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I really have to get on with my day job, so I'm going to try to avoid the blogging itch as much as possible over the next while. But I just can't stop myself over the latest GOP flirtation with goldbuggery.
As you probably have heard, the Serious, Bold, Sober Party of Fiscal Discipline™ has at least in draft platform language asserted that it is the policy of the Republican party to explore the idea of restoring the US currency to the gold standard.
Y'all can stop laughing—or crying—now.
Paul Ryan, that intellectual powerhouse, the brilliant force that so-kicks-liberal-ass-in-the-gym-and-in-the-head-so-there is on board. He might try to defend himself by saying that he supports basing US currency not on gold per se, but on a basket of commodities.
But as Yglesias points out, that's a distinction without a difference. And it's not even really true. Dave Weigel notes that Ryan himself locates the root of his thoughts on currency to yet one more bit of Ayn Rand undigestible prose, the Francisco d'Anconia speech in which Rand's "character"* declares
"It is not the moochers or the looters who give value to money. Not an ocean of tears nor all the guns in the world can transform those pieces of paper in your wallet into the bread you will need to survive tomorrow. Those pieces of paper, which should have been gold, are a token of honor – your claim upon the energy of the men who produce."
Yup. Not just a gold standard, but, as Krugman marvels, a gold coinage. More »
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Here's a sad story about sad status of dairy farmers in drought ridden Missouri. They're praying for help from God, and begging for help from the government, which can do very little because Repulicans like Todd Akin in the house are blocking the farm bill.
I feel bad for these folks, but you know what they say about making your bed.
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An NBC-affiliate in Utah will not air The New Normal, a sitcom about a committed gay couple who hire a surrogate to carry a child. The show is set to premere on September 11, but after watching the pilot episode, KSL-TV has decided the program was inappropriate to show "during family viewing time":
"After viewing the pilot episode of The New Normal, we have made the decision to keep it off our fall schedule," Jeff Simpson, CEO of KSL parent company Bonneville International, told Deseret News. "For our brand, this program simply feels inappropriate on several dimensions, especially during family viewing time…. NBC is a valued partner — and as the Summer Olympic Games prove, they are committed to great news, sports and entertainment programming," he said. "KSL is confident that with the proliferation of digital media, those who wish to view the program can easily do so."
The decision comes just one month after the anti-gay One Million Moms protested the program as "hateful," and this time some of its stars are speaking out. Co-star Ellen Barkin — "who plays an often racist and homophobic character on the comedy" — tweeted to condemn KSL-TV's decision: Ellen BarkinAnyone in Utah interested in @NBCTheNewNormal please clog up @KSL5TV feed 4 their blatantly homophic decision 2 not air the show #KSLBigots
Ellen Barkin: Shame on u @kslcom not airing @NBCTheNewNormal So L&O SVU (rape & child murder) is ok? But loving gay couple having a baby is inappropriate?
Aksarbent notes that KSL-TV "is owned by Bonneville International Corporation, which is in turn owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). KSL-TV has a large network of rebroadcast transmitters which extends its coverage throughout Utah, as well as portions of Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, and Wyoming."
Glad to see their tax exempt status allows them to purchase tv stations and then dictate what is appropriate family viewing. Fucking bigoted assholes.
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