Open Thread
Just wanted to take the opportunity to do a little shout out to a couple new Mudflats advertisers! Mudflatters are definitely a creative bunch, and these two are no exception!
Michelle Michaels
Michelle Michaels has the perfect book for a progressive Halloween! It’s a great story with a Halloween theme that pays tribute to President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. To learn more, take a peek in the book, and order your copy, just click the link over there in the sidebar! –>
Although President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton’s accomplishments are highlighted, the book focuses primarily on a day in the life of three young elementary school children Jania, Emily, and John. Political agenda and biography are avoided with emphasis placed on family, relationships, and working in a community garden.ebsite of Victoria Landis. Her paintings are really quite striking. This one is my favorite.
Jania’s grandmother conveys the main message of the book: Find something you love to do, study, and work hard. Doing what you love will make you happy. Strong support for the viability of a future woman president is also given.
Supplemental research projects help children learn more about gardening, community work, birdhouses, volunteering, and famous quotes. Jania offers her favorite recipes for minted carrots and basil tomatoes to encourage young people to experiment with fresh herbs.
With liberty taken to poke a little fun at President Obama’s ears and Secretary Clinton’s pantsuits, both Obama and Clinton supporters are sure to enjoy Pantsuits, Funny Ears and A Purple Lei.
Victoria Landis
And also, check out the amazing art and w
or maybe this one…
It’s too hard to choose!
Tropical, spiritual, exotic. Artist Victoria Landis specializes in unique canvasses and murals. Her beautiful art features bright colors, flowers and foliage. Original oils and giclee copies are available for purchase. Each image has an intriguing explanation of the spiritual symbolism in the painting.
To explore, click on the ad over there —–>
Thanks to all the wonderful advertisers who help to support the site!
I’d already taken a peek at that book. It looks like loads of fun. Now, which kid(s) need it…
And WOW, what cool art, not that I need any…
AKM, I was wondering if you know Victoria. Her biography is kind of inspiring.
In a recent survey of “Views of Religious Advocacy Groups and Leaders”, 53% have a ‘very favorable’ view of Sarah Palin, 33% have a ‘sort of favorable’ view, and 14% of religious activists could care less about Sarah Palin.
http://tinyurl.com/only1in2lovePalin
It’s no show time again…
http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/2009/09/16/what-does-palin-no-show-at-values-voter-summit-say-about-her-2012-intentions/
Love the book and artwork. Wonderful
Gorgeous. Just gorgeous.
And, for all of us that have been feeling like we’re leaving a trail of brain bits all throught the interwebs these days, here’s an article that suggests ways we might be able to reboot our brains.
http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2009/09/reboot-your-brain-science-says-its-possible-a-galaxy-classic.html
I could use a good rebooting or two !
Rachel Maddow on wingnuttery – and joined by Frank Schaeffer, who pulled no punches and had nothing good to say about the radical religious right or Sarah Palin. Schaeffer describes them as a religious subculture that “has rotted the brain of America,” and is “a fifth column of insanity, trained from birth to reject facts as a matter of faith.” “A village cannot reorganize village life to suit the village idiot, and we have to understand we have a village idiot in this country – it’s called Fundamentalist Christianity.”
http://preview.tinyurl.com/kl83tu
Desert Mudpup…thanks for the link! There are too many people in the country who don’t want to be reminded about the insanity that surrounds them–one reason that it continues to thrive. Thanks too to Frank Schaeffer for all his work in exposing the truth behind the Christian Taliban that is trying to take over the country.
This is another “Ya just can’t make this stuff up” winner:
“Rep. Kevin Brady called for a government investigation into whether the government-run subway system adequately prepared for this weekend’s rally to protest government spending and government services.
“…The Texas Republican [Rep Kevin Brady] on Wednesday released a letter he sent to Washington’s Metro system complaining that the taxpayer-funded subway system was unable to properly transport protesters to the rally to protest government spending and expansion. ”
found here: http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/09/16/tea-party-protesters-protest-dc-metro-service/
too crazy
Nan: So this guy is saying that the subway authorities should have revamped and/or rescheduled the entire system to accommodate an impromptu meeting of idiots?
