duped by propaganda. So these right-wingers are now repeating a mistake made by American communists nearly a hundred years ago. Even their mistakes are tired and old.

I know that - Just realized that my original post about it forgot to mention the words “since the soviet union collapsed” that I originally thought I included.

41 Pie-onist Overlord  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:36:20pm

Ben Shapiro is such a fucking tool. I’m almost ready to use the “K” word on him.

42 Kragar  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:39:22pm

re: #41 Pie-onist Overlord

Ben Shapiro is such a fucking tool. I’m almost ready to use the “K” word on him.

Knockwurst?

43 Stanley Sea  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:39:33pm

re: #23 Justanotherhuman

‘Golden’ residence of a former Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Viktor Pshonka

(Translation)
“Pshonka Treasures - A photo of the house bloody Attorney General

Friends, to your attention exclusive: photo of the house in the village Pshonka Gorenichi (Kiev Svyatoshinsky district). Ancient icons and paintings stolen Gospel, Holy Relics in the office, Faberge eggs around the house, a collection of knives, numerous awards, portraits Pshonka and Yanukovych, and much more. Then, without comment, will do it later.”

4ubuk.blogspot.se

They ran and left everything.

44 Archangelus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:39:34pm

re: #35 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

By the way, American communists were by no means alone - there was quite a deal of support for communism in general and Stalin in particular among many Israelis from the 1960s and until the late 1980s. Said support was based on propaganda and no knowledge of the true nature and scope of the atrocities perpetrated by the ‘glorious leader’, and actually predated the mass arrival of Russian and Ukrainian Jews to Israel in the 1990s.

45 Dr Lizardo  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:40:40pm
46 Randall Gross  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:40:55pm

It’s all because the shoe’s on the other foot now: Russia flipped from communist to Nationalist/Imperialist, and the right loves them some fascist strongmen. Shirtless Putin is a shoe in for our far right.

47 Mattand  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:41:12pm

re: #28 Archangelus

This and more, as my previous post tried to state - I don’t recall the left ever being so much in support ofa Russian leader as the RWNJs are in support of Putin nowadays on account of their anti-Obama mindframe…

I can clearly remember the days where if you said anything slightly critical of America, a fine upstanding Republicans would be there to tell you “Move to Russia, since you love it so much!”

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that Republicans are falling in love with a tyrant who threatens musicians, jails his opposition, and is trying to criminalize gays.

48 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:41:31pm

re: #40 Archangelus

I know that - Just realized that my original post about it forgot to mention the words “since the soviet union collapsed” that I originally thought I included.

It’s pretty ironic that the Soviet Union’s successful propaganda attempts to get Western leftists to ally and support them undercut the credibility of leftist movements in the US and Europe, leading to a heavy reaction against leftist ideas and a much more right-wing US and Europe.

A double irony in that Marx could have told them it wasn’t a ‘real’ communist revolution, since it wasn’t happening in an industrialized country. Wasn’t even right on theory.

49 Gus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:41:48pm

re: #42 Kragar

Knockwurst?

Klutz. //

50 Randall Gross  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:44:05pm

Back to the subject at hand: the bulk of the right blogosphere are paid whores and shills trying to prop up dying industries. (both the real fossil industries and the virtual industry of populist pandering for cash…)

51 makeitstop  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:44:54pm

re: #49 Gus

Klutz. //

Knucklehead.

52 Gus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:45:21pm

re: #51 makeitstop

Knucklehead.

Kielbasa brains. //

53 Iwouldprefernotto  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:46:42pm

re: #32 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

I have little doubt that the opposition contains a lot of antisemitic elements. I am sure as shit the establishment also contains a lot of antisemitic elements. There’s just a metric assload of antisemtism over there. The question is the best way to reduce that, and having the Ukraine allied with the propaganda-restricted, more closed society of Russia vs. the more open one of the EU is obviously not the best way to reduce antisemitism.

In other news, it’s been two days since I’ve had a migraine and I’m trying not to be too optimistic.

Glad to have you around.

54 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:47:37pm

re: #41 Pie-onist Overlord

Did you see my falafel picture? It turned out great!

littlegreenfootballs.com

55 prairiefire  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:47:38pm

re: #32 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Dr.s are making some advances using Botox against migraines. Damn head trauma. You need your brain, Obdi!

56 Archangelus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:47:39pm

re: #52 Gus

Kielbasa brains. //

Knesset Member //HeyItsPracticallyanInsultHere

57 prairiefire  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:49:30pm

re: #43 Stanley Sea

They ran and left everything.

I think I would manage to fit a few Fabrege eggs into my handbag.

58 Archangelus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:52:18pm

re: #54 Backwoods_Sleuth

Did you see my falafel picture? It turned out great!

littlegreenfootballs.com

* Hospitalized for trying to eat computer screen *

Looks good, though I must confess to belonging to the cult of Fsabiapapwh
(Falafel Should Always be in a Pita and Potentially with Hummus)… :)

59 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:53:06pm

re: #58 Archangelus

* Hospitalized for trying to eat computer screen *

Looks good, though I must confess to belonging to the cult of Fsabiapapwh
(Falafel Should Always be in a Pita and Potentially with Hummus)… :)

:D

60 wrenchwench  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:55:48pm
61 Justanotherhuman  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 12:57:19pm

Note: Parliament yesterday passed legislation making Ukrainian the official language in its last act before Monday’s session (which prompted the responsive comment).

62 Charles Johnson  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:00:44pm
63 Charles Johnson  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:01:25pm
64 Ryan King  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:04:20pm

re: #62 Charles Johnson

Bad precedent. Very bad.

Netflix Agrees to Pay Comcast to End Web Traffic Jam

I’ve noticed Netflix can be horrible to watch popular shows on, always buffering and stuff. Really annoying.

I’ve always assumed it’s a server side issue and not my ISP.

65 Charles Johnson  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:04:23pm
66 Gus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:04:53pm

re: #63 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Who’s the old guy in the beard? :D

67 Lidane  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:06:09pm

re: #28 Archangelus

This and more, as my previous post tried to state - I don’t recall the left ever being so much in support ofa Russian leader as the RWNJs are in support of Putin nowadays on account of their anti-Obama mindframe…

Putin is a bear wrasslin’, queer hatin’ REAL MAN, unlike Obama.

