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"ACORN is a corrupt organization that had its silence bought by Ratner"
Don't let the videotapes fool you, the controversial community organizing outfit ACORN is about so much more than a few tax evasion and prostitution scandals. They're also apparently happy to cash in on corporate welfare and eminent domain abuse. As the New York Post's Rich Calder reports, ACORN is deeply entwined with real estate tycoon Bruce Ratner and his controversial Atlantic Yards development project in Brooklyn, New York:
The left-wing organization—longtime boosters of the $4.9 billion NBA arena and residential- and office-tower project—says it expects to be tapped to market and help decide who gets to live in the coveted, but long-delayed, 2,250 affordable-housing units planned for Atlantic Yards.This, after Atlantic Yards developer Bruce Ratner helped bail ACORN out of financial trouble last September with a $1 million loan and a $500,000 grant, according to memos.
Although contracts are not yet been signed, Ismene Speliotis, executive director of ACORN's New York chapter, told The Post her organization "expects to play a role in the marketing and lease-up" of the Prospect Heights project's affordable housing to be underwritten by the city.
The work would include community outreach and screening people to determine qualified applicants, and then scandal-scarred ACORN would be entrusted with overseeing a lottery system to choose who gets the housing. Ratner's firm is expected to manage the housing....
Patti Hagan, a Prospects Heights activist and former operative for ACORN's political arm, the Working Families Party, said she's learned the hard way that "ACORN is a corrupt organization that had its silence bought by Ratner."
As Ratner was quietly funneling $1.5 million in grants and loans to ACORN last year, his firm was reeling from the economic downtown and laying staff off and bringing in "value engineers" to shave Atlantic Yards' costs.
Critics and some project supporters began questioning whether Ratner could deliver the affordable housing and jobs he promised. But ACORN—which was embroiled in an embezzlement scandal and owed millions of dollars in back taxes—remained silent and accepted Ratner's gift.
Ratner also happens to own the New Jersey Nets, who will move to Brooklyn if Ratner builds the taxpayer-funded basketball arena that's the centerpiece of the Atlantic Yards project. So don't let anybody tell you that ACORN doesn't have friends in high places.
Read the whole Post story here. Reason on the Atlantic Yards boondoggle here.
|9.22.09 @ 8:20AM|#
The New Jersey Nets are the best team in professional sports and if you disagree, you are a racist.
@|9.22.09 @ 8:30AM|#
ACORN would be entrusted with overseeing a lottery system to
choose who gets the housing.
Let me guess..."people of color"?
@|9.22.09 @ 8:38AM|#
Nah, he says he hasn't been paying attention.
ACORN? What's that? Never heard of them.
Suki|9.22.09 @ 8:40AM|#
Where is the link on the Colorado and New York terrorist arrests? This morning I heard the FBI is pissed at the NYPD. Sounds like a story for Radley!
The Knights Who Say Ni|9.22.09 @ 8:49AM|#
Furthermore, i predict that most of the comments will be
racist as well.
Stop saying The Word!!
|9.22.09 @ 8:55AM|#
Xeones|9.22.09 @ 9:01AM|#
"Customer is God," Franklyn? Really? This bot was obviously programmed by someone who has never worked in retail.
The Knights Who Say Ni|9.22.09 @ 9:02AM|#
Demands that we stop saying the word are racist.
[Anguished,] I said it!!
Suki|9.22.09 @ 9:03AM|#
Demands that we stop saying the word are racist.
Obama wants me to tell you to stop ignoring the racism that
surrounds you.
|9.22.09 @ 9:10AM|#
I'm beginning to wonder if this ACORN "scandal" is really happening at all. I've seen nothing about it on CBS, CNN, PBS, or either of my local major newspapers. Actually, one of them went under a few months back and they're web-only now, but still, nary a peep.
|9.22.09 @ 9:23AM|#
I don't know why so many are saying that this post is racist -
it is a known and proven FACT that ACORN is a corrupt organization
to the bone. And ACORN is the reason why we have the Obamanation as
"king." Are those of you whom call this post racist denying the
FACTS that Acorn is predominantly black, helps blacks more then
whites, and is a "thug" organization in cahoots with the Demon
Rats? Just the FACTS mam - now run back to your leftist hell
holes!