How much time elapsed between the announcement of the event and the actual event itself? Enough to restructure the system and put everyone who depends on its regular schedule “in the know” about changes?
Ummm… were any of these folks present for the inauguration, for which the system had to accommodate MANY THOUSANDS more? And did they complain then?
Of course, I’m spouting off pre-maturely… off to read the article now… but it sounds absolutely stoopid.
Alot of things are striking me as stooopid today… could it be the awful dream I had that my car was stolen right in front of me?
Man, my head is just a mess these days!
Thanks Desert Mudpup & thanks Rachel Maddow who seems to be the only responsible newsperson. “Fundamentalist Christianity” needs to be addressed. This is starting to feel like a replay of the Bush years when everyone was worried about abortion & same sex marriage while all the real issues like health care were not dealt with.
We’re #1 (in wingnuttery)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVgOl3cETb4
These so-called “Christian” Rightbots seems to care most about issues that don’t affect them personally at all. My abortion and/or my same-sex marriage means nothing to them. It affects them in no way at all. They might see my wedding announcement and get mad, but really, it impacts their life how?
And if I have an abortion, do they know? They don’t.
Now, lack of a rational healthcare system, THAT affects everyone.
OK, Nan…
Read the article and about 50 comments.
My head just SPINS at these people. They are in DC to protest Gov’t spending and then turn around and complain because Gov’t isn’t spending enough on THEIR comfort in the subway?
Are they KIDDING me?
Sure, it’s OK for folks to go without health care, as long as the wingnuts have a nice, cheap, comfortable, no waiting ride to the mall.
I didn’t see it in the comments, and would have added this if I felt like registering, but how much accurate and formal notice was given to Metro to step up the system a little for the event? ANY? I think that’s the sound of crickets…
Folks who use the Metro in DC daily have commented… they didn’t see a problem at all and got to where they were going just fine, with “usual” traffic for their particular situations.
I can’t BELIEVE the rep from TX is complaining that folks were “forced” to use the private option (cabs, rental cars, etc.) vs. the public one (subway)!
These people are lunatics. Plain and simple.
#12 Lilybart
Given so many peoples dire financial & health problems I hoped we would not go down this same stupid path again. I underestimated the powers that control the wingnuts & the wingnuts themselves are way crazier than I thought.
Shades of Georgia O’Keefe my favorite modern.
Another moment of levity which is sorely needed when dealing with a flood of insanity. Remember, folks, humor is vital if we are to keep our sanity while those around us lose theirs.
http://www.mcsweeneys.net/2009/7/27kavner.html
Amazing what one finds when one cleans out bookmarks.
Nan, these are probably the same people who are on Medicare yelling about socialism at the healthcare rallies.
samper, isn’t you car being stolen a good thing?
boodog
Absolutely. But it just amazes me that there is any subject still around that they can be this obtuse – this blindingly, this spectacularly obtuse about!
It’s actually quite an accomplishment! Hardly brag-worthy, but definitely an accomplishment of sorts.
I think if you have kids you will recognize the obtuse factor at around 10-12 years of age. They have the best, yes, even spectacular, excuses/arguments for every situation, and they don’t let up until they win. Or you send them to their room…
Something to calm you all down. Have a listen to Susan Boyle singing in the US last night.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/16/susan-boyle-sings-wild-ho_n_289518.html
To top it all off,the Texas genius who is complaining because teabaggers complained about the subway,voted against funding to improve service!!
Rush Limbaugh calls for segregated buses. I hope that he has gone too far this time and that he is fired.
http://rawstory.com/08/news/2009/09/17/limbaugh-we-need-segregated-buses/#
Was great to see Susan last night. She did a marvelous job. I hope we see more of the singer who came in second. Now I feel guilty for not voting.
Both of these ladies have amazing voices, I hope we get to hear more.
AKM:
You market better than the MadMen !!!
Big Pete, LOL, that’s good.
check out what this fox employee says on tv! wow, rather crude.
http://fromtheleft.wordpress.com/2009/09/17/fox-news-keep-fucking-that-chicken/
Love the artwork! Just one little gripe — she offers free shipping to the continental US. I hope Victoria knows which continent Alaska is on.
