Schnizzle Bizzle

I Welcome Our Benevolent Plutocrat Overlords

2011-03-09T17:44:00.000-08:00

I just hope the Tea Partiers enjoy all the free catfood and Soylent Green they will be getting from their Americans For Prosperity Benefactors.

Lame Duck Democrats

2010-09-23T14:04:00.000-07:00

Popular idea to hold separate votes on the tax cuts [(<$250,000) then (>$250,000)] gets shelved "till after the election".

Well, after the election, say goodby to Senators Feingold, Bennet, and Lincoln; hello to Republicans Toomey, Boozeman, and Johnson. Hell maybe even O'Connell.

What the hell are they thinking?

Austerity Measures

2010-06-16T16:24:00.000-07:00

USA style

Now instead of unemployment benefits, these lucky duckies can go straight to welfare benefits and chewing on cardbord for nutrition.

But we simply must bail out the big banks!

If "Top Kill" doesnt work, then

2010-05-27T04:38:00.000-07:00

How about "Run out Clock" - let the oil flow untill the well runs dry.

Or "Top Melt" use a nuke to vaporize the oil.

Or "Top of the Heap" Just keep dumping stuff on top hoping something eventually plugs the leak.

Maybe "Top Flight" will work, just run away and hope the Rapture takes us all away from that messy oil.

The Meaning of Peak Oil

2010-05-06T08:28:00.000-07:00

The common criticism of the Peak Oil theory is that "there is plenty of oil left to get"; from tar sands to coal conversion to drilling at deeper depths of the ocean. The problem is, people making this argument are missing the obvious point. Of course there is plenty of oil, it's just not the "easy oil". Most of the easy to get stuff is gone - now we're going to have to go after stuff that is riskier to get and more energy intensive to produce. At some point, the economics will have to take over, and some people (or nations) will not be able to afford the stuff. When that becomes widespread enough, global instability will occur, local economic instability will become more prevalent, and....more bad stuff will happen.

Ok, Maybe The Joker Was Wrong

2010-03-22T10:07:00.000-07:00

It only took 3 months to figure it out.

Now maybe we can start believing in them again.

I Guess The Joker Was Right

2010-01-22T08:50:00.000-08:00

about the Democratic Party.

"You see, their morals, their code, it's a bad joke. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. I'll show you. When the chips are down, these... these civilized people, they'll eat each other."

Evidently saving 18,000 to 47,0000 people this year by reforming health care was not enough of a potential reelection boost for Democrats this year. Oh well maybe in 15 more years (after ~half a million more unneccesary deaths) we can try again.

Democrats are doomed

2010-01-20T11:37:00.000-08:00

They all backed out. They said HCR was a done deal, was going to happen, and they chickened out right at the finish line.

This is the end of the Democratic majority. This is the end of health care reform. Obama will be a 1 term president. And so many people who were hopeful that thinks could actually change for the better will give up for good.

Time to stop hoping, and start hoarding.

Proof That We Are Entering The Weimar Republic Phase

2010-01-19T13:13:00.000-08:00

The fact that one of the "bluest" states in the US would let Ted Kennedy's seat be turned over to a Republican speaks volumes on the state of our nation. This same Republican has vowed to fight the very thing that Kennedy has spent his time in the Senate fighting for. Furthermore, he promises to help thwart any progress in legislation at a time when so much needs to be done to help the US from falling into 3rd world status. The very fact that his additional vote for the minority party at all (41 to 59 as opposed to 40-60) is substantial enough to bring the Washington legislative process to a screeching halt shows how broken the system has become. Not 5 years ago, the Republican party was able to force through votes with "only" 55 seats by "nuclear option" threats and reconcilliation process.

Coakley loses + wavering house Dems kill HCR + no legislative progress in 2010 = loss of Dem majorities in house and Senate.

Probably forever.

Voters want a party in power that legislates, that actually does things. Even bad legislation passing shows that the party in power is able to wield power effectively.

Bipartisanship

2009-10-01T04:53:00.000-07:00

"Beyond that, Conrad said, public option “has become one of the most divisive issues in health reform” and “simply cannot get the 60 votes needed to pass"

Actually, just because the republic party is not in power, that the rule should be that no bills pass without 90 votes.

On the plus side, we will have true bipartisanship.

On the minus side, taxpayers will end up paying congressional salaries to people who will do nothing more than sit around with their thumbs up their asses getting nothing done.

"They Drink The Sand 'Cause They Don't Know The Difference"

2009-08-14T05:48:00.000-07:00

From Digby

The lack of true understanding in those who are voicing opposition to health care shows the true power of propaganda that is broadcast through our radio and televisions today. These people think that Obama is personally going to dismantle our country and remake it in the image of Russia. Russia. Why, if he was going to remake our country into anothers image, would he chose Russia? Why not France, or Japan, or, Finland?

This is about reforming health care, for crying out loud. This is about (hopefully, in it's ideal form) making it possible for Americans to have affordable health insurance. It's about imposing just enough regulation on an industry so they can't tell you that "sorry, we can't help you, but thanks for paying those premiums all those years" when you get sick and need them to do what you actually paid them to do.

These people are ok with us going to war, but we can't have universal healthcare?

Best Health Care In The World

2009-08-11T04:56:00.000-07:00

Even if you're insured, you can be royally screwed:

Our six-month-old daughter cost over $22,000.

You’d think, with a number like that, we must have used fertility treatments—but she was conceived naturally. You’d think we went through an adoption agency—but she is a biological child. So surely, we were uninsured.

Nope. Birthing our daughter was so expensive precisely because we were insured, on the individual market. Our insurer, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, sold us exactly the type of flawed policy—riddled with holes and exceptions—that the health care reform bills in Congress should try to do away with. The “maternity” coverage we purchased didn’t cover my labor, delivery, or hospital stay. It was a sham. And so we spent the first months of her life getting the kind of hospital bills and increasingly aggressive calls from hospital administrators that I once believed were only possible without insurance."

This is what the future holds for the currently insured - people will pay their premiums, and still have to pay massive hospital bills because it is far more profitable for insurance companies to deny payouts and litigate against their clients.

Congrats To Senator-Elect Franken

2009-07-01T04:52:00.000-07:00

Now go kick some butt - I want my national health insurance plan NOW!

(Not So) Deep Thought

2009-06-25T05:43:00.000-07:00

Governing a state from Argentina is very hard.

Abortion for Me, Not for Thee

2009-06-03T05:15:00.000-07:00

This, in light of Dr. Tiller's murder, just sad.

And yes, this may not be the "typical" response whan a "pro-life" woman (or that woman's daughter) gets pregnant. the point is, these people had the chance to make their choice, and the only people who would have judged them are the very people that they stand with.

Not So Deep Thought

2009-06-02T04:56:00.001-07:00

The appearence of all these white people appearing on my tevee calling a Latino woman a racist member of a priviledged upbringing is slightly disturbing.

Torture Thought

2009-05-18T12:26:00.000-07:00

So if torture kept America safe and was justifiable, why did field soldiers like Lynndie England face court martial and punishment for "keeping America Safe"? Note: of the 15 soldiers accused/convicted, 13 were below the rank of captain. Only one above the rank of staff sergeant was convicted.

Sweet Jeebus On Tuna and Toast

2009-04-15T19:38:00.000-07:00

Commence banging head on keyboard in 5....

Syracuse, NY -- Joanne Wilder has never protested anything in public before. She's never boxed with City Hall, let alone Washington. But today in downtown Syracuse, the 60-year-old great-grandmother will lead a Tax Day Tea Party protest against the spending policies of the Obama administration and Congress.
[...]

4.....

They concede they did not publicly object as the federal budget deficit soared during the Bush administration.

3.....

"President Bush kept me safe," Wilder said as an explanation.

2.....

She said she retired on disability from M&T Bank three years ago after undergoing knee replacement and back surgeries. She lives on her Social Security and disability benefits. Last year, she petitioned the bankruptcy court for protection from creditors.
She said she did not have to pay federal income taxes last year because her income was too low.

1....

Americans need safety nets, but Obama and Congress are pushing programs that foster dependency and weaken capitalism, said Smith, who acknowledged he collected food stamp benefits for a few months last year.

"Obama is horribly divisive," Smith said.

CRASH!

Being Rich Is Not An Inherent Right

2009-01-12T05:23:00.000-08:00

This is the best argument for reinstating pre-Reagan tax brackets that I've seen in a long while.

"Even judged by its own yardstick, the trickle-down approach has failed to deliver: Rather than getting richer, we have been slowly impoverishing ourselves. While incomes at the very top have soared to levels beyond imagining even a generation ago, the average inflation-adjusted income of the bottom 90 percent of earners was lower in 2006 than it was back in 1973. "

{...}

"We may never get back to the pre-Reagan tax rate for the top earners (70 percent), but we should at least nudge it back to the Clinton-era rate of 39.6 percent, as Obama has proposed, and for simplicity's sake round to 40 percent. To motivate executives, publicly traded companies could still be allowed to give out unlimited stock bonuses, provided that the execs pay taxes on the shares, cannot sell them for three years after leaving a company, and then must spread sales over at least five years. This would create a powerful incentive to manage companies for long-term success, which is good for jobs—and a smart ceo could still get fabulously rich."

Screw that - the Rich and Super Rich have been on a 28 year tax holiday, and it is time to pay back their country for its due. They have all the money to pay for everything that we need to get our economy running smooth again. And, they will still have greater wealth than the average middle class American will ever be able to accumilate in his/her lifetime.

Chapter >>>, Where A Notable and Famous Blogger Refers To My Commentary And Allows Me a Brief Ego Boost..........

2008-11-19T15:49:00.000-08:00

From Ezra's Blog:

[ I think five or six of your questions were about Joe Lieberman, so let's talk it out.

Marceau, I think, frames the issue correctly:

So, now the prevailing wisdom is this; now that Lieberman has gotten to keep his coveted seat, he will be more amenable to voting with the democrat caucus, and be supportive of President Obama when it comes to key policy legislation. So - what evidence is there to support this, and what then is to be done when Lieberman "votes his concience" and sides with the GOP on health care, bankruptcy, Iraq, etc.etc.?

Here's what you need to say about Lieberman: His heterodoxies have remained contained. Unlike John McCain, who conveyed his post-2000 disgust with the Republican Party by sponsoring a lot of liberal legislation on essentially random issues, Lieberman's fight with the Democrats has not strayed from foreign policy. For instance: His 2007 AFL-CIO voting record was 84 percent. That's exactly the same as his lifetime AFL-CIO voting record. In the most recent Congress, his score from the League of Conservation was 96 percent (which is actually a recent career high). Lieberman is, arguably, an extremely reliable Democratic vote. The exception, of course, is foreign policy, where he's an extremely reliable Republican vote.
But he's not really needed on foreign policy votes. The president has broad autonomy on strategic questions. The recent votes to force Bush to withdraw from Iraq were Congress trying to impose its will on the executive. Obama can withdraw almost without congressional involvement, unless they decide to muster 60 votes to stop him, which is not going to happen. So Lieberman's heterodoxies are now almost irrelevant from a legislative perspective.
That said, the operational effect of stripping Lieberman would have been that he becomes a Republican, and caucuses with them. It would have meant his incentives shift to curry favor with Republican voters. It would have, in other words, made him a fairly unreliable Democratic vote on domestic issues. The question became, then, does the satisfaction of retribution outweigh the value of one more vote in an extremely close Senate? It's hard to say that it does. And now, of course, Lieberman owes his safety to Obama, and is certainly aware that there's a healthy constituency that would love to strip him of his seat, or his chairmanship. So he'll presumably go out of his way to be helpful. That's not to say it's a satisfying outcome to see him escape all consequences for his actions in recent years. But this isn't about satisfaction. It's about votes.]

