Thursday, December 27, 2007

Expect a yes vote for Rice, finally

quote[But Rice has three things going for him: 1) His vote total has been north of 60 percent in recent years and Sox historian Dick Bresciani has boosted Rice's candidacy with a convincing public relations campaign; 2) The more we talk about steroids, the better Rice's numbers look; 3) There are no new candidates to overwhelm the voters.]

I hope so. He deserves it...

Friday, December 21, 2007

Why I Don't Support Hillary For President

There has been much ballyhoo over the airways lately about Hillary's dirty campaign tricks, her apparent arrogance, and her seeming predilection to act as if she has already been awarded the nomination. While I do personally subscribe to those sentiments, they are not the only reasons that I don't support her. In fact, I didn't support her before those traits became eminently noticeable. Below are some highlighted reasons why I didn't support her previously.

(Disclaimer: I don't support her, but I still believe she is 10,000 times better than anyone the right has to offer. So, if she does get the nod, I will just have to hold my nose when I vote for her next November).

1) NAFTA - Part of her husbands legacy, but her plans to revisit it do not go nearly far enough. She's on record saying she thought it was a good attempt, but then complains that it's failings are due to it being an inherited policy. The fact that it undercuts American workers seems benign to her.

2) Universal Healthcare and The Insurance Companies - She's taken too much of the insurance companies money. When a corporation buys a politician, they expect something from you. She's essentially guaranteeing more profits for those large corporations. We need less of this, not more.

To be fair, my favorite Universal plan (and the only true one) is Kucinich's. But he's the guy I support, with Edwards trailing not too far behind.

3) Corporate Sponsors and Lobbyist Money - She's on record saying that taking their money is acceptable because they represent real people and real interests; Yes, real people who run really big companies and want REALLY big profits.

We need campaign finance reform. We need to end lobbyists. We need to publicly fund elections.

4) China And The U.S.-China WTO Accession Agreement - She's said how bad it is to have our debt owned by foreign governments, but also said she would "not at this time" call for Congress to limit by law the amount of debt held by foreigners. Furthermore, she has no plan on how to deal with China owning our debts.

The WTO agreement was another inheritance of her husbands, but she supported it. The only current candidate to oppose it was Kucinich.

Also, see #8 below.

5) Iraq War Authorization - Voted for it, claims she was duped. If the Shrub in Chief can fool you, there's something deeper wrong with you.

6) Iran War Authorization - This is too fresh for me to comment on without getting violent towards my keyboard.

7) Retroactive Immunity For Telecom Vote - Claimed she supported Dodd, but was too busy campaigning to stand up for the issue and his filibuster.

8) Her Connection With Wal-Mart - She was a board member to Wal-mart for six years and her Rose Law Firm handled much of Wal-mart's legal defense.

Also, see #4 above. It was Bill's deal, but she supported the market opening in China. Does she really claim to be for women's and human rights when we she supports a company that gets all it's cheap crap from third world slave labor and forced abortions???


I've got a bit more, but let's start with this for now. Feel free to tell me why I'm wrong.

Best & Merry Christmas,

-P

O'Reilly's Sexual Harrassment Lawsuit Sung Like Handel's "Messiah"

quote[The piece is a setting of the sexual harassment complaint lodged against Fox News pundit, Bill O’Reilly, by staff producer, Andrea Mackris, in October 2004 and recorded at its world premiere in January 2007. It includes all memorable moments from the original complaint and more – paranoid rants, clumsy sexual innuendo, and the famous falafel fantasy. Composer Igor Keller has produced this concert-length work in the form of a baroque oratorio, in the style of an updated Handel’s Messiah, for 28-piece chamber orchestra, 26-voice chorus and three soloists. It’s an oratorio for the 21st century!]

Strange!

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Bush Testy Over CIA Tape Question

quote[The president got a little testy when a reporter asked him for more details on when he first learned about his administration's destruction of CIA interrogation tapes.

"It sounds pretty clear to me when I say the first recollection is when Mike Hayden briefed me," Bush said. "It sounds pretty clear to me."

Bush said he will reserve judgment about the CIA tape affair until several inquiries are finished.]

Ed Shultz: 'Hillary, I do not want you to be the nominee'

quote[Lamenting presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's failure to appear on his radio show, liberal host Ed Shultz said he does not want the former First Lady to get the Democratic nomination because she seems unwilling to talk directly to the party's base.

Schultz, who bills himself as America's No. 1 progressive talker, said Clinton has complained in private meetings about the dominance of conservative talk radio yet refuses to appear before an audience of liberal likely voters, unlike her closest competitors, Barack Obama and John Edwards. Schultz also called out Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) for not appearing on the show to promote his presidential campaign.]


The audio was great!

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Huckabee Compared ‘Homosexuality’ To ‘Necrophilia’ And Fought For Banning Sodomy

quote[– In 1997, Huckabee requested an amendment to a state Senate bill stating “that it is Arkansas public policy to prohibit sodomy to protect the traditional family structure.” [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 1/23/1997]

– In 1998, Huckabee supported banning gay men and women from acting as foster parents because “it is not in the best interest of children.” [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 7/29/1998]

– In 2003, Huckabee said “If you ask for survivor benefits to be paid to a same-sex survivor, I think we have a right to say no to that.” [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 7/3/2003]

Additionally, in the past, Huckabee has spoken of homosexuality using some of the most divisive and hyperbolic rhetoric possible:

– In a 1992 questionnaire for the Associated Press, Huckabee claimed that “homosexuality is an aberrant, unnatural, and sinful lifestyle, and we now know it can pose a dangerous public health risk.”]


It's getting fun with the Huckster!

Thanks Karen (and Shawna)!

– In his 1998 book, Kids Who Kill, Huckabee compared homosexuality to necrophilia, decrying “publicly endorsed and institutionally supported aberrations–from homosexuality and pedophilia to sadomasochism and necrophilia.”

Stephanie In Non-Sequitur




Awesome!

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Huckabee's Other Son Loves Him Some Porno



Quote[For what it’s worth: I went to college with John Mark Huckabee … at Ouachita Baptist University in the late ’90s. John Mark had the biggest porn magazine collection on campus and used to delight his nerd-friends by reading aloud Penthouse Letters he composed and submitted for publication. Not sure if any of them were ever published…. I was present in the dorm room of a mutual friend on one occasion while JM was reading his letters aloud, so this is first hand information.]

LOL!

Monday, December 17, 2007

Huckabee son fired over dog hanging

quote[As Mike Huckabee gains in the polls, the former Arkansas governor is finding that his record in office is getting more scrutiny. One issue likely to get attention is his handling of a sensitive family matter: allegations that one of his sons was involved in the hanging of a stray dog at a Boy Scout camp in 1998. The incident led to the dismissal of David Huckabee, then 17, from his job as a counselor at Camp Pioneer in Hatfield, Ark. It also prompted the local prosecuting attorney— bombarded with complaints generated by a national animal-rights group—to write a letter to the Arkansas state police seeking help investigating whether David and another teenager had violated state animal-cruelty laws. The state police never granted the request, and no charges were ever filed. But John Bailey, then the director of Arkansas's state police, tells NEWSWEEK that Governor Huckabee's chief of staff and personal lawyer both leaned on him to write a letter officially denying the local prosecutor's request.]

Going down...

Top Dem candidates skip wiretap vote

quote[Dodd canceled planned campaign events in Iowa to be in Washington Monday, but the Senate's other Democratic presidential candidates were all out on the campaign trail today, and none were in Washington to vote against the cloture motion or stand by Dodd's expected filibuster. This despite the fact that all three -- Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden -- said they would support Dodd's filibuster.]

Pussies.

Friday, December 14, 2007

McDonald's New Menu

Oh my God.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Huckabee: women's role in marriage is to "graciously submit"

quote[Huckabee's opinion on gay marriage is out there, but we should also be publicizing Huckabee's opinions on heterosexual marriage. Specifically, what he believes about a women's role in a marriage.

In August of 1998, Huckabee was one of 131 signatories to a full page USA Today Ad which declared: "I affirm the statement on the family issued by the 1998 Southern Baptist Convention." What was in the family statement from the SBC? "A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ."

The ad wasn't just a blanket, "we support the SBC statement," but rather highlighted details. The ad Huckabee signed specifically said of the SBC family statement: "You are right because you called wives to graciously submit to their husband's sacrificial leadership."

Add "graciously submit" to his "Take back the nation for Christ" statement, and if the media does its job, he's well on his way to being toast.]


And he seems more viable than the other righty candidates...

I didn't realize that the deliverance-wing of the republican party was so big!

New Documents Revealed In Case Of Huckabee's Support For Freeing Rapist

quote[Also included in the file is an officially marked and dated Arkansas State Police affidavit, given to Huckabee prior to his decision to support parole, in which Dumond confessed to having raped another woman. Dumond was never charged for the crime.

The document provides a clear indication that Huckabee had evidence from state officials concerning Dumond's long history of violent behavior. While on the presidential campaign trail, Huckabee has stated that no one could have anticipated that Dumond would strike again after being set free.]


More for the Muckabee file...

US state of New Jersey moves to abolish death penalty

quote[The US state senate of New Jersey has voted to replace the death penalty with life imprisonment, taking a major step toward becoming the first US state to abolish the death penalty in three decades.

New Jersey senators voted 21-16 on Monday to get rid of capital punishment in favor of life without parole for the most serious offenders, and the state's general assembly is set to vote on the issue on Thursday.

With hefty support from New Jersey's Democratic-controlled assembly, the measure also enjoys the backing of Democratic governor Jon Corzine, who has vowed to sign it into law by January if lawmakers decide to pass it.

New Jersey has not executed any prisoners since 1963, even though it was one of the states to reinstall the death penalty after a US Supreme Court ruling in 1976 overturned an earlier ban.]


I hope more states follow suit.