In case people did not hear the story…. Fox went on the air with their
” shocking video ” about ACORN. ( Hannity and Beck )
The one where they expose the Lady saying ‘ saying on camera ‘, she killed her ex-husband. This is their News… in their words ‘ SHOCKING Video!”
Oopss….before airing it they forgot to FactCheck… even a LITTLE…
The Ex is alive and well. She was playing along with them. She PUNKED them.
I hope a VERY high-priced Lawyer takes her case and takes some of Murdoch’s money… fingers crossed. There is video on ‘ Crooks & Liars ‘ as well as ‘ Media Matters’.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wVZJdBCQxY&feature=channel_page
Can we all hope the Chinese have ‘ practiced ‘ how to pull of a Prank as well.
Irishgirl
It’s heartbreaking that this is what people think is the “real America.” At no time in my life was I ever led to believe even 1% of what that sorry excuse for a human claims is fact.
Racism is taught. Remember the movie, South Pacific? … they have to be taught, carefully taught… to hate and fear…
Where do I contact that person’s employers, please?
treehouse?
Nan: I don’t want to seem self-righteous but in NYC my daughter goes to a diverse school, and because of her early love for Barak (when she was 5 she would kiss the cover of his book! ) she prefers the AA boys when I ask what boys she likes. She does NOT see any difference and so far, she has not been around people who spew any racism. As long as I keep her away from her aunt and uncle when they have been drinking!!
If you ask her to describe a kid named Chantal for example, she will not mention skin color. It isn’t a factor. (and yes, I did just use a stereotype myself)
It is taught.
What they hear or don’t hear around the house matters.
Lilybart
I agree 100%. It is *not* present at birth!
But I have to admit, I’m not sure what “AA boys” are. (sadly ill-informed, I’m afraid)
I believe that would be African American.
Who’s tracking you on the web?
Having settled a couple years ago on Firefox, I use the CSLite extension to control cookies, and have habituated deciding on a case-by-case basis whether I want to reject a cookie from a site, accept it as a Session Cookie (one that will be deleted when I close Firefox), or accept and keep a particular site’s cookie(s). In spite of my efforts, I can tell that some sites are still able to target their ads, apparently based on info from previous visits. Having NoScript installed, I have complete control over scripts, blocking or allowing them at my whimsy. The problem is knowing which scripts belong to people who are tracking my web activity for their own purposes, and which ones are innocuous/helpful. I have now discovered Ghostery, a free Firefox extension that makes information about tracking scripts readily available, giving me the added option to block them w/ NoScript or to block them w/ Ghostery.
From their website: “Ghostery alerts you about the web bugs, ad networks and widgets on every page on the web. Web bugs are hidden scripts that track your behavior and are used by the sites you visit to understand their own audience.” You can download/install from
http://www.ghostery.com/
African American, Lilybart? I know what you mean. My kid’s Pre K teacher said that kids are attracted to what is different from themselves at that age. Wow. We could really use that fact to our advantage and teach our kids early on. Maybe we could wipe out racism. That would be nice…
Thanks, InJuneau.
I remember when I was 4 or 5, I wished so hard that Louis Armstrong could have been my daddy… he was so sweet and kind, and made fantastic music.
Irish Girl, thank you for the link to Susan Boyle. Her singing is so beautiful that it is a pleasure to take a break from all of the nasty politics to enjoy it.
Susan’s journey is a little like Sarah Palin’s in the way that they both came from relative obscurity to overwhelming attention much too quickly. They were handled, made up, repackaged, and they both lost their respective contests. Seeing the story of Susan’s breakdown made me think that the same kind of bitter loss affected Sarah the same way. It’s just that she crashed and burned more slowly, never living up to the expectations that greeted her during the campaign. (Remember in one of the British shows, Susan choked and sang a few notes off key. Sarah chocked and never showed up for some of her events).
There are some differences. Sarah had been exposed to politics before; it is just that she was totally unprepared for the Big Time. Susan Boyle may have sung at local places, but she was tossed into the deep end of the pool before ever wading at the shallow end. And, biggest difference of all- Susan has talent!