Hopefully, the theory that Lieberman will vote with the democrats on the issues that matter (health care, environment, infrastructure investment, bankruptcy) will bear fruit - we'll see in a few months if this was the correct path. For the moment, I think that the progressives that were pounding at the gates demanding Liebermans demotion should take solace in the fact that Obama, by helping Lieberman keep his commitee chairmanship, is willing to take the bet that Lieberman will be an aid in the senate, rather than a hindrance.

And, if things turn out otherwise, the progressive blogosphere can feel free to call out "I told you so!" to all listeners.

Reasons I Am Voting For Obama

2008-11-03T15:08:00.000-08:00

- Because my taxes will go down under an Obama Administration.

- Because more Americans will have a chance for better health care under an Obama administration.

-Because an Obama administration believes in diplomacy and following the rules (Geneva Conventions) in the world arena, not "Oderint Dum Metuant".

- Because an Obama administration will govern with the belief that Americans can work together to overcome obstacles, rather than using those obstacles to divide us.

- Because an Obama administration will govern with the belief that government can actually work effectively for the people, and that if people, businesses and corporations follow the rules they can succeed and prosper in a fair society.

The Stakes

2008-10-09T05:57:00.000-07:00

Under McCain:

You're employer-sponsored healthcare - gone.
Any chance of preventing future Wall Street meltdowns - gone.
Any chance of balancing the federal budget - gone.
Chance of reducing our energy independence on foreign oil - gone.
Polar bears - gone.
Government transperency - gone.
Open dialect with Russia, China, Iran, North Korea - gone.
Chance of getting out of Iraq - gone.
Government guaranteed Social Security - gone.

Any Questions?

If Gore Had Won...

2008-10-02T06:45:00.000-07:00

With a new election coming up, and another chance for Americans to either turn America toward recovery or further into the dung heap, I started thinking back to that wonderful cluster$$$$ election of 2000. So here is my take on "What if Gore Had Won?":

- No 9/11. Gore would have implemented the Hart-Rudman commision reccommendations to create a "Homeland Security Taskforce" (more homeland security, less ducttape and alert colorcodes), and would have implemented a proccess better coordination between law enforcement agencies. By the time the August PDB had come around, several, if not many of the perpetrators would have been apprehended, causing the terrorist plan to fall apart. Furthermore, evidence linking the plan to Bin Laden may have allowed the US to use covert means to catch Bin Laden in the process.

So no 9/11, no Afganistan invasion, no Iraq invasion, Bin Laden captured and imprisoned, no Guantanamo Bay prison, no Abu Ghraib scandal, no loss of habeas corpus, no Patiot Act, no one booing the Dixie Chicks for making fun of Dubya.

- No (Major) Enron debacle. The Gore white house would not have had the ties to Ken Lay,et.al. that Bush had, and would have never allowed the California energy crisis to occur. Restrictions on Enron abuses of energy trading may have caused Enron to fail anyway, but at a much lesser cost to the US and especially California's economy.

So no major Enron blowout (only minor), Worldcom, et.al. collapse results in stricter regulation of accounting/business practices, Arthur Andersen is shaken up but remains intact, no rolling blackouts in California, Davis stays Governor or retires at the end of his last term and is replaced by Cruz Bustamante, no Arnold Terminator Gov., no massive hole in California budget.

- The first 1999 tech bubble starts the ball rolling on how to jump start the economy with stimulus packages targeted toward infrastructure and environmental resource solutions. These initiatives cause a return of annual national debt for a couple of years, but the influx of new revenue created by the government investment allowes the government revenue to post annual surpluses again in 2-3 years. Positive economy and job creation allow Gore to be elected a 2nd time. By 2008, the national debt had been reduced from ~6 trillion in 1999 to ~4 trillion - the level it was in 1992.

So, no economy crash, no 10 trillion debt, more jobs, more income for middle America......

Feeling depressed yet?

A Staggering Thought

2008-09-30T13:41:00.000-07:00

“If all the bank loans were paid up, no one would have a bank deposit, and there would not be a dollar of currency or coin in circulation. This is a staggering thought. We are completely dependent on the commercial banks for our money. Someone has to borrow every dollar we have in circulation, cash or credit. If the banks create ample synthetic money, we are prosperous; if not, we starve. We are absolutely without a permanent monetary system.When one gets a complete grasp upon the picture, the tragic absurdity of our hopeless position is almost incredible - but there it is. It (the banking problem) is the most important subject intelligent persons can investigate and reflect upon. It is so important that our present civilization may collapse unless it is widely understood and the defects remedied very soon.”

- Robert H. Hemphill, Credit Manager of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

We Are So Screwed

2008-09-29T18:35:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the next Earth Extinction Period...

In 2007, carbon released from burning fossil fuels and producing cement increased 2.9 percent over that released in 2006, to a total of 8.47 gigatons....This output is at the very high end of scenarios outlined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and could translate into a global temperature rise of more than 11 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century, according to the panel's estimates.

At least in The Day After Tomorrow, people realize in the end that humans have created an environmental catastrophe, and there is hope that the world can try to fix things. Reality is, we're all going to be like frogs sitting in the warming pot, not realizing that were about to be boiled alive.

Reinstate Glass-Steagall NOW!

2008-09-21T18:30:00.000-07:00

Any member of congress with a shred of integrity must vote an emphatic NO on any goverment bailout of Wall Street. Any so called rescue MUST come in the form of new regulations and oversight. Any Wall Street entity must sign on to extensive regulatory reform BEFORE recieving a dime of goverment assistance. If it means reinstating and modernizing Glass-Steagall and any other oversight measures, so be it.

Congress must offer the choice to Wall Street:

Want our help? Accept reregulation/oversight/compliance with STRICT oversight.

Don't like the terms? Fine....sink or swim on your own.

Market Gamblers Get Taxpayer Bailout

2008-09-19T12:31:00.000-07:00

So much for that "Free Market" crap:

After shooting up more than 400 points at the opening bell, The Dow Jones industrial average was up more than 370 points, a 3.4 percent gain, by 2:30 p.m. That is on top of a 400-point gain late yesterday after news of a government program began to emerge and could bring the market to break-even for the week. The technology-heavy Nasdaq was up 2.5 percent and Standard & Poor's 500-stock index rose 3.7 percent.

Basically, Wall Street is celebrating because Uncle Sam has taken our money and used it to buy all the dogshit that investors thought was full of diamonds.

They get to keep buying more dogshit, we get to eat it.

Is Palin Really All That Popular In Alaska?

2008-09-18T14:38:00.000-07:00

Via Mudflats:

I’ve been asked a couple times for comparative images of the Pro-Palin rally and the Anti-Palin rallies. So, here they are.
Here’s the pro-Palin rally in a room with a capacity of 5000 people. If you don’t count security, secret service, staffers, and media, I’m guessing a maximum of about 800-900 people. Boots on the ground from the Ed Schultz Show that was in town, counted the crowd at about 500.

[Looks pretty empty for a "popular" VP candidate visiting her home state]

Next, we have pictures of the Anti-Palin rally that was held across the street...

There were between 1400 and 1500 rally-goers, and about 90 at the counter rally according to an observer who went through the crowd with a counter. Anchorage police estimated “more than 1500″.

The Anti-Palin rally, by the way, was the largest rally in the history of the state of Alaska.

Maybe Palin is "popular" down here, where her politics and persona are relatively unknown (and can therefore be easily airbrushed by the McCain Campaign and the conservative media).

People in her home state are not fooled by her facade, neither should we.

Das Kapitalism

2008-09-16T19:01:00.000-07:00

Bear Sterns: Govt. loans millions (billions?) in a non-recourse loan to keep company propped up.....Bear Sterns then is sold for $10/share - over 90$/share loss in a year.

Freddie/Fannie: Govt. takes over and is left holding as much as $100 billion of junk stock (currently selling at $0.25/share - $60/share loss in a year).

Lehman Bros: Govt. lets Lehman sink....Stock value ~$0.30/share - over $60/share loss in a year.

AIG: Currently hanging onto the hope that the fed will loan enough money to help cover ~$80 billion of red on the balance sheet, or they will go bust in 1-2 days. Currently holding at ~$3/share, - over $60/share loss over a year.

Glass-Stengall, and several other laws that were made for the express purpose to prevent Wall Street from turning into Casino Royale (using other peoples money to place their bets), were all repealed bit by bit in order to "free up the markets". Next time someone says that regulation and oversight hinder and hurt the American economy, ask them if they think that having the American taxpayer shelling out billions to well-heeled bankers to save them from their impractical idiocy is helping our economy at all.

UPDATE: US Treasury loanes AIG $85 Billion for 80% of the company????? WTF??? Who is next...Ford, GM, Goldman Sachs? Might as well just start handing out welfare checks to all the companies. Sorry no new oversight or regulations please, just give us the money.

Sarah Palin: Alaskan Bush Clone?

2008-09-14T06:11:00.000-07:00

Their style of governance seens errily similar:

When Ms. Palin had to cut her first state budget, she avoided the legion of frustrated legislators and mayors. Instead, she huddled with her budget director and her husband, Todd, an oil field worker who is not a state employee, and vetoed millions of dollars of legislative projects. ...

...While Ms. Palin took office promising a more open government, her administration has battled to keep information secret. Her inner circle discussed the benefit of using private e-mail addresses. An assistant told her it appeared that such e-mail messages sent to a private address on a “personal device” like a BlackBerry “would be confidential and not subject to subpoena.” ...

Democrats and Republicans alike describe her as often missing in action. Since taking office in 2007, Ms. Palin has spent 312 nights at her Wasilla home, some 600 miles to the north of the governor’s mansion in Juneau, records show.
During the last legislative session, some lawmakers became so frustrated with her absences that they took to wearing “Where’s Sarah?” pins.
Many politicians say they typically learn of her initiatives — and vetoes — from news releases. ...

This is who we want a heartbeat from the presidency?

Didn't we just endure the last 8 years with a president thant was so uninterested in his country that he couldn't be bothered to lift his oun ass out of his comfy home chair at his Crawford mansion and DO SOMETHING when he was told that enemies of America were going to attack his beloved country? A person who spends more time enjoying playing "Look at ME!! I'm Presnit!! I RUULZ U!!! 1!11!!" than actually giving a royal fuck about making sure the machinations of goverment are actually working?

Do we really want more of this?? Huh?

