There is a great American Zen koan displayed on our roads. The question is clearly displayed: Y?

Why? For those that wonder, the answer can usually be found on the mountain tops (at the passes, appropriately enough): Y?

I C Y.

And I see why, too. In this case it’s only an ‘IC’ but it’s meaningful.

You see, the Times of London, formerly an important newspaper but now a Rupert Murdoch owned vehicle for his agenda. Having broken the “story” that Obama’s aunt (his father’s half-sister) is in the country as an … GASP! … illegal alien, and wanting to resolve any questions as to the incredible timing of the story (i.e. it LOOKS like a creepy smear, but, of course, isn’t a creepy smear, with any racist undertones — like most of this campaign) the venerable old whore posted an article about how they found auntie (can’t have anyone questioning the “integrity” of a Rupert Murdoch vehicle, of course), finishing with this [emphasis added]:

… On visiting the housing estate, however, neighbours confirmed that she was indeed the “Auntie Zeituni” in Mr Obama’s book – as she eventually confirmed herself.

Uncle Omar has still not been found.

It was not until Wednesday evening that The Times obtained a formal identification of Ms Onyango by George Hussein, Mr Obama’s half-brother who had known her throughout his childhood.

Whatever the Democrat campaign may imply, there is nothing suspicious about the story or its timing. The only mystery, perhaps, is how so many people read Mr Obama’s book in the US without wondering what might have happened to the mysterious relative, lost in America.

That wasn’t what I wondered.

What I wondered is why the Times of London would use an old American political slur — used by Richard Nixon in the ’50s and repopularized among the Hating Class as a current slight slight, “The Democrat Party,” which Bob Dole used so much you’ll probably find it burned into your cerebral cortex’s auditory memories. But it’s journalistically, legally and morally inaccurate. A “real” journalist would know that. Especially an “investigative” journalist without an axe to grind.

Now, I’ve reviewed (2004) Ben Macintyre in the Portland Oregonian, with his fine book The Man Who Would Be King: The First American in Afghanistan — which I unreservedly recommend to anyone wanting to understand the ultimate futility of our current Afghan adventure. But there is something creepy and stalky in all of this hunting down Obama’s relatives. It doesn’t have any journalistic value and clearly was intended from the start to influence the American election. Its suspicious timing on the Saturday before the Tuesday election was noticed by a whole flog of bloggers, and if you didn’t know of Murdoch’s famous broken promises not to interfere in the London Times when he took it over in a drama much like last year’s takeover of The Wall Street Journal, you’d never wonder why a British newspaper would have so many reporters assigned to “investigate” what is, in any rational sense, a non-story.

But, having read their cunningly concocted mea culpa, I noted the oddity of the final paragraph: “The Democrat campaign.”

To the article by “Ben Macintyre and James Bone in Boston,” fine “British journalists” that they are, I made this short comment*, when there were 51 comments in the queue:

[* The TEXT:

Funny.

The correct and lawful term is "Democratic Party." The term "Democrat campaign" is a slur, only used in Republican circles. A minor slur, perhaps, but a slur nonetheless.

Were your reporters concerned with accuracy, they'd have known that. That they don't is kind of a "tell" ain't it?.

-- My comment to the Times of London]

Now, eight hours and twenty minutes later with 91 comments — nearly all from American wingnuts; virtually all complimentary to the Times and denigrating to the “Democrat campaign” — that comment somehow never managed to make it onto the comments page.

Gosh. Golly. Jeepers!

Great newspaper. Just gushing integrity.

But, yes, it is quite a “tell” that the Times of London would use a Republican slur in an article about how their earlier article wasn’t a Republican smear. And then suppress a comment on same.

I believe you, guys. Surely do. You betcha.

Interesting what one can see in one “ic” isn’t it?

Y?

I think I C Y.

Meantime, in one of the great acting displays of our time, or something smelling rotten in the state of Denmark, Mark Salter Is Smiling. “The senior aide to John McCain, known for his gruff demeanor, was practically giddy this morning on the campaign plane,” says the Wall Street Journal. Owned by Rupert Murdoch, coincidentally enough.

So, I guess we’re doing the one hand clap.

Courage.

============

crossposted from his vorpal sword – now make sure all of your friends and neighbors VOTE!

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