PS - blacks also cause more crime then white (FACT)!
|9.22.09 @ 9:27AM|#
OK, I think we got our quota of spammers and trolls. Now we just need some gnomes and elves, and this post will be done.
|9.22.09 @ 9:28AM|#
A fine morning to you, Parents Rights.
Does the left even care that they've stripped the word 'racist' of
so much meaning that its useless when a real one comes along? Is
their power to increase marginal tax rates that important?
Mike M.|9.22.09 @ 9:33AM|#
Wow, I had no idea these guys were in bed with developers too. The tentacles extend even farther and wider than I realized.
|9.22.09 @ 9:36AM|#
ACORN may be a corrupt organization, but the Post article doesn't support that conclusion.
Art-P.O.G.|9.22.09 @ 9:36AM|#
OK, I think we got our quota of spammers and trolls. Now we just need some gnomes and elves, and this post will be done.
sage wins the internets.
I'm hoping "Parents Rights" is performance art...
ACORN = ENRON|9.22.09 @ 9:37AM|#
"Does the left even care that they've stripped the word 'racist'
of so much meaning that its useless when a real one comes
along?"
The definition of racist will devolve to:
Racist (noun) Someone who races (e.g, cars, boats, etc.) for
sport
Suki|9.22.09 @ 9:38AM|#
Does the left even care that they've stripped the word
'racist' of so much meaning that its useless when a real one comes
along?
Obama wants me to tell you that all racism is real.
|9.22.09 @ 9:41AM|#
The most telling aspect of this whole scandal is how quickly and how thoroughly Congress--most especially the Democrats--threw ACORN under the bus. The prostitution sting wasn't enough to make that happen, in my opinion. Not in these days of spin, spin, spin until everyone forgets the sin. I think the instant dropping of support has something to do with most politicians suspecting (and some even knowing) that there's fire beneath the smoke. That, and the fact that the organization will just pop up in another guise. OAKTREE?
|9.22.09 @ 9:41AM|#
"I'm beginning to wonder if this ACORN "scandal" is really
happening at all. I've seen nothing about it on CBS, CNN, PBS, or
either of my local major newspapers. Actually, one of them went
under a few months back and they're web-only now, but still, nary a
peep."
That is why they are all going broke. This is a fabulously
entertaining story. It is the kind of story muckrackers used to
make their fortunes on. And they refuse to cover it. Not even
communists enjoyed reading Pravada. No one likes polemics even if
they agree with them.
|9.22.09 @ 9:42AM|#
Art,
Yes, and they leave the anonymity dude alone. This is more evidence
toward my assertion that Matt Welch is anonymity dude.
|9.22.09 @ 9:42AM|#
That is a good point Pro. I think there are a couple of size 10s out on the horizon waiting to drop.
Xeones|9.22.09 @ 9:46AM|#
Naw, the anonymity dude is who Gillespie gets his leather jackets from. So he stays.
|9.22.09 @ 9:46AM|#
That, and the fact that the organization will just pop up in
another guise. OAKTREE?
The House put an amendment into a bill to defund Acorn. The senate
put an amendment into a different bill to defund
acorn. The media will report that both the House and Senate voted
to defund Acorn (which is technically correct), then remain silent
as those amendments are stripped out in conference.
Art-P.O.G.|9.22.09 @ 9:48AM|#
10/17/08 NEVER FORGET
I can't possibly add anything to make this any funnier. It's perfect.
|9.22.09 @ 9:48AM|#
Whoa Nelly! I just had a cup of joe and see now that people were
being sarcastic when calling this post "racist."
My bad :P
> > >
"When people learn that they can vote themselves into the pockets
of others, the end of freedom is in sight."
Robert Novak
The Left|9.22.09 @ 9:51AM|#
Does the left even care that they've stripped the word
'racist' of so much meaning that its useless when a real one comes
along?
Since you used the s-word, your quote is not only racist but sexist
as well.