///////////////

68 Romantic Heretic  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:06:41pm

re: #48 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

It’s pretty ironic that the Soviet Union’s successful propaganda attempts to get Western leftists to ally and support them undercut the credibility of leftist movements in the US and Europe, leading to a heavy reaction against leftist ideas and a much more right-wing US and Europe.

A double irony in that Marx could have told them it wasn’t a ‘real’ communist revolution, since it wasn’t happening in an industrialized country. Wasn’t even right on theory.

The people that most believe Marxist theory, and hate it the most, are those busy trying to prove he was right. They accept that capitalism will pursue profits and power no matter who get hurt in the process.

Their only points of divergence is that they think this is a good thing for society rather than a bad thing, and that the inevitable class war will be won by the bourgeoisie rather than the proletariat.

It’s a strange world.

69 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:08:41pm

74 years ago today

70 Dr Lizardo  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:09:01pm

re: #48 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

It’s pretty ironic that the Soviet Union’s successful propaganda attempts to get Western leftists to ally and support them undercut the credibility of leftist movements in the US and Europe, leading to a heavy reaction against leftist ideas and a much more right-wing US and Europe.

A double irony in that Marx could have told them it wasn’t a ‘real’ communist revolution, since it wasn’t happening in an industrialized country. Wasn’t even right on theory.

One of the most common critiques among the anti-Bolshevik left is that Lenin was trying to leapfrog history and create a Marxist society in which the preconditions for it simply weren’t present, no matter how much Lenin tried to twist the facts to suit his vision.

71 Justanotherhuman  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:09:18pm

re: #62 Charles Johnson

Bad precedent. Very bad.

Netflix Agrees to Pay Comcast to End Web Traffic Jam

Here’s another story on that, Charles (paywall on Wall St J).

marketwatch.com

I see Charter wasn’t mentioned, but I don’t use cable anyway, just the internet connection.

72 Gus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:09:20pm
73 Gus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:09:33pm

O.O Ferreals?

74 Justanotherhuman  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:12:25pm

Only deteriorating for Russia.

75 Dr Lizardo  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:13:08pm

re: #72 Gus

[Embedded content]

Well, Prosecutor General Pshonka certainly strikes me as a modest sort of fellow.

O_O

76 Charles Johnson  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:13:26pm

re: #72 Gus

Wow, a ton of photos at that link.

4ubuk.blogspot.se

Unbelievable how corrupt these pigs were.

77 Charles Johnson  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:14:11pm
78 Justanotherhuman  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:14:21pm
79 BusyMonster  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:17:14pm

re: #4 ramex

It’s odd how conservatives are so dang worried about US sovereignty and how the UN will strip the US of that sovereignty, yet they get on board with crap like this and the Citizens United ruling.

Leading me to conclude they really aren’t, and in fact will sell this country to the highest bidder if we let them.

80 Dr Lizardo  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:18:02pm

re: #76 Charles Johnson

Wow, a ton of photos at that link.

4ubuk.blogspot.se

Unbelievable how corrupt these pigs were.

I get the feeling his jail cell will be decidedly more on the spartan side.

81 Testy Toad T  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:18:18pm

re: #77 Charles Johnson

@20committee
It’s becoming clear that, to be a mover & shaker in Yankovych’s gov’t, you needed to be a honor graduate of the Slavic Pimp Fashion Academy.

Sure, but did he have a tiny kissing giraffe?

82 Gus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:20:04pm

83 Charles Johnson  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:20:15pm
84 Lidane  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:20:35pm

re: #83 Charles Johnson

85 William Barnett-Lewis  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:21:00pm

re: #70 Dr Lizardo

One of the most common critiques among the anti-Bolshevik left is that Lenin was trying to leapfrog history and create a Marxist society in which the preconditions for it simply weren’t present, no matter how much Lenin tried to twist the facts to suit his vision.

Mike Harrington’s phrasing was that “if you socialize poverty all you get is socialized poverty.” Democratic reforms in the workplace and strengthening unionism will do far more for the worker than revolutionary propaganda.

86 Pie-onist Overlord  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:21:01pm

re: #54 Backwoods_Sleuth

Did you see my falafel picture? It turned out great!

littlegreenfootballs.com

Looks awesome!

87 Gus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:22:39pm

re: #76 Charles Johnson

Wow, a ton of photos at that link.

4ubuk.blogspot.se

Unbelievable how corrupt these pigs were.

Notice how clean everything is. Not a speck of dust.

88 Lidane  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:22:58pm

re: #79 BusyMonster

Leading me to conclude they really aren’t, and in fact will sell this country to the highest bidder if we let them.

Case in point: Citizens United, and that jackass saying that the more $$$ you have, the more votes you should get in elections.

89 BusyMonster  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:23:51pm

re: #28 Archangelus

This and more, as my previous post tried to state - I don’t recall the left ever being so much in support ofa Russian leader as the RWNJs are in support of Putin nowadays on account of their anti-Obama mindframe…

Cult of Personality. It’s a cult of person … al. . i . . teeeeee.

Right wingers do not, as is clearly evidenced, have principles. They have a cult, and all principles are fluid within the needs of the cult. Maybe it wasn’t always this way, but it sure is now.

I just laugh and laugh. Because they are such creatures of image, and surface, and not of substance and depth, when they do such violence to those images they merely weaken the movement, since it doesn’t have underlying principles. The right wing’s embrace of Putin is merely a signal that they are running out of options, and will grasp anything that looks like a straw. Now, they’re obviously hypocrites on the subject of “libertee” and “tyranee.” No need to entertain their bullshit on the subject anymore.

90 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:23:58pm

re: #87 Gus

Notice how clean everything is. Not a speck of dust.

Such shitty, gaudy taste, too. Like a stage set, a parody.

91 Pie-onist Overlord  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:24:08pm

re: #76 Charles Johnson

Wow, a ton of photos at that link.

4ubuk.blogspot.se

Unbelievable how corrupt these pigs were.

It’s like Tsarskoye Selo, but with big-screen TVs!

