Bad news Baard

by M. Stewart

Today’s Morning Journal reports more bad news for Baard Energy. According to the newspaper, a Colorado engineering firm is suing Baard in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court in an attempt to collect on a prior judgment against the company won in federal court.

The newspaper reports that the law firm representing Baard in its appeal withdrew for lack of payment but returned “after the company indicated it now had the money to pay.”

Baard and its subsidiary, Ohio River Clean Fuels, have claimed for several years that they intend to build a $6 billion coal processing plant outside Wellsville. The company in line to supply water to the plant is Buckeye Water District. I’ll let you draw your own conclusions on the viability of this project.

Speaking of Wellsville, congratulations to the village on the successful removal of remnants of the former Sterling China Company. You might remember Sterling as the company that abandoned Wellsville, Ohio and moved its operations to Wellsville, New York some years back as part of a semi-successful debt laundering scheme. The village has done well to erase the memory of Sterling China from its landscape.

Perhaps it would be instructive for the residents of Chester, West Virginia to review the history of Sterling China’s departure from Wellsville. As you know, Chester has been saddled with the bombed-out remnants of a former pottery company as well.

As far as I know, there is no law requiring that our local citizens be made to look like fools by every company that passes through the area. History can be very useful for those willing to discover it. 

Click here to read about what Sterling China did to Wellsville, N.Y.

The way it is

The Daily Show - I Give Up - Pay Anything...
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A canine killer in New Cumberland

by M. Stewart

The case of New Cumberland, West Virginia resident Jeffrey Nally is the stuff of horror films. According to the Review, “Nally is charged with kidnapping and 29 counts of cruelty to animals.” The county prosecutor said that the list of charges could grow as more evidence is discovered.

Police arrested Nally earlier this month after a woman reported that the defendant was holding her daughter prisoner in his home. The alleged kidnapping victim is described as his “girlfriend.” She told police that Nally had “physically and sexually abused her on numerous occasions since December.” He was under house arrest at the time as a result of domestic violence and illegal possession of firearms. The newspaper reports that Nally threatened to kill police, the girlfriend, and himself when he was arrested.

I refer you to the Review for further details of the alleged crimes. Suffice it to say that the charges involve multiple instances of canine mutilation, including the skinning of at least one animal. The prosecutor noted that killing animals in such a way “usually escalates to human victims.”

The relationship between Nally and his human prisoner is not clear. The newspaper refers to her as his “girlfriend,” which suggests a familiar relationship prior to the alleged forced detention. One cannot help but wonder how such a monster manages to acquire a girlfriend. Surely the details surrounding this grotesque relationship, should they ever be made public, will prove interesting.

And what of the canine victims? Where did he get them? Who supplied Nally with so many innocent victims? Or did he breed them himself to feed his sick passions. And what of his parents? What will they say of his rearing, his family life?

We are not surprised to hear such a macabre tale set in a distant metropolis, where the sheer size of the population is bound to produce the occasional madman, but in a small town like New Cumberland, such deviance is magnified.

Given the long list of infamous serial killers and mass murderers the human species has produced, we might conclude that Nally’s alleged bloodlust for animals does not compare with the masters, but taking pleasure in the murder of innocent victims—canine or human—delivers the same message.

It is both disturbing and instructive to realize that such creatures live among us and that madness can fester in the brains of our neighbors. As we drive down any street in any town, we must assume that families are going about the normal business of life. But truly, who can say what horrors are hidden behind the walls of even the most inconspicuous dwelling or what lies buried in the back yard?

A modern Daedalus

BWD shell game continues

by M. Stewart

If you’re a resident of East Liverpool, the story in today’s Morning Journal about the continuing Buckeye Water District shell game is disheartening. The Ohio Attorney General’s Office, the Ohio Public Works Commission, Ohio Water Development Authority, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have mobbed up with the water district to make sure our city doesn’t get a dime.

Even in the unlikely event that the city sees any of the $4.8 million plus interest the water district owes, it is likely to end up in the pockets of attorneys. Clearly the BWD strategy is to litigate its debt to death. And why not? As a public entity, BWD has its legal fees picked up by local, state, and federal taxpayers. And because no one is held personally responsible for anything, it’s business as usual in BWD Land.

