Bill Maher Hammers Republicans over Zombie Lies

Last night on Real Time, Bill Maher took on Republican sleazebags (excuse the redundancy) for their non-stop spewing of Zombie Lies (so named because these lies never die).

“Remember ‘fracking doesn’t cause earthquakes?’ Zombie lie, so stop saying it.  ‘Voter fraud’? We studied it. It’s not an actual problem. Stop zombie-lying about it. Their entire economic philosophy — cut taxes for the rich and it trickles down — is a zombie lie. And all these zombie lies are still out there, roaming the countryside, neither alive nor dead — like Dick Cheney. Hungry for brains — like Dick Cheney...”

“They said Obamacare would use death panels. It doesn’t.  They said it was a government takeover, and the insurance industry is making record profits. They said it covered illegals. It doesn’t. They said it was a job killer. It hasn’t been.”

Republicans keep spitting out these zombie lies over and over, even after the lies have been disproved.  Bill Maher compared these zombie lies to President Obama's lie about being able to keep your doctor after you've signed up for Obamacare:

“He stepped up and said, ‘You’re right, my bad,’ because he understood there’s this thing called ‘observable reality.’”

Personally I think the same truth-in-advertising standard — whatever that standard would be — should apply to all political speeches and all advertising, whether it's commercial or political.  When a consumer falls for a deceitful commercial and buys a shoddy product, the company gets sued and suffers a PR disaster.  Millions of voters are conned into voting against their own interests, and nothing happens; nobody is held accountable.

Lewis Black already ranted about this a few years ago, and it rings true now more than ever.

Lewis Black vs. Rick Perry

One of the funniest comedians out there vs. Rick “George W. Bush Without The Brains” Perry — no contest.

Rick Perry is trying to persuade businesses — particularly in Illinois, California and New York — to relocate to Texas, where bidness folks ain’t gettin’ strangled by them there Comminist regulations.  There’s a radio commercial with Rick Perry saying:

“If you’re tired of the same old recipe of over-taxation, over-regulation and frivolous litigation, get out before you go broke. Texas is calling…The escape route leads straight to Texas.”

To which Lewis Black replies:

“Because nothing says ‘We’re on the cutting edge of 21st century business’ like an ad on the radio!”

And:

“Now he’s trying to take California jobs?  Rick Perry doesn’t know it, but he just doubled his porn industry and tripled the number of skateboarding panhandlers…But go ahead, Perry.  Take your best shot. ‘Texas is calling?’ Well good thing I’ve got caller ID.  Listen, Texas, trying to steal jobs from Illinois and California is one thing, but you’re going to try to trash-talk about New York? Not on my watch…‘Don’t mess with Texas?’  Don’t fuck with New York.”

Wisconsin’s Anti-Union Law “Published” in Spite of Court Injunction

George Orwell and Franz Kafka are alive and well and living in Wisconsin. Together with Abbott and Costello (“Who’s On First?”), maybe they could figure out what the fuck this article means.

OK — Previously on America versus the Koch Brothers:

Wisconsin’s “Destroy All Unions” legislation was passed by the legislature and signed by Scott Walker. Then the law was blocked by a judge because of the slippery — possibly illegal — tactics used in passing the law.

So far — clear and understandable. Then it turns into a script that Lewis Carroll couldn’t have thought of:

The Castrate-All-Unions law has now been published by the “nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau.” The fact that the law has been “published” means it can take effect — probably tomorrow.

So here’s what we have: Wisconsin’s Secretary of State cannot publish this new law because of the court injunction. But the Legislative Reference Bureau is required to publish every new law within ten days of being signed by the governor.

And the fact that the law has been “published” means the law can take effect tomorrow.

So what the fuck do we have judges for? Courts? Anyone???

Lewis Black should do one of his screaming hair-pulling rants about this.

Lewis Black on Republican “Socialized Medicine!” Hysteria

Sometimes you just get too tired and burned out from lashing out at the bloodthirsty health insurance warlords. Here is just one example, one of millions, of their mercenary practices. (H/T to Bee for providing the link.)

Sometimes all you can do is laugh at the sick absurdity of it all. Come on, take a short break with Lewis Black.

cross-posted at Bring It On!