I understand Joan's explanation for her use of the term "Big Lie", and I'm not here to defend her - she does that quite well herself. However, I do want to point out something that might be completely obvious, but here goes. I don't think it's too much of a stretch to connect groups such as the AIP (and granted, it was Palin's husband who was a member for seven years, not her, but her pathetic and defensive attempts to convince Schmidt are telling) to Operation Rescue and its operatives who murder doctors performing legal medical procedures, to Christian Reconstructionists. The little Big Lies become big Big Lies, the gullibility of someone like Palin combines with the gullibility of the reality show-anesthetized portion of the American public which is susceptible to such tactics, without even being aware of it, and we get what we get. It CAN happen here, and it ALMOST happened here from 2001-2009, and it may happen again. (cue those who inevitably will say it IS happening again with "dictator Obama, just in a different, more dangerous, at least to their sensibilities, form)

Who cares about that moron Sarah Palin. As an English teacher, I want to ask Joan Walsh one question. Why is there a comma in this sentence:

"All I know is, they should have."

Now, not only have the wingnuts hijacked this thread to discuss their pet peeves, now they're posting to discuss themselves.

Seriously, soberinput, do you really have nothing better to do than to post declarations exclaiming how smart you are, and how stupid every one else is?

I can only hope that this is some kinda cynical ploy to attract more hits to your blog. The alternative, that you post as a bid for attention, is simply too pathetic for words.

I'm looking at the man with the mirror, and asking him if he can change his ways. Apparently not. You're not doing too well with the Turing test. Have fun with your John the Baptist shtick. Maybe we can chat again the night before Samhain.

Are you writing your posts from a teleprompter?

That's an odd comment. Nevertheless, you are confusing me with dictator Obama.

I just don't know where. Reading my prior posts might give you that idea. You seem to be into these grand hand waving gestures about how deluded we are all and how your stuff is oh-so tight.

Are you writing your posts from a teleprompter? In the Western tradition the righteous man is supposed to turn us all on. But you just want to moon us, apparently. I thought at least you could man up and belly up to the bar with some details. In my experience Goldman Sachs and Marxism are contradictory states of existence. And in my opinion, we're in this current mess due to a fatal mixing of ignorance and greed. More P.T. Barnum than Trotsky.

Are we witnessing the beginning of a new Phenom? Is this Rush in 1986? Is this truth so true it stings? Truth so true it...

torments?

Sober Jones, get used to him.

Thanks for your obsession: Sober Jones

I love this "we didn't hear from you when...". That's 'cause you weren't listening. I'm not here to change minds. I know -- I'm absolutely positive that you are entrenched. I'm here for the inevitable I told you so. But by that point I fear you won't even be able to afford internet. In that case, I told them so. I like it. Marxism always fails. Mark those words.

Your friend, Sober Jones

I've seen him on the internets(*)

But by the way, Sober One, where have you been? The securitization of the United States has been ongoing for decades. We didn't hear you criticize Bush's best bud and former Goldman Alumn Sec Paulson when he was coughing up the first trillion dollar bailout. Or all the regulatory changes of the last ten years designed to fleece the average citizen. And of course, I consider the antics of the Sir Alan Greenspan Fed priceless. Your Escalade must have been stuck on the back roads of the intertubes.

(*)www.addamsfamily.com/addams/fester01.jpg

You may not consider it a death threat, but someone on here wanted to meet me to "beat the shit out of me." The forced expulsion of solid fecal matter implies an infliction of intestinal injury that could easily result in death. And while I'm probably much larger and stronger than that individual, anyone could be ambushed. And that was just the most recent outrage.

I'm not here to taunt you, but I can't help but notice the glaring fault with all of your positions, and the sophmoric and adolescent attitudes of your followers is undeniable. If you only want posts that agree with you, you should state that up front. If you choose to simply insult me without addressing the issues, every encounter with O'Reilly, or anyone like him, will result in the same disapointment. You will be unpracticed, and you won't know what to say. You can't play the same insult game with Bill, and, if I were a host, it wouldn't work with me neither. I'd rhetorically crush you in a minute.

You need to argue and articulate your position, or change it to an arguable one. If you can't articulate your position, you don't really have it. Keep that in mind.

As to my name change, it is the result of massive traffic. I've moved to another blogspot with more parking space, and wide, luxury lanes. Hope to see you there. I've saved a space for you Escalade.

somebody's "head exploding?" I never thought I'd actually see it happen - and on-line, no less! Is it 3 or 4 times now that readerx2 has vowed never to grace us with his presence again? C'mon reader! You're tougher than this! Think - WWSD?!

Does anyone here know what happened to SoberInput? Was that hero of free expression targeted by wingnuts like O'Reilly, and so malevolently that he felt he might have needed to change his name?? (Or simply abandon his given Christian name, Sober Input, the way virtue001, a published writer, took refuge in some sort of anonymous stand-in because of the way he was persecuted?)

I just hate this whole anonymous Internet attack culture, where someone like Sober Input, who uses his real name, is attacked by anonymous cowards, and someone like virtue001, who would love to use his real name, simply can't, because he will be attacked by vicious enemies. It's just wrong.

Meanwhile, just to taunt us, someone who's chosen the name Sober Jones has joined us, as if to underscore the loss of Sober Input. I really worry Sober Input was targeted for his talent and his courage -- maybe even by Sober Jones. Please somebody, reassure me he's still OK!