92 Lidane  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:26:10pm
93 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:26:51pm

re: #86 Pie-onist Overlord

Looks awesome!

It was! MrBWS even helped with the mixing and was eating taste-testing as he mixed and was raving about it the whole time (“why have you never made this for me before??11??”)
He took all the leftovers with him, so I’ll have to make up another batch for myself.
Also have to make a note to make sure I get more seed for the garden this year because I’m almost out of dried chickpeas from last year’s crop…

94 Dr Lizardo  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:27:14pm

re: #90 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Such shitty, gaudy taste, too. Like a stage set, a parody.

I’ve seen similar here among the nouveau riche in the Czech Republic. Wacky stuff and bizarrely tasteless.

95 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:27:27pm

re: #90 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Such shitty, gaudy taste, too. Like a stage set, a parody.

Money can’t buy good taste…never could.

96 Charles Johnson  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:27:53pm

Had to grab a copy of this - Rob Ford runs into a fire hydrant and nails himself right in the family jewels.

97 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:28:43pm

re: #96 Charles Johnson

Had to grab a copy of this - Rob Ford runs into a fire hydrant and nails himself right in the family jewels.

[Embedded image]

good thing he was in his regular comfortably numb state of being…

98 Ryan King  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:28:47pm

re: #26 jaunte

Looks like a cheaper ‘theater system’ with a bunch of crap right in front of the center channel.

SHAME!

99 Gus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:30:36pm

Former member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Hahahaha!

100 b.d.  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:34:31pm

That portrait of Czar Nicholas II and Alexei should go over well too.

101 Botsplainer  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:34:34pm

Wonder if Scoville is registered as an agent of the Ukrainian government?

102 Gus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:35:57pm

Apparently “Che Guevara” is following me on Twitter.

103 b.d.  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:36:13pm

re: #87 Gus

Notice how clean everything is. Not a speck of dust.

If I ever had any doubts if The Home Shopping Network was broadcast in Ukraine or not, they are now over.

104 Gus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:37:42pm

re: #103 b.d.

If I ever had any doubts if The Home Shopping Network was broadcast in Ukraine or not, they are now over.

Yeah. Was noticing all the new stuff too.

105 Charles Johnson  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:39:42pm

re: #87 Gus

Notice how clean everything is. Not a speck of dust.

Yes - it means there were a lot of servants constantly cleaning and maintaining everything.

Proving once again that all the money in the world can’t buy good taste.

106 Dr Lizardo  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:42:34pm
107 b.d.  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:42:58pm

re: #104 Gus

Yeah. Was noticing all the new stuff too.

The only thing missing was a leg lamp.

108 makeitstop  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:44:19pm

re: #107 b.d.

The only thing missing was a leg lamp.

‘It’s a very prestigious award!’

109 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:44:42pm

re: #107 b.d.

The only thing missing was a leg lamp.

And no lava lamps!
Clueless barbarians…

110 Gus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:47:44pm

re: #109 Backwoods_Sleuth

And no lava lamps!
Clueless barbarians…

No black lights and velvet paintings.

111 makeitstop  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:50:57pm

re: #110 Gus

No black lights and velvet paintings.

A velvet Putin would have tied it all together.

112 b.d.  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:51:37pm

re: #110 Gus

No black lights and velvet paintings.

We might have to wait for Maduro’s palace tour for that

113 Charles Johnson  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:52:13pm

A video tour of former Prosecutor General Pshonka’s house:

Youtube Video

114 Dr Lizardo  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:53:29pm

Here we go. Unconfirmed at the moment, but potentially big.

115 Kilroy01  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:55:38pm
116 Dr Lizardo  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:56:49pm

re: #115 Kilroy01

lenin cowbell

- THE Vladimir Lenin.

117 Lidane  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 1:59:27pm
118 palomino  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:00:37pm

re: #92 Lidane

[Embedded content]

Ahh, the good old days of the Cold War. It’s the kind of thing that gives a guy like Kristol a hard-on. Maybe because the wars he’s championed more recently in Iraq and Afghanistan were so deflating by comparison.

Just think quickly about the predictions he makes: from how easy and cheap the Iraq War would be, to the winner of the 2012 election, to Sarah Palin’s “bright” political future, and on and on.

Is this guy ever NOT wrong?

119 A Mom Anon  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:00:47pm

re: #105 Charles Johnson

I remember pics of one of Rush Limbaugh’s apartments or something that was for sale, same shitty décor. I also understand his house in FL is like a cheap knock off of Versailles, but I’ve never seen it (though I know approx. where it is, my father in law worked on a house that was being built nearby). Robber Barons or wannabes.

120 b_sharp  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:03:36pm

re: #96 Charles Johnson

Had to grab a copy of this - Rob Ford runs into a fire hydrant and nails himself right in the family jewels.

[Embedded image]

Canada’s pride and joy.

121 austin_blue  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:04:49pm

re: #96 Charles Johnson

Had to grab a copy of this - Rob Ford runs into a fire hydrant and nails himself right in the family jewels.

[Embedded image]

That’s gonna hurt when he sobers up.

122 wrenchwench  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:04:54pm

re: #96 Charles Johnson

Had to grab a copy of this - Rob Ford runs into a fire hydrant and nails himself right in the family jewels.

[Embedded image]

They should paint those things a bright color so people can see them.

123 b.d.  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:05:29pm

re: #119 A Mom Anon

I remember pics of one of Rush Limbaugh’s apartments or something that was for sale, same shitty décor. I also understand his house in FL is like a cheap knock off of Versailles, but I’ve never seen it (though I know approx. where it is, my father in law worked on a house that was being built nearby). Robber Barons or wannabes.

That guy really should have hired the Koch Brothers/Oliver Stone’s decorator rather than Snooki.

124 b.d.  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:07:08pm

re: #121 austin_blue

That’s gonna hurt when he sobers up.

[sobered up rob ford] I ran into a fire hydrant and I was mayor of toronto? [/sobered up rob ford]

125 Lidane  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:09:19pm

re: #119 A Mom Anon

I remember pics of one of Rush Limbaugh’s apartments or something that was for sale, same shitty décor. I also understand his house in FL is like a cheap knock off of Versailles, but I’ve never seen it (though I know approx. where it is, my father in law worked on a house that was being built nearby). Robber Barons or wannabes.