ACORN = ENRON|9.22.09 @ 9:52AM|#
"that there's fire beneath the smoke."
If I understand Breitbart correctly, there are many more videos of
ACORN breaking the law. They're going to release more as time goes
by.
Rich|9.22.09 @ 9:53AM|#
The media will report that both the House and Senate voted
to defund Acorn (which is technically correct), then remain silent
as those amendments are stripped out in conference.
"Brilliant!"
|9.22.09 @ 9:53AM|#
Serious question: when did ACORN become important? It appears to be a shoestring organization that has never in its history had its shit together. While the recent pimp and ho act showed that ACORN will help pimps and hoes, it also shows that ACORN will completely waste its resources doing just that. It also shows that there is no consistency or training in the organization. So why, all of the sudden, do we have to read about ACORN all the time?
Art-P.O.G.|9.22.09 @ 9:57AM|#
This is more evidence toward my assertion that Matt Welch is anonymity dude.
Hmmm...could be. I have noticed that Anonymity Guy has an unusually good sense of comic timing for a spammer or a troll.
|9.22.09 @ 9:59AM|#
Lamar,
I had some dealings with ACORN back when I was in lending. They
were advocates for anti-predatory lending legislation and related
issues. While that sort of advocacy is fine, I found their methods
to be. . .unsound. Unfortunately, a bunch of corporate executives,
attorneys, and government affairs people complaining about the
organization's apparent corrupt, shady, and even coercive tactics
was viewed as just sour grapes at our being opposed. That's the
problem when people just assume an organization is good or evil,
all while ignoring any evidence contrary to your assumption.
|9.22.09 @ 9:59AM|#
"Serious question: when did ACORN become important? It appears
to be a shoestring organization that has never in its history had
its shit together. While the recent pimp and ho act showed that
ACORN will help pimps and hoes, it also shows that ACORN will
completely waste its resources doing just that. It also shows that
there is no consistency or training in the organization. So why,
all of the sudden, do we have to read about ACORN all the
time?"
First, it is a very interesting story. Second, they are not a shoe
string organization. They are a multi-million dollar nationwide
organization. The late Joe Boyle didn't say they were doing "God's
work" for nothing. They are a pretty big deal among the hard left.
Third, it has become a test of wills in that if an organization as
bad as ACORN can't be defunded, then what can be? And if Liberals
will defend ACORN, what won't they defend?
Xeones|9.22.09 @ 10:00AM|#
I have noticed that Anonymity Guy has an unusually good
sense of comic timing for a spammer or a troll.
Also, he once called LoneWacko a "rancid piece of dogshit LOL."
|9.22.09 @ 10:07AM|#
Pro Libertate: I think I missed something. Were they lobbyists? I expect certain 'behaviors' from lobbyists, especially if I hire them. But I also expect them to be competent and keep their money separate from my money. My question isn't whether ACORN is evil, it is whether ACORN's influence has been overstated. It seems like the right wing couldn't beat the ACLU, so they stooped to nailing ACORN. And ACORN is so colossally f*ed up that it only took about a year to sink their ship.
Art-P.O.G.|9.22.09 @ 10:07AM|#
Xeones...what if Anonymity Guy is...Cesar!?!
I found their methods to be. . .unsound
Nice Apocalypse Now reference, Pro Lib. :)
|9.22.09 @ 10:09AM|#
John, Pro Lib,
I hear the horror stories, and I lived in NYC for a long time, but
I guess I just missed it. I even did legal aid when I was in law
school. So, OK, sorry for my side show. Carry on.
Xeones|9.22.09 @ 10:09AM|#
If that's the case, Art, we need to get him some help for his heroin addiction.
Art-P.O.G.|9.22.09 @ 10:09AM|#
The late Joe Boyle didn't say they were doing "God's work" for nothing.
Maybe he meant "God's Work" in the Apocalyptic sense. Pouring plagues and all that.
|9.22.09 @ 10:10AM|#
"Third, it has become a test of wills in that if an
organization as bad as ACORN can't be defunded, then what can
be?"
