{"id":23322,"date":"2011-05-10T14:26:06","date_gmt":"2011-05-10T18:26:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/valorguardians.com\/blog\/?p=23322"},"modified":"2011-05-10T14:29:20","modified_gmt":"2011-05-10T18:29:20","slug":"ted-rall-you-guys-are-all-idiots-and-american-sucks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/?p=23322","title":{"rendered":"Ted Rall: You guys are all idiots…and America sucks."},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve never heard of Ted Rall, consider yourself blessed.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been following him for quite a long time, but only because he is so absurd as to be almost comedic.\u00a0 That quote in the\u00a0cartoon about idiots\u00a0is only part of the ridiculousness that spews forth from this guy on an almost daily basis.<\/p>\n

\u00a0What brought him to my attention again recently was this column he wrote about the SEAL raid on OBL<\/a>:<\/p>\n

President Obama\u2019s Sunday evening announcement, timed to fill Monday\u2019s papers with a sickening orgy of gleeful triumph but little information, prompted bipartisan high-fives and hoots all around. \u201cU-S-A! U-S-A!\u201d chanted a mob of drunken oafs in front of the White House. Blending the low satire of two Bush-era classic send-ups of a nation allergic to self-reflection, \u201cTeam America: World Police\u201d and \u201cIdiocracy,\u201d they set the tone for a week or a month or whatever of troop-praising, God-blessing-America, frat-boy self-backslapping. \u201cSo that\u2019s what success looks like,\u201d wrote New York Times<\/em> TV critic Alessandra Stanley in the paper\u2019s special ten-page \u201cThe Death of Bin Laden\u201d pull-out section.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The whole diatribe is worth reading for the sheer humor (or, more likely anger) that you get from it.\u00a0 But, I decided that I would plop down my personal credit card and purchase his silly book Anti-American Manifesto on Amazon<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0Ranked #280,416 in Books, (100,000 places behind Frommer\u2019s Guide to Delaware for instance) it would seem that most folks missed this piece of fiction masquerading as intellectual thought, but your humble blogger managed to read it in a bit under 3 hours.\u00a0 (I\u2019ll never get those hours back, but I suppose I could have spent it in worse ways, watching Army Wives or Teen Moms for instance.)<\/p>\n

This review was a dead giveaway on what I would find:<\/p>\n

The Anti-American Manifesto is a “wake up call” for all Americans to stop deluding themselves with all that American Dream drivel and propaganda. Our country is fundamentally collapsing around us as once cherished institutions frantically fray about trying to maintain a minimal sense of order. We need to start a serious dialogue amongst ourselves about how crappy things really are in our country and take action. The Anti-American Manifesto is no Declaration of Independence and Ted Rall is no Thomas Jefferson, but the spirit and remedies of both resonate the same. The concept of “revolution” shouldn’t remain unmentionable or considered subversive. The Great Recession is the culmination of decades worth of mismanagement, corruption and chicanery by the “powers that be” and WE THE PEOPLE are the victims (or chumps) of this bold face malfeasance. I recommend this book to any American who loves their country and who are willing to rise up and save it before it’s too late. When words won’t win action will.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u00a0The book was all I expected, flush with tropes about how much America sucks.\u00a0 The most succinct statement he makes on the intent of this trash comes at the end:<\/p>\n

We must rid ourselves of our shitty, worthless, incompetent, evil-doing, planet murdering government and its corporate and media allies.\u00a0 (Page 271)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/p>\n

But, he must mean through non-violent actions, right?\u00a0 Like Ghandi sort of marching in the street stuff\u2026.\u00a0 Um, nope:<\/p>\n

Of course, nonviolent protest can effect change.\u00a0 [Whew, I was worried he might go off the rails\u2026]\u00a0 But not by itself.\u00a0 [uh oh]\u00a0 We must understand that, in these cases, neither the demonstrations themselves nor their nonviolent nature is what prompts leaders to modify their policies or behavior.\u00a0 It is only the credible threat of violence, the possibility that opposition could escalate to the next level, that makes \u201cnonviolent\u201d protest effective.\u00a0 You don\u2019t have to hit someone if they believe you will hit them.\u00a0 Therefore, after a revolution runs its course and \u201cnormalcy\u201d returns to the streets, it will be possible for people to demand and obtain changes.\u00a0 (Pages 260-261)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And, how does the US compare to say, Nazy Germany?\u00a0 Not well per Herr Rall:<\/p>\n

