Stop the Hate - Don't Take the Bait

I don't like Rush Limbaugh. He says very stupid things. A recent example is his suggestion that "The White racist leadership of the Democrat Party is trying to ace out [current majority whip Rep. James] Clyburn" who is vying to become minority whip in the newly Republican controlled House. He follows this crass accusation up with the equally inane opinion that Clyburn is just "...worried about not having the perk of a big office, driver, and so forth." He then offers the 'solution' that a new position should be made for Clyburn rather than minority whip.  "Clyburn's new position: Driving Miss Nancy [Pelosi]. He gets to keep the car. He gets to go everywhere she goes, parties and everything else. He's not in the back of the bus. He's in the driver's seat, and she's in the back of the car being chauffeured. Solved problem."

Stupid? Yes. Racist? Yes. Something we should take seriously? No. Rush is just doing his normal 'liberal baiting' routine. Normally I'd let this sort of thing slide because I don't want to give Rush any more attention than he deserves (which is none), however the article that highlighted this particular bit of Rush-nastiness included a number of comments from ostensibly liberal readers that I found equally offensive. They respond to Rush's racist 'humor' with equally intolerant (and decidedly unfunny) jabs - comments on Rush's weight, his struggle with substance abuse, hopes that his marriage falls apart soon, that his life should end in agony, etc.

Of course this all plays into Rush's hand because he has stirred up more left/right hate and he gets the attention and notoriety he's looking for. I'm sure some of the more provocative comments were provided by Rush fans who are helping stir the pot by masquerading as liberals, however I'm very disappointed with any of my fellow true liberals who would sink so low as to play Rush's game with him.

Duane Harkness

Patty Murray Wins

This is just a quick note to say I'm happy Patty Murray won re-election as senior senator from our state. She is a strong advocate for taking action to avert the consequences of global warming, including the development of clean energy alternatives to petroleum. You can find a quick summary of her votes on energy and oil legislation here:

http://www.ontheissues.org/international/Patty_Murray_Energy_+_Oil.htm

Unfortunately global warming denial was a big winner elsewhere in the election. According to the ThinkProgress blog, half of newly elected Republicans deny the existence of anthropogenic global warming. What's worse is 86 percent of those same Republicans oppose any form of climate change legislation that increases government revenue requirements. That's sad. We have a lot of work ahead of us.

Duane Harkness