I think there is something corrupt in national funding for such a
group anyway. State and local funding, sure, I'd probably oppose
it, but I can understand it. Federal funding? How f*king astroturf
can you get?
God|9.22.09 @ 10:11AM|#
The late Joe Boyle didn't say they were doing "God's work"
for nothing.
Actually, Franklyn is doing my work now.
Tricky Prickears|9.22.09 @ 10:12AM|#
While that sort of advocacy is fine, I found their methods
to be. . .unsound.
Can't the same be said about Hamas?
Art-P.O.G.|9.22.09 @ 10:12AM|#
If that's the case, Art, we need to get him some help for his heroin addiction.
Yeah, but with that kind of "track record" (pun intended) for genius, you just kind of...look the other way, right?
|9.22.09 @ 10:14AM|#
I remember first hearing about ACORN some years ago, when they
famously got sued by several states for not paying minimum wage...
to their workers who were calling people up to press them to
support a higher minimum wage. Their excuse was that if they paid
minimum wage, they wouldn't be able to afford as many employees and
reach as many people.
They've also fired employees for attempting to organize a
union.
Their founder's brother embezzled lots of money from the
organization, leading to their funding and tax troubles.
ACORN is a laughable example of hypocrisy and has been for
years.
|9.22.09 @ 10:14AM|#
Well, I'm no ACORN expert, but they were definitely a major
force behind the state predatory lending legislation back in the
early Aughts. From my perspective, the worst part of what they were
trying to do was to make lenders into fiduciaries (you shouldn't be
borrowing from me, you should borrow from my competitor down the
road) and to set up a framework where A borrowers essentially
subsidized subprime borrowers. In pushing these types of issues,
they often did some things that seemed questionable, including
apparently coaching people to lie about how they were treated when
seeking loans, etc.
To be sure, I didn't witness any of this directly, but it was
pretty common knowledge, and we caught some of lies in our own
internal investigations of some of their claims. I've also heard
about them being involved in some disturbing practices vis-à-vis
voting (this is before the more recent stories), but that's all
just rumor. It rang true to me given my previous experience, but,
as I said, it's all more or less anecdotal.
In a nutshell, I can't prove anything, but I'm not surprised that
people find dirt when they investigate the organization. I'm rather
shocked that a more mainstream media outlet didn't do this years
ago.
ACORN boss|9.22.09 @ 10:16AM|#
Serious question: when did ACORN become important? It appears to be a shoestring organization that has never in its history had its shit together. While the recent pimp and ho act showed that ACORN will help pimps and hoes, it also shows that ACORN will completely waste its resources doing just that. It also shows that there is no consistency or training in the organization. So why, all of the sudden, do we have to read about ACORN all the time?
Our resources are never wasted, as long as I'm getting my cut.
|9.22.09 @ 10:18AM|#
10/17/08 NEVER FORGET
Very well done, sir.
Suitable for framing or commemorative plates...
Spartacus|9.22.09 @ 10:19AM|#
I remember first hearing about ACORN some years ago, when
they famously got sued by several states for not paying minimum
wage... to their workers who were calling people up to press them
to support a higher minimum wage. Their excuse was that if they
paid minimum wage, they wouldn't be able to afford as many
employees and reach as many people.
Yep. In fact, I believe Reason had a brickbat on this very topic a
while back (or maybe it was in Liberty)
|9.22.09 @ 10:20AM|#
Damn, all this chatter and not a word of love for how Ratner
subverted these people? Give a grant of half a mil, and then LOAN
them the double-down; if they stray you can call in the loan.
Fookin' brilliant.
Spartacus|9.22.09 @ 10:24AM|#
They'll make the million back easy, auctioning off the lottery slots. Rangel will probably buy a dozen of them, all by himself.
Spartacus|9.22.09 @ 10:25AM|#
Oh yeah, here's the link to the Reason spot about ACORN and the minimum wage (scroll down).
Xeones|9.22.09 @ 10:34AM|#
I don't want to lose another one of our great artists, Art. LAYNE STALEY RIP
T|9.22.09 @ 10:35AM|#
Rangel will probably buy a dozen of them, all by
himself.
