“Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don’t have film.”

Summer Reading: Blogging “The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch”

On July 15 I will begin blogging my favorite PKD novel, ‘The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch.’ Scene by scene, chapter by chapter, I’ll be analyzing the action, looking for common PKD themes and connections to other works, enjoying the new notes on the novel prepared by Jonathan Lethem for the Library of America release, and exploring scholarly work done on the novel (see the list of links below). Please join me and all the other Dick-Head regulars as we explore one of Philip K Dick’s greatest and weirdest novels.

Gumm has already started, but if you want to play catch-up the first chapter analysis starts here. Historical literary references are pervasive in 3 Stigmata so thankfully the analysis includes Cliff Notes type background. Equipped with all this esoteric knowledge you’ll be informed to the point of being obnoxious.

Mitt Romney gives America another reason to just say no to drugs. If this is Mitt not on drugs, who knows what he would be like after taking a bong hit, Mitt Romney, the king of France, calls Hillary a Marxist

He mocks Hillary’s goal of a “we’re all in it together society” thusly: “I see, out with Adam Smith, in with Karl Marx.” And he calls the Democrats’ agenda “the very policies that led Europe to their decline.”

He apparently means the policies that took the Euro from $1.07 the day of Bush’s inauguration to its lowly $1.38 today. Take that, Pierre!

It’s true that we all like to think we’re a nation of rugged individualists. There is some truth in that particular myth except for Republican politicians whom are manufactured in a secret cookie cutter factory. Only the portions and degrees of weirdness vary.

Resounding vindication for Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) – Poll Finds Democrats Favored On War

Even among those Americans who said they had served or had a close friend or relative who served in Iraq, 38 percent approve of Bush’s handling of the conflict.

If anything Democrats are not pushing hard enough contrary to the Republican whining about obstructionism,

Overall approval of Congress stands at 37 percent in the new poll, with the 60 percent disapproval rating equal to public dissatisfaction with the Republican-controlled Congress late last year. Congress’s approval rating has declined over the past three months because self-identified Democrats have soured in their assessment.

Just stop funding the damn thing. Bush plays hardball so its difficult to understand with such overwhelming public sentiment against the way Bush is handling Iraq that Democrats don’t exploit that. A large part of Bush’s game is a bluff. Bush, Cheney and a weak spined Republican Congress propped up a failed strategy for longer then it took FDR to win a World War. Only the dissonant dead enders are still making silly arguments about turning another corner.

Bush aides face contempt vote Wednesday

The administration showed no signs of budging from its position that the president’s current and former advisers are immune from congressional subpoenas and that any White House documents related to the dismissals are protected by executive privilege.

In other words, any evidence that might prove Bush’s wrong doing is covered by “executive privledge”. How convenient. The joke of the day,

In his prepared opening statement, Gonzales reminded senators that the Justice Department has launched an internal investigation — one beyond his control — into the accusations. The results are not expected for months.

Alberto plans to take his comic routine on the road in about eighteen months.

Right-wing blogger Ann Althouse has a problem understanding English, context, emphasis and doesn’t know racism when she sees it, From a Whisper to a Scream. Only in Althouse’s unhinged grasp of reality does anyone owe her an apology, Wingnut Bloggers Rush To Dismiss Rudy’s Racially-Charged “Bulls#$t” Moment

Mr. Giuliani took a fateful step that would for years prompt questions about his racial sensitivities. In September 1992, he spoke to a rally of police officers protesting Mr. Dinkins’s proposal for a civilian board to review police misconduct. It was a rowdy, often threatening, crowd. Hundreds of white off-duty officers drank heavily, and a few waved signs like “Dump the Washroom Attendant,” a reference to Mr. Dinkins. A block away from City Hall, Mr. Giuliani gave a fiery address, twice calling Mr. Dinkins’s proposal “bullshit.” The crowd cheered. Mr. Giuliani was jubilant…

The Giuliani campaign later conducted a “vulnerability study” to identify their candidate’s weaknesses in 1993. This study, obtained by Wayne Barrett, author of “Rudy!” — an investigative biography — offers an unsparing critique: “Giuliani’s shrieking performance at the cop rally may be his greatest political liability this year. Giuliani has yet to admonish those who attacked the mayor with racist code words on signs and banners. Why not?”

Note to wingnuts: This moment actually had great resonance for African Americans in New York for many, many years. It was a key chapter in the history of both race relations in the city and of Rudy’s own rise to power.

As is usually the case the wingnuttery was in such a hurry they mustered up another reactionary rather then reasoned response. They continue to live down to well deserved reputations.

“Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don’t have film.” – Anonymous

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