Donald Trump does that shit too, IIRC.

126 makeitstop  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:09:26pm

re: #122 wrenchwench

They should paint those things a bright color so people can see them.

I would not want the job of painting Rob Ford’s family jewels a bright color.

Oh…you meant the fire hydrant…

127 William Barnett-Lewis  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:09:54pm

re: #115 Kilroy01

lenin cowbell

You know, with a Vietnamese son, I’d love a t-shirt of that with Uncle Ho in place of Vlad … ;)

128 wrenchwench  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:11:40pm

re: #126 makeitstop

I would not want the job of painting Rob Ford’s family jewels a bright color.

Oh…you meant the fire hydrant…

lol

129 Dr Lizardo  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:14:17pm

re: #125 Lidane

I prefer more minimalist opulence.

130 Dr Lizardo  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:17:09pm

re: #125 Lidane

Or this:

131 Romantic Heretic  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:20:18pm

re: #77 Charles Johnson

Slavic Pimp

I fed one of those to one of my vampires in one of my stories.

But the damn fool shot that vampire.

132 Romantic Heretic  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:21:08pm

re: #79 BusyMonster

Leading me to conclude they really aren’t, and in fact will sell this country to the highest bidder if we let them.

They’d burn it to the ground too if it increased their take.

133 William Barnett-Lewis  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:22:23pm

re: #129 Dr Lizardo

I prefer more minimalist opulence.

[Embedded image]

Nice. Looks rather Habsburg?

134 Romantic Heretic  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:22:36pm

re: #82 Gus

[Embedded image]

More proof that Rome has generated more inferiority complexes than any other empire in history.

135 PhillyPretzel  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:22:43pm

re: #129 Dr Lizardo

Highclere Castle aka Downton Abbey.

136 Gus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:25:13pm
137 Kilroy01  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:25:14pm

re: #127 William Barnett-LewisUncle Ho and his Cowbell

138 Romantic Heretic  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:26:14pm

re: #92 Lidane

[Embedded content]

Jackass! The Cold War has been over for a generation.

Get over it!

139 wrenchwench  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:28:36pm


The Great Mosque of Djenné in Mali

140 Gus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:30:07pm

Had what Ukraine just did during the Cold War the Soviets would have slaughtered hundreds. Tanks would have rolled into Kiev. Etc, etc, etc. Sure, we can bring up the Soviet history there. That Yank’ was a former Soviet communist. But right now we’re dealing with a unique situation. That the Ukrainian’s pulled this off on their own — for the most part — is better in the end.

141 Dr Lizardo  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:31:29pm

re: #133 William Barnett-Lewis

Nice. Looks rather Habsburg?

Topkapi Palace, Istanbul.

Pimpin’ it like a Sultan.

142 Gus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:41:05pm

Jesus Christ. All Obama said was that Syria and Ukraine was “not part of some Cold War chessboard.” He didn’t say anything about the Cold War nor does that indicate a “disdain” for the Cold War.

143 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:41:39pm
144 wrenchwench  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:44:11pm

re: #142 Gus

Jesus Christ. All Obama said was that Syria and Ukraine was “not part of some Cold War chessboard.” He didn’t say anything about the Cold War nor does that indicate a “disdain” for the Cold War.

Old farts won’t forgive him for being young.

145 Gus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:47:31pm

re: #144 wrenchwench

Old farts won’t forgive him for being young.

Obama said 6 words and they mean all the things! Typical wingnut BS. I think Tom Friedman even had to insert his fucking opinion. Speaking of old. These two have passed their expiration date. Not age wise just their over-exposure.

146 Pie-onist Overlord  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:48:10pm
147 Dr Lizardo  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:50:31pm

re: #146 Pie-onist Overlord

[Embedded content]

I was just about to post this quiz, lol!

I took it - I only missed one. I rated as “Chief Bigot Detective, able to distinguish between an Ann Coulter and a Julius Streicher”.

Frankly, it’s extraordinarily disturbing how eerily similar the rhetoric is between anti-Semites and Islamophobes. Just switch a word here or there, and voila!

148 Pie-onist Overlord  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:53:16pm

Look who is all butthurt over being called out on Ukraine & Venezuela

149 Pie-onist Overlord  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:54:11pm

re: #147 Dr Lizardo

I was just about to post this quiz, lol!

I took it - I only missed one. I rated as “Chief Bigot Detective, able to distinguish between an Ann Coulter and a Julius Streicher”.

Frankly, it’s extraordinarily disturbing how eerily similar the rhetoric is between anti-Semites and Islamophobes. Just switch a word here or there, and voila!

Pamela Geller has literally taken old Anti-Semitic tropes and recycled them into Anti-Islamic tropes.

150 Pie-onist Overlord  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:54:55pm

Has the Dudenut/Wingbro mind-meld been achieved?

151 Dr Lizardo  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:56:45pm

re: #149 Pie-onist Overlord

Pamela Geller has literally taken old Anti-Semitic tropes and recycled them into Anti-Islamic tropes.

Yes, she has and what’s disturbing is that none of her followers seem to catch on. Or perhaps, they just don’t want to catch on - wilful ignorance on their part.

152 Gus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:57:50pm

re: #150 Pie-onist Overlord

Has the Dudenut/Wingbro mind-meld been achieved?

[Embedded content]

Finally, there’s healthcare reform. The brouhaha over its botched rollout will scarcely be remembered a few years hence. But with roughly 31 million people set to remain uninsured and little changing for many, its undeniable benefits are not likely to be remembered as transformational. All in all, there’s precious little that Obama has done that any of his primary opponents would not have done.

153 Romantic Heretic  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:04:53pm

OT.

I went to do my laundry. Which means I take a pocketful of loonies with me as the machines prefer loonies.

One wouldn’t be accepted by any of the washers. On closer examination it turned out I had a Millard Fillmore Presidential dollar coin.

Cool.