The United States is the most efficient fascist state ever created \u2013 even more ruthless and effective than Nazi Germany.\u00a0 Think that is an exaggeration?\u00a0 Consider the most obvious point: It has no internal opposition.\u00a0 (Page 227)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u00a0Reminds me of the classic scene in Dumb and Dumber where the lady tells Jim Carrey\u2019s character that the chances of them dating is one in a million and his character responds \u201cSo, you\u2019re saying there\u2019s a chance!\u201d\u00a0 I read Rall\u2019s statement here to say: \u201cSo, you\u2019re saying we are efficient and effective!\u201d<\/p>\n

And how do we stack up against Soviet Russia?\u00a0 Alas, not well there either:<\/p>\n

America\u2019s form of government, masquerading as liberal democracy is actually more formidable a political adversary than a totalitarian state.\u00a0 We can see this clearly in post-Soviet Russia, where the authoritarian pseudo-democracy of Vladimir Putin cracks down with greater ferocity and efficiency on political dissidents than the Soviet State did.\u00a0 (Page 228)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u00a0Just how post-Soviet Russia proves that the US sucks is open to speculation.<\/p>\n

One might (and I suspect our commenters here will) assume that Rall is a standard leftist.\u00a0 Oh no, my friends, he hates the left with the same vehemence as nearly everyone else.\u00a0 Take for instance this passage in which he quotes another guy whose books I am ashamed to say I have read:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe illegal wars and occupations, the largest transference of wealth upward in American history and the egregious assault on civil liberties, all begun under George W. Bush, raise only a flicker of tepid protest from liberals when propagated by the Democrats,\u201d the journalist Chris Hedges complained in early 2010.\u00a0 \u201cThe timidity of the Left exposes its cowardice, lack of a moral compass and mounting political impotence.\u00a0 The Left stands for nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Therein lies the opportunity.\u00a0 Hedge\u2019s solution \u2013 supporting the Green Party and other third parties \u2013 is bullshit.\u00a0 No one thinks that will work.\u00a0 Revolution will.\u00a0 What matters is that Obama has exposed the two-party system for what it has always been: ineffective [wait?\u00a0 I thought we were effective?], disconnected, and removed from the people.\u00a0 Populist rhetoric aside, both parties serve the rich.\u00a0 Now everyone can see that.\u00a0 The next step is to convince people that the answer isn\u2019t new parties, but a different political system.\u00a0 (Page 129)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Anyway, you get the idea on his general Anti-American ideas.\u00a0 What drew me to the book though is his view of veterans and military service-members in general.\u00a0 The comic I used above is from October of 2007, and yet inexplicably he is still featured in over 100 newspapers around the country.\u00a0 Why?<\/p>\n

Anyway, here are some gems on his military\/veterans views and Foreign Policy:<\/p>\n

\u00a0Over the course of four hundred years, Anglo-American foreign policy has created and expanded one of the most willfully aggressive and genocidal modern nation-states in history, killing and stealing on a scale that rivals Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany.\u00a0 Conservative estimates put the number of Native Americans murdered by British colonists and their American successors at more than ten million people.\u00a0 More recently, American bombs claimed more than two million Vietnamese lives and at least one million Iraqis and Afghans.\u00a0 The United States has covertly propped up scores of vicious dictators around the world who loot their nations\u2019 treasuries, brutalize their people, and leave nothing but death and destruction in their wake; it is impossible to count all the victims of such regimes.\u00a0 (Page 71)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u2026to say nothing of the fact that America also invented Reality TV Programming and Spongebob, both of which committed genocide on gazillions of brain cells\u2026.<\/p>\n

So, how have we done at making war?\u00a0 Well, apparently we are efficient at killing but not winning, per General Rall (comparing the US once again to what Lennin called for):<\/p>\n

First, the United States has suffered military defeat.\u00a0 And not just one, but a whole half-century plus of clusterf***ery!\u00a0 Since 1945 every major military conflict has ended in either a draw or a loss: Korea (loss), Vietnam (loss, with a generous helping of total humiliation) and the Gulf War (draw).\u00a0 Afghanistan and Iraq appear to be headed into the decisive loss category, although some optimists hold out for a draw in Iraq.\u00a0 Whatever.\u00a0 (page 216)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Whatever?\u00a0 Really?\u00a0 So, you don’t really care if peace is achieved in those countries?\u00a0 Bit cavalier aren’t you?<\/p>\n

\u00a0There is only one other passage I want to address, and only that because he manages to accuse the Legion of trying to seize power from the Federal Government, albeit in 1933.\u00a0 It\u2019s the same accusation I get occasionally from the wackjobs at Veterans Today who implored me to look into it and then do the right thing by quitting immediately. Just why I would quit a great job over some nefarious plot from before my Dad was born is (again) not explained.\u00a0 Nonetheless, I decided to look into it finally.\u00a0<\/p>\n