Historical Facts Regarding The War on Terror

2008-09-13T14:04:00.000-07:00

Number of Iraqis that hijacked the airliners on Sept. 11, 2001: 0

Number of proven links between Iraq and the Sept 11 attacks: 0

Number of proven links between Al-Qaida and Iraq relating to the Sept. 11 attacks: 0

Number of proven links showing direct Iraqi support of Al-Qaida: 0

Number of proven intelligence links showing Iraqi development and deployment of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons: 0

Number of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons used by Iraq against the Coalition invasion force in March, 2003: 0

Number of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons and or laboratories discovered by Coalition forces since the invasion: 0

White house estimates of the maximum cost of the Iraqi invasion before March, 2003: $60 billion.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As of 2008, current cost of Iraqi war: $600 billion.

Current projected final cost estimate of the Iraq war: $2 trillion

Current total US casualties from the Iraq war: 4,155 killed, 30,324 wounded

Number of civilian Iraqis killed: 150,000 to over 1 million

Amount of profit to US defense contractors: over $5 billion in sales of US advanced weaponry to Iraqi security forces.

"These are the facts of the case, and they are not in dispute."

- Captain Jack Ross: "A Few Good Men"

7 Years Ago Today

2008-09-11T18:37:00.000-07:00

One month after being briefed by an intelligence agent that possible terrorist attacks were imminent, one month after telling said agent "ok, you've covered your ass now", we all learned how the Bush presidency was going to keep us safe.....

..........with vacant, empty stares.

7 Years Ago Today....

2008-08-06T14:26:00.000-07:00

Bush was given a chance to act in order to protect his country when a CIA officer informed him during his vacation of a possible terrorist plot. His response to the information?

"OK, you've covered your ass now".

The Result:

McCain Is The One That Supports Our Troops

2008-07-31T05:22:00.000-07:00

After all he is the one who knows that you don't take breaks when you're winning, that war is good for your health, that we should keep winning in Iraq for-evah.

This is how McCain supports our troops:

Thinks That Make Me Think We Need A Good Peasant Revolt

2008-06-02T11:19:00.000-07:00

Crap

THEIR spouses could leave them when they discover that their net worth has collapsed to eight figures from nine. Friends and business associates could avoid them as they pass their lunchtime tables at Barney’s or the Four Seasons. And these snubs could trickle down to their children.
“They fear their kids won’t get invited to the right birthday parties,” said Michele Kleier, an Upper East Side-based real estate broker. “If they have to give up things that are invisible, they’re O.K. as long as they don’t have give up things visible to the outside world.”

Oh, those poor rich fuckers, maybe if we cut their taxes to 0% or something, we can make them beel better. Or maybe the governent can give them multi million$ handouts (See Bear Sterns, etc.).

It would seem that the attitudes of the upper class have changed little over the years.

Hey Stephanopolis, Who Said This?

2008-04-17T05:31:00.000-07:00

"I'm still mystified by the Clinton paradox: How could a president so intelligent, so compassionate, so public-spirited, and so conscious of his place in history act in such a stupid, selfish, and self-destructive manner? "

After you stellar performance with Giblets moderating the debate last night, I have a question for you:

"How could a ~~president~~ television personality so intelligent, so compassionate, so public-spirited, and so conscious of his place in ~~history~~ the media limelight ~~act~~ debase himself in such a stupid, selfish, and ~~self-destructive~~FOX-news-like manner?

Torture's Slippery Slope

2008-04-08T08:26:00.000-07:00

In the week in which Diaz received the Ridenhour Prize, another Pentagon “secret” was disclosed. This “secret” was a memorandum made to order for William J. Haynes II, Rumsfeld’s General Counsel, and the man at the apex of the Pentagon’s military justice system that tried, convicted and sentenced Diaz. The memo was authored by John Yoo. This memorandum was designed to authorize the introduction of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading interrogation techniques to be used upon prisoners held at Guantánamo, and ultimately also used in Afghanistan and Iraq. The memorandum authorized waterboarding, long-time standing, hypothermia, the administration of psychotropic drugs and sleep deprivation in excess of two days in addition to a number of other techniques.
[...]
... it is clear that Haynes had previously authorized the use of the torture techniques, and had secured an order from Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld authorizing them.
Following the implementation of these techniques, more than 108 detainees died in detention. In a large number of these cases, the deaths have been ruled a homicide and connected to torture. These homicides were a forseeable consequence of the advice that Haynes and Yoo gave.

In America, we don't punish or torture accused criminals to elicit confessions. Our previous longstanding mantra of "innocent until proven guilty" has always, for the most part, been used to attempt to guarantee that the right individuals are brought to justice and to prevent the wrongly accused from being punished.

Now we are allowing the torture of "terrorists", while allowing ourself the false comfort of believing it is ok since they are not American citizens.

The question we need to ask ourselves is: how long before torture becomes accepted practice within our own criminal justice system. Where, exactly, do we draw the line?

Our Nation Cannot Survive on Fear Alone

2008-03-09T09:08:00.001-07:00

Defending the flag is not neccesary - we can always make more.

Maintaining constant vigil against terrorism is not neccesary - the world is full of people wanting to do harm, and some may succeed in harming americans and destroying property on American soil. But the soil on American land will remain, foundations and buildings and monuments cen be rebuilt, wounds can heal, death will always be overcome by new life.

What America cannot afford to lose is the basic founding principles that define us; that differentiates us from other countries of the world. Our freedom, our basic liberties, and our rights to believe as we wish and to speak our minds and voice our opinions, whether based on fact or belief, is something that we must defend from attack. For if we lose it, we may never recover it again.

A-f&^%ing-men

2008-01-10T20:06:00.000-08:00

Ha-ha

"Funny thing about me: I actually fucking know shit! Not like these goombas trying to weasel their way into the White House. I practically wrote the book on collapsing bridges, inflation, and the working poor, fuck-o. I even got a degree in nuclear engineering or some shit. You know how easy I could swoop down right now like a guardian angel and solve all your fucking problems? Snap. Bam. Do it in my fucking sleep. Just fucking try me.
So you want me to run for president again? Yeah, sure, absolutely, I'll do it. I'd be honored to do it—with my fucking dick in your mouth, you worthless scumbags.
You had your chance with Jimmy Carter, and you fucking blew it. So get fucked. Fucking country. "

Riverbend Has A Post From Syria

2007-10-22T04:54:00.000-07:00

Go and read.

This will be the legacy of our "Bush and Cheney's Excellent Iraq Adventure"; millions of displaced Iraqis spread out across the globe, with America to thank for their misery.

Its A Mistake

2007-09-24T05:18:00.000-07:00

Riverbend Forced Out of Iraq

2007-09-08T18:08:00.000-07:00

Read it

Cronyism, Part II

2007-07-03T05:14:00.000-07:00

Libby gets no prison time.

Cronyism Means You Don't Have To Follow The Laws

2007-05-23T10:03:00.000-07:00

Watch the video - this is what you get with cronyism - an official hired that views US laws as "rules" , and ans you all know, rules are meant to be broken.

Her defense seems to be "I am sorry officer, I thought the speed limit was just a guideline".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bymXxEoX6G4

Iraq War Cost

2007-02-02T11:02:00.000-08:00

In Blood...

1/16/2003
MR. RUSSERT: If your analysis is not correct, and we’re not treated as liberators, but as conquerors, and the Iraqis begin to resist, particularly in Baghdad, do you think the American people are prepared for a long, costly, and bloody battle with significant American casualties?
VICE PRES. CHENEY: "Well, I don’t think it’s likely to unfold that way, Tim, because I really do believe that we will be greeted as liberators. "

US casualties: 0

1/30/2004
"In Iraq, no doubt about it, it's tough. It's hard work. It's incredibly hard. You know why? Because an enemy realizes the stakes. ...We've got a plan in place. "

US casualties: ~1000+

10/7/2005
Over 30 percent of the Iraqi troops are in the lead on these offensive operations. We've got troops embedded with them, and that's an important part of the training mission,"

US casualties: ~1900+

1/25/2006
Absolutely, we're winning

US casualties: ~2900+

And in Treasure...

1/19/3003
Rumsfeld: Well, the Office of Management and Budget, has come up come up with a number that's something under $50 billion for the cost...

2/21/2003
In December, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences estimated that a prolonged war that sparks a U.S. recession could cost the United States $1.9 trillion over the coming decade.

9/2006
The Cost of Iraq War calculator is set to reach $378 billion March 31, 2007, halfway through fiscal year 2007...

YouTube Rocks!

2007-01-04T12:29:00.000-08:00

This song, however...view at your own risk.

My Own Asinine Theory of Dinosaur Extinction

2006-11-03T07:24:00.000-08:00

Millions of years ago, one species of dinosaur had evolved to the point of where it left the other species behind on the ability to learn and other thought processes. It became capable of tool-making, language, and intellectual thought and reasoning. This species eventually formed a civilization which was able to spread worldwide. Its superior intellect allowed it to overcome larger species using weapons. The species proceeded to occupy every corner of the planet. Unfortunately, its success in flourishing on the planet created stress on the planets ecosystem. The "smart dinosaurs" over-hunted, polluted the envirnment, and created mass-extinctions of the other species. The largest dinosaurs fell victim to the smart dinos first, then smaller species became extinct later. Within a span of 100,000 years of first becoming the first sentinent species on earth, the smart dinosaurs overstressed the earth's ecosystem to the point of collapse, resulting in their own extinction.

If we finally ruin the planet to the point of our own extinction, will there be any evidence of our existence when (if) the next species gets a turn at dominance 100-200 million years from now?
Maybe they will figure out how to be "smart" enough to not destroy the world that they depend on to survive.

End of The World Countdown: 31 Years to Go

2006-11-03T07:22:00.000-08:00

I guess man and fish can't coexist peacefully after all.

Bizarro Amerika

2006-11-01T10:45:00.000-08:00

So Kerry makes an "inappropriate" comment at a speech and suddenly that is news?

What about lying about the reasons for the Iraq war?

What about the secret cabinet meetings Cheney had with energy CEO's, the substance of are still hidden away today?

What about the story about a White House press room staffer that happens to specialize in lobbing softball questions at adnimistration officials; who turns out to be a gay ex-prostitute?

What about the billions of dollars that are unaccounted for that were supposed to be spend on rebuilding Iraq?

What about the exposing of a CIA agent by the White House as retribution for a news column written by the agents spouse that was critical of the white house actions leading up to the Iraq war?

What about the payoffs of columnists and false newscasts created as propaganda for pushing phaseout of Social Security?

What about the extrodinary rendition of citizens of U.S. (yes, U.S.!) and other countries to Gitmo, to Uzbekistan, Syria, etc. ? And yes, it has been shown that the majority of these poor fuckers were (are!) innocent of and/or never been charged with any crime - what about that?

What about......hell, the list just goes on and on. But here we see the lickspittle media focusing on a gaffe in a speech by Senator Kerry, as if that was the most damning political scandal in America today. This is the Bizarro America we live in.

We. Are. So. F&%ked.

Olbermann, Again

2006-09-26T05:27:00.000-07:00

Holy, crap, this guy is goood.

Commentary of These Times

2006-09-13T05:16:00.000-07:00

Olbermann says it all, so we don't have to.