154 Gus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:06:36pm

Barack Obama has now been in power for longer than Johnson was, and the question remains: “What the hell’s his presidency for?” His second term has been characterised by a profound sense of drift in principle and policy. While posing as the ally of the immigrant he is deporting people at a faster clip than any of his predecessors; while claiming to be a supporter of labour he’s championing trade deals that will undercut American jobs and wages. In December, even as he pursued one whistleblower, Edward Snowden and kept another, Chelsea Manning, incarcerated, he told the crowd at Nelson Mandela’s funeral: “There are too many leaders who claim solidarity with Madiba’s struggle for freedom, but do not tolerate dissent from their own people.”

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

155 Stanley Sea  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:07:15pm

re: #147 Dr Lizardo

I was just about to post this quiz, lol!

I took it - I only missed one. I rated as “Chief Bigot Detective, able to distinguish between an Ann Coulter and a Julius Streicher”.

Frankly, it’s extraordinarily disturbing how eerily similar the rhetoric is between anti-Semites and Islamophobes. Just switch a word here or there, and voila!

Me too, and as always, very depressing.

156 blueraven  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:10:02pm

re: #152 Gus

Finally, there’s healthcare reform. The brouhaha over its botched rollout will scarcely be remembered a few years hence. But with roughly 31 million people set to remain uninsured and little changing for many, its undeniable benefits are not likely to be remembered as transformational. >All in all, there’s precious little that Obama has done that any of his primary opponents would not have done.

Oh really? Healthcare reform has been tried for decades. If anyone could do it, it would have been done long ago. It may not be perfect but better than it was. And a big reason for that 31 million uninsured is due to the Supreme Court and Republican Governors not extending Medicaid.

157 palomino  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:13:14pm

re: #150 Pie-onist Overlord

Has the Dudenut/Wingbro mind-meld been achieved?

[Embedded content]

The article compares Obama unfavorably to LBJ. But in this environment, a president can’t just snap his fingers, threaten members of Congress, and get things easily done like LBJ did.

Furthermore, LBJ screwed the pooch with Vietnam. While Obama may not have a legislative accomplishment as big as the Civil and Voting Rights Acts, very few presidents do, so it’s an unfair comparison. And Obamacare might actually turn into a legislative success, which further mitigates the disparity between LBJ and Obama.

Finally, Obama hasn’t lied us into a war like Vietnam. Obama’s no saint, but I don’t expect that kind of huge blunder from him.

158 Pie-onist Overlord  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:15:13pm

Your Score: 5 / 7

Your Ranking: Islamophobia inspector, only the stealthiest of bigots would catch you out.

The purpose of this quiz was to emphasise how vigilant we should be to the language our media uses to describe minority groups. At times the language our journalists use to describe Muslims is indistinguishable from the language Nazi propagandists used to describe Jews. We must challenge these views to prevent the horrors of history from repeating themselves. - See more at: judaism-islam.com

159 wrenchwench  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:16:05pm

re: #148 Pie-onist Overlord

Look who is all butthurt over being called out on Ukraine & Venezuela

[Embedded content]

Maybe he could write about Brazil once in a while.

In Brazil, police officers kill an average of five people every day. In 2012, according to a security report from the Brazilian Forum on Public Security, 1,890 Brazilians were killed by the police, 351 here in São Paulo. That was around 20 percent of all homicides in the city. At the same time, 11 police officers were killed on duty here and around 100 were executed off-duty, allegedly by organized crime. Police officers are three times more likely to be murdered than the average Brazilian.

[…]

But lately, more Brazilians have been taking notice, as police brutality is increasingly directed against journalists and political protesters (many from the middle class), instead of just the same old black and poor citizens who live in favelas.

[…]

160 Killgore Trout  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:18:53pm

There is much outrage over David Brooks’ latest column. I think it’s quite good.
Capitalism for the Masses

Among the many outrageous things in the article is this: Capitalism Gets Cautious Blessing of Dalai Lama

161 Pie-onist Overlord  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:18:54pm

Max Blumenthal is hating him some Euromaidan


(The rest of his Twitter feed is hating on Teh Juice)

162 Gus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:19:52pm

Samuel Sheinbein is dead.

163 Killgore Trout  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:20:02pm

re: #159 wrenchwench

Maybe he could write about Brazil once in a while.

According to the videos on liveleak, off duty cops in brazil shoot robbers all the time. It seems a frequent occurrence.

164 Stephen T.  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:20:32pm

re: #151 Dr Lizardo

Yes, she has and what’s disturbing is that none of her followers seem to catch on. Or perhaps, they just don’t want to catch on - wilful ignorance on their part.

Or, it’s worse. They have caught on, they know that the anti-Islamic rhetoric is identical to anti semitic rhetoric, but they don’t care because they are as anti semitic as they are anti-Islamic.

165 Dr Lizardo  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:20:42pm

lol

On a more serious note, the story that Yanukovych was arrested in Crimea and his now on his way back to Kyiv seems to be getting legs.

166 wrenchwench  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:24:11pm
167 Gus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:25:02pm

By this logic then we should kick out Germany, Austria and Greece, especially Greece, from the EU.

168 Gus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:27:36pm

re: #161 Pie-onist Overlord

Max Blumenthal is hating him some Euromaidan

[Embedded content]

(The rest of his Twitter feed is hating on Teh Juice)

And? They’re already there with Yanko’ and the Russians in power. They already have a stamp for Bandera. What are we supposed to do?

169 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:29:28pm

re: #160 Killgore Trout

Where’s the outrage?

The article is mostly an accurate analysis of how currently fucked-up the wealth disparity in the US—and the world—is, despite the overall increase in productivity and living standards under capitalism. It puts it in moral terms, that current capitalism is essentially immoral. It talks about Brooks endorsing direct welfare rather than a rise in the minimum wage—I think that he’s wrong to oppose the minimum wage hike, but endorsing direct welfare is cool.

What in the article is outrageous, exactly?

170 jaunte  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:30:20pm

re: #148 Pie-onist Overlord

Look who is all butthurt over being called out on Ukraine & Venezuela

[Embedded content]

I wonder if Omidyar knew that First Look Media would only be reporting on one story.

171 Charles Johnson  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:33:35pm

I’ll bet it would be pretty easy to find examples of Greenwald slamming other people for not mentioning one of his pet topics.