Monday, December 10, 2007

White House press secretary admits she didn't know what Cuban Missile Crisis was

quote[Appearing on National Public Radio's quiz show, "Wait, Wait ... Don't Tell Me," this weekend, Perino admitted a story she'd previously only shared in private: When a reporter asked her a question during a White House briefing in which he referred to the Cuban Missile Crisis -- she didn't know what it was.

"I was panicked a bit because I really don't know about . . . the Cuban Missile Crisis," said Perino, who at 35 was born about a decade after the 1962 U.S.-Soviet nuclear showdown. "It had to do with Cuba and missiles, I'm pretty sure."]


This happens to be my favorite weekend show, but they've really beeen scraping the barrel with righties lately.

Huckabee refuses to retract '92 remarks on AIDS patients

quote[ Responding to an Associated Press questionnaire, Huckabee said steps should be taken to "isolate the carriers of this plague" during his failed run for a U.S. Senate seat from Arkansas 15 years ago.

He said he probably would not make the same statement today because of what is known about how HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is transmitted.

"I had simply made the point -- and I still believe this today -- that in the late '80s and early '90s, when we didn't know as much as we do now about AIDS, we were acting more out of political correctness than we were about the normal public health protocols that we would have acted," Huckabee told Fox News on Sunday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded in 1985 that AIDS was not transmitted by casual contact. But Huckabee said at the time, "there were other concerns being voiced by public health officials."]


Let the dirt cometh!

After Guantanamo, 'Reintegration' for Saudis

quote[In July, he was suddenly released to his native Saudi Arabia, which held a very different view. Dossari was immediately reunited with his family and treated like a VIP. He was given a monthly stipend and a job, housed and fed, even promised help in finding a wife. Today, he is a free man living on the Persian Gulf coast.]

And I thought it was liberals who wanted offer treatment to the terrorists (a common Fox talking point)???

Libby drops appeal of CIA leak conviction

quote[Wells explained that the decision not to continue the appeal was tactical. "The appeal would lead only to a retrial," he said, "a process that would last even beyond the two years of supervised release, cost millions of dollars more than the fine he has already paid, and entail many more hundreds of hours preparing for an all-consuming appeal and retrial."

The decision also reflects the political reality that if the appellate court granted a new trial, it would probably occur during the administration of the next president, who might not share Bush's interest in helping his former official.]


Bet he gets a last minute pardon...

Friday, December 07, 2007

A "Psychological" Optical Illusion

quote[The influence of culture and environment can have an effect on our visual perception. This theory was first explored by Robert Laws, a Scottish missionary working in Malawi, Africa, during the late 1800's. Take a look at the picture below. What you see will largely depend on where you live in the world. After you have examined the picture, scroll down for a more detailed explanation.]

I thought this was pretty neat.

Christmas in Fallujah



Not bad, but not super-catchy either.

A Friday Funny...

George Bush goes to a primary school to talk to the
kids to get a little PR. After his talk he offers question
time.

One little boy puts up his hand and George asks him
his name.

" Stanley ," responds the little boy.

"And what is your question, Stanley ?"

"I have 4 questions:

First, why did the USA invade Iraq without the support
of the UN?

Second, why are you President when Al Gore got more
votes?

Third, whatever happened to Osama Bin Laden?"

Fourth, why are we so worried about gay-marriage when
1/2 of all Americans don't have health insurance?

Just then, the bell rings for recess. George Bush
informs the kiddies that they will continue after recess.

When they resume George says, "OK, where were we?

Oh, that's right, question time. Who has a question?

Another little boy puts up his hand. George points him
out and asks him his name.

"Little Johnnie" he responds.

"And what is your question, Little Johnnie?"

"Actually Sir, I have 6 questions:

First, why did the USA invade Iraq without the support
of the UN?

Second, why are you President when Al Gore got more
votes?

Third, whatever happened to Osama Bin Laden?

Fourth, why are we so worried about gay marriage when
1/2 of all Americans don't have health insurance?

Fifth, why did the recess bell go off 20 minutes
early?

And sixth, what the F ..... happened to Stanley ?"

From The "It's So Bad, It's Good," File

quote[Sen. Larry Craig's bathroom follies have been the butt of plenty of late night jokes, but he found some sympathy in primetime this week when William Shatner had his own run in with the law on an ABC drama.

Craig's foibles -- the Idaho Republican was charged with soliciting sex in a public restroom this summer -- served as a plot line on the ABC legal drama, Boston Legal. Denny Crane, played by William Shatner, finds himself arrested after some miscommunication in a bathroom stall.

As Crane's sidekick Alan Shore, portrayed by James Spader, summed it up: "In an effort to relieve some mild constipation, he unwittingly offered to be a whistle-blower for an undercover police officer."]


When will the writer's strike end???

Thursday, December 06, 2007

Savage calls Retired Brig. Gen. Keith Kerr a "gay, phony general"

quote[On the December 3 edition of his nationally syndicated radio show, Michael Savage called retired Brig. Gen. Keith Kerr (CSMR) a "gay, phony general." Kerr, who is a member of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) Military Advisory Council, a member of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Americans for Hillary Clinton steering committee, and a co-chairman of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's (D-NY) Veterans and Military Retirees for Hillary Committee, had a video question about the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy selected for airing during the November 28 CNN/YouTube Republican presidential debate and was in the audience for an opportunity to ask a follow-up question.]

Why does anyone listen to this piece of shit????

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Democrats Drift Toward Kucinich

quote[ On issue after issue, says Richard Wolffe of Newsweek, Dennis Kucinich's views have gone from fringe to mainstream. That pattern became apparent again at NPR's Democratic presidential debate yesterday, Wolffe says.

Kucinich notions that once seemed crazy to the Democratic Party ended up front and center Tuesday, Wolffe says, and NPR's debate format gave the Ohio congressman a chance to shine. Kucinich is generally considered among the darkest of dark horses in the race. Yesterday, he spoke out about his opposition to liberalized trade with China and to the war in Iraq.]


Good!

Did A Film Maker Find Bin Laden???

quote[I was at Sundance in 2004 when Morgan Spurlock took over the festival with his documentary Super Size Me. Four years later, Spurlock returns to Park City with Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden?, a film documenting the director’s search for the most wanted man on the planet. The Weinstein Co quickly snapped up the documentary, after seeing only 15 minutes at the Berlin Film Festival. Distributors who saw the footage were asked to sign draconian nondisclosure agreements.

Many people are speculating that Spurlock may have done what the U.S. government has been unable to do, and actually found Bin Laden. The film’s director of photography, Daniel Marricone added fuel to the fire, telling the press that Spurlock “definitely got the holy grail.” Not much information has leaked about the film, and even the director is keeping quiet. When asked if the rumors, Spurlock would only say “Until there’s something to see, why talk about it?”]


I'm looking forward to this.

Going Nucular



I felt sick after watching that press conference.

Report: 35 percent of toys contain lead

quote[Tests on more than 1,200 children’s products, most of them still on store shelves, found that 35 percent contain lead — many with levels far above the federal recall standard used for lead paint.

A Hannah Montana card game case, a Go Diego Go! backpack and Circo brand shoes were among the items with excessive lead levels in the tests performed by a coalition of environmental health groups across the country.

Only 20 percent of the toys and other products had no trace of lead or harmful chemicals, according to the results being released Wednesday by the Michigan-based Ecology Center along with the national Center for Health, Environment and Justice and groups in eight other states.]


Merry Christmas, kids!

Crooks And Liars' John Amato With Norman Goldman On The Ed Schultz Show 12/04/07






Monday, December 03, 2007

Fox: 'Atheist Outrage' over holiday 'Tree of Knowledge'

quote[Fox & Friends launched a salvo in the War on Christmas Monday, attacking an atheist group's "tree of knowledge" erected in front of a Philadelphia courthouse alongside a creche and menorah, while ignoring a 32-foot tree dedicated to "commercial attraction" in the same public square.

The perky hosts objected because the Freethought Society of Great Philadelphia has set up a "Tree of Knowledge" as part of a seasonal display in front of the Chester County courthouse.]


Oh, if only I could find my Festivus pole!!!

Sunday, December 02, 2007

US says it has right to kidnap British citizens

quote[AMERICA has told Britain that it can “kidnap” British citizens if they are wanted for crimes in the United States.

A senior lawyer for the American government has told the Court of Appeal in London that kidnapping foreign citizens is permissible under American law because the US Supreme Court has sanctioned it.

The admission will alarm the British business community after the case of the so-called NatWest Three, bankers who were extradited to America on fraud charges. More than a dozen other British executives, including senior managers at British Airways and BAE Systems, are under investigation by the US authorities and could face criminal charges in America.

Until now it was commonly assumed that US law permitted kidnapping only in the “extraordinary rendition” of terrorist suspects.]


WTF??? How long before the world gives up on us and refuses to even do business with us?

Scrap 'don't ask, don't tell' gay policy, say retired US generals

quote[Twenty-eight former military chiefs have collectively called for a repeal of the controversial "don't ask, don't tell" policy whereby gay and lesbian Americans are allowed to serve in the armed forces but only if they keep their sexuality secret.

...

Since 1993 about 10,000 men and women have been sacked from the military under the policy.]


Hey! I got an idea about solving the declining enlistment numbers: let's kick out perfectly qualified people just because of their sexuality!

More gay men describe sexual encounters with U.S. Sen. Craig

quote[David Phillips. Mike Jones. Greg Ruth. Tom Russell.

Four gay men, willing to put their names in print and whose allegations can't be disproved, have come forward since news of U.S. Sen. Larry Craig's guilty plea. They say they had sex with Craig or that he made a sexual advance or that he paid them unusual attention.]


I am not gay...I love my wife...