I don't remember at any time during the terms in office of last 3 presidents where it was considered necesary and just for any political party to be accused of being "treasonous", "defeatist", "Un-American", "Godless", etc.
I am sure it happened, but it was never considered a main-stream talking point as it seems to be now.

Is this really the America we want?

Compare and Contrast

2006-09-07T06:51:00.000-07:00

"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”

We hear every day of new plans, new efforts to murder Americans and other free people. ... But this is still not well recognized or fully understood. It seems that in some quarters there’s more of a focus on dividing our country than acting with unity against the gathering threats.
The struggle we are in — the consequences are too severe — the struggle too important to have the luxury of returning to that old mentality of “Blame America First.”

I don't see how you can lead this country to succeed in Iraq if you say wrong war, wrong time, wrong place. What message does that send our troops? What message does that send to our allies? What message does that send the Iraqis?

Bring Respectability Back To The Oval Office

2006-07-17T13:04:00.000-07:00

'We will fuck him. Do you hear me? We will fuck him. We will ruin him. Like no one has ever fucked him!'"

"Fuck yourself,"

"There's Adam Clymer, major league asshole from the New York Times."

"Hezbollah to stop doing this shit".

Thank God America but such a compassionate, God-fearing holy fucktard in the most powerful position in the land. Any chance that he and Bud Selig could trade spots for the rest of the term? At least Bush would only fuck up our national pasttime, instead of our entire country.

Birth Tax

2006-06-23T05:25:00.000-07:00

Simple take on this; if the estate tax is repealed, the revenue lost from not taxing the estates of dead people will have to be made up by further taxing the income of the living.

So congress would rather offer tax cuts to dead people and pass the burden on to.....living, breathing people.

How stupid is that?

A Modest Tin-Hat Theory

2006-04-10T05:09:00.000-07:00

So, we point an accusing finger at Iraq, making it out to be the #1 threat to world stability and peace.

Then we invade Iraq, topple the government, and then feebly attempt to make democracy grow from the ashes. Instead, the country descends into sectarian violence, and the supply of Iraqi oil (which other "tin-hats" claim was the reason all we invaded - to TAKE Iraq's oil) drops to levels below what even Saddam Hussein was allowed to export.

And the price of oil rises.

Now we are pointing an accusing finger at Iraqn, making it out to be the #1 threat to world stability and peace.

And the price of oil is rising.

Could it be that the purpose of all this destabilizing of the middle east on the part of the Bush administration be for the added (not sole) purpose of raising oil prices. After all, wouldn't the Saudis (who are rumored to have not nearly as much oil reserves as they let on) benefit from the artificial inflation of oil prices due to the Bush sabre-rattling? Wouldn't the oil companies benefit also?

What do you think?

Preach it, Athenae!

2006-03-16T05:04:00.000-08:00

Sing it from the rooftops!

So I'm left with Howard, and with Russ. This country needs leadership like I need scotch to drink, to wake the fuck up, wash the taste of cigarettes out of my mouth, and flavor my morning coffee. This country needs leadership because not knowing where to look, who to listen to? We'll latch on to the first loudmouth who grabs the bullhorn and starts yelling. If there's one thing 9/11 taught us, it's that.

Well and truly, I say to you, if the election was this year, I would not, NOT, vote for any other democrat other than Russ, Dean, Kerry, or Wes Clarke. If Biden or Hillary or the other lukewater Dems make it past the primary, I think I'd just stay home on election night.

Honest to God, Hillary, what happened to you? I don't believe that you always kowtowed to the center like this. Stand up, be a maverick, be an OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER, for God's sake.
It's what our country needs.

Yay, I passed

2006-02-28T05:22:00.000-08:00

You Passed 8th Grade Math

Congratulations, you got 10/10 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade Math?

Cheney The Great White Illegal Hunter

2006-02-13T17:45:00.000-08:00

Didn't even purchace the quail stamps:

Neither Vice President Dick Cheney nor the hunting partner he accidentally shot last weekend purchased the $7 hunting stamps required under state law, Texas Parks and Wildlife officials said Monday.

Tsk, tsk. Lucky your not a Democrat, Mr Cheney, or else we'd have to hold you accountable.

Those Damn Liberal Tax And Spend Republicans

2006-02-07T07:34:00.000-08:00

Ultra-Liberal Heritage Foundation economists layout the damage that those tax-and-spend ~~Demoncrats~~ Repugnicans are doing to our country's fiscal health.

Report Here

Hey, don't blame me - I for fiscally conservative politicians......you, know, Democrats.

Open Thread

2006-02-01T09:44:00.000-08:00

Hey, if the big guys can do this, why can't I?

Dear Democrat Jackasses,

2006-01-30T15:34:00.000-08:00

Dear Senators Akaka,Baucus,Bingaman,Byrd,Cantwell,Carper,Conrad,Dorgan,Inouye,Johnson, Kohl,Landrieu,Lieberman,Lincoln,Nelson,Nelson,Pryor,Rockefeller,Salazar.

An Open Letter To Them "Can't We All Just Get Along" Dems:

Obviously, you still don't know the meaning of "opposition party". But at least you'll go on record as not being a "obstructionist" . Horray for you. Hopefully the republican voters out there will be able to stomach voting for you as a "republican light" politician. Maybe the GOP won't run some ultra-right nutcase against you in the next elections. Maybe you won't be called a tax-and-spend-terrerist-loving-weak-on-defense liberul in November.

I, on the other hand, would rather vote for a real democrat.

And don't fuckin ask me for one dime either, you morons. Thanks to you, I'll be saving (hopefully) in an attempt to have enough to get by and economically survive the next 3 to 15 or so years - or how ever long it takes (if ever) for you to remember who the fuck you are supposed to be representing in that big fancy building you work in.

Spineless Jackasses

2006-01-26T05:59:00.000-08:00

Ocrincus

I broke my longstanding policy of not donating money to political parties last fall when the folks from the DNC called and asked for money to help gird them for the upcoming fights over judicial seats. I was assured that indeed they would fight to keep right-wing extremists off the Supreme Court.And now, faced with a clear-cut extremist (and dissembler) who is about to not only overturn the right to obtain an abortion, but also to pave the path for an imperial executive branch with limitless powers ... nothing.I'm not terribly inclined, as my readers know, to use profanity in my posts. But if the Democratic Party wants any more of my money, they can just go fuck themselves.

What does it take for the Democrat Party to learn the concept of "Unity"? They've spent so much time trying to be moderate centrists that they have seemed to lost any understanding of the concept of being an opposition party.

Look guys, when the scale has been loaded with a 10-ton elephant on the right, you can only balance the scale with a 10 ton jackass on the left. Putting 100 tons of bullshit in the middle of the scale wont balance the scale, it will still tilt to the right. The public just wont see it because of all that bullshit you've been piling on.

C'mon jackasses. Start kickin, pull your weight or else line up in front of the glue factory and head on in.

Oh, Give Me A Fuckin Break

2006-01-12T15:20:00.000-08:00

Gee, Scalito's wife bursts into tears because, well, shit, we just might like to know something of what legal direction Scalito will steer our country for the next 20,30 or 40 years. (As in, steer us merely "far-right" or "batshit-insane-your-privacy-and-individual-rights-dont-mean-shit-to-us-right").

In addition to all the several/many reasons I could care less why her boo-hooing at the confirmation hearings is considered newsworthy -

has anyone mentioned that, in addition to becoming one of the grand Viziers of our nations judicial branch, there is a nice potential pay raise in store for Scalito?

Another reason Alito is a fan of the Constitution: It prohibits Congress from cutting judicial salaries, in Alito's case $175,100 as a federal appeals court judge - an amount that Alito said he and his family have managed to get by on "up to this point."

[...]

Alito's current salary is nearly four times the median household income for the nation in 2004 and nearly three times the median income in Newark, N.J., the metropolitan area where he lives. It's also $9,900 more than what members of Congress make. As a Supreme Court justice, Alito would be paid $203,000.

Shit, for that kind of money, I'd expect, no DEMAND that congress voir dire Scalito to the point that not only does his wife cry, but also his mother, grandmother, siblings and fourth cousins all burst in to a fit of weeping and gnashing of teeth.

"Ethics Is More of A Burden Than A Privilege"

2006-01-11T05:31:00.000-08:00

Who has time for ethics and accountabillity anyway?

...It's also clear that the House GOP isn't the only congressional party that needs a leadership shakeup. There's a good case that both parties in both houses would benefit from a new look at the top. The lineup seems a far cry from the days of such giants as Sens. Mike Mansfield and Bob Dole or Speakers Sam Rayburn and Thomas "Tip" O'Neill.The events that prompted DeLay's departure began when he ran afoul of House ethics rules.

His departure was ensured when Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle won indictments on charges stemming from the Republican's role in raising funds for the 2002 elections. The indictment, derided by many Republicans as partisan, triggered a GOP rule that an indicted party leader had to step down. DeLay's allies tried last year to lift the rule but bowed to pressure from other Republicans.

The underlying problem, though, stems from the political machine DeLay and his colleagues built with allies in Washington's lobbying community. It produced a torrent of campaign contributions but also apparently led to potentially criminal misuses of their power.Individuals implicated in misdeeds by lobbyist Jack Abramoff, a key figure in the GOP machine, will ultimately face their own legal issues. But ties between the operation and the current House leadership require more than merely replacing one person.After all, Majority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri, the top candidate to replace DeLay, also was involved in the K Street Project - the name for a DeLay-inspired campaign to demand that lobbying firms hire loyal Republicans - as was rival John Boehner of Ohio, although there is no evidence yet that either did anything illegal. Speaker Dennis Hastert was DeLay's deputy before the Texan helped install him as speaker in 1998.

If Republicans are serious about changing their public image, they'll opt for a clean sweep of their leadership. The reasons for changing other congressional leaders have more to do with political ineptitude.

.... Assailing the GOP's "culture of corruption" and its handling of Iraq will go only so far.

...On Capitol Hill, parties don't change leaders until they have to. That's why the House Republicans alone are going to have a new election. But that doesn't mean they're the only ones who could benefit from new leadership.

Yesss, the House Republicans are "choosing" to go it alone in electing a new leader. So forthright and pro-reform, them republicans. Not like them tricksy democrats....tricksy, false democrats...the reid, the peloisi...they hurts us.

Clinton Bad, Bush...Good?

2005-12-23T05:42:00.000-08:00

Latest HuffPo :

Bush's dismissal of the law, which he stood before the country to defend yesterday, is outrage enough. But even more outrageous is what it represents: the belief that the President, or more specifically, President Bush, is above the law; that authority emanates from him and him alone; that the Social Contract has only one signatory and he sits in the Oval office. Didn't we fight some kind of war about that some time in the late 18th century?

[...]

Oh no, right, I forgot -- Bush had been "protecting us" by plopping a feckless crony at the head of FEMA. Which reminds me that Bush's promise to review all those emergency plans seemed strangely similar to the statement he made in May, 2001 when he created the Office of National Preparedness, an agency inside FEMA, and put Dick Cheney in charge of "a coordinated national effort [to] do the very best possible job of protecting our people from catastrophic harm." Big success there! Looks like Cheney really dropped the ball on that one. Where's that story? Cheney's had the most important job in the country and has had zero results. Yet he and Bush go around the country calling themselves the great protectors and all critics unpatriotic.

