Demagoging tragedy

Frankly, I don't know which sickens me more: the abhorrent mass murder committed by a sicko-psycho in Arizona that also left Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords critically wounded, or the reaction to her wounding in the media.

Big Media (the BM for short) -- the same BM that demanded that we "not rush to judgment" following the Ft. Hood mass murder by a sicko-psycho -- rushed to judgment bigtime this time.  "Right-wing rhetoric" was blamed by some, an ironic claim, it turns out.  The shooter was described as "quite liberal" and a "political radical" by classmates.

Turns out when it comes to hateful rhetoric, the left doesn't fare too poorly itself.  Caribou Barbie hung in effigy.  Il Duce quoted as saying, "If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun". Ironic.

  Sarah Palin Caribou Barbie was blamed for "putting a bulls-eye on Rep. Giffords", an ironic claim, it turns out.  A Daily Kos blogger said that Giffords was "dead to me" just two days prior to the attack.  Not quite a bulls-eye, but ugly nonetheless.

Of course, Faux News came out all in defense of Caribou Barbie.  What?  You expected differently?  Regardless of where you get your news, children, you're gonna get spin.

Naturally, the Tea Party was blamed as well.  Yeah, all of that "hateful rhetoric" about sticking to the Constitution really makes folks want to kill their Congress-critter [/sarcasm].

Naturally, the Succubus of State had to weigh in, calling the shooter, "an extremist".  Takes one to know one, I suppose...

But the simple fact is that the shooter is mentally unbalanced.  How unbalanced?  Enough to where his college classmates were scared of him.

No one is blaming Caribou Barbie, or the Tea Party, or even Calvin Klein for this kook who castrated a journalist.  Not the right political angle, I suppose.

Look, it's no secret that I hate Team Donkey and Team Elephant equally.  Anyone who thinks that either of them is "the good guys" is drinking the Kool Aid.  But the partisan demagoguery on display the past two days has been nauseating.  And frankly, you have to ask, if the wounded Representative had an 'R' after her name, would there be all of this finger pointing and whining about "hateful political rhetoric"?

I think you know the answer to that question...

The Tea Party

You may have sensed a certain lack of enthusiasm on my part when it comes to the Tea Party movement.  It's not that I stand in opposition to their objectives and ideals.  It's that I'm certain it's doomed for failure.

"Oh come on, Vulture!  How can you say that?"  How?  Quite easily.  Let's start with the basics.

The Tea Party hasn't officially aligned itself with Team Elephant, but Team Elephant is doing its damnedest to align the Tea Party with it.  This is bad.  Very bad.  I knew from the very beginning that if the Tea Party didn't align itself with an existing third party or create a political party of their own, they would be co-opted by the Elephants, who would run candidates who pay lip service to the Tea Party ideals but are beholden to (and thus, voting in every way like) the Rockefellerites.

"But Vulture!  The Republicans have changed!  They've seen the light!"  No, no they haven't.  They are still promoting Taxachusetts health care creator Mitt Romney as a conservative.  They still have RINO Michael Steele as their party chairman.  And they have actively worked to promote "establishment" candidates over newcomers.  The Elephants will ruin the Tea Party and destroy the movement forever.

The other problem the Tea Party has is that it's "solutions" (for lack of a better word) revolve around getting people elected -- and the people around whom they've rallied leave quite a bit to be desired.

The first two "endorsed" candidates put forward by the Tea Party are Scott Brown and Marco Rubio.  Brown is a total RINO, and Rubio is showing signs of being the same.

Then there is the person who comes closest to being the face of the Tea Party, Sarah Palin.  Let's cut to the chase, shall we?  She's a Big Government Republican through-and-through.  Yet, to hear the Left and Big Media (the BM for short) -- or is that redundant? -- tell it, she's somewhere to the right of Ghengis Khan.  The Tea Party is being duped by Caribou Barbie.  She isn't any more conservative than King George the Dim was.

It pains me to rain on the Tea Party parade.  It really does.  I would have loved for them to succeed.

But they won't.  Not so long as they continue to believe that the Elephants are their friends.

An administration of True Believers

There are four types of faith. An event-driven faith, brought on by a life-changing event, which flames hot and then is extinguished over the passing of time. Another type of faith is one that blossoms, but is not strong enough to withstand outside influences or the disapproval of others.

Then there is what I call True Faith.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11.1

This faith is powerful enough to withstand the cares of this world and the disapproval of others. This is a faith that is hardly blind; challenges to the validity of that faith are met with personal research to prove or disprove those challenges. Once disproved, the challenge has had the effect of strengthening the believer's faith.