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Leahy clears way for contempt citations against Rove, Bolton

quote[ Senate chairman said Thursday that President Bush was not involved in the firings of U.S. attorneys last winter, and he therefore ruled illegal the president's executive privilege claims protecting his chief of staff, Josh Bolten, and former adviser Karl Rove.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy directed Bolten, Rove, former White House political director Sara Taylor and her deputy, J. Scott Jennings, to comply "immediately" with their subpoenas for documents and information about the White House's role in the firings of U.S. attorneys.

"I hereby rule that those claims are not legally valid to excuse current and former White House employees from appearing, testifying and producing documents related to this investigation," wrote Leahy, D-Vt.

The ruling is a formality that clears the way for Leahy's panel to vote on whether to advance the citations to the full Senate.]


Slick...

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Kucinich suggests a Republican running mate

quote[Call it the liberal-libertarian ticket, where left meets right and Democrat Dennis Kucinich picks Republican Ron Paul to be his vice president.

Kucinich, the Cleveland congressman running in a longshot bid to become president, suggested it himself Sunday.

"I'm thinking about Ron Paul" as a running mate, Kucinich told a crowd of about 70 supporters at a house party here, one of numerous stops throughout New Hampshire over the Thanksgiving weekend. A Kucinich-Paul administration could bring people together "to balance the energies in this country," Kucinich said.]


I still don't see it happening. And Kucinich would probably lose my vote over such a move.

Keith Olbermann Cameos On "The Simpsons"

quote[Keith Olbermann had a voice cameo on "The Simpsons" last night, appearing in Marge's nightmare. Olbermann called Marge, high on TiVo and fast-forwarding through commercials, a "content burglar" and told her, "You've been watching TV shows but skipping the commercials that pay for them. That makes you the worst person in the world." The MSNBC anchor was taking over the airwaves last night: TVNewser points out that Olbermann appeared in his regular slot on NBC's Football Night in America and also showed up in a rerun of Family Guy.]

It would figure that I'd miss it this week.

Romney: No Muslims In His Cabinet

quote[I asked Mr. Romney whether he would consider including qualified Americans of the Islamic faith in his cabinet as advisers on national security matters, given his position that "jihadism" is the principal foreign policy threat facing America today. He answered, "…based on the numbers of American Muslims [as a percentage] in our population, I cannot see that a cabinet position would be justified. But of course, I would imagine that Muslims could serve at lower levels of my administration."

Romney, whose Mormon faith has become the subject of heated debate in Republican caucuses, wants America to be blind to his religious beliefs and judge him on merit instead. Yet he seems to accept excluding Muslims because of their religion, claiming they're too much of a minority for a post in high-level policymaking. More ironic, that Islamic heritage is what qualifies them to best engage America's Arab and Muslim communities and to help deter Islamist threats.]


Fucking hypocrite!

Now let's get this straight: There's about 2.8 million Muslim Americans, or ~0.6% of the population, while Mormons comprise ~1.4% of the population. Based on his argument, and those demographics, why should he be allowed to be president?

Consider further that the U.S. population is 14.5% latino. Will Romney allow any hispanics in his administration?

Monday, November 26, 2007

Lott expected to announce resignation at noon Monday

quote[Onetime Senate GOP leader Trent Lott is expected to announce his resignation at a noon press conference Monday, giving Republicans another open seat to defend in next year's election, according to several reports Monday.

By resigning before Jan. 1, 2008, Lott will dodge new ethics laws that would require him to wait two years before taking on a lucrative lobbying gig in Washington, NBC correspondent Kelly O'Donnell reports. And the early resignation will give the Mississippi senator more influence in who would become his successor.]


Dropping like flies...

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

What's On Conservatives Minds

quote[Most viewed pages

1. Main Page‎ [1,916,072]
2. Homosexuality‎ [1,586,040]
3. Homosexuality and Hepatitis‎ [517,534]
4. Homosexuality and Promiscuity‎ [421,328]
5. Gay Bowel Syndrome‎ [395,935]
6. Homosexuality and Parasites‎ [388,714]
7. Homosexual Couples and Domestic Violence‎ [373,352]
8. Homosexuality and Gonorrhea‎ [331,740]
9. Homosexuality and Mental Health‎ [292,836]
10. Homosexual Agenda‎ [271,005]]


God forgive the fucking hypocrites!

Focus Grouping War with Iran

quote[Laura Sonnenmark is a focus group regular. "I've been asked to talk about orange juice, cell phone service, furniture," the Fairfax County, Virginia-based children's book author and Democratic Party volunteer says. But when she was called by a focus group organizer for a prospective assignment earlier this month, she was told the questions this time would be about something "political."

On November 1, she went to the offices of Martin Focus Groups in Alexandria, Virginia, knowing she would be paid $150 for two hours of her time. After joining a half dozen other women in a conference room, she discovered that she had been called in for what seemed an unusual assignment: to help test-market language that could be used to sell military action against Iran to the American public. "The whole basis of the whole thing was, 'we're going to go into Iran and what do we have to do to get you guys to along with it?" says Sonnenmark, 49.]


This is not good...

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

McCain Says He'd Even Use Rove's Help

quote[Presidential hopeful John McCain said Monday he doesn't hold grudges and indicated he would accept campaign help from Karl Rove, the architect of then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush's 2000 triumph that dashed McCain's presidential hopes seven years ago.]

Someone is getting desperate!

Former WH Press Sec.: Bush, Rove helped pass along 'false information' on Plame

quote["The most powerful leader in the world had called upon me to speak on his behalf and help restore credibility he lost amid the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq," writes McClellan. "So I stood at the White house briefing room podium in front of the glare of the klieg lights for the better part of two weeks and publicly exonerated two of the senior-most aides in the White House: Karl Rove and Scooter Libby."

But his press performances weren't based on the facts, McClellan continues.

"There was one problem. It was not true," he writes. "I had unknowingly passed along false information. And five of the highest ranking officials in the administration were involved in my doing so: Rove, Libby, the vice President, the President's chief of staff, and the president himself."]


Sorry. His chance at redemption passed long ago. I wouldn't spend a dime on his book.

Friday, November 16, 2007

Reid plans Thanksgiving Senate session to prevent recess appointments

quote[Democrats are refusing to be made turkeys over the holidays by a lame duck president, a capitol newspaper reports.

"Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has decided to keep the chamber in session over the Thanksgiving break to block President Bush from making any unsavory recess appointments while Senators are out of town," Erin P. Billings reports for Roll Call.

Reid explained Friday, "With the Thanksgiving break looming, the administration informed me that they would make several recess appointments. I indicated I would be willing to confirm various appointments if the administration would agree to move on Democratic appointments."

"They would not make that commitment," the Senate Majority Leader added.]


Awesome!

Support The Goddamn Troops!!!!

quote[He lost part of his skull in the blast and part of his brain was damaged. Half of his left arm was amputated and some of the fingers were blown off his right hand.

Ziegel, a 25-year-old Marine sergeant, knew the dangers of war when he was deployed for his second tour in Iraq.

But he didn't expect a new battle when he returned home as a wounded warrior: a fight with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"Sometimes, you get lost in the system," he told CNN. "I feel like a Social Security number. I don't feel like Tyler Ziegel."]


I am so sick and tired of being told I don't support the troops because I am NOT for this stupid war. I DO support the troops. I want them home. I want them safe. I want them taken care of when they are injured.

I just wish the rightie blow-hards who constantly rail against those of my cause would want the same.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

House votes to end CIA rendition program, ACLU says

quote[A little noticed prohibition in the Democrats' $50 billion Iraq funding bill that passed the House Wednesday would effectively end CIA renditions, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

The ACLU, one of the largest nonprofit organizations fighting the Bush Administration on torture and civil liberties issues, lauded House members for passing the bill, which faces a rocky road in the Senate.

The Iraq funding measure revises the Army Field Manual to prohibit torture and abuse, including waterboarding, and authorizes an array of specific interrogation tactics. It specifically states that CIA operatives must adhere to these rules as well.]


Another good point today.

U.S. Is Looking Past Musharraf in Case He Falls

quote[Almost two weeks into Pakistan’s political crisis, Bush administration officials are losing faith that the Pakistani president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, can survive in office and have begun discussing what might come next, according to senior administration officials.

In meetings on Wednesday, officials at the White House, State Department and the Pentagon huddled to decide what message Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte would deliver to General Musharraf — and perhaps more important, to Pakistan’s generals — when he arrives in Islamabad on Friday.

Administration officials say they still hope that Mr. Negroponte can salvage the fractured arranged marriage between General Musharraf and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. But in Pakistan, foreign diplomats and aides to both leaders said the chances of a deal between the leaders were evaporating 11 days after General Musharraf declared de facto martial law.

Several senior administration officials said that with each day that passed, more administration officials were coming around to the belief that General Musharraf’s days in power were numbered and that the United States should begin considering contingency plans, including reaching out to Pakistan’s generals.]


We are in scary times.

House passes FISA update without telecom immunity

quote[House Democrats succeeded Thursday in passing a foreign surveillance law update that would restore judicial oversight to foreign intelligence gathering efforts aimed at Americans and would not grant legal immunity to telecommunications companies that facilitated the warrantless surveillance of Americans.

On a 224-192 vote, largely along party lines, the House adopted its proposal to update the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The measure, known as the RESTORE Act, would replace a temporary FISA update approved in August.]


Good!

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Barack Obama's Speech From Saturday



This was quite impressive!

Pump price to jump 20 cents next 2-3 weeks: government

quote[U.S. consumers could pay record gasoline prices for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday with pump costs expected to climb another 20 cents over the next two to three weeks, the government's top energy forecaster warned on Monday.

Guy Caruso, who heads the U.S. Energy Information Administration, said not all of the recent jump in crude oil prices has been reflected in motor fuel costs which now top $3 a gallon in many parts of the country, about 80 cents more than a year ago.]


Bill O'Reilly is right!!! There really is a war on Christmas!!