How the fuck did we get to this point? 7-8 years ago, we had republicans frothing at the mouth over a fucking BJ, saying the president is not above the law, that he had discgaced the office.

Now we have a dolt that sits in that same office, saying idiocy like:

Social Security government treasury notes are "just worthless IOU's".

The president is above the law, and can ignore it as he pleases.

If you criticize the prezident, you are unpatriotic.

It's ok and NECCESARY for our freedoms that we allow the president to take some of our freedoms away so that we can be safe.

What a fucked up mess we have become, to have fallen so low that we would have this total priveleged moron in the highest office in the land.

Un-Intelligent Design

2005-12-09T05:02:00.000-08:00

I kinda like this new theory:

Don Wise, professor emeritus of geosciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, is the nation's foremost proponent of ID. No, Wise isn't getting ready to testify on behalf of the school board in Dover, PA. Rather, he advocates for a different version of the acronym: "incompetent design."

[...]

The thing that perhaps is closest to all of us is our own skeleton, and there are certainly all kinds of stupidity in our design. No self-respecting engineering student would make the kinds of dumb mistakes that are built into us.

I think this should be taught in any school that advocates ID/creationist teaching.

Remember Katrina?

2005-11-22T18:52:00.000-08:00

Thousands are still unaccounted for:

Twelve weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit the U.S. Gulf Coast, 6,644 people remain unaccounted for, USA Today reported Tuesday.

[...]

Nearly 1,000 of the 6,644 unaccounted-for people are children, said Ernie Allen, president of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. He told the newspaper volunteers continue to go door to door to try to close missing-person cases.

6600 missing... how many are to ba added to the already 1300 dead?

"Sloppy Seconds Sam" Alito

2005-11-01T05:15:00.000-08:00

So says John Roberts:

Posing a question to the White House press secretary, Scott McClellan, Mr. Roberts said, "Scott, you said that - or the president said, repeatedly, that Harriet Miers was the best person for the job. So does that mean Alito is sloppy seconds, or what?"

Please write your Senator - Tell him/her to vote "No" for Sloppy Sam.

Remember, we want the best person for the job.

News Flash! Republicans Sell US to Chinese

2005-10-25T05:31:00.000-07:00

The Party of fiscal responsibility strikes again:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans in Congress will try to pass spending cuts this week, after war, anti-terrorism efforts, hurricanes and big tax cuts helped push the government's debt load through the $8 trillion mark.
[...]
Record debt is washing over the Treasury Department, recently breaching the $8 trillion mark in money owed to foreign governments, private investors and the Social Security retirement fund used to finance deficit-spending. Republicans, who also control the White House, have now presided over an increase in $2 trillion to the national debt over four years or so, despite contending that they are the only U.S. political party that practices fiscal discipline.

Eight years of Democrat Bill Clinton's presidency resulted in around $1.6 trillion being added to the U.S. debt, but with the possibility of paying it all off by 2015.

Yes, but,but, the lying, the blowjobs, .....resoring integrity...yadayada.....

Shit, better start learning to speak Mandarin and stocking up on Yuan/Yen/Euros.

Read My Lips, No New Taxes Taxes For The Rich

2005-10-13T04:57:00.000-07:00

If this plan were to go through, middle-class America would be oh so fooked:
...But don't lose sight of something that might be of greater immediate interest to the public: the fact that President Bush's tax reform panel, which is expected to send him its recommendations by November 1, is proposing to scale back two of the nation's most popular tax breaks, for home mortgage interest and employer-paid health insurance.
The panel is proposing the rollback as a way to compensate for its also-proposed elimination of the alternative minimum tax, which is affecting more and more middle-class taxpayers every year and is in serious need of fixing.

I personally don't see the GOP going ahead with rolling back the mortgage interest deduction. I DO, however, envisioning them going ahead and eliminating the AMT. Then they'll spend next year hemming and hawing about how they "have to do something about the deficit". They'll go into elections showing themselves to be great tax-cutters, and they'll (if all goes according to their plan), get re-elected. then they can spend the following year proposing the deduction offset rollbacks, which will probably get moving around 2008.....just in time for any GOP senators running for the top job to kill it. Then if a GOP wins the White House, they can try again in 2009.

Meanwhile, the deficit will continue to grow in spite of drastic cuts in other gov't services (none for the military, mind you, don't you know we are at war?).

This is a GOP party that lacks any pretence of fiscal responsibility, that knows full well that the best chance for Americas fiscal health is to elect a democratic president and a democratic congress to raise taxes as neccesary to restore balance to the budget and help pay for the social programs that are neccesary for many Americans. (Then they can be voted out for being "tax-and-spend liberuls").

Proof That We All Live In An Onion News Report

2005-10-03T06:35:00.000-07:00

Just google "Typhoon Longwang"

Typhoon Longwang? Longwang? Who makes these names up?!

What Happened To Our Higher Ground?

2005-09-26T16:24:00.000-07:00

Billmons Latest Post:

Defeat, in other words, isn't the only alternative to failure. It could also lead to the kind of warfare that CIA counterinsurgency specialist Michael Scheuer warned about in his book Imperial Hubris:

Progress will be measured by the pace of killing and, yes, by body counts. Not the fatuous body counts of Vietnam, but precise counts that will run to extremely large numbers. The piles of dead will include as many or more civilians as combatants because our enemies wear no uniforms.
Killing in large numbers is not enough to defeat our Muslim foes. With killing must come a Sherman-like razing of infrastructure. Roads and irrigation systems; bridges, power plants, and crops in the field; fertile plants and grain mills -- all these and more will need to be destroyed to deny the enemy its support base. Land mines, moreoever, will be massively reintroduced to seal borders and mountain passes too long, high, or numerous to close with U.S. soldiers, As noted, such actions will yield large civilian casualties, displaced populations, and refugees.
Again, this sort of bloody-mindedness is neither admirable nor desirable, but it will remain America's only option so long as she stands by her failed policies toward the Muslim world.

There was a time when I would have argued that the American people couldn't stomach that kind of butchery -- not for long anyway -- even if their political leaders were willing to inflict it. But now I'm not so sure. As a nation, we may be so desensitized to violence, and so inured to mechanized carnage on a grand scale, that we're psychologically capable of tolerating genocidal warfare against any one who can successfully be labeled as a "terrorist." Or at least, a sizable enough fraction of the American public may be willing to tolerate it, or applaud it, to make the costs politically bearable.

So, the question is: have we the courage to drop our moral pretense, lower ourselves into the gutter where the worst in world history have committed the most memorable atrocities, and do what is neccesary to "win" this war: Raze their cities, poison their wells, and seed their fields with salt. Take one from every family, a family from every village, a village from every city, and a city from every province, until we are remembered as nothing but for the atrocities that we bring.

What became of our goal to bring peace, freedom, and democracy?

Operation "Let Them Die" In Full Swing

2005-09-04T10:34:00.000-07:00

from Atrios:

...they were told like me. Every single day. The cavalry is coming. On the federal level. The cavalry is coming. The cavalry is coming. The cavalry is omcing. I have just begun to hear the hooves of the calvary. The cavalry is still not here yet, but I have begun to hear the hooves and were almost a week out.

...We had Wal-mart deliver three trucks of water. Trailer trucks of water. Fema turned them back, said we didn't need them. This was a week go.

...We had 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel on a coast guard vessel docked in my parish. The coast guard said come get the fuel right way. When we got there with our trucks, they got a word, FEMA says don't give you the fuel.

...Yesterday, yesterday, fema comes in and cuts all our emergency communications lines. They cut them without notice. Our sheriff, Harry Lee, goes back in. he reconnects the line. He posts armed guards said no one is getting near these lines...

...The guy who runs this building I'm in. Emergency management. He's responsible for everything. His mother was trapped in St. Bernard nursing home and every day she called him and said. Are you coming. Son? Is somebody coming? And he said yeah. Mama. Somebody's coming to get you.. Somebody's coming to get you on Tuesday. Somebody's coming to get you on Wednesday. Somebody's coming to get you on Thursday. Somebody's coming to get you on Friday. And she drowned Friday night. And she drowned Friday night. Nobody's coming to get us. Nobody's coming to get us. The Sectary has promimsed. Evrybody's promised. They've had press conferences. I'm sick of the press conferences. For god's sakes, just shut up and send us somebody.

Forget my last post. The idea that this administration is "all idiot, all the time" is just a ruse. It is a cover for the reality that this administration just doesn't give a damn about Americans who aren't under their GOP tent.

If you're poor, in need, and not their ethnic type, this White House will not come to help you.

I mean, c'mon! If a government in Sudan, or anywhere else in the world neglected to help their own people, tuned away aid, and hindered actual rescue of their people in plight, we'd call it fuckin ethnic cleansing, or something.

What do we call it when it happens here? Mis-communication, incompetence, and underfunding.

If Stupidity Were A Crime....

2005-09-01T08:23:00.000-07:00

Our preznit would get life in prison.

This morning, about 7:05 am Eastern time, George Bush was interviewed by Diane Sawyers on ABC's Good Morning America. This is what he said:

"I don't think anyone anticipated the breach of the levees."

[Emphasis mine]

Gee, a Cat5 hurricaine is bearing down on a city below sea level, the only thing holding back the water is the levees, a storm surge higher than the levees was predicted days before the storm hit.....

Can this administration at least TRY to not look clueless fucktard dumb? I mean, what do we PAY these guys for?!

Patriotism 101

2005-08-17T19:49:00.000-07:00

Fron Kos:

"You can support the troops but not the president." --Rep Tom Delay (R-TX)

"Well, I just think it's a bad idea. What's going to happen is they're going to be over there for 10, 15, maybe 20 years." --Joe Scarborough (R-FL)

"Explain to the mothers and fathers of American servicemen that may come home in body bags why their son or daughter have to give up their life?" --Sean Hannity, Fox News, 4/6/99

"[The] President . . . is once again releasing American military might on a foreign country with an ill-defined objective and no exit strategy. He has yet to tell the Congress how much this operation will cost. And he has not informed our nation's armed forces about how long they will be away from home. These strikes do not make for a sound foreign policy." --Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA)

"American foreign policy is now one huge big mystery. Simply put, the administration is trying to lead the world with a feel-good foreign policy." --Rep Tom Delay (R-TX)

"If we are going to commit American troops, we must be certain they have a clear mission, an achievable goal and an exit strategy." --Karen Hughes, speaking on behalf of George W Bush

"I had doubts about the bombing campaign from the beginning . . I didn't think we had done enough in the diplomatic area." --Senator Trent Lott (R-MS)

"I cannot support a failed foreign policy. History teaches us that it is often easier to make war than peace. This administration is just learning that lesson right now. The President began this mission with very vague objectives and lots of unanswered questions. A month later, these questions are still unanswered. There are no clarified rules of engagement. There is no timetable. There is no legitimate definition of victory. There is no contingency plan for mission creep. There is no clear funding program. There is no agenda to bolster our over-extended military. There is no explanation defining what vital national interests are at stake. There was no strategic plan for war when the President started this thing, and there still is no plan today" --Rep Tom Delay (R-TX)

"Victory means exit strategy, and it's important for the President to explain to us what the exit strategy is." --Governor George W. Bush (R-TX)

Number of US servicemen and women killed from the Bosnia intervention: 0, zero, zip, nada.