Perhaps what is most disheartening is that at no point in this sordid saga has it occurred to even one water district trustee, township trustee, county commissioner, state politician, or government official to stand up in support of what is RIGHT. Personal and professional honesty and integrity haven’t even been mentioned. Instead, they all choose to line up behind the liars and the cheats just to cover their own asses and stick it to East Liverpool. 

The one person in this mess who hasn’t been afraid to stand up for justice is Judge C. Ashley Pike, and it appears that the Ohio attorney general is in the process of binding his hands and feet. I suppose we should be encouraged by the fact that the one honest person in this nest of vipers is the judge. As for the long list of silent cowards, it's not too late for redemption.  

Religion and the Constitution

QUESTION: In order to control the growth of Islam in the United States, would you support an effort to repeal the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution in favor of a revised amendment that would eliminate the highlighted language of the amendment as it now stands (see below)?

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

NOTE: If you should decide to leave a comment, please explain your choice. Also, this question is not a response to any move (that I know of) to repeal the First Amendment. It is merely designed to stimulate discussion. 

Cart before the horse?

by M. Stewart
I've been following the TS&T pottery situation in the newspaper, but the more I read, the more confused I get. Maybe someone out there can help me understand.

Today's Review tells us about a meeting of the "TS&T Citizens Taskforce" where participants were asked use construction paper and markers to draw pictures of how the property could be used once it is cleared of the remaining debris. From the newspaper description, the meeting sounded like a "we can do it" pep rally, and while I'm not suggesting that is a bad thing, I have to wonder why the group is focusing so much on putting the cart before the horse.

Clearly the Dietz family wants to make its problems a public concern, but it already is a public concern. The task at hand is cleaning up the ugly, dangerous conditions that currently exist at the site. Because this is private property, the focus should be on the local and state governments forcing the owner to address the problem. At least that's how I see it.

If I'm reading the newspaper right, the task force currently is focusing how to help the Dietz family get out from under the responsibility of managing the cleanup and how the family can profit from the sale of the property to potential developers. I am willing to admit that I'm missing something here, but I'm not sure what it is.

Can someone fill in the gaps?

Epiphany

by M. Stewart
Ok, I finally get it. I'm embarrassed at how long it took, but enlightenment does come to those who are patient. At least that's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it.

My epiphany came when I was watching Bill O'Reilly interview Ann Coulter on Fox News. Coulter apparently wrote a column titled "A Glowing Report on Radiation" in which she claims that excessive amounts of nuclear radiation, such as that being released at damaged Japanese nuclear power plants, is actually good for us.

Coulter told O'Reilly that "a stunning number of physicists" have provided a "growing body of evidence that radiation in excess of what the government says are the minimum amounts you should be exposed to are actually good for you and reduce cases of cancer."

Coulter went on to say that her information comes from the New York Times and the Times of London, yet in the next breath she claimed that these findings have been covered up by the news media. "The point is that the media will not report this because a) it's not sensationalistic to say that humans are going to have two heads, and b) it's an anti-nuclear power thing." Yes, this is a quotation.

I'm watching this and trying to follow Coulter's argument. Ok, so she got this information from the New York Times and the London Times, but there is a media conspiracy to cover it up because it's not sensational enough to report that "humans are going to have two heads."

For those of you who aren't familiar with the word epiphany, Webster's defines it as "a sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something; an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking; an illuminating discovery; a revealing scene or moment."

Listening to Coulter talk to O'Reilly was my epiphanic moment. Everything suddenly became clear as though God were speaking directly to me. Ann Coulter's voice was God's voice. I know it. And here is what God revealed to me:

They're all actors.

Ann Coulter, Sarah Palin, Michele Bachman, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich, Glenn Beck and all those who claim to be conservatives in the American media--ACTORS. Think about it. Have you ever seen their birth certificates?

Not only are they actors, they are actors hired by the Democratic Party to make Republicans look silly. There is no other rational explanation. The actor who plays the part of "Rush Limbaugh" laughs at the crisis in Japan and makes fun of Japanese refuges. The actor who plays "Bill O'Reilly" goes on the air and claims that his religion is true because no one can explain why the ocean tides come in and out. On a daily basis, the comedian who plays "Sarah Palin" says and does ridiculous things and even has her own reality TV show.