Happy holidays!

Former pilots and officials call for new U.S. UFO probe

quote[An international panel of two dozen former pilots and government officials called on the U.S. government on Monday to reopen its generation-old UFO investigation as a matter of safety and security given continuing reports about flying discs, glowing spheres and other strange sightings.

"Especially after the attacks of 9/11, it is no longer satisfactory to ignore radar returns ... which cannot be associated with performances of existing aircraft and helicopters," they said in a statement released at a news conference.]


You have to believe the guy with the pointy ears!

Savage: "[L]oving, kind lesbian" is "the type that stuffed ovens in Hitler's concentration camps"

quote[On the November 8 edition of Talk Radio Network's The Savage Nation, a caller told host Michael Savage that while waiting at a stoplight in Midtown Manhattan, "I'm listening to you with the window open. This mean-faced, clipped-hair, liberal type -- you know, the type you always talk about. ... She comes up to my window and she goes, 'You're listening to hate speech. Why are you listening to that?' " Savage replied to the caller's anecdote by saying, "Well, what does that tell you about the loving, kind lesbian who just assaulted you in your car?" He continued: "She's a -- the type that stuffed ovens in [Adolf] Hitler's concentration camps. Whenever I hear anyone preaching to me about how compassionate they are, I reach for my Glock. That's all I can tell you. They can all drop dead."

Savage later said: "They're the ones that Hitler used to stuff ovens with human beings in the concentration camps, only now they pose as compassionate, wonderful human beings. They don't fool me for one minute."]


This guy is becoming increasingly unhinged!

Monday, November 12, 2007

After 30 years, Taco Bell didn't even offer her any hot sauce

quote[Nine years ago, Winnie Shilson stopped a bullet for Taco Bell. Last Friday, the company that owns Minnesota's Taco Bell restaurants emptied the other barrel.

It fired her.

Shilson will be 64 next month, and her story may illustrate how a fast-food society treats workers, especially its most experienced ones. After 30 years working for Taco Bell and the chains that preceded it, Shilson was fired Friday as manager of the Edina Taco Bell, dismissed without severance pay or medical benefits.

"Not even a taco," says her husband, Doug. "They didn't give her a thing."]


This is really sad...

Suspect in Pearl Murder Was Held, Covertly Questioned Before Death

quote[A long-sought suspect in the slaying of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl was secretly detained and interrogated by U.S. and Pakistani intelligence agencies before he died earlier this year, say U.S. and Pakistani law-enforcement officials.

The revelation about the suspect, Saud Memon, suggests that the interrogation may have played a role in his death, say lawyers and human-rights advocates who have accused the Bush administration of colluding with Islamabad in illegally arresting and detaining scores of suspected terrorists since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.]


Nah...We don't torture.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Clinton Or Giuliani?

quote[A new poll for The Courant shows Clinton and Giuliani in a virtual dead heat in the presidential race in Connecticut. Among 501 adults who were polled by the Center for Survey Research and Analysis at the University of Connecticut, some - including Oates and Gahagan - discussed with a reporter why they were supporting a particular candidate. All identified themselves as unaffiliated voters. Candidates from both mayor parties view independents as crucial to their victory on Nov. 4, 2008.]

What the Hell is wrong with Connecticut? Giuliani?? Give me a break!

Friday, November 09, 2007

Bhutto under house arrest in Pakistan

quote[Pakistani police placed opposition leader Benazir Bhutto under house arrest Friday, uncoiling barbed wire in front of her Islamabad villa, and reportedly rounding up thousands of her supporters to block a mass protest against emergency rule.]

This is not good.

US and Iranian forces in the Gulf

quote[A glance at U.S. and Iranian military forces in the Persian Gulf area.]

Something tells me it would be such a great idea to attack...

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Ron Paul: Racist, Misogynist?

quote[Totally Paul-ly

Here it is, a collection of some of Paul's "greatest" quotes, taken from seven of his monthly political newsletters written between 1990 and 1994. Because of the incredibly politically incorrect content, Morris asked Paul to release all past copies of the Ron Paul Survival Report to the media, going back to the newsletter's origin in 1986. Paul promised to do so, but never did. Individual copies, however, can be requested from his surfside home, at 409/233-5854. As to why he wouldn't release his entire body of work to the media, Paul says voters may not understand his "tongue-in-cheek, academic" writings.

* "Opinion polls consistently show that only about 5% of blacks have sensible political opinions, i.e. support the free market, individual liberty and the end of welfare and affirmative action."

* Although "we are told that it is evil to be afraid of black men, it is hardly irrational. Black men commit murders, rapes, robberies, muggings and burglaries all out of proportion to their numbers."

* "Black males age 13 that have been raised on the streets and who have joined criminal gangs are as big, strong, tough, scary, and culpable as any adult and should be treated as such."

* "The Earth Summit is the creepiest meeting of politicos since the first gathering of Bolsheviks. Officially known as the UN Conference for Environment and Development, it will be held in Brazil in June; bad guys from all over the globe will attend."

* "[Hillary Clinton] is one of the most dangerous women in public life. Not only is she a fanatical abortion advocate, she wants parents to register with the government as a condition for having children to be able to sue and `divorce' themselves from their parents. Maybe her daughter ought to sue her parents for attempting to raise her as a leftist. That sure qualifies as abuse to me."

* "...University of Texas affirmative action law professor Barbara Jordan is a fraud. Everything from her imitation British accent, to her supposed expertise in law, to her distinguished career in public service, is made up. If there were ever a modern case of the empress without clothes, this is it. She is the archetypical half-educated victimologist, yet her race and sex protect her from criticism."

* Disgruntled taxpayer "Dean Hicks fired bombs through mortars at night at buildings of the Internal Revenue Service in California. Hicks did damage federal property, but no individuals were injured... Hicks was sentenced to 20 years in prison, given a $45,000 fine, and ordered to pay $335,000 in restitution to the IRS. If he had been a serial murderer, he would not have gotten this sort of sentence."

* "Why do we need the federal government? There's no Cold War and no Communist threat. Many other nations are breaking into smaller and smaller pieces. The centralization of power in Washington occurred in a different time. Why not think about getting rid of the federal government, returning to the system of our Founders, and breaking up the United States into smaller government units?"

* "There is good news after the L.A. riots. Statewide, gun sales are up 45% over the same period last year. People have been purchasing a record number. If the cops are not going to take care of the problem, the people will."

* "There is no such thing as a hate crime, only crimes against person and property."]

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Dems Cave...Again

quote[Despite the criticism they have heaped onto President Bush's attorney general nominee over the past few weeks, Democrats appear to lack the gumption necessary to do everything possible to prevent Michael Mukasey from becoming the country's top cop.

Two prominent Democrats on the Judiciary Committee surprised colleagues when they announced support for Mukasey late Friday afternoon. The support from Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Charles Schumer, the New York Democrat who recommended Mukasey early on, virtually assured the success of his nomination.]

Bush Backs Musharraf

quote[ President Bush on Monday urged Gen. Pervez Musharraf, the Pakistani president, to hold elections and give up his army post “as soon as possible,” but gave no indication that the general’s imposition of emergency rule would bring about any significant change in American policy.

The comments were the first by Mr. Bush since General Musharraf’s move over the weekend ignited a constitutional crisis. Mr. Bush would not comment about what the United States might do if the Pakistani leader ignored the pleas, saying only, “I hope he takes my advice.” ]


What about spreading our freedoms??

This is very scary.

Friday, November 02, 2007

State joins search for African lion in W.Va. woods

quote[A state agency is using a video camera and raw chicken to help determine whether the king of the jungle is prowling the woods in Greenbrier County.



Bow hunter Jim Shortridge swears he saw a full-grown, male African lion weighing between 250 and 300 pounds at the foot of Cold Knob Mountain earlier this month. The state Division of Natural Resources confirmed that at least one other person has reported seeing the lion.



Using a camera normally employed to catch people dumping trash illegally, the state Department of Environmental Protection has joined with Greenbrier County Animal Control Officer Robert McClung and exotic animal expert Jim Forga to see if they can substantiate the sightings.



Twenty pounds of raw chicken left on the site last week were devoured, but McClung said that doesn't prove the lion's existence.]


Yikes!

Is this due to global warming??? (I jest).

Places to see before they disappear

Interesting points. And, no, this has no connection (or very little) to Al Gore.

Scientists Create Lesbian Worms

quote[By altering a gene in the brain of a female worm, scientists were able to change its sexual orientation so that it was attracted to other females. Scientists activated the gene that makes male structures develop in the body, but only turned it on in the brain.

The result was worms that “look like girls, but act and think like boys,” according to Jamie White, a researcher on the study.
The study supports the idea that sexual orientation is the result of the brain’s wiring. Erik Jorgensen, scientific director of the Brain Institute at the University of Utah, said the study “suggests sexual behavior is encoded in our genes.”]


Nature VS. Nurture?

Mr. Spam Goes To Washington?

quote[If Texas congressman Ron Paul is elected president in 2008, he may be the first leader of the free world put into power with the help of a global network of hacked PCs spewing spam, according to computer-security researchers who've analyzed a recent flurry of e-mail supporting the long-shot Republican candidate.]

Sorry for the title. I had to.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Bush adviser says waterboarding 'is legal,' won't say if it's used

quote[Bush adviser defends AG nominee's stance on interrogation tactic

Despite Attorney General nominee Michael Mukasey's apparent inability to give a firm yes-or-no answer on the legality of subjecting detainees to simulated drowning, a prominent White House aide insisted the program is "legal," although the government won't say whether it uses the technique.]


Just when you thought they couldn't stoop any lower...

To Implement Policy, Bush to Turn to Administrative Orders

quote[The White House plans to try implementing as much new policy as it can by administrative order while stepping up its confrontational rhetoric with Congress after concluding that President Bush cannot do much business with the Democratic leadership, administration officials said.