For over a week, I have been in pursuit of a copy of “Vanity Fair.” I wanted to read the full article by Levi. I went to three large stores with magazines on subjects I never heard of, but no VF. Finally, in an upscale neighborhood, I found some in a super market. Enjoyed reading it and found the fashion ads to border on the sadistic/masochistic level. Learned nothing I hadn’t read on the internet, but it was nice to read it all in one place. The point is, “Vanity Fair” does not seem to be MSM to me. The target market is not political.
It was an interesting hunt.
Who’s Tracking You On The Web? (Part deux)
Another web privacy concern — Local Shared Objects (LSOs, aka Flash Cookies or Super Cookies) are being used by web sites to collect information on how people navigate those web sites even if people believe they’ve restricted the data collection. More than half of the internet’s top websites use LSOs to track users and store information about them.
From WikiPedia: There is relatively little public awareness of LSOs, and they can usually not be deleted by the cookie privacy controls in a web browser. This may lead a web user to believe a computer is cleared from tracking objects, when it is not.
To see the LSOs on your computer, you need to visit the Flash website – your browser will not display them and does not control them. Fortunately, Firefox users can install Better Privacy to view and control them. You have the option to block certain sites’ LSOs or protect them from deletion. The default action of Better Privacy is to delete ALL LSOs at the end of each browser session.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/6623
Now, if we just had something to thwart the NSA from logging our every click and typo …
For those who have been wondering about the Values Voter Summit, here’s a sharing from a guy that studies the right and found his way in there. very disturbing.
http://www.au.org/media/church-and-state/archives/2008/10/inside-the-value.html
>>>Although both days were highly partisan, the two seemed somewhat different. Day one was turned over to the anointing of Palin and a detailed defense of charges that she has a thin resume. Day two had a harder edge, and while it still featured plenty of Sarah love, a generous dollop of Obama bashing was added to the mix.
Examples of the former were legion during day one. Right-wing radio talk show host Roger Hedgecock told the crowd he had planned to put a clothespin on his nose when he went to vote for McCain. Thanks to Palin, he said, he won’t have to.
“God bless Sarah Palin,” Hedgecock beamed. “This is the election where we reclaim America…. Sarah Palin is the change we’ve been hoping for, and she’s here now.”
Right-wing commentator Kate O’Beirne told the crowd that Palin “disrupts the media’s planned coronation of Barack Obama.” Blasting feminists as “scary,” O’Beirne said Palin could bring about “the long overdue death knell of modern feminism.”
Star Parker, an anti-welfare activist much loved by the Religious Right for incendiary rhetoric that she delivers through a screeching howl, accused media elites and leftists of “trying to mock our candidate.” Parker added, “The God-haters try to deceive us…. I really feel good about the place we are.” (For good measure, Parker blasted sending children to “these cesspools we call schools so that they can be indoctrinated by anti-Christian worldviews,” opined that people are poor because they’re not right with God and said taxing the rich to pay for social service programs is “a violation of the Scripture.”) <<<
Last summer we took a family vacation to go home to NJ and visit family.While we were there,my DD and I took the kids-2 boys,ages 6 and 8,1 girl,age 1-to the laundrymat to wash the babies clothes(you never bring enough!).
While we were waiting,my grandsons,particularly the 8 year old(ADHD) were playing with the other 2 boys who were there,2 African American boys about their ages. As we were getting ready to leave,the boys were sitting on a bench at the front of the laundrymat.The 2 boys playing with my grandsons called out to their mom”look,mama,2 black boys and 2 white boys are sitting together playing” They all had their arms draped over each others shoulders,they were playing with Transformers my grandson brought.
All I could think of were 2 things
Why is this so remarkable?
and
These children are our future.
I love this!! It says it all!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-olmsted/whats-it-going-to-take-ba_b_287497.html
Huffpo has a story about the newest issue of ” TIME “.
Glenn Beck will be on the cover. The story from Huffpo pretty much points out that Time has sold out. The story speaks about the the number of Protesters on 9-12. ” The left says 70K….the Right says a Million… it somewhere in between there”
NO it is NOT..? Photographic proof is available and 99.9% say 70K
This is where the ” Media ” has gone these days. Credibility is gone.
And TIME is of course owned by Murdoch.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-mitchell/time-cover-on-beck-mutila_b_289890.html
Wow, Victoria Landis’ paintings and murals are incredible. In my next life I hope I am a painter.