The clues are everywhere for those willing to see. Look no further than ORL. A poster who calls himself "Bozo the Clown" gives us daily reports on the virtues of the Tea Party. "Bob" offers up a daily serving of paranoid, jealous rage that no Tea Party poster will even acknowledge, let alone support. We see a steady line of birthers and frakkers and polluters. These guys are all working for the Democratic Party! It's unreal, and I mean literally "unreal"--as in it can't be real.

That's because it ISN'T real. People, I'm telling you that we're all being jacked around by a giant Democratic Party-controlled comedy show. You know that Tina Fey, the alleged actress who played Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live? Well, she really is Sarah Palin, and Sarah Palin is Tina Fey. Are you getting it now? Are you seeing what I'm seeing?

Let me repeat: there are clues all around for those willing to remove the blinders. In this inverse universe, you've got to think as though everything is a reflection in a mirror, and even that is an illusion. Truth is apparent only when you realize that everything is fiction.

The biggest clue that God gave us was not the Bible--although the Bible contains thousands of clues. No, the biggest clue was the 1998 so-called "fictional" movie, The Truman Show. Don't talk to me until you have seen that movie. It is the voice of God.

Thank you, city hall

So often we complain about city hall in these pages. Let me open today's post to offer praise.

A couple of weeks ago I made use of the city's web site to inform the service-safety director that someone had dumped several tires and rolled-up carpets on St. Clair Avenue hill. Yesterday I noticed that the debris had been removed.

I don't know whether the city contacted the property owner for removal or if the street crew took it upon themselves to clean up the mess, but it got done in a timely manner, and we should all appreciate it. So let me be the first to thank the city employees who saw to it that this blight was removed from our streets.

If you live amongst filthy, ignorant hillbillies, you're going to see this sort of roadside dumping on a regular basis. It's part of Appalachian culture. The only thing you can do about it is clean it up.

____________________________

I see where House Republicans in Washington have called an "emergency session" for today to block funding for National Public Radio. I think this is a good idea, and I hope they are successful in getting this done. NPR does not need the money any more than Americans need culture.

But I hope they don't stop with NPR. It's time for Republicans to make a move on all federally subsidized culture. After NPR, they should move to defund the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. As of now, Americans can enjoy the world's largest museum and research complex for free. Especially given that a significant portion of those who visit the Smithsonian are foreigners, this free ride has to stop.

I'm sure most of you are saying, "What's a Smithsonian?" Well, don't worry. Most of you won't ever need to know. All you do need to know is that taxpayers have been supporting this elitist bullshit for almost 200 years.

It's time to start charging visitors to enter this vast museum complex. After all, Americans have to pay hundreds of dollars to see NFL football games and hip-hop concerts, so why not charge the elites to view elite culture? I'm thinking $50 per head for an all-access, one-day ticket to all of the Smithsonian facilities. Does that sound fair? Those who can't afford it aren't the types who would go to the Smithsonian anyway.

Finally, I heard that Tea Party activists are organizing a national Spit-on-a-Teacher Day. Teachers are easy to spot. They're the ones wearing $300 designer jeans and driving flash cars. If this event is successful, it will be followed by a national Shit-on-a-Cop Day and perhaps a Piss-on-a-Fireman Day. Stay tuned to Fox News for more details.

What did they win?

M. Stewart
Today's Review reports that the East Liverpool Board of Education has reached an agreement with the local teachers union and a disgruntled teacher that involves a cash settlement of $18,560. Within the context of Ohio Senate Bill 5, this football coach mess is a disaster not only for the ELEA, but for public employee unions across the state.

No doubt Mr. Paul and the union think they've won, but what did they win? The public will see this incident as an example of a teacher walking off with a nice chunk of taxpayer money which he did not earn. It will be seen as legalized theft, and the union made sure it happened.

Of course the union will say it merely represented one of its members by forcing the district to recognize a provision in the contract that protects his rights. While this may be accurate, the public relations damage is incalculable.

What did they win? They won the permanent mistrust and animosity of the citizens of East Liverpool. Once SB-5 is passed into law, our teachers will have lost what little power they might have had--public support. And they sold it for $18,560.

Those who understand East Liverpool know that our citizens are a jealous, envious bunch. They hate it when other people succeed, and state employees--especially teachers--are the easiest of targets for the envious. What they will choose to see is a union that blackmailed the school district so that one of its members could steal money out of their pockets.