According to those officials, Bush and his advisers blame Democrats for the holdup of Judge Michael B. Mukasey's nomination to be attorney general, the failure to pass any of the 12 annual spending bills, and what they see as their refusal to involve the White House in any meaningful negotiations over the stalemated children's health-care legislation.

Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.

White House aides say the only way Bush seems to be able to influence the process is by vetoing legislation or by issuing administrative orders, as he has in recent weeks on veterans' health care, air-traffic congestion, protecting endangered fish and immigration. They say they expect Bush to issue more of such orders in the next several months, even as he speaks out on the need to limit spending and resist any tax increases.]


It's official: we no longer have a democracy.

Is impeachment still off the table???

Monday, October 29, 2007

Fox heralds Bush as World Series hero

quote[A sentimental montage broadcast by Fox as part of its World Series coverage included President Bush’s opening pitch during game three of the 2001 World Series -- a month and a half after the Sept. 11 attacks -- as one of the greatest moments in baseball championship history.

The Fox montage, which placed the president’s ceremonial throw alongside some of the sport’s most celebrated events -- including Babe Ruth and his immortal 1932 “called shot” home run -- used actors posing as firemen to set the scene:

“The president’s at Yankee Stadium,” one fireman says as he watches television footage of Bush striding to the pitcher’s mound. “He’s in our uniform.”

“A strike!” another calls out as Bush throws the ball to home plate.]


Unbelievable!

Friday, October 26, 2007

Brewer, Ore. Candidate Bump Heads Over Campaign Site

quote[The Boston brewers of Sam Adams beer got wind of campaign Web sites bearing their name in Portland's mayoral race and sent a letter to the people who registered the sites, saying would they please knock it off.

Trouble is, the candidate is named Sam Adams and has been for a long time, since before the brew hit the market.

Portland's Sam Adams is a far cry from the Bostonian Sam Adams, patriot, brewer and rabble-rouser of Revolutionary War times.

Enterprising KEX radio hosts Mark Mason and Dave Anderson registered the Web addresses www.samadamsformayor.com and www.mayorsamadams.com, promising to give them to Adams if he discussed his political future on their show. Adams did.]


This is ridiculous. Write Boston Brewing and tell them how stupid this makes them look.

Attack Iran and you attack Russia

quote[The barely reported highlight of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Tehran for the Caspian Sea summit last week was a key face-to-face meeting with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

A high-level diplomatic source in Tehran tells Asia Times Online that essentially Putin and the Supreme Leader have agreed on a plan to nullify the George W Bush administration's relentless drive towards launching a preemptive attack, perhaps a tactical nuclear strike, against Iran. An American attack on Iran will be viewed by Moscow as an attack on Russia.]


This is scary...

Chris Dodd For Majority Leader

The rumor mill has it that Dodd may be vying for the position. I hope it is true.

So far, Reid has been ineffective and and praactically a Bush lackey. This isn't the leadership we voted for last November. It's time for another change!

Help Oppose Telecom Amnesty



I'm real close to coming out with an endorsement for Dodd.

Food Frauds

quote[The company touts that the "cereal combines the crunch of whole grain goodness, the smooth creaminess of yogurt and the sweet taste of berries….” Yet there is more refined rice than whole grain wheat, no berries (just dyed apple pieces), and no yogurt (just yogurt powder that is usually heat treated, killing any beneficial bacteria) in the cereal.]

Good list. I just wish they had more on it.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Another Reason To Never Shop Wal-Mart

quote[Some people that work here had a going away party the other day for a woman that is leaving. One of the supervisors called a Walmart and ordered the cake. He told them to write: “Best Wishes Suzanne” and underneath that write “We Will Miss You”. Here’s the cake that was delivered:]

Good God!

Name a candidate, any one

quote[While 81 percent of the public surveyed can name a Democratic candidate unprompted -- 78 percent volunteering Clinton, and 62 percent Obama -- by contrast, just 59 percent can name any Republican candidate. Giuliani is the best known, with 45 percent of the public naming him.]

LOL!

A distant comet explodes, another Red Sox omen?

quote[On Oct. 27, 2004, a lunar eclipse when the Red Sox were winning their first championship in 86 years. Wednesday night, a comet discovered 115 years ago exploded in a burst of light and Boston scored 13 runs in its second World Series in four seasons.]

Nah...I'm not suspicious.

The One Thing That Could Make Me Root Against The Red Sox

quote[Republican presidential hopeful Tom Tancredo wants to put something important on the line -- his candidacy. His campaign called ABC News to issue this challenge: The Colorado congressman will drop out of the race if the Rockies lose the World Series -- if rival Mitt Romney agrees to pack it in if the Red Sox lose.]

Seriously...

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Fox News: Al Qaeda is causing the CA wildires.

quote[his morning on Fox News, hosts of the show Fox and Friends blamed the wildfires in California on a new culprit: al Qaeda. They pointed to a 2003 FBI memo, which raised the possibility that al Qaeda may try to set wildfires around the western United States. They also noted that men in a “hovering helicopter” saw “a guy starting one of these fires.” Watch it:]

Good God!

Beck: "[A] handful of people who hate America ... are losing their homes in a forest fire today"

quote[On the October 22 edition of his nationally syndicated radio program, host Glenn Beck stated, "I think there is a handful of people who hate America. Unfortunately for them, a lot of them are losing their homes in a forest fire today." Beck continued: "There are a few people that hate America. But I don't think the Democrats are those. I think there are those posing as Democrats that are like that." Beck's comment came as forest fires ravaged parts of Southern California, leaving one person dead, four firefighters wounded, and forcing about 1,500 people from their homes, according to The New York Times.]

Oh, that left-wing media!

Bush offers to bomb Kurds

quote[HE Bush Administration is considering air strikes, including cruise missiles, against the Kurdish rebel group PKK in northern Iraq.

The move would be an attempt to stave off a Turkish invasion of that country to fight the rebels.

President George Bush spoke with Turkish President Abdullah Gul by phone yesterday in an effort to ease the crisis.

And Prime Minister John Howard says the tensions on the Turkey-Iraq border will not help the west's battle for democracy in Iraq.

Mr Howard said there was some recent evidence that US forces were making headway in their battle against al-Qaeda in Iraq following the US troop surge.]


Nice...

Bush Asks for $46 Billion More for Wars

quote[President Bush asked Congress for $46 billion more to bankroll wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and said he wants the money approved by Christmas. The fighting in Iraq, in its fifth year, already has cost more than $455 billion.

Democrats who gained control of Congress with an antiwar message said Bush should not expect lawmakers to rubber-stamp the request.

"The colossal cost of this war grows every day — in lives lost, dollars spent, and to our reputation around the world," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. "The American people long ago rejected the president's planned 10-year occupation of Iraq and want the administration to provide a concrete plan to bring our troops home.

"The choice is between a Democratic plan for responsible redeployment of our troops and the president's plan to spend another trillion dollars for a 10-year war in Iraq. We must end this war."]


But he won't fund children's health care.

Of course the asshole democrats will give him what he wants...

Friday, October 19, 2007

Ron Paul Introduces the American Freedom Agenda Act

quote[Madam Speaker, today I am introducing a comprehensive piece of legislation to restore the American Constitution and to restore the liberties that have been sadly eroded over the past several years.

This legislation seeks to restore the checks and balances enshrined in the Constitution by our Founding Fathers to prevent abuse of Americans by their government. This proposed legislation would repeal the Military Commissions Act of 2006 and re-establish the traditional practice that military commissions may be used to try war crimes in places of active hostility where a rapid trial is necessary to preserve evidence or prevent chaos.]


A step in the right direction.

Thanks, JohnR!

Establishment Media Finally Admits Ron Paul Is Top Tier Candidate; Could Win Nomination

quote[Ron Paul commented on the issue in a message to supporters, “The blackout is ending; our campaign is starting to get mainstream media attention, thanks to growing donations and volunteers.”

Ron Paul continued in his message to supporters:

“All over America, our support is wide and deep and growing, and young people are joining like never before. After the Dearborn debate, I went to the University of Michigan for a rally. 2,000 students turned out, something that has happened to no other candidate this year.”

It is a remarkable fact that Ron Paul has consistently drawn crowds all across the country that continuously seem to dwarf those of his opponents. Given the scant media coverage Paul has received it is a testament that his message is resonating.]


This should make some readers happy!

Hate the Flu? New Vaccine May Destroy Flu Permanently

quote[It's been more than 50 years since Jonas Salk created the first polio vaccine; thanks to his discovery, and Albert Sabin's a few years later, just a handful of polio cases are reported each year. But fifty years is a long time to wait for another watershed vaccine, so I checked my crystal ball to see what inventions were in progress in the biomedical field.

And what I saw was the eradication of... No, this can't be... Eradication of the flu! Not only the flu, but all strains of flu... and colds! And the vaccine is not too far off.]


Where was this last week?

Randi Explains Her Drunken Face Plant








Sad, really...

Entire Daily show archive on line

quote[Viacom has put the entire eight year run of the Daily Show with John Stewart online. The content is available from the official Daily Show site, and features clip rating, tags, and numerous community features.]

Awesome!

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Torre out as Yankee manager

quote[Joe Torre has turned down a one-year deal with a vested option to return to manage the Yankees, president Randy Levine just said in a conference call.

Levine said the Yankee brass offered Torre a $5 million base salary with $1 million in a signing bonus, $1 million for making the ALCS and $1 million if he made the World Series. Levine said the option would vest if Torre made it to the World Series for $8 million in 2009.

Levine said Torre turned the deal down and now the Yankees are going "to move quickly" to hire a new manager, but did not reveal who.]


It's about time he thumbed his nose at Steinbrenner. I hope he enjoys retirement.

Wake Up Cat



This was cute...

