Armchair Activism

“The Supreme Court on Monday struck down on First Amendment grounds a California law that barred the sale of violent video games to children. The 7-to-2 decision was the latest in a series of rulings protecting free speech, joining ones on funeral protests, videos showing cruelty to animals and political speech by corporations.” L33t Hax0r Antonin Scalia wrote the opinion. [NYT]

A Buffalo, NY, alternative newspaper publisher says he spoke to Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker by posing as David Koch. Don’t know if the conversation is for real, but it’s entertaining.

UPDATE: Walker’s office has confirmed that it was him on the call. The Buffalo Beast’s website has crashed, but HuffPo’s Jason Linkins spoke with the publisher and has details about the call. Transcript here if you don’t have time to listen to the recording, but it’s fascinating to hear how little the caller had to say to get Walker to blab on.

[MoJo: Did Scott Walker Get Crank Call Pwned?] (H/T: Rev. Benedick and KarenMarie)

Part One:

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“A climate change protester managed to breach security at the headquarters of the Royal Bank of Scotland by making an appointment to speak to an adviser and then glued herself to a desk.” [The Scotsman]

“Rep. Zach Wamp (R-03) suggested TN and other states may have to consider seceding from the union if the federal government does not change its ways regarding mandates. ‘I hope that the American people will go to the ballot box in 2010 and 2012 so that states are not forced to consider separation from this government,’ said Wamp.” [Hotline on Call, via ThinkProgress]

“A thousand people have donated over $16,000 to Dennis since yesterday to thank him for standing up for what he believes in. We’ll be asking him to return it.” [Firedoglake]

If you really need a cartoon hero, try this.Oh, please. We don’t normally play in the Blogger Softball League, but since Memeorandum won’t retire this dude to the bench, we’re taking the prerogative of sharing our frustration with you:

Why I’m Not a Liberal Anymore

Maybe the initial illuminating moment came when I learned that Tom Hayden, the anti-Vietnam war activist, had removed the Obama bumper sticker from his car. All I know is that I can hardly stand reading the Huffington Post these days… I think the straw that broke this camel’s back was an horrendously ugly and smearing essay Christian Parenti wrote last week, which was published on the Huffington Post after Obama’s Afghanistan speech.

Dude: Tom Hayden? HuffPo? Really? Those are your standard-bearers of American Liberalism? If either puts you off, you’re out the fucking door? Arianna or Joan Walsh bloviating on cable news wasn’t enough? Markos reciting talking points like a freshman congressman wasn’t sufficient? You had to wait for Jane’s Ex to make an empty gesture, or some unknown to shoot his mouth off? Are you that dim?

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hoekstraofarc2You know that guy don’t you? You know who I’m talking about. The guy who, no matter what the conversation, finds a way to make it all about him.  You can be all “So I took my car in to the shop for a regular maintenance and the mechanic is telling me I need new pads, rotors and wheel bearings and it’s going to cost me $1200!” And this guy instantly replies “Oh, that’s nothing. Last fall my car was hit by a meteor and erupted into a ball of flame.” Then later your other friend is like “My daughter is so sad because our dog ran away two days ago and he still hasn’t turned up.” And this guy doesn’t bat an eyelid before responding: “That’s nothing, back in ’92 one of my cats was eaten by an alligator.” So no matter what the conversation, he tries to one-up you with an anecdote of his own.

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