172 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:34:20pm

re: #168 Gus

And? They’re already there with Yanko’ and the Russians in power. They already have a stamp for Bandera. What are we supposed to do?

[Embedded image]

Finland as a nation collaborated with the Nazis. The perspective of what you need to do is very different when you’re between the Nazis and the USSR.

173 Killgore Trout  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:35:22pm

re: #169 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Nice to see you’re feeling better.

174 Justanotherhuman  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:36:20pm
175 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:39:12pm

re: #174 Justanotherhuman

[Embedded content]

looks like his tugboat…

176 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:40:14pm

re: #173 Killgore Trout

Nice to see you’re feeling better.

Nice to see you still passively-aggressively dodge simple, straightforward questions while making vague claims about outrage that never actually live up to your hype.

Again: Where is the outrage over the article, and what is being found outrageous about it?

The Commentary article by the other Brooks is a weird pastiche of half-formed thoughts and asinine fantasy—like the idea that sociological research on the poor is divorced from actual contact with the poor—but even that article is acknowledging the problem, which is yards better than standards conservative thought.

So how about, just for a hoot, you try answering a straightforwards question like a human being?

Where is the outrage about the article, and what are they finding outrageous about it?

177 Dr Lizardo  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:42:23pm

re: #174 Justanotherhuman

[Embedded content]

Bandido?

Appropriate.

178 Gus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:43:05pm
179 William Barnett-Lewis  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:45:58pm

re: #176 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Nice to see you still passively-aggressively dodge simple, straightforward questions while making vague claims about outrage that never actually live up to your hype.

A Troll just has to Troll.

180 blueraven  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:47:52pm

re: #176 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Nice to see you still passively-aggressively dodge simple, straightforward questions while making vague claims about outrage that never actually live up to your hype.

Again: Where is the outrage over the article, and what is being found outrageous about it?

The Commentary article by the other Brooks is a weird pastiche of half-formed thoughts and asinine fantasy—like the idea that sociological research on the poor is divorced from actual contact with the poor—but even that article is acknowledging the problem, which is yards better than standards conservative thought.

So how about, just for a hoot, you try answering a straightforwards question like a human being?

Where is the outrage about the article, and what are they finding outrageous about it?

Outrageous!!

181 Dr Lizardo  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:48:31pm

re: #178 Gus

A diplomatic warning shot more than anything.

182 blueraven  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 3:53:20pm

re: #162 Gus

Samuel Sheinbein is dead.

Had to Google the name. Good riddance.

183 Killgore Trout  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 4:01:01pm

re: #178 Gus

[Embedded content]

I guess the thing to watch out for is the Russian military bases in Ukraine. If the new government makes any drastic moves to shut the bases there could be trouble. Otherwise I don’t think it’s likely.

184 goddamnedfrank  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 4:07:22pm

re: #168 Gus

And? They’re already there with Yanko’ and the Russians in power. They already have a stamp for Bandera. What are we supposed to do?

[Embedded image]

That stamp was issued under Yushchenko. Yanukovych actually had Bandera’s Hero of the Ukraine award annulled right after he came into office in 2011. Tymoshenko was a cypher during the Yushchenko administration’s giving of the award, but condemned Yanukovych’s annulment.

In any event the Western Ukrainian politicians aren’t thinking of Bandera’s anti-semitism, but unfortunately they are willing to overlook it in order to root their own movements in the history of Ukrainian independence.

185 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 4:07:56pm

re: #176 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Nice to see you still passively-aggressively dodge simple, straightforward questions while making vague claims about outrage that never actually live up to your hype.

Again: Where is the outrage over the article, and what is being found outrageous about it?

The Commentary article by the other Brooks is a weird pastiche of half-formed thoughts and asinine fantasy—like the idea that sociological research on the poor is divorced from actual contact with the poor—but even that article is acknowledging the problem, which is yards better than standards conservative thought.

So how about, just for a hoot, you try answering a straightforwards question like a human being?

Where is the outrage about the article, and what are they finding outrageous about it?

“Outrage” is just a word KT uses when he wants attention. He never uses it to mean what the dictionary says it means.

186 subterraneanhomesickalien  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 4:09:20pm

re: #162 Gus

Had to look it up.

Just another monster that has rid us of his presence.

187 Killgore Trout  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 4:11:55pm

Should it be unfettered capitalism for the masses or real free enterprise?

David Brooks’s New York Times piece “Capitalism for the Masses” is a blood-boiler.

188 Gus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 4:15:12pm

re: #183 Killgore Trout

I guess the thing to watch out for is the Russian military bases in Ukraine. If the new government makes any drastic moves to shut the bases there could be trouble. Otherwise I don’t think it’s likely.

Yeah. They would have done something by now. I’m sure the NSA is keeping an ear out.

189 goddamnedfrank  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 4:16:45pm

Hopefully this is as bad as sentiment in Crimea gets:

Sevastopol (Ukraine) (AFP) - Waving placards calling for “Mother Russia” to save them, thousands of people rallied Sunday in Ukraine’s port city of Sevastopol to denounce the political upheaval in Kiev as fears grow that the country could splinter.

Ukraine: Parliament boss takes presidential powers Associated Press
Home to Russia’s Black Sea fleet for some 200 years, Sevastopol in Ukraine’s autonomous Crimea region is a bastion of pro-Moscow sentiment in the deeply divided ex-Soviet state where mass protests have forced Kremlin-allied president Viktor Yanukovich to flee the capital.

Amid fears that it could become a flashpoint for pro-Russian separatists, the United States, Germany, France and Poland made appeals Sunday for Ukraine’s national integrity to be preserved.

In a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel both leaders opposed partition, German officials said.

How much of popular opinion such a crowd actually represents is difficult to say, polls taken in 2012 capped support for rejoining Russia at 2 percent in the eastern regions, doubtless much higher after recent events. I get the impression that what people want most is stability, as long as the next government isn’t as obviously corrupt as Yanukovych was and doesn’t engage in any reprisals the separatist sentiment will probably die down again.

190 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 4:17:10pm

re: #187 Killgore Trout

And what about the criticisms there do you disagree with?

