@aap: True. She may not be accountable for what her “colleagues” say but, at the same time, she doesn’t have to defend them, much less LIE for them.

(Inadvertently hit the “post” button on my last comment.)

What should have been added was that I do NOT recall any of the right-wing noise machine arguing that the website was doing anything wrong—unlike now when it’s somehow infringing on the 2nd Amendment. Of course, it’s even more interesting that there’s actually nothing in the 2nd Amendment that offers any “privacy rights” regarding gun ownership being made public.

@bemused: But that sounds suspiciously like expecting “Christians” to follow their own advice. We frequently hear so-called Christians “advising” LGBT supporters to “start up their own churches” instead of “polluting” so-called good churches with silly ideas like “God loves everyone, even gays” and “same-sex couples deserve to marry if they want.” And let’s not forget how pro-LGBTs should quit pestering the Boy Scouts over the ban on gay scouts and leaders. (Of course, that latter bit does show the hypocrisy since the “Christians” don’t want to go to the trouble of starting up their own anti-LGBT Girl Scouts when it’s so much easier to pester the Girl Scouts into dropping their LGBT equality stance.)

@lakeview: Watters has probably never seen REAL ones, at least not up close. Likely his only previous experience with breasts has been those he’s seen in porn mags and movies.

Of course, what’s funniest is that King is threatening to vote against Boehner as Speaker. But if he thinks he’d get a better deal from a Speaker Cantor (Boehner’s current #2 and the guy who seems to be really salivating to take over the job), he’s out of his mind. Let’s not forget that Cantor voted against his own constituents after the earthquake a couple of years ago.

And the other real difference with Katrina is that the money went so fast because (A) Dubya needed to do something QUICK to make up for his dilly-dallying during the storm and (B) the GOP in 2005 wasn’t as batshit insane as the GOP of 2012/13. King might want to recall what’s happened with the GOP since 2009. The GOP primaries, which have always catered to the “die-hard” party voters, have now been taken over by the Teabaggers who don’t seem to have a problem when they’re the beneficiaries of government largesse but hate all the “moochers” (especially the ones with a touch too much melanin and who also “talk funny”—though they’re not too worried about funny-talking folks who sound like Larry the Cable Guy and Jeff Foxworthy) getting government money.

@robert Urban: Bear in mind that there IS poetry and music that do retell “historically documented proof.” Billie Holiday’s classic “Strange Fruit” is about lynchings of Black men in the South. It’s not about a SPECIFIC lynching but you can’t deny that such lynchings ARE “historically documented.” Or Bob Dylan’s song “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll.” (Now, that one was about a specific historically documented event.)

And, bear in mind that both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are “man made thoughts without actual historically documented proof.” (While the Declaration does recount some “grievances,” bear in mind that not everyone in the American colonies felt so strongly aggrieved. Additionally, there was NO “historical” proof, beyond the “man made thoughts” of Thomas Jefferson, that “all men are created equal.” Nor that “they were endowed by their Creator of certain inalienable rights.” Jefferson had nothing that tangibly proved his statements yet I doubt you would have a problem with either of these documents being included in a “History text.”

And your other texts? Most of those have things in them that, at one point in “history,” were considered “fictional.” Remember that renowned and highly reputable physicians believed that illnesses were caused by an imbalance in the body’s “humors.” THAT is “historically documented proof” but no one would take a MODERN physician seriously if he told you that all you need to do to reduce your high fever is to apply a couple of leeches and inhale some burning sage. Or to cure your syphilis, just take a spoonful of an arsenic solution (okay—that probably would cure your syphilis but you’d also be dead so you probably wouldn’t be in a position to appreciate the cure).

One other thing: There’s a lot of “fictional and man made thoughts” that are expressed WITHOUT verse. Film, novels, economics textbooks.

@average American Patriot: Yeah, but Dubai’s in one of those real “Mooz-lin countries” that tends to frown on foreigners who can’t control their dirty sex-obsessed brains. O’Reilly would have problems there not only because of his “Catholicism” (he’d probably be very distressed to learn that the newest Catholic Church in Dubai doesn’t even have a cross on the outside of the building; for a guy who gets in such a snit over the “War on Christmas,” I can’t imagine his reaction to the “War on Christian Symbols” in Dubai) but also because he wouldn’t be able to sexually harass female employees—assuming, of course, he’d be able to work alongside females.