You say that's not really what happened here? That this is a misrepresentation? A purposeful disregard for the facts?

Yeah? So what? Perception is the only thing that counts in this political environment. The era of rational thinking and respect for facts is over.

If the union and Mr. Paul had a lick of good sense, they would decide that Paul should donate his $18,560 back to the Potters football program. That way the union could make its point without appearing to support the legalized theft of taxpayer money.

Such a gesture may not sway everyone, but it sure couldn't hurt--that is if the ELEA gives a flying you-know-what about public opinion and the future of unions in our state.

Nothing can be done about this (in East Liverpool)

One ORL reader recently reminded us that "a man's home is his castle," implying that private property rights trump the community's interests. Here is one of those "castles" on my street. For years, my neighbor and I have been trying to get the city to condemn this abandoned structure and force the owner to tear it down, but we've been told that as long as the owner claims to live there, nothing can be done. Yes, that's a plastic tarp serving as the roof, but it doesn't cover the gaping hole on the right side. The van in front of the garage hasn't been moved in several years, and there is another derelict vehicle on the other side of the house. Click to enlarge.

Liverpool population takes a nosedive

by M. Stewart
With a major earthquake in Japan and revolutions sweeping across the Arab world, the big story in our sleepy little corner of the world this week was the dramatic population loss in East Liverpool.

The Morning Journal reported Thursday that East Liverpool has lost 1,894 residents since the turn of the century, leaving the city with a population of just 11,195. That's a 17 percent drop in 10 years.

The newspaper story was based upon "2010 Census data released Wednesday," but I was unable to locate specific city data at the U.S. Census Bureau web site for the state of Ohio. I do not doubt that the MoJo figures are accurate, but I do wish someone would tell us where to locate that information. I would particularly like to see the Census Bureau's 2010 city "fact sheet" for East Liverpool. Without more data, it's difficult to do anything more than speculate on causes and ramifications.

Most people automatically assume that population loss is a bad thing, but it doesn't have to be. In some cases it might be a positive step, depending on which segment of the population decided to leave. If it turns out that a significant portion of those 1,894 people were working taxpayers and homeowners, we're in deep trouble. On the other hand, if most of them were poverty industry clients, the news couldn't be better. Changes in the mean income and homeowner-to-renter ratio should provide some clues.

If it should become clear that our dramatic population loss is concentrated in the working taxpayer/homeowner sector, city officials finally will be forced to mount an all-out emergency assault on the poverty industry. If they do not, it's time for all of us hard-working homeowners to make other plans for the future. Only a fool willingly goes down with the ship, especially when the captain and crew are busy drilling holes in the hull.

But I'm not yet ready to make that judgment. First, we need more data to analyze. Second, we need to see how city politicians react to the analysis. If it's business as usual--that is, continuing to aid and abet the poverty industry--then we'll know what we have to do.

By the way, I am tightening up the posting requirements for this web site. Until now, I have posted virtually all comments sent in by readers, but that policy has come to an end. In an effort to foster higher quality discussions, I will no longer post comments that display mindless political and personal invective. I couldn't care less what anyone thinks about the change. If you don't like it, do not visit the site.

West Virginia people most unhappy in U.S.

by M. Stewart
The results of a "Well-Being Index" poll conducted by Gallup-Healthways has determined that Ohio is #45 of the 50 states in the overall happiness of its citizens; however, West Virginia comes in dead last. Pennsylvania, while no barrel of laughs, is considerably higher on the index at #30.

The results were based on 1000 interviews per day throughout 2010 in which participants answered questions having to do with general life evaluation, emotional health, physical health, healthy behavior, work environment, and access to basic necessities. The top "happy" states are in the West, while clearly the most unhappy people in our country live in the South.

Ohio, which I now consider a southern state, has only Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Kentucky and West Virginia below it in the ratings. That's some pretty dismal company, folks. In contrast, the state with the happiest citizens is Hawaii, followed by Wyoming, North Dakota, Alaska, and Colorado.