And then there is the cultish "faith" that willfully ignores all evidence with regard to its validity. Picture if you will a person who, upon receiving some bit of information that would render their faith invalid, closes their eyes, puts their hands over their ears, and chants loudly, "LA LA LA LA LA - I CAN'T HEAR YOU - LA LA LA LA LA!" That is the essence of this type of "faith"

Il Duce and his crony administration have this "faith". Official White House spokesmouth Robert Gibbs on Monday testified to the administration's "faith".

The White House on Monday made exceptionally clear that it wants nothing to do with the furor over documents that global warming skeptics say prove the phenomenon is not a threat.

Despite the incident, which rocked international headlines last week, climate science is sound, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs stressed this afternoon, and the White House nonetheless believes "climate change is happening."

"I don't think that's anything that is, quite frankly, among most people, in dispute anymore," he said during Monday's press briefing.

LA LA LA LA LA - I CAN'T HEAR YOU - LA LA LA LA LA!

Then there was the administration's "science" officials' profession of "faith".

At a Capitol Hill hearing, the president's science adviser and the chief of the agency in charge of climate research said the e-mails did nothing to undermine scientific consensus on climate change.

LA LA LA LA LA - I CAN'T HEAR YOU - LA LA LA LA LA!

Now, being the cynic that I am (would you have ever guessed that about me?), I have to question whether the administration's "faith" is in warming, or if their "faith" is in the power the issue gives them to tax and enslave the American people.

Given the track record of this administration (and the one that preceded it), one would have to lean towards the cynical view.

Week 12 - upon further review...

Last week I was about as pessimistic about the 49ers as I've been this year. And I should know better! My mantra is "Never assume a team is as good as they seem to be during a hot streak, and never assume a team is as bad as they seem during a cold spell". I was CLEARLY guilty of assuming that the 49ers were as bad as they played during the first half in Green Bay.

Try selling that to the Jacksonville Jaguars, who got humbled 20-3 by the 49ers on Sunday.

This was the first "complete game" the 49ers have played since the Vikings game week 3. The offensive was impressive and unpredictable. The defense was the best it's been all year. "But Vulture! The defense gave up over 400 yards!" And this is of importance why? The only number that matters to me as far as defense is concerned is the number at the top of the scoreboard. 3 points. 3 piddling points. Now THAT'S quality defense.

Patrick Willis is a MONSTER. He may be the best inside linebacker in football. Twice I saw him run down Maurice Jones-Drew from behind. MJD is no slowpoke! Patrick is just THAT GOOD. 12 tackles and .5 sack good.

The D-line and the secondary had excellent games. The D-line seems to get better and better as the season progresses.

I believe I owe Coach Singletary an apology. I called him stubborn and rigid for sticking with his ho-hum run-oriented offense until the team falls hopelessly behind. This week Coach S. turned offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye loose and Jimmy made the most of it. The offense was, as I said before, impressive and unpredictable. 4th and one in Jacksonville territory? No mincing, fraidy cat punt or long field goal attempt like last week. No, Raye had Alex Smith throwing deep to Vernon Davis for a 30 yard gain! It set up a touchdown.

Alex Smith was very, very good on Sunday. His numbers aren't going to blow your mind: 27-41, 232, 2 TDs, no INTs. You had to see it to appreciate it. You get a sense that Smith is FEELING the role of NFL starting QB now. You get a sense that it's starting to slow down and become manageable, whereas it all seemed to be happening in super fast-forward mode when he was younger. I don't want to get too carried away, but Alex Smith may just be the real deal. I certainly hope so; we haven't had a decent QB for any period of time since Jeff Garcia.

Smith's second touchdown pass, to Frank Gore tip-toeing on the sideline, was masterful. Smith scrambled right, looking like he was flustered. He ran forward just a step or two to suck in the defense, and then he lofted a pretty touch pass to Gore. It was the stuff of Montana and Young days.

The offensive line played well in terms of pass blocking, giving Smith all day to scan the field and giving up no sacks. But Frank Gore was shut down all day until the 4th quarter. The line is going to be a huge off-season priority.

Sunday's win, coupled with a last-second Cardinals loss at Nashville to the Titans, completely changed the complexion of the NFC West race. Now, if the Niners beat the Seahawks in Seattle on Sunday and the Cardinals lose to the Vikings Sunday night -- a real possibility and practically a given if Kurt Warner is out again -- then the winner of the following Monday's game between SF and Arizona will take ownership of the Division.

It's so funny. Last week I was thinking "wait 'til next year". This week - upon further review - I'm thinking that the 49ers can still win the Division.

More 49er Kool-Aid, please!