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News & ArtsFriday, June 26, 2009
Politics Glenn Beckwatch: Too Crazy for Glenn?
Posted by Paul Constant on Fri, Jun 26, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Huffington Post put up this video of Glenn Beck talking with batshitcrazylady Michelle Bachmann about the census. They're both hopping mad! Why does the government want to count Americans*? And why don't they ask illegal immigrants if they're illegal immigrants? But in a rare moment, Bachmann actually out-crazies Glenn Beck when she suggests that the census might lead to internment camps. Watch our buddy Glenn at the very end of the clip:
I have never seen the likes of this before, and I don't know if I ever will again. Bachmann being nutsier than Glenn Beck is like someone shouting down Bill O'Reilly on the O'Reilly Factor, or getting Rush Limbaugh to admit that you've made a good point.
* Special note to Republicans who are suddenly suspicious of the census: It's in the fucking Constitution. The same document that insists you can keep your AK-47s also demands that an "Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct."
1
They know that once people realize the unpatriotic 20 percenters are such a small minority, and that there are far more single-sex partnered couples (added to the census in 2010) in America, they'll be ignored.
As it should be.
(please note that many single-sex partnered couples are actually old folks who live together to save cash, there aren't really that many gay couples)
As it should be.
(please note that many single-sex partnered couples are actually old folks who live together to save cash, there aren't really that many gay couples)
2
The census is rapidly becoming a Rorschach ink blot, in which we all see our deepest personal fears made manifest.
I remember when you used to be able to only find this kind of stark, ranting, raving supposition on talk radio after midnight.
It's paranoia as competition sport: "You think THAT'S scary, well wait til you hear THIS!!!"
I remember when you used to be able to only find this kind of stark, ranting, raving supposition on talk radio after midnight.
It's paranoia as competition sport: "You think THAT'S scary, well wait til you hear THIS!!!"
3
Hmm. I didn't interpret that as him thinking she was crazy, but as "I need to wrap this up because I have to go to commercial."
5
You can get fined for not filling out the census? I toss it because I'm a lazy fuck, not because I'm paranoid, but I've never been fined before.
6
Making it all just a touch crazier is the fact that Bachmann was freaking elected, as opposed to Glenn, Bill, and Rush. Ridiculous.
8
Yeah, he didn't seem to think she was crazy. She hadn't even said that yet when he tried to cut her off.
Also: unless Bachmann's flat-out wrong, that WAS a pretty frightening use of census data.
Also: unless Bachmann's flat-out wrong, that WAS a pretty frightening use of census data.
9
#5 Try throwing it away THIS time.
I hear they'll fine you, arrest you, and stick a chip in you. So they can track you. And you won't be able to get a credit card unless you have the chip.
And then they'll all round us up and put us in camps where they'll give us vaccines against our will.
Obama's behind it all. He's one of those lizard people, just like the British Royal Family.
This will be the last census. Before the Rapture, that is.
So be counted. Don't throw it away.
I hear they'll fine you, arrest you, and stick a chip in you. So they can track you. And you won't be able to get a credit card unless you have the chip.
And then they'll all round us up and put us in camps where they'll give us vaccines against our will.
Obama's behind it all. He's one of those lizard people, just like the British Royal Family.
This will be the last census. Before the Rapture, that is.
So be counted. Don't throw it away.
13
I don't agree with anything else she said, but she is correct about using census data to aid Japanese Internment.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/articl…
Although if you read the second, you will note that the Department of Homeland used publicly available census data to locate Arab-Americans. I suspect Michelle would not protest that particular use of census data....
http://www.scientificamerican.com/articl…
Although if you read the second, you will note that the Department of Homeland used publicly available census data to locate Arab-Americans. I suspect Michelle would not protest that particular use of census data....
15
What about right wingers like Michelle Malkin defending those internment camps? I thought these folks thought it was a good idea.
16
@10 Good point. In that case I'm all for batshit crazy Republicans throwing their census forms in the recycle bin.
They won't get counted, their states population count will drop, then they'll get less Representatives in the House and less power in Presidential elections. That sounds good to me.
They won't get counted, their states population count will drop, then they'll get less Representatives in the House and less power in Presidential elections. That sounds good to me.