Margaret & Helen have a new post up…( love those Ladies )
“Margaret, I haven’t laughed so hard since Katie Couric interviewed Sarah Palin. A few thousand white folks called in sick to work last week so they could parade around the nation’s capital on Saturday and Fox News declares a revolution is underway. My goodness. I don’t know which is more sad – the fact that they couldn’t spell half the words written on their illegible signs or that they all left their white hoods at home. Bring the hippies back. Their protests were much more entertaining.” { and they continue from there }
http://margaretandhelen.wordpress.com/
Nan–reminds of of when I was little (I don’t remember, but the parents do), about wanting to get as tan as my AA friend in daycare, even though I was closer in skin-tone to the Asian kids who were there too. I knew they were different because they were from another country; I just thought my friend who was from America was just more tan that I was!
Two right wing nut job funnies of the day:
The 9/12 tea partiers are complaining that the government-run Metro system did not put on extra trains for them, so they had to -horrors- rely on free enterprise capitalism and take taxi cabs to their rally
The Value Voters rally for “Judeo-Christian values” was scheduled for Rosh Hashanah, so none of those pesky observant Jews would show up to bother the “Christians”.
And no, you can’t make this stuff up. What a bunch of morons.
Just noticed the Lost Insurance Counter, on the right. When did that go up?
Also too, SP won’t be attending the “Values Voters” shin dig in DC according to God’s Own Party:
“The gathering has become a “must attend” on the political calendar of any serious candidate for the Republican presidential nomination. Several of the most talked-about Republican contenders for the 2012 White House race, such as former governors Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney, will be there.
Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, who lit up the party’s Southern base last year when she ran for vice president as Senator John McCain’s running-mate, will not attend, which will disappoint some in attendance. Polls consistently show she remains a favorite among conservatives.”
http://godsownparty.com/blog/2009/09/gop-talent-show/
Maybe it’s wishful thinking but I keep praying that she’s realized that she’s unelectable .
MI~Annie @ 49
After her failed attempt at being a governor, she should realize she is even more unfit than she is unelectable.
We need to give a group hug…. {{{{{{ HUG }}}}}… to all of the Minnesota Mudpups. As much as they have to put up with the incoherent ramblings and wind-Nut ideas of Michelle Bachman apparently their Gov. Pawlenty felt like he was being left out of the conversation.
The ‘ hot air ‘ on the right with the Beckster and Insannity have been getting all the coverage about ACORN. Not to be left out and to maybe score some ‘political points ‘ so people still remember his name he has stepped forward… with an ‘Opinion’…cough… cough…IE : political posturing.
“Gov. Tim Pawlenty today joined the chorus of disapproval aimed at the ACORN community organizing group, ordering that state agencies “stop all state funding” of the group.
But a local spokesman for the group said there’s no state funding to stop.”
***************
Oops… so much for checking the Facts… BEFORE the press conference.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/17/pawlenty-demands-state-se_n_289844.html
Desert Mudpup,
If she had realized that she should have resigned months sooner, all for the good of her state, then Alaska would still have her as governor!
Perish the thought!
http://www.grist.org/article/2009-09-16-a-message-from-van-jones
A message from Van Jones
A very nice read.
Yeah – there’s no racism going on towards Pres. Obama – Jimmy Carter’s off his nut:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/17/obama.witchdoctor.teaparty/index.html
Where’s he coming up with this stuff ? sheeesh
pvazwindy–I think it just went up in the past day or two.
i have been torturing myself by reading about glen beck and 912ers and the resurgence of a disavowed mormon fellow…………
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2009/09/16/beck_skousen/print.html
which led me to google Cleon Skousen
and found this explanation of mormonism. sigh.
http://reperiendi.wordpress.com/2007/06/11/the-atonement-by-cleon-skousen/
i just don’t get it.
which led me to this blog about beck, skousen, and the ex governor of arizona………along with the john birch society, the word maverick, and other creepy things:
http://blog.beliefnet.com/crunchycon/2009/09/glenn-beck-cleon-skousen-evan.html
i think i will need some adult beverages very very soon.
at the bottom of the crunchycon blog (yes a devote conservative bashing glen beck)……..he mentions another recent convert to beck’s 912isms…. governor rick perry. yikes.
