Peter Kobs's definitions
1. Someone who stands to gain power, influence or funding by spreading fear in the general population. 2. A sophisticated type of 21st century fear monger who uses PR methods to generate panic, doubt and free-floating anxiety. 3. Dick Cheney and his ilk.
by Peter Kobs July 17, 2009
Get the Fear Profiteer mug.1. What happens when an over-confident basketball player tries to make a spectacular flying "dunk" but fails to score.
2. The kind of show-boating that enrages college coaches.
3. An embarrassing act of athletic incompetence.
2. The kind of show-boating that enrages college coaches.
3. An embarrassing act of athletic incompetence.
Coach: "We would'a won that game if Hakeem hadn't tried that ridiculous dunk flunk in the second period. Arrrggghhh!"
Athletic Director: "I think I'm going to be sick now."
Athletic Director: "I think I'm going to be sick now."
by Peter Kobs March 26, 2010
Get the Dunk Flunk mug.1. A radical right-wing militia group based in Lenawee County, Michigan, about 30 miles southwest of Ann Arbor. The word "Huntaree" means "Christian Warrior" in the group's secret language. (A related Huntaree group is located in Utah.)
2. A group of idiots who believe that Christ wants them to murder police officers and start a global insurrection.
Members of the Militia come from Michigan, Ohio, Utah and Indiana. They are convinced that a war against the Anti-Christ is imminent and they identify the enemy as the U.S. government. In late March 2010, nine members of the Hutaree Militia were arrested for plotting to kill local law enforcement officials, an act they believed would "spark" a national uprising against the government.
The Militia was led by David Brian Stone, who trained his members in paramilitary operations using semi-automatic weapons and mock roadside bombs. Their plan was to murder a local police officer and then bomb the funeral, leading to the mass slaughter of dozens if not hundreds of local and state police officials. All in the name of Christ.
2. A group of idiots who believe that Christ wants them to murder police officers and start a global insurrection.
Members of the Militia come from Michigan, Ohio, Utah and Indiana. They are convinced that a war against the Anti-Christ is imminent and they identify the enemy as the U.S. government. In late March 2010, nine members of the Hutaree Militia were arrested for plotting to kill local law enforcement officials, an act they believed would "spark" a national uprising against the government.
The Militia was led by David Brian Stone, who trained his members in paramilitary operations using semi-automatic weapons and mock roadside bombs. Their plan was to murder a local police officer and then bomb the funeral, leading to the mass slaughter of dozens if not hundreds of local and state police officials. All in the name of Christ.
"Did you hear about that Hutaree Militia group in Adrian? They think FEMA is building secret concentration camps. I hear they're big fans of Glen Beck."
by Peter Kobs March 30, 2010
Get the Hutaree Militia mug.1. The act of blaming someone else for your own mistakes.
2. Refusing to take responsibility for anything BAD while always taking credit for anything GOOD.
Greenspanning was pioneered by Alan Greenspan, the former head of the U.S. Federal Reserve System, who has spent the last 5 years denying any responsibility for the housing bubble or subsequent economic collapse -- despite enormous evidence to the contrary.
2. Refusing to take responsibility for anything BAD while always taking credit for anything GOOD.
Greenspanning was pioneered by Alan Greenspan, the former head of the U.S. Federal Reserve System, who has spent the last 5 years denying any responsibility for the housing bubble or subsequent economic collapse -- despite enormous evidence to the contrary.
by Peter Kobs April 7, 2010
Get the Greenspanning mug.Contrary to right-wing propaganda, a Republic is indeed a form of representative Democracy in which ordinary people elect officials to represent them in a legislature or parliament. Simply put, a Republic is the "what" and a Democracy is the "how." It's been that way since the Roman Republic was established in 509 B.C.
The notion that Democracy is a mob-rule involving direct citizen voting on every issue is a distortion spread by idiots like Tom Tancredo and radical ideologues like Pat Buchanan. They don't like the term "Democracy" because it reminds them of the Democratic party.
The opposite of a Republic is a Monarchy, not a Democracy.