Plan Would Ease Limits on Media Owners

quote[The head of the Federal Communications Commission has circulated an ambitious plan to relax the decades-old media ownership rules, including repealing a rule that forbids a company to own both a newspaper and a television or radio station in the same city.

A proposal from Kevin J. Martin could change media ownership rules in two months.

Kevin J. Martin, chairman of the commission, wants to repeal the rule in the next two months — a plan that, if successful, would be a big victory for some executives of media conglomerates.]


Why is it that the only stuff that gets done is when it panders to corporate interests???

Man Of The Year?

quote[However leery Mr. Dawson may be about Mr. Colbert’s plans, he said that he did not believe the Republicans could stop him from seeking both Republican and Democratic delegates. “There is nothing in our filing that would prohibit him from running on both ballots, if he chose to pay the filing fees,” he said.

And what is that fee? It is $35,000, Mr. Dawson said.

“The great thing about America,” Mr. Dawson said, “is, if you can meet the constitutional requirements to run for president of the United States, you can do so. In Mr. Colbert’s case, we look forward to his paying the filing fee before Nov. 1.”]

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Stephen Colbert's NYT Op-Ed Column

quote[Surprised to see my byline here, aren’t you? I would be too, if I read The New York Times. But I don’t. So I’ll just have to take your word that this was published. Frankly, I prefer emoticons to the written word, and if you disagree :(

I’d like to thank Maureen Dowd for permitting/begging me to write her column today. As I type this, she’s watching from an overstuffed divan, petting her prize Abyssinian and sipping a Dirty Cosmotinijito. Which reminds me: Before I get started, I have to take care of one other bit of business:

Bad things are happening in countries you shouldn’t have to think about. It’s all George Bush’s fault, the vice president is Satan, and God is gay.]


This was funny.

Hunted paedophile suspect named

quote[A suspected paedophile who appears in 200 internet images abusing young boys has been named by Thai police as a Canadian teaching English in Asia.

They said he was Christopher Paul Neil, 32. Interpol said they had indentified the suspect but did not name him.

Interpol had appealed for public information after the suspect's digitally-swirled image in internet photos was unscrambled by experts.]


Good news!

Retirement season hits GOP hard

quote[This is crunchtime for members of Congress who must decide whether to seek reelection next year or leave office, and so far Republicans seem to be lunging for the exits. While 16 GOP lawmakers have decided to throw in the towel on their Capitol Hill careers, only two Democrats so far have called it quits -- and they both are seeking higher office.

The disparity underscores the sharply different moods in the two parties: Democrats, still heady from winning control of Congress last year, are enjoying the fruits of power. Republicans, their party in disarray and reduced to minority status in the House and Senate, see more allure in retirement or private life.

"I don't like being in the minority," said Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.), who was first elected in the 1994 GOP landslide and will retire after this term. "It's not that much fun, and the prospects for the future don't look that good."]


Woo-hoo!

Hillary Won't Rule Out War With Iran

quote[Hillary Clinton today moved to secure her position as the most hawkish Democrat in the 2008 presidential race, saying she would consider the use of force to compel Iran to abandon its nuclear programme.

In an article for Foreign Affairs magazine intended as a blueprint for the foreign policy of a future Clinton White House, the Democratic frontrunner argues that Iran poses a long term strategic challenge to American and its allies, and that it must not be permitted to build or acquire nuclear weapons.]


Let's face this too: She's really a moderate republican.

Ron Paul, The Candidate For Bigots?

quote[Through no fault of his own, Rep. Ron Paul's anti-globalist, anti-government campaign for the Republican presidential nomination has become a magnet in neo-Nazi networks, pulling in activists and supporters from the fringe white nationalist community where anti-Semitism, anti-black and anti-immigrant views are commonplace.

In some cases, these internet-based activists acknowledge that even though the Paul campaign does not have a racist or anti-Semitic agenda, it can serve as a vehicle to find sympathizers and to recruit new loyalists drawn to the Republican congressman's opposition to international trade agreements, federal police authority and to the income tax.

Such web-based organizations as Stormfront (motto: "White Pride, World Wide"), Vanguard News Network ("No Jews. Just Right.") and the Nationalist Coalition ("working to create the relationships that will lay the foundation for the White community that is necessary to our survival") have become sources of support for Paul's bid for the Republican nomination, and in some cases have set up separate Ron Paul discussion groups.]


Let's face it. He may be rabidly anti-war, but he's also on extreme right-winger.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Progressive talker Ed Schultz ties Bill O'Reilly in audience size

quote[And they said liberal talk radio would never survive.

According to Talker's Magazine, a trade industry publication, the nation's largest progressive talk show radio host Ed Schultz is now tied in the number of radio listeners to conservative radio personality Bill O'Reilly.

Last November, Schultz leapt from 3pm to 6pm ET to the choice noon to 3pm ET slot, the same time slot as conservative talker Rush Limbaugh and, at the time, Air America's Al Franken.

A new survey by Talkers Magazine listed Schultz's weekly audience at 3.25 million weekly listeners, the same number of listeners enjoyed by O'Reilly, host of the Fox News Channel's The O'Reilly Factor.]


Raw Story article here.

Turkey shells rebels in northern Iraq

quote[Turkey is shelling suspected Kurdish rebel camps across the border in northern Iraq, a newspaper reported Wednesday, but the government appeared unlikely to move toward sending ground troops until next week.
ADVERTISEMENT

A large-scale military incursion would disrupt one of the few relatively peaceful areas of Iraq and jeopardize Turkey's ties with the United States, which has urged Ankara not to take unilateral steps.

The Turkish military launched a major offensive on its side of the border this week in response to more than a week of deadly attacks in southeastern Turkey by the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK.]


The whole region is screwed.

Draft Gore!

quote[Dear Vice President Gore:

Americans from every corner of our nation are calling on you. Please listen to our plea and run for the Democratic nomination for the presidency of the United States in 2008.

Never before has America needed a leader of your stature, vision and experience more than now. The next presidential election will be the most crucial one in our history, and you are the only Democrat who can unite the country and lead us to victory. And this country -- indeed, the entire world -- cannot afford anything less.

Our nation and the planet itself are entering “a period of consequences,” as you so well stated in “An Inconvenient Truth,” but in more ways than one. We are ruled by a government of the powerful and for the powerful -- a government that tramples our Constitution, wages unjust war in our name, sacrifices our economic future, and puts our very planet on the endangered species list.

America and the world need you now more than ever. Be our candidate. Run for president. And we pledge that we'll be there for you every day until the last vote is counted.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned,]

Nobel win 'would boost hopes of Gore candidacy'

quote[Al Gore never quite closed the door on running for president again and his many loyalists are now pinning their hopes on Norway's Nobel committee, in the belief that the prize must be his, this year of all years.

The Nobel Prize will be announced on Friday in Oslo and for many, Mr Gore is head and shoulders above the other 181 candidates. The Nobel committee also has a reputation for making political choices. A peace prize may soon be added to the Emmy he won for his Current TV channel and the Oscar that was awarded last February for his call to arms on climate change, An Inconvenient Truth.

With little debate among candidates about America's role in causing global warming, the Draft Gore movement has been growing by leaps and bounds. It boasts a website that puts most official presidential candidates to shame. It has petitions to sign, a campaign song to sing, Draft Gore buttons, DVDs and ways to contact other Gore enthusiasts. Pre-written opinion articles are on hand on the site urging Mr Gore to run which his supporters are encouraged to plagiarise and send to their local newspaper.]


Please, please, please!

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Fred "The Human Cabbage" Thompson

quote[Twenty-four minutes after he began speaking in a small restaurant the other day, Fred D. Thompson brought his remarks to a close with a nod of his head and an expression of thanks to Iowans for allowing him to "give my thoughts about some things."

Then he stood face to face with a silent audience.

"Can I have a round of applause?" Mr. Thompson said, drawing a rustle of clapping and some laughter.

"Well, I had to drag that out of you," he said.]


Now that's just pathetic...

Teh Holiez Bibul


quote[18. Now, teh burth of teh Christ was liek dis: After Marry and Joseph were all "We's gonna get marrieded, kthnx", but before dey could had PENIS GOES WHERE?, Mary was all preggy from the Holey Ghosty.

19. Joseph was all liek "Oh snap, dis embarrassin. I's gonna hide mah wife".

20. But when he was tihnkin, zomg, angel frm Ceiling Cat was in his dreems! Angel sayed "Hai, don't be fraided to has Mary for ur wife, cuz her baby be frm Holey Ghosty.

21. "And she gonna made a son, and you gonna call him Jesus, cuz he gonna save ppl and pwn dere sinz. Kthxbye."

22. So all dis was all did so it'd be all liek Ceiling Cat sayed it was gonna be. His profet was all liek:

23. "Hay guise, look at dis, teh virgin iz all preggers, and dey gonna call him Immanuel", dat be joospeek for "Ceiling Cat wit us"

24. Then Joseph woked up, done wat teh angel frm Ceiling Cat tolded him to, and was all liek "U wit me now lol" at Mary.

25. And dey didnt has teh PENIS GOES WHERE? til affer dey gets a son and calleded him Jesus. Ktnx.]


The LOLCat Bible.

If you get any of the above, you are officially a dork (like me).

Hannity to Dobson: Support Rudy or face Hillary 'landslide'

quote[Prominent social conservative Dr. James Dobson appeared with Fox News host Sean Hannity to discuss his support for a pro-life, third-party presidential candidate if both eventual Democratic and Republican nominees support abortion rights. Hannity warned that an endorsement of such a candidate from Dobson, who heads the evangelical group Focus on the Family, could spell disaster for the goals of the pro-life movement.

"If in fact you were to mount a third-party challenge and support a third-party candidate, the result would be a 'landslide victory for Hillary Clinton,'" said Hannity, citing a recent Rasmussen poll that found Republican frontrunner Rudy Giuliani would lose to Clinton by 16 points if a more conservative pro-life alternative entered the race.]


