I catch a lot of criticism on this site for my lack of respect for certain  arguments beloved of the far right fringe.  When it comes to Obama's supposed Kenyan birth, teabagger protests, death panels and what a czar said out of context 20 years ago I'm not very good at pretending that these are valid issues.  I tend to "minimalize" the issues according to one blogger on this site.

Let me be very clear:  I'm NOT "minimalizing".....I'm mocking!   Because they're silly arguments with little basis in reality and generally pretty humorous!

What's not funny is that these Right Wing extremists distract public attention from very real and very serious issues that need to be examined.   I truly believe in a two party system and we aren't getting the benefits of one when all we do is spend hours arguing the "silly stuff".    Death panels are not an issue....whether there will be enough doctors to treat extra insurance clients is a very real issue.    Obama's birth should not be a question that merits discussion.... Afghanistan does.   I want a Republican perspective on taxes whether I agree with it or not.  I don't care if the Treasury Department's special master on executive compensation at troubled financial institutions, Ken Feinberg (Pay Czar) once quoted Mao....I want to know if he can offer advice that will advance our county.

So when the silly stuff comes up, I tend to ridicule it.   Not because it's an "effective" tool to squash dissent, but because it's FUNNY!

So today was a rather humorous day of news to me!

Three weeks ago, a Fox4 blogger add a post entitled:  BIRTH CERTIFICATE TRACTION.   He added a link telling how US District Court Judge David O. Carter had refused to issue an immediate dismissal of yet another "birther" law suit alleging the Obama was foreign-born and not eligible to be president.    The assumption was made that since an immediate dismissal was not granted, this case would go to trial.   Links were added to the comments section to show who Judge Carter (former Marine) was and how wide his range of experience was and how reputable he was.   It was all finished with the admonition:  "I'm not making this up!"   Others began fundraising to pay for the discovery process.

Today, Judge Carter issued a dismissal of the case saying it would be unconstitutional for the courts to "effectively overthrow a sitting president."   He further admonished the plantiff's attorneys for past behavior in other similar cases filed in other courts after the cases were dismissed.  Wrote Judge Carter, "Plaintiffs have attacked the judiciary, including every prior court that has dismissed their claim, as unpatriotic and even treasonous for refusing to grant their requests and for adhering to the terms of the Constitution which set forth its jurisdiction.....Respecting the constitutional role and jurisdiction of this Court is not unpatriotic."

When BIRTH CERTIFICATE TRACTION was first published, I asked jstol if Judge Carter is a good judge before you get a decision, will you still respect him afterwards if his decision disagrees with your fanaticism?   He declined to comment, so we'll just have to wait and see.  But I know which way I'm betting!

Also today, we had a rather tepid tea party event in Washington D.C.   Event organizers sent out an e-mail Wednesday night asking that all TEA PARTY PATRIOTS within driving distance of DC be at the Capital at 10 AM with signs to make their presence known!   It was described on TWITTER as a "flash mob".  

Wrote organizers in their e-mail:

"Please forgive the extra email in your inboxes today. Since we are doing all we can to leave no stone unturned, we felt it was necessary to send an extra email today so those who can protest tomorrow are able to do so.

You are the heart and soul of the Tea Party Movement. Thank you for promoting the causes of fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government, and free markets with us!"

Total attendance?   Approximately 10.   (No, not 10,000.   Ten!)   Lamented one protestor, ""If this is organized, we suck."   However, on the up side....abortion foes were there in greater number to protest using government money from the public option for abortions.  (Even though there is nothing in the bill to allow such payments.)   So it at least "looked" like a larger crowd.