Rightfully So

With voting already have begun in Ohio and several other states, and the Gallup poll numbers showing Obama’s lead increasing to 11 points, some columnists are already saying this election is over.

Can it be over? Can we go back to the quiet ads of non-election months already, where I only have to be bothered about hygiene products and which car to buy?

What happened to the McCain campaign? Can he blame it all on his selection of Sarah Palin, or is it all Tina Fey’s fault. Apparently Mrs. Palin would enjoy appearing on Saturday Night Live, which may help!

Can America be that bad with a liberal president? Or will Obama be more of the same. We survived 8 years under Clinton, in fact, the Federal government was running a surplus and things were looking up. Unfortunately, this is where the roots of the current housing crisis began with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. The Onion pretty much sums up the last 8 years under Bush’s rule:

“My fellow Americans,” Bush said, “at long last, we have reached the end of the dark period in American history that will come to be known as the Clinton Era, eight long years characterized by unprecedented economic expansion, a sharp decrease in crime, and sustained peace overseas. The time has come to put all of that behind us.”

Where do you see yourself in 4 years?

I don’t quite understand this, but I’m told that many websurfers don’t use RSS aggregators for their daily web browsing, and therefore said surfers aren’t immediately notified of new articles appearing on various sites.

An interesting side effect of this is that, because of the absence of notifications, there is sometimes a significant lag time between when a post is published and when all the comments flow in. In some cases, this lag can be weeks or months.

Because of this lag, I want to use this post to summarize some of the interesting comments to Rightfully So articles from 2006. These are insightful, lucid, cogent discourses on the topics, but, you readers might not have seen them when they were initially posted, so think of this as Talk Soup for Rightfully So.

* * *

In April 2006, the article “The Solution to Immigration Problems,” by RC, reader Sara says:

You talk about “illegal aliens” as if they are some unwanted pest, a cockroach in your kitchen. Have you ever stopped and thought about why they might have moved here to begin with, how bad it can be in the country they came from to begin with? And if you haven’t noticed, these “illegal aliens” are already doing the jobs that no one else wants, and getting underpaid for, working the fields and cleaning as janitors. Before you want to boss someone around to clean for you, take respect in what you have and clean your own damned house.

Thank you, Sara, for setting us all straight. All this time I thought illegal aliens in fact were unwanted pests, diluting our social services, depressing our wages, and generally being a burden with not so much as a thank you or an acknowledgment of the greatness of our land. Misappropriating my tax dollars, filling our emergency rooms, crowding our schools, hijacking my child’s future and then spitting in my face… this is OK according to Sara, because things are “bad” where they came from. Well, I’m glad that’s settled. I guess five wrongs do make a right.

* * *

From February 2006, another article by RC (is there a trend here?) entitled “Budweiser is Brainwashing Our Children,” reader Elaine Kellerman took exception to Larry Crankypants, quoted in the article as saying, “If TV can’t be trusted to raise our kids, who can?”

Ms Kellerman says:

Good Grief do people have nothing better to do. For one thing I love the comment “if t.v. can’t be trusted to raise our kids, who can.” Obviously this is one of those multitude of people that don’t want to be bothered by raising his children and want t.v.to do it as long as he can control the t.v. T.V. isn’t suppose to “raise kids” the parents are. I have seen this commercial and actually have it on my computer. I viewed it more as the older sector of society helping the younger achieve what they want in life and want to become. I suppose if you view life as never having the responsibility of raising children and having such responsibility passed off to a entertainment device then you would not view it in such a way. I am wondering how he views all the ignorant commercials to “improve your love life” and has the idiot with a big smile on his face with the voice talking about how he is “living large.” I would imagine if he is having t.v. raise his children then we will someday have grownups running around with his last name with a lot more problems than could be obtained from watching two grown horses push a wagon for a little one. He also needs to watch the WHOLE commercial as it shows the little colt looking at a picture of the Budweiser team, obviously wanting to be like them. People such as this guy sicken me. They want things their way or no way. It is people such as him that want “In God we Trust took away”, no matter how others feel. It offends him and that’s all that matters. Tell him there is a way to keep his children from watching this, turn the t.v. off and spend time with your kids. With all the scantily clad women as the cheerleaders I’m sure he don’t want his kids to think they are the norm. If so they will have troubled marriages. Besides it just almost makes it look like women have a subserviant role in life. Well, in retrospect the whole game makes it appear as though winning is everything and that can’t be a good role model. This guy needs to just keep quiet. I’m sure it would be best if he didn’t say anything and let people wonder about his IQ instead of opening it and letting people know how really low it is.