191 wrenchwench  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 4:19:18pm
192 goddamnedfrank  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 4:19:23pm

re: #188 Gus

Yeah. They would have done something by now. I’m sure the NSA is keeping an ear out.

It would be uncharacteristically insane for Putin to interfere militarily. This situation isn’t remotely similar to South Ossetia / Georgia.

193 Gus  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 4:22:38pm

re: #192 goddamnedfrank

It would be uncharacteristically insane for Putin to interfere militarily. This situation isn’t remotely similar to South Ossetia / Georgia.

Yep.

194 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 4:22:48pm

re: #185 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi

“Outrage” is just a word KT uses when he wants attention. He never uses it to mean what the dictionary says it means.

In this case, he’s using it to mean that someone saying Brook’s essay mistakes the central problem with the economy and laying out substantial criticisms is responding to it with ‘outrage’.

195 goddamnedfrank  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 4:23:49pm

re: #194 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

In this case, he’s using it to mean that someone saying Brooks essay mistakes the central problem with the economy and laying out substantial criticisms is responding to it with ‘outrage’.

KT married the word outrage early last year. It was a beautify ceremony.

I cried.

196 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 4:24:16pm

re: #195 goddamnedfrank

KT married the word outrage early last year. It was a beautify ceremony.

I cried.

Outrage!

197 scottslemmons  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 4:29:29pm

re: #182 blueraven

Had to Google the name. Good riddance.

Had to Google him, too. What a colossal psycho. And from the sound of it, the rest of his family was just as nuts. I’m amazed they hadn’t somehow been elected to Congress.

198 subterraneanhomesickalien  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 4:31:12pm

re: #187 Killgore Trout

I don’t think that its necessarily the “outrage” over the particular content of the article per say with many people. Its the useful idiocy of “moderate conservatives” like David Brooks and the very stubborn ideologically dogmatic realm of modern libertarianism for the interests of corporate power.

Now not all of these libertarians and reaganites like Brooks are purely ideologically driven and utopian in their thought processes, many are just cynical crooks that care only about what makes their employers and themselves more money, but useful idiots nonetheless. But they still are arguing in favor of an economic system that has been very much discredited by the financial turmoil of the last five years.

And that is really fucking frustrating. Hearing over and over again that a doubling down on Reaganism is the cure to what ails us, when it was Reaganism that caused the problem to begin with. Which is what we keep hearing from the “moderates” in the “debate”. Even though most of these so called moderates are just Reagan conservatives that have been redefined as moderates when compared to the more militant nature of the current Republican establishment.

I’m sorry if any of this sounds like nonsense. I’m not really feeling well today. Having a hard time finding many cogent thoughts running through my brain this evening.

199 Justanotherhuman  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 4:35:28pm

She’s the sister of his cook…


Did he set her up in the business? With govt money?

200 Justanotherhuman  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 4:38:14pm

re: #189 goddamnedfrank

Hopefully this is as bad as sentiment in Crimea gets:

How much of popular opinion such a crowd actually represents is difficult to say, polls taken in 2012 capped support for rejoining Russia at 2 percent in the eastern regions, doubtless much higher after recent events. I get the impression that what people want most is stability, as long as the next government isn’t as obviously corrupt as Yanukovych was and doesn’t engage in any reprisals the separatist sentiment will probably die down again.

Well, there’s this, and I’m wondering if it’s simply because they no longer want anything to do with Kiev since Yanuk is out.

201 Killgore Trout  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 4:40:56pm

re: #198 subterraneanhomesickalien

I don’t think that its necessarily the “outrage” over the particular content of the article per say with many people. Its the useful idiocy of “moderate conservatives” like David Brooks and the very stubborn ideologically dogmatic realm of modern libertarianism for the interests of corporate power.

Now not all of these libertarians and reaganites like Brooks are purely ideologically driven and utopian in their thought processes, many are just cynical crooks that care only about what makes their employers and themselves more money, but useful idiots nonetheless. But they still are arguing in favor of an economic system that has been very much discredited by the financial turmoil of the last five years.

And that is really fucking frustrating. Hearing over and over again that a doubling down on Reaganism is the cure to what ails us, when it was Reaganism that caused the problem to begin with. Which is what we keep hearing from the “moderates” in the “debate”. Even though most of these so called moderates are just Reagan conservatives that have been redefined as moderates when compared to the more militant nature of the current Republican establishment.

I’m sorry if any of this sounds like nonsense. I’m not really feeling well today. Having a hard time finding many cogent thoughts running through my brain this evening.

That’s well said and I understand your points. The last link in the DKos diary is more interesting than the diary itself. America’s Form Of Capitalism Kills Free Enterprise And Democracy
(although seriously flawed, it’s at least an interesting explanation of the modern anti-capitalist mindset)
It’s an interesting debate but I think the criticism to Brook’s commentary is reactionary. Brooks is not a free market libertarian fundamentalist and they’re attacking things he’s not saying.

202 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 4:43:50pm

re: #201 Killgore Trout

It’s an interesting debate but I think the criticism to Brook’s commentary is reactionary. Brooks is not a free market libertarian fundamentalist and they’re attacking things he’s not saying.

First of all, there are two Brooks involved, so you should really specify which one.

Second, if you’re going to make a claim—that they’re attacking things he’s not saying—then if you want to be taken seriously, just back up that claim. Say that the article claims that Brooks (whichever one you’re talking about) says X, whereas he’s actually saying Y. Demonstrate it.

That way, you’ll seem like something more than a tired troll rolling out his standard shtick.

203 Pie-onist Overlord  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 4:44:18pm

And gays too, don’t forget about Israeli “Pinkwashing”!

204 Lidane  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 4:48:10pm

re: #195 goddamnedfrank

KT married the word outrage early last year. It was a beautify ceremony.

I cried.

It was going so well until the pepper spray honor guard at the reception.

After that it all ended in tears.

205 Lidane  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 4:51:21pm

And not a single fuck was given that day:

206 bratwurst  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 4:51:22pm

Here is breaking news that could affect DOZENS of people:

207 bratwurst  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 4:51:44pm

re: #205 Lidane

Beat me by ONE second!

