Prairie's Reading: McJoan on Christmas and family

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For many, this Christmas will be a wrenching one, faced with the fallout of the failed economic model the country has followed since Reagan. My grandparents lost the family farm in the other Great Depression, so McJoan's commentary over at dailyKos about Roots and a family's difficult choice in these days resonated deep.

Take a moment this hectic holiday season to consider her words on what really matters about this country and our heritage.

You'll be enriched in the reading.

Bush Values

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Hmmmm, let's see. George Bush tells his kid sister [yep, the same sister who back in 2000 was out in the streets in front of the Naval Observatory yellin' at Al and Tipper to get outa da house] that:

"I came to Washington with a set of values, and I'm leaving with the same set of values. And I darn sure wasn't going to sacrifice those values...."

It's almost too damned easy, isn't it? Okay, I'll play. What do you think are Dubya's values?
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(crossposted at firedoglake's Oxdown Gazette)

One of the Family

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One of the stark lessons of Stefan Forbes’ riveting documentary of the life of Lee Atwater, Boogie Man, which aired last night in Fargo on PBS' Frontline, was that the era of the Cliff Notes-loving media didn't begin with George W. Bush and Karl Rove and the Dancin' Daves [“backup dancer” David Gregory—the iconic statement of everything that is the incestuous life of the Village].

Watching the rise and demise of the master of Republican dirty tricks as he built his resume on lie after lie was demoralizing indeed. Spokesperson after spokesperson—folks like Sam Donaldson, Tucker Eskew, Mary Matalin, Ed Rollins, Robert Novak—rationalized those lies in an tone of “politics ain’t beanbag,” as if the fact that he could sweet-talk the media into not checking into his audacious b.s. was something to be lauded.

It says a lot about Atwater that he got away with it. It says even more about the sorry state of the media that they let him. Hell, they enabled him.

They're still doing it.

Seeing younger versions of Karl Rove and Grover Norquist hovering in the wings of the stage Atwater played on, we're warned that the vipers known as College Republicans are still goin' strong. They may have lost this round, but they're regrouping and preparing for the next election. It's a testament to the political skills of Barack Obama and his team and the organizational skills of Howard Dean and his 50-State Strategy that Democrats prevailed against the Republicans and their enablers in the media.

It comes of this: when you merely sit and serve as a vessel for a politician to spout off "factiness" without correcting the record then you are in fact serving as a tool/pawn/shill of a politician or a political agenda.

Yep, Sit! Wolfie, today I'm talkin' about you and that "interview" with Sarah Palin—the hockey mom turned governor who is fit neither to govern nor to parent. Earlier this week, Matt Lauer provided yet another opportunity to pimp Piper by Gypsy Mom who apparently didn't think that thar book-larnin' was any more important for her kids than herself while she was off gallivantin' with John and Cindy and giving pfffft to her children's education. Not to be outdone, Greta Van Susteren added her own Foxy-loxy love fest to the mix.

A role model to lead the Republican Party? Anjelica Huston's Grifters mom more like.

But the media like process, we're told. They liked seein' Atwater slam Dukakis with race-bating strokes...hey if he didn't like that Willie Horton/weekend passes smear campaign, he shoulda fought back.

Yeah, he shoulda.

Shoulda said the weekend passes were modeled on another state, another governor. Name o'Reagan. And now the adopted son of Ronald Reagan, Michael, adopts the Atwater School, right along with the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly and lets the hate times roll.... Because the Republicans can't govern, can't win on policy, so they play divide and conquer...only not this year.

But that doesn't mean they won't come right back again, hoping for a weaker opponent next time. And they know they can count on the media to go along to get along, 'cause you gotta get the story, even if it's a lie, doncha know.

And the biggest lie of all was the life of Lee Atwater. This hyper Southern skell was all surface and show and no soul. Even his protestation at the end that he was going to go with any religion just in case was as phony as the man. The Bush family retainer who was never really going to be part of the family was himself a useful tool...and that's the denial the folks who remain don't ever want to face.

Matalin, Rove, the other political operatives, willingly compliant Cliff Notes journalists, you've all been useful tools to advance the Bush family agenda. You just haven't been one of the family.
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An Open Letter to Malia and Sasha

Dear Malia and Sasha --

Congratulations to you and all your family. We are looking forward to your family becoming the First Family of the United States.

We know this will mean a lot of changes for you and your family. A big move from Chicago to Washington, D.C. New friends to make, a new school to attend.