ENOUGHwttw – I feel your pain! I read the salon piece 2x yesterday along with stuff about the xtian beliefs and then the Randall Terry stuff and I (literally) had nightmares.
Whenever you come across articles or videos along those topics, and if you have a moment, please do email them to me. I promise I will give them a good home on the Extreme Right Watch website. Go to http://www.twitter.com/PalinTruthWatch for the email address.
Adult beverage ? Yep – it’s time.
.
HALLOWEEN!!!??? Are we there already?
Oh, right, time for Halloween shopping. Whew! Thanks for the reminder. It’s so hard to keep all the demonic holidays straight. When is Beelzebubs Birthday, again?
And, yes, I do know people who actually believe Halloween is not just a kids’ candyfest, but a Satanic ritual. Guess they live in the West Village. Happy Samhain and hey, have you heard this news?
.
hey buffgal — glad to know you and i are on the same page……..i fret because some of my family are very attached to their mormon faith and we have to keep a gray area of “not discussing science really”……..after reading the young man’s attempt to explain “intelligence in little things”….i just had this squinchy feeling in my face and in my stomach. what a sophomoric view on science. ain’t nobody going to launch a space shuttle discussing quantum mechanics and physics as “intelligent little things with feelings of honor and compassion”.
as far as i remember – gravity don’t care if you believe in it — you fall the same rate as the bowling ball and the feather. guess buoyancy is the compassion part? oy.
say no to squinchy – bad for digestion.
buffgal- the link didn’t work, but i googled and found it. grazi
I just read on Huffington Post that Bill O’Reily stated he supports the public option. I am stupefied. Did I read that right? Is he drunk or am I?
solar flares before the full nova?
buffgal – basically skousen is a young earther or at least literal interpretation of the genesis chapter regarding adam and eve. of the many books he wrote, four of them deal with the age of man: basically 5000 years.
when he died, orin hatch proposed a resolution honoring him: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/record.xpd?id=109-s20060125-19
and then there was a poem? i didn’t know orrin hatch was a poet.
btw – those paintings are really beautiful.
#64: He really said it, but prefaced it with his belief it would not happen. I can’t wait to see how Rush, Hannity, Beck and all the rest of the loons try to spin this. He may even back off of it tonight. I don’t watch, so will wait and see what turns up on the blogs later tonight.
9ish EST – up in the chat treehouse :
http://www.themudflats.net/forum/index.php?action=chat
Speaking of Georgia O’Keefe(love her and big fan). Lifetime for those that have it is running a made for TV movie about Georgia’s life on Sat. 09/19. Looks like they’ll run it again on the 20th and 21st too.
http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/movies/georgia-okeeffe/about
Hey folks:
Just thought I’d let you know. I made a bid on the Sarah Palin Ebay brunch. I have a little bit of dough so i bid $ 41, 000.00 just to see if I could have the opportunity of sitting down and discussing some serious issues with HER. No dice. I received the anticipated telephone screening call and must have failed miserably when I said that I was interested in discussing the “palling around with terrorists remark.” It is obvious that only friendly bidders will be considered, but really, was that ever in question?
lynnrockets! LOL! I wonder how many other bidders have been smacked down because she can’t take the gotcha stuff.
I’m betting a whole lot. This whole thing is just hilarious and crazy.
SHE’s been exposed for what SHE is, a shill.
Thank you lynnrockets for taking one for the team. You ROCK!
Good one, lynnrockets. Maybe we should all bid and flood the lines while her poor peeps try to screen them all. Ha…
Hey Pups,
Did you all get an email with a link to Fight Fox, today?
http://mediamatters.org/action/fightfox/
The email, itself, is stuffed full of facts and incidents.
The link goes to a page that reads thusly, with a form at the bottom:
Fight Fox
Since President Obama’s inauguration, Fox News has officially abandoned its already dubious standing as a news organization and is now engaging in outright political activism, completing its transition into the 24/7 media wing of the far-right conservative movement. Fox isn’t going to change on its own. We have to expose the network for what it is. We have to fight back.
Tell 10 of your friends to sign up for Media Matters action alerts so they can be on the cutting edge of the fight against conservative misinformation and the activism it fuels.