The notion that Democracy is a mob-rule involving direct citizen voting on every issue is a distortion spread by idiots like Tom Tancredo and radical ideologues like Pat Buchanan. They don't like the term "Democracy" because it reminds them of the Democratic party.
The opposite of a Republic is a Monarchy, not a Democracy.
by Peter Kobs April 8, 2010
Get the Republic mug.1. Television that encourages viewers to hate, despise and fear "the enemy." George Orwell predicted the rise of Hate TV in his novel "1984." Usually found on the cable channels, Hate TV is the fastest-growing type of pseudo-news. Key characteristics include:
- Scapegoating (blaming a small group for the problems of all)
- Fear-mongering (raising the specter of impending tyranny)
- Simplistic thinking (condensing complex issues into a few hate-filled slogans)
- Truthiness (presenting rumors as established fact)
- Repetition (to give lies the ring of truth)
- Stereotyping (along racial, ethnic or religious lines)
- Assault Interviewing (attacking guests who disagree with the party line)
- Pandering (filling a studio with partisan crowds who will cheer or boo on cue)
- Thematic Aggregation ("packaging" a variety of fears, prejudices and hot-button issues under a common theme)
- Code Words (using substitutes for common racial slurs, insults, etc.)
- Multi-Media Marketing (combining TV with publishing, radio, websites, etc. to reinforce the core message)
- Narrowing (redefining the boundaries of "acceptable belief" to ostracize moderates)
- Movement Hype (promoting a specific group of people as the only "true" Americans)
- Event Manipulation (exaggerating the size, impact or diversity of a protest or political rally)
Hate TV inevitably leads to greater political polarization, up to and including acts of violence against the perceived "enemy."
- Scapegoating (blaming a small group for the problems of all)
- Fear-mongering (raising the specter of impending tyranny)
- Simplistic thinking (condensing complex issues into a few hate-filled slogans)
- Truthiness (presenting rumors as established fact)
- Repetition (to give lies the ring of truth)
- Stereotyping (along racial, ethnic or religious lines)
- Assault Interviewing (attacking guests who disagree with the party line)
- Pandering (filling a studio with partisan crowds who will cheer or boo on cue)
- Thematic Aggregation ("packaging" a variety of fears, prejudices and hot-button issues under a common theme)
- Code Words (using substitutes for common racial slurs, insults, etc.)
- Multi-Media Marketing (combining TV with publishing, radio, websites, etc. to reinforce the core message)
- Narrowing (redefining the boundaries of "acceptable belief" to ostracize moderates)
- Movement Hype (promoting a specific group of people as the only "true" Americans)
- Event Manipulation (exaggerating the size, impact or diversity of a protest or political rally)
Hate TV inevitably leads to greater political polarization, up to and including acts of violence against the perceived "enemy."
"Did you hear about that guy who crashed is plane into the IRS building in Austin, Texas?"
"Yeah, he killed two people, including a father who served in Vietnam."
"Well, Hate TV is saying he was a patriot and should be congratulated for standing up to the government."
"Scary stuff...What's next -- public lynchings in prime time?"
"Yeah, he killed two people, including a father who served in Vietnam."
"Well, Hate TV is saying he was a patriot and should be congratulated for standing up to the government."
"Scary stuff...What's next -- public lynchings in prime time?"
by Peter Kobs April 9, 2010
Get the Hate TV mug.1. A legal term that means: "We did it, but you can't prove it. And even if you CAN prove it, we'll drag out the litigation until your great-grandchildren are dead."
Corporate attorneys frequently use this phrase to defend their clients against civil lawsuits. And they get $500 a hour for this nonsense?
2. A kneejerk reaction to any accusation of white collar crime.
Corporate attorneys frequently use this phrase to defend their clients against civil lawsuits. And they get $500 a hour for this nonsense?
2. A kneejerk reaction to any accusation of white collar crime.
The attorney for Goldman Sachs said the government's fraud charges were "Completely Unfounded." After the press conference, he laughed all the way to the bank.
by Peter Kobs April 17, 2010
Get the Completely Unfounded mug.