Yawn. Saying Rush Limbaugh is a liar is like saying pigs have a snout and squeal.
The Carbuncle on the Ass of America was outraged by President Obama's Thanksgiving Day speech in which he acknowledged our Native Americans and thanked them for helping the newly arrived immigrant Pilgrims.
We expect this sort of puerile inanity from the Hindenburg of Gasbags, but this time he really embarrassed himself and secured forever a place in America's "History of Famous Asshats and Other Idiots."
Here's the passage from Mr. Obama's speech that set the Irritable Ignoramus off:
"This Thanksgiving Day, we reflect on the compassion and contributions of Native Americans, whose skill in agriculture helped the early colonists survive, and whose rich culture continues to add to our Nation's heritage...This spirit brought together the newly arrived Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe — who had been living and thriving around Plymouth for thousands of years."
All of which is historically accurate.
But wait, there's this. Ronald Wilson Reagan's 1981 Thanksgiving Day speech:
"""The Pilgrims planted and harvested a bountiful crop. After the harvest they gathered their families together and joined in celebration and prayer with the Native Americans who had taught them so much. Clearly our forefathers were thankful not only for the material well-being of their harvest but for this abundance of goodwill as well."
Limbaugh is so transparent. No matter what President Obama said on Thanksgiving Day, Limbaugh would have burst his spleen over it. President Ronald W. Reagan praised our Native Americans and acknowledged them in a Thanksgiving Day speech, but when Mr. Obama did the same thing, Limbaugh would have none of it and erupted with a particularly green bile over the historic truth and then proceeded to accuse the president of killing puppies and kittens, stuffing them with fried caterpillars and serving them to our veterans. (Well, I made that last part up, but it is essentially the truth.)
What Limbaugh said on his show is a consequence of his rancid racism and not to be taken seriously. Ever. After all, would anyone pay attention to what a squealing pig, slopping around in his little mudhole, had to say about anything?
37 comments:
Go here. Rob carves this turkey also.
WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houfes of Congress have, by their joint committee, requefted me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to eftablifh a form of government for their safety and happiness:"
NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and affign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of thefe States to the fervice of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our fincere and humble thanksfor His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the fignal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpofitions of His providence in the courfe and conclufion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have fince enjoyed;-- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to eftablish Conftitutions of government for our fafety and happinefs, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;-- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are bleffed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffufing useful knowledge;-- and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleafed to confer upon us.
And also, that we may then unite in moft humbly offering our prayers and fupplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and befeech Him to pardon our national and other tranfgreffions;-- to enable us all, whether in publick or private ftations, to perform our feveral and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a bleffing to all the people by conftantly being a Government of wife, juft, and conftitutional laws, difcreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all fovereigns and nations (especially fuch as have shewn kindnefs unto us); and to blefs them with good governments, peace,GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand feven hundred and eighty-nine.
(signed) G. Washington
Now...where was the part about thanking the Indians?
Oh...maybe it's in this one:
By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.
By the President: Abraham Lincoln
'Course those two guys didn't know what they were talking about, now did they?
As long as there remains such a healthy population of 'Joes' Rush need not fear much in the way of embarassment.
Joe, you are missing the point. The point is that Rush, in his open contempt and hatred of our President, [how is that for living Philippians 2] is blind to the facts that what President Obama said was not much different from what other presidents have expressed, most recently President Ronald Reagan, whom many conservatives consider the president of their generation.
The fact that President Obama issued a proclamation different from Washington, Lincoln, or any other president is not the problem.
Rush is the problem. His constant harangues, simplistic views of history, and history of insensitive remarks are in fact hitting the mark. Many people hate President Barack Obama for no other reason than Rush Limbaugh and his version of facts.
At a time when we should be grateful and thankful, Rush has again showed what he is made of, and I find it hard to believe the God he claims to follow would be pleased to vilify and demonize President Obama.
For a supposed Christian majority in this country, I am amazed at how the evangelical community takes such glee in the tearing down of someone.
Some grace we are exhibiting. Thankfully God treats us better than we treat our fellow man.
DM: "...what President Obama said was not much different from what other presidents have expressed."
Key word: "much;" Actuality: "some."
Reagan stated that the Pilgrims prayed WITH the Indians.
Obama: "...we reflect on...contributions of Native Americans..."
Absolutely different.
That's certainly NOT what the originators of Thanksgiving intended, and it is NOT what the Americans I know reflect on.
What other presidents have or have not done is not the issue. What President BO said is the issue, and it differs from what the majority of others understand about the events at the First Thanksgiving.