They'll either give him a slot which will mysteriously be a winner
or he'll be multiple slots which will all mysteriously win. And
then he won't pay taxes on anything involved, but that was kind of
a given.
|9.22.09 @ 10:36AM|#
Ok, I haven't been in the comments section here for a long
while, but there used to be an infuriating poster named "Joe" that
would take a liberal position on an issue and then use every Post
Modern, Lit Crit trick in the play book to twist the argument into
a pretzel.
Is "Joe" actually Joe Boyle, and furthermore, he's dead....?
|9.22.09 @ 10:42AM|#
Is "Joe" actually Joe Boyle, and furthermore, he's
dead....?
Joe ran away from our racism the minute the Obamassiah was
annointed and he'd actually have to defend something.
Art-P.O.G.|9.22.09 @ 10:47AM|#
In fact, if you go back through old Hit & Run threads, you
can see "joe is dead" backward masked.
Xeones,
I agree. But what can you do? Whenever you try to corner Anonymity
Guy about his habit, he just says, "LOL, Hit n' Run, dude! Hit n'
Run!"
Art-P.O.G.|9.22.09 @ 10:54AM|#
I'm still waiting for Anonymity Guy to launch into a lengthy Scottish-brogue monologue about his smack habit.
hmm|9.22.09 @ 10:55AM|#
ACORN has their hand in everything real estate. Forcing section
8 housing, running people, often people associated with the gay
community, out because they don't want gentrification (good or bad
it turns generally turns hell holes into nice areas), strong arming
legislation at the city level, squatting and stealing property
through the courts, fuck me the list goes on forever. And to top it
all off no one gave a shit until Obama was tied to them and in the
white house or on the way there.
Funny enough the locally ACORN follows the exact scheme as most
unions. Damn near to the letter. And no one cares about union
abuses.
The idea of large organizations helping the disenfranchised is
noble, but it's also usually nothing more than another group
exploiting them. ACORN and unions are a perfect example and
currently I'm being forced to support both with my income.
Art-P.O.G.|9.22.09 @ 11:03AM|#
Art, backward masking is racist.
I knew if I hung out with you Astroturf-people long enough, I'd end up saying something racist.
JB|9.22.09 @ 11:04AM|#
And they got their crooked buddy Obama in the WhiteHouse.
"Judge me by the people around me." Oh, we have, Obama, and you
have been found wanting.
MNG|9.22.09 @ 11:12AM|#
Well, I guess I'll try a half-hearted defense of joe here, ACORN
could both be a corrupt organization and one that is doing a good
deed by registering voters. The two are not necessarily mutually
exclusive.
I'm not sure I would equate them with Enron in the sense that I am
more worried about wealthy corporate corruption/conspiracy than
non-profit corruption/conspiracy, but where they are corrupt and
conspiring both are doing wrong and need to be punished...
MNG|9.22.09 @ 11:14AM|#
Art
I've long spoke of my dream re: the Anonymity Guy. I can picture
it, he's in Hell being raped by the devil eternally.
"Hit & Run baby, Hit & Run" bellows the Dark Lord once more
into the breach...
MNG|9.22.09 @ 11:15AM|#
"And no one cares about union abuses."
Really? Around these parts the very mention of them seem to cause
erections.
|9.22.09 @ 11:19AM|#
The scroll button is simulated clitoris for those men too afraid to find a real one to caress. At least when women use the scroll button they have idea of what they are doing.
|9.22.09 @ 11:20AM|#
Anonymity guy, or someone similar, is also spamming
Wired...
Die, Spammer Scum, die, die, die...
MNG|9.22.09 @ 11:20AM|#
Ah, you got me Xeones...I guess the racism was obvious when I
used the term "Dark Lord" to refer to Satan upthread.
Spike Lee: "Ever notice that when white people want to refer to an
evil character they use the word "dark" to describe him? We know
what THAT'S all about!"
MNG|9.22.09 @ 11:21AM|#
SF
What about those of us who just put the arrow all the way to the
right and click to go up?
Not that I'm doing this for Xeones, fuck him!