@truman: Well, that’s only fair. After all, businesses seem to get the Christmas season started earlier and earlier each year. (And don’t get me started on “adult contemporary” radio. The format used to wait until the day after Thanksgiving to start the “Christmas music 24/7” but I think this year, some of the stations started right after Veteran’s Day.)

I don’t recall where I read it, but someone made a comment that we’re almost to a point where someone’s going to have to start a “Save Thanksgiving” movement if we don’t want that holiday to be completely overwhelmed by “Christmas preparations.” (And I’m not so sure that wouldn’t be a good idea. I remember seeing Christmas candy displays and Christmas card displays getting set up on store shelves the week before HALLOWE’EN.)

@john Wallach: You’re forgetting one little thing: This is FoxNoise’s standard operating procedure. When it comes to Obama and the FoxNoise propaganda machine, he’s both naive and incompetent AND cunning and even Machiavellian—it all depends on the current “talking points.”

“By the way, there’s one other odd thing about this report. Cain actually dropped out of the race in 2011.”

2011, 2012. What’s the difference? I mean it’s just numbers, and the GOP, teabaggers and FoxNoise don’t care about numbers (unless they’re tied to ratings and salaries).

Well, how many birds die from crashing into jet airplanes or into high tension wires or into skyscrapers? I doubt the FoxNoise kkkrew would be willing to do without airplanes, electricity or a place from which to “report.”

Bill Baldwin said, “What if the individual wants a classic traditional defined benefit pension? I wouldn’t outlaw pensions, I would just outlaw the bailouts… If Delta wants to ladle out lavish benefits to its pilots, fine, but don’t come to me the taxpayer when it doesn’t work out.”

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And, Mr Baldwin, might I ask your opinion of when the COMPANY EXECUTIVES rob the pension funds to help pay out “bonuses” for the self-same executives or they simply “borrow” from the funds to pay for other things, then simply “forget” to repay the “loan” before they go into Chapter 13 bankruptcy? Or when the company gets that “bailout” and turns around and pays millions to both the executives who were responsible for needing the “bailout” in the first place and to the shareholders before paying off their remaining debts (which they got reduced to pennies on the dollar during the bankruptcy hearings)?

I’m sure you don’t have problems with the CORPORATE “pensions” being paid for by the taxpayers—just the “overpaid” proletariat who seem to think they should have access to luxuries like affordable housing and healthcare and fresh produce and toasters and microwave ovens and toothpicks. No. Let’s ensure that the Delta CEO doesn’t lose his three summer houses and his four yachts and his two private jets and his ski lodge when Delta needs a bailout—but heaven forbid that a taxpayer bailout go to the pilots’ and flight attendants’ and baggage handlers’ pensions. Isn’t that right, Mr Baldwin?

Since Newshounds motto is “We watch Fox so you don’t have to,” I don’t actually watch any of the crapfest. But would one of the Newshounds watchers answer me one little question: Do ANY of the Fox segments ever begin and/or end with a prayer? I just ask because it would seem to me that a network so ready and eager to demand that OTHERS be forced to pray in public settings, regardless of whether they want to or not, should require its various hosts to pray (whether the hosts want to or not) at either the start or the end of a segment or show.

Also, just after I posted the previous comment (and the page returned to the top), I looked over at the “Advertise Liberally” bar and saw this headline/link: Toddler dies after accidentally shooting himself with grandfather’s gun (the link is http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014345520 ).

Several of the comments are pretty snarky and sarcastic, most of which have their basis in LaPierre’s insane comments.

From the poster Harmonicon: He must have been mentally ill. Clearly there should be a national database of those with mental illness. That would prevent such tragedies.

Poster nilram: Clearly, there should be a policeman in every grandfather’s house.

Poster scootaloo: Clearly it was because the toddler played Call of Duty while on antidepressants!

Poster Jackpine radical: This wouldn’t have happened if there had been an armed Good Guy…

Poster Android3.14: If that toddler had read the 10 commandments this wouldn’t have happened. It’s obvious that there is a direct link between the violence in the media, the lack of prayer in schools, and this child’s death. Thank you NRA for opening my eyes.

EVERY SINGLE ONE of those comments is directly pulled from LaPierre’s “solutions” to the Newtown Massacre.

I wonder what Ms Malangnagannangganangananan’s reaction to this toddler’s death will be?

mj wrote, “Sorry, but as a US citizen, even as one who hasn’t reached the political or legal heights the late Mr. Bork had, I’m not comfortable with a prospective SCJ using the high court — the high court that I’m supposed to be able to turn to as an advocate for my rights and for a redress of wrongs — as a sort of banquet table for for his “intellectual feast.””