Clinton: Mission Accomplished
Reward for Mission Accomplished - Impeachment.

Oh, Yeah, I forgot. It's about the lying.

Iraqi operatives continue to hide biological and chemical agents to avoid detection by inspectors. In some cases these materials have been moved to different locations every 12 to 24 hours, or placed in vehicles that are in residential neighborhoods.

Compassionate Conservatism 101

2005-08-14T20:01:00.000-07:00

Sympathize with mothers whose sons died for your stupid little war, but don't let it be a drag on your life:

"But whether it be here or in Washington or anywhere else, there's somebody who has got something to say to the president, that's part of the job," Bush said on the ranch. "And I think it's important for me to be thoughtful and sensitive to those who have got something to say."
"But," he added, "I think it's also important for me to go on with my life, to keep a balanced life."

[...]

"I think the people want the president to be in a position to make good, crisp decisions and to stay healthy," he said when asked about bike riding while a grieving mom wanted to speak with him. "And part of my being is to be outside exercising."

Gee, what a compassionate guy, you can feel the symapthy he has for the grieving mother everytime he says, " Gee, sorry your kid got killed, now watch this drive...."

Batshit Nutcase Republican Beats Marine Democrat

2005-08-02T19:55:00.000-07:00

Well, this will make me hopeful for America's Future

Here is Nov 2004 replayed over again: GOP slimes a war veteran, pours money into a campaign, and voters go to the polls to chose a loony, creepy nutcase who spouts such nonsense as blindly "standing beside our president" and "keep your eye on the ball, or else the ball will harm you".

Yet again, another case where I would choose not to "reach out" to my red-state american neighbors - I'd rather tell them to go choke on all of that "moral values-I'm more patriotic than thou-RushLimbaughSeanHannityAnnCoulterMichelleMalkin is my fucking superhero" bile and crap and just go PISS OFF!

MBNA - GOP

2005-07-27T05:41:00.000-07:00

Putting the screws to the American people...for their own good, of course:

If you have a high balance on your credit cards, you may be in for a shock when the next bill

Within the next month, Bank of America, MBNA and Citigroup will raise minimum monthly payments on their cards from 2 percent of the balance to up to 4 percent, not including interest. Other card issuers are expected to make similar changes by the end of the year.

Credit card companies are under mounting pressure by the government to raise the minimum monthly payments to help Americans get out of debt more quickly. If you can't afford the increase, experts recommend that you contact your credit card company and try to negotiate a lower interest rate, which could offer some relief.

Gee, thanks Mr. GOP. I was having trouble paying my bills before, but now that you've protected me from declaring bankruptcy, allowing the MBNA to take my home and all possesions, and have now doubled my payment rates, I am sure that I'll fullfill the american dream of self-fullfilling riches and fame now.

Why not just go ahead and reintroduce debtors prisons and get it over with.....

Shit, better not give them any ideas. Ooooopps, too late.

What Has Become Of The GOP?

2005-07-15T12:53:00.000-07:00

Krugman

...But what we're getting, instead, is yet another impressive demonstration that these days, truth is political. One after another, prominent Republicans and conservative pundits have declared their allegiance to the party line. They haven't just gone along with the diversionary tactics, like the irrelevant questions about whether Mr. Rove used Valerie Wilson's name in identifying her (Robert Novak later identified her by her maiden name, Valerie Plame), or the false, easily refuted claim that Mr. Wilson lied about who sent him to Niger. They're now a chorus, praising Mr. Rove as a patriotic whistle-blower.
Ultimately, this isn't just about Mr. Rove. It's also about Mr. Bush, who has always known that his trusted political adviser - a disciple of the late Lee Atwater, whose smear tactics helped President Bush's father win the 1988 election - is a thug, and obviously made no attempt to find out if he was the leaker.
Most of all, it's about what has happened to America. How did our political system get to this point?

My early (and meager) understanding of what life under the Soviet Union was like was mostly based on a combination of news media and Hollywood. Based on this information, it was my understanding that the everyday people behind the dreaded "Iron Curtain" existed in a world where toeing the party line was mandatory. All media was merely propaganda meant to espouse the greatness of the politico machine. Any opposition to the party or the party line was regarded as opposition to the Mother Country, and therefore was treason. Within the party, there was not such thing as corruption, since corruption could only come from without, not from within. Within the party, there were no criminals, only patriots. Outside the party, there were no patriots, only criminals.

It took nearly 70 years, untold injustices, and great suffering for this system to fail, yet even today it strives for rebirth.

What I wonder more is this: when did the Republican Party, which has spent decades vilifying the Soviet Union, start adopting the very policies and tactics that they used to justify their great struggle against the "evil empire"?

Even Lil' Russ Gets It

2005-07-12T16:02:00.000-07:00

From Americablog:

Russert's best line: "As one Republican said to me last night, if this was a Democratic White House we'd have congressional hearings in a second."

When a wad like Russ gets the idea, why can't the rest of the Democratic party figure it out?

Calling for an IC, calling all congressmen, there is scandal and corruption afoot in the White House!

Here are some reminders:

"Should we reward not telling the truth? That is the question of this election: Reward Bill Clinton. Or, vote Republican."
[...]
"These ads spell out very clearly for the public what the differences are between Republicans and Democrats in terms of what direction we want to lead the country," National Republican Congressional Committee spokeswoman Mary Crawford said.

How about this Conservative quote?:
But if any president is able to commit crimes with impunity by using thevast powers and perquisites of his office to cover up, then we will havea danger of corruption and abuse of power that can only grow with the passing years and generations."

Or, what about the immortal words of Tom Delay?

"It would be a travesty to the Constitution for us to lower the standards for breaking the law by not voting for impeachment,"
[...]
"All impeachment is, it's like a grand jury that looks at the evidence, and the House decides whether the evidence warrants sending it to the Senate for trial," DeLay said on Sunday. "That's all it is."

WWRD?

2005-07-11T05:29:00.000-07:00

Digsby says Rove should resign:

All of us and all of the Democrats should be screaming bloody murder for what we know he did --- and we should be demanding his resignation. I realize that Bush is not going to fall over weeping when we do this, and the press will probably somnambulently tip-toe until roused, but it begins the drumbeat and it puts pressure on the White House. We are about to enter a huge fight over two Seats on the Supreme Court. Anything to put them off their game is a good thing. And there is no reason that Rove should not be forced to resign over this. If it were any other White House we would naturally assume it would happen...

Now, when the Clinton administration had some paeon in the mailroom stealing stamps, did the republicans call for a resignation? Fuck no, the called for an independent council, expected the reveal that Hillary herself was embezzelling stamps from all branches of government, and killing/hiding bodies of anyone who saw her swiping the coveted mailroom envelopes and postage.

So no, I don't think the Democrats should be calling for resignations. They should be calling for an Independant council, they should be calling for investigations, they should accuse this administration of burying bodies, of using Iraq of being this administrations "wag the dog", etc., etc.

Face it, these people don't respond to anything civilized. Frothing at the mouth reactionism is all they understand. So take it to them then.

Hope You Enjoyed Your Freedom 4th....Cause Now You're Screwed

2005-07-05T20:10:00.000-07:00

This is what the democratic party has fallen to.....hoping that we can try to muster up just enough fight against Bush's up and coming SCOTUS nomination of Rev. "Watch me beat my dog" James Dobson in the hopes that he will surrender to our mighty will and merely appoint Mr. "100 Ways to make torture legal (and fun!)" Alberto Gonzales.

The only way I see Democrats "getting a win" on this one is if they actually manage to force the "nuclear option". And that is a meager win at that.

Crap.

An Open Letter To Rep. Ron Kind

2005-06-23T15:58:00.000-07:00

To: Rep. Kind;

Some excerpts from Josh Marshall's Blog: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/

Naomi Seligman isn't happy with the House Democrats. And, I would say, with some reason. In any case, a week ago CREW called on the House Ethics Committee to investigate the 'mystery' behind defense contractor Mitchell Wade's sweetheart purchase of Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham's home for upwards of a million dollars over market value and whether that had anything to do with Wade's company going from zero to sixty in about ten seconds in the Homeland Security and Defense contracting game. Seligman et al. are pissed at the Dems because under the House rules only another member of the House can file an ethics complaint with the House Ethics Committee. And despite their best efforts, the folks at Crew can't find a single Democratic member of the House who's willing to go out on a limb and fill out a form saying that they think the Ethics Committee maybe ought to take a look at Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Wade), his house sale, 'his' fancy yacht, and his general status as the best kept (at least as far as we know so far) man in Congress. .....

There is more there, if you care to read it. My question is this: as an ex-prosecutor (your website has this as your bio... -

"Kind returned to his hometown of La Crosse to become a county prosecutor and gained recognition for his tough and effective prosecution in cases involving adult and child sexual assaults, child abuse, domestic abuse and white-collar crime. He also served as special prosecutor in numerous counties throughout western Wisconsin..."

- aren't you the least bit concerned about the possible ethics violations (and possible criminal activity) by your peers in the House? Can you explain to me why you, with your background in persecuting white-collar crime, aren't interested in investigating the possibility of criminal activity occurring in the highest levels of our Government?

Sincerely,

A Lowly Constituent

Ch-impeach

2005-06-14T05:19:00.000-07:00

It's about goddamn time.

Wisconsin Democrats are calling for the impeachment of President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
Loyalists at this weekend's state party convention in Oshkosh passed a resolution calling for Congress to initiate impeachment proceedings against the three officials for their role in the war in Iraq.
The resolution contends that the administration "lied or misled" the United Nations, Congress, and the American public about the justification for the war. It cites the so-called "Downing Street memo" from British Prime Minister Tony Blair's government, as well as reports from U.N. weapons inspectors as evidence of widespread deception.

Damn right. Republicans (a lot of the same ones who are still in there now) insisted on having a moral obligation to impeach a sitting president for lying about whether he had sex with an intern. A reprehensible act, which sullied the honor of the US government and the presidency.

Now, another sitting president has been shown to have lied to the American people in order to "sell" the US and it's allies a war for questionable reasons. A reprehensible act, which sullied the honor of the US government and the presidency. And has been directly responsible for the deaths of over 1700 US service-men and -women.

So - where is the "Republican morals and values" outrage now? Unless they speak up and express thier anger at this lying corrupt administration, they are merely proving what most democrats suspected all along.......that the impeachment of then President Clinton was not about "upholding the integrity of government". Rather it was just a bald political move meant to put a black mark on one of the most popular presidents America has had since Kennedy.

Thanks and Praise To The Monty Python Players

2005-06-10T05:23:00.000-07:00

Heh

The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the ~~NewZealanders~~ Focus On The Family
A.D.56 CHAPTER ONE
1. In which Paul castigateth ~~the Antipodeans~~James Dobson; 2. 3. empty showing of holiness; 4. of fornicators and abusers of mankind; 5. of poverty and tolerance; 8. exorteth them to beware of false prophets.