17
Also ... if you think the only potential good use for this is rounding up non-citizens how can you complain about it's use for the internment camps?
20
"I have never seen the likes of this before, and I don't know if I ever will again. "
Hyperbole, thy name is Constant. Are you kidding me? #3 nailed it; you totally misinterpreted it.
Hyperbole, thy name is Constant. Are you kidding me? #3 nailed it; you totally misinterpreted it.
21
Julie FTW @ 3.
But I hope Republicans do boycott the census - underreporting just means fewer House seats get awarded to states with large Republican bases.
Go for it GOP! You can get your political impotence on lock-down for at least the next decade that way!!!
But I hope Republicans do boycott the census - underreporting just means fewer House seats get awarded to states with large Republican bases.
Go for it GOP! You can get your political impotence on lock-down for at least the next decade that way!!!
22
Paul Constant - Since when does "enumeration" entail collecting that kind of comprehensive data on the citizenry?
I know and understand that the Constitution calls for the Census, that's all well and fine, but as was said in the clip, what does "enumeration" have to do with your phone number?
As usual, Stranger writers ascribe bad faith to the other side without understanding what they're talking about.
I know and understand that the Constitution calls for the Census, that's all well and fine, but as was said in the clip, what does "enumeration" have to do with your phone number?
As usual, Stranger writers ascribe bad faith to the other side without understanding what they're talking about.
23
The best part of the 2010 census is that people who don't fill theirs out are going to be drafted and sent to die in Afghanistan.
Man, will they be surprised!
Man, will they be surprised!
24
They won't get counted, their states population count will drop, then they'll get less Representatives in the House and less power in Presidential elections. That sounds good to me.
Yay one party rule! Always the sign of a healthy democracy.
25
@13 Yeah, thanks for that link. I was like... umm... I think Michelle actually has a point about the Japanese internment. And then I quickly shelved that thought for fear I might have a heart attack. That was a good article, though...
26
It would be HILARIOUS if nobody in Texas filled it out and for the next election they had no representation in the electoral college.
27
"Yay one party rule! Always the sign of a healthy democracy. "
Don't worry, there are plenty of Blue Dogs and Harry Reid to prevent anything from getting done.
Don't worry, there are plenty of Blue Dogs and Harry Reid to prevent anything from getting done.
28
I love how Americans manage to get all hepped up about things that the rest of the world just gets on with.
29
I remember Dan Savage joining the Republican party about 15 years ago with the intention of pushing it so far to the right it would become irrelevant. I think his scheme actually worked!
@22: The phone number is optional is asked for if there are questions about the entry. The depth of the questions aren't new, and not everyone gets the "long form" (not to mention it isn't anything the IRS doesn't already know about you anyway). The most recent addition was asking the heating fuel used in 1940.
@22: The phone number is optional is asked for if there are questions about the entry. The depth of the questions aren't new, and not everyone gets the "long form" (not to mention it isn't anything the IRS doesn't already know about you anyway). The most recent addition was asking the heating fuel used in 1940.
30
@24: The demise of a political party whose ideas have become irrelevant does not necessarily mean we will become a one party state. How many Whigs are currently serving in Congress? If the GOP continues to pursue ideas firmly rooted in the beginning of the last century it too will be relegated to the history books.
That doesn't mean there won't be splits among those left. Today's moderates will be the new conservatives, today's liberals will be the new moderates, and today's far left will join the mainstream. It's called progress.
That doesn't mean there won't be splits among those left. Today's moderates will be the new conservatives, today's liberals will be the new moderates, and today's far left will join the mainstream. It's called progress.
31
Jesus Christ, do Obama and the democrats seem like oppressors who will one day just sweep up all right wingers' guns and then lock them all up in internment camps?? They are not even bold enough to fight for what their base really wants, sane and urgent progressive policies, even when handed the mandate to do so, holding majorities in the house, senate, executive branch, governorships...
But the extremely vocal far right do believe this. really, why is it that the right has been getting more and more psycho? They have had to deal with democratic majorities before in the past, without freaking out so bad (ok well there was that militia movement under Clinton).
But the extremely vocal far right do believe this. really, why is it that the right has been getting more and more psycho? They have had to deal with democratic majorities before in the past, without freaking out so bad (ok well there was that militia movement under Clinton).
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