Oh, please. please, please form a third party.

Monday, October 08, 2007

Couple Gets Married At Wal-Mart

quote[Guests at a wedding in western Ohio didn't have to go far to go for a last-minute gift.

Chett Eldridge and Dannalee Hornback got married at their local Wal-Mart Thursday.

Chett manages the store's Tire and Lube Express and Dannalee is a supervisor in the crafts department.

The 45-year-old bride and 51-year-old groom met in March, at employee orientation.

It was in furniture that he first asked her out.

Now in the same building they met, they're saying their I do's, and the super center helped them with a few wedding day glitches.

"I can't get my toe nails done. He was like, 'Yyeah you can, there's a place at Wal-Mart. You can get everything there.'" said Dannalee.

Rows of lawn chairs were set up in the lawn and garden area for the ceremony.

It went smoothly except for one "Attention Wal-Mart shoppers" announcement that interrupted things.

The wedding cake was provided by the store bakery, and of course, the couple registered at Wal-Mart.]


Good grief!

Friday, October 05, 2007

Craig's decision to stay a headache for GOP

quote[Some fellow Republicans are peeved that Sen. Larry Craig has decided to complete his term despite his earlier announcement about resigning, but the Idaho lawmaker still has his backers.
art.craig.door.jpg

Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, has backed off an earlier statement that he would resign from the Senate.

"It's embarrassing for the Senate. It's embarrassing for our party," said Sen. John Ensign of Nevada, who leads the GOP's Senate campaign committee.

"I think it's best for the U.S. Senate, it's best for certainly his party, that he just keeps his word," Ensign told reporters outside the Senate chamber Thursday. "He gave us his word he would do something, and he's backing out on us, and I don't think that's the right thing to do."]


Ha! I love it. And it'll be the senate republicans who keep this story alive.

Supporting The Troops?

quote[Anderson's orders, and the orders of 1,161 other Minnesota guard members, were written for 729 days.

Had they been written for 730 days, just one day more, the soldiers would receive those benefits to pay for school.

"Which would be allowing the soldiers an extra $500 to $800 a month," Anderson said.

That money would help him pay for his master's degree in public administration. It would help Anderson's fellow platoon leader, John Hobot, pay for a degree in law enforcement.]


This is seriously messed up.

Thursday, October 04, 2007

A Minnesota judge has rejected Sen. Larry Craig's bid to withdraw his guilty plea stemming from a men's room sex sting arrest.

Poor, poor Tappy McWidestance!

'The Question' causes furor at local high school

quote[The girl was called out of class by a security guard during a school sweep last week to make sure no kids had backpacks or other banned bags.

Samantha Martin had a small purse with her that day.

That's why the security guard, ex-Monticello cop Mike Bunce, asked her The Question.

She says he told her she couldn't have a purse unless she had her period. Then he asked, "Do you have your period?"

Samantha was mortified.]


WTF??!!!??? I hope her parents sue.

Jack Kingston Wants To COMMEND Rush Limbaugh



Where was this A-hole when congress condemned MoveOn.org???

Contact Your Local Rush Limbaugh Radio Station Today

quote[Apparently, it wasn't enough for Rush Limbaugh to call American service members who advocate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq "phony soldiers." Two days later, on September 28, while defending his remarks during the portion of his program broadcast on American Forces Network to our men and women in uniform around the world, Limbaugh went a step further and named decorated Marine Vietnam veteran and Congressman John P. Murtha (D-PA) one of the "phony soldiers." Then, on October 2, Limbaugh went beyond the pale and assailed VoteVets.org for running an ad featuring Brian McGough, an Afghanistan and Iraq war veteran who received the Purple Heart and was severely injured by an IED in Iraq. Limbaugh called the ad "a blatant use of a valiant combat veteran, lying to him about what I said, then strapping those lies to his belt, sending him out via the media in a TV ad to walk into as many people as he can walk into" -- actually comparing McGough to a suicide bomber!]

I almost wrote my local station, but after looking at their lineup I was so sickened that I couldn't even do it.

Maybe later...

Two Calif. cities to vote on banning smoking in apartments

quote[Lawmakers in two California cities are casting votes this month on unprecedented legislation that would widen a growing voluntary movement by landlords and resident associations to ban smoking inside apartments and condos.

Today in Calabasas, the City Council plans to vote on expanding its anti-smoking law to bar renters from lighting up inside existing apartments. It would exempt current resident smokers until they moved but would require all new buildings with at least 15 units, including condos, to be smoke-free.]


This is draconian, at best.

Ridiculous.

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Bush Vetoes Child Health Insurance Plan

quote[President Bush, in a sharp confrontation with Congress, on Wednesday vetoed a bipartisan bill that would have dramatically expanded children's health insurance.

It was only the fourth veto of Bush's presidency, and one that some Republicans feared could carry steep risks for their party in next year's elections. The Senate approved the bill with enough votes to override the veto, but the margin in the House fell short of the required number.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., decried Bush's action as a "heartless veto."

"Never has it been clearer how detached President Bush is from the priorities of the American people," Reid said in a statement. "By vetoing a bipartisan bill to renew the successful Children's Health Insurance Program, President Bush is denying health care to millions of low-income kids in America. "]


I hope this is a fatal blow to the neocons in '08.

South, Vermont eye secession from US

quote[In an unlikely marriage of desire to secede from the United States, two advocacy groups from opposite political traditions — New England and the South — are sitting down to talk.

...

Mark Potok, director of the Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Project, which monitors hate groups, said the League of the South "has been on our list close to a decade."

"What is remarkable and really astounding about this situation is we see people and institutions who are supposedly on the progressive left rubbing shoulders with bona fide white supremacists," Potok said.]


My mind is boggled.

It's a Man, Baby!

quote[COULTER: If we took away women's right to vote, we'd never have to worry about another Democrat president. It's kind of a pipe dream, it's a personal fantasy of mine, but I don't think it's going to happen. And it is a good way of making the point that women are voting so stupidly, at least single women.

It also makes the point, it is kind of embarrassing, the Democratic Party ought to be hanging its head in shame, that it has so much difficulty getting men to vote for it. I mean, you do see it’s the party of women and 'We’ll pay for health care and tuition and day care -- and here, what else can we give you, soccer moms?']


I don't usually like even mentioning this hag, but I couldn't resist this one. Is she admitting to being a male? Again?

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Sizing Up A Cat's Potential Personality - Through Its Shape

quote[Next up are the squares, which have a cobbier silhouette, such as the Maine coon.

Squares are social butterflies who want everyone to get along and require quality time with their owners.

"They're very demonstrative and basically very dog-like," Okura says of these "frat-house boys." "Every day's a party, and they're highly social with everybody. But if they don't get human contact, they can be destructive. The perfect home is not going to be someone who's a flight attendant."]


My cat, Maggie, is definitely a square.

Christian Conservatives Weigh Abandoning GOP

quote[A group of highly influential Christian conservative leaders met over the weekend to discuss their rising dissatisfaction with the Republican Party and their willingness to consider supporting a third-party presidential bid should a supporter of abortion rights — specifically, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani — earn the GOP presidential nomination.

The meeting took place during a weekend convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, of the highly secretive Council for National Policy, an invitation-only organization of conservative leaders founded in 1981. Participants in the presidential discussion, however, said the smaller gathering was not an official CNP event.

Those at the smaller meeting included James Dobson of Focus on the Family, Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, and Richard Viguerie, a direct mail pioneer, who recently authored "Conservatives Betrayed: How George W. Bush and Other Big Government Republicans Hijacked the Republican Base."]


Yeah!

BTW, Viguerie was on the Ed Schultz Show yesterday, but I haven't listened to it yet.

MLB.com offers fans unprecedented postseason package

quote[MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, announced today that its exclusive postseason subscription package, which includes the viewing of every postseason game live and on-demand outside of the United States, Canada, South Korea and Japan, is available now...]

What the fuck is the point????

For 15 bucks, I can get to watch nothing live? Yipee!

Monday, October 01, 2007

Goldwater Miller '08

quote[Family name. No skills. Just like W.]

Awesome!

US trains Gulf air forces for possible Iran strike, while revisiting strategy at home

quote[Two days after the a British report that an Assistant Secretary of Defense declared, "I hate all Iranians," a report from the Gulf reveals the US is training Arab militaries and regional leaders for a possible war with Iran.

A Washington-based air warfare conference last month, led by Air Force chief of staff Gen. Michael Mosley, was told how the US has helped coordinate intelligence sharing and organize group military exercises designed to make parallel warfare easier.]


It's coming...

Friday, September 28, 2007

Boy survives two-hour flight to Moscow hanging onto plane wing

quote[After clinging on for the entire 1300-kilometer (808-mile) flight to Vnukovo Airport, the boy, named Andrei, collapsed onto the tarmac. His arms and legs were so severely frozen that rescuers were at first unable to remove his coat and shoes, the radio station said.

The airport did not confirm the report. "We have no information on this," the Vnukovo press service told RIA Novosti.

However, Moscow's air and water transport control department said the radio's claim was true. A department spokesman said the incident occurred on Friday, and that the boy's parents were immediately informed, and flew to the capital the same day.]


WTF???

Great! Here Comes The "War On Christmas" Again

These cornered righties are fucking ridiculous.

You Can't Plead 'Innocent'

quote[ When Martin said his client wanted to plead innocent, Porter interrupted to chide him on a point that was clearly meant to be more rhetorical than legal. There is no such plea in Minnesota, the judge told Porter.

Here, as elsewhere, you are either guilty or not guilty, he said.

It's an obvious point, and yet it is one that Craig seems to have missed. There is no way he will be declared innocent, even if he wins a trial and is found not guilty.]


Great point!