Dear ~~NewZealanders~~ Focus On The Family,
It has come to my attention from our brother Hillary, the beekeeper of Auckland, that all is not well in your community.
What is all this nonsense about certain of your number kneeling down in front of crosses? That is naughty in the extreme; you've changed the glory of an incoruptible God into an image.

I understand that the very same people collect together in churches for the purpose of worship. Who needs it? God doesn't. I've asked Him; He's fed up with it, especially psalms, they give Him a headache and cause his teeth to strike together. Don't they realise thier praise is meaningless? Why can't they concentrate on being better behaved towards one another and forget about this empty show of holiness?
He also says, though don't quote me on this, "They can stuff it up thier arses." He said that, not I. I, a mere mortal, would not have put it quite like that. I'm afraid I think too much about my earthly reputation; but I cannot help agreeing with Him.

[...]

I exhort you to:
be empathetic;
be splendid;
be aware of your own ignorance, and, as always, beware of those who claim to lead you to better self-knowledge by taking your money.
Must finish now as I have to catch the post. Lots of love. P. Kiss, kiss, kiss.

Newsweak Was Right....Again!

2005-06-04T19:08:00.000-07:00

Actually, the Newsweak report was just mis-worded. Prison guards didn't flush the Quoran down the toilet, they actually used the quoran as a toilet:

An American military inquiry has revealed the Koran was stepped on, kicked, soaked with water and accidentally urinated on by guards at the US detention camp at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

[...]

In the most recent and bizarre of the incidents detailed in the army’s report, a guard splashed a detainee and his Koran with urine in March this year...

Media reports story....media forced to retract story...right wing rejoices in victory...original story later shown to be valid...right wing says "nothing to see here folks, move along, now watch this drive.

Our Spineless, Liberal Media

2005-05-26T19:11:00.000-07:00

Newsweek was right all along:

PENTAGON investigators have confirmed five incidents in which the Koran was mishandled by US guards and interrogators at Guantanamo Bay.

But they found “no credible evidence” that the Muslim holy book was flushed down a lavatory, as alleged in a disputed news account that sparked riots in the Islamic world.

Brigadier-General Jay Hood, who commands the detention centre in Cuba, said yesterday that a prisoner who alleged such desecration three years ago has now changed his story.

The investigators found 13 cases of alleged mishandling of the Koran at Guantanamo by US personnel. Ten were by a guard and three by interrogators. Of those, five were substantiated, General Hood said. He said that three of the cases were deliberate. None of the US personnel involved was facing disciplinary action.
The US has been fighting allegations that its prison guards and interrogators abused the Koran as a softening-up tactic at the US base.

Sixteen people died in riots that started in Afghanistan after Newsweek reported that the Pentagon had confirmed an allegation that a copy of the Koran had been flushed down a lavatory. The magazine retracted its story a week later and apologised after its source qualified the claim.

So, we just "mishandled" the Koran........Like, "Oops, I just dropped the Koran on a pile of dogshit! Sorry.... C-luuumsy me."

And the flushing incident has now been recanted. Gee, how many times did the prisoner get "waterboarded" to change his tune? Or did the anal "Glowstick of Truth" get him to retract his story? My guess is that Newsweek must have recieved the "GoT" also, considering how fast they retracted their (now true) story.

Crapo-Tacular-Ama.

I Haven't Served, So I Can't Offer You My Opinion On The War.

2005-05-09T19:18:00.000-07:00

Un-Fortunately, someone has written most eloquently, what I haven't the authority or experience to write:

Name Withheld Pending Notification
A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTIONby Cindy Sheehan, Co-Founder, Gold Star Families for Peace

When I woke up this morning, the "official" death count in Iraq was 1576. The first thing I do in the morning after I boot up my computer is to check the DoD website to see if any more of our nation's precious children were killed in this horror of a nonsensical war. I was talking to another Gold Star Mom, Celeste Zappala, today and she sadly advised me that the count rose to 1579 (note: the official count is now 1594) while she was out to lunch.

Celeste and I and too many other moms know what the significance of "Pending Notification" means: it means that there are people in our country going through their lives right now not even knowing that they are about to be ambushed with the most devastating news of their lives: "We regret to inform you..."

Somewhere in America, there is a mom (I always think of the moms first) shopping for groceries, driving home from a long week of work, or maybe even planning her soldier's homecoming party.

Somewhere, here in our country there is a mother who is hoping that she will receive a Mother's Day card from her soldier, or perhaps, if she is extremely lucky, a rushed telephone call.

There is a mom out there who has been worried sick about her soldier since they arrived in the combat zone.

Maybe the mom still supports George Bush and the occupation or maybe the mom is certain if her child is killed in this abomination that her sweet baby, her soldier will have died for lies and betrayals. In the end, and at that moment, the mom is not going to care about politics or about reasons for invasion and occupation. She won't care if her child died for freedom and democracy, or to make some people wealthier and more powerful. All she will see is the Grim Reaper in a uniform standing at her door before she collapses on the floor screaming for her child and pleading with the Grim Reaper to take her with him.

Somewhere there is a father in America who won't know what hit him and who won't know whom to hit back.

There are brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, spouses, and children who are about to step on the path of unbearable pain and seemingly endless grief.

Today there are the families and friends of three wonderful human beings who never, until now, knew that the human body could produce so many tears.

Somewhere in America live our fellow citizens who never even knew that a broken heart is not theoretical or symbolic. These most unfortunates are about to find out that a broken heart hurts far worse than a broken limb, and does not heal so readily, if ever at all.

The families of these soldiers are also departing on a long tour of banalities uttered by well-meaning, but let's face it, uninformed people. I hear these phrases over and over again: "Time heals every thing," "Casey's in a better place," (oh really, I didn't know that home with his mom was such a bad place to be), "Casey wants you to be happy," "Casey died doing what he loved doing," (he did?), or, my favorite, "Casey died defending his country." Let me assure the reader, phrases like this do not help. They are cliches for one thing, and for another, none of them are true. None of them help a grieving family.

If you, the reader, is ever in the situation facing a mom who had her son brutally murdered, God forbid, I will give you hints on what does help: hugs (lots and lots), make sure she eats, make sure she drinks plenty of water (tears are dehydrating), make sure she hears wonderful things about her child, bring boxes of tissues and toilet paper, and bring yourself. Leave your tired and impotent cliches at the door.

Of course, the most tragic thing about the 1579 is that not even one should be dead. Our "president" cheerfully rushed this country into a needlessly horrendous and devastating invasion. Our "president" thinks stolen elections confer a mandate. Our Congress cheerfully relinquished their Constitutional responsibility to declare war. If they had any courage or honor they would claim that right back and end this travesty.

I have a feeling our mis-leaders will be having a nice day with their moms or their children on Mother's Day. As they are eating their brunches and giving and receiving bouquets of Mother's Day flowers, they probably never even think about the moms in this world that their insanely reckless policies have destroyed. It never enters their wicked brains that they have ruined Mother's Day for so many families. This is a tragedy.

Our media was, and still is, a willing shill for the Administration and has never told the American public the truth. Reporting about Iraq is always trumped by such as child molesters, Martha Stewart, Terri Schiavo, Scott Peterson, the American Idol, or now, Runaway Brides!

Another tragic thing about this illegal and disastrous invasion and occupation is that there are only 1579 families in this country who even have to think about Iraq. Most Americans probably don't even know where to find Iraq on a map. The Halliburtons, Bechtels, KBRs, and the oil oligarchs of the world, who are laughing all the way to the bank, think of Iraq with greedy glee each day. Sorrowfully, there are 1579 families in this country who have "Iraq" carved on their hearts and souls for eternity.

We have sacrificed more than the $1.99 it costs to buy a "Support the Troops" magnet for our cars. We have had a violent amputation. Even if our fellow citizens don't realize it, by allowing this occupation to continue, they are also losing a very important part of themselves: their humanity.

My heart, my prayers, and my love go to the three families who are now embarking on this mournful, unnecessary journey. We at Gold Star Families for Peace are here for them. I hope they find comfort in what I know now seems like a comfortless world. Peace.

Love and Peace!!!
Cindy Sheehan
Mother of Hero: Spc Casey Austin Sheehan
KIA 04/04/04
Casey's Peace Page
Cofounder of Gold Star Families For Peace
www.GSFP.org

Amen.

Finally, An Abu-Ghraib Higher-Up Takes Some Heat...

2005-05-05T18:23:00.000-07:00

Karpinski Busted Down to Colonel.....But, Shoplifting? WTF?!

Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski was disciplined after Army leaders deemed her job performance "seriously lacking" and accused her of concealing a past shoplifting arrest.

The Army said in a statement Karpinski had been reduced in rank to colonel, although an investigation by the Army inspector general's office "determined that no action or lack of action on her part contributed specifically to the abuse of detainees at Abu Ghraib."

Karpinski said last year she was being used as a "convenient scapegoat" for detainee abuse that was the fault of others.

Again, WTF?!

A U.S. official who asked not to be identified said Karpinski failed to inform the Army as required when filling out an official document about an earlier arrest on an Air Force base in the United States on a misdemeanor charge of stealing less than $50 worth of cosmetics from a military store.
Asked how Army investigators looking into detainee abuse learned of her shoplifting arrest, the official said, "Somebody ratted her out."

Questions:
1) Did Karpinski get busted for Abu Ghraib, or is it the petty theft.

2) Holy Mother of Pearls, what in the crappety-fuck is a senior military officer doing shoplifting, shoplifting, Maybelline and Lip Smackers from the PX?!

This is not something that is going to look good in the "G.I. Jane" file.

Then and Now

2005-05-02T14:52:00.000-07:00

Interesting how the past keeps trying to become the present, hmmmm?

The Spanish Inquisition was executed at the request of Isabella. She was a very pious and devout Catholic. One of her advisors, who would later become the first General Inquisitor, was Thomas de Torquemada........Besides, the queen had already said she wanted "one country, one ruler, one faith" (N. Dirksen and M. Johnson, The Spanish Inquisition's Effect on the Church, 1996).

The punishments and tortures used to gain confessions are the most famous parts of the Inquisition.
Because the trials were for spiritual matters, the Church handled them. However, the punishments were usually very much physical, so they were handled by the state. (see Bush Administration, et.al.)

There were many means of this physical torture for confession. The two most famous or infamous were the strappado or pulley, and the aselli or water torment. The strappado was a device that used ropes to strap a person in by their arms and legs, and then weights were attached to the ends of these ropes. The person was raised to a certain level and then the ropes were released. This created a situation where the body would be stretched painfully, sometimes enough to produce death (see Abu Ghraib, et.al.)

The aselli was accomplished as a person was brought to lay down on a trestle with sharp-edged rungs and secured with an iron band. Their feet would be elevated above their heads. The accused then had a small piece of linen forced into the gullet. Using a jar (jarra), water would be poured into the mouth and nose producing a state of semi-suffocation. The process would be done repeatedly. While doing that process, the cords binding the limbs would be tightened until it would seem the very veins would explode. (see Gitmo, "Waterboarding", et.al.)