T|9.22.09 @ 11:21AM|#
I knew if I hung out with you Astroturf-people long enough,
I'd end up saying something racist.
Next on Hit & Run: Art-P.O.G., Danger Seeker
|9.22.09 @ 11:22AM|#
"In fact, if you go back through old Hit & Run threads, you
can see "joe is dead" backward masked."
A few of them do. But there are some that have Suger Free saying "I
buried Joe".
Spoonman|9.22.09 @ 11:22AM|#
I thought anonymity guy was more of a morning crack hit guy, from what he said.
Art-P.O.G.|9.22.09 @ 11:23AM|#
Is it racist of me to say I never liked the black Green Lantern?
Do you even have to ask? Come on, admit it, it didn't "feel
right" to you to have a black Green Lantern, and you couldn't
exactly articulate why. ;)
And WTF, MNG, I can't believe you hate on Anon-Guy like that. He's
the greatest spammer in Hit & Run history!
Amakudari|9.22.09 @ 11:30AM|#
I remember first hearing about ACORN some years ago, when they famously got sued by several states for not paying minimum wage... to their workers who were calling people up to press them to support a higher minimum wage. Their excuse was that if they paid minimum wage, they wouldn't be able to afford as many employees and reach as many people.
My personal favorite is when they tried to break up unionization
in Seattle and Dallas.
The ACORN People's Platform demands the establishment of "most
fundamentally, the right to organize" (Work and Workers' Rights
IV-F). The NLRB -- which they ostensibly want to expand --
found ACORN in violation of the law.
And honestly, you don't get many chances to cheer for the
IWW.
10/17/08 NEVER FORGET
I can't possibly add anything to make this any funnier. It's perfect.
For what it's worth, I Googled the date and found several questions
submitted to the tubes about whether that day has 36 hours of
sunshine.
Xeones|9.22.09 @ 11:33AM|#
Amakudari, any day on which we are able to beat joe over the head with his own partisan hackery is a day with 43 1/2 hours of sunshine. Even though he long since scurried off with his tail between his legs (to cover up the fact that there are no balls there).
MNG|9.22.09 @ 11:34AM|#
I dunno Art, I'm just a Hal Jordan fan I guess.
In fairness I would not like a white Power-Man...
|9.22.09 @ 11:35AM|#
What about those of us who just put the arrow all the way to
the right and click to go up?
Teh ghey. Sorry, dude.
|9.22.09 @ 11:39AM|#
I Googled the date and found several questions
submitted
And
there's this from the image links.
Nothin' like a good ole' fashion
fish nailin' party.
None of it is NSFW.
|9.22.09 @ 11:43AM|#
Is it racist of me to say I never liked the black Green
Lantern?
"You Think I Named Myself Black Vulcan? Hell, No! I Used to go by
Supervolt. "Black Vulcan" Was Aquaman's Idea. and I Said, Well,
Maybe We Should Just Call You White Fish."
|9.22.09 @ 11:47AM|#
The Big Government-Media Complex…
NEA = Nefarious Expenditures on Agitprop!
http://bigchase.files.wordpress.com/2007/01/obey.jpg
ACORN: Child "Services" - Financial "Services" - "Voter"
Registration ---Democrat Funded
http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/
|9.22.09 @ 11:48AM|#
John Stewart might have been a boring Green Lantern, but at least he wasn't one of the biggest intergalactic douchenozzles ever.
|9.22.09 @ 11:49AM|#
"In 2007, in a speech to Acorn's leaders prior to their
political arm's endorsement of his presidential campaign, Mr. Obama
was effusive: 'I've been fighting alongside of Acorn on issues you
care about my entire career. Even before I was an elected official,
when I ran Project Vote in Illinois, Acorn was smack dab in the
middle of it, and we appreciate your work.'"
MR. PRESIDENT, DO YOU FEEL COMPLICIT IN THIS SCANDAL, HAVING
"WORKED ALONGSIDE OF ACORN" FOR YOUR "ENTIRE CAREER"?