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Bill Clinton rips GOP with memories of 'swift boat' campaign

quote[These are the people that ran a television ad in Georgia with [former Senator] Max Cleland, who lost half his body in Vietnam, in the same ad with Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. That's what the Republicans did, Clinton said. "And the person that rode to the senate on that ad was there voting to condemn the Democrats over the Petraeus ad. I mean, these are the people that funded the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.

Clinton pointed out that "the President appointed one of the principal funders of the Swift Boat ads to be an ambassador."]


Two thumbs up on this one...

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Rather May Depose W. In His Lawsuit Against CBS

quote[When asked by Carol Joynt, host of the "Q&A Café" held at Nathans restaurant who worked with Rather at CBS in the 1970s, whether "he'd like to" call President Bush as a witness in the trial, Rather said "I'd like not to answer the question," leaving both Joynt and audience members wondering whether the newsman has Bush in his sights." Joynt later told Yeas & Nays, "From the look in his eye -- and he gave me a definite Ratheresque look -- I got the impression he will call the president as a witness. Possibly both of them: 41 and 43. He implied the suit is not against them, but what the suit is about stems directly from his antagonistic relationship with them."]

Like Bush would actually comply...

House joins in formal condemnation of MoveOn ad

quote[The House overwhelmingly voted to condemn MoveOn.org's controversial "General Betray Us" ad that ran 16 days ago, with one Democrat comparing MoveOn's rhetoric to Cold War-era attacks lodged by Joseph McCarthy.

More than two weeks after MoveOn purchased its full-page New York Times advertisement, Republicans continue to attack the liberal anti-war group and, by association, Democratic members of Congress and presidential candidates.

Wednesday's 341-79 House vote to condemn the ad comes a week after the Senate voted to condemn the ad. Democrats control both chambers, and a substantial number of Democrats joined nearly all Republicans in chastising the anti-war message.]


Fucking unbelievable!

O'Reilly surprised "there was no difference" between Harlem restaurant and other New York restaurants

quote[Summary: Discussing his recent dinner with Rev. Al Sharpton at the Harlem restaurant Sylvia's, Bill O'Reilly reported that he "couldn't get over the fact that there was no difference between Sylvia's restaurant and any other restaurant in New York City. I mean, it was exactly the same, even though it's run by blacks, primarily black patronship." O'Reilly added: "There wasn't one person in Sylvia's who was screaming, 'M-Fer, I want more iced tea.' "]

What a racist pig!

Go to their main site to see more of this unfolding saga.

When words get in the way, Bush goes phonetic

quote[When Bush addressed the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, the White House inadvertently showed exactly how -- with a phonetic pronunciation guide on the teleprompter to get him past troublesome names of countries and world leaders.

The White House was left scrambling to explain after a marked-up draft of Bush's speech popped up briefly on the U.N. Web site as he delivered his remarks, giving a rare glimpse of the special guidance he gets for major addresses.

It included phonetic spellings for French President Nicolas Sarkozy (sar-KO-zee), a friend, and Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe (moo-GAH-bee), a target of U.S. human rights criticism.

Pronunciations were also provided for Kyrgyzstan (KEYR-geez-stan), Mauritania (moor-EH-tain-ee-a) and the Zimbabwe capital Harare (hah-RAR-ray).]


We always knew he was an idiot.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Supreme Court to rule on lethal injection executions

quote[The U.S. Supreme Court said on Tuesday it would decide whether the commonly used lethal injection method of execution violated the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

The nation's highest court said it would decide in its upcoming term an appeal by two death row inmates from Kentucky arguing that the three-chemical cocktail used in lethal injections inflicted unnecessary pain and suffering.

Their lawyers said the Supreme Court has not addressed the constitutionality of a method of execution or the legal standard used to determine whether the method violated the ban on cruel and unusual punishment in more than 100 years.]


Gee, I wonder how they'll rule???

Shuster to Rep. Blackburn: “When was the last time a New York Times ad ever killed somebody?”

quote[Tucker substitute host David Shuster confronts Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) about the blatant hypocrisy of the Republican party when he asks about Rush Limbaugh’s Senator Betrayus smear against Senator Chuck Hagel and all Blackburn wants to do is rehash tired slams against the New York Times over the MoveOn ad.

As Blackburn prattles on about the NYT betraying the public trust and making sweetheart deals, Shuster turns the tables on her and asks her to name the last soldier from her district who was killed in Iraq — and what do you know? She had no idea what his name was, or even why she didn’t know. Watch Blackburn stutter and get backed into a corner, with Shuster proving she cared more about making partisan hits than she did about the dead soldiers from her own district.

MSNBC, get that man his own show!]


Great clip!

Prosecutor: Craig Urged to Get a Lawyer

quote[rosecutor Christopher Renz, in a motion opposing Craig's request to withdraw his guilty plea, wrote that he spent considerable time in a July 17 conversation telling the Idaho senator how the legal process would work if he chose to plead guilty.

"The defendant told Mr. Renz that he felt he was in a difficult situation as the result of the public office he held, in response to which Mr. Renz said that he appreciated that difficulty and for that reason the defendant should consult with an attorney," Renz wrote.

...

Renz wrote that Craig didn't decide to withdraw his plea until after he was hurt by the publicity of the allegations. Denying his motion "prevents further politicking and game playing on the part of the defendant in relation to his plea," Renz wrote.

Craig clearly "had hoped that he could plead guilty and that the plea would not be discovered by the media or public," Renz wrote. "The defendant chose to plead guilty and consciously took that risk. The defendant's current pursuit of withdrawal of his guilty plea is reactionary, calculated and political."]


If this gets overturned, I think I'll puke.

Friday, September 21, 2007

Support Free Speech!

Quote[The U.S. Senate just told you to sit down and be quiet. They passed a resolution condemning MoveOn.org and it has one purpose: to intimidate all of us who care about responsibly ending this war. They wanted to send a message that anyone who speaks unpleasant truths about this war will pay. To make everyone--especially politicians--think twice before they accuse the administration of lying.

We can't let that happen, so we're letting Congress know that they're not going to intimidate us. Can you sign on to this statement?

A compiled petition with your individual comment will be presented to your Senators and Representative.]


Please sign the petition.

Here Are The Asshats WE PAY FOR That Have Nothing Better To Do



Quote[ Grouped By Vote Position
YEAs ---72
Alexander (R-TN)
Allard (R-CO)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Conrad (D-ND)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Craig (R-ID)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Dole (R-NC)
Domenici (R-NM)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagel (R-NE)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johnson (D-SD)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Kohl (D-WI)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Leahy (D-VT)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Lott (R-MS)
Lugar (R-IN)
Martinez (R-FL)
McCain (R-AZ)
McCaskill (D-MO)
McConnell (R-KY)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)
Roberts (R-KS)
Salazar (D-CO)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stevens (R-AK)
Sununu (R-NH)
Tester (D-MT)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (R-VA)
Webb (D-VA)]


Where were these assholes when Kerry was being swift-boated????

W. Afraid Of Horses?

quote[

George Bush the Texan is 'scared of horses'

By Alex Spillius in Washington
Last Updated: 3:55am BST 21/09/2007

President Bush may like to be seen as a swaggering tough guy with a penchant for manly outdoor pursuits, but in a new book one of his closest allies has said he is afraid of horses.

George W Bush saddles up,
but where is the horse?

Vicente Fox, the former president of Mexico, derided his political friend as a "windshield cowboy" – a cowboy who prefers to drive – and "the cockiest guy I have ever met in my life".

He recalled a meeting in Mexico shortly after both men had been elected when Mr Fox offered Mr Bush a ride on a "big palomino" horse.

Mr Fox, who left office in December, recalled Mr Bush "backing away" from the animal.

''A horse lover can always tell when others don't share our passion," he said, according to the Washington Post.

Mr Bush has spoken of his fondness for shooting doves and cutting brush on his Crawford ranch in Texas, which he bought in 1999.]


Cowboy Up...

Dan Rather Worried About Fate Of Democracy

quote[Former CBS anchor Dan Rather recently filed a $70 million lawsuit against CBS, saying they made him a "scapegoat" when he was fired for a September 2004 story on 60 Minutes about President Bush's unsatisfactory service in the Texas Air National Guard.

When Rather appeared on Larry King's program Thursday, King began by showing him a 2005 clip of himself saying, "I'm not a victim of anything except my own shortcomings."

But he added, "Somebody, sometime has got to take a stand and say democracy cannot survive, much less thrive with the level of big corporate and big government interference and intimidation in news."]


I'm glad he's standing up to this.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Darth Cheney

quote["Vice President Cheney came up to see the Republicans yesterday. You can always tell when the Republicans are getting restless, because the Vice President’s motorcade pulls into the Capitol, and Darth Vader emerges," Hillary Clinton said just now at a $100-a-head fundraiser at Town Hall near New York's Times Square, referring to Cheney's efforts shore up Republican congressional support for the Iraq war.

"I’m not invited to their meetings and I don’t know what he says or does," she said, in an informal conversation on stage with former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack and retired General Wesley Clark. "But all the brave talk about bringing our troops home, and setting deadlines, and getting out by a certain date just dissipated."]


I love it...

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Senate Rejects Expanding Detainee Rights

quote[A Republican filibuster in the Senate today shot down a bipartisan effort to restore the right of terrorism suspects to contest their detentions and treatment in federal courts, underscoring the Democratic-led Congress's difficulty with terrorism issues.

The 56-43 vote fell short of the 60 needed to cut off debate and move to a final vote on the amendment to the Senate's annual defense policy bill. But the measure did garner the support of six Republicans, a small victory for its supporters.

Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.

The Senate then moved to the first big showdown over Iraq war policy of the fall, taking up a measure by Sens. James Webb (D-Va.) and Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) to guarantee that troops receive home stays at least as long as their last combat deployments before being sent back to war.]


Can't these clowns get anything right???