The tortures were used on old and young alike to get confessions and to learn of accomplices. (see Guantanamo Bay, et.al.)

Santayana's Maxim seems to apply here:

We didn't learn the moral lesson from this history, so we decided to repeat the immorality.

However we did learn some neat ways to torture people from this history, so we decided to repeat the methods.

Yaay.

NOBODY Expects The Spanish Inquisition!

2005-05-02T14:23:00.000-07:00

Pat Robertson wants limitations on non-Christians serving public office:

Robertson told "This Week" that he didn't think Frist would run for president and said, "I just don't see him as a future president." But he praised two other senators as possible GOP presidential contenders: Sam Brownback of Kansas and George Allen of Virginia, both of whom are well liked by the Christian right. Robertson acknowledged that Giuliani did not "share all my particular points of view on social issues," but added, "Rudy's a very good friend of mine and did a super job running the city of New York. I think he'd make a good president."

But Sheldon, head of the Traditional Values Coalition, said that Giuliani would have difficulty drawing support from the GOP base unless he adjusted his views on gay rights and abortion. Sheldon praised Frist as a potential candidate and said he expected him to run. If Frist is able to resolve the Senate filibuster impasse on judges, that would give the him "an edge" over other conservative candidates, Sheldon said.

Robertson, who launched a brief presidential bid in 1988, said that if he were president he would not appoint Muslims to serve in his Cabinet and that he was not in favor of Muslims serving as judges.
"They have said in the Koran there's a war against all the infidels," he said. "Do you want somebody like that sitting as a judge? I wouldn't."

Centrist Defectors

2005-04-28T09:19:00.000-07:00

Atrios says "Centrist" Dems need to apologize to Pelosi":

Call the offices of Steny Hoyer (202) 225-4131, John Tanner (202) 225-4714, and Ron Kind at (202) 225-5506, and tell them to apologize to Pelosi for being babies and apologize to America for voting for and vocally supporting that bankruptcy bill. Remind them that they did indeed sell out to special interests, we know they did, and we will not stop pointing that out. If they make these decisions, they will be called on it.

As someone in Ron Kind's district, I take his vote on the bankruptcy bill as an insult to the people who have voted him easily into office in the last several elections.

Catholics: No SoupLiving Wills For You!!

2005-04-26T05:32:00.000-07:00

According to the Madison, WI diosece:

The Bishop of the Madison Diocese is clarifying the church's position on living wills.

He answered in a recent edition of the Catholic Herald stating that, "According to the church's doctrine, if a living will gets in the way of medical procedures that could prevent death, even if a person is permanently unconscious, it is a mortal sin."
"When the boxes are checked off, one would get the impression that the author of this document intends suicide under certain circumstances, and that can never be for a disciple of Christ," says Bishop Morlino.

(Emphasis mine)

I can see the need for the Diosece to need to clarify their stance on living wills, but this is just absurd. Taken to its logical end, the Bishop is stating that, in essense, a Catholic's refusal to let modern technology keep that person alive by any means constitutes sin. Also, a person's choosing to not hold onto life no matter what cost also constitutes sin.

So is a willing martyr of the Christian faith also a sinner? After all, he/she is choosing to die for their faith.

Luke 17:33
"Whosoever shall seek to gain his life shall lose it: but whosoever shall lose 'his life' shall preserve it. "

Just another part of the Catholic faith that I do not understand.

An Open Letter To Rep. Melissa Bean

2005-04-15T14:32:00.000-07:00

After the 2004 election, many democratic voters like myself took solace in the fact that, amidst the great disappointment of the presidential and congressional losses that occurred, some small feeling of victory for common-sense American values was gained by victories in races like yours.

However, your and several other Democrats have chosen to vote in favor of the Bankruptcy bill and the Estate Tax Repeal Bill. Evidently, you feel obliged to serve more lucrative interests than the average American can offer.

Maybe your constituents feel more comfortable with your voting for these bills - they must all be very well off, or else they would feel concerned about your being in favor of easing the tax burden of the super-rich while at the same time being willing to remove protections from those who suffer financial hardships.

Please feel free to remove your "non-Rich" constituents from any further offers of financial support for any of your future campaigns - I'm sure you will be rewarded plenty from the new interests you have decided to serve.

Red State Values - PimpingLife, What A Beautiful Choice

2005-04-14T07:32:00.000-07:00

Sickening -

OKEECHOBEE, Fla. - A woman was arrested for allegedly forcing her 12-year-old daughter into prostitution and trading a 14-year-old daughter for a car.The 39-year-old woman was charged with aggravated child abuse and sexual performance by a child. Both girls have been turned over to the Department of Children & Families.The youngest girl and her mother were living out of their car, and would sell sex for food and an occasional shower at the men's homes, according to a report by Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office Detective K.J. Ammons.

Welcome to Red State America.

The American Media Machine: A View From Riverbend

2005-04-07T16:20:00.000-07:00

About a month ago, we were treated to an interview on 20/20 with Sabrina Harman- the witch in some of the Abu Ghraib pictures. You know- the one smiling over faceless, naked Iraqis piled up to make a human pyramid. Elizabeth Vargus was doing the interview and the whole show was revolting. They were trying to portray Sabrina as an innocent who was caught up in military orders and fear of higher ranking officers. The show went on and on about how American troops never really got seminars on Geneva Conventions (like one needs to be taught humanity) and how poor Sabrina was being made a scapegoat. They showed the restaurant where she worked before the war and how everyone thought she was “such a nice person” who couldn’t hurt a fly! We sat there watching like we were a part of another world, in another galaxy. I’ve always sensed from the various websites that American mainstream news is far-removed from reality- I just didn’t know how far. Everything is so tame and simplified. Everyone is so sincere.

Furthermore, I don’t understand the worlds fascination with reality shows. Survivor, The Bachelor, Murder in Small Town X, Faking It, The Contender… it’s endless. Is life so boring that people need to watch the conjured up lives of others?

I have a suggestion of my own for a reality show. Take 15 Bush supporters and throw them in a house in the suburbs of, say, Falloojeh for at least 14 days. We could watch them cope with the water problems, the lack of electricity, the check points, the raids, the Iraqi National Guard, the bombings, and- oh yeah- the ‘insurgents’. We could watch their house bombed to the ground and their few belongings crushed under the weight of cement and brick or simply burned or riddled with bullets. We could see them try to rebuild their life with their bare hands (and the equivalent of $150)…I’d not only watch *that* reality show, I’d tape every episode.

Better yet, how about Jenna and Not-Jenna in an Iraqi version of "The Simple Life"? Jenna avoiding IED's and RPG rounds as she scours Falloojeh looking for a bar to score a drink........see "not-Jenna" get harrased by fundamentalists for not wearing a hijab and veil. Should be a hoot.

Blame The Clenis

2005-04-01T17:17:00.000-08:00

Repub's at it again, laying the blame of Iraq intelligence on WMD's, 9/11, and anything else that has not gone right so far this century on.........you guessed it......William Jefferson Clinton.

The United States' pre-war intelligence on Iraq was dead wrong, according to the president's Commission on Weapons of Mass Destruction. Despite the report, Missouri's senior U.S. senator says the decision to go to war was still the right one.
In an interview here on Thursday, Bond (R-Missouri)said the bad intelligence came from an archaic system based on assumptions rather than thorough analysis and human intelligence. He also placed much of the blame on the Clinton administration.

[...]

The senator notes that the commission cleared the Bush administration of manipulating the intelligence for political purposes. He took a shot at the Democrats.
“The Clinton administration cut the intel budget by 20 percent. The Director of Intelligence got rid of spies -- human intelligence that we badly needed in the war against terror,” said Bond.

So, we went to war in Iraq based on bogus intel........Clinton was to blame for the bogus intel.......but in spite of the bogus intel, it was still a good idea to invade Iraq.....so Bush gets credit for ~~invading Iraq to stop Saddam from giving WMD's to his Al-Queda friends.~~ liberating Iraq due to faulty intelligence information caused by the Clinton administration......and the Clinton administration gets blamed for causing bad intel to be used as a reason to ~~liberate Iraq~~ go to war to stop Saddam from giving WMD's to his Al-Queda friends.

Evidently, Reason, Common Sense, and Rationality just had their feeding tubes pulled by the Republican Party.

Deficits Treasury Notes Don't Matter

2005-03-22T07:53:00.000-08:00

Treasury Notes are just "pieces of paper"?

Now, you probably think -- some of you may think there's what they call a Social Security trust: the government collects the money for you, we hold it for you, and when you retire, we pay it to you. But that's not how it works. You pay your payroll tax; we pay for the people who have retired, and if there's any money left over, we spend it on government. That's how it works. And what's left is an empty IOU, a piece of paper. Because it's a pay-as-you-go system, when more retirees start retiring, who are living longer, getting paid more, more money starts going out than coming in.

So, I'm calling my bank today, and telling them that I have no more money. Sorry guys, I can't pay you any more, thanks for the loan anyway.

Think that will go over well? No?

Think our "C-" Yalie Preznit ever studied the constitution in school?

XIV. Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned.............

ICAATT (I Can't Add Anything To This)

2005-03-17T05:15:00.000-08:00

In his own words:

"I like the idea of people running for office. There's a positive effect when you run for office. Maybe some will run for office and say, vote for me, I look forward to blowing up America."

Jeez, who voted for this Goober? Oh, yeah....sorry, didn't mean to offend you millions of suckers out there.

Freedom On The March

2005-03-16T08:17:00.000-08:00

Hey, but Saddam was much worse, right?

At least 108 people have died in American custody in Iraq and Afghanistan, most of them violently, according to government data provided to The Associated Press. Roughly a quarter of those deaths have been investigated as possible abuse by U.S. personnel.

The figure, far higher than any previously disclosed, includes cases investigated by the Army, Navy, CIA and Justice Department. Some 65,000 prisoners have been taken during the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, although most have been freed.

The Pentagon has never provided comprehensive information on how many prisoners taken during the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have died, and the 108 figure is based on information supplied by Army, Navy and other government officials. It includes deaths attributed to natural causes.

To human rights groups, the deaths form a clear pattern. "Despite the military's own reports of deaths and abuses of detainees in U.S. custody, it is astonishing that our government can still pretend that what is happening is the work of a few rogue soldiers," said ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero. "No one at the highest levels of our government has yet been held accountable for the torture and abuse, and that is unacceptable."

To the Pentagon, each death is a distinct case, meriting an investigation but not attributable to any single faulty military policy. Pentagon officials point to a number of military investigations which found that no policy condoned abuse. Defense Department spokesman Lt. Col. John Skinner said the military has taken steps to reduce the chance of violent uprisings at its prisons and the use of excessive force by soldiers, and also has improved the health care available to prisoners. "The military has dramatically improved detention operations, everything from increased oversight and improved facilities to expanded training and the availability of state-of-the-art medical care," he said in a statement.

Yeah, only 108 persons we imprisoned died. And they were all "bad guys", right? Hey, freedom is on the march, were a shining beacon of democracy.

What, you disagree?

Why, you liberal commie bastard! Off to Gitmo with you, and I hope they string you up by your thumbs, you unAmerican poopiehead!

God Bless the USofA!!!