Turns out, Rush was right, no matter how much you jump up and down, scream, name call (which liberals NEVER do, now do they?) and hyperventilate.
Lets see: Liar; Carbuncle on the Ass of America; Hindenburg of Gasbags...nope...no name calling there.
Progressives are more civilized than that...right?
Which of the proclamations I quoted above thanked the "Native Americans?" I'm still waiting.
Sorry Joe.
The 'American's you 'know' are...a lot like you yourself.
Stuck in the rut and unwilling to see past your blinders.
For what it's worth that George Washington and Abraham Lincoln never mentioned the contribution of Native Americans to the survival of the colonists is hardly surprising.
Both were fully involved in US expanding into the 'unknown' west and the resultant genocide which came of that westward movement.
Joe, don't make yourself look silly.
This is a blog post of yours about President Obama:
He is the most inept, amateurish, sophomoric, incompetent president since or before Jimmy Carter.
He is Barack Obama, and he has no idea what he is doing.
He is supposed to be highly intelligent.
Although we don't have any actual evidence of it, he is reportedly a graduate of Harvard Law School.
He is supposed to be a Constitutional scholar, although he was actually only a Constitutional lecturer and obviously neither knows nor respects the Constitution.
He is supposed to have skills as an organizer, although his "skills " associated him with one of the most corrupt, vile, horrible organizations in history: ACORN, known now to have been involved in voter fraud, assisting with prostitution and other nefarious deeds.
He is supposed to be an American citizen, although he refuses to do the one simple thing that would lay the discussion to rest:
I am making fun of an overpaid, undereducated, loud-mouthed demagogue who swallowed so much oxycontin he lost his hearing and who didn't have the balls to score it himself, so he sent his maid out to do his diry work for him.
What a hero you have.
And you feel you have to come here and defend that sort of person?
And you continually denigrate, demean, and crap all over the man who a majority of Americans elected to be the President of the United States of America. A man who was not--unlike pig-mouthed Limbaugh--born into privilege, who by dint of his intelligence and hard work, became the leader of the free world, who has to endure the ignorance of a minority of Americans who, because he is our first bi-racial president continue to doubt his citizenship and label him socialist, communist, fascist, Marxist.
The fact is, Joe, Mr. Obama will come out of this a respected American and one of our better presidents--someone who put his country first, not his political career.
Rush Limbaugh has a radio show, makes gazillions of dollars, and has a following of a minority of American people. Outside of his fan base, he's considered a vomitous ass.
You have your heroes, I have mine.
So Washington and Lincoln didn't mention native Americans in their Thanksgiving proclamations, but Reagan and Obama did?
What's Joe's point?
So Squanto really didn't help the Pilgrims Joe?
I do remember now visiting Joe's blog long ago. I never went back because he was a deluded, closed minded asshole. I see he hasn't changed.
So, what's the deal, Joe? We're not "the Great Melting Pot" any more? Is it because Obama is black, so he's not allowed to mention any other melanin-enhanced peoples?
Arthur: Good point. Does it look like to you also that Joe is outraged that Native Americans contributed anything to the nation?
What next, will Joe demand that these heathens "go back home" ?
Lord Truth: Squanto is actually a figure of controversy now.
Miles Standish was a prick who wore sissy looking clothes.
Say something bad about my guys and I'll say something bad about yours.
Miles Standish made John Alden stand in for him during his courtship of Priscilla Mullins.
To which Ms. Mullins asked of Mr. Alden:
"Why don't you speak for yourself, John?"
I'm familiar with this because I played John Alden in our 7th grade production of "The Courtship of Miles Standish."
"Mr. Obama will come out of this a respected American and one of our better presidents."
No...he won't.
Arthurstone: Actually, we should give it all back to the Indians. We'll start with your property, OK?
Yes he will, Joe. I promise you. Yes. He. Will.
As to your second comment:
Early raids, during the 17th century, on Indian villages by white, Jamestown settlers was an ominous sign of what was yet to come. The arrival of the Europeans to the New World started an age of exploration as well as subjugation of the natives who populated the continent. Although this mistreatment continued throughout several hundreds of years, it had its greatest impact on the United States during the 19th century. Fresh from its victory against England along with the purchase of the Louisiana Territory, the United States was ready to settle the lands to the west. In this territory, however, lived the surviving tribes of Native Americans. Their life during this time was one of great suffering and injustice. They were forced off the lands which they had lived in for thousands of years. The reason behind this had to do with the political, economical, and cultural situation of the United State at the time.