Source: Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. The full list of states, their ranking, and their scores are as follows:

1. Hawaii: 71.0

2. Wyoming: 69.2

3. North Dakota: 68.4

4. Alaska: 68.3

5. Colorado: 68.0

6. Minnesota: 68.0

7. South Dakota: 68.0

8. Utah: 67.9

9. Connecticut: 67.9

10. Massachusetts: 67.8

11. Nebraska: 67.8

12. Maryland: 67.5

13. Washington: 67.5

14. Montana: 67.3

15. Kansas: 67.2

16. New Hampshire: 67.2

17. Vermont: 67.1

18. California: 67.0

19. Iowa: 66.9

20. Idaho: 66.9

21. New Mexico: 66.7

22. Virginia: 66.7

23. Wisconsin: 66.7

24. New Jersey: 66.6

25. Maine: 66.4

26. Illinois: 66.3

27. Oregon: 66.3

28. Texas: 66.3

29. Arizona: 66.2

30. Pennsylvania: 66.1

31. Georgia: 66.1

32. New York: 65.9

33. Rhode Island: 65.7

34. Missouri: 65.6

35. South Carolina: 65.3

36. North Carolina: 65.1

37. Florida: 65.1

38. Oklahoma: 64.9

39. Indiana: 64.8

40. Tennessee: 64.8

41. Michigan: 64.6

42. Louisiana: 64.3

43. Delaware: 64.2

44. Nevada: 64.2

45. Ohio: 63.8

46. Alabama: 63.7

47. Arkansas: 63.7

48. Mississippi: 63.0

49. Kentucky: 61.9

50. West Virginia: 61.7

Street reclassification a positive step

by M. Stewart
A story in the Review last week indicated that city officials are in the process of trying to get River Road and Pennsylvania/Harvey Avenues "reclassified" as a means of getting more state funding for their maintenance. This is an excellent idea that should be pursued to its end.

At present, Pennsylvania Avenue is dangerous and virtually impassable and should be closed to automobile and truck traffic, but we all know that's not going to happen. Clearly the paving that has been done in the recent past is inadequate for the large amount of heavy truck traffic on these streets, and unless future paving projects include higher-quality surfaces, they won't be worth the money spent on them, regardless of who pays. I can only assume reclassification would address this problem.

While I am all for the reclassification idea, the streets situation here should be viewed by local officials as an emergency, and not just another example of East Liverpool paralysis waiting for some state-level agency to solve. If something isn't done quickly (and by that I mean now), the city should take Councilman Ray Perorazio up on his idea and drop the weight specs on these streets to eliminate heavy truck traffic altogether. Of course, such a measure would only function if it is enforced, and the penalty would have to be significant enough to keep trucking companies from considering fines as just another cost of doing business. In other words, fines won't be enough. Trucks would have to be turned away.

But having an idea isn't enough. You have to DO IT and DO IT now. Sometimes you have to force things down people's throats rather than wait to find out if everybody from Liverpool to Columbus approves. If ODOT refuses to cooperate, the city might consider installing toll booths for trucks only: one for west-bound trucks on state Route 39 at the state line, one for east-bound trucks at the Mulberry Street intersection, and a third on River Road near Broadway Wharf.

Of course I hope this reclassification plan works out, but given that the Republicans have complete control of state government, there is no reason to assume that Columbus will cooperate by throwing money at the problem. After all, we've been told that Ohio is broke. And given the city's continued support of the poverty industry, East Liverpool isn't likely ever to have the tax base (or the work ethic) to manage its streets crisis over time. But let's not get into that today. Let's applaud city hall for at least talking about doing something about our streets.

Behold the Tea Party

Disinformation

by M. Stewart
There has been a lot of talk here lately about the Tea Party and racism, and while I'm a little tired of that discussion, we got another glaring example this week of how American conservatives are able to exploit back-door racism through the deliberate and calculated use of "disinformation."

For former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, it was just the proverbial "slip of the tongue." Although Huckabee allegedly has dissociated himself from the absurd Tea Party-inspired "birther" movement,  the potential GOP presidential candidate claimed this week that President Obama was raised in Kenya by his father and grandfather. According to Huckabee, this is a possible explanation of Obama's "liberal policies" and why the president might see the British as imperialists.

Once Huckabee's lie was revealed, he sent out a "spokesman" to correct his "error." Apparently, what Huckabee meant to say was . . . well . . . let's see . . . what did he mean to say? Oh yeah, according to the spokesman, Huckabee just wants to "know more about where President Obama's liberal policies come from and what else the president plans to do to this country — as do most Americans."