MR. PRESIDENT, BASED ON PAST PERFORMANCE, WHY SHOULD WE EXPECT THAT
OTHER SOCIAL ENGINEERING SCHEMES YOU CHAMPION WILL BE
EFFECTIVE?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204488304574427041636360388.html?mod=loomia&loomia_si=t0:a16:g2:r1:c0.0799506:b27853940#articleTabs%3Darticle
|9.22.09 @ 11:50AM|#
"There are times when, no matter how much you like them, you
need to throw one of your own off the bus. Democrats need to
recognize that this is one of those times. There is no upside to
defending the indefensible. All it does is throw your credibility
after theirs." --Megan McAardle
To those defending this organization, please. It has been caught on
tape five times (with more to come!) offering advice on how to
evade the authorities while enslaving Salvadoran children as
prostitutes.
As the WSJ kindly put it to other apologists, "There is no kind way
to say what we think of this, but we will try to put it as gently
as we can: Partisanship is well and good, but one ought to take
care to observe some minimal standard of basic moral hygiene."
|9.22.09 @ 12:00PM|#
To those defending this organization, please.
Let's assume, for the sake of argument, that liberals are correct
that centralized power, in the right hands, is better than letting
the cattle run amok. Who can be trusted with that power?
Them?
They have to defend Acorn to the last breath to defend the stance
that being a liberal is all it takes to prove one is morally fit
for the power they want. Once the question of "Can we trust you
with that power" is allowed, everything falls apart. Being liberal
has to be proof of moral superiority or they won't
get the power they feel is their due.
If liberals in the public sector are seen to be as untrustworthy
with power as conservatives in the private sector (not worse, just
mere mortals), their worldview falls apart.
Suki|9.22.09 @ 12:13PM|#
Joe ran away from our racism the minute the Obamassiah was
annointed and he'd actually have to defend something.
The term "Obamassiah" is loaded and racist. He wants to be called
Obamuhammad.
The White Devil|9.22.09 @ 12:22PM|#
"but one ought to take care to observe some minimal standard of
basic moral hygiene."
RACIST!
JB|9.22.09 @ 12:46PM|#
Damn, people, move into the 21st century and get a mouse
with a scroll wheel.
Scroll wheels are racist!
|9.22.09 @ 2:21PM|#
Art,
You might as well know: I'm Kurtz. Willard actually didn't kill me
with the machete; he just shaved my head.
I agree with Lamar--there is something really wrong with the
federal government funding an advocacy group. What's odd is that
ACORN clearly backs the Democrats, which you would think would've
gotten them defunded back when the GOP called the shots. I guess
fear of the racism charge, coupled with the back-scratch fever in
DC made that impossible.
APORN|9.22.09 @ 2:31PM|#
"I have a new name for the organization: APORN."
I was using that handle a week ago.
http://www.reason.com/blog/show/136098.html#1388920
T|9.22.09 @ 3:11PM|#
Scroll wheels are racist!
No, fool. Scroll wheels, like almost all inanimate objects, are not
racist. However, by using and encouraging others to use scroll
wheels, I am hanging on to outdated patriarchal imperialist dogmas
and perpetuating the economic, social, and racial differences in
our society. Post-racial America doesn't need scroll wheels, as
they empower the white propertied class and enable the exploitation
of the working classes.
|9.22.09 @ 3:16PM|#
I suppose you think that scissors don't discriminate against left-handed freaks, either.
T|9.22.09 @ 3:28PM|#
I suppose you think that scissors don't discriminate against
left-handed freaks, either.
No. The putatively left-handed have made a conscious (or, to be
nice, subconscious) decision to refuse to adapt their personal
habits to the rest of the world, and as such, deserve what they
get. It's a choice, albeit a foolish and misguided one. Want
scissors to be comfortable and inawkward in use? Use your right
hand, slacker.
God|9.22.09 @ 4:42PM|#
Left-handed people die younger on average. Because God hates
them.
Not anymore. That's now up to Franklyn.
Art-P.O.G.|9.23.09 @ 1:21AM|#
It's a choice, albeit a foolish and misguided one.
As a Sinistral-American, I find this deeply offensive, but I do use a mouse and scissors right-handed.
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