There was a brief time after the Revolution in which the government of the United States was actually in favor of respecting the territorial boundaries of the Native Americans. According to Howard Zinn in his book, “A People’s History of the United States”, Secretary of War, Henry Knox, agreed that, “The Indians being the prior occupants, posses the right of the soil” (Zinn 126). As people continued moving west, the government came under pressure to open up new lands. It was then that president Jefferson offered the Native Americans two choices: they would either become part of white society or they would migrate west across the Mississippi. They had to give up their lands one way or another. This was more heavily enforced later on with Andrew Jackson’s Indian Removal Bill which simply stated that Indians, “…shall be free to go or stay as they please” (White 93). Most of the native tribes didn’t want to move so other measures were taken. Military force was used against many tribes like the Creeks, who ended up losing 22 million acres of land and the Seminoles living in Florida which, according to Jacson, “…was a sanctuary for escaped slaves and for marauding Indians” (Zinn 129). Treaties made with the government fooled the Native Americans into giving up their land in exchange for false hopes. While the government had their reasons for Indian removal, so did the people who were looking for wealth.
Your snide remark is meaningless. You obviously don't read history.
SK, I am in agreement that white guys helped themselves to Indian land, chased the Indians from it, and did other dastardly deeds to them.
What I am suggesting is that we are where we are and need to deal with present day issues. We cannot make reparations to the Indians unless we cede the land back to them...something that isn't going to happen unless each of us is willing to give up what he/she has.
They are not the only ones we have treated badly.
We can't undo slavery either. We need to either send the descendants of slaves back to their native lands or create for them equal opportunities to succeed in this one...something we have moved toward but have not fully accomplished.
Putting Indians on reservations and simply giving the descendants of slaves stuff will not do the job.
One would have thought that with a black man in the White House we would make strides toward helping descendants of slaves take advantage of the opportunities brought about by hard work, education and developing business skills.
That has not happened, and there is nothing indicating that any steps in that direction are forth-coming.
Frankly, I don't know what to do about the Indian situation. It is deplorable and seemingly unfixable in the context of this day and age.
Arthurstone: "The 'American's you 'know' are...a lot like you yourself."
It is you opinion that I only know Republican, Tea Party conservatives?
If that's what you think, it is you with the blinders.
Joe said: "We cannot make reparations to the Indians unless we cede the land back to them."
We can start with paying them what is properly owed under existing treaties and obligations. There's a lot of that there. And a lot of it is recent, such as the Indians who were kicked off their land in North Dakota for the Garrison Dam project (see the movie "Waterbuster") in return for promised restitution... that was never paid.
This was merely 50 years ago.
OK, Joe, so why aren't you all cranky that Reagan said similar things to what Obama said about the Native Americans in his Thanksgiving Day address 19 years ago?
Arthurstone: "The 'American's you 'know' are...a lot like you yourself."
Joe wondered:
It is you opinion that I only know Republican, Tea Party conservatives?
Er...yes.
But thanks for removing whatever doubt remained.
Joe, the point of this discussion was Limbaugh's mocking President Obama's references to Native Americans in his Thanksgiving Day speech.
You pointed out that Washington and Lincoln didn't refer to Native Americans--I don't know what the point was in your telling us that. It has no bearing on what Mr. Obama said.
President Ronald Reagan acknowledged the contributions of Native Americans in a Thanksgiving address, and no one accused him of being an unAmerican, reparation-seeking lackey. And Reagan didn't, as far as I know, mention the Consitution in that speech.
So here's the point: President Obama said essentially the same things as did President Reagan in a Thanksgiving speech. Limbaugh attacked President Obama for what he said, but he did not inform his ditto heads of the fact that Reagan praised Native Americans for their assistance to the Pilgrims in HIS T-Day address.
Limbaugh is nothing more than a radio entertainer seeking the most listeners for his show so that he can make as much money as possible. He knows what his audience wants to hear, and he shovels the garbage to them daily from the trough he wallows in.
This post is not about reparations or the injustices our Native Americans and African Americans suffered at the hands of the US government in the past.
This post simply shows the base character and rancid hypocrisy of a guy who makes millions of dollars by keeping his listeners ignorant and angry.
SK: So I am as bad at getting your point as you consistantly are at getting mine when you comment on my blog.
Boy are we dumb!
"What you mean 'we' white man?"
Joe, I've never read so much bloviating devoted to an utterly irrelevant point. According you, the president's Thanksgiving Address should either repeat Washington, Lincoln, and/or Reagan word-for-word or say nothing. No person with an objective intellect would interpret the President Obama's sentiments as anything but benign.