CNN could put a Ron Popeil infomercial in that time slot and the network would end up being more journalistically sound than it is now.

208 jaunte  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 4:58:23pm

re: #205 Lidane

Curious to see what the brain behind Fear Factor and The Apprentice comes up with as a replacement.

209 Lidane  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 4:58:43pm

re: #207 bratwurst

Beat me by ONE second!

Youtube Video

210 Charles Johnson  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 5:01:53pm

re: #206 bratwurst

Actually, I pretty much agreed with him on the anti-gun stuff. It was everything else about him that was a huge turn-off.

211 b.d.  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 5:04:30pm

and Larry King is snickering somewhere

212 bratwurst  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 5:05:49pm

re: #210 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Actually, I pretty much agreed with him on the anti-gun stuff. It was everything else about him that was a huge turn-off.

Oh same here. I fully supported him being deported in spite of agreeing with him on guns. This country has produced HUNDREDS of beady-eyed stuffed shirts who could host that show, no need to bring one here from overseas.

The news now seems to be official, as reported by the New York Times.

213 Justanotherhuman  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 5:09:32pm

This is good news.

214 Feline Fearless Leader  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 5:16:47pm

re: #153 Romantic Heretic

OT.

I went to do my laundry. Which means I take a pocketful of loonies with me as the machines prefer loonies.

One wouldn’t be accepted by any of the washers. On closer examination it turned out I had a Millard Fillmore Presidential dollar coin.

Cool.

When did Canada issue those?
// ;P

215 Political Atheist  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 5:21:03pm
216 lawhawk  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 5:23:00pm

I’m shocked, shocked that some people shilled for the Ukrainian regime and didn’t reveal their conflict of interests. Shocked.

And that it happens to be the usual suspects? Shocked.

[this is my not shocked face]

217 goddamnedfrank  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 5:23:20pm

re: #212 bratwurst

Oh same here. I fully supported him being deported in spite of agreeing with him on guns. This country has produced HUNDREDS of beady-eyed stuffed shirts who could host that show, no need to bring one here from overseas.

Piers is kind of an idiot on guns, though he’s in good company. Like a lot of people he focuses on banning assault rifles and thinks handguns are okay for people to have in the home, when statistically it’s the exact opposite. More than 85% percent of all gun crime, including firearms related murders are accomplished with a handgun. Handguns are more conducive to criminality, they’re concealable. He’s all about banning assault rifles, because they’re disproportionately associated with mass shooting incidents when in fact cheap pump action shotguns are recovered from more crime scenes.

The fact is that dead is dead, and focusing narrowly on the thinnest slice of the pie while deliberately ignoring the rest is no way to deal with the actual problem.

218 lawhawk  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 5:25:33pm

re: #213 Justanotherhuman

I’ve got to believe that there are connections with NYC metro area hospitals who could assist. They were instrumental in helping Ukrainians who were affected by Chernobyl, including thyroid cancer treatments, and there’s a large Ukrainian population here. Don’t know who specific to talk with,

219 Killgore Trout  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 5:28:32pm
220 Justanotherhuman  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 5:29:58pm

Fuck off and die, Putin.

221 Killgore Trout  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 5:31:45pm

re: #220 Justanotherhuman

Fuck off and die, Putin.

[Embedded content]

Does Ukraine owe Russia any payments? I can’t remember if Russia ever transferred any money.

222 Feline Fearless Leader  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 5:32:01pm

re: #208 jaunte

Curious to see what the brain behind Fear Factor and The Apprentice comes up with as a replacement.

Combine the two. With Darth Vader in the Trump role.
/

223 b.d.  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 5:35:40pm

re: #220 Justanotherhuman

Fuck off and die, Putin.

[Embedded content]

The Bread Basket of Europe

224 Killgore Trout  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 5:35:41pm

businessweek.com

Ukraine has $17 billion of liabilities coming due, excluding interest, through the end of 2015, including $1 billion of bonds maturing in June this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The price on notes due in four months rose to 95.63 cents on the dollar Feb. 21, from 93.80 cents the previous day, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

So they’ll have a little pocket change left over.

225 Decatur Deb  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 5:36:37pm

re: #218 lawhawk

I’ve got to believe that there are connections with NYC metro area hospitals who could assist. They were instrumental in helping Ukrainians who were affected by Chernobyl, including thyroid cancer treatments, and there’s a large Ukrainian population here. Don’t know who specific to talk with,

The consolidated DoD hospitals in Beaumont, TX are the likely go-to. They know combat burns like no others. It’s the former Ft. Sam Houston med center.

226 Lidane  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 5:38:48pm

This feels more like a condemnation rather than an endorsement:

227 Bridgeghazi: Never Forget!!11!!!!11  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 5:42:49pm

re: #226 Lidane

Apparently, Sarah and Todd would be one of those parents that Ted could charm into allowing him to date their underage daughter.

228 Dr Lizardo  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 5:42:54pm

re: #220 Justanotherhuman

Fuck off and die, Putin.

[Embedded content]

Wingnut/Moonbat heads explode everywhere! Film at 11!

229 Justanotherhuman  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 5:54:40pm

re: #226 Lidane

This feels more like a condemnation rather than an endorsement:

[Embedded content]

Is she willing to offer Nugent her youngest daughter as some sort of sick present? After all, the girl will be 13 on March 19.

This is from the Rick Perry campaign.

Image: perry_palin_nugent.jpg

What parent would want their young daughter even standing next to this perv?

230 prairiefire  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 5:56:34pm

re: #219 Killgore Trout

I thought it was going to be a Prince video.

231 Eventual Carrion  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 6:28:21pm

re: #226 Lidane

This feels more like a condemnation rather than an endorsement:

[Embedded content]

13 year old girls are good enough for him too. You in Sarah?

232 chadu  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 6:34:29pm

re: #81 Testy Toad T

Sure, but did he have a tiny kissing giraffe?

233 chadu  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 6:36:09pm

re: #89 BusyMonster

Cult of Personality. It’s a cult of person … al. . i . . teeeeee.

Youtube Video

234 chadu  Sun, Feb 23, 2014 6:38:08pm

re: #107 b.d.

The only thing missing was a leg lamp.

It’s a Major Award!


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