You forgot a slightly more dangerous fact about Bork. The man actually believed that it should be harder for average people to use the court system.

Patrick, I wouldn’t be surprised if Joshua is the living embodiment of the “infinite monkey theorem.” Sure, the monkey types out a string of words but doesn’t have any understanding of what he’s typed.

@jan: Please don’t refer to O’Reilly as a super hero, especially if you’re using the term in a derogatory fashion. The heroes do NOT try to “control” anyone—that’s the job of the villains.

If anything, O’Reilly’s closest comic-book counterparts would be the current Lex Luthor (whose own ego would give O’Reilly’s a run for the money) and Dr Doom (another egomaniac who has, on at least one occasion, actually taken control of the whole world—being the egomaniac he is, he soon realized how boring it was because there was no one to challenge him; that actually was a fascinating storyline). Not only do both men have enormous egos but they all too often show a public face that belies their real intentions (those who oppose them see each man’s real face—metaphorically for Dr Doom—but the public at large is often blind to their evil). For instance, Luthor is a megatycoon (kind of like Donald Trump, but not nearly as publicly crazy) who funds charities and creates jobs but he’ll use all sorts of shell companies to get the charities closed or take away their base of operations and to outsource jobs (hence, the public sees the good side but has little idea of the bad side; by contrast, is there anyone who doesn’t see Trump’s bad side even when he’s doing “good”?). And Doom is actually the leader of a country which he will defend vigorously (at one point, his country was supposed to be located deep behind the Iron Curtain yet it was a fully independent monarchy, one that even the might of the Soviet Army couldn’t crush) and the overwhelming majority of his people loved him absolutely and unquestioningly—although his darker side would appear in private (a little child inadvertently said that Doom scared her and while her mother begged and pleaded that she didn’t know what she was saying, Doom bent down and actually comforted the child; moments later, he tells one of his soldiers to see that the mother “has an accident” for the child’s insolence); there were some who saw Doom as a tyrant and many of those who loved him so absolutely still feared him but Doom never used his people as human shields or as cannon fodder nor did he get the country involved in unnecessary conflicts.

Now, O’Reilly as a super-villain? THAT, I’d believe.

Huckabee obviously doesn’t even know enough about his own religion.

Where was God when all the martyrs were dying for their faith? When men and women were being turned into lion chow, rather than having the lions sleeping at their feet (in a “Daniel-lion’s den” kind of thing), where was God then? Where was God when Joan of Arc was being burned at the stake? Where was God when “His chosen people” were being slaughtered in Treblinka and Auschwitz? Where was God when Yeshua (His own “son”) was hanging like a scarecrow? Where was God when Herod was busy slaughtering hundreds (maybe thousands) of innocent children while Joseph and Mary were heading for the safety of Egypt?

According to the old children’s hymn, “Jesus loves the little children . . . red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight.” I don’t recall anything in that song mentioning “except if they don’t believe in Him” or “but only if they pray to Him all the time.”

Sorry Huckster, but you really can’t have it both ways. You (and others of your ilk) can’t be preaching that “God loves everyone” (you might remember the way, not so very long ago, you and your fellow members of the Christian Taliban pulled the old “hate the sin, love the sinner” crap with gays) while turning around and saying “God won’t be where He isn’t wanted.” That, Mr Huckster, is tantamount to blasphemy. You and your ilk are basically saying that YOU know “God’s Will” better than God does.

As the old prayer goes, “Dear God, save me from your followers.”

I actually found him at IMDb.com. It turns out he’s also done some acting. Classic films like “Hillbilly Bob Zombie” (he plays “Hillbilly Bob” who accidentally creates tainted moonshine that turns people into zombies) and “Young Blood: Evil Intentions” (he plays “Vampire Santa” in it).

Did he happen to mention his involvement in “Young Blood: Evil Intentions?” I’d certainly love to see how the FoxFiends would react to the knowledge that their “charming old Santa” played a Vampire Santa because absolutely nothing says “spirit of Christmas” like a vampire Santa.

@lynn: Why do you care? Are you planning to track down Ellen in person? Maybe you’re planning to cyberstalk her?

While we’re at it, how do we know that your REAL name is “Lynn Braddy?” After all, just because you’re using that name doesn’t mean that’s your real name. How do we know you’re not actually Jesse Watters hiding behind a fake name?

And who knows? Maybe it was always Ellen’s fondest desire to become like Cher, Madonna or Prince—and just be known by one name.