And there is that new puppy. Now we're pretty partial to cocker spaniels. [psst, if you want one just as cute as ours, you can email me for the breeder's contact address at prairiesunrising at gmail dot com]

We hope that you both enjoy the grand adventure you are beginning, and we thank you for sharing your Dad with all of us.

We'll do our best not to be too demanding on his time, and we'll do our best to help him lead all of us forward to better times.

With love from the Sunshine Family.
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Rest in Peace

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Barack Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, one of the foundations of his life, died early today. Huffington Post has more, including his video tribute.

We simply offer condolences and solace to the Obama and Dunham families that we see in her grandson the excellence of her life's work.
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Postcards from America

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Crooks & Liars cues us in to a great opportunity. From sea to shining sea and all the way across it, we can show some love to Barack Obama's grandmama, who is dealing with very serious health circumstances.

The Senator will be flying to visit her, but we can lift his wings with our own expressions of caring.

As C&L notes, please, send postcards rather than envelope/cards for ease of relaying our warm wishes.

Send to:

Mrs. Madelyn Dunham
c/o Obama for America
Honolulu Headquarters
1050 Ala Moana Blvd Ste D2690
Honolulu, HI 96814

I'll be sending my own grandmama to grandmama message today...one of the highlights of my year was introducing Barack to my five-year-old grandson in Grand Forks at the ND Dem-NPL convention.

I owe Madelyn Dunham a great big thank you for all her years of lovin' and rearin' the man who inspires so many, especially a starry-eyed little boy.
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P.S. No postcard? No excuses! Print out a favorite scene or family picture on card stock or photo paper and there's your postcard. A 4x6 card is only 27 cents postage. Warm some hearts today...the Obamas, yours, and mine.
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(crossposted at Firedoglake's Oxdown Gazette)

Grandparents = Love

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Don't miss this marvelous blog commentary about Barack Obama's [white] grandparents -- and all the people who have made acts of courage an everyday process. From the Atlantic, this deserves the widest possible circulation. Please do the link, read it and pass it forward....

This one's for grandparents everywhere... and especially for their grandchildren. Much love to mine.

Gramma for Obama.

The Long Road

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Obama campaign announces that the Senator will suspend his campaigning to make the long flight home to Hawaii where his grandmother is gravely ill.

We pray he makes it in time.

And Cokie and Rush can just keep their traps shut.
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Cold

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Conservative family values on display courtesy William F. and Christopher Buckley. Personal responsibility? Nah, nevah heard of it. Contempt and disdain? Not half so much you've shown to William F.'s grandson as the world should show to you. Doubtless Tucker [go ahead, pick any of 'em] and Billy Kristol find it amusing. How 'bout you, MoDo?

Some legacy...medieval.
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crossposted at firedoglake's new Oxdown Gazette

Women and Children Last in Palin Country

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The statistics are grim.

Alaska leads the nation in reported forcible rapes per capita, according to the FBI, with a rate two and a half times the national average -- a ranking it has held for many years. Children are no safer: Public safety experts believe that the prevalence of rape and sexual assault of minors in Alaska makes the state's record one of the worst in the U.S.

She didn't just do nothing, critics say. Sarah Palin proactively stalled the effort to tackle sexual violence in Alaska. Because she was more interested in settling a personal grudge, she abused the power of her office, and put women and children at risk. Some family values.

Oh, and don't forget, Screechy Sarah expects rape victims to pay for their own rape kits.

H/t to Kagro X at dailyKos for the signpost about this ABC News report.
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War...what is it good for?

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Well, for McCain's daughter, war is a great talking point.

After all, her daddy was a Vietnam war hero and did you know he was a POW...oh, and did I mention that Sarah Palin's son is going to Iraq on September 11? Yep, yep, yep, no other family understands war like the McCain family. Period.

And then there's this video...words from the mouth of McCain. And a few others. You must watch. You must see.

And you must act: register now if your state requires it. And vote.

Alone.

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Much to-do being made today about the McCain family...and the Bush family...and the Palin family.

And the families of NOLA and the Gulf Coast.

But lest we forget, there are other families we must be mind-full of, too, in the countdown to November 4.

So while the Rethugs party on in St. Paul...and make no mistake, behind the curtain they're partying away...and turning disaster into politically opportunistic photo-op moments.... there are still Americans like Dwan Fairbanks.

Alone.