First, Rall:<\/p>\n

Do not assume that these sentiments [subverting the national government] are limited to fringe militia types living in the middle of the woods in the upper peninsula of Michigan.\u00a0 \u201cMainstream\u201d right-wing Republicans have been itching to seize power from what they perceive as a vast Jewish communist liberal cabal that has controlled the media and the government for many years.\u00a0 (Page 242)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As an aside, Vets Today is anything but right wing, and argues daily that a vast Jewish conspiracy is running the gov\u2019t and media.\u00a0 In fact, they were arguing just this week that Osama was killed 10 years ago, and some vast conspiracy of CIA and Mossad kept him frozen until now, and that we actually killed an Osama clone and then dumped the frozen body.<\/p>\n

Anyway, back to the Legion portion of the conspiracy:<\/p>\n

\u00a0In 1933, for example, top officials of the American Legion, the military veterans [sic] organization, approached a popular retired general, Smedley Butler, and offered him the support of five hundred thousand armed veterans to forcibly install him as a so-called Secretary of General Affairs \u2013 a de facto dictator.\u00a0 FDR would have remained president, but as a figurehead.\u00a0 (Page 242)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u00a0Naturally there is no footnote or anything else to suggest the source on this.\u00a0 So, I did some digging.\u00a0 The clearest exposition of what happened is found in a book entitled \u201cFor God and Country: The American Legion, 1919-1941\u201d by William Pencak.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0So. Ted Rall\u2019s \u201ctop officials of the American Legion\u201d were not top officials, and the plot made no sense for the Legion as a whole.\u00a0 Further search revealed the House transcripts on the investigation into this plot.\u00a0 It is interesting, if a bit long.\u00a0 For instance, the \u201cINVESTIGATION OF NAZI PROPAGANDA ACTIVITIES AND INVESTIGATION OF CERTAIN OTHER PROPAGANDA ACTIVITIES<\/a>\u201d found that:<\/p>\n

According to Butler’s testimony, MacGuire and Doyle suggested to him that he become a candidate for national commander of the American Legion at its convention at Chicago to be held in October 1933 and further stated that he told him that he was not interested and realized that he could not be elected commander.<\/p>\n

According to his further testimony, they discussed ways and means of his becoming a delegate, even suggesting that he might be named from Hawaii. This is the only conferences Doyle attended.<\/p>\n

Butler further testified that MacGuire returned on several other occasions and suggested to him that he go to the Legion convention at Chicago and make a speech urging a resolution, the import being that the United States return to the gold standard.<\/p>\n

Butler testified that he told him that “I don’t know a damn thing about gold.”<\/p>\n

Butler further testified that on this occasion MacGuire showed him a bank book, the pages of which were flipped, indicating deposits of approximately $42,000.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Doyle was a Department Commander (Mass), but didn\u2019t attend any of the meetings with Butler that were alleged to have been in furtherance of this plot.\u00a0 In fact, he was a Democrat, and supporter of the President.<\/p>\n

And the high office that MacGuire held in the Legion?<\/p>\n

The CHAIRMAN. You are a past department commander in the American Legion?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

Mr. MacGuire. No, sir; never held an office in the American Legion. I have just been a Legionnaire\u2014oh, I beg your pardon. I did hold one office. I was on the distinguished guest committee of the Legion in 1933, I believe.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Our Library Director informs me there were 20 members of that Committee in 1933.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Anyway, you get the general idea: Ted Rall hates America, hates veterans, hates service members, REALLY hates the government, and thinks all of us who served are idiots.\u00a0 Fair enough, I hate him back.\u00a0 (So there, in your face Ted Rall!)<\/p>\n

\u00a0Want just another example of why you should hate him too?\u00a0 How about this piece he drew where he intimates that the then-recently deceased Pat Tillman was a racist moron:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This \u201ccartoonist\u201d is still featured in 100 newspapers across the country if Wikipedia is to be believed.\u00a0 According to his employer, \u201cUniversal Uclick\u201d:<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0Ted Rall writes for a generation unjustly maligned as a pack of lazy slackers. He voices Generation X’s frustration and resentment at the excesses of baby boomers who left a wheezing America in their mammoth wake. Ted’s irreverent attitude and deft use of satire combine to make his work thought-provoking and enjoyable to read. Ted’s ability to connect with current culture gives his work a fresh, informed perspective.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Actually, seems to me that his work is less a \u201cfresh, informed perspective\u201d and quite a bit more \u201cbullsh*t written by a narcissistic a-hole who wrote a book read by about 37 people\u201d, but your mileage may vary.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve never heard of Ted Rall, consider yourself blessed.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been following him for quite … Ted Rall: You guys are all idiots…and America sucks.<\/span>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":148,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23322","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23322","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/148"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23322"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23322\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23322"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23322"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23322"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}