The word "misinformation" is used to describe statements that are mistakes--that is, the person speaking doesn't realize that his information is incorrect. In such case, an apology and a correction usually gets a person off the hook. The term "disinformation" (from the Russian dezinformatsia) is used to describe "false or inaccurate information that is spread deliberately with intentions of turning genuine information useless."

So unless we conclude that Huckabee is just plain stupid (which he isn't), we must assume that his "innocent" mistake was intentional, which makes it a classic example of "disinformation." The purpose, of course, is to associate the president with his "African roots." But why would a Republican candidate want to do that? Gee, I dunno.

Disinformation has become the mainstay of the contemporary American conservatism. For example, conservative ORL posters typically call me and others who disagree with their tactics "communists." As with the Huckabee situation, we can assume that they are merely ignorant people who don't know what a communist is, or we can conclude that they are part of a deliberate disinformation campaign. The idea is that if you keep saying something over and over again, it becomes valid, especially to the ears of impressionable people.

And where did they learned this technique? The masters of disinformation were the Soviet Russians (real communists), but Fox News has perfected the technique in the United States. If you watch Fox News, you know that its reporters and commentators constantly use the phrase "some people say" before they insert opinion. (Click on this clip from the documentary Outfoxed for many examples.)

It's a clever way of spinning the news in a certain direction without actually having to attribute it to a source. After all, the word "some" isn't specific, is it? By alleging that "some people say" something, Fox is able to insert network opinion into the mix.

As well, Fox News has been very successful at blurring the lines between news and commentary to the point where media illiterates--a large segment of the network's audience--can't tell the difference. Still another tactic is to demonize all other news sources by branding them with the collective tag "mainstream media" and asserting that they are part of some liberal conspiracy.

Closer to home, a classic example of a disinformation practitioner is long-time ORL poster "Bob." If you are familiar with Bob's comments, you know that he constantly uses phrases like "commie-Dem" to describe anyone he disagrees with. As well, he repeatedly refers to President Obama as the "Kenyan-Marxist president." Just this week Bob referred to the president as a "marginally documented Kenyan-Marxist." In other words,  he is a foreign-born, black African communist.  Is there any evidence of this? Of course not, but the picture keeps getting painted nonetheless.

Whereas rational, informed people can easily see through the tactic, more impressionable readers cannot. Bob also is known for his use of what I'll call "pejorative spelling." For example, in order to show his contempt for educated people, he refers to education as "edumacation." Anyone associated with our universities is a "socialist." Anyone with a college degree is a "college edumacated elitist" who has been brainwashed by our "failed American university system." Political progressives he calls "libruls." If you are even slightly familiar with Bob's comments, you know that the list goes on.

The constant repetition of false information can be very effective. Ask any former Soviet propagandist. The idea is to obscure truth by simply creating a false proposition and repeating it over and over again. If your object is to plant doubt and suspicion in the minds of impressionable people, your chances of success are high as long as you keep it up day after day.

So if you want to exploit racism while insisting you are not a racist, all you have to do is "misspeak" like Mr. Huckabee did. Or you can become one of Rupert Murdoch's "some people" and go out and "say" things like "Kenyan-Marxist president" over and over--especially in environments like this one where you can remain anonymous. When others call you on it, all you have to do is deny it, disappear, or continue posting under another screen name.

By the way, did you hear that President Obama was born in Kenya and raised by his very black father and grandfather? Are you aware that he only attends a Christian church as a cover? Some say he's an Islamic sleeper agent programmed to go off when bin Laden pushes the button. Some say Obama took the oath of office with his right hand on the Koran. Some say that Obama is the Antichrist (see Bible and/or Nostradamus for "proof.").

Some say that under "Obama Care" the federal government will set up death camps for the elderly. (Wait a minute. We actually do know who said that.) Some say Obama is a fascist AND a communist (even though those terms refer to complete opposite ends of the political spectrum.) Some say that Obama's real goal is to turn America into a welfare state on the backs of "regular" taxpayers like you and me (you know, hard-working white people). Some say that Obama wants to erase the borders between Mexico and the United States. Some say ________________ (fill in the blank).

Let me be clear. I do not think that every conservative or Tea Party sympathizer is a racist, though I am certain that many are. On the other hand, I do believe that the Tea Party and American conservatives routinely exploit the racist elements within the Republican Party and our society at large for political gain, and I believe it is important to point out how it is done.