BTW, out of curiosity, what are your credentials for expert commentary on the Constitution?
Well, here’s MY 2 cents. I find it horribly sad that on a day when we SAY we should be thankful we have people who DO something completely ungrateful—or should I say total ignorant!
Limbaugh KNOWS he has a HUGE audience and rather than use that precious time, and influence, to positively inspire millions of people, who could be experiencing some terribly dismal times right now, he CHOSE to pick on the President’s speech.
I’ll tell you this…it takes MORE guts, MORE integrity and MORE compassion to BE gracious than it will EVER take to be a sarcastic!
I’m sorry, folks, but I’m SO sick of the negativity! We are facing some of the MOST dire of circumstances of OUR time and what do we have? People nit-picking! My gosh! WHAT have we become?
Good question, Pam. What have we become?
I remember when we Americans could disagree with each other, and even disagree with the party in power without hoping for the president's failure or accusing the president of not being an American citizen or worse, an America hater.
What have we become?
The First Lady suggests that we take responsibility for our children's health by encouraging them to eat healthier foods and to get more exercise, and that positive message sends people into paroxyms of rage? Believing that the First Lady is going to invade our homes and force us to make our children healthy, when no such thing was suggested.
What have we become?
The president of the United States acknowledges the contributions of our Native Americans--actually presidents, because Reagan did so as well, and Obama is slammed by a radio entertainer and accused of being unAmerican?
I go after people like Limbaugh, Beck, and Palin. None of whom are in any elective office representing any Americans.
When they say something controversial or untrue, I go after them.
They're show people, out there earning money off of people's fear, anger, ignorance, and insecurities.
Just recently, Palin attacked Mrs. Obama--someone who has never said an unkind word about her and whom Palin has never met. All of this rancor and hate and divisivness cheapens our lives and distracts us from the real dangers that we face.
I suggest this interview of Matt Taibbi as a starting point to what I refer to.
What gets me is the extent to which people act starved for red meat. The idea that President Obama's Thanksgiving remarks are un-American is so transparently silly that even the most unquestioning dittohead should scoff at it. Instead, it's an instigator for irrelevant diatribes.
As I wrote on my blog yesterday (please forgive the plug), the assumptions uniformly made by commenters about Ireland's financial crisis are factually incorrect and just plain uninformed. But that doesn't get in the way of using a crisis of capitalism as a cautionary tale about socialism. Go figure.
Shaw: I see no difference with Mrs. Obama being concerned with our children’s eating habits as Mrs. Bush being concerned with our children’s education. Both First Ladies have a passion—as other First Ladies before them. I don’t ever recall a First Lady being as viciously attacked as Mrs. Obama, though, and I find that very distressing. Disagree with the President and his policies, but is it necessary to attack the First Lady? And especially her appearance? Really?
Palin does have claws, but not too many “followers” want to SEE them let alone ADMIT they are there!
maybe we should give joe and rush a few blankets laced with smallpox.
or maybe i'll just take joe down to highway 61.
Personally I have no problem with what Obama said with respect to Thankgiving and Native American.s
Rather than a blanket laced with smallpox or a trip down highway 61 perhaps just ignoring Loe's comments would work.
Although he did make a couple valid remarks.
Or with what Reagan said.
Limbaugh's protest wasn't about whether the Indians did or didn't make contributions, Joe. It was about whether Obama, Reagan, and other Americans should be celebrating the first Thanksgiving of 1621, which teabaggers deem a socialist failure. Or the third Thanksgiving of 1623, which teabaggers deem the first success because the Pilgrims switched to private land ownership.
Obama, Reagan, and the vast majority of Americans have celebrated the first Thanksgiving of 1621 because the historical record says it was a success, not a failure. Limbaugh is lying like a dog when he falsifies this historical record.
For more on the subject, see:
Reagan wrong about Thanksgiving?!
Washington and Lincoln didn't mention the Mayflower, the Pilgrims, Plymouth Plantation, or the first Thanksgiving. So it's not surprising they didn't mention Massasoit, Squanto, or the 90 Wampanoag Indians who participated in the feast.
As others have said, Washington's and Lincoln's proclamations are irrelevant to this discussion. The question is what exactly did Obama say that's false? And where's the proof of this falseness? Because it certainly isn't in Limbaugh's fact-free rant.
Looking at it from Rob's perspective, there's a irony to Rush's rant that is as massive as his li'l sweet potato is miniscule. It's classic Marxist criticism, wherein a painting or book is judged not on its artistic merits but on how correctly it reflects dogmatic Marxism. Rush Limbaugh, Marxist!
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