I’m trying to think of a snarky comment to inject here, but words fail me. Kudos to you, Ms Kellerman.

* * *

O dear readers, please keep the comments coming! Responses like these make our writing worthwhile. I am inspired to write more. RC, we need more of your Rightfully So wit. Please help.

Finally, I will leave you with this, from reader Nic, in the article “Your Computer Seems Not To Be Running Windows System”:

I can’t believe this site isn’t more popular, these articles are hilarious.

Citing an unusually hot and humid summer, along with the traditional Beijing smog, officials in the People’s Republic of China have decided, in order to demonstrate the greatness, cleanliness, efficiency and all-around goodwill of the nation, that they will move the site of the Olympics.

“Beijing is hotter than a witch’s tittie in a brass brassiere,” said precinct commissioner Jin Wei-li, in broken Engrish. “At least, I think that’s the metaphor you use. Anyways, with summer temperatures breaking 100 degrees and smog so think that you need a scythe, the Commission has decided that a move is in order.”

Similar concerns arose in advance of the 2004 Olympics when, because of corrupt Greek officials and lazy Greek construction workers, it seemed that the facilities would not be completed in time for the Athens opening ceremonies. At the time, the backup plan was to hold the Olympics in the previous host city, which would have been Sydney.

“There is no Peking way that China will let the Games go back to Athens,” continued Jin. “We have worked long and hard to conceal our human-rights violations, and I’ll be damned if it’s all for naught.”

Instead, in a move that is sure to generate controversy, President Hu Jintao decreed that the city itself should be moved. The exact location is a closely guarded secret, but, sources inside the Commission have indicated that the new location will be in the Pacific Ocean.

Controversial? Yes. Even more perplexing, though, is logistics. How can a major metropolitan area be moved in its entirety? And, how to do it so quickly?

“We have over seven-hundred million peasants living in the rural areas of our Republic,” explained Logistics Administrator Xu Xiang Xao. “We have arranged for them to be relocated to the Beijing province. You know, like a reverse ‘Trail of Tears’. People bitched about Mao’s forced relocations, so now we’re forcing the peasants back. They’re delighted about the opportunity to help.”

Equipped with only hand-trucks, shovels, and in some cases, wheelbarrows, peasants will dig, load, transport and deposit each and every piece of Beijing, taking bits from their current location to their new home, somewhere in the Pacific.

When asked about the feasibility of this endeavor, and particularly the short timeline, Xao quipped, “Do you have any conception of the magnitude of 700,000,000 people? The number is so phenomenally large that the mind boggles. Hell, the pyramids in Egypt were built with only 10,000 slaves. We have close to a billion slaves. Er, I mean, workers. Workers. We will complete our move before the opening ceremonies. If not, then I expect I shall be executed.”

Ringo Starr released a new album entitled Liverpool 8 this week. Ringo is widely known as the fourth most talented Beatle and the second most alive.

Pakistani President Musharraf today announced the findings of his investigation into the death of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto at an election rally in Rawalpindi on December 27. Wearing his “What, Me Worry?” t-shirt and novelty glasses with the eyes that dangle on the end of springs, Pakistan’s General of the Army, President-for-Life and Keeper-of-the-Supply-Cabinet-Key gave the following statement to reporters:

“It is with great sadness that I announce the findings of our inquiry into the (giggling) untimely death of Ms. Bhutto last month. After reviewing all the forensic evidence and interviews with nearly two whole witnesses, we believe Ms. Bhutto died not from the explosion that killed twenty other people around her, or hitting her head on the roof of her motorcade. No, Benazir Bhutto succumbed to boredom.”

After several moments of open-mouthed disbelief, reporters gathered themselves to question the President about his findings. “Sir, how is this even possible? Are you saying the suicide bomber had nothing to do with the Bhutto’s death?”

“To be sure, it is an unfortunate coincidence,” Musharraf replied. “It is entirely possible that, had she not died of ennui, Ms. Bhutto would soon have been ripped to shreds by the cowardly explosion that I can assure you I had nothing…NOTHING to do with. However, it is beyond a shadow of a doubt that she had already been dead for several minutes before the explosion. The only reason she was even seen standing up in her car was because she had been propped up by supporters who wanted to make it look as though she were still alive. Much like that hilarious movie “Weekend at Bernies,” only, you know, with a tragic bombing at the end.”

“Mr. President, why would anyone do such a ridiculous thing?”

“To continue their insidious plot against me!” Musharraf said in an eerie German accent. “Bhutto’s followers knew without her they would be powerless. They planned to keep up this charade as long as necessary, like those guys in New York who took their dead friend to the bank in a wheelbarrow so they could cash his check. Only, you know, in this case a delicate house of international diplomatic cards that could plunge the world into a terrorist nightmare is at stake instead of some bums looking to score beer money.”

“But sir, boredom?”

“Indeed. And here is the proof!” With a flourish, President Musharraf pulled a piece of paper from his sleeve like a magician. “Here, in her own handwriting, is Ms. Bhutto’s final note, written just before she died. ‘Dear Everyone: I am so totally bored. This whole thing about returning from exile to bring a hope of Democracy back to my beloved homeland and remove this tyrant from power is actually kind of dull. I’m feeling rather blase about it, like I might die. In fact, Musharraf is rather awesome. You should let him do whatever he wants.’ Signed, “Bubbles.”

“Bubbles?”

“Yes, Bubbles.”

“Sir, what about the blood that was washed from the scene before investigators could arrive? Is that illegal breach of criminal protocol going to be addressed? Will anyone be punished?”

“The blood had to be removed immediately. The government had recently received word that a swarm of, um, blood…liking…mutant-things was near by. If the blood had been allowed to remain, everyone there would have risked being attacked by a pack of space-trolls that would have devoured their faces with giant teeth that grow out of their foreheads.”

“Trolls? I thought you said mutants.”

“Mutant trolls, that is correct.”

Before any more questions could be asked, President Musharraf disappeared in a puff of smoke.

The scene outside the Elk’s Lodge in Sloan, Iowa was straight out of a movie: Secret Service agents hurriedly ushering a terrified, frazzled President of the United States through a crazed mob, forcing him into the back of a limousine that then sped away to safety. But this was no Hollywood fiction: this was real life, and President Bush undoubtedly hopes it never gets so real again.

It was an ignoble end to what started off as a pleasant photo opportunity for the President as he begins his yearlong “Look At Me, I’ve Been President For Eight Years And I Didn’t Run The Country Into The Ground” tour. Members of the local Philosopher’s Union 142 had scored quite a coup by being the first stop on the POTUS jag. But the erstwhile farmer-thinkers had serious questions for Mr. Bush, and from all apperances, the leader of the free world was caught off guard.

Wearing his now standard jewel-studded crown and wife-beater t-shirt with PREZ emblazoned across the front, Mr. Bush gave a brief speech about the good people of Iowa and how their corn-fueled moonshine had seen him through some rough times in his younger years. This was apparently all that had been scheduled for the event, but the President was in such a good mood that he waved off his handlers and recognized a burly fellow in the back row who raised his hand for a question.

“Mr. President,” the man said, nervously stroking a walrus moustache and adjusting his John Deere baseball cap as he prepared to address the most powerful man on the planet, “My name is Henry Jacobs, I have 400 acres over to the south side of the county. We’re gettin’ by but I do have some concerns for the future. Namely, how do we reconcile Russian geo-constructo-criticism with the obvious dialectical fallacies of Billingham’s axiom of internal dualism?”

President Bush stared blankly for a second. “Oh, if you mean Senator Blandingham’s farm bill, I can assure you…”

“No sir, not Senator Blandingham, I’m referring to Alexander Billingham, from the University of Chicago. His theory of internal dualism? Man’s bi-consciousness and it’s effect upon our perceptions of self? It’s in direct conflict with this latest trend in Russia. It has me worried.”

Soon another man, this one a wiry young man wearing a cowboy hat, stood up. “I agree Mr. President. It’s going to be tough for us farmers if we’re caught in the middle of another classic Swillinger’s Hammock. Especially with my bad back and all.” This elicited a chuckle from the crowd.

Witnesses say the President began to sweat and uttered his trademark nervous laugh. “Wow, uh, I thought you boys were going to be speakin’ English. Don’t you want to ask me something about 9/11?”

A weary looking old gentlement in the front row stood up with the help of his cane. The others in the room seemed to give deference to him and allowed him several silent moments to refill his tobacco plug. “I have a question about 9/11 Mr. President,” the man said. “Do you adhere to the ideas of the German Jurgen Habermas who believes that economic entities threaten to colonize our life-world, or do you side with the Frenchman Derrida and his theory that our response to terror is an auto-immune sickness that only makes the terror problem worse?”

In a flash, all the farmers were on their feet shouting questions at the President. Over the crowd one could here Mr. Bush valiantly trying to answer their questions with proclomations of “Permanent tax cuts!” and “Mission Accomplished!” But within seconds the scene was out of control. Security Agents swiftly removed the President as he was followed by a crowd of thoughtful farmers asking the kinds of questions that have no answers. No word yet on whether the President resorted to his usual tough-day remedy of having his memory erased and replaced with images of that t.v. movie of “The Facts of Life” where they go to France.

Just when the citizens of Gotham thought they were safe, another hideous beast has rampaged through the city leaving a bloody trail of destruction it it’s wake. And we’re not talking about the annual Deformed Obsese Transvestite Parade. That’s not until July.

No, mere months after the city was devastated by a bio-engineered plague that killed off nearly all it’s inhabitants and turned the remaining few into blood-thirsty zombies that even Will Smith couldn’t conquer, the resilient denizens of Manhattan were besieged by yet another monster that attacked the city right in the middle of a yuppie party in a really cool loft on the lower east side.

Long-time Manhattanites are fed up. “Seriously, are all of these monsters attacking from the east?” asked deli-owner Norm Stantz. “Eleven times in twenty years I’ve had my deli smashed to the ground by some snarling lizard. And how come they never wind up any further along the Atlantic seaboard? Would it kill one of them to take a swipe at those jerk-offs in Boston? The Bruins suck!”

Similar sentiments were expressed by other survivors of the latest rampage. Ninety-eight year old Esmerelda Wiggins sat on the front stoop of her brownstone, recently swept of debris, perusing a scrapbook she’s kept of the travails that have befallen her hometown over the last near century. “It all started with that damn ape,” she said pointing to a black-and-white photo of an enormous gorilla standing atop the Empire State Building swatting at bi-planes. “They brought him here from some damn island or something. Folks lined up to see him because it was the Depression and we were starved for something to take our minds off our misery. But then they brought another ape in the 70’s. And then again just a couple of years ago! Why with all the apes? And every time he goes nuts and climbs a tower and then falls off. Do you know what kind of havoc that causes? We got enough construction around here without cleaning up after ape disasters.”

Ms. Wiggins went on to document the stunning array of misfortune her city has seen, from recent scourges such as Godzilla and the Sta-Puft Marshmellow Man, to an unruly gang of Muppets determined to make it on Broadway. “And don’t forget the time Woody Allen got arrested for statutory rape with Mariel Hemingway. Poor thing, he dumped her and then went running all the way across town to try and win her back. Even tried to talk her out of going to school in London. The selfish bastard, you’re forty years older than her for Christ’s sake! Date someone your own age!”

Perhaps the most distressing aspect of the city’s monster-magnetism is the fact that it draws attention from other cities that suffer similar attacks. Chamber of Commerce spokesman Ed Koningsberg says many foreigners have the false impression that New York has some odd curse on it that makes it the only choice for crazed, mutated beasts. “Plenty of other American cities have been attacked by various beings throughout the years, but they don’t get the press coverage we do. People always seem to enjoy watching us get kicked around. I mean, the entire city of Columbus, Ohio was wiped out by a fire-breathing were-sloth from the planet Razzmatazz in 1957, but no one even knows about it. Seriously, there’s just a huge smoking hole in the ground. How come you never see that in the movies?”

Whatever the reasons for the city’s rotten luck, New Yorkers remain faithful to their hometown. Knowing full well that it’s only a matter of time before some other weird-ass thingamabob comes swooping down on them and destroys their property values, millions of people proudly continue to call the borough home. “Plagues, monsters, Irish, we’ve seen ‘em all, but eventually they leave and we’re still standing,” Koningsberg says. “It’s an existential nightmare, but it’s our existential nightmare.” With that, Koningsberg turned and strode proudly down the tree-lined streets of the neighborhood where he’d lived his whole life, only to be suddenly pummelled to death by an army of truck-sized glowing frogs with acid for blood that sprang out of nowhere. New York, New York, it’s a helluva town.

Officials for the Summer 2008 Olympics to be held in Beijing today introduced the young women who would serve as presenters during the medal ceremonies, a cadre of fine Asian hotties guaranteed to put a little Kung-Pow in this year’s games, if you know what I mean.

Young women from all across China have spent the last several months training to become the curvy, buxomy dream-girls that would be the very public face of the games. Demonstrating centuries of cultural poise and courtesy, the girls paraded across the stage for international journalists like a voluptuous army of Stepford-ian sexbots. In a land known for its many tasty delicacies, there were no limp noodles in the house after this demonstration, if you catch my drift.

Some in the international community decried the sexualization of the young women, saying the presentation of such perfect, imminently humpable young nubiles discriminated against women in general and perpetuated an unhealthy stereotype of the female form. The organizer of today’s event responded with a statement that, roughly translated, said, “Uh, duh.” to which he also added, “No shit, Sherlock.”

The Chinese Ambassador to the United States also issued a statement in defense of his country’s actions. “I find it very hypocritical that the United States, a country that drinks congealed bacon fat for breakfast yet idolizes 80 pound supermodels, would accuse us presenting an unhealthily ideal woman. These young women are China’s future, our sexy, sexy future. Our doctors, lawyers, scientists, and political leaders of tomorrow. It is merely an added bonus that they’re the kind of woman you would want to bend over the hood of your car and make sweet love to until the bovines return to the place where they live. Am I saying that right?”

Indeed, as the journalists covering today’s event filed out of the auditorium, many already thought they had caught a serious case of “yellow fever.” “I liked the one on the end,” said a European newspaperman. “I’m quite a cook, I’d like to take her back to my apartment and let her try some of my Hung Way Low, if you catch my unsubtle sexual innuendo.”

Some really flattering pictures of Ms. Lohan over at Lindsay Lohan is Such a Modest Girl.

Maybe it’s because I’m not a celebrity, but I think I’d show a little more restraint. Plus, that dude looks pretty